Guyana Times - Sunday, April 18, 2021

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MYO contributes $4M in supplies to St Vincent relief Nationwide coverage coverage from from the the best best news news team team in in Guyana Guyana Nationwide Issue No. 4621 guyanatimesgy.com

La Soufrière eruption

THE BEACON BEACON OF OF TRUTH TRUTH THE

SUNDAY, APRIL 18, 2021

PRICE

WHAT'S INSIDE:

St Vincent PM calls Guyana “head corner stone in Caricom”

Local Content must be P24 measured by value of contracts – VP

Anonymous call leads P25 Police to body on seashore

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Thieves caught red-handed in Campbellville home P27

…thanks Govt, Guyanese for volcano aid Electoral fraud

DPP, Top Cop ask High Court for copies of SoPs to convict Lowenfield, Mingo Page 30

IMF/World Bank meeting

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Extraordinary support needed for immediate challenges in developing states - Dr Ashni Singh Youths flock Guyana records vaccination sites 268th COVID-19 death, 120 new cases for COVID-19 shots Page 26

$120 VAT INCLUDED

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…some 500,000 citizens eligible for vaccine …endorse efforts by Health Ministry

Prison escapes

Joint Services' Heads inspect Mazaruni P10 Prisons

Welfare officer fined for P23 humiliating teacher on social media

Police patrol stumbles upon car left on fire

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SUNDAY, APRIL 18, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

NEWS

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SUNDAY, APRIL 18, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS

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

Sunday, April 18 – 09:00h – 10:30h and Monday, April 19 – 09:30h – 11:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Sunday, April 18 – 07:15h – 08:45h and Monday, April 19 – 08:05h – 09:35h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY There will be sunshine during the day. There will be clear skies during the night. Temperatures should range between 21 degrees Celsius and 31 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East North-Easterly to North-Easterly between 1.78 metres and 5.81 metres.

High Tide: 07:55h and 20:34h reaching maximum heights of 2.38 metres and 2.19 metres.

Low Tide: 14:02h reaching a minimum height of 0.85 metre.

La Soufrière eruption

St Vincent PM calls Guyana “head cornerstone in Caricom” …thanks Govt, Guyanese for volcano aid

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he vessel carrying emergency supplies donated by Guyana to St Vincent and the Grenadines, which was hit by a volcano when La Soufrière erupted last week, arrived at Port Kingstown on Saturday.

St Vincent Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves was on hand at the port when the shipment arrived. He was accompanied by Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Keisal Peters, and the Director of the National Emergency Management

Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves and Guyana’s Honorary Consul, along with other officials at Port Kingstown on Saturday morning (Photo: Office of the Prime Minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines)

“I thank the Government and people of Guyana from the bottom of my heart. And I also thank my friend President Irfaan Ali; he has such a good heart. I want to say that with this renewed bond of friendship and this act of immense solidarity, one cannot help but remember reading in the Bible about ‘the good Samaritan’.”

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COMMODITIES Indicators

US$

Change %

Crude Oil

$66.77/barrel

-0.25

Rough Rice

$232.02/ton

-1.23

London Sugar

$463.30/ton

+1.69

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$1776.50

$1777.50

Low/High Change

$1761.10 0.00

$1784.80 0.00%

Organisation (NEMO), Michelle Forbes.

Speaking to the media, Gonsalves lauded the Government and people of Guyana for efforts to help the small island republic, recalling that Guyana had its own issues - a reference to the struggle for democracy last year when the former A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government refused to relinquish power.

As the then incoming Chairman of the Caribbean Community (Caricom), Gonsalves had taken a prominent position in calling for that former regime to respect the election results, even telling former President David Granger to “take his licks like a man.”

“The Government of Guyana had organised a meeting with the Private Sector and they opened an account for donations, for relief and reconstruction. You know Guyana went through some difficult times, we all go through difficult times.

And what I want Vincentians

to see, the way in which (Guyana has assisted us),” Gonsalves said on Saturday.

He added, “I use to always say in the days when things were more difficult in Guyana, that Guyana would be the head cornerstone in Caricom. Almost like biblical prophecy. The stone that the builder rejects, becomes the head cornerstone. And I’m very happy, to see that.”

“I thank the Government and people of Guyana from the bottom of my heart.

And I also thank my friend, President Irfaan Ali; he has such a good heart. I want to say that with this renewed bond of friendship and this act of immense solidarity, one cannot help but remember reading in the bible about the ‘good Samaritan’.”

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guyanatimesgy.com

SUNDAY, APRIL 18, 2021

Views Editor: Tusika Martin News Hotline: 231-8063 Editorial: 231-0544 223-7230,223-7231,231-0544, 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

The Savannahs’ potential

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here has been an initiative launched by the Government of Guyana and several Private Sector companies - the owners of Guyana Stockfeeds Inc., Royal Chicken, Edun Farms, SBM Wood, Dubulay Ranch, and Bounty Farm Ltd., along with the Brazilian-owned New Frontier Agriculture - to form a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) to produce soya and corn in our Intermediate Savannahs. The Government would be providing “infrastructural development” for the project, and has already budgeted some $500 million for it.

The Guyana savannahs are little known to most Guyanese who live on our coastlands, but they have captivated the imagination of all governments since independence as one of our untapped frontiers. Savannahs are the tropical equivalent of the temperate zone prairies of North America and the steppes of Eurasia - vast flat or undulating grasslands. More precisely, they have been defined as “a mixed woodland-grassland ecosystem characterised by the trees being sufficiently widely spaced so that the canopy does not close. The open canopy allows sufficient light to reach the ground to support an unbroken herbaceous layer consisting primarily of grasses.”

We have two sets of savannahs in Guyana. First are the “Intermediate Savannahs” in Region 10, which cover approximately 2000 square miles or 5,000,000 hectares.

They consist of 70 per cent forest and 25 per cent savannah lands, and comprise five discrete areas: the Kimbia/Ebini Savannah (east of the Berbice River); the Wiruni Savannah (west of the Berbice River); the Ituni/Tacama Savannah (west of the Berbice River); the Kibilibiri Savannah (west of the Berbice River) and the Eberoabo Savannah (west of the Berbice River). The second set of savannahs are found in the Rupununi (North and South) and are much larger at 6000 square miles. These are vast expanses of land into which each of the Caricom islands would easily fit.

Directly after Independence, the PNC Administration attempted to open up the Intermediate Savannahs for cultivation. The first effort was the Global Agri Kibilibiri grain project, which embarked on large- scale production of maize, sorghum, soyabean and black-eye pea. Approximately 1400 acres were put under cultivation, during which time ownership and management of the project was derogated to the state-owned Guyana Agricultural Products Corporation, which continued farming until 1978 and then collapsed. By then the Government had moved on with a combination of state effort through the creation of the Guyana National Service (GNS) in 1974, and later private enterprise. The Dubulay Ranch, part of the present consortium, was founded back in 1976 as a private venture.

As one analyst reported, “The initial production efforts at Kibilibiri were impressive enough to convince sister Caricom States of Trinidad and St. Kitts to join Guyana, around 1976, in the initiation of a separate project – The Caricom Corn and Soyabean Project - which had financial backing from regional and international funding sources. The 800ha (2000 acre) project was set in the undulating landscape of the neighbouring Eberoabo Savannahs. A similar crop mix as for Kibilibiri was adopted, with pigeon peas included. While Caricom Corn Soya was attempting to gain momentum, the Guyana National Service embarked on cotton and blackeye peas production in the western savannahs at Kimbia. Hence, within a time span of five years, three large savannah projects were initiated where none existed before. All were under state control, with significant bureaucratic management.”

All failed.

Since then, there have been regular attempts in every decade to create a sustainable model for agricultural development of the savannahs, to make Guyana into the “Breadbasket of the Caribbean”, to no avail. But the dream persists, perhaps inspired by the success of Brazil and Colombia in creating successful mega- farms for soya and corn and other crops in similar ecosystems. These countries have been able to stimulate this level of agricultural development through a combination of entrepreneurial initiative and State support programmes on infrastructure, satellite-farming arrangements, farming incentives, and input subsidies.

Maybe at long last we will find the right combination.

Remembering Prince Phillip: File photo: During the Royal Tour of the West Indies, February 1966, Prince Phillip visited Corentyne, Berbice, Region 6 (East Berbice-Corentyne). Prince Phillip died at Windsor Castle on April 9, aged 99. He was laid to rest on Saturday

It is time for GECOM to be decisive

Dear Editor, As our nation looks forward to Local Government Elections this year, all eyes are on the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM). For obvious reasons, the keenness of scrutiny is justified, given the 2020 March to August debacle at the hands of its corrupted Secretariat officials. The snail’s pace of the Chairwoman and Commissioners, to make decisions and to institute corrective mechanisms that would halt its deteriorated public confidence, is rather disappointing, and must be condemned; GECOM must be more decisive.

The inaction and blatant pussy-footing by GECOM Commissioners is exposing the lack of assertiveness in the leadership of the organisation. It is an absolute indictment of what is required and a definitive contributory factor to the five months of ransom unleashed on our citizens. Mind-boggling is an understatement when one considers that all are aware that these undercurrents have realised the transitioning of the organisation beyond its lowest level of public acceptability.

From the foregoing, it is rational for one to conclude that failure to act appropriately is indicative of criminal intent and posture - one that confirms the overwhelming public

perception that the ‘barely surviving position’ of GECOM would not have been managed had it not been for the bold international rejection and almost national civil uprising. It is indeed lamentable that, albeit these most damning threats to itself and the nation it ought to be serving, they seem incapable of adrenalising some self-surviving initiatives.

There have been numerous recommendations by electoral observers from leading global democracies concerning reforms that could improve our electoral system. To these there has been a thunderous silence regarding the Chairwoman and the Commissioners’ consideration or reactions.

Notwithstanding, there is no doubt that the Commission has sufficient legal support to improve its internal operations and functions, and these must be used to win back the confidence and trust of our nation.

The riggers must be removed immediately, as GECOM cannot continue to have the fraudsters on its payroll. While we agree that electoral and constitutional reforms are urgently needed, we must also have a system in place to hold Local Government Elections now.

Importantly, the Commission at the helm of GECOM cannot ignore the importance and necessity

for the LGEs, as they play a central and critical role in advancing community development in tandem with national development initiatives. Our country could ill afford these further ransom positions, and the PPP/C must not allow the PNC and its dictatorship mouthpieces to further delay the LGEs. Editor, please allow me the latitude of pointing out that constitutional reform is a big and massive endeavour that would take a very long time to be completed. Among the myriad reasons is the complex situation in Guyana informed by a brand of political peculiarities unlike any global other. When coupled with the PNC’s demonstrated high level of irrationality, constitutional reform would be gruelling and time-consuming.

Having lived through the struggle our nation faced during the ‘cheating’ legacy of the PNC from the 1950s, my experience and that of many Guyanese from that period provide testimony to the almost impossible task of arriving at a constitutional position that would be fair or neutral.

Given our political framework, therefore, special arrangements regarding the scope and procedural approach would have to be attended to as a starting point to conducting meaningful and necessary constitutional reform.

Accordingly, the previous chair of the special task force set up to address such matters, Attorney General Anil Nandlall, pointed out that these are required ‘to ensure that the law is changed at various intervals, so that it is always in sync with the evolutionary changes in a society, and so that the law does not become abstract and archaic, but that the law remains dynamic and is changed to meet the exigencies of an evolving society.”

While it is accepted that some measure of consensus may eventually be arrived at after some lengthy and gruelling attempts to frustrate the process by the Opposition nay-saying PNC, it will be non-productive and sub-optimal for GECOM to halt all elections, including the scheduled LGE, until these updates are made.

Consequently, it is my honest opinion that Guyanese must, at this time, look immediately at Elections Reform.

Elections reform, contextually, refers to the necessary legal adjustments that would ensure the removal of inhibitions to the holding of elections that are free and fair. As the responsible constitutional body, GECOM must elevate to an organisational status that is credible, accountable, and fully transparent in delivering our Elections.

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guyanatimesgy.com

SUNDAY, APRIL 18, 2021

News

St Vincent PM calls Guyana “head cornerstone in...

Gonsalves noted that metaphorically, St Vincent and the Grenadines is in a precarious position when the volcano eruptions, the COVID-19 pandemic and the upcoming hurricane season is considered and therefore expressed gratitude for Guyana and any other country that assisted them.

It was explained that this first shipment contains 350 tonnes of varied aid including water, water storage containers, sugar, rice, peas, chowmein, sanitizers, detergents, disinfectant, personal care items and supplies for infants.

Additionally, a 20-foot container of water from Guyana is also on the way to the volcano-ravaged island.

Michelle Forbes, who heads NEMO, the St Vincent equivalent to Guyana’s Civil Defense Commission (CDC), also lauded the donations. According to her, the St. Vincent government has so far been able to distribute over 1,000 food packages over the past few days to families in need.

“We have also been improving the distribution now to families now that we have had additional supplies of cots

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and mattresses, we’re moving to those families in the homes now who need additional assistance in terms of bedding.

Because many persons who are bunking with families may not have that support.”

The Honorary Consul of Guyana to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Nigel Russel, meanwhile reassured St Vincent of Guyana’s support. He noted that there are Guyanese with no familial ties to St Vincent, who have nevertheless sent aid to the Volcano hit island.

“President Irfaan Ali has

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Relief aid from Guyana arrived in St Vincent this morning (Photo: Office of the Prime Minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines)

made it clear. This is only the first of many shipments to come. We’ve had hurricanes before, we’ve had floods before.

This is our journey. We’ve got to live through this.”

“We’ve lived through all the rest and we’re living through this. So, all the Guyanese who live here are in solidarity. We live here and we’re going to do our best to ensure that each other is well taken care of,” he said.

The La Soufriere volcano started to erupt on April 9, with ash plumes of up to 8 ki-

lometres recorded. There were at least two other eruptions throughout the day – one at 14:45h (2:45 pm) which went about 4 km into the atmosphere, and the other at around 18:35h (6:35 pm).

The explosive eruption had put a significant volume of ash into the atmosphere. It was reported that the volcanic ash consists of fine particles of volcanic rock shot into the air during the eruption and prevailing wind conditions had taken the ash clouds in a North-easterly direction.

Reports indicate that it could reach neighboring islands including Barbados.

President Dr. Irfaan Ali has already said on several occasions that Guyana’s support to St Vincent will be continuous – a commitment which was welcomed by PM Gonsalves this morning.

In fact, another shipment of items is being prepared for departure from Guyana next Monday that would include water, sugar, rice, assorted food items and personal care and hygiene items. (G3)

Strong approval for President & Gov’t in poll Dear Editor, The latest opinion poll conducted in Guyana reveals very strong approval rating for President Irfaan Ali and his Government, and low confidence in the political opposition’s performance in holding the Government accountable. The poll finds that APNU/AFC is slumping in popularity primarily because of its actions. The survey on contemporary issues was conducted by this writer just after the presentation of the budget in February thru end of March.

The poll, conducted for NACTA, had a sample size of 600 respondents, reflecting the demographics of the population. Based on the findings of the survey, 65% of the

nation approve of the performance of the Government, with 26% disapproving and 9% not offering a response.

The population has expressed disappointment and displeasure in the political behaviour of the Opposition APNU+AFC, with a minority reposing confidence in it as an alternative Government in waiting. Only 29% said they approve of the performance of the Opposition with 58% disapproving and 13% not offering a response.

This contrasts sharply with the confidence people have in the job performance of President Irfaan Ali, who has an approval rating of 69% and a disapproval rating of 24% with 7% not offering a response.

The public also expressed strong approval of the Government’s handling of the economy as well as COVID lock down policies, although they are not very pleased with the Government’s handling of crime and security.

Inflation and job creation are also major challenges for the Government. The working class complain about frozen wage and difficulties to make ends meet. Expectations are very high for wage increase and another COVID grant among the lower working class.

Asked if Government should have invested more in agriculture in the latest budget, 68% said yes with only 17% disagreeing and 15% saying not sure. The

It is time for GECOM...

Towards the foregoing, there is no doubt that the staff at GECOM would have to be men and women with integrity and candor, who MUST operate in a system of sufficient counterchecks that would facilitate audits and guarantee credible results.

Towards this end, the GECOM Commission would have to objectively take decisive actions to sanitise those responsible for the execution of its strategic operational delivery in its Secretariat.

We can no longer tolerate the lack of efficacy demonstrated particularly by the Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield and all those who are before the courts for elec-

tions malpractices during the 2020 Elections. It is the Commission that has overwhelming responsibility for the training and recruitment of the staff at GECOM, and this should never again be solely delegated to the CEO of the Secretariat while reneging on its responsibilities. Overseeing and or approval of same must be done by the Commission, and the Chairwoman and her Commissioners must be accordingly held accountable.

In the preparation for timely LGEs, the Chairperson of GECOM must assert herself in ensuring the absolute clean-up of the organisation.

A criteria-based system of de-

FROM PAGE 4

termining and selecting staff acceptable to the Commission must be instituted after the riggers are dispelled. Staff behaviour must be tenable, and therefore monitored to target a team of credible players that will support the strategic agenda of the Commission to hold free and fair elections.

We must not hide our heads in the sand like ostriches, pretending that we do not know what we have at GECOM. The time for GECOM to decisively deal with its internal cancers and hire honest and decent staff is now.

Sincerely, Neil Kumar

population feels Government should continue to focus on agriculture rather than depend on oil and gas to transform the economy.

Asked if they think Government has legal right to reverse the Exxon oil contract, the population is divided, with 30% saying yes, 48% saying no, and 22% not sure.

The largest plurality and those unsure feel contracts with investors are legal and

sacrosanct, and it would be a violation of domestic and international law to violate the sanctity of a contract. It would impact on investment.

It is felt that Government can seek greater local content participation and national benefits in oil field development and extraction.

Almost every respondent in the poll condemned the caustic language and behavior of some Members of

Parliament during the budget debate. The public say the language of some MPs was disgusting and unacceptable. They feel the Speaker of the Assembly should not have tolerated those contributions, and should have reprimanded the errant MPs and/or suspend them from the House.

Yours truly Vishnu Bisram

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SUNDAY, APRIL 18, 2021

Page

Foundation Unless we’re willing to use force--which teaches immorality-influence is all we have to work with as parents.

Luckily, because humans resist force, influence actually works better to transmit values and behavioural standards. Kids choose to do the right thing, because they want to “follow” our lead. Loving Guidance includes:

BY: Laura Markham PhD

“P

arents who are serious about raising children to be decent people spend an awful lot of time guiding them. It’s not enough for us to have good values; these values must be communicated directly... For instance, to say nothing when a child acts selfishly is to send a clear message, and that message has more to do with the acceptability of selfishness than it does with the virtues of non-intrusive parenting. We need to establish clear moral guidelines, to be explicit about what we expect, but in a way that minimises coercion.” – Alfie Kohn How do you raise a child who assumes responsibility for his actions, including making amends and avoiding a repeat, whether the authority figure is present or not? You...

1. You give guidance about moral principles and expected behaviour, 2. Stay connected so he wants to do the “right” thing, 3. Give him the tools to manage his emotions and therefore his behaviour, and 4. Empower him to see the results of his actions, 5. So he can choose whether to repeat them.

Hard? Yes! But that’s how we teach children to use reason instead of force, to make choices from love instead of from fear.

Punishment actually gets in the way of kids developing morality, because the child becomes more concerned with saving his own skin than with the effects of his behaviour on others.

But maybe the worst part of using punishment is that it erodes your influence with your child. As Thomas Gordon says, “The inevitable result of consistently employing power to control your kids when they’re young is that you never learn how to influence.”

But I can understand if you’re feeling a bit nervous right about now. We all want to raise responsible, considerate, cooperative kids. Won’t they just run wild without punishment?

The answer is no. They will just run wild without guidance! But guidance and punishment are not at all the same thing.

Punishment is purposefully causing pain (physical or emotional) to force the child to do things our way. Guidance is showing our child the path we recommend, explaining why that path will get him to better places, keeping the relationship with our child strong so he wants to follow our lead, and giving our child the tools to stay on that path.

Empathic limits We guide kids daily in their behaviour, and often that involves setting limits. Kids can’t hit, run in the street, or throw their food at each other. If we set those limits harshly, they’ll eventually learn them, but with lots more resistance. If we set limits with an understanding of their perspective: “You are so mad, but I won’t let you hurt your brother! Come, I’ll help you tell him how you feel.” ...kids feel understood, and accept those limits more readily. They’re more likely to share, rather than resist, parents’ expectations.

Connection When kids start to feel disconnected -- because they’re angry, because we’re angry, because we’ve been apart from them all day, because they have a full emotional backpack they need help with, because they’re anxious, etc -- they act out until we can heal the disconnect. When kids feel connected to us, they’re open to our influence. They want to behave, to cooperate, to please us. Since we’re the most important people in our child’s world, children are predisposed to listen to our guidance, as long as they’re convinced we’re on their side. Punishment erodes this connection, because we’re intentionally hurting the child, either physically or emotionally.

Empathy When our “go-to” response to our child is empathy, he develops empathy for others -- even siblings! They treat others well because they care what others feel. As my teenage son said: “When I was little, you helped me see that the things I did could hurt people, or help them. I didn’t want to cause hurt.”

Empathy is one of the foundations of moral choices.

Empower to Repair We all make mistakes, and every one of us has at one time or another damaged a relationship we care about. Kids need to know they can make amends. Once you’ve empathised with why your child behaved in a hurtful way, and your child has calmed down, help her reflect (like a partner or coach) on what she might do to fix what’s broken. But resist the urge to make this into a punishment, or your child will resist and miss the deeper lesson.

Emotion Coaching When kids learn to manage their emotions, they can manage their behaviour, so they’re able to behave and cooperate. But humans only gain control of our emotions by befriending them.

Start by accepting and acknowledging your child’s full range of emotion with as much compassion as you can muster. Then add lots of roughhousing play to get your child laughing at least half an hour a day -- that’s how kids work through their fears. This gives your child the support she needs to regulate her emotions,

so she can behave as her best self. She learns that actions must be limited, but that she is more than enough, exactly as she is -- complete with all her complicated emotions. That feeling of “goodness” is what helps all of us make progress toward our good intentions.

Modelling Children learn their values and emotional regulation from what parents do, not from what we say. As my teenage daughter said, “You always listened to us and tried to work things out and you didn’t punish us. So we learned to listen to each other, and other people, and to try to work things out so it works for everyone, and we don’t use force to get our way.”

Notice this is the foundation that keeps kids from participating in bullying.

Children learn from experience accompanied by reflection.

It’s our job to provide the opportunities for reflection. That means lots of talking and listening with your child, daily. If you only talk when there’s a problem, you can count on lots of problems.

Helping your child take responsibility for her actions happens every day that you set empathic limits, connect, empathise, empower your child to repair, emotion coach, model, and discuss.

You’ll notice that much of this is prevention. Prevention is always the most effective strategy, because once kids “misbehave” your options are more limited. Luckily, when you parent this way, kids don’t act out as much. Once you get out of the habit of punishing and see how much your child wants to cooperate, you won’t miss punishment at all. (Excerpt from Psychologytoday.com)

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SUNDAY, APRIL 18, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

End of an era…

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...in Cuba aul Castro has resigned from his last bastion of power - leadership of the Cuban Communist Party that’s ruled the island since 1959. The 89-year-old brother of the iconoclastic Fidel Castro had already bequeathed the Presidency to a protege. With history not even being taught in our university, even some of our educated youngsters mightn’t appreciate Cuba’s influence on the development (or retardation) of our own politics here in Guyana.

So, let’s saunter down memory lane for a while. It was the 1950s, WWII had ended, and the downtrodden nations of the world - not only in the British, French and Dutch Empires - were champing at the bit to get a shot at a piece of the (economic) pie. After all, they’d joined with the erstwhile developed nations to “save the world for democracy” against that dastardly Hitler.

Our own Cheddi Jagan returned from the US - all bright eyed and bushy tailed - in 1943, and plunged into the new politics created by the widening of the franchise by the British in their West Indian colonies. In our hemisphere, however, the successors of the Spanish and Portuguese Empires - nominally “liberated” Latin America - remained under the control of dictators supported by the US. But a new element was introduced into the old geopolitics of colonialism - communist USSR, which challenged the new hegemony of capitalist USA. Winston Churchill declared that there was now a “Cold War” launched - with an “Iron Curtain” between the forces of evil (communism) and good (capitalism).

When Jagan, Burnham and company in the PPP won the elections of 1953, their radical rhetoric convinced Churchill they were “communists”, and they were duly ousted from office by diktat from the Colonial Office. Cuba at that time was ruled by a dictator, Batista, who openly allowed the American Mafia to use Havana as a corrupt gambling and prostitution den - even as American corporations ran the dominant sugar industry. Kinda like a less benevolent Bookers!

Here, the British allowed new elections in 1957, which Jagan’s PPP won - even though the British has lured Burnham to form his own party to stymie the “communist” Jagan. In Cuba, a young lawyer named Fidel Castro staged an impetuous attack against the Batista regime - actually an army barrack. He was captured, tried and banished.

However, he returned in 1959 with Raul, Che Gueverra and others and waged a successful guerrilla war against Batista, which he won.

He openly chose the communist path of development, befriended the USSR, and of course became the enemy of the USA, which instituted an economic embargo since 1960. JFK approved the Bay of Pigs invasion in 1961, which was repelled.

The US has never forgiven Cuba for that humiliation.

…in Guyana Jagan won the 1961 elections - which was supposed to pick the government to lead British Guiana to independence - like Jamaica and Trinidad in 1962. But Jagan convinced JFK he was a communist, and that sealed his fate - and Guyana’s history. The US and British conspired to remove Jagan’s PPP through riots that morphed into an ethnic war, splitting the country into two literally, since each of the villages across the country became segregated and mono-ethnic.

Burnham’s PNC took office in 1964 in coalition with the capitalist UF - which it jettisoned and began rigging elections from 1968 to 1985. Ironically, Burnham soon declared he was a “socialist” - albeit a “co-operative” one - and proceeded to cultivate very close ties with Cuba!!

He had the Americans between a rock and a hard place, since the only alternative to govern Guyana was Jagan’s PPP, which had been openly declared to be “communist” in 1969!!

But, finally, the Iron Curtain fell in 1989, Jagan was forgiven, and returned to office in 1992.

To be removed by the PNC in 2015.

…for PNC? After months of coy silence and seclusion, the Sanctimonious Gangster and leader of the PNC has said his central executive will look at the “feasibility of Congress”!

Don’t hold your breath, y’all!!

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

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10 NEWS

SUNDAY, APRIL 18, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Prison escapes

Joint Services’ Heads inspect Mazaruni Prisons

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ollowing a recent prison break from the high-security Mazaruni Prison in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), Heads of the Joint services on Friday conducted a physical inspection of the facility.

On February 16, four prisoners, including inmates on death row who

were convicted for murder and manslaughter, escaped from the high-security Mazaruni Prison in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni).

Those who had escaped were 25-year-old Imran Ramsaywack of Adelphi Village, East Coast Berbice (ECB); 44-year-old Kenrick Lyte whose last known address was Grant Good

Intent, Lower Pomeroon River; 22-year-old Samuel Gouveia of Goedverwagting, East Coast Demerara (ECD), and 22-year-old Rayon Jones of Timehri, East Bank Demerara (EBD).

Then on April 9, Kevin Lafleur of Providence Housing Scheme, EBD, who was serving a 56-month sentence after he was convicted for robbery under arms, also escaped from the Mazaruni Prison.

As such, on Friday, the Guyana Prison Service hosted a Tactical Exercise Without Troops (TEWTs) at the facility.

In attendance were Head of the Guyana Defence Force, Brigadier Godfrey Bess DSS; Commissioner of Police (ag), Nigel Hoppie DSM; Director of Prison (ag), Nicklon Elliot; Guyana Fire Service representative Commandant Heimchendra Persaud and presidential Advisor on National Security, Gerry Gouveia.

Heads of the Joint Services, Brigadier Godfrey Bess DSS; COP Nigel Hoppie DSM; Director of Prisons (ag) Nicklon Elliot, and GFS representative Commandant Heimchendra Persaud inspecting the prison

The TEWT activity had presentations from members of the Joint Services where they each presented on their area of responsibility in relation to a prison break, shooting incident and fire - all occurring around the same time.

On February 16, the Guyana Prison Service (GPS) said that at about 07:15h during the unlocking of the Brick Prison –

Solitary Division – it was observed that the padlock to the entrance gate was tampered with, and further checks revealed that two bars within the cell were cut. It was then they discovered that Ramsaywack; Lyte; Gouveia and Jones were missing.

On March 22, Ramsawack and Jones were killed during a shootout with Police at about

20:40h at the Better Hope Backlands, East Coast Demerara (ECD). Lyte and Gouveia are still on the run.

Meanwhile, Lafleur on April 9 at about 03:15h made a run for his freedom into the bushes aback the prison. According to Police, Prison Officers scoured the area but did not locate the escapee. He was reportedly spotted in Bartica but continues to evade Police.

NEWS

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Police patrol stumbles upon car left on fire

P

British-induced famines and Indian Indentureship

W

ith Indian Arrival Day less than three weeks away, we are reminded that between 1838 and 1917, 239,000 Indians were brought as “indentured labourers” for the sugar plantations of Guyana, and a similar number were brought to the West Indies.

The question arises as to why these persons left their country when their custom forbade “crossing the “Black Waters” (Kala Pani)”.

The short answer is that, structurally, it was ultimately and literally a matter of life and death.

While indentured labour might be seen as a transitory passage of human labour from chattel slavery to the so-called “free labour” of Ravi Dev today, the conditions that herded Indians into that option were man-made. The sugar planters had no faith that the free Africans would sell their labour at a rate to make sugar profitable. They therefore actively sought a new supply of labourers that would guarantee such cheap labour on demand.

But where would such rates - that could not attract freed slaves - be a “pull factor” for indentureship? The answer was British India.

The story begins in 1757, when the troops of the British East India Company captured Bengal from the Moguls, and completed their inexorable conquest of the legendarily rich India within 50 years. Less than a decade later, between 1768 and 1771, from Bengal and Eastern Bihar (from where most Guyanese immigrants originated), more than 10 million persons - one third of the population – died from a “famine”. Why? Two reasons. Firstly, the farmers who supplied the bulk of the population with foodstuffs were forced by the British into producing cash crops for export – even while they were forced to pay onerous taxes at the threat of death and violence.

We quote the words of then British Governor Warren Hastings, who boasted to the home office: “Notwithstanding the loss of at least one-third of the inhabitants of the province, and the consequent decrease of the cultivation, the nett collections of the year 1771 exceeded even those of I768… It was naturally to be expected that the diminution of the revenue should have kept an equal pace with the other consequences of so great a calamity. That it did not was owing to its being violently kept up to its former standard.”

The cash crops the farmers were forced to grow included cotton, poppy (for opium) and indigo, and as described above, this was simply to keep paying off the extortionate demands of the British, who exported rice and wheat even during the famines. Millions were also thrown out of work when the British forbade Indian weavers from producing cotton yarn and the cotton fabrics that had enthralled Europe. Henceforth, only cotton woven by British looms could be sold in India! Where were the weavers to get the money to buy food, much less clothes?

Incidentally, Britain became the largest drug dealers up to the present, with the opium – up to 800 tons annually – being shipped to China so that the British could buy Chinese tea.

Between the Bengal famine of 1768 and the end of Indentureship in 1917, conservatively, over 54 million Indians perished from famine. In the book Late Victorian Holocausts (2001), Mike Davis describes how Viceroy Lord Lytton insisted that wheat be exported to England. In 1877 and 1878, at the height of the famine, when 10.3 million persons perished, grain merchants exported a record 800,000 tons of wheat and 1.9 million tons of rice. As the peasants began to starve, officials were ordered “to discourage relief works in every possible way”.

And this is why the upsurge of indentured Indians correlated with the British-induced famines.

olice on patrol on Friday evening stumbled upon a car left on fire at Green Field Access Road (Stadium Road), Providence, East Bank Demerara.

According to Police, the discovery was made at about 21:15h by ranks from Regional Division 4B who observed a white Toyota Spacio vehicle on fire. Ranks immediately summoned the Guyana Fire Service and a water tender from the Diamond Fire Station went to the scene to extinguish the vehicle. However, by that time the car was completely burnt.

Police also confirmed that the scene was processed and no casualty reported. Law enforcement officers have since made checks of CCTV cameras leading to and from the location to aid in the ongoing investigation.

Almost a month ago, Police found a white wagon, which is suspected to have been used in the execution of Ricardo

The vehicle on fire at Greenfield Access Road, Providence, East Bank Demerara

Fagundes, on fire at Swan, LindenSoesdyke Highway.

The vehicle was found 24 hours after Fagundes, called “Paper Shorts”, of Sandy Babb Street, Georgetown, was executed outside a popular nightspot on Main

Street, Georgetown.

The 42-year-old gold dealer was shot dead after he exited the night club, having received a phone call.

Reports are the man was partying with a group of friends at the bar when his phone rang and he exited the club to take the call, but soon after, several gunshots were heard.

Based on reports, the now dead man’s friends rushed out to enquire but found Fagundes lying motionlessly in a pool of blood close to his motor car.

Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) arrived shortly after the shooting and pronounced Fagundes dead.

Even as investigations continue into the man’s murder, Police have still not confirmed if it is the same car used in the execution. (G9)

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FEATURE

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By Raywattie Deonarine

A

trip to the Essequibo Coast is not complete without a drive to Lima, for what could be considered the country’s best duck curry, at Jagdesh’s Duck Curry Bar. The duck curry there is so good that Guyanese from across the country would venture there just to have the meal. Whether it is with roti or dhal and rice, the star is

and will always be the award-winning duck curry.

Jagdesh Duck Curry Bar is owned and operated by Jagdesh Bissessar and his wife Mohanie

beyond a shadow of a doubt that it is one of the tastiest duck curries that is on the Essequibo Coast and further afield. Even foreigners, when they visit Guyana, would

Jagdesh Duck Curry Bar counter table

A serving of Jagdesh’s delicious duck curry

Magical Chef Jagdesh Bissessar receiving his award after he won a duck curry competition

along with his four children.

For over two decades, Bissessar has been perfecting his method of currying duck and the awards he would have won at various competitions just show that he is indeed the best there is in Guyana.

Jagdesh’s duck curry has become a household name and it is

request a trip to the Cinderella County to Jagdesh’s place to sample his delicious duck curry with dhal and rice.

Bissessar’s duck curry is made with just the right combination of spices and he said that the secret ingredient is his “magic fingers.”

The Sunday Times recently

sat down with Bissessar where he shared his journey. He said that the business was started in 1995 when he operated a small grocery shop and bar. He reminisced that he was motivated by all the duck curry competitions he kept winning and as such decided to put his talent into a business by establishing his own restaurant.

From a simple grocery shop, Bissessar extended by adding an upper flat and more onto his bar.

The curry master also mentioned that the business is a family one and his wife and kids manage it in

his absence.

He is currently passing on the trade to his son who is slowly taking the reins.

“Everyone can cook and serve and I proudly handed the trade to my son who is very dedicated to serving persons,” he said.

When he first started out, Bissessar would cook 2 ducks daily but now it has grown so much that he prepares at least 22 ducks on a daily basis. That just goes to show how much his business has grown and the demand for his duck curry increased.

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Great food and happy customers equal a thriving business,” she quipped as she explained that the support from members of the community also went beyond her expectations.

According to Fernandes, the level of support has been “tremendous” thus far.

In just a few months, her food entity will celebrate a year of being in existence

By Utamu Belle

T

he belief that she could create a successful business and earn the respect of friends and business acquaintances is just one of the driving factors which motivated Lindener Kenisha Fernandes to become an entrepreneur.

The thirty-year-old woman is the visionary mind behind the food entity, Bon Appétit 592 which prides

itself by living up to its slogan, “We create food for the soul”.

Based in Wisroc, Linden, the entity which was birthed in June of last year offers delectable food on its daily menu and caters for public and private events. Apart from soul food, the entity also provides its unique line of fruit juices titled “592 Juices”.

“Offering a valuable service to customers made me pride myself on doing the

best job possible,” the budding entrepreneur told Sunday Times during an interview.

Fernandes then went on to talk about how it all started for her.

“I do believe I've always had a passion for cooking and it started at the age of twelve. As I got older, I began doing research which led to me creating my own recipes,” she said.

As she grew older, so did

across Guyana and that's truly a goal I'm pushing for,” she stated.

Tapping in with a bit of advice for young entrepreneurs who are thinking

her passion and she was determined to make it into something productive. The name Bon Appétit is quite a catchy and unique one, and according to Fernandes, her main aim behind its creation was to create a lasting impression.

“The main idea behind my business name is basically uniqueness. I created the name so that persons could embody my brand and know that it's something that's going to be memorable,” she stated.

Creating wholesome recipes has its fair share of challenges, the entrepreneur agreed, but she always finds ways in making it work.

“Some of the challenges I face are sometimes sourcing ingredients for recipes and catering to customers out of my region, but then I improvise and get the job done,” she shared.

Fernandes said despite challenges, her experience thus far has been fulfilling, which provides a great sense of accomplishment.

“I enjoy the feedback from customers the most.

and Fernandes is looking forward to greater things.

“Bon Appétit 592 will definitely have locations

about walking down a familiar path, Fernandes advised them to “invest in your brand and always believe that you can make it big”.

FEATURE

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Dada’s Grill at Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo

By Lakhram Bhagirat

W

ith a brotherhood that is just over two years old, Ken Rampersaud and Michael Kassim are considered the proverbial “two peas in a pod” when it comes to their ideals and business acumen.

Collectively, the duo operates the Dada’s brand located at Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo, and according to Ken, they are “young enthusiastic men working to shape the Dada’s brand while being bounded in kinship for the partnership to go ahead.”

Under the Dada’s brand, there are a number of ventures namely Dada’s Grill, Castle Royal Hotel, Ten 11 Lounge all located in the Tuschen area. As part of the Dada’s foundation, they are also heavily invested in the operation of a kids home on the West Coast of Demerara and would constantly give back to communities within Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara).

Ken, a 37-year-old microbiologist by profession, said that Dada’s was a concept put together after some relatives visited from overseas and he realised that they needed to travel out of the region to have a good dining experience. That caused him to begin thinking about establishing a space that offers fine dining in a relaxed atmosphere and that is how Dada’s Grill came about.

“I wanted a place that offered some upper to middle-class experience for us so we decided to give thought to establishing something like that. The owners of the property are key investors in it (Dada’s Grill). Myself and Michael are managing personnel here in terms of getting the whole idea on the ground,” he said.

When the two came together they both had a similar vision of how they wanted the Dada’s experience to be.

“We wanted to establish somewhere that persons on the west side (West Demerara) can have that type of ambience where they can experience a chilled environment, an area where they would be able to experience good dining concepts and be able to touch on a variety of foods that can be able to tantalise them rather than the regular (fast options) that we would often have on this end,” Ken recounted.

Dada’s Grill was opened at Public Road Tuschen in October of 2019 and was immediately a hit with the patrons at that end. However, in order for the young team to get the restaurant to where they wanted it to be, they had to overcome a number of challenges.

“The concept of outdoor recreational facility is something that isn’t quite popular on this one end so it’s a Miami California kind of concept that we would have merged and we had to work to convince them (customers) that this is what

they needed,” Ken explained.

Michael is the person that is more on the ground pushing the Dada’s Grill brand whether it is procuring supplies or training staff. He said that as a unit, the management believes in sticking to their Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) so as to ensure that every customer gets the best experience.

While the food may be the star, they believe that the ambience is what keeps their customers returning for more.

“We do regular trainings with our staff to ensure that we offer the service that persons are going to be impressed with.

We are differentiating ourselves from the others and we have been pushing for it at all our facilities,” Michael said.

The 30-year-old mixologist said that initially, they would have had issues in getting the right staff to complement their vision but noted that they are now at a place where they have the right staff to execute the vision.

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FEATURE

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FROM PAGE 13

Jagdesh and his team were delighted after they won the duck curry competition

Persons visiting the Essequibo mostly stop off at the popular Jagdesh Duck Curry Bar for not only duck curry but other meals as well. Bissessar was asked if he has any special ingredients for his duck

and mutton curries, he smiled and said that is a secret he will not tell but it’s all about the magic fingers God blessed him with.

Bissessar and his wife Mohanie have been participating in duck cur-

ry competitions for a long time. In 2008 they formed a crew and represented Essequibo at a national competition and gained the second position. Moreover, in 2009, they placed third and qualified to take part in another competition and cooked their way to first place in Berbice.

This made the crew more motivated. They defeated the Surinamese in a neighbourly competition. They would have also participated in competitions in Trinidad and even won there in 2010.

“I took part in all these competitions because of the passion I have for cooking and it’s the magic fingers that cook the pots. I’ve learned cooking at the age of 7 and as such, it became my speciality,” he said.

Over the past years, the magical chef won 12 trophies, 4 of which are for mutton curry and 9 for duck curry competitions. Jagdesh is now accommodating more persons and a lot of persons, especially from Georgetown, are often craving his curry.

The COVID-19 pandemic did not affect business for him since he became innovative and began adapting.

Jagdesh Bissessar cooking his favourite duck curry

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FROM PAGE 15

Foodies

It makes no sense being in the food business and not have an appreciation for food in all forms. Luckily, for Ken and Michael, they are both “foodies”. While Ken lives more on the healthier side of the food lane, Michael just “digs in” on what is placed in front of him.

For them, the main challenge would have been crafting a menu that offered a little bit of everything for everyone.

It is no secret that Guyanese are quite reluctant when it comes to exploring the culinary world and that is understandable because Guyanese cuisine is

so vast and an incorporation of so many cultures.

Nevertheless, Ken and Michael embarked on an intense food education drive and hosted several sampling meets before they decided on what their menu would include. Now, they can successfully say that they have converted most persons to shy away from the regular fried rice, chowmein and chicken and introduced them to lamb chops, steaks, various kinds of pasta and wine.

They are actively working on introducing new items on their menu on a monthly basis so as to

shy away from becoming a robotic establishment with limited options.

“Our big sellers have

been chicken over rice, our BBQ pork have been something that been rushed after.

We offer 8 variety of wings so we are known as the wing spot at this end. Our doubles is something that goes fast here and another is the roti and balanjay choka goes excellently. Trust me when you have that roti and balanjay choka you will never want it from anywhere else,” Michael boasted.

The duo is also planning on extending the Dada’s brand to the various regions in Guyana and also the Caribbean. They have been in talks with persons in Trinidad, Barbados and Suriname to establish there.

COVID-19 and philanthropy

Months after opening and building a following Dada’s was forced to halt all operations after Guyana discovered its first set of COVID-19 cases. The then Government imposed restrictions and that saw the restaurant industry being brought to a standstill.

“For the first three months (after COVID-19 restrictions) it would have impacted us greatly in the sense that we had to lay off all the staff and close business,” Michael said.

With both men coming from humble beginnings – Ken, a farmer’s son from Bonasika Creek and Michael from Berbice – they both have been heavily involved in philanthropic activities. They realised that

Dada’s offered them an avenue to become even more involved in helping out the community.

After they laid off all their staff, they still supported them by offering loans to meet expenses and distributing hampers. On a monthly basis, the Dada’s team would distribute over 50 hampers to persons in need within their community.

“Our passion is more in philanthropy and giving back to the community.

We work with the Guyana Police Force, the NDCs to give back to our communities and that has been something that has assisted us significantly with the business in terms of partnering with these personnel and letting the community know that we care. By persons knowing that we are not all about making money, they would choose to support us because they know when they do that then the community will benefit.

“We are passionate about philanthropy and at the end of the day, I don’t think nothing makes a human feel better than impacting another human being where they have nothing to gain in response other than that joy. In that type of aspect, we want to try to touch lives. Dada’s grill is something that is impactful. This isn’t only about money but the impact on our communities. We came from humble beginnings and we think we can really make an impact on the lives of young people,” Ken said.

Since the restrictions were lifted, they have reopened while adhering to the guidelines outlined by the National COVID-19 Task Force. They have also turned to other parts of the world for best practices in operating during COVID-19.

For now, Ken and Michael intend to continue serving up exceptional food with a side of philanthropy not just to Region Three residents but to all of Guyana.

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FEATURE

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By Lakhram Bhagirat

P

yramid Restaurant and Pub is perhaps one of the more unique restaurants in Guyana because of its location overlooking the majestic Atlantic Ocean at La Jalousie, West Coast Demerara.

For owner, Safraz Khan, the idea is one that was birthed just over 10 years ago when he was in the fastfood business. The 38-yearold entrepreneur said that the idea is one that seeks to offer a relaxed atmosphere for wholesome family time and with its current location, Pyramid achieves just that.

“I have been an entrepreneur pretty much all my life. I have been involved in several businesses. I established the first international fast food in West Demerara and that is Chester’s Chicken and prior to that I have been in electronics and so and now I am back in the food business with a little twist. Pyramid is what you call a fast-casual restaurant which is a restaurant with a touch of drinks and some food,” Khan explained.

The business has been in operation for just a few months and according to Khan, they are steadily improving on the quality of food and facilities as well.

He noted that they are capitalising on the uniqueness of the restaurant by establishing both fast food options as well as a hint of fine dining.

Noting that they have not yet realised full operation owing to the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19)

pandemic, they are still grateful to be able to operate.

“Pyramid is an old idea I had a little while going back while I was in the fried chicken business. I thought if I ever go back or expand in this area, I will do a fast-casual restaurant because the fast-food with chicken and fries and pizza has gotten very saturated because the big players are in so I wanted to get out,” he said.

The father of one said that Pyramid, when fully operational, will be Egyptian themed, explaining that the servers would be attired in their ancient Egyptian garb

as well as the space transformed with various artefacts.

Currently, the restaurant has a big deck overlooking the Atlantic. When one is seated there, the atmosphere is tantamount to the “seawall lime” where there is food and soft music.

At Pyramid, the food often competes with the view for the top spot and most of the time, the food wins.

While it may be a small menu at this time, Khan related that they are focused on perfecting what they have as well as introducing patrons on the Western end of Demerara to a different experience. He said that they have achieved that with the introduction of the full wine bar.

The food there is heavily Asian-inspired but Khan also capitalises on his fastfood background and includes some of the classics.

“ F o r us, one of the hardest things is that you don’t get trained chef so you have to design a menu based on what people go for a lot and what you can get regular people and train them to do.

We have burgers and pizzas, wings and so on. We have main courses – focused on

more Asian style – pasta and so on. There is a lot more to come because we are at the point, we don’t want to over-plan the menu,” he explained.

Pyramid currently creates employment for over a dozen persons and that number is slated to increase

as expansion works are completed.

Khan, when asked what advice he would have for someone entering the world of entrepreneurship, said “You have to be very dedicated and focused. You have to be willing to make sacrifices. You have to be so focused on what you doing that sometimes you have

to sacrifice friendships because too much distractions will take away from what you are doing. Businesses are more difficult to start in Guyana now so now you have to know the market, do research and remain focus.

I always tell young people too to invest in building networks and approach things with an open mind.”

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HEALTH TIPS SCABIES

Dr Tariq Jagnarine Fam Medicine, Endocrinology/Diabetes

S

cabies is one of several skin conditions that can cause itching and rashes. It is a dermatologic condition caused by sarcoptes scabiei, an eight-legged microscopic mite.

• While the scabies mite needs skin to feed on and survive, it can live with-

out a human host for 48 to 72 hours.

• The rash and itching experienced by those with scabies is a result of the body’s allergic reaction to the mites, their eggs, and their waste.

• The average person infested with scabies will have 15 to 20 mites present.

• Those at highest risk of developing crusted scabies include the immunocompromised, the elderly, and those housed in institutional settings.

Each year, scabies affects millions of people of all races, ages, and socioeconomic status. It is highly contagious, being easily spread through close physical contact and by sharing bedding, clothing, and furniture infested with mites. Scabies is estimated to infect over 300 million humans worldwide each year. Scabies most frequently occurs in children and young adults, with out-

breaks common in child care facilities, family homes and schools. All persons with scabies and their contacts need to be treated.

CAUSES

Scabies is an infestation of the sarcoptes scabiei mite, also known as the human itch mite. After burrowing under the skin, the female mite lays its eggs in the tunnel it has created. Once hatched, the larvae move to the surface of the skin, and spread across the body or to another host through close physical contact.

Humans are not the only species affected by mites.

Dogs and cats can also be infected. However, each species hosts a different species of mite, and while humans may experience a mild, transient skin reaction to contact with non-human animal mites, a full-blown human infection with animal mites is rare.

Scabies is highly conta-

gious, and spreads via direct skin-to-skin contact, or by using a towel, bedding, or furniture infested with the mites.

As such, some of the people most likely to become infested with mites include: • Children attending day care or school • Parents of young children • Sexually active young adults and people with multiple sexual partners • Residents of extended care facilities • Older adults • People who are immunocompromised, including those with HIV/AIDS, transplant recipients, and others on immunosuppressant medications

SYMPTOMS

The onset of symptoms of scabies varies, depending on whether or not a person has previously been exposed to mites. The first time a person is exposed to the scabies

mite, it can take upwards of 2 to 6 weeks for symptoms to develop. This timeframe is significantly shorter in subsequent infestations, as the body’s immune system is quicker to react, typically within 1 to 4 days.

Signs and symptoms of scabies include: • Itching: This is often worse at night, and can be severe and intense. Itching is one of the most common symptoms of scabies.

• Rash: When the mite burrows into the skin, it forms burrow tracks, or lines, which are most commonly found in skin folds, and resemble hives, bites, knots, pimples, or patches of scaly skin. Blisters may also be present.

• Sores: These occur in infested areas where a person has scratched at the skin. Open sores can lead to impetigo, commonly caused by secondary infection with Staphylococcus aureus.

• crusts: Thick Crusted scabies, also known as Norwegian scabies, is a form of severe scabies in which hundreds to thousands of mites and mites’ eggs are harboured within skin crusts, causing severe skin symptoms.

Most often, those affected with crusted scabies exhibit widespread grey, thick, crumbling crusts. Mites living in the detached crusts can live for upwards of a week without needing human contact, due to the food provided by the crusts themselves.

The most common sites of infestation in adults and older children include: • Between the fingers • Around fingernails • Armpits • Waistline • Inner parts of the wrists • Inner elbow • Soles of the feet • Breasts, particularly the areas around the nipples • Male genitalia • Buttocks • Knees • Shoulder blades Infants and young children experience infestation in other areas of the body, including the: • Scalp • Face • Neck • palms of the hands • Soles of the feet At times, children can present with a widespread infestation, covering a majority of the body. Infants who are infested with scabies tend to exhibit symptoms of irritability, and sleeping and eating difficulties.

DIAGNOSIS

Scabies can sometimes be mistaken for dermatitis or eczema, as these skin conditions also cause itching and bumps on the skin.

Anyone who is unsure about the cause of a skin condition

should consult their physician, as over-the-counter medications cannot eradicate scabies.

Health Care workers can diagnose scabies by examining the skin, or by looking at skin scrapings under a microscope.

TREATMENT

Scabies is highly contagious, so anyone living with a patient diagnosed with the condition, or who has had close contact with the patient, would most likely be recommended to receive treatment for scabies even if they do not have any symptoms. This includes any person with whom the patient has had recent intimate contact.

Scabies is generally treated with topical medications such as 5 percent permethrin cream, crotamiton cream, or lindane lotion. In some cases, a 25 percent benzyl benzoate lotion or 10 percent sulfur ointment may be used. Most topical preparations are applied at night and washed off in the morning.

• Ivermectin, an oral medication, may be recommended for people who are immunocompromised, those with crusted scabies, or those who did not respond to topical therapy.

• Other medications, such as antihistamines, anti-itching lotions, antibiotics, and steroid creams, might be prescribed to offer relief from symptoms.

Treatment with prescribed medications would generally kill mites quickly. The itching and rash may initially become worse.

However, skin healing should be seen by 4 weeks after treatment. Some people require more than one course of treatment to fully rid themselves of mites.

HOME REMEDIES

Home solutions for scabies are often not recommended. Some infestations can resolve without treatment. However, herbal treatments, such as tea tree and neem oils, have not consistently been shown to treat scabies. It is therefore advisable to visit a health facility and be reviewed by a physician.

PREVENTION

To prevent re-infestation and spread, take the following steps: • Wash or dry-clean all clothes, towels, linens, etc. When washing, use hot soapy water and dry on high heat. Place items that cannot be washed in a sealed plastic bag for one to several weeks to starve the mites.

• Vacuum the entire home on the day treatment is initiated, including carpets, rugs, upholstery, etc., and discard the bag or thoroughly clean the vacuum’s canister.

Anyone can get scabies. It has nothing to do with poor hygiene.

FEATURE

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COVID-19 and Pregnancy (Part I) yet known how frequently COVID-19 causes problems during pregnancy or affects the health of the baby after birth.

Some research suggests that pregnant women with COVID-19 are more likely to have a premature birth and their babies are more likely to be admitted to a neonatal unit.

Mother to Child Transmission

Contributed

by:

Dr. Narine Singh Chief Medical Officer Ministry

S

of

Health

ince the first report (December 2019) of the COVID-19, the number of confirmed cases and associated mortality and morbidity has increased rapidly. Pregnant women are considered a high risk group because of concerns about the effects of COVID -19 on them during and after pregnancy and on their neonate.

Due to changes in their bodies and immune systems, we know that pregnant women can be badly affected by some respiratory infections. The overall risk of COVID-19 to pregnant women is low. However, pregnancy increases the risk for severe illness with COVID-19.

Pregnant women who have COVID-19 appear more likely to develop respiratory complications requiring intensive care than women who aren’t pregnant. Pregnant women or recently pregnant women who are older, overweight, and have pre-existing medical conditions such as hypertension and diabetes seem to have an increased risk of developing severe COVID-19.

Latest Research

New research findings published in the September 2020 edition of the BMJ help to shed light on the risks of COVID-19 for pregnant women and their babies.

The paper suggests that pregnant women seen with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 are less likely to experience a fever or muscle pain, but if they develop severe disease they are more likely to need intensive care than non-pregnant women with COVID-19.

There is currently no data to suggest increased risk of miscarriage or early pregnancy loss in relation to COVID-19. It isn’t

It is still not known for sure if a pregnant woman with COVID-19 can pass the virus to her fetus or baby during pregnancy or delivery. Early studies indicated no evidence for vertical transmission of COVID-19 from mother to child in late pregnancy, but more recent reports indicate that vertical transmission may occur in some cases.

To date, the active virus has not been found in samples of fluid around the baby in the womb or breast milk. Community efforts to control the spread of the COVID-19 virus might affect your access to routine prenatal care.

It is strongly advised that antenatal and postnatal care should be regarded as essential, and that pregnant women will continue to need at least as much support, advice, care and guidance in relation to pregnancy, childbirth and early parenthood as before.

It is recommended that in-person appointments be deferred by seven days after the start of symptoms of COVID-19 or 14 days if another person in the household has symptoms.

Where in-person appointments are required, pregnant patients with symptoms or confirmed COVID-19 who require obstetric care are advised to notify the hospital or clinic before they arrive in order for infection control to be put in place.

Remote Appointments

To minimize the risk of infection, some appointments may be conducted remotely via teleconferencing or video conferencing, where possible. This is being done especially for those in the early stages of low risk pregnancy by the Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Department of the Ministry of Health in several regions.

Talk to your health care provider about whether the use of virtual prenatal care is an option for you, if it’s available in your area, and how it works. Ask your health care provider if there are any tools that might be helpful to have at home, such as a blood pressure monitor. To make the most of any virtual visits, prepare a list of questions ahead of time and take de-

tailed notes during the visit.

If you have certain highrisk conditions during pregnancy, virtual visits might not be an option. Ask your health care provider about how your care might be affected. Contact your health care provider right away if you have COVID-19 symptoms or if you’ve been exposed to someone with COVID-19.

It’s recommended that you are tested for the virus that causes COVID-19, if testing supplies are available. Call your health care provider ahead of time to tell him or her about your symptoms and possible exposure before going to your appointment.

If you have COVID-19 and are pregnant, your treatment will be aimed

at relieving symptoms and may include getting plenty of fluids and rest, as well as using medication to reduce fever, relieve pain or lessen coughing. If you’re very ill, you may need to be treated in the hospital

In Part II next week, we will look at labour and delivery, breastfeeding, postpartum guidance and safe medical treatment to conclude this topic. Do not miss the conclusion!

Article submitted as part of the Ministry of Health’s COVID-19 public information and education programme. For questions, email ministersecretaryhealth@gmail.com.

22 FEATURE

SUNDAY, APRIL 18, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

O

ver the last few weeks, the PET CARE column has been dealing with skin ailments afflicting companion animals. This topic is coming to a close, and the final episode was planned to discuss “CONTACT DERMATITIS”. Lo and behold, on April 5th, 2021, a comprehensive description of this condition was published in the Guyana Times. Dr. Tariq Jagnarine admirably compiled all the salient aspects associated with this skin problem.

However, I will still persist with discussion as it relates to our companion animals, is only because the problem is so pervasive that it demands extra attention.

First of all, the entire body of most dogs and cats exist in an environment not far off the ground, where all sorts of germs and toxic materials are present and accessible. Pets do not wear protective clothing and can easily come in contact (via soil, grass, sand, etc.) with toxic

MISCELLANEOUS SKIN CONDITIONS IN COMPANION ANIMALS

materials and biological pathogens. In addition, in Guyana all life exists in an environment close to the equator with very high humidity levels. On the coast, where many of our pets exist, their homes are below sea level. When all of these factors are taken into consideration, is it any wonder that our vulnerable animals (and even us humans) are fraught with skin lesions and diseases?

Though often similar in symptoms displayed, Contact Dermatitis and Allergic Contact Dermatitis, both mentioned by Dr. Jagnarine, are separate and different conditions in dogs and cats. Actually, dogs and cats having contact with irritating chemicals will consequentially develop the itch/ scratch syndrome with varying intensities. But if the pet is also allergic to the chemical substance, the symptoms may become very severe – to the point of self-mutilation. I should add that it has been my experience that, only after repeated exposure/ contact to/ with

the chemical causing the allergic reaction, will there be a full-blown reaction (see symptoms below).

SYMPTOMS: The symptoms are: • Itching/ scratching • Often red bumps on the skin emerge. If the caregiver cannot actually see the bumps, say on a black coat dog, then the bumps cab be felt, by just rubbing the palm of the hand on the coat of the dog/ cat.

• Inflammation (redness) on the skin.

• Wet eczemas can develop (“weepy” spots on the skin). These, if not treated can develop into serum-filled blisters, ulcerations and pus.

• Loss of hair.

• Dandruff-like crusts and flakes (especially in the areas where anti-flea collars are placed).

CAUSES The common irritants (allergens) are: • Acids/ Alkalis (household bleaches/ detergents/ sanitizers).

• Insecticides.

• Solvents.

• Soaps/ shampoos/ medications applied to the skin.

• Petroleum by-products (e.g. rubbing the animal with old engine/ waste oil to supposedly get rid of mange.).

• Flea powders and flea collars.

• Too much exposure to the sun’s rays.

• Stinging Nettle • Dog deodorants – really not necessary Caregivers will find these skin lesions on the feet, chin, abdomen, groin and scrotum. These, of course, are those very areas which most likely will come in contact with toxic materials/ chemicals, since dogs especially lie on their hocks (lower hind legs) and stifles (upper hind legs).

I mentioned the word “materials” above, because it has been found that animals can be allergic to food bowls (especially the plastic and rubber variety). Food dish dermatitis usually affects on the nose.

TREATMENT AND PREVENTION Well, the caregiver/ veterinary advisor must identify the chemical (allergen) causing the allergic reaction – and then remove same from contact with the pet, and/ or the pet from the area where you have placed the chemical. Bear in mind that the chemical might exist in the materials used to manufacture carpets and sofa covers, etc.

Your vet will advise on the usage and dosage of antibiotics/ cortisones/ ant-allergy medication which might be introduce to assuage the problem.

N.B. Over the decades, it is becoming clearer that inbred dogs and cats may have a decrease in their ability to fight off diseases (immune deficiencies), and are therefore more easily susceptible to ailments, including those associated with (allergic) Contact Dermatitis.

NEWS

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SUNDAY, APRIL 18, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

MYO contributes $4M in supplies to St Vincent relief …next shipment to leave next week

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he Muslim Youth Organisation (MYO) has made a massive contribution of non-perishable food supplies and cleaning agents to the St Vincentian relief efforts,

valued at some $4 million.

Government has been gearing its efforts with partnering stakeholders in the Private Sector and civil society to send relief items to St Vincent and the Grenadines – which has been facing continued threats from volcanic activities.

While the first shipment of 350 tonnes arrived in the country on Saturday morning, water was also sent in a second consignment.

According to Director General of the Civil Defence

Commission, Lieutenant Colonel Kester Craig, these relief supplies will be sent in the third delivery to the island, in keeping with Guyana’s pledge of continued support for its fellow Caricom member.

“They have provided a substantive donation, in-

clusive of food items; rice, sugar, flour, chowmein.

They also have sanitisation and hygiene items and personal protective equipment. These items are keeping with the needs list provided by St Vincent and the Grenadines…This support will be packed with the items that is scheduled to depart in the new week,” Craig highlighted.

Vice President of the MYO, Imran Ally explained that they would have mobilised donors to come on board with the initiative and is planning to garner more items for another contribution. Especially during the holy month of Ramadan currently celebrated, the focus is placed on generosity to the vulnerable.

“The Muslim Youth Organisation has been known over the years to be a generous organisation and more so, in this time of need, we have contacted our members and they would have given us these donations to

Supplies donated by the MYO for St Vincent relief efforts

make to the Government and people of St Vincent.

More so, in this month of Ramadan, the Muslims have become more generous so we sought it fit to give this dona-

tion so that the Government and people of St Vincent can benefit,” Ally shared.

Last Tuesday, a vessel disembarked Guyana en route to St Vincent and the

Grenadines with needed items to the affected people.

The vessel set sail with food supplies, 10,000 hygiene kits, 5000 disinfectants, over 100,000 bottles of water of varying sizes, 6000 water tanks, 10,000 folding cots, 30,000 blankets, 1000 sleeping mats, 1000 respirator masks among other items.

The La Soufrière volcano started erupting last Friday and heavy ashfall left most of St Vincent and the Grenadines coated in thick ash and prompted immediate evacuation for over 14,000 people. (G12)

24 NEWS

SUNDAY, APRIL 18, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Local Content must be measured by value of contracts – VP V ice President Bharrat Jagdeo has said that local content must be measured by the value of the contracts given to Guyanese firms by oil companies, rather than the amount.

The Department of Public Information reported that the Vice President made these comments during a Facebook Live interview with a social media commentator on Thursday.

Jagdeo, during the interview, said he noted this advice from Trinidadian energy strategist, Anthony Paul, adding that a company can easily say it hired 20 Guyanese to provide food supplies, but omit the truth about quantity.

“And when you check the 20, they’re only supplying two baskets of bora or mangoes, and the bulk of it is coming from one big supplier from abroad. So, if you measure by volume, it would say 20 Guyanese versus one

Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo

foreigner supplying food.

But when you look by value, you’d see that they are earning a pittance,” the Vice President is quoted as saying.

Paul, a local content expert who serves on the Government’s Local Content Advisory Panel, is quoted in Kaieteur News as saying “I

like to think of local content as something we can measure because if we can measure it, then we know how well we are doing. People often describe local content as the number of people employed; the number of companies engaged. But remember, every activity has to be budgeted for. As such, I like

to think of local content in a monetary sense. I ask, ‘what is the value of inputs for the activities being carried out in the sector?’”

However, according to the DPI, Jagdeo said the Government will enforce the principle of measuring what oil companies are doing, and “not to leave it just at their word.”

The Government’s draft Local Content Policy saw widespread consultations with industry stakeholders, through a process spearheaded by President Dr Irfaan Ali. The policy was drafted, after a report, which incorporated stakeholders’ views on the way forward, was submitted by the Local Content Advisory Panel.

Government, the DPI reported, intends to set stipulations in law to ensure contractors facilitate maximum penetration for locals in the oil and gas value chain.

A contextual financial analysis of the gas-to-shore project (Part 5)

I

Financing Model/Option n the absence of the actual investment cost for the project, the analysis assumes that the investment cost to bring gas to shore is US$1.1 billion. It is also assumed that ExxonMobil and its partners would be financing the gas pipe infrastructure, which is about 72% of the total cost, and Government would finance the remaining 28%. This, however, does not mean that the Government would have to solely finance 28% or 30% of the cost. One has to consider the fact that, because of Guyana’s development trajectory, and now political stability to some extent, and its geopolitical importance, the financing model can take many forms aimed at reducing the financing risks by pursing an optimum financing model. Due to these factors, it is now easier to mobilise resources and raise financing from a variety of sources and instruments than it was 15 years ago, when Guyana was not the centre of global interest, as it is now. It is because of these developments that investors’ confidence, both local and foreign, is at its highest since the last two decades.

As an example, the financing model for the project can very well be one in which there is a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model wherein a consortium of investors can be put together and/or where a publicly traded company can be established to attract investors from anywhere in the region, locally, the diaspora, and even global investors. Given the nature and technicalities of the project, though, a project financing model can be explored wherein a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) can be established to raise financing for the project. In this arrangement, the Government can retain some amount of equity together with financing through other debt and equity instruments from the Private Sector, foreign investors, and the local, regional or international capital markets. If the Government opts to hold 15% equity, for example, and the remaining 35% of the financing cost is raised through other instruments from private investors and the local capital market, then the Government’s share would amount to only US$60 million or GY$13 billion, which would have virtually less than 1% impact on the national debt.

Hence, with the above illustrations, there is a variety of financing models that can be explored to finance the project, which can even result in the Government having to finance just about 15%. And this would work out to just about US$60 million, hypothetically, if such models as described herein are explored, they effectively minimise the financing risks. The sum of US$60 million represents 20% of the average national debt service figure, which is approximately US$300 million. This, in turn, would translate to almost zero impact on public debt at its current level.

Therefore, the view by some proponents that this project would lead to a debt trap simply has no merit.

It should be noted that this is only the financing aspect of the project, to lend some sense of reason on the affordability. Clearly, if the onshore facility would cost US$400 million or even US$500 million, the country has reasonable affordability capacity.

Oil revenue projections – Liza 1 Liza phase 1, in the below illustration, for example, using an average price per barrel of US$45 at an annual production capacity of 43.8 million barrels of crude, the investment cost of US$4.3 billion would be recovered within 3 years using the payback method. With the Net Present Value (NPV) investment appraisal method and a discount rate of 10%, the investment could be recovered within 4 years. As such, from the Liza 1 alone, Guyana can earn over US$2 billion (GY$430 billion/GY$86 billion annually) in the first five years, and up to US$6 billion (GY$1.3 trillion/GY$129 billion annually) within ten years – taking the post-recovery period into the equation. In other words, Guyana’s projected earnings from the Liza 1 development alone, over the first decade, is equivalent to 120% of current GDP; 3.5 times current level of total public debt, and 5 times Government’s revenue using 2019 figures. The highest cost is usually the development cost, and therefore, when the development cost is recovered, the operating expense is minimal, since the infrastructure to extract the crude is already in place.

To substantiate this view with reasonable certainty, a perusal of Exxon’s 2018 Annual Report confirmed that total operating cost was just about 27% of total revenue. As such, in the postrecovery period, profit share would be greater. Assuming, for example, that operating cost would be 30% of total revenue, then effectively there will be 70% of revenue for profit share, of which 50% is Guyana’s share.

Consequently, Guyana’s profit share can be as much as 35% post-recovery period + 2% royalty, resulting in a total take of 37%; up from 14.5% during the recovery period in the first three to four years for Liza Phase 1 development alone. Then there is Liza Phase 2 and many other FPSOs and development fields that would become operational over the decade.

To be continued…

About the Author: JC. Bhagwandin is the Chief Financial Advisor/Analyst of JB Consultancy & Associates, and is a lecturer at Texila American University. The views expressed are exclusively his own, and do not necessarily represent those of this newspaper and the institutions he represents. For comments, send to jbbankingadvice@gmail.com.

NEWS

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SUNDAY, APRIL 18, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

EMPOWERING COMMUNITIES TO TAKE THE LEAD IN PROMOTING AND SAFEGUARDING TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE

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o continue our discussion on the draft Traditional Knowledge National Action Plan (TKNAP), we will now shift our focus to activities within Indigenous communities. Clearly, it is in the best interest of each Indigenous community in Guyana to take a lead in tackling the issues related to promoting the continued use and safeguarding of their traditional knowledge and practices.

Communities, though, may need support from external parties for capacity building and access to funds that would support such community actions.

The actions under a third objective of the TKNAP would address such matters. How so?

The Darwin Initiative, “Integrating traditional knowledge into national policy and practices” project has been training community members in participatory video. Some of the participants then served as community researchers, supporting project activities in their community.

Participatory video is a methodology that promotes the involvement of community members in creating short videos that are focused on topics of importance to them. It encourages conversations and dialogue during the process of making the video, while interviewing community members, and when the final video is shown for all to see. This methodology leads to what the project has been promoting as ‘community owned solutions’ - an approach which positions local people as being the best-placed to come up with solutions to matters related to their development and conservation challenges. It builds confidence and pride, and helps to strengthen communitybased action.

In efforts to promote the use of participatory video and community-owned solutions, it was been recommended that more training opportunities be made available to Indigenous community members, particularly youths. A training manual and accompanying tutorial videos have been developed through this project, and they can be used to promote and facilitate this purpose. As more persons are trained, it would be good to establish a network of youth participatory researchers who can support their community and each other.

Sharing experiences and best practices between communities is another way of supporting villages that are looking for examples of ways to address their challenges, or ways to improve development and conservation. Referred to as “peer to peer knowledge exchange”, this sharing between communities involves community researchers taking the lead in arranging to visit other communities to share their knowledge, skills and experiences. The participatory videos and community-owned solutions are the focus of these exchanges; they are used to learn from each other, and inspire people to come up with their own ideas to tackle an issue.

Videos are an excellent way for communities to document different aspects of their traditional knowledge. Interviewing people in the community, particularly elders, to document livelihood practices, stories/folklore, songs, practices related to food preparation, craft-making and much more can be safely stored within the communities, and be made available to future generations that are helping to safeguard traditional culture and practices.

As Sydney Allicock once said, “Having these documented from our communities and shared amongst ourselves serves as a reminder of the knowledge that we have, and could lose with the changing times. It also reminds us that we may have the answer or answers to some of the questions being asked”.

In next week’s article, we will continue to share with you information based on a drafted Traditional Knowledge Action Plan (TKNAP) for Guyana. If you would like to learn more about some of the work that has been done by the project in communities, please visit the following website: https:// cobracollective.org/tag/darwin/.

Also, how do you feel about traditional knowledge and the role it plays in conservation? What do you think about a Traditional Knowledge National Action Plan for Guyana?

Please share your thoughts via 592 650 6632 (WhatsApp or SMS only).

You can share your ideas and questions by sending letters to: “Our Earth, Our Environment”, C/O ECEA Programme, Environmental Protection Agency, Ganges Street, Sophia, GEORGETOWN, or email us at: eit.epaguyana@gmail.com.

Follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and subscribe to our YouTube channel.

Police intercept car with ganja

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olice from the Narcotics Branch and the Special Branch intercepted a car at Palmyra, Berbice, with a quantity of marijuana.

Reports are that acting on information received on Friday, ranks stopped a silver-grey motor car with registration number PTT 6996 at about 18:50h at Palmyra, Berbice.

The car, which was driven by a 30-year-old taxi driver of Stanleytown, New Amsterdam, was searched during which a white plastic barrel containing four bulky parcels of cannabis was found inside.

Just two days ago, a 56-year-old shopkeeper of Fifth Street, Prospect, East Bank Demerara (EBD), was ar-

The marijuana that was found in the car at Palmyra, Berbice

rested after he was found with a quantity of ganja during a Police raid on the EBD and in Georgetown.

A party of policemen carried out searches on several houses and persons in Norton Street, Bagotstown and at Fifth Street, Prospect, EBD, and a search was carried out on the home of the shopkeeper.

During the search, a black plastic bag containing a quantity of leaves, seeds, and stems were found stashed in the roof of the house, which is presently under construction.

The shopkeeper was told of the offence, arrested, and escorted to Providence Police Station, where the cannabis was weighed in his presence, amounting to 112 grams. (G9)

Anonymous call leads Police to body on seashore

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he body of an unidentified male was found in a decomposing state on the Cornelia Ida seashore, West Coast Demerara (WCD).

Based on reports received at about 06:30h, an unknown caller made contact with the Leonora Police Station and reported that the body was there.

Region Three Police

Commander Errol Watts said the scene was visited by a Police Inspector along with a party of policemen where it was observed that the body was that of a male which looked like someone of mixed race, and about 45-year-old.

Following the discovery, the body was escorted to the Ezekiel Funeral Home at Best Village, WCD. Further investigations

are ongoing.

Just about a month ago, the decomposed body of a 40-year-old fisherman of Ocean View Uitvlugt, West Coast Demerara (WCD), was discovered at the Leonora Seawall.

The body of Sadar Sookdeo, also known as “Rakesh” was discovered at about 14:23h by a Police rank who was on duty in the

area at the time.

Based on reports received, when the body was found it was clad in a pair of black boxer briefs. Following the discovery, a report was made and ranks attached to the Leonora station visited the scene.

Upon their arrival, the scene was processed and no mark of violence was seen on the man’s body. (G9)

26 NEWS Guyana records 268th COVID-19 death, 120 new cases SUNDAY, APRIL 18, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

…some 500,000 citizens eligible for vaccine

However, active cases are 1332. These emerged after 1574 samples were collected and sent for testing.

In the medical facilities, 13 patients are in the Intensive Care Unit, 75 in institutional isolation, 21 in institutional quarantine and 1244 in home isolation.

Some 10,161 of the 5952 males and 5810 females have recovered completely.

To date, Guyana has tested 107,093 individuals.

New cases

Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony

T

he Health Ministry on Saturday revealed that another person succumbed to the novel coronavirus, moving the death toll to 268.

An 81-year-old female from Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) is the latest fatality. She died on April 16 while receiving care at a medical facility.

One day prior, four per-

sons reportedly succumbed.

They were an 81-year-old female from Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), an 81-yearold female from Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne); and two men from Region Four, aged 46 and 64.

Another 120 cases were confirmed on Saturday, raising the total confirmed positives to 11,762.

A breakdown of new cases showed that seven were detected in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam); 31 in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara); 62 in Region Four (DemeraraMahaica); four in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice); three in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne); one in Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni) and two in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo).

Cases in Regions One (Barima-Waini), Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) and 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) still stand at 1035; 247 and 802.

Vaccine

During the latest coro-

navirus update, Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony expressed that only the adult population is being vaccinated, since trials were not done for children.

This translates to 500,000 of the local population.

“Because these vaccines are not available to children, we would have to take them out of the equation.

None of these vaccines; the clinical trials were not done so we’re not using it in the 18 and below population. If we remove those persons, we’re probably looking at about 500,000 persons,” he outlined.

For this, Government is actively seeking to have enough vaccines to immunise this subset of people.

Presently, more vaccines are needed to reach herd immunity.

“We aiming to get to herd immunity as close as possible and while we’re still a little short in terms of how much more we need, we continue to tirelessly pursue acquiring vac-

cines so that every adult in Guyana would be able to get vaccine.”

Right now, Region Nine is leading the vaccination campaign while there has been a slothful uptake in Region 10 (Upper TakutuUpper Essequibo).

On Friday, the public was reassured that the vaccines are safe and testimony is the thousands of people who would have taken their shots without any complications.

“The Ministry wishes to state clearly that the COVID-19 vaccines being administered are safe. We are hopeful influential political, faith and business leaders in Region Ten and other parts of the country

will use their good offices to encourage citizens to get vaccinated,” the Ministry said in a statement.

All Guyanese aged 18 and older were encouraged to visit a vaccination site in their community and get inoculated as soon as possible.

NEWS

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SUNDAY, APRIL 18, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Thieves caught red-handed Welfare officer fined for humiliating teacher on social media in Campbellville home

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wo thieves’ luck ran out on Saturday morning after they were caught red-handed in a home at Craig Street, Campbellville, Georgetown.

The two suspects, who are known for committing a series of robberies in a number of homes in the community, were cornered in the house by ranks of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) after the occupant of the home raised an alarm.

Guyana Times understands that after the men were caught, they were both taken into custody, and are currently assisting Police with their investigations.

Only recently, 40-yearold Ahilia Robertson and 38-year-old Yogita Balgobin of Mon Repos Railway Embankment, East Coast Demerara (ECD), were robbed by two armed men as they were about to retire to bed.

According to Police, the

welfare officer who admitted that she humiliated her neighbour via social media was fined $50,000 when she appeared at the Anna Region Magistrate’s Court.

Nicola Nickram of Henrietta, E s s e q u i b o Coast, Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam), admitted to Magistrate Esther Sam that on December 18, 2020,

The two thieves who were cornered and arrested at the Campbellville, Georgetown house

two women were robbed at around 23:15h after the gunmen invaded their property.

Robertson and Balgobin were relieved of two cell phones, one laptop, and one

iPad. Following the robbery, one of the bandits allegedly hit Robertson to her neck before making good their escape in a waiting motor car.

(G9)

she used a computer system to humiliate Teysheena Beepat, a resident within her village, on social media.

The 38-yearold, who appeared in court last week, was fined $50,000 and given 24 hours to apologise to the villager, who is a teacher, via social media. Failure to comply will result in her spending 2 months in prison.

Nicola Nickram

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SUNDAY, APRIL 18, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

29 Youngsters flock vaccination sites for COVID-19 shots NEWS

SUNDAY, APRIL 18, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

…endorse efforts by Health Ministry

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Shane Parmesar

ust days after the Health Ministry opened COVID-19 vaccination for the entire adult population, youth across the country turned up in their numbers to get inoculated and welcomed this move.

Guyana Times visited a few vaccination sites in Region Four (DemeraraMahaica) on Saturday, where an influx of persons waited for their opportunity to receive the coronavirus jab. With the vaccines Guyana has already acquired and others soon to arrive, the country will be able to fully vaccinate 261,000 persons. The Ministry’s goal is to administer 100,000 first doses by early next week.

Eighteen-year-old Shane Parmesar, a University of Guyana student, labelled this initiative as the only way to exit the pandemic safely, in addition to protecting the population. He took his shot at the Health Ministry’s Brickdam, Georgetown location.

“It was a calm and smooth

Zaria Fung (Ministry of Health photo)

Montia Ramnarine (Ministry of Health photo)

experience, relatively quick than I anticipated…I advise people to come out and take it and be done with COVID one time.”

Meanwhile, 21-year-old Jermaine Kendall expressed, “Even though the amount of people that you’re seeing, you just wait for about 20 minutes or so, they register you and then you go take your vaccine. After that, you just wait for about 15 min-

Sohail Singh

utes and you’re good to go.”

When questioned about his advice for the younger population, the young man declared, “It’s better to be safe than sorry. I would advise other young people to get their vaccine.”

This publication spoke with Ann Defreitas, who took her son to the site for his vaccine. The 57-year-old woman said she took hers three weeks ago, considering it as “the best thing to happen right now”. Defreitas also had strong words for the younger people, whom she noted are actively outdoor and can put their older relatives at risk.

She noted, “I think it’s the best thing right now anybody can do with the pandemic going out of sync. The younger ones are out there doing a set of stuff and they should be the ones to come and get this thing done because they’re taking this home to the older folks. And most of the older ones are going now so they really need to get this done.”

On the East Bank of

Demerara, 21-year-old Sohail Singh turned up at the Eccles Health Centre and followed all procedures.

Soon, he exited the facility and lauded the smooth process. He was keen to ask questions which were unclear on the vaccines and displayed no symptoms afterwards.

“I got my vaccine. I asked some questions and waited about 15 minutes after. I’m healthy right now. As an individual, I would say that this vaccine will upkeep your body so if it (the virus) does come, then you can withstand it,” the Providence resident indicated.

At the site, Advisor to the Ministry of Culture, Neil Kumar detailed that several officials were busy mobilising people to take the vaccines upon the instruction of Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony. From this, a large crowd responded by visiting the health facility.

“This morning, the Minister called us and told us to mobilise so we sent out

Ann DeFrietas

a horn to tell people to come out. We brought the tent, chairs, water and masks.

The response has been excellent. People are coming out.

Very few people knew so after we did the mobilisation, we started seeing people coming out,” the official indicated.

On Thursday, Government announced the widened eligibility requirement for COVID-19 vaccination that allows for persons 18 years and older to get immunised. Guyana commenced its vaccination exercise in February and to date, more than 70,000 persons have received the first of two

Jermaine Kendall doses.

As the vaccination rollout continues with almost 100 permanent sites in the 10 regions along with temporary sites in some areas, outreaches are being conducted in communities on a daily basis.

Government has bought some 200,000 doses of the Sputnik V vaccine to the tune of $4 billion. Some 24,000 doses were sent through the COVAX mechanism – the first tranche from 100,800 shots. The Government of China and India also donated 20,000 and 80,000 vaccines while Barbados sent 3000. (Rupa Seenaraine)

30 NEWS

SUNDAY, APRIL 18, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Electoral fraud

DPP, Top Cop ask High Court for copies of SoPs to convict Lowenfield, Mingo

Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield

Region 4 RO, Clairmont Mingo

ourt proceedings have been filed by the Commissioner of Police and the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), to obtain certified copies of the Statements of Poll (SoPs) that were in the possession of electoral officials who now stand charged with misconduct in public office.

According to the Notice of Application seen by this publication, Police Commissioner Nigel Hoppie and DPP Shalimar Ali-Hack are seeking orders compelling the Registrar of the High Court to disclose certified copies of the SoPs used by Chief Election Officer (CEO) Keith Lowenfield and Region Four Returning Officer Clairmont Mingo for the March 2, 2020 elections.

The applicants want the copies of the original SoPs lodged in the Registrar’s possession, to be certified

by the Registrar and delivered to the Attorney General, Senior Counsel Anil Nandlall and to the Guyana Elections

C

Commission, who are the first and second named respondents.

In the application, it was pointed out that Mingo and Lowenfield, as well as Deputy CEO Roxanne Myers, are charged with misconduct in public office that relates to the declaration of fraudulent votes for the March 2 General and Regional Elections.

Previously the prosecution was in the position of applying to Lowenfield himself for these documents since he was the custodian of the documents. The SoPs and the Statements of Recount (SoRs) that were generated during the 30-day National Recount are necessary in order to prove that the figures submitted by Mingo and Lowenfield did not reflect the

true election results “By the common law and statute, namely section 50 of

Police Commissioner Nigel Hoppie

the Criminal Law (Procedure) Act, the Commissioner of Police and any member of

the Police Force has the lawful right to collect and recover all documents and property which are relevant to the

investigation and prosecution of any criminal offence,” the application states.

Meanwhile, the DPP’s affidavit asserted that the documents will prove the defendants’ guilt in criminal offences and will confirm that the defendants deliberately ignored the correct votes and made false declarations “in furtherance of their conspiracy.”

Lowenfield is currently facing three counts of forgery and three counts of misconduct in public office. He has been placed on $300,000 bail. Myers, meanwhile, has been slapped with two counts of misconduct in public office and has been placed on $300,000 bail in relation to both charges.

These two were charged along with GECOM officials including embattled Region Four Returning Officer Clairmont Mingo, who is on $600,000 bail for charges similar to what Myers is facing.

Additionally, People’s National Congress Reform Chairperson Volda Lawrence and APNU/AFC activist Carol Joseph are also before the courts on electoral fraud charges. There are also electoral fraud charges against GECOM clerks Denise BobCummings and Michelle Miller and GECOM Elections Officer Shefern February and Information Technology Officer Enrique Livan. They, too, have been released on

Director of Public Prosecutions, Shalimar Ali-Hack

bail.

Lowenfield’s report claimed that the coalition garnered 171,825 votes while the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) gained 166,343 votes. How he arrived at those figures is still unknown.

The certified results from the recount exercise supervised by GECOM and a high-level team from the Caribbean Community (Caricom) pellucidly showed that the PPP/C won with 233,336 votes while the coalition garnered 217,920.

The recount exercise also proved that Mingo heavily inflated the figures in Region Four – Guyana’s largest voting District – in favour of the then caretaker A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) regime. (G3)

NEWS

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IMF/World Bank meeting

Extraordinary support needed for immediate challenges in developing states – Dr Ashni Singh …makes representation for volcano ravaged St Vincent

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inance Minister Dr Ashni Singh, in taking part in meetings with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank, has represented on behalf of developing states and emphasised the need for the developed world’s support for the immediate challenges they face.

In a statement on his social media account, the Finance Minister revealed that on Saturday he met with the Director of the IMF’s Western Hemisphere Department, Alejandro Werner, along with other Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors of the Caribbean.

“The meeting was held

as part of this year's IMF and World Bank Spring Meetings. (I) reiterated the extraordinary support needed to address immediate challenges faced by the vulnerable small states of the Caribbean, predominantly the devastating shock from COVID-19, which has exacerbated pre-existing vulnerabili-

ties to climate change and natural disasters.”

According to the Finance Minister, he also highlighted the current economic fallout from the ongoing volcanic eruption in St Vincent and the Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh (right) during the virtual meeting Grenadines. As it is, St. Development, where the and low-lying coastal Vincent has been rocked need for increased conces- states such as Guyana, are by the eruption of Mount sional financing for the de- still grappling with these Soufriere. challenges, veloping world was high- pre-existing Guyana has been sendwhile we now confront the lighted. ing supplies to the volcaDr Singh virtually at- harsh and lasting socioecono ravaged island, includtended the forum and em- nomic impacts of the paning a ship carrying over phasised the urgent need demic,” he had said.

300 tonnes of supplies.

“I reiterate the heightto address the challengAdditional ships have eies faced by Small Island ened urgency with which ther already been deployed Developing States (SIDS) the official development or are being prepared to dein accessing financing to assistance targets set by liver items. meet their development developed countries now “(I) also emphasised needs. This is especially in need to be met. I also rethat, beyond the immediate light of the targets set by peat the call for the use support required to overof a vulnerability index to the developed countries. come the current crisis, The Minister had also supplement the criteria for lasting solutions need to noted that it is a unique- determining access to conbe found to the longer-term ly challenging time in hu- cessional financing,” the issues of productive diverman history since the Minister also informed the sification, and fiscal and COVID-19 pandemic has forum. debt sustainability,” the He had also noted that wreaked more havoc worldFinance Minister said. wide than any other pub- the immediate and most The Finance Minister lic health issue in living urgent challenge is stemhas been actively reprememory. This has also had ming the pandemic but senting Guyana’s financial the effect of exacerbating highlighted that Guyana interests abroad. The most pre-existing systemic chal- is concerned that developrecent example of this was lenges in the global econo- ing countries are encounduring the 2021 United tering hurdles in accessing my.

Nations Economic and “Vulnerable countries, adequate supplies of vacSocial Council (ECOSOC) including Small Island cines at affordable prices Forum on Financing for Developing States (SIDS) and on fair terms. (G3)

32 NEWS

SUNDAY, APRIL 18, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Govt support to Orealla, Siparuta continuous – McCoy tells residents

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inister within the Office of the Prime Minister with responsibility for Public Affairs, Kwame McCoy has said the Government’s support to the development of Orealla and Siparuta villagers is continuous. He was speaking during an outreach to the riverine communities on Friday, a Department of Public Information report stated.

McCoy, who was joined

by Minister within the Local

Government and Regional Development Ministry, Anand Persaud, also distributed almost 400 hampers to residents, during the engagement in the East BerbiceCorentyne (Region Six) communities.

Of the lot, 240 hampers were given to residents of Orealla, and 130 were shared in Siparuta.

During his engagement with residents, McCoy said while the pandemic pre-

vails, the Government would not restrict itself from helping the people. He said the President Dr Irfaan Ali-led Administration is always keen on ensuring the welfare of all citizens.

“We are not a fair-weather Government. We are not with you only when there are good times. We are with you even in the bad times because we believe truly and dearly, that we have a role and a responsibility to the people of Guyana

and we don’t treat it lightly,” he is quoted as saying.

Meanwhile, Minister Persaud said there is enough evidence which reveals that the previous Government did nothing for the two riverine villages, adding that Government has begun to transform Guyana and by 2025, the nation will become a beacon for the world. In order for this status to be realised, he said, all Guyanese must co-operate.

Both Ministers McCoy and Persaud then fielded questions from residents and sought to provide remedies to the issues that were highlighted.

Minister within the Office of the Prime Minister Kwame McCoy, and Minister within the Local Government and Regional Development Ministry, Anand Persaud, and residents (DPI photo)

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33

Regional

Brazil needs US$10B a year Peruvian ex-President in aid for carbon neutrality Vizcarra banned from public by 2050, Minister says office over vaccines scandal

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razil's Environment Minister, Ricardo Salles, told Reuters on Friday that Brazil would need to receive US$10 billion annually in foreign aid in order to reach economy-wide net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, instead of 2060 as currently planned.

Salles has regularly called for the international community to pick up part of the check for reducing Brazil's carbon emissions, which predominantly come from deforestation.

His call for US$10 billion a year in aid comes as Brazil negotiates a separate potential deal with the United States to rally foreign funds to fight soaring deforestation in the Amazon rainforest.

Reuters reported on Thursday that a potential deal had reached an impasse, with Brazil demanding funding upfront to increase efforts to fight

Brazil's Environment Minister Ricardo Salles attended a graduation ceremony for The Order of Rio Branco at the Itamaraty Palace in Brasilia, Brazil October 22, 2020

deforestation while the United States demanded results before opening its purse strings.

Deforestation in Brazil's portion of the Amazon rainforest has skyrocketed under Bolsonaro, hitting a 12-year high in 2020 with an area 14 times the size of New York City being destroyed, Government data show.

Salles said just US$1

billion per year out of the US$10 billion would enable Brazil to reach zero illegal deforestation ahead of the existing 2030 target.

About one-third of that money would go toward contracting more environmental agents, probably drawing from the ranks of the national military police, Salles said.

The other two-thirds would be used to invest in sustainable development of the Amazon region, he said.

Bolsonaro on Wednesday sent a letter to US President Joe Biden recommitting Brazil to eliminating illegal deforestation by 2030, a target that the recent surge in Amazon destruction had called into question.

But the letter stopped short of meeting other United States demands that include an immediate decrease in deforestation in 2021 and stepped up environment enforcement.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Guatemala blocks travel from Brazil, UK and South Africa in new COVID measure

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uatemala will restrict entry to visitors who have recently been to Brazil, the United Kingdom and South Africa in an effort to control a jump in coronavirus cases, President Alejandro Giammattei said on Friday.

The measure went into effect on Saturday and last through April 30, applying

to tourists who have been to those countries within the prior two weeks, Giammattei said in a public address.

He noted that Guatemala had registered 5813 new COVID-19 infections in the last five days, bringing the total in the Central American country to 210,667 confirmed cases.

"That has triggered our

alerts and forces us to have to decree a state of prevention immediately," Giammattei said.

Guatemala had previously enacted strict lockdowns and travel restrictions to prevent the spread of the virus, which has caused 7160 deaths in the country of 16 million people. (Excerpt from Reuters)

As Cuba turns page on Castro era, economic reform gains urgency

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aul Castro has formally handed over the reins of Cuba’s Communist Party after decades as its first secretary, stepping down Friday during the first day of the party’s eighth congress.

The changing of the guard in the country’s most powerful institution represents a shift from the revolutionary leadership of the Castro era to a new generation. It also comes at a time when the country’s economy is struggling and in urgent need of reform.

Cuba’s economy shrank by 11 per cent during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Government figures, and travel restrictions hit the island’s tourism sector — and the foreign currency it brings in — particularly hard.

But the pandemic is just the latest challenge facing Cuba’s economy. The country’s leadership has been slow to enact many incremental economic reforms laid out during its sixth congress in 2011. The ongoing United States embargo against the island, tightened by former US President Donald Trump, continues to

F

ormer Peruvian President Martín Vizcarra has been banned from holding public office for 10 years in a unanimous vote by the country’s congress after he allegedly jumped the queue to receive a COVID-19 vaccine.

Vizcarra was found guilty of influence peddling, collusion and making false declarations in relation to Peru's VIP Vaccines scandal which saw scores of Ministers and public officials receive Sinopharm vaccines before they were publicly available in the country.

Congress approved his temporary banning from public office by 86 votes in favour and zero against.

It also disqualified the for-

mer Health Minister Pilar Mazzetti from holding public office for eight years; and former Foreign Minister Elizabeth Astete for a year.

Both former Ministers received the vaccine and resigned during the subsequent scandal. However, all three have denied having used their positions to obtain early access to vaccines.

Vizcarra said in February he and his wife were inoculated in October of the previous year as volunteers for the Sinopharm trial in Peru - a claim the university hosting the trial denied.

The former President came to office in March 2018 on a promise to curb endemic corruption in public office

and ran the country until being impeached by Congress in November last year on separate corruption charges, which he continues to deny.

He had been due to take up a seat in Congress following elections in Peru at the weekend, having obtained the highest number of votes cast for any legislator.

Sinopharm’s clinical trials in Peru took place between September and the end of 2020 with about 12,000 volunteers. In addition, local managers of the trial received 3200 additional doses intended for personnel related to the research, host university Cayetano Heredia said. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Argentines rebel against new pandemic restrictions even as ICUs fill

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rgentines around capital Buenos Aires are rebelling against tightened pandemic restrictions, brought back in this week as daily COVID-19 cases surged to record highs.

The country's daily per capita cases have risen even above hard-hit neighbour Brazil.

The new measures kicked in on Friday. Set to run to the end of the month, there is an effective curfew after 8 pm, indoor activities are banned in public spaces, and schools are closed.

But many restaurants, gyms and bars appear to be defying Government orders.

In the Buenos Aires neighbourhood of Almagro, bar owner Marcelo, 63, said he did not intend to abide by the new regulations that only allow outdoor seating, saying he needed to protect the business he had run for 18 years.

When the coronavirus first appeared in South America last year, Argentina brought in a strict lockdown that initially kept a lid on cases but choked an already ailing econ-

Healthcare workers speak on the phone at an intensive care unit of a hospital prepared for patients suffering from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), on the outskirts of Buenos Aires, Argentina April 16, 2021

omy in recession for the past three years.

Cases ended up rising regardless as many Argentines were forced out of doors to make a living as poverty rates shot up to 42 per cent by the end of the year.

The restrictions have already sparked a battle between the Federal Government of centre-left President Alberto Fernandez and Buenos Aires' city Mayor

who strongly opposes the school shutdown and has said he was not consulted on the measures.

Fernandez said the country needs to gain time in the battle against the virus after daily cases hit a record 27,000 earlier this week.

The South American country has recorded over 2.6 million cases and is nearing 59,000 deaths. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Venezuelan paper ordered to pay US$13M to official in defamation case Investors, analysts and Cuban citizens will all be watching this weekend's congress closely — and seeing how many more of the country's socalled “historic generation” actually depart, as Raul Castro (centre) has.

That, experts say, will be crucial to knowing whether economic change is actually in the cards or whether business will continue as usual

bite. Meanwhile, shortages of essential goods including food and medicine — a problem before COVID-19 — have only worsened.

Castro, 89, is expected to support Cuba’s current leader, President Miguel Diaz-Canel, 60, as the next Communist Party secretary.

It’s a move, some analysts say, that could add a fresh sense of urgency to tackling the island nation’s festering economic problems.

Some experts think the transfer of authority could inject new thinking and new priorities into the leadership mix.

One of the most urgent economic issues to be tackled is making sure people can feed themselves.

The Government seemed to acknowledge the urgency of the crisis after Prime Minister Manuel Marrero said this month: “People do not eat plans.” (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

V

enezuela's supreme court has awarded US$13 million to top socialist party official Diosdado Cabello in a defamation case against a newspaper, but the paper's lawyer said on Saturday the outlet could not afford to pay.

Cabello, the second-highest ranking official in the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) after President Nicolas Maduro, sued the El Nacional newspaper in 2015 after it reprinted a Spanish newspaper article asserting US officials were investigating Cabello for alleged ties to drug trafficking.

Venezuela's Supreme Tribunal of Justice (TSJ) on

Friday ruled that El Nacional must pay damages to Cabello worth 237,000 petros, a digital currency launched by Maduro in 2018 tied to the price of oil. The petro's current value is US$56, according to Venezuela's central bank.

Juan Garanton, an attorney for El Nacional, said in a telephone interview on Saturday that the paper would ask the court to clarify how it arrived at that figure, a first step toward potentially asking the court to lower the amount.

Cabello denies any links to drug trafficking.

Neither the PSUV, the court nor Venezuela's Information Ministry re-

sponded to requests for comment.

El Nacional is part-owned by prominent Madrid-based Venezuelan journalist Miguel Henrique Otero and other relatives of his late father, Miguel Otero Silva, one of Venezuela's most celebrated writers.

Opponents of Maduro's Government accuse it of using the justice system to silence its critics, including in the media. The Caracas chapter of Venezuela's National College of Journalists on Saturday called the ruling "a further step toward the liquidation of freedom of expression in Venezuela." (Excerpt from Reuters)

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guyanatimesgy.com

SUNDAY, APRIL 18, 2021

Around the World

Queen Elizabeth stands alone as her “strength” Philip is laid to rest Q ueen Elizabeth bade farewell to Prince Philip at a funeral on Saturday that celebrated his seven decades of service and gave grandsons William and Harry the chance to talk in public for the first time since claims of racism threw the family into crisis.

Elizabeth, dressed in black and in a white trimmed black face mask, stood alone, head bowed as her husband of 73 years was lowered into the Royal Vault of St George's Chapel in a service attended by senior royals including heir Prince Charles.

Prince Harry, who flew from the United States to attend the funeral, walked and talked with his brother William and wife Kate at the end of the service - the first time they have spoken in public since Harry and his wife Meghan gave an explosive interview to Oprah Winfrey last month.

Britain's Queen Elizabeth is seen during the funeral of Britain's Prince Philip, husband of Queen Elizabeth, who died at the age of 99, at St George's Chapel, in Windsor, Britain, April 17, 2021

That crisis came as Philip lay in hospital. Officially known as the Duke of Edinburgh, Philip died aged 99 on April 9.

"We have been inspired by his unwavering loyalty to our Queen, by his service to the Nation and the Commonwealth, by his courage, fortitude and faith," Dean of Windsor David Conner said.

Philip, who married Elizabeth in 1947, helped the young queen adapt the

monarchy to the changing times of the post-World War Two era as the loss of empire and the decline of deference challenged the world's most prominent royal family.

In 1997, the queen described Philip as her "strength and stay" over their decades of marriage.

Now 94, she has reigned for 69 years.

Her husband's coffin was borne to the chapel on a bespoke Land Rover Defender TD 130 in military green

that Philip himself helped to design, as a minute gun fired eight times.

Philip's children and grandchildren followed behind on foot, evoking memories of the 1997 funeral of Diana when William and Harry - then just 15 and 12 - walked behind their mother's coffin.

His naval cap and sword lay on top of the coffin, which was covered with the Duke of Edinburgh's personal standard featuring the Danish coat of arms, the Greek cross, Edinburgh Castle and the stripes of the Mountbatten family.

A wreath of white roses, lilies and jasmine from the queen also adorned the coffin.

There were just 30 mourners inside the chapel because of continuing coronavirus restrictions in Britain. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Lebanon faces tough Ramadan amid “insane” food prices

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any Muslim families in Lebanon are struggling to afford iftar, the evening meal which breaks the daily fast during the holy month of Ramadan, as food prices soar amid the country’s worst economic crisis in decades.

Al Jazeera’s Zeina Khodr, reporting from Beirut, said that “for millions of people in Lebanon, food is becoming a luxury”.

She said that while Ramadan is an important event for Muslims, there were “few signs” marking the occasion in many Beirut

COVID-19 deaths pass 3 million worldwide

T

he number of people who have died worldwide in the COVID-19 pandemic has surpassed three million, according to Johns Hopkins University.

The milestone A man weeps as his father is comes the day afburied in New Delhi, India ter the head of Last week saw an averthe World Health age of 12,000 deaths a day reOrganisation (WHO) ported around the world, acwarned the world was "approaching the highest rate cording to news agency AFP. Up until a few weeks ago, of infection" so far.

India appeared to have the India - experiencing a pandemic relatively under second wave - recorded more control.

Cases had been bethan 230,000 new cases on low 20,000 a day for much Saturday alone.

Almost 140 million cases of January and February have been recorded since the a low figure in a country of more than 1.3 billion people. pandemic began.

Hospitals are running WHO chief Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus low on beds and oxygen. warned on Friday that "cas- Sick people are being turned es and deaths are continu- away, and some families are ing to increase at worrying turning to the black market to get the drugs they need. rates".

More than 860 million He added that "globally, the number of new cases doses of coronavirus vacper week has nearly doubled cines have been administered, in 165 countries over the past two months".

The US, India and Brazil worldwide.

However, Dr Tedros - the countries with the most recorded infections - have ac- told UN officials on Friday: counted for more than a mil- "Vaccine equity is the challion deaths between them, lenge of our time - and we according to Johns Hopkins are failing." (Excerpt from BBC News) University.

neighbourhoods.

“Gone are the lights, decorations and the vending stalls with traditional drinks that are staples on an iftar table.”

Lebanon’s economy and currency have been in freefall, reducing people’s purchasing power.

The Lebanese pound dropped to 10,000 against the US dollar in early March, and later in the month, it fell to an unprecedented 15,000. The currency has lost about 90 per cent of its value since late 2019.

A month of iftar meals for a family of five is now estimated to cost two and a half times the minimum

wage which is worth US$60 at the black market rate.

Lebanon imports most of its food and there have been shortages as the Government is running out of dollars.

The coronavirus pandemic has exacerbated socioeconomic inequality, with more than half of Lebanese families living in poverty.

Moreover, a political deadlock is adding to Lebanon’s woes as Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri and President Michel Aoun continue to be at odds over the formation of a new government and how Ministries will be allocated.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

COVID: Canada sounds the alarm as cases overtake US

T

he rate of coronavirus infections in Canada's biggest province has reached an all-time high as hospitals warn they are close to being overwhelmed.

A panel of experts say infections in Ontario could increase by 600 per cent by June if public health measures are weak and vaccination rates do not pick up.

Last week, for the first time since the pandemic began, Canada registered more cases per million than the US. About 22 per cent of Canadians have now received a first vaccine dose.

That compares to 37 per cent in the US. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the Federal Government would help Toronto, the largest city in the country, which has been hard-hit by the latest surge.

"We're going to do

whatever it takes to help.

Discussions are ongoing about extra healthcare providers, and we are ready to step up," he said on Friday.

New variants - especially the UK variant, B1.1.7 - account for more than two-thirds of infections in Ontario.

Even with vaccinations progressing, the expert panel warned that the number of new cases in Ontario could go as high as 30,000 a day - in a province with 14 million people, 38 per cent of the total population of Canada.

On Friday, Ontario reported 4812 new cases, its third straight day of setting new records since the pandemic began.

Hospital admissions and the number of patients in intensive care also set records for Ontario: 1955 and 701, respectively. (Excerpt from BBC News)

OILNEWS OIL NEWS Nigeria refines Energy Reform Bill to attract more Big Oil cash

N

igeria has sweetened the terms of a sweeping oil reform bill in a bid to attract much-needed investment to its oil industry, four people closely involved with the legislation said and a letter from oil companies, seen by Reuters, showed.

The proposed changes signal a shift by Africa’s largest oil producer and show the impact of an increasingly competitive environment in the energy business after 2020’s global oil price collapse and an expected shift to renewables.

Nigeria in 2019 had fast-tracked a law to boost its take of offshore oil revenue, a move industry experts said at the time could put billions of dollars of offshore oil investments at risk.

Now Nigeria has changed its stance in an attempt to balance its immediate revenue demands with the need to lock in long-term investment for its oil industry.

The reform bill has been in the works for two decades, but the contentious nature of changes to Nigeria’s oil sector, which provides 90 per cent of foreign exchange and nearly half the national budget, have scuppered previous versions.

In January, a fistfight broke out between local community leaders during one of the public hearings on the bill.

But with political alignment between President Muhammadu Buhari and the National Assembly, the measure is expected to pass this year, though likely not before late May, the people said.

Key changes to the bill would lower the royalties for new production from deepwater oilfields to 5 per cent from 7.5 per cent and boost the production level that triggers higher royalties from 15,000 barrels per day (bpd) to 50,000 bpd.

For onshore and shallow water oilfields, it would reduce the hydrocarbon tax to 30 per cent for converted leases, down from 42.5 per cent in the original bill.

The changes would also guarantee that state oil company NNPC’s assets and liabilities would transfer to a limited liability corporation. This will help oil companies to collect money owed by NNPC. In the letter seen by Reuters, oil industry executives pushed for more changes, particularly around gas development and “fiscal term stability” which provides assurance that there will not be any unexpected changes in the royalties and tax regime.

The executives said that “terms are not sufficiently competitive to stimulate the desired new investments.”

Oil companies have noted that Nigeria got just 4 per cent of the US$70 billion invested in sanctioned projects in Africa between 2015 and 2019.

Last year, oil industry analysts Wood Mackenzie had said Nigeria’s oil output could fall sharply without reforms.

Gail Anderson, research director with consultancy Wood Mackenzie, said of the changes to the bill: “It shows that (the Government) listened. They recognise the need to attract investment, not just in the Nigerian context but globally in the energy transition,” Anderson said.

“The competition is going to be more intense, and this is a move in the right direction to attain and attract investment.”

But Anderson also said that not all the gas terms in the bill were good enough to spur development, which Nigeria has said it wants for its “decade of gas.”

President Buhari originally sent the bill to the National Assembly in September. The legislative body has held two public hearings, but there have been a series of private consultations with stakeholders, including oil companies and community leaders that culminated in dozens of amendments.

Legislators worked over the Easter holidays to consider the amendments, which the executive submitted in March.

One proposed change, which would have instituted a mandatory review of fiscal terms every seven years, was removed after a backlash from companies concerned about stability of terms for projects with decades-long investment cycles. (Excerpt from Reuters)

FEATURE

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guyanatimesgy.com

SUNDAY, APRIL 18, 2021

ARIES (March 21April 19)

Make adjustments at home that help you feel comfortable and at ease. A blend of old and new will encourage personal growth and better relationships with the people close to you.

Do what’s necessary to TAURUS eliminate stress. Focus on life, (April 20May 20) love and happiness. Gather your thoughts. Set goals that will give you a chance to spend time with the people who bring out the best in you.

Be secretive regarding your GEMINI next move. Take precautions (MAY 28where investments, contracts June 20) and expenses are concerned.

Don’t take someone’s word as truth. Verify facts before you pass the information along.

Embrace change and enjoy CANCER life. Don’t fight the inevitable; (June 21if you make the most of whatJuly 22) ever comes your way, you will discover opportunities and new beginnings. Express your feelings and intentions.

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

Listen carefully, and you’ll gain perspective on an unstable situation. Once you know all the facts, you’ll find a way to turn any negative you face into a positive.

VIRGO

Make a physical or personal change that will lift your spirits. Look for a way to socialize safely. Virtual parties and networking events will lead to interesting connections.

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

Your curiosity will lead to all sorts of exciting ideas. Live and learn through experience, educational pursuits and exploration. A partnership will encourage you to use your skills in new ways.

(Aug. 23Sept. 22)

Dilbert

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

Peanuts

Do what makes you happy. Assess your situation, lower your overhead and put a plan in place that will help you reach your goal. Do what you can to eliminate disappointment. Romance is favored.

Information you receive SAGITTARIUS will be false. Before you de(Nov. 23cide to make a move or reDec. 21) spond to what’s going on around you, make sure you have your facts straight. Go directly to the source.

Don’t argue with someone CAPRICORN who doesn’t share your beliefs.

(Dec. 22Bypass controversy and concenJan. 19) trate on personal growth, meaningful relationships and positive change. Be honest with yourself and your loved ones regarding your feelings and plans.

Calvin and Hobbes

Take better care of your AQUARIUS health and financial well-be(Jan. 20ing. Keep your purchasFeb. 19) es and donations to a minimum. Avoid risky situations.

Stick close to home, and focus on making your place convenient and comfortable.

PISCES (Feb. 20Mar. 20)

Patience, understanding and compassion will help you avoid a misunderstanding.

Take comfort in spending time with a loved one. Personal improvement will pay off, and romance will enhance your life.

SUNDAY, APRIL 18, 2021

37

West Indies Sports Complex is 1st to donate to gears project for young cricketers

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ocated at 43 Robb Street, between Wellington and Camp Streets, the West Indies Sports Complex has been in existence for over four decades, and yesterday became the first entity to make a contribution to the ‘Cricket gears for young and promising cricketers in Guyana’ project, which has been endorsed by the GCB and organised by Anil Beharry and Kishan Das of the USA. Owned by the late Feroze Khan, a former Everest FirstDivision cricketer, and now run by his two sons Imran and

Javeed, the popular sports store has donated four junior bats and four pairs of junior batting pads to the project.

Yesterday’s donation was organised by former Berbice and Guyana off-spinner Sean Devers, who is now a cricket commentator and sports journalist with Kaieteur News.

The donation was presented by WISC cashier Rafeena Ganie to Anil Beharry, a former BCB president and Berbice cricketer, on behalf of the Khan siblings.

Beharry, a technocrat with responsibility for Good

Governance, Marketing and Finance of the GCB, provided a brief background of the “CRICKET GEARS FOR YOUNG AND PROMISING CRICKETERS IN GUYANA” project.

“With my recent (calling) on the GCB, I feel compelled to further the cause of cricket in Guyana, young cricketers in particular. This project is done in collaboration with Kishan Das of the USA, and will target young, talented cricketers in need of assistance with cricket gears. I will go…the length and breadth of Guyana to do talent spotting, and

Chelsea reach FA Cup final

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– end Man City’s quadruple hopes

helsea ended Manchester City’s hopes of winning an historic quadruple as they edged a closely-fought FA Cup semi-final at Wembley.

City and Chelsea had both secured their places in the last four of the Champions League this week, but Pep Guardiola’s side had their sights set on a unique haul of four trophies, as they close in on the Premier League title and also face Tottenham here in the League Cup final on 25 April.

Chelsea had other ideas, however, and they deserved the victory given to them when Hakim Ziyech slid home Timo Werner’s pass in the 55th minute to set up an FA Cup final against either Leicester City or Southampton.

Ziyech had a goal ruled out for offside before he scored, but that was enough to beat a lethargic City, who made eight changes from their Champions League win against Borussia Dortmund and now have the added worry of the sight of Kevin De Bruyne limping off injured in the second half.

Chelsea had a very late scare as keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga clawed away Rodri’s injury-time header, but manager Thomas Tuchel can now reflect on a hugely satisfying week as his impressive start at Stamford Bridge gathers momentum.

Chelsea finish a huge week in style Tuchel faced a huge week, as his fine start to life at Chelsea

was further shaped by the Champions League quarterfinal second leg against Porto, before this FA Cup semi-final meeting with a Manchester City side in hot pursuit of all four major trophies.

And it was no wonder Chelsea’s German manager was sporting a beaming smile at the final whistle, as this part of his mission was accomplished in excellent fashion.

City were seen off after Porto were beaten over two legs to leave Chelsea moving towards the climax of their season contemplating a Champions League semi-final against Liverpool’s conquerors, Real Madrid, and an FA Cup final.

No-one could begrudge them this victory, as Chelsea, from the first whistle, showed more purpose and drive than a laboured and much-changed City side.

Ziyech’s pace and finishing power troubled City from the start, and it was fitting that the man of the match slid in the winner from Werner’s pass, the latter getting his reward for tireless work.

There is organisation, efficiency and threat about this Chelsea side, and they have put themselves in with the chance of climaxing what started as a troubled season with silverware.

Man City run out of energy and inspiration Pep Guardiola always

played down the chances of what many regarded as the Holy Grail of winning all four big trophies - the Champions League, the Premier League, the FA Cup and the League Cup. And he was proved right, as City finally ran out of energy and inspiration at Wembley.

City are back here in eight days to play Spurs in the League Cup final, the Premier League is effectively sewn up, and they face Paris St-Germain in the Champions League semi-final.

This still has the potential to be magnificent campaign - the most spectacular and successful in Manchester City’s history - but there will be no quadruple.

Guardiola made eight changes here after the win away to Borussia Dortmund, although you could hardly describe the side he sent out as weakened.

City, however, just lacked spark. Raheem Sterling was subdued once more, and Guardiola will anxiously await the medical report on the injured De Bruyne.

Guardiola has huge faith in Ederson’s deputy Zack Steffen, his FA Cup keeper, but he was caught in no-man’s land when he came to solve the problem caused by Werner’s run for the goal.

The bottom line is that even a side as outstanding as Manchester City cannot produce results every time and this was one of those days.

(BBC Sport)

will also be guided by cricket club leaders to identify young interested talent,” Beharry has said.

“Persons who wish to contribute new and used cricket gear are free to make contact with me and Kishan of the USA on +1718 664 0896 to make your donation. I can assure you that accountability will be at the highest level.

Let’s join t o g e t h e r to provide opportunities to our young cricketers and keep them away from idleness, drugs and Cashier Rafeena Ganie of the West Indies Sports crime,” he Complex making the presentation to Anil Beharry as Sales Rep Renaldo Forinha shares the moment declared.

NBA ROUNDUP…

Embiid’s streaking 76ers halt Clippers

J

oel Embiid dominated as the Eastern Conference-leading Philadelphia 76ers held off the Los Angeles Clippers 106-103 in a blockbuster NBA showdown.

Embiid posted 36 points and 14 rebounds as the 76ers extended their winning streak to four games, while snapping the Clippers’ seven-game run on Friday.

After being outscored 20-3 early in the opening quarter, the Kawhi Leonard-less Clippers rallied to take the lead during the closing stages of the final period in Philadelphia.

But the 76ers (39-17) scored seven straight points to move clear 99-94, and never relinquished the lead, despite the Clippers’ efforts.

MVP hopeful Embiid – averaging 34.5 points and 11.0 rebounds over his last four games – became the first 76ers player with at least 36 points and seven rebounds in three consecutive games since Charles Barkley in 1990, while he is the first Philadelphia player with at least 35 points in three straight games since Allen Iverson in 2006.

Having topped Eastern Conference rivals the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday, it is just the third time in franchise history that the 76ers have claimed back-to-back wins against teams 20-plus over .500 after 1966 and 1983.

Paul George put up 37 points and nine rebounds for the Clippers (39-19), who also had a season-high 18 points from Patrick Patterson.

George joined Bob McAdoo, World B. Free and Leonard as the only players in Clippers’ history to have five straight games with 30plus points.

Mitchell hurt as NBA-leading Jazz beat Indiana Pacers The NBA-leading Utah Jazz (42-14) rallied to beat the Indiana Pacers 119-111 after All-Star Donovan Mitchell exited due to an ankle injury.

Mitchell suffered a sprained ankle in the second half, having scored 22 points before leaving in the third quarter.

All-Star team-mates Rudy Gobert (13 points and 23

rebounds) and Mike Conley (10 points and 10 assists) both had double-doubles, while Bojan Bogdanovic put up 24 points.

Randle dazzles to fuel Knicks Julius Randle’s 44 points and 10 rebounds led the New York Knicks past former team the Dallas Mavericks 117-109.

Randle became the first Knicks player since Bernard King in 1985 to record 40-plus points, 10-plus rebounds and five-plus assists in a regular-season game.

He also became the first Knicks player since Carmelo Anthony in 2013-14 to register multiple 40-point games in a single season.

The San Antonio Spurs lost 107-106 to the Portland Trail Blazers, but Dejounte Murray starred with 13 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists for his third triple-double of the season.

The last Spurs player with that many triple-doubles in a season was David Robinson in 1993-94.

MVP frontrunner Nikola Jokic finished with 29 points and 16 rebounds as the Denver Nuggets crushed the lowly Houston Rockets 128-99.

Russell Westbrook inspired the Washington Wizards’ 117115 overtime victory against the New Orleans Pelicans after scoring 10 of their 12 points in the additional period. Former MVP Westbrook tallied 36 points, 15 rebounds and nine assists finishing just short of a seventh consecutive triple-double. The league’s leading scorer, Bradley Beal, added 30 points.

A Kevin Durant doubledouble of 25 points and 11 assists guided the Nets to a 130115 win at home to the Charlotte Hornets. Miles Bridges put up a career-high 33 points for the

Hornets.

Jimmy Butler’s 30 points and 10 rebounds were not enough after the Miami Heat were upstaged 119-111 by the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Houston humbled It was a tough outing for the Rockets in Houston. Kevin Porter Jr headlined their woes after he finished one-for-nine shooting for four points in 32 minutes. He missed all three of his attempts from beyond the arc.

The Orlando Magic lost again, beaten 113-102 by the Toronto Raptors. Orlando’s Gary Harris was scoreless from the field. He was 0-for-seven from the field, while failing to make both of his three-point shots.

No-el!

New York’s Nerlens Noel made an emphatic block to deny Dorian Finney-Smith.

Friday’s results Utah Jazz: 119; Indiana Pacers: 111 Detroit Pistons: 110; Oklahoma City Thunder: 104 Philadelphia 76ers: 106; Los Angeles Clippers: 103 Washington Wizards: 117; New Orleans Pelicans (OT): 115 Brooklyn Nets: 130; Charlotte Hornets: 115 Toronto Raptors: 113; Orlando Magic: 102 Memphis Grizzlies: 126; Chicago Bulls: 115 Denver Nuggets: 128; Houston Rockets: 99 Minnesota Timberwolves: 119; Miami Heat: 111 Portland Trail Blazers: 107; San Antonio Spurs: 106 New York Knicks: 117; Dallas Mavericks: 109 (Sportsmax)

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Powerplay tussle

Kieron Pollard led with a quickfire 35

T

aking inspiration from two consecutive successful defences of middling totals at Chepauk, Mumbai Indians became the first team in this IPL to choose to bat and defend successfully.

Their 150 for 5 landed in the middle of the 152 and 149 defended in the two previous matches, but Jonny Bairstow, opening this time, threatened to run away with the game by taking three of

On this pitch, you do all your scoring in the powerplay, but also be mindful you don’t lose too many wickets trying to do so.

With Quinton de Kock struggling for his touch, Rohit Sharma took on the onus of scoring, registering 31 off 23 in the powerplay.

At 53 for 0, however, no side could claim the honours.

Shankar, Rashid squeeze on

As soon as the field spread, the game changed completely.

Shankar used the slowness in the surface to have Rohit caught at deep midwicket, and did the catching himself for the dangerous-looking Suryakumar Yadav.

The Sunrisers didn’t mind that Rashid Khan enjoys a great match-up against

the surface, finally found a Bhuvneshwar Kumar delivery in his slot and hit it for a six. The last ball wasn’t in the slot, but had enough pace on it for Pollard to send it over deep midwicket.

On a rare off night, Kumar ended up with figures of 4-045-0. Their 43 in the last four overs were the joint-highest effort at Chepauk this IPL.

Bairstow hits the ground running

The other change in the Sunrisers’ line-up was the dropping of Wriddhiman Saha and the promotion of Bairstow to the top of the order. It nearly proved right, as he laid into the New Zealanders Boult and Adam Milne. He hit three fours and four sixes in 15 balls in the first five overs. At 55 for 0 in five overs, the Sunrisers were possibly a good final powerplay over from practically sealing the chase.

Mumbai claw back

Rahul Chahar was once again among the wickets

the powerplay overs for 52 runs. However, the crafty Mumbai Indians bowling rallied around Jasprit Bumrah, who went without a boundary in his four overs for the fourth time in the history of the IPL. Rahul Chahar broke the back of the Sunrisers Hyderabad with three wickets in the middle overs, and then Trent Boult came back to wipe off any resistance, with a little help from Bumrah again.

For the Sunrisers, it was another case of WarnerBairstow or bust, and not for the first time since the start of the last IPL. Bairstow left the scene with 84 to get in 82 balls, which became 61 off 51 balls when Warner ran himself out, a fourth captain getting run out taking a quick single this IPL. Vijay Shankar, who had taken two wickets but dropped Kieron Pollard in the 19th over before Pollard caused the damage, kept the Sunrisers alive with 28 off 25, but Bumrah and Boult were too good in the end on a slow pitch.

Pollard and Hardik Pandya.

They used him from overs eight through 12 for just 17 runs.

When Mujeeb Ur Rahman came on to replace Khan, he removed de Kock, caught at deep midwicket for a 39-ball 40. Mumbai were 98 for 3 in 14 overs.

Mumbai win at the death, only just

It was now down to the best lower-middle order of the last IPL to drag Mumbai to a total they might feel comfortable with. However, Khaleel Ahmed, Khan and Mujeeb stifled them.

Mujeeb got Ishan Kishan caught down the leg side by the wicketkeeper, and Ahmed got Hardik. Leading up to the last two balls of the innings, no sixes had come in the last 27 balls. Between them, three of the four new players, Shankar, Ahmed and Abhishek Sharma, bowled eight overs for 48 runs and three wickets.

Pollard, dropped in the 19th over and, so far, shanking everything to midwicket because of the slowness of

Which is probably why Rohit went to Bumrah to close the powerplay out. He nearly got Bairstow out with a slower ball, but a two-run over meant the Sunrisers still had work to do now with the field spread out. There was no reason, though, for Bairstow to change his tempo. Unfortunately, though, his back foot slipped onto the base of his wicket as he looked to ramp Krunal Pandya, making him the fifth Sunrisers’ victim out of 13 hit-wicket dismissals in the IPL. Chahar, coming off a star hand in Mumbai’s win in the last match, then turned the screws. Manish Pandey, for a change, eschewed his anchor game, but with no luck as he hit straight to long-off for a seven-ball two. Then Warner went off for the fateful single with the ball hit straight to point.

Rohit smartly sneaked in two Pollard overs to exploit the slowness of the surface, and provide insurance should either Boult or Milne not be able to bowl out. From the end of the fifth over to the end of the 14th, only one boundary came for the Sunrisers, and that off a top edge.

The pressure was too much for an inexperienced middle order, and Virat Singh and Abhishek holed out in Chahar’s last over.

Shankar tries but in vain

With 47 required in five overs and the fifth bowler’s quota done, Rohit still went to Krunal to avoid bowling Milne at the end. Shankar hit two big sixes to keep the Sunrisers breathing, but Bumrah’s mix of slower balls and yorkers on the slow pitch raised the asking rate high enough for Boult to take advantage of the batters who had no option but to hit out at him. (ESPNcricinfo)

Quinton De Kock top scored with 40

SCOREBOARD MUMBAI INDIANS INNINGS (20 OVERS MAXIMUM) Quinton de Kock † c sub (J Suchith) b Mujeeb Ur Rahman 40 Rohit Sharma (c) c Virat Singh b Shankar 32 Suryakumar Yadav c & b Shankar 10 Ishan Kishan c †Bairstow b Mujeeb Ur Rahman 12 Kieron Pollard not out 35 Hardik Pandya c Virat Singh b Ahmed 7 Krunal Pandya not out 3 Extras (lb 6, nb 1, w 4) 11 TOTAL (20 Ov, RR: 7.50) 150/5 Did not bat: Adam Milne, Rahul Chahar, Jasprit Bumrah, Trent Boult Fall of wickets: 1-55 (Rohit Sharma, 6.3 ov), 2-71 (Suryakumar Yadav, 8.3 ov), 3-98 (Quinton de Kock, 13.5 ov), 4-114 (Ishan Kishan, 16.5 ov), 5-131 (Hardik Pandya, 18.4 ov) BOWLING O-M-R-W Bhuvneshwar Kumar 4-0-45-0 4-0-24-1 Khaleel Ahmed Mujeeb Ur Rahman 4-0-29-2 1-0-5-0 Abhishek Sharma 3-0-19-2 Vijay Shankar 4-0-22-0 Rashid Khan

SUNRISERS HYDERABAD INNINGS (TARGET: 151 RUNS FROM 20 OVERS) David Warner (c) run out (HH Pandya) 36 Jonny Bairstow † hit wicket b KH Pandya 43 Manish Pandey c Pollard b Chahar 2 Virat Singh c Yadav b Chahar 11 Vijay Shankar c Yadav b Bumrah 28 Abhishek Sharma c Milne b Chahar 2 Abdul Samad run out (HH Pandya) 7 Rashid Khan lbw b Boult 0 Bhuvneshwar Kumar b Boult 1 Mujeeb Ur Rahman not out 1 Khaleel Ahmed b Boult 1 Extras (lb 3, w 2) 5 TOTAL (19.4 Ov, RR: 6.96) 137 Fall of wickets: 1-67 (Jonny Bairstow, 7.2 ov), 2-71 (Manish Pandey, 8.6 ov), 3-90 (David Warner, 11.3 ov), 4-102 (Virat Singh, 14.1 ov), 5-104 (Abhishek Sharma, 14.5 ov), 6-129 (Abdul Samad, 17.4 ov), 7-130 (Rashid Khan, 17.6 ov), 8-134 (Vijay Shankar, 18.5 ov), 9-135 (Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 19.1 ov), 10-137 (Khaleel Ahmed, 19.4 ov) BOWLING O-M-R-W 3.4-0-28-3 Trent Boult 4-0-14-1 Jasprit Bumrah 3-0-33-0 Adam Milne 3-0-30-1 Krunal Pandya 4-0-19-3 Rahul Chahar 2-0-10-0 Kieron Pollard

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GLTA President Cristy Campbell

eneral elections for the Guyana Lawn Tennis Association (GLTA) were held on Friday April 16, 2021 at the National Racquet Centre on Woolford Avenue Georgetown, and Cristy Campbell has been elected to serve as President of this association.

Campbell defeated Anabel Sharma for the post by a margin of 113, while Nigel Niles has been elected First Vice

President, defeating Patrick Mentore 10-4.

Unopposed, Surendra Khayamme has been elected Second Vice President.

The other individuals elected to serve are: Secretary - Delon Fraser; Treasurer Ramesh Seebaran; Committee members Jamal Goodluck, Kimberly Conway, Marlin Henry, Renate Jordan. Returning Officer was Attorney-atLaw Sharon Small.

223-7230-1 (Ext 55)

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39

Will senior inter-county competition resume in Guyana?

– Foster, Massiah, Christiani and Barry in agreement

By Brandon Corlette

T

he last time a senior 4-day inter-county cricket tournament was played in Guyana was in 2015 – quite a lifetime ago in cricketing terms. In August 2016, Cricket Guyana Inc. (CGI) implemented a semi-professional Jaguars’ Franchise League which comprised eight teams from sub-districts of counties, but the dominant Essequibo stood as one team.

With the new Bissoondyal Singh-led Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) administration in place, and with what is described as a new dawn in Guyana’s cricket, the return of the longer version of the senior inter-county looms.

GCB Vice-President Hilbert Foster, Secretary of

the Essequibo Cricket Board Aotto Christiani; President of both the Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA) and the Demerara Cricket Board (DCB), Marketing Manager Neil Barry Jr; and GCB’s Chairman of Competitions Committee, Shaun Massiah, are all in support of the return of this senior inter-county tournament.

“Personally, I favour the return of the inter-county, but, as Chairman of the Cricket Development Committee, I will have to discuss it among my peers, and then we take it to the executives to be approved.

“I agree with playing the franchise and then select the best possible inter-county teams, but it is a work in progress, and I am confident

in it,” Foster revealed in a recent Sean Devers radio programme.

Foster also noted that his committee would include former national players and, before a decision is recommended to the executive, the players’ respective perspectives would be considered.

Meanwhile, Aotto Christiani also agreed with the return of the senior inter-county tournament, with matches being played in all three counties.

“Yes! For me, I do support the idea that we can have the inter-county. There is no way you can go against more cricket. The franchise has served its purpose in exposing a whole lot more players, but then, if you can have something else to be a direct feeder for first-class

Barry urges cricketers not to slack off

– continue practising in a Covid-compliant environment

Shaun Massiah, Neil Barry, Otto Christiani and Hilbert Foster

tournaments, I think it’s the best scenario. Something has to be between franchise and first-class cricket,” Christiani said.

Neil Barry, Jnr, said: “Of course I support the return of inter-county! An inter-county aids in preparation of the first-class players, and promotes ownership and representation; meaning players representing their county will understand what it is to represent their county fans.

“It’s important we get back to promoting that representation at the local level.”

Shaun Massiah, sharing his opinion, said he also would push for the return of the senior inter-county, even if it is a 3-day tournament.

“I want to see matches in Berbice, Essequibo and Demerara. For the inter-county and the franchise, I still believe we need to keep the first-division level strong. To me, the franchise takes away some of

the first division status, and it is weakened, and I think that needs to be strengthen, and could feed to franchise and inter-county,” Massiah explained.

He is also in support of trials, and said that, given the funds and discussion with the GCB executives, all this is possible.

Despite the senior inter-county being absent, the Guyana Jaguars have won five Regional 4-Day championships in the last six years.

GCA President Neil Barry Snr

The recently elected GCA committee

By Timothy Jaikarran

T

he COVID-19 pandemic continues its rampage in Guyana with its 3rd wave affecting the young and healthy. In response, the Georgetown Cricket Association has done the responsible thing by ending all cricket activities until a time deemed appropriate.

This 3rd wave of the pandemic continues to rack up numbers surprisingly quickly. In certain instances, there have been as many as 153 COVID-positive cases in one day.

President of the Georgetown Cricket Association, Neil Barry Snr, has noted that, with the spike in coronavirus cases, the associations would not restart cricket but would await the guidelines of the COVID-19 Task Force.

In an interview with this publication, Barry had this to say, “The GCA has taken the decision to suspend all cricketing activities that fall under its remit, and would be following the guidelines of the National COVID-19 Task Force to inform its plans going forward.

“Cricket, whether playing or training, is an interactive

sport, and, as such, a cautious and patient approach is necessary at this time. The GCA will continue to urge its members to adhere to the guidelines published and prioritise the safety of its membership and players. The executive will have further discussions, and would inform all concerned as to the best course of action that can be instituted to ensure a safe return to cricket playing.”

The GCA boss has deemed the pandemic a disappointing situation that is beyond human control, and he said all that can be done is to urge compliance to the guidelines and for everyone to trust that science can lead the world out of this dreadful virus.

Further, he relayed that young players would have to first understand the gravity of the situation, and ensure that they take all necessary precautions to protect themselves as they go about their daily lives.

Barry has reiterated that as it pertains to training and keeping fit, there are many online training and fitness programmes that players can access and use in the safety of their homes, or in wide open spaces where physical dis-

tancing is possible.

He related that while the pandemic has been with us for over a year, and necessity has driven innovation, which is available for persons to access digitally, the GCA Cricket Development Committee will meet to assess the new developments and develop programmes that would be distributed to GCS member clubs.

Barry is encouraging bowlers and batsmen to use this isolation period to work out whatever issues they have in their game. He also implored them all to return to the old ways of ‘ball and string’, as it would give them an avenue to practice in a safe way.

“Fitness is the key, therefore they must maintain that.

Also, the use of a ball suspended on a string can allow them to do batting drills safely at home. Most of the older cricketers are aware of these initiatives, and also they can communicate with their coaches and seek guidance from members of the GCA Cricket Development Committee.

“Bowlers, too, can use the opportunity, if they have the space to do spot bowling, to iron out issues with their run up etc.” Barry opined.

G

Shemar Britton

Chelsea Edghill

uyana’s campaign in the Latin American Singles and Mixed Doubles Table Tennis Olympic Qualifiers came to a sad end on Saturday morning following the elimination of Shemar Britton and Chelsea Edghill in the Mixed Doubles competition.

When Chelsea Edghill and Shemar Britton teamed up for that competition, they represented Guyana’s final bid for participation in the Tokyo Olympics of 2021.

T h e Guyanese duo, who have been playing together since their primary education days, came up against Mino Alberto and Nathaly Paredes of Ecuador in the Round of 16. Although

they put up a valiant fight, they were overwhelmed 4-0. Their sets unfolded 11-9, 11-8, 11-7, 11-9.

Earlier in the week, the entire four-member racket- wielding contingent battled in the first knockouts of the Men’s and Women’s Singles division. Although each of them lost their opening account, Edghill a n d

Britton were the standouts, registering respective losses of 3-4 and 2-4.

Thursday saw better returns for the Guyanese contingent, with their first and only victory in Rosario, Argentina coming when Chelsea Edghill defeated Paraguay’s Leyla Gomez 4-1 in the second round of the singles knockouts.

Advancing to the round of 16, Edghill’s fortunes changed, as she missed out 2-4 against Guatemala’s Mabelyn Enriquez.

Back in the Round of 16, in the second knockouts, Natalie Cummings suffered a 4-2 defeat, while Britton lost by the same margin. Additionally, Joel Alleyne lost 4-1.

The four-member team was accompanied to Argentina by Coach Idi Lewis.

SUNDAY, APRIL 18, 2021

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

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Will senior inter-county competition resume in Guyana?

– Foster, Massiah, Christiani and Barry in agreement

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