Guyana Times - Sunday, August 23, 2020

“Things P18 not nice, I could just cry, but that wouldn’t help” – struggling mother of 8 Nationwide coverage coverage from from the the best best news news team team in in Guyana Guyana Nationwide Issue No. 4386 guyanatimesgy.com

THE BEACON BEACON OF OF TRUTH TRUTH THE

SUNDAY, AUGUST 23, 2020

APNU/AFC Govt spent over $68M from taxpayers to retain private lawyers

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

Lindener dies in horrific highway P27 accident

Page 3

Queen Elizabeth looks forward to renewed opportunities between Guyana, UK Page 27

Granger Govt tipped off about Ponzi scheme, but never acted — AG Page 7

…ignored warnings, granted citizenship to Cuban at centre of scandal

Shuman, Ramkarran, Gouveia, appointed Govt advisors Page 28

P28 44 new COVID-19 cases recorded …11 persons in ICU

Thieves raid P12 Nabaclis, D’Urban St churches …escape with millions in equipment

11 Cubans P27 caught red-handed entering Guyana illegally Chief of staff briefed on P26 security, operations at Eteringbang

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SUNDAY, AUGUST 23, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

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

Sunday, August 23 – 14:30h – 16:00h and Monday, August 24 – 11:00h – 12:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

APNU/AFC Govt spent over $68M from taxpayers to retain private lawyers

Sunday, August 23 – 07:05h – 08:35h and Monday, August 24 – 07:55h – 09:25h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY

Thundery showers and light rain showers will prevail during the day. There will be light rain showers during the night. Temperatures should range between 22 degrees Celsius and 31 degrees Celsius.

Winds: Easterly to East North-Easterly to NorthEasterly to West North-Westerly to West SouthWesterly to South-Westerly between 1.34 metres and 3.12 metres.

High Tide: 07:33h and 19:53h reaching maximum heights of 2.72 metres and 2.67 metres.

Attorneys Mayo Robertson and Roysdale Forde

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ttorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall has disclosed that millions of dollars were spent by the APNU/AFC coalition to retain private lawyers for legal advice and several legal proceedings

Low Tide: 13:27h reaching a minimum height of 0.56 metre.

Attorney General Anil Nandlall

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COMMODITIES Indicators

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including the series of litigations regarding the NoConfidence Motion (NCM) as well as the electoral proceedings.

Nandlall, during a press conference on Saturday, noted that these are not all the retainer contractors, whereby private lawyers were hired by the Attorney General Chambers under the coalition regime. He noted that some of these matters are political cases, which the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) had contended while in opposition were largely “without merit” but his predecessor, Basil Williams, adamantly went ahead with them, filing one after another.

Nandlall posited that it was always a mystery who was funding the retention of these private legal services.

The set of retainer contracts that was disclosed by the new AG on Saturday amounted to more than $68.5 million.

These include a US$46.487.02 ($9.6 million) legal fee bill for Barbadian Queen’s Counsel (QCs) Ralph Thorne and Hal Gallop, who were retained by the APNU/AFC in 2018 to represent the State in the case challenging then President David Granger’s unilateral appointment of retired judge James Patterson as the Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM). The State eventually lost that case after the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) – Guyana’s apex court – ruled that Patterson’s unilateral appointment was unconstitutional, leading to his res-

ignation weeks later.

QC Thorne was paid US$30,920.97 and QC Gallop received US$15,566.05 for their work in that case.

According to Nandlall, this is just legal fees and does not cover flight and accommodation costs, which were all part of the retention contract.

Thorne was again retained by the AG Chambers when former Deputy Solicitor General Prithima Kissoon had filed legal proceedings to recover her salary, which was withheld while she was on administrative leave. The Barbadian Queens Counsel received $4.2 million for this matter, which the State also lost.

Attorney Michael Somersal was also paid $500,000 after he too was retained on the AG’s team for that case.

NCM hefty bill

Meanwhile, the legal challenges to the December 2018 No-Confidence Motion (NCM) had also racked up a hefty bill of legal fees, Nandlall said.

He disclosed that although the validity of the NCM was initially challenged by a private citizen, Compton Reid, the State had covered the legal fees for his lawyers - Rex McKay and Neil Boston - to the tune

Barbadian Queen’s Counsels Ralph Thorne and Hal Gallop at the High Court in Georgetown

of $12 million.

“Compton Reid was a citizen from New Amsterdam (East Berbice-Corentyne

cy… but yet the Attorney General Office has paid $12 million to Rex McKay and Neil Boston for this matter

Attorney Maxwell Edwards with former Attorney General Basil Williams during a recent virtual court hearing

Region) – a farmer, who claimed that he is filing this case as an interested citizen, interested in democra-

though they were appearing for a private citizen,” Nandlall posited.

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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

Local Content and Citizen Participation

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il was struck coterminously with the May 2015 elections. Yet, after widespread outrage over the terms of the contract signed by Raphael Trotman on behalf of the APNU/AFC in 2016, there was hope the coalition government would make amends and enact a robust Local Content Policy (LCP) legislation to ensure that Guyanese would at least share directly in some of the promised “oil wealth”. It was not to be: the first draft of an LCP was submitted in 2017; a second in 2018 – both by Trinidadian expert Anthony Paul, but inexplicably, a British Oil Consultant, Dr. Michael Warner, was hired for $22M to complete a third, which he did towards the end of 2019, but it never reached the halls of Parliament. As such, oil has being lifted since Dec 2019, to the tune of 100,000 bpd, but we still do not have an LCP policy framework in place.

This, unfortunately, has been par for the course for APNU/ AFC, which has always placed their own political interests ahead of the nation’s. There was no need, for instance, to drag out the elections declaration with their electoral hijinks, knowing full well that Guyanese stood to “lose corn and husk” by delaying the enactment of the LCP legislation.

It is to the credit of the newly-installed PPPC administration that, in addition to hitting the ground running from the moment they were sworn into office at the beginning of this month, they have moved to fulfil their promise made on LCP in their manifesto and on the campaign trail.

In January 2020, for instance, now VP Jagdeo had announced, “Exxon came here under the PPP. They were exploring for oil under the PPP. They found oil before the last elections (2015) and these people (APNU/AFC) came into office with a gift there. All they had to do was to protect our interests and they failed absolutely. The oil belongs to the people of Guyana, all 800,000 of us and it must benefit our people. The young people must have jobs, our people must get more business. There must be a strong Local Content Policy to force the oil companies to send business our way.”

One week into the new administration, VP Jagdeo announced that the Ali administration would be enacting LCP legislation before year-end, “which will be mandatory for companies to comply with”. He emphasised, “We have made it clear in the meetings with ExxonMobil that we want them to do well, but Guyanese must share this prosperity.

It is not sustainable otherwise, and we will insist that happens,” and added that Guyanese should have access to opportunities and employment within the sector. “There are several areas we have identified that have serious shortcomings which, in the near term or medium term, can bring enormous benefits to our people, and ExxonMobil has to treat these areas seriously.” More specifically, he mentioned the “inequitable” wages paid to Guyanese workers and the need for training more of the latter.

But in a marked departure from the cloistered modus operandi of the APNU/AFC regime, the Irfaan Ali PPPC administration signalled that it would be engaging in what has been described in other progressive jurisdictions as “Citizen Participation” on the LCP. Basically, citizen participation involves processes that provide for individuals in a community, an opportunity to influence public decisions that affect them. VP Jagdeo announced this policy shift when he spoke about the plans to ensure greater benefits flow to Guyanese citizens, “The President will meet with the entire Guyanese community through a series of meetings to listen to them on their views on local content. We will deal with it directly at that level so that people will be free to express their views. We have heard from the Guyanese public. We have seen how labour is treated and we have seen how the business or opportunities that could have come to Guyanese are farmed out to people… Exxon would have to look at this.”

Guyana has now embarked on economic development coupled with expanded democracy.

Guyana President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali on Saturday morning met with Ambassador of the European Union to Guyana, Fernando Ponz Canto, at State House to discuss areas of support and cooperation (Office of the President photo)

Changing country’s approach to oil and gas to benefit Guyanese Dear Editor, Our newly-elected People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) government now firmly in place following five months of vote- re-counting controversy, Our President Irfaan Ali and his Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo have recently turned the discussion over the country’s offshore oil developments to proposals to require oil and gas operators to invest in local content as a part of their ongoing license to operate.

“We are sticking to our commitment in ensuring that the industry as far as possible, provides opportunities for not only the local private sector but Guyanese as a whole here and in the diaspora, wherever the skillset is,” Ali told local media on Tuesday.

The Energy Department of the previous Government led

by President David Granger developed a plan for local content over the past year, but the country’s Parliament was not able to agree to legislation implementing its provisions in the midst of the election and its aftermath. Early this week, Vice President Jagdeo said he had retained Trinidadian local content expert Anthony Paul to advise the administration on how to move ahead in this area. Mr. Paul has consulted on previous efforts by the Granger government to develop local content policy, and has also helped develop similar plans for Ghana and other countries. Local content, which governs processes for

training and hiring local workers and establishing preferences for the acquisition and use of locally-made goods and equipment, is a standard and key part of any international oil and gas-related development. The key to an effective local content plan is to strike a balance that provides for proper benefits to the host country, its workers and business community, while also ensuring it does not inhibit the efficient development of the resource.

It is clear that many of our local workers working in the oil industry are being underpaid.

This is crucial, since the revenue sharing agreement governing distribution of proceeds from the production and sale of the oil and gas should benefit all parties. It is obviously any local content plan that results in further delays or requirements for operators to hire unqualified or poorly-trained workers simply to meet artificial quotas could further erode the revenue-sharing benefits to the Guyanese Government and people.

Again, striking the right balance is key. It should be noted that the Consortium has not been sitting still where local content is concerned, despite the lack of a formally-approved government plan. At an August 12 press conference, ExxonMobil detailed over US$67 million in local content investments the Consortium has made just during the first half of 2020. Those investments include:100,000 hours of train-

ing provided to Guyanese staff; an in-country ExxonMobil direct workforce that is more than 50% Guyanese nationals; an indirect workforce of more than 3,500 employees, again made up of more than 50% local citizens; goods and services purchased from more than 600 Guyanese suppliers; the international training of more than 50 Guyanese during Q1 2020, providing hands-on oil and gas experience to leverage in Guyana.

So a lot has already been done; however, it is not enough, the key for any plan governing future required investments is to ensure the striking of a proper balance. Local content is important, and certainly our Government’s desire for a workable plan that provides certainty is perfectly reasonable. But everyone involved should take a personal stake in ensuring that any final plan’s requirements do not become so stringent that they interfere with the efficient development of the resource.

Recently scores of oil and gas representatives met virtually to discuss the opportunities available to supply chain companies in Guyana, the direct message is oil is going to change Guyana beyond all recognition, and it is true that our Government is keen to ensure that Guyana benefits from its vast oil reserves, and supply chain companies will have to bear that in mind.

“Oil will provide the funding needed to expand infra-

structure, and there’s been recent commentary in the press here about a gas-to-energy power station to improve the lot of each and every citizen.

“The Government and the people of Guyana will also want to see more local investment and more jobs being created by any outside investor.

“The bottom line, we want to see Guyanese benefitting from any outside investment.

If a business wants to succeed here, they need to put in significant effort building links and partnerships with local firms.

The importance of benefiting the local population and ensuring as much money as possible stays in Guyana will be at the forefront of the mind of this Government.

“If anyone thinks they can come to Guyana, do work and repatriate all of their earnings back to their country, that is not how this new Government wants to work, and that will not be successful.”

Our newly elected Government of Guyana says it is seeking to change the country’s approach to oil and gas by ensuring benefits to every Guyanese from the offshore resources are maximized. The aim is to strike a balance between the country’s interest and that of the investors, who have been plugging billions of dollars up front into offshore exploration and development activities.

Sincerely, David Adams

Guyana should be wary of making T&T mistakes Dear Editor, Trinidad & Tobago has long been the example that everyone in the Caribbean envied when it came to oil and gas.

But the protracted decline that seems to have happened there should be a lesson for us here in Guyana. As Kevin Ramnarine, T&T’s former Energy Minister, has pointed out publicly, his country desperately needs to change its approach to contracts and exploration if it wants to remain a fossil fuel powerhouse.

For decades, Trinidad allowed oil exploration only on terms that greatly favored the

government. From profit sharing to strict local content rules, Trinidad was the gold standard.

Our own Government’s new local content consultant Anthony Paul was instrumental in developing these rules.

And for a while, companies were willing to pay that price and Trinidad benefitted. And then they weren’t. Fracking and other new technologies unlocked vast new deposits of natural gas around the world and suddenly Trinidad didn’t look so appealing. Companies took their investment dollars elsewhere. The country coasted,

depleting existing wells and remaining in denial of the problem for years until it finally has to face facts: offshore exploration off the coast has declined so much and for so long that now the country is running out of gas.

Look at the closing of Petrotrin in 2018 and the thousands of workers laid off in shutdowns of steel and ammonia plants and you will see what happens when a country that builds an industrial base around hydrocarbons runs out. Analysts estimate that Trinidad has maybe one decade of gas left and small dis-

coveries have not been enough to stop the plummeting revenues and dwindling sovereign wealth fund.

Guyana should be wary of making the same mistake.

Governments are right to want the most out of their resources, but there must be a balance.

Offshore exploration is expensive and risky. If the math of breakeven costs, government take, local content rules and global markets doesn’t work, they will move elsewhere. It’s just business.

Sincerely, Donald Singh

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

Authoritative leaders should not pre-arm the nation with follies for legitimate missives Dear Editor, As the names, faces, appointments and portfolios are announced, there are a variety of expressions of deep consternations, denunciations, suspicions, reservations, recommendations, acclamations and exclamations being pronounced across the board and on both sides of the fence, objectively and subjectively. Guyanese share mixed reactions, both positive and negative, appreciating, accepting, refusing and criticizing, as they vent their feelings and opinions, including, surprise, disappointment, approval, admiration, dislike, disgust, regret, sorrow, outrage, skepticism, neutrality and prejudice. The accolades and condemnations as elucidated by various enthusiasts simply reflect how favorable anxious Guyanese are to flavor their interpretations with variety, contingent upon knowledge, history, experience, performance, anticipation and projection. Of course, how credible, accurate and pertinent or imprecise, lenient and erroneous these predictions and predicaments are, remain inconclusive and only time will tell if ventilated with opportunity. But they are vociferous if not authoritative and are not scandalous nor presumptuous. One stigma that is of great concern and constantly echoed as a recurring sore thumb is the shared commonality of “baggage carriers!” Understandably, there is a dire need for seasoned performers as a default retreat for educated guid-

ance and discipline, but, why revisit a minefield that can again become explosive with confrontations and an affront to administrative vanity, curried with nepotism and cronyism? Both parties can ill afford this dangerous and slanderous engagement and pursue remedial alternative that promises the freshness of cleanliness with quality and quantity. Are these preconceived attitudes too hostile in nature and uncomfortable for entertainment or too judgmental in premeditation? Should remorse lend consideration for a second chance placement and possible reparation? Yet the dissents should not cease compatibility and create the entrance of complacency that may maximize the contempt and accusation, zoning into possible error, mistake, collusion, corruption, illegality and in-transparency. One should not rule out an open mind nor ignore a blind eye approach. This is essentially applicable to both sides of the divide. Prevention is always better than cure and thus, authoritative leaders should not pre-arm the nation with follies for legitimate missives but rather condescending towards a leniency for taking pride in good governance as their eager epistles.

Will the APNU/AFC Party function as a past entity or will they metamorphose into yet another innovation and again create disguised imitation of duplication? The coalition will perhaps fade into dissolution from an elimination process, trying to pre-

tend an aloofness and submerged in a thick cloud, only to re-emerge as a knight in shining armor but trapped in a dusty uniform. Regardless, the sum total of their inglorious and infamous carry-forward will again be their opening brought-forward balance and cannot depreciate but will appreciate due to the consolidation of the nescient bankruptcy that cannot qualify for any write-off allowance. What goes around does comes around and this idiom will stymie the characteristics of honesty and integrity in this nefarious case. How will those guilty ones qualify to debate with bravado and a straight face the government’s governance and accountability when they themselves are saddled with humongous corruptions? Will they dare challenge their own miscreants when these matters will surface for scrutiny in parliament or will they be forced to walk out and save face and embarrassment? In actuality, only the joinder seat can forcefully and respectfully represent the legitimate right to question and query such audited reports when they will arrive for discussion. Even though the personnel may be a new face, it is that very opposition party that remains guilty of fraud and misappropriation and will be on the receiving end instead of the forefront to lead the attack. They will have to adequately supply the much-needed answers which will be in great demand. This bridge over troubled water is dangling loosely

in the minds of fiddlers who are certainly far away from the roof and would perhaps preferred to be journeying on “The Orient Express,” but even that is contaminated with criminality, driven by a “sanctimonious gangster.”

Chances are, nice and spicy choices are limited and soon, “In the Heat of the Night” will be playing to packed audiences and dancers will have to face the music. The rhythm will be an uncontrolled beat accompanied by a melody that will not be harmonious.

The APNU/AFC Party has left the door wide open and will expose their fragility with one of their weaknesses, the lack of character for honesty and integrity. This will continue to haunt them for years to come and it is a stained blemish that remains on the conspicuous surface that will be a hall mark for ridicule and attack. With the coming of so many forensic audits, the reports will be uncomfortable for discussion and debate. There will be no recourse and the cry of shame will reverberate with a deafening echo. The honorable attorney general, the auditor general, the revenue commissioner and the police commissioner do have sleepless nights ahead to deal with all the humongous unraveling that threatens to reveal all the illegitimate transactions from the previous administration. Good luck, the chosen few will need it.

Dear Editor, Comments were made about the creation and appointment of a Foreign Secretary in the office of Ministry of External Affairs.

Some ask whether the position is not the same as a Foreign (External) Affairs Minister; others ask what does the job entail. I don’t know the job description when created in July 2019, or the duties of the person appointed earlier this week.

I studied International Relations and Foreign Policy, sub-fields in Political Science in which I earned an accredited doctorate. From my comparative studies, the two titles could be the same, and of course could be held by the same person.

In the UK, for example, the Minister of Foreign Affairs is called Foreign Secretary. In India, they are different. In addition to having a Foreign Minister, there is a Foreign Secretary in India. The current Foreign Minister of India, Dr. S Jaishankar, served as Foreign Secretary to External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj. Ravi Dev and I were their guests in August 2016 (Delhi) and Jan

2017 (Bangalore) to advise on policymaking towards the Indian Diaspora.

One of our recommendations was the summit of Parliamentarians of Indians in the Diaspora, that was actually held in January 2018 and attended by many from Guyana. As Ravi Dev would attest, when we met Dr Jaishankar twice (I had also met him several times earlier in New York in press conferences), he most impressed us. In our opinion, he was extremely brilliant, knowledgeable, experienced, and articulate in diplomacy, not surprising given that his doctorate was in international relations.

When the Foreign Secretary (FS) position was created in 2019 in Guyana to accommodate Carl Greenidge, who was forced to resign as Foreign Minister on account of his dual nationality, the position was borrowed from India. His duties and responsibilities were never defined, but were somewhat akin to that as defined for the FS in India. And the creation of the post was heavily criticized by the then oppo-

sition as well as in the media - creating a sinecure or featherbedding position to accommodate a political appointee.

As a specialist in international relations and foreign policy, my understanding is a Foreign Secretary is the second senior most position in the Ministry of External Affairs. He or she serves in an advisory role on foreign affairs. In India, the position is held by a senior career diplomat schooled in the field. Normally, the person is a graduate of the Foreign Policy Institute or the holder of a post graduate diploma (often a PhD) in international relations as was the case with Jaishankar. In India, the position is not given to a political appointee, but to a career diplomat or a senior person with foreign policy or international relations background. The person is also multi-lingual, since diplomacy requires communicating in several languages.

Jaishankar, for example, speaks Russian, Mandarin (Chinese), Hungarian, Japanese, and other languages.

The Foreign Secretary (FS) is a vitally important appointment, as the person has to liaise with the diplomats posted overseas to promote national interests.

The FS is different from the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, or Personal Secretary to the Minister, both of whom also have defined roles and are career diplomats. This is not to say that these positions can’t be held by political appointees or Members of Parliament.

Many countries choose MPs as PS. The FS informs and advises the Minister about issues relating to the interests of the country. The FS organizes diplomatic schedules and programmes and meetings of the Minister in cooperation with the PS. The FS helps to guide policy, easing the burden of the Minister to engage in more politicking to champion the nation’s external interests. The person is very skilled in the field, and is an asset to the Minister and, by extension, the Government.

Respectfully, Jai Lall

Explaining role of Foreign Secretary

Yours truly Dr. Vishnu Bisram

Political renewal depends on a positive political story Dear Editor, Installation of the new Government is to be welcomed as a step in the direction of political normalcy. At the same time, it would be a serious miscalculation to believe that pre-election normalcy is the goal to be sought.

The ethnic politics of the past half-century aggravated by winner-take-all elections have polarized the society into those who feel they belong and those who don’t.

The upside of the experience of the past six months has been to put beyond dispute that representative politics in Guyana needs to be complemented by participatory democracy. This is the only way to ensure that financial power does not overcome political power.

Unfortunately, the likelihood of electoral and other reforms emerging from within the current Parliament appear remote. Historically, neither of the major parties promoted electoral reform.

Moreover, the animosity generated between the parties in the past six months has probably wiped away any vestige of good-will to work together.

Finally, one seat majorities cannot be ambitious.

The electorate needs to believe that a modern political system cannot be achieved by continuing to hand over power entirely to ethnic vanguards. Political decision-making needs to be disseminated to levels where political choices can be made by people directly affected by them. Decision-making must be shared in a variety of ways and exercised at the lowest level at which it can be effective.

Fortunately, past recognition of these realities led to the creation of Article 13 of the Constitution which speaks to “…civic or socio-economic organizations participating in the management and decision-making processes of the State”. Its implementation, however, has never been a priority.

An opportunity to give teeth to Article 13 ought to arise shortly when the Natural Resource Fund (NRF) Bill is returned to Parliament for amendment. That Bill, focusing on the concept of a Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF), deals with the decision-making process for the receipts generated from petroleum sales.

Using wealth generated from commonly owned natural resources to fund universal benefits, an NRF can provide security for future generations. Mineral resources are a shared inheritance, converted by extraction into financial wealth. Current management of this inherited wealth globally is unsustainable. Huge losses at the time of extraction are ignored because oil wealth is considered to be ownerless ‘windfall profits’ rather than asset depreciation. Sale of assets is mistakenly treated by politicians

as money they can spend, instead of saving for future generations. This has resulted in many resource-rich countries consuming their wealth, partying today, but impoverishment tomorrow.

Guyanese citizens find themselves crushed between the market and the State, with oil companies hustling decisions and the State attempting to keep up by monopolizing domestic decision-making. The challenge for Guyanese is how we will develop a civic sphere of decision-making and accountability grounded in an economics of the common ownership of natural resources that treats both people and planet with respect.

Rather than the decorative role envisaged for civil society in the current version of the NRF Bill, the Government should build on the governance advances already made in Guyana in the form of the Guyana Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (GYEITI).

A multi-sectoral Committee (Government, business and civil society) has equal numbers of members, selected by the sectors themselves and equal decision-making powers. The EITI seeks in an Annual Report to list all the revenues the Government receives from extractive industries and similarly to list all revenues the industry claims to have paid. It represents a progressive expression of Article 13 in Guyana.

Replicating this structure in other areas would represent real progress in implementation of Article 13.

The current formulation of the NRF Bill has serious governance limitations, with proposed decision-making powers overly concentrated in the Minister of Finance and civil society having only functions with no powers to effectively influence decisions.

A responsible and innovative approach to management of the Natural Resources Fund such as outlined above provides every Guyanese with a reason to feel they belong and are involved. A new guiding story of this nature - encouraging people to feel they belong - is what the country needs. Political renewal depends on a new political story that is positive and propositional, rather than reactive and oppositional. It must reach across traditional political, class and ethnic lines, appealing to as many people as possible.

Sincerely, Policy Forum Guyana (PFG); BENAB Inc; East Coast Clean-Up Committee; Guyana Environment Initiative Guyana Human Rights Association; Guyana Society for the Blind; Red Thread; Rights of Children (ROC) Transparency Institute of Guyana Inc; Ursuline Sisters in Guyana

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Granger Govt tipped off about Ponzi scheme, but never acted – AG …ignored warnings, granted citizenship to Cuban at centre of scandal …new Govt working to recover monies owed to investors

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ttorney General Anil Nandlall has revealed that the very company now under investigation for operating a Ponzi scheme in Guyana has been in the crosshairs of authorities for some time, but their warnings to the previous A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government went unheeded.

During a press conference on Saturday, Nandlall disclosed that the relevant subject Ministers, particularly former Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan and former Minister of Citizenship Winston Felix, were alerted about the activities of Accelerated Capital.

“Based on the information I received, applications were made to the Bank of Guyana for a license. That was rejected. Applications were made to the Guyana Securities Council for license, that was rejected.”

Attorney General Anil Nandlall

“The investigations are continuing and I ask the members of the public to please understand that the Government is working to recover your money. That is the Government’s priority.

Because from all indications,

His wife also had an account with its highest balance at $459,000. Both accounts were closed in July.

On her own, his wife, Ishmael, had an account at Republic Bank she closed on August 22, 2020. Its highest balance was $341,000 and it had total deposits of $2 million. Ishmael also held an account at the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI), which saw total deposits of $1.5 million. It was closed since January.

“Previous accounts at commercial banks showed transactions, including foreign exchange transactions, which were small and insignificant. As the investigation continues, the Bank of Guyana will cooperate with the relevant authorities consistent with its regulatory responsibilities,” the bank said.

Dominguez and his wife were arrested on Thursday evening by Police, who are

The Bank of Guyana said the couple closed all their local accounts this year

“And under the previous Government, both the Bank of Guyana and the Guyana Securities Council (GSC) informed the various Ministers of this scheme operating without a license.

They received no response,” Nandlall explained.

In fact, Nandlall revealed that the former Government was warned about Yuri Dominguez, the founder of the company, but took no action. The result was that Dominguez was granted his citizenship under the watch of Felix.

“The gentleman is now a naturalised Guyanese. When his naturalisation advertisement was put in the newspaper, the Guyana Security Council wrote to the relevant Minister, Felix and Ramjattan, informing them of the historical antecedents of this gentleman. But those letters received no response.”

According to Nandlall, all indications point to millions of US dollars being involved in the scheme. Despite this, the company has no local bank accounts and authorities are having a hard time tracking down where the monies are.

if this thing was allowed to grow bigger, it would have ensnared more money. And right now, it’s millions of US dollars which cannot be found.”

Closed accounts

Meanwhile, the Bank of Guyana has revealed that Dominguez and his wife, Ateeka Ishmael, closed all their commercial accounts at various banks in Guyana earlier this year. Bank of Guyana confirmed that as such, they have no current accounts in Guyana.

The Bank released the embattled couple’s financial information in a press statement on Saturday. One account in Dominguez’s name was closed in April 2020. Its highest balance at the time was $200,000. Another account at Baroda in his company’s name was closed in April. Its highest balance was $14.6 million and it had seen a total of $21 million deposits.

Dominguez also held an account at Demerara Bank Limited, where his highest balance was $2.3 million. That account had total deposits of $3.5 million.

currently investigating his company. At the same time, social media has been flooded by complaints from persons who invested money with the couple and never got back their capital, much less the profits.

Persons have complained on social media that they invested varying sums ranging from $100,000 to over $1 million, but now they do not know if they will ever recover their hard-earned money.

ACFI was established by Dominguez, a Cuban, and his wife. They have been operating in Guyana since 2018. However, the GSC, after becoming aware of the operations, had issued public notices in October 2019 and January 2020, notifying the public that Accelerated Capital Firm (formerly “Accelerated Wealth Inc”) is not licensed by the Council to conduct securities business in Guyana or to solicit investments from the public.

As such, after the matter was brought to the attention of the Government, it has assembled a high-level team headed by AG Nandlall, and includes the Commissioner of Police, the Governor of

the Central Bank, the Head of the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) and Head of the Guyana Securities Council.

Pursuant to Securities Industry Act 1998 and Regulations thereto, the Security Council had requested from ACFI, detailed information and documents pertaining to its principals and the operations of the organisation. To date, the information has not been submitted and GSC had said the application will not be processed unless the requisite supporting documents are submitted.

The GSC had also written Dominguez, to cease and desist from advising clients that the reason for non-payment to their clients is that the Council is in the process of granting a license to ACFI. In fact, the GSC had made it pellucid in its correspondence that it would have no choice than to apply the full force of its mandate

Yuri Dominguez and his wife, Ateeka Ishmael

to ACFI since the application dated August 5, 2020, has not been approved.

Thousands of Guyanese citizens have enrolled in the Ponzi scheme where ACFI claims that it uses a foreign exchange platform to trade and it seems that all aspects of the scheme operate online via training webinars, WhatsApp and emails.

The methods of payment

used to invest and trade are credit cards or by wire transfer.

Further, investigations have revealed that local banks have terminated the accounts of both Dominguez and Ishmael, and refused their request to open a corporate account as a result of their due diligence and the public notice by GSC in the print media. (G3)

8 NEWS

SUNDAY, AUGUST 23, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

“Brukup” appeals life 5 nabbed with sentence for nightclub illegal gun, ammo murder

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The .22 Smith and Wesson pistol along with eight live matching rounds of ammunition

F

ive persons were nabbed by Police after they were found with an illegal firearm along with matching ammunition.

Reports are between 18:00h and 20:00h, Police while patrolling in the Diamond/Grove area on the East Bank of Demerara (EBD), noticed the five men on a veranda acting in a suspicious manner after notic-

ing the police vehicle. This prompted the law enforcement officers to conduct a search of the men during which one .22 Smith and Wesson pistol, along with eight live matching rounds of ammunition were found.

They were all arrested and taken to the Diamond/Grove Police Station. They are being processed for court.

32-year-old mason, who was earlier this year sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of Sunil Singh, who was knifed to death during a row outside the Blue Martini Nightclub in 2017, has now moved to the Court of Appeal (COA) to challenge the sentence.

Shawn Harris, called “Shawny” or “Brukup,” formerly of Lot 40 Bougainvillea Park, East Bank Demerara (EBD), and Lot 131 Pike Street, Kitty, Georgetown, was sentenced by High Court Judge, Justice Jo-Ann Barlow after a 12-member jury found him guilty of murder.

Harris, a father of three, was handed a life sentence with the possibility of being eligible for parole after serving 20 years. However, in his appeal, he is contending that the conviction cannot stand given the lack of evidence during the trial.

State assets…

T Guilty of murder: Shawn Harris, called “Shawny” or “Brukup”

He further argues that his sentence is excessive and severe in all the circumstances of the case.

It was alleged that on February 5, 2017, he unlawfully killed Singh, also known as “Grey.”

Guyana Times had previously reported that Singh was fatally stabbed in the nightclub when he attempted to rescue an employee who was being attacked by three men.

The men attempted to enter the premises after closing hours but were informed by the bartender that they could not enter.

This led to an argument, and during the subsequent altercation, the now convicted man whipped out a knife, stabbing the employee, which led to Singh intervening. Singh, in the process of assisting the employee, hit Harris, who turned around and stabbed him about his body.

Singh was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) and was pronounced dead on arrival.

Harris was also charged, along with three others, in connection with the Bank of Baroda robbery committed at its Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara (ECD) branch on January 22, 2016.

…Recovery or disposal? oo bad the new Government announced they’re disbanding the State Assets Recovery Agency (SARA) forthwith. Maybe they could’ve sicced them on Christopher Jones to recover all that barbershop equipment he had holed up at his house? Can’t you just see Clive Thomas (80?), Tacuma Ogunseye (75?) and Desmond Trotman (78?) tooling up to seize the (allegedly?) purloined barber chairs and air conditioner, and stuff? If you’re wondering why that other member of the SARA fearsome, foursome – Eric Phillips – wasn’t mentioned, it means you forgot he’d quit when it was pointed out last year that he couldn’t very well investigate the (allegedly) shady sale of some oil blocks, when he’d filed an application for one!!

As it was, the Police had to do the dirty, and all sorts of (PNC) fingers are being pointed at them about the legality of their action. Seems it doesn’t matter that the law says when there’s incontrovertible evidence that you have the loot, the Police don’t need a warrant!! Quite a situation, isn’t it? Here it is, the Police are always catching hell about them not doing their job…and the one time they do…BRAPS! The PNC’s all over them like a cheap suit!!

Now, your Eyewitness doesn’t want to get into all the nuances of the case – that’ll certainly come out in the courts - but from his perspective, the moment he heard that a high-flying DIRECTOR OF SPORTS was able to get a $4.9M GRANT (meaning he doesn’t have to repay anything!) to open up a BARBERSHOP, he knew things na regulah!

But back to SARA. It was launched back in 2017 with great fanfare – not to mention great powers - when the top figures: Director Thomas and his Director HeathRetemeyer - drawing great salaries – were directed to go after the “billions and billions” Thomas had announced the PPP had “siphoned off” for years. Your Eyewitness always had this mental imagine of the PPP “sucking up” assets through a hose leading to the Public Treasury!!

So how much assets have the Fearsome Foursome recovered to date? Zilch! Nada!! That’s right!! Now, you might think the fellas were too old and decrepit to actually go out to “recover assets” as mandated, but we were just told they had FORTY EMPLOYEES!! Can you believe that?? Three years, forty employees and HALF a BILLION DOLLARS expended in salaries and you haven’t even recovered (in the words of VP Jagdeo) $100?? Now, something has to be done about this!! A COI? Thomas was writing his columns for the Stabber; Ogunseye was defending APNU by writing those novellas to the press, and Trotman was at GECOM to back up Alexander on the rigging.

But what were those FORTY employees doing all this tim e?? …and Opposition Leader’s assets Well, by the time you read this, your Eyewitness won’t be in Phoenix, but Joseph Harmon would have certainly been “elected” the next Opposition Leader. Your Eyewitness has placed “elected” in scare quotes, cause how else can you describe how he got the position?

Rigging? Well, come to think of it, Granger did rig the system when he didn’t even send the most senior member of the PNC – Chairwoman Volda Lawrence – to Parliament? And for good measure, he also barred oldline PNCites Aubrey Norton and Basil Williams?? Each of them would’ve eaten up Harmon and spat him out in any fair process where PNC members were voting!! Harmon was unopposed.

So, since Granger, Harmon and a few of those Granger is sending to Parliament – Anette Ferguson and Nicoletter Henry come to mind – are soldiers, can we say there’s been a “military coup” in the PNC?? But who is your Eyewitness to say? It’s a PNC thing! …and paying legal fees After seeing the obscenity of those legal fees doled out from the Treasury to “legalise” the PNC rigging, one has to ask, “How many times can a PNC supporter turn his head/And pretend that he just doesn't see?”

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

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SUNDAY, AUGUST 23, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

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SUNDAY, AUGUST 23, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

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SUNDAY, AUGUST 23, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

For Equality in Diversity

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he anthropologist MG Smith was criticised on his ‘culturally plural society’ model he applied to several Caribbean societies, including Guyana. “Too static”, it was claimed: it merely described what existed, and did not suggest a mechanism of change.

He retorted tartly he’d pointed out that invariably the different cultural segments were ‘differentially incorporated’ into the power relations of their societies, and the angst arising out of this fact in and of itself initiated change.

I’ve always felt that the political scientists and economists who pontificate on our national policies ignore MG’s insight to our general peril. As citizens of states that promised equality, their lived experiences inevitably determined how they felt about the attainment (or not) of that egalitarian promise.

Their experiences were filtered through their cultural lenses, and it should not surprise any if the several groups (defined culturally here as “Afro, Indo, Ravi Dev Mixed, Amerindian or Chinese Guyanese) are differentially into the power structure, political consciousness would cleave along cultural (read ethnic) lines.

After decades of focusing on an economistic notion of equality, there is still not an appreciation of the need for cultural equality also. There are some who posit that if we have economic equality among the various ethnic groups, our troubles would be over. I’d like to vehemently disagree. We are not homo economicus…but more like “homo culturalicus”. Each group in Guyana has an economic elite, but we have not seen these elites making common cause over the past half century.

Part and parcel of the ‘power relations’ is who gets to define what is the national culture – in the Caribbean, the Brown Creole Elite - to which all groups have to genuflect. And it is the differential incorporation of the various cultural groups in this equation that our policies on “multiculturalism” must address. Multiculturalism demands that society present a full range of prospects, membership, and respect to all its members – regardless of cultural and religious differences - while also creatively accommodating them in a fashion that is both morally persuasive and practically effective for the majority of society.

I would suggest that we have to start from the very top: the Ministry of Culture. The name itself – “Culture” - suggests a singular, monolithic, “taproot culture” that is being promoted. We can do worse than change the name of this ministry forthwith to “Ministry of Multiculturalism”: its mission would be much clearer.

While Guyana has never bothered to come up with a programme on “multiculturalism”, there is the ritualistic incantation of Guyana being “multi-ethnic” by the authorities. And, maintaining the “One People; One Nation, One Destiny” exhortation of the national motto, they ironically chant, “Unity in Diversity”.

The question is: how do we make this aspiration more concrete?

How do we measure this ‘unity’, and how do we ensure that it is not a stalking horse for assimilation through the back door? We have spoken before of seeing identity as “rhizomatic”, or multiple, rather than “tap rooted” and single, and suggest that our motto be “Unity in Diversity through Equality in Diversity”. One definition of ‘multiculturalism’ suggests it is “A systematic and comprehensive response to cultural and ethnic diversity with educational, linguistic, economic and social components and specific institutional mechanisms". This suggests areas in which we initially pursue equality.

Now, we want to emphasise we are not emphasising any ‘separatist ideal’ in which each group lives in a hermetically sealed enclave. We are, rather, suggesting that the ‘equal treatment in culture’ imperative - if implemented and becomes real - will eliminate the barriers of hauteur and exclusion which inevitably trigger reactions of resistance. We believe that when we deal with each other as equals, there would be the inevitable cross-cultural fertilisation (in all directions), and not one-way; that is: seen as top down.

With the State out of the ‘culture’, it could instead engender and promote a feeling of “Guyaneseness” among our people through the conscious construction of a democratic state - the creation of conditions in which we are all treated as one, equally, by the state. Equality of opportunity; human rights, encouragement of diversities, due process; justice and fair play and rule of law may seem dry compared to the warmth of the blood ties of “nation”, but they can engender the unity of public purpose and the recognition of individual worth, where we can be proud of our common citizenship.

Citizenship of Guyana has to become something that has concrete meaning for all of us.

12 NEWS

SUNDAY, AUGUST 23, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Thieves raid Nabaclis, D’Urban St churches …escape with millions in equipment

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olice are on the hunt for a group of persons, who broke into the Mount Olivet Wesleyan Church in Nabaclis Public Road, East Coast Demerara (ECD), and carted off with over $1 million in equipment.

Reports are the incident occurred at about 02:30h on Thursday. According to information received, the

This church was ransacked by the bandits

caretaker of the church went to clean the place of worship on Friday afternoon but she realised that something was amiss when she noticed the locks on the gate were broken.

The woman said she then proceeded into the compound, and discovered the locks on the doors were also broken and some boxes that were in the building were outside the church door.

When she entered the building, she realised that all of the equipment that the church recently purchased, was missing. The pastor’s office was also broken into and ransacked.

She said that she raised an alarm and the police were summoned.

Guyana Times understands that on Sunday last, the pastor had made a public announcement that the church was entering into a new church year, and they have one last payment to make to clear their debts on the equipment.

When CCTV footage from the area was reviewed, it showed that a car was parked outside the church on Thursday morning, and a man walked toward the church gate.

Shortly after, the lights of the church went off.

After reviewing the CCTV footage, Police now believe that someone from

The church door that was broken

within the church might have some knowledge about the robbery, since the lights were switched off just before the robbery occurred.

The thieves made off with a generator valued at $385,000, a laptop valued at $100,000, two projectors at $230,000, a JBL self-powered speaker at $131,000, a Behringer at $95000, a crossover that cost $36,000, an amplifier that cost $132,000 and mixer valued at $131,000, among other items.

Police are now in the

process of locating the suspects, and the pastor is asking anyone who might have any knowledge about the robbery or the items, to contact him on 6480759 or 2292136.

Also, on Thursday, bandits broke into the Outreach Ministries International located at Lot 26 D’Urban Street, Lodge Georgetown, that is pastored by Public Works Minister, Juan Edghill, and also made good their escape with their equipment.

Investigations are underway.

FEATURE

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SUNDAY, AUGUST 23, 202O | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Working on the COVID frontline…

Linden Doctor remains resolute working during a global pandemic

By Utamu Belle

T

he coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has shifted the focus of the world. On the frontline, battling this virus, are a number of healthcare workers who are putting their lives at risk to ensure that we are all safe. They are working above and beyond the call of their duties without even complaining.

Among those frontline workers putting their lives at risk is young Dr Delleana Anderson-Boreggo Almaguer. The 27-yearold General Medical Practitioner and Government Medical Official is attached to the Linden Hospital Complex (LHC) Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) for almost a year and has now found herself on the medical frontline, battling in the fight against the COVID-19 global pandemic.

“It brings out the bravery inside of me also. Even though there are persons walking around or coming to the hospital who could have this deadly virus that can possibly infect me and I can lose my life depending on the extent of the infection. I am still willing to go there to face the virus and to help somebody who possibly may be suffering from itto treat them, to give them the best care that they need,” she says.

When the virus first hit Guyana in March of this year, the doctor was working in the Surgical Department of the hospital after working in Pediatrics. Little did she know that the usual daily routine was about to change.

Dr Anderson- Boreggo Almaguer told the Sunday Times Magazine that joining the fight against the Corona Virus at such an early stage in her career has changed her life as a Medical Practitioner in more ways than one. For one, she explained that it has challenged healthcare workers to practice more preventative forms of medicine.

“As a frontline worker, COVID-19 has impacted my life in so many ways. It made me as a health professional practice more of what I preach. Sometimes, we kind of overlook some of the things that we would tell patients to do. However, the coronavirus encourages me to basically be more alert and more health-conscious myself.

“Also, it has helped me to practice more preventative forms of medicine instead of a curative form because normally, especially here in Guyana or at the hospital we usually just try to cure or treat whatever illness may present (itself). But with this coronavirus, it has actually helped doctors and frontline workers to promote preventative medicine, basically educating the population on some of the things that they can do to be healthy,” Dr Anderson- Boreggo Almaguer noted.

With the increase in the number of cases country-wide over the past few months, the Doctor said she has now become more aware of how she carries out her duties and determined to do so in a safer manner. She explained that she is more so aware that the virus can affect anyone at any time and no one is invincible- even healthcare workers.

“You have at the back of your mind that this thing is real...first like how we used to be at work kind of carefree and taking risks, it kind of instils a certain amount of fear in you whereby it’s not like you’re afraid to do the work but you have that tingling behind your head that ‘I can get infected’...but in the same note, it kind of brings out the bravery inside of me,” she noted.

In her line of work, Dr Anderson- Boreggo Almaguer said she encountered a patient who was considered a “possible case” before them being confirmed or cleared for having the virus. This experience, she noted did not affect her level of work ethic as a certain level of this is required as a healthcare

professional, especially working amidst a global pandemic. In dealing with a potential case, she said the patient must be treated with the same level of care and respect as any other. The only difference, she explained is that she ensures that she wears her correct Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to eliminate any possible risk of spread.

These days, she noted a lot has changed with regards to her work environment. The usual intake of patients has decreased due to health and safety measures put in place to flatten the curve of the virus. This, the Doctor noted, has also allowed healthcare professionals to manage some of their patients that would otherwise be taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital for treatment.

“Patients that we would normally take to Georgetown for further treatment, we had the opportunity of treating them right at the Linden Hospital Complex and that was amazing because a lot of times I feel as though we diagnose patients, we know what they’re to be treated with but we don’t get the chance to do it because we have, probably limited resources or maybe it’s protocol for that patient to be managed in Georgetown,” she explained.

The usual operations within the surgical department have now changed to cater for emergencies only, the Doctor cited.

Presently, Dr Anderson-Boreggo Almaguer is working in the Internal Medicine Department which she described as being quite hectic. She works daily, but go in to work from 8:00hrs when ‘on-call’ and leaves after midday the next day when on ‘post-call’. The changes as it relates to limited time for patients to visit the hospital, she indicated had led to an influx of patients with diabetes-related illnesses and elderly patients with various illnesses. Nevertheless, she said staff have been working around the clock.

“We have been working really hard to get things under control. The fact that we are very short of staff our ‘on calls’ are basically every 2 days, and sometimes 1 person would work the entire weekend just so the others can kind of rest and then we’d basically rotate. It has been hectic. I feel as though my stress level has gone up but I am smiling because it’s amazing how I can see somebody come to the hospital thinking that they’re going to die...and the feeling that I get when I tell them what it is...we’re going to help you,” this she noted is quite rewarding.

Dr Anderson- Boreggo Almaguer said her professional life has stepped up a notch owing to the pandemic; however, it has not had much impact on her social life.

“Healthcare professionals are one of the most essential workers in this time so if anything, I think work has stepped up its game.

In terms of social life, certain things you cannot do- social gatherings and so many things so it’s sort of quiet...however, I was not accustomed to being in crowds and going to all these social events so I don’t think the coronavirus changed my life or affected it in that way. For some reason, I feel as though the coronavirus was maybe a blessing in disguise because this, everyone was busy working. Being the person I am I love family, I am very family-oriented, so the coronavirus made a lot of people be at home and gave me the opportunity to catch up with them whenever I have free time- while practising social distancing and good sanitization,” she said.

With Guyana recording over 700 confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus, the Doctor explained that it causes her to look at what more she can do to assist in terms of prevention and even research for a possible cure.

“I made a commitment to myself that whatever patient comes in contact with me I’m going to give them the best care...at least I can feel happy that how many I have seen

Dr Delleana Anderson-Boreggo Almaguer

were taken care of and they have the education they need to stop the spread of the virus.

Mentally I feel as though we’re going to get somewhere,” the young doctor said.

While she explained that there are challenges with a shortage of protective gears, she said the staff tries to prioritize usage.

The Doctor also pointed out challenges in trying to have professionals wear protective gears at all times and not practising protective measures correctly. Speaking from experience, she said setting the right example

can impact others even with simple guidelines such as hand washing. As such, she advises other frontline workers to continue the good work and to set the right example in such a crucial time.

“I would like to encourage you to not give in to your fears. Do not run from this, it’s everywhere. Let’s continue the good work together and fight because if we give in to fear the virus is going to take control, but the more we fight we will show it that together we are stronger,” she advised.

14 FEATURE

SUNDAY, AUGUST 23, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Combatting COVID-19 on the frontline…

Medical Student Rocky Singh’s passion for service led him to COVID-19 Surveillance Team

By Lakhram Bhagirat

S

ervice to people is somewhat ingrained in 22-year-old medical student Rocky Christopher Singh. He knew he wanted to serve the Guyanese people and humanity at large from a very young age and never lost sight of the end goal.

It was only practicable that when the coronavirus made its way to the local shores, Singh asked: “how can I help?”

He knew that he needed to be involved not only because he is a student at the University of Guyana School of Medicine but also because he knew what needed to be done. He saw the opportunity to work on the frontlines as one that would only increase his knowledge and further fuel his passion for service.

Upon completing his solid secondary school educa-

tion at both Tutorial and St Rose’s High School, he enrolled at UGSOM and started his career in medicine.

He notes that the goal as always been and continues to be positively impacting the lives of others.

Currently, being in his final year, it is as though the light at the end of the tunnel of becoming that physician he always dreamt of being, suddenly became blur within just a few months. Of course, that blurriness is attributed to

W

the COVID–19 pandemic that we’re all faced with.

Like many of us, he is now centred amidst the four walls of his bedroom, which has now become my school, study spot, chill spot, in addition to just being part of his home. For him, it becomes frustrating and he is somewhat disappointed since the practical aspect of his academic journey has become more or less standstill. He explains that the final year courses require clinical practice along with patient interactions – something that is not possible with the nature of the pandemic and the diversion of all resources.

On the flip side, over the past few months, his school has been trying to adapt to the pandemic by instituting virtual teaching sessions and by also putting other measures in place to better meet the students’ requirements. This has to him

having more time to continue his service to humanity and he found himself at the Ministry of Health volunteering firstly with the COVID-19 Hotline Team.

He started shortly after Guyana recorded its first case back in March intending to simply help to combat this pandemic in any way possible. As the numbers continued to rise, Singh’s knowledge was called upon and he was transferred to the Surveillance Unit since the workload there had in-

World Humanitarian Day #RealLifeHeroes

orld Humanitarian Day (WHD) is celebrated every year on August 19. On this day, the world commemorates humanitarian workers killed and injured in the course of their work. This year, the EPA joins in honouring all aid and health workers, who continue, despite the odds, to provide life-saving support and protection to people who are most in need. Thank You! Background The terrorist attack which hit the United Nations Headquarters in Baghdad, killing 22 people in 2003, including Sergio Vieira de Mello, UN’s top representative in Iraq, prompted the UN General Assembly to adopt a resolution 5 years later, designating August 19 as World Humanitarian Day. While this is just one day, we can’t ignore the plight of millions of people around the world.

This awareness on these issues is an effort to expedite the necessary interventions. (United Nations).

As the world continues to battle the novel COVID-19 pandemic, aid workers are overcoming unprecedented hurdles to assist people in humanitarian crises around the world. Let us pay special tribute to these real-life heroes, who have committed their lives to helping others under these extreme circumstances.

creased.

The MOH – Surveillance Unit, is a department that deals strictly with contact tracing of positive cases and daily follow-ups of repatriates. This department is one of the strongest entities that have been working tirelessly to curb the spread of this deadly virus.

With that said, the identification of the contacts of a positive case is extremely vital to limit the spread of COVID-19.

This will further lead to the initiation of early supportive care and management, if necessary, and can ultimately limit the progression and the fatal outcome of the virus. Furthermore, the department also contributes to the basis of decision making and assessments of COVID-19 interventions which are also crucial to the management of this pandemic.

“I must say that my time spent there thus far was truly amazing. I’m astonished by all the hard work, extreme dedication, and tremendous efforts that are displayed by the staff at the Unit, in order to get the work done. Regardless of whether they are required to work ‘around the clock’ or on holidays, they do not hesitate to do so.

“Volunteering at this department certainly gave me the opportunity to expand my knowledge on the new deadly virus, and to make correlations with other illnesses. More importantly, it has allowed me to interact with patients on a regular basis which is indeed beneficial to me and my academic development,” he said.

He advises persons who have tested positive for the virus to be honest with the medical professionals and give accurate information about their primary contacts (i.e. by providing their correct name, telephone numbers and addresses), as this would help the Surveillance Unit to do effective contact tracing.

“To the general public, I kindly ask you to continue to follow the necessary COVID-19 guidelines released by both the Ministry of Health in Guyana a well as the World Health Organization (WHO). On a further note, be very cognizant of the source(s) you read for updates and other information regarding COVID–19 since unreliable sources can cause undue anxiety, which would be the least anyone would ask for in these trying times,” Singh urged.

The climate change crisis made worse by COVID-19 As the world battles to emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic, we cannot ignore the fact that climate change is also a humanitarian crisis. Undoubtedly, the impacts of climate change are the worst for the poor and vulnerable.

Increases in the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events have increased risks to food security, health, water security, energy and livelihoods. Think about how many people are displaced due to climate change, and now have to battle this dreaded pandemic.

According to the United Nations Global Humanitarian Overview report (2020), in 2020, nearly 168 million people will need humanitarian assistance and protection.

This represents 1 in about 45 people in the world, and is the highest figure in decades. Funding of $28.8 billion is needed to enable the United Nations and our partner organisations to reach nearly 109 million of the most vulnerable people with life-saving assistance. Given this stark revelation, urgent and collective efforts are needed to rescue and restore humanity.

We join the campaign to recognize the selfless humanitarians who continue to save and protect lives despite conflict, insecurity, lack of access, and risks linked to COVID-19. Additionally, we continue to applaud the efforts of aid workers who are bringing relief in the midst of an environmental crisis exacerbated by COVID-19.

The focus of this year’s campaign The campaign showcases many inspiring personal stories of humanitarians who are treating and preventing COVID-19 effects: such as providing food to vulnerable people in need, providing safe spaces for women and girls in lockdown; delivering babies; fighting locusts, and running refugee camps, all amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

COVID-19 has been the biggest challenge to humanitarian operations around the world. The lack of access and restrictions placed by Governments around the world has resulted in communities, civil society, religious bodies and local NGOs being in the frontline as responders.

During this humanitarian crisis, the EPA remains committed to supporting all policies and guidelines to ensure not only our employees’ safety and health, but also our customers.

We’re doing our part, and we encourage all of Guyana to continue to wear your face mask, wash your hands, and stay at home when possible. If you must go out, practise physical distancing.

Photo credits: 2016 International Coastal Cleanup, the U.S. Embassy's Youth Action Network.

Sources https://www.un.org/en/observances/humanitarianday https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novelcoronavirus-2019/events-as-they-happen You can share your ideas and questions by sending letters to: The Environmental Protection Agency, C/O Communications Department, Ganges Street, Sophia, GEORGETOWN, or email us at: eit.epaguyana@ gmail.com or follow us on Facebook, Instagram and You Tube.

FEATURE

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SUNDAY, AUGUST 23, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Combatting COVID-19 on the frontline…

COVID-19 has forced us to rethink how we respond to child abuse cases – Tanis Boston

By Lakhram Bhagirat

T

he coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has forced many organisations to rethink how they address issues and provide their services and among those organisations is the Child Care and Protection Agency – particularly Social Workers in the field.

One thing is certain is that as awareness grows, more and more cases of child abuse are reported making the work of the social workers even more important.

These officers are stretched throughout the country with responsibilities for various areas and with the pandemic restricting their movements, they are now forced to rethink and employ new strategies to address the numerous cases of child abuse.

The Sunday Times Magazine recently spoke to Senior Probation Officer Tanis Boston who is stationed in Region 9 (Upper Takutu – Upper Essequibo). The Region is demographically the largest Administrative Region in Guyana covering the entire Rupununi.

It is also where Guyana shares miles of border with Brazil – a COVID-19 hotspot.

Child Protection is very hands-on. It involves constant contact with the children and their families, we do a lot of community investigations and monitoring to ascertain our client’s well-being. It involves teaching, counselling and guiding, and so much more.

The fact that the public is asked to practice social distancing in this global health pandemic and the rising number of cases in this particular region have greatly affected this aspect of Child Protection and the way in which social workers now interact with clients.

“This pandemic has forced my team to rethink how we respond to every reported case of child abuse. Yes, home visitations are being conducted.

The Hospitals and Police Stations continue to refer

cases of sexual abuse. My presence is still required at the Lethem Magisterial Court and court reports prepared and submitted when the need arises,” Boston related.

The Probation Officer related that for her Region they are now conducting Special Parental Training individually as opposed to it being done as a group.

Further, all groups activities have been put on hold or are being conducted in an individual setting.

Boston came to Region 9 back in 2018 and since there she has been seeing a steady increase in the number of reported cases of child abuse but related that it is because of increased awareness campaigns. She said that in 2019, the reported cases were significantly higher when compared to previous years. Because of awareness projects and Radio Program throughout 2019, the team anticipates an increase of reported cases in 2020.

However, when the data were compared, the reported number of child abuse cases has remained constant.

“I want to stress the word ‘reported’. This is so because children are now isolated from our traditional source of reporters. The most common reporters are teachers/ educators. Children are now away from school and are falling under the radar.

It is my fear that there may be a lot going on in families with children being at home with frustrated parents due to loss of employment, poverty and other stress factors that are in direct correlations with COVID-19.

Nevertheless, we are getting a number of sexual cases referred by the Hospitals and the Police Stations across the Region,” she said.

Before becoming a Social Worker, Boston was a teacher and was always encouraged to excel at everything she does. Her mother was a firm believer in ensuring that she completes tertiary education. This led her to the University of Guyana where she read for her degree in Sociology and graduated back in 2010.

The following year, she gained employment with the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security as a Social Worker attached to the CCPA. For Boston, being a

Social Worker was not her dream career since she has a passion for research.

“While I was teaching, I observed a child who would attend school a little late, sometimes with no lunch and not too tidy. One day she came to school after being absent for a number of days and I noticed her left eyes black and blue. An investigation was launched at school. It was then that I knew that I wanted to continue to work with children but to play a pivotal role in preventing and highlighting child abuse and the effects it has on the child, the family and the community.

“I have been practising social work for almost a decade now, and my studies in sociology and the many skills training provided by

the Agency. I am able to access and understand how society functions, how people in family setting interact and why they may do the things they do. This has helped me to become an advocate for child rights, to promote behavioural change at the family and the community level, and to help everyone that I interact with develop a sense of selfworth. No, social work was not my dream career. No, I did not initially choose social work but social work chose me and I am glad that it did,” Boston explained.

Boston grew up in a big family and always had that support so she is on a mission to ensure that every child has a support system to make them the best version of themselves.

In the midst of this pandemic, she is following the guidelines outlined by the Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization as she continues to provide top class service to the children in her Region. For her colleagues, she urges them to remain committed and stay safe.

“The work we do daily may not be recognized or handsomely rewarded. However, for each person that our intervention has helped, it is one person, one family closer to developing a brighter and happier Guyana. We cannot give up especially in these difficult times where children are most vulnerable. Keep up the good work and let us do this together, one client at a time.”

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SUNDAY, AUGUST 23, 2020

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

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18 FEATURE

SUNDAY, AUGUST 23, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

“Things not nice, I could just cry, but that wouldn’t help” – struggling mother of 8

By Andrew Carmichael

N

ella Jaundoo is a mother to eight children and for years she has been working hard to ensure that they are taken care of. She struggles to put food on the table and ensure that the roof over their heads is enough to provide shelter in trying times.

The single mother who lives at Number 53 Village Corentyne, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), works as a sweeper/cleaner at the 52/74 Neighbourhood

Democratic Council (NDC).

The 45-year-old mother told the Sunday Times Magazine that she earns a measly $15,000 per month for her work at the NDC since it is just for two hours per week. In addition, she would rear animals – pigs, goats, sheep and poultry and do other odd jobs to get by and ensure that her family is taken care of.

“Well, my brother things not nice. Me get eight children and four with me right now and two grandchildren because their mother not

working. Things not nice at all. It’s not nice,” the woman said.

Jaundoo would also make brooms using coconut branches just to earn an extra money but as of late she is finding it very hard to manage.

“Every time I try to raise something happens,” she said in a frustrating tone.

Struggles have always formed part of Jaundoo’s life and she explained that she has had to work ten times harder for everything she’s acquired thus far. The

mother used insecticide containers, obtained from the NDC, as ‘piggy banks’ in which she saved to purchase animals. She added that both she and the family were deprived of many of the things they needed as she paid most of her attention to the piggy bank.

Between January and June of this year, she was able to save $60,000 in her piggy bank and used that money she invested in the poultry business.

“I take the money and went to Port Mourant

Jaundoo and her two grand children

Market and by fowls,” she notes.

She had invested her savings and bought thirty-five fowls and twenty-four ducks. Now six ducks and nine fowls remain following a flood due to rainfall earlier this month.

“I had some of the hens sitting and when the flood came all eggs were floating.

Now it is only a couple hens left,” she said with tears in her eyes.

Jandoo also lost pigs she had been rearing for the

help,” Jaundoo comforted herself by saying.

“When ah go to buy the goat I say ‘wah, so much money bai’ and I buy them one by one. The sheep I buy two by two. The goat is $25,000 for one and the sheep was lil bit more,” she added.

To further compound her loss, the mother related that all her goats that died in the flood were pregnant which would have significantly increased her stock as well as financial value.

Jaundoo is currently

Jaundoo cleaning the veranda the sheep now occupies

past year along with sheep and goats in the flood. Of her twelve goats, two survived the flood. The visibly distraught woman related that she sheep survived only because she has been keeping them in her verandah.

“Right now, I have to go and wash the veran-

taking care of four of her children ages 18, 17 14 and 12-years. This is in addition to two of her grandchildren whose mother is unemployed but not living with the Jaundoo. The mother of eight said on several occasions she went to the Social Protection Ministry seeking public assistance but was

Some of the fowls that survived

da. I had to put them there to save them. And in the morning, I can lose them and tie them on the street.

The ducks they stayed just so and die after the flood.

Some died before, but since the flood, just like that they flatter and downfall down dead. It is only left for me to cry, but that wouldn’t

told she is young and strong and should go and look for a job.

She is trying hard to get a job but they are hard to come by but is hoping that the dawn of a new ear comes soon. For now, she continues to count her losses and trying to pick the pieces up and rebuild.

19

FEATURE

SUNDAY, AUGUST 23, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

HEALTH TIPS - INFERTILITY IN WOMEN, PART 1

Dr Tariq Jagnarine

M

D, MMed Fam M e d i c i n e , Endocrinology/

Diabetes It is a widely held expectation that when couples choose to, they would be able to have a family at any time.

No one challenges this assumption, until difficulties in conceiving arise. Some couples will conceive naturally, in time, but for those who cannot, the pain and loss can be immense, while having significant negative impact on relationships around them.

Infertility is a multi-layered and complex phenomenon, and a number of issues are involved for the people living with it, as it spans the biological, emotional, physical, social, financial and psychological aspects of lives and relationships.

The new, and sometimes destructive, emotions become commonplace for those struggling to have a child, especially as close friends and relatives appear to conceive with ease. It is difficult to appear happy when they feel hollow, sad, coping with the intensity of grief, loss and desperation while facing up to the harsh reality of infertility.

Infertility is a condition that affects approximately 1

out of every 6 couples. An infertility diagnosis is considered if a couple which has been unsuccessful in efforts to conceive over the course of one full year while having regular sexual intercourse.

When the cause lies with the female partner, it is referred to as female infertility. Female infertility factors contribute to approximately 50% of all infertility cases, and infertility in women accounts for approximately one-third of all infertility cases.

• Sexual history: Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) such as chlamydia and gonorrhoea can damage the fallopian tubes.

Having unprotected intercourse with multiple partners increases the risk of contracting a sexually transmitted infection that may cause fertility problems.

• Alcohol: Stick to moderate alcohol consumption of no more than one alcoholic drink per day.

RISK FACTORS FOR INFERTILITY

The most common causes of female infertility include problems with ovulation, damage to fallopian tubes or uterus, or problems with the cervix. One or more of the following may cause ovulation problems:

Certain factors may put persons at higher risk of infertility. These include: • Age: The quality and quantity of a woman’s eggs begin to decline with increasing age. In the mid30s, the rate of follicle loss increases, resulting in fewer and poorer quality eggs.

This makes conception more difficult, and increases the risk of miscarriage.

• Smoking: Besides damaging the cervix and fallopian tubes, smoking increases the risk of miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy.

It is also thought to age the ovaries and deplete eggs prematurely.

• Weight: Being overweight or significantly underweight may affect normal ovulation. Getting to a healthy body mass index (BMI) may increase the frequency of ovulation and likelihood of pregnancy.

WHAT CAUSES FEMALE INFERTILITY?

• Hormone imbalance • A tumour or cyst of the reproductive system.

• Eating disorders such as anorexia or bulimia • Alcohol or drug use • Thyroid gland problems • Excess weight • Stress • Intense exercise that causes a significant loss of body fat • Extremely brief menstrual cycles • Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) • A previous infection-STI • Polyps in the uterus • Endometriosis or fibroids

• Scar tissue or adhesions • Chronic medical illness • A previous ectopic (tubal) pregnancy • A birth defect of the reproductive tract • Abnormal cervical mucus and PH can also cause female infertility.

Abnormal cervical mucus can prevent the sperm from reaching the egg or make it more difficult for the sperm to penetrate the egg.

HOW IS FEMALE INFERTILITY DIAGNOSED?

Potential female infertility is assessed as part of a thorough clinical review.

The exam will include a medical history regarding potential factors that could contribute to infertility.

One or more of the following tests/exams may be used to evaluate fertility: • A urine or blood test to check for infections or a hormone problem, including thyroid function • Pelvic exam and breast exam • A sample of cervical mucus and tissue to determine if ovulation is occurring • Laparoscope inserted into the abdomen to view the condition of organs and to look for blockage, adhesions or scar tissue.

• HSG, which is an x-ray used in conjunction with a coloured liquid inserted into the fallopian tubes, making it easier to check for blockage.

• Hysteroscopy uses a tiny telescope with a fibre light to look for uterine abnormalities.

• Ultrasound to look at the uterus and ovaries.

May be done vaginally or abdominally.

• S o n o h y s t o g r a m combines ultrasound and saline injected into the uterus to look for abnormalities or problems.

Tracking ovulation through fertility awareness will also help healthcare pro-

viders assess fertility status.

TREATMENT OPTIONS AND PREVENTION

One or more of the following methods may be used to treat infertility in women: • Taking hormones to address a hormone imbalance, endometriosis, or a short menstrual cycle • Taking medications to stimulate ovulation • Using supplements to enhance fertility • Taking antibiotics to treat infections (STIs) • Having minor surgery to remove blockage or scar tissues from the fallopian tubes, uterus, or pelvic area.

For women thinking about getting pregnant soon or in the future, these measures may help optimise fertility: • Record menstrual cycle frequency • Monitor ovulation.

Women with regular cycles ovulate about two weeks before the arrival of their periods. It’s harder to predict ovulation in women with irregular cycles, but it usually occurs 12 to 16 days before the start of the next period.

Use of ovulation kits may be helpful.

• Have sex every other day during the fertile window. The fertile window spans a six-day interval: the five days prior to ovulation, and the day of it.

• Maintain a normal weight exercise moderately. Strenuous, intense exercise of more than five hours a week has been associated with decreased ovulation.

• Quit smoking.

Tobacco has multiple negative effects on fertility, not to mention one’s general health and the health of a foetus.

• Avoid alcohol.

Heavy alcohol use may lead to decreased fertility.

Moreover, alcohol use can affect the health of a developing foetus.

• Reduce stress. Some studies have shown that

couples experiencing psychological stress had poorer results with infertility treatment. Practise yoga or Mindfulness • Limit caffeine.

Research suggests that limiting caffeine intake to less than 200 milligrams (one to two cups of 6 to 8 ounces of coffee) per day should not affect one’s ability to get pregnant.

• Take steps to prevent sexually transmitted diseases • Avoid illicit drugs e.g. marijuana, ecstasy, cocaine etc.

• Adopt good personal hygiene and health practices • Have annual checkups with a gynaecologist, especially once sexually active and ready to get pregnant It is important to contact a doctor if experiencing any of the following symptoms: • Abnormal bleeding • Abdominal pain • Fever • Unusual discharge • Pain or discomfort during intercourse • Soreness or itching in the vaginal area Some couples want to explore more traditional or pharmaceutical approaches before exploring infertility procedures such as in -vitro, surrogacy or adoption. Many infertile couples will go on to conceive a child without treatment. After trying to get pregnant for two years, about 95 percent of couples successfully conceive.

Infertility is not always a woman’s problem. Both women and men can have problems that cause infertility. About one-third of infertility cases are caused by women’s problems, while another one-third of infertility problems are due to the men. The other cases are caused by a mixture of male and female problems, or by unknown problems. While no one has the right to have a child; surely, everyone should be able to have the choice.

20 FEATURE

SUNDAY, AUGUST 23, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

ACROSS

1 Kind of capsule 5 Cheek 10 Suspected 16 Yawning gulf 21 Lab medium 22 Humpback refuge 23 Plexiglas 24 “Bad, Bad -- Brown” 25 Mezzanine 26 Glistening 27 “Lady Soul” 28 Bring upon oneself 29 “Jurassic Park” novelist 31 Pump, in a way 33 Don Diego masked 35 Numerical prefix 36 Loses steam 37 His is a safe job 40 Pick up on 41 Typewriter type size 42 Cold mo.

45 Kindergartner 46 Dude, Jamaica-style 48 Museum contents 50 Marked down 52 Chopper topper 54 Omigosh!

55 Apply a mudpack 57 Dandy 58 Sahara wanderer 59 Geologic formation 60 Put-down 62 Fingerless gloves 66 Just scrapes by 67 Skimpy 69 Flowering shrub 71 Pork cut 72 Where the wild things are 74 Riviera summer 76 Repair pipes 78 Sporty truck 79 Drop like -- -- potato 80 Joins 83 Upscale wheels 85 Fab Four member 88 Kind of clock 89 Last box to check 90 Ammo dump 93 Broccoli segments 95 Less than fair 97 Kind of walk?

98 “-- Accomp’ny Me” 100 Angkor - 101 Amoeba’s locomotion 106 Governess in Siam 108 Genuflects

110 Most reliable 112 “Galloping Gourmet” Graham 113 Bumpkins 115 Staffer 116 Its HQ is Brussels 117 “-- Street Blues” 118 Teacup handle 120 Lieuts.’ right arms 122 Rackets 123 Spots for dancing 124 Accept reluctantly 128 “I” trouble 129 Dow Jones fig.

130 Wire gauge 131 USN rank 132 Storybook bear 133 Not like Abner, really 135 Slow movers 137 Toe 139 Goldfish, with “C” 140 Zeus’ shield 142 Casino action 144 In accord 148 Ski lifts (hyph.)

150 Goofball 153 Go swimming 155 Caroler’s tune 156 Southfork matriarch 157 Realize 158 Skirt vents 159 “Nutcracker” outfit 160 Alabama town 161 “Rose Marie” hero 162 Stratagems 163 Helper, briefly

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19

DOWN

Powder base Frankenstein’s gofer Astrologers of yore Upright It may be flared Answered a yodel Jockey’s handful Camper, maybe “Only Time” singer Snow crystal Afr. neighbor Top-notch pilot Cracker brand Social mores More precious Ad award Biddy Aurora domain Origin

KATHLEEN SAXE

WORD GAME TODAY’S WORD -- BAGUETTES

(BAGUETTES: bag-ETS: Narrow loaves of French bread.)

Average mark 36 words Time limit 60 minutes Can you find 53 or more words in BAGUETTES? TODAY’S WORD -- BAGUETTES base baste bate beast beat beau beet beget beset best beta betta bust butt

butte abet abuse abut ague astute gate gestate guest gust guts usage ease east

egest estate tabu taste taut tease teat test tuba tube tutee sage sate saute

seat segue stab stag stage stat state statue stet stub suet

RULES OF THE GAME: 1. Words must be of four or more letters. 2. Words that acquire four letters by the addition of "s," such as "bats" or "dies," are not allowed. 3. Additional words made by adding a "d" or an "s" may not be used. For example, if "bake" is used, "baked" or "bakes" are not allowed, but "bake" and "baking" are admissible. 4.

Proper nouns, slang words, or vulgar or sexually explicit words are not allowed.

20 30 32 34 38 39 41 42 43 44 46 47 49 51 53 54 56 59 61 63 64 65 67 68 69

Countless Yanked up a sock “Auld Lang --” Scuba-diving site Flit around Understanding Eye part First-magnitude star White mushroom Antique brooch Is nostalgic October’s stone Dutch bloomers Mr. DeLuise Rubdown Calendar unit Singer Ives Assemble Enlist anew (hyph.)

Handle Give a tenth Scornful gaze Electrical unit Pastel colors Hush-hush matters

70 “I love,” in Latin 73 Bogus 75 Jeweled headdress 77 Robin’s hatchlings 81 Sidekick 82 Rescue squad mem.

84 Greets the cat 85 Elephant owner, maybe 86 Person from Qom 87 “Bye Bye Bye” band 91 NASA thumbs-up (hyph.)

92 Moon goddess 93 Feather an arrow 94 Leaped 95 Pancho Villa’s coin 96 -- on a limb 99 Luau welcomes 102 Cliques 103 Hippie greeting 104 Synthetic fabric 105 Formal, maybe 107 Mowgli’s wolf friend 109 Not cling (2 wds.)

111 Grad. school 114 Pitcher -- Maglie

117 Hull section 119 Cattle-call reward 121 Boston Red - 122 “Great” dog 123 Stray from the topic 124 Heavy rainfalls 125 Trill 126 Shock 127 Hide hut 130 Powerful 134 Would I -- -- you?

136 Deep black 137 Place for a grill 138 Busybody 140 Offshore 141 In -- (as found) 143 Recipe meas.

145 Debt memos 146 Volleyball needs 147 Huge excess 149 Crater edge 151 Was up for election 152 Morse click 154 Sum total

SEE SOLUTION ON PAGE 22

FEATURE

21

SUNDAY, AUGUST 23, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

I

n the Pet Care (PC) column of July 26, 2020, we offered some basic information on the diet needs for newborn puppies. Let us today continue with some more relevant data.

Newborn puppies/kittens, like all mammalian newborns, need to suckle on the first milk produced by the mother. This

milk which is produced just after the pups/kittens are born, is called Colostrum. It contains all the nutrients (proteins, carbohydrates, minerals, vitamins, fats, etc.) needed by the newborn; but more importantly, the Colostrum contains the antibodies against those disease agents (germs)

PALS - Alan, Stuart and Pierre

P

ALS Beverages, a new and 100 percent GUYANESE owned company, has launched a new and unique crafted beer, called the “Cold One”. It is a combination of ale and beer, a blend that is definitely new to Guyana!

Driven by the love of “a cold one”, 3 local businessmen ventured into developing a beer product that has everything beer lovers crave -- refreshing, smooth on the palate, a delicious hoppy tang with an eye-catching clear amber colour. As a mediumbodied beer, the alcoholic composition is just right for anyone.

In 2018, with little brewing knowledge but fueled by passion and zeal, Pierre, Alan and Stuart started PALS, an acronym of their names.

After many experiments, testing and tastings, their first signature beer “Cold One” was born. These now very fine craftsmen will soon be venturing into different types/flavours of beers in the future.

“Our reason for doing this is simple. ‘Because we wanted a different beer’” – Alan Cold One is exclusive since it is brewed from the very best grains, unlike rice used in most beers. Rich grains used in the process are Brewers, Munich and Caramel Malts. Added to the blend is Yeast which is the defining ingredient in craft beer, and the type of yeast used in the brewing process has a huge influence on the style of beer produced.

PALS uses a Fresh Hop and a special yeast which is imported all the way from Northern Europe.

The processing is done in a Micro-brewery located in Georgetown which houses state of the art equipment and extreme care is taken in the different stages of the brewing process.

PALS aims to only use high-quality and unique ingredients to achieve refined, unique flavors when brewing. The “Cold One” is now available nationwide!

which the mother would have encountered during her life.

These antibodies go over into the puppies/kittens, via suckling, and help defend them against those germs that could kill them in their first few weeks of life.

In addition, it must be understood that the newborn pups and kittens have not much subcutaneous (under the skin) fat. The breakdown of fat releases energy. Since the newborn pups/kittens have little fat, they need the mother’s milk to supply needed energy.

Even while the pup/kitten was developing in the womb, their little livers were storing an energy source called Glycogen. Later, with the milk being consumed by the newborn pup/kitten, the Glycogen (energy) which is being used up is replaced in the liver.

It is important that the newborn suckles and replaces this source

of energy, because the liver in the newborn does not enlarge quickly, and therefore does not have a large Glycogen reservoir capacity. The brain of the newborn, by comparison, not only grows faster but uses up a lot of energy. It stands to reason then, that if a puppy or kitten has a brain too large in proportion to its liver, then the energy (Glycogen) reserves in the liver can’t cope with the needs of the brain, and the puppy/kitten survival capability might be severely compromised.

Veterinary pediatric researchers have established that the weight of the liver should be at least one and a half times that of the brain. Two to three times more (liver to brain ratio) is even better.

Bearing the above in mind, it is therefore important that the Glycogen (energy giver) must

be sufficient at all times. This means that the newborns must suckle as often as possible. Of course, one great problem arises when the mother has given birth to a large litter (sometimes even more pups/kittens than she has breast/nipples). In this case, some of the pups and kittens may die, unless you intervene and exchange them at the nipples, or remove them totally and hand-rear them (see “PC” 26 July, 2020 on this subject). Hand-rearing alone is not good, because they might not have received any or enough Colostrum.

The Colostrum contains the antibodies in large molecules.

Only at the early stage of the gastro-intestinal development can these large molecules be absorbed. That is why it is so important for the mammalian newborn to receive the

Colostrum within hours/first 2 – 3 days of birth.

The kidney function in the newborn is 12 to 25 per cent of what it will be later in life. These immature kidneys are unable to concentrate the urine, which means that it is necessary for puppies to excrete large amounts of dilute urine. This obligatory water loss of the kidneys must be offset by sufficient intake or their mother’s milk, or, in the case of puppies raised by hand, by a formula containing adequate amounts of water (see “PC” 26th July, 2020).

I apologize that so much science has been involved in today’s column. It does not and will not happen often. However, it is felt that reasons must be given, if we want to emphasize the importance of the feeding regime/protocol for newborn pups and kittens.

22 FEATURE

SUNDAY, AUGUST 23, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

NEWS

23

SUNDAY, AUGUST 23, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Aspiring neurologist rejected 6 times

by APNU/AFC for scholarship …despite excellent GPA

Guyana’s oil wealth relative to economic and human development

G

uyana is becoming increasingly attractive to foreign investors, and, of course, there is likely to be heightened excitement by the Private Sector and the Guyanese people in view of Guyana’s newfound oil wealth.

Guyana is poised to earn between $100 billion and $200 billion annually for the first five years. Bearing in mind that other oil companies may come on board and increase production levels, it means the oil revenue would increase proportionately, and the more oil finds made would mean production levels may increase further, which would mean proportionate increases in revenues. In the first decade, Guyana’s nominal GDP could potentially expand by more than 200 percent.

Now, what is GDP and economic growth? And what is the difference between the two? GDP, which is the acronym for Gross Domestic Product, simply means the sum total of all the goods and services produced in an economy at market values in a given time period – usually a calendar year. Real GDP, on the other hand, is a macroeconomic measure of the size (nominal GDP) of an economy adjusted for price changes and inflation. Real GDP, then, is used to measure the economic growth rate.

The economic growth rate is the percentage change in the quantity of goods and services produced from one year to the next. In other words, economic growth is the increase in the ability of an economy to produce goods and services over time; whereas GDP is the monetary value of all goods and services. Economic growth, in turn, is used to determine economic welfare comparisons, international welfare comparisons, and business cycle forecasts. However, in the context of this article, only the economic welfare component is addressed hereunder.

Economic welfare measures the nation’s overall state of economic well-being. For seven reasons, real GDP is not a perfect measure of economic welfare: (1) quality improvements tend to be neglected in calculating real GDP, so the inflation rate is overstated and the real GDP understated. (2) Real GDP does not include household production; that is, productive activities done in and around the house by members of the household. (3) Real GDP, as measured, omits the underground economy, which is illegal economic activity or legal economic activity that goes unreported for tax avoidance reasons. (4) Health and life expectancy are not directly included in real GDP. (5) Leisure time, a valuable component of an individual’s welfare, is not included in real GDP. (6) Environmental damage is not deducted from real GDP; and (7) Political freedom and social justice are not included in real GDP. “Human development is all about human freedoms: freedom to realise the full potential of human life, not just of a few, nor of most, but of all lives in every corner of the world – now and in the future”, (UNDP, 2016).

Yale University (2004) published a paper on “Economic Growth and Human Development”. The paper showed the linkages between economic and human development – arisen from a study – in some states. It was found that the two-way relationship suggested that nations may enter into a virtuous cycle of high growth and large gains in human development, or a vicious cycle of low growth and low rates of human development improvement. In these states, levels of economic growth and human development are mutually reinforcing: either leading towards an upward spiral of development, or to a poverty trap. Countries may also find themselves in a lop-sided state, at least temporarily, with relatively good growth and relatively poor human development, and vice versa.

There may be various reasons for “economic growth lopsided” nations; that is, those which have high rates of GDP growth relative to improvement in human development indicators, including low social expenditure, government corruption, or inequitable distribution of incomes. The resultant effect of such cases suggest that good economic growth not accompanied by increases and/or improvements in human development may prove to be ultimately unstable.

Concluding remarks

In putting the aforementioned discussions into perspective, what all that preamble simply means is that , with the potentially huge growth in GDP on account of large sums of oil revenues, it does not necessarily mean that the quality of life on a broader spectrum would be improved and/or experienced by a wide cross section of the Guyanese people. It does not guarantee real economic growth against the background of the human development paradigm with respect to poverty reduction in particular.

Case in point: with the largest retrenchment in Guyanese (recent) economic history of some 10,000 sugar workers having the far-reaching implication of further adversely affecting about 40,000 dependents, this outcome has in effect taken away approximately $10 billion in income distribution to these workers and the broader economy annually. This means that the economic and social wellbeing of these people are going to decline rather rapidly, and oil revenue would not necessarily create direct employment for them. The previous Administration attempted to put programs in place aimed at re-engaging these people in productive income-generating activities, such as training to acquire new skills, namely carpentry and plumbing etc. But these measures, though designed with good intention, will not compensate for the economic loss incurred; neither would they give rise to stability and progressive growth in the income distribution of these thousands of retrenched people.

Therefore, the important task for policymakers to achieve the desired outcome of improved human development and broad-based and inclusive development of the economy depends on how well the resources earned are managed and deployed into diversification of the economy: creating new industries, investing in infrastructure, education, healthcare, and public security among other crucial development goals.

About the Author: JC. Bhagwandin is a macro-finance and research analyst, lecturer and business & financial consultant. 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.

By Jarryl Bryan

D

r Jason Ramcharran spent a gruelling six-year stint at the Escuela Latinoamericana de Medicina (ELAM) in Cuba and through merit and hard work graduated as one of the top students in his class.

But since returning to Guyana, his efforts to specialise in neurology have been blocked by the very people who should have been helping him.

Under the former Government, all six of Dr Ramcharran’s applications for scholarships or sponsorship were denied.

Ramcharran, who turns 30 next month, studied in Cuba from 2008 to 2015 and earned a 5.26 Grade Point Average (GPA) when he graduated second in his class. He recorded almost perfect scores in all the subjects he covered in both theory and practice.

His first posting was at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), but Ramcharran, who hails from La Penitence, Georgetown, always aspired to be a neurologist. He first applied for a Post Graduate Scholarship to study neurology in China in the 2016/2017 academic year.

It did not take long for Ramcharran to run headlong into his first roadblock. In a letter dated February 24, 2016, then Permanent Secretary in the Department of Public Service, Reginald Brotherson wrote the young doctor informing him that his application was being refused because of limited scholarships and “due to the competitive nature of the selection process.”

But that same year, Ramcharran was accepted by the University of Medical Sciences Havana to do the Neurology programme. He approached the Government again, this time writing to the then Minister of State Joseph Harmon seeking sponsorship to do his post-graduate studies in Cuba.

Harmon referred his request to the relevant agency and on June 13, 2016, he got a second rejection letter from Brotherson. This time the letter cited a lack of finances for rejecting him. According to Brotherson in the letter, “due to budgetary constraints, your request cannot be facilitated at this time.”

Undeterred, Ramcharran reapplied in 2017 for a scholarship to study in China. He was again informed by Brotherson in a letter dated March 27, 2017, that he would not be getting the scholarship, this time because of an unnamed requirement he failed to meet.

Hinterland

By May 2017, however, Ramcharran had completed his rotation at GPHC and departed the city to serve the Government at the Imbaimadai health Centre in Imbaimadai, Upper-Mazaruni, Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni). While his time in the hinterland was rewarding, it was not without its challenges.

“Some challenges included the breakdown in communication, because the patients would speak Akawaio. But we

overcame that by learning a little of the language, as well as building good relationships with the leaders and the community health workers. Other challenges were drug shortages and the Ministry taking long to send in the drugs when we did order it,” Ramcharran said.

Ramcharran also recalled that while in Imbaimadai, he served residents from Chinoweng and Wax Creek.

He explained that when he arrived in Chinoweng, the patients were starved of medical attention. During his time there he also saw many emergencies. In a report he wrote up covering the period of June and November 2017, he revealed that a total of 941 patients were seen, inclusive of 12 births and five emergency medivacs.

“There were challenges with limited resources. We needed to make certain calls and important decisions, like patients with snake bites.

Calling for medevacs early, because you don’t want, when there’s no plane available or its dark, then the patient experiences complications. So, you had to trust your instinct and your gut and make early judgements,” he said.

One of his rewards from his time in the hinterland was the fact that the experience helped to build his confidence as a doctor and his ability to diagnose conditions. He finished in 2018 and, having been informed by senior officials that serving in the hinterlands was a prerequisite for a scholarship, he reapplied for a post-graduate scholarship to study in Cuba.

“I was shortlisted and invited to an interview, received a positive response but, however, again I received a rejection letter a few weeks afterwards, again no detailed reason was given,” Ramcharran recounted to this publication.

“Out of frustration, I wrote

forming him that the Ministry of the Presidency could not help “due to budgetary constraints.”

Ramcharran reapplied for the scholarship in 2019.

Although he is yet to receive a rejection letter or even any feedback from the Department of Public Service, the fact that his fellow interviewees have long been informed about their results does not bode well for him.

Times have changed

Aspiring neurologist Dr Jason Ramcharran

letters to the (then) President of Guyana, HE David Granger, then Prime Minister of Guyana, Moses Nagamootoo (and) Harmon, all of whom replied to my letter and also to senior officials in the Ministry of Public Health, Including the (then) Minister Volda Lawrence and (then) Junior Minister (Dr Karen Cummings) at the said time, neither of whom replied.”

In his June 14, 2018, in response to Ramcharran, then President Granger informed him that his letter was forwarded to the Ministers of Public Service and Health for their attention. Nagamootoo’s personal assistant also wrote to inform him that his letter had been forwarded to then Public Service Minister Dr Rupert Roopnaraine.

But he received another letter from Brotherson, informing him that his interview was unsuccessful “due to the competitive nature of the selection process and limited number of scholarships available.”

In fact, he got two letters in July 2018 from Brotherson.

The second one reinforced the rejection of his application, in-

But times have changed.

For one, there has been a change of Government, with President Dr Irfaan Ali being sworn in as President of Guyana on August 2. Another change has been the COVID-19 pandemic, which has infected 925 persons and claimed 31 lives in Guyana as of Saturday.

In a recent post on social media, Ramcharran brought attention to his predicament and expressed his frustration at the lack of clinical neurologists in Guyana, a field he still yearns to specialise in. He noted that despite the neurological complications caused by COVID-19, the country lacks the expertise to adequately address the issue.

“Imagine, if just one percent of those positive patients were to develop neurological complications, it will constitute a burden to our already overloaded public health system…

It would have surely been beneficial to have invested in your human resources who have the passion, desire and ability to specialize in clinical neurology.”

Instead, Ramcharran recalled how the previous Administration shut the door to upward mobility in his face and denied him the chance to pursue his dreams of being a clinical neurologist, under the rubric of “budgetary constraints.”

24

SUNDAY, AUGUST 23, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

25

SUNDAY, AUGUST 23, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

26 NEWS

SUNDAY, AUGUST 23, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Chief of Staff briefed on security, operations at Eteringbang C

hief of Staff Brigadier Godfrey Bess visited army ranks stationed at Eteringbang, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) to thank the troops serving there for their tireless and professional service to Guyana.

Brigadier Bess urged the soldiers to steadfastly adhere to all the safety measures required to ensure their continued safety during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic which

Chief of Staff, Brigadier Godfrey Bess, during his visit to Eteringbang, Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni)

is impacting Guyana. “You are giving exemplary service while enduring the sacrifice of being separated from your families and loved ones. I thank you,” he said. “With the number of COVID-19 infections and deaths increasing, you must protect yourselves. Wear your masks and practice social distancing at all times. Remember too, to sanitise your surroundings and wash your hands frequently,” he is quoted as saying in a post on

APNU/AFC Govt spent over $68M from...

Another payment of US$25,000 (GUY$5.2 million) was also made to Grenadian Queen's Counsel, Dr Francis Alexis, who had also represented the state in the NCM in its appellate stage. The case was appealed in both the Court of Appeal as well as the CCJ. In fact, the APNU/AFC government had also retained former Belize Attorney General, Courtenay Coye, at the cost of US$50,000 (GUY10.4 million) to be on its legal team before the CCJ in this matter.

Nandlall further disclosed that the law firm of Attorney Mayo Robertson, who was also on the then AG Basil Williams’ legal team in the NCM case, was

paid $1.9 million and another $600,000 for in that matter.

Meanwhile, Attorney Maxwell Edwards also received $3.8 million for his services in the NCM case while on the AG’s team.

He was also retained again for another $1.8 million in the Eslyn David case that was filed post the March 2 elections seeking to block GECOM from using the figures from the national recount to declare the elections results.

That case was eventually thrown out by the CCJ, which ruled that the recount results must be the basis for GECOM’s declaration – which was eventually done and the PPP/C was declared winner of the

2020 elections with over 15,000 votes more than the APNU/AFC. Attorney Edwards also received $500,000 each for services provided in the case filed by prominent lawyer, Christopher Ram, challenging the conduct of the House to House Registration exercise last year and in the case filled by former Finance Minister Winston Jordan in the Full Court of the High Court, after he was found guilty of criminal contempt and handed down a sentence of 21 days for failing to make payments awarded by the High Court to Trinidadian company, Dipcon Engineering Services Ltd. Like him, Attorney Robertson was also re-

tained by the AG Chambers under the previous government in a number of litigations including the initial High Court proceedings filed by Dipcon against the state. A sum of $500,000 was paid for that matter, while a similar amount was also paid for a matter filed against the Mahaica/ Mahaicony/AbaryAgricultural Development Authority (MMA/ADA) and the AG. An additional $1.9 million was paid to Robertson’s firm for another case involving the MMA/ADA as well as $1 million more for another case against the AG. On the other hand, APNU/AFC Candidate and Parliamentarian Candidate, Attorney Roysdale Forde, also received $1.7 million from the AG Office to represent former Minister Jordan in a private lawsuit he filed

back in 2018 against then Opposition Member of Parliament, Juan Edghill.

The defamation proceedings were initiated by the then Finance Minister after Edghill had brought private criminal charges against him and other Ministers over the controversial D’Urban Park Project. Those charges were eventually discontinued by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

Nandlall also disclosed in subsequent documentation released to the media that an additional $4 million was paid to Rex McKay and Neil Boston for representing the state’s interest in appealing a $1.7 billion award of damages to Toolsie Persaud Limited (TPL) over ownership of land at Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown.

Moreover, $3 million was made to Senior Counsel Stanley Moore

the army’s official Facebook page.

The location commander briefed the Chief of Staff on matters relating to security and operations at the location.

Bess was accompanied by the Commanding Officer of the One Infantry Battalion, Lieutenant Colonel Lloyd Souvenir and Staff Officer General Three Lieutenant Colonel Sheldon Howell and GDF medical doctor Dr Ivor Semple, among others.

FROM PAGE 3

for representing the state in the lawsuit filed by the families of the three Linden Martyrs – Ron Somerset, Shemroy Bouyea and Allan Lewis – who were killed by police on July 18, 2012 during a protest in Linden.

The court had awarded a $77 million settlement to the families of the deceased.

Meanwhile, another $2 million was spent by the Coalition on retainer contractors for Attorneys-atlaw Patrice Henry, Trenton Lake, Lawrence Harris, Hewley Griffith as well as Somersall.

According to Nandlall, this is just the tip of the iceberg regarding the private retainer contracts in the Attorney General Chambers. As such, he noted that the services of the Auditor General will have to be enlisted to further probe this matter. (G8)

NEWS

27

SUNDAY, AUGUST 23, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Queen Elizabeth looks forward to renewed opportunities between Guyana, UK

P

resident Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali has received a congratulatory letter from Her Majesty Elizabeth II, Queen of the United Kingdom and the other Commonwealth realms, who has expressed her desire to further strengthen the ties between the two countries. In her letter, Queen Elizabeth said: “The ties between our two countries and people are long-standing, and I look forward to your Presidency bringing renewed opportunities to build on the friendship be-

President Dr Irfaan Ali

tween the United Kingdom and Guyana as fellow members of the Commonwealth.”

Her Majesty Elizabeth II

Queen Elizabeth also wished President Ali and “the Guyanese people every success for the future”.

Barber among 5 busted with over 16kg ganja in Berbice

F

ive persons, including a Georgetown barber, were taken into custody following the discovery of a large quantity of ganja in two separate Police operations in the Berbice River and at Fort Wellington, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) In the first instance, ranks in Region Six intercepted a wooden boat in the vicinity of Sisters Village, East Bank Berbice (EBB), on Friday evening. Upon seeing the police, one of the occupants of the vessel reportedly dropped a bulky brown bag into the river, but it was subsequently retrieved by the police.

Upon inspection, the illegal substance, weighing six kilograms, was found. As such, three men, aged 25, 28 and 39, and a 39-year-old female were arrested, and are being processed for court.

The ganja which Police unearthed in Berbice

With respect to the second operation, Police stated that at about 05:30h on Thursday, Police ranks on a mobile patrol arrested a 31-year-old mason of Providence, East Bank Demerara, after he was found in possession of 10.8 kilograms of cannabis in three parcels at Fort Wellington Public Road,

WCB. The ranks reportedly observed the suspect standing on the roadway with a black handbag. He was approached and a search was conducted on his person, during which the illegal substance was found.

He is expected to be arraigned in court shortly.

missionaries, who were travelling to Guyana to lend religious support to health workers. They were all arrested and taken to a quarantine facility.

The second instance was at Number 63 Beach where Police found two Cubans after they exited a boat. They too were arrested and taken to a COVID-19 quarantine facility.

Recently, five Cubans who came to Guyana illegally from Suriname tested positive for COVID-19. The five were part of a group of 13 persons who illegally entered the coun-

try last week. They were all tested and five of the tests returned positive.

Guyana’s borders have been closed since March in an effort to curb the spread of the novel virus. Since then, officials have been working tirelessly to prevent illegal entries.

Police in Regions Six have also been pleading to boat operators to stop bringing persons illegally into Guyana.

They were asked to consider their safety and that of their families as the virus continues to spread rapidly across the country.

Lindener dies in horrific highway accident 11 Cubans caught entering Guyana illegally

O

A

ne person was killed and three others injured after the car in which they were travelling slammed into a lumber truck at Harauruni, along the Linden-Soesdyke Highway on Saturday.

The mangled car at Harauruni, Linden-Soesdyke Highway

Dead: Kevon John Newland

Dead is Kevon John Newland, a father of three of Phase 2 Wisroc, Wismar, Linden. Those injured are the driver, Orin “Six Head” Rose; Shemron Niles and another female passenger who is yet to be identified.

Reports are the accident occurred at about 11:30h as motor car HC 6304,

which was heading towards Linden, slammed into the truck which was reportedly turning onto the highway. This newspaper understands that taxi driver Orin “Six Head” Rose, who was the driver of the car, overtook another car and lost control.

The driver of the car which Rose overtook had reportedly slowed to allow the lumber truck to turn, but having overtaken that car, Rose slammed into the rear of the truck.

Public-spirited citizens managed to remove Newland and the other injured persons from the mangled car.

Rose, Niles and Newland were rushed to the Diamond

Diagnostic Centre where Newland was pronounced dead on arrival. Meanwhile, Rose, who is hospitalized, is said to be in a stable condition while Niles, who reportedly sustained minor injuries, was treated and sent away.

According to family members, Newland, who operated a poultry business, was recently slated to travel to the United States but cancelled his trip due to the COVID-19 pandemic. At the time of his death, he was returning from Georgetown after purchasing a motor vehicle part in the capital city.

An investigation has been launched into the incident.

(G13)

GDF medic delivers healthy baby boy in Region 7

G

uyana Defence Force Medic, Lance Corporal (LCPL) Thirston Tappin rendered medical attention to a pregnant woman who was in labour at Kaikan, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni).

This assistance by the officer on Wednesday last led to Nairobi Marquez safely delivering her healthy baby boy. LCPL Tappin is currently serving at the GDF location at Kaikan on Guyana’s border with Venezuela, the army said on a post on social media.

LCPL Tappin had been attending to a Guyanese resident in the area when he was asked to provide assistance to 34-year-old Marquez. He proceeded to the woman’s abode and rendered the assistance needed. The moth-

LCPL Tappin shares a photo moment with Nairobi Marquez and her healthy baby boy

er and newborn were later transported to the Kaikan Health Centre for further care and treatment.

Elated, Marquez has since extended sincere appre-

ciation to LCPL Tappin and the Guyana Defence Force.

Marquez, a Venezuelan national, is residing with a Guyanese relative in Guyana.

group of Cubans was nabbed after they were caught at separate locations entering Guyana illegally on Friday night in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne).

Nine of the Cubans were caught at the Berbice River Bridge, while the other two were arrested near Number 63 Beach in Corentyne.

Acting on information received, Police stopped and searched a Route 40 minibus with registration number BSS 8772 in which nine Cubans, the driver and a conductor were travelling. Upon enquiry, they claimed they were

28 NEWS

SUNDAY, AUGUST 23, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Shuman, Ramkarran, Gouveia, appointed Govt advisors I

n an effort towards inclusive governance, the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Government has announced that Private Sector Commission Chair, Gerry Gouveia; Leader of the Liberty Justice Party (LJP), Lenox Shuman, and Senior Counsel, Ralph Ramkarran, have all been appointed advisors.

This announcement was made by the Office of the President in a statement on Saturday.

Gouveia has been appointed as National Security Advisor to President Irfaan Ali. Shuman, a licensed pilot, was named Advisor to the Minister of Public Works on Civil Aviation.

Meanwhile, Ramkarran, a former Speaker of the National Assembly, was appointed as Advisor to the Minister of

Foreign Affairs on Border Issues.

Captain Gerry Gouveia is a veteran airline transport rated pilot with 40 years of service in the aviation, security and tourism sectors in Guyana. He is a former military officer with an excess of a decade of service in the Guyana Defence Force where he served as the Chief Pilot of the army air corps.

Captain Gouveia graduated from the Embry Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Florida. In addition to his wealth of knowledge and expertise, he has formal training from institutions such as the NTSB Academy in Washington, DC, in Aircraft Accident Investigations; George Washington University in Virginia, USA, in Aviation Safety and Security, and the Center for

Private Sector Commission Chair Gerry Gouveia

Hemispheric Defence Studies in the National Defence University, all in Washington DC, in the area in of National Defence and Security. He is also a fellow of the Center for Hemispheric Defence Studies in the National Defence

Leader of the Liberty and Justice Party (LJP) Lenox Shuman

University in Washington, DC. Meanwhile, as a licensed pilot, Shuman has a wealth of aviation experience. An old student of the North Georgetown Secondary School, Shuman furthered his studies

44 new COVID-19 cases recorded

…11 persons in ICU

A

s increased testing for the novel coronavirus continues countrywide, another 44 cases have been recorded in the last 24 hours.

This is according to the Ministry of Public Health’s COVID-19 dashboard on Saturday.

The total number of cases in Guyana is now 925, of which 457 are males and the remaining 468 are females.

However, only 85 of these cases are active, with 74 in institutional isolation while the other 11 cases are in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC). This represents an increase of three cases in the ICU. An additional 383 persons are currently in home isolation, while there are 79 persons in institutional quarantine.

Meanwhile, the COVID-19 death toll and the number of recovered cases are 31 and 426, respectively.

To date, a total of 6760 persons have been tested for the novel coronavirus in Guyana, of which 4371 are negative.

From August 15 to 20, 218 new cases were reported, coming mainly from Regions Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), Four (DemeraraMahaica), Seven (CuyuniMazaruni), Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) and 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).

The first case in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) was report-

ed last week while there have been sporadic cases in Regions One (Barima-Waini) and Two (PomeroonSupenaam).

A c c o r d i n g to Saturday’s COVID-19 dashboard, Region One now has 132 cases; Region Two has seven cases; Region Three has 51 cases; Region Four has 297 cases; Region Five has two cases; Region Six has nine cases; Region Seven has 179 cases; Region Eight has 12 cases; Region Nine has 171 cases, and Region 10 has 65 cases.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), there are over 22.8 million confirmed COVID-19 cases worldwide, while the global death toll is more than 795,000.

In the region of the Americas, the number of confirmed coronavirus cases has exceeded 12.1 million, and the COVID-19 death toll has surpassed 434,000.

On Friday, Chief Medical Officer, Dr Shamdeo Persaud lamented the fact that the number of cases continues to spike in the country.

“As you can see from

Senior Counsel Ralph Ramkarran

in Canada where he gained his piloting qualifications and experience.

His 8000 hours of flight experience was garnered through his flying of the following types of aircraft – Pa-31; NMK-II: C-172, 180, 185, 206; Pa-34; Beech Baron: DHC-2, 3; Be-18, 100, 200, 1900D; DHC-8Q400; B738, 757,767. He is the holder of Canadian and US Airline Transport Pilot License with Single and Multi-Engine Land and Sea Aircraft ratings.

No stranger to service, Shuman served as Toshao for Pakuri/St Cuthbert’s Mission from 2015 to 2018 and Vice Chairman of the National Toshao Council (NTC). He then moved into the political scene and launched his own political party, LJP, in

January last year to contest the March 2020 elections. His party secured 2657 votes at the elections and Shuman will be serving as a parliamentarian for two and a half years in accordance to an agreement he made with two other parties to form a joinder arrangement.

LJP along with A New and United Guyana (ANUG) and The New Movement (TNM) together as joinder parties secured one seat in the National Assembly.

On the other hand, Senior Counsel Ramkarran, who founded ANUG along with others, is no stranger to the Guyana-Venezuela territorial dispute. From 1994, Ramkarran was appointed Guyana’s facilitator in Guyana-Venezuela Border United Nations (UN) Good Offices process. He also continued to serve on the ministerial team for the GuyanaVenezuela Border Dispute from 1994 to present.

Ramkarran also served as Speaker of the National Assembly from 2001 to 2011.

After founding his own party, he contested the March 2 elections as the Presidential Candidate for ANUG. The party obtained 2313 votes and will have a representative serving two years in the National Assembly as part of the joinder agreement.

Office of the President warns against fake First Lady page

the data over the last week, COVID-19 remains a threat to everyone in all areas of Guyana. Within the last few days, we have noted a lot of concerns about the testing and laboratory confirmation of COVID-19. I would like to assure members of the public that the tests conducted

by the National Public Health Reference Laboratory is the WHO-recommended molecular PCR test for the coronavirus,” the CMO stated.

Dr Shamdeo said that antibody rapid tests are available, which may indicate that someone was exposed to the virus but is not recommended to diagnose the infection.

However, he set the record straight that these procedures should not be compared, since only the PCR is used to detect positive cases.

“Please desist from comparing these two distinctively different methods of testing since the rapid antibody test is not approved to diagnose active COVID-19 case and only the molecular PCR can credibly identify infectious persons,” he noted.

Over the past week, the CMO said the momentum to wear a mask has increased significantly and should be continued as Guyana seeks to eradicate the virus locally. (G8)

The fake Facebook page

T

he Office of the President is urging the public to be aware of a bogus page on social media platform Facebook, purporting to be the official account of the First Lady of Guyana, Arya Ali. The fake account, which has been created under the name “H.E Arya Ali” is not affiliated with the First Lady, her office or the Office of the President in any way.

The public is therefore advised that the account is fake and that they should refrain from engaging the page.

Twice last week, the Office of the President had advised the public to be aware of a fake account on social media platform Twitter, purporting to be the official account of His Excellency Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali. The phoney account @ DrMohamedirfaa1 is seeking to solicit funds from unsuspecting citizens for a fake United Nations fund.

The public is therefore advised that the Twitter account is fraudulent and that they should refrain from engaging the page.

guyanatimesgy.com

SUNDAY, AUGUST 23, 2020

ARIES (March 21April 19)

29

Take baby steps when dealing with sensitive issues. Situations will escalate if you aren't careful how you handle loved ones.

People will become increasingly demanding if you are too accommodating.

TAURUS Make change happen.

(April 20- Look at partnership opporMay 20) tunities or spend quality time with a loved one. You will make the most of your day. Romance is favored and will improve your life.

Take a break, and avoid GEMINI discord and demanding peo(MAY 28ple. Look inward, and evalJune 20) uate the improvements you want to make. Make personal growth, better health and peace of mind your objectives.

CANCER Stick to what you know, (June 21- and take care of matters that July 22) are pertinent your financial, physical and emotional well-being. Overreacting will set you back. Focus on discipline, reason and facts.

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

Dilbert

A new approach to an old VIRGO idea will turn out well. Touch (Aug. 23base with people who inspire Sept. 22) you and support your efforts.

A chance to relax with someone you love will lead to positive lifestyle changes.

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

Peanuts

Use your energy wisely.

Make plans to do something exhilarating. Home improvements are favored. Don't follow someone else's lead; be creative, and do what's best for yourself.

Don't let yourself get blamed for something you didn't do. Taking a step back will help you put things in perspective and avoid outside pressure. If you need help, ask for it.

Share your intentions and feelings. Let your emotions take over lead the way.

Romance is in the stars.

Don't be afraid to follow an unusual path.

Improve the way you SAGITTARIUS live and work. Reach out (Nov. 23to people who owe you faDec. 21) vors or those you would like to collaborate with. Strive for equality and honesty to avoid setbacks.

CAPRICORN Implement your plans, (Dec. 22and don't look back. Make Jan. 19) unusual plans with a loved one to celebrate your good fortune. Romance is encouraged.

Calvin and Hobbes

Be careful how much perAQUARIUS sonal information you share.

(Jan. 20Take time to mull over what Feb. 19) you want to do next. Acting in haste will lead to mistakes.

Distance yourself from anyone putting pressure on you.

PISCES Stop second-guessing (Feb. 20- yourself, and start putting Mar. 20) your plans in motion. You'll accomplish plenty if you take action and bring about positive change. Start taking responsibility.

30

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

SUNDAY, AUGUST 23, 2020

Nabi, Chase hand Patriots 3rd loss A

powerful start and a late acceleration saw St Lucia Zouks overcome a middle-overs slump to post the highest total of the Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) so far.

And with the off-spinners again being excellent, it proved too tough an ask for a St Kitts & Nevis Patriots team who’ve now played three and lost three.

Patriots captain Rayad Emrit chose to bowl, but while Sheldon Cottrell and Sohail Tanvir started tightly to Rakheem Cornwall, Andre Fletcher was able to pick up

Dunk missed a slip catch off Jon-Russ Jaggesar.

Jaggesar’s frustration grew when Kieran Powell stepped on the rope while trying to complete a juggling catch.

The Zouks were quick to take advantage of the situation. Fletcher, who took a liking to Tanvir and Deyal, peppered the leg-side off Jaggesar to power the Zouks to 64/0 off the Powerplay.

The onslaught

gling catch at mid-off to dismiss Deyal off Emrit’s first ball. The Patriots captain foxed Najibullah Zadran with an array of slower balls, but the Afghan powered a pair of reverse sweeps off Sodhi and the leg-spinner was frustrated when Fletcher was dropped again on 38.

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Denesh Ramdin top- scored for the Patriots

Ronston Chase celebrates a wicket

boundaries off both. Cornwall retired ill in the third over, and while Mark Deyal started with a Hero Maximum first ball, he should have fallen off his third when Ben

continued as the field went back, with Deyal launching his third Hero Maximum to bring up the 50 stand off just 27 balls.

Ish Sodhi took a good jug-

Another Najibullah four saw the Zouks motor to 91/1 at halfway.

Jaggesar finally got his man when Fletcher picked out deep midwicket. With the Zouks so well set, it was

a surprise to see the anchorman Roston C h a s e come into bat, and he fell to a spitting Jaggesar carrom ball before he could make much of an impression. Tanvir picked up Najibullah and Sammy, caught behind in the same over; and, at 123/5 in the 15th, the Zouks were in danger of wasting a good platform.

Cornwall was well enough to return, but hit only one boundary before he was freakishly run out. A Nabi leading edge spun back onto the bowler’s stumps with Cornwall backing up looking for a run, and Emrit had ample time to complete the run-out.

Nabi showed his class with two huge Hero Maximums off Tanvir, one of which literally went out of the ground. Another flurry off the 20th took the Zouks to an imposing total despite their mid-innings stutter.

Nabi was back in the action immediately, bowling an excellent first over to Chris Lynn and Evin Lewis. Saad bin Zafar was not so accurate: when he dropped short, Lynn pulled; and when he overpitched, Lewis drove and paddle-swept; but a stunned Lynn had to depart when Najibullah sprang magnificently to take the ‘catch of the tournament’ so far.

Lewis toyed with Scott

Kuggeleijn, dispatching a Hero Maximum over square leg and paddling the follow-up slower ball very fine for four. But it was the New Zealander who was waiting at long-on when the recalled Joshua Da Silva toe-ended a straight hit off Chase.

Kesrick Williams, bowling a rare Powerplay over, mixed up good and bad, and the Patriots ended the Powerplay at 52/2.

Chase continued to impress, the ominous Lewis edging a cut to the keeper off a quicker ball. With Obed McCoy also accurate, Sammy was able to ramp up the pressure on Denesh Ramdin and Ben Dunk, and despite Ramdin’s Hero Maximum last ball before the drinks, the Patriots needed 9.5 an over off the last 10.

Dunk succumbed to the pressure, missing a sweep and giving Chase a 3rd wicket of a fantastic spell.

Tight overs from Williams and Nabi pushed the required run rate up above 11; and Powell, Ramdin, Tanvir and Emrit all fell trying to slog Kuggeleijn.

The Patriots’ keeper deserves credit for a good lone hand, and Cottrell launched a few lusty blows to narrow the margin of defeat, but other than their mid-innings batting wobble, the Zouks were in control throughout; and, with their well-stocked spin attack, could be a force later in the tournament if the pitches tire as expected.

The Patriots, meanwhile, have work to do if they’re not to be cut adrift. (CPLT20)

223-7230-1 (Ext 55)

NOW!

223-7230-1 (Ext 55)

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

SUNDAY, AUGUST 23, 2020

31

RHTY&SC’s 30th Anniversary Celebration: 1990-2020

Fudadin, Crandon, Williams named in RHTY&SC all time XI

— Campbelle leads all time female team

M

Assad Fudadin

anagement of the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club (RHTY&SC), MS, has unveiled the club’s “all-time cricket team” as its 30th anniversary celebration continues. The “all-time cricket team” selectees represent the best cricketers the club has ever produced.

Founded in September, 1990 by threetime Commonwealth Youth Service awardee the St. Francis Community Developers, the RHTY&SC is the only youth and sports club in the history of Guyana to receive a national award.

This idea of selecting an “all-time team” first surfaced in the club’s 20th anniversary observances in 2010, and would be revisited in 2025, for the club’s 35th anniversary.

Selectees in the 2020 all-time team named in order of batting preference are:

1.Renwick Batson 2.James Fraser 3.Assad Fudadin 4.Royston Crandon 5.Neil Williams

Esuan Crandon

6.Andre Percival 7.Khemraj Mahadeo 8.Delbert Hicks 9.Eon Hooper 10.Esuan Crandon 11.Shawn Pereira.

Hooper and Pereira have replaced Ravi Narine and Shawn Grant who were in the last selected all time eleven. National Coach and former Guyana all-rounder Esuan Crandon has been selected to “captain” this team.

Club Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster has said a five-member committee selected the team based on each individual’s performance on the cricket field, complemented by their personal discipline, team spirit, loyalty to the club, and role model status. He disclosed that numerous RHTY&SC members were considered, with Clinton Pestano, Kevlon Anderson, Junior Sinclair, Keith Simpson, Kevin Sinclair, Jason Sinclair, Ravi Narine, Shawn Grant, Abdel Fudadin, Rajiv Ivan and Michael Trim being “unlucky” not to be selected.

Foster is confident that Clinton Pestano,

Shemaine Campbelle

Shabika Gajnabi

Kevlon Anderson, Junior Sinclair, Kevin Sinclair and Keith Simpson would be included in 2025 when the 35th anniversary all-time team is selected.

The batting order is “very strong on paper”, with Batson, Fraser, Fudadin, Crandon, Williams, Percival, Mahadeo and Hicks all having scored in excess of 6,000 runs in their RHTY&SC careers. They have a combined 38 centuries, while Hooper, Crandon and Pereira are useful all-rounders.

Crandon is slated to star with the new ball and with either Williams, Fudadin or Batson, while Delbert Hicks would keep wicket. Spinners on the team would be drawn from Eon Hooper, Royston Crandon, Andre Percival, Khemraj Mahadeo and leg spinner Shawn Pereira.

Foster declared that the only weak spot is the lack of a left-arm spinner. All the players have played for Berbice at the junior and senior levels while Fraser is the only one not to play for Guyana at any level. Fudadin (Tests), Royston Crandon (ODI), and Esuan Crandon (Sixes) have also played for the West Indies.

Meanwhile, the club has also disclosed that

West Indies batting star Shemaine Campbelle has been named skipper of the club’s “all- time female eleven”. That team, in batting order, is: Meliane Henry, Marian Samaroo, Shabika Gajnabi, Shemaine Campbelle, Sheneta Grimmond, Sherika Campbelle, Jackie Singh, Nikita Toney, Dian Prahalad, Plaffina Millington and Erva Giddings. Gajnabi would serve as the vice-captain, while Campbelle would keep wicket and Henry would be the standby. Giddings and Sherika Campbelle would share the new ball, with Gajnabi as back up.

The spin bowlers would be: off-spinners Grimmond, Millington, Singh, left arm spinners Toney and Prahalad.

The RHTY&SC is the only cricket club in Guyana to have a female team, and every member of the team has represented Guyana at either the junior or senior level, apart from Sherika Campbelle, who is a senior Berbice player. Shemaine Campbelle, Giddings, Gajnabi and Grimmond are all senior West Indies players.

The RHTYSC would revisit the all-time eleven team in 2025.

Club cricket cancelled on the West Side as COVID-19 cases skyrocket — McGill rues bittersweet moment

By Timothy Jaikarran

M

onths have gone by with cricketers being forced to watch from the sidelines as the COVID-19 pandemic holds the world to ransom.

Like a thief in the night, this pandemic sneaked into nations all around the world and imposed a complete halt to all sporting activities. With Guyana being predominantly a cricket-loving nation, the absence of any level of cricket, whether first or second

division, has had a deleterious effect on the local cricketers.

As at August 21, 2020, Guyana’s COVID-19 cases stood at 843 and rising, but cricket activities resumed on the Demerara West Side last Sunday; however, within the space of one week, those activities were again suspended. At least, this is what the members of the McGill Superstars Club have decided in order to ensure their safety and that of their fans.

Speaking with this publication, club member Travis Persaud, when asked about the situation, said: “We restarted because there was a halt in COVID-19 cases. But now that it is on the rise, we are no longer participating in any cricket.

“Well, we were tracking the COVID-19 pandemic, and we noticed that there was a minor halt in the amount of positive cases; so we decided to restart cricket with a friendly encounter, but adhering to the measures set it place.

“We tried as best as possible to follow all procedures to limit the risk of anyone getting the virus. None experiencing any symptom was allowed to play or be at the venue. There was no one at the venue other than the teams and officials.”

Persaud noted that this has been a poignant, bittersweet moment for the club; and he said he is most disappointed because he had been looking forward to playing some cricket, since it has been a while that any game has been played.

He said the players will now be forced to go back to the proverbial square one after tasting victory, as they would have to repeat the process of indoor training yet again.

As to when it would be safe to come outside, he said the world may never know, but for now, the players of the McGill Superstars sports club would be anxiously awaiting their moment to return to the field.

Officials get certified for completing online boxing seminar

Ninvalle (seated centre) is flanked by Agard and Braithwaite (left).

Chase (right) and Craig are at the back

F

ive local referee/judges who participated in the historic two-day seminar for Caribbean officials were on Friday presented with certificates by the Americas Boxing Confederation (AMBC) Vice President Steve Ninvalle, the one who had organised this seminar.

More than 150 officials from the English-speaking Caribbean, Curacao, Haiti and Suriname participated in the seminar. Guyana was represented by AIBA One Star referees Lawrence Assanah, Richard Braithwaite and Elton Chase - Guyana’s first and only AIBA-certified International Technican Officer (ITO). Jermaine Craig, Shenice Agard and Colin Rodney comprised the rest of the local team.

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

SUNDAY, AUGUST 23, 2020

guyanatimesgy.com

Amazon Warriors successfully defend lowest total in CPL history

Team Warriors celebrate with Young Nedd

T

he Guyana Amazon Warriors (GAW), displaying grit, determination and strong selfbelief, pulled off a historic 14run win against the Jamaica Tallawahs in match 8 of the 2020 Hero Caribbean Premier League tournament played at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba, Republic of Trinidad & Tobago.

In this, “the mother of all CPL matches”, in which 80 dot balls were bowled, the Warriors’ bowlers proved too hot to handle, as they restricted the Jamaican franchise to 104-7 in 20 overs, thereby defending the lowest total ever scored in a CPL match: 119.

Batting first, the Warriors were dismissed for 118 in 19.1 overs, with only Chandrapaul Hemraj and Ross Taylor managing 21 runs each.

The Tallawahs’ Mujeebur-Rahman and Sandeep Lamichhane ran riot over the 2019 finalists, But the Warriors roared back with the ball to take bursts of 3/4 and 4/25, leaving the Tallawahs needing 60 from the last 4 overs. And not even Andre Russell, even at his most devastating, could help the Tallawahs.

After Tallawahs captain Rovman Powell elected to bowl, Fidel Edwards generated significant swing, but Thomas was wayward and Brandon King punished him mercilessly.

The fact that one of his Hero Maximums was off a no-ball because too many fielders were behind square on the legside added insult to injury, and

Thomas was not seen again with the ball.

Chandrapaul Hemraj was quick to pounce on anything short from either Mujeeb or Russell, and with King continuing to time the ball sweetly, the Amazon Warriors raced to 56/0.

All seemed to be going

had slumped from 56/0 to 57/3 inside four balls.

That precarious position then became 67/4 when Nicholas Pooran tried to cut Mujeeb and edged behind.

Sensing an opportunity, Powell went on the attack. He introduced Lamichhane and kept a slip in. The Warriors were so

Warriors found themselves in a deep hole at 85/5 after 12 overs.

It seemed like a dragline was digging that hole, as Paul skied to Phillips in trying to pull Carlos Brathwaite’s third ball, Warriors’ skipper Chris Green lost his leg-stump to Lamichhane, and eventually Taylor clipped Brathwaite straight to deep midwicket to leave the Amazon Warriors on 99/8 after 16 overs.

Naveen-ul-Haq showed a deft touch, but debutant Ashmead Nedd couldn’t stay with him, as he was farcically run out. Naveen tried to hit out, but gave mid-off a simple catch to award Brathwaite with a third wicket and put the final nail in the Warriors’ coffin - or so it seemed.

At the start of the chase, Green sparked panic among the Tallawahs when he removed Chadwick Walton with the first ball of the innings and ended Nkrumah Bonner’s first Hero CPL game since 2016 by way of LBW shortly after.

Imran Tahir got a rare outing in the Powerplay, and threatened immediately with a maiden.

Nedd’s debut may not have gone well with the bat, but the first ball of his T20 career removed Phillips. Asif Ali joined captain Powell in the 4th over with the score on 4/3, and although he was beaten by the first two deliveries he faced,

Tallawahs celebrate the wicket of Rutherford (Photos: CPL T20)

like a walk in the park for the Warriors when Mujeeb sparked a remarkable turnaround.

First, a ball skidded past King’s sweep; then the in-form Shimron Hetmyer was done in by a quicker off-spinner in the next delivery. When Hemraj steered the first ball after the Powerplay to the fielder at point, the Amazon Warriors

disconcerted that Sherfane Rutherford came out with two left side gloves. But Lamichhane did not disappoint.

His first over was tight, and in his second, his googly spun big to leave Rutherford being able only to give Mujeeb a second catch at point. Ross Taylor found himself fighting a lone hand, and the Amazon

he got off the mark with a commanding cut shot.

The Amazon Warriors bowled, fielded and appealed as though their lives depended on it, and the intensity didn’t let up after the Powerplay. Naveen let rip some wholehearted LBW appeals, Nedd got bounce and sharp turn, and Paul hit Powell on the helmet with his first ball.

While Asif was dropped

by Nedd at long leg, he would not get a second life. Hetmyer held his nerve at long-on and sent the Tallawahs to the drinks break reeling. Naveen kept the pressure on, and Nedd was unplayable at times.

At 41/4 after 12 overs, the Tallawahs had to confront the possibility of snatching defeat from the proverbial jaws of victory, and that became even more evident when Brathwaite was bowled by Paul.

Nedd finished a remarkable debut with four dot balls to Russell, and the Tallawahs now needed 69 from the last six overs, before Powell clubbed Naveen down Green’s throat to leave Russell still to get off the mark and batting with the tail.

Russell finally hit his first Hero Maximum of the

tournament; and while Tahir returned to trap Lamichhane LBW for a duck, when Russell took 11 runs off the 17th over, 17 runs off the 18th, and 10 runs off the first two balls of the 19th, it looked like he was going to win yet another game singlehandedly.

But Naveen responded with four dot balls in a row, and crucially kept Russell off strike for the last over.

Paul’s execution was perfect, and though Russell battered a Hero Maximum onto the roof to bring up his 50, the proverbial Fat Lady was already holding the microphone.

Both sides will be wondering what happened after 39.1 overs of logic-defying cricket. Warriors will play the Tridents today: Sunday, August 23 at 14:15h.

SCOREBOARD GAW Innings BA King b Mujeeb Ur Rahman 29 C Hemraj c Mujeeb Ur Rahman b Russell 21 SO Hetmyer b Mujeeb Ur Rahman 0 LRPL Taylor c Powell b Brathwaite 21 N Pooran † c †Phillips b Mujeeb Ur Rahman 4 SE Rutherford c Mujeeb Ur Rahman b Lamichhane 6 KMA Paul c †Phillips b Brathwaite 3 CJ Green (c) b Lamichhane 2 Naveen-ul-Haq c Bonner b Brathwaite 14 AR Nedd run out (Bonner/†Phillips) 1 Imran Tahir not out 1 Extras (lb 4, nb 1, w 11) 16 TOTAL (19.1 Ov, RR: 6.15) 118 Fall of wickets: 1-56 (Brandon King, 5.4 ov), 2-56 (Shimron Hetmyer, 5.5 ov), 3-57 (Chandrapaul Hemraj, 6.1 ov), 4-67 (Nicholas Pooran, 7.3 ov), 5-76 (Sherfane Rutherford, 10.2 ov), 6-89 (Keemo Paul, 13.3 ov), 7-93 (Chris Green, 14.4 ov), 8-98 (Ross Taylor, 15.5 ov), 9-112 (Ashmead Nedd, 18.2 ov), 10118 (Naveen-ul-Haq, 19.1 ov)

JAMAICA TALLAWAHS INNINGS (TARGET: 119 RUNS FROM 20 OVERS) CAK Walton lbw b Green 0 GD Phillips † c Paul b Nedd 0 NE Bonner lbw b Green 4 R Powell (c) c Green b Naveen-ul-Haq 23 Asif Ali c Hetmyer b Hemraj 14 CR Brathwaite b Paul 5 AD Russell not out 52 S Lamichhane lbw b Imran Tahir 0 FH Edwards not out 1 Extras (w 5) 5 TOTAL (20 Ov, RR: 5.2) 104/7 Did not bat: Mujeeb Ur Rahman, O Thomas Fall of wickets: 1-0 (Chadwick Walton, 0.1 ov), 2-4 (Nkrumah Bonner, 2.2 ov), 3-4 (Glenn Phillips, 3.1 ov), 4-34 (Asif Ali, 9.3 ov), 5-48 (Carlos Brathwaite, 12.4 ov), 6-50 (Rovman Powell, 14.1 ov), 7-59 (Sandeep Lamichhane, 15.6 ov) BOWLING CJ Green Imran Tahir AR Nedd Naveen-ul-Haq KMA Paul C Hemraj

BOWLING FH Edwards 3-0-20-0 O Thomas 1-0-24-0 Mujeeb Ur Rahman 4-0-18-3 AD Russell 2-0-16-1 S Lamichhane 4-0-8-2 R Powell 2-0-14-0 CR Brathwaite 3.1-0-14-3

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