Guyana Times - Sunday March 21, 2021

From being retrenched to creating a business, Odela Joseph shares her journey P20 Nationwide coverage coverage from from the the best best news news team team in in Guyana Guyana Nationwide Issue No. 4594 guyanatimesgy.com

THE BEACON BEACON OF OF TRUTH TRUTH THE

SUNDAY, MARCH 21, 2021

Tertiary education must become vital lifeforce of national development – President Page 38

No large gatherings for Phagwah Page 31

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

Prisoner accused of "snitching" brutally chopped P35

Eliminating illegal logging is top priority — Govt P30

Better solid waste management needed – P32 Dharamlall

…mandirs to operate at 40% capacity Guyana must Land illegally transferred decide on to "ghost fraudster" sold removal of for $35M to EBD company rogue elements at GECOM – EU EOM Eccles property fraud

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Fisherman P11 jailed 4 weeks for robbery Pedal cyclist P37 killed after being hit by minibus Stolen boat engines, ammo found during Berbice raid P31

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Govt to roll out Phase 2 of COVID-19 cash grant Page 41

…High Court misused, manipulated to commit fraud – AG Nandlall

2 more die, 99 new COVID-19 cases from 927 tests P33

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NEWS

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BRIDGE OPENINGS

Eccles property fraud

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

Sunday, March 21 – 10:00h – 11:30h and Monday, March 22 – 00:30h – 02:00h and 10:00h – 11:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Sunday, March 21 – 08:35h – 10:05h and Monday, March 22 – 10:00h – 11:30h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

Land illegally transferred to “ghost fraudster” sold for $35M to EBD company …High Court misused, manipulated to commit fraud – AG Nandlall

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

WEATHER TODAY Expect light cloud and light rain showers during the day. There will be partly cloudy skies and light rain showers at night. Temperatures should range between 22 degrees Celsius and 29 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East North-Easterly to North-Easterly between 1.34 metres and 4.91 metres.

High Tide: 09:19h and 22:09h reaching maximum heights of 2.21 metres and 2.06 metres.

Low Tide: 15:31h reaching a minimum height of 1.02 metre.

The double-lot property at Eccles Public Road

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he prime double lot property on the Eccles, East Bank Demerara Public Road that was illegally transferred to a so far unknown man has been sold to a company on the East Bank for some $35 million but that transaction was not fully processed.

The Lot B and C Eccles property is owned by Rohit Lall. However, when he went to the Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) to pay rates and taxes in March 2020, he was informed that the property was transferred to one Mohamed Wazir of Fourth Street Herstelling, EBD. Checks made for Wazir were futile.

The matter has since been reported to the Police and legal actions have been filed by Lall to recover his property and have it transferred back into his name. However, as the probe widens, it was recently unearthed that the property was in fact sold to a company which manufactures toilet tissue and is located at

Garden of Eden, EBD. Guyana Times understands that Wazir had reportedly appointed a Guyanese

the property.

In fact, Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister, Anil Nandlall told Guyana Times on Saturday that he has since requested all the conveyancing documents from the Deeds Registry by Monday to hand over to the Police to aid in their investigation.

When Guyana Times visited the property in question on Saturday, it appeared as though works have been undertaken recently and the land is being sand-filled. But while the land was sold and all the conveyancing documents filed at the Deeds Registry, the sale process was not fully completed.

“The next step was for the property to be advertised in the Gazette for passing to the

“This is a most tragic situation where the fraudsters seemed to have been able to misuse and manipulate the legal process of the High Court and use it as the instrument to commit the fraud.” – AG woman of Chinese descent as the Power of Attorney for the property and had her sell the land to the manufacturing company for $35 million.

A Police source close to the investigation told this newspaper that the woman was hauled in for preliminary questioning and she is expected to be further questioned this week when the Police obtain all the necessary documents relating to the sale of

company. But the transaction wasn’t completed. The owner [Lall] got wind of the matter barely in time… It was sold but not passed to the buyer – the company,” this publication was told.

Attorney General Anil Nandlall

woman, was also called in to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Headquarters for questioning.

“He was the Notary Public who executed the Power of Attorney for Wazir appointing the Chinese person and the Chinese person is the one who sold the property to the company. He was the lawyer who did the transaction – the sale and the conveyance – from Wazir to the company.”

As the Police continue to investigate the issue which initially started off as a transport fraud, all angles are being looked at including whether the Chinese woman is the actual architect behind the crime or is in fact a victim as well. The Police source indicated that the latter might be the case since some money was paid by the woman to Wazir, who is yet to be found.

TURN TP PAGE 12

Former Magistrate signed

Meanwhile, the Notary Public, who is a former Magistrate and who executed the Power of Attorney of the property to the Chinese

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

Electoral Reform

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he Head of the “European Union Electoral Observation Mission” (EU EOM) has returned to Guyana with his group’s report on the March 2 elections, and has been presenting it to the various stakeholders. This will culminate in a conclave at the ACCC on Monday, when the latter will be joined by civil society organisations and the media to generate wider consensus on the EU’s recommendations. This approach fits in with the position of President Irfaan Ali’s administration, reiterated immediately after being installed in office following the PNC’s prolonged, five-month war of attrition to cling to power. President Ali reiterated his commitment to Constitutional and Electoral Reform. These, he insisted, should address the challenges manifested during the previous two years, but should emanate from a consultative process involving the widest possible Guyanese public. The Monday meeting can be seen as the beginning of the process.

Back in Oct 2020, Attorney General Anil Nandalall, specifically with regard to Electoral Reform, had announced: “The Government has committed to looking at the Representation of the People Act (RPA) and other pieces of legislation to reform them to cover all the loopholes that have been exploited by the political fraudsters after the elections.”

He indicated that the Govt of Canada had been approached for assistance, and had given a favourable response.

Among the proposed reforms, the AG elaborated, is ensuring that Statements of Poll (SOPs) are published by the respective political parties on a website and made public within hours of receipt. Efforts will also be made to ensure oversight mechanisms are in place to scrutinise the work of the Returning Officers (RO), thereby guarding against the declaration of false results by rogue officers.

The proposals also include a system where employment procedures and practices are used to ensure the best candidates are selected to work at elections, and to also have fixed qualifications, character references and testimonials for those officials. It is also seeking to ensure that there is a heavy penal system accompanying electoral offences, which would deter any official from doing wrong during the elections.

The Carter Center had early on indicated it was willing to assist in the needed Constitutional and Electoral Reforms. The EU’s Report and recommendations are quite comprehensive, and includes 26 recommendations, with eight of them highlighted as “priority”. The latter are, “to review and consolidate the fragmented election legislation; launch a consultation process to overhaul the composition and functioning of the Elections Commission; develop effective legislation to regulate political finance; foster transparency and accountability in online and offline campaigning; transform the state-owned media into a genuine public service broadcaster; adopt clear written procedures for transmission and tabulation of election results; accompany any declaration of results by simultaneous publication of detailed polling station results and digital copies of all Statements of Poll; and establish a comprehensive election dispute resolution system.”

Apropos the need for consolidating the legislation governing elections, these were developed over the decades following independence to accommodate various imperatives.

They include the Burnhamite 1980 Constitution, which was extensively amended following PNC violent protests after 1998. Then there is the Representation of the People Act (1964, as amended), the National Registration Act (1967, as amended) and the Elections Laws Act (1996). These were all amended by the Election Laws (Amendment) Act No. 15 (2000) and by the Local Democratic Organs Act (1980, as amended). The electoral framework is further augmented by other acts, including the National Assembly (Validity of Elections) Act (1964, as amended) and GECOM’s orders and notices. The EU EOM proposed that all this legislation governing Guyana’s electoral process should be consolidated into one comprehensive electoral law.

The EU is also suggesting, as the AG did earlier, that there is a dire need for the Constitution to be amended to allow the procedural and substantive aspects of the laws governing the formation of GECOM to be amended so that they do not lead to the gridlock we experienced over the last two years.

GECOM must take necessary critical and decisive actions now!

Dear Editor, In the build-up to, and during March 2, 2020 National and Regional Elections, a distasteful malady enveloped and attenuated national and international confidence in the body with constitutional responsibility for conducting what must be its most sacrosanct undertakings.

Sadly, the snail’s pace of addressing causal factors and remedying obvious failures are still to be purposefully addressed, and these are likely to have dire consequences if not swiftly and effectively dealt with.

It must be a strong matter of concern to those involved at the Commission level, that much public evidence exists, together with the prosecution of several of its key officials, fuelling the highest levels of mistrust and doubts.

Unless their functionality is driven by extra-terrestrial considerations, our GECOM Chairwoman and Commissioners must be aware of the broad public conviction, and the perception that the roles played by its contaminated officials in the Secretariat resulted in glaring attempts to derail the elections by delivering concocted and false results.

There is also no doubt that public rationale and analogy, assure that had it not been for the strong stand taken by the international community together with the never die position of the combined opposition, democracy in Guyana would have died for at least the next few decades. GECOM has become a “sore-eye” and an enigma to which our citizens demand an immediate solution. Definitively, no coverups in this respect will be tolerated.

Yet, the required strong, appropriate, and necessary corrective measures have not been demonstrated or sufficiently signalled to assure our nations of another similar future debacle. It is, therefore, imperative that the Chairwoman and Commissioners of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) act now to quell the massive distrust and win the confidence of the nation. GECOM must provide assurances that the institution made the necessary changes, in purposeful pursuit of conducting free and fair Local Government Elections and providing credible results.

Guyanese are not prepared to accept the pussy-footing of GECOM on the serious issues concerning the known employees whose actions are seen in the eyes of the public at home and abroad, as “riggers” of elections. The blatant, barefaced untrustworthy, and notoriously “perks grabbing” officials who are now before the courts, must be removed immediately from the GECOM payroll. Guyanese are even more vocal now and justified in demanding that the Chairperson of GECOM get rid of all those riggers.

They have placed this nation under duress for five long months, and are disappointingly continuing to receive their big salaries together with drivers and security protection.

The widespread condemnation of a most disgraceful GECOM Secretariat established the disproportionate and biasedly imposed discretion by staff with administrative latitude, at the 2020 elections. The European Union Mission report revealed that

GECOM failed to take decisive action as the electoral process derailed into chaos and illegality. It states that “GECOM abdicated its constitutional duty to take all actions necessary to ensure compliance with the law by any of its officials, despite unequivocal powers to remove and exercise disciplinary control over them.”

The report further contends that “With confidence in GECOM already undermined by limited inclusiveness and transparency, the post-election crisis exposed a dysfunctional Commission unable to control its administration.”

The obvious question is why is the Commission and its Chairwoman moving so slowly to correct the “slow poison” which the body can be treated.

It is known that the EU Observer Mission made several recommendations in its report that are expected to contribute to the necessary reform of Guyana’s electoral system. While some elements require broader levels of consultations towards necessary legislative amendments outside of GECOM’s control, there is no evidence emerging from the Commission led

by Chairwoman Justice (retired) Madam Claudette Singh, of a willingness to assert the mantle of control over its Secretariat. Failure to act promptly must be viewed as an absolute aberration of responsibility that is tantamount to its CEO Keith Lowenfield’s astringent and suffocating agenda.

Editor, with Local Government Elections due, we are yet to see if the muscles of the 2020 handicapped Commission will remain constricted by the

apparent Lowenfield tentacles. He misused and abused the allowed administrative leverage as the Secretariat’s CEO, which was the source of all the frustration and ills that took place over those unforgettable five months. The time is opportune for the GECOM Commissioners to put a motion to the next meeting of the Commission, to dismiss Keith Lowenfield promptly. This is given his “lone ranger” type public defiance to the Commission and Chairwoman that certainly justifies the loss of confidence. Let us see how the votes will go in this respect since contemplated undercutting surprises must be met with the appropriate timely reactions.

Significantly, the Carter Center noted that “the 2020 election was a true test of Guyana’s democracy, highlighting deep divides that persist in Guyanese society and the ways that the current political and electoral systems reinforce these divisions. It is critical that key leaders in Guyana now reach across the divide and work to ensure that fundamental electoral and constitutional reforms are completed as an urgent priority, well before the next election.”

Notwithstanding, the paramountcy of purpose for engendering national confidence in the organisation’s implementation and, upholding electoral policies in a free, fair, and transparent manner resonates with GECOM. The Chairwoman and Commissioner must, therefore, move to demonstrate these ideals now!!

Dear Editor, Guyanese have a lot to “laff” about over any gaff.

It’s the next cheapest thing left and not to miss when you reminisce. Take for instance Mr David Granger.

He was once a leader leading a nation to stagnation.

Today, he is a leader in supposition for the opposition.

As a President, he was a resident in hiding. Today, he is not a President but still hiding as a resident. Even a bat knows the difference between day and night. How can you trust a guy who cannot make up his mind? Lil

Joe refused to say bye to Canada but now wants to say hi to Canada.

At one time, he doesn’t see the Government.

Another time, he wants the same Government to recognise him. Is he confused or not properly fused? Is there a change of heart or art with the Leader of the AFC? First he concedes to a defeat but now recedes for a feat. He says one thing to the Trinis but by the time he’s brought back to Guyana’s soil, he changes his story. Wonder where the old chap was really looking? Didn’t he see

when the guns were walking out or the millions of dollars were escaping from right under his eyes?

Poor Cathy, she’s always losing stuff. First, she lost the Russians, then an election and now her laptop. If you cannot take care of your personal property, how can you take care of a nation?

To own a business, the owner has to be known. Guess some cats do know how to purr really well.

When you don’t pay attention, you can lose your mind. Willow boy, no not Eric, is suffering from a

commotion due to a demotion. Stumped by the CCJ in a hat-trick, he lost his promotion and became a laughing stock in the legal circle.

He’s now being uprooted and sidelined by his team.

Water boy status is still an impetus and hope for a recall someday. Aunty Volda is no longer being vulgar or a regular. She has been used by the PNC and is now being abused by the APNU/AFC. She has learnt a bitter lesson, but, it’s not too late. In hindsight, foresight is recommended.

Sincerely, Neil Kumar

In hindsight, foresight is recommended

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

Vaccine Maitri: Together we emerge stronger Dear Editor, Guyana came on the COVID-19 radar when it confirmed its first imported case of coronavirus in Georgetown on March 11, 2020. More than a year has elapsed, and the pandemic shows no signs of abating. The situation is no better in most countries of the world. Out of the few known ways to combat the novel coronavirus is the COVID-19 vaccine, developed simultaneously by many companies and countries across the world. It was personally a matter of great honour to receive a consignment of 80,000 “Made in India”, WHO-approved OxfordAstraZeneca COVISHIELD vaccine doses on March 7 at Cheddi Jagan International Airport, alongside Hon Brig (Ret’d) Mark Phillips, Prime Minister of Guyana, Hon Dr Frank Anthony, Health Minister and Hon Hugh Todd, Minister of Foreign Affairs & International Cooperation.

The vaccine consignment is a gift from the people and the Government of India to the people of Guyana. With Guyana having now started the vaccination process, I am hopeful that the Made in India vaccines will prove helpful in safeguarding the most vulnerable and those at the forefront in the fight against COVID-19.

The vaccine consignment to Guyana is part of India’s larger effort named “Vaccine Maitri” or “Vaccine Friendship”, under which India has so far shipped 58 million doses of vaccines to 71 countries in Latin America, the Caribbean, Asia and Africa. The recipient countries include the UK, Canada, Brazil and Mexico. Both COVISHIELD and COVAXIN have been exported so far some in the form of “gifts”, others in line with commercial agreements signed between the vaccine makers and the recipient nations, and the rest under the COVAX scheme, which is led by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and hopes to deliver more than two billion doses to people in 190 countries in less than a year. In the coming days, India will supply vaccines to more countries in Europe, North America, Latin America, the Caribbean, Africa, South-East Asia and the Pacific Islands. Recently, India gifted 175,000 doses of Made in India COVID-19 vaccine - COVISHIELD for the benefit of several Caricom countries, Antigua and

Barbuda (40,000 doses), St Kitts and Nevis (20,000 doses), St Lucia (25,000 doses), St Vincent and Grenadines (40,000 doses) and Suriname (50,000 doses) which is part of an overall 570,000 vaccine donation to the Caricom region.

This is done as we undertake the world’s largest vaccination drive back home, having inoculated close to 30 million including health and frontline workers and those over 60 years of age.

While expressing his profound gratitude to India, HE Dr Irfaan Ali, President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana said that as President, he wishes to thank Prime Minister Modi and the people of India for the kind donation of 80,000 vaccines to Guyana. He added, “indeed, this generosity speaks to a Government and a people that are committed to the welfare and well-being of humanity. Prime Minister Modi has demonstrated through his own management of COVID - this pandemic, great responsibility not only for India, but globally. Guyana is not the only country that benefitted from the kindness of India. And it’s not only about kindness, it is a responsibility India took in ensuring underprivileged developing countries also have access to the vaccines. So, on behalf of the people of Guyana, we are grateful to Prime Minister Modi and the people of India.

We wish you and the people of India continued good health, prosperity as we partner together to bring this pandemic to an end and ensuring there is equality in access to vaccines. Thank you very much”.

The Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, Hon Gaston Browne, thanked the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India Mr Narendra Modi for the kind gesture of India at this difficult time. He said that he is extremely grateful to India and that in fact, Prime Minister Modi would have demonstrated perhaps the most significant act of benevolence, kindness and certainly of empathy that would have seen in recent times compared to any act by any leader globally. He said that this is “one of the most notable acts of benevolence within the last 100 years”. He considers India to be a significant development partner for the Government and people of Antigua and Barbuda and in the wider Caribbean.

Many have asked in hushed tones what India

seeks in return from distributing the COVID-19 vaccine.

“There is more than meets the eye,” they say. “There is definitely some quid pro quo,” others state. I feel a sense of “déjà vu” remembering that similar questions were raised when India’s Cipla company had slashed the price of fixedAIDS-recommended drug combination in 2001 from US$12,000 by Western companies to US$350 per year, or less than a dollar per day, benefiting many in poor regions of Asia, Africa, and Latin America.

By delivering the COVISHIELD vaccine within days of its rollout, India has once again demonstrated its willingness and ability to act as a first responder to crises in the world, including in Guyana. In the case of coronavirus, India has realised that it is impossible to control the pandemic by restricting vaccination only to India. Global problems such as these cannot be solved by adhering to national boundaries. This is also the reason that, besides starting vaccination in India and gifting to developing countries, India has also opened up the Made in India COVID-19 vaccines for use in COVAX facility, GAVI Alliance and for commercial procurement around the world.

The logic behind India’s approach can also be found in its age-old philosophy of “Vasudheva kutumbakam,” which means that the world is one family. This philosophy is not just a speak-sake but has informed the Indian mind and our outlook to the world since time immemorial. It is this philosophy that is the core of India’s foreign policy approach and our emphasis on South-South cooperation.

Dr S Jaishankar, Foreign Minister of India said “The Bhagavad Gita states do your work with the welfare of others always in mind and that is Vaccine Maitri=Vaccine Friendship”. It is in this spirit that India also provided more than US$ one million worth of 35 life-saving ventilators and COVID-related medicines and medical equipment, including Hydroxychloroquine, personal protective equipment kits and masks to Guyana that I personally handed over on September 2, 2020.

Another reason India could pull off Vaccine Maitri and medical donations is because of its huge pharmaceutical manufacturing and vaccine development capac-

In hindsight, foresight is...

Winston didn’t know whose gold was being sold.

Perhaps, with Venezuela’s claim, Guyana’s and Venezuela’s gold is the same. It made no difference to him. As an economist, he sure knew how to economise his answers, “I cannot recall, I am not aware, I cannot remember.” No wonder Guyana was plagued with so many financial misappropriations and a bankrupt economy! Oh, Moses, it would have

been better to depart in the sea rather than return from the mountain. For one who was cheated by the PNC, robbed by the AFC and defeated by the PPP/C, he sure doesn’t know how to take matters lying down or when to call it a day.

Is Dr Karen Cummings still on her Sabbath and taking some time for relaxation? She tried to give the marching orders to international election observers in-

ity, built painstakingly over the years. India is the largest provider of generic medicines globally, and also the only country with the largest number of US FDAcompliant pharma plants outside the USA. With more than 3000 pharma companies and over 10,000 manufacturing facilities, India is referred to as the pharmacy of the world. Over 62 per cent of the world’s vaccines also come from India and form the backbone of mass vaccination programmes by entities like UNICEF and WHO. Indian vaccines are not only uncompromising in quality and safety, but are also the most affordable in the world. This is what prompted United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres to recently say that in the times of COVID-19, the vaccine production capacity of India is “the best asset the world has today”. The people across the globe have expressed concern about the need for larger countries not to engage in the practice of “vaccine hoarding”. WHO Director General Tedros Ghebreyesus has also said that the world is “on the brink of a moral catastrophic failure” and has warned that a “me-first approach” in distributing vaccines “will only prolong the pandemic”.

As far as COVID-19 vaccines are concerned, India has thus far approved two Made in India vaccines for emergency use. The first is the COVISHIELD being produced by Serum Institute of India. The other is COVAXIN, developed by Bharat Biotech, one of the largest vaccine developers in India. COVAXIN has already been administered to many millions in India, including to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with little or no side effects.

Recently, the preliminary results from COVAXIN’s Phase 3 clinical trials have shown 81 per cent efficacy. It is also claimed that COVAXIN is effective against the UK strain of COVID-19. The medical journal Lancet has also called COVAXIN “safe, immunogenic with no serious side effects”.

COVAXIN is also being considered for import by Guyana and other countries in the region, including Brazil (which has already ordered 20 million doses), Nicaragua, Paraguay, Ecuador, Cuba, Venezuela, Colombia, etc along with multiple other nations such as Iran, Malaysia, Myanmar, Mauritius, some

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cluding diplomats but was sent marching herself. Quite an infamous mix-up story like Guyana’s famous cookup rice. Uncle Ralph doesn’t know how much money he really has. To begin with, he couldn’t afford a huge alimony but then had a humungous amount to splash on a second matrimony.

A mate qualified to mitigate and negotiate sure knew how to deliberate. He did not debate when was

time to claim a rebate for the state. Guess two per cent is a hundred per cent better than one per cent. One sure has to know when and whom to wine and dine with. Don’t feel bad or left out Aunty Amna. You’re still being represented. One Ali replaced another Ally, it’s that simple.

What goes around, comes around.

Respectfully, Jai Lall

Gulf nations, etc subject to approval from their regulatory authorities. About half a dozen other COVID-19 vaccines are in different stages of development in India, including an intranasal vaccine by Bharat Biotech.

India firmly believes that the only way to defeat the virus is through cooperation and sharing of resources between countries. In the words of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, “Today India, with not one but two Made in India vaccines, is ready to protect humanity.”

I have no doubt that with closer cooperation we will be able to make progress in not only tackling the pandemic but other global issues like

global warming, poverty and terrorism.

I conclude with another ancient Sanskrit couplet, a part of which is also incidentally printed on the COVID-19 vaccine consignment that landed in Guyana: Bhavantu “Sarve Sukhinah, Sarve Bhavantu Niramayah Sarve Bhadrani Pasyantu, Ma Kascidduh Khabhagbhaveta “May all be at peace, may no one suffer from illness, May all see what is auspicious, may no one suffer.”

Sincerely, Dr KJ Srinivasa High Commissioner of India

Attempt to assassinate my character Dear Editor, The distasteful and despicable behaviour and commentary of known persons closely aligned to the Opposition - APNU/AFC - in attempting to assassinate my character and to circulate fabrication, lies and fairytale stories must be condemned with the strongest possible language. The truth is my defence.

None of the allegations levelled against me on social media platforms by these imbeciles is factual. These narratives are concoctions of evil minds and are set out to achieve outcomes that could only hurt and harm innocent persons and the church community in particular.

I assure all my colleague Bishops, Apostles, leaders of Churches and every Christian believer and all my brothers and sisters of various faiths, Guyanese in country and those in the di-

aspora who may have been troubled by this devious plot, as your brother, they bear no resemblance of the truth. These things never happened. I thank all those who have called and showed support and have prayed with me and my family and even those who have already debunked these fallacious statements I have asked my lawyers to take all necessary actions that are legally allowed to deal with the perpetrators. I will give this matter no further energy. It is comical, senseless and displays the level of depravity that exists amongst us.

I pray that we all will continue to let our lights so shine that darkness and this diabolical plot will be exposed.

Sincerely, Juan A Edghill Public Works Minister

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Fool me once...

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…shame on “Utensil” Harmon hey say, “Shame me once, shame on YOU; shame me twice, shame on ME”! Point is - to change the metaphor - once bitten you gotta be “twice shy”; and if you ain’t, then shame on you! Your Eyewitness just saw that the LOO, Joseph Harmon, is calling on Caricom through its current Chair, Tt’s Keith Rowley - to intervene to end the “impasse” between him and President Ali. And this is where Caricom has to be “twice shy”. Remember the last time the PNC invited them in to “intervene” in Guyana’s affairs?

That’s right…was when Granger called then Chair Mia Mottley to send in a Caricom team to supervise a recount of the Reg 4 ballots - which his RO Mingo had screwed up so as to rig the PNC into office. And we don’t have to repeat all the stunts the PNC pulled to pull wool over Caricom’s eyes, do we? Nor all the insults heaped on various Caricom leaders? Well, okay!!

After incoming Caricom Chair, St Vincent’s PM Gonsalves, reasonably said the elections’ results should be based on the recount, Harmon lashed out: “(This) paints a picture of a conspiracy to subvert the will of the Guyanese people”!! Never mind it was Granger who’d called for the recount to do just that! This insult caused Owen Arthur to rap Harmon that he was out of order, since he was simply “a utensil” who should know his place!

Anyhow, Rowley should remind Harmon that early in the day, while he (Harmon) and the PNC were carrying on with their hijinks and holding the Guyanese people to ransom, he (Rowley) had predicted, “This will end badly”.

And he was shown to be a prophet! So exactly what does Harmon think Rowley will tell him? That he’s correct to insist that the Ali Government isn’t legal? Rowley and the rest of Caricom have explicitly recognised the Ali Government as legal - along with the US, UK, EU, OAS, Commonwealth, and the rest of the world! So, Rowley should somersault on his agreement with all these blocks and countries just to please Harmon the “utensil”?

Harmon should be ashamed to even speak to Caricom without first apologising to them for insulting them, and more specifically the Recount Team, which braved the COVID-19 threat to help us get out of the PNC-created elections rigging mess. But maybe Harmon wants to save face and is looking for Rowley to tell him to accept the legitimacy of the PPP Govt?

Well, because of his arrogance both to Caricom and to the Ali Govt, Rowley should explicitly tell Harmon to get off his high horse and eat humble pie.

In Guyana, that means saying “beg pardon”! …but not on drugs Sometimes your (jaded) Eyewitness resignedly shrugs his shoulders as evidence of the PNC’s governmental lassitude and inefficiency pile up like the mound of garbage at Haags Bosch. But not at what’s just been revealed in what can only be called “Pharmagate”. After all, pharmaceuticals are purchased to save lives - lives of living, breathing human beings who, for one reason or other, have become ill. And when the PNC screw up, they place those lives at risk.

First, the facts. From reports in the newspapers by ordinary people who’re forced to use the Public Health System, they were told to purchase their own medication, because none was available. And in many cases, they just couldn’t afford to do this, and suffered or died. And now we’re told that the PNC spent $35 BILLION for Pharma in their 5 years - compared to $35 Billion by the PPP in their TWENTY-THREE years!!

And that at least $10 billion worth had to be dumped!

While thousands might’ve died!

Bring back the cat-o-nine tails! …and forever on CJIA Once again, we’re being assured the Chinese company “modernising CJIA” is finally “taking care of business”. So, being three months late is okay?

After the ten other deadlines given to the PNC and broken?

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

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NEWS

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Fisherman jailed 4 weeks for robbery

A PNC undermining democratic gains

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oday, with their insistence that the democratically elected PPP Government isn’t “legitimate” – even though it has lost its “built-in” Indian-based majority - several leaders in the African-Guyanese community are challenging the very foundation of democracy as it developed over the centuries. Ironically, they are reversing the gains their forbears had struggled for during that time. As in Britain and the colonies, two questions were posed by “democracy” in the context of political participation: who were “the people”; and once selected, how were “they” to rule? On the first question, the British, by the 19th century, had decided that middle-class men were “the people”.

In the colonies, therefore, even after the abolition of slavery, there was certainly no assumption that the freed slaves could vote. In point of fact, the British denied them the opportunity to control the governing structures, and justified this injustice by claiming that the planters would outmanoeuvre the Africans.

Ravi Dev This exclusion of exslaves from the organs of governance, and their struggle to rectify that historic wrong has had consequences that still reverberate in our political arena. What was to be the content of emancipation if even the limited political rights of liberal democracy were denied to them? Today, in a nation of minorities, African-Guyanese have an equal opportunity to form a government - as was demonstrated in 2015.

There had to be a period of tutelage, the British asserted, so that the responsibility of governance could be exercised “responsibly” by the “natives”. Thus, in Guyanese history, we note a long and painful process by the disenfranchised to win the vote, and a determined rearguard action by the British to deny the same. In 1891, the British instituted major changes in the constitution when they altered the franchise and relaxed the qualifications to vote for the elected officials to the Combined Court. The new rules enabled the new and growing Coloured/African middle class to gradually outnumber the planters in the Combined Court.

The British Government initiated this change because, at that point, its interests diverged from those of the planters, but it was obvious even then that the potential for a new challenge to British Imperial aims had been created. In 1928, when the Coloured/African middle class showed that they may have had an agenda of their own, the British switched gears and imposed a Crown Colony form of government, wherein the Governor could effectively outvote the elected representatives. As late as 1947, only about ten percent of the population (overwhelmingly African/Coloured) were counted as “the people”; after 1953 it became everyone over 21, and finally, in 1968, it was changed to include everyone over 18. By then the franchise was immaterial, since the PNC was rigging elections.

A second “problem” arose, since the country now incorporated what were labelled several “nationalities”, who “voted for their own”. J.S. Mill, for instance, speaking from a Britain sure of its “British” national identity, could pronounce with finality that the free institutions of democracy were ‘next to impossible in a country made up of different nationalities’.

To deal directly with the implications of the ethnic divisions in the society and answer the question ‘who are “the people” to govern’ remained problematical until the demographic changes by 2015 to create a “nation of minorities”.

On the second question, ‘how are “the people” to rule?’, the classical Greeks tried “direct democracy”, where, facilitated by their small numbers, every citizen could vote on every issue in one gathering. If more than fifty percent of the citizens voted for one particular position, then that became the position of “the people”. Majoritarian politics was born. This direct method of voting had to be abandoned in favour of “representative democracy”, due to the larger number of citizens and their wider geographical dispersion in the countries that resuscitated the democratic form of governance. The representatives were supposed to represent those who elected them. However, even though the circumstances were different, the majoritarian principle was retained, and it was accepted because the British people saw themselves more or less as one.

With Indian-Guyanese forming a majority until the last decade, African-Guyanese faced what we called an Ethnic Security Dilemma, in that they could not win elections even in coalitions with others. This has now disappeared, and the PNC is doing a disservice to its constituents to tell them otherwise.

The PNC has to learn to work with others.

40-year-old fisherman, Jhanjadeen Naiken, called “Jaga”, appeared virtually at the Number 51 Magistrate’s Court on Friday where he was sentenced to four weeks’ imprisonment.

The Number 36 Village Corentyne, Berbice man ap-

peared before Magistrate Alex Moore.

Naiken, who was arrested on March 15, was charged with two counts of break and enter and larceny contrary to Section 229 (a) of the Criminal Law (Offences) Act Chapter 8:01.

Meanwhile, 42-year-

old Andrew Rampersaud of Rose Hall Town, Corentyne, Berbice, and 19-year-old Ravindra Weston of No 68 Village, Corentyne, Berbice, were jointly charged for simple larceny.

The duo appeared at the Number 51 Magistrate’s Court where the charge was

read to them by Magistrate Alex Moore.

They both pleaded not guilty.

Rampersaud was released on his own recognisance while Weston was remanded to jail.

The matter was adjourned until April 27. (G15)

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Land illegally transferred...

FROM PAGE 3

Initial enquiries made had revealed that the transport for the Eccles Public Road double lot was passed from Lall’s name to Wazir via a court order granted by former High Court Judge, Justice Jainarayan Singh, in September 2008 following an application filed by the still unknown man.

Investigators have since discovered that Wazir’s identification card that was used to transact the property transfer is fake.

Further, the probe had led Police to arrest the 37-year-old former staff of the High Court who is attached to a realty firm.

He is the person who took the transport in Wazir’s name to the Eccles NDC along with photocopies of the Wazir’s ID to effect the name change in the records there.

He told the Police that the transport and photocopied ID were given to him by someone called “Max” – whom he knows since 2009 but could not give his full name nor contact information – to take to the NDC. He claimed that he went to the Deeds Registry and verified the transport was genuine before taking it to the NDC. The man further told investigators that he never saw Wazir and doesn’t know anything about him. He was released from custody on Saturday morning on $200,000 bail after the statutory 72 hours detention period expired.

Records disappeared

Meanwhile, Guyana Times was informed that all the records pertaining to the court order transferring the land from Lall to Wazir have disappeared.

“All checks at the court revealed that the case file in

The fake ID Card in the name of Mohamed Wazir that was used to get the property transferred

which that order was made, all the documents have gone missing. The Police have interviewed the Registrar of Supreme Court who has promised to check in the Judges’ Cost Book to see whether that order was actually written down by the Judge… They will verify that book this week,” this publication was told.

When a Judge makes an order in court, that order is then documented as an order of the court in the Judge’s handwriting in the Cost Book.

Contacted on Saturday, Nandlall told this newspaper that this is in fact not the first time that a court order is being used in fraudulent transactions of this type, causing people to lose their property.

“As is the position in this case, in those other cases the court file in which the order is made cannot be found as well.

This is a most tragic situation where the fraudsters seemed to have been able to misuse and manipulate the legal process of the High Court and use it as the instrument to commit the fraud,” Nandlall posited.

The Attorney General was

the one who brought this case to light while discussing efforts by the Government to strengthen the various legislation to prevent property fraud which has had an alarming increase in Guyana.

During an appearance on the “Government in Action” programme last week, he addressed the issue and spoke of some of the measures that are being contemplated to protect property owners from fraud including improving access to the Official Gazette where all transports are advertised before being transferred as well as the quality of persons being appointed Notary Public.

The Legal Affairs Minister believes that there is an integrated conspiracy at work in committing these frauds, noting that no one person could pull this off.

Though property fraud has been happening for some time now, the issue rose to the fore following a recent ruling in another property fraud case by the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), which recommended that Guyana’s legal framework be strengthened. (G8)

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A project focused on traditional knowledge in Guyana

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n last week’s article, we highlighted the important role that Indigenous people have played in supporting conservation efforts. Their traditional knowledge (knowledge, practices and innovations) therefore needs to be considered in local conservation efforts. This means increasing efforts at various levels to improve dialogue between Indigenous people and decision-makers, and to support their rights to continue to use and safeguard their traditional knowledge.

With that in mind, a Darwin Initiative (UK-funded) project, titled ‘Integrating Traditional Knowledge into National Policy and Practices in Guyana’, has been working towards addressing these very areas. The project commenced in 2017, and has been working with Indigenous communities associated with Iwokrama, Kanuku Mountains Protected Areas, and the Kanashen Community-owned Conservation Area. Working in selected communities, activities have been focused on discussions around the role of traditional knowledge in culture, biodiversity, and the management of protected areas; the threats and challenges to traditional knowledge; and potential solutions for maintaining and strengthening traditional knowledge. Community members have benefited from training in participatory video techniques that have enabled them to produce short videos that capture aspects of their traditional knowledge and practices, the opinions of individuals on a particular issue affecting their community, and recommendations to address such issues. Capacity building is also needed at the governmental level, where decision-makers sit. As such, training has been developed and facilitated with the aim of raising the awareness of the rights of Indigenous peoples, and the important role that traditional knowledge can play in national decision-making processes.

More ambitiously, using the evidence gathered from the communities, the project has developed a Traditional Knowledge National Action Plan (TKNAP) for Guyana. The goals of the TKNAP are to ‘strengthen and support increased inclusivity of Guyana's Indigenous peoples in national decision-making, and to safeguard their traditional knowledge, innovations and practices’. The TKNAP aims to address the following areas regarding Indigenous peoples and traditional knowledge in Guyana: (i) Increased recognition and respect: proposed actions support improved awareness of the knowledge, innovations and practices of Guyana's Indigenous peoples, their contributions to conservation and development, and the challenges they face that affect their ability to maintain and safeguard it; (ii) Greater inclusion: proposed actions seek to improve the efforts of Government institutions to facilitate improved dialogue with Indigenous communities and representative groups, with the aim of ensuring that the opinions of Indigenous people are appropriately documented and better considered in making informed decisions; and (iii) Effective participation: proposed actions intend to use best practices in community engagement and participatory video to promote improved participation, communication and dialogue between Indigenous peoples and decision-makers, and to build capacity in these areas.

The proposed actions are captured under three (3) objectives: raise awareness nationally of the critical role of Indigenous peoples and their traditional knowledge; strengthen local laws, governance and mechanisms for respect and use of traditional knowledge; and empower Indigenous communities to document and address matters pertaining to safeguarding their traditional knowledge, and promote continued respect and use of it.

In the articles to follow, we will discuss the relevance and importance of each of the proposed actions under each objective in the draft TKNAP. If you would like to learn more about some of the work that has been done in communities please visit the following website: https://cobracollective.org/tag/darwin/.

Also, how do you feel about traditional knowledge and the role it plays in conservation? What do you think about a Traditional Knowledge National Action Plan for Guyana? Please share your thoughts via 592 650 6632 (WhatsApp or SMS only).

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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A contextual financial analysis of the gas-to-shore project

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Introduction

he purpose of this analysis is to contribute to the national debate regarding the feasibility of the gas-to-shore project that the Government of Guyana is moving forward to implement. Analysts and other commentators alike have raised many valid concerns and issues regarding the economic and financial viability of the project, including the proposed location as announced by the Government. Within the sphere of the public domain, there are views both in favour of and against the project–though mostly speculative in nature and divorced from Guyana’s development context altogether. In particular, the views against the project surround the notion that the project is not economically feasible, and that includes the proposed location as well – at Wales, on the West Bank of Demerara on the premises of the closed Wales Sugar Estate. It should be mentioned that the proponents of these views have not endeavoured to justify such assertions, neither have they sought to conduct any meaningful analysis in support of their views.

This analysis, therefore, seeks to lend to the national discourse by conducting an analysis on the potential economic and financial soundness of the project, and to determine whether the project in its entirety is economically sensible.

Methodology and limitation

The analysis contained herein draws from secondary data sources that are publicly available. These include press releases regarding some of the technical details on the gas-to-shore project as well as estimates on cost, and the Guyana Power and Light Development and Expansion Project 2012–2016 from which data was derived on demand forecasts for electricity. In addition, other information and empirical literature by reputable organisations that are publicly available were evaluated by the author to create scenarios wherein a number of scenario analyses were conducted – together with some degree of extrapolatory forecasting techniques. More importantly, the analysis conducted takes into consideration Guyana’s historic development context as well as Guyana’s development trajectory within the framework of Guyana’s national development strategy and the Government’s ambitious development plans contained in its five-year manifesto. Thus, the thematic scope of the paper can be described as a contextual financial and economic analysis of the gas-to-shore project.

The limitation of the analysis largely surrounds the absence of specific technical details and information on costing. These details, however, are currently being worked out by the Government of Guyana. In this regard, a gas-to-shore task force was put together that is dealing with the implementation of the project.

This includes the negotiations with ExxonMobil, evaluation of feasibility studies and financing models of the project. It is expected that upon the completion of the work of the task force, the details and the relevant official studies will be released to the public at the appropriate time.

In the meanwhile, this analysis is intended to bridge this gap and to inform stakeholders – more importantly the citizenry of Guyana about the broader potential economic benefits of the project. In doing so, despite the limitations described above, there is sufficient information within the public domain and on Guyana’s development outlook for analysts to perform reasonable pragmatic analyses. This in turn, can then serve to answer some of the burning questions within the sphere of the citizenry and all the other interested stakeholders or at least put things into a broader perspective.

Contextualising Guyana’s National Development Strategy of 1996

The current Government, in its previous term in office, had developed a comprehensive National Development Strategy under the Late President Cheddi Jagan since 1994, which was completed and approved in 1996. This strategy was developed by over 200 Guyanese professionals and stakeholders from across all sections of society, including the Private Sector. After its approval and adoption in 1996, the strategy was then implemented incrementally through all the national budgets from 1997 – 2014. An exercise to simply map that strategy with all the national budgets for this period will confirm this fact.

Hereunder mentioned are some examples of major transformational and developmental projects and strategies identified since 1994–1996 through the National Development Strategy framework: * The construction of two deep water harbours in Berbice and Demerara rivers, the improvement and extension of the Timehri and Ogle Airports, and the rehabilitation of many of the country’s internal airstrips”. Over the years, some of these projects were implemented and some are still ongoing – the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, for example, and the transition of the Ogle Airport to an international airport status. * The strategy identified the role of Information Technology in the modernisation of Guyana, and today we have the liberalisation of the telecommunications sector and Government’s commitment to digitalise Government services. * Construction of housing schemes, rural roads, schools and health centres. * A new four-lane highway connecting Georgetown to the existing Soesdyke/ Linden Highway; * A widened carriageway on the East Bank road between La Penitence and Peters Hall * A completed highway linking Linden by way of Mabura, Kurupukari, Annai, Good Hope and Lethem, to Brazil across the Takutu. * Two-lane road from Port Kaituma to Yarakita. * Construction of a new, high-span bridge across the Demerara River at the same site as the Demerara Harbour Bridge, and the Berbice River Bridge. * Feasibility study on the re-introduction of railways to be undertaken.

For illustration, the above are just a few examples extracted from the 363page National Development Strategy developed since 1996. And as can be seen, a number of these projects have been implemented and/or are ongoing. Now that the very Government that actually developed this strategy was re-elected in 2020 to govern, the continued implementation of this development strategy is clearly being pursued.

Evidently, all of the transformational projects that the Government is aggressively moving forward with have been conceptualised since 1996 in this development strategy. As such, it can be said that this strategy is nothing short of visionary and is indeed 50 plus years ahead of its time. This is the basis upon which Guyana’s development trajectory hinges.

TO BE CONTINUED…

About the Author:

JC. Bhagwandin is the Chief Financial Advisor/Analyst of JB Consultancy & Associates, and lecturer at Texila American University. The views expressed are exclusively his own and do not necessarily represent those of this newspaper and the institutions he represents. For comments, send to jbbankingadvice@ gmail.com.

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FEATURE

SUNDAY, MARCH 21, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

FeliciaCollins believedGuyananeededmoreMarine andEnvironmental Biologists, soshebecameone

By Lakhram Bhagirat

G

uyana – the land of many waters – is among the big players in the world when it comes to pristine forests and we have been, as of late, marketing ourselves as a “Green Tourism” destination.

However, one would also argue that Guyana is not doing enough to take care of our green environment and that is the reason young Felicia Collins is advocating for more Marine and Environmental Biologists in the country.

The 23-year-old recently graduated from the University of the West Indies with her Degree in Marine and Environmental Biology and currently works as a Project Coordinator at the Guyana Marine Conservation Society.

Collins grew up in the small mining community

tion, and this is something that remains with me to this day; that sense of humility as I was able to experience both worlds,” she re-

counted.

The young woman attended the Port Kaituma Primary and after sitting the Common Entrance Examination she was

Felicia Collins doing field work (both pictures)

of Port Kaituma located in the Barima-Waini Region.

For her, growing was an experience she relished.

Everything was an adventure for her, from exploring the backyard with her siblings, learning how to ride a bike down the hills, playing cricket on the road till dusk with the neighbours, to occasional trips to the backdam with her father.

According to Collins, one of the glaring challenges of her childhood was access to a quality primary education since most schools in the hinterland are often understaffed and under-resourced.

“The challenges faced by the students are also different. I remember there would be days when some of my classmates would not have money, books, uniform to attend school, or they would have to travel a great distance on foot to get to school. So, from an early age, I was able to recognise my privilege and appreciate the sacrifices that my parents made to ensure I was able to receive an educa-

awarded a Hinterland Scholarship from the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs in 2009 and secured a place at the North Georgetown Secondary School in the city. She graduated from there in 2014 with 12 passes at the Caribbean Examinations Council’s Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examination.

“After that (secondary school), I knew I wanted to continue a career in science, but I was not exactly sure what that was, so I decided to challenge myself. I applied to Queen’s College for Sixth Form and I was accepted. I think it was within those two years that my academic interest in the environment grew and after I was done, I knew I wanted to pursue a career in the environmental sector.

“After Sixth form, I took a gap year to work and save then I applied to The University of the West Indies – St Augustine Campus in Trinidad and Tobago to pursue

a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology with specialisations,” Collins explained.

Collins has always been a nature enthusiast be-

cause of where she grew up but was never aware that she could have pursued a career in studying the environment until she entered Sixth Form.

“Before that, I wanted to be a doctor because that was what everyone expect-

ed of me. So, when I applied to UWI I made sure to thoroughly check through the programme structure, read up on the courses and content taught so as to make sure they aligned with what I wanted to study. To be honest marine biology wasn’t even on my radar until I got to Trinidad. My lecturers would constantly stress its importance and vulnerability due to their thriving oil and gas economy, and during this time Guyana was also on the path to becoming an oil-producing nation, so I decided to choose the specialisation to better understand this ecosystem that we know so little about,” she related.

For her, the journey towards achieving her qualifications as a Marine – Environmental Biologist has been intense academically and financially. It was 3 years of late nights at the library and early morning classes, and a lot of self-discipline and motivation.

Collins admitted that

she still has much to learn - especially about Guyana’s marine environment which is vastly different from Trinidad’s.

Her job as Project Coordinator with the Guyana Marine Conservation Society includes lots of research and reading. She is currently working with the Guyana Marine Conservation Society as the Project Coordinator for the BarimaMora Passage Mammals survey. So, she is responsible for managing the timely implementation of this research project and the data collection as well as the data analysis.

She anticipates the publishing of a research paper with the findings once the survey is completed.

“It is important to maintain biodiversity and healthy habitats which provide us with many ecosystem services, not just locally but globally as well. We depend on this environment way more than we even realise. For example, the fish-

ing sector is one of the most economically important sectors in Guyana. It is an important foreign exchange earner and a primary contributor to income, employment, food security, and social and economic stability.

“Make sure you’re passionate about it and it’s what you want to do. I mean, everyone is different, and we’re not all going to have the same paths to get to where we want but if you are sure about something then go for it. Reach out to people, find out their experiences and challenges. Be realistic, plan, set your goals, and work towards them. Guyana needs more marine and environmental biologists because if we don’t protect our environment, who will?” Collins posited.

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By Lakhram Bhagirat

C

hallenges form part of our daily existence. Without a doubt, life is going to throw us challenges constantly but how we deal with those challenges is more than likely to determine our path.

So, when life threw Odela Joseph an unexpected challenge, she knew that she had to confront it head-on. In 2020, the year the world slipped into a pandemic, Joseph lost her job as the company she was working for laid off the majority of its workers.

She was pregnant at the time and knowing that she would soon have to go on maternity leave, Joseph opted to stay at home.

However, she also knew that she had to do something while at home so she began to put her degree in Business Management at work and started building her own company.

“I thought of something that could help me as well as other women suffering from the same condition as I was since I have (blemish) prone skin. If I get a scratch it leaves a scar, if I gain a little weight, I get stretch marks, if I get a couple of boils, I have dark marks. So, I was always dibbling and dabbling on stuff for myself and I realised that they worked for me and I decided to share the products that I was using on myself with other people and that is how the business basically started,” Joseph said.

Joseph owns Ojay’s Skincare – a local beauty company specialising in skincare products that are handmade locally.

The Sunday Times recently spoke with the young entrepreneur who shared her journey with us.

The 27-year-old is from the logging village of Ituni in the Upper Demerara-Berbice Region. She attended the McKenzie High School in Linden and then completed her Sixth Form studies at the President’s College. She read for her Degree in Business Management at the University of Guyana.

“When I finished university (in 2017), I stayed in Georgetown

to find a job because there aren’t really any career opportunities where I come from and I worked for two years with Guyana Gold Fields and last year they had a major retrenchment and I was one of the persons that got retrenched,” she explained.

After she was retrenched, Joseph went online and signed up for several short courses on creating beauty products. There, she learned the science behind making soaps, body butters, hair oils and lots more. Eventually, she took the knowledge she earned and created Ojay’s Skincare.

Coming up with the name Ojay for her business was quite easy since most of her friends would refer to her as Ojay instead of her name, Odela.

Her products are all-natural and eco-friendly.

“I only use natural ingredients basically olive oil, coconut, castor oil, shea butter, mango butter, cocoa butter. I use locally produced sugar in my sugar scrub, coconut oil from Guyana and I would combine them and make all the stuff.”

Initially, she started producing and selling her products in small batches but the demand for them started to grow and soon she was producing her body butters, soaps, hair oils and other skincare products in large quantities. However, she gave birth in November 2020 and then took a break.

Shortly after giving birth, she rebranded and began to focus solely on her skincare line and dropped the haircare products.

“I basically rebranded the business and I named it Ojay’s Skincare because I wanted to focus more on Skincare as opposed to skin and hair because I found it to be too tiring to market all of that. We still make body butters and scrubs but I have expanded a bit more on the soaps end.

“At first, I was making turmeric soap and charcoal and now we have turmeric soap, charcoal and matcha. They all target skincare problems like acne, acne scars, hyperpigmentation, stretch marks and eczema. Basically, all the problems that people would

have with their skin,” she explained.

Like every business, there are going to be challenges in the initial set-up and even when progress further. For Joseph, her particular field required ingredients that are not readily available in Guyana. In the cases where they are available, it is not economical for her to purchase and then make her products.

She then had to turn to overseas markets to source items like shea butter, mango butter, cocoa butter, essential oils and packaging.

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FEATURE

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Dr Rei-launya Amsterdam

By Lakhram Bhagirat

E

den Clay is a holistic personal care brand that aims at enriching one’s self-care routine.

The handcrafted body care products are all-natural and produced locally by the dedicated Dr Rei-launya Amsterdam.

You can be assured that the products are a result of years of experimenting with various kinds of butter and oils and research by Dr Amsterdam.

Dr Amsterdam recently spoke with the Sunday Times where she shared

the journey from Dental School to the world of entrepreneurship.

The 29-year-old Dental Surgeon grew up in Georgetown and has always been encouraged to excel. She attended Queen’s College and then Nations University where she did Sixth Form studies.

Having always been interested in the sciences, she enrolled at the University of Guyana where she began studying Pharmacology.

However, after two years of pharmacology studies, she decided to switch to Dentistry. In 2016, she graduated as a Dental Surgeon from the University of Guyana and is now employed with the Ministry of Health.

“I have always been interested in the sciences…Probably around 2011 when I started university I looked online and saw there were many women and girls who were playing with shea butter. I think that was the popular ingredient back then and I was always intrigued as to how they could have made this butter get into this smooth consistency. How they were able to manipulate it and

add oils that had all these benefits.

“Around 2012 I started to play with those ingredients. I was able to find those ingredients here locally, you know coconut oil, crab oil, mix them see how it felt on the skin and even at that point I had friends and family impressed with the presentation, how I was able to create the mixes, the oils I would put together and they encouraged me at that time that I should have pursued it but I didn’t,” she recounted.

The reason for her not pursuing that hobby was that she was very focused on her studies and never really thought about venturing into business.

In 2017, she visited the Women in Business Expo at the Pegasus Hotel with her boyfriend and it was there she saw how women and girls turned their hobbies and passions into a business. Her boyfriend then encouraged her to start marketing herself but still, she felt as though she was not up to the task as yet.

“It wasn’t until the end of 2019 and leading into 2020 when we were in the middle of the pandemic

that I started to take the projects that I was working on and turn those into actual formulations with lots of research and the science background that I have I understood the mixing of certain oils, the chemical reactions that would have taken place. I did a lot of stability testing and I shared what I would have come up with persons around me and they were very impressed. I made sure to register the business once I finalised on the name and it all just went from there,” she said.

Amsterdam registered Eden Clay in September of 2020.

Initially, Amsterdam wanted to focus on just body butters so the name “Buttercup” was played around but she did not “feel it”. With the scope of products, she envisioned for her business, she felt that “Buttercup” did not fit so she spent a few months playing around with names and one Saturday morning she came up with “Eden”.

“I called my boyfriend right away and I told him the name of the business is going to be Eden and I remember telling all my friends that it would be

Eden. I was so excited because I felt so sure for the first time about a name and through our conversations and he (my boyfriend) said you take these ingredients, you mould them just like people would mould clay,

why not add clay and I really liked that element and I put clay to Eden and Eden Clay was born.”

Currently, Eden Clay retails two products – butter bars and whipped body polish in the scents of “Bare”

and “Blume”.

The butter bars are solid lotion bars that are meant to give moisture and emollience to the skin. Similar to your body butters that would be in a whipped consistency this is in a solid

form so it is meant to be rubbed in the hand so you can get products on and then it is rubbed into the skin. Amsterdam chose the bar because of how compact and convenient it is.

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O

SKIN AILMENTS – CONTINUED

ic fermentation they can produce.

Q: How is the Ringworm transmitted?

A: Those fungal species which infect animals are transmitted primarily by contact with infected individuals and contaminated surroundings, including clothes, furniture, grooming instruments, and spores in the soil.

RINGWORM

ver the past few weeks, we have been focusing on cutaneous (skin) ailments to which our pets (usually dogs) fall victim. One would think that cats, which by nature groom themselves constantly, are less likely to succumb to ectoparasites like ticks and mites. When fleas attack felines in great numbers, only veterinary help will reduce the sufferings. Also, let it be clear: cats do contract the fungal agents responsible for this “Ringworm” condition.

Now, if ever there was/ is a misnomer to define a disease, it is “Ringworm”. Simply put, Ringworm is not caused and has nothing to do with worms. Let’s start with that understanding and truism. The scientists like to make their own definitions and dub a Ringworm infection to be “Dermatophytosis”. For our practical purposes, we will continue to use the word “Ringworm”.

Q: What then is “Ringworm”?

A: Ringworm is caused by a fungus – actually by any of three types (genera) of fungi, which collectively are defined as dermatophytes. (“Fungi” or “Funguses” are the plural of “fungus”) This column serves not only the purpose of pet care, but hopes to be educational as well.

So let’s, at least briefly, discuss these living organisms called fungi.

Well, first of all, fungi are plants. But interestingly, they lack chlorophyll. Fungi are genuinely fascinating entities in biology. Mostly, they are parasites which gain sustenance (nourishment) from skin, hair, claws and pretty much any organic matter, not lastly those which are associated with plants, cats, dogs, cattle and humans, etc. I mention cattle because fungal attacks on the skin can reduce the value of the leather. The impact of cattle is less a health consideration, and more economic.

Several names, which we use quite loosely and commonly, are in fact fungal organisms.

These include: molds, mildews, rusts, smuts, mushrooms, toadstools (“Jumbie Umbrella”), etc. These fungi are often quite destructive, even poisonous. However, fungi also have beneficial representatives that are used in and as food, and also are greatly valued for the organ-

Q: How does the caregiver know that the pet has Ringworm?

A: Actually, “Ringworm” gets its name from its appearance. It begins with hair loss, and from the center of the infection, there is a circular spread of localized alopecia (fur loss).

At the edge of the circumference of the lesion, one can distinctly see the red ring, even in dark-skinned breeds. The fungus grows in circular patches – even to 2 inches or more in diameter, if the caregiver allows the ailment to get out of hand. If there is any doubt, let your vet make the final decision, which is neither difficult nor complicated. At the Clinic, microscopic examination of skin scrapings is relatively reliable.

I should mention in passing that Ringworm is not a very itchy condition (like scabies which we have discussed previously). But scabs and dandruff-like flakes can develop. The infected area, in turn, can become oozing sores.

Also, if the fungus anchors itself in the toenails, and is untreated, the toenails will grow in a twisted manner.

Q:

Can the caregiver and other animals

contract this disease from the pet?

A: Yes. This infection can move from species to species (dog →human→ cat). Children especially should be kept away from animals with the Ringworm (fungus) infection. Adults can pick up the infection, but seem to be more resistant.

Q: How can the caregiver treat a pet with Ringworm?

A: Please do not use medication and methods which are proposed by unreliable (even if well-meaning) and non-knowledgeable friends and “experts”.

Follow, rather, these suggestions: 1) Clip away the infected hair at the margins of the Ringworm patches.

2) Bathe the area with an anti-fungal shampoo, so as to remove the dead skin.

3) If there are only one or two small patches, one can treat with an anti-fungal solution or cream. One can purchase these types of medication over the counter. But I would advise that you let your vet write an appropriate prescription.

4) Secondary infections (sores) may need antibiotic intervention.

5) For dogs/cats living indoors, the caregiver may wish to: (i) Change/wash the bedding daily; (ii) Physically/manually remove the shed hairs and debris daily using disposable dust cloths or washable floor dusters, (reminds one of COVID- cleansing, right?).

6) Do not use bleach on your pets.

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SUNDAY, MARCH 21, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Dr Rei-launya Amsterdam’s Eden Clay...

She packages them in reusable tins so once your bar is finished, you can always contact her for a refill for that tin you already have.

“When I did my market research, I knew I wanted to start with a product that would moisturise and provide lustre and sheen to the skin but I wanted [something] that would stand out – something that was not popular or seen on the market and solid lotions are pretty well known overseas but nobody was offering it here. I had to ensure that with our hot climate the bar wouldn’t melt or get sappy or goopy and messy and I was able to perfect that formulation and we now have the butter bar that lots of people love. Persons that have bought it said it has assisted them with their hand especially with all the handwashing and sanitising we are do-

ing,” Amsterdam explained.

She said that there are no advertised benefits of toning the skin or getting rid of dark marks even though with consistent use and because the bar is all-natural, that may occur. The main benefit is to bring moisture back into the skin and to leave the skin soft and supple. The scents, “Bare” and “Blume”, are not overpowering but it leaves a very nice scent that lingers on the skin.

Persons would be familiar with sugar scrubs; however, the whipped body polish is not your average sugar scrub that is just made with sugar and oil. This is made with a whipped base that includes shea butter, sweet almond oil and that is mixed into a very fluffy butter base that sugar is added to. So once you apply it to the

skin, it tends to produce a lather on the skin and once you rinse it off, it rinses completely off your skin leaving no residue.

Amsterdam, like many small business owners, is heavily reliant on the importation of ingredients to make their businesses economically viable.

“I had to import everything I needed from the cocoa butter to the tins. As a small business owner, I do feel the brunt of the taxes we have to pay on things we import and all of that adds up to your costs.”

The entrepreneur is also heavily invested in creating the ultimate experience for her customers so she would keep in constant contact with them to get feedback.

Since she began officially selling her products just about a month ago, the response has been positive and the market is rapidly expanding for her.

“I love dentistry. Dentistry is

FROM PAGE 21

still a very big part of my life but I also had a passion for the natural skincare realm and I wanted to share that gift as well with those around me. So, it wasn’t easy balancing both because it takes a lot of preparation and time management but so far it has been really good.

“We are eco-friendly. We’re sustainable. We’re a handmade business that provides products that will give your skin deep moisture and lustre and we will create an experience in your self-care routine.

It’s something you’ve never seen before, at least not on the market here in Guyana, and I can assure you that once you try Eden you will fall in love.”

You can connect with Amsterdam via Facebook and Instagram – Eden Clay – to place orders.

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From being retrenched to creating a business...

“When you are small, it is okay to buy in small batches but when you are a growing business you don’t want to always have to go back or pause your business and say that oh we don’t have any containers or we don’t have any oils left so we can’t make nothing.

So, what I did was made an investment and bought everything in bulk and shipped them in. So, I don’t have the problem of having to run back or pause my business,” she related.

While she does not have a physical location, Joseph’s products are accessible through her social media platforms – Ojay’s Skincare on both Instagram and Facebook.

“At Ojay’s, I put in the work and I make sure that all the ingredients I put into my products are natural and I try my best to make the products so that they will work.

I know that I can’t please everyone but as long as the majority of my customers are

FROM PAGE 20

satisfied, I feel really good.

“At Ojay’s, I don’t want to just sell the products. I want to sell you the skincare products to make sure that the skin issue is resolved. So I would follow up with my customers to see how the product is working if they need any assistance. It is not just about selling the products; I want to help.

I want to solve the problems that they are having.”

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SUNDAY, MARCH 21, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

HEALTH TIPS RINGWORM (TINEA)

Dr Tariq Jagnarine Family Medicine, Endocrinology/Diabetes

R

ingworm, or tinea, refers to several types of contagious fungal infections of the top layer of the skin, scalp, and nails. It is called ringworm because the itchy red rash has a ring-like appearance. However, ringworm has nothing to do with worms.

Ringworm can affect different parts of the body. It is caused by a fungus that eats keratin, a protein found in skin, hair, and nails. Children under 15 are particularly susceptible to ringworm.

CAUSES

Ringworm is caused by a type of fungus that eats keratin.

These are called dermatophytes.

Dermatophytes attack the skin, scalp, hair, and nails because those are the only parts of the body with enough keratin to attract them. Dermatophytes are microscopic spores that can survive on the surface of the skin for months. They can also survive in towels, combs, the soil, and other household objects. They are very resilient.

If a person or animal has the infection, they may deposit fungal spores on objects and surfaces when they touch them. Anyone who touches those objects may become infected. Children usually show symptoms when they become infected, but many adults do not. The older an individual is, the more likely their immune system will protect them.

However, they may still be a carrier.

RISK FACTORS

The following risk factors either increase the chances of developing ringworm or make the symptoms worse: * 15 years and younger * Having a weakened immune system * Using medications that lower the immune system * Living in a warm, humid climate * Being close to people or animals that are infected * Sharing clothing or towels with someone who has the infection * Having hyperhidrosis, a condition in which the individual sweats more than usual * Playing contact sports, for instance, wrestling * Wearing tight clothing

SYMPTOMS

Different types of ringworm affect different parts of the body.

Scalp ringworm (tinea capitis): This is most common in younger children, and occasionally it affects adults. It is more common in urban environments where people live closer together, giving the fungus more opportunities to spread. This is characterised by small patches of scaly skin that appear on the scalp. The patches may feel tender or painful and be inflamed.

Hair breaks away on or near the patches kerion, or large inflamed sores, form on the scalp, and they may ooze pus. The person may have a temperature and swollen glands or lymph nodes, but this is uncommon. * Body (skin) ringworm (tinea corporis): This can affect infants, children, and adults. This is seen with a rash with a ringlike appearance, the skin may be red and inflamed around the outside of the ring, but look fine in the middle, merging rings that feel slightly raised itchiness, especially under the rash. * Groin infections (tinea cruris): Also known as jock itch, this is more common among young men. Persons may feel itchiness, especially in and around the groin, redness and a burning sensation in the affected area, of flaky and scaly skin on the inner thighs. These symptoms worsen when walking, running, or exercising, and tight clothing makes symptoms worse. * Tinea pedis: Athlete’s foot is a common foot infection. * Tinea unguium: Also known as onychomycosis, it is an infection of the nail bed. * Ringworm in the beard area: This affects males who can grow facial hair, and it often results from contact with an animal that has ringworm.

This can involve: redness, swelling, and pus-filled bumps, with hair loss, which usually resolves after treatment of swollen glands raw, open skin and raised, soft, spongy patches that weep tiredness

DIAGNOSIS

Health care workers can normally diagnose ringworm or a groin infection after examining the affected area and asking the patient about their medical history and symptoms. They may take a small scraping of the skin, which will not hurt, and examine it under a microscope to look for characteristics of fungi.

The skin problem is being caused by some other disorder, such as psoriasis. Further testing is not usually needed, unless symptoms are particularly severe. If symptoms have not improved after treatment, there may be a need to remove a small piece of infected skin and send it to the lab to be analysed.

TREATMENT

Treatment depends on the type of ringworm: * SCALP RINGWORM The most common treatments for scalp ringworm are oral antifungals (tablets).

However, the choice of medication will depend on the type of fungi involved. * Terbinafine (Lamisil): The side effects are normally mild and do not last long. They may include diarrhea and nausea.

People with a history of liver disease should not take terbinafine. * Griseofulvin (Grisovin): The side effects, which usually go away fairly quickly, may include headache, indigestion, and nausea. * Anti-fungal shampoos: These help prevent the spread of ringworm, and may speed up recovery, but they do not cure it. * Shaving a child’s head: There is no evidence that this reduces ringworm infection or accelerates recovery time.

SKIN RINGWORM AND GROIN INFECTION

Most cases are treated with anti-fungal creams. If symptoms are severe, or if they cover a large area of the body and do not respond to OTC medications, doctors may prescribe a prescription-strength topical medication or an oral medication. Oral med-

ications can have some side effects, including stomach upset, rash, or abnormal liver function.

CARING FOR THE SKIN DURING INFECTION

It is important to wash the area gently. Care for the skin properly can help speed recovery. * Wash the skin gently * Dry the skin thoroughly, but gently. * Pat the skin with a towel in tender areas, but do not rub. * Make sure any folds and areas between the toes are dried thoroughly. * Change socks or underwear more often than usual if they cover an infected area.

* Always treat the feet and groin at the same time, as infection often spreads from one area to another. * Where possible, wear loose-fitting clothing and undergarments, such as boxers.

COMPLICATIONS

Fungal infections rarely spread below the surface of the skin. The risk of any serious illness is very small. However, without treatment, ringworm can spread from one part of the body to another. If the skin is broken, bacteria may enter and cause an infection.

People with HIV and other conditions that weaken the im-

mune system are more likely to experience a spreading of ringworm. It is more difficult to get rid of the infection if the immune system is weak.

PREVENTION

The following tips may help prevent ringworm if it occurs in a household: * If a pet is the source of the infection, it should be treated by a vet. * Everyone should wash their hands regularly and thoroughly with soap. * All household members should check themselves for signs of ringworm. * People should not share

combs, hairbrushes, clothing, bed linen, towels, or footwear. * Anyone who has ringworm should not scratch affected areas as this increases the risk of spreading the infection. * People should avoid walking around the house with bare feet. * Clothes should be washed in hot water with fungicidal soap. * Keeping cool and wearing loose clothing may help reduce the risk.

Ringworm is an easily treatable skin disease, and requires an early intervention by healthcare workers to avoid long term scarring.

30 NEWS Eliminating illegal logging is top priority – Govt C SUNDAY, MARCH 21, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

ontinued illegal logging is a detriment that has affected the natural resources sector, but Government is inventing new approaches to completely eliminate this practice.

Natural Resources Minister, Vickram Bharrat on Friday gave this assurance during the International Day of Forests conference, underscoring that all efforts are geared towards eradicating this practice.

Bharrat explained that there is a high percentage of illegal logging in Guyana,

bringing environmental implications and negatively impacting legal loggers.

Moreover, it paints a negative picture of the sector and authorities.

“There is much more to be done. We need to curb illegal logging. Illegal logging destroys the forest and the environment. It paints a bad picture on the Forestry Commission in Guyana and it creates unfair competition for the legal loggers - people who are paying their royalties, taxes and everything.

That is something that we are committed to working to eradicate, to eliminate

totally,” Bharrat described.

Due to Guyana’s geographical makeup, monitoring areas where illegal logging may occur becomes difficult.

However, the Minister assured stakeholders that the goal is to eliminate both illegal logging and mining in the country.

“Because of the dynamics and hinterland, the way in which it is structured and the infrastructure to get into some of the areas, it is so difficult because of our terrain. We may not be able to do it in the shortest possible time or the timeframe that we would have liked

File photo: Logs at a forest concession

but I can assure that we’re committed to eliminating it, like illegal mining as well.”

Bharrat highlighted the need for balance between production and environmental degradation to keep the activities alive.

He explained, “I’m smack in the middle because I have to deal with the environmentalists plus the producers on the other hand. It is something that we have to balance as a Government, as regulatory agencies and as a country because the environment is important. I recognise that and I would do anything to ensure that we protect the environment but on the same hand, the wellbeing of our people is important too.”

The Government is aiming to implement Phase Two of the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS). As such, it is re-engaging the Kingdom of Norway, which was the source of the funds with which Guyana planned to implement various developmental projects.

In a previous engagement this month, Bharrat revealed that they have already re-engaged Norway to start Phase Two of LCDS, which was renamed the Green State Development Strategy (GSDS) by the former A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government.

When it comes to Guyana’s current manage-

ment of its forest resources, he revealed that Guyana is way ahead of many other countries.

“I’m happy to say that we probably have the best forest coverage presently among forest producing nations. We have one of the best, sustainable forestry system or harvesting in Guyana. It’s something that is probably second to none.”

Historic Forest Protection Accord

Guyana had, in 2009, signed with Norway a historic forest protection accord aimed at Guyana receiving payments for sustaining its rainforests to absorb global carbon emissions. A total of US$250 million was to be paid to Guyana over a fiveyear period.

It was revealed by Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh during his recent reading of the 2021 budget that Guyana has more than US$135 million in climate change-related funds that it is entitled to but has not been able to access due to the political instability under the former Government.

These are funds that the current Government is seeking to have released.

Singh had explained that the former Government’s mismanagement and then the protracted political crisis from when they fell to a No-Confidence Motion in 2018, led to funding not being released to Guyana by Norway. (G12)

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No large gatherings Stolen boat engines, ammo allowed for Phagwah found during Berbice raid …temples to operate at 40% capacity

D E W O L NOT AL

S

File photo: Phagwah celebrations at the National Stadium

trict guidelines have been set out for this year’s Phagwah celebrations to prohibit gatherings at events and on vehicles, in order to keep the population safe in times of the coronavirus pandemic.

The festival is marked for March 28, but the measures are to be followed for any activity related to the celebrations.

In a statement issued by the Health Ministry, it was indicated that large events involving hundreds of persons are not allowed, along with gatherings on trucks, canters or other vehicles.

Temples are to operate at

40 per cent capacity and are asked to utilise outdoor spaces.

“Phagwah events at the mandirs, including cultural programmes, chowtaal samelan and satsangh/services, are allowed at 40 per cent capacity. Mandirs are encouraged to utilise their outdoor spaces where available. Socially distanced gatherings for the burning of Holika are allowed.”

Persons were encouraged to celebrate within their home circle. Meanwhile, masks must be worn at all times with six feet social distancing maintained and frequent hand washing.

In the previous years, the festival has been known to attract Guyanese in the masses, culminating at various locations across the country. But with the COVID-19 pandemic, this is a super-spreader and can see cases rising if persons fail to adhere to precautions.

Apart from these specific measures, the national COVID-19 emergency measures are also in place, warranting full compliance.

The national curfew remains in place from 22:30h to 04:00h (04:00 am to 10:30 pm) for the month of March.

Restrictions remain in place on visiting, hosting, or attending private parties, wakes, clubs, receptions, and any other social activity, including going to the cinema.

Persons are still required to wear a mask, covering the nose and mouth, when in public. However, exemptions are given to children under the age of eight; where a person is in a vehicle, vessel or aircraft alone; and any other accommodation alone. (G12)

T

he Police have found two Yamaha outboard engines – one of which had been reported stolen during a raid at Paraway, Berbice River, Region 10 (Upper DemeraraBerbice).

According to Police, the raid was conducted between 06:00h and 13:00h in Sand Hill, Hururu and Paraway, Berbice River.

During the raid, ranks approached the home of a 20-year-old man of Paraway, Upper Berbice River, but as the Police closed in he fled the area through thick bushes.

However, during his escape, the man reportedly dropped his haversack which when searched by ranks contained twenty-four .45 calibre rounds, one .38 round, two 12-gauge cartridges and one .45 calibre magazine.

Meanwhile, a further search carried out on the house of the 20-year-old suspect led to the discovery of two Yamaha outboard engines – one 15 and one 40-Horsepower (HP), in his room.

Police in a statement said that the 15-HP Yamaha engine had been reported missing between March 16 and 17, 2020, at Hururu, Berbice River.

The ammo found during the raid

The items were taken to the Aroaima Police Station.

Meanwhile, the robbery victim was contacted and he positively identified the 15-HP Yamaha outboard engine to be his own.

The other articles including the ammunition were lodged at the station, pending investigation.

The suspect is yet to be apprehended.

In January of this year, during a raid at De Veldt Savannah, Upper Berbice River, ranks discovered three cannabis farms that measured about 15 acres and contained roughly 600,000 ganja plants ranging from six inches to five

feet in height. In addition, six make-shift camps were found.

The camps were reportedly occupied by three men who ran into the bushes and escaped upon seeing Police.

A search was conducted in the area during which one 12-gauge single-barrel shotgun along with two live 12-gauge cartridges and one empty shell were found.

In addition, a quantity of cannabis was found wrapped in transparent plastic bags.

When the illicit substance was weighed, it amounted to 40 pounds.

The camps and ganja plants were destroyed by fire.

No arrests were made. (G15)

32 NEWS

SUNDAY, MARCH 21, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Better solid waste management needed – Dharamlall …as Cell 2 at Haags-Bosch landfill is commissioned

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ustainable management of solid waste is needed in Guyana to cater to the impending transformation that is about to take shape and new materials that will enter the disposal network.

This position was taken by Local Government and Region Development Minister, Nigel Dharamlall, after cell two was commissioned at the Haags-Bosch landfill site – catering for 450 tonnes of garbage per day.

As part of their responsibility, it was indicated

that solid waste contractors should ensure that their operations are sustainably managed and enable a clean environment since industrial waste is on the rise. It was added that Government has also been approached by the companies within the petroleum sector to have their waste disposed of correctly, signalling the need for diversified approaches.

“We are transforming our country massively…so there is going to be massive transformation. Industrial waste is now becoming quite

significant so we would have to start thinking about the diversification of waste disposal. We have commercial and household waste so the country is growing and I think the sector has to grow to meet the changes in dynamics.”

He added, “It also means that the different sectors of our economy are growing. It also means that people are enhancing their infrastructure…I think the biggest challenge for us in Guyana is the way garbage is managed. We have a sore problem in our country where I Garbage being dumped at Cell 2 of the Haags-Bosch landfill

think people still don’t take this issue seriously.”

N e v e r t h e l e s s , Dharamlall lauded the completed project as a step in the right direction, given the increased magnitude of generated waste in the country. The new cell was designed to sustain solid waste dumping at the facility for another seven years.

After cell one had almost reached its optimum capacity, a $290 million contract for cell two was awarded in 2019 to S Jagmohan Hardware Supplies and Construction Services.

Now, capacity at the landfill has been boosted to support the influx of waste that is generated.

“The original design was for 150 tonnes of garbage per day. We’ve now exceeded that. We’re touching 450 tonnes and this is just the measured waste that comes into this facility. Across the country, we have a lot of waste being disposed. A lot of waste is being generated.

That could be a good thing, meaning that development is taking place in our country.”

Meanwhile, the Minister also zeroed in on Government’s intention to expand the power grid by converting generated waste produced in the country into energy. He explained that proposals are being examined currently to move ahead with a suitable project.

“For us as a Government, I think that even whilst we’re collecting and disposing of solid waste, we also have to make a business out of it. We’ve had a

lot of expressions of interest in converting waste to energy. The proposals that were looking at, we would like to look at expanding the energy network of our country and companies that could convert waste to energy,” Dharamlall outlined.

Last month, GO-Invest Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Dr Peter Ramsaroop had pointed towards this initiative as one that had registered significant investor interest.

Waste to energy projects involve plants that burn solid waste and generate electricity. According to Ramsaroop, this can be considered a form of renewable energy. He also explained that when it comes to opportunities for waste to energy, both local and foreign investors have expressed an interest.

Last December, it was announced that a United States (US)-based company called the Hoskinson Group had held talks with the Government of Guyana and Private Sector officials to develop a waste to energy project locally.

The company had announced that it was conducting a feasibility study and would be submitting a proposal to the authorities for consideration. Among the agencies the company held discussions with are GOInvest, the Guyana Energy Agency (GEA), the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

A tour was also done of the Haags Bosch landfill on the East Bank of Demerara.

(G12)

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2 more die, 99 new COVID-19 cases from 927 tests

Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony

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wo more deaths from the coronavirus (COVID-19) were announced as of Saturday, moving the country’s death toll to 214.

The Health Ministry stated that two men, a 70-year-old from Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) and a 50 -year-old from Region Four (DemeraraMahaica), died on Friday while receiving care at a medical facility.

On Thursday, two males – both 66 – from Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica)

- had also succumbed while seeking medical attention at a designated facility.

Meanwhile, an alarming 99 new cases were reported on Saturday after 927 individuals were tested for the virus. This raised the confirmed cases to 9585, of which 4920 are males and 4665 are females.

Of the 882 active cases, 10 are in the specialised Intensive Care Unit with 52 in institutional isolation and 820 in home isolation.

Another 15 persons are in institutional quarantine.

The total recoveries stand at 8489 and 81,110 persons have been tested.

New cases

Spanning eight administration regions, two cases were detected in Region One (Barima-Waini); four in Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam); 19 in Region Three (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara); 54 in Region Four (DemeraraMahaica); 11 in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne); seven in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni); one in Region Nine (Upper TakutuUpper Essequibo) and

one in Region 10 (Upper DemeraraBerbice).

The cases in Regions Five (MahaicaBerbice) and Eight (PotaroSiparuni) remain at 273 and 246 respectively.

This week, 425 new cases were recorded in the country.

Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony on Friday acknowledged the increased cases, noting that it can be attributed to rampedup testing. A majority of these positives were detected in Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica), which has over 400 active cases presently.

“The more you test, the more you will find and I think that’s one of the phenomena that we’re seeing…

To date, while overall we have about 9600 cases, we

have done 81,000 tests. We have increased the amount of testing and because we have increased the testing, we are able to detect more,” he was quoted as saying.

Within the next two weeks, another 50,000 Russian-developed Sputnik vaccines will reach Guyana’s shores. The country has indicated plans of purchasing

200,000 vaccines.

After 3000 doses were sent from the Barbadian Government, the Chinese and Indian Governments also sent 20,000 Sinopharm and 80,000 AstraZeneca vaccines, respectively.

Another 100,000 is expected through the COVAX mechanism.

From the vaccines sent,

Guyana’s immunisation network has already begun. As of Friday, a total of 15,524 persons were immunised using COVID-19 vaccines.

The Government’s vaccination programme targets frontline workers, health workers and the elderly mainly because they are considered to be the most at risk. (G12)

34 NEWS

SUNDAY, MARCH 21, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Guyana must decide on removal of rogue elements at GECOM – EU EOM

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he European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) on Friday presented its final report on the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections in Guyana and Head of the Mission, Urmas Paet related that the removal of rogue elements from the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) lies solely with the Government and people of Guyana.

Paet made the disclosure after being asked whether the EOM thinks that errant elections officials should be removed before Guyana hosts another election.

“We make recommendations for changes in your legal, technical and practical environment. We are not here to say who is capable to do which job in this country.

It is up to Guyanese people and your Government to decide,” he said.

He added that the Mission does not focus on “concrete persons or concrete personalities” relating that it is up to the structures to decide. He explained that once their recommendations are made then the relevant agencies could analyse and modify the system to better serve their mandate.

Head of EU EOM, Urmas Paet

Based on the report, the legal framework provides a reasonable basis for competitive elections in Guyana, but numerous gaps and ambiguities create legal uncertainty and reduce transparency. It explained that the electoral laws are fragmented and unconsolidated, and court decisions are not easily accessible.

It related that with confidence in GECOM already undermined by limited inclusiveness and transparency, post-election developments exposed a dysfunctional Commission unable to control its own

Secretariat.

“The Commission’s deliberations, decisions, instructions and essential electoral data were not accessible to the public. The lack of institutional engagement with election stakeholders contributed to most political parties being left out and the general public being underinformed. The bipartisan composition of the Commission resulted in excessive polarisation, affecting its ability to function as a collegiate body, and at times to function at all,” it stated.

Disproportionate discretion

The EU EOM team said that GECOM’s inability to reach common ground and take timely decisions gave its Secretariat disproportionate discretion over the administration of the elections.

“By failing to take decisive action as the electoral process derailed into chaos and illegality, GECOM abdicated its constitutional duty to take all actions necessary to ensure compliance with the law by any of its officials, despite unequivocal powers to remove and exercise disciplinary control over them,” the EOM found.

Revisiting the events of March 2, 2020, the EU EOM said that voting was well managed and largely peaceful. Polling procedures were properly followed, despite the inconsistent application of some procedural safeguards. Counting was conducted in a transparent manner, but reconciliation procedures were not always followed, leading to some minor difficulties in the preparation of results protocols.

Referring to the events that caused the electoral process to descend into chaos, the EU EOM stated that after a transparent, largely uncontested tabulation was completed in most regions, the process abruptly derailed into chaos and confusion amidst obstruction tactics by election officials in decisive Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica).

On March 5, 2020, embattled Returning Officer (RO) Clairmont Mingo declared results without having tabulated them in the presence of party agents and observers as required by law. After these results were annulled by acting Chief Justice Roxane George as unlawful, GECOM still allowed him to rush through the rest of the tabulation without any transparency in blatant violation of the law and explicit court orders, and to make a second declaration of unverified results on March 13.

“The results declared by the RO on 13 March are not credible. These results gave APNU/AFC and PPP/C 136,057 and 77,231 votes respectively for the General Elections in Region Four, enough for the ruling coalition to overcome the opposition’s advantage in the oth-

er regions and take the lead nationally. Supported by the online publication of almost all Region Four polling station results protocols, PPP/ C’s parallel tabulation suggested the opposite outcome.

It gave the ruling coalition and the opposition 114,416 and 80,150 votes respectively in the region, thus placing PPP/C ahead nationally,” the report stated in the summary of its findings.

Among its list of 26 recommendations, the EU EOM said that a national consultation process to overhaul the composition and functioning of the Elections Commission, notably to ensure a more inclusive representation of the various components of the Guyanese society and political spectrum. It added that GECOM needs to adopt clear written procedures for the transmission and tabulation of election results, notably to ensure consistency of the process in all regions, adequate traceability of handed over electoral documents, and the possibility for all authorised stakeholders to examine SoPs as required by law.

In the aftermath of the controversial five-monthlong elections, a number of high-ranking GECOM officials have been investigated by the Police and charged for misconduct in public office and forgery.

They include Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield, who on October 12, 2020, was slapped with six charges by the Police relating to forgery and misconduct in public office pertaining to his alleged role in the attempts to rig the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections.

The CEO is being accused of attempting to undermine the will of the people by repeatedly refusing to submit the verified results from the National Recount to Chair of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Retired Justice Claudette Singh, for a final declaration.

There are also electoral fraud charges against Deputy CEO Roxanne Meyers, GECOM clerks Denise Bob-Cummings and Michelle Miller and GECOM Elections Officer Shefern February and Information Technology Officer Enrique Livan.

Mingo, PNCR Chairperson Volda Lawrence and APNU/AFC’s activist Carol Joseph and are also before the court for electoral fraud.

The National Recount exercise showed that the PPP/C won the elections with 233,336 votes. But Lowenfield had repeatedly refused to submit his final elections report with those figures, despite being so directed by the GECOM Chair on several occasions.

However, he did submit unverified figures that would have given APNU/AFC the win. (G2)

NEWS

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Prisoner accused of “snitching” brutally chopped

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prisoner, who was on remand on a murder charge at the Lusignan Prison, East Coast Demerara (ECD), was on Friday chopped several times about his body by two inmates.

Injured is Ceylon David called “Tallman”. He was brutally chopped by fellow inmates after he was accused of “snitching” to authorities about contraband concealed at the facility.

Based on reports, David was allegedly assaulted then chopped multiple times about his body by a prisoner who is also on remand for murder, and another who was convicted and is serving time at the facility.

Reports are that Police responded to a call by the Guyana Prison Service (GPS) around 19:30h on Friday evening at the Lusignan penitentiary.

When they arrived, they were told that the two suspects and the victim are known to each other.

It is alleged that the suspects armed themselves with improvised weapons and dealt David several chops to the body, causing him to receive injuries to the face, hand and foot. The victim managed to escape and summoned the prison officers.

er transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital to seek further medical attention but succumbed less

The new holding area of Lusignan Prison

The improvised weapon was recovered, and further investigations have been launched.

Just about a month ago, 40-year-old Victor Soomaru of Gordon Street, Kitty, Georgetown, who was serving time for possession of narcotics at the Lusignan Prison, died while receiving medical attention at the Georgetown Public Hospital.

Based on reports received, prisoners housed in Unit One (quarantine section) of the penitentiary raised an alarm and prison officers responded and it

was reported that Soomaru was struck to the head with a piece of brick.

At the time, the injured prisoner was wrapped in a towel and was asleep with another remanded prison-

er in the same cell. The injured man was taken out of the unit and escorted to the prison infirmary where he was seen and treated by the medical personnel on duty.

However, he was lat-

than 24 hours later.

Soomaru was remanded on February 21 for possession of narcotics. (G9)

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Pedal cyclist killed after Relative using businessman’s name to collect money nabbed for fraud being hit by minibus

A

A

n 80-year-old pedal cyclist is now dead after he was struck down by a minibus on the Strathspey Public Road, East Coast Demerara (ECD).

Wilfred Stephen of Lot 19 Vigilance North, ECD, was struck down by minibus BYY 9035, driven by a resident of Haslington, ECD, on Friday evening.

According to Police, the minibus was heading up the East Coast on the northern side of the road, while the pedal cyclist was also proceeding in the same direction.

However, while in the vicinity of the Strathspey Public Road, Stephen suddenly turned south across the road into the path of the oncoming minibus, causing the front portion of the minibus to collide with the pedal cyclist.

As a result of the collision, the pedal cyclist fell onto the road’s surface and was injured. He was picked

CCTV footage showing the minibus moments before it hit the pedal cyclist

up in an unconscious state and taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), where he was admitted a patient in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

Stephen reportedly suffered a broken right leg and injuries to his head. Shortly after the incident, the driver was taken into custody and has been assisting Police

with their investigations.

Meanwhile, on Saturday, it was reported that the pensioner succumbed to his injuries at the said hospital later on Friday. Police said the man died at the hospital without regaining consciousness.

The body is presently at the GPHC mortuary awaiting a post-mortem examination. (G9)

n East Coast Demerara (ECD) businessman is the victim of an alleged obtaining credit by false pretence committed by a 32-year-old relative.

It was reported that the suspect, who worked with the victim, was fired. It is alleged that the man used the relationship to obtain monies in the name of his relative, from a customer of the said victim on February 19, 2020.

The suspect is presently in custody assisting with the investigation, Police said.

Earlier this month, a 56-year-old man was sen-

tenced to 18 months’ imprisonment respectively on two counts of obtaining money by false pretence, after he informed two women that he has connections at the Housing Ministry and Chris Auto Spares, and that he could easily get a car and house for them.

It was reported that between June and December 30, 2020, at Georgetown, the man intentionally tried to defraud Odessa Bobb, after he obtained $1.1 million by falsely pretending that he was in a position to obtain two houses and a plot of land from the Housing Ministry for her,

knowing same to be false.

Also, between December 19, and January 8, at Carmichael Street, Georgetown, he obtained $300,000 from Vanetta James by falsely pretending to her that he was in a position to purchase and deliver a motorcar to her.

After a few months had passed and the women had not received the cars and houses they both had paid for, they found out that Benjamin had been charged for several fraud-related offences. As a result, the matters were reported to the Police, and the man was arrested and subsequently charged. (G9)

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Tertiary education must become vital lifeforce of national development – President

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resident Dr Irfaan Ali, during the delivery of his convocation speech to the University of Guyana’s class of 2020, said that Guyana is at a phase of its development where tertiary education must become a vital lifeforce of national development.

The Head of State spoke to the graduates virtually on Friday evening after he would have also presented the President’s Medal to the two valedictorians; 24-year-old Deepa Odit from the Turkeyen Campus, who completed a Bachelor of Science Degree in Pharmacy and attained a 3.9 GPA and 36-year-old Savitree Budram from the Tain Campus, who completed a Bachelor of Education – Administration and attained a GPA of 4.0.

Ali said that his Government remains committed to refashioning the University of Guyana to better respond to the needs of modern society.

“Guyana is embarking not only on a process which will yield higher levels of growth and human development but which would also require higher levels of education and learning. A key

element of the national development agenda is the entrenchment of a knowledge-based economy and as you are aware, such an economy depends on and demands highly skilled human capital and emphasises the importance of lifelong learning,” he said.

He urged the graduates to constantly challenge themselves to become smarter and better. He charged them to allow lifelong learning to become an engrained habit since the rate of change in the world is so rapid that skills and knowledge quickly become obsolete.

New economy

The President said that if one fails to continuously upgrade and enhance their knowledge and skills then they are likely to be left behind in the new economy. He added that the new economy involves a paradigm shift in the way things are done, explaining that it is in that context that tertiary education must become a vital lifeforce of national development. “(In the new economy) knowledge is combined with capital and entrepreneur-

President Dr Irfaan Ali

ship in ways which are different than in the past. The new economy will be geared not at simply producing raw materials but apply technology to transform other commodities into wealth to compete in a modern world, will not be about constraining labour cost but about catalysing innovation.

“Tertiary education must add to the demand of the new economy which requires higher levels of skills, particularly technical skills. The Government of Guyana is here to support tertiary education especially through investments

and through collaboration with our varied education stakeholders to improve the range of our educational options available to our citizenry,” Ali informed.

He reminded of some of the commitments his Government made before taking office in August of 2020 – namely providing free access to tertiary education to all Guyanese and the provision of over 20,000 scholarships before the end of its 5-year term.

“My Government had pledged to refashion the University of Guyana to better respond to the needs of a modern Guyana. We have promised to improve the technological advancement of the university and in so doing to ensure greater access to higher education by making more courses and programmers available online. My Government has committed to guaranteeing free university education before the end of its term, we will do so,” he reminded.

Expansion of tertiary education

Ali further related that it is the intention of the Government he leads to expand tertiary education ac-

cess with the creation of the Guyana Online Academy of Learning. He said that they have already established partnerships with various universities and applied science institutions.

Some of those institutions include the Indira Gandhi National University in India, the University of Applied Science in Germany, the Open University in the UK and the University of the West Indies’ open campus to provide over 4500 scholarships to Guyanese student commencing in July of 2021.

Referring to the recent collaboration with Commonwealth of Learning and Coursera through the workforce recovery programme, Ali said that it is pleasing to see over 36,000 Guyanese taking the opportunity to broaden their knowledge in various fields of study.

The Ali-led Government is also committed to seeing the Cyril Potter College of Education and UG transition online so that they can attain key strategic objectives as they continue to serve our populace.

“The University of Guyana has played a criti-

cal role in preparing our citizens to better craft, participate in and better as face national development. It continues to be a primary driver in this regard. We must work on enhancing its capacity and role within the national fabric. As such, I strongly support the University’s effort to position itself as a transcendent institution working across all divides and across time to create the best Guyanese graduate fit for purpose…

The University, therefore, have a key role to play in advancing our efforts to transition to a low carbon economy to maximise the opportunities emerging from our growth strategic position and towards improve governance, accountability, equity and social cohesion,” the Head of State related.

“Guyana needs you, all of you”

Acknowledging the fact that the COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way things are being conducted, the President said that the virtual convocation ceremony is one of the most notable in the history of UG. CONTINUED ON PAGE 39

NEWS

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$60M agro-processing facility being constructed in Region 2 – to be completed before the end of June

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ithin the next three months, farmers from PomeroonSupenaam will benefit from a state-of-the-art agro-processing facility being constructed by the Ministry of

Mustapha said his Ministry will be constructing several of these facilities to help farmers add value to their produce.

“In the agriculture sector, we want our farm-

Lesbeholden,” Minister Mustapha said.

The agro-processing facilities will function for commercial production and product development for small and medium agro-pro-

Works ongoing at the site for the new agro-processing facility

Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha engaging the contractor

Agriculture’s New Guyana Marketing Corporation (New GMC).

The project is being executed at a cost of $60 million and will be located in a building adjacent to the Guyana School of Agriculture’s (GSA) Region Two campus.

According to the Department of Public Information (DPI), Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha conducted a site visit to the location to assess the progress of the ongoing works during a recent visit to the region.

While offering comments on the project, Minister

ers to have better value for their produce. We are now constructing a lot of these agro-processing facilities across the country. We have this one in Region Two. We’ll also build one in Region Three. We’ll retrofit the one at Parika and make it into a modern facility and adopt a Public-Private Partnership there. We’ll also construct one at Kara Kara in Linden and two in Region Nine at St Ignatius and Aranaputa.

I’m also looking to develop the industrial estate in Region Nine to construct a suitable agro-processing facility. We’ll also construct one in Black Bush Polder/

Tertiary education...

“Today’s convocation is a testament to our people’s perseverance in the face of challenges. Throughout our history, our people have demonstrated the tenacity and desire to overcome seeming insurmountable odds…It has been a most challenging year for our country and you students have faced a great deal of setbacks but you’ve made it to the finish line to the University of Guyana’s class of 2020. I applaud you and extend my heartfelt congratulations on your long-awaited and well-deserved graduation,” he said.

Ali told the Class of 2020 that they are graduating at a time when the country is on its most significant development trajectory, as such it is imperative that they position themselves to

FROM PAGE 38

take full advantage of the unprecedented growth being realised across various sectors.

“You will be expected to become key players in our efforts to advance national development. Education has long been universally acknowledged as a cornerstone of development.

The quality of human capital has a strong association with higher national output and increased efficiency. The World Bank forewarned us years ago that countries with low levels of education remain in a trap of technological stagnation, low growth and low demand for education. Guyana looks to you to be on the forefront of promoting innovation and propelling our country to higher outputs and attainment,” Ali charged.

cessors.

The subject Minister added that these facilities are being constructed because Government intends to ensure farmers are able

to add value to their produce while encouraging them to advance from subsistence farming.

“These facilities will enable our farmers to properly package their produce and label them so that they can be exported to various parts of the Caribbean and the world. Local consumers are also looking for better packaging so we are mak-

ing the necessary investments to ensure our farmers can tap into those markets,” Minister Mustapha said.

The Minister explained that the contractor had indicated that the project is on schedule for completion within the next three months once the weather is favourable.

Funds for the construction of the agro-process-

ing facility were part of the Ministry’s 2020 Emergency Budget.

The agro-processing sector declined by a whopping 45 per cent over the last five years. However, as a result of the many efforts made by the Government in 2020, the industry last year recorded a nine per cent increase in non-traditional exports over the 2019 figures.

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NEWS

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Govt to roll out Phase 2 of COVID-19 cash grant

T

he second phase of the Government’s $25,000 household COVID-19 cash grant initiative is set to begin soon.

Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Nigel Dharamlall, made this announcement on Friday during an interview with the Department of Public Information (DPI).

“The first phase was finished and we are in the process now of beginning the second phase, many of the region’s pink forms have already been evaluated and audited. They will begin in earnest distribution on the second phase, to fulfil those gaps that the pink forms, had to record,” Dharamlall noted.

The Minister is encouraging citizens to work along with the distribution teams to ensure a smooth process. He said the workers and Police faced several challenges to complete their task in the first phase due to

Residents of Supply, Mahaica receiving their COVID-19 relief cash grant (DPI photos)

residents’ behaviour.

“I’d like to encourage residents once again to make sure that they treat this process with some diligence and fairness, and also to avoid abusing and violating the staffers who will come around to do the distribution of the COVID cash grant in the second phase,” he said.

On September 7 last, President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali announced that every house-

hold would benefit from the grant among other measures to help cushion the effects of the pandemic. It also seeks to stimulate the economy by increasing people’s spending power.

Distribution began on September 29 in the farthest regions, given their vulnerable economic state. Citizens across the country have praised the Government for this measure due to its timeliness.

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SUNDAY, MARCH 21, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Wanted man nabbed for killing missing Kuru Kururu man

Missing: Answar Stoll

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30-year-old suspect, who had managed to avert the Police for more than two months, was arrested on Friday morning at Kuru Kuru, LindenSoesdyke Highway.

This was confirmed to this publication on Saturday by a senior official within the Guyana Police Force (GPF).

Leon Waddle, also called “Mack” is being accused of murdering Kuru Kururu resident, Answar Stoll.

Based on information received, Waddle was found sometime about 05:00h on Friday, hiding in a fowl pen in front of his relatives’ Kuru Kuru home.

The man was wanted by Police for questioning in relation to the murder of Stoll,

who has been missing since November 15, 2020.

Following Stoll’s disappearance, his family members turned up at his Kuru Kururu home in December 2020 with Police ranks and found bloodstains on the wall.

His house was also ransacked and his documents and other personal belongings were missing.

Police had previously stated that after visiting the man’s home, they were working on the theory that the man might have been murdered.

However, the man’s family was told by investigators that they cannot investigate his death unless they find his body.

Answar lived alone about nine miles from the high-

Nabbed: Leon Waddle

way and did not work. He was reportedly supported by his mother and other family members. Reports are that he has been living in the Kuru Kuru area for the past 20 years.

FEATURE

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POT ROAST

Ingredients

• 2-3 lbs beef chuck roast • 1 ½ tsp black pepper • 1 ½ tsp salt • ¼ cup flour • 1 ½ tsp olive oil • 2 carrots cut into chunks • 2 celery stalks, chopped • 1 onion, cut into chunks • 4 cloves garlic, smashed • 1 ½ tbsp tomato

paste • 2 cups beef broth • 1 tbsp Worcestershire • 1 lb baby Yukon gold pota toes or red potatoes, halved 1 sprig rosemary • • 5 sprigs thyme

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. Season both is sides of beef roast with salt and pepper.

Coat

HOUSE SPECIAL FRIED RICE Ingredients

• House Special Fried Rice • 2 ½ cup long grained white rice • 2 tbsp + 2 tsp dark soy sauce • ¾ tsp Chinese Five Spice Powder • 4 cups water • 4 boneless skinless chicken thighs cut into small pieces • 10 oz shrimp • 1 cup Lap Cheoung (Chinese sausage) cut into cubes • 2 tsp crushed ginger • 2 tsp crushed garlic • 1 tsp black pepper 1 egg, beaten • • 1 cup frozen peas and carrots • 4 scallions, finely chopped Canola oil • • 2 tsp sesame oil

Instructions

1. Wash rice until the water runs clear; you may need to wash the rice 4-5 times.

2. Add rice, water, 2 tablespoon soy sauce and Chinese five spice powder and stir. Bring to a boil, then lower the heat to the lowest setting then cover the pot.

3. Cook until rice has absorbed all of the water and is cooked through, about 20 minutes.

4. Place rice in a large baking dish or sheet pan and spread out using a fork. Allow

to cool completely.

5. Season chicken thighs with 1 tsp soy sauce, 1 tsp ginger, 1 tsp garlic and ½ tsp black pepper then set aside.

6. Season shrimp with 1 tsp soy sauce, 1 tsp ginger, 1 tsp garlic and ½ tsp black pepper then set aside.

7. To a large cooking pan or wok, add 1 tsp canola oil. When oil is hot add shrimp and sauté for 2-3 minutes then remove from the pot and set aside.

8. Repeat this process with the chicken but cook until the chicken is browned on all sides and cooked through, about 6-7 minutes. Remove from pot.

9. Cook Chinese sausage for about 2-3 minutes then remove from the pot and set aside.

10. Add chopped onions and sauté for 2-3 minutes before adding the frozen vegetables. Stir fry vegetables for 2 minutes then move to the side and add the beaten egg.

11. Scramble egg while cooking, for about 1 minute.

12. Add egg, vegetables, shrimp, chicken and Chinese sausage to the cooled rice and mix to combine.

13. To the pot add 1 tsp canola oil and 2 tsp sesame oil. Add rice to the pot and stir fry for about 2 minutes then remove from heat and mix in scallion. Enjoy! (Jehan Can Cook)

LEMON PEPPER CREAM PASTA Ingredients

• Lemon Pepper Cream Pasta • 1 box Mueller’s Lemon Pepper Flavor Infused Rotini • 4 pieces Bacon • 2 tbsp Butter • 1 cup Heavy Cream • 1 cup Chicken broth • 1 tsp Salt • 3 Cloves Garlic • 1 tsp Black pepper • Zest of 1 Lemon • 2 tsp Parsley • 1 cup Frozen peas

Instructions

1. In a pot over high heat, bring salted water to a boil.

Add pasta and cook for 9-11 minutes then strain.

2. Add chopped bacon to a skillet and cook until browned.

Remove bacon from the pan and discard all but

3. 1 tablespoon of the bacon fat.

4. Add butter. Once butter has melted, add garlic and sauté for 30 seconds. Then add cream, broth, salt 5. and black pepper.

6. Simmer for about 10 minutes until the sauce thickens. Then add peas and cook for another 2-3 minutes.

7. Add pasta and chopped parsley, stir to combine. Remove from heat and serve warm.

(Jehan Can Cook)

place on a plate. Add carrots, celery, and onion and cook until charred, about 3-5 minutes. Add garlic and let cook for about 2 minutes.

5. Remove vegetables from the pan.

Add tomato paste, both side with flour.

3. In a oven safe cast iron pan, add olive oil. When oil is hot, add beef roast and brown on both sides.

4. Remove beef roast from the pan and

beef broth and Worcestershire and bring to a boil while scraping the bottom of the pan to remove the brown bits.

6. Add beef back to the pan and place the vegetables, potatoes, rosemary and thyme around the beef then cover. Place into preheated oven and bake for 2 hours or until beef is easily shredded with a fork. (Jehan Can Cook)

44

guyanatimesgy.com

SUNDAY, MARCH 21, 2021

Around the World

T&T, India in friction Brazil in talks with United States for excess over COVID vaccines COVID-19 vaccines, Foreign Ministry says

B

T

he diplomatic friction between the Government and Indian High Commissioner Arun Kumar Sahu over the availability of COVID-19 vaccines from that country seems to be worsening.

Guardian Media on Thursday learned that Foreign Affairs Minister Dr Amery Browne was supposed to have a pre-planned call with Sahu but that he (Sahu) was suddenly unavailable.

In a text exchange with Guardian Media on Thursday, Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley, who first gave an insight into the situation during his Conversation with the Prime Minister on Thursday night, acknowledged that the situation was “difficult” and said that while it was triggered

by Sahu’s behaviour, it was compounded by Opposition leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar.

There have been questions about the role of T&T’s High Commissioner to India, Dr Roger Gopaul and whether he had to shoulder some of the responsibility for the lack of proper communication to the Government about the availability of a vaccine facility available to Caricom.

But Rowley defended Gopaul on Thursday.

He said Gopaul reviewed all of the High Commission’s incoming communications and was able to confirm that it received nothing from the Indian Ministry of External Affairs about the vaccine allocation to T&T. Rowley said that this confirmed to him that there was no offer of any vaccine from India.

razil’s Government has been in talks since March 13 about potentially importing excess COVID-19 vaccines from the United States, the Brazilian Foreign Ministry said on Twitter on Saturday.

The Foreign Ministry and the Brazilian Embassy in Washington, in cooperation with the Health Ministry, are negotiating with the US Government, according to the Ministry’s tweet.

The White House on Friday announced plans to “loan” 4 million AstraZeneca

H

Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley during the “Conversations with the Prime Minister” on Thursday at the Mt Hope/Mt Lambert Community Centre

On February 23, Rowley wrote to India Prime Minister Narendra Modi asking about the vaccine donation and a request to purchase vaccines. There has been no response to that letter to date. (Excerpt from Trinidad Guardian)

Americans.

“The women who perished, … I see my family in them,” Timothy Phan, a protester who drove eight hours from Florida to attend the rally in Atlanta on Saturday, told CNN. “I feel like far too often, we’re just erased.”

While the alleged attacker told Police his actions were not “racially motivated”, Asian-American community members say decades of racism, misogyny and the objectification of Asian women, in particular, all played a role in the deadly shootings.

The killings came after Asian-American advocacy groups had warned that hate incidents target-

ing members of the community were rising during the COVID-19 pandemic, in part due to racist language used by political leaders, including former US President Donald Trump.

Trump has called the coronavirus the “China virus” and “kung flu”.

In a report published last week, the Stop AAPI Hate Reporting Center documented 3795 hate incidents aimed at Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders between March 19, 2020, and February 28 of this year.

Most of those incidents involved verbal harassment, while physical assault accounted for just over 11 per cent. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

C

hile broke its single-day record for new cases of the coronavirus on Saturday, health officials said, leaving hospitals on the verge of collapse even as the South American nation races on with a mass vaccination programme.

Cases have been ticking up for weeks following the end of the southern hemisphere summer holiday, but soared to 7084, above the previous high of 6938 last June, the data shows.

The fast-rising caseload has filled critical care wards north to south, leaving Chile with just 198 beds available for new patients. All of the capital Santiago, the economic engine, is in strict lockdown this weekend.

Chile, a comparatively small but wealthy Andean nation, is at the forefront of a global inoculation drive on a per capita basis. It ranks third globally, behind Israel and the United Arab Emirates, for most doses administered per population, according to a Reuters tabulation.

Officials have pledged to vaccinate the entire target population, 15 million people, during the first half of 2021.

But officials say the holiday infections, the arrival of more contagious variants of the virus and a relaxation of sanitary measures amid the successful vaccination programme have prompted a vicious second wave.

E

Up to 100mm (four inches) of rain is forecast for Sydney

overflow for the first time since 2016, and WaterNSW warns others are also expected to spill over.

Up to 100mm (four inches) of rain is forecast for Sydney, and as much as

300mm for the lower Blue Mountains, west of the city.

"We are in uncharted territory," water expert Ian Wright at Western Sydney University told outlet News.com.au, saying

A healthcare worker administering a dose of Sinovac's CoronaVac coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine at a care centre in Antarctica, Chile, March 14, 2021

The positivity rate of PCR tests nationwide nonetheless remains substantially below last year´s peak as the country has more than tripled the number of daily tests it administers. Authorities say they hope Chileans will see some relief and reduced caseloads in April as vaccination ploughs ahead.

Chile was the first in South America to begin vaccinating its citizens, with an early shipment of the Pfizer vaccine on Dec 24.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Turkey's Erdogan quits European treaty on violence against women

P

resident Tayyip Erdogan pulled Turkey out of an international accord de-

Australia warned of “life-threatening” flash floods mergency authorities in Australia are warning of "life-threatening" flash floods as torrential rains batter parts of the country's east coast.

Dozens of people have been rescued from floodwaters, and residents in many low-lying communities of New South Wales have been ordered to leave their homes.

Police say hundreds of people have flocked to evacuation centres in areas north of the city of Sydney.

Major roads have been shut. Footage has emerged of a house being swept away.

Warragamba dam in Sydney, the city's main water source, has begun to

second deadliest day since the pandemic began.

The Federal Government has been slow to roll out vaccinations in the country, with some Local Governments needing to halt immunisations at various points due to lack of supplies.

On Friday, Reuters reported that Brazil’s Government had not asked the United States for excess vaccines despite plans to share doses with Mexico and Canada, citing two people familiar with the matter. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Chile sets daily record for coronavirus cases even as vaccination drive ploughs ahead

“Stop Asian hate”: Hundreds demand justice for Atlanta victims

undreds of people have demonstrated outside the Georgia state capitol building to demand justice for the victims of fatal shootings in the Atlanta area last week, as well as an end to anti-Asian racism and misogyny.

Eight people, including six women of Asian descent, were killed when a gunman opened fire at three separate spas on March 16, sending shockwaves across the United States.

Holding signs reading, “Hate is a virus”, “Stop Asian hate” and “I am not your model minority”, the demonstrators demanded action to stop discrimination against Asian

shots that have already been produced in the United States to Canada and Mexico. The White House has no plans to loan doses to other countries, according to an administration official.

Brazil is facing the world’s second-deadliest outbreak of coronavirus after the United States, that has worsened with a new wave in recent weeks pushing the hospital system to the brink of collapse. On Friday, the Health Ministry reported a daily record of 90,570 new cases in the prior 24 hours, as well as the

many more people live next to Warragamba dam than during previous flooding.

Sydney residents posted pictures on social media of flooded roads and rising waters near their homes.

Agata Imielska from the Bureau of Meteorology warned of localised intense rainfall and damaging winds, saying the public should be aware of "dangerous conditions" that can change quite quickly.

More storms are forecast in the coming days, and parts of eastern Australia could receive up to a metre of rain in the space of just a week, the BBC's Phil Mercer in Sydney reported. (Excerpt from BBC News)

signed to protect women, the Government said on Saturday, prompting protests and criticism from those who said it was necessary to tackle rising domestic violence.

The Council of Europe accord, called the Istanbul Convention, pledged to prevent, prosecute and eliminate domestic violence and promote equality. Turkey signed it in 2011 but femicide has surged in the country in recent years.

No reason was provided for the withdrawal in the Official Gazette, where it was announced in the early hours on Saturday. But top Government officials said domestic law rather than outside fixes would protect women’s rights.

The convention, forged in Turkey’s biggest city, had split Erdogan’s ruling AK Party (AKP) and even his family. Last year, officials said the Government

was mulling pulling out amid a row over how to curb growing violence against women.

Marija Pejcinovic Buric, Secretary General of the 47-nation Council of Europe, called Turkey’s decision “devastating”.

Many conservatives in Turkey and in Erdogan’s Islamist-rooted AKP say the pact undermines family structures, encouraging violence.

Some are also hostile to the Convention’s principle of gender equality and see it as promoting homosexuality, given the pact’s non-discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation.

“Preserving our traditional social fabric” will protect the dignity of Turkish women, Vice President Fuat Oktay said on Twitter. “For this sublime purpose, there is no need to seek the remedy outside or to imitate others.” (Excerpt from Reuters)

guyanatimesgy.com

SUNDAY, MARCH 21, 2021

ARIES (March 21April 19)

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Focus on expanding your knowledge and skills to encourage better opportunities in a field that excites you. A positive change will lift your spirits and give you the incentive to work hard.

Reach out to people you TAURUS trust to tell you the truth, (April 20and you’ll find out what you May 20) have to do to improve a confusing situation. Once a plan is in place, it will ease stress and bring you peace of mind.

Jump into action, get GEMINI (MAY 28- things done and plan for the future. How you use your June 20) time will affect the outcome of your day. Idle time will result in frustration and lead to a senseless argument.

Emotions will be difficult CANCER to control. Think twice be(June 21fore you do or say something July 22) you’ll regret. Choose to take the high road. A positive attitude and an offering of affection will bring good results.

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

Dilbert

Be original and do someVIRGO thing that will broaden your (Aug. 23outlook and encourage betSept. 22) ter health and relationships.

Replace demands and pressure with incentives; you’ll get the help you need.

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

Peanuts

Offer to help a cause you believe in or someone you love. How you approach others will determine what you get in return. A warm, affectionate approach will enhance a meaningful relationship.

Activities that get you up and moving will be invigorating. Focus on health, fitness and challenging yourself, and you’ll gain confidence as well as respect. New experiences will teach you much.

Don’t limit yourself. Put together a plan that helps you forge ahead. Look for solutions that are doable, and refuse to let regret lead to anger. Stay focused on what’s important to you.

Avoid problematic peoSAGITTARIUS ple. Focus on what you want (Nov. 23to do and take pride in the Dec. 21) way you handle your personal affairs. Refuse to get hung up on what others do or say.

Don’t take any health risks.

Emotional spending or CAPRICORN risky investments are discour(Dec. 22aged. Put your time and effort Jan. 19) into changes you can make at home that are cost-efficient and are sure to add to your comfort and convenience.

Calvin and Hobbes

Spend more time searchAQUARIUS ing for opportunities and (Jan. 20less time worrying about Feb. 19) things you cannot change. A positive attitude will get you where you want to go and deter interference.

PISCES Channel emotional ener(Feb. 20- gy into something creative.

Mar. 20) Fix up your living space, find an innovative way to bring joy to someone you love or strive for personal growth and less stress.

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SUNDAY, MARCH 21, 2021

Batting might of Bhuvi and Thakur gives India series

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n unbeaten 80 from Virat Kohli and a stunning half-century from Rohit Sharma in an unfamiliar but effective opening partnership helped set India up for a comfortable win in the fifth T20I, before Bhuvneshwar Kumar finished it off to seal the series 3-2 in Ahmedabad.

India left out regular opener KL Rahul and brought in an extra bowler, T Natarajan, in a move Kohli described at the toss as prompted by a desire to “bring in a good balance with bat and ball”. But there was no denying Rahul’s struggles - he had made 1, 0, 0, and 14 in the series - and his absence meant Kohli would open for just the eighth time in T20Is. Kohli and Sharma produced a 94-run stand from 56 balls to lead India to a commanding total of 224 for 2, their thirdhighest T20I total at home, and fourth highest overall.

Persisting with the back-ofa-length and short-pitched bowling which had brought them success through the series, England’s attack looked toothless on this occasion as India’s batsmen adapted and thrived.

England had said, after India had levelled the series 2-2 with an eight-run victory on Thursday, that they would relish the pressure of a mustwin clash as ideal preparation for the World Cup in October.

They set out in pursuit of that objective needing to score at 11.2 an over, and recovered from the early loss of Jason Roy as Dawid Malan and Jos Buttler carried them to 62 for 1 by the end of the powerplay, which compared favourably with India’s 60 for 0 en route to a 130-run partnership.

But some wonderful bowling by Kumar - who

The Indian Team celebrating their 3-2 series win

claimed 2 for 15 from his four overs, including 17 dot balls and the vital wickets of Roy and Buttler on a batting-friendly pitch damaged England’s hopes beyond repair. Shardul Thakur accounted for Malan and Jonny Bairstow in the space of four deliveries, which left England needing 83 off the last five overs. When Eoin Morgan fell cheaply to Pandya, the task proved too much.

Rampaging Rohit Going into the match with scores of 15 and 12 for the series, after being rested for the first two matches, Sharma unleashed a masterclass of timing, power and elegance with an effortless-looking 64 off just 34 balls, which consigned Kohli to the shade initially. No sooner had Kohli thumped Jofra Archer for a beautiful cover drive four than Sharma signalled his intent, threading an Archer slower ball between point and cover for a boundary of his own.

From there, Rohit took charge, nailing Adil Rashid over deep midwicket for the first of five sixes.

When Mark Wood came into the attack in the fourth over, India took 13 off that over, including two fours that Rohit drilled straight back down the ground. Kohli brought up India’s 50 with a huge six over long leg in Wood’s next over, and Rohit produced an almost identical shot three balls later.

Wood, having taken 3 for 18 over the three previous powerplays he bowled in this series, ended up conceding 28 runs off two overs with nothing to show for it in this one. Rohit crashed sixes off Jordan, thudded over deep square leg off Sam Curran to bring up his fifty, having narrowly evaded Wood in the

deep when his leading edge dropped short, and off Ben Stokes with an 83m hit down the ground.

It was Stokes who finally made the breakthrough with a leg-cutter which Sharma dragged back onto his stumps to end an entertaining and valuable innings.

Kohli comes out to play Kohli took his cue from Sharma’s dismissal, and stepped into the limelight with an unbeaten 80 off 52 deliveries. He was well supported by Suryakumar Yadav, who had top-scored with 57 in the fourth match, which was just his second T20I. This time Yadav played a tidy cameo of 32, hitting not his first ball for six as he had in his previous innings, but his second and third, both off Rashid.

After 10 overs, India had struck eight sixes. Only once had they hit more by the halfway stage of a T20I - 10 against New Zealand in Christchurch in 2009. Hardik Pandya was unbeaten with 39 off 17, but it was Kohli who provided the steel in an imposing India innings. He added another six to the six he had earlier struck off Wood and his seven fours when he charged down the pitch to launch Stokes over long-on in the 13th over. He brought up his third fifty of the series with two clipped neatly through square leg off Wood, and took 12 runs off Archer in the final over of the innings.

What a catch, Jordan!

Chris Jordan’s torrid time with the ball was epitomised when he all but nailed his yorker to Yadav, only to watch the batsman thread it nonchalantly between point

and third man. Jordan managed a wry smile at the time, but he brought a grin to his teammates’ faces - none more so than Roy - with his hand in Yadav’s eventual dismissal.

Yadav lofted Rashid down the ground, and Jordan, running full-pelt towards the boundary to his right from long-on, stuck out his right hand and the ball stuck beautifully. That was until Jordan’s momentum continued to propel him over the rope and he had the presence of mind to lob it to Roy, waiting like a Cheshire cat at deep midwicket. The catch would go down next to Roy’s name, perhaps adding insult to the injury of Jordan conceding 57 from four wicketless overs, but his brilliance in the field was undeniable. And, while it’s little consolation, he wasn’t the only England bowler left hurting - Wood went for 53 runs from his four overs.

Malan to the fore When Kumar had Roy out for a duck on the second ball of England’s chase, with one that swung in as the batsman charged down the wicket for an attempted slog over midwicket and clattered into middle and off, it was still India’s game.

But then England showed the might of a top order that the likes of Alex Hales - historical off-field issues aside - and Joe Root can’t break into.

England could have been tempted to tinker with line-up, with suggestions they should take a look at Stokes at No.3, and they might have done so had it been a dead rubber, but with the series on the line, they went with their fullstrength side.

Malan, the No. 1-ranked T20I batsman in the world, had not breached 25 in four innings going into the match.

But his 68, combined with some power hitting by Buttler, who carted Rahul Chahar for two sixes in the eighth over and another in Chahar’s next as the bowler conceded 20 runs in seven balls, kept England in the contest.

Malan also broke Babar Azam’s record for the fastest batsman to 1000 T20I runs.

Azam reached the mark in 26 innings, while Malan’s knock took him to 1003 runs in 24 innings.

Brilliant Bhuvi It was Kumar who had put

England on the back foot, and he struck again when Buttler holed out to Pandya at longoff for 52 in a pivotal 13th over of the innings, yielding not only the wicket but just three runs. By that stage, England had fallen considerably behind at 130 for 2, compared with India’s 140 for 1. At the same time, Kumar had taken 2 for 9 from three overs to squeeze England, before Thakur and Pandya accounted for Bairstow, Malan and Morgan in quick succession to leave the tourists short of answers.

(ESPNcricinfo)

SCOREBOARD INDIA INNINGS (20 OVERS MAXIMUM) Rohit Sharma b Stokes 64 Virat Kohli (c) not out 80 Suryakumar Yadav c Roy b Rashid 32 39 Hardik Pandya not out Extras (lb 3, w 6) 9 TOTAL (20 Ov, RR: 11.20) 224/2 Did not bat: Rishabh Pant †, Shreyas Iyer, Shardul Thakur, Washington Sundar, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Rahul Chahar, T Natarajan Fall of wickets: 1-94 (Rohit Sharma, 8.6 ov), 2-143 (Suryakumar Yadav, 13.2 ov) BOWLING O-M-R-W Adil Rashid 4-0-31-1 Jofra Archer 4-0-43-0 Mark Wood 4-0-53-0 Chris Jordan 4-0-57-0 Sam Curran 1-0-11-0 Ben Stokes 3-0-26-1 ENGLAND INNINGS (TARGET: 225 RUNS FROM 20 OVERS) Jason Roy b Kumar 0 Jos Buttler † c Pandya b Kumar 52 Dawid Malan b Thakur 68

Jonny Bairstow c Yadav b Thakur 7 Eoin Morgan (c) c sub (KL Rahul) b Pandya 1 Ben Stokes c †Pant b Natarajan 14 Chris Jordan c Yadav b Thakur 11 Jofra Archer run out (Yadav/†Pant) 1 Sam Curran not out 14 0 Adil Rashid not out Extras (lb 9, w 11) 20 TOTAL (20 Ov, RR: 9.40) 188/8 Did not bat: Mark Wood Fall of wickets: 1-0 (Jason Roy, 0.2 ov), 2-130 (Jos Buttler, 12.5 ov), 3-140 (Jonny Bairstow, 14.3 ov), 4-142 (Dawid Malan, 14.6 ov), 5-142 (Eoin Morgan, 15.3 ov), 6-165 (Ben Stokes, 18.3 ov), 7-168 (Jofra Archer, 18.6 ov), 8-174 (Chris Jordan, 19.3 ov) BOWLING O-M-R-W Bhuvneshwar Kumar 4-0-15-2 Hardik Pandya 4-0-34-1 Washington Sundar 1-0-13-0 Shardul Thakur 4-0-45-3 T Natarajan 4-0-39-1 Rahul Chahar 3-0-33-0

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SUNDAY, MARCH 21, 2021

Everest CC bats for Fruta with $100,000 donation

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Manager of Everest, Krista Norton, presenting the sponsorship to Fruta Conquerors President Colin Gittens in the presence of ECC President, Manzoor Nadir

Late goals see Man City past Everton and into semi-finals

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ate goals from Ilkay Gundogan and Kevin de Bruyne broke Everton’s resistance as Manchester City kept their quest for the quadruple on course by reaching the FA Cup semifinals for a third successive season.

A fiercely contested quarter-final looked like it was heading for extra time as Carlo Ancelotti’s side defended resolutely and went close in the first half when Yerry Mina’s header was cleared off the line.

Despite dominating possession at Goodison Park, City struggled in front of goal for most of the game, with Raheem Sterling’s poorly hit shot tipped round the post by Everton’s third-choice keeper Joao Virginia.

After Pep Guardiola brought on Riyad Mahrez and De Bruyne, they finally breached Everton’s wellmarshalled defence when Gudogan headed in with six minutes remaining after Aymeric Laporte’s shot was tipped onto the bar.

De Bruyne then fired in with a crisp shot to ensure their progress in the 90th minute, meaning City have won 25 out of their past 26 games in all competitions.

For Everton, who still threatened despite having little of the ball, it was a sterling attempt to try and stop the City juggernaut.

Despite missing out on a first FA Cup semi-final since 2016, they will now focus on their league campaign in an attempt to reach Europe next season.

Man City’s strength in depth makes the difference City’s pursuit of an unprecedented quadruple has looked seamless at times this season and the late substitutions showed the armoury they can call upon.

Having cruised through the previous stages of the FA Cup, scoring three goals in each of the previous three rounds, Guardiola’s side found it hard to break down a resolute Everton defence, who were missing Michael Keane and had Virginia making only his second start in goal because of injuries to Jordan Pickford and Robin Olsen.

Phil Foden looked most likely to make a breakthrough as he battled it out with Lucas Digne on the right wing, and was perhaps too honest when staying on his feet as he rode a first-half tackle by Mason Holgate. A brilliant take and shot by the winger was inches wide of the post after 65 minutes.

City, who made six changes to the team which beat Borussia Mochengladach to reach the Champions League last eight, did not trouble Everton for much of the game despite dominating possession.

With the clock ticking into the final stages, and Everton digging in, Guardiola was able to bring on Mahrez and De Bruyne to change the game.

De Bruyne had a hand in Gundogan’s opener, as he powered into the box before Laporte let fly, with the German midfielder nodding in his 16th goal in a brilliant season.

With Everton then chasing an equaliser, the game opened up, allowing De Bruyne to make City’s progress safe.

A third successive FA Cup semi-final for the first time since 1934 is a fine achievement, but Guardiola’s team will not be happy unless they finish their campaign with silverware.

Given they are 14 points clear at the top of the Premier League, and face Tottenham in next month’s League Cup final, a domestic treble is now a step closer. (BBC Sport)

ridging the gap between two of Guyana’s most popular sports - cricket and football - the Everest Cricket Club on Saturday became the latest entity to support the Fruta Conquerors Football Club’s 2021 CONCACAF Caribbean Club Shield campaign.

Speaker of the National Assembly, Manzoor Nadir, who is also the Everest Cricket Club’s President, made the pre-

sentation of $100,000 to Fruta Conquerors President Colin Gittens, while expressing his delight at helping the country’s Elite League champion in their quest for regional club football success.

Gittens thanked Nadir and the Everest Cricket Club for “lending a helping hand to a club in need.”

Drawn in Group C of the tournament, set for April 23-May 2 in Curaçao, Fruta

Conquerors will face Hope International (St Vincent and the Grenadines) and Racing Club Aruba in the preliminary Round, with hopes of advancing to the knockout stages.

Only recently, the club launched a GoFundMe campaign to seek the generous support of football fans in Guyana.

It was stated that the club have a minimum working budget of G$5 million to cover their

preparation for, and participation in, the tournament, including the cost of training and travel.

The GoFundMe campaign, which enables fans from all over the world to contribute with any size of donation to the team’s Club Shield journey via a secure online payment platform, can be accessed at: https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-fruta-conquerors-in-the-caribbean-shield

Golden Jaguars confident, urge fans to send positive vibes

Guyana’s Senior Men’s National Team, the Golden Jaguars

T

he Senior Men’s National Team has thanked fans for their support so far and asked them to help Guyana roar to victory in this month’s crunch 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Trinidad and Tobago and the Bahamas.

The Golden Jaguars’ squad is in training for its opening Group F first round Concacaf qualifier against Trinidad and Tobago at 1900 local time on March 25th in the Dominican Republic. Guyana then takes on the Bahamas at 1500 local time on March 30th.

“We really appreciate your support and we ask you to continue to support us – to send us those positive vibes and to roar with us to victory,” goalkeeper Akel Clarke said in a message to fans.

“Training is going really well – the guys are really focused at the right intensity. I feel really good about the upcoming matches and excited to put on the country’s colours and to represent Guyana.”

To qualify for participation in the second round of Concacaf qualification for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, Guyana must top its group, which also includes Puerto Rico and Saint Kitts and Nevis.

Forward Omari Glasgow said the players were “excit-

ed and confident” about the challenge ahead.

“The atmosphere in the camp is The very high,” Gold en J Glasgow said. “I ags in sc rimm feel very good about the us age matches and I am very ex- to start cited to play so that I can well,” Maximo help Guyana, the players said. “These will be difand coaches to come out ferent games, but each one victorious. The players are demands our equal attenlocked in and focused. I tion. We will be competitive. want to tell the fans to con- If we maintain the same attinue to support us – we titude, we will do well. The will make you guys proud.” match always reflects what Head Coach Marcio Maximo said the squad, which features 12 domestic-based players and 11 non-domestic-based players, was already “completeSERVICES ly integrated as one group”.

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

SUNDAY, MARCH 21, 2021

guyanatimesgy.com

West Indies-Sri Lanka 1st Test bowls off today H aving dominated the white-ball series against Sri Lanka, the Kraigg Brathwaite-led West Indies team would be brimming with confidence going into the first Test match, especially after a series win in Bangladesh.

The Windies will lock horns with Sri Lanka today (Sunday March 21) from 10:00h at the Sir Vivian Richards

Stadium in North S o u n d , Antigua.

Despite all the confidence in the camp, West Indies Head Coach

Phil Simmons has said there is room for improvement and his team would be aiming to score at least 400 runs in their first innings.

“I think we need to improve in every area. I think we had a good series [in Bangladesh] but there are lots of things you need to keep improving on,” Simmons said.

He added: “We need to make sure we’re getting 400 in the first innings, which is something we’re striving for every time we play, and then we have to bowl and bat even

better t h a n we did in Bangladesh. So, every area needs to be improved on, and that’s how we’re Sri Lanka Test captain looking at it.”

Dimuth These two Tests Karunaratne would present

opportunity not only for West Indies to complete an entire series domination, but to also win their first Test series against Sri Lanka in nearly two decades.

“The atmosphere has been great all through in all two formats so far, and everybody is looking forward to success and everybody is looking forward to doing what is necessary for success….”

Sri Lanka captain Dimuth Karunaratne has said the West Indies have a good pace attack, and the pitch looks difficult. Sri Lanka have struggled with the bat in their last four Tests, failing to make 200 in four of their eight innings.

“The West Indies’ pace attack is a really good one, and they know how to move the Dukes ball,” Karunaratne said.

“We think we need at least 275 or 300 runs to stay in the series.

That’s not easy, but we’ve talked

Glasgow ‘grateful for opportunities’ following Senior Team call-up

I

n the world of competitive sport, making the National Senior Team is a momentous occasion for any athlete.

In the world of football, making the Senior National Team is an outstanding achievement in its own right, but when it’s done at the tender age of 17 years, it is undeniably quite remarkable.

The youngest member

his reaction to the call-up during an exclusive telephone interview.

He continued, “It means a lot to me, and I will try to work hard and do my best so I could make use of the opportunity.”

The local contingent of the team departed Guyana on Wednesday (March 17) for the Dominican Republic, where they will commence their FIFA World Cup 2022 campaign.

Omari Glasgow on the ball

in the Senior Men’s Football Team, and quite frankly one of the most talented, is Omari Glasgow, who is poised to make his international debut this week, if he is given the nod, against the Trinidad and Tobago football team.

“I felt very happy, ‘cause I always wanted to make the National Senior Team,” the youngster told <<Guyana Times Sport>> as he described

Thus far, the Golden Jaguars (inclusive of international players) have had several practice sessions.

Speaking on the experience thus far, Glasgow shared, “It’s been very great. I’m learning a lot from the players and the coaching staff so that I can improve on my game.”

Probed about what he hopes to grasp from the senior players, especially the

internationally based ones, the teenager said, “What it’s like playing at the other levels, and highest level of football.”

It’s no secret that Omari Glasgow had his beginning in school football. A lightning bolt to watch on the wings, the youngster quickly gained recognition for his talent, and was subsequently integrated into the Guyana Football Federation’s Academy Training Center.

According to Glasgow, these experiences have proved valuable, since, “It helped a lot to create opportunities for me.”

No doubt, the opportunity would be a “dream come true” for the 17-year-old if he is selected as part of Guyana’s starting XI against the Soca Warriors.

Probed about his support system, the lad shared that several persons’ assistance has propelled him to this stage.

“A lot of people! Cause everyone played a part in my career so far, especially my grandparents, and I thank God for this so far,” Omari answered.

Sharing advice for other youngsters who are pursuing a similar dream, Glasgow said, “I would just say to ‘keep working hard, stay in school, take in your education and you will be successful in life someday.”

about how we can do that. If we can get that kind of score on the board, our fast bowlers can defend i t , and we’ll be in the g a m e ,” t h e Sri West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite

Lankan skipper said before the match.

Heading into the first Test, Sri Lanka might be in a spot of bother, since they had a modest batting performance in the twoday practice game, wherein they were all out for 172 inside 50 overs. Only Oshada Fernando and Dinesh Chandimal managed scores of 40 or higher in that game.

West Indies squad: Kraigg Brathwaite, Jermaine Blackwood, Nkrumah Bonner, Darren Bravo, John Campbell, Rahkeem Cornwall, Joshua

Da Silva, Shannon Gabriel, Jason Holder, Alzarri Joseph, Kyle Mayers, Kemar Roach, Jomel Warrican.

Sri Lanka Squad: Dimuth Karunaratne(c), Oshada Fernando, Lahiru Thirimanne, Dinesh Chandimal, Angelo Mathews, Dhananjaya de Silva, Niroshan Dickwella(w), Wanindu Hasaranga, Suranga Lakmal, Dushmantha Chameera, Vishwa Fernando, Roshen Silva, Dasun Shanaka, Ramesh Mendis, Asitha Fernando, Lasith Embuldeniya, Pathum Nissanka.

LGC aiming to make golf a top-tier sport “We are seeking to improve the ground and install a driving range,” says Bowling

By Timothy Jaikarran

T

he game of golf has seen its fair share of changing fortunes in times past, but since the COVID-19 pandemic forced Guyana into some form of a shutdown in March 2020, executives of the Lusignan Golf Club (LGC) have worked tirelessly to keep interest in the sport alive.

They have pushed the sport at the club to an all-time high, to the point where they are hosting back-to-back tournaments, as everyone wants to come on board. Thus far, they have, in 2021, hosted approximately 6 tournaments in two months.

This publication had the privilege of sitting down with Lusignan Golf Club Secretary Chet Bowling, who noted that two months into golfing and the club has exceeded all expectations.

He related that he is proud of the fact that members and sponsors have all stepped up as they have created that atmosphere in which golf enthusiasts can come out and enjoy the game.

Asked about the goals the club has for the future as it pertains to making golf a top tier sport, Bowling said, “First and foremost, it’s about playing golf.

And to play golf, you have to have a golf course. The club house, we refer to that as the 19th hole, as, when you are finished playing, the members can come and enjoy themselves, of course abiding by all COVID-19 protocols.

“We all know that people look forward to playing the 19th hole, but, first and foremost, it’s about playing on the lovely ground the club boasts. So, we want to continue to improve the ground status, this being so because we had lots of rain in 2020, and that messed up the

Shanella London standing alongside LGC Secretary Chet Bowling after a competition

ground. To fix this issue, we are engaging patrons, sponsors and other members to come up with a strategy to improve the ground.

So, the experience of playing golf is the one that we need.

“We also intend to have a driving range at the club, whereby you can practise some of your shots before you play, as that is a must in any golf club. Those are just two of the short-term goals that we are hoping to achieve in the near future.”

Bowling iterated that the current leadership is inspiring, and the club is looking forward to hosting more tournaments, as this would motivate more members to come out and play.

The LGC secretary also said the COVID-19 situation, while it was tough, it has taught them new things, as the members can still enjoy the same atmosphere of golf while following all protocols.

Bowling also boasted of the club house bar staff, as the LGC intends to make its members, whether new or old, feel taken care of, as that is the atmosphere that would aid in the restoration of the camaraderie.

“All these goals and plans we

have, but that is not enough, we also intend to make golf grow more as a family event as well, whereby people can bring out the entire family to enjoy the sport.

“We also want to reach out to the schools and teach them the sport as well, even bring them to the club and inspire that camaraderie as we move forward”, Bowling revealed.

He was asked, “What does Guyana need to put golf on that level?” Bowling responded by stating that Guyana needs an international golf course, as even the smallest Caribbean island has a professional golf course.

He went on to explain that his vision for the sport is for the Lusignan Golf Club to become the premiere destination for golf in Guyana and the Caribbean.

In closing, Bowling added: “We want to make it something that Guyanese are proud of. Our current Guyana Champion is from the Lusignan community, as we have so many good golfers coming out from that community.

Hence, we want to make the club something that is not only known internationally, but communitydriven as well.”

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