Guyana Times - Sunday, November 15, 2020

“Always P5 demonstrate a positive attitude to public service'' - President Ali Nationwide coverage coverage from from the the best best news news team team in in Guyana Guyana Nationwide Issue No. 4470 guyanatimesgy.com

THE BEACON BEACON OF OF TRUTH TRUTH THE

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2020

Reopening of sugar estates

3 Indian companies submit EOIs for joint ventures

See story on page 31

Govt lauded for proactive approach in fast-tracking developmental projects Page 35

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

Cyclist killed in WCB accident P32

Police unearth $220M worth of ganja P34

Shroud of P3 secrecy hangs over GECOM’s finances – Commissioner

…CEO failed to submit financial reports for 2015, 2020 elections

Roberto Teekah: Bringing P18 Guyana's folklore to life on canvas President Dr Irfaan Ali lighting a diya at State House, Main Street, Georgetown as he joins the Hindu community in celebrating Diwali 2020. Also in photo are First Lady Arya Ali, son Zayd; Prime Minister Mark Phillips, his wife Mignon Bowen-Phillips; Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo; Foreign Affairs Minister Hugh Todd, and Tourism Minister Oneidge Waldron-Allicock

These homes in Georgetown were illuminated as Hindus in Guyana joined the rest of the world in celebrating the "festival of lights" (Tourism Guyana photos)

Troy Resources finds high-grade gold in Region 7 underground mine Page 33

4 nabbed P35 with illegal guns, ammo

Mother of 3 stabbed to death by husband

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BRIDGE OPENINGS

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

Sunday, November 15 – 03:00h – 04:30h and 13:30 – 15:00 and Monday, November 16 – 03:30h – 05:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Sunday, November 15 – 16:15h – 17:45h and Monday, November 16 – 16:45h – 18:15h.

Shroud of secrecy hangs over GECOM’s finances – Commissioner

…CEO failed to submit financial reports for 2015, 2020 elections

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Expect sunny intervals and thundery showers during the day. There will be partly cloudy skies at night. Temperatures should range between 22 degrees Celsius and 30 degrees Celsius.

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

High Tide: 16:31h reaching a maximum height of 2.95 metres.

Low Tide: 10:05h and 22:32h reaching minimum heights of 0.41 metre and 0.24 metre.

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GECOM Commissioner Sase Gunraj

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rom 2015 to 2020, the Guyana Elections C o m m i s s i o n (GECOM) has received billions of dollars in funds from the State. But despite the fact that it is a constitutional agency with a duty to the people, one Commissioner has revealed that a shroud of secrecy hangs over GECOM and its spending during the 2015 and 2020 elections.

When asked about the finances of the agency in an exclusive interview with this publication, GECOM Commissioner Sase Gunraj made the shocking revelation that Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield, and the Secretariat that he heads, have so far failed to present reports for the 2015 and 2020 General and Regional Elections.

“I have no clue what it cost for the electoral process. We don’t get reports on that. For the 2015 elections, there has been no report from the CEO to the Commission. None.

The 2020 election, a declaration was made 101 days ago. And there has been no report from the Secretariat to the Commission in relation to that election either,” he revealed.

“We have not received reports to say, look, from jump street, this is what occurred.

And here, this is where we are. We spent so much money along the way. We had these difficulties. I believe that from any event of such

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223-7230-1 (Ext 55)

a national nature, there ought to be some sort of report,” Gunraj said, adding that submissions of reports are also a statutory requirement.

Notwithstanding the fact that the reports are required by statute, Gunraj noted that the submission of these reports giving account for how billions were spent should be a standard practice anyway.

“Proper management techniques would dictate that you have to provide what were the outcomes, what you hope to do differently. I don’t believe that the law has to dictate that, although as far as I can recall it’s mandated by statute.

Whether one will be forth-

breaches and inflated prices.

One of the reports probed the purchase of 50 Very High Frequency (VHF) radio sets, valued at almost $100 million. The purchases, which had occurred prior to the 2015 elections, raised concerns over the extraordinarily high cost of the equipment. The investigation’s scope had included contracts and inventories, in addition to spending for the May 2015 General and Regional Elections.

Besides the radios, the State’s auditors also looked into the purchase of a quantity of toners, pliers and batteries. Based on reports, the radio sets were purchased for use during the elections, particularly in the outlying

Two General and Regional Elections later, Commissioners are yet to see reports into GECOM’s spending

coming will be anybody’s guess.”

There are reports delving into the financial management of the 2015 elections.

But they did not come from the Secretariat. Instead, those reports are special ones conducted by the Audit Office of Guyana, which unearthed a nest of controversies, including procurement

regions of Guyana; however, they were never put to use after it was discovered that many of them were not working.

Later, information surfaced that even though the electoral body collected quotations from a number of suppliers, it handed the contract for the supply of the equipment to another busi-

CEO Keith Lowenfield

nessman. In fact, one of the international manufacturers of the products submitted tenders for the radio sets but had its order cancelled.

Media reports later surfaced that some of the equipment purchased was obsolete and not covered by warranty. Following the Auditor General’s findings, recommendations were made to bring in the police.

But according to Gunraj, these and other matters were consistently pushed on the back burner by GECOM prior to the December 2018 No-Confidence Motion. And after that, GECOM’s focus was fixed on delivering the 2020 General and Regional Elections.

“The system itself did not allow those things to be dealt with,” he said. “And of course, there were aspects that were deliberately (impeded)… we couldn’t even get to discuss the Auditor General report. Because in any proper functioning organisation, when allegations of such a dastardly nature are made and proven, people get sent home.” (G3)

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

Scenes from Diwali celebration 2020

The day after Divali

L

ast night, Guyanese Hindus celebrated the festival of light - Divali, translated as “a row of light”. It is not coincidental that in all civilizations, around this time of the year, there is or was a festival that involved lights. This includes the lighted “Christmas Tree”, which goes back to the pagan use of burning fires in the “dead of winter”. Their symbolism could not have been lost on Christians, who adopted the pagan Yule log and began bringing evergreen trees into their homes during the winter.

Ancient man would have been in trepidation as the winter nights became increasingly longer, and would have been impelled on the longest night of the year, on which Divali, for instance, falls, to reverse the process with their lights. It was not only the symbolism for that moment, but in its totality, as, the next day, the days would become longer, along with the life-giving light and heat of the sun that is necessary for the food bearing crops to sprout and grow.

Extending the metaphor, the increasing and encroaching darkness became identified with all activities that were anti-life, and which sometimes increase to a point where it threatens to overcome our collective existence in the societies we have created.

But, as in nature, mankind discovered that, eventually, the encroaching pall brought on by the dark deeds of some in society will be reversed. But each one of us has to do our bit with our positive actions as points of light to achieve that happy ending. In Guyana, we have been hit simultaneously with two palls of darkness: the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic, and the elections crisis brought on the rigging attempt by the PNC-as-APNU/AFC. And both will have to be rolled back by the light of knowledge that must be lit in, and maintained by, each of us. For COVID-19, we have been given the knowledge that if we observe the rules of social distancing, wear masks, wash hands, and get tested if we exhibit symptoms of elevated temperatures and breathing difficulties, then we should be able to roll back this pandemic. The problem is that too many citizens are ignoring these rules, and, as such, are complicit in ensuring the COVID-19 darkness remains with us far longer than necessary. China, S. Korea and other countries in the Far East demonstrate that COVID-19 can be contained by following the preferred guidelines.

With the darkness of the elections crisis, the initial stage where, for five months, the PNC and their enablers held off the announcement of the elections’ results through a combination of blatant fraud, such as the fudging of the Reg 4 SOPs by the GECOM Regional Officer Mingo and insubordination by the GECOM CEO Lowenfield, is thankfully over. But we are far from overcoming the machinations of the PNC to claw their way back into power by any means necessary.

They have filed two election petitions in the courts to challenge the final count announced by GECOM, as required by the Constitution. This is legally permissible, and as such is not actually the cause of the continuing darkness, but merely occasion for it. The Opposition Leader - while accepting his designation and all the benefits that flow from it, including his salary - has continued to refer to the Government as “illegitimate” even as that party demand that the Government engage them in talks on “inclusive governance”.

The dangers presented by the PNC’s truculent stance is twofold. Firstly, there is the continued callusing of the constitutional sinews that provide the framework of our legal order. It began with the refusal to obey such clear-cut directions that a Government should resign from office upon the passing of an NCM. Secondly, and most immediately, the historical post-electoral record of the PNC, which includes their “slow fyaah; mo’fyaah” strategy that segued into open attacks on the state, has the country on edge.

Guyanese need to dispel the darkness of PNC bullyism.

(Dexter Ceres & Tourism Guyana photos)

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“Always demonstrate a positive attitude to public service’’ – President Ali

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resident Dr Irfaan Ali has urged the nation’s public servants to hold their roles in high esteem and to maintain a positive attitude in service to the people. This was the charge he gave on Friday at the close of the Presidential Outreach in Vryman’s Erven, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne). ‘’To the young staff I want to tell you something, opportunities like these are sometimes rare, but it is on rare occasions that you have to shine above the crowd. I was 31 years old sitting in a room with managers from the CDB and Guyana and because of one thing in my mind, a positive attitude, I was identified as someone with potential and I have seen this time and time again. I say this to encourage you to always demonstrate a positive attitude to public service. You may not like an individual, but you are in a job that requires public service, and who knows the impact your attitude, the way you operate, can have,” the Head of State is quoted by the Office of the President’s Public Information and Press

Services Unit as saying.

The President emphasised too that public service cannot be aloof, but rather grounded to the communities and the people.

“There has to be a serious connection to the ground and although many issues were raised in particular agencies, you gain strength out of that. It tells you and gives you the opportunity to see where we have weaknesses in the system, where we can strengthen and how we can strengthen and what needs to be strengthened. That is why I think at the regional level this action, the Rapid Response Committee has to work,” President Ali said.

In setting the example, President Ali said too that it is the Government’s aim to “dismantle the layered type of Government’’ and to create a “matrix organisation” which would allow officials to sit around the table and resolve problems together.

According to the Public Information and Press Services Unit, in this regard, he pointed to the importance of the structure of the exercise and the poten-

tial impact it will have on the lives of the beneficiaries and the participants.

“When you build relationships like these in the public service, it breaks down barriers of communication, it breaks down the bureaucracy and when we break down the bureaucracy and the barriers to communication we build trust and confidence and we can better serve the people... health, utility services all sitting at the same table.

It is an important exercise.

I want to urge all of you here to build relationships, to talk to each other and if you do that most of the matters at the community and grassroots level will be resolved.”

President Ali also conveyed gratitude on behalf of his Cabinet for the commitment demonstrated by the participants and representatives from the various organisations and agencies.

“I want to say thank you to the staff from the region, from the different agencies and those who came from Georgetown, the Police Commander for your day’s work today, for your commitment in ensuring that

President Dr Irfaan Ali on Friday at the close of the Presidential Outreach in Vryman’s Erven, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne)

this was a successful day, for ensuring that the people experienced your commitment to public service.”

President Ali assured all that there will be more such exercises as the Government moves forward in a spirit of collaboration and connection to the people.

The exercise was also aimed at reducing the cost of doing business and will see collaboration among various agencies to address

concerns at the community level.

Scores of residents were given the opportunity to raise their issues with the high-level team during the outreach exercise.

The President personally addressed the concerns raised, which ranged from access to electricity, water, land allocation and drainage issues among other areas. Participants in the presidential outreach included Government offi-

cials, representatives from the Office of the President, the Ministry of Housing and Water, the Central Housing and Planning Authority, the Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Ministry, the Health Ministry, Guyana Power and Light (GPL), National Insurance Scheme ( NIS), National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA), the Guyana Police Force and regional officials among others.

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

Thunderous silence from GECOM quite alarming Dear Editor, Months have passed since the catastrophic debacle conducted by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) for our General and Regional Elections.

Given the sordid fiasco, it is very surprising that there has been no solid Public Relations (PR) release from the institution addressing necessary internal investigations or outlining the way forward. The widely expressed and evidence-based loss of public confidence in the organisation is not only disappointing but unacceptable.

There have been a few secondary PR articles, which relates to the troubling concerns of the Institution paying legal costs for Mr Lowenfield’s representation. This together with an indication from the Chairwoman, Ms Claudette Singh, regarding the cycle of Local Government Elections is unsatisfactory for a constitutional agency. In the circumstances, the thundering silence from GECOM is quite alarming, bothersome, and demands clarity on the way forward. Certainly, the need to engender some sort of confidence in the lost image of the Institution cannot be taken lightly.

President Dr Irfaan Ali and the People’s Progressive Party/Civic, have been pellucid on the need to investigate and purge the developments which have led to the most embarrassing political scenario in our nation’s his-

tory. At the same time, the President has expressed recognition of the need to have the LGE, given its role in the facilitation of community development.

It is public knowledge that several GECOM senior staff are presently before the courts facing electoral fraud charges. This was expected given their roles in the blatant attempts to falsely influence the true results of the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections. It is also crystal clear that under the circumstances, Guyanese cannot, and do not have confidence in the current senior staff members at GECOM. At a minimum, an almost total overhaul may be necessary.

The situation begs for some sort of direction to be given by the Chairwoman and Commissioners, who need to imbue a sense of positivity while putting Guyana first by immediately addressing the needed alternatives.

Of course, we would not be moving forward by operating with the key personnel who are facing electoral fraud charges in the courts. It is certainly nothing less than inept considerations by those who fathom the thoughts that we could move on in the same vein because time heals wounds. How could the nation forget the night of March 3, 2020, and the flagrant Lowenfield and Mingo saga?

Further, the presence of politically-tainted characters who were reading out the in-

correct spreadsheet must be swiftly stuck off GECOM’s payroll. There must be certainly no future roles for Mr Lowenfield and Clairmont Mingo who should have been on administrative leave a long time now. With the Local Government Elections (LGE) timeline approaching another cycle, too much is at stake to allow the laxity of attitude.

While the Government has stated its commitment and willingness to make funds available in the 2021 budget for the holding of the LGE next year, a forensic audit must be done at GECOM. Over twenty billion dollars were spent without any audit and much of the expenditure was used to facilitate the confusion realised in the 2020 process.

It is not as if the previous LGE held by GECOM was without significant problems.

Citizens have witnessed the partisan approaches by certain elections officials attached to the Secretariat.

Among these, the wanton and convenient gerrymandering of long-standing constituency boundaries that were suddenly sprung by the CEO to biasedly favour particular political groupings. The man did not even have the decency of consulting in a timely manner while usurping the authority of the Elections Commission.

Further, we must have a “Human Resource and financial” audit at GECOM since,

over the last five years, there were hundreds of “phantom” workers. Besides, the organisation still cannot produce one identification card from the hundreds of millions expended in the truncated House-to-House activities or from the last Claims and Objections cycles.

Guyanese must, therefore, demand that all proper systems are put in place so that we must have free and fair elections. Stakeholders must have confidence in the electoral system, and particularly, the staff must not only be seen upholding the highest standards of integrity, but also be perceived as such.

We must therefore call for democracy at all levels and the addressing of these matters before the next LGE is a must. Specifically, we must

have all necessary changes as a part of the system overhaul at GECOM, particularly concerning the staff.

The PPP/C as the legitimate Government must make sure that all possible “constitutional reforms” are completed, advanced, and tabled for the necessary parliamentary consideration to ensure voters' confidence.

Sanctions and stiffer penalties must be instructive in law so that the partisan GECOM staff who succeed in camouflaging themselves in the system, will never be allowed to get away with attempts to rig elections.

The foregoing is particularly relevant given that agents of the PNC have continued in their bid to attack and discredit the truth, pursuant to their acceptance

and perpetuation of fraudulent methodologies. The outcome of reforms must realise and strengthen the system of counterchecks while minimising possible manipulation of interpretation and creation of a deliberate paradoxical framework of operations.

The voters’ list must be the best available. The process must be transparent.

Documentation of the process must be foolproof. The procedures in preparation for the elections must be transparent and elections day staff must be properly recruited.

Madam Chairwoman, the time is now to put alternatives in place and commence the cleanup. It would be quite clumsy to do otherwise.

Dear Editor, We the short drop hire car drivers who used to operate in the East Bank short drop car park are facing another challenging situation.

About 49 cars used to operate in the car park, and some two years ago, the then Town Clerk, Royston King, removed us and replaced the car park with vendors who unto this day fail to occupy those stands.

We operate on the road which was provided to us by

the Council for the past two years. Our park used to be from Brickdam to Lombard Street, holding approximately 12 cars. We operate in cohesion with a turn system.

However, on Friday morning, when the drivers went to work, we were greeted with our line cut by almost 3/4 - holding only five cars.

This is so unfair to us.

Where will we go now to operate for our daily living?

We the drivers are plead-

ing with the Minister, the Mayor, the Town Clerk and those responsible for the reduction of the car park to review the decision taken. We are elderly drivers who will not be employed by any company at this time of the year.

We have bills to pay.

We ask the relevant authorities to look into the matter urgently.

Sincerely, Neil Kumar

Reverse decision to move East Bank short drop cars

Sincerely, Driver (Name provided)

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12 months in jail for man Kwakwani man on 2 sexual assault charges on $250,000 bail who stole pillowcase stash

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Kwakwani, Region 10 ( U p p e r Demerara-Berbice) man, who appeared before Magistrate Wanda Fortune at the Linden Magistrate’s Court charged in connection with two sexual offences, was granted bail in the total sum of $250,000.

Carson Jones was charged with the offences of trespass with intent to commit a sexual offence and sexual assault committed against a female. The prosecution is contending

that the incidents occurred on August 5 and August 20, 2020, at Rosery Avenue, Kwakwani, Berbice River.

He pleaded not guilty to both charges and was released on $150,000 and $100,000 bail, respectively. The case will continue on December 4 at the Kwakwani Magistrate’s Court.

man who admitted to stealing a pillowcase containing $1 million in items was on Friday, November 14, 2020, sentenced to one year’s imprisonment. Royston James pleaded guilty to a simple larceny charge when he was hauled before Magistrate Leron Daly at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

According to the particulars of the charge, on September 15, 2020, at D’Urban Street, Georgetown, he stole one handbag, a plane ticket, a gold chain, a gold band, and cosmetics - all valuing $1 million and property of

Samantha Mahoney.

The police prosecutor told the court that on September 15, the woman secured her valuables in a pillowcase which she hid behind a freezer in her shop.

The woman left for her home and upon returning to the shop, she discovered that the pillowcase containing the items was missing.

James was spotted in the area a few minutes before the items went missing.

As such, a report was made at the Alberttown Police Station. On November 10, 2020, Mahoney spotted James and pointed him out to the police. Under caution, he admitted to the offence.

Bad people…

Y

…and Divali’s light our Eyewitness has gotta be on a sugar high after valiantly (weakly?) sampling all those sweets (why do some folks insist on calling them “sweet meats”? Shouldn’t that be “sweet eats”?) that were plied on him yesterday on Divali Day. But which is actually properly celebrated in the night. Divali is a real easygoing kind of celebration…just smiles, dressing up, lighting diyas, and handing out sweets. Nice, eh?

And of course, “the meaning of Divali is good will overcome evil” - if you believe all those ads that were chockful in all the dailies. But is that what really what Divali’s all about? Does “good” really defeat evil just like that? Look around you, dear reader, is that the reality in the world you live in? Point of the matter is that no matter what folks might want to tell you, there ain’t no things out there like “good” and “evil” outside of the actions of us human beings. Do you think there’s evil on the Moon or on Mars or Jupiter or an any of the other planets other than Earth? Thought so! And the reason that’s so is that it’s only here on Earth that we have humans.

Therefore, it’s us humans who do either “good” or “evil” deeds. Simple as that! So that if there’s “evil rolling over the land” it means that it’s bad people who’re doing bad things across the land. Simple as that!

And if those evil deeds are to be stopped, then good people have to start doing good things - which include going after the bad people and stopping them from committing their bad deeds, Simple as that!

But it ain’t so simple, is it? Most of us don’t like to make waves...we go along to get along. Even when it means going along with evil. And that’s the plain truth. So, if we get back to Divali and its message - if we expect “good to overcome evil” - it means that WE, THE PEOPLE, have to take a stand against the evil as we encounter it in our daily lives. And it’s not like we all have to pick up swords and go out in shining armour to battle evil. We can simply start with speaking out.

It has truly been said, “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to remain quiet.”

So, let’s start with simple evil things - like traffic cops arbitrarily stopping you and shaking you down.

Refuse to go along if you know you’ve committed no infraction…let them take you to the station…call their bluff.

And then, and only then, we will begin to know the real meaning of Divali! …and trafficking There were two incidents as we got ready to wipe out evil at Divali - that reminded us that a mega evil’s being perpetuated right here in Guyana. And we’re closing our eyes to it. This is the Trafficking of Persons - especially girls. The first was when 26 Haitians on the way to Lethem were intercepted. They were obviously on route to being smuggled into Brazil. There’s been so many reports of what lies ahead for them that we cannot be complicit in that exploitation - at a minimum.

Then there’s the mundane matter of them breaking our border laws.

The second was when twenty-four foreign working girls - from Cuba, Venezuela and Dominican Republic were nabbed in some joint called “Baroombar” in the city. Now who’s kidding whom? How many times are we going to have these raids at the same locales that are nothing less than “houses of ill repute”? These places have to be closed down - permanently.

Unless or until we decide to go the route of the Netherlands. …and “flipping lands” No…your Eyewitness isn’t expressing his frustration by using a euphemism as an expletive, “Flipping lands”!

But he might as well be doing that!

Can you imagine the chutzpah of this cut-rate 007 fella selling state lands??

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

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Silencing IndianGuyanese history

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fter participating in several discussions over ZOOM recently, I discovered that most Indian-Guyanese are very impatient about discussing the past. They forget William Faulkner’s aphorism, “The past isn’t dead; it’s not even past”, but do so at their peril. Everything in the present was created out of our past, and there are always the traces influencing us. As one famous analyst pointed out, “Men make their own history but not in circumstances of their making”.

The circumstances are all formed out of past actions.

As a people, we do not have an appreciation of the drag - or the liberating possibilities - of history, and that’s why we, Indians in the Caribbean, keep on repeating our tragedies as farces. Witness the beatings on West Berbice in full view of the Disciplined Forces two decades after the beatings in Georgetown of Jan 12, 1998. No COI then and no Ravi Dev COI now - with no protests from Indian-Guyanese.

Last week, the ZOOM discussion was about Baytoram Ramharack’s latest book on Dr Jang Bahadur Singh, the great Indian-Guyanese Leader of the early 20th century. Born in 1886 at Goed Fortuin, WBD, he figuratively pulled himself up by his own bootstraps after making several trips to India as ship’s medical dispenser for Indian Labour immigrants, and then qualified as a doctor at Edinburgh University. He subsequently practised medicine first on his native West Demerara, and then in Georgetown, where he became a leader of the British Guiana East Indian Association and founder of the British Guiana Maha Sabha. He ran successfully for the Legislative Assembly in 1947 for the West Demerara Constituency, and then unsuccessfully in 1953 in the first universal franchise elections in the colony as leader of the “Labour Party”.

As the preeminent Indian- Guyanese leader of his time, Cheddi Jagan’s father came up to Georgetown in 1938 to ask Dr Singh to help secure a job in the Civil Service for his son, who had just completed Queen’s College. Dr Singh advised to “send the boy to study abroad” and the rest is history, including Dr Singh’s defeat in 1953 by a representative of Dr Jagan’s PPP. His wife Alice Bhagwandai was the founder of the British Guiana Dramatic Society in 1936, and staged plays drawn from classical Indian works. She was also a philanthropist who founded an organisation, the “Balak Sahaita Mandalee”, to educate poor Indian children.

But how come most of us do not know much, or anything, about Dr J.B. Singh or his contributions to Guyana? It is because, as anthropologist Michel-Rolph Trouillot has put it about his own Haiti, our history, our story, our narrative of our contributions have been SILENCED. Trouillot shows this is not an accidental matter or an oversight, but a conscious transitive act taken by those in power. And it’s always a differential in power that makes some narrative possible and others silenced in any society.

Going beyond the trite but true observation that “history is written by the victors”, Trouillot pointed out that a people’s history can be silenced at four critical moments in the process of historical production. First, there is the “making of the source” when the noteworthy act is performed; such as, say, the lighting of the National Diya last Sunday. Was it reported in the newspapers? Did they mention what was said, only by those considered “important”?

The second point of silencing is in the making of archives, where “facts” are assembled about “noteworthy” events which can be retrieved later. Who makes these decisions?

The third is in “making narratives”, when the story of the event is retold. Who tells the story is important: hunters always tell the story, the hunted never do. Finally, there is “writing history” - the moment of retrospective significance in looking back. Will the gaps be filled, as Baytoram attempted to do, or will the silencing continue, as in our textbooks?

Therefore, Trouillot concludes, “any historical narrative is a particular bundle of silences”, which we must fill with the voices that were elided. Indian- Guyanese silenced history, including that of Dr J.B. Singh, is a metaphor of our lack of power to even define our existence.

And if you do not know what you have contributed, then you will accept that you have no claim to the national patrimony. Including political power.

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Indigenous people and traditional knowledge

ndigenous communities around the world are constantly struggling to maintain their rights, their traditions and their knowledge. They face the challenge of living in two worlds, the Indigenous and the non-Indigenous one; which are in constant tension with each other, with the latter having more power in shaping the former. For centuries, Indigenous populations have suffered from invasion and oppression, and oftentimes they have seen their knowledge eclipsed by western knowledge, imposed on them through western institutions. Yet, Indigenous populations have managed to survive for centuries, adapting in many different ways to adverse climate conditions, and managing to create sustainable livelihood systems. Their diverse forms of knowledge, deeply rooted in their relationships with the environment as well as in cultural cohesion, have allowed many of these communities to maintain a sustainable use and management of natural resources, to protect their environment and to enhance their resilience; their ability to observe, adapt and mitigate has helped many indigenous communities face new and complex circumstances that have often severely impacted their way of living and their territories.

What is traditional knowledge?

Traditional or local knowledge refers to the knowledge and know-how unique to a given society or culture. It encompasses “the cultural traditions, values, beliefs and worldviews of local people” including specific beliefs, rules and taboos that are part of the customary law of a specific group.

Indigenous knowledge is therefore vital for the survival of the historical and cultural heritage of a particular group, as it “forms its backbone of social, economic, scientific and technological identity”.

Promoting the integration of TK at the national level ‘Integrating Traditional Knowledge into National Polices and Practices’ is a project that is currently being implemented in Guyana. It is a Darwin Initiative project which commenced in 2017 and runs to March 2021. The EPA, being a partner from the inception, is especially supportive of the work being undertaken since it aligns directly with goals/targets associated with the Convention for Biological Diversity (CBD), to which Guyana is a signatory and the Agency is the focal point. The project specifically addresses the CBD’s Aichi Biodiversity Target 18 which speaks to the need for traditional knowledge to be better respected through national policy. The project promotes the effective participation of Indigenous peoples in decision making. Other partners include the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs, North Rupununi District Development Board, Protected Areas Commission, Kanuku Mountains Community Representative Group and South-Central Peoples Development Association. Through this project, activities are being executed that pilot a model which promotes increased and effective dialogue between indigenous peoples and decision makers through the use of participatory video techniques. Additionally, activities also focus on building institutional capacity to encourage and promote the integration of traditional knowledge and perhaps more significantly, the development a Traditional Knowledge National Action Plan (TKNAP) for Guyana. From the very inception, the project has been engaging several indigenous communities (associated with protected areas) to facilitate discussions; for example, around the value of traditional knowledge to Protected Areas Management, the challenges associated with changes to the use of certain traditional knowledge/ practices, and identifying key areas that need urgent attention as it relates to its preservation.

Stakeholder engagement has also included government agencies to assess their level of awareness of traditional knowledge and to determine the current level of integration based on a review of their regulations and policies. These discussions and analysis have contributed significantly to the TKNAP drafting process.

More information on the project visit https:// cobracollective.org/news/community-engagement-in-thenorth-rupununi-guyana/ References https://www.culturalsurvival.org/publications/culturalsurvival-quarterly/conservation-and-indigenous-peoples https://www.culturalsurvival.org/publications/culturalsurvival-quarterly/being-indigenous-21st-century You can share your ideas and questions by sending letters to: “Our Earth, Our Environment”, C/O Communications Department, Environmental Protection Agency, Ganges Street, Sophia, GEORGETOWN, or email us at: eit. epaguyana@gmail.com, follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and subscribe to our YouTube channel.

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By Lakhram Bhagirat

A

lthough becoming a lawyer was never a priority for Dexter Smartt, he has now realised how he can make a difference in the lives of those who are greatly affected by acts of injustice or those who are unrepresented.

The saying “justice is blind” is one he takes very seriously, and he believes that every single person appearing in court deserves adequate and capable representation. His focus, however, is fighting to ensure that Indigenous peoples are adequately represented.

It was this emphasis that landed him a prestigious Guardian Group UPeace scholarship.

Guardian Group in collaboration with the United Nations established the University for Peace Centre for Executive Education, and developed a scholarship programme under which winners earn a Global Leadership Diploma.

This programme encourages learners to explore their leadership potential and proliferate their world view. During this course, participants will learn concrete leadership techniques

The Guyanese class of 2020

and competencies to foster creativity and innovation. Participants will also learn how to apply tools and frameworks to shape and grow an organisational leadership strategy and cohesive culture.

Smartt is the only Guyanese recipient of this

year’s scholarship and joins 11 others from the Caribbean to pursue various studies.

The 28-year-old hails from Jonestown, Mahaica, and notes that his childhood is responsible for shaping his path. There were humbling times.

He completed his secondary education at the North Georgetown Secondary School after which he did two years of A Levels at School of the Nations after which he enrolled in the University of Guyana to read for a degree in International Relations.

He completed his degree

after which he immediately applied to read for another degree – this time in law.

“Law wasn’t my first choice; actually, I wanted to do Political Science, but Guyana did not have a Political Science degree. The closest we had was International Relations and while doing International Relations I met with the then Head of Department of Law and he encouraged me to do Law. “He highlighted the pros and cons of law and how law was all-encompassing and it reaches all length and the people I would be able to help – because I have been a volunteer for a long time.

So he was telling me that I would be able to volunteer more if I have this kind of qualification and as soon as I finished International Relations the same year I applied to do law. I got in. I finished in 2018 and the same year I applied for law school and was one of the lucky ones that got in,” Smartt related.

He recently completed his studies at the Hugh Wooding Law School in Trinidad and is waiting to be admitted to the local Bar. Smartt, at the time, is also working with Attorney-atLaw Dexter Todd.

When Smartt saw the advertisement for the scholarship opportunity, initially he was not going to apply.

However, he was encouraged by a friend and so decided to give it a shot. He did not think he would have gotten it, but on his 28th birthday, he received the call that he had been awarded the scholarship to pursue studies at the University of Birmingham.

“I am going to pursue multiple areas. Pertaining to the scholarship, I have a lot interest in Indigenous rights and access to justice.

Outside of that, I am pursuing energy and environmental law and civil law. I will be at the University of Birmingham and will commence studies in March 2021,” he noted.

Smartt’s interest in fair justice for Indigenous peoples started back in 2015 after he was involved in a project on Guyana’s prison population – an InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB) and University of Guyana project.

As part of the project, he got access to all the male prisoners housed at the Camp Street, Lusignan, Timehri and Mazaruni Prisons – and had the opportunity to interact with several Indigenous inmates. He found some worrying statistics.

Of the inmates he inter-

Dexter Smartt

viewed, he found that over 70 per cent were illiterate while over 80 per cent had little understanding of the English language.

“I got a chance to interview prisoners for a Guyana prison survey and it was during that time while interviewing many Amerindian prisoners it occurred to me that most of them were unrepresented, a lot don’t understand English. I also discovered that when they (Indigenous peoples) are leaving prison – especially Camp Street and Lusignan – they are just left outside of the gates.

“A lot of these Amerindian people come from villages outside of Georgetown and don’t even know where they are and how to get back home. They know their villages by call name and not the region it is in. Their families can’t afford to come and see them. A lot of them don’t have knowledge of where they are going, how they are getting back to their village,” he said.

That prompted him to do more research and he discovered that the issue was not only restricted to Guyana but there were several other territories where Indigenous peoples were severely underrepresented when it came to accessing justice.

He temporarily halted the project as the challenges of law school became greater and was now picking it back up.

“I am going to make it my duty in Guyana to find a solution to this, so that they could get proper representation, get representation in their own language; if they can’t, then they could get proper representation in English. I am going to make sure they are reintegrated and that they are assessed before they leave prison so that they can be able to get home,” the young man said.

It is his intention to partner with the Government through the Amerindian Affairs Ministry, as well as the Bar Association and other Non-Governmental Organisations to have tablets equipped with Internet access and solar chargers dispatched to these villages.

Additionally, he will be working with the Indigenous peoples to ensure they are competently represented in court.

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Guyana’s first zero-waste store aims to reduce plastic use

By Rupa Seenaraine

S

ingle-use plastics have become a common material in many packaging plants, and also constitutes as one of the key pollutants globally, especially in oceans where marine life is threatened.

In Guyana, the Jars Zero Waste Store was recently launched to demonstrate how easy it is to purchase items which are not processed in heavy plastics, thus creating a positive impact on the environment.

Owner of the establishment, Alana Bunbury-Walton told Guyana Times exclusively that the idea came about after noticing the large masses of plastics, especially bottles, lining the streets and waterways. Since she was already conscious of her own plastic footprint, Bunbury-Walton said she decided to launch the zero-waste store.

“The idea of a zero-waste store was born out of a genuine concern for the amount of plastic in our society and the way we dispose of it. Singleuse plastics is currently a global problem. Almost everything we purchase is either made of plastic or is heavily packaged in plastic. Locally, we see the way plastic bottles and other plastic waste litter our streets, drains and sea defences. After adopting a few personal habits of my own aimed at preventing single-use plastic, I decided to

share with Guyana, how it is to become zero waste-conscious. That was the beginning of the Jars Zero Waste Store,” she explained.

The store was opened just over a week ago but planning commenced since the latter part of 2019. Because of the coronavirus pandemic, some of their plans were halted.

As such, another location for the venture was identified, and the business was opened at Lot 46 Garnett Street, Georgetown.

While speaking on some of the products that are offered, Bunbury-Walton detailed, “Relying on the principles of zero waste, which reduce, refuse, recycle, reuse and compost, we sought out products that were eco-friendly and added health foods as well.”

Refill is offered on a number of products, especially those that are locally produced. Consumers are just tasked with measuring the amount of product that they need and place it in a reusable container.

Customers are encouraged to bring their jars or bottles, to refill locally produced detergent, which comes in eight different products. Their dry goods include oats, rice, quinoa, flax seeds, chia seeds, sesame seed, nuts from the Pomeroon region inclusive of almonds, pecans, and peanuts; beans, spices, couscous, pasta, and coconut oil. Coffee beans are also sold and can be ground at the store.

Customers getting involved in the zero-waste initiative

Meanwhile, there are eco-friendly plastic alternatives, such as stainless-steel reusable straws, reusable cotton face pads, shampoo bars,

tea diffusers and utensils with wooden handles.

The founder told this publication that they are seeking to curb the long-term effects

of using and disposing of plastics. This is even more important, given the limited recycling opportunities.

“Because of the limited recycling opportunities here, we are faced with the tough task of dumping tons of plastic in our landfill. A plastic bottle takes 450 years to decompose while a plastic bag takes 10 to 20 years. Imagine the impact that this is already having on our environment.”

Thus far, many Guyanese have shown interest in the zero-waste establishment, and were inclined to learn about the concept and the products offered. The mother of two shared that they are looking forward to increased support to create a new movement.

Those desirous of getting involved in zero-waste living can easily develop small habits over time, which includes taking a reusable shopping bag to the market and refusing plastic bags.

The United Nations Environment Programme has reported that only nine per cent of the world’s nine billion tonnes of plastic has been recycled. The remainder ends up in landfills, our oceans and waterways, and the environment. The material is one which does not biodegrade, but merely breaks down in small pieces referred to as microplastics.

Local eco-friendly businesses can also feature their products in the store.

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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Roberto Teekaha:

By Jarryl Bryan

Bringing Guyana's folklore to life on canvas

M

any would say that Roberto Teekah’s painting “We are watching” brings to life the spine-tingling folklore unique to Guyana. The judges of the Guyana Annual Magazine certainly thought so, which is why Teekah won first place in this year’s Visual Arts category.

The burning desire to create and a passion for Guyana’s folklore saw Teekah, a Burrowes School of Art student, paint the winning piece; a portrait of Ol’ Higue, the Baccoo, Kanaima, Moongazer and Wata Mama, all assembled for a macabre family portrait to represent the best Guyana has to offer in the horror genre.

The way these creatures of the night are presented is

aimed to paint the subjects in as striking a position as possible while making use of the “repeating eye” technique. But also, they were all just too good to leave out any.

“I knew that I wanted to represent multiple characters or figures from our folklore. I felt that showing only one would do no justice to the incredible variety that we have here. From there I just had to decide on how I would go about doing that I decided to represent them all in striking, front-facing positions and to have their repeating eyes be the thing that ties them all together,” Teekah said.

“That frontal position is something that I explore often in my art, because it creates a direct connection between the viewer and the work… the repeti-

Teekah in the

“Carnival Fever”

His 2020 winning entry in the Guyana Annual Magazine’s Visual Arts category

no accident. In an interview with this publication where he described his creative process, Teekah said he

tion of those piercing eyes is what inspired the title ‘We Are Watching’ because no matter where you are in

Guyana; the city, the countryside, the jungles or the savannah; there might always be something lurking, something watching.”

But how did Teekah begin his artistic journey?

This 22-year-old Bishops’ High alumni, who hails from Herstelling, only knows that as a child growing up, he loved drawing and creating.

It was in high school that he began taking art more seriously. He remains passionate in his defence of the principle that art is so much more than a hobby. It can also be a profession.

“While I was at Bishops’, my perception of what art is, and what it could be really changed. Most people probably view art as a hobby or a way to pass time, and while it can be those things, it can also be so much more.

Artists in history have been the vanguards of incredible movements, they greatly shape the societies they live in.”

“They are the ones who have recorded much of history. Artists are able to look at the world from an outside view and capture that world in a time capsule. Knowing those things, and pairing that knowledge with my natural inclination to create, it was almost impossible to not pursue the visual arts,” Teekah said.

As an artist, Teekah draws inspiration from a number of sources; from objects or the shadow cast by a building, or nature, to creative and other powerful elements like mythology, religion, feminism, historical figures, oddities and mysteries. He described Guyanese

process of br

eathing life to

expressionist painter Bernadette Persaud as one of his favourite artists, someone he has met and had conversations with.

He is now in his third year at Burrowes and while it is not without its challenges, by his own admission, he has thrived in an environment that constantly pushes artists to create and experiment. So when he heard Guyana Annual’s 2020 theme for the Visual Arts category, the allure was too much for him to pass up.

“I was familiar with the competition but the moment that I knew I had to take part

his art

what is his debut Guyana Annual entry.

Teekah believes that more competitions like Guyana Annual’s would be welcome, giving local artists more opportunities to gain recognition for their work.

At the same time, he also believes that opportunities are only what we make of them, which is where knowledge and sharing information comes in. He also had some words of encouragement for visual artists who have just started their own journey creating works of art to last a lifetime.

One of his pieces called “Bloody Mary”, inspired by the historical Queen Mary

was when they announced the theme – Guyanese Folklore. This is something that has always fascinated me, and I’m sure it has done the same for many other Guyanese. It sparked a childlike sense of the unknown, a different way of seeing and imagining things.”

“It’s an incredible honour to be the winner of the Stephanie Correia Prize, the idea of having my work in physical print and for it to be accessible for generations to come is incredibly humbling and I’m very grateful,” Teekah added on his win in

“Do everything you can to improve and use all of the resources at your disposal to hone your skills.

Practice and do so consciously; don’t make the same mistakes over and over - understand your weak areas and work towards improving on them,” he said.

“Learn how to speak and write about your work, and understand the power and responsibility that your work has. Artists are the movers and shapers of society and our work has more responsibility than we will ever be given.”

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OTHER NOISE-RELATED CAUSES OF PET ANXIETY A

s I might have mentioned previously, this column is getting a life of its own.

Last week we wrote about “Firecrackers/Fireworks Celebrations and their Effect on Companion Animals”.

That column came about from a request that it would be appropriate to document an article about the effects explosive devices have on pets, especially dogs before and during the Diwali celebrations yesterday.

Well, enough interested persons called me to demand an extension of the content of last week’s article to include pets’ reactions to great noises emanating from thunderstorms, bullets exiting guns, jackhammer decibels at construction sites, and other out-of- the way short-term loudness.

Generally speaking, all of the precautionary measures and antidotal interventions by the caregiver, which I had mentioned last week, would also be valid for placating dogs terrified by noises other than celebratory firecrackers and fireworks. However, there may be other anxiety therapies which are more specific to counter particular noises, for example thunder and lightning, gunshots, high winds/squalls/storms, scary (TV) sounds, hard-rock music, etc.

Let us try to document some tested and proven methods that may help:

STORMS

Knowing (because the

weather forecasters have given us the relevant advice pertaining to expected storms) that storms are imminent, we could also use some protective measures including those suggested last week against fireworks, namely: (i) Find a safe, comfortable place in which to seclude your pet. (ii) Try to be calm yourself. Nothing can excite an already anxious dog more than the caregiver being frantic and exhibiting great anxiety. Just try to be cool.

In other words, do not encourage the fear. (iii) Wrap your dog in a blanket or in one of your old shirts/blouses (you know, the ugly one that you received from a family friend/mother-in-law and which you hardly ever wear – only when the giver is coming over to visit).

Actually, there are pieces of clothing for pets called “Thundershirts” which are on sale, and which can supposedly make the pet feel more secure. The manufacturers’ propaganda speak highly of the efficacy associated with their product. I don’t know if this Thundershirt works. I am “selling” the idea just as I bought it. (iv) Play soothing classical music. (v) TLC. Comfort your pet – physically, by petting and stroking and speaking gently. I am sure this works with scared kids too.

Stay with your pet. If it is a kennel dog, you may wish to bring it inside the house for

the period of the storm. (vi) Take the dog for a long walk. A tired dog will sleep longer after exercise. (vii) Feed the pet more than usual, prior to the advent of the storm. The theory behind this suggestion is that an animal with a full stomach will tend to sleep through the storm. (viii) You might wish to engage your pet in games like “Go Fetch” or “tug-owar” – all indoors. These represent distractions. (ix) My dear stepmother was a firm believer that certain scents were God’s gift to sooth anxieties and stresses. Lavender was her favourite. She lived to be 99. Who am I to challenge her preferences? Our cat lived to be 22 and the parrot lived to be 30. (x) You are not going to believe this, but I can understand the logic. There are companies that produce sound tracts of various noises, including those of thunder and lightning. Consequently, there has emerged the proposal that the caregiver can actually desensitize the pet to the sounds associated with thunderstorms. It is advised that the caregiver plays the CD at an extremely low volume while offering the pet treats and TLC. By slowly increasing the volume over a period of time (days, weeks – whatever is necessary), the animal would become desensitized to the explosive sounds of thunderstorms, and therefore become less scared when the real thunder and

lightning erupt. (xi) There is a relatively new field of animal psychiatry which teach veterinarians “pet-relaxation” courses. I would not debase any such techniques, because I have experienced the consequences of hyper-anxiety in animals (see “PET CARE” – November 8th, 2020).

Quite the opposite, I would endorse any intervention which can pacify a dog with storm phobia. The problem is that I only know one dog psychiatrist – and she in in Trinidad. She has been an invited Guest Writer for the “Pet Care” column, and she has written quite successfully about “Potty Training” of dogs.

So, we have offered 11 possibilities to calm your animal during storms (thunder and lightning). Please understand that “one size does not fit all”. You may have to introduce several interventions to calm your dog. It’s a “trial and error” game. Patience and perse-

verance are the two key elements in the process to reduce anxieties in your pet.

GUNSHOTS In certain areas where armed criminals are part of the environment – not necessarily in Guyana, but surely in other Caribbean territories – dogs are confronted with terror produced by gunshots. Yet, it is exactly in these neighbourhoods where dogs are kept for protection. And they do suffer.

At one short period in my professional life, I was part of a team whose job it was to desensitize police dogs relative to the explosions created by gunfire. This was and is a difficult undertaking.

Some dogs will never accommodate themselves with gunfire. Yet, it is the vet’s (or the animal trainer’s) job to at least make dogs less fearful of explosions associated with guns and bullets.

This is a quite specialized undertaking – including

“Brain Training Games”.

CONSTRUCTION SITE NOISES

Again, some of the suggestions made above might be applicable to the pet living in an area where building construction/renovation is taking place. Since, in all likelihood, the jackhammer and drilling noises are only going to be temporary, it may be the best option to remove the pet from the incessant din during the course of the day; and bring it back during the night. Also, I should mention that some of the existing Humane Society groups here in Guyana do have facilities where your pet can find kind solace during the period of construction noise.

Finally, you may wish to discuss specific issues relating to noise stress and your pet with your veterinarian.

You can converse about any unique circumstances and try to find the solution for your particular case.

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The science of COVID-19

A Contributed by: Dr. Navindranauth Rambaran, FCCS DMT, MBBS, PGDip. Surgery (UG) Trauma Surgery (u Ottawa) Head Dept. General Surgery, GPHC Associate Professor in Surgery Chairman of the Medical Council of Guyana Dr. Navindranauth Rambaran

rticle submitted as part of the Ministry of Health’s COVID-19 public information and education programme Severe acute respiratory syndrome Corona virus-type 2 (SARS Co-V-2), which causes the COVID-19 infection, was first documented in Wuhan Hubei Province, China after a number of cases of pneumonia of unknown origin occurred in late 2019.

A pandemic was subsequently declared by the World Health Organization (WHO) on March 11, 2020. The virus continued to spread rapidly throughout the world and, to date (November 12, at the time of writing), has infected 49.7 million and resulted in 1.2 million deaths globally.

COVID-19 and surgery

No region or country has been spared, though infection and mortality rates vary among countries. Some countries, including New Zealand and Australia, have been successful in keeping rates of infection down, while America and parts of Europe, including Britain, have experienced significantly higher rates of infection and mortality.

The Caribbean picture has shown a mixed pattern, with many smaller territories, such as Barbados and St. Vincent and the Grenadines, being able to contain the disease relatively early in the pandemic, while others with larger populations, such as Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana and Jamaica, have experienced rising infection rates over several months.

Surgical services

The pandemic has impacted surgical services in several profound ways.

Importantly it has resulted in significant deployment of surgical resources to treat COVID-19 patients, and has increased the demand for other critical resources, including ventilators and blood components.

Together, with the increased risk of transmission to both patients and surgical staff within surgical institutions, the pandemic has resulted in: • Reduced surgical staff to care for patients with surgical issues • Reduced surgical bed space

• Shortage of blood components • Increased surgical operative complications among COVID-19 patients • Transmission of the disease to surgical staff • A suspension of non-urgent surgeries

Classification of patients

Patients who need surgical services can be broadly categorised into two areas. First, there are electives; that is, those whose conditions require surgery for improved functioning and quality of life, but which are non life-threatening.

This category includes appearance augmentation surgeries. Thus, there is no danger when such surgeries are done on a schedule of over weeks to several months.

On the other hand, the second category, which is the emergent type of surgical conditions, does require urgent surgical intervention to prevent deterioration of health and, in many cases, to prevent death (reduce mortality).

This category includes patients with cancers, life-threatening infections and injuries.

Risks and non-operative management Evidence has emerged which shows patients who undergo surgery and contract COVID-19, in some cases from -7 to +30 days of surgery, have increased respiratory complications and worse surgical outcomes than those who are uninfected.

Due to this risk, many surgeons have opted to operate on COVID-19 infected patients only if safe non-surgical options are unavailable.

During this period, surgeons carefully select patients for non-surgical management, including those with uncomplicated appendicitis, cholecystitis and diverticulitis. Of course, failure of conservative management would result in the surgical operation being conducted.

Suffice it to say that many COVID-19 patients who required emergency life-saving operations during the pandemic have been successfully operated on, while guarding against the potential for bad outcomes.

Risks to surgical staff

Due to the potential for increased aerosolisation of viral particles during operative procedures, there is a significantly higher risk of transmission to surgical staff when performing surgery on patients with COVID-19.

These risks can, however, be mitigated by improved safety protocols that have evolved during the pandemic.

These include the use special personal protective equipment (PPEs) by surgical staff, such as impervious surgical suits and goggles, and the refitting of operating rooms with air filters and new dynamic airflow systems.

Outpatient surgical services

New strategies have been utilised in the organization of surgical outpatient services to reduce the need for patients to visit surgical clinics, thereby decreasing the risk of COVID-19 transmission among patients and staff.

These new strategies to treat and follow up patients include: • Telemedicine • Virtual Clinics • Telephone follow ups • Call-in inquiry services for patients A smaller number of pa-

tients with special needs or with deterioration of their surgical conditions are still required to visit the clinics in person.

Backlog of surgeries

The cancellation of routine/ elective surgeries for the reasons already cited has resulted in an increased backlog of cases.

Since there is the risk of deterioration of surgical conditions, as the wait time for surgery increases, patients need to be re-assessed and other solutions sought, even as the pandemic persists.

One solution being looked at is the phased restart of certain types of non-urgent surgeries over the next several weeks and months. This process will prioritise patients based on the seriousness of their condition and also prioritise those surgeries that can be done in an ambulatory fashion, that is, surgeries which can be done as same-day admission and discharge.

This approach to restarting routine surgery keeps in mind the possibility of a resurgence in COVID-19 infection rates during the roll out, hence making any necessary scaling back less complicated.

Need for increased resources

Surgical facilities must now adopt new recommendations and emerging benchmark safety measures when conducting surgeries in the future.

These changes will likely result in an overall increase in the cost for surgical services that must be met by institutions, government and patients alike.

These changes include:

• New and more efficient surgical pathways for scheduling and conducting surgeries (same-day surgery being one key example) • Perioperative screening and COVID-19 testing • Purchase of special PPEs for surgical staff • Redesign of surgical facilities and operating rooms

Minimally invasive surgeries

Before COVID-19, minimally-invasive procedures were on the increase and, in most modern surgical institutions, were the standard for many types of surgeries.

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy, appendectomy and colectomy are some examples of such surgeries. These surgeries were temporarily on hold in many institutions due to the perceived risk of increased aerosolisation of the virus during these procedures.

However, evidence-based reports which have now emerged suggest that surgical facilities can safely restart laparoscopic, endoscopic and other minimally invasive procedures by making simple adjustments to reduce the aerosolisation risks.

Second wave of COVID-19

From a surgical perspective, a return to full surgical operational capabilities is desired. While this author looks forward to a roll out of routine surgeries in the near future, the possibility of a second wave of COVID-19 infection must be kept in mind, and guarded against by all stakeholders.

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, and in this critical phase as we fight to further lower infection rates, surgical facilities through their staff will continue to do life-saving surgeries and offer other important surgical services, while at the same time planning for the next phase of routine surgical operations.

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World Prematurity Day

Dr Sara Singh, Pediatrician, Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC)

E

very year on November 17, people all across the world celebrate World Prematurity Day. It all began in 1997 when a German woman named Silke Mader was pregnant and expecting twins at 25 weeks of pregnancy. The babies were delivered early because she developed high blood pressures during her pregnancy.

Her baby girl died a few days after birth and her son survived.

In the hospital, there was little information, support or care for her and her babies.

She felt that no other parent should ever have to go through such an experience again and so, in 1997 she began her journey by co-founding the European Foundation For The Care Of Newborn Infants (EFCNI).

Since then, their aim has been to meaningfully improve the care and circumstances of preterm babies and their families on a European level.

To strengthen this purpose, they created the International Premature Awareness Day in 2009 which was later renamed World Prematurity Day, after the Preemie Act was launched by March of Dimes in the USA and became law in 2006 requesting federal support for lifesaving research and education about babies born too early.

Babies that are born at less than 37 weeks of pregnancy are considered premature. Every year 15 million babies are born prematurely,

which is more than one in 10 of all babies across the world.

On World Prematurity Day, we take a moment to recognize the impact that prematurity has globally as the leading cause of child death under five years of age. We recognize our healthcare professionals who devote their lives to keeping these little ones alive. We recognize the families that are experiencing the anxiety of premature birth and we remember the little ones that could not be saved.

Premature births claim 1,000,000 lives every year with the rate of premature deliveries increasing in many countries.

Guyana has been no exception. On any given day, approximately 70 percent of the newborns admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) are premature.

They may require support to breathe and feed. They may also need antibiotics to help fight off infections and incubators to stay warm.

After several days, or even weeks, some of these babies go home with their families, but some do not survive. In Guyana we have seen great things happen in the management of our sick babies.

Eight years ago we could not provide ventilatory support to keep our babies breathing nor could we provide warmth in incubators or cardiac monitors to evaluate heart rates.

The smaller a baby is at birth, the more vulnerable he is, and the more intense care he will need. A premature baby’s heart, lungs and brain are not fully developed. The smaller the baby is at birth the less developed are his organs. There comes a point where we cannot support a baby that is born too small.

In Guyana, that age of pregnancy is 28 weeks. In more developed countries that age may be 24 weeks or even 22 weeks. We have not accomplished this just yet in Guyana, but it is the goal.

One day we want to see a baby born at 22 weeks go home with his parents.

Most preterm babies arrive early and without warn-

ing. However, some pregnancies are known to be at risk for ending in a preterm birth due to a maternal or fetal a reason. If this is the case, the doctor in charge of this delivery will prepare by offering advice and medications that can help to improve the outcome of the baby. The obstetrician may suggest treatment that could delay the birth, therefore giving the fetus more time to develop.

In other instances, it is safer to deliver the baby preterm.

This was the case for Silki Mader who had high blood pressure during her pregnancy. Prevention is always better than cure and there are steps that women can take to help minimize the risk of giving birth early.

It is important for women to join a prenatal clinic as soon as she knows that she is pregnant. This is the only way that risk factors for preterm labour can be assessed. Stop all cigarette smoking and illicit drug use. Prenatal vitamins as well as a healthy diet are also important.

Women are at a higher risk of having a baby too early if they are undernourished or underweight, particularly if their Basal Metabolic Index (BMI) is less than 19.8 before pregnancy.

Obese women (a BMI more than 30) are at an increased risk for medical intervention that may lead to premature birth. It is unwise to diet during pregnancy, but being physically active throughout pregnancy will boost overall wellbeing and reduce the risk of conditions, such as diabetes and hypertension, which can lead to premature delivery.

Physical abuse or stress from serious life events can also cause a premature delivery. It is important to get help. Confiding in a partner, a friend or seeking advice from a doctor can provide some support needed to help overcome the stress that accompanies having a baby. On the November 26, the Ministry of Human Services and Social Protection will be launching a new hotline “914” for victims of violence.

The prevention of preterm birth and the management of

a premature baby are no simple tasks. It involves nurses and doctors that are trained to take care of sick babies.

It takes equipment that are made specifically for newborns.

It also takes an efficient primary health care system that is equipped with the knowledge to identify a sick baby when he presents to the clinic and it takes a community of individuals that will

motivate and encourage expectant mothers to get the care that she needs in order to have a healthy baby. It therefore takes the support of our entire country to decrease premature births and improve the outcomes of babies that are born too soon.

Dr Leif Nelin, a neonatologist that practices in America and frequently visits GPHC’s NICU once said, “Guyana’s NICU did in eight years what

it took NICUs in the US 20 years to accomplish.”

But we still have a long way to go. With the right support, imagine what we can do in the next eight years!

Contributed by Dr. Sara Singh, Pediatrician, Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) on behalf of the Ministry of Health

26 FEATURE

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Recipes

Jelabi • • • • • • •

Ingredients

1 Cup flour 1/2 Cup yogurt For frying Oil/ghee 1 Cup Sugar 1 Cup Water 1/2 tsp Saffron A square piece of cloth with a hole in it, or a strong plastic bag for piping out the 'jalebis'

• •

• • • •

• • •

Directions

1. Mix the flour and dahi to form a thick smooth paste (dropping consistency), adding water if necessary and leave to ferment for 6-7 hours (time depending on the weather).

2. When the batter is ready, it should be spongy and you should be able to see bubbles on the surface.

3. Make the sugar syrup by dissolving sugar and saffron in the water over low heat, then cook over high heat till slightly thick and keep warm 4. Heat oil/ghee. Fill the bag with the batter. Twist the opening to seal the bag.

Snip one lower corner of the bag to make a

Gulab Jamun

small hole, through which you can pipe out the `jalebis'. The smaller the hole, the thinner the jalebis.

5. Hold the bag over the hot oil and pipe out swirls (like whirlpools), of the desired size, straight into it. Make as many such rounds as come in comfortably without touching each other. Lower the heat to medium and turn the 'jalebis' over and fry till a light brown on both sides.

6. Lift out the fried jalebis, drain out the oil and put them into the syrup. Leave it for a minute or so, and then again lift it out.

Ingredients:

1 cup Sugar 3 Green Cardamom pods 1 1/2 cups Water 2 cups Milk Powder 1/2 cup all purpose flour One pinch baking poweder 4 tablespoons Ghee 1/4 cup Milk Oil or Ghee, for deep frying

Directions

1. In a pot add water, sugar, cardamom pods and bring to a boil until 1/2 string consistency. (About 8-10 minutes on high heat). Let cool.

2. In a bowl mix milk powder, flour, baking powder and ghee. Use fingers to evenly distribute ghee while gradually adding liquid milk. Mixture should be soft and sticky. Do not over mix or knead mixture.

3. Grease palms with oil/ghee and roll into smooth balls. There should be no cracks.

4. Heat oil/gee and on low heat fry jamun until dark brown. Drain oil/ghee and soak in cooled sugar syrup, preferably overnight. Serve chilled or at room temperature.

FEATURE

27

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

HEALTH TIPS- DIABETES IN ADOLESENTS- WORLD DIABETES DAY-"DIABETES: NURSES MAKE THE DIFFERENCE" (Part1) that nurses play in supporting people living with diabetes

Dr Tariq Jagnarine Family Medicine, Endocrinology and Diabetes

E

ach year, World Diabetes Day is commemorated on the 14th November, to raise awareness about the disease, the impact on people’s health and wellbeing and the effective strategies that can be used to prevent and control it. This year is a unique one with the COVID-19 pandemic, which has caused many challenges, including for people living with diabetes and for their health care providers. The World Diabetes Day 2020 theme is "Diabetes: Nurses make the difference" to highlight the crucial role

DIABETES IN ADOLESCENTS Diabetes rates are rising in young people. Early detection and treatment in children and teenagers can improve their health and wellness throughout life. According to the International Diabetes federation (IDF) 2020, there are over 50,400 persons living with Diabetes in Guyana with a prevalence of 10.5%.

• A rise in prevalence of Type 2 Diabetes is occurring worldwide in parallel with an increasing prevalence of obesity in children.

• Type 1 diabetes is much more common in young people than type 2 diabetes.

However, the rates of both types in young people are increasing.

• In 2014–2015, doctors diagnosed type 1 diabetes in around 18,291 young people aged 10–19 years and type 2 diabetes in around 5,758 young people.

• The National Institutes of Health (NIH) report that, each year, rates of type 1 diabetes are rising by

1.8%, and rates of type 2 diabetes are rising by 4.8%.

• Young people who develop diabetes have a higher risk of health challenges throughout their life.

Type 1 and type 2 diabetes are different conditions, but they both affect the body’s use of insulin. Although type 1 is more common in young people, both types can affect children and teenagers.

TYPE 1 DIABETES Type 1 diabetes in children, previously called juvenile diabetes, occurs when the pancreas is unable to produce insulin. Without insulin, sugar cannot travel from the blood into the cells, and high blood sugar levels can occur.

People can develop type 1 diabetes at any age, from early childhood to adulthood, but the average age at diagnosis is 13 years. An estimated 85% of all type 1 diagnosis take place in people aged under 20 years.

Treatment involves lifelong insulin use and blood sugar monitoring, as well as diet and exercise management, to help keep blood sugar levels within the target range.

TYPE 2 DIABETES Type 2 diabetes is less common in young children, but it can occur when insulin is not working correctly.

Without enough insulin, glucose can accumulate in the bloodstream. The chance of developing type 2 diabetes increases, as people get older, but children can also develop it. The rates of type 2 diabetes are increasing along with increases in childhood obesity. Over 75% of children with type 2 diabetes have a close relative who has it, either due to genetics or shared lifestyle habits. Having a parent or sibling with type 2 diabetes is linked with an increased risk.

Sometimes, persons will need medication. However, people can often manage type 2 diabetes by: • Changing the dietless carbs, more fruits, and proteins • Getting more exercise • Maintaining a moderate weight

RISK FACTORS

●Obesity ●Positive family history

●Specific racial and ethnic groups ●Female sex ●Conditions associated with insulin resistance SYMPTOMS The symptoms of diabetes are similar in children, teenagers, and adults. Some symptoms are common in both types of diabetes, but there are some differences to help tell them apart.

The symptoms of type 1 diabetes in children tend to develop rapidly over a few weeks. Type 2 diabetes symptoms develop more slowly. It may take months or years to receive a diagnosis.

• TYPE 1 DIABETES The main symptoms of type 1 diabetes in children and adolescents include: • Increased thirst and urination • Hunger • Weight loss • Fatigue • Irritability • Fruity smell on the breath • Blurred vision • Yeast infections in females can also be a symptom

of diabetes.

• Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) at the time of diagnosis. This occurs when the body begins to burn fat for energy due to a lack of insulin. This is a serious condition that requires treatment.

People may be able to get a diagnosis before DKA develops by recognizing the four main symptoms of type 1 diabetes.

Diabetes U.K. urge people to be aware of the “4 Ts” in children: • Toilet: The child might be using the bathroom frequently, infants may be having heavier diapers, or bedwetting may be occurring after being dry for some time.

• Thirsty: The child may be drinking more fluids than usual but feeling unable to quench their thirst.

• Tired: The child may be feeling more tired than usual.

• Thinner: The child may be losing weight.

See Monday, November 16 Edition for the continuation of this article

28 NEWS

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Young attorneys admitted to local Bar

F

ounder of the Guyana Animation Network, Jubilante Cutting and Teakaram Singh are among the newest attorneys-at-law admitted to the Guyana Bar. Their petitions for admission to practice were recently presented at the High Court in Demerara.

Singh is a former student of the University of Guyana from where he obtained his Bachelor of Law degree in 2018. From there, he migrated to Trinidad and Tobago where he attended the Hugh Wooding Law School (HWLS) for two years.

On September 4, 2020, he graduated from law school having obtained his Legal Education Certificate (LEC).

According to him, “While attending the Hugh Wooding Law School, I participated in Mediation Advocacy Training. This training has equipped me with the skills to help clients resolve their disputes amicably outside of the court.”

His petition was presented by Attorney-at-Law

Attorney-at-Law Jubilante Cutting (second from right) is flanked

by Attorney-at-Law Christopher Ram (extreme right), Attorney-atLaw Christopher Thompson (extreme left), and Attorney-at-Law Mohamed Ali (second from left)

and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall before Justice Navindra Singh.

“In 2017, just before beginning law school, I was inspired by two simple words to “pursue purpose”. At that time, I did not know why these words stuck out to me but to remember that beckon, I designed a personal t-shirt ‘Pursue’ without realising that this personal mes-

sage, wrapped in a t-shirt, would have been sold to 20plus customers.”

Those were the words of Cutting as she delivered her petition speech before Chief Justice Roxane George. Her petition to practice law in the courts of Guyana was presented by Attorney-at-Law and Chartered Accountant Christopher Ram. On September 4, 2020,

she graduated from HWLS with her Legal Education Certificate LEC, a prerequisite to practice law in the Commonwealth Caribbean.

This former Bishops’ High School student’s parents divorced when she was just nine years old. Since then, she said she made a promise to herself that she will not let the divorce of her parents be used to elicit validation, pity, or deference but rather, as a delimitation.

According to the young woman, her experiences, both curricular and extra-curricular, at the Bishops’ High School, the alma mater of the Chief Justice, had an indelible impact on her life, together with her family’s support, by emphasising the importance of education and service to the community.

In addition to excelling at the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) and Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE), Cutting secured two of the most prestigious awards of the school: the Dingaan Stephenson Award for the best graduating law student and the Fidele Collier Medal for outstanding contribution to the school in addition to becoming the valedictorian

Attorney-at-Law Teakaram Singh (third from left) is flanked by well-wishers, Justice Navindra Singh (second from left), Attorney General Anil Nandlall (extreme right) and Singh’s family members and friends

during her sixth form year.

Shortly after completing her CAPE exams, she launched the Guyana Animation Network.

Cutting read for and was conferred with a Bachelor of Laws degree, with distinction, from the University of Guyana, graduating second in her class.

While at the HWLS, she said that she participated in almost all of the student committees of the Student Council in her first year and later served as Welfare Officer of the Student Representative Council in her final year.

Cutting admitted that

her journey to the Bar was not without its challenges.

However, she pointed out that she used every trial as a lesson and opportunity to learn, to reflect, and to do better. In her petition speech, the new attorney asked the honourable Chief Justice and her colleagues to hold her accountable for all of the law whenever they find her erring.

She extended gratitude to her parents and Ram and McRae, who became her tuition sponsors, for completing her legal studies at law school and with whom she completed her in-service training.

30 NEWS

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Mother of 3 stabbed to death by husband A

28-year-old mother of three was on Saturday morning stabbed to death by her reputed husband at their Rosignol, West Coast Berbice, Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) home.

Dead is Amrita Rahim also called “Sally” of Lot 7 Murphy Dam Rosignol, West Coast Berbice. Reports are the incident occurred at about 01:30h on Saturday morning and was witnessed by one of the couple’s children.

According to the police, the child told investigators that the couple attended a birthday party, which was held in the same yard

Dead: Amrita Rahim, also called “Sally”

where they resided and

went home at about 23:45h.

Police said that upon returning home, the 32-yearold suspect accused his reputed wife of infidelity. This led to an argument and the woman threatened the cane cutter that she would leave the house.

According to Police, the man then went into the kitchen and returned with a knife and stabbed his wife as she was lying on her bed.

The woman’s brotherin-law, Vijai Rahim, who lives in the same yard, told this publication that he was asleep when the incident occurred.

“My wife woke me up and told me to go and see

my brother and his wife were fighting. When I run over, he had already left and when I run in the house she was lying on the bed with a small wound on the upper chest,” Rahim said. He said he rushed his sister-inlaw to the Fort Wellington Hospital. She was, however, pronounced dead on arrival. This publication was told that the couple had been married for 13 years and has three children aged eight, 10 and 11.

Rahim said shortly after he returned home, he came face to face with his brother.

“After I came home, about five or ten minutes af-

The couple’s Murphy Dam Rosignol, West Coast Berbice home where the stabbing occurred on Saturday morning

ter my brother came home and he called for me. When I went down to him, he told me that he went to the police station but the front gate locked and he asked me to call the police for him,” Rahim said.

He said he told his brother to take a seat and

tried to find out what occurred. Police subsequently arrived and arrested the suspect at his home. He remains in custody as investigations continue. This newspaper was told that the relationship had been a very abusive one for years.

70 new COVID-19 cases recorded

T

he Health Ministry on Saturday announced that 70 new cases of the coronavirus had been recorded within 24 hours in Guyana.

This takes the total number of positive cases recorded to 4794. However, of this amount, 3725 persons have recovered from the virus.

According to the Health Ministry’s report, there are currently nine persons in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit, while the death toll remains at 138. There are also 48 persons in institutional isolation and 874 in home isolation. On the other hand, there are 36 persons in institutional quarantine.

Of the new cases, seven were recorded in Region One (Barima-Waini), Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) recorded two new cases, Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) recorded one new case, and Region Four (DemeraraMahaica) recorded 48 cases.

Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) recorded one new case, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) recorded five new cases, Region Eight (PotaroSiparuni) saw three cases and Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) recorded three new cases.

The Health Ministry continues to urge all Guyanese to observe the protocols of the COVID-19 Emergency Measures, which will guarantee the safety of all.

Persons are asked to implement the consistent use of face masks when leaving their homes. Also, they are asked to pay keen attention to the importance of maintaining the six feet physical distance from others,

and the need for good hand hygiene to help reduce the spread of COVID-19.

Persons displaying any of the symptoms associated with COVID-19, or in need of any additional information are asked to contact the COVID-19 Hotline on 2311166, 226-7480 or 624-6674 immediately or visit www. health.gov.gy.

Diabetes and COVID-19

Meanwhile, Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony in his World Diabetes Day message on Saturday said people with diabetes are paying a particularly high price as they are at higher risk of severe COVID-19 disease and death.

Here in Guyana, he said, the experience has been the same and he extended condolences to all those families who have lost loved ones along the way, many of them with diabetes as a pre-existing condition.

“The COVID-19 pandemic is testing all of us, but nurses are on the front line.

They are working tirelessly in our hospitals and health centres and right across all circumstances in our ten administrative regions to keep our communities safe,” the Health Minister added.

He urged persons with diabetes to learn more about the disease and how it can impact their lives.

“For people living with diabetes, always remember that our nurses are a crucial part of your healthcare team. They provide you with ongoing self-management support and education, and they also help to ensure you have the appropriate screening and treatment to prevent complications in the future.”

NEWS

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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Reopening of sugar estates

3 Indian companies submit EOIs for joint ventures A s the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Administration forges ahead with plans to reopen the three sugar estates, at least three Indian companies have already expressed interests in entering into a joint venture with the Guyana Government and according to Indian High Commission, Dr KJ Srinivasa, more companies are likely to come onboard.

“Already three companies have expressed their interests to coming…in response to the Government’s circular… The next process is awaiting [a decision from Government]. As far as I understand, there are many companies that have already expressed their interests, so once that Expression of Interest phase is over, [the Government] will call for consultations…,” Dr Srinivasa told Guyana Times during an interview on Friday.

The Guyana Government has invited Expressions of Interest (EoIs) for “A joint venture, partnerships, or a leasing arrangement on the now re-opened vested sugar estates at Enmore, Rose Hall and Skeldon and also on the operational sugar estates at Uitvlugt, Blairmont and Albion…”

The notice which was first published back in September noted that “The Government of Guyana as the sole shareholders is supportive of this initiative to invite interests from the Private Sector to participate in different forms in the ownership or operations of GuySuCo.” According to the Indian High Commissioner, the introduction of the Private Sector into the sugar industry would yield good results for Guyana.

In fact, he pointed to the sugar

sector in India, which is completely occupied by the Private Sector.

“Government doesn’t have a place except for policy-making and ensuring the regulations are being followed…,” he noted.

Dr Srinivasa explained that almost all the sugar mills there have diversified their operations, thus making their ventures more profitable.

“Once the sugar cane enters the mill, nothing comes out – literally nothing. They crush the sugarcanes and they make brown sugar, white sugar, then they do the co-generation of electricity, then they do the molasses and ethanol, then they use the bagasse and then also make fertilisers of the remaining parts. So, nothing ever comes out,” he stated.

India’s sugar industry

Moreover, the High Commissioner further explained that India’s sugar industry operates in a different system from Guyana’s, whereby private farmers play a more integral role.

“Unlike GuySuCo (Guyana Sugar Corporation) owning so much of lands; in India, the sugar factories are there and they have a catchment area of individual formers. So, the farmers grow the sugarcanes but there is a symbiotic relationship between the factories and the farmers. The factories will fund, to certain extent, the seeds and so on, in exchange for the farmers to supply canes to them. Then they will deduct that amount [for the seedlings and other materials provided] and pay whatever is remaining… That’s how the private companies are making a lot of profit and the prices of sugar is now up. I think Guyana will

Technical assistance

High Commissioner Srinivasa with Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha during a tour of the Blairmont Estate, West Bank Berbice, back in October

stand to gain if they catch that up trend,” the diplomat stated.

Under the previous APNU/ AFC Government, four of Guyana’s seven estates – Wales, Enmore, Rose Hall and Skeldon – were closed, resulting in thousands of sugar workers being placed on the breadline.

The PPP had promised on the elections campaign trail to reopen these estates and within weeks of being in office, had taken steps in this direction while also injecting funds to keep the cash-strapped and heavy indebted GuySuCo afloat with the three remaining estates – Albion, Blairmont and Uitvlugt.

During a tour of the estates in Berbice last month, Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha said Government is hopeful to have the Private Sector on board in reviving the sugar industry to a viable state. He had noted that already there has been good feedback from the local Private Sector in investing in the sugar sector.

Moreover, the Agriculture Minister had pointed out that

due to gross neglect under the coalition regime, the three remaining factories are now only operating at 40-60 per cent capacity. In order to correct this situation and restore the estates to full operation, the Guyana Government has tapped into India’s expertise in the sector.

He said requests for technical assistance in the areas of both factory operations as well as field cultivation were made.

The Indian High Commissioner, who had accompanied Minister Mustapha during those visits to the estates, told Guyana Times that the factories are indeed in a bad shape.

“The ones that are open, the machineries are old and the process as well, they need an improvement – their efficiency could be improved. So, I think that’s a job which is there for the experts [to look into] and we will facilitate that,” the diplomat posited.

He related that the process has already begun in India to procure the relevant expertise to assist Guyana.

“We have to find the right expert then go to a selection process… it is a very competitive process, transparent process. So, the Government of India will call for applications and then interview them, and then see who is best suited based on the requirements given by the Government of Guyana,” Dr Srinivasa told Guyana Times on Friday.

Indian High Commissioner Dr KJ Srinivasa

Under new leadership, GuySuCo has already embarked on steps to revamp the industry and has already rehired hundreds of sugar workers, who were previously sacked. It was reported that by year-end, some 300 workers would be rehired at the Skeldon Estate alone.

Meanwhile, Minister Mustapha has also engaged private cane farmers in Berbice, who produce 32 per cent of the sugarcanes used by GuySuCo. (Vahnu Manikchand)

32 NEWS

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Cyclist killed in WCB accident

A

21-year-old pedal cyclist of Number Eight Village, West Coast Berbice, Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice), is now dead following an accident which occurred in his home village.

Dead is 21-year-old Shemar Nataniel Nurse of Number 8 Village, WCB. Reports are Nurse was on his bicycle at about 19:30h when he was struck by a car bearing registration plate number HD 1565. According to the police, Nurse was proceeding west along the public road and the car was heading in the opposite direction.

The driver in his statement to Police claimed that Nurse made a sudden right turn from behind a motor lor-

21-year-old Shemar Nataniel Nurse

ry and into the path of the car.

Nurse was hit and thrown onto the car’s bonnet and then to the windscreen before falling on the roadway. He was picked up in an unconscious state by public-spirited persons and rushed to the Fort Wellington Public Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

On Saturday, Police said that a breathalyser test conducted on the driver showed that he was not under the influence.

Villagers have since said that the car had at least two passengers at the time, adding that the area was poorly lit.

“If the place was properly lit, that could have been

struct a Magistrate’s Court at Port Kaituma, Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni), and one at Mabaruma in Region One (Barima-Waini).

The advertisement signed

by Registrar of the Supreme Court of Judicature, Sueanna Lovell, stated that bidding

for the construction of the courts will be done through the National Competitive Bidding Process specified in the Procurement Act 2003.

According to the advertisement, eligible bidders may obtain further information by contacting the Registrar of

The car that was involved in the accident

avoided to some extent. I am not taking sides to say that the driver is wrong or the cyclist is wrong but if the place had proper lights that could have been avoided whether he could have seen the car or the car driver could have seen him, whatever the situation is, but it is jet black in the nights here and Number Seven and Number Nine both have streets lights and the lights here if they came and fix it today, tomorrow it is gone again,” one villager lamented.

Nurse, who formally worked as a cane harvester, lived with a brother and was expected to take up employment with the Guyana Police Force later this month.

New Magistrate’s Courts to be constructed

T

he Judiciary of Guyana is inviting eligible bids for the construction of a new Magistrate’s Court at Vigilance on the East Coast of Demerara. Apart from this, in an ad published in the daily newspapers, the Judiciary said it also wants to con-

the court at Lot 1 Avenue of the Republic and Charlotte Street, Georgetown, from Monday to Friday between working hours.

Bids will be opened on December 1. The Judiciary has been taking steps to ensure that justice is delivered on time regardless of where citizens live by constructing new Magistrate’s Courts, renovating others, opening new Magisterial Districts and appointing new Magistrates.

The Vigilance Magistrate’s Court which houses the head office of the East Demerara Magisterial District is housed in a two-storey wooden building in the compound of the Vigilance Police Station.

This Magisterial District also consists of the Sparendaam, Cove and John, Mahaica and Mahaicony Magistrate’s Court. It was the first court in that district to be equipped with audio-visual recording including a

camera, monitors, smart television, microphone, a surround system, a reliable internet connection, and Skype system.

In 2016, the Judiciary demolished the ageing building which had housed the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court which is situated in the compound of the Sparendaam Police Station. The court was re-commissioned in February 2017.

When this was done, its quota of Magistrates increased from one to two. The fully air-conditioned building has washroom facilities, briefing rooms for witnesses, and a prisoners’ holding area, which boosts tight security features such as sturdy grillwork on its lower flat.

In 2017, the Judiciary opened the Upper Demerara Magisterial District - the country’s tenth Magisterial District. Earlier this year, it commissioned the Diamond/

Golden Grove Magistrates’ Courts. Before the opening of this court which costs $132 million, the Providence Magistrates’ Courts served the entire East Bank of Demerara corridor from Agricola to Timehri.

Chief Justice Roxane George had explained that due to the rapid development in the Diamond area, to ensure that justice is delivered throughout the country, the Judiciary saw it fit to open a courthouse there.

The Judiciary has also commissioned a Drug Treatment and Rehabilitation Court and a Children’s Court which are both housed in the same building with the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

The Judiciary has been praised for decentralising the magistracy given the country’s geographical layout, which makes travelling and communication very challenging at times.

NEWS

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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Troy Resources finds high-grade gold in Region 7 underground mine …conducting drilling campaign for diamonds

A

ustralian mining company Troy Resources has found high-grade gold at its Karouni, Smarts Underground mine, raising expectations about the potential of the site.

This is according to an investors’ report printed by Troy and dated November 13, 2020. According to the report, the mining company encountered 7.08 g/t from a drill hole named SDD191, with a depth of 172 metres.

That drill hole also produced findings of 2.26 g/t at 52.7 metres, 12.98 g/t at 144 metres and 2.35 g/t at 234 metres. A second drill hole assay, labelled SDD192, saw the company encounter 6.58 g/t of gold at 104 metres and 2.59 g/t at 111.

According to Troy Resources, updated information on the Smarts Underground mine and its ore reserve is expected to be completed late in late December.

Besides gold, however, the company reported that it has a nine-hole diamond drilling campaign currently ongoing at the Smarts NW site. The company reminded that previous drilling had shown promising results.

“In previous announcements to the ASX, Troy has released the results of diamond drill holes SDD183 to SDD189, the majority of which encompass spectacular intersections. The Company has now completed the in-

Overhead view of Troy Resources

fill at Smarts Underground – drilling SDD191 and SDD192 – with all assay results now received.”

“These two holes targeted the extremities of the known mineralization, so the expectation was always that the intersections would be far less spectacular than those received from drilling the core of the deposit. Nevertheless, good intersections were received,” Troy Resources said.

The Smarts deposit started out as an open-pit location.

But Troy has always had its eyes set on the future of underground mining. Last month, it had announced the discovery of some 131.93 grams per tonne of gold. Managing Director Ken Nilsson had described it as spectacular.

“Throughout my career, which has spanned multiple mining operations across multiple continents, I have only once previously been in-

volved in the drilling of a hole with results anywhere near as spectacular as those from SDD189,” Nilsson had said last month.

Out of the 634,905 ounces of gold declared in 2019, Troy Resources as one of Guyana’s largest gold producers accounted for a large portion of it. The company, which is Australian-owned and has its operations in Region Seven, reported production figures of 58,118 ounces of gold from its Karouni, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) mine for 2019. In 2018, their gold production figure was 70,207.

The company produced 4528 ounces of gold in the first quarter of 2020. This was a steep drop compared to the 13,333 ounces of gold it produced for the equivalent period in 2019. However, the company had closed its operations in October of last year, after a deadly mining pit cave-in. (G3)

World Bank Head supports call for timely, meaningful debt relief for developing countries

P

resident of the World Bank Group, David Malpass has supported calls by various developing countries’ leaders, including Guyana’s President Irfaan Ali, for the world’s poor to benefit from “timely and meaningful” debt relief in order to cope with key development challenges, including those brought on by the coronavirus pandemic.

“These are immediate, critical needs as countries work to recover from the global pandemic, and we can no longer afford to kick the debt can down the road – developing countries need relief now,” said Malpass, who heads one of the most powerful financial development institutions in the world.

Malpass outlined that on the part of the G-20, those governments should instruct and create incentives for all their public bilateral creditors, and forcefully encourage the private creditors under their jurisdiction, to participate fully in debt relief efforts.

“For now, too many creditors in G-20 countries are continuing to take payments, and the current playing field is tilted to favour creditors, in-

cluding the vulture variety, over poorer borrowers. This leaves no viable escape from poverty for the people of the debtor countries,” he highlighted.

According to the World Bank Head, G-20 creditors “should seek timely and meaningful debt relief for distressed borrowers, through both lower interest rates and actual write-downs in some cases”.

He urged that the common framework reached by the G-20 should avoid repeating the “extend and pretend” approach that delayed recovery after previous debt crises.

Debt restructurings, he outlined, need to reduce the amount owed and should be reached with less litigation and more transparency regarding their terms.

“By taking swift, broad, and forward-looking action, the G-20 nations can help people in poverty-stricken countries break out of the devastating economic cycle that sovereign debt crises bring,” he contended.

In the same vein, Malpass was quick to point out that for their part, developing countries themselves also need to

President of the World Bank Group, David Malpass

take steps to ensure transparent and sustainable national policies that support the poor.

As current Chair of the G77 + China bloc, President Irfaan Ali recently made a passionate call for developing countries to be given some form of debt relief to cope with the challenges being faced as a result of the pandemic.

During the Group of 77 + China ministerial and technical meeting hosted by Guyana, President Ali suggested an integrated response to the threat posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the climate change crisis, and the adverse effects of these on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 35

34 NEWS

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Police unearth $220M worth of ganja S ome $220 million worth of marijuana was unearthed and destroyed by ranks of the Guyana Police Force (GPF), during a drug eradication exercise at Harakuli Creek in the Berbice River.

Police on Saturday said the operation lasted more than 13 hours, on a 12-acre cultivation. Some 40,000 plants were unearthed by a team of 18 police ranks who swooped down on the area.

Police said an additional plot of land was also found that was prepared for cultivation as well as

Revamping the Tourism Sector (Part 3)

T The cannabis being burnt by Police

60 kilograms of harvested cannabis and three camps.

The fields, camps and dried cannabis were all de-

The 12-acre cultivation stroyed by fire. but efforts are being made In addition, Police stat- to determine the owner of ed that no one was found at the land. Investigations the time of the operation, continue.

Policy Recommendations ourism recovery depends on early, responsible resumption, coupled with a compelling and carefully executed strategy for re-entry. The outlook is fluid, and necessitates a balanced set of interventions that consider both supply and demand-side support, in line with a gradual easing of internal restrictions.

Strategic recommendations: • Conduct and conclude a comprehensive industry/government recovery partnership to collaborate on all aspects of tourism recovery.

• Introduce National Norms and Standards for safe tourism operations, inspired by globally recognized biosecurity protocols across value chain to enable safe tourism operations, inspired by globally recognized biosecurity protocols across the value chain to enable safe travel and rebuild traveller confidence.

• Enhance air access and implement an air service development programme to reconnect Guyana to the world.

• Continue to work with sister departments to build on the work already done to increase ease of access into Guyana for the purpose of stimulating tourism, continue to intensify work on tourism safety using a safety monitors programme in partnership with the Police and relevant stakeholders.

• Catalyse domestic demand through the phases of economic re-opening with informative and inspirational messaging that encourages safe tourism and domestic vacation experiences • Execute a global marketing and travel trade programme, targeted at highest potential source markets (in terms of volume and value) and intrepid travel consumer segments, to reignite international demand.

• Launch an investment and market entry facilitation programme to stimulate capital investment, sector transformation and product diversification.

• Prioritise cooperation with neighbouring destinations towards a regional value proposition and a seamless visitor experience.

• Review and transform the tourism policy and institutional architecture to deliver efficient, effective and purpose-led support for the sector’s growth and development.

Proposed Fiscal Policy responses to aid recovery • Exemption, reduction and/or deferrals of taxes and other social contributions for companies, in most cases targeted specifically for SMEs; • Emergency economic funds and assistance to SMEs, (in some cases, facilitated through partnerships with financial institutions); • Investment programmes; • Deferral or discount in the payment of utility expenses to businesses and self-employed workers; • Social safety net such as food, means of individual protection and other essentials for socially vulnerable groups, including those with disabilities.

Tourism-specific measures • Exemption, deferral (of up to six months) and reduction (up to 50%) of tourism- related taxes to businesses in travel, hospitality and other tourism-related activities, such as environment protection fee, tourism licences, tourism marketing taxes, visa fees, capital gains taxes; • Economic assistance for SMEs tourism; • Discount on utilities’ expenses for businesses; • Cash flow assistance to travel agencies.

Proposed Monetary Policy responses to aid recovery • Reduction and/or exemption of interest rates; • Interest rate subsidisation (loan waiver, subsidisation of certain parts of loan interest by the Government); • Co-financing and refinancing of credit; • State guarantees for bridging loans used to cover temporary liquidity shortages; • Access to loans for SMEs (state covers up to 90-100% of credit costs); • Moratorium on loans; • Measures to ensure the stability of national currency and consumer prices.

Tourism-specific measures: • Financial resources for SMEs in tourism, such as new loan schemes and preferential conditions for loans; • Incentive programme granted to airlines Policies for jobs and skills • Furlough of employees (wages partially supported by the State); this can be done through the National Insurance Scheme; • Direct subsidies for one-person enterprises and microenterprises; • Grants from the state to business of a percentage of the salary fund; • Extension of layoffs in the case of seasonal workers; • Reduction and/or deferral of social security contributions’ payments; • Exemption from a compensation of compulsory health insurance obligations; • Temporary easing of conditions for use of social insurance funds; • Providing financial assistance to entrepreneurs for supporting contract employees with wage level lower than the minimum monthly average salary; • Cash transfers for unemployed workers; • Flexible mechanism for companies to support employees’ costs and reduction of salaries taxes; • Telework is encouraged, whenever possible and schedule flexibility measures; • Online training on digital transformation to support companies.

Tourism specific measures • Reduction of training levy for tourism operators; • Wages subsidies to aid businesses to retain jobs in tourism, hospitality and aviation; • Financial support for trainees; • Support businesses with training to develop digital skills; • Retraining and re-skilling tourism workers, including unemployed workers; • Travel and tourism designated as a special sector for employment support; • Capacity building programmes.

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

35 Govt lauded for proactive approach in fast-tracking developmental projects NEWS

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Hospital upgrades

President Dr Irfaan Ali

Prime Minister Mark Phillips

ithin mere weeks of taking office, the Irfaan Ali-led People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Government was able to get a sleuth of major developmental projects off the ground that were lagging under the previous coalition Administration.

Many of the projects that were unlocked are ones funded by the Government of India and were secured pre-2015.

In a recent interview with Guyana Times, Indian High Commissioner, Dr KJ Srinivasa commended the current PPP Government for its quick proactive approach to developmental projects.

“This Government has been very proactive and very responsive. The attention that has been given to all the developmental projects, we feel that this is something that will help in executing these projects at a faster timeframe,” the diplomat stated.

According to the Indian High Commissioner, India’s Government is committed to ensuring these projects are delivered on time and with quality.

“I want to see and ensure that the current projects are on fast-track because this Government has been very responsive and we want to work with them and ensure that the delivery is on time with quality.

We don’t want to compromise on these two issues,” he asserted.

Dr Srinivasa noted that the funds for these projects are sanctioned and once the tendering process is completed, they will be released by the EXIM Bank of India as per tender specifications.

W

Bypass road

Among the projects which the High Commissioner mentioned that has been kicked off is the bypass road running from Ogle on the East Coast of Demerara to Haags Bosch at Eccles, East Bank Demerara.

The Indian Government had provided a US$50 million Line of Credit (LOC) for the road link that was initially slated for Ogle to Diamond, EBD. However, the project cost was driven up to over $208 million by the previous regime and the project was at a standstill

Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo

after Guyana went to elections.

“And then when the new Government took over, they got active on that and they say ‘we need to work on this project fast’,” the diplomat noted.

He said the new Government took a prudent decision to divide the road into two phases – first from Ogle to Haags Bosch road, which is about 48-50 per cent of the project, and then from Haags Bosch to Diamond – in order to fit the US$50 million LOC. “Because this change in the scope of the project require some additional approvals, we are currently processing those approvals in the Government of India.

Once that approval comes, then the process of Request for Proposals and tendering, and those things will begin…,” he posited.

The High Commissioner explained that because of the COVID-19 pandemic, authorities have not been meeting as frequently as they used to but he assured that the approval will be given soon.

India’s High Commissioner to Guyana, Dr KJ Srinivasa

Ocean-going ferry

Meanwhile, another India-funded project is the US$18 million – US$8 million grant and US$10 million LOC – for the construction of an ocean-going ferry to ply the Georgetown to North-West District (NWD) route.

Dr Srinivasa explained that the EXIM Bank had blocked clearance of the funds due to some issues with the grant.

“So now we are trying to work it out and once that is done, and once we’re settled on those issues, we will be able to proceed further on that project, “ he posited.

According to the Indian diplomat, the firms vying for the contract have already been informed of a strict timeframe of 18 months to build the vessel.

In addition to this, the contract also includes the upgrade of the two stellings from which the vessel will be traversing.

“So, we think this will be a good thing for the transport sector in the NorthWest region and people will benefit,” he stated.

4 nabbed with illegal guns, ammo

F

our men were on Saturday arrested after an illegal firearm and ammunition were found in a vehicle they all occupied.

According to Police, at about 00:15h on Saturday, acting on information received they proceeded to Queen and William Streets, Kitty, Georgetown, where a search was conducted on a black motor vehicle, that was parked in the vicinity.

At the time, a 25-year-old security guard of Thomas Street, North Cummingsburg, Georgetown, claimed that he was the driver of the vehicle.

Also, there was a 23-year-old clothes vendor of Back Street, Better Hope, East Coast Demerara (ECD), a 32-year-old businessman of Queen Street, Kitty, and a 22-year-old

The firearms, live rounds and magazines that were found by Police

student of Diamond, East Bank Demerara (EBD).

According to Police, at

the time, the 22-year-old was seated in the trunk of the open back vehicle, while

the others were standing nearby.

Police said that the driver of the vehicle was informed of the information received, and a search was carried out on the said vehicle. It was then Police unearthed two .32 Taurus pistols with their serial numbers filed off, 43 live .32 rounds of ammunition, and an extra magazine.

These items were found in the front left side passenger seat of the said motor vehicle.

Police said the driver admitted ownership of the items, whilst his companions denied any knowledge of it.

They were all arrested and placed into custody at the Kitty Police Station.

The firearm, ammunition and components were sealed, marked and lodged.

Investigations are ongoing.

The Indian Government has also injected some US$17.5 million to refurbish existing facilities and construct new buildings at the Suddie Public Hospital in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), the West Demerara Regional Hospital in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) and the Bartica District Hospital in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni).

The LOC will also be used to procure medical equipment to furnish the new and renovated facilities.

These funds were redirected from the Specialty Hospital project by the previous Government and the PPP Administration has decided to go ahead with the upgrades.

The Indian High Commissioner said this is one of the projects that is on a fast-track towards realisation.

“We have already gotten the shortlisting of these companies from the EXIM Bank. They have sent their Requests for Proposals and once that is done, we will go to tendering through NPTAB (National Procurement and Tender Administration Board). This is one of the lowest hanging fruits, if I may say so. It is in a fast-track,” he said.

Water pumps

Meanwhile, Guyana has also secured 12 pumps – nine fixed and three mobile pumps – via another LOC to the tune of US$4 million to prevent flooding across the country.

Dr Srinivasa told Guyana Times that all the pumps have arrived here as well as the team of experts from India to install the pumps.

He explained that their arrival was delayed due to restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Nevertheless, the team has already been deployed to the Essequibo Coast, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), where they are conducting works at Hamilton Court and Devonshire Castle.

“So they’ve already started the work and in about 10 days, they would’ve done four pumps in that region,” the High Commissioner noted.

He added that the team has a schedule to work with the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) for the remaining installations across Guyana.

In addition to the Essequibo Coast, the fixed pumps will also be installed at Den Amsterdam, West Coast Demerara; Nooten Zuil, Hope, and Mora Point in Mahaicony, East Coast of Demerara; and at Rose Hall Town, Corentyne.

The mobile pumps have been earmarked for installation at Princes Street, Sussex Street and Cowan Street, Georgetown, to aid with drainage in the city.

Meanwhile, the Indian Government is also funding a US$10 million solar panel project in Guyana that is expected to benefit between 25,000 to 30,000 households in the hinterland region.

It has also provided US$1 million as COVID-19 relief and donated 20 ventilators to the Health Ministry.

There is also a series of initiatives being undertaken in other sectors by the Indian Government.

According to the Indian High Commissioner, they currently have their hands full and are concentrating on executing these projects before taking on new ones.

World Bank Head supports call...

FROM PAGE 33

The President said it is necessary for responses to the pandemic and the climate crisis to be placed at the centre of advancement of the Development Goals.

To this end, the Head of State called on the international community to ensure greater financing is provided to meet the 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development, particularly in the post-COVID-19 era.

According to the President, mainly due to high indebtedness, many developing countries are constrained in their efforts to generate sufficient resources towards achieving the “2030 Agenda”.

It was on this basis, he issued a call for the interna-

tional financial community to explore and implement ways in which debt can be reduced so as to allow developing countries the fiscal space to achieve the SDGs. The Guyanese leader further stated that the interrelation of the current pandemic and Sustainable Development Goals is a source of concern for all since the pandemic is depleting the financial and human capital assets of countries.

“Our strategies to combat the impact of COVID-19 pandemic have forced countries to increase their internal and external debts. This is likely to lead to negative growth and exacerbate poverty,” he argued.

36 NEWS

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

London Police to recruit 40% of officers from minority backgrounds

T

he London Metropolitan Police will aim to hire 40 percent of new recruits from Black, Asian and other minority backgrounds by 2022, Mayor Sadiq Khan said on Friday, the centerpiece of a sweeping effort to make the city’s main police force more representative as it tries to address accusations of racism and discriminatory practices against minorities.

The plan also calls for the Metropolitan Police to take other measures to counter discrimination and racism, including a review of all traffic stops, after the force found that Black people were four times more likely than white people to be stopped and searched in their vehicles in London.

The police in London and cities around the world have come under increased scrutiny in recent months, and Mr Khan said in an action plan that the Metropolitan Police should be more inclusive; work more closely with local communities; and gain the trust of minorities, who are treated differently than white Londoners.

In the report, Mr Khan said that the Black Lives Matter protests this summer had highlighted the need to change the perceptions of the police, and that recent episodes had shed a new light on discriminatory practices that include the disproportionate use of force, including Tasers, and stopand-frisk tactics. “We must do more to improve Black Londoners’ trust and confidence in our police service, and ensure police powers don’t disproportionately impact them,” Mr. Khan said on Twitter.

In a rare public acknowledgment, the Metropolitan Police said in a statement on Friday that it recognized the pain felt by Black communities in London, and that

Black Lives Matter demonstrators and Police officers in London in June (Peter Nicholls/Reuters photo)

it was “committed to eliminating the disproportionate use of force on Black Londoners.” Cressida Dick, the Metropolitan Police commissioner, said that her force was “not free from racism or discrimination.”

By recruiting 40 percent of new officers from ethnic minority backgrounds by 2022, the Metropolitan Police said the goal was for 16 percent of the force to be from minority backgrounds by 2022, and 28 percent by 2030. There are currently 5,000 officers from ethnic minority backgrounds of a total of 32,600, compared with 3,000 a decade ago.

The killing of George Floyd and other Black men and women by the police in the United States and the widespread anger it set off has been sharply felt in Britain, where tens of thousands of protesters marched against police brutality this summer.

While Prime Minister Boris Johnson has acknowledged that

there was “much more that we need to do” to tackle racism, it took him days to address the death of Mr. Floyd or the protests in London, and he accused some demonstrators of “thuggery.” Many have also found his recent declarations lacking credibility because of his past use of racist language.

Britain has a fraught racial history and in recent months several cities have faced a reckoning with their past, including Bristol, in southwestern England, a cosmopolitan cultural hub that was once a crucial port in the trans-Atlantic slave trade. In June, protesters toppled a statue of a 17th-century slave trader, Edward Colston, and threw it in the city’s harbor.

A British sculptor later replaced it with the statue of a local Black protester, but the city authorities had the new artwork removed after just one day.

The Metropolitan Police also have a long history of discriminatory conduct and shortcomings in

investigating racially motivated crimes. One turning point came in 1999, when the force was accused of “pernicious and persistent institutional racism” by William Macpherson, a retired High Court judge leading an inquiry into police failings around the murder of Stephen Lawrence, a Black teenager who was killed by five white youths in southeast London in 1993. (Two men were ultimately convicted in the case in 2012.)

The police force came under fire again early this year for the discriminatory use of stop-and-frisk tactics, after a spike in their use was reported during the first coronavirus lockdown.

In July, the police apologized to Bianca Williams, a 26-year-old champion sprinter, and her partner, both of whom are Black, after they were detained while driving in West London with their toddler sitting in the back. They were handcuffed for 45 minutes while officers searched the vehicle. Nothing was found in the car.

Mr Khan, who oversees the city’s police forces along with Britain’s Home secretary, said after the arrest of Ms. Williams that he had commissioned the action plan. But it was unclear whether Mr. Khan’s decision was prompted by the incident, which caused outrage, or if he had commissioned it earlier.

Other recent episodes included a bungled investigation into the assault on three Black women last December that the police said was “compounded by racial motivation,” and a picture of two murdered Black women taken by officers in June that was reportedly sent to a group of people, including civilians.

The Metropolitan Police said in the action plan that it also would reintroduce a requirement that

calls for recruits to live in London, and dedicate 300,000 pounds, or about $400,000, to efforts to encourage young Black Londoners to consider a career in the police.

Mr Khan said in the action plan that communities would also take a more active role in holding police forces accountable. One of the most important elements, he said, was “addressing the concerns of Black Londoners about the lack of transparency that they feel exists around the activities of citywide police teams,” the plan read.

To that end, officers will also review footage from body cameras to identify potential patterns in the use of stop-and-frisk tactics, and how de-escalation methods could be used more frequently.

Organizations that contributed to the action plan welcomed the announcement, but said they remained cautious about how changes would be enacted and the extent to which it would address the broader problems it identified. “While the acknowledgment that historic and systemic racism has created a breakdown in trust between the police and Black Londoners is welcome, there is still much to be done,” said Ben Lindsay, the chief executive of Power the Fight, an organization that combats youth violence in Britain.

“At the center of the consultation was whether institutional racism continues to exist in the M.P.S.,” the plan read, referring to the Metropolitan Police Service, more than 20 years after the Macpherson inquiry.

“Either way, the fact that this question is still being asked demonstrates how much more work needs to be done to ensure that the M.P.S. has the trust and confidence of all Black Londoners.”

(New York Times)

guyanatimesgy.com

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2020

ARIES (March 21April 19)

37

You're on the right track.

Don't let anyone stand between you and your goals.

Treat a change as a new beginning and release yourself from past regrets. Romance is favored.

The power of persuasion TAURUS will help you get your way.

(April 20May 20) Push yourself, but don't jeopardize your physical well-being. A partnership will lead to a stable future.

Prepare for the unexpectGEMINI (MAY 28- ed. Someone will play games with you if you are gullible.

June 20)

Do your homework and get your facts straight before you get into a debate. Take care of your health.

CANCER Your involvement in a (June 21- cause will send you in an unfaJuly 22) miliar direction. Learn all you can, and use your intelligence and experience to make things happen. Partnerships are favored.

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

VIRGO

(Aug. 23Sept. 22)

Dilbert LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

Peanuts

You'll meet someone interesting if you participate in a worthy cause or take an online class that intrigues you.

Share your feelings and concerns with a loved one.

Take time to help a friend or relative. Be open to suggestions, willing to learn something new and eager to incorporate what you discover into your everyday routine.

Difficulties at home will leave you confused about your future and the changes coming down the pipeline. Take time to rethink your position. Share your thoughts and feelings with a loved one.

Take the high road, regardless of what others do.

Share your ideas and use a passionate tone to encourage others to walk alongside you.

Incorporate structure into your vision.

SAGITTARIUS You can be demonstrative (Nov. 23without stretching the truth.

Dec. 21) Sticking to the facts will ward off anyone trying to put you in a compromising position. Do not take risks with your health.

CAPRICORN Keep your eye on everything that's going on. Consider (Dec. 22Jan. 19) the changes you can make to improve your home environment and important relationships. Avoid indulgence.

Calvin and Hobbes

Stick to who and what is

AQUARIUS best for you. Don't let an out(Jan. 20sider interfere in your life.

Feb. 19) Don't feel that you must get involved in a joint venture just because someone else does. Romance is favored.

PISCES Don't reveal personal in(Feb. 20- formation. Knowledge is vital Mar. 20) when you are in a competitive situation. A financial gain is heading your way. You will need to listen carefully.

38

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2020

India begin training after clearing COVID-19 test

T

Steven Smith sways out of the way of a bouncer

he India players who are on tour in Australia have begun training after the entire contingent tested negative for COVID-19. On Saturday, two days after the arrival of India’s touring party in Sydney, the BCCI tweeted photographs from the players’ outdoor and gym sessions.

Though India have begun training, they will remain in quarantine for the first two weeks of their stay in Australia. The tour will begin with the white-ball leg - three ODIs and three T20Is shared between Sydney and Canberra - before proceeding to a four-Test series that begins with a day-night game in Adelaide from December 17-21, followed by the Boxing Day and New Year’s Tests in Melbourne and Sydney respectively, and the final Test in Brisbane from January 15 to 19.

The Indians will also play two warm-up games in Sydney before the Test series - the first, which clashes with the T20I series, from December 6 to 8, and the second from December 11 to 13.

Steven Smith to India’s fast bowlers: “Bring on the short stuff!”

Steven Smith has challenged India’s pace attack to bring on the short bowling during the Test series, believing if they focus on banging the ball in at him it will work in Australia’s favour.

In Australia’s most recent Test series, against New Zealand in the 20192020 season, Neil Wagner produced a sustained shortball attack to Smith. The left-armer removed Smith four times with the short delivery - twice caught at

square leg, once at leg gully, and once fending to the offside gully - but Smith still averaged 42.80 in the three matches.

Though Smith did not score a century, he soaked up a lot of pressure for his team-mates by wearing down the bowlers. Australia scored more than 400 in each of their first innings during the series. Smith’s strike-rate in that series was 34.13, comfortably the lowest of his career, but he is more than happy to play a role for the team.

“It’s no dramas for me.

I just play the game and sum up the conditions, how they’re trying to get me out, and being able to counter that,” Smith told News Corp. “I mean, a few different oppositions have tried it and they’ve certainly found it more difficult to (execute) the way Wagner did. He’s got an amazing skill set where his speeds go up and down… everything is between your ribs and your head.

“If teams are trying to get me out like that, it’s probably a big benefit for the team because it takes a lot out of people’s bodies if you continually bowl short. I’ve faced a lot of short bowling in my life, and I haven’t had too many stresses with it. I suppose we’ll just wait and see.”

Smith was not part of the previous series between

Virat Kohli and Kuldeep Yadav at a training session

these teams, as he was serving his suspension for the Newlands ball-tampering scandal; but on his return to Test cricket, he has had a magnificent Ashes series despite missing one Test after being felled by a Jofra Archer bouncer at Lord’s.

The match-ups between the two pace attacks is one of the most keenly-awaited contests of the series.

Australia will likely lineup with Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood, while India will certainly have Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami and may be able to call on Ishant Sharma if he recovers from the side injury sustained at the IPL. Umesh Yadav and the highly-rated Navdeep Saini are also part of their Test squad.

In the series two years ago, Australia’s pace attack faded in the latter two Tests as India won the series with

a victory at the MCG and a draw at the SCG where they piled up more than 600, but coach Justin Langer has no

Ramos misses 2 penalties on night he breaks European caps record

“I have a good feeling” - Chase S WI vice-captain claims vibes in NZ camp similar to win over England

R

ecently-appointed West Indies vice-captain Roston Chase claims there is a special vibe around the team, similar to when it put in a stellar performance to beat England in the Caribbean last year.

On that occasion, the Windies showed plenty of grit and determination to beat the much more highly fancied England 2-1. A similar result against New Zealand would be even more remarkable, however, considering the team’s poor showing against the Black Caps in recent campaigns.

With the regional team having not registered a Test series win against New Zealand since 2012, it is the Kiwis that have won the last three, with the Windies winning just a match.

The victories included a 2-1 win over the West Indies in the Caribbean in 2014. Chase, however, believes the upcoming series could be a little different.

“New Zealand is never and easy place to play…but I am feeling something special about this tour. The energy that I’m feeling from the guys. The eagerness reminds of when we played the series against England in the Caribbean,” Chase told Windies cricket.

“I just really have a good feeling about this one,” he added.

Chase replaced opener Kraigg Brathwaite as vice-captain of the squad. The West Indies will face-off against New Zealand in two Test and three T20 internationals.

doubt what they deliver this time.

“A world-class bowling attack, and two years better,” he said. “I can’t wait to see them go. And we’ve got good depth as well. James Pattinson who has come back from that back injury, we saw how powerful that was during the last Ashes in England. Michael Neser keeps playing well over and over again. And Sean Abbott, every Shield player I’m talking to they’re all saying he is bowling fast.”

(ESPNCricinfo)

ergio Ramos had two penalties saved on the night he became the most capped male European player, as Spain drew with Switzerland in the Nations League.

Ramos was winning his 177th cap, taking him past Gianluigi Buffon’s record - but it was a game to forget.

The 34-year-old had his first penalty saved by Yann Sommer as he tried to place it in the corner.

His second was an attempted chip which barely left the ground, and Sommer held on to it.

He had scored his previous 25 attempts for Spain and Real Madrid.

Both of those spot-kicks

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were with Spain 1-0 down following Remo Freuler’s clever finish from Breel Embolo’s cross.

The hosts ended with 10 men after Nico Elvedi was shown a second yellow card for fouling Alvaro Morata for Spain’s second penalty.

Spain eventually equalised through Gerard Moreno’s 89th-minute finish from Sergio Reguilon’s cross.

Spain must now beat Germany in Seville on Tuesday to reach next year’s Nations League finals.

Switzerland - who have not won a game in almost a year would have been relegated to League B had they lost. (BBC Sport)

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GUYANATIMESGY.COM

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2020

39

Nexgen Golf Academy brings out the stars “

Avinash Persaud

The stars are at the Academy every day, and not just at night,” said President of the Guyana Golf Association, Aleem Hussain, as he announced that Golfing Superstars Avinash Persaud, 10-time Men’s Guyana Open Champion, and Dr. Joaan Deo, former Women’s Guyana Open and Suriname Ladies Champion, have signed a long-term coaching deal with the Academy.

“With the sport gaining momentum daily and national attention growing, the demand for the best training has caused us to seek the top coaches to join our team. We are pleased to announce that, effective immediately, the coaching services of two of the top players in Guyana are now available at the Academy, to ensure that new players are able to learn from the best players in the country.

“Avinash has represented Guyana in Trinidad, Suriname and Jamaica, and has successfully defended the Guyana Open title an astonishing TEN times, beating off competition from top players from all over the world.

He is undoubtedly the best player Guyana has ever seen in recent years, considering that he backs up his ability with a record that rivals top performance globally.

“Avinash has the talent to hit shots that most players can only imagine, and plans to teach all those who want to enjoy the game exactly how it’s done.”

“Once you see how effortlessly and smoothly the ball can be hit, and maximum distance generated, you will realize that any and every one has the ability to enjoy this wonderful game,” said the Champ Avinash.

Dr. Joaan Deo, despite being in pursuit of her Master’s degree,

Paqueta shows Neymar is “not irreplaceable” for Brazil

L

ucas Paqueta showed that Neymar is not irreplaceable by giving Brazil something they were missing against Venezuela, according to assistant coach Matheus Bacchi.

Neymar was called up by Brazil for their 2022 World Cup qualifiers despite suffering from a groin injury, as it was hoped he would be fit in time to feature against Uruguay on Tuesday.

However, he was sent back to Paris SaintGermain to continue his recovery ahead of an uninspiring 1-0 victory over Venezuela at Morumbi on Friday.

The Selecao struggled to create openings in the first half, but Paqueta replaced the booked Douglas Luiz at half-time, and supplied an incisive pass for the move that resulted in Roberto Firmino scoring the only goal of the game.

“Whenever you have a player of the level of Neymar, with the ability to generate imbalance, the team will miss him,” said Bacchi, son of head coach Tite. “We missed him even more in this game to find an alternative and make space in the man-to-man marking.

“The entrance of Paqueta was a way to find a new path, to move to find the pass in that direction. Neymar is not irreplaceable, but he is indispensable.”

Tite added: “In the first half, we didn’t have enough width to break the man-to-man marking. The passing triangles started to happen with the goal, which started with Paqueta.

“It ended up working [the substitution] due to what the game needed, with Douglas Luiz’s card and the entry of a creative attacking midfielder in Paqueta.

“The use of these pieces is challenging, and brings these lessons within the difficulty of the game.”

Paqueta was left out of the squad for the first round of qualifiers, but was proud to have returned and helped the team break down a tough opponent, who defended deep throughout.

“They were respecting us. They were very compact. We looked for our way to overcome them. Thank God, we found the goal and won the three points,” Paqueta told CBF TV. “We were able to read the game well at half-time. We found the spaces in the second half, and broke through their blockade.”

(Sportsmax)

said she has always been there with Hussain to promote the game, and sees this as an obligation to the sport.

“Aleem and I represented Guyana in Barbados and Suriname, and together went from school to school, University of Guyana, and even Giftland Mall to teach the game; and this is just another step towards making sure that golf climbs to become one of the most played and recognized sports in Guyana,” Dr Deo said.

Joaan has won top honours in Guyana and Suriname, and has won several major sponsored events locally. She brings a fluid swing taught to her by her father Chen Deo, former Captain of the LGC, who stated, “I am impressed with the efforts of the Golf Academy to attract so many women and children who are now playing golf for the first time, and it is important that they are given the best instruction at the very beginning.”

“This move to bring on coaches shows that we are moving in the right direction,” Chen has said.

With more than 400 new players joining the sport in the past few months, the need for coaches has exceeded the current efforts being made by Mr. Hussain and Colin Ming, who donated over 25 sets of junior golf clubs, and assisted with a kids’ camp to provide individual training to so many new players.

Additionally, the donations by Christopher Ram and Ramesh Dookhoo, to create programmes for underprivileged children, have set the stage for the game to continue its expansion, as more individuals and corporations Dr Joaan join to support such efforts.

Deo The fully lighted Golf Academy and Driving Range is open daily from 6am to 8pm, and is always in superb condition, rainy weather or not. All equipment and balls are included in the low fee charged, since the focus is on providing the best experience possible at the lowest cost.

To book a private lesson with either of the superstar coaches, simply call 645-0944, visit the Academy on Woolford Avenue, or their Facebook page Nexgen Golf Academy & Driving Range.

Jamaica beaten 3-0 by Saudi Arabia

J

amaica’s Reggae Boyz showed plenty of rust in a difficult return to international football; they lost 3-0 to Saudi Arabia in Riyadh on Saturday.

The game was the first for the national team since COVID-19 restrictions led to the temporary stoppage of international football, and the team, for the most part, seemed largely out-of-sorts.

The dominant hosts took the lead from the penalty spot in the 10th minute after goalkeeper Dwayne Miller coughed a poorly taken attempt back in the path of Salem Al-Dawsari, who tucked the ball into the net the second time of asking.

More self-inflicted damage came on the

stroke of halftime. An under-hit back pass eventually ended at the feet of Saleh AlShehri, who beat a backpedalling defense before slotting past Miller in the 44th minute.

Firas Al-Buraikan added to the Jamaicans’ misery in the 77th minute when he tapped the ball into an empty net.

Another turnover in midfield led to a backpedalling Jamaica backline unable to deal with a counter-attacking Saudi Arabia.

Prior to that moment, the level of the team’s play had gone up a notch following the introduction of overseas-based Jamaicans Ravel Morrison, Leon Bailey, Michael Hector and Bobby Reid. (Sportsmax)

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

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2020

guyanatimesgy.com

Athletics gets a move on today!

A

fter witnessing their last track meet in March, Guyanese athletes will finally get the opportunity to stretch their legs today, as the Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) hosts two cross country events.

The two cross country events that are expected to race off today is being seen, by the Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG), as the first event in the 2021 athletics calendar.

The races will run off simultaneously in Linden and New Amsterdam, beginning at 14:30hrs.

Athletes hailing from Linden, the East Bank, West Bank and West Coast of Demerara will converge at the Bayrock Community Centre Ground. On the other hand, athletes from the East Coast of Demerara, West and East Berbice will converge at the Esplanade Ground. Athletes in Georgetown will have the choice of travelling to Linden of Berbice.

With the COvid-19 pandemic in mind, the AGG President explained some of the protocols that will be taken to protect the Nation’s athletes.

“This is the beginning of a strength training for the season,” AAG President Aubrey Hutson

said, in describing the event.

“All athletes entering the venue will be tested, must show

up with their masks and fresh masks will be given to them at the competition of the event. For

those who have to make their way back to the city, we have transportation provided for the athletes. But we’re only going to be taking on registered athletes to the Athletics Association of Guyana,” Hutson revealed.

Meanwhile, the fans have also been considered by the AGG, with the races being held at a single location. However, Hutson advised that patrons should wear a mask and practice social distancing while viewing the races.

“Most of the races will be conducted within a confined area so the fans will have access to seeing the entire race. It’s unlike the road races which will start a further distance away and then converge at the finishing line. Cross country is being conducted on flat grassy terrain and the athletes will have to now turn and twist and turn and twist to cover at least a distance of 1500M for one loop,” The AAG president explained.

This is one of three events that the AAG is hoping to pull off before the end of 2020. The AAG also has a 10K Road Race event and another cross-country event on the cards.

Cycling in Guyana to restart with time trials T

he Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport and the Ministry of Health have granted the Guyana Cycling Federation (GCF) permission to run off a series of time trial events, which are tentatively slated for November 22 in Georgetown, November 29 in Berbice, and December 6 in Linden.

Each time trial will have placings awarded for 1-3; and based on the overall accumulated times, placings will be awarded for 1-6. Confirmation of dates, times and routes as well as prize structure will be posted soon.

GCF are cognizant of the COVID-19 guidelines, and are sure there will be adherence to the rules, so that the event would be successfully completed. The cyclists will line up six feet apart, and await their turn to start. Each cyclist would start when the time-keeper so signals.

The cyclist will then proceed along the route to the finish line.

At the finish line, another time-keeper will record the cyclist's finishing time. The proposed guidelines include a pre-registration to ascertain the number of cyclists, chaperones and officials who will be at the

event on the day.

Based on the pre-registration, GCF can allocate start times to the participants and stagger arrivals if necessary. All persons will be checked before the event using a temperature gun. Officials would be required to wear masks during the entire event, and cyclists will be required to wear masks before the start and after they have finished their turn (their chaperones will be required to wear masks at all times during the event).

Each cyclist will be starting at two-minute increments at the starting line; this will avoid any grouping. After the cyclist has concluded his run, he will leave the area immediately with his chaperone. Results will be published via social media shortly after closing of the event. Persons failing to adhere to these guidelines are subjecting themselves to disqualification.

Persons are kindly asked to direct any query or clarification kindly to race secretary Malcolm Sonaram on 600-2656. The GCF extends gratitude to Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport and the Minister of Health for their commitment to cycling in Guyana.

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