Guyana Times - Thursday, October, 15, 2020

Special committee to assist remigrants from Venezuela – President Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

Issue No. 4439

P19

THE BEACON OF TRUTH THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2020

International assistance offered to Guyana for electoral reform See story on page 3

Stop attacking Police — Minister Benn

Attempts to rig elections

PRICE

$80 VAT INCLUDED

WHAT'S INSIDE:

P17 24 new COVID-19 cases; 16 in ICU

Bandits invade supermarket, escape with $1.4M P19

Page 20

PNC Chair charged for conspiring to declare fraudulent results Page 9

Omai to employ hundreds of Guyanese as company gears up for production Page 7

Guyana would have seen “end of sugar” had APNU/AFC returned to Govt – Agri Minister

Ex-cop among 3 nabbed for robbing teen

P17

BaiShanLin still owes P7 $70M to Forestry Commission

…Guyana must get its due — Minister

Page 18

Modern airport with restaurants, bar, shopping plazas needed – Edghill tells new Board Page 19

US-based P20 Guyanese charged for US$4.75M Ponzi scheme Non-functioning equipment, drug shortage mar health delivery in Region 6 – Minister P20

2

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

NEWS

3

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS OPENINGS BRIDGE

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Thursday, October 15 – 03:30h-05:00h and 14:30h-16:00h and Friday, October 16 – 04:00h- 05:30h and 14:30h-16:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Thursday, October 15 – 15:20h-16:50h and Friday, October 16 –16:00h-17:30h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Expect sunshine during the day. There will be clear skies at night. Temperatures should range between 21 degrees Celsius and 32 degrees Celsius.

Winds: North-Easterly to East South-Easterly between 1.34 metres and 4.02 metres.

High Tide: 15:36h reaching a maximum height of 2.82 metres.

Low Tide: 09:09h and 21:31h reaching minimum heights of 0.44 metre and 0.36 metre.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2020

LOTTERY NUMBERS K

01 02 14

15 17 22

FREE TICKET

24 Bonus Ball

DAILY MILLIONS

02 07 10 13 15 LUCKY 3

9

0

4

4

Afternoon Draw

9

9

Evening Draw

DRAW DE LINE

02

03

08

09

14 16

PAY DAY

17 SUPER PAY DAY FRIDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2020

01 11 12 13 15

05 09 10 11 13

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

$43.32/barrel

+2.01

Rough Rice

$224.154/ton

+0.02

London Sugar

$386.90/ton

-0.50

Live Spot Gold

USD Per Ounce

Bid/Ask

$1897.00

$1898.00

Low/High

$1891.40

$1914.10

Change

-4.20

-0.22%

International assistance offered to Guyana for electoral reform

A

s the PPP/C Government pursues its reform agenda, it is likely to tap into technical assistance offered by the international community.

During his weekly programme ‘Issues in the News’, Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall posited that the administration has committed to reviewing the Representation of the People Act (RPA) and other key pieces of legislation with the aim of reforming them in order to cover all the loopholes that have been exploited over the five months after the March 2 General and Region elections in Guyana.

To this end, he disclosed that the Canadian Government has laid out a multiplicity of opportunities in the legal sector for Guyana to take advantage of, and during a meeting with Canadian High Commissioner Lilian Chatterjee on Tuesday, he raised the need for experts to assist in the electoral reform process.

“I need as much technical assistance as I can get, and Canada has rendered significant support to our electoral process over the past few years.

And the High Commissioner indicated her Government’s preparedness to continue to assist us in that regard,” Nandlall stated during the programme, which was also streamed live on this facebook page.

The Attorney General went on to outline some of the key areas that Government is looking to reform. These include: ensuring Statements of Poll (SoPs) are published by the respective political parties on a website, and made public within hours after receiving them; ensuring there are oversight mechanisms to scrutinise the work of the Returning Officers (RO) in order to guard against the declaration of false results; and also to scrutinise the employment procedures and practices at the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), so as to ensure the best quality candidates are recruited to work during elections, as well as to have fixed qualifications, character references and testimonials for high ranking staff at the electoral body.

Moreover, Nandlall highlighted that they are looking to implement a regime of offences that would carry heavy penalties for electoral wrongdoings, so that persons would be deterred from taking such actions during the elections.

Canada had joined the other members of the ABCE grouping to condemn blatant attempts to rig Guyana’s March 2, 2020 polls. The countries had spoken out extensively on the attempts to undermine democracy, and had repeatedly called on the David Granger-led APNU/AFC Coalition to respect the will of the Guyanese people after the then incumbent regime had refused to concede defeat and demit office.

In addition to Canada, several of Guyana’s other bilateral partners, including the United States, and India, have also indicated willingness to assist the country with its electoral reform agenda.

UNDP assistance

More recently, however, the United Nations Development Programme also informed Guyana of the extensive technical support the UNDP can offer on a myriad of various gov-

AG Anil Nandlall meeting with UNDP Resident Representative Jairo Valverde on Wednesday

ernance issues, including, but not limited to, strengthening of democracy, justice reform, and electoral reform.

This was done on Wednesday when UNDP Resident Representative Jairo Valverde met with AG Nandlall.

According to a missive from the Legal Affairs Ministry, Valverde commended President Irfaan Ali for committing to establishing a Commission of Inquiry (COI) to examine and investigate the events following the March 2, 2020 elections in Guyana, and offered to provide technical assistance and support to implement the recommendations for improvement and change that would be made to the electoral process after the conclusion of the COI. During the engagement, Nandlall noted that while the need for wider constitutional reform garnered much attention as a result of the events that unfolded after the March 2020 election; and preceding that, with the 2018 NoConfidence Motion, equally desirable and important is constitutional compliance.

“One can have the best Constitution in the world, but if politicians blatantly refuse to comply with it, then society becomes dysfunctional,” the Attorney General contended.

Nevertheless, Valverde indicated that the UNDP has in excess of 8,000 technical persons deployed across the world

assisting various governments in electoral reform and other key areas that require technical support in governance. He stated that the UNDP is, as a result, willing and capable of providing any assistance that the Government of Guyana would require upon request.

President Ali had first announced that Government would be launching a CoI into the events that unfolded post the March 2 polls, and during a recent interview with Jamaica’s CEEN TV – “The Conversation” – he revealed that the panel for the CoI could be drawn from

the Caribbean Community (Caricom), the Organisation of American States (OAS), and the Commonwealth – all of whom had dispatched electoral observation missions in Guyana that witnessed the attempts to undermine democracy here.

The Head of State subsequently toldGuyana Times in an exclusive interview last week that there is great global interest in this probe, and as such, the international community would play a key role in the impending CoI, which he hinted could be held this year end.

Meanwhile, the Guyana Police Force is already probing the blatant attempts to rig the elections, after receiving formal reports back in August alleging criminal conduct by Chief Elections Officer (CEO) Keith Lowenfield, embattled Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) Returning Officer Clairmont Mingo; Deputy Chief Elections Officer Roxanne Myers, as well PNCR Chairperson Volda Lawrence, in relation to the events that followed the March 2 polls.

4

guyanatimesgy.com

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2020

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

Healthy lifestyles

T

he COVID-19 pandemic and its devastating impacts on individuals and communities as a whole are yet another stark reminder that both the health authorities and citizens must continue to take the issue of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) very seriously.

Based on what the medical professionals have found so far, most of the persons who have died as a result of contracting COVID-19 had had some kind of underlying health complications, many of which were related to NCDs. Guyana’s COVID-19 death toll at the moment is 106. For a small population such as ours, this is quite disturbing, to say the least, and it is therefore crucial that the Government, more particularly the Ministry of Health, treat this issue with the greatest degree of urgency. According to PAHO/WHO, people with underlying health conditions, such as NCDs, including cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and cancer, have a higher risk of contracting severe COVID-19 disease, and are more likely to die from COVID-19. Risk factors for persons with NCDs can make people more vulnerable to becoming severely ill with COVID-19. For example, smokers may have reduced lung capacity, which would greatly increase risk of serious illness.

PAHO/WHO has suggested that informing populations about these health risks posed by COVID-19 is critical. Even before the pandemic, poor lifestyle choices such as tobacco use, alcohol abuse, unhealthy diets, and physical inactivity had resulted in large numbers of people falling sick and dying.

It is also believed that around 40 per cent of Guyanese are either overweight or obese, and of that number, the majority are women.

Health experts say that chronic diseases result largely from bad food choices and low levels of physical activity. Reducing the risk of developing chronic illnesses, including Type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and various cancers, is associated with living a healthy lifestyle, which include such factors as not smoking, consuming a healthy diet, engaging in regular physical activity, moderate alcohol intake and having a sense of mental wellbeing.

For instance, evidence suggests that half of all cancers could be prevented by following a healthy lifestyle. Further, NCDs come at a high cost to individuals and to nation states in terms of human suffering, expensive treatment, and loss of production.

It is estimated that the direct and indirect cost of treating noncommunicable diseases in Guyana is over 10 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

What is noteworthy is the realisation that most cases of chronic non-communicable diseases are avoidable, and it is within our individual powers to prevent these diseases from affecting our lives.

So how do we make the breakthrough when it comes to getting our citizens to adopting healthy lifestyles, considering the fact that some persons still operate with a high degree of ignorance.

To begin with, we believe that there is need for greater awareness and knowledge in the society about the dangers of chronic illnesses. On this basis, we urge that there be continuous public education and awareness campaigns across the country to address various health issues.

Research has shown that the numerous media campaigns on HIV/AIDS prevention and care, stigma and discrimination have impacted positively on attitudes and lifestyle changes; and messages in a similar fashion should be created towards addressing non-communicable illnesses such as hypertension and diabetes, or dealing with overweightness and obesity.

The Government, even though it must take the lead in policy drafting and implementation etc, cannot do it alone. The entire society must be actively involved. Perhaps the temples, mosques and churches can take up a more active role in educating their congregations about the need to adopt healthier lifestyles in order to live longer, more fulfilling and happier lives.

Consumer bodies, schools and other educational institutions, civil society groups and, more importantly, the media, also have a role to play, as when we lose our citizens due to premature deaths, the entire country is robbed of its most valuable resource.

It is well accepted that better health is central to human happiness and well-being. It also makes an important contribution to economic progress, as healthy populations live longer, are more productive, and save more. Everyone should therefore aim to live a healthy and full life, and to avoid becoming trapped by NCDs.

Guyana’s Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister, Hugh Todd welcomed Suriname’s Foreign Affairs, International Business and Cooperation Minister Albert Ramdin and his delegation to Guyana. During the visit, Foreign Minister Ramdin will meet with Minister Todd, to further the bilateral agenda (Foreign Affairs Ministry photo)

Termination of Employment relations regulated by law Dear Editor, The Termination of Employment and Severance Pay Act, No. 19 of 1997, regulates the termination of employment in Guyana without discrimination, and equally applicable to public and private sector employment relations, this Act provides that a contract of employment without term limit may, at any time, be terminated. Employment contract terms may in reality be written, oral or implied; but always it should be fully written and duly signed by the parties.

This law provides for termination of an employment contract as follows: i) by mutual consent of the parties – the employer and the employee; ii) by either party: - for good and sufficient cause; - by notice to the other party; iii) on any ground of redundancy which relates to operational requirements of an enterprise.

(Section 12) (I will address this applicable provision in the law separately in a fol-

low-up tion)

letter/communica-

Unfair Dismissal (Section 8)

The following reasons are not valid, nor do they constitute good or sufficient cause for dismissal or for disciplinary action against an employee: * race, sex, religion, colour, ethnic origin, national extraction, social origin, political opinion, family responsibility or marital status; * pregnancy, or reason connected with pregnancy, or medically certified illness; * absence due to compulsory military service or any other civic obligation in accordance with any law; * participation in lawful or legitimate industrial action; * refusal to do any work normally done by an employee engaged in lawful or legitimate industrial action; and * complaint or participation in legal proceedings against an employer.

A dismissal or disciplinary action is unfair if

it is based on any of the above listed grounds, or if the employer fails to give written warning or suspension without pay for misconduct that is not so serious as to warrant dismissal (Sections 11 and 18).

It also constitutes unfair dismissal if an employer, under Sections 11 or 18 of this Act: * fails to give written warning for any misconduct that is not so serious as to attract dismissal, but may terminate the employment for the same or similar offence or misconduct in the following six months; * terminates the employment of an employee for unsatisfactory performance, unless the employer has given the employee instructions as to how the employee should perform his/her duties and a written warning to follow the employer’s instructions and the employee continues to perform unsatisfactorily; * dismisses an employee when it is reasonable for the employer to take other disciplinary actions instead, including in order of sever-

ity, regard being had to the nature of the violation, employees’ duties, nature of any damage, previous conduct, and circumstances of the employee: - a written warning; - suspension without pay.

A complaint that disciplinary action is unreasonable may be made to the Chief Labour Officer for determination (Section 18).

An employee also has the right to seek redress from the High Court for unfair dismissal or unfair disciplinary action (Section 19).

Summary Dismissal (Section 10)

An employer is entitled to dismiss an employee without notice or payment of any severance or redundancy allowance or terminal benefit for a serious misconduct which relates to the employment relations and has a detrimental effect on the employer’s business.

Sincerely, Samuel J Goolsarran

Was Designz Unlimited printing unjustifiably scandalised?

Dear Editor, Regarding the reports on Local Government Minister giving a company founded by his son a contract, there is no allegation of wrongdoing or corruption. The youngster and the company seem unjustifiably maligned. They should receive the public support for a wrong committed on them.

I do not think President Irfaan Ali would tolerate scandals in his administration, and it does not appear any was committed in the award of this contract.

It does not appear that rules on nepotism (preferential treatment) and procedure (bidding) were violated. If the youngster was getting contracts under the

previous regime based on his bids, why should they be discontinued now? Because his father is now a Minister, should he and his company be punished? And investigation reveals that Designz Unlimited submitted the lowest bid.

I do not know Minister Dharamlall. I never met him, although I heard of

him. Reports on or about him or anyone else must be fair and balanced, not scandalous or motivated by political opponents, or by those who were denied the contract because of overpricing, or because of a tradition of waste that occurred over the previous five years.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

guyanatimesgy.com

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2020

5

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

Our President is working above and beyond compliance daily

Dear Editor, Our President, Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali, on Tuesday discussed several key areas of collaboration and cooperation with the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, during a telephone conversation.

Editor, one must know that Qatar is considered the richest country on the planet, with a per capita GDP of $130,475, according to the International Monetary Fund. That’s some way ahead of Luxembourg, with GDP of $116,808; and Qatar has the world’s third-largest natural-gas reserves, despite being geographically a small country.

According to a press release from the Office of the President, Qatar’s Emir used the opportunity to express congratulations to President Ali on his inauguration, and expressed his willingness to assist Guyana. The areas identified for collaboration include support for the agricul-

ture sector through investments in the Halaal industry; expansion of the housing programme; strengthening of diplomatic ties between the two countries; and support in other critical sectors, including energy, oil and gas, services and infrastructure. The two leaders also discussed the fight against the coronavirus pandemic, and critical areas of support for Guyana.

To this end, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani committed to providing Guyana with much-needed equipment, including portable military hospitals and ventilators, which would significantly bolster Guyana’s capability in fighting the pandemic.

President Ali and Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani committed to mobilising technical teams from both countries immediately following their discussions. The teams, which would include the Foreign Ministers of both countries as well as the Energy Minister from Qatar and

Guyana’s Natural Resources Minister and Agriculture Minister, would proceed to design programmes and projects to access resources from the Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD).

Qatar Fund for Development is a public development institution committed, on behalf of the State of Qatar, to implement external aid projects under Law No. 19 of 2002 and its amendments. It has provided aid to several countries around the world to achieve the international cooperation goals of the Qatar National Vision 2030.

The main goal of the Qatar Fund for Development is to achieve inclusive and sustainable development by addressing priority issues of education, health, and economic empowerment.

Qatar must have considered Guyana a brotherly and friendly nation. The State of Qatar has taken the necessary measures to control its domestic situation and pro-

Was Designz Unlimited...

Designz Unlimited used to get contracts from the Ministry under the previous regime. The Minister’s son probably disassociated himself from the contract because his father is Minister, so as to avoid any perceived appearance of conflict of interest.

In my studies and teaching of economics and business, a person can find a company and not be its owner, and as such, cannot be held accountable for its activities, including bidding for contracts. Since he is not owner and does not oversee day-to-day operations or bidding on contracts, the son therefore should not have been part of the report.

Whoever sought to scandalise the youngster ought to be ashamed and seek psychological counselling.

Even if a son is a company owner, should he be denied contracts because father is a minister? Then he would never make a living, or run a business, until the father stops being a Minister. Why should a son or daughter or relative be punished for the job of a parent who is a politician?

The son is a young adult who runs his own life and is entitled to Government contracts if qualified.

However, he should not be favoured or enjoy preferential treatment.

Designz Unlimited received contracts before Dharamlall became Minister. His son should not be victimised.

And since the company is not owned by him, it should not be prevented from getting contracts from Government. Design Unlimited is entitled to the contracts if it fulfills all the requirements, and

it should be properly paid. money for contracts should not be returned to the Government.

There are no complaints of overpricing or poor quality or delivery time of the job.

What is missing in the report is the number of bids submitted for the contracts, and whether Designz Unlimited was the best qualified in terms of price, efficiency, quality and timeliness.

When I was head of the Leadership Committee of my government institution in New York, I used to seek out at least three bids for a contract. The best one, not necessarily the lowest bid, was selected by

FROM PAGE 4

my committee for a project, and approved by the Brooklyn schools’ superintendent. I am informed that three bids were offered for the printing job, with Designz submitting $390K, another company $550K, and a third company $695K. Design was the lowest by far, saving the Ministry between $160K and $305K. It seems Minister Dharamlall acted prudently in giving contract to Designz.

If a company feels its bid was better, it should file a complaint and seek compensation.

Yours truly, Vishnu Bisram

tect itself from the Corona epidemic and its repercussions on various sectors. It has not forgotten its role and its humanitarian duty towards brotherly and friendly countries, and has harnessed all efforts to provide aid and support to those in need, affirming its solidarity and standing by them during this crisis.

Since onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the State of Qatar has provided urgent medical aid to nearly 78 countries in order to help them confront this crisis, thus reducing the consequences of this epidemic while expanding the circle of those combating the virus around the world.

Various authorities in the state have extended their full support, such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Defense, as the state of Qatar continues to provide aid to needy and affected countries.

The State of Qatar’s foreign aid to combat the coronavirus pandemic amounted to nearly US$50 million, and 32 countries across the five continents benefited. In addition to many field hospitals donated by Qatar’s Ministry of

Defense, the State also provided 150 million financial support to the Gaza Strip, a part of which will go to assist the health sector cope with the effects of the Corona crisis.

International organisations and humanitarian and civil society associations also got their share of this aid, as Qatar allocated US$20 million to the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI) based on its belief in the urgency of confirming international support and political commitment to ensure speeding up research and clinical testing leading to vaccine and cure medication, and eradicating this virus for all the people around the world.

The State also announced the allocation of US$10 million for the World Health Organization (WHO), to support rapid access to provide equipment for the test, treatment and provision of the adequate vaccine for COVID-19, to save lives and make it available to all the world’s citizens, leaving no one behind. Despite the challenging circumstances, Qatar Airways has played a pivotal and prominent role in delivery of the aid, and was able to

transport more than a million stranded persons around the world, and manage to take them home safely during this pandemic.

Qatar Airways, if my memory serves me well, received international praise from governments around the world for their sense of humanitarian duty and obligation. With international air travel being restored in Guyana after several months of lockdown due to the global pandemic, the move by Government to reopen the country’s two international airports paves the ways for Qatar Airways’ arrival to Guyana with needed COVID-19 relief items The evidence is clear that our President is working above and beyond compliance daily, and has upheld the oath that he “will work every day in the best interest of the people of Guyana.”

According to the Office of the President, the two Heads of State committed to visiting each other to further discuss the partnership between Guyana and the State of Qatar.

Sincerely, David Adams

6

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2020

Page

Foundation ◄

Æsop’s Fables

Percents and fractions

FOR CHILDREN

Since percents are ratios, you can change them to fractions. The denominator will be 100. The numerator will be the number in front of the percent sign.

Examples: What is 20% of 25?

Step 1: Convert the percent to a fraction:

20% = 20 100 Step 2: Simplify the fraction if you can: 20 = 1/5 100 Step 3: Multiply 1/5 x 25 = 25 5

You can also change fractions to percents: 1/4 = %?

Step 1: Divide 100 by the denominator:

100 ÷ 4 = 25.

Step 2: Multiply the numerator by the product:

1 x 25 = 25.

Step 3: Add the percent sign: 1 = 25%.

4 Remember…

Some fractions cannot be changed easily to percents.

If 100 cannot be divided evenly by the fraction’s denominator, you will not be able to convert that fraction to a percent.

Step 4: Simplify the product: 25 = 5 = 5.

5 1

Wednesday’s answers

1) .1 2) .73 3) .3

4) .0004

Exercises: Convert the percent to a fraction and reduce where possible.

1) 10% 2) 73% 3) 30% 4) .04% 5) 84.6% 6) 65.5% 7) 1775% 8) .9678% 9) 450.2% 10) 53.78% 5). 846

6) .655

7) 17.75

8) .0009

Look around your community and see if you can spot these beatiful patterns

9) 4.502

10) .5378

T

he peacock, they say, did not at first have the beautiful feathers in which he now takes so much pride. These, Juno, whose favourite he was, granted to him one day when he begged her for a train of feathers to distinguish him from the other birds. Then, decked in his finery, gleaming with emerald, gold, purple, and azure, he strutted proudly among the birds. All regarded him with envy. Even the most beautiful pheasant could see that his beauty was surpassed.

Presently the peacock saw an eagle soaring high up in the blue sky and felt a desire to fly, as he had been accustomed to do. Lifting his wings he tried to rise from the ground. But the weight of his magnificent train held him down. Instead of flying up to greet the first rays of the morning sun or to bathe in the rosy light among the floating clouds at sunset, he would have to walk the ground more encumbered and oppressed than any common barnyard fowl.

WORD SEARCH

NEWS

7

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Omai to employ hundreds of Guyanese as company gears up for production

W

ith Omai Gold Mines undertaking exploration activities after its multi-million-dollar deal with Silvercorp earlier this year, the company has indicated that close to 1000 workers, most of them Guyanese, are likely to be employed after it starts production.

This was revealed to this publication during an interview with Omai’s Vice President of Exploration, Dr Dennis La Point. La Point explained that at present they are doing exploration activities with a limited technical team.

La Point declined to say when production is likely to start, but noted that when they do transition to production, there will be an explosion in employment figures.

Omai have meanwhile already contracted a local company to do their drilling - a company that is on standby for when drilling starts.

“We’re building up our staff. We’re going to build up

a good team… Right now we have a small team, we don’t need a lot of people. We have a drilling contractor and we have the equipment; we have security people, we have cooks, we have technicians to help us out, and geologists,” he explained.

According to La Point, they intend to employ as close to a 100 per cent Guyanese work force as possible. Asked how many persons would eventually be employed, La Point noted that they are likely to employ as many as 1000 workers.

He also detailed the other benefits from Omai’s presence in Guyana. “(Employment numbers) depend on the size of the operation…we could easily be talking about maybe close to a thousand people. The benefits are: the employment, and we would recruit people from the region; the taxes that we and our people would pay, and the royalties we would pay to the Government,” La Point explained. “So, Guyana

Omai’s VP of Exploration, Dennis La Point (second right) with several employees at Omai Gold Mines

would come out very well.

And the thing with the mining operation (is that) it does take a lot of people. So, it’s not the type of operation that we would have just a handful of people running the mine.

“Another thing is, we would want to build up the infrastructure,” La Point also said.

BaiShanLin still owes $70M to Forestry Commission

…Guyana must get its due – Minister

B

aiShanLin, the Chinese- owned logging company that closed shop and left under the former A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government, still owes the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) close to $70 million.

This was revealed in an exclusive interview with Natural Resources Minister Vickram Bharrat. According to the minister, the company expressed an interest in meeting with the Government, and he fully intends for Guyana to get its due.

“They owe the Forestry

Subsequent checks with the Minister revealed there was a meeting, and the company has expressed an interest in returning to production in Guyana. However, Bharrat noted that Cabinet would have to discuss the issue and, moreover, BaiShanLin’s debt remains an issue.

“We haven’t moved forward because, of course, it has to be cleared by Cabinet.

Then there’s the indebtedness to GFC, we have to work through that. BaiShanLin doesn’t have a concession now…but, basically, it was a meeting for them to signal their intention to get back

A section of BaiShanLin’s former concessions

Commission close to $70 million. GRA would have seized equipment, but they owe Forestry. They expressed an interest in meeting. If they’re coming to meet, maybe they have an interest in getting back into production; so, definitely, we have to look at arrears,” Bharrat said.

into forestry, and for us to discuss the process on how we move forward. And then Forestry will have to speak on the debt,” Bharrat also said.

When BaiShanLin first started its operations locally, it had committed under its investment agreement to establish a US$100 million

Natural Resources Minister Vickram Bharrat

wood processing plant in order to engage in value-added exports. This was never built.

In September 2016, the GFC announced that it would repossess concessions held by Baishanlin International Forest Development Inc (BIFDI), since it failed to deliver on several commitments.

In February 2018, Chairperson of the Board of Directors of GFC, Jocelyn Dow, revealed that Baishanlin owes the Commission in excess of $80 million, and that moves are afoot to have the monies recovered with the assistance of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA).

The GFC had previously said, during a meeting with company representatives, that it was indicated that Baishanlin had suffered financial constraints which affected the establishment of the wood processing facility. As such, the company was supposed to engage a new partner that would contribute significantly to its investment in Guyana.

TURN TO PAGE 9

Omai’s ability to employ hundreds of Guyanese will come as welcome news to alleviating Guyana’s unemployment woes. It also comes at a time when other mining companies like Aurora Gold Mines have changed management, resulting in hundreds of Guyanese workers losing their jobs.

Historically, Omai Gold Mines was the first largescale gold mine in the Guianas. The mine employed hundreds of Guyanese and

provided taxes and economic gain to Guyana. During the 1990s, Cambior, a now defunct Canadian company, was able to operate even with the low gold price and financial troubles.

Silvercorp, a Canadabased company with interest in precious metals, was recently issued 30,000,000 common shares of Avalon Investments Holding, a private Barbadian corporation which has a 100 per cent indirect interest in Omai.

The investment also allowed Anconia Resources Corp and Silvercorp to enter into an investor rights agreement which will give Silvercorp the right to participate in the company’s equity financings.

There has been much upheaval in the local mining sector of recent. And Silvercorp has played an important part in it. Silvercorp had previously entered an agreement with fellow Canadian company Guyana Goldfields, the previous manager of Aurora Gold Mines, for Silvercorp to buy out that company’s shares.

That was until a Chinese company – Zijin Mining Group Co, a leading global mining company specializing in gold, copper, zinc, and other mineral resource exploration and development – bettered their purchasing price and the conditions that were agreed upon.

Silvercorp was given an option to better Zijin’s price within a certain timeframe.

However, Silvercorp failed to make a superior offer, resulting in Guyana Goldfields accepting the offer of the Chinese mining company.

(G3)

8 NEWS GDF rank charged for assaulting cop THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

K

ester Bowen, a 25-year-old Lance Corporal of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), was on Wednesday released on a total of $20,000 bail after pleading not guilty to charges which stated that he assaulted a traffic rank and obstructed him from carrying out his duties.

The incident occurred at the Demerara Harbour Bridge.

Bowen, of Parfaite Harmonie, West Bank Demerara (WBD), appeared before Magistrate Faith McGusty at the Wales Magistrate’s Court.

The first charge against him stated that on October 9, 2020, at the western end of the Demerara Harbour Bridge, he assaulted Police

Lance Corporal Kester Bowen was captured on video assaulting Police Constable Wilson

Constable 24030 Wilson who was acting in the execution of his duty.

It was further alleged

that on the same day, Bowen obstructed the Police Constable from carrying out his duties. He denied both

charges and was granted bail in the sum of $10,000 for each of the two charges.

He will make his next court appearance on November 4, 2020.

On Tuesday, Bowen was charged for driving an uninsured motor vehicle, driving an uncertified motor vehicle, and prohibition of tinted glass. He was fined $42,500.

Last Friday, Bowen was arrested after he physically assaulted the Police Constable who had pulled him over for a traffic offence.

The incident was caught on camera.

Police said that about 20:00h, Constable Wilson observed a dark grey motor car trying to change lanes, causing congestion of traffic in the process. As a result, the Policeman approached the driver of the car.

Constable Wilson told his superiors that he told the GDF rank of the offence committed, and then instructed him to pull over into the corner of the road.

However, the GDF Lance Corporal became annoyed, exited the vehicle, and shoved the Constable.

Police reports said the Constable warned the driver about his behaviour and asked him to desist, but Bowen ignored the warning and proceeded to further assault the officer by choking him and dealing him several blows about his body, causing him to sustain injuries.

Following the altercation, the GDF rank was arrested and escorted to La Grange Police Station pending investigations.

Meanwhile, Constable Wilson was escorted to the hospital where he was treated for his injuries and sent away. Both the GDF and Guyana Police Force (GPF) have condemned the actions of Bowen.

A long goodbye...

C

…for SARA live Thomas was the fella who introduced the term “criminalized state” into the Guyanese lexicon. He insisted that it was the PPP Government that had “criminalized” the Guyanese state during their 23 years at the helm through all kinds of slick manoeuvres to “siphon off billions and billions from the treasury”. The man didn’t call the state that Burnham left the PPP “criminalized”.

Never mind they assassinated his buddy Walter Rodney and some other members of the WPA! So when Thomas - the big time Marxist economist who’d written for donkey years about how those dastardly capitalists has discarded our “working class” like sucked oranges - and his WPA became a part of the APNU/AFC coalition that won the 2015 elections, he asked for the job to recover all the moola siphoned off by the departed PPP. And got it when they launched a “State Assets Recovery Unit” (SARU) operating out of the Ministry of the Presidency. He promised he’d recover so much loot he’d practically finance the entire Budget!!

Problem was – there’s no legislation on the books for any such unit to go around investigating and seizing people’s property. The PPP’s complaint about “illegal witch-hunting” fell on deaf ears. SARU and Thomas didn’t let the lack of legalities (or Thomas’s clear bias) hinder the Government’s drive to hunt down PPP officials.

Liberally interpreting the “forensic audits” of Government departments – SARU just basically threw mud by the ton at PPP officials.

After months of “investigations” – rather than confessing they really had nothing on their targets (and if they did, they could’ve passed it on to the Police for prosecution), they finally confessed they needed legislation to legalise their status. They were going to be changed from a “Unit” in the Presidency to an “Agency” of Parliament. SARU would become SARA. So, what was going to be different? Money, that’s what. Not RECOVERING money, unfortunately - but SPENDING it!!

They got a budget of over $225 million - a quarter of a billion dollars!! - and a staff of over 40!! Jeez!! This was proportionately more than what J. Edgar Hoover got when he started the FBI!! But what the $1.3M man Thomas did was dole out goodies to himself and his buddies - especially of the Afrocentric persuasion. Up came Eric Phillips from ACDA as his “personal assistant” at a salary of $980,000/ monthly. Tacuma Ogunseye from ACDA and WPA was also hired; ex GDF Maj Aubrey Heath Hetemeyer who headed a Pan-African outfit in NYC clocked in with $900,000 monthly.

So, after spending some $1BILLION - with nothing to show for it, the PPP has decided to shut them down.

Expect to hear outraged squeals of “persecution!!l” of the “brothers”. …to Volda Volda Lawrence is probably ruefully echoing Marlon Brando’s famous line from “On the Waterfront”: “I coulda been a contender”!! Here she was, Chairwoman of the PNCR, Minister of Health etc., and within a few months, she’s not only been pulled from her pedestal, but it looks like she just won’t be allowed to get back on her feet.

First Granger - who wanted his protege Harmon as the power broker in the PNC - didn’t even select her for Parliament. He put Harmon as the Leader of the Opposition, which everyone, including Volda, had assumed would’ve been hers. Now all she can do is to show up at PNC affairs when Granger’s not there. Then yesterday came the coup de grace: she was hauled into CID headquarters, questioned, and finally charged with “conspiracy to defraud”.

And all she did - she probably figures - was to act in the proudest tradition of the PNC Founder Leader Burnham: help to rig an election!!

But she forgot that Burnham never got his hands dirty.

He left that to the help! ... Chinese funding?

Who said it was only the Chinese who have deep pockets? Well, the US is throwing down the gauntlet by sending the head of their development banks with US $200B on the table!!

Take that China!!

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

NEWS

9

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Attempts to rig elections

PNC Chair charged for conspiring to declare fraudulent results C

hairperson of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNC/R), Volda Lawrence, was on Wednesday placed on $100,000 bail on two charges which allege that she conspired with embattled Region Four (DemeraraMahaica) Returning Officer (RO) Clairmont Mingo to declare fraudulent results for the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections.

Lawrence appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan in that Georgetown magistrate’s court and was not required to plead to the indictable charges, the first of which alleged that on March 5, 2020 at the Office of the Returning Officer for Region Four at High and Hadfield Streets, Georgetown, she conspired with Mingo and others to declare a fraudulent account of votes for District Four for the Regional Elections of the March 02, 2020 General and Regional Elections.

The second charge alleged that Lawrence, on the same day and at the exact location, conspired with Mingo and others to declare a fraudulent account of votes for District Four for the General Elections of the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections.

State Counsel Teriq

Volda Lawrence leaving court with her Attorney Nigel Hughes on Wednesday

Mohammed appeared for the prosecution, while Attorneyat-Law Nigel Hughes is representing Lawrence, who has been placed on $50,000 bail on each of the charges.

Her next court appearance is on December 9.

Lawrence insists that she has done nothing wrong.

“I know I have done nothing wrong,” Lawrence said as she left the courtroom.

On Tuesday, Lawrence, formerly the Minister of Public Health under the APNU/AFC Government, presented herself at the CID Headquarters at Eve Leary Georgetown, where she was wanted for questioning in relation to events that unfolded during the elections. She was released on $100,000 station bail, and

was ordered to return there on Wednesday. She did, and was arrested and eventually appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann Mc Lennan on the two charges.

Back in March, now Culture, Youth and Sport Minister Charles Ramson Jr, who was then a Counting Agent for the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), had filed private criminal charges against Mingo and Lawrence following the RO’s declaration of unverified results for Region Four.

Lawrence first appeared in court on those charges in August, and was released on $100,000 bail.

The charges state that Mingo, having been procured by Lawrence on

BaiShanLin still owes...

In January of this year, GFC had announced that BaiShanLin’s former forest concessions, which the commission had revoked, would be up for grabs. It is unclear at this point who ended up as the recipients of the concessions.

In a statement to the press, the GFC had indicated that it “wishes to inform the general public of its intention to advertise and receive applications for the allocation of State Forest Authorisations (SFAs) and State Forests Exploratory Permits (SFEPs) over areas formerly held by Kwebanna Wood Products Inc, Woods Associated Industries Company Ltd, Baishanlin International Inc, Puruni

Wood Products Inc and Haimorakabra Logging Company Inc”.

While BaiShanLin and other companies like Barama were relinquishing their concessions, however, all has not been well financially at the GFC, or with the forestry sector as a whole.

During his budget presentation, Public Works Minister Juan Edghill announced that during the period 2014 to 2019, the forestry sector contracted by more than 30 per cent.

He had further explained that, at the end of 2014, the GFC had a surplus of some $211 million.

By 2019, however, this had plummeted to a surplus of

FROM PAGE 7

$2.3 million. The depleted state of the GFC is coupled with the reduction in exports, from US$53 million in 2014 to US$34 million in 2019.

The GFC also found itself in a position, soon after the change of Government, in which it was unable to pay staff. In addition, GFC was unable to fund critical operational costs for several months, while workers have not been paid their 2018 bonus up to this year.

Soon after taking office, the President Dr. Irfaan Aliled Government was forced to disburse $350 million to support the GFC, while also promising that outstanding bonuses would be paid by this yearend. (G3)

or about March 5, 2020 at the Command Centre for the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) on High and Hadfield Streets, uttered to Chief Elections Officer (CEO) Keith Lowenfield the election results for Region Four, knowing them to be forged, with intent to defraud the people of Guyana.

The matter is still pending in court.

Mingo’s unverified declaration for Region Four, which was subsequently set aside by acting Chief Justice Roxane George, was signed by himself and Lawrence – the lone representative from the political parties that contested the elections. The other parties had objected to the declaration after the verification process was not fully complied with by Mingo.

During the National Recount, it was discovered that Mingo had inflated the figures to give the then incumbent APNU/AFC a lead at the polls. However, the recount exercise showed that the PPP/C won the elections with 233,336 votes, while the coalition secured 217,920 votes.

As a consequence, Mingo was charged and arraigned last month on four counts of misconduct in public office.

The first two charges against Mingo alleged that on March 5, 2020 at the Office of the Returning Officer of District Four at High and Hadfield Streets, Georgetown, while being a public officer, he willfully misconducted himself by declaring a result for

Clairmont Mingo’s unverified declaration for Region Four, which was subsequently set aside by acting Chief Justice Roxane George, was signed by himself and Volda Lawrence (GECOM website photo)

District Four without ascertaining the total votes cast in favour of each list in the said District. The last two charges alleged that Mingo committed the same office, this time on March 13, 2020 at the Guyana Elections Commission’s High and Cowan Streets, Kingston Georgetown Head Office, when he willfully misconducted himself by declar-

ing a result for District Four in the Regional Elections of March 02, 2020. He is currently on $600,000 bail.

In addition, he is facing a private criminal charge jointly with Lawrence, for which he is currently out on self-bail. State Prosecutors are expected to call over 100 witnesses when Mingo goes on trial in relation to the misconduct charges.

10

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

11

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

12

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

13

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

14

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

15

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

16

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

NEWS

17

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

24 new COVID-19 cases; 16 in ICU

Ex-cop among 3 nabbed for robbing teen

Minister within the Housing and Water Ministry, Susan Rodrigues, and Public Affairs Minister Kwame McCoy distributing mask and flyer to an elderly man at the La Penitence Market on Sunday

T

he number of COVID-19 cases in Guyanese continues to rise, and 24 new cases have been recorded on Wednesday.

According to the Ministry of Health’s updated COVID-19 Dashboard, the country’s total number of cases is now at 3,589, of which 1,909 are males and 1,680 females.

However, only 996 of these cases are currently active, including 16 patients in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and other 980 in isolation; that is: 80 in institutional isolation and the remaining 900 in home isolation.

There are also 42 persons in institutional quarantine presently.

Meanwhile, the country’s COVID-19 death toll remains at 106. The latest fatalities from the pandemic were recorded on Monday when a 62-yearold male and a 47-year-old female, both from Region 4 (Demerara-Mahaica), died while receiving care at a medical facility.

To date, some 2,487 persons have recovered from the life-threatening disease.

Guyana has tested a total of 16,308 persons for the novel coronavirus.

A breakdown of the 24 new cases recorded on Wednesday shows increased cases in seven of the 10 administrative regions across the country.

This includes: one new case each in Regions One (Barima-Waini) and Three (Essequibo Islands-West

Demerara), seven cases in Region Four (DemeraraMahaica), one in Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne), two in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), 10 cases in Region Eight (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), and two new cases in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Upper Berbice).

The figures remain the same in Regions Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), Five (Mahaica-Berbice) and Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) at 56, 24 and 367 respectively.

Since taking office, the PPP/C Government has embarked on a massive testing drive to ensure that all positives cases, especially asymptomatic cases, are detected.

Authorities have been pleading with, and reminding, Guyanese to observe the protocols of the COVID-19 Emergency Measures (No 9) which are in effect until October 31, 2020. This order emphasise, among other things, the need for correct and consistent use of face masks when leaving home; the importance of maintaining the six feet physical distance from others, and the need for good hand hygiene to help reduce the spread of COVID-19.

Moreover, Government has since launched ‘Operation CoviCurb’ – a countrywide campaign by the Joint Services and other key stakeholders, using an education and persuasion strategy to elicit adherence to the COVID-19 safety measures.

Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony had initially stated that awareness campaign has been garnering positive feedback.

Over the past few days.

In addition to ranks from the joint services, several Government ministers had gone out to hotspot areas across the country, such as the markets, to distribute masks and flyers to persons.

However, Dr Anthony noted that while these engagements solicit good interaction with the public, they also highlighting disturbing situations that could expose persons to the novel coronavirus.

“We observed quiet a lot of the [market] vendors are not wearing the masks.

Some of them had masks, but they were using them inappropriately. A lot of people had them under their nose, which is useless… We also observed that the customers, quite a few of them did not have on masks,” the Minister stated during a recent update on the pandemic in Guyana.

He noted that the elderly population accounts for many of the delinquents, and this is especially worrying since that age group has been profiled as the most vulnerable grouping.

As such, Dr Anthony impressed the need for such

Freed: Odel Roberts

the man was in his home when he heard the dogs barking and ventured out of the house to investigate.

He was then confronted by two armed men, who forced him into the house and shot him while demanding money and valuables. The gunmen made off with $40,000 along with jewellery. Anys was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Roberts had always maintained that he was innocent of Any’s killing.

During his trial before

The car that was used by the bandits (Leroy Smith photo)

A

persons to take the necessary precautions to protect themselves.

“While I think the exercise that we did is an important one and good one - where we shared information and spoke with people, and hopefully that would lift their awareness and they would do the right things we have to find other means of sustaining this type of education,” Dr Anthony explained.

The Health Minister further urged vendors and general members of the public to be peer-educators and encourage each other to protect themselves.

Dr Anthony went on to highlight the lack of adequate sanitisation facilities at these market areas.

He noted that collaboration will have to be done with these markets to put those systems in place.

“I’m hopeful that while we would have had a successful activity (on) Friday, Saturday and Sunday, that we can get more people involved, and hopefully we can change the attitude at these markets and other places, where people have been gathering,” the Minister posited.

Persons interested in joining the awareness campaign can made contact with the COVID-19 Secretariat for more information. (G8)

n ex-Policeman is now in hot water after he was nabbed along with two other persons who robbed a 19-yearold cyclist along the De Kinderen Public Road, West Coast Demerara (WCD).

Following the incident, he was arrested by ranks of the Guyana Police Force (GPF).

Those in custody are the 25-year-old, ex-cop of Samatta Point, Grove, East Bank Demerara (EBD); a 23-year-old air conditioning (AC) technician of Kaneville, EBD, and a 25-year-old construction worker of Providence New Housing Scheme, EBD. Reports are the victim, Darmendra Yussuff of De Willem, WCD, had left his place of work at Zeelugt, East Bank Essequibo (EBE) on his bicycle about 20:40h, and was proceeding east along the De Kinderen Public Road when he was approached by the three men who were in a white Toyota Premio motor car.

They reportedly drove alongside Yussuff, and one of the suspects, who was clad in a Police uniform and a black face mask, ordered him to stop his bicycle.

Assuming that the man was a cop, the cyclist stopped and dismounted his bicycle. Police said the suspect then asked the teen several questions, including why he was not wearing a face mask. The man then asked

the teen what he had in his pocket, and he told the man that he had $18,000. It was then that the man posing as a cop ordered the teen to place the money on his bicycle seat and he complied.

One of the men who were in the car collected the money and as he was trying to relieve the victim of his cell phone, the young man quickly ran from the scene, after which the suspects drove away.

Police reports stated that after managing to escape, the victim recorded the vehicle’s registration number, and contacted the Police, who responded quickly, located the suspects’ car, and subsequently gave chase.

The suspects reportedly drove the car into Uitvlugt Estate Road in a bid to escape. The driver then abandoned the vehicle, leaving his accomplices behind, to be apprehended by the Police.

However, a continued search by the officers resulted in the arrest of the driver. The car and suspects were escorted to the Leonora Police Station, where they were positively identified by the victim.

The car was then searched and a cutlass and an improvised ice pick were recovered and lodged.

The suspects were then placed into custody. They are currently assisting with investigations. (G9)

Roberts was represented by Attorney-at-Law Damion DaSilva, while State Counsel Tiffini Lyken and State Counsel Nafeeza Baig appeared for the Prosecution.

Another man, Jamal Forde, was also charged with Anys’ murder.

However, Forde was also acquitted of the charge last December after Justice Sandil Kissoon upheld a no-case submission by his lawyers and directed the jury to return a formal verdict of not guilty.

Murdered: Shawn Anys

Justice Priya SewnarineBeharry, he had told the court, “I was questioned of a murder and I stayed silent. I was escorted to CID HQ. I was questioned in a room with three other officers and a female officer in the room. Them ask me if I know anything about any murder that happen in Sophia on the 1st of May. I told them no. Them ask me again if I wish to write a written statement. I tell them I have no knowledge of no murder that took place because I was in prison.”

Jury acquits drug convict of murder charge

O

del Roberts, who was charged with the May 1, 2015 murder of Sophia shopkeeper, Shawn Anys, was on Wednesday acquitted of the charge following a not guilty verdict by a jury.

Roberts, also known as, “Gully Side” is currently serving a three-year prison sentence on a drug related charge.

Anys, who owned and managed a small grocery shop at his home, was confronted by the bandits just before 23:00h on May 1, 2015. According to reports,

18 NEWS

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Guyana would have seen “end of sugar” had APNU/AFC returned to Govt – Agri Minister

D

etailing the troubled state of the sugar industry, Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha is of the view that had the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) coalition won the March 2 General and Regional Elections and returned to Government, the sugar industry would have been ended in Guyana.

According to Mustapha, when the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) took office in August this year, it found a sugar industry that was in total decay.

He argued that the coalition’s aim was to stifle the industry for political reasons without being concerned about the devastating effects such a move would have, not only on the workers but the thousands who depend on the money flowing from the sector.

“When you look at the entire performance of the last government in terms of sugar…one can conclude that they were trying their best to close sugar, and, God forbid, if they would have gone back into Government this time…that would have been the end of sugar,” Mustapha contended during a recent interview on Globespan.

Back in 2016, the APNU/ AFC coalition closed the Wales Estate and the following year, it had shut down the Enmore, Rose Hall, and Skeldon Estates – pushing thousands of persons onto the breadline.

“The (APNU/AFC) Government closed the sugar industry just to pun-

work while Rose Hall has reemployed 175 persons in the field. This is in addition to factory workers. That estate is expected to reemploy a further 200 persons to carry out fieldwork by the end of the year.

In excess of 250 punts have so far been resuscitated and are ready for use when the factory recommences operations.

Over the next two months, a further 200 persons are expected to be reemployed to plant and carry

Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha along with Foreign Affairs Minister Hugh Todd and Indian High Commissioner to Guyana, Dr KJ Srinivasa during a recent tour of both Skeldon and Rose Hall Sugar Estates

ish the sugar workers,” Mustapha expressed, adding “you could see the severe poverty that started with the closure of the estates”.

Turning his attention to the estates which are currently grinding, he outlined that the coalition did not make any investments in them to ensure that they maintain a certain level of productivity.

“If you go now and look at the factories that are presently grinding – Uitvlugt, Albion and Blairmont – they are grinding just about 60 per cent capacity, because over the last five years, they have not done any capital works,” he outlined.

According to the Agriculture Minister, prior to the closure of the four sugar estates, GuySuCo was providing employment for over 16,000 persons.

He detailed that when the estates were closed, thousands of persons were pushed into poverty, and in addition to the immediate families of these employees, many more, including small business owners, who depended indirectly on these workers were also severely affected.

The current Administration is now moving steadily to revive the sugar estates that were closed and has already taken a number of crucial measures in this regard.

Mustapha said the Agriculture Ministry was hoping to have a public-private partnership for GuySuCo, which would ensure not only the Government’s but the Private Sector’s involvement in the industry.

The Minister has since met with both the Private

Sector Commission (PSC) and the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), which have both expressed interest in investing in the local sugar industry and GuySuCo. Indian High Commissioner to Guyana, Dr KJ Srinivasa, over the last weekend, visited the closed estates and signalled his willingness to promote Guyana’s sugar industry in India.

According to the Agriculture Minister, he is hopeful that the High Commissioner’s visit to the estates would see Expressions of Interest (EoIs) from Indian nationals who are looking to invest in the local sugar industry.

Meanwhile, at Skeldon, more than 100 persons have been reemployed to do field-

2 more witnesses testify as Gary Best’s causing death trial continues

T

wo witnesses were called to testify on Tuesday at the trial of former Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Chief-of-Staff, Retired Rear Admiral Gary Best, who is accused of causing the death of former national cyclist Jude Bentley in a road accident.

Best appeared virtually before Magistrate Rondel Weever, who is presiding over the trial.

The witnesses were a Police Officer who investigated the matter and a civilian. Both witnesses detailed the role they played in the investigation.

City Hall considers sustainable solid waste disposal facilities

G

eorgetown Mayor Ubraj Narine on Monday insisted that the capital city and the country by extension should look at new ways of disposing solid waste, which is currently being dumped at landfills.

During the most recent statutory meeting, the Mayor stated that with the advent of a massive oil and gas sector, sustainability should be the main focus for Guyana.

“We have a site where we dump all our garbage – a landfill. But how long a country, which has one of the most powerful resources

– oil and gas, will continue to have landfills in our country?” he stated.

It was indicated that many Caribbean countries have capitalised on studies by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) – of which Guyana is part, to improve solid waste disposal. If the decision is made to establish better disposal facilities in the country, it should be a collective effort with Government and other stakeholders.

“A report was done in 2014, 2015, and 2016 by the IDB and Guyana was part and parcel of that con-

Dead: Former national cyclist Jude Bentley The Haags-Bosch landfill site

sultancy process…Trinidad made good use of the report, Barbados made good use of the report. I don’t know what Guyana is doing. Solid waste is something that we have to work towards collectively – the Private Sector, the Mayor and City Council, civil society, central government. Solid waste should be a big issue in this country,” the Mayor, who is in charge of such projects but has not implemented any such, said.

Some $253 million had been injected to upgrade the Haags Bosch landfill site at Eccles, East Bank Demerara (EBD), after a fire had erupted there back in 2015.

After the fire consumed the site and affected many nearby residents, workers managed to restore the landfill and it has been up and running ever since. New equipment, such as shredders and a tarpaulin deployer, were also installed to assist with innovative waste composting and storage.

The landfill was commissioned in 2011 to replace a similar set-up at Mandela Avenue, Georgetown, which used to pollute areas of the city that are contiguous to the dumpsite. The Haags Bosch landfill site has since served as the main disposal site for solid waste. (G12)

out crop husbandry, including fertilising of the new canes.

According to the Agriculture Minister, it is hoped that in the coming year that estate will have planting material to cultivate others.

The Minister has expressed that the Skeldon sugar factory should start producing sugar by early 2022. However, Rose Hall is predicting that sugar production will start on the estate by the end of 2021.

After their testimonies, Magistrate Weever scheduled the next hearing for October 15, 2020, where the Magistrate would determine if there was enough evidence to commit Best to stand trial in the High Court.

According to the first charge against Best, on February 8, 2020, at Clive Lloyd Drive, Greater Georgetown, he drove a motor vehicle, PRR 8182, in a manner dangerous to the public, thereby causing the death of Bentley.

It was further alleged that on the same day at the same location, he drove the motor vehicle while his

Former GDF Chief-of-Staff Gary Best

blood alcohol level was 85 micrograms, which is above the legal limit.

In relation to the causing death charge, Best, an executive member of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), pleaded not guilty and was ordered to post $500,000 bail.

In relation to the charge of driving under the influence, he was released on his own recognisance (selfbail). As a condition of bail, Best was ordered to report to the Police Force’s Traffic Headquarters on specified dates until the completion of his trial. Prominent Attorney-at-Law Nigel Hughes is representing him.

Bentley, 41, was struck down and run over by the vehicle allegedly driven by Best on Clive Lloyd Drive near the Russian Embassy turn.

Reports are at the time of the accident, both Best and Bentley were travelling in an easterly direction.

Investigators found that Best was driving under the influence of alcohol. After the accident, Best was taken into custody, but later complained of feeling unwell and, as such, was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where he was admitted.

Best was a former Presidential Advisor under the David Granger Administration. (G1)

NEWS

19

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Special committee to assist remigrants from Venezuela

President Mohamed Irfaan Ali speaking during an outreach to Region Two over the weekend

P

resident Mohamed Irfaan Ali over the weekend said that a special committee would be established to assist Guyanese remigrants from Venezuela.

The President made this announcement after a remigrant living in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) raised concerns during a meeting at the Suddie Early

Development Childhood Centre on Sunday.

The woman, the Department of Public Information (DPI) reported, explained that remigrants have encountered many challenges since they have little representation in the region. She said the lack of documentation has also hampered their children attending school, and

it was costly to travel to Georgetown to have them rectified.

“I am going to set up a special committee to be led by the Minister of Housing and the Minister of Local Government to see how we can bring the services to help you,” President Ali said, adding that many Guyanese have returned to Guyana owing to the crisis in Venezuela.

National Security Advisor to the President, Captain Gerry Gouveia will also be part of the committee.

“I am going to ask them to convene an inter-agency group to come here and deal with the migrant issue, especially the Guyanese who would have returned. We need to have a good analysis of it, so we can see how we can support this group,” the President is quoted by DPI as saying.

During his recent visit to Guyana, United States Secretary of State, Michael Pompeo pledged US$5 million in relief to help Venezuelans who had fled to Guyana.

Modern airport with restaurants, bar, shopping plazas needed – Edghill tells new Board …says hotel in close proximity to CJIA needed

Public Works Minister Juan Edghill (fourth left), along with CJIA Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Ramesh Ghir (far right), posing for a photo with members of the new Board of Directors

W

ith the country expected to undergo massive economic transformation in the coming years, there is bound to be an influx of travellers to Guyana.

Public Works Minister Juan Edghill posited that the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) located at Timehri, East Bank Demerara (EBD) must, therefore, be up to the task and be equally transformed.

According to him, the Airport must be “transformed into a hub for regional traffic connecting the Caribbean and South America”.

He made the charge on Tuesday to the new Board of Directors of the CJIA. “We must make [CJIA] a preferred destination for stop-overs for the long

Ali has made it clear that the country needed an airport with the original design of eight boarding bridges and that must be at the top of the new Board’s agenda.

According to Minister Edghill, this must be done because the Irfaan Ali Administration envisages Guyana being a tourist

Bandits invade supermarket, escape with $1.4M

P

andemonium broke out on Tuesday evening as Joint Service ranks flooded the Melanie North Public Road, East Coast Demerara (ECD), in response to an armed robbery where heavily armed bandits had invaded a Chinese-owned supermarket in the area.

When Guyana Times visited the business owner and his family, he related that gunmen had on two previous occasions within the past two weeks attempted to gain entry to the supermarket.

Police on Wednesday said that they were investigating the robbery under arms committed on the 48-year-old businessman, Zhi Shan Lim,

The Cheddi Jagan International Airport

The Egou Supermarket

with guns, invaded the business about 19:30h. According to Police, the suspects managed to escape with $1.4

Chinese businessman Zhi Shan Lim showing the gunshot wound to his leg

the Chinese national who owns the Egou Supermarket located at Melanie North, ECD. Reports are four bandits, three of whom were armed

million, a Samsung S8 cellphone, a quantity of phone cards, and a Digital Video Recorder (DVR). However, the businessman said while Police reported that $1.4

million was stolen, his records reflect $1.8 million.

Reports are that the proprietor, along with five employees, who are Chinese nationals, were in the supermarket when one of the suspects entered and purchased an item. He then exited and signalled the others.

One of the gunmen approached a lone security guard and relieved him of his 12-gauge single-barrel shotgun, which had five live rounds of ammunition.

The owner’s son, Ling, told this publication that after pouncing on the security guard, the gunmen entered the building and immediately closed the shutters.

They then ripped out the DVR, causing the cameras to automatically shut down, Ling said.

According to Ling, the gunmen then held his father and employees at gunpoint and demanded their valu-

ables as they discharged several rounds in the building.

One of the gunmen then lashed an employee, who is a relative of the owner, to the head and gun-butted the owner’s wife to her face, while another suspect shot the businessman to the left leg.

The suspects then made their escape.

When Police responded, checks were made in the building and around the area, but the suspects were not found. Meanwhile, the injured victims were escorted to a private city hospital, where they were treated and sent away.

The 21-year-old security guard, of Bachelor’s Adventure, ECD, has since been taken into custody to assist with the investigations. Police are currently searching for the four gunmen. (G9)

haul which means, we just can’t provide boarding and disembarking. We have to provide the finest restaurants, we must be able to have executive lounges … we must be able to have adequate Internet connectivity,” Minister Edghill explained.

Additionally, the Public Works Minister said the Airport must boast services like car rentals, cellular phone rentals and even movie theatres.

Moreover, he said there must be more convenient car-parking services – whereby passengers who want to leave their vehicle behind for several days must be able to do so without any problems.

Furthermore, Minister Edghill called on the new CJIA Board to explore the possibility of establishing an airport hotel to provide added ease of travel.

“An airport hotel in close proximity connected to the hub, so people who have six-to-eight hours’ stopover or 14 hours’ stopovers … should be able to benefit from an airport hotel,” he explained, noting that such a facility would also benefit locals from far-flung regions who have to travel.

Meanwhile, Minister Edghill further highlighted that President Dr Irfaan

destination of choice and developing capacity for hosting conventions.

As it relates to security, Minister Edghill urged the Board of Directors to ensure that at no time the VIP lounge or even the ordinary check-in lounge would be used as an avenue to traffic illicit drugs.

The new Chairman of the Board is Attorney-atLaw Sanjeev Datadin. The other Board Members are David A Ramdeholl, Sean Richmond, Amarnauth Dukhi, Savitree Sharma, and Daun Ellis.

The CJIA has been without a board for approximately two months and the newly-appointed Directors are optimistic that they would service the sector with efficiency, reliability, and zest to carry the Airport to a place where travellers would enjoy.

Minister Edghill said he was confident that the Board, with its wealth of experience and knowledge, would effectively and efficiently execute its mandate.

“We have multiculturalism and with clear strategic objectives to ensure that we get citizens of the highest quality to give national service to ensure good governance takes place in Guyana,” he said. (G11)

20

guyanatimesgy.com

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2020

News

Stop attacking Police Non-functioning equipment, drug shortage mar health – Minister Benn

H

ome Affairs Minister Robeson Benn has called on the public to stop attacking Police officers, as this is unlawful and officers can employ reasonable measures to protect themselves in such situations.

The minister said the number of incidents in which members of the public have assaulted the Police is alarming. The public, he added, must be reminded that Police officers are peace officers, and they can protect themselves if attacked.

“I am asking the Policemen to take reasonable precautions to protect themselves, and I want to advise the public to desist from attacking Policemen and women,” the minister is quoted as saying by the Department of Public Information during the commissioning of a new lockup at the Brickdam Police Station on Wednesday.

“We do not want us going back to situations where Policemen were shot. Let those be the bygone days, but the Policemen cannot responsibly do their duty if people feel they can run out and attack Policemen violently with weapons,” he said.

The Guyana Police Force on Wednesday also called on members of the public to desist from attacking officers in the execution of their duties, while also reminding that they may be endanger-

ing their lives and breaching the law.

In a statement, the GPF said it has noted a worrying trend of physical attacks on its members during the execution of their lawful duties by some members of the public.

The Force revealed that a review of video footage as well as reports were received from affected ranks, and have revealed instances of citizens assaulting them; brandishing cutlasses, pieces of wood and other weapons at them; attempting to disarm them, and such like.

Notably, all the attacks reviewed and reports received comprise all the elements of a serious threat to life and safety of the law enforcement officers targeted, it noted, as well as persons within proximity; and, in so doing, render any action

taken by the Police to mitigate these threats as lawful.

Just a few days ago, a Constable was assaulted by a Guyana Defence Force rank.

At the time of the incident, the constable was conducting anti-crime patrol duties at the western end of the Demerara Harbour Bridge when he was attacked by the GDF rank.

While directing traffic, the Constable observed a dark grey car trying to change lanes, thereby causing congestion.

The constable approached the driver, whom he subsequently discovered was a rank of the GDF. The Constable informed the Lance Corporal of the offence, and instructed him to pull over to the corner of the road. That caused the Lance Corporal to become annoyed, and he exited his car and “chucked the rank”.

Despite warnings from Constable Wilson, the GDF rank continued to assault the officer by choking and cuffing him about his face and body.

The GDF rank was arrested, while Wilson was taken to the West Demerara Regional Hospital, where he was treated and sent away.

Meanwhile, in a subsequent statement, the GDF condemned the actions of the rank, which were video recorded and circulated on social media.

The GDF rank has since been charged for assault.

King Royalty, LLC. Avinash and Hemraj Singh, who are Guyanese living in the United States, are known in the Chutney music industry.

The complaint also charges Florida resident Surujpaul Sahadeo and his company SR&B Enterprises with unlawfully soliciting, accepting, and feeding client funds to Highrise.

On September 16, 2020, U.S. District Court Judge Carlos E. Mondoza signed a statutory restraining order freezing the assets of Singh, Highrise, Green Knight, Bull Run, King Royalty, and SR&B. The order also prohibits the destruction or concealment of the defendants’ books and records.

“As alleged, these bad actors lied to participants about the use of the funds entrusted to them for forex trading,” said Division of Enforcement Director James McDonald. “The enforcement action filed demonstrates the CFTC’s continued commitment to rooting out fraud in our markets.”

In giving a background to the issue, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission said

the complaint alleges that, beginning in or around February 2013 and continuing to the present, the defendants accepted at least $4.75 million from over 150 victims. In soliciting potential victims to participate in Highrise, Avinash Singh falsely claimed to be a successful commodities trader with a track record of positive gains and no losses. Cologero, Hemraj Singh, and Rosseau also allegedly misrepresented the profits Highrise had generated — as well as the potential risk of loss in Highrise — when soliciting funds for their scheme.

According to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, the complaint alleges that of the at least $4.75 million accepted, Avinash Singh and Highrise traded only a combined amount of $1,656,000 in forex, and misappropriated at least $3 million of victims’ funds to pay personal expenses, to transfer to other defendants, and to make Ponzi-type payments to other victims.

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission, on its website, stated that Highrise, Green Knight,

Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn

delivery in Region 6 – Minister

The health team, led by Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony, visiting the New Amsterdam Hospital

N

on-functioning equipment and massive drug shortage have marred healthcare delivery in Region Six (East Berbice/ Corentyne). This is according to Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony who, along with a team from the Ministry, visited the region on Tuesday as part of a familiarisation exercise.

The team included acting Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Dr Narine Singh and Secretary General for Regional Health Services, Dr Vishwa Mahadeo. Also accompanying the minister were Regional Chairman David Armogan and

US-based Guyanese charged for US$4.75M Ponzi scheme

U

nited States-based Guyanese were among 10 defendants in a multi-level US $4.75 million off-exchange foreign currency (forex) Ponzi scheme.

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission, in a release on its website, announced the filing of a civil enforcement action in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida against 10 defendants in a multilevel US $4.75 million off-exchange foreign currency (forex) Ponzi scheme.

According to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, the complaint charges Florida resident Avinash Singh with fraudulently soliciting and misappropriating funds through a master commodity pool Highrise Advantage, LLC. Florida residents Daniel Cologero and Randy Rosseau, as well as New Jersey resident Hemraj Singh, were also charged with fraudulently soliciting funds from clients for Highrise through the commodity pools they operated, Green Knight Investments, LLC, Bull Run Advantage, LLC, and

Bull Run, and King Royalty each issued monthly account statements to their victims that misrepresented their profits and balances.

The complaint further alleges that SR&B received at least $1,350,000 in funds from victims in its own name, and then transferred this money to Highrise to fund a forex account.

The complaint further charges all defendants with failing to register with the CFTC as required, and with violating other regulatory requirements relating to the operation of commodity pools.

In its continuing litigation, the CFTC seeks full restitution to defrauded victims, disgorgement of ill-gotten gains, civil monetary penalties, a permanent injunction against further violations of the Commodity Exchange Act, as charged, and permanent registration and trading bans.

The CFTC acknowledges and thanks the United Kingdom Financial Conduct Authority and the Australian Securities and Investments Commission for their assistance in this matter.

Regional Health Officer Dr Vishalya Sharma. The team visited the Skeldon, Port Mourant and New Amsterdam hospitals during the visit.

At the Skeldon Hospital, the minister observed that there is still a lot to be done to provide what he described as “acceptable health care” to residents of the region.

“For example, they don’t have an operating theatre, and we have to see what we can do to fix that. Here are also other pieces of equipment that we think if they get soon…would enhance the quality of service that they are able to provide,” Dr Anthony told the media during Tuesday’s tour.

According to the minister, discussions were held with officials at the Skeldon Hospital with the aim of acquiring the needed equipment. One of the main areas of critical importance is the maternity sections.

“I also spoke with the Chairman of the Region, and we will see how we can put some measures in place to acquire some of these things,” the minister said.

The Health Minister noted that at both the Skeldon and Port Mourant Hospitals there were shortages of various types of medication.

However, Minister Anthony is hopeful that those shortages issue will be adequately addressed before the end of the week.

Currently, the Health Ministry is procuring $3.2B worth of medication, he noted, pointing out that as soon as the supplies arrive, distribution will be made to the hospitals in Region Six. “This is an urgent procurement, not just for Region Six, but all the regions within the country.

We also have challenges with reagents and the laboratory equipment that we normally have, so we had to also do some urgent procurement of reagents, and also to give the providers of those equipment some servicing contracts,” Dr

Anthony pointed out.

On the positive said, Dr Anthony said he was pleased to know that at both New Amsterdam and Skeldon, the laboratories were able to conduct basic laboratory tests.

The team also looked at the possibility of improving some sections of the Port Mourant Hospital. The National Ophthalmology Hospital there is key on that list.

The main theatres at the National Ophthalmology Hospital are currently non-functional. This, the health minister said, is so because the microscopes are dysfunctional.

“And there are a whole host of other things that are not working there. So, if we are going to get that facility up and running, we have some equipment issues that we have to resolve, and also some staffing issues,” Dr Anthony noted.

The National Ophthalmology Hospital is currently able to undertake small surgeries, but for more complex surgeries, the equipment has to be fixed.

“What we are looking at is how do we prioritise and get them to do the things that can be done now, as we work to get the other pieces of equipment in, so as to get them to expand the services that they can offer?”

A report coming from a Commission of Inquiry into the operations of the New Amsterdam Hospital had found that the CT scan which has been at the Hospital for more than two years is yet to be put into operation, and the X-ray Department was also not working. The report from the Commission, which was recently handed over to the Minister, also sighted several other issues at the New Amsterdam Hospital.

Minister Anthony also met with the management of the New Amsterdam Hospital to strategised a course forward. (Andrew Carmichael)

guyanatimesgy.com

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2020

21

Around the World

OILNEWS OIL NEWS Russia: OPEC+ to relax oil production cuts despite 2nd coronavirus wave

T

he Organisation of Petroleum-Exporting Countriesplus (OPEC+) alliance is optimistic that it will be able to gradually ease production cuts from January as planned, despite surging coronavirus cases in many countries, Russia’s Energy Minister, Alexander Novak said in an article published on Wednesday.

OPEC and its partners led by Russia agreed in April to reduce their combined oil production by 9.7 million barrels per day in response to the demand slump following the outbreak of coronavirus that caused prices to tank. The cuts were relaxed by two million bpd starting in August and are set to be eased by another two million bpd from January 2021.

“Currently, despite the second wave of the pandemic in a number of countries, my colleagues and I continue to be optimistic and expect we can gradually raise production as per the agreement without harming the market,” Novak said in the article in the Energy Ministry’s magazine, Energy Policy.

The market started balancing with the deal that entered into force on May 1, and July saw the first decline in commercial oil inventories. Oil demand recovered to 90 per cent of the pre-crisis level while oil prices stabilised at levels above US$40 a barrel Brent, Novak said.

One of the influential members of the OPEC+ alliance, OPEC’s number-three producer the United Arab Emirates (UAE), also said this week that the alliance planned to ease the cuts as of January.

“We believe that this is the calculated volume to cater for the demand coming back,” UAE’s Energy Minister Suhail alMazrouei said.

Despite the optimism expressed by Russia and the UAE, the market and market analysts are concerned that with stalling oil demand recovery as COVID-19 cases spike, the oil market will not be able to handle another two million bpd of supply if OPEC+ eases the cuts starting in January.

Concerns over the timing of the demand recovery have reportedly prompted OPEC’s top producer and de facto leader, Saudi Arabia, to consider delaying the easing of the production cuts, The Wall Street Journal reported last week, citing senior oil advisers from the Kingdom. (Excerpt from Oil Price)

Coronavirus: France to impose night-time curfew to battle 2nd wave

F

rench President Emmanuel Macron has announced a night-time curfew in Paris and eight other cities to try to curb the rapid spread of coronavirus.

The measure – from 21:00h to 06:00h – will come into effect from Saturday and last for at least four weeks, Macron said in a televised interview.

A public health emergency has also been declared.

Meanwhile, Germany announced that bars and restaurants in higher-risk areas must close early.

Chancellor Angela Merkel announced tightened restrictions on Wednesday as the country recorded more than 5000 new infections for the first time since April.

In areas where infections exceed 50 per 1000 inhabitants, bars and restaurants must close their doors by 23:00h. Private gatherings will be limited to 10 people from two households.

WHO fears spike in deaths after global COVID-19 surge

N

ew cases are hitting 100,000 daily in Europe. Nearly 20,000 infections were reported in Britain, while Italy, Switzerland, and Russia were among nations with record case numbers.

While deaths globally have fallen to around 5000 per day from April’s peak exceeding 7500, World Health Organisation (WHO) Chief Scientist Soumya Swaminathan said caseloads were rising in Intensive Care Units (ICU).

“Mortality increases always lag behind increasing cases by a couple of weeks,”

A member of the medical staff treats a patient suffering from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the Slany Hospital in Slany, Czech Republic, October 13, 2020

Swaminathan said during a WHO social media event.

“We shouldn’t be complacent that death rates are coming

Guatemala to verify report on US agents’ “unauthorised” operation

T

he Guatemalan Government has announced it would launch a process to verify and analyse a report by a United States Senate committee, which alleged that US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) personnel engaged in an “unauthorised” operation in Guatemala, rounding up Honduran migrants.

Released on Tuesday

by Democrats on the US Senate’s Foreign Relations Committee, the report titled: “DHS Run Amok?

A Reckless Overseas Operation, Violations, and Lies”, alleges the misuse of US Government funding and violations of norms and laws during a crackdown on migration through Guatemala in January

down.”

More than 38 million people have been reported infected globally and 1.1 million have died.

Despite the global push for a COVID-19 vaccine, with dozens in clinical trials and hopes for initial inoculations this year, Swaminathan reiterated that speedy, mass shots were unlikely.

Two candidates, from Johnson & Johnson and AstraZeneca’s US trial, are

paused on safety concerns, while manufacturing billions of doses of an eventual successful vaccine will be a colossal challenge demanding hard decisions about who gets inoculated first.

“Most people agree, it’s starting with health-care workers, and front-line workers, but even there, you need to define which of them are at highest risk, and then the elderly, and so on,” Swaminathan said.

“A healthy young person might have to wait until 2022.”

The WHO has said letting infection spread in hopes of achieving “herd immunity” is unethical and would cause unnecessary deaths.

“People talk about herd immunity. We should only talk about it in the context of a vaccine,” Swaminathan said. “You need to vaccinate at least 70 per cent of people ... to really break transmission.” (Excerpt from Reuters)

UK MP: Stranded T&T nationals “terrified, burning through savings” 2020, targeting a caravan of Honduran migrants seeking to reach the US. It alleges that US Customs and Border Patrol “personnel in Guatemala transported an unidentified number of Honduran migrants in unmarked vans to relocate them to the Guatemala-Honduras border”.

In doing so, the DHS violated an agreement between it, the US State Department and Guatemala that stated: “US personnel under this agreement will not conduct immigration or law enforcement operations; they are in-country for mentoring, advising and capacity-building purposes only,” according to the report. (Excerpt from al Jazeera)

A

British Member of Parliament (MP) says that Trinidad and Tobago nationals in the United Kingdom are “burning through their savings” and were terrified of failing to get home.

Government MP for Wycombe, Steve Baker raised the matter in the House of Commons on Tuesday on behalf of T&T nationals in his constituency.

Responding to questions, UK Foreign Office Minister Wendy Morton advised TT nationals in the UK to contact the High Commission in London.

Baker said, “I have got TT residents or citizens in my constituency burning through their savings, really terrified about failing to get home to pro-

tect their homes and their businesses from approaching severe weather.

“Can I ask the Minister if she will join me in calling on TT to make sure their citizens get home? I think it’s our common humanity to enable people to return to protect their homes.”

Morton said the T&T Government closed its borders on March 22 because of COVID-19 and they remained closed.

“Consular support for T&T nationals remains the responsibility of their government,” she said.

Morton added that the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) was in close contact with the T&T authorities. (Excerpt from Trinidad Newsday)

Many dead as record rains lash India’s Hyderabad and nearby areas French President Emmanuel Macron

Across Europe, Governments are introducing new restrictions to battle a second wave of infections.

A partial lockdown has come into force in the Netherlands, and cafes and restaurants are closing.

Earlier, Spain's north-eastern region of Catalonia said bars and restaurants would close for 15 days from Thursday.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

A

t least 16 people have been killed in incidents of wall and house collapses amid record rains in southern India, officials and media reports said.

Nine people died in the city of Hyderabad after a perimeter wall collapsed and fell on a set of houses during heavy rains Tuesday night, regional legislator Asaduddin Owaisi said on Twitter. Indian media reports said the dead included a two-month-old infant.

Five other people, including an old couple and their grandson, were killed when

Residents stand on a pavement looking at a flooded street following heavy rains in Hyderabad [Noah Seelam/AFP] (AFP)

two other house collapsed during the downpour in the city, Police said. Two other

persons were swept away by floodwaters, the Associated Press reported.

Daily life has been thrown out of gear across parts of Hyderabad as roads are flooded and vehicles washed away in several neighbourhoods.

Telangana, where Hyderabad is located, and neighbouring Andhra Pradesh states have witnessed heavy rains for the last three days caused by a deep depression in the Bay of Bengal.

A total of 18 people have died in the region since Monday, Indian media reports said. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

22

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2020

Royals miss out as Nortje leads Capitals' stellar defence T

here was spine-tingling entertainment in the powerplay, thanks to three unbelievably fast bowlers. There was shot-making of the highest quality from both top-orders; but, in the end, it was a battle between which team could win the final overs.

Delhi Capitals let the game go back in the balance, as they managed only 32 for 4 in their last five against Jofra Archer and company.

ESPNcricinfo's forecaster said Rajasthan Royals were favourites (55%) for the chase, but they crumbled against Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje, making only 25 for 2 in their final five overs.

The speed demon and the saviours

For 12 balls, the batsmen were helpless. For 12 balls, they couldn't touch him. Jofra Archer was bowling thunderbolts. He wrecked Prithvi Shaw's stumps first ball, and finished the powerplay with unbelievable figures of 2-0-52.

His team-mates, though, surrendered 42 runs from their four overs. Shikhar Dhawan faced only one ball of that furious spell, but he loved feasting on the others. When he hit Kartik Tyagi for an on-the-up cover drive - a shot that is a point of pride - and the ball singed the turf on its way to the fence, it was clear he meant business.

Dhawan got to fifty off 30 balls, his fastest while batting first in the IPL. At the other end, Shreyas Iyer concentrated on settling in. On 20 off 23, he de-

J

ACCOMMODATION Aracari Hotel, W.B.D. Accommodation Rates from USD$25 - Amenities: Pool, Bar, Restaurant, Gym, Free Parking, Free WiFi. Spend 7 Nights and Get 1 Free. Tel: 264-2946.

LAND FOR SALE W.B.D , Versailles, Gated Community - Lot 14-10214 SQ FT. Ph. # 2642948/615-2270.

SPIRITUALITY Having Problems with Marriage/Love Relationships, Health, Job, Money, Removal of Obstacles of any kind.

Meet me once and change your life.

Address : Georgetown and Grove Call 688-2135

The Delhi Capitals celebrate the wicket of Robin Uthappa

cided he was good, and hit a no-look, one-handed, flat-batted, straight four off Ben Stokes. It was a free hit, so the batsman was always going to go, but to do that to a ball

coming up to his throat…

Making

amends

Capitals were 132 for 4 in the 16th over. They were ready to launch, but it never happened, because the Royals’ support act finally turned up. Tyagi dismissed Iyer for 52, and then nailed his yorkers wide or straight.

Archer returned, and apart from one jaw-dropping cut for six from Alex Carey, his menace was intact. Jaydev Unadkat closed it all off with his slower balls, and for all their efforts, the Capitals crashed to the lowest final-five overs’ aggregate in this year's IPL - 32 for 4.

A hell-raising powerplay

Not to be outdone, Rabada and Nortje cranked the pace S h i k h a r up too, both D h a w a n bowlers hitting 150 made a half- century kph. They at the top of were seeththe order ing. Jos Buttler took another step towards the AB de

Yuki Tsunoda to have 1st Formula 1 test at Imola

apanese driver Yuki Tsunoda is to have his first Formula 1 test at Imola on November 4. He would be driving a 2018 Alpha Tauri car.

Tsunoda, a protege of Alpha Tauri's engine partner Honda, is a potential candidate for a race seat at the team next year.

Tsunoda hopes to cover the 300km that would qualify him to take part in a Friday practice session, if the team should choose to run him in one.

After the test, there are four races remaining wherein that could happen.

Tsunoda, 20, is third in the Formula 2 championship with two races remaining, a position that would guarantee him the 'super licence' required to race in F1.

"My main priority is to do those 300 kilometres," he said on Wednesday as he had a seat fitting at the Alpha Tauri factory in preparation for the test, which will come

CLASSIFIED ADS

at the wheel of a 2018 car.

"I don't want to crash or go off the track, because the more mileage I do, the more I can understand the car, so I will take it easy; but I am confident that I can do it, and I will drive t h e w a y I normally do. I will focus on my job

while enjoying my first day in a Formula 1 car.

"I am sure I will be very excited when I'm sitting in the car waiting for the green light at the end of the pit lane," he said.

Alpha Tauri have already said they plan to run Tsunoda in the young driv-

er test after the season finale in Abu Dhabi.

Until Honda announced its decision to withdraw from F1 at the end of 2021, Tsunoda was considered close to a certainty to take the seat at Alpha Tauri currently occupied

by Russian Daniil Kvyat.

Masashi Yamamoto, the general manager of Honda Motorsports, said at last weekend's Eifel Grand Prix that he did not believe Honda's decision would have "any impact" on whether Tsunoda would graduate to F1 in 2021.

"Red Bull don't just let anyone drive their cars," he said of Alpha Tauri's owners.

"I think they will be evaluating him strictly as a junior driver, and also it depends on his Formula 2 results as well. But we'd like to back him up where we can." (BBCsport.COM)

Are you suffering from Health, Money, Job, Marriage Relationships problems, Removal of Blockage/Evil Spirits, Clear Negative Energy, Permanent Protection. Address : Vlissengen Road, Kitty. Call: 696-1857 for appointment.

Anrich Nortje of Delhi Capitals celebrates a wicket

Villiers level of 360 batting by nonchalantly scooped a 156 kph ball in line with his

stumps to the fine leg boundary.

At 22 off 8 balls, he was beginning to look villainous;

Shreyas Iyer goes down the ground

but then came a decisive blow.

Nortje, still bowling 155 kph, wrecked the opener's stumps and set a theme for a rollicking powerplay. Ben Stokes began charging the bowlers.

So, Capitals took the pace off, and brought on R Ashwin.

Their battle never took off, but the off-spinner did completely deceive Steven Smith with a ball that held in the pitch and had him caught and bowled for 1.

Six overs of outrageous shots, incredible bowling and adrenaline-fuelled cricket yielded 50 for 2.

TOTAL (20 Ov, RR: 8.05) 161/7 Did not bat: TU Deshpande, K Rabada, A Nortje Fall of wickets: 1-0 (Prithvi Shaw, 0.1 ov), 2-10 (Ajinkya Rahane, 2.3 ov), 3-95 (Shikhar Dhawan, 11.4 ov), 4-132 (Shreyas Iyer, 15.6 ov), 5-153 (Marcus Stoinis, 18.6 ov), 6-157 (Alex Carey, 19.4 ov), 7-161 (Axar Patel, 19.6 ov) BOWLING JC Archer JD Unadkat Kartik Tyagi BA Stokes S Gopal R Tewatia

4-0-19-3 3-0-32-2 4-0-30-1 2-0-24-0 4-0-31-1 3-0-23-0

Toyota Tacoma – 1999 Model. $1,000,000. Tel: 626-5290.

WANTED Office Assistant, 5 Subjects CXC, 2 years minimum experience.

Lot 8 Sheriff Street, Subryanville. mimadecor12@gmail.com 2270176/86

The extra-tense ending

Stokes held the innings together, using his power to break free and provide a steady stream of boundaries. But he fell in the 11th over to debutant Tushar Deshpande, and Sanju Samson followed him eight balls later, to leave the Royals at 96 for 4.

Robin Uthappa, who is yet to get used to his middle-order role, then ran out Riyan Parag, and the equation started looking troublesome: 47 off 36 balls with only five wickets in hand. Nortje turned that untenable when he returned at the death, yorked Uthappa, and even ensured there wouldn't be a Rahul Tewatia miracle.

(ESPNcricinfo)

SCOREBOARD DELHI CAPITALS INNINGS (20 OVERS MAXIMUM) PP Shaw b Archer 0 S Dhawan c Kartik Tyagi b Gopal 57 AM Rahane c Uthappa b Archer 2 SS Iyer (c) c Archer b Kartik Tyagi 53 MP Stoinis c Tewatia b Archer 18 AT Carey †c Archer b Unadkat 14 AR Patel c Kartik Tyagi b Unadkat 7 R Ashwin not out 0 Extras (lb 2, nb 2, w 6) 10

VEHICLE FOR SALE

RAJASTHAN ROYALS INNINGS (TARGET: 162 RUNS FROM 20 OVERS) BA Stokes c sub (Lalit Yadav) b Deshpande JC Buttler † b Nortje SPD Smith (c) c & b Ashwin SV Samson b Patel RV Uthappa b Nortje R Parag run out (Patel) R Tewatia not out JC Archer c Rahane b Rabada S Gopal c sub (Lalit Yadav) b Deshpande Extras (b 1, nb 1, w 3) TOTAL (20 Ov, RR: 7.4) Did not bat: JD Unadkat, Kartik Tyagi

41 22 1 25 32 1 14 1

223-7230-1 (Ext 55)

NOW!

6 5

148/8

Fall of wickets: 1-37 (Jos Buttler, 2.6 ov), 2-40 (Steven Smith, 3.6 ov), 3-86 (Ben Stokes, 10.2 ov), 4-97 (Sanju Samson, 11.4 ov), 5-110 (Riyan Parag, 13.2 ov), 6-135 (Robin Uthappa, 17.3 ov), 7-138 (Jofra Archer, 18.4 ov), 8-148 (Shreyas Gopal, 19.6 ov) BOWLING K Rabada TU Deshpande A Nortje R Ashwin AR Patel

4-0-28-1 4-0-37-2 4-0-33-2 4-0-17-1 4-0-32-1

223-7230-1 (Ext 55)

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2020

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

23

Halfway stage of the IPL 2020…

Not the best outing for the Caribbean boys

By Brandon Corlette

I

f this article were to evaluate the performance of players of Caribbean origin at IPL the halfway stage of the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL 2020), lightning quick bowler Jofra Archer would top that evaluation because of his stellar performance and the impact it is having on the tournament.

Archer is, however, a naturalised Englishman, and the intent of this article is to evaluate the performances of those considered “the Caribbean boys”, meaning players from the West Indies team who are participating in IPL 2020.

With the exception of Nicholas Pooran and Kieron Pollard, “the Caribbean boys” have hitherto been returning ordinary performances at the half-way stage of the IPL. Veteran all-rounder Dwayne Bravo did not participate in the first few matches of the IPL, due to an injury. At the halfway stage, Bravo had played in five matches for Chennai Super Kings (CSK), and had picked up five wickets at an economy rate of 8.72 and an average of 31.40, with a strike rate of 21.6.

Bravo has shown glimps-

es of his best form with the ball and in the field, but is yet to produce something spectacular for CSK. Delhi Capitals’ Guyanese duo of Shimron Hetmyer and Keemo Paul have thus far had small roles to play i n

this IPL. The Berbician Hetmyer played in six matches, batting in five innings, and scored 91 runs at an average of 30.33, with a strike rate of 149.18.

Hetmyer’s highscore this season is 45, and in this season, his task is

to finish matches off for Capitals, batting at that number five/six position.

In contrast, his team mate and good friend Paul did not play in any match so far this season as the Capitals’ pace battery look a formidable one, with Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje.

Kings X I

Punjab h a v e n o t had the best results in this IPL. The three West Indians in the squad are Nicholas Pooran, Chris Gayle and Sheldon Cottrell.

"Universe Boss"

Chris Gayle has not played a match at the half-way stage, but is confirmed to play the next fixture. Pooran has played in all sev-

en matches for Punjab, and scored 212 runs at an average of 35.33.

Pooran has so far been the most impressive West Indian in the IPL, with his clean eye-catching ball striking. He scored the fastest IPL fifty in the 2020 season.

Meanwhile, Cottrell in his six matches took six wickets at an average of 29.33 and an economy rate of 8.36. His performances have been patchy, and since being slammed for five sixes in an over, his form with the ball has given Kings XI trouble in the bowling department.

KKR boys Andre Russell and Sunil Narine have not been at their impactful best at the half-way stage.

Narine has been reported for a suspect action, but in his six matches this season so far, he scored only 44 runs at a poor batting average of 8.80.

With the ball, Narine claimed five wickets at an average of 35.60 and an economy rate of 8.09, very unlike the magician batsmen have come to respect.

Russell, on the other hand, played seven matches and scored 71 runs at an average of 11.83 with a strike rate of 142. With the ball,

Russell has shown glimpses of his skill, snaring six wickets in the five innings he bowled.

The consistent Mumbai Indians have had great team efforts. West Indies white-ball captain Kieron Pollard has been impressive with bat, being at his explosive best with 174 runs at an average of 174, having five not-outs. His strike rate is supreme at 189.13 with his high-score being 60.

Alzaari Joseph and Sherfane Rutherford are the other West Indians in the Mumbai team, but they have not played any match thus far at the half-way stage.

For Royals, Oshane Thomas is the lone West Indian player in the squad, but he is yet to play a match at the half-way stage.

Sunrisers Hyderabad are equipped with the likes of Jason Holder and Fabian Allen, but they have not played a match at this stage.

Given overall performances, not all the West Indian players can boast of an impactful time at the half-way stage of the IPL. Given their skills and ability in T20 cricket, the Caribbean boys are expected to finish the season on a high.

"The Ballad of Flash"— Kenisha Phillips’ story I

f you have the nickname "Flash," that's already a lot to live up to.

To do so requires quite a bit of discipline and tenacity, to say nothing of talent.

It helps to have a supportive family, a clear goal and an unmatched drive to go with a high level of self-belief and a tenacious competitive streak.

The above paragraph is, basically, a one-paragraph description of Kenisha Phillips.

Austin Peay's latest in a long line of sprint standouts, Phillips has blazed a different trail than that of most of her predecessors. Where longtime Austin Peay sprints and hurdles honcho Valerie Brown went deep into her ties around the region to nab standouts like Breigh Jones, Sabrina Richman, Tymeitha Tolbert, Kyra Wilder and dozens of others to establish the foundation of one of the elite running programs in the area, getting a world-class caliber athlete from Guyana requires a little luck to go with recruiting savvy.

You also make your own luck, to a certain degree.

"Sabrina [Richman]'s high school coach is from Guyana and she's friends with the lady who helped Kenisha and other athletes get to the states and find schools and institutions," said Austin Peay head coach Valerie Brown. "She told her about APSU because Sabrina was here and I recruited her that way. I started speaking with Kenisha through WhatsApp, we were able to email; it was a unique recruiting experience.

"It was really a situation where she wanted to go somewhere to be part of a team that was as talented as she was. She had offers from bigger schools, but I was fortunate to be able to win her over with what we've been able to build here and how we've been able to elevate people like Erika

Adams and Tymeitha Tolbert. She was sold at the opportunity to win championships here."

She's already etching her name among the greatest sprinters the program has ever seen. In her first race as a Governor, at the Saluki Fast Start in Carbondale, Illinois last December, Phillips might have been nervous, excited, anxious or any number of emotions. But the gun sounded and 60 meters later, she was something else: Holder of Austin Peay's indoor 60m dash record, equaling Tolbert's 7.49 mark at the previous season's Ohio Valley Conference Indoor Championship.

"The first win was a really good feeling," she said. "It was my first time running for the school and competing on the big stage.

"For me, I was mentally prepared. I know what I'm about and what I'm capable of. It was a good starting point. I expected success early. I was training really hard and [Coach] Brown set our expectations very high."

Phillips' expectations for herself have always been high, even before she was given her Flash moniker by a teacher in high school. From an early age, she knew what she wanted and committed herself to that pursuit.

It was a precocious Kenisha Phillips who watched Usain Bolt torch the field at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing and became inspired to chase greatness.

"I was watching him and how fast he could run," she said. "[When] he won and the crowd went crazy, I decided, 'That's what I want to do, I want to be just like him and represent my country and go to the Olympics.'"

She's well on her way to making all her dreams a reality, based on her first half-season as a Governor and the maniacal work ethic she has showcased to get to this point.

Following her debut effort, she followed that

up with four more of the program's top-six 60m times of all time in just her first season.

Then she won two gold medals at the OVC Indoor Championships, added an additional silver in the 60m dash and provided a world-class run in the final leg of the 4x400m relay to give the Govs their first team title since 2001. For her efforts, Phillips earned OVC Freshman of the Year and Athlete of the Championship honors, the first runner in league history to take both honors in the same season. The ceiling on her potential was officially removed at that point—multitime league champion, multi-time Athlete of the Year, NCAA Championship qualifier, Olympic qualifier, you name it.

Losing the spring outdoor season due to COVID-19 obviously mashed the brakes pretty hard on those dreams, at least in the short term. But to reiterate—she did ALL the things in the above paragraph in just the indoor part of her freshman season.

Her odds of reaching and exceeding those heights would have to be considered pretty good when you think of it like that.

"It was hard to deal with losing the spring season," she said.

"I kept on training and kept doing what I had to do. I have a dream and I want to be able to live up to that dream someday.

One of my main goals is to make it to the Olympics and represent my country. I'm not far from reaching that; I need to continue training hard and continue to be determined." (Adapted from video by LetsGoPeay. com)

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2020

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

guyanatimesgy.

Pg 23

Vurlon Mills supports Haleled initiative M

By Timothy Jaikarran

“The Ballad of Flash” – Kenisha Phillips’ story Capitals’ stellar defence

ore than ever, sporting disciplines in Guyana are in dire need of action. As at October 12, 2020, Guyana has recorded more than 50 new cases of COVID-19, and regrettably, the cases keep rising drastically.

However, Guyanese International footballer Vurlon Mills has thrown his support behind the initiative which proposes that athletes be paid to compete in their respective disciplines. This idea is the brainchild of Guyana Prison Service Cadet Officer Khalifa Hale, who developed a strategy that would benefit both the world of sport and potential investors, in that it would cover every sporting discipline in Guyana, and with investors coming on board, it would see no sport being neglected.

This strategy would see thousands of jobs being created for athletes, which in turn would be a beneficial circumstance in that it would reduce crime, financially empower youths, and allow for more youths to be involved in sports.

Asked for his opinion on this initiative, Mills said a statement, “I support the Haledino-led initiative, I was one of the few players in Guyana that was given the opportunity to play international football. I have seen the growth and development in the sport, and even in myself, when the sport is professionalized. I really think it’s a positive move, and it will move sports forward in Guyana.

So, I’m definitely supporting this initiative to develop sports and make it professionalized.”

Vurlon Mills (born 11 February 1988) is a Guyanese international footballer who plays for Western Tigers, as a striker. Born in Georgetown, Mills has played club football for United Petrotrin, Fruta Conquerors, T&TEC, Caledonia AIA, FC Santa Rosa, Slingerz, San Juan Jabloteh, Georgetown, and Western Tigers. Mills made his international debut for Guyana in 2011, and has also appeared in FIFA World Cup qualifying matches.

Page 22

Khalifa Hale founded the initiative

Vurlon Mills

GUYANA TIMES - www.guyanatimesgy.com, email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, NEWS HOTLINE: 231-8063 EDITORIAL: 223-7230, 223-7231, 231-0544, 225-7761 SPORT: sport@guyanatimesgy.com SALES AND MARKETING: 231-8064 - marketing@guyanatimesgy.com - PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY GUYANA TIMES INC.