Guyana Times - Sunday, June 27, 2021

From being P16 kicked out of home at 12, to working the streets, now cosmetologist – Jasmin Rattan Nationwide coverage coverage from from the the best best news news team team in in Guyana Guyana Nationwide Issue No. 4691 guyanatimesgy.com

THE BEACON BEACON OF OF TRUTH TRUTH THE

SUNDAY, JUNE 27, 2021

PRICE

Gas-to-Energy Project

EEPGL applies for Environmental Impact Statement …over 600 workers to be employed during 1st phase See story on page 9

WCB brutal murders

Page 3

Haresh Singh was pulled off motorcycle, beaten to head with wood – suspect confesses

…says Singh’s murder was revenge for Henry cousins

3 die after fuel tanker explodes in “Guyana is my refuge” Demerara River – Venezuelan migrant Page 26

$120 VAT INCLUDED

WHAT'S INSIDE:

Pedestrian killed in WCD accident P5 ExxonMobil brings additional drill ship …to complete Payara field developmental works by yearend

P2

New $200M Instrument P6 Landing System installed at CJIA

Linden man charged for shooting at neigbhour P2

Page 29

3 male COVID-19 deaths

Page 30

…100 new cases across 9 regions

Increase in prices to double oil revenues

Page 5

…as per Bank of America projections

$80M ‘Chicken ‘n’ Burger Delight’ expansion creates 35 more jobs Page 8

I mastered the art of failing P14 before I could succeed – Ruth Nkasi Johnson

Businessman shot during P27 scuffle between 2 customers Learning Channel introduces “Whiz Kids” for Grade 6 students P30

2 NEWS

SUNDAY, JUNE 27, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

ExxonMobil brings additional drill ship …to complete Payara field developmental works by yearend

O

il giant ExxonMobil will conclude developmental operations in the Payara field, its third oilfield offshore Guyana, by this year end, even as it ramps up its development activities and brings in an additional drill ship in the Stabroek Block.

According to a notice, Exxon’s developmental works in the Payara field will conclude on December 31, 2021. These works, which are likely to include the installation of subsea systems, will see vessel PSV Skandi Foula being

used.

“The area is situated approximately 112 nautical miles from the coast of Guyana and covers an area of 137.89 square nautical miles… all mariners are required to maintain a wide berth of this vessel and navigate with caution when in the vicinity,” the notice said.

Meanwhile, Exxon is ramping up its development activities in the Stabroek Block. It was announced that Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL) will be

bringing in its MODU Noble Bob Douglas.

The ship will be conducting development drilling activities that will conclude on August 15, 2021.

It was further announced that EEPGL will be continuing deep sea developmental activities in the Liza Phase 1 field – activities that will use the DSCV SBM Installer vessel and will conclude on July 23.

The drilling of two new exploration wells in the Stabroek Block offshore Guyana in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) was

recently announced. The two wells are the Pinktail-1 and the Cataback-1 wells, which are being drilled by EEPGL 104 nautical miles off the coast of Guyana.

According to notices from the Maritime A d m i n i s t r a t i o n Department (MARAD), the Pinktail-1 well will be drilled by the MODU Noble Sam Croft from June 18 to June 22, 2021. The area being drilled is approximately 0.29 nautical square miles.

Meanwhile, the Noble Sam Croft will be drilling the Cataback-1 well from

The PSV Skandi Foula

June 22 to July 3, 2021.

In both notices, MARAD warned mariners to stay clear of these vessels as they worked and to “navigate with extreme caution when in the vicinity.”

Earlier this year, ExxonMobil had deployed the Stena DrillMAX and the Noble Sam Croft to enable further exploration and evaluation, while continuing development drilling activities offshore Guyana.

It was only recently that ExxonMobil made its 20th discovery of oil offshore Guyana, finding 230 feet or 70 metres of high-quality oil reservoirs while conducting drilling at its Longtail-3 well in the Stabroek Block.

According to a statement from ExxonMobil’s headquarters, the find was made at the Longtail-3 well by drill ship Stena DrillMAX. The well, which was drilled in over 6000 feet of water, had 70 metres of high-quality oil reservoirs. Longtail-3 follows on the success of Longtail-1, where oil was found by Exxon in 2018.

Prior to Longtail, Exxon last found oil in the Uaru-2 well in April of this year. At the time, that was Exxon’s 19th find. The company had said at the time that it deployed the two additional drill ships in the first quarter of 2021.

The Stabroek Block is 6.6 million acres (26,800 square kilometres). EEPGL is the operator and holds 45 per cent interest in the Block. Hess Guyana Exploration Ltd holds 30 per cent interest and CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of CNOOC Limited, holds the remaining 25 per cent interest.

ExxonMobil has said it anticipates at least six projects offshore Guyana will be online by 2027. A fourth project, Yellowtail, has been identified within the block with anticipated start-up in late 2025 pending Government approvals and project sanctioning.

This project will develop the Yellowtail and Redtail fields, which are located about 19 miles (30 kilometres) southeast of the Liza developments. (G3)

Linden man charged for shooting at neighbour

A

Linden man was charged on Friday for firing a gun at another man, who is allegedly his lover’s neighbour.

Mark Perry, also known as “Uno”, 49, of Blueberry Hill, Wismar, Linden, appeared before Magistrate Wanda Fortune at the Linden Magistrate’s Court, where the charge was read to him.

He was accused of discharging a loaded firearm at Godfrey Jones on Tuesday last. He was remanded to prison for the offence.

Police said on Tuesday, the incident occurred at Silvertown, Wismar, Linden.

It was reported that Perry’s lover and Jones are neighbours, and were allegedly having an ongoing issue prior to the incident.

On the day in question, the woman had complained to Perry that the victim threw objects into her yard.

She then told the suspect to go and make a report at the station.

Sometime after the report was made, Perry allegedly went outside of

Charged: Mark Perry

their yard armed with a silver handgun, pointed it at Jones, who was standing in his yard, and discharged several rounds at the man.

Jones then ran for cover in a nearby yard. Perry later fled the scene.

Police later visited the scene in the company of Jones, who pointed out the area the suspect shot at him from.

Three 9mm spent shells were picked up from the scene and lodged at the Police station. Perry was later apprehended by Police. (G9)

NEWS

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SUNDAY, JUNE 27, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

WCB brutal murders

BRIDGE OPENINGS

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

Sunday, June 27 – 04:00h – 05:30h and Monday, June 28 – 04:00h – 05:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Sunday, June 27 – 06:00h – 07:30h and Monday, June 28 – 06:50h – 08:20h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

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

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

High Tide: 06:08h and 18:42h reaching maximum heights of 2.67 metres and 2.47 metres.

Low Tide: 12:13h reaching a minimum height of 0.56 metre.

SATURDAY, JUNE 26, 2021

LOTTERY NUMBERS A

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DAILY MILLIONS

07 10 12 15 21 LUCKY 3

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COMMODITIES Indicators

US$

Change %

Crude Oil

$76.18/barrel

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Rough Rice

$237.24 /ton

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London Sugar

$427.80/ton

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Live Spot Gold

USD Per Ounce

Bid/Ask

$1781.50

$1782.50

Low/High Change

$1775.30 0.00

$1791.60 0.00%

Haresh Singh was pulled off motorcycle, beaten to head with wood – suspect confesses

…says Singh’s murder was revenge for Henry cousins

A

fter Police on Friday issued a wanted bulletin for Gladwin Henry - the brother of slain teenager Isaiah Henry whose body along with that of his cousin, Joel Henry, was found on a coconut farm at Cotton Tree backdam, West Coast Berbice, on September 6, 2020, the lad turned himself into Police custody. He was accompanied by his lawyer, Nigel Hughes.

Upon the discovery of the mutilated bodies of the Henry boys, several relatives of 17-year-old Haresh Singh were arrested and questioned in relation to the discovery. They were nevertheless released since there was no evidence to prove that they were involved on the gruesome murders and as such were released from custody.

Three days later, the battered body of Singh was found at the No 3 Backdam.

His burnt motorcycle was found in close proximity of his body.

However, after a thorough and lengthy investigation, three persons were arraigned for the murders of the Henry cousins. After solving that murder case, Police then turned their focus to Singh's murder.

On Wednesday last, Police arrested three persons - Phillip Anderson, "Bucko" and "Bolo". During interrogation, Anderson confessed that he was part of the initial plot to murder Singh as revenge for Isiah's murder.

In his confession he reportedly told detectives that after the bodies of the Henry boys were found, one of Henry’s relative went to his home and told him that Singh's relatives were the ones responsible for his brother's death and that "they got to die," as a form of revenge.

He said that Henry’s relative asked him to accompany him on the road where they were joined by “Bucko” and “Bolo”. As they were heading towards the road, they armed themselves with pieces of wood.

Anderson stated that they went straight to Haresh Singh's house and accused his relatives of killing his brother and cousin.

They reportedly started to verbally abuse the family and threatened to kill them.

After the confrontation, they left the Singh's premises and went to the back of Isaiah’s home then to a dam at No 3 Village.

He said there, they crossed a bridge and went to the other side where they saw Haresh Singh approaching on his bike. As such, the

Murdered: Haresh Singh

four men instructed him to stop and Singh complied but refused to come off the bike when he was told to do so.

An angered “Bolo” reportedly grabbed Singh from behind and pulled him off the bike after which he bent him over and it was then Henry’s relative, who was carrying a piece of wood, dealt him one blow to the head.

After receiving the blow, Singh was thrown to the ground and groaned in pain, the man told Police.

Still full of anger, “Bolo” then picked up a piece of wood and repeatedly lashed Singh to his head.

Upon seeing this, Anderson told detectives that he walked away but

subsequently learnt that Singh had died and his bike was set on fire.

Anderson, admitted that from the inception, he was working in cohort with Henry’s relative, “Bucko” and “Bolo” but after witnessing the brutal attack on Singh, he regretted being involved.

He has since apologised for being involved in the heinous crime especially after he found out that Singh's family was innocent and had nothing to do with the Henry boys' murder.

Now that a confession was secured, the Police will seek legal advice and are expected to institute charges as soon as Monday.

The three men remain in

custody after approval was granted by a High Court Judge to further detain them until Monday.

Singh's body was found on September 9, 2021, three days after the badly chopped bodies of Isaiah and Joel Henry were found.

Following the discovery, there was countrywide protests calling for justice for the boys. The Police started their investigations and shortly after they were joined by a team of overseas experts.

They all concluded that the boys were murdered at a location other than the area their mutilated bodies were found since no blood stains or weapons were found at the scene.

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guyanatimesgy.com

SUNDAY, JUNE 27, 2021

Views Unacceptable, unpardonable sins committed by GECOM staff 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

Gas-to-energy project progresses

P

lans are moving expeditiously to implement the Government’s decision to utilise natural gas brought up from the Stabroek Block by the Exxon consortium to generate power that would be utilised in our national power grid, and also to utilise some of the components of the natural gas as the base for manufacturing a range of industrial products, such as methanol etc. In a notice last Friday, the Guyana Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) directed ExxonMobil’s subsidiary, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL), to conduct an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) in order to receive authorisation for the gas-to-energy project. The public now has 28 days to make submissions to the EPA on matters which it thinks should be considered in the EIA. As per the submission to the EPA, the major component would firstly be a 12-inch “Offshore Pipeline” that would transport up to 50 million standard cubic feet per day (MSCFD) of gas from Liza Phase 1 and Liza Phase 2 FPSOs to connection with onshore pipeline. The maximum flow of the pipeline would be approximately 120 MSCFD. This would feed into an “Onshore Pipeline” of identical gauge that would transport gas from the offshore pipeline to the Natural Gas Liquefaction (NGL) Plant at Wales. The maximum flow of this pipeline would match the offshore rate.

At Wales, the NGL Onshore Plant will be constructed. It would remove propane, butane and pentanes+ liquids from the supplied natural gas. These could either be sold to the public or companies, and the remaining gas could be treated to specifications required by the power plant - including dehydration and pressure let down of the gas. As implied by this requirement, the Government would be constructing a Power Plant to generate at least 250MW of electricity for industrial use, as described above. It is to be noted that the present EIA requested by the Exxon Consortium involves only the supply of natural gas: the power plant is a separate entity that is the responsibility of the Government.

It has also been spelt out that there would be a “Temporary Material Offloading Facility” (MOF) established on the West Bank of the Demerara River for offloading of heavy modules and imported material or equipment. Additionally, there would be some “associated infrastructure upgrades” in the form of a construction access road development/ improvement as required along the onshore pipeline route.

This would likely comprise a combination of soil stabilisation and temporary hard-surfacing, with restoration following completion of construction.

Finally, the “Onshore infrastructure supports” would include shorebases, pipe yards, fabrication facilities, fuel supply facilities, and waste management facilities.

One change from an earlier Government announcement is that the 220km offshore pipeline would now land at La Jalousie, WCD and then veer eastwards to Crane, where it would turn south to cross the West Demerara Highway, and proceed for 21-27km to Wales across present rice fields until it reaches the No 1 and 2 Canals Polders, where it would traverse the abandoned Wales sugar cane fields. All of this is obviously a tremendous undertaking, and it is estimated that approximately 600 persons would be employed for the duration of the construction phase.

Back in February, President Irfaan Ali had pointed out that the entire Region 3, in which Wales, WBD is located, would see massive development that would create significant opportunities and a trickle-down effect through the industrialisation plans. He spoke about his Government’s “national energy plan, that is looking at reducing the cost of energy by almost 50 to 60 percent, making Guyana now a competitive area for manufacturing within the region, for packaging and processing and integrating the opportunities in all these islands and communities with that national energy plan.” As such, he promised, “You will see development of agro-facilities, agro-processing facilities.”

For too long, all Guyana heard about was its “potential”.

But at long last we are witnessing that potential being transformed into reality.

Dear Editor, The serious inclement weather and unbelievable flooding are wreaking havoc in our communities.

Hence, the holding of Local Government Elections so as to strengthen local democracy and bring about better-quality leaders at the Neighbourhood Democratic Council is imperative.

Many more mature and experienced persons are showing interest in public and civil activities. Guyana is on the rise, and our democracy must prevail.

The massive defeat at the 2016 and 2018 Local Government Elections will continue, as the APNU/PNC is doomed to be humiliated. All eyes are on GECOM, and they are under serious scrutiny to prepare fully and hold free and fair elections.

GECOM is on trial to conduct free and fair elections, and its administrators have created such a stony, thorn-filled path in respect to any evalu-

ation for the continuation of the “trio” to be at GECOM. Hence, GECOM must immediately get rid of all the staff members who are before the courts for fraud and misconduct at the 2020 National and Regional Elections.

Significantly, GECOM has unanimously decided to send Chief Elections Officer (CEO) Keith Lowenfield, Deputy Chief Elections Officer (DCEO) Roxanne Myers, and Region Four Returning Officer Clarmont Mingo on leave pending a decision on a proposal on whether a tribunal would investigate the serious accusations against them. The Chairperson of GECOM must be fully aware of the fact that the Commission has the power and authority to deal with any insubordination, dishonesty, and fraud at the Commission.

The proposal made by Alexander and his support team for the survival of the ‘rogue’ staff must not be con-

doned. GECOM must understand that the unacceptable and unpardonable sins that were committed by staff at GECOM have caused a total loss of public confidence and public trust in the electoral process. As GECOM now prepares to hold Local Government Elections, the Commission must put on the agenda preparation and plan for the holding of Elections this year. Further, there are many others who are before the court for wrongdoing, and many others who are guilty of being a part of the attempts to derail and rig the National and Regional Elections.

Hence, all eyes are on them, and the hiring of staff for future Elections must be done in a transparent manner and with persons of integrity.

GECOM must deal with these issues and persons swiftly. They have all been accused of failing, neglecting, and abdicating their functions, duties, and responsi-

bilities to ensure compliance with the provisions of the Constitution and the electoral framework and the very essential criteria of impartiality, transparency, fairness, and credibility to the operations of the Commission and its Secretariat. The underperformance, the deliberate attempts to do skullduggery, and the fact that they committed all their dirty work in the eyes of our entire population and the imminent international observers are enough evidence for the Commission to deal condignly with all the fraudsters.

Further, the three rogue staff members are all before the court facing criminal charges, and the nation’s expectations are high that they would be dealt with severely.

Their punishment must be a deterrent to any further attempt to rig elections in this country.

Sincerely, Neil Kumar

Toward a hypothesised role of the school counsellor (Pt 1) Dear Editor, The recent call for the installation of counselors in schools as a resource to support students, teachers and parents in the learning-teaching process invites an exploration for clarification.

Counseling has been labelled as one of the helping professions along with social work, psychology and psychiatry. In a mental health sense, this kind of helping is more than just giving aid or offering a helping hand, and this role exploration of the counselor is intended as information for public consumption with nothing written in stone in relation to the functional reality on the ground. This model is taken from the complex American educational system where counselors develop specialties within their counseling teams in schools and parts of this exploration may be alien to the unschooled in counselor education.

Counseling on a continuum: On a broad dimension in this helping process, the role of counseling can be viewed in the following continuum: information giving – advising - counseling – psychotherapy - psychopharmacology therapy - from the least to the most intensive helping intervention based on need of the client. In this article client is the generic term for the person receiving services. Briefly, along this continuum, giving information may be all that is needed for a client to make a decision to solve a problem and that’s the end of the information giving contact ; advising may need both, giving the information and helping make a quick decision to solve a problem as advisors routinely do in American high schools and colleges; counseling may need more intensive intervention concerned with helping clients resolve/correct emotional difficulties blocking ability to achieve goals or function effectively and this is usually with a “normal”

population as in schools; psychotherapy is a longer term process concerned with the reconstruction of the person and larger changes in personality structure; psychotherapy is restricted in conception to those with pathology, “abnormal populations,” and is usually the domain of social workers, psychologists and psychiatrists; lastly, psychopharmacology therapy is the management of psychiatric symptoms with medication prescribed by psychiatrists, usually accompanied by adjunct verbal therapy to monitor symptoms of a diagnosed syndrome. Psychologist is a term that means someone with a doctoral degree, usually experienced in the management of complex mental health issues.

Psychotherapy is not the domain of school counselors as they go through a different curriculum preparation and are not trained for intervention at the level of psychotherapy; schools are not mental health clinics even though counselors may be viewed as mental health personnel; their real job title is guidance counselors. Psychotherapy is an intervention that mainly involves clinical psycholo-

gists, clinical social workers and psychiatrists, sometimes working as a team in a clinical setting such as a hospital. Although school counselors are not qualified to do psychotherapy based on their training, there may be overlap between the meaning of psychotherapy and counseling especially in public usage.

However, a presenting behavior being displaced in school may turn out to have a different underlying emotional situation and the school counselor is expected to assess it and take the necessary remedial steps.

Observation on the continuum: each element in this continuum can be very comprehensive. Take for example, the first seemingly simple element, information giving.

This is the distribution of information appropriate to the age and cognitive development of students during the school years and to parents through class visits continually provided throughout the elementary and high school years.

According to Hoppock (1992) information giving serves the following purposes: A. Increases feelings of security

B. Encourages natural curiosity C. Extends horizons D. Encourages wholesome attitudes E. Develops desirable approaches to decision making F. Is helpful when pragmatic decisions such as whether to continue in school for a career or drop out.

The school counsellor is really an encyclopedia of information in career and life planning beyond the school years, and that’s why one of his/her roles as resource specialist becomes the go-to person for information and help.

The guidance counsellor may be responsible for all educational entries in permanent school records that follow students throughout the school years, records sometimes under his/her secure safe keeping. The actual process of counselling, however, is a very complex, comprehensive engagement towards the optimum self-actualization of students within a healthy educational environment.

Dear Editor, The media reported that when they appeared at the Springlands Magistrate’s Court on Thursday, charged with rape, bail was granted to Kevin Clarke in the sum of $30,000, Nicholas Ishri in the sum of $75,000 and Tameshwar Persaud in the sum of $150,000.

Is this a joke? Surely there must be some minimal standard by which bail setting for rape is determined?

Typically, the bail amount should be high enough to be taken seriously, as well as to ensure a defendant shows up in court after being released from jail. The bail amounts of these

three accused are neither. As well in rape cases, a magistrate or judge should add the condition that the defendant must not attempt to contact the person who is accusing him/her of the crime.

But with such ridiculous bail, the accused themselves would know that their alleged crimes were not taken seriously, and they can thus choose to then intimidate and/or buy off the alleged victims into silence, as often happens in Guyana.

As well, wasn’t the Sexual Offences Court set up to strictly deal with all cases of rape and sexual assault? So why is this case been dealt with in a

Magistrate’s Court?

A Sexual Offences Court, with one branch each in Essequibo and Berbice, takes away from the purpose of the court. Such a court must be fully decentralised so it can operate throughout the nation.

Thus, the need for mobile units in each region to service all courts. This would ensure that all the resources offered are available to the court to offer, in every instance, to the victims and perpetrators, and that bail reflects the seriousness of the crime.

Sincerely, Dr Udayram Ramharack (Psychologist)

Bail for sexual offences

Sincerely, Annan Boodram

NEWS

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SUNDAY, JUNE 27, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Increase in prices to double oil revenues …as per Bank of America projections

W

ith the price of oil currently averaging around US$74 per barrel (West Texas Intermediate) and the Bank of America projecting that oil could reach as high as US$100 per barrel by next year, the turnaround in global circumstances presents an opportunity for Guyana to earn so much more.

This is according to analyst at Americas Market Intelligence (AMI) and Africa Market Intelligence (AfMI), Arthur Deakin, who conducts political, economic and other risk analysis activities for the mining, energy and infrastructure sectors.

He noted that at the time Guyana lifted its first 5 million barrels of oil, the price of crude averaged roughly US$49 a barrel. This low, largely influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic which prompted most countries to impose travel restrictions to limit its spread, played a huge role in how much Guyana earned from oil production in the Liza field.

Now, however, oil prices have been recovering amid the global increase in travel.

“The resurgence of oil prices is good news for the Guyanese Government, as it will lead to a larger amount of oil revenues over the coming decades. When considering their first five oil lifts, and excluding the 2 per cent Government royalty, the Guyanese Government made US$246 million dollars,” the analyst said.

“Considering that they lifted 5 million barrels, the average price was roughly $49/barrel. If prices were at $100/barrel, as is projected by Bank of America, the amount that would have

Analyst Arthur Deakin

entered Guyana’s coffers would have been over half a billion dollars, more than double the original amount.”

According to Deakin, this is already a very substantial difference. He noted that when one thinks about it in terms of the long-term development of Guyana’s energy sector, the upliftment in the price of crude has the possibility to change the entire trajectory of the country.

“Although the total amount of oil revenues does range, let’s go with the hypothetical assumption that it will be $170 billion at $60/ barrel. If Brent crude prices average $100 over the upcoming decades, then that total amount of oil revenues would be $283 billion, a $113 billion increase,” Deakin said.

“Now of course, 50 per cent of the profit oil is split with the operators, who will recover their capex costs even quicker than expected. This uptick in price will certainly attract more energy players and investors towards Guyana, but you have to consider that we are trending towards a commodity super-cycle. If prices collapse, it is best that it happens when Guyana

is producing relatively low amounts of oil, which will only be the case through 2025.”

In March 2021, the Natural Resources Ministry had disclosed that to date, a total of 5,009,797 barrels of oil worth US$246.5 million have been lifted. This sum, added to the royalties the country receives, took the total in the NRF account to US$267.6 million.

With the earnings from the sixth lift in April and royalty payments, this amount is expected to have climbed to over US$300 million.

Guyana received its first payment of US$54.9 million for an oil lift dated February 19, 2020. The second lift on May 21, 2020, was valued at US$35 million; while the third lift, which occurred on August 9, 2020, was worth US$46 million.

The fourth lift of oil offshore Guyana occurred on December 9, 2020, and came in at US$49.4 million in value. And on February 5, 2021, some 997,420 barrels of oil were lifted from Liza Destiny. A sum of US$61 million was paid for that lift.

ExxonMobil, as operator in the Stabroek Block, began

The Liza Destiny which is currently producing the oil in the Stabroek Block

producing oil on December 20, 2019. Guyana’s oil revenues are being banked in the New York Federal Reserve, where it is earning

interest.

President Dr Irfaan Ali has said that Guyana’s oil and gas resources would play a critical role in its de-

velopment, with a portion of the money going towards the development of worldclass education, human capacity and healthcare system; reducing energy costs and enhancing the local infrastructure to benefit Guyanese.

It is expected that once the Natural Resource Fund Act, which stipulates that various committees must be established to provide oversight for the fund, is reviewed, it will be brought to the National Assembly by the current Government and pave the way for the fund to be accessed.

Pedestrian killed in WCD accident

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56-year-old pedestrian of Fifth Street MetenMeer-Zorg, West Coast Demerara, was killed on Saturday after being struck by a truck on the WCD Public Road.

Dead is Sherrane Hollingsworth. Reports are that the accident occurred at about 14:20h at De Kinderen, WCD. Police have since said that motor lorry GZZ 4439 driven by a 60-year-old resident of Ruimzeight Gardens,

WCD, was proceeding west along the southern side of the De Kinderen Public Road when it was alleged that Hollingsworth, who was standing on the northern side of the road, after observing the traffic, walked across the road and into the path of the vehicle.

As a result, the front left side of the lorry collided with the pedestrian, causing her to fall to the road’s surface where she received injuries about

her body.

She was picked up by public-spirited citizens in an unconscious state and taken to the Leonora Cottage Hospital, where a doctor pronounced her dead on arrival.

Notice of intended prosecution was served on the driver, whose breathalyser test showed 0.000 per cent blood alcohol content in micrograms.

The driver remains in custody as investigations continue.

6 NEWS

SUNDAY, JUNE 27, 2021| GUYANATIMESGY.COM

New $200M Instrument Landing System installed at CJIA

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eroplanes flying into the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) in poor visibility conditions will soon be guided in more safely when the recently installed and tested $200 million Instrument Landing System (ILS) at the airport comes on stream.

CJIA’s Manager of Air Traffic Services (Ag), Trevor Daly told DPI that the new system will ensure better line of sight of the runway for approaching aircraft.

“What the ILS will do for us is to give the pilot the necessary guidance to get his aircraft closer to the runway to effect a safe landing,” Daly said.

Poor weather conditions sometimes make it difficult

for aircraft to land at CJIA. “We currently have several aircraft conducting missed approaches and some having to go to an alternate airport simply because the low cloud conditions and poor visibility and the pilot doesn’t have sufficient guidance to bring him to a point where he can see the runway and land.”

Daly said the ILS transmits two radio frequencies to aircraft approaching the runway at CJIA, which then guides the plane to safe landing. He explained that the overlapping frequencies provide both horizontal and vertical guidance from nearly 100 feet above the runway. This is 400 feet closer than what

pilots experience during adverse weather conditions currently.

Meanwhile, Director of Air Navigation Services (Ag), Roy Sukhoo said civil works were done at the airport to accommodate the ILS. “The ILS was installed, which is made up of two basic components, that is the localised and glide path. So, we needed some extra land area to the north for the localiser and we needed some land near the south for the glide path and other facilities there.”

Preparation works were done and installation began in December 2020. In keeping with local and international regulations, the ILS

was installed and tested via a flight check.

“The flight check involves an aeroplane which is called a flight check aircraft. It has specific equipment onboard and this aircraft flies several circuits around the ILS… These tests are done at different distances from Timehri and then overhead Timehri or overhead the ILS itself,” the Director said.

Sukhoo said the ILS is awaiting certification from the international company that installed it. Following the completion of CJIA’s modernisation project this year, the ILS will be fully online to improve the safety of travellers.

Rotary Club installs new Board of Directors

T

he Rotary Club of Georgetown installed its new Board of Directors for the year 2021-2022, under the leadership of President Ramona Singh.

The Club celebrated its 62nd Anniversary in May. Immediate past President Clyde de Haas thanked the outgoing Board of Directors for going the extra mile and significantly contributing to the achievements of the Club over the past year.

He highlighted some of the projects in the just concluded year which included the distribution of COVID-19 relief food hampers to various communities; distribution of school supplies to the Sophia Literacy Centre through a collaboration with the Rotaract Club of Georgetown; food supplies to various senior citizens homes; donation to the Night Shelter and the distribution of hampers to various flood affected communities.

The installation of its new Board of Directors was another way to continue its celebrations as the Club continues to execute life-changing

projects.

Singh in her acceptance said, “It is a great honour to serve as President for Guyana’s prestigious club for the Rotary Year 2021/2022”.

She committed to leading her club through yet another successful year under the Rotary International Theme “Serve to Change Lives”.

She further stated “the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic undoubtedly has changed our

lives and its accompanying challenges continue to plague us and the world over. It perhaps has resonated within all of us, the volatility of many things we may have overlooked in the past.

Notwithstanding, it has provided Rotary with unique opportunities and new avenues for service”.

She indicated that her Club will focus on executing service projects, in areas such as mental health and

wellness; child care and welfare; education and agriculture among others. In doing so they will seek to form new strategic partnerships with institutions and agencies that are likeminded to bolster community involvement to allow for greater reach and impact.

The newly-appointed President charged Rotarians to renew their commitment to the causes of Rotary as they continue to unite and take action to create lasting change – across the globe, in our communities, and in ourselves.

Over these years the Club has made contributions to society such as the construction of the Convalescent Home, construction of water wells in areas such as Old England/Siberia and Coomacka; donation of a Bookmobile to the National Library; several medical outreaches and many other projects. The Rotary Club of Georgetown was the creator of the Annual International Bar - many would recall the grandeur of this event that significantly contributed to the Club.

F

WORLD RAINFOREST DAY

ound on every continent except Antarctica, rainforests are ecosystems filled with mostly evergreen trees that typically receive high amounts of rainfall. Tropical rainforests are found near the equator, with high average temperatures and humidity; while temperate rainforests lie mostly in coastal, mountainous areas within the midlatitudes.

Rainforests are vital for the survival of life on Earth. Not only do they provide air, water, medicine, food and shelter to a multitude of living beings, they are also one of our best natural defences against climate change, because of their capacity to absorb greenhouse gases from the atmosphere.

They are home to half the world’s plant and animal species.

Yet, every minute, we lose 40 football fields of rainforests, which threatens our biodiversity and imperils our planet’s health. Deforestation causes 15% of global carbon dioxide emissions that accelerate climate change — more than from all cars in the USA and China combined. Natural climate solutions like protecting and restoring forests, however, could reverse global emissions by a third.

The first World Rainforest Day was launched on June 22nd, 2017 by Rainforest Partnership, as a collaborative effort to raise awareness and encourage action to protect the world’s rainforests. World Rainforest Day celebrates this precious natural resource, and encourages action to preserve it. Your efforts, together with the actions of others, would have a positive impact on rainforests and the climate worldwide.

World Rainforest Day is an opportunity to celebrate this precious natural resource each year, and take action to preserve it.

Green land of Guyana At over 87% forest cover, Guyana is one of the most heavily forested countries in South America. As part of the Guiana Shield, its forests play a key role in regulating rainfall across the entire Amazon Basin. Its rainforests store over 5.41 gigatons (Gts) of carbon dioxide, making them a critical conservation area to mitigate global climate change.

Guyana's forests are highly diverse: the country has some 1,263 known species of amphibians, birds, mammals, and reptiles, and 6,409 species of plants. According to an assessment by the ITTO, forests in Guyana can be broken down as follows: rainforest (36%), montane forest (35%), swamp and marsh (15%), dry evergreen (7%), seasonal forest (6%), and mangrove forest (1%).

What can you do to help protect rainforests?

Learn more about the rainforest Eat less meat - From 2000 to 2005, beef production accounted for 65 to 70 percent of all deforestation in the Amazon, and that number is estimated to be even higher today.

Additionally, more rainforest is being converted to soybean plantations, much of which goes to feed the growing cattle population. Brazil alone has approximately 24 to 25 million hectares devoted to soy production. These processes emit a significant amount of CO2 with the once forested region losing its capacity to act as a carbon sink. Even worse, cattle release large amounts of methane, a greenhouse gas 30 times more powerful than carbon dioxide, into the atmosphere.

Shop for sustainably sourced forest products. Palm oil is an extremely versatile product used in a variety of everyday cosmetics, cleaning products, and food items, yet its production is the leading cause of deforestation in tropical Southeast Asia. Be on the lookout for the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) logo when purchasing forest products.

FSC's “tick tree” logo is used to indicate that products are certified under the FSC system. When you see the FSC logo on a label, you can buy forest products with confidence that you are helping to ensure our forests are alive for generations to come.

Ensure that your forestry operation has an Environmental Authorisation For more information, photos, and videos of rainforests, visit https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/ article/rain-forests and https://www.facebook.com/ worldrainforestday/ Sources https://www.worldrainforestday.org/history-of-wrd https://rainforestfoundation.org/our-work/geographies/ guyana/ https://rainforests.mongabay.com/20guyana.htm https://www.treexploration.com/blog/7-facts-aboutguyana-jungle You can share your ideas and questions by sending letters to: “Our Earth, Our Environment”, C/O ECEA Programme, Environmental Protection Agency, Ganges Street, Sophia, GEORGETOWN, or email us at: eit.epaguyana@gmail.com.

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

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SUNDAY, JUNE 27, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

8 NEWS

SUNDAY, JUNE 27, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

$80M “Chicken ‘n’ Burger Delight” expansion creates 35 more jobs

M

inister within the Public Works Ministry, Deodat Indar said the establishment and expansion of businesses are testament of the enabling environment the Government has created for investors.

He made the statement at the opening of the second branch of “Chicken ‘n’ Burger Delight” at Leonora, West Coast Demerara.

Some $80 million was invested in the venture, which has created 35 jobs. “I want to finally thank the Puran family for having confidence in economy, to invest…. I’ve seen that the wider Private Sector is also having that level of confidence to invest and to broaden their presence in Guyana, and to spread their wings. We as Government, we stand with you. Once businesses invest, we work with businesses to make sure they are successful. That is Government’s role to create the environment so that businesses can be successful,” the Minister is quoted by the Department of Public Information as saying.

Indar also lauded the company on the selection of its second location, which is in a densely populated area.

Managing Director, Chetan Puran said the company saw the need for a restaurant in the area and capitalised

The new “Chicken ‘n’ Burger Delight” location at Leonora, WCD

on the opportunity. He also said they sought to create a good, family-oriented environment in keeping with the needs of the community. “We know that most of our customers are on the West Coast so we did a market survey. So, we brought our testing kit, which is our food outlet to this location and it did very well. Their response was great to the point where we saw a good opportunity to expand here.

So, we pursued that venture, we pursue that route and here we are today.”

All tolled, “Chicken ‘n’ Burger Delight” has created employment for 70 people as 35 persons are also employed at its Vreed-en-Hoop branch.

Meanwhile, Indar informed the gathering of Government’s plans for the massive development in Region Three.

“So, in Region Three as you know, we will be having shore-based development. There is one in the design phase for Vreed-en-Hoop and one that is actually being constructed right now at Versailles.”

He noted that plans are advancing for the establishment of the Wales Development Authority, which will be a boon to the economy. That mega project will see the upsurge of commercial industrial activities and would increase Guyana’s power generation which will lead to more investment.

He also spoke of plans for the creation of a highway from Schoonord to Parika.

“That will open up lands, that will open up a lot of lands on the [West] Bank for housing, for farming, for all sorts of economic ventures. Region Three will see development in all forms, with respect to agriculture, fishing, and so on, call centres and so on. So, there’s a whole set of initiatives on the cards for Region Three,” Indar is quoted as saying.

Smoking…

W

…weed e just can’t seem to get our ACT together - at least not to pass one in the National Assembly! - for the possession of small quantities of weed. And we might as well start right there, as to what’s been proposed after decades of pleading by the Rastafarian community.

They use the herb as part of their religious sacrament. There’s a widespread sentiment - spread by the anti-weed fraternity - that the floodgates of marijuana would be opened up and you wouldn’t be able to drive on the roads for the smoke that would be puffed into the atmosphere by wild-eyed potheads!

But in their “Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Control) Amendment Bill”, the-powers-that-be aren’t even talking about weed being “legalised”!

They’ve suggested “non-custodial” sentencing, that’s still SENTENCING for committing an illegal act - just not into custody or jail. The proposed amendment would have persons caught with less than 30 grams having to perform community service of different rigour and duration, depending on whether the amount is less than 15 or 30 grams. Users would also have to prove they weren’t engaged in trafficking - that is, selling weed. In the meantime, alcohol - which causes cirrhosis of the liver, domestic violence, poverty, and all sorts of social ills - receives accolades for sponsoring sports events for youths. The tactic isn’t seen as grooming!

The PNC coalition had five years to do something, but did nothing. But when the PPP tabled their amendment in January, they had the temerity to propose that the acceptable possessed amount of weed by an individual should be 500 grams!! That is more than one pound!! Who’s kidding whom?

Who smokes a pound of grass? The amendment was debated in the House, but is now before a Select Committee because of the disagreements on the permissible quantum. But with the present erratic sitting schedule on account of the COVID-19 pandemic, who knows when consensus will be reached.

So, the irate (NOT Irie!) Rastafarian organisations have started picketing the AG’s office, so he’d “buck up” on the amendment. What might’ve prompted the move was the arrest and incarceration of one of their high profile past Presidents for “possession” - Ras Saul. He’d been the Prime Ministerial candidate for the “Healing the Nation Theocracy” party (HTNT). Saul had emphasised that “The legalisation of marijuana is part of the party’s eradication of poverty and equal rights and justice platform.” Note this was LEGALISATION, not just “no jail time”!

In the interest of full disclosure, your Eyewitness had taken a “took” of ganja back in 1982, when Musical Youth came out with their iconic, “Pass the Dutchie on the left-hand side.”

Like Bill Clinton, he also didn’t inhale!

…some strong stuff!!

It’s reported that former Finance Minister Winston Jordan tried to defend his government’s backstopping (guaranteeing) NICIL’s $30 billion Bond. This was floated - supposedly to resuscitate GuySuCo - after its “downsizing”! The latter “cure”, of course, proved worse than the perceived disease!

But a couple of things caught your Eyewitness’S attention.

First, when you borrow money, it’s expected you’ll use the funds to generate money to pay the recurrent interest and, at the end of the term, the principal. So, imagine your Eyewitness’s consternation to discover the money was never used to rehabilitate the closed factories and bring them to a point of sale. The PNC was paying $1.5 billion annually in interest FROM THE MONEY THEY BORROWED! The PPP has had to continue paying this interest, and next year will have to find $30 billion to pay off the principal!! But the clincher on the PNC’s financial haplessness was Jordan’s insistence that “Uitvlugt was a profit-making estate”!!

Uitvlugt, in fact - historically and into the present - was always the highest cost sugar producer.

And loss leader!!

…and imploding The PNC’s implosion continues with the departure of another youth leader and a businessman from their CEC. They’ll soon reach gravitational singularity to make them shrink into a black hole.

From which nothing can exit!!

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

NEWS

Gas-to-Energy Project

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SUNDAY, JUNE 27, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

EEPGL applies for Environmental Impact Statement …over 600 workers to be employed during 1st phase

O

il giant ExxonMobil is currently seeking the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) approval for the gas-toshore pipeline, which its Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) says will have a lifespan of 25 years.

According to the project documents submitted by

support vessels.

Meanwhile, the onshore pipeline installation phase will employ approximately 100 workers at its peak.

The construction of the NGL plant will see 300 workers employed at its peak.

Following commissioning, 25 workers will be employed during the operation aspect

The pipeline route leading to Wales, WBD

Esso Exploration Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL), Exxon’s local subsidiary, the estimated US$900 million project will have a start-up date in 2024 and will have a lifespan of at least 25 years until it is decommissioned.

The project life cycle, the application stated, will include engineering, construction, commissioning, operations and decommissioning.

The engineering phase will include design, Front-End Engineering and Design (FEED), and detailed engineering. The construction phase will include procurement, fabrication and construction, installation, commissioning and start-up.

“Operations will follow commissioning and start-up, and will be the longest phase of the Project with a duration of at least 25 years. Startup of the facilities is expected to occur in 2024,” the EIA states.

It was further explained in the EIA that the offshore pipeline installation will be conducted simultaneously with the onshore installation of the pipeline and works at the Natural Gas Liquids (NGL) plant.

The installation will see Exxon laying approximately 220 kilometres of pipe from the Liza Destiny Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel to the gas plant which will be located at Wales on the West Bank of Demerara (WBD).

Initially, however, the pipeline will land at Crane on the West Coast of Demerara (WCD).

The EIA says that the offshore pipeline installation phase of the project will employ approximately 300 workers at its peak.

However, it was explained that this is a preliminary estimate that depends on construction/installation and

of the project, with that number doubling during decommissioning.

“The Project is in the initial stages of planning and design, and detailed estimates of workforce requirements have not yet been developed.

Preliminary workforce estimates are provided below,” the EIA states.

“These estimates will be refined following selection and contracting for the offshore and onshore scopes of work. The estimated peak construction workforce will be on the order of 600 persons or less, with accommodation needs served by existing lodging in the greater Georgetown area.”

The gas-to-shore project is a transformative project that will see gas from the Liza Field offshore Guyana being pumped onshore to generate power. The main objective of the initiative is to transport sufficient gas from the Stabroek Block’s petroleum operations to supply some 200-250 megawatts of energy to the national grid, leading to a significant reduction in electricity costs.

Industrial development

President Dr Irfaan Ali had previously said the gasto-shore pipeline would lead to “big industrial development taking place there that is linked to not only power generation and a power plant.” He also said the investment on the Demerara River’s shoreside would create massive opportunities and a trickle-down effect.

Soon after the Government issued permit licences to Exxon for the Payara Development Project last year, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo had announced that the Government would turn its attention to negotiating the gas-to-energy project.

A number of factors including geotechnical, geophysical and environmental were examined before Jagdeo announced recently that the Government had settled on Wales to land the pipelines for the project.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Mark Phillips, who has responsibility for the energy sector, has previously said that the Government is looking to produce 200 megawatts of power from the gasto-shore project by 2024.

Exxon has said that around 30 to 35 million cubic feet of natural gas would be required for the gas-to-shore project. Data from Norwegian research company Rystad Energy had indicated that less than 20 per cent of the 1.8 billion Barrels of Oil Equivalent (BOE) discovered last year was gas.

Diagram showing the subsea installation route for the pipeline

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WPA and PNC coalition talks collapsed in 2006 because both wanted leadership

I

respond to Mr Tacuma Ogunseye’s letter to KN 6-24 and SN 6-25, wherein he purports to respond to my claim that “WPA scuttled 2005 Rodney COI”. Before I address My Ogunseye’s claim on my “mendacity”, I would like to offer my oftrepeated perspective on “looking back”. Following David Scott, I hold that “histories of the past ought to be interventions in the present, strategic interrogations of the present’s norms as a way Ravi Dev of helping us to glimpse the possibilities for an alternative future.” From this perspective, I have been writing about the breakup of the Third/Center Force back in 2005/2006 from my own experience with a horizon of expectation that we might break out of the zero-sum politics that evolved since 1955.

On Mr Ogunseye’s claim that WPA didn’t “scuttle” the 2005 COI initiative, I am unsure exactly what is his position, since he is not “contesting the Roopnaraine and Corbin meeting or meetings.” We now have the recorded words in 2019 of Mrs Patricia Rodney that she communicated to the WPA/ Roopnaraine during the 25th Anniversary Commemoration of her husband’s assassination that she desired a COI. But when she returned to Atlanta “it was quashed”. Is Tacuma denying Mrs Rodney said this, or that Roopnaraine told the members of the Opposition, like myself, that she did not want the COI because the PPP would “make political mileage” from it in the upcoming 2006 elections?

My Ogunseye also avers: “Why should I trust the truthfulness of Dev’s claim, given his erroneous narrating of the events that led to the collapse of the Third Force/ Centre Force initiative?” My “narration” being that Roopnaraine had told me about his meetings with the PNC – which Mr Ogunseye doesn’t “contest” - even as we were working to cement the Centre Force. I recounted that I had informed Dr Clive Thomas, WPA’s co-leader, along with Roopnaraine, as well as the visiting Mr Moses Bhagwan, to no effect. I would be interested in hearing what these gentlemen have to say.

But this “narration” was not some sudden concoction on my part, as Mr Ogunseye declares. Back on June 24, 2006 after the Third/Centre Force had collapsed in February, I had responded in KN to Dr Joey Jagan’s letter, “ROAR/GAP coalition laughable”: “Dr. Joey…and the other members did convene a meeting in my absence (in Dec 2005) and in fact officially met with the PNC. This fact was conveyed to me at the meeting I convened in February 2006, where, in the presence of the facilitator, Dr. Joey and the representatives, other groups present (apart from GAP) indicated their decision to proceed with a pre-electoral coalition with the PNC. I reiterated that while I was not prepared to proceed in that direction, we should continue to cooperate on issues where we have a common position. We believed, and still believe, that Guyana has to move away from the present political premise of many leaders, “If you are not with me, then you are against me”.

In Dr David Hinds’s book, “Ethno-Politics and Power Sharing in Guyana”, he refers to the “narration” above: “The (Third/Centre Force) coalition began to unravel shortly after the announcement (of its formation). Some of the parties charged others with a secret plot to take the Third Force into an alliance with the PNC. Despite strong denials by those accused, the coalition disintegrated.” However, he continued, “The decline of the Third Force led to a new initiative by some individuals associated with the Reform wing of the PNC. The “One Guyana Platform, comprising of the PNC, WPA and NFA (was launched).” The announcement of elections scheduled for Aug 2006, “led to a flurry of behind-the-scenes negotiation between the PNC and the WPA over a joint slate…The PNC’s insistence on its leader as the (presidential) candidate was not accepted by the WPA…At a meeting in NY, emotions ran high as most members rejected any alliance with the PNC. The WPA did not contest the elections.”

Would Mr Ogunseye have us believe that these alliance talks between the WPA and PNC suddenly appeared out of the blue after the collapse of the Third Force, and were not preceded by secret talks – which he does not “oppose” - as revealed by Roopnaraine to me?

As for Mr Ogunseye’s polemics, its “sterility” destroys new ideas. I prefer dialogue.

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14 FEATURE

SUNDAY, JUNE 27, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

I mastered the art of failing before I could succeed – Ruth Nkasi Johnson

By Lakhram Bhagirat

A

s cliché as it may sound, Ruth Nkasi Johnson’s success as a Wedding and Event Planner is as a direct result of her failures in several other ventures. However, those failures did not define her path rather she knew in order to succeed, she needed to pick herself up and go again.

Ruth runs Beyond the Décor Wedding Consultant/ Planning service.

In order to appreciate

where Ruth is today, one must first understand the path she took to get here.

The entrepreneur was born and partially raised in Plaisance on the East Coast of Demerara (ECD) but would move to Berbice, for some time, to live with her grandmother. She returned to Georgetown at the age of 11 and started her secondary education at St John’s College. After completing her education, she started working at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation

(GPHC) while taking several training courses in communication and effective speaking as well as industrial relations.

“I spent 12 years working at Georgetown Public Hospital in various clinics and in administration. The last place there I worked was with the Records Department/ Health Management Information Systems Department. From there I moved to Trinidad and spent a few years in Trinidad, where I worked at an advertising company name Tag Advertising,” she said.

While in Trinidad, Ruth also worked at the Grand

in 2009, Ruth would move back to Guyana in 2012 where she began looking at ways to get settled. Knowing that she wanted to be her own boss, Ruth then started selling clothes and that would fail. She would then move on

Bazaar Mall where she was introduced to event planning and coordination. She would go on to do a course in wedding and events planning, reigniting a buried passion for events management.

“It was always a passion

to work as a nail technician and that too failed. She re-entered the clothing business and failed again.

“I just failed miserably as I like to tell people like I failed with my master's. I have a master's degree in fail-

of mine because one year I was in a pageant – Miss Guyana Public Service Union pageant and I was a delegate and I was also on the planning team of the pageant. So you can imagine, I'm a delegate and also on the planning team and I realised you know this is something I like because I love logistics, I love details, I love the end to end detailing of stuff. So I realised then that this was a passion I had but I never took it serious because really and truly, I want to become a physiotherapist,” Ruth related.

After completing her event planning course there

ing. I mastered the art of failing before I could succeed.”

Her many failures made her seriously consider her options and survey what the Guyanese market needed which resulted in her venturing into the planning business. When she first started out, she had nothing, not a vase, a table cloth or flowers but according to her, she had her computer and graphic skills. She created business cards and could only afford to print about 20 which meant that she had to really be careful about how she shared those out.

TURN TO PAGE 18

FEATURE

15

Dat Yoga Shop – Christina Basil’s

SUNDAY, JUNE 27, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

way of encouraging more persons to reap the benefits of yoga

By Lakhram Bhagirat

C

hristina Basil or Dat Yoga Chick, as she is known to the wider Guyanese populace, recently opened the country’s first yoga shop in an effort to introduce more Guyanese to yoga. A certified yoga teacher, Christina is ecstatic to enhance the local yoga landscape.

The practice of yoga is documented in the Rigveda which is one of the oldest and most sacred books in human history, having been written 8-10 thousand years ago. With the benefits of yoga now being popularised, we see more and more persons becoming interested.

For just over 5 years now, Christina has been practicing yoga and the opening of her own shop is one of the accomplishments she treasures.

Dat Yoga Shop is located at 39 Anira Street, Queenstown, Georgetown, and offers every equipment to support the practice of yoga.

Christina stocks a wide assortment of yoga mats, boosters, yoga balls and everything else she uses in her practice.

Additionally, the shop also carries products from a lot of women-owned businesses.

Reflecting on how she got introduced to the world of yoga, Christina said that one of her mother’s friends was a student of yoga and she would often share photos on social media. That sparked Christina’s interest and while on a gap year from university in 2016, she decided to start giving it a shot.

“I just decided to start and that is how I started to practice yoga. It started just as a hobby about what poses I could do and so but shortly after it developed into something much more that I enjoy doing. So, for the first time when I started in 2016, I was solely selftaught. I did a lot of things incorrectly at first and so on. I would just look back at videos on Instagram and YouTube and do random poses. Slowly, I began correcting my posture and then I became very form focused. I started to fix a lot of things in my practice and would practice on my form. I really learned a lot from that,” she explained.

After she began improving form and started to realise yoga was more than a hobby for her, Christina was approached by persons for advice and tips but at that time teaching yoga was something she was yet to contemplate. She was living overseas for some time and when she returned home, persons

began approaching her asking if she would hold classes. She gave it some thought and then started her set of classes.

However, that was short lived because she got into an accident and broke her leg. That meant she had limited mobility for at least five months and classes got cancelled.

“Right after I was able to get back on my feet, I was teaching again. Ever since I resumed teaching the class started to grow a lot bigger and everything. I would do one or two corporate sessions, persons started reaching out to me for private sessions and stuff from after I realised persons want me to teach and they see themselves progressing under my instruction. I started scoping out some yoga training classes but they were all super expensive. In 2019 I was able to find one that fits my budget and it was located in Colorado that was with the Bodhi Yoga Academy. So, I started saving aggressively for the training and in June 2019 I did my first formal training,” she said.

Christian is now a certified vinyasa and ashtanga yoga teacher.

Vinyasa is a style of yoga characterised by stringing postures together so that you move from one to another, seamlessly, using breath. Commonly referred to as “flow” yoga whereas ashtanga yoga follows a specific sequence of poses and is more form related.

“For me, vinyasa yoga mixes movement with breath. So involves a lot of using whatever flexibility and natural strength you have and linking those movements with breath.

So you inhale into one pose and you exhale into another pose.

Ashtanga yoga is the most traditional form of yoga and that originated all the way back in India many many many years ago. So what that follows is that it's a specific sequence, all the primary series (of poses), and you follow the poses in that order for the yoga,” she said.

“So, like in my training, we used to do half of the primary series and that would go on for maybe 90 minutes because you have to hold the poses for a certain amount of time. Like this pose sometimes requires you to hold it for like five breaths, then you have a lot of vinyasas to go through in between.

So when people say okay let's take a vinyasa it's actually a series of four poses that focuses on mostly strength and flex-

ibility but mostly strength to have like that in between the primary series so that's what makes it really long and really intense.”

Though being intense, Christina believes that yoga is for everyone regardless of what they think their physical ability or flexibility is. She said that her classes are tailored for every person depending on their ability.

“I tried to make my classes as accommodating as possible which is exactly what yoga is. It is super accommodating. Yoga has helped me with my physical fitness, because I'm not somebody who enjoys a gym. It definitely helped me with my confidence and trust in myself.

Especially because since I became a teacher because if you don't trust yourself, then it's not wise for you to be teaching

anybody else because if you're not able to trust yourself then your student will not be able to trust you, I think it's really helped me in those areas.”

Christine is also a new mother and she be;ieves that

yoga has helped in preparing her for motherhood. It taught her the patience she requires as well as it takes care of her mental health.

Her yoga classes are on Tuesday, Wednesday and

Thursday from 5:15pm at the Georgetown Cricket Club. It costs $6000 per month. You can also connect with her on Facebook and Instagram at Dat Yoga Chick and WhatsApp on 655-7975.

16 FEATURE

SUNDAY, JUNE 27, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

By Lakhram Bhagirat

A

t the age of 12, perhaps the most important decision most youths make is deciding which secondary school they wish to attend when they sit the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) examination but for Jasmin Rattan, her decisions were where to get shelter and how to survive.

Jasmin, a 20-year-old transgender woman, recently sat down with the Sunday Times where she shared her story of being kicked out of her home at 12 and then being forced to engage in sex work until she was

16 as a means of survival.

“Well, for me, I grew up in a village across the West Coast (Demerara) in Region Thee (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) called Zeelugt and my childhood days wasn't as happy and lustful as other people's childhood before. It was much more like shame, face slapping, insults, abuse, etc.

While others on the outside and in society insulted, abuse and violated me, the most harmful insults came from my family and abuse came from my family within my home,” she said.

Jasmin’s parents were separated when she and her brother

were very young. That resulted in them having to go to live with their extended family – grandparents, aunts, uncles – which proved to be challenging for her.

For Jasmin, she knew that she was different while growing up but at the age of 11, something peaked.

“I knew from the age of 11 I was trans. I was a girl. I felt like a girl trapped in my body, but the family that I come from, they aren't very acceptable of that because they are Christian, Hindus and Muslim. And they laugh at people like me; they mock people like me,” she said.

Her family members real-

ised that she was different and they started treating her with disdain. They would use their power over her and restrict her from being free. During the holidays, they would not get her the gifts she wanted since they were “girly”. She remembered one Christmas time wanting a pair of gungaroos (dancing bells) and a guitar because she loved singing and dancing but the family decided to punish her. She would eventually get the guitar because she fought with them constantly. However, while singing Katy Perry’s ‘I Kissed a Girl’ and swapping girl for boy, Jasmin’s brother got incensed

and broke the guitar.

“I used to be this girly person in the home. I tried to hide my personality from everybody be like this dude and try to deepen my voice, but it wasn't that it wasn't easy. I just had to let it out at some point.”

During that time, Jasmin’s best friend was a pink Hannah Montana diary where she shared her deepest thoughts.

In it had the name of a boy she liked and one day her aunt found it on her bed and read the contents. When she got home from school that afternoon, her

outside.”

Her aunt would go on to confront the boy mentioned in the diary which resulted in him denying a friendship. That shattered young Jasmin but she knew that her family’s discrimination would only increase.

What she did not know was that they would kick her out.

Jasmin’s aunt and the rest of the extended family then kicked her out. She was just about 12 years old at that time.

After being rendered homeless, Jasmin found refuge with a member of their church who

aunt confronted her.

“When I came home, she asked me, my name was before Brandon before I did my name change, she asked me, Brandon you gay? I was like no and asked her where she got that from. She showed me the diary and I know I was in a lot of trouble then…That is the main battleground that we're facing here in Guyana today. The major discrimination and violence from come from the household family, and I think they should be the ones to accept and understand better not persons from

housed her for a short while.

She would again be left on the streets with her garbage bag filled with clothes.

“I started to get depression, anxiety disorder. I started cutting myself thinking that was the only way. I was angry that I came out as a gay person first because I wasn't transitioning as yet and instead of accepting me and accepting me for who I am, they instead kicked me out of the house and that is where my life began as a trans woman.”

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18 FEATURE

I mastered the art of failing before...

SUNDAY, JUNE 27, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Deciding that she needed to make an even bigger step to getting her business off the ground, in 2013 around Christmas time, Ruth approached the Institute of Private Enterprise Development (IPED) and pitched her idea for their Christmas party.

“I don’t know but I went into them and I spoke with them and I showed my portfolio and they were impressed and they bought what I was selling. They believed in what I was selling even though I’ve never done an event here. They gave me the chance and that was my first big break. Even though I haven’t anything (to get the job

done) from the advance that they would have given me I took that and started to buy the things that I need to do their job and then to start my inventory of buying other stuff to always have it at hand when I’m being called to do a job,” she explained.

Ruth would continue to plan IPED’s Christmas party until 2015.

Explaining her role as a planner, Ruth said that she is primarily responsible for planning, coordinating and styling (which is considered as decorating in Guyana). She also does consultancy jobs for persons who cannot offer her services or choose to have something more

intimate. Her company also has a section that deals with strictly corporate events which is managed by two other persons and Ruth focuses on the wedding aspect.

“I go from end-to-end planning of the wedding. Mind you, let me make this clear – planning is different from decorating and a lot of persons don’t know that because when they hear planning they just think decorating. Planning takes more time because if I do not plan properly then the person who’s decorating cannot do a good job at decorating, the person who’s coordinating cannot do a good job of coordinating, the person who is managing the wedding or the party cannot do a good job.

“What have we learned is,

the industry is growing and ever changing and I always have to be on top of my game. I always have to be innovative. I always have to have something extra special to give to my clients and give to persons who come to consult with me.”

When asked about why there is a need for a planner, Ruth said that the planner would take the stress off the family since they are responsible for the management of the event. That means that they would ensure the DJ has the right music cued, the event is opened and decorated on time, there is ice for the drinks, and a whole host of other functions.

“I would like to advise, persons who are willing to get into the industry is not a walk in the park.

It looks glamorous at the end but it takes a lot of work to get there.

You don’t just wake up one morning and click your finger and everything happens, it takes a long hour sleepless night.”

Association of Women Entrepreneurs

Over the years, Ruth has acquired a wealth of knowledge of the planning and events management industry in Guyana and she is one person who does not keep it to herself. She would organise “planners lounge” where the infor-

FROM PAGE 14

mation would be shared and training opportunities with people in the industry would be offered. She is also hopeful of starting a planning school in the future.

A few years ago, a woman from Jamaica met with Ruth and three other ladies where she discussed an opportunity for them to join a Caribbean organisation for entrepreneurs, which she was heading. The ladies were excited at the prospect but later decided that they could share their expertise, skills and knowledge with local women entrepreneurs and started the Association of Women Entrepreneurs.

“We came up with the name, we came up with the logo and we came up with the whole idea in what direction we wanted to go. It is mainly aimed at helping women entrepreneurs whether it is big or small businesses, young or old in the direction that will help them to grow their business and market what they are offering.”

Ruth is now president of the Association which has about 15 members. They have organised a Market Day where over 30 women-owned businesses would offer their products and services.

It will be on July 3 and 4 at the MovieTowne Mall.

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From being kicked out of home at 12...

Jasmin was still living at Zeelugt when she was rendered homeless and in an effort to escape from there, she begged a number of persons for money to pay for transportation from there to Georgetown.

While in Georgetown, she was in a bus heading to the Kitty Seawall to commit suicide when she encountered another trans woman, Beyonce.

Jasmin was crying in the bus and then Beyonce started to question her. She explained what had happened to her and what she was going to do.

“I had my bundle with me, my garbage of clothes and I didn't know where to go. I was going to kill myself. That was the only option that I had to jump over at the seawall and then I met her and she took me home by her.”

Sex work

At that time, though she had a roof over her head it still left her vulnerable. She needed to find the money to take care of daily necessities as well pay for school. Being just 12 also left her with very little opportunities for work.

The dire thoughts of what laid ahead led her down a path she never wanted to take. She started working the streets starting from Sheriff Street all the way to North Road by the St George’s Cathedral – a major hub for sex workers.

“My journey begins from walking up and down Sheriff Street to the Cathedral just hoping to get the client to get some transportation money to go to school, a meal and need to pay for my CXCs. And that is how I started sex work. I didn't had a choice but to do sex work because I was under age and I couldn't get a job at that time. That was my only option.”

She was attending night classes at a night school in Festival City and needed money to get to and from there. She also needed to pay for her CXC subjects. In the end, she would sit Mathematics and English and gain Grade 2 and 3 passes, respectively.

Being the youngest girl on the streets, meant that Jasmin was particularly at risk for a number of things. She was sexually inexperienced, a minor and at risk for sexual and physical assault. She was making between $2-10,000 per night working the streets but she was also being assaulted by men.

“So, I had to give a fake name. That is how Delilah was born. They called me Delilah, because my looks are very deceiving and I had to fake my age as well. Some people, they would literally pick you up and just use you and then give you nothing, kick you out of the car, or they might run

you up the road or whatever.

It was very hard, horrible and it's not a good thing for any young trans or person from the LGBTQ community would go through…At first, I didn't want to do sex work but it's like I didn't have a choice, because the only thing tangible. I thought that I needed to do it and that it will be meaningful to my life is to get my education and show my family that even though being trans or gay, or whatever, I could still be somebody in life, it doesn't matter what you do, or how you are.”

One night while doing sex work, Jasmin encountered a man who gave her $45,000 and told her he would rent an apartment for her so she could come off the streets.

The man, she said, had a son that was gay and he helped her. However, she was accustomed to being independent and working the streets so she returned to sex work. While she was walking the streets, Jasmin saw one of her trans sisters being assaulted by a gang of men and it served as an eyeopener for her.

She was about 16 at that time and she visited the office of the Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD) where they welcomed her and began a process helping her get her life to a place she wanted to be. She

gave up sex work completely and is now a make-up artist, dancer, model, singer and also does work with SASOD. However, the road to get to where she is today was not a well paved one.

“One time I think I was thinking about giving up. I attempted suicide by drinking poison and I was hospitalised.

While I was in the hospital, they keep trying to flush the poison out and whatever and I was refusing it…A little boy was right next to me on the other bed and he had some sort of sickness but looking at that at that little child it spoke to me. While I was trying to give up my life for no reason, when there are opportunities for me.

I was trying to kill myself and other persons out there, for instance, like that little boy was fighting for his life. And then I realised life is precious no matter how you are, what you are, what situation you might be in, every dog has its day.”

Jasmin said she is open to sharing her story because she wants to make sure people understand how their actions affect LGBTQIA+ persons.

The relationship with Jasmin’s family is still strained but has been improving. She said that her grandmother, two aunts and a cousin are the only ones who accept her for the person she is. They would help her out financially

and provide emotional support when the going gets tough. In addition to her family members, Jasmin is grateful for the support of Valini Leitch, Paige Cadogan and Joel Simpson, who really got her on track so that she could leave sex work behind.

She said that she lives her life in line with the saying “Life

FROM PAGE 16

is like a product, buy and sell.

If you're no good, that would just kick you aside. But don't let people discourage you or insult you or being who you are, or insult you or discourage you from pursuing your dreams.

Oprah Winfrey said the greatest adventure you can take is to live your life's dream and I'm living mine now.”

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SUNDAY, JUNE 27, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Alternative Measures – Helping Linden entrepreneurs

with sustainable marketing and business solutions F or many entrepreneurs, starting and maintaining a successful, longterm business is the ultimate dream.

However, with little or no experience in this area, it may be frustrating and appear farfetched.

This is why Alternative Measures, a local agency based in Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice), was created.

Alternative Measures was birthed with the intention of providing assistance with the management and affairs of small businesses.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Kevin DeJonge explained that Alternative Measures was established following the realisation that many persons may have ideas, but lack the capacity and knowledge to venture out on their own to start and run an effective business. As such, Alternative Measures is there to provide alternative ways of conducting business.

The objectives are to lend support to businesses in need, provide training for employees and members to encourage a more professional environment, capacity building and to aid in transforming ideas into viable business ventures.

Alternative Measures offers marketing tips and advice as well as first-hand training under its educational agency, MC’s Educational Institute.

“We have something known as Professional Ethics, which we teach here also, and this is preparing youths for the

world of work. So far, our youths come out pretty responsible,” DeJonge recently told the Sunday Times Magazine during an interview at the Educational Institute.

The agency has also partnered with the Guyana Small Business Resource Centre in offering entrepreneurial courses, Accounting, Customer Service and Business Registration, among others. Entrepreneurs can also benefit from business advice such as how to prepare a business plan and documentation such as for the National Insurance Scheme (NIS).

“Getting your business registration done, you can fill the forms right here...”, DeJonge related.

Additionally, services such as photocopying, digital posters, preparation of and maintenance of Facebook, Instagram and Twitter handles are offered; as well as the printing of documents and business cards.

“Basically, we’re just trying to help persons. Our tag line is, ‘Alternative Measures - Connecting you to your dreams’.

When it was established, it was with the thought of helping small businesses to grow,” DeJonge explained.

He noted that the approximately 12-member team includes teachers drawn from the Educational Institute.

“The goal really, is to have a team of professionals who can come under the one heading and you can have all these different companies (collaborating), so that we can

more or less help small businesses. So, as much as I am the visionary behind it, I would encourage my staff to not let us pay much attention to the titles. I encourage everyone to pitch in. Their input is just as important as mine,” DeJonge noted.

Additional services include product distribution across Linden and vegetable delivery across Linden. Sales opportunities are also offered through the Alternative Measures Mini Mart, as well as business products advertising and the creation of labels and barcodes, amongst others.

Alternative Measures also invests in the enhancement of the appearance of products to make them more marketable and profitable, in terms of packaging and labelling. Presently, it has established the Wilson’s brand of coconut oil, made from the produce of a local vendor in Linden. The product, which is available in wholesale and retail quantities, is now being sold at leading supermarkets in Linden, including James and Sons, KD&J Supermarket and other leading stores. Alternative Measures has also marketed the coconut oil at the New Guyana Marketing Corporation GMC (New GMC) in Georgetown as well as overseas.

According to DeJonge, there’s presently a demand for the product on the overseas market and the agency is looking to have it modified to suit this market. The greatest challenge with the coconut oil, DeJonge explained however, is getting a ready supply of the raw material as he pointed out that the

Kevin DeJonge COVID-19 pandemic would have haltered supplies. He said Alternative Measures is also looking at “crab oil” production since it is also a product in demand.

“We experiment on ourselves first.

So, the same way we would give small business advice, it’s because we would have gone through the same process. What we would’ve learned is what we’re trying to teach,” DeJonge said.

Alternative Measures is also actively involved in assisting businesses with marketing their products at the New GMC. “We are currently trying to do a branch of what we call the New Guyana Market (in Linden) ...that would be our version of it.

We’re trying to get everything local that’s produced not just in Linden. Let’s say you come from overseas and you want to see what local products Linden/Guyana got, you must be able to come there. So, local producers will have a place where their stuff is being sold...We spoke already to New GMC, and they’re on board. So they’ll be helping us with the branding and so on,” DeJonge related.

The branch is expected to be situated at the Wismar Market in Linden.

He explained that Alternative Measures has lots more in the pipeline, including a major farmland initiative, a shade house project and pig rearing amongst others.

“Come this year-end, we are moving in the direction of adding value to pork. We’ve experimented on it, so we will have a byproduct of the pork coming this year-end,” DeJonge noted optimistically.

“Linden has a lot of potential. What we don’t have is this whole togetherness. So, we are trying to do things to let people see that it can be achieved. All we got to do is come together to do it. That is why we are here. Alternative Measures speaks for itself, it’s an alternative way of doing things... we’re trusting that as we get out there, people are going to be wise and decide to come on board,” DeJonge noted.

He opined that you cannot do business alone to be successful, but you must have a capable team, which is why Alternative Measures has taken such a direction.

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22 FEATURE

Focus on land restoration, sustainable use for post-COVID-19 recovery SUNDAY, JUNE 27, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

…as Desertification and Drought Day 2021 is observed

O

n June 17, the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) observes Desertification and Drought Day 2021 with focus on land restoration as a means that can bring economic resilience, create jobs, raise income, increase food security and lessen the impact of climate change.

The UNCCD also promotes land restoration as a cost-effective approach to start a green economic recovery post COVID-19. This idea encourages careful consideration for sustainable management and use of land to rebuild from the pandemic.

The UNCCD identifies land use change as a driver for emerging infectious diseases, and notes that the rate of land conversion is accelerating.

Adopted on June 17, 1994, in Paris and entered into force on December 26, 1996, the UNCCD

is a globally recognised legally binding agreement to address land degradation, focused on people.

Some 195 countries including Guyana are committed to the UNCCD. Guyana ratified the Convention on June 26, 1997, and joined the global community on September 24, 1997, in recognising desertification/ degradation as a major economic, social and environmental problem.

GLSC is National Focal Point Agency The Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission (GLSC) is the National Focal Point Agency to the UNCCD, and has led various actions and initiatives enabling Guyana to combine international obligations with national development agenda and sectoral planning. While this allows the country to meet global commitments, it provides a national response to economic, social and environmental effects of degradation

on land use, livelihood and human development.

According to Guyana’s National Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) Target Setting Programme Report (2017-2030), land degradation in Guyana is caused by natural resource

utilisation and natural disasters in sporadic areas. It also recognises that the country’s coastline is prone to erosion, along with saltwater intrusion and flooding, and losses of arable land due to floods and droughts. Further, it is acknowledged

that human activities which result in pollution, removal of mangroves, urbanisation and sea-level rise associated with climate change have all contributed in some way to coastal degradation.

Against this background, Guyana’s National Action Plan (NAP), originally prepared in 2006, led by the GLSC, guides implementation of local actions against desertification/ land degradation and to promote sustainable land management.

The Aligned NAP aims to ensure agricultural, pasture, mining, forest, coastal and other land uses and resources are managed as sustainable, productive systems that maintain ecosystem productivity and ecological functions while contributing directly to environmental protection, economic growth and social livelihoods.

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FEATURE

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Coronavirus: Avoiding these 4Ds would help you avoid COVID-19

Dr. Zulfikar Bux Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine, Vanderbilt Medical Center

D

ata is now emerging to help us zone in on hotspots for COVID-19 transmission, so that we may be able to manoeuvre around them and sustain our livelihoods. The most convincing data thus far are from two studies which showed high transmission rates of the virus indoors and very limited transmission in the outdoor setting, where free-flowing air dispersed virus particles quickly. The first study was carried out in Denmark,

where 3030 participants were studied; while the other study was done among 1848 U.S Marine recruits in South Carolina. Experts concluded from these studies that COVID-19 transmission was predominantly indoors, and even occurred in those that were wearing standard surgical/cloth masks. They found that the “4Ds” were the main risk factors that predicted COVID-19 transmission in the indoor setting.

Today, I will expand on the 4Ds, and why you should avoid such settings if you want to avoid COVID-19.

Density

Density, meaning the number of people in a room, was a major factor in predicting COVID-19 spread.

The basic idea was that the more persons you have in a closed space, the likelier COVID-19 would spread if one or more person had the infection. Viral particles would be expelled from the infected person’s mouth and nostrils, and will “hang around” in the air longer, because of poor air circulation

will disperse faster once there is sufficient space for them to move into. However, in smaller spaces, the virus particles become stagnated, and would circulate in that space for some amount of time. It is therefore obvious that one’s chances of coming into contact with viral particles would be higher when one is in a smaller, closed space.

Draft

in a closed space. With everyone breathing, the odds become higher of breathing in air with viral particles, given the limited air-to-person ratio.

Duration

The longer one spends in a closed space with someone that is infected, the likelier would one become infected even if one were wearing a standard surgical/cloth mask. An infected person in a closed space would expel more viral particles into the air every time they breathe, sneeze, cough or speak. It is obvious that the longer someone spends in such an

environment, the higher the chance of them being exposed to expelled viral particles becomes, because they would be exposed to a higher concentration with time.

Also, think about being in a room where the virus is moving around; the longer you spend in that room, the likelier become the chances of you coming into contact with it as it moves around.

Dimensions

The smaller the dimensions of a closed space, the higher the chance of getting infected. As an infected person expels virus particles into the air, the particles

In closed spaces, where there is limited entry of fresh air and poor airflow speed, chances of COVID-19 transmission become higher. When viral particles get expelled into the air, they would remain floating for a while if the air is stagnant.

However, if there is free flow of fresh air, or if the air is mechanically propelled by fans, the viral particles would be quickly dispersed, and not float around and infect persons that come into contact with them.

Offices, restaurants, homes, bars, gyms, cinemas etc. are examples of closed spaces where the risk of transmission would be high-

er. Therefore, it is obvious that we should minimise our presence with others in these and other indoor spaces as much as possible. If we have no choice, then ensure that these spaces are large, with minimal occupation, and have free-flowing air; and we should minimise the time we spend in them, when possible.

While infections still occur with standard mask use in these spaces, the occurrences are far less, and masks would help minimise severe infection risk by decreasing the amount of virus that gets into you. So, we should continue to practise mask wearing, but change our lifestyle to ensure we avoid the 4Ds as much as we can, and carry out our exposures with others in the outdoor setting as much as possible.

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

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Focus on land restoration, sustainable ...

FROM PAGE 22

The Aligned NAP seeks to improve institutional capacity and collaboration between state agencies especially those administering land and natural resources use; training in remote sensing, Geographic Information System (GIS) and information management systems/information technology among others; mainstreaming Desertification, Land Degradation and Drought (DLDD) into relevant national policies, strategies and plans; and finalisation of National Land Policy. Additional targets include mainstreaming Sustainable Land Management (SLM) within edu-

cational establishments and enhancing knowledge and capacity of miners/land users to perform ecologically appropriate land restoration.

Drought preparedness and restoration

The NAP is one of two main UNCCD obligations. The other requires periodic UNCCD reporting, an activity also guided by the GLSC. Guyana has to date prepared eight (8) national UNCCD reports – in 2000, 2002, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2014 and 2018.

Additionally, Guyana developed a National Drought Mitigation and Adaptation Plan that caters for proactive, coordinated and effective planning, preparedness, mitigation, adaptation and recovery activities in response to drought risks and impacts. This included development of a Drought Early Warning System Protocol for Guyana.

Further, Guyana implemented the LDN Target Setting Programme

and voluntarily set targets and measures focused on avoidance rehabilitation, restoration and sustainable land management and use.

Areas of attention include enabling sustainable agriculture, preservation of biodiversity through expansion of protected areas; improved management of irrigation, drainage and flooding; coastal protection through mangrove restoration and rehabilitation of degraded area.

SLDM Project and support for UNCCD

Meanwhile, as the national executing agency and a main beneficiary of Guyana’s Sustainable Land Development and Management (SLDM) Project, GLSC and the country is being supported to meet UNCCD commitments. This is being done through a series of investments and activities to improve GLSC’s functions by building its technical and institutional capacity. The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations

(FAO) is the implementing agency for the SLDM project working in close collaboration with the GLSC. A key state institution, GLSC’s functions include responsibility for advising Government on land policies, management of state lands, issuance of land titles and leases, provision of support for land use development, collection of land rents and land management related fees.

The SLDM Project, as a comprehensive initiative aimed at supporting Guyana in developing a coordinated and cohesive system for sustainable land management and development, includes activities that would enhance GLSC’s functions in areas of land administration, surveying, mapping, business processes, monitoring and assessment and restoration of degraded lands, GIS among others.

(Article submitted by Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)

FEATURE

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HEALTH TIPS

INFLAMMATION OF THE CERVIX (CERVICITIS)

Dr Tariq Jagnarine Fam Medicine, Endocrinology/ Diabetes

T

he cervix is the lowest part of the uterus. It extends slightly into the vagina. This is where menstrual blood exits the uterus.

During labour, the cervix dilates to allow a baby to pass through the birth canal (endocervical canal).

Like any tissue in the body, the cervix can become inflamed for a variety of reasons. Inflammation of the cervix is known as cervicitis.

CAUSE

The most common cause of this inflammation is an infection.

Infections that lead to cervicitis may be spread during sexual activity, but this isn’t always the case. Cervicitis is either acute or chronic. Acute cervicitis involves a sudden onset of symptoms.

Chronic cervicitis lasts for several months.

Acute cervicitis is typically due to a sexually transmitted infection (STI) such as: * Herpes simplex or genital herpes * Chlamydia * Trichomoniasis * Gonorrhoea * Mycoplasma * Ureaplasma Infection with HPV that has progressed may cause cervical inflammation, which is usually a later sign of cervical cancer or precancer.

Other causes of cervicitis include: * Allergies: If someone is allergic to spermicides, douches, or latex in condoms, these may cause the cervix to become inflamed. * Irritation: Inserting tampons, pessaries, or diaphragms may irritate or injure the cervix.

Cervicitis may also develop if these items are left in place longer than directed. * Bacterial imbalance: If harmful bacteria overwhelm the healthful bacteria in the vagina, this may cause bacterial vaginosis.

An inflamed cervix may be a symptom of this. * Pregnancy: This can affect hormone levels and lead to cervicitis, as the cervix is much more sensitive at this time. * Cancer or cancer treatment: Treatments for cancer, or advanced stages of cervical cancer itself, may affect cervical tissue. This is rare, but may lead to symptoms of cervicitis.

Chronic cervicitis is not typically caused by an infection.

Symptoms may be milder, but last longer. Some people may want to treat chronic cervicitis at home, using natural remedies that will complement medical treatments.

SYMPTOMS

Some women with cervicitis experience no symptoms. When symptoms are present, they can include: * Abnormal vaginal bleeding * Persistent gray or white vaginal discharge that may have an odour * Vaginal pain * Pain during intercourse

* A feeling of pelvic pressure * Backaches * Vaginal itching or irritation * Bleeding between periods * Bleeding after sex * Pain during a cervical exam * Frequent and painful urination * Lower back pain * Abdominal pain The cervix can become very inflamed if cervicitis progresses. In some cases, it can develop an open sore. Pus-like vaginal discharge is a symptom of severe cervicitis.

DIAGNOSIS Persons with symptoms of cervicitis should consult a healthcare worker for accurate diagnosis, and follow up with a screening test. The symptoms of cervicitis can also signal other vaginal or uterine conditions.

Cervicitis may be discovered during a routine exam, even without experiencing any symptoms.

There are multiple ways Cervicitis can be diagnosed.

* Bimanual pelvic exam For this test, a gloved finger is inserted into the vagina while also applying pressure to the abdomen and pelvis with the other hand.

This allows any abnormalities of the pelvic organs to be detected, including abnormalities of the cervix and uterus. * Pap Smear test For this test, a swab of cells from the vagina and cervix is obtained and tested for abnormalities. * Cervical biopsy This test is performed only if an abnormality is detected in the Pap smear test. * Cervical discharge culture Studying the microbe content of the vagina for atypical or increased amounts of microorganisms that can cause infections.

TREATMENT

There’s no standard treatment for cervicitis. The best course of treatment is determined based on factors that include: * Overall health * Medical history * Severity of symptoms * Extent of the inflammation Common treatments include antibiotics to kill any infections, and watchful waiting, especially after childbirth. If the cervicitis is due to irritation from a foreign body (a retained tampon or pessary) or use of certain products (a cervical cap or contraceptive sponge), treatment would involve discontinuing use for a short time to allow for healing.

If the cervical inflammation is due to cervical cancer or precancer, a cryosurgery is performed, in which abnormal cells in the cervix are frozen, which destroys them.

Silver nitrate can also destroy abnormal cells.

Treatment for cervicitis is done based on the causes. Without treatment, cervicitis can last for years, causing painful intercourse and worsening symptoms.

NATURAL TREATMENT OPTIONS

Acute cervicitis that is caused by an infection is best treated medically, as it is essential to clear up the infection.

If a woman has chronic cervicitis with mild symptoms, she may choose to use home remedies to help ease the symptoms.

A person should always use home remedies alongside medical treatments, as medical treatments are not intended to replace home remedies.

Home remedies that may help treat cervicitis include: * Traditional Chinese medicine: A 2014 study found that traditional Chinese medicinal treatments, including specific

Chinese herbs, may be effective in the treatment of cervicitis. The herbs were reported to have an anti-inflammatory effect. * Eating yogurt or taking probiotic supplements: Yogurt contains healthful bacteria, called probiotics. A 2014 study suggests that probiotics may help treat bacterial vaginosis, which is one cause of cervicitis. * Eating garlic or taking a garlic supplement: Garlic has strong antibacterial properties. Another study found that taking garlic supplements may also help treat bacterial vaginosis.

These alternative treatments need further studies as they are not

considered first-line treatments for cervicitis or vaginal infections at this time.

Home remedies that support vaginal and cervical health, and may prevent cervicitis, include: * Drinking green tea: Studies suggested green tea may have a protective role in reducing the risk of ovarian and endometrial cancers. * Avoiding irritants: Avoiding douches, tampons, diaphragms, and scented soaps reduces the risk of irritation. * Wearing loose cotton underwear: Breathable underwear reduces the buildup of moisture and bacteria that can lead to

infection. * Using condoms during sex: This reduces the risk of STIs, one of the leading causes of cervicitis.

COMPLICATIONS

Cervicitis caused by gonorrhoea or chlamydia can move to the uterine lining and fallopian tubes, causing pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). PID causes additional pelvic pain, discharge, and a fever. Untreated PID can also lead to fertility problems.

PREVENTION

There are ways to reduce the risk of developing cervicitis. Using

a condom every time in sexual intercourse, especially with new or irregular partners, can reduce the risk of contracting an STI. Avoiding sexual intercourse with multiple sexual partners can also protect persons from cervicitis caused by an STI. Avoiding products containing chemicals, such as douches and scented tampons, can reduce the risk of an allergic reaction.

Cervicitis is typically treatable.

Home treatments and prevention strategies should be used alongside, not instead of, medical treatment. Acute cervicitis caused by infections is best treated medically, to avoid complications.

26 NEWS

SUNDAY, JUNE 27, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

“Guyana is my refuge” – Venezuelan migrant

By Rupa Seenaraine

V

enezuelan migrants have been trickling into Guyana to seek refuge, amid the duress of significant socioeconomic and political crisis which their country is experiencing.

Settling in primarily border communities, many have sought to make the country their new home, seeking jobs in order to sustain some level of normalcy. But describing the actual gravity of this experience was Sabrina Flores, a Venezuelan migrant who fled after enduring these ad-

Venezuelan migrants Sabrina Flores and Ginacar Amaiz

versities in her home country.

In a recent engagement to celebrate World Refugee

Day 2021, the engineer sought to detail her transition, noting that her daughters and parents were under emotional shock, brought on by the turmoil of having their home ravaged and being left with nothing.

“I'm a single mother. I helped my mom and my stepfather. My house in Venezuela was robbed.

They dismantled it in all its entirety. As I said, when you’re a public figure, everyone knows you. They left me with nothing, practically in the streets. My mother had an emotional shock.

My daughters…the change also affected them. All those

experiences caused an emotional shock. You think you're well, but you're not so well. So, I decided to take all my savings, take them and bring my family here to start over from scratch,” the woman detailed.

Once that decision was made, they boarded a boat and would sail the Atlantic Ocean for over a week, dodging COAST GUARDS in order to land here safely.

Flores said this made her feel like fugitive.

“I arrived in Guyana by boat. It took me 10 days to get here. In the crossing, we ate fish because we were also fishing. We had sun and we had rain. There were Coast Guards, and we hid so as not to be caught.

We felt like fugitives or criminals. I'm an engineer, a professional who has not been asked how she felt, until today. In Venezuela, I worked for the Ministry of Communities.”

Now that she has been

am able to start a small cyber-café project, where in addition to surfing the web, making copies, prints and sale of school supplies, there will be the sale of sweets and breakfast of Venezuelan tradition. On behalf of all Venezuelans who would have left the country in search of new beginnings, I would like to thank Guyana and all the countries in the region that have opened their doors to us.”

Meanwhile, Ginacar Amaiz’s story is another that emerged from the crisis situation in Guyana’s western neighbour. A teacher by profession, she noted that the transition was rough.

She has been able to offer childcare services in order to survive, having recognised that migrant employment is low in some regions.

“In my personal experience, despite working as a teacher for 14 years in my country, I like many of you had to leave in search of new

Migrants in Lethem during an engagement in the region

living here, the migrant expressed that Guyana has been a refuge for her family, where she has been given a second chance through various support systems such as the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS).

“I'm not in Guyana to make the country where I was born and raised look bad but I'm here to be reborn. Guyana is my refuge and my home. I have met bad and good people. Like all good things, nobody said it would be easy, but I'm here.

I'm grateful to God, and life because, among the people I have met are my relatives whom I did not know…To this day, I am grateful for the support and opportunities I have received,” Flores shared.

Speaking on her current life, it was highlighted that she has started a small business to sustain herself. However, if there was a possibility to return to Venezuela, she would.

“We are hardworking men and women, entrepreneurs, capable of facing challenges. If it were possible, we’d like to return to our country but for now, we are here and we are grateful to have found safety in Guyana. Here, I will dedicate myself to my business.

Thanks to HIAS’s support, I

horizons…Currently, I have a business in which I offer childcare services to children from three to 10 years old, in which I offer dynamic classes in a fun way. For me, it is more than a business. It is a goal achieved that not only helped me in my personal growth but it has been a step that led me to obtaining self-sufficiency and economic independence in a country where employment opportunities for Venezuelans are low,” Amaiz voiced.

She opined that organisations and programmes have played a significant role in reintegrating refugees into society.

“Undoubtedly, the refugee’s life away from home is not easy. Sometimes we encounter obstacles that make the process of adaptation quite complicated.

Fortunately, in each country there are organisations and institutions that watch over and protect the welfare of those people who for one reason or another have to be in the place of a refugee.”

As at 2021, documented Venezuelans in Guyana had reached 22,000. Venezuelan migrants have particularly settled in Region One (Barima-Waini) and other border communities between the two countries.

NEWS

27

SUNDAY, JUNE 27, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Police hunting Businessman shot during scuffle between 2 customers “One Eye” A for beating farmer over rumours

R

anks of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) are on the hunt for a Bush Lot, Corentyne man known as “One Eye”, who severely injured another villager over spreading rumours.

Injured is Pooran Prashad, a 39-year-old farmer, also of Bush Lot Village.

According to Police reports, Prashad received information that the suspect was spreading rumours about him in the village and as a result, confronted the suspect sometime around 18:00h on Friday, which led to an argument.

This resulted in the

suspect running into the Prashad’s yard, arming himself with a 2×4 piece of wood and dealing the victim several lashes about his right forearm, causing him to receive multiple injuries.

Following the incident, Prashad reported the matter to the Whim Police Station and was escorted to the Port Mourant Public Hospital for medical treatment. He was later transferred and admitted to the New Amsterdam Public Hospital for further medical attention.

Investigations are ongoing.

68-year-old businessman was shot at his Mango Landing, Mabura, Region 10 (Upper DemeraraBerbice) business place during a row between two customers.

Injured is Claude Kanhai.

Reports are that the man was shot at about 06:00h by two men, aged 55 and 38.

Police said that the 55-yearold suspect is a licensed firearm holder, and he would usually have it on his person tucked into his pants waist at the front.

On Saturday, the 55-yearold was at Kanhai’s shop at Mango Landing awaiting a coffee when the 38-year-old entered the premises.

The second suspect told Police that he went into the shop to make a phone call when he heard the 55-year-old making racial remarks to which he became offended and confronted him.

This led to an argument and according to Police, the man with the gun stood up and his .32 revolver was visible.

Police said that the 38-yearold suspect then said, “Oh, you get gun" to which the other responded, “Yes, I get it right here".

The 38-year-old then ran to his minibus and armed himself with a cutlass and returned to the shop. He further alleged that after an exchange of words, the man pulled out his firearm

and discharged a round which resulted in Kanhai, who was inside the shop, being injured.

However, the 55-year-old has since denied the allegations and said that he and the bus driver had a scuffle as the man was attempting to remove his firearm during which the round was discharged.

Kanhai raised an alarm

that he was shot and that was when the scuffle ended.

The Police were immediately summoned and the victim was taken to the Mahdia Public Hospital. He has since been transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital for surgery.

The two suspects were arrested and placed in custody assisting with investigations.

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SUNDAY, JUNE 27, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

NEWS

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SUNDAY, JUNE 27, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

3 die after fuel tanker explodes in Demerara River

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hree persons on Saturday afternoon lost their lives after there was an explosion on a fuel vessel at the Friendship Wharf, East Bank Demerara (EBD).

Dead are Seenarine Persaud, Mark Mangal and Damon Denia.

When contacted, Commander of Division 4B Mahendra Siwnarine confirmed the deaths but said that further details were not available up to press time.

Reports are the dead men were working on the vessel named “Canada Club” between 16:30h and 17:30h, when the explosion occurred.

Following the incident, Commander Siwnarine said the Guyana Fire Service (GFS) and other officials were summoned to the scene, where an investigation was launched.

Meanwhile, Minister within the Public Works Ministry, Deodat Indar told Guyana Times that the vessel is a coastal one, which would usually transport fuel around Guyana. “…MARAD inspectors are on the ground, the

Guyana Fire Service are also on the ground to ascertain the reason for the explosion,” the Minister explained.

This publication was also reliably informed that the tanker is a privately-owned vessel that belongs to a Guyanese businessman of West Coast Demerara

(WCD). The man is said to have been delivering fuel around Guyana for a number of years.

It is still unclear as to what would have caused the explosion; however, the immediate investigation that has been launched is expected to determine the origin as soon as possible.

30 NEWS

SUNDAY, JUNE 27, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

3 male new COVID-19 deaths …100 new cases across 9 regions

GUYANA COVID-19 DASHBOARD JUNE 26 UPDATE

NUMBER OF NEW CASES

100

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN INSTITUTIONAL ISOLATION

93

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN HOME ISOLATION

1553

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN COVID-19 ICU

19

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN INSTITUTIONAL QUARANTINE

4

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES BY GENDER (FEMALES)

10,123

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES BY GENDER (MALES)

9651

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES IN GUYANA SINCE 2020

19,774

NUMBER OF RECOVERED CASES

17,647

TOTAL 1st DOSE VACCINATED

230,486

FULLY IMMUNISED

104,605

TOTAL NUMBER OF DEATHS

462

DISTRIBUTION OF TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES SINCE MARCH 2020 REGION 1

1194

REGION 2

550

REGION 3

2258

REGION 4

9097

REGION 5

659

REGION 6

1514

REGION 7

1264

REGION 8

379

REGION 9

1468

REGION 10

1391

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

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.

G

uyana’s wave of the coronavirus pandemic continues to scale higher, with three more reported deaths as of Saturday and an alarming 100 new positives.

The Health Ministry reported that three more males have died, moving the death toll up to 462. For

June, 61 persons have succumbed. The latest fatalities are a 53-year-old from Region Three and a 57-yearold from Region Six, both of whom died on June 14. The third person is a 79-yearold from Region Six who died on June 22.

These patients were admitted with COVID-19 like

symptoms but died while receiving care at medical institutions. Samples were taken at the time of admission which subsequently returned positive tests.

An updated dashboard showed an increase of 100 new cases within 24 hours, raising the confirmed cases since the pandemic started

to 19,774. For June, 2822 positives were detected while in one week, the figure is 678.

There are 1665 active cases: 19 in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), 93 in institutional isolation and 1553 in home isolation. Another four persons are in institutional quarantine. To date, 184,476 persons have been tested in Guyana – of which 9651 males and 10,123 females were positive. Of this number, there were 17,647 recoveries.

New positives were detected across nine administrative regions, with a breakdown of four in Region One (Barima-Waini), six in Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam), 12 in Region Three (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara), 36 in Region Four (DemeraraMahaica), two in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice), six in Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne), 19 in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), 18 in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) and seven in Region 10

(Upper Demerara-Berbice).

Cases in Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) are still at 379.

Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony warned in his latest update to the public that unvaccinated persons are at very high risk of getting infected and hospitalized from the Delta variant.

“This one is very severe and what they have noted is that people who are unvaccinated would be the persons who would be getting infected with this variant more often. So, unvaccinated persons are going to be at higher risk of getting infected with this particular variant. There is also that possibility that even if you had an infection before, that you can get reinfected,” he had outlined on Friday.

This variant, which was first detected in India, is said to be the most contagious yet as authorities continue to track the spread which it has caused. In fact, the transmissibility is said to be twice higher than the

UK’s Alpha variant. The strain has been dominant in many countries, including the US and UK. It has caused a resurgence of the infections in Portugal and current spikes in Russia.

The Minister further cautioned, “It is causing an increase in cases and it is causing more hospitalisation and possibly more deaths. This particular variant have nine mutations on the spike protein and because of where these mutations have occurred, this particular variant is more transmissible.

It is twice more transmissible than the Alpha variant, which was the one in the UK. That is one of the hallmarks. If people get it, it is going to be passed on very quickly.”

If anyone is displaying any of the symptoms associated with COVID-19 or needs any additional information, contact the COVID-19 Hotline 2311166, 226-7480 or 624-6674 immediately or visit www. health.gov.gy. (G12)

Learning Channel introduces “Whiz Kids” for Grade 6 students

T

h e Education Ministry, through the Guyana Learning Channel, has launched its “Whiz Kids” game show, another facet of its goal to better equip students with opportunities to excel.

The game show features Grade Six students from various primary schools competing against each other in four core subject areas, namely: Mathematics, English Language, Science and Social Studies. Thus far, there are two finalists and the grand finale will be on July 28, 2021.

Education Minister Priya Manickchand acknowledged that the past year has not been easy for students, parents and teachers; given the COVID-19 pandemic, floods and a long election process.

She said that the new programmes and initiatives launched by the Ministry such as the NGSA Booster Programme, the Quiz Me platform, the printing of worksheets and the creation and distribution of study packages are all in sync with equipping students to succeed. She said that though tragedies and interruptions occur naturally, how we respond makes the difference.

Speaking to Grade Six students, the Minister said, “You have to rise up. You have to face it and you have to overcome it. So, whenever you meet a challenge in your life, remember this lesson that you can rise up, you can face it and you can overcome

Minister Manickchand flanked by Grade Six students

it. That’s what we tried to do with these programmes.”

Moreover, Minister Manickchand said that despite the provision of these programmes and resources, the public school system has to improve on the outcomes produced. She said that teachers need to get on board and allow themselves to be assessed, evaluated and assisted to do better. Moreover, parents need to be involved.

“You have to be interested in what your children are doing. The Ministry of Education alone cannot do that. We cannot continue like this. We have to do it with a view of getting better results…There will be no space in the sector for laziness; from parents, from teachers, from education officers.

With 39 days left for the official NGSA, Minister Manickchand said that the Ministry will keep systems stable to ensure a smooth sitting of the examination which is being managed by the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC).

Malachi Seales of North Georgetown Primary School, a Grade Six student and a “Whiz Kids” finalist said that being on the show has been beneficial to him, especially whenever he got a question wrong or was corrected by a fellow contestant.

Meanwhile, Grade Six student Justin Goberdhan of Mae’s Schools said that the competition has been tough during the pandemic but it has been helpful since he is able to learn whether he gets the question wrong or right.

Whiz Kids is aired on Wednesdays and Fridays at 19:00h on the Guyana Learning Channel (GLC), its Facebook page and is available on the GLC’s YouTube channel.

Head of Distance Learning, Anieshaw Mohamed said the Guyana Learning Channel will not stop at “Whiz Kids” but has plans of launching “Mathletes” and a Spelling Bee competition soon to engage more students to give them that experience to feel great about themselves.

SUNDAY, JUNE 27, 2021

31

GBA takes "Air Badminton" to UG Gokarn Ramdhani making the presentation to UG Vice Chancellor Paloma Mohamed

I

n furtherance of a number of its programmes, the Guyana Badminton Association (GBA) on Friday introduced the concept of ‘Air Badminton’ to the University of Guyana.

The small event was conducted by members and players of the GBA on the University of Guyana tarmac, which is ideally suited for this format of the game.

‘Air badminton’ is a fairly new outdoor version of the game, having a modified shuttlecock that allows manoeuverability in

the outdoors and wind.

Guyana’s top male and female players Priyanna and Narayan Ramdhani conducted the introductory session, and while explaining the nature of the game, GBA President Gokarn Ramdhani expressed hope that the sport would grow at this institution.

“This is just an introduction to badminton,” he said. “Air Badminton is the easiest game. it’s fun and it’s played on the sand, by the beach, on the lawns, or even

on a tarmac,” he explained.

“And in turn I hope the sports coordinator or whoever is coordinating can have them playing on the fields and stuff like that.”

In sharing more about this version of the sport, the GBA President revealed some of the Badminton World Federation’s (BWF’s) intentions for the sport. “…so that is what World Badminton is working on now, and they plan to even go into tournaments for it. So, there’s going to be like beach tournaments and stuff like that; so that is what the project is all about,” he explained.

Aside from the introductory lesson, the GBA presented the University with a number of racquets and shuttlecocks for use of its students.

Vice Chancellor Paloma Mohamed expressed gratitude on the University’s behalf.

“We’re delighted to have Mr. Ramdhani, but also his children and his wife here, and also Dr. Perreira, who is a badminton player. So, thank you very, very, much,” Vice Chancellor Mohamed said.

Also in attendance alongside some University students was Dr. Anna Perreira of the Faculty of Engineering and Technology, and Berbice Campus Director

GBA President Gokarn Ramdhani

Gomathinayagam Subramanian. They were locked in.

The GBA, in a drive to popularise badminton in Guyana, is conducting a number of projects, which started last year when ‘Air Badminton’ was launched in December 2020 at the National Park & St. Roses High School. That has been followed

by Shuttle Time Programme earlier this month, which was delivered to several schools in Berbice and Linden; namely, the New Amsterdam Multilateral Secondary School, Berbice High School, Mackenzie

High School, and Christianburg Wismar Secondary School.

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

The project has been five years in the making, starting with a vision to develop a new outdoor shuttlecock with increased durability, stability and wind resistance, to allow people to have a more positive experience of badminton outdoors.

Strategically, Air Badminton would allow to fulfil our overall objective of putting a badminton racquet in the hands of as many people as possible.

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

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

Long-term asset Gajnabi has ability GCB holds first legal Ordinary to be genuine all-rounder - Walsh General Meeting in 10 years − Campbelle out due to personal reasons

By Brandon Corlette

B

erbician Shabika Gajnabi has recently been selected to vice captain the West Indies Women's 'A' Team for the upcoming T20 series against Pakistan Women starting from June 30 in Antigua.

According to West Indies Women's Lead Selector Ann BrowneJohn, Gajnabi has been unanimously selected to this role, as she displayed leadership skills while captaining Shabika Gajnabi Guyana’s Under-19.

"We have been West Indies Women's Head Coach Courtney Walsh is looking at these players since directing Shamilia Connel while Corey Collymore looks on Under-19. We saw leadership qualities, and we saw that we can might not have been up to par, but it is heading in the right direction," groom her for the future," Browne- we are focusing on improving," Walsh added.

It has been confirmed that Walsh said.

John said.

Shemaine Campbelle is not available The former legendary West West Indies Women's Head Coach Courtney Walsh has disclosed Indies fast-bowler has said he is because of personal reasons. that Gajnabi shows promise in all hoping the Caribbean team can Additionally, the recuperating perform at their best, and give Deandra Dottin will not be bowling three departments.

"One of the reasons why we the selectors a headache to select in this series. Walsh noted that while winning is important, being got her in that leadership role is teams. consistent and performing at "We want to play good cricket that she has been around for a while and has shown promise in all and win as many matches as optimum is key.

West Indies would be aiming to three departments, and she has the possible. West Indies Women have potential to be a good all-rounder. been working extensively in training play good cricket and succeed in the World Cup qualifiers.

Her batting has been good in this camps”.

WI Women T20I – Stafanie According to Walsh, these camp, and she is now believing in Taylor (captain), Anisa Mohammed, camps helped the team to come herself a lot more, in her skill-set.

“The ability that she has will play together and have some good Aaliyah Alleyne, Shamilia Connell, a role in the team. As I said to her practice in the form of matches and Britney Cooper, Deandra Dottin, Chinelle Henry, Kycia Knight, Kyshona this morning, we are not looking at scenario.

Knight, Hayley Matthews, Chedean "Pakistan is not a walkover her short-term, we are looking at her long-term, she has the ability to be a team, so this is going to be a good Nation, Karishma Ramharack, genuine all-rounder. So, it's a work in test for us. So, I think belief is Shakera Selman. <WI Women’s A TEAM> – progress, and she is working really important, while having that level of Reniece Boyce (captain), Shabika consistency and game awareness," hard," Walsh said in response to a Gajnabi (vice-captain), Shanika Walsh echoed. question posted by this publication.

In relation to fitness in the Bruce, Cherry-Ann Fraser, Jannillea Walsh has said he is looking for the West Indies Women to register Women's Team, Walsh said the team Glasgow, Sheneta Grimmond, Caneisha Isaac, Zaida James, Japhina all-round performances while being has had some serious discussions.

"We have had open discussions Joseph, Qiana Joseph, Mandy consistent.

"We are trying to improve in and that level has stepped up and Mangru, Kaysia Schultz, Steffie all three departments. The batting the fitness level is getting better. It Soogrim, Rachel Vincent, Rashada is not where we want…to be, but Williams.

− Ibrahim, Sukhai, Saywack elected to important positions

T

he newly-elected members of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB1) held their first Ordinary General Meeting (OGM) for the 2021-2023 term on June 19 at the LBI Sports Facility, ECD. This meeting was chaired by GCB President Bissoondyal Singh, who welcomed the attendees and noted that, for the first time in 10 years, all 3 County Boards were present at what was described as a highly successful meeting.

Among the matters discussed were the development of cricket, including youth and women’s cricket; prudent financial management; accountability and transparency of all GCB matters, and the upcoming Pakistan tour of the West Indies.

Three T20 matches are scheduled to be played at the Guyana National Stadium at Providence, EBD. As per the important agenda items, and consistent with the Guyana Cricket Administration Act 2014, three vacancies on the Executive Committee of the GCB were filled.

Azad Ibrahim was elected VicePresident, Administration. Ibrahim is an executive member of the Muslim Youth Organization (MYO), a Vice-President of the Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA), and Treasurer of the Demerara Cricket Board. He was recently appointed manager of the Guyana National Stadium.

Members agreed that Ibrahim would be able to establish an important nexus between the GCB and the Stadium.

Brian Sukhai has been elected treasurer of the Board. He is a former student of Queen’s College and a Guyana Scholar who qualified as an ACCA.

GCB Executives

Sukhai played cricket for the Malteenoes Sports Club for a number of years, and was treasurer of the People’s Assembly Church for three years.

He is presently employed at Power Producers and Distributors as the Divisional Director with Responsibility for Finance.

He previously worked as an accountant at GBTI, as a Business Analyst at MICROFIN, and for 10 years as the Programme Manager of the European Union (Guyana).

Sukhai has been highly recommended to the GCB, and with his expertise in financing and his wealth of experience, he is expected to be of tremendous assistance in the financial management of the Board.

Rabindranauth Saywack has been elected Marketing Manager of the GCB. Mr. Saywack brings to the Board a wealth of experience in management, and is presently Vice President of the Berbice Cricket Board. He has been involved in cricket administration and coaching programmes in the West Berbice region for a number of years, and is a former Cadet Officer of the Guyana Defence Force and a successful and well-respected businessman in the agriculture sector.

At conclusion of the meeting,

President Singh praised the members of the three (3) County Boards for their contribution to the meeting, as many critical issues were discussed and important decisions taken.

He thanked the members for their lively and interactive participation, and commended them for their commitment to the development of Guyana’s Cricket.

GCB President Bissoondyal Singh has said he looks forward to the continued support and cooperation of the members in furtherance of the development and promotion of Guyana’s Cricket.

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

SUNDAY, JUNE 27, 2021

guyanatimesgy.com

Leah’s Enterprise on board “Cricket Gear for Young and Promising Cricketers in Guyana” project

Fabian Allen

Evin Lewis

E

vin Lewis scored 71 as West Indies chased down 161 in 15 overs to take a 1-0 lead in the T20I series against South Africa.

With the opener in a rampaging mood, the South Africa bowlers couldn’t do much, especially with just 160 in the bank. Quinton de Kock looked good, while Rassie van der Dussen made 56, but the batting let the visitors down on the day.

The visitors were put in to bat, and they had evidently hoped to score more than 160.

The first over went for four, and the second over from Jason Holder leaked 11. The third, from Kevin Sinclair, was hit for 17, and South Africa openers picked up the scoring rate beautifully.

Fabian Allen dismissed Rezza Hendriks, but Quinton de Kock kept powering on. At the end of the powerplay, South Africa were 53 for 1, and looked good for plenty more. However, de Kock fell in the seventh over, after hitting Andre Russell for a six, and that wicket changed the course of the game.

The wicket had an immediate impact, and South Africa struggled to find rhythm.

There was a short rain break in the middle of the 7th over, and then another in the 8th. Temba Bavuma’s slow start meant South Africa felt the impact of

the wickets even more.

The South Africa captain fell for 22 off 20 in the 11th over, but the side still had 95 on the board by then. Henrich Klaasen made 7, while David Miller got 9. Rassie van der Dussen did try and pump up the scoring rate, but with no support from the other end, he could only help the side post a par score.

When Andre Fletcher was dismissed in the seventh over, West Indies were left needing just 77 in the remaining 12.5 overs. Evin Lewis struck George Linde for a six on the fifth ball to get going, and there was no looking back from there.

Kagiso Rabada’s second over read dot, dot, 4, 4, 6, 1 as Lewis continued to stamp his authority on the game. The fourth - from Lungi Ngidi - was picked for 20 by Lewis, as South Africa were given a harsh reality check early in the chase.

West Indies were 73 without loss at the end of the powerplay, but lost Fletcher to a run on the first ball of the 8th over.

No bowler on the day could escape Lewis. While he took apart Rabada, he also attacked Lungi Ngidi. The pacer leaked 31 runs from his first two overs, before Lewis completed his half-century off 22 balls with a six against Ngidi.

Anrich Nortje started well - giving away just 10 from his

first two overs - while Shamsi managed to tie down Chris Gayle in the 10th.

The respite, however, wasn’t too long. Hendricks came into the attack and was hit for two sixes by Gayle. Lewis

hit one more to end the over as the hosts cruised to 114 for 1 in 11 overs.

Needing just 47 off 54 from there on, the hosts eased to a victory to pick up the series lead. (Cricbuzz)

SCOREBOARD SA INNINGS Reeza Hendricks b Allen 17 Quinton de Kock † c Holder b Russell 37 Temba Bavuma (c)c Lewis b Allen 22 Rassie van der Dussen not out 56 Heinrich Klaasen c Allen b Holder 7 David Miller c Pollard b Bravo 9 George Linde c Sinclair b Bravo 0 Kagiso Rabada not out 6 Extras (b 1, lb 2, w 3) 6 TOTAL (20 Ov, RR: 8.00) 160/6 Did not bat: Anrich Nortje, Tabraiz Shamsi, Lungi Ngidi Fall of wickets: 1-33 (Reeza Hendricks, 3.4 ov), 2-61 (Quinton de Kock, 6.4 ov), 3-95 (Temba Bavuma, 11.1 ov), 4-112 (Heinrich Klaasen, 14.4 ov), 5-140 (David Miller, 18.2 ov), 6-140 (George Linde, 18.3 ov) BOWLING Kevin Sinclair Jason Holder Fabian Allen Andre Russell Obed McCoy Dwayne Bravo

O-M-R-W 2-0-21-0 3-0-29-1 4-0-18-2 3-0-29-1 4-0-30-0 4-0-30-2

WEST INDIES INNINGS (TARGET: 161 RUNS FROM 20 OVERS) Andre Fletcher run out (Ngidi) 30 Evin Lewis c Miller b Shamsi 71 Chris Gayle not out 32 Andre Russell not out 23 Extras (lb 1, w 4) 5 TOTAL (15 Ov, RR: 10.73) 161/2 Did not bat: Nicholas Pooran †, Kieron Pollard (c), Jason Holder, Dwayne Bravo, Fabian Allen, Obed McCoy, Kevin Sinclair Fall of wickets: 1-85 (Andre Fletcher, 7 ov), 2-124 (Evin Lewis, 11.5 ov) BOWLING George Linde Kagiso Rabada Anrich Nortje Lungi Ngidi Tabraiz Shamsi Reeza Hendricks

O-M-R-W 2-0-24-0 3-0-32-0 2-0-10-0 3-0-46-0 4-0-27-1 1-0-21-0

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Leana Bachan

eah’s Enterprise of Rosignol, West Coast, Berbice is the latest sponsor to come on board the “Cricket Gear for Young and Promising Cricketers in Guyana” project.

This initiative, a joint effort of Kishan Das of the USA and influential local personality Anil Beharry, aims to provide cricket gear free of cost to young and talented cricketers in Guyana. The project is seeking to acquire new and used cricket gear for distribution to young and promising cricketers across the length and breadth of Guyana.

In presenting her donation of cash, Leana Bachan, owner and Managing Director of Leana’s Enterprise, said she is happy to be part of this noble project, is confident it would make a difference in the lives of many youths, and would build better communities in Guyana.

Anil Beharry expressed gratitude to Ms Bachan for the donation.

Total cricket-related items collected thus far is as follows: cash for first aid kit, twelve pairs of batting pads, eleven bats, eight pairs of batting gloves, and two cricket bags.

Fifteen young players from communities on the Essequibo Coast and the Pomeroon have already benefited from the receipt of five bats, six pairs of batting pads and four pairs of batting gloves. Two clubs in the Pomeroon have also benefited from the receipt of two bats.

Talent spotting will be done across Guyana, along with guidance from club leaders to identify the players. Players ideally must be in school and must be disciplined persons, but players above school age would also be considered.

Das and Beharry would like to thank Imran and Javed Khan of West Indian Sports Complex, Option Group, Bish Panday of P and P Insurance Brokers, Sean Devers, Travis Simon, Hilbert Foster of RHTY&SC, Ariel Tilku, Aaron Beharry, Devon Ramnauth, Sherman Austin, Leana Bachan and Imran Saccoor for their contributions made towards the project thus far.

Anyone desirous of contributing towards the project contact Anil Beharry on 623-6875, or Kishan Das on 1-718664-0896.

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