Guyana Times - Sunday, June 12, 2022

Darrel Pugsley: The man behind the music P15

Nationwide coverage coverage from from the the best best news news team team in in Guyana Guyana Nationwide Issue No. 5037 guyanatimesgy.com

THE BEACON BEACON OF OF TRUTH TRUTH THE

SUNDAY, JUNE 12, 2022

Collective action needed to address regional food security challenges – Pres Ali

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

Man confesses to murdering duo 3 months ago – says was offered $2M to shoot victims

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– points out dangers to regional food security at Summit of the Americas

Phase 1 of Exxon’s Shore Base facility at Vreed-en-Hoop to commence by month-end – to employ 100 workers, including locals Page 9

Registration for children’s disability P10 grant begins Wednesday Teens drown in Queens NY while swimming with friends P25

Zheng-He, one of the vessels that arrived in Guyana to commence the first phase of the ExxonMobil Shore Base facility at Vreed-en-Hoop

Govt rolls out COVID vaccines for children aged 5-11 See story on page 23

– parents welcome initiative in light of schools reopening

AFC’s National Executive Conference

Party to remain in coalition as Ramjattan returned as leader Page 7

– Cathy Hughes elected Chair, Sherod Duncan new General Secretary

Businessman calls on Top Cop to investigate slanderous social media post P31

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SUNDAY, JUNE 12, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

NEWS

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SUNDAY, JUNE 12, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS

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

Sunday, June 12 – 01:30h – 03:00h and Monday, June 13 – 02:00h – 03:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Sunday, June 12 – 14:40h – 16:10h and Monday, June 13 – 15:40h – 17:10h.

Collective action needed to address regional food security challenges – Pres Ali

– points out dangers to regional food security at Summit of the Americas

FERRY SCHEDULE

Parika and Supenaam departure times – 05:00h, 10:00h-12:00h, 16:00h, 18:30h daily

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High Tide: 15:01h reaching a maximum height of 2.59 metres.

Low Tide: 08:32h and 20:48h reaching minimum heights of 0.52 metre and 0.63 metre.

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President Dr Irfaan Ali

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oting the potential of the region to provide abundant land and water resources for ensuring food security, President Dr Irfaan Ali while attending the Ninth Summit of the Americas in Los Angeles, California, urged the region to work together in addressing these regional challenges.

During his address on Friday, the President gave statistics on food security, or lack thereof, in the region and around the world. Reference was made to the fact that in 2019, 47.7 million people in Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) countries lived in hunger. President Ali noted the importance of collective action in addressing all the challenges to the region, from food security to good governance.

“In 2019, 47.4 per cent of the population in LAC countries, lived in hunger. This is 47.7 million people. The situation is getting worse. Over the last five years, with an increase in 13.2 million people, by 2030, it is expected that 67 million people in the

region will be affected by hunger. A figure that does not include the repercussions of COVID-19.”

“In 2019, almost a third of the population, 191 million people, were affected by moderate or severe food insecurity. All of this is occurring whilst in this region, in the upper tier of countries that are considered food secure, we have six countries listed,” President Ali said.

He also touched on the threats that climate change poses to the region.

Between 2015 and 2019, for instance, crop duration actually shortened in central and South America. According to the President, climate change, extreme events, and changes in climatic patterns, are expected to cost the region hundreds of billions of US dollars annually.

“Between 2015 and 2019, crop duration between sowing and harvest, for soy, shortened by 4.7 per cent in central America, 3.1 per cent in North West South America, 2.7 per cent in South East South America, while growth duration for maize in that same period declined by 5 per cent in Central America, 5.2 per cent in South West South America,” the President said.

“These changes will continue to disrupt established cycles and yields.

The number of extreme weather events in central America, has increased 3 per cent annually in the last 20 years. The Amazon, the world’s largest reservoir of biodiversity and carbon, is described as highly vulnerable to drought.”

In fact, Ali warned that exposure to drought has increased from 8 per cent between 2004 and 2005, to 16 per cent in 2015 to 2018. This, he noted, has led to increased tree mortality and declined productivity in the forests.

Guyana has so far emerged as a leader in regional food security,

chairing the Caribbean Community (Caricom) Special Ministerial Task Force on food production and food security, hosting the recently concluded Agri-Investment Forum and Expo and articulating the “25 per cent by 2025” strategy, which has its genesis in the Guyana Government’s aggressive campaign to dismantle regional barriers to agricultural trade.

President Ali has said that in the next four years, with the assistance of more diversified crops, Guyana would aim to reduce Caricom’s food import bill by 25 per cent. To this end, the President had made a comprehensive presentation to regional heads on food security strategies during Caricom’s 33rd Inter-Sessional Meeting in March.

Months after assuming office, President Ali had charged the Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Ministry to assess and address the hurdles related to exporting food and agricultural products to markets within the region. As such, concerns about barriers to trade in some Caricom markets were raised with the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) earlier this year.

The Ministry subsequently formed a National Working Group on Barriers to Trade against Exports from Guyana. According to the assessment on market access by the Working Group, most of the challenges found were related to technical measures including sanitary and phytosanitary measures. It also found several technical and administrative regulations that were all hampering the export of Guyanese products.

The Second Plenary of Summit of the Americas was held in California, United States, under the theme: “Building a Sustainable, Resilient, and Equitable Future”. The summit came to an end on Friday.

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SUNDAY, JUNE 12, 2022

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

The War’s spillover

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s the war in Ukraine grinds into its fifth month, it has brought home the implications of the cliché that says the world is now a global village. In his second report, UN Chief, Antonio Guterres, warned on Wednesday that 1.6 billion people are likely to be affected as "the war's impact on food security, energy, and finance is systemic, severe, and speeding up." On the food front, with Russia and Ukraine supplying one-quarter of the world’s supply of wheat and the former’s shipping outlet on the Black Sea blockaded, flour prices in almost every country in the world, including Guyana, have skyrocketed.

But the report says that, for many poor countries, it is more than a question of flour prices, and hunger has already escalated. The war may increase the number of food-insecure people by 47 million in 2022, bringing it to 323 million by the end of the year, with an estimated 58 million more Africans falling into poverty.

Extreme poverty in the Middle East and North Africa could increase by 2.8 million people; while, in South Asia, 500 million people are at risk, according to the report. One bit of good news is that India, seen traditionally as a foodchallenged country, has accumulated massive stocks of wheat, and has increased its export of the food staple.

The day before the UN Secretary General’s Report was published, the World Bank had issued a warning about the war’s effect on the overall global economy. The Washington-based multilateral institution cut its forecast for global economic expansion in 2022 further, warning that several years of above-average inflation and belowaverage growth lie ahead, with potentially destabilising consequences for low- and middle-income economies.

“The world economy is again in danger,” President David Malpass said in the foreword of the latest edition of the lender’s “Global Economic Prospects” report, released on Tuesday. “It is facing high inflation and slow growth at the same time. Even if a global recession is averted, the pain of stagflation could persist for several years -- unless major supply increases are set in motion.”

This stagflation is reminiscent of the 1970s, which had led to the collapse of many economies, especially in Latin America and Guyana. The World Bank is therefore advising that a steeper-than-anticipated policy-tightening may now again be required to rein in inflation; and this might trigger a hard landing. With our GDP growth rate projected to be in the 40% range into next year, our policymakers in the Bank of Guyana would have to diligently monitor our inflation rates, and use every tool at their disposal to keep them in check.

Another danger lies in the disruption of the financial system, occasioned by the Western sanctions on Russian banking processes, capital, and oil payments combined with massive Chinese loans for infrastructure arranged in very opaque circumstances. With emerging and developing economies’ debt at multi-decade highs, the World Bank is also worried that “the associated rise in global borrowing costs and exchange-rate depreciations may trigger financial crises as it did in the early 1980s.”

From a wider perspective, the Ukraine war is also accelerating in the world order systemic changes that were precipitated by China’s astounding economic rise after becoming “America’s Factory”, following US President Nixon’s bringing in that country out of the cold in 1972. Fifty years later, China presents the US, under democratic or Republican administrations, with its greatest challenges, not only economically and financially, but militarily. Without any question, we are in the midst of a new Cold War. As the Ukraine War is dragged out and sanctions against Russian start to bite, Russia will not only seek to become more self-sufficient by using the extra revenues from higher oil prices, but may turn to China and boost that country’s rise. Their ruble-yuan exchanges are already bypassing dollar hegemony.

For us in Guyana, we have to be cognisant of our historic vulnerabilities as a small nation trying to navigate through the treacherous waters of big power international politics.

President Dr Irfaan Ali swayed to the rhythm on Friday evening when he and First Lady Arya Ali engaged Guyanese living in Los Angeles, California. The event, organised by the Guyana Consulate there, was also attended by Prime Minister of Barbados, Mia Mottley; Guyana's Ambassador in Washington, Samuel Hinds; and Foreign Secretary Robert Persaud. President Ali was in Los Angeles to attend the IX Summit of the Americas

Electoral integrity must be the root of our democracy

Dear Editor, Foremost, it must be acknowledged that there is much work to be done to improve and strengthen Guyana’s democratic framework. This is given the significant abuse and damage resulting from the March 2020 elections fiasco and its related undercurrents. While the recently released Electoral Integrity Global Report 2019-2021 influences perceptive reactions, its limitations include a lack of pronouncements on causal factors and assumptions made by the evaluators in their consideration of circumstances requiring clear delineation.

Notably, the Guyana process received a low comparative global measure in the Report, but its implications for many relevant stakeholders determine why the absoluteness of the measurement demands and necessitates the need for further internal interrogation. In particular, the score focuses on evaluations over the last three years, and does not reflect the work done by the current PPPC Administration since returning to Government.

Certainly, it is appropriate that dependability of the findings for current reference also considers the improvement undertaken since August 2020.

Notwithstanding, it is obvious that the low score was influenced by, and recorded under, the desperate effort by the PNC/APNU/

AFC Coalition Government to rig the 2020 National and Regional Elections.

The flagrant self-sacrificial role played by key employees of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) justified damning global condemnations and jurisdictional electoral charges. But one must not pretend, however, that the problem was not incentivised by other internal accommodations of central players in the then Coalition Government.

A revamped GECOM must improve its image, supported by rational and practical, legally-enforceable changes to improve its transparent delivery of free and fair elections.

There is no doubt that elections are indeed central to our democracy. Free and fair elections must, at all times, realise the peaceful transition of power to that political party the majority of voting citizens support.

Today, it is recognised that even many die-hards of the opposing PNCR regime are in acceptance of the plain truth, evidenced by the recount results.

Consequently, more civic participation in the struggle for free and fair elections is being experienced.

Although the circumstance demands an almost imbued cultural factional change, those who portray a behaviour of immunity to rigging must get civilised, and work in harmony for the betterment of our people and country.

Critically, voter intim-

idation can lead to low voter turnout, thereby increasing barriers to transparent voting responses. These have been the hallmark of the PNC’s behaviour for decades. Many of their leading activists have engaged, and continue to engage, in issuing widespread threats of violence, including the burning of the capital city.

Certainly, these undercurrents must be halted, and the threat of post-election violence must be made a thing of the past.

Our electoral procedures must be objectively reviewed where appropriate, and carefully establish policies for compliance encouraged to aid GECOM’s execution of its mandate in the delivery of acceptable, integrity-driven, free and fair elections’ results.

Editor, the presence of continued lawlessness and irrationality evidence the period from the successful passing of the December 21, 2018 no-confidence motion to the almost forceable ejection of the APNU/ AFC cabal, some of whom continue a persistence of internal self-conviction.

There must be stronger consequential actions to strengthen the enforcement of our electoral laws.

Further, ensuring clear electoral procedures, accurate district boundaries, improving voter education and registration clarity; political party registration; encouraging wide media coverage; defining the limitations of cam-

paign financing, the voting process, and the vote count approach will serve to ensure the early release of results. Therefore, the GECOM electoral authority must be clear as regards the role and delivery expected of the Secretariat staff, as well as from the GECOM Commissioners.

The recent GECOM advertisement of vacancies for polling day staff is most welcome. Presiding officers, assistant presiding officers, poll clerks, ballot clerks/ counting assistants, and information clerks must be fully trained. Notwithstanding this, carefully-thought-out criteria must be used to guide the selection and retaining of these responding persons for employment.

Those employed must be men and women with integrity. The forward movement of GECOM in this respect must be applauded.

It is a clear signal that the overdue Local Government Elections (LGEs) are likely to be called, and this MUST be realised as early as possible.

It is crucial that GECOM purposefully develop a cadre of efficient and tooled staff who will be ready to professionally execute its mandate.

Those who are calling for GECOM’s flexibility now were among those who were dumb deflectors, who contributed to the riggers keeping their knees on our people's necks for five long months.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

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SUNDAY, JUNE 12, 2022

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Op-ed Responsibilities of political Opposition being included in governance require participation

By Ron Cheong

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All hands required on board

long with the frenetic pace of development and opportunity in Guyana comes unprecedented challenges, the management of which will call on every ounce of human capital available.

There is a heavy legislative agenda underway, with much more waiting to get into the pipeline. And the Public Service, which is the administrative link in the chain, is facing a torrent of myriad developmental and social projects to implement, regulate, and monitor. This is on top of the already heavy load it is carrying.

The Private Sector is also moving into uncharted territory with the new types of business activities, business models, and forms of ownership requiring new rules and clear guidelines that allow them to carry on efficient and profitable activities within defined boundaries and with clear legal compliance.

There are roads and bridges to build, which, apart from the economic benefit, bring people closer physically and socially. Creative and equitable poverty reduction programmes are being conceived and rolled out. The economy is being diversified, and agriculture is being given renewed focus. There are initiatives in health care, education, housing, and many other areas.

In addition to this busy developmental and social agenda, the country is faced with an array of external and internal challenges in the forms of: territorial claims; drainage, irrigation and sea defences; violent crime, safety, security and policing; sanitation; fiscal management; transshipment of drugs; environmental concerns. The list of issues is long and demanding.

Navigating these challenges and transitions could be made a lot more manageable, given the political will. But this requires that all hands, including the political Opposition, be on board.

Inclusive governance involves the conscientious acceptance of responsibility

Against this backdrop, it was disappointing to see recently that, when presented with the opportunity to consult and nominate board members to the commissions for Integrity, Judiciary, Police and Teaching, the Opposition said that they have no time. This is irresponsible, and counter to national interests, to say the least.

It is obstructive, and is a disservice to country. In addition, it is unsupportive of the voices of the very constituency the Opposition claims to represent.

A constructive Opposition

While the role of the Opposition is to question Government’s actions, to present alternatives to Government’s positions, and to represent a viable alternative to the Government, the privileges and funding for performing the role of the official Opposition also come with duties and obligations.

It is expected that they oppose policies thought to be wrong or counter-productive. But the Opposition also has a duty to advocate policies and programmes that contribute to thoughtful and beneficial development of the country, including areas such as supporting the strengthening and enhancement of depth and quality of the Public Service.

Enhancing and sustaining the administrative and oversight architecture is key to the country’s functioning. But, as mentioned, the Opposition unfortunately did not consider the effort to work on the commissions mentioned worthwhile.

Balance between showing up the Government and the national interest

It is shortsighted to strategise that being without representation on commissions, which in itself reflects a lack of support for enhancing the Public Service in general, will force Government initiatives to stall out. And that there is some political advantage to be gained from this.

This type of short-term political expediency is counter to the interests of the country, including the interests of the very communities the Opposition claims to represent. Not only is this detrimental to all Guyanese, it may well backfire, as people see it for what it is.

Human capital, opportunities, initiatives, and challenges

Any country’s management puts strains on its Government. This is true even under normal circumstances. Guyana’s unprecedented accelerated trajectory multiplies the demands several-fold.

But Guyana’s challenges come with great opportunities to the benefit of the country and the people. The country has long been recognised for its great potential and the collective talents, abilities, generosity and hospitality of its people.

In response, a large number of initiatives are in the pipeline or are in various stages of development - initiatives such as social programmes to assist people set back by dislocations in the economy, and efforts to make electricity costs lower for industry and individuals.

The time is here, the opportunity is here, and the need is here to harness and deploy all the human capital the country possesses to get the necessary work done to the benefit of the entire country.

The road forward for all Guyanese is greater collaboration, and engendering a sense of national pride and cohesion.

Tourism is a powerful engine of development in small economies Dear Editor, In a study of 41 small economies from all around the world, the most developed, according to the Human Development Index, is Iceland, which is a remarkable fourth in the world rankings. The most successful small economy over the last 30 years was Mauritius, which had the fastest gain in human development, ending in the top category of Very High Human Development.

Both Iceland and Mauritius earn most of the foreign currency that powers their economy from tourism.

Tourism earnings for Iceland are more than twice as large as exports of fish and aluminum, the other main export activities. In the case of Mauritius, tourism earnings were one-third higher than exports of textiles, clothing and other manufactured goods.

Tourism is an important contributor to foreign currency earnings in seven of the top ten countries in my worldwide survey, judged by rankings in the most recent Human Development Index together with development gains over recent decades.

There are many reasons why tourism proves so effective in promoting development in small economies. To begin with, wages in tourism are higher than in agriculture, clothing, and light manufacturing, when one takes account of gratuities.

The range of skills required is just as wide, and opportunities for skills enhancement are, if anything, more attractive.

The tourist industry is an equal opportunity employer with far more openings for women that pay equally than for agriculture or manufacturing. Employment in hotels and tourist establishments can open a world of information and prospects for advancement. A job in an international hotel chain often presents opportunities far beyond what the small local economy can offer, and informal and personal networks multiply the possibilities manyfold.

Hotels and restaurants purchase a larger proportion of domestic services out of every dollar earned than for agriculture, and no less than for most manufacturing. These services include electricity, cleaning, waste disposal, security, transportation and storage, as well as newer requirements, such as Internet connectivity.

Tourism supports a rich small enterprise economy of

restaurants, eateries, pubs and bars, spas, craft markets, art galleries and shopping complexes.

The revival of popular culture worldwide owes much to tourism. The treasures of the cultural heritage on which we look back with nostalgia were born of the hard times and deprivation of the past, something which those of us who experienced it are happy to have escaped. This heritage is in danger of extinction because, in the Caribbean, we no longer have desperately poor people whose only hope of celebrating festivals and special occasions is by way of street masquerades at which they can pass the hat. It is the curiosity of visitors which provides audiences for cultural practitioners to recreate the traditions of old.

The economy of music and spectacle that is manifest in the carnivals of the Caribbean and its diaspora owes its existence to tourism. Entertainers, musicians, singers, songwriters, producers, technicians, organisers and others are able to make their livelihood in this economy. It is an industry that transcends borders, and wherein providers, consumers and participants typically travel and fuel tourist spending locally during the events.

Hotels and restaurants also provide a small but significant market for fresh fish, fruits and vegetables of high and consistent quality, quality meats, and organically grown products. There is also a selective demand for unique and high-quality furniture, furnishings, and other manufactured goods.

The producers of these items should not need the protection of high tariffs or government bans of competing imports. Their products will sell to tourist establishments and locals alike on the merits of their superior quality or flavour.

The ancillary economy of tourist attractions provides employment opportunities for tour operators, guides, security personnel, artists, artisans and vendors of souvenirs and small items.

Farmers and distillers can also tap into this market, with guided tours, tastings and special activities to provide a bit of additional revenue.

A vibrant tourist industry can provide an incentive for small enterprises to develop sports, cultural and personal services. These include activities that require little by way of investment, such as hair braiding; as well as those which re-

quire some capital, such as stadiums, racing tracks, zip lines, surfing and scuba diving.

My study provides evidence to suggest that tourism is no more volatile than any other export. Overall, GDP in countries that depend heavily on tourism does not fluctuate from year to year. In the wake of global recessions, as well as hurricanes and natural disasters, these economies recover just as rapidly as exporters of manufactures and agriculture. COVID-19 does not have to be an exception.

Worldwide, people are eager to travel, but many are unwilling to take the risk of contracting COVID-19.

What is needed to accelerate the recovery of tourism is the establishment of international protocols and procedures for health screening at airports and other points of entry. The world has done its part to protect against hijacking and terrorism, which offers a model for the health screening that needs to be done.

Sincerely, DeLisle Worrell

Electoral integrity...

FROM PAGE 4

They must be disregarded, but action must not stop here, as the organisation ought to sustain a continuous improvement approach that would prevent the causal factors related to the 2020 debacle from ever raising their ugly head again.

In a phased way, the Guyana electoral system will be improved and strengthened, but achieving a pinnacled global measure will always have challenges linked to the Opposition’s transitioning makeup and behaviour. Our country has had enough rigging and procrastination in the preparation for elections, an approach that is often conveniently promoted by Opposition elements.

Therefore, here in Guyana, ensuring integrity is seen as a purposeful objective is crucial. In addition, improving the legislative framework to enforce and deter certain clandestine patterns must also be undertaken, and would be central to some of the remedial actions required for improved national and global perceptions, and encourage global democratic acceptance.

In the case of these delayed LGEs, GECOM must now hold a short period of Claims and Objections, and produce a voters list!

There must be no more delays.

Sincerely, Neil Kumar

Sunday, June 12, 2022

06:00 (Sign on) Jewanram Rel. Hour 07:00 Cartoons 08:00 Shekinah Ministry 08:30 Evening News (RB) 09:30 Fast n Loud S7 E4 10:30 Sunday Morning Melodies 11:00 D. Persaud Religious Program 11:30 Prime Series - Blippi’s Educational Adventures for Kids 12:00 Dharmic Ki Awaz 12:30 Movie - Better Nate Than Ever (2022) 14:00 Movie - Cinderella (2015) 16:00 Movie - Midnight Masquerade (2014) 17:30 The Healing Touch 18:00 Wheel of Fortune 18:30 Week-in-Review 19:00 Lucifer S2 E8 20:00 Those People 21:00 Riverdale S3 E2 22:00 Arrow S3 E5 23:00 Heartstopper S1 E1 23:30 Whose Line Is It Anyway? S13 E6 00:00 Sign off

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SUNDAY, JUNE 12, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

AILMENTS OF NEW-BORN/YOUNG PUPPIES – CONTINUED

Caribbean scorn for ancestral names

“SWIMMER” SYNDROME (aka "FLAT PUPPY" AILMENT)

Q: What is this ailment in new-born puppies?

A: As the name suggests, the young pup would be observed to be waddling around on its belly in a swimming motion, instead of standing on its four legs.

In other words, the legs are sprawled out sideways as the animal moves forward on a flat surface (as a turtle would in water).

2. The forward motion of the pup (or puppies - more than one in the litter)

Q: Is there a treatment?

Q: What is the main cause of this ailment, and is it a common occurrence?

A: Many practitioners are convinced that this problem has a genetic origin.

Researchers tend to support this opinion.

Caregivers will remember my contention that strays/abandoned dogs are mating frequently among themselves - siblings, fathers and daughters, mothers and sons; therefore, there is incestuous mating. Consequently, all sorts of ailments emerge, and become visible.

Now, if there is a recessive gene hidden in the parents' genetic make-up, then, over time, it is quite possible that the combination of genetically anchored flaws inherent in both parents may come to the fore - exhibiting such serious deformities in one or more pups in the litter.

It is the same logic that makes incestuous relationships in humans taboo.

Our ancestors, not knowing the scientific reasons, but using their own common sense and empirical observations, have dammed this type of inbreeding, and condemned it as a sin in their religious texts. Of course, as always, these are exceptional conditions and psychological and political considerations that permit this inbreeding (e.g., within royalty) to perpetuate its “superior” genetic pool.

Disasters invariably follow.

Yes, over the decades, “swimmer syndrome” is much more frequently presented to veterinarians. Both puppies and kittens are affected, but kittens less so.

Q: What are the symptoms?

A: 1. As described above, the four legs are sprawled away from the pup's body sometimes either both front legs or both hind legs, or all four legs are splayed laterally away from the body. (See photo below).

ii. Two often, pups are kept on smooth/slippery tiles, which could worsen the condition. Puppies should be raised on surfaces that offer traction, especially when they are beginning to learn to walk.

resembles a swimming turtle.

3. The chest of the pup is flat, not lastly because this new-born animal is confined to lying on its stomach.

N.B i.

The fact that this pup has survived tends to indicate that this anatomical deficiency seems not to impede the pup from fighting its sibling to get access to the milk-producing breast of the mother. At least not during the first two weeks. ii. As time goes by, and the pup must compete with its stronger siblings, it will be disadvantaged in its quest for the mother’s milk. The weakness of the muscles which pull the forelegs and hindlegs together under the pup seriously impedes movement, and the pup can only crawl forward. iii.

The mother dog, in all likelihood, will not support this "runt", which is not developing as quickly as its siblings. This neglect will not augur well for the pup's survival. It will be the caregiver’s turn to intervene and try to save the pup's life - using the feeding methodologies discussed in recent "PET CARE" columns.

Q: Are there other causes that can promote the development of this puppy ailment?

A: Yes. There are other situations/ conditions that would exacerbate this condition. i.

Breed disposition. Heavy puppies e.g., of the Rottweiler breed, seem to exhibit the "Swimmers” syndrome more than lightweight breeds.

A: Yes - with varying degrees of success. And, let me emphasise that great patience of the caregiver is a prerequisite. i.

Under veterinary advice and supervision, the caregiver can construct a simple mechanism to ease the hobbling gait. One would need to place a strip of tape from kneecap to kneecap/ elbow to elbow and put in such a way as to bring the legs together (parallel) with a space of one inch apart at first. (See photo below).

This space will increase as the animal gets bigger and older. Your vet will demonstrate this intervention. ii. Again, under veterinary supervision, the caregiver can construct a harness/sling to suspend the puppy about four times daily – each time 15-20 minutes. iii. Try to let the pup sleep on its side. In fact, the taping of the legs itself will force the pup to sleep on its side.

If the interventions are successful, please ensure you discuss with your vet whether the animal should be allowed to breed. I unreservedly advocate that animals which exhibit “swimmer syndrome” be spayed or neutered.

B y P andita D r I ndrani R ampersad

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rinidad and Tobago remains racially divided at leadership levels (though less so than before), and especially in politics. Some folks are walking our nation backwards in racial harmony. It's PNM vs UNC flinging an incendiary racial cocktail back and forth as the citizenry duck and take cover.

Minister Camille Regis-Robinson elongated the pronunciation of “Sushila,” the middle name of the Leader of the Opposition (Kamla Persad-Bissessar), in a derisive and contemptuous tone. Her audience snickered and laughed. And PNM’s Laurel Lezama continued with the derision.

I wanted to know what was wrong with the middle name. Many see nothing wrong in calling out a person’s full name, and I agree. However, this is not just about words, but intent, tone, and enunciation.

Persad-Bissessar defiantly shot back, defending her ancestral Hindu name, and asked Regis-Robinson about her African ancestral name while having the name of a slave master. She made further personal attacks.

The Hon Prime Minister Keith Rowley reminded the country of the trauma involved in the American slavery experience of forcing white names on the African slaves and their descendants. The surnames in the West remind us of that African legacy of deep trauma.

Too many Indo-Trinidadians/ Tobagonians grew up with the indignity of their names being butchered and derided from the primary school level and throughout their lives.

Not only Indians, but Africans, too, have had scorn heaped on their traditional African names. The First Peoples have largely lost their ancestral names. The Chinese still have their surnames.

The reclamation of traditional African names started a long time back in Trinidad and Tobago, and it continues. It is a long and painful process. First Peoples are also going back to their ancestral names. Many Hindus are voluntarily giving non-Hindu names to their children because of the trauma, low self-esteem, and hegemony associated with their names, whether they are conscious of it or not.

Creolised Trinidad and Tobago uphold Western values and Christianity as the norm to which all should aspire.

That history continues. Columnists and the media openly deride Indian and Hindu names, like the recent column of Winford James, wherein it can be argued that he seemingly projected a sexual deficiency in converting the name “Hardik” to “Hard D*#k”.

Other Hindu names have been similarly hate-butchered in media and persons.

This nation needs a psychoanalyst to contextualise our lived experience with a history of colonialism, slavery and indentureship, and to caution about the continued trauma that irresponsible leaders are directly causing to personhood and nation.

Frantz Fanon (1925-1961) psychoanalysed the interface between the colonised and the coloniser – a relationship that mutates over time. He explained that the colonised folks “internalised” and “epidermalised” an inferiority complex that made them wish to emulate the white coloniser. Indigenous cultural originality was replaced by that of the white colonisers. So many of us continue to see Western aesthetics as superior to that of the non-Western world.

Language gives power – it was the tool of imperial power. An effective post-colonial voice rejects the world of the coloniser.

While we recognise our different realities, we must transcend the binary thinking that puts us against each other. We are in a different part of history. We should be proud of those who kept their ancestral names, those who were forced to give up theirs and accept another, those who are reclaiming their names, and those who freely adopt from the cultures around us. Our discourse has to cease being violent, even as we exchange truths from varied perspectives. This can happen only with mutual respect and a commitment to truth and harmony.

My recommendation is to look into the eyes of children and their innocent faces and wonder if they all don’t want the same kinds of material and spiritual security, and wonder why adults mess up their world early in their lives.

In conclusion, I will give zero marks to Camille RegisRobinson, Kamla Persad-Bissessar and Laurel Lezama. Back in time, you would have been sent to the back of the class, but nowadays you will be sent to counselling and sensitivity training in race relations, identity, and the power of the name. Merle Hodge is the best for this training.

The views expressed in this column are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Guyana Times’ editorial policy and stance

NEWS

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AFC’s National Executive Conference

Party to remain in coalition as Ramjattan returned as leader – Cathy Hughes elected Chair, Sherod Duncan new General Secretary

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he Alliance For Change (AFC), which held its National Executive Conference on Saturday, has re-elected Khemraj Ramjattan as its leader and voted executive member Cathy Hughes in as Chairperson, while also taking a vote on its future in the coalition.

A total of 285 delegates and 50 observers were in attendance in six locations across Guyana and two overseas for the conference. One of the first matters on the agenda was whether the AFC should remain in the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) coalition.

The matter and its ‘Way Forward’ document, was put to the vote, with the AFC voting overwhelmingly to stay in a revised coalition or parliamentary cooperation, which was option C in the document.

The third option states that the AFC can “stay in a revised political alliance with APNU, whether coalition or a parliamentary cooperation agreement but the AFC must demand and secure a firm agreement and structure for it to have a greater influence on policy positions and political action within the al-

Cathy Hughes has been elected as Chairperson

liance while maintaining its independence and rebranding and regaining its identity.

This option will require political maturity and pragmatism on the part of APNU, which may not be forthcoming”.

In keeping with the vote, AFC will remain in an alliance with APNU until the expiration of the Cummingsburg Accord in December 2022, when it will be reviewed.

In the case of Ramjattan, he had been challenged by former AFC General Secretary David Patterson for the leadership. However, Patterson did not contest for any other executive position.

This means that Patterson will not hold any executive position in the party, outside of the National Executive Committee.

Meanwhile, those vying for Chairmanship were Hughes, Ramjattan, Sherod Duncan and Juretha Fernandes. Hughes, who previously served as Vice Chairperson of the party, has now been elevated to the second senior position in the party – that of Chairperson.

Also elected was Ricky Ramsaroop to the position of Vice Chairman. Hughes, Fernandes and Sherod Duncan along with Valerie Garrido-Lowe and Devin Sears, were vying for the Vice Chair spot.

And lastly, Sherod Duncan was elected as General Secretary of the party. The nominations for that position included Ramjattan, Hughes, Fernandes, and Ramsaroop as well as Neilson McKenzie and Michael Carrington.

In a statement following voting, AFC explained that the day-long National Conference saw the AFC also electing 12 members to its National Executive Committee - the second-highest decision-making forum of the party. AFC further explained in its statement that

Khemraj Ramjattan has been re-elected as leader of the AFC

Sherod Duncan is the new AFC GS

Rickie Ramsaroop has been elected as AFC Vice Chairman

the new executive body will shortly meet to co-opt additional members into its ranks.

“The new leadership body has pledged to work towards the advancement of the founding principles, increasing membership, establishing more groups, addressing concerns of members and in a more heightened manner, matters of national concern,” the statement said.

Efforts to contact the newly elected leader were futile.

However, Patterson, his challenger, chalked up the loss to the democratic workings of his party. He also confirmed that he was elected in the ex-

ecutive committee of the party and will continue serving the party in whatever way he can.

“We’re quite pleased with how we could carry off another conference, successfully. So, I’m quite happy that we’ve completed another national conference… that’s what democracy is about. It’s a competitive process, our delegates voted and there must be someone that wins.

And like I’ve always said, I’m committed to my party.”

Both Ramjattan and Patterson were nominated by eight groups each.

Ramjattan, who is a founding

member of the party, had previously served stints as AFC Leader and Chairman. He was re-elected as AFC Leader at the party’s last conference in 2019.

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Shooting from the hip… …and at (Caricom’s) foot?

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ddressing the IX Summit of the Americas with US President Biden and his Vice President Harris in the audience (among 21 other leaders of the Hemisphere, or their representatives) Caricom Chairman, Belizean PM John Briceño, hammered the United States over its exclusion of Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela. He called the American embargo against Havana – which has been in place since 1960 - “an affront to humanity”. He pointed to Cuba’s massive and long-running assistance in the medical field to Caricom and beyond, and he praised Venezuela for their cheap ALBA oil. But evidently he couldn’t find any redeeming feature to defend Nicaragua - where Ortega and his wife have been running the Sandinista Government since 1979 as President and Vice President! And have banned as many democratic institutions as have Cuba and Venezuela.

So maybe he understands Biden on Nicaragua??

Now, all of what the Caricom Chair said may or may not be true, but did he clear his comments with the rest of the Caricom leaders? After all, Dr Ralph Gonsalves also felt the same way, but he decided to stay away from the Summit – which your Eyewitness feels is the way to go when you’re on your own. He hopes this point will be clarified, since all of Caricom would be painted with the same brush.

But what took your Eyewitness’s breath away was that Briceño took time to (snarkily) inform Biden and Harris (and the rest of the gathering) that “it is geography, and not politics, that defines the Americas”!! Really? Now, when you want to be snarky, you’d better be standing on firm ground!!

So will Briceño soon be telling us and the world where he got that particular principle of International Relations!?!

Only recently, your Eyewitness had expatiated on what 2500 years ago was described in the “Melian Dialogue” between the superpower Athens and puny Melos during the former’s war with the other superpower, Sparta. Melos took time to chastise Athens for asking them to take their side. This is the gist of the Spartans’ reply: “But you (Melians) and we (Athenians) should say what we really think, and aim only at what is possible, for we both alike know that into the discussion of human affairs the question of justice only enters where the pressure of necessity is equal, and that the powerful exact what they can, and the weak grant what they must.” One wants to know exactly what Briceno thought he was achieving on behalf of Caricom?

Or he just wanted a personal “feel-good” moment?? …at realpolitik Your Eyewitness substituted Caricom and the US in the end of the Melian dialogue to make the US’ argument simple and, hopefully, more comprehensible for Briceno.

Caricom (CC) is us!!

US: And we will now endeavour to show that we have come in the interests of our empire, and that in what we are about to say we are only seeking the preservation of your city. For we want to make you ours with the least trouble to ourselves, and it is for the interests of us both that you should not be destroyed.

CC: It may be your interest to be our masters, but how can it be ours to be your slaves?

US: To you, the gain will be that by submission you will avert the worst; and we shall be all the richer for your preservation.

CC: But must we be your enemies? Will you not receive us as friends if we are neutral and remain at peace with you?

US: No, your enmity is not half so mischievous to us as your friendship; for the one is in the eyes of our subjects an argument of our power, the other of our weakness. …in Ukraine While your Eyewitness is far from Ukraine, he’s feeling the pinch in his wallet, so he has a vested interest in the war ending. Since no one’s gonna conquer the other, can they start negotiating soon??

The views expressed in this column are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Guyana Times’ editorial policy and stance

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

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Phase 1 of Exxon’s Shore Base facility at Vreed-en-Hoop to commence by month-end – to employ 100 workers, including locals

Azruddin Mohamed along with Geert Koch of Jan De Nul Group and others during the tour The Zheng-He vessel in the estuary of the Demerara River

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everal vessels have arrived in Guyana’s waters for the commencement of the first phase of construction for the $300 million shore base facility for ExxonMobil at Port Vreeden-Hoop.

One of the main vessels – Zheng He – was toured on Friday by Azruddin Mohamed and Andron Alphonso – two of the three directors of NRG Holdings Inc. Nicholas Boyer, another director had prior commitments hence, he was unable to be part of the tour.

In addition, several officials from Jan De Nul Group, another partner in the project were present. The vessel which is powered by its own generator (23MW) is expected to commence operation

Andron Alphonso being greeted by the captain of Zheng-He

on June 23 with a December 2023 deadline for completion.

The first phase will see the deepening, widening, and dredging of the access channel, as well as land reclamation. It also includes an offshore terminal, dry dock

facility, and fabrication yard spanning 65 hectares.

Presently, the area for the construction of the facility is being surveyed by the Belgium-based company that is specialised in offshore, marine, civil, environment, and

project development.

Speaking with Guyana Times on Friday, Geert Koch of the Jan De Nul Group explained that about 100 workers, both foreigners and locals, are expected to be recruited to work on the project.

He explained that about 2 kilometres of pipeline will be affixed to the vessel which will take the materials from the dredging to be filtered to the area for the land reclamation.

This process, he added, will be a tedious one but he is confident that it will be completed within the specified deadline. However, both Mohamed and Alphonso were extremely impressed with the vessel and more importantly, the manner in which the operation is expected to be executed.

“The vessel is a master

class… on Friday, we were given a tour of the vessel during which every step of the operation was explained to us… from what I see, this operation will be executed by a group of professionals who have the experience in this sort things… We are happy to be on board the project and we expect that the first phase is completed within the time frame mentioned in the contract,” Mohamed told Guyana Times.

Further, he was happy to also hear that the contractors will create job opportunities for locals. “This is something, we have been pushing for with all our projects – Guyanese must be part of the process,” he added.

However, after the first phase is completed, the second phase which involves deepening the dredging of

the access canal and expanding reclamation will come on stream. Both projects are expected to be completed by 2024.

In April, ExxonMobil Guyana and the Vreed-enHoop Shorebase Incorporated (VEHSI) signed a 20-year agreement for shore base services to be provided at the port of Vreed-en-Hoop facility to support the US oil giant’s operations offshore Guyana.

VEHSI, which is undertaking Guyana’s first multi-purpose port facility, is a joint venture between a fully-owned Guyanese consortium – NRG Holdings Incorporated, and Jan De Nul Group, a Belgium-based company that specialises in offshore, marine, civil, environment, and project development.

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Registration for children’s disability grant begins Wednesday

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he Human Services and Social Security Ministry through the National Commission on Disability (NCD) will begin registration for the one-off cash grant of $100,000 for every child living with a disability on June 15 at selected locations country-wide.

The one-off grant is only for children 18 years and under living with disabilities and will require them to be registered with the NCD. Persons already registered with NCD are not required to apply.

The registration exercise will run until June 24 with offices open from 8:00h to 16:30h on weekdays and 9:00h to 14:00h on Saturdays.

Parents or guardians will be required to provide a form of photo identification along with a form of identification for the child. Birth certificates will be accepted in the absence of photo identification of the child.

Additionally, a detailed medical report of the child from a private or public doctor is required to assist with the registration process.

However, if persons have not yet been assessed by a medical doctor, the registration sites will have doctors on-site to evaluate the child.

For shut-in cases, the parent or guardian will need to visit the health facility where they will fill out a form and will be provided with the necessary verification methods.

Human Services and Social Security Minister, Dr Vindhya Persaud was eager to get the process underway and highlighted that this exercise is geared at capturing every single child living with a disability.

“I want this process to be seamless and to ensure that every child living with a disability benefits. I urge parents and guardians to be proactive in going to the health centres if their child is not already registered with the

Human Services and Social Security Minister, Dr Vindhya Persaud

NCD or on the Ministry’s Public Assistance database.

The intention of having doctors on site is to ensure that there is nothing to prevent any child living with a disability from accessing the $100,000 cash grant.

“We are deeply committed to serving and supporting persons living with disabilities, including children. This is in addition [to] us proving free assistive aids, including wheelchairs, white canes, and hearing aid, and free technical vocational and ICT training…We will be reaching out across the country,” she said.

Minister Persaud reiterated that this is just another medium the Government of Guyana has implemented to better the lives of persons living with disabilities.

The Ministry is already in the process of completing a training centre for persons with disabilities and has already begun providing training for persons living with disabilities.

Persaud detailed that every step of the way in getting persons with disabilities independent was catered for including the business incubator at the Guyana Women’s Leadership Institute where they can learn how to bring their ideas to reality.

Persons can register at the following health facilities: Region 1: Mabaruma Regional Hospital, Yarakita Health Post, Hosororo Health Post, Moruca/Kumaka District Hospital, Port Kaituma District Hospital, Baramita Health Post and Matthews Ridge/Pakera District Hospital Region 2: Suddie Hospital, Charity Hospital, Windsor Castle Health Centre, Good Hope Health Centre, Anna Regina Health Centre, Dartmouth Health Centre, Yarasharima Health Post, Abrams Creek Health Post Region 3: West Demerara Regional Hospital, Parfaite Harmony Health Centre, Parika Health Centre, Leonora Hospital, Leguan Hospital, Wakenaam Hospital Region 4: Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) - Audiology, Ptolemy Reid, National Commission on Disability – Croal Street, Stabroek, Cheshire Home, Supply Health Centre, Diamond Diagnostic Centre, Lusignan Health Centre, Better Hope Health Centre Region 5: Fort Wellington District Hospital, Mahaicony Hospital Region 6: New Amsterdam Regional Hospital, Skeldon Hospital, Port Mourant Hospital, Mibicuri Health Centre, Orealla Health Centre Region 7: Bartica Hospital, Kamarang Hospital, Waramadong Health Post Region 8: Mahdia Hospital, Kato Cottage Hospital, Monkey Mountain Health Centre Region 9: Lethem Regional Hospital, Annai Health Centre, Aishalton Hospital, Karasabai Health Centre, St Ignatius Health Centre Region 10: Linden Hospital, Wisroc Health Centre, Kwakwani Hospital

Man confesses to murdering duo 3 months ago – says was offered $2M to shoot victims

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olice in Mahdia, Region Eight (PotaroSiparuni) have arrested a miner who allegedly shot and killed two men between March and April, this year.

Twenty-three-year-old Lyfrey Alban was reportedly arrested on Friday and questioned in relation to the alleged double murder committed on Geraldo Vieira De Souza and Edivaldo Alves Da Silva which occurred at Gold Camp Backdam Mountain Ayangana, Potaro River.

During interrogation, the suspect reportedly admitted to shooting the men. He claimed that he was contacted by a Macushi man called “Jackie Chan”, from Brazil who offered him $2 million to

Lyfrey Alban, the man who was arrested in relation to the murder

kill De Souza and De Silva.

He further claimed that

the man told him that the two men had murdered his son at a backdam in Brazil.

After accepting the job, the suspect related that he armed himself with a 20-gauge shotgun, went to the mining camp, and shot the two men. The Macushi man, he noted, was with him at the time he committed the act.

The man reportedly left the scene and did not return to pay the suspect. Alban told detectives that he went into the camp and was later arrested by the Police since he was in possession of the illegal 20-gauge single barrel shotgun.

He was later arrested and charged and remains in custody as the probe continues.

Police allegedly open fire on Golden Grove resident

Ranks of the Police Force searching for the alleged weapon

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esidents of Golden Grove on the East Coast of Demerara (ECD) are furious after Police opened fire on a young man in the commu-

nity. This comes one day after a father of one was killed by Police during an alleged shootout with Police at Haslington.

On Saturday morning

the residents said that they heard loud explosions suspected to be gunshots in the community and shortly after they heard sounds of a siren.

One resident told Guyana Times that upon looking out her window, she saw the Police officers shooting at the man who was not identified.

Other residents claimed that the Guyana Police Force wrongfully shot at the man.

“Apparently, they were on the market mourning for their friend that was shot yesterday and the Police come and start shooting up.

A boy run away and they run after him, the resident said.

The man alleged that the Police were claiming that the suspect threw a gun in a drain, and two officers went into the water to search but they found nothing.

While details of the shooting remain sketchy, all efforts to reach the Regional Commander, Khali Pareshram, for a comment proved futile. Up to press time on Saturday, Police issued no report on the incident.

Woman nabbed with ganja at Parika beach

– marijuana found in bus shed in another operation

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olice on Friday discovered a quantity of marijuana in Region Three (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara) at separate locations at Parika beach, East Bank Essequibo (EBE), and Westminster, West Bank Demerara (WBD).

It was reported that ranks on mobile patrol arrested a 24-year-old woman after she was found in possession of 28.17 grams of cannabis at Parika. Police related that acting on information received, ranks went to the Parika beach, where the woman was seen on the beach.

The ranks approached the woman and requested to conduct a search on a purse she was carrying at the time. During the search,

The ganja found at Westminster

The ganja that was found at Parika

a bulky plastic bag with ganja was unearthed.

The woman, under caution, told the ranks she bought the drugs from some-

one at De Kinderen, WCD. She was arrested and taken to the Parika Police Station where the cannabis was weighed and amounted to 28.17 grams.

Meanwhile, on the same day at Westminster, WBD, Police said they found 40 grams of ganja hidden in a bus shed.

The ranks said acting on information received they went to an area known as “White Shop Short Cut”, Westminster, where a search was conducted.

During the search, a blue and white Ensure bottle was seen in the bus shed. Upon inspecting the content, 20 transparent Ziplock bags with cannabis were found. It was taken to the La Parfaite Harmonie Police Station where it was weighed and amounted to 40 grams.

NEWS

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Phase 1 of Exxon’s Shore...

For the new Guyanese politics

F

ollowing the 2006 elections, I have been pointing out that, because of differential emigration by our different ethnic groups, our demographics have changed to create a “nation of minorities”.

Without the previous inbuilt Indian Guyanese majority, the PPP had therefore lost its advantage in our ethnicised voting populace.

The Ravi Dev implications for majoritarian democratic politics were demonstrated in 2011, 2015 and 2020, when the PNC and PPP alternating governments could claim they had “multiracial” support.

Conceding their ethnic cores, they had to attract voters outside their base in order to win elections on their own. Or coalesce with another ethnically-identified party, as the PNC did with the AFC of Ramjattan and Nagamootoo.

But could they win on their own if viably identifiable ethnic parties are absent? As with the present AFC after its PNC partner obliterated its Indian Guyanese support with Granger’s unilateral sugar industry fiasco. The trope of common “working class” interests has been jettisoned.

The PPP won in 2020, not with a coalition, but by using the classic methodology of liberal democratic politics – crafting a programme and leadership structure to attract voters from across the divide. As has been the practice, it claims to be a “multi-racial/ ethnic” party, which has raised all the old questions. Are the leaders drawn from all or most of the various racial/ethnic blocs that constitute our polity? Do their proportions have to roughly mirror the population? Will they represent the interests of all groups explicitly? Should those interests be subsumed under some notion of a “national” interest? Then who defines that “national” interest? And so on.

The problem is that, in Guyana, the parties had always taken special pains to include individuals from all the major race groups in their executives, but they were invariably dismissed as “tokens”. Parties also crafted “national” inclusive manifestos, but the implemented programmes were evaluated as benefiting their “own” constituency inordinately”. The unfortunate 20152020 experience of the “Indian-dominated” AFC by the “Africandominated” PNC solidified that view. Even when, between 1992 and 2006, externally conducted surveys showed that, overall, the PPP government’s programmes benefited African Guyanese more than Indian Guyanese, they came under armed attacks for over a decade.

It is clear that voters are getting signals as to which party better represents their interests – which invariably turns out to be racial/ ethnic. One signal is the ethnic identity of the top leader of the party. We saw this playing out in the AFC when, with Trotman as leader in 2006, most of their votes came from Afro/Mixed voters.

While with Ramjattan and Nagamootoo at the helm in 2011 and 2015, they attracted more Indian Guyanese voters. Ethnic signals are conveyed during the “bottom house” meetings and, more recently, over social media explicitly, or by the use of code words that the people understand.

But in the new, fluid voting scenario of no inbuilt ethnic majority, and with a razor-thin gap of 7000 votes between the two parties, we see that a swing constituency can be courted to win elections. However, they will have to follow the logic of this new political reality. Firstly, they must be seen as explicitly addressing the interests of the several constituent groups outside their core.

In terms of the “token” representation charge, there is a good model in the US, where the Democratic Party has specific “caucuses” to articulate various “ethnic interests” – theirs, African and Hispanic. These caucuses meet outside the ambit of the party, to discuss and aggregate positions that affect their constituencies and represent them back to the party. There is no shame in this, or apologies to be made. It is now conceded that in addition to the old “representation of ideas”, there is the need for “representation by presence”, especially for those who have been excluded, or have experienced unique situations.

In Guyana, the major ethnic groups each have their perspectives on their interests to be represented. “Representation by presence”, by its operation, has its own liberating potential. There are some who sincerely want to belong to “non-racial” parties (where one individual can speak for all), but we cannot create this unicorn writ large soon in Guyana – or anywhere else.

We have also suggested that “Ethnic Impact Statements” precede and succeed all Government initiatives – as, for instance, the house lots’ distribution, scholarships, and the various and sundry “grants”. We have to work with the material we have: politics has to be pragmatic in the philosophical sense of the word.

The views expressed in this column are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Guyana Times’ editorial policy and stance

The consortium includes Hadi World Inc, owned by businessmen Nazar “Shell” Mohamed and Azruddin Mohamed, Nicholas Boyer of National Hardware Guyana Limited, and Andron Alphonso of ZRN Investments Inc. NRG holds a majority stake of 85 per cent in VESHI, while the remaining 15 per cent is owned by Jan De Nul – the company that will construct the facility.

The multi-million Port of Vreed-enHoop, which will be located at the Best, West Coast Demerara foreshore, will feature an offshore terminal; fabrication, umbilical and spooling yards; a dry dock facility; a wharf and berths, and administrative buildings, among other facilities.

At the signing, President of ExxonMobil Guyana, Alistair Routledge stated that this shore base facility will

FROM PAGE 9

allow the company to do more construction-related works, such as fabrication, right here in Guyana to support its offshore operations.

He explained that Exxon has already invested in the Guyana Shore Base Inc (GYSBI) which has enabled them to bring the supply chain for drilling operations and production operations into Guyana almost completely out of Trinidad.

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FEATURE 15 : y e l s g u P Darrel The man behind the music SUNDAY, JUNE 12, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

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is musical touch transcends various genres, and while his music production skills have ign i t ed the local music scene for over two decades, producer Darrel Pugsley has managed to stick to a humble deed: to push the artistes to the forefront, while he works his magic behind the scenes.

Pugsley’s latest production, the hit single ‘Since 1995’ by upbeat chutney star RICHARD, is making waves on social media. The hit has grabbed thousands of views since its release on June 5, 2022, and a simple perusal of the producer’s YouTube channel would provide the curious fan with all the details of why he is one of Guyana’s most-sought-after musicians.

During an interview with Guyana Times recently, Pugsley gave an insight into his rise behind the scenes of the local music industry, from the days of playing in the band at the St John’s Roman Catholic Church at Plaisance to sharing the stage with some of the biggest names in West Indian music history. As he spoke about his illustrious career, Pugsley reiterated several times that the music is there for the artiste to showcase to the world, while he creates the sounds in the background.

“It’s not about me, but rather it is about the artiste,” he said repeatedly.

While opening up about his career publicly for the first time, Pugsley said he first received a glimpse of music back in his school days at President’s College. He said music theory was a part of the curriculum, and while the content was not in-depth, he received more exposure while playing in the band at the church at Plaisance.

In fact, he explored the theoretical aspect of music some more while at the church, and he wrote and passed the music exams being offered at the time. Soon after, his parents transferred him to the St Rose’s High School in the city, and Pugsley continued to follow the music. He then explored the instruments, and those included the guitar and the keyboard, and this led him down the road of becoming a producer, building tracks in the process.

He said his very first exposure to producing music began with the Junior Calypso Competitions around 1997/98, when he would create tracks for school children. His creation would always see the children winning the competition, and that ignited his hunger to further explore the music.

Dominion Studios and Brutal Tracks

Pugsley then started creating more tracks by using newer forms of technology at Dominion Studios, the gospel musical studio on North Road in the city. While there, he honed his career as a producer using the technology at the studio.

He then took things further by playing live music. This time, through networking within the local music industry, he became associated with the Brutal Tracks Recording Studio on Waterloo Street.

Pugsley described his time during those days as being a freelance producer while playing in the band. He said he did multiple projects mainly because of his love for music, adding that he worked pro bono while being paid for some projects.

His Midas touch created music which remains household sounds today, as artistes such as reggae star Natural Black, Timeka Marshall, Jory, Celeste David and Jomo, among others, sang to music he created.

Pugsley also worked with Guyanese international singer and songwriter Juke Ross, and he spoke admirably of the teamwork the two undertook. In addition, the producer said, singer Poonam Singh, who has belted out a number of popular hits during the course of her career, including the ‘Touch Me’ collaboration with Natural Black, is one of his “biggest success stories”, since he worked extensively on the tracks with the female singer. Her single ‘G.U.Y.A.N.A’ was produced by Pugsley.

The producer also worked extensively with reggae artiste Mystic while at Brutal Tracks Studios, and the two have created hits that are today played at venues across the country.

Music production is an expensive venture, but Pugsley noted that, like Brutal Tracks, his humility lies in helping the music industry to evolve. “Because I embraced the vision of Brutal Tracks to help Guyanese music, and they were doing a great job, so I wanted to be a part of it,” the humble pro-

ducer noted.

He said he chose to produce the music, and while he was being paid by the band, he preferred to “push” the artistes and their music, while the money was always secondary.

Creating a hit

The musician said he creates his music by first listening to the artiste, in order to get a feel of what they may require for the tracks. He said he would ask what genre of music the sound should be, and he would then draw for his reference beats to give the artiste the style of music which they may wish to pursue.

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FEATURE

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Guyana’s first cashier-less business may be on Aubrey Barker Road

The mini-mart on Aubrey Barker Road in South Ruimveldt Park

I

t’s a shopping experience that would leave you very surprised. The mini-mart stands out as one of two businesses which operate late into the night on Aubrey Barker Road in the South Ruimveldt Park area of Georgetown. But while one is accustomed to a cashier or the shopkeeper tallying the bill, this business allows the customer to cash his/her own items.

In fact, the owner may be somewhere around in the facility, as he can be seen on a TV screen checking on things in the mart in a studio-like room within the mart, which operates mainly at nights.

The business has been arou It’s a shopping experience that would leave you very surprised. The mini-mart stands out as one of two businesses which operate late into the night on Aubrey Barker Road in the South Ruimveldt Park area of Georgetown. But while one is accustomed to a cashier or the shopkeeper tallying the bill, this business allows the customer to cash his/her own items.

In fact, the owner may be somewhere around in the facility, as he can be seen on a TV screen checking on things in the mart in a studio-like room within the mart, which operates mainly at nights.

The business has been around for some time, but a few customers received a surprise in recent months when, on entering the mart, a voice on a speaker can be heard giving assistance to shoppers as well as advice on where to make payments for items purchased.

The businessman, called Julius, allows two to three persons within the mart at a time, as he utilises a wide range of technological steps, including cameras, microphones, automated gates and digital scales, to operate the business.

While persons shop at supermarkets in the area during the daytime, the mart is the go-to location for shopping late at nights, as a variety of items, from foodstuff to bevTURN TO PAGE 22

18 FEATURE

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Darrel Pugsley: The man...

He said once he gets the tempo, he would let them sing, and then he would graduate the sound in the direction of what the end product should be.

He would then build the track from scratch, and he would “vibe” on the keyboard while he may request live strums of the guitar to complement the track, depending on the type of song.

He said some songs can take a day to create, while others may be complex, depending on the back-and-forth he and the artiste would have regarding the final sound.

Pugsley’s talent has developed to the stage where he can create a song in any genre. He creates gospel tracks, chutney music, reggae hits, and even rock music.

Going independent

In 2011, as the local music scene continued to evolve, Pugsley decided to invest in his own equipment, and that year he decided to go independent, while honing the careers of local artistes. He said that at the time he decided to work more with the artistes, since, many times, people would not always be in a financial position to work in the studios.

“I did that so that I can help and invest in artistes,” he said.

During that time, local music was evolving, and a number of local artistes were bursting onto the scene. Pugsley recalled that one of the first artistes he worked with at the time was Lisa Punch, and he noted that the singer was taking her career to the next level. As such, he decided to utilise his time to work with her, and during that time, he was working in his own studio at his home.

FROM PAGE 15

He recalled, too, that he was working with Dj Magnum and dancehall artiste Jory, whom he noted had a musical battle ongoing publicly at the time.

While the two men were ‘dissing’ each other publicly, Pugsley noted, it is all part of the business, since it helps in promoting the music and getting the attention of the public.

“Some people may get carried away with the wrong idea, but it is really a marketing tactic to sell the music and to hype the crowd,” he explained.

Pugsley’s career was evolving at the time, and he noted that he started to create advertisements for a number of local companies. He said he continued to remain behind the scenes even as clients would hire him to produce voice-over for ads. At the time, he continued to work with local artistes, and singer Jackie Jaxx caught his attention. He said he worked with the female singer on some of her famous tracks, and at one point he was her de facto manager.

Taking a break and back at it, Pugsley said that in recent years he started focusing more on his personal upliftment, while he still managed to work on a few projects with artistes. He said he is always working on other ventures, which he noted are in tandem with his ‘behind the scenes’ goals. He said postCOVID-19 has seen the music industry exploding, whereby a number of local artistes are bursting onto the scene, a trend Pugsley said is good for the industry.

More recently, Pugsley mixed and produced RICHARD’s hit single ‘Since 1995’, and according to him, the song is attracting a lot of publicity mainly on Tik Tok and Youtube, where it has

Music producer Darrel Pugsley

generated thousands of views.

RICHARD, the singer behind the hit song, was once a rock singer with whom Pugsley shared a working relationship, when the former sang rock music while the producer created the sounds back at Brutal Tracks Studios. The singer has since crossed over to the chutney genre, and is enjoying tremendous popularity as his upbeat songs are heating up the airwaves.

Indigenous roots and a memorable moment

Music production may have made life busy for the former Sand Creek, Central Rupununi resident, but the man behind the music noted that he has always kept his roots close to his heart.

He left Sand Creek in 1994 to further his academic abilities on the Coastland, and he noted that his father and mother are both descendants of the Wapishana tribe, and his father, being a retired headmaster, has always ensured that education was a key part of his upbringing.

Pugsley utilises social media to showcase the culture of the Indigenous people, with his numerous Facebook postings depicting food and other aspects of his culture.

“I may be one of a few who started pushing the Amerindian cuisine in photos on social media in the years gone by,” he said with a smile.

He said that he started travelling a lot locally in recent years, since he has become comfortable being his own boss, and this has allowed him to get closer to the traditions of his Indigenous roots.

Questioned on his memorable moments, Pugsley recalled that during the days of the GT&T Jingle and Song Competition, he and other members of the Brutal Tracks band had rehearsed for the big event, and hours before its start at the National Park, another keyboard player, who played the lead keyboard, was unable to make it to the venue, following an unforeseen issue. As stunning and last-minute as it was, Pugsley said, he had to find a way to adjust, since he was the second keyboard player.

“I had that ‘Common Entrance’ nervous feeling because I had to now think and try and remember everything the lead keyboard player was doing while in practice. I said to myself that I cannot afford to do nonsense, because it was in front of hundreds of people that night,” he recalled as if it were yesterday.

Pugsley said he took to the stage and “literally faced the music”, adding that he managed to pull off playing for the event. He said the performance positively impacted his confidence to such a state that he utilised it over the years, even as he shared stage with superstars in the industry, such as Akon, Buju Banton, Collie Budz, Cecille, and Beres Hammond, to name a few.

As regards his future, Pugsley said he would continue to focus on business ventures, while keeping a keen eye on the music.

“Music is evolving, the sound is evolving, the technology and the software are evolving, but you have to keep upgrading,” he said.

He also plans to nurture a protégé, someone whom he noted is dedicated to music, and who can adapt to the music environment while holding a musical character similar to his.

At the same time, Pugsley said, he would remain behind the scenes and let the artistes advance to the forefront. “My focus will always be to produce for the artiste, to get them from Point A to Point B, and that is why I prefer to stay behind the scenes,” he disclosed.

FEATURE

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HEALTH TIPS

AGE SPOTS (LIVER SPOTS) group, which can make them more noticeable.

• Shape. Age spots are typically round or oval, with very defined edges.

DIAGNOSIS

A dermatologist or healthcare professional will usually diagnose age spots with a visual inspection, a biopsy, or both.

TREATMENT

Dr. Tariq Jagnarine Family Medicine, Endocrinology/Diabetes

A

ge spots are flat brown, gray, or black spots on the skin.

They usually occur in sun-exposed areas, like the backs of the hands and the face.

Age spots are also called liver spots, senile lentigo, solar lentigines, or sun spots.

It’s not uncommon for a single age spot to appear, or for a few to cluster together.

While they may begin developing at an early age, and even during childhood, they’re most common in middle age and older adulthood, especially if persons spend a lot of time in the sun.

The good news: Age spots aren’t cancerous, and they don’t develop into cancer, either.

RISK FACTORS

While anyone can develop age spots, they tend to show up more commonly in people with certain risk factors. These include: • Older than 40 years • Having fair skin • A history of frequent sun exposure • A history of frequent tanning bed use

CAUSES

Age spots typically happen due to excess production of melanin, or skin pigment.

Experts don’t know exactly why age spots develop, but some people do have a hereditary predisposition to them. Other possible causes include skin aging, ultraviolet (UV) light exposure, such as tanning beds, and sun exposure. That’s why it is most likely to develop age spots on areas of the skin that receive the most sun, such as the face, backs of the hands, shoulders, upper back, and forearms

SYMPTOMS

The main symptoms that characterize age spots include: • Color. Age spots range from light brown to black. They may darken after time in the sun.

• Texture. The spots have the same texture as the rest of the skin. They typically appear in sun-exposed areas. They’re flat to the touch and don’t cause any pain.

• Size. Age spots can vary from the size of a very small freckle to an inch in diameter.

• Grouping. They may appear on their own or in a

Age spots don’t cause any health problems, so treatment typically isn’t necessary. Options for treatment include the following.

• Prescription medications A dermatologist may prescribe bleaching creams to help fade the age spots gradually. These creams usually contain hydroquinone and sometimes retinoids, such as tretinoin.

• Medical procedures Several medical procedures can remove or reduce age spots, but these procedures do carry some risk of side effects and complications. Medical procedures for age spots include: • Intense pulsed light (IPL) treatment.

• Chemical peels.

• Dermabrasion.

• Cryosurgery.

• Laser treatment.

• Microdermabrasion.

While it’s important to wear sunscreen every day, it’s essential to wear sunscreen after any skin treatments or procedures.

Sunscreen protects the healing skin from UV damage, but it also helps prevent age spots from returning.

OVER-THE-COUNTER TREATMENTS

If persons want to use an OTC cream, opt for one that contains one of the following ingredients: • Deoxyarbutin • Glycolic acid • Alpha hydroxy acid • Kojic acid Cosmetics don’t remove age spots, but they can certainly help cover them

PREVENTING AGE SPOTS

While persons can’t always prevent age spots, they can take a few steps to help lower the chances of developing them: • Avoid the sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., when the sun’s rays are most intense.

• Wear sunscreen every day. It should have a sun protection factor (SPF) rating of at least 30 and contain both UVA and UVB protection.

• Apply sunscreen at least 30 minutes before sun exposure. Reapply every 2 hours, and more often if swimming or perspiring.

• Wear protective clothing, such as hats, pants, and long-sleeved shirts. This help protects the skin from UV rays. For the best protection, wear UV-blocking clothes with an ultraviolet

protection factor (UPF) of at least 40.

Age spots are harmless changes to the skin that don’t cause pain. In some cases, though, their appearance could cause some emotional distress or even concerns about skin cancer. If persons noticed any changes in the age spots or would like to try having them lightened or removed, a healthcare professional or dermatologist can examine the spots and offer more guidance about the options for treatment.

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22 FEATURE

SUNDAY, JUNE 12, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Guyana’s first cashier-less...

“That sound is the tube which a container comes down in, and you have to open the container and put your money in there and press a button and it goes

somewhere up in the roof,” a shopper in the line noted.

It was a little past 22:00hrs and it was now our turn to experience shopping within the fully-automat-

ed mart. A gate slid across, and the three shoppers exited and the structure closed behind us as we entered. Once inside, a number of closed-circuit television cameras (CCTV) were evident above the shelves, in front of the refrigerators, and at the side close to the microphone.

A shopper in our midst asked, “Where is the Crix?” and a voice on the loudspeakers in the ceiling said, “Check the shelf at the top to your left.” The shopper stood around startled, as she asked, “Is where that voice coming from?”

Soon after gathering her

items, the woman asked where she had to pay for the items. A customer outside in the line then informed her that she needed to walk around to the refrigerators and cash her items at the counter. We soon followed, and observed a neat counter with point-ofsale machines set up at its sides, and while the woman fidgeted for her money to make her payment, a voice informed that she needed to press a button at the left of the counter. After completing this task, a door on the tube opened and the businessman asked that she open the container in the

tube and place her payment there.

Then the vacuum-sounding machine was heard.

The feature consists of a tube that leads from the counter to the roof and into the ceiling. One would surmise that the business owner was somewhere at the other end of the tube, and we soon found out what he looked like.

As the woman in front of us looked up to speak into the microphone, the businessman appeared on a television screen set up on the wall behind the microphone. He could be seen in a room counting the wom-

FROM PAGE 17

an’s cash payment. Soon after, he sent her change back to the counter through the tube.

As she retrieved the money from the container in the tube, she exclaimed, “This place fully technological,” as she giggled and walked towards the exit.

It was our turn to make our purchase, and with ease we followed the woman’s transaction and completed our purchase for the night.

We then exited the mart as a line of eager customers stood outside awaiting their turn to shop in what may be Guyana’s first cashier-less, fully automated business.

NEWS

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SUNDAY, JUNE 12, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Govt rolls out COVID vaccines for children aged 5-11 – parents welcome initiative in light of schools reopening

some children, their mental faculty is affected and we’re encouraging the parents to bring their children.”

While children are generally prone to experience a milder form of the infection upon contraction, some have had severe experiences with the disease, and a few have died. This is especially if they are suffering from a comorbid or underlying illness.

At the end of the day, scores of children received their vaccine.

Children within the ages of 5-11 years taking their COVID shots

Parent Candace Field

T

he introduction of the COVID-19 vaccines for young children was lauded on Saturday by parents who have waited for months so that their children can be protected from the virus.

At the National Cultural Centre, a vaccine drive-thru was organised to commence the rollout of shots for children five to 11 years old. This has been made possible after Guyana received a donation of 52,800 coronavirus paediatric vaccines from the Government of Spain.

However, parents welcomed the efforts to make the vaccines accessible.

This is especially since schools have been fully reopened, exposing children to other people and the risks of contracting the virus.

Hermina Gilgeours of Diamond on the East Bank of Demerara brought her nine-year-old son to be immunised and described the process as a “very easy and welcoming” one.

When asked why she decided to get him vaccinated, the parent expressed, “I want him to be protected and to protect others also.

My son is very keen in having the vaccine. This morning, he was very excited to come out and get the vaccine.”

Candace Field, another parent, said she was awaiting the availability of the vaccine for some months and did not spare the chance to get her seven-year-old daughter immunised.

“It was actually not a

decision made impromptu.

I had decided a long time since I took the vaccine myself. Eventually, I contracted COVID. Of course, I was well protected as was said, that the vaccine would protect you. I was not sick for too long. I saw the benefits of the vaccine myself and the benefits of the vaccine in other persons who took it…The numbers are going up again and we just want her to be safe at school.”

Mohamed Dawud from Enmore on the East Coast

Parent Mohamed Dawud

of Demerara (ECD) commented that he was eagerly waiting as well for the jabs to be available.

“I’m very happy that he has been vaccinated because I have been waiting for this for a long time, especially with the virus that is going around. So, I’m very happy.”

Public Health Nurse attached to the Health Ministry, Shameka Henry related that there was a consistent turnout of persons for the vaccines, as she encouraged parents to get their children inoculated.

“Even though we’re not seeing children being admitted to the hospital with COVID-19, children are affected by COVID presently. The signs and symptoms may not be as present, prevalent or vivid as the adults but they are being affected. It is very important that children be vaccinated so that they can go back to school, to the playground and have interactions with others. A complication is long COVID and in

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O

RISING UP FROM DROUGHT TOGETHER

ne might think that Guyana, the land of many waters, surely could not experience drought or desertification. Yet, our country is particularly vulnerable to drought, or prolonged periods without water, as we experience two very distinct wet and dry seasons. It is globally recognised that human activity has been influencing the global climate system through global warming, and this could alter the rainfall patterns of tropical countries like Guyana. In fact, droughts affect more than 55 million people every year around the world.

The United Nations states that drought is one of the most destructive natural disasters in terms of the loss of life arising from impacts such as widescale crop failure, wildfires, and water stress.

In addition to drought, human activities also contribute to desertification - the degradation of land in arid; semiarid; and dry, sub-humid areas. This occurs because dryland ecosystems, which cover over one-third of the world's land area, are extremely vulnerable to overexploitation and inappropriate land use. Poverty, political instability, deforestation, overgrazing, and bad irrigation practices can all undermine the productivity of the land.

For these reasons, the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought is observed every year, in order to promote public awareness of international efforts to combat desertification. The day is a unique moment to remind everyone that land degradation neutrality is achievable through problem-solving, strong community involvement, and co-operation at all levels.

This year, the theme of the International Day against Desertification and Drought is “Rising up from drought together”, and the day will be observed on June 17. The global observance of the event will take place in Spain, a country that is particularly vulnerable to drought.

The Low Carbon Development Strategy By now you know that the LCDS 2030 is being updated to reflect the current global and local environment. A key part of the Strategy looks at water resources’ management, and how Guyana can better prepare for the impacts of climate change, including impacts to water resources.

Among the measures proposed are water management plans tailored for each administrative region.

The LCDS 2030 also aims to create an ecosystems economy which balances low impact mining and forestry to enhance employment and income-generation opportunities, including improving planning and recovery in mining areas, and exploring options for land reclamation, and reforestation of mined areas to better manage land resources.

Managing land resources in Guyana The management of land resources, implementation of Guyana’s action plans to combat desertification and drought, and ensuring our obligations to the UNCDD are met fall mainly with the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission. The Commission is supported by other Government and non-governmental organisations, including the EPA, the Office of Climate Change and Environment, the Guyana Forestry Commission, the Food and Agricultural Organization, and the United Nations Development Programme.

To complement the management of land resources, water resources are managed by the Guyana Water Inc. (commercial), the Ministry of Housing and Water (policy), the Hydrometeorological Service (construction of wells), and the Environmental Protection Agency (freshwater resources and discharge from operations).

Did you know?

The word ‘land’ is mentioned six times in our National Anthem, and eight times if you count the other words associated with land.

Sources https://cdc.gy/?page_id=14376#:~:text=Guyana's%20 Drought%20Vulnerability,more%20than%20one%20 rainy%20season. https://lcds.gov.gy/chapter-5-protecting-againstclimate-change/ https://lcds.gov.gy/chapter-1-towards-2030-the-newlow-carbon-economy/ https://www.unccd.int/2022-desertification-anddrought-day You can share your ideas and questions by sending letters to: “Our Earth, Our Environment”, C/O Communications Department, 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.

The views expressed in this column are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Guyana Times’ editorial policy and stance

25 Teens drown in Queens, NY, while swimming with friends NEWS

SUNDAY, JUNE 12, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

The rescuers searching for the boys

T

he families of two 13-year-old boys were plunged into a state of shock after receiving the devastating news that they drowned on Friday in the vicinity of Jamaica Bay, Queens, New York.

Dead are Daniel Udesh Persaud of 129-02 5th Avenue, Richmond Hill, New York, and Ryan Wong, also of Richmond Hill. Both boys are from Guyanese parents.

Based on reports received, the teenagers were best friends and on the day in question, they both decided to skip school and instead go to the bay with other friends. As they were reportedly swimming, the

boys were sucked into the main channel by the current of the water.

The other friends reportedly dialled 911 for assistance. After several hours of search, the bodies were retrieved. An aunt of Persaud, Karen Samaroo when contacted explained that her nephew was only supposed to attend school for the first half day.

“Apparently, since they had to go to school for only half-day, he and his best friend, Ryan decided to go to Jamaica Bay. It was while swimming, that they went underwater and never resurfaced. The family received the news a few hours later… this is so devast-

Dead: Daniel Udesh Persaud

ing for the family,” the aunt stated.

She noted that her nephew was a disciplined and brilliant young man. “He has never skipped school before… we don’t know what happened on Friday, but his death is something, we cannot get over… he was a gem… someone who was always caring and loving…”

Samaroo added.

His parents, she posited, are still in a state of shock. “They cannot talk…

they just zoomed out of everything that is happening around them… it is just tragic…”

In fact, hours after the young men were found, Samantha Persaud, Daniel’s mother posted on her Facebook, “Our son you left us today…I am lost for words and my soul is bleeding and our hearts are shattered … our Daniel went away today … oh God, I don’t know how we will live past today or any other day… my son, my handsome smart son Daniel Persaud, you left your family my son … sleep high my prince Daniel mommy loves you so much… you were only 13 years old and went out to a beach to have fun and it carried you away from us”.

Meanwhile, Pix11 News reported that the boys were among a group of five friends who were celebrating the start of summer when they decided to go to the beach in Queens, an uncle of one of the boys told the New York Daily News.

“Yesterday was the last day of school and they were just trying to have a good time, messing around like

Daniel Persaud, his mother Samantha and two sisters in happier times

kids do,” Michael Rachel stated. “They were out on the rocks but when the tide comes in you couldn't see them. They're gone.

We're suffering,” he told the NYDN. The portion of the beach they were at was unguarded and not all of the kids knew how to swim, a Police source told the New York Post.

“This happens all the time…they walked in the water about one to two feet deep, then the channel suddenly drops six to 10 feet deep, and some of these kids could not swim,” the Police source told the Post. The young man leaves to mourn his parents, two sisters and one brother. He was the third of the four siblings.

26 NEWS

SUNDAY, JUNE 12, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Unlicensed fishermen also eligible for $150,000 grant – Mustapha clarifies

L

icensing is not a requirement for fisherfolk to benefit from the $150,000 grant that has been announced by President Irfaan Ali. This position was clearly outlined by Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha in a video statement on Saturday, amid some confusion regarding the disbursement. There were reports of persons being turned away because they were not licensed, to which he has set the record straight that all fishermen are to benefit.

“A fisherman went to an officer to register and he was told that he cannot be registered because he is not a licensed fisherman. I want to make it very clear that licence or no licence is not a

requirement for fishermen to receive the grant that the President has announced…

The President made it clear that all those fishermen who are working at sea and earning a living through that, will receive the grant.

It seems like some people want to cause confusion because they are peddling misconceptions out there in terms of who will be getting this grant or who is entitled to receive the grant,” Mustapha vocalised.

The Agriculture Minister has clearly outlined that there will be two lists: one with licensed fishermen and the other with unlicensed fishermen. Committees are being formed across the country to validate persons before they benefit from the

Fishermen at a recent meeting with VP Jagdeo in Berbice

grant.

“We have fishermen who are licensed and non-licensed fishermen. When you look at the licensed, we have just about 50 per cent of the fishermen in this country that have been registered.

Then you have a number of persons working that have never been registered.”

The Chief Fisheries Officer has already been briefed on the preparation of two lists to execute the grant distribution. Officers from

the Fisheries Department found disrupting this process or preventing persons from accessing the grant will be held culpable.

“Any officer found trying to stop someone from registering his or her name will be disciplined. I want to make it very clear. I have already given that instruction.

I hope that our officers with the Fisheries Department are not involved in those kinds of activities,” he warned.

On the other hand, the verification process will ensure that only legitimate persons benefit from the Government grant. At every landing site for fishermen, verification will be done.

President Ali had announced in May the rollout

of one-off cash grants to the tune of $150,000.

He had explained that this measure is intended as direct assistance to the thousands of persons who depend on the fishing industry to sustain themselves and their families.

The industry plays a significant role as a foreign exchange earner for Guyana.

According to the United Nations Comtrade database on international trade, in 2021, Guyana exported US$41.21 million in fish, crustaceans, molluscs, and aquatic invertebrates. Low catch has been significantly affecting fishermen who operate in deep waters – a trend which was been impacting the industry over the past two years.

NEWS

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Reg 6 records 40% reduction in serious crimes – fatal accidents on the increase

R

egional Commander of Division Six, Superintendent Boodnarine Persaud has reported that serious crimes in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) are down by 40 per cent.

“We have seen a significant reduction [of] crime in our region. 40 per cent reduction in crimes, serious crimes. We’re talking about murders, rape, break and entry and larceny, burglary - all of those are classified as serious crimes “We do have certain crimes that still become an issue like wounding which mostly results from public fights, rum shops, wedding houses, entertainment areas mostly,” he stated.

The only area that has seen a slight increase, the Commander said, is robbery under arms. However, he stated that they have been able to clamp down on this issue in order to reduce its occurrence.

“The only issue we have a is robbery under arms and that was a period be-

tween mid-January and I would say about the third week in February, we had a series of gun robberies.

We have since arrested and charged a few persons, we took 6 firearms off the road based on intel information.

“And from that 3rd week in February to now we are seeing a quiet period as it comes to robbery under arms,” the Commander further explained.

The Commander pointed out that the decline in serious crimes has stemmed from the Police’s good communication, cooperation and collaboration with the residents.

“Partnership forms a big one for us in Berbice because it’s a populated region…and policing this region, whatever strategy you’re using should be effective and it is working because our partnership programme has been going well, in building these partnerships we have stakeholder meetings, community meetings, community outreaches and we have the

last year. The thing about it is that out of the 7 fatal accidents in Region Six, 6 of them would’ve resulted from consumption of alcohol, the driver using alcohol in most proven cases,” he said.

This, the Commander noted, they have been working to reduce.

“That is one of the things we have been working on. We had a radio pro-

Commander of Regional Division 6, Superintendent Boodnarine Persaud

regional intelligence meeting.”

“Some of our main partners are the members of the community policing group, the cops and faith, the CHAMBERS of Commerce leaders,” he explained.

Meanwhile, as it relates to traffic, Commander Boodnarine said that while there has also been a significant reduction in serious accidents there has

been a major increase in fatal accidents.

“One of the issues we have in Region Six is the accident rate, but we have a significant decrease in serious and serious accidents are persons get injured and got hospitalise, so we have a 32 per cent decrease in serious accidents.”

“But we have a 250 per cent increase fatal accidents… that is 7 against 2

gramme, we have a television programme, just to call out on the public to be careful when using the roads and avoid using alcohol when driving.”

“We also have patrol ranks out there who instruct to, do some spotting or staking out…if that is what we need to do reduce traffic accidents then we have to do that and it’s working,” he added.

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31 60 new COVID cases reported NEWS

SUNDAY, JUNE 12, 2022| GUYANATIMESGY.COM

– 2 remain in ICU

T

he Health Ministry has reported that as of Saturday, another 60 persons have contracted COVID-19 but the death toll remains at 1239.

To date, there have been 65,859 cases of the deadly virus. New statistics showed that there are two persons in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), 29 persons are in institutional isolation, 987 in home isolation and one in institutional quarantine.

Additionally, 63,602 persons have recovered while 644,306 tests have been processed to date. However, over 1000 active infections are still being monitored across health facilities.

An analysis showed that the new cases were dispersed among six administrative regions, with 16 in Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam); 7 in Region

Three (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara); twenty-two in Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica); 2 in Region Five (MahaicaBerbice); 11 in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) and two in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).

No case was reported in the other regions.

Vaccination statistics remain relatively the same this week. Statistics point to 442,814 adult first doses or 86.3 per cent; with 342,486 second doses or 66.8 per cent. In the 12 to 17 group, only 34,768 first doses or 47.7 per cent coverage has been achieved.

However, booster doses have remained just above 65,000. The Health Ministry has introduced a second booster shot for adults and a first booster dose for the adolescent population. Persons have been

urged to visit the respective vaccine sites and get boosted, since immunity against the virus wanes approximately six months post-immunisation.

Persons with comorbidities have been continuously asked to continue taking their respective medications or treatment to control their condition.

The preventative measures and guidelines to protect against the virus must be adhered to since this category of person is at a greater risk if they contract COVID-19.

A percentage of COVID-19 patients would experience long-COVID – which causes symptoms to persist weeks or even months after recovery. This can be avoided with vaccination to protect oneself.

The pandemic has also brought on mental health

Businessman calls on Top Cop to investigate slanderous social media post

GUYANA COVID-19 DASHBOARD JUNE 11, 2022 UPDATE

NUMBER OF NEW CASES

60

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN INSTITUTIONAL ISOLATION

29

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

987 2

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN INSTITUTIONAL QUARANTINE

1

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES BY GENDER (FEMALES)

35,555

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES BY GENDER (MALES)

30,270

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES IN GUYANA SINCE 2020

65,859

NUMBER OF RECOVERED CASES

63,602

TOTAL 1st DOSE VACCINATED FULLY IMMUNISED

REGION 1

2531

REGION 2

2709

REGION 3

8291

REGION 4

32,746

REGION 5

2461

REGION 6

6173

REGION 7

2454

REGION 8

886

REGION 9

4070

REGION 10

3538

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

438,399 337,197

TOTAL NUMBER OF DEATHS

DISTRIBUTION OF TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES SINCE MARCH 2020

1239

Keep a physical distance of at least 6 feet.

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

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

Businessman Tamesh Jagmohan

O

wner of one of Guyana’s gold companies, El Dorado Trading, Tamesh Jagmohan has requested a full investigation in the matter regarding a defamatory social media post launched against him by “Guyana Uncut”.

Through his Attorneysat-Law of Dexter Todd and Associates law firm, Jagmohan has written to the Commissioner of Police, Clifton Hicken, requesting the probe.

It was alleged that the video was published by "Guyana Uncut" on the social media platform Facebook, dated June 1, 2022, with the caption "Guyana Uncut Documentary: The PPP Oligarchy. Tamesh Jagmohan, Watch!"

The publication saw over 44,000 views with 695 reactions, a host of comments and hundreds of shares from its viewers.

A statement from the law firm outlines that the post “accuses our client of numerous allegations such as money laundering, election manipulation, smuggling of gold, damage to property, and bribery, among other allegations”.

It added, “The publication has caused severe stress to our client and our client cannot allow this attempt to assassinate his character to go

Attorney Dexter Todd

unnoticed. It has also placed his businesses and family's life in jeopardy”.

Jagmohan has contended that the allegations and accusations made in the publication are made not only against his client but also against the Government of Guyana.

Specific references were made to Vice President Bharat Jagdeo; Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn; and the United States Ambassador Sarah-Ann Lynch.

“The publication contained many malicious, vexatious, and untruthful statements which have caused great harm to not only our client's reputation but to the other parties, who have since been notified of the publication. It was the publisher's intention for the viewers to infer that the Government of Guyana is colluding and conspiring with our client in a criminal enterprise which has no truth,” the law firm added on behalf of its client.

This matter was reported to the Cyber Crime Unit at the Brickdam Police Station, as well as a follow-up to ensure that the matter is treated with the highest level of seriousness.

Jagmohan has categorically denied all of the allegations of criminal, unethical, and improper conduct contained in the said posting.

Police Commissioner Clifton Hicken

issues in various countries, in both recovered patients and persons who have never contracted the virus.

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

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

Global figures show that

532 million people have tested positive for the virus and 63 million have died.

In the Americas, more than 158 million confirmed cases have been reported with over 2.7 million deaths.

32 NEWS

SUNDAY, JUNE 12, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Haslington shooting…

Man shot by Police 6 times – family alleges – says rank who pulled trigger was dead man’s friend

By LaWanda McAllister

F

amily members of 23-year-old Quindon Bacchus - a father of one, of Golden Grove, East Coast Demerara (ECD) who was shot dead during an alleged shootout with the Police at Haslington, ECD on Friday, are claiming that the Police had every intention of killing the man. They have explained that the officer who shot and killed Bacchus had been known to him.

Police reported on Friday that, on the day of the shooting, ranks were carrying out an intelligence-led operation in the Haslington New Scheme area of the ECD after receiving some information earlier in the day. While there, the ranks said, they contacted a 22-year-old construction worker, who provided them with certain information. As a result of the information, the ranks went to Bacchus’s home, where he was seen with a firearm in his possession. He had reportedly intended to sell it to one of the ranks.

The plainclothes rank, who was armed, made arrangements to purchase the firearm from Bacchus, who left and returned with the firearm.

In the process of handing over the firearm to the rank, an alarm was raised. As a result, the now-deceased man

Dead: Quindon Bacchus

ran in a southern direction and discharged a round in the rank’s direction, and the rank drew his service pistol and returned fire.

The gun recovered at the scene

Police said Bacchus then ran further south and jumped into a yard, and the rank gave chase. While the rank was in close proximity to Bacchus, Bacchus discharged several other rounds towards the rank, and the rank took cover and returned fire, hitting the now-deceased man about his body.

Bacchus reportedly fell to the ground, along with the firearm, which was later identified as a .380 pistol with a magazine that still had one round.

Police said Bacchus was picked up in a conscious state and escorted to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where he was seen and examined, but subsequently died.

Initially, Police had told reporters that they went to Haslington, where they saw Bacchus with a firearm, and as they approached the man, he fired at the Police.

However, in a subsequent report, they revealed that he was in the process of selling a rank the firearm when the ranks came under fire.

Linessa Semple, a cousin of the dead man, told Guyana Times on Friday evening that the Police’s report is not entirely true. The woman alleged that her cousin was murdered by his friend, and she refuted all claims that the now dead man had discharged multiple shots at the Police.

Semple has said she does not believe that her cousin would have been so naive as to shoot at ‘a van load’ of Police, knowing that he would have more than likely been cornered.

“To be clear, the shooter and my cousin are friends, so people around said. Let’s say my cousin was indeed trying to sell a gun to someone who is his friend, why would my cousin shoot a van load of cops if he only had one round?”, she questioned.

The woman further alleged that, from the onset, the Police’s report lacked substance, and does not add up.

“First it was said that they approach my cousin and he fired at them. Travis Chase said one .380 round and 2 spent shell 9mm. Where is the other shell? They lied! Part of the news was true and the rest wasn’t,” she said.

Police putting Bacchus’s body into the vehicle after the shooting

“He’s not a saint, but he would never ever shoot at no Police. Man, if them deh shoot he in he foot and take him in the lock-up and hold him for carrying illegal firearm, we wouldn’t mind. But he shoot my cousin to kill him”, she is contending.

Family members have alleged that Bacchus was shot six or more times, and had received the last shot to his head. They also claimed eyewitnesses have said that after the officer, Bacchus’s alleged friend, went in close proximity to him, Bacchus was heard pleading for his life.

“My cousin went to the car and he realised it was the cops and he ran, that’s how he ended up with shots in his back.

My cousin did not fire at them as he ran. My cousin was set up, and got killed to shut up.

He’s not here to tell us what really transpired.

“Someone who was close by heard when he asked (the named Police), ‘Wam nah! You nah gone done [shoot] now?” the woman is contending.

The woman said that, not long before Bacchus was shot dead, he had just seen his 3-year-old son, who had travelled from Barbados to see him. He had not seen the child in years.

“My cousin saw his son today [Friday] for the first time after a long time; they surprised him. Moments later, my family got a call saying he got shot. My aunt still trying to catch herself, and his

baby mother trying to hang in there. The whole family is a mess!” she explained.

“I want to know: did they check my cousin’s hand for gunpowder? How come Quindon shoot but no Police got hurt? What made them come to this conclusion? My cousin was pinned to a mesh, that’s when he jumped somewhere while fleeing from them,” she has said.

“Also, why are they lying?

What are they covering up? six bullets?”, she asked.

Even though Police are claiming that the man was picked up in an injured but conscious state and escorted to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where he died while being treated, eyewitnesses have alleged that Bacchus was shot dead at the scene.

“My cousin didn’t die at the hospital; he died right there in the scheme… His chest burst up. All we want is justice. He did nothing to deserve that”, she noted.

The cops have said that the construction worker from whom they had received certain information was arrested and taken to the Cove and John Police Station, where he was interviewed under camera. A written statement was also taken as to what had transpired. He has been placed in custody pending investigation. Attempts to get a comment from the police on the accusations from the family proved futile.

33 Govt to partner with stakeholders to upgrade Puruni road NEWS

SUNDAY, JUNE 12, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

– to acquire land for model consolidated log yard

O

n the heels of a meeting between Natural Resources Minister Vickram Bharrat and Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA) President Rafeek Khan, it has been announced that the Government will take various measures aimed at, among other things, boosting production in the forestry sector.

In a statement following the meeting, it was explained that the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government plans to collaborate with stakeholders to upgrade the Puruni road in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni).

The constraints that affect the supply and demand of raw materials to wood-based manufacturers to support the growing construction sector were highlighted during the meet-

ing. According to GMSA, Minister Bharrat reiterated the Government’s commitment to ensuring greater production within the sector.

“One of the main challenges to increasing production has been limited access to the forest due to poor road conditions over the past year. The road situation has worsened due to heavy rainfall which we are presently facing,” GMSA said.

Additionally, the Government is also in discussions to build a bridge across the Puruni River which will facilitate greater access on a 24-hour basis.

It was explained that there will be no tolls at the bridge.

“Several large-scale forest concessionaires were unable to extract timber in areas such as Puruni where there are vast resources and under-producing for over

Region 3 farmers to benefit from $100M in fertiliser

Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo addressing the farmers on Friday

V

ice President Bharrat Jagdeo on Friday announced that the Government will be assisting farmers across Region Three (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara) with some $100 million in fertiliser support.

Addressing scores of farmers at the Rice Producers Association (RPA) bond, Jagdeo said in order for everyone to benefit equally from the assistance, a 15-member committee will be established with representatives from every community.

Technical officers from the Agriculture Ministry and the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) were instructed to visit the communities to identify eligible individuals to form the managing body.

The Government has already assisted a number of farmers in Regions Two, Five, and Six, through the programme.

Persons cultivating

along the Essequibo Coast received $250 million in fertilisers, while in the Mahaica-Berbice and East Berbice-Corentyne regions, $300 million in fertiliser will be distributed, respectively.

Additionally, the initiative is set to cushion the effects of the rising cost of agriculture inputs.

The funds will be made available from the $1 billion announced by President Dr Irfaan Ali, to purchase the fertiliser for free distribution across the country.

Farmers were encouraged to work collectively and purchase the fertiliser at the cheapest cost, but with good quality. They would then determine the amount of fertiliser to be distributed to a farmer, based on demand.

Since assuming Government on August 2, 2020, the PPP/C Administration has spared no effort in putting together a slew of measures to boost the nation’s agriculture sector.

a decade. It was also noted by the Minister that there would be no tolls at the bridge since the company will assist the Government with the provisioning of the infrastructure then the State will maintain after its completion,” the statement explained.

According to GMSA in its statement, these measures will ensure all infrastructural needs are in place to push to meet the local demand and satisfying the export needs. Further, they also discussed plans for acquiring approximately 30 acres of land on the LindenSoesdyke Highway.

This land, according to GMSA, is “to initiate the first model of a Consolidated Log Yard to benefit the forestry sector especially since the emergence of the many challenges linked to climate change such as adverse weather patterns and to further benefit small loggers in their marketing process.

Small loggers would have a facility to store their timber products at a central location for easy access to buyers.”

GMSA revealed that they recommended measures be put in place to encourage large scale producers to make their logs more available for local consumption, in an effort to cushion the effects of short supplies

Natural Resources Minister Vickram Bharrat (left) and GMSA President Rafeek Khan

of raw materials and the growing demand of timber.

“However, due to the overall challenges beyond control for many operators, it was agreed that we access the situation in the next six months which should be sufficient time for production to increase. Meanwhile, Minister Bharrat has been consistently meeting with all stakeholders including sawmill operators to discuss measures for improvement in the sector.”

“Presently, forest production is less than one-

third of its allowable cut which is approximately only one per cent of our total forest. It is also important to note that the GMSA recognised the gap in the skillset of semi-skilled and skilled workers in the extractive sector and notes how it can assist in provisioning support for same,” GMSA explained.

According to GMSA, it was discussed that specific skills training will be provisioned as a joint initiative between the GMSA and MNR to benefit young peo-

ple across the country and fill the employment gaps at present. This initiative was endorsed by GMSA, who said they will work to ensure this idea becomes reality.

“The forestry sector will benefit tremendously from this initiative for the enhancement of skills within the sector. The GMSA continues to seek meaningful engagement with the Government to benefit businesses and help meet the growing consumer demands,” GMSA further said.

34

guyanatimesgy.com

SUNDAY, JUNE 12, 2022

Regional

Bolivian ex-President Jeanine Anez Brazil Police don’t think remains are gets 10 years in prison for coup those of missing British journalist

B

A

Bolivian court found former President Jeanine Anez guilty on Friday of orchestrating a coup that brought her to power during a 2019 political crisis.

She was sentenced to 10 years in prison. A former military commander and ex-Police General were also convicted.

Anez, 54, was convicted of making “decisions contrary to the Constitution” and of “dereliction of duty.”

The prosecution said Anez, then a right-wing senator, violated norms that guarantee the constitutional and democratic order after Bolivia’s 2019 presidential elections.

Anez’s defence said it would appeal to international bodies to seek justice, and several sectors of the opposition planned marches to protest the ruling.

Bolivia has been split over whether a coup occurred when then-President Evo Morales resigned in 2019, with Anez ascending to the presidency amid

Bolivia’s former interim President Jeanine Anez holding a protective face mask as she is detained at a FELCC (Special Force to fight against Crime) prison in La Paz, Bolivia, March 13, 2021

a leadership vacuum left in his wake. Morales’ departure followed mass protests over a disputed election in which he claimed to win a controversial fourth consecutive term in office.

Anez maintains she is innocent.

The contentious case has further exposed the fault lines in a deeply divided country while also fuelling concerns about the judicial process in Bolivia.

“We are concerned about how this case has been pursued. And we call on superi-

or courts to examine how the proceedings were conducted,” Cesar Munoz, senior researcher for the Americas at Human Rights Watch, said in an interview before the verdict.

Anez was not allowed to attend the trial in person, instead following the hearing and participating from prison. She has been detained since her arrest in March 2021 on initial charges of terrorism, sedition and conspiracy. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Jamaica among 4 Caricom leaders to sign Los Angeles Declaration on Migration and Protection

F

our Caribbean Community (Caricom) leaders on Friday joined their counterparts from Latin America, the United States and Canada in signing the Los Angeles Declaration on Migration and Protection.

The Heads of Government of Barbados, Jamaica, Belize and Haiti gathered with 16 other counterparts in Los Angeles, California, on the margins of the Ninth Summit of the Americas, to reiterate their will to “strengthen national, regional, and hemispheric efforts to create the conditions for safe, orderly, humane, and regular migration and to strengthen frameworks for international protection and cooperation.”

“We embrace the need to

promote the political, economic, security, social, and environmental conditions for people to lead peaceful, productive, and dignified lives in their countries of origin,” the declaration states.

It added that “migration should be a voluntary, informed choice and not a necessity.”

The leaders said they were committed to protecting the safety and dignity of all migrants, refugees, asylum seekers, and stateless persons, regardless of their migratory status, and respecting their human rights and fundamental freedoms.

The leaders also acknowledged that addressing irregular international migration requires a regional approach, and that ongoing health, social, and economic challenges of the COVID-19

pandemic exacerbate the root causes driving irregular migration, including the vulnerabilities of many migrants and their communities.

The leaders said they remain committed to collectively leveraging the benefits of migration while addressing its challenges in countries and communities of origin, transit, destination and return.

The heads of states and government also said they intend to strengthen the institutions that are responsible for migration management in their respective countries and to exchange best practices in order to provide “efficient and adequate care to migrants and access to protection for refugees.” (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

tor cars, three pedestrians, two motorcyclists and two passengers of private motor cars. They also include the three alleged gunmen who died after the Nissan Latio motor car they were travelling in crashed into a Toyota Hiace tour bus in Hanover on Sunday, June 5.

The driver of the motor car, who was reportedly trying to avoid a police checkpoint, hastily turned around the vehicle having been alerted to the Police presence. In his bid to flee the area, the car crashed into the tour bus, reportedly while speeding and all three men on board were

pronounced dead at hospital.

The Police said they seized an illegal gun with several rounds of ammunition from the car. The occupants of the bus were also taken to hospital for treatment.

Meanwhile, the RSU is reporting that the total of 215 fatalities recorded since January 1 resulted from 190 fatal crashes.

The statistics also show that 44 pedestrians have been killed so far this year; this is five more than the 39 recorded for the similar period last year. (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

razilian investigators are sceptical that remains found in a river could be from a British journalist who went missing in the Amazon rainforest on Sunday, two Police officers involved in the case told Reuters.

On Friday, Federal Police had announced finding “organic material” that was “apparently human,” raising expectations of a breakthrough in the search for reporter Dom Phillips and his travel companion, Indigenous expert Bruno Pereira.

However, a Federal Police officer and a state detective, both of whom requested anonymity to discuss the case, said the mate-

rial’s location and condition raised doubts about whether it could be connected to the missing men.

The remains were found near the port of Atalaia do Norte, a town more than 40 miles (65 km) downstream from where Phillips and Pereira were last seen on a slow-moving river, the sources said. The material’s condition suggested it could have been scraps from a nearby butcher rather than remains carried far downstream, they added.

One of the sources said it seemed likely the material was from an animal and not human, but that it had been sent for forensic analysis out of an abundance of caution. The other said the

origin would only be clear after that analysis.

Witnesses said they last saw Phillips, a freelance reporter who has written for the Guardian and the Washington Post, last Sunday. His companion Pereira, an expert on local tribes, had been a senior official with Government Indigenous agency Funai.

The two men were on a reporting trip in the remote jungle area near the border with Peru and Colombia that is home to the world’s largest number of uncontacted Indigenous people.

The wild and lawless region has lured cocaine-smuggling gangs, along with illegal loggers, miners and hunters.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

T&T among recipients of US$314M funding for Venezuelan refugees

U

S President Joe Biden announced at the 9th Summit of the Americas, nearly US$314 million in new humanitarian, health, economic, and development assistance for Venezuelan refugees and vulnerable migrants across the hemisphere.

Trinidad and Tobago will be part of the country’s receiving funding in this regard.

This assistance includes nearly US$103 million from the State Department’s Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM) and over US$171 million from the US Agency for International Development (USAID) Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance to support vulnerable Venezuelans inside Venezuela and those who have sought refuge throughout Latin America and the Caribbean as well as US$40 million in development funding through USAID. This new funding through PRM supports a wide range of life-saving hu-

President Joe Biden, centre, attending a meeting with leaders of Caribbean nations, is standing besides Suriname President Chandrikapersad Santokhi, left, and Vice President Kamala Harris, right, during the Summit of the Americas on Thursday, in Los Angeles

manitarian programmes for Venezuelan refugees and migrants, such as emergency shelter; access to healthcare; water, sanitation, and hygiene supplies; increased access to education; support for livelihoods; COVID-19 support, and protection for vulnerable groups including survivors of gender-based violence, children and adolescents, LGBTQI+ persons, and Indigenous people in seventeen countries including Argentina, Aruba, Brazil,

Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Curacao, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guyana, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay, and Venezuela.

This new funding through USAID will provide humanitarian relief for vulnerable Venezuelans in Venezuela and emergency food assistance for Venezuelan migrants and refugees in Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. (Excerpt from Trinidad Guardian)

10 people roofless after freak J/ca: Death stalks the roads; 13 killed in motor vehicle crashes in 7 days – RSU storm hits Central Trinidad

T

he carnage has continued unabated on the nation’s roads with 13 fatalities recorded over the one-week period from June 4 to 10.

This is according to the latest statistics released on Friday by the Road Safety Unit (RSU). They show that the total number of people killed as a result of motor vehicle crashes since the start of the year now stands at 215, with 86 per cent of victims being males and 14 per cent being females.

Among the latest fatalities which include one female are six drivers of private mo-

A

freak storm in Central Trinidad has left 10 people without a proper place to sleep, tonight.

Around 8:30 am on Saturday, a freak storm hit two houses in Palmiste Village along the Caparo Valley Brasso Road.

High winds tore the roof off one of the structures. The galvanised steel sheets then ripped off nearby telephone wires.

Fedel Marajah, 47, a mechanic, told Guardian Media the breeze ripped off the roof of the house that is divided into two apartments.

Marajah said he was appealing for assistance to rebuild the roof. He shares the apart-

ment with his wife Cindy Sooklal, 33, and their children—8-year-old Dominic, 15-year-old Abigail, and 21-year-old Fedel.

The other apartment is occupied by Ryan Sooklal, 28, and his common law wife Thelma Gueverra, 43, along with her son 14-year-old Josiah Ablack, and 57-yearold Indra Tilkaran.

Cindy Sooklal, a food vendor, said she was asleep on her bed with her son when she heard a noise and then the rain started wetting her.

At the time she spoke with Guardian Media, Sooklal and her family had not had anything to eat. She said the rain

had damaged all the furniture, appliances, schoolbooks and the children’s computers.

Sooklal said she had managed to salvage some clothing and groceries.

She said the roof was so badly damaged that she did not know where she would spend the night. Sooklal said because of the condition of the overhead wooden beams, she did not believe that the tarpaulins given to them by the Disaster Management Unit (DMU) of the Couva/ Tabaquite/ Talparo Regional Corporation (CTTRC), would be of any help should a heavy deluge hit the area. (Excerpt from Trinidad Guardian)

guyanatimesgy.com

SUNDAY, JUNE 12, 2022

35

Around the World

OILNEWS OIL NEWS OPEC+ fails to meet output target once again

O

PEC+ once again fell short of its oil production targets in May on continued production declines in many OPEC members, a survey by S&P Platts found, as cited by OPEC and Middle East managing editor Herman Wang.

In April, OPEC alone missed its target by 2.7 million barrels daily, and while there was a slight improvement in May, the total was still well below quotas. Last month, production in Nigeria dropped to the lowest since Platts has been surveying OPEC output, Wang noted.

Angola, Equatorial Guinea, and Congo also produced well below quotas last month, and most of the OPEC+ partners also produced less than agreed. Russia's production actually inched up in May after falling in April.

OPEC+ agreed last week to boost production in July and August by 648,000 bpd instead of the originally agreed 432,000 bpd. Some observers took that to mean success for Western diplomacy, but the market reacted in what was perhaps a counterintuitive, at first glance, way, with prices actually rising after the announcement.

Indeed, many OPEC members have been struggling to fulfil their original production quotas, and that has been no secret. Only Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Kuwait have spare capacity that can be quickly tapped to make up for shortfalls. However, they may be reluctant to do that as more spare capacity being tapped means less spare capacity left for when an outage happens.

"With only a handful of ... OPEC+ participants with spare capacity, we expect the increase in OPEC+ output to be about 160,000 barrels per day in July and 170,000 bpd in August," JP Morgan analysts wrote in a note, as cited by Reuters, this week.

What all this suggests is that, as the FT's David Sheppard noted in a recent column, the world may need to brace up for even higher oil prices.

"China is reopening. People are flying again. Demand is going in the wrong direction," Sheppard wrote. "All these factors point to rising oil prices until a level is reached that reduces consumption, probably by triggering an economic slowdown large enough to curtail demand. In other words, a recession for many economies." (Excerpt from Oilprice.com)

Russian shelling causes chemicalplant fire in eastern Ukrainian city R

ussian shelling of the Azot chemical plant in the eastern Ukrainian city of Sievierodonetsk ignited a big fire on Saturday after a leak of tonnes of oil, the regional governor said, as the battle for the city raged on.

In neighbouring Donetsk province, Russian media reported that a huge cloud of smoke could be seen rising into the air after an explosion in the city of Avdiivka, which houses another chemical plant.

Weeks of fighting for Sievierodonetsk, a small city in Luhansk province that has become the focus of Russia's advance in eastern Ukraine, has pulverised sections of the town and has been some of the bloodiest since Moscow's Feb 24 invasion.

The governor of Luhansk,

An unexploded shell from a multiple rocket launch system is seen stuck in the ground, as Russia's attack on Ukraine continues, in the town of Lysychansk, Luhansk region, Ukraine June 10, 2022

Serhiy Gaidai, did not say whether the fire at the plant, where hundreds of civilians were sheltering, had been extinguished. Reuters could not independently verify the report.

Speaking on national television, Gaidai said nonstop fighting was raging in Sievierodonetsk. He said earlier that Russian forces controlled most of the city but

Ukraine controlled the Azot chemical plant.

The Ukrainian armed forces' general staff said Ukrainian defenders repelled a Russian attack in one part of Sievierodonetsk on Saturday while fighting continues in another.

Ukrainian forces also pushed back a Russian attack on three small towns to the northwest of Sloviansk in Donetsk province, while fighting is continuing in a fourth settlement in the area, as well as to the east of the city, the staff said in a Facebook post.

Ukraine has appealed for swifter deliveries of heavy weapons from the West to turn the tide of the war, saying Russian forces have at least 10 times more artillery pieces.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

“Heavy” damage to Damascus airport confirmed after Israeli attack

S

yria state media has confirmed that Damascus International Airport has suffered major damage – including to runways – following an Israeli missile attack.

The Syrian Transport Ministry said in a statement on Saturday that runways remained out of service at the capital’s airport following the attack on Friday, the staterun Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) reported.

“Landing and departing flights were suspended today till further notification as a result of the Israeli aggression, since it caused heavy damages to the airstrips in several localities and to the navigation lights in addition to the damages [that] occurred in the airport lobby,” SANA quoted from

a Ministry statement.

The Ministry said that flights are expected to resume “in corporation with air carriers” as soon as repair work is concluded, SANA reported.

The airport was targeted by a volley of missiles fired from the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights at approximately 4:20am local time (01:20 GMT) on Friday, state media report-

ed.

Israel has carried out hundreds of air raids against its neighbour since war broke out in Syria in 2011, targeting Government troops as well as allied Iran-backed forces and fighters from Lebanon’s Shia group Hezbollah.

While Israel rarely comments on individual attacks, it has acknowledged carrying out

hundreds in Syria that it has said are necessary to prevent regional rival Iran from gaining a foothold on its doorstep.

Rarely have such attacks caused major flight disruptions.

The Transport Ministry statement was the first to describe the extent of damage from Friday’s air raid. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

36

guyanatimesgy.com

SUNDAY, JUNE 12, 2022

ARIES (March 21April 19)

Don’t reveal personal information. Handle money, health and contractual matters so they suit your needs and lifestyle.

Beware of lavish plans and indulgence. Be honest with yourself and others.

You’ll gain momentum if TAURUS you discuss your plans with (April 20someone close to you. The May 20) changes you implement will enrich your life and help you gain perspective regarding what’s possible.

Get everything in order and GEMINI (MAY 28- enjoy the rest of your day. You’ll tap into what others are doing June 20) if you are observant. Look for faults; you’ll find and fix a costly problem. Verify information.

You can have fun without goCANCER ing overboard. Look for common (June 21interests and, in order to gain July 22)

popularity, make plans based on what will please the majority.

Keep your costs low. Romance is encouraged.

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

VIRGO

(Aug. 23Sept. 22)

Dilbert LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

Peanuts

You’ll face opposition if you initiate change without approval. A lack of funds or support will leave you in a vulnerable position. Do the work yourself instead of paying someone to do things.

Put your heart and soul into learning and bringing about worthwhile changes that will benefit everyone.

Participate in a group activity geared toward learning something new. Romance is on the rise.

Discuss what’s important before you make a move. Find out who is in favor of your plan and build your strategy around the people willing to donate time and skills to help you.

Take nothing for granted. A change at home or in a relationship will perplex you. When in doubt, ask questions and find out what you can do to improve things. Additional responsibilities will drag you down.

Put more thought and efSAGITTARIUS fort into your life. Make home (Nov. 23improvements that will imDec. 21) prove your day-to-day. An honest assessment of your situation will lead to solutions that please everyone.

CAPRICORN Put your attributes to work for you by developing a construc(Dec. 22tive plan. A change at home will Jan. 19) raise issues with an older individual. Look for a way to help people affected by your decisions.

Calvin and Hobbes

Do whatever it takes to

AQUARIUS avoid disagreement. Lengthy (Jan. 20discussions will turn into Feb. 19) emotional scenes that leave

you feeling down and out.

Concentrate on something you enjoy doing.

PISCES (Feb. 20Mar. 20)

Coming up with a good idea and having the fortitude to put your plans in motion will pay off. The changes you make will encourage you to invest time and money into doing things you enjoy.

SUNDAY, JUNE 12, 2022

37

Benzema deserves Ballon d'Orafter Real Madrid season – Real Madrid great, Roberto Carlos R

Karim Benzema

eal Madrid great, Roberto Carlos, has said Karim Benzema deserves to win the Ballon d'Or after his stellar season with Real Madrid.

And Benzema is one of the favourites for the accolade. He scored 44 goals and supplied 15 assists in 46 games in all competitions, helping Los Blancos win LaLiga, the Champions League and the Supercopa de Espana.

The 34-year-old scored a joint-record 10 goals in the knockout stages of the Champions League, earning the competition's Player of the Season award.

Luka Modric is the only player other than Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi to have won the Ballon d'Or since 2008, but Roberto Carlos thinks now is Benzema's time.

"We hope that this year it can be given to him, because he has had a great season,

NBA Finals…

“It means everything,” says Steph Curry – ecstatic to keep series alive with road win

S

tephen Curry has declared "it means everything" to keep the NBA Finals series alive after his sensational performance dragged the Golden State Warriors past the Boston Celtics.

Curry scored 10 of the Warriors' last 12 points, and finished with 43 overall, after shooting 14-of-26 from the field and seven-of-14 from long range. He also added 10 rebounds and four assists that helped Golden State to a 107-97 road win, to level the best-of-seven series at 2-2 as they prepare to return to the Chase Center for Game 5 on Monday.

Curry has played with an injury to his left foot throughout, but expressed his delight at returning to home-court advantage with the series even.

"It means everything, knowing the sense of urgency we had to have tonight to win on the road and keep some life in the series, get

home-court advantage back, and try to create some momentum our way," he told reporters.

"It was a hard-fought win.

I think the first quarter really set the tone. Even though we were down one, it was a nightand-day difference between Game 3 and Game 4 how we came out defensively, and that just gives you enough life to withstand some rough patches, and then find some runs.

We get some stops, get out in transition, guys get involved.

And you give yourself a chance to win it down the stretch.

"Proud of everybody in terms of our physicality, our focus, perseverance throughout the game. 2-2 is way better than 3-1 going home. Job well done tonight," he said.

Curry registered 12 points in the first quarter, to keep the Warriors just one point adrift, and the 34-year-old believes it was vital he set the tone.

"It's kind of how we wanted to start the game.

We rely on Draymond

[Green] bringing that energy and fire throughout the course of the season, and year after year," he added.

"Felt like we just had to let everybody know that we were here tonight. Whether that's their crowd, their team, our team; whoever wants to see that energy and that fire, we feed off of that. I think it helped us just get settled into the game, because our experience, you can want it so bad you get in your own way a little bit, and everybody feels a little bit of pressure, and it can go the opposite way.

"I wanted to try to leverage that in a positive direction for us to start the game," he said.

Asked whether it was his best Finals performance, as Klay Thompson suggested, Curry responded: "I can't rate my performances, though.

Just win the g a m e . " (Sportsmax)

and we are all eager for Karim to win the Ballon d'Or for what he has done on the pitch," he told Stats Perform ahead of his participation in Sunday's Soccer Aid match.

"He has scored goals, he is a leader and captain of Real Madrid, and it is time for him to win the Ballon d'Or." Madrid had been linked with a move for Benfica striker Darwin Nunez, but the Uruguayan is reportedly set for a €100million switch to Liverpool.

"I think Benzema has done so many things for Real Madrid that today everyone wants a striker like him.

Darwin has shown in Portugal to be a great striker, and I wish him the best if he ends up at Liverpool," Roberto Carlos has said.

Madrid's success against Liverpool in Paris made Carlo Ancelotti the first coach to win the Champions League on four separate occasions.

He has now won 23 titles during his coaching

career, and Roberto Carlos anticipates there will be more in the 2022-23 campaign.

"The coach is fantastic!

He's fantastic! That is why he has won so many Champions Leagues and so many leagues," said Roberto Carlos. "He is an amazing person. Real Madrid has had a great season in LaLiga, the Supercopa and the Champions League. Now they have to rest to have the same titles next season as this year." (Sportsmax)

Azerbaijan Formula 1 Grand Prix…

Charles Leclerc nicks pole from Pérez and Verstappen

Charles Leclerc (centre) celebrating after winning pole position ahead of Red Bull's Sergio Pérez (left) and Max Verstappen

C

harles Leclerc has put his Ferrari on pole position for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, while Lewis Hamilton faces a stewards’ investigation for “driving unnecessarily slowly”.

Leclerc, who trails leader Max Verstappen by nine points in the championship standings, bounced back from his Monaco misery a fortnight ago to blow away his rivals. The Monégasque saw off Sergio Pérez, who took advantage of Leclerc’s flatfooted Ferrari team in Monte Carlo to claim his third career win, by 0.282sec.

Verstappen, the world champion, lines up in third, one spot ahead of Fe r ra r i ’s C a r l o s Sainz. George Russell has out-qualified his Mercedes teammate Hamilton for the fifth time in eight rounds this season.

Russell will start fifth on Sunday, two places ahead of Hamilton, who could drop further down the field if he is penalised for his qualifying misdemeanour.

happy. I am really excited for tomorrow.”

Hamilton, who heads into Sunday’s race 75 points behind championship leader Verstappen, has endured a trying weekend here, and has been warned by his team not to drive slowly on his out-lap.

He responded by saying: “I don’t know what you expect from me, man, sometimes.”

Hamilton has been summoned to the stewards at 8.20pm local time (5.20pm), and faces a possible grid drop

Charles Leclerc driving through the streets of Baku en route to pole position for the Azerbaijan F1 GP

Hamilton, who finished a hefty 1.6sec behind Leclerc and twotenths of a second adrift of Russell, appeared to delay his fellow Englishman Lando Norris in the final minutes of Q2. While Hamilton progressed to the top-10 shoot-out, Norris was eliminated, and finished 11th.

Norris’s race engineer, Will Joseph, has said to his driver regarding Hamilton: “He is the lead car, he will get in trouble. Don’t let him play silly buggers.”

After claiming his sixth pole of the season and fourth in succession, Leclerc said: “All poles feel good, but this one I did not expect, because I thought the Red Bulls were stronger. But the last lap came together, and I am extremely

if he is found guilty of a rules’ breach.

Hamilton’s Mercedes team continues to struggle with porpoising here. “The car is bottoming a dangerous amount,” said Hamilton as he hit speeds approaching 220mph.

Q1 was red-flagged with two and a half minutes remaining after Lance Stroll crashed out. Only moments after thudding into a barrier, before reversing out of trouble, the Canadian driver hit the wall for a second time.

Stroll carried too much speed through the second bend, losing control of his Aston Martin and collecting the tyre barrier. Stroll was forced to park his wounded machine as Race Director Niels Wittich deployed the red flag. (Guardian)

38

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

SUNDAY, JUNE 12, 2022

Bowman optimistic as NSBF draws near …grateful to sponsors who have invested in programme

By Timothy Jaikarran

Y

outh Basketball Guyana (YBG) will be hosting its National School Basketball Festival from July 1-10, 2022, and YBG co-founder Chris Bowman is excited as the event draws closer.

He has said he is extremely grateful to the sponsors who have invested in the programme over the years.

The first National School Basketball Festival was played from June 26-30, 2006, and involved 18 schools in a single elimination tournament. From its inception, the NSBF has been a partnership between Youth Basketball Guyana and stakeholders to develop a structured National School Basketball Championship.

Over the last 12 years, the programme has grown significantly, and now includes regional (ZONE) tournaments in order to qualify for the National Championship. National titles are contested in the categories of under-14, -16, -18 (change from 19) and Girls Developmental.

According to Bowman, fans can expect the NSBF to have competition ranging from ages 14-16, under-18 and Girls’ Division. Bowman also said, “We

are excited about this year’s festival. It’s going to be the 15th year, and a lot of special things will happen, which we will put out at the appropriate time. So there is a lot to look forward to, both locally and within the region, and of course nationally, for the festival.

“As I mentioned, those persons that are doing CSEC should not fear that they would have to compromise, as they would start until July, as we would be focusing on other developments, such as the 14-16 and developmental schools. So those are the ones that we are looking at, those ones that we can bring up to the level so they can compete at the festival. That is the big thing that everyone should look forward to.”

Bowman also went on to state that, in terms of the sponsors, nothing would be possible without the support of consistent partners. He made mention that for the past twelve years, YBG has had Edward B Beharry & Company as a key cornerstone partner, as the company would also continue to be with YBG for 2022.

He relayed that as of recent, ExxonMobil and G Boat have come on board the initiative,

playing their part in elevating the game and youth development at the grassroots level.

Through these developments, Bowman explained, there is aid in leadership development: assisting players with discipline, teaching them life skills, and helping them with educational intervention, among other things.

“This year, in fact, we are introducing a student athlete study hall that will assist those students who are in fourth and fifth form in terms of free tutoring for their upcoming exams. We are able to do these things inside the structure, whether it be the tournament structure such as the NSBF, TBL or YBG Academy Camp.

“But what those structures help us to do is to help address young people and to assist them in their development and aspirations. So, that is what the sponsors are able to assist us in doing; so, of course, we are grateful to our sponsors such as the National Sports Commission, Exon Mobil, G Boat, who have been committed to YBG,” Bowman explained.

The tournament is also used to identify players for the YBG

Blue Water Girls U15 league…

East Empress, Campbellville United bag first wins as League kicks off

T

he Blue Water ShippingGuyana Football Federation (GFF) Girls’ Under-15 Developmental Football League got underway on Saturday morning at the GFF’s National Training Center at Providence, East Bank Demerara, after being launched back in February of 2022.

The tournament is expected to see teams from all across Guyana competing in the under-15 age group against each other, not only for the sake of competition, but also to get a better understanding of the technicalities of the sport, and to de-

Another look at the first game between East Ruimveldt Empress and Charlestown Super Strikers

ful game, and you’re going to have a really good time playing, enjoying it, and making new friends. I want to ask you to enjoy the moment. It’s

GFF President Wayne Forde having a chat with the teams prior to the start of the league

velop their skills.

Georgetown became the first association to have its league launched when 4 teams jumped into action on Saturday morning.

However, before the first whistle was blown, GFF President Wayne Forde was on hand to share some encouragement with the young girls.

“Football is such a beauti-

not just about winning, it’s about having fun with the game,” the GFF President told the young ladies.

He went on to assure, “Some of you might be playing football for the first time, many of you may have been playing it before, but what I can assure you is: if you continue to play and you stick with it throughout this season, at the end of it, you will

all be a much better player than you were when you started the tournament. And that is what we are trying to do: we’re trying to ensure that every young girl that is playing this tournament is given a chance to develop,” Forde remarked.

After warm-ups and pep talks, it was finally time for action, and East Ruimveldt Empress and Charlestown Super Strikes went head-tohead in the first game of the league. Eventually, a hattrick from East Ruimveldt’s Deanna Small ensured her team win the game 3-0.

The second game, which saw Freeburg Falcons taking on Campbellville United, resulted in a 4-0 victory for Campbellville. Jorcialy Salina netted a hattrick, while Robella Alexander contributed one to the Campbellville tally.

The Blue Water Shipping Girls’ U15 League is expected to be played every weekend, and the other regions are set to follow Georgetown’s lead in the coming weeks. (Jemima Holmes)

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Developmental Programme, which serves as a prep for

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West Indies face uphill task to avoid whitewash

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A

s the pitch in Mutan got slower in the second One-Day International, the ailings of the West Indian batting came to the fore. It is unlikely to get any easier when they take on Pakistan today (Sunday), with a slower surface expected.

Forasmuch as Akeal Hosein, one of the rare impressive performers for West Indies in their 120-run loss on Friday, would relish the challenges the surface offers to the batters, it is unlikely many of his teammates would be delighted with what stands in their way in order to avoid a whitewash.

Pakistan have stuck to a more predictable script, especially the manner in which Imam-ul-Haq and Babar Azam have adjusted to the familiar conditions, and laid strong foundations in both the encounters so far.

Much like Pakistan, West Indies have found steady foundation from their numbers 2 and 3 batters, Kyle Mayers and Shamarh Brooks, stitching handy partnerships.

However, the rest of the batting has not been able to capitalise on that, relying too heavily on the big hits rather than the touch of working around the gaps.

For as well as the Pakistani batters have capitalised on their opportunities, their bowlers have taken little time to get accustomed to the conditions; Mohammad Nawaz especially, who returned figures of 4 for 19.

With only one match remaining before West Indies leave the shores of Pakistan with the series lost, spirits are unlikely to be high, even though they would want to salvage some pride. The hot climes of Multan though, are unlikely to make the stay any more pleasant for the them.

FACTS ABOUT THE MATCH When: Sunday, June 12, 2022, 4:00pm local time

Where: Pakistan vs West Indies, Multan Cricket Stadium, Multan What to expect: The temperatures are likely to touch almost low-40s during the first innings. There was ample spin available to trouble the batters, but the pitch was also on the slower side.

Team News: Pakistan: With the series won, there could be scope for some experiments for Pakistan. Maybe an opportunity for the promising Shahnawaz Dhani or Iftikhar Ahmed?

Probable XI: Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Haris, Khushdil Shah, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf West Indies: With hot and tiring conditions to play in, and the series lost, there could be scope for making a few changes.

Probable XI: Shai Hope, Kyle Mayers, Shamarh Brooks, Nicholas Pooran, Brandon King, Rovman Powell, Romario Shepherd, Keemo Paul, Akeal Hosein, Alzarri Joseph, Hayden Walsh What they said: “I wanted to bowl in the right areas. It spun a lot. I knew, if I bowled in the right areas, the pitch would help me. Shadab didn’t get the ball to spin much in the first two overs, but then even he got it to spin. Finger spinners got more spin” - Mohammad Nawaz after his matchwinning performance in the second ODI. “We need to review it (death bowling) and keep working. It’s a new team as well, we are in rebuilding stage, we can’t get everything right. We learn from this experience” Nicholas Pooran (Cricbuzz)

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GUYANATIMESGY.COM

SUNDAY, JUNE 12, 2022

Emery Welshman (15) celebrating his goal

By Jemima Holmes

P

hysically, the venue was in West Coast Demerara, Guyana; audibly it felt like Port-au-Prince, Haiti, as a group of Haitian nationals vocally overpowered hundreds of Guyanese fans at the Leonora Track and Field Facility.

Their encouragement did not go in vain, however, as the Haitian team nailed the Golden Jaguars to the cross 5-2 at the half.

It was the sort of thing you would find in horror stories: a ferocious Haitian attack, a

formidable Haitian defence, and Jaguars who couldn’t roar.

The story began with the starting lineup, which saw 3 changes as compared to Guyana’s winning start against Bermuda.

Goalkeeper Quillian Roberts, Leo Lovell, Matthew Briggs, Jalen shines, Nathan Moriah-Welsh, Captain Samuel Cox, Omari Glasgow, Emery Welshman, Neil Danns, Trayon Bobb and Daniel Wilson were featured on Saturday afternoon.

Torell Ondaan, Stephen DukeMcKenna and Quincy Adams were dropped, the former two

reportedly due to injury, and the latter for injury concerns.

Guyana started hot, charging towards Haitian goalie Jhony Placide as early as the first minute. The fire did not last too long, as Haiti stole possession and, before anyone at Leonora could comprehend, the first goal was on the scoresheet in the 4th minute, compliments of Dany Jean.

The group of Haitian spectators, their gathering together resembling a Red Sea, boldly began to sing, the familiar songs and familiar language visibly driving the Haitian team in the 8th, ironically right into the nets again for the second goal; this time Steeven Saba was the man.

The Jaguars were being hunted, a marvel of nature, at least for the first time in this 2022-2023 CONCACAF Nations League campaign.

Trayon Bobb and Emery Welshman caught a whiff of inspiration in the 11th, and Bobb’s assist, a turning pass across the box, met Welshman square in front of the area, where

he needed only to touch it in for Guyana’s first.

The Haitians were relentless in their attack; the monsters were slowly creeping out from under the bed, and Guyana’s nightmare continued.

Later, Carnejy Antoine (38th) and Derrick Etienne (41st, 43rd) secured Haiti’s third, fourth and fifth goals. Guyana’s reply came by way of Moriah-Welsh in the 44th, and though it was not resounding enough to turn the game around, the Golden Jags spectators welcomed the goal with open arms and opened mouths.

5-2 at the half, and finally the changes came.

Quincy Adams, Jeremy Garrett and Tre Mitford were substituted for Matthew Briggs, Daniel Wilson and Sam Cox at the start of the second half; and finally, Haiti’s flow stopped.

Adams’s injury worry came into question as he moved fluently along the back line, often in tandem with Jeremy Garrett, where they showed similarities to their efforts to hold Trinidad and Tobago only a few weeks

39

Nathan Moriah–Welsh executing a set piece

ago.

Omari Glasgow and Trayvon Bobb were not to be discredited, as they traversed the wings with spirited plays, but the assistance was slow to come at the top, or erred in collecting and giving passes.

The changes in Guyana’s playing XI seemed to be the remedy they needed since the 8th minute of the encounter, since the Haitians were able to bore the nets only once more, when Fredler Cristophe brought up the sixth goal for Haiti in the 80th.

Despite the regrettable 90 minutes that the Golden Jaguars had on Saturday night, they will have a shot at redemption in the Dominican Republic on Tuesday afternoon. They will meet Haiti for their away game at the Olimpico Felix Sanchez Stadium in Santo Domingo.

Haiti have now gone to the top of Group B with two wins and a draw, while Guyana are second with two wins and a loss. The game on Tuesday will ultimately be the deciding encounter on who controls Group B at the end of this leg of the Nations League.

Women’s T20 Blaze tourney: Guyana remains winless as Barbados and Jamaica dominate Story and photos by Brandon Corlette

A

match watched by some 50 vocal fans at Providence, East Bank Demerara ended with Guyana remaining winless in the Cricket West Indies Women’s T20 Blaze tournament, as Jamaica registered a seven-wicket win against the hosts, who suffered a top-order meltdown in posting 90-6 in 20 overs.

Rashada Williams and Chedean Nation led the strong Jamaican response with a 68run stand, as the Reggae girls recorded three wins in as many matches. Jamaica had suffered early hiccups in their chase of 91, with veteran Tremayne Smartt striking twice, removing the big wickets of Natasha McClean (00) and Stafanie Tayor (10). McLean was bowled all ends up, while the birthday girl Stafanie Taylor was trapped leg-before by the brilliant Smartt.

Chedan Nation was trapped leg-before to Gajnabi for 31, but the win had already been scripted, as Williams ended unbeaten on 41 from 52 balls.

Henry came and struck the winning boundary for Jamaica, who ended on 92-3 in 17.5 overs. Smartt ended with 2-12 from her four overs.

Earlier, Guyana won the toss and opted to bat first. Rain had

Gajnabi on the go

(00), Sheneta Grimmond (00) and Shemaine Campbelle (10) fell cheaply to the Jamaican bowlers. Mentore, who had dominated the Guyana Cricket Board’s (GCB’s) inter-county tournament, was trapped at the crease by West Indies pacer Chinelle Henry.

Grimmond played a loose shot and was caught at backward point by birthday girl Stafanie Taylor; and Shemaine Campbelle attempted to sweep and was trapped leg-before.

Shabika Gajnabi and CherryAnn Fraser then joined forces, and the duo added 45 vital runs for the sixth wicket. Fraser, who was suffering from an injury and looked as if she would have been removed with a stretcher, stayed in the middle and battled. She eventually limped off the field for 20 from 27 balls, an innings that included a sweetly timed four. That boundary, which was creamed to extra cover, got

Hayley Matthews made 41 for Barbados in the first match of the day

delayed the toss, but no overs were lost. A top-order collapse saw Guyana being reduced to 36-5 in 10.4 overs.

Lashuna Toussaint made 11, while Katana Mentore

Fraser off the mark.

Gajnabi stood tall in her unbeaten 26 from 30 balls, an innings that included one four. Tremayne Smartt (01) and Mandy Mangru (07*) could not

find the boundaries, as Guyana ended on 90-6 when the 20 overs expired.

Henry was the star with the ball, claiming 3-12 from four overs.

Barbados beat Windwards by 10 wickets Led by another collective bowling effort, and runs from

While taking advantage of some sloppy fielding and some extras for Barbados, Fletcher and James then looked to score with more intent.

The duo added 64 runs for the third wicket, and that partnership ended with the score on 84-3 after 18.2 overs.

Fletcher was trapped in front for 30 from 46 balls as she, attempted to swing for the hills.

She struck a solitary boundary in her stonewall innings.

James, an elegant lefthander, made 23 from 40 balls, an innings that included two fours. Windwards lost their way in the final stages, losing four wickets for three runs and ending on 87-6 in 20 overs.

Shanika Bruce, who claimed three wickets in her last match, followed up that effort with 3-13

Nation and Williams took Jamaica to victory

Hayley Matthews and Kycia Knight, Barbados defeated Windward Islands by ten wickets in the first match of the day. This win marks the third in a row for defending champions Barbados.

Barbados reached 89-0 in 11.3 overs, after restricting Windwards to 87-6 in 20 overs.

Matthews was unbeaten on 41, while Knight made 32.

Earlier, Barbados won the toss and opted to field first.

Windward Islands lost two quick wickets for 20 runs in 5.4 overs. Japhina Joseph and Qiana Joseph made two and one respectively. Captain Afy Fletcher and teenager Zaida James then joined forces, and the duo began cautiously.

from four overs, including one maiden.

She was supported by fellow seamer Aaliyah Alleyne, who claimed 2-6 from her four overs.

Shamilia Connell was out of the team today, and Shakera Selman left the field after an illness.

In the end Windwards gained 28 extras.

In reply, Barbados got off to a blazing start. Matthews and Kycia Knight took the Windwards experienced player 40-yearold Ethienne to the cleaners, hitting 24 runs off her two overs.

The duo ended unbeaten, with Barbados rolling home to 89-0 from 11.3 overs.

Matthews made 41 not out from 34 balls, while Knight made

Smartt got two early wickets

32 from 35 balls. Matthews, who looked to clear the in-field, struck four boundaries, while Knight struck two fours and one six as Barbados ended on 89-0 in 11.3 overs.

The tournament will

continue on Monday, June 13, with all matches being played at Providence. Jamaica will play Barbados at 10:00h, Windwards will play Trinidad from 14:30h, and Guyana will play Leeward Islands.

SCOREBOARD Windwards Innings Japhina Joseph lbw b Bruce 2 Qiana Joseph c Carrington b Alleyne 1 Afy Fletcher lbw b Bruce 30 Zaida James c Carrington b Alleyne 23 Pearl Etienne b Bruce 0 Jannillea Glasgow not out 3 Akeira Peters run out 0 Total (6 wickets, 20.0) (28 extras) 87 FOW: 8/1 (4.1) Japhina Joseph Qiana Joseph 20/2 (5.4) Afy Fletcher 84/3 (18.2) Afy Fletcher 84/4 (18.5) Pearl Etienne 84/5 (19.1) Jannillea Glasgow 87/6 (19.6) Zaida James Bowling Shanika Bruce (4-1-13-3) Aaliyah Alleyne (4-1-6-2) Hayley Matthews (4-0-18-0) Aaliyah Williams (4-0-23-0) Shaunte Carrington (4-0-21-0) Barbados Innings Kycia Knight not out 32 Hayley Matthews not out 41 Total (0 wickets, 11.3) (16 extras) 89 Bowling Jannillea Glasgow (2-0-19-0) Pearl Etienne (2-0-24-0) Qiana Joseph (4-0-18-0) Afy Fletcher (3.3-0-28-0) Guyana Innings Lashuna Toussaint c Sanford b Howell 11 Katana Mentore lbw b Henry 0 Sheneta Grimmond c Taylor b Henry 0

Shemaine Campbelle lbw b Howell 10 Shakibi Gajnabi not out 26 Sherica Campbelle lbw b Brown 3 Cherry-Ann Fraser retired not out 20 Tremayne Smartt c Taylor b Henry 1 Mandy Mangru not out 7 Total (6 wickets, 20.0) (12 extras) 90 FOW: 1/1 (0.5) Katana Mentore 5/2 (2.5) Sheneta Grimmond 20/3 (5.6) Shemaine Campbelle 23/4 (7.4) Lashuna Toussaint 36/5 (10.4) Sherica Campbelle 81/6 (18.5) Tremayne Smartt Bowling Chinelle Henry (4-0-12-3) Vanessa Watts (4-1-13-0) C Howell (4-0-19-2) Neisha-Ann Waisome (2-0-7-0) Jody-Ann Brown (2-0-14-1) Stafanie Taylor (4-0-24-0) Jamaica Women Batting Natasha McLean b Smartt 0 Rashada Williams not out 41 Stafanie Taylor lbw b Smartt 10 Chedean Nation lbw b Gajnabi 30 Chinelle Henry not out 4 Total (3 wickets, 17.5) (7 extras) 92 FOW: 0/1 (0.4)McClean 20/2 (4.1) Stafanie Taylor 88/3 (17.4) Chedean Nation Bowling Tremayne Smartt (4-0-12-2) Shakibi Gajnab (3.5-0-26-1) Sheneta Grimmond (3-0-16-0) Kaysia Schultz (4-0-21-0) Ashmini Munisar (3-0-14-0)

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

SUNDAY, JUNE 12, 2022

guyanatimesgy.com

Jaguars hunted!

Page 39

Women’s T20 Blaze tourney:

Guyana remains winless as Barbados and Jamaica dominate Page 39

Page 38

Bowman optimistic as NSBF draws near

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