Guyana Times - Saturday, September 4, 2021

New UN P11 Resident Coordinator officially commences her tenure in Guyana Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Issue No. 4760

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2021

Guyana receives $400M in flaring fees from Exxon – fees increased to US$45 per ton CO2 as new flaring application granted

Page 3

Finance Minister talks up Guyana’s economic transformation plans with IsDB Group in Uzbekistan Page 9

“It has been a hectic decade for me, I need to rest” – Granger

Guyana records 4 more COVID fatalities, death toll now 636

– proceeds on leave of absence – Volda Lawrence to be “pro tem leader”

WHAT'S INSIDE:

AG condemns “backward” court action by trade unions against COVID-19 P11 measures Emergency responder slapped with dangerous driving P15 charge

GRA officers shot during P17 anti-smuggling operation in Mahaica River Adolescents’ vaccination campaign

Over 200 secondary P10 school students in Reg 2 take first jab

– 161 new infections recorded in 24h – active cases surge as Delta variant spreads

6 remanded for brutally beating Corentyne pandit to death Page 2

Charged: Devendra Khemraj

$80 VAT INCLUDED

See stories on pages 11 & 15

Page 7

Charged: Anil Angershalam

PRICE

Charged: Vidaiand Khemraj

Charged: Javed Ghanie

Charged: Razan Ally

Charged: Gregory Tejpertab

PNC’s James Bond released on self-bail P15 for breaching COVID-19 curfew

2 NEWS

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

6 remanded for brutally beating Corentyne pandit to death

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Murdered: Pandit Rishi Bharrat

regory Tejpertab, Razan Ally, Anil Angershalam, Javed Ghanie, Devendra Khemraj and Vidaiand Khemraj were on Friday remanded to prison by Magistrate Alex Moore for the murder committed on Corentyne Pandit Rishi Bharrat.

The six men, appearing

at the No 51 Magistrate’s Court, were not required to plead to the indictment, which stated that, on August 29, they murdered Bharrat.

They will make their next court appearance on October 14, 2021.

It has been reported that the Pandit was lashed to the head with a piece of wood and with beer bottles. The man’s 11-year-old son was also injured in the attack.

Police initially stated that a group of eight men were imbibing and using foul language in front of the now dead man’s property, and, as such, Bharrat went out to the men with a piece of wood and told them to remove from the area. This was at about 02:15h.

However, the men became annoyed, armed themselves, and began hitting the religious leader about his body, causing him to collapse on the street. He was

Charged: Anil Angershalam

picked up by his relatives in an unconscious state, and rushed to the Skeldon Public Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

The man’s wife, Jasmin Bharrat, has told Guyana Times that at about 18:30h, a group of young men had gathered in front of their home, and were speaking loudly and using foul language. This, she said, was disturbing her family.

She related that the family endured it until about 21:00h, when they were ready to retire to bed. Her husband, she added, opened a window and spoke to the group of men. He reportedly told them that his premises was not a “rum shop”, and asked them to go elsewhere.

Charged: Devendra Khemraj

Charged: Vidaiand Khemraj

Charged: Razan Ally

Charged: Gregory Tejpertab

“He told them that people are living here, and we are trying to sleep, because we have work to do the next day,” the wife explained.

According to the wife, the men started to curse Bharrat. Upon hearing their verbal abuse, she reportedly contacted the Springlands Police Station to seek their

Charged: Javed Ghanie

intervention, but no one responded to the report.

Bharrat reportedly went out of the house and onto the street to speak with the group of men. As he approached the men, one of them picked up a piece of wood and lashed Bharrat to his head. As he fell to the ground, the others took beer bottles and started to hit the pandit.

Bharrat had been operating a temple at his home for more than a decade; by this he had made a living.

He had complained several times about the unholy behaviour taking place in front of his mandir. Back then, he had stated that the Police were reluctant to respond whenever he called.

NEWS

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SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS OPENINGS BRIDGE

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

Saturday, Sept 4 – 23:00h – 03:00h and Sunday, Sept 5 – 13:00h – 14:00h.

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Guyana receives $400M in flaring fees from Exxon — fees increased to US$45 per ton CO2 as new flaring application granted

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nited States oil major ExxonMobil has paid approximately $400 million (US$1.9 million) to the Government of Guyana for its flaring of gas at its Liza-1 operations in the Stabroek Block.

This was revealed by Executive Director of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Kemraj Parsaram, during local radio programme – Guyana’s Oil & You – on Thursday.

“We have received roughly about $400 million so far,” he announced.

Contacted on Friday, Parsram told Guyana Times that this fee was paid between late July and early August for the first flaring application that was made. That

tivities in recent years with environmentalists up in arms over its harmful effects on the environment.

Earlier this year, the US oil giant had sent its gas compressor for repairs in Germany after it developed technical issues resulting in increased flaring. But after reinstallation in April, technical issues were still encountered, forcing the company to significantly drop production to as low as 30,000 barrels per day.

By May, production went up and flaring was at an approximate 15 million standard cubic feet of gas. Over the following months, Exxon has since brought the compressor online and has been able to cut down its flaring by

application, which took effect from May 26, was for a 36-day period.

The EPA was forced to amend the Environmental Permit for the Liza 1 Development Project after the oil company had been flaring excessively following technical issues with its gas compressor on the Liza Destiny Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel on two separate occasions earlier this year.

The regulatory body engaged Exxon’s local affiliate, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL), to modify the permit back in May to include specific regulatory requirements for flaring of associated gas offshore Guyana, in accordance with the EPA’s legislation. These were missing from the original permit that was issued under the previous APNU/AFC Administration.

At the time, a cost of US$30 per ton of carbon emission was agreed upon, but the EPA Head has revealed that this fee has since been increased to US$45 during discussions with the operator over the past month.

However, Parsram subsequently told this newspaper that this hike in the flaring fee was agreed upon after the oil company submitted another application to flare – this time, for 90 days.

“They have another 90day application… That started in August and so that $45 [increase in fee for flaring] will be applied to this current 90-day application,” he explained.

Exxon has come under fire over its increased flaring ac-

96 per cent.

Last month, the company’s Production Manager, Mike Ryan, explained that there are six operational gas compressors including the flash gas compressor, two

main ones and injection gas compressor, and that flaring was reduced to approximately 6 million cubic feet per day.

“What we found with this most recent testing that we did, when we completed Phase One and Two testing, is that we’re still seeing some of that axial vibration in the third stage compressor… What our focus is right now and it was through our extensive testing and modelling that we did during the Phase One, Phase Two, is to find the right level of the operation such that we minimise the vibration, so that we can keep the machine running, while also minimising flaring,” Ryan said.

During Thursday’s radio programme, the EPA Head posited that while Government’s policy is zero flaring, it is nevertheless satisfied with the commitment and efforts by Exxon to reduce flaring.

“We are not at pilot flaring as yet but based on information provided to us and discussions we have had, the plan is to fix this issue completely by year end. And based on efforts and progress we have seen, so far, we find this reasonable. We have seen the improvements and also the willingness of the operator to make every effort to comply,” he stated.

According to Parsram, it is against this backdrop that the EPA has increased the fees for flaring so as to motivate the oil company to en-

EPA Executive Director Kemraj Parsram

sure it resolves the issues that are causing flaring above pilot levels as early as possible.

He noted that the agency continues to engage and work alongside the oil company to ensure this is achieved.

“I expect that by year end that this issue will be solved.

We have agreed to a plan and that’s what we are working with,” he asserted.

Exxon has already said that a new redesigned flash gas compressor is being manufactured and is expected to arrive in the country later this year that will reduce flaring.

In fact, Natural Resources Minister Vickram Bharrat had previously said Government engaged Exxon to ensure that the UnityFPSO that is slated to arrive later this year, and then Prosperity in early 2024, do not encounter the same issues as the Liza Destiny.

The Minister had pointed out that the adjustment is needed since both Liza Destiny and Prosperity are each designed to produce 220,000 barrels of oil per day – almost twice the amount of the Liza Destiny.

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guyanatimesgy.com

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2021

Views Editor: Tusika Martin News Hotline: 231-8063 Editorial: 231-0544, 223-7230, 223-7231, 225-7761 Marketing: 231-8064 Accounts: 225-6707 Mailing address: Queens Atlantic Investment Estate Industrial Site, Ruimveldt, Georgetown Email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, marketing@guyanatimesgy.com

Domestic violence and impact on children

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arlier this week, the 12-year-old son of Camile RobertsonRodrigues found his mother’s dead body covered in blood, after she was brutally stabbed to death at the hands of her husband.

To compound the trauma, his step-father was also found dead nearby, having committed suicide.

Sometime ago, in Number 77 Village Corentyne, two teenagers had witnessed the gruesome act of their mother being chopped to death by their father. Those incidents have in common ensuing trauma for those who witnessed them, and serve as a microcosm of such scenarios in society. More specifically, over time, numerous cases of domestic violence have been reported in the Guyanese media. Many were brutally killed, in some instances.

Unfortunately, this continues despite awareness efforts. There is also the much-touted training of law enforcement officers who are expected to be the first step of recourse with regard to the lodging of complaints.

There is more than a subtle irony in the continuance of this societal scourge in spite of the relentless efforts and the plethora of available mechanisms to inform and educate. The problem appears much larger, as reflected in the news, as many cases go unreported. This speaks to the reality being underestimated.

Many reasons have been made known for what can deter an abused victim from seeking the intervention of the law. Among them are aspects of culture, shame, dependency, the redounding lack of empowerment for some, and the absence of confidence in law enforcement, precipitated by the reported trivialising of the issue in some instances.

One may posit that education is a primary concern. On the other hand, one can argue that education has been more profound in recent times. Pertinent would be to ask if the other factors subvert the heeding of educational messaging. While the answer may be assumed, it would make for interesting and informative research.

That said, the magnitude of the impact on children cannot be underestimated. Many have cruelly been made witnesses to the horrific assaults. Those ghastly images, especially when life was snuffed out, are not only lasting, but profoundly traumatising.

When young minds are have been so broadsided, the impact, if not managed, lingers for life. Not that the images are erasable, but with meaningful and sustained interventions, the trauma can potentially be mitigated, thereby aiding to better shape lives. The entire spectrum of what therefore constitutes counselling then becomes vital. This naturally raises the question of the availability of adequate intervening mechanisms, not just for cases of domestic violence but other scenarios, including accidents.

While it is always heartening to hear that surviving victims and witnesses to such horrific incidents would be counselled, it would be very informative for all to know the extent of what is available and offered. While expectations would be for what obtains in the developed nations, realistically, there must be something tangible in keeping with available resources with upgrades foremost in planning.

This is not in any way suggesting that there isn’t an effective mechanism. However, counselling can be an extensive process for some, depending upon the circumstances. Given the plethora of incidents that unfortunately continue, and which would make added demands on the system, the question of adequacy of trained staff, needed facilities, and support systems becomes more pertinent.

Not too long ago, the country had the unenviable tag of having the highest rate of suicide per capita. Prior to that categorising, the high rate made news internationally, prompting a local call for suicide to be made a national priority, given its impact on society and the trauma it imposes on surviving relatives. It was stated that the declaration would not only bring additional focus, but would have positioned the issue to be afforded the necessary resources for its mitigation.

It wasn’t going to be a panacea to stop suicide, but, effectively structured, it increases the potential across the country, with the assistance of stakeholders, to maximise effectiveness of information gathering for targeted intervention. It would also increase confidence in the support system, to help break social inhibitors where necessary, and to better edify.

It is no different for domestic violence. While there is a disadvantage in accurately quoting figures, based on extensive research, if available, on the amount of people lost, injured and disfigured, and those scarred for life as a result of domestic violence, it must be extremely high in proportion to our population. Clearly, the highest number would be those who are left traumatised.

This therefore must be seen as a serious cause for concern, and a compelling reason for consideration of declaring domestic violence a national priority. This is an apolitical issue, and is not confined to any one group, thereby making it less difficult to garner national support.

In such small societies, the impact permeates throughout.

Children reading and learning about incidents through television and social media are in many ways impacted too, especially if one of their own is affected. In the context herein, the pervasiveness and impact of trauma cannot, and must not, be underestimated. Its mitigation has to uncompromisingly be immediate, holistic, effective and sustained.

First Lady Mrs Arya Ali comforting a student by holding her hand as she was about to take the Pfizer jab at the Anna Regina Multilateral School on Friday when the adolescents’ vaccination campaign continued

Disappointment flows from the Neesha Gopaul case Dear Editor, After a patient decade of awaiting the final outcome of the trial of the gruesome murder of a young and brilliant student, 16-yearold Neesha Gopaul, by her own mother and her mother’s partner, the Guyanese public learnt that there has been a reduction of the years of sentencing, from some 200 to 60 concurrent years, by the learned judges.

This case has haunted all the legal authorities, the Guyanese public, the social workers, students and parents. It is a bizarre incident which confirms a cold, callous, cruel and premeditated intention by a woman, a mother and a lover. It exposes that there was no remorse; only evil, devilish and demonic thoughts engrossed in a greedy, heartless and ruthless motive. This story unfortunately enlists all the gory details which can produce a blockbuster murder movie, and they are too embarrassing, disgusting and demeaning to even mention.

But not as an oversight, the findings seem as if a number of blunders were committed by the relevant investigating authorities; and perhaps had there been proper, diligent and prudent enquiries and the necessary remedial follow-up, an innocent life may have been saved, and a scholar may have been alive to serve Guyana today.

Is anyone paying attention? Is anyone listening?

Is anyone prepared to accept that there have been mistakes and blunders committed? Is there a lesson

learnt from this sad event?

What measures are being employed to guarantee that there would not be a recurrence? How safe are children in similar situations today?

Are we, as a society, doing enough to warrant the safety and security of our vulnerable persons? Was there something which the neighbours failed to do? Was the Community Policing Group aware of any strange activities? Was there meticulous monitoring from any Neighbourhood Watch Committee?

Obviously, something terribly insane occurred, and there are guilty parties hanging around to feel the pain and live with a heavy conscience.

The review in the judgement and sentence passed in this despicable, disgusting, demented, premeditated murder case confirms that the Court is unprepared to help reduce the crime rate in Guyana. Of all the cases, this diabolical matter warranted the death sentence more than all the recent murder cases tried.

The court has created a dangerous precedent here, has damaged the practice of fair justice in the legal institution, and has disarmed the power of the bench for future trials. It would appear as if something foul took place when nothing went amiss.

The public feels shortchanged, robbed of justice, and let down. No wonder criminals do not hesitate to murder human beings, and are not fearful of the weak judicial system in Guyana.

Guyanese are embarrassed, dismayed and dejected by the recent ruling of the Court. This can only encourage a further escalation in criminal activities, and Guyanese will see an acceleration in the rate.

The Honourable Attorney General and Minister of Justice is again implored to review this debilitating sickness, and is urged to have a significant input with remedial and immediate effect.

This outcome can only reinforce the endorsement of the Government to legislate the mandatory death sentence for anyone found guilty of murder beyond the shadow of a doubt.

Will this appeal fall on deaf ears? Will this cry go unheard? Will this call remain unanswered? Will justice not be served? Will Guyanese ever feel safe from murderers? Will this country ever be rid of criminal elements? Will this Government step up to the plate? Will the relevant authorities stop pussy- footing? Will the Courts ever be brave? Will the Bench stop hiding behind masks and robes? Will Guyanese be forced to take the law into their own hands? Will the Police stop failing society?

When can Guyanese be expected to breathe a sigh of relief? When will these enquires be acknowledged as valid and warranted? Which authority is brazening with the temerity to face the bullet?

As usual, these sentiments are only water on a duck’s back! No wonder innocent Guyanese will have

to continue to suffer the pain, anger and frustration emanating from a broken legal system, and have to bear the financial and psychological scars due to inefficiency, incompetence and ineffectiveness from a national turmoil!

This is just another comment that will probably end up in the trash bin; discarded, undisclosed and ignored.

Such is the sad fate of some Guyanese, who will always pass for grass because of eye-pass and not being an important part of the mass.

Failing to try is trying to fail, and the dangerous criminal situation which prevails in Guyana today is out of hand, out of control, and beyond the administration’s sense of prudent judgement.

People’s backs are against the wall, and they are left with only one choice: to face the music and defend as applicable, because the entire Justice department has failed to come to their defence! Can the Guyanese people expect any change in the near future?

Disappointment certainly is staring in the faces of all Guyanese. There is hurt in their eyes, and their throats are full of voiceless screams!

How satisfied is the Minister of Justice with the outcome of this case? Was justice truly served, and can the bench now relax, retire and accept a tap on the back for a job well done? Guyanese are requested to read between the lines.

Respectfully, Jai Lall

guyanatimesgy.com

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2021

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

Opposition Leader has accused Government of much more than being a “fraudulent” regime Dear Editor, A Leader of the Opposition is a significant public office holder, who is accountable for what he or she says. The current office holder, Mr. Joseph Harmon, has accused the Ali Administration of much more than being a “fraudulent” regime. This ought to be recognised by those who want President Irfaan Ali to consult with Mr Harmon, to fill key positions in spite of these accusations, on account that allegations of fraud did not prevent consultations by past Governments.

The public must record with accuracy what Mr Harmon has unabashedly said, and continues to say.

With allegations already memorialised in court records, the Leader of the Opposition moved into an entirely new direction and knowingly led a campaign to denounce Government as an “installed” regime.

One fair inference is

that Government is a lackey of a foreign sovereignty. That is, Guyana has a puppet Government with a puppet or phantom President. Indeed, a puppet Government is as good as an invisible regime.

No evidence has been provided. With petitions filed, there was no need for this, but the Leader of the Opposition wants to enjoy the right to have judicial review while denying Government’s supporters their right to accept GECOM’s declaration by unilaterally pronouncing that Government is a puppet regime.

In doing this, he is undermining the election culture and misleading his constituents. All public office holders ought to respect GECOM’s declarations until a court sets the declaration aside. No President should have to ask for this.

If public office holders are not required to respect GECOM’s declarations,

then judicial review is unnecessary and elections are pointless. One can proceed to fill key positions at the expense of voting rights, and then storm the streets and electors’ homes because anarchy will reign.

Further, this inference of a puppet President creates a problem, because there is no basis in the Constitution, arguably, for a Leader of the Opposition to meet with a puppet or phantom President.

Indeed, those who stress that the Constitution says a President has to consult with a Leader of the Opposition to fill key positions ought to say whether this President is duly elected or is an invisible phantom President.

Congress Place has boasted of super-human leaders who can do battle with “Principalities and Powers” (see Mr. David Granger’s 2015 campaign launch speech) and observe the dead in action as its

Clarification on deregistration of GOAL awardees at UWI’s Open Campus Dear Editor, This is in reference to a letter appearing in a section of the media on September 3, 2021 under the caption “Teaching sessions for vocational programmes offered

by The University of the West Indies (Open Campus) through the Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL) scholarship programme commenced on July 26, 2021”.

Through this partnership, the UWI and GOAL have collaborated to enable increased access to courses which are being offered online using a virtual classroom approach. There has been continuous follow-up with students who have had challenges accessing the Learning Exchange, and provisions have been made for students who entered the virtual classroom within the first three weeks of teaching to receive additional support.

Students entering after the first three-four weeks will be at a distinct disadvantage, as these courses are generally offered over a period of 10-13 weeks. To ensure student success, those students who have not been able to access the Learning Exchange will be deregistered, in order to allow them an opportunity to join a subsequent offer, and, in so doing, gain the full benefit of the programme.

The deregistration policy is in no way an indication that the GOAL schol-

arship has been withdrawn.

Students who are on the deregistration list will be given opportunity to be part of their specific programme when it is offered by The UWI during its upcoming semester, or in semester 2.

Regrettably, GOAL does not have a land line, but all queries and clarifications related to The UWI Vocational Programmes can be addressed to dionne.

suecox@goal.edu.gy, info@ goal.edu.gy, via whatsapp on telephone numbers 6876331/643-7783, or by direct messaging on GOAL’s Facebook page: https://www. facebook.com/GuyanaOnline AcademyofLearning GOAL is committed to online learning, and will continue to offer guidance and support to all awardees.

GOAL

General Secretary said in May 2020: “The dead got up, voted, and went back to rest.”

Still, it may be difficult to prepare a phantom President to meet with the Leader of the Opposition in flesh and blood.

Finally, the public will recall that, after a Coalition’s election petition was initially dismissed, the Leader of the Opposition himself declared a lack of confidence in the Judiciary, or at least a particular key jurist, adding that the Judiciary and the Executive were united, as the former was protecting the latter.

“This is a clear attempt to protect the installed PPP regime from scrutiny and from being removed from government, where they have no right being…”, he is reported to have said (see SN editorial, April 30).

Sincerely, Rakesh Rampertab

Setting the record straight

Dear Editor, I refer to the “They Break” News article captioned OWNER OF SANJAY’S JEWELLERY CONNED $26M BY CEO OF G/TOWN CEMENT COMPANY, which was featured on the news agency’s official Facebook Page and on the TBN Guyana website on August 28, 2021.

The said article misrepresents the events that transpired. It appears that there was a grave miscommunication between VAS Energy Inc and Bishnarrine Persaud of Sanjay’s Jewellery, whereby the latter party attempted to change cheques which were issued by Vas Energy Inc at an earlier date than the 31st August, 2021, as was agreed by the parties.

Pursuant to the oral agreement between VAS Energy Inc and Bishnarrine Persaud, the cheques were to be cashed

at the end of August, in order to facilitate funds being wire transferred into the local bank account.

Vas Energy Inc has/had no intention of defrauding Bishnarrine Persaud or any other Guyanese, as erroneously peddled in the August 28 article. It was always the intention of the parties that the cheque would be enchased on the 31st of August 2021, and it is unfortunate that Mr Persaud did not adhere to the agreed date.

As at 31st August 2021, Vas Energy Inc has issued two cheques to Mr. Persaud, and the company hopes that, in good faith, Mr Persaud would acknowledge valid receipt thereof, and that he would also issue such statements to media, having received all sums owed to him.

Yours respectfully, Vijay Sukhdeo

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SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2021

Page

Foundation Nighttime Star Method

By Mariana Llanos

Invisible children fall through the cracks of the system like Alice in the rabbit hole.

But these children won’t find an eat-me cake or a drink-me bottle.

They won’t wake up on the lap of a loving sister.

They’ll open their eyes on the hand of a monster called Negligence who’ll poke them with its sharp teeth and bait them with its heartless laughter, like a wild thing in a wild rumpus.

But the children won’t awake to the smell of a warm supper, nor will they find a purple crayon to draw an escape door or a window.

Instead they’ll make a mirror of a murky puddle on the city street which won’t tell them they’re beautiful but it’ll show their scars, as invisible to others as these children are.

Source: Poetry (March 2021)

WORD SEARCH

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SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

“It has been a hectic decade for me, I need to rest” – Granger – proceeds on leave of absence – Volda Lawrence to be “pro tem leader”

PNCR Leader David Granger

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eader of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) and former President David Granger has confirmed reports that he has gone on leave of absence from September 1, 2021, but did not say for how long.

A statement on Friday from the PNCR said it is a temporary leave of absence so that the party leader can enjoy a brief vacation right here in Guyana.

There have been several reports about Granger proceeding on leave especially at a time when the party is embroiled in an internal power struggle and in upheaval over a series of issues including the hosting of its Biennial Congress.

But during this week’s edition of the PNCR’s “The Public Interest” programme on Friday, Granger rubbished claims that he is abandoning the party, noting that he is only taking

some time off after having been on the go in the political scene for over a decade.

This, he recalled, started with the campaign for the 2011 elections which commenced one year prior.

At the time, he was elected PNCR’s Presidential Candidate and then became the front runner for the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) for the 2011 election. He was appointed Leader of Opposition after the party lost that election but won majority seats in the 10th Parliament.

In total, Granger led the party into three General and Regional Elections – 2011, 2015 and 2020; the latter two in coalition with the Alliance For Change as the APNU/AFC. He also led the coalition through two Local Government Elections in 2016 and 2018 while in Government between 2015 and 2020.

Additionally, Granger

was also elected as PNCR’s Leader consecutively at the party’s 17th, 18th, 19th and 20th Biennial Delegates’ Congresses.

“I have been on the go for over 10 years… I was leader of the Opposition, I was President of Guyana so it has been a hectic decade for me, and I feel that at this time I need to go on vacation,” he posited.

The former Head of State reminded that while in office, his Administration had adopted a policy to ensure that public servants utilise their annual leaves, and sent those with accumulated leave off to take them.

He emphasised on the importance of taking time off to rest from a hectic life.

“I just need to rest and I haven’t resigned from the People’s National Congress, I haven’t demitted office. I have just gone on leave. Like all human beings in busy occupation need to go on leave, just like that I need to go on leave. So, there is nothing surreptitious about my going on leave. I just want to spend some quiet time with my wife and look forward to returning to my job,” the PNCR Leader posited.

Following the loss at the 2020 polls, the PNCled APNU fraction of the coalition has been falling apart as two of the five parties that constituted the partnership resigned, citing the dictatorial nature of the PNCR. Several senior and longstanding party

members have also left the PNCR, blaming Granger for the fallout within the party after he had handpicked the list of Opposition Members of Parliament and excluded seasoned party leaders.

The division further widened after some members of the PNCR’s Central Executive Committee (CEC) criticised Granger in July for adding two new “shell” parties to the APNU and accused him for wanting to run the party as a “one man show”. Arising out of that situation was a NoConfidence Motion brought against Granger by the party’s Georgetown district.

The PNCR Leader during a subsequent edition of his weekly programme in July, acknowledged that there might be some opposition towards him within

the party. At the time, he claimed to be unaware of any NCM against him within the PNC. “Right now, I don’t discount the fact that there might be some opposition to me,” Granger had contended.

But amid this internal power struggle, there has been mounting pressure for the party to host its Biennial Congress for a new leadership to elected. But the PNCR Leader has cited COVID-19 as the reason behind the delays.

In fact, a special committee was set up to look into the safe hosting of congress and according to reports, the findings have been submitted to be reviewed by the party’s leadership. But with Granger now on leave of absence, some members are

upset over the further delays in coming to a final decision on congress.

However, there is another section of the PNCR Executive that has been in support of Granger and in a statement on Friday, came to his defence for taking leave.

“As Leader of the Opposition and as President of Guyana for much of the past ten years, Mr. Granger has had a steady governmental work schedule and during this long period, has never taken a vacation. He has now decided to take this opportunity to proceed on leave so that he can enjoy a period of well-deserved rest and attend to personal matters. Mr. Granger has not demitted office as Party Leader,” the missive detailed.

8 NEWS Couple among 5 charged for narco-trafficking SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Curtains…

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Charged: Nicola Williams

Charged: Marvin Glen

couple was among five persons arraigned on drug trafficking charges on Friday when they appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

Nicola Williams and her common-law husband, Marvin Glen, are accused of having in their possession 68 kilograms of marijuana for the purpose of trafficking on September 2, 2021, at Norton Street, Georgetown.

The couple has five children together. They appeared before Magistrate

Clive Nurse. They were each ordered to post bail in the sum of $100,000. They were represented by lawyer George Thomas. In an application to secure bail for his clients, counsel told the court that they have no antecedents.

According to Thomas, his clients do not own the property in which the marijuana was allegedly found neither were they the only ones present at the time of the search.

It was reported that the Customs Anti-Narcotics

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Remanded: Dexter Morris, called DJ “Bajan”

Unit (CANU) discovered the 152 pounds of both local and foreign cannabis at the home occupied by the couple.

Based on information received from CANU, the discovery was made during an operation by members of the Unit after receiving information. During the operation, on the upper flat of the building, three plastic barrels were found. Upon inspection, several wellwrapped parcels containing the cannabis were found.

However, despite the Police prosecutor objecting to them being granted bail on the ground that no special reasons were presented, Magistrate Nurse granted Adams and Glenn their pre-trial liberty. The defendants will make their next court appearance on October 1.

In a similar matter, Cummings Lodge, Greater Georgetown resident Dexter Morris pleaded not guilty to a drug trafficking charge on Friday. He, too, appeared before Magistrate Nurse.

Known as DJ “Bajan”, Morris is accused of trafficking some 463 pounds of marijuana.

Particulars of the charge against the defendant alleged that on August 27, at Campbellville Housing Scheme, Georgetown, he had 463 pounds of marijuana in his possession for the purpose of trafficking.

Morris was represented by lawyer Latchmie Rahamat. During a bail application, counsel informed the court that her client does not know of the suspected narcotics. According

Remanded: Ajay Mahadeo

Remanded: Joseph Wilkinson

to her, the bus in which the drugs were found does not belong to her client. He was remanded until September 22.

Last week Friday, CANU ranks conducted a joint operation with the Guyana Police Force, which resulted in the seizure of over 540 pounds of marijuana.

During the raid, two locations as well as a Route 32 (Georgetown-Parika) minibus were searched.

Acting on information that there a “drug pick-up” was taking place, ranks swooped down at the aforementioned address and thwarted it. Law enforcement officers were able to arrest men, while the other two escaped. Following the drug bust, CANU issued a wanted bulletin for Morris who later surrendered in the company of his lawyer.

Two other men, Joseph Wilkinson and Ajay Mahadeo were charged earlier this week in relation to that drug bust. They pleaded not guilty to the charge and were remanded until October 6.

…or playing possum? t didn’t surprise your Eyewitness to hear that David Granger officially took an open-ended “leave of absence” from his position as “PNC Leader”. According to individuals who’re with the PNC from its formation in 1958, this was an unprecedented act. While past leaders might’ve taken such leave for one reason or other, it was done informally. But in the context of the vicious struggle by various factions within and without the PNC to replace Granger, one obviously has to view the move as a reaction to the calls for a November Congress to decide the leadership question.

So, the question is whether he’s facing some medical challenges from his non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma – which, as of the last announcement, had been in remission; or is he removing himself from the leadership race? Your Eyewitness doesn’t think it’s either. More likely than not, Granger’s playing possum. Or, as we say in Guyana, “playin’ dead fuh see who gon come to de funeral”! In the coming weeks, PNC MPs, activists and members of the Executive etc will have to take a position on the timing of Congress, and indicate whom they’ll support in any eventual leadership elections at such a Congress. This should be a weathervane for Granger to gauge the direction the (political) wind’s blowing in the party.

Most critical for us to notice is that Granger didn’t QUIT as party leader. As such, he remains the leader, whether Volda Lawrence or anyone else ACTS as leader in the meantime. He can therefore step back in the Leadership position anytime he so chooses. With so many vying for his position - Norton, Lawrence, Van West-Charles, Solomon Sharma, etc, - the struggle will become even more vicious among these wannabes. Granger was the piñata that all of them could beat up on to their heart’s satisfaction, but now their firepower will be directed at each other. As the Mafia would say, it’s time to “go to the mattresses!”

In such a scenario, there will be strident calls from the rank and file for them to rise to the needs of their constituency and stop the infighting. This will never happen, of course: each contestant will simply insist only he/she has what it takes to get rid of the dastardly PPP! As implied above, Granger may let the bloodletting go on until the Congress, at which time he can step in as the avuncular senior statesman, “the only man who can unite the party to defeat the PPP.” After continuous PPP rule for twenty-three years, he did it in 2015 by a brilliant strategy of rebranding the PNCas-APNU, and struck a bargain with the AFC. Which of his opponents can match that record?? …on Afghan refugees here Your Eyewitness was certainly surprised to see a letter arguing against resettling Afghan refugees here! His first question was: Who in the world offered Guyana as a destination for Afghan refugees? Such suggestions can only be handled on a Govt-to-Govt basis. Like back in the day, when we were ruled by Britain, the British Government suggested bringing Jews from Europe to settle our Rupununi. That idea was scuttled pretty quickly.

More recently, during the PNC dictatorship, the Americans raised with Burnham the possibility of bringing some Hmong tribespeople who had fought on their side during the Vietnam War. He declined, and they were received by next door Suriname. They’ve done pretty nicely for themselves, thank you.

But someone has to be pretty tone deaf as to what’s going on here right now politically to float that particular balloon. Especially after we imposed visa restrictions on Haitians because we had enough to handle on our plates.

Yes…Guyana has to pass! …on BLAZE? The name of the game for development today is “connectivity” - internet connectivity. There were great expectations raised when GTT had introduced their BLAZE connection, promising “blazing” speeds.

That’s now been replaced by the more modestly named “FIBRE”.

Viva competition!

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

NEWS

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SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Finance Minister talks up Guyana’s economic transformation plans with IsDB Group in Uzbekistan

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espite the country grappling with the ongoing global pandemic and recovering from unprecedented floods, Senior Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh on Friday said Guyana still has an abundance of bright and exciting opportunities in its current momentous juncture of economic evolution.

He made this declaration during a presentation at the 2021 Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Group’s Annual Meetings in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

“As one of the world’s newest oil producers, with the potential to become a significant supplier on the global scale, Guyana is poised for a dramatic structural shift in our economy.

We intend to seize this moment to leapfrog the growing pains that new oil and gas producers suffer all too often, including by ensuring that we achieve and maintain a globally competitive non-oil economy from the very outset,” he emphasised.

Dr Singh underscored the pivotal role Guyana’s Private Sector will play in the realisation of the country’s transformation, both at the domestic and international levels.

“While Government will maintain a supportive environment and will invest in supportive infrastructure, the bulk of the economic growth will be driven by private investment and Guyana abounds with opportunity today for the Private Sector,” the Minister stated.

To this end, he posited that the Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD), the Islamic Corporation for the Insurance of Investment and Export Credit (ICIEC), and International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC) all have important mandates.

The Finance Minister added that Guyana looks forward to these Private Sector-oriented entities within the IsDB Group playing a demonstrably bigger role in Guyana, and other member countries, in the immediate future.

He also alluded to several policies put in place by Government in the past, which are being once again brought to the fore in the country’s fight against climate change such as the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS).

“Even as we become an oil and gas producer,

Senior Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh at the IsDB Group’s 2021 Annual Group Meetings in Uzbekistan

Guyana prides itself as a global leader in the fight against climate change. The preservation of our pristine rainforest over generations has enabled us to make a disproportionate contribution to the global climate effort today. In 2008, we published what we believe was the first LCDS for a developing country. On the basis of that strategy, we partnered in 2009 with Norway in the world’s third largest international forest partnership to create the capabilities needed to integrate Guyana’s forest climate ser-

vices within international carbon and other markets,” the Senior Finance Minister further stressed.

On this note, he disclosed that the Government of Guyana is now working on a new and expanded LCDS which aims to ensure that Guyana’s standing forests are adequately remunerated for the global climate services they provide, adding that the expanded LCDS will also encompass the blue economy for the first time so that Guyana can also harness full benefit of its vast marine resources in a sus-

tainable manner.

“Guyana stands ready to share with the IsDB family our experience with economic development along a low carbon trajectory, and to work with the Bank to build a stronger coalition around the critical environmental and climate issues of our time,” Dr Singh posited.

Further, Minister Singh also lauded the Bank’s Strategic Preparedness and Response Programme (SPRP), which provided a total of US$4.5 billion of support to help member countries contain, mitigate, and recover from COVID-19.

In fact, he told participants that the Dr Irfaan Ali-led Guyana Government has requested the reprogramming of previously approved funds and programming of new resources to help Guyana strengthen its capacity to respond to any future extreme climatic events and to build more resilient infrastructure. He said discussions are ongoing with the Bank on this with the aim of ensuring that this support is delivered in the shortest possible time.

“We are also engaged in discussions with the Bank on several transformative projects, aimed at re-

inforcing our resilience and harnessing our untapped economic potential, particularly in the non-oil sector.

We have already initiated discussions on many projects in the transport infrastructure sector with the Bank, including farm-tomarket roads, which will open new arable land. Here again, timely conclusion of these discussions will help accelerate realisation of the outcomes targeted by these critical interventions,” the Senior Finance Minister stated as he reaffirmed Guyana’s commitment to working closely with the Bank and fellow members to advance economic development in all the countries.

The IsDB Group’s 2021 Annual Group Meetings, which also saw the presence of His Excellency Sardor Umurzakov, Chairman of the IsDB’s Board of Governors, along with other high-level officials from around the world, are expected to wrap up today.

On the side lines of the meetings, Minister Singh has been engaged in a series of discussions with officials from other countries including Kuwait, Qatar and Sierra Leone.

10 NEWS

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Adolescents’ vaccination campaign

Over 200 secondary school students in Reg 2 take first jab

One of the students taking their jab at the Anna Region Multilateral School

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ver 200 students between the ages of 12 and 18 have taken their first dose of the Pfizer

vaccine during the rollout of the adolescents’ vaccination campaign at the Anna Regina Multilateral

Secondary School in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam).

To facilitate the rollout of this vaccine, parents and guardians were required to complete consent forms in order for their children to be administered the vaccine leading up to the reopening of schools on Monday.

Regional Education Officer (REDO) Nichole Matthew encouraged the parents to take their children to be immunised in order for them to remain safe.

“Students should not fight the virus… they should take the vaccination and live,” she said.

While the process was slow, Regional Health Officer Dr Ranjeev Singh called on the major stakeholders to play their part, while reiterating that students should be vaccinated before returning to the classrooms.

Further, Dr Singh said the region’s vaccination team is aiming to immunise most of the students before Tuesday, and added that the vaccination programme would be intensified in the

The students who turned up at the vaccination campaign on Friday

region by targeting children 12 years and older, or adults living with chronic illness.

Several sites have been earmarked for students to visit in order to receive their jabs over the next few days. These include Aurora Primary and Secondary School on September 4; Johanna Cecelia Secondary and Charity Secondary on Monday; 8th of May Secondary on Tuesday, September 7; and Kabakaburi Primary School on Wednesday, September 8. The initiative will commence at 9:00h and will end at 14:30h.

Meanwhile, on Friday, the students were very ex-

cited to take their first shot of the vaccine.

A parent, Reshma Jaigobin, related that she signed the form for her daughter to take the vaccine because the vaccine would not only protect her child, but also keep other children safe by eliminating the spread of the virus, and would also build her child’s immune system.

“I want my daughter to continue her schooling…

They are home so long and are not gaining knowledge (as) before. So, I signed the form because, with the reopening of school soon, there will be less risk for her contracting the deadly virus.

I am encouraging other parents to think the same and take their children to be immunised and live a long, healthy and safe life,” Jaigobin added.

Only last week, Guyana received 146,000 doses of the vaccine. This campaign was launched at St Stanislaus College, after which it was taken to MovieTowne, where thousands of children received their jabs. The campaign was subsequently held at the St Joseph High School.

Schools are expected to be reopened on Monday on a rotational basis for secondary school children.

NEWS

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SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

AG condemns “backward” court action by trade unions against COVID-19 measures T

he Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs has strongly condemned the court action against the national COVID-19 measures, which was mounted by several Trade Unions. He is arguing that those organisations are seeking to unleash mayhem by trying to get the Government to cancel its vaccination policy.

The Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU), the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU), and their umbrella body the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) on Tuesday asked the High Court to quash the COVID-19 Emergency Measures (No 20) Notice dated the 29th day of July,

2021.

Among their main contention is the national vaccination policy, whereby several categories of workers have been mandated to take the jab or otherwise produce regular PCR tests. They are arguing that this measure amounts to coercion.

Commenting on this development on his weekly programme “Issues in the News”, the Attorney General posited, “The impact of what this action seeks, the devastation that it can cause in our country, the mayhem and chaos that it can perpetuate, the level of death and the disaster that it can permeate, let all of that sink in, and you understand where we are in Guyana and how

Attorney General Anil Nandlall

backward the political opposition is.

“This what they’re doing here is an act that can lead

to genocide. This is an attack on human rights, this is human rights tragedy,” Nandlall posited, as he continued to warn of the implications of the case.

“If they win this case, the Government must shut down the vaccine programme, we must allow everyone to don’t wear masks, we must allow everyone to go into schools, and allow everyone to do what they like.

We must remove all regulatory, framework and the country must continue as normal, as though there is no pandemic,” the Attorney General explained.

In justifying his labelling of the court action as an Opposition initiative, Nandlall pointed out that the players involved are politically-aligned.

“These three unions are

nothing else but fronts for the APNU+AFC. This is the APNU+AFC attacking the Government’s vaccine programme by three of their satellite apologist organisations and through a lawyer who is obviously a member of theirs. He was a candidate on their list, so they’re not even intelligent enough to fashion a proper disguise,” the Attorney General contended.

The lawyer he was referring to is Darren Wade.

Moreover, Nandlall went on to point out that those Opposition persons who are seeking to attack the vaccination programme and dissuade the populace from getting immunised are already vaccinated against the novel coronavirus.

“The Union Leaders who are named here: Coretta

McDonald, Lincoln Lewis and Don Gardener, I am betting my last dollar that they are also fully vaccinated.

Darren Wade, the lawyer, I am prepared to bet he is fully vaccinated,” Nandlall contended.

Furthermore, Nandlall highlighted the duplicity in the Opposition’s actions, noting that the measures which are being challenged originated under the presidency of their leader, David Granger.

“The gazetted (order) that they are seeking to challenge, which was published, was basically a republication (of) that which President Granger had made under the Public Health Ordinance while we were in the Opposition,” Nandlall explained.

missible, people coming into contact with someone who has been infected with this Delta variant – if they’re not protected, keeping their distance, not wearing masks – they themselves can be infected.”

He added, “For every one person that is infected with the (Delta) variant, the possibility is that they can infect about nine others.

Unless people are taking precautions, then we’ll see more and more people becoming infected. We have already started seeing a climb in the cases.”

The National COVID-19 Task Force continues to monitor for any violation of the National COVID-19 measures. With the Delta surge causing more infections, the Minister lobbied for stakeholders to act responsibly.

“If you bring more people, then the chances are you can create conditions.

If someone is positive and didn’t wear the protective masks properly, potentially they can spread infections…

Those things are published in the Order so if anybody got any doubt, all they need to do is to visit the Order and make sure they’re in compliant.”

There are currently four

variants of concern, namely Alpha, Beta, Gamma and Delta. However, Delta has proven to be the most infectious and deadly thus far.

Variants of Interest are those under investigation, and include Eta, Iota, Kappa, Lambda and Mu. A variant becomes on of interest based on a comparative assessment, which monitors increase in transmissibility or detrimental change in COVID-19 epidemiology; increase in virulence or change in clinical disease presentation; or decrease in effectiveness of public health and social measures.

The World Health Organisation is investigating Mu, which has the potential of evading antibodies that were created to protect against the virus.

The variant, referred to as B.1.621, was first identified in Colombia earlier this year and has now been detected in over 40 countries.

This week, it was added as a WHO “variant of interest”.

“There are some other mutations that they would have seen, which is totally new and those mutations are now being investigated to see what would occur. Is it going to cause more severity? Is it going to cause more transmission?”

New UN Resident Coordinator officially commences her COVID-19 active cases surge tenure in Guyana as Delta variant spreads

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New United Nations Resident Coordinator to Guyana, Yeşim Oruç, presented her letter of credence to Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Hugh Todd

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ew United Nations (UN) Resident Coordinator to Guyana Yeşim Oruç on Thursday presented her letter of credence to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Hugh Todd which signalled the official start of her mandate in the country.

Oruç, who is a dual national of Turkey and the United States of America (USA), has replaced Mikiko Tanaka, who served in

Guyana for the past five years.

Prior to her appointment as the highest-ranking UN official in Guyana, Oruç served as UNDP’s Deputy Director in Washington (2016-2021), UNDP Country Director in Albania (20122016), and UNDP Resident Representative and Deputy Resident Representative (2008-2012) in Romania.

The new UN Resident Coordinator joined UNDP in 1996 as a national officer in Turkey.

Oruç holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science (Comparative Governments) from Yale University, Connecticut, USA and a Master’s of Art degree in Middle East Studies from the American University in Cairo, Egypt.

Oruç is bilingual in English and Turkish and is proficient in Arabic and German. The mother of Akay Kaya, Oruç is joined in Guyana by her spouse Mehmet T Kaya, also a national of Turkey.

surge in COVID-19 infections has seen active cases taking a steep increase to 2052 and some regions have reported concerning figures, which are still on the rise.

On Friday, figures showed three regions reporting the highest number of active infections, with Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) leading with 1149. There are 298 active cases on the East Bank of Demerara (EBD), 439 in Georgetown, and 412 on the East Coast of Demerara (ECD).

In Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), there are 431 active cases – 47 of which are in Tuschen.

In Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni), 72 cases are being monitored – 58 of which are in Bartica.

In Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice), there are 46 cases, followed by 38 in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) and 22 in Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni).

Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony outlined, “In different regions, there are different levels of cases that we are seeing but currently we have 2052 cases that are active. Again, because this variant is more trans-

12 NEWS

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Over 1000 Moraikobai residents to benefit from rehabilitated $5M water supply system

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pproximately 1000 residents are now beneficiaries of new water service connections and an improved water supply in Moraikobai, Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice).

This was possible through the delivery of a promise made by Minister within the Housing and Water Ministry, Susan Rodrigues.

The Minister commissioned the water supply system on Friday following rehabilitation of the existing well, installation of distribution mains and 50 new service connections to extend the water supply to new areas in the community.

The realisation of these works was funded by the Government of Guyana to the tune of $5 million and executed by the Guyana

Minister within the Housing and Water Ministry, Susan Rodrigues, commissioning the well on Friday

Water Incorporated and Moraikobai Village Council.

During the commission-

She pointed out that the promises made in their manifesto are being realised in the various sectors within the community and that includes water.

The Housing and Water Minister also explained to the residents that GWI did not have to drill a new well, since the current well has a depth of 700ft and can produce enough water for 2000 people.

She noted that while there are 50 new connections, work is ongoing to install even more service connections. Therefore, GWI will continue to work to extend the network to ensure each home is catered for.

Residents were assured that

of its strategic plan and Sustainable Development Goal Number 6.

He informed the gathering that approximately 2000 metres of pipelines were laid and over 30 leaks were repaired, resulting in a better service to Moraikobai.

In an effort to monitor and maintain the system, Persaud said three Community Service Officers were trained to monitor and regulate it. In addition, GWI will employ someone from the village to manage the overall operations.

Meanwhile, Moraikobai Toshao, Derrick John expressed satisfaction with the works done and thanked GWI and Government for

ing ceremony, Rodrigues stated that Government’s investments in the commu-

Residents of Moraikobai at the commissioning of the water supply system

nity have realised economic activity amongst the residents. She said that this Administration had taken note of the neglect to the community, which resulted in a dysfunctional water system and lack of water access to many homes.

the system will be maintained to ensure a supply of quality water 24/7.

According to GWI Hinterland Engineer Khemraj Persaud, the commissioning of the system signals the utility’s fulfilment

their interest in the community.

Also present at the commissioning ceremony were Region Five Member of Parliament (MP) Faizal Jafarally and Regional Vice Chairman Rion Peters.

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SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

14 NEWS

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2021|| GUYANATIMESGY.COM

First Lady takes menstrual hygiene initiative to Reg 2

First Lady Arya Ali addressing the gathering on Friday

First Lady Arya Ali and Education Minister Priya Manickchand, along with students at the launch of the Menstrual Hygiene Initiative at the Anna Regina Multilateral School

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he Office of the First Lady of Guyana, in collaboration with the Education Ministry, on Friday launched the menstrual hygiene initiative in Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam). Through this initiative, sanitary napkins would be made accessible to women and girls free of cost.

Speaking at a ceremony held at the Anna Regina Multilateral School, First Lady Arya Ali explained that the initiative is an extension of the effort made by her office to empower girls and make them feel confident about themselves. It begins with the provision of sanitary napkins to each secondary school female.

The First Lady related that no girl should be forced to leave school because she does not have access to sanitary products.

She noted that menstrual

hygiene is not a privilege, but a basic human right.

She also pointed out that during a survey that was conducted, approximately 800 million young ladies were forced to skip classes until their monthly menstrual cycle was over, or drop out of school permanently because of their inability to purchase sanitary napkins.

“Last year, when I heard that girls were forced to skip school and, in some instances, drop out permanently because they could not afford sanitary products, my heart broke.

This is unacceptable. No girl should be placed in a situation in which she is forced to be absent from, or quit, school because of her inability to afford sanitary products,” the First Lady declared.

To bring an end to this undesirable plight, the First Lady believes there

must first be an end to the denial of period poverty, after which conversations around women’s health must be normalised, even in spaces occupied only by men.

She said girls must also disabuse themselves of the idea that menstruation is exclusively a female concern.

“You girls are our future Policewomen, lawyers, doctors, and even our future leaders; and at no point your lives should be changed because of period poverty… After today, period poverty will not be present in Essequibo, and I will work along with the entire country to eliminate such a crisis.”

Education Minister Priya Manickchand lauded the First Lady for beginning what she hopes would be a national conversation with effective solutions.

She said the Education

Ministry will be working closely with the Office of the First Lady to have the sanitary napkins distributed to girls via the pub-

lic schools, and reflected on the taboo nature of the conversation in and around period and menstrual health.

Meanwhile, Region Two Chairwoman Vilma De Silva lauded the initiative being promoted by

the First Lady, and said it would have a positive impact on young ladies' lives.

De Silva noted that the initiative would provide female students with the confidence that there would always be sanitary products at their disposal.

CDC confirms animal fat dumped at Kingston seawall

The substance dumped at the Kingston Seawall

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he Civil Defence Commission (CDC) has concluded that reports of crude oil surfacing at the Kingston seawall, Georgetown, is in fact animal fat, following a thorough investigation.

In a statement, the Commission said it responded to reports of suspected crude at the said location. However, an initial assessment revealed that the substance was animal fat that was dumped.

“The assessment team witnessed no crude oil in the area, nor any slick or sheen,” the CDC informed.

Experts indicated that the animal fat is expected to be quickly dispersed by tidal action and waves, and

be degraded by bacteria and other living organisms.

Persons are encouraged to remain vigilant and report any observations or impacts to the local authorities or the National Emergency Monitoring System (NEMS) on 6007500, operated 24/7 by the Commission.

The National Oil Spill Response Plan was drafted in 2018 by the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) and further strengthened by a working group which was led by the CDC. Last October, it was handed over to Government and the final plan was developed from comprehensive consultations, reviews, testing

and support from national stakeholders. International partners such as the United States Coast Guard and the International Maritime Organisation also played important roles.

This year, the CDC operationalised the National Oil Spill Response Plan (NOSRP) and the National Oil Spill Committee, in mobilising contingency plans and policy direction dealing with the management of national oil spill events.

In August, it was announced that a joint Guyana-Suriname approach to any potential oil spill from oil exploration and production in the Corentyne could be a possibility coming out of the working group that will be led by Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo in Suriname.

This is according to President Dr Irfaan Ali, who was asked whether there would be an agreement for Guyana and Suriname to collaborate on any potential oil spill.

“That is why we’re setting up that working group the Vice President would lead. So that we can have a joint analysis of threats, challenges and opportunities. And we can come up with a common strategy.

Because we’re also a part of the same forest basin,” President Ali had said.

In light of this, the President pointed out the work the two countries can do. According to the President, “can you imagine if we merge our potential? The type of impact and benefit we can bring to the basin”.

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SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Guyana records 4 more COVID fatalities, death toll now 636 − 161 new infections recorded in 24h

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uyana’s COVID-19 death toll moved to 636 as of Friday after four more persons died while receiving medical treatment.

The latest fatalities are a 90-year-old male and a 66-year-old female from Region Four (DemeraraMahaica) and a 67-yearold male from Region Three who died on September 2.

On September 3, a 79-yearold female also succumbed.

Thus far, 11 persons have died from the deadly virus in September.

However, new statistics provided by the Ministry of Health showed that 161 new cases were recorded in one day with the total confirmed cases in the country moving 26,112 – 12,614 males and 13,498 females.

There are 33 patients in the designated Intensive Care Unit (ICU), 1892 in home isolation, 118 in institutional isolation and five in institutional quarantine. The data showed that 23,433 patients have recovered from the life-threatening virus while 273,103 have been tested.

A breakdown showed

six new cases in Region One (Barima-Waini); 27 in Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam); 24 in Region Three (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara); 100 in Region Four (DemeraraMahaica); four in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice); five in Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne); two in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni); two in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) and four in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).

There were no increases in Region Eight (PotaroSiparuni).

Nevertheless, the rollout of vaccines for the adolescent population has so far started in Regions Three (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara), Four (Demerara-Mahaica), Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) and Nine (Upper TakutuUpper Essequibo).

A total of 6020 persons between the ages of 12 and 17 have been inoculated.

Just Thursday, 1658 jabs were delivered.

Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony stated, “We’re also, at the same time, training the staff

within the region to be able to administer the vaccine. The first two weeks, it’s both doing vaccination and a learning process for the staff within the region because we have staff that went up centrally to train and as well as supervise the vaccination. A lot of the staff that has now been trained will be able to roll out that independently. We will see much more uptake as the weeks go by.”

Mobile units will visit schools to boost the vaccination rates, and once children from these institutions are vaccinated, classrooms will reopen. Dr Anthony said the response at sites has been tremendous, and more parents have been urged to consider the jab for their children.

“So far, a lot of parents have been bringing their children out to get vaccinated. I think that’s a good thing. I want to really encourage more parents to do that because we want to vaccinate children so that they can return to school safely.”

If anyone is displaying any of the symptoms associated with COVID-19 or

PNC’s James Bond released on selfbail for breaching COVID-19 curfew

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ttorney-at-Law and PNC member James Bond, who is also the owner of Cigars and Cognac, an eco-bar and lounge located at Melanie, East Coast Demerara (ECD), has been charged with breaching the nationwide COVID-19 curfew.

It is alleged that Bond and Krishnan Ross operated the bar in breach of the restrictions on social activities on four occasions.

On Thursday, they were brought before Magistrate Marissa Mittlehozer at the Vigilance Magistrate’s Court where they pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The defendants were released on self-bail. Their trial will commence on December 17. In March of this year, ranks of the National COVID-19 Task Force (NCTF) visited the Cigars and Cognac bar where they arrested several patrons for being in breach of the curfew.

Bond is not the first bar owner found to allegedly be in breach of the curfew.

In fact, Meer Rahaman, the proprietor of Club Altitude at Sandy Babb Street, Kitty, Georgetown; Mark Alleyen, Manager of Kairos Bar at Charlotte Street, Bourda, Georgetown; and Clifton Bacchus, the owner of Sleepin Hotel and Casino were also arrested for breaching the curfew.

As Government looks to ramp up enforcement of

GUYANA COVID-19 DASHBOARD SEPTEMBER 3 UPDATE

NUMBER OF NEW CASES

161

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN INSTITUTIONAL ISOLATION

118

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN HOME ISOLATION NUMBER OF PERSONS IN COVID-19 ICU

1892 33

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN INSTITUTIONAL QUARANTINE

5

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES BY GENDER (FEMALES)

13,498

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES BY GENDER (MALES)

12,612

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES IN GUYANA SINCE 2020

26,112

NUMBER OF RECOVERED CASES

23,433

TOTAL 1st DOSE VACCINATED

313,469

FULLY IMMUNISED

161,022

TOTAL NUMBER OF DEATHS

636

DISTRIBUTION OF TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES SINCE MARCH 2020 REGION 1

1368

REGION 2

833

REGION 3

3134

REGION 4

12,160

REGION 5

855

REGION 6

2079

REGION 7

1395

REGION 8

402

REGION 9

2252

REGION 10

1634

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

Keep a physical distance of at least 6 feet.

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

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

needs any additional information, they are asked to contact the COVID-19 Hotline 231-1166, 226-7480 or 624-6674 immediately or visit www.health.gov.gy

All Guyanese are reminded to observe the protocols of the COVID-19 emergency measures which emphasise the need for correct and consistent use of

a face mask when leaving your home; the importance of maintaining the six feet physical distance from others; and the need for good hand hygiene.

Emergency responder slapped with dangerous driving charge dangerous driving, but was placed on self-bail on the other charges.

The matters have been adjourned until September 30. The Police have said that on September 1, Nestor was driving motorcar PMM 1760 when he overtook a double lane of traffic on Mandela Avenue, Georgetown.

A Police constable sig-

Attorney-at-Law James Bond

the COVID-19 guidelines in light of the rising deaths and cases, efforts are underway to review the laws to toughen the penalties for those found in violation.

In recent times, the Guyana Police Force has charged scores of persons for these breaches. Many of them pleaded guilty to the charges and were ordered to pay fines ranging between $5000 and 16,000. However, President Irfaan Ali is of the view that these fines are inadequate.

“The fines are inadequate, and I’ve asked Attorney General Anil Nandlall, indeed, to relook at the laws to see how we can have amendments that can speak to the seriousness of what we’re dealing with. So that is ongoing,” President Ali had said on the issue.

Many videos and pictures have been circulating on social media of the

National COVID-19 Task Force enforcing the restrictions on social gatherings around the country.

Ranks of the Guyana Police Force and the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) have raided bars and nightclubs which led to the arrests of scores of persons partying beyond the curfew. These persons were loaded onto GDF buses and other vehicles and taken to the Police station where they were charged.

In most of the videos, persons were seen behaving in a disorderly manner. The National COVID-19 Task Force is appealing to citizens to adhere to the curfew and other measures in place to curb the spread of the deadly COVID-19 virus. To report breaches of these measures, persons are being asked to call the COVID-19 hotlines: 6266674, 624-3067, 624-2819, and toll-free (GTT) 0180.

Charged: Devon Nestor

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ppearing before Georgetown Magistrate Clive Nurse on Friday was Devon Nestor, an Emergency Medical Responder attached to the Georgetown Public Hospital.

He has been charged with several traffic offences, including two counts of dangerous driving, and also faces one count of failing to give the right-of-way, one count of failing to stop when directed by a Police rank, and one count of driving under the influence of alcohol.

He pleaded not guilty to all seven charges when they were read to him, and has been placed on $30,000 bail on each of the two counts of

nalled him to stop, but he ignored the signal and continued driving to his destination on the East Bank of Demerara (EBD) corridor.

The Police rank reportedly went in pursuit of him with the siren and light flashing, but Nestor continued driving. He was eventually intercepted at Eccles, EBD, where he was arrested.

16 NEWS

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

AG supports common regional Special Constabulary ranks receive legislation to address corruption training in human trafficking …recommits Govt’s robust stance against corruption

Members of the Special Constabulary participated in a two-day training on human trafficking

(from left to right) State Counsel Chevy Devonish, Jason Reichelt, Deputy Chief Joanna Bond, Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall; and UNODC’s Bo Shakira Harris

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ttorney General and Legal Affairs Minister, Anil Nandlall has expressed preference for a blanketed legislation across the Caribbean to deal distinctively with matters of corruption.

He shared this view on Friday during a courtesy call with United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Associate Programme Management Officer, Bo Shakira Harris and representative of the Crime and Prevention Office, Jason Reichelt. Also present at the meeting were Deputy Chief Parliamentary Counsel Joanna Bond and State Counsel Chevy Devonish.

The AG noted that with Guyana taking up the role of an oil-producing nation, this new sector brings with it new challenges, risks and responsibilities. Therefore, the Government has to take the requisite steps to build the regulatory framework that can address the issue of corruption in the various sectors.

The UNODC would have made the courtesy call to update him on the recently completed three-day AntiCorruption Workshop in Guyana. The workshop was facilitated by the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance, with support from the UNODC and was aimed at building institutional capacity for reporting and fighting corruption.

Minister Nandlall was informed that Guyana is currently under review and UNODC came to support that process. Thus, the workshop focused on the checklist process which involves Guyana assessing itself against the UN Convention Against Corruption. After the checklist is completed, there is then a desk-based review where recommendations would be made highlighting how Guyana can strengthen its laws, polices and institutions dealing with anti-corruption. This will enable Guyana to fully implement the Convention.

The Attorney General reaffirmed that Guyana is committed to combatting corruption in all its forms and this is evidenced by the fact that the country has signed on to all major international anti-corruption agreements in the hemisphere.

He reminded that the Government has taken a strong stance against corruption and has instituted several legal proceedings tackling the corruption which permeated and flowed from the previous Administration both in civil as well as commercial courts.

On the issue of technical assistance, UNODC indicated that they provide assistance to countries in the preparation of legislation and review of draft laws and legislation. AG informed the officers that Impact Justice Caribbean has prepared a model Anti-Corruption Bill for the region. UNODC has indicated a willingness to

review the said bill.

Last year, the US Department of State cited the lack of enforcement of anti-corruption laws under the previous A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance for Change (APNU/AFC) Administration.

In its 2020 Investment Climate report, the State Department noted that perceptions of corruption persist in Guyana. It pointed to the Transparency International’s 2019 report, which ranked Guyana 85 out of 180 countries for perceptions of corruption, advancing 8 spots in comparison to 2018.

According to the State Department, corruption and a weak judicial system were among Guyana’s major shortcomings.

Among the relevant laws enacted that the State Department referred to are the Integrity Commission Act, State Assets Recovery Act, and the Audit Act.

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s the Human Services and Social Security Minister, Dr Vindhya Persaud continues to organise training for key persons across the country who may come into contact with perpetrators and victims of human trafficking, the focus has is now being placed on members of the Special Constabulary.

The Ministry’s Counter Trafficking in Person (C-TIP) unit hosted a twoday training for Special Constables which kicked off on Thursday. Minister Persaud has often referred to human trafficking as a heinous crime.

She has personally visited several of these training sessions to urge participants to speak up when they see it happening. In addition, she had emphasised the need for perpetrators to be identified and prosecuted.

However, Head of the Special Constabulary and Special Superintendent Owen Trotz said the training is timely and will come in handy for him and his officers.

The Constabulary

has over 1000 staff members throughout the country and covers most of the Government Ministries and agencies, even providing protection for Judges, Magistrates, and other officers.

“We see most forms of TIP so this training is timely and I am excited that the officers would be better equipped to deal with all forms of abuse. They would be able to give information to the Police, take some initial action and even give information to the Ministry and other agencies,” Trotz expressed.

Nevertheless, Trotz called attention to the number of underage girls from Venezuela who are working at wash bays and other businesses with little pay.

He added that he also noticed that the people who come from Brazil, Dominica, and other countries to practice prostitution here, are often treated badly.

Also commenting on the training was participant Romeo Samuels who said he believes the training would have a great impact because

it would provide for a better understanding of TIP. Meanwhile, a group of Venezuelan re-migrants who came from Regions One, Two, Three, Four, and Seven were recently trained by the Ministry.

“Identifying the traffickers is the biggest problem, but if they’re not stopped more will join them. The only way to end this is to put these people behind bars; if they feel they can get off, they won’t stop. Let’s go out there stronger together.

Trafficking in Persons is a heinous crime against people,” Minister Persaud had told the participants.

According to her, it was important for the re-migrants to be trained because when they come to the country they must understand its policies, laws, and procedures. “The community engagement is the best. We’re trying different avenues of how we engage people,” she said.

The C-TIP unit has also concluded training with the Guyana Police Force and Guyana Defence Force, among other agencies.

Salvation Army donates hampers to flood-affected citizens

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he Salvation Army Guyana Division in collaboration with the Jamaica Division on Friday distributed over 300 hampers to flood-affected citizens of Georgetown. Another 200 hampers were earlier distributed in Bartica, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni).

The hampers contained food items, cleaning detergents, and sanitisers – representing a value of $4.3 million.

Minister within the Public Works Ministry Deodat Indar was present at the distribution ceremony and spoke of the Salvation Army’s unwavering support and presence in helping those in need.

“Salvation Army, the Guyana Division has always been working to do social work with people – with the less fortunate of our society…I want to con-

Minister within the Public Works Ministry, Deodat Indar, (centre-right) with the Salvation Army Advisory Board Chairman Edward Boyer (centre) and the Majors responsible for the hampers’ distribution

gratulate them for putting this effort together on behalf of the Government.

The Government of Guyana usually partners with the Salvation Army from time

to time in initiatives to help our people,” the Minister expressed.

“Doing good – helping hands – are the things that constitute a brother’s keep-

er and the Salvation Army in Guyana has been the brother’s keeper for a very long time.”

The Minister thanked the organisation for their

continued support and vowed Government’s support in their future initiatives in helping the people of Guyana.

Meanwhile, Chairman of the Salvation Army’s Advisory Board, Edward Boyer commended the Majors that would have made the distribution possible through their efforts in reaching out to the Jamaica Division.

“I want to accede to the two Majors… who has made the proposal to Jamaica… sometimes it’s very difficult to get funding, but we managed to get this funding. And the two Majors here are workaholics. They went to Bartica and now they’re here and they gave out these hampers… the items inside (the hampers) are very worthwhile and I applaud them for the work they do in the Salvation Army,” the Chairman shared.

NEWS

17

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

$787.6M contract signed for removal GRA officers shot during antiof wrecks from Demerara River

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raffic in the Demerara River will soon flow more freely, because a $787.6 million contract has been signed between the Public Works Ministry and Koole Contractors for the removal of three wrecks from the river.

The contracts were signed in the Ministry’s Boardroom on Friday, and signatories were Director General of the Maritime Administration Department, Stephen Thomas, and a representative from Koole Contractors.

Public Works Minister Bishop Juan Edghill, who joined the signing virtually, said the wrecks have proven hazardous. He explained that due to the location of the wrecks, the channel has become narrow.

“The removal of these wrecks and the dredging that is anticipated to take place, we expect that we will be able to have two-way traffic,” he explained.

Edghill noted that this would complement the es-

smuggling operation in Mahaica River

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Director-General of the Maritime Administration Department, Stephen Thomas, signing the contract as Koole Contractors’ representative Janneke Kuijper and Ministry of Public Works Permanent Secretary Vladim Persaud look on

tablishment of the new Demerara Harbour Bridge.

“This project of the removal of wrecks is also coming in tandem with us building a high-span, fourlane, new Demerara Bridge.

Which will mean that once the tide allows, you can have unhindered access into Port Georgetown 24 hours every day,” the subject Minister explained.

Traversing the Demerara River will now be safer and faster for ship and boat operators, as they would no longer have to manoeuvre around the wrecks. The project is expected to be completed in nine months, with three months allotted to each wreck. The wrecks identified to be removed are the Dar B, Allana III, and Miss Elissa.

30 households to relocate to accommodate Eccles-Diamond highway

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ment process.

Further, he noted that there will be no “strongarm” approach during the process and the concerns of each resident will be heard.

As such, the residents were given the opportunity to raise issues, which were addressed by Minister Croal and his team.

Meanwhile, two areas for relocation have already been

to the restoration of their homes, Minister Croal assured residents that CH&PA will also ensure the restoration of their livelihoods.

The meeting saw the attendance of officials from the local democratic organs and the Chief Valuation Officer attached to the Finance Ministry’s Valuation Office.

A number of engagements are expected to con-

Some of the residents at the meeting

ly occupying a Government reserve in the area, which is intended to be used for the construction of the new Eccles to Great Diamond four-lane highway.

The plan is said to include the provision of a house lot and the rebuilding of homes based on their value.

CH&PA CEO Sherwyn Greaves stated that the agency is determined to assist all residents throughout each stage of the resettle-

identified within close proximity of the area. These are developed schemes where the settlers can enjoy access to healthcare, educational and recreational facilities, as well as access to basic utilities such as electricity and water.

In addition to this, the residents will also have access to Certificates of Title and Transports, which are currently unavailable at Caneview due to the illegal occupation. In addition

“clear evidence” that the perpetrator was tipped off after the officers came under fire.

“The LEID officers took evasive action by lying flat in their vessel, and returned fire in the general direction of the perpetrators. However, the perpetrator’s bullets pierced the GRA’s vessel and injured two of the officers in the abdomen and face,” GRA stated.

It is unclear at this time whether any of the suspects or any other person was injured during the shooting.

The owner of the vessel is also yet to be arrested.

“Despite the constant threat to their lives, LEID Officers continue to fearlessly execute their duty in order to curb the scourge of smuggling and safeguard the country’s revenues. The Authority welcomes the help of the public, and will continue to utilise the resources of its sister agencies to this effect,” GRA stated.

Investigations are ongoing.

GAWU to meet DTL on Sep 9 after almost 5 years

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The team from the Housing and Water Ministry during the meeting

ettlers along Block “X” Plantation Herstelling, East Bank Demerara (EBD), met with Housing and Water Minister Collin Croal and a team from the Central Housing & Planning Authority (CH&PA) to devise a comprehensive resettlement and relocation plan.

Presently, approximately 30 households are current-

In brief remarks, Koole Contractors’ representative Janneke Kuijper assured that the works will be completed within the contractually agreed time. The Netherlands-based Koole won the contract after a public procurement process.

The removal of the three wrecks is part of a larger project the Government is undertaking to ensure the waterways are safe. There are approximately 120 wrecks in Guyana’s waterways, with 16 being along the Demerara River.

wo officers attached to the Law Enforcement and Investigation Division (LEID) of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) have been injured after they came under fire during an anti-smuggling operation conducted on Thursday evening at Mahaica, East Coast Demerara (ECD).

One of the officers was shot to the face, and the other was shot to the abdomen.

They both underwent emergency surgery.

The GRA, in a release to the media, explained that on the day in question, at about 23:45h, the GRA officers, along with ranks from the Guyana Police Force (GPF), attempted to intercept a vessel owned by a well-known suspect which was allegedly transporting smuggled goods in the Mahaica River.

However, as they moved in, they came under high-powered and spotlighted gunfire from the suspect’s property and vessel.

The GRA has said it is

tinue over the coming weeks.

The Eccles to Great Diamond Highway will be linked to the new Eccles, East Bank Demerara to Mandela, Georgetown Highway. This is in keeping with President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali’s vision to reduce traffic congestion along the East Bank Demerara corridor, while also transforming the country’s travel landscape and linking communities.

he Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) will finally meet with the management of Demerara Timbers Limited (DTL) after almost a five-year effort to so.

In a statement, the GAWU noted that after some back and forth with the DTL company, which subjected the Union to communicate by letters only, the two entities are expected to

resume their face-to-face engagements on September 9, 2021.

This comes in light of the sought-out intervention of the Labour Ministry and Trade Union Recognition and Certification Board (TURCB) by the Union.

Labour Minister Joseph Hamilton along with his Ministry, as well as TURCB addressed the matter by engaging DTL on its reluctance to engage the workers’ Union on a face-to-face basis.

The DTL in 2016 had decided to refuse to engage the GAWU in face-to-face discussions while limiting their engagements with the Union to writing.

Meanwhile, the Union

had contended that the company’s actions were detrimental to good relations and undermined the principles of collective bargaining.

Moreover, it was pointed out that the DTL’s decision was in breach of the Constitution of Guyana, the Trade Union Recognition Act and the Recognition and Avoidance and Settlement of Disputes Agreement subsisting between the GAWU and the DTL. Thus, a meeting was convened with the GAWU and the DTL on August 31 through the Chief Labour Officer, who reiterated the Ministry’s position, after which the DTL relented and agreed to meet the GAWU

on a face-to-face basis.

The GAWU said it looks forward to a fruitful meeting and is hopeful that the two entities can restore the once generally cordial and respectful relations.

The Union will be sending out a list of matters they are hoping to discuss at the September 9 meeting.

In July, workers attached to the DTL had raised concerns over the working conditions such as working 12hour shifts daily, seven days a week with no days off, and four days “vacation leave”, the lack of proper safety equipment to carry out their necessary functions and the fact that Guyanese employees have different contractual arrangements than foreign workers.

It was shared that while Guyanese workers receive no days off, the contract with foreign workers allow them to have days off and vacation leave.

Those working conditions that they were subjected to, called for intervention from the Labour Ministry.

18

guyanatimesgy.com

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2021

Regional

Bitcoin: El Salvador divided Amazon fires surge anew in Brazil as cleared forest burns over legal tender law

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here is growing scepticism in El Salvador as the country prepares to be the first in the world to recognise Bitcoin as legal tender on September 7.

The Government has presented the measure as a way to boost economic development and jobs.

Polls suggest Salvadorians are not prepared for the move, and the World Bank has warned against its adoption.

Analysts say it is an “attention-seeking move” from an “authoritative regime”.

Next week’s landmark day follows a vote by lawmakers in June to legalise the crypto-currency.

Under the country’s Bitcoin Law, businesses will be obliged to accept it or the

US dollar, the country’s other official currency, as payment.

More than 200 new cash machines are being installed across El Salvador to enable dollars to be converted into Bitcoin.

El Salvador’s Government is offering US$30 (£22) in free bitcoins to encourage citizens to use its national wallet, which is accessed via an online app.

Recent protests in the capital, San Salvador, have demonstrated a lack of confidence among citizens, many of whom are still unfamiliar with crypto-currency.

A survey by the Central American University (UCA) found that only 4.8 per cent of the 1281 asked understood what Bitcoin was and

how it was used.

More than 68 per cent of those questioned said they disagreed with using crypto-currency as a legal tender.

More than two million Salvadorian workers in other countries send money to their families back home. Remittances make up around 20 per cent of the country’s GDP. Those favouring the move have suggested that using Bitcoin could make sending money home cheaper.

However, others argue otherwise.

“A recent academic paper showed the exchange costs may actually end up being even higher,” warned crypto-analyst Glen Goodman.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

Guatemala starts probe into bribery allegations linked to President

Guatemala’s President Alejandro Giammattei attends a news conference with US Vice President Kamala Harris (not pictured), at the Palacio Nacional de la Cultura, in Guatemala City, Guatemala, during Harris’ first international trip as Vice President to Guatemala and Mexico, June 7, 2021

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rosecutors in Guatemala have begun an investigation into allegations that Russian businessmen paid a bribe to President Alejandro Giammattei to obtain a dock in one of the country’s main ports, the Attorney General’s office said on Friday.

Juan Luis Pantaleon, spokesman for the Guatemalan Attorney General’s office, said anti-corruption prosecutors had opened the probe, under-

lining that Giammattei was not currently under investigation because no impeachment proceedings had begun.

Patricia Letona, a spokeswoman for Giammattei, said the President’s office had no immediate comment on the matter.

The allegations were initially raised in public by Juan Francisco Sandoval, who was head of the Guatemalan Special Prosecutor’s Office Against Impunity (FECI) until

his removal by Guatemalan Attorney General Maria Porras in July.

According to Sandoval, the four Russian businessmen with mining interests in Guatemala sent the bribe inside a carpet in April, seeking space to establish a dock in the Caribbean port of Santo Tomas de Castilla.

The Guatemala-based mining company linked to the men denied that any bribe had been paid.

Sandoval, who fled Guatemala in July, said he was fired after the Attorney General prevented him from trying to investigate corruption cases with links to Giammattei. The President has denied being involved in corruption.

The Attorney General’s office also said on Friday a warrant had been issued for Sandoval’s arrest on suspicion of breach of office and the obstruction of criminal proceedings.

The bribery case linked to Giammattei is the latest in a series of corruption allegations to engulf recent presidents of the Central American country. (Excerpt from Reuters)

T

hick smoke billowed above Brazil’s Amazon jungle as fire tore through butchered rainforest and discarded trees littered the scorched earth like dead matchsticks, burnt and black.

A Reuters witness saw vast burned and clear-cut areas on Wednesday and Thursday, as the arc of deforestation advanced deeper into the jungle by the frontier town of Labrea, the municipality with the most fires this year.

Fires ramped up in the Brazilian rainforest in August, according to Government data released this week, with fires for the month well above the historic average for the third consecutive year under right-wing President Jair Bolsonaro.

Such levels were last seen a decade ago, before Bolsonaro took office. The right-wing President has been widely criticised for driving development in the Amazon while working to weaken environmental protections.

Scientists fear the rapid rate of destruction risks sabotaging global attempts to limit climate change.

C

above it.

Chilean President Sebastian Pinera on Friday said the claim was “legitimate” and that the two countries had historically “overlapping” claims to 25,000 square kilometres (10,000 square miles) in the area.

“This is in clear conformity with international law,” he said. “How do we have to solve this overlap? As countries that act wisely and prudently, with dialogue and accords.”

Argentina last week accused Chile of violating the

1984 peace treaty that ended the Beagle conflict between the military administrations of both countries over islands on the fractured southern tip of South America.

Argentina said that Chile had not disputed Buenos Aires’ claim in a representation to the United Nations Law of the Sea Convention in 2009. Chile asserted it said at the time Argentina’s claim was “unenforceable.”

Daniel Filmus, Argentine secretary for Antarctica, the Southern Atlantic and Las Malvinas, as the disput-

The former army captain has sought to roll back Indigenous land rights which protect huge swathes of rainforest - and defanged environmental agencies, handing enforcement responsibilities to the military who have failed to prevent the destruction.

Newly cleared areas near Labrea, in southern Amazonas state, were being turned into cow pastures.

Informal logging roads branch off the Transamazonian Highway,

which ends in Labrea.

Nearby, there are signs that the destruction is also nearing the protected Mapinguari National Park and Caititu Indigenous reserve.

Satellites registered 28,060 fires in the Brazilian Amazon in August, a decline of 4 per cent compared to the same month in 2020 when fires likely hit the highest point in a decade, according to Brazil’s national space research agency Inpe.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Local company to start growing strawberries in T&T

B

y next February T&T is expected to start producing tens of thousands of pounds of assorted berries and organic greens annually, as a project to grow temperate crops in an advanced greenhouse farm starts at the Cove

Chilean President defends territorial claim in spat with Argentina hile on Friday reasserted its claim to undersea territory off its southern coast in a dispute with Argentina, which has said Santiago’s move violates international treaties.

Chile last week officially laid claim to 5000 square kilometres (1930 square miles) of continental shelf in the Drake Sea between Chile’s Cape Horn, its mainland and the South Shetland Islands of Antarctica. The pointed piece of undersea territory is known as Medialuna, and the claim includes the water

A view of a tract of burnt Amazon jungle next to the Transamazonica national highway, in Labrea, Amazonas state, Brazil, September 1, 2021. Picture taken September 1, with a drone

ed British territory of The Falklands is known there, on Thursday said Argentina would seek UN intervention.

The dispute comes as elections approach in both countries with their administrations facing challenges such as Argentina’s COVID-19 pandemic and recession and Chile’s social protests.

Britain is watching the territorial dispute closely because Argentina has also increased its efforts to regain the Falklands. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Industrial Estate, Tobago.

The project will initially utilise two acres of land but will be eventually expand to 12 acres as the production is anticipated to expand significantly.

At the heart of the project is a new company called Berrycove Ltd, a joint venture between Anthony N Sabga Ltd, Island Growers Caribbean and Alquimi Renewables LLC. “The project will go under construction immediately, and we are scheduled to have first berries out by late January or early February” said Ralph Birkhoff, co-founder and chief commercial officer of Island Growers Caribbean, who will also take on the role of GM at Berrycove.

He told the Business Guardian that T&T alone imports close to 70,000 pounds of strawberries a month with the concomitant loss of foreign exchange.

Birkhoff said Berrycove

will eventually easily meet this demand and then start producing larger volumes for frozen regional export in the process saving foreign exchange and then trading in US$ exports.

“And what is very interesting is the frozen berry export. With 12 acres of land, we can produce hundreds of thousands of pounds of berries a month. We will freeze them and export them regionally. Right now, all frozen berries coming into the Caribbean, the entire region, is imported from the US, Mexico or South America.

Just like our fresh berries, 100 per cent. We estimate the total regional frozen berry market demand at about 40 to 50 million pounds a year so it’s a massive market opportunity,” Birkhoff said.

He expected that Berrycove will be able to produce a pound of organic berries at under US$1.50.

(Excerpt from Trinidad Guardian)

guyanatimesgy.com

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2021

19

Around the world

OILNEWS OIL NEWS Oil slips as weak US jobs' report gives “reality check”

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il prices fell on Friday after a weaker than expected US jobs report indicated a patchy economic recovery that could mean slower fuel demand during a resurgent pandemic.

Losses were capped by concerns that US supply would remain limited in the wake of Hurricane Ida, which cut production from the US Gulf of Mexico.

Brent crude futures settled lower by 42 cents, or 0.58 per cent, at US$72.61 a barrel. US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures were down 70 cents or 1 per cent, at US$69.29.

Both benchmark oil contracts were largely steady for the week, with US crude up 0.80 per cent.

"Prices slipped on the employment report, which was clearly impacted by the Delta variant," said John Kilduff, a partner at Again Capital in New York. "This was a reality check that the coronavirus is still impacting demand," he added.

Non-farm payrolls missed expectations with an increase of 235,000 jobs amid a softening in demand for services and persistent worker shortages as COVID-19 infections soared.

Economists polled by Reuters had forecast non-farm payrolls would increase by 728,000 jobs.

Meanwhile oil and gas production in the US Gulf of Mexico remained largely halted in the aftermath of Hurricane Ida, with 1.7 million barrels, or 93 per cent, of daily crude output suspended, according to offshore regulator the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement.

"I would expect production to come back online in the course of the next week, versus refineries coming back online over the next two weeks," said Bob Yawger, director of energy futures at Mizuho in New York. The lag in refinery restarts could cause an uptick in crude supplies, weighing on the market.

Some analysts see room for further price gains after the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and allies, known as OPEC+, stuck to a plan to add 400,000 barrels per day (bpd) to the market over the next few months.

The United States welcomed the move and pledged to press the exporter club to do more to support economic recovery by unleashing production. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Hunted by the men they jailed, Afghanistan's women Judges seek escape

S

afe in Europe after escaping from Kabul, an Afghan woman Judge describes how she was hunted by men she had once jailed, now freed by the Taliban fighters who took over the country.

"Four or five Taliban members came and asked people in my house: 'Where is this woman Judge?' These were people who I had put in jail," she told Reuters in an interview from an undisclosed location, asking not to be identified.

Afghanistan has around 250 women Judges. A few were able to flee in recent weeks, but most were left behind and are still trying to get out, said international colleagues and activists who have formed networks work-

Afghan women's rights defenders and civil activists protest to call on the Taliban for the preservation of their achievements and education, in front of the presidential palace in Kabul, Afghanistan, September 3, 2021

ing around the clock to help them escape.

The militants, who swept into power last month as the United States withdrew its troops, banned women from

most work when they last ruled the country 20 years ago.

Western powers have said they are prepared to engage with the Taliban but want to

see action - not just promises - to safeguard human rights.

Women who work in justice have been high profile targets before. Two women Supreme Court justices were shot dead by unidentified gunmen in January. A Taliban spokesman said at the time that the group was not involved.

Now, the Taliban have released prisoners across the country, which "really put the lives of women judges in danger," the Afghan judge said.

She has been in touch with colleagues back home: "Their messages are of fear and complete terror. They tell me if they do not get rescued their lives are in direct danger." (Excerpt from Reuters)

“It was hateful, it was wrong” 6 injured in NZ stabbing attack

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t least six people were injured in a stabbing attack at a supermarket in the New Zealand city of Auckland before Police shot the suspect dead.

The male suspect, who was known to the Government’s “multiple agencies”, was killed within one minute of beginning the attack at noon, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said on Friday, adding that he had been inspired by the ISIL (ISIS) group.

Ardern said the incident was a “terror” assault.

“It was hateful, it was wrong. It was carried out by an individual, not a faith,” Ardern said, describing the attacker as a Sri Lankan national who arrived in New Zealand in 2011. “He alone carries the responsibility for these acts.”

Ardern said she was limited in what she could say publicly about the man, who had been under surveillance since 2016 be-

cause he was the subject of court suppression orders.

“Had he done something that would have allowed us to put him into prison, he would have been in prison,” Ardern said.

Police Commissioner Andrew Coster said authorities were confident the man was acting alone and there was no further danger to the community.

New Zealand has been on alert for attacks since a white supremacist gunman killed 51 people at

The clampdown followed a declaration last month by the People’s Coalition for Civil Action (PCCA) calling for a peaceful public uprising.

The PCCA had urged the public to join its protest on Monday in Juba but the capital fell silent as the authorities branded the demonstration “illegal” and said that any such event calling for leadership change was not peaceful. Heavily armed security forces were deployed to monitor the streets for any sign of opposition.

Amnesty noted that many activists had faced harassment since the aborted demonstration, “with some suspecting they were being surveilled by security forces”.

The rights group also said it had received reports about internet disruptions on the eve of the planned protest.

The authorities have also shut down a radio station and a think-tank in connection with the protests.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

apanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said in a surprise move on Friday he would step down, setting the stage for a new premier after a one-year tenure marred by an unpopular COVID-19 response and sinking public support.

Suga, who took over after Shinzo Abe resigned last September citing ill health, has seen his approval ratings drop below 30 per cent as the nation struggles with its worst wave of COVID-19 infections ahead of a general election this year.

Suga did not capitalise on his last major achievement - hosting the Olympics, which were postponed months before he took office as coronavirus cases surged.

His decision not to seek re-election as ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) President this month means the party will choose a new leader, who will become Prime Minister.

two mosques in the city of Christchurch on March 15, 2019.

In May, four people were stabbed in a supermarket in Dunedin on New Zealand’s South Island in what was described as a random attack.

Among those to condemn the violence on Friday were members of the Al Noor mosque in Christchurch, which was at the centre of the mosque attacks two years ago. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Biden orders “New wave of repression” Japan's struggling PM declassification of 9/11 emerging in South Suga steps down, sets investigation documents Sudan, Amnesty warns stage for new leader

U

S President Joe Biden has directed the Justice Department and other agencies to begin a six-month process of declassifying documents related to the FBI’s investigations into the September 11, 2001 attacks.

The move on Friday comes days before the 20th anniversary of the al-Qaeda attacks and a month after 9/11 survivors, first responders and family members of the nearly 3000 victims wrote a sternly worded letter to the President. They accused the US of deliberately keeping the documents – which they say prove that Saudi Government officials aided the al-Qaeda attackers – under wraps.

“When I ran for President, I made a commitment to ensuring transparency regarding the declassification of documents on the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on America. As we approach the 20th anniversary of that tragic day, I am honoring that commitment,” Biden said in a statement on Friday.

“Today, I signed an executive order directing the Department of Justice and other relevant agencies to oversee a declassification review of documents related to the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s September 11th investigations. The executive order requires the Attorney General to release the declassified documents publicly over the next six months.”

In their August letter, about 1700 people directly affected by the September 11 attacks called on Biden to skip next week’s memorial events unless he released the documents.

Biden’s Justice Department opened up a review of the classified documents shortly after the letter was sent.

Family members of the September 11 victims have long sought US Government documents related to whether Saudi Arabia aided or financed any of the 19 people associated with al-Qaeda who carried out the devastating attack. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

A

mnesty International has warned that South Sudan is witnessing a “new wave of repression”, with many activists now in hiding after a string of arrests in recent weeks.

The world’s newest nation has suffered from chronic instability since independence a decade ago, with a coalition of civil society groups recently calling on the Government to step down, saying they have “had enough”.

The authorities have taken a tough line against such demands, arresting eight activists as well as detaining three journalists and two employees of a pro-democracy non-profit, according to rights groups.

“We are witnessing a new wave of repression emerging in South Sudan targeting the rights to freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly,” Deprose Muchena, Amnesty’s regional director for East and Southern Africa, said in a statement.

J

There is no clear frontrunner, but the popular Minister in charge of Japan's vaccination rollout, Taro Kono, intends to run, broadcaster TBS said on Friday without citing sources. Former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida has already thrown his hat in the ring.

Before Abe's record eight-year tenure, Japan had gone through six Prime Ministers in as many years, including Abe's own troubled first one-year term.

He said he would hold a news conference as early as next week.

Suga's abrupt resignation ended a rollercoaster week in which he pulled out all the stops to save his job, including suggestions he would sack his long-term party ally, as well as plans to Dissolve Parliament and reshuffle party executive and his Cabinet.

He is expected to stay on until his successor is chosen in the party election slated for Sept 29. (Excerpt from Reuters)

20

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2021

guyanatimesgy.com

ARCHIE

ARIES (March 21April 19)

TAURUS

DILBERT

(April 20May 20)

GEMINI (May 21June 20)

CANCER (June 21July 22)

PEANUTS

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

CALVIN AND HOBBES

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

SUDOKU

SOLUTION FOR LAST PUBLISHED PUZZLE

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

Offer to help others, and you will make a difference.

An emotional relationship will take a positive turn if you discuss your intentions and put plans in motion. Love and romance are featured.

Jumping into something without enough information will set you back. Don't make assumptions or count on a promise someone makes. Do the legwork yourself, and don't prematurely commit to something.

Stick close to home and take care of unfinished business. Don't get coerced into someone else's problem or an argument over something that doesn't concern you personally. Pay attention to your health.

Things aren't as bad as someone wants you to believe. Make your decisions based on your needs.

Consider what makes you happy, then take that path.

Don't let health or financial issues get you down.

Take care of situations concerning a friend or relative before things escalate. A heartfelt discussion will ensure that you get along, regardless of your differences. Give others the same rights you expect in return.

Put your creative energy to work, and you'll come up with a plan that leads to positive change. Gather information conducive to adjusting to the changes you are trying to make.

Follow your heart.

A positive adjustment at home will improve your mood and your relationship with someone special.

Discussions will lead to decisions that give you the freedom to pursue what makes you happy.

Take pride in what you do. Refuse to let anyone take charge or push you into something that doesn't fit the schedule you choose. Pay attention to detail and do the work yourself.

SAGITTARIUS Refuse to let anyone side(Nov. 23track you. Keep your feet Dec. 21) firmly on the ground and your strategy in place. You will make gains if you are true to yourself and willing to walk away from what's not working.

CAPRICORN Distance yourself from a bad influence or someone (Dec. 22who encourages over-the-top Jan. 19) behavior. It's up to you to say no and to go about your business when temptation surfaces.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20Feb. 19)

Discipline and determination will pay off. Let your imagination take the lead, and you'll discover something that will help you improve mentally, physically and financially.

PISCES

Choose not to disagree; instead, offer suggestions and solutions that will give everyone a piece of the pie. How you present your case and propose to move forward can make a big difference.

(Feb. 20March 20)

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2021

India v England: The Oval Test…

Chris Woakes finding runs in the third-man region

Ollie Pope and Chris Woakes star on hard-fought day

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llie Pope struck 81 and Chris Woakes 50, but England's fourth

SCOREBOARD ENGLAND 1ST INNINGS Rory Burns b Bumrah 5 Haseeb Hameed c †Pant b Bumrah 0 Dawid Malan c Sharma b Yadav 31 Joe Root (c) b Yadav 21 Craig Overton c Kohli b Yadav 1 Ollie Pope b Thakur 81 Jonny Bairstow †lbw b Mohammed Siraj 37 Moeen Ali c Sharma b Jadeja 35 Chris Woakes run out (†Pant/Bumrah) 50 Ollie Robinson b Jadeja 5 James Anderson not out 1 Extras (b 1, lb 14, nb 8) 23 TOTAL (84 Ov, RR: 3.45) 290 Fall of wickets: 1-5 (Rory Burns, 3.2 ov), 2-6 (Haseeb Hameed, 3.6 ov), 3-52 (Joe Root, 15.3 ov), 4-53 (Craig Overton, 18.4 ov), 5-62 (Dawid Malan, 24.3 ov), 6-151 (Jonny Bairstow, 46.5 ov), 7-222 (Moeen Ali, 67.2 ov), 8-250 (Ollie Pope, 76.1 ov),

9-255 (Ollie Robinson, 77.1 ov), 10-290 (Chris Woakes, 83.6 ov) BOWLING O-M-R-W Umesh Yadav 19-2-76-3 Jasprit Bumrah 21-6-67-2 Shardul Thakur 15-2-54-1 Mohammed Siraj 12-4-42-1 Ravindra Jadeja 17-1-36-2 INDIA 2ND INNINGS Rohit Sharma not out 20 KL Rahul not out 22 Extras (nb 1) 1 TOTAL (16 Ov, RR: 2.68) 43 Yet to bat: Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli (c), Ajinkya Rahane, Rishabh Pant †, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Umesh Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj BOWLING O-M-R-W James Anderson 6-1-13-0 Ollie Robinson 4-0-21-0 Chris Woakes 5-1-8-0 Craig Overton 1-0-1-0

Test against India remains tantalisingly poised after a seesaw second day at The Oval.

Pope, returning after missing the first three Tests, added 89 with Jonny Bairstow, who made 37; and shared 71 with Moeen Ali, whose contribution was 35.

Woakes, himself back in the side after more than a year away, followed his 4-55 on day one by crashing 45 for the last wicket with James Anderson, to take England to 290 all out.

India were left with just over an hour to bat, Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul taking the tourists to 43-0 and cutting the deficit to 56.

Rohit could have been caught by Rory Burns, but he failed to pick up an edge off Anderson, and did not get a hand to the chance.

Both sides will enter the weekend knowing they have an opportunity to go 2-1 up with one Test left to play.

Hanging in the balance This superb series continues to hang in the balance following

another arm-wrestle of a day, when neither side could make a decisive move.

By reducing England to 62-5 from their overnight 533, India may have harboured hopes of a first-innings lead, only for Pope to keep them at bay.

England's bid for complete control was hampered by some poor strokes - Moeen played a wild hack just as India were looking demoralised - then, with their lead at only 64 when the ninth wicket fell, Woakes reversed the momentum again.

The weight of history is against India. Not since 1902 has a team overturned such a large deficit to win a Test on this ground.

However, the pitch looks ideal for batting - there was much less assistance for the bowlers than England enjoyed when they dismissed India for 191 on day one.

Amid the fascinating cricket, there was one moment of stupidity. A man who entered the field of play during the second and third Tests did so again here, and was arrested on suspicion of assault, after colliding with England batsman Bairstow.

England selections do it again England have recalled Haseeb Hameed, Dawid Malan and Craig Overton in this series, and each played a

part in the win at Headingley.

Now Pope and Woakes have marked their returns with key contributions.

Pope, in his 20th Test, had never before played on his home ground of The Oval, where he averages just under 100 in first-class cricket.

Arriving in the second over of the day, and with England soon in trouble, he counterattacked with Bairstow, playing silky drives and crisp clips. Later, he settled into a pattern of calm accumulation.

Pope passed 50 for the first time in nine Tests, and seemed primed for a second hundred, only to drag one off Shardul Thakur. After Ollie Robinson was bowled in recklessly swiping at Ravindra Jadeja, Woakes had just Anderson for company.

When Anderson arrived, Woakes had 18, but he swiped through the off side and muscled through the leg side for 11 fours in a 58-ball halfcentury.

Woakes was run out trying to pinch a run to the wicketkeeper, which would have allowed him to keep the strike. That ended a riotous last-wicket stand wherein England scored at quicker than a run a ball.

India hang in India could have been out of the game when they were reduced to 123-7 on day one,

21

Ollie Pope leaning into a cover drive

but since then, t h e y have battled to still have a chance of going ahead in the series.

Pace bowlers Umesh Yadav and Jasprit Bumrah were excellent in the early morning, yet there were times when England were batting comfortably in the afternoon when it would surely have been beneficial to be able to call upon omitted off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin.

Moeen might have been lbw to Bumrah on 14, only for no one to appeal, while captain Virat Kohli had a fit of petulance when the umpires were asked to change the ball just before tea.

Still, through their own persistence and some wickets gifted by England, India began their second innings knowing a total in excess of 300 could put the hosts under severe pressure.

They were boosted when second slip Burns failed to see Rohit's edge off Anderson.

Burns barely reacted as the ball flew past his shin for England's fifth missed chance of the match.

And by the end of the day, India's serene progress meant it was England who were more grateful for the opportunity to regroup. (BBC Sport)

Angus Eve retained as Trinidad and Tobago men's football coach

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Barbados won the 2020 edition of the West Indies Championship

here will be no West Indies Championship, formerly dubbed the regional four-day competition, hosted by Cricket West Indies (CWI) this year.

This was revealed by Cricket West Indies’ Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Johnny Grave, who said the regional board will not host any competitions following the ongoing Caribbean Premier League (CPL) in St Kitts, but will instead plan for 2022.

“We are really looking to kick-start that again in the new year, and hopefully we will have fully vaccinated teams at the regional level by then; and, hopefully, with

a bit more regional travel, we would be able to move a bit more freely around the region, and therefore get regional cricket back up and running with a real focus on four-day cricket, which has been the big casualty, I guess, in terms of the formats of the game since the pandemic started.

“We haven’t played any four-day cricket since March 2020,” he said.

Grave underlined the impact of COVID-19 on the game, both internationally and regionally, adding that CWI has done well, given the circumstances.

“We were successful now (after) having two editions of CPL, and we have had

one edition of the men’s CG Insurance Super 50 Cup. We brought in about 60 to 70 under-19 boys into Antigua to the back end of July, who have obviously just left [for England] to have a 12-game month-long camp, but all of these have been, from a logistics point of view, a real challenge and extremely costly.

“We haven’t had any youth tournaments from an under-15s, under-17s and girls in the 19s format, but we have played our first ever women’s A Team series,” the CEO said.

Barbados won the 2020 instalment of the West Indies Championship.

(Antigua Observer)

ngus Eve has been retained as the Trinidad and Tobago men's football coach, as well as appointed as the TT Under-20 men's coach, according to a media release issued by the TT Football Association (TTFA) on Thursday afternoon.

The former national captain and midfielder, who initially had an interim stint as TT men's coach from June 13 to August 31, has been given the mantle of coach until March 31, 2023.

Eve's focus will be the 2022 Concacaf Nations League, and on building a national Under-20 squad with an aim to boost the pool of national players for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Eve, in the media release, was quoted as saying, "I'm really grateful for this opportunity to continue to serve the country in this new capacity. I am very

Angus Eve

grateful and excited about the work."

Chairman of the FIFAappointed Normalisation Committee, Robert Hadad, said in the media release, "Angus earned an opportunity because of his desire to help Trinidad and Tobago

football, his success in the last few outings, and the potential that he has shown.

He is passionate about our football, and we see this as a relationship where the team and Angus can grow together and be successful." (TT Newsday)

22 In-form Patriots to see off St Lucia Kings

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2021

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he Saint Lucia Kings and St Kitts and Nevis Patriots will square off in Match No 15 of CPL 2021 at Warner Park in St Kitts today.

The Kings are coming off a big win against Guyana Amazon Warriors in their previous CPL game. Batting first, they managed to post 149 on the board, courtesy of a brilliant 85run knock from Roston Chase.

The target proved to be more than enough, as the Warriors crumbled in the powerplay and were reduced to 15/4. Such was the blow that they could never really recover thereafter, and were eventually bowled out for a paltry 98.

Jeavor Royal, Obed McCoy and Kesrick Williams led the charge with the ball for the Kings in that CPL match.

The Kings have moved up from the bottom to take fifth spot in the CPL. They are pretty much in contention to make the top four, and will look to keep the momentum going from here on in the CPL. In their way, however, stand the mighty St Kitts and Nevis Patriots. Bravo and his men have so far been unstoppable in the CPL, having registered their fifth consecutive win of the season against the Barbados Royals in a last- ball thriller.

Chasing 161 for victory, they kept losing wickets throughout, and were in trouble; but vital cameos from Dominic Drakes (28) and Sheldon Cottrell (20*) at the back end took them over the line. Cottrell sealed the deal with a last-ball six off Ashley Nurse.

Skipper Bravo continued to lead from the front with the ball, backing his three-wicket haul in the last game with a four-for this time around. The Patriots continue to remain unbeaten, and are sitting comfortably at the top of the table, way ahead of their competitors.

Weather Report

The skies are predicted to be clear, with the sun out throughout the course of the game. Conditions are expected to be warm, with temperatures hovering between 28 and 33 degrees Celsius. These conditions should allow a full game, with no interruption.

Pitch Report Scores in the 160 range have been constant, with the surface slowing down with each and every game. Therefore, spin will continue to play a key role.

While batting has been difficult, scores have been chased in the last few games.

Keeping the same in mind, the team batting first will have to get a total of at least 170.

Predicted Playing XIs Saint Lucia Kings have suffered, as their top order hasn’t scored. Andre Fletcher and skipper Faf du Plessis have failed to score. In fact, none of their batsmen could get going, and it was all but a one-man show for the Kings last time. A 50-ball 85 from Roston Chase propelled them to 149. The Kings have definite problems to resolve with their batting, which hasn’t come together as a unit.

Jeavor Royal picked up three wickets, while Obed McCoy and Kesrick Williams grabbed a couple each. The rest of the bowlers were economical as well, which is a big positive going ahead in the CPL. Predicted XI: Andre Fletcher (wk), Faf du Plessis (c), Roston Chase, Mark Deyal, Tim David, Samit Patel, Keron Cottoy/Rahkeem Cornwall, Alzarri Joseph, Jeavor Royal, Obed McCoy, Kesrick Williams.

St Kitts and Nevis Patriots For the Patriots, Paul van Meekeren continues to impress with the ball, claiming two wickets. Cottrell was much-better with the ball this time around, with figures of 1/17. Skipper Dwayne Bravo, with four wickets, has now taken his tally to eight in the CPL. Chris Gayle returned to the side and did well, scoring 42 runs. The openers got starts, but could not convert. Allen, Bopara and Rutherford failed in the middle. However, they have been in good form, and it should not be much of a worry. Dominic Drakes and Cottrell contributing at the bottom would also give them

confidence.

Predicted XI: Chris Gayle, Evin Lewis, Devon Thomas (wk), Ravi Bopara, Sherfane Rutherford, Fabian Allen, Dwayne Bravo (c), Dominic Drakes, Paul van

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he Saint Lucia Kings have been charged with a breach of Article 2.4 of the Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) Code of Conduct – Minimum Over Rate Offences – at the end of Match 9 against the Trinbago Knight Riders on Tuesday 31 August 2021 at Warner Park, St Kitts.

The charge of being one (1) over down was laid by

the team of match officials against the captain of the Kings, Faf du Plessis, who accepted the charge.

As provided for at Appendix 2, Section 4.2 of the Code of Conduct, the applicable monetary fine was imposed on the captain, and the Saint Lucia Kings team were penalised with a 0.05 reduction in their Net Run Rate. (CPL)

Grant-Stuart bows out of Paralympics — after finishing 18th in Men’s C4-5 road race

Meekeren, Naseem Shah/ Fawad Ahmed, Sheldon Cottrell.

Match Prediction Saint Lucia Kings have picked up momentum with a big win, which will keep their spirits high in the CPL. Their batting has been a cause of concern though, and will face a tough challenge against the Patriots.

Bravo and his men have been in fine form with both bat and ball in the CPL. They will look to keep extending their winning run, and are favourites. However, the Kings could spring a surprise in the next CPL game. (Sportskeeda)

Guyana's National master champion Walter GrantStuart has bowed out of the Paralympic Games in Tokyo after finishing 18th in the Men's C4-5 Road Race.

Cyclist by choice and fireman by profession, GrantStuart is the only man to ever represent Guyana at these games.

France’s Kevin Le Cunff clocked two hours, 14 mins 49 seconds (2:14:49) to win the 92.4km race at the Fuji International Speedway.

The Time Trial’s silver medallist, Yehor Dementyev of Ukraine, clocked 2:15:11, while Daniel AbrahamGebru, who won gold in the Time Trial, copped bronze with a time of 2:15:20.

In the Men’s C-5 Time Trial, Grant-Stuart clocked

one hour, f o u r minutes, and 17.69 seconds (1:04:17.69) in the 32km race, wherein he finished 13th.

In 2013, Grant-Stuart won gold in Canada. In the qualification process for the Paralympics, the hard-working cyclist clinched victory in Canada, rode sixth in Italy, ninth in Belgium, and fifth in the Netherlands. In the PanAmerican Championships in Peru, Grant-Stuart finished in sixth position.

Coach Nurse says Rising Stars U19s all set for series start today

T

he West Indies Rising Stars U19s will start with confidence when they face England Under-19s in the first Youth One-Day International. The opening encounter is on today at the County Ground in Beckenham. First ball is 10:30am (5:30am Eastern Caribbean Time/4:30am Jamaica Time).

West Indies 18-member squad arrived in England earlier this week after a High-Performance Camp in Antigua. They had several intense training sessions at the base in Beckenham as they put all systems in place for this six-match series.

Rohan Nurse, Acting Head Coach, has said he is extremely pleased with the preparation and the level of focus displayed by the players in somewhat unfamiliar conditions. He was speaking to CWI Media after Thursday morning’s training session.

“Training has been excellent. I am quite pleased with the progress the players have made since the first day of training when we arrived here. They have been quite willing and able to adapt to the new condi-

Auguste (Captain), Giovonte Depeiza (Vice Captain), Onaje Amory, Anderson Amurdan, Justin Beckford, Teddy Bishop, Carlon Bowen-Tuckett, McKenny Clarke, Rivaldo Clarke, Nathan Edward, Andel Gordon, Sion Hackett, Justin Jagessar, Johann Layne, Anderson Mahase, Matthew Nandu, Isai Thorne, Vasant Singh.

(Windies Cricket)

FULL MATCH SCHEDULE

tions they have been experiencing,” Nurse said.

“The mood is very upbeat… they are very excited. They are really looking

forward to testing their skills against the English opposition, and also in English conditions.”

FULL SQUAD: Ackeem

Saturday, September 4: 1st Youth ODI – Beckenham Monday, September 6: 2nd Youth – Beckenham Wednesday, September 8: 3rd Youth ODI – Beckenham Friday, September 10: 4th Youth ODI – Canterbury Tuesday, September 14: 5th Youth ODI –

Canterbury Friday, September 17: 6th Youth ODI – Canterbury

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Guyana Amazon Warriors set for battle against inconsistent Barbados Royals

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he 16th match of the CPL 2021 will see the Guyana Amazon Warriors take on the Barbados Royals at Warner Park in St Kitts today.

The Warriors have managed to win only two of their five CPL games so far. After a thrilling super-over win against defending champions Trinbago, they failed to build on that momentum, and

a target of 161, which the Patriots overhauled with a last-ball six, courtesy of Sheldon Cottrell.

The Royals bowled well, but it was not good enough in the end. This is their second successive and fourth loss from five CPL games so far.

The Warriors are placed fourth at the moment while the Royals are reeling at the very bottom of the table in the CPL. Both teams have struggled for momentum, making this a crucial clash.

The Warriors would want

conditions will be warm and humid, with the temperature varying between 29 and 35 degrees Celsius.

Pitch Report

The wicket has been decent for scoring runs, if batsmen can spend time at the crease. While chasing was difficult in the initial games, we have seen targets being scaled down in the last few games. Scores in the 160-range continue to be the norm, but teams batting first would want to do better and

Romario Shepherd (R) of Guyana Amazon Warriors celebrating the dismissal of Andre Fletcher of Saint Lucia Kings during the 2021 Hero Caribbean Premier League match 13 between Saint Lucia Kings and Guyana Amazon Warriors at Warner Park Sporting Complex on September 2, 2021, in Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis

crashed to a 51-run defeat against Saint Lucia Kings.

Chasing 150, the Warriors were bundled out for just 98 runs in what was a complete batting failure.

The Barbados Royals, on the other hand, are also coming off a loss in their previous CPL game. They set the St. Kitts and Nevis Patriots

to strengthen their position in the top four. The Royals have had a disappointing first half in the CPL, and are in dire need of a turnaround to ensure a final-four finish.

Weather Report

The weather will be clear, with a partial breeze throughout the game. The

23

get closer to the 170-mark.

Predicted XIs

Romario Shepherd continues to impress with the ball for the Warriors in the CPL, picking up three wickets. Odean Smith also grabbed three wickets. Imran Tahir has been economical throughout, but they will

Jake Lintott (3L), Azam Khan (L) and Smit Patel (R) of Barbados Royals celebrating the dismissal of Sherfane Rutherford of Saint Kitts & Nevis Patriots during the 2021 Hero Caribbean Premier League match 14 between Saint Kitts & Nevis Patriots and Barbados Royals at Warner Park Sporting Complex on September 2, 2021 in Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis

expect him to be among the wickets as well.

The Warriors bowled well last time, and should look to take confidence from the same.

Batting has been an area of worry for them in the CPL. Hemraj and Hafeez at the top could not provide them with a good start. Shoaib Malik has failed to contribute, and his fluctuating batting position has caused imbalance. Hetmyer has been in good form in the CPL, and will need to continue scoring runs.

Barring Pooran and Odean Smith, the batting collapsed, and they need to come good together.

Predicted XI: Chandrapaul Hemraj, Mohammad Hafeez, Shimron Hetmyer, Nicholas Pooran

(cpt & wk), Brandon King, Shoaib Malik, Odean Smith, Romario Shepherd, Naveenul-Haq, Imran Tahir, Gudakesh Motie.

The Barbados Royals

The Barbados Royals put up a decent batting performance, posting 160 on the board. Johnson Charles started well at the top for his 30. Smit Patel was excellent in his 54, getting the opportunity and making the most of it right away. The likes of Jason Holder and Azam Khan need to be more consistent.

Nyeem Young (3), Jake Lintott (2), and Raymon Reifer (2) were among the wickets in the previous CPL game. They bowled a lot better, but they probably did not have enough runs to play

with in the end.

Predicted XI: Johnson Charles, Shai Hope (wk), Glenn Phillips, Jason Holder (c), Azam Khan, Smit Patel, Ashley Nurse, Raymon Reifer, Jake Lintott, Nyeem Young, Oshane Thomas.

Match Prediction

Both teams are in search of a win in the CPL. The Warriors have been inconsistent, and will look to pick momentum from here. The Royals have only one win, and have been down and out. If there is any team that needs a win badly, it is the Royals. They cannot afford to lose, and come into this contest under a lot of pressure. This should be a closely fought battle, with the Warriors holding the edge.

(Sportskeeda)

NSC concludes ‘TEACH THEM YOUNG’ summer table tennis camp

T

he National Sports Commission (NSC), in collaboration with the Guyana Table Tennis Association (GTTA), has staged a ‘TEACH THEM YOUNG’ summer table tennis camp at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall on Homestretch Avenue, Georgetown.

Commencing on Monday July 26 and ending on Friday August 20, the camp held sessions from 10:00h to 12:00h from Monday to Friday under COVID-19 guidelines.

The objectives of the camp included: To help players with the basic skills; help

players to be better prepared for future tournaments; train and introduce students to the basic techniques of the game; discover the skills of children; talent identification; amuse children with sporting skills; and develop habits for healthy competition.

The programme targeted players 16 years and under. More than 25 players (boys and girls) were exposed to the introduction, orientation, teaching and praxis of the sport of table tennis in a fun way.

A key feature of the camp was the staging of the nov-

ices’ category which was geared to attract the players who participated in the camp. In past years, this camp brought out some of the top cadet, junior and senior players in the country.

The event started with some 13 participants, and expanded to more than 25 when the camp ended. It has been a success, as the target was to have 30 participants and the GTTA has seen that amount, which is good for table tennis in Guyana.

Of the 25-plus participants, 90 per cent were first-timers, 70 per cent were

under-13s, and approximately 40 per cent were females; while the camp was held under the theme ‘Teach Them Young’ table tennis camp.

Guyana’s top female player Chelsea Edghill is a product of the 2006 edition of this camp, along with several other male and female players.

It was good to see the turnout of the children 16 years and under, who could be nurtured for the future. Also, the increased attendance of females was encouraging.

The camp is an annual initiative of the National Sports Commission. It has

the central aim of targeting players between the ages of four and 16 years old in order to have 30 players (boys and girls) introduced to the sport of table tennis, its orientation, teaching and praxis in a fun way.

The objectives include helping players with the basic skills, assisting players with preparation for future tournaments, train and introduce students to the basic techniques of the game, discover the skills of children, talent identification, amuse children with sport skills, and develop habits of

healthy competition.

The camp is conducted in theoretical and practical segments; that is, participants have firsthand experience of the sport, as well as are knowledgeable of it.

The duration is for 40 hours, lasting four weeks.

The panel of coaches includes certified International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) level 1 and level 2 coaches (Xenophon Goliah and Linden Johnson), participants receive certificates only if they have an attendance of 90 per cent or higher.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2021

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

Pg 23

Guyana Amazon Warriors set for battle against inconsistent Barbados Royals Pg 23

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