Guyana Times - Sunday October 24, 2021

Aroaima Primary excels at NGSA despite a plethora of hardships P24

Nationwide coverage coverage from from the the best best news news team team in in Guyana Guyana Nationwide Issue No. 4810 guyanatimesgy.com

THE BEACON BEACON OF OF TRUTH TRUTH THE

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2021

Guyana could earn as much as US$4B annually by 2026 –− with Min Bharrat 4 FPSOs expected to be operating in local waters Page 7

Barbados Housing and Investment Team lauds Govt’s housing policies − seeks to strengthen collaboration in housing and construction sectors

Page 10

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

Omai finds multiple gold deposits at Wenot pit P9 − company says other promising locations targeted for drilling

Man, 56, dies from COVID; 100 new cases recorded P27

Corentyne P2 businesswoman beaten, robbed by armed bandits

$20M in ganja intercepted in Berbice P2 River

One of the housing schemes that are being developed by the Housing and Water Ministry. This one is at Prospect on the East Bank of Demerara (EBD)

Completion of SheriffMandela Road project pushed back to November

Page 3

− as Edghill conducts inspection of project to update IDB funders

Bosai workers return to work after Govt’s intervention

Page 5

Bandit drowns while trying to evade lawmen after committing robbery Page 8

Coffins with P29 skeletal remains appear on Corentyne foreshore

2 NEWS

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

$20M in ganja intercepted in Berbice River Corentyne businesswoman beaten, robbed by armed bandits

Police at the scene of the robbery on Friday The large quantity of cannabis that was intercepted in the Berbice River

T

he Police are on the hunt for four men who escaped following the interception of 672 pounds of ganja at Plegt Anker village and Light Town, Berbice River, in the wee hours of Saturday.

Based on reports received, ranks in B Division led by an Assistant Superintendent of Police were conducting an operation in the Berbice River during which 672 pounds

(305.45kg) of cannabis along with two wooden boats were seized.

During the operation, a white and green wooden boat powered by a 75hp Yamaha outboard engine was seen on the river bank, in the vicinity of Plegt Anker village.

The ranks, upon approaching the boat, observed at least five black bulky plastic bags, which, when inspected, turned out to be cannabis. The area

was searched but no one was seen.

However, at 12:15h on Saturday while escorting the said boat and narcotics to the Central Police Station, another wooden boat powered by a 115hp Yamaha outboard engine was seen in the Berbice River in the vicinity of Light Town, with four occupants.

Upon seeing the Police team, the operator drove the boat onto the river bank,

causing it to slide into a clump of nearby bushes and the four occupants made good their escape.

Another 30 bulky parcels wrapped in transparent plastic containing a quantity of cannabis were found.

Both boats along with the narcotics were taken to the Central Police Station, where the narcotic was weighed and amounted to 305.45kg with a street value of $20 million.

A

rmed bandits carried out a daring daylight robbery on Saver’s Grocery Parlour at Number 69 Village, Corentyne, Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne), on Friday.

The bandits carted off with both cash and jewellery but not before beating the 46-year-old businesswoman.

The incident took place just before 12:30h.

At the time, the businesswoman’s 23-year-old daughter was sitting on a chair inside the shop. The bandits wore masks and were armed with handguns.

They reportedly held the young lady at gunpoint but she managed to escape and ran onto the street, where an alarm was raised.

However, the perpetrators managed to get into the house where they held the 46-year-old businesswoman and a 29-year-old relative, and demanded cash and jewellery.

The victims handed over $200,000 in cash, one gold bangle and a pair of gold earrings.

Not satisfied, the bandits demanded more valuables, and in the process, hit the businesswoman several times with their firearm.

However, they left the premises shortly after.

One villager said he came face-to-face with the fleeing bandits. According to him, after he heard the screams, he went onto the street to enquire but soon after, he saw two men running towards him brandishing firearms.

“They use indecent language and tell me to come out of the way, so I just come into my yard.”

The men were seen going into the backlands but by the time Police arrived they had disappeared. Two strange men were also at the shop shortly before the robbery.

Police are investigating.

NEWS

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SUNDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS

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

Sunday, Oct 24 – 04:00h – 05:30h and Monday, Oct 25 – 04:00h – 05:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Sunday, Oct 24 – 06:15h – 07:45h and Monday, Oct 25 – 06:45h – 08:15h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY There will be thundery showers during the day.

Expect light cloud at night. Temperatures should range between 22 degrees Celsius and 29 degrees Celsius.

Winds: Southerly to Easterly between 1.78 metres and 4.47 metres.

High Tide: 06:18h and 18:21h reaching maximum heights of 2.69 metres and 2.61 metres.

Low Tide: 11:58h reaching a minimum height of 0.72 metre.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2021

LOTTERY NUMBERS L

03 09 12 13 14 15

FREE TICKET

28 Bonus Ball

DAILY MILLIONS

02 09 16 17 24 LUCKY 3

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1

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Evening Draw

DRAW DE LINE

02 09 14 17 19 20 21 SUPER

PAY DAY

PAY DAY

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2021

03 08 13 16 17 13

09 10 15 16 21

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FP Evening Draw

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US$

Change %

Crude Oil

$85.53/barrel

+1.08

Rough Rice

$243.18 /ton

-0.44

London Sugar

$500.60/ton

-0.04

Live Spot Gold

− as Edghill conducts inspection of project to update IDB funders

T

he Sheriff Mandela road project, which was already extended previously, will now be subject to a further extension as the contractors and the Public Works Ministry balance working on the road with traffic management.

On Saturday, Public Works Minister Juan Edghill carried out inspections at various parts of the Sheriff Mandela Expansion. At the intersection of Mandela Avenue and the East Bank highway, the Minister admitted that the expansion project will be unable to reach the previous October 31 deadline.

“As you can see, one of the biggest challenges. When do you close this road to work on it? Because the moment you start working on this road, it’s a major traffic situation. So, what we’re seeking to do is complete what has to be done on SheriffMandela. And then use the curfew hours from 10 to 4 in the morning, for maybe a week to 10 days.”

“Because we’ll have to cut off some time to allow traffic to flow. Because part of the challenge of building a road like this, which is a main road, is getting it completed in time and at the same time allowing people to get about their business because of the main connection it carries,” he explained.

Edghill further explained that previous attempts to start works on that section of the road have severely disrupted traffic and has to be aborted. He noted that the plan is to use the curfew hours, when non-essential workers are supposed to be off the road, to continue the work.

“This was supposed to have been started. Attempts have been made. The push back is too great. So, we’ve had to reorganise ourselves where this work will take place. So, this would not finish for Saturday, the 31st.”

“This will be sometime in November. Because what we’ll have to do is pay attention to get the second and third lifts and all those things we had identified, tidied up and then we go here,” Edghill explained, adding that based on his observations during the walk about, he will be writing to the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), which is funding the project, to provide them with an update.

Lamaha Bridge

COMMODITIES Indicators

Completion of Sheriff-Mandela road project pushed back to November

USD Per Ounce

Bid/Ask

$1792.00

$1793.00

Low/High Change

$1781.80 0.00

$1714.70 0.00%

The Minister also inspected the Lamaha Bridge, where it was explained that works have been delayed because of the turbidity of the canal. While the contractors were driving steel piles into the canal bed, the water became so contaminated that it could not be filtered for use by the Guyana Water

Incorporated (GWI).

“We are behind schedule on this bridge. We should have had this bridge completed by October 12. Today is the (23) and it’s not completed. One of the big issues we had here is that, you would realise that this is the canal that provides water to the shelter belt, which is what GWI processes for distribution in the Georgetown network.”

“The turbidity level here rose significantly, so we had occasions where we had to actually stop working and then we had to put measures in place so we could control that and get on with the work. We can’t just concentrate on building the road and the bridge and then disrupt water supply to Georgetown. It’s like giving with one hand and taking with the other.”

The measures taken include the placing of silk traps in the canal itself, to filter out the sediment from the water. To make up for lost time on the Lamaha Bridge, it is expected that the contractor will work day and night. The work is scheduled to be completed in 10 days.

The expansion project, which covers approximately seven kilometres of road between Sheriff Street and Mandela Avenue, involves the relocation of utilities; the installation of lane and shoulder improvements; placement of sidewalks and

Public Works Minister Juan Edghill during his inspection of the Sheriff-Mandela road project

paved shoulders; traffic signals, traffic signs, streetlights, drainage; a pedestrian overhead walkway; culverts, bridges, and a roundabout.

The project was launched in 2018 but faced many setbacks under the former A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Administration.

Public Works Minister Juan Edghill had explained that in August 2020, there was no

work being done due to the COVID-19 pandemic and because of non-compliance with environmental standards which resulted in the InterAmerican Development bank (IDB) being forced to cease disbursements to the project.

The project was eventually restarted in September 2020 and the Dr Irfaan Aliled People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Administration had anticipated an August 4, 2021 completion.

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guyanatimesgy.com

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2021

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

Community Policing Redux

A

lmost a year ago, the newly elected PPPC Government participated with the Guyana Police Force in reconstituting and relaunching the “National Community Policing of Guyana”, at the Police Officers’ Training Centre, Eve Leary. Emphasising the rationale, the Police announced, “Community Policing is a philosophy and an organisational strategy that promotes partnership between the people of the community and the Police.

It is based on the premise that both the Police and the community must work together to identify, prioritise, and solve contemporary problems such as crime, drugs, fear of crimes, social problems, and other forms of disorder to improve the quality of life in the community.”

Community Policing, of course, is not new, and arose out of the troubled 1960s, when vigilante groups in the various communities, which felt they were under threat and the regular Police were not responsive enough, were created. The Community Policing concept was actualised in March 1976, but, over the next two decades, was not noticeably successful, as new forms of crime, such as “kickdown-the-door” banditry, appeared and vigilante groups mushroomed. After the PPPC returned to office in 1992, it supported the Community Policing initiative with the introduction of formal supervision, training, and supply of weapons and vehicles. In regard to their mandate, according to Government sources, Community Policing Groups act as the “eyes and ears” of the GPF. In 2003, during the beginning of the crime wave that was beginning to dwarf that of the 1960s, as part of the Government’s list of measures taken to combat crime in Guyana, the Police Commissioner’s Office established a “Community Policing Group Unit”. That unit was created to work as a liaison between the GPF and the Community Policing Groups (CPGs) across the country, and was headed by a Police Officer.

Again, the unit was not very effective in fulfilling its mandate, and crime grew to astounding proportions. The regular GPF was overwhelmed as the bandits took on the state and the Police directly. With the end of organised banditry’s challenge to law and order in 2008, Community Policing was once again encouraged and facilitated.

However, as soon as the APNU/AFC coalition acceded to office in 2015, the newly-designated Public Security Minister, Ramjattan, seized all the Community Policing Groups’ vehicles and transferred them to the regular Police.

The PPP’s former Minister of Home Affairs complained, “In the 2015 Budget, there is no provision under Capital for Community Policing Organisation of Guyana. Contrary to what Ramjattan told the National Assembly - that the vehicles seized from the CPGs and handed over to the Police would be returned to the CPGs, and that there is provision in the 2015 budget for additional vehicles - Ramjattan has actually crippled the CPGs.” Now that the PPP has signalled its intention on the CPGs, maybe we should return to some first principles and learn from ours and the histories of others on how they can fulfill their mandate more effectively. Community Policing originated in the US after their Civil Rights Movement highlighted the lapse of the Police in ignoring minority communities’ challenges. The first innovation was to introduce more “beat duty Policemen”, many of them recruited from the same neighbourhoods and communities, who would become familiar with the locals and deal with them one-to-one.

In 1982, a study of previous efforts by Wilson and Kelling, in their “Broken Windows”, argued that “by patrolling beats on foot and focusing on initial problems of social disorder, the Police can reduce fear of crime and stop the process of neighbourhood decay.” The model of beat patrols with representative recruits became widespread.

Today, in Guyana, we read of so many rural communities and villages that are threatened by roving gangs of youths, who intimidate residents much as had become the norm in urban ghettos.

While Community Policing is a great model for dealing with modern crime at its roots, we must integrate to a much greater degree the premises of Community Policing into the Guyana Police Force.

Minister within the Housing and Water Ministry, Susan Rodrigues, presenting a gift to Barbadian Housing, Land and Maintenance Minister, Dr William Duguid, during a welcoming reception on Friday evening at Duke Lodge, Kingston, Georgetown. The event was hosted by the Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Ministry

Ogle-Diamond Road Link

Dear Editor, On the proposed OgleDiamond Road Link, I cannot help but feel a bit crestfallen. In concept it seems to be a good idea - connecting the coast to the bank at the provisional edge of the conservancy.

A carriageway such as this would indeed enable traffic to optimise itself, getting to and from the coast in a smarter way.

New opportunities come about as a result of reduced transit times and so on. The economic impact of a road such as this one is incalculable; I do not disagree with that.

The issue I take with the Ogle-Diamond Road Link is that it appears to me to be unaware of its own scale. As I listen to stories of city planning from other parts of the world, parts that have learned by making many mistakes; as I think of urban planning in the context of this exciting blank sheet of paper; surmise about the future of inter-regional commerce, and as I review (albeit dated) satellite imagery, I tend to see the Ogle-Diamond Road Link as just a four-lane ‘major road’ being cast in the role of a highway.

I am aware that our planners can see something of this too, as they plot connector roads from the East Bank toward this road link. It makes sense.

There should be an inter-state highway connecting Linden with the Coast, at which point an interchange allows us to head west on a flyover toward a bridge (or several) over the Demerara; or head east toward Suriname, staying ‘high’, exiting only onto collector or arterial roads.

I presented this wellknown principle of roadway construction in a letter to the Editor published on Sep 13 under the title “Road hierarchy is fundamental to city planning and traffic management”.

Planners, as far as I am aware, all the way back to “Burnham’s time”, had conceived of such an interstate, the manifestation being Linden-Soesdyke, which was set up with the principles of road hierarchy in mind. You can see that Linden-Soesdyke sort of terminates at a perfect right angle, leading into Linden. Taking the road hierarchy view, that is clearly a setup for a highway exit at that very junction.

Linden-Soesdyke is to be the spinal column of the Great Project, running northbound and south, exiting west for now into the city of Linden, and later beyond.

Editor, a real highway is something we need. From it, other roads would be correctly organised. Accidents would be

reduced, because people would understand the difference between highspeed and low-speed driving. Trucking between the multiplex of future port facilities would become intelligent and safe. Drivers would finally be able to properly contextualise inner city features like the roundabout - the best way to junction. The cities would be made right, but

only if road hierarchy is adhered to.

We need to remember this rule: no property development alongside highways or future highways.

Editor, this is something of the future I live in, and as I write this, I am left to wonder who else is with me.

Sincerely, Emille Giddings

Our sovereign right Dear Editor, One of the important things a citizen has going for him is the right to know how his country is being governed.

It is called his sovereign right, and is something that cannot be bartered or traded for another. In this regard, the wealth that is accrued therefrom is also called our sovereign wealth.

Now, the word sovereign comes from the colonials having as their head a monarch, or “sovereign ruler”. Other such words in the lexicon are crown lands, etcetera, meaning “belonging to the state”.

But there are other definitions of the word “sovereign,” and I quote from the free legal dictionary, which states: “supremacy of authority or rule as exercised by a sovereign or sovereign state, or one having complete independence and self-governing.” It goes on further to state that a sovereign

right refers to a legal right possessed by a state or by its agencies, and enables the state to carry out its official functions to the benefit of the people.”

Now, this is the point I want former Minister of Finance Winston Jordan to take careful note of, “the benefit of the people”.

Jordan, like his compatriot at the Elections Commission, Lowenfield, were acting under the assumption that they are the state, and not the other way round: that they were supposed to be acting on behalf of the state, which is the people, or to exemplify the will of the people. Theirs was the convenient belief that the state consists of a few cloistered group members who could, as it were, do as they please and yet be considered as acting on behalf of the people.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

guyanatimesgy.com

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2021

5

News

Bosai workers return to work after Govt’s intervention I n light of strike action by workers at the Bosai Bauxite Mining Company, the Labour Ministry engaged the management of the company and the National Association of Agricultural, Commercial & Industrial Employees’ (NAACIE) representatives.

The meeting was convened by Chief Labour Officer Dhaneshwar Deonarine, where proposals were adduced to bring the strike action to an end.

The Union responded positively and agreed with the tabled proposal and to call off the strike.

Additionally, a statement posted on the Labour Ministry’s social media page related that a Terms of Resumption (TOR) agreement was signed between the parties. These include the Union shall call off the strike with immediate ef-

Chief Labour Officer and union representatives at the discussion on Friday

fect; the Union undertakes to ensure that there is full resumption by October 23 and there shall be no victimisation by either party and the status quo ante shall remain.

Further, the Chief Labour Officer will host a conciliatory meeting on Monday, October 25, to discuss the matters which led to the strike with the aim of bringing a resolution.

“The Ministry remains committed to promoting a stable industrial relations climate and as such, welcomes the efforts of good faith made by both parties to call off the strike and en-

gage in conciliation,” the release stated.

On Thursday, a number of employees attached to the Bosai Minerals Group Guyana Incorporated downed tools over what they described as “unsatisfactory” across-the-board wage and salary increases.

The employees claimed the company had agreed to pay a 5.5 per cent increase, which is a decrease from last year, which saw them taking home 6.5 per cent.

The employees dubbed the move as unfair, calling for between 8.5 and 10 per cent increase.

According to the employees, the decision to decrease the percentage of wage increase this year is unfair, more so since the cost of living in the country has skyrocketed.

“The cost of living gone up 14 per cent. We’re ask-

ing for 10 per cent because we would have worked very hard…because Bosai never shut down during the pandemic. We worked every day once we’re scheduled to work. It’s unfair for management to make a rash decision like this, and not moving from where they are,” one employee stated.

Employees are also seeking allowances such as night premium, snack benefits, out-of-town allowances, leave allowances, and improved working conditions such as more secure employment benefits for contract workers and improved working equipment and tools, among other things.

The workers’ union and company representatives met for discussions at the company’s Mackenzie, Linden location during Thursday’s protest.

Shortcomings of GCC executives Dear Editor, A few weeks ago, I had cause to raise several concerns about the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC), more specifically, the shortcomings of the Executive. In that letter, I even called for a change in leadership, since the current leadership was not showing any interest in the Club.

However, since the publication in most of the daily newspapers, remedial works began on the building, etc. Whether these works were already planned by the Executive or not is of no consequence now; and, at this juncture, I would like to thank the Executive for starting the said works and so forth.

With that said, I have a few more issues concerning the club I would like to raise.

Editor, since the start of this year, the President of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), Mr. Timothy Tucker, has been advocating for fair treatment and fair wages for workers within the fledgling Guyana oil and gas industry. This is admirable, and I support this call. However, as I was always told as a young man, “charity begins at home”.

The staff of the GCC, some of whom have been employed there for over 20 years, work for minimum wage, and rarely, if ever, would see an increase in their salary.

Further, their National Insurance Scheme (NIS)

contributions are never updated and reflective of what they remit to the Club to be paid on their behalf. There is no pension scheme in place for these persons when they meet the age of retirement. It is my firm view that Mr. Tucker and other Executives of the Club should investigate this with an intent to change same.

Another topical issue is that of the maintenance of the ground; specifically, the drainage. It must be noted that it is taxpayers’ funds that were given to the Club to maintain the ground and drainage system. However, the same is in a state of almost collapse. No doubt, next year, when these subventions would be handed out again, the Club would benefit; but if the funds are not being utilised properly, then someone should be held accountable.

The other issue I would like to raise is the one about the upcoming Executive Elections.

This is scheduled to be held during the month of December 2021. Already, there is much talk about holding the elections virtually; however, many are of the view that this is a gimmick to hijack the elections and have those currently in the leadership return to said positions.

We are all cognisant of COVID-19 and the disadvantages that flow therefrom. The constant use of COVID-19 to mask nefarious activities won’t stand.

For example, approximately 100 financial members would be in attendance at the elections, and the Club held a fund-raising BBQ event which saw hundreds in attendance and concern about COVID-19 was not raised then. Why is it now being raised with the elections?

In any event, we can implement protocols to allow for the elections in person. These would include: • only fully vaccinated persons can attend; • must wear a mask at all times; • subject yourself to temperature tests; etc.

I hope that these issues

Our sovereign...

FROM PAGE 4

Well, it certainly does not work that way. In every aspect of the state’s business, the people have a right to know; nothing ought to be held secret from them. Whether it is their votes or their money, nothing should be withheld from them. Gone are the days of absolute leadership, when the state’s

matters were dealt with as if they were the leaders’ private property.

As we phase into the new dispensation of governance, the rights and privileges of the people must be upheld at all times.

Respectfully, Neil Adams

are addressed soonest, and we can all work together to restore the Club.

Yours truly, Rawle Nichols

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guyanatimesgy.com

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2021

Feature WHELPING PROBLEMS

O

ver the last few weeks, we have been discussing the difficulties bitches/cats could have before, during and after puppy/kitten birth. One big problem is associated with the nursing of newborn pups/kittens.

Mastitis

This is an infection of the breast. Dogs can have up to ten functioning breasts.

Sometimes tiny germs (bacteria) can invade the breast via the canal (ducts) in the nipples. Of course, any wound (eg, the scratching of the tender tissue by the pups/kittens’ claws during suckling) would function as a doorway through which the germs can get into the breast. Milk is an excellent medium in which bacteria can grow. Also, if the mother has contracted a general infection, those germs can find themselves in the milkproducing tissue and flourish.

Signs of mastitis:

i. The mother refuses to let offspring suckle (be-

cause of the pain). ii. She might have a fever. The breast feels hot to the touch. Of course, the other symptoms associated with fever eg, inappetence and lethargy, are present. iii. The breast is swollen and, in dogs/cats with a light-coloured skin, you may actually see the redness (reddish-blue) of the breast. iv. The milk is slimy; it may be even reddish (blood) in colour.

of aloes and cocoa butter on the milking fingers (thumbs and index). Use blotting paper or absorbent tissue paper to remove the milk that accumulates on the nipple.

About two days after

pups on to those breast that are healthy. Alternatively, you could place a plaster over the nipples of the sick breast. Also, if the mastitis develops when the newborns are about three weeks old, then you could wean them completely away from the mother.

I should mention that there is a form of mastitis (as in humans) that occurs either because there is too much milk production or there is a blockage (eg, the caking up of nipple canals) that prevents the milk from being suckled out. This results in the backing up of the milk in the tissue itself.

Obviously, this would be

What can you do?

First of all, you must remove the puppies. If they drink milk contaminated by bacteria, they could get sick (fatally so). Your veterinarian would most likely prescribe a course of antibiotics and possibly anti-inflammatory drugs. I always suggest that the breasts be milked out as often as possible (gently pulling at the nipples with the thumb and index finger). The caregiver can gently milk the breasts about 4-6 times daily. So as not to produce a blister on the breast, apply a mixture

the mastitis has developed, you can massage a liniment around the swollen breast every four hours or so. Be careful not to use a liniment that would blister the skin. Camphorated oil is an old but effective medication which has stood us in good stead over the years.

Very often, it is only one or two of the breasts that are infected. If this is the case, you can guide the

painful. The breast - usually the last ones at the back - become hard and swollen.

This treatment would require the removal of the cause of the blockage.

Milking out the affected breast(s) is of paramount importance. If an infection develops, then the condition is treated as described above for mastitis. If the blockage is due to an anatomical defect, then surgery might be indicated.

G

SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE PROTECTS THE ENVIRONMENT

uyana continues its celebration of Agriculture Month under the theme “Transforming our Food Systems: Achieving Food and Nutrition Security”.

This theme is quite fitting, given the dire need to change our agriculture and food system to address the food security challenges encountered due drought, the COVID-19 pandemic, and then the unprecedented floods in May/ June 2021. Let’s take a look at the role of the EPA, and how good agricultural practices help to protect the environment.

Agriculture contributes significantly to water pollution through the release of organic matter such as animal waste, and run off of excessive nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus. This often results in fish kills, contamination of drinking water supply, creation of dead zones in water bodies, and poisoning of humans (cancer and blue baby syndrome).

Freshwater is literally the lifeblood of agriculture. Since the majority of the world’s freshwater is used to irrigate crops, the two are intertwined, hence the management of the resource and the sector should be interconnected.

Agricultural water use will be a key element for increasing food production, especially in many developing countries, where water is often scarce. Currently, around 800 million people in developing countries are chronically undernourished.

While there is no global water crisis, the serious water and food security problems in some developing countries and regions need to be urgently addressed. One in five developing countries will face water shortages by 2030.

Environmental sustainability in agriculture means good stewardship of the natural systems and resources that farms rely on. Among other things, this involves: * Building and maintaining healthy soil; * Managing water wisely; * Minimising air, water, and climate pollution; and * Promoting biodiversity.

Sustainable agricultural practices include, but are not limited to: * Rotating crops and embracing diversity. Planting a variety of crops can have many benefits, including healthier soil and improved pest control. Crop diversity practices include intercropping (growing a mix of crops in the same area) and complex multi-year crop rotations. * Planting cover crops. Cover crops like clover or hairy vetch are planted during off-season times, when soils might otherwise be left bare. These crops protect and build soil health by preventing erosion, replenishing soil nutrients, and keeping weeds in check, reducing the need for herbicides. * Reducing or eliminating tillage. Traditional plowing (tillage) prepares fields for planting, and prevents weed problems, but it can cause a lot of soil loss. No-till, or reduced till methods, which involve inserting seeds directly into undisturbed soil, can reduce erosion and improve soil health. * Applying integrated pest management (IPM). A range of methods, including mechanical and biological controls, can be applied systematically to keep pest populations under control while minimising use of chemical pesticides. * Integrating livestock and crops. Industrial agriculture tends to keep plant and animal production separate, with animals living far from the areas where their feed is produced, and crops growing far away from abundant manure fertilizers.

A growing body of evidence shows that a smart integration of crop and animal production can be a recipe for more efficient, profitable farms. * Adopting agroforestry practices. By mixing trees or shrubs into their operations, farmers can provide shade and shelter to protect plants, animals, and water resources, while also potentially offering additional income.

Agriculture and the EPA In keeping with the Environmental Protection Act Cap 20:05, the Environmental Protection Agency is responsible for overseeing the effective management, conservation, protection and improvement of the environment.

The EP Act also requires that the Agency takes the necessary measures to ensure prevention and control of pollution, assessment of the impact of economic activities on the environment, and the sustainable use of natural resources.

At the EPA, the Agriculture Programme Area is responsible for ensuring the development of standards that seek to restore and reclaim degraded agriculture lands, prevent release of contaminants to these lands, as well as to conserve and manage the associated resources.

The Programme Area coordinates and implements activities, including the authorisation of projects in the agriculture sector, ensuring monitoring and compliance with permit conditions, as well as responding to complaints and providing guidelines for agricultural operations.

This is all done in keeping with the Environmental Protection Act Cap 20:05, as EPA stays committed to a strong partnership with the agricultural community to assist in fulfilling our mission of protecting human health and the environment.

Persons engaging in activities such as livestock husbandry and production; mariculture/aquaculture facilities; poultry processing; food processing plants (including meat, fish/seafood, and fruits); rice processing plants; or activities with a relatable field require environmental authorisation.

To acquire an environment permit, developers/operators are required to submit: * An application form for Environmental Authorisation; * Identification of the permit applicant (National ID Card, passport); * Proof of Land Ownership (Transport, lease or other agreement with the land owner or occupier, or acknowledgement of application for lease of State Lands from the Guyana Lands & Surveys Commission); * Map showing surrounding land uses, identification of receiving water(s) and the location of any existing or proposed intake and discharge structures, and the location of any discharge; * Site Plan showing the layout of the operation; * Project Description (summary); * Business registration/ Certificate of Incorporation (if applicable); and * Any other information which the Agency may require under the Environmental Protection Act, 1996 or the Environmental Protection (Authorisation) Regulations, 2000.

If you have environmental pollution issues to report, please do so to the Environmental Protection Agency using any one of the following methods. * Call our 24-hour complaint hotline number: 592-225-5469; or our regional offices in Whim, Berbice:337-2201 and Mackenzie, Linden: 444-2313; * Email complaint@epaguyana.org; * Or visit our offices at Ganges Street, Sophia - Georgetown, Whim – Berbice, or Mackenzie – Linden.

Sources

https://www.ucsusa.org/resources/what-sustainable-agriculture 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.

7 Guyana could earn as much as US$4B annually by 2026 – Min Bharrat NEWS

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

− with 4 FPSOs expected to be operating in local waters

O

il prices are known to fluctuate and are currently on an upward trend in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

But based on the current price for oil, Guyana could earn as much as US$4 billion annually by 2026.

This view was expressed by Natural Resources Minister Vickram Bharrat, who in an interview with this publication pointed out that there is expected to be four Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessels in Guyana’s waters by 2026.

“Based on the estimated production… but remember it varies based on oil prices internationally. So, to determine or put an exact figure is difficult. But… we’ll have four FPSOs operating by then and we’ll be producing close to 1 million barrels per day.”

“But remember it’s difficult to predict oil revenue because the prices keep changing so much… but the possibility exists if oil continues at this price, that we can earn that,” Minister Bharrat further explained.

Guyana, with US oil giant ExxonMobil as the operator, began producing oil on December 20, 2019, in the Stabroek Block. It has since made a slew of finds in the Stabroek Block, leading to Guyana’s rise as the world’s hottest new oil producer.

Earlier in the month, ExxonMobil made another

The Liza Destiny FPSO is currently operational

find in the Cataback-1 well, which brings the total significant discoveries to more than 20 within the Stabroek Block. The Cataback-1 well, the oil company stated, encountered 243 feet (74 metres) of net pay in high quality hydrocarbon-bearing sandstone reservoirs. It is located approximately 3.7 miles (6 kilometres) east of Turbot-1, and was drilled in 5928 feet (1807 metres) of water by the Noble Tom Madden.

Then back in September, the US oil giant announced that it found 220 feet (67 metres) of high-quality oil in the Pinktail well offshore Guyana. It was stated that the Pintail discovery, which was drilled by the Noble Sam Croft drill ship, is 21.7 miles southeast of the Liza Phase 1 project.

Additionally, Exxon was able to successfully appraise the Turbot-1 and 2 wells, where oil was previously found. In the case of the Turbot-2 well, drilling encountered 43 feet (13 metres) of net pay, separate from the oil previously encountered in the Turbot-1 well.

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

Guyana’s oil revenues are being banked in the New York Federal Reserve Bank, where they are earning interest. In August, Guyana received payment for its seventh oil lift to the tune of US$79,617,561.87, the largest single oil payment the country has received to date.

The Natural Resources Ministry has stated that the aforementioned payment was for 1,047,820 barrels of oil, which was extracted from the Liza Destiny Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel on July 3, 2021.

The seventh oil lift brings the country’s oil extraction to a grand total of 7,056,262 barrels, and accumulative earnings to US$388,777,840.

Guyana received its first payment

of US$54.9 million for an oil lift dated February 19, 2020.

The second lift, on May 21, 2020, was valued at US$35 million; while the third lift, which occurred on August 9, 2020, was worth US$46 million.

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

During the 31st Sitting of the National Assembly, subject Minister Vickram Bharrat had reported that this amount plus royalties put the total in Guyana’s

Natural Resources Minister Vickram Bharrat

Natural Resources Fund (NRF) at US$436 million, which remains untouched.

8 NEWS

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Bandit drowns while trying to evade lawmen after committing robbery

T

he body of a bandit was reportedly pulled from a canal at La Bonne Intention (LBI), East Coast Demerara (ECD), on Saturday just hours after he and two of his accomplices committed a robbery in the area.

He was identified as Shamar Charles also called “Tanny”, 22, of Plantain Walk, Triumph, ECD, and of Agricola, East Bank Demerara (EBD).

Police stated that the robbery took place at about 10:45h involving three victims.

The first victim, a 56-year-old female, was relived of two gold rings, $20,000 in cash and one Samsung S7 mobile phone. A

27-year-old female was robbed of her Samsung S10 cell phone and a 23-year-old female was relieved of one gold chain.

Based on reports received, the victims reside together and on the day in question, the 56-year-old woman was sitting in the lower flat of the house when one of the suspects entered through an open door.

He approached her and demanded cash and jewellery.

The two other suspects – one of whom was armed with a handgun – also entered and assaulted the woman as he demanded cash and jewellery.

Out of fear, she took off jewellery and handed same to him after which she raised an

alarm. The other victims who were in the upper flat ran to her aid and they too were held at gunpoint.

The second victim was taken to the upper flat and ordered to hand over cash and jewellery. The third victim was relieved of her gold chain but she managed to run out of the house and alert neighbours, who raised an alarm.

The three suspects reportedly ran out of the house and exited the yard by jumping the fence. Public-spirited citizens gave chase along with a responding mobile patrol and the suspects entered a canal that separates LBI and Chateau Margot, ECD.

Two of the suspects made good their escape while the other suspect went under the water and never resurfaced.

A search was conducted and the body was eventually pulled from the canal in an unconscious state.

The bandit was taken to the CC Nicholson Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival. A search was conducted on his person and a red bandana, two gold rings, $980, a UG Student ID card and a black Pro cellular phone were found in his possession.

The two gold rings and the UG Student ID card were identified by the victims as theirs.

Investigations are ongoing.

Running…

W

…for PNC leadership ell, well, well! The horses for the PNC sweepstakes are coming into the starting gate! As of now, we have three contestants - Richard Van West-Charles, Aubrey Norton and Joseph Harmon. With all of them in their sixties, they’re a bunch of pretty ancient nags!! It does look like Granger’s sitting this out, so that leaves Volda Lawrence as the only one to perk up the motley threesome. But she’s also in her sixties, and has been around for donkey’s years.

Van West looks and sounds like a moderate, but he really has no base. They’ll all hear that he’s “Burnham’s son-in-law”, but that don’t cut no ice nowadays - if it ever did! Back in the day, he was dubbed “Baby Jesus” on account of his father-in-law being “God”!! Didn't do him much good, and, for the longest while enjoying his sinecure at PAHO and dabbling with some Caribbean off-shore hospitals, he was out of sight; and so, out of mind.

His return to Guyana to be involved in the hustings didn’t work out so well within the PNC. He had to switch to the AFC to get into the race, and this mightn’t go down too well with the PNC loyalists. After all, the AFC’s name is now “mud” …which is under “dead meat”!! His tenure at GWI wouldn't recommend him for the Presidency too mundane and infra dig!! And then there were the accusations about him playing fast and loose with some oil importation! Nah! An “also ran” for sure.

Then comes Harmon - not exactly the most charismatic fella out there, but does he need charisma when he has the support of the incumbent leader and all their army pals who have gotten used to being movers and shakers?? No…your Eyewitness doesn’t think so.

Granger also can call in his chips on all those young faces he sent to Parliament! They were MADE by him, and owe him big time. He went out on a limb for them when he teed off all the oldsters - like Volda - when he dissed them for MP-dom. If they get behind Harmon, he can play the elder statesman to sell a NEW PNC to the masses. In the race…for sure!

And then there is Norton. He might be the darling of the diaspora and the hardliners, but first he has to get past Volda, who’s already whipped him in the Georgetown district several times. And Georgetown will be the dominant faction at Congress. Then he’s teed off all the other big ones, like Corbin and Granger. An “also ran”!!

Volda came off well in West Berbice. So, it’s Harmon vs Volda. And off they go!! …the country Some heavyweight WI academics bemoaned what they called the “judicialization” of our Politics. Meaning that with all our constitutional changes and changes in the political system, our politicians still have to resort to the Courts to settle their problems. Well, honestly, your Eyewitness sees nothing wrong with that. After all, this is part and parcel of their mandate that was constitutionally conferred - the Courts settle disputes between the political parties in terms of their constitutional soundness.

Your Eyewitness is a political cynic…politicians will never “do the right thing” when they see an opportunity to subvert them. And those academics put their finger on what’s really the problem in the judiciary when they pointed out the number of times our Court of Appeal had to be “corrected” by the CCJ? Imagine these worthies couldn’t figure out that 33 was greater than 32!!

But the bright light they identified was our CJ. Really, Guyana can be proud that we have someone in the bench who knows right from wrong!!

Simple as that!! …on empty We all saw the glitz and glamour of Dubai, and were suitably overwhelmed. Imagine building all of that in half-a-century. But also imagine it was all done with dirt cheap labour from India and Pakistan.

Whom you never see!!

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

NEWS

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SUNDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Omai finds multiple gold deposits at Wenot pit − company says other promising locations targeted for drilling

The Wenot pit

C

anadian company Omai Goldmines, which is operating out of the Wenot pit in Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni), reported that it found multiple gold deposits during its latest round of drilling.

According to a statement issued by the company, gold mineralisation was discovered in multiple shears below the Wenot pit, including 16.8 grams per tonne (g/t) over 6 metres and 4.6 g/t over 20 metres below. This means that Omai has found gold in all 15 holes drilled this year.

“Visible gold has been seen in almost every Wenot hole drilled this year.

Although this accounts for some of the high gold values, gold mineralization within the alteration halos, as well as in small, less conspicuous quartz-carbonate veins and veinlets will be significant contributors to the gold resource at Wenot,” Omai said in its statement.

The statement also quoted the company’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

Elaine Ellingham, who commented on Omai’s great potential for further discoveries. According to her, the strong results from the latest drilling lend credence to the work they are doing.

“With over 35 years in exploration, I truly appreciate projects like Omai with great potential for significant discoveries… with our independent qualified person (“QP”) commencing shortly, our team will be freed up to focus on the exploration plans through to mid-2022. There are a number of very prospective targets for additional gold deposits on the Omai property, for example at Fennell, with an unmined historic resource.”

“We also see several exploration targets that hold potential for significant near-surface gold deposits that could accelerate the overall development of the project. We will be initiating work on these other exploration targets starting in November and on Fennell early in the new year,” she further explained.

In previous years, the Wenot pit produced approximately 1.4 million ounces of gold at an average grade of 1.5 gpt between 1993 and 2002. According to Omai, the pit was mined to a maximum depth of 200 metres.

Going forward, Omai intends to conduct an independent Qualified Person (QP) report into the Wenot resource, which will provide a detailed analysis of the mineralisation potential of the Wenot pit. In the meantime, drilling under the pit will continue through October of this year, while the report is

expected at year end or early in 2022.

Omai Gold Mines returned to the Wenot and Fennell pits at the Region Seven site only in 2020, after leaving Guyana in 2015. It had announced in December that it would be pressing forward with the 5000-metre drilling programme.

It was only last November that Omai Gold Mines, which is aiming to reclaim its place as Guyana’s top gold producer, had announced the impending resumption of trading on the Toronto Stock Exchange,

following the recent reverse takeover of Avalon Investment Holdings.

There has been a flurry of gold finds from last year.

In February 2021, Gold X Mining, another Canadian company, found gold in the Toroparu mine during its now concluded diamond drill programme, resulting in the company launching phase two of its drilling.

In November of last year, Australia-based mining company Alicanto Minerals also announced its first-ever gold find in Guyana.

According to Alicanto, it dis-

Omai CEO Elaine Ellingham

covered a maiden resource of 500,000 ounces of gold at its Arakaka gold mine, which is located in Region One.

10 NEWS

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Barbados Housing and Investment Team lauds Govt’s housing policies — seeks to strengthen collaboration in housing and construction sectors

T

he head of the Barbados Housing and Investment Mission team, which is on a three-day visit to Guyana, was on Saturday hosted with an exchange and familiarisation session by the Ministry of Housing and Water - Central Housing and Planning Authority.

The session was hosted at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre and provided a platform for the sharing of information on

(From left) Minister within the Housing and Water Ministry, Susan Rodrigues; Barbados Minister of Housing, Land and Maintenance, Dr William Duguid; Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal; and Permanent Secretary Andre Ally of the Ministry of Housing and Water

Barbados Minister of Housing, Land and Maintenance, Dr William Duguid

the operations of the housing sectors in both countries.

Head of the delegation, Minister of Housing, Land and Maintenance Dr William Duguid lauded the Housing Ministry and the Government for the comprehensive housing policies, noting that it is an impressive one which seeks to meet the needs of people of all walks of life.

These sentiments followed a presentation which was delivered by Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA), Sherwyn Greaves on the functions, roles and programmes of the agency in meeting the demand for housing and the need for parallel infrastructural development across the country.

Dr Duguid said his Government stands ready and committed to working with the local Housing Authority in the housing and construction sectors, as both Heads of State share similar visions for growth and development.

He further lauded Guyana’s Government on the mortgage interest relief programme and the young professional housing initiative, stating that they are both impressive. He also called for more publicity on the investment opportunity and more platforms for exchanges in skills and knowledge in the construction sectors.

In her welcoming remarks to the delegation, Minister within the Housing and Water Ministry, Susan Rodrigues spoke of the timeliness of the visit. “This is an exciting and historic time for Guyana and the Guyanese economy. Guyana is one of the most rapidly growing economies in the world and most attractive destination for investment,” Rodrigues said.

Referencing the 14.5 per cent growth in the country’s overall GDP within the first half of 2021, Minister Rodrigues noted this is a phenomenal achievement for a country that had major setbacks with a global pandemic and the fight to restore democracy.

“During the 5 months hiatus following our General and Regional Elections,

your Prime Minister the Honourable Mia Mottley and the people of Barbados stood with us and were instrumental in securing a recount and restoring democracy and for that the people of Guyana are eternally grateful.”

Speaking of the upward trajectory of Guyana’s economy, Minister Rodrigues said Guyana now has a Government that demonstrates the capacity and commitment to transform the economy and to improve the lives of ordinary citizens.

“We have already allocated close to 10,000 lots in our first year, thereby demonstrating the capacity to deliver on all of our commitments in the housing sector, our focus has been on home ownership and providing Guyanese with the opportunities to access financing to construct their own homes.”

Meanwhile Housing Minister Collin Croal in his address, endorsed the fact that Guyana is on the cusp of rapid development, as he spoke on partnership between Barbados and Guyana.

“While there continues to be growth in the overall GDP of our country, the construction sector and all other sector is seeing growth, in the first half of 2021 we have seen a 25 per cent growth in the construction sector, that in itself is testimony of the work in the housing sector.”

Minister Croal further extended an invitation for investments, noting that Guyana holds huge potential, as it seeks to expand its housing drive. Mention was also made of the strides being made with the ongoing process for the Single Window Processing System and the change in legislations for the Condominium Act. The Minister noted that the Single Window Processing System will pave the way for ease of access for investors coming to Guyana.

“All the measures and programmes being implemented in our housing policy ties into President Irfaan Ali’s vision to improve the quality of life for all Guyanese…our social programmes like the housing programmes caters to all.”

NEWS

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SUNDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Ignoring the (GPF) elephant in the room

E

ver since the PPP was grudgingly returned to office last year, after the PNC’s attempted rigging was stymied by the international community, the Guyana Police Force (GPF) has been in the news. This is not surprising, given the role that institution has played intentionally or unintentionally - in the politics of this country.

Ravi Dev Overwhelmingly staffed by what PNC leader Hoyte called “kith and kin” African Guyanese, the Guyana Police Force does not act as a deterrent to anti-Indian Guyanese violence emanating from the African Guyanese quarter. This started during the 1960s’ inaugural ethnic conflict, and remains the elephant in Guyana’s politics.

In September 1963, recounting the efforts of the UN to broker a settlement between the two parties after ethnic riots earlier in the year, when PPP leader Jagan’s car was stormed, Burnham said, “… he (Dr. Jagan) contended that the PNC already controlled the Police Force, and, if to the actual control which he said existed there were to be added the legal control, then he and his party would be in jeopardy, and to quote him accurately and precisely, ‘their heads would be in danger’.” Mr. Burnham concluded: “The People’s Progressive Party is now in fear, in absolute fear, of the People’s National Congress.”

Those words were prescient in light of the events at Wismar in 1964, when two Indians were murdered, hundreds beaten, several raped, 220 houses razed, and the entire Indian Guyanese population of 3399 were “ethnically cleansed”.

As reported by the British Governor-appointed COI: “Several members of the Police and Volunteers who gave evidence said that they had seen large crowds of people moving up and down, but committing no offense.” Witnesses, however, levelled a different series of charges against the forces: “These include bribery, partaking in loot, standing by and refusing to give assistance whilst rape and assault were being committed, to extinguish fires, supplying gasoline to arsonists, and being politically partial by telling people who were beaten and stripped to go to their political leaders.” This set the pattern for 1992, by which time unchecked “kick-down-the-door” banditry became endemic.

It continued during the 1992 elections, when PNC’s African supporters rioted in Georgetown against the Elections Commission, Indian Guyanese and businesses. The B.O. Adams COI investigated the riots and recommended that the Government ensure the Police Force be more ethnically balanced, and that the Government have a riot response plan to contain any future recurrence. The PPP mystifyingly buried the COI report, and refused to make any changes.

The denouement of the 1997 and 2001 elections, however, remained unchanged. Of the latter, former PM Sam Hinds wrote, “Following the 2002 jailbreak and their projection by key political factions as ‘Freedom Fighters’, the attacks on assumed supporters of the PPP/C were taken to a higher level. When the national security forces showed remarkable inability to apprehend them, it was inevitable that a similar irregular counter-force emerged.” He was referring to the so called “Phantom Squads” that, along with the bandits, turned Guyana into a killing field.

There was a lull after the Buxton Gang was eliminated in 2008, but, in September 2020, Police stood by and observed African Guyanese assaulting Indian Guyanese on the West Berbice Public Road during their protests over the Henrys’ murder. This partiality of the GPF had been addressed by the ICJ in 1965, the aforementioned BO Adams COI in 1992, and the Disciplined Forces Commission in 2004, of which David Granger was a member. They all agreed with the recommendations of the last, which was approved by Parliament in 2010: “The Commission…is of the view that the allaying of ethnic security fears which stem from the predominance of Afro-Guyanese presence in the GPF must be addressed.” More specifically, it recommended: “It should be an aim (of the GPF) to achieve a Force representative of the ethnic diversity of the nation without employing a quota system.” To achieve this, ethnically-diverse recruitment teams should be employed as openly and extensively as possible. The report also suggested that a study be conducted on how to address the ethnic make-up imperative.

Writing in 1994, Ashton Chase referred to the recommendations to make the Force representative, and wondered whether “the main Opposition Party allowed these recommendations to go abegging for fear of being stigmatised as an ‘Indian party’.”

But the elephant in the room goes beyond that, and destabilises all Guyana. It must be removed.

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SUNDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

FEATURE

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SUNDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Despite little to no internet access, Region 5 students shine at NGSA

By Andrew Carmichael

T

here is no doubt that the students that sat the recent National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) had it exceptionally hard. They were away from a classroom setting for over a year because of the mandates to battle the COVID-19 pandemic.

They had to innovate ways to grasp what was being taught via the online platforms because it is common knowledge that even the best internet service is not reliable enough for online learning. The country’s information communications technology (ICT) infrastructure has a long way to go before Guyana is fully able to host uninterrupted online classes.

The Grade Six students, throughout the country, had to battle unreliable power supply and in some cases a complete lack of electricity but yet they did their best.

The students of the MahaicaBerbice Region of Guyana have shown that despite the challenges they can excel.

There are three schools that dominated the top places in the 2021 National Grade Six Assessment in Region Five with an aspiring playwright/producer from Rosignol Primary leading the pack. Sapodilla School of Excellence has

Mohamed Hussain

three students in the top six while Mortice Primary and Bath Primary has two, each, in the top ten of the Region.

Many of these students in the top ten in the region, along with those who did not make the top spots, were faced with challenging situations. From battling financial setbacks owing to COVID and in some cases the threat of contracting

Tiana Hughes

COVID, the students never let up.

They masked up and went on to sit their exams.

Tiana Hughes of Number 4 Village, West Coast Berbice, a student of

Hemraj Lakeram

Rosignol Primary School is the top student with 511 marks and a place the Queen’s College in Georgetown. She said that her accomplishment is satisfying but she had a lot of challenges while preparing for the exams.

She noted that studying for the exams during the pandemic was the major difficulty she experienced along with the poor internet connections which made it difficult to stay connected to online classes.

However, she made up for this by going directly to her teacher and asking questions.

Fortunately for Hughes, her class teacher is also her mother.

“She would help me when I did not understand things,” she said.

Unlike many other children, Hughes said she did not miss face-to-face learning and being in the classroom while preparing for NGSA. “Studying at home was much more quiet and

Raam David

peaceful than being in the classroom,” the young student said.

She advised others who will be preparing for exams to have a balance between their social life and studies.

Hughes said that she created that balance in her life

Jaden Todd

and believes the relaxation time really assisted in her remaining unstressed and with a clearer mind to focus on the task at hand.

Meanwhile, Mia Jameer of Bath Primary copped the second spot with 509 marks and a place at The Bishops’

Mia Jameer

High. Her biggest challenge was that of the unreliability of the internet connection during online classes.

“Most of the time we could not hear anything our teacher was talking about,” she related.

She advised that those

who want to be successful at their exams should study hard and stick to whatever schedule they have.

“Whenever you feel like you want to give up, don’t give up. Try your best and do your best.”

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FEATURE

Despite little to no internet access...

Jaden Todd of Sapodilla School of Excellence and Raam David of Mortice Primary were tied for third with 506 marks and a place at The Bishops’ High.

Todd, who attended a private school, admitted that there were initial challenges adapting to online learning.

“It was really hard not having a teacher in front of you with a chalkboard and explaining with all the words directed to you. But I actually ended up learning how to cope with that so I could have studied better,” he said.

Todd said if he has a choice between classroom and online learning, he would choose the classroom. Meanwhile, David said he entered the exam room full of confidence knowing that he had been topping his class ever since to entered primary school.

There is no internet access for the children who attend Mortice Primary which is situated on the Mahaica River.

Those children depended on the worksheets supplied by the Education Ministry and the Learning Channel.

David and Hemraj Lakeram both came from Mortice Primary.

Lakeram, who gained 504 marks and a place at St Stanislaus College, said he is proud of his achievement of being in the region’s top ten. He said he made many sacrifices which included reducing the number of hours he used to play and utilised them to study.

Lakeram said he got up at 04:00h to study and also borrowed his sister’s school books to study.

“Reading her Form One and Grade Six books and going on YouTube and the Learning Channel,” he ex-

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

FROM PAGE 13

plained.

Meanwhile, Mohamed Hussain of Sapodilla School of Excellence, who was sixth with 504 marks, said he was happy with his achievement but a little disappointed since he believes that he could have done better.

“I think I could have done better had it not been for all the online classes.

Felt that we needed more face-to-face contact,” he said.

Rounding off the top ten were Khenraj Peetum of Sapodilla School of Excellence with 505 marks, Jaden Alfred of Latchmansingh with 504 marks, Indranie Ramoutar of Bath Primary and Mattanah Beephat of Number 29 Primary, 502 marks each, with all of them securing spots at St Stanislaus College in Georgetown.

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SUNDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

FEATURE

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SUNDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Showcasing Guyana to the world…

Randy Madray designs a showstopper in Dubai

By Venessa Low-A-Chee

W

hile many lauded the performances by various Guyanese artistes at the recently held National Day Celebrations at the Dubai Expo 2020, eyes were riveted on the performers' colourful costumes created

by Guyanese fashion designer Randy Madray.

Showcasing the colours of the Golden Arrowhead and Guyana’s rich cultural heritage, the Randy Madray designs were a show-stopper.

In an interview with Sunday Times, the 28-yearold designer, who has received several awards and accolades over the years for his intricate and glamorous designs, spoke about the inspiration behind his designs showcased in Dubai.

“My inspiration for the designs worn by Guyanese singers and dancers in Dubai was to simply showcase the richness of our Guyanese culture. I was fortunate to have a briefing from a very dynamic team, which was in charge of the

performances, on what they desired the costumes to portray. I diverted a little bit and added my Randy Madray touch and brought everything together. I’m very proud of the end product,” stated the designer.

Madray mentioned that he and his team designed not only for the Guyanese singers, but also for every Guyanese dancer at the Dubai Expo 2020. He noted that designing dance costumes was a “rare” decision, as his fashion house usually does not do such designs. However, it was a

Talented singer Poonam Singh wearing the costume with 15,000 rhinestones which were manually placed

by Madray and his team

Guyanese singer Samuel Medas was titled 'Guyanese royalty' in his jacket by Randy Madray

challenge he was willing to take on.

Incorporating “exciting

and very fashion-forward ideas” which are representative of the Randy Madray brand, the designer aimed

A Guyanese dancer enwrapped in a costume

by Madray showcasing beautiful colours inspired

by Guyana's flag

to “showcase the depth and beauty of our Guyanese culture”.

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22 FEATURE

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Randy Madray designs a...

FROM PAGE 21

Guyanese singer Tennicia De Freitas entertaining attendees at the Dubai Expo 2020 in her Randy Madray costume

Madray pointed out the indigenous costume worn by one of the dancers was accessorised with a mix of contemporary materials, like wooden beads, and enhanced with rhinestones. His creations also included necklaces, bracelets, and even chest plates.

“Each design was tailored to the personality of every dancer and custom concept. Each piece took a different amount of hours to produce. For example, singer Poonam Singh's piece took days because of the 15,000 rhinestones manually placed on her costume. There were also very intricate details on every piece,” Madray explained.

According to the debonair fashion designer, a total of 11 persons wore his designs in Dubai. He recalled receiving several messages praising the jackets he designed for Guyanese singer Samuel Medas.

“We made stunning jackets for Samuel.

Many messaged us saying he looked like a ‘Guyanese royalty’. We designed for talented singers Gavin Mendonca, Poonam Singh, Tennicia De Freitas and Daniela Araujo. It was such an exciting experience working for these local artistes and dancers on this project.”

He also praised his “amazing” team for

their dedication and creativity.

“I have such an amazing, dynamic and creative team which made the production process successful in two weeks. Some days we worked 16 to 20 hours. Doing this is a testimony of our dedication and love for our country Guyana.”

The designer expressed his gratitude for the “outpouring of love and support” he received from various individuals, both locally and internationally. He also thanked the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport for affording him the opportunity to showcase Guyana through his designs on such a prestigious stage in Dubai.

“I think this is a story that should inspire youths who want to get into the fashion industry, or into the arts, or other industries that are not fully developed in Guyana. I want them to know there are many opportunities, but they need to grab them and fight to fulfill their dreams without hesitation,” Madray encouraged.

So, what’s next for the fashion designer?

Currently, Madray is preparing as a contestant for Mr India Guyana 2021. Check out his Facebook page, Randy Madray Official.

FEATURE

23

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Mashabo Primary School shines at NGSA despite challenges in that small hinterland community

By Raywattie Deonarine

M

ashabo, a picturesque I n d i g e n o u s community on the Essequibo Coast with just a handful of residents, sits on the bank of the Mashabo Lake which is one of the largest of the five lakes in the PomeroonSupenaam Region.

The community is closely knitted, and everyone celebrates each other’s achievements. This time around, they have a lot to celebrate, since the students of the Mashabo Primary School have performed beyond expectations.

Mashabo Primary School, located approximately five miles inland from the Essequibo Coast, Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam), managed to shine at the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) examinations for the second time after three years.

The school, for the first time in 2018, attained passes to a “List A” secondary school in the region. That moment was registered as historic because, since its establishment in 1986, the school did not receive a “List A” secondary school.

However, despite the numerous challenges in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic, difficulties in transportation, no electricity, no internet, and lack of necessary resources, Mashabo Primary School has managed to shine at the NGSA examination. Its performance is being labelled as the greatest in the community, since the school achieved five passes to “A List” school out of fifteen students who sat the National Assessment examinations.

Attaining the highest marks for the school was Shivanne Hendricks, who secured 454 marks at the NGSA exam and copped a spot at the prestigious Abram Zuil Secondary School.

Denory A Charles, who gained 430 marks, copped second, while Caitlin M. Hendricks secured the third position by gaining 418 marks. Attaining fourth position was Barron N. Bartholomew, who scored 411 marks, while Miriam N. Boodhoo secured the fifth position with 410 marks. All five pupils have been awarded a spot at the prestigious Abram Zuil Secondary School.

According to Headmaster Modi Ram Beepat, his students excelled in an environment that challenged them tremendously.

“Although only 30 per cent of the staff is trained, we conducted CPD with the staff and adopted best practices from other schools. Notably, team teaching and teaching using subject experts have proven successful. The success at this year’s NGSA was not without its challenges, some of which included printing of worksheets, positive cases of COVID-19, transportation difficulties, no access to electricity and internet at the school,” Sir Beepat related.

Leading up to the examinations, Sir Beepat said, the children were given extra lessons on the Essequibo Coast, which groomed them mentally and academically. During the middays and evenings also, the children were involved in extra classes.

He commended Miss

Grade Six teacher Miss Karashme Persaud

Karashme Persaud for her dedication and the patience and time she spent with the children.

The headmaster said many of the children’s parents were faced with financial difficulties, since the community lacks jobs.

Many of them could not afford to purchase textbooks for their children to do research.

As such, the headmaster said, he transported the children to the Essequibo Coast, where he could have gotten access to the internet.

“Team Mashabo endured, persevered, and worked assiduously to prepare pupils for this external exam. Additionally, we are grateful for some key stakeholders who played a pivotal role in our success.

These include the parents, Department of Education, Ministry of Education, RDC, and Guyana- Jamaica Friendship Association,” the proud Headteacher said.

The school’s head said they are happy that electricity has been restored to the school’s building, and pupils can now access the learning channel through E Network’s satellite TV and view educational videos on their tablets. However, they are even more grateful for the internet access that was installed at the school.

To conclude their success at the examination, Sir Beepat proudly said this was no accident; rather, it was hard work, dedication, perseverance, sacrifice, and most of all love for their job as teachers to educate their students. Most of the knowledge he shared with the children was grasped from YouTube.

Beepat, who has been in the teaching profession for over 20 years, said it is his desire for the hinterland children to excel at the examinations, and that they be given the tools to bridge the gap.

He said parents in the community are struggling to send their children to school, due to financial difficulties, and often the children would stay home from school because they have to look after their siblings while their parents seek employment. The school, however, has a feeding programme, which encourages attendance.

“With this donation that was done, students were able to use their device to do more research, and look at YouTube videos in order to get a better understanding of what the teacher is teaching in the classroom. This was a great success for the students, has assisted them in bettering

their studies, understanding, and research skills during the pandemic,” the HM told Sunday Times.

Meanwhile, Miss Karashme Persaud, who taught the students that excelled at the National Grade Six Assessment examinations (NGSA), has said she is very elated and pleased with the students’ results.

Persaud added that it’s her first batch of Grade Six students, and she is motivated by them to continue her dedication and time spent teaching them.

“It all pays off in the end, because it’s my first batch of Grade Six students I’m teaching that has done exceptionally well. I will say this is a big history for me, since it’s the first time the school has secured five “List A” secondary schools at NGSA. It was my pleasure working with

The batch of Grade Six Mashabo Primary School students who sat the NGSA exam

them,” Persaud said.

The teachers who are attached to the school are also facing difficulties accessing the community, especially during the rainy season. On a daily basis, they have to be at the

landing as early as 07:00hrs, and whenever it rains, they would be soaked, but still have to teach for the entire day.

Mashabo is an Indigenous community located approximately 10 miles from

the Huist t’Dieren Public Road. The Mashabo Primary School currently has a staff of eight teachers with a school population of approximately 90 pupils.

24 FEATURE

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Aroaima Primary excels at NGSA despite a plethora of hardships I

t is without a doubt that every pupil and teacher across Guyana was significantly impacted by the dreadful COVID-19 pandemic in their preparations for the 2021 National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) examinations.

However, while the novel coronavirus stands out as the major stumbling block for all, the Aroaima Primary School, located along the upper reaches of the Berbice River in Region 10, was faced with a plethora of additional

challenges. Yet, with the perseverance of the students and beaming eyes on the prize of success, all together with unwavering sacrifices and dedication of teachers who have gone beyond the line of their job description, students were able to perform exceptionally.

The students from the bauxite community who sat the exams back in August battled not only the hardship of having to adjust to being home-schooled and having to adapt to a new learning envi-

ronment created by the pandemic, which made its impact in every corner of the world, but simultaneously the hardships of poor internet connectivity, which made it challenging for parents to maintain their cellphones with a monthly data plan to facilitate research for their child/children, since many persons are now unemployed following RUSAL’s downscaling of operations in 2020.

Some 95 per cent of the community’s population relied heavily on the baux-

ite industry. A small fraction of the population has resorted to farming and the logging sector, while others have migrated to other parts of Guyana, seeking employment in their efforts to sustain their families.

For a far-flung school encompassed with a series of hardships and beset by limited resources, Grade Six teacher, 25-year-old Patriese Simeon, during an interview with this publication, expressed satisfaction at the results obtained by the stu-

School being kept at a church

dents, given that it was not an ‘easy road’.

“The challenges were nu-

Although this was somewhat challenging for the majority of parents due to the lack of internet connectivity, teachers at Aroaima Primary footed the unpaved, dusty roads to distribute learning packages to students, and made the necessary arrangements to uplift those packs to be marked.

This went on for a while, until schools reopened their doors for face-to-face learning back in April 2021. Sadly, though, this too was cut short when the worst flood hit the Upper Berbice District, forcing students out of school, since many of the 11 students are residents of Ladern’s Ville, and it was impossible to navigate the floodwaters.

Valencia Daniels

merous. It was tough; out of 11, only two students had internet access. This was one of the main reasons for students not completing the work. Some students even had to move out of the area,” Simeon disclosed.

While maintaining a level of satisfaction at the marks gained, knowing the potential of her students over the years, Simeon stated that additional hiccups ranged from students’ failure to complete the curriculum in Grade 4 to being unable to attend school regularly as transportation expenses began to place a tremendous strain on the pockets of parents who were sacked by the Russian aluminum company RUSAL. “Transportation was an issue. You would find children staying home because of their parents’ financial situation. It would cost two hundred dollars from Ladern’s Ville to Aroaima, and about two to three times in the week, children would be absent because of their situation.

“In addition to this, the students went from Grade Four to Grade Six without getting to complete the curriculum as a result of the pandemic, and everything was packed on them in Grade Six,” Simeon said.

The pandemic vs the worst flood

When COVID-19 made its presence known in Guyana in early 2020, schools across Guyana were ordered to shut their doors and operate on an online basis, wherein teachers would send school work to the phones of parents.

Orin Garnette

The unprecedent floodwaters resulted in the school being converted to a shelter for approximately two months, to house families whose homes were inundated.

Classes resumed some three weeks later in the community at a church that was simultaneously battling the floodwaters.

According to the enthusiastic Simeon, who has been teaching at the primary school for just over two years, the pandemic was a bittersweet moment for her.

“It was like starting back from scratch for some, but there was a differently-abled child who would just write but didn’t know what she wrote, and would join everything together. When school reopened, I saw a major improvement in her. I commend her parents, whom I believe would have continued working tirelessly with her,” Simeon noted.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 25

FEATURE

25

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Aroaima Primary excels at NGSA despite...

FROM PAGE 24

Top students’ journey

The school’s top students are Orin Garnette, who scored 442 marks, and Valanci Daniels, who scoring 438. Both students gained spots at the Kwakwani Secondary School.

Orin Garnette, the fifth of six children, has been described to this publication by teachers and parent as a hardworking and self-motivated pupil, and him copping the first-place position came at little surprise, as it was highly expected of him.

Just like his peers, Garnette battled his fair share of challenges leading up to his exams. His mother, 40-year-old Euranie Schultz from New Amsterdam, moved to the bauxite mining community as a single mother in her quest to seek employment with Universal Contracting Service. There she was employed as a cook at the canteen.

She related to Guyana Times that moving back home was necessary for her and son, since she was out of a job following RUSAL’s closure, and her son’s education has been threatened with the lack of internet connectivity, which she was unable to afford at the time.

She took her son back to their hometown, where he attended lessons. She said while the road was bumpy, she is a proud mother.

“I have mixed emotions, since I had to move because of work and a royal pusharound to get him into a lesson in New Amsterdam. I’m a proud single mother. He would have pushed himself a lot,” Schulz said.

Schulz added that while she was back home, internet remained a challenge, since a monthly data plan on her cellular phone would be soaked up in a matter of three days, forcing her to send her child at the home of a friend who has Wi-Fi in order to get his work done.

Tragedy stuck four days before Garnette’s exams. His mother was hospitalised at the New Amsterdam Hospital with appendicitis and had to undergo surgery. He was left in the care of his older siblings, who ensured his safe journey back to the mining community of Aroaima two days before the sitting of his exams.

As Garnette transitions into his new school environ, his mother wishes to encour-

Aroaima Primary

Patriese Simeon

age him to study hard and prioritise reading. She also expresses her gratitude to every teacher from nursery to Grade Six, for playing an instrumental role in grooming her son for the NGSA. Meanwhile, aspiring Nurse Valanci Daniels is happy she has made her parents proud.

Nikitta Patterson, the mother of 11-yearold Valanci Daniels, who came in second place, is convinced that her daughter, who has been a great achiever throughout the years, could have done better, but the pandemic played a critical part in her not achieving the grades which she knows she could have achieved.

She said she had high hopes of her daughter scoring enough marks to acquire a scholarship, but she is maintaining that a top school was not her main focus.

The mother of three, who is also a Grade 3 teacher at the Aroaima Primary School, said she blames herself to some extent, since she would have left her daughter unattended while being taken up in the distribution of worksheets to her students. Patterson maintained that while her daughter put on a show in her performance for Grades One and Two,

there were setbacks in her performance for Grades Three and Four since the class had no teacher.

She said concerned parents, inclusive of herself, would go and volunteer. That’s when she took it upon herself to join the profession, as the need was great in her community.

Picking up the pieces and moving forward

Patterson related that while her daughter’s marks have placed her at a spot at the Kwakwani Secondary School, she does not see that as a possible option.

“I believe she would have tried her best, and sending her to Kwakwani Secondary School is not the best option for me. I will send her to Bush Lot Secondary, where her father lives. Kwakwani is not my option because of the transportation situation. In my days, we would have to walk the trail when the bus breaks down, which would some-

times take us until night,” she posited.

She added: “I also need her to have a little more push in lessons, which I know she will have out there.”

Patterson expressed gratitude to the school’s headmistress, who is the only trained teacher, and who assisted tremendously throughout her daughter’s preparation for the exams; and to Patriese Simeon, her class teacher.

Simeon explained that both students performed exceptionally well throughout their school years, and this was most definitely expected of them. She is also of the belief that better could have been done.

Simeon is urging parents to work with their child/children at home and continue to motivate them a little more, since she is optimistic that this would enhance future grades at the National Grade Six Assessment in years to come.

26 NEWS

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

GWI institutes legal proceedings against contractor — for failing to change aged transmission lines, and for overpayment

T

he Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) has instituted legal proceedings against LGS Barns General Building Construction and Civil Engineering for failing to execute a multimillion-dollar contract of replacing aged transmission lines in the Bel Air Park area.

Housing and Water Minister Collin Croal, at the commissioning of Republic Street, Bel Air, on Friday, revealed that the company was contracted in November 2017 to replace 2000 metres of GWI’s transmission lines in Bel Air Park, at a cost of $108 million. The sum of the fourmonth contract was subsequently revised to $123 million.

However, three years later in 2020, the company failed to complete the work but was paid handsomely in eight tranches.

Minister Croal confirmed that the contrac-

Housing and Water Minister Collin Croal

tor received $114,128,727, which represents 93 per cent of the total contract sum. However, the company only laid 225 metres of new transmission lines, completing a mere 11.25 per cent of the work by June 2020.

Though the value of the 11.25 per cent of works is pegged at $39,406,000, some $87,921,215 has been overpaid to the company by the GWI. As such, GWI is seeking to reclaim the cash.

“So, GWI has therefore

instituted legal proceedings to recover the overpayment of the $87 million and for the contractor to also hand over the additional materials that were procured.

That is now engaging the court,” Croal explained.

To begin the replacement of the transmission lines, LGS Barns had to excavate parts of Republic Street. However, after entering office, the PPP/C Government did not wait to recover the monies from the company, as persons were suffering from the deplorable road.

In December 2020, GWI handed out a $91 million contract for the transmission lines to be replaced.

The eight-month contract that ended in August, saw 710 metres of 22-inch HDP transmission lines being earthed.

The water company also took part in beginning the process of repairing the street.

Minister Edghill watching as the ribbon is cut to commission Republic Street, Bel Air Park

“Another contract had to be awarded and that was done to the sum of $28,628,000 for the road works to bring it up to a level that is called crusher run.”

Meanwhile, the Public Works Ministry through the special Works Group, completed Republic Street and repaired several other streets in the area, at a cost of $19.5 million, 30 per cent cheaper that the cost of hiring a private contractor.

Subject Minister Bishop Juan Edghill noted that de-

spite there being gross mismanagement, negligence and corruption in the initial contract to replace the GWI transmission lines, his Government must bring relief to suffering Guyanese.

“In every NDC, in every township, in every region, we are improving the lives of people, we are improving the roads,” he said.

He also urged businessmen with heavy-duty machinery to desist from driving on neighbourhood roads.

A resident, Samantha Hollingsworth, thanked

the Government for repairing the roads. “Thank you for your dedication towards cleaning and renovating the roads…I mean excellent work. It is a joy for us.”

Minister within the Local Government and Regional Development Ministry, Anand Persaud was also present at the commissioning event.

The Government continues to maintain existing roads and expand the road network across the country, in line with its mantra of better connectivity.

NEWS

27

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Man, 56, dies from COVID; 100 new cases recorded GUYANA COVID-19 DASHBOARD A nother person who tested positive for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) died while receiving care at a medical institution, the Health Ministry reported on Saturday.

This now takes the total number of deaths from the pandemic in Guyana to 894.

The latest fatality is a 56-year-old male from Region Four (DemeraraMahaica), who died on Friday. The man was partially vaccinated According to the Ministry, he was admitted with COVID-19 like symptoms and samples were taken, which subsequently returned positive test.

However, new statistics provided by the Ministry showed that 100 persons have tested positive for COVID-19 in the last 24 hours, taking the total number of confirmed cases in Guyana to 34,977.

However, only 3494 are currently active cases.

There include 18 patients in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and the remaining 3476 persons in isolation, that is, 3370 in home isolation and the other 106 in institutional isolation.

There are also four more

persons in institutional quarantine.

To date, some 30,589 persons have recovered from the deadly virus – 22 more recoveries than the figure reported the previous day.

Since the outbreak of the novel coronavirus in Guyana, a total of 344,591 COVID-19 tests have been conducted in the country from which 16,539 males and 18,438 females contracted the life-threatening virus.

Of the 100 new cases recorded on Saturday, four are from Region One (BarimaWaini); 15 cases from Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam); seven from Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara); a whopping 44 cases from the Demerara-Mahaica region, 11 more from Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice); five cases from Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne); three cases from Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni); another four cases from Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni); one in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) and the remaining six cases in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).

The Guyana Government launched its COVID-19 vac-

cination exercise back in February and continues to roll it out across the various regions in order to achieve herd immunity and reduce the number of COVID-19 infections.

So far, some over 376,400 persons or 73.4 per cent of the adult population have received their first dose of the vaccine and approximately 46.1 per cent or 236,200 persons who are 18 years and older are fully immunised.

As it relates to children, approximately 26,751 or 36.7 per cent first doses have been administered to the 12 to 17-year age group. Of that amount, some 17,182 or 23.6 per cent are fully vaccinated.

Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony recently said that there is still a far way to go as it relates to vaccination for Guyana to achieve herd immunity.

“The higher the immunisation rates go up, you will see a falloff in terms of the hospitalisation and the deaths. As we increase these numbers of persons being vaccinated in Region Four, you are going to see the cases come down,” he stated.

TURN TO PAGE 29

OCTOBER 23, 2021 UPDATE

NUMBER OF NEW CASES

100

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN INSTITUTIONAL ISOLATION

106

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

3370 18

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN INSTITUTIONAL QUARANTINE

4

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES BY GENDER (FEMALES)

18,438

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES BY GENDER (MALES)

16,539

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES IN GUYANA SINCE 2020

34,977

NUMBER OF RECOVERED CASES

30,589

TOTAL 1st DOSE VACCINATED

376,436

FULLY IMMUNISED

236,238

TOTAL NUMBER OF DEATHS

894

DISTRIBUTION OF TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES SINCE MARCH 2020 REGION 1

1588

REGION 2

1405

REGION 3

4771

REGION 4

16,691

REGION 5

1255

REGION 6

2496

REGION 7

1728

REGION 8

553

REGION 9

2440

REGION 10

2050

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.

28 NEWS Ganja, phones, improvised weapons found at Timehri Prison SUNDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

A

raid at the Timehri Prison, East Bank Demerara (EBD), on Saturday unearthed a quantity of illicit items including narcotics, cell phones and improvised weapons.

The exercise was conducted between 06:00h and 08:30h at three dormitories at the correctional facility.

Among the items found are a quantity of ganja; two black Samsung cellular phones, one Hyundai cellular phone; five phone batteries, two phone cases, one Digicel SIM card, four phone chargers, a quantity of nails, one mirror, two two-way electrical points, along with nine cigarette lighters, 11 improvised weapons, one kitchen knife, one pair of scissors and two

The items found during the raid at the Timehri Prison

cell phone earpieces.

According to reports, the

search was conducted by ranks of the Guyana Police

Force and Prison Service

and the items found have been confiscated as the investigations continue to ascertain the circumstances under which the items entered the prison.

Only a week ago, a Joint Services operation conducted at the Lusignan Prison at about 06:15h unearthed a quantity of contraband items in several sections of that penitentiary.

The items found are one cell phone with battery, several smoking utensils, four lighters, a charger adapter, six cigarettes, two fans and a quantity of razor blades.

The Police have said that the search was conducted in the quarantine areas and the dorms of the Lusignan Prison, and the items unearthed have been

confiscated.

Prior to that operation, staff of the New Amsterdam Prison in Berbice unearthed 197 grams of seeds, leaves and stems suspected to be narcotics and 10 packs of Pall Mall cigarettes during a search of the penitentiary.

During the search conducted by staff of the New Amsterdam Prison, the contraband items were found in the prison’s kitchen area.

The Police were subsequently summoned to the prison, and the narcotics were weighed and amounted to 197 grams.

The cannabis along with the 10 packs of Pall Mall cigarettes were taken to the Central Police Station where they are lodged.

Big Biaboo gets $9.7M water system — 26 households to get 1st-time access to potable water

R

esidents in the farming community of Big Biaboo, Mahaica River, Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica), are now able to access water for the first time following the commissioning of a $9.7 million water system.

The system was commissioned by Minister within the Housing and Water Ministry Susan Rodrigues on Friday in the presence of Regional Chairman of Region Five Vickchand Ramphal, technical officials from the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) and residents.

This signals the fulfilling of yet another promise by the Minister for the provision of potable wa-

Minister within the Housing and Water Ministry, Susan Rodrigues, turning on the tap to the water system on Friday

ter in several communities.

In September 2020, the Minister visited the area, which has been inhabited by informal settlers for more than three decades.

housing area.

Earlier this year, Cabinet approved the regularisation of Big Biaboo, paving the way for GWI to begin the water expansion project.

“It’s a vast area, so it took a lot of investment and finally we can say that we made that commitment as well and we can have residents living in dignity and have access to the services and the utilities that all Guyanese deserve to have access to,” the Minister stated.

Minister Rodrigues also commended regional representatives for their efforts in bringing issues faced by residents in communities across the region to the forefront. She stated that this has played a crucial role in the Government’s mandate to address issues and improve the lives of citizens.

the installation of 1.9 kilometres of 4-inch polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipes and is expected to see some 26 households benefitting.

While in Little Biaboo, the Minister also led a hamper distribution exercise. The hampers are being distributed as part of Government’s response to farmers affected by recent floods. Some 190 livestock and cash crop farmers who have been affected will benefit at the conclusion of the distribution process. The list of farmers was drawn from the communities of Little Biaboo, Big Biaboo and Hansom Tree.

This also followed a house lot distribution exercise at the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) office in Fort Wellington on Friday in keeping with another promise made by the Minister two weeks ago.

The exercise saw thirty-sev-

Minister Rodrigues handing over one of the hampers to a resident in the area

At the time the residents called on the Minister for access to potable water and the development of a new

The project, which was executed under the supervision of the GWI, includes

en low-income families, including fifteen informal settlers, receiving house lots.

29 Coffins with skeletal remains appear on Corentyne foreshore NEWS

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Some of the coffins at the foreshore

S

everal coffins with what appear to be skeletal remains of humans appeared on the Corentyne foreshore at Number 70 Village. The remains may be more than 100 years old.

The discovery was made on Friday by villagers who said that there were coffins in different shapes and sizes.

Another coffin at the foreshore

Police say they have not received an official report on the findings but ranks had reportedly gone to the scene after various social media posts were made, however, nothing was found.

The coffins were about 20 feet from where the tide reaches when it is high.

There are reports that the area was a cemetery

over a century ago. Many of the coffins are made of pinewood, which is why some are still in perfect condition.

Meanwhile, there are reports that several decades ago, a similar sighting was made at the same location and senior citizens in the village at the time had revealed that the area was once a cemetery.

Over the years, the shoreline along the Corentyne Coast has been eroding.

In fact, currently at the Number 63 Beach, there is evidence that the shore has eroded at least 400 metres or a quarter of a mile. The remains of coconut trees are visible at least a quarter mile out.

Some farmers there have

reported that the Atlantic had taken up their farm and they had to relocate twice and once again, the ocean is threatening to claim the land they plant on.

Meanwhile, at Number 70 Village where the remains were sighted, there are also the remains of what appear to be some structure forming part of the beach

now.

According to one resident, a few decades ago when the coffins were seen, after a while the ocean brought sand and covered them and they disappeared.

As eerie as that may sound, residents do not seem to be overly concerned with the developments at the Number 70 foreshore.

Removal of wreckage from Demerara River commences

Harbour Master (ag) Glasford Archer of the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD)

D

utch maritime solutions provider, Koole Contractors has begun a wreckage removal project in the Demerara River.

They were hired by the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD)

Project Manager Marc Rooijakkers of Koole Contractors

Director General at MARAD, Stephen Thomas and Koole Contractors’ representative, Janneke Kuijper.

“These wrecks present have hindered and, I would say, restrict more or less, the manoeuvring of vessels with-

“The removal of these wrecks is very important because it will enable safe navigation…”

Archer reportedly told the Department of Public Information (DPI) that there were attempts to remove the

The grapple will be used to lift the wreckage out of the river

making the waterway much safer.

Koole Project Manager, Marc Rooijakkers told DPI that day one of the project, Saturday, will allow the company to orient itself with the location of the first undersea wreckage, a barge.

The process involves using Koole’s custom built machinery to cut up the barge, then remove it from the sea bit by bit. It’s estimated that the removal of the barge wreckage will take about two weeks.

“It is a barge, about 50 by 12.5 metres, and we’re going to remove this wreck with the chisel method,” Rooijakkers said.

“The chisel method is a method that we developed ourselves, with Koole Contractors. It’s basically a 17.5-tonne steel plate which we lift 22 metres high and then we let it fall with a free fall.”

“As soon as the wreck is hit into small sections with the steel plate, we will connect the grapple, and with

the grapple, we will lift out the several wreck sections.

Depending on the state of the wreck, the grapple can also break the wreck into sections. As soon as we have a firm grip on the wreck, then we can lift the wreck onboard the vessel into small sections, and escort them onboard the barge.”

He said Koole can’t know for sure how long it will take to remove all three wreckages but the company is working with a rough estimate of two to three months.

Man, 56, dies from COVID...

This steel plate weighs 17.5 tonnes. It will be dropped into the river to break the wreckage into small sections

to remove three separate wreckages. The $787.6 million contract was signed early last month between

in the harbours or in close proximity to the harbours,” said Harbour Master (ag) at MARAD, Glasford Archer.

wreckages in the past but they were unsuccessful. He expressed optimism that the company will be successful in

Minister Anthony further assured that there are sufficient vaccines available to immunise the adult population in the country as well as the adolescent cohort. In fact, he indicated that additional vaccines – Sputnik V component two, AstraZeneca and Pfizer are slated to arrive within the coming days.

Nevertheless, as people continue to get vaccinated, authorities are urging the

public to continue observing all COVID-19 preventative measures, particularly masking in public, social distancing and frequent hand washing and sanitising.

The measures also include vaccination requirements to access any public building such as restaurants, places of worship, schools as well as Government buildings.

According to the World

FROM PAGE 27

Health Organisation (WHO), as of Saturday, some 242,348,657 confirmed cases were reported globally along with 4,927,723 deaths.

The WHO also reported on Saturday that in the Region of the Americas, that is, Latin America and the Caribbean, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases has increased to 92,640,794 while the death toll in the region has gone up to 2,272,988.

30 NEWS

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Health Ministry working to eliminate “neglected” infectious diseases – Min Anthony − says about 8500 persons are HIV positive

Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony

H

ealth Minister Dr Frank Anthony on Thursday while addressing the first batch of students enrolled in the 44th Medical Extension (Medex) programme stated that the Ministry is on the road to eliminating the burden of the many neglected diseases in Guyana. “…We have a lot of infectious diseases that have been with us for a long time, they continue to be there. And we have some plans where we want to reduce the burden of these diseases. There’s a whole group of them that are called the neglected infectious diseases. Some of these include leishmaniasis, or as it’s commonly known as ‘bushias’… you have chagas disease, which in some of the

areas in Guyana its endemic. And therefore, we need to work in eradicating it,” the Minister noted.

As such, he told the students that they will be tasked to identify these diseases in the various communities in which they will be seconded.

He noted that the Medex officers are expected to work along with the Ministry in creating a strategic plan on how to eliminate the diseases.

“So, a lot of these neglected diseases – we are part of the global system and we’ve set ourselves a global target of eliminating – not reducing – these neglected diseases from our country. And we can only do that if you are going to help us to do that… so that’s one area that we have

to work on, and you’re going to be expected to be part of this movement of eradicating some of these diseases.”

He further stated that while the task may seem difficult to do, the Ministry has been working on the lymphatic disease (Filaria) over the past few years, and has recorded many successes thus far with that particular disease.

Additionally, he also related that the Ministry is on the verge of commencing a certification programme in this regard. “…Because of the work we have done using dec salt, using medicines that we shared out house to house and give people, now the burden of that disease has dropped significantly, and now we are hoping that by the end of this year, the programme of certifying that we are filaria-free, would begin. So later, maybe in another month or so, they’ll start doing some of those tests to verify that,” the Minister revealed.

Malaria and HIV

The Minster highlighted that Malaria continues to be a major problem, especially in the hinterland regions.

“Malaria, in many of the communities that you’ve come from, malaria is a big problem. And what we’ve traditionally trained people to do is to reach the microscope, the slides and then

to make a diagnosis of what type and then offer treatment,” he stated.

“But again, we need to reduce the burden of the disease. How can we do that?

We have to look at how we can break transmission, how we can reduce the vector, meaning, how we can reduce the mosquito burden, and if you have less mosquitoes, it means that chances of transmission would be reduced,” he pointed out.

Dr Anthony further made note of the current strategies which are being used in the effort to eradicate malaria.

He explained that the Ministry is currently distributing insecticide impregnated bed nets.

“We’ve distributed these nets, and we expect that you learn more about that technology, so that you could advise people more in the community, why they need to sleep under these nets.

Because a simple action like that can change the dynamics of malaria in a village,” he

reassured.

In addition to this, he revealed that health officials are also working with an international agency on a technique to sterilise mosquitoes using radiation.

He informed that some of the outreach workers have already commenced training, however, “as you get this Medex training and you’ll be working in those areas, you should familiarise yourself with some of these techniques, because these techniques are some of the new techniques that we’ll be using and you’ll need to know them… so, malaria, we want to reduce the burden, to make sure that this is no longer a significant threat”.

The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) was also highlighted as another problem that is being faced in the country.

“Right now, we have about 8500 persons who are HIV positive,” Dr Anthony informed.

“We have to treat them.

We have to make sure that they do not have complications. And again, during your practice, you would encounter people who are HIV positive,” he told the Medex students.

“But there’s a lot of hope.

We now have medication that if there are persons who are at risk for HIV, if we give them these medications, we can prevent them from getting HIV. We’re now talking about PrEP – Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis so before you even – once you’re at high risk, you can get these medications and prevent the infection from happening,” he said.

In addition to this, he revealed that the Ministry has plans to introduce self-testing for HIV patients.

He urged the students to keep abreast with what is happening in order to educate and work with the people within the communities so that they can utilise the new techniques that are being made available.

Distribution of one-off cash grants winds down in Regions 2, 4 and 10

T

he Human Services and Social Security Ministry has almost completed distribution of the Government’s one-off cash grants and 2022 pension books in Regions Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), Four (Demerara-Mahaica) and 10 (Upper DemeraraBerbice).

The Ministry has already completed distributions in Region Five (MahaicaBerbice) and Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne).

Subject Minister, Dr Vindhya Persaud and team recently visited several distribution sites in Region 10 covering areas

Minister Persaud and team assisting at one of the distribution sites in Region 10

Dr Persaud interacting with persons conducting the exercise at one of the distribution sites

such as Bamia, Amelia’s Ward, Bayrock, Wismar, Watooka, Coomaka, and Christianburg.

In Region Two, she visited the Charity Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC), Anna Regina and Hampton Court.

During her visit to Region 10, Minister Persaud and her team distributed over 200 hampers to residents in Silver Hill, Chinese Road in Moblissa and Bamia.

The Ministry also distributed 75 pairs of spectacles at Coomaka.

In addition, 140 pairs of spectacles and 200 hampers

were distributed along the Essequibo Coast.

“When I thought about the spectacles initiative, I knew how important it was going to be to help persons perform everyday tasks.

Just under 1500 spectacles later, the joy on people’s faces and their eagerness to do activities that they could not for some time because they were not seeing well, makes it all worthwhile,” the Minister related.

Head of the Ministry’s Difficult Circumstances Unit, Mahendra Budhram explained: “We found in some places that an en-

tire family is using one pair of spectacles so Minister Persaud decided to expand this initiative so that more persons can benefit.”

During the initiative, several residents would have expressed their appreciation of the gesture by the Ministry.

Meanwhile, as it relates to Region Four, the Ministry had announced that an extra week would be provided at the end of this month for those who would have missed the distribution exercise in Georgetown.

Residents on the East Coast and East Bank Demerara who did not collect their one-off grant and pension books are urged to visit the regular distribution sites in their respective areas.

The Ministry is reminding pensioners that 2022 pension books will be available throughout the year, however, the vouchers will be time-bound and will have to be cashed by November 30 at any post office or any of the other locations.

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2021

ICC T20 World Cup…

31

Josh Hazlewood leads bowlers' show — as Australia clinch nail-biter in opening Super 12s fixture A wicket off the third ball of spin. Their best player playing on in inexplicable fashion. A batter losing his footing and getting run-out. This really wasn't South Africa's day, but they didn't care. They had a job to do. Defending 118.

Temba Bavuma's men made the first match of the Super 12s in the 2021 T20 World Cup one for the ages. It is a shame they had to settle for second best. Australia persevered and persevered. This was their game. With the benefit of a few players coming off a good IPL, they knew just what to do on a slow Abu Dhabi pitch.

Josh Hazlewood (4-1-19-2) and Glenn Maxwell (4-0-24-1) were particularly devilish to deal with, their tight lines and intothe-wicket style completely tying the opposition down. It still came down to their batting, which has not been their strength lately. But Marcus Stoinis and Matthew Wade came good when it mattered most, their 40-

I

Josh Hazlewood claimed 2 for 19

run stand in only 26 balls sealing a profoundly valuable victory, especially given they are in the group of death.

Power on. Power off Bavuma smacked 11 runs off the first five balls of the game from Mitchell Starc. His two shots - through point and cover - were a symbol of South Africa's form heading into this T20 World Cup. They are here, having beaten the current world champions and former world champions in back-

to-back T20I series.

They wouldn't have wanted to crumble like this. But crumble they did, starting with Bavuma, who played back to the innings' third ball of spin and lost his stumps.

If there was a hint of bad luck about that dismissal - tiiiiiiiny bit of low bounce - there came one that was just a big black omen.

The ball was basic. Length.

No swing. No seam. No nothing.

Quinton de Kock wanted to boss it. He went for a scoop. He mis-hit

n anticipation of the Glasgow, who scored his first month now, so it took me a good CONCACAF Men’s Under-20 international goal at 17 years while to adjust to this pitch. It has qualifiers, Guyana’s old earlier this year, was quizzed improved my game a lot; taking Under-20 Men’s team have about being a role model to his the ball, passing balls, I improve been avidly preparing for their peers. a lot.” first tournament since the He answered, “I’m seeing Like Ofancy Winter, coronavirus pandemic. that, yes. Most of the players Alexander Davidson hails from As they shared their come to me for advice, and they Lethem. He also has had to experiences, members of want me to talk to them on the balance schoolwork and travel. the team have detailed their field and stuff. I give them the “It ain’t really been expectations, adapting to advice and motivate them, ‘cause complicated, because school conditions, and juggling I want them to play as good as hasn’t been open, but (I school work, which have m e had) night classes and school come right along with work,” Davidson their rigorous training. said about his Arguably the schooling.

On most experienced travelling, he player, Golden Jaguars added, “Well, from international forward Linden to Lethem, Omari Glasgow has said (the) road, it hasn’t he expects the team to been that good, so it do well, while sharing affects the legs.” how his international The 16-year-old experience has helped. has high hopes for “Well, I feel very Ofancy Win the team, in which he ter (R) leadin g the pack du confident and motivated, feels much familiarity ring training because the last time we since meeting his played we didn’t do (as) good as and do better fellow players in previous we expected. But I feel confident than me, same way.” camps. with this group going into the On experience gained from “I think I can bring a lot to this tournament, and I feel we’ll do the senior team that he can use team, and help it, develop it and great,” Glasgow said about his at the U20 level, the teenager make it stronger, and hopefully expectations for the team. shared, “First of all composure, win,” Davidson said. “I feel good, and giving the players the because I know some of them confidence and motivate them from Under-15 and Under-14 to play at the level that we would camp.” play as the senior national team.

Left winger Kenan Harper is I just want to motivate them so one of the successful candidates that we could go out there and coming out of the GFF Talent do good.”

I.D Programme in Florida last Meanwhile, Lethem’s Ofancy month. The biggest challenge for Winter has had to balance him has been adjusting to the FOR SALE football and CSEC examinations, tropical weather.

House and Land situated at Enmore, while adjusting to a better “It’s been difficult, but I’m East Coast Demerara. Tel# 500-1313 football pitch at the Providence getting used to it. I’m fine. I’m Training Centre. confident I can make it through,” TAXI SERVICE “Well, yeah, it’s been difficult the foreign-based player shared.

Elegant Cabs. 231-1494 / 2264277, Cell #: 625-6600. 24 hrs. balancing sport with school “I expect to be playing at my top work, education; but, as a performance, and I expect to be WANTED young kid coming from Region in the starting X1.

One Male Scrap Yard assistant. Must 9, we don’t have the things back “Pace, good control; good have motor cycle. Preferably from home like Wi-Fi to study. Going finisher too!” he added on the East Coast Demerara. Requirements: C.X.C English and Maths, Covid-19 to the ground for early morning topic of what he can contribute Vaccinated and Valid Police sessions for football, and late- to the team. night studying… Yeah, it was a bit The U20 Qualifiers are set Clearance. Call: 681-8140 for November 5-14 in Santo One (1) live-in Housekeeper. Must difficult,” Ofancy explained.

Speaking about adjusting Domingo, Dominican Republic. know to cook and iron. Preferably from out of town. Requirements: to the synthetic pitch at Guyana is in Group D, alongside Covid-19 Vaccinated, Valid Food Providence, Ofancy said, “It took Nicaragua, Cayman Islands and Handlers Certificate and Valid Police me a good while (to adjust). I’ve U.S. Virgin Islands.

Clearance. Contact: 681-8140 been here four weeks (and) one

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it. And then everything stopped.

The ball hung in the air. Right over the stumps. Eventually it began moving. In slow motion. de Kock's eyes were horror-movie wide. He stood absolutely still.

Watching the chaos. As that little white cherry plonked right on top of his stumps.

South Africa were 29 for 3 in six overs.

The slide Aiden Markram and David Miller tried to pick up the pieces through the middle overs, but a double-wicket over from Adam Zampa put paid to that.

The legspinner has always been key to Australia's limited-overs fortunes in recent years, and he was able to break the partnership with a googly that the batter failed to read. Miller saw a ball on his pads and went for the big sweep. It turned the wrong way and pinned him in front. That little bit of magic, combined with excellent discipline from the fast bowlers, forced South Africa from 80 for 4 to 83 for 7 in the space of six balls.

The last wicket of that collapse was rather gruesome.

Keshav Maharaj hit the ball to point and wanted a non-existent single. Markram responded at first, but changed his mind and only just made his ground. The throw though beat the fielder backing up, and that prompted Maharaj to look for the single again, only Markram saw none of it, because his back was turned.

By the time Maharaj cottoned on, he was halfway down the pitch; and in his hurry to get back, he slipped and fell and became a punch line.

The finish No chase in the UAE is done until the last ball is bowled. All day, the batters found it hard to hit out on this slow pitch.

South Africa used that to their benefit, toppling Aaron Finch, David Warner and Mitchell Marsh cheaply. Steven Smith was guiding the chase beautifully, but he, too, fell before the job was done.

Maxwell followed him three balls later, and suddenly Australia were 81 for 5, still needing 38 off the last five overs.

This was what South Africa were waiting for. Two new batters facing the heat in the death.

Wade and Stoinis open the innings in the Big Bash League back home. But with the national

team filled with top-order players, the only way they fit in the XI is as finishers. And while this wasn’t the first time they were performing that role for Australia, World Cup pressure changes everything.

They weathered it at first, the partnership inching along on 9 off 9, and then it blossomed when Wade pulled off an audacious scoop off Kagiso Rabada to end the 17th over. Stoinis joined in later, hitting three fours in the final six balls to seal the game and end the fight. (ESPNcricinfo)

SCOREBOARD SOUTH AFRICA INNINGS (20 OVERS MAXIMUM) Temba Bavuma (c) b Maxwell 12 Quinton de Kock † b Hazlewood 7 Rassie van der Dussen c †Wade b Hazlewood 2 Aiden Markram c Maxwell b Starc 40 Heinrich Klaasen c Smith b Cummins 13 David Miller lbw b Zampa 16 Dwaine Pretorius c † Wade b Zampa 1 Keshav Maharaj run out (Maxwell/†Wade) 0 Kagiso Rabada not out 19 Anrich Nortje c Finch b Starc 2 Tabraiz Shamsi not out 0 Extras(b 2, lb 3, w 1) 6 TOTAL(20 Ov, RR: 5.90) 118/9 Fall of wickets: 1-13 (Temba Bavuma, 1.3 ov), 2-16 (Rassie van der Dussen, 2.1 ov), 3-23 (Quinton de Kock, 4.1 ov), 4-46 (Heinrich Klaasen, 7.6 ov), 5-80 (David Miller, 13.3 ov), 6-82 (Dwaine Pretorius, 13.6 ov), 7-83 (Keshav Maharaj, 14.3 ov), 8-98 (Aiden Markram, 17.1 ov), 9-115 (Anrich Nortje, 19.4 ov) BOWLING O-M-R-W Mitchell Starc 4-0-32-2 Glenn Maxwell 4-0-24-1 Josh Hazlewood 4-1-19-2

Pat Cummins Adam Zampa

4-0-17-1 4-0-21-2

AUSTRALIA INNINGS (TARGET: 119 RUNS FROM 20 OVERS) David Warner c Klaasen b Rabada 14 Aaron Finch (c) c Rabada b Nortje 0 Mitchell Marsh c van der Dussen b Maharaj 11 Steven Smith c Markram b Nortje 35 Glenn Maxwell b Shamsi 18 Marcus Stoinis not out 2 Matthew Wade †not out 15 Extras (lb 1, w 3) 4 TOTAL (19.4 Ov, RR: 6.15) 121/5 Did not bat: Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood Fall of wickets: 1-4 (Aaron Finch, 1.5 ov), 2-20 (David Warner, 4.3 ov), 3-38 (Mitchell Marsh, 7.5 ov), 4-80 (Steven Smith, 14.5 ov), 5-81 (Glenn Maxwell, 15.2 ov) BOWLING O-M-R-W Kagiso Rabada 4-0-28-1 Anrich Nortje 4-0-21-2 Keshav Maharaj 4-0-23-1 Tabraiz Shamsi 4-0-22-1 Dwaine Pretorius 3.4-0-26-0

Assuria insurance company makes big contributions to LGC caddies Already known for its many lines of insurance packages, including life, pension, fire and general insurance, Assuria is also becoming known for having positive impacts in communities.

The caddies at the Lusignan Golf Club (LGC) have received uniforms, and a new caddy lounge will be constructed for their convenience, all compliments of Assuria.

In a statement, the LGC has thanked Assuria for “its generous donations to our caddies, and by extension to the Lusignan community, and for its commitment to providing essential services to people of all income levels.

“We hope our caddies will take advantage of some of the insurance offerings, such as Assuria’s Dream Realised Package, in which first-time property owners who have received land or property through the Central Housing and Planning Authority will be given “50% DISCOUNT ON RESIDENTIAL INSURANCE on your 1st year premium.”

LGC Vice President Paton George has said, “With the GTT

Yogindra Arjune, Assuria’s Managing Director (left), LGC President Patanjilee Persaud (c) and LGC Treasurer Maxim Mangra

Guyana Open just one week away, this generous uniform donation will be felt immediately.

The LGC management expresses great thanks to Assuria. The uniforms will help in our quest to raise the standards of our tournaments. And with the new caddy lounge soon to be constructed, our caddies will be able to enjoy a more modern, comfortable area to relax while off the course.”

George also relayed that the golf grounds are in great shape ahead of the next four weeks of highly-anticipated tournaments.

He disclosed that this week’s

final tune up tournament before the big GTT Guyana Open is sponsored by C&V Shipping, and after the two-day GTT Guyana Open and the MACORP Golf Classic, the LGC is looking forward to an action-packed month of play, in which the best golfers would be primed to perform at their best for very coveted prizes, including being crowned Guyana Open champion.

The Lusignan Golf Club notes that this partnership with Assuria is intended to be long-lasting and mutually beneficial. The club’s shared goal is to make golf and insurance accessible to all.

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

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2021

guyanatimesgy.com

England thrash defending World T20 Champs The chase It wasn’t all that easy to bat, even though England didn’t have a big target to chase. They had the net run-rate on their mind, which is why they kept sending in attacking batters, but nobody could bat at much higher than

SCOREBOARD

Moeen Ali struck early in the innings

T

here was no thriller in the repeat of the 2016 T20 World Cup final, as West Indies played low-percentage cricket on a

difficult pitch to be bowled out for 55, but England had to work reasonably hard to overhaul the

target, taking 8.2 overs and losing four wickets.

Between them, England spinners Moeen Ali and Adil Rashid bowled 6.2 overs that produced 19 runs and cost six wickets. That it wasn’t extremely easy for England while chasing would make West Indies question their approach: they lost nine of their 10 wickets looking to hit a four or a six; 59 of the 86 balls they faced were dots; and they made no attempt to rebuild after losing early wickets.

On flat pitches, there is nothing wrong with this approach, but will these pitches make West Indies play differently?

Whether West Indies aimed too high and fell too short, or they didn’t trust themselves to bat at a run a ball for five or six overs without taking risks is something we will get to know if they are again caught batting first on a difficult pitch in this tournament.

Moeen with the new ball In a highly tactical first few plays, England opened the bowling with Moeen. They had two things working for them: West Indies had four left-hand batters in their top six, and Lendl Simmons had gotten out to offspin in the warm-up game.

Evin Lewis ruined a tidy first over by hitting the last ball for a six, but he fell to an exceptional catch by Moeen, running back in the next over after he had miscued a well-disguised Chris

a run a ball. When they tried to force the pace, they got out, losing four wickets before they got to the target in 8.2 overs.

Jos Buttler played 22 balls for his 24 runs, but it was enough to take the team home.

(ESPNcricinfo)

England walked off a satisfied lot

Woakes slower ball.

In the next over, Simmons repeated his dismissal to Mohammad Nabi as he found deep midwicket Akeal Hosein bagged 2-24 t o perfection, off Moeen. Chris Gayle and Shimron Hetmyer tried to counterattack, which can’t be faulted much, because maximising powerplays has been key to setting good scores on these pitches. Hetmyer, though, found mid-on as he looked to hit a third boundary in Moeen’s third over.

Bowling for the first time in international cricket since May 2018, Ty m a l Mills then got rid of Gayle with a sharp short ball, making it 31 for 4 at the end of the powerplay.

Andre Russell was bowled by Adil Rashid

West Indies were eschewing big shots and taking whatever they could get by batting 20 overs.

Russell even provided a forwarddefensive to Rashid, but he spun the wrong’un through the gap to make it 44 for 7.

In Rashid’s next over, Pollard was beaten in the flight as he

D

Wickets keep falling This is usually a time when many T20 sides start to look to rebuild, but West Indies kept coming at England. This could perhaps be a response to their not being able to score singles, or because they felt singles were not going to get them to a fighting score.

Dwayne Bravo, promoted to break the lefthand batters in the middle without sacrificing Kieron Pollard and Andre Russell at the death, failed to keep a cut down a ball after he had hit an upper-cut for four.

Nicholas Pooran fell to a big drive with an open face.

The ball did just enough to take the edge. West Indies were 42 for 6 in the ninth.

Rashid runs through the rest Rashid was introduced in the 11th over, with Pollard and Russell in the middle.

Finally, now it seemed

looked for a six, and hit the wrong’un straight to long-on.

Obed McCoy tried to hit a six first ball, and holed out. Ravi Rampaul resisted for a while, but was bowled trying to slog-sweep in Rashid’s next. Rashid’s figures at the end read: 2.2-0-2-4.

Shimron Hetmyer and his wife Nirvani Hetmyer

uring the past week, the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club (RHTY&SC) announced that Mr and Mrs Shimron Hetmyer have informed that they would be supporting the 2021 Christmas Charity Programme by making a significant contribution.

This RHTY&SC Christmas Charity programme aims to share more than 1000 food hampers across the county of Berbice. The Hetmyers were in contact with RHTY&SC Secretary/ CEO Hilbert Foster, and confirmed that on their return to Guyana next month, they would officially hand over the sponsorship.

Shimron is currently with the West Indies team at the T20 World Cup in the United Arab Emrites (UAE).

Shimron and Nirvani Hetmyer have been

WEST INDIES INNINGS (20 OVERS MAXIMUM) Lendl Simmons c Livingstone b Ali 3 Evin Lewis c Ali b Woakes 6 Chris Gayle c Malan b Mills 13 Shimron Hetmyer c Morgan b Ali 9 Dwayne Bravo c Bairstow b Jordan 5 Nicholas Pooran † c †Buttler b Mills 1 Kieron Pollard (c) c Bairstow b Rashid 6 Andre Russell b Rashid 0 Akeal Hosein not out 6 Obed McCoy c Roy b Rashid 0 Ravi Rampaul b Rashid 3 Extras (w 3) 3 TOTAL (14.2 Ov, RR: 3.83) 55 Fall of wickets: 1-8 (Evin Lewis, 1.3 ov), 2-9 (Lendl Simmons, 2.2 ov), 3-27 (Shimron Hetmyer, 4.4 ov), 4-31 (Chris Gayle, 5.6 ov), 5-37 (Dwayne Bravo, 7.2 ov), 6-42 (Nicholas Pooran, 8.5 ov), 7-44 (Andre Russell, 10.1 ov), 8-49 (Kieron Pollard, 12.1 ov), 9-49 (Obed McCoy, 12.2 ov), 10-55 (Ravi Rampaul, 14.2 ov)

very supportive of Foster’s work at both the BCB and RHTY&SC. Earlier this year, the couple sponsored two cricket tournaments at the grassroots levels in East Canje, established a million-dollar trust fund to assist playe r s and clubs, and donate d $3M in hampers towards flood r e lief.

BOWLING Moeen Ali Chris Woakes Tymal Mills Chris Jordan Adil Rashid

O-M-R-W 4-1-17-2 2-0-12-1 4-0-17-2 2-0-7-1 2.2-0-2-4

ENGLAND INNINGS (TARGET: 56 RUNS FROM 20 OVERS) Jason Roy c Gayle b Rampaul 11 Jos Buttler † not out 24 Jonny Bairstow c & b Hosein 9 Moeen Ali run out (Lewis/McCoy) 3 Liam Livingstone c & b Hosein 1 Eoin Morgan (c)not out 7 Extras (nb 1) 1 TOTAL (8.2 Ov, RR: 6.72) 56/4 Did not bat: Dawid Malan, Chris Woakes, Chris Jordan, Adil Rashid, Tymal Mills Fall of wickets: 1-21 (Jason Roy, 3.1 ov), 2-30 (Jonny Bairstow, 4.1 ov), 3-36 (Moeen Ali, 5.2 ov), 4-39 (Liam Livingstone, 6.1 ov) BOWLING O-M-R-W Akeal Hosein 4-0-24-2 Ravi Rampaul 2-0-14-1 Obed McCoy 2-0-12-0 Kieron Pollard 0.2-0-6-0

The RHTY&SC would like to express profound gratitude to Shimron and Nirvani Hetmyer for their kindness, as the club seeks to make a positive difference in the lives of many during the festive season. “May God bless your marriage, and grant you peace of mind and happiness,” the RHTY&SC social media page has said.

The Hetmyers had, earlier in the year, fulfilled their commitment to the development of Berbice Cricket when they presented the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) with a cheque for one million dollars. Those funds were for the historic Shimron/Nirvani Hetmyer BCB Cricket Trust Fund.

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