Guyana Times - Sunday December 13, 2020

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President expedites land approval to help Region 2 small business grow Nationwide coverage coverage from from the the best best news news team team in in Guyana Guyana Nationwide Issue No. 4498 guyanatimesgy.com

THE BEACON BEACON OF OF TRUTH TRUTH THE

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2020

PRICE

Delayed CJIA expansion

Govt rejects contractor’s demands for more money …threatens legal action against Chinese company Page 3

Govt rebuilding relationship with int’l community — Finance Minister

$120 VAT INCLUDED

WHAT'S INSIDE:

Guyanese P27 convicted for JFK terrorist plot deported to Guyana

…after serving 7 years in US jail

Page 22

TIP cases

“We have to take action” – Home Affairs Minister tells prosecutors

…to bring development agenda “back on track”

P26

40 new COVID-19 cases recorded P24 Housing developers being hauled in to fulfil commitments P26 — Croal The courtyard of the High Court of the Supreme Court of Judicature, Georgetown, Guyana illuminated as the Christmas season is ushered in (Mohamed Ali photo)

Life-changing opportunities on the horizon - President Ali tells soldiers

Suspected bandit shot dead by security guard Page 25

Page 23

…announces 2-week tax-free bonus for GDF WCB teens' murder

Argentine forensic analyst to assess if he can help local investigators See story on page 27

Armed bandits invade P27 Mahaica home …escape with millions

Final dose of filaria pills to be distributed in February – Health Minister …as efforts intensity to eliminate filaria P25 in Guyana

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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

NEWS

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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Delayed CJIA expansion

BRIDGE OPENINGS

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

Sunday, December 13 – 02:30h – 04:00h and 13:30h – 15:00h and Monday, December 14 – 03:00h – 04:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Sunday, December 13 – 15:15h – 16:45h and Monday, December 14 – 16:00h – 17:30h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Expect thundery showers and light cloud during the day. There will be partly cloudy conditions at night. Temperatures should range between 21 degrees Celsius and 29 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East South-Easterly to Easterly to East North-Easterly to North-Easterly between 1.78 metres and 3.57 metres.

Govt rejects contractor’s demands for more money …threatens legal action against Chinese company

W

ith the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) expansion project woefully delayed, the Government of Guyana has not only rejected China Harbour Engineering Company’s (CHEC) demands for more money but also threatened legal action against the company.

In a letter seen by this publication, Attorney General Anil Nandlall wrote

Officers of the ExportImport Bank of China and by our Prime Minister to Mr Wang Tongzhou, Chairman of China Communications Construction Group, your parent company,” Nandlall also wrote.

This newspaper had reported last month that following demands by the Government, CHEC submitted a revised work plan for the project that still left out key components from the

High Tide: 15:27h reaching a maximum height of 2.81 metres.

Low Tide: 09:01h and 21:31h reaching minimum heights of 0.57 metre and 0.38 metre

A section of the incomplete works at CJIA

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to CHEC Chairman Lin Yizhong reminding him that his company has failed to deliver the works it was contracted to do, nine years after the project contract was first signed.

The works CHEC was supposed to deliver include the construction of a new terminal building, an extension of the runway from 7500 feet to 10,800 feet and eight passenger boarding bridges. Nine years later, however, the Chinese company has defaulted on these obligations.

Nandlall in the letter called the company out for “failure to remedy all defective items for the entire project, after the issuance of notice to correct, as per FIDIC-Plant Design and Build Clause 7.6: Remedial Works; failure to achieve substantial completion… failure to Pass Tests on Completion and failure to complete the whole of the works within the time of completion for the works, as per Clause 8.2: Time for Completion and Clause 8.6: Rate of Progress.”

“Our dissatisfaction with your performance and your breach of contract have already been reported by our Ministry of Public Works to the Chief Executive

original contract. Among those components is the ex-

An artist’s impression of the CJIA project after all works are completed

tension of the CJIA runway and an increase in capacity for eight standing aircraft.

Despite these missing components, however, CHEC had requested more money in its revised work plan in order to complete the project. In his letter, Nandlall made it clear that the Government rejects any demands for additional payments and warned that he would advise legal action be taken against the company if its contractual obligations are not met.

“In the circumstances,

I am to inform you that we reject all and any unilateral demand for additional payments and we further demand specific performance of the said contract in the manner provided for and contemplated by the said contract,” Nandlall wrote.

“Any failure to comply with the aforementioned demand will result my advising my Client to seeking legal remedies and to forebear from any engagements with your company in the future,” the company was warned.

TURN TO PAGE 8

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guyanatimesgy.com

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2020

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

Possibilities lost A

t the beginning of the month, President Irfan Ali extended an invitation to all the Presidents of our Republic - immediate past President David Granger, and his predecessors, Donald Ramotar, Bharrat Jagdeo and Sam Hinds - to a meeting over lunch on December 15.

Explaining his thinking, the incumbent President said, “...it is an opportunity for us to continue to share ideas, generate ideas, to talk about how we see Guyana’s development, different perspectives and then to work out a model and a framework of how we engage in the future and how we can have continuous contribution.”

It was noteworthy that the proposed date of the meeting was a mere 10 days before Christmas, and during what is universally seen in Guyana as “the season of goodwill”.

In this season, most of our peoples put aside whatever differences they may have with each other and interact with increased friendship and bonhomie. It is the season for “burying the hatchet”. Surely President Ali would have been aware of this ambiance and might have even been influenced by it to reach out to his predecessors, who are his seniors not only in preceding him in office but also in age.

After the very tense situation that had developed in the country since the No Confidence Motion of Dec 21, 2018 and especially in the five months following the March 2nd elections, the Guyanese nation surely needs a respite.

While some like APNU/AFC Gecom Commissioner Vincent Alexander had cynically dismissed the invitation as a “photo op”, even if this were true, it is our contention that it could have gone a long way in defusing our tensions.

In our ethnically divided country, the posture of the leaders goes a far way in signaling inter-group relations and who knows what cooperation might have developed between the people on the ground from the picture of their leaders “breaking bread” with each other. But additionally, President Ali had made explicit the agenda of his deliberately chosen informal setting of the meeting, which would have precluded the institutionalized divisions of formal, official summits or conclaves.

Surely the invitation “to share ideas, generate ideas, to talk about how we see Guyana’s development, different perspectives and then to work out a model and a framework of how we engage in the future and how we can have continuous contribution”, had enough substance to supplement the informal setting. Let us unpack the President’s desiderata, which we believe presented more than enough meat for Mr Granger to masticate and massage on behalf of his constituency.

Firstly, there is the acceptance of “differences” and the concept of “Guyana’s development”. Mr Granger campaigned on the basis of a Manifesto promulgated by his APNU/AFC coalition that spelled out in great detail their vision in this area. Maybe, he could have identified areas in which the PPP’s actions since the Aug 2nd transition differed significantly from what he promoted? Was the PPP’s action to limit the flaring of gas, for instance, not in consonance with Mr Granger’s “Green State” model of development?

We know that Mr Granger disagrees with the decision to reopen the sugar estates, but surely, he would have had to admit that his unilateral decision to divest the four shuttered estates failed and they were becoming, in the words of his Finance Minister Jorda, “scrap metal”. And that the PPP’s actions at a minimum will rehabilitate the assets as was recommended by his COI, in which the WPA’s Clive Thomas played a major role.

But most importantly was the agenda item “to work out a model and a framework of how we engage in the future and how we can have continuous contribution.” What could be more magnanimous than this offer? Mr Granger could have placed on the table his model of how his party or coalition would have “continuous contribution”. Was it the “shared governance” model he had campaigned on with his 2015 Manifesto but which never was mentioned after he took office?

All in all, Mr Granger missed a glorious opportunity to change our toxic political culture

We must strengthen our regional, local government systems Dear Editor, Guyana, as a country, is poised to take off, given the recent oil and gas productivity, the accompanying massive international investment interests, and the domestic expansion into food productivity guarantee areas on which the Government has embarked, for which we must ready also our people. Growth and development are likely to spiral exponentially for the benefit of all Guyanese if we as a nation can work in unison within our democratic framework.

Given the massive March 2020 Elections dilemma which threatened all the foregoing possibilities, it is critical and necessary that we use appropriate review of our electoral systems to simplify and make more equitable several problematic issues that lend themselves as major threats. The situation allowed the fertilization of ethnic strife to overwhelm revered constitutional ideals and the aggrandizement of personalities interested in greed seeking power to overcome the bigger picture for our dear country.

In the case of the structure and formula for the Regional Elections, the current list of electors for some regions is extremely disproportionate to the representation and service offered per capita, and distorts the true impact of public policy for all citizens in the region. In Region 4, for example, thousands of citizens who cast their votes for the Region 4 list of Regional Candidates are not the actual beneficiaries of the regional system of service and governance. This is given that the Georgetown Municipality performs this role for those in Georgetown who find themselves falsely influencing which party representative should provide service to the areas outside of this central domain in Region 4.

The situation is replicated in areas like Region 10, where the heavy central-based Municipality voters impact the determination of representatives of

those dwelling in the riverine expanses of the region, although many of the elected representatives neither dwell in of may have never even travelled, to the various regions.

The egregious situation therefore neither establishes an effective balance of economic support or distribution of resources, while political orchestrators often manipulate and take advantage of the false ineffective representation.

It is the rational belief of many that the usefulness of this approach has been outlived with the rise in population and slow urban expansion that is now on the threshold of change.

The time has come to divorce the major municipalities from the regional cover in considering a more effective regional formula. If Georgetown and Linden voters are to be instructive in determining who represents Regions 4 and 10 respectively, the consideration must be given to these townships falling under the direct responsibility of the Regional Administrative Councils.

It is noteworthy the deliberate roles played by clearly contaminated GECOM operatives to strategically and biasedly manoeuvre around the bumps and pitfalls. The Keith Lowenfield and Clairmont Mingo et.al. fiasco has been woefully exposed, particularly by the called delays in the counting of the Region 4 votes as well as increasing occasions of the gerrymandering of constituency boundaries outside of the major municipalities to create advantages for the PNC. Regarding the Local Government system, there is an oversight relationship between the Regional Council and the Neighbourhood Democratic and Village Councils. Although the latter two have limited independence concerning accountability for financial expenditure, the reporting role of the Overseers and Village Leaders to the Local Government Commission and the Ministry of Local Government is instructive

in this respect.

However, the performances of many of these Councils has been sub-optimal, with some lacking the capacity to confront breaches of the applicable laws and by-laws. Others have suffered from vagaries and vastitudes beyond the control of the Councils, necessitating a total relook regarding approaches to strengthen them. The role of GECOM in the three-year cycle of running off elections to determine New Councils will also have an impact, given the loss of credibility of key officials in the Secretariat of the institution.

Of note, the Ministry of Local Government as required by the applicable laws is presently running off the annual elections for the Neighborhood Democratic Councils for the determination of Chairmen and ViceChairmen. This is a clear message across the country that we should have Local Government Elections when it is due, thereby upholding the democratic pillars of allowing citizens to have a definitive say in their community development.

Important in this regard is the fact that the elected Councillors are particularly constituency councillors, and although we have the party system, there are clear cases that some candidates win because of their popularity. Hence, in all NDCs, for effectiveness, it is teamwork that matters most in creating the synergies necessary in supporting the leadership role of the Chairman and Vice-Chairman. This is pivotal for cohesion and development in the communities and to springboard community benefits and a legacy that people will forever talk good about.

The role of GECOM in the scheduled 2021 Local Government Elections is a HUGE question given the catastrophe of March 2020 General and Regional Elections. It is heartening to know that the PPP/C Government announced that it will budget money for the holding of these Elections. The fact that no

firm action has been taken by the Chairman and Commissioners regarding those GECOM staff who have publicly demonstrated their unworthiness of continued employment at the organization is extremely perplexing.

It is of significant concern that we are now witnessing a plethora of GECOM advertisements in the widely circulated dailies concerning Local Government Elections, while the PPPC Commissioners at the Commission have not been a part of any of the approving discussions. It is quite disgusting and objectionable that GECOM may be attempting to repeat the build-up to the March 2020 Elections. Hopefully, it is not the contaminated CEO and PNC Commissioners again making all the decisions. GECOM must not and cannot administer any elections with the same staff, particularly those in the GECOM Secretariat who are currently facing serious charges for elections fraud.

The Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield must be removed from GECOM without any delay. The nation is looking to see if he would be part of the transactions of the many ‘Advertisements” in the news media. The fivemonth vicious ordeal that GECOM staff, particularly Keith Lowenfield, took this nation through must never be erased from our memory. The is the time to quickly resolve the intolerable situation at GECOM and commence all necessary reforms. Why this nation is waiting on the ‘forensic” audit of GECOM financial transactions over the last seven years? Why we cannot have an audit of GECOM staff?

The Operational activities at GECOM must be transparent and accountable! We must strengthen both the Regional and Local Government Systems to match our likely expansive growth and development.

Sincerely, Neil Kumar

Workers of GRDB support GAWU as bargaining agent Dear Editor, On December 11 a poll organised by the Trade Union Recognition and Certification Board (TURCB) saw the workers of the Burma Rice Research Station at Burma, West Coast Berbice deciding whether they wished the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) or the Union of Agricultural and Allied Workers Union (UAAW)

speaking on their behalf.

The workers of the Center had approached the GAWU for our Union to become their bargaining agent.

The workers had become most disillusioned with the UAAW which they shared had not been adequately advancing their cause.

During the poll which took place between 08:00h to 16:00h on December 11, 2020, nearly all employees participated in the poll.

Those who did not take part were either off-location or on annualized or sick leave.

Following the close of poll, the counting of the ballots revealed that the GAWU obtained 60 votes whereas the UAAW received 16 votes.

The votes confirmed what the GAWU indeed enjoyed the support of the majority of the workers.

At this time, the results of the elections have to be endorsed by the TURCB and

expectedly a Certificate of Recognition will be issued to the GAWU. We are hopeful that this process will soon be concluded and we can begin to engage the GRDB soon thereafter. From our interactions with the workers, they are several matters which require immediate attention.

Sincerely, Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU)

guyanatimesgy.com

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2020

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

Granger’s refusal to accept President's invitation is a clear sign of weakness Dear Editor, The recent decision by President Dr Irfaan Ali to invite former presidents to a meeting to discuss matters related to national development is something we experience only in a movie. President Ali has now shown every Guyanese his commitment to democracy, his commitment to the people of Guyana, and commitment to unity and inclusive governance. However former president David Granger’s refusal to accept the invitation is a clear sign of his weakness from the constant political pressure from his party's visionless leaders. This might have been Mr Granger's only chance to redeem himself and show the people of Guyana that he can be considered as a leader with a different political reputation and to stand for the country and the people of Guyana.

This is evidence Mr Granger has lost his way by allowing dirty politics to blind his vision. It is clear now that Mr David Granger and APNU/ AFC will absent themselves from contributing to Guyana’s development, which signals that he is really not ready to commit to any inclusive governance or unity.

President Ali, the visionary Leader he is, saw an opportunity to bring together our greatest minds in our former Presidents to work in the best interest of the Guyanese people and our country. It must be known that President Ali and his Administration will move our country along the right path to further development with or without David Granger and the APNU/AFC. David Granger has squandered the one opportunity to see for first time present and past Presidents coming together from both political establishments to harness development by putting our people and country above the fray of politics which divides our society.

Former presidents David Granger, Donald Ramotar, Bharrat Jagdeo and Samuel Hinds joining President Irfaan Ali, sitting to have an open flow meeting with the opportunity to share ideas, generate new ideas for development in Guyana, from different perspectives, working out a model and framework for the future that will marvel the world. However, we all now see Granger for who he really is - a former President

who encourages the horrendous pilferage of the treasury and state funds by his former APNU/AFC Government.

A president, who promised “The good life” to electorate pre-2011 and pre-2015 elections did fructify – for their Cabinet members, family members, cronies, financiers, etc. A president and former APNU+AFC coalition government that obviously maladministered Guyana, with no defined economic plan or social development programme based on coherent studies of the dynamics that would eventuate into their promised “good life for al”.

What is emerging is that the Guyanese working-class people were thrown meagre crumbs from the coalition government’s buffet table, while the ‘fat cats’ gobbled up the bulk of the economic feast.

According to Dr Bharrat Jagdeo, speaking at one of his weekly press conferences, “…the (coalition) government has been sponging off the billions” left in the National Treasury by the former Administration, as well as the achievements of the PPP/C in almost every area

of social and economic life.

Not forgetting the persistent corruption scandals which rocked the Granger Administration that resulted in growing disillusionment and dissatisfaction on the part of its own supporters, in particular, and the Guyanese people in general.

In contrast, the socio-economic model based on the programmes and policies of the PPP/C served to sustain persistent growth rates, resulting in consistent improvement in the lives of the Guyanese working people in general but, more particularly, for single parents, pensioners, young Amerindians and all Guyanese in general.

From the inception of Former President Granger Governance, the APNU+AFC government embarked on a nation-wide witch-hunt of those whom they perceived were PPP/C leaders and supporters, even technocrats who served under the PPP/C administration.

One of their first acts after assuming office was to fire 2000 young people from Amerindian communities, while simultaneously awarding to themselves hefty salary increases. Their racial

An outstanding First Lady Dear Editor, First Lady Arya Ali is very well liked throughout the nation. Unlike her predecessors, she is very active on social issues and the environment, undertaking beautifying projects. And she has exhibited one distinguishing quality from all preceding First Ladies -- relate with and is very comfortable working with all religious denominations -- Hindu, Muslim, and Christian – patronizing, hosting, and supporting events of all faiths. She exemplifies good family upbringing, receiving strong support in her public activities.

Because of her non-political and non-controversial activism, she has scored extremely high ratings among recent First Ladies for performance or likability, much higher than her predecessor and even higher than her husband, the President. In fact, no one has given First Lady Arya Ali a negative rating in an ongoing poll I have been conducting. Everywhere, people praise the stand she has taken on several social issues and the environment. She is described as friendly, compassionate, caring, adorable, cultured, warm, well mannered, and bright, she is also patriotic and nationalistic standing up for the country. She has received good traction among younger people, and like her husband, she is on the ground interacting with the populace.

Lady Arya complements her husband on several matters, and she is very supportive of him as he addresses ‘political’ or governance issues of the state.

Being the President’s spouse is a unique job; she be-

comes involved in important causes and raising awareness for the administration’s policy initiatives. There is no defined public policy role for a First Lady and as such there is nothing to be evaluated or rated. She is not assigned a specific public policy role but has taken on her own roles.

The First Lady’s task or role is how she and the government define it. It can be everything and almost anything at any time. She can pursue any public policy or issue. But she usually does not dabble in politics as Viola Burnham did, and she often restricts her activities to a supporting role to the President. But First Ladies of other nations are well respected. And they can wield significant influence over people and President to get things done or focus attention on a pressing issue.

People look up to and admire First Ladies and attend her events being careful not to do things that would offend her or the President. They tend to follow her every action as well as her wardrobe fashion and listen to her.

First Ladies play an important role in any nation complementing their husband. Guyana’s First Ladies (Janet Jagan and Viola Burnham) – Janet during selfrule and both of them during the Burnham dictatorship were very active in politics – serving in the cabinet or other prominent political posts.

Janet Jagan earned her position in the cabinet because she was a revolutionary figure who fought against colonial rule and Burnhamism. Janet earned distinction she her own political achievement, a hero and iconic figure, with

who no other First Ladies can be compared. She earned her reputation separately from her husband and did not depend on him to shine. Janet was also a very popular and likeable First Lady throughout the nation and President (among PPP supporters) till her resignation in August 1999. Thereafter, First Ladies were not active in politics or in the cabinet or in policymaking, playing supporting roles to their husband. The popularity or approval or likeability ratings of all of them were not measured in polls except the limited evaluation conducted by this writer. Sandra Granger was well liked among coalition supporters scoring higher than her husband; and whereas David Granger scored poorly among PPP supporters, Sandra got decent ratings among them. In contrast to her predecessor, Arya has taken a much more active public role.

Arya has had a public visibility unmatched by predecessors. She takes the lead volunteering on public matters such as cleaning the environment and speaking out against domestic violence, drug abuse, alcoholism, suicide, and other issues. She supports the anti-drug and anti-Covid campaign as well as literacy and health programs. She has been giving speeches and being interviewed by the media.

Arya Ali is admired and popular across the nation among supporters of all parties. She is non-partisan and does not dabble in political issues. She has stayed out of political conflicts. She has focused on everyday family issues on which everyone would agree.

Although they have no

specific task, people do say whether they like or dislike a First Lady. She is part of a worldwide phenomenon of President’s wives being substantially better-liked than their husbands. Because they work as a spokesperson to bring attention to non-controversial issues, they generally win public approval. Not surprisingly, their efforts lead to higher approval rating than their husbands.

President Granger’s dropped from the 60s to the 40s. But First Lady Sandra remained unaffected in the +50% positive ratings. Janet consistently had +50% positive ratings trailing her husband Cheddi who was the most likeable of all Presidents for his caring, austere, and simple life. But Arya’s rating, like her husband, is rising with each month in office.

Hers is in the 90s. It is reasonable to assume that part of her popularity comes from the policy of the government and the activism of the President.

She is also uncontroversial.

And she has brought a formal, populist, and cultured style from her family upbringing to the State House in hosting functions and entertaining guests. An illustrative example is hosting dinner for Diwali where she treated guests as Gods and Goddesses as described in the scriptures, and preparing packages of sweets as gifts to take home as is the festival tradition.

Almost everyone rates her as outstanding, excellent, very good and none saying poor or unsatisfactory.

Yours truly, Dr Vishnu Bisram (Pollster)

and political discrimination, their blatant corrupt actions, their victimization and witch-hunting of former government officials and PPP/C supporters amounted to economic genocide and assumed proportions of a gargantuan persecution pogrom.

We saw the clear intention of Granger and his team trying to rig the elections, even as the nation was assailed by a deadly pandemic that left the Guyanese people from every community vulnerable to the point of starvation, created a vacuum in the existential dynamics of most working-class Guyanese

that should have been filled by any caring government.

Instead, they were appropriating hundreds of millions– actually billions of dollars of state funds.

The PPP/C historically a people-caring party, Dr Ali, stepped up to the plate.

His Excellency has already demonstrated that he will not merely promise, but he will deliver to all Guyanese “the good life,” where every man, woman and child will reap the harvest of Guyana’s bounties.

Sincerely, David Adams

Theft of workers NIS, PAYE, VAT is criminal (Pt 2) Dear Editor, As a gentle advisory, I wish to highlight that under the Private Security Act 2009, Section 3 and Section 4 of the laws of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, it is the Commissioner of Police who has more authority than the NIS and GRA to suspend or close down a security firm.

Almost instantaneously, he can take the relevant action to curb the abuse of the requisite standards a security firm is expected to adhere to.

With this in mind, GRA and the NIS must therefore involve the Commissioner of Police as the “Controlling Authority” for such matters.

I also urge the GRA and the Government to have a mechanism in place through which the government can automatically know how much VAT the government pays to the security firm and other labor-intensive contractors, and others, as we have excellent information that most of these firms that tender for government contracts are actually stealing VAT as they steal the PAYE, NIS and do not comply with corporate laws.

In addition to the above, and as I have done many times in the past, I am appealing to the Minister of Labor, the Private Sector and all the concerned members of the Cabinet that if you desire to increase the minimum wage, which I think is necessary for our workers, then

you need to cater to those who have tendered for labor and were paid the old rate. In other words, you need to ensure that whatever the rate you raise by, the contractor supplying security services, cleaning services, etc must have an automatic increase from the Government as well.

Some years ago, when the minimum wage was dramatically increased in the middle of the year, some security firms managed to manipulate the NIS, GRA, and VAT in a criminal manner and even attempted to underpay their guards. For those of us who obeyed the laws, particularly the undersigned, we worked for 3 months and after realizing that the government did not listen to our appeal, we gave notice and respectfully withdrew our services. In the process, we lost millions of dollars which we are still paying for. My humble appeal is that the Government must be conscious of this fact.

This is only fair to those of us who fully comply with NIS and GRA. So, with all of this in mind, respected Editor, I reiterate, by just naming and shaming without imprisonment, blacklisting, and/or seizure of properties, the reality is that it would all just be ‘talk,’ ‘harum-scarum’ so to say, or of no serious consequence.

Sincerely, Roshan Khan Snr

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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2020

Page

Jaipaul L Roopnarine Ambika Krishnakumar

and

I

ntimate partner violence is a pervasive and serious public health issue.

Both the United Nations (UN) and World Health Organization (WHO) have called attention to the escalation of violence against women and girls because of the lockdowns caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. At the same time, CARICOM introduced a multi-year initiative to address family violence within the Caribbean region. As you are aware, Guyana has witnessed a recent spate of violence against women and girls that is alarming. Over the last three months, several women have lost their lives at the hands of husbands and partners.

It is well established that intimate partner violence. perpetrated by men toward women, is linked to comprised physical and mental health, sexually transmitted infections, issues with contraception, unintended pregnancy, and poor pregnancy and birth outcomes.

The effects of intimate partner violence on children are equally deleterious and include getting injured in attempts to protect a parent, becoming isolated due to the abuser’s behavior, being the recipient of violent acts directly, constant experiences with stress and tension, internalizing (e.g., depressive symptoms) and externalizing behaviors (e.g., aggression), trauma symptoms, and child neglect. These difficulties become exacerbated under poor economic conditions and in nonresidential/nonmarital relationships. Inadequate materi-

Foundation al resources and relationship in-

s t a bility are associated with intimate partner violence and child maltreatment.

To reduce risks associated with personal and interpersonal difficulties in marital and nonmarital relationships, researchers, mental health specialists, and policymakers have suggested the use of family-based intervention programs that aim to boost communication skills, appropriate conflict management strategies, and emotional intimacy between men and their wives or partners. The hope is that family-focused intervention will reduce the risk of violence within families by assisting couples to build healthy interpersonal relationships (e.g., using constructive conflict instead of destructive behaviors), improve parenting skills, and childhood development. It should be mentioned that intervention programs that focus on relationship skills education vary in content, intensity, and range of services offered depending on the population served. Family-

focused inventions men have d u c e d

t e r f o r pro-

mixed results on such issues as the quality of the mother-father relationship, parental distress, family conflicts, and children’s behaviors. That said, we share some details about a set of programs that we assessed with the goal that it may instigate discourses around attenuating intimate partner violence and help to guide the development of intervention programs that address issues related to violence in Guyanese families.

A few years ago, we received a grant from the Department of Health and Human Services in the United States to assess the efficacy of the Building Strong Families (BSF) program on the associations between parenting, intimate partner violence, and depressive symptoms and children’s social behaviors during the first three years of life in low-income families who were romantically involved, but not married.

Turning to the intervention itself, families were enrolled in one of three curricula all with

the same primary goal of strengthening relationships within families. At five sites, couples received the Loving Couple, Loving Children (LCLC) program, at two sites they received the Loves Cradle (LC), and at one site they received the Becoming Parents Program (BPP) for low-income, low literacy couples. These programs were selected because they were intense, offered long-term intervention, and were evidence-based, and all of them focused on communication, emotional intimacy, and conflict management. Programs were offered weekly (2 to 5 hours) for 5-6 months and occurred within 15-months after recruitment. There was some flexibility in the structure of the curriculum, but in all of them, relationships skills education was offered in group sessions. Family coordinators ran the programs and made referrals to support services. They offered different levels of emotional support to couples, reinforced building strong relationships, and encouraged couples to stick with the program. Programs were offered in

English and Spanish.

What did we find?

• Relationship skills education had a positive effect on men’s depressive symptoms and intimate partner violence at 15 months postintervention.

• Using appropriate conflict resolution (e.g., avoidance of destructive conflict behaviors such as arguments, fights with accusations, blaming, naming calling) lessened the impact of intimate partner violence and depressive symptoms on behavioral difficulties in children at 3 years for the group that received relationship skills education and not for those in the noncomplier or control group.

• Intimate partner violence and depressive symptoms had direct effects on children’s behavioral difficulties at 3 years of age for children whose parents did not receive relationship skills education.

Arguably, the couple relationship is the most emotionally laden of all family relationships and destructive conflict management strategies and poor communication can have devastati n g effects on children’s s o c i a l functioning during the preschool years and beyond.

The BSF program that forms the basis of our work focused on conflict management, communication, and emotional intimacy. It seems that the emphasis on these three issues in group sessions

paid dividends in reducing the impact of two potent risk factors, intimate partner violence, and depressive symptoms, on children’s social behaviors. Ostensibly, the avoidance of using more aggressive strategies in resolving adult interpersonal difficulties presents children with models of how to solve disagreements appropriately. What is instructive is that intimate partner violence had such sustained negative effects on children’s behaviors during the earliest stages of the life cycle in the groups that did not receive relationship skills education. In the absence of family intervention, intimate partner violence can have cascading negative effects on child and adult development. Unless such interventions are implemented in Guyana, the heavy costs of intimate partner violence on the safety and mental health of women and children will continue unabated.

Jaipaul L Roopnarine (Ph.D., University of Wisconsin) is Pearl S. Falk Endowed Professor of Human Development and Family Science, Syracuse University, New York and Professor Extraordinary of Developmental Psychology, Anton de Kom University of Suriname (Jroopnar@ syr.edu ) and Ambika Krishnakumar, Ph.D. (University of Tennessee) is Former Head and Professor of Human Development and Family Science, Syracuse University, New York (akrishna@syr.edu ).

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8 NEWS

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Govt rejects contractor’s demands...

The project

The project was supposed to have been completed since December 31, 2018, under the former A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government, but has now been taken over by the People’s Progressive Party (PPP/C) Government in an incomplete and downgraded state.

When the coalition Government came into power in 2015, the project was put on hold, but after discussions between former Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson and CHEC, it was later an-

nounced that the project would be continued but a number of downgrades were done to the design.

Some $138 million of the allocated costs was funded by the EXIM (ExportImport) Bank of China, while $12 million was spent by the Guyana Government.

It was not expected to surpass that sum, but under the former APNU/AFC Government, taxpayers had to stand additional expenses.

The CJIA, in its downgraded design expansion, has four less air passenger boarding bridges for arrivals and departures than the initial eight; a 450-seat

departure area; escalators and elevators; in addition to an incomplete extended runway, which was supposed to measure 400 and 690 metres at the respective ends. An old terminal building that was marked for cargo was revamped, and only one of the new sections was built.

Meanwhile, a new apron that was supposed to support the additional four air bridges is non-existent.

There is also no space for enough duty-free shops, restaurants, car rentals and other facilities.

President Dr Irfaan Ali had toured the CJIA expansion worksite back in

FROM PAGE 3

September when he read the Riot Act to the contractor, consultants and other officials. Among his concerns had been the deviation from the terms agreed upon in the fixed-price contract.

CHEC was therefore tasked with submitting a revised work plan that included the original design, such as facilities for eight air bridges, an extended runway, taxiways, and aprons with capacity for eight standing aircraft.

Additionally, it was expected that CHEC would make provision for the reconstruction, not renovation, of the terminal building. (G3)

Refusing to meet...

T

…to start dialogue o no one’s surprise, David Granger slapped away President Ali’s outstretched hand in the latter’s proposal that all the living Presidents meet informally over lunch, “to share ideas, and work out a model and a framework on engagements in the future”. He has said there wasn’t an agenda, and that outstanding challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic and “dismissals in public servants and human rights violations” had to be fixed before he would deign to meet!

Whoever thought his humiliations after his rigging attempt would’ve given him a reality check just wasted a thought. The authoritarian mindset - honed by Burnham and reinforced by 25+ years as a high-ranking military officer - isn’t going to change in this lifetime. But he remains the leader of the second largest party in Guyana, which has a tradition of practising “maximum leadership” in the style of Kabaka Burnham. And Guyana will have to deal with that!

Now let’s look at Granger’s gripes about the meeting “over lunch”. Isn’t “setting a framework for FUTURE engagements” enough of an agenda? Did Granger think he was being invited for nuclear disarmament talks? Wasn’t it clear that further “engagements” were contemplated by President Ali, and that these could cover any number of issues that Granger would’ve been free to bring up at the luncheon conclave?

Your Eyewitness believes President Ali knew that formal agenda-driven meetings by political parties aren’t conductive to delivering grand breakthroughs. That format simply replicates the National Assembly setting, where the atmosphere is confrontational by design to encourage “winning”, rather than discussion and compromise over agenda items. We shouldn’t forget that, as a very young man, Ali was a resource person during the “Jagdesh-Corbin Dialogue”, where the agenda item was “distressed PNC communities”. Exactly what did that lead to, except for more rancour and wrangling?

Some commentators, including from within the PNC, have suggested that Ali should’ve first engaged PNC Opposition Leader Joseph Harmon and his MPs from the National Assembly, without the precondition that they desist from insisting he (Ali) heads an illegal regime. Now, this in itself offers another reason why Pres Ali went for the informal meeting route with Granger. How could he formally meet with an agenda with folks who don’t even recognize his legitimacy? Then Harmon would’ve just been conveying Granger’s thoughts!

The informal meeting with Granger would sidestep such Procrustean modalities on the way forward, with no one having to save face by insisting on “winning” agenda items.

Finally, Granger lost a golden opportunity to place the PPP on the back foot by offering proposals that could move the country forward.

This would have been a win-win for Granger and the PNC, whether the proposals were rejected or not. …gets Ramjattan’s backing Unlike his AFC colleagues Trotman and Nagamootoo, who support Granger meeting with his Presidential peers, Ramjattan even proposed additional preconditions, such as President Ali to show his academic certificate. How petty is this? Should Ali have demanded that Granger show his party’s SOPs from the last election? This just proves Ramjattan’s inability to see and work for the national interest - which would have been furthered if Granger had shown up to hammer out the modalities for further engagements.

Ramjattan was just as petty when he insisted that Tourism Minister Walrond should return her 4 months’ salaries when she’d occupied her position in breach of the constitution.

But, as the PPP responded, shouldn’t Ramjattan and company also ask ex-Ministers Felix and Allicock to return their salaries over FIVE YEARS, since they had committed a more egregious breach?

As Ramjattan had shown by backing Granger’s move to close the sugar estates and appointing Patterson as GECOM Chair, he just wants to ingratiate himself.

Even knowing he’s scorned! …with “Nassau” Raphael Trotman just released a novella as a letter to the press, trying to sound “statesmanlike”. He’d started to come clean by admitting it was Granger who’d approved the Orinduik Oil bloc sale.

Shouldn’t he ‘fess up on his Stabroek giveaway?

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

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NEWS

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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

President expedites land approval to help Region 2 small business grow Improving ethnic relations in Guyana

I

was asked by the ERC to make a presentation in a “National Conversation on Ethnic Relations”, specifically on “How can we improve ethnic relations in Guyana?” Actually, it is because our “ethnic relations” are conflicted right now that we are having this conversation. So, we are trying to address our “ethnic conflict”.

We have to start off with some agreement - a ‘theory’, if you will - on the wellsprings of our ethnic tensions or conflict.

Inevitably, such a theory - implicit or explicit - would have crucial implications for how we seek to resolve that conflict, and obviously, its chances of success. For example, if our conflict is viewed as, say, competition over material resources, those trying to end it will propose equal access to those resources. But will this suffice if there are cultural structural barriers? Similarly, those who attribute the same conflict to incompatible cultures or identities Ravi Dev would make bridging these differences central to their conflict management efforts.

Theories on ethnic conflict are legion, and what I have done over the years is to extract and synthesize those elements I felt were apropos to our circumstances. Our ethnic groups lived for a hundred years together without any major conflicts between them - with the exception of two African-Portuguese clashes in the 19th century. This means that it is not cultural differences, per se, that cause the conflict, which only sprouted in the 1950s, erupted in the 1960s, and has done so sporadically ever since.

What happened in the 1950s and ‘60s? Modern democratic politics was inaugurated with the universal franchise in 1950 and, starting in 1953, elections that would eventually determine who would govern independent Guyana. Democratic elections mean agglomerating people into groups that would vote according to their common interests. And this seismic political change opened Pandora’s Box to let out “ethnic conflict”, which should therefore be more properly called, “ethnopolitical conflict”.

Inaugurally, a carefully crafted leadership of all the ethnic groups was constructed, and they won the 1953 elections overwhelmingly. But while we may blame the ambitions of Burnham for the subsequent split that has never been healed, certain structural features were already present that presaged the eventual conflict. Pared to its bare bones, these factors can be summarized in a simple formula: Group Comparison + Group Legitimacy = the Politics of Entitlement.

Before the elections, the Coloured/African elite assumed they would inherit the British mantle, and concerns about the growing Indian-Guyanese demographic had been raised since the 1920s. The latter had inexorably moved from then being a despised group at the bottom of the barrel to now competing and, horror of horrors, possibly obtaining political power. For African-Guyanese, the inevitable social comparison process as articulated by some leaders was not sanguine. As Arthur Lewis said at the time, “Are the Negroes of British Guiana to be liquidated on the counting of heads?”

This was because the premise of the modern state system and its politics about the equality of citizens was not acceptable to many African/Coloured Guyanese because of their greater claim to “legitimacy”. Because of their prior arrival, slave labor without being recompensed, earlier westernization /”civilization” etc. leaders made (and still make) the claim that they had greater entitlement to the national patrimony than others, especially Indian- Guyanese. This demanded their control of the state for distribution of resources.

This point of view still receives great traction in the AfricanGuyanese community, and must be addressed if we are to change our ethnic relations from one of conflict to peace.

The notion of greater legitimacy precipitated counter-claims insisting on equal right to the national patrimony. From IndianGuyanese, because they “saved” Guyana as a viable proposition in the 19th century with their indentured labour; and from Indigenous Guyanese, that this was their country, to begin with.

Conflict arises when the aspirations of the various parties cannot be realised to an extent they believe is “just”, yet where the “deprivation” – especially economic – is unfortunately perceived relatively. The sources of these perceptions are revealed and justified in the groups’ narrative, and should be winnowed out, while policies to rectify objective group inequalities are introduced and implemented. (To be continued)

L

uke’s Manufacturing will soon become a bigger name in Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam) since President Dr Irfaan Ali expedited the process of granting the busi-

including several landowners, who received their titles.

One of the main aims of the exercise was to reduce the bureaucratic hurdles that many persons face

John Luke showing his products to President Irfaan Ali during his outreach to Region Two

ness land for growth.

John Luke was one of many persons who attended the Presidential Outreach, which was held at the RDC building in Anna Regina on Wednesday last.

His business had taken a hit due to the pandemic and he was given the “royal run around” for years to acquire the needed land to expand.

The Public Information and Press Services Unit of the Office of the President reported that at the moment, Luke is making 21 different products, including wine and various types of porridge mix with local ingredients.

Upon hearing about the resident’s plight and the numerous jobs that the business can generate once it’s at full capacity, the President directed the representatives from the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission to fast track the process.

Some five acres of land will be given to the Essequibian, the Public Information and Press Services Unit reported.

The entrepreneur expressed gratitude to President Ali for not only listening to him but for the advice he offered. He said that he was sure that he would finally receive help because the President told him he would help.

“I know he is a man of his word. And this is not just about me, this is about all the other people I will employ in the future,” Luke is quoted as saying.

With the support, Luke can now build his dream multimillion-dollar business in the region.

Many other persons also realised their dreams during last week’s exercise,

when accessing services.

According to President Ali, the achievement of this goal requires a vital shift in culture, which he emphasised is necessary if all Guyanese are to benefit from the massive development underway in our country. ''Positive change is vital, especially with Guyana’s development trajectory. It is imperative that we fix our culture of doing business to ensure greater local content.''

During the exercise, residents were able to speak directly to President Ali and to raise issues of concern ranging from access to electricity, water, drain-

age issues and land allocation challenges. President Ali said that all Guyanese should be treated fairly and that all agencies and Government offices should be working to deliver optimum services to enhance citizens' lives.

Since his inauguration in early August, President Ali has preached brotherhood, unity and togetherness. He has constantly stated that Guyana is for all Guyanese and that un-

Essequibo Coast businessman John Luke

der his tenure he aims to enhance the life of every individual.

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14 FEATURE

Zoya Samaroo makes ‘beach trash’ exquisite while promoting environmental conservation

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

By Lakhram Bhagirat

Z

oya Samaroo is one of the many inspirational young people involved in persevering our environment.

She is an aspiring Marine Biologist and forms part of a core group of youths that would organize and execute beach cleanup campaigns and mangrove restoration projects.

The 21-year-old have always been drawn to the ocean and its inhabitants, beginning with her very first pet – a turtle named snappy who had surprising speed, according to her. For as long as she can remember, she loved visiting various aquariums and interacting with the animals and as she grew, her focus shifted from just the cute faces of animals to their preservation and protection.

After she completed her secondary education at St Rose’s High, she then began reading for her Associates Degree in Biology and Like many persons around that age, Samaroo was still very

unsure of which career path she wanted to take.

“I had several options laid out in front of me and I felt pressured to make a decision. When I originally started majoring in biology, it was not something that I planned to stick to. But as I progressed, I fell in love with it. When I was younger, my parents made me watch National Geographic every Saturday morning while morning cartoons were showing. It was something that I resented at the time but I am ever so grateful for now.

My love for nature, the environment, and its preservation has been a driving force in my education journey. I am now an aspiring Marine Biologist studying in my final year, pursuing a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Marine Biology at

Upcycling an old bottle

the University of Guyana,” she said.

Samaroo always had a love for the arts. Her love for the beach plays a large part in her artistic journey and she would often collect washed up shells, wood and glass while on her beach clean up missions. After she would have collected quite a substantial amount of the

beach glass, she realized that it was just a waste to have them sitting in a jar so she began researching how she could have utilized it.

She discovered wire wrapping and began experimenting.

“I started making my sea glass jewelry somewhere around 2 years ago.

It really started out as a fun way for me to create my own little personalized pieces for my friends as gifts for birthdays and holidays and I actually made my very first jewelry set using sea glass for a family friend who later encouraged me to invest in my skill. It was then that the idea of turning my past time hobby into a profitable business was fueled. From there, people started asking me to make custom pieces for them to give

to their family and friends as gifts and I found great joy in coming up with new techniques and products.

I felt quite happy being able to craft pieces that sparked joy and excitement, similar to the way professional jewelers would.

“As a child, my make persons more conscienmother and I frequented the tious of their actions, and how Hibiscus Plaza often which the little things that they and is always filled with the most others do can create large ripbeautiful and unique little ples in our environment,” the trinkets. One store in partic- young activist said. ular always stood out to me, Apart from jewelry, Natural Touches, and I always Samaroo is also very much found myself wanting to pur- into art – painting and drawchase or recreate pieces. The ing to be specific. Her backowner of said store, Carolyn ground in visual arts has aidNichols was a driving force ed in her ability to express in me starting my own jewel- herself through the use of colry business. She taught me vi- ors and strokes. tal tips and tricks all the while She is very much a deencouraging and supporting vout environmentalist and anme throughout my endeav- imal lover and would someour, something which am ex- times volunteer at the Guyana tremely grateful for. I have Society for the Prevention since honed my skills and be- Against Cruelty to Animals gun sharing my crafts with the (GSPCA), the Center for Study world,” she said.

From there she started to putting the pieces she collected into personalized pieces for other to gift their loved ones. Now her business entails hand crafted jewelry and accessories, ranging from a variety of necklaces, earrings and bracelets to key chains, picture frames and wind chimes.

She utilises utilize sea glass and drift wood colMixed media piece consisting lected from beachof sea glass on canvas es to create unique, wire wrapped or drilled trin- of Biological Diversity (CSBD) kets. She stumbled upon the and partake in beach or maninspiration to create unique grove clean ups. jewelry using washed up sea The greatest challenge for glass from broken bottles lit- the young entrepreneur is the tered on the beach and have effective management of her since developed her skills in time. As a full time, universidesigning pieces that will pro- ty student, it is easy to get carmote a sustainable earth while ried away or distracted when leaving customers with a feel- you have something else to put ing of satisfaction in contribut- your focus on and she finds it ing to a cleaner, greener envi- hard at times to manage acaronment. demia, crafting and her other Samaroo takes great pride endeavours. in using little to no plastic in However, that does not any of her products, packag- daunt her spirit and she is ing or purchases, in an ef- also encourage other young fort to make her business people to get involved and unas eco-friendly as possible. leash their inner creative poThrough this she hopes to en- tentials. She is willing to teach courage customers to do the them as well. same by reusing their packag“As someone new to the ing or in their daily lives. creative world and small busi“For me, the best part of ness community myself, I my jewelry is that most of would definitely encourage it is made from material of- someone now entering to be ten considered as trash. Sea as open as possible to sugglass originates from broken gestions. You may have an bottles littered on the beach idea in mind and know exactwhich are smoothed over by ly what you want to do but it the erosive action of sand and also important to take advice waves. With every piece that I from those who are more exmake or sell, I try my best to perienced or know better. The remind customers of this; I’m most important advice howup-cycling and cleaning the ever would be to stay true to beach throughout this process. whatever it is that you are This allows me to shine light passionate about and make on the littering of our beauti- sure that you are always havful beaches and I can through ing fun; don’t look at it as one this encourage persons to par- more thing to get done but take beach cleanups, or raise rather an extension of yourself awareness. My goal at the and your way to leave a mark end of the day is to ultimately on your customers lives.”

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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

INTERNATIONAL MOUNTAIN DAY “It’s not the mountains we conquer, but ourselves.”

– Sir Edmond Hillary

W

Where are half of the world’s biodiversity hotspots?

here can one find thousands of varieties of fruits, vegetables, grains, legumes, seeds, nuts, animal breeds, fish, honey, insects and fungi?

Where are one-third of plant species found?

The answer: mountains!

A mountain is a large landform that rises above the surrounding land in a limited area, usually in the form of a peak. A mountain is generally steeper than a hill. A group of mountains is called a mountain range, for instance, Himalayan and the Rocky are mountain ranges. One-tenth of the world’s people live in these mountains.

Now you might be asking yourself, especially if you live on the coastland, what does this have to do with me and why are mountains important? Well, December 11 was International Mountain Day, a day to celebrate the rich biodiversity in mountains as well as to address the threats they face. Given that 2020 has been the year that has made us pause and re-examine our relationship with the natural world, the theme for this year is ‘Mountain Biodiversity’. As you might recall, biodiversity speaks to the variety of life on Earth, and mountains due to their location and temperature, boasts not only spectacular landscapes; the biodiversity is often rich and endemic (species that are found exclusively in a particular geographic area).

In fact, the UN-FAO reports that mountains host half of the world’s biodiversity hotspots.

Why are mountains important?

Mountain environments cover some 27% of the world’s land surface, and directly support the 22% of the world’s people who live within mountain regions. Lowland people also depend on mountain environments for a wide range of goods and services, including water, energy, timber, biodiversity maintenance, and opportunities for recreation and spiritual renewal. Mountains provide for the freshwater needs of more than half of humanity, and are, in effect, the water towers of the world.

Climate change, unsustainable farming practices, commercial mining, logging and poaching all exact a heavy toll on mountain biodiversity. In addition, land use and land cover change, and natural disasters, accelerate biodiversity loss and contribute to creating a fragile environment for mountain communities. Ecosystem degradation, loss of livelihoods and migration in mountains can lead to the abandonment of cultural practices and ancient traditions that have sustained biodiversity for generations.

The sustainable management of mountain biodiversity has been increasingly recognized as a global priority. Sustainable Development Goal 15 target four is dedicated to the conservation of mountains’ biodiversity in consideration of its global relevance. Biodiversity in all ecosystems is in focus, as the United Nations has declared 2021 to 2030 the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration and governments prepare to negotiate the post-2020 global biodiversity framework for adoption this year at the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP 15) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).

Uses and importance of mountains • About 60 to 80% of the world’s fresh water originates from mountains.

• Mountains attract about 20% of tourists to their beautiful sceneries.

• Mountains keep the 28% of Earth’s forests.

• Mountains are producers of certain important food crops.

• Mountains are the habitat of plants, animals, and people.

• Japan is the only country that has a public holiday on Mountain Day.

Mountains in Guyana

Mountains are a beautiful sight to look at; Guyana is a land that possesses many eye-catching mountains. The highest mountain in the world is Mount Everest reaching 8,848 metres in height. There are 156 mountains in Guyana; the highest peak is Mount Roraima at 2,809 metres. These mountains can be found in the highland regions like Cuyuni-Mazaruni, Potaro-Siparuni and Upper TakutuUpper Essequibo.

Did You Know?

The main mountain range in Guyana is the “Kanuku” Mountains which separate the North and South Rupununi savannahs. It can be see all the way from Brazil and is a protected area by law!

Sources

https://internationaleventday.com/event/mountain-day-2020/ http://www.fao.org/international-mountain-day/theme/en/ https://www.thingsguyana.com/guyana-has-many-mountainshere-are-a-few-things-you-didnt-know/ 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.

16 FEATURE

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Sherral Daniels displaying one of his paintings

By Lakhram Bhagirat

S

herral Daniels is perhaps one of the most well-known players in the Digicel School Football tournament and over the years has amassed quite a record. He has scored multiple goals and has been awarded the Most Valuable Player (MVP) title quite a few times.

He has the skills to always score a goal or a few.

It was that very skill that led him to become a player for the National Under 20 Football team. However, football is not the only interest Daniels has and as matter of fact, he wants to become an artist.

It is without a doubt that the Indigenous peoples of Guyana are very artistic. Whether it is making jewellery, painting, sculpting or even in the preparation of their food, they utilise the most common things in the most creative ways.

D a n i e l s hails from the Indigenous village of Rupertee in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) and all his life, he has been surrounded by the arts and sports. Coming from the Rupununi meant that he was actively involved in sports, especially football, from a young age

all throughout school I was playing football in the Digicel School Football competition and get the MVP trophy and so. Sports is really a big thing for me,” the young man said.

Recounting growing up in Rupertee village, Daniels said that his mother and father had a very hard time raising him and his four siblings. His father worked as a driver while his mother worked as a cook.

Jobs were hard to come by and whatever income they A wooden sculpture had went to created by Sherral Daniels managing the household.

This reality made the “Growing up in Rupertee village, sports was a big young man great at improthing for me. From small vising and being creative.

Throughout his childI was playing sports and since the heavy football influence from neighbouring Brazil pours across the border.

hood, he has been an avid artist. It started from doodling to full-blown paintings and sculpting. He had the dream of heading to the Burrowes School of Art immediately after he finished his education at Annai Secondary School.

“Ever since I was small I always want to be an artist. I love art and everything about it. It was the dream to make sure that after I finished Secondary School I would come to Georgetown and study art here. So when I finished writing my CXC I immediately came here and started Burrowes School of Art,” he said.

The now 20-year-old is in the final phase of completing his diploma in arts from Guyana’s lone art school. After he is finished, he intends to move on to the University of Guyana where he will complete his degree in art.

“When I am done at UG I want to get into teaching and practising art. I see that as the career for me and I want to teach because I want to be able to make sure that the children of my village know that they can have a career in art. I want to be a role model for them so that is why I am pursuing this career,” Daniels explained.

Daniels’ work is nothing short of amazing. He takes his time in perfecting every piece he creates and noted

that he wants to leave behind a legacy that will outlive him.

He is on the path of building that legacy one piece at a time.

with nature.

Painting, for him, allows for an escape from the realities of the world into a place where he is the

A mixed media piece

He particularly enjoys doing portraits and landscape pieces because, according to him, it relaxes him and puts him in tune

master of its universe with every stroke of his brush Not only does he paint but he also dabbles in jewellery making and sculpting.

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FEATURE

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

By Jarryl Bryan

D

espite the beauty and uniqueness of Guyanese creole, the dialect often does not get the respect it deserves. But for Gabrielle Mohamed, she has used creole to great effect in her prize-winning literary work.

Last year, 27-year-old Mohamed won the Guyana Annual Bertram Charles Prize for Playwriting for her “Graveyaard Talez” play.

This year, her play “Spirits of the Mountain Crest” has fetched her the Guyana Annual Dr Paloma

Mohamed 2020 prize for drama.

The play has been in the making since she was a child. It follows the adventure of protagonist Kateri Mohamed, who discovers the lair of a wata mama under a mountain and then goes on a time-travelling odyssey into the supernatural.

Mohamed, who hails from Bartica, Region Seven, and graduated from the University of Guyana with an English Degree, spoke of how she grew up learning to channel the folklore of “Red Muddah” into a story that could capture post-colonial

trauma.

"In tapping into these emotions and theoretical perspectives, I began my quest of attaining my Bachelor’s Degree in English, in studying courses like West-Indian Literature, Post-colonial Literature, Creole Language Studies, and Women and Literature all helped in fostering my living dead, art’s eye," she said.

Her creole language studies are evident in her plays. According to her, she has made an effort to combine Guyana's history into a collective creole voice. It is also evident in her self-published books.

"Today, I have two self-published books - one poetry (Is you Madness nah me Own) and the other, a collection of plays (BlackoutDaze), these are the stories of our people written from the memories of the land," she explained.

Cognisant of the value the Guyana annual magazine provides, Mohamed described being published and winning two years in a row as something she can never forget.

It is a gift… and a responsibility, to have your work seen and heard in Guyana and the Caribbean and to offer the world a glimpse of what Guyana has to offer.

"The moment my hands grasp a pen to draft a plan for a creative piece, I am reminded of this gift given to me, and the responsibility that has been bestowed into my hands. I do not write only for myself, but also for someone else still writing in the closet, for someone still fighting to be heard and seen. To me, this is what the Guyana Annual offers to the unseen creatives of Guyana, a platform to be heard, eyes to feast upon their creative work, an opportunity to open their own path into the realm of Guyana’s dream space."

Creole

An advocate for the increased use of creole in literary work, Mohamed believes that the world is hungry to learn and devour Guyana's unique creole dialect the way the Jamaican patois or the Trini twang has been devoured.

Many times, however, Guyana's creole gets a bad rap when it is labelled as "wrong English". This is despite it having a complex structure and syntax of its own. Mohamed urged persons not to look down on creole.

"Guyanese Creole is our language, it's our in-

heritance, we shouldn’t be ashamed of it. I believe when we use creole either consciously or subconsciously, we pay homage to our ancestors, who were not afraid of any punishment to voice the sound of their people.

"Guyanese Creole, at its fundamental core, is a symphony of notes taken from all our cultural identities, whether it's from the phonology, morphology, syntax,

or semantics structure we, as one nation, are part of this langue system existing in harmony. The sentences that we produce possess meaning, that can be understood… our ancestors were forced to acquire an entirely new language system, I believe it’s time we force someone else to learn ours,” the young writer related.

It is not as if other countries are shy about their native dialects. Mohamed, who was part of the Guyana contingent that travelled to Trinidad in 2019 for Carifesta XIV, described being surrounded by creatives who revelled in their own creole dialects.

"At Carifesta XIV, I witnessed magic unfolding in the Literary Arts booth, as writers and performers from our brother and sister islands employed their country’s creole with pride.

Spoken word pieces spitting fire in creole that connected all of us in that tent with one thriving heartbeat of sur-

vival, remembering our collective past and looking towards a future, it’s time we catch up Guyana, the world is moving on without us."

The raw truth

There is something else Mohamed is an advocate for… the raw truth.

According to her, part of her responsibility as a writer is to never hold back from speaking the truth but to be raw, real, and unafraid.

"As writers, we play a heavy part in shaping a society’s culture, and ideology. The worlds that we create and characters that we breathe life into are based on the horror of someone’s reality, our creative pieces are meant to either highlight their ongoing issue within society or to offer a solution to their crisis.

"Our words can offer a sense of solidarity in their struggle to become alive and free, but becoming alive in the landscape that is riddled with the touch of our original sin, that is, colonialism, seems impossible until your fingertips take action, and the reality that you want to live is no longer a dream," she explained.

So, what's next for Mohamed? She has plans to partner with actors and producers from the Guyana National Drama School, to produce her “Spirits of the Mountain Crest" play once the COVID-19 pandemic has blown over. She, therefore, urged drama lovers to be on the lookout.

"Until it's safe to enter the halls of theatre once again, I am currently working on a novella entitled “Estate Paruini” and submitted an entry to the Commonwealth short story prize," she said.

"Dear creatives of Guyana, we do damn good work, continue on your journey of writing, the world is yet to hear your voice."

19

FEATURE

HEALTH TIPS

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

GOUTY ARTHRITIS (GOUT) PART 1

unknown * Secondary gout: can be caused by either: o Chronic kidney disease o Long-term use of medications that affect how well the kidneys can remove urate from the body.

RISK FACTORS

DR TARIQ JAGNARINE FAMILY MEDICINE, ENDOCRINOLOGY/ DIABETES

G

out is a very painful form of arthritis caused by crystals that form in and around the joints. It is the most common type of inflammatory arthritis, more common in men, and frequently seen in persons as they get older.

Gout occurs in people who have high levels of urate in their blood. Urate is created every day when our bodies break down purines. These chemicals are naturally created in our body and converted to uric acid. Uric acid functions as antioxidants and neurone protectors, but they are also present in certain foods.

On any day, about three-quarters of the urate in our bodies comes from the breakdown of purines produced within our body, while only about a quarter comes from the breakdown of purines in the food and drink we consume.

As urate levels build up, our body gets rid of any extra through the kidneys.

However, if too much urate is produced at any given time, or the kidneys are unable to get rid of enough of it, then levels start to rise.

If urate levels stay too high, urate crystals can slowly start forming. They mainly occur in and around firm joint tissues, such as the cartilage. Crystals can also appear under the skin and may even occur in internal organs, such as the kidneys causing kidney stones.

CAUSES

There are two different types of gout: * Primary gout: Cause is

* Family history: Family members with Gout, Kidney Disease * Being overweight: Gout is much more common in people who are overweight which results in a higher production of Urates as well as impaired renal excretion. * Gender and age: Gout is about four times more common in men than women. It can affect men of any age, but the risk is greater in older persons.

Women rarely develop gout before the menopause.

This is because the female hormone oestrogen increases how much urate the kidneys filter out. However, after the menopause, oestrogen levels go down and urate levels go up. * Taking certain medications: Some medications can reduce the kidneys’ ability to get rid of urate properly. These include diuretics, also known as water tablets, and several tablets for high blood pressure, including beta-blockers and ACE inhibitors. * Other conditions Several different conditions are linked to increase urate levels. Common conditions associated with gout include: * Chronic kidney disease * High cholesterol and fats in the blood * High blood pressure * Type 2 diabetes * Osteoarthritis.

SYMPTOMS

In Gout Arthritis, urate crystals can build up in joints for years without causing any symptoms.

However, when these crystals become too much, some of them can spill out from the cartilage into the space between the two bones in a joint. The tiny, hard, sharp crystals can rub against the soft lining of the joint, called the synovium, causing a lot

of pain, swelling and inflammation, resulting in a Gout Attack or Flare.

During an attack of Gout, the affected joint becomes: * Very painful * Tender * Red * Hot * Swollen. * The skin over the joint often appears shiny and may peel off a little as the attack settles.

Attacks usually come on very quickly, often during the night. The attack usually settles after about five to seven days, but it can go on for longer. If gout is left untreated, attacks can become more common and may spread to new joints.

Attacks typically affect the joint at the base of the big toe and often start in the early hours of the morning. The symptoms develop quickly and are at their worst within just 12 to 24 hours of first noticing that anything is wrong. Any light contact with the affected joint is very painful – even the weight of a bedsheet or wearing a sock can be unbearable. Although gout most often affects the big toe, other joints may also be affected. It is not common to have gout in joints such as the spine, shoulders or hips. * TOPHI Urate crystals can also collect outside of the joints and can be seen under the skin, forming small, firm lumps called tophi. The white colour of the urate crystals can be observed under the skin.

The most common areas for tophi are: * Over the top of the toes * Back of the heel * Front of the knee * Backs of the fingers and wrists * Around the elbow * The ears Tophi are not usually painful, but they can get in the way of normal daily activities. They can sometimes become inflamed, break down and leak pus-like fluid with gritty white material these are the urate crystals.

Tophi can also grow within the joints and cause damage to cartilage and bone.

This can lead to more regular, daily pain when activities are done.

GOUT TRIGGERS

Several things can cause

the crystals to shake loose into the joint cavity, triggering an attack. These include: * A knock or injury to the joint * Fever * Surgery * Fatty Meals- Over eating * Drinking too much alcohol * Dehydration * Starting urate lowering therapy, especially at a high dose, or not taking the treatment regularly each day.

DIAGNOSIS

Diagnosing gout is usually straightforward, especially if the symptoms of the condition are typical.

However, gout can sometimes be more difficult to diagnose.

* Blood tests * Blood tests to measure the urate levels can be helpful to support a diagnosis of gout, but are not enough on their own to confirm it. * High urate levels in blood tests can suggest gout, but this will need to be considered alongside accompanying symptoms. It is possible to have high levels of urate, but not have any other symptoms of the condition. * Imaging tests Ultrasound and CT scans can be good at spotting joint damage, crystals in the joints and early signs of gout. X-rays are generally used to pick up the bone and joint damage caused by having gout for a long time. * Synovial fluid examinations These are a good way to rule out other crystal conditions and make a diagnosis.

The emotional effects of gout can have just as much impact as the physical symptoms. Long-term damage and severe pain from the attacks of gout can affect one’s daily life, disturbing sleep and mood. From time to time, gout may even cause restrictions and mental challenges. Speak to a health care professional.

The following week’s article will discuss treatment options for Gout, common food triggers, complications and life adjustments.

20 FEATURE

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

The Science of COVID-19 COVID-19 and Post-COVID Syndrome

Dr. Ariane Mangar Director of Disability and Rehabilitation Ministry of Health

T

he COVID-19 pandemic continues to be a major concern all over the world. To those who believe that once you have already recovered from the deadly virus you are completely safe, it might not be so.

According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), about 20 to 30 percent of people who have had symptomatic COVID-19 develop postCOVID syndrome.

Post-COVID syndrome has been described as signs and symptoms that develop during or following an infection consistent with COVID-19, which continue for more than 12 weeks and are not explained by an alternative diagnosis.

Persons will no longer have the virus in them and they can’t infect anyone, but it takes them anywhere from weeks to months -- and maybe even beyond -- to feel perfectly normal.

Symptoms These symptoms of long COVID can be similar to those experienced in the first few weeks of having contracted COVID-19 and could be

debilitating enough to make even the most basic activities difficult to perform.

The symptoms may also be similar to those experienced after a stroke, but the age group is much younger, and given the scale of global infection, this has the potential to become a major problem. The neurological impacts of COVID-19 are unknown because the virus is and we are still working to understand the longer-term impacts of the infection.

The most common symptoms of post-COVID syndrome include extreme fatigue, shortness of breath, difficulty regulating body temperature, sleep disturbances, and problems concentrating on daily tasks. There are also reports of damage to the lungs and heart.

The condition has been likened to post-viral fatigue, or chronic fatigue syndrome,

which is a disorder that causes extreme fatigue that lasts for at least six months and doesn’t improve with rest.

People with this disorder often don’t have any underlying medical condition that could otherwise explain the symptoms.

Other reported symptoms include chest pain, headaches, neurocognitive difficulties, muscle pains and weakness, gastrointestinal upset, rashes, metabolic disruption (such as poor control of diabetes), thrombo-embolic conditions, depression and other mental health conditions.

Some possible theories for why COVID-19 symptoms cause more long-term symptoms include low level of inflammation in the brain, decreased blood flow to the brain, or an autoimmune condition wherein the body attacks itself.

Checks 1. Daily checking of your oxygen saturation -- it should be maintained at >94 percent on room air.

2. Checking for respiratory symptoms -- that is, persistence or worsening of symptoms like cough and breathlessness.

3. Checking for persistent rise of body temperature above 100 degrees F. 4. Watching for signs of lethargy, drowsiness and fatigue.

5. Regular monitoring of blood sugar if you are a known diabetic; COVID-19 infection (as any other infection) alters blood sugar levels of the body.

Referral to a specialist rehabilitation service, such as physiotherapy, does not seem to be needed for most patients, who can expect a gradual, if sometimes protracted, improvement in energy levels and from breathlessness, aided by careful pacing, prioritization, and modest goal-setting.

In our experience, most but not all patients who were not admitted to hospital recover well with four to six weeks of light aerobic exercise (such as walking or yoga),

gradually increasing in intensity as tolerated. Those returning to employment may need support to negotiate a phased return.

Anyone who had severe illness or was hospitalized with COVID-19 needs to consult a doctor about whether it’s safe to exercise. But even people who experienced mild illness or no symptoms need to take precautions before exercising again.

Recommendations 1. Don’t exercise if you’re still sick. Do not exercise if you have active symptoms, including a fever, cough, chest pain, shortness of breath at rest, or palpitations.

2. For sportspersons returning to exercise: -- after recovery from mild illness: one week of low-level stretching and strengthening before targeted cardiovascular sessions.

-- very mild symptoms: limit activity to slow walking or equivalent, increase rest periods if symptoms worsen, avoid high-intensity training.

-- persistent symptoms (such as fatigue, cough, breathlessness or fever): limit activity to 60 percent maximum heart rate until twothree weeks after symptoms resolve.

-- patients who had lymphopenia or required oxygen: need respiratory assessment before resuming exercise.

-- patients who had cardiac involvement: need cardiac assessment before resuming.

Even if you’ve never been diagnosed with COVID-19, be mindful of how you are feeling. Many people with COVID-19 don’t know they have it, or have general symptoms like gastrointestinal upset, fatigue, or muscle aches.

So, if you’ve been feeling “not your usual self” during exercise, listen to your body, ease up, and check with your doctor.

COVID-19 is an aggressive virus that spreads easily and carries significant morbidity and mortality. Cardiac risk in particular is greater with COVID-19 than with other viral diseases, so it

makes sense to return to activity with caution.

From the limited current evidence, we anticipate that many patients who suffer from post-COVID will recover. It is of utmost importance to monitor such cases, and a proper post-discharge rehabilitation plan is put in place to monitor the patient’s health, so that timely intervention could be done.

At present, the unknowns about long-term consequences of this potentially devastating viral infection far outnumber the knowns.

One fact already known: a person does not need to have suffered severely from the disease to experience symptoms that persist for months and, time will tell, possibly for years.

Even some young people who had mild COVID-19 infections continue to experience symptoms long after recovering from the acute illness, and some even require re-hospitalization due to the lingering effects of COVID-19. COVID-19 is essentially less than one year old, and, as such, is characterized as a brand-new disease.

We need three things: we need research to understand it; we need guidance for the clinical teams who will treat it; and, at the high end, we’ll probably need rehabilitation specialists.

In these uncertain times, one key role that we all must play is that of witness, or “listening to the story” of the person whose protracted recovery from the COVID-19 disease was unexpected, alarming, and does not make sense.

There are rehabilitation departments in every region in Guyana, and for more information, please call the Georgetown Public Hospital Rehabilitation Department, 225-3294.

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

NEWS

21

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

INFECTIOUS CANINE HEPATITIS (ICH)

I

General

CH is a highly contagious viral disease which affects mostly dogs – but also foxes and wolves, even bears – globally. This disease was first written about not so long ago (in the late 1940s), but has since been described on all continents. It can survive for months at room temperature here in the tropics, and it can exist outside of the dog’s body.

ICH must not be confused with Hepatitis in humans.

As the name suggests, the organ most affected is the liver, but ICH also affects the kidneys, lungs, and the lining of the blood vessels.

Q: HOW IS THE DISEASE (ICH) TRANSMITTED? A: Ingestion of faeces, urine and/or saliva of infected dogs.

Note that dogs can recover, but can still shed the virus for more than 6 months.

A few days after the dog is exposed to the ICH virus, the virus is able to multiply within the body and symptoms begin to be exhibited Q: WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF ICH? A: The symptoms associated with this ailment may vary from a slight fever to debilitation and death. The symptoms are mostly:1) Diarrhoea (later with blood accompaniment).

2) Initially a fever develops to about 40°C (104℉).

This lasts from just under a week, during which time the defence mechanism (white blood cells) reduces in its efficacy.

3) Listlessness.

4) Loss of appetite.

5) Diarrhoea and vomiting lead to dehydration.

6) Thirst becomes quite

visible.

As the ICH disease weakens the infected animals, especially puppies, they may exhibit: 1) A production of

slimy/watery discharge from the eyes and nostrils.

2) A reaction of pain to the touch (especially of the abdomen and the extremities).

3) An abnormal puffy sub-cutaneous accumulation of fluid (emerging around the head and neck), which can actually be palpated.

4) An enlargement of the tonsils, which are usually secluded; they become visible within the oral cavity.

5) Petechial bleeding (blotches of blood can be seen below the skin).

6) Squinting of the animal’s eyes, in reacting to sunlight.

7) A Central Nervous System (brain) involvement, which leads to convulsions and even paralysis.

It must be mentioned that after the initial onset of the disease, the symptoms may subside. Often, at this point, at least a quarter of the infected dogs will develop a cloudiness/opacity of the cornea (the outer transparent covering coat of the eyeball). This “Blue Eye” condition will usually clear up (even without veterinary

intervention). Actually, practicing veterinarians have had to confront a “Blue Eye” reaction after vaccination against ICH. This condition disappears within a week of administering the vaccine.

[Now that the signs associated with ICH have been documented, one will notice the similarity with the symptoms of Canine Distemper.

Be clear that these are two quite different viral ailments].

TREATMENT

As was mentioned previously when discussing the therapy for Canine Distemper, Canine Parvovirus and Leptospirosis (see previous “Pet Care” columns), the veterinary interventions/advice will focus on alleviating the pain and suffering of the sick animal. So, for example, if the dog is showing discomfort to the bright sunshine, it must be removed and be protected from such stress. Similarly, the treatment against dehydration (caused by vomiting and diarrhoea) would be drip rehydration; and of course, medication against vomiting and diarrhoea may be introduced.

When ICH was extremely prevalent, it was customary for vets to use Vitamin B Complex and B12 as supportive treatments, and quite successfully.

PREVENTION

An ICH vaccine is available within the polyvalent vaccine, referred to previously, and must be introduced at

the appropriate time and under a very specific veterinary protocol and regime.

Please note that ICH is not transmissible to humans or to cats.

Q: W H A T DISINFECTANT CAN THE CAREGIVER CONFIDENTLY USE ON THE IMMEDIATE S U R R O U N D I N G

ENVIRONMENT? A: A 3 % (hypochlorite) household bleach, used at least twice weekly on the dog’s immediate e n v i r o n ment, is quite effective.

22 NEWS

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Govt rebuilding relationship with int’l community — Finance Minister …to bring development agenda “back on track”

G

overnment has commenced diligent engagements with the international community to restore the relationships that were shackled from the political stalemate since 2018, which had impeded the country’s development.

This is according to Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh, who on Friday said that since democracy was restored with the swearing-in of the PPP/C Administration in August, major partners have been re-engaged to recommit the country’s support for national progress.

For almost two years, investors had signalled little intention of investing locally, after the APNU/AFC coalition fell to the PPPsponsored No-Confidence Motion in December 2018.

Thereafter, even the inter-

national community deduced serious concerns and projects were even placed on a standstill, Dr Singh said, adding that now, the new Administration is taking a proactive approach in resuscitating investments and moreover, their connection with these stakeholders.

Dr Singh shared: “President Irfaan Ali’s Government has set about in a very diligent way to re-engage the international community with a view of restoring the relationships with our major development partners, multilateral and bilateral. In many cases, these relationships had become complicated and ground to a standstill as a result of the political events between March and August, in fact, starting from December 2018 to August.”

Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh

He noted that financing is extremely important in fostering “aggressive” development in the country. More so, they are seeking to accelerate growth and progress.

“Recognising the importance of mobilising resourc-

es to finance an aggressive development agenda, we have set about re-engaging all of our development partners in a very proactive way and even perhaps, aggressive way to ensure that we bring the development agenda back on track and to accelerate its movement going forward.”

The Minister projected that the country is on the verge of many positive inclinations, given the interest that has been shown to invest after just a few months in office.

He indicated, “You see that happening in our conversations with all of the multilateral institutions, regional development banks and bilateral partners. You see a renewed vigour in our engagement with the aim of mobilising resources to finance a development agenda that will once again, put Guyana on a trajectory that will see development economically and improvement to the quality of lives of all

Guyanese.”

On Friday, the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) announced that it has approved funding for the road project spanning 121 kilometres from Linden to Mabura Hill. Some US$112 million of the US$190 million project was allocated by the Bank, representing the largest project that the CDB has financed in its 50 years of existence.

Meanwhile, earlier this month, a massive 42 bids were submitted to the Public Works Ministry for the construction of the new Demerara Harbour Bridge.

After the bids were counted, Dr Singh dubbed it as an unprecedented level of interest in the major infrastructure.

The Bank of Guyana (BoG) has revealed that for the first quarter of this year, Guyana’s capital revenue from sources that included grants and debt relief took a nosedive of over 90 per cent, coinciding with the period of political uncertainty

before and after the March 2 General and Regional Elections.

This is contained in the Bank’s recently released quarterly report and statistical bulletin for the first quarter of 2020, which revealed that total capital revenue for the period amounted to $369 million.

“Total capital revenue, including grants & debt relief, fell by 94.1 per cent to G$369 million. Local capital receipts recorded earnings of G$1.3 million during the review period…Grants and debt relief were lower by 94.2 per cent to G$368 million, mainly due to the lack of grants during the first quarter of 2020, while debt relief from Enhanced HIPC (E-HIPC) decreased by 0.7 per cent to G$368 million,” the report noted.

While the report did not specify the reason for the slowdown in grants from other countries and organisations, it fell within the period of election campaigning and the efforts of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to prepare for General and Regional Elections. In addition, the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance for Change (APNU/AFC) had been in caretaker status since December 2018 when it lost a No-Confidence Motion. (G12)

NEWS

23

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Life-changing opportunities on the horizon – President Ali tells soldiers

…announces 2-week tax-free bonus for GDF

P

resident Dr Irfaan Ali has announced a twoweek tax-free bonus for members of the Guyana Defence Force, which they will get in their next payslip.

The Head of State made this announcement on Friday, as he shared Christmas lunch with GDF ranks in the border community of Kaikan in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni).

"Even with the difficulties of the pandemic, the slope of the recovery expenditure, the reorganising of the budget to facilitate resources to mitigate issues surrounding the pandemic...we are still going to deliver to our men and women in uniform. I have asked to be included in your next payslip, two weeks of taxfree bonus for all of our men and women in uniform,” the Commander in Chief is quoted by the Public Information and Press Services Unit of the Office of the President as saying.

The President assured the soldiers that it was the first of many such opportunities on the horizon for them. He said that his Government will ensure that the quality of life of the ranks and their families improve.

Commander in Chief President Irfaan Ali poses for a photo with GDF ranks during a Christmas lunch in the border community of Kaikan in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni)

"This is the start of many opportunities that will come your way….I assure you that we are not only concentrating on a bag of goodies at Christmas time, but we are concentrating on lifetime change, lifetime opportunities. And I assure you that during my tenure in office, your life and your family's lives will be better and you will be better equipped for the future,” the Head of State said.

President Ali told the ranks that next year, the Government will also be making available 20,000 new scholarships, which will be done online. He said that this will give persons, including the soldiers stationed in far-flung areas, equal access to educational opportunities.

"Importantly, many of these diplomas, degrees and certificates will be achieved through distance or on-

line training... And I assure you all in this location; our health workers, our teach-

ers that these opportunities will meet you and you will be able to achieve your edu-

cational goals even in these locations, even with the difficulties of the pandemic."

The President also challenged the officers present to find consensus and to select three most eligible ranks from amongst themselves, to be given University of Guyana scholarships.

He reiterated that as the economy expands so too will salaries and opportunities.

He emphasised though that it is only through unity and strength that citizens will be able to collectively appreciate and enjoy the benefits of the prosperity ahead.

He said that the time for hope is over and that now is the time to achieve.

"The task is ours to look ahead, not with optimism, not with hope and dreams, but to look ahead with the commitment to achieving those dreams and aspirations.”

24 NEWS

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

40 new COVID-19 cases recorded A

s of Saturday, a total of 40 new cases of COVID-19 were detected in Guyana, which increased the total number of positives recorded to 5879.

However, of this amount, 5044 persons have recovered from the virus.

This was released in the Health Ministry’s daily dashboard, which showed the death toll remaining at 154. It has been one week since the last fatality was reported – a 34-year-old female from Region Four (Demerara- Mahaica), who died while receiving care at a medical facility.

Meanwhile, 3037 males and 2842 females have contracted the virus thus far – 681 of which remain active.

A total of six patients remain in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

that three new cases were detected in Region One (Barima-Waini), four in Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam), two in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), seven in Region Four (DemeraraMahaica) four in Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne), one in Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni) and 19 in Region 10 (Upper DemeraraBerbice).

The other figures remained constant with 48 in Region Five (MahaicaBerbice), 182 in Region Eight

There are currently 47 persons in institutional isolation, 628 in home isolation and 33 in institutional quarantine.

A breakdown of positive cases would have shown

(Potaro-Siparuni) and 389 in Region Nine (Upper TakutuUpper Essequibo).

Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony revealed during the latest COVID-19 update that patients in

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the banking sector

T

Advisor Dr Leslie Ramsammy distributing masks at the Mon Repos Market, East Coast Demerara

Bartica are being discharged from isolation, which will see a reduction in the positive cases in the coming days.

“Most persons who have been in isolation are now coming closer to the 10-day period when we can discharge them. We have started the process of discharge and we moved from 80 to 68 today (Friday). That process is going to continue…We anticipate these numbers to come down,” the Minister shared.

He said testing is contin-

uous in the township but no positives were recorded in recent time. This, he noted, is a good sign in bringing the hotspot under control.

“We hope that once people keep complying, that we’ll reduce the amount of active cases in Bartica.

We still have a few cases in Orealla and Siparuta but not at that alarming level that we had two weeks ago.

Again, similar processes are in place where we are working with the Village Councils and regional health team there.”

Advisor to the Health Minister, Dr Leslie Ramsammy would have joined the Block 8, Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara Community Policing Group on Saturday for a major mask distribution drive at the Mon Repos Market.

The exercise included the handing out of promotional fliers aimed at encouraging residents to wear their masks and follow the COVID-19 guidelines to prevent the spread of the disease. The team distributed about 1500 masks to residents, shoppers, passers-by and commuters.

According to a statement, Dr Ramsammy urged persons to wash their hands as often as possible and desist from hosting gatherings at their homes during the holidays. (G12)

he global economy took a turn for the worse at the beginning of 2020, just as the COVID-19 pandemic emerged. This pandemic has negatively impacted many lives across the world, and has had adverse direct and indirect impacts on the global economy.

The pandemic has caused many to either lose their jobs or work less hours, which impacted their earnings. This resulted in lower spending power for some, increased loans, increased credit payment terms, and a decline in demand for luxurious items for households. On the other hand, around the world, the business sectors took a hit that caused some of them to become bankrupt, putting many out of jobs with unsettled debts.

Studies have shown that this crisis resulted in the largest and fastest decline in international flows in modern history. There is a 13-32% decline in merchandise trade, a 30-40% reduction in foreign direct investment, and a 44-80% drop in international airline passengers in 2020. These numbers show a major push back of globalization’s recent gains.

In Guyana, the global health risk also poses a serious financial threat to the banking sector. In maintaining its commitment to safeguarding and strengthening the resilience of the financial sector, the Bank of Guyana has committed and implemented a series of measures, while collaborating with the Guyana Association of Bankers (GAB) to minimize the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Guyana’s entire financial system.

The commercial banks in Guyana have agreed to provide general concessions in interest rates of 1% and up to 2% on customers loans below GYD10M until December 30,2020. With respect to the lending rates, the existing range is between 6.5% and 16%, which some commercial banks have agreed to provide special consideration during this period. Commercial banks of Guyana have also dropped ATM and merchant bank charges to facilitate more banking transactions, along with providing relief to the senior citizens. These banks have also agreed to provide short-term capital loans to businesses in need, so that they can maintain their obligations to pay staff, support daily operations, and keep the company afloat during the COVID-19 period.

According to the Bank of Guyana half-year report, as at June 2020, 15,641 facilities have benefited from the commercial banks’ relief measures. This accounted for $68.7 billion/ 26.7 per cent of the bank’s total loan portfolio for the period. The services sub sector received the biggest amount of relief, which amounted to $31.9 billion or 46.4 per cent of the total relief granted. Next in line for the highest relief sectors are the households and real estate sectors, with $22.8 billion (33.1 per cent) and G$6.4 billion (9.4 per cent) respectively.

Commercial banks RBL, GBTI and DBL accounted for the greatest contribution to the services sub-sector with 69.5 per cent, 16.9 per cent and 8.3 per cent respectively. Of the $22.8 billion relief granted to the household sector, BNS was responsible for 85.2 per cent ($17.2 billion). Of the $6.4 billion relief granted to the Real Estate Sector, RBL & CBI collectively contributed 98.9 per cent ($6.4 billion) of the relief.

With these unforeseen concessions put forward by the commercial banks along with the Bank of Guyana, the banks’ profitability would be affected. These banks would have to make provision for their expected losses on loans and investment portfolios.

Not too long ago, Republic Bank Ltd stated that they have experienced a decline in profits as at September 2020 compared to last year of US$101M or 42.8 per cent from US$235.9M. According to the Bank’s Chairman, this is due to a decrease in the economic activities, reduction in interest rate charges, along with the measures implemented by the Government in order to have the economy flowing again. RBL’s total asset is US$ billion (19.2 per cent/ US$2.5 billion more than 2019). However, the total dividends declined by 40 per cent from 2019 to US$65.6 million.

According to a stress test carried out by the Bank of Guyana, it is estimated that past-due loans could increase by 66 per cent while non-performing loans can increase by 18 per cent in a worst-case scenario of 100 per cent deterioration of the services, households and mortgages sector.

However, with efforts being made by the government to safely reopen the economy, coupled with the 2021 budget, Guyana is set to have a quick recovery and the banking sector can easily rebound post budget 2021 onwards. To this end, with the housing drive coming back on stream which will fuel a construction boom, this will also create demand in other sectors such as hardware distributors, businesses that supply building materials etc., will see an increase in demand with these projects. Not to mention the expected impact of the bigger transformational projects, and, the development impact as a result of capital inflows from foreign direct investments.

About the Author:

JC. Bhagwandin is an economic and financial analyst, lecturer and business & financial consultant. The views expressed are exclusively his own and do not necessarily represent those of this newspaper and the institutions he represents. For comments, send to jbbankingadvice@gmail.com.

NEWS

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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Suspected bandit shot dead by security guard

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n unidentified man was shot and killed by a security officer after he and another suspect were found in the compound of a manufacturing business at Eccles, Industrial Site, East Bank Demerara.

Reports are the incident occurred at 21:45h on Friday night at Sueria Manufacturing Inc, Industrial Site, Eccles.

Guyana Times was told that a security guard attached to Delta Security Services visited the manufacturing company for routine nightly inspection when two men were observed in the compound.

The security officer called

scaling the fence and running across open land in order to cross a canal to escape.

However, upon checking the canal, one of the suspects was found lying on the bank with injuries to his abdomen.

He died at the scene.

The police were called and the area was combed for

The canal in which the now dead bandit was found

out to the men, which led to one of them firing a shot in his direction, the police were told.

Regional Commander Linden Isle related to this publication that the security officer, who was armed with

a company weapon, took cover behind a parked truck and returned fire at the suspects.

This resulted in the men

the dead man’s accomplice but he escaped.

No firearm was found on the dead bandit.

His body was escorted to Lyken Funeral Home, awaiting identification and a post-mortem examination.

Investigations are ongoing. (G9)

Body found in Berbice identified as missing fisherman

Final dose of filaria pills to be distributed in February – Health Minister …as efforts intensify to eliminate filaria in Guyana

W

ithout removing focus from the COVID-19 pandemic, the Healthy Ministry is also working on eliminating filaria in Guyana, with the last dosage of pills ready for countrywide distribution in February 2021.

This was revealed by Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony on Friday. He added that it is recommended by the World Health Organisation to roll out a mass administration of medicines in countries seeking to eliminate filariasis completely. Guyana would have completed the first round over one year ago, and now the last round will be administered to citizens.

He positioned that once the campaign starts in February, it should finish later that month.

“To be sure that you’re getting rid of these filaria larvae, the best way is to start one year and you have a certain per cent of the population taking this medicine. Then, you wait for about a year and do a second round. We have completed that first round and we are going to do the second round. We are going

Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony

to start the process in early February and by the end of February 2021, we would have completed the entire country,” the Minister announced.

It was highlighted that training has already commenced for persons who will be administering the medications. Teams will be sent to various communities across Guyana, visiting each household.

“We have already started to train people to do this. We have the medication in the country and we are ready to go. Once

February next year comes around, we have teams that would be deployed around the country to ensure that they move around house to house, giving people the final dose.”

After the programme is completed, the WHO will be tasked with evaluating the country, officially certifying whether the country is free of filaria. Dr Anthony is calling for cooperation among all stakeholders in successfully completing the national exercise.

He shared, “For the first time, we’ll be able to eliminate filaria in Guyana. For us to do that, it takes a lot of work. We need people to assist us by taking the medication and once we finish this exercise, we will have an evaluation by the WHO and other partners and they would certify whether or not we’re filaria-free.”

Last September, a Lymphatic Filariasis Elimination Campaign was launched and spearheaded by the Mass Drug Administration (MDA). The programme sought to target areas where the population is vulnerable to the disease. Guyanese were given three tablets; Ivermectin,

Diethylcarbamazine (DEC) and Albendazole. The combination of pills is referred to as the IDA. The number of tablets varies per age, and they are not to be given to pregnant women and children below the age of two years old. It is said that a person requires five annual doses of the pills before they become immune to the mosquito-borne disease.

According to information from the World Health Organisation (WHO), the disease is caused by three species of thread-like nematode worms, known as filariae – Wuchereria bancrofti, Brugia malayi and Brugia timori. Male worms range from three to four centimetres in length, and female worms eight to 10 centimetres.

The worms target the lymphatic system, which is an essential component of the body’s immune system as it is essentially a network of nodes and vessels that maintain the delicate fluid balance between blood and body tissues. But when someone is infected, the male and female worms form “nests” in this vital system. (G12)

Unscheduled retraction of DHB set for today

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here will be an unscheduled retraction of the Demerara Harbour Bridge for an hour and a half today.

In a notice, the DHB Corporation said the bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic from 13:30h (01:30 pm) to 15:00h (03:00 pm) There was no explanation as to the reason behind the closure.

On Wednesday, a barge collided into a section of the high span on the bridge, causing it to come out of alignment.

However, by the following day, the repairs on the bridge were completed.

That had allowed the bridge to be opened for

Thursday’s scheduled 1 o’clock retraction, in addition to facilitating the crossing of heavy-duty vehicles that were barred due

to the damages.

Currently, a process is underway to ascertain the cost of damages to be levied against the owner of the

vessel.

“We are still crunching the numbers for the cost of the damages. We met with the representative of the owner, identified the damages and once we have those numbers, we will reconvene with the owner,” DHBC General Manager, Rawlston Adams said.

Looking to the future, Adams admitted that there is no singular solution to protect the bridge from a recurrence of similar incidents.

Nevertheless, he is optimistic the new DHBC Board of Directors will make a sound decision after examining their options.

T

he unidentified body that was found at Palmyra, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), on Monday last has been identified as a fisherman who went missing after leaving his home on Sunday.

Police have confirmed that the man was identified as Chabilall Kumar, 52, of Welfare Street, New Area, Canefield Settlement, East Canje, Berbice.

Kumar, who was described as an epileptic and an alcoholic, left his home on December 6 to go fishing and was found on December 7 in a trench at Number 5 Bramfield Public Road, Corentyne.

Police said after the man was found, they were immediately summoned to the scene, where an investigation was carried out, and

no marks of violence were found on his body.

When the fisherman was found, he was clad in cream short pants, a multi-coloured brief and a green face mask covering his nose and mouth.

A blue vest and a shirt were also seen some distance away from the body.

Following the discovery, several persons were questioned in the area, but no one was able to identify him.

His body was later picked up and escorted to the New Amsterdam Public Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival. He was subsequently taken to the Arokium Funeral Home where he was identified by his family.

Investigations are still ongoing. (G9)

26 NEWS

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

TIP cases

“We have to take action” – Home Affairs Minister tells prosecutors

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ome Affairs Minister, Robeson Benn has called on prosecutors to aim for the best results when handling Trafficking in Persons (TIP) cases, by maintaining integrity and ensuring that all avenues are explored.

Speaking during a special training exercise for prosecutors in the area of trafficking, the Minister recognised that the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in lower statistics as it relates to the prosecution of traffickers. However, he mentioned that officials must carry on with their duties after taking proper safety precautions.

“I have taken the position that we cannot suspend our activities in the field, in the courts, in respect to Police activities in all our issues. We have to take action, due regard to personal safety and in respect to the pandemic…There is a multifaceted knowledge base here which can impact how we approach this problem of people trafficking. We have a good base to start from…We have to be at a locus where entity, integrity are rolled into one where we get the best results,” the Minister noted.

Speaking on the issue of trafficking in Guyana, Benn expressed that it forms part and parcel of other illegal activities, spanning not just in the hinterland anymore.

He recognised that Guyana

Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn sharing a photo op with Police prosecutors following a special training exercise

is constantly cited as a trafficking ground for persons coming from Cuba, Haiti, and the Dominical Republic as well as refugee activity from Venezuela. In this regard, close attention is paramount.

“Coming out of the experiences and observations made over the years in the interior area with this problem and even now in the urban areas, there is extreme anxiety with respect to this problem and the fact that it enmeshes with all other serious activities that occur in the country… Even now, we’re being threatened with respect to thousands of Cubans in the neighbouring republic of Suriname, who said they’re forming a caravan, will come through Guyana and move on to the Mexican border.”

In the US State

Department’s report, Guyana maintained its Tier One ranking for compliance with the standards outlined in the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA) of 2000. Tier One countries are those whose Governments fully comply with the TVPA's minimum standards. But Benn shared some areas which were flagged in the document, stating that these are areas for improvement.

“We did achieve the Tier One status from the US State Department. It indicates that we just made it in getting to the Tier One status, where they said we had demonstrated serious sustained efforts during the reporting period. But then they flagged a number of ongoing issues. Although the Government meets the minimum standards, it investi-

gated and prosecuted fewer suspected traffickers, identified fewer victims of traffick-

ing and did not provide adequate screening and shelter for victims,” he shared.

During a similar training this week for Police ranks, Acting Police Commissioner Nigel Hoppie revealed that foreign nationals have predominantly found themselves in exploitative sex and labour situations in Guyana. In analysing statistics from 2018 to present, he said there were 632 suspected victims of human trafficking, of which foreign nationals accounted for 579. According to him, these persons are nationals of Brazil, Cuba, Jamaica, the Dominican Republic, Trinidad and Tobago, and Haiti.

This, he noted, shows that Guyana has a pull factor; that is, an attractive reason to come here. He said it also indicates that persons being exploited are diverse in nationality and demographics. For the reporting period, 84 reports were accepted, which has led to 58 court cases and only six convictions, he disclosed.

There are still cases pending before the courts.

Nevertheless, he said that these numbers show that a considerable amount of work is being done by local and international stakeholders to win the fight against human trafficking, which has resulted in Guyana sustaining its Tier One ranking.

Housing developers being hauled in to fulfil commitments – Croal Housing developers who default on their agreements with the Government are being called into the Housing Ministry, even as the Government works to streamline the process of land allocations between agencies to ensure it can fulfil its target of 50,000 house lots over the next few years.

This was explained by Housing Minister Collin Croal in an interview with this publication.

When asked about housing developers who have failed to develop land they were allocated into house lots, he noted that the Government is actively addressing the issue.

“We have called them in.

They got the land for a purpose - housing development.

So, we’re calling them in.

Most of them, you wouldn’t give them the title unless they start construction,” he said.

The Minister also acknowledged that there have been issues in the past where land allocation for house lots have overlapped between various agencies, such as the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo), the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission (GL&SC) and the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL).

Housing Minister Collin Croal

“Once we identify an area, between GuySuCo, GL&SC and NICIL, we work together to ensure there is no overlap. In the past, we had issues where allocations were made for land areas but then the areas were not necessarily fully vested. And we’re rectifying that. But futuristically, that shouldn’t be a problem,” he explained.

The Government also has a fair idea of where it can allocate house lots in areas such as the East Bank of Demerara (EBD). But he noted that the further away from Georgetown, the more the need for remapping becomes pronounced.

“East Bank has been already mapped out. So, where it’s more complicated is when you go further

into the regions or if you’re talking about Soesdyke. You may have issues of lease arrangements being made and we’re not aware,” Croal explained.

“But the complication is not in Georgetown.

The complication is as you go further into the various regions. Because those lands are mainly under the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission. Sometimes you have leases are issued.”

Since coming to office, the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Government has made it clear that it intends to fulfil its manifesto promise of distributing 50,000 house lots over the next five years, with the first 10,000 by next year.

It was only on Friday that the Government awarded 24 contracts to the tune of over $825 million for various housing development projects. More than $1 billion will be injected into the Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) housing sector in 2021 through an Inter-American Development Bank (IDB)funded project.

Additionally, the Housing Ministry will be working with NICIL, GLSC, and GuySuCo to pursue land acquisition for housing developments. In October, the Government published invitations for Expressions of Interest (EoIs) from interested parties to finance housing development.

Entities desirous of participating in this financing activity are invited to submit a proposed term sheet detailing: interest rate and terms; detailed term sheet clearly outlining assumptions and expectations; time period to conclude financing; capability and experience of participating entity, and such other terms and conditions as may be relevant. (G3)

NEWS

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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Armed bandits invade Guyanese convicted for JFK home terrorist plot deported to Guyana Mahaica …escape with millions …after serving 7 years in US jail

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ompton Eversley, better known as Abdel Nur, the Guyanese who was convicted in 2011 for plotting with others to bomb the John F Kennedy (JFK) International Airport, has been deported to Guyana.

This was confirmed

by Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn, who revealed that Nur was handed over to the Guyanese authorities on December 10 by the United States (US) Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), having completed his sentence earlier this year.

Nur, alongside now deceased fellow Guyanese and former People’s National Congress (PNC) parliamentarian Abdul Kadir, Guyanese born naturalised US citizen Russell Defreitas, the suspected ringleader and Trinidadian Imam Kareem Ibrahim, were convicted for the 2007 JFK airport bomb plot.

The 2007 John F Kennedy International Airport attack plot was an alleged Islamist terrorist plot to blow up a system of jet fuel supply tanks and pipelines that feed fuel to John F Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in Queens, New York.

These pipelines trav-

el throughout the undergrounds of New York City, in densely populated areas.

But the plot was foiled when an undercover law enforcement official was recruited to the homegrown terrorist cell.

Defreitas allegedly was clandestinely recorded telling an informant that “Anytime you hit Kennedy, it is the most hurtful thing to the United States. To hit John F Kennedy, wow – They love JFK – he’s like the man. If you hit that, the whole country will be in mourning. It’s like you can kill the man twice.”

Defreitas had allegedly seen arms and missiles being shipped to Israel which he felt would be used to harm Muslims. The men are alleged to have named the plot “Chicken Farm”.

Extensive surveillance of the targets had been done, including the use of satellite photographs and attempts had been made to reach out to another Islamist terrorist group. No explosives had been bought.

When it came to Nur, 70, investigators determined he played a significant part in the plot by serving as a liaison to gain the support of known terrorist organisations.

Convicted terrorist: Abdel Nur

According to a Newsday report on the terror plot, New York investigators were probing a possible Iran connection to the plot because Abdul Kadir planned to visit that country. In Trinidad, Police reportedly investigated whether Kareem Ibrahim had ties to Iraq and Iran.

According to US court documents, Kadir was the disciple of Mohsen Rabbani, an Iranian diplomat accused of being one of the masterminds behind the 1994 AMIA bombing in Buenos Aires.

Defreitas was arrested in Brooklyn, New York.

Kadir and Ibrahim were arrested in Trinidad on June

3, 2007. Nur surrendered to Police two days later in Trinidad. On June 25, 2008, Kareem Ibrahim, Abdel Nur and Abdul Kadir were extradited to the United States.

They pleaded not guilty to charges of trying to “cause greater destruction than in the September 11 attacks”.

On August 2, 2010, Kadir and Defreitas were convicted in the JFK airport bomb plot; while, in 2011, Nur and Ibrahim were found guilty of the crime. Nur received a 15-year sentence in January 2011, while Ibrahim was sentenced to life in prison in February 2012.

In August 2017, the former A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government seized assets belonging to the two Guyanese accused of terrorism activities in the United States of America.

Nur’s co-conspirator, Kadir, died in June 2018 in a US penitentiary. The former APNU/AFC Government sparked controversy when it passed a resolution in the National Assembly last year paying tribute to the former PNC parliamentarian turned terrorist, with many including the US Embassy in Georgetown condemning the act. (G3)

A

Mahaica, East Coast of Demerara (ECD) woman has been left traumatised after she was attacked and robbed by armed bandits who invaded her home on Saturday.

Reports are the robbery occurred at about 07:13h on Saturday while the victim was in the lower flat of her home cooking.

She related that she heard her dogs barking aggressively which raised her suspicion and prompted her to investigate. She related to Police that upon peering through her window, she saw a man jumping her fence, which caused her to panic. According to the victim, the man rushed into her home and grabbed her at gunpoint.

It was reported that the man demanded that the woman hand over her cash and jewellery. She told investigators she handed over a black plastic bag which contained $3 million cash and other valuables. Reports are that as one of the bandits demanded valuables, an accomplice also rushed into the home and took her phone. She said that both men escaped on a bicycle.

Following the incident, Police were summoned to the scene, where a search was conducted on the house.

Police found a .32 ammuni-

tion in the lower flat of the house.

Investigations are ongoing.

Meanwhile, just days ago, a 49-year-old labourer and his 44-year-old wife were attacked and robbed by three armed bandits who invaded their Number 76 Village, Berbice, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) home and escaped with cash and other valuables.

Bibi Bhoelan was in her yard when the three bandits, one armed with a handgun and the others with cutlasses and knives, rushed into the yard.

Her husband, Abdoelkajoem Bhoelan, was also in the yard when the bandits invaded.

The perpetrators forced the couple into the lower flat of their house where they made demands for valuables whilst beating the duo.

According to a police report, after retrieving some US$500 along with a quantity of local currency, and two cell phones, the bandits forced the couple upstairs where they tied them up with plastic straps. They also placed pillowcases over their heads.

The husband managed to free himself, rush onto the veranda and raise an alarm.

However, the bandits had already escaped. (G9)

WCB teens’ murder

Argentine forensic analyst to assess if he can help local investigators

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ne of Argentina’s forensic experts has arrived in Guyana, and will now have to determine if the Argentine Team of Forensic Anthropology (EAAF) would be able to lend assistance to the Guyana Police Force (GPF) to unravel the mystery surrounding the gruesome murders of the three West Coast Berbice teenagers.

The Henry cousins, Isaiah and Joel, and 17-yearold Haresh Singh were brutally killed just days apart, back in September, 2020.

With investigators yet to have a substantive breakthrough in the case, the forensic anthropology expert has been brought in to assist with the probe.

Director of the EAAF, Dr Luis Fondebrider, arrived on Saturday, and will be in Guyana until December 16.

In a statement, the Guyana Human Rights Association (GHRA), who is facilitating the anthropologist, said the purpose of his visit is to assess whether the EAAF may be able to support the efforts of the Police Force in their investigations.

Dr Fondebrider will be meeting the families, visiting the crime scene, meeting with investigators and Police personnel, and briefing appropriate Government and diplomatic representa-

EAAF Director Dr Luis Fondebrider

tives.

“As a result of the visit, the EAAF will determine whether, and to what degree, they may be able to support the Guyana Police Force in its investigations. If that conclusion is positive, the modalities of how it may be implemented will be addressed,” the GHRA said in the missive.

Additionally, during his time here, Dr Fondebrider would also hold a Zoom meeting with representatives of official and civic organisations that are engaged with the problem of violent deaths of women.

The EAAF have developed protocols for the investigation of femicide – the violent

deaths of women by men.

The purpose of that session will be to explore the possibility of capacity-building in this area in the future.

Dr Fondebrider will also give a public presentation on the work of the EAAF. That presentation will take place in the Catholic Cathedral on the corner of Brickdam and Camp Street on Tuesday, December 15 from 17:30h to 19:00h. The Cathedral is an appropriate venue in terms of safely accommodating COVID-19 protocols, the Association has said.

The Guyana Government has since reached out to the Regional Security System (RSS), which subsequently sent a high-level five-member team here in October.

The RSS team, which was led by an Assistant Commissioner of Police and comprised officials from countries within the Regional Investigative Management Systems (RIMS), was in Guyana for one week and departed on October 6. That team has since handed over a report to the Guyana Police Force in which it recommended that the Police do additional work, while also stating that the local investigators are competent to investigate and bring the perpetrators to justice.

Sixteen-year-old Isaiah Henry and 19-year-old Joel

Henry had left their Number Three Village, West Coast Berbice (WCB) home to pick coconuts, but two days later, on September 6, 2020, their butchered bodies were found in the backlands of Cotton Tree, WCB. Then on September 9, 2020, 17-year-old Singh was found murdered at the Number Three Village backlands. It is suspected that his death was in retaliation for the murders of the Henry cousins, since he is related to one of the persons initially held by the police.

While several persons were arrested for the murder of the Henry teens and later released, to date no arrest has been made in relation to Singh’s murder.

Police had explained that

the location where the bodies of the Henry boys were found was not the primary crime scene; that is, it is not the location where the young men were killed.

Investigators are yet to locate the primary crime scene.

Meanwhile, the Police Force in November announced a $3 million reward for information that may lead to the arrest and prosecution of those responsible for the murders of the three teenagers. About a week later, Police received information which led to the arrests of five men – all from Rosignol, WCB. Guyana Times was told that the men have all provided alibis which were verified by the investigators,

and as such, they were subsequently released.

However, a source close to the investigation told this newspaper that no lead that may arrive at the detectives’ desks at this point in time would be ruled out.

“Once a lead is provided, we will pursue same until the end… All we want are those responsible for the teens’ deaths, so that their parents, family, villagers and the country as a whole could have closure.”

The source has, however, stated that the investigation is active and investigators are being very careful in collecting data and evidence which would not see the wrong person(s) being prosecuted for the heinous crime. (G8)

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guyanatimesgy.com

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2020

Around the World

Declare “state of climate emergency”, Nigeria school attack: Hundreds missing in Katsina UN boss urges world leaders after raid by gunmen T

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Worried parents descended on the school after the attack

undreds of students are feared missing after gunmen raided a secondary school in north-western Nigeria.

The attackers arrived on motorbikes and started shooting into the air, causing people to flee, witnesses said.

They targeted the Government Science Secondary School - where more than 800 students are said to reside - in Katsina state on Friday evening.

On Saturday, the military

said it had located the gunmen’s hideout in a forest and exchanged gunfire with them.

The outcome was unclear but officials said there were no reports of students being injured.

Meanwhile, Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari condemned the attack and ordered the school to carry out a full audit of students to find out how many are missing. Parents who dashed to the school to take their children home were also asked to

notify the school authorities.

Residents living near the all-boys boarding school in the Kankara area told the BBC they heard gunfire at about 23:00 (22:00 GMT) on Friday, and that the attack lasted for more than an hour.

Security personnel at the school managed to repel some of the attackers before Police reinforcements arrived, officials said.

In a statement on Saturday, Police said that during an exchange of fire, some of the gunmen were forced to retreat. Students were able to scale the fence of the school and run to safety, they said.

About 200 students who had fled - and were initially deemed missing - later returned. However, witnesses said they saw a number of students being taken away by the gunmen. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Vaccine refusal in Brazil grows to 22%, most reject Chinese shot – poll

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he share of Brazilians unwilling to take any COVID-19 vaccine grew to 22 per cent this week, from 9 per cent in August, and most said they would not accept one made in China, a new poll showed on Saturday, as President Jair Bolsonaro’s comments stoked wider scepticism.

The survey by pollster Datafolha found 73 per cent of respondents plan to take a shot and 5 per cent do not know if they will, compared to 89 per cent and 3 per cent,

respectively, in August.

Late last month, Bolsonaro said he would not take any coronavirus vaccine that becomes available. One of the world’s most prominent coronavirus sceptics, Bolsonaro said refusal was his “right” and expressed scepticism specifically about the vaccine developed by China’s Sinovac and produced in conjunction with Sao Paulo state Government’s Butantan Institute.

According to Datafolha,

only 47 per cent of participants would take a vaccine made in China, while 50 per cent said they would not take it and 3 per cent said they were undecided.

The figures showed a correlation between vaccine rejection and trust in President Bolsonaro. A total of 33 per cent of people who said they always trust Bolsonaro are unwilling to take a shot, against 16 per cent of those who say they would never trust the President. (Excerpt from Reuters)

British Navy to protect fishing waters in case of no-deal Brexit

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our Royal Navy patrol ships are on standby to protect Britain’s fishing waters in the event the Brexit transition period ends on Dec 31 without a deal on future ties with the European Union, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) said.

The move drew criticism from lawmakers in British Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s own Conservative Party, but was shrugged off by the French Government.

There are concerns about possible skirmishes between British and foreign fishing vessels if no trade deal is reached, with existing transitional rules that give EU boats access to British waters set to expire at the end of the year.

The 80-metre-long navy vessels will have the power to stop and inspect EU fishing boats operating within Britain’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ), which can extend 200 miles (320 km) from shore.

The Guardian newspaper

he United Nations chief has called on world leaders to declare states of “climate emergency” in their countries to spur action to avoid “catastrophic” global warming.

Antonio Guterres’s comments on Saturday came during his opening statement to the Climate Ambition Summit, a virtual gathering aimed at building momentum for much steeper cuts in planet-warming emissions on the fifth anniversary of the 2015 Paris climate accord. More than 70 world leaders are due to address the one-day summit.

In Paris, five years ago,

states promised to limit the rise in global temperature to 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) as much as possible, Guterres said via video-link. But he pointed out that the pledges made to meet that goal were insufficient, and in some cases were themselves being ignored.

The UN Secretary General warned that if the global community does not change course, the globe may be headed towards a “catastrophic” temperature increase of more than 3C (5.4F) this century.

The state of emergency should remain in place until carbon neutrality is

achieved, meaning that no more additional greenhouse gases are being pumped into the Earth’s atmosphere, Guterres said.

He said G20 nations – responsible for the lion’s share of carbon pollution – were spending 50 percent more in their rescue packages on sectors linked to fossil fuels than to low-carbon energy.

Chinese President Xi Jinping was among the world leaders addressing the summit, calling on the international community to support the Paris accord and make greater efforts to combat climate change. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Antigua Government says it cannot pay bonuses or advances to public sector workers

T

he Antigua and Barbuda Government said it will not be paying bonuses or making salary advances to public sector workers this Christmas, and blamed the situation this year on the impact caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

In a statement, the Gaston Browne Administration said that the Cabinet meeting on Thursday had reviewed the fiscal position of the Government, and the revenue intake of the treasury, the statutory corporations, and several Government authorities.

“The fiscal state of the Government is severely challenged as a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic, and its impact on economic activity since March 2020.

The Cabinet of Antigua and Barbuda has therefore determined that the treasury,

Antigua Prime Minister Gaston Browne

the statutory corporations, and the state’s several authorities are not now in a position to pay bonuses, or to make advances to staff.

“The difficult position in which the Government bodies find themselves commenced nearly nine months ago when borders were closed, and those conditions

will not dissipate for a few months yet,” the statement said.

It said that the Cabinet determined that the conditions in the major markets with which Antigua and Barbuda carries on trade, whether in goods or services, “are not likely to improve until after the first quarter of 2021.

Consequently, no bonus payments will be paid in 2020.

The statement said that the Government appreciates the forbearance and patience of all workers who may have counted on the bonuses and the advances which would normally have been paid.

The Government said that it will continue to engage the several bargaining agents of the workers on the issue of paying bonuses. (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

Mexico approves emergency use of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID vaccine

M

View of fishing boats and a net in the coastal town of Macduff, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, Britain October 18, 2020

reported earlier that two vessels would be deployed at sea with a further two on standby in case EU fishing boats entered the EEZ. Tobias Ellwood, a Conservative Party lawmaker who chairs the British Parliament’s defence select committee, called the move “irresponsible”.

A French Minister said on Thursday that France would compensate its fishermen and take other measures to

help them if talks on a trade deal collapsed, in an effort to avoid clashes at sea.

Britain quit the EU in January, but under the terms of its exit deal remains part of the bloc’s single market and customs union until a transition period expires on Dec 31.

Johnson and European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen said on Friday it was now unlikely a trade deal would be agreed. (Excerpt from Reuters)

exico has become the fourth country to approve the emergency use of the PfizerBioNTech COVID-19 vaccine.

“Mexico is the fourth country whose health agency, Cofepris, has given authorisation for emergency use of the Pfizer and BioNTech vaccine,” Deputy Health Minister Hugo Lopez-Gatell told a news conference on Friday. “This is a source of hope and tranquillity.”

The United Kingdom, Bahrain and Canada have already approved the vaccine, while the United State’s Food and Drug Administration also authorised its emergency use late on Friday.

Earlier this week, the

Mexican Government announced it would begin a vaccination drive against the coronavirus by the end of this month. It ordered the first batch of 250,000 doses to immunise 125,000 people, since the vaccine requires two shots.

Authorities said priority

will be given to medical staff battling on the front lines of the pandemic, and that the doses will be administered only in Mexico City and in the northern state of Coahuila, due to the specialist deep freeze and logistics requirements of the vaccine.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

guyanatimesgy.com

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2020

ARIES (March 21April 19)

29

Put your energy where it counts, do your research and work alongside someone you love, and good things will happen. A personal understanding will change the way you think about the future.

Get personal matters in TAURUS order.

A physical change will (April 20open your mind to alternaMay 20) tives you haven't considered.

Embrace new beginnings, and turn a negative into a positive.

Discuss current matters GEMINI (MAY 28- with a partner or the person your decisions will affect.

June 20) Expect someone to offer an empty promise. Have a backup plan in place. Take care of details personally.

CANCER Be careful about what you (June 21- share with others. Too much July 22) personal information can leave you in a vulnerable position.

Focus on self-improvement and spiritual growth.

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

VIRGO

(Aug. 23Sept. 22)

Dilbert LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

Peanuts

Discuss matters openly, and make decisions that will help you advance. Don't feel you have to follow someone who isn't heading in a direction compatible with your long-term plans.

A problem with a partner, friend or relative can lead to a situation that is difficult to reverse. Do your best to get along, help others and avoid stressful situations.

If someone close to you is in a bad mood, you are better off dodging a bullet and doing something you enjoy. An exciting option will be the direct result of something you learn.

Expand your mind, take an interest in something that you find gratifying and invest time in personal growth.

Reconnect with someone who shares your philosophy of life.

SAGITTARIUS Refuse to let anyone take (Nov. 23over or make decisions for you.

Dec. 21) Stand up and be heard, and

you will gain confidence. Home improvements will free you from a situation that is holding you back. Speak your mind.

CAPRICORN Spend more time cleaning up unfinished business or (Dec. 22Jan. 19) making physical changes that

will add to your comfort at home or build self-confidence.

New beginnings look inviting.

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Revise your resume, ap-

AQUARIUS ply for a new position or put (Jan. 20a plan in place that will help Feb. 19) you get ahead. A chance to raise your income and learn new skills looks promising.

PISCES Avoid arguments, chal(Feb. 20- lenges and people trying to Mar. 20) persuade you to do things you shouldn't. Make self-improvement a priority, and you will be happy with the results.

30

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2020

Tim Southee and Kyle Jamieson leave CLASSIFIED ADS West Indies staring at massive deficit FOR SALE

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ait until both teams have bowled before you judge a pitch.

In this case, the old adage wasn’t quite true, because it was evident right from the start of this Test match that this Basin Reserve track had everything a fast bowler could ask for: pace, bounce, seam movement. But it took until New Zealand bowled to show just how difficult batting on it could be, with their fast bowlers summoning up two things their West Indies counterparts had failed to find through 114 overs of toil: swing; and most importantly, relentless, probing accuracy.

With Henry Nicholls extending his overnight century to a career-best 174, and Neil Wagner celebrating his 50th Test with a riotous maiden half-century, New Zealand clattered 166 runs in the first 30 overs of day two to post a daunting 460. Then Tim Southee and Kyle Jamieson bagged the spoils of a brilliant, collective effort with the ball as West Indies stumbled to 124 for 8 by stumps.

Southee began the rout with the new ball, before Jamieson came on as second change, picked up his second five-for in just his fourth Test match, and ended the day with a Test bowling average of 13.77.

Southee searched for rhythm through his first over, spraying balls down the leg side or too wide of off, and Kraigg Brathwaite only had to play at one of his six balls. That over was a most misleading trailer to Southee and Trent Boult’s new-ball masterclass. Ball after ball, the batsmen had to calculate whether to go forward or back, whether the ball would swing or go with its initial angle, and whether to play or leave, and given the lack of time in which to come up with a coherent response, they usually ended up crease-bound and feeling hesitantly for the ball.

After Brathwaite nicked a Southee outswinger to first slip in the third over, John Campbell and Darren Bravo spent 8.3 agonising overs at the crease before Bravo spooned a return catch to Southee. In between, Southee left Campbell sprawled on the floor after smacking him in the groin with a ball that jagged into him with extra lift off the pitch Southee and Boult then gave way to Wagner

Jermaine Blackwood showed great fight with 69

and Jamieson, and there was no let-off in intensity. Jamieson’s first over took forever to finish, but only because of how good it was. Campbell drove at one slanting away from him and edged to second slip, before Jamieson bowled a stunned Roston Chase with the perfect first-ball yorker.

The next two balls produced massive lbw shouts.

The first was a yorker, the other a low full-toss, both swinging into Jermaine Blackwood and possibly down the leg side. New Zealand burned a review with the first one, thrilled by the prospect of a hattrick, and nearly burned another with the second, with ball-tracking returning an umpire’s call verdict. At 29 for 4, though, who would blame New Zealand for their excitement?

Then, for the next 26.2 overs, Shamarh Brooks and Blackwood offered the only real spell of resistance of West Indies’ innings.

Blackwood, as always, didn’t shy away from driving on the up, and his edge-of-theseat existence was complemented by Brooks’ watchful, soft-hands approach.

With the ball having lost its shine, it felt like the pitch was now at its best to bat on, but there was no drop in pressure even as Blackwood drove and slashed his way to a 70-ball half-century to follow his hundred in the first Test. Wagner, not among the wickets, played a key role in ensuring that the partnership run rate didn’t get out of control, setting strong legside fields and examining the batsmen’s techniques with a mix of skiddy and steeply rising short balls.

The breakthrough came via Jamieson, who delivered an in-ducker off the seam to bowl Brooks while he shouldered arms. Having broken through, New Zealand pinned West Indies to the mat. Hard hands ended

Blackwood’s innings as Southee got one to straighten and climb at the shoulder of his defensive bat, before Jason Holder miscued a pull to mid-on off Jamieson, who completed his five-for in the same over by nicking off Alzarri Joseph.

The day had begun with West Indies hoping to keep New Zealand down to a reasonable first-innings total, but Nicholls, Jamieson, Wagner and a rash of missed chances ensured they wouldn’t.

New Zealand lost two wickets in the first session, both to Alzarri Joseph, who came on immediately after the drinks break and created chances with his angle from wide of the crease.

Jamieson nicked to second slip while looking to drive on the up, and Southee played on - much like BJ Watling on day one - while cramped for room by the angle and extra bounce.

Either side of that, though, it was all New Zealand, with Nicholls sealing up one end entirely. The luck that defined his batting on day one seemed to continue when he inside-edged Shannon Gabriel past his stumps early in the morning, but he grew increasingly fluent thereafter, picking up frequent singles and twos to the deep fielders square on both sides of the wicket.

Through the first hour, Nicholls had the company of Jamieson, whose eye, solid fundamentals, and height frustrated yet another Test attack - he came into this innings with scores of 44, 49 and 51* in his three previous innings at this level with West Indies searching for a plan against him. It took until the first over after drinks for Joseph to find the right length, straightening a delivery that tested Jamieson’s tendency to drive balls on the up.

Three overs before that,

Jason Holder had found his edge by inviting a back-foot punch away from the body, only for Campbell to put him down at second slip. It was the first of three dropped catches in the session; Chemar Holder and Chase later put Wagner down in successive overs, both at fine leg, off Gabriel and Joseph, when he was on 20 and 21 respectively.

Both misses were the result of miscued hooks. West Indies kept bowling short at Wagner, a n d while

t h a t produced chances and a blow to the helmet when he missed a pull off Joseph - he attacked the short balls and found the boundary, both off the sweet

spot - such as a pulled six off Joseph and a baseball-style swat through midwicket off Jason Holder - and the edge, and West Indies lost any semblance of control they might have had earlier in the morning.

New Zealand kept rattling along after lunch, with both Nicholls and Wagner unleashing powerful drives to the cover boundary on their way to reaching their respective highest scores, with Wagner bringing up his fifty off just 36 balls. The partnership - 95 off 73 finally came to an end when Nicholls drove hard at Chase’s offspin and found a diving Brathwaite at short extra-cover. Then Boult came in and fell third ball to another diving catch, from Brooks at midwicket, but not before slogging Chase for a first-ball six over wide longon. (ESPNCricinfo)

SCOREBOARD NEW ZEALAND 1ST INNINGS Tom Latham (c) c †Da Silva b Holder 27 Tom Blundell b Gabriel 14 Will Young c Holder b Gabriel 43 Ross Taylor c †Da Silva b Gabriel 9 Henry Nicholls c Brathwaite b Chase 174 BJ Watling † b Joseph 30 Daryl Mitchell lbw b Holder 42 Kyle Jamieson c Holder b Joseph 20 Tim Southee b Joseph 11 Neil Wagner not out 66 Trent Boult c Brooks b Chase 6 Extras (b 2, lb 7, w 9) 18 TOTAL (114 Ov, RR: 4.03, 535 Mts) 460 Fall of wickets: 1-31 (Tom Blundell, 6.5 ov), 2-63 (Tom Latham, 17.1 ov), 3-78 (Ross Taylor, 20.3 ov), 4-148 (Will Young, 42.1 ov), 5-203 (BJ Watling, 57.4 ov), 6-286 (Daryl Mitchell, 80.6 ov), 7-336 (Kyle Jamieson, 97.3 ov), 8-359 (Tim Southee, 101.2 ov), 9-454 (Henry Nicholls, 113.3 ov), 10460 (Trent Boult, 113.6 ov) BOWLING O-M-R-W Shannon Gabriel 26-7-93-3 Jason Holder 27-6-85-0 Alzarri Joseph 22-2-109-3 Chemar Holder 26-1-110-2 Roston Chase 13-1-54-2

WEST INDIES 1ST INNINGS Kraigg Brathwaite c Taylor b Southee 0 John Campbell c Latham b Jamieson 14 Darren Bravo c & b Southee 7 Shamarh Brooks b Jamieson 14 Roston Chase b Jamieson 0 Jermaine Blackwood c Latham b Southee 69 Jason Holder (c) c Boult b Jamieson 9 Joshua Da Silva † not out 2 Alzarri Joseph c †Watling b Jamieson 0 Chemar Holder not out 5 Extras (lb 3, w 1) 4 TOTAL (52 Ov, RR: 2.38) 124/8 Yet to bat: Shannon Gabriel Fall of wickets: 1-0 (Kraigg Brathwaite, 2.2 ov), 2-22 (Darren Bravo, 10.6 ov), 3-29 (John Campbell, 14.3 ov), 4-29 (Roston Chase, 14.4 ov), 5-97 (Shamarh Brooks, 40.6 ov), 6-111 (Jermaine Blackwood, 45.6 ov), 7-117 (Jason Holder, 48.3 ov), 8-117 (Alzarri Joseph, 48.6 ov) BOWLING O-M-R-W Tim Southee 16-6-29-3 Trent Boult 12-4-32-0 Neil Wagner 11-5-26-0 Kyle Jamieson 13-4-34-5

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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2020

31

GBA appoints new Executive Committee …Airbadminton for launch this week

A

fresh batch of players and administrators has stepped up to serve on the Executive Committee of the Guyana Badminton Association (GBA).

The Executive Management Committee of the GBA was appointed on Thursday last, during their Biennial General Meeting which was hosted at the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) Headquarters, Liliendaal.

The Guyana Badminton Association held their Biennial General Meeting on Thursday 10, 2020 at the Guyana Olympic Association Headquarters, Block XXX Plantation Liliendaal.

The Executive Management Committee elected

The Committee that will serve from 2021-2022, sees Gokarn Ramdhani returning as President

of the Association and Ayanna Watson serving as Vice President. Emelia Ramdhani is Secretary, while Dr. Shivanne Persaud is Assistant Secretary and Darrell Carpenay is Treasurer.

Assistant Treasurer Marlon Chung and Committee Members Ryan Chang and Ernesto ChooA-Fat, completes the committee.

On the other hand, the Sub-Committee comprises of the Emergency Committee (Disciplinary): Dr. Anna Perrreira, the Selection Committee (Players/Teams): Chet Bowlen, the Fixtures Committee (Matches & Competitions): Dr. Easa Sanichara, Fund Rasing Committee: Christine Kumar, National Captain: Akili Haynes and International Captain: Narayan Ramdhani.

‘Airbadminton- The New Outdoor Game’

Following a grand international launch, the Guyana Badminton Association (GBA) will be jump starting their ‘Air Badminton, The New Outdoor Game’ Programme on Thursday, December 17 at the National Park, Georgetown. It is the hope of the association that they will be able to launch with Demos and the general public are invited along with seasoned Badminton players. The event is expected to run from 16:00hrs to 18:00hrs.

During the past week, the Badminton World Federation (BWF) and HSBC jointly launched a new outdoor game, AirBadminton, and a new outdoor shuttlecock, the AirShuttle, at a global launch ceremony outside

GFF to develop Guyana’s first professional league with support of UEFA and CONCACAF

The newly appointed Executive Management Committee of the GBA

the Tianhe Gymnasium in Guangzhou, China.

AirBadminton is an ambitious new development project in partnership with HSBC, BWF’s Global Development Partner, designed to create opportunities for people of all ages and ability to play badminton on hard, grass and sand surfaces in parks, gardens, streets, playgrounds and beaches around the world.

The project has been five years in the making,

starting with a vision to develop a new outdoor shuttlecock with increased durability, stability and wind resistance to allow people to have a more positive experience of badminton outdoors.

“This is a momentous occasion for badminton.

Strategically, AirBadminton will allow to fulfil our overall objective of putting a badminton racket in the hands of as many people as possible.

“Given that most people’s first experience with badminton comes in an outdoor environment, we are now making it easier for everyone to access the sport through a new outdoor game and new shuttlecock, the AirShuttle.

“In the future, we see AirBadminton as an exciting, new, energetic version of the sport. Overall, the aim is to inspire more people to play more badminton in more places.”

Final leg of GCF Time Trials set for today in Berbice – female category added

T

Head of International Relations at UEFA, Eva Pasquier

GFF President Wayne Forde

he Guyana Football Federation (GFF), with the support of UEFA and CONCACAF as part of its ongoing partnership with the two Confederations, will in 2021 be creating its first professional football league.

Under the historic agreement to develop the league, the GFF will receive support from European football administrative and competitions experts to explore and define the most appropriate approach for establishing the required infrastructure, football standards, technical capacity and commercial ecosystem.

“The UEFA professional league development project represents a further deepening of the sturdy relationship the GFF has developed with UEFA through its Assist programme,” said GFF President Wayne Forde. “I am truly excited about the level of access we will now have to specific league development expertise and experience. The timing could not have been any better, with Guyana now set to become the epicentre of regional commerce. I am very optimis-

fully lead to a new era for professional club football in Guyana in the future,” she said.

Adding his voice to the enterprise, Concacaf Senior Projects Manager, Howard McIntosh, said the initiative was “a great opportunity for the GFF to make a big step towards launching a professional football league in the country.”

“We are always keen to support our member federations and the creation of a professional league has been the ambition of GFF President Wayne Forde for some time. We are delighted that we have been able to agree the launch of a new project in partnership with UEFA Assist to help the GFF put in place the necessary systems and processes to launch such a competition.”

The GFF has built a strong relationship with European football’s governing body through the UEFA Assist programme, which has included the acquisition of minibuses for the GFF Academy Training Centres and Guyana’s recent participation in the UEFA “Bounceback” return-to-play initiative.

tic about the prospect of a sustainable professional league.

“We have to now take our time and build a league from the bottom up. This starts with the cultivation of a professional culture within our clubs, investment in playing venues and building the management capacities needed to operate the league as a business.”

Head of International Relations at UEFA, Eva Pasquier, who has been paying a pivotal role in the GFF/UEFA relationship, said: “One of the emerging opportunities from the recent Bounceback project between the GFF and UEFA Assist, in partnership with Concacaf, is the development of a strong senior league in Guyana, which will provide competitive football for the best young talent in the country. This will become a key part of the player pathway for the GFF and we have agreed with Concacaf to launch a new project in 2021, designed to help the Federation set up an elite league in the country.

“This is an exciting step for the GFF and will hope-

T

Balram Narine will be eager to finish with the best time

he final leg of the Guyana Cycling Federation (GCF) time trial is set for today (Sunday December 13) in in teh ancient county of Berbice. Earlier in the week, the popular Benjamin’s Bakery has thrown its full support behind the time trial.

This time trial in Berbice will be held in memory of the late champion cyclist Wilbert Benjamin, whose demise was due to an accident that occurred earlier this year, and the ‘race’ is expected to pedal off at 9:00h from Palmyra and finish

at Benjamin’s Sport and Fitness Centre at Fyrish.

This event will witness three categories of contestants: the open, veterans and juveniles. Awards will be given to the first three top cyclists in the open category. The first three juveniles and veterans would also receive awards. Additionally, the female catgory was added thanks to cyclist Kwame Ridley who has supported this category.

In the first two Time Trials, Marlon Williams and Briton John clocked the respective best times in the events held on the

East Coast of Demerara, followed by the Linden leg.

The GCF had been granted permission by the relevant authorities to host these races. During the opening leg, all cyclists were required to undergo a temperature test and wear a face mask, which had been made available.

Social-distancing protocols were also observed, and are expected to continue at these racing events.

Cyclists are asked to be prompt, and those interested in participating in this Berbice leg are invited to contact Randolph Roberts on 628-8211.

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

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2020

guyanatimesgy.com

GCB/Tropical Springs Water O-40 T20 tournament...

Ifill’s all-round brilliance leads Regal Masters to title 3 in 16.5 overs, after the West Demerara team posted 119-8 in their alloted 20 overs.

Earlier, the umpires made their way out at 13:38 hours for the start of play and after a few minutes, the match got underway. It is un -

By Brandon Corlette

T

he fitter team prevailed in the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Tropical Spring Water Over-40 T20 tournament and it was the Regal Masters who defeated the West Demerara Masters by seven wickets in the grand finale at the crowd-

Ramesh Thakur had a solid start, scoring 53 runs in 9.4 overs. Thakur was the first dismissed via the run-out route for a run-a-ball 27, including one six. One-run later, Persaud was trapped in

ter with the no reduction of overs in the game. The burly Elroy Fernandes and Chabraj Ramcharan added 31 runs for the third wicket partnership but Anthony Ifill and Eon Abel opened the floodgates

Ifill was the best bowler ons show with his 2-11 in three overs, including one maiden while Abel had similar figures of 2-11 as the Regal boys restricted the West Demerara-based team to 119-8 in their allot-

for a shot-filled 35, decorated with three fours and one six.

One run later, Roy Persaud was sent packing for a duck at 61-2 in 7.3 overs.

The West Demeara Masters dropped a few catches but Ifill struggling with a hamstring, stuck around for the Regal team. His innings of 36 came to an end

ed

ng his

uri ling d w o b bel

Eon A

Everest Cricket Ground.

Anthony Ifill was the star of the show with a hard fought 36 after he claimed 2-11 to halt the West Demerara Masters. Regal ended on 120-

2-11

The championship team Regal Masters pose with GCB Secretary Anand Sanasie (far right) Ifill a nd hi s (Bran don C team mat es orlette photo celebratin s) why front by David Dick for 24, with some quick wickets. ed 20 gaw i

clear the match did not start a bit earlier since the ground looked in better condition in contrast yesterday’s semi-final in the afternoon, when one team claimed the ground was unfit and unsafe to play.

West Demerara Masters openers Ganesh Persaud and

which included two fours as West Demerara Masters were restricted to 54-2.

At 56-2 after 10.4 overs the rain intervened at 14:27 hours. The umpires went out at 14:43 hours and the players made their way onto the field three minutes af-

West Demerara Masters slumped to 90-6 in 16.2 overs after they were 85-3 looking to set a daunting total. The steaming right-arm speedster, Ifill sent Fernandes stumps rolling for 13 while Ramcharan top-scored with 29, including two sixes.

overs.

A balzing 60-run opening partnership between Ifill and Chien Gittens set the tone early for the Regal Masters. It was until the end of the seventh over when West Demerara Masters tasted success, removing Gittens

with t h e cket score o n 9 5 - 3 but the game was already in Regal’s pockets. Fiaz Mohammed’s unbeaten 26 and David Dick’s 17 ensured Regal ended with the championship win after 16.5 overs.

GFF Ordinary Congress…

Motions of MFAB virtual congress passed T

he Guyana Football Federation (GFF) on Saturday hosted their annual Ordinary Congress where they set out to amend certain aspects of their constitution, while giving the go ahead for certain plans that will benefit Regional Member Associations, Clubs and players.

GFF’s Ian Alves described the Congress as successful, saying, “We had a very successful congress. We achieved what set out to.”

On the other hand, the GFF President Wayne Forde had much more to say about the day’s proceedings which was hosted at the Pegasus Hotel, Georgetown.

Speaking at a press briefing following the conclusion of the Congress, Forde said, “We’re very optimistic about the improving situation across and we look forward to getting back to on field activities, within the context of our bounce back program that we’ve been preparing in partnership with UEFA and I would like to encourage our members, until such time that the requisite approval has been granted from the COVID-19 task force that we continue to be safe and to operate

GFF President Wayne Forde (C), is flanked by members displaying the Laptop computers.

within the guidelines that have been issued by the authorities.”

Zeroing in on what the GFF and it’s members were able to achieve on Saturday, it was revealed that the Administration has been given the

greenlight to continue its Member Financial Assistance Program (MFAB), which according to Forde, got a head start some time ago.

“We put to the members the MFAP regulations, that’s a new

funding project that we launched and they have also approved the regulations which have quite a bit of compliance for the Regional Associations, the affiliates and the Elite league clubs who will be

entitled now to equipment funding and support,” the GFF boss shared with media operatives.

He went on to disclose, ““It started last year when our members received their first payment and we were waiting here to do it before the other payments are released to the associations.”

The Associations will reportedly receive sometime $50,000 per month for operations with added costs for competition funding and senior leagues. In addition, Member Associations were presented with Laptop computers.

Meanwhile, the GFF also sought to amend their constitution with regard to how their congress’ are hosted, entering into the digital age.

“We now have amended the constitution to allow the GFF to host it’s congress virtually. FIFA made that amendment when the did the September congress and all the MA’s are being guided to adopt similar changes to their constitution. As it is our statutes does not allow to host a congress virtually; it is now because all the members approved that motion,” Forde revealed.

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