Guyana Times - Saturday November 21, 2020

GDF’s human resources to be strengthened – P President

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

Issue No. 4476

THE BEACON OF TRUTH SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2020

Education remains key element of developmental plan for children’s future – President Ali Page 3

Non-oil sectors must gear up for spinoffs of new economy – Finance Minister

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

P12 Farmer robbed of $3M after leaving Berbice bank …quick Police response leads to recovery of cash

COVID-19 cases surpass 5000

… rate of recovery has been “quite good” – P10 Health Minister

See story on page 14

Decomposed P2 body of university dean found in home

Pensioner’s murder

Wanted bulletin issued for suspect who escaped from custody P12

President Dr Irfaan Ali and His Highness Sheikh Ahmed Bin Dalmook Juma Al Maktoum of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) attended Friday prayers at the Queenstown Masjid in Georgetown. They were joined by other members of the visiting delegation and members of the local Islamic community, including the Director of Education and Dawah at CIOG, Shaykh Moeenul Hack (Office of the President photo)

Reforms needed before another election in Guyana – Harmon admits See story on page 7

Murder of teen girls

Community tells authorities to “step up” to prevent these situations Page 11

“I have done nothing illegal” – Tourism P2 Minister on APNU/AFC legal proceedings

…but authorities call on community to get more involved

EBD land scandal

Page 13

Another businessman tells Police James Bond arranged buyer, collected over $50M

Former NICIL Head arrested over land P9 giveaways

2 NEWS “I have done nothing illegal” – Tourism Minister on APNU/AFC legal proceedings T SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

ourism, Industry, and Commerce Minister Oneidge Waldron, whose appointment as a Minister and Member of the National Assembly is being challenged in the High Court by the Opposition – APNU/AFC – has asserted that she has full legal right to sit as a parliamentarian.

Opposition Chief Whip Christopher Jones is seeking to have Walrond removed from the National Assembly, as the coalition claims she was still a citizen of the United States of America when she took the Oath of Office of Minister of Government and member of the National Assembly.

Article 155 (1) of the Constitution bars dual citizens from being elected as members of the National Assembly. It also stipulates a penalty for dual citizens sitting as Members of Parliament which is the daily imposition of a fine.

However, on the sidelines of an event on Friday, Minister Walrond said that she is convinced that she has the full legal right to sit in the National Assembly.

Tourism Minister Oneidge Walrond speaking with reporters on Friday

“I have done nothing illegal and I continue to sit in the National Assembly as a legal representative. The act of renunciation is a unilateral act. The legal standard is when a citizen has done all that is within her power to renounce,” Walrond said on Friday.

She disclosed that she paid a substantial fee of over $500,000 to complete the process. Walrond said, too, that she is cognisant that the matter is now engaging the attention of the court, and as an attorney-at-law,

she will refrain from speaking too much on the legal arguments.

The Tourism Minister, however, added, “I don’t want a trial in the public but suffice to say that I am confident that I have done everything in my power to act morally. The attempt to besmirch my character has not gone unnoticed.”

Minister Walrond had previously said that she was mindful of the constitutional provision which prohibits dual citizens from sitting in the National Assembly, and

as such, sought legal advice.

The Minister stated that even though she was informed that this provision did not apply to her, out of an abundance of caution, she decided to renounce her US citizenship.

“I wrote to the US Consular Office on August 18, 2020, renouncing my citizenship to the United States of America with immediate effect. I was thereof informed of the administrative procedure I must comply with to obtain a Certificate of Loss of Nationality of the United States.

I complied with that process by August 27, 2020. I have since received the Certificate of Loss of Nationality. I took the oath to the National Assembly on September 1, 2020. That was after I renounced my citizenship of the United States of America,” the Minister had said.

Nonetheless, APNU/AFC is insisting that the Minister must resign.

The APNU/AFC said that documents obtained from the Clerk of the National Assembly, Sherlock Isaacs, confirm that the Certificate of Loss of Nationality of the United States bearing Walrond’s name shows that she took the oath of renunciation, an expatriating act on September 4, 2020, three days after she was sworn in as a parliamentarian.

“I don’t want a trial in the public, but suffice to say that I am confident that I have done everything in my power to act morally. The attempt to besmirch my character has not gone unnoticed” – Minister Oneidge Walrond

According to the APNU/ AFC, Consular Section Chief of the United States of America Embassy in Georgetown subscribed her name and seal of her office on September 4, 2020. The coalition said that the Tourism Minister’s Certificate of Loss of Nationality of the United States was approved on September 8, 2020, by the Overseas Citizens Services of the Department of State.

Speaker of the National Assembly Manzoor Nadir was previously reported as saying that Walrond’s renunciation was “acceptable.”

Already, US Embassy spokeswoman Violeta Talandis had explained in the media that loss of citizenship occurs when an American citizen takes the Oath of Renunciation before a consular officer, not when the Loss of Nationality Certificate is issued.

“When they appear before the consular officer (loss of citizenship occurs). It’s under the Immigration and Naturalization Act, Section 349, Section 5 (a),” Talandis had explained.

United States’

Immigration and Naturalization Act Section 349 (a) (5) states that “a person who is a national of the United States whether by birth or naturalization, shall lose his nationality by voluntarily…making a formal renunciation of nationality before a diplomatic or consular officer of the United States in a foreign state, in such form as may be prescribed by the Secretary of State.”

In the court action directed to Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall, Nadir and Walrond, the APNU/AFC MP is seeking a declaration that Walrond is not a lawful member of the National Assembly.

The coalition is further seeking another declaration that she is not a lawfully appointed Government Minister.

Also, the APNU/AFC is seeking a court order directing the Speaker of the National Assembly to prevent the Tourism Minister from sitting in and/or participating in the business of the 12th Parliament of Guyana.

Decomposed body of university dean found in home

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he decomposed body of a doctor attached to the Lincoln American University in Georgetown was found at his Marigold Street, Roxanne Burnham Gardens, Georgetown home on Friday.

Dead is 56-year-old Dr Wesley Torrington, the Associate Dean at the Lincoln American

Friday.

According to the doctor’s co-worker, Melroy Jeffery, since Monday Torrington did not join any of his virtual classes, which raised some suspicion.

“All of his classes are virtual and he was not joining in on the classes with his students, so I was asked to check up on him. I checked

Dead: Dr Wesley Torrington

Undertakers removing Dr Wesley Torrington’s body from his Roxanne Burnham Gardens, Georgetown home on Friday

University in Georgetown.

Torrington’s body was discovered by a co-worker and a team of Police ranks, in a sitting position in a chair in the living room of his home at about 11:00 on

on the place on North Road, and he wasn’t there… this morning [ Friday] my boss called, directing me again to find the next location… when I come, the front door was locked, and the back

door looked like somebody was in there,” he said.

The man explained that as he approached the back step of the house, there was a heavy stench emanating from inside and he immediately contacted the police.

The now dead man’s neighbour told investigators that she last saw him alive at about 19:30h on Monday.

They reportedly had a chat and he informed her that he was not feeling well.

Upon the discovery, there were no marks of violence on the man’s body and according to Police, there were no signs of forced entry nor was the house ransacked.

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

NEWS

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SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS OPENINGS BRIDGE

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Saturday, November 21 – 09:30h – 11:00h and Sunday, November 22 – 10:30h – 12:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Saturday, November 21 – 09:00h – 10:30h and Sunday, November 22 – 10:24h – 11:54h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY

Thundery shower will prevail during the day.

There will be light rain showers and partly cloudy skies at night. Temperatures should range between 22 degrees Celsius and 29 degrees Celsius.

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

High Tide: 08:58 and 21:16h reaching maximum heights of 2.14 metres and 2.19 metres.

Low Tide: 14:46h reaching a minimum height of 1.13 metre.

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2020

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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2020 DAILY MILLIONS

World Children’s Day

Education remains key element of developmental plan for children’s future – President Ali

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he occasion of World Children’s Day is observed on November 20 annually and in his message to mark the significant day, President Dr Irfaan Ali said that education remains a key element of his Government’s plan to ensure a better future for the nation’s children.

He added that every child is entitled to be nurtured in a healthy, protective and supportive environment that allows for the realisation of the fullness of his or her potential. The President said that everyone has a duty to ensure that the environment for growth and development of every child is created and sustained.

He noted that World Children’s Day challenges us to reimagine a better future for our children, adding that the foundation for a better tomorrow must be built on promoting greater respect for and enforcement of children’s rights, providing adequate protection and care and strengthening children’s education.

“The Government of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana is committed to promoting the rights of every child. It has enacted keys pieces of legislation relevant to childcare and child protection. Guyana is also a signatory to international agreements such as United Nations Declaration on the Rights of the Child and the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and we wholeheartedly are committed to the rights and principles

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President Irfaan Ali

enunciated therein,” he said.

Ali added that the protection and care of the nation’s children must be of foremost priority and proposed the establishment of more childcare programmes and centres. The President pledged more day-care centres for the children of employed mothers, adding that a team of childcare providers and protectors will be trained to support this venture.

“Childcare and protection must become the responsibility of all of our society. We acknowledge the importance of childcare services provided by private individuals, groups and non-governmental organisations. Government will in-

centivise and provide support to those who provide such services. The pandemic, unfortunately, has disrupted the provision of some of these services. We are, however, confident that we will eventually see the remission of the pandemic and restoration of normalcy,” he said.

Ali said that the pandemic has adversely affected the nation’s children’s lives and explained that his Government, through the Ministry of Education, has begun to expand opportunities for children’s learning while alluding to the reopening of schools for students of Grades 10, 11 and 12.

“As we celebrate World Children’s Day 2020, I urge all Guyanese to join with your Government in helping to promote the rights of the child, provide improved protection and care for them and to strengthen their education. No child should suffer the indignities associated with violations of their rights or from a lack of a satisfactory education. Let us join hearts and hands as we build a more caring and compassionate Guyana where our children can be happy, loved and be safe! In doing so, we will be creating a supportive environment so that they can enjoy the best of what life has in store for them.” Ali said.

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guyanatimesgy.com

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2020

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

Protecting our children

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n Friday Guyana joined the rest of the world in celebrating World’s Children Day but also on Friday the country’s Labour Minister also launched an investigation into the allegations of child labour and exploitation at a farm in Pomeroon, Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam).

The rights of children are enacting in key pieces of local and international legislation and more so protected by the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of the Child and the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Guyana is a signatory to both international agreements.

According to the United Nations, over 165 million children between the ages of five and 17 are in employment.

One survey shows that over 70 million are in some form of hazardous employment – supply chains, from agriculture to manufacturing, services to construction.

Director-General of the International Labour Orgainsation (ILO), Guy Ryder some time ago in addressing the issue of child labour, had said that no place in well-functioning and well-regulated markets, or in any supply chain. He said countries must act now to stop child labour, once and for all, and this has been affirmed by the Sustainable Development Goals. Acting together, it is within everyone’s means to make the future a future without child labour.

To support businesses in their actions to remove child labour from their supply chains, the ILO and the International Organisation of Employers (IOE) had jointly created the Child Labour Guidance Tool, a resource for companies to increase their knowledge and ability to conduct business in line with international labour standards on child labour.

The tool draws on the long experience of the ILO’s International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour (ILO-IPEC) in collaborating with employers to combat child labour in supply chains and incorporates contributions from a wide variety of companies.

Here in Guyana, the then APNU/AFC Government a few years ago announced that a unit to focus specifically on the issue of child labour will be established by the then Social Protection Ministry. This announcement came mere days after a survey revealed that there is an alarmingly high number of Guyanese children involved in the worst forms of child labour. However, this unit never fully materilised. A National Plan of Action geared at eliminating child labour in Guyana completely was also launched with the objective of no child labour in the country by 2025.

At the time, a national child labour rapid assessment survey was conducted in Georgetown, New Amsterdam, Linden, Corriverton, Black Bush Polder, Number 58 Village, Charity, Kwakwani, and Ituni. It was done among three categories of children: 15 years and younger; 15 to 16, and 16 to 18. A total of 532 children and young workers were involved in the survey.

The survey had detailed that many of the youths who participated in the research in all three categories, were involved in selling and agricultural activities. It was also highlighted that hidden evidence of prostitution activities were found in all of the age ranges. Another disturbing fact revealed by the survey was that a minor percentage of the working youths sustained illness and injuries while working especially in areas of weeding, begging or carrying out sexual activities. The study also highlighted that guardians/parents reported the main reason for the children working was to help support their families.

There is no doubt that fighting child labour requires a multi-sectoral approach and as such as a matter of policy, the Government must ensure that there is enforcement of laws to protect our children.

We support the call by Preisdent Dr Irfaan Ali on World Children’s Day 2020 that all Guyanese must join with Government in helping to promote the rights of the child, provide improved protection and care for them and to strengthen their education.

On the occasion of World Children’s Day (WCD), on Friday, Guyana joined global celebrations with State House - the official residence of the President and First Family, and United Nations House being lit up in blue in support of children’s rights (UNICEF Guyana photo)

Shattering lives and dreams Dear Editor, Please don’t blame earthquakes, volcanoes, hurricanes, droughts or floods for shattering the lives and dreams of many Guyanese. Instead, put the blame for shattering lives and dreams onto predatory criminals (such as murderers, rapists, robbers, arsonists, etc), who nonchalantly violate the sanctity of life and individual property.

These criminals do not only hurt victims physically, including inflicting trauma upon them, but also drive fear into family members as well as other citizens.

From a broader socio-economic perspective, such crimes clog up social intercourse, scare away investment, hurt the economy, and stifle repatriation of Guyanese.

A few analyses on crime attest to the gravity of the situation. The murder rate alone in 2019 was 15.2 per 100,000, compared with 5.3 in the US and 5.5 for Suriname. Relative to sentencing, Bill Ramnarace writes (11/17/2020): “Devon Chacon, 26 years…home invader, who shot and killed Abdul Ameer Subrati, a father of two children at Herstelling, East Bank Demerara - was given 4 years imprisonment.” While I and others have still been trying to grapple with the apparently rising tide of criminality, it was report-

ed on the following day (November 17, 2020) that a 15-year-old boy of Kitty, Georgetown was killed by his friend.

Still fresh in our memories are the brutal murders of the Henry boys and Haresh Singh on the West Coast of Berbice, and the 86-year-old pensioner of La Grange, West Bank Demerara. No one has yet been charged with the heinous murder of the three West Coast Berbice boys.

These and other serious (violent) crimes add to the uneasiness and great concern of Guyanese, both at home and abroad. Their feelings have not been helped by the issuance of a Level 4 travel advisory by the US Embassy in August 2020.

This is how Guyanese concern is dramatised: One can get the best job, accumulate all the wealth, enjoy all the social welfare benefits, live in the best home, have fancy vehicle(s), but as soon as one goes onto the street, one is cut down by a hail of bullets. Or even in one’s home, one can succumb to robbery or murder.

So, what is the point of having all these material comforts if one is deprived of adequate public security?

We know that crimes cannot be fully eradicated, no matter how effective is the maintenance of law and order (and that is the pri-

mary role of Government); a certain level of crime will occur. What people categorically reject is when crimes, particularly serious ones, get out of control (as measured by rising rates, low detection levels (unsolved), and high acquittal rates).

The lenient sentence delivered by the Judge in the Devon Chacon case has been criticised by Freddie Kissoon, who has called upon the authorities to set up a COI (Commission of Inquiry) into the sentencing. He continues: “Some humans are unfit for civilised society. They are beyond redemption… Their uncivilised, bestial murders should be met with the state putting them to death.

I do not support the general abolition of the death penalty.”

Ramnarace asserts: “No one cares for the victims of crimes and their suffering families.” Well, not exactly. The victims of the West Coast Berbice mayhem, for example, have been promised partial relief in the form of monetary compensation. And there are efforts being made elsewhere to mitigate the crime problem through intervention and preventive measures.

The Spotlite Program grant of US$5 million by the United Nations and the European Union to the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security pro-

vides for the intervention and implementation of strategic measures to minimise violence against women and girls. In addition, the redesign and launch of Community Policing Groups by the Government is another useful step, but much more needs to be done to tame this monster.

For these and other programmes (such as the Citizens Security Program and the Security Sector Reform Program) to have succeeded, they had to be integrated into a national crime- fighting strategy.

The agencies of law enforcement are linked organically, so if any one backfires, the rest buckle too.

Public security, of which crime control is a dominant element, must always be on the political radar of the Government as well as civil society. Accordingly, I am once again calling upon the current Government to start a conversation on crime and the penal system as part of an effort to develop a credible crime-fighting strategy. A national conference on crime and the penal system could ignite, or give momentum to, the national conversation. From these sources would flow a coherent set of policy measures into the Government’s decision-making process.

Sincerely, Dr Tara Singh

guyanatimesgy.com

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2020

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

Guyana’s foreign policy in perspective Dear Editor, Citizens have every right to criticise the foreign policy trajectory of their Government, especially when they have good reasons to believe that diversions from established principles, as well as breaches of treaties, have occurred. As a matter of fact, it may be considered an obligation on citizens to point out the flaws and dangers in foreign policy positions.

However, because every government must make foreign markets, security arrangements, geopolitical concerns and cooperation important considerations of their foreign policy ethos, it can be difficult sometimes to fully understand the purpose of a foreign policy action, or to see the rationale behind a certain change in direction.

This inability was manifested a few days ago when a writer for Kaieteur News deemed the PPP/C “clueless when it comes to foreign policy.” The seeming blunders that the PPP/C is guilty of

have been attributed to inadequate knowledge of the ideological and political underpinnings of the party on the part of its leadership. The writer suggested that this so-called paucity of knowledge has catapulted the leadership of the party into the orbit of Western Neo-liberalism, causing them to abandon the working-class ethos of the party.

The writer took umbrage at President Irfaan Ali allowing Michael Pompeo, operating out of Guyana, to characterise China’s assistance to Guyana as being motivated by a “strings attached” philosophy, and asserted that Pompeo’s behaviour was pompous and insulting.

Unfortunately, representatives of powerful nations are known to have behaved pompously in their relationships with small countries. However, the “with strings attached” characterisation of China is not far-fetched. In this context, the phrase “with no strings attached” simply means that

Guyana will not be obligated to do anything in return for China.

The Government of Guyana is too sagacious not to know that obligations are always entailed. It needs to be pointed out that no country operates under the “no strings attached” modus operandi at this level. The United States of America is no exception to this rule. While democratic considerations have played a central role in the US foreign policy, geopolitical factors have often trumped democratic principles. Citizens of Guyana have often alluded to this disparagingly. However, Guyanese of today look upon the United States as a great benefactor, remembering its crucial role in ousting an undemocratic party from power and enabling a democratically elected party to form the Government.

However, to use an innocuous situation like this to label the Government’s foreign policy as inept is pure fantasy. To imply that Pompeo’s presence

and statements amount to capitulation to Neo-liberalism is misleading, to say the least.

The Government of Guyana takes a holistic approach to foreign policy, driven by its commitment to eliminate poverty, build infrastructure, strengthen democratic institutions, and work with global partners to secure a safer and better world.

In today’s volatile world, the latter sometimes requires a shift in paradigm, which brings us to the question of Guyana’s withdrawal from its recognition of Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR).

To claim that Guyana’s withdrawal of its recognition is due to pressure from the US is frightfully simplistic. The writer omitted to mention that Guyana is among 164 countries that do not recognise SADR. The author also failed to mention that Guyana’s decision was based on provocative, disruptive and illegal actions

by SADR’s militias.

Actions speak louder than words

Dear Editor, I am writing in response to Audreyanna Thomas’s letter, titled “Mr. Jagdeo is a leader of yesterday, not today”, dated November 19, 2020.

What His Excellency Dr Jagdeo achieved in ecosystem management has been recognised by leaders around the world as an outstanding contribution to humanity and the planet.

His ability to achieve this should not be disregarded because of political difference of opinion. It would be folly to throw out the baby with the bathwater. As the old saying goes, actions speak louder than words.

The course which His Excellency Dr Jagdeo sets for the use of our natural resources in the future will say volumes of his ability to continue to champion the cause of our planet in ecosystems management. It would be best for critics to not underestimate his ability to look beyond the usual path of resource exploitation. If he and his team are able to negotiate a payment for current and future discovered resources, while also ensuring they are not exploited in a way that harms the planet, His Excellency would accomplish the single most significant achievement by any nation in the realm of

climate change.

To do so, as he did in the Forestry Sector while also keeping our nation on the path of economic development, was and is thinking beyond that seen in other leaders of our generation.

Norway and other climate-conscious nations in Europe have also shown a willingness to embrace such an approach, and Guyana has a great ambassador for this approach in His Excellency Dr Jagdeo, who has shown the world that he can make this possible.

His past experience should not be neglected when considering what he can accomplish today at

such a critical juncture in human existence.

The Paris Agreement and the large investments being made in clean renewable energy around the world, including in major oil-producing nations in the Middle East, show clearly that others are feeling the urgency of such a needed change in how we manage our planet and its resources.

Therefore, the time for action is now, and who best to champion this needed change than he who has done so successfully before?

Best regards, Jamil Changlee

Urgency required to bring WCB murder investigations to a satisfactory conclusion

Dear Editor, I reside on the West Coast of Berbice, and my family and I helped to rescue some of the Indian-Guyanese people who were being targeted for assault and robbery during the disturbance that followed the murder of the two Henry cousins.

We are all concerned at what appears to be the Guyana Police Force’s sloth and lack of any significant progress in the investigations of these murders, and in that of young Haresh Singh who was subsequently killed in what appeared to be an act of revenge for the Henry killings.

Rumours abound in our communities in regard to who committed these acts, but the Police are yet to bring any charges against any suspect. Our real fear is that if these murders go unsolved, suspicions will fester and grow, and the matter would become fodder for further racial disturbances in this and other areas in the

country.

We are appealing to President Irfaan Ali to take decisive action and make the solving of these murders a national priority. If they remain unsolved, they will become a source of racial contention, and will be used in the future as an excuse for further violence in our communities.

We would like the President to request urgent help from Britain for detectives from Scotland Yard to come and assist with the investigation. Also, help from American FBI investigators will go a long way to lessen suspicions that there is a plot by the Government and Police to do some kind of cover up of these heinous murders.

Assistance from such recognised and neutral partners in this criminal investigation will place the findings well beyond any suspicion that there is a plot to provide cover for the perpetrators.

Until the perpetrators are caught and charged, there will be no justice for the families; and the murders will remain a flashpoint for further violence, since they will be used to justify other violent agendas.

The President must understand the urgency required, and act now to bring the investigation to a satisfactory conclusion.

Yours truly Satesh Ramdharry

PNC/APNU lawyers stirring up a storm in a teacup Dear Editor, The PNC/APNU Opposition could not find anything on which to attack the Government, and, as such, had to resort to saying that Tourism Minister the honourable Oneidge Waldron took her ministerial oath three days before she received the certificate of renunciation of her US nationality, and this puts her in the wrong, taking into account that PNC/APNU ministers and MPs were foreign nationals who served for years as ministers.

Harmon was an American national, and served as a minister for years, and would have continued to do so had not the PNC/APNU shot themselves in the foot by challenging Charrandas’s status. Harmon was badly affected.

The courts would certainly find no intention of wrongdoing committed by Walrond, and that her swearing in three days early was a technicality.

Yours sincerely, Paul Validum Ramlochan

Another pertinent fact is that Guyana has fully committed to working under the umbrella of the United Nations to find a solution to the conflict.

The policy of courting foreign investments in order to build the nation, so that all its citizens can benefit from its enormous resources, is a master stroke of foreign policy, not a simplistic approach as implied by the writer. And forging with the United States an alliance that would guarantee Guyana’s territorial integrity and enhance its ability to fight drug trafficking is an outstandingly skillful foreign policy move, as opposed to one built on naivety, as the author seemed to have implied.

Of course, all foreign policy decisions must be taken against the backdrop of the historical tendency of foreign nations to reap the lion’s share of returns from their investments in the country.

Disregarding this historical fact would indeed lead to blunders in foreign policy decisions, and would be a poor reflection on leadership. However, there

is nothing to suggest that the PPP is guilty of such a myopic approach.

Undergirding Guyana’s foreign policy decisions is the principle of mutuality. Some are, however, tempted to see this as a digression from the ideological underpinnings of the party, which historically have viewed the West as the nemesis of developing countries, and for good reasons.

The goal of the party is, and always was, the upliftment of the working class and the elimination of inequality. To realise this, it cannot be averse to the United States playing a prominent part.

While Guyana needs to be wary of the fetishisation of the US, there is no way of precluding the United States from taking an active role in Guyana’s affairs. The keenness with which the Government is engaging the United States on procuring its help can easily be mistaken for an obsession with Neo-liberalism.

Sincerely, Sheik M Ayube

Could APNU/AFC’s election petitions be expedited?

Dear Editor, The question on everyone’s mind is: Could the APNU/ AFC’s election petitions be expedited so that a quick-fix decision can be made at the earliest? And the answer is a resounding, ‘No!’ In the first place, the second petition filed should have been thrown out immediately because it was filed way beyond the legally due date, and in strict legal compliance, it ought to have been thrown out. However, knowing the PNC and the con game they are accustomed to, wherein every illegal avenue is exploited, the judge has acceded to hear the two in a combined whole.

In the second instance, the voluminous document is riddled with inaccuracies and repetitions, placed there with the clear aim of taking up much of the court’s time.

It is the PNC’s erroneous belief that the wordier their petition is, the more bogged down the court would become, and somehow, somewhere give in to their demands.

But, sorry pals, that is not going to happen; the court is going to deal with the substance of your claim, and, at the end of it all, make a definitive ruling.

So, let us get back to the question I posed earlier: Could an election petition be expedited? And the answer is no. The erudite, no-nonsense Chief Justice has already hinted to the applicants that every piece of allegation, every anomaly raised by the Opposition, must be comprehensively addressed; while, at the same time, all documents held by GECOM would have to be tendered in court.

Now, here is where the rubber hits the road, because

Lowenfield and his rigging associates in the PNC are adamant that they can hold secret certain key documents pertaining to the elections, while relying on raw streetside hearsay testimony to pilot their case. The jumbie stories recited by many in the PNC, that dead people voted, would also require those who can see ghosts and separate ghost votes from legal ones having to come forward and produce their evidence. All of those ghosts would have to be put to the test by solid evidence. If this cannot be done, then that part of their petitions is a dead deal. If that aspect of their petitions isn’t madness, then what is?

CEO Lowenfield would have to provide evidence of his four-time submission of figures presented after the recount, and juxtapose those against the official SOPs of Region 4.

In each instance mentioned above, exhibits would have to be tendered in court.

At the end of the day, things of this nature take time, and it is my firm belief that election petitions of this magnitude cannot be successfully concluded within a year’s time.

I would like to give the creole interpretation to this futility, but the interest of modesty and the use of appropriate language apply. Suffice it to say that the creole term succinctly explains the actions of the APNU/AFC Opposition in these petitions.

So, with bated breath, Guyana and the world anxiously await the opening of these election petitions’ hearing.

Respectfully, Neil Adams

6

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2020

Page

Foundation Æsop’s Fables

FOR CHILDREN

A TO BE CONTINUED NEXT SATURDAY (NOVEMBER 28, 2020)

cat was growing very thin. As you have guessed, he did not get enough to eat. One day he heard that some birds in the neighbourhood were ailing and needed a doctor. So he put on a pair of spectacles, and with a leather box in his hand, knocked at the door of the bird's home.

The birds peeped out, and Dr Cat, with much solicitude, asked how they were. He would be very happy to give them some medicine.

"Tweet, tweet," laughed the birds. "Very smart, aren't you? We are very well, thank you, and more so, if you only keep away from here."

WORD SEARCH

NEWS

GDF’s human resources to be strengthened – President

President Irfaan Ali

P

resident Dr Irfaan Ali has announced key developments that will unfold for the Guyana Defence Force in the upcoming new year, especially efforts to increase and enhance their human resource capacity.

He made these remarks during the Force’s 55th anniversary commemoration on Thursday evening, sharing that a new aggressive programme is on stream and has already been discussed with Chief-of-Staff, Brigadier Godfrey Bess.

“I have already discussed with the Chief-of-Staff, an aggressive programme in ensuring we get more army officers, more soldiers, registered to the academic programmes that are aligned to the development needs of our country. This is very important, not only in equipping the army with the tools to carry out its function but the human resource capacity are extremely important,” President Ali said.

The Head of State went on to say that it is essential to have experts within the army that are skilled in oil and gas. This will materialise by including the Joint Forces in the 20,000 scholarships which Government is

working on during their present term in office.

“It is important that within the army, we have experts in oil and gas-related disasters. It is important that we have experts in climate change. It is important we have experts in GIS mapping…The Government has a responsibility to help to prepare you to be ready for the environment which you’re aware of,” the President added.

He said this milestone is one which leads to a renewal of commitment and loyalty to the people of Guyana and paves the way for continued service from officers within the institution.

“It’s a milestone that leads to renewal: renewal of commitment, renewal of loyalty, renewal of spirit and renewal of our collective energy in ensuring the next 55 and beyond the next 55 are years that can be celebrated under the glorious cloud of knowing that each of us would’ve given our best to ensure that the future is the best.”

Notwithstanding, he complimented the Force for their level of professionalism displayed.

The Head of State noted, “For me, you are the embodiment of professionalism and I think this is where we need to start. The army must always be the face of professionalism, the face of dignity and pride, the face through which every citizen of our country can turn to and be assured that they face comfort, knowing that in Guyana, we have a professional army with professional officers and leaders.”

Transform

Chief of Staff, Brigadier Godfrey Bess used the platform to assure that the GDF

GDF Chief-of-Staff Godfrey Bess

will transform itself into an entity that is capable of detecting threats in light of the impending oil and gas sector. He said security should be enhanced since much more is at stake.

“Ours is a small and still developing nation, yet we hold the promise of great things to come, as we forge ahead with oil and gas production. The Guyana Defence Force aims to continue its transformation in order to become resiliently capable of defending our nations against all threats to safety and security…The security and stability of our nation has now become much more important since there’s now much more at stake. There’s much more to be done to ensure the continued viability of our nation and the safety and prosperity of our citizens.”

Brigadier Bess said the Force remains committed under the leadership of Dr Ali, who is the Chief of the Armed Forces, to evolve and become stronger.

The 55th anniversary would have started earlier this month and is celebrated under the theme, “Together we toiled to arrive at fifty-five with greater efficiency for national security.”

7

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Reforms needed before another election in Guyana – Harmon admits

O

pposition Leader Joseph Harmon on Friday admitted that there are certain changes in the electoral system that need to take place before the country has another election.

“The constitutional reform committee is…important to us because we want to make certain interventions there so that we can have some changes made to certain aspects of our Constitution,” Harmon said on Friday.

“We know that constitutional reform will take a while but, in the meantime, we believe that in a bipartisan way, we can address issues which have been raised by the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) and by our own Court of Appeal in relation to our own electoral laws. We need to address those even before we get into another elections,” Harmon said during a press conference.

The position adopted by Harmon differs from that taken by APNU/ AFC’s Aubrey Norton who – in October – contended that the coalition is in no rush for reforms. Norton had said “while we are prepared to consider and discuss electoral reform, it is not something that we will hurtle to without careful analysis of the proposals as well as the institutional changes that are going to be made.

So, we are open to discussions and to moving forward on it but we are not at all going to just rush into electoral reforms.”

The 2020 General and Regional Elections held on March 2 was marred by a number of controversies including lengthy legal proceedings – causing the electoral process to drag on for five months until a winner was finally declared on August 2.

In fact, the 2020 elections high-

Opposition Leader Joseph Harmon

lighted numerous flaws in the electoral system – particularly at the Guyana Elections Commission – which the new PPP/C Administration has vowed to address before the country hosts another election.

When pressed about what specific changes the main parliamentary Opposition would like to see taking place before another election is held in Guyana, Harmon said: “I can’t tell you specifically what are all of them but I do know that they are decisions that have been made by the CCJ and I think there are some decisions also by our Court of Appeal that now requires checking and to be placed in the Constitution as we move forward.”

“It is public knowledge that there are some issues that arose in [the] matter which were filed that went to the Caribbean Court of Justice and the CCJ made certain rulings with respect to our Constitution. Those are now decisions made by the highest court in our jurisdiction and therefore, those decisions have to be taken into consideration as we go forward…

We have to incorporate some of those decisions into our Constitution,” he explained.

TURN TO PAGE 10

8 NEWS

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Jury acquits teen of Mahaicony businesswoman’s murder

Murdered: Bibi Ali

F

ollowing deliberations on Friday, a jury acquitted a 19-year-old of the October 2016 murder of Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara businesswoman, Bibi Ali, whose bound and decomposed body was discovered in her home. For legal reasons, the name and photograph of the teenager have been withheld from publication since he was 15 years old when it was alleged that he committed the crime.

The teen was on trial for the offence before Justice Navindra Singh at the High

Court in Demerara. He was represented by Attorneyat-Law Bernard DaSilva, while State Counsel Tuanna Hardy appeared for the prosecutions.

According to media reports, the 56-year-old woman was discovered lying face down in her home by her nephew, who went to check on her after she was not seen for some time. Reports are that Ali, a mother of three, was found lying in a pool of blood in the bedroom of her two-storey home.

It was also reported that her hands and feet were bound and her head was bashed in. A hammer was found at the crime scene, and a post-mortem report revealed that she had been sexually assaulted. It was reported that Ali’s neck was broken and there were lacerations about her body.

The woman’s house was also ransacked, leading Police to suspect she might have been robbed and then killed. Ali had operated a business in the area, supplying farmers with pesticides and weedicides.

She also sold phone cards

An investigation...

R Jailed: Davanand Rampersaud

and other items. Several of these items were missing.

Another man, 28-yearold Davanand Rampersaud, was also charged with Ali’s murder. However, last year Rampersaud appeared before the High Court and pleaded guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter.

As a consequence, he was sentenced to life imprisonment with the possibility of

parole after serving a minimum of 25 years. In sentencing him, Justice Sandil Kissoon condemned the killing, stating that given the prevalence of the offence, the court had to impose a sentence that would serve as a deterrent.

The 19-year-old former murder accused and Rampersaud hailed from the same community as Ali.

Salesman nabbed with ganja at Itaballi checkpoint

A

44-year-old salesman of Church of God Road, Buxton, East Coast Demerara, was on Thursday evening arrested after a quantity of ganja and methamphetamine was discovered in his haversack at Itaballi Checkpoint, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni).

Based on reports received, Police ranks intercepted a truck and instructed the occupants to disembark with their belongings. At the time, the occupants were the driver,

The drugs that were found in in the haversack

the salesman and a porter.

During the operation, the police conducted a search on a camouflage haversack belonging to the salesman and the ganja and the methamphetamine were found hidden in a multicoloured hammock.

As such, he was told of the offence, cautioned and admitted ownership of the drugs. He was escorted to the Bartica Police Station where he the ganja was weighed and amounted to 791 grams.

The methamphetamine was also weighed and amounted to 26 grams. The police have since instituted charges against the salesman.

It was also reported on Thursday that a 25-yearold truck porter was arrested after a quantity of ganja and cocaine were found in a bag belonging to him.

The ganja reportedly weighed 1.877 kilograms and was in four wrapped parcels while the cocaine, which weighed 7.6 grams, was stored in small transparent plastic bags.

Police stated that ranks intercepted a truck at Itaballi with three occupants - the driver and two porters.

However, Police conducted a search on the truck during which they found a bag containing the bulky packages. Upon investigation, the police were told that the bag belonged to the 25-year-old porter, who subsequently claimed ownership.

As such, he was told of the offence, cautioned, and arrested. The illegal drugs were seized as Police proceed to institute charges.

...into Trotman aphael Trotman really has a lot of chutzpah…or, as they say in the vernacular, “more seeds than baigan”!

Imagine, when asked about his infamous signing away of our great opportunity to break out of the cycle of poverty with a bang - the Exxon oil contract - the man said he wants an “international investigation”!! Really?

Isn’t that what was done by Global Witness in their report, “Signed Away”, which could’ve been more appropriately labelled “pi55ed away”??

More precisely and damningly, the report of the respectable watchdog group concluded, “Trotman failed to capitalise on Guyana’s strong bargaining position. During negotiations, he knew that the company was analysing a new possible oil find. Trotman had even thought the company would announce its results on a specific day, June 28 2016. But the Minister did not wait for these results, which would have allowed Guyana to assess Stabroek’s true value - which turned out to be one of the world’s largest finds of recent. Instead, on June 27, Trotman signed Exxon’s licence.”

The company was later more explicit: “Trotman – rushed to sign Exxon’s deal despite knowing the company would soon announce new oil find results and while experts were telling him to seek more information. During negotiations, Trotman also suffered an apparent conflict of interest as he was close political allies with one of Exxon’s Guyanese lawyers. The lawyer – Nigel Hughes – has denied he represented Exxon on the deal, but admitted that his firm had represented Exxon since 2009, and that he has worked for the company on other matters.”

Global Witness claims that Guyana presented feeble terms to Exxon - a mere 1% increase on the existent 1% royalty, and half of the profits - and that expert advice that more financial information was needed was ignored by Guyana’s team. And Guyana lost, according to calculations by the fiscal analyst firm OpenOil, US$55 billion - just like that! - because of Trotman’s whimsical action!! But was it just that? Whimsy?

Finally, without imputing any wrongdoing on his part, in the run up to the last elections, Global Witness called for the new Guyana Government to investigate the role of Trotman in the negotiation. The subtext was “where there is smoke there is fire”! So here we are, Trotman himself is now calling for an investigation. So the question is: What exactly is the Government waiting for? The caution in these matters is “Be careful what you ask for”! And that’s exactly the lesson Trotman needs to be taught.

He thinks himself a “strategist” in the mould of Burnham, and has carefully covered his tracks as he works insidiously to become leader of the PNC and then President of Guyana.

The investigation into his “sell out” will be his Waterloo! …into “The Bishops High School”?

Your Eyewitness is completely nonplussed: the teachers of “The Bishops High School” (don’t you DARE forget that particle “the”) striking against what a “FORMER” student of the school wrote about them?? Forgetting for a moment the substantive matter of their gripe, exactly how is their strike (which affects only present students in this COVID-19 crisis) going to right the situation? Is this responsible behaviour on the part of teachers? your Eyewitness doesn’t think so.

Now, back to the substantive matter. Seems the teachers are apoplectic about the student writing that they were “homophobic” and “verbally abusive” to them.

More specifically, the Old Students Associations said, “The stories shared portrayed multiple instances of emotional abuse, bullying, trauma, public humiliation, and anger, along with harmful after-effects had by many of these victims. As concerned alumni, we acknowledge and recognise that many of the stories shared have now found an outlet which is free and fair from perceived retribution.”

And the teachers are striking? Oh tempora! Oh mores! …into Sharma’s allegations Jaipaul Sharma has now apologised for his atrocious libel against AG Nandlall. His statements were repeated by his PNC colleague James Bond. Is he also going to apologise?

But regardless, Nandlall should not relent! A lesson must be taught.

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

9 Former NICIL Head arrested over land giveaways NEWS

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

F

ormer Chief Executive Officer of the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) Colvin HeathLondon has been arrested for questioning in relation to land giveaways which occurred under the former APNU/AFC coalition.

Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum confirmed to Guyana Times on Friday that the former NICIL boss had been detained but he did not provide any other information.

Heath-London was recently relieved of his duties in light of a series of illegalities and failures, the PPP/C Administration had announced in a statement.

Heath-London had also served as Head of the Special Purpose Unit which was convened by the David Granger-led Government after it closed four sugar estates. The Unit was responsible for the privatisation and divestment of identified assets of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo).

The Government had said that a review of NICIL’s and SPU’s operations revealed illegalities and serious failures by Heath-London in the per-

formance of his duties.

Identifying some of Heath-London’s shortcomings, the Government outlined that various leases for NICIL properties located in Peters Hall, East Bank Demerara (EBD), were signed without public tender, valuations, Board approval, Cabinet approval, and review and approval by NICIL. It noted that the approval was to ensure that the leases contained the standard and customary provisions relating to termination and non-assignment and other protections to NICIL. In a statement, Government identified that Heath-London issued approximately 14 agreements of sale and leases for NICIL lands located at Ogle, East Coast Demerara (ECD), and the subsequent vesting of seven tracts of lands without ensuring that full payment was received for those lands in accordance with the terms of the relevant agreements. He is also said to have issued the agreements and vesting orders without ensuring that the vesting orders issued were drafted by approved NICIL counsel or contained the usual and customary language sufficient to pro-

Former CEO of NICIL Colvin Heath-London

tect NICIL’s interests.

Additionally, the former NICIL Head is accused of procuring the execution and gazetting the vesting orders without first ensuring that payments were made in accordance with the terms of the various agreements executed by the parties. Heath-London reportedly failed to facilitate and procure the auditing of SPU’s accounts by the Auditor General.

The now terminated CEO also reportedly failed to facilitate and procure the necessary NICIL account reconciliations in order to allow the Auditor General to audit NICIL’s accounts from 2014 to 2019.

The Government had also noted that Heath-

CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19)

INFORMATION AND GUIDELINES HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF?

London’s transgressions constitute serious misconduct and dereliction of duty generally. He not only breached applicable laws and violated policies established by the Government and NICIL, but caused NICIL and the Government to lose millions of dollars.

“His actions also amount to a breach of the fiduciary duties and duty of care owed to NICIL imposed by the relevant provisions of the Companies Act 1991 and generally, warranting his immediate termination,” the Governmentissued statement noted.

The Government had announced that an investigation would have been launched into the massive tracts of prime State land which were leased at bargain prices under the former Government.

Notably, the lands given away are in close proximity to the proposed site for the Ogle/Diamond bypass road.

The Ogle/Diamond bypass road is a massive project conceived as a way of steering traffic away from central Georgetown and the East Bank thoroughfare and easing the massive traffic jams. It is supposed to see some 26 kilometres of road constructed, linking

two of the country’s main thoroughfares.

There have long been reports of a land grab in areas associated with the project.

The contract for the road is

likely to be awarded by this year-end. The land associated with the project that was secured since 2015 is likely to have jumped in value.

SYMPTOMS

People with COVID-19 have had a wide range of symptoms reported – ranging from mild symptoms to severe illness.

Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. People with these symptoms or combinations of symptoms may have COVID-19:

Cough

Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing

Or at least two of these symptoms:

Fever People who think they may be affected by coronavirus need to call the Public Health Ministry hotline 227-4986/624-3067 for further advice. They should not go to their GP, A&E, pharmacy or hospital.

If you have come into contact with somebody who may be infected, you may be told to self-isolate. People needing to do so should take "common-sense" steps to avoid close contact with other people.

(Adapted from BBC News)

Headache

Chills

Sore throat

Repeated shaking with chills

Muscle pain

Children have similar symptoms to adults and generally have New loss of taste mild illness. or smell

10 NEWS

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

COVID-19 cases surpass 5000 …rate of recovery has been “quite good” – Health Minister

T

here are now 5005 cases of COVID-19 in Guyana after 29 new cases were detected within one day. This number represents the total number of confirmed cases after 26,580 persons were tested.

The latest dashboard on Friday showed 2619 males and 2393 females contracting the virus thus far while deaths have remained at 143.

There are nine persons in the Intensive Care Unit, 101 in institutional isolation, 768 in home isolation and 73 in institutional quarantine. To date, there have been 3984 recoveries, while 26,580 people have been tested thus far.

A breakdown showed seven new cases in Region One (Barima-Waini), one in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), 15 in Region Four (BarimaWaini), one in Region Five (Demerara-Mahaica), one in Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne), one in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) and one in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).

There are still 114 cases in Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam), 172 in Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) and 376 in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo).

A 60-year-old woman from Region Four

are already in use.

“Everything else is operational. There is just one piece of equipment that we had a little difficulty with so we’re getting that sorted out. A major part of the hospital is in use. This section that we’re talking about is for critical patients and want to ensure that everything that is needed for those patients are in place before we move anybody in there,” Dr Anthony shared.

Guyanese are remind-

ed to observe the protocols of the COVID-19 Emergency Measures (No 10), which are in effect until November 31, 2020. This order emphasises, among other things, the need for correct and consistent use of a face mask when leaving home; the importance of maintaining the six feet physical distance from others; and the need for good hand hygiene to help reduce the spread of COVID-19.

If anyone is displaying

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

This is important given the fact that the Region of the Americas, which is made up of L atin America and the Caribbean, has been identified as the most affected region by the virus.

Reforms needed before...

(Demerara-Mahaica) has been confirmed as Guyana’s latest death from the novel coronavirus. On Wednesday, a 66-year-old man of Region Three (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara) had also succumbed to COVID-19, according to the Ministry.

Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony noted during the latest update that a large proportion of the active cases have recovered, with over 700 persons yet to recover completely.

However, the intensive patients remain a concern.

“Our rate of recovery has been quite good. Our chal-

lenge really is that small percentage of people, about 20 per cent or so, who require hospitalisation. Then a smaller per cent, maybe four per cent, require ICU care. Those who require ICU, we’re providing that care but those are very critical patients.”

The Infectious Diseases Hospital will have adequate space to handle critical patients after the final piece of equipment is installed.

While they were expecting to transfer patients this week, this has been deferred by a few days. Nevertheless, other parts of the hospital

Some of those legal proceedings dealt with the role of the Chief Elections Officer of the Guyana Elections Commission and the interpretation of “more votes cast” as expressed in Article 177 (2) (b) of the Constitution.

Apart from the constitutional reforms, Harmon said the APNU/AFC would not be comfortable going back to another election with the current voters’ list which he described as “bloated”.

President Dr Irfaan Ali has also underscored the need for an updated voters’ list but he had stressed the importance of having reforms at GECOM before that entity embarks on a process of having a new voters’ list.

“Before we get a voters’ list, you have to have a system that the population has trust in, you can’t have a system where there is very little trust in that system. And the trust in the Secretariat at GECOM has been eroded significantly,” the President had expressed in early October.

In fact, the Head of

State had announced plans to launch a Commission of Inquiry into the events that unfolded during and after the March 2 elections to help in identifying loopholes that need to be fixed.

Local Government Elections are due next year and already, the Government has announced that while it will provide the resources needed, administrative changes at GECOM are needed.

In fact, a number of top electoral officials including the Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield and his Deputy, Roxanne Myers, are before the courts on a number of charges in relation to misconduct in public office and conspiracy to commit fraud regarding the 2020 polls.

GECOM Commissioner Sase Gunraj had told this newspaper that confidence must first be restored at the Elections Commission, after the tremendous damage it suffered during this year’s elections.

Meanwhile, in addition to a new voters’ list, Harmon said there are other reforms

FROM PAGE 7

that are needed at GECOM. “GECOM is GECOM. I will not make any statement which says we are supporting any breaking up of GECOM. If for example, there are some processes which may need to be reviewed, yes, I can see some processes that need to be reviewed,” the Opposition Leader outlined.

He also made reference to the Carter Center formula which provides for a balanced representation of ruling and opposition parties on the Elections Commission.

The current formula provides for three Government Commissioners and three Opposition Commissioners along with a Chairperson to be appointed based on an agreement between the President and Opposition Leader.

Harmon said “I believe if any changes were need to be made, we need to review that [formula] and how the Secretariat functions and whether in fact this adversarial arrangement that is there, whether it is serving the interest of the Guyanese people,” Harmon posited.

NEWS

11

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Murder of teen girls

Community tells authorities to “step up” to prevent these situations …but authorities call on community to get more involved

By Devina Samaroo

T

he brutal murders of two teenage girls by men twice their age have sent shockwaves throughout the entire country – but more so, draws into question; how exactly did society allow these situations to fester and grow to a point where two young women were robbed of the opportunity of life and perhaps, to rise above their unfortunate circumstances.

Sanesha Subrina Lall, 16, of Richmond Housing Scheme, Essequibo Coast, Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam), was stabbed to death by a 34-year-old man, who, from all indications, had taken advantage of a family of siblings who had lost both their parents and had no proper adult supervision or guidance thereafter.

Then there is a 16-yearold girl from Baramita village, North West District in Region One (Barima-Waini), who was reportedly strangled to death by a 38-yearold man with whom she was at a shop consuming alcohol, in the company of her mother.

The conditions under which both young girls were living were ongoing for years, yet nothing was seemingly ever done to ensure they were guided down a better path in life.

In the case of Sanesha, her mother died in 2016 and then some two years later, her father died.

It was following the death of both parents that the young girl ended up in a “relationship” with the

Director of the Childcare and Protection Agency, Ann Greene

man who is married, more than twice her age, and has two children. At the time, Sanesha was living with her siblings; two sisters and a brother. She had also dropped out of school.

The siblings reportedly had no proper adult supervision, not from family nor neighbours.

Sometime later, Sanesha would have ended the relationship with the man as she was moving to the city to stay with some relatives.

However, she returned to her hometown earlier this year and several months later, she was stabbed – some 20 times about her body – by the 34-year-old man who later attempted to commit suicide.

Now, why did no one ever try to seek help for this family? According to a neighbour who spoke to this newspaper under the condition of anonymity, he did not know the older man was involved with the then 14-year-old girl.

According to the neighbour, he thought the man was involved with the elder

sister who had assumed responsibility as head of the household. That sister, the neighbour said, he considered to be an adult since she has two children of her own.

According to the neighbour, he did not intervene when he would notice the married man visiting the family, as he assumed it was a relationship between two consenting adults. The neighbour said if he was aware that the relationship was between the “big man” and the then 14-year-old girl, he would have contacted the authorities.

However, he rejected the contention that neighbours did absolutely nothing to help the family.

Alleging that the children’s father was abusive towards them, the neighbour said he would have contacted both the police and social services. However, the neighbour claimed that the police showed up once and asked one of the children, in the presence of his father, whether the man was abusive towards them.

“The police came, they ask [the child] if the father does beat [them]. I don’t know what kind of police investigation is that because how you gonna ask the child in front of [their] father those questions, what kind of answer do you expect the child to give?”

The neighbour further alleged that some social workers visited the family once and never returned.

“Isn’t it your duty to follow up on these things?

Am I supposed to be calling Childcare [and Protection

Childcare and Protection Agency

Murdered: Sanesha Lall

Agency] over and over?” the neighbour questioned. “[Those children] need help! Childcare and Protection, they need to step in and step up.”

The neighbour added that he would have, on several occasions, spoken to the children and offered them guidance, but that they “seem to want do their own thing”.

Notwithstanding, the neighbour explained that while it is too late now for 16-year-old Sanesha, there is still hope for her 11-yearold sister, who was recently featured in the media for beating the odds to sit the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA).

The little girl had told this publication that she wants to become a doctor.

She had explained that, being the youngest of the siblings, she is committed to taking all steps necessary to ensure she takes up opportunities that her elder siblings could not have taken, and to be able to break the cycle of poverty.

When contacted, Head of the Childcare and Protection Agency (CPA) Ann Greene could not verify whether social workers from her agency would have been contacted and/or would have visited the Lall family in the past.

However, she said, since the murder of the teen girl, a team is currently looking into the situation.

Officers are also assigned to the case of the teenager from Baramita; however, those officials were involved in a motor vehicle accident which has resulted in some delays. Nevertheless, the Guyana Police Force has already arrested and charged 38-year-old Wickroy Mitchell, a miner of Number 53 Village, Corentyne, Berbice, for the young girl’s murder. <<<Guyana Times>>> has not been able to get any information about the living conditions of the Baramita teen or about the circumstances that led to her brutal murder.

In her case, the Police Force had reported that the teen and her mother were at a shop in the area consuming alcohol in the presence of some men. The mother and daughter duo later left the shop in the company of one of the men and headed home.

The mother would have later returned to the shop alone and spent some time there.

The motionless body of the teenager was discovered the following morning outside her house.

The CPA Director told this newspaper that “in that area, the whole family does

Murder Mitchell

accused:

Wickroy

carry all their children to the rum shop and everybody does drink.”

She explained that the work of the CPA is challenging when “there’s a gap between culture [and practice] and law.”

“A 16-year-old should not be in a place selling alcohol,” Greene asserted.

Against this backdrop, the CPA Head contended that the community needs to be more aggressive when situations like these are unfolding.

“More gotta be done by the community… You are your brother’s keeper,” she posited.

Greene encouraged neighbours, whenever they notice something awry in the village, that “you can’t lock up tight, you gotta see is what and see how you can help”.

“If you hear something next door, don’t bother to lock your house tighter, you gotta look out and see…we gotta get society more conscious, community members, we gotta be more involved,” Greene said.

12 NEWS

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Farmer robbed of $3M Wanted bulletin issued for suspect after leaving Berbice bank who escaped from custody Pensioner’s murder

…quick Police response leads to recovery of cash

A

42-year-old farmer of Corentyne, Berbice, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), is now counting his losses after he was robbed of over $3M. Reports are that Deonarine Harripersaud called “Chona” of Nauth village, Corentyne, West Coast Berbice (WCB), went to a bank at Corriverton, Berbice, at about 08:30h and withdrew the cash. He subsequently placed the money in his haversack in which he already had a quantity of Suriname Dollars.

Harripersaud told Police that he proceeded to another bank in Corriverton and withdrew another sum of money, and placed it in the

same bag and went to conduct business. He said that he parked his car on the eastern side of the Number 66 Public Road and left the haversack with the money in the front passenger seat but upon returning at about 10:15h he discovered the haversack with the money missing.

It was discovered that the front passenger’s door lock was tampered with.

The businessman told Police that eyewitnesses told him that a white Allion motor car was parked next to his car, someone came out, went into his car and took the haversack.

Following the robbery, a report was made at the

Number 51 Police Station.

Meanwhile, acting on information received, Police went to Liverpool, Corentyne, Berbice, and stopped a white Allion motor car with registration number PYY 4310, at the Liverpool Public Road, Corentyne, Berbice. The 40-year-old driver of Annandale, East Coast Demerara, and several persons in the car were arrested after a search revealed a grey haversack, which contained a quantity of Guyana and Suriname Dollars, along with the passport and other documents belonging to Harripersaud.

They were all taken to the Whim Police Station pending charges.

Police issue wanted bulletins for fraud, attempted murder suspects

whipped out a knife and dealt both men several stabs about their bodies. He then made good his escape.

The victims were subsequently taken to the Bartica Hospital by public-spirited citizens where the Amerindian man was pronounced dead while Lacruz was treated for his injuries and referred to the Georgetown Public Hospital.

Wanted: Jermaine Encomo Richmond

Wanted: Marcio Magalhaes Santos

he Guyana Police Force (GPF) on Friday issued wanted bulletins for two men in relation to the offences of conspiracy to defraud and attempted murder.

Wanted are Jermaine Encomo Richmond, 44, of Lot 34 Third Street, Alberttown, Georgetown, and Marcio Magalhaes Santos, 32, of Boa Vista Brazil, Balamani Backdam, Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni) Richmond is wanted for questioning in relation to conspiracy to defraud the State of Guyana between March 1, 2017, and March 31, 2020. Santos is wanted by the police for questioning in relation to an attempted murder committed on Vivian

Lacruz on November 3.

Anyone with information that may lead to the arrest of Richmond is asked to contact the police on telephone numbers 227-2128, 2256940, 226-9122, 227-1149, 911 or the nearest police station. Also, anyone who may have knowledge of the whereabouts of Santos is asked to contact the police on telephone numbers 7775007, 777-4007, 911 or the nearest police station.

On November 4, Police reported that an Amerindian man, who has not been identified, along with a miner, Vivian Lacruz, of Lethem, Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo), were consuming alcohol at a shop at Balamani Backdam when an argument erupted.

Reports are Santos

T

Dead: Bibi Ramjit

P

olice are seeking the public’s assistance in capturing a woman, who escaped from the Springlands Police Station shortly after being handed over by Surinamese authorities.

Jankie Tapsie, 30, was arrested and handed over to the police on Wednesday in connection with the murder of 86-year-old Bibi Ramjit of La Grange, West Bank Demerara.

Her last known address was Devisieweg Number 7 District Commewijne, Suriname, and Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara (ECD).

Anyone with information that may lead to the arrest of Jankie Tapsie is asked to contact the police on telephone numbers (592) 2292289, (592) 220-2222, (592) 227-1149, 911, or the near-

est police station.

Police said that all information would be treated with the strictest confidence.

Reports are the woman and her accomplice were handed over by Suriname authorities at about 17:10h on Wednesday, however, she escaped shortly after from the Springlands Police Station.

According to Police, the woman and her accomplice were at the police station when the sergeant left the station and went to another duty, leaving the suspects with three constables.

At the time, the suspects were on the prisoners’ bench. The male suspect was shackled and the female, who is said to be the mastermind behind the crime, was not.

Guyana Times was informed that the woman requested to use the washroom.

At around 17:30h she was escorted by a police constable, who reported that the woman entered the washroom and locked the door, after which he returned to his post.

Sometime later, he went to check on her and found that the northern toilet window was open and the woman was missing. Several checks were made around the area but she was not found.

Reports are a team from

Wanted: Jankie Tapsie

the Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) is in Region Six (East CorentyneBerbice) and is currently investigating the circumstances surrounding the woman’s disappearance.

According to Police, the team arrived in the region on Friday morning, as investigations continue.

On October 25, Ramjit was found dead in her La Grange, West Bank Demerara (WBD) home with her hands and feet tied.

On the day she was murdered, one of her customers told reporters that he went to take some money to her, and made several calls but got no answer.

He said Ramjit not answering was very strange, since both the doors to her shop and house were open.

Upon checking, he made the gruesome discovery.

Breaching safety rules can lead to revocation – Police warns licensed firearm holders

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he Guyana Police Force has issued a statement reminding licensed firearm holders that one of the conditions under which the firearm licence was issued, is the provision of a safe and secure storage facility for the firearm and ammunition when not in use by the licensee.

“Firearm Licences carry a number of stipulated rules pertaining to the safety and use of the firearm and ammunition, including the fact that they are always to be kept out of the reach of children, that are the direct responsibility of the firearm holder,” the GPF said.

“Licensed firearm holders are cautioned that the neglectful breach of one or more specific firearm safety rules, spelt out on the fire-

arm licence, may lead to the revocation of the firearm licence,” the GPF added.

The statement comes on the heels of reports that a 16-year-old boy would have used his father’s licensed

firearm to kill his best friend, 15-year-old Rockey Sawh.

Reports are that Sawh was at his friend’s house at Sandy Babb Street, Kitty, for a sleepover.

The two teens were said to be home alone.

According to the police, just as they finished having a meal, the suspect breached the lock of a secured wardrobe where a licensed .32 Taurus pistol, owned by his father, was being kept.

After retrieving the gun, the teenager then showed it to his friend and “accidentally pulled the trigger”, the police said.

Sawh was shot to his right-side head, causing him to fall to the ground.

He was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he was admitted in a serious condition. He later succumbed to his injuries.

In October, a 15-year-old gained access to his father’s gun and shot himself.

NEWS

13

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

EBD land scandal

Another businessman tells Police James Bond arranged buyer, collected over $50M M ember of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), James Bond has been fingered by yet another businessman as being the mastermind behind the questionable transfer of prime State lands on the East Bank of Demerara (EBD).

Eddie Doolall, the principal of A-Z Pharmaceuticals, has told the investigators that the PNC member made all the arrangements for the land deal to take place, and in the end, pocketed more than 50 per cent of the proceeds received so far – which amounted to more than $50 million.

A-Z Pharmaceuticals had leased from the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL), three plots of land; “A7”, “A8” and “A20”, a total of 15 acres situated at Plantation Peters Hall, EBD. Doolall had, on May 17, 2018, agreed to lease the lands for US$11,700 plus taxes per annum for a period of 20 years. However, he later transferred the land to an individual for a mere $100.

Doolall, who has since been interrogated by Police, explained that it was Bond who advised him to start up a pharmaceutical company.

Doolall further claimed that it was Bond who told him to write an Expression of Interest to NICIL and that he [Bond] would take care of the rest.

This was done, and then on May 17, 2018, Doolall said Bond contacted him and informed that the lease for the lands was approved and that he needed to sign the documents.

Businessman Eddie Doolall

Police sources indicated that Doolall said he would have subsequently spoken to Bond about accessing finances to develop the land and construct a storage bond. The businessman detailed that it was during this conversation that the PNCR member advised Doolal that he could transfer the lands at a prime price and use the money to invest. Doolall said Bond agreed to arrange a buyer.

Doolall explained that when Bond found the buyer, an Agreement of Sale was drafted and presented to him to review. <<<Guyana Times>>> was informed that the agreement listed a sale price of $133 million. Doolall reportedly told investigators that when he spoke to Bond about the price, it was then that the PNCR member revealed that he wanted 50 per cent of the proceeds.

Doolall also claimed that Bond insisted that he receive his payment first from the first tranche of monies that would have been released from

the buyer. According to Police sources, Doolall said he agreed to this arrangement.

Information reaching this newspaper indicated that Doolal would have received some $60 million so far, of which the majority was given to Bond. In fact, Doolall told investigators that he only collected some $6 million from that sum.

The story detailed by Doolal is similar to that provided by another businessman, Avalon Jagnanan, who is also at the centre of the questionable transfer of State lands.

Jagnanan gave a statement to the police in which he claimed that it was Bond who asked him to apply to NICIL for the land. Similarly, Jagnanan claimed that upon Bond’s request, he wrote an Expression of Interest (EoI) and gave it to Bond, who subsequently informed him that the lease had been granted.

Jagnanan would have also signed his lease agreement on May 17, 2018 – the same day Doolall signed his.

Further, both agreements bore similarities. Life 1 Pharms Incorporated, the firm which was set up by Jagnanan, was leased a total of 15 acres of land at Peters Hall, EBD, for the sum of US$11,700. This land, referred to as plots “A17”, “A18” and “A19”, was subsequently transferred to one individual for $100. In fact, this is the same individual who benefited from the lands that were leased to Doolall.

Jagnanan told investigators that it was Bond who had arranged the buyer and that

Child labour, exploitation on coconut farm report to be investigated – Labour Minister

Labour Minister Joseph Hamilton addressing the Region Two RDC

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abour Minister Joseph Hamilton has said a comprehensive investigation will be launched into reports of child labour and exploitation on coconut plantations in the Pomeroon, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam).

Minister Hamilton, according to a Department of Public Information report, was at the time engaging the Region’s Regional Democratic Council (RDC) during an outreach, where he announced that a special team including the Chief Labour Officer

and Director of Health and Safety, would lead the investigations and examine the veracity of the complaints along the Pomeroon River.

“Historically, you have families I am told, who are on plantations where children are also involved and so the whole issue of child labour, it must be considered.

This is a serious matter and it is a matter that we are addressing…an investigation will be launched shortly,” the Minister was quoted by DPI as saying.

“We have to examine what is happening in the Pomeroon area, more specifically on coconut plantations, whether people are being paid the minimum wage and whether people are working in conditions that pass the test of what conditions workers should work under… and if employees are getting overtime and annual leave,” he said.

Minister Hamilton said he anticipates that investigations will wrap up by the end of December.

In order to address these issues holistically, Labour and Occupational Safety and Health Officers must be placed in every region.

For Region Two, he announced one officer will be stationed in the Pomeroon area and another on the Essequibo Coast. They will be recruited from within the Region and will be trained by the Ministry.

Hamilton also used the opportunity to outline the fundamental objectives of his Ministry, which are capacity building, human development and the protection of the rights of workers.

Businessman Avalon Jagnanan

the lands were sold for $117 million. Of the $60 million that was paid so far, Jagnanan reportedly told police that all the funds were transferred to Bond.

Last month, Bond was named as the recipient of US$1 million in payments for 20.8 acres of flipped State lands at Peters Hall. The rev-

elation was made by Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Anil Nandlall. Nandlall had said that over 50 acres of land at Peters Hall were given away through three different agreements by the then Government through NICIL. The PNCR member at the centre of the questionable transactions, now identified as Bond, was listed as the lawyer on record for the drafting of the three contracts.

Of interest too is the fact that in both lease agreements, a clause was deliberately modified to state that “the lessee may divest the land, may part with possession, may assign it to a third-party interest”.

However, Guyana’s State Lands Act stipulates that whenever State lands are leased, the lease agreement must indicate that the lessee “shall not” part with lands (possession) or “shall not” as-

PNCR member James Bond

sign the interest in the said agreement without the consent of the State.

It also states that in the event that there is going to be a transfer to a third party, the State reserves the right to step in and repossess the lands, reverting ownership back to the State. (G11)

GLDA, Health Ministry seize over 700lbs illegal Brazilian meat products

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he Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA) in collaboration with the Health Ministry, on Friday, seized more than 700 pounds of meat products imported from Brazil at the Casa Mato Grosso Supermarket on Robb Street, Georgetown.

Chief Executive Officer of the Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA), Dr Grayson Halley told the media that Guyana does not import meat from Brazil because of the presence of foot and mouth disease in that country.

“We have here at this store on Robb Street, over 700 pounds of imported meat from Brazil of different kind.

We have mostly beef products, pork products and we have some tripe and other products, mixed meat products and so on,” Dr. Halley is quoted by the Department of Public Information as saying.

The CEO explained that sometimes officers exercise leniency if a person is found with a quantity of meat for personal consumption, “but when you have products coming in huge quantities like this one, that’s going to consumers, that is being sold without proper documentation, we certainly have a strong objection against those.”

According to the DPI report, he said the GLDA is clamping down on errant supermarkets, especially when it comes to meat products.

The raid and seizure are part of ongoing monitoring exercises, which have been ramped up for the Christmas season.

With regards to foot and mouth disease, Brazil has been categorised as free but with vaccination. However, Dr Halley said he does not have confidence in that information as the country still has to vaccinate to prevent the disease.

“Guyana is considered

Some of the Brazilian meat products that were seized at the Casa Mato Grosso Supermarket on Robb Street, Georgetown

free without vaccination and we have to protect that status. We cannot afford now, when we want to develop our livestock industry, to lay back and allow people to bring illegal products that can possibly expose our cattle population and our livestock population in general, and then it can cripple our industry before it even takes off,” he explained.

Apart from the dangers of foot and mouth disease, the meat products, imported only recently, are close to expiring.

“They import them close to expiry, then they repackage them to give the consumer while they are expired because the labels are printed on to the packages so you cannot leave it there. You have to repackage them so consumers do not know what it is they are buying,” the GLDA Head explained.

Meanwhile, he is urging the public to be mindful when making purchases of imported meat.

“We tend to not look for the expiry date. We tend to just pick up a pack of meat or sausage or whatever; we need to become more conscientious and read the labels, see where it's coming from and we need to educate ourselves. GLDA would be running off a series of educational programmes on TV so that people could be aware,” Dr Halley said.

The GLDA will also be engaging a legal team to prosecute persons found breaching its guidelines.

Friday’s seizure follows closely on the heels of a similar exercise on Monday where over 482lbs of undocumented and expired duck meat was seized from an unnamed city business.

14 NEWS

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Non-oil sectors must gear Breach at Dantzig up for spinoffs of new sealed in 2 months economy – Finance Minister …as APNU/AFC Govt tried unsuccessfully

Senior Minister within the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, Dr Ashni Singh

Non-oil sectors, such as agriculture, manufacturing and services, must brace themselves for the economic spin-offs to be derived from the new oil and gas economy.

Senior Minister within the Office of the President

with responsibility for Finance, Dr Ashni Singh made the statement on Friday during a meeting with members of the Private Sector Commission (PSC), the Department of Public Information reported.

He said while the sectors themselves are strong, the oil and gas sector will give them a further boost.

“While looking ahead, a lot of growth in the economy will be driven by the oil and gas sector. We place a lot of importance, as a Government, on ensuring that the economy is diversified and non-oil sources of growth continue to be very strong. It is very important that they gear up themselves to take advantage of the opportunities that the new economy will present to them,” Dr Singh told DPI following the closeddoor meet.

The Finance Minister said as the oil and gas sector realises its potential, non-oil sectors will also assume greater potential for growth.

Dr Singh had his first meeting with the PSC on Friday, laying the foundation for what he said would be ongoing engagements.

He said the PPP/C Government regards the Commission as an “extremely important” stakeholder in the economy as it creates jobs and generates wealth, thereby improving lives.

Dr Singh said the Government’s commitment to a vibrant and dynamic Private Sector has not waned and ensuring the preservation of a conducive environment of rapid growth and dynamism across all sectors of the economy remains steadfast.

COVID-19 still in 1st wave globally – PAHO advisor

W

hile it has been almost one year since the COVID-19 pandemic was discovered in Wuhan, China, and has devastated health and economic systems across the world, the virus is still in the first wave globally.

This was according to Advisor at the Disease Surveillance and Epidemiology Department of the Pan American Health Organisation, Eldonna Boisson during a webinar for communication authorities and media personnel on Friday.

The coronavirus, which started as an epidemic, has now grown into a pandemic with new cases being detected every day. In March, it was declared a Public Health Emergency International Concern (PHEIC), meaning that it carried implications for public health beyond national borders and may require immediate international action.

The data showed Europe as a key hotspot in March, after which it moved to South America for a few months. Now, Europe is witnessing a rise again while South America’s weekly cases are declining.

As of now, there is no cure for the disease but one vaccine has proven 95 per cent effectiveness.

Just two days ago, PAHO said delivering vaccines for COVID-19 would be challenging and expensive, adding that it is vital that

countries start preparing now. Projections for Latin America and the Caribbean show that vaccinating 20 per cent of the population will cost more than $2 billion dollars.

PAHO is already working with countries in the Americas to facilitate access to COVID-19 vaccines under the COVAX Mechanism and will offer them the option to purchase the vaccines as a block through PAHO’s Revolving Fund.

PAHO has also partnered with the InterAmerican Development Bank, the European Union and other financial institutions and donors to secure the funding needed for lower-income countries in the region to join.

A COVID-19 vaccine is still some months away but measures to reduce the spread of the virus and control transmission must continue by wearing masks, maintaining physical distance, avoiding unnecessary gatherings and following the recommendations of local and national health authorities.

Over the last week, the

Region of the Americas reported almost 1.5 million cases and 19,000 deaths due to COVID-19. North America remains a driver for the infection while in Central America, the response is being affected by Hurricanes Eta and Iota.

In most Andean countries, cases have decreased, although Brazil is seeing increases in cases and deaths in some states and Uruguay, the only country with cluster transmission, has seen spikes in some areas of its border with Brazil.

Assistant Director of the Organisation, Jarbas Barbosa said, “We must make the most of the life-saving vaccines that are already available, to prevent other outbreaks of severe diseases such as polio, measles and others.”

He noted that PAHO is working closely with Governments to review their immunisation programmes, share regulatory information and strengthen their cold chain capacity to ensure a smooth and quick rollout of new COVID-19 vaccines when they are approved.

for 1 year to seal breaches …permanent fix to be applied – Regional Chairman

“I

The sea defence at Dantzig, East Coast Demerara, where the breach was sealed

am very happy at the approach of Government to have these breaches sealed in less than two months,” Region Five Chairman Vickchand Ramphal told the media on Friday during a site visit of the sea defence at Dantzig, East Coast Demerara, Region Five (MahaicaBerbice).

The sea defence at Dantzig breached last year, causing widespread flooding to both residential and farming communities. At the time, rice farmers saw their fields being wiped out as saltwater from the Atlantic Ocean swept through the land. Cattle Farmers had difficulty locating animals and many died. Cash crop farmers were also not spared and poultry farmers suffered hundreds of thousands of dollars in losses.

Many residential com-

a breach. However, as the forceful Atlantic continued hammering the feeble see defence, the breach opened at Dantzig, causing widespread destruction in the community. Subsequently, a contractor was then hired

Contractors working to have a permanent solution

munities remained under water for weeks after spring tides. Some persons were forced to leave their home for months.

Prior to that, former Regional Executive Officer (REO) Ovid Morrison accused the Regional Chairman Vickhand Ramphal of spreading misinformation when Ramphal called on the Government to attend to a breach in the sea defence at Dantzig.

Morrison had claimed that it was overtopping and not

by the coalition Government to seal the breach but before he could, two more breaches developed and the one at Dantzig got worse.

However, one year later, the coalition Government had not been able to seal the breaches along the East Coast Demerara shoreline.

However, during a visit to the affected area on Friday, Ramphal showed this publication that the breaches were all sealed.

"There are three contractors on site that are current-

ly working on these breaches to have them sealed permanently. Already, some of that prominent to work was done," Ramphal explained.

The contractors are M&B Construction, BK International and Toolsie Persaud.

During a site visit on Friday, work was moving at a slow pace by the contractor working east of Dantzig in the Belvedere area. In fact, at the time of the visit, excavators were seen lying idle.

Ramphal said while a contractor has a lot of material on-site there is a need for work to be carried out in a timely manner so as to have the permanent fix before the rainy season begins.

“With a heavy downpour and this breach not permanently fixed that can affect the entire area again," the Regional Chairman pointed out.

He called on the contractors to ensure that workers are on the ground and expediting the project.

With the breach being sealed, there can be no intrusion of saltwater from the Atlantic Ocean, however, a permanent solution, as the Chairman mentioned, is part of the contract and should see geotextile fabric, boulders and whites forming a rip-rap so as to seal off the defence and prevent erosion.

15 Education Ministry takes control of Yarrowkabra Secondary School site NEWS

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

…as contractor finally vacates location

T

he Education Ministry on Friday announced that it has taken control of the Yarrowkabra Secondary School site after contactor BK International finally vacated the location.

According to the Ministry, on January 7, 2020, the $826.7 million

contract was signed with BK International Inc for the construction of the Yarrowkabra Secondary School.

The school, the Ministry said, is intended to benefit 600 children in Yarrowkabra and neighbouring communities along the Linden

Highway. The state-of-theart school was scheduled to be completed in March 2021.

However, as of this month, only five per cent of the school was completed.

This means that the school will not be finished in accordance with the contractual deadline, the Ministry said,

adding that the effect of this unreasonable delay is that the 600 students who are to benefit from the school and its modern facilities will be forced to travel long distances to attend other secondary schools or be placed in the Primary Top Departments of some primary schools,

Restaurant Week launched A s the novel coronavirus struck Guyana back in March, restaurants and bars shuttered, while some businesses have closed for good.

Now restaurants in Guyana are able to make creative moves to keep afloat through the remainder of the year 2020.

During these few days, some restaurants are trying to expand outdoor dining, while some will be launching their annual menus for the Guyana Restaurant Week.

Guyana Restaurant Week was officially launched on Friday at the Marriott Hotel, in Kingston, Georgetown, where officials are ready to assist their local businesses in what is a week dedicated to supporting and sampling delicacies.

The initiative that commenced in 2015 is now in its 10th season.

Tourism Minister Oneidge Walrond at the launch said that it is important that Guyanese start to participate in dining out again as the country shifts into a new normal.

“The success of the Restaurant Week will speak to the resilience, the dedication that we have as Guyanese to our local product. We see foreigners coming to enjoy what we have, to see what we have; everyone is curious about what Guyana has to offer. So, let us as Guyanese take the first step to show confidence in what we have, to put our monies, our efforts into supporting what we are doing,” the Minister said. She noted that Restaurant Week will also boost the economy.

Officials during the launch of Restaurant Week. From left: Head of the Guyana Tourism Authority Carla James, President of the Tourism and Hospitality Association Mitra Ramkumar, Tourism Minister Oneidge Walrond and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Sharon Roopchand

“It just shows you that as our tourism sector … starts to engage back into activity that there are other trickle-down financial benefits for everyone else and so the delivery services that will be used brings back employment,” Walrond added.

According to the Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana (THAG), this year’s event is expected to bring families and friends closer together, given the impact of COVID-19.

President of THAG, Mitra Ramkumar in his remarks at the launch said Guyana Restaurant Week will allow persons to gather in safe spaces during outdoor dining, while having the option of pick-up and delivery.

Those who are interested in supporting restaurants in Guyana from November 2029 can visit the websites to view menus. They will be given the opportunity to select, place orders and make

reservations.

“This will limit the time spent in public and still offers patrons a rewarding experience.

Although it will be outdoor, attention is being placed on the ambience in which fine dining is expected to take place,” he said.

Meanwhile, Head of the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA), Carla James also revealed that there will be several go green initiatives this year.

On the other hand, Minister of Tourism, Industry, and Commerce, Oneidge Walrond encouraged Guyanese to support the annual event.

“As we come out of this COVID stalemate where we have not been going out, this presents an opportunity for us to do so safely and also showcase the best of what we have,” she said.

This year, menu prices will remain unchanged – two-course lunch menus at $3000 (VAT Inclusive)

and three (3) course dinner menus at $5000 or $6000 (VAT Inclusive).

To facilitate the timely delivery of GRW menus, the THAG has engaged the services of two logistic service providers – Hero Cart and Onecart. Further, some restaurants have maintained their service providers to facilitate the delivery of menus.

The complete list of participating restaurants is as follows: Aagman Restaurant; Café Bellvana; Cara Lodge, Hibiscus Restaurant; Java Coffee Bar; Jaxx International Grill, MovieTowne; New Thriving Chinese Restaurant - Main Street, Georgetown; OMG! Arawak Steak House; Sucre Restaurant (Herdmanston Lodge); Terra Mare Restaurant (Guyana Marriott Hotel); The Duke (Roraima Duke Lodge); Watooka House (Township of Linden); Windjammer Restaurant; Signature Restaurant; Gourmet Grub.

which is a practice the Ministry plans to stop.

In a statement on Friday, the Ministry said that recognising the slothful pace at which the construction was taking place, the Education Minister, Priya Manickchand, had engaged the contracted company and pleaded repeatedly for the firm to put itself in order and devise a new work plan that would see it completing the school within the stipulated time.

Further, the Ministry said that the consultant on the project had advised BK International Inc to employ additional staff so that more work could get done.

Hence, BK International Inc was given a second opportunity to make things right so that the nation’s children can benefit from what they deserve, a modern facility to enable them to achieve their dreams, the Ministry’s statement said.

However, this among other suggestions were unheeded and the Government was forced to terminate the contract with the company due to the inordinate delays in the completion of the works.

On November 1, 2020, the Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister, Anil Nandlall, wrote BK International Inc informing the entity that the contract was terminated with immediate effect. He noted that the company had committed a fundamental breach of the terms of the contract and as

a result, the Government of Guyana exercised its right to terminate the contract.

In the said letter, the contractor was advised to remove all machinery and equipment from the site.

On November 10, 2020, the consultancy firm visited the site and observed that the company was still progressing with works despite the contract being terminated.

In a letter dated November 11, 2020, the consultancy firm wrote the Managing Director of BK International Inc, Brian Tiwarie, informing him that pursuant to Clause 40.5 [Termination] “the contractor is to stop the works immediately, make the site safe and secure and leave the site as soon as reasonably possible.”

In that letter, the consultants instructed the contractor to stop works immediately and advised that any work done or materials ordered beyond the date of termination, November 1, 2020, is done at the contractor’s own risk.

The Ministry added that on November 19, 2020, Permanent Secretary of the Education Ministry, Alfred King wrote BK International Inc instructing the company to bring all work to a halt with immediate effect and vacate the project site within twenty-four hours.

The Ministry has since installed its own security after taking possession of the site with the help of the enforcement arm of the State.

news@guyanatimesgy.com

16 NEWS

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Second, third phases of $14M EPA conducts community markets repairs start next week consultation at mangrove reserve

Coordinator, Engineering Services at the Local Government and Regional Development Ministry, Naeem Khan

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hases Two and Three of the $14 million rehabilitation works being executed on the Albouystown and East Ruimveldt markets respectively are to begin next week.

C o o r d i n a t o r , Engineering Services at the Local Government and Regional Development Ministry, Naeem Khan told the Department of Public Information that the Ministry will also rehabilitate the vendors’ stalls at the East Ruimveldt Market.

However, these works will not be completed by year-

end.

“We intend to have vendors go back into these markets to vend because most of these markets’ capacity is less than 50 per cent occupancy and less in the Albouystown Market,” Khan is quoted by DPI as saying.

The East Ruimveldt Market, located on Vlissengen Road and the East Ruimveldt Front Road, was built by the City Council in 1978. It once housed approximately 200 vending stalls, three public restrooms and a City Constabulary office.

In 2016, repairs to the

main entrance of the market commenced, which allowed for easier access to vehicular traffic. It also benefitted from a major road project along with revetment in 2019, budgeted at $39.5 million. The main entrance to the market was paved and the four inner lanes were also done.

With regard to the Albouystown Market, Khan said the Ministry will rehabilitate both the internal and external drainage systems after vendors reported frequent flooding. Repairs will also be done on the roof.

“We will be fixing the front part of the market where persons are occupying right now to provide immediate relief for the short term. We will be using translucent plastic sheets to provide natural light as well as installing ventilation,” he said.

The City Constabulary office will also be enhanced with partitions to house other offices. Washroom facilities will also be built.

The works are being conducted under the Ministry’s community infrastructure improvement programme.

Teen accused of killing 2 at US protest released on US$2M bail

T

he 17-year-old rightwing extremist charged with shooting two people dead at a Black Lives Matter protest in the Midwestern US state of Wisconsin earlier this year was released after posting US$2 million bail, one of his lawyers tweeted Friday.

Kyle Rittenhouse “is out of jail,” Lin Wood wrote, adding special thanks to actor Ricky Schroder and My Pillow chief executive Mike Lindell, an ally of US President Donald Trump, for contributions which put them “over the top.”

Video footage shows a white man alleged to be Rittenhouse shooting dead the two protesters, named

by The New York Times as Anthony Huber and Joseph Rosenbaum in Kenosha, Wisconsin in August. He badly wounded one other man.

Rittenhouse, described as being an enthusiast of right-wing militant groups in the US, reportedly went to the city to protect it from “rioters” during days of

A

proaches and ocean governance arrangements. These approaches are said to be the most effective for the mitigation of pollution, restoration and/or rehabilitation of the area. The Wellington Park site was selected due to the massive sawdust accumulation along the coast, where the mangrove reserve is located. The most probable source of the sawdust is the sawmills which are located along the Corentyne Coast.

Participants and EPA officers engaged in conversations around the proper management of mangroves, the role of the EPA as part of the CLME+ project, next steps in creating a management plan for the area and the importance of community perspectives in the

planning process. Through a re-visioning exercise, the participants drafted plans on what the area can look like in 10-15 years if it is properly managed.

A meeting is scheduled for December 2020, to discuss proper waste management and best practices of sawdust waste. The agency met with the sawmill operators, as well as community members earlier in the year and will continue to work with all parties to ensure restoration of the area.

The Regional Democratic Council representatives and National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute’s (NAREI) Mangrove Ranger were part of the consultation.

T&T businesswoman, daughter killed in ambush

Kyle Rittenhouse

demonstrations against police brutality.

The protests had erupted after a Black man, Jacob Blake, was shot multiple times in the back by a white officer at point blank range, as his three young sons watched.

Blake survived, but doctors have said he may never walk again.

Blake’s shooting came three months after the police killing of another African American, George Floyd, ignited the largest wave of

civil unrest in the US in decades.

Protests in Kenosha began peacefully the night Blake was shot, but descended into violence for several nights running. It culminated August 25, when Rittenhouse is accused of taking his rifle to the streets.

Trump, who has a long history of readiness to court right-wing extremism, has expressed sympathy for Rittenhouse and called the allegations against him “an interesting situation.” (AFP)

Dancehall artiste among 5 held with stolen goods 19-year-old dancehall artiste from Port of Spain, Trinidad is among five people held with stolen property in San Juan on Wednesday.

Police said members of the North Eastern Division Task Force led by Sgt Bharath, PCs Mieres,

T

he Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Friday said that it met with 10 representatives, comprising of members from three communities surrounding the Wellington Park Mangrove Reserve site, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne).

The consultation took place in the boardroom of the EPA’s Whim regional office and sought to continue discussions on plans to restore the Wellington Park Mangrove Reserve.

This consultation, the EPA said, was the second held to maximise collaboration between the agency and community members as they commence work for the creation of a management plan. The management plan would include a governance structure on how the community will manage the area in keeping with the deliverables under the GEF Caribbean Large Marine Ecosystems (CLME+) project.

The EPA is implementing the GEF Caribbean Large Marine Ecosystems (CLME+) project which requires the selection of a degraded mangrove area to apply Ecosystem-Based Management (EBM) ap-

Majeed and Dass received information that men involved in a home invasion were going to sell stolen goods to someone in the Croisee near the San Juan Fire Station.

Police went there at around 6 pm and arrested the bandits, along with the potential buyer.

Investigators said an iPhone among the items was stolen from the Bushe Street, San Juan, home of a Chinese family early on Sunday morning.

The men are expected to be put on ID parades on Friday. San Juan police are continuing enquiries.

(T&T Newsday)

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Dead: Sandy Khan

popular Cunupia flower shop owner and her daughter were last night killed in Carapichaima, as they boarded a car to go to their home in Cunupia.

Sandy Khan, owner of ABC Flower Shop at Jerningham Junction, Cunupia and her daughter Stephanie Khan were killed when gunmen ambushed them as they boarded a car at a relative’s house at Dynasty Trace North, Joyce Street, Carapichaima.

Khan’s three grandchildren, ages eight, seven and one, escaped the attack unhurt. According to a police report, at about 19:30h six family members

Dead: Stephanie Khan

were in a vehicle reversing out of the driveway when two men wearing black masks walked alongside it and opened fire on them.

The children’s mother Stephanie and her mother, Sandy, died on the scene.

The driver, a Venezuelan national and close friend of Stephanie, was also shot but managed to leave the scene in a waiting vehicle, according to eyewitnesses.

Police said he went straight to the Chaguanas Health Facility for treatment.

A neighbour, who did not want to be identified last night, said he was watching television when he heard the gunshots.

“It sounded like bamboo bussing but we real-

ised it was gunshots and when we looked out we saw the Spanish bleeding and walking out and getting into a car.”

Khan’s stepmother said Khan’s brother read about the incident on Facebook.

“When we went to the police station we saw the children there, then we decided to come on the scene to see what happened. We don’t know who or why. It is shocking.”

Police officers had the vehicle the victims were in removed to Camp Cumuto for a forensic analysis.

Up to late last night, the officers were still on the scene. A motive is yet to be established. (T&T Guardian)

NEWS

17

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

US election 2020: Biden Detroit asks judge to sanction campaign for certified Georgia winner Trump spreading ‘disinformation’ after hand recount L

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US-President Elect Joe Biden

S President-elect Joe Biden’s narrow victory in Georgia has been officially certified

by Republican Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger.

It comes as legal efforts

by Donald Trump’s allies to challenge his defeat were dismissed in three other states.

The Democrat beat his Republican rival in Georgia by 12,670 votes, according to the audit required by state law.

Raffensperger on Friday said he was disappointed that his party lost but that “numbers don’t lie”.

Biden is set to take office in January as the 46th US president.

Biden’s victory margin in the public vote overall stands at more than 5.9 million. His victory in the US Electoral College system, which determines who be-

comes president, is projected to be 306 to 232 - far above the 270 he needs to win.

Trump has so far refused to concede and has made allegations of widespread electoral fraud, without providing any evidence.

The latest defeat comes as he has summoned Michigan state lawmakers to the White House on Friday ahead of that state’s deadline to certify election results.

White House spokeswoman Kayleigh McEnany denied that Mr Trump was holding a campaign “advocacy meeting” with the lawmakers, saying it was instead a routine check-in with local officials.

Also, on Friday, Trump gave a briefing from the White House on drug pricing, where he again falsely claimed to have won the election. In his first pub-

lic appearance in a week, he took no questions and seemed to imply he knew another administration would take over soon.

“There will never be anything like this. I just hope they keep it,” he said touting new rules aimed as reducing prescription drug costs.

Raffensperger said on Friday that the result had been certified, posting the result to the secretary of state’s website.

On Thursday, Raffensperger - who oversees the election process said the hand audit of ballots had not altered Biden’s victory in the state.

“Georgia’s historic first statewide audit reaffirmed that the state’s new secure paper ballot voting system accurately counted and reported results,” he said in a statement.

On Friday, the self-proclaimed Trump supporter went on to say: “Like other Republicans. I’m disappointed, our candidate didn’t win Georgia’s electoral votes.

“I live by the motto that numbers don’t lie. As secretary of state, I believe that the numbers that we have presented today are correct.”

The Democrats’ victory is their first in a presidential race in Georgia since Bill Clinton was elected in 1992.

(BBC)

awyers for the city of Detroit have asked a judge to reprimand President Donald Trump’s campaign for spreading “disinformation” in a court filing about the certification of a Michigan county’s election results.

Trump’s campaign on Thursday said they were voluntarily dropping a lawsuit contesting Michigan’s election results because

election officials in Wayne County “met and declined to certify the results of the presidential election.”

In fact, Republican members of the Wayne County Board of Canvassers on Tuesday refused at first to certify the results, but then reversed themselves after a public outcry.

Detroit’s lawyers said on Thursday that the campaign included “imperti-

Ethiopia claims 2 key towns seized from Tigray fighters

Ethiopians hold national flags at an event organised by city officials to honour the military in capital Addis Ababa

UN says 50 face possible execution E in Iraq after unfair trials

Some 4,000 prisoners, most of them charged with terrorism offences, are believed to be on death row in Iraq, according to UN experts [File: Iraq Ministry of Justice via Reuters]

S

ome 50 prisoners in Iraq face possible execution on Monday following conviction on terrorism-related crimes in unfair trials, according to the United Nations human rights experts.

In a joint statement released on Friday, UN experts urged the Baghdad government to immediately halt all

mass executions, noting that 21 prisoners had been executed in October, followed by a further 21 last week in Nasiriya Central Prison, also known as Al Hoot.

The wave “seems to be part of a larger plan to execute all prisoners on death row”, read the statement.

Some 4,000 prisoners, most of them charged with

terrorism offences, are believed to be on death row in Iraq, the experts said.

Hundreds of executions are imminent after their execution orders were signed off, they said.

“We strongly urge the Iraqi government to respect its international legal obligations and to immediately halt further plans to exe-

nent and false language” in the filing and asked a federal judge to strike the disputed document from the case record.

Detroit’s lawyers did not request a monetary penalty, but said U.S. District Judge Janet Neff had “the authority to strike materials from the record as a sanction.”

Neff has not yet ruled on the request. (Reuters)

cute prisoners,” said the UN investigators, who focus on torture, arbitrary killings and protecting human rights while countering terrorism.

Trials under anti-terrorism laws have been marked by alarming irregularities, they added.

“Defendants have frequently been denied the most basic right to an adequate defence and their allegations of torture and ill-treatment during interrogations have not been investigated.”

There was no immediate comment from the Iraqi government.

The UN human rights chief, Michelle Bachelet, in a statement issued last week after the execution of 21 men, called on Iraqi authorities to halt any further executions.

Her office had found “frequent violations of fair trial rights, ineffective legal representation, overreliance on confessions and frequent allegations of torture”, she said.

The administration of justice underpins a functioning, democratic society, Bachelet added.

thiopian forces have captured two towns from rebel forces in the northern Tigray region, the government said, as the fighting continues to escalate in a two-week war that has caused a growing humanitarian emergency.

A government statement said on Friday that Ethiopian troops took the towns of Axum and Adwa.

Hundreds, perhaps thousands, of people have been killed in the conflict between the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) rebels and the central government and tens of thousands of refugees have fled fighting in Tigray.

The conflict erupted two weeks ago after what Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s government called a TPLF attack on the army stationed in the region.

The government said its forces are now advancing towards the town of Adigrat, about 120km (75 miles) north of Mekelle – the regional capital of Tigray and home to about half a million people.

“Many fighters of the junta have surrendered,” the statement said, referring to the TPLF. It has been impossible to verify assertions on all sides because telephone lines and internet links to Tigray have been severed since the conflict began.

Al Jazeera’s Mohammed Adow, reporting from Addis

Ababa, said the capture of the Axum and Adwa would be significant achievements for the Abiy-led government.

“These two towns are a huge part of the history of this country,” Adow said.

Adow added that Axum was part of the Axumite Kingdom, which many Ethiopians are “very proud of”, while Adwa was the site of an Ethiopian war victory over the Italians in 1839.

Ethiopian government forces are fighting their way towards Mekelle from several directions.

Meanwhile, in a televised address on Friday, Getachew Reda, the spokesman of Tigray president, said their fighters have inflicted “increasing casualties” in Raya, to the south of Mekelle.

Tigrayan fighters also “eliminated enemy forces” from Mehoni in the south and Zalambessa to the northeast, Tigrayan TV said.

Reda also claimed responsibility for a rocket attack in the early hours of Friday on an airport in a neighbouring region.

The rocket attack on Bahir Dar, capital of Amhara region, raised concerns that the conflict could spiral into a wider war.

Reda said it was in retaliation for bombing raids launched from there.

“We will continue to target whichever airport has been used to stage an attack on Tigray,” he said. (Al Jazeera)

18

guyanatimesgy.com

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2020

Regional

Peru’s interim President Cuba reopens, but faces challenge wooing back tourists eyes new debt amid economic, political crises C

P

eru is planning to raise new public debt in the short term in order to finance the Andean country’s deep fiscal deficit and repay interest on old debt in 2021, interim President Francisco Sagasti told Reuters.

“Our country has the capacity to raise debt at interest rates that are relatively reasonable,” Sagasti, 76, said late on Thursday evening in his first interview since taking office earlier this week amid a biting political crisis in the country.

“When one has space to raise debt and you are going through a crisis, that is what you have to do.”

Sagasti, a centrist lawmaker, has taken the reins in the copper-producing nation amid some of Peru’s most heated demonstrations against the political classes in decades, which

Peru’s interim Francisco Sagasti

President

saw huge protests in which two people killed and dozens injured.

Peru had been an economic success story for almost three decades, but the coronavirus pandemic has hit the country’s mining-driven economy hard, pushing up poverty levels and driving it towards its

biggest annual contraction in a century.

The Government of Vizcarra had launched one of the region’s biggest economic package to weather the coronavirus crisis, including cash transfers for the most vulnerable, even as mining production was hit by a lockdown.

Sagasti says his interim Administration is weighing the possibility of spending more on new cash transfers.

He added said that while mining was key, there were other areas of industry such as agriculture, fishing, and forestry that had enormous potential for growth.

Sagasti said he would look to promote measures that balanced foreign investment with the needs of local communities and the environment. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Mexico cannabis bill: Senate vote paves way for legalisation

Some lawmakers celebrated the passage of the bill in the Senate, a key parliamentary hurdle

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exico has moved a step closer to legalising cannabis for recreational use, after lawmakers passed a bill aimed at curbing violent crime linked to drug trafficking.

The country’s Upper House of Parliament, the Senate, backed the bill by 82 votes to 18 on Thursday.

The Senate said the bill’s objective was to reduce organised crime by shrinking the illegal drugs market.

The bill must be ap-

proved by the Lower House by mid-December to become law.

If passed, the bill would mark a change of approach to drugs for the country.

Mexico has long struggled with a bloody war against powerful drug cartels, with violence killing tens of thousands of people every year.

But public opinion about legalisation in Mexico has shifted in recent years, reflecting a growing sentiment in Latin America and else-

where that the current prohibition on drugs should change.

In a landmark ruling, Mexico’s Supreme Court opened the door to the recreational use of marijuana in 2018.

The court effectively overturned the ban on using cannabis recreationally, but it still remains illegal to carry more than five grams (0.18 ounces) of the drug.

The bill passed by the Senate would change that, paving the way for the creation of one of the world’s largest lawful marijuana markets.

The legislation would let users carry up to 28g and grow as many as four plants at home.

Businesses would be allowed to sell cannabis to adults, but anyone possessing more than 28g of the drug could still be fined or criminally prosecuted. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Jamaica poised to benefit from surge in wellness tourism

M

inister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett, said Jamaica is uniquely poised to capitalise on a surge in wellness tourism as individuals seek relief from the effects of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

“It is safe to anticipate that notwithstanding the toll on the travel industry, a lot of people will be anxious to go to someplace where they can revive their spirits and recover from the mental strain brought about by lockdowns that have curtailed their movements for

months,” he said.

“We must make it our goal to be seen as the destination of choice for those who will choose the Caribbean for rejuvenation,” he added.

Bartlett was delivering the keynote address at the opening of the second annual Jamaica Health and Wellness Tourism Conference, at the Montego Bay Convention Centre, St James, on Wednesday.

He said that the Government and tourism stakeholders have been successful in keeping the sector free from contamination,

which will improve its attractiveness as a destination for wellness.

He noted that in the wider country, the efforts to curtail the virus are being recognised by the international community, with the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) recently singling out Jamaica alongside Argentina, Costa Rica and a few others as “countries that are doing well in their efforts to reduce the spread of COVID-19 through contact tracing”.

(Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

uba is reopening its doors to foreign tourists after an eight-month shut down due to the coronavirus pandemic, but the cash-strapped country faces an uphill struggle to woo back wary travellers.

Tourism chiefs are banking on the island’s track record of keeping the virus in check to win back holidaymakers.

“This is a major challenge,” said Francisco Camps, deputy general manager of Melia, a Spanish hotel chain that currently is operating only 10 of its 34 locations in Cuba.

The industry is pinning its hopes for the NovemberApril high season on the capital Havana, the country’s main tourist draw, which opened its international airport last weekend.

With its old fashioned Caribbean charm, the UNESCO World Heritage city attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors every year.

The rest of the country’s six international airports reopened last month to charter flights.

Tourism was worth US$2.6 billion to Cuba in 2019. Deprived of that revenue this year, the island

had to drastically reduce imports -- the source of 80 per cent of its food.

Across the country, lines outside supermarkets are getting longer, with shortages of basics like coffee, milk and even toilet paper increasingly common.

“The shortages we are experiencing are quite significant -- I think it’s the worst since the 1990s,” said economist Ricardo Torres of the University of Havana.

That decade was dominated by a period of extreme austerity known as the Special Period, following the collapse of the Soviet Union. (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

Grenada facing major budget cuts

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embers of the Finance Committee in the House of Representatives were told to prepare for major expenditure cuts in the budget for 2021.

It’s reported that during a town hall meeting late Wednesday, the committee was informed that the budget of several Government Ministries would be reduced due to a drop in revenue that was attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“This is the first time in six years that we can say we are having a serious problem with raising revenue. We are going through a tough time with this pandemic, it’s a tough time indeed, Prime Minister Dr Keith Mitchell announced in a town hall meeting held in the parish of St David on Wednesday night.

The 2021 annual estimate of Revenue and Expenditure will be the first to be presented by Gregory

Grenada’s Prime Minister, Dr Keith Mitchell

Bowen who became the Finance Minister following a Cabinet reshuffle in September, but which became effective on October 5.

A date is yet to be announced for its presentation but traditional it’s normally done the last Friday in November.

The Finance Committee is a Parliamentary Committee in the Lower House or House of Representatives which must give formal input in fi-

nalising the annual budget.

It is chaired by the Minister for Finance, and the members are all the elected members in Lower House of Parliament.

Mitchell who previously served as Finance Minister explained to the Town Hall meeting that the drop in revenue will affect Central Government’s fulfil all demands placed on Government despite increasing request. (Excerpt from Nation News)

Brazil: Black man beaten to death by supermarket security guards

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arrefour Brasil said on Friday it had terminated the contract of the security firm whose employees had beaten to death a Black man at one of its supermarkets in the southern Brazilian city of Porto Alegre.

Citing the Rio Grande do Sul state military police, Cable news channel G1 said the incident occurred late on Thursday when a store employee called security after the man threatened to attack her.

He was identified in local media by his father as 40-year-old Joao Alberto Silveira Freitas.

In a statement, Carrefour Brasil – the local

unit of France’s Carrefour SA – said it deeply regretted what it called a brutal death and said it immediately took steps to ensure those responsible were legally punished.

The military police said in a statement it “reaffirms its commitment to defending fundamental rights, and its vehement rejection of all acts of violence, discrimination and racism”.

The statement also said one of the security guards involved in the attack was an off-duty military policeman.

A Reuters news agency photographer saw Black city council members protesting outside

the supermarket, and a larger anti-racism demonstration was planned there for later on Friday, a Black Consciousness holiday in several cities across Brazil.

Brazilians like to think of their country as a racial democracy and far-right President Jair Bolsonaro denies the presence of racism. But the influence of slavery abolished in 1899 is still evident.

Black Brazilians make up 64 per cent of the country’s unemployed, die younger and are almost three times as likely to be victims of homicide, according to 2019 government data. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

guyanatimesgy.com

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2020

19

Around the World

OILNEWS OIL NEWS Oil rises about 1%, posts 3rd week of gains on vaccine hopes

O

il prices rose about 1 per cent higher on Friday and posted a third consecutive weekly rise, buoyed by successful COVID-19 vaccine trials, while renewed lockdowns in several countries to limit the spread of the coronavirus capped gains.

Brent crude futures rose 76 cents, or 1.7 per cent, to settle at US$44.96 a barrel.

The more active US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) January crude contract gained 52 cents, or 1.2 per cent to US$42.42 a barrel. The WTI contract for December, which expired on Friday, rose 41 cents, or 1 per cent, to settle at US$42.15 a barrel.

Both benchmarks gained about 5 per cent this week.

Prospects for effective COVID-19 vaccines have bolstered oil markets this week. Pfizer Inc said it will apply to US health regulators on Friday for emergency use authorisation of its vaccine, the first such application in a major step toward providing protection against the new coronavirus.

“Despite the fact that in reality it will take time for a global vaccine campaign to be implemented, time during which oil demand will suffer, positive news are breaking daily about the vaccine deliveries,” said Bjornar Tonhaugen, Rystad Energy’s head of oil markets.

Also boosting sentiment was hope that the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), Russia and other producers will keep crude output in check. The group, known as OPEC+, were expected to delay a planned production increase.

OPEC+, which meets on Nov 30 and Dec 1, is looking at options to delay by at least three months from January the tapering of their 7.7 million barrel per day (bpd) cuts by around 2 million bpd.

“An assumed roll-over of current cuts by OPEC+ to Q1 2021 is probably in today’s price of $44 per barrel,” Nordic bank SEB said.

Still, smaller Russian oil companies are planning to pump more crude this year despite the output deal as they have little leeway in managing the production of start-up fields, a group representing the producers said.

Oil prices were getting some support from signs of movement on a stimulus deal in Washington after US Senate Republican Majority Leader Mitch McConnell agreed to resume discussions on providing more COVID-19 relief as cases surge across the United States.

Oversupply concerns, however, continue to weigh as Libya has raised production to pre-blockade levels of 1.25 million bpd.

US energy firms this week cut the number of oil and natural gas rigs operating for the first time in 10 weeks, according to energy services firm Baker Hughes Co. The oil and gas rig count, an early indicator of future output, fell by two to 310 this week, with oil rigs alone dropping by five to 231, after hitting their highest since May last week. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Parrots found stuffed in plastic bottles in Indonesia

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ozens of smuggled parrots stuffed in plastic bottles have been found on a ship docked in Indonesia's eastern region of Papua.

Police said the crew discovered 64 live parrots and 10 dead birds after hearing noises coming from inside a large box.

Indonesia is home to the highest number of threatened bird species in Asia and a rampant illegal trade in birds.

Birds are sold domestically in giant avian markets or smuggled abroad.

The destination of the parrots found on Thursday morning in the port town of Fakfak was unclear, local police spokesman Dodik Junaidi told AFP news agency.

No arrests have been made so far.

The seized birds were identified as black-capped lories, a type of parrot native to New

Guinea and nearby islands in the southwest Pacific Ocean.

It is a protected species in Indonesia that is sought-after illegally to supply the pet trade, said Elizabeth John from the wildlife trade watchdog Traffic.

"Indonesia perhaps leads the charge in bird smuggling interceptions in the region, but what is needed is more arrests and a true crackdown of the players from source to market," she told the BBC. It's not the first time that birds have been discovered hidden inside plastic bottles.

In 2015 Indonesian police arrested a man who was trying to smuggle 21 yellow-crested cockatoos, an endangered bird, in bottles.

In 2017 Indonesian authorities found 125 exotic birds forced inside drain pipes after wildlife raids that led to several arrests. (Excerpt from BBC News)

S Africa anti-racism protests over “whites-only graduation party”

T

he South African Police have fired tear gas at opposition activists protesting against alleged racism at a Cape Town school after a so-called “whites-only” year-end dance party was organised off-site, reportedly by parents.

Anti-riot police on Friday fired tear gas and water cannon at nearly 2000 members of the radical left Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) party who gathered near the school.

“Police fired tears, stun grenade and used water cannon to prevent the protesters from approaching the school,” Al Jazeera’s Fahmida Miller reported from Cape Town.

Miller said the protesters were “quite peaceful” and

People run away from tear gas during a protest against alleged racism outside Brackenfell High School in Cape Town [Mike Hutchings/Reuters]

have accused the police of being heavy-handed.

Prior to the event, a flyer was shared on a dedicated WhatsApp group that included several teachers, Black students from the school told local news website IOL. The

flyer was not shared via regular class WhatsApp groups, one student told IOL, saying it was clear Black students were meant to be excluded.

The school denies the event was an official function and maintains it was privately or-

ganised by parents.

A few days after the party, EFF members tried to march to the school but were blocked by some of the students’ parents resulting in fistfights.

The confrontation disturbed President Cyril Ramaphosa who called for an investigation, describing the clashes as “deeply regrettable”.

The clashes occurred a few weeks after similarly racially-charged protests in the central farming town of Senekal over the brutal murder of a white farm manager by suspected Black assailants.

Despite the end of apartheid a generation ago, racial tensions in South Africa often remain high. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Canada seeing a massive UN chief says Yemen spike in COVID cases, in imminent danger of hospitals could be swamped – PM Trudeau famine, warns against

Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau

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anada is seeing a massive spike in COVID-19 cases which could overwhelm the hospital system, an emotional Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Friday, imploring Canadians to stay home as much as possible.

A second wave is ripping across the country, forcing several of the 10 provinces to reimpose restrictions on movement and businesses.

Cases continue to spike and authorities complain some people are being more careless about taking precautions.

Trudeau, saying “a normal Christmas is quite frankly right out of the question”,

spoke shortly after Theresa Tam, Chief Public Health Officer, predicted new daily cases could soar to 60,000 by the end of the year from less than 5000 now.

“Cases across the country are spiking massively ... we’re really at risk of seeing caseloads go up and hospitals get overwhelmed,” said a clearly upset Trudeau. He dismissed the idea of Ottawa invoking emergency powers to reintroduce the kind of widespread national shutdown that provinces imposed earlier in the year, saying “I’m not looking to bring in a federal hammer to try and do things”.

Tam said the worst-case scenario, a spike to 60,000 daily cases, would occur if people became more sociable.

Even if current restrictions on gatherings are maintained, new daily cases will jump to over 20,000 by Dec 31.

Officials predict that by Nov 30 the total death toll could be between 11,870 and 12,120, with the total cases between 366,500 and 378,600.

Canada has recorded a total of 315,751 cases and 11,265 deaths so far. (Excerpt from Reuters)

unilateral moves

U

N Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Friday that war-torn Yemen is in “imminent danger of the worst famine the world has seen for decades,” warning against any unilateral moves as the United States threatens to blacklist Yemen’s Iranallied Houthi group.

Aid workers have raised fears that if Washington designates the Houthis a Foreign Terrorist Organisation (FTO), it could prevent life-saving aid reaching the country.

“In this very fragile situation in relation to famine and in this hopeful moment in relation to conversations, we believe that any other unilateral initiative will probably not be positive. I don’t think we should rock the boat at the present moment,” Guterres told reporters when asked about US plans.

A Saudi Arabia-led military coalition intervened in Yemen in 2015, backing Government forces fighting the Houthi group. UN officials are trying to revive

peace talks to end the war as the country’s suffering is also worsened by an economic and currency collapse and the COVID-19 pandemic.

“In the absence of immediate action, millions of lives may be lost,” Guterres said in a statement earlier on Friday.

The United Nations describes Yemen as the world’s largest humanitarian crisis, with 80 per cent of its population in need of help.

A senior Western diplomat said an FTO designation of the Houthis by the United States “would certainly not contribute to progress on Yemen.”

“It’s likely that they want to do whatever it takes to increase the pressure on Iran,” said the diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity.

UN aid chief Mark Lowcock has said the United Nations has received less than half of what was needed this year - about US$1.5 billion - for its humanitarian operations in Yemen. Last year it received US$3 billion. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Rich countries block COVID-19 drugs rights' waiver at WTO

W

ealthy nations on Friday reiterated their opposition to a proposal to waive intellectual property rules for COVID-19 drugs, three trade sources said, despite pressure to make an exception to improve access to drugs for poorer countries.

Supporters of the waiver say existing intellectual property rules create barriers on access to affordable medicines and vaccines and they want restrictions to be

eased, as they were during the AIDS epidemic.

But opposition from the European Union, the United States and some other wealthy nations at a meeting on Friday means the proposal set to go before the World Trade Organisation’s (WTO) General Council next month is likely to fail.

The 164-member WTO body usually has to agree by consensus unless members agree to proceed to a vote, which is exceptional.

A second trade source said developing countries denied that intellectual property rights were creating barriers, saying their suspension “was not only unnecessary but would also undermine the collaborative efforts to fight the pandemic that are already underway”.

The proposal was first raised by India and South Africa in October. Since then, China, which has five COVID-19 vaccine candidates in late-stage trials, has

voiced its support, as have dozens of other WTO members, mostly from developing countries.

The World Health Organisation says it supports tackling barriers to access to COVID-19 medicines, as does Nigeria’s Ngozi OkonjoIweala, selected by a panel to be the WTO’s next director-general.

Lobbying outside the global trade body has also intensified. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

20

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2020

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ARCHIE

ARIES (March 21April 19)

Questionable motives will surface. Don't be too trusting. Rely on what's happened in the past and act accordingly. Have a backup plan in place, and don't hesitate to do your own thing.

You are overdue for a TAURUS change. Look over your op(April 20tions and make plans with May 20) a loved one. A day trip that will enhance a relationship is favored. Discuss sensitive issues.

DILBERT

GEMINI (May 21June 20)

CANCER (June 21July 22)

PEANUTS LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

CALVIN AND HOBBES

SUDOKU

Consider your options. Be prepared to make an adjustment that will protect you from loss or failure. Trust in your judgment and facts.

Make personal improvements that will help you advance.

Consider what you want to do next and spend time rearranging your life to help fulfill your goals. Don't let uncertainty or someone's plans ruin your day.

Step outside your comfort zone and do something that will challenge you physically. Using pent-up energy will help ease stress.

Keep the peace and avoid unwanted change.

Make positive adjustments that will help improve your relationship with a friend, relative or loved one. Common interests will help you build a healthy bond.

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

Do something energetic. Getting fit and making positive changes to your appearance will be gratifying. Don't let someone's negativity get you down.

Distance yourself from demanding people.

SCORPIO

Don't make a fuss when you should be making a difference. Use common sense, and consider all sides of a situation before making a decision that will affect others.

(Oct. 24Nov. 22)

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23Dec. 21)

Listen to what others say and be sensitive to the issues that arise. Channel your energy into living a healthier lifestyle. A lesson from the past will help you make better decisions now.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22Jan. 19)

Go about your business, make appropriate adjustments and position yourself for advancement. Make personal growth a priority. Wait until you have concrete proof before you air your views.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20Feb. 19)

Be observant and listen to what others say. It's crucial to understand all sides of an issue to avoid getting drawn into someone's problems. Let your experience guide you.

SOLUTION FOR LAST PUBLISHED PUZZLE

PISCES (Feb. 20March 20)

Cover every angle and refuse to let emotions and ego get in the way of what's right.

Consistency and practicality will be necessary in a financial situation. A gift is heading your way.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2020

21

Klopp claims Salah faced 'social pressure' to attend wedding L

iverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has claimed Mohamed Salah had felt "social pressure" to attend his brother's wedding, a decision that sparked controversy after he tested positive for coronavirus.

Salah contracted COVID-19 while away on international duty with Egypt, and missed his country's fixtures against Togo.

The 28-year-old was criticised after videos emerged of him dancing in a crowd of people at his brother's wedding a few days before he was due to play for Egypt.

He will miss Liverpool's Premier League clash with leaders Leicester City, and his availability for their Champions League meeting with Atalanta on November 28 is also in doubt.

Salah has scored eight goals in eight Premier League appearances for

Liverpool this season.

Klopp has confirmed he had spoken to Salah about the issue, but refuses to discuss what internal action Liverpool had taken against the player.

"A brother's wedding is a very special moment," Klopp told a media conference on Friday. "In other countries, in other situations, there's more social I'm not sure if it's the word - but pressure and stuff.

He's probably back today.

We are obviously in close contact with him all the time.

"How it always is in these cases is that when you have a negative test, the process really starts.

He's in a good place, he feels well, no symptoms.

There is nothing to say in public about it. I have talked to my players about it: nothing for the public; we are in the situation we are in. The rest is between Mo and me. We did that [talk] already, and we are fine.

"What I can say about my players is they are incredibly disciplined.

Football players in general are very disciplined," Klopp has said.

Salah's absence with the virus has added to Liverpool's ever-lengthening list of missing players, as Klopp has lost more key men to injury during the international break. The most significant was Joe Gomez, who underwent surgery after he sustained a serious knee injury while on England duty.

Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson, meanwhile, felt "a bit of tightness", according to England coach Gareth Southgate, and Klopp has said Henderson will not be fit to face the Foxes on Sunday.

Virgil van Dijk is a longterm injury absence with a knee issue, while fellow defender Trent AlexanderArnold is still nursing a hamstring problem. Alex

Oxlade-Chamberlain is still continuing his rehab from a knee injury, but midfielders Fabinho and Thiago Alcantara are edging nearer to a return to fitness.

Klopp added: "They [Thiago and Fabinho] are all closer, but we’ll see if it's close enough for the weekend."

The Reds boss remains hopeful that Liverpool's injury problems can help foster a sense of esprit de corps among his players.

He has s a i d : "We are a unit; a proper, proper unit. The more problems we have, the closer we stick together. We don't go for excuses, we have the situation we have, we don't

Lanka Premier League 2020…

like the injuries we have because it is really hard for the boys who have the injuries, but all the rest is working on solutions.

That's what we always do. " W e h a v e s o l u tions i n o u r

“What cricket will he play now?”

– Former WI pacer Rose claims dropping Hope is bad decision for ‘rebuilding’ Windies

Pakistan’s Tanvir, Canada’s F Singh test positive for COVID-19 P akistan quick Sohail Tanvir, who is part of the Kandy Tuskers franchise in the Lanka Premier League (LPL) 2020, has become the second player* to test positive for COVID-19 after arriving in Sri Lanka. Ravinderpal Singh, the Canada batsman who had been picked by the Colombo Kings franchise, had tested positive earlier in the day.

Isolated, the two are being treated at a separate hotel from those being used by the rest of the LPL players and coaching staff.

Details of Tanvir's positive result were conveyed to the Tuskers' head coach Hashan Tillakaratne shortly after mid-day on Friday.

"We have to talk to the franchise owners and find somebody to replace Tanvir," Tillakaratne told ESPNcricinfo, even though Tanvir hasn't yet been ruled out of the tournament.

Tanvir is not believed to have come into close contact

with any other player or official, and the remainder of the Tuskers team will prepare for the tournament as planned. Tanvir himself had been a replacement player of sorts for the Tuskers, who had initially drafted Wahab Riaz and Liam Plunkett as the overseas fast bowlers, before both of them withdrew from the tournament.

Earlier, Singh was confirmed to have tested

positive for COVID-19 after travelling in the same flight and bus as several other players, including Andre Russell. His illness is also not believed to have had an impact on anyone else involved in the tournament, according to LPL organisers. "[Singh] has been sent for treatment at another hotel in the area, which has been set up like a hospital," said Anil Mohan, CEO of the IPG Group company, which is organising the LPL. "He is not at the same hotel as the others, and they are all

in their bubble. The others will be training and preparing for the tournament as usual."

The future of either Tanvir or Singh in the tournament is now contingent on their recovery and signoff from the medical authorities overseeing the LPL. They are each expected to be out for at least two weeks.

News of the positive COVID-19 results is the latest development in a tough week for the tournament, after Chris Gayle and Lasith Malinga pulled out over the last few days - though neither of these withdrawals is believed to be the fault of the tournament organisers or the players' franchises.

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) and tournament organisers insist the LPL is inching towards its November 26 start date u n d e terred.

(ESPNcricinfo)

mind.

Maybe we think we have the worst situation possible, but the season is long, and we have only played eight games, so there will be a lot of problems. I have always said, whoever deals best with the problems in front of them has a chance to be really successful.

That’s what we try to be."

(Adapted from a Sportsmax article)

ormer West Indies pace bowler Franklyn Rose believes the development of the regional team has been hampered by a ‘chop and change’ mentality with batsman Shai Hope being just the most recent victim.

The decision to drop the 27-year-old Hope, after his recent monumental struggles, has divided public opinion. While some believe the player could benefit from time away from the team to address potential confidence and technical issues, others believe the batsman would best be served staying within the system, even if he remains outside of the first team.

Rose, for his part, believes with the team currently in rebuilding mode, nothing will be gained from the talented player being pushed out of the squad at this

point.

“They’re rebuilding, how are you going to get rid of the guy (Hope) when you are rebuilding. He’s one of the brightest talents,” Rose told the Mason and Guest radio program.

“West Indies cricket is rebuilding. You cannot chop and change while rebuilding. Shai Hope, one of the best talents in the Caribbean, you just drop him like that. I would have brought him on tour, got him to play a few of the practice games. Even if he doesn’t get to play Test matches.

What cricket is he going to play now to get back his confidence?”

(Sportsmax)

22

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2020

GFF appoints “Bounce back” COVID-19 Task Force to prepare for safe resumption of football

T

he Guyana Football Federation (GFF) has appointed a “Bounce back” COVID-19 Task Force to oversee all preparations for the safe and responsible return of football activities in the coming months, after requesting permission from the National COVID-19 Task Force to resume training and competition as conditions allow.

The “Bounce back” Task Force, which met for the first time virtually on 17th November, will manage all aspects of the GFF’s plans, including all health and medical factors, legal matters, coordination with the National COVID-19 Task Force, and communication and collaboration with GFF members and all football stakeholders.

“The GFF is taking every action necessary to bring football back in the safest way possible, once we get the green light from the authorities,” said GFF President Wayne Forde. “This is likely to be a gradual return to action in order to manage the risks as we roll out the robust and pragmatic plan we have developed in our partnership with UEFA. “The key to a successful resumption of football will be making sure we remain flexible (and) respect the guidelines at all times, while guaranteeing that all

stakeholders are engaged and consulted, so that we can all get back to the game we love as soon as possible.

“For now, it is important to remind our community that football is not currently allowed under the current restrictions. we urge all of our peers to respect the rules and protect themselves and their loved ones.”

The “Bounce back” programme is a UEFA initiative that the GFF, as part of its ongoing partnership with European football’s governing body, is participating in so as to ensure a safe resumption of football. Under the programme, Guyana is the second nation in the CONCACAF region to join forces with experts from the European Football Administration to prepare for the return of football.

“The UEFA Assist Team has been very impressed with the quality and attention to detail shown by the Guyana Football Federation in developing the “Bounce back” action plan,” said Eva Pasquier, Head of International Relations at UEFA. “This has been evident right from the top of the organization; and the President, Wayne Forde, has fully supported the initiative, participating fully in all sessions and inspiring his leadership team to be creative in their approach.

“I would like to congratulate the “Bounce back” manager, Ian Greenwood, in particular for an excellent piece of work (done in) preparing for the resumption of football on the pitch, and looking at how to connect with all football players, coaches, referees and volunteers.”

The 17-member Task Force, which will meet weekly for an initial period of one month, is made up of a wide range of stakeholders from across the football ecosystem. This is to ensure that all voices are heard and included in decision-making during this crucial process.

CONCACAF Senior Projects Manager Howard McIntosh, who has also been involved in the process, has said: “COVID-19 has changed the world, and football is no exception. It is critical that all member associations and national teams establish a framework for operation in a COVID-19 world. We salute the GFF’s efforts in this regard.

“The GFF has continued to implement best practices in football, leading to many of its successes on and off the field. It has sought out, and participated in, numerous programmes to improve as an association, using this downtime efficiently and effectively as

Windies likely to tour Bangladesh

T

he West Indies Cricket Team are likely to tour Bangladesh as their first assignment for the new year. This is according to Vice President of Cricket West Indies (CWI) Dr Kishore Shallow.

In an interview with Guardian Media Sports, the Vincentian said: "We are working out some details, but there is the likelihood that the team will

to take a coronavirus test upon arrival, and once they are negative for COVID-19, they would be able to start practice sessions right away.

Shallow added that the reason for the tour is for the players to get in as much cricket as they can.

He said, "As you know, we don't make money when we tour, but at least it's a situation where the players can get in more cricket, which

tour Bangladesh. The issue that has to be worked out is quarantine for our players.

Once we get over that hurdle, then the team will tour Bangladesh."

It was reported previously, according to the Bangladesh Cricket Board Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Nizamuddin Chowdhury, that the regional team would need

is important."

Although conversations are still ongoing, it is proposed that the West Indies would meet Bangladesh in two Tests, three One Day Internationals (ODIs), and three Twenty20 Internationals (T20I).

The West Indies team are currently in New Zealand, where their tour ends on December 15. The

Dr Kishore Shallow, CWI Vice President

West Indies ‘A’ team is also on tour in New Zealand, and there are two matches before the international matches with the senior team begin.

A number of players in the international team will also feature in the warmups. The first warm-up match got off on Thursday with the Windies ‘A’ playing New Zealand ‘A’. The second match is West Indies ‘A’ against New Zealand ‘A’, from November 26-29.

The first T20 International will be played between the West Indies senior team and New Zealand on November 27 at Eden Park in Auckland.

The second and third T20s will be played at the Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui on November 29 and 30.

The first Test match gets off on December 3, and the second and final Test will be played from December 11-15. (TT Guardian)

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it plans to return to play.

This makes the GFF a model in many ways. This type

of drive to succeed must be heralded and emulated,” McIntosh has said.

World Champions West Indies unveil spectacular T20I playing shirt as countdown to World Cup starts

C

ricket West Indies and the West Indies team yesterday revealed the new T20 International (T20I) team playing shirt as they prepare to face New Zealand in a three-match T20I series starting on November 27 in Auckland.

The T20I shirt features an eye-catching, contemporary maroon and yellow geometric pattern on the shirt front, with contrasting maroon sleeves. The bold, vibrant colours and design are a trademark of the #MenInMaroon, one of the most successful, exciting and skilful teams in world cricket. The playing shirts are made with a premium lightweight performance stretch fabric, and are available in both short sleeve and long sleeve versions.

The new playing jersey has already sparked great interest among fans who first saw it on West Indies’ social media channels, and it completes the new range of West Indies playing and training kits designed by official team kit supplier Castore, available to buy immediately through the Castore website - www.castore.com/collections/ west-indies.

The T20I shirt will be worn for all T20I matches in the build-up to the ICC T20 World Cup, and in all West Indies Women’s T20I matches.

West Indies are the defending and two-time men’s T20 World Champions, having won back-to-back World Cups in 2012 in Sri Lanka and again in 2016 in India.

Dominic Warne, CWI’s Commercial Director, has said: “We’re really excited for the new T20I shirt to debut with the West Indies Men’s team in New Zealand at the road to the ICC T20 World Cup. We know that fans will love the bold design and rally behind the #MenInMaroon for this Series and throughout 2021.

Castore have created a superb range of playing and training gear that have been in demand since launching prior to the Sandals Tour of England 2020, and we expect to see great demand from West Indies fans, the most passionate cricket fans in the world.”

Pascal Lafitte, Head of Team Partnership at Castore added: “We are thrilled to be revealing the new T20I shirt to West Indies fans. The kit shows Castore’s desire to be different with audacious designs, and this is testimony of all the hard work that has gone on behind the scenes to make it a success. We can’t wait to watch the West Indies put it t h r ou g h the paces in New Zealand o v e r the coming weeks.”

(Windies Cricket)

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SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2020

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23

16-team GCB/Tropical Spring T20 over-40 tournament bowls off today T

he Guyana Cricket Board (GCB,) in collaboration with Tropical Spring, will bowl off its T20 Over 40 Tournament today (Saturday November 21) from 9:30h across the three counties under strict COVID-19 protocols. At the simple launching ceremony held at the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC), representatives of the respective teams were present to welcome the return of cricket.

The designated grounds for Demerara will be the Everest and Enmore cricket grounds; the Berbice matches will be played at the Jai Hind ground, and the Essequibo matches will be played at the Imam Bacchus ground.

The tournament will be the first competition since the GCB was forced to halt its cricket activities due to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. As a consequence, the players of the GCB Tropical Spring T20 Over 40 tournament will have both the privilege and responsibility to engage in an integrative activity geared at facilitating

a smooth return to cricket competition and other outdoor cricket activities.

The tournament, which involves 16 teams, will have eight teams in Demerara competing for four quarter- final places, four Essequibo teams battling for two quarter-final places, and four rival teams representing the Berbice location competing for two quarter-final places.

The preliminary round of matches will commence today (Saturday November 21) and conclude on Saturday December 5.

The quarter-finals will be held on Sunday December 6, the semi-finals on Friday December 11, and the final on Saturday December 12.

The GCB is grateful to the Ministry of Health and the COVID-19 Task Force for granting approval to return to cricket activity. The GCB is calling on all players and officials to assist in ensuring that there is strict adherence to the protocols with respect to the COVID-19 measures.

Further, GCB extends gratitude to its T20 Over 40 sponsor, Tropical Spring.

Tropical Spring's Lalta Gainda, GCB Secretary Anand Sanasie and GCB’s Territorial Developmental Officer Colin Stuart (Brandon Corlette photos)

The GCB is proud to be collaborating with Tropical Spring, and wishes the entity increased productivity with its business. In addition, the GCB is grateful to the individual sponsors of the many teams that are a part of this tournament, and wishes them all success in their endeavours.

The tournament promises to be exciting, and will witness the 16 teams competing for a first prize of $250,000 and a runner-up

prize of $100,000. The GCB trusts that the National Over 40 Tournament will continue to realize its objective of bringing former experienced players back to the cricket environment, and thereby serve as an impetus for their involvement in relevant facets of the administration of the game, inclusive of coaching and mentorship. The teams are as follows: The teams from Essequibo are: Reliance

West Indies bowlers toil on opening day against New Zealand 'A'

R

achin Ravindra scored a century as New Zealand ‘A’ declared on 308 for 3 on the opening day of their three-day match against the West Indies at the John Davies Oval in Queenstown, New Zealand on Thursday.

The West Indies then lost the wicket of John Campbell before the close of play with the West Indies still 291 runs behind.

After winning the toss a n d

mounted a second-wicket stand of 160, putting the Caribbean bowlers to the sword.

After a slow start, Ravindra grew in confidence, scoring 112 from 187 balls in a knock that included 10 fours and two sixes.

Nichols proved to be a solid partner, hitting eight fours before Raymon Reifer had him caught behind by J o s h u a DaSilva for a well-played 76.

Chemar Holder was among the best performers on a day when the West Indies bowling were blunted

by New Zealand 'A' batsmen

choosing to bat, New Zealand crept to 43 in 16 overs, before Will Young was caught down the leg side for 27 trying to pull a short one from Chemar Holder.

The dismissal brought Henry Nichols to the crease, where he and Ravindra

It was soon 227 for 3, as Ravindra was eventually caught

by Kemar Roach after pulling Alzarri Joseph to deep backward square leg.

Devon Conway was on 46 and Joe Carter on 41 when Captain Cole McConchie called the declaration after 79 overs.

Reifer was the best of the West Indies bowlers with 1 for 29 from his seven overs; with Holder taking 1 for 58 and Joseph 1 for 55.

Campbell was dismissed for 4 playing on trying to pull Blair Tickner, whose previous delivery he had hit to the boundary.

20-year-old Rachin Ravindra led the way for NZ ‘A’ on the opening day

However, Kraigg Brathwaite remained unbeaten on two and

Darren Bravo 8, as the West Indies got to the close on 17 for 1. (Sportsmax)

SCOREBOARD NEW ZEALAND A 1ST INNINGS WA Young c †Dowrich b CK Holder 27 R Ravindra c Roach b Joseph 112 HM Nicholls c Da Silva b Reifer 76 DP Conway not out 46 JF Carter not out 41 Extras (lb 5, nb 1) 6 TOTAL (79 Ov, RR: 3.89) 308/3d Did not bat: CE McConchie (c), D Cleaver †, SM Solia, NG Smith, MJG Rippon, JA Duffy, MD Rae, BM Tickner, BV Sears Fall of wickets: 1-43 (Will Young, 15.6 ov), 2-203 (Henry Nicholls, 54.4 ov), 3-227 (Rachin Ravindra, 59.5 ov) BOWLING O-M-R-W KAJ Roach 10-1-27-0 ST Gabriel 11-2-34-0 AS Joseph 13-2-55-1

CK Holder 11-1-58-1 RRS Cornwall 21-3-80-0 RL Chase 6-1-20-0 RA Reifer 7-0-29-1 WEST INDIANS 1ST INNINGS KC Brathwaite not out 2 JD Campbell b Tickner 4 DM Bravo not out 8 Extras (lb 3) 3 TOTAL (8 Ov, RR: 2.12) 17/1 Yet to bat: RL Chase (c), J Blackwood, SO Dowrich †, RRS Cornwall, KAJ Roach, ST Gabriel, CK Holder, AS Joseph, RA Reifer, SSJ Brooks, J Da Silva Fall of wickets: 1-4 (John Campbell, 1.5 ov) BOWLING O-M-R-W JA Duffy 4-3-2-0 BM Tickner 3-1-11-1 MJG Rippon 1-0-1-0

Sports Club, Invaders Masters, Imam Bacchus Over 40, and Jaguars Over 40. The teams from Demerara are: West Demerara Masters, West Demerara Mavericks, Everest Masters, Regal Masters, KV Construction

Masters, RP Construction Legends, Sand Piper Masters and Bel-Air Rubis Ultra Tec Berbice Representative Teams are General Marine Masters, Jai Hind Masters, Sarjoo Tigers, and West Berbice Masters.

ICC announces

altered points system for World Test Championship

A

s the West Indies prepare to face New Zealand, they have been greeted with the news of a change in the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) World Test Championship points system.

The two teams will meet in two Test matches next month - at Seddon Park in Hamilton (December 3-7) and at the Basin Reserve in Wellington (December 1115).

The points system will be amended due to the global pandemic. The Board of the ICC approved a recommendation from its Cricket Committee to change the competition terms for the event to determine how series affected by COVID-19 are accounted for on the points table.

The unprecedented disruption caused by the

coronavirus means, to date, that just under half of the World Test Championship matches have been played, with that estimated to rise to more than 85 percent by the end of the competition window.

Current regulations dictate that matches not completed shall be treated as a draw, with points being split. The Cricket Committee considered maintaining that status quo or determining the final World Test Championship League standings from matches played.

The ICC’s Cricket Committee recommended the latter option, which was approved by the Chief Executives Committee and ratified by the Board, meaning teams will be ranked in order of percentage of points earned.

(Windies cricket)

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2020

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

guyanatimesgy.com

World Champions West Indies unveil spectacular GFF appoints “Bounce back” T20I playing shirt as count- COVID-19 Task Force to prepare down to World Cup starts for safe resumption of football Pg 22

Pg 22

16-team GCB/Tropical Spring T20 over-40 tournament bowls off today Pg 23

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