Guyana Times - Sunday, August 30, 2020

Head of Coast Guard promoted to Brigadier

P27

…as 4 other GDF officers promoted Nationwide coverage coverage from from the the best best news news team team in in Guyana Guyana Nationwide Issue No. 4393 guyanatimesgy.com

THE BEACON BEACON OF OF TRUTH TRUTH THE

SUNDAY, AUGUST 30, 2020

PRICE

Attempt to rig elections

Clairmont Mingo slapped with 4 criminal charges …to appear in court on Monday Page 3

Govt appoints 6 new REOs, retains 3 from APNU/AFC

Page 29

APNU/AFC -touted 26MW Windfarm cannot produce even 10MW Page 7

$120 VAT INCLUDED

WHAT'S INSIDE: As testing increases

4 new COVID-19 cases recorded, 413 on home P26 isolation …isolation facility ready to house positive cases

Toddler dies P9 after being struck down by motorcycle COVID-19 pandemic

Technology P25 keeping wheels of justice turning

Armed bandits pounce on P26 man in shower …escape with $1.8M

…no Power Purchase Agreement signed - Public Works Ministry

Illegal loggers, exorbitant From Warapana to fees affecting Parliament: investment in forestry sector Dr Tandika Smith ready to – operator represent youth, voiceless Page 13

Berbice rice farmers still P28 battling paddy bug infestation

Page 24

Former AG debunks APNU supporter on ownership of Ocean View hotel

Page 29

…confirms building in receivership, "owner" defaulted on loan payments

Bandits hijack taxi, throw driver on roadway P12

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SUNDAY, AUGUST 30, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

NEWS

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SUNDAY, AUGUST 30, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS

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

Sunday, August 30 – 03:00h – 04:30h and 14:30h – 16:00h and Monday, August 31 – 03:30h – 05:00h and 14:30h – 16:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Sunday, August 30 – 14:50h – 16:20h and Monday, August 31 – 15:30h – 17:00h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY

Thundery showers will prevail during the day.

There will be cloudy skies at night. Temperatures should range between 21 degrees Celsius and 29 degrees Celsius.

Winds: West South-Westerly to South-Westerly to Southerly to South-Easterly to East SouthEasterly to Easterly to South-Easterly to Southerly to South South-Westerly between 1.34 metres and 3.12 metres.

High Tide: 14:56h reaching maximum heights of 2.29 metres.

Low Tide: 08:25h and 20:44h reaching a minimum height of 0.85 metre and 0.93 metre.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2020

LOTTERY NUMBERS D

15 17 20

22 25 27

FREE TICKET

4 Bonus Ball

DAILY MILLIONS

FRIDAY, AUGUST 28, 2020

08 09 10 17 26 LUCKY 3

2

7

SATURDAY, AUGUST 29, 2020

5

DRAW DE LINE

04

08

11

FRIDAY, AUGUST 28, 2020

12

16

17

PAY DAY

SUPER PAY DAY

SATURDAY, AUGUST 29, 2020

04 09 11 12 16

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FRIDAY, AUGUST 28, 2020

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

COMMODITIES Indicators

US$

Change %

Crude Oil

$45.05/barrel

-0.09

Rough Rice

$221.09/ton

-2.13

London Sugar

$359.70/ton

-0.64

Live Spot Gold

USD Per Ounce

Bid/Ask

$1964.30

$1965.30

Low/High

$1939.50

$1975.10

0.00

010%

Change

Attempt to rig elections

Clairmont Mingo slapped with 4 criminal charges …to appear in court on Monday

T

he Guyana Police Force has instituted four charges of misconduct in office against embattled Region Four Returning Officer, Clairmont Mingo, in relation to attempts to rig the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections.

Mingo and several other election officials were taken into custody over the past week as Police investigate allegations of electoral fraud. He is accused of attempting to alter the results of the election in favour of the APNU/AFC coalition by using concocted figures during the tabulation of votes for Region Four – the country’s largest voting district.

Guyana Times was told on Saturday that Mingo will be arraigned before the court on Monday, August 31, 2020, on these four charges.

However, Police sources say additional charges are also likely to be filed against him soon.

Only Friday, investigators secured a 24-hour extension from the High Court to keep the embattled RO, who was arrested on Tuesday, in custody. He was scheduled to be released at 14:30h on Saturday.

But according to Police sources, with the charges now instituted, he will remain in custody until his court appearance on Monday.

However, his lawyers had attempted to secure a court order for him to be released. In fact, Attorneys Roysdale Forde and Darren Wade on Saturday filed a Habeas Corpus application.

The matter was heard by acting Chief Justice, Rishi Persaud, on Saturday afternoon. It was a virtual hearing.

In a statement from the Attorney General Anil Nandlall’s office, it was noted that during the hearing, Justice Persaud pointed out that the Extension Order he granted on Friday was “spent” the moment the four charges were read to Mingo by the police. The acting Chief Justice noted that it is now within the realm of the Magistrates’ Courts to deal with the matter.

Meanwhile, AG Nandlall had argued that the Habeas Corpus application was misconceived and it was wasting the court’s time and effort. The Attorney General lamented that attorneys-at-law must advise themselves on the law and the facts before activating the court’s process.

In the end, Justice Persaud dismissed the application filed to have Mingo released from Police custody.

Returning Officer Clairmont Mingo sitting at the CID Headquarters (James Bond Facebook Photo)

Since Mingo’s arrest on Tuesday, at least four other GECOM employees have also been taken into custody to assist with the investigation. These include Carolyn Duncan, Sheffern February and Michelle Miller – all registration officers as well as IT technician Enrique Livan.

With the exception of Duncan, the other three GECOM staff remain in custody as of Saturday.

Meanwhile, the police during their investigation have called in several People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) officials to give statements on the events that unfolded following the March 2 polls.

On Friday, a confrontation was held between Mingo, who Police sources said has not been “fully” cooperating, and PPP/ C’s Counting Agent Charles Ramson Jr. Back in March, Ramson Jr had filed private criminal

charges against Mingo and Chairperson of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) – the leading party of the APNU fraction of the coalition – Volda Lawrence, in relation to the unverified declaration of results for Region Four.

The declaration made

by Mingo, which was subsequently set aside by Chief Justice Roxane George, was signed by Lawrence – the lone representation of the political parties that contested the elections. The other parties had objected to the declaration after the verification process was not fully complied to by the RO. Even the election observation missions, local and international, had also rejected the declaration, saying that the results lacked credibility and transparency.

Nevertheless, also on Friday, PPP/C’s agents Sasenarine Singh and Sonia Parag were called in by investigators to give their

statements in the matter.

Singh told Guyana Times that he had confrontations with both Mingo and February. He was the only the PPP/C agent who observed the actual attempts to rig the elections.

Singh told the police that during the tabulation process, Miller (GECOM registration officer) was calling out numbers from purported Statements of Poll but the figures for the APNU/ AFC and PPP/C did not match those on the carbon copy of the SoPs that the party was given at various Polling Stations. He said the officer was “inflating the APNU/AFC numbers and reducing the PPP/C numbers.” This was at the Office of the Region Four RO, located in Ashmins building, High and Hadfield Streets, Georgetown.

He also recalled in his statement to the police, similar attempts on March 13 at the GECOM Headquarters in Kingston, Georgetown, where around midnight RO Mingo had made the controversial declaration.

In fact, Mingo and Lawrence were charged for forging official electoral documents in an effort to defraud the country.

While Lawrence was arraigned and placed $100,000 bail by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennon last Monday, Mingo did not make a court appearance as he was never served with the private criminal charges filed against them. (G8)

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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 local inertia

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ast week a “Local Content Panel” was appointed by President Irfaan Ali to advise him on the finalisation of the “Local Content Policy” (LCP), which had been left incomplete by the previous APNU/AFC Administration even as the Exxon-led consortium has been lifting oil since December 2019.

The new administration now has to play catch-up. The point about crafting an LCP was for the country to extract the maximum benefit from the oil extraction process, which in our case is centred 110 miles out in the Atlantic Ocean, in addition to the paltry bonus and profit sharing that was accepted by the departed coalition.

In terms of the oil extraction process, there was no possibility of any Guyanese being involved in the exploration stage, since this was a very specialised area performed by foreign entities in which no Guyanese had the necessary expertise. However, in the drilling stage, which began in 2018, at one stage there were 23 Guyanese in the 160-person crew of the drill ship the “Noble Bob Douglas”: 14 in the catering operations, four roustabouts (unskilled labourer), two clerks, one doctor, and two logistics support personnel. As can be gleaned, these were generally unskilled workers who would not be adding much value to the Guyanese economy, especially when it was revealed that they were being paid at a fraction of the rates of foreign workers - even Trinidadians.

The actual lifting of the oil from under the ocean is done by massive “Floating, Production, Storage and Offloading” (FPSO) vessels. The operational Lisa Destiny can process up to 120,000 barrels of oil per day, brought up from the seventeen wells; and store more than a million barrels, which would then be loaded directly to oil tankers berthed next to it. These FPSOs, however, are extremely automated, and the Lisa Destiny needs only 80 workers. Last week, 24 Guyanese technicians returned from an Exxon 18-month training programme in Canada to begin working on the Lisa Destiny, but it will take years for them to replace the foreign workers they will now understudy. Eventually, Exxon projects, they will utilize 5 FPSOs by 2025, that are expected to produce between 750,000 and 1million barrels of oil daily. The employment of Guyanese in the drilling and extraction phases, it can be seen, will not number beyond “hundreds” at the very best.

Exxon, however, has announced that at this stage, with only one FPSO in place, 3400 persons are employed on and off shore to support its operation - 1700 of them being Guyanese.

Undoubtedly, there are several on shore operators, like the Schlumberger, but in terms of trained workers, the largest supplier has been the Trinidad Company TOTALTEC, which last year announced it had trained some 126 Guyanese workers, of which Schlumberger hired 18. More than likely, the vast majority of the claimed 1700 workers associated with Exxon’s oil operations would be untrained, low-paid persons.

Part of the problem with Guyana really benefiting from “Local Content” is that none of the three policy drafts that the APNU/AFC regime commissioned was based on an Industrial Baseline Study (IBS) that are first routinely done by new oil producing states. The IBS looks at the needs of the emerging oil sector, surveys the existing businesses in the country, and identifies strengths and weaknesses in the state’s goal for its citizens to benefit maximally from the extraction of a resource that they all own.

Over in Suriname, for instance, the state’s oil company, Staatsolie- commissioned IBS showed that the country’s business community was not quite ready to deliver goods and services to the offshore oil industry.

More importantly, however it identified areas that the Local Content Policy, which like ours is now being finalized, should address. In Guyana, the APNU/AFC regime placed the cart before the horse and allowed Exxon to launch a “Centre for Local Business Development” in Georgetown in collaboration with DAI Global, LLC, the same company that did Suriname’s IBS, to determine Guyana’s needs.

First Lady Arya Ali on Saturday participated in the first of a series of meetings which were organised by the Dubai Vigilance Group (DVG) to reflect on the role of women in today’s society. The meeting, which was initiated by Her Royal Highness Sheikha Afra Dalmook of Dubai, was the first of its kind between the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and leaders of the Caribbean Community and Common Market (Caricom). It was held under the theme, “A moment of reflection for women in this current state of global affairs”. (Office of the President photo)

Another nail in AFC’s coffin

Dear Editor, Soon after the November, 2011 General Elections, there was a de facto Coalition which began an insatiable quest to gain power at any and all cost.

It was at this time I became a lonely voice crying out in the wilderness against the cronyism and corruption of the AFC and its leaders. It was at this time I saw the complete annihilation of its founding principles, which also became just collateral damage in the course charted by selfishness and greed.

It was at this time that I made a vow to relentless pursue my goals to expose the wrongdoings of the AFC, and to bring about its destruction.

I did not resign from the AFC initially, but fought them internally, and then went public in a crusade that would last for 8 years in my quest to finally bring the AFC to its knees. I was called a “rogue councillor” who was bribed by the PPP, and was labelled a PPP ‘mole’ and then expelled from the AFC in 2012 by Ramjattan.

As I wrote letter after letter, and hosted many TV programmes with the former AFC General Secretary Sixtus Edwards and former member Balwant Persaud, I witnessed the cracks and fissures

appearing, as one high profile member after another began to break ranks with the AFC, finally seeing the naked truth in what I was exposing. These high-profile members were not only from the local scene, but from the diaspora as well, moreso Canada and the USA. These had heavily funded the AFC from the time of its formation, and became compelled to engage in the exposure of the AFC crooks.

After coalescing with the APNU in 2015, many more high-profile AFC members left, including Ramayya and the famous NCM voter Charandass Persaud. Then, during the 5-month siege of our democracy, Executive member and former Minister of Business, Dominic Gaskin, quit. It became clear that the few remaining voices of conscience within the AFC could no longer bear to stand by as the AFC discarded its founding principles and became a part of the PNC of old.

The AFC became as corrupt as, if not more corrupted than, the PNC which dominated the APNU. At least the Justice for All Party and the WPA have mustered some scruples and have decided to break ranks with the Coalition; but not the AFC, they have persisted dog-

gedly, swallowing all shame.

They have become totally consumed by the PNC, and have lost all individuality and identity.

But above all, the AFC have become impervious to criticism; their leaders have become mindless puppets. The PNC had no problem awarding them 9 seats as a token of their utter subservience.

Today, I am again vindicated, as yet another high-profile member of the AFC resigned.

Gobin Harbhajan was a member for 15 years, and was the PM’s Representative for Berbice for 5 years, and had tried to weather the ongoing storm which had engulfed the AFC, but his honesty and diligence had no place in a party which can no longer even face the people or represent any issue on their behalf.

AFC are a party which partnered with the PNC to attempt to blatantly rig the 2020 Elections, and until now are still claiming that it is the PPP/C which has committed electoral fraud. Ramjattan and Trotman have become Congress Place choir boys.

Fortunately, Harbhajan has now come to full realisation that it is impossible to change the corrupt leaders of the AFC and their cohorts, since they

had been enjoying the good life for the last 5 years, and will never be able to move away from their dishonest lifestyles.

There is simply no place for honesty or honest people within the AFC. Harbhajan took a long time to realise that country is not first for the AFC. Just go back to 2011 and beyond, when they joined with the PNC to make the country ungovernable under the pretence of trying to save Guyana.

Today, the AFC is just the most hated nomenclature to Guyanese, who will never pardon them for the stance they have taken and the support given to the PNC even when the entire democratic world cried foul against the Coalition and their repeated attempts to rig. The AFC and their leaders have failed to deliver on their promise to hold their bigger partner accountable.

Ramjattan’s prophecy of ‘dead meat’ is still reverberating in every nook and cranny, and the curse is still alive.

Today, I can proudly quote M.K. Gandhi, who said: “Even if you are a minority of one, the truth is the truth”. The destruction of the AFC started with a ‘minority of one’.

Yours sincerely, Haseef Yusuf

GAWU will continue to speak on behalf of all workers Dear Editor, Several sections of the media have reported on an engagement between Labour Minister Joseph Hamilton and representatives of ExxonMobil.

From those media reports, we learnt that Minister Hamilton addressed concerns about pay levels of Guyanese vis-à-vis foreigners, as well as unionisation of workers in the oil and gas sector.

The Minister’s engagement followed that of Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo, who had also expressed concerns about workers’ pay levels.

In this regard, our Union made a public announcement of its willingness to assist and

offer guidance to unorganised workers. A few workers from the oil sector have since engaged us and shared with us some documents.

Those interactions and review of documents were, for us, revealing. We recognise that workers in the sector are really being taken advantage of, and many of their rights are not being respected. Moreover, longstanding practices embraced by many sectors are absent in the supposedly high-paying oil and gas sector. Worst of all, the workers are practically threatened against seeking union representation. We have learnt that even a quip in that direction results in a fast

and furious response to make such workers an example in an obvious attempt to intimidate and instill fear.

Our country has had a proud tradition of progressive advancement of workers’ rights. We therefore have a responsibility to defend those rights, and to stand with workers in any sector who are literally being exploited without any recourse to justice.

Given the travails the oil sector workers are enduring, and the several victories of workers in Guyana, the GAWU cannot remain silent or stand at the sidelines. We see the need to speak up and speak out. We see the need to en-

sure that workers’ rights are upheld.

As we again reiterate our willingness to advance workers’ rights, be assured of our continued voice in defence of all workers who need protection and help. We again invite any worker who has difficulty at their workplace, or just requires clarity or explanation, to approach us, whether online or in person. We stand ready to assist.

Yours faithfully, Seepaul Narine General Secretary, Guyana Agricultural & General Workers Union (GAWU)

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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

Support for President Prosecutors must call for Ali on Payara review SOPs to be produced in court Dear Editor, There is much support for President Ali in the diaspora on the review of the Payara FDP and for renegotiation of the oil contract.

However, it is very difficult, though not impossible, to break a contract with a multinational corporation (MNC). Breaking a contract is fraught with serious consequences, some of which are geo-political. Anyone who has studied political science would know how MNCs shape domestic politics, and one has to have a balanced relationship with them.

N e v e r t h e l e s s , Government must attempt to seek some kind of additional benefits for Guyana, and certainly enforcement of, as well as variation in, local content agreements.

It requires best negotiation skills and strategies to get Exxon to give more benefits to Guyana without actually billing Guyana for them.

Guyana is today the most profitable asset Exxon has.

It has been dumping various assets around the globe but retaining Guyana’s, which is described as “new frontier”.

In fact, Exxon has been de-listed on the NY Stock Exchange. Guyana is its saving grace for now; the best deal Exxon ever got globally on making money.

The least that President Ali can do is to review Payara and reset it. People must put aside all the bad press and innuendoes and allow the Government to proceed with the completion of the review of the FDP. It is only fair that a new Government be given some leeway over the review and its negotiations with Exxon. Suggestions can be made to reset the agreement.

The Government is looking at the bigger picture, the long-term future of the oil industry, in seeking a review. It will set the model for future reviews of FDPs, and there may be another dozen over the next 30 years, the term of life of oil extraction. Review of Payara gives Government an opportunity to set its own standards based on world recognized best practices on FDP, and the Government will not disappoint.

While Payara FDP is being reviewed as committed, the Government has no choice in the selection of the reviewer. The Canadian donor selects the reviewer, which is led by Ms Allison Redford and comprises Guyanese-Canadians as well.

Payara is a complicated project. I can’t imagine Redford would rubberstamp things; I expect a professional review. Further independent review of the FDP can and should be undertaken by the Government to the satisfaction of critics, in order to maximise benefits to Guyana.

As revealed, Bayphase did the technical review of the Payara FDP for the Granger Administration, and

the Redford Team is conducting a review of the FDP. As reported, the Redford Team is reviewing the methodology used in the FDP. When completed, it is hoped that it would be a framework for future negotiation – creating a model that would work for Guyana and perhaps other countries in similar predicament as Guyana.

Contrary to what is rumoured, there is no conflict of interest between the Redford Team and Exxon. It is noted that the lawyers retained by the preceding Government for the Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) and preparation of earlier FDPs were blatantly conflicted with Exxon. They were lobbyists for Exxon; that in and of itself raises legal questions about the contract. The lawyers failed the preceding Guyana Government in oversight role. Its report is due by weekend.

The emphasis on Payara review is not on PSA, but on issues pertaining to the environment and role of local stakeholders in supplying materials and resources and providing service to Exxon.

So far, under the previous regime, Guyanese have minimal role in local content, other than supplying bhajji and bora. The last Government did not listen to public views on local content.

The Ali Administration is listening. The PSA concluded by the Granger Administration in 2016 is lopsided in favour of Exxon.

The Government had an opportunity to negotiate a fair contract (with higher royalty and profit-sharing), but failed in that mission. We

read that it refused sound advice, and that the negotiator, Minister Trotman, was instructed to sign the contract. Who instructed him to sign the contract we don’t know, and he won’t reveal the name/names.

Was the Exxon contract negotiated in good faith? Did the Government send a competent team to do the negotiation? Was independent technical advice proffered?

Trotman should not have negotiated and/or signed the contract, unless it was reviewed by experts acting on behalf of the interests of the nation. He said he didn’t read it; he should have. One cannot enter into a contract without reading it. Why wasn’t it read?

It was irresponsible behaviour not to have read the contract, he was acting in the nation’s interest.

Was he forced to sign it? And if so, by whom? Somebody or some bodies, not the Ali Administration, must be held accountable for this PSA and the conflict of interest associated with it. The Ali Government has to honour the contract, unless it can legally be shown to be unfair and Exxon was at fault. One has to make a strong, legal case for renegotiation. The Exxon contract was negotiated and signed in the US, so an American court has jurisdiction.

President Ali has acted wisely to recover an unjust situation on oil development. He deserves support for his present course of action.

Yours truly, Dr Vishnu Bisram

Dear Editor, To date, the nationwide calls for the Guyana Elections Commission to produce the Statements of Poll (SOPs) for the General and Regional Elections held on March 02, 2020 have been futile. Our citizens have had to face the brutal rape of our constitutional rights by a band of daylight thieves situated inside and outside of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM).

The role and contemptuous behaviour of Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield et al in the rigging plot sought to disregard the evidence-based affirmation of the SOPs as the legal authority of the true results.

The fact that a National Recount of the votes cast took place without the presentation of the original SOPs in the control of the Chief Elections Officer emphasises the eerie darkness of the plot, which was halted only by the remedies imposed by the international community.

This is because accountability, fairness, trust and constitutional commitment were long thrown through the window, while propaganda efforts were made to diminish the importance of this key document to their overzealous supporters. It is therefore significant and necessary that our people know about the process, value and importance of all SOPs. Section 84 of The Representation of the People’s Act Cap. 1.08, addresses the procedures and authority of various persons within and external to the election machinery of GECOM. It empowers the steps to be followed in accounting for votes cast, with SOPs prepared by

ANUG executives see no conflict of interest

Dear Editor, Insinuations were made that the leadership of the smaller, we prefer to say newer, parties have placed themselves in conflict of interest positions by accepting advisory roles with the present PPP/C Government.

We take this opportunity to inform your readers and the nation at large of a few things which have occurred recently within A New and United Guyana (ANUG) political party. They are as follows: 1. Mr Ralph Ramkarran, on August 5th 2020, informed the ANUG executives that he would not be seeking re-election as General Secretary of the party at the upcoming elections. He encouraged the executives to hold the election of new office bearers as early as possible within the parameters of the COVID-19 regulations.

2. Mr Ramkarran, on August 12th 2020, informed the ANUG executives that he had received correspondence from the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Ms. Gail Teixeira, requesting

the submission of the names of five (5) ANUG representatives for inclusion on the boards of state agencies.

ANUG views this as an early step towards inclusive governance by the new governing party. Mr Ramkarran recommended that ANUG accept the offer, since it presented an opportunity for the promotion of transparency and accountability within the realm of the state apparatus.

3. Mr Ramkarran, on August 17th 2020, informed the ANUG executives that he was asked by the PPP/C Government to continue to serve as an Advisor on Border Issues to the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

For the following reasons, the ANUG executives see no conflict of interest with Mr Ramkarran accepting the position of Advisor to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and serving the present Government and the people of Guyana: A: This is a position in which he has served for the past twenty-six (26) years under both the APNU/AFC

and the previous PPP/C governments. This is a position in which Mr Ramkarran has vast experience, and remains an asset to any Guyanese Government.

B: Mr Ramkarran will not be seeking re-election as General Secretary of ANUG at its next internal election of office bearers.

C: Mr Ramkarran will not be representing ANUG in Parliament when ANUG assumes its seat as per the Joinder Agreement.

It is for the above reasons that we, the ANUG executives, support Mr Ramkarran’s acceptance of the offered position as Advisor to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and anticipate that he would provide sterling support to the Minister in whatever capacity required.

Yours sincerely, Jonathan Yearwood, Nadia Sagar, Mark France, Laura Singh, Akanni Blair, Aruna Budhram, Carlos Gonsalves

the respective presiding officers (POs) in every polling station/booth. At the end of polling, the respective presiding officers must immediately access all information that was obtained during the day, and place them in specific envelopes. This is done in full view of the polling agents/ counting agents, and observers. The PO of each voting station is required to open the ballot box and sort the ballots cast. The counting of the ballots must take place with scrutiny, the presiding officer would go through the ballots and assort them for the counting.

The ballots are then counted and allotted to the respective List of Candidates, following which they are placed in envelopes in accordance with the amounts cast for each respective List of Candidates. The POs are then required to prepare the SOPs in accordance with the correct allocation to each List of Candidates, and to sign off the statement for each station, along with each polling agent and the observers at the respective location.

The PO will then give to each political party agent a copy of the SOP, and place a copy on the door or any other area outside of the office, where the public can have a look at the elections results.

The POs in the various clusters will then give his Statement of Poll to the respective Deputy Returning Officer (DROs). It must be recognized that, depending on the demographics of the electoral districts, DROs are assigned to work accounting for specific sets of SOPs within the ten specific Regions/ Districts, and the submission of statements regarding same is assigned to Returning Officers in the ten Regions.

Following the submissions, the ten Returning Officers MUST then immediately convene a meeting with the various political parties counting agents to do the verification count, determined by a reconciliation of the various authenticated SOPs. After the verification count is conducted with political parties counting agents, the results along with the SOPs are then prepared and then sent to the Chief Elections Officer.

However, it must be noted that GECOM has a system in place for the Chief Elections Officer to receive copies of Statements of Poll directly from the field from certain areas.

In accordance with this GECOM process and system, all the political parties will use their respective structures to accumulate the results in the various districts. As a result, the political parties with their apparatus fully operational are able to reconcile and know the final results of the elections.

It is because of the powerful party structure of the party the PPP and their wide representation across each district that the party was able to confirm their winning position at the 2020 National

and Regional Elections. This is because they are now in a position to compare the votes gained by other participating parties that are authenticated and validated on the same copies of the SOPs signed and received by their agents in each of the stations.

It is a fact that the APNU/ AFC, GECOM and the PPP/C had the identical Statements of Poll. To date, the APNU/ AFC and GECOM failed to reveal the results of the signed Statements of Poll that were issued by GECOM on the night of 2nd March 2020, and the CEO has proven to be complicit in not using the original SOPs he received to determine the veracity of the falsification that was attempted by the RO of Region # 4 in his effort to change the results of the election and the will of the Guyanese people.

The facts and reality confirm that several staff members of GECOM were hell bent on rigging the elections.

The elections results in nine of the ten Regions were accepted. However, great was the confusion that erupted when attempts to execute the rigging plan were attempted by dispelling the SOPs and use a concocted spread sheet’.

It was quickly spotted by the ‘alert’ eyes of the PPP/C counting agents. It required the intervention of the courts and the widespread rejection by the international community to upturn the wicked concoction. And even at this point, the production of the SOPs collected by GECOM was not revealed as the basis for totally clarifying a true position.

Rather, RO Clairmont Mingo was allowed to deliberately spew his falsities in a report that did not satisfy the basic standards of verification and acceptability. Consequently, hundreds of millions of taxpayers’ dollars were spent during the five months by GECOM as its Secretariat staff members and other APNU/AFC agents in the Commission were making every effort to facilitate rigging of the elections.

There is no doubt that a total loss of public confidence in the GECOM Secretariat’s control process abounds, countered only by the interventions to publicize the recount of the votes cast after the ballot boxes were continuously watched by the Opposition party agents.

GECOM must have a forensic audit of it finance and the elections process and elections results. It is imperative that our people in every region/district be comfortable with the GECOM staff, and particularly the election machinery must be transparent, accountable and fair, and those found to be inconsistent with this ethos must be held accountable and ejected forthwith.

The prosecution of many will take place, including the CEO, and prosecutors must call for the SOPs to be produced in the courts.

Sincerely, Neil Kumar

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Foundation

BY: Juliann Garey

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o one likes dealing with conflict. But no matter how hard we try to avoid them, arguments, fights and disagreements are a fact of life — for adults and for kids. And not dealing with conflicts when they arise can negatively impact relationships and lead to further interpersonal challenges down the road.

Conflict may not be pleasant, but it doesn’t have to feel catastrophic. Teaching kids practical skills to manage it in a healthy way will help them navigate everything from small squabbles (“She took my doll!”) to big issues (“I don’t know if I want to be your friend anymore”) both now and as they grow up.

Tackle feelings first Part of what makes conflicts difficult to navigate is the way they bring out big, intense emotions that children may not have the tools to process. Before they can address the problem that caused the conflict — whether it was a fight over a toy or betrayal by a friend — kids need to be able to get to a place emotionally where they can think before they act (or lash out and make things worse).

Parents can start by helping kids identify the emotions they’re having. Are they feeling anger? Frustration? Hurt? Embarrassment?

Stephanie Lee, PsyD, a child psychologist at the Child Mind Institute, and Carey Werley, LCSW, a clinical social worker at the Child Mind Institute, recommend using visual tools to help little kids identify what they’re feeling. * Visual feelings chart: Typically, this is a chart showing facial expressions that illustrate different emotions. “You can buy magnetised charts, which are a handy addition to the refrigerator and which help kids identify what they’re feeling,” says Werley. * The stoplight: A visual red, yellow and green stoplight is especially helpful for little kids. “If a little kid looks at the stoplight and points to the red zone, then the feelings are so big that they’re probably not going to be able to act in a way that’s going to resolve the conflict yet,” says Werley. “Yellow means the intensity of the emotion is beginning to subside and by the time they get to green, they’re going to be able to engage in actual conflict resolution skills. It’s about helping kids to not act in a way that’s going to make the situation bigger or worse.” * The emotion thermometer: Easily Googleable, the emotion thermometer is simply a picture of a thermometer with numbers.

When conflicts come up, kids can look at the emotion thermometer to assess where they are on it. Based on the number, the child can decide whether they need to calm down before proceeding. Tweens and teens who’ve learned these techniques can simply visualise the stoplight or thermometer in their minds in order to assess their emotional state.

When emotions are still intense, it’s not the right time to problemsolve about the conflict itself. Help kids come up with a toolbox of coping skills to use if they need to calm down in the heat of the moment. This might mean splashing cold water on your face, taking some deep breaths or playing with a pet.

Pinpoint the source of the conflict Once big emotions have cooled down, the next step is figuring out exactly what the problem is. Sometimes kids, especially younger ones, don’t have the emotional awareness to identify the original

source of the conflict. They might need your help to understand why they’re fighting. For example, if your child and their friend are squabbling over a toy, the issue might be much deeper, explains Werley. “It could actually be that one of them made a new friend and the other feels left out,” she says.

Helping kids get to the root of the issue will make it easier for them to resolve what’s actually wrong. It will also give them tools to identify and talk about similar problems when they come up again. Older kids starting in grade school and middle school are more likely to have the language to identify the source of the conflict, so with a little guidance, they can learn to use these skills independently going forward.

Brainstorm solutions Once kids understand what the issue is, you can help them practice finding solutions. Little kids, in particular, will need a grownup’s guidance here, but even older kids and teenagers can benefit from having someone to bounce ideas off of.

For any age, Dr Lee suggests brainstorming several solutions then putting your heads together to pick the best one. For younger kids, she recommends a couple of ways to structure this conversation: * Problem-solving baseball: This exercise takes kids through the processing of thinking up and evaluating possible action plans. “I have kids pitch me a problem and then we go through the bases,” Dr Lee explains. “So, first base is what’s my problem? Second base is what are some potential options? Third base identifies the best options.

And home plate is, am I safe or out? Did I pick the right one? The object is to help even very young kids start to understand what is going to get them closest to their goal.” * The smiley face rating: Lee suggests asking your child to come up with possible conflict resolution options and then asking, “Is this behaviour going to make you feel better or worse or pretty much the same?” Note the answer using a visual rating: smiley face, frowny face, neutral? “And then we look at all of our smiley ratings to help us decide which one is the best option. But also explain to them that it’s not just about how you feel, it’s about whether or not it’s going to help you to reach your goal.”

Of course, the tricky thing here is that it’s usually hard to know what the best option really is. And that’s okay! Let kids know that the goal is to make your best effort, not to solve everything perfectly right away. They might have to go back to the drawing board if their first plan doesn’t pan out — often, that’s just part of the process. “You also want to jump in and praise your child for trying those skills even if things didn’t work out as they had hoped,” says Dr Lee. “Give them credit and then help them navigate from there. And when they do figure it out, make a big deal out of that.”

Get some perspective Conflicts often feel enormous and immediate, which can make it hard to keep perspective on the situation. To find useful solutions, it’s important for kids to practice taking a mental step back. A few tips you can encourage kids to keep in mind include: * Think beyond this one incident. If a close friend tells a secret you trusted them with, it’s natural to be upset. But does that really mean that the friendship is over? Encourage your child to consider the rest

of their relationship with the person they’re in conflict with, and remind them that one behaviour doesn’t define the entire person. * Put yourself in the other person’s shoes. “You want to really work on acknowledging what the other person is saying,” says Werley. “even if you don’t totally understand why they’re feeling that way or don’t agree with the way that they’re describing the situation.”

Imagining what the other person is feeling is a great way to help kids develop empathy. Depending on the situation, it might also make sense for your child to talk over the issue with the other person and make a point of listening actively — without interrupting.

Practicing these skills can help kids resolve conflicts in the short term and become more empathetic in the long term. * Consider the context. The time and place of the conflict will often dictate how kids respond to it, as will the nature of their relationship to the other person. In particular, Dr Lee notes that it’s important for kids to know that conflicts with adults will often look different from conflicts with other kids. For example, a child who gets angry with a teacher during class might have to sit with those feelings until it’s possible to set up a private meeting with the teacher. Taking a step back to consider all the dynamics of a situation will set kids up to navigate the conflict more successfully.

Practise effective communication In order to resolve a conflict, kids need to learn to communicate their feelings clearly, without lashing out or making accusations. It’s tough to practice communication skills when tensions are running high, so consider talking over these skills with kids when they’re not already in the midst of a conflict. Then, you can provide gentle reminders and guidance when things do get heated. Werley and Dr Lee recommend the following strategies: * Using “I” statements to name feelings. You’ve heard it before, but it’s still true: Saying something like, “I felt embarrassed when you posted that on Instagram” is usually more helpful than something like, “You posted that picture just to embarrass me!” * Writing out talking points. “Even if it’s just planning out a conversation in their journal, thinking through what to say ahead of time can help kids get their points across effectively,” says Werley. * Role-playing with an adult. “Having a safe space to practice tricky conversations can be a huge help,” says Dr Lee. You can also offer your child insight on nonverbal communication that they might not be aware of — eg, “What you said was really kind, but I had a harder time appreciating it because you were looking at the ground.”

Model what you want to see One of the most powerful things you can do to help your child learn conflict resolution is to show them how it’s done. When you experience a conflict of your own (especially one with your child!), put the techniques described here into practice. When appropriate, you can even talk your child through how you solved the conflict. Seeing you succeed — and make mistakes along the way! — shows kids that solving conflicts really is doable, even when it’s hard. (Excerpt from Child Mind Institute)

7 APNU/AFC-touted 26MW Windfarm cannot produce even 10MW NEWS

SUNDAY, AUGUST 30, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

…no Power Purchase Agreement signed - Public Works Ministry

T

he People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Government has inherited the Hope Windfarm project, which the ousted APNU/AFC Government had touted praises for in its green economy plan, but it has since been revealed by the Public Works Ministry that the wind farm can only produce under 10 megawatts (MW) of power.

This was communicated by the Ministry in response to questions posed by this publication. The project was originally marketed and touted by the previous APNU/ AFC Government as being capable of producing 26 MW of power. But according to the Ministry, an assessment has shown that the project’s capacity is significantly less.

“During the period 2013 - 2015, the project generation configuration was proposed at 26 MW. However, in 2016, the Ministry of Public Infrastructure determined to seek independent technical and financial guidance to support the Ministry and GPL (Guyana Power

and Light) in the assessment of the project and in its engagements with the developer,” the Ministry in a statement to this publication said.

It added that this support was provided, which guidance determined “that due to potential negative environmental impacts (housing and other developments within the proposed project area over time), the capacity of the project was constrained to less than 10 MW.” While there had been talk of a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) between the Government and the developers, things have not progressed past that stage. In fact, the Ministry pointed out that the last engagement between the Ministry and the Hope Windfarm developers was in 2018.

According to the Ministry, it is important that the developer obtains environmental authorisation for the engagements on the project to go forward. This would serve to confirm the scope of the project.

The proposed Hope Windfarm project

“This determination would also enable the developer to engage GPL on the grid code process (process governing the terms for interconnection of the project with GPL’s grid). The Ministry’s engagement with the developer on the project was last in 2018.”

While the developer did share with the Ministry a model form of

the power purchase agreement for consideration, no PPA discussion has been had with the developer in the absence of clarity on the generation capacity of the project, the Ministry also said.

Months after it took office in 2015, the former A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government

had announced that it would facilitate a US$50 million, 25-megawatt wind farm project at Hope Beach on the East Coast of Demerara.

The Alliance For Change (AFC) subsequently identified International Pharmaceutical Agency (IPA) proprietor Lloyd Singh, an investor in the wind farm, as responsible for the party’s acquisition of its multimillion-dollar headquarters in February of 2016. AFC co-founder Khemraj Ramjattan had identified Singh as the one who provided the party with the advance for the property.

While not as stable as hydropower, wind energy generated by turbines is a form of renewable energy. But the Hope Beach Wind Farm project, at less than 10 MW, can supply only a fraction of what the proposed Amaila Falls Hydro Project (AFHP), at 165 MW, could have supplied. Amaila Falls Hydro Project was disintegrated by the previous APNU/AFC Government.

(G3)

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SUNDAY, AUGUST 30, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

The PNC’s bully boy...

P

…Aubrey Norton oor Aubrey Norton; he’s been pronounced dead, and then resurrected so many times that he can truly claim to be Guyana’s political Lazarus. Over twenty years ago, he’d been summarily fired from his post as General Secretary of the PNC by Party Leader Desmond Hoyte after one year in the post - for his rambunctious behaviour. Hoyte called Norton a “creature” of the Leader to remind him he should know his “place”.

He was brought back by Corbin, who succeeded Hoyte as PNC Leader during the “mo fyaah; slow fyaah” days, because his thug image was now seen as an asset by Corbin - who was not exactly a cupcake in that area!!

Ironically, Norton’s partisans insisted he was one of the most qualified for leadership - intellectually! But Norton ran afoul of Corbin when he was ousted as Chairman of the Georgetown District in favour of Volda Lawrence, a Corbin protégé, in 2009. Similarly, he teed off Granger when he claimed the latter beat him from the leadership position in 2011 after a “rigging” exercise by Corbin.

After 2015, he was kept in the shadows at Ministry of the Presidency, and was assigned to build up a youth base. But, like Freddy Krueger, Norton was brought to the fore after the PPP’s NCM, when the PNC needed a forceful counterattack. Granger, like Desmond Hoyte before him, wanted to change the thug image of the PNC, earned from the 1960s on the tracks of folks like Hamilton Green, Robert Corbin et al. He figured the PNC needed a “kinder, gentler” image to sidle into office without the Burnhamite riggings.

And Norton certainly didn’t fit that image, so he had to be hidden away like the lunatic relative no one should see.

But after Granger stumbled during his five-month-long war of attrition to steal the elections, and was eventually ousted, many in the PNC felt Norton’s day had finally come.

In addition to his quick responses to the questions on rigging from the media camped out in front of the ACCC during the Recount, Norton maintained the aggressiveness that a large section of PNCites felt was the defining characteristic of their party.

Sadly, he was pushed aside once again when Granger decided to execute his coup within the PNC. Along with Volda and Basil, Norton was left out of the Parliamentary delegation. As Volda decided to panhandle on GoFund-Me to mount a challenge to Granger and his surrogate Harmon - who was declared Opposition Leader-in-Waiting - folks wondered what Norton would do.

Well, now we know. Harmon announced that Norton would be his mobiliser going forward. Poor Norton, he can’t shake that thug image, and once more he’s the bully boy!! …in GECOM Like Norton, Vincent Alexander was likewise excommunicated by Hoyte. After the latter’s passing, Alexander challenged Corbin for the leadership, but was so embarrassingly outmanoeuvred that he quit the PNC in disgust!!

Rehabilitated by his fellow Burnhamite Granger, during the 5-month rigging exercise, he became the voice of the PNC. And he’s still at it. After those private criminal charges were brought against Lowenfield, he became apoplectic, since he’d been the latter’s biggest defender when he used Mingo’s cooked-up numbers to compile his report!!

Ditto when Mingo and two of his helpers were arrested to face charges for committing electoral fraud. He was mum about Volda, who went quietly to the courts for countersigning Mingo’s fraud.

As the noose tightened, the “Flash Drive Man”, who had concocted the numbers for Mingo to release, was nabbed. And true to form, Alexander - joined by the other two PNC commissioners - rushed to his defence!!

Maybe they know something the rest of the country doesn’t, and should be hauled in?? …and woman??

And your Eyewitness returns to Volda. While he hasn’t an iota of sympathy for her personally, he’s a tad taken aback that her ouster hasn’t been picked up by the PNC’s chatterati class.

Snobbery at Volda’s vulgarity?

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

NEWS

9

SUNDAY, AUGUST 30, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Toddler dies after being struck down by motorcycle

T

ragedy struck for a Region One (BarimaWaini) family after a toddler died when a motorcycle crashed into her and her sister.

Dead is one-year-old Neshia Alexander of Kariako Village, Barama River, North West District, Region One (BarimaWaini). Injured is 13-yearold Charmaine Samuels, who is nursing wounds about her body from the accident.

Reports are that on Wednesday at about 19:30h the toddler was holding onto her 13-year-old sister’s hand while standing on the roadway at Kariako Village when the motorcycle, ridden by a 25-year-old man, crashed into

them.

Police reports revealed that as a result of the impact, the child fell onto the roadway and sustained injuries to her head and body. The toddler was picked up in an unconscious state and taken to her home and then rushed to the Kumaka District Hospital for medical attention.

However, when they arrived at the health facility, the child was pronounced dead on arrival. Her body is at the Moruca District Hospital’s Mortuary awaiting a post-mortem examination (PME). The motorcyclist is in Police custody as investigations continue. (G9)

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SUNDAY, AUGUST 30, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

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SUNDAY, AUGUST 30, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Ready for constitutional change?

A

fter surviving the PNC’s latest assault on our Constitution - and the rule of law that undergirds it -maybe we can better appreciate the comment of BR Ambedkar, the drafter of India’s Constitution: “However good a Constitution may be, if those who are implementing it are not good, it will prove to be bad. However bad a Constitution may be, if those implementing it are good, it will prove to be good.”

But the British idiosyncrasy of an “unwritten constitution” reminds us that even with an abundance of the aforementioned “bad men”, and moreso without explicitly stated rules, they have not done too badly. There is hope. Upon examination, we see that the rules have to be embedded within, and be supported by a wider political culture that gives life to them in developing the wider network of informal traditions, accommodations, and informal pro quid quos that make stable societies function.

This is really the challenge for Guyana as we embark once again on trying to create such a system. Some have called for “Constitutional Reform”, Ravi Dev and cognisant of the above cautions, this exercise should at least reveal the contours of the Guyana we aspire to create.

Prosaically, constitutions describe the allocation of state power among its various branches, as defined by the Constitution itself; prescribe the rules by which those powers would be conferred, and also include procedures by which the Constitution may be altered.

These rules, however, have to be embedded in what is called the “basic structure” of the Constitution, which adumbrates the values to which we, as a sovereign people, commit ourselves: democracy, equality and liberty.

In a fundamental sense, therefore, the Constitution is, or should be, the embodiment of a social contract crafted by (us), “we, the people”, for our governance. In a divided society like ours, it is critical that institutions created by the social contract are characterised by justice in their allocation of power, or they would be seen as illegitimate, and be contested.

“Constitutionalism” defines a political scheme in which law, rather than men, is supreme. Political authority is exercised according to law, which is to be obeyed by all, including the governors, who cannot depart from it by whim.

British Constitutionalism arose out of the struggle for personal freedom and escape from arbitrary political will, while Continental Europe focused more on the self-determination of each group.

After slavery, indentureship, dictatorship and racism, Guyanese should resonate with both these imperatives.

We should also recognise, after our recent history, that our fundamental problem is in regard to the use and inevitable abuse of power; the challenge is to prevent that abuse and direct it to good ends. This notion is rooted in the fallibility of man: the belief that no man, or group of men, should be entrusted with absolute power over other men. This tendency to abuse is exacerbated when a country has groups that are racially or ethnically different, as in Guyana, since it becomes so much easier to demonise the “other”, and resort to extreme measures to assert one’s position.

The Constitution, as a social contract, defines Government’s legitimate political actions. This confirms that all state power emanates from the people, and that sovereignty and all reserved powers remain with the people.

Constitutionalism, then, is infused with the ideology of Liberalism, which views men as naturally free and rights-bearing individuals who need and establish governments that they can, may, and should control. in Guyana, we also belong to groups that bequeath identities that must be respected.

For Guyana, the rules of the political game must be structured to accomplish three tasks: Institutionalise moderation on divisive ethnic themes, contain the destructive tendencies, and pre-empt the centrifugal thrust caused by ethnic politics. While there will always be challenges, we have to state our democratic objectives up front, and choose institutions which may deliver them, and then incorporate those rules in our constitution.

The point, of course, is that effective constitutions have to originate in the fears, hopes and genius of our people confronting the exigencies of our circumstances. What we are proposing is that the democratic state all Guyanese hope for will not just fall into our laps; we have to self-consciously struggle to craft it, and then constantly monitor our adherence to its values.

We call upon the new PPPC Government to let the discussions begin – as promised.

12 NEWS Bandits hijack taxi, throw driver on roadway A SUNDAY, AUGUST 30, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

68-year-old taxi driver was beaten and robbed of his vehicle, HC 336, by two men, along Agriculture Road, East Coast Demerara (ECD).

Guyana Times under-

stands that the hijacking occurred at about 11:45h at Agriculture Road, East Coast Demerara (ECD).

Reports are that the driver was parked at Mon Repos, ECD, on Thursday when

the two men approached him and requested a taxi to take them to the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI).

The driver accepted the

men’s request for transport and they entered the white Toyota “212” car.

According to Police, one of the suspects sat in the front passenger seat, while the other sat behind the

driver.

The taxi driver told Police while he was proceeding south along Agriculture Road, one of the suspects told him that he had passed their destination. Police said that the driver reported that he stopped the car, turned around and proceeded north on the said road.

Police said that the suspect, who was seated behind the driver, pounced on him

and began dealing him several blows to his neck. Due to the impact of the blows, the man said he became dizzy.

During that time, the other bandit exited the vehicle, pulled the driver out of the car and threw him onto the road, before driving away with the car.

No one was arrested, and Police are still on the hunt for the stolen car. (G9)

Celebrating Amerindian Heritage Month…

FEATURE

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SUNDAY, AUGUST 30, 202O | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

“I came into politics because I’ve seen so many persons suffering and arapana, located in the Upper Pomeroon so many people were afraid to speak River, is noted for its pristine beauout. I am a very blunt person and I ty, serene watery trails and freshwater must say that I speak my mind. I springs. But now it can boast of another major acbelieve in free speech and I believe complishment – and that is representation in the I can be a voice for the voiceless, for Legislature. the hopeless, for the persons who The quiet Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) are afraid to stand up against whatvillage would see Yvonne Hendricks and the late ever adversity that comes their way.

Alex Smith’s daughter, Dr Tandika Smith, occu“When I first started in 2015, pying one of the important seats in the 65-seat we did a lot of groundwork around National Assembly when the 12th Parliament conthe country. We worked with our venes on Tuesday.

Chairman then, Dr Irfaan Ali. We The 32-year-old single mother has been named visited many areas and we saw a lot as the People’s Progressive Party/Civic’s (PPP/C) of difficulties and the need for youth Geographical Representative for Region Three development in every area and not Dr Tandika Smith on the campaign trail (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) since she has just youth development but develbeen residing at Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo, for the last five opment in every aspect of the lives of the Guyanese people and I years. took up that challenge to support that development,” the young While she has been named as the Geographical Representative for a specific region, Dr Smith is ready to serve all of Guyana and plans to bring her experience working in the public sector to shape the policies to benefit the advancement of all.

The first-time parliamentarian is the eldest of her parents’ four children and remembers her life in Warapana village as one filled with beautiful memories. Her father, like many others in the village, sustained them through logging as well as farming.

Hence the reason Dr Smith can now boast of her extensive knowledge of farming.

Life, for her, has not been without challenges as she explained that the task of getting to school required her paddling three miles from her home. Nevertheless, education has always been her priority and when she sat the then Common E n t r a n c e Examinations and gained a place at Christ Church Secondary in Georgetown, her family did not hold her back.

She was granted a Hinterland Development Scholarship to pursue her secondary education and moved to the city to live with relatives while she completed her education. When she moved to the city, she was culDr Smith with her daughter back in the day ture-shocked but quickly adjusted to life beyond her small village.

“Leaving my home was very hard. I lived with relatives when I came to Georgetown for school. My days in secondary school was a great learning experience. I gained a lot of knowledge and experience in a lot of areas and I successfully finished my secondary education and got another opportunity to pursue my dreams,” she recounted.

She completed her secondary education relatively smoothly and then decided she needed to move towards her goal of becoming a doctor. She remembers the day when she first knew she wanted to be in the medical profession.

“I recall as a very small child having an issue with my ear and I was taken to the Medic, because back then we just [had] Medics and no doctor in the village, and I was amazed by the variety of instruments that were there and I always wanted to use that.

“Upon completing my secondary education, I got another scholarship to study human medicine in Cuba. It was a very exciting experience for me because I had the challenge of achieving my goal and being able to continue my quest to serve the people,” Dr Smith said.

However, when she was in her 5th year of studying in Cuba, her father passed away. She was devastated but knew that she could not give up. She continued on and eventually graduated back in 2013 and returned home to serve.

“Since then I have been employed by the Ministry of Health at the West Demerara Regional Hospital. I’ve been working mainly in the General Surgery Department and the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department. I do [have] plans to specialising in General Surgery because it is what I love,” she noted.

During an interview with the Sunday Times Magazine, the young parliamentarian said she is ready to represent the interest of every Guyanese as well as addressing the needs of the young people, particularly in her Indigenous communities.

The young doctor entered the political arena back in 2015 when she met with some members of the Progressive Youth Organisation – the Youth Arm of the PPP/C. It was that initial meeting and her general observations of the plight of those around her that led her to register with the PYO. At that time, the PYO was headed by now President Dr Irfaan Ali and she was encouraged to participate in the political groundwork. She never thought that she would one day become a politician and now she cannot see herself leaving the field – though she is still young in the game.

By Lakhram Bhagirat

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politician explained.

Dr Smith’s aim is to position herself to make a difference in the lives of every Guyanese not only through her medical work but also through her political/humanitarian work. The young doctor has big plans, among which includes a heavy focus on youth development, for her stint in the National Assembly.

Her time in the public sector, particularly in the healthcare system, has exposed her to the inequities of the delivery of services in Guyana. That knowledge, coupled with her personal experiences in Indigenous communities, have further ignited her passion for equitable distribution of services throughout Guyana.

“During my time in the public sector I have seen many things and not only health-wise and dealing with well-being of patients but I have seen so many challenges – financial, mental struggles. I know what it is like especially working in the system for the past five years. It has been a challenging few years and I could have left like many have done but I held on because the health and well being of my fellow Guyanese is what is important to me,” she said.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 15

14 FEATURE

Celebrating Amerindian Heritage Month…

SUNDAY, AUGUST 30, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

By Lakhram Bhagirat

P

hotography allows us to escape to a place where we connect with our innermost creative selves. The act of taking a photograph is more than just pointing your lens at a subject and clicking the shutter. When we take photographs, we capture life itself in a form where we can preserve that memory so that at a later date, we can relive it over and over again.

Photographs have the uncanny ability to bring smiles to our faces, make us giggle like schoolgirls pulling a prank or bring tears to our eyes. The act of capturing a photo at the perfect moment is one that is cherished when that moment becomes nothing but a distant memory.

Wanting to capture that special moment and etch the story of nature into the archives of history is what led

young Craig Henry to photography. His passion for telling a story through composing the perfect image is what makes him an amazing photographer.

Hailing from the Santa Rosa community of Parakeese Island in Region One (Barima-Waini), Henry is one to look out for. The 20-year-old is relatively new to the photography scene but has been making his indelible mark already.

As a matter of fact, he is already one of the best photographers in his region and among the up-andcoming ones in the country.

His passion for photography developed back in 2018 while working in Sea Turtle Conservation at Shell Beach. The landscape there was irresistible and he knew that he needed to capture it. He, however, had no gear other than a smartphone so he began to make adjustments.

“The scenery was too much to miss. I researched a lot about photography and watched YouTube videos, which I still continue doing, and dedicated my free time to practising. Over the course of time, I developed a passion for taking pictures and video clips of anything I find interesting. Through the positive feedback from my family and friends, I started saving for a few months. I was able to purchase a GoPro action camera and a DSLR which both helped me up my game in the creative industry,” he said.

While Henry said he particularly enjoys shooting landscapes and travel photographs, he also loves doing portraits for his clients.

However, the road to where he is now has not been a paved one, rather it was riddled with potholes. He has big challenges

in accessing gears and equipment.

Limited financial access along with his geographical location were all part and parcel of the challenges.

“There is always that new lens and other equipment that you want so much and might not be readily available to purchase in Guyana. Good gears are also expensive. Another challenge now would be the risk of going out in public places to shoot. And I must encourage all who still do to please be safe and take all precautions,” Henry stated.

His end goal is to own his own media production company where he can mentor up-and-coming photographers. He is confident that he will achieve his goals but is also cognisant that it would require a whole lot of work and sacrifices.

The young Warrau grew up in what he described as the average Indigenous family. He was surrounded by family and taught the values of life and the importance of education. He is always trying to learn something new.

He spent his childhood with his family where he learned the importance of growing your own food and also doing the cassava process, which he can now boast vast knowledge of.

“As a student, I remember rowing my own dug-out canoe with my name painted on it. It was made by my dad and it was special. Some days I walked to school, which is roughly 2-3 miles from where I lived,” he recounted.

Henry is very proud of his Indigenous heritage and thinks that the lack of knowledge of Indigenous culture and traditions are major contributors to the marginalisation among ethnic groups in Guyana.

“It is evident that our traditional knowledge/practises still play an important part in our modern society. Our cultural beliefs which we hold in esteem, I believe, should not be labelled as just superstition. Some of our practices not only help us to lead peaceful lives but also take care of our bodies.

Our traditional knowledge has oftentimes been disregarded as just beliefs. But take for instance our ‘bush’ medicines which have been proven time and time again to be effective in fighting off various illnesses. If researched and further developed, (bush medicine) can be essential in helping the wider society,” the youth posited.

For him, Heritage Month is the time when everybody comes together to celebrate the rich culture. For him, September has helped him a lot in understanding more about the Indigenous culture and ancient practices which are not only interesting but can also teach values and life principles.

However, this year will be a lot different since the world is currently battling the global coronavirus pandemic.

As COVID-19 cases began rising in the Moruca SubRegion, one of Henry’s friends came up with an idea to start an online group to spread education and awareness on the virus. He worked with the group and created a few education and awareness videos on COVID-19 which were shared on social media.

“I would say never give up on your dreams no matter how hard it might seem. Value your education and grab every opportunity you can. Sometimes we might fail but never be afraid to try again and finally, never forget your roots, let’s preserve our rich culture and tradition,” he advised young people.

Celebrating Amerindian Heritage Month…

FEATURE

15

SUNDAY, AUGUST 30, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Judy Winter shares life in Aishalton village

J

udy Winter is a 17-year-old from the Deep South Rupununi its of the waters, plants, animals to do also coping with school. It was not until I village of Aishalton. She hails from the Wapichan Nation healing for sicknesses, especially ungraduated that I fully became involved in and this is her story about life in Aishalton and her aspira- usual ones. We also have signs and the work of the SRDC. symbols from mother nature that we tions for the development of her people.

I work as the youth coordinaI grew up in the quiet, developing village of Aishalton in the believe in, for example, if the moon is tor with the South Central Peoples Deep South Rupununi with my parents, 4 brothers and a sister. facing a certain direction, the rain will Development Association (SCPDA) which It is a village with diverse habitats such as bush islands, savan- fall or the dry season is here. is the Secretariat to the South Rupununi When a girl is pregnant or when a nahs, forests galleries, wetlands and rocky outcrops occupied by District Council (SRDC). I was on the baby is newborn, the father of the child the Wapichan people as being the majority.

Tenure Facility (TF) team in 2019, going Aishalton, like any other Indigenous village, is closely knit- cannot kill snakes, make fish or aniinto villages to engage with the people. mal traps, eat certain wildmeat and so ted where almost everyone is related.

At the end of 2019, I organized our I grew up in a healthy environment where fruits are in abun- on, this is because there will be conse3rd annual youth conference with the dance during the different seasons, always free and available. quences for the baby. All these, and so help of my colleagues which was held in Some of my favourite times of the year are when the mango, ja- much more is what is passed down to Karaudarnau village for 4 days. I attendmoon, whitey and orange seasons come around. Evenings were us from generation to generation. ed several conferences for my organizaI am emphasising that our spirimy favourite where my cousins and I can go to the nearby creeks, tion where I did presentations. I also try Maokawa’o in particular, carrying some sugar in our bowls tual attachment to our environment/ to reach out to the Toshaos and learn from (which we always stole) to pluck some jamoon off the laden trees land is really not known by the widtheir experiences. er Guyanese society because, if they and sit under the shade and enjoy.

Presently, I am coordinating a projWhen there is a full moon, a custom in my village is to hold a would understand, we as Indigenous ect titled “Youth Transfer of Traditional gathering where stories would be told and everyone would bring people would be given the recognition Knowledge” which involves a collection of something to share to eat, especially our pepper pots with cas- and respect we deserve and will be traditional stories to be shared for everysava and (Indigenous drinks) parakari or sawarao. There would able to continue practising our culture. one to learn about some of our culture and I am proud of the richness and be laughter everywhere because as children we also play games our connections to our land. We will also while the adults exchange news and update each other on what uniqueness of my Wapichan culture. be making videos on livelihood activities Judy fetching cassava in her warishi I am practising on being fluent in my was happening in the village or country. of our people so that we can document them A fond memory of my childhood is one particular time my Wapichan language which is a beautiful language. I am proud to guide us when our elders are gone. cousins came up with an idea that we would gather at one of that as Wapichan nao we have a special dance “parichara” which To do this, the team of youths selected to do this project will our houses, drink a cup each of “mangoroo-wa” (a boiled mango is a charm dance to lure wild game out of the forest. I am proud go into villages and interview elders and knowledge holders. In drink), form a straight line with the older ones placed between of my spiritual attachment to my land and that I still get to ex- this way, they are reconnecting with them and documenting our the smaller ones, and go marching chanting “mango belly full, perience and learn that. findings so that we can still maintain them as different cultures I am happy that I still get to experience a clean and natural are being presented to us by the wider world. I also do other mango belly full” up to our locust tree and back to the house, environment with a happy childhood. I am also proud we can still works for the SRDC while at the same time learning as much where we would again drink another cup each.

As most villagers here, my parents are very hard working preserve and maintain this culture and eventually pass it on to as I can. farmers and every weekend and on holidays, my siblings and I the younger generation.

However, it is my greatest aspiration to become a human I see Indigenous Heritage Month as an opportunity for us, rights lawyer. Over the years, I’ve noticed my people are marwould go to the farm to help with the work. My sister and I would help make farine, while my brothers would help under-bush or both young and old to embrace and appreciate our indigeneity. It ginalized especially when it comes to making decisions for the cut a new farm. When the farm was burnt and cleaned for plant- is an opportunity to bring all Indigenous groups across Guyana people at all levels. I realized that my people need a voice out ing, everyone would help to plant the farm while enjoying the to showcase their differences and similarities, celebrating that there, someone to represent them from the ground and I can be together. many produce from the other farms. that person. In this way, I can still maintain my culture while at It is also a time where the young peo- the same time helping others recognize the importance of it, joinAs of today, my dad is still ple can learn from the elders, where they ing in the long fight for recognition of our rights to our lands as well known in the village for his can reach out to them and hold on to what Indigenous people. huge banana farm and would they have learnt to pass it down to their normally supply the villagers I am hoping to be accepted into the University of Guyana’s children when the time comes. It is also a Law Programme this year to start my legal journey. with the most bananas. When time where the rest of the Guyanese peoone family has something to Photography is my hobby. The Rupununi is such a beautiful ple can learn from us and help us in our place, that it’s hard not to be into photography. The landscapes, share, usually after hunting, one fight for our rights to be respected. can hear the exciting shout of animals, activities of the people, the sunsets, the trees and evIt is also a time where our leaders erything else makes one want to capture them and share with “Waroooopppaaaa”, a Wapichan should be able to see the importance of the rest of Guyana and the world. However, I haven’t taken any word inviting others to share a the Indigenous people and why they training on photography but with the encouragement and help meal. should maintain their cultures and en- of two photographer friends, Darrin Smith and Craig Henry, I’ve The men in the family would courage us to do so. also go into the forest to gather learned some things but is still learning the art of photography.

Indigenous Heritage Month is not “mapuzu” which is my favourite My advice to my fellow indigenous youths is to be proud of just about, food, dancing and traditional your indigeneity, it defines who you are. Without us, the indrink and it is also used as milk wear, it’s about our cultural heritage as digenous people, the world would be a dry, dead place and we in any porridge. My personal faa people. This is the time our efforts as should not allow that. We must maintain, protect and safeguard vourite being plantain, yam and Indigenous peoples should be recognised, our pristine environment this the only means of our survival. corn. our rights to lands, territories and re- We should fight for what is right and embrace our cultures. You A story was told to me long sources are respected by all Guyanese. ago that there is a keeper/leader should also follow your dreams and it should always be to help Indigenous Heritage Month usual- your people and maintain your culture despite anything. of the wild hogs that guide their ly means gathering in large numbers activities. When the keeper reaTwo young girls fetching corn in their warishi and having fun together whilst learning. lises that the wild hogs are getHowever, due to this pandemic, things ting skinny and not looking so well, they would be sent out to look for food and look after them- cannot be so. I hope that some activities, meetings, conferences selves. This is when they would destroy the farms and eat out all can be arranged virtually where it can connect people across the cassava roots, yams etc. However, when they are too many the country. I plan to go into my farm which is miles away from FROM PAGE 13 and are very fat, they would be sent out again. This is the time the village and celebrate with my family. There, my father and you would hear the famous “wild hogs shout” which excites ev- brothers plan to go and hunt, fish and search for “mapuzu” in the She noted that the outlin- and I believe that I am fully eryone as the word is passed around. After which the men would forest. My mom, sister and sister-in-law plan to make our paraing of a clear vision and plan equipped with the experience, be seen running or cycling to the said area with arrows and bow kari, sawarao, cassava bread, pepper pot and all the other delifor development as well as ad- the braveness to be a voice for strapped to their backs. The women would be waiting at their cacies including “chiiki’I” and soorum (tacuma). dressing the issues plaguing my fellow Guyanese who may To help combat this pandemic, I have been working with homes preparing before the hunters arrive, and when successful society is what drew her to the be facing any difficulties. there would be wafts of roast coming from every house for about the South Rupununi District Council (SRDC) assiduously. We PPP/C. “I will represent not only a week or more. That is also one of my favourite times, even now. have embarked on numerous activities to help combat the virus.

While she is preparing to Indigenous peoples but everyI attended Aishalton Nursery School, moved on to Aishalton Some works of the SRDC are awareness-raising of the coronaoccupy her seat in Parliament one. In the Indigenous villagPrimary School where I gained a scholarship from the Hinterland virus in the 21 villages, erection of gates at villages to serve as in a few days, the young moth- es, some of the issues are that Scholarship Division. However, after hard consideration, I fi- checkpoints to monitor the movement of people, blocking of illeer is adamant that the position it is very hard on the financial nally decided to continue my secondary education at Aishalton gal entry points in the porous vast border with Brazil, procurwould not alter her passion side. There are families that Secondary School, a decision I don’t regret because I graduated ing of sanitizing supplies for the gates and public places in the and drive for the development are not financially equipped to with good grades and was the best academic performer for the villages, procuring of cloth to sew face masks for the villagers. of her people. She sees her as- send their children to schools year 2019. cension to the Legislature as for whatever reason and there As an Indigenous youth, I hold rich knowledge to the protec- We have also helped supply the affected families under quartion of mother nature – something that is embedded in me as a antine with food hampers to encourage them to stay at home one that would not be taken are high school dropouts. We have to address that. Equal opWapichan. Studies have shown that Indigenous people are best since their livelihood activities are now affected. We have also lightly.

She carries the pride of portunities not only in educaknown to protect mother nature since time immemorial. In my worked on audios on the coronavirus both in Wapichan and Warapana on her shoulders tion but in areas like sport and opinion, not many of the wider Guyanese society has seen the English languages which will be if it has not been done yet, area I live in and many would not understand what makes us played on loudhailers around the villages by the village councils. and does not intend to let them so because I strongly believe down. While she boasted about that every single Guyanese unique as Indigenous people.

The Wapichan people have been known to occupy the We have been updating and sending out messages through the being able to make the perfect shouldn’t only excel academiSouthern Rupununi Savannahs for so long and they have used radios, posting messages on the social media platform and trying cassava bread and grow her cally,” Dr Smith said. own food as her ancestors did, She has the plans so now the land to live comfortably. The wider Guyanese society needs to keep the Toshaos connected using all communication means.

Dr Smith does not lose sight of that her Party is in the seat My work with the SRDC started in 2017 when I was invited to know and understand the spiritual attachment we have with of power, she intends to have the land we live in and why it is so important to us. They need to by Immaculata Casimero to attend the first SRDC youth confer- the plight of her people.

“I am truly humbled and those implemented through ence held in Maruranau village. Youths from the 21 villages in understand why we do things and why we do not.

For example, we do not disturb Karawaiman Tawaa (Blue the South Rupununi were present and we participated in 3 days honoured to be chosen by the the partnerships with the relMountain) because it is a sacred site and has spirit keepers and of activities. There, I was impressed and awed by the knowledge People’s Progressive Party/ evant Ministries.

Dr Smith said she is now it is where our headwaters are located. We have ants stinging I learnt of my culture and from that moment I knew which field Civic to represent my people and all Guyanese. I do look for- getting started and encourceremonies with the “wiiko” – a special ant that is believed, when I wanted to work in.

On the last day, we had to elect a chair, co-chair and repre- ward to doing my best in every aged Guyanese to hold their used, passes down its qualities to the person. The particulars, as is believed, are being willing, hardworking, an early riser, pro- sentatives for each of the villages. I was elected to serve as the co- aspect. I will continue to be a leaders accountable so that chair of the SRDC youth arm at the age of 15. Since then, I have voice to my people… I always they can get the best of service viders and strong bodies that are resistant to pain.

We also have our spiritual prayers when we call on the spir- been involved in some meetings and other activities of the SRDC, want to stand up for everyone every time.

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GUYANATIMESGY.COM

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18 FEATURE

Celebrating Amerindian Heritage Month…

SUNDAY, AUGUST 30, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

By Lakhram Bhagirat

C

ultural preservation is at the forefront of everything that young Kemal Robinson does.

He is one of the many Indigenous youths who have taken up the mantle to educate and create awareness of the uniqueness of the Indigenous peoples.

Robinson, a 21-year-old Patamona from the village of Kato in Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) has always been proud of his culture. Proudness was ingrained in him from a tender age by the elders in his village and for him, carrying on the legacy is of tantamount importance.

Kato is a small village with about 500 residents predominantly hailing

from the Patamona tribe. Growing up, he secured early stages of education in his village but when the time came for secondary education, Robinson moved from his village to Paramakatoi, where he attended the Paramakatoi Secondary School.

“This was the time I began to see a change in my environment.

Being among hundreds of youths from Kemal Robinson receiving a copy of Ina Pata, Ko’mangnatok Yeselu various villages, the (Our Land, Our Life) – Land Tenure Assessment for Region Eight thing that caught

Kemal in the fields

my attention was the way in which they carry out their daily activities, their attitude and behaviour were different from mine. Some of them were changing in terms of culture and way of life,” he recounted.

It was at that time that the young man knew that he needed to do something to make his fellow Indigenous youths prouder and more appreciative of their culture. He and others actively began pushing for protection and preservation for the Indigenous way of life.

“We are one unique people that respect the world as what it is and we also expect it to respect us as what we are. Our connections are mainly to the land. We survive by fishing, farming, hunting, gathering and some of the people do traditional mining as a means of supporting their families,” he said.

While the world is changing continuously, Robinson said he hopes that the youths can continue to encourage and promote their unique cultural identity. In his village, and many of the other Indigenous communities, the traditions are still being taught and observed.

One of the things that he is most proud of is the fact that the Indigenous languages are not dying. The village elders are making it their priority to educate the youths and teach them the language.

“I am proud to say that most of our people still carry on their traditional culture and way of life. I am even more proud that our language is fluently spoken and written in many communities,” he boasted.

In an effort to preserve the connection to the land for spiritual and sustainable reasons, the young man was one of the mappers with the Amerindian Peoples Association (APA) when they conducted the Land Tenure Assessment in Region Eight.

He explained that it was a privilege since he was just 16 and fresh out of secondary school when he joined the project.

“This was when I got exposed to other communities, explored and learned many things which I am thankful for up to today. One of the main problems in most of the villages was land. Lands are being given out to miners and loggers, most of which are foreigners, and all they do is destroy and leave. Some of these lands are hunting and fishing grounds to us, our survival depends on it,” the passionate young man said.

It was during the Land Tenure Assessment consultations that he saw the importance and pushed for mapping of Indigenous lands.

“Mapping Indigenous (Patamona, Macushi) lands are important because we get to see a clearer picture of what belongs to us legally (titled) and our traditional lands which are not really recognised by others,” Robinson said.

He told the Sunday Times Magazine that while the experience was an eye-opening one, it was not without challenges.

Among those challenges were the overlapping of titled lands, incorrect names for creeks and rivers among many others. They also encountered illegal mining and logging operations on their traditionally recognised lands.

Those activities were destroying the much-needed access to food and sustainability. While he is passionate about the preservation of the Indigenous way of life, Robinson is also cognisant of the needs of his people.

“All we want is for the Government to recognise that it’s time we own (legally) what’s ours. They say that Guyana has lots of forests which are still virgin lands and we are protecting and preserving the forest but large-scale mining and logging destroys most part of what we protect.

“We mapped the Indigenous lands in Region Eight mainly because of what the people wanted, this was to put on to a map – names of creeks, mountains, rivers, old settlements, homesteads – so that they can be seen and recognised by everyone,” the involved youth said.

As Guyana gears up to celebrate Indigenous Heritage Month in September, for Robinson and many other Indigenous youths, the month means recognising and appreciating the Indigenous way of life. It means honouring the ancestors of this land and being proud of what they taught us. It means being your authentic self without any apologies.

For his fellow youths, Robinson advised listening to the experiences of the elders and learning from them. He also encouraged pride in the Indigenous way of life and most of all “never forget your roots and who you really are.”

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FEATURE

SUNDAY, AUGUST 30, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Amerindian Heritage Ingredients

– 2 lb chicken, cut into pieces – 2 lb stew beef, cut into 2 inch pieces – 1 lb cow foot – 1/2 lb salted beef, cut into 2 inch pieces – 1 cup genuine cassava cassareep a few wiri wiri peppers or 1 scotch bonnet if you can’t fnd wiri wiri – 4 cloves garlic – 1 small onion – 1 bunch thyme – 1 teaspoon of salt, or salt to taste – 3 tbsp sugar – Lime juice or vinegar – 4 cloves – 2 pieces orange peel – 1 stick cinnamon

Instructions

Trim excess fat off meat and soak in vinegar for about 15 to 30 minutes. Puree garlic, on-

ion and thyme. Marinate fresh meat with marinade and 1/3 cup of cassareep.

Meanwhile, in a pressure cooker, place salted beef and pressure for a 10 minutes. Discard the water and set meat aside.

Wash cow foot thoroughly by soaking in vinegar for about half an hour. Rinse. Place in pressure cooker and pressure for 20 minutes or until tender. Discard water. *If the cow heel isn’t soft after 20 minutes, continue to pressure in 5 minute intervals, checking for tenderness.

In a stock pot, cook beef and chicken in marinade until all liquid evaporates. Add the cow foot, salted beef, sugar and remaining cassereep with a stick of cinnamon, cloves, orange peel and enough water to cover. If the stew is brown, add more cassareep to attain a deep, dark color.

Cook slowly until tender. Add pepper and salt to taste. This meal tastes better the next day, so it is best when made a day ahead. To serve this meal, warm and serve with bread or cassava bread.

Ingredients

– 4 lb cassava – Salt to taste

Ingredients

Instructions

Peel, wash, and grate cassava.

Squeeze out as much of the juice as possible, using either a matapee or wringing in a towel (juice can be used for making cassareep).

Leave in lumps to dry (slightly) in open air. Pound, sift, and add salt. Heat a girdle pan and a metal hoop to the size of the cake

required.

Cook until set, using moderate heat.

Remove the hoop, level the surface, and press firmly. Turn and cook on the other side.

When cooked through, remove cake and sundry until crisp.

Method

Pour some water on the farine and strain away any impurities. Leave farine to swell.

Grind celery and pepper.

Clean fish and season with the ground celery and pepper, salt, lemon or lime juice or vinegar. Set aside.

Steam fish, remove bones and mash finely with a fork.

Ingredients:

– 4 oz farine flour – 2 tsp baking powder – ¼ tsp grated nutmeg – Pinch of salt – 2 oz margarine – 4 oz sugar – 2 oz dried fruit – 2 oz grated coconut – 1 egg – Milk to mix, if necessary

Method:

conut. Bind together with beaten egg, and milk if necessary. Grease muffin pans. Drop mixture into pans. Bake at 375 F for 15 minutes until golden brown. Makes about six.

Ingredients

Directions

Mix together flour, baking powder, nutmeg, and salt. Add margarine and chop into flour. Using fingertips lift mixture until crumbly. Add sugar, dried fruit, and co-

– Fresh tacuma worms – Wiri-wiri peppers, chopped – 2 tbsp oil – 1/4 cup cassareep

– 1 lb farine – 2 lb fresh fish – 2 tbsp chopped celery – 1 or 2 wiri-wiri peppers, chopped – juice of 1 lemon or lime, or 2 tbsp vinegar – 1 oz margarine – 1 oz rice flour – 1/2 pt milk

Heat oil in pan and add peppers and worms. Cook for about 5 minutes. Then add cassareep and cook for an additional 10 minutes on low flame. Serve with farine or cassava bread.

Make a white sauce with the margarine, rice flour, and milk. Add fish to farine and mix well with white sauce.

Place mixture into a greased 1 lb loaf tin and bake in a moderate oven until a toothpick comes out clean when inserted.

20 FEATURE

SUNDAY, AUGUST 30, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

MALE INFERTILITY

Dr Tariq Jagnarine, MD, MMed Family Medicine, Endocrinology & Diabetes

I

nfertility has traditionally been thought of as a woman’s problem. However, as it turns out, up to 15 percent of couples are infertile. This means they are not able to conceive a child, even though they have had frequent, unprotected sexual intercourse for a year or longer. In over a third of these couples, male infertility plays a role.

Being diagnosed with male infertility can be one of the hardest challenges a man can face.

For some, it can be devastating. Not being able to father a child can make some men feel like they are failing at one of their most primal responsibilities.

SYMPTOMS OF MALE INFERTILITY

The main sign of male infertility is the inability to conceive a child. There may be no other obvious sign or symptom. Some symptoms are: * Problems with sexual function — for example, difficulty with ejaculation, or small volumes of fluid ejaculated, reduced sexual desire,

others.

or difficulty maintaining an erection (erectile dysfunction) * Pain, swelling or a lump in the testicle area * Recurrent respiratory infections * Inability to smell * Abnormal breast growth (gynecomastia) * Decreased facial or body hair * A lower-than-normal sperm count (fewer than 1.5 million sperm per millilitre of semen, or a total sperm count of less than 3.9 million per ejaculate)

CAUSES OF MALE INFERTILITY

Medical causes A number of health issues and medical treatments can cause problems with male fertility. Some of these include: * Varicocele. A varicocele is a swelling of the veins that drain the testicle. It’s the most common reversible cause of male infertility. Although the exact reason that varicoceles cause infertility is unknown, it may be related to abnormal testicular temperature regulation. Varicoceles result in reduced quality of the sperm.

* Infection. Some infections can interfere with sperm production or sperm health, or can cause scarring that blocks the passage of sperm. These include inflammation of the epididymis (epididymitis) or testicles (orchitis) and some sexually transmitted infections, including gonorrhoea or HIV. * Ejaculation issues. Retrograde ejaculation occurs when semen enters the bladder during orgasm instead of emerging out the tip of the penis. Various health conditions can cause retrograde ejaculation, including diabetes, spinal injuries, medications, and surgery of the bladder, prostate or urethra. * Antibodies that attack sperm. Anti-sperm antibodies are immune system cells that mistakenly identify sperm as harmful invaders and attempt to eliminate them. * Tumors. Cancers and nonmalignant tumours can affect the male reproductive organs directly, through the glands that release hormones related to reproduction, such as the pituitary gland, or through unknown causes. In some cases, surgery, radiation or chemotherapy to treat tumours can affect male fertility. * Undescended testicles. In some males, during fetal development, one or both testicles fail to descend from the abdomen into the sac that normally contains the testicles (scrotum).

Decreased fertility is more likely in men who have had this condition. * Hormone imbalances.Infertility can result from disorders of the testicles themselves, or an abnormality affecting other hormonal systems, including the hypothalamus, pituitary, thyroid and adrenal glands. Low testosterone (male hypogonadism) and other hormonal problems have a number of possible underlying causes. * Defects of tubules that transport sperm. Many different tubes carry sperm. They can be blocked due to various causes, including inadvertent injury from surgery, prior infections, trauma, or abnormal development such as with cystic fibrosis or similar inherited conditions. * Chromosome defects. Inherited disorders such as Klinefelter’s syndrome — in which a male is born with two X chromosomes and one Y chromosome (instead of one X and one Y) — cause abnormal development of the male reproductive organs. * Problems with sexual intercourse. These can include trouble keeping or maintaining an erection sufficient for sex (erectile dysfunction), premature ejaculation, painful intercourse, anatomical abnormalities such as having a urethral opening beneath the penis (hypospadias), or psychological or relationship problems that interfere with sex. * Celiac disease. A digestive disorder caused by sensitivity to gluten, celiac disease can cause male infertility. Fertility may improve after adopting a gluten-free diet. * Certain medications. Testosterone replacement therapy, long-term anabolic steroid use, cancer medications (chemotherapy), certain antifungal medications, some ulcer drugs and certain other medications can impair sperm production and decrease male fertility. * Prior surgeries. Certain surgeries may prevent men from having sperm in their ejaculate, including vasectomy, inguinal hernia repairs, scrotal or testicular surgeries, prostate surgeries, and large abdominal surgeries performed for testicular and rectal cancers, among

Environmental causes Overexposure to certain environmental elements, such as heat, toxins and chemicals, can reduce sperm production or sperm function.

Specific causes include: * Industrial chemicals. Extended exposure to benzenes, toluene, xylene, pesticides, herbicides, organic solvents, painting materials and lead may contribute to low sperm counts. * Heavy metal exposure. Exposure to lead or other heavy metals also may cause infertility. * Radiation or X-rays. Exposure to radiation can reduce sperm production, though it will often eventually return to normal. With high doses of radiation, sperm production can be permanently reduced. * Overheating the testicles. Elevated temperatures impair sperm production and function. Although studies are limited and are inconclusive, frequent use of saunas or hot tubs may temporarily impair your sperm count.

Health, lifestyle and other causes Some other causes of male infertility include: * Drug use. Use of cocaine or marijuana may temporarily reduce the number and quality of your sperm as well. * Alcohol use. Drinking alcohol can lower testosterone levels, cause erectile dysfunction, and decrease sperm production. Liver disease caused by excessive drinking also may lead to fertility problems. * Tobacco smoking. Men who smoke may have a lower sperm count than do those who do not smoke. Second-hand smoke also may affect male fertility. * Emotional stress. Stress can interfere with certain hormones needed to produce sperm.

Severe or prolonged emotional stress, including problems with fertility, can affect your sperm count. * Depression. Research shows that the likelihood of pregnancy may be lower if a male partner has severe depression. In addition, depression in men may cause sexual dysfunction due to reduced libido, erectile dysfunction, or delayed or inhibited ejaculation. * Weight. Obesity can impair fertility in several ways, including directly impacting sperm themselves, as well as by causing hormone changes that reduce male fertility.

Certain occupations, including welding or those involving prolonged sitting, such as truck driving, may be associated with a risk of infertility.

COMPLICATIONS

Infertility can be stressful for both partners.

Complications of male infertility can include: * Surgery or other procedures to treat an underlying cause of low sperm count or other reproductive problems * Expensive and invasive reproductive techniques * Stress and relationship difficulties related to the inability to have a child * Social Taboo and ridicule from peers

PREVENTION

Many types of male infertility are not preventable. However, avoid some of the risk factors that cause male infertility, such as: * Avoid smoke. * Limit or abstain from alcohol. * Avoid illicit drugs. * Optimal weight * No Vasectomy with intentions to have kids. * Avoid things that lead to prolonged heat for the testicles. * Reduce stress. * Avoid exposure to pesticides, heavy metals and other toxins.

Finding out that one is infertile is often a shocking and upsetting experience, and in some cases, men can often be unprepared for being told there is a complication with their sperm, affecting their sense of masculinity, sexuality and potency.

While it is normal to have an emotional reaction to infertility, talking with a doctor, a sexual therapist or counsellor can often help with any negative feelings, and treatment options are available. Infertility is more common than most people think.

FEATURE

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SUNDAY, AUGUST 30, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

PET PEDIATRICS I

t has been brought to my attention that I should give a definition of the word “pediatrics” (or “paediatrics”), relative to veterinary medicine. Well, since this “PET CARE” column’s objective is also to educate, let me try to give an easy-to-understand explanation as to what the term means.

The simplest definition would be “a branch of medicine that deals with the young (child) – its development, care, disease and ailments”.

This definition might have been constructed for humans, but now it has expanded to incorporate the young of many (all?) other species, including amphibians, birds, reptiles, and all mammals. Scientists/ veterinarians usually place a more descriptive word before “pediatrics”, so that one can easily identify that which we are specifically discussing: for example, canine pediatrics (puppies), feline pediatrics (kittens), etc. Also, some reference books document the period of pediatric study as being from birth to two weeks of age. For me, this two-week period should be defined as neonates (= newborn), while “pediatrics” would include the span up to six months of age.

I hope that the paragraph above satisfied this thirst for knowledge of those persons who queried the meaning of the term “Pet Pediatrics”. We can now continue with trying to answer the equally important questions associated with the care of young pups and kittens. I have selected to the deal with the following question because it is by far the most Frequently Asked Question (FAQ) with which I have been confronted while practicing in many countries all over the world.

That question is: WHY DO NEWBORN PUPPIES DIE? Answer: There is not just one definitive answer – especially since young animal deaths relate to the environment, social strata, geography, education/knowledge of the caregiver, etc. Textbooks emanating from the USA and Western Europe document that 30% of puppies die between birth and weaning. I do believe that such a figure would be much higher, especially if the (unknown) quantum of stray-dog puppy deaths are factored into the equation. Of the young pups/ kittens who die before weaning, I am fairly sure that a large percentage would die within two weeks of birth.

Among the most prominent causes of puppy/ kitten deaths would be:

Insufficient pre-, peri- and post-partum preparation

The caregiver may not have prepared the mother dog/cat adequately for pregnancy and delivery of the puppies/kittens. This deficient preparation would include mostly (but not only) poor nutrition of the mother during pregnancy, and during the period just before and especially immediately after delivery of her offspring. (See Pet Care articles of July 12, 19 and 26, 2020).

The inadequate mother – pup/kitten See Pet Care advice given on August 9 and 16, 2020.

Traumatic Events

Some deaths are attributable to traumatic events that unfold just after the birthing of puppies and kittens. Tom cats are notorious for seeking out the kittens and killing them. Even the mother (often, but not only a first-time mother) might neglect/kill the runts of the litter. (Nature’s way of ensuring the survival of the fittest?) Sometimes, a mother would kill all of her offspring, and may even eat them, even if she had successfully nurtured previous litters.

It is logical that maternal neglect will impact greatly on the pups’/kittens’ ability to survive.

Inadequate Milk Supply

Of course, if the mother’s milk supply is, for whatever reason, compromised, then that does not augur well for the newborn pups and kittens.

Birth Defect

Clearly, any birth defect (especially those which make suckling difficult or impossible) will lead to an early death. We shall deal with such specific newborn puppies’ deficiencies in a later Pet Care column.

Incest

Later on, I shall be giving answers to questions associated with inbreeding and the un-

CONTINUED

scrupulous “breeders” who perpetuate abominable cruelty to the mother-dogs at puppy farms. This is an illegal exercise, but I dare say not easy to prosecute.

Puppies/kittens whose parents are intimately related (genetically), do not fare well – especially if they are “ strays”. On the highways and by-ways, and in rural and urban Guyana, bitches and cats mate with their sons and fathers and brothers. The oft ensuing deformities in the offspring are heart-rending.

Some of the deformities are quite evident in the offspring - hernias, great defects in the jaws, cleft palates (harelips), twisted extremities, etc.

These are the physical defects that are visible to us. However, there are other consequences of inbreeding which are invisible, which the vet will be able to determine at various stages in

the animal’s growth. A hole in the heart, a rudimentary kidney, sub-optimal liver function, blood-clotting disorder, are some of the manifestations of inbreeding. Actually, inbreeding may be the cause of mysterious, unexplained deaths – perhaps similar to SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) in human babies.

Diseases

Many pups/kittens also die from bacterial, viral diseases such as infections which have found their way, via the umbilical cord, into the abdominal cavity, because the mother’s teeth were infected when she severed the navel string (umbilical cord) during delivery. (See Pet Care column of August 9, 2020)

Heavy Worm Burden

Pregnant dogs should be dewormed (never vaccinated) during pregnancy. Worms from the pregnant dog can get into the puppies while they are still in their mother’s womb. In other words, pups can be born with a worm infestation. They will not fare well.

Next week, we shall continue to identify some more specific problems associated with the early death of newborn/young puppies and kittens.

Enjoy the week.

22 FEATURE

SUNDAY, AUGUST 30, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

ACROSS 1 Baloney!

6 Common practice 11 Alabama town 16 Takes it easy 21 Public persona 22 On no occasion 23 Sampan dweller 24 Pub sign (2 wds.)

25 Galileo taught there 26 Brenda or Ringo 27 Entered (2 wds.)

28 Lash... of oaters 29 Grasslands 31 Excellence 33 Overcast 35 Work .... .... sweat 36 ... be a while 37 Lady’s honorific 39 Eatery 41 Pricey entree 43 Hungrier 46 Imitation chocolate 48 Cosmic force 49 Barracks bane 52 Overdue 54 Do a road job 56 Oxidizes 60 Filled with fizz 62 Part of LAPD 64 Glitterati member 66 Mies van der ...

67 WWII enlistee 68 Mighty ... ... oak 70 Pit or stone 72 Melanges 74 Look sleepy 75 Depot info 77 Cigar end 79 Sevareid or Clapton 81 Walloping 83 Wormed the dog 85 Paris girlfriend 87 Bounder 89 Closet 90 Feel crummy 92 Buttonhole (3 wds.)

95 Jack of “Barney Miller” 96 Newtonian force 100 Film ... (grim genre) 101 Nature’s bandage 103 Bucolic 107 Linda of “Blue Bayou” 109 Legal document

111 Rushed off 113 Lover of Aeneas 114 Feign 115 Gavel-banger’s cry 117 Mark’s successor 119 ...it on thick 121 ‘Ulalume’ poet 122 Fictional plantation 124 Sir, in Seville 126 Cleans house 128 Casino employees 130 Put in office 132 Steel rod 134 Friar of legend 136 Juicy steaks (hyph.)

137 NRC predecessor 139 Pooped out 141 Cloudy 143 Wonton morsels 147 He played Phileas Fogg 149 Easy way out 150 Cartoon shrieks 154 Comics caveman 155 Window-rattling 157 Like many showers 159 At no charge (hyph.)

161 Frat letter 163 Skimpy skirts 165 Year fractions 167 More feasible 168 Kidney-related 169 ‘The Zoo Story’ penner 170 Portable home 171 Zipping through 172 Detroit dud 173 Elegance 174 Ships’ booms 175 Ms. Witherspoon DOWN 1 ... Longstocking 2 Nobody’s fool 3 Of ocean abysses 4 Christina of pop 5 Prove durable 6 Beat an incumbent 7 Lift anchor (2 wds.)

8 ‘Mogambo’ star 9 Pathogen 10 Used poor judgment 11 Great Lakes port 12 Arcane 13 Came to the suet 14 Damsel

KATHLEEN SAXE

WORD GAME TODAY’S WORD -- CELEBRITY (CELEBRITY: seh-LEB-rihtee: A famous person.)

Average mark 38 words Time limit 60 minutes Can you find 57 or more words in CELEBRITY? TODAY’S WORD -- CELEBRITY celerity leer bier rite celery leery bile telic cire liberty bite tier cite lice biter tile city lire byre tiler creel liter byte tire crib lyre rebel trebel cyber lyric recite tree eely beer reel trey eerily beet relic tribe eery belie relit trice elect belt rely yeti elite beret retie erect beryl rice eyrie betel rile 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.

15 Declare invalid 16 Jeep feature (2 wds.)

17 Actress ... Hartman 18 Swagger 19 Neutral shade 20 Asparagus morsel 30 Blow away 32 Rocker ... Ocasek 34 House site 38 Middle Ages quaff 40 Calf-roping event 42 Ill-humored 44 Beyond (pref.)

45 66 and I-80 47 Round starters 49 Cut timber 50 Groovy 51 Ocean predators 53 D’Artagnan prop 55 Simon and Sedaka 57 Braga in “Moon Over

Parador” 58 Beach sandal 59 Marsh grass 61 PC fodder 63 Reptile home 65 Canoes and tugs 69 Make insensitive 71 “Runaround Sue”

performer 73 Lion’s track 76 Blackens 78 Well, to Yves 80 Poolroom supply 82 Haughty 84 Me, too!

86 Plenty, to a poet 88 Apiece 91 Polygraph flunkers 93 Kind of straits 94 Travel choice 96 Riled up 97 Better than lite

(hyph.)

98 ... nous (between us) 99 Waiter, at times 102 Piece on a string 104 Age on the vine 105 Really go for 106 Loamy deposit 108 Doctrine 110 Slow run 112 Calorie counters 116 Herald of spring 118 Symphony or tome 120 Applies makeup

123 Mil. school 125 Curiosities 127 Wind-driven spray 129 Be shamed (2 wds.)

131 Blab (2 wds.)

133 Edits 135 Buzzer predecessor 138 Exec 140 Dolores ... Rio 142 Lets go 143 Our, to Pierre 144 ... and aahed 145 Blooms

146 Wild shrub 148 Frog relatives 151 Shortstop ... Banks 152 Wails 153 Suit material 156 Pickle choice 158 Over one’s head 160 Romanov title 162 ... kwon do 164 Cagers’ org.

166 Ecol. bureau SEE SOLUTION ON PAGE 25

NEWS

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SUNDAY, AUGUST 30, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

What you need to know about mercury exposure

W

e are sure you would have encountered someone who either works in the gold bush or has plans to go into the gold bush. The gold mining sector contributes significantly to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of Guyana, and is a source of income and livelihood for more than 17,000 persons.

Mercury, also known as ‘quicksilver’ or ‘silver’, occurs naturally in the earth’s crust. It is, however, highly toxic when used in gold mining activities to amalgamate or bind gold. If gold mining activities are not properly done, using pits, sluice boxes, a retort etc., mercury can be released directly into the environment. Exposure to hazardous fumes can also result in serious health risks.

Mercury and human health Exposure to mercury fumes affects the nervous and reproductive systems, and damages brain function. Persons exposed to even small amounts of mercury can suffer from symptoms such as tremors, insomnia, memory loss, and headaches. The severity of the impact from exposure to mercury depends on one or a combination of the following factors: ? The form of mercury (for example, methyl mercury or elemental (metallic) mercury); ? The amount of mercury in the exposure; ? The age of the person exposed (unborn babies & infants are the most vulnerable); ? The duration of the exposure; ? The exposure pathway (how the person is exposed breathing, eating, skin contact, etc.) and; ? The health of the person exposed.

How does mercury end up in our system?

Mercury readily seeps into water bodies, where it builds up and changes form into a chemical known as methyl mercury.

This form of mercury is easily taken up by tiny organisms which are eaten by small fishes. The small fishes may be eaten by bigger fishes, the bigger fishes may be eaten by an even bigger fish, and eventually by people. Therefore, with each fish eaten, methyl mercury builds up in higher amounts. This process is known as bioaccumulation, where the level of toxicity increases as it moves up the food chain.

Additionally, people can eat fish contaminated with mercury which isn’t gotten rid of by cooking.

The Minamata Convention Due to many issues associated with mercury use, Guyana has been one of the first countries to sign the Minamata Convention on October 10, 2013. The Minamata Convention on Mercury is an international treaty designed to protect human health and the environment from human-induced emissions and releases of mercury and mercury compounds.

Over the years, a number of proactive steps have been taken to encourage adoption of safer practices. One such step has been the establishment of a National Working Group to guide the development of a National Action Plan which would aid in institutionalization of measures for the reduction of mercury use. Among the actors on this National Working Group are regulatory agencies, government ministries and nongovernmental organisations.

Another important action taken towards better mining practices has been the development and/or promotion of options for mercury-free mining. There are several alternative technologies that do not require the use of mercury, including gravimetric processing, which is the easiest entry option.

Panning, sluices and shaking tables are also applicable, and offer a gold recovery rate of 71-75% free gold.

These methods will not only protect the environment and public health from exposure to mercury, but also contribute to Guyana meeting its obligations under the Convention.

Sources https://nre.gov.gy/2017/08/18/government-reiterates-itscommitment-to-minamata-convention/ https://www.epa.gov/mercury/health-effects-exposuresmercury https://www.planetgold.org/guyana#:~:text=planetGOLD%20 project%20sites%20in%20Guyana&text=Small%2Dscale%20 gold%20mining%20is,exposing%20themselves%20to%20 hazardous%20fumes.

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

Thieves burglarise NDC councillor’s home

P

olice are investigating a robbery, which occurred at Hyde Park, East Bank Essequibo, after bandits broke into the house of a 72-year-old Councillor of the Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC).

Reports are the incident occurred between 01:15h

and 02:05h on Saturday morning.

Phillip France along with his wife, 68-yearold Sheila France, had secured their house at about 01:15h before retiring to bed. However, the elderly woman went into the living room less than one hour lat-

er to check the time when she discovered that several louvre panes from the western window were missing.

Immediately, she alerted other relatives in the house and an alarm was raised.

The family checked the entire property, discovering that the western access door

was ajar.

The suspects would have carted off with a 48-inch flatscreen television valued at $300,000; a mountain bicycle, and clothing – all of which belonged to the elderly Councillor. Police have launched an investigation.

(G12)

Cabinet approves $29M for emergency works to access dams …over 1800 farmers set to benefit

Polder have been accusing the regional administration of not supplying adequate water for their crops.

The farmers have claimed that the pump sta-

T

he Agriculture Ministry has announced a decision

by Cabinet on Thursday, which will see the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) receiving $29 million to commence rehabilitation works to several access dams across the country.

These works will roll out in Regions Two (PomeroonSupenaam), Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), Five (MahaicaBerbice) and Six (East Berbice-Corentyne).

Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha said that the works are considered urgent, as some 91,580 acres of rice field are currently under threat due to inaccessible dams.

“Farmers have been complaining about the current state of these dams.

Due to the severity of the last rainy season, the NDIA and the various Regional Administrations were unable to carry out much-needed repairs and maintenance to over 227,000 rods of access dams. Farmers will suffer millions in losses if we do not carry out these works immediately for them to be able to harvest their rice for the upcoming autumn crop,” Minister Mustapha said.

The funds will also facilitate repair to an additional 101,942 rods of dams that were damaged due to continuous use by farmers.

With fields yielding an average of 40 bags per acre, farmers are expected to harvest over 3,663,000 bags of paddy with an estimated value of $10.2 billion.

It was reiterated that rice remains one of Guyana’s largest export earners, grossing over US$222 million in 2019. Government is currently in the process of preparing for a four-month budget that will see the Ministry of Agriculture carrying out additional emergency works to a number of drainage and irrigation structures and access dams across the country.

In less than one month since his appointment, Minister Mustapha has already engaged a large scope of farmers to hear their concerns and remedy their issues.

In January, rice farmers had lost over 6000 acres of rice on the Corentyne, due to a blocked canal in the area which was preventing the water from flowing freely into the rice fields.

Heavy vegetation in the Manarbisi Main Canal was significantly impeding the flow of water to rice fields on the Corentyne and rice farmers who operate between Numbers 52 and 74 Villages and along villages adjacent to the Black Bush

tions in Black Bush Polder and Manarbisi have not been operating to their full capacity and as such, irrigation water is not reaching far-flung villages. (G12)

24 NEWS

SUNDAY, AUGUST 30, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Illegal loggers, exorbitant fees affecting investment in forestry sector – operator

A

mid revelations that the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) is trapped in serious debts and was operating on a deficit, one operator has linked this current state of the semi-autonomous agency to the vast level of illegal logging which transpires under its nose, without any repercussions or imposed penalties to curtail such.

Director for AMSL, Ahamad Mazahar Ally on Saturday said that Guyana faces an excessive loss of revenue when illegal logging cloud the forest reserves. This has been coupled with dwindling investments by larger companies, limiting income streams for the entity. In a letter to the editor, Ally noted that should the GFC seek to remove itself from this calamitous state, serious actions must unfold to clamp down on such activities and the tariffs which create a disadvantage to the legal operators must be restructured.

“There is significant loss of revenue through the pilfering of forest resources coupled with investment shrinkage such as, in the case of Barama and other large companies. However, for the Forestry Commission to dig itself out of debt, it needs to clamp down on illegal logging and restructure its plethora of burdensome fees that is creating an unfair advantage.

These changes will raise more revenues, attract more investments, and contribute to the long-term economic success of the forestry sector,” the director contended.

Ally penned that the need for a bailout from the new Administration came as no surprise, since the Commission suffered from ineffective implementation of

Illegally-sourced lumber (Ahamad Mazahar Ally photo)

forestry regulations and exorbitant fees – both of which hindered sectorial investment within the past few years. He pointed to information that was publicised in the media, which showed that staffers are told to “stand down” when they uncover illegal operations. This issue, he said, should not be taken lightly.

“Illegal loggers continue to enjoy a free pass, while legal concession holders bear the burden of hefty regulatory costs to set up and maintain their operations in accordance with the various categories of agreements with the Forestry Commission. These concession raiders consist of known individuals and rogue companies who conspire to manipulate and cheat the system to its disadvantage.”

Throughout the years when these activities were unfolded, it was highlighted that the Granger-led Administration never paid heed, despite being labelled as a major issue.

“Further, forest raiders take advantage of loopholes in the system. Although reports are made of illegal activities when caught by concession holders during routine boundary surveillance, the illegal loggers are operating with impunity. Not to mention, the unsustainable and destructive manner they use in harvesting logs, for example, the cutting down of smallsized trees for logs along with endangered species of trees, thereby destroying the environment. Eventually, their loot makes its way to the open

market selling at lower rates than legal concession holders, and the cycle continues,” he detailed.

At present, there is the constant need to conform to onerous regulatory controls against the backdrop of intensive capital investments and volatile markets while the enormity of the fee structure for certain categories of operators is one of the biggest hurdles.

“Because of this, illegal loggers take advantage of the situation and undermine the highly regulated concessionaires. In other words, certain categories of operators incur high cost of production and even pay for the lost logs through high fixed acreage fees and royalties, while having to compete against their looters. The playing field is uneven thus leading to the decimation of investment and revenue stream in the forestry sector,” the operator added.

In early August, Parliamentary Affairs and Governance Minister, Gail Teixeira confirmed that the GFC was left in a state of

Guyana Forestry Commission

bankruptcy, after just five years under the APNU/AFC rule. The Minister related that when the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) had demitted office in 2015, the Commission had over $4 billion in its coffers. Now, the agency does not even have sufficient funds to pay salaries and had owed money to utility companies.

The Minister had also questioned how the agency has been completely drained, since it was garnering signif-

icant revenues at the end of each year.

As a result of the financial state of the entity, President Irfaan Ali approved $350 million to bail out the Commission.

According to Government, the money is to pay salaries to staff and utility services. It noted that the new Administration is currently saddled with the burden of bailing out the Commission due to the mismanagement of the sector under the previous Administration. (G12)

Cop hospitalised with head injuries after being struck by car

A

police constable attached to the Tactical Services Unit (TSU) is now in a critical condition at the hospital after a taxi driver slammed into him while he was riding his motorcycle on Friday afternoon.

The injured rank has been identified as 23-year-old Steffon Beckles.

According to Police reports, the policeman received head injuries and other wounds about his body as a result of the accident which occurred at about 13:15h Friday.

Beckles was reportedly riding motorcycle CG 4137 on

Vlissengen Road and Norton Street, Georgetown, when a motor car with license number HB 9969 collided with his motorbike.

At the time of the accident, the taxi was being driven by a 68-year-old taxi driver from Albouystown, Georgetown.

The motorcycle was proceeding east along the northern side of Norton Street, approaching Vlissengen Road, while motor car HB 9969 was proceeding south along the western side of Vlissengen Road. According to Police, as the car approached the intersection of Norton Street, the

driver failed to stop and drove into the path of motorcycle CG 4137, which was being ridden

by Beckles.

This resulted in the car colliding with the right-side front fender of the bike, causing the cop to fall onto the road. He received injuries to his head and other parts of his body. The injured rank was picked up by public-spirited citizens, placed in an ambulance and taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).

The taxi driver was arrested and remains in custody, assisting with further investigations. (G9)

NEWS

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SUNDAY, AUGUST 30, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

COVID-19 pandemic

Infrastructural and Economic Development

T

oday’s article seeks to expand on the national discourse on how infrastructural development can contribute towards economic development – a discussion that seeks to go beyond the usual rhetoric of building a road connecting Brazil and Guyana, and so forth.

More infrastructure does not necessarily mean more growth, because other constraints may also be binding. Poor infrastructure performance tends to affect competitiveness, slowing achievements in health and education and disproportionately harming the poor.

For the success of a modern economy, energy, water, transport, digital communications, waste disposal networks and facilities are critical elements to begin with. Empirical evidence has shown that well-designed infrastructure investments have long-term economic benefits, such as increasing economic growth, productivity, and land values, while providing significant positive spillovers. Notwithstanding, it is of critical importance to invest wisely, such that over-investment can potentially lead to projects that are inefficiently large, and therefore have low marginal returns.

The distinctions between infrastructural investment and other types of investment are: its high-risk, long-term, capital-intensive nature, reflected in the creation of long-lived assets with high sunk costs. “The resulting gulf between marginal and average costs creates a timeinconsistency problem, as investors always face the problem that they will be ‘held up’.” (Centre for Economic Performance). As such, this requires suitable government intervention, which in turn exposes infrastructure investment to an additional layer of risks and decision-making biases – which is sometimes the root cause of underinvestment.

Examples of these other types of risks inherent in perhaps most developing countries, if not all countries, are: • Political risks – reflecting the inability of the political system to deliver cross-party consensus around strategic plans for infrastructure, and stable policy frameworks to support their implementation; • Analytical risks – reflecting the dual relationship between the prevailing political ideology and economic mainstream; • Unbiased project appraisal – reflecting the deficit in project evaluation grounded in sound and independent expert analysis and comprehensive assessment of policy alternatives; • Limitations of the planning system and compensation mechanisms – reflecting a current planning system that does not properly share the asymmetric benefits of development; and • Public accounting distortions – reflecting practices that fail to incorporate the value of the public sector debt.

Both theoretical and empirical evidences thus point to the existence of a robust positive relationship between infrastructure and economic development. In particular, it appears that: 1.

Aggregate infrastructure stock and investment drive economic output; 2.

The driving relationship between economic output and infrastructure varies significantly across different types of physical infrastructure; and 3.

Infrastructure impacts on output, both directly and indirectly, via increased private sector investment, improved productivity, and rising exports.

Dubai’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), for example, is not driven by oil per se. In fact, about 95 percent of Dubai’s GDP is not oil-based.

Dubai had discovered that it had limited oil and gas reserves (1/20th of the reserves of Abu Dhabi) and was thus determined to build up an economy that could survive the end of the oil boom. To this end, Dubai invested massively in infrastructure development. With the creation of ports, Dubai established itself as a hub of trade by sea, and a centre of tourism and business travel by air.

Another good example would be to look at the history of China’s economic development. Prior to 1979, China maintained a centrally planned or command economy. To support rapid industrialization, the central government undertook large-scale investments in physical and human capital during the 1960s and 1970s. As a result, by 1978, nearly three-fourths of industrial production was by way of centrally controlled, state-owned enterprises, according to centrally planned output. While most of its historic economic policies created distortions in the economy in these periods, the Chinese infrastructural development from in these earlier years historically underpin, in a critical manner, the dominant and powerful economic success of that country today.

That said, there is a notion in economics that says, “If you have the facilities, people will use it”. If Guyana did not make the bold move to invest in facilities such as the Marriott Hotel -- today there is a high influx of foreigners in the country, and the presence of one of the largest multinational companies in Guyana, ExxonMobil -- Guyana would have been at a disadvantage. It is for these strategic reasons that the owner/ owners of Pegasus hotel is/are currently investing a massive US$100 million to expand and modernise the Pegasus hotel; because, for at least the next 10–20 years, there will be a heavy inflow of foreigners, and investment in these types of facilities is necessary because they are directly linked to the broader economic development of Guyana.

The National Stadium is another example. If we didn’t have the stadium, Guyana would have been unlikely to host international cricket games such as the entertaining 20-20 version of the game – CPL. The last CPL games in Guyana brought in some US$3.2 million into the Guyanese economy.

These are just a few practical examples of the need and importance of development in infrastructure that would enable long-term economic development of the country.

The recently announced US$1.4 billion housing development investment by a private investor is also timely to cater for the expected influx of expatriates and remigrants over the next five or ten years. This will align perfectly with a well-crafted remigrant policy wherein these types of facilities will be needed for people returning to live in Guyana from First World countries. This is apart from the fact that this is perhaps the largest local private investment of this magnitude, representing about 25% of GDP and almost the full size of the 2019 national budget.

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 or the institutions he represents. For comments, send to jbbankingadvice@gmail.com.

Technology keeping wheels of justice turning

By Feona Morrison

T

he COVID-19 pandemic has challenged and changed the manner in which the court of law operates and although lawyers have been listed as essential workers in the gazette restriction orders, they have responsibly transitioned to remote working arrangements. Judges, Magistrates and Commissioners of Title have also embraced this new form.

President of the Guyana Bar Association, Attorneyat-Law Teni Housty during a recent interview with Guyana Times said that there have been mixed reactions at the level of the Bar with regards to the use of technology to conduct court proceedings.

According to Housty, the reactions are a mixture of the “good, the bad and the

Guyana’s Supreme Court of Judicature live-streamed the hearing of the case filed by an APNU/AFC supporter who failed in her bid to invalidate the votes tabulated during the recount of all ballots

Magistrates’ Courts. He underscored that there needs to be advancement of work at the Magistrates’ Courts, as he has noticed some courts have gone back to in-person hearings. This, he pointed

prises the High Court and the Court of Appeal, for the first time facilitated the live streaming of proceedings before Justice Roxane.

The Supreme Court of Judicature, the Magistrates’

cording or photographing proceedings without permission still apply.

In relation to public access, Housty disclosed that there are ways to get around this hurdle, adding that there is a great level of flexibility among the platforms being used to facilitate remote hearings. “The courts have adapted. You get notices for Zoom hearings and other instructions. They [the courts] have even gone as far as developing remote hearings for mediation like using Zoom and Whatsapp.”

Post-COVID-19

The Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) live-streamed via its YouTube page the video conference of the hearing of the case filed by the PPP/C in relation to the Mach 2, General and Regional Elections

ugly.” He also said that the implementation of technological platforms has allowed for matters to be advanced even in the time of the COVID-19 pandemic. He highlighted that for certain types of cases, remote hearings are working well.

Those technological platforms approved by the Chancellor of the Judiciary include Zoom Business, Skype, Teleconferencing, Whatsapp, Email and Microsoft Teams. As far as possible, the courts are using video-links to ensure prisoners attend court.

Difficulties

But the Bar Association President disclosed that there are disagreements with the process for remotely hearing complicated civil matters.

“One of the things that would be hampered in civil proceedings is what traditional courtroom practice would desire as the act of advocacy. There is a certain element of law that is practiced from the Bar to the Bench.

For example, like raising objections. These would be difficult to do on a technological platform,” he explained.

According to Housty, from his observation, the use of technology is posing some difficulty at the level of the

out, has raised concerns for lawyers who are a party to such hearings. In light of the foregoing, he related that the Bar Association has put measures in place to ensure the safety of all its members.

“We [Bar Association] developed face shields the other day. They [Magistrates] have glass [cubicles] separating them from the witnesses. But there is nothing for lawyers at the Bar table. This issue is being addressed by the Magistrates’ Courts and measures are being put in place. We [Bar Association] hope there will be greater adoption and utilisation of technology. [The Magistrates’ Courts] have been trying, but matters have to go on.”

Public access

At a June 11, 2020, virtual court hearing in which journalists were invited, Chief Justice Roxane George said that the court recognises the constitutional requirement of open court. The Chief Justice committed that she will allow the media to access cases conducted remotely as the Judiciary adapts to the new norm of virtual hearings given restrictions posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. And on July 15, 2020, Guyana’s Supreme Court of Judicature, which com-

Courts and the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) have embraced the use of technology, and have in some instances live-streamed cases of national interest like those relating to the recently concluded March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections. This was done via the court’s website and YouTube pages. Journalists are sometimes allowed access to the virtual hearings.

Just like in physical courtrooms, the rules against re-

While these programmes were available before COVID-19, they were rarely ever used. In this regard, Housty is adamant that utilising them to dispense justice should be the norm even after COVID-19. He underscored that there are many challenges faced and lessons to be learnt in ensuring the efficient administration of justice by employing the use of technological platforms.

“Even after COVID-19, we should continue to use technology in the dispensation of justice. It should be adapted and modified for the future.

Technology is an opportunity and should not be seen as a patch or quick fix. And that is what we need at the level of the Bar.” CONTINUED ON PAGE 26

CROSSWORD SOLUTION

26 NEWS

SUNDAY, AUGUST 30, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

As testing increases

4 new COVID-19 cases recorded, 413 on home isolation …isolation facility ready to house positive cases F our new cases of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) were confirmed on Saturday, raising the total figures of positive cases recorded in Guyana to 1184.

This is a significant drop from the numbers seen recently. The data was released via the Health Ministry’s dashboard, which showed the death toll remaining at 35.

There are nine persons in the designated Intensive Care Unit – the same as Friday.

Meanwhile, there are 96 persons in institutional isolation, 121 in institutional quarantine and 413 on home isolation. The total recovered cases stand at 636 – an increase of three.

A breakdown of cases showed that all new cases were detected in Region Four

(Demerara-Mahaica). This region, which was dubbed as the first hotspot, has the highest number of cases at 406.

The other regional figures remain the same, with 158 cases in Region One (BarimaWaini), 12 in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), 63 in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), four in Region Five (MahaicaBerbice), 14 in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), 208 in Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni), 15 in Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni), 229 in Region Nine (Upper TakutuUpper Essequibo) and 75 in Region 10 (Upper DemeraraBerbice).

One day ago, the Ministry announced that three more persons died as a result of COVID-19, taking the country’s death toll to 35. No fur-

ther details were given regarding these deaths, which was in addition to 40 new cases.

Only Thursday, the Ministry reported Guyana’s 32nd COVID fatality following the death of 52-year-old Alfred Humphrey of Kingsley, West Coast Berbice, who died in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the Georgetown Public Hospital.

In the last 24 hours, 268 tests were processed which added to a total of 8079.

This comes in light of assurances from the new Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony that Government would significantly increase testing in Guyana.

The target for the new week is 300 tests per day.

This is a dramatic increase when compared to what had obtained before the new

Armed bandits pounce on man in shower …escape with $1.8M

T

hree men barged into the shop of a businessman at Kanawaruk, Black Water Landing, Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni), and held him at gunpoint while he was taking a shower.

Reports are the businessman, Bhim Singh, was taking a shower at around 06:30h on Thursday when an armed man barged in on him and began threatening him whilst brandishing a revolver. According to Police, the 56-year-old man reported that he made several attempts to scream for help but the bandit stuffed his

mouth with the gun.

According to Police, two other gunmen entered the building shortly afterwards and demanded that the man hand over his valuables.

In a bid to free himself, Singh began scuffling with the bandit who held the gun in his mouth. In the midst of the fight, the businessman managed to overpower the bandit and bite him in the process.

This publication was told that the suspect eventually fell to the ground, and Singh managed to run to the front of his shop and raise an alarm.

Persons in the area went to his rescue, but by that time the gunmen had already grabbed $1.8 million and made good their escape.

Ranks of the Mahdia Police Station were summoned to the scene.

This is the second time the businessman was robbed by armed bandits. The first instance occurred at his home in Georgetown. He was beaten and also robbed of a large sum of cash in the previous robbery.

Investigations into the matter are ongoing. (G9)

Administration took office, when only about 30 samples were processed per day.

Isolation facility ready

Meanwhile, on Saturday Dr Anthony told the Department of Public Information (DPI) that hospital beds, bedside cupboards and other necessary items have been acquired to ensure isolated patients are housed comfortably at the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention previously called the Infectious

Disease Hospital. According to the DPI report, key utilities, which were not previously installed, are expected to be fitted and to power the rooms in the isolation section. With this in place, the Minister said that this particular section for isolation can be used as soon as the evening of Saturday, August 29.

“Our challenge has been electricity to the building, there was no connection to the main power supply and I have asked the Ministers re-

sponsible for both electricity and water and they have been very responsive by speaking to their technical staff so I am optimistic that we will get electricity into the building today (Saturday),” the Minister was quoted as saying.

The Minister noted that with the isolation section up and running at the facility – with at least 47 beds – the burden will be removed from the Georgetown Public Hospital, allowing them to cater to more severe cases. (G12)

Technology keeping wheels...

The long-standing lawyer disclosed that the Bar Association has put together a sub-committee in this regard. “That is how serious we find it. I must compliment the committee in supporting the Bar at this time.

Bar Committee meetings are being held by Zoom. We have held two webinars and people from all over the region have been attending. This is something we have embraced.”

He, however, cautioned that this should, in no way, replace traditional means, since it is recognised that some persons do not have access to technology, and it would be on the onus of the court to ensure that their needs are met, so as to not deny them access to justice.

The Supreme Court of Judicature, in its Remote Practice Directions, has advised lawyers to upgrade their computers or digital equipment and acquire scanning hardware and software.

In the interest of efficiency, parties to remote hearings are also advised to familiarise themselves with the technology being used to conduct video conferences prior to the hearing such as camera, microphone and sound settings.

Confidentiality assured Of course, concerns relating to maintaining confidentiality during remote hearings are outlined in the court’s

practice directions. For instance, it mandates that there shall be no private communication Judges, Magistrates and any of the parties or their lawyers regarding any hearing or in relation to a matter in which a decision or judgement is to be delivered, before, during or after the decision of delivery of the judgement.

Among other things, the directions stipulate that the registrar or clerk of court to the judicial officer must be physically or remotely present during all hearings. Trials by jury have been suspended across the three criminal assizes. Only guilty pleas are being accepted from accused persons with respect to their charges. The court registries remain operational to facilitate the filing and retrieval of court documents. Urgent matters can be filed via the court’s website https://supremecourt. gy/ or via email.

Safety The courts have put systems in place to ensure persons, who must be at court, are screened before entering courtrooms. For instance, persons are not allowed to enter the court compound without a mask. Upon entry, persons are required to sanitise their hands, this is followed by their temperature being checked by health officials and maintaining social distancing. In addition, the courts have placed

FROM PAGE 25

Bar Association President, Attorney-at-Law Teni Housty

restrictions on its entries.

In the meantime, most face-to-face and in-person operations remain suspended according to the Supreme Court of Judicature Practice Directions. Where physical hearings are necessary, the courts have demanded strict adherence to the World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines.

“The adaptation and implementation of technology has stopped the wheels of justice from grinding to a halt,” the Bar Association President emphasised in closing. Notwithstanding the pandemic, courts in all three counties have been working painstakingly to clear case backlogs, as well as to dispatch new cases.

NEWS

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SUNDAY, AUGUST 30, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Head of Coast Guard promoted to Brigadier …as 4 other GDF officers promoted

Promoted: Colonel Omar Khan Commander of the Coast Guard, Gary Beaton, promoted to Brigadier

T

he Guyana Defence Force (GDF) has announced the promotion of five ranks including Commander of the Coast Guard, Colonel Gary

Promoted: Lieutenant Colonel Ronald Hercules now Colonel

Promoted: Colonel Julius Skeete

Beaton, who has been elevated to the rank of substantive Brigadier.

This announcement was made by Chief of Staff (CoS), Brigadier Godfrey Bess, on Saturday. He said

the promotions were made under the Defence Act and approved by Commanderin-Chief, President Dr Irfaan Ali. The other four ranks – Lieutenant Colonels Ronald Hercules,

Promoted: Ken-Lloyd Roberts

Julius Skeete, Omar Khan and Ken-Lloyd Roberts – have been promoted to the rank of substantive Colonel. The Chief of Staff and the other members of the Defence Force have extended congratulations to the five newly promoted army officers.

The last promotion within the GDF was on December 31, 2019, when 35 ranks were elevated.

Firm to market Guyana’s oil expected by October – Natural Resources Minister …as Guyana receives final payment from Shell for oil lift Commander-in-Chief, President Dr Irfaan Ali, along with Prime Minister, Retired Brigadier Mark Phillips, and Chief of Staff Brigadier Godfrey Bess

Natural Resources Minister Vickram Bharrat

G

uyana has received US$46 million for its third oil lift, bringing its three-lift contract with Shell Western Supply and Trading Limited to an end. And Natural Resources Minister Vickram Bharrat is confident that a firm to market Guyana’s oil will be found before the next lift.

The US$46 million, which has gone into the Natural Resources Fund (NRF) held in the United States (US) reserves, means that Guyana’s three-lift contract, signed under the former A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government with Shell, has come to an end.

It also means that Guyana must find other ways to sell its oil. The Dr Irfaan Ali-led Government has since retendered for a firm to market Guyana’s oil, citing the fact that some firms boycotted the previous tender due to the caretaker status of the former Government.

In an interview with this publication, Natural Resources Minister Vickram Bharrat expressed confidence that the Government would be able to procure a company before the next oil lift, which he said is expected in November.

“By early October, we should be able to finalise that.

We’ll have a new company on board. The fourth lift is scheduled for mid-November. And of course, it depends on pro-

The US Federal Reserve-based Natural Resources Fund holds more than US$150 million

duction,” Bharrat explained, adding that companies have been expressing interest in the 12-month contract.

According to the Minister, the tender should close by September 22. And once the tender closes, he explained, it should take no more than two weeks to evaluate the tenders they received and ultimately determine the most responsive bidder.

Guyana only began producing oil in December last year, lifting its first million barrels of profit oil in February with oil tanker Cap Philippe transporting it from the Liza Destiny Floating Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel.

The oil tanker was chartered by Shell Western Supply and Trading Limited, which had secured the bid to buy Guyana’s first three oil lifts, with each cargo being approximately one million barrels of crude.

Days after the lift in February, Guyana’s Energy Department had invited companies to submit Expressions of Interest (EoIs) to be the marketing agent for the country’s crude. At one point in time, it was reported that some 34 companies, including major oil companies and commodity traders, had expressed an interest in snagging the contract.

However, these were subsequently shortlisted to 19 companies.

So far, Guyana has received three cargo lift payments and two royalty payments, all deposited in the NRF fund. This brings the total in the fund to around US$150 million.

However, this money has remained untouched owing to the protracted political crisis Guyana found itself in after elections.

Against this background, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo had recently explained that during the tendering process there were companies that opted not to deal with an illegitimate Government and wanted to await the final outcome of the prolonged electoral process. As such, he noted that all the companies should be given a fair chance to bid for the contract as Guyana’s marketing agent for its share of oil.

“It would be unfair to people, the companies that acted decently and did not put in a bid because they recognised the threat to democracy and you had an illegal Government.

They may now be excluded from the process because if we’re moving ahead to evaluate the bids that were received in the period when the Government was illegal.”

“So, we’ve made it clear that we will reopen the tender for that contract, so all those companies that didn’t get a chance to bid [previously] can submit their bids…” The Vice President had also explained. (G3)

28 NEWS

SUNDAY, AUGUST 30, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Berbice rice farmers still battling paddy bug infestation described as one of the major players as far as pests.

This is according to President of the Guyana Rice Producers Association (RPA) Leaka Rambrich.

Rambrich, who is also a rice farmer, said that somehow this crop, farmers in Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne) have been able to control the infestation.

He told this publication that as soon as the crop commenced, he sprayed all the dams in the vicinity of his cultivation with chemi-

I saw paddy bugs by the thousands on the dams, so I went and sprayed all the dams and I was able to have minimal damage due to paddy bugs because I killed all of the bugs on the birdseed grass.

Rambrich, however, noted that the infestation of paddy bugs is not that alarming.

In Region Six, one per cent of the crop has already been harvested and some farmers are saying that despite the reduction in pad-

for the bugs every other day but currently, he is applying the bug-killing chemicals once every five days.

“The spraying for the paddy bugs costing more than the cost for fertiliser.”

Rambrich said the $2.5 million which was being allocated to fight paddy bugs are far from adequate in a country which is producing over 90,000 hectares of rice.

“We need a comprehensive study of this paddy bug and this is what the Government needs to put in place.”

Rambrich said if they are not able to eradicate the bugs they must be able to have total control over the insects.

Guyana Rice Producers Association President Leaka Rambrich

the need for the programme and that is why for the past five years we were having

Paddy bugs attacking rice

By Andrew Carmichael

R

ice farmers continue an uphill battle to ward off paddy bugs – a major infestation that has previously resulted in millions of dollars in losses.

The infestation of paddy bugs has always been one

of the major problems rice farmers suffer and has on many occasions been very difficult to control.

Throughout a crop, farmers would normally be able to control all other pest and diseases which may confront them but when it comes to paddy bugs, it is

Rice fields being sprayed to destroy paddy bugs

cals to kill the pest.

“During the early stage like about 30 to 35 days,

dy bugs, they are spending thousands of dollars to control paddy bugs.

“During the early stages of the crop normally there is high infestation but as harvesting proceeds, you might see that the damage might drop to between two and five per cent,” the RPA President explained.

Meanwhile, Khomal

As such, he suggested a comprehensive approach.

“When we spray one time with a chemical, we should not be going back there in ten days if we are to say that we have ten days control with the chemical, but we are not having that.

This is the problem farmers are facing. We can’t say if the chemical is poor or if

a high infestation of paddy bugs,” Rambrich noted.

During 2018 and 2019, rice farmers in the region had taken to the picket line, calling on the Government to introduce aerial spraying to control paddy bugs.

Rambrich said with the current Government showing more interest in rice and the interest of farmers than

Peraud Lalsorran, who cultivates 240 acres of rice, said one week ago there were thousands of the bugs on his rice but that number has significantly reduced over the past week.

Half of his rice is almost ready to harvest and he has been focusing his attention there. He pays an average of $45,500 in labour cost to keep the dreaded insects out. In addition to that, there is the cost for the chemicals used in the field.

Meanwhile, Deonarine Dindyal, who cultivates 200 acres, in comparing the current crop with the previous, said not that much is being done this time around to control the dreaded insects.

Referring to the previous crop, Dindyal noted that he had to be spraying

the spraying that is being done is not the right spraying or the bug is dying and others are migrating. All these things we need to have a study of. I am lobbying for the Government to do a paddy bug programme, pattern it with the pink mealybug programme that we had. They need to put that into the budget; a $200 million programme and you will have a comprehensive study of the bug.”

Prior to 2015, the Government had budgeted $90 million for a paddy bug programme. However, the programme was scrapped with the change of Government.

“It was just on the initial stage of the study and they scrapped the programme. They did not see

the previous Government, the RPA is lobbying for the paddy bug programme to be reintroduced.

There are about nine different species of the paddy bug. There is no current data to indicate which specie is affecting farmers the most. In addition, there is no data on where the bugs are when the crop is off.

Meanwhile, one analyst said that the reason for the high infestation during the last crop was because of the dry weather which caused the bugs to flee from the pastures since it offered nothing to them. However, with the rains continuing to fall, the grass in the pastures are providing some sustenance for the bugs which will prefer to feed on the young paddy grains.

NEWS

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Former AG debunks APNU supporter on ownership of Ocean View Hotel …confirms building in receivership, “owner” defaulted on loan payments

D

espite claims from A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) supporter Wilfred Rambarran that he still owns the Ocean View International Hotel which has been converted to the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention and is entitled to rent, former Attorney General Basil Williams himself has debunked this as untrue.

Williams finally broke his silence on the controversy on Saturday and said that the Ocean View Hotel has been in receivership since 2009, when the Guyana National Co-operative Bank (GNCB) appointed Courtney Perry as receiver to take over the management of the hotel and sell it in order to recover the debt that Rambarran defaulted on.

In fact, Williams contended that Perry is still the receiver of the property and had won a case against Rambarran. Judgement was given in the case in the High Court on March 10, 2016, by now Appeal Court Judge Rishi Persaud, who ruled that Perry's appointment as receiver of the property was

lawful and proper.

Williams, who had been on the losing end of a string of cases while representing the former APNU/AFC Government as Attorney General, went on to urge the People's Progressive Party (PPP) Government to complete the compulsory acquisition of the building.

"It was further ordered by the court that the receiver recover the sum of $223,800,000 against the Ocean View Hotel, together with interest thereon at 17.5 per cent per annum from the said 10th day of March, 2016, until fully paid. Winston Rambaran has appealed to the Court of Appeal, but the appeal has not yet been heard. There was no stay of execution nor any cross-appeal by GNCB," Williams said.

Secret deal

"In light of the foregoing, and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic reflecting increased deaths and a surge in positive cases, it is incumbent that the PPP/C Government secures the acquisition of the Ocean View Hotel Limited in furtherance

Ocean View International Hotel, which is now the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention

of combatting the COVID-19 pandemic," the former Attorney General added in his statement.

The former APNU/AFC Government had sought to transform the flood-prone Ocean View hotel into a facility to house COVID-19 patients. However, it faced much criticisms, due to the over $1 billion price tag and the fact that the Government was in caretaker mode.

Also, the details surrounding the deal were kept secret from the public, with no one knowing for sure whether the building

was being rented or what arrangement had been struck with the Ocean View “owner”. After spending over a billion in taxpayers’ money on works on the building, the former Administration eventually issued a Notice of Compulsory Acquisition of the Hotel.

But after the PPP took office, Rambarran abruptly sent new Attorney General Anil Nandlall a lawyer’s letter, threatening legal action against the new Government if millions of dollars owed as rent for the property was not paid within 14 days.

In his letter, Rambarran contended that the Grangerled caretaker Administration had initially agreed to pay some $13 million per month to use the facility for a period of 12 months. Rambarran had claimed that he still owned the building.

Rambarran, who is a known APNU/AFC associate, claimed that though the previous Government issued a Notice of Compulsory Acquisition for the former Ocean View Hotel, he believed it is of no effect because compensation has not been discussed or paid. The letter, dated August 6, was sent to Nandlall and Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony,

by Rambarran’s attorney, R Satram.

For his part, Nandlall had said that his Government was actively considering the letter. He had told this publication that a request had been made for the controversial project to be examined by the special team of financial analysts that was assembled by President Dr Irfaan Ali to assess nineteen State agencies. “…because certainly, from all indications, hun-

dreds of millions of dollars were drawn from the consolidated fund for a capital project without parliamentary approval. That is a clear violation of the Constitution of Guyana and the Fiscal Management and Accountability Act,” the Attorney General had explained.

“A deeper probe must also be embarked upon to enquire whether the monies so expended do not also amount to criminal offences including misconduct in public office,” he had also posited.

According to Nandlall, these revelations are mind-boggling when one considers the large sums spent and the limited value for money. “$1.6 billion was apparently spent on a property that is not even owned by the Government, according to the letter. This must amount to criminal conduct.

The nation was led to believe that this was State asset. Now it is being revealed that it is apparently private property. Imagine spending $1.6 billion to build a property that is not owned by you!” the Attorney General had asserted.

Govt appoints 6 new REOs, retains 3 from APNU/AFC

T

he PPP/C Government has appointed six new Regional Executive Officers (REOs) and retained three from the previous APNU/AFC regime to serve in the various administrative regions across Guyana.

This was announced on Saturday by Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Nigel Dharamlall.

These newly-appointed REOs will be taking up office on Monday, the Department of Public Information (DPI) said in a report.

Previous Deputy Regional Executive Officer for Region One (BarimaWaini), Teka Bissessar was appointed REO by the Minister, for that region.

Devanand Ramdatt, who has a wealth of academic achievements to his name and held the positions of Assistant Director of Youth and Regional Chairman of the region was appointed Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam) REO. Additionally, Regions Three (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara), Five (Mahaica-Berbice), Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) and Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) will be headed by Jagnarine Somwar, Genevieve Blackman, Narindra Persaud and Karl Singh, respectively.

Somwar has been serving the Government since 2004 and was also appointed Justice of the Peace and Commission of Affidavits by former President Bharrat Jagdeo. In addition to his

The three retained REOs

work experience, his academic qualifications boast of several certificates.

As an educator for more than 20 years, Narindra Persaud also previously served as a Regional Councillor for Region Four, and Manager of the Materials Management Unit, Ministry of Health.

Blackman previously served as Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education (2012-2017), Chief Executive Officer for the Board of Industrial Training (2011), and Coordinator for the World Bank-funded HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control project at the Ministry of Labour, among other positions.

Holding several management certificates, Karl Singh would have been the Regional Vice-Chairman for Region Nine (2015-2020) and will now be REO for the region.

Meanwhile, the REOs for three regions have been retained from the previous APNU/AFC Administration.

These include Pauline Lucas, Kerwin Ward and

Mitzy Campbell, who will be continuing their tenure as REOs for Regions Four (Demerara-Mahaica), Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) and Eight (Potaro-Siparuni), respectively.

However, it was reported that the REO for Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Upper Berbice) has not yet been appointed. But this is expected to be done soon.

“We wish them well and we look forward to their profound administration of our regions as we forge ahead to rebuild the regional development system in Guyana,” Minister Dharamlall stated.

Just over two weeks ago, the Local Government and Regional Development Ministry terminated the services of seven of the REOs appointed under the coalition Administration.

These were: Randolph Storm from Region One; Denis Jaikarran from Region Two; Jennifer Ferreira Dougal from Region Three; Ovid Morrison from Region Five; Kim StephenWilliams from Region Six; Carl Parker from Region Nine and Orrin Gordon

from Region 10.

At the time, Minister Dharamlall had said that the Ministry had “lost confidence in their ability to perform”, adding that not only was their performance inimical to the effective and efficient functioning of the respective regions but they also practiced heavy partisan politics.

Parliamentary Affairs and Governance Minister, Gail Teixeira had already made it clear that while the new People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Administration will not engage in witch-hunting; it will seek to rid the public sector of political appointees whose services are no longer required.

Regional development

Time and again, various regional chairpersons have complained over the unwillingness of the various REOs to cooperate in order to advance regional development.

In the case of Region One, Regional Chair Brentnol Ashley in July 2019 had explained that there is a holdup of crucial projects in the

The six newly-appointed REOs

region, through no fault of the Regional Democratic Council, but rather, the REO. In Region Two, the REO was charged for assaulting Regional Vice Chair Nandranie Coonjah. The REO, in 2019, had also reportedly taken away the vehicles belonging to the Regional Chair and Vice Chair, and had closed the door to the Vice Chair’s Office.

In Region Five, the RDC has not been able to properly meet for years due to constant disruptions by the REO who usually leads a walkout, forcing the meeting to be adjourned. The REO’s walkouts stemmed from an incident where Regional Chairman, Vickchand Ramphal had asked two controversial Councillors to leave the horseshoe table while their legality was being discussed. However, the Chairman’s request was

met with pushback from the coalition Government’s Councillors.

Morrison swore in three persons as Councillors unbeknown to the Chairman and the full Council. Ever since, there have been issues at every statutory meeting in relation to the legality of the Councillors which ultimately led to walkouts by Government Councillors and the REO. The Region Six REO has had her fair share of controversies as well. In July 2018, she refused to write the then Minister of State Joseph Harmon on the wishes of the RDC. The RDC had passed a motion for Central Government to finance the transportation of children whose parents were out of a job due to the closure of the sugar estates, but the REO refused to make the request.

Region Nine’s REO was, in 2017, charged with sexual assault.

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Phillips’s surge sets platform for Tallawahs to strangle Patriots H

ero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) competition finally saw a team choosing to bat first and winning, as Glenn Phillips accelerated, after a sluggish start, to bat through the innings and get the Jamaica Tallawahs a total that a faltering St Kitts & Nevis Patriots’ batting lineup never looked like achieving against a disciplined and skilful bowling attack.

Promoted to open, Nkrumah Bonner steered Sheldon Cottrell for four and drove Ish Sodhi for the game’s first Hero Maximum, but in trying to pick up a second off Imran Khan, he chipped to Cottrell at long-on.

The Tallawahs reached the Powerplay at 28/1. Jermaine Blackwood got off the mark with a Hero Maximum off Sodhi, but Imran continued to be hard to hit.

Patriots captain Rayad Emrit brought himself on and went for seven, and at halfway in the innings, the Tallawahs were 53/1.

First ball after the break, Blackwood carved Cottrell for four. Phillips ended that over with his first four off his 24th ball, but the Tallawahs lost Blackwood when he picked out Dunk at long-off off Emrit.

Phillips finally hit his first Hero Maximum off his 28th ball, lofting Jon-Russ Jaggesar over long-on, but should have fallen two balls later, Nick Kelly spilling a simple chance.

Imran tightened the screw, finishing his miserly spell (the most economical completed spell of Hero CPL 2020) with a maiden to Phillips, who was now 28 off 36 balls. After 14 overs, the Tallawahs were 79/2.

Asif Ali tried to pick up the pace, lofting the last ball of Jaggesar’s spell for a Hero

Maximum, but fell in the next over, Sodhi’s last, trying to repeat the trick.

Evin Lewis must get credit for a well-judged catch on the midwicket boundary.

Phillips at last clicked, passing a run-a-ball off his 46th delivery and reaching 50 off his 47th with three Hero Maximums off Cottrell.

While he managed another Hero Maximum off Emrit, the Patriots captain dismissed Rovman Powell and Carlos Brathwaite in quick succession and the Tallawahs reached 18 overs at 126/5.

Cottrell started the 19th over with three full tosses, the first a beamer, but finished by bowling the struggling Chadwick Walton.

Phillips kept going to the end, levering a low full toss over long-on for a sixth Hero Maximum and whipping a four through square leg.

Phillips’s acceleration was stark - he scored 38 off his first 44 balls, and 41 off his last 17, and at the end he was visibly drained, so much so that Walton took over as wicket-keeper.

The Patriots, too, changed their openers, a groin injury to Lewis meaning Kieran Powell came up the order.

While Chris Lynn opened his account with a Hero Maximum off Fidel Edwards, Edwards got revenge next ball with a late outswinger that hit middle stump.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Veerasammy Permaul each bowled two overs and conceded just one boundary, with Kieran Powell dropped

by Asif off Mujeeb. The new opener cashed in with a love-

ly lofted four off Edwards.

The Patriots closed the first six at 39/1.

The Patriots stumbled further when Ramdin edged a cut to keeper Walton off Permaul. Ben Dunk was bowled fourth ball by Brathwaite as part of a wicket-maiden; and Kieran Powell, in trying to break free off Permaul, gave Walton a stumping with time to spare.

Between the Powerplay and the drinks break, the Patriots faced 20 balls and recorded 3/6.

That stumping was Walton’s last act behind the stumps, as a recovered Phillips resumed his duties after drinks. After 10 overs, the Patriots were becalmed at 47/4 with Lewis injured, and with two overs of Mujeeb and four overs of Sandeep Lamichhane still to come.

Emrit got his team their first boundary in 30 balls, but he fell two balls later lead-edging Brathwaite to point. Lewis could be delayed no longer, which in turn brought Lamichhane into the attack. Kelly swept for four, but still the over went for just six, and after 13 overs the required run rate had climbed to 11 an over.

Rovman Powell brought back Mujeeb, who went for just four. Lewis and Kelly managed a brief flurry of boundaries off Lamichhane and Edwards, but Edwards had the last laugh as Kelly dragged a pull onto his own stumps.

The Tallawahs’ elite spinners would be denied no longer. Lamichhane’s seam-up variation saw the

valiant Lewis hole out to long-on, Mujeeb grabbed a simple caught-and-bowled off Cottrell, and Lamichhane bowled Sodhi with a googly.

The game was already lost when the final wicket fell, Brathwaite picking up a third as some compensation for his duck today and his mauling by the Tridents’ Kyle Mayers on Wednesday.

Winning without the injured Andre Russell, who is expected to be fit for Tuesday’s game against the Trinbago Knight Riders, will please the Tallawahs camp no end; but the struggles continue for the Patriots, who have left themselves with a lot to do in the last group matches of Hero CPL 2020.

(CPL T20)

SCOREBOARD JAMAICA TALLAWAHS INNINGS (20 OVERS MAXIMUM) GD Phillips † not out 79 NE Bonner c Cottrell b Khan 16 J Blackwood c Dunk b Emrit 27 Asif Ali c Lewis b Sodhi 14 R Powell (c) c Jaggesar b Emrit 1 CR Brathwaite b Emrit 0 CAK Walton b Cottrell 1 V Permaul not out 0 Extras (lb 6, nb 1, w 2) 9 TOTAL (20 Ov, RR: 7.35) 147/6 Did not bat: Mujeeb Ur Rahman, S Lamichhane, FH Edwards Fall of wickets: 1-28 (Nkrumah Bonner, 5.6 ov), 2-66 (Jermaine Blackwood, 11.3 ov), 3-92 (Asif Ali, 15.3 ov), 4-117 (Rovman Powell, 17.1 ov), 5-126 (Carlos Brathwaite, 17.6 ov), 6-132 (Chadwick Walton, 18.6 ov)

ST KITTS AND NEVIS PATRIOTS INNINGS (TARGET: 148 RUNS FROM 20 OVERS) CA Lynn b Edwards 8 KOA Powell st Walton b Permaul 21 D Ramdin † c Walton b Permaul 13 BR Dunk b Brathwaite 2 NF Kelly b Edwards 16 RR Emrit (c) c Edwards b Brathwaite 5 E Lewis c Powell b Lamichhane 21 SS Cottrell c & b Mujeeb Ur Rahman 1 IS Sodhi b Lamichhane 6 I Khan c Permaul b Brathwaite 10 JL Jaggesar not out 5 Extras (lb 1, w 1) 2

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TOTAL (19.4 Ov, RR: 5.59) 110 BOWLING JL Jaggesar SS Cottrell I Khan IS Sodhi RR Emrit

4-0-32-0 4-0-43-1 4-1-7-1 4-0-27-1 4-0-32-3

Fall of wickets: 1-8 (Chris Lynn, 0.4 ov), 2-42 (Denesh Ramdin, 7.1 ov), 3-45 (Ben Dunk, 8.1 ov), 4-45 (Kieran Powell, 9.2 ov), 5-52 (Rayad Emrit, 10.5 ov), 6-87 (Nick Kelly, 14.6 ov), 7-89 (Evin Lewis, 15.5 ov), 8-89 (Sheldon Cottrell, 16.1 ov), 9-97 (Ish Sodhi, 17.2 ov), 10110 (Imran Khan, 19.4 ov) BOWLING FH Edwards 4-0-39-2 Mujeeb Ur Rahman 4-0-12-1 V Permaul 4-0-20-2 CR Brathwaite 3.4-1-11-3 S Lamichhane 4-0-27-2

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Final of Minnesota Cricket T20 Blast...

International Cavaliers clinch title in 8-wicket win

T

The victorious International Cavaliers team

he International Cavaliers downed the Continental Cricket Club by eight wickets in the final of the Minnesota Cricket T20 Blast last week.

Batting first, Continental CC were restricted to 96-6 in 20 overs.

Dhruv Duggal top-scored with 29 from 23 balls, which included four boundaries. Only Gurdish Kullar (12) and Krishna Sastry Amaravadhi (13) reached double figures.

Bhim George was the pick of the Cavaliers bowlers with 3-10, while

Bheem Singh, Nauman Zahid and Zahid Raffique each took one wicket. In reply, Raffique, opening the batting, scored an even half-century from 44 balls, decorated with four boundaries and two sixes, to lead his team to a comfortable eight-wicket win.

Kamesh Yadram scored an unbeaten 34 from 37 balls, with two fours and a similar number of sixes. Devanash Garag was the lone bowler with 2-16 as the Cavaliers ended on 97-2 in 15.4 overs.

223-7230-1 (Ext 55)

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SUNDAY, AUGUST 30, 2020

31

Queen’s Park pitch in focus as Warriors battle Patriots today B

oth captains of the respective teams expressed their sentiments regarding the Queen’s Park Oval

pitch. Warriors captain Chris Green said it was a tough surface to bat spin, while the more vocal Rayad Emrit expressed his disappointment on social platform Facebook.

These two teams, which have three wins between themselves and are at the root

Ben Dunk

Rayad Emrit celebrates a wicket against Warriors

Evin Lewis has thus far had one solid innings

of the points table, will meet from 14:15 hours today, Sunday (August 30).

Patriots are at the bottom of the Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) points table with one win. The batting has been a liability to the Patriots, with only Ben Dunk and Evin Lewis scoring over 100 runs. Lewis, who slammed a brilliant 89, has 161 runs, while Dunk, who played in five matches, scored 123 runs.

While the other teams can boast of the quality of their international spinners, Patriots have as their spinners two local spinners and Ish Sodhi who played only three matches.

The Patriots captain Emrit had earlier said the fastbowling group is strong but the pitches are not offering much for his quicks. Emrit is the leading wicket-taker for his team, with seven scalps while local lads Imran Khan and Jon Russ Jagesar have each taken four wickets. The veteran leftarm seamer Sohail Tanvir, a

former Amazon Warrior, has taken five wickets.

After six matches, Shimron Hetmyer is the Warriors’ only player to have surpassed 150 runs, having thus far scored 169; while Ross Taylor, demoted to number five, has scored 113. Nicholas Pooran has thus far contributed 106 runs, while other batsmen who scored heavily last season are yet to surpass 100 runs in the six outings.

Veteran leggie Imran Tahir has been impressive with the ball. Cricket’s senior statesman has thus far taken 11 wickets at a stunning average of 14.00 and an economy rate of 6.41.

With the surfaces being suitable for spin, Tahir will be more dangerous as the tournament progresses. Emrit will be looking to play more spinners in his starting XI as they seek to record a win over the inconsistent Warriors team this season.

Kieron Pollard’s 28-ball 72 extends Trinbago Knight Riders’ unbeaten run

A

Kieron Pollard heist for the ages saw the Trinbago Knight Riders retrieve a seemingly impossible situation with a win against the Barbados Tridents, showing the rest of the Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) 2020 that not only can they win without Sunil Narine, they can do it without DJ Bravo as well.

Pollard smashed nine Hero Maximums in his 72 off 28 balls, and though Khary Pierre still had work to do to finish the job, it was the Knight Riders captain who made the game his own.

Johnson Charles started aggressively, cutting Akeal Hosein and whipping Pierre for four, then lofting Hosein for six. But Hosein struck in his second over when he had Shai Hope caught at slip trying to cut a quicker ball, just before rain briefly held things up.

Charles took another boundary off Hosein, taking the Tridents to 37/1 off the Powerplay. Fawad Ahmed and Pollard kept Kyle Mayers quiet, but Charles swept well off Fawad, paddling for four and lofting for six. At halfway, Charles had contributed 44 of the Tridents’ 59/1.

Pollard gave Tion Webster his first T20 over, and while Webster started well, it eventually went for nine. Mayers sent a Seales full toss for six, but Charles then steered another full toss straight to point.

Pierre could have dismissed Tridents captain Jason Holder, but Webster dropped a low chance at longoff.

Mayers finally got hold of Fawad for a pulled four, and after 14 overs the Tridents were 92/2. Hosein, though, re-

covered from Sikandar Raza dropping a simple catch off Mayers to bowl Holder as he tried to launch him over midwicket.

Mayers and Corey Anderson scrambled eight off Pollard, but Raza deceived both with drift and turn.

Mayers was caught at long-off and Anderson was stumped, to leave the Tridents on 107/5 in the 17th over.

Ashley Nurse and Rashid Khan responded emphatically. Nurse swept then cut Raza for four to get off the mark, and Rashid smacked Fawad for four then pulled him for a Hero Maximum. Fawad, though, recovered to dismiss Rashid, Raza taking a diving catch at cover. Nurse brilliantly manoeuvred a Seales yorker over point for six, but then a pull went high rather than long, and Seifer held the skier.

Pollard gave himself the 20th, and Mitchell Santner pulled him for a wonderful Hero Maximum. The captain recovered to go for just singles off the rest, but the Tridents

had what looked like a good score on the board.

At the start of the Knight Riders chase, Webster drilled Santner for four to get off the mark, but Holder’s extra bounce did for both him, splicing a pull to mid-on, and the dangerous Colin Munro, edging a cut to Ashley Nurse at slip. At 6/2, the Knight Riders were in danger of feeding after just two overs.

The Tridents went to the off-spin of Nurse to target the left-handed Darren Bravo, but the right-handed Lendl Simmons got himself on strike and hammered two contrasting Hero Maximums - the first got barely head high, the second almost cleared the stand.

Holder called on Rashid, and the Afghan answered with a wicket-maiden. Bravo survived an LBW shout playing forward, but then fell in that manner playing back.

The Knight Riders had stumbled to 27/3 off the Powerplay.

Hayden Walsh Jr started nicely, and Raymon Reifer struck with a cutter that

Seifert edged to the keeper. Hosein guided a four past third man, but at 48/4, the Knight Riders were well behind the game at halfway.

Santner conceded just two, nearly having Hosein stumped twice. Off the returning Rashid, Simmons barely cleared deep midwicket with a sweep, and Hosein was lucky his loft didn’t carry to long-on. But the luck did not last, as Hosein sliced a Walsh Jr googly far enough for Holder to take low at longoff.

Thus, when Pollard strode to the middle, his team needed 87 off 39 balls. The captain served notice of what was to come when he launched Walsh into the scoreboard first ball. Holder brought back Rashid, but Pollard attacked him too, hammering a flat Hero Maximum over long-off.

Simmons then ran past one to give Hope an easy stumping off Santner. Rashid gave away only four off his last over, and with four overs left, the Knight Riders needed 66.

Amid sending Walsh Jr to all parts of the Queen’s Park Oval for four sixes in one game-turning over, Pollard turned down a single, and next over Raza sacrificed himself to ensure he was run out and Pollard regained strike.

Reifer started the 18th well, but Pollard somehow managed two fours. The Knight Riders still needed 31 off 12, but Pollard punished Holder for missing his yorker with two brutal Hero Maximums.

Reifer got the nod for the 20th, with 15 to defend, and Pollard again started with a six. Holder appeared to have swung the game back

the Tridents’ way, running out Pollard as he desperately sought a second, but Reifer’s length deserted him and Pierre kept his cool, levering a full toss over point for a score-levelling Hero Maximum.

The Tridents were done, and the winning runs came

next ball with a slice past third man. The Knight Riders surely cannot afford to be without players of the class of Narine and DJ Bravo for long, but they still had someone capable of winning the un-winnable.

(ESPNcricinfo)

SCOREBOARD BARBADOS TRIDENTS INNINGS (20 OVERS MAXIMUM) SD Hope † c Simmons b Hosein 4 J Charles c Simmons b Seales 47 KR Mayers c DM Bravo b Sikandar Raza 42 JO Holder (c) b Hosein 3 CJ Anderson st †Seifert b Sikandar Raza 6 AR Nurse c †Seifert b Seales 19 Rashid Khan c Sikandar Raza b Fawad Ahmed 12 MJ Santner not out 8 RA Reifer not out 2 Extras (w 5) 5 TOTAL (20 Ov, RR: 7.4) Did not bat: NRJ Young, HR Walsh

148/7

TOTAL (19.5 Ov, RR: 7.51) 149/8 Did not bat: Fawad Ahmed

Fall of wickets: 1-26 (Shai Hope, 3.5 ov), 2-77 (Johnson Charles, 11.5 ov), 3-95 (Jason Holder, 14.3 ov), 4-106 (Kyle Mayers, 16.2 ov), 5-107 (Corey Anderson, 16.3 ov), 6-128 (Rashid Khan, 17.6 ov), 7-138 (Ashley Nurse, 18.6 ov) BOWLING K Pierre AJ Hosein JNT Seales Fawad Ahmed KA Pollard T Webster Sikandar Raza

TRINBAGO KNIGHT RIDERS INNINGS (TARGET: 149 RUNS FROM 20 OVERS) LMP Simmons st †Hope b Santner 32 T Webster c sub (JL Carter) b Holder 5 C Munro c Nurse b Holder 0 DM Bravo lbw b Rashid Khan 6 TL Seifert †c †Hope b Reifer 4 AJ Hosein c Holder b Walsh 12 KA Pollard (c) run out (Holder/†Hope) 72 Sikandar Raza run out (Young/Reifer) 3 K Pierre not out 10 JNT Seales not out 1 Extras (lb 1, w 3) 4

3-0-17-0 4-0-30-2 3-0-21-2 4-0-33-1 4-0-27-0 1-0-9-0 1-0-11-2

Fall of wickets: 1-6 (Tion Webster, 1.4 ov), 2-6 (Colin Munro, 1.6 ov), 3-27 (Darren Bravo, 5.2 ov), 4-36 (Tim Seifert, 7.6 ov), 5-62 (Akeal Hosein, 12.4 ov), 6-77 (Lendl Simmons, 14.2 ov), 7-108 (Sikandar Raza, 17.1 ov), 8-141 (Kieron Pollard, 19.2 ov) BOWLING MJ Santner JO Holder AR Nurse Rashid Khan HR Walsh RA Reifer

4-0-13-1 4-1-27-2 1-0-13-0 4-1-21-1 4-0-44-1 2.5-0-30-1

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SUNDAY, AUGUST 30, 2020

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Page 31

Kieron Pollard’s 28-ball 72 extends Trinbago Knight Riders’ unbeaten run Page 31

Queen’s Park pitch in focus as Warriors battle Patriots today Page 30

Fidel Edwards was once again among the wickets Glen Phillips scored an unbeaten 79

Phillips’s surge sets platform for Tallawahs to strangle Patriots GUYANA TIMES - www.guyanatimesgy.com, email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, NEWS HOTLINE: 231-8063 EDITORIAL: 223-7230, 223-7231, 231-0544, 225-7761 SPORT: sport@guyanatimesgy.com SALES AND MARKETING: 231-8064 - lezas@guyanatimesgy.com - PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY GUYANA TIMES INC.