Guyana Times - Saturday November 13, 2021

Education Ministry lauds "green energy" essay competition P17

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

Issue No. 4830

THE BEACON OF TRUTH SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2021

Govt announces countrywide CCTV surveillance to tackle crime … tougher penalties, gun amnesty to rid streets of illegal weapons See story on page 3

…criminal reform project, intelligence-gathering to be boosted

Incentives must be passed on to consumers – President Ali

…says importers, producers should not be profiteering

$80 VAT INCLUDED

WHAT'S INSIDE:

No new P11 COVID-19 death, 119 new cases recorded Frequent P12 cancellations, delays of AA flights worry Govt

… service quality “untenable” – Tourism Ministry

Cutlass-wielding bandit robs P13 businessman …drops loot while escaping

P13 2-year retroactive salary increases for BOSAI employees

See story on page 9

Battle for PNC/R US-based Guyanese brothers drown leadership begins while on vacation Page 7

PRICE

Page 14

…no electoral irregularities “if rules are followed” – candidates

Income tax exemption to Chancellor, CJ must be extended to other judges – High Court rules See story on page 15

...awards $2.5M compensation to fmr Judge

Driver ‘blinded by lights’ kills pedal cyclist P2

Prosecutor’s home riddled P with bullets 16 APNU/AFC P14 to “consult” internally on proposed electoral reform laws

…no answer on meeting with Govt

2 NEWS

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Driver “blinded by lights” kills pedal cyclist

The car that struck the cyclist off his bike

A

man travelling on a pedal bike died after he was struck off it by a car along Profit Public Road, West Coast Berbice (WCB).

The 45-year-old driver has since claimed that she was blinded by the bright lights of an incoming vehicle which resulted in a fatal accident Nevil Anthony Small, 24,

Following the man’s death, his family and friends are now aiming their ire at the one they hold responsible for the death of their loved one.

Scores of persons were also seen commenting on several social media posts about the man’s death, calling on the Guyana Police Force (GPF) to clamp down on vehicles with extremely

The bike the pedal cyclist was riding at the time of the accident

died at around 05:10h on Thursday.

The driver has alleged that she was proceeding east along the northern side of the road at a normal rate of speed when she was blinded by lights of a vehicle coming in the opposite direction. This, according to her, caused her to collide with the pedal cyclist who was proceeding west along the northern side of the said road.

As a result of the impact, the pedal cyclist was thrown onto the front windscreen then onto the roadway where he received injuries to his head and about his body.

He was picked up in an unconscious state and taken to Fort Wellington Public Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

The driver is in custody assisting with the investigations.

bright and coloured lights.

One person said: “There are some vehicles with white lights and all the police doing is stopping them, collecting a raise and they continue to blind other drivers on the road. These blue lights are dangerous.... plus, some drivers always have on high beam”.

Just recently, the GPF intensified its campaign against vehicles with coloured lights, and warned that Regulation 34 (1) (a) of the Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic Act, Chapter 51:02 states: “Every motor vehicle, the width of which does not exceed seven feet, other than a two-wheeled motorcycle not having a side car attached thereto and an invalid carriage, on any road, during the hours of darkness shall carry two lamps, each showing to the front a white light visible from a reasonable distance.” (G9)

NEWS

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SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS OPENINGS BRIDGE

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

Saturday, Nov 13 – 21:00h – 05:00h and Sunday, Nov 14 – 13:00h – 14:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Saturday, Nov 13 – 12:35h – 14:05h and Sunday, Nov 14 – 13:25h – 14:55h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

Parika and Supenaam departure times – 05:00h, 10:00h-12:00h, 16:00h, 18:30h daily

WEATHER TODAY There will be sunshine during the day. Expect partly cloudy skies at night. Temperatures should range between 21 degrees Celsius and 30 degrees Celsius.

Winds: West North-Westerly to North-Westerly between 1.78 metres and 4.02 metres.

High Tide: 12:26h reaching a maximum height of 2.16 metres.

Low Tide: 18:22h reaching a minimum height of 1.07 metre.

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2021

LOTTERY NUMBERS A

02 03 05

07 11 13

FREE TICKET

15 Bonus Ball

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2021 DAILY MILLIONS

01 03 09 17 23 LUCKY 3

4

1

0

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Afternoon Draw

9

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Evening Draw

DRAW DE LINE

02 07 10 13 15 18 19 SUPER

PAY DAY

PAY DAY

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2021

03 04 08 13 16 13

02 04 09 16 21

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4 Afternoon Draw

FP Afternoon Draw

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2X Evening Draw

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

COMMODITIES Indicators

US$

Change %

Crude Oil

$82.17/barrel

-0.85

Rough Rice

$253.71/ton

+0.25

London Sugar

$522.80/ton

+3.08

Live Spot Gold

USD Per Ounce

Bid/Ask

$1865.20

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Low/High Change

$1845.20 0.00

$1870.20 0.00%

Govt announces countrywide CCTV surveillance to tackle crime I

n light of the success that the Safe City initiative has garnered in reducing crime in Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica), particularly the Georgetown Division, President Dr Irfaan Ali has revealed that this programme will be expanded to other regions across the country.

He made this announcement during an Address to the Nation on Friday afternoon.

According to the Head of the State, Government wants to replicate the good crime-fighting results that have been recorded in the areas that are covered under the “Safe City” programme in other regions so as to bring down the country’s overall crime rates. “…to address all the regions nationally, we are going to have a ‘safe-country’ programme. We’re going to have the entire country connected onto CCTV cameras so that all of the country will be under watch by the relevant authorities so that we can be proactive in crime-fighting,” he declared.

The “Safe City” Project, which saw the installation of scores of cameras around Georgetown and the country’s main ports of entry, was launched in 2019.

A multimillion-dollar Command Centre at Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown, was activated with the intent of monitoring criminals, suspects, and vehicles involved in crimes. Works on the project had begun before the official launching through the country’s National Broadband Strategy, with funding from the China Exim (ExportImport) Bank and implementation through the services of Huawei.

Back then, it was assured that the initiative would not violate human rights as the operations would be guided by the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) developed by a team of United Kingdom security experts.

Meanwhile, President Ali on Friday also revealed that in addition to the surveillance expansion, Government will also be looking at investments in intelligence gathering. He noted that more crimes have been intercepted before commission as a result of proactive work and intelligence gathering.

However, the Head of State explained that in order for this to work it has to be community-centred, community-oriented and community-supported.

“We have to develop a trust between the [Guyana] Police Force and the community themselves… bridging that gap and integrating community in crime-fighting,” he posited.

Crime stats

During his Address to the Nation, President Ali gave an update on the Police Force’s statistics thus far this year, revealing that there is a 19.4 per cent decrease in serious crimes compared to the same

period in 2020.

However, while there is an overall decrease in crime countrywide, the Head of State noted that there are some hotspots that need extra attention given their high crime rates. Region One (Barima-Waini) is one such area, having recorded a 132.4 per cent increase in crime when compared to last year.

The President noted that the strategy is to look at each area individually to find out what is the reason for the crime rates there.

“We know that there is an increased migrant population; there is displacement and of course, this is causing social economic issues and a resultant factor is crime. So, we are now targeting some specific policies and programmes to deal with Region One,” he stated.

On the other hand, Region Four A (Georgetown), a previously crime-prone division, has documented the largest decline in crime with 43.4 per cent. Similarly, Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) has also seen a drop in crime rate by 52.1 per cent.

With regards to robbery under arms, while an overall 32.4 per cent countrywide reduction was recorded, Regions One, Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) and Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) have seen increases.

The Head of State went on to detail a breakdown analysis of these armed robberies, highlighting that 6.2 per cent of these occurred at home, 37.7 per cent in the streets

and some 33.6 per cent at businesses. As such, he underscored the need to put more efforts on street policing.

The data compiled by the Police Force also outlines that armed robberies are mostly committed using pistols and usually occur between 12:00h and 18:00h daily, with Saturday having the highest number of RUAs, that is, 92 cases recorded on that specific day for the year to date.

“On Saturday, is what we would consider a high-risk day so now we have to build our strategy to address this.

By days, the nature of crime, the way in which they operate – these are the statistics that we have been working on so that policing and crime-fight-

ing can be targeted and that is what we have been doing, fighting crime in a targeted manner,” the President stated.

Further, as Government put more effort into a structured and targeted approach to crime-fighting, the Commander-in-Chief disclosed that one of the measures Government will be looking at rolling out is an incentive-based crime-fighting system.

“So, one of the things that we are considering is incentivising the Police Force, where there is good performance there must be differentiated treatment. You must be recognised for good performance,” the Head of State stressed. (G8)

4

guyanatimesgy.com

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 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

Trusting our Police O

ver the years, great efforts have been made to reprofessionalise and re-capitalise each arm of the Joint Services. Gradually, the ranks, with rare exceptions, began taking pride in their uniforms and professions, with dire consequences for the criminal population.

Governments changed, and there was a paradigm shift in the actions/inactions of the various ranks of the Guyana Police Force (GPF), again with rare exceptions, in direct correlation with the multiplicity of infractions of the law by lawmakers then in Government, who were trampling on the Constitution in myriads of ways.

After the new PPP/C Government’s accession to the nation’s administrative offices in August of 2020, the new Government, through strategic placement of senior ranks, once again embarked on a dynamic crusade to create a people-friendly, proactive Police Force.

However, every organisation is a microcosm of the wider society, and the GPF is no different. Inasmuch as the society at large has criminals rampaging in every community, so, too, there are rogue cops defaming the entire Force and creating distrust between lawabiding citizens and the GPF. The rogues take bribes. In the past, some ranks have been accused, rightly or wrongly, of lending their weapons to bandits and of setting free persons who were captured with great effort and at great risk to their fellow officers.

They have even been accused of perpetrating criminal activities themselves, and it is only just that, when caught, they should be dealt with in more punitive ways than those meted out to civilians, because they are supposed to be guardians of the laws of the land and protectors of the society; so their felonious actions are tantamount to crimes against the State, and consequently are treasonous.

Some of these ranks disgrace their uniforms and the organisation to which they belong. They bring disrepute to the entire Force with their criminal actions, and should be dealt with condignly by their own counterparts in the service, as in a case where one Policeman nabbed three bribe-takers.

The minibus conductors know all the traffic Policemen who take bribes, and their stories of persecution by those delegated to protect travellers from lawless road-users who commit traffic violations that endanger lives are many. Amnesty should be offered to those who were coerced into paying bribes by the disreputable brigade of lawmen in exchange for their providing crucial and credible evidence in court.

The law banning music in minibuses is constantly being flouted, even within hearing of Police ranks, most of whom ignore the cacophony because they themselves feel that music, even the cacophonous and vulgar variety, is no crime, but is instead very enjoyable and should be tolerated, with anyone objecting being deemed a troublemaker.

In this regard, they abdicate their responsibility to be guardians and enforcers of the law, regardless of personal opinions and preferences.

The travelling public is still being held to ransom, because if they complain about loud and crude music, speeding or overcrowding, they are most often abused, and sometimes even ejected from the bus.

Sometimes, instead of respecting and heeding a request to turn down or off raucous and vulgar music, the volume is turned up to excruciatingly higher decibels. The public sometimes have no recourse but to endure the assault on their hearing organs, just to reach their destination.

The rogues in the GPF have to be weeded out by loyal and honest members of the Force themselves in sting operations, cognisant of the fact that defamation ensuing from the criminal actions of even one rogue cop impacts the reputation of the entire Force, not merely the renegades. The distrust of the public for the Police intensifies rather than wanes, and there are numerous instances when members of the public, fearing a negative response, prefer to suffer in silence rather than report crimes committed against them.

The trickle-down effects of crimes committed by rogue cops affect every Police rank, even those who have performed heroically in the line of duty, risking and sometimes losing their lives; those who have given service to their country and their countrymen beyond the call of duty; so it is incumbent on those honest, dedicated and professional Police ranks to identify, isolate, and eliminate the criminals within their midst, so that the GPF once again becomes a highly-efficient, trusted law enforcement body that fulfils its mandate by protecting and serving the nation.

Culvert City Nursery students on the Learning Channel Today on Friday as smart TVs and satellite installation are ongoing to provide television, solar and satellite service to all hinterland and riverine communities for equal access to educational content (Guyana Learning Channel Trust photo)

Our Govt’s openness will strengthen our democracy Dear Editor, The People’s Progressive Party Civic Administration is committed to creating an unprecedented level of openness in Government.

Our leadership will work together to ensure the public trust and establish a system of transparency, public participation, and collaboration. This openness will strengthen our democracy and promote efficiency and effectiveness in our Government.

Every day since elected on August 02,2021, our Government has shown a level of transparency that promotes accountability and provides information for every Guyanese about what our Government is doing.

The recent announcement that the current balance in Guyana’s Natural Resources Fund (NRF), or the oil money fund, is some US$534 million, according to the Ministry of Finance’s October 2021 report of the NRF, is clear evidence of what a transparent Government should do when in office. Some in the APNU/AFC Opposition should learn.

The statement shows that the net balance as at October 31, 2021 stood at US$111,342,541 with no outflows from the fund into the Consolidated

Fund. Notably, the PPP/C Government is looking to amend the laws governing the NRF to safeguard and insulate it from political manipulation, portrayed by the previous APNU/AFC Administration.

One will remember that while in Opposition, the now Vice President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo had committed to improving the legislation of the oil fund, which he believed was not robust. The Government is looking to table that legislation before the end of this year.

In keeping with the PPP/C Government’s commitment to accountability, no money has been withdrawn from the fund; all is currently sitting in the United States federal bankNatural Resources Minister Vickram Bharrat had anticipated in September that Guyana would see more than US $500 million in the NRF by the end of the year, further advancing the country’s economy.

“You can say safely that, before the ending of 2021, we will have nearly half-billion USD in the Natural Resource Fund, that is intact and not a dollar has been spent from it. As of right now, we have US$436 million in Natural Resource Fund,

that is the proceeds or the revenue that our country would have gained from the sale of its crude, we would have completed seven lifts,” he had said back in September.

President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali had affirmed that transparency and accountability will be the tenets of the fund. Once the legislation for the oil wealth fund has been improved, expenditure must be approved by the National Assembly.

“As you are aware, there are immediate needs that have to be financed. We committed that during the campaign that there will be no secrecy in revenues received by the country from our natural resources, especially oil and gas, and we have stuck to that commitment,” the President had assured.

Further, the Head of State said the Government would soon be creating a balance sheet, which the public could view online and be kept informed of the revenues and expenditures.

ExxonMobil (XOM.N) is in discussions with Dutch contractor SBM Offshore NV (SBMO.AS) to build a fourth multi-billion-dollar production unit to develop its Guyana oil discoveries.

The talks include the potential for some fu-

ture platform assembly in Guyana, the people said.

Guyana hopes to develop an oil industry infrastructure to boost the economy and job growth.

Officials are under pressure to show the potential oil bonanza will be shared with our citizens.

The PPP/C Government this week began a review of the Yellowtail Field Development Plan for the fourth project proposed by ExxonMobil’s Guyana affiliate, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL).

Yellowtail will be situated 126 miles offshore Guyana, where ExxonMobil made its 13th discovery in the Stabroek block.

Its initial production phase is scheduled to commence in 2025 with optimum production capacity of 250,000 barrels per day, and would continue for 20 years. The FPSO is designed to have a storage capacity of two million barrels of oil.

The proposed development, according to joint public hearings into the project between EEPGL and the Environmental Protection Agency, could provide some 1,300 jobs across its four phases.

Sincerely, David Adams

guyanatimesgy.com

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2021

5

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

Open more farmlands in regions

Dear Editor, In one of my recent letters to the press, I mentioned, and once again am going to mention, that “Region 5 is the most productive agricultural region in Guyana”.

And I have no second thoughts about this, because this region is the breadbasket of Guyana. Be it rice, sugar, cash crops, cattle, poultry, or most of the agricultural products that are being consumed on a daily basis, it comes out in bulk from Region 5.

I also mentioned in that very article that since this Government took of-

fice, the farmers are back in their farmlands, farming more than what was happening under the previous Government, and that under the APNU(PNC) Government, little or nothing was given to the farmers, but just rises in land rates and D&I charges, land being taken away, etc.

As can be seen today, many farmers have gone back to their farmlands, planting rice and mostly cash crops. Help is being given by this Government in many ways to ensure that the farmers have the necessary tools and know-how,

with advice coming from the various Government agricultural agencies on how to care for and protect their crops.

I have visited several villages over the past week, and I am amazed at the sentiments the residents within those villages have for the agricultural sector. Many indicate and show their passion with the zeal to continue farming, and moreover, to extend their farmlands and variety of crops they are planting in months to come.

Almost all of the farmers were high in praise for what the Ministry of Agriculture is doing to ensure that they are

Confidence must not be seen as misplaced Dear Editor, While there is merit in the call from a member of the joinder party, an MP who also happens to be Deputy Speaker, for international assistance in the hiring process of the next GECOM CEO and other top function-

aries, I am equally convinced that the Chairperson, in her prudence, judgement and diligence, has made the prudent decision to not go that route.

She is confident the Commission has the capability and capacity to undertake

the interview and selection process in a professional and efficient manner. Such confidence must not be seen as misplaced, but must be given every opportunity to succeed.

Sincerely, Shamshun Mohamed

being taken care of and given the necessary advice that is much needed. Few farmers are upset for some reason, or mainly because the NDCs are not doing enough to ensure they have water in the drains to take care of their gardens.

Farmers also said that NAREI extension officers need to be more in the fields, and I do agree with them, because those are the officers who have to help those farmers when advice is being sought.

My biggest surprise as I walked through those villages and met with the farmers and residents was that they wanted more lands to be made available to them by a portion or section of Government lands, to extend their farming or to start farming cash crops.

This is what I was waiting to hear, as many said that if the Government makes those lands available, they are ready to go in and start the work in getting the lands where they want them for their various crops. It was a sentiment that I could not

shy away from, and I told the farmers that is a very good way in getting more produce on the market.

But if the Government takes up that challenge and makes the lands available, then it will have to be distributed in a fair and transparent manner, not like what took place under the previous APNU(PNC) Government.

I said that to them because I was a part of the previous Government that was standing up for the people of Region 5 no matter race or who they voted for, but I will continue to say that the previous Government was a racial one, and only was about one set or race of people.

I am calling on the residents of this region to take full advantage, and I mean full or all the advantages that you can take, on ensuring you legally occupy lands for farming, and do not just turn up and look at a plot of land and start to farm, because it will be illegal.

I am calling on the Hon. Zulifikar Mustapha, MP, Minister of Agriculture, to have officials of his Ministry

explore all the options and see where there are lands available that can be used for cash crop farming, and please start the process to ensure that the people of Region 5 get access to those lands in starting or extending their farms.

I know that the Hon Minister has a clear knowledge as to the many ways in developing agriculture, and I am sure he will ensure that as long as lands are available in this region and can be used for agricultural purposes, he would ensure that those very lands be given to the residents of Region 5, so that we can remain on the top of the other regions as the best agricultural region in Guyana.

I would like to join with the many farmers here in Region 5 to commend the Minister and his team for doing a wonderful job in ensuring that agricultural development stays on top of the agenda, not only in Region 5, but across Guyana.

Regards, Abel Seetaram

6

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2021

Page

Foundation

Materials:

2-gallon zipper lock bags 4 tablespoons of shortening duct tape ice (crushed/cubed) 1 gallon bucket

Instructions:

Fill bucket halfway with the cold water.

Add enough ice to make water chilly.

Add 4 tablespoons of shortening in one of the ziplock bags.

Put empty ziplock bag inside of the ziplock bag with shortening in it. Put your hand in the empty ziplock bag, this way your hand stays clean during the experiment.

With the other hand spread shortening all over the outside of the inner bag.

Now fold the top of the inner ziplock bag over the top of the outer ziplock bag.

Now the shortening is stuck between the two bags. To make sure the shortening stays secure, duct tape this fold.

Finally, stick your hand into your new blubber glove and dip it into the bucket of ice-cold water.

How it works:

Shortening is a fat just like blubber is, and fat acts like an insulator. An insulator stops energy from flowing the way that it usually does, from things that are hot to things that are not. So, the body heat that polar bears create is trying to flow from the body to the outside chilly temperatures, but the blubber stops it from escaping.

Extra experiments:

Try to use other types of insulators such as butter, cotton balls, or sand.

Which one works as the best insulator?

Try using one hand in the glove and the other had in the water. Make observations using touch – describe how it feels.

Try using room temperature water or warm water (Be careful with warm water when you are testing it). Does the glove work in these situations? (scienceisfun.org)

By Trevino L Brings Plenty

Small red tin box sealed in shrink-wrap, cut open with pocketknife, pried apart, its goods aerate the office. I pluck white sliced chalky cylinders; let them simmer in my mouth.

I exhale peppermint scent through my nose. Cut open the official letter. A map in letters on a white page.

My teeth grind mints.

Photocopies slightly off alignment, I blur lines.

Equations disperse family through land documents, position each generation.

I am only fourth in line.

Some plots are gumbo after winter thaw. Sections stitched together with extended relatives. This ritual, personal death papers drafted.

I am partial to this grassland; the place of deer marks and porcupine quills, ledger extrapolates history. I refold estate document, place it back into its envelope.

WORD SEARCH

NEWS

7

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Battle for PNCR leadership begins

…no electoral irregularities “if rules are followed” – candidates

Opposition Leader Joseph Harmon

By Rupa Seenaraine

T

he battle is on for the leadership of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), which commenced on Friday with the Nomination Day to select respective candidates.

The party’s 21st biennial congress is set for December, where the election will be facilitated. Nomination Day allows for groups within the party to select the leader, chairman, two vice chairpersons, treasurer and 15 members of the Central Executive Committee who they will vote for on the Election Day. At Congress Place, nominations were cast and saw Opposition Leader Joseph Harmon entering the race with the intention of rebuilding trust from former supporters of the party.

“You will find that the principal target that we have is the unity of our party and the bringing home of those members who felt affected in some way by the fact that they might have turned off from the party.

The first thing is to bring home all of those persons…

We want to expand the base of our party as well.”

According to Harmon, his 10-point plan aims among other things to improve the numbers for the party -

PNCR Executive Aubrey Norton

which would have lost at the 2020 elections when it contested as part of the APNU/ AFC coalition.

“I bring to the party leadership, the fact that I have been involved in these processes since 2010. I have managed elections, the coalition, the APNU and I have been able to show working together with a team that we were able to move our coalition, our partnership and our numbers,” he contended.

The Opposition Leader, when asked about Members of Parliament who have not endorsed him, said, “I have spoken to the MPs who have not endorsed me and I have actually given them the assurance that as Members of Parliament, we will continue to work for the benefit and good of this country and that if they have made a choice with respect to the internal elections, then I respect their choice.”

Party leader and former President, David Granger has not thrown his support behind any of the nominees but Harmon was “supremely confident” about his chances at the polls.

Electoral irregularities

PNC Executive Norton told media tives that electoral larities should not

Aubrey operairregusurface

if the established rules are followed. Monitoring will be done, however, to curtail any untoward events.

“In any election, one has

PNCR Member Richard Van West-Charles

election campaign machinery”, and attract a wider ethnic support base.

“I think I am the most experienced politically in the

“You are dividing comrades to get into power, I got respect for none if that’s your style. That is not the quality for leadership because you cannot destroy and hope to rebuild…you have a process. If you can’t use that process to make a change in your own house, you can’t make a change in this nation…You’re losing your comrades, much less the people outside” – Simona Broomes to put mechanism in place to ensure that irregularities don’t occur. We, at the level of the Central Executive Committee, the rules have been well established and if the rules are followed, there should be no irregularities whatsoever. But human beings aren’t perfect and therefore we will continue to monitor and ensure at the end of the process, we’re efficacious with a transparent election.”

Norton was of the belief that he has entered with a strong support base, and is more equipped to reach and rebuild grassroot supporters. He is aiming to make the PNCR a “permanent

bunch and by political experience, I mean being involved at virtually every level in the party - the group, the district, the region, the Central Executive. I have institutional memory which a lot of persons don’t have and I think that is what sets me apart,” said the Central Executive Member.

He said if the party is fair and transparent, it can garner more supporters.

Meanwhile, Dr Richard Van West-Charles suggested that a reorganisation of the PNC is essential, as he banks on his experience to win votes. In his approach, he is not subscribing to a

slate.

“The party has to focus on development and development at all levels. The reorganisation that I am speaking about is how the groups are reorganised in the first place to show leadership and development in communities where the groups exist.

That comes back to reorganisation of the secretariat and the party as a whole.”

Van West-Charles added, “When I put up a slate, I am sending a message that I am separating these set of people. I must be able to work with all of our comrades who have been elected by way of the democratic process and we work as a team in the interest of the party”.

Divisive campaign

Just before the nomination period was opened, prominent party member and former Minister under the coalition, Simona Broomes wrangled against the party for its divisive approach in the congress race.

She pointed out that the PNCR camp should reassess their approach in selecting leader and other officials to bring a more inclusive style and moreover added that she will not be involved in “division”.

“You are dividing comrades to get into power, I

got respect for none if that’s your style. That is not the quality for leadership because you cannot destroy and hope to rebuild. You build where you are…People like to talk about Forbes Burnham. These people might be turning in their grave to see what is taking place out there,” Broomes voiced.

She added, “You have a process. If you can’t use that process to make a change in your own house, you can’t make a change in this nation…You’re losing your comrades, much less the people outside.”

The PNCR – the leading party in the A Partnership for National Unity faction of the APNU/AFC coalition Opposition – has been embroiled in an internal divisive power struggle since the party’s loss at the 2020 General and Regional Elections.

Hence, there was mounting pressure for congress to be held to elect new leadership, including incumbent PNCR Leader, former President David Granger, who did not contest for the post.

At the party’s last biennial congress in 2018, Granger was re-elected leader after the post was uncontested.

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SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Who will bell…

M

…the (GECOM) cat? ost Guyanese will tell you - with great sincerity - that it’s only around “elections time” that our problems erupt. But that’s very revealing: whatever causes the “problems”, had to’ve been there (like lava under pressure in a volcano) to “erupt”. No lava, and no pressure - and no eruption! So, shouldn’t we fix whatever’s causing the pressure and the lava - not just GECOM, which merely regulates the event precipitating the explosion? Anyhow, that’s grist for another mill, since the Government wants to start downstream at the holding of elections, rather than upstream, where the lava and pressure are produced. Can’t say your Eyewitness isn’t becoming “oil conscious”!!

Right now, GECOM’s in centre stage, since the PPP Government - as it promised - has put it on the operating table for the Guyanese people to suggest what to do to control the “elections troubles”. They’ve put out some ideas they feel are necessary to do the job - but we’re told that these are merely to offer us a framework for our thoughts. We - and the rest of Guyana - have six weeks to put in our various two cents’ worth!

One PNC GECOM Commissioner is miffed that GECOM wasn’t consulted specifically, separately and ahead of others, on their thoughts on the matter. While some may feel that since GECOM’s under scrutiny they can’t be involved in fixing themselves, your Eyewitness doesn’t agree. In fact, being in the eye of the maelstrom every five years or so, they may’ve had the best seats in the nation to nail what ails our electoral process. As Brother Bob said, he who feels it knows it!!

To your Eyewitness’s surprise, some in the Opposition are suggesting that we should go for some outsiders to make the call. But the last time we went “outside” when the PNC was rigging the elections with bedsheets and spreadsheets - remember how bitter they became with our sister Mia and fellow Caricom neighbours?!! The Opposition also wants to have an “independent panel” to step in - but your Eyewitness has already dealt with the infinite regression scenario as to who will choose such a panel. What they want is a return to the Granger Doctrine on selection - the PNC must be given a list to choose from - providing they compile the list!! There’s a term for this in the social sciences - outcome determinative!! Or as the boys in the hood would say, playing with a stacked deck!!

Anyhow, the PPP’s suggestions are slanted heavily towards “sticks rather than carrots” for the GECOM officials to “do the right thing”. Guess they believe in the “sticks and stones can break bones” school of incentives!!

But have executions ever stopped murders? …crony capitalism?

If you didn’t believe capitalism’s really “crony capitalism”, then you gotta explain why the top 1% in America keeps getting richer - while the remaining 99% sinks deeper into the swamp. And this in the face of every American President since Roosevelt fervently promising to clean up the swamp in Washington! And we arrive at accusations of crony capitalism being practised by the PPP in Guyana.

The latest came after a company - founded by a fella known for his backing of football and a music promoter - won a bid to build a school in Reg 1. Seems the two budding builders are friendly with PPP types - it’s alleged!

But apart from the “cronyism” charge, who says a person good in one area of life can’t set up a successful business in another? Didn’t the Bajan singer Rihanna become a billionaire not from singing but by selling cosmetics?

And since the PPP was criticised for blanking African Guyanese on contracts, don’t they get any points for correcting this?

Capitalism is “friends with benefits”!! …cricket’s glorious uncertainty?

Well, whad’ya know? The Aussies and Kiwis are in the World Cup finals, and a lot of bookies are smiling all the way to their banks!!

Your Eyewitness did put his money where his mouth was - on the West Indies!!

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

NEWS

9

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Incentives must be passed on to consumers – President Ali …says importers, producers should not be profiteering “The measures that we are imposing to help the importers, to help the farmers… to help the producers, we expect them to act in a way that befits their moral responsibility to the consumer, and that moral responsibility is to pass on the benefits that you receive as a result of this intervention to the consumer to minimise the impact [of the global situation]” – Head of State

I

mporters and producers who have been benefiting from certain incentives from Government to cushion the widespread impact from the novel coronavirus pandemic came under fire from President Dr Irfaan Ali for not passing these benefits to local consumers.

Following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, global commodity prices skyrocketed as major manufacturers are forced to reduce and/or shut down production. This has been further compounded by the astronomical rising of shipping rates worldwide that has contributed to delayed consignments and shortages of basic commodity items.

However, since assuming office in August 2020, the Ali-led Administration has rolled out a host of incentives to offset these global challenges. But the Head of State, during an Address to the Nation on Friday afternoon, disclosed that these benefits are not being passed on to local consumers.

“The measures that we are imposing to help the importers, to help the farmers… to help the producers, we expect them to act in a way that befits their

moral responsibility to the consumer, and that moral responsibility is to pass on the benefits that you receive as a result of this intervention to the consumer to minimise the impact [of the global situation],” the President stressed.

According to President Ali, the pandemic has severely impacted the supply chain around the world thus resulting in a backlog in shipments and shortages. This led to increased costs at the production level and at the logistics level – the combination of which has driven high commodity prices globally, something from which Guyana has not been spared.

Forecasts show that the supply-chain prices underpinning the widespread freight increases is expected to last longer than anticipated, that is, beyond early 2022. A situation that has already resulted in shortages of construction materials and widespread increases.

Regional response

The Guyanese Head of State outlined that in addition to construction materials, food supplies are also experiencing similar hikes.

In fact, he noted that many Caribbean Community (Caricom) countries are al-

ready complaining of facing possible food shortages.

In response to this, however, the regional bloc is pushing a “food replacement” agenda that will see a reduction in the Community’s food import bill by 25 per cent and local production fill that void.

“Many countries are pursuing different measures. One of the important measures is to have more local consumption because if the supply chain is not delivering in a timely manner and is delivering

trol the price of natural gas and produce its own fertiliser in the future.

Nevertheless, the Head of State informed the public that in response to these global challenges, his Government has been proactive in bringing relief to citizens.

“The last four weeks, we have initiated discussions with many of our bilateral partners directly to get fertilisers in to minimise the impact of this [global price] increase. And we’re doing this so that the farmers, the

in a price that is not affordable then you have to create more programmes and give more incentives to increase local production.”

But President Ali posited that there are commodities that importation cannot be avoided for, like fertilisers. The price of fertilisers has surged globally because the cost of natural gas, which is used for its production, has skyrocketed. As such, he underscored the importance of piping gas from offshore Guyana so that the country can con-

sugar industry, the rice producers; they can all benefit because if we don’t bring down the cost, we know too that the cost of [products like] rice – the final product – will also increase.”

Fuel importation and freight reduction

Another commodity that Government has implemented relief for is fuel.

Between February this year and October, there has

President Dr Irfaan Ali

been a 30 per cent reduction on excise taxes for the importation of gasoline and diesel to cushion the continuous rise in global prices.

This is in addition to a host of measures such as removal and reduction of taxes, distribution of bonus and various cash grant initiatives – all aimed at giving more resources to citizens so as to offset the effect of global increases and impacts.

But even as the Ali-led Govt attempts to manage the imported inflation, he pointed out that there are some areas such as freight charges where Guyana could not escape the global price hikes. As a result, his Administration made adjustments to these charges that will see importers saving some $6 billion from August 1, 2021 to January 30, 2022.

“We forgo $6 billion in taxes to help cushion the increases in the cost of freight and we expect the importers to pass this benefit onto the consumer.”

To this end, the Head of State reminded beneficia-

ries of these interventions that they need to display moral responsibility towards society “This is a global challenge that requires us to act collectively, that requires us to support each other. This is not a global crisis that anyone should look at profiteering off. No, you have a greater responsibility to society and you should not look at profiteering. We are in this together. Your Govt will confront these challenges with strong workable measures but we also need the support of all the stakeholders.”

Nevertheless, President Ali reassured the Guyanese public that his Government will continue, in the short and medium term, to focus on policies and programmes to reduce the effect of global prices on Guyana.

He added too that they are already examining the financial situation of Government to ensure that there are increases for public servants, as well as support for law enforcements and frontline workers. (G8)

10

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

NEWS

11

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

No new COVID-19 death, 119 new cases recorded F

rom 1462 swabs taken for analysis on Friday, 119 persons tested positive for COVID-19.

However, the Health Ministry’s dashboard showed that deaths have remained at 955.

There are 2,290 active cases: 16 patients in the Intensive Care Unit, 55 in institutional isolation, and 2259 on home isolation.

Another 15 persons are being monitored in institutional quarantine.

Guyana has, to date, tested 369,857 persons. The total confirmed cases recorded since March 2020 stand at 36,652 – 17,290 males and 19,362 females.

New cases were detected across eight administrative regions, with one in Region One (BarimaWaini); five in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam); 17 in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara); 35 in Region Four (DemeraraMahaica); two in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice); 43 in Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne); one in Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) and 13 in Region 10 (Upper

GUYANA COVID-19 DASHBOARD NOVEMBER 12, 2021 UPDATE

NUMBER OF NEW CASES NUMBER OF PERSONS IN INSTITUTIONAL ISOLATION

119 55

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN HOME ISOLATION

2259

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN COVID-19 ICU

16

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN INSTITUTIONAL QUARANTINE

15

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES BY GENDER (FEMALES)

19,362

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES BY GENDER (MALES)

17,290

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES IN GUYANA SINCE 2020

36,652

NUMBER OF RECOVERED CASES

33,367

TOTAL 1st DOSE VACCINATED

390,110

FULLY IMMUNISED

258,864

TOTAL NUMBER OF DEATHS

955

DISTRIBUTION OF TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES SINCE MARCH 2020 REGION 1

1639

REGION 2

1483

REGION 3

4972

REGION 4

17,296

REGION 5

1352

REGION 6

2908

REGION 7

1766

REGION 8

610

REGION 9

2454

REGION 10

2172

HERE IS HOW YOU CAN BE SAFE DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC Wear a face mask.

Keep a physical distance of at least 6 feet.

Wash your hands or use handsanitizer If you have any symptoms, call the COVID-19 Hotline.

GET MEDICAL ADVICE ON COVID-19 FROM MOH 24/7 HOTLINE NUMBERS: 2311166; 226 7480; 624 6674; 624 2819; 624 3067 OR 180/181.

Demerara-Berbice).

There were no new cases in Regions Seven (CuyuniMazaruni) and Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo).

On Friday, November 12, the overall adult vaccination coverage for first doses stood at 390,110, or 76 per cent; and for second doses, it stood at 258,864, or 50.5 per cent. For children, 26.5 per cent are completely vaccinated, accounting for 19,314 persons.

Regional first dose uptake is 81.5 percent in Region One, 61.3 percent in Region Two, 72.9 per cent in Region Three, 85.3 per cent in Region Four, 74.6 per cent in Region Five, 75.4 per cent in Region Six, 75.1 per cent in Region Seven, 47.6 per cent in Region Eight, 74.7 per cent in Region Nine, and 34.5 per cent in Region 10.

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

All Guyanese are reminded to observe the pro-

tocols of the COVID-19 emergency measures, which emphasise: the need for correct and consistent use of a face mask when leaving your home; the importance of maintaining the six feet physical distance from others; and the need for good hand-hygiene.

Government has allowed a grace period of up to November 30 to allow persons to return from overseas. However, after this has been expended, those who are partially vaccinated cannot enter the country.

Before travelling to Guyana, there must be proof of full vaccination and a negative SARS-CoV-2 antigen test, or a negative SARsCov-2 PCR test, which must not be older than 72 hours.

Children under two years of age are not required to be tested.

Any mix-and-match combination of approved vaccines administered at seventeen days apart results in a person being fully vaccinated. Persons who have tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 virus fourteen days to three months ago are also considered fully vaccinated. (G12)

12 NEWS

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Frequent cancellations, delays of AA flights worry Govt

…service quality “untenable” – Tourism Ministry

T

he Tourism, Industry and Commerce Ministry on Friday sounded its concerns in regards to the frequent flight cancellations by American Airlines.

In addition to this, the Ministry revealed that the Government has been in receipt of a number of complaints about the manner in which customers are treated when there are cancellations by the airline.

On average, 44 per cent of American Airlines flights from Guyana over the last six months have reportedly been delayed, while an aver-

Moreover, the Ministry is encouraging passengers who have been experiencing difficulties receiving refunds for flight cancellations to file official complaints with the Competition and Consumer Affairs Commission so that their issues can be documented and formally addressed.

Direct flights

age of two flights have been cancelled monthly.

“While the Ministry is appreciative of the fact the AA continues to serve the Guyana route, this quali-

ty of service is untenable and not in keeping with Government’s business, tourism and developmental agenda,” a statement from the Ministry indicated.

“The Government supports AA operating in Guyana but stresses that poor treatment of passengers is unacceptable,” the statement further noted.

On November 6, with Inter-Caribbean Airways announcing a new direct Guyana to Barbados flight, the Government has made it clear that it will continue to incentivise and support

increased interconnectivity when it comes to flights between Guyana the rest of the region, and the world.

Last week, the Foreign Affairs Ministry said that the Government is hard at work facilitating increased flight routes that will directly connect Guyana to various destinations.

The Ministry also noted that Guyana welcomes both new and longstanding partners in the aviation sector and looks forward to working with all operators to ensure continuously improved services and viable and sustainable operations. (G2)

13 2-year retroactive salary increases for BOSAI employees NEWS

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

…as company signs MoU with NAACIE

E

mployees of the BOSAI Minerals Group (Guyana) Inc will be receiving increases in wages and salaries for the periods of April 1, 2021 to March 31, 2022 and April 1, 2022 to December 31, 2022.

Facilitated by the Labour Ministry, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by the bauxite company and the National Association of Agricultural,

Commercial and Industrial Employees (NAACIE).

“After seeing reports of the company’s employees taking strike action last month, the Ministry swiftly intervened and engaged both the union and the company. A meeting was held on October 22, 2021, and at that meeting, proposals were made by the Chief Labour Officer to bring the strike action to an end.

This then saw the signing

of a Terms of Resumption agreement between the parties,” a statement from the Ministry indicated.

The Labour Ministry engaged the management of the company and NAACIE representatives.

The meeting was convened by Chief Labour Officer Dhaneshwar Deonarine, and proposals were adduced to bring the strike action to an end. The Union responded positively,

Cutlass-wielding bandit robs businessman …drops loot while escaping

A

cutlass-wielding bandit who robbed a businessman of his cellphone and some cash has reportedly dropped the stolen articles in his bid to escape.

Police reported that the incident occurred on Thursday at around 20:30h at a bar located in the Tuschen New Housing Scheme, East Bank Essequibo (EBE).

Reports are that the 40-year-old businessman was closing his bar when the suspect walked in, pretend-

ing to be a customer, and asked to make a purchase.

The businessman told Police he informed the man that he was closed, and the man then whipped out a cutlass from his pants waist and dealt the businessman a chop to his right hand, causing him to receive injuries.

According to Police, the bandit then pushed his hand into the businessman’s pants pocket and removed his iPhone 6, valued at $45,000, and $30,000 in cash, before jumping the back fence of the business

premises and making good his escape in a northerly direction.

However, in the process, he dropped stolen articles, which were recovered by the victim at the back of his yard.

Following the suspect’s escape, the businessman raised an alarm, and the Police were called. He was taken to the Leonora Cottage Hospital, where he was treated.

Police have since launched an investigation.

(G9)

Murder convict appeals 75-year jail term

Murder convict Kenkossie Lynch

Murder accused Sedley Liverpool

Dead: Terrence Lanferman

former Eccles, East Bank Demerara (EBD) resident, Kenkossie Lynch is appealing his conviction and 75-year jail sentence for murder. In May 2019, the 26-year-old man was found guilty by a 12-member jury of the June 1, 2015 murder of Nelson Street, Mocha Arcadia, EBD mechanic Terrence Lanferman.

In his notice of appeal filed with the Guyana Court of Appeal, the murder convict contended that trial Judge Navindra Singh erred in law when he admitted a caution statement Police detectives claim he had given them. He further contended that the trial Judge failed to adequately put his defence

to the jury.

The court is yet to fix a date to hear this matter.

Reports indicate that Lanferman, 23, and Lynch’s cousin, Sedley Liverpool, had a previous dispute. The court heard that on June 1, 2015, Lynch and his cousin met and conspired to attack Lanferman, after which both of them visited the now-deceased man’s home on a motorcycle.

It was revealed that Lynch went to Lanferman’s home armed with a gun that his cousin had given to him. While Lynch was at the home, his cousin waited on him some distance away.

Lynch knocked on the door and confronted Lanferman, who had opened the door,

and shot him before making good his escape.

Justice Singh, in his sentencing remarks, told lynch that it was quite unfortunate that he murdered a man he did not know and with whom he had no problem. “This was a premeditated crime… you staked out and waited on the opportune time to kill this man,” the Judge said to the convicted killer.

Liverpool was later incriminated by his cousin. In 2018, Liverpool was committed to stand trial at the Demerara High Court for Lanferman’s murder after a Magistrate ruled that a prima facie case was made out against them at the end of a Preliminary Inquiry (PI).

A

(G1)

Representatives of Bosai Minerals Group Guyana Inc and National Association of Agricultural, Commercial & Industrial Employees (NAACIE) after signing the MoU

and agreed with the tabled proposal and to call off the strike.

Additionally, a statement posted on the Labour Ministry’s social media page related that a Terms of Resumption (ToR) agreement was signed between the parties. Among the terms are that the Union shall call off the strike with immediate effect; the Union undertakes to ensure that there is full resumption by October 23; there shall be no victimisation by either

party; and the status quo ante shall remain.

A number of employees had downed tools on October 21 over what they described as “unsatisfactory” across-the-board increases in wages and salaries. The employees had claimed the company had agreed to pay a 5.5 percent increase, which is a decrease from last year, which saw them taking home 6.5 percent. The employees had dubbed the move as unfair, and had called for an in-

crease of between 8.5 and 10 percent.

At the signing of the MoU, the company was represented by General Manager Eric Yu, Human Resources Manager Truedel Marks, Chief Engineer Orin Barnwell, and Chief Security Officer John Domer; while the Union was represented by General Secretary (ag) Karren Mapp, General President (ag) Bernard Crawford, and Junior Vice President Whitney Graham. (G2)

14 NEWS

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2021|| GUYANATIMESGY.COM

APNU/AFC to “consult” internally on proposed electoral reform laws …no answer on meeting with Govt

T

he A Partnership for National Unity/ Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) coalition will be making its rounds of internal consultations before collectively taking a position on the draft electoral reform laws.

Opposition Leader Joseph Harmon took this stance on Friday amid an invitation from Government to engage in consultation for possible changes to the Representation of the People’s Act. “We will deal with them (the issues) after I have had consultations with the members of my team. They have sent individual letters to the Leader of the PNC, Leader of the Opposition, and Leader of the AFC. There will be rounds of consultation before we actually come up with a position,” Harmon has said.

According to him, an issue on the front burner is a cleansed voters’ list before the facilitation of the next General and Regional Elections.

“As far as the PNC is concerned, the critical element of this is to ensure

that we have a cleansed voters’ list, that we’re not going to go back to any elections with the voters’ list as it stands, and that the best process of cleansing the list is by house-to-house registration.”

While the Government has draft electoral reform laws and wants to take them to Parliament at the earliest possible opportunity, it also wants to have the widest possible engagement with stakeholders. These consultations include with the various political parties.

Governance and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Gail Teixeira recently revealed that the consultation will be held over a six-week period, allowing stakeholders and the public to make comments and give suggestions via email or postings on the Ministry’s social media page. She also urged persons to view the proposed amendments in the context of avoiding a recurrence of the events which followed the March 2020 General and Regional Elections.

“We want people to look at those and see what they feel, and ask themselves,

‘Are the recommendations sufficient? Are there areas in terms of the process of elections from registration through to proclamation? Have we covered all the corners in terms of what may be ambiguities or opportunities for people to do things that would harm or undermine the rights of the Guyanese people to vote and elect the representatives of their choice?’ So, we are trying to prevent what happened in 2020 (from) happening again,” the Minister reiterated.

One issue the reforms deal with is the Chief Election Officer’s (CEO’s) issuance of manuals to GECOM staff. In theory, the manuals are issued to supplement and clarify existing laws. In practice, the CEO would often issue manuals that run counter to the law.

According to Nandlall, the reforms would ensure greater scrutiny of the practice.

Additionally, the reforms would address the issue of polling station locations. Indeed, during the 2020 General and Regional Elections, GECOM caught flak for their choice of polling

station locations, which in some cases were inaccessible or difficult to find. In Eccles, East Bank Demerara, there was one case of GECOM putting a polling place in a muddy pasture that was used for grazing cows.

Proposed changes to the Representation of the People Act (RoPA) were released to the public last week – just over a year after the unprecedented five-month-long election last year, which was marred by instances of fraud and other electoral offences.

Among the changes in the proposed reforms are stiffened penalties. For instance, if the CEO posts false statements of poll on the website, he/she has committed an offence and can be fined $10 million as well as face life imprisonment.

In fact, if the CEO fails altogether to make the copies available electronically via the GECOM website, he can be charged.

Another responsibility of the CEO is to prepare a final report on the nationwide votes which are to be submitted to the Elections Commission to declare the winner of the elections. If he fails to do this within the established timeframe, or if he falsifies any of the data, he can also be jailed for life and fined as much as $10 million.

During a special edition of his programme “Issues in the News”, Attorney General Anil Nandlall had also encouraged all Guyanese to acquaint themselves with the reforms. He noted that Government wants to con-

sult on the reforms as widely as possible before they are brought to Parliament. He also urged the persons they consult with to put forward suggestions and proposed amendments of their own if they feel the need to, noting that his party does not have a “monopoly” on knowledge.

“The (amendments) are all intended to strengthen the democratic process.

They are all intended to make the process transparent. They are all intended to make the machine accountable. So, discretion, as I said, is being eliminated or reduced. Things that are blurred or ambiguous are clarified… these amendments are not intended or designed to give any political party an electoral advantage,” Nandlall said.

US-based Guyanese brothers drown while on vacation

T

wo United Statesbased Guyanese brothers drowned on Tuesday after they were swept away by a rip current while vacationing in Puerto Rico.

Dead are Ryan, 46, who worked for Metro, and Rawle Fortune, 40, a retired marine who went to San Juan to celebrate Rawle’s birthday.

Guyana Times understands that the dead brothers are originally from Vryheid’s Lust, East Coast Demerara.

Ryan’s wife told the NBC Washington News that the brothers went swimming in the ocean and drowned near their hotel.

“We thought they were fine, and you can’t really tell how far they were out, and then all of a sudden they disappeared,” Nakia WilsonFortune said through tears.

“We couldn’t see them, and I couldn’t find them,” she is quoted by NBC Washington News as saying.

The brothers are the nephews of well-known Guyanese physical education teacher and coach, Johnny “Overseas” Barnwell.

NBC Washington also

Dead brothers Ryan and Rawle Fortune (NBC Washington News photo)

reported that the Fortune brothers resided in Prince George’s County.

Their father, Arnold Fortune in an interview with reporters said “I am lost, I feel very lost and empty. Those two boys were my heart, I loved those boys I

want them to be remembered for the good guys they were”.

The brothers recently visited Guyana.

Ryan leaves behind a wife, four children and two grandchildren. Rawle leaves behind four children.

NEWS

15

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2021| GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Law that grants tax exemption to Chancellor, CJ unconstitutional – High Court rules …income of all Judges now subject to same tax treatment ...awards $2.5M compensation to fmr Judge

“I

t is apposite to note that in other Caricom countries all Judges are treated equally in relation to taxes.

In Trinidad and Tobago and the Eastern Caribbean, all Judges are exempted from taxes. There is no subset of Judges that enjoys the exemption and others excluded. In Jamaica, all Judges are subject to taxes” – Justice Corbin-Lincoln The State breached retired Puisne High Court Judge William Ramlall’s fundamental right of equality of the law as guaranteed under Article 149D of the Constitution when he was made to pay judicial income tax from 2004 up until his retirement in 2014, Justice Fidela Corbin-Lincoln ruled on Friday.

Justice Ramlall was a sitting Judge when he applied in 2015 for constitutional redress against the Attorney General arguing that Section 13 of the Income Tax Amendment Act, Act No 7 of 2004 is unconstitutional, void, and of no effect on the basis that it infringes upon Article 149D (1) by only granting tax exemptions to the Chancellor of the Judiciary and the Chief Justice.

His case is that in 2003 the Judges of the Supreme Court of Judicature engaged in a meeting with the President regarding the provision of better terms and conditions of service for all Judges. A case was made out for the grant of an exemption from income tax on the earnings of all Judges.

In 2004, the relevant portion of the Act was introduced and passed in the National Assembly.

By virtue of Section 2 of the Act, therefore, all annuities (excluding those paid out of a superannuation fund) salaries, leave pay, sick bonus, stipend, or other payment of any kind for services, director's fees, retiring allowances, and compensation for the termination of any contract of employment or service which are chargeable with tax under the Act and received by the Chancellor and Chief Justice are exempt from tax.

Salary or profits from a trade or business carried on in person or in partnership is also excluded.

These tax exemptions were not extended to Justice Ramlall or other Judges of the Supreme Court. Prior to the enactment, the income of all Judges of the Supreme Court, including the Chancellor and Chief Justice was subject to the same tax treatment.

In light of the foregoing, Justice Ramlall sought a declaration that Section 13 (a) of the Act is unconstitutional and a declaration

that the deduction of income tax from his judicial income is an unlawful alteration of the terms and conditions of the service as a Judge of the Supreme Court.

He asked the High Court to declare that the State is not entitled to take or receive income tax derived from his emoluments, a declaration that upon retirement he is entitled to a monthly pension and retirement benefits of not less than seven-eighths of his salary at the time of his retirement.

He also asked the court to grant an order for constitutional compensation and/ or damages and/or a refund of income tax together with interest thereon because of the contravention of Article 149D of the Constitution.

The retired Judge submitted that since the passage of the Act, he was subjected to taxes on his emoluments amounting to in excess of $34,000,000.

The retired Judge further requested orders, writs, directions that are necessary or appropriate to enforce the fundamental rights guaranteed by Article 149D.

Unconstitutional

In determining if Justice Ramlall’s fundamental right was breached, Justice Corbin-Lincoln examined the provisions of Article 149D and whether the roles of the Chancellor and Chief Justice are similarly situated/circumstanced, comparable, analogous, or broadly similar to that of the retired Judge and other Judges of the Supreme Court.

According to her, the Supreme Court was established by Article 123 (1) of the Constitution and consists of the Court of Appeal and the High Court, both of which have been designated as superior courts of record. She said Article 126 of the Constitution states that a “Judge” includes the Chancellor, the Chief Justice, a Justice of Appeal, a Puisne Judge, and a parttime Judge.

She further said the period for which a person is required to have been qualified for admission as an advocate for the qualification for the appointment of a Judge of the Court of Appeal and of the High Court is 10 and seven years, respectively.

While the Chancellor and Chief Justice are appointed by the President after obtaining agreement from the Opposition Leaders, Justice Corbin-Lincoln said the other Judges are appointed by the President who shall act in accordance with the advice of the Judicial Service Commission (JSC).

The High Court Judge noted that the Chancellor

and the Chief Justice, who are appointed by a different process, are at the apex of the hierarchy of the Supreme Court and are tasked with the same judicial responsibilities as the other Judges. But apart from judicial responsibilities, they also have administrative responsibilities and are remunerated at a higher rate than other Judges.

Justice Corbin-Lincoln, however, held that like other Judges of the Supreme Court, the Chancellor and Chief Justice belong to the class of Judges of the Supreme Court as defined by the Constitution.

She said the Chancellor and Chief Justice must meet the same pre-qualification requirement and have the same retirement age as other Judges of the Court of Appeal, must subscribe to the same oath, have the same judicial responsibilities, and are bound by the same judicial code of conduct.

“A ruling or decision of the Chancellor carries no more judicial weight than those of other Judges of the Court of Appeal and, equally, a ruling or decision of the Chief Justice carries no more judicial weight than that of other Judges of the High Court. While the roles of Chancellor and Chief Justice are not identical to other Judges of the Supreme Court, I find that they are analogous and broadly similar,” Justice Corbin-Lincoln reasoned.

Since the remuneration of the Chancellor and Chief Justice already takes into account their hierarchy and additional administrative responsibilities, the Judge said the Attorney General failed to establish that the differential tax treatment has a legitimate aim.

Justice Corbin-Lincoln, therefore, found that Section 13 (a) of the Act contravenes Article 149D of the Constitution in so far as it confers tax exemptions on the Chancellor and Chief Justice only and excludes other Judges.

She described the Act as having a “discriminatory effect” and therefore declared that Section 13 (a) of the Act insofar as amended by Act No 7 is unconstitutional, void, and of no effect. In the circumstances, the Judge ordered the State to pay Justice Ramlall $2,500,000 as compensation.

Treated equally

“It is apposite to note that in other Caribbean Community (Caricom) countries all Judges are treated equally in relation to taxes.

In Trinidad and Tobago and the Eastern Caribbean, all Judges are exempted from taxes. There is no subset of Judges that enjoys the ex-

emption and others excluded. In Jamaica, all Judges are subject to taxes,” the Justice noted.

It was further deposed by Justice Ramlall that based on the statutory regime in place, he would receive a pension of 2/3 of his salary upon retirement which is the same level of pension received by other public servants. As such, he contended that this level of pension is not enough to maintain the standard of living enjoyed as a Judge and keep him from practicing at the Bar on retirement.

He went on to argue that the actions of the State are contrary to the spirit and intent of Article 197 (10) of the Constitution which dictates that it is “in the interest of the State” to provide such terms and conditions to Judges to avoid them having to practice at the Bar upon retirement.

Although there is a multitude of reasons why this would be in the interest of the State including ensuring the independence, impartiality, and dignity of the judicial office, the Judge said that there is an existing statutory regime for the calculation of pension for Judges - Regulation 7 (2) of the Pension Act Cap 27.02.

According to her, the Act prescribed that pension for Judges is calculated on the same basis used to calculate pension for the Director of Public Prosecutions, the Solicitor General, and the Chief Parliamentary Counsel. She added that Justice Ramlall appears to be contending the cur-

High Court Judge Fidela Corbin-Lincoln

rent statutory pension regime for Judges enacted

by Parliament is unconstitutional as it does not adequately provide for Judges and avoid them having to return to private practice.

“Pension rights are inextricably linked to the quantum of remuneration. Article 197 (10) in my view is nebulous, perhaps deliberately so. By what objective standard is it to be determined whether the pension benefits are adequate enough to avoid a Judge having to return to practice at the Bar? How is it to be determined that the current statutory pension regime puts the State in “breach” of this Article?”, the High Court Judge asked.

The Justice said that Article 197 (10) expresses the notion that Judges ought not to be placed in a position of lack and inadequate means both while serving and in retirement. But she noted that the terms of the constitutional provision are too unclear, ambiguous, and imprecise to give rise to a legitimate expectation of better pension rights that cur-

Retired Judge William Ramlall

rently exist by statute.

To this end, Justice Corbin-Lincoln ruled that Justice Ramlall failed to establish a right to a declaration that he is entitled upon retirement to a monthly pension and retirement benefits of not less than seven-eighths of his salary at the time of his retirement.

She was keen to point out that there has been no comprehensive review of the terms of conditions of Judges for decades taking into consideration changing social, technological, and economic circumstances.

This, she added, is not in keeping with the “spirit and intent” of Article 197 (10).

“While Article 197 (10) states that it would be in the interest of the State to provide adequate terms and conditions to Judges, in my view it would also be in the public interest for steps to be taken to give full effect to the spirit and intent of this constitutional provision.”

Her ruling essentially paves the way for all Judges, including the Chancellor and Chief Justice, to pay income tax. (G1)

16 NEWS

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Tougher penalties, gun amnesty to rid streets of illegal weapons – President Ali …announces reform programme for criminals

President Irfaan Ali

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n an effort to curb crime in Guyana, Government will be imposing tougher penalties and a gun amnesty initiative to get illegal weapons off of the street.

This was announced

by President Dr Irfaan Ali during an Address to the Nation on Friday during which he highlighted the crime situation in the country and his Government’s plans and policies to tackle it.

He reported a 19.4 per cent decline in serious crimes across the country with a 32.4 per cent decrease in robbery under arms (RUA).

But according to the Head of State, four regions have recorded increases in armed robberies despite the overall national decrease in this category. These are Regions One (BarimaWaini), Six (East BerbiceCorentyne), Seven (CuyuniMazaruni) and Nine (Upper

Takutu-Essequibo).

As such, President Ali noted that they will have to examine the peculiarities in those regions that led to these increases in RUA and consequently, implement targeted measures. One of those measures is reviewing the laws to toughen the penalties for possession of illegal weapons.

“I’ve asked the AG [Attorney General Anil Nandlall] to look at the laws and to propose an amendment to apply highest penalty of persons found with illegal weapons because that is a major contributory factor to this,” he disclosed.

Currently, there is a mandatory sentence of three years along with a fine for possession of unlicensed firearm in Guyana.

Gun amnesty

In addition to this, the Head of State also announced that a gun amnesty programme will be rolled out countrywide with the aim of further ridding the streets of illegal weapons.

“We’re going to give a period to all those persons with illegal weapons to deposit those weapons after which, the law will be amended to give you the greatest penalty,” the President stated.

Back in 2015, the then Ministry of Public Security had launched a Gun Amnesty Programme which netted a total of 186 unlicensed firearms from various regions across the country over a 44-day period.

Only last month, AG Nandlall had contended that firearm licences should be granted more liberally “because we have a lot of people who are qualified for firearm licences but are not [getting it]. For some reason, the system is slow”.

At the same time, however, the Attorney General recognised that there is a process to follow that needs to be meticulous.

“I know there are a lot of applications pending and one can’t rush the process because the granting of a firearm licence or its refusal is an important exercise and it requires some degree with care and circumspection.

One can’t approach these processes rashly and carelessly; one ought to take due time and diligence in order to access each application on its merits, and grant it if it is worthy of grant, and refuse it if it is not meritorious,” Nandlall had explained.

The application then goes to the Firearm Licensing Board. It is then decided, at that stage, whether the applicant is fit. If so, the application is sent to the Minister of Home Affairs for the final stamp of approval.

Reports indicate that there are more than 4500 registered pistols, 3000 registered shotguns and 3047 registered rifles by the Guyanese public.

Criminal reform

Meanwhile, another initiative that Government will be implementing to fur-

OECS countries to undertake study on enhancing border management

I

mmigration Ministers from the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) have given the green light for a study to explore options for enhancing Border Management Systems interoperability to allow for greater sharing of passenger information across the nine-member sub-regional grouping.

A statement issued by the St Lucia-based OECS Commission said that the authorisation for the study was given during the inaugural meeting of the Council

of Ministers of Immigration held last week and chaired

by Antigua and Barbuda’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, International Trade, and Immigration, EP Chet Greene.

It said the meeting afforded an opportunity for the Ministers to be updated on the Single Domestic Space, noting that the Revised Treaty of Basseterre (RTB) which established the Eastern Caribbean Economic Union (ECEU) allows for unfettered movement of resources including

persons, labour, capital, service providers, businesses, and goods across the sub-region.

It said that among these issues were the implementation of automated systems at the main ports of entry; capacity building for border officials on new and emerging border management threats and the need for enhanced interoperability of the border management systems across the OECS Single Domestic Space.

The OECS Commission statement said that over the last year, the Caribbean Community Implementing Agency for Crime and Security (Caricom IMPACS) has been working directly with several OECS member states towards the development of Online ED Forms.

It said that the Council of Ministers acknowledged the importance of these efforts to enhance overall border security and systems while ensuring that the freedoms associated with the movement of persons already delivered by the establishment of the ECEU were preserved and enhanced. (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

Illegal firearms recently seized by the Guyana Police Force

ther bring down the country’s crime rate is a reform programme for criminal elements.

According to President Ali during Friday’s Address to the Nation, the “very confidential programme” will see Government engaging persons associated

with criminal activities, who want to turn their lives around.

“We want a discussion with you. We want to talk to you, to give you an alternative pathway, to earning an income and to living a decent life. The life of crime is short-lived. It may

have, in your head, shortterm glory but it’s shortlived. We want to work with you on giving you a better option at life. And we’re going to pursue a programme to directly interact with those persons also,” the Head of State noted. (G8)

Prosecutor’s home riddled with bullets

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Police prosecutor is now counting his lucky stars after his East Bank Demerara home came under gunfire.

Corporal Heamchand Sukhna and his family came under attack at around 21:00h on Sunday while they were in their yard.

Guyana Times understands that the family, while socialising, heard loud explosions sounding like gunshots and ran for

cover.

It was then two men wearing hoodies and armed with guns were seen standing in front of the home firing shots into Sukhna’s yard and in their direction.

The shooting, which was captured on CCTV cameras, lasted for about a minute before the gunmen made good their escape.

The 39-year-old Police Corporal is stationed in the Police Regional Division 4B

where he serves as the Police prosecutor at the Diamond Magistrates’ Court.

Just after the incident, Police ranks responded to the scene, where two .40 spent shells and five .22 spent shells were recovered from the scene.

Reports are the shooting is linked to a matter before the court that was prosecuted by Sukhna.

An investigation has been launched.

Former Sport Journalist Rene Stoby passes away

T

he Guyana Times Sport wishes to extend its sincerest condolences to the family and friends of former employee, Rene Stoby who passed away on Thursday, November 11, 2021.

Stoby, a former sport journalist, possessed a passion for sport and it was clear in his delivery and writing. However, Stoby fell ill in 2016 and with the loss of his speech and mobility, was forced to quit his career as a sport journalist.

The illness, which has remained a mystery to medical practitioners, reportedly severely affected Stoby’s muscles. Since falling ill, Stoby continued to battle the dreaded illness up until his passing.

Remembered as an effervescent character, Stoby hailed from Linden and is also a former Marketing Agent attached to the National Communications

Rene Stoby

Network (NCN). He entered the sport journalism world a few years after his brother, Rueben Stoby.

Stoby joined the Guyana Times Sport team in early 2016, where he extensively covered sport disciplines such as cycling, boxing, and weightlifting and even dabbled in football coverage.

However, Stoby’s willingness to fill in for his then colleagues at events pertaining

to any and all sport disciplines, is a true testament to his shining character.

Although the marketing expert and journalist only spent several months at this establishment, his jovial personality is one that radiated with all those who came into contact with him. Stoby leaves his parents, siblings and son to mourn.

May his soul rest in peace.

NEWS

17

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

22 graduate from ExxonMobil-sponsored Education Ministry lauds “green energy” electrical installation training essay competition

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A section of the participants displaying certificates of completion in electrical installation training

S

ome 22 young men successfully completed the Youth Challenge Guyana (YCG) electrical training programme, gaining knowledge and being certified in electrical installation. The programme was supported by ExxonMobil (Guyana).

Over the past six weeks the group of men were trained and 22 received certificates for their successful completion of the programme.

The young men are expected to be provided with internships and additional mentorship for their suc-

cessful development into the workforce.

In addition to technical skills, they were exposed to life-skills sessions that focused on various aspects of their growth such as personal finance, self-awareness and communication, interacting with law enforcement, leadership and conflict resolution, and entrepreneurship.

Speaking at the event, ExxonMobil Guyana’s Community Relations Manager, Suzanne De Abreu emphasised the company’s commitment to Guyanese youth through its support

to training and development opportunities that improve their lives and careers.

She highlighted that ExxonMobil Guyana has partnered with YCG on a variety of programmes including Science Technology Engineering Mathematics (STEM) education, an agricultural programme, and a similar youth skills development programme.

“Each of these programmes has benefited youth and the communities in real ways and we are delighted to be part of the ceremony recognising the achievements of you all,” De Abreu expressed.

“Acquiring a technical skill such as you have with electrical installation, is currency in the world of employment and it is something that will remain forever yours. Your certification will hopefully open doors that would not necessarily have been accessible to you in the past.”

Meanwhile, two recipients of the training reflected on their growth and shared their excitement to learn the many things which were new to them. They praised ExxonMobil and Youth Challenge Guyana for the investment in their future.

FARMSUP offers 3-year support to GTI tective equipment for staff and students on an annual basis, repairs needed to the Agricultural Machinery workshop on an annual basis with the employment of the top two graduates from both the day and evening programme.

ike many other countries, Guyana has been making strides to erase its carbon footprint with the numerous green energy projects it has embarked on.

CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited (CPGL) has jumped on the bandwagon by hosting its inaugural secondary schools’ “Green Energy & Renewables” essay competition, an initiative that the Education Ministry fully supports, vowing to encourage secondary schools to have the students participate since it views the topics as very relevant to Guyana and its development at this time.

Students from both public and private schools are invited to submit essays.

Junior secondary students (aged 11-14) are invited to submit their essays on the topic of “Green Energy Ideas for My Community” and senior secondary students (aged 15-18) are invited to submit their essays on the topic of “The Effect of Renewables on Climate Change in Guyana”.

To participate, junior secondary students must submit essays with a 5001000 word count and senior secondary students with a 1000-1500 word count.

Students across Guyana will have the opportunity to win amazing prizes. Prizes include iPad Pros, iPhones and electric and kick scooters, and will be awarded for first, second, and third places. Interested participants can expect to see full rules

and regulations in the local media. CPGL holds a 25 per cent working interest in the Stabroek Block, with partners ExxonMobil and Hess, located approximately 200 kilometres offshore Guyana.

“As a responsible company, CPGL views the environment as an invaluable asset and has responded to climate change challenges by implementing its own low carbon green energy development strategy and is fully committed to being a resource-saving green company,” a release from the company said.

Noting the importance of a clean and healthy environment for the next generation, the company stated that the essay competition is intended to help youths understand the need for protecting the environment, especially as Guyana is headed into the future of oil and gas.

“We hope this essay competition promotes awareness among the youths of Guyana. As we shift gears focusing on low emissions and green energy as a company, it is important that we get this message out, that everyone should care what happens to the planet, especially as the numbers show that positive changes now will affect the environment for generations to come,” President of CPGL, Liu Xiaoxiang expressed.

He further stated that, “We want as many young vibrant minds that care about the environment to enter this competition and share their ideas”.

25-year prison sentence “excessive” – rape convict tells CoA Managing Director Renger van Dijk hands over one Doosan Forklift to Principal Renita Crandon Duncan in the presence of other officials and representatives from both FARMSUP and GTI

F

arm Supplies Limited (FARMSUP) Managing Director, Renger van Dijk, and Government Technical Institute (GTI) Principal Renita Crandon Duncan signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for a three-year partnership agreement to assist in the delivery of the Agricultural Machinery Programme.

Speaking on behalf of FARMSUP, Managing Director Renger van Dijk stressed on the importance of supporting the educational sector.

“This is a mutual partnership between the school

and our company that works very well. We also benefit by getting students who join our company, work hard, and move up in very high ranks within the company. Our first partnership was signed in 2012, nine years after we are proud to be in continuous partnership and to be donating a Doosan Forklift for the benefit of the students in training,” Renger van Dijk said.

Meanwhile, GTI Principal Crandon Duncan related that they are very grateful for the opportunities offered to the students

by Farm Supplies Limited.

She is looking forward to a

fruitful and reciprocal relationship in the years to come and expressed thanks to Farm Supplies Limited for always having GTI as their number one partner and is most grateful for the contributions made.

The MoU’s main objectives of the partnership include providing support to GTI through the provision of tools and equipment for the Agricultural Machinery Programme on an annual basis; assisting with training through guest lectures and other facilitations; provision of industrial attachments for students, personal pro-

A

man who was convicted of four counts of rape and sentenced to 25 years in prison is appealing his sentence on the basis that it is “excessive”.

Jegede Hodge, 50, formerly of Mocha Arcadia, East Bank Demerara (EBD), has lodged a Notice of Appeal with the Guyana Court of Appeal.

In December 2019, he was found guilty of engaging in sexual activity with a 13-year-old girl between May 1 and 31, 2014. In 2015, he committed the said act twice between January 21 and December 31; the girl was 14 then. When she turned 16 in 2017, he again raped her between September 1 and 30, 2017.

On the first charge, Justice Simone MorrisRamlall sentenced Hodge to

18 years’ imprisonment and another 20 years on the second count. She further imposed a 22 and 25-year prison sentence on the third and fourth counts, respectively.

The sentences will run concurrently.

In appeal documents, the convicted child rapist is argued that his trial lawyer failed to adequately mitigate the sentence. He further argued that the sentence is unfair, too severe, excessive in all circumstances of the case, and not in keeping with established sentencing guidelines.

The victim, in a statement to the court, had said she is still traumatised by the incidents and at times thought about ending her life. She also stated that she was disappointed that her

Jegede Hodge

mother did not believe her when she confided in her about what Hodge had done to her.

The young lady said that the man would collect her from school and take her to various locations where he raped her. Her statement also revealed that she had pleaded with him to use a condom to prevent her from getting pregnant. (G1)

18

guyanatimesgy.com

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2021

Regional

Deforestation in Brazil’s El Salvador orders army into the streets after spike in killings Amazon rises in Oct, despite COP26 vows S

D

eforestation in Brazil’s Amazon rainforest rose in October from a year ago, satellite data showed on Friday, undercutting vows by the government of President Jair Bolsonaro that it is curbing destruction of a crucial bulwark against climate change.

The preliminary data from national space research agency INPE showed about 877 square kilometers (339 square miles) of forest were cleared last month, a 5 per cent increase from October 2020. It was the worst October deforestation since the current monitoring system began in 2015.

Brazil is making a push at the United Nations climate change summit (COP26) to suggest it has stepped up stewardship of the Amazon, vowing to end illegal deforestation by 2028, two years earlier than a previous target.

But scientists, diplomats and activists say those promises mean little given how deforestation has soared under Bolsonaro to levels last seen in 2008, as

An aerial view shows deforestation near a forest on the border between Amazonia and Cerrado in Nova Xavantina, Mato Grosso state, Brazil July 28, 2021

the far-right populist calls for more mining and farming in the Amazon. read more “Government announcements are not changing the reality that Brazil is continuing to lose forests,” said Ane Alencar, science director at Amazon Environmental Research Institute, at COP26 in Glasgow. “The world knows where Brazil stands and this attempt to display a different Brazil is unconvincing, because satellite data clearly shows the reality.”

Bolsonaro has offered a

more conciliatory tone on environmental issues since US President Joe Biden took office, promising at a White House Earth Day summit and again at the UN General Assembly to bring down illegal deforestation.

However, the Brazilian president has overseen staffing cuts at environmental agencies, thrown up roadblocks to environmental law enforcement and deployed an ineffective army intervention to disrupt anti-logging operations in the Amazon. (Excerpt from Reuters)

alvadoran President Nayib Bukele has deployed the military to patrol streets throughout the country in response to a surge in murders this week.

Troops were ordered on Thursday onto the streets of the capital San Salvador, where they used armoured cars to block the exits of some poor neighbourhoods, while Police went door to door searching for members of the country’s notorious street gangs.

The military deployment follows more than 30 homicides on Tuesday and Wednesday in the impoverished Central American nation of about 6.5 million people.

El Salvador’s homicide rate had dropped sharply from the violent days of the mid-2010s, when 15 or 20 killings a day were routine, but the country continues to have one of the world’s highest homicide rates.

Prior to an uptick this week, El Salvador had been averaging 3.8 homicides a day. Before Bukele took office in 2018, the average was 9.2 killings a day.

“We know there are dark

forces who are working to return us to the past, but this Administration is not going to allow it,” the Salvadoran President said on Twitter.

Bukele introduced draconian measures to crack down on gang violence, including the use of lethal force, drawing accusations of human rights violations.

The President circulated photos of tattooed, nearly naked gang members marched into prison yards and made to sit in cramped spaces. He

promised to make those responsible for ordering the killings regret it.

Congresswoman Anabel Belloso of the left-wing FMLN party said Bukele’s administration lacked a plan to deal with the violence and called the government’s security actions “pure public relations.”

Bukele said more measures to halt the violence would be announced in the coming hours. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Haitian gang leader says he will Mexico considers tighter entry rules for temporarily lift fuel blockades Venezuelans after US requests – sources

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exico is considering setting tougher entry requirements for Venezuelans, partly in response to US requests, after a sharp rise in border arrests of Venezuelans fleeing their homeland, according to three people familiar with the matter.

Currently, Venezuelans do not need a visa to enter Mexico as tourists. But as apprehensions of Venezuelan migrants on the US-Mexico border soar, Mexico is looking at making their entry subject to certain criteria, a Mexican official familiar with the government’s internal discussions said.

New entry rules could be applied soon, the official

said.

A second Mexican government source said Mexico was reviewing its options, and holding discussions with Venezuela to explore alternatives to imposing visa requirements.

A third person familiar with Mexican-US talks said Washington is urging Mexico to impose visa restrictions on Venezuelans, noting that US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has been complaining about the increase in Venezuelans.

Options under review include making Venezuelans show they are economically solvent and in employment, and have a return plane ticket when they enter in order

to ensure they are not using Mexico to enter the United States, the first source said.

A US State Department spokesperson said Washington was working with Mexico to address root causes of irregular migration in a “collaborative, regional approach” when asked by Reuters whether the Biden Administration was pressing Mexico to tighten entry requirements for Venezuelans.

The discussions come as encounters of Venezuelans at the US-Mexico border have leapt to 47,762 in the year through September from just 1262 during the previous 12-month period, according to US government data. (Excerpt from Reuters)

N

otorious Haitian gang leader Jimmy “Barbecue” Cherizier has said he will temporarily lift blockades of fuel terminals that have led to crippling shortages in the Caribbean nation and worsened already deep political and economic crises.

For nearly a month, Cherizier’s G9 alliance of gangs has been preventing trucks from reaching the Varreux fuel terminal outside the capital, Port-au-Prince, leading to shortages that have forced hospitals, businesses and schools to limit operations.

“The doors of the Varreux plant are wide open so that the trucks can get their supplies without fear,”

Panama’s team “make noise” at COP26 for youth and women

P

anama’s top COP26 negotiator Juan Carlos Monterrey Gomez pumps himself up each morning with “reggaeton” music as the 29-year-old prepares to fight for the future of his country and his generation.

“We’re the people who are going to make noise,” Monterrey Gomez told Reuters at the UN climate summit in Glasgow.

The 11-member Panamanian negotiating team which Monterrey

Gomez leads is the youngest at COP26, with an average age of just 26 and more women than men. “We’re young.

Don’t take us for granted. You want to keep us on the right side. Sometimes we’re nice, but sometimes we need to be not-so-nice,” is how he summarised his tactics.

During his relatively short lifetime, Monterrey Gomez has seen pledges made by previous generations of negotiators and world leaders repeatedly failed to control cli-

mate change.

Greenhouse gas emissions have doubled, while rich nations still have not made good on long-standing promises of finance for poor nations to adapt to the changes global warming brings.

The Panamanian delegation is pushing for talks to result in a firm commitment by rich nations to prevent global temperatures from rising more than 1.5 Celsius above pre-industrial levels.

And he warned Britain’s

COP president Alok Sharma to take his team seriously on the first day of the summit.

“The point of the Panama delegation ... is not only to make change, but it’s also to be disruptive and represent the youth and women of the world,” Monterrey Gomez said. He represents a youthful country and region, with the median age in central America just 28, compared with 38 in the United States and 42.5 in Europe. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Former Police officer Jimmy “Barbecue” Cherizier, leader of the “G9” coalition of gangs, has demanded the resignation of Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry [Ralph Tedy Erol/Reuters]

Cherizier said on Friday in comments broadcast online.

“Hospitals, schools, universities, embassies must reopen and be able to supply themselves without any problem,” he said.

Haiti has experienced months of escalating gang violence, beginning before the July assassination of President Jovenel Moise plunged the country into a deeper political crisis after years of uncertainty.

Thousands have been displaced, and the National Human Rights Defense Network (RNDDH) in May reported that dozens of people had been fatally shot in Bel Air and Cite Soleil, two impoverished neighbourhoods of Port-auPrince, since August 2020 amid the uptick in violence.

The Haitian rights group

blamed the Haitian authorities for failing to address “the massive and systematic” abuses that residents face in communities “where heinous crimes have been perpetrated”.

The G9 controls entire sections of the capital and its members have been accused of assassination and mass killings, including the murder of infants. Cherizier has roundly denied responsibility for the crimes.

The situation drew renewed international attention last month when a group of 17 Christian missionaries – 16 US citizens and one Canadian – was abducted. Haitian officials have blamed a gang known as 400 Mawozo for the kidnapping. The missionaries remain in captivity. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

guyanatimesgy.com

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2021

19

Around the World

becomes COVID-19's epicentre OILNEWS OIL NEWS Europe again, some countries look at fresh curbs Oil prices post 3rd weekly drop after volatile week

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il prices fell on Friday, wiping out gains from the previous session, on worries that the US Federal Reserve will accelerate plans to boost interest rates to tame inflation.

Brent crude futures fell 70 cents, or 0.8 per cent, to settle at US$82.17 a barrel. US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude fell 80 cents, or 1 per cent, to settle at US$80.79 a barrel.

Both benchmarks fell for a third consecutive week, hit by a strengthening dollar and speculation that President Joe Biden's Administration might release oil from the US Strategic Petroleum Reserve to cool prices. On a weekly basis, Brent fell 0.7 per cent, while WTI declined 0.6 per cent.

"This week has been a good reminder for oil markets that prices are not only affected by the supply-demand trajectory, but also from monetary policy forecasts and by forms of government intervention," said Louise Dickson, senior oil markets analyst at Rystad Energy. "Higher interest rates would provide even further support to the dollar and even more downward pressure on oil prices."

US Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm said on Monday that Biden could act as soon as this week to address soaring gasoline prices.

"We believe that whatever the announcement is will only have a short-term impact on price, but because of the uncertainty the market is pulling back a little bit," said Phil Flynn, senior analyst at Price Futures Group.

US energy firms this week added oil and natural gas rigs for a third week in a row. The oil and gas rig count, an early indicator of future output, rose six to 556 in the week to Nov 12, its highest level since April 2020, energy services firm Baker Hughes Co said on Friday.

Russia's Rosneft the world's second-biggest oil company by output after Saudi Aramco, warned on Friday of a potential "super cycle" in global energy markets, raising the prospect of even higher prices as demand outstrips supply.

Still, though there are positive signs on the demand side, with air travel picking up rapidly, tighter monetary and fiscal policy and the looming Northern Hemisphere winter will act as a dampener.

The Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) on Thursday cut its world oil demand forecast for the fourth quarter by 330,000 barrels per day (bpd) from last month's forecast as high energy prices hampered economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

OPEC, Russia and allies, together known as OPEC+, agreed last week to stick to plans to add 400,000 bpd to the market each month.

"The oil market is sleepwalking into a supply surplus," said Stephen Brennock of oil broker PVM. "OPEC and its allies will at the very least need to put a pause on the easing of their supply curbs in the new year. Inaction will result in global oil stocks swelling once again." (Excerpt from Reuters)

E

urope has become the epicentre of the pandemic again, prompting some governments to consider re-imposing unpopular lockdowns in the runup to Christmas and stirring debate over whether vaccines alone are enough to tame COVID-19.

Europe accounts for more than half of the average 7-day infections globally and about half of latest deaths, according to a Reuters tally, the highest levels since April last year when the virus was at its initial peak in Italy.

Governments and companies are worried the prolonged pandemic will derail a fragile economic recovery. Countries including the Netherlands, Germany, Austria and the Czech Republic are taking or planning measures to curb the

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saw at least 15 injured bodies, including the Imam, who was leading the prayer. He said the explosion took place near where the Imam himself was standing in the crowded mosque.

Earlier, Qari Hanif, the government spokesman for Nangarhar Province, told the The Associated Press news agency that the explosion appeared to be caused by a bomb planted inside the mosque.

Atal Shinwari, a resident of the area, told the Reuters news agency the blast occurred at about 1:30pm local time (09:00 GMT) when explosives apparently located in the interior of the mosque

spread.

Caretaker Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte announced a three-week partial lockdown from Saturday, Western Europe's first since the summer.

The fresh concerns over

what British Prime Minister Boris Johnson described on Friday as "storm clouds" over Europe come as successful inoculation campaigns have plateaued ahead of the winter months and flu season.

Rare Antarctic penguin accidentally travels 3000km to New Zealand

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penguin has found itself on the shores of New Zealand, at least 3000 kilometres (1864 miles) away from its natural habitat of Antarctica.

The Adélie penguin, who has now been affectionately named Pingu by locals, was found looking lost on the coast.

Harry Singh, the local resident who found him, said he thought he was a "soft toy" at first.

It is only the third recorded incident of an Adélie penguin being found on New Zealand's coast.

Singh and his wife first came across the penguin when they were out walking after a long day of work on the beach at Birdlings Flat, a settlement south of the city of Christchurch.

Footage of the penguin posted on Mr Facebook page

Afghanistan: Mosque in Nangarhar province hit by blast n explosion has hit a mosque in the Spin Ghar area of Nangarhar province in eastern Afghanistan during Friday prayers, killing at least three people and wounding 15 others, according to residents and Taliban officials.

A doctor at the local hospital told AFP news agency that at least three people have been killed. “So far three killed, 15 wounded,” the doctor said. Al Jazeera was unable to independently verify the toll.

One of the witnesses, whose uncle was injured in the attack, told Al Jazeera he

People wait before receiving a dose of the "Comirnaty" Pfizer BioNTech coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine in a vaccination center in Saint-Nazaire, France, November 9, 2021

About 65 per cent of the population of the European Economic Area (EEA) - which includes the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway have received two doses, according to EU data, but the pace has slowed in recent months.

Take-up in southern European countries is around 80 per cent, but hesitancy has hampered rollout in central and eastern Europe and Russia, leading to outbreaks that could overwhelm healthcare.

To be sure, hospitalisations and deaths are much lower than a year ago and big variations by country in use of vaccines and boosters as well as measures like social distancing make it hard to draw conclusions for the whole region. (Excerpt from Reuters)

detonated.

Walli Mohammed, a local elder and activist, told AFP the bomb appeared to have been hidden in a loudspeaker. When the speaker was switched on to sound the azan – the call to begin the prayer – the device detonated, he said.

No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack.

The security challenge comes as the United Nations has repeatedly warned that Afghanistan is on the brink of the world’s worst humanitarian crisis with more than half the country facing “acute” food shortages. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Adelie penguin Pingu was found looking lost and tired by local Birdlings Flat residents

showed the penguin appearing lost and alone.

"It did not move for one hour... and [looked] exhaust-

ed" Singh said.

Singh proceeded to call penguin rescuers as he was concerned that the penguin

was not getting into the water, thereby making it a potential target for other predatory animals roaming the beach.

"We did not want it to end up in a dog's or cat's stomach," he said.

He eventually got through to Thomas Stracke, who has been rehabilitating penguins on New Zealand's South Island for about 10 years.

Stracke was shocked to find that the penguin was an Adélie penguin - a species that lives exclusively on the Antarctic peninsula.

Stracke, along with a veterinarian, rescued the penguin that same evening. (Excerpt from BBC News)

US Police officer sues boss over KKK note

A

black police officer in the US state of Ohio has filed a discrimination complaint after allegedly receiving a racist note from a superior officer.

Officer Keith Pool made the complaint after video footage emerged of then-Sheffield Lake Police Chief Anthony Campo placing a note on his desk reading "Ku Klux Klan" (KKK) last June.

It is also alleged Campo engaged in ongoing racist abuse against Pool.

Campo has since resigned and said his actions were "a joke".

Pool, who became Sheffield Lake's first black officer in 2020, told reporters during a press conference on Thursday that his initial reaction had been one of shock, simply asking

the then Police Chief: "Are you serious?"

"What else can you say to the Chief of Police, who had done something so heinous and so awful to the first black officer ever? It's not understandable," he said.

Lawyers for Keith Pool, 57, allege that Campo's actions formed part of a pattern of racist behaviour.

They say this included wearing a pointy hat of the KKK - a white supremacist organisation - he made in front of colleagues, harassing Pool on an "ongoing basis" and creating racially offensive images mocking him and another officer, "the only Latino officer in the division".

Campo resigned from his position after being placed on leave by the town's Mayor in July. At the time,

Officer Keith Pool said his former Police Chief left the racist note on his desk in June

he told local news outlet, Channel 5, that he had simply been joking during the incident.

Pool has also alleged that superior officers were aware of the chief's behaviour, but made no attempt to stop the abuse. (Excerpt from BBC News)

20

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2021

guyanatimesgy.com

ARCHIE

ARIES (March 21April 19)

TAURUS

DILBERT

(April 20May 20)

GEMINI (May 21June 20)

CANCER (June 21July 22)

PEANUTS

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

CALVIN AND HOBBES

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

SUDOKU

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

Know what you are up against; rethink the best way to move forward. Time is on your side, and observation is in your best interest. Protect against health hazards while maintaining discipline.

Refuse to let change cause worry and uncertainty. Go with the flow, and you'll find a way to benefit from whatever situation you encounter. Trust your instincts and use your charm.

Emotional mayhem is likely if you believe everything you hear. Don't step out of your comfort zone to impress someone. Focus on what's important to you and get your facts straight.

Plan to have some fun.

Organize activities with someone you love to be around. Gravitate toward people who make you think and pique your imagination. Share your aspirations.

Romance is favored.

Slow down, rethink your strategy and avoid getting into disputes. Look for opportunities that will encourage better relationships.

Consistency will help you maintain the status quo.

Focus on making positive changes and spending time with people who share your likes and dislikes. Take a unique approach to relationships, and it will open a passage to an exciting future.

Learn from experience, and you'll overcome any obstacle you face. Set your sights on what's important to you and get along with others. Navigate your way through deep discussions with a positive attitude.

You'll find joy in what you create. Look deep inside to discover what satisfies you the most. Stop procrastinating and head in a direction that makes a difference.

Change begins with you.

You'll take one step forSAGITTARIUS ward and three steps back (Nov. 23if you let others interfere.

Dec. 21) Take control, set and maintain a budget and develop a plan that won't work against the goal you want to achieve.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22Jan. 19)

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

Envision what you want, then make it happen. It's up to you to develop a plan that suits your needs and then follow it. A dream is just a dream until you turn it into reality.

Live within your means, offer only what's possible and don't give in when something goes against your beliefs, aspirations or capabilities. You'll gain the most if you do your own thing.

Dreamland can get you into trouble. Before you put (Feb. 20time and money into someMarch 20) thing, check the stats and make sure it's doable. The best results will happen when you micromanage every detail.

PISCES

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2021

21

Guyana to participate in Pan Am Tennis C/ships in Peru T

he Guyana Table Tennis Association (GTTA) have named their team for participation in the 2021 Senior Pan American Table Tennis Championships, scheduled for November 13th to 19th in Lima, Peru.

The GTTA recently received formal confirmation from the ITTF Americas that Guyana’s men’s team have gained qualification to the Pan American Table Tennis Championships (the men’s team were initially listed as the first reserve team). The women’s team were selected to participate in the championships based on their world ranking position.

Qualification of both teams is a significant achievement for table tennis in Guyana, since it positions Guyana among the top teams in the region. The men’s team’s qualification was based on current national champion Christopher Franklin, Caribbean men’s bronze medalist Shemar Britton, Joel Alleyne and Nigel Anthony.

Bryan’s performance and results in pre-

vious team events’ championships established their world ranking position.

Miguel Wong was selected and qualified to participate in the singles and doubles events of the competition through his singles’ ranking. This position was gained based on participation points in the Portugal Open and German Open during the pandemic.

He will play the individual events and doubles.

Based on the new ITTF world ranking system, which is geared towards encouraging participation in ITTF events, players are now awarded participation Joel Alleyne points for playing ITTFranked competitions, whereas the old system required winning and advancement in draws

Jamaica eager to host CARIFTA Games …but final decision subject to “sign-offs, approvals” and funding

O

livia Grange, Jamaica’s Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sports, has said she supports the country’s intention to host the 2022 CARIFTA Games, but warns that that would happen only once the necessary approvals and required funding are achieved.

During a Special Congress of the North American, Central American and Caribbean Athletics Association on Saturday, Dr Warren Blake, President of the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA), announced that the JAAA had been given the green light to host the Games next Easter.

Jamaica’s move came after Guyana, which was supposed to host in 2022, indicated that it would be unable to fulfil its obligation.

On Wednesday, Minister Grange appeared to back JAAA General Secretary Gareth Gayle, saying it would be a timely venture, considering that Jamaica celebrates 60 years of independence in 2022.

“I am in full support of Jamaica hosting the 2022 CARIFTA Games as a part of the country’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations, with the National Stadium in Kingston being the venue,” she said about the competition that would take place from April 16 to 18.

“When news came that the selected host for 2022, Guyana, was unable to fulfil the obligation, it was felt that the only country which could step up to the plate at such short notice would be Jamaica. Not just because of the ongoing dominance of our athletes, but be-

cause of our experience in staging similar events with athletes in spite of the COVID-19 pandemic,” she said.

Following the cancellation of the 110-year-old ISSA Boys and Girls Championships because of the pandemic in March 2020, Jamaica successfully staged the championships in May, and then the National Athletics Championships in June. The island also hosted several track meets, including the Jamaica Olympic Association-backed Olympic Destiny Series leading up to the National Championships.

“We are very proud of the successful staging of the ISSA Boys and Girls Championships (CHAMPS) earlier this year.

We have no doubt that we are equal to the task of staging the CARIFTA Games next year,” Minister Grange said.

“With the cancellation of this important event (CARIFTA) for 2020 and 2021, junior athletes have missed out on the opportunity to gauge where they are at this critical stage of their development.

Therefore, I feel that no effort should be spared in us trying to host the 2022 event.

“I have indicated to the Jamaica Athletics

Administrative Association (JAAA) and the North American, Central American and Caribbean Athletics Association (NACAC) that, as Minister, I would do my best to assist in making it possible. CARIFTA is, of course, the premier event for junior athletes across the CARICOM region, with athletes competing in two age categories: under-17 and under-20.”

However, Minister Grange was quick to indicate that all the necessary elements needed to be in place before the Government would be able to give its full blessing.

“I must say, however, that although Jamaica is interested in hosting the event, it is subject to several approvals and sign-offs, as well as the requisite funding. The Ministry is therefore working very closely with the JAAA and NCACAC to satisfy all the requirements in order for me to make an official announcement,” she said.

“It is in our best interest to do everything to have the Games held here. Among all the other good reasons, our tourism, hotels in Kingston in particular, will definitely benefit.” (Sportsmax)

Shemar Britton

of a competition for players to receive world ranking points.

The Men’s team acquired their qualification and ranking points based on the old system.

In a release, the GTTA explained, “With the restart of competitions occurring globally in the sport, and world rank- Miguel Wong ing becoming a major factor in determining qualification for key events, given the COVID-19 pandemic, it has become critical that our association is able to have our players participate in key competitions and training camps as a means of having our players continue to gain the requisite exposure and preparation, in view of positioning them to gain world ranking points so as to maximise our chances of qualification and success at key international competitions and games, while improving our trajectory at key and major international competitions. This new position has placed a review on the selection engagement of national team members participation.”

Further, the Pan American Championships will be used to select the teams for the World Table Tennis Championships in Chengdu, China during March-April 2022, and the teams for the Pan American Cup among other key competitions.

“It has therefore become absolutely critical and imperative that we have our athletes attend these championships in order to continue positioning the progression of our athletes and the sport.

“This tourney, while a qualifier for the events, as mentioned before, is more of a rebuilding competition to establish the team’s position in international tennis, while serving as great exposure, evaluation, maintaining our trajectory, and as a building block for more long-term strategic positioning of the sport,” The Association shared.

Commenting on the new format, GTTA President Godfrey Munroe shared: “With the ITTF, WTT launching its newest tier of the pyramidal structure of WTT events with the Feeder contender and continental World Tour events, this establishes a clear journey from Day 1 to World Number 1. The WTT Feeder Series is an important part of the pyramid of new events, as a tier designed for elevating grassroots talent to global stars.

“This now allows the ITTF affiliate Associations/ Federations to structure their participation of players in WTT events, and would remove the ambiguity and confusion resonating with national teams when players outside of the top tier players in national teams participate in WTT events.

“The most elite young players can grad-

uate directly from the WTT Youth Series to the WTT Contender Series. However, many young players will finish their youth journey requiring a little more time to develop and hone their skills before they qualify for this level. The WTT Feeder Series is designed to ensure that young players showing high potential but still maturing can still continue on their international table tennis journey, while also providing a “safety net” for those players formerly of the upper echelons who fall out of form, are returning from career breaks, or recovering from injury. It also provides an additional and valuable opportunity for Member Associations to host events and assist the transition of their players to elite levels.”

The concentration on the men’s team was taken given availability of senior women and based on some strategic positions of the association at this juncture.

Competition will start with men’s singles, men’s and women’s and mixed doubles, followed by the team events’ doubles.

Draws were done on 12th November at 7pm.

The team, led by National Champion and Captain Christopher Franklin, departed on 12th November.

Shemar Britton, just off of his great showing in the Ecuador ITTF contender series, will be eager to test his mettle against the region’s best. He will join the team from his base in the USA. Miguel Wong, currently in Germany, will be using this tourney as part of his preparation for the Junior Pan American Games.

He will play singles and doubles with Joel Alleyne, and will stay on for an additional 7 days before going to Cali, Colombia.

However, the women’s team, who qualified for the championships based on their world ranking, will not be participating in the competition, due to some reasons beyond their control.

“We wish to thank the Director of Sport, Mr. Steve Ninvalle, for his and the National Sports Commission’s (NSC’s) support, and (that of) the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) in assisting the GTTA’s effort in getting team to Lima; more directly, the players for their sacrifice and commitment.

22

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2021

Prime Minister’s T20 Cup…

Day 1 commences with a bang

“I can assure you that, as long as I am Prime Minister, this tournament will continue,” says Prime Minister Mark Phillips

T

he fifth edition of the Prime Minister’s T20 Cup was officially launch yesterday at the Muslim Youth Organization Ground (MYO) on Woolford Avenue in Georgetown. The tournament was opened with the bowling and batting of Prime Minister the Honourable Mark Phillips, before the teams departed

Some of the action around Georgetown on Day 1

to various grounds around Guyana to continue the threeday action.

In his feature address, the Prime Minister said, “This tournament, I can assure you that as long as I am Prime Minister, this tournament will continue. As long as I am Prime Minister, I will ensure that I support this tournament and lead from in front. So, as you compete among yourselves, compete with the assurance that this tournament will be a fixture for as long as you can play cricket. Last year, COVID affected the tournament, especially from the standpoint of the spectators, but this year we have the vaccine, and I assume that all of you are vaccinated.

It therefore means that we can have more teams involved, and spectators.”

Prime Minister Phillips further said that what is need in the tournament is stiff competition, because no excuse will be accepted, as the competition must be of a high order while maintaining discipline.

He urged the players to have keen competition among themselves, and, in the end, the winner will emerge naturally.

“On Sunday, it is my intention to be at Providence to hand over the trophies to the winners, and to spend time with all the members of the teams that participated in this competition this year. From simply participating in the

competition this year, we are all winners in this fight against COVID-19. So, keen competition this year, and I use this opportunity to declare this tournament open,” PM Phillips posited.

The results for the day’s action were as follows:

In the Legends category

1. Regal Legends beat NY Hustlers by 110 runs at MYO ground.

Regal: 223 for 4; Unis Yusuf 96, Ramesh Narine 47.

Eustace Dodson 1/30, Harold Deokenanan 1/35, Shameer Sadloo 1/36, Ravi Lutchman 1/39.

NY Hustlers: 113 for 7; Ken Sanichar 67 not out, Ramesh Narine 3/11, Parsram Persaud 3/19.

2. NY Hustlers beat Floodlights by 6 wickets at MYO ground.

Floodlights: 134 for 7; Anil Beharry 39, Shaun Massiah 27, Ravi Lutchman 3/9.

NY Hustlers: 138 for 3 (18.4); Quyaam Farouk 47 not out, Mahesh Chunilall 29, Shameer Sadloo 23, Anil Beharry 3/18.

3.

Wellman beat Floodlights by 8 wickets at Liliendaal. Floodlights: 86 all out (19.2); Khamraj Sumair 23, Anand Persaud 20, Lester Thom, Linden Headley and Davenand Madho 3 wickets each.

Wellman: 87 for 2; Harold

Heranandan 31, Sahadeo Budhu 24, Kenrick Persaud and Surrendra Nauth 1/17 each.

4. Regal beat Wellman by 78 runs at Liliendaal.

Regal: 173 for 9; Ramesh Narine 86, Unis Yusuf 43, Lester Thom 3/23, Nandram Shamlall 2/38.

Wellman: 95 all out (18.4); Wayne Jones 30, Fazleem Mohammed 3/30, Unis Yusuf 2/18.

5. Orlando Legends beat Rockaway Legends by 22 runs at GDF. Orlando: 99 all out 19.3 overs; Dean Boodhan 39, Jeff 4/22.

Rockaway: 77 all out; Lovell 27, Sankar 4/13.

6. Carpet Doctors beat NYSCL Legends by 7 wickets at GDF. NYSCL: 106 for 8; Mangar 26, Roddy Mayers 2/19, Asif Ahmad 2/27. Carpet Doctors 108 for 3 (15.1) Nigel Esturado 62 not out, Roger Mattar 24, Harold Danrade 1/10, Rudolph Perreira 1/16, Mohamed Safie 1/17.

7. Orlando Legends beat Carpet Doctors by 37 runs at GDF. Orlando Legends: 139 for 7; Dean Boodhan 41 not out, Ramcharran Singh 38, Peter Persaud 4/19. Carpet Doctors: 102 for 8; Mattar 22, Nigel Esturado 22, Jason Melville 18, Boodhan, Tom Bacchus and Singh 2 wickets each.

8. Rockaway Legends beat NYSCL Legends by 95 runs at GDF. Rockaway: 167 for 8; Robert Mohan 71, Oswald Chanandla 25, Furgesson 4/13. NYSCL Legends: 72 for 9; Furgesson 32, Rambarose 3/11.

In the All-Star category

1. Regal beat Success All Stars by 8 wickets at Eve Leary.

Success All Stars: 105 for 9; Kumar Bishundial 29, Latchman Chinapin 23, Delroy Pereira 2/12, Richard Latif 2/23, Karamchand Persaud 2/24. Regal: 111 for 2 (13.3); Sachin Singh 52, Chien Gittens 28, Nandshyaam Budhoo 1/16.

2. Ariel All Stars beat Speed Boat by 6 wickets.

Speed Boat: 114 all out (18.3); Safraz Easu 20, Devindra Mohan 26, Kishore Smith 25, Dianand Singh 3/15, Keyon Sinclair 2/14, Quintin Sampson 2/20, Jonathan Fagundes 2/31.

Ariel All Stars: 117 for 4 (12); Quintin Sampson 65 not out, Eon Hooper 31 not out, Shazim Gussain 3/26.

3. Ariel All Stars beat Regal by 29 runs at Eve Leary.

Ariel All Stars: 159 for 7; Quintin Sampson 37, David Williams 28, Eon Hooper 17, Sewchand Budhu 2/37. Regal 130 for 9; Richard Latif 37, Chien Gittens 32, Quintin Sampson 3/21, Keyon Sinclair 2/34, Jonathan Fagundes 2/12.

4. Speed Boat beat Airport by 95 runs at Eve Leary. Speed Boat: 238 for 7; Mohan 55, Safraz Esau 44, Avinash Mohabir 39, Greg Singh 35, Anand Bharat 3/34.

Airport: 143 for 5; Anand Bharat 57, Quazin Yusuff 39, Greg Singh 2/35.

FIBA 3X3 Americup 2021…

Guyana women knocked out in main draw

… Men fail to make it past qualifying draw

T

eam Guyana, both men and women, began their journey in the FIBA 3x3 Americup 2021; however, the men were eliminated in the qualifying draw, while the women advanced to the main draw.

Regrettably, the competition was too good for the Guyanese women, and they lost all two of their matches - to Chile and Mexico respectively.

García, Vicky Juarez and Gabriela Vallecillo with respective points 3,6,6,1.

In their second game, the Guyanese women lost to their Jamaica counterparts 16-20. Although the Jamaicans were much tougher, the Guyanese ladies did not go down without giving them a run for their money.

Scoring for Guyana were Joy Brown with 13 points, while Kesann Charles and Jada

The Guyanese women were knocked out in the main draw

Women’s Qualifying Draw The Guyanese women’s qualifying draw encounter with Guatemala ended 2016 in their favour, as they edged out the Guatemalans by 4 points. Joy Brown led the charge with 18 points, while Jada Mohan chipped in with 2 points. Scoring for Guatemala were Nathaly Pinelo, Mishelle

Mohan chipped in with 2 and 1 point respectively. Scoring for the Jamaicans were JoseAnn Johnson, Ashalee Gordon and Antoinette Bannister with 7,2,11 points respectively.

Main Draw The Guyanese ladies then made it through to the pool stage, but lost to Chile 18-

Committee reviewing selection policy to report findings to CWI Board in December

– says CWI Director of Cricket, Jimmy Adams

M

ost Caribbean people are seeking answers from Cricket West Indies (CWI) regarding the Selection Panel and its selection policy, which have been under the microscope more than ever. Recent developments have revealed that the Roger Harper-led Selection Panel will continue to serve until the end of 2021.

During the T20 World Cup campaign, it was confirmed that a committee has been put in place, and has commenced reviewing the

CWI selection policy. Asked what areas of difference are expected in the selection policy, CWI Director of Cricket, Jimmy Adams, said the committee’s findings would be reported to the CWI Board.

“We currently have a small working group that is looking at the policy, and this group, by the time we get to the next board meeting in early December, would have report findings to the Board on potential ways in which they might strengthen the policy, make it a bit more robust. That is an ongoing pro-

cess that we are involved in at the minute.

“We will keep you posted, so whatever is reported to the board, coming out of that working review…,” Adams said in a recent media briefing.

It was confirmed since October that a committee comprising Dr Kishore Shallow, Jimmy Adams, Philo Wallace and Chairman Enoch Lewis had begun the review process of the CWI selection policy. Of recent, this selection policy has been under fire, more so since

5. Name Brand beat Airport by 7 wickets at DCC. Airport: 136 for 8; Shane Wong 56 Not Out, Quazin Yusuf 38, Narine Bailey 3/19.

Name Brand: 140 for 3 (11.1); Diaram 42, Gangaram 38, Dyal 34, Dhanpaul Joseph and Esau 1 wicket each.

6. Name Brand beat Success All Stars by 6 wickets at DCC. Success All Stars’ Rooplall 82, Travis Fung 31, Travis Drakes 29, Narine Bailey 2/24. Name Brand’s Dyal 47, Diaram 29, Gangaram 23.

Day 2 action continues today.

the team selected for the T20 World Cup had a poor showing.

During a Mason and Guest radio programme in October, former West Indies opener Philo Wallace had said this committee had come together to examine the selection policy, and a release from CWI was expected shortly. It has been more than a month, and the public continues to await the release from CWI in relation to se- CWI Director of Cricket, Jimmy lection policy. (Brandon Adams Corlette)

13. Joy Brown again was the standout, as she bagged 9 points while Jada Mohan chipped in with 4.

In their matchup against Mexico, the Guyanese ladies were defeated 17-11. Joyann Brown was the only standout for the local side, registering all the points for Guyana.

In the end, it was not enough to save the Guyanese ladies, hence their participation in the tournament was ended.

Men’s Qualifying Draw In the Guyanese men’s encounter with Guatemala, they had to endure a fight, and that game ended 1918, with Guyana edging out their Guatemalan counterparts in the nick of time.

Travis Burnette led the charge with 9 points, while Timothy Thompson and Ryan Stephney contributed 5 points each.

In game two, the Guyanese men lost 21-13 to the Guatemalans. Timothy Thompson led the fight with 7 points, while Ryan Stephney and Travis Burnette chipped in with 5 and 1 point each.

However, it wasn’t enough to save them, and Guatemala advanced while they were eliminated.

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23

Futsal returns on December 14 …No restrictions for Elite League players

By Jemima Holmes

T

he solitary thought of football returning for the year-end season is enough to send any fan bonkers; but adding the fastpaced, electric futsal discipline to the mix will surely brighten up the Christmas season for all.

On that note, the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) is serving up the sport in all forms for the jolly season, with the help of the Kashif and Shanghai Organization.

Futsal action returns with a bang on December 14, following this revelation from the stakeholders during a briefing on Friday morning at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, which will also act as the venue for the four-week futsal event.

The tournament, according to initial reports, has 9 playing days, on December 14th, 16th, 18th, 21st, 23rd, 28th, 30th, and January 4th and 8th.

In fielding questions from

sports journalists on Friday morning, GFF President Wayne Forde explained that this event is being highly anticipated by players and fans alike, but will not be possible without vaccination.

“Every single footballer wants to play football, and every single fan wants to see football being played. That’s just a given; we know that. The main hurdle is: those people with that strong desire and appetite for the game are required to do what is necessary for us to enjoy the game,” Forde said.

The GFF President added, “And that is why we are intensifying the vaccination drive.

So, I think the message is clear, everyone wants football, we’ve always had a hectic season at the end of the year, and we’re hoping to do that clearly with some expansion.”

Continuing on the topic of vaccination for players, fans and officials, Forde divulged that while the GFF’s vaccination drives have been favour-

(Saturday 13th) we’ll have a briefing with the teams, and we’ll be able to notify the media soon after we have the briefing with the teams.”

GFF President, Wayne Forde

Frank ‘English’ Parris

able thus far, vaccination is a necessity.

“We believe that the response so far has been very positive from the members.

We have a vaccination drive that will take place over this coming weekend, and we want to also encourage our fans, based on the conditions of the approval that we are operating under, fans, officials and players will have to be vaccinated in order to participate in this

exciting treat of football over this year-end period,” Forde said.

A similar event was hosted by the two entities back in 2018, and building on this, Frank ‘English’ Parris gave an overview of the current structure of the tournament.

“We presently have 32 teams that will be competing in the tournament. We’re finalising the names of the teams, as we speak. Tomorrow

Makeup of the 32 teams “We have 16 teams from Georgetown, 4 from East Bank, 4 from East Coast, 4 from West Dem, and 4 from Linden,” Parris detailed. He went on to explain that teams from other regions were not put into the tournament based on travel and accommodation concerns. However, a number of teams from those regions are expected to participate in the Super 16 tournament.

Responding to a question from Guyana Times Sport on the participation of ‘Elite League’ players, who only a few years ago were prohibited from playing in certain futsal tournaments, Forde clarified that it was not a matter of who was organising the futsal events, but that of scheduling

and health concerns.

“Well, the limitation had nothing to do with whether we hosted the tournament or not, it all depends on the fixtures. The games were too close to each other, the playing days; so it wasn’t in the best interest of a player, health-wise, for them to be doing it. But this time, no one has been playing football,” Forde responded.

He added, “So, I think the fixtures have been planned well, and we’re a little bit more relaxed with those restrictions, because we want to see the players get back and play as many games as possible; so that’s the intention,” The futsal event has 9 playing days, with the opener being on December 14 and the final on January 8, 2022.

In addition to the regular tournament games, there will be an all-star game featuring teams from the GFF and K&S, led by Forde and Kashif Muhammad respectively.

West Indies Test tour to Sri Lanka…

Brathwaite ‘the builder’ ready to lay foundation for West Indies

By Brandon Corlette

W

Solozano is well-equipped, est Indies Test Da Silva will bounce back captain Kraigg Brathwaite also noted that Brathwaite is known newcomer Jeremy Solozano is as the man who sets the sol- ‘well-equiped,’ and the skipid foundation for the batting per has said he is ready to give order. A Barbadian who has advice to the Trinidadian leftplayed 72 Test matches and hander.

Solozano has played 40 scored 4,283 runs, with nine Test centuries and 22 fifties, first-class matches and scored Brathwaite has said he gained 1686 runs at an average of valuable experience during his 23.41, with two centuries and last tour to Sri Lanka, back in eight fifties.

Meanwhile, Joshua Da 2015.

The rock-solid Brathwaite, Silva, who has played nine who scored 126 and 85 in the Test matches and had a good last Test he played against start, has had a dip in form, Sri Lanka in the Caribbean, but this is all part of Test crickhas said: “It was a good series, et. The wicketkeeper-batsman good experience for me. My fo- has scored 372 runs at an avcus is just building the founda- erage 23.25, with two fifties, tion for the team. Remember including a high-score of 92. how the pitches played, that He also has 35 catches with was good for me, having that the gloves.

Despite Da Silva’s dip in experience. The practice game (which starts on November 14) form, the West Indies Test captain is confident that the would be crucial, 23-year-old will bounce back with the condiand do tions. So, it is w e l l just about foagainst cusing my enSri Lanka ergy and buildin the two Tests. ing foundations “Yes, he has being for the team, esdoing a super job in pecially for me time before. One of as an opener.” the keys (considerT h e ations) in a situa28-year-old tion like this is Brathwaite that you canis also exnot always pecting do well. It his bowlis how you ing group deal with not to do doing well well in pos- s i b l e and not getspin-friendly conditions. ting scores.

“I am looking forward For me, it’s just for all the bowlers to do making sure you a superb job. Possible have good comspin-friendly condimunication with tions, and I know all the him, and just let spinners selected will him know he can do well. I must (back) believe in himself. I all the bowlers, so I know he is fully caam looking forward, as pable of doing well, a team, (to our) getting out and we all go through there and do the job for West little slumps. He has Indies,” Brathwaite added. been putting in During that 2015 some good work, tour to Sri Lanka, the Kraigg Braithwaite and I look forTest skipper recorded ward for him to do well,” the scores of 19,34, 47 and 03.

skipper explained.

The two Test matches will be played at the Galle International Stadium, and the men in maroon will have a four-day warm-up match in Colombo from November 14 to

17. The Tests will follow from November 21 to 25, and from November 29 to December 3.

The series is the second of six series, three at home and three away, that West Indies will play in the 2021-2023 ICC

World Test Championships.

WEST INDIES’ FULL SQUAD FOR SRI LANKA TESTS: Kraigg Brathwaite (Captain), Jermaine Blackwood (Vice Captain), Nkrumah Bonner, Roston

Chase, Rahkeem Cornwall, Joshua Da Silva, Shannon Gabriel, Jason Holder, Shai Hope, Kyle Mayers, Veerasammy Permaul, Kemar Roach, Jayden Seales, Jeremy Solozano and Jomel Warrican.

Chanderpaul appointed Batting Consultant for the West Indies Rising Stars U19s …Nandu, Thorne among 28 players selected

C

ricket West Indies (CWI) today announced that West Indies legend Shivnarine Chanderpaul will join the West Indies Rising Stars U19s squad as the batting consultant for the upcoming High-Performance Camp in Antigua. This is as part of the West Indies Rising Stars U19s’ preparations for the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup, to be hosted in the Caribbean in January-February 2022.

Chanderpaul, who had an outstanding international career, is the most capped player in West Indies Test history.

He played 164 matches and made 11,867 runs at an average of 51.37. He is the newest member of the coaching staff, headed by Head Coach Floyd Reifer, and will be part of this preparation period, which runs from November 15 to 28 at the Coolidge Cricket Ground in Antigua.

Jimmy Adams, CWI Director of Cricket, has said: “We want to welcome Shivnarine Chanderpaul to the Rising Stars U19s group, and we look forward to him working with our young players at this critical stage in their development pathway. Shiv has a tremendous amount of cricketing knowledge and know-how, and he will be a great addition to the coaching staff.

“We already have another icon of the game in Sir Curtly Ambrose, who has been involved with the squad since the camp in August, as well as several other outstanding coaches.”

The Selection Panel has named 28 players for this camp following the previous camp and trial matches held in August. Those named include two newcomers who will be assessed by the coaches and selectors – Jaden Leacock, a rightarm fast-medium bowler and right-hand batter; and Kevin Wickham, a right-hand batter and right-arm wrist spinner.

Robert Haynes, CWI Lead Selector for the West Indies Rising Stars U19s, has said: “Having had a month-long camp in Antigua in August, followed by the 18-man West Indies Under-19 squad tour of England, I am looking forward to see the continued progress and improvements of the various players, as well as to interact with them to understand their thinking and approach to the game.”

Haynes added: “The two-week camp will include four practice matches along with continued skills and physical development, and it’s an opportunity for all players invited to stake a claim for selection for the series at home and the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup.” The West Indies Rising Stars U19s are preparing for the prestigious ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup tournament, which will be hosted by CWI in the Caribbean from January 4 to February 3, 2022.

Before the World Cup, West Indies are due to finalise their squad preparation with a five-match series at home.

Further details will be announced, once officially confirmed.

FULL SQUAD * Onaje Amory (Right-hand bat/right-arm off-spin) * Anderson Amurdan (Right-hand opening bat) * Ackeem Auguste (Left-hand bat/right-arm leg-spin) * Justin Beckford (Right-hand bat/right-arm off-spin) * Teddy Bishop (Right-hand opening bat) * Carlon Bowen-Tuckett (Right-hand bat/wicket-keeper) * Jaden Carmichael (Right-hand bat/left-arm spin) * McKenny Clarke (Right-hand bat/right-arm fast) * Rivaldo Clarke (Right-hand bat/wicket-keeper) * Amrit Dass (Right-hand bat/left-arm chinaman) * Giovonte Depeiza (Right-hand bat/left-arm spin) * Nathan Edwards (Left-hand bat/left-arm fast-medium) * Andel Gordon (Right-hand bat/left-arm medium-pace) * Sion Hackett (Right-hand bat/right-arm medium-fast) * Justin Jagessar (Right-hand bat) * Jordan Johnson (Left-hand bat/right-arm leg-spin) * Kyle Kissoondath (Right-hand bat/right-arm leg-spin) * Johann Layne (Right-hand bat/right-arm fast-medium) * Jaden Leacock (Right-hand bat/right-arm fast-medium) * Nicholas Lewin (Right-hand bat/right-arm off-spin) * Anderson Mahase (Left-hand bat/left-arm spin) * Matthew Nandu (Right-hand bat/right-arm off-spin) * Shaqkere Parris (Right-hand bat/wicket-keeper) * Kelvin Pittman (Right-hand bat/right-arm fast-medium) * Isai Thorne (Right-hand bat/right-arm fast) * Shiva Sankar (Right-hand bat/right-arm medium-fast) * Vasant Singh (Right-hand bat/right-arm leg-spin) * Kevin Wickham (Right-hand bat/right-arm wrist spin) TEAM MANAGEMENT * Floyd Reifer (Head Coach) * Rohan Nurse (Assistant Coach) * Sir Curtly Ambrose (Assistant Coach - bowling) * Shiv Chanderpaul (Batting Consultant) * Steve Liburd (Assistant Coach – fielding) * Ryan Austin (Assistant Coach – spin bowling) * Jamal Smith (Assistant Coach – wicket-keeping) * Junie Mitcham (Team Manager) * Gregory Seales (Strength and Conditioning Coach) * Lyndon Knights (Physiotherapist) * Avenesh Seetaram (Team Analyst) * Jelani Robertson (Mental Skills Coach)

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2021

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

Prime Minister’s T20 Cup…

Day 1 commences with a bang Page 22

Chanderpaul appointed Batting Consultant for the West Indies See story on page 23 Rising Stars U19s

…Nandu, Thorne among 28 players selected

“I can assure you that, as long as I am Prime Minister, this tournament will continue,” says Prime Minister Mark Phillips

PM Mark Phillips batting after officially declaring the tournament open

Futsal returns on December 14 …No restrictions for Elite League players

Page 23

GFF’s Wayne Forde and Frank Parris flank the official logo for the year-end futsal event

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