Guyana Times - Sunday October 10, 2021

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After 16 years, Oasis Café’s still “an extension of our living room” Nationwide coverage coverage from from the the best best news news team team in in Guyana Guyana Nationwide Issue No. 4796 guyanatimesgy.com

THE BEACON BEACON OF OF TRUTH TRUTH THE

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2021

Guyana’s oil revenue to triple in 2022 – ExxonMobil Manager − industry stakeholder says Exxon’s 3 blocks hold 15B barrels Page 3

Brazil eyes Guyana’s savannah to cultivate corn, soya beans and peas Page 33

− discussions held to collaborate in local agriculture sector

PRICE

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

GYSBI hosts career fair with aim of employing 150 ...93% of workforce are locals – Director P35

Truck mysteriously goes up in flames at Houston P37

Oil sector P9 played major role in positive economic growth – Minister Bharrat

NGSA process undergoes quality checking by CXC P37

Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha; Secretary of State for Agriculture, Livestock and Supply of Roraima, Brazil, Aluizio Nascimento da Silva and other officials during the discussions on collaborations

Guyana records 10 more unvaccinated deaths Page 34

…229 infections detected in 24h

Page 37

Pensioners laud Govt's $25,000 one-off cash grant initiative

…as Region 4 benefits from rollout exercise

Contractor dies after being struck down by retired ACP

Page 10

Repairs being done on $290M scanner at CJIA

− stopped working in September after system error

P37

Man arrested for assaulting women during brawl at P Bourda Market 36

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NEWS

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SUNDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS

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

Sunday, October 10 – 08:00h-09:30h and Monday, October 11 – 09:00h-10:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Sunday, October 10 – 06:45h-08:15h and Monday, October 11 – 07:30h-09:00h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Sunny conditions are expected in the day. Partly cloudy skies are expected at night. Temperatures should range between 22 degrees Celsius and 32 degrees Celsius.

Winds: Northerly to South-Westerly between 1.78 metres and 4.92 metres.

High Tide: 06:59h and 19:11h reaching maximum heights of 2.66 metres and 2.71 metres.

Low Tide: 12:46h reaching a minimum height of 0.64 metre.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2021

LOTTERY NUMBERS I

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DAILY MILLIONS

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

COMMODITIES Indicators

US$

Change %

Crude Oil

$82.39/barrel

Rough Rice

$247. 59/ton

-0.61

London Sugar

$519.70/ton

+1.80

Live Spot Gold

+0.53

USD Per Ounce

Bid/Ask

$1757.10

$1758.10

Low/High Change

$1753.90 0.00

$1783.00 0.00%

Guyana’s oil revenue to triple in 2022 – ExxonMobil Manager − industry stakeholder says Exxon’s 3 blocks hold 15B barrels

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uyana’s revenue from the Stabroek Block is likely to triple next year when the Liza Phase Two project starts up and the Liza Unity Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel begins producing oil. This is according to ExxonMobil Country Manager Alistair Routledge.

In a recent interview, Routledge was asked about what the company has in store for Guyana in the near future and according to him, the company would soon be

welcoming the Liza Unity FPSO. When this vessel starts up next year, he noted that it would mean significantly increased revenue for Guyana.

Guyana is expected to start producing approximately 330,000 barrels of oil per day in 2022.

“We’re looking forward to welcoming the Unity FPSO and getting to the point where we can start up the Liza Phase Two in the first half of 2022.With the arrival of the Unity FPSO later this year and its start-up in 2022, we’ll almost triple the capacity of production in Guyana,” the Country Manager said.

“This means we’ll be almost tripling the revenue stream to the Government, and that’s great news for the Government: more funds to invest whether it be in education, infrastructure and other projects, for the benefit of all the people in Guyana,” Routledge said.

ExxonMobil has said it anticipated at least six projects offshore Guyana would be online by 2027, with developmental drilling recently starting on the second one, the Liza Phase Two project.

Back in May 2019, its subsidiary, Esso Exploration Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL) was granted approval by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to go ahead with its Liza Phase Two development offshore Guyana.

The oil company had said that the project would have the capacity to produce 220,000 barrels of oil per day. Exxon had also revealed that the Liza Phase Two development was funded at the cost of some US$6

billion, including a lease capitalisation cost of approximately $1.6 billion, for the Liza Unity FPSO. For the Phase Two development, six drill centres were planned, along with approximately 30 wells – 15 production, nine water injection and six gas injection wells.

The US$9 billion Payara development, the third development, will meanwhile target an estimated resource base of about 600 million Barrels of Oil Equivalent (BOE) and is considered to be the largest single in-

vestment in the history of Guyana.

A fourth project, Yellowtail, has been identified within the Block with anticipated start-up in late 2025 pending Government approvals and project sanctioning. This project will develop the Yellowtail and

Redtail fields, which are located about 30 kilometres (19 miles) southeast of the Liza developments.

15 billion barrels

Meanwhile, General Manager of Bourbon Guyana, Edward Cooper was quoted by online publication Oil Now as stating that the Stabroek, Canje, and Kaieteur Blocks combined could produce as much as 15 billion BOE. Bourbon Guyana is a company that provides marine vessel services to com-

panies like ExxonMobil.

Cooper said that with the production of crude oil likely to ramp up over the next few years, the three blocks are expected to total 15 billion barrels.

“The largest operator is ExxonMobil, in a consortium with Hess and CNOOC,

Exxon Country Manager Alastair Routledge

with the Stabroek, Canje and Kaieteur Blocks expected to total approximately 15 billion barrels of reserves,” Cooper was quoted as saying.

“The other blocks in the region owned by the ExxonMobil consortium are Canje, which consists of 15 wells of which three are ongoing, and Kaieteur, which is slated to start up in March 2022,” he also said.

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

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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

Pandora Papers

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n 1971, there were the “Pentagon Papers” released by US Government analyst Daniel Ellsberg and published

by The NY Times that blew the lid on the Government’s dissembling on the Vietnam War and forced them to end it in 1973. Forty years later, computer intelligence consultant Edward Snowden, an employee of the CIA, made as big a stir when he released highly classified information from the NSA to reveal numerous global surveillance programmes. Since then, it would appear that the whistleblower syndrome infected the “nongovernmental” world to reveal their secrets.

In 2016, there were the “Panama Papers”, consisting of 11.5 million files amounting to 2.6 terabytes of information released from a hitherto obscure Panamanian law firm, Mossack Fonseca, to a German paper by hackers.

The firm specialised in creating “dummy corporations” or “shell corporations” in countries such as Panama and the US Virgin Islands that facilitate the mechanism allowing citizens to evade taxes on legitimate or illegitimate incomes in their home countries. Panamanian law does not require corporations that are registered there to declare their owners’ names. Enterprising law firms like Mossack Fonseca in these jurisdictions filter money from clients through a string of these corporations all across the world in other tax havens so that even Sherlock Holmes might not be able to untangle the money trail.

The following year there was the “Paradise Papers”, representing 13.4 million files from the Bermuda offshore law firm of Appleby and two offshore service providers — one based in Singapore — were released by the German newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung and shared with the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ). But unlike the files in Panama Papers, which shocked the world to learn about the technically “legal” tax havens being used for illegal purposes, including fraud, tax evasion, and evading international sanctions, the Paradise Papers — named after their idyllic locales — elicited comparatively little comment.

And this brings us to the “Pandora Papers” that were released last week by the same ICIJ that brought us the “Paradise Papers”. The significance of them choosing “Pandora”, which means “the one who bears all gifts”, might be significant as further details are released. This latest cache dwarfs the Panama Papers and demonstrates that the practice of tax dodging has ballooned. The top ten countries with tax dodgers, in descending order, are Russia, UK, Argentina, China (yes, China!), Brazil, Ukraine, Venezuela, Cyprus, Italy and Guatemala. Some big names netted include some 160 public figures, including Ex-PM Tony Blair of England’s Labour Party fame, the King of Jordan, Czech PM, friends and cronies of Russian President Putin, and the President of Kenya, Uhuru Kenya, and 30 other world leaders. From India, the findings include Anil Ambani, who declared bankruptcy in a UK court but holds unaccounted assets in 18 front companies.

What these papers reveal is that while most attention on incomes have focused on the growing chasm between ordinary workers and the top 1%, most of the latter have achieved that status by using the tax havens across the world to secrete their ill-gotten and legally gotten gains.

In addition to the old Swiss Banks that hid fortunes of the old European aristocracy and business magnates from prying eyes, the practice has now spread with tax havens to service anyone with funds to hide. There was even one Guyanese company caught in the trawling of the Panama Papers.

Interestingly most of the companies that create the shell companies for the tax havens are located in London in the UK, and Delaware in the US. And maybe this is why there has not been the same outrage that was generated by money laundering in the regular banking systems of small countries like Guyana by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) some years ago which almost brought our financial intermediation system down.

As was shown in several jurisdictions in developing countries such as Kenya, the tax havens could be depriving those countries of taxes that could spur their developmental goals.

Minister within the Housing and Water Ministry, Susan Rodrigues comforts a young man as he takes his COVID-19 vaccine on Saturday at an event organised by the PPP Campbellville Group, which saw over 100 people being vaccinated

PNC continues to contaminate minds of ordinary African Guyanese Dear Editor, For some time now, particularly since March 2, 2020, a group of persons sympathetic to the PNC/ APNU have been frequent contributors of letters to the press.

This group, along with members of the PNC, has been doing its damnest to further contaminate the minds of ordinary African Guyanese with their racist propaganda. The intention is to incite this section of our population to attack the Government, up to and including instigating them to violence.

They have embarked on this road because they have fertile grounds to work with. Since its inception, the PNC, working hand-in-hand with the colonial masters, set out to divide the working people of our country by using race as the main instrument. At that time, their objective was to stop Independence and to remove the PPP Government of 1957 to 1964 from office.

Over and over again in our recent history, they have succeeded in fomenting racial strife in Guyana.

These attempts are now being intensified.

Only two weeks ago, we saw on Facebook some PNC and WPA elements, including David Hinds, talking about undermining the Government by any means.

Those persons feel confident that they can succeed because, time and time again, they organised racial violence, up to as recent as last year.

Immediately after the election, former President Granger and his right hand, Harmon, instigated many African Guyanese to take to the street in West Berbice. In the process, many innocent Indian Guyanese who were going about their business were attacked.

The pretext for that attack was the brutal murder of two young African Guyanese males, the Henry cousins. Without any evidence, they made African Guyanese feel that the boys’ murder was racially instigated.

Since then, the matter was dealt with by the Police, and persons have been charged, but the racists continue to try and use it to inflame racial sentiments.

These persons, like those in the PNC leadership, really don’t care about the Henry boys nor any other ordinary AfroGuyanese. Their sole intention is to use - or better, to misuse - them to increase the bargaining power of the PNC at the least, and finally to put that elite into power, so that they could again use the state apparatus to enrich themselves through massive pay increases and other perks for themselves, coupled with unbridled corruption, as happened between 1964 and 1992 and recently between 2015 and 2020.

If they had any genuine feeling for justice, they would have wanted to see justice for Haresh Singh, the 17-year-old who was

brutally murdered in what appears to have been murder of reprisal. It took the Police months to charge someone, and then the matter seems to have been lost, forgotten as if his life did not matter. That racist clique probably welcomed that murder.

Their silence has also been defending on the shooting by Police of another teenager, Sewdat Hansraj, during a spontaneous protest to prevent the PNC/AFC rigging of the 2020 elections. This incident took place on March 6, 2020 at Cotton Tree.

Residents of the village have deemed this a murder. The young man was shot by Police across a canal. He was unarmed, and posed no danger to the officer, or anyone for that

matter.

Our “knight in shining armour” has not been calling for justice for the Hansraj family, nor have they uttered a word of sympathy.

Clearly, the PNC leadership, together with the racist elements outside that party, are at their old game again: to create mayhem to promote their own selfish interest, which is mainly to pillage the country and to lord it over our working people and live like kings and queens.

It’s time that all these matters be dealt with openly, without fear or favour, and let justice prevail in our country.

Sincerely, Donald Ramotar Former President

Need for Passport Office in Region 2 Dear Editor, The United Republican Party (URP) is calling for a Passport Office to be placed in Region 2, (Pomeroon– Supenaam) and at a feasible time, one should be placed in Region 7 (Cuyuni-Mazaruni).

This call comes as a result of numerous complaints and requests made by the citizens of these regions, more so by those in Region 2. Presently, most of the public service offices have been decentralised, and regional capacities have been established, Region 2 also being a beneficiary of this initiative.

However, for no clear reason, a Passport Office was never established in the region. The citizens expressed that one was promised to them since 2011, but, of course, the promise was never fulfilled. Similar sentiments were shared by the Region 7 (Bartica) residents.

The URP has noted several advantages of having a Passport Office in these two regions. One of the most valid reasons is the COVID-19 pandemic which continues to limit our capacity country-wide.

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

More resisters getting the vaccine, progress towards herd immunity, all Guyana wins!

Dear Editor, While many of the unvaccinated in the USA are being fired from their jobs, Minister Anthony has reported some good news: that the vaccination rate in Guyana is inching up slowly as more and more resisters have seen the writing on the wall and are getting vaccinated.

My friend Suresh, in a chiding mood, said, “Wha dem should do first dem a do last.” I say better late than never!

The Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Dr. Narine Singh, said, “Pregnant and breastfeeding women are among the groups of people who are no longer exempted from receiving the COVID-19 vaccines.” As at October 6, a to-

tal of 365,274 adults have received a COVID-19 vaccine, representing 71.2% of the adult population; whereas, 218,120 adults, or 42.5%, are fully inoculated. I trust the Government would release data on the number of people vaccinated and unvaccinated in the various state agencies, including teachers and nurses. Vaccination of only 50% of prisoners is unacceptable.

One grave concern is the Minister said the current batch of Pfizer vaccines is slated to expire in November and December.

We have spent billions of dollars on vaccines, so I hope the Government has an aggressive plan to deploy all these vaccines, so our money is not

Need for Passport...

FROM PAGE 4

The Central Passport Office in Region 4 (Georgetown) has the capacity to handle only one hundred (100) applicants per day, and once that hundred is met, the rest of the applicants have to be turned away.

Therefore, if one were to travel all the way from the Pomeroon-Supenaam region or the CuyuniMazaruni region and end up getting declined, then we will see money being wasted from the already limited pockets of our brothers and sisters, and the mental fatigue would only grow beyond normal.

Also, from a public health perspective, it is always better to limit movements between regions in a pandemic. There are many other reasons which can be mentioned, such as finan-

cial strain, mobility, ease of access, ease of conducting business, and last but not least, giving our citizens their right to a passport.

The URP urges the current administration to please assist the tax-paying citizens of these two regions. We must ensure the comfort of our people, and we must try to understand their pleas from their point of view. We are hopeful to have these offices accommodated within the new budgetary year; or, if possible, before the end of 2021.

Respectfully, The United Republican Party

wasted. The unvaccinated must step up in larger numbers to make good use of our stock of vaccines, especially with 100,000 more doses of Pfizer having been received on Friday.

A bit of good news is that Pfizer and BioNTech have asked federal regulators in the USA to authorise emergency use of their coronavirus vaccine for children aged 5 to 11. This is good news because it would help us to keep all children safe as we seek to open up all schools to deal with learning loss and accelerate learning for all.

Meanwhile, here are some recent headlines in the USA. “Kaiser Permanente suspends 2,200 of its employees nationwide over vac-

cine mandate” - employees who have refused to get vaccinated against COVID-19 were put on unpaid administrative leave. Kaiser said the number of unvaccinated workers is declining each day. Employees have until December 1, 2022 to get vaccinated to be able to return to work, or risk losing their jobs.

“NY’s largest healthcare provider fires 1,400 who refused to get COVID vaccine” -Northwell Health announced it was parting ways with staff who did not comply with the state’s vaccine mandate for health care workers.

“Northwell believes that having a fully vaccinated workforce is an important measure in our duty to protect the health and safety of

our staff, our patients, and the communities we serve,” the rep said.

“Northwell regrets losing any employee under such circumstances, but as health care professionals and members of the largest health care provider in the state, we understand our unique responsibility to protect the health of our patients and each other. We owe it to our staff, our patients, and the communities we serve to be 100 percent vaccinated against COVID-19.”

And in New York City, where 97% of teachers are now vaccinated, the headline - “My heart is breaking: NYC teachers who refuse vaccination prepare for possibility of being removed.” Scientists

are increasingly concerned that vaccinated people may be more susceptible to serious illness than was previously thought.

One more headline, “Unvaxxed Colorado woman speaks out after hospital denies lifesaving transplant: ‘My days are numbered’.”

In September, the Colorado health system denied the kidney transplant because she won’t be vaccinated against COVID due to her religious views.

So, nation, let’s make a big push to use up all the vaccines and reach herd immunity; that would let us open up the country fully.

Sincerely, Dr Jerry Jailall

The new fire station

Dear Editor, For everything, there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven…a time to tear down and a time to build up…Ecclesiastes 3:13.

The time to tear down is upon the high powers at Freedom House; the time to build may be too late, but a new fire station to serve the capital and its environs is urgently needed.

Neither present nor past Governments realised the horrible location of Georgetown’s main firefighting unit - a nightmare for fire trucks to manoeuvre through both pedestrian and traffic if only to exit their location and drive onto a main road. This backward location, at the edge of the city

instead of a central position, reflects the clumsiness, poor planning, and lack of future provisions in a growing capital.

It is worthwhile mentioning that Georgetown’s population has outgrown its water supply, while its vehicles, along with incoming traffic, can hardly move on the outdated roadways.

Back to the new fire station. Having spent huge amounts of taxpayers’ dollars on vehicles and equipment, one wonders why the performance of the fire service in wake of the Brickdam Police Station fire was so pathetic.

Well, the old adage explicitly states: no matter how much money you spend on your children’s education,

if they don’t want to learn, they will remain dunces.

The PPP Govt has certainly, and rather ironically, been handed a golden opportunity to give the public their money’s worth in a new central fire station.

The time is now (if not now, when?) to construct an updated facility. It is time to get rid of that idiotic, huge

waste of over a billion dollars of Guyanese taxpayers’ money; it is time to relegate Durban Park Stadium to the garbage heap, or let it be gainfully used as firewood and replace that eyesore with a modern fire station.

Sincerely, Leyland Chitlall Roopnaraine

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Feature

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he bitch/cat having given birth to her litter, usually is in fine health. However, from time to time, larger and less complications could arise. Last week we dealt with a few. Let us examine two other post-partum health concerns today.

1. Milk Fever This ailment has some other names.

Hypocalcaemia, or Eclampsia, or Puerperal Tetany. Every academic discipline has its own very special and specialised vocabulary and phraseology. We Vets are no exception. We can be very erudite too - as in "Your canine companion is suffering from this disequilibrium of the endocrinological metabolism emanating from super-foetation and exhibiting itself in puerperal eclampsia neuromuscular tetanic paresis and ataxia!". Well, all of that just means that the bitch might have had too many puppies/ kittens, which are suckling her dry

Post-partum problems

and creating a calcium deficiency which results in cramps. In fact, this is basically the exhibiting signs of "Milk Fever".

The symptoms of Milk Fever are: i. Restlessness. ii. Excessive panting. iii. Excitable behaviour. iv. Trembling/muscular spasms. v. Convulsive seizures/ paddling motion of legs. vi. Increased saliva production and discharge. vii. Paleness of gums.

One sees this ailment more in small dogs with large litters, but we have also seen this problem in larger dogs (Dobermans, German Shepherds, etc.). It occurs usually within the first week

(even days) of the birth of the pups/kittens. Further, the ailment progresses rapidly. Within hours of the mother cat/dog showing the first set of symptoms, she keels over to her side and begins to 'paddle' with her legs.

As an aside, I should mention that often the muscle spasms of the face/head muscles cause the skin of the bitch's forehead to contract into a frown, and the skin of the face to be pulled back to create a 'smiling' effect. Once you have seen this, it would be an indelible experience.

Moreover, it is highly likely that if 'milk fever' occurs once, it will reoccur after the next pregnancy.

For that reason, one should prophylactically provide the animal with calcium, phosphorus and cod liver oil (under veterinary advice) supplements during the last weeks of pregnancy and during the first weeks of suckling.

Treatment

Please remove the puppies/kittens immediately. (We will be dealing with the hand rearing of newborn puppies/kittens shortly). Then seek professional help. This is an emergency! If you have calcium tablets, give her one quickly before she even goes to the Vet, who will administer the

calcium and phosphorus as well as other macroand micro-nutrients immediately into the blood stream. If you wait too long, the animal could die, even after veterinary intervention.

2. Inflammation of the uterus This is an infection of the womb. This infection could be caused by: i. Dead puppies in the womb. ii. The retention (in the womb) of pieces of the afterbirth (placenta). iii. Any other contamination of the womb (e.g., dirty finger/instruments which may have been used when trying to extricate kittens/puppies from the vagina, etc.)

The signs of an infection in the womb include: i. Fever (ergo lethargy, loss of appetite, increased thirst, etc.). ii. The bitch refuses to suckle her puppies. iii. Thick bloody/greenish discharge occurring soon after the birth of the pups. iv. Sometimes vomiting and diarrhoea.

Again, your first act is to remove the puppies from the suckling. The milk could contain toxins from the infection, which could make the puppies seriously ill. In any case, because she is ill, she would hardly want to suckle her offspring.

Antibiotics (as prescribed by your Vet) and other supportive therapy (reducing the fever, offering her nutritious liquids, keeping her warm and away from drafts, etc.) would be indicated.

L

INTERNATIONAL DISASTER REDUCTION DAY

ast week, our article introduced the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction, noting that disasters often follow natural hazards, and their severity depends on how much impact a hazard has on society and the environment. On October 13, Guyana will join the rest of the world in observing this day, under the theme "International cooperation for developing countries to reduce their disaster risk and disaster losses.” This is the sixth of the Sendai Seven targets, or what is referred to as Target (f): “Substantially enhance international cooperation to developing countries through adequate and sustainable support to complement their national actions for implementation of the present Framework by 2030”.

Quick fact: The city of Sendai in Japan was founded in 1600, and is known for its green spaces. As such, it is called "The City of Trees.”

Over the past decades, the number of natural disasters has quadrupled. Not only are there more floods, cyclones, hurricanes, droughts and earthquakes, but their severity is predicted to increase as a result of climate change. Glaciers and ice caps are continuously melting, rainfall patterns are changing, drought conditions are affecting more and more of the world’s land mass, crops and water resources are becoming depleted.

The impact of non-climate-related disasters, such as earthquakes, is also increasing, because of urbanisation and population growth.

The impacts of these phenomena not only affect the populations of the countries within which they occur, but all the people who inhabit the Earth. Every inhabitant of our planet should therefore be involved in some way in the observance of International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction.

The year 2021 promises to be a make-or-break year when it comes to delivering on the policy agenda agreed on in 2015 regarding our efforts to tackle climate change. Without real action on reversing trends on climate and biodiversity loss in the next ten years, extreme weather events will be overwhelming, especially for developing countries.

Quick fact: According to conservation.org, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) shows that average global temperatures in 2020 were 1.76 degrees F (0.98 degrees C) warmer than the 20th century average — making it the second-hottest year on record. In fact, the seven warmest years in the 1880-2020 record have all occurred since 2014.

The recent la Nina flood conditions have resulted in significant economic losses and negative impacts to development. The losses suffered in the agriculture sector and the number of lives affected due to the floods of 2005 are difficult to forget. The Civil Defence Commission has received reports of more than 25,000 households impacted by flooding in more than 300 communities across all regions of Guyana since May 18, 2021. By May 21, some 1,400 homes had been flooded. It was estimated that between 7,000 and 8,000 homes have now been damaged.

According to research by the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR) in 2021, out of 16 countries in the region, 9 out of 10 people are affected by disasters. The estimated economic losses were a minimum of US$53 billion. The 16 countries include Guyana and its immediate and regional neighbours, such as Venezuela and Belize, etc.

Our vulnerability, notably for food security, poverty reduction and agriculture development, could be further enhanced due to the impacts of climate change, particularly on Guyana’s low-lying coast.

EPA’s role in disaster risk reduction

The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) mandate is to oversee the effective management, conservation, protection and improvement of the environment. This requires that the Agency take the necessary measures to ensure the prevention and control of pollution, assess environmental and human health impacts of economic activities, and regulate the sustainable use of natural resources.

EPA’s Emergency Response forms part of Guyana’s action to reduce the severity of environmental disasters, should they occur.

The Agency also works closely with the Civil Defence Commission (CDC), the coordinating agency for disaster management in Guyana, on a number of initiatives to raise awareness and craft policies to prepare communities and households to manage impacts.

The CDC has embarked on a number of initiatives to strengthen and enhance Community-Based Early Warning Systems (CBEWS) in vulnerable coastal, hinterland and Indigenous communities across Guyana. The project entails the incorporation of CBEWS into the already implemented Community-Based Disaster Risk Management (CBDRM) system in hazard-prone coastal, hinterland and Indigenous communities, in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme’s (UNDP’s) Strengthening Disaster Management Capacity of Women in the Cooperative Republic of Guyana and the Commonwealth of Dominica Project. Further, a number of targeted specific public education and awareness campaigns are being conducted to help us all understand disaster risk management a little better, and what we can do to contribute.

For additional information on Disaster Risk Reduction, contact can be made with the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) at Thomas Road, Thomas Lands, Georgetown on telephone numbers: 2261114, 226-8815, 225-5847, or 226-1027; or visit the website at www.cdc.gy You can share your ideas and questions by sending letters to: “Our Earth, Our Environment”, C/O ECEA Programme, Environmental Protection Agency, Ganges Street, Sophia, GEORGETOWN, or email us at: eit.epaguyana@gmail.com. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and subscribe to our YouTube channel.

NEWS

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SUNDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Guyana’s COVID-19 measures based on int’l best practices – AG tells Cabinet …justified under laws & circumstances

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he myriad of COVID-19 measures that the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government has implemented over the past few months are completely justifiable under the existing laws of Guyana and the exigent circumstances.

This is according to the advice that Attorney General Anil Nandlall, SC, recently presented to the Cabinet. The Senior Counsel contended in the Cabinet document, which was seen by Guyana Times, that for one the measures were made under the Public Health Ordinance, Chapter 1:45.

Nandlall noted that while workers and their Unions have contended that the COVID measures violate a number of laws and the Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) on avoiding and settling disputes between the Public Service Ministry and the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU), nothing could be further from the truth.

“Each of the fundamental rights and freedoms asserted by the workers and their Unions as being trampled upon by the COVID-19 measures are subject to a list of limitations, including measures taken that are reasonably required in the interest of public health,” Nandlall said in the document.

“So, for example, Article 147 of the Constitution which guarantees the right of freedom of assembly, association and freedom to demonstrate peacefully, as well as guaranteeing the freedom to strike and the right to enter into collective agreements, is subject to a number of limitations, restrictions, or proviso.”

According to Nandlall, there is no legal basis to say that the COVID-19 measures are “unconstitutional”, and he referred to a previous case, Gobin and another v the Attorney General of Guyana and Others, in which Guyana’s COVID-19 measures were examined by the High Court and found to be “proper, lawful and constitutional”.

He also referred to the recent case brought by the GPSU; the Guyana Trade Union Congress (GTUC)

and the Guyana Teachers Union (GTU) against the Government of Guyana.

While the case has not been fully heard yet, both injunctions that were sought against the State were dismissed after detailed legal arguments.

There are further examples overseas, such as the decision of the European Court on Human Rights, where Sir Dennis Byron, former President of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) and Professor RoseMarie Belle issued a joint legal opinion to the Eastern Caribbean Governments that the COVID-19 measures do not violate constitutional rights.

“Similarly, on the 2nd day of August, 2021, The United States Court of Appeal dismissed an application for an injunction, pending the hearing of an appeal against the decision of a Judge in Indiana, who ruled that COVID-19 measures which state that all students at the Indiana University must be vaccinated. Similarly, on the 2nd day of August, 2021, The United States Court of Appeal dismissed an application for an injunction, pending the hearing of an

appeal against the decision of a Judge in Indiana, who ruled that COVID-19 measures which state that all students at the Indiana University must be vaccinated against COVID-19 unless they are exempt for religious or other reasons, do not violate the due process laws of the Constitution of the United States,” Nandlall stated.

And while Section 47 (3) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act provides for employers to pay for workers to participate in prescribed “medical surveillance programmes” or “medical examination”, the COVID-19 pandemic cannot be considered as such.

Moreover, the COVID-19 measures are now law and enforcing them cannot constitute a breach of another law.

Last month, High Court Judge Fidela CorbinLincoln denied a request by the three public service unions to bar the COVID-19 vaccination and testing policy instituted by the Government in response to the pandemic.

The Unions had asked the court to grant an interim injunction preventing the State from implement-

ing the requirement that public sector workers show proof of vaccination against COVID-19 or produce a negative PCR test result at their own expense.

The Unions also sought an interim injunction requiring the State to bear the cost for regular testing for employees of the State until the determination of the substantive matter – an application challenging the constitutionality of COVID-19 measures published on March 16, 2020.

The Unions instituted legal action against the State after unvaccinated workers were denied access to their place of employ-

Attorney General Anil Nandlall, SC

ment. The Public Service Ministry has also reminded that all public servants

who do not report for duty because of the COVID-19 measures will not be paid.

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Simmering volcano…

I

…in race local relations t’s clear that it doesn’t take much for Guyana’s ethnic fissures to be opened up. The “Affaire Gandhi” is only the latest contretemps to set temperatures rising.

And we know why this is so, don’t we? What else but the scorched earth campaign of the PNC and its cohorts since the PPP’s No Confidence Motion back in Dec 21, 2018! Yep…it’s almost three years now. Time does speed past when the PNC is stoking its usual fires by playing the race card!

At that time, even though NCMs are a standard feature of Parliamentary Governments in England and its ex-colonies and is embedded in their constitution, PNC cried “RACE!!!” They’ve been regularly used in the Commonwealth countries to bring down Governments such as Thatcher’s in England, Harper’s in Canada and Vajpayee’s in India. Some of their MPs that helped them to form the Government would’ve voted against them and bring them down! Remember May and Brexit? None of them complained, but took their fall in good faith as they departed. That’s the way the cookie crumbles when representatives can vote their conscience! NOT the PNC!! No siree Bob!!

They not only screamed “Judas” - and elbowed him in the ribs in Parliament - but outright accused AFC MP Charandass Persaud who voted with the PPP of doing so because of race! Never mind he explained that he switched because the PNC had fired 7000 sugar workers mainly from his Region!! The only Indian is a dead Indian, we heard! Several other Indian Guyanese Opposition MPs were forced to defend their “honour” and prove their loyalty! And the race card was never returned into the pack since! When they were finally dragged, kicking and screaming, to the polls after a year, the PNC’s racial campaign was epitomised by their supposedly technocratic Finance Minister screaming in front of a predominantly African Guyanese crowd in Bartica - WAR BREAK!!

But rabid as that was, it was tame compared to what’s been taking place since they finally left office 5 months after the elections were held. Let’s not forget the racial beatings on West Berbice after the Henry murders following Granger’s provocations. Every PPP Government’s action was dubbed as “racial” by them.

The COVID-19 vaccination is as good an example as any. Imagine PNC Facebook jockeys telling their mainly African Guyanese supporters that the PPP was trying to commit genocide with the vaccination programme??

Their specious distinction that they weren’t against vaccination per se, but against the Government making it a prerequisite for obtaining Government service didn't cut any ice!

The PNC made a public health issue into a racial issue without a scintilla of evidence.

Why be surprised we’re sitting on a rumbling volcano? …of corruption The news that the Amerindian Affairs Ministry PS was nabbed in a sting operation after the Police were alerted that she was shaking down a contractor blew the lid on what many had known but has escaped scrutiny.

Corruption isn’t confined to politicians and the business community: state officials are also neck deep in it. Who hasn’t been propositioned to “pass something” when seeking a governmental service?

So, what do we do about it? Well, we can encourage public-minded citizens like the fella who blew the whistle on the errant PS. But that species is rare.

Another way might be to return to the professionalising of the Public Service, as it was back in the day (sad to say it) of the Brits. Does anyone believe the PSs of the old days would’ve been so brazen?

Well, we have to get back to these standards. And President Ali has demonstrated that he won’t put up with this nonsense.

But guess who will scream “race”!! …of Covid variants With our rate of new infections and rate of deaths stubbornly heading north, Guyanese are still just as stubbornly hesitant about getting vaccinated - egged on by the PNC scaremongers.

Let’s hope the just-arrived 100,000+ Pfizer vaccines change some minds.

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

NEWS

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Oil sector played major role in positive economic growth – Minister Bharrat

A

s Guyana records a 14.5 per cent growth rate in real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the first six months of 2021, Natural Resources Minister Vickram Bharrat stated that this advancement was fruit of the country’s booming oil and gas sector.

The Minister was at the time being interviewed on the National Communications Network (NCN), where he discussed the findings of the country’s financial Mid-Year Report. The widely-talked-about report highlights the performance of Guyana’s economy, which grew in real terms by 14.5 per cent, while the non-oil GDP grew by 4.8 per cent during the first six months of 2021.

“There is much more to come in the oil and gas sector. We have just started. To date, we would have gained half a billion in direct proceeds and coupled with that is the massive investment that we are seeing in the oil and gas sector that has played a significant role in the development that we

Natural Resources Minister Vickram Bharrat

have seen over the last year or so,” he said.

Notably, Minister Bharrat was quick to point out that despite the current health crisis created by the COVID-19 pandemic and the effects of the recent unprecedented nationwide flooding, the recorded growth in the economy is “commendable”.

As it relates to the gold

mining sector, the Natural Resources Minister said the industry remained a significant contributor to Guyana’s economy. Notwithstanding the effects of the nationwide flooding, he said, the min-

ing sector continued to see increased operational activities – especially with the incentives the Government implemented to put money back into the pockets of Guyanese.

The wide-ranging inducements, which were part of the September 2020 Budget, saw the removal of ValueAdded Tax (VAT) on mining and logging equipment and machinery, and tax concessions on All-Terrain Vehicles (ATV).

Further, the Minister reported increased activity in the forestry sector, which has also contributed to the growth of the economy.

“When we took over forestry, the sector was almost bankrupt. We started to rebuild and prudently manage the sector in terms of providing incentives to the stakeholders, changes in the logging export policy, enabling more exportation of lesser

used timber. We have seen an increase in exportation and revenue,” he said.

To ensure further economic growth in the forestry sector, the Minister called on concessionaires to invest and expand in value-added products. This, he said, creates more employment for Guyanese and increases revenue flows for Guyana.

“It is a win-win situation where the investor or concessionaire benefits, the Guyana Forestry Commission benefits and where the country benefits through revenue, through taxation and the generation of employment,” Bharrat said.

Turning his attention to the non-oil economy, which grew by 4.8 per cent, he posited that this growth was especially important in the context of the pandemic and the floods.

He linked it to the slew of initiatives the Government

has put in place to support and keep citizens afloat in these unparalleled times.

The measures have put billions of dollars into the pockets of Guyanese.

Going forward, Bharrat said he anticipated further “significant growth” for Guyana.

“I see 14.5 per cent easily moving up. I see revenue from the oil and gas sector maybe doubling or tripling in 2022 from the direct sale of crude from <<<Liza Destiny>>> and when you add in the larger FPSO, which will be producing 220,000 barrels of oil per day, that will probably give us 10 to 11 oil lifts per year.”

The Natural Resources Minister noted that these massive funds would be used to build the non-oil economy in traditional sectors like agriculture, mining, tourism, forestry, bauxite and others.

10 NEWS Contractor dies after being struck down by retired ACP E SUNDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

sau family members have been thrown into mourning after their patriarch was killed in an accident that occurred at the intersection of the western end of the Demerara Harbour Bridge (DHB) and the Schoonord public road on Friday.

According to information, 49-year-old Isgar Esau was driving his motorcycle along the Schoonord public road, and as he attempted to cross the intersection at the western end of the DHB, he was struck by a motorcar.

In fact, the Police have said that the accident occurred at about 14:10h, and involved motorcycle CH 7636, driven by Esau, and motorcar PZZ 6015, driven by a 59-year-old retired Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP).

Preliminary investigations revealed that the motorcar was proceeding along the

Dead: Isgar Esau

Meer Zorgen (Harbour Bridge) road, and as the driver turned north at the T-junction, the right side of the car collided with the front portion of the motorcycle.

As a result of the collision, the motorcyclist fell on the road surface and received injuries to his head and body.

He was picked up in an un-

conscious state and taken to the West Demerara Regional Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

At the home of the dead man, his son Safraz Esau explained that his father was doing a painting job at Unity Street, La Grange, and on the day in question, he left around midday to go home for lunch.

The young man related that after his father had had his lunch, he took a short nap, then awoke and left home shortly after 14:00h to return to the work site.

Safraz Esau said he was finishing his Friday prayers at the La Grange Masjid when he received a message that his father was involved in an accident and was lying in the middle of the roadway.

“I was going home from the masjid, and one of my friends was passing, and he called me and he said, ‘You father get

knocked down and he ain’t moving on the road’. I wasn’t far away, and tek like two minutes to reach, and when I reached, I see me father lying on the road and a guy with one hand was trying to help he while everybody just stand up there with them phones,” he related.

He joined the man in an attempt to resuscitate his father, but their efforts proved futile. Shortly after, the unconscious Isgar was rushed to the West Demerara Regional Hospital (WDRH), where he was pronounced dead.

“We put he in the car and go to Best Hospital (WDRH), and when we reach, we take he out and put he pon the stretcher, and then I go in and the doctor tell me wait outside. Before I walk out, they call me back in and tell me daddy dead; that he dead before he reach the hospital,”

The car that was involved in the fatal accident

Safraz related amid tears.

Family members are incensed because the man that hit Esau is said to be a retired Police Officer, and instead of rendering assistance, he stood there making phone calls. Additionally, the family said, based on what they observed at the La Grange Police Station on Friday afternoon, they have concluded that the investigation would head nowhere.

“He is getting preferential treatment because he is a retired Police. Imagine, he was in an accident and he has his gun in his waist walking around the station, and didn’t get lock up until when some-

body big call to find out what happening, then he get put in the lockups.

“He was on his phone at the scene and not rendering no assistance, and the car was heavily tinted, and when we go to the station, they took off the number plate and take off the tint and so on. With what I see yesterday, we don’t have any confidence in the Police investigation.”

Nevertheless, Safraz Esau said senior Police officers visited their home on Friday evening and promised to hold a comprehensive investigation.

The ACP was detained but later released on $100,000 bail pending investigations.

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Politicising Gandhi

T

he Indian High Commissioner’s suggestion, while observing Gandhi’s 152nd birthday at the latter’s statue in Promenade Gardens and Middle St, that the location be renamed after the icon of non-violent protest, has generated some controversy. A number of Afro-centric individuals and groups contend that Gandhi had no nexus with Guyana, and more germanely was “racist” towards Africans.

Thus vitiating the suggestion, since Promenade Gardens and Middle St, along with the present Parade Grounds, are hallowed soil for African Guyanese, because 27 Ravi Dev enslaved Africans were executed there following the 1823 Rebellion.

I can appreciate the objections, but they need clarification.

Firstly, the area presently designated as “Parade Grounds” has already been recognised as hallowed grounds with the sod turned in 2019 for a monument to be constructed to honour the 1823 martyrs. Secondly, in one of his last acts before he died, President Burnham renamed “Murray St” - named after the Governor overseeing the executions - on the southern side of Parade Grounds as Quamina St to honour one of the leaders of the uprising. President Burnham was fully cognizant of the history of the 1823 Rebellion and its nexus with Parade Ground.

Middle Street, which now separates Parade Grounds from Promenade Gardens, was a “Middle Walk” in 1823, between two fields originally separated by canals. It is unlikely that the slaves brought from the Courts to be executed would have been taken across the canals to the present Promenade Gardens section.

On the 100th Anniversary of the birth of Gandhi in 1969, it was President Burnham who installed the statue in the Promenade Gardens. PM Indira Gandhi had visited Guyana in 1968 and made the arrangements in recognition of the role that Gandhi had played in the abolition of Indentureship that had brought half of Guyana’s population to these shores. Gandhi’s nexus with Guyana was the role he played to abolish Indentureship, which African Guyanese long agitated for. At the installation, President Burnham and Min of Information Martin Carter fulsomely praised Gandhi for his advocacy of non-violence. Dr Jagan, a Gandhi admirer, also spoke, but with the 1968 rigged elections fresh in his memory, was reticent on non-violence.

The assertion that Gandhi was a “racist” is based on several statements made early in his South African sojourn between 1893 and 1914. As with everything, we have to place this in context. In 1893, the 23-year-old Gandhi had just completed law studies in England after a British education in India that stressed European superiority, especially their hierarchical racial placement of the peoples of the world. Just as Queen’s College and Bishops’ in British Guiana did with even Africans and Coloureds here. The more “educated” we were, the more hegemonised we became. Like the Whites in South Africa, Gandhi referred to Blacks as “Kaffirs”, which is today equivalent to the “n-word” in that part of the world. But then, the Arabicderived word meaning “unbeliever” was widely used across East and South Africa, much as the word “negro” was used up to the 1950s here without comment.

Gandhi is also accused of fighting for Indian indentureds’ rights, but did not do so for Blacks. This is quite true; but, again, there is the context. After the British Government took over India in 1857 from the East India Company following the Indian Mutiny/First War of Independence, one of the first acts of the new Empress of India, Queen Victoria, was to declare that, as subjects of Britain, Indians were entitled to the same rights as Whites. This was the law, and as a lawyer, Gandhi was hired to use it to insist that Indians, himself included, not be treated as second class. It is true that he did not represent Blacks who did not possess those rights, but there was no legal construct of “South African” citizenship then to allow him to do so.

But as he continued his sojourn in South Africa, his views matured and became more inclusive of Africans before leaving.

In his “Satyagraha in South Africa”, he was very positive about Zulus, and in 1931, said their exploitation was “radically wrong”.

He was in touch with WEB Du Bois, Kwame Nkrumah and Kenyatta. It is more to his credit that he did change his views because of his own lived experiences. So, let’s not commit the fallacy of presentism and judge him by today’s standards.

Which revered leader is without faults and skeletons, let them cast the first stone.

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FEATURE

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Voices GY – shedding light on climate change with Caribbean School of Climate

Meshach Pierre

The participants of the Caribbean School of Climate Initiative

limate change affects every person, and unless we start making tangible efforts to combat its effects, the world as we know it would soon be drastically different. We are already seeing the ice caps melting at record pace, sea levels rising, hotter days, inconsistent weather patterns and raging wildfires, among other phenomena.

Climate change impacts at the regional level are critical. In Barbados, 85 per cent of coral cover was bleached, and 7 per cent died by 2006. In Jamaica,

since the 80s, hurricanes have been damaging coral and fishing stocks. A few years back, change in rainfall patterns caused high fish mortalities due to the Amazon and Orinoco River basins releasing large volumes of freshwater runoff into the Caribbean and affecting mainly Trinidad, Grenada, the Grenadines and Barbados.

In Guyana, serious erosion and flooding at Region One’s Almond Beach caused community displacement, loss of habitat and livelihoods. During this year,

C

many hinterland communities were affected by the floods, affecting also agriculture and livelihood activities, and leaving thousands of families living under the water.

One of the most important climate resilience initiatives in Guyana is the Mangrove Restoration Project, which, in 2010, replanted over 300,000 seedlings along the coast to restore habitats and act as a soft stabilisation mechanism. Mangrove forests stabilise the coastline, reducing erosion from storm

surges, currents, waves, and tides. The intricate root system of mangroves also makes these forests attractive to fish and other organisms seeking food and shelter from predators. They absorb a large amount of CO2 - more than any other tree.

In an effort to bring about more education in respect to climate change and its effects in the Caribbean, local non-profit organisation Voices GY has partnered with 350.org, an international organisation, to introduce the Caribbean

School of Climate.

The Caribbean School of Climate is a project that supports the efforts towards a better understanding from the science and ethical point of view in regard to climate change, conservation, and the environment in the Caribbean. Voices GY and 350.org have been collaborating since 2020 at the regional level, since the creation of the Caribbean Climate network of which Voices GY is part.

The Caribbean Climate Network will continue its work this year, especially in the areas that are of interest to the COP26. The network launched a ‘Climate Manifesto’ in July 2021 that asked Governments in the Caribbean countries to take action against climate change. Both organisations will continue working together with the network to promote climate initiatives in the Caribbean region and a second version of the Caribbean School of Climate Change for 2022.

More than 130 people registered in August 2021 for the Caribbean School of Climate, and 60 were selected from 18 dif-

Felicia Collins, Protected Areas Officer - PAC

ferent countries, including Guyana, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, US Virgin Islands, Martinique, Haiti, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Venezuela, and other small island states in the Caribbean.

Meshach Pierre, a student at the University of Florida, who has, over the years, researched about birds and mammals in Guyana, was invited as a speaker to introduce the topic ‘Human-wildlife conflict’. His new research interests led him to analyse the conflicts that humans have with wildlife. These conflicts threaten local support of conservation as well as they are a major concern for large carnivores such as jaguars and pumas.

TURN TO PAGE 14

14 FEATURE

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Voices GY – shedding light on climate...

Because conservation is about people, conservation should be led and owned by communities. Meshach continues researching the human-jaguar conflict in the Rupununi.

Marine and Environmental Biologist Felicia Collins told the participants that Belize is one of the regional leaders in ocean conservation. That small country has 14 marine protected areas (MPAs), 13 protected fish spawning aggregation sites, and a sustainable commercial fishing industry.

Felicia is a current protected areas officer working for the Protected Areas Commission. She has been researching and gathering data in the area of Shell Beach Protected Area.

In Guyana, many initiatives are taking place,

such as community conservation projects, but there is a lot of work to do. During this year, Voices GY also consulted for Conservation International in the context of ‘Our Future Forests Amazonia Verde’, a regional

initiative that aims to conserve 12 per cent of the total Amazon Forest by 2025.

The organisation developed online courses for CI in the areas of gender in conservation and Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and

Abuse.

Voices GY works with community led-projects that benefit conservation initiatives as a whole. They just finalised a project that supports Indigenous languag-

es in Region One, working with communities such as Yarakita and Smith’s Creek. The organisation will continue developing projects at national and regional levels in the areas of climate change, climate resilience, community partici-

FROM PAGE 13

pation and conservation.

If you wish to watch the recorded sessions, you can visit www.voicesgy.org/environment. You can also join Voices GY as a volunteer for climate change initiatives by writing to voicesgy@gmail.com

FEATURE

Teacher Kenesha will stop at nothing to put a smile on the faces of her pupils

T

eachers are the very foundation of society.

They impart tremendous knowledge, and are the masters of every profession.

They are selfless and always giving, but are most often taken for granted.

Like every profession, there are proverbial speed bumps in the pathway of teachers, and while some of those bumps are readily visible, others are on the turn on the pathway they are destined to trod.

One of the ever-present speed bumps at this time is the COVID-19 pandemic.

Although every career path has been having its rounds of hardship, teachers are perhaps the most heavily impacted. They have had to resort to performing duties behind screens and worksheets, but it did not stop them from forging ahead.

Through their many efforts to mould the future generations, they have fought, and continue to fight amidst the dreadful COVID-19 pandemic.

One such teacher is the courageous and hardworking Kenesha Gould, who hails from the bauxite town of Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara– Upper Berbice).

Although relatively young in the teaching profession, Gould has developed the zeal of a seasoned teacher. She related to this publication that while the pandemic had posed significant challenges, her love for the job and the children under her charge kept her going.

“I’m in an area where we don’t have internet. I had to be going out in the fields to carry out worksheets, text book, and sometimes when you go, the journey is not that cool, but I love children.

I enjoy seeing the smiles on the faces of my children, especially when they can relate to what is being taught.

When you help the children, it is like you are helping the parents to give their children a bright future,” the zealous Miss Gould related.

The vibrant 30-year-old teacher comes from a family lineage of nurses and teachers, which has further added to her motivation to join the profession. While Linden is originally deemed home, teacher Kenesha was assigned to MapleTown (Aroaima) Primary School in the Upper Berbice District at the outset of her career, which started approximately three years ago. When she received the news of her appointment, Kenesha was in tears, since it was out of her comfort zone. However, she has been managing to adapt to the new environment in which she has been placed.

Kenesha said that while it was tedious footing the dusty, unpaved roads to hand out learning packages in the height of the pandemic, due to a lack of internet connectivity in the sub-district, the real work began at the reopening of schools.

According to her, pupils in Grade Two skipped Grade One after leaving nursery school, and now teachers have to impart to them the beginner’s skill of writing. Hence, her patience and dedication has paid off.

“Today was somewhat special, because everyone could have written (their work),” she noted.

The dedicated educator, who serves as a temporary qualified teacher, has said she aspires to further develop herself in the profession she loves by attending the Cyril Potter College of Education.

For now, however, the young teacher is doing everything to ensure that those in her care are given the best education possible.

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16 FEATURE

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

“Sir Roop” of the Essequibo Coast is passing the torch on to his children

By Raywattie Deonarine

I

n every community, there is that teacher whom everyone knows and raves about as being “the best”, because that educator goes above and beyond the boundaries of duty and produces the results to back their methods.

If you were to travel to the Essequibo Coast, you would hear about the powers of “Sir Roop” – the retired Headmaster of Abram Zuil Secondary School. Roopchan Persaud, or “Sir Roop”, as he is known, is the very epitome of a good teacher, and is now imparting all that he learned to his three children - Kayshena, Sabrina and Avinash - who are all teachers now.

Sir Roop has been teaching for over 38 years, and, for him, there are two key ingredients that make him different from the rest – the love for his students despite where they sit on the learning spectrum, and the fact that he treats every one of them as though they are his own.

The name Sir Roop has become a household name in the entire Pomeroon– Supenaam Region, as he is known for his humanitarian works and is also considered to be one of the best Mathematics teachers in Region Two. This 60-year-old moulder of character started his teaching career at Riverstown Primary School on the Essequibo Coast when he was only 17 years old.

There, he worked his way up the ladder, and slowly start-

Sir Roop at his University of Guyana graduation

ed to cement his place as one of the “different” teachers.

He moved up, and was later transferred to the secondary division of the school, and started getting the attention of everyone because of his ability to extract excellent results from his students.

Sir Roop has said that, whatever he does, he always insists on discipline and hard work.

After several years of teaching at Riverstown Primary School, Persaud decided to attend the Lillian Dewar College of Education attached to the Tutorial High School in Georgetown. He graduated from that institution in 1985 as a trained secondary school teacher specialising in Mathematics. He not only managed to complete

his studies there, but copped excellent grades and was offered a place at the Abram Zuil Secondary School, which is known as one of Essequibo’s top schools.

Three years later, in 1988, Persaud was seconded to the Cummings Lodge Secondary School, where he taught while attending the University of Guyana to read for his degree in Education.

In 1992, Persaud graduated from UG, and returned to continue his teaching career at Abram Zuil Secondary School.

Additionally, he obtained a certificate in Administration from the National Centre of Educational Resource Development (NCERD).

CONTINUED ON PAGE 17

FEATURE

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“Sir Roop” of the Essequibo Coast is...

“I never left, not basically, because the school was a top school in Region Two, but because I held my students to heart, and worked with them towards learning and understand the difficulties in mathematics. I made them understand and become knowledgeable on the simplest ways to solve a matrix, simultaneous equation, and the list goes on with the difficult topics in mathematics,” he said during an interview with Sunday Times.

Throughout the years, he moved up the command chain, from being an untrained teacher to becoming headmaster of that institution up until he retired in 2015. Though it was mandatory for him to retire at the age of 55, it did not prevent him from tutoring on a private basis, holding classes in the afternoons for students of various schools on the Essequibo Coast.

“Teaching at such a young age was possible at that time.

I came from a very poor family, and, as a child, I attended the Riverstown Primary School, which had a secondary department. I then grabbed the opportunity and wrote the Preliminary Certificate Examination and College of Preceptors Examination at the said school. I then made a step upward and wrote the GCE ‘O’ level exam privately, which were extremely successful for me,” he explained when asked how it was possible to start teaching at such a young age.

Sir Roop has devoted his life to helping children to receive quality education, and for them to see themselves empowered in the future endeavours.

“With a hardworking staff at the Abram Zuil Secondary School, it was the first time in history, when I was a headmaster, (that) Abram Zuil achieved first and third position in Guyana in 2011 at CSEC General level,” he said.

He proudly disclosed that

he was the headmaster when Abram Zuil Secondary School first became recognised as a top school in Guyana. He added that during his time as the head of the institution, he worked along with his hardworking staff and prompted a group of students to participate at the Regional Science Fair.

“As we worked along with the students, we won the Regional Science Fair competition and we challenged the other schools countrywide.

As a team, we worked with the students and won the competition again. I was so happy to know I assisted the science teachers in coaching them, and we moved forward and went internationally. We took part in the competition where we had to travel to England, and walked away with the biggest prize,” Sir Roop added.

Additionally, Sir Roop said that, in 2012, Abram Zuil Secondary School was rated the best school in the Caribbean at the CSEC Examination. He added that, in 2013, his school was graded first in the matriculation rate regionally.

“Apart from that, I was awarded as the best headmaster regionally, and I am proud to say that when I took HM position, our school became a top school regionally in the Caribbean. Science fair and CSEC results were the best results ever since I took leadership, and our school is still motivated to do excellent at the CSEC examination,” he explained.

A good teacher is not necessarily one who gets a child to pass an exam. For example, Sir Roop has observed that some teachers look for the brighter children, and focus their attention on them.

“But you need to go down to the level of the others. You must first find out where the child is, and go down to his/ her level and then bring him/ her up. You must pay attention to your weaker children,

and I think that is the greatest secret in teaching,” he said.

He explained that not everybody has the same ability to learn and focus, and for a teacher to become a good teacher, that teacher must be patient love the children under his/her care, and view them as if they are his/her own children.

“When a child comes to school, he/she might come with an empty stomach from a home that was full of war and quarrel. You have to find out the background of the child. Most children who misbehave in school are those without parents, who were left with a grandparent who can’t control them. I always learn, growing up, that our fingers do not have the same length,” he said.

Sir Roop recalled that he always wanted to become a teacher, and succeeded at it because he loves children. He explained that what kept him in teaching was not because

FROM PAGE 16

Sir Roop with his wife, children and granddaughter

the money was solid, but because he saw children as special commodities to him.

The challenge, though, is getting children to attend school regularly and on time.

For instance, Mathematics is often the first subject of the day, or sometimes after

lunch, and so when teachers or students arrive late, or go home for lunch and never return, this is the subject that suffers. And Sir Roop believes that this is the reason many students fail the subject at CXC. Sir Roop has said he was fortunate enough

to have had good role models as teachers.

Sir Roop is a father of three, all of whom are teachers on the Essequibo Coast.

Sir Roop is a role model to his children, since he coaches and encourages them to become the best teachers.

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FEATURE

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After 16 years, Oasis Café’s still “an extension of our living room”

Oasis Café

By Lakhram Bhagirat

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hunt for “proper coffee” 16 years ago led Nisa and William Walker to introduce a coffee culture to Guyana, and today that has grown with more coffee houses than one can imagine. However, Nisa and William’s Oasis Café remains the standard when it comes to that perfect brew.

Today Oasis Café is celebrating its “sweet sixteen”, and according to co-founder Nisa, it has been 16 years of learning, improving and revolutionising the atmosphere on Carmichael Street in Georgetown.

During a recent sit-down over a cappuccino with <<Sunday Times,>> Nisa related that the story of Oasis is one she enjoys telling, since it started out of a love for coffee.

Having lived in the United States for a number of years, Nisa and husband William returned to Guyana,

Nisa’s Mediterranean décor

but could not find somewhere that served “really nice” coffee. They searched and searched, but had no luck. At the time of their return, she was also running an organisation for abused women out of her home, but still felt that she needed something else. So, after her children were in school full time, Nisa began exploring other things to do in order to remain occupied.

“So my background is in cooking and baking, because I've done a few courses at a culinary school in New York, and so we thought, ‘Why not combine that and open someplace where we can enjoy a really good coffee and make it available to everyone else?’ We took a risk, but it took off right away,” she said.

The initial reaction to Oasis opening saw the couple being thanked for creating a place where people can go

Nisa Walker with Bobby’s Chocolate Cake

and relax while enjoying baked goods and coffee. The intention was, and remains until this day, to make everyone visiting Oasis Café feel as though they are sitting in their living room.

The vibe in Oasis is homey, with the scent of freshly brewed coffee wafting through the air. The music is never too loud to cover the laughter or cause one to have overly loud conversations. These days, Nisa is a prominent figure on the service flood, and would use her time to interact with customers and make them feel as though they are really in her living room.

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After 16 years, Oasis Café’s...

However, in the initial stages, it was not this way. She remembers getting up at 03:30h every morning and making rounds to pick up staff, since taxi services were not as popular back then.

After picking up staff, she would head into the kitchen and start mixing and baking muffins, cookies and other pastries in order to have stocks when the Café’s doors are opened.

Her days then would consist of running errands at Bourda Market, Meadow Bank Wharf for fish and seafood, and then supermarkets for other supplies. But now Oasis has built a register of suppliers and Nisa has trained a team of staff that would ensure the work gets done, and to her standards. So, she is now merely a supervisor.

“We introduced the coffee culture here, and in recent years there's been a lot more coffee houses opening. Everyone seems to be doing good. We all have our client base and are doing well, but it's been influenced a lot by the overseas market, and travelling

Nisa Walker at her place of business

people are accustomed to what's being offered, and we are all trying to keep abreast with the latest drinks,” Nisa added.

“It was meant to be, you know, just someplace for snacks and pastries and cakes and nice coffee drinks and juices. But then people

started asking, ‘Why not lunches?’, and so this has evolved over the years. We have grown tremendously,” she said.

Now Oasis Café is famous for its salads, international dishes and one of the tastiest oxtail and split peas soups in the country.

Nisa particularly enjoys the Mediterranean aesthetics and dishes, so much of what she offers at Oasis is now heavily influenced by that. However, her love for food and cooking also sees her offering a wide range of dishes.

“I like to experiment a lot with recipes. I would take like 10 recipes and combine and make one thing, and, you know, put a signature style to it. I plant my own herbs. I plant cilantro, rosemary, thyme, basil, mint, and try to use at lot of that in my daily cooking.”

From time to time, Oasis would have guest chefs from across the world sharing their country’s dishes, and Nisa also uses that as a learning moment to prepare those dishes. This week, they are expecting a Mexican couple who will show Nisa and her team how

FROM PAGE 27

to prepare Mexican mole. Over the years, she learned to make hummus from an Israeli, flan from a Cuban, and ceviche from a Peruvian.

These 16 years have been anything but a walk in the park for Nisa and her team.

When the COVID-19 pandemic came, they were affected by the measure, and in May 2021, Nisa contracted the virus. She had real trouble breathing, and was on oxygen support for almost two months; so now she is grateful for every breath she takes.

“In my absence, my staff here took care of everything, and for that I must thank them, because they kept the standard and kept Oasis Café going.”

She is grateful too for all the customers who wished her well and continue to be a part of what is truly a community.

Nisa and the team at Oasis celebrated their 16th year with her famous “Bobby’s Chocolate Cake” – the cake that is her daughter’s favourite and a hit since being placed on the menu.

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Brazil eyes Guyana’s savannah to cultivate corn, soya beans and peas − discussions held to collaborate in local agriculture sector

Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha exchanging an investment document with Aluizio Nascimento da Silva during the meeting

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griculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha and Secretary of State for Agriculture, Livestock and Supply of Roraima, Brazil, Aluizio Nascimento da Silva, have discussed collaboration between the two countries to further develop agriculture and trade during a meeting on Saturday.

The Secretary of State, during the meeting, said there was an interest by a number of agriculture businesses to develop demonstration plots in the Savannahs close to Roraima to cultivate corn, soya beans, and peas.

He also said that through collaboration between the two countries, cattle production in the Rupununi can be developed into a massive industry for Guyana, which will, in turn, improve Guyana’s export figures.

“We see the Rupununi as a great area for developing the cattle industry, which can then be exported to Roraima and then processed in one of the big abattoirs there. Once the farmers there are able to meet the demand, they would be able to supply the Roraima market. Our agriculture Gross Domestic Product (GDP) was 1.2 percent of the state’s GDP. It has since moved to 6.8 per-

cent in two and a half years, and I believe you can do the same. If we work together and continue to foster strong partnerships, we can increase our international export figures,” da Silva has said.

Further, he noted that Guyana is also working to develop its corn and soya bean industry, and has said that once the infrastructure is developed, it will soon be able to satisfy the local market.

“While the production now is small, soon it will be enough to supply to the local market; but jointly, when the infrastructure is developed, it will be used by persons growing corn and soya bean here, and eventually in Roraima. I also recommend looking into doing value-added, which is what Brazil is doing now. The soya meal can be added to the feed, and then what is exported is the animal proteins such as beef, chicken, and pork.”

Noting that Guyana has longstanding relations with Brazil, Minister Mustapha said collaborations to develop the country’s agriculture sector are welcome.

“We look forward to working with Brazil to develop our agriculture sector. Brazil is a trade partner around the world and exports to a number

of countries. Through collaborations with Brazil, Guyana would be able to develop several of our agriculture subsectors, like the cattle industry and also the non-traditional crops that we’ve started, like corn and soya bean.

“We have a trial plot currently under cultivation by a group of mostly local investors from the Private Sector that brought seeds from Brazil.

The Government is looking to expand on that industry to be able to provide the proteins for the poultry industry from that area. The Government has budgeted $500 million to develop the infrastructure in the area,” Minister Mustapha stated.

Further, the Minister said Government is moving ahead with development of the deep-water harbour in Berbice, and that persons from Roraima would be able to utilise this facility to export their produce, rather than having to travel up to the coast of Brazil to do so.

Mustapha also pointed out that because Guyana is once again playing the lead role for agriculture in Caricom, production has to be expanded in order to reduce Caricom’s food import bill and advance the agri-food agenda.

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Guyana records 10 more unvaccinated deaths …229 infections detected in 24h

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he Health Ministry on Saturday reported that a whopping 10 more persons have succumbed to COVID-10, thus taking the death toll to 835 since the first death was recorded in March 2020.

The 10 persons who died were all unvaccinated.

The Ministry stated that on October 5, a 67-year-old man from Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) died, followed by an 81-year-old woman from Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) on October 6, and a 90-yearold female from Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) on October 7.

On October 8, a 21-yearold male from Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) and a 71-year-old female from Region Two also died.

Five deaths were reported for October 9, including a 76-year-old male, a 32-yearold female, a 78-year-old male and a 51-year-old female – all from Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica), along with a 63-year-old male from Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara).

New statistics provided by the Ministry showed that 229 new cases were detected in the past 24 hours, raising the total confirmed positives to date to 33,566.

The statistics showed that 29 patients are now in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), 159 in institutional isolation, 3608 in home isolation, and six in institutional quarantine.

Throughout the pandemic locally, 331,225 individuals were tested – of which 15, 887 males and 17, 689 females were positive.

A regional breakdown of new cases shows that 11 persons tested positive in Region One (BarimaWaini); 19 in Region Two; 48 in Region Three; a staggering 177 in Region Four; nine in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice); 33 in Region Six; five in Region Seven; two in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) and 22 in Region 10 .

No new cases were recorded in Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni).

The United States Government on Friday con-

tributed another tranche of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines to Guyana through the COVAX mechanism, amounting to 100, 620 jabs. These will be made available with immediate effect, with pregnant women being targeted. This is in light of recent reports which stated that there has been an increase in COVID-19 cases among pregnant women. In fact, several of them who tested positive for the virus are being monitored at the Infectious Diseases Hospital at Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown and other medical facilities.

In August, the US had sent 146,250 doses of the vaccine, enabling Government to commence vaccination of children over 12 years of age. Pregnant and breastfeeding women are also benefiting from the Pfizer jabs.

In Guyana, over 366,000 first doses have been administered, with over 220,000 second doses for the adult population.

More than 25,000 first doses have been delivered to

GUYANA COVID-19 DASHBOARD OCTOBER 9, 2021 UPDATE

NUMBER OF NEW CASES

229

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN INSTITUTIONAL ISOLATION

159

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

3608 29

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN INSTITUTIONAL QUARANTINE

6

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES BY GENDER (FEMALES)

17,689

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES BY GENDER (MALES)

15,877

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES IN GUYANA SINCE 2020

33,566

NUMBER OF RECOVERED CASES

28,935

TOTAL 1st DOSE VACCINATED

366,190

FULLY IMMUNISED

220,017

TOTAL NUMBER OF DEATHS

835

DISTRIBUTION OF TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES SINCE MARCH 2020 REGION 1

1543

REGION 2

1276

REGION 3

4556

REGION 4

16,060

REGION 5

1175

REGION 6

2373

REGION 7

1694

REGION 8

520

REGION 9

2419

REGION 10

1949

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

Keep a physical distance of at least 6 feet.

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

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

If anyone is displaying any of the symptoms associated with COVID-19, or need any additional information, contact the COVID-19 Hotline on 231-

1166, 226-7480 or 6246674 immediately or visit www.health.gov.gy.

All Guyanese are reminded to observe the protocols of the COVID-19 emergency measures

which emphasise: correct and consistent use of a face mask when leaving your home; maintaining six feet of physical distance from others; and good hand hygiene.

NEWS

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Guyana on track for continued economic growth for remainder of 2021 – Finance Minister

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Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh

ith a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth of 14.5 per cent for the first half of 2021, Guyana is projected to have positive figures and continued growth for the remainder of the year despite challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and other global issues.

“What the Mid-Year Report does is it documents the fact that COVID-19 continues to be an extremely significant source of pressure on the Guyanese economy and we’ve had to continue to grapple with COVID-19. In addition to the challenges associated with COVID-19, we had an additional, very significant shock and that was the floods of May-June 2021. Those floods were extremely devas-

tating,” Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh stated during a recent interview.

He pointed out that there was clear defiance of these challenges, as the country was able to secure significant growth. According to the Minister, an outlook for the second half of 2021 shows continued positive growth.

“Looking ahead to the remainder of the year, we anticipate continued growth and so the economy as a whole, we’re looking at our latest projections and growing in the vicinity of 20 per cent. The non-oil economy, our current projection is 3.7 per cent real growth. I will say that that itself is an extremely [positive] performance considering the impact that the floods would

have had on particularly agriculture, forestry, and mining,” Dr Singh said.

He was keen to point out that Government inherited the country at a time when many sectors were failing owing to unfavourable policies which hindered investments.

As such, immediate action was taken.

Dr Singh said Government has also been working to restore both domestic and international investors’ confidence.

“As a result of bad policies for five years, mismanagement of most of the productive sector, an environment that was hostile to investment and hostile to the Private Sector, the refusal to respect the no-confidence motion in the first instance and then the refusal to respect the result of the elections, by the time you got in office, the economy was in a state of free fall, it was in a state of collapse,” Minister Singh said.

He added, “Lot of the sectors were showing the very deep scars arising from five years of neglect and mismanagement.

Rebuilding that really has not been an easy task. Rebuilding investor confidence in Guyana doesn’t happen automatically. Having come into office, we had to restore investor confidence in Guyana…

The President moved swiftly as soon as he assumed office

to engage with the Private Sector, both domestic and international.”

The Mid-Year Report is expected to be tabled by Minister Singh at the first sitting of the National Assembly after recess.

In regard to sector performance, the agriculture, forestry and fishing industries for the first half of 2021 are estimated to have contracted by 2.4 per cent, compared with a decline of 4.1 per cent for the corresponding peri-

od last year; and it was noted that this was as a result of lower output from the other crops, and the sugar, forestry and fishing industries.

The sugar industry declined by 22.4 per cent when compared to the same period in 2020. Some of the reasons indicated were a 30 per cent mortality of mature cane at Albion Estate, 10 per cent at Uitvlugt, and five per cent at Blairmont owing to the floods.

Meanwhile, the Report noted that the rice industry

grew by an estimated 7.8 per cent in the first half of the year, marginally lower than the target set for the period.

‘Other crops’ declined by 7.3 per cent owing to the floods, and the livestock industry was estimated to have grown by 10.6 per cent when compared to the same period in 2020.

However, for that same period, the fishing industry contracted by an estimated 6.6 per cent and the forestry industry by 7.1 per cent.

GYSBI host career fair with aim of employing 150

− 93% of workforce are locals – Director

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undreds of prospective applicants on Saturday turned up at a career fair organised by the Guyana Shore Base Incorporated (GYSBI) and held at the National Stadium. It will see some 150 persons being shortlisted for employment in the oil industry.

Persons who expressed interest in securing a job in the sector were screened onsite.

Director of GYSBI, Robin Muneshwer, explained that this is in

preparation for two berths next year, which will require greater human capital, especially in the operations department. This mass hiring, he said, was in response to rapid expansion taking place at GYSBI. “Guyana Shore Base has been in rapid expansion mode. We’ve hire over 450 employees so far, about 93 per cent local Guyanese.

We’re going into a next tranche of employment, because every time we have a project, we need a certain amount of people. It is not

continuous employment.

It goes in quantum leaps.

We have two berths coming up, one in February and one in April, so we started the hiring process for these berths,” Muneshwer told Guyana Times.

He indicated that they are seeking to give persons around the country a chance to be employed in the oil and gas industry, which is currently taking greater leaps and expansion.

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36 NEWS Increased mining activity recorded since Gov’t incentives – Min Bharrat SUNDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

− lauds growth of non-oil economy registered in Mid-Year Report

Natural Resources Minister Vickram Bharrat

O

ne of the success stories of the recent 2021 Mid-Year Report is the mining sector, and according to Natural

Resources Minister Vickram Bharrat, the increased mining activity over the past year can be traced to the incentives his Government provided for the sector.

The Mid-Year Report was released last week, and it showed that Guyana’s economy grew by 14.5 per cent in the first half of the year. It was also revealed that the mining and quarrying industries grew by 23.1 per cent, although gold contracted.

During a recent interview that featured his reaction to the Mid-Year Report, Minister Bharrat spoke of these increases and the role the incentives such as the removal of Value Added Tax (VAT) have played in the overall development of the

extractive sector.

“Added to that, mining, which has been the backbone of the economy for a number of years now, may be the only sector that was doing well for over the last five or six years or so. Mining has actually kept the economy afloat,” Bharrat said.

“And we continue to see increased mining activity over the last year, especially with the incentives that our Government would have provided in the September 2020 budget. That is the VAT off the mining and logging equipment, agricultural equipment and machinery. Duty free on ATVs. So, we would have given a number of concessions in the natural resource sector.”

Bharrat also spoke of the

Man arrested for assaulting women during brawl at Bourda Market

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ellon Albert, 36, an electrician of Melanie, East Coast Demerara (ECD), is now in Police custody for an alleged assault that occurred at Robb and Alexander Streets, Bourda, Georgetown.

The incident involved Albert, along with Lashawn Joseph, 22, a vendor and Kim Rampersaud, 49, a stall holder, both of Stevedore Housing Scheme, North Ruimveldt; and Lacquan Joseph, 21, a vendor of Stevedore Housing Scheme.

Police said Albert went to his children mother’s stall at 08:00h to drop off his two children who was staying with him for the past month.

Albert had allegedly told his children’s mother [Lashawn] to collect the children, which caused her to become annoyed. She then reportedly got up and ran towards her mother’s stall and armed herself with a knife.

Rampersaud, who was standing close by, immedi-

ately grabbed Lashawn and took away the weapon. As a result, Albert, who was sitting in his motorcar, exited and approached both women, during which he grabbed Rampersaud’s hand to retrieve the said knife.

In the process, a scuffle ensued among them, during which Lashawn picked up a piece of wood and dealt Albert several lashes about the body.

He managed to wrestle the knife from Rampersaud’s hand, after which he dealt her two slaps to her face. In addition, he dealt the moth-

er of his children two slaps as well.

Police said Lashawn picked up a construction spade and broke the front and back windscreens of Kellon’s motorcar, as well as damaged the bonnet.

In retaliation, the suspect became annoyed, picked up pieces of brick and threw them at two women’s motorcars, thus damaging both windscreens.

During the commotion, the Police were summoned to the scene, and Albert was arrested. Investigations are ongoing.

Pedestrian injured following 2-vehicle collision

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he Guyana Police Force was summoned to No. 74 Village Public Road, Corentyne, Berbice after a pedestrian was struck down by a speeding motorcar as he was standing on the roadway.

A driver was also injured.

The Police have said that at about 20:30h, Aslam Sattaur, 43, of No. 74 Village, Corentyne, Berbice was struck down, thus causing him to sustain injuries about his body.

Apart from Sattaur, the accident involved motorcar HC 8914 driven by a 30-year-old man of Line Path Corriverton, Corentyne,

Berbice and motorcar PJJ 8540 driven by a 24-yearold man of No. 2 Village, Corentyne, Berbice.

It was reported that HC 8914 was proceeding south while motorcar PJJ 8540 was proceeding north along the No. 74 Public Road allegedly at a fast rate of speed when the driver lost control and collided with the right-side rear of motorcar HC 8914, which had stopped to pick up a passenger.

As a result of the collision, the pedestrian who was standing on the side of the said road was struck, after which motorcar PJJ 8940

crashed into a utility pole.

As a result, the driver of the motorcar received injuries to his head while the pedestrian received injuries to his left hand.

They were both taken to the Skeldon Public Hospital, where they were seen by a doctor. Sattar was discharged, while the driver was transferred to the New Amsterdam Public Hospital, where he was admitted as a patient in a stable condition.

A breathalyzer test was conducted on the driver of motorcar PJJ 8540, but no trace of alcohol was detected.

Investigations are ongoing.

importance of the non-oil extractive sector, of which gold mining is a part. As he put it, without oil and gas, Guyana’s growth rate would have been reflective of the non-oil economy.

“If you look at the growth in the non-oil economy, it’s quite significant. Almost 5 per cent growth in the nonoil economy. And that is important to look at. Because had we not had oil, that would have been our real growth rate,” the Minister said.

“So that is important, especially in this pandemic and with the flooding we went through. Especially the flood taking a heavy toll on the agriculture sector. We saw that in Black Bush Polder, Canals Numbers One and Two, in the Mahaicony area.

We have seen the devastation, and regardless of that, we have still managed to

achieve growth rate.”

Among the measures the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Government introduced last year was to remove VAT and duties on mining equipment. This effectively brought down the prices to procure the equipment necessary for the sector.

The Finance Ministry’s Mid-Year Report for 2021 has revealed that Guyana recorded real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth of 14.5 per cent, while non-oil GDP grew by 4.8 percent, despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and even the devastating floods experienced in May-June.

In a release on Tuesday evening, the Finance Ministry said that due to the unprecedented floods, which impacted particularly the agriculture, forestry and mining sectors, along

with the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the effects of which will spill over into the last half of the year and even beyond, the revised full-year forecast for real GDP growth in 2021 is now 19.5 percent overall, and 3.7 percent for the nonoil economy.

Referring to the extractive industries, the Report indicated that in the first half of 2021, the mining and quarrying industries were estimated to have grown by 23.1 percent, with higher output from the petroleum and other mining industries, despite contractions in gold and bauxite.

The 2021 Mid-Year Report is expected to be tabled by Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh at the first sitting of the National Assembly, once the Assembly resumes in the wake of its current recess.

GYSBI host career fair...

FROM PAGE 35

Hundreds of persons turned up at the career fair

“The jobs that we require mostly are operations, people to work on the waterfront, people who have stevedore experience, people who have operator experience. Those are the majority of people that we are looking for. This job fair is basically something new we’re doing to reach out to various parts of the country and see what’s out there…The response here is beyond our expectations.”

Muneshwer also posited that GYSBI remains committed to local content, having a 93 per cent local workforce and additional plans to nationalise other positions.

“We are the local content poster boy of the oil and gas industry. 93 per cent out of 400-odd employees and the people we’re hiring here are all locals, so I feel strongly that we’re the driver of this for the oil and gas industry. It is a major part of what we do, and we’re driving towards nationalising the rest of

the positions over time, which is quite a challenge, but it will be done.”

This fair is the first of three that are planned by GYBSI. The other two are slated for October 10 at the Uitvlugt Community Centre Ground and October 16 at the Enmore Martyrs Monument Ground.

“We’re going to interview people, collect all these applications, process them from the various job fairs and sift out.

Everybody won’t be hired in one shot, maybe hired in periods of time. We have to screen them carefully over the next couple months.”

The positions to be filled include: Warehouse Supervisors, Crane Operators, Field Technicians, Mechanics, Equipment Maintenance Technicians, and Fuel Facility Operators.

Interested applicants are asked to walk with their resumes, any academic certificates, a copy of a valid form of ID, and one passport photograph. Only

persons with a vaccination card or a negative PCR test from within the last seven days would be allowed entry.

Rabin Chandarpal, the Government Liaison Officer of GYSBI, also added, “Our people take pride in their work, and understand their impact on the local community. As one of the largest employers in oil and gas in Guyana, with a 97 per cent local workforce, we are proud to showcase Guyanese talent.”

GYSBI is Guyana’s premier Shore Base, supplying a range of integrated services for Guyana’s emerging Oil and Gas industry.

GYSBI supports a range of clients across its 140 acres of development, with highly trained staff and services compliant to international standards and best practices. GYSBI is dedicated to the recruitment, development and retention of the Guyanese talent. Every team member takes pride in their work and commitment to their community.

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SUNDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Truck mysteriously goes NGSA process undergoes up in flames at Houston quality checking by CXC T

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The truck engulfed in thick smoke and flames

truck erupted in flames on Saturday along the Houston Public Road, Greater Georgetown, causing severe traffic congestion for the remainder of the day.

Based on reports received, at about 12:00h, the lorry, bearing registration plate GAB 915, was pro-

ceeding south on the East Bank Demerara (EBD) highway, and while in the vicinity of the Guyana Shore Base Incorporated, a burst of flames and thick smoke rapidly enveloped the vehicle.

The driver managed to escape unhurt, and the Guyana Fire Service was

summoned to the scene.

Responders arrived shortly on the scene and doused the flames within minutes.

The entire front section of the vehicle was completely charred. This incident led to a backup of traffic for the remainder of the day, as the lorry remained on the roadway for some time.

he Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) has, for the first time since it began setting, marking and managing the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) in 2016, commenced and completed a process of verification to ensure that the scores that were earned by the candidates are recorded and reflected accurately and fairly in the candidates’ placement.

Chief Examiners and Assistant Chief Examiners employed by CXC have checked an appropriate sample of the NGSA examination scripts. These scripts, which were housed in containers specially sealed by CXC in a manner that would allow detection of any tampering, have been opened in the presence of the CXC Supervisor.

“These officials have checked to ensure that all questions on the scripts were marked, that the

scores recorded inside match what is recorded on the outside of the booklet, and that the tallying of the scores is correct,” CXC said in a statement.

The standardised scores were also quality checked

by CXC to ensure that they match what has been given

by CXC to the National Data Management Authority (NDMA) and that the consequential standardised scores reflect the way the candidates worked.

Some of this quality checking was previously done by the Testing Unit of the National Centre for Education Resource Development (NCERD) without the involvement of CXC, but for the first time in the history of the examination, it was conducted by CXC, the examining body which manages the examination, inclusive of preparing the examination questions, supervising the examination, and marking

the scripts.

Additionally, the Council will now, for the first time, manage the entire review process, which begins immediately upon publication of the results.

With the introduction of these new measures, CXC will now be managing the entire NGSA from beginning to end (inclusive of review). The Ministry of Education aims, with these new measures, to conduct level appropriate exams that are fairly and transparently marked and that bear the CXC mark of integrity for which the examining body is renowned across the world.

This year, there were 33 new examination centres spread across the 11 education districts where candidates are writing the examination. Some 14,300 Grade Six students wrote the assessment – an increase over last year, when only 14,032 candidates wrote the exam.

Repairs being done to Pensioners laud Govt's $25,000 one-off cash grant initiative $290M scanner at CJIA …as Region 4 benefits from rollout exercise − stopped working in September after system error

The CTX 5800 Checked Luggage Scanner

A

5-month-old SmithsDetection CTX 5800 Checked Luggage Scanner installed at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), which had stopped working, is currently being looked at with the aim of getting it up and running. This is according to the administration of the CJIA in a release to the media on Saturday.

The release stated that the scanner, which costs $290M, had reportedly shut down on September 11, 2021 after displaying a system error, and became inoperable.

“The supplier and manufacturer were immediately contacted for technical support. After consultation, a decision was taken to have a

Smith’s-Detection Engineer fly into Guyana to conduct diagnostic tests”, the statement read.

Currently, corrective works are underway, and are expected to be completed shortly, the CJIA added.

As such, passengers’ bags are being screened via the “redundant” security scanners at the airport.

The CTX 5800 Luggage Scanner was commissioned in May this year, along with other screening equipment. It has built-in stateof-the-art technology and was funded by the Cheddi Jagan International Airport Corporation with support of the Government.

The scanner helps to detect threats to civil aviation

in an effective manner, and aids law enforcement in their fight against narco-trafficking at Guyana’s main port of entry.

The CTX 5800 explosive trace detection scanner is Transportation Security Administration (TSA) certified and ECAC standard three approved.

It is a computer tomography- based system which uses a single X-ray generator to provide high-resolution 3D images for quick and accurate threats, making it ideal for airports such as CJIA. Over 2000 of the CTX scanners are currently installed and in operation throughout the Caribbean and in North and Latin America.

“I

feel blessed. Thank God for the President.

I’m thankful for this opportunity,” 67-year-old Llewellyn Gardner remarked after being one of the first pensioners to uplift his book and voucher at the Campbellville Secondary School on Monday last.

The Human Services and Social Security Ministry rolled out the massive distribution exercise of the one-off $25,000 cash grant along with the 2022 pension book delivery in Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) on Monday, and found that pensioners were extremely happy to receive such.

Being able to uplift both the grant and book in just one trip, pensioners lauded the Ministry for this “forward-thinking approach.”

To this end, they thanked the Government and the Human Services and Social Security Ministry for making the assistance possible, noting that the extra money would help them with their bills, groceries, and other necessary expenses.

It was noted by the Ministry that persons who cannot walk have also been showing up at distribution sites with their relatives.

These individuals were reminded that they can apply for ‘shut-in’ assistance, so that their vouchers and books can be delivered to them.

The Ministry also noted that as the week progressed, the process had become more orderly and simpler, and persons now seem to be more willing to follow protocols and the procedures in place.

Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Dr Vindhya Persaud, interacting with pensioners during the distribution exercise in Region Four this week. On occasion, she personally helped with the work

However, due to the massive turn out during the first two days, Human Services and Social Security Minister Dr. Vindhya Persaud advised pensioners to utilise the multiple days put in place for catchment areas for the rollout process.

To this end, the Ministry reminded the public that it is necessary for persons to show up in the area that is assigned to serve them.

“We are very happy with the turnout we are seeing.

This is the first time we are distributing the books of the coming year this early, and we’re happy that so many are coming out to uplift,” Deputy Director of Social Services, Hamwanttie Bisesar, has said.

She pointed out that the Ministry is doing its best to fast track the process, and called on pensioners to understand the reason they may have to wait for an extended period of time.

“The process takes a bit

longer than usual because we have to go through one list for the pension book and one for the voucher, so we’re asking everyone to bear with us, because we have to go through two lists to get them their items,” she explained.

The Ministry reminded that the vouchers are valid until November 30, and can be cashed at any post office, Money Gram or Sure Pay location, or at all of the alternate venues.

The $25,000 cash grant and electricity subsidy specifically target vulnerable groups such as the elderly, persons with disabilities, and those who rely on public assistance. It was announced recently by the President, Dr. Irfaan Ali. Persons eligible for the grant are urged to check the newspapers and the Facebook Page of the Human Services Ministry for regular updates and schedules.

Pic saved as HSS Cash grant

38

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2021

BFA boss grateful for support of GFF A

fter many months of waiting, the Bartica Football Association (BFA) has made some progress in its aim to return to normalcy.

Although still having to await the relevant permission from the authorities to commence playing football, the BFA is pressing on, and has commenced activities with the launching of the Academy Training Centre.

Alden Marslow, BFA president, has said the BFA executives are extremely grateful to the Guyana Football Federation for its unwavering support to football in Bartica.

This publication Marslowe for an update on the progress football has made in Bartica, and he responded, “Things are really not up and running as yet; we are still awaiting word from the authorities for the return to play. However, we have started the operations of our Academy Training Centre, and the response has been

great, because our young people are lacking in physical activities and it is taking an obvious toll on them.

“The BFA is still optimistic for the return to football action by year’s end.

We look forward at least to participation in the GFF’s Super-16 Year End

Tournament. We have only three months to the end of the year, but one can hope.”

Marslow has said he is extremely grateful for the support the association has received from the GFF, labelling it as meaningful and impactful to the association.

He relayed that, at every turn,

Sohaib Maqsood ruled out of T20 World Cup, Shoaib Malik named as replacement

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akistan’s Sohaib Maqsood has been ruled out of the upcoming T20 World Cup after failing an MRI scan on his lower back. Shoaib Malik will replace him in the squad, the PCB has confirmed.

Maqsood sustained a back injury on October 6 whilew playing for Southern Punjab against Northern during the National T20 Cup at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.

The injury had required him to rest and undergo an extensive rehabilitation process.

“Sohaib is devastated to miss out on the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, as he had worked hard for this event and was in sparkling form,” Chief Selector Muhammad Wasim said in a PCB release. “We feel for him, but injuries are part and parcel of the sport. I am sure (that) after undergoing rehabilitation, he’ll fully recover to be available for future assignments.

“In his place, and following discussions with the team management, we have decided to include Shoaib Malik in the side. I am sure Shoaib’s experience will be handy for the entire squad.”

Malik was the captain of the side in the inaugural T20 World Cup in 2007, and was a member of the squad that lifted the trophy in 2009. He also played in the 2012, 2014 and 2016 editions, but he has not played for Pakistan since the England tour last year, and the selectors initially opted against picking him for the World Cup by preferring a younger prospect while looking into the future.

M a l i k continued

to play T20 leagues around the world, averaging 30.85 with a strike rate of 133.16 in the last one year in 49 games. His inclusion now has made him the most capped player for Pakistan in ICC events - two ODI World Cups (2011 and 2019), six Champions Trophies, and this will be his sixth T20 World Cup. More recently, however, Malik did not have a great run in the CPL for Guyana Amazon Warriors. In 11 games for them, he managed just 67 runs at an average of 7.44, the worst for a specialist batter (in the top six with minimum 10 innings) in a T20 tournament.

Maqsood had been in good form since making his r e t u r n to the national t e a m after a gap of five years, making a mark in recent tours o f

England and the West Indies.

He then followed it up by helping Multan Sultans to the PSL title this year, scoring five half-centuries from 12 innings at the top of the order, and getting more runs in boundaries than any other player in the league.

Since the start of 2020 and leading up to this season’s PSL, Maqsood has had the highest T20 strike rate among Pakistan batters, and the ninth best on the global list (among those with a minimum of 500 runs and 20 innings). It was a marked improvement for the batter, who was previously striking at 125.79.

The Pakistan squad will depart for Dubai on October 15, and will play two warmup games, against West Indies and South Africa on October 18 and 20 respectively, before they begin their main campaign in a high-profile clash against India on October 24 in Dubai.

Squad: Babar Azam (capt), Shadab Khan (vice-capt), Asif Ali, Fakhar Zaman, Haider Ali, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Hafeez, M o h a m m a d N a w a z , Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Sarfaraz Ahmed (wk), Shaheen Afridi, Shoaib Malik. Traveling reserves: Khushdil Shah, Shahnawaz Dahani, Usman Qadir.

the visions and programmes of the GFF have made things better for the game of football in Bartica.

Marslowe iterated that the Academy Training Centre functions four days per week to cater to different age groups. On Mondays, the focus is on the U-13; Tuesday’s focus is on the U-15; Friday’s focus is on the U-17 and females; and Saturday’s focus is on the grassroots.

He added that with such a system in place, the BFA manages to concentrate on the recommended

programmes for each group, and he is ecstatic that the coaches are doing a wonderful job.

In terms of future plans, Marslowe relayed that, at present, the clubs of the BFA are engaged in holding their AGMs to identify structure going into the new year. “The association is also pursuing its own AGM, so that we can hit January 2022 with

great overall structure in place. And so, having put our house in order, we encourage partnerships with corporate Guyana, especially those at Bartica.” Marslowe added.

Marslow added that the youths have been severely denied these past two years, hence the BFA would aim to lift them up in every way it can, for their good and the good of the game.

KKR hope Russell will be ready for eliminator on Monday

K

olkata Knight Riders are keeping their fingers crossed that West Indies all-rounder Andre Russell will be fit enough to be part of their side for the playoffs in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

Russell, 33, suffered a hamstring injury while fielding on the boundary against Chennai Super Kings last month, and has missed the last four matches that Knight Riders have played.

D u r i n g that period, KKR sealed a playoff spot with a massive win over Rajasthan Royals on T h u r s d a y, and they believe Russell can

play a critical role in their bid for a third title.

“We are taking it day by day,” Knight Riders and England captain Eoin Morgan said at the post-match presentation on Thursday.

“We know that he heals quickly; he has proved that last year. He had a two-anda-half-inch hamstring tear last year and came back in two weeks. He is working incredibly hard.”

KKR will face Royal Challengers Bangalore on Monday in Sharjah in an elimination match, giving Russell at least three extra days to get fit.

“He had a fitness test (on Wednesday),” KKR’s chief mentor, former Australian player David Hussey, has said. “He is maybe a game away, so I think he will be pushing hard to get back in for the (playoffs), which will be a huge boost not only for us, but the competition.

He is world

class, and he provides lots of entertainment.”

When the IPL was suspended midway at the halfway stage in May, after two franchises reported several COVID-19 cases, Knight Riders had only two wins out of seven. But the change of scenery from last month to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for the completion of the League has done them a world of good, and they have won five matches out of seven to seal their place in the playoffs.

West Indies team officials will also be closely monitoring the progress of Russell. He has been named in the Caribbean side’s 15-member squad for the ICC Men’s Twenty20 World Cup starting in nine days’ time in the UAE and Oman. (CMC)

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GUYANATIMESGY.COM

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2021

39

GBA President Gokarn Ramdhani passes away after suffering heart attack

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uyana’s sport fraternity has been thrown into mourning after news of the passing of Gokarn Ramdhani, President of the Guyana Badminton Association (GBA), began circulating late on Friday night.

The late Gokarn Ramdhani had been a highly accomplished player, and had been responsible for not only the local Association, but for churning out some of the best Guyanese players, including his two children, Narayan and Priyanna.

Reports indicate that Ramdhani suffered a massive heart attack in Canada, where he worked as Head Coach of the Olds’ College team. His children are also in Canada, where they are currently on scholarship at Kings University and Olds’ College.

Aside from serving as President of the GBA, Ramdhani was appointed Head Coach of the Olds’ College ‘Broncos’, in Alberta, Canada in November 2020. He was also the Owner/ Head Coach of the Yonex Badminton Club (YBC) in Guyana, a Council member of the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA), Council Member at the Caribbean Regional Badminton Confederation (CAREBACO), Vice President, Communications, of the Badminton Pan American Confederation (BPAC) and 2nd Vice President of the Confederation of Central American & Caribbean Badminton (CONCECABA).

Locally, Ramdhani had

GBA President Gokarn Ramdhani

overseen badminton clubs at Marian Academy and Queen’s College, which he had attended.

In extending condolences, the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) memorialised Ramdhani for his dedication to sport.

Their statement read, “It is with shock and great sadness that the Guyana Olympic Association has learnt of the passing last evening of Mr. Gokarn Ramdhani, President of the Guyana Badminton Association, Council member of the GOA, and an executive member of several Regional Bodies.

“Mr. Ramdhani will be remembered for his passion and dedication to sport, and more especially the development of

badminton in Guyana, the sport that was dearest (to) his heart, and (he) was the father and coach of two of the Caribbean’s most outstanding badminton players.

“The GOA has had the distinct pleasure of working with Mr. Ramdhani during his time as a Council member, and for his sterling and outstanding contributions made over the years to the activities of the Guyana Olympic Association.

Mr. Ramdhani has represented the GOA on several occasions with distinction at regional and international games, be it as Chef De Mission, Manager, or Coach.

“The sporting fraternity has suffered a tremendous loss, and

more so Guyana has lost a great son and leader.

“On behalf of the President, Executive and members of the Guyana Olympic Association, we wish to extend our sincere condolences to his wife, children and other members of the Ramdhani family; friends, executive and members of the Guyana Badminton Association.

May his soul rest in peace.”

President of the GOA, K.A. Juman-Yassin, also shared on his own behalf, “It was with a deep sense of shock and disbelief that I woke up to the tragic news that my dear friend and colleague in sports, Gokarn Ramdhani, has died the previous night in Alberta, Canada.

“Gokarn was the longserving President of the Guyana Badminton Federation and an active Council member of the Guyana Olympic Association. He served as chef-de-mission for us on more than one occasion, and could have been relied upon to complete any task that he undertook. His competence and ability were recognised not only in Guyana, but internationally, as he served as an executive member of his sports body and was employed as the Badminton coach at a university in Alberta.

“I would like to express to his dear wife and two children the sincere condolences of myself and all the members of the Guyana Olympic Association.

His effervescent personality will be truly missed.”

The Queen’s College Old Students Association (QCOSA)

Consistent Capitals take on uninhibited Super Kings for a direct ticket to final

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he Delhi Capitals are threatening to become the most consistent side in the IPL. They have a solid allconditions side, which didn’t get affected by the event moving from the UAE to India at the start of the year, and then from India to the UAE mid-tournament. In 2019, they finished third and lost the second qualifier; in 2020 they were second on the league table and lost the final. Many a thing around them have changed, but they are there at the top of the league table, with practically the same core.

Up against them are Chennai Super Kings, who have shed inhibitions, not through a spirit of adventure, but by installing fail-safes around fail-safes. They attacked more than any other side with the bat, which took them to the qualifiers before any other side. Despite the three losses at the end, despite Capitals’ two wins against them in the league stages, Super Kings remain a dangerous side.

The team that wins goes straight into the final, the team that loses gets another shot at making the final when it faces the winner of the match between teams placed third and fourth.

Capitals will be happy they are playing in Dubai, a venue where they have beaten Super Kings this year, a venue where they have won two chasing and lost one defending in a last-ball finish.

Both teams would want to chase, because dew does play a

part in Dubai, also the venue of the final.

In the news Capitals, who have been playing with just the three overseas players, are still waiting on the fitness of Marcus Stoinis.

Their captain Rishabh Pant sounded hopeful on Friday that Stoinis would be available on Sunday and would take the place of Ripal Patel. With Sam Curran out, Super Kings’ seambowling allrounder will surely be Dwayne Bravo. The only decision they might have to make is between Suresh Raina and Robin Uthappa, with the latter being the favourite. Read on to know why.

Likely XIs Delhi Capitals: 1 Prithvi Shaw, 2 Shikhar Dhawan, 3 Rishabh Pant (capt & wk), 4 Shreyas Iyer, 5 Shimron Hetmyer, 6 Marcus Stoinis/ Ripal Patel, 7 Axar Patel, 8 R Ashwin, 9 Kagiso Rabada, 10 Anrich Nortje, 11 Avesh Patel

Chennai Super Kings: 1 Ruturaj Gaikwad, 2 Faf du Plessis, 3 Moeen Ali, 4 Ambati Rayudu, 5 Robin Uthappa/ Suresh Raina, 6 MS Dhoni (capt & wk), 7 Ravindra Jadeja, 8 Dwayne Bravo, 9 Shardul Thakur, 10 Deepak Chahar, 11 Josh Hazlewood Strategy punt In the last league match, R Ashwin bowled just one over, which meant Ripal Patel had to bowl one as late as the 16th.

The reason behind it was that Royal Challengers Bangalore had only one left-hand batter, who was dismissed early. Ashwin has dismissed only two right-hand batters this IPL, and has gone at 8.1 an over against them, as opposed to 6.3 against left-hand batters.

If they choose Uthappa over Raina, Super Kings will have a clutch of right-hand batters who could similarly dissuade Pant from using Ashwin in the middle overs.

Having said that, one of the

also shared their condolences in a prepared statement.

That statement read, “The Queen’s College family has suffered a tremendous loss with the passing of Alumnus Mr. Gokarn Ramdhani.

“Alumnus Ramdhani served as the backbone of Badminton at Queen’s College through the Yonex Badminton Club, ensuring that the Queen’s College Badminton Team was always in stellar shape for inter-school competitions, and also the Guyana Team, which comprised Queen’s College students, for regional and international competitions, thus securing many successes.

“He held several posts, including President of the Guyana Badminton Association, Second Vice President of the Confederation Central American and Caribbean Badminton (CONCECABA), Council Member of the Caribbean Regional Badminton Confederation (CAREBACO), Council Member of the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) and Vice President CommunicationsBadminton Pan American Confederation (BPAC).

“He leaves to mourn his wife Ms. Emilia Ramdhani, his two children Narayan Ramdhani and Priyanna Ramdhani, his extended family, and the badminton and sporting community.

“The Queen’s College Old Students’ Association extends its deepest condolences to the family and friends of Mr. Gokarn

Ramdhani, the local, regional and international Badminton and Sporting community. His contribution is immeasurable and invaluable. His legacy will live on through the numerous lives he has touched. May his soul rest in eternal peace.”

In addition, the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) shared their condolences, stating, “On behalf of the RHTYSC, BCB, my family and myself, I would like to express deepest condolences to the family of the late (Gokarn) Ramdhani, who died recently after suffering a massive heart attack in Canada.

He was the President of the Guyana Badminton Association and father to our (country’s) finest Badminton players. He was the driving force of the game in our country, and was one of our best and committed sports administrator.

“I had the privilege of meeting him once during a visit to Georgetown, and was taken back by his passion and commitment to making a difference via sports. Our country is poorer this morning without him, and it is my sincere hope that the others in the sport would continue his work. Rest in peace, sir, and to his loved ones - Emily, Narayan and Priyanna - I pray that God would comfort and protect you during these very dark times.

We share in your grief, but we also join you in celebrating his remarkable work on earth and the memories he left with you.”

‘Ginseng up’ support for Linden Bauxite Flyers cycling club

two right-hand batters Ashwin has dismissed this year happens to be Uthappa. Ashwin bowled all four of his overs against Super Kings last time, but he had either Moeen Ali, a left-hand batter, or MS Dhoni, in a defensive mode, to bowl at all times.

Left-arm spin is not a great match-up against Ruturaj Gaikwad and Faf du Plessis, but Capitals could look for an over of Axar Patel in the powerplay just because both are righthand batters. In the last match, it brought them du Plessis’s wicket.

Stats that matter Of the 14 bowlers who have bowled at least 60 balls at the death in this IPL, Kagiso Rabada’s 10.84 is the worst economy rate.

Avesh Khan, who has bowled 20 death overs to Rabada’s 13, has gone at 9.15 an over.

Capitals have hit the fewest sixes of all teams by a distance: 54. Super Kings are comfortable at the top with 100. Super Kings have scored 1412 runs in the boundaries, the highest. Capitals have 1172, the second-lowest.

Of the 10 night matches in Dubai this year, seven have been won by sides chasing. Super Kings are one of the three teams that have managed to successfully defend.

Capitals have beaten Super Kings in their last four encounters, but when they last met in a playoff, Super Kings won and knocked Capitals out.

(ESPNcricinfo)

Seweon McGarrell (R), Head of Trade Marketing at Guyana Breweries Inc, making the presentation to Linden Bauxite Flyers cycling club’s Assistant Secretary-Treasurer Jeffrey Yearwood

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he Linden Bauxite Flyers cycling club recently benefited from the generosity of the Guyana Breweries Incorporated, under the latter’s Ginseng brand.

With the sponsorship, Guyana Breweries Inc will join the Guyana Lottery Company as supporters of the club over the next year.

The company said they’re extremely happy to partner with the Linden Bauxite Flyers cycling club, while adding that “during the next 12 months, we will advance our partnership with the club to improve the support to the athletes and the immediate community of Linden.”

The club’s Assistant

Secretary/Treasurer Jeffrey Yearwood has thanked Guyana Breweries Inc for taking the step of being its branding partner for the 2022/23 cycling season.

“We believe that branding their ‘Ginseng Up’ beverage would give a good boost to the awareness of this product in Linden as well as in the cycling fraternity, and its contribution towards sports and youth development. Our cyclists are grateful for this initiative, and intend to do their best,” Yearwood said.

Yearwood said he hopes the two entities would also partner on other projects to continue the development of cycling within Linden.

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

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2021

guyanatimesgy.com

Ramnarayan champions Canadian go-karting circuit

I

t has turned out to be a dream year for go-karting sensation Jared Ramnarayan; he has emerged as the Champion driver in the Motomaster Ron Fellows Karting Championship (MRFKC).

Competing across Canada, Ramnarayan has managed to win or stay among the top competitors over 4 weekends of gruelling competition. And he has done it all while dominating the track at the club level.

His first weekend was at the Canadian Mini Indy in July, where he clocked 18:50.754 for 30 laps, with a best lap time of 36.867s. his second race saw him record a time of 18:11.286 and best lap time of 36.884s.

In August, the Ron Fellows Championships moved to the Mosport Karting Centre, where Jared clocked 15:14.240 in his 14 laps. In that race, he had the second-best lap time of 1:09.350. the following race saw him finishing 18 laps in 1:00.999 with a best lap of 58.331s.

The Innisfil Indi Karting venue was next on Jared’s checklist in September, as he clocked 17:10.800 for 26 laps.

His best lap time of 37.891s was also the best in that race.

Jared Ramnarayan (C) receiving his championship accolades

The 25-year-old followed up that performance with another remarkable one, clocking 18:23.672 in 26 laps. His best lap was 37.752s, making him number one in the race.

MRFKC closed out the 2021 season at the Bowmanville track, where Jared clocked 18.31.361 (22 laps) in his first final, with the best lap in the entire race, 48.127s.

The next race saw Jared finishing 26 laps in 17:20.852 with a best lap of 38.622s.

Speaking with Guyana Times Sport about his win, the

young driver was elated at his performance, but is determined to better it next season.

“In my opinion, this season can be summed up by the phrase ‘proud but never satisfied’. I’m absolutely happy with the way I performed this season, but there is still some growth that we need to continue to chase after in order to get to the next level as a driver,” he told this publication.

On his transition to the shifter series, Jared shared, “To be completely honest, it was a smooth transition. The fact that

I live 30 minutes from my home track meant that I was fortunate enough to do quite a bit of test days at the end of the season last year, which really did prepare me for this year.”

Meanwhile, his father, former grasstrack Champion K e i t h R a m n a raya n , sees this season as a big achievement for his son.

“I would say it was very competitive for him, especially in that category. Because the gokart shifter series is the highest series, and to go into that for the first year, and be crowned champion driver at the end of the series it a big achievement.

“I wouldn’t say it was difficult, but it was more competitive, because that’s where most of the international and experienced drivers are,” the elder Ramnarayan commented.

Viewing his work ethic as a

Jared Ramnarayan in action

major part of his success, Keith notes that the challenge from the professional drivers has motivated him.

“He gets up early, for one, especially when he’s racing; goes to the gym for an hour or two. He was involved in this driver training programme, so that kind of helped him a lot.

And also driving against the best drivers from North America, I think that’s what helped him a lot, and that’s what motivated him.”

The proud father concluded, “Well, I know how it is to be crowned a champion driver or a

rider because I was there once, and for him to be champion for the first year in the shifter series, I’m very proud of his achievement.”

As he moves forward in the sport, the younger Ramnarayan is looking to make his mark on the USA circuit, starting with the winter season.

Jared revealed, “Moving forward, on the racing side of things, the focus is going to shift a bit from just racing in Canada to also focus on the United States. With that said, it’s also important to stay on top of the off-track training.”

Top guns return for Ounce of Gold race

G

A

s the clubs affiliated to the Bartica Football Association (BFA) held their Annual General Meeting, members of the Beacon FC met on Thursday night and elected the Executive Committee to manage the club for the next year.

As a result, the following office bearers were identified: * President - Kwesi Jacobs * Vice-President - Mark Caesar * Secretary - Carmel Williams

* Treasurer - Catherine Outridge * Asst.

Secretary/ Treasurer - Troy Dougan Jr. * Committee Members - Ryan Andries and Kenswell LaRose.

President Jacobs, in addressing the club, promised to work closely with the BFA for the benefit of the game, and also to initiate a drive to boost the youth component of the club.

The BFA is comprised of seven members and one provisional member.

uyana’s top riders will assemble at Thirst Park today, Sunday October 10, from 7:30h for the Kadir Mohamed Memorial (Ounce of Gold) cycle road race.

This marquee event is sponsored by the Mohamed family of Bartica and is organised by the Flying Stars cycling club.

Seniors, juniors & veterans Under 50 would be battling for supremacy as the race proceeds to Dora on the Linden Highway (Coca Cola sign) and returns to Thirst Park for the finish. The Veterans Over50, Pre-Juniors & Ladies would be cycling to Yarrowkabra Junction and back to Thirst Park.

Prizes will be awarded for the first six seniors,first five veterans under-50 and first three juniors.

Riders of the last Ounce of Gold race The first three veterans over-50, are seen with prizes at the presentation (Brandon Corlette photo) first three pre-juniors, and first three ladies would also be awarded. taste gold in today’s event.

The National COVID-19 Task Force has Paralympian Walter Grant-Stuart given the green light, and all COVID-19 would want to continue his good form, PROTOCOLS would be observed. The as would the men from Team Evolution Guyana Police Force is expected to monitor Christopher Griffith, Paul DeNobrega and the event. The defending champion of Curtis Dey. the Ounce of Gold race, Briton John, has The man from Berbice, Andre returned to Guyana after his overseas stint, ‘Padlock’ Green, would also be aiming to and would be aiming to defend his title come good and grab gold in this lucrative successfully. cycling race. Last year’s juvenile winner, Due to COVID-19 protocols, the Mario Washington, another Berbician, presentation of prizes would be done later. would be aiming to dominate his level, Time and venue would be announced at while Guyana’s female champion the start of the race. In addition to Briton Suzanne Hamilton would aim to extend John, Jamual John and National Champion her dominance. (Brandon Corlette) Romello Crawford all returned home to

Defending champion Briton John has returned

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