Guyana Times - Thurday, July 28, 2022

Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

Issue No. 5083

THE BEACON OF TRUTH THURSDAY, JULY 28, 2022

Frank, open discussions with VP Harris “confronted big issues” – Pres Ali …says discourse beneficial for bilateral relations, regional development

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

GOGEC calls P9 on GAWU to reconsider partnership with foreign union …says local trade unions have abundant experience

Page 7

US EximBank, Guyana sign US$2B deal Page 3

Training for health officials to detect P12 monkeypox to start today

2 admit to killing of sugar estate employee P10

…MoU opens doors for funding for developmental projects – Ali President Dr Irfaan Ali and EXIM Bank President Reta Jo Lewis display the signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Washington, DC on Wednesday (OP photo)

Security guard jailed for 16 years for raping teen Page 11

Snatching of Speaker’s Mace

Suspended Opposition MPs to lose parliamentary benefits during suspension – AG Page 2

Bandit shot dead during WBD home invasion

…injured bandit begged businessman to take his life after being caught – witness

Woman in P8 Facebook romance scam spared jail time after compensating victim

Page 10

ExxonMobil taking steps to ensure longevity of oil fields – Production P9 Manager

2 NEWS

THURSDAY, JULY 28, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Snatching of Speaker’s Mace…

Suspended Opposition MPs to lose parliamentary benefits during suspension – AG T

he eight A Partnership for National Unity/ Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Opposition Members of Parliament (MPs) who were recently suspended for several sittings over their misconduct last December will not be able to enjoy their various Parliamentary benefits during the period of their suspension.

Last week, the National Assembly adopted a report from the Parliamentary Committee of Privileges, which recommended the suspension of Opposition Chief Whip Christopher Jones, Ganesh Mahipaul, Sherod Duncan, Natasha SinghLewis, Annette Ferguson, Vinceroy Jordan, Tabitha Sarabo-Halley, and Maureen Philadelphia over their conduct in the House on December 29, 2021.

One week later, these eight parliamentarians would soon be receiving their official suspension letters from the Parliament Office.

Clerk of the National Assembly, Sherlock Isaacs, explained to Guyana Times that he had dispatched the letters earlier on Wednesday but had to later withdraw them. However, he opted not to divulge the reason behind recalling the letters.

Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall

“A letter [of suspension] was sent today (Wednesday) but there was an issue, so the letter was withdrawn [Wednesday] afternoon,” Isaacs stated.

Moreover, the Clerk was unable to say when a new letter would be dispatched to the eight MPs to formally notify them of their suspension, which took effect following the National Assembly’s approval.

Consequences

Chief Whip Jones, Mahipaul, Duncan and Singh-Lewis have been suspended for four consecutive sittings each over their attempts to disrupt the passage of the Natural Resources Fund (NRF) Bill and ignoring the authority of the Speaker on December 29, 2021.

MPs Ferguson and Jordan are suspended for six con-

secutive sittings over severe and egregious violations by removing the Parliamentary Mace from its rightful position, not only damaging the object, but also injuring and assaulting a staff of the Parliament Office.

Meanwhile, SaraboHalley, who entered the Communication Control Room of the Arthur Chung Conference Centre and destroyed several pieces of audio-visual equipment, is suspended for six sittings.

A d d i t i o n a l l y , Philadelphia is facing a suspension for six consecutive sittings for verbally assaulting a Parliament staff.

Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall S.C, during this week’s edition of his programme Issues in the News, detailed the consequences of this suspension.

“Suspension carries with it certain consequences.

They are not to be paid. So, how many months those four sittings last, they will not be paid; how many months the [six] sittings last, they will not be paid. They will also not participate in any committee business. They will not participate in any business of the National Assembly during the period of that suspension. So, all the trips that

Opposition Chief Whip Christopher Jones

Tabitha Sarabo-Halley

Annette Ferguson

Maureen Philadelphia

they wanted to go on overseas and all the other benefits that would’ve accrued to them as Parliamentarians are also forfeited during the period of the suspension.

And that is what happens when you don’t want to obey the law and you don’t want to accept procedures,” the AG contended.

Democracy

According to Minister Nandlall, this is another demonstration of democracy prevailing in Guyana despite subversive acts by the APNU/AFC Coalition.

In fact, he pointed out that this type of conduct would not be acceptable in any Parliament, especially within the Commonwealth, which Guyana is part of.

“Our democracy is work-

Ganesh Mahipaul

Vinceroy Jordan

Natasha Singh-Lewis

ing, and it is strong. And despite efforts made to denigrate it, to undermine it and to subvert it in relation to this issue, it has prevailed…

I’m very pleased that this sanction was imposed – not because I wanted punitive measures to be imposed on any Parliamentarian, but because I want to preserve and protect the sanctity of the process of Parliament and the sanctity of Parliament as a democratic institution under our constitutional structure. It is that we maintain dignity and we uphold respect for these institutions that are so critical to the democratic process of our country and the society itself,” AG Nandlall posited.

The Privileges Committee Report was adopted with much objection from

Sherod Duncan

Coalition Opposition members during last week’s sitting. Moreover, the APNU/ AFC has even moved to the court to challenge the decision made by the Committee.

Although both sides of the House had representatives on the Committee, the Opposition Members did not show up at the last three of the five committee meetings.

Hence, the other members, including the Chairman, Speaker of the National Assembly Manzoor Nadir, went ahead and conclude the report with the recommendations for suspension of the eight Opposition MPs in question.

But this was not before those eight MPs were asked to give reason why they should not face any sanctions. (G8)

3 US EximBank, Guyana sign US$2B deal NEWS

THURSDAY, JULY 28, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS OPENINGS BRIDGE

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

…MoU opens doors for funding for developmental projects – Ali

Thursday, July 28 – 03:00h-04:30h and Friday, July 29 – 03:30h-05:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Thursday, July 28 – 16:50h-18:20h and Friday, July 29 – 17:10h-18:40h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY

Sunny conditions are expected in earlymorning hours, with light to thundery showers in the afternoon and into the evening hours.

Temperatures should range between 22 degrees Celsius and 29 degrees Celsius.

Winds: North North-Easterly to Westerly between 1.78 metres and 4.02 metres.

High Tide: 15:57h reaching a maximum height of 2.32 metres.

Low Tide: 09:30h and 21:42h reaching minimum heights of 0.8 metre and 0.9 metre.

LOTTERY NUMBERS 03 09 12

15 17 23

FREE TICKET

4 Bonus Ball

DAILY MILLIONS

02 07 18 23 24 LUCKY 3

8

1

2

9

Afternoon Draw

1

9

Evening Draw

DRAW DE LINE

04 12 13 12 15 17 21 SUPER

PAY DAY

PAY DAY

FRIDAY, JULY 23, 2022

05 10 11 12 16 13

02 04 05 08 21

6

8 Afternoon Draw

FP Afternoon Draw

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7 Evening Draw

2X Evening Draw

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

COMMODITIES Indicators

US$

Change %

Crude Oil

$107.90/barrel

+1.21

Rough Rice

$305.604/ton

-0.47

London Sugar

$510.30/ton

Live Spot Gold

0.00

USD Per Ounce

Bid/Ask

$1719.40

$1720.40

Low/High Change

$1713.50 +2.10

$1728.60 +0.12

scale,” President Ali further said.

According to President Ali, the Information Communication and Technology (ICT) sectors are also addressed in the MoU. Also included are medium sized projects, which he said are addressed in a holistic way.

The President also spoke about the wider signal the signing of the MoU sends for the entire Caribbean region.

According to him, the MoU can be better consummated in a high-level visit from officials of the EXIM Bank to Guyana, where they can have a round-table discussion.

“This is a day that is the single most important signal, not just for Guyana, but the entire region: that the United States, through one of its agencies, the EXIM

US EXIM Bank President Reta Jo Lewis with President Dr Irfaan Ali following the signing

Bank, is serious about the commitment to this region.

“This signal is an open invitation to the Private Sector from both countries to now move aggressively forward on a platform supported by the Government of Guyana and the EXIM Bank. I hope they make full use of this opportunity,” the President added.

President Ali left for the US on Sunday, accompanied

by Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo, Minister Todd, and Foreign Secretary Robert Persaud. He has already met with US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and Vice President Kamala Harris.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 27, 2022

L

O

ne of the highpoints of President Dr Irfaan Ali’s trip to Washington is the signing of a US$2 billion agreement with the United States (US) Export Import (EXIM) Bank, which will allow for funding for a range of projects, including in the renewable energy sector.

The signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Guyana and the US EXIM Bank occurred on Wednesday in Washington DC. Under the agreement, the parties agreed to explore options for utilising EXIM’s standard instruments, which include direct loans and medium- and long-term guarantees, to finance US exports to Guyana for Government projects totalling US$2 billion.

President Dr Irfaan Ali along with members of his visiting delegation and the EXIM Bank team

Signing the documents were Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister Hugh Todd and EXIM Bank President Reta Jo Lewis. Also present was First Vice President and Vice Chair of the Board of Directors at the bank, Judith Pryor.

Afterwards, President Ali spoke of what the MOU would mean for Guyana, outside of just oil and gas.

He noted that the US$2 billion figure the MOU sets for developmental projects in Guyana is an initial figure.

“The areas that were identified shows the broad, multi-faceted nature of the leadership of EXIM Bank.

Anyone looking out on Guyana now narrowly focus on oil and gas at their own detriment, because the country has significant other distinct advantages in becoming the leader on climate change and environmental and biodiversity services for food security and agriculture -- critical infrastructural links that can unlock tremendous potential for the vast array of natural resources we have.

“Unlocking the connection of Northern Brazil to the Atlantic Ocean…will develop a logistics and transport hub second to none in

TURN TO PAGE 5

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guyanatimesgy.com

THURSDAY, JULY 28, 2022

Views Editor: Tusika Martin News Hotline: 231-8063 Editorial: 231-0544, 223-7230, 223-7231, 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

July-August school break

O

ur children are home now that school is in recess for the July/August period, and this means that our children would have a lot of time on their hands, and should therefore be encouraged to utilise this time in a constructive manner.

During the July/August period, parents are faced with the challenge of finding activities – whether academic or recreational - for their children to be involved in. There are many different ways in which our young people could effectively utilise their time wisely. Some students who have not done so well during the past year, or perhaps those that encounter difficulties in a particular subject area, could use the time to do remedial academic work to catch up with the rest of their peers.

Some of the more mature students also choose to take up work study opportunities wherein they get a taste of what the world of work has to offer. There are also those who go off on ‘summer camps’ hosted by religious/youth groups or other organisations, including the Governmentsponsored programmes. This provides an opportunity for youths to interact with their peers, and engage in extracurricular actives which would help them become well rounded individuals.

When persons are not fully occupied in doing positive and uplifting things, they tend to fall by the wayside, most times to their own detriment. Many would agree that many of our young people are falling prey to the use and trafficking of illicit drugs, and engaging in criminal activities, in the process completely destroying their lives and a great future they could have had if better choices were made and the necessary support systems were put in place to ensure their proper upbringing.

It is being said that institutions such as the family and religious groups need to take up their roles more seriously, as had happened before. Historically, the older generation had managed to transmit their beliefs, values, traditions, customs and institutions to the younger members of their societies, and had contributed in some way to their disciplined upbringing. This was achieved largely due to the impact of agencies of socialisation, such as the family, religious organisations, and the schools to a large extent.

Today, the impact of these institutions has been challenged and undermined by new forces, particularly television and the internet, and the pop culture as a whole.

We believe that if our adolescents are to move from the less mature and irresponsible ways of thinking and acting to making more mature and responsible judgments, and engaging in activities that are the hallmark of a socially productive adulthood, certain support systems must be provided. In addition to the various interventions which the Government should make, there are numerous organisations, including the Private Sector, which could rise to the occasion and contribute more towards saving our youth population. They need to come on board and sponsor programmes that would see our children and young people become well equipped with the necessary skills to develop themselves and the society as a whole.

Coordinating and sponsoring such programmes during the ‘summer break’, when children are away from school for a long period, is a good way to start.

Successful programmes typically incorporate specific components, such as providing a sense of belonging, promoting a supportive relationship with adults, and affording opportunities to enhance decision-making and leadership skills.

Further, sport could also play a very important role in bringing the youth population back on track, so that they could interact with their peers and elders in a more meaningful and dignified manner. There is need to revive all of the non-functional sport groups/ centres in communities, as the lack of access to such facilities makes it more challenging to engage youths.

The idea is for young people to be meaningfully engaged in activities from which they could gain something positive.

United States Vice President,Kamala Harris speaking by phone with Guyana’s President, Dr Irfaan Ali. In a social media post, VP Harris said that the discussion was part of the US Administration’s ongoing effort to strengthen partnerships with Caribbean nations. Among the issues discussed were US’s cooperation on food security and energy security (VP Kamala Harris social media photo)

The Global South has the power to force radical climate action

By Jason Hickel

D

uring the past several years it has become clear that the international climate negotiations are failing to address the climate crisis. Existing policies have us on track for 3.2 degrees Celsius of heating this century – in other words, within the lifetime of the present generation. Scientists are clear that such a future will be characterised by severe suffering and dislocation.

Western economies – and the corporations and elites that dominate them – are overwhelmingly responsible for this crisis. They have contributed more than 90 per cent of the excess emissions that are driving climate breakdown. Meanwhile, the impacts fall hardest on the countries of the Global South, which are already suffering the brunt of the heatwaves, droughts, floods, crop failures, and human displacement. The climate crisis is playing out along colonial lines.

Political leaders and social movements in the Global South are aware of these facts.

For years, they have been calling for more dramatic action from Governments in the Global North, whose per capita emissions remain far higher than the rest of the world.

But their pleas fall on deaf ears. None of the Western Governments is on track to meet their fair share of the Paris agreement goals. Why? Because to achieve sufficiently rapid emissions reductions will require rich economies to dramatically reduce their energy use.

To manage such an energy descent, rich nations would need to abandon capitalist growth as an objective and shift to a post-growth, post-capitalist system, where production – and energy use – is organised around meet-

ing human needs rather than around elite accumulation.

It is unlikely that Western Governments will do this voluntarily. We can hope that the climate movement will push them, but the movement itself is divided on this issue, with a large faction insisting on growth-as-usual. Why should the South wait around for a miracle to occur? Why gamble everything on the goodwill of States that have never cared about the interests of the South or the welfare of its people?

There is another way.

Southern Governments have the power to force matters, and change the course of history.

The key thing to realise is that Western economies – and their economic growth – depend utterly on labour and resources from the South. This was obvious during the colonial period, and it remains true today. Hundreds of millions of acres of land, tens of thousands of factories, and armies of labour across Asia, Africa and Latin America are woven into commodity chains that service Western monopolies, supplying them with everything from palm oil to petroleum, computer chips to smartphones.

The result is a large net flow of resources out of the South, equivalent to 25 per cent of Western Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

These capacities could be used to meet local human needs – for housing, food, and health care – but instead, they are appropriated by Western capital.

This is a travesty of justice. But it is also a point of leverage. At any moment, the South could cut off this flow of wealth. It is within their power to do so. They did it once before, in the decades after decolonisation, when some radical and progressive Governments

introduced policies to reclaim economic sovereignty. They used tariffs and capital controls to protect their markets; they nationalised key resources; they improved labour rights and wages; they built public services and developed national industries.

In short, they mobilised their own resources and labour around meeting their own needs, and shifted to trading more with other post-colonial countries. These ideas were enshrined in the 1974 Cocoyoc Declaration and developed by visionaries like Samir Amin and Thomas Sankara.

The movement for Southern sovereignty was successful enough that it posed a serious threat to Western capitalism, as it began to cut off their access to cheap labour and resources. Western powers responded: first with a series of coups against anti-colonial leaders – Mossadegh in Iran, Sukarno in Indonesia, Arbenz in Guatemala, Lumumba in the DRC, Allende in Chile – and then by leveraging their power as creditors to impose structural adjustment programmes that dismantled the economic reforms.

Now, half a century later, the South is in a position where it can and should attempt this revolution again.

They can do it by pursuing agrarian reform and food sovereignty; by building renewable energy capacity; and by shifting industrial production towards supplying domestic needs. These steps would allow Southern countries to reclaim control over their own land and resources, dramatically reducing their dependence on Western imports, and on Western currencies.

Governments can mobilise such a project in large part by taking advantage of the policy space available to any currency issuer. As Keynes point-

ed out, anything that can be bought or produced in the national economy can be financed in the national currency. Countries in the Global South have plenty of labour and resources – the problem is that they are often prevented from using these capacities for their own development, by foreign creditors that impose strict limits on public spending. Where this is the case, Governments may need to default on external debts.

Taking steps towards economic sovereignty and progressively de-linking from Western capital would have far-reaching effects on the world economy. It would constrain the West’s access to Southern labour and resources, and oblige their transition to a post-growth system.

It would also force Western Governments to the bargaining table. The South would be in a position to push for much more radical climate policies – in line with their longstanding demands for 1.5 degrees C – including reparations for loss and damage.

Governments fear taking these steps because they know that Western capital would punish them for it. But moving towards economic sovereignty would dramatically limit that leverage. Collective action is also essential here.

As the anti-colonial leaders of the 20th Century emphasised: we are stronger together than we are alone. If Southern Governments unite and take these steps as a bloc, it would be difficult for anyone to stop them. Climate change is playing out along colonial lines, and it requires an anti-colonial movement in response.

(Al Jazeera) (Jason Hickel is a Professor at the Institute for Environmental Science and Technology (ICTA-UAB) and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts)

guyanatimesgy.com

THURSDAY, JULY 28, 2022

5

News

Over 1,000 seafarers capitalise on MARAD’s amnesty period H undreds of seafarers have regularised their certification in keeping with the Maritime Administration’s (MARAD’s) recent amnesty granted on June 24, 2022.

Within the one-month amnesty granted, MARAD reported that over 900 seafarers have been added to their registry, and over 1,000 have regularised their licences and discharge books.

The amnesty was granted by Public Works Minister Juan Edghill on the eve of “Day of the Seafarer”, which was observed on June 25.

At time of the amnesty an-

nouncement, MARAD’s Director General Stephen Thomas had said there were only about 300 registered seafarers in the database, DPI reported.

Some 1,058 seafarers took the opportunity to either renew or acquire a licence in a number of categories. These include Boat Master Grade 3 for speedboat, and Boat Master Grade 3 for general certificate of competency, bowman and river navigation.

Operators of all vessels are required to have certification based on the size and trading area of the vessel.

Regarding discharge

books, 53 persons were able to get their books in order.

The discharge book shows the record of the seafarer’s experience and certification.

The cost to acquire a licence ranges from $2,380 to $32,500, and the licence is valid for between three and five years, while the cost for a discharge book is about $11,440.

MARAD’s Director General had, back in June, stressed on the importance of seafarers being registered. He had said seafarers being in the system would allow MARAD to offer support and guidance, where necessary.

White noise is irrelevant Dear Editor, An obvious sycophant of the incumbent GuySuCo CEO, in a letter appearing in the July 21, 2022 Guyana Times, shared that the individual was the best leader for the sugar industry.

I, however, beg to disagree, and share a completely opposite view.

In assessing the success of a GuySuCo CEO, there are several measurable parameters that one can examine. For me, the most obvious one is field productivity, as sugar is grown in the field and recovered in the factory.

The following graph depicts tonnes cane per hectare un-

der the stints of the current and previous CEOs. The data is clear, the current is the worst performer, though given the

most support. All the white noise is irrelevant.

Yours faithfully, Liebert Alleyne

US EximBank, Guyana...

In his remarks, the US Secretary of State had said that Guyana has been a very strong partner for the United States, and is in many ways a global leader.

The two countries, he added, would continue to advance discussions and collaboration in areas for cooperation.

Blinken hinted that, in the weeks ahead, several initiatives between the two countries would materialise, particularly climate change and energy, which have been important topics during this current visit to deepen bilateral engagements.

The United States, Blinken had emphasised, is “very eager to continue to deepen and strengthen the partnership,”

which will also redound to the benefit of the region, given the fact that Georgetown, the country’s capital, is also the seat of Caricom.

Meanwhile, President Ali has committed to working jointly in areas of mutual collaboration for not just Guyana, but the Caribbean Community.

The President noted that the discussions this week are a continuation of the dialogue between the two countries, which was initiated during June’s Ninth Summit of the Americas, in which critical issues for Caricom as a region were identified, which include food security, energy security, financing, and the issue

FROM PAGE 3

of climate change.

The United States and Guyana have a deep-rooted history of trade, public health initiatives, economic development, and collaboration to empower civil society, promote stability, and reinforce security.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has stated that Guyana’s economy is the fastest growing in the world. The Guyana economy is forecasted to grow this year at roughly 47 per cent, with a projected GDP of US$9.5 billion. Additionally, Guyana serves as a gateway to Caribbean trade development, as it is home to the Caribbean Community (Caricom) Secretariat. (G3)

Thursday, July 28, 2022

06:00 06:30 07:00 08:00 08:30 09:00 10:00 11:00 11:30 12:00 14:05 14:30 15:00 16:00 16:30 17:00 18:00 19:00 20:00 20:30 21:00 22:00 23:00 23:30 00:00

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THURSDAY, JULY 28, 2022

Page

Foundation ◄

Multiplying fractions and mixed numbers: Reducing The easiest way to multiply fractions and mixed numbers is to change the mixed number into an improper fraction. Then multiply the fractions just as you normally would.

REDUCING: You may already know about reducing a fraction.

Reducing changes a fraction into its simplest form.

For example: 14/24 = 7/12 .

To reduce, see if you can divide both the numerator and denominator by the same number. In this case, you were able to divide both 14 and 24 by 2.

When you have an improper fraction, you can reduce it.

14/12 = 7/6 because you were able to divide both 14 and 12 by 2.

You can also reduce the fraction part of a mixed number.

5 10/20 = 5 1/2 because both 10 and 20 are divisible by 10.

Remember: When you reduce a mixed number, the whole number will always stay the same.

Exercises: Multiply

F

rank Lloyd Wright’s designs exhibit strong geometric forms throughout, and in this activity, we encourage you to find the geometry in a space, and create an abstraction of it using the provided shapes.

channel your inner architect! (franklloydwright. org)

Instructions

1. Cut out each shape provided.

2. Choose a building you want to abstract using geometric shapes or create your own original design.

3. Using the box, arrange the geometric shapes to create a geometric version of your inspiration. Use your imagination, have fun and

CONTINUED FROM WEDNESDAY

By

Meantime, he began to be tired, and hungry too, for he had given away his last penny in his joy at getting the cow.

At last he could go no farther, for the stone tired him sadly: and he dragged himself to the side of a river, that he might take a drink of water, and rest a while. So he laid the

the

Brothers Grimm

stone carefully by his side on the bank: but, as he stooped down to drink, he forgot it, pushed it a little, and down it rolled, plump into the stream.

For a while he watched it sinking in the deep clear water; then sprang up and danced for joy, and again fell upon his knees and thanked Heaven, with tears in his eyes, for its kindness in taking away his only plague,

the ugly heavy stone.

“How happy am I!” cried he; “nobody was ever so lucky as I.” Then up he got with a light heart, free from all his troubles, and walked on till he reached his mother’s house, and told her how very easy the road to good luck was.

The End

WORD SEARCH

NEWS

7

THURSDAY, JULY 28, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Frank, open discussions with VP Harris “confronted big issues” – Pres Ali …says discourse beneficial for bilateral relations, regional development S

tressing the importance of the United States as a strategic partner for Guyana and the Caribbean, President Dr Irfaan Ali on Wednesday had a teleconference with US Vice President Kamala Harris during which they had discussions that were beneficial not only to the two countries but the entire Caribbean Community (Caricom) region.

This is according to the Head of State following the discourse on Wednesday in Washington, DC. “This conversation with the Vice President and President started at the Summit of the Americas. It has advanced rapidly. So, I will say that our conversation today was refreshing. It was beneficial both to Guyana and the US and Caricom. It confronted the big issues, it was very frank and open, very respectful and it outlines the vision and supports the vision that I've been talking about,” he said in a statement issued by the Press and Publicity Unit of the Office of the President.

President Ali noted that such an exchange was necessary for advancing the relations between the two countries as it fostered understanding and allowed for the opportunity to share perspectives. This, he emphasised, is an important aspect of strengthening US-Guyana relations.

“The first thing that we need to do to advance any relationship is to have conversations, to understand each other, to share our perspective on things. They may be different, but unless you share it, you cannot understand the commonality or understand where each other is coming from,” the Guyanese Leader stated.

It was further noted that during Wednesday’s con-

President Dr Irfaan Ali speaking at the CSIS event on Wednesday

versation, President Ali and Vice President Harris reviewed the progress made from meetings held at the Summit of the Americas in Los Angeles, including the work of three short-term joint US-Caribbean committees that President Biden and the Vice President launched to produce concrete, near-term solutions on areas of immediate concern for Caribbean leaders, in food security, energy security, and access to development financing.

Welcomed progress

Vice President Harris welcomed the progress made in these three areas and reiterated the interest of the United States in addressing the unique vulnerabilities and urgent economic challenges facing Caribbean nations. She thanked President Ali for his leadership regarding the Region’s food security.

The two leaders also discussed the recent commitment of the United States to provide $28 million for food security assistance to Caribbean nations and other ways the US could support the Caribbean in this area.

Regarding a sustainable energy future, they discussed the implementation of the US-Caribbean Partnership to Address the Climate Crisis

2030 (PACC 2030) as well as efforts to accelerate PACC 2030’s energy infrastructure development timeline by incorporating these lines of effort into the work of the USCaribbean short-term energy and finance committees.

Vice President Harris said she looked forward to continuing her collaboration with President Ali in promoting inclusive democracy, economic development, and security for all Guyanese.

She underscored the BidenHarris Administration’s commitment to strengthening US partnerships with the Caribbean.

More aggressive

In fact, this strengthening of US relations with Guyana and the Caribbean was emphasised by the Guyanese Leader during another event on Wednesday. President Ali participated in a discussion hosted by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) Americas Program on this topic.

During that forum, he indicated that he has been pushing recently for the US to be more aggressive and to take up a more strategic space in the Region.

“One of the important discussions at the Summit of the Americas was the priority the Region occupies in

US Vice President Kamala Harris in a teleconference with President Dr Irfaan Ali

the foreign policy and mindset of the US. And there is a great view in the Region, and this was before the Summit of the Americas, that there has been some amount of neglect for the Caricom region by the US. That was officially raised. After the Summit of the Americas, I can officially say there has been an enormous move to rectify this,” the Head of State said.

This, he added, is reflective in the committees that were established to look at important issues of food security, climate change, energy security, and financing within the Region. These committees are co-chaired by the US and various Caricom nations, including Guyana, and have already made progress on their work.

US’s renewed focus on priority

President Ali expressed his confidence in the US re-igniting focus on the Region and the aggressive continuance of this.

In fact, he noted that this is already happening with his visit to Washington, DC this week during which

several historic events have taken place including Wednesday’s signing of the $2 billion Memorandum of Understanding with the US EXIM Bank.

“This week has all been about that conversation – redefining that relationship, looking at the strategic outlook of Guyana and aligning that with the various actors here in the US. We’re trying to harmonise what we do…

“We’re working also not only from a Governmentto-Government and agency-to-agency perspective but we’re looking to see how we can catalyse the Private Sector into it, get the Private Sector more interested so that they can build and be part of the opportunity. But importantly also, how we build and link the relationship between the two Private Sectors so we transfer knowledge, technology – the sharing of resources and so on,” the President highlighted.

According to the Guyanese Leader, sessions such as the CSIS Americas Program are crucial in pre-

senting Guyana and the opportunities in the country to foreign investors and other stakeholders so that they have a better understanding on what is happening here and how they can be a part of Guyana’s developmental agenda.

USAID

Meanwhile, President Ali on Wednesday also led his delegation to meet with representatives from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in the US capital.

The visiting Head of State and the Deputy Administrator for Policy and Programme, Isobel Coleman discussed ways of strengthening their partnership.

Like Guyana, USAID is also keen to address food security, climate change, and the COVID-19 pandemic.

President Ali was accompanied by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Hugh Todd; the Foreign Secretary, Robert Persaud and Guyana's Ambassador to the US, Samuel Hinds. (G8)

8 NEWS

THURSDAY, JULY 28, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Woman in Facebook romance scam spared jail time after compensating victim

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25-year-old woman of Go Slow Avenue, North East La Penitence, Georgetown implicated in a Facebook romance scam in which she pretended to be a man from England and defrauded a woman of $85,000 has been spared jail time after agreeing to compensate her victim.

The Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) reported that Susan Richards was charged with conspiracy to defraud when she appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Wednesday. She denied the charge and was remanded.

Later in the day, Richards, who was initially unrepresented, retained Attorney Eusi Anderson, who requested that the matter be recalled for him to

Susan Richards

make a bail application.

His request was granted, and during the proceedings, he informed the Chief Magistrate that his client and the victim have already agreed that Richards would repay the money.

With the money paid

over immediately, the Chief Magistrate dismissed the charge against Richards, who is said to be pregnant, and also ordered her to pay $10,000 in court costs.

Richards, a sales representative, had received $85,000 from the victim in August of last year, after assuring the woman that she would receive a package containing expensive gift items from her Facebook ‘boyfriend’, SOCU said.

SOCU said that Richards is alleged to have acted as a third party for a person who had befriended the victim via Facebook. Richards is one of four persons to whom the victim had sent money.

Last week SOCU, charged John Patrick Lewis with the said offence; the victim had also sent money to him. The victim’s Facebook boyfriend provided her with all of Richards’s personal in-

formation, and she sent the money using Western Union money transfer.

To date, the victim has not received any package, and her Facebook boyfriend has disappeared.

The matter was investigated by SOCU, and Richards was arrested and charged.

It was only on July 15 that SOCU had instituted similar charges against John Patrick Lewis, of Lot 34 Williamsburg Village, Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne).

The Head of SOCU, Assistant Commissioner Fazil Karimbaksh, is once again calling on all Guyanese to be vigilant against the package delivery and romance scams.

He is also encouraging everyone to report such scams immediately. (G1)

3 arrested after Police operation in Sophia

The motorcycle that was seized during the raid

T

hree persons have been taken into custody following the discovery of a quantity of ganja and other items during a Police operation conducted in 'E' Field and Red Road in Sophia, Greater Georgetown, on Tuesday.

During the operation,

several persons, houses and shops were searched, and one red motorcycle belonging to an identified male who is known to the Police, along with seven grams of cannabis, four cellphones, four electronic tablets, one Rolex wristwatch and a gas mask, was found on the premises.

The cannabis found

I

…for democracy

n general, your Eyewitness doesn’t believe in politicians suing newspapers and other media for reporting on their sometimes-vilifying charges against their opponents. In a democracy, politicians gotta be under constant scrutiny by the people…and the media’s supposed to be performing that role on behalf of the said people. That’s why they’ve been dubbed the “fourth estate” ever since the French Revolution of 1789, when the banner of democracy “Liberty, Fraternity and Equality” was raised.

But, in Guyana, we’ve become used to these lawsuits against the press by politicians, for “damaging their reputations”! Obviously with the sole intention of silencing them, so that they can have a free pass sprouting their scurrilous utterances. Now, we know there are defences against claims of libel…with “truth” of the statements being right on top of the list - and “justification, fair comment, and privilege” following in its trail. Under English precedents, which we follow - the plaintiff – the person suing and claiming damages, doesn’t have to prove the complained-of speech was false…the burden’s on the defendant to prove the truth of the speech!! This is unlike US law - to which we’ve all become accustomed because of the movies, if nothing else! Think about the Johnny Depp v. Amber Heard case and you’ll get the drift.

So, when your Eyewitness heard that Charandass Persaud won his defamation case against Khemraj Ramjattan, he had to assume Khemraj had no defence muster for what he’d asserted about Charandass. And from this perspective, this case is bigger than Ramjattan. In fact, the case goes to the heart of establishing democratic governance in our country. What were the facts of the case? Very simply, Charandass voted against the APNU/AFC in the vote of confidence motion brought by the PPP. The difference in their seats was a wafer thin 33 vs 32. All it needed was ONE Government MP to vote against his party and it was sayonara, baby!!

Now, we gotta remember that the PPP and PNC had put their heads together when the same Ramjattan and his PNC chum Trotman had crossed the floor!! And closed that particular gate to stop future horses from bolting. Or so they thought! But Charandass jumped THAT hurdle at the CCJ – Representative Government was never meant to have MPs bereft of opinions!! So how specifically did Charandass stick it to his erstwhile pal Ramjattan??

This fella was lawyer to boot – yet, specifically asserted in his own voice that Charandass (even though he didn’t utter the name) was BRIBED to vote as he did!! Screaming “JUDAS!!” the entire Opposition had implied that Charandass was bought, but when Ramjattan said “for 30 pieces of silver”, he was being very specific that money had changed hands!!

And he’s now $7million poorer!! …to debate And here your Eyewitness was implying the stiff-upperlip Brits can be pretty staid, and up comes the news that the host fainted during the debate between Conservative candidates Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak, who are vying for Boris Johnson’s vacated Prime Minister’s seat!! Now, your Eyewitness doesn’t believe this was just a case of nerves, or a heat stroke, or anything like that!! He’s convinced it has to do with something deeper, and the host became discombobulated to the point of the blood rushing out of her head and causing her to faint!!

So, what exactly could’ve caused such a strong reaction?? Your Eyewitness firmly believes that it has to do with race. Not THE race…but “race”, as in “wogs” and “Pakis” that are commonly bandied about in England – but not in polite company!! Can you imagine the tension this caused as the host fought off not asking all the real questions she knew the rest of England had on the tips of their tongues??

She fainted!!

The mobile phones

The GDF webbing discovered during the search

Too hot…

Further, a search was carried out at the home of a 49-year-old construction worker of Cummings Park, Sophia, where 51 grams of ganja were unearthed; and another search was carried out on the home of a

31-year-old construction worker of Cummings Park, during which GDF 'webbing' was found.

As such, three men were arrested, and are assisting with the investigations.

…for the Opposition So, there we had it, straight from the horse’s mouth – just as your Eyewitness had said it would. The US Secretary of State confirmed that his Government was simply ensuring that Guyana was in sync with them on security – food and otherwise!!

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

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

NEWS

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THURSDAY, JULY 28, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

ExxonMobil taking steps to ensure longevity of oil fields – Production Manager …says well-testing done, reservoir-management geo-scientists on payroll

O

il giant ExxonMobil is taking steps to ensure that it can maintain the production plateau, the phase in which oil production peaks, of the Liza Phase 1 and 2 projects in the Stabroek Block for as long as possible.

During a recent press conference with the media, Exxon subsidiary Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL) Production Manager Mike Ryan provided an update on Exxon’s operations in the Stabroek Block. Combined, the Liza Phase 1 and 2 projects are producing over 200,000 barrels of oil per day. Asked how long Exxon can maintain its production plateau, Ryan explained that they are doing everything possible to ensure its longevity.

“The production plateau is measured in years.

As the reservoir performs, you think about Liza Phase 1 and 2, it’s a similar reservoir, we continue to gather information and learn from the reservoir, and how it

performs will inform us on how long we stay at these capacity rates.

“Reservoirs are not designed to operate at plateau forever; It is measured in years. As you operate, you learn more about the reservoir, and you learn how to get the most out of the reservoir through gas injection and water and just prudent management,” Ryan said.

According to Ryan, they have a number of reservoir management geo-scientists on their payroll.

He explained that they do well-testing and monitoring in an effort to ensure the maximum benefits from the resource in a responsible way.

It was only on Tuesday that Exxon announced new oil finds in the Stabroek Block, bringing its total discoveries in the Block to 33, and its finds for this year to seven. Oil was found at the Seabob-1 and the KiruKiru-1 wells.

In a statement on Tuesday, EEPGL announced the discoveries of oil at its

Exxon Production Manager Mike Ryan

Seabob and Kiru-Kiru wells.

The Seabob-1 well, drilled by the Stena Carron ship at a depth of 4,660 feet, encountered 131 feet of oil.

On the other hand, the Kiru-Kiru-1 well, drilled by the Stena DrillMAX at a depth of 5,760 feet, encountered 98 feet of oil. Drilling operations meanwhile continue at this well. With these discoveries, Exxon has now made a total of 38 discoveries overall in Guyana’s

waters.

In April of this year, Exxon had announced three oil finds in the Stabroek Block. The three discoveries are southeast of the Liza and Payara developments, and at the time had brought the tally of discoveries made

by ExxonMobil in Guyana in 2022 to five. The Lukanani well was spud and completed by the Noble Tom Madden, while Barreleye was drilled

by the Stena DrillMAX, and Patwa by Noble Don Taylor.

ExxonMobil, in its statement announcing those three new discoveries offshore Guyana, had said that the finds would increase its estimate of the recoverable resource for the Stabroek Block to nearly 11 billion oil-equivalent barrels.

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

Exxon, through subsidiary 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.

So far, Exxon’s total investments in Guyana amount to Gy$1.3 trillion on its own, and over Gy$3 trillion with its partners.

Additionally, the joint-venture exploration and production plans up to 2025 would likely increase their investments to more

than GY$6 trillion.

ExxonMobil has said it anticipates at least six projects offshore Guyana will be online by 2027, with developmental drilling having been recently started on the second one, the Liza Phase 2 project. Production has already started in the second phase, with the Liza Utility floating, production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel in operation.

The third project –the Payara Development – will meanwhile target an estimated resource base of about 600 million oil-equivalent barrels, and was at one point considered to be the largest single planned investment in the history of Guyana.

Meanwhile, the Yellowtail development, which will be oil giant ExxonMobil’s fourth development in Guyana’s waters, will turn out to be the single largest development so far in terms of barrels per day of oil, with a mammoth 250,000 bpd targeted.

GOGEC calls on GAWU to reconsider partnership with foreign union …says local trade unions have abundant experience

G

uyana Oil and Gas Energy Chamber (GOGEC) President Manniram Prashad on Wednesday expressed concern over the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) and the Oilfields Workers’ Trade Union (OWTU) in Trinidad and Tobago.

The body said that it has always advocated for Guyanese workers doing the same job as expatriates to be paid similar wages.

“We respect good industrial relations and is in the forefront to ensure that we have a healthy industrial climate. It is unfortunate that GAWU feels that foreign intervention is needed to represent oil and gas workers who they are attempting to get unionised,” Prashad said.

He noted that GOGEC was of the view that” we

GOGEC President Manniram Prashad

have good industrial practices in the oil and gas sector, in which the Ministry of Labour has been monitoring closely and quite effectively”.

In Trinidad and Tobago, he said, Petrotrin experienced a series of strikes, protest actions, and march-

es. “Petrotrin was forced to close in 2018. The OWTU lost a significant amount of its membership. We have a relative stable industrial climate in the oil and gas sector in Guyana and we want it to remain that way. GOGEC is urging GAWU to reconsider its decision to bring in a foreign union and to seek help from other trade unions and experienced trade unionist in Guyana in which there is an abundance,” Prashad said on Wednesday.

On Tuesday, GAWU signed a MoU with OWTU to enable what it said would be better standards of working in the local oil sector.

At the signing ceremony on Tuesday, OWTU President General Ancel Roget pointed out that multinational companies were appearing to capitalise on the oil wealth but workers must not settle for low wages, inadequate work standards or be left disadvantaged.

GAWU President Seepaul Narine

With decades of experience in lobbying for workers’ rights in Trinidad’s oil

sector, OWTU’s wealth of knowledge is being transferred to GAWU to have uniform standards in Guyana.

This partnership will enable GAWU to focus on other factors, such as expatriates employed in jobs which the local workforce is capable of doing.

GAWU President Seepaul Narine underscored that workers in Guyana’s petroleum industry were not treated in accordance with the labour laws, hence the need for such intervention.

“We recognise that the industry is growing at a fast pace and we also recognise that in the industry, many of the contractors who are supplying the labour force are not treating workers decently. They are denying

them their PPE [Personal Protective Equipment], overtime payment, annual leave, and many other things that are in the law. So, we decided that it has reached the point whereby we have to be able to step up our level of representation to the workers,” he said.

In a statement, GAWU also added that the MoU was intended, “for the unions, to share expertise and experience in advancing the rights and protecting the gains of workers within our unions and countries. The parties will also consider other appropriate and relevant collective actions in the interest of working-class protection and the development of Guyana’s social economy.”

10 NEWS Bandit shot dead during WBD home invasion THURSDAY, JULY 28, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

…injured bandit begged businessman to take his life after being caught – witness

A

The house of businessman Anil Singh

suspected bandit has been shot dead in a scuffle during a home invasion at Unity Street, La Grange, West Bank Demerara (WBD) in the wee hours of Wednesday, July 27.

The dead intruder has been identified as Learone Forde.

Up to press time, no other information was available about the dead man.

Also injured in that scuffle was 34-year-old businessman Anil Singh of Lot 3 Unity Street, La Grange, WBD. He is presently receiving medical attention at the West Demerara Regional Hospital (WDRH).

Based on preliminary investigations, the businessman and his family (wife and child) had retired to bed at about 22:00h on Tuesday evening, but were awakened at about 1:15h on

Wednesday by a sound emanating from one of the windows of their home. As such, Singh got up, armed himself with his licensed .32 Taurus pistol, and stood behind the door of his bedroom, while his wife and child remained on their bed.

Shortly after, two men - one armed with a cutlass and the other with a crowbar - reportedly rushed into the bedroom, and Singh discharged a round at them.

Forde was hit in one of his legs, and it caused him to fall to the ground, while the other suspect escaped.

At that time, the injured bandit allegedly begged Singh to take his life by shooting him, but Singh refused. According to Singh’s wife, this led to a scuffle between her husband and Forde, during which several rounds were discharged, injuring both the businessman

and the suspect.

Subsequently, the Police were contacted, and upon arriving at the scene, Forde was found lying in a pool of blood, with several gunshot wounds to his head and body, while Singh had also sustained gunshot wounds to his body.

During their investigations, Police recovered in the bedroom five spent .32 shells, four live rounds of ammunition, and two metal fragments suspected to be warheads.

Singh was taken to the hospital, where he was admitted as a patient, while Forde’s body was taken to the Ezekiel Funeral Home to await a post-mortem. The licensed firearm has been lodged with the Police, and the businessman’s wife has been taken into custody to assist with investigations.

Police tape at the crime scene

2 admit to killing of sugar estate employee

Convicted killers Deonarine Lakhan (left) and Roopnarine Persaud

T

he two men who were initially charged with the 2017 murder of Leonora, West Coast Demerara (WCD) sugar estate employee Kawal Shivnauth have pleaded guilty to the lesser offence of manslaughter.

Deonarine Lakhan, also of Leonora, WCD, and Roopnarine Persaud, of Matthew’s Ridge, North West District (NWD), were arraigned before Demerara High Court Judge Sandil Kissoon on Wednesday.

They admitted that on January 9, 2017, at Edinburgh, WCD, they unlawfully killed Shivnauth.

Following their guilty pleas, the men were further remanded to prison, pending a sentencing hearing which is set for September 8.

The murder took place during a drinking spree at a bar. It was reported that Persaud began arguing with Shivnauth, and took out a knife and chopped him.

Shivnauth then picked up a beer bottle to defend himself, but Lakhan took the bottle away from him, lashed him with it, and told Persaud to “juck him”.

It was reported that Shivnauth, also called “Rupee”, was stabbed six times in the vicinity of his

Dead: Kawal Shivnauth

heart. He also sustained a slash to the lower abdomen, along with another to his hand.

The argument broke out after Persaud accused the now dead man of “troubling” his sister.

The injured man was pronounced dead on arrival at the Leonora Cottage Hospital.

After the stabbing incident, Persaud fled the scene, but was later arrested in Matthew’s Ridge, where he resides. Following interrogation, he implicated Lakhan in the fatal stabbing. (G1)

NEWS

11

THURSDAY, JULY 28, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Security guard jailed for 2nd accused in murder 16 years for raping teen of Sophia bread vendor walks free C ollin Venture, 41, who repeatedly raped a teenage girl, has been jailed for 16 years.

Evidence revealed that he groomed the 13-year-old girl before raping her on three separate occasions.

Venture, a security guard formerly of Sophia, Greater Georgetown, was sent to prison on Wednesday by Demerara Sexual Offences Court Judge Simone MorrisRamlall.

Earlier this month, he was found guilty of three counts of sexual penetration of a child under 16 years old.

After deliberating for over two hours, the jury returned unanimous guilty verdicts on each of the three counts, finding that Venture had raped the child between September and October of 2020.

Following the verdicts, Venture, who had been out on $150,000 bail, was remanded to prison pending his sentencing hearing, which was set for Wednesday. During those proceedings, the rape survivor, who is now 15, shared that the incident has left her traumatized, and has caused her to be skeptical about the people around her.

At first, she expressed that she was upset with herself, “because I felt like I caused it to happen to me.

When it happened, I would feel bad about myself,” she added.

According to her, during Venture’s trial, she was scared because she thought she would not have gotten justice.

Despite the verdicts by the jury of his peers, Venture has maintained

Child rapist Collin Venture

his innocence during an interview with a probation officer. He told the officer that he found the verdicts “troublesome” because he is “not that kind of person”.

Notwithstanding, in his address to the court, he told the Judge: “I am very sorry for this whole situation.

I apologise for everything, Your Honour.”

During a plea in mitigation on his behalf, Defence Counsel Alaira MurphyGoodman asked the court for leniency in its sentencing, considering that her client is a first-time offender, who supports his children.

The lawyer said it is unfortunate that her client has found himself in this situation.

State Counsels Cecilia Corbin, Caressa Henry and Paneeta Persaud prosecuted this matter. Prosecutor Corbin implored the Judge to impose a sentence that is commensurate with the se-

rious nature and prevalence of the offence. She said that such offences have escalated to an unprecedented high.

For her part, Justice Morris-Ramlall, in her sentencing remarks, admonished Venture for taking advantage of the minor.

Highlighting that Venture and the girl’s stepmother and father were friends, Justice Morris-Ramlall said he had abused his position of trust by preying on the girl.

According to the presiding Judge, the convict was not satisfied with raping the girl once, so he went on to do it two more times.

Referencing parts of the probation report, she said that Venture has not accepted responsibility for his

actions.

She further said that his expression of remorse was not genuine, as he only “expressed regret for the situation…whatever that means.”

Given that Venture was a mature adult at the time he committed the offence, the Judge noted that he ought to have exercised better judgement.

Having considered the nature and prevalence of the offences, and the circumstances under which they were committed, Justice Morris-Ramlall sentenced Venture to 14, 15, and 16-years’ imprisonment on the first, second and third counts respectively. The three sentences will run concurrently.

It was further ordered by the Judge that Venture must subject himself to counselling for persons convicted of sexual offences, starting from September.

According to the facts, Venture is known to the teenage girl, and was in the habit of taking her into a toilet behind a shop near her home, where he would rape her.

The matter came to light only after the girl’s stepmother had searched her phone and discovered some very disturbing messages exchanged between the girl and Venture.

The young girl was confronted, and she admitted that Venture had raped her.

A report was made to the Police, and Venture was arrested and prosecuted. (G1)

Dead: Andre Melroy Alexander

Freed: Neville Forte

eville Forte, who had spent five years on remand on a charge of murdering Sophia, Greater Georgetown bread vendor Andre Melroy Alexander, walked free on Tuesday after a mixed 12-member jury found him not guilty of the capital offence.

Presiding Judge Jo-Ann Barlow had summed up the evidence in the case on Tuesday morning. The jurors, after deliberating for a little over two hours, returned a unanimous notguilty verdict.

Forte, during his arraignment earlier this month, had pleaded not guilty to the charge, which alleged that he murdered Alexander, a father of two, on May 5, 2017 during a robbery.

He was represented by Attorneys-at-Law Ronald Daniels and Kiswana Jefford.

Alexander, formerly of “C” Field Sophia, was shot dead by two motorcycle bandits.

The robbers fled with an undisclosed amount of cash.

The 42-year-old father of two was reportedly shot once to the chest, and succumbed

while receiving medical attention at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC).

It was reported that the now dead man and his wife were in their shop when the two men approached on a motorcycle and requested three loaves of bread.

The pillion rider took out a $5000 bill to pay, and while Alexander was in the process of making change, the pillion rider whipped out a gun and demanded cash.

Upon seeing this, the man’s wife ran towards their home, which is a stone’s throw away, and raised an alarm. However, her husband refused to cooperate, and the men grabbed the money he had in his hand and discharged several rounds in the process.

One of the bullets reportedly struck the bread vendor in the chest. Upon realising that the man was shot, the two young men escaped on the motorcycle.

In 2019, Forte’s co-accused, Shaquille Grant, called “Soldier Man”, was freed after Justice Navindra Singh upheld a no-case submission made on his behalf by his lawyer.

N

12 NEWS

THURSDAY, JULY 28, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Vice President tests Training for health officials to positive for COVID-19 detect monkeypox to start today T

V

ice President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo has tested positive for COVID-19, the Government said on Wednesday.

Jagdeo, who is a member of President Dr Irfaan Ali’s delegation on an Official Visit to Washington DC, tested positive for the COVID-19 virus on Tuesday. The statement said that prior to his departure from Guyana, Dr Jagdeo had tested negative.

President Ali and all other members of his delegation were also tested, and the results have returned negative.

“President Ali and other members of his delegation will continue with remainder of the agenda. The delegation has already completed a number of successful engagements over the past two days, including meetings with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken; Deputy Secretary of Commerce Don

Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo

Graves, and US business leaders and Government officials.

“President Ali also participated in an engagement with the Atlantic Council; a

reception at Woodrow Wilson Center and a discussion with Ambassador Mark Green,” the statement noted.

The Vice President has not shown any symptoms.

he Health Ministry will today commence training laboratory staff from across the country to be able to detect and deal with the monkeypox disease in the event of an outbreak.

Only earlier in the week, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the disease a public health emergency.

However, on Wednesday, Minister Anthony stated that all measures are in place for the training.

“We organised a training for laboratory staff from different regions of Guyana to get them more acquainted with monkeypox: how to identify; how to diagnose; and when we diagnose, how to take samples, so we can do the PCR testing. So that training is going to happen tomorrow, and we have representatives from each of the regions who will be participating,” he explained.

At least four per-

Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony

sons from each of the 10 Administrative Regions will be trained.

Minister Anthony further explained that the training will be done by a staff of the National Public Health Reference Lab who has already undergone training overseas to deal with the disease.

“The training will be done by one of our staff from the National Public Health Reference Lab who herself would have been trained by PAHO/WHO in Jamaica; so, she brings to Guyana that experience of how to do this testing, and what are protocols that we should be observing,” he said.

The training, he added, is not “long and complicated”, and will last only for a day.

Meanwhile, so far, monkeypox has been detected in about 75 countries worldwide. To date, Guyana remains monkeypox-free, despite cases having been detected in countries like Jamaica and Barbados.

Guyana has been building its capacity to detect monkeypox using PCR machines and other skillsets to complement the current resource at the National Public Health Reference Laboratory.

The Chief Medical Officer

would have issued instructions to doctors in the system to keep on high alert for signs that might be indicative of monkeypox, and the steps to be taken in keeping with procedures.

Monkeypox would appear as a rash. From the time a person is exposed to the signs of infection, it would take approximately five to 13 days, but can continue for up to 21 days.

The acute skin rash may be present with maculopapular (flat-based lesions) to vesicles (fluid-filled blisters), pustules, and subsequent crusting affecting the face, palms of the hand, and soles of the feet, and the rest of the body.

It may be accompanied by headache, acute onset of fever, myalgia, back pain, asthenia, and lymphadenopathy. Monkeypox virus is transmitted from one person to another by close contact with lesions, body fluids, respiratory droplets, and contaminated materials such as bedding.

Presently, antiretroviral treatment is used, but it is not widely available around the world. Guyana is also making attempts to procure some smallpox vaccines, which have been used to treat monkeypox.

Emancipation

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THURSDAY, JULY 28, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

African prints

W

African prints come in all styles and fashions, and for every occasion possible. So which look are you going for this

Hand craft

African delights

hether it be a purse, handbag, hat, key rack, hat stand, souvenir, baskets, utensils or dinnerware, African handcraft stands out wherever you see

Cassava pone, which is baked/ steamed in banana leaf; conkie, whether it be pumpkin or sweet potato added; cook-up, metemgee and, of recent, jollof rice are all talked

Emancipation? Get the whole family attired in exquisite matching pieces as well.

about and enjoyed during this festive Emancipation season. Additionally, pickled onions, pepper sauce, jams and so much more are all made of natural and organic ingredients for a healthy lifestyle, and are on display almost at every corner during this season.

one, given its unique nature and creative form.

Sandals

Sandals of all sizes, shapes and patterns, hand-made from genuine leather, are very popular around this auspicious occasion of Emancipation. So, look trendy by getting yourself a pair.

Jewellery

These include necklaces, bracelets and earrings of all sorts/types and colours. Each of these can be paired nice-

Plants

Plants, flowers and other greenery serve as symbols for thoughts, feelings and behaviours. Every plant has a unique meaning; as such, putting plants around your home or office that represent things you perceive as value or want can foster quite an atmosphere of positivity. Plants are also popular during this time of Emancipation. They are traditional and encourage a sense of connecting with nature.

Hair, skin and beauty

Your hair is your best accessory, as they say, so why not nurture it with some natural and organic hair care products to get that perfect hair glow! Not only your hair can glow, but your skin and face as well. Try Nature’s Wrap today for that perfect glow on your skin and hair as well. Nature’s Wrap is a local cosmetic manufacturing business that specialises in the manufacture of safe organic hair care products for ALL hair types. The CEO and founder is Ms. Latoya Douglas, a qualified chemist with a Bsc. in Chemistry from the University of Guyana.

ly with the perfect outfit, not only for Emancipation, but for any other occasion.

14 NEWS

THURSDAY, JULY 28, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Chinese, Brazilian companies bidding for Grove-Timehri road upgrade T

he opening of bids at the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) has revealed that the companies in the running for the contract to upgrade the East Bank of Demerara (EBD) road from Grove to Timehri, include ones from China and Brazil.

Based on the bids that were opened, at least four Chinese companies have bid to be prequalified for the contract. They include China Railway First Group and China Railway Eryuan Engineering Group. Also, bidding was China Railway Construction (Caribbean) Company Limited.

China Road and Bridge Corporation, another Chinese company, also submitted a bid. Meanwhile, Alya Construtora SA, a

Overhead shot of a section of the East Bank Demerara corridor

company based in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, also submitted a bid to be prequalified

for the project.

Rounding out the bidders was Mir Akhter Hossain Guy Inc. The company’s principal address is located in Bangladesh.

The Government has been undertaking the upgrade and expansion of the two-lane road at Grove (from the entrance to Diamond Housing Scheme) all the way to Timehri. Public Works Minister Juan Edghill had said that work on this road would start this year.

“We are going to be doing a major upgrade from Diamond to Timehri in 2022. You know what that means, you imagine a road being upgraded between Diamond and Timehri – we’re talking about strictly night work. Even in a slack time, between Diamond and Craig and Hope, the traffic is so enormous. We have to start doing things differently… that things cannot remain the same,” the Public Works Minister had said.

Some $2.1 billion was set aside in Budget 2022 for the widening and paving of the East Bank Highway from Grove to Timehri. This project ties in with the overall work being done to connect the East Bank and the East Coast of Demerara through the Ogle-Diamond bypass road and the Eccles-toMandela Road, which has already been completed.

The Ogle-Diamond bypass project will see the construction of some 26 kilometres of road linking two of the country’s main thoroughfares. This new road link will also be connected to key communities in Georgetown and along the East Bank of Demerara.

These include Diamond, Mocha and Eccles – all on the East Bank – and Aubrey Barker Road in Georgetown. These connections will prove crucial in diverting traffic.

It was announced in January of this year that Ashoka Buildcon Limited won the contract to construct the road, ahead of two other Indian companies. Ashoka has built a number of bridges and roads. According to the com-

pany’s website, it even built a bridge in 38 days, namely the Mandve Bridge near Pandharpur, India. The company said the bridge was supposed to be built in 12 months.

Meanwhile, the bypass road project falls in line with the Dr Irfaan Ali-led People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Government’s “comprehensive highway development plan”. This plan includes the alternative four-lane highway from Mandela Avenue to Eccles, which was completed in April to the tune of $2.3 billion.

That road is now being extended from Eccles to Great Diamond. Upon completion, the new road is expected to further reduce traffic congestion along the East Bank Demerara corridor.

Contracts to the tune of $13.3 billion were awarded to 12 contractors last December to construct the extended four-lane road. It has been reported the road will be further extended to Craig, EBD, in order to alleviate the bottlenecks between Diamond and Grove on the East Bank.

NEWS

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THURSDAY, JULY 28, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Food Security Initiative…

Finance Minister hands over $75M in equipment, materials to Agri Ministry

As part of the Food Security Initiative launched

by President Dr Irfaan Ali, Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh on Wednesday handed over $75M in agricultural equipment and materials to the Agriculture Ministry in a simple handing over ceremony done at the Agriculture Ministry’s Boardroom.

The equipment and materials are part of Guyana’s Agriculture and Food Security Initiative, the country’s lead role in the Caribbean Community (Caricom) Region.

The items handed over included shade mesh, plain wire, mist blowers, shade house plastic and mesh, knapsack sprayers, water pumps, fertilisers, garden hoses, cutlass files, spades, brush-cutters, wheel barrows, gloves, shovels, water cans as well as over 12,500 coconut seedlings and 20,200 fruit and ground provision seedlings. These are expected to be distributed to farmers in various regions across the country.

While handing over the materials and equipment, Minister Singh pointed out that distribution of the items countrywide, which would ultimately be done by the Agriculture Ministry, forms

part of the much larger initiative that Government is rolling out to address the advancement of agriculture and food security.

“It would be recalled that upon President Ali’s assumption of office in August 2020, Guyana very shortly thereafter resumed our role as holding the agriculture portfolio in the Caricom quasi-cabinet arrangement, meaning that we are now the lead country on agriculture and food security matters, and President Ali has been advancing this Caribbean agenda for food security in a very aggressive way…to the extent, in fact, that coming out of the recent Summit of the Americas, where a special committee was established,” Dr Singh explained.

He noted, too, that the items also represent a significant contribution as part of the initiative of the United States/Caricom Committee which was established to address food security.

“Guyana has been identified, in fact, to co-chair the committee that is addressing food security, and the Foreign Secretary is co-chairing the committee - The US/Caricom Food Security Committee. But apart from the discussions and the work that we are

Some of the items being handed over by Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh to Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha

doing to address food security at a macro level, at the national, regional and international levels, agriculture and food production go to the core of the well-being of our communities,” the Finance Minister reiterated in reminding those at the ceremony that agriculture has historically been the mainstay of Guyana’s economy, with tens of thousands of families deriving their economic livelihood from

Repairs start on collapsed section of Mabura Trail

The collapsed section of the Mabura Trail

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epair works on the collapsed section of the Mabura Trail which leads to Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo)

began on Wednesday.

A section of the road broke away on Wednesday morning, leaving all vehicular traffic and commuters

stranded.

The Public Works Ministry on its official Facebook page said “a contractor has been mobilised to address the breached section of the Mabura Trail near Surama”.

“The contractor’s engineer on the ground says repair works have commenced and traffic should be flowing by this afternoon (Wednesday),” the post stated, adding that sections of the road which broke away were “routinely maintained” by the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC).

The Public Works Ministry has already signed a contract to the tune of $3.19 billion to upgrade 32 bridges between Kurupukari and Lethem. This will see the timber bridges along the stretch replaced with concrete bridges.

Additionally, a contract worth US$190 million has been signed for the reconstruction of the Linden to Mabura Hill road in asphaltic concrete. It is the first phase of the road that will eventually lead to Lethem.

the sector.

Receiving the items on behalf of the Ministry, Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha thanked the Ministry of Finance as well as the Basic Needs Trust Fund for bringing into the Ministry of Agriculture

the much valuable equipment and materials.

“This will help us to implement the programmes that the Government is rolling out throughout the country, and is testimony to the Government’s commitment,” Minister Mustapha

underscored.

The Caribbean Development Bank’s (CDB’s) Basic Needs Trust Fund (BNTF) programme is one of its key instruments for addressing poverty reduction in the Caribbean region. The programme provides access to basic public services through the provision of social and economic infrastructure and the development of skills to enhance employability, community management, and engagement. The programme targets the reduced incidents of economic and social vulnerability among the poorest populations in participating countries.

The BNTF programme in Guyana is jointly funded by the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) and the Government of Guyana.

BNTF’s Implementing Agency (IA) Guyana began receiving country project grants from the Caribbean Development Bank’s Third Programme (BNTF 3) in 1993, and has continued to benefit.

16 NEWS Public assistance booklets for August distribution P THURSDAY, JULY 28, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

ersons who have applied for and have been approved to receive public assistance from January to June this year will be able to uplift their booklets by next month.

Human Services and Social Security Minister Dr Vindhya Persaud has said the Ministry has been facing a delay because of the large number of applicants this year.

“January to June books have been exhausted because we have had so many

Human Services and Social Security Minister Dr Vindhya Persaud

applications. We would have had to reprint books, so we are currently printing and getting those books ready for those persons who would’ve already been approved for January to June…We are hoping at least by August,” the Minister is quoted by DPI as saying during a recent community engagement with residents of Bath Settlement and surrounding communities.

Persaud noted that public assistance books for July to December are available.

Education Minister meets with National Commission on Disabilities

Residents applying for public assistance

She said Government is fulfilling its manifesto commitment to “provide enhanced benefits for public assistance” by implementing an automatic renewal system for public assistance beneficiaries who are permanently disabled, until they are eligible for old-age pension.

The Minister highlighted that this initiative was conceptualised to ease the expense and frustration experienced by persons having

Education Minister Priya Manickchand meeting with members of the National Commission on Disabilities (Education Ministry photo)

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ducation Minister Priya Manickchand on Wednesday met with some executive members of the National Commission on Disabilities (NCD).

During the meeting, which was held in the Ministry’s boardroom, Manickchand stated that the Ministry has been work-

ing to improve the education delivery for students with disabilities. She highlighted that focus is placed on teachers’ training, with a curriculum being done for teachers desirous of being trained in special needs education.

National Commission on Disabilities’ acting Chairperson Vidushi PersaudMcKinnon

was joined by Executive Secretary Beverly Pyle, Programme Officer Sondra Davidson-Low, and Commissioner Shelly Wilson.

Also present at the meeting was the Ministry’s Chief Planning Officer Nicola Johnson and National Special Education Needs Officer Savvi Hopkinson.

to renew their public assistance application every six months.

“I felt that people living with permanent disabilities were being frustrated.

They had to reapply over and over and over; and really, if you have a permanent disability, that is not going to change. So, it cost to get a medical report, whether it is your transportation, whether it is the doctor or whatever, you have a cost. So, we are moving that hassle

and so persons for this one time in their life they can apply and go all the way up to when they get pension,” DPI quoted the Minister as saying.

A medical report and application are the only requirements needed to benefit from this programme.

Application forms are available at any of the Ministry’s offices.

The application exercise is expected to run until next year.

Long-lasting loss of smell, taste in 5% of COVID cases – study

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round five per cent of people who have had COVID-19 develop long-lasting problems with their sense of smell or taste, a large study said Thursday, potentially contributing to the burden of long COVID. A lost sense of smell has been a hallmark of contracting coronavirus since the early days of the pandemic, but it has not been clear how often symptoms like this occur -- or how long they can last.

Seeking to find out, researchers analysed the findings of 18 previous studies involving 3,700 patients.

In a new study published in the BMJ, they found that six months after contracting the virus, four per cent of patients had not recovered their sense of smell, while

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55)

A medical worker takes a swab sample to be tested for the Covid-19 coronavirus from a high school student as he prepares to take the annual "Gaokao" or college entrance examinations in China, in Shenyang in China's northeastern Liaoning province on June 6, 2022 (Photo by AFP) / China OUT

two per cent had not recovered their sense of taste.

It was unclear if this represented a full or partial recovery, however.

The researchers estimated that loss of smell may persist in 5.6 per cent of patients, while 4.4 per cent may not fully recover their sense of taste. One woman told the researchers that she had not recovered her sense of smell more than two years after contracting COVID. The researchers said that while most patients should recover their sense of smell and taste within the first three months of getting COVID, "a major group of patients might develop long-lasting dysfunction that requires timely identification, personalised treatment, and long-term follow-up."

Danny Altmann, an immunologist at Imperial College London not involved

in the research, said it was a "strong and important study".

"Studies such as this alert us to the hidden burden out there of people suffering with persistent symptoms, but perhaps not having thought it worth contacting the GP on the assumption there wouldn't be much to be done," he said.

The research also found that women were less likely to recover these senses than men.

The cause of the disparity is not clear, but the researchers suggested women tend to have better senses of smell and taste in the first place, meaning they have more to lose.

The data did not include which COVID variant the patients contracted. Previous research has indicated that more recent Omicron variants are less likely to lead to smell loss. (AFP)

guyanatimesgy.com

THURSDAY, JULY 28, 2022

17

Regional

Haiti gangs wage battles in Barbados economy continues to grow downtown Port-au-Prince B

Police Officers hold weapons as they patrol the street in Port-auPrince, Haiti, July 27, 2022, in in this still image obtained from social media video (Courtesy of Passion Info Plus via Reuters)

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aitian gangs waged intense gun battles on Wednesday in Port-au-Prince, shuttering main avenues and a municipal market in the downtown area of the capital.

One video filmed downtown showed men running toward Police with their hands in the air as gunshots rang out, in a new outbreak of violence following gang

clashes this month outside the capital that killed hundreds of people.

The cathedral of Port-auPrince caught fire and was partially damaged before firefighters could put out the blaze, the origin of which has not yet been determined, but was believed to be linked to the gang battles.

Amid the shooting, prisoners at a downtown Port-

au-Prince penitentiary broke out of their cells and gathered in the prison yard in an unsuccessful attempt to escape, the penitentiary's inspector general Pierre Rene Francois told Haitian radio.

Shots were also reported on Wednesday in the town of Cité Soleil, where the United Nations says gang clashes left more than 471 people dead, wounded ,or missing for over a week starting in early July.

Gang violence has soared since the assassination last year of President Jovenel Moïse, creating a political vacuum that criminal groups have taken advantage of to expand control over territory.

Rights activists in May said a protracted gang confrontation killed nearly 150 people. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Candidates nominated for St Kitts & Nevis General Election

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t least 32 candidates representing six political parties were nominated on Tuesday in a Carnival-style atmosphere to contest St Kitts and Nevis General Election on August 5 that incumbent Prime Minister, Dr Timothy Harris was forced to call three years ahead of the constitutional deadline.

People’s Labour Party (PLP), led by Harris, as well as the main Opposition, St Kitts & Nevis Labour Party (SKNLP) and the People’s Action Movement (PAM) are contesting all eight seats on St Kitts,

while the Concerned Citizens Movement (CCM) and the Nevis Reformation Party (NRP) are contesting the three seats up for grabs on Nevis. The Moral Restoration Movement (MRM) has nominated two candidates in Nevis.

The parties will contest 11 of the 15 seats in Parliament with the other four legislators being nominated by the Governor General following the polls.

Harris was forced to dissolve Parliament on May 10 paving the way for the General Election after legislators from PAM and the CCM – two members of

the coalition Team Unity Government – accounting for seven of the nine seats in the Cabinet filed a motion of no confidence in the Prime Minister.

Dr Harris scuttled that move by firing the dissidents and indicated he would announce a date for the polls within the stipulated 90-day period.

In a video message, Dr Harris urged voters to ensure that they secure their future “with a growing economy”.

“A future where people are protected and where jobs are being created,” he said. (Excerpt from CMC)

arbados’s economy has grown for the fifth consecutive quarter, but the current extremely challenging global economic environment has prompted the Central Bank to slightly lower its growth forecast for the rest of the year.

Central Bank Governor Cleviston Haynes gave this update on Wednesday as the Bank’s review of the country’s economic performance between January and June was released at the Frank Collymore Hall.

“The economy registered its fifth consecutive quarter of growth between April and June. The expansion, though vibrant, was weaker than in the first quarter, but growth for the first half of the year remained in double digits,” he reported.

“The recovery is mainly reflective of the rebound in tourism activity and there were also modest gains in manufacturing exports and domestic spending.”

He added: “The external economic environment remains extremely challenging. The impetus for a sustained economic recovery persisted into the second quarter of the year as a slightly-better-than-forecasted rebound in tourism propelled the economy by an estimated 10.5 per cent over the first half of 2022.”

The economist noted that while tourism-related activity had not yet returned to pre-pandemic levels, “the easing of the protocols opened the way for increased domestic spending and enabled the labour mar-

ket to show signs of a return to near normality”.

The downside, however, was that “inflationary pressures originating abroad were felt in the domestic market, raising the risk of a dampening of growth prospects”.

“The Russia-Ukraine conflict continued to compound an already difficult environment for the cost and shipment of goods and commodities arising from the COVID-19 induced supply chain bottlenecks. Sharp increases in imported food and energy prices had a significant pass-through effect on domestic prices, prompting interventions

by Government to soothe the burden on consumers,” Haynes said. (Excerpt from Nation News)

UWI remains among top universities

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he University of the West Indies (UWI) consolidated its high ranking among the top universities internationally.

A report on July 14 from Times Higher Education (THE), the most prestigious university ranking system, indicated that UWI was the number one ranked Caribbean university and maintained its excellent position within the top one per cent of Latin America’s finest.

UWI Vice Chancellor, Professor Sir Hilary Beckles hailed the achievement, which he said was achieved against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic’s challenges upon management operations and financial outlook.

“The people of the Caribbean are deserving of a first-class, respected university, and this is precisely what we are committed

UWI Vice Chancellor, Professor Sir Hilary Beckles

to achieving and sustaining,” Sir Hilary said in a media release.

“We are intellectually focused, strategic in our choices and actions, and not distracted in any way.

These excellent results are the outcomes of the sustained, smart work of our academics and administrators, students, and service

providers.”

In THE’s assessment methodology there are five performance areas – teaching, research, international outlook, industry income, and research citations, in which UWI scored its most spectacular outcome in the area of its research publications.

UWI was ranked number three out of the 197 best universities in this important area, also identified as research influence, surpassing 18 others ahead of it in the final rankings.

“This extraordinary result is a tribute to UWI’s scholars,” Sir Hilary said. “…and reflects the very healthy state of intellectualism within the University, and the commitment to publishing globally respected and relevant research.” (Excerpt from Reuters)

Forum to advance Africa-Caribbean Monkeypox cases in the Americas trade and investment in August reach 5300; US, Canada, Brazil most affected -PAHO B arbados is expected to host more than 700 African businessmen, investors, and representatives of financial institutions during the first Africa-Caribbean Trade and Investment Forum (ACTIF) from August 31 to September 3 this year.

The Forum is one of the first projects coming out of last year’s First AfricaCaricom summit and will be held at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre.

The event is a collective initiative of Invest Barbados and Export Barbados in collaboration with African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank).

“The Forum aims to foster the development of strategic partnerships between

the business communities in Africa and the Caribbean, to bolster bilateral cooperation and increase engagement in trade, investment, technology transfer, innovation, tourism, culture, and other sectors,” a media release from Export Barbados (BIDC) and Invest Barbados stated.

“Additionally, ACTIF 2022 is expected to contribute to the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) and the Caribbean trade development agenda, further reflecting the deep-rooted ties between Africa and the Caribbean based on their shared history, culture, common identity, and destiny.”

As part of their commitment to the Forum’s success, Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of Export Barbados (BIDC) and Invest Barbados Mark Hill and Kaye Greenidge respectively, hosted Kanayo Awani, Executive Vice President of Afreximbank’s IntraAfrican Trade Bank and her team during a preparatory visit to Barbados between July 20 and 22.

Awani also had meetings with Prime Minister Mia Mottley and representatives of key local and regional organisations.

Mottley said Barbados ACTIF2022 would be a major step towards strengthening relations between Caricom and Africa.

(Excerpt from Nation News)

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he Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) said on Wednesday that nearly 5300 monkeypox cases have so far been reported across 18 countries and territories in the Americas, with the majority in the United States, Canada, and Brazil.

PAHO Deputy Director Mary Lou Valdez told a press conference that almost all cases continue to be reported among men who have sex with men between the ages of 25 and 45, but warned that anyone can get the disease regardless of their gender or sexual orientation.

No deaths from monkeypox have been reported in the region to date.

Last weekend, the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the rapidly spreading monkeypox outbreak a global health emergency, its highest level of alert, with more than 18,000 cases reported globally.

On Wednesday, the WHO recommended that gay and bisexual men limit their number of sexual partners to protect themselves from monkeypox and help slow transmission of the rapidly spreading virus.

The WHO’s monkeypox expert, Rosamund Lewis, said men who have sex with men are the group at the highest risk of infection right now. About 99 per cent of cases are among men, and at least 95 per cent of those patients are men who have sex with men, Lewis said.

PAHO's Interim Assistant Director Dr Marcos Espinal said that about 10 countries in the Americas have already said they were interested in purchasing a vaccine against monkeypox, but did not disclose which nations. (Excerpt from Reuters and CNBC)

18

THURSDAY, JULY 28, 2022

guyanatimesgy.com

Around the World

Russian forces redeploying in 3 southern Ukraine regions – Zelenskiy aide

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ussian forces are undertaking a "massive redeployment" of troops to three southern regions of Ukraine in what appears to be a change of tactics by Moscow, a senior adviser to President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Wednesday.

Russian forces have taken over Ukraine's second biggest power plant, presidential adviser Oleksiy Arestovych said in an interview posted on YouTube.

Russian-backed forces had earlier announced the capture of the Soviet-era, coalfired Vuhlehirsk plant in eastern Ukraine.

"They achieved a tiny tactical advantage – they captured Vuhlehirsk," Arestovych said.

Arestovych said Russia

A rescuer stands next to a shell crater at a residential area destroyed by a Russian military strike, as Russia's attack on Ukraine continues, in the town of Toretsk, Donetsk region, Ukraine, July 27, 2022 (Press service of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine/Handout via Reuters)

seemed to be switching from offence to a strategic defence, using tactical attacks in a bid to weaken Ukraine's offensive potential in the crucial eastern Donetsk industrial region.

"(This would) place us in a position where we are unable to liberate all our territory and call for talks," he said.

Ukraine has made clear it intends to recapture the

southern city of Kherson, which fell to Russia in the early days of the war.

Oleksiy Danilov, Secretary of Ukraine's National Security and Defence Council, earlier tweeted that Russia was concentrating "the maximum number of troops" in the direction of the Kherson but gave no details.

Arestovych said Russia was also sending troops to the Melitopol and Zaporizhzhia regions in the south.

Ukraine has shelled an important bridge straddling the Dnipro river in Kherson, closing it to traffic. Russian officials had earlier said they would turn instead to pontoon bridges and ferries to get forces across the river.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Pope's apology in Canada falls short for some Indigenous survivors

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historic apology by Pope Francis to survivors of residential schools in Canada evoked strong emotions for many as the pontiff begged for forgiveness, but fell short of what some survivors and Indigenous leaders had hoped for.

Greeted with drumming and dancing on First Nations soil, the Pope on Monday said he was "deeply sorry" for the "deplorable evil" and "disastrous error"

of "cultural destruction and forced assimilation", drawing cheers from the largely Indigenous crowd.

But some survivors said the apology was disappointing because it failed to mention sexual abuses committed at the schools and did not outline concrete action to follow the words.

"I was hoping that he would be more specific in his apology, especially when he talks about the atrocities that the church-

es did on our people. And he didn't use the word 'sexual abuse.' That was one thing that really struck me," said Ruth Roulette, a residential school survivor who watched from home.

"That’s what happened in there. I know that."

The Pope also upset some by not mentioning the 15th-century doctrine of discovery that justified taking Indigenous land.

"Repudiate the doctrine of discovery! Renounce the

papal bulls!" Kukpi7 (Chief) Judy Wilson of Neskonlith Indian Band in British Columbia shouted at the Pope after his speech on Monday.

In addition to the formal rescinding of edicts, Indigenous leaders have sought financial compensation, help in bringing alleged abusers to justice, the return of artifacts from the Vatican museum, and the release of school records.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

around the world in early 2020 as the first place scientists detected the new coronavirus – and the first city to be put under harsh restrictive measures.

At the time, the wider world was shocked by the strict lockdown, but many cities and countries were soon forced to impose their own similar measures.

Later, China became known as a Covid success story, with restrictions lifted much earlier than in many other countries.

But that has changed again, with China pursuing a "zero Covid" strategy resulting in frequent local lockdowns, rather than trying to live with the virus as in most other countries.

Last month, Shanghai – China's giant financial capital with nearly 25 million residents – finally emerged from a strict two-month lockdown, though residents are adapting to a "new normal" of frequent mass testing. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Police in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo have clashed with demonstrators on a third day of violent anti-United Nations protests.

Secretary General António Guterres had called on the Congolese authorities to investigate the incidents.

The UN blamed the violence and looting of its property on criminals pretending to be protesters.

It said they had seized weapons from local Police and opened fire.

"Mobs are throwing stones and petrol bombs, breaking into bases, looting and vandalising, and setting facilities on fire," said Farhan Haq, deputy spokesperson for Guterres, in a statement.

"The situation is very volatile and reinforcements are being mobilised. Our quick reaction forces are on high alert and have been advised to exercise maximum restraint, using tear gas to disperse protesters and only firing warning shots when UN personnel or property are under attack."

Congolese troops were helping protect UN facilities, Haq added.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

OILNEWS OIL NEWS Oil settles higher on US inventory drop, Russia gas cuts

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il settled up more than US$2 on Wednesday as a report of lower inventories in the United States and cuts in Russian gas flows to Europe offset concern about weaker demand and a US interest rate hike.

US crude oil stockpiles dropped 4.5 million barrels last week as exports surged to an all-time high owing to US crude's big discount to international benchmark Brent, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) said.

Brent crude rose US$2.22, or 2.1 per cent, to US$106.62 a barrel. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude gained US$2.28, or 2.4 per cent, to US$97.26.

After a sharp drop in the last two weeks, US gasoline demand rebounded by 8.5 per cent week on week, according to the data.

"All talk about demand destruction stopped in its tracks in this report...the situation has changed dramatically in two weeks," said Bob Yawger, director of energy futures at Mizuho.

Oil also continued to climb after the US Federal Reserve decided, as expected, to raise its benchmark overnight interest rate by three-quarters of a percentage point in an effort to cool the most intense inflation since the 1980s.

"From here, oil could ride the wave of some increased risk appetite for a few sessions especially if the dollar weakens further," said Jim Ritterbusch, President of Ritterbusch and Associates in Galena, Illinois.

Oil has soared in 2022, reaching a 14-year high of US$139 a barrel in March after Russia's invasion of Ukraine added to supply worries and as demand recovered from the pandemic.

Since then, concerns of economic slowdown and rising interest rates have weighed, despite supply outages in Libya and Nigeria and cuts in Russian gas flows to Europe.

Gas flows through the Nord Stream 1 pipeline fell to a fifth of the pipeline's capacity on Wednesday, while Italy's Eni said it would receive lower volumes from Russia's Gazprom. (Reuters)

Powerful 7.1 earthquake strikes Philippines, COVID in China: DR Congo protests: Anti- at least 5 dead Million in lockdown in UN anger rages amid Wuhan after 4 cases war crime warning

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lmost one million people in a suburb of Wuhan – China's central city where the coronavirus was first recorded – have been placed under lockdown.

Jiangxia district residents have been ordered to stay inside their homes or compounds for three days after four asymptomatic COVID cases were detected.

China follows a "zero Covid" strategy, including mass testing, strict isolation rules, and local lockdowns.

This has resulted in far fewer deaths than in many other countries.

But the strategy is facing growing opposition as people and businesses continue to face the strain of restrictions.

In Wuhan, a city of 12 million people, regular testing uncovered two asymptomatic cases two days ago.

Two more cases were found through contact tracing, and shortly after the lockdown order was issued.

Wuhan became known

At least 17 people, including three members of the UN peacekeeping force, have been killed, officials say.

Protests erupted in the town of Goma as people accused the UN of failing to contain violence by armed groups.

The UN warns attacks on its mission, on the ground for more than two decades, may constitute a war crime.

Attacks were made on two of its bases, in Goma and in Butembo, where two Indian peacekeepers and a third member of the UN force were killed.

More than 50 people have been injured since the clashes began on Monday.

On Wednesday, protesters again targeted UN bases in the region.

A spokesman said UN

An emergency crew outside a building that collapsed during the earthquake, in La Trinidad, Benguet, Philippines, July 27, 2022 (Public Information Service Bureau of Fire Protection handout via Reuters)

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powerful 7.1 magnitude earthquake struck the northern Philippines island of Luzon on Wednesday killing at least five people, damaging buildings and sending strong tremors through the capital, Manila.

At least 64 people were injured and 173 buildings damaged, officials said, many in Abra province, just 11 kilometres (six miles) from the epicentre of the quake. Over 200 aftershocks have been recorded in the area, according to the state seismology agency, and 58 landslides were also reported in the aftermath.

"Despite the sad reports

about the damages caused by the earthquake, we are assuring quick response to those in need and affected by this calamity," President Ferdinand Marcos Jr said on Facebook.

The quake hit close to the Marcos family's political stronghold.

A hospital in Abra province was evacuated after the building partially collapsed, but there were no casualties reported there, officials said.

Abra's Vice Governor, Joy Bernos, posted photos of the damaged Abra hospital on her Facebook account, which showed a gaping hole in its facade.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

guyanatimesgy.com

THURSDAY, JULY 28, 2022

19

DAILY HOROSCOPES

ARCHIE

Don’t overdo it or put your emotions on display. Use intelligence to figure out how to do your best and get the most in return. Distance yourself from those who want to argue.

(March 21-April 19) Confusion will occur if someone says one thing and does another. Listen carefully and discover how to use the information you receive in a fashion that helps you without hurting someone.

DILBERT

(April 20-May 20)

(May 21-June 20)

PEANUTS (June 21-July 22)

Use your connections to get ahead.

Don’t limit what you can do because you are afraid of rejection. Step up and rearrange your schedule to ensure you can take advantage of whatever comes your way.

Take advantage of an opportunity someone brings to your attention. Find out all you can, then up your game in preparation. Added skills and experience will help you outmaneuver competitors.

You’ll be able to get on with your life and follow your heart once you share your feelings. Arguments can evolve only if you choose to engage in them. Look at the big picture.

(July 23-Aug. 22)

CALVIN AND HOBBES

(Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

You may crave something new, but before you initiate change, consider the outcome. Don’t bite off more than you can chew. Test the waters, do your research and take one step at a time to ensure safety.

Reach out to people you can count on for support, good advice and handson help. Listen to your body and incorporate a health regimen that helps you lower your risk of disease.

(Sept. 23-Oct. 23) You’ll need plenty of stamina and discipline to deal with unexpected or last-minute changes. Welcome a challenge, and apply unique techniques and plans to overcome any obstacle.

SUDOKU (Oct. 24-Nov. 22)

Put your plans in motion. Limit spending and invest wisely. Handle situations at home carefully. Don’t give others jurisdiction over your lifestyle.

Satisfy your needs first.

(Nov. 23-Dec. 21) Change begins with you. Size up your situation and rethink the way you want to live. Don’t limit what you can do because of cost. Size down or adjust your overhead to fit your plans.

SOLUTION FOR LAST PUBLISHED PUZZLE

(Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Stop worrying about what others do; concentrate on what you want. Discipline and hard work will help you reach your goals and eliminate what’s no longer working for you. Keep the peace.

(Jan. 20-Feb. 19)

(Feb. 20-March 20)

Things won’t go according to plan when dealing with pending financial, legal or health issues. Have a backup plan to ensure you come out ahead. A social event will give you a valuable platform.

20

THURSDAY, JULY 28, 2022

Central American & Caribbean Championships 2022…

Confident of current package, Rosanna Fung aiming for gold

By Timothy Jaikarran

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he utterly sensational Rosanna Fung will be taking to the stage at the Central American and Caribbean Championships (CAC) 2022 in Barbados, and she aims to bag gold in the Miss Bikini Category, which would allow her to earn her pro rank card.

The statuesque Fung is already confident that her current package would earn her a position on stage.

The competition, which has already commenced, will conclude on August 1, 2022, and Fung is expected to take to the stage on Friday, July 29, for the pre-judging.

However, depending on the number of athletes competing in the category, she could go straight through to the final on Saturday.

In an interview with this publication, Fung was asked about her prospects of win- Rosanna Fung will be going for gold at CAC

ning gold, and she said, “Winning this show would mean the absolute world to me, as it would mean winning my pro card, which is my ticket to competing as a pro in my category and for my country, and that is the ultimate honour for me.”

The talented Fung has said that in terms of her preparation for the competition, it is going great. She explained that coming off of her last show in Florida last month, in which she copped silver, she is confident that when she hits the stage, she would be leaner than she has ever been for the CAC. As it pertains to her confidence level, she relayed that her mindset is always positive heading into every show. That being said, Fung is optimistic that this time she would place well

in the competition.

Asked what continues to motivate her, she said, “Knowing that I can inspire others out there to step out of their comfort zones and step into the best versions of themselves keeps me driven and going; cause if I can do it, why can’t you?

As it relates to those who would want to compete in the future, I would encourage any up-and-coming athlete in the sport to try. You will never know what you like and what works for you until you try. Try, and fail if you must, but don’t give up on anything that lights that little fire inside of you.”

Fung has also expressed much gratitude to her sponsors: BM Soat, Giftland, Trans Pacific Auto, Prem’s Electrical, Sassy Styles, Fitness Express, Bad Monkey, Raj jewelry, Space

Gym, and The Breakers Palm Beach.

The other athletes who would be representing Guyana at the CAC are: Emmerson Campbell, Darious Ramsammy, Roger Callender, Nicholas Albert, Rawle Greene, Julio Sinclair, Colin Chesney, Jonathan Jeffrey, Christina King, Asanti Conway and Angelica Ramos.

Among the accolades Fung has won in the Miss Bikini Category are: The Miss Bikini Novice 2019 Championship, the Seniors 2019 Championship, placing 2nd at the Stage of Champions 2019 event, the 2020 edition of the Resilience Bodybuilding Championship. She also copped bronze in the CAC Championship in 2021 in El Salvador, among other things.

2022 T20I Series between West Indies and India…

GFF delivers equipment, urges Goldmedal Electricals becomes title sponsor stronger club governance Concacaf club licence by the end of 2023, which includes the requirement to establish a youth football department, appoint licensed coaching staff, implement a CSR programme and a child safeguarding policy, and ensure that at least one women’s team is active in GFF competitions.

“The GFF stands ready to provide any technical or logistical support necessary

GFF Outreach/ WDFA equipment handover

D

uring an outreach to the West Demerara Football Association (WDFA), Guyana Football Federation (GFF) President Wayne Forde urged clubs to implement stronger governance structures to support the development of the game, as he delivered football equipment under the auspices of the GFF’s Members Financial Assistance Programme (M-FAP).

GFF President Forde was participating in an outreach with the WDFA General Council on Friday, the GFF’s first official engagement with one of its regional associations since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The GFF Members Outreach Programme is designed to build bridges across the football community, and to explore challenges and opportunities at the regional level.

“We had an extremely valuable and positive interaction

GFF Outreach/ WDFA General Council Meeting

on the future of football development in this crucial region,” Forde said. “Our discussions focused on governance, administration, and compliance, which are vital pillars for the sustainable growth of the game.

“In particular, we need to see more clubs in the WDFA region appointing executive committees to improve the management and oversight of club football, and to reduce the day-to-day burden on coaches, who should be fully focused on working with players to raise standards on the pitch and develop talent,” Forde added.

All clubs in Guyana would need to apply for, and hold, a

for this Concacaf club licensing programme, to help make this a reality with all of our clubs by the end of next year as we seek to improve the governance of the game across Guyana,” Forde has said.

Further outreaches to the remaining eight regional associations are slated for the coming weeks. In West Demerara, Forde was joined

by GFF General Secretary Ian Alves and GFF Members Services Officer Franklin Wilson. Alongside WDFA President Trevor Williams, representatives from eight WDFA clubs were present at the meeting.

G

oldmedal Electricals, one of India’s leading electrical manufacturing companies, has announced that it would be title sponsor of the upcoming five-match T20 International (T20I) Series between India and the West Indies.

The series will be branded as the Goldmedal T20 Cup, and the first match is scheduled to be played on 29 July, 2022. Trinidad & Tobago and St. Kitts & Nevis will host the first three T20I matches of the series, while the last two will be played in Florida, USA. As the title sponsor, the Goldmedal brand will have a prominent presence; its logo will be part of the integrated logo unit (ILU) of the series, and will also be seen on the pitch mat, the perimeter boards, the presentation boards, and on the winning trophy.

Speaking about the association, Kishan Jain, Director of Goldmedal, has said: “T20 cricket is achieving new heights with every passing

year, and Goldmedal is glad to be associated with a series where we are going to see the best version of the game. Both India and West Indies are champion sides who believe in giving their best – something that resonates with brand Goldmedal. We believe in creating amazing experiences through our products, and this T20 Series will do the same for cricket lovers across the globe.

“We look forward to a long and fruitful association with Indian cricket.”

Johnny Grave, CEO of Cricket West Indies, has said: “Goldmedal’s new title sponsorship of the Goldmedal T20 Series is very welcome, especially as a new partner for cricket. The West Indies vs India Series is going to see two of the most exciting teams in the world go head-to-head in the Caribbean and Florida, watched by a global audience.”

This will be Goldmedal’s first title sponsorship of a major cricket series. Goldmedal was also the official ‘Powered By sponsor’ of the current CG

United Series ODI Series between the two teams, which India are leading 2-0 after two thrilling games. They were also the official ‘Power Partner’ of the India-Ireland T20 Series held in June end.

The matches will begin at 10:30am local time/9:30am Jamaica/8pm IST, and will be telecast live on Fancode and DD Sports in India, and ESPN Caribbean in the West Indies. (Windies Cricket)

FULL MATCH SCHEDULE

Goldmedal T20 Cup * T20Is start at 10:30am (9:30am Jamaica/8pm India) * Friday, 29 July: 1st T20I – Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Trinidad * Monday, 1 August: 2nd T20I – Warner Park, St Kitts * Tuesday, 2 August: 3rd T20I – Warner Park * Saturday, 6 August: 4th T20I – Broward County Stadium, Florida * Sunday, 7 August: 5th T20I – Broward County Stadium.

THURSDAY, JULY 28, 2022

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

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David Miller named Barbados Royals' captain for CPL 2022

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outh Africa batsman David Miller has been named captain of the Barbados Royals for the 2022 CPL season, replacing Jason Holder, who had been at the helm for the last four sea-

sons.

Miller, who will return to the CPL for the first time in three seasons, having last represented Jamaica Tallawahs in 2018 and St Lucia Zouks in 2016, was

snapped up by Royals earlier this month along with his South African team-mate Quinton de Kock.

He has scored 332 runs in 15 innings at a strike rate of 146.90 in the tournament.

BCB HOSTS SUCCESSFUL OGM

-delegates unanimously reject Foster’s resignation

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he Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) last Sunday hosted its Ordinary General Meeting for the third quarter at the Port Mourant Cricket Ground. The meeting was attended by all members, apart from Young Warriors CC and Mt Sinai CC, and was conducted in a calm and cordial atmosphere, which has become the norm at all BCB meetings.

Delegates approved minutes of the last OGM, and expressed satisfaction that all plans unveiled and promised were all fulfilled, including the visits by several legendary West Indies former players, distribution of gear across the county, and an expansion of the board’s developmental programme.

Delegates unanimously rejected a resignation letter from BCB President Hilbert Foster, which was to go into effect on July 31. Foster told the packed hall that he was willing to step aside, as he did not want Berbice cricket to suffer because of his presence when he seems to be a target of the national board.

All of the delegates informed the BCB President that they have full confidence in his vision, honesty, passion and commitment, and they had no plan to change their mind that he had to stay.

They recalled that when Foster and his team took over cricket in the county, it was at the lowest level, and today it is the envy of every board in the region, and has a remarkable set of achievements and activities.

Under Foster’s leadership, over twenty players at all levels have either played

BCB President Hilbert Foster

for the West Indies or been called to training camps.

A series of ambitious developmental programmes have also unearthed numerous cricketing talent, which has secured the game in the region.

Delegates also told non-Berbicians to stop their targeting of the board, and warned that they would never forgive or forget those who seek to destroy the progress that not only benefits the county, but also Guyana and the West Indies.

Foster, Treasurer Rovin Bahadur, and Secretary Angela Haniff provided comprehensive reports to the OGM, and they were all accepted and approved unanimously. The BCB President also unveiled several major programmes that would be hosted shortly. He informed the attentive audience of the hosting of a county-wide coaching programme for secondary schools, the setting up of a kiddies’ Academy of Excellence, overseas scholarships for Berbice cricketers, gear for schools, and the hosting of four mini academies during the summer

holidays.

The first academy was held last weekend in West Berbice, and was hailed as a huge success, with close to fifty youths in attendance.

Foster announced that every secondary school in the county would shortly receive a donation of gear, uniforms and cricket balls from the BCB, with assistance from overseas-based Lochan Samkarran.

The BCB would also publish more copies of its historic coaching manual and youth information booklet for free distribution to every youth player in the county.

The BCB also announced that the county-wide 40 overs round robin tournament would start shortly, after final blessings were obtained from the sponsor for a $1.7M deal.

The tournament would be contested by over ninety teams divided into five zones - West Berbice, New Amsterdam/Canje, Lower Corentyne, Berbice River, and Upper Corentyne. The BCB President also announced that that former national under-19 player Orvin Mangru would be sponsoring a county-wide under-19 tournament. The sponsorship would also cover the cost of balls and transportation.

Present at the meeting were representatives of Berbice River Cricket Association, West Berbice Cricket Association, Upper Corentyne Cricket Association, Bermine, Rose Hall Canje, Mental CC, Chesney, Whim, RHTY&SC, Kildonan, Port Mourant, Blairmont and Albion.

Absent were Mt Sinai and Young Warriors CC.

Miller is also coming off a superb run in the IPL, where he scored 481 runs in 16 matches at a strike rate of 142.73 for champions Gujarat Titans. He will now renew ties with a Royals franchise, having played for Rajasthan in the IPL in 2020 and 2021.

“During my time at the Royals in the IPL, I always felt very valued, and have been able to establish a deep connection with the team,” Miller said. “It is an exciting time for me to come to the Barbados Royals, and a privilege to have been appointed as the captain. It is a team that has an abundance of young and experienced talent from the Caribbean, and I am looking forward to working with the entire group to get down to achieving our objectives for the 2022 season.”

Head Coach Trevor Penney added, “Having worked with David (Miller) before at the Rajasthan Royals, we knew he has a cricketing brain which not only reads situations very well on the field, but is also very passionately involved off the field. He is someone who helps in creating a perfect environment for his team-mates to excel in, and that is what we are expecting out of him here at Barbados, where he will be leading the franchise. He has shown tremendous experience and guile in the last few months, and drove his team to IPL glory, unfortunately beating us in the final. We are all delighted to have signed him, and look forward to working

with him during the season.”

Holder played a key role in taking Royals (then Tridents) to their second title in 2019. However, they endured back-to-back tough seasons, finishing fifth in 2020 and last on the table in 2021. Penney said the allrounder will continue to be a “pillar” for the side.

“I would also like

to take this opportunity to thank Jason (Holder) for his contribution to the team as the captain, and for agreeing to our decision of having a new leader for the team. He is one of the pillars of this Barbados side, and will continue to remain so going forward.”

The 2022 CPL will be played from August 31 to September 30, with Royals kicking off their campaign against St Kitts and Nevis Patriots on September 1.

David Miller

GUYOIL sponsors National Chess Olympiad Team with $100k

Olympiad chess team

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he Guyana Oil Company Limited (GUYOIL) has contributed $100,000 to aid Guyana’s FIDE Chess Olympiad Team which is competing at the 44TH FIDE Chess Olympiad from July 28th to August 10th in Chennai, India.

The team consists of the following players: Sasha Shariff, Women’s Champion Pooja Lam, Anaya Lall, Jessica Callender and Nellisha Johnson in the Women’s event, and CM Taffin Khan, FM Anthony Drayton, Ethan Lee, Loris Nathoo and Roberto Neto in the Open event.

Among 187 national teams competing in the Open category, Guyana’s team ranks 152. The Open team is led by Team Captain Davion Mars. Guyana’s Women’s team, led by GM Georg Mohr, ranks at 137 among 162 nations.

The Guyana Chess Federation extends its gratitude to GUYOIL for supporting the team as it endeavours to make Guyana proud in Chennai with aspirations of earning chess titles and increasing Guyana’s international ranking.

GUYOIL is Guyana’s largest petroleum distrib-

utor. It is recognised as a market leader in high-quality petroleum products, including Super 95 motor gasoline, Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel, and Castrol lubricants. It also supplies JET A-1 fuel to local and international airlines.

GUYOIL imports, stores and distributes petroleum products in wholesale and retail quantities throughout Guyana. It has a retail distribution network of 56 service stations and industrial storage facilities in all three counties.

The Olympiad team arrived in Chennai on July 27th, ahead of the games.

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GUYANATIMESGY.COM

THURSDAY, JULY 28, 2022

India beat West Indies to claim ODI Series 3-0

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Siraj made early inroads

he first two matches of the ODI Series between India and the West Indies were tight contests wherein both teams remained in contention until the final ball was bowled.

However, India had it much easier in the third ODI in Port-of-Spain, wherein the visitors completed a 3-0 sweep of the West Indies following contributions from Shubman Gill, who hit a career-best 98*; Shikhar Dhawan, who got 58; and Shreyas Iyer, who contributed a quickfire 44. All their bowlers chipped in too, as West Indies fell away quickly during the chase.

The hosts were asked to chase a DLS-revised target of 257 in 35 overs, after India had posted 225 in 36 overs, their innings ending prematurely after a two-and-a-halfhour rain delay had already trimmed it down to 40 overs.

Mohammed Siraj sent West Indies on the back foot in the second over of the chase when he cleaned

Kyle Mayers up with a good length delivery, before trapping Shamarh Brooks in front with one that angled in.

West Indies were 0 for 2 at that stage, with nine deliveries gone.

Brandon King and Shai Hope briefly brought them back on track with a 47-run stand, before Yuzvendra Chahal had Hope stumped for 22.

King was then joined by Nicholas Pooran in another partnership that gave West Indies hope, before Axar Patel’s arm ball in the 14th over bowled King for 42.

Immediately thereafter, Pooran fired a six and four off Deepak Hooda to keep his side afloat, as the required rate hovered around eight.

However, Keacy Carty’s struggle to get going at the other end seemed to put pressure back on Pooran.

When Carty finally decided to try something different, he skipped down to Shardul Thakur in the 19th over only to bottom-edge on to his

stumps for 5 off 17 balls.

By then the West Indies needed nearly 10 an over, and although Pooran hit two more fours off Axar, he fell for 42 in the 22nd over, to all but end the game, which was set up by India’s opening batters Gill and Dhawan.

In their third successful partnership in a row - they followed unions of 119 and 48 with 113 on the day - the right-left pair started sedately in what was an innings of two halves from India: the first 24 overs produced 115 runs, the next 12 fetched 110.

Gill missed out on what would have been his maiden ODI hundred, as a second rain interruption meant India’s innings was announced closed with a scheduled four overs left at that stage. When play resumed after the first rain delay, India had 16 overs remaining, and Gill and Iyer switched gears to accelerate the innings.

Both batters threw everything at the bowling, after having to adjust for the

loss of overs. They came down the pitch to spinners, tried the reverse sweep, played aerial shots whether while pulling or driving, and kept lofting over the in-field.

Gill and Iyer added 86 for the second wicket in less than ten overs, making up for the sedate beginning after Dhawan had opted to bat on winning the toss.

Dhawan was quiet to start the innings, his 58 coming off 74 balls on a slow pitch, whereon he did try attacking but often failed to time and place the ball.

Dhawan hit seven fours, while Gill also hit as many, along with two sixes. The first two overs after the rain break saw 31 runs being plundered - including four fours and two sixes - as Gill and Iyer pulled, cut and drove for fun. Their partnership had only just started before rain broke through.

Hayden Walsh Jr’s second ball after the break was swung for six over deep square leg by Iyer, signalling India’s intent early, as quick runs were the need of the hour.

The next ball was bisected for four between point and short third, before Gill skipped down off the final delivery and swung over the bowler’s head for six.

West Indies brought some pace from the other end, only for Iyer to hit one four off Jayden Seales, and Gill to slam consecutive fours - the first of which was supreme timing to place the ball past mid-off - as India raced along.

Both batters continued finding the boundary when the hosts switched to Jason Holder and Akeal Hosein, before Iyer swatted the lat-

ter to long-on for 44 off 34 balls. But Gill kept ticking the scoreboard at the other end, as Suryakumar Yadav joined him in pursuit of rapid runs.

Suryakumar fell for 8 after carving one four behind point just two overs before play came to a halt, with Gill having skipped from 51 off 65 balls at one stage to an unbeaten run-a-ball 98.

He might rue missing out on a century, as he got only 13 off his last 14 balls - perhaps just one more ball would have been enough to get to triple figures.

In the end, though, it didn’t make too much difference to India’s fortunes.

(ESPN Cricinfo)

Gill scored 98 not out

SCOREBOARD India Innings Shikhar Dhawan (c) c Pooran b Walsh 58 Shubman Gill not out 98 Shreyas Iyer c Paul b Hosein 44 Suryakumar Yadav c Brooks b Walsh 8 Sanju Samson †not out 6 Extras (lb 1, nb 3, w 7) 11 TOTAL 36 Ov (RR: 6.25) 225/3 Fall of wickets: 1-113 (Shikhar Dhawan, 22.5 ov), 2-199 (Shreyas Iyer, 32.2 ov), 3-211 (Suryakumar Yadav, 33.5 ov) BOWLING O-M-R-W Jason Holder 6-0-43-0 Jayden Seales 7-0-50-0 Keemo Paul 6-0-23-0 Akeal Hosein 8-0-43-1 Hayden Walsh 8-0-57-2 Kyle Mayers 1-0-8-0 WEST INDIES INNINGS (Target: 226 runs from 50 overs) Shai Hope †st †Samson b Chahal 22 Kyle Mayers b Mohammed Siraj 0 Shamarh Brooks lbw b Mohammed Siraj 0 Brandon King b Patel 42

Nicholas Pooran (c)c Dhawan b Prasidh Krishna 42 Keacy Carty b Thakur 5 Jason Holder not out 9 Akeal Hosein c Dhawan b Thakur 1 Keemo Paul c Thakur b Chahal 0 Hayden Walsh c Dhawan b Chahal 10 Jayden Seales c Shubman Gill b Chahal 0 Extras (b 4, lb 1, w 1) 6 TOTAL 26 Ov (RR: 5.26) 137 Fall of wickets: 1-0 (Kyle Mayers, 1.1 ov), 2-0 (Shamarh Brooks, 1.3 ov), 3-47 (Shai Hope, 9.5 ov), 4-74 (Brandon King, 13.6 ov), 5-103 (Keacy Carty, 18.6 ov), 6-119 (Nicholas Pooran, 21.2 ov), 7-121 (Akeal Hosein, 22.2 ov), 8-123 (Keemo Paul, 23.2 ov), 9-137 (Hayden Walsh, 25.2 ov), 10-137 (Jayden Seales, 25.6 ov) BOWLING O-M-R-W Deepak Hooda 4-1-16-0 Mohammed Siraj 3-0-14-2 Axar Patel 6-0-38-1 Prasidh Krishna 4-0-30-1 Yuzvendra Chahal 4-0-17-4 Shardul Thakur 5-0-17-2

Commonwealth Games set to open today …Tough draw for table tennis, Poole optimistic about boxers

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Siblings Priyanna and Narayan Ramdhani would represent Guyana in badminton

he 2022 Commonwealth Games are set to be opened today with a grand ceremony at the Alexander Stadium in Birmingham, England. The pomp and splendour are expected to get underway from 2pm local time.

While Queen Elizabeth II, Head of the Commonwealth, will not be in attendance at the opening ceremony, Prince Charles would perform the Royal duties. Prince Charles, along with his own

remarks, will read his mother’s message at the opening ceremony.

Boxer Keevin Allicock and track athlete Aliyah Abrams will bear Guyana’s flag at the 2022 Games.

Meanwhile, every member of Guyana’s 32- member contingent has arrived, and each is settling in pretty well, with all the teams getting the necessary preparation in.

The table tennis team has described its draw for the Commonwealth Games as

A part of Guyana’s Commonwealth squash team

tough, in the words of Coach Idi Lewis. On Wednesday, it was revealed that the country’s male and female team would come up against some of the world’s top countries within the Commonwealth on Friday in the Team event at the National Exhibition Centre Table Tennis facility.

The team of Shemar Britton, Joel Alleyne, Christopher Franklin and Johnathon Van Lange, seeded 10th in Group One, would face England (#1 seed), Fiji and Bangladesh.

The females Chelsea Edghill, Priscilla Greaves, Thuraia Thomas and Natalie Cummings are down to face Fiji, India and South Africa in Group Two. “It’s a tough draw, but I like our chances,” Coach Lewis said in an invited comment. “Those are teams we can beat and compete against, both male female; so, I like our chances to at least make it to quarter-finals.

In 2018 when the Games were hosted in Australia,

the Guyanese women fell short of a medal in the team tournament when they were knocked out in the quarter finals by Singapore. The Men’s team exited in the Roundof-16, losing to Canada.

In the discipline of boxing, Coach Terrence Poole is finding the demands of international competition much easier with another coach accompanying him. For the first time, the boxing team has the benefit of two coaches, Poole and Sebert Blake.

Poole spoke about this de-

velopment, saying, “It very, very much makes the work far easier, where one can concentrate on training and one can concentrate on going to technical meetings. So, that move is a wonderful move, and I do hope it’s just the beginning of the journey.”

In addition, the Coach has high hopes for his three-member team in Keevin Allicock, Desmond Amsterdam and Colin Lewis.

“I expect great things.

I expect a podium finish,” Coach Poole has said on the eve of the opening ceremony.

CLASSIFIED ADS TO RENT One three-bedroom apartment, upper flat with front and back verandahs, parking available. Tel: 6138928 location Zeeburg, W.B.D

THURSDAY, JULY 28, 2022

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

23

Workload balance is key to GAW success this year who’s doing some work with them as well, in terms of their strength and conditioning.”

Shifting focus to the likes of Shimron Hetmyer, Keemo Paul, Romario Shepherd et al, who are currently engaged with the West Indies team, Hercules expressed no worries about their preparation and workload, since they

Story and photos by Jemima Holmes

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he Biggest Party in Sport is almost one month away, and local franchise the Guyana Amazon Warriors are leaving nothing to chance in the 2022 season.

The local franchise is ramping up preparation ahead of the 10th edition of the Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) with a handful of players commencing their training locally at the Everest Cricket Club on Tuesday. In a few weeks’ time, several others will join the Warriors as they head into camp on August 9 at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence, before being joined by their colleagues on West Indies duties and those on other international duties.

In the meantime, Assistant Coach Ryan Hercules has begun training sessions with a group of four, namely: Veerasammy Permaul and Ronsford Beaton, who are returning to the Warriors set up after few years away, and fresh faces in Junior Sinclair and Matthew Nandu.

Veerasammy Permaul getting some work in in the nets (Jemima Holmes Photo)

Ronsford Beaton was all pace in the nets (Jemima Holmes Photo)

Shedding some light on why this group is the first to fall into the Warriors’ training regimen, Hercules revealed that when the available players in the team would officially come together for camp.

“We would have started yesterday with four players.

We’re basically doing some specifics with them; some spot bowling. We have Nandu and the other guys doing some

drills, batting and stuff. These are the guys who weren’t playing cricket for a little while, so we’re just getting them back into cricket,” Hercules informed Guyana Times Sport on Wednesday morning.

The Assistant Coach continued, “I’ve been doing some work with them, with the side arm and stuff, it’s basically getting them back into a level of fitness. We have Yisrael,

GAW 2022 merchandise on sale

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Now even the infant-aged Warriors can rep their team (Jemima Holmes Photo)

he Guyana Amazon Warriors’ 2022 merchandise has arrived and is currently available for sale at the new GAW box of-

of the Golden Arrowhead, this is the first year that the GAW T-Shirts have been made to suit all ages and sizes. There are currently

Fans can also opt for T-Shirts carrying logos, or those without. Carrying similar prices as in years past, the T-Shirts donning logos would be sold for Gy$7000, while T-Shirts without logos would go for Gy$7000. All children’s shirts would cost Gy$6000.

Meanwhile, GAW pants are on sale for Gy$6000, and hats for Gy$2800.

Aside from clothing, the GAW merchandise store is carrying a number of GAWbranded items, such as pens, bags, cups, bottles, umbrellas, among other items. In addition, replica jerseys from previous editions of the

A look at some of the other GAW merchandise available at the new Camp Street office (Jemima Holmes Photo)

fice at 233-234 Camp Street, Georgetown; the same building in which tickets are being sold for the Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL).

Sporting all the colours

T-Shirts available for infants from as young as 3 months to children up to 15 years old. And there are adult sizes from small to extra-large available.

CPL are still available at the store.

Interested persons can call the Merchandise Store on 505-7971 for any other inquiries they may have.

Coach Ryan Hercules serving up a delivery to Matthew Nandu (Jemima Holmes Photo)

are under the watchful eye of Head Coach Rayon Griffith.

“The Head Coach is up there with them, so that’s a good thing for us. So, he’s basically monitoring them up there as well with the West Indies team. (He’s) managing their workload over there, so when they come to us, they’re going to be fit and ready to work out throughout the whole tournament,” he explained.

“It’s very important for us, because we don’t want the guys doing too much of work and then you get into the tournament and you get injuries and niggles coming along in the T20, especially coming to the back end of the tournament.”

Hercules further stated about the players’ workload, “We’re having discussions with the guys in terms of how they manage themselves as well. They know they have The Sixty coming up and the T20s. So, it’s up to the players to know their workload, what they have to do; and when they come with us to do the work, how much work they can put in during the day,” he said. “So, it’s kind of very key that we make sure we manage the bowlers (and) the batters.”

An optimistic Hercules is focused on getting the balance right so the Amazon Warriors can clinch the title on home soil this year.

He explained, “I have a lot of meetings with the Head

Coach, and looking at the guys, we say we need to see how we can make sure we get the guys playing cricket and performing to the best of their ability. Yes, we know the World Cup is just around the corner, we need the guys playing cricket to showcase their talent.”

Focusing on Guyana’s chances at uplifting the CPL Trophy this year, Hercules shared with a smile, “Everyone is excited to get the cricket going, the T10, the T20, we have all faith in the local players, the overseas players to go out and execute, have a good time, have a good tournament, and hopefully this could be the year for Guyana.”

The Guyana Amazon Warriors men’s team reads: Imran Tahir, Shimron Hetmyer, Tabraiz Shamsi, Chanderpaul Hemraj, Paul Stirling, Henrich Klassen, Keemo Paul, Romario Shepherd, Odean Smith, Gudakesh Motie, Shai Hope, Colin Ingram, Ronsford Beaton, Veerasammy Permaul, Matthew Nandu, Junior Sinclair and Jermaine Blackwood.

THURSDAY, JULY 28, 2022

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

GAW Assistant Coach Ryan Hercules (Jemima Holmes Photo)

Workload balance is key to GAW success this year

See story on page 23

Commonwealth Games set to open today Page 22

A look at the new GAW merchandise for the 2022 season (Jemima Holmes Photo)

GAW 2022 merchandise on sale Page 20

Guyana’s Commonwealth boxing team

…Tough draw for table tennis, Poole optimistic about boxers

Page 23

Fung is confident of her current package

Central American & Caribbean Championships 2022…

Confident of current package, Rosanna Fung aiming for gold

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