Guyana Times - Thursday, August 19, 2021

Private Sector inks pacts with US companies for collaboration on O&G P19 Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

Issue No. 4744

THE BEACON OF TRUTH THURSDAY, AUGUST 19, 2021

PRICE

Oil, local content, infrastructure, agriculture, trade, security

$80 VAT INCLUDED

WHAT'S INSIDE:

“Decisions will be made in interest of both countries” – President Ali

Chainsaw operator crushed to death by falling tree

P2

Brazilians busted with cocaine

High Court P8 suspends Magistrate’s $3M bail order

Page 3

5 Wartsila generators fired up, to undergo 1-month test run

…after AG challenges decision

Page 5

…GPL aims to have 46.5MW power plant operationalised next month

VP recognised by US for economic exchange, commitment to environment, green energy Page 9

Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo receiving a Certificate of Congressional Recognition in honour of his commitment to the environment, sustainable development, and green energy from US Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee (left) and a Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition in honour of his dedication to promoting friendship and economic exchange between the United States of America and the Republic of Guyana from US Congressman Al Green. Both Lee and Green are members in the Congressional Black Caucus

Guyana to seek better royalties, terms for future oil contracts – Jagdeo 17-year-old, 4 Boat explodes others latest near Bartica COVID-19 deaths beach See story on page 7

Page 5

See story on page 2

2008 businessman’s killing

Daughter, P18 alleged hitman deny murder charge

Ongoing P18 feud ends in shooting, man remanded

No “covering up” with OPR probes – Superintendent P17 Baird

2 NEWS

THURSDAY, AUGUST 19, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Boat explodes near Bartica beach

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The boat on fire just off the Bartica beach

boat captain received minor injuries to his foot after a fire erupted onboard his vessel, which was in the Essequibo River at Fourth Avenue Beach, Bartica, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni).

Injured is Okema Brummell. Reports are that the incident occurred about 16:00h on Tuesday.

According to Police, Brummell had gone to a gas station in his wooden boat, which was powered by a

200-horsepower outboard engine, to purchase gasoline. After making the purchase, he restarted the engine and, in the process, the battery sparked and the boat burst into flames.

Brummell sustained minor burns to his left foot before he jumped to safety into the Essequibo River.

He was rushed to the Bartica Regional Hospital, where he received medical treatment.

Chainsaw operator crushed to death by falling tree

A

48-year-old chainsaw operator of Nottinghamshire Village, Upper Demerara River, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) was on Tuesday morning crushed to death by a falling tree.

Dead is Winston Meredith.

Reports are that about 10:00h at First Savannah, Tacama Road, Upper Berbice River, he was in the company of three other workers when a tree nearby became “entangled” with the tree he was

felling.

The tree as it fell, first struck Meredith in the head, causing him to fall to the ground in an unconscious state, before landing upon him, pinning the man to the ground.

The other workers went to his assistance and they managed to pull his motionless body from under the tree.

Meredith was escorted to the Linden Hospital Complex, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

NEWS

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THURSDAY, AUGUST 19, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS OPENINGS BRIDGE

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

Thursday, August 19 – 01:00h-02:30h and 13:30h-15:00h and Friday, August 20 – 02:00h-03:30h and 13:30h-15:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Thursday, August 19 – 14:10h-15:40h and Friday, August 20 –15:00h-16:30h.

Oil, local content, infrastructure, agriculture, trade, security

“Decisions will be made in interest of both countries” – President Ali

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

WEATHER TODAY Sunny intervals with light rain and thundery showers are expected during the day. Clear skies are expected at night. Temperatures should range between 21 degrees Celsius and 32 degrees Celsius.

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

High Tide: 14:19h reaching a maximum height of 2.29 metres.

Low Tide: 07:44h and 20:08h reaching minimum heights of 0.81 and 0.94 metre.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 18, 2021

LOTTERY NUMBERS D

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DAILY MILLIONS

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PAY DAY

PAY DAY Friday, August 13, 2021

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

COMMODITIES Indicators

US$

Change %

Crude Oil

$68.23/barrel

-0.80

Rough Rice

$238.68 /ton $501.40/ton

-0.34 +1.03

London Sugar

Live Spot Gold

USD Per Ounce

Bid/Ask

$1781.30

$1782.30

Low/High Change

$1776.90 -6.80

$1794.80 -0.38%

President Dr Irfaan Ali and Surinamese President Chandrikapersad Santokhi

are expected to launch the Guyana-Suriname Business Council while signing the protocol for cooperation in agriculture.

The Surinamese delegation includes First Lady Mellisa K SantokhiSeenacherry; Foreign Affairs, International Business and International Cooperation (BIBIS) Minister, Ambassador Albert R Ramdin; Natural Resources

tuous five-month election process. During that visit, the two Presidents engaged in a series of meetings with stakeholders on a number of issues. In fact, the Guyanese and Surinamese Presidents met with members of the Guyanese Private Sector and diplomatic community during which business and commerce opportunities, among other mutual areas of benefit, were discussed.

G

uyanese President, Dr Irfaan Ali and his Surinamese counterpart, Chandrikapersad Santokhi on Wednesday officially commenced talks paving the way for the continuation of bilateral relations.

President Santokhi and a high-level team arrived in Guyana on Tuesday afternoon for his second official visit since taking office last year.

Day two of the four-day visit commenced with the two Presidents and their Foreign Affairs Ministers engaged in early-morning discussions. Later in the day, all the visiting officials met with their counterparts for a plenary session.

On Tuesday evening, at a cocktail and informal dinner reception, the two Presidents briefly met.

Following the reception, President Ali pointed out that he was happy for the informal session and said that he was anticipating productive meetings.

“We have a very elaborate agenda we’re working on. One that covers many areas: infrastructure, trade, agriculture, oil and gas, collaborations and finding ways in which we can enhance the prospects of both economies, and even looking at ways the economies can integrate, be more competitive and bring more opportunities to the people of both countries,” he told his press team.

President Ali said that he was also pleased with the fact that representatives from members of the Guyana and Suriname Private Sector were able to make the initial connection, which would enhance their opportunities to interact during the next few days.

“And we, as leaders, have to facilitate that by creating the right environment, the right policy mix that would ensure that the Private Sectors [of both countries] are the real engines and drivers of growth and development. So, I think the framework has been set for a very productive and fruitful couple of days in which I’m sure many decisions will be made in the interest of the people of both countries,” he said.

He gave assurances that both Heads of State would continue to collaborate for the economic, social uplift-

Guyana’s representatives in the plenary session with their Surinamese counterparts

ment and development of the citizens from both countries.

At Wednesday’s plenary session, held at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, a wide range of issues were discussed. Among those were matters relating to the oil and gas industry, infrastructure, transportation, agriculture, trade, and security.

Later today, Presidents Santokhi and Ali will hold a joint press briefing where they will update the Surinamese and Guyanese people of the progress made under the Guyana-Suriname Strategic Dialogue and Cooperation Platform (SDCP). Additionally, they

Minister David Abiamofo; Agriculture, Animal and Husbandry and Fisheries Minister Parmanand Sewdien; Public Works Minister Raid Nurmohamed; Transport, Communication and Tourism Minister Albert E Jubithana; Managing Director of the State Oil Company Suriname and Advisor to the Government of Suriname, Annand KR Jagesar and several technical staff.

The Surinamese President made his first visit to Guyana for the inauguration of President Ali back in August 2020 – following the conclusion of the tumul-

As newcomers in the oil and gas sector, the two countries are looking to tap into each other’s Private Sectors to push sustainable development and further strengthen bilateral ties.

President Ali had said at the time that Guyana and Suriname must not compete but complement each other as they embark on this new development trajectory.

Meanwhile, during President Ali’s reciprocal visit to Paramaribo last November, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed to facilitate the joint bridging of the Corentyne River. (G2)

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guyanatimesgy.com

THURSDAY, AUGUST 19, 2021

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

Addressing noncommunicable illnesses

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, the majority of the persons who have died as a result of contracting COVID-19 had some kind of underlying heath complication, many of which are related to NCDs. Guyana’s COVID-19 death rate at the moment is 587. 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 severe COVID-19 disease, and are more likely to die from COVID-19. Risk factors for 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 includes such factors as non-smoking, a healthy diet, regular physical activity, moderate alcohol intake, and a sense of mental wellbeing. For example, 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 non-communicable 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 as it relates to 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.

First Ladies at brunch: Guyana’s Arya Ali and Suriname’s Mellisa K Santokhi-Seenacherry share a photo during brunch on Wednesday (Office of the First Lady photo)

APNU/AFC had no time for ordinary people Dear Editor, Annette Ferguson recently attempted to make two arguments: that the people are suffering under this Government, and that APNU/AFC had a better housing plan than the incumbent PPP/C Government.

I shall now comment on those two arguments: To begin, former Minister Ms Ferguson did not go into the trouble of explaining how the people are suffering under this new PPP/C Government; she wrote in general terms. There is a reason for that: she will be hardpressed to show that it is the Government that is causing people to experience hardship, and that the difficult circumstances some individuals are facing are the doings of the Government.

Therefore, her argument is more in the realm of propaganda; it is void of substance.

But anyone who looks objectively at the national economic situation would have to admit that, over the last year, the performance of the Government has been nothing but excellent.

In the face of a raging, deadly pandemic that is affecting the global economy, the Government has managed to keep the public sector, public systems, and vital public services consistent with the needs

of the wider populace. In addition, the Government has been reaching out to people, particularly those in vulnerable situations, with help in many different ways. And while the former Minister dismissively talks about the distribution of hampers by the Government to citizens, it would be interesting for her to say how much assistance her party is giving to its supporters.

In fact, Ms Ferguson should let us know about the quantity and the quality of assistance the former Government, of which she was a part, gave to the ordinary people of Guyana, as opposed to what was given to rich friends of the APNU+AFC. Therefore, when she speaks of suffering, perhaps Ferguson is reflecting on the inaction of the immediate past Government to help citizens desperately in need of it.

Second, Ms Ferguson has set out tables about acreage of lands acquired for the purpose of housing by the past Government, but those tables and figures in substance mean nothing if they did not translate into real benefits to ordinary Guyanese.

I am of the view that those figures would change if we know how much of those lands went to friends and party cronies, as against how much

was given to Guyanese at the working-class level.

After five years in office, the former Housing Minister should have been embarrassed to reveal those numbers. Those numbers show that the Government performed poorly over the last five years in that sector of the economy. And we must not forget the processing of applications seemed to have been speeded up on the tail end of the APNU+AFC’s term in office, when they were seeking votes.

Compare that to the record of this new PPP/C Government, led by His Excellency President Dr Irfaan Ali. The PPP/C Government has allocated 400 house lots in Linden in just two days. This is more than the amount allocated

by APNU-AFC Coalition in five years. Where were those house lots? Right there, in Linden. But the Coalition was too busy taking care of its friends;

It had no time for ordinary people of Linden. In fact, one of the past Ministers of Housing resides in that very town.

Moreover, in just one year in office, the PPP/C Government has allocated over 5000 house lots. Unlike the previous Government, these allocations are to ordinary Guyanese who work regular jobs and are seeking to improve the quality of their lives. It must also be said that the allocation process is done in a transparent manner; no hideand-seek games and secret deals.

Going forward, the Government has already activated the appropriate processes to ensure the planned and orderly development of housing schemes in all ten administrative regions and for all Guyanese.

Yours truly, Attiya Baksh

What will it take?

Dear Editor, Garbage is piling up in the city, but the chief citizen is not about the City’s business, but other business elsewhere.

Citizens pay their rates, so that their business can get left unattend-

ed while other matters are given priority and preference.

What will it take for the business of citizens to be given some consideration?

Sincerely, Shamshun Mohamed

5 5 Wartsila generators fired up, to undergo 1-month test run NEWS

THURSDAY, AUGUST 19, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

…GPL aims to have 46.5MW power plant operationalised next month

W

ith the hopes of getting the new 46.5-megawatt (mw) generating facility at Garden of Eden, East Bank Demerara up and running by the last quarter of this year, the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) Inc on Wednesday started up the five new Wartsila engines.

This is the final stage before the operationalisation of the US$50 million 46.5mw power plant at Garden of Eden.

The project was initially scheduled for completion in mid-2020, but was delayed due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic

GPL CEO Bharat Dindyal

According to GPL’s Chief Executive Officer Bharat Dindyal, load-testing would be among the issues that would be exam-

Prime Minister Mark Phillips with GPL Chairman Maurice Gajadhar and CEO Bharat Dindyal after starting up the five Wartsila dualfuel generators for a one-month test run

and adverse weather conditions.

Nevertheless, the five highly efficient Wartsila 34DF dual-fuel engines, each of which has a 9.3mw capacity, have been fired up during a ‘soft commissioning’ ceremony on Wednesday, and are now set to undergo a one-month test run.

ined during this one-month period.

“The loading of the machines would be done individually, so each machine would be loaded up to 9.3 megawatt; and finally, for a five-day period, we have to run the plant at full capacity continuously. During that operation, we will be looking at the efficiency of

the plant; we’ll be looking at the consumption rate and some other important parameters,” he explained.

Dindyal added: “Typically, when the system is under stress like that, then you might see other things happening.

You might see leaks; you might see some of the automatic issues come up – minor issues. These things are all resolved… So, there may be issues coming up, but right now there is nothing that would cause a problem to disrupt the commissioning schedule.”

Meanwhile, the power generated by the five engines will have to pass through a sub-station in order to be fed into the national grid. As such, the GPL Head pointed out that components of the sub-station would also have to be tested.

Currently, there are two 60 MVA (Mega VoltAmp) transformers at the sub-station, and according to the GPL CEO, each transformer has the capacity to handle the full output

Prime Minister Mark Phillips in the Control Room at the Garden of Eden power plant

of the plant.

“So, the critical issue there is to get one of the transformers up and running, both had gone through initial testing, and the testing was successful,” Dindyal noted.

Finland-based Wartsila will be running and operating the dual-fuel power plant.

However, while some of the Wartsila technical team are already on the ground ahead of the scheduled September commissioning of the power plant, Dindyal explained that negotiations are still ongoing regarding the operation and maintenance (O&M) agreement. He disclosed that the outcome from this test period would be used as a benchmark to determine the performance, efficiency and capacity of the plant, by which the operator would be held accountable in the agreement.

“So, we’re still working on finalising the operation and maintenance agreement. There’s going to be

around three dozen personnel on site to operate the plant. Some of the personnel are here already, at least two complete shifts are here…. By the time we finish commissioning the plant, we expect to have all the personnel on site, and they will undergo a period of training. The Wartsila project people would provide some training to the operators,” Dindyal said.

However, the GPL CEO indicated that there is currently heavy competition for qualified and experienced technical personnel, especially with the oil and gas industry here.

The five generating units, which are able to operate on both liquid fuels and natural gas, were started up on Wednesday by Prime Minister Brigadier (retired) Mark Phillips. He said that while there is still a lot of work to do before the dual-fuel power plant is fully commissioned, he is satisfied with the progress made thus far – which he says aligns with the PPP/C

Government’s plans for the country.

“We still have a lot of work to do as it relates to linking the power to the sub-station and also to the ongoing maintenance of our Transmission and Distribution System… This is a short-term project in the scheme of things for our Government. Our strategic outlook is to provide 400 megawatts of power over the next five years, utilising fossil fuel and utilising [natural] gas from the gas-to-shore project, and renewable energies in the form of solar, wind and hydro,” the Prime Minister outlined.

Having been scrapped by the previous APNU/ AFC administration, the current Government had promised in its 2020 elections manifesto to revive the 165-megawatt Amaila Falls Hydropower Project as part of efforts to drive down the high-electricity costs and provide more reliable electricity to the country.

According to PM Phillips, this project will be placed on the “front burner” once more.

Further, the Dr Irfaan Ali-led administration is pursuing an energy mix to fit into its sustainable renewable energy transition agenda. Chief among this is piping natural gas from offshore oil operations to a facility in Region Three (West Demerara) to add an additional 200-250 megawatts of power to the national grid. (G8)

17-year-old, 4 others are latest COVID-19 deaths

A

17-year-old lad is among five new COVID-19 deaths reported by the Ministry of Health on Wednesday.

The teenager, a resident of Region Four (DemeraraMahaica), died on Monday.

Included in those fatalities is a lone female, a 63-yearold resident of Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) who died on Tuesday.

Two males, an 84-year-old and an 87-year-old, both of Region Four, also succumbed on Tuesday. Another Region Four resident, a 70-year-old male, died last Friday from the novel coronavirus as well.

According to the Health Ministry, these patients were admitted with COVID-19-like symptoms, and died while receiving care at medical institutions. Samples taken at the time of their admission subsequently returned positive.

With these five latest fatalities, the total number of

deaths from the pandemic in Guyana has gone up to 587. Thus far, in the month of August, the COVID-19 death toll has climbed to 38.

Meanwhile, another 120 persons have contracted the deadly virus, taking the total number of confirmed cases in the country to 23,795.

The Ministry’s updated COVID-19 Dashboard on Wednesday revealed that 15 patients are in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU), while 1068 persons are in isolation; that is, 88 in institutional isolation and the other 980 in home isolation.

This takes the active cases in Guyana to 1083.

Additionally, there are five persons in institutional quarantine.

To date, some 22,125 persons have recovered from the life-threatening disease; 75 more recoveries have been recorded in the last 24 hours.

Meanwhile, a total of

248,706 persons have been tested for the novel coronavirus since the outbreak of the pandemic here last year. Of this number, 11,563 males and 12,232 females were found to be positive.

Of the 120 new COVID cases recorded on Wednesday, three were detected in Region One (Barima-Waini), one was detected in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), 24

were detected in Region Three (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara), a whopping 72 were detected in Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica), four were detected in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice), nine were detected in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), three were detected in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), one each was detected in Region Eight (Potaro-

Siparuni) and Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo), and the remaining two cases were detected in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).

In order to curb the rising number of cases in the country, the Guyana Government launched its COVID-19 vaccination exercise back in February, and is aggressively rolling it out in the various regions across Guyana in or-

der to achieve heard immunity.

So far, some 59 per cent of the adult population has received their first dose of the vaccine, and recent data puts this figure at more than 288,000 persons. Meanwhile, fully immunised persons in the country have exceeded 30 per cent, with 148,000 of the population who are 18 years and older having also received the vaccine.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), as at Wednesday, some 208,470,375 confirmed cases were reported globally, along with 4,377,979 deaths.

WHO also reported on Thursday that in the Region of the Americas; that is, Latin America and the Caribbean, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases has increased to 80,709,034, while the death toll in the region has gone up to 2,056,686.

(G8)

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THURSDAY, AUGUST 19, 2021

Page

Foundation

Bake your ice cream H ave you ever baked your ice cream? An insulated bag or a cooler filled with ice can keep a treat like ice cream cool. Using the same principles, it is even possible to bake ice cream in a hot oven and have it come out frozen! This activity will teach you how.

Materials 2 round bowls that can be placed in the freezer, preferably identical Plastic film or plastic wrap Ice cream Spoon Freezer Sponge cake, about one inch larger in diameter than the diameter of the bowls 3 egg whites at room temperature 1 cup of white sugar Half teaspoon cream of tartar Handheld electric mixer Mixing bowl Spatula 1 cake pans, one at least the size of the sponge cake Oven Oven mitts Knife to cut the cake Instructions Caution: Some steps in this activity, like operating an electric mixer and placing in and removing items from a hot oven, require adult help. Adult supervision is recommended for the remaining part of the activity.

Prep work To create an ice cream mould, cover the inside of a round bowl with two layers of plastic film or plastic wrap and fold the excess over the rim. The plastic will make it easy to remove the ice cream from the bowl.

Repeat previous step with the

second bowl.

Fill the moulds with ice cream.

If your ice cream is too hard, leave it out for a few minutes and try again.

Press the ice cream down so there are no air pockets left inside, and level the top surface.

Place the moulds filled with ice cream in the freezer for at least 30 minutes. This ice cream will be placed in a hot oven later in the activity.

Preheat the oven to 400° F. Think about: Any idea how you can place ice cream in an oven heated to 400° F without it melting?

Pour the egg whites into a mixing bowl and ask an adult to help you whip them with an electric mixer at medium speed. Watch how the translucent liquid egg white becomes a white foam.

Think about: Did you see how the volume of the egg whites changed in the process? Why would this be?

Add the cream of tartar and ask the adult to keep whipping until soft peaks form when you lift up the beaters. The peaks will curl over, which is fine.

Add a small amount of sugar and ask an adult to whip it into the foam using the high-speed setting.

Repeat this until all the sugar has been added and is dissolved into the egg whites. If the mixture looks shiny and peaks stay standing up when the beaters are taken out, you have done it right! This mixture is called meringue.

Ask the adult to unplug the electric mixer, remove the beaters.

You can wash the beaters with the other tools later.

In a moment, you will assemble the cake. Start this about 20 minutes before you plan to eat it. Check

if your oven has preheated before you start assembling.

To assemble the cake, place your sponge cake in the middle of your cake pan.

Take one ice cream-filled mould out of the freezer and use the plastic to take the ice cream out of the mould. Turn the ice cream over and place it, flat side down, in the middle of the sponge cake. Remove the plastic.

Use a spatula to cover the ice cream and the visible parts of the sponge cake with a thick layer of meringue.

Ask an adult to place the pan with your cake in the preheated oven. Leave it in for about 10 minutes, until the outermost layer of meringue turns brown.

Think about: What do you expect to happen with the ice cream in the middle of the cake? What do you expect to happen with just ice cream when placed in a hot oven?

To test your prediction, take the second ice cream-filled mould out of the freezer, remove the mould, and turn the ice cream over onto a second cake pan. Remove the plastic and ask an adult to place this pan in the oven. Observe what happens.

When the cake is done, ask an adult to take it out of the oven. You can leave the pan with just ice cream in a little longer, as it was put in later. Turn the oven off.

Cut a quarter of your cake and look inside.

Think about: Is the ice cream still cold and hard, or did it turn into a liquid?

How is it different compared to the ice cream that is still in the hot oven? What do you think kept the ice cream in the centre of the cake cold, and why did it keep the ice cream cold?

Clean up your work area and wash all tools with soapy water.

What happened?

Was the ice cream in the centre of the cake still hard and frozen? Did the uncovered ice cream melt quickly when placed in a hot oven? This is expected.

Sponge cake and the meringue both have plenty of air bubbles trapped in them. This layer of stationary air keeps the heat out.

It is a good thermal insulator, and as such, it does not easily let heat flow through it. In this way, it protects the cold ice cream underneath – at least, for some time. If you left the cake in the hot oven for too long, the ice cream centre would eventually warm up and melt. As you probably observed, without the protection of sponge cake and the meringue, this happens way faster.

Insulated bags or coolers often use a stationary layer of air to keep heat from flowing through the walls, much like the cake and meringue! (Sabine De Brabandere, PhD, Science Buddies)

By Pat Mora

Spinning through space for eons, our earth—oceans, rivers, mountains, glaciers, tigers, parrots, redwoods— evolving wonders.

And our vast array, generations of humans—all shapes, colors, languages.

Can I be the only me?

Our earth: so much beauty, hate, goodness, greed.

W

Animal acrostic

rite an acrostic poem, also called a vertical poem, of words or phrases that describes your favourite animal.

Acrostic poems are easy and fun, and give you a chance to really stretch your vocabulary muscles!

Write the animal’s name vertically like Black bat At night you Thrive And fill in a word, words, or phrase that begins with the first letter (see above).

“Study. Cool the climate,” advises my teacher.

“Grow peace.”

Can I be the only me, become all my unique complexity?

Source: Poetry (March 2021)

WORD SEARCH

NEWS

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THURSDAY, AUGUST 19, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Guyana to seek better royalties, terms for future oil contracts – Jagdeo V

ice President Bharrat Jagdeo has reiterated the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government’s commitment to ensuring that Guyana gets more benefits from future oil deals.

According to international news agency Reuters, Jagdeo said on the sidelines of the Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) in Houston, Texas, that Guyana aims to increase its oil royalties and revamp other contract terms as part of a new profit-sharing agreement (PSA) for future crude and gas projects now in their draft stage.

While in Opposition, and after assuming office in August 2020, the PPP/C Government held that it would seek to renegotiate the PSA with ExxonMobil, who, along with its co-venturers Hess and CNOOC, are operating the oil-rich Stabroek Block. In fact, the Vice President had contended that the new Government would instead seek to get better terms and conditions for other blocks offshore Guyana.

This position was reiterated

by Jagdeo, who led Guyana’s delegation to attend the OTC in Houston.

“We have made it clear that in any new PSA we negotiate for those blocks, the

Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo

conditions will be very, very different than the ones from the Stabroek block,” Jagdeo was quoted as saying in the Reuters article on Tuesday.

The former APNU/AFC Coalition administration had come in for heavy criticism over the 2016 deal it signed with the U.S. oil major. The agreement has been criticised for low royalty – a meagre two per cent, lack of ring-fencing provisions, and cost oil claims that would see Guyana losing billions, among other issues.

But according to the Reuters report, Jagdeo said, “All the deficiencies of this contract will be addressed,” in future deals.

ExxonMobil is operating the 6.6 million acres Stabroek Block, where over 20 discov-

eries have been made since 2015, when it first struck crude. However, the US oil giant is also a major shareholder in both the Canje and Kaieteur blocks offshore Guyana. The Guyanese Vice President previous noted that

when the company applies for licensing on those blocks, it would not get the same conditions as it did in the Stabroek Agreement under the Coalition Government.

However, the Reuters article stated that Jagdeo said the new PSA with Exxon will be tougher, and could be ready “within six months or so.”

Only back in May, the PPP/C Government, through the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), was forced to modify the Environmental Permit for the Liza-1 Development Project to include, among other things, a fee of US$30 per tonne of excess carbon emissions that is flared. This was after the company had been flaring excessively due to technical issues with its gas compression system onboard

the Liza Destiny FPSO. Based on calculations, Jagdeo had reported that the oil company had racked up a fee of some US$1.3 million

for a 36-day flaring period.

In the contract signed with the Coalition regime, there was no provision for flaring.

8 NEWS

THURSDAY, AUGUST 19, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Brazilians busted with cocaine

High Court suspends Magistrate’s $3M bail order …after AG challenges decision

Falling...

Y

Attorney General Anil Nandlall, SC

A

decision by Senior Magistrate Alex Moore to grant $3M bail each to Salem Nobrega De Alencar and Andre Luiz Pereira - the two Brazilian nationals who are charged

Senior Magistrate Alex Moore

with trafficking 1100 pounds of cocaine - is being challenged in the High Court

by Attorney General Anil Nandlall, SC. These Brazilians have also been charged with entering Guyana illegally.

From left: Salim Nobrega De Alencar and Andre Pereira during their first appearance at the Springlands Magistrate’s Court

They were each placed on $50,000 bail, but remain in prison. The conditionalities of bail fixed by Magistrate Moore are that they lodge their passports with the court pending their trial, re-

port to the East Ruimveldt Police Station on Monday and Thursday, and remain at the address on their lease provided by their lawyers.

TURN TO PAGE 18

…into the race trap our Eyewitness wasn’t surprised to see Lil Joe Harmon desperately trying to ride Hakeem Jeffries’s coattails after the latter went out on a limb on Guyanese politics because of his special “friend”. But the performance was as pathetic as it was opportunistic! After all, Hakeem’s “friend” has been totally contemptuous of Lil Joe and his sponsor, David Granger, in waging his social media war against them from his Canarsie, Brooklyn apartment.

Imagine, a teenage go-fer in Desmond Hoyte’s OP claiming he was the big man’s “Special Assistant”!! Anyone with the faintest acquaintance with Hoyte would know this is a fabulist concoction. When it comes to Hoyte’s dealing with juniors, we should remember his riposte as to why he unilaterally fired Aubrey Norton as General Secretary of the PNC: “he’s my creature”!!

But back to Harmon. In the internal and external power struggle to replace him and his sponsor - let’s call them “DAG-LJH” - from the PNC’s leadership, his adoption of the extremist “racist” rhetoric of the fringe elements is a clear sign that he’s been rattled. Why else would he want to jump on the “racist” outbidding when his DAGLJH combine still controls the party machinery?? The wannabe leaders are just trying to get the attention of the party faithful by yelling “Fire! Fire!!” That they’re doing this in the middle of a crowded theatre is precisely the point. They’re trying to create a panic and chaos, in which they MIGHT come out on top.

But Lil Joe should know that unless those pipsqueaks baying at his legs can transform the riled-up yahoo base - like the anti-vaxxers fringe! - into votes at Congress, they’re just pi55ing in the wind! And that can get pretty messy - for them! The DAG-LJH clique are the beneficiaries of the PNC internal rigging machinery, and, back in 2011, “defeated” Carl Barrington Greenidge, who has more pedigree than Secretariat!! The Aubrey Norton challenge was just an annoyance! So, Lil Joe should’ve just let the latest storm in a teacup from Brooklyn pass.

Or was he rattled by the speed in which the Taliban overran the Afghan Government? But he should know that these erstwhile challengers are no Talibans - not even the ones who’d popped up behind Buxton! They have no ideology, no organization, and no strategy. They’re just a bunch of rabble-rousers who can make a lot of noise! And we do know that empty drums are the ones that make the most noise, don’t we?

Lil Joe should know that by also regurgitating the charges of “PPP’s racist discriminatory disbursement” in the welter of Govt relief packages, his base knows that they’re beneficiaries.

And he’s getting conned by some hustlers!

…again, into the abyss In the Book of Job, in the Old Testament of the Jewish and Christian Bible, the author is tested by God (on a dare with Satan that Job would then denounce him) in all sorts of horrible ways - killing his ten children, losing all his wealth and his health. But Job accepted all his suffering and retained his faith in God. Job, of course, lived thousands of years ago, and, maybe for some, the story has been forgotten that even a God who is infinitely good can permit suffering in this world - for reasons that remain inscrutable to us humans.

Your Eyewitness was forced into his rumination as he reflected on the travails that Haiti has been forced to undergo over the last two centuries, when, by its enslaved population defeating one of the most powerful European armies, it became the first Black Republic in the world.

Floods, pestilence (from foreign states as well as from nature), earthquakes, hurricanes, dictators, corruption, gangs etc.

Is Haiti the Lot of modernity? …into Afghan trap?

As your Eyewitness explained earlier, the “Afghan goat herders” - as they have been dismissed over the centuries - have now brought four empires to their knees -Moghul, British, Russian, and American.

Will the Chinese now take a stab?

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

NEWS

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THURSDAY, AUGUST 19, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

VP recognised by US for promoting economic exchange, commitment to environment, green energy

Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo meeting with US Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee

V

ice President Bharrat Jagdeo met with United States Congressman Al Green and US Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee on Wednesday.

Congressman Green is serving his ninth term as a member of the United States House of Representatives, and represents the 9th Congressional District of Texas.

In a social media post on the Vice President’s page, it

Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo meeting with US Congressman Al Green

has been stated that during the meeting, Congressman Green presented the Vice President with a Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition in honour of his dedication to promoting friendship and economic exchange between the United States of America and the Republic of Guyana.

M e a n w h i l e , Congresswoman Jackson Lee, who is serving her eleventh term as a member of

the United States House of Representatives, and represents the 18th Congressional District of Texas, during the meeting presented the Vice President with a Certificate of Congressional Recognition in honour of his commitment to the environment, sustainable development, and green energy.

Both Lee and Green are members in the Congressional Black Caucus. Jackson was also born in Jamaica.

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THURSDAY, AUGUST 19, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

W

elcome our valued readers to our Guyana Times

Special on the automotive industry. This informative special was done as an ed-

ucational piece to bring to your attention some of the best of what Guyana has to

offer for persons who are interested in purchasing, upgrading or looking at the

prospects of acquiring a vehicle.

The idea behind our special was predicated on outlining the various steps associated with acquiring and owning a vehicle and the go-to companies, which we have featured, that can make it very easy for interested readers to know what their options are.

As you peruse the special you will find one of the best banking institutions available for persons seeking to acquire financing for purchasing a vehicle – the Guyana Bank for Trade

erator when you buy one of their vehicles.

After acquiring the vehicle of your choice, there are certain fundamentals that one would have to satisfy such as insurance.

Relatively new on the market, Premier Insurance has already cemented itself as one of the best insurance companies that consumers can go to, to satisfy that requirement.

Part of the responsibility that comes with owning a vehicle is ensuring that it is well serviced with the correct lubricants and

and Industry (GBTI).

It currently has interest rates as low as 6.99 per cent, with eight years to repay for persons interested in procuring a loan to purchase their dream vehicle.

Once you have that aspect covered, then the next step would be to purchase the vehicle of your dreams.

That has been made easy with the plethora of top businesses that interested persons can get on to.

First off, we have the trusted Trans Pacific Motor Spares and Auto Sales that you can rely on for its dependable service, not only in purchasing a new or used vehicle but also when it comes to getting parts for your purchased vehicle.

BM SOAT is also one of Guyana’s established auto dealers that currently is offering an electric alternative to the gas combustion vehicles for persons looking at their carbon footprint.

Last but certainly not least is Marics & Company Ltd, who is the authorised distributors for the Honda line of vehicles in Guyana.

For a limited time, you can get a powerful Honda gen-

maintained with the correct auto parts. Our special also has that aspect covered with some of the leading companies that sell spare parts and the necessary lubricants needed to ensure the longevity of your dream vehicle.

One such company is Silvie’s Automotive Solutions. It has in stock a plethora of spare parts for different types of vehicles and also quality tools for mechanics to make their jobs easier. It also has a variety of accessories that can give you that one-of-akind aesthetic that many discerning drivers crave.

One of the most important but overlooked aspects of owning a vehicle is ensuring that it is outfitted with proper tyres. Quality tyres protect you and your family and minimise the chances of accidents occurring through blowouts.

Where can you get quality tyres? Auto Supplies Co is your best bet.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank you our valued and consistent readers and business partners for being part of our Automotive Special.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 19, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

L

ook, there’s no shame in not knowing everything about cars. I sure don’t, and claiming to know everything only proves that you don’t. Still, as a discerning owner, enthusiast, or even basic user of automobiles, there are certain things you should absolutely know how to do. No excuses.

Let’s start with the basics, then progress to the intermediate and more advanced levels, shall we?

11

quick-lube place, you run the risk that they’ll screw something up. Get a cheap pair of ramps and do it yourself, unless you’ve got one of those uptight parking-lot security guards staring you down the whole time.

Jack up your car

Read a dipstick

Change your own oil

Is it absolutely a requirement that you change your car’s oil yourself every single time? No, but when you go to a

Dipsticks tell you if your car has enough or too much oil in it, but that’s not all. They’ll also give you a sense of how bad the oil is, and potentially how poorly the car is maintained. If you’re checking out a used car, for example, and you find grit in the oil that’s on the dipstick... just walk away.

There’s a good way and a bad way to jack up your car.

Putting a jack under your oil pan, for example, is an excellent way to transfer all of the oil from your engine to the floor of your garage before you replace, well, your oil pan.

There are several areas where it’s best to put a jack, but if you’re unsure, consult your owner’s manual. It’ll tell you the best spot for your specific car.

TURN TO PAGE 13

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13

FROM PAGE 11

Change a tyre

The simple fact is that run-flat tyres are making the very existence of spare tyres more and more rare in today's world. That's no excuse to not know how to jack up your car and change a tyre, like the guy in that awful "Handy Man" commercial.

Torque your lug nuts

There are a few points here. First, don't just cinch your lug nuts as tightly as you can get 'em or you'll want to go back in time and kick yourself for doing so as soon as you need to get them off. Use a torque wrench to get them to your manufacturer's specified range – no more, no less.

If you don't have a torque wrench, get one, then use it to torque every other lug nut in a star-shaped pattern (diagonally across from each other) until you've done them all.

Jump-start your car

Look, it's not that difficult. Positive clamp on dead battery. Positive clamp on good battery. Negative clamp on good battery. Negative clamp on bare, grounded metal on car with dead battery. Start good car, wait a couple of minutes, start dead car. Unclamp everything in reverse order and do not touch the clamps to each other. Now go drive your car for a while to let the alternator charge it up.

Change a spark plug

Unless your car is 100 per cent electric (Nissan LEAF, Tesla, etc), you've got spark plugs. While they certainly will last an order of magnitude longer than plugs in the olden days, they still need to be changed, and dealerships are truly thrilled at the prospect of overcharging you to do something that can be done at home. If you don't know what you're doing – and it is a bit more involved than it used to be – head to YouTube and you'll almost definitely find someone changing the plugs on a car just like yours.

Change a radiator hose

Some cars today have approximately 947 hoses, and

you'll never get to all of them if you're attempting a DIY repair on the side of the highway. A coolant hose, however – the big hose that runs from your radiator – is the one most likely to go, but it's also the easiest to change, usually.

TURN TO PAGE 14

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THURSDAY, AUGUST 19, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

FROM PAGE 13

Identify and change a fuse

Chasing electrical problems is the bane of every shadetree mechanic's existence. For a given problem – as in, your taillights all went out at once – you should first hope that it's just a fuse, then proceed to track down the appropriate culprit based on the symptoms. See your manual for a fuse map.

Understand the difference between HP and torque

One is a rotational force, and the other is a metric based on that rotational force, multiplied by the measured RPM, divided by 5280.

Buff out minor scratches and swirls

One small scratch might seem like a nuisance, but if you don't take care of one, the next thing you know, your car will be covered in them. Learning how to use things like rubbing and polishing compounds with an orbital or random orbital polisher is a skill that takes just a few hours to adequately learn, and one that pays huge dividends for the rest of your life.

Restore headlight lenses

Those foggy, yellowy headlights on your car are actually kind of a safety hazard, reducing your visibility at night. With less than half an hour of wet sanding with ultra-fine sandpaper and polishing with a rubbing compound, they'll be crystal clear, and you won't look like the rookie car guy who doesn't know a damn thing about polishing. (Aaron Miller, thrillist.com)

THURSDAY, AUGUST 19, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

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16 NEWS

THURSDAY, AUGUST 19, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

6 undergo groundbreaking cardiac surgeries at Dr Balwant Singh Hospital D

r Balwant Singh Hospital, over a fiveday period, successfully performed groundbreaking and complex cardiac surgeries on six patients through visiting doc-

successfully performed between August 13-17, with no complications.

The procedures were carried out by visiting cardiac surgeon Dr. Prashant Vaijaynath and

Dr Balwant Singh Hospital

tors from India.

All six surgeries were

his team comprising Dr Vijay Patil, Cardiologist;

Ramesh Vardharajan, Anaesthesiologist; Vishwanath Belavi, Perfusionist; and Elvina Mariadoss, physician assistant.

This development is said to be a momentous one for the hospital, and there are hopes of further developing this partnership that has been created to continue to provide these services to the Guyanese people.

The doctor explained the procedures and spoke of the successes of the operations.

Four of the operations were described as “beat heart” or “off pump” beating heart bypass operations, while the other two were open-heart surgeries.

“During this visit, we had operated six patients, and four of them were what you would call in the layman term cabbages, which is a coronary artery bypass

Dr Prashant Vaijaynath (centre), Cardiac Surgeon; Dr Vijay Patil, Cardiologist (second-right); Dr Ramesh Vardharajan (right), Anaesthesiologist; Vishwanath Belavi, Perfusionist (left); and Elvina Mariadoss, Physician Assistant(second-left)

graft surgery. The standard of care in our hands is ‘beating-heart’ surgery, which means we don’t put the patient on heart-lung machine. We do that in anastomosis – the coronary bypass, on beating heart, by stabilising the heart; and we don’t strap the heart at all.”

“So, four of the six patients were operated, and they had an excellent outcome… within an hour of surgery, they had minimal or no blood transfusions, which means hardly

any unit of blood was used.

There were no complications like bleeding or respiratory complications… there was almost zero complications”, Dr. Prashant further stated.

Additionally, Dr Prashant revealed that he and his team had operated on a 21-year-old female who had a critical case of mitral stenosis, which saw an irregular flow of blood into the main pumping chamber of the heart from an abnormal valve.

More so, a 15-year-old boy who the doctor stat-

ed had a large defect in his heart called common atrium, whereby a “curtain” had to be placed between the two chambers of his heart.

Two of the three recovering patients shared their experience of undergoing surgery, stating that the procedure had gone along smoothly for them, and that they are recovering well.

The doctor stated that he hopes to operate regularly on a monthly basis to help the Guyanese people.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 17

NEWS

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THURSDAY, AUGUST 19, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

6 undergo...

No “covering up” of OPR probes – Superintendent Baird A s s i s t a n t Superintendent Elston Baird, Head of the Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR), has assured the general public that there is no “covering up” in regard to investigations being done by the OPR on ranks of the Guyana Police Force (GPF).

This assurance was made while responding to the question posed to him

by GPF Public Relations Officer Stan Gouveia on Tuesday evening during the weekly radio programme “Police & You”. The question concerned whether or not members of the Police Force should be investigating themselves if or when they would have committed a crime, or an allegation has been made against them.

This question was asked due to the unwavering amount of complaints made by members of the public by way of letters to the editors in several news publications and also on social media, whereby some stated that they would not approach the Police Complaints Authority due to their belief that mat-

so, if we are to be measured by the perception that Police are not…being impartial in their investigations, it wouldn’t be a fair statement to make,” the Assistant Superintendent pointed out.

He further went on to say that he understands the perception that the general public may have, but noted that they (GPF) have ranks that would have been charged and put before the court on numerous accounts.

Demands and bribes

Head of the Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR), Assistant Superintendent Elston Baird

ters involving members of the GPF are usually swept under the rug.

“Once reports are made, we have (to take) disciplinary actions. We’ve had a number of officers who have been charged and placed before the court. Recently we’ve seen that Police officers would have been charged for varying offences - corruption, assault against members of the public; and

Meanwhile, the Assistant Superintendent encouraged members of the public to go into the OPR offices within their region, or report to the commander of that region, about Police ranks who may be making demands, monetary or otherwise.

“Once these matters are reported to us, we would investigate. We have had cases where persons would have come to the Police because Police were making demands, and they come to the Police and we set up what we would call ‘sting’ operations and have those persons arrested”, Baird in-

formed.

He went on to say, “I would encourage members of the public, if for whatever reason an officer is making a demand, they can come to the OPR and make their complaint, or they can go wherever division there is, to the divisional commander and I’m sure that that commander will listen and ensure that whoever that rank is, we would set up that operation and have that person arrested.”

Additionally, he revealed that ‘givers’ of bribes can also be prosecuted as long as the receiver (Police rank) comes forward and gives a statement saying that they would have received a bribe from the accused.

Currently, there are five other patients registered to have surgeries of a similar nature done.

Meanwhile, Chief Executive Officer of the hospital, Dr Madhu Singh, stated, “It has been the desire of Balwant Singh Hospital to fill this particular health care need in Guyana. With the help of this team, we were able to fill this gap and give access to safe and advanced cardiac surgery.”

Dr Singh added, “We, at Balwant Singh Hospital, are extremely pleased with this success and the fact that we were able to help very sick patients who have been awaiting surgery for more than a year.”

She noted that the cost of the surgery depends on how complex the patient’s condition is. However, the

FROM PAGE 16

baseline cost is US$9000.

Singh noted that patients have been waiting for almost two years to get some amount of relief, due to their conditions.

She also stated that they have been assured by the Government and the Health Ministry that they will receive their cooperation.

The success of the surgeries performed has led to the expansion of the hospital’s services by way of a holistic cardiac care unit.

The next round of surgeries is expected to be performed by the team within the next six to eight weeks.

It is the hope of the Dr Balwant Singh Hospital that more public and private partnerships of similar nature would see patients being able to access these life-saving surgeries without having to travel abroad.

18 NEWS

THURSDAY, AUGUST 19, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

2008 businessman’s killing Ongoing feud ends in shooting, Daughter, alleged hitman man remanded deny murder charge

D

Remanded: Derwin Benons

erwin Benons of Meadow Brook Drive, Georgetown has been remanded to prison for allegedly firing a gun at another man.

Benons, 28, appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts, where he pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Particulars of the charge stated that on July 28, at Bamboo Drive, Meadow Brook, Benons discharged a loaded firearm at Kenneth Reid with intent to maim, disfigure, or cause him grievous bodily harm. The defendant will make another court appearance on September 22,

2021.

Police Prosecutor Sherwin Matthew related that on the day in question, the Virtual Complainant was sitting front of his home when two men on a motorcycle rode past him.

The men on the motorcycle then reversed, the pillion rider dismounted and discharged a round in Reid’s direction.

Reid escaped unhurt and reported the incident to the Police Station. Investigations were carried out which led to the arrest of Benons, who the VC later identified as the shooter. The Police Prosecutor informed the court that the two men have pending court matters related to an ongoing feud. (G1)

Dead: Habiboodean

Murder accused: Linden Lewis and Bibi Nazeela Habiboodean

B

ibi Nazeela Habiboodean, who reportedly paid a man to kill her 77-year-old father, was on Wednesday indicted by State Prosecutors for murder.

The woman, along with the alleged hitman, Linden Lewis, called “Bullet”, was

High Court suspends...

arraigned before Justice Sandil Kissoon and a 12-member jury at the High Court in Demerara.

The charge stated that the accused murdered 77-year-old East Bank Essequibo (EBE) businessman Habiboodean (only name) on February 18, 2008.

FROM PAGE 8

Although granted their pre-trial liberty on July 22, Nandlall said, they remain in prison because, if they are released, not only will they be a flight risk, as they have no ties to Guyana, but also, upon their release, they would be perpetually violating several provisions of the Immigration Act.

packages containing the cocaine found on the plane.

In addition to the 450 bricks of cocaine which each weighed one kilogramme, two Global Positioning Systems, one radio set, three smartphones and two identification cards were also found on the plane.

Bail order suspended

Nandlall, in judicial review proceedings, however, contends that Magistrate Moore acted in excess of his jurisdiction; unreasonably, irregularly, or improperly when he granted bail to the foreign nationals.

“There was a failure to satisfy or observe conditions or procedures required by law,” the Attorney General argues, adding that the Magistrate considered irrelevant considerations when exercising his discretion to grant bail for the offence of possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking.

Specifically, he pointed out that Section 94 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Control) Act prohibits the granting of bail, unless there are special reasons for so doing. In this case, Nandlall argues, no special reasons in law were put forward.

The Attorney General said that, upon renewal of the bail application, Pereira’s counsel informed the court that his client may have contracted the COVID-19 virus, while lawyers for both men claim that their clients were assaulted by other prisoners.

De Alencar and Pereira then filed Habeas Corpus proceedings in which they asked High Court Judge Sandil Kissoon to determine whether their detention was lawful. As such, Justice Kissoon granted an Order Nisi directed to Police Commissioner (ag) Nigel Hoppie for him to show cause why the duo should not be released from custody.

During a hearing on Wednesday, Justice Kissoon agreed with submissions proffered by the Attorney General that the men should remain in custody until the hearing and determination of the judicial review proceedings challenging the Magistrate’s decision to grant them bail.

In the end, the High Court Judge granted an interim order staying and suspending Magistrate Moore’s bail order pending the determination of Nandlall’s application. Further, the Judge discharged the Order Nisi in the Habeas Corpus application.

Crash-landed

De Alencar, 60, and Pereira, 30, were jointly charged with the offence back in May, follow-

They have pleaded not guilty to the joint charge. The defence lawyers are Latchmie Rahamat and Trenton Lake.

Evidence for the prosecution is being led by Senior State Counsel Lisa Cave.

On Wednesday, several Police witnesses gave evidence. The trial continues

on Thursday. According to reports, the elderly man died after he was badly beaten at his home. The businessman’s widow and one of his employees were initially charged with his murder.

However, the case against them was thrown out at the end of a Preliminary Inquiry owing to insufficient evidence. The murder of the pensioner went cold for several years until 2016 when Police received new leads which led to the arrest of his daughter and Lewis. (G1)

Excess of jurisdiction

The two occupants of the aircraft along with some of the 450 bricks of cocaine

ing the discovery of 535.8 kilogrammes of cocaine on board a green-and-white Beechcraft Bonanza plane with registration number PT-SRR that crash-landed at Orealla, Corentyne River in Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne).

At their first appearance before Magistrate Moore on May 27, the two men, who were the pilot and co-pilot of the aircraft, pleaded not guilty to the charge which alleged that they had the illicit substance in their possession on May 20.

At that time, they were remanded to prison.

However, in July, they were each granted bail after their respective lawyers renewed their bail applications.

The men reportedly told residents of Orealla that they were travelling and visiting several areas to do sport fishing and other leisure activities, but encountered difficulties with the weather.

They further claimed that the aircraft was almost out

of fuel, and they had gotten lost after circling the area for some time.

However, the men were subsequently accosted by Police ranks, who questioned them about their presence in the area. They then took the ranks to the aircraft, where a search conducted unearthed a quantity of cocaine. The estimated cost of the drug is $2.9 billion.

The Customs AntiNarcotics Unit (CANU) had reported that, from all indications, the aircraft was heading to Suriname.

Investigations revealed that they had allegedly flown from Brazil to Venezuela, and thereafter landed in Guyana without authorisation from the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority.

Letters have since been dispatched to law enforcement agencies in Brazil, Suriname and Guatemala to enquire the meaning of the abbreviation VTNO which was a label attached to the

No evidence

Nandlall deposed that

The aircraft that crash-landed at Orealla

the Prosecutor pointed out that the allegations were not supported by medical or other evidence, and it was the first time the Prosecutor was hearing of them.

Having regard to these reasons, Nandlall added, the Magistrate “presumably” released them on bail.

In an affidavit in support of Nandlall’s application, Police Inspector Orin Joseph, who prosecuted the case, avers that the men are foreign nationals and therefore are a flight risk; and should they flee the jurisdiction, the State would be left at a severe disadvantage, since it would have to expend time and resources to find the prisoners and to have them extradited for prosecution.

Concerning the offence of illegally entering Guyana, Nandlall has deposed that releasing them on bail without their having a lawful status in Guyana puts them in a position wherein they are in perpetual breach of several provisions of the Immigration Act, Chapter

14:02, thereby perpetuating several criminal offences.

As such, Nandlall notes, the High Court has the power to review the decision of a Magistrate. The Attorney General has said that the challenge to a Magistrate’s order granting bail is unprecedented, and raises serious issues of law, and is a matter of grave public importance.

He, moreover, described the matter as the “whimsical, unlawful, capricious, arbitrary, and irrational exercise of the discretion of a Magistrate in relation to the grant of bail.”

The Attorney General is ultimately seeking an Order of Certiorari, quashing the decision of Magistrate Moore to grant bail to De Alencar and Pereira for both offences.

He has submitted that as a condition precedent to the hearing and determination of this matter, the orders prayed for are to be granted in the requirement of justice. (G1)

NEWS

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THURSDAY, AUGUST 19, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Private Sector inks pacts with US companies for collaboration on O&G

GOGEC President Manniram Prashad signing one of two MoUs on Tuesday with Natural Resources Minister Vickram Bharrat and US Ambassador Sarah-Ann Lynch watching

O

n the sidelines of the Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) in Houston, Texas, several Private Sector entities have signed agreements with United States-based companies for collaboration in the oil and gas industry.

The OTC, which is being held from August 16 to 19, is the largest oil and gas sector trade show in the world.

It provides opportunities for businesses to network and

seek partners in pursuit of emerging opportunities.

Guyana has set up a booth at the conference, and among the Guyanese Delegation led

by Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo are several Private Sector bodies and companies with special interests in the petroleum industry.

One such entity is the Guyana Oil & Gas Energy Chamber (GOGEC), which signed off on two Memorandums of

Understanding (MoUs) on Tuesday at the Houston OTC. The MoUs are underpinned in the spirit of mutual areas of collaboration in capacity building through education and training, and to promote strategic partnerships with local players in the energy sector in Guyana with international organisations, GOGEC said.

Manniram Prashad, President of GOGEC, signed the first agreement with Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station Turbomachinery Laboratory (TEES-TL) Director of Global and Corporate Partnerships, Greg Gammon. This was witnessed by Natural Resources Minister Vickram Bharat and U.S. Ambassador to Guyana Sarah-Ann Lynch.

The objective of this Memorandum of Understanding is to work in close collaboration with TEES-TL and its important role in research and workforce development within technical areas of Rotordynamics and Mechanical Systems, Thermal Fluids and

Guyana sets up humanitarian account at RBL to raise funds for Haiti

T

he Government of Guyana has established a humanitarian account with Republic Bank (Guyana) Limited to raise funds for Haiti, which was on Saturday last devastated by a 7.2 magnitude earthquake which left close to 2000 people dead and hundreds injured. The account has been set up in the name of the Civil Defence Commission.

The Office of the Prime Minister has said it would be working closely with civil society, the Private Sector, and other partners to quickly raise funds for a coordinated, substantial relief response to the affected people of Haiti.

In a statement on Wednesday, the Office of the Prime Minister said Guyana’s resolve to stand

Account number: 96235619938 Account name: Civil Defence Commission Account address: 49 Main & Urquhart Streets, Georgetown Guyana Branch Name: Republic Bank (Guyana) Limited Swift Code: RBGLGYGG in solidarity with Caricom brothers and sisters across the region in good and bad times remains steadfast.

“As we have done in the past, we will combine energies and resources to meet this latest humanitarian challenge to bring comfort and relief to our Haitian brothers and sisters as quickly as possible. We ask that Guyanese in the diaspora join our efforts to provide substantial relief through our collective response,” the statement has said.

Last Saturday evening,

President Dr Irfaan Ali, on behalf of the Government and people of Guyana, expressed solidarity with, and support for, the people of the Republic of Haiti.

The Head of State has said that in telephone conversations with the Prime Minister of Haiti, Dr Ariel Henry, and the Chairman of Caricom, Gaston Browne, Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, he assured them that the Government of Guyana will provide assistance to aid the relief and recovery efforts.

CEO of GAICO Construction, Komal Singh (centre), signing the MoU with the two US companies in the presence of Foreign Affairs Minister Hugh Todd and other officials

Combustion, and Computational Modeling and Design.

The second MOU was signed with the University of Texas at Austin Petroleum Extension (PETEX) Cockrell School of Engineering. The underpinning objective of this strategic partnership is to offer sector-specific training courses and Executive Education in the Petroleum Sector through the Training Institute of GOGEC. This, according to Prashad, will address the need for capacity building specifically for the oil and gas sector and companies operating within the full value chain.

Meanwhile, local constructing firm GAICO Construction Service on Wednesday inked a MoU with Myer Marine Services and Hargrove EPC. The signing was done by Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of GAICO Construction Services, Komal Singh; President of Myer Marine Services, David Myer; and President of Hargrove Engineers + Constructors, Ralph Hargrove.

It was witnessed by Foreign Affairs Minister Hugh Todd; Ambassador Lynch; CEO of Go-Invest Dr. Peter Ramsaroop; Chairman of the Private Sector Commission (PAC), Paul Cheong; and VicePresident of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), Gerry Gouveia Jnr, and other company officials.

The objective of the Memorandum of Understanding is to foster a deeper teaming relationship, and to work in close collaboration towards the development of projects in Guyana. This strategic partnership will enable the transfer of skills and technology for the development of the Guyanese workforce in the growing oil and gas sector.

Myer Marine Services has grown very quickly from its founding in 2013 to become a premier steel fabrication, machining, and field services company. Led

by David Myer and sons Brandon Myer and Bradley Myer, Myer Marine Services offers the full range of services, from initial design all the way to installation of the finished product.

Hargrove Engineers + Contractors has innovated sound solutions for the process, manufacturing, and energy industries since 1995.

Hargrove serves clients in long-term support relationships in multiple modes of service: onsite support arrangements, plant-level small projects and consulting roles, and larger capital projects.

GAICO Construction has expanded and realigned its operations to cater for the country’s newfound petroleum industry. Today, GAICO has jobs across the length and breadth of Guyana with over 100 employees. The company is integrally involved in the development of the country in

the civil works sector, marine sector and, mostly recently, in the Oil and gas sector in the areas of oil spill response and waste management.

“GAICO is honoured to be partnering up once again with two major American- based companies. This MoU is the beginning of another big step for not only GAICO but also for Guyana, as we are all determined to growing the economy and bringing the professional skills needed utilising the Private Sector,” said Singh.

“We are thrilled to enter this partnership today with Hargrove and Gaico, and to become an active participant in the growth and development of Guyana. With our collective experience and broad areas of expertise, the capabilities of this team are endless, and unmatched in Guyana or abroad. We are looking forward to what the future holds for this team, and for Guyana,” the Myer Marine Services President added.

Further, Ralph Hargrove said his company “…is excited about the opportunity to partner with Gaico and Myer in order to meet the ambitious industrial and infrastructure plans in Guyana, while creating skilled employment opportunities for the Guyanese people.”

These collaborations were facilitated by the US Embassy in Georgetown and Go-Invest to advance Guyana’s development. (G8)

20

guyanatimesgy.com

THURSDAY, AUGUST 19, 2021

Around the world

3 killed as Afghan protests test Taliban's promise of peaceful rule

A

t least three people were killed in anti-Taliban protests in the Afghan city of Jalalabad on Wednesday, witnesses said, as the militant group moved to create a government and Western countries ramped up evacuations from a chaotic Kabul airport.

The deaths mar the Taliban's efforts to consolidate Islamist rule and their promises of peace following their sweep into the capital.

They have said they will not take revenge against old enemies and will respect the rights of women within the framework of Islamic law.

The witnesses said the deaths in Jalalabad took place when local residents tried to install Afghanistan's national flag at a square in the city, some 150 kilometres from the capital on the main road to Pakistan.

There were also more than a dozen people injured after Taliban militants opened fire on protesters in the eastern city, two witnesses and a former Police official told Reuters.

Taliban spokesmen were not immediately reachable for comment.

Thousands of Afghans, many of whom helped US-

People carry Afghan flags as they take part in an anti-Taliban protest in Jalalabad, Afghanistan, August 18, 2021 in this screen grab taken from a video

led foreign forces over two decades, are desperate to leave the country and people are flooding to Kabul Airport.

Taliban commanders and soldiers fired into the air on Wednesday to disperse the crowds outside the airport, a Taliban official said. "We have no intention to injure anyone," he told Reuters.

About 5000 diplomats, security staff, aid workers and Afghans have been evacuated from Kabul in the last 24 hours, a Western official said on Wednesday.

The evacuations by military flights will continue

around the clock, he said, adding that clearing the chaos outside the airport was a challenge.

"It's absolutely hectic and chaos out there," the official said.

One of the Taliban's leaders and co-founders, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, returned to Afghanistan for the first time in more than 10 years and a Taliban official said the leaders would show themselves to the world, unlike in the past when they lived in secret.

"Slowly, gradually, the world will see all our leaders," the senior Taliban offi-

cial said.

The Taliban's first news briefing since their return to Kabul suggested they would impose their laws more softly than during their harsh 1996-2001 rule.

Women would be allowed to work and study and "will be very active in society but within the framework of Islam", Zabihullah Mujahid, the Taliban's main spokesman, said.

During their rule, also guided by sharia religious law, women were prevented from working, girls were not allowed to go to school and women had to wear all-enveloping burqas to go out.

Russia's UN Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia told reporters on Wednesday: "We'll see what they do, whether it will be according to the pronouncements that they made."

Meanwhile, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, speaking from exile in the United Arab Emirates, said on Wednesday that he had left Kabul to prevent bloodshed and denied reports he took large sums of money with him as he departed the presidential palace.

(Excerpts from Reuters and Al Jazeera)

US plans to offer COVID Haiti earthquake: Death booster jabs in September toll reaches nearly 2000

OILNEWS OIL NEWS Oil skids for 5th day on COVID surge, worries about more supply

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rude prices fell for a fifth day on Wednesday, as investors remain worried about the outlook for fuel demand as COVID-19 cases surge worldwide just as more supply reaches the market from large global producers, including the United States.

Oil benchmarks have been under pressure for the last few weeks due to the rise in infections caused by the Delta variant of the coronavirus worldwide. Several countries have re-introduced travel restrictions and air traffic has softened in recent weeks.

Minutes of the US Federal Reserve's July 27-28 policy meeting showed officials noted the spread of the Delta variant could temporarily delay the full reopening of the economy, and restrain the jobs market.

Brent crude ended down 80 cents, or 1.2 per cent, at US$68.23 a barrel. The global benchmark has lost 11 per cent in the last 13 trading days dating to the end of July. US crude futures settled down US$1.13, or 1.7 per cent, to US$65.46 a barrel.

US crude inventories fell 3.2 million barrels last week to 435.5 million barrels, their lowest since January 2020, according to US Energy Department figures.

Gasoline stocks, however, rose modestly, and gasoline product supplied to the market – a measure of demand – was 9.5 million barrels per day, just one per cent below 2019 levels.

Fuel demand in the world's top consumer has steadily increased throughout the year with the four-week average of overall US product supplied 20.8 million barrels per day (bpd), in line with pre-coronavirus levels from 2019.

Although weekly production figures are volatile, analysts noted that US crude output continued its steady rise, hitting 11.4 million bpd last week.

That has come just as the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, along with allies like Russia, agreed to raise output by 400,000 bpd every month for the next several months, returning some of the supply the group has held back since early 2020. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Cuba tightens control of Internet after protests

In Les Cayes, some people broke open existing tombs to bury victims of the quake

The boosters will initially only be given to those who were vaccinated in late 2020/early 2021

C

OVID-19 vaccine booster jabs will be offered to "all Americans" from September 20, according to US officials.

The jabs will first be given to healthcare workers, nursing home residents and older people who were vaccinated at least eight months ago.

The White House says the initiative is a response to rising infections from the Delta variant and evidence that the protectiveness of the vaccines fades.

A final decision still requires approval and a formal recommendation.

Daily cases in the United States have soared since early July. At the

time, there were fewer than 10,000 cases and now there are more than 150,000 across the nation.

Hospitals are stretched thin and the death rates in many states have led officials to re-instate mask mandates and social distancing protocols.

The heads of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Food and Drug Administration, the National Institutes of Health and President Joe Biden's chief medical adviser, Dr Anthony Fauci, are all in agreement on the need for a booster vaccine.

It will be up to these groups to approve the White House's plan.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

A

t least 1941 people are known to have died in Haiti in Saturday's powerful earthquake – an increase of more than 500 on the previous figure, officials say.

Rescue workers have managed to pull 34 people alive from the rubble, but many are still missing after the 7.2-magnitude quake.

The search for survivors has been hampered by heavy rains brought this week by Tropical Storm Grace.

Nearly 10,000 people have been injured and hospitals were left overwhelmed.

The United Nations says about 500,000 children now have limited or no access to shelter, safe water, and food.

"Countless Haitian families who have lost everything due to the earthquake are now living literally with their feet in the water due

to the flooding," said Bruno Maes, the UN Children's Fund (Unicef) representative in the country.

Many have been staying in makeshift tents erected on a football field in the city of Les Cayes, one of the areas worst affected by the quake.

"Yesterday [Tuesday] evening, I took shelter near a church, but when I heard the ground shake again, I ran to return here," city resident Magalie Cadet told AFP news agency.

She said so few structures remained standing in Les Cayes that people had to relieve themselves on the streets.

Haitians living in more remote areas said aid was yet to reach them.

"We have the will to do everything, but we don't have the money or resources," a pastor told Reuters news agency. (Excerpt from BBC News)

T

Access to mobile Internet was introduced in Cuba in December 2018

he Cuban Government has introduced new regulations on the use of social media and the Internet, which critics say are aimed at stifling dissent.

The decrees were published in the wake of the largest anti-Government protests to sweep through the Communist-run island in decades.

People used social media to share footage of the demonstrations and galvanise supporters.

The decrees make inciting acts "that alter public order" a crime.

They also order Internet providers to cut access to those who "spread fake news or hurt the image of the State".

They were published in the Gaceta Oficial newspaper just over a month after thousands of Cubans took to the

streets in a rare show of anger with the Communist Government.

The protests, which started in the small town of San Antonio de los Baños, seemed to have no formal organiser but appear to have been convened through an online community forum.

They quickly spread throughout the country after a live broadcast on Facebook of people attending the impromptu march in San Antonio was widely shared.

Access to mobile internet in Cuba was only introduced in December 2018, but has given Cubans the ability to get news from sources other than State-controlled media.

Cuban officials said the new decrees were aimed at keeping Cubans safe from cybercrime.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

guyanatimesgy.com

THURSDAY, AUGUST 19, 2021

21

ARCHIE

ARIES (March 21April 19)

Stay focused on what’s important to you. Stop worrying about what everyone is doing, and refuse to get caught in someone else’s emotional drama.

Selfimprovement is favored.

Look around you, and you’ll TAURUSpick up valuable information.

(April 20- How others react will be reMay 20) vealing and will help you decide what to do next. Change is heading your way; take advantage of it.

DILBERT

GEMINI (May 21June 20)

CANCER (June 21July 22)

PEANUTS

CALVIN AND HOBBES

SUDOKU

Let your actions speak for you. Treat others the way you want to be treated, and choose a path that allows you to use your skills to make a difference.

Change begins with you.

It’s up to you to do something if you want things to change. Challenge yourself to be responsible for your happiness and well-being.

Live in the moment and embrace life.

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

Take a realistic approach to work and money. How you handle the changes going on around you will determine how far you get. A moderate, simple strategy will help offset costs and losses.

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

Talk to anyone you think may be able to help you make a positive change or explain something that baffles you.

Communication, education and interacting with people who share your interests will pay off.

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

A tactical approach to overall health and physical fitness will encourage you to look and feel your best. The attention you receive from someone will help point you in a new direction.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

Walk away from anyone who limits what you can achieve. You can help others, but not at the expense of your own goals. Be responsible. Do your own thing, and do what benefits you.

SAGITTARIUS Put an emphasis on getting things right the first (Nov. 23time. Pay attention to deDec. 21) tail, and don’t rely on others to correctly do what you ask. Create your opportunities.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22Jan. 19)

SOLUTION FOR LAST PUBLISHED PUZZLE AQUARIUS (Jan. 20Feb. 19)

Pay attention to expiration dates and personal paperwork that may need updating. Take a different approach to work, and utilize your skills to make the most significant impact in the least amount of time.

Analyze how you spend your time and money. Being efficient will make life easier. Set up guidelines that will help you get into a routine.

A physical improvement will fetch compliments.

Take a unique approach to how you help others. Use your (Feb. 20intelligence, and you’ll be recogMarch 20) nized as the go-to person by your peers. A partnership will evolve if you have an open discussion with a like-minded person.

PISCES

22

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

THURSDAY, AUGUST 19, 2021

Unbeaten WI Over-50s, USA clash for place in Friday’s final

A

fter two days of action, in the trilateral series featuring hosts Canada, USA and the West Indies Over-50s, both Cricket West Indies Masters Association (CWIMA) and USA remain unbeaten. It therefore sets up a virtual semi-final clash between the two at the Danville ground in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada.

The winners would advance to Friday’s final, while the other two teams would battle in today’s (Thursday) semi-final.

Led by an 84-run unbeaten stand by former Guyana national players Sunil Dhaniram and Shivnauth Seeram, the West Indies Over-50s defeated Canada by seven wickets yesterday, sending the home team to their second consecutive defeat, following their loss to USA on the opening day, Monday.

The WI Over-50s were shakily placed at 24 for three in the seventh over, in pursuit of a victory target of 108, after limiting their opponents to 107 all out in 44.3 overs in the 45-over affair.

Mixing defence with aggression, the pair, who also feature prominently in the Ontario Masters Softball Cricket Clubs (OMSCC) Over-50 softball tournament for Toronto Blizzards, combined effectively to blunt the Canadians’ attack.

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The left-handed Dhaniram - who earlier had bowled nine economical overs with his leftarm unorthodox spin and had conceded just 10 runs while bagging two scalps - struck eight fours in his entertaining unbeaten 50. The more sedate Seeram, who ended on 41, counted three fours in his innings.

Earlier, former Guyana all-rounder Vejai Seonarine was the architect of the Canadians’ destruction, grabbing four for 14 in a mesmerising 8.3 overs of off-spin bowling. Kenny Girdharry and

Mohan Harihar each also took a wicket - for 15 and 24 runs respectively.

On Monday, in what turned out to be a low-scoring, nail-biting encounter, the WI Masters were bundled out for a meagre 89 runs, made from 19.1 overs of their allotted 45 overs. Seonarine, batting at number six, led the way with 36, and came back to claim three wickets in a brilliant allround performance.

Ian Baldeo picked up three wickets for the Canada Over45s, who in reply struggled throughout their innings,

Vejai Seonarine

and were bundled out for 87 runs made in 43.5 overs, going down by a mere two runs.

Mohan Harihar took three for 21 from 8.5 overs, and Sunil Dhaniram took two for seven off his nine overs. Captain Zaman Amin and Seeram also chipped in with two wickets

each.

The Canada Over-45s have been added to the tournament to facilitate four teams, but only the three Over-50 teams are vying for championship honours. Friday’s final will be followed by a presentation ceremony.

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Shoe technology “hurting athletes' credibility”, says Olympic champion Warholm

England v India: The Headingly Test…

England recall Dawid Malan, drop Dom Sibley and Zak Crawley

Y

orkshire batsman Dawid Malan has been recalled to the England squad for the third Test against India, but Dom Sibley and Zak Crawley have both dropped from the 15-man squad.

Malan, 33, played the last of his 15 Tests in August 2018.

Seamer Saqib Mahmood is included, while spinner Jack Leach will miss out, but will be on standby as back-up to Moeen Ali. England fell to a 151-run defeat in the second Test, having drawn the first match in the five-Test series.

The third Test will begin at Headingley, in Leeds, on Wednesday, 25 August.

Malan has scored 724 runs in Tests at an average of 27.84, including one century and six half-centuries.

"Dawid Malan deserves his opportunity in the Test arena," says England head coach Chris Silverwood. "He has a lot of experience across all formats, and if called upon, I am confident that he can come and do well on his home ground."

Sibley – who has averaged 28.94 in 22 Tests - has struggled against India this summer, scoring just 57 runs in four innings.

"Dom Sibley needs some time away, to regain his confidence after a challenging peri-

Dawid Malan

od," Silverwood has said. "He will return to Warwickshire to spend time in the middle without the scrutiny, and find some rhythm and confidence.

Dom offers a lot of value to the Test environment, and some time away should help him. However, he remains part of our plans."

Kent batsman Crawley has 15 Test caps and has scored 267 against Pakistan in August 2020, but lost his place in the team after the first Test against India, and will also now head back to his county.

"Zak is still a massive part of our plans moving forward, but we feel he would benefit from time outside the pressure of international competition, to get some time working on his skill," Silverwood has added. "He has a bright future, and I do not doubt

that his time will come again in the Test arena."

England are also hoping that Mark Wood recovers from a shoulder injury sustained in the second Test, while Lancashire's Mahmood could be in line for a Test debut.

"He is confident, highly-skilled, and will not be overawed if he is to make his Test debut. His temperament and attitude are suited to the international arena," Silverwood has said of Mahmood.

England squad: Joe Root (capt), Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Jonathan Bairstow, Rory Burns, Jos Buttler (wk), Sam Curran, Haseeb Hameed, Dan Lawrence, Saqib Mahmood, Dawid Malan, Craig Overton, Ollie Pope, Ollie Robinson, Mark Wood (BBC Sport)

O

lympic 400m hurdles champion Karsten Warholm has carbon-technology shoes are "hurting athletes' credibility".

The 25-year-old Norwegian, who shaved seven-tenths of a second off his own world record at the Tokyo Games, after winning gold, has criticised the thick-soled Nike shoes of second-placed American Rai Benjamin, saying they act like a "trampoline" and diminish credibility, despite also wearing spikes with a carbon plate to improve performance.

"What I said was misunderstood in some way, be-

cause I had one comment about it after the race and it just blew up, and that wasn't my plan at all," said Warholm. "To be honest, I don't know if that shoe [Nike] is the best shoe. My shoe [Puma] is maybe just as good, but that's not what it is about, necessarily; I haven't done the science.

"When somebody does a great performance now, everybody will question if it's the shoe, and that is the credibility problem," he said.

Many athletes now wear superlight shoes containing a rigid plate and unique foam, which lend a propulsive sensation to every stride. Critics claim the shoes, first devel-

oped by Nike, are the equivalent of mechanical doping.

Former marathon World record holder Tegla Loroupe has said athletes using the shoe technology are "cheating", and that it is "almost like doping".

Supporters, though, hail the shoes as a revolutionary advance.

"People sitting at home, I don't want them to feel like they've been fooled or tricked. I want there to be credibility," added Warholm.

"Hopefully, somebody is doing the research, and hopefully, World Athletics are there to protect both athletes but also the audience." (BBC Sport)

THURSDAY, AUGUST 19, 2021

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

23

Whim Cricket Club concerned by vandalism of venue – calling on relevant authorities to put an end to those activities

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urrent executives of the Whim Cricket Club, known for producing former Guyana and West Indies players Mahendra and Vishaul Nagamootoo, are calling on the relevant authorities to look into the matter

of vandalism of the venue, in which the condition of the ground is reduced to a state of disrepair by the activities of rogue cattle owners.

The members of this richly talented cricket club have said they have evi-

dence to substantiate their contention, and based on solid evidence they produced, this publication recently made a visit to the venue.

The locks and gates were found to be broken, and animals were wan-

Guyana’s chess players experience best day with 5 wins Whim Cricket Club won a BCB title in February 2021

I

Oluwadare Oyeyipo

Kishan Puran

Keron Sandiford

n what can be described as ‘the best day for Guyana’ at the International Chess Federation’s (FIDE’s) World Youth and Cadet World Cup, there were 5 wins across two rounds in one day.

The Under-18 boys were able to register 5 points for Guyana with round-three victories for Under-18 player Keron Sandiford over Adian Mart of the Bahamas and Oluwadare Oyeyipo over Shamir Martin of Jamaica.

In Round 4, Under-18

player Akili Theophil of the University of Guyana enjoyed a victory against Pablo Gonzalez Lopez of Puerto Rico, and the Queen’s College Under-16 player Kishan Puran defeated Chung Hei Au of Hong Kong, while his schoolmate and fellow Under-16 player Raveon Adonis got the better of Luyepo Sautio of Zambia.

Under-12 female competitor Anaya Lall is still to register a win.

World Youth and Cadet World Cup is an online tour-

nament catering to countries worldwide. The tournament takes on the 10-Round Swiss format, and has been running category by category since August 5.

The Guyana Chess Federation (GCF) has prepared and sent 22 young local players to the tournament in 5 categories, namely: Under-10, Under-12, Under-14, Under-16 and Under-18. The GCF’s “Chess in Schools” programme, which FIDE supports, has been credited for the success of the students thus far.

GMR&SC partners with MoH for COVID-19 vaccination drive

T

– racers, team members to present cards at future events

he Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club (GMR&SC) and the Ministry of Health (MoH) have begun forging the way for the sport to resume as quickly as possible.

The club, in partnership with the National COVID-19 Task Force (NCFT) and the MoH, will host a vaccination drive aimed at ensuring that club members have a chance to access the various vaccines available locally.

Following an inspection on Tuesday, approval was given by the NCTF for the hosting of the vaccination drive on Saturday at the GT Motorsports building located on the club’s premises at Albert Street and Thomas Lands.

GMR&SC President Rameez Mohammed, in an invited comment, contended thus: “We want to urge all our drivers and riders, and even marshals and club members who haven’t been vaccinated as yet, to come out and get at least (their)first doses.”

Organised by committee member Nyron Maraj and club captain Neilon Dias, the drive is expected to run from 09hrs to 15 hours.

GMR&SC President Rameez Mohammed

“Our plan moving forward is that we have to get vaccinated in order to resume racing. There is no running from it. The sooner we get it done, the sooner we can have a footing with which to approach the Task Force for events,” Maraj said after Tuesday’s inspection.

He added, “It isn’t only for the drivers; it’s for the mechanics, the team managers, the support staff, and even the marshals, media, and eventually spectators [when the club is allowed re-entry of such]. At the end of the day, we have to protect ourselves and restart racing.”

Club captain Dias has said, “This isn’t a means of singling out anyone,

or segregating anyone.

Hypothetically, if we want to host an event, let’s say at the end of October, we can approach the Task Force to say that X amount of drivers have been vaccinated, which represents a majority of our race officials and drivers, and then we have a place with which to start a discussion [with the COVID-19 Task Force].

“The drive also gives those unvaccinated persons a chance to get vaccinated, so they cannot claim they had no chance to get vaccinated. We brought it almost to their doorsteps,” the club captain has said.

According to the Ministry of Health, the drive will feature the first dose of the Sputnik V as well as both doses of the Oxford-Astrazeneca and the Sinopharm options.

Persons are reminded to walk with a valid form of identification, and for those taking the second doses, their vaccination card issued when the first dose was administered.

The club office will also be open on Saturday to facilitate any question members may have.

dering about the ground.

With the Berbice Cricket Board’s (BCB’s) season tentatively set for a return in October, the members of the Whim Cricket Club are concerned about the state of the venue and its readiness for the upcoming season.

A member of Whim said: "We are disappointed in the condition of our cricket ground. Animals are coming in the ground by owners, and they are breaking into our ground.

We, as members, take full responsibility in keeping this ground safe, and by doing so, we put multiple locks on the gate and the owners break (the locks) and enter (the venue illegally). We are calling on the relevant authorities to look into this matter, and also the NDC, which is located in front of the ground."

Members are concerned

that persons are also vandalising the pavilion. The members have all co-operated by came out in their

the Whim Cricket Club emerged as champions of the Nagamootoo Brothers Cup, defeating favourites

The situation at Whim with animals in the venue

numbers to put an end to the activities of rogue cattle owners. These members were also seen at the Whim Police Station, lodging a formal complaint about vandalism taking place at the venue.

In February 2021,

Rose Hall Town Tigers.

Whim have competed in various BCB tournaments, and in addition to the Nagamootoo brothers, have produced some good youth players in the ancient county. (Brandon Corlette)

THURSDAY, AUGUST 19, 2021

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

Williams finishes 5th in U-20 Young Windies fast bowler Jayden Seales vows to keep improving his game World Championships heat T Not yet the finished product…

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ince there has not been much talk about Guyana’s participation at the World Under-20 Championships (Track and Field), Guyana’s lone participant, 19-year-old Revon Williams, on Wednesday morning quite unexpectedly took to the track in Nairobi, Kenya.

The Hopetown Flames runner, who currently plies his trade at the Jamaica college which he has been attending on scholarship since 2019, participated in his pet event, the 400m sprint, the Heats for which took place at the Kasarani Stadium.

Drafted in Heat 3 of 3, and racing out of lane 8, the Guyanese clocked

47.50s to finish fifth in the heat. The race was won by South Africa’s Lythe Pillay in 46.55s, while Kenya’s Kennedy Kimeu and Belarus’s Raman Valodzkin clocked 47.05s and 47.17s to complete the top three positions.

Bamidele Ajayi of Nigeria was the next athlete to cross the line before Williams, finishing in 47.44s for fourth position.

For the three Heats staged, the top two finishers have gained automatic qualification Guyana’s Revon Williams at the starting line on Wednesday to the final, while the other two athletes would qualify on time.

With Williams’s time being the 13th best out of the 23 athletes competing, he was unable to advance to the final, scheduled for Saturday, August 21st at the same venue, the Kasarani Stadium.

Everest Cricket Club congratulates Prashad on appointment to CWI Board of Directors

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Manniram Prashad

peaker of the National Assembly and President of the Everest Cricket Club, Manzoor Nadir, along with fellow Executives and members of the club, is offering hearty congratulations to Guyanese Manniram Prashad on his appointment to Cricket West Indies’ (CWI’s) Board of Directors as a non-member (independent) Director, effective July 30, 2021.

According to the club, Prashad, who is a past Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, brings to the position “his valuable experiences as a business executive, former City Councillor, and a member of Cabinet.”

alented up-and-coming West Indies fast bowler Jayden Seales has vowed to continue focusing on development, as he does not believe himself to be the finished product he has envisaged.

Seales played a leading role in the team’s one-wicket win over Pakistan earlier this week; and, in the process, he has secured his first-ever five-wicket haul and made history by becoming the youngest West Indies bowler to achieve the feat, at 19 years and 336 days.

With many already predicting a great future for the young player, Seales himself believes it is important to keep both f e e t firmly

planted on the ground. Over the last few years, several young fast bowlers have threatened to make the breakthrough for the Caribbean team, but have seen their development stalled at various points.

“It’s just for me to stay in the moment. I will ride the fame and everything, but, for me, it’s about continuing to work on my game. I’m not where I want it to be; I’m not the finished product, I know I can be better,” Seales told members of the media on Tuesday.

“It’s just for me to work on my game a little more, build on the things I want to improve on, build from there and eventually become better,” he explained.

In three matches, Seales has so far claimed a total of 13 wickets.

The second match of the twoTest series will begin on Friday at Jamaica’s Sabina P a r k .

(Sportsmax)

Manzoor Nadir

The Club also predicted that Prashad’s qualifications and skills would add to the depth of talent which Cricket West Indies possesses.

Prashad is also the current Chairman of MP Insurance Brokers and Consultants Limited, Consul General of the Philippines to Guyana, Corporate Coordination and Executive Member of the Private Sector Commission, and President

of the Guyana Oil and Gas Energy Chamber.

Prashad is a longstanding cricket enthusiast, having served as President of various cricket clubs and leagues, including the Gandhi Youth Cricket Club and the Eastern American Cricket League.

Prashad’s appointment means that CWI has reached its allocation of four non-member directors. He joins Trinidadian Attorney Debra Coryat-Patton, Jamaican Surgeon and University Administrator Dr Akshai Mansingh, and former West Indies captain Daren Sammy as non-member Directors whose terms will expire at CWI’s Annual General Meeting in 2023.

Jamual John is representing Team Foundation

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uyana’s premier cyclist Jamual John has continued his fruitful stint in the United States of America, where Jamual John celebrating his recent win in USA he plies his trade for Team Foundation. race in Guyana. he clocked an overall time of John recently won the Randalls Island Series which consists of five six hours 57 minutes and nine seconds, just beraces. The decorated cyclist won two of those hind Briton John’s six hours 56 minutes and 57 races and came second in one, which made him seconds. Briton John, who is also in the USA plying his trade, won that three-stage. the overall winner of the series.

Jamual made a return to Guyana back in Invited to comment by Guyana Times Sport, John said he is enjoying his time in the April and won a Team Alanis 60-mile race.

USA, despite the initial challenge. “So far, it is According to Guyana Cycling Federation fun. At first I was not able to adapt to the speed President Linden Dowridge, Jamual was also of the race, but after two or three races, it is go- initially named as a member of Team Guyana to participate in the Caribbean Cycling ing good,” John said.

In May 2021, Jamual John finished sec- Championships, in which Guyana eventually ond overall in the Independence three-stage did not participate.

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