Guyana Times - Sunday, May 8, 2022

Nationwide coverage coverage from from the the best best news news team team in in Guyana Guyana Nationwide Issue No. 5002 guyanatimesgy.com

THE BEACON BEACON OF OF TRUTH TRUTH THE

SUNDAY, MAY 8, 2022

Freak storm damages several homes, utility poles at WCB Page 7

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

EITI commends Guyana for P12 efforts to make extractive sector transparent

“He was the sole breadwinner”P15 young wife on struggles to save husband’s life

…Govt offers assistance to affected families

EPA makes approval of Exxon’s 5th development conditional on EIA Page 3

Skyrocketed food Guyana’s economic commodity prices growth attracting dropping – FAO

Noise limits for day, night activities now established

by GNBS P27 Police grappling with street crime in Georgetown – Commander P22 admits

Page 25

Chinese investors – Ambassador

Passenger busted with 30.8kg P23 ganja in taxi

Page 29

…companies already bidding on gas-to-shore project

Afy Fletcher: The story of West Indies cricketer and new mother See story on page 13

P Cane harvesters 31 attacked by bees

1 dead, 1 P30 hospitalised as "junkies" fight over female

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SUNDAY, MAY 8, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

3 EPA makes approval of Exxon’s 5th development conditional on EIA T NEWS

SUNDAY, MAY 8, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS

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

Sunday, May 8 – 22:30h – 00:00h and Monday, May 9 – 23:00h – 00:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Sunday, May 8 – 08:35h – 10:05h and Monday, May 9 – 09:55h – 11:25h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

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

Winds: South-Easterly to North-Easterly between 2.23 metres and 4.02 metres.

High Tide: 09:15h and 22:14h reaching maximum heights of 2.14 metres and 2.03 metres.

Low Tide: 15:32h reaching a minimum height of 1.06 metre.

SATURDAY, MAY 7, 2022

LOTTERY NUMBERS B

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FREE TICKET

05 Bonus Ball

DAILY MILLIONS

05 06 15 17 25 LUCKY 3

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Evening Draw

DRAW DE LINE

03 05 06 08 13 14 16 SUPER

PAY DAY

PAY DAY

FRIDAY, MAY 6, 2022

02 03 05 07 17 13

02 03 06 12 17

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3 Afternoon Draw

2X Afternoon Draw

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

COMMODITIES Indicators

US$

Change %

Crude Oil

$112.39/barrel

+1.33

Rough Rice

$305.55/ton

-0.61

London Sugar

$530.00/ton

Live Spot Gold

+1.47

USD Per Ounce

Bid/Ask

$1883.10

$1884.10

Low/High Change

$1872.90 0.00

$1894.00 0.00%

he Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has given oil giant ExxonMobil a mandate to submit an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for its fifth project Uaru, as a precondition before deciding whether to grant regulatory approval.

In a notice seen by this newscast, the EPA announced that a decision was made to require an EIA for the project. This decision is based on the fact that implementing the project may have effects on the environment.

“The proposed project will be implemented in multiple stages which include the following activities: well drillings and completions, mobilisation and installation of subsea equipment, umbilicals, risers and flowlines (SURF), installation of a floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) facility, production operations, and decommissioning.”

“The proposed project will be undertaken in the marine offshore environment and would require land-based activities for support activities at marine shorebases,” the agency further explained, citing the possible impacts.

According to the EPA, these possible effects include impacts to water and air quality, as well as socio economic resources. It was explained that this Environmental Impact

Assessment must be submitted before the agency can decide to approve or reject the project.

An invitation was also extended for the public to make submissions to the agency on the project, within 28 days. According to the EPA, these submissions should set out questions and issues to be raised in the EIA. The Uaru project would follow Exxon’s four oth-

er projects… Liza 1 and 2, the Payara and Yellowtail projects… all of which have so far been approved.

Production of oil has already started on the first two projects, while Payara is expected to start up in 2023 and Yellowtail in 2025.

In January 2020, ExxonMobil announced that Uaru-1 was the 16th discovery in the Stabroek

Block. The well encountered approximately 94 feet (29 metres) of high-quality oil-bearing sandstone reservoir and was drilled in 6342 feet (1933 metres) of water.

In April 2021, Uaru-2 was announced by the oil giant. Drilling at Uaru-2 encountered approximate-

ly 120 feet (36.7 metres) of high-quality oil-bearing reservoirs including newly identified intervals below the original Uaru-1 discovery. The well was drilled in 5659 feet (1725 metres) of water and is located approximately 6.8 miles (11 kilometres) south of the Uaru-1 well.

The Stabroek Block is 6.6 million acres (26,800 square kilometres). ExxonMobil af-

filiate, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEGPL) is operator and holds 45 per cent interest in the Stabroek Block.

Hess Guyana Exploration Limited holds 30 per cent interest and CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of CNOOC Limited, holds 25 per cent interest.

Hess has said there is potential for at least six FPSOs on the Stabroek Block in 2027, with a production capacity of more than 1 million gross barrels of oil per day and up to 10 FPSOs to develop the discovered resources on the block.

Current production at the Liza Phase 1 development is 130,000 barrels of oil per day, ahead of its original gross nameplate capacity, and this is expected to increase to 140,000 bpd during this quarter, following production optimisation work on the Liza Destiny FPSO. The Liza Phase 2 development, which achieved its first oil in February using the Unity FPSO, is ramping up ahead of schedule, and is expected to reach its gross production capacity of approximately 220,000 barrels of oil per day by the third quarter. (G3)

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SUNDAY, MAY 8, 2022

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

Mother’s Day and IPV

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oday is “Mother’s Day” – a day set aside for us to honour our mothers. And since everyone has a mother - even in this age of surrogacy - we should appreciate what they mean, not only to us individually, but societally. At the individual level, our mothers bore us for nine months in bodies that underwent innumerable changes as we literally fed off them from fertilized egg until we could survive upon entering the world. But that “entry” meant that her body is excruciatingly torn apart, and in some cases can mean her death, as we should know from the unfortunately not infrequent reports of “maternal deaths”.

In our plantation society, mostly descended from slaves and indentured labourers, mothers had the double-burden of having to return to work in the fields within days of giving birth. Those brutal and authoritarian structures have clearly been passed down systemically, so that, in modern Guyana, much of the talk of love and caring for mothers remains just that - talk. A 2020 report from the University of Guyana showed that the “incidence of domestic violence by an intimate or previously intimate partner in Guyana increased from 74.8% in 2011 to 89% in 2017”, with more than 80% of the victims being female.” Many of those “intimate partners” are mothers, and this offers a clue as to what is really going on.

The males inflicting that horrendous level of violence on persons supposed to be their “better halves” had to have been socialised in homes where such behaviour was normalised. A report from the year before claimed, “Half of all women who experienced Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) in Guyana never sought help. Victims, community members and stakeholders attributed this to lack of knowledge of available help, perceptions of being blamed or stigmatised by their situation becoming known throughout the community, and inadequate support structures to ensure victim safety after reporting violence to the Police.” And just last week, a LAPOP poll explained that indifference, when it showed that 62% of Guyanese feel that Intimate Partner Violence is a “private matter”. In Guyanese parlance, a “man and wife thing”.

While it is routinely routed that “the family” is the building block of society, in Guyana, at least 30% of “families” are headed by mothers, without fathers to complete the normative “nuclear” family. As such, Edith Clarke’s 1957 study of the phenomenon in Jamaica, her classic “My mother who fathered me”, has recently been expanded and reissued because it remains relevant in the entire Caribbean out of our colonial experience referred to above.

So, today, as we celebrate “Mother’s Day” in a world in which every facet of our lives has been commercialised to the nth degree, let us spare a thought for the actual conditions in which so many of our mothers have to survive. It has become clichéd to ask that we all show the love we shower on our mothers on this day throughout the year, but we know the pleas fall on barren soil. The LAPOP poll cited above explains why this may be so: “Socialization matters more than the circumstances in predicting the normalization of intimate partner violence.” But it also suggests a way to reduce the despicable behaviour: “Education has the largest predicted effect on attitudes towards IPV: more educated individuals are 24 percentage points less likely to normalize IPV (i.e., more likely to see it as a matter that merits the public attention).”

For starters, the curricula of our educational institutions from nursery to university should have explicit modules that socialise our next generation to view any form of domestic violence, including IPV, as reprehensible, and not to be tolerated. There must also be a sensitisation of the wider society through a programme of public education through billboards, messages on social and mainstream media etc. against IPV. Only then would we be able to not hypocritically celebrate, “Mother’s Day”.

An aerial view of construction works ongoing on the Eccles-to-Diamond four-lane highway (Central Housing and Planning Authority photo)

GECOM seems to be working with alacrity to produce a voters’ list Dear Editor, The current GECOM cycle of Continuous Registration exercise has gained momentum, allowing updates to a verifiable Register of Registrants (RoR). There has been an overwhelmingly positive response from the public, particularly the youths in this respect, and this is most heartening. The updated Register would be available for scrutiny during the Claims and Objections period legislatively prescribed to follow, and will ultimately lead to a Voters List that could facilitate the holding of Local Government Elections.

This subject, however, has not been without contention, due to seeming slothfulness regarding removal of the names of deceased people from the RoR. While this position is acknowledged by all parties, a recent Stabroek News’ Editorial attempted to cast shades of grey and splash blame on major political parties. Please, therefore, allow me to briefly expound reasons why this editorial, and the approach by the PNCR as the main critique, requires contextual review The demands for a clean RoR, and by extension Voters’ List, is indeed the pursuit of the PPPC, and should be of interest to all contesting electoral parties in Guyana. Our country’s political history, however, is replete with too many deliberate PNC demonstrations of democratic indecency, and actions are solely driven by that party’s convenient party paramountcy.

The emboldened undercurrent behaviour of the latter never relents, and cannot

be swept under the table under the pretext of a bloated list.

The convenience of David Granger’s unilateral appointment of James Patterson as GECOM Chairman arguably created a fiasco that was never designed to clean the Voters’ List, but rather to realise greater imbalance, while extending the coalition’s tenure in Office. There was no objective plural agreement or support for the PNCdirected bullish approach, or rather objective proposals.

In 2019, approximately four years into its term, Patterson approved the commencement of the House-toHouse registration approach to re-creating the RoR, knowing fully well that it would have taken more than two years to complete, while disenfranchising thousands of Guyanese citizens. This absolutely could not work, as all of the GECOM elections would have had to await the outcome and delays.

Guyana is not unique among numerous states practising democracy but having variances. What is not being mentioned by the aggressive critics is that all parties have representatives in the places of poll, and they function as a countercheck to prevent the exhumation of the allegedly dead people in the places of poll.

Notwithstanding, PPP General Secretary Dr Bharrat Jagdeo’s concrete proposal for the cleansing of the list and the removal of dead persons’ names from the list are most welcome. He contends that with the tremendous improve-

ment and efficient functioning of the General Registrar Office (GRO), we will have a more efficient and legitimate removal mechanism regarding dead persons’ names from the List.

The PNC, particularly all those who are in politics for decades and are calling for a clean Voters’ List, must come up with concrete proposals and let the nation work together towards this end.

In observing the PNC’s duplicity, it is of note that during 2008-2009, GECOM conducted a thorough Houseto-House Registration exercise, resulting in the production of a new and updated Identification Card. That RoR was accepted by all, and elections were held in 2011, and again in 2015.

Further, immediately after the APNU/AFC Coalition took power, they went to the Parliament and strengthened the process by amending the legislation to ensure that the Continuous Registration exercise will use an extended period of six months to validate the Register of Registrants.

The APNU/AFC did this without the required level of consultation, or the involvement of the PPP/C. They went into full action mode without the PPP/C’s meaningful participation, and held the Local Government Elections in 2016. In addition, the PNC-APNU/AFC went forward with the same paramount party power and unilaterally made changes and added more LOCAL AUTHORITY AREAS for the 2018 LGEs. Significantly, the PNC, as expected, dumped

the AFC and contested the 2018 LGEs by itself. But this did not stop the PPP/C from humiliating them in the Local Government Elections.

In December 2018, the PPP/C moved the famous “No Confidence Motion.” The infamous victory results of the MOTION certainly upset all the Coalition Government’s plans. The PNC was determined to stay in office, although it had reduced power. As usual, the PNC returned to its old habits of trying to ‘bully’ itself to stay in office as the Government.

Further, the PNC utilised the Judiciary/Courts to its full advantage to buy more time in office. However, the corruption, racism, discrimination, white colour crime, and controlling influence over persons involved in the GECOM Secretariat enabled the Coalition Government to stay in power for a further period, particularly the (never-forgetting) five unforgettable months.

Guyanese will never forget the attempts to postpone the Elections by starting an illegal Houseto-House Registration. The manipulation of the Guyana Elections Commission, and the GECOM Secretariat in particular, must never be allowed to operate in such a shameful manner.

All the calls for a better RoR and voters List are evidence of the activation of approaches to ‘dogged’ Elections. Let us face the polls in a free and fair manner for the upcoming LGEs. Sincerely, Neil Kumar

guyanatimesgy.com

SUNDAY, MAY 8, 2022

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More needs to be done by Human Services Ministry

The Trip across the “Kala Pani”

By Guyanese of Indian Ancestry Association

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fter enough indentureds were gathered at the depot to fill the scheduled ship, they were by a doctor examined once again, assigned a ship’s number, clothes, a blanket and then boarded. They were all to be housed in the second deck where they would sleep on their blanket on a 2’ x 6’ space. The ceiling was generally 6’ high. Married couples (with any children) were placed in the center separating the unmarried men and women, fore and aft. With rice or other cargo in the hold below, the heat could become unbearable in the tropical heat. The tossing of the ships on the “pagla samundar” (mad seas) ensured that sleep was fitful. They were permitted to relieve themselves in toilets on the top deck but many times this was too far, too late.

Br. Guiana

Ships route from Calcutta to British Guiana

The single women were sexually harassed by the crew and in one notorious instance in 1885, one 16 year-old named Maharani was raped so violently, she died. An average of four persons died per trip and the bodies would be thrown overboard - literally without ceremony. Out of this shared privation, new bonds were formed in the three months across 10,000 miles: As one poet put it “many things were lost during that nautical passage, family, caste and religion, and yet many things were also found, Chamars found Brahmins, Muslims found Hindus, Biharis found Marathis, so that by the end of the voyage we were a nation of Jahaji Bhais, and Jahaji Bahins. . . all for one and one for all”.

DID YOU KNOW? Allocated daily food supplies per Immigrant Rice 20 oz: Oil 11?2 oz; Onions 1oz; Tamarind 2oz; Daal 4oz; Salt 11?2 oz; Tobacco 1oz; Ghee 1oz; Turmeric 1oz; Chillies11?2 oz A week’s supply of starches and sugar, in case of bad weather preventing the cooking of ordinary provisions, at the following daily rate: bread crumbs (1 serving); channa (6.5 ozs); sugar (1.75 ozs) This is why “daal and rice” remains the most common dish among Girmitiyas across the diaspora.

Dear Editor, Another abuse victim, who has been murdered by her abuser, was buried on May 6 in Guyana, and once again we hear how many people knew about the abuse but kept quiet. The local media recently carried an article stating that 62% of Guyanese normalise intimate partner violence (IPV), and agree that physical violence between couples is a private matter which should be handled by the couple themselves or their families, according to a Latin American Public Opinion Project (LAPOI).

But this is not news, so one may be justified in scratching one’s head if Government resources were spent on the poll, given that these realities should have been acted upon decades ago, and that such resources are more needed to fuel action to address the situation.

The fact is that, by a large majority (69%), a poll commissioned by The Caribbean Voice some years ago indicated that Guyanese feel that the Government is not doing enough to address domestic abuse. That figure may be greater today.

In response to a recent Facebook post calling for a national campaign aimed at changing attitudes and decimating the norm referenced by the LAPOI poll, Hon. Minister Dr. Vindhya Vasini Persaud stated, “Please note that there is such a campaign…I myself have spoken about it multiple times. As you know, attitudinal and behavioural changes do not occur overnight…there are many other programmes that are ongoing and to be launched”.

She added, “We have also launched the community ad-

vocates network, to train and work with communities”.

It’s not clear whether the national campaign to change attitudes and behaviour is the same as the community advocates network, so perhaps a clarification by the Hon Minister/her ministry would help.

In any case while, as the Hon Minister pointed out, “attitudinal and behavioural changes do not occur overnight”, shouldn’t there be both a sense of urgency and a national, rather than piecemeal, rollout relating to this campaign?

Then, again, perhaps both of these are happening, but shouldn’t related disseminated info be extensively and easily available online, on the website/Facebook pages of the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security, and in the media? How many communities, for example, have received the training? And what mechanisms are in place to ensure implementation, support and tracking?

In fact, another poll commissioned by The Caribbean Voice some years ago found that 58% of the population would be willing to volunteer in their communities to deal with abuse if they are provided with training and resources. And while we do understand that a limited number of trainers can only do so much, has the Ministry considered train-the-trainer training for groups of individuals in every region, so they can then train others?

In increasingly larger numbers, Guyanese need to know, be facilitated to use that knowledge, and be supported to bring about the requisite changes so urgently and critically needed. And The

Caribbean Voice has reached out to the Hon Minister, offering to help with disseminating such info through our nine social media accounts, which garner over 500,000 views monthly, and our recently launched online flipbook magazine that has already amassed over 100,000 readerships. Also, we have an ongoing series of virtual panel discussions (PDs) that drawn panelists from across the Caribbean and Diaspora - activists, advocates, victims/survivors, policy makers, experts and specialists, researchers, academics, institutions and NGOs. We recall inviting the Hon Minister and/or her ministry’s rep to two such PDs on domestic violence, but we never received any response.

As well, The Caribbean Voice last year launched Project Change Agent, a fouryear project to help tackle domestic violence across the Caribbean. At the crux of this project is a high school essay contest for 15-to-18-year-olds, focusing on domestic violence and based significantly on primary research within communities, to be launched during the 2023/24 school year.

Regional winners will receive first, second and third place prizes of US$3000, $2,000 and $1,000 respectively, and national winners will also receive prizes along with certificates. From among participants, groups of young people will be trained and empowered to become domestic violence change agents within their communities.

We invite Hon. Minister Dr. Vindhya Vasini Persaud and her ministry to collaborate with The Caribbean

Voice on the Guyana leg of this project. The fact is that no one is saying that addressing domestic violence is either east or simple, but there are hundreds of volunteer advocates and activists in this field in Guyana and the Diaspora, along with tens of NGOs and others, including religious institutions that are willing to help.

Isn’t it time for the Ministry to harness and enable ALL stakeholders (advocates, activists, organisations, Police, the business community, regional and NDC administrations, professional groups et al) in a concerted, rather than ad hoc, effort to stop the wanton abuse and killing of our women and girls?

Don’t get us wrong; The Caribbean Voice is of the view that Minister Hon Dr Vindhya Vasini Persaud has done more to address domestic violence than all previous Ministers since 1992. We also feel that she has been the most proactive Minister, one of the few interacting widely with people on the ground, and very responsive both on and off line. She connects, she grounds with people, she is empathetic and compassionate, and yes, she may very well be overwhelmed. But making a difference is in her genes, and given how much more needs to be done and the fact that lives are being lost almost daily while abuse and femicide are on the increase, we know that the Hon Minister has both the passion and capacity to do more. We therefore make a heartfelt appeal for her to do so.

Sincerely, Annan Boodram

Sunday, May 8, 2022

06:00 (Sign on) Jewanram Rel. Hour 07:00 Cartoons 08:00 Shekinah Ministry 08:30 Evening News (RB) 09:30 Fast n Loud S6 E6 10:30 Cartoons 11:00 D. Persaud Religious Program 11:30 Prime Series - Blippi’s Educational Adventures for Kids 12:00 Dharmic Ki Awaz 12:30 Jewanram Mother’s Day Special 13:30 Movie - Moms Night Out (2014) 15:15 Movie - Little Women (2019) 17:30 The Healing Touch 18:00 Maths is Fun 18:30 Week-in-Review 19:00 Lucifer S2 E5 20:00 Those People 21:00 Riverdale S2 E22 22:00 Arrow S3 E3 23:00 Brooklyn Nine-Nine S3 E16 23:30 Whose Line Is It Anyway? S12 E4 00:00 Sign off

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SUNDAY, MAY 8, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Frequently asked questions (FAQ) about puppy/ kitten feeding – Continued FAQ #4: Can I feed adult “dog chow” to my puppy/kitten?

A: Unless you have no other resources (like no food in your house during a natural disaster), the answer is a resounding “NO”. Offering the young puppy/kitten adult commercial dog/cat food compromises the ability of your pup/kitten to thrive

or prosper physically or psychologically, because you would be robbing your puppy/kitten of its nutrition requirements, which are different from those of an adult animal.

The growth of young animals is accelerative, and formulas must contain highly digestible and nutritive ingredients in the correct proportions. Adult dogs’ formulas would cater for maintenance, and not growth, and therefore contain relatively lower protein and energy-containing ingredients.

I always

recommend that the family considers a diet protocol for the young pet which is consistent in the pre- and post-weaning period (3 to 4 weeks of age). Diet changes must be gradual and not sudden, to avoid digestive disturbances (particularly diarrhoea) and allow the gut microflora to adjust, es-

pecially if the young animals are infested with intestinal worms. You may remember my advice on having your vet deworm the young pup/ kitten at 3 weeks of age.

FAQ #5: How often should a pup/ kitten be fed?

A: The American Kennel C l u b (AKC) endorses and advocates four feedings a day as being adequate. Large breeds should be fed unmoistened dry food by 9-10 weeks of age; small dogs could wait until 12 weeks for unmoistened dry food. Later, the puppy’s feeding schedule can decrease to three times daily (e.g., 7am; 2pm; 9pm; or whatever works for your personal lifestyle).

Puppies/kittens older than 6 weeks should be fed twice daily – at 12-hour intervals, if possible - with portion sizes that would be consumed over a half-hour period. You will be gauging intake and noting increasing consumption and the commensurate growth.

Do note that my advice and the recommendations on commercial dog foods are to be taken as general guidelines. Your role is to be observant and discerning of your animal’s development, vitality, and overall behaviour. Food refusal, lethargy, and no weight gain are reasons for concern, and should be brought to your vet’s attention.

FAQ #6: Why should we force pups to nurse from their mother from day one to day twenty-one and beyond, especially when there are so many products (infant formulas) on the market?

A: The answer is simple.

In all mammals, the first days after the mother delivers her baby, the maternal milk (called colostrum) is quite specialised, especially during the first 3-5 days after the birth of the baby.

This “first milk” differs from the milk produced later in that it has a higher content of protein, antibodies against certain diseases (which the mother may have previously been vaccinated against, or survived after an infection), vitamins and minerals. In addition, the colostrum has less sugars and fats than the milk produced later by the mother.

Colostrum is truly a “wonder milk”, supplying essential immunity to the newborn animal and aiding in the improvement of intestinal functions.

NB: Next week we will deal with the automatic questions which follow from the paragraph above: What can the caregiver do if the mother abandons her pups/ kittens, or if she is ill and has to be removed from her pups; or – horror of horrors – if she dies immediately or soon after birth.

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EPA’S BIODIVERSITY MANAGEMENT

he Environmental Protection Act sets out a number of roles for the EPA in the field of biodiversity management, including but not limited to coordinating and maintaining a programme for the conservation of biological diversity and its sustainable use, and to promote and encourage a better understanding and appreciation of the natural environment and its role in social and economic development.

Since its inception in 1996, the EPA has always maintained a program area dedicated to biodiversity management. The work of biodiversity management is shared by a number of program areas in the Agency, led by the Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs) team. * MEAs – coordinates the implementation of biodiversity related conventions for which the EPA is the focal point and related policies (Convention on Biological Diversity, Nagoya Protocol etc.); * Technical Services – oversees the Biodiversity Research process; * Communications – relays relevant information to the public on biodiversity issues and how communities and the general public can protect and conserve natural resources.

Biodiversity can affect and crosscut most or all aspects of development and its importance cannot be overstated.

Successful management requires the collaboration and full engagement of all stakeholders and MEAs. The EPA through its MEA Unit holds the overarching responsibility for biodiversity management. The Unit facilitates harmonized and collaborative information systems to support knowledge sharing and collaboration between key Agencies that have roles and responsibilities to play in biodiversity protection.

Through EPAs programme, the Unit assists Guyana in meetings its obligations to biodiversity MEAs by providing policy and technical support, and attending meetings geared to share experiences and best practices for mainstreaming and restoring biodiversity.

Biodiversity Research Most of Guyana’s habitats are largely intact and offer numerous opportunities to study organisms in their natural habitat. The EPA is responsible for coordinating research activities in pursuit of the conservation and protection of biodiversity which includes the endemic species we covered in last week’s article. Research in any field is important, and moreso in the environment as we need to take stock of our natural capital. Therefore, any person whether local or foreign who is interested in conducting biodiversity research in Guyana, MUST apply to the EPA for a Research Permit.

Insert image of research process here Communicating biodiversity issues The work of the Communications Department fulfils the Agency’s role of promoting a better understanding and appreciation of the natural environment, and encouraging public participation in environmental decision making. The Department also provides information and education to the public regarding the benefits of sustainable use of natural resources through: * Awareness on television, radio, newspapers and social media; * Training for teachers in environmental education; * Engaging youth during camps and school visits; * Development of awareness materials such as brochures and posters; * Delivering presentations and supporting environmental clubs.

The work of other program areas within the EPA, allows for the consideration of biodiversity in development projects through the environmental authorisation process and other programs. This is done by: * Reviewing applications to determine the potential impacts on biodiversity; * Setting permit conditions e.g. biodiversity offsets, marine mammals observers; * Developing standards for discharges and emissions for environmental parameters that affect biodiversity e.g. water and air quality * Ensuring compliance through reporting, spot checks etc.

You can share your ideas and questions by sending letters to: “Our Earth, Our Environment”, C/O Communications, Environmental Protection Agency, Ganges Street, Sophia, GEORGETOWN, or email us at: eit.epaguyana@gmail.com.

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

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

NEWS

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SUNDAY, MAY 8, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Freak storm damages several homes, utility poles at WCB …Govt offers assistance to affected families

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freak storm between Friday night and Saturday morning damaged several houses in the Bath Settlement area, West Coast Berbice, Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice).

Families were displaced during the incident which brought heavy rain and forced utility workers and firefighters to respond after

Instead of I calling my neighbour to tell them what happening to us – thinking that he is coming to rescue us, he is coming to tell us what happen to him. He tell us that his whole roof fly away.”

Robert Wardat of Hope Housing Scheme believes that the storm hit at about 23:00h. he said there was rain and suddenly there was

power lines fell on fences and were sparking.

The storm started at about 22:30h on Friday, causing 17 houses at Plantation Hope and two at Experiment to be damaged.

Many were asleep at the time when the heavy winds coupled with rain ripped out zinc sheets from the roofs of some houses.

According to Melissa Singh of Plantation Hope, there was a loud sound while she was on her way to the upper flat of the building.

“My husband and my three kids were in the bedroom and the whole roof blow out the rain started coming in the house – the whole house. The beds were getting wet. All of the zinc from both sides left and right fly away. Everything that was upstairs was destroyed and the water start to pour downstairs as well. We had to go by our neighbour for rescue,” Singh disclosed to this publication.

Meanwhile, her neighbour Rusha Samaroo in recounting her experience said she closed her windows when the rain began. By the time she got back to her bed there was heavy wind coupled with lightning as the zinc sheets on her house started to disappear.

“My husband told me to be quiet but I told him that I am getting wet on the bed…

We run outside of the bedroom and come downstairs.

a very strong wind.

“I heard something like a bomb explode and then the rain start to pour in on me so it tried to get the thing out of the room and I left everything like that until the morning.”

Abdool Yakub said he did not suffer damage despite his house falling. He

Meanwhile, Regional officials visited the affected persons to assess the situation.

Public Service Minister Sonia Parag has reassured that assistance will be provided to the affected residents through the Office of the Prime Minister among

explained that he had just come off of the phone when the house fell. According to the labourer, who lives alone at Hope, he lost most of his dishes, which were broken when his house fell.

One house was completely destroyed and residents say the occupant was taken away by a relative on Saturday morning.

Veman Permaul-Sawh explained that the zinc sheets from half of his house

other agencies.

She said that most persons are quite shocked over the extent of the damages, especially since a similar freak storm was experienced last year but did not cause as much destruction as it did this time.

Nevertheless, the Public Service Minister reassured that the relevant authorities, including the Office of the Prime Minister, which has responsibility for natu-

were ripped off by the strong wind. By the time he realised what was happening and got out of his bed, he was standing in water.

According to PermaulSawh, he also lost the zinc sheets from a shed which extends from his house.

According to Nakita Bissoondat, during the storm, the roof of her house was removed resulting in rainwater accumulating in the building. The family used buckets to bail the water out but it was all in vain as there was more water entering than they were able to bail.

Angela Jagan of Experiment said after the entire roof of their house was blown off and water started entering, she saw her son’s shoes floating around in the house.

“We had to break concrete and bore a hole in the wall so that the water can drain out.”

Assistance

ral disaster response, have been alerted and will be looking into the issue.

Teams from the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) and the Human Services Ministry were deployed to the area to make assessments in terms of the level of assistance that would be needed by the affected households.

“Those who might be displaced will be assisted by the Ministry of Human Services in terms of finding shelter. In the meanwhile, the region is also providing zinc sheets to those who need it,” Parag told reporters on Saturday afternoon. (Andrew Carmichael)

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Moving on…

…with Brazil Well, big bad Bolsonaro came and went, and the skies didn’t fall. As your Eyewitness had commented earlier last week, if that bunch of nattering nabobs of negativity - who’d condemned his earlier scheduled visit in January - were to be believed, there might’ve even been a strong whiff of sulphur left in his wake!! Well, even if there was anything to their hysteria, he’s now back in Brazil, shovelling coal to stoke the fires!!

Bolsonaro followed up with what his predecessors - going back to the seventies - has raised again and again ad nauseum: greater connectivity, and giving them a port on the Atlantic which they can use to get their products to the States. Your Eyewitness doesn’t get too excited by that anymore. There’ve been too many deadlines made and never kept - even though it would benefit them more than us. He wonders if Brazilians have doubts that we might lock them out and blackmail them down the road. There’s gotta be SOME reason - because their foot-dragging just doesn’t make sense.

With elections coming up in Brazil this Oct 2 (first round), polls show the old codger Lula holding a slight lead over Bolsonaro, but this has shrunk to a thin margin. But whether it’s Lula or Bolsonaro, Brazil’s been consistent in its relations with us. If Lula wins, maybe the equation with the US may change because of a new “pink wall” forming in Latin America.

But Brazil’s historic leeriness about Venezuelan pretentious on Latin American leadership will remain unchanged. And that’s what’s most important strategically in our relationship with our southern neighbour. To be a counterweight that can react quickly to any Venezuelan incursion.

Your Eyewitness’s ears perked up also when he heard Bolsonaro offering his country’s expertise in cultivating “tropical” wheat. While Brazil’s already a big wheat producer, that was all in its southern temperate zone near Argentina - where wheat thrives. The revelation that the Brazilians’re trying wheat in Roraima state, next to our Rupununi, means that the technology and varieties (cultivars) can be directly transferred to our side of the border. This could accelerate our programme immensely. While not so glamorous as highways, this’ll have as big an impact on our future!!

The agreements on crime, prosecution and seizure of criminally acquired assets are positive developments, since the cross-border cocaine movements can only increase!

These collaborations must be increased, since our new oil economy will also see a bump in Brazilian immigration - if only to keep those nightspots supplied with their habitués!!

All in all, it was a short and sweet visit that didn’t strain our resources too much. And your Eyewitness didn’t see any missives (missiles?) from the woke brigade!!

Maybe the knots in their knickers got too tight?? …without AWOL Opposition When the PPP successfully passed its no-confidence motion back in December 2018, it unleashed such a tsunami of political activity and activism for the next two years that the Opposition seems to’ve become burnt out!! Old people always used to say it’s always harder to achieve anything when you’re lying. You waste so much energy thinking about what you’d lied about!! Well, maybe rigging takes even more energy to cover up, and that explains the PNC’s disappearance from the political scene!

But in the meantime, aren’t they getting worried about the activism of the PPP machine - led by a seemingly indefatigable President Ali? Not a day passes without one or more projects being launched at random. Criss- crossing the entire country and getting into all communities, including traditional PNC ones. As your Eyewitness has been stressing, a resilient democracy needs a solid Opposition. So, he’s reporting here and now that the PNC’s officially “Absent Without Leave” - AWOL. Anyone reporting their location will get a reward!! …with the European war Tomorrow Russia’s gonna mark its victory over Nazi Germany during WWII. Last week, your Eyewitness was surprised when he saw a Nazi swastika flaunted by Ukrainians supporting the Azov holdout battalion in Mariupol.

So, they’re Nazis??

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

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

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Old objections to IAD over?

I

reproduce a letter from May 11, 2000 to someone who disagreed vehemently with our calls for an “Indian Arrival Day” holiday.

“The history of the Indians in Guyana has been almost unrelievedly a history of exclusion and rejection.

This history has varied from a denial of their very humanity [“They are only coolies”], Ravi Dev through a rejection of their culture [“uncivilized”] and their religions [“heathen”], to their citizenship [they are not the real “Caribbean Man”]. The response of Mr. Robert Williams [the Deputy Mayor, and newly appointed PNC member of the Elections Commission] to calls for the designation of Indian Arrival Day as a national holiday is only the latest salvo in this war of attrition.

[Chronicle 11/5/2000 “We object to this proposal”] “Mr. Williams’ group [GGG] is “alarmed”, and they view the requested holiday as opposed to their belief in “unity, peace and love” and a “moral and spiritual revival”. Why does Mr. Williams have this apocalyptic vision of disunity, war and hate unleashed in Guyana by Indian Arrival Day, which would destroy our moral and spiritual values?

“Firstly, Mr Williams suggests that the day was “based on a colonial imperial agenda” and therefore should be “not that important”. This is a most peculiar argument. Was not Emancipation Day based on a “Colonial imperial agenda”?? Is it therefore not worthy of commemoration? What about Boxing Day? What is more Colonial than that? Why does not Mr. Williams rise up in righteous indignation and smite that most imperial shibboleth?? Or is it that Indian concerns and aspirations can be more easily attacked without fear of reprisals?

“What I would say to Mr Williams is that “historical” holidays simply commemorate events of great historical significance.

Would Mr. Williams deny, by whatever yardstick he chooses, that the arrival of Indians was of great historical significance to Guyana? I am disheartened by the meanness of spirit that forces Indians to have to continuously justify their legitimacy by speaking of their contributions to this land. Mr Williams thereby attempts to manoeuvre Guyanese into a position where other immigrants, such as Portuguese and Chinese, would feel compelled to extol their virtues. Mr Williams explicitly proposes that in the name of “justice, fair play and balance”, these groups would demand holidays when Indians celebrate their arrival. Is this building the “unity, peace and love” that Mr. Williams professes to be his goal?

“All of the previous arguments were a smokescreen for Mr. Williams’ real fear: that there may be “a group aiming for Indian hegemony” [overwhelming dominance]. I believe that this fear/ concern may be quite widespread in the non-Indian segments of Guyanese society, and we in ROAR have consistently advocated that we discuss such fears openly, rather than hide them under platitudes. For instance, even though Mr. Williams had professed “a deep respect and reverence for our ethnic, racial, religious and cultural groupings”, he views, as examples of the alleged Indian dominance, “a heavy emphasis on Indian films, music and even the teaching of Hindi.” In reality, therefore, Mr. Williams and those who share his views do not really accept the right of Indians to practise their culture, and consequently cannot really respect Indians who practise their culture.

“Mr. Williams cannot express concern for our “plural society” and simultaneously call for “a fusion of our cultures”. Mr. Williams and other Guyanese leaders have to be clear as to what model of cultural relations they desire for Guyana. Either we have the assimilationist [melting pot] model of Mr. Burnham, where we were going to be merged into a melange of “One People and One Nation” culturally and physically, or we have the “Unity in Diversity” [salad bowl] model, which accepts the need for cultural autonomy and freedom. ROAR has unequivocally come out for the multicultural goals of the latter model. It is the essence of democracy for people to choose how they will live culturally – this is enshrined in the UN Declaration on the Right of Self Determination of Peoples.

“As to Mr. Williams and other Guyanese who fear this latter model, I would advise them to look towards neighbouring Trinidad, which is so similar, composition wise, to us. Yesterday, the teaching of Hindi was introduced in schools, joining the four all-Indian radio stations [most owned by non-Indians]. Trinidad of course celebrates Indian Arrival Day as a holiday for some years now. None of Mr. Williams’ dire predictions have been realized there. The heavens are still intact.”

Progress seems to have been made in 2022 with the PNC’s support for Indian Arrival Day. The views expressed in this column are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Guyana Times’ editorial policy and stance

12 NEWS

SUNDAY, MAY 8, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

EITI commends Guyana for efforts to make extractive sector transparent …makes recommendations to strengthen oversight

T

heExtractiveIndustries Transparency Index (EITI) has allocated Guyana a score of 52 for implementing the 2019 standard, commending Guyana for the strides to make information available and consult with stakeholders, while also providing recommendations to further strengthen the system.

Guyana’s score of 52 includes a score of 42 on “outcomes and impact”, 60 on “stakeholder engagement” and 53.5 per cent when

it comes to transparency.

According to EITI, Guyana did manage to establish a functioning platform for multi-stakeholder discussions.

“Guyana’s efforts to tailor the scope of its EITI implementation to address public demands for information beyond the extractive industries, to cover forestry and fisheries, is welcome,” the report states.

However, it was pointed out that Guyana needs to sharpen its focus in following

up on EITI recommendations and the annual review of outcomes and impact. Guyana was further commended for its efforts to conduct outreaches during the pandemic, but was urged to ensure a broad range of “government, industry and civil society” constituencies are consulted when developing the annual work plan.

It was also noted that Guyana has made commendable efforts to ensure disclosures related to contracts, commodity sales and environ-

mental related matters concerning the extractive sector.

And while EITI noted that Guyana has been disclosing revenue from extractive industries, there are weaknesses in company reporting and taxpayer confidentiality constraints to grapple with.

In its report, the EITI Board recommended, among other things, that Guyana ensure employment data as submitted by companies in the extractive sector, are disaggregated by gender. They also recommended that Guyana

ensure all legal or contractual mandates for companies to make social expenditures are disclosed, as well as the expenditures themselves.

“To strengthen implementation, Guyana is encouraged to systematically disclose information on ongoing legal reform in the extractive industries, such as draft legislative reforms, with a view to using EITI reporting as an annual diagnostic of implementation of key reforms,” the Board said.

“In accordance with

Requirement 6.1, Guyana should ensure that all mandatory social expenditures are disclosed, where material social expenditures by companies are mandated by law or the contract with the government that governs the extractive investment.”

It was further recommended that Guyana ensure both Government and companies in the extractive sector, fully comply with all aspects of implementing the standard. This includes ensuring sufficient technical and financial resources.

Another recommendation, which EITI said is in accordance with Requirement 2.5, was for Guyana to ensure that the beneficial ownership of all companies holding or applying for a mining, oil and gas licence, is comprehensively and reliably disclosed. This, according to EITI, should be the case as of January 2022.

EITI further urged more transparency when it comes to disaggregating financial data for extractive projects, as well as making sure that all material payments and revenues are disclosed by Government entities and extractive companies.

The sharing of data and revenues, is something that is encapsulated in the Natural Resource Fund (NRF), for which the Bank of Guyana recently published a report detailing income for the fund.

According to EITI, however, there should also be a clear, open data policy on the access and release of EITI data, which should be made available in an open data format online and also be publicised.

They also urged Guyana to implement a publicly available register or cadastre, in accordance with Requirement 2.3, that would provide information on all active licences including names of licence holders, coordinates, dates of application, award and expiry, and commodities covered.

“In the interim, Guyana should ensure that this information, including dates of application and of expiry, are publicly disclosed for each active licence held by companies included in the scope of reporting,” they urged.

The EITI is an international body that requires implementing countries to publish comprehensive reports which include the full disclosure of Government revenues from the extractive sector, as well as the disclosure of all material payments made to the Government by companies operating in the oil, gas, and mining sectors.

Guyana’s first report was submitted to the International Secretariat on April 25, 2019. Membership in the EITI means that Guyana will have to adhere to the 12 principles of the EITI standards voluntarily.

Failure to do so could be met by suspension from EITI. Guyana’s next validation commences on April 1, 2024.

(G3)

FEATURE

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By Brandon Corlette

A

mother is she who can take the place of all others but whose place no one else can take.

Being a West Indies cricketer is a challenge by itself, especially now, with the restrictions in place.

For 35-year-old West Indies Women’s cricketer, Afy Fletcher, she has now entered the journey of motherhood and she continues to

play cricket.

Prior to the South Africa tour and ICC W o m e n ’ s World Cup in New Zealand, Afy had her last international outing for West Indies in September 2020. She made a return until February 2022 after she gave birth to a bouncing baby boy in Grenada.

During this Mother’s Day special, Fletcher spoke about the challenges she faces while being an international cricketer and a mother. She also had some advice to prospective mothers, who are cricketers.

“Being a mother is an incredible feeling, it is a wonderful feeling. It is a change in your life, there is a difference in terms of your routine and your lifestyle and everything. So having a baby, it is indescribable. It brings a lot of love and different feeling

in your life,” the leg-spinner with 109 international wickets said.

When asked if she entertained thoughts about her career coming to an end aft e r she found out that s h e

West Indies cricketer Afy Fletcher celebrating in style at the World Cup

was about to become a mother, Afy said: “To be honest I was wondering what would have taken place. I don’t know if it would be over, or if I would continue, because being pregnant is also challenge, you do not know the

outcome, if it could end your career or if you could continue so. I was thinking and pondering, so I made up my mind that whatever road it went I would have to accept whether my career would end or continue.”

While it is a challenge to have a regular routine to train, leaving her baby to travel to New Zealand was a difficult choice for Fletcher.

“I had to leave for tournament, so the baby did not come with me. It was a challenge there for me not having baby around, and as a new mother, the love you develop and bond you develop, then having to leave your child to continue your career, it is kind of a hard one. You do not want to leave your child, but you understand the circumstances. Another challenge is that if you have to train, you have to let the baby stay, since he is not yet old enough to come with me, so that is one of the challenges, finding a routine to train,” Fletcher explained.

West Indies entered the tournament after playing the qualifiers, but eventually reached the semi-final.

Fletcher, who had figures

of 3-29 against Bangladesh was seen with her trademark “calling the baby on the telephone celebration”.

“The girls were like you have to get a celebration, so they said do the baby rock.

So I said no it is too popular.

Since I always talk via telephone, whether Facetime or WhatsApp, I said let me try this one and see. Show that this is the way me and him communicate and that I know he can’t watch me as yet, but because of the time difference, but later on the future it will create a memory so that he could see as he grow older, and when people tell him things, he can go and look and see those memories created.”

Additionally, Fletcher said at some point in her career, she hopes to take her son on international cricket tours. She also left some advice for prospective mothers who are sportswomen.

“To be honest, I would say to them, if you want to go in motherhood, it is a good thing, it will not stop you to play the game. You have to plan properly, and know what you want. Go for it and do what you have to do, it will get easy as you go through the process,” Fletcher added.

14 FEATURE

SUNDAY, MAY 8, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

By Alva Solomon

M

onths after giving birth to her first child, young

Earlene Rouse got a call that she was accepted into the teaching profession and that she would start her career at Morawhanna,

a community located many miles away from her home at the town of Mabaruma in the North West District.

At the time, she said

it was a tough challenge to face but according to the young lady, since she had given birth a few months prior to relocat-

Earlene Rouse with her partner and their son who is now six years old

ing from her hometown, she had to adjust to life away from home, more so

person.

She said becoming a mother has made her re-

Earlene Rouse stands outside the St Peter Primary School at Morawhanna

away from her one-yearold son. Morawhanna sits along the right bank of the Barima River; it is accessible by boat but persons still walk between the two locations via an old road which connects the two communities.

Rouse said many times, she would journey along that road late on Friday afternoons in order to get home to be with her family, mainly her young baby boy. She said it is this spirit of determination which continues to drive her towards becoming a better

sponsible and stronger as a woman.

“It made me realise that strength, courage and love are no longer just words but emotions that build me stronger into a mature woman,” Rouse said.

Being a teenage mom

Rouse, who attended the North West Secondary School, said she became pregnant at 19, and at the time she was contemplating her next move in terms of a career.

TURN TO PAGE 17

FEATURE

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doctors identified as cancerous. His diagnosis is mesencephalic mass lesion.

“He usually works out at sea, so he would not feel well. He was experiencing weakness

Sunil France after his diagnosis

By Shane Marks

C

ancer continues to be one the leading causes of death worldwide. It continues to take lives in the most unexpected, heart-breaking way possible. To some, it’s a fearless disease that takes. To others, there is hope, once treatment and surgery are readily available.

Sunil France, a former fisherman stands in that grey area of people who are left in a loophole of uncertainty.

This 31-year-old husband and sole breadwinner for his family was diagnosed with brain cancer in November of last year, his wife, Tricia France, explained in an interview with this publication.

The crying woman said that her husband works out on the sea since he’s a fisherman. She detailed that her husband has complained about experiencing weakness and headaches. Being accustomed to her husband’s constant rotation of being sick after coming home, she never really took the matter into deeper thoughts.

Sunil and his wife of nine years, Tricia France

However, this time, she did. She decided to take her husband to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) where he subsequently underwent a series of testing. Doctors, on initial thoughts, suggested that the man had suffered from a stroke.

After undergoing a computerised tomography (CT) scan, it was discovered that Sunil had a mass growing in his brain, one that the

and a severe headache, so I asked him to come home. I took him to a private hospital and then I took him to GPHC. TURN TO PAGE 16

16 FEATURE

SUNDAY, MAY 8, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM FROM PAGE 15

“When we first got to GPHC they said that it looked like a stroke, but then after we did a CT scan, then we saw the mass, and then they recommended a MRI. So, I took him to Mercy Hospital and got the MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) done, and that’s when Dr Dukhi and his team went through the results and that’s how they came up with the diagnosis,” Tricia explained.

Tricia expressed that when she found out the nature of her husband’s nine-yearlong condition, she was shocked, but her

extreme. He has to use more pampers because he’s just laying in bed. He was only discharged from the hospital two days now.” Sunil has been surviving from a feeding tube. “He’s using a feeding tube. I have to give him his Supligen and blending stuff so that he can use it. So, it has been hard,” the woman cried.

Sunil has to undergo a stereotactic brain biopsy which is a surgical procedure where a thin needle is inserted into the brain by a neurosurgeon to extract a small piece of tissue to examine under a microscope. This surgical procedure is not offered in Guyana.

surprise quickly faded to the sidelines as she began thinking of the next step forward to help her husband through this dark stage of his life.

“I was very shocked at first. But my next reaction would have been how can I help him. I began to ask questions on the next step forward,” she said bravely.

Sunil is the sole breadwinner for the family of two and it has been hard for Tricia to maintain the bills and all the expenses on her own. However, Tricia operates a small catering business, but she said this

Help from GPHC

Sunil France before his diagnosis

“side hustle” does not make enough money to sustain the family. The struggling wife told his publication that it has been even harder over the past two weeks.

“My husband, he was the sole breadwinner, with him not working, things have been extremely difficult because of the bills. The bills keep coming. For the past two weeks, it has now become even more

With research and help from doctors from the GPHC, Tricia managed to get a quotation from a hospital in Columbia that offers the procedure required to save her husband’s life. This, however, is an expensive procedure.

The surgery costs US$48,100, which is approximately GY$10,003,802. The Health Ministry has already assisted in paying $1 million of the cost.

Tricia is reaching out to the public and asking for assistance to save her husband’s life.

“I would like for the public to help me to raise the money so that I can carry him for the surgery that he can be able to live because he is so young and, in the meantime, if there can be assistance also to help me with pampers, and stuff to feed him, I would so much appreciate that,” Tricia cried during the interview.

Sunil’s state has been deteriorating as the days go by. With every second that passes, he is getting worse. Persons wishing to help save Sunil’s life can contact his wife who is standing by his side on (592) 683-5351.

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FROM PAGE 14

She said initially, her parents were not too pleased with the situation since they wanted her to enhance her academic ability. She noted, however, that despite being young, she managed to stay focussed.

“I still have confidence in myself,” she admitted.

The year was 2016. Rouse received news that she was given an opportunity to become a teacher.

She said that when the time came to move to Morawhanna, she felt a mixed sense of sadness, excitement and wonder since she did not know

what to expect once she relocated. But she noted that she received valuable support from her family and her partner and with her mind set on her future, she took up residence in the remote riverine community.

She said teaching is a profession which she always wanted to be a part of and according to her, many of her older relatives are educators.

“So I chose to join the field of education to share my knowledge and get the children ready for life,” she added.

She said too that she would ad-

mire her cousins and siblings who took education seriously and enhanced themselves academically.

Rouse noted that she is currently pursuing studies offered by the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE) online to become a fully trained teacher and she noted that while it is challenging, she is determined to complete the training successfully.

She said that being a remote community, the internet connection at Morawhanna is not very reliable.

But she noted that one way she adapts to the situation is by travelling home to Mabaruma each week-

end. She said this has been her routine ever since she started in the profession and she noted that she has dedicated much of her time and energy to ensure the children of Morawhanna receive her undying love for education.

As regards women who became mothers in their teenage years, Rouse had some healthy advice.

“Do not give up, no matter what.

Fight for what you want to become and seek advice always when unsure,” the young mother noted.

18

FEATURE

SUNDAY, MAY 8, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

HEALTH TIPS

ABORTION IN GUYANA

Dr. Tariq Jagnarine Family Medicine, Endocrinology and Diabetes

A

bortion is a procedure to end a pregnancy.

It’s also sometimes known as a termination of pregnancy.

Abortion in Guyana is legal during the first eight to twelve weeks of pregnancy; and between 12 and 16 weeks, an abortion can still be legally performed,

but only if the health of the woman or foetus is in danger. After 16 weeks, it is possible to perform an abortion only in the case of severe health-related circumstances.

Abortions are safer the earlier they’re carried out.

The decision to have an abortion belongs solely to the mother. Some women may be certain they want to have an abortion, while others may find it more difficult to make a decision. All women requesting an abortion can discuss their options with, and receive support from, a trained healthcare staff. Speaking with one’s partner, friends, or family can be helpful.

DURING AN ABORTION

There are 2 options: * Medical abortion (“abortion pill”) – Use of 2 medicines, usually 24 to 48 hours apart, to induce an abortion

* Surgical abortion – A procedure which is used to remove the pregnancy, and persons can normally go home soon afterwards.

After an abortion, people may need to take things easy for a few days. They can have some discomfort and vaginal bleeding for up to 2 weeks.

cies in the future.

AFTER AN ABORTION

RISKS OF AN ABORTION

Abortion is a safe procedure. Abortions are safest and happen with less pain and bleeding when carried out as early as possible in pregnancy.

Most women will not experience any problems, but there is a small risk of complications, such as: * Infection of the womb (uterus) * Some of the pregnancy remaining in the womb * Excessive bleeding * Damage to the womb, or entrance of the womb (cer-

vix) If complications do occur, further treatment may be needed, including surgery.

Having an abortion will not affect a woman’s chances of becoming pregnant again, and having normal pregnan-

No test or appointment after a surgical abortion, or a medical abortion in a hospital, is usually needed. For medical abortion at home, a special kind of pregnancy test or scan can be done to make sure the pregnancy has ended. There may also be short-lived side effects from the medicines, such as diarrhoea and feeling nauseous.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 19

FEATURE

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HEALTH TIPS ABORTION IN GUYANA

FROM PAGE 18

For surgical abortion, the general anaesthetic and sedation medicines can also have side effects.

For all types of abortion, persons can have some stomach cramps (pain) and vaginal bleeding. Bleeding usually lasts a week or two. Sometimes light vaginal bleeding after medical abortion can last up to a month.

After an abortion, a woman can take painkillers like ibuprofen or paracetamol to help with any pain or discomfort, use sanitary towels or pads rather than tampons until the bleeding has stopped, have sex as soon as she feels ready, but she must use con-

turn to normal activity, including having a bath or shower, using tampons, exercising (including swimming), and heavy lifting.

WHEN TO GET MEDICAL HELP

Get advice if: * Having pain or bleeding that does not get better in a few days * Still feeling pregnant after about a week * Having a temperature, flulike feelings, or unusual vaginal discharge – these could be signs of infection * Having any other worry. traception to avoid getting pregnant again.

Once they feel comfortable after an abortion, a person can re-

Persons can experience a range of emotions after an abor-

tion; this is common. Speak with someone about these feelings.

They will be able to provide counselling, or refer you for counselling, if needed.

BUYING ABORTION PILLS

It’s against the law to try to cause your own abortion. This includes buying abortion pills without a prescription.

It’s difficult to determine if the pills sold are genuine, and they could be harmful.

Before doing anything, contact an abortion advice service offered at the GPHC family planning for FREE.

20 NEWS

SUNDAY, MAY 8, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

43 Region 1 health centres to be upgraded in 3 months

W

ithin three months, 43 health posts and centres in Region One (Barima-Waini) will be upgraded as part of a $100 million project by the Health Ministry.

Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony announced that an assessment was conducted to determine the state of affairs at these health units. Thereafter, a decision was made to rehabilitate the facilities for patients. In total, the region has 51 such health centres.

“This year, having consulted with the region, we recognised that many of these facilities require some minor upgrading; things

Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony

like a place for people to wait safely, to have washrooms while they wait. We will be upgrading 43 health

centres with the $100 million that we have provided them,” Dr Anthony informed on Friday.

Last week, it was announced that 16 health centres in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) would also be upgraded as part of another $100 million project.

For the year 2022, Government plans on injecting a whopping $73 billion into the healthcare sector.

This is an enormous increase from the $53.5 billion in 2021. From this figure, $1 billion was set aside for upgrades to health centres and an additional $2 billion for medical and non-medical equipment.

There are several larger projects on the Ali-led Administration’s agenda,

geared at decentralising healthcare and enabling easier access for Guyanese. A major initiative is the construction of a new $2 billion multi-specialty hospital at Suddie, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam).

The Governments of Guyana and Austria were also finalising talks in relation to the construction of a much anticipated maternal and children hospital in Georgetown.

Meanwhile, the smart hospital project is in its final stage, linking structural and operational safety and disaster resilience, while maintaining a “green” status in operations. Hospitals

at Diamond, Leonora, Mabaruma, Paramakatoi and Lethem were upgraded under this project. The concept comes under an $835 million grant funded by the former United Kingdom Department for International Development and implemented by PAHO. Funded through a grant from the Indian Government, upgrades to the West Demerara Hospital in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), Suddie Hospital in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) and Bartica Hospital in Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni) will also materialise.

NEWS

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SUNDAY, MAY 8, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Police to seek legal advice Cousin finds 60-year-old partially on Melanie fatal accident decomposed in ECD home

Dead: Ronaldo Sauldrepaul

I

nvestigators probing the accident which claimed the life of Ronaldo Sauldrepaul, a 29-year-old security officer and resident of Venezuela Scheme at Melanie, East Coast Demerara (ECD), who succumbed on Tuesday last, are in the process of seeking legal advice.

This was according to the Guyana Police Force’s Public Relations officer Mark Ramotar. He said that the case file is currently being prepared, and will be dis-

patched to the office of the Police’s legal advisor, to know the way forward.

Sauldrepaul had died three days after the accident occurred at a city hospital, where he was receiving treatment for injuries he sustained. The accident occurred two Saturdays ago at about 18:55h on the Plaisance Public Road, East Coast Demerara.

Reports are that Sauldrepaul was proceeding west along the southern driving lane of the Plaisance Public Road on a motorcycle when motor car PPP 6446 drove north out of Prince William Street, onto the Plaisance Public Road, and into the pathway of the motorcyclist.

As a result of the collision, Sauldrepaul received injuries about his body. He was assisted by public-spirited citizens and taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital’s Accident and Emergency Unit, and was subsequently transported to the Woodlands Hospital to seek medical attention.

Police ranks visited the hospital where Sauldrepaul was admitted, and saw him in an unconscious state receiving medical attention.

However, three days later, Sauldrepaul succumbed to his injuries. The car’s driver was later arrested, charged, and placed on $300,000 station bail. (G9)

A

family member of a 60-year-old man was left in shock after he stumbled upon the partially decomposed remains of his cousin.

Police said the body of Roystan Lam of Bachelor’s Adventure, East Coast Demerara (ECD), was found around 17:45h at his home on Thursday.

Commander of Regional Division Four C, Senior Superintendent Khali Pareshram said after receiving a report, the scene was visited by a party of Police at about 18:10h, where the man’s body was

found.

It was reported that Lam lived alone in a one-storey wooden structure. He was last seen alive on April 29, 2022, by neighbours.

However, at about 17:55h on Thursday evening, the man’s cousin told Police that he visited Lam’s residence and made several calls but got no answer.

Upon investigating closer, a foul smell was emanating from the house.

The Police were immediately summoned, and upon their arrival, the man was found lying on his back.

The scene was processed

and photographed by the Police. The body was then pronounced dead by a doctor attached to the Georgetown Public Hospital. It was later taken to the Merriman Funeral Parlour for storage.

Police in their report said that the Lam’s home was not ransacked, and no foul play was suspected.

Several persons were also questioned.

Investigators further said that based on the information they received, the deceased suffered from hypertension.

Investigations are in progress. (G9)

22 NEWS Police grappling with street crime in Georgetown – Commander admits T SUNDAY, MAY 8, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

he capital city of Georgetown’s foremost law and order problem remains rampant street crime, with armed and unarmed criminals striking during traffic jams, accosting citizens on the streets, shops, as well as in crowded public places. This is according to the division’s Regional Commander.

C o m m a n d e r Superintendent Simon Mc Bean after making this announcement vowed to crack down on the menace, by continuing to increase Police presence in and around the city.

“We have increased our presence in both market areas and Regent Street…” he said during an episode of “Police and You”.

Only recently former Police Commissioner Nigel Hoppie stated that so far

Commander Superintendent Simon Mc Bean

there has been a 16 per cent decline in serious crimes when compared to the corresponding period last year.

The reduction in serious crimes committed, accord-

ing to the Police report, is the lowest figure recorded over a 10-year period.

Even though the efforts launched for the year have yielded results in bringing

down the levels of heinous crimes such as murders, unfortunately, the level of street crime, including mobile snatching and theft of vehicles, has either remained the same or increased slightly.

Around this time last year, vendors who trade around the Stabroek Market had voiced concerns about the increase in robberies there. Some vendors had told this publication that this has had an impact on sales in the area, and persons were diverting their patronage due to criminal elements.

Nevertheless, to deal with this challenge, Commander Mc Bean said he is focusing on developing youth groups in various communities with the aim of curbing this issue.

He believes that once more attention is given to youths in high-risk areas, the issue of crime can be nipped in the

bud.

“We are working on some areas. I would call them highrisk areas. Areas like Tiger Bay, Albouystown, Sophia, Agricola. In those areas, we are in the advanced stages of creating working and community groups…”, he explained.

He also said that he is hoping to partner with persons in those communities to analyse some of the issues they are facing, and later come up with strategies to deal with them.

“We also want to partner with the private sectors to see how we can solve these problems jointly and not just the Police going to say that we are doing this…” he said.

Just last month the US Embassy in Guyana issued a security warning to its staff and citizens, to be careful in the capital city. Shortly af-

ter, the Guyana Police Force (GPF) conducted a walkabout of the Stabroek Market area to begin mapping out strategies for better policing in Georgetown.

The embassy’s statement said, “The city of Georgetown is rated “critical” for crime.

Incidents of robberies, sexual assault, vehicle accidents, and homicides have occurred, particularly in high-risk areas after dark. U.S. mission personnel may not independently visit Stabroek Market. Furthermore, mission personnel have been advised to use extreme caution when visiting Bourda Market during the day, and may not independently visit Bourda Market at night”.

One day later, the GPF issued a statement, noting that plans are “apace to bring safety to market thoroughfares in the city”. (G9)

NEWS

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SUNDAY, MAY 8, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Passenger busted with 30.8kg ganja in taxi A 23-year-old unemployed man of New Amsterdam, Berbice, Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne), is now in Police custody after he was found with 30.8 kilograms of ganja on Saturday afternoon.

At the time, the suspect was a passenger in a taxi that was stopped during a roadblock at about 12:15h at Weldaad, West Coast Berbice (WCB).

It was reported that after the taxi - a white Toyota 212 motor car with registration number HC 2702 - was

stopped, Police conducted a search on the lone passenger.

While searching his bags, 15 compressed parcels wrapped with clear plastic were found. The parcels contained a number of leaves, seeds, and stems suspected to be cannabis.

The passenger was told of the offence of possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking and was arrested and cautioned.

He also admitted possession of the cannabis which was weighed in his presence and it amounted to 30,844 grams (30.84 kg). Thereafter, the cannabis was sealed and lodged.

The suspect was then placed into Police custody as investigations continue. (G9)

The marijuana that Police unearthed

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SUNDAY, MAY 8, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

NEWS

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SUNDAY, MAY 8, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Skyrocketed food commodity prices dropping – FAO

T

he Food and A g r i c u l t u r e Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) has reported a decline in some world food commodity prices, after costs soared in the earlier weeks of the year.

The FAO Food Price Index averaged 158.5 points in April 2022, down 0.8 per cent from the all-time high reached in March. The Index, which tracks monthly changes in the international prices of a basket of commonly-traded food commodities, remained 29.8 per cent higher than in April 2021.

The Index showed vegetable oil prices decreasing by 5.7 per cent, shedding almost a third of the increase registered in March, as demand rationing pushed down prices for palm, sunflower and soy oils. Uncertainties about export availabilities out of Indonesia, the world’s leading palm oil exporter, is linked to further declines in international prices.

FAO Chief Economist, Máximo Torero Cullen commented, “The small decrease in the index is a welcome relief, particularly for low-income food-deficit countries, but still food prices remain close to their recent highs, reflecting persistent market tightness and posing a challenge to global food security for the most vulnerable.”

The FAO Cereal Price Index declined by 0.7 points in April, nudged down by a 3.0 per cent decline in world maize prices.

International wheat prices were strongly affected by continued blockage of ports in Ukraine, concerns over crop conditions in the United States of America, larger shipments from India and higher-than-expected exports from the Russian Federation. This increased by 0.2 per cent.

International rice prices increased by 2.3 per cent from their March levels, buoyed by strong demand from China and the Near East.

Meanwhile, the Sugar Price Index increased by 3.3 per cent due to higher ethanol prices and concerns over the slow start of the 2022 harvest in Brazil,

the world’s largest sugar exporter.

In the Meat Price Index, the increase was 2.2 per cent from the previous month, setting a new record high, as prices rose for poultry, big and bovine meat. Poultry meat prices were affected by disruptions to exports from Ukraine and rising avian influenza outbreaks in the Northern hemisphere. By contrast, ovine meat prices averaged marginally lower.

Dairy prices were also up 0.9 per cent, on the back of persistent global supply tightness as milk output in Western Europe and Oceania continued to track below their seasonal levels.

World butter prices rose the most, influenced by a surge in demand associated with the current shortage of sunflower oil and margarine.

The Organisation also released a new Cereal Supply and Demand Brief with updated forecasts pointing to a likely 1.2 per cent decline in world trade in cereals in the 2021-2022 marketing year compared to the previous year.

The decline is associated with maize and other coarse grains, while trade volumes for rice are predicted to grow by 3.8 per cent and that for wheat by 1.0 per cent.

With almost all crops harvested for this cycle, FAO pegs the world cereal production at 2799 million tonnes, an 0.8 per cent increase from the previous reporting year’s outturn.

World cereal utilisation for the 2021-2022 period is projected to increase by 0.9 per cent from the previous year to 2785 million tonnes.

FAO’s new estimate for world cereal stocks by the close of seasons in 2022 now stands at 856 million tonnes, 2.8 per cent above opening levels, led by a build-up in maize inventories partly due to suspended exports from Ukraine. If confirmed, the global cereal stocks-to-use ratio would end the period unchanged at a “relatively comfortable supply level” of 29.9 per cent, according to FAO. FAO still predicts global wheat production to grow in 2022, to 782 million tonnes. That forecast incor-

porates an expected 20 per cent decline in harvested area in Ukraine as well as drought-driven output declines in Morocco.

For coarse grains, the brief indicates that Brazil is on course to harvest a record maize crop of 116 million tonnes in 2022, while weather conditions are likely to dent maize output in Argentina and South Africa. (G12)

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SUNDAY, MAY 8, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

27 Noise limits for day, night activities now established by GNBS NEWS

SUNDAY, MAY 8, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

ified in the standard, measurements shall be taken by noise receptors located at the property boundary and 15 metres from the source.

“All authorities including the EPA, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Labour and the Ministry of Home Affairs shall employ the sampling method,” the Bureau has notified.

According to one study, worldwide, noise-induced hearing impairment is the most prevalent irreversible occupational hazard. In developing countries, not only occupational noise but also

T

he Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) has developed guidelines governing noise emissions in the environment, outlining the permissible limits before it is considered noise nuisance.

The Guyana Standard – Guidelines for noise emission into the environment (GYS 263:2010), will be a useful tool for those who cause noise or are affected by noise and need guidelines to manage or determine emission levels.

With the standard, guidance is now provided to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) – the body

It defines industrial as any activity pertaining to manufacture, processing, handling, transport, importation, storage, or disposal of materials, including: the extraction and conversion of mineral resources, raw materials, minerals in the process of manufacture, manufactured materials and by-products. In addition, it defines noise as unwanted sound, which may cause or tend to cause an adverse psychological effect on human beings and includes vibration.

Guideline values are specified in the standard for noise in each of the defined environments for which

responsible for regulating noise in Guyana. Part of the Environmental Protection (Noise Management) Regulation requires permissible limits to be set for noise emanating from commercial, residential, institutional, educational, industrial, construction, transportation and recreational activities.

Consequently, the standard specifies allowable noise levels for the aforementioned categories of operations in Guyana and offers definitions for each of them.

those operating within shall comply. Limits are specified for daytime and night-time in decibels (Db), with nighttime limits always being lower than daytime. For residential, daytime limits are 75 decibels and night-time, 60 decibels. Meanwhile, industrial limits are set at 100 decibels during the day and 80 in the night.

Methods of taking samples for noise in the environment are stipulated in the standard. For the determination of noise levels spec-

environmental noise is an increasing risk factor for hearing impairment. Given both the increasing number of noisy activities and the increasing exposure duration, such as loud music in cars, open-air parties and entertainment bars, the GNBS said regulatory action should be undertaken.

Meanwhile, another study of the effects of noise found that it is known to cause problems with concentration, fatigue, uncertainty and lack of self-confidence, irritation, misunderstandings, decreased working ca-

pacity, problems in human relations, and several stress reactions.

“The GNBS encourages all categories of operations that emit noise to conform to the guidelines stipulated in the noise standard. This will reduce its adversity on others and ensure adherence to the law.”

One week ago, Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn cautioned that excessive noise in discos, nightclubs, and bars across Guyana will lead to immediate closure by local authorities.

As a preventive measure, having two warnings for being above the limit, and three warnings for causing too much noise or not observing closing time will be enough to shut down nightspots with immediate effect.

Minister Benn had expressed that it is difficult to deal with cases of bars that continue to violate the Noise Nuisance Act because Police officers are not proactive enough. He added in some cases, Police might have made repeated visits to the same location, and they refuse to cooperate. (G12)

28 NEWS

SUNDAY, MAY 8, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

31 new COVID-19 cases recorded in 24h D

aily detection of COVID infections showed a slight increase on Saturday, after 31 new positives were reported by the Health Ministry.

This is the highest detection within a 24-hour period when compared to statistics from recent weeks.

The latest dashboard informed that total confirmed cases has reached 63,570 – 29,274 males and 34,296 females.

With deaths remaining at 1228, the number of persons in the Intensive Care Unit is zero. There are 124 persons in home isolation, one in institutional isolation and two in institutional quarantine.

Meanwhile, 62,217 infected persons have recovered. To date, 603,198 tests have been processed for the novel coronavirus.

Two new Omicron variants have been the cause of increased infections in South Africa, with detections already reported in the United States. The BA.4 and BA.5 strains have been shown to evade vaccines and immunity from being previous infection.

Last week, South African authorities on Friday said that the country will possibly enter its fifth COVID wave due to the rise of the BA.4 and BA.5 variants.

Infections are rising, and so are hospitalisation figures. As such, local authorities said this week that the health situation is being monitored.

In the meantime, authorities have cautioned that protecting against a severe form of the virus is only possible if one is up to date with their vaccination and booster shots.

In Guyana, vaccination against COVID has remained relatively low this month, with adult coverage standing at 440,628 first doses or 85.9 per cent; and 339,960 second doses or 66.3 per cent.

For the adolescent category, some 25,301 or 34.7 per cent have been fully immunised. The Health Ministry has been confronted with challenges in immunising this age group – a chief factor being lacking consent from parents and guardians.

Almost 62,900 booster

shots have been administered.

If anyone is displaying any of the symptoms associated with COVID-19 or needs any additional information, they are asked to contact the COVID-19 Hotline 231-1166, 226-7480 or 624-6674 immediately or visit www.health.gov.gy.

Global figures reveal that almost 514 million people have tested positive for the virus and 6.24 million have died. In the Americas, more than 153.6 million confirmed cases have been reported with over 2.7 million deaths.

New estimates from the World Health Organisation (WHO) show that the full death toll associated directly or indirectly with the COVID-19 pandemic, described as “excess mortality”, between 2020 and 2021 was approximately 14.9 million.

Most of the excess deaths are concentrated in South-East Asia, Europe, and the Americas at 84 per cent. Some 68 per cent of excess deaths are concentrated in just 10 countries globally. (G12)

GUYANA COVID-19 DASHBOARD MAY 7, 2022 UPDATE

NUMBER OF NEW CASES NUMBER OF PERSONS IN INSTITUTIONAL ISOLATION

31 1

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN HOME ISOLATION

124

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN COVID-19 ICU

0

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN INSTITUTIONAL QUARANTINE

2

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES BY GENDER (FEMALES)

34,296

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES BY GENDER (MALES)

29,274

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES IN GUYANA SINCE 2020

63,570

NUMBER OF RECOVERED CASES

62,217

TOTAL 1st DOSE VACCINATED FULLY IMMUNISED TOTAL NUMBER OF DEATHS

DISTRIBUTION OF TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES SINCE MARCH 2020 REGION 1

2520

REGION 2

2500

REGION 3

8077

REGION 4

31,444

REGION 5

2384

REGION 6

5823

REGION 7

2424

REGION 8

886

REGION 9

4038

REGION 10

3474

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

440,628 339,960 1228

Keep a physical distance of at least 6 feet.

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

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

NEWS

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SUNDAY, MAY 8, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Guyana’s economic growth attracting Chinese investors – Ambassador …companies already bidding on gas-to-shore project

By Amar Persaud

A

s Guyana continues on the track for unprecedented economic growth, it continues to attract the attention of global players including a number of investors from China, who are eyeing major development projects in the country such as the much-touted gasto-shore project.

This is according to the Chinese Ambassador to Guyana, Guo Haiyan, during a recent interview with Guyana Times. She noted that Guyana has great demand and great potential for development thus drawing Chinese investors and companies.

“The interests include energy and infrastructure. For example, the [State-owned] China National Offshore Oil Company – a partner of ExxonMobil [with a 25 per cent interest in the Stabroek Block, offshore Guyana] will make additional investments.”

“And some Chinese companies have participated in the bidding for the gas-to-energy project and some of companies are interested in infrastructure projects… The investment cooperation is contacted through the market and the companies will keep their negotiations confidential at the early stage so I don’t have all the information,” the Ambassador explained.

Only last month, Vice President Bharrat Bharrat disclosed during a press conference that nine companies have been pre-qualified for the construction of the natural gas-fired power plant and the natural gas liquids (NGL) plant components of the gas-to-shore project.

According to Jagdeo, the Request for Proposals (RFP) for the project is expected to be out by the end of May. “A public process has been gone through. They have now pre-qualified, I think, nine companies to bid for the NGL facility and the gas power plant. We are working now, since the two have been combined because we believe that the synergy will save us, and therefore, it required a bit more work at preparing the Request for Proposal. We’re hoping by the end of May that Request for Proposal will go out to the nine pre-qualified companies,” the Vice President had stated.

The multimillion-dollar project will see the rich gas

produced offshore Guyana being piped onshore to a facility at Wales, West Coast Demerara, where it will be processed at the NGL plant for local use as well as export. Additionally, the gas will be used at the power plant to generate cheaper and more reliable electricity to the national grid.

United States oil giant, ExxonMobil, has already indicated that it would be injecting some US$1.3 billion into the project and has already submitted its Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for approval.

Interest in agriculture

Meanwhile, during the recent interview, Ambassador Guo pointed out that the Chinese investors have also expressed interest in Guyana’s vast agricultural sector. She stated that agri-relations between Guyana and China started many years ago and, now Chinese investors want to tap into the rapidly-growing sector.

“The conditions for agriculture development here in Guyana is quite good. I believe there is great potential for our cooperation in agriculture.”

In fact, the Chinese diplomat revealed that investors are looking to pursue a seafood processing project which will add value to the output of the country’s fishing industry.

“Right now, China imports some seafood – some frozen or dried seafoods – from Guyana, and as I know, it’s also encouraged by the Guyanese Government to do processing to develop some value-added industry here.”

“So, as I know, there are some private Chinese companies that are interested in seafood processing to help develop the value-added.”

Additionally, the Ambassador said the Chinese Government is also pursuing some training programmes for capacity building in a number of areas including and agriculture.

In addition to facilitating training for medical doctors, there are also initiatives to promote and foster mushroom growing, bamboo and rattan weaving and cage fishing among others.

Ambassador Guo stated that they have already commenced a short course for mushroom growing, and bamboo and rattan weaving.

“The idea comes from our cooperation with the Ministry of Local Government [and Regional Development] because they want to help farmers in the hinterland to earn a living.

So, we have two projects: one is mushroom growing, and the other is bamboo and rattan weaving.”

“For the mushroom, we have already organised a short course because there are already successful cases in over 100 countries by growing [mushrooms]. It’s a new technology to grow some kinds of mushrooms and some kinds of grass to help them earn some money,” she further explained.

Ambassador Guo added, however, that there still a lot of work left to do in terms of familiarising the local people in Guyana with types of mushrooms and adding it to their diets.

Compliance with laws

But even as more companies and investors eye opportunities in Guyana, the Chinese diplomat stressed that the embassy does not directly facilitate these potential investors. Instead, they merely would guide and introduce them to relevant stakeholders, officials or agencies here in Georgetown.

Moreover, she noted that while they encourage Chinese investors and companies to come here, they also highlight and underscore the necessary local laws and regulations that they would need to comply with to both fulfil their responsibility and to legitimatise their rights in Guyana.

“From time to time, there are Chinese companies that will come to the embassy or consult for more information. We will introduce them to relevant institutions here, for example, GO-Invest

Chinese Ambassador to Guyana, Guo Haiyan

and the PSC (Private Sector Commission).”

With Guyana and China embarking on 50 years of diplomatic ties this year, Ambassador Guo went on to note that the two countries greatly complement each other’s economies in terms of providing opportunities.

“Actually, I believe China and Guyana are opportun-

ists for each other because the two economies are highly complementary.”

“China is the second-largest economy in the world, with a vast market and advance practical technology.

The Chinese Government encourage Chinese companies to seek collaboration opportunities with Guyana,” the diplomat posited.

30 NEWS Region 5 Education Dept honours outstanding mothers T SUNDAY, MAY 8, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

he Education D e p a r t m e n t in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) has honoured mothers representing every school in the region for their outstanding performances in the all-round development of their child and other students attending the school.

The initiative is that of the School’s Welfare Section of the Education Department.

One mother was selected from each of the 31 nursery, 30 primary and 10 secondary schools in Region Five.

Senior Schools’ Welfare Officer Gloria Davidson explained that parents, mothers in particular, had instrumental roles in motivating other parents to ensure their child or children attend school regularly and also acting as a support for the teacher not only in relation to their own offspring but others as well.

According to Davidson, these mothers being recognised were involved in helping around the school their child attends and contributed significantly in ways that can make learning simpler for children attending that school.

The initiative was also a part of this weekend’s Mother’s Day celebration and was held under the theme: “Creating a million

Some of the mothers at the awards ceremony (Education Ministry photo)

ways to be a good mother, in a world where you can’t be a perfect one”.

Regional Education Officer Deon Lyn LewisClark pointed out that while others will not be perfect, they will find their own unique ways to do things.

She pointed out that the Welfare Department has recognised the important role mothers play in the all-around development of their children and their involvement in the school’s programme.

Senior Schools’ Welfare Officer Gloria Davidson explained that the parents mothers in particular - had

instrumental role in motivating other parents to ensure their children attend school regularly and also acting as a support for the teacher not only in relation to their own child but by providing needed advice to other parents.

According to Davidson, those mothers were also involved in helping around in the school their child attends and contributed significantly in ways that can make learning simpler for children attending that school.

Regional Education Officer Deon Lyn LewisClark pointed out that

while others will not be perfect, they will find their own unique ways to do things.

She pointed out that the Welfare Department has recognised the important role mothers play in the allround development of their children and their involvement in the school’s programme.

“The School’s Welfare Section plays a pivotal role in ensuring that school-age children attend school regularly and punctually.”

She said it is the responsibility of parents to ensure their children’s good behaviours.

“You are to ensure that

Advisor to the Education Minister, Africo Selman, presenting a gift to one of the committed mothers (Education Ministry photo)

your children attend school regularly and punctually and don’t only depend on the School’s Welfare Section,” the Regional Educational Officer cautioned.

Meanwhile, Advisor to the Education Minister, Africo Selman expressed her appreciation for the fact that the School’s Welfare Section has the vision to be able to conceptualise such a programme.

Referring to the theme – Creating a million ways to be a good mother, in a world where you can’t be a perfect one; Selman pointed out that the most mothers can try to do is to strive to be the best possible mother.

“My father always used to say to me, ‘the best runner stumbles, but he gets up

and continues going’. That is what we have to instil in our children as mothers,” Selman, who delivered the feature address at the simple award ceremony said while noting that mothers are not only those who would have given birth to the child but sisters, aunts and even foster mothers.

“And then we have those mothers who perform the function of fathers – mothers who not merely provide the emotional support and ensure that their children are ready to go to school every day, and that is why you are being awarded today; because of your outstanding performance as it relates to shepherding your children. (G4)

1 dead, 1 hospitalised as “junkies” fight over female

O

ne man is now dead and another is in a critical condition at the New Amsterdam Hospital after two men were involved in stabbing each other.

Both men are said to be “junkies” (substance abusers who have no fixed place of abode).

The dead man has been identified as only “Fineman”.

He received one stab wound in the vicinity of the heart while the suspect, a 44-yearold resident of Rose Hall Town, is currently hospitalised with two stab wounds.

The incident occurred at May Cock Street, Rose Hall Town, Corentyne, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), on Thursday evening.

Reports are that the suspect, called “Anto”, saw his living mate speaking with “Fineman” and an argument ensued between the suspect and the deceased over a female.

During this, “Anto” reportedly became furious and

approached “Fineman”, withdrew a blue-handled knife from the waist of his pants and dealt the man one stab to his chest.

“Fineman” made a few steps before collapsing.

“Anto” reportedly left the scene, saying he was going to make a report at the Police station.

In the meanwhile, the lifeless body of “Fineman” was escorted to the Port Mourant Public Hospital by the Police and was pronounced dead on arrival.

Sometime after, “Anto” was taken to the same hospital with two stab wounds – one to his neck and one to his abdomen.

He was admitted and indicated that he was first stabbed by “Fineman” and acted in self-defence.

“Anto” was subsequently transferred to the New Amsterdam Public Hospital, where he is a patient currently under Police guard.

Investigations are ongoing.

(G4)

NEWS

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SUNDAY, MAY 8, 2022| GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Flood relief

Port Mourant residents will receive assistance – Mustapha

Minister Zulfikar Mustapha during the visit to Ankerville

A

griculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha, accompanied by a number of officers, on Saturday paid a visit to residents in Port Mourant, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), where persons who experienced flooding last year were assured that they would receive Government assistance.

Mustapha held the meeting with residents from the Ankerville, Port Mourant area, at the home of former President and founder of the PPP/C, the late Cheddi Jagan. While there, residents were assured by him that their issues would soon be addressed.

“The residents told the Minister that they were aware of all the efforts being made at the level of the

Central Government to bring relief to the citizens, especially in the area of drainage and irrigation,” a missive from the Ministry said.

“Minister Mustapha told the residents that a team of engineers will be returning to the village on Tuesday to compile a report detailing all the works needed in the area. He also reassured residents who suffered flooding last year that they will receive assistance from the Government.”

Meetings were also held in Bound Yard, Area R, and Phoebe. Another issue raised during Saturday’s meetings, was the need for more involvement from the Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs). The residents informed the Minister that while they were aware

of the efforts being made at the level of the Central Government, it was important for the NDCs to visit the communities and listen to issues affecting them.

Meanwhile, the Minister assured the residents that a team comprising officers from the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA), the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) and Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA), will return to the area in the coming week to meet with them.

According to him, the team of officers will make note of all the issues, and develop a plan of action to commence works and bring relief to the communities.

In June of last year, several residents from Ankerville were forced to evacuate their homes as a result of extensive flooding to sections of Port Mourant. The flooding was reportedly caused by overtopping of a canal which sent as much as two feet of water in some sections and the water had stayed on the land for over two weeks.

The water which was coming from a canal went into the cultivation area and stretched

several miles, carrying a very strong foul stench. This publication had spoken to several residents, who described their plight.

Among them was Ramsammy Drugen, who was seen with two bags and a bucket leaving the community. He told this publication that he was on his way to Lancaster, which is a few villages away, in search of higher ground.

The 56-year-old man lived in a flat house at Ankerville New Scheme. He said the water had reached a little below

his knees and he was trying to protect himself from diseases.

He also noted that there are all kinds of reptiles taking over his house.

In addition, Marilyn Mohamed, who has been living at her Lot 215 Ankerville home for the past 26 years, had to move a few houses down the street as several inches of water settled in her home. The bedrooms, the kitchen and other parts of the house were covered with the “smelly” water.

Meanwhile, Dhanwattie

Dhanraj, also of the same village, related that she has been under water for the past two weeks. However, water levels rose over the past four days, causing her not to be able to use her kitchen.

When this publication visited, there was water which was about two inches high at her bed foot and about three inches of water was in her kitchen. Another resident, Brian Sahadeo, who made a living from farming, pointed out that the recent floods have completely destroyed his farm.

Cane harvesters attacked by bees

O

ver 35 cane harvesters attached to the Albion Sugar Estate are nursing injuries after they were stung by a swarm of Africanised bees. Some of them have been hospitalised.

The incident happened on Friday morning as the workers were in a punt making

their way to the cane field.

Reports are that while travelling on the water, the gang of workers were attacked by the bees.

According to some of the injured persons, they were all forced to jump overboard.

However, the canal was not deep.

They all received stings to the upper parts of their bodies – some were even stung on their faces.

Most were treated at the Port Mourant Public Hospital. Only a small number of workers were admitted at the health institution for observation. (G4)

32

SUNDAY, MAY 8, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

guyanatimesgy.com

SUNDAY, MAY 8, 2022

33

Regional

Lula launches presidential bid, Colombia's Clan del Golfo attacks says to defend Brazil's democracy vehicles to protest Otoniel extradition

F

ormer leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva launched his presidential bid on Saturday calling on Brazilians to unite behind him to defend Brazil's democracy from the authoritarian Government of far-right President Jair Bolsonaro.

Without mentioning Bolsonaro by name, Lula told supporters at a rally that his adversary was unable to govern and lied constantly to the nation to hide his incompetence.

"The most serious moment the country is going through forces us to overcome our differences and build an alternative path to the incompetence and authoritarianism that govern us," he said.

"We want to join democrats of all political positions, classes, races and religious beliefs ... to defeat the totalitarian threat, the hatred, violence and discrimination hanging over our country," he said to a cheering crowd.

The rally was called a "pre-launch" to comply with Brazilian election law that

A

Former Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva speaking during an event to officially launch the coalition "Vamos Juntos Pelo Brasil" (Let's go together for Brazil) for the presidential election in October, with Geraldo Alckmin as his Vice President candidate, in Sao Paulo, Brazil May 7, 2022

says official campaigning for the October election starts in August.

Recent opinion polls show Lula maintaining a comfortable advantage over his rival if the election were held today, though Bolsonaro has gained ground by boosting welfare spending and travelling around the country.

Bolsonaro has repeatedly questioned Brazil's electronic voting system, raising fears he might not admit defeat.

Lula said he has forged

a widening alliance of seven left-of-center parties so far, and has picked centrist former Sao Paulo governor Geraldo Alckmin for his running mate to draw moderate voters not happy with Bolsonaro's administration.

Lula stressed his achievements during his two terms from 2003-2010 when Brazil grew fast due to a commodities super-boom, allowing his Government to raise millions from poverty.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Peru's Government postpones meeting with Las Bambas mine protesters until Tuesday

T

he Peruvian Government postponed a meeting scheduled for Saturday with the Indigenous communities protesting Las Bambas copper mine due to protest leaders taking too long to respond, Prime Minister Anibal Torres said in a signed document.

The document, dated Friday and seen by Reuters, was sent to the leaders of the Fuerabamba and Huancuire communities and stated that the Government also had "logistical difficulties" and weather difficulties in travelling to the conflict zone.

The letter proposed that the meeting be held on Tuesday.

Peru is the world's second-largest producer of copper and the Chinese-owned

Las Bambas supplies 2 per cent of the world's supply of that metal. The mine is key to the Peruvian economy, as it represents at least 1 per cent of the Andean country's gross domestic product.

Both Indigenous communities had agreed on Friday to meet with Government and mining representatives in a small community outside the current emergency zone. The Prime Minister's office is also proposing Tuesday's meeting be held in Tambobamba, a town farther east and closer to the city of Cuzco.

"We are accepting the meeting called for Tuesday, but we are telling (the Prime Minister) that the meeting be in Pumamarca, as a neutral zone," Alexander Raul

Anglas Quiroz, an adviser to the Huancuire community, told Reuters by telephone.

On April 27, the Government declared a state of emergency in several areas surrounding the mine.

The measure suspends civil liberties such as the right to assembly and protest. Police later tried to evict the protesters, but were unsuccessful.

Residents of the Fuerabamba and Huancuire communities broke in to part of the mine owned by China's MMG Ltd on April 14, forcing Las Bambas to suspend operations. They allege that the mining company has not fulfilled the commitments it made to them. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Mexico's transport authority promises safety after allegations of risky incidents

M

exico's Transport Ministry pledged on Friday to ensure safety for planes crossing the country's skies, responding to a recent report of risky incidents issued by a pilots’ association as the capital's new airport gears up.

A safety bulletin issued by the IFALPA international pilots association on Wednesday reported "several incidents" involving aircraft arriving in Mexico with low fuel, ground proximity warning system alerts in which one crew almost collided unintentionally

with terrain, as well as what it described as flights arriving with excessive delays.

The association pointed to the March opening of the capital's Felipe Angeles commercial airport, build on land once belonging to an adjacent air force base, as a possible factor.

"It would appear that with the opening of this newly converted airport, air traffic control has apparently received little training and support," the bulletin said.

In its statement, the Transport Ministry defended

its oversight performance and pointed to what it described as proper handling of its only reported safety incident from last June. It added that it would immediately convene officials to further evaluate the bulletin's assessment.

Mexico was downgraded to a Category 2 rating in 2021 by the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), due to lacking the "necessary requirements to oversee the country's air carriers in accordance with minimum international safety standards."

(Excerpt from Reuters)

t least 100 vehicles were destroyed on highways across northern Colombia in isolated attacks by the Clan del Golfo criminal gang, which announced an "armed strike" to protest the extradition of former leader Dairo Antonio Usuga, known as Otoniel, to the United States, the Government said on Friday.

The four-day armed strike, intended to restrict the movement of vehicles and people, along with forced closure of businesses, began on Thursday and is mainly affecting the Antioquia, Bolivar, Cordoba and Sucre provinces, officials said.

Colombia extradited Otoniel, who is accused of

drug trafficking and being the leader of the Clan del Golfo, to the United States on Wednesday, following his capture in October last year.

Otoniel pleaded not guilty on Thursday to the US drug trafficking charges and was ordered detained in New York pending trial.

"We're here to guarantee the security of Colombians and confront all those who want to affect the tranquility in these prosperous areas of the country with criminal purposes," Defense Minister Diego Molano said in Monteria, the capital of Cordoba.

Molano announced increased patrols in cities, municipalities and along highways to restore order and

protect traffic and businesses, and hiked rewards for information leading to the arrest of the new leaders of Clan del Golfo.

The Minister also announced the creation of a search block unit of the armed forces to secure their capture.

Following Otoniel's capture, Wilver Giraldo and Jesus Avila Villadiego, known as Sipoas and Chiquito Malo, respectively, took over leadership of the Clan del Golfo, Molano said.

He raised the reward for information helping to locate and capture them to around US$1.2 million. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Grim search in blown-out Havana hotel, death toll at 26

C

uban rescue workers on Saturday picked through rubble for bodies and possible survivors after a Havana boutique hotel was devastated by what authorities said was a gas explosion, leaving at least 26 dead.

The blast at the Hotel Saratoga, just a block from the iconic capitol building in a renovated area of downtown Havana, seriously damaged two adjoining upscale apartment buildings and inflicted lighter damage to 17 structures within a two-block radius. Debris fell on pedestrians in the heavily travelled area and glass and debris went flying at a nearby grammar school.

Local authorities said 50 adults and 14 children were injured. Four of the dead were children, they said, providing few details. One of the dead was a Spanish tourist.

Authorities and local media said rescuers were working to get to a passage way to the basement

A gas tanker truck is lifted from debris after an explosion hit the Hotel Saratoga in Havana, Cuba, May 6, 2022

in hopes there were survivors. They said it was slow going as engineers had to check the stability of what remained of the building.

The hotel, housed in a more than century-old building, had been closed and only workers were inside at the time of the explosion, state-run TV said.

Residents of the adjoining apartment building often rented out to tourists.

The neoclassical-style hotel was remodeled by a British company after the

fall of the Soviet Union and for many years was considered the place to stay by visiting government officials and celebrities.

Recently, it had lost some of its shine with the opening of new hotels in Havana, but was still a five-star venue just a minute away from various historic sites such as the renovated, century-old Marti Theater, which sustained moderate damage.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

3 US tourists die at Bahamas hotel after falling ill

T

hree US tourists have died and another airlifted to a hospital for after falling ill at a resort in the Bahamas officials of the Atlantic island nation confirmed.

Acting Prime Minister Chester Cooper issued a statement Friday saying that Police are investigating and the cause of death was unknown, though foul play “is not suspected.”

Their identities were not initially made public.

The Health Minister, Dr Michael Darville, told Eyewitness News Bahamas on Saturday that some ho-

tel guests went to a clinic Thursday with nausea and vomiting, were treated and left. Three were later found dead. A fourth was flown to a hospital in New Providence.

He said the environmental health scientists, physicians and others were investigating to ensure there was not a public health hazard.

“We feel that what we are seeing is an isolated case associated in a particular area,” he said, adding that investigators are doing toxicology and blood tests to help determine the cause of the illness.

Cooper was filling in for

Prime Minister Philip E Davis, who was out of the country.

The Head of Communications for the Prime Minister’s office, Latrae L Rahming, tweeted that the deaths occurred at Sandals Emerald Bay in Exuma.

In a statement to People Magazine, a representative for Sandals confirmed the deaths and said the company was “actively working to support both the investigation as well as the guests’ families in every way possible.” (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

34

guyanatimesgy.com

SUNDAY, MAY 8, 2022

Around the World

OILNEWS OIL NEWS Crude oil prices likely to remain volatile as USD trades near a 20-year high

O

il prices climbed for a third straight session on Friday, shrugging off concerns about global economic growth as worries about tightening supplies underpinned prices ahead of an impending European Union embargo on Russian oil.

This week, we saw crude oil prices jump by almost around 10 per cent from Monday’s low in both international as well as domestic markets as the European Union, the world’s largest trading bloc, spelled out plans to phase out imports of Russian oil, offsetting demand worries in top importer China.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen proposed a phased oil embargo on Russia over its war in Ukraine, as well as sanctioning Russia’s top bank, in a bid to deepen Moscow’s isolation.

OPEC+ sees a surplus of 1.9 million barrels per day in 2022, 600,000 bpd higher from a previous forecast, amid expectations of slower demand growth this year.

The report, prepared ahead of a meeting of the OPEC+ Joint Technical Committee meeting, also sees OECD oil stocks slightly exceeding the 2015-2019 average in the fourth quarter.

The revision reflects a weaker oil demand growth forecast adopted by the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) in its April oil monthly report.

Prices were also supported by OPEC+ ratifying a limited production increase following the European Union’s proposed ban on Russian imports. OPEC and its allies will nominally increase production by 432,000 barrels a day in June.

However, OPEC only managed an increase of just 10,000 barrels a day in April. OPEC now expects 2022 world oil demand to expand by 3.67 million bpd 2022, down 480,000 bpd from its previous forecast.

The group cited the impact of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, rising inflation as crude prices soared, and the resurgence of the Omicron coronavirus variant in China as reasons for the revision.

US crude oil stockpiles rose unexpectedly last week, while distillate and gasoline inventories dropped again as refiners continue to boost fuel exports to a world in need of supply, the Energy Information Administration said on Wednesday.

Crude price also got support after a report leaked that the United States will take bids this fall to buy back 60 million barrels of crude oil for the US Strategic Petroleum Reserve, the first step in replenishing the stockpile after a record-sized release this spring.

We expect crude oil prices to remain volatile. The longerterm outlook for prices also remains bullish as the EU prepares for a Russian oil embargo, which could see up to 2 million bpd in Russian output lost by the end of this month.

We expected the trading range for WTI crude oil next week would be in between US$100.00 to US$114.50; however, currency (USDINR) will play an important role to decide domestic crude oil price.

We expect oil prices to remain volatile next week. WTI Crude oil is having support at US$103.80-US$98.40 and resistance is at US$114.5-US$117.65. (The Economic Times)(The author is VP commodities, Mehta Equities Ltd)

Ukraine says all women, children now evacuated from Mariupol steel mill

A

ll women, children and elderly civilians have been evacuated from the Azovstal steel mill in Mariupol, Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister said on Saturday, despite what military officers said was an ongoing Russian assault at the plant.

“This part of the Mariupol humanitarian operation is over,” Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk wrote on the Telegram messaging app.

The Soviet-era steel mill, the last holdout in Mariupol for Ukrainian forces, has emerged as a symbol of resistance to the Russian effort to capture swathes of eastern and southern Ukraine in the 10-week-old war.

Under heavy bombardment, fighters and civilians have been trapped for weeks in deep bunkers and tunnels

Civilians evacuated from Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol walk accompanied by a member of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and a UN staff member, as they arrive at a temporary accommodation centre in the village of Bezimenne, during Ukraine-Russia conflict in the Donetsk Region, Ukraine May 6, 2022

criss-crossing the site, with little food, water or medicine.

Russian forces backed by tanks and artillery tried again on Saturday to storm

Taliban orders Afghan women to cover their faces in public if she did not cover her face outside the home.

The spokesman added that the ideal face covering is the burqa, which became a global symbol of the Taliban’s previous hardline rule from 1996 until 2001.

Most women in Afghanistan wear a headscarf, but many in urban areas, such as Kabul, do not cover their faces.

Speaking to Al Jazeera, Fawzia Koofi, former

Afghan women and girls take part in a protest in front of the Ministry of Education in Kabul on March 26, 2022, demanding that high schools be reopened for girls [Ahmad Sahel Arman/AFP]

A

fghanistan’s supreme leader has ordered the country’s women to cover their faces in public – one of the harshest restrictions imposed on them since the Taliban seized power last year and an escalation of growing restrictions on women that is drawing a backlash from the international community and many Afghans.

“They should wear a chadori (head-to-toe burqa) as it is traditional and

respectful,” said a decree issued by Taliban chief Haibatullah Akhunzada that was released by authorities at a function in Kabul on Saturday.

A spokesman for the Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice read the decree from Akhunzada at a media conference, saying that a woman’s father or closest male relative would be visited and eventually imprisoned or fired from Government jobs

Nigerian airlines to halt domestic flights over jet fuel hikes

N

igeria’s airlines are to stop domestic operations from Monday in protest at the spiralling cost of jet fuel.

It has risen almost fourfold this year, which was unsustainable, the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) said.

“No airline in the world can absorb this kind of sudden shock from such an astronomical rise over a short period,” its statement said.

The hikes have been trig-

gered principally by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine at the end of February.

AON, which represents Nigeria’s nine domestic carriers, said the airlines had been having to subsidise services over the last four months.

There have been many flight cancellations and delays since March, often blamed on a shortage of jet fuel. The price of tickets has also tripled on some routes in recent weeks.

Passengers in Nigeria pay for fares in naira, the local

Azovstal, Ukraine’s military command said, seeking to dislodge the last Ukrainian defenders in the strategic port city on the Azov Sea. Weeks of Russian bom-

bardment have left Mariupol in ruins and the steel mill has been largely destroyed.

Several groups of civilians have left the sprawling complex over the past week during pauses in fighting.

Earlier on Saturday, Russia’s Interfax news agency cited Moscow-backed separatists in Ukraine’s Donetsk region as saying 50 more people had been evacuated from the besieged steelworks.

The separatists said a total of 176 civilians had now been evacuated from the plant.

Evacuations of civilians began last weekend from the Azovstal plant, brokered by the United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

They were halted during the week by renewed fighting.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

currency that has been devaluing. However, fuel suppliers need to be paid in US dollars.

Despite being Africa’s largest oil producer, Nigeria imports almost all its jet fuel.

AON said that it had told the Government, MPs, the State-owned oil company and the association representing fuel sellers that something needed to be done to bring costs down.

The hikes could not be fully passed on to passengers as they were “already experienc-

ing a lot of difficulties”, it said.

The Government has not yet commented on the planned strike.

Flights are often the preferred option for travel these days for those who can afford it because of insecurity on roads across the country, he says.

Kidnapping gangs operate on highways, targeting vehicles and then abducting passengers who they hold for ransom. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Afghanistan Parliament Deputy Speaker, said the Taliban’s decrees regarding women can only be regarded as “oppression and repression”.

Since taking over Afghanistan, the Taliban have reintroduced draconian restrictions on freedoms and movements, particularly directed at women, that are reminiscent of their last rule in the 1990s. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Egyptian soldiers killed in armed attack in Sinai – Army

A

t least 11 members of the Egyptian military, including an officer, have been killed in an armed attack on the Sinai Peninsula, an army spokesman has said, adding that the security forces “foiled a terrorist attack” on a water-lifting station east of the Suez Canal.

Five security personnel were also injured in the attack. “The terrorist elements are being chased and besieged in one of the isolated areas in Sinai,” the spokesman added in a statement on Saturday.

President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi mourned the death of the troops, vowing in a Facebook post to continue fighting the rebels and “uprooting terrorism.”

The military gave no further details or the attack’s precise location, but two northern Sinai residents told Associated Press the attack took place in the town of Qantara in the province of Ismailia, which stretches eastwards from the Suez Canal.

No group claimed responsibility for Saturday’s ambush, one of the deadliest attacks against Egyptian security forces in recent years.

Last week, suspected fighters blew up a natural gas pipeline in northern Sinai’s town of Bir al-Abd, causing a fire but no casualties.

Egypt has been battling armed groups loyal to ISIL (ISIS) in the Sinai Peninsula which intensified after the military overthrew the Muslim Brotherhood leader Mohamed Morsi – the country’s first democratically-elected president – in 2012.

In recent years, pipelines carrying Egyptian oil and gas to neighbouring Israel and Jordan have been the primary focus of armed attacks.

The pace of armed attacks in Sinai and elsewhere has slowed to a trickle since February 2018, when the military launched a huge operation in the region as well as parts of the Nile Delta and deserts along the country’s western border with Libya.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

guyanatimesgy.com

SUNDAY MAY 8, 2022

ARIES (March 21April 19)

35

Put your best foot forward and do your best to fulfill your desires. Take control by putting things into play that help you ease stress and clear the way to personal happiness and success.

Take better care of your health.

TAURUS A positive state of mind, coupled (April 20- with an overall vibrant appearMay 20) ance, will help you overcome situations that create emotional angst.

Stop worrying about what others do and focus on your happiness.

Choose peace over discord.

Reach out and do your best GEMINI (MAY 28- to make a difference. Show kindness and compassion, and June 20) bring out the best in those around you. How you interact with others will determine your success. Romance is favored.

Keep your distance from

CANCER anyone who doesn't abide by (June 21- the rules or puts others at July 22) risk. Listen to your heart and think big, but live within your means. Balance and integrity will be key.

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

Emotional mayhem will lead to mistakes. Don't make an impromptu decision or take on someone else's dream. Think, strategize and carry out your plans as you see fit. A serious and dedicated approach will pay off.

Don't stop short of success.

VIRGO Follow through with your (Aug. 23plans, regardless of how othSept. 22)

ers react. Your ability to get things done will help you outmaneuver anyone who wants to get in your way.

Dilbert LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

Peanuts

Set your sights on what counts the most to you and surround yourself with people who make you think. Adjust things at home to help cut your overhead and make you feel relaxed.

Bypass drama and people who want to bring you down.

Socialize, and take a creative path that gives you the freedom to grow mentally and explore something that excites you.

You have more going for you SAGITTARIUS than you realize. Don't let inse(Nov. 23curity get the best of you. Trust Dec. 21)

and believe in your skills, experience and capabilities. Live, love and be happy.

Stop worrying about what CAPRICORN others think and start tak(Dec. 22ing responsibility for your Jan. 19) happiness. Put pressure

where it counts and consider changes that will make your life more comfortable.

Calvin and Hobbes

Share your thoughts and

AQUARIUS feelings with someone close to (Jan. 20you, and you'll come up with a Feb. 19) plan that will make you both

happy. Sharing will give you breathing room to focus on what makes you happy.

Keep money matters to PISCES (Feb. 20- yourself. Do what you can to Mar. 20) help a cause, but don't jeop-

ardize your financial or emotional position. Offer what's feasible. Walk away from temptation.

36

SUNDAY MAY 8, 2022

IPL 2022: Rajasthan Royals vs Punjab Kings…

Jaiswal, Hetmyer consolidate Royals’ third place position looked sufficient at the halfway stage, but didn’t turn out to be.

A mixed day for Boult

Yashasvi Jaiswal top scored with 68

A

returning Yashasvi Jaiswal scored a sparkling half-century from the top of the order as Rajasthan Royals chased down 190 against Punjab Kings with two balls to spare. The win helped them consolidate their third position on the points table.

Cameos from Jos Buttler and Sanju Samson gave Royals a flying start, but with Devdutt Padikkal struggling at #4, Jaiswal almost singlehandedly steered the chase for a large part with his 68 off 41 balls.

Royals still needed 49 off 34 balls when he was dismissed, and Padikkal dragging them back with a 32ball 31, before Shimron Hetmyer took them over the line with an unbeaten 31 off 16 balls.

Earlier, after Samson had lost his tenth toss in 11 games, Punjab Kings rode on Jonny Bairstow’s half-century and fireworks towards the end from Jitesh Sharma and Liam Livingstone to post a formidable total.

I t

Opening the bowling, Trent Boult found swing with his first delivery, but it ended up on the pads, and Bairstow flicked it through midwicket for four. Three balls later, Boult switched to around the wicket, but again strayed down the leg side, and Bairstow helped it past short fine leg for another boundary.

Boult made a strong comeback in his second over, bowling a maiden to Shikhar Dhawan, but went for 18 in his third, as Bairstow and Shikhar hit him for two fours and a six.

Bairstow, Rajapaksa keep the attack going

R. Ashwin sent back Shikhar in the final over of the powerplay, with Buttler back-pedalling at mid-on, leaping high, and plucking the ball out of the air with his right hand.

Bairstow and Bhanuka Rajapaksa, however, kept on the attack. Facing only his third ball, Rajapaksa smashed Yuzvendra Chahal for six. Two overs later, he launched Kuldeep Sen over long-off, before hitting Prasidh Krishna for backto-back fours.

Bairstow, too, found the boundary at regular intervals, and the two took the side to 88 for 1 after ten overs.

Chahal strikes back

Coming into this game, Kings had the lowest scoring rate (6.80) against spin among the ten teams in the tournament.

And spin once again proved to be their

Achilles’ heel.

Rajapaksa stepped out to Chahal, only to be bowled. Bairstow brought up his half-century, his first of the season, off 34 balls, but Chahal returned to dismiss Mayank Agarwal and Bairstow in the same over.

That left Kings on 122 for 4 after 15 overs, with two new batters at the crease.

Jitesh, Livingstone finish strongly

It looked like Royals might restrict Kings to 175, but Jitesh took the lead and hit Prasidh for two consecutive fours, before walloping Chahal for a six. Livingstone was on 12 off ten balls when he hit Prasidh for a six and a four in the space of three balls. But the seamer cut his innings short when he moved too far across to a full-and-straight ball and was bowled. In the final over, Jitesh hit Sen for 6, 4, 4 off successive balls to ensure a strong finish.

Royals’ blazing start

It looked like Kings could breathe easily for a while, but Buttler, with a mix of power, timing and luck, had collected four fours in the first seven balls he faced.

So, at the end of eight overs, Royals were 85 for 1.

Jaiswal, Hetmyer make up for Padikkal’s struggles

Rishi Dhawan sent Samson back for 23 off 12 balls when

the batter skied one to cover point. Batting at #4, Padikkal got stuck in first gear, but Jaiswal’s stroke- play kept Royals abreast with the asking rate. With 77 needed from eight overs, Jaiswal took three fours in one Rishi over. Against Yuzvendra Chahal Rahul Chahar, bagged 3-28

It was a daunting target, but Royals got off to a blazing start, with Jaiswal hitting Sandeep Sharma for two fours and a six in the first over. In the fourth over, Buttler took Kagiso Rabada to the cleaners, smashing him for three fours and a six. But the bowler had the last laugh on the last ball of the over when Buttler shuffled across to lap Rabada over short fine leg, only to be bowled full at his feet.

Buttler realised the ball wasn’t there for the

Johnny Bairstow led the charge for the Kings with 56

shot, changed his mind, and tried to help it over short third man, but couldn’t clear the fielder.

he brought out the reverse sweep to fetch another boundary. But he holed out to long-on off Arshdeep Singh, with the seamer conceding only three in the 15th over.

Hetmyer dragged Arshdeep for two leg-side fours in his next over, to bring down the asking rate.

In the 18th over, bowled

by Rabada, Padikkal also chipped in with two fours, with a Hetmyer six sandwiched in between. That

Shirmon Hetmyer blasted 31* off 16

over produced 16 runs and brought the equation down to 11 from 12 balls. Arshdeep again conceded only three, and dismissed Padikkal, but the equation was very much in Royals’ favour.

With eight needed from the final over, Chahar started with a wide down the leg side. Hetmyer then lofted the next ball over long-on to level the scores. Two balls later, he chipped a full toss towards long-on for the winning run. (Cricinfo)

SCOREBOARD PUNJAB KINGS INNINGS (20 overs maximum) Jonny Bairstow lbw b Chahal 56 Shikhar Dhawan c Buttler b Ashwin 12 Bhanuka Rajapaksa b Chahal 27 Mayank Agarwal (c) c Buttler b Chahal 15 Jitesh Sharma †not out 38 Liam Livingstone b Prasidh Krishna 22 Rishi Dhawan not out 5 Extras (lb 3, nb 1, w 10) 14 TOTAL 20 Ov (RR: 9.45) 189/5 Did not bat: Kagiso Rabada, Rahul Chahar, Arshdeep Singh, Sandeep Sharma Fall of wickets: 1-47 (Shikhar Dhawan, 5.1 ov), 2-89 (Bhanuka Rajapaksa, 10.2 ov), 3-118 (Mayank Agarwal, 14.2 ov), 4-119 (Jonny Bairstow, 14.4 ov), 5-169 (Liam Livingstone, 18.5 ov) BOWLING O-M-R-W Trent Boult 4-1-36-0 Prasidh Krishna 4-0-48-1 Kuldeep Sen 4-0-42-0 Ravichandran Ashwin 4-0-32-1 Yuzvendra Chahal 4-0-28-3

RAJASTHAN ROYALS INNINGS (Target: 190 runs from 20 overs) Yashasvi Jaiswal c Livingstone b Arshdeep Singh 68 Jos Buttler c Rajapaksa b Rabada 30 Sanju Samson (c)†c S Dhawan b R Dhawan 23 Devdutt Padikkal c Agarwal b Arshdeep Singh 31 Shimron Hetmyer not out 31 Riyan Parag not out 0 Extras (w 7) 7 TOTAL 19.4 Ov (RR: 9.66) 190/4 Did not bat: Ravichandran Ashwin, Trent Boult, Prasidh Krishna, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Sen Fall of wickets: 1-46 (Jos Buttler, 3.6 ov), 2-85 (Sanju Samson, 8.1 ov), 3-141 (Yashasvi Jaiswal, 14.2 ov), 4-182 (Devdutt Padikkal, 18.5 ov) BOWLING O-M-R-W Sandeep Sharma 4-0-41-0 Kagiso Rabada 4-0-50-1 Arshdeep Singh 4-0-29-2 Rishi Dhawan 3-0-25-1 Rahul Chahar 3.4-0-39-0 Liam Livingstone 1-0-6-0

Spartans cart off Indian Arrival Day Dominoes Tournament at Linden …Cop Tony’s Jewelry Trophy and $130,000

G

eorgetown side Spartans went to Linden and conquered their rivals to walk away with victory in the Indian Arrival Day Dominoes competition put on by Swag Boss and played on Friday at the Senior Supervisors Club.

Playing in the competition, which was regulated as four games instead of the normal six games’ format, Spartans proved themselves better than the competition, amassing 50 games in the final to leave Linden’s Swag Boss, representing Linden, well behind on 46, and fellow Georgetown team All Season in third position on 43.

Both Swag Boss and All Season were locked on 39, trailing Spartans, who finished on 41 going into the

Spartans celebrating after their win

final sitting.

For their outstanding play, Spartans copped the top prize of $130,000 and the winners’ trophy, donated by Tony’s Jewelry.

Swag Boss played well to end in second place with 46 games and gain $100,000,

while All Season had to settle for third and $70,000.

The sponsors of this tournament included Marltann Enterprise, Broad Money Spare Parts, Banks DIH XM Rum, Tony’s Jewelry and Smirnoff Vodka, and Spartans.

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

SUNDAY MAY 8, 2022

37

IPL 2022: Kolkata Knight Riders vs Lucknow Super Giants…

Lucknow Super Giants go top -as KKR routed for 101

even before he had a chance to face a ball. This mishap happened in the process of looking for a quick single, a nicety de Kock didn't bother with in the rest of his innings.

He was brutal against every ball pitched short or short of a length, and the bowlers tended to overcompensate when they went up, allowing him to drive balls.

He scored 44 off 23 in a 66-run powerplay, their second-biggest powerplay this season.

While de Kock took care of pace in his 29-ball 50, which included three sixes and four fours, Deepak Hooda hit Sunil Narine for a six in the fourth, and Anukul Roy for a four in the fifth.

Jason Holder took 3-31

L

ucknow Super Giants have gone to the top of the table with three matches to go, having taken a comprehensive win against the Kolkata Knight Riders, who now stand all but knocked out of contention.

Knowing the slow Pune pitch would be ill-suited to shot-making in the middle overs, LSG went hard against the new ball, despite the dismissal of captain KL Rahul without a ball faced.

The expected slowdown ensued, as balls bowled into the pitch proved to be difficult to score off, but a 30-run 19th over by Shivam Mavi sent LSG on their way to a par-plus total.

Super Giants' pace attack then bounced Knight Riders' top order out, reducing them to 25 for 4 before Andre Russell created excitement with his 19-ball 45; but he, too, fell to a short ball.

The end was swift, as Knight Riders were bowled out for 101, with 5.3 overs to spare. Two wicket-maidens and just three scores in double-figures told the story of the defence.

The slowdown

Hooda, de Kock sparkle

In the first over, Quinton de Kock ran his captain Rahul out,

Quinton de Kock scored a brilliant half century

SCOREBOARD LUCKNOW SUPER GIANTS INNINGS (20 overs maximum) Quinton de Kock † c Shivam Mavi b Narine 50 KL Rahul (c) run out (Iyer) 0 Deepak Hooda c Iyer b Russell 41 Krunal Pandya c Finch b Russell 25 Ayush Badoni not out 15 Marcus Stoinis c Iyer b Shivam Mavi 28 Jason Holder c Singh b Southee 13 Dushmantha Chameera run out (†Indrajith) 0 Extras (b 1, lb 1, w 2) 4 TOTAL 20 Ov (RR: 8.80) 176/7 Did not bat: Avesh Khan, Mohsin Khan, Ravi Bishnoi Fall of wickets: 1-2 (KL Rahul, 0.5 ov), 2-73 (Quinton de Kock, 7.2 ov), 3-107 (Deepak Hooda, 12.4 ov), 4-122 (Krunal Pandya, 14.5 ov), 5-160 (Marcus Stoinis, 18.4 ov), 6-175 (Jason Holder, 19.4 ov), 7-176 (Dushmantha Chameera, 19.6 ov) BOWLING O-M-R-W Tim Southee 4-0-28-1 Shivam Mavi 4-0-50-1 Sunil Narine 4-0-20-1 Anukul Roy 3-0-27-0 Harshit Rana 2-0-27-0 Andre Russell 3-0-22-2

KOLKATA KNIGHT RIDERS INNINGS (Target: 177 runs from 20 overs) Baba Indrajith †c Badoni b Mohsin Khan 0 Aaron Finch c †de Kock b Holder 14 Shreyas Iyer (c)c Badoni b Chameera 6 Nitish Rana b Avesh Khan 2 Rinku Singh c Pandya b Ravi Bishnoi 6 Andre Russell c Holder b Avesh Khan 45 Sunil Narine c Pandya b Holder 22 Anukul Roy c †de Kock b Avesh Khan 0 Shivam Mavi not out 1 Tim Southee c Avesh Khan b Holder 0 Harshit Rana run out (Badoni/Holder) 2 Extras (lb 1, w 2) 3 TOTAL 14.3 Ov (RR: 6.96) 101 Fall of wickets: 1-0 (Baba Indrajith, 0.6 ov), 2-11 (Shreyas Iyer, 3.4 ov), 3-23 (Aaron Finch, 5.4 ov), 4-25 (Nitish Rana, 6.5 ov), 5-69 (Rinku Singh, 11.1 ov), 6-85 (Andre Russell, 12.2 ov), 7-85 (Anukul Roy, 12.4 ov), 8-99 (Sunil Narine, 14.1 ov), 9-99 (Tim Southee, 14.2 ov), 10-101 (Harshit Rana, 14.3 ov) BOWLING O-M-R-W Mohsin Khan 3-1-6-1 Dushmantha Chameera 3-0-14-1 Avesh Khan 3-1-19-3 Jason Holder 2.3-0-31-3 Ravi Bishnoi 3-0-30-1

Narine came into the match with just the seven wickets, but with an economy rate that was under a run-a-ball. The pattern has been clear: sides are playing him out and targeting the other KKR bowlers. de Kock, though, aims higher when he gets going. He tried to hit Narine too, but the ball gripped to take the intended extra-cover loft to long-off.

The bowlers then started to use the middle of the pitch more, with the slower balls gripping too. Krunal Pandya got stuck for a 27-ball innings that couldn't reach a run-a-ball. Narine found support in Russell, who got Hooda and Pandya both with the short ball. Between them, Narine, Russell and Tim Southee bowled 11 overs for 70 runs, and took four wickets in the process.

The finish

Marcus Stoinis chose to play the first half of the death overs with caution.

Overs 16, 17 and 18, bowled

by Narine, Mavi and Russell, went for just one boundary, and that was off an edge.

At 142 for 4, it looked like Super Giants might end up underachieving.

The 19th over, though, changed all that. Bowling to a short leg-side boundary, Mavi, who had conceded just 20 in three overs till then, had a horror over. Stoinis hit the first three balls for sixes, two in the slot and one a short ball, over the leg side. The fourth ball was in the slot too, but Stoinis just couldn't get the elevation, and found deep midwicket.

The arrival of a new batter didn't change things: Mavi bowled two more slot balls, which Jason Holder hit over square leg and longoff. Southee pulled things

Avesh Khan bagged 3-19

back a little in the final over, but Super Giants knew they had plenty on the board.

The start

Mohsin Khan, arguably the most impressive of a bunch of impressive young Indian quicks going around, started the defence perfectly. He bowled at high pace, got length balls to seam away, bowled a full inswinger, and then provided the finishing touch with a sharp and accurate bouncer last ball to get B Indrajith out.

When Knight Riders got their first run off the ninth ball of the innings, they had achieved the longest wait for a first run this IPL. Dushmantha Chameera matched Mohsin's pace, and if anything, bowled harder lengths. In the fourth over of the innings, he followed a backing-away Shreyas Iyer

with a bouncer, who, in trying to pull him down, gave square leg an easy catch.

Jason Holder reserved the same treatment for Aaron Finch, before Avesh Khan bookended this opening burst with a yorker to take out Nitish Raina, who was backing away, expecting a short ball. This second wicket-maiden left KKR at 25 for 4 in seven overs.

Narine, too, managed to score 22 off 12, but the lower order collapsed. Holder was on a hat-trick with the last pair at the wicket. Harshit Rana avoided the hat-trick, but ran himself out in taking a third.

(Cricinfo)

Russell keeps KKR interested…only for a while

With Russell coming to bat in the seventh over, KKR were either going to win comfortably or not bat out their allocation. There is no in-between. Russell did hit five sixes and three fours in just 19 balls, but eventually an Avesh short ball flew to third man, who was placed fine just for this.

Andre Russell scored 45 off 19

38

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

SUNDAY MAY 8, 2022

GCB presents over $800,000 worth of cricket gear to UDCA/Linden

GCB President Bissoondyal Singh is flanked by representatives of UDCA

T

he Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) is moving full speed ahead to implement a number of programmes that are in the pipeline. Some will be done simultaneously to make up for lost time was the conviction expressed by Bissoondyal Singh, President of the GCB, as he spoke at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Upper Demerara Cricket Association (UDCA), held recently at the Watooka Guest House in Linden, Region 10.

During that AGM, more than $800,000 worth of cricket gear was handed over to the UDCA for use by the organisation in development of the game in Region 10. The UDCA is the body responsible for the conduct of cricket and all cricket-related activities in Region 10, a region which encompasses a wide area that includes Linden and the mining and riverine districts of Berbice Demerara and Essequibo.

In speaking at the ceremony, Singh first congratulated

the President and Executive body of the UDCA on behalf of the GCB and DCB, and wished them all the best in their term in office. In an impassioned address, Singh said Region 10 is close to his heart, and he and his team of executives are happy to be among the gathering.

He recalled the sacrifices the UDCA had made along with cricket stakeholders during the turbulent times of the previous GCB administration, and said, “The UDCA stood the test of time. They were treated badly, were ostracized, and must be applauded. Many efforts were made to destroyed and disband the body, but the UDCA prevailed.”

Further, he mentioned the contribution made by the legendry Sir Clive Lloyd along with the gathering of some 7000 signatures to help get the Cricket Administration Act passed.

That entire process took years to conclude, he said, including a number of court

battles.

The GCB, Singh said, is the parent body for cricket in Guyana, and deals specifically with county boards in Demerara, Berbice and Essequibo. The UDCA is simply an Association that is affiliated to the DCB. However, due to county boards’ resilience and the fact that they are now getting off the ground, in comparison with the other Associations that have been around for years, they must be singled out for special assistance.

“You were stifled for over 11 years by the previous administrators, and must be given some attention, and the GCB is willing to assist,” he explained.

Alluding to the hard work and enthusiasm of the UDCA members, Singh mentioned the recently concluded U15 Inter Association Cricket Competition in Demerara. For the first time, he pointed out, an Under-15 team from Region 10 was selected to participate in a crick-

et competition. What is exemplary about that, he said, is that the team was selected in two weeks. The players had never played hard ball cricket, but were eager to play.

And what is more commendable is that one of the members of the team was selected to participate in the ongoing Inter-County Competition.

Touching on the donation, he said it is being done to help the Association with gear and equipment needed for training sessions and to play matches. He urged recipients of gear to make full use of the items donated, and said he looks forward to seeing talented players coming from the Region.

He assured the UDCA that that donation would not be the last. The items donated included bats, pads, gloves, stumps, balls.

The GCB will be moving

to implement several activities, including training and playing matches, across the country, Singh declared. So, it would be prudent for the UDCA to have an adequate quantity of cricket gear and equipment to support player development plans.

Singh mentioned the rolling out of a massive schools’ programme, to be undertaken shortly with the training of 150 teachers from 75 primary schools countrywide. Region 10, he intoned, would be an integral part of that programme.

Competition would commence at the end of the training sessions.

The GCB President commended the UDCA for having a number of females on board as part of the executives. Such a move is a good sign, he said, especially for youth and female cricket.

Females are passionate in

BFA officially launches Bartica men’s senior league

whatever they do, and they would help to stimulate the work of the UDCA. He challenged the UDCA to have teams ready for all other competitions, including Under-17, Under-19, and females, among others.

A very elated President of the UDCA, Bradley Fredericks, has said the UDCA is extremely grateful for such an enormous contribution. Pointing out that the worth and value of the gear goes beyond its $800,000 price tag, the UDCA president said that with the donation of the gear, it would be easier for them to help administer the game across the Region.

He promised that he and his executives would make full use of the items donated, and stressed that his board would continue to create the environment for players to grow and take up GCB challenge to have teams prepared in time for all upcoming competitions.

CLASSIFIED ADS ACCOMMODATIONS Bartica FA members and General Council members following the BFA Senior League launch

“I

t’s time for Bartica to have football on the go, bigger and better, and here is where we start that journey. The Bartica Football Association (BFA) tonight is officially launching the Bartica Football Association men’s senior league, and we’re looking forward for a great and exciting league of football”.

Those were the words of Alden Marslowe, President of the Bartica Football Association, in his opening remarks at the launching of the Bartica Football Association men’s league 2022.

This activity was held at the Bartica Town Council Boardroom on May 6, 2022 at 07:00pm, and the audience included Regional Chairman Kenneth Williams; Mayor Gifford Marshall; other members of the BFA executive body; Lyndon France, BFA Technical Support Officer; Leon Stewart, Referee in Charge of the Bartica Referees Council; members and representatives of the nine clubs that will be participating in the league; and Delroy McIntyre, administrator of the Bartica Sports Direct page.

Tournament Coordinator Sherwin DaSilva and BFA Technical Support Officer Leon Stewart outlined the rules and regulations governing the league, and handed over the fixtures of the league.

Stewart mentioned how pleased he was to see the

turnout of representatives from clubs that would be participating in the league, and said the Guyana Football Federation is on a path to making Guyana’s Football first class, and the responsibilities are placed on clubs locally to get the early start.

He added that punctuality is key, so he’s expecting all clubs to be on time, organised and ready for the start of the league.

Mayor Marshall expressed his gratitude at restart of football activities and how pleased he was to know Bartica is having an event such as this.

At end of the launching, the Bartica Football Association members handed out balls, bibs and cones to the representative of each team that would be playing in the league.

The league will see the following teams: 1. Rivers View FC 2. Ballers FC 3. Rising stars FC 4. Lazio Untied FC 5. Agatash United FC 6. Ak Galaxy FC 7. Beacon United FC 8. Potaro Strikers FC 9. Wolves United FC The league is set to start on May 15, and will be played at three venues: Bartica Community Center Ground, Rivers View Sports Ground and Dogg Point playfield. A total of 36 matches will be played during the period May 15 to July 02.

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SUNDAY MAY 8, 2022

39

Vergenoegen Secondary are champions of YBG mini-regional schools basketball tournament … Bowman impressed with talent displayed was special, owing to the fact they the YBG saw children ranging from first form to fourth form. Hence, the YBG Co-Founder has related that while the talent is present, they still lack the competitive aspect.

Bowman further explained that as it pertains to raising the awareness of the sport, it is his be-

which would be on the East Bank.

He reiterated that this would be the process that would continue at the local

to what we held before for kids and schools on the East Bank. Once that is done, the schools can now organise themselves for more oppor-

The victorious Vergenoegen Secondary team

Y

outh Basketball Guyana has organised the first mini-regional basketball tournament for schools on the West Coast of Demerara. The action was on Thursday, May 5th, and it saw Vergenoegen Secondary emerging victorious.

Co-Founder of Youth Basketball Guyana, Chris Bowman, has said he was impressed with the talent displayed on the West Coast of Demerara, and there is a lot of potential there.

The one-day tournament aimed to provide those schools who have expressed interest in participating in this year’s National Schools Basketball Festival to test their skills locally among the schools in their region, and determine a ranking system for the NSBF(Festival) 2022.

The schools participating in the WCD tournament, held at the Tuschen Primary School Court, were: West Demerara Secondary, Stewartville Secondary, Leonora Secondary, and Vergenoegen Secondary.

The event was well attended by teachers, students, parents and members of the community.

Also present for the entire day’s programme was the Principal of the West

Demerara Secondary School, Harrinarine, a strong advocate for extra-curricular activities.

The results of the tournament were as follows: Game 1: Leonora Secondary 22 vs West Demerara Secondary 13 Top Performers: Leonora - Trevaughn Parris 8 points, 9 rebs, Joshua Medouze 6 points; and for West Dem. Sec. - J. Richards 7 points, B. Nurse 6 points.

Game 2: Vergenoegen Secondary 21 vs Stewartville Secondary 9 Top Performers: VergenoegenQuan Jackman 10 points, 13 rebs, Kareem Gilkes 6 points, 5rebs and StewartvilleJoshua Leander 4 points, 7rebs.

Third PlaceWest Demerara Secondary 20 vs Stewartville 13 Top Performers: West Dem. Sec- J. Richards 11 points, 7 rebs, B. Nurse 7 points and Stewartville Joshua Leander 9 points, 6 rebs.

First Place - Vergenoegen Secondary 30 vs Lenora Secondary 8 Top Performers: Vergenoegen Quan Jackman 15 points, 11 rebs, Kareem Gilkes 12 points, 8rebs and Lenora- Daniel Williams 5 points.

Quan Jackson of Vergenoegen Secondary receiving the winner’s trophy from YBG Co-Founder, Chris Bowman

Part of the action

In an interview with this publication Co-Founder of Youth Basketball Guyana, Chris Bowman, was asked to comment on the talent he had witnessed, and he said, “Of course the talent on the West Coast is tremendous!

We have a lot of potential over there, and of course the East Bank of Essequibo.

I think that is why we have Central Academy on that side at the Tuschen Primary School.

“What we observed from the competition, as we told the kids, they just lack opportunities. They are just not playing enough, but what we saw, the turnout and the commitment from teachers, students, the headmaster of the West Demerara Secondary, parents, community support.

So, they have all the pieces to really elevate basketball on the West Coast.”

Bowman further divulged that the talent seen

Georgetown’s Club 45 edge Linden Masters to win LTW Masters

Club 45 enjoying a light moment after their victory

T

he Georgetown Club 45 under- 45s have emerged winners of the Red Stripe-sponsored Linden Masters Town Week Football Competition with a 1-0 victory on Friday night at the Mackenzie Sports Club ground.

In the deciding final, played on a wet MSC ground, the GT side’s under-45 delivered the vital

blow in the 64th minute to earn a win, after the scores remained 0-0 up to that stage of the game.

It was a goal that came off the boot of Dellon Layne which did the trick from a spot kick outside the 18 yards box. It soared past the Linden Masters over45 goalkeeper to decide the final.

In the third-place game,

the Linden under-45s were able to save face when they scored a 5-4 penalty-kick win over Club 45s over-45 team to break a 1-1 scoreline at the end of full-time play.

For that win, the Club 45 players hogged all the individual prizes on offer, also with their central defender Dwayne Alli coming out as the Most Valuable Player, following his two goals in the previous game and excellent defensive work in the two-match series.

Other awards were: the Most Goals prize, won

by Alli; Best Defender: Mark Glasgow, Best Midfield: Kwesi Pryce, Best Goalkeeper: Lance Liedfe, Best Manager: Kurt Davis and Best Supporter: Mr. Dallas.

lief that with outreaches such as what was held in the community, it is a pivotal first step in the process.

It is also his hope that after the tournament, people in the community would pick up the game, as they will now have the opportunity to hone their skills at one of YBG’s local academies,

level until basketball is elevated.

Bowman explained that the media would also play an important part as they will be able to report on activities at the grassroots level, which is another important means of raising the awareness of basketball at that level.

As it relates to what will be next on the agenda for YBG, Bowman said, “Next, we will be on the East Bank of Demerara. So, we will be going to do an outreach, and then a tournament similar

tunities, and the kids who stand out can participate in one of YBG’s academies.

The mini regional tournament format will continue as a lead-up to this year’s NSBF for schools in Linden, Berbice, East Bank Demerara, East Coast Demerara, and Georgetown.

This is made possible through the sponsorship of the National Sports Commission, ExxonMobil, G-Boat Guyana, Edward B. Beharry & Company Ltd, Fireside Grill, and Banks DIH Ltd.

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

SUNDAY, MAY 8, 2022

guyanatimesgy.com

Port Mourant Emancipation Day Race Meet set for July 31 A

fter a successful hosting of the Easter Monday horse racing at Port Mourant, horse race enthusiasts should look forward to another exciting event set for July 31 at Port Mourant Turf Club.

According to race organizers, more than eight million dollars in cash prizes will be up for grabs.

Additionally, 30 newly imported horses from Trinidad and Tobago and the United States of America will be competing for the first time in Guyana.

The Easter Sunday race was the first time since the COVID-19 shutdown that Guyana had organised horse racing. The recent race meet on Easter Sunday

saw Santa Cruz Lady of Jagdeo Racing Stables clinching the $300,000 cash prize and trophy donated by Banks DIH in the feature event.

The pre-race favourite, Golden Dancer of Karibee Racing Stables, ran out of gas as Goodwill Boy, another horse from Jagdeo Racing Stables, finished ahead.

The first race of that event, which was the L Class and Lower category, saw Red Star walking away with the first prize of $120,000.

In the second race of the day, the Class non-starter saw the pre-race favourite, Charandass, living up to expectations with a crushing win against Skittles, Big

A, and Cat Eye in that order. Charandass picked up the $120,000 first-place prize.

In race three, which was the three-year-old Guyana-bred horses’ event, Maximus walked away with the $160,000 cash price and trophy.

Meanwhile, in race four, which was the four-year-old Guyana-bred horses’ event, Trump finished first. As mentioned above, the prizes were high for the Easter Sunday race, but for July 31, the prizes will be higher.

All the top horses and more will be battling for supremacy on the final day of July 2022.

Santa Cruz Lady took the feature event on Easter Sunday

GFF rolls out Club Charter initiative …Local clubs to be sorted in Categories 1,2 & 3

for the restart of football, we categorized all of ccompanying the the clubs at the Regional announcement that Association level in acfootball will return cordance with our Club at the Regional Association Charter Programme.” level, the Guyana Football He went on to explain, Federation (GFF), “In our Club Charter through President Programme, we have three Wayne Forde, revealed categories of football clubs, that the Federation Category 1, Category 2 will put into action and Category their Club Charter 3. Category Programme which 3 is the lowwill see the categori- est ranking zation of Guyana’s of a footfootball clubs, in ball club in Guyana, GFF President Wayne Forde but it also brings with it some level of material incenthree tiers. tive.”

Clubs across Expounding on the the country will be point of the GFF’s assissorted into categories t a n c e , it was 1, 2 and 3 based on d i s number of and variety c l o s e d of teams and personnel that evthat the clubs possess. ery registered In addition, the Clubs club in the soont o will receive assistance commence Men’s Senior that will align with their League across Guyana’s Category.

9 Regional Member “The way that we’ve Associations (RMA) will categorized our clubs is in receive 4 balls, 12 bibs, alignment with our MFAP 20 cones. While the initiaProgramme,” Forde shared tive is geared at ensuring last week, during ‘the foot- the Clubs have adequate ball return’ announce- resources for pre-season ment, “What we have done preparation, it also aligns

By Jemima Holmes

A

with the Club Charter reward process.

In revealing the incentive aspect, Forde gave an example of the criteria that will allow clubs to qualify for a specific tier. The GFF Boss explained, “This document outlines all that is required for a club to be categorized accordingly. A Category 1 club, off the top of my head, must have a Senior team, a female team - we don’t direct either senior or junior - a youth team, a D licensed Coach and a few other things.

“Once you can meet those criteria, then the GFF provides that club with a significant com-

plement of equipment as an incentive,” Forde stated.

While each tier will have a specific reward, it is understood that the determination of which tier Clubs will fall into will be made by the Regional Associations they are part

of. After the RMAs conduct their assessment, the tier allotment will be verified by the GFF’s Technical Department.

A large part of the determination will be dependent on whether clubs function in an administrative and technical capacity, and their hosting of regular executive Committee meetings.

However, each club is starting at Category 3, for now.

“We’ve made an assumption that all the Clubs

coming back from 2 years of now football are starting at Category 3. So, they’re getting the equipment that the programme allocates to clubs at the Category 3 level,” Forde re-

lated.

Having been probed by Guyana Times Sport on whether or not the Elite League Clubs will automatically be considered as Category 1 clubs, Forde explained that it is a consideration, but not yet set in stone, given the shortcomings of some of those clubs.

“The Elite League Clubs are considered Category 1 clubs. For some of them, it’s a little bit of a work in progress, because I believe there’re about three or four of those clubs that don’t yet have a functioning female arm, but in order to have their Club licence renewed this year, they will have to provide firm evidence of that,” he explained.

“We’ve been a bit flexible with them in the past, but that flexibility has expired,” Forde concluded.

The Club Charter Programme is said to be an aspect of the GFF’s Member Financial Assistance Programme (MFAP).

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