Guyana Times - Thursday August 26, 2021

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

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Issue No. 4751

THURSDAY, AUGUST 26, 2021

Construction of 40 young professionals’ homes starts in Linden See story on page 16

COVID-19 vaccination for children begins today See story on page 2

Govt informs US Outdated mental Congress, int’l health laws to partners about be updated to APNU/AFC’s “racist address prison rally” in Brooklyn overcrowding – AG M&CC staff salaries to be delayed after Mayor intervenes with local bank to control city funds See story on page 7

Page 3

See story on page 11

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

Death of P16 Region 4 man takes COVID-19 fatalities to 602 …207 new cases, 23 in ICU

3 West Dem hospital P15 staff nabbed with blank COVID-19 vaccine books

Increase in rape cases recorded in Region 8 – P9 Police

4 Venezuelans, 1 Guyanese P8 remanded for double murder

Navigation beacon among measures to protect GPL submarine P10 cable

Guard shoots cutlass-wielding customer during row over face P15 mask

2 NEWS COVID-19 vaccination for Man caught on camera setting fire to businessman’s vehicles children begins today THURSDAY, AUGUST 26, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

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ealth Minister, Dr Frank Anthony has announced that rollout of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines for children will begin today at St Stanislaus College, Georgetown.

“We’ll have an initial programme at St Stanislaus College tomorrow, where we’ll do a sensitisation session and then we’ll do some vaccination for students who would like to get vaccinated from Saints,” he said on Wednesday during his daily COVID-19 update.

“But if there are any other persons from around the community who are interested in getting their vaccines tomorrow, they can come,” the Minister has said.

He said that, at today’s event, officials would announce other places where the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines would be available.

According to the Health Minister, the vaccines will be available directly at schools and at some existing COVID-19 vaccination sites.

Guyana on Tuesday received 146,250 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines, which arrived at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), Timehri. Donated

by the United States Government, these vaccines will be offered to children between the ages of 12 and 18, and are a crucial component in the reopening of schools, which is scheduled for September 6.

The Education Ministry had sent consent forms to parents and guardians to give permission for their children to receive the vaccine.

To date, over 4000 students have been granted consent to receive the vaccine, and this number is expected to increase significantly in the coming days.

The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine has an efficacy rate of 95%.

Pfizer’s two-dose COVID-19 vaccine has now received full approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) – the first jab to be licensed in the

US. The vaccine had initially been given emergency use authorisation. Its two jabs three weeks apart are now fully approved for those aged 16 and older, but it still has emergency use authorisation for children aged 12 to 15.

Parental consent forms for this vaccine have been delivered to schools, and can be downloaded from the Ministry’s website at: https://education.gov.gy/ covid-vaccine. Parents can also fill an e-form which can be submitted to indicate their consent.

This can be accessed at: https://education.gov.gy/ PfizerRegistration. Also, if parents are unable to submit the physical copies, they can take a photograph of the completed form and submit it via WhatsApp to telephone number: 652-9144.

hree vehicles belonging to a businessman of Betsy Ground, East Canje, Berbice (Region Six: East Berbice-Corentyne) have been set on fire.

The businessman Doodnauth Moses had parked his vehicles – a bus, car, and canter – on his premises and had proceeded to the upper flat of his home.

However, at around 20:00h, he observed on one of his cameras that his motor vehicles were on fire.

As a result, he armed himself with his licensed firearms and ventured to the front of his yard, where he

The vehicles that were set on fire

discharged four rounds from his shotgun and four rounds from his .32 pistol.

The New Amsterdam Fire Service responded, but the blaze was already extinguished.

CCTV footage showed a male walking out of an access street situated to the west of the premises, and he threw a substance on the vehicles and then lit them.

Police have since launched an investigation.

NEWS

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THURSDAY, AUGUST 26, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS OPENINGS BRIDGE

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

Thursday, August 26 – 04:00h-05:30h and Friday, August 27 – 09:00h-10:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Thursday, August 26 – 06:35h-08:05h and Friday, August 27 – 07:05h-08:35h.

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

WEATHER TODAY Light rain showers are expected followed by sunny conditions during the day. Clear skies are expected at night. Temperatures should range between 21 degrees Celsius and 32 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East South-Easterly to North North-Westerly between 1.78 metres and 4.47 metres.

High Tide: 06:48h and 19:03h reaching maximum heights of 2.64 metres and 2.59 metres.

Low Tide: 12:40h reaching a minimum height of 0.63 metre.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 25, 2021

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DAILY MILLIONS

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COMMODITIES Indicators

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$239.904 /ton $477.50/ton

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Govt informs US Congress, int’l partners about APNU/AFC’s "racist rally" in Brooklyn

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he People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government has written to the international community including the United States Congress, informing them of a ‘racist’ rally recently held by the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Opposition in Brooklyn, New York City.

Several leaders of the Opposition coalition, including Members of Parliament, regional representatives and other party officials, attended an “Anti-PPP Racism March & Rally” that was organised on August 15 by the Guyanese Organizations Against Racism (GOAR). Also attending that rally was US Congressman Hakeem Jeffries.

In a statement on Wednesday, Governance and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Gail Teixeira said she has highlighted the “misinformation and race-baiting” advanced by the APNU/ AFC coalition at the rally in Brooklyn, in a correspondence to “members of the United States of America Congress, international partners, and the local diplomatic corps”.

The 28-page correspondence, dated August 18, called attention to the findings of the international Election Observer Missions, which validated the PPP/C’s victory at the March 2020 General and Regional Elections, in response to claims by the coalition of an “installed” Government. It also informed the international community of the work the PPP/C Government has done since taking office on August 2, 2020, in response to claims that its actions are discriminatory; and also, of the history of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), the leading party in the APNU/ AFC coalition and its proclivity to play the race card and stoke divisions in Guyanese society. It noted the latter in response to the race-baiting that was the order of the day at the August 15th event.

“The PNC-dominated APNU/AFC coalition is in tatters. Race is the last desperate thing that they have in opposition to hold onto. This they have used to divide the nation and increase ethnic insecurities at each stage of Guyana’s history for the last 29 years whenever there is a chance, an opportunity for the country and the people to move forward and thrive. Their history of destruction, obstruction, anti-nationalism, and division has not changed,” the Minister outlined in the correspondence.

Teixeira added that the PNC-dominated APNU/AFC coalition continues to peddle these untruths on a daily basis with the objectives of causing division and strife and destabilising the Government’s “Plan for Prosperity”, which, she noted, is rapidly unfolding before Guyanese eyes.

The Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance reminded that, in the face of the wild untruths that are be-

Governance Minister Gail Teixeira

ing peddled by the PNC-led APNU+AFC Coalition, it was the then David Grangerled Government that carried out the “most blatant racist policy experienced since the Burnham era” of the 1970s and 1980s.

Outlining some of these policies to the international community, Teixeira pointed to the fact that the Granger Administration fired some 1972 Amerindian (Indigenous) Community Service Officers working in the interior of the country just within one month of taking office in 2015. This one act removed over $700 million from the Amerindian village economies and increased poverty for over 10,000 dependents.

It was highlighted too that Guyana’s Indigenous people, despite owning 14 per cent of the country’s land mass by communal and absolute land rights; based on the principle of Free Prior and Informed Consent, the coali-

tion Government did not issue one communal land grant in its five years in office and instead said the Amerindians were “avaricious” and “had too much land”.

The international community were also informed of the 2000 public servants, perceived to be PPP/C supporters that were fired by the then APNU/AFC Administration, who then hired and created a bloated Government sector with 10,000 new employees in the public service, mainly supporters of the APNU/AFC and their families. It was further noted that the then coalition regime discriminated against contractors and businesses, going in favour of their electoral financiers and supporters.

Teixeira detailed, as well, the coalition’s closure within two years of the sugar estates that placed over 7000 sugar workers – majority of whom were Indo-Guyanese – on the breadline and impacted over a quarter of the population and reducing foreign currency earnings for the country.

The bypassing of Local Authorities Councils that were won by the PPP/C in the two Local Government Elections and the then APNU/ AFC’s mismanagement and poor policies that saw high and burdensome taxes and 30,000 jobs lost were also outlined, among other things, in the correspondence to the international community.

In addition to the actions of the PNCR-led APNU/AFC Coalition during its term in office, Teixeira further reminded of the coalition’s acts during the March 2020

elections debacle, and since August 2, 2021 – actions that have largely been anti-national and divisive.

Legitimate Govt

“The PPP/C Government, led by President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali, is the legitimate Government of the country on behalf of all the people. The international bodies of United Nations, Commonwealth of Nations, the European Union, Organisation of American States, the Caricom and individual nations have recognised the PPP/C as the legitimate Government…the final declaration of results of the March 2, 2020 vote made it clear that Guyanese drew a distinct line in the sand – one that marked the difference between a path of social, economic and political development and a path of regression… the PNC-led APNU+AFC Coalition leadership lost the elections because of its own actions; it has lost the moral authority to lecture anyone on the law, Constitution, and customs and practices, and on race,” the Governance Minister stressed in the 28page document.

Nevertheless, Teixeira reiterated that the PPP/C Administration remained committed to realising the goal of “One Guyana” and a modern, transformed, developed nation for the benefit of all Guyanese.

Meanwhile, Opposition Leader Joseph Harmon on Wednesday evening defended the remarks made at the August 15 rally. (G8)

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guyanatimesgy.com

THURSDAY, AUGUST 26, 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

Reaching out for help

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t should come as no surprise to anyone that Guyana suffers from the debilitating epidemic that is suicide. We are touted as the country with the highest per capita rate of suicide in the Caribbean.

In April, a young mother in Linden fed her children – aged 8 years and 6 months respectively – a poisonous substance, before consuming it herself. That 24-year-old mother, Temicia Sampson, and her younger child subsequently succumbed.

There have been many other incidents of a similar nature this year.

It seems that regardless of how hard we try to prevent this scourge, persons, regardless of their expected wisdom and age, are finding it necessary to go down this route.

Suicide, the act of intentionally taking one’s life, is attributed to many factors, including despair, mental disorders, depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, borderline personality disorder, and addiction, among many other factors too numerous to mention. The World Health Organization (WHO) posits that more than 800,000 persons commit suicide every year, which equates to one death every 40 seconds.

According to the WHO, globally, among young adults 15 to 29 years old, suicide accounts for over eight per cent of all deaths, and is ranked as the second leading cause of death.

Among adults aged 30 to 49, it accounts for more than four per cent of all deaths, and is ranked as the fifth leading cause of death.

Contrary to what many may think, persons who commit suicide or persons who show signs that they may likely commit suicide, as for example saying that they want to die or are willing to take their lives, do not really want to kill themselves.

Research has shown that people who talk about committing suicide are really reaching out for help, since they might be suffering from anxiety, depression, and hopelessness, which might be occasioned by a multitude of factors, such as job loss, discrimination, and even an unstable economic environment, among many other factors.

According to the health body, suicide impacts the most vulnerable of the world’s populations, and is highly prevalent in already marginalised and discriminated groups of society.

“It is not just a serious public health problem in developed countries; in fact, most suicides occur in low- and middleincome countries, where resources and services, if they do exist, are often scarce and limited for early identification, treatment and support of people in need. These striking facts and the lack of implemented timely interventions make suicide a global public health problem that needs to be tackled imperatively.”

The WHO has identified a host of measures to be used which might mitigate the prevalence of suicide, some of which include creating national strategies for suicide prevention; restricting access to the most common means of suicide, including pesticides, firearms and certain medicines; incorporating suicide prevention as a central component in health services; providing medical follow-ups for persons who have attempted suicide; identifying and treating mental health and substance abuse disorders as early as possible; and responsible reporting on suicide by the news media.

Guyana Governments past and present have, over the years, instituted a host of mechanisms to deal with the epidemic, including incorporating mechanisms advanced by the WHO, but suicide still remains a predominant feature on the tapestry of Guyana’s social fabric.

Some scholars have argued that the mechanisms which are being advanced would do no good for Guyana, since they are addressing only the symptoms of suicide, and not the disease itself.

Moreover, there is a need to change how we, as Guyanese, are socialised about suicide, possibly incorporating within our homes, schools and religious education systems from a young age social teachings that are often overlooked, such are building confidence, self-esteem and tolerance, etc.

By reinforcing positive behaviours and displacing negative stereotypes over a period of time, change would take place, as the populace would have more defined coping mechanisms to deal with the stresses associated with life, and would be less inclined to choose the option of death.

China’s Li Hao (left) competes with Ukraine’s Artem Manko during the men’s sabre individual category A gold medal wheelchair fencing bout at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games at the Makuhari Messe Hall in Chiba (AFP)

Pandemic-induced global slump is just part of a 20-year financial crisis

By Larry Elliott

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very year since 1978 the world’s central bankers have gathered to chew the fat at Jackson Hole in the Grand Tetons. This year’s star attraction is the most influential central banker of them all – Jerome Powell – and financial markets will hang on every word from the chairman of the US Federal Reserve.

Powell won’t reveal much and for good reason: he doesn’t have all that much to say. He is worried about inflation but there are also signs the US economy is slowing as coronavirus infection rates rise. The pace of recovery is moderating in the UK, Germany, China and pretty much everywhere else as well. There are shortages of materials and labour. In a world of lockdowns, quarantines and travel restrictions, it is proving harder to sustain a model built around frictionless movement of people, parts and finance. Global supply chains are under pressure. It is too easy to dismiss these problems as temporary headwinds that will blow themselves out given time. A more sober assessment would be that the global economy is in the middle of a long crisis – as it was when the first Jackson Hole symposium was held – and there’s not a lot Powell et al can do about it.

Central banks have been chucking copious amounts of cheap money at the global economy for the past 12 years, and in one sense they have succeeded because there has been no repeat of the Great Depression of the 1930s. But nor has there been a full recovery to match that generated by the New Deal and military spending in the second world war.

And that’s because the problems are deep-seated and

structural rather than temporary and cyclical.

The strategy of central banks is not new but is now played out. They have been making it easy to borrow not just for the past 18 months but for the past 20 years.

Many words have been written in the past couple of weeks about how the US’s long war in Afghanistan has ended in disaster and what initially looked like success was actually failure. Actually, the same assessment could be made of developments in the global economy, where the financial crash of 2008 and the pandemic-induced slump of 2020 are part of one long crisis stretching back two decades. In both cases, the cracks only really became apparent with time.

There were not even faint hints of what was to come when Alan Greenspan, then Fed chairman, delivered the opening address at Jackson Hole in August 2001. It was the high point of liberal technocracy, the end of a strong decade for the US economy. Under Bill Clinton’s presidency, unemployment was low, the budget deficit was eliminated, and the US took the lead in the new digital technologies.

The country saw China as little threat, which was why the White House was happy to accede to Beijing’s application to join the World Trade Organization in that year. The sense that all the big problems had been solved was reflected in the theme of Jackson Hole: economic policy for the information economy. Less than two weeks later, 9/11 happened.

The terrorist attacks on the US led to a hasty reassessment of the assumptions made after the end of the cold war. Talk of how liberal democracy was the only game in town, and that the benefits of market economics would spread western

prosperity and values to every corner of the globe, now rang a little hollow.

Even so, the willingness to deploy state power only applied to the military sphere. After 9/11 the White House was a lot keener on sending troops into Afghanistan or Iraq than it was on toughening up regulations on Wall Street. What remained of the New Deal attempts to curb excessive financial speculation had been removed by Clinton in the late 1990s. Low interest rates, inadequate supervision, a messianic belief that markets were never wrong and greed proved to be a toxic combination. Greenspan’s tenure at the Fed was essentially the story of one bubble after another, and it was left to others to clear up the mess when the biggest bubble of the lot popped in 2007.

That was the start of the economic equivalent of long Covid: not a full-on collapse but rather a debilitating and prolonged malaise that has prevented full recovery. The closest parallel from history is not the Great Depression of the 1930s but the long depression of the late 19th century, where more than two decades of mediocre economic performance began with a severe financial crisis in 1873. There was no great collapse in the global economy then either but, as today, productivity growth was weak, wages stagnated and there was a backlash against an earlier manifestation of globalisation. It is no coincidence that US populism had its origins in the 1890s.

Back then, the discipline imposed by the gold standard meant central banks had much less room for manoeuvre than they do today.

Even so, the long depression eventually came to an end, for reasons that are relevant today. As is the case now,

the late 19th century was a period of rapid technological innovation. The telephone, moving pictures, vehicles powered by internal combustion engines were all being developed. Eventually, the use of these new products raised productivity and boosted living standards.

The late 1890s also saw workers flex their muscles.

Populism had a twin effect: it led to workers organising themselves into trade unions and it hastened the development of welfare states. Otto von Bismarck, Germany’s first chancellor, was a conservative but could see the sense of pensions for elderly people. Similarly, the industrialists of the late 19th and early 20th century understood that the people working for them were also consumers, and needed to earn enough to buy the goods they were producing. Antitrust laws were introduced to break up monopolies. The lessons from this period seem obvious. Embrace the new technologies, but make sure they bring benefits to the many, not the few. Keep a close eye on the behaviour of the market power of big companies in all sectors, and clamp down hard on activity that stifles new entrants.

Welcome rather than fear a rising share of national income for labour. Provide training and a suitably generous welfare safety net to encourage people to shift to growth industries.

Events of the past 18 months might just hasten the end of the long crisis.

States have had no choice but to play a more active role in the running of their economies, labour shortages have resulted in higher wages and central banks are no longer seen as the answer to every problem. There’s still a long way to go, but if not now, when? Larry Elliott is the Guardian’s economics editor (The Guardian)

guyanatimesgy.com

THURSDAY, AUGUST 26, 2021

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

Smallholder farmers are the Hurting teachers to key players in food security gain political points

Dear Editor, The recent presentation made by the Honourable Zulfikar Mustapha in a round table discussion on the role of farmers and rural communities in the sustainability of agrifood systems, organised by the Council of the Americas and the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), is evidence of the Minister’s hands-on approach to the managing of the agriculture sector. He has garnered so much firsthand information in less than a year in that capacity.

The Minister reminded those present that, “We must improve the conditions of food producers, who are the true generators of wealth”. He made it abundantly clear that the establishment of infrastructure for the processing of crops in rural areas would add value, and in turn would increase the profitability of the farming activities. The thousands who attended his numerous outreaches would

know that this is what he continuously reiterated and what he assiduously worked towards achieving.

The numerous challenges which the agriculture sector has had to endure have never been greater in any time in our history, but with every challenge, a speedy resolution was put in place.

The devastating effects of climate change will no doubt cause the sector to face even more challenges in the future, but it is a heartening relief to note that the Government’s agrarian policies are geared to mitigate those disastrous effects.

The recent floods wreaked havoc in the sector, and the Government worked non-stop to ensure that the negative effects of the floods are minimised. It deployed all its resources in not only giving immediate relief with food supplies and other necessities, but monetary relief to the thousands of cattle farmers, rice farmers and cash crop farmers. The amount allocated is $7.8 bil-

lion, and this may very well have to be amended as more assessment is being done.

This is the largest compensation package ever handed out, and this shows the policy of this Government is to “improve the conditions of food producers” and mitigate the fallouts of the flood.

This will motivate farmers to produce without fear of similar situations in the future, and encourage more persons to take up farming.

I could recall the Coalition’s Minister of Agriculture, Noel Holder, in response to rice farmers’ plea for assistance, saying that the Government had no responsibility to the farmers, that the rice Industry was privately owned. Would the Coalition have given the farmers any relief if they were still in government?

NO is the answer!

The compensation relief grant will certainly enable these farmers to have cash available to restart their respective farming ventures, without borrowing or util-

ising savings. The farmers who collected the grant were loud in praise for the Government, and many described it in glowing terms.

It brought great relief, and it is a great initiative. The small man is beginning to feel like the real man, as this Government continues to roll out the good life to each and every one of its citizens.

It was a shame to read what some of the GOAR presenters at the Brooklyn Rally spoke about racism, injustice and marginalisation practised by this Government against AfroGuyanese. There is no doubt that, indeed, the small farmers hold the key to food security, not only in Guyana, but in the Region, as was highlighted by Minister Mustapha; and as the Government continues to roll out its policies, there is no doubt that this will be achieved.

Yours sincerely, Haseef Yusuf

Considerable efforts to fix the broken local Govt system Dear Editor, I believe it is important that the people of Guyana, particularly the citizens of Georgetown, appreciate the enormity of the task faced and understand the considerable efforts being undertaken by the Local Government Commission as they seek to fix the broken local government system of Guyana.

If one were to just focus on the challenges they face with the Georgetown Municipality, one would have to be extremely grateful for their efforts so far.

Georgetown is the textbook definition of a ‘failed city’, just as there are failed states promulgated around the world. Georgetown is composed of feeble and flawed departments. Up until the LGC recently appointed a new Town Clerk, the administration barely functioned, having lost their capacity and profes-

sional independence.

Georgetown suffers from crumbling infrastructure, and an environment of flourishing corruption.

Clearly, the City Council is unable to formulate or implement policies to effectively build infrastructure and deliver proper and necessary municipal services to the citizenry. Yet we hear the Mayor and some Councillors trying their level best to have some of those same officers, who were removed by the LGC for lack of proficiency, return to their posts to further disintegrate the municipality to the point where they become completely incapable of providing even the most basic of functions and services to the citizenry.

With very short memories, the Council seems to have forgotten that the very person(s) they are championing to lead the ad-

Incessant calls seem shallow

Dear Editor, The incessant calls of racial discrimination in the work place by one side of the divide at every turn seem shallow and without merit.

How can it be justified when the recently appointed Town Clerk is not recognised because of perceived political affiliation, even though she is a young per-

son of the same race that is being touted as being discriminated against?

No wonder trust in the city’s administration is at an all-time low.

The tangled web will strangle the city and suffocate its development.

Sincerely, Shamshun Mohamed

ministration of the Council were subject, along with others, to some very harsh reproval and denunciation by the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) that was ordered by the previous Local Government Commission (LGC).

Indeed, the Mayor and City Council should be made to answer why a few hand-picked officers were consistently given special funding and grants for prodigious amounts to undertake special courses for their personal upliftment and empowerment, while other staff in dire need of assistance for medical attention or for family emergencies etc. were callously denied.

Discrimination of the highest order is practised at City Hall. Sitting in at their statutory meetings seems like being at a comedy club. The Mayor and Councillors seem much more interested in attacking, assaulting and demeaning a young woman who is trying to make a dif-

ference and to do a job that she was legitimately appointed to execute, rather than fixing the many woes of the city.

Seemingly unaware that the regulations that govern the Georgetown Municipality, which dictate that the signatories to their bank accounts must be the City Treasurer and the Town Clerk, they inanely proceeded to appoint Tom, Dick and Harrylall, at their last statutory meeting, as the new signatories to their account. A drollery at best.

The Local Government Commission must move resolutely to further their task of saving the sinking ship of City Hall by making other much-needed appointments, by dismantling the systems of nepotism and cronyism so endemic at City Hall, and by ensuring that there is justice and fair play at the Council. I say to the LGC, “Slow fire ah boil hard cow-heel”.

Sincerely, Debra Gibson

Dear Editor, On an APNU/AFC Facebook programme on Tuesday 24th August 2021, APNU+AFC MP and General Secretary of the Guyana Teachers Union (GTU), Coretta Mc Donald, complained that the Ministry of Education was giving Grade Six teachers extra time for their holiday because they had taught through the holiday period.

She described this as a bad idea that was not properly thought out.

Are you shocked? Yes? Me too. Where else in the world does a union leader who cares about her teachers complain about extra time given to make up for the time the teachers spent teaching? She wanted to make a point here, and actually said so, that the Ministry of Education did not properly think out that

announcement. I am a grade six teacher, and I speak for myself and all other grade six teachers when I say we are deeply grateful that the Minister listened to us and gave what we requested of her.

Yes! That’s right! We asked for this, and we got it. Yet, our union “leader” is trying to take it away from us. Imagine that!

This union head seems more taken up with the politics of her party than genuinely looking out for the interests of teachers.

In this period especially, teachers should not depend on Coretta Mc Donald for guidance. She is not a union leader; she is permanently wearing her political hat, and would hurt us all to gain political points.

Truly yours, Adron Pires

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THURSDAY, AUGUST 26, 2021

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H

ave you ever ridden a roller coaster?

Have you ever wanted to design your own? There are plenty of expensive toys and even video games that will let you build your own coasters – but in this project you’ll make one out of paper and tape, and learn about roller coaster physics along the way!

Materials Paper Tape Scissors Ruler Pencil Corrugated cardboard Marble Instructions Before you try building an entire roller coaster, practice building the individual track segments.

To build a straight segment: Cut a 7.5 cm (3 inch) wide strip of paper.

Draw two parallel lines that divide it into three 2.5 cm-wide strips.

Fold the two sides up 90 degrees along those lines to form walls.

To build a loop or a hill: Cut a 7.5 cm (3 inch) wide strip of paper.

Draw two parallel lines that divide it into three 2.5 cm-wide strips.

Make marks every 2.5 cm along the long edges of the paper.

Foundation

Cut inward 2.5 cm from these marks to form tabs.

Fold the tabs up 90 degrees.

Bend the track into the shape you want, and tape the tabs together to hold it in place. This step is easier with two people, one to hold the track in place and one to do the taping.

To build a curve: Cut a 7.5 cm (3 inch) wide strip of paper.

Draw two parallel lines that divide it into three 2.5 cm-wide strips.

Make marks every 2.5 cm along one long edge of the paper.

Cut inward 5 cm (2 inches) from these marks.

Fold up the uncut side of the paper 90 degrees to form a wall.

Fold up the tabs on the other side to form the other wall.

Since the bottom portion of the track is cut into segments, you can bend it horizontally to form a curve.

Tape the tabs together to hold the curve in place.

To build a support strut: Cut a 6.25 cm (2.5 inch) wide strip of paper.

Draw four parallel lines that divide it into five 1.25 cm (0.5 inch) wide strips.

Cut inward 2.5 cm along these lines from one edge.

Fold along the lines to form a square shape (so two of the segments overlap), and use tape to hold in place.

Fold the tabs you cut at

the end outward. This will allow you to tape the tabs flat to a piece of cardboard, so your strut can stand upright.

Procedure Before you start building, plan out a design for your roller coaster. Draw your design on paper.

Figure out how many supports and pieces of track you will need. Make sure your marble starts at the top of a hill.

Using a piece of corrugated cardboard as a base, assemble your track according to your plan. Tape the track segments together end-toend to connect them.

Place the marble at the top of your track and let it go. Watch carefully.

Think about: What happens? Does it make it the whole way through the track?

If the marble made it the whole way to the end, try making your track longer by adding more pieces.

Think about: How long can you make your track before the marble

comes to a stop?

If your marble didn’t make it to the end, try to figure out why. Is there a spot in your track where the marble got stuck?

Was t h e marb l e g o i n g t o o slow to make it through a loop?

If necessary, make

changes to your design, like making the curves more gradual or the starting hill taller, and try again.

What happened?

If you made your starting hill tall enough, and all the curves and loops of your roller coaster were gradual, your marble should have been able to get all the way to the end. However, if your coaster had any sharp turns or corners, your marble might have gotten stuck. If you tried to have your marble go up a hill or through a loop that was taller than the hill it started on, it wouldn’t make it all the way through.

Why not? It is all about energy! (Ben Finio, PhD, Science Buddies)

By Joyce Kilmer

I think that I shall never see A poem lovely as a tree.

A tree whose hungry mouth is prest Against the earth’s sweet flowing breast; A tree that looks at God all day, And lifts her leafy arms to pray; A tree that may in Summer wear A nest of robins in her hair; Upon whose bosom snow has lain; Who intimately lives with rain.

Poems are made by fools like me, But only God can make a tree.

WORD SEARCH

NEWS

7

THURSDAY, AUGUST 26, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Outdated mental health laws to be updated to address prison overcrowding – AG

Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall, SC

G

overnment will be reforming the archaic mental health laws in Guyana with special focus on the penal system, in order to reduce overcrowding in prisons and at the psychiatric hospital in Berbice, Region Six (East Corentyne-Berbice).

This was revealed by Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall S.C, on Wednesday during the Mid-Year Review of the Inter-American Development Bank-funded Support for the Criminal Justice System (SCJS) programme, which seeks to address overcrowding in Guyana’s prison system.

One aspect of tackling the reduction of the prison population is targeting mental health within the penal system. According to Nandlall, Government is currently working with stakeholders on revamping the Mental Health Act. He pointed out to reporters on the sidelines of the event that Guyana’s mental health laws are currently out of sync with society.

“We have a completely outmoded mental health

legislation in Guyana…We are revamping all of our archaic laws. Integral to that is a revamp of our Mental Health Act. It is completely out of sync with reality, it’s completely out of sync with science…and what used to be considered mental health concepts then are radically different now. All of these things have to be taken into account. We do have a serious mental health problem in Guyana, which we don’t recognise, I believe, as a society,” the AG posited.

As such, Nandlall explained that under the SCJS programme, they will be looking to address mental health within the penal system.

“A lot of these offenders, they have mental health issues, and you sent them to prison. But mental health is a sickness, and unless you get treated, you are not going to be cured. So, you go into the prison and you receive no treatment for mental health, and you come out back, the sickness becomes worse…So you go right back there, you get worse, and then you come out back

again. It’s a vicious cycle that ends in death,” he stated.

To this end, the Legal Affairs Minister disclosed that his Ministry is working with the psychiatric department at the Georgetown Hospital (GPHC) on a programme that would be administered with the judiciary and the Guyana Prison Services to tackle this issue.

Nandlall further pointed out that even the National Psychiatric Hospital in Berbice is also facing challenges with the number of persons with mental health issues that are referred there.

“Right now, we have a situation where the Magistrates are making orders directing that persons be lodged at the Mental Health Hospital, but the Mental Health Hospital right now seems not to be able to have the capacity to deal with that load of persons who are being deposited there by orders of the court. We have to address that situation.”

He added, “I just spoke to the Chief Magistrate and then we have to speak with the psychiatrists and the doctors… and the judiciary – the Chancellor, to work out an acceptable modus operandi on how we go forward.

But more importantly, how do we address the issue of mental health more permanently, especially in the penal and legal system of our country.”

The IDB-funded SCJS programme targets the overreliance on custodial sentences and the overuse of pre-trial detention in the criminal justice system. According to statistics, some 40 per cent of the pris-

Stakeholders at Wednesday’s Mid-year Review of the IDB-funded SCJS Programme

on population are pretrial detainees. As such, another critical component of the programme is establishing a Bail Act. Nandlall revealed that the Act has already been completed, and is with the Chief Parliamentary Council. He noted that another draft document from a second round of consultations with stakeholders was recently completed, and will be circulated as well.

He is hoping that the Bail Bill would address many of the issues being raised as they relate to the granting of pretrial liberty, so that there can be a more consistent, lawful and uniform discretion.

“I have had the cause, unfortunately and regrettably, to comment on the grant of bail by Magistrates in relation to certain offences – firearm offences, where the

law is very clear! We amended the law to say that bail shall not be granted unless special reasons are shown; and first appearance, bail is granted by Magistrate. That is wrong… and the State will now begin to challenge what we consider to be this wrongful exercise of discretion,” the AG asserted.

Significant progress

Meanwhile, IDB Country Representative Sophie Makonnen, during Wednesday’s Mid-Year Review, outlined that the SCJS programme, which was launched since 2017, has made significant progress over the past few months, including the establishment of Guyana’s first Law Reform Commission. “…A fundamental aspect of this programme that is financed by the IDB is that it aims to increase the use of

alternative sentencing and in pursuance of a wider goal of seeking the causes of prison overcrowding in Guyana.

Activities have also just commenced to strengthen and improve the Probation Services Department at the Ministry of Human Services,” she stated.

Along with bail and probation, aspects that the SCJS programme target as alternative sentencing are community services; legal aid services, to give offenders a better chance of defending themselves in court; and restorative justice.

Makonnen has said that with the high costs that the prison system incurs, the SCJS programme would not only bring benefits to Guyana, but the region as a whole, if countries work together to address the issue of overcrowding in prisons.

(G8)

8 NEWS

THURSDAY, AUGUST 26, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

4 Venezuelans, 1 Guyanese remanded for double murder

Dead: Steven Niles

A

Guyanese and four Venezuelan nationals have been remanded to prison for the murders of two men who were killed during a robbery at a mining camp in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni).

Those arraigned before City Magistrate Dylon Bess are Nicholas Caesar, 22, called “Wild Buck”, a miner of Yarrowkabra Village, Linden-Soesdyke Highway; Juan Oscar Calderon Lopez, called “Gordo”, 25; Jose Ramon Tovar, 24, called “Bashein”; Luis Miguel Monrroy, 35, and Jhonny Gonzalvez, called “Sankey Pankey”, 47. They were not required to plead to the indictable charge.

It is alleged that between August 4 and August 5 at Blackwater Backdam, Cuyuni River they murdered Steven Niles, 32, and Suresh Bachan, 63, during

Dead: Suresh Bachan

Murder accused: Jose Ramon Tovar

Murder accused: Jhonny Gonzalvez

Murder accused: Juan Oscar Calderon Lopez

Murder accused: Luis Miguel Monrroy

Murder accused: Nicholas Caesar

the course/furtherance of a robbery. After the accused’s appearance at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Wednesday, the case was adjourned until September 20.

Reports are that the now dead men were employed at a mining camp in the region. After they had fin-

ished working on August 4, they went to their separate camps about 100 metres apart. The following morning, the mining camp’s General Manager discovered Niles and Bachan lying motionless in their hammocks.

According to reports, the mining camp was attacked

by armed men who carted off cash, a firearm, and a top mat from the sluice box. The robbery was reported to the Police and the five accused were arrested and charged.

A post-mortem examination conducted on Niles and Bachan revealed that they died as a result of blunt trauma to their heads.

Missing notes of evidence cause delay in hearing of rape appeal

N

otes of evidence from a High Court trial that appear to be missing have resulted in the delay of the hearing of an appeal filed by Michael Abrams against his child rape convictions and life sentences.

Convicted of the crime by a jury in July 2017, Abrams was handed two life sentences by Justice Simone MorrisRamlall.

The first count for which Abrams was found guilty occurred at sometime between January 1 and 19, 2016, and the second count was on January 19, 2016. During his trial, the court had heard the testimony of Abrams inserting his finger into the sixyear-old girl’s vagina, and also sodomising her.

Through his lawyer Glenn Hanoman, Abrams subsequently filed an appeal against his conviction and sentence. In relation to the convictions, he is arguing that they are unsafe due to mistakes made by the Trial Judge, as well as her conduct during the proceedings.

“The main thrust of this appeal is what I perceive to be the unfairness of the Trial Judge, and how prejudicial she was to the appellant through this trial. There was a miscarriage of justice,” contended Hanoman during a hearing on Monday at the Appellate Court.

He further contends that

Child rapist Michael Abrams

the sentences are manifestly excessive.

The lawyer also pointed Acting Chancellor of the Judiciary, Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards, and Justices of Appeal Dawn Gregory and Rishi Persaud to the missing notes of evidence which he said prevented him from particularising his client’s grounds of appeal.

“I am personally alarmed.

I am not sure whether this evidence was recorded and has now gone missing, or whether it was not recorded. I am not sure if the court was able to discover what is the reason for these pieces of evidence being missing,” Hanoman told the Justices.

According to him, in a criminal trial, the Trial Judge has a legal responsibility to

make a full and accurate note of everything that happens.

In this regard, he added, “It is very disturbing that very important pieces [of evidence] are missing, and I believe the pieces that are missing will hamper the appellant.”

Nevertheless, the lawyer said he hopes the missing notes of evidence would surface, as he believes they would give him “a lot of ammunition” to particularise the grounds of appeal and prove that his client did not benefit from a fair trial.

Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions, Diana Kaulesar-O’Brien, conceded that parts of the notes of evidence are missing. She disclosed that the “missing bits of evidence” regard the testimony of the complainant, and questions she was asked to determine if she was competent to give sworn testimony.

Kaulesar-O’Brien, in citing case laws and provisions of the Sexual Offences Act, contended that the missing questions are “really of no consequence” to the appeal, since the Judge’s summation is “quite detailed” of what the evidence in chief was of the complainant.

The Deputy DPP, therefore, submitted that the Court of Appeal can proceed with the hearing of the appeal by relying on the Judge’s summation. According to the State Counsel, “The evidence

in chief, which is detailed in the summing up, could enable [Hanoman] to address the grounds of appeal.”

However, CummingsEdwards noted that the court would not proceed further until the records are in order. “In the interest of justice, efforts must be made to have the missing pieces of evidence,” she said. In light of the circumstances, the matter was adjourned for 21 days to facilitate the finding of the missing records.

Depending on how successful this is, Chancellor Cummings-Edwards said, the Court would decide whether it would go on to entertain arguments.

Meanwhile, at the time of his conviction, Abrams, who described himself as a “devoted Catholic”, was admonished

by Justice Morris-Ramlall for his wrongdoings. “You say are a devoted Catholic, I hope you pray to God and ask forgiveness,” she had told him in her sentencing remarks.

Despite the jury’s verdicts, Abrams maintained his innocence. “This situation makes me feel sad. I felt like the accused [Abrams] would try to hurt me,” the rape survivor had expressed in a victim impact statement.

The two life sentences will run concurrently. Abrams will be eligible for parole after severing 35 years in prison. (G1)

How deep…

R

…is westernisation? eading all the learned analyses on what “went wrong” in Afghanistan after the American retreat…sorry, withdrawal…you’d think the country has just a bunch of goat-herders who’ve never been exposed to “western civilisation”. Like some supposed “primitive” tribes deep in the Amazon who’ve - paraphrasing Sparrow - “never seen a white man yet”!! But if the truth be told, they’ve been the “graveyard” of civilisations from the Greeks to the British - they had to’ve had quite a lot of exposure to them in the two intervening millennia. Before the Soviets and the Americans entered from the 1970s to now!!

Trouble is, we’re so deeply embedded in what we call “modernity”, we don’t realise that we’re actually equating being “modern” with being “western” - and who says this is the only way to live in the present??!! Think about it!

If those Afghans experienced so may versions of what it means to be “modern” and up-to-date - Greeks, Persians, Ottomans, Turks, Ottomans and, most recently, British who’re we to tell them which path to take? And this is our “modern” dilemma, isn’t it?

Was a time when you could live any which way you wanted while the King just made sure he collected his taxes - and maybe have first dibs on your wife! For instance, while the Ottoman Empire was adjudged to be backward, they ruled over all those now fractious “Balkanised” states in Europe and further afield for four centuries!! It was only when Kamal Attaturk took over and decided he’d “modernise” by “westernising” that the present troubles began.

Ditto for Afghanistan. For the thousands of years, these were separate tribes who did their thing their way, and sorted out their coordinating problems by convening meetings of all their tribal leaders and dignitaries in what they called “Loya Jirgas”. And did this even after the British entered the picture in the 1830s to try to counter Russian influence from the north, which they felt might offer a path to their “Jewel in the Crown” - which they’d just conquered - India!!

And from then to the 1970s, British notions of what was “modern” infiltrated into towns - especially from the 1930s, when a Europeanised King - even more so than Attaturk took the throne and ruled for forty years!!

Did you read “The Kite Runners”? You’d be surprised at how similar the author’s description of life in Kabul was to ours in Georgetown!! And with the same movies, comics, games and sensibilities!!

It was the same “modernising” elites who adopted socialism and sided with the Russians in the seventies that “caused” the Americans to fund the Mujahideen.

And the rest, as they say, is (modern) history!! …are the (PNC) charges?

If you listen to the cacophony coming from the PNC camps - yes, plural “camps” - you’d think that the PPP are like the Assyrians described in “The Destruction of Sennacherib” by Lord Byron. Yes, dear reader, your Eyewitness has been deeply imbricated into “modernity” by the British!! “The Assyrian came down like the wolf on the fold. And his cohorts were gleaming in purple and gold;/ And the sheen of their spears was like stars on the sea, When the blue wave rolls nightly on deep Galilee.”

So, let’s look at the charges of “genocide” committed by the PPP on the PNC’s constituency. One of the acolytes insisted that “Govt must prove they’re not involved in racism”. But he’d know that the law says, “He who asserts must prove”!! House lots, flood and school assistance distribution? The allocation records are there for all to see.

Why don’t the PNC acolytes just summarise the breakdown and release the figures?

Do they really believe the PPP insists on vaccination because they’re racist? …is our cricket heritage?

CLR James explained the significance of cricket in our struggle to live with some dignity in the “modern” world, in his book “Beyond the Boundary”.

Your Eyewitness wonders how many of the present players care to know.

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

9 Increase in rape cases recorded in Region 8 – Police NEWS

THURSDAY, AUGUST 26, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Regional Commander, Senior Superintendent Michael Kingston

P

olice revealed that there are close to 19 reports of rape in Region Eight (PotaroSiparuni) for this year, as opposed to about six last year.

This revelation was made during the Guyana Police Force’s weekly Police & You radio programme by Regional Police Commander, Senior Superintendent Michael Kingston.

When asked about the crime statistics within the Region, he noted rape was the main cause for the crime rate in Region Eight being high.

“My statistics as it relates to serious crimes is up… it is only up because of one specific offence, and that is rape,” Kingston said.

He went on to say that “that is the only offence that has caused my figure to be up. When it comes to murder, robberies of all categories – break and enter and so forth, I am down. So, the only figures that are showing Region Eight crime increase is rape.”

In this regard, collaborative efforts are said to be ongoing with the Child

Care and Protection Agency (CCPA); Child Link Inc; and Blossom Inc, all of which are organisations on a mission to curb occurrences of rape within the region.

“We have taken some steps to deal with these issues…I have been in discussion with those organisations and there is a planned agenda for us to go out and meet persons in the various villages, especially over the north,” the Regional Commander.

Blossom Inc was said to be seeking persons to be employed by the organisa-

tion, giving preferences specifically for persons within Region Eight to come on board in order for the partnership with the Police to be carried out with ease in being able to reach the victims of sexual violence.

The Commander had stated that he was of the belief that education was a necessary tool in combating the offence, and this is where collaboration with the organisations come in.

Further, he stated that the challenge was not in being able to obtain reports of rape, but rather getting to the perpetrators in a timely manner, since they would move from one location to another.

He noted that dealing with the situation is a work in progress and the collaborative team was working assiduously in ensuring the rape cases are dealt with.

Just last month, Top Cop Nigel Hoppie had disclosed that during the period January to June this year, some 153 reports were made of the offence of rape, compared to 90 reports. This represented a 70 per cent

spike in rape cases.

The collaboration

be-

tween the organisations and the Police of Region Eight

has been April-May.

ongoing

since

10 NEWS

THURSDAY, AUGUST 26, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Navigation beacon among measures to protect GPL submarine cable O

ver the past few years, the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) submarine cable has been severed as many as three times, resulting in power outages and expensive repairs. But the Government has taken steps to prevent a reoccurrence.

Minister within the Public Works Ministry, Deodat Indar, recently explained that a navigational beacon has been set in the Demerara River where GPL’s 69 kilovolt (kV) submarine cable is buried.

“It’s a big cable we had to bring it up; we had to ensure we have to join it togeth-

er using specialised materials and so on, put it down back, bury it at a particular depth. Ensure that no other ship goes in the area,” the Minister said, added that “GPL now has what you call a beacon. A navigation beacon, so they can pick it up that there’s a cable here.

We don’t allow anybody to put their vessels down there anymore.”

It is understood that this beacon, from a land-based location, will transmit the location of the cable to ships who will be able to view the coordinates on their navigational monitors. All ships must be equipped with this navigational equipment

based on maritime law.

Recalling the mishap which resulted in the Government having to fly in Chinese contractors from China National Machinery Import and Export Corporation (CMEC), the company that initially laid and subsequently repaired the cable, Indar described it as a nightmare.

Additionally, the Minister said that the company whose ship caused the accident and the Government were presently in court over the matter.

“That was a nightmare incident. It happened in a COVID environment and we couldn’t get the techni-

Chinese contractors working on the cable in December 2020 (file photo)

cians out of China to come to Guyana. We had to get them through Brazil. They couldn’t come through the US. We had to get the Chinese Embassy here to assist. They fixed it, it cost us over $200 million to fix back that cable.

“With respect to the company, the ship that actually did that severing of the cable, we commandeered it when it came back to the country. We actually seized it and then we got a court order to do that. And when we did that, the people, the agents made representation on that matter. They lodged insurance and that matter is in the court now. We’re supposed to get resolution on that.”

The 69kV submarine cable links GPL’s Vreed-en-

Hoop and Kingston substations and allows for the transfer of electrical power into the Demerara-Berbice Interconnected System (DBIS).

The cable was damaged in late November after it was struck by the anchor of the vessel in the Demerara River. As a result of this incident, consumers in Regions Four, Five and Six experienced service disruptions.

Repairs were completed on the cable shortly before Christmas.

At the time, Minister Indar had said that the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) had issued instructions to maritime operators that Area B (where the cable is situated) was now a restricted zone and

operators were prohibited from anchoring their vessels there.

“Because the cable has been damaged four times, every time it is severed it gets shorter… ships can’t be anchoring there, we have to monitor that,” Indar had said.

In June 2019, GPL’s 13.8kV submarine cable, which rests along the Demerara River near Craig, East Bank Demerara, was dislodged by a barge sailing along the channel.

As a result of this incident, West Demerara customers from Vriesland to La Retraite were without electricity while efforts were made to alternatively power these customers from the Vreed-en-Hoop Substation.

(G3)

Cummings Lodge man to be sentenced today for aunt’s murder 48.

Convicted killer: Kevin Mohan

K

evin Mohan, the 27-year-old Cummings Lodge, Greater Georgetown man who was convicted of murdering his aunt, will be sentenced this morning by High Court Judge Sandil Kissoon.

On August 9, Mohan, called “Chuckie”, was unanimously found guilty of the September 4, 2016 murder of his aunt, Anita Mohan,

After the jury delivered its verdict, Mohan, who was facing his second trial for the offence as his initial trial ended in a hung jury, exclaimed, “I get jail innocent!

The only person that can judge me is the Almighty Allah.”

Throughout his trial which lasted for about two weeks, Mohan was represented by Attorney-at-Law Damien Da Silva, while Senior State Counsel Lisa Cave and Muntaz Ali appeared for the prosecution.

To prove their case, the Prosecutors called 11 witnesses, inclusive of Police ranks, civilians, and a medical doctor.

Based on reports, the battered body of Anita Mohan was discovered in a pool of blood in the kitchen of her Lot 315 South East Cummings Lodge, Greater Georgetown home on September 4, 2016. Police had said that her neph-

Dead: Anita Mohan

ew confessed to killing her during the course or furtherance of a robbery.

A post-mortem examination revealed that the woman sustained a chop wound to her head and one in the vicinity of her temple, along with a stab wound to her chin and one to her mouth.

A portion of her tongue was severed, and she was strangled. (G1)

NEWS

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THURSDAY, AUGUST 26, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

M&CC staff salaries to be delayed after Mayor intervenes with local bank to control city funds

T

he impasse at City Hall is likely to now spill over into services to the city. Despite former Town Clerk Sherry Jerrick being removed from that position by the Local Government Commission (LGC), Georgetown Mayor Ubraj Narine has now gotten a local bank to revert bank accounts that were changed to again allow Jerrick to access funds.

This was revealed by acting Town Clerk Candace Nelson on Wednesday, who informed that as a result of Narine writing the bank and getting it to retain the old signatures, there may be a disruption in municipal services to local communities.

“This is as a direct result of an anticipated delay in payment of wages and salaries to the Council’s employees. On her appointment to the position of Acting Town Clerk by the Local Government Commission, Ms. Candace Nelson wrote the Republic Bank (the institution where the Council has its accounts) and notified its management of those changes,” Nelson said in a statement to the media.

“In that letter, the Town Clerk requested the necessary and corresponding changes to the signatures

Town Clerk (ag) Candace Nelson

of the Council’s accounts.

Subsequently, administration was informed, informally, that the Mayor wrote the bank and attempted to instruct its management to retain the old signatures of Ms. Sherry Jerrick, who has been reverted to her substantive position as Assistant Town Clerk, and Mr. John Douglas, City Treasurer (ag) who is on vacation leave, to the accounts,” the acting Town Clerk said.

According to the acting Town Clerk, the Mayor’s actions are “unprecedented”, since the administration of City Hall has the responsibility to interface with the

banks and other related financial institutions, not the Council. She explained that neither the Mayor nor any Councillor is a signatory to the accounts of the City Council. Additionally, Nelson pointed out that the Municipal and District Councils Act, Chap 28:01, does not authorise the Mayor to write and instruct the bank, or any institution for that matter.

“However, it does appear that the letter, by the Mayor, caused the bank to sustain the old signatories to the accounts. As a result, to date, new and necessary changes are not reflected in the Council’s accounts.

Consequently, administration cannot move forward with the payroll within the agreed time to pay workers of the Mayor and Councillors of the City of Georgetown.

This would cause a delay in payment of workers’ salaries. This would affect workers’ ability to (perform) their tasks, and disrupt systems to provide services to citizens,” she said.

That, notwithstanding, the acting Town Clerk has informed Minister of Local Government and Regional Development Nigel Dharamlall, as well as the Chairman of the Local

Government Commission, Julius Faerber. According to her, the administration is aware that steps are being taken by the Ministry and LGC to resolve this issue in the shortest possible time.

“Also, the Town Clerk has also written to the unions that represent workers and officers of the City Council, (the Guyana Labour Union and the Guyana Local Government Officers Union) on the matter. The Chief Administrative Officer has informed all heads/sectional heads of departments about this pressing issue, and asked them to communicate the facts of the matter to workers attached to their departments,” Nelson said.

It was only on Monday that Nelson walked out of City Hall’s statutory meeting after Mayor Narine indicated that the Council would not recognise or include her in the proceedings.

Nelson had sought to share her input as the Mayor chaired the meeting, to which he responded, “I do not recognise you. Your words can’t be minuted here because the chair don’t recognise you. I don’t recognise you. You would not be recognised by the chair.”

Nelson was appointed by the Local Government

Mayor Ubraj Narine

Commission, and Jerrick, who served as Town Clerk, was reverted to her previous position. However, the Mayor has since filed legal proceedings before the Chief Justice, challenging Nelson’s appointment.

Despite the fact that no interim court order has been granted preventing Nelson from conducting her duties, the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Mayor has continued to impede her from doing her job.

At a recent statutory meeting, workers of the Council protested at the Kitty Market in Georgetown, where a statutory meeting was scheduled to be held.

However, Councillors voted

in favour of Mayor Narine having the meeting adjourned, as their attempts to remove Nelson were unsuccessful.

At a press conference, Faerber had shared some insight into the matter a few weeks ago when he stated that the decision to remove Jerrick was a unanimous one.

“That decision was unanimously voted in favour of, and when I said unanimously, there were seven Commissioners who were present at that time, and all seven of them voted in favour of having Ms Jerrick return to her substantive position. That was the situation that occurred,” he had said.

Faerber had pointed out that the decision to appoint Nelson is in keeping with the authority vested in the Local Government Commission under Sections 12 and 13 of the Local Government Commission Act. Section 13 (2) states thus: “The Commission shall have power to deal with all matters relating to staffing of Local Government organs, and in particular shall be responsible for employment, transfer, discipline and dismissal of staff.” (G3)

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THURSDAY, AUGUST 26, 2021|| GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Legal advice to Speaker on NoConfidence Motions ready – Nandlall

A

ttorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall, S.C, says he is ready with his advice to Speaker of the National Assembly, Manzoor Nadir, on the motions of no-confidence filed against Opposition Leader Joseph Harmon as well as Government Ministers Robeson Benn and Dr Frank Anthony last month.

Nandlall told reporters on Wednesday morning that there is no need now to rush with the advice, since

Opposition Leader Joseph Harmon

Parliament is currently in recess.

“The opinions are ready, and I will transmit them in due course to the Clerk (of the National Assembly). I didn’t see the need to do it right now because Parliament is in recess, but they have been completed,” the Legal Affairs Minister indicated.

He did not go into details of what his advice is.

As per parliamentary practice, the three no confidence motions that were filed back in July – one by Government and two by the

Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn

Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony

Parliamentary Opposition against each other – were submitted to the Clerk of the National Assembly, Sherlock Issacs, to ensure they did not “offend the Standing Orders”.

The Clerk has since advised the Speaker to seek the legal opinion of the Attorney General on the matters before making a decision.

Nandlall reassured on Wednesday that his legal advice would be handed over before Parliament comes out of recess in October.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 15

NEWS

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THURSDAY, AUGUST 26, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

3 West Dem hospital staff nabbed with blank COVID-19 vaccine books

T

hree employees of the West Demerara Regional Hospital have been arrested after they were caught with 11 blank and unstamped COVID-19 vaccine books, 17 stamped sick leave forms, and several pieces of medical equipment, including a stethoscope, sugar testing kit and pressure testing kit.

Initially, the suspects were caught with four blank and unstamped COVID-19 vaccine books, but based on investigations, Police on Wednesday went to the West Demerara Regional Hospital, where a request was made to conduct a search on minibus PWW 3747, which is usually driven by one of the suspects.

Police say that in the process of that search, they found seven blue blank COVID-19 books in a compartment between the driver and passenger’s seats.

This, Police said, was brought to the attention of the suspects, but they bowed their heads and remined silent.

The arrest of the suspects was done on Tuesday when two of the men visited the Vreed-en-Hoop Health Centre, West Coast Demerara. Reports are that a female nurse was on duty at the Vreed-en-Hoop Health Centre when two of the suspects went to her, one after the other, with two blank COVID-19 books each, and told her that they want her to stamp them.

these items were immediately seized.

Searches were done at the other two suspects’ homes, but nothing of evidential value was found.

Stealing vaccine cards

On Wednesday, during the search of the vehi-

during that process, he would have taken out 12 books.

Police said further investigations led to a nurse being interviewed, but she denied that the signature in one of the books found in the suspects’ possession belonged to her.

Guard shoots cutlass-wielding customer during row over face mask

They went on to tell her that the third suspect is waiting to take them to the Diamond Hospital.

She checked the books and observed that they were all blank, and knowing that the suspects were not supposed to be in possession of them, she immediately brought the issue to the attention of her supervisor, who subsequently reported the matter to the Vreed-enHoop Police Station.

As a result, the suspects were contacted and arrested at the West Demerara Regional Hospital, and were escorted to the Vreeden-Hoop Police Station.

During questioning, Police conducted a search

on the motorcar of the third suspect and found one black and gold stethoscope, 17 blank sick leave forms which were all stamped with the West Demerara Regional Hospital stamp, and one COVID-19 book which was not stamped.

Police then went to the home of the third suspect and conducted further searches, which unearthed one machine for testing pressure and a machine for sugar testing in his bedroom.

He was questioned about the items and he stated that he had purchased them in Georgetown, but he could not produce any receipt for them. Police said

Legal advice to Speaker...

The Speaker will then make a decision on whether the three motions will be heard.

On July 6, Opposition Leader Joseph Harmon filed motions of no confidence against Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony and Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn, calling for their resignations over what he claimed was the poor management of their respective sectors.

The A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) contended that the management of the spread of COVID-19 has been woeful, and confirmed COVID cases and deaths are “spiralling out of control.”

The following day, the Government’s side responded with a countering NoConfidence Motion against Harmon. The motion was filed by Prime Minister Mark Phillips, who cited a number of issues, ranging from Harmon’s role after the March 2, 2020 elections to his recent campaign against Government’s pro-

cle at the West Demerara Regional Hospital, Police said one of the suspects admitted that he would sometimes uplift the COVID-19 vaccination cards from the Health Ministry in Georgetown and take them to the West Demerara Regional Hospital, and

curement of the Sputnik V vaccines, and similarly demanding his resignation.

The NCM cites several grounds for Harmon’s removal, starting with his role in the APNU/AFC’s desperate fight to stay in power after losing the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections.

Phillips also contended that the Opposition Leader “recklessly misinformed the public and the National Assembly” when it comes to the COVID-19 vaccine, its efficacy, and its acquisition by the Government.

This is a reference to Harmon’s recent campaign against the Government’s acquisition of Sputnik V vaccines, during which he even called for a halt to the distribution of the vaccine.

According to Phillips, Harmon’s actions endangered lives and increased vaccine hesitancy among an already vulnerable population.

“And Whereas the Leader of the Opposition opportunistically used the horrific murder of the

FROM PAGE 14

Henry youth from West Coast Berbice as a means to incite ethnic disharmony.

And Whereas the Leader of the Opposition has consistently denigrated the representative of the joiner parties, Mr. Lenox Shuman, Deputy Speaker, as a legitimate member of the parliamentary opposition, even going so far as to deny him holding an opposition seat on any parliamentary committee. BE IT RESOLVED that this House expresses its lack of confidence in the Leader of the Opposition and calls for his immediate resignation,” Phillips said in his motion.

At present, the configuration of the National Assembly sees the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) with the parliamentary majority of 33 out of 65 seats. APNU/AFC, the main Opposition party, has 31 seats, while the Liberty and Justice Party (LJP), in collaboration with two other parties – A New and Unit Guyana (ANUG) and The New Movement (TNM), holds one. (G8)

A

57-year-old security guard is now in Police custody after he allegedly shot a man during an argument about face masks at the Golden World Chinese Supermarket, East Bank Essequibo (EBE).

The incident occurred on

Tuesday at about 14:00h.

Police said the victim, a 57-year-old man of Parika Facade, EBE, was about to enter the supermarket without a face mask, and as a result, an argument ensued with the security guard.

The man left the facili-

ty, but later returned with a cutlass, and was brandishing the weapon. In response, the security guard pulled out the company-issued handgun from his waist and fired one shot to the mid-section of the man’s leg.

The man was picked up and rushed to the Leonora Cottage Hospital, where he was treated by the doctor on duty and admitted a patient. He was later transferred to the West Demerara Regional Hospital, where he was examined by the doctor on duty and admitted a patient in a stable condition.

The guard was arrested and taken to the Parika Police Station as investigations continue.

16 NEWS

THURSDAY, AUGUST 26, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Construction of 40 young professionals’ homes starts in Linden

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he construction of 40 young professionals’ homes has begun in Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).

Government has commenced the first phase of the 1000 homes initiative at Amelia’s Ward, Linden, aimed at equipping young professionals with their own homes.

The President Irfaan Ali initiative is being executed under the Housing and Water Ministry.

President Ali, in a social media post on Wednesday, noted that more than 150 persons from the communi-

ty are employed under the project.

According to the Head of State, all of the materials being used are sourced from businesses in Linden, as he pointed out that this is one of several such projects being executed countrywide.

The Linden project at Amelia’s Ward, which commenced last Friday, is being undertaken by CB Housing, which is tasked with the construction of the first 20 homes, while another company is expected to commence construction of another 20 homes at the location.

According to a represen-

tative of CB Housing, 100 percent Lindeners are employed on the project, as was requested by the President.

The representative reassured that all building materials were sourced from stores in the Linden community. CB Housing has sub-contracted approximately 12 contractors to execute works. The construction of the first 20 homes’ project is expected to wrap up at the end of the year.

Meanwhile, also on Wednesday, Housing and Water Minister Collin Croal visited the site to witness the symbolic “concrete pour”

which signals the commencement of the project.

In a subsequent statement, the Central Housing and Planning Authority said that Croal engaged the contractors and workers on site, as they forged ahead with works. Already, several foundations have been set for the first 20 single elevated 2-bedroom homes.

According to a statement from CH&PA, Croal said the project is aimed at

transforming lives, raising the standard of living, and fostering economic growth within the region.

Meanwhile, under the second half of the Ministry’s 2021 work programme, the mining town will see an injection of $40 million dollars, which will go towards road rehabilitation and upgrades in Amelia’s Ward and Wisroc, the statement said. It also noted that under the 2022 work pro-

gramme, some $100 million will be expended to put in the necessary infrastructure in virgin lands which were recently acquired by the agency for new housing development. Some 8000 acres of land will be outfitted with roads, access bridges, water, and electrical network for allocation.

Lands are also being sought for housing development to meet the housing demands in Kwakwani.

Death of Region 4 man takes COVID-19 fatalities to 602 …207 new cases, 23 in ICU

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nother person who tested positive for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has died, the Health Ministry said on Wednesday.

This latest fatality is a 58-year-old male from Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica), who died on Tuesday while receiving care at a medical facility.

With this latest fatality, the total number of deaths from the pandemic has now increased to 602.

Consequently, the death toll for the month of August has gone up to 56.

Meanwhile, another 207 new COVID-19 infections were detected in the last 24 hours from 1810 tests conducted.

According to the Ministry’s updated COVID-19 Dashboard for Wednesday, the total number of confirmed cases in the country is now 24,336.

However, only 1596 of these are currently active cases.

These include a whopping 23 patients in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU), while the remaining 1573 persons are in isolation; that is, 108 in institutional isolation and the other 1465 in home isolation.

Additionally, there are five persons in institutional quarantine.

So far, some 22,515 persons have recovered from the life-threatening disease – 53 more recoveries recorded in

the last 24 hours.

New COVID-19 cases

Meanwhile, a total of 258,574 persons have been tested for the novel coronavirus since the outbreak of the pandemic here last year. Of this amount, 11,965 males and 12,748 females were found to have contracted the virus.

Of the 207 new COVID cases recorded on Wednesday, two were detected in Region One (Barima-Waini), 20 were detected in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), 31 in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), a whopping 119 in Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica), four in Region Five (MahaicaBerbice), seven in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), 19 in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) and the remaining five cases in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).

There were no new cases recorded in Regions Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) and Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) in the last 24 hours.

In order to curb the rising number of cases in the country, the Guyana Government had launched its COVID-19 vaccination exercise back in February, and is aggressively rolling it out in the various regions across the country in order for the Guyanese nation to achieve heard immunity.

According to recent figures, 305,012 persons in the

adult population have received their first dose of the vaccine. Meanwhile, there are approximately 155,688 fully immunised persons in the country who are 18 years and older.

During Wednesday’s COVID-19 update, Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony pointed out that while there has been an overall increase in the administration of both the first and second doses of the vaccines, vaccine hesitancy is still a major challenge.

On this note, he condemned vaccinated politicians who are supporting and encouraging persons not to get immunised against the deadly virus.

The Health Minister explained that officials have been visiting various communities where there are high levels of vaccine hesitancy to understand the main reasons persons are not taking the jabs.

Leaders are part of the problem

Apart from religious leaders playing a significant role in discouraging persons from getting vaccinated, Dr Anthony said, some political leaders are also part of the problem.

“We also have some political persons who are creating mischief, sowing confusion amongst people who are hesitant, and that’s very unfortunate, because many of these political activists who are sowing that type of con-

GUYANA COVID-19 DASHBOARD AUGUST 25 UPDATE

NUMBER OF NEW CASES

207

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN INSTITUTIONAL ISOLATION

108

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

1465 23

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN INSTITUTIONAL QUARANTINE

5

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES BY GENDER (FEMALES)

12,748

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES BY GENDER (MALES)

11,965

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES IN GUYANA SINCE 2020

24,713

NUMBER OF RECOVERED CASES

22,515

TOTAL 1st DOSE VACCINATED

305,012

FULLY IMMUNISED

155,688

TOTAL NUMBER OF DEATHS

602

DISTRIBUTION OF TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES SINCE MARCH 2020 REGION 1

1351

REGION 2

742

REGION 3

2901

REGION 4

11,330

REGION 5

809

REGION 6

2019

REGION 7

1334

REGION 8

384

REGION 9

2240

REGION 10

1605

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

Keep a physical distance of at least 6 feet.

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

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

fusion, many of them are already vaccinated,” he posited.

Dr Anthony added, “So, they have taken the vaccine, however, now they are encouraging people not to take the vaccine. That’s a very ir-

responsible thing to do, because you’re now putting other people at risk by the way you’re talking about the vaccine, creating confusion, creating hesitancy, and that’s very irresponsible.”

Nevertheless, the

Minister is encouraging persons to realise this duplicity and think for themselves regarding the COVID vaccines.

He indicated that this issue is beyond politics, and that it is about saving lives.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 17

NEWS

17

THURSDAY, AUGUST 26, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Death of $233M in sea defence works almost completed Region...

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ea defense works amounting to $233 million are close to completion at Anna Catherina, and according to Minister within the Public Works Ministry, Deodat Indar, the sea defense structure would be critical in an area that was flooded out only a few months ago.

Minister Indar on Wednesday toured sea defense works in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), where he was updated on progress by the respective contractors. In the case of Anna Catherina, work is at 98 per cent completion.

“We recently came off of a massive flood in the country. As you know, the sea defence is critical to ensuring that the severity of the floods that we had and future floods; the sea defense is critical to that. This particular area here, all these houses were actually flooded out. I actually visited this area to share out food hampers a few months ago when we had the flood,” he explained.

“This piece of sea defense, there was heavy overtopping here a few months earlier; we put this in the budget. This particular piece cost about $233 million. It’s about 300 metres of riprap,” the Minister said, pointing out that the rip-rap extends down to the shoreline.

The Minister also visited

Work ongoing at Zeelugt, East Bank Essequibo

Zeelugt and Uitvlugt, where works are at 50 per cent and 20 per cent completion respectively.

In total, these sea defense works amount to $620 million.

The Uitvlugt and Anna Catherina Sea defence contracts, which were awarded to Puran Brothers Disposal Incorporated, amount to $459 million. The contract at Zeelugt, which was awarded to Platinum Investments Incorporated, amounts to $159.8 million.

According to Indar, it is important to nip sea defense breaches in the bud.

“If something starts small and you allow it to open and open and open, the longer you

take to respond to that breach is the more expensive the solution will be. That is why you got to make sure you have rapid response when you have breach to any shoreline, and that is something we are cognisant of the fact, that is why we continue to monitor it as we go along,” Between May and June this year, heavy rainfall resulted in widespread flooding across the country, affecting thousands of households. The devastation included submerged buildings and vehicles, with adverse effects on crops, livestock and health.

It has been noted that the rainfall experienced in May alone was recorded as the second

highest level of rainfall across the country in the last 40 years.

All 10 administrative regions in Guyana experienced varied levels of flooding, prompting Government to roll out immediate responses such as evacuation of those most at risk, and engaging in flood assistance.

Following extensive fieldwork, the President had announced in a national address last month that $7.8 billion in flood relief assistance would be provided to citizens and farmers who were affected in all 10 administration regions by the rains and flooding that beset Guyana earlier this year.

Approximately 52,000 households were affected in categories of homestead farmers, kitchen gardens, and households exclusive of farms/gardens. In these categories, the Head of State noted, farmers within the context of a homestead would receive $100,000 each, those with kitchen gardens would receive $50,000 each and households excluding homesteads and kitchen gardens would receive 50,000 each.

The President explained that the combined assistance to homestead farmers, kitchen gardens and households for these categories would be in excess of $3.5 billion. The roll out of these cash relief measures has since started. (G3)

FROM PAGE 16

“So, I really hope that people can understand, and those persons who have been engaged in this political type of mischief would understand, that this has a lot of implications, because if people are not vaccinated, they’re at higher risk of getting sick, they’re at a higher risk of going to the hospital, and they’re at a higher risk of dying,” he explained.

“So, all of us need to be on one page… that is, we need to talk to people to get them protected. All of us need to encourage people to get vaccinated; that should be the common theme that binds us all, to encourage people to get vaccinated. And so, I really do hope that better sense prevails and that we get all those areas that have been lagging to come out and get vaccinated.”

The APNU+AFC coalition Opposition has organised several protests in Georgetown and Linden against the Government’s vaccination policy.

Many senior Opposition members, including former President David Granger and Opposition Leader Joseph Harmon, are fully vaccinated.

Persons are encouraged to get immunized, since the COVID-19 vaccine gives full protection against death. In fact, Health authorities have disclosed that no one who is fully vaccinated with both doses of the COVID-19 vaccines has been hospitalised or died from the virus.

Moreover, as people continue to get vaccinated, authorities are urging the public to continue observing all COVID-19 preventative measures, particularly masking in public, social distancing, and frequent hand washing and sanitising. The measures also include vaccination requirements to access certain social locations, such as restaurants and cinemas, as well as some Government services. (G8)

18

guyanatimesgy.com

THURSDAY, AUGUST 26, 2021

Regional

Brazil’s Indigenous protest Mexico takes in fleeing ahead of landmark ruling Afghan Journalists over ancestral lands

Pataxo Indigenous people take part in a protest during the first day of Brazil’s Supreme Court trial of a landmark case on Indigenous land rights, in Brasilia, Brazil, August 25, 2021

H

undreds of Indigenous people danced and chanted outside Brazil’s Supreme Court on Wednesday to urge the Justices not to rule in favour of a cut-off date of 1988 for their land claims, a proposal backed by the farming sector.

The protest has drawn an unprecedented 6000 Indigenous people from 176 tribes to camp out in the Brazilian capital to press the court to reject the timeframe, organisers said.

A defeat in court for the Indigenous people could set a precedent for the dramatic rollback of native rights which far-right President Jair Bolsonaro advocates.

He says too few of them live on too much land, blocking agricultural expansion.

“The Bolsonaro Government wants to do away with us. If it was up to him there would be no Indigenous people left in Brazil,” said Xukuru chieftain Ricardo from northeast Brazil. He wore a long head-

dress of blue macaw feathers and held a maraca.

The demonstrators displayed banners that said “Marco Temporal NO,” rejecting the time frame adopted in 2016. By late afternoon, the court had still not begun debating the issue.

The ruling will affect 230 pending land claims, many of which offer a bulwark against deforestation in the Amazon rainforest. Most have been awaiting recognition for decades.

Powerful farming interests would have firmer legal ground to challenge Indigenous land claims and Congress would have the green light to write a restrictive definition of Indigenous lands into federal law.

The case rose to the Supreme Court in an appeal by the Xokleng people of southern Santa Catarina state against what they argued is an overly narrow interpretation of Indigenous rights by recognising only lands occupied by native communities at the time Brazil’s Constitution was ratified in 1988. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Trinidad Govt defends decision to extend State of Emergency

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he Trinidad and Tobago Government Wednesday defended its decision to seek a further three-month extension of the State of Emergency (SoE) that has been in place since May this year, saying it is necessary to maintain the gains made in the efforts to curb the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic that has locally killed 1244 people and infected 43, 344 others since March last year.

Prime Minister, Dr Keith Rowley, tabling the

motion to extend the SoE, said his Administration would continue to be guided by the medical and scientific community and dismissed Opposition concerns that the measures adopted in the past have been a failure.

He told legislators that after examining the position where the country now stands as the first extension of the SoE comes to an end on August 29, that while “we are in a much better position than we were at the beginning of the

90-day period of State of Emergency…we are not at a point where we can now dispense with the State of Emergency.

“Because if we do that… it is more than likely that the response that will come from the population this time with this level of infection will see us having huge community spread, leading to another phase of activity which may force the Government to have to take even firmer action and restrictions.” (Excerpt from CMC)

Earthquake aid flowing after Haiti gang truce opens up highway

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id trucks movements are safer this week from the Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince to areas destroyed by last week’s earthquake thanks to a gang leader calling a truce to help relief efforts.

The death toll from the August 14, 7.2-magnitude quake surpassed 2200, with more than 340 still missing.

Aid to the earthquake-battered communities in the island’s Southwest has mostly been transported by air due to security concerns as gang violence has flared in the outskirts of Haiti’s capital and prevented national and international efforts to transport

essential supplies.

All ground transport seeking to reach the affected areas must travel along a highway that passes through the gang-ravaged Martissant neighbourhood west of Portau-Prince.

Jimmy Cherizier, who goes by the name “Barbecue” and is a leader of the G9 Revolutionary Forces gang, told Al Jazeera peace had broken out in Martissant and aid was being allowed to flow.

“We know actually that the victims need water, need food, that they need sanitary kits.

“Do your best to help.

Your help will be very appre-

ciated. What we want is to help our brothers and sisters that are in a very difficult situation after the earthquake, that’s why we say, ‘better to give little than nothing,’” he said.

The neighbourhood has been a bloody battleground between two rivals, the Ti Lapli and the Krisla gangs.

But last Friday, Prime Minister Ariel Henry told Al Jazeera the situation had improved after the gangs called a truce to let aid pass through. Al Jazeera producer Jeremy Dupin confirmed this development when he spoke to Cherizier. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard welcomes media workers from Afghanistan during a news conference, after their arrival in Mexico

M

exico received 124 media workers and their family members from Afghanistan, including New York Times Journalists, the Government said on Wednesday, as people flee after the Taliban militant group’s takeover.

They arrived at Mexico City’s international airport early on Wednesday morning, where Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard waited to greet them.

“Mexico has decided to support human rights applications for refuge, asylum and humanitarian visas for people in Afghanistan who have asked to have this humanitarian condition,” Ebrard said.

Ebrard helped to arrange the Journalists’ departure from Kabul, which included a stopover in Qatar, before their eventual arrival in Mexico, according to the New York Times.

Mexico was able to “cut through the red tape” to take in the media workers, unlike the United States, the Times said.

A former Kabul and Mexico bureau chief for the Times who maintained a cordial relationship with Ebrard made the request that Mexico receive the refugees, the Times said.

Other Journalists from the Wall Street Journal in Afghanistan could arrive later in Mexico, the Times added.

The Mexican Government touted the operation as an example of its commitment to freedom of expression, despite its past ridicule of coverage by local and international media including the New York Times.

Taliban fighters have raided the homes of Journalists’ relatives and killed one family member of a reporter working for Deutsche Welle, the German public broadcaster said. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Barbados receives IMF boost

B

arbados has received about US$261.6 million from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) as that institution further helps member countries battle the COVID-19 pandemic.

Minister in the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Investment, Marsha Caddle said the funding,

which she stressed was not a loan, was Barbados’ share of a US$1.3 trillion new allocation of Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) issued by the IMF. The SDR is an international reserve asset, created by the IMF in 1969 to supplement its member countries’ official reserves.

Caddle, speaking in

the House of Assembly On Tuesday during debate on a Bds$50 million supplementary for the National Insurance Scheme’s Unemployment Benefit Fund, said the new IMF money was a boost for Barbados’ international reserves, which now exceed US$2.6 billion. (Nation News)

Landslides kill 15 in western Venezuela after heavy rains

F

ifteen people are confirmed to have died in landslides in Venezuela’s western Mérida state.

Streets in mountain villages were converted into raging torrents after torrential rains hit the area in the Andes.

Footage taken by locals showed cars being swept away and boulders strewn over muddy roads.

Most of the fatalities occurred in the town of Tovar, where the Mocotíes River bust its banks after hours of rainfall.

Journalist Leonardo León tweeted footage taken by a Tovar resident of the entrance to the town.

In another video, a resident can be heard describing how suddenly “a river came out of nowhere”, sweeping away a local bakery.

Officials said that the

While the western state of Mérida was worst hit, there was also flooding in the capital, Caracas

electricity plant in Tovar had been damaged and that residents had neither power nor telephone connections.

It is not the first time the Mocotíes valley has been

hit by deadly mudslides. In 2005, more than 40 people died and dozens went missing in the area when several rivers overflowed. (BBC News)

guyanatimesgy.com

THURSDAY, AUGUST 26, 2021

19

Around the world OILNEWS OIL NEWS

Western nations rush to end Afghan Oil extends rally, rises evacuation before troops depart over 1% on US fuel demand recovery

O

il prices rose more than one per cent on Wednesday, extending gains for a third session, after US Government data showed that fuel demand climbed to its highest since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Brent crude rose US$1.20 or 1.7 per cent to settle at US$72.25 a barrel. US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude gained US$0.82 or 1.2 per cent to end at US$68.36 a barrel.

US petrol futures rose 5.5 per cent to settle at US$2.3008 a gallon. During the session, prices reached US$2.3026 a gallon, their highest since August 12.

The four-week average for US total product supplied, a proxy for fuel demand, soared to nearly 21 million barrels per day, its highest since March 2020, when Governments first began to widely impose pandemic-related restrictions, US Energy Information Administration (EIA) data for last week showed.

Refiners have ramped up production to 92.4 per cent of operable capacity, the highest since late June, helping send US crude inventories to the lowest since January 2020.

Last week, crude inventories fell by three million barrels to 432.6 million barrels, their lowest since January 2020, the EIA said.

US petrol stocks fell 2.2 million barrels, exceeding analysts’ expectations for a 1.6 million-barrel drop.(Excerpt from Reuters)

China criticises US “scapegoating” over COVID origin report

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hina on Wednesday criticized the US “politicisation” of efforts to trace the origin of the coronavirus, demanding without any evidence that American labs be investigated, ahead of the release of a US intelligence report on the virus.

The US report is intended to resolve disputes among intelligence agencies considering different theories about how the coronavirus emerged, including a once-dismissed theory about a Chinese laboratory accident.

“Scapegoating China cannot whitewash the US,” Fu Cong, Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ arms control department, told a briefing.

US President Joe Biden received a copy and was briefed on the classified report on Tuesday, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki told reporters on Wednesday.

The intelligence community has been “working ex-

peditiously” to prepare an unclassified version for the public, Psaki said without giving a timeline for its release.

US officials say they do not expect the review to lead to firm conclusions after China stymied earlier international efforts to gather key information on the ground.

China has said a laboratory leak was highly unlikely, and it has ridiculed a theory that coronavirus escaped from a lab in Wuhan, the city where COVID-19 infections emerged in late 2019, setting off the pandemic.

Beijing has instead suggested that the virus slipped out of a lab at the US Army’s Fort Detrick base in Maryland in 2019.

“It is only fair that if the US insists that this is a valid hypothesis, they should do their turn and invite the investigation into their labs,” Fu said.

Fu said China was not engaged in a disinformation campaign. (Excerpt from Reuters)

W

estern nations scrambled to evacuate people from Afghanistan on Wednesday, but acknowledged that many Afghans who helped during two decades of war would be left behind to face an uncertain fate under the Taliban when foreign troops leave next week.

Although the airlift is due to last until Tuesday, the US military said it would shift its focus in the final two days to evacuating its own troops.

US President Joe Biden has ordered all troops out of the South Asian nation by the end of the month, spurning pleas from European allies for more time to get people who helped NATO countries during the conflict to safety.

In the 10 days since the Taliban swept into Kabul, the United States and its allies have mounted one of the biggest air evacuations ever, bringing out more than 88,000 people, including 19,000 in the past 24 hours.

The US military says planes are taking off the equivalent of every 39 minutes.

Biden, implementing a withdrawal negotiated by his predecessor, Donald

Afghans try to reach the airport after the Taliban announced they would not allow access any longer, in Kabul, Afghanistan on August 25, 2021 [Akhtar Gulfam/EPA]

Trump, said US troops in Afghanistan faced mounting danger if they stayed.

The White House said Biden was briefed on Wednesday on contingency plans for the Afghanistan evacuation as well as the threat from the ISIS-K militant group.

Britain’s Foreign Office said the security situation in Afghanistan remained volatile, with a “high threat of a

terrorist attack”.

US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken said at least 4500 American citizens and their families had been evacuated from Afghanistan since mid-August, and the State Department was reaching out to about 1500 who remained there.

Blinken told a news conference in Washington there was no deadline for the effort to help people who want

to leave, both Americans and others, and that it would continue for “as long as it takes”.

The Taliban has said foreign troops must be out by the end of the month. They have encouraged Afghans to stay, while saying those with permission to leave will still be allowed to do so once commercial flights resume after the foreign troops go.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Palestinians in Gaza resume protests against Israeli blockade

Palestinian demonstrators run from tear gas fired by Israeli forces during a protest in the southern Gaza Strip [Mahmud Hams/AFP]

H

undreds of Palestinians have demonstrated near the Israeli fence in the besieged Gaza Strip, calling on Israel to ease a crippling blockade days after a similar weekend gathering ended in deadly confrontations with the Israeli Army.

The Israeli military, which had beefed up its forces in advance of the

demonstration on Wednesday, said it was using tear gas and live fire to disperse the crowd in southern Gaza.

Palestinian medics reported at least nine people were wounded.

The Al Aqsa TV television network, which is run by Hamas, the Palestinian group that governs Gaza, showed crowds of people approaching

the fence, then running away when an Israeli military vehicle arrived. Tear gas could be seen floating in the wind.

The military said it was using .22 calibre gunfire, a type of weapon that is meant to be less lethal than more powerful firearms but can be deadly.

Al Jazeera’s Youmna El Sayed, reporting from the protests in Gaza, said that dozens of tear gas canisters have been fired at protesters in the southern city of Khan Younis in the Gaza Strip.

“Today, already three Palestinians have been injured by live ammunition and dozens have suffocated from the gas canisters that have been fired on them,” El Sayed said.

Hundreds of Palestinians demonstrated on Saturday, resulting in violent confrontations.

More than 40 Palestinians were wounded by Israeli fire during Saturday’s demonstrations, including a 13-year-old youth who was shot in the head, the Health Ministry said.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Man sentenced over plot to kidnap

A

man has been sentenced to more than six years in prison for plotting to kidnap Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer over the state’s COVID-19 restrictions.

Ty Garbin was part of a group of more than a dozen men accused of involvement in the plot.

He was sentenced on Wednesday and also ordered

to pay a US$2500 fine.

Whitmer introduced restrictions last year to prevent the spread of COVID. Many of the curbs have been lifted.

The defendants, some of which are members of an anti-government paramilitary group in Michigan, considered storming the state Capitol in Lansing. However they then planned to kid-

Gretchen Whitmer

nap Whitmer from her holiday home last year, the New York Times reports.

Six of the group have been charged in a federal court and Garbin, 25, is the only one to have pleaded guilty.

A further seven face charges of terrorism and gang-related offences in state court in connection with the plot.

Garbin signed a plea agreement, describing the

plot in detail. He said that six men trained at his house, constructing a “shoot house” to resemble the governor’s holiday home and “assaulting it with firearms”..

According to Garbin’s lawyer, his client had become frustrated with COVID restrictions after losing income in his job as an aviation mechanic.

On Wednesday, Garbin

apologised to Whitmer for the “stress and fear” her family had felt.

In a witness impact statement, Whitmer said threats against her continue.

Whitmer’s lockdown orders drew thousands of protesters to the state capitol, where many compared her to German dictator Adolf Hitler. (Excerpt from BBC News)

20

THURSDAY, AUGUST 26, 2021

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You don’t have to stand alone. Call on people you enjoy collaborating with and come up with a plan that will help you achieve your objective. Reach out to someone well-connected.

Take advantage of an opportunity that can improve your position or help you find common ground with someone who thinks differently. You’ll be able to convince others to do things your way.

Turn your attention to creative endeavors and away from anyone trying to meddle in your affairs. The less chatty you are, the easier it will be to avoid interference. Don’t accommodate someone combative.

Leave nothing to chance.

A risk will put you in harm’s way. When faced with uncertainty, let your intuition guide you toward safe ground and away from anyone who isn’t respectful of others.

Note how others respond to you and what you can do to enhance your relationships with friends and family. Make updates that help you remain up-to-date physically, emotionally and spiritually.

Mix business with pleasure, and you will make headway. The way you explain things to others will help you win favors and draw interest in what you are trying to achieve.

Spending quality time with a loved one or friend will open up a passageway to new and exciting experiences. A demonstrative action will make a difference to someone who is waiting for a sign from you.

Take nothing for granted when dealing with friends, relatives or loved ones.

Choose your words wisely, leaving no room for error or misinterpretation. Be direct at all costs.

Don’t be so hard on yourSAGITTARIUS self. Focus on what you (Nov. 23can do to make your lifeDec. 21) style sustainable. Refuse to get caught up in someone else’s dream. Consider what makes you happy, then head in that direction. .

CAPRICORN Get along with others.

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Someone will view your actions harshly if you upset a friend, relative or colleague.

Pay attention to what’s going on at home and make adjustments.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20Feb. 19)

Put together a budget that will encourage you to save for something special.

How you handle your money will reflect your priorities.

An opportunity to bring in extra cash looks promising.

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Get the facts before you share information. Once you clarify what’s possible, bring about the changes that will allow you to take advantage of a situation that can make your life better.

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THURSDAY, AUGUST 26, 2021

21

India vs England: the Headingly Test…

Anderson casts swing bowling spell over India’s top order …India dismissed for 78

A

lmost as if to make up for their horrific final day at Lord's, England had the first day of their fantasies at Headingley. James Anderson cast a swing-bowling spell over the top order, reducing India to 21 for 3 in the 11th over, to immediately send the opposition into defence mode.

Although Rohit Sharma and Ajinkya Rahane threatened briefly to rebuild, the supporting England seamers then came in and wiped out the last seven India wickets for 22 runs, to have them 78 all out - the thirdlowest total India have ever made after choosing to bat first.

When England bowled, conditions seemed exceedingly seamer-friendly, the pitch and the atmosphere allowing the ball to move just enough and late enough to get new batters nicking, rather than missing. But then when India's quicks had the ball, the surface appeared half-decent - even good - to bat on. Rohit - India's top-scorer batted out 105 balls for his 19; Haseeb Hameed needed only 43 deliveries to get to the same score. Hameed later progressed to a half-century off his 110th delivery, before finishing on 60 not out. Rory Burns made an unbeaten 52.

England finished the day

with the match firmly in their grip. They had ten first-innings wickets still in hand, and were 42 runs ahead.

Although Craig Overton, Ollie Robinson, Sam Curran, and the two England openers imposed themselves at various points in the day, it was the maestro Anderson who set the tone. A dusting of grey hairs at his temple, and yet evermore skilful, he laid traps for KL Rahul and Cheteshwar Pujara which both batters could not resist. He bowled a string of inswingers at Rahul, all slightly short of a length, to get the batter playing back slightly, defending balls in front of his stumps. Then he sneaked in a full delivery outside off which seamed slightly away off the seam, to take Rahul's edge as he reached for it.

A similar ploy worked for Pujara too. Although Pujara's was a poke rather than a big drive, the dismissal edging an awayseamer to the wicketkeeper - was the same.

For Kohli, Anderson plugged away in the channel, and then delivered a wobble-seam ball that pitched just outside off and moved away - Kohli venturing a big drive only to also be caught

by Jos Buttler. He was out for 7 off 17, leaving India reeling, while Rohit was attempting his

best cave hermit impression - leaving, blocking, and deadbatting.

Rohit and Rahane then threatened to right India's innings, batting out 15 overs together and putting on 35, but Rahane edged Robinson behind on the penultimate ball before lunch, ending what turned out to be India's best partnership by far.

After lunch, India careened into a chasm. Pant was out to Robinson - again nicking behind (this was Buttler's fifth catch out of five). A few overs later, Rohit's patience ran out and he tried to pull a short ball from Overton over the leg side, but managed only to bunt it to a catching mid-on.

Next ball, Mohammed Shami was squared up, and he sent a catch to third slip.

The following over, bowled

by Curran, brought another double-strike - Ravindra Jadeja and Jasprit Bumrah both out lbw, both pretty plumb. India lost four wickets while the score was 67, and were all out soon after, having slipped from 56 for 3.

Perhaps India felt their bowlers would be able to replicate England's success in such conditions, particularly after their heroics on the final

Haseeb Hameed and Rory Burns put on a century partnership

day at Lord's, but they began with far less discipline than the England attack had shown.

Ishant Sharma, who opened the bowling ahead of Mohammed Siraj and Shami, was especially wayward, frequently straying into the batters' pads, and rarely finding movement on a line outside off stump.

Bumrah was much better, and even drew an edge at one

Jamaica's Olympic medallists to benefit from J$41M “rewards programme”

J

amaica’s Olympic medalists and their coaches are set for a financial windfall under what the Jamaica Olympic Association has dubbed an “Olympic Rewards Programme” worth J$41 million.

The Jamaica Olympic Association (JOA) contributed J$5M to the programme, while Supreme Ventures Foundation and Mayberry Investments contributed J$30M and J$6M respectively. One US dollar is approximately J$155.

The money is to be placed in individual investment accounts at Mayberry Investments for a period of three years, or until the athlete’s retirement from track and field, whichever comes first. At the end of the period, the athlete decides whether to cash in his or her investments or maintain his or her account.

Under the programme, a gold medalist gets J$6 million, a silver medalist gets J$4 million, while a bronze medal winner will be rewarded with J$2 million.

A similar amount will be maintained for the relays, but for the relay gold medalists, the J$6 million will be shared among members, while for the women’s 4x400 metres relay team that

placed third, J$2 million will be shared among the members of the squad.

Coaches will also be rewarded for their work. J$1 million will go to a coach whose athlete won a gold medal, $750,000 is for the coach whose athlete won a silver medal, and $500,000 is for the coach whose athlete won a bronze medal.

The rewards programme, JOA President Christopher Samuda said, is part of a broader vision of the association.

“For the Jamaica Olympic Association, this partnership represents critical aspects of our vision for the future of the business of sport, and emphasises our conviction that

the lives of athletes and coaches matter beyond the present,” Samuda said.

“The Jamaica Olympic Association, Supreme Ventures Limited and Mayberry Investments Limited have come together in an investment trilogy at the heart of which are Jamaica's athletes and coaches, and the strategy of which resides in financial prudence and security.”

Meanwhile, Peter McConnell, Chairman of Supreme Ventures Foundation, praised the athletes for their success. “We are incredibly proud of all athletes who have ever represented Jamaica on the world stage, and we are grateful to have this

opportunity to reward this year’s cohort of medalists,” he said.

Similar sentiments were expressed by Christopher Berry, the Executive Chairman of Mayberry Investments Limited.

“Mayberry wishes to congratulate all the athletes that represented us at the Olympics, and all of the people who worked so hard to make this national effort yet another success,” he said.

Elaine Thompson won gold medals in the 100m, 200m and 4x100m at the Olympic Games, while Hansle Parchment won gold in the 100m hurdles.

Meanwhile, Shelly-Ann FraserPryce won a silver medal in the 100m and a gold medal as a member of the 4x100m team.

Shericka Jackson won a bronze medal in the 100m and gold as a member of the 4x100m that also included Briana Williams.

Natasha Morrison and Remona Burchell were alternates.

Megan Tapper won a bronze medal in the 100m hurdles.

Jackson, Candice McLeod, Roneisha McGregor, Tovea Jenkins, Junelle Bromfield and Stacy-Ann Williams comprised the 4x400m relay squad.

(Sportsmax)

point that fell short, but was not especially menacing either.

Hameed and Burns did not have to be particularly patient through the early overs, getting frequent enough deliveries that could be scored off, but were nevertheless solid when the good balls came as well.

They were not beaten as often as India's batters were with the new ball. And they were more confident with their scoring strokes. Hameed was particularly severe on errors of line, dusting off an excellent cut shot repeatedly.

Later, Burns hit the most memorable shot, thumping

Siraj over deep square leg for the day's only six. Hameed got to his half-century with an edge through the outstretched hand of Rohit at second slip - the fielder getting some flesh to the tough chance, but unable to hold on.

Burns got to the milestone in the penultimate over of the day, punching the 123rd ball he faced through mid-on.

Such was England's dominance on day one that India will probably need a dramatic session, or several, to get themselves back into the match. (ESPNcricinfo)

SCOREBOARD INDIA 1ST INNINGS Rohit Sharma c Robinson b Overton 19 KL Rahul c †Buttler b Anderson 0 Cheteshwar Pujara c †Buttler b Anderson 1 Virat Kohli (c)c †Buttler b Anderson 7 Ajinkya Rahane c †Buttler b Robinson 18 Rishabh Pant †c †Buttler b Robinson 2 Ravindra Jadeja lbw b Curran 4 Mohammed Shami c Burns b Overton 0 Ishant Sharma not out 8 Jasprit Bumrah lbw b Curran 0 Mohammed Siraj c Root b Overton 3 Extras (lb 11, nb 5) 16 TOTAL (40.4 Ov, RR: 1.91) 78 Fall of wickets: 1-1 (KL Rahul, 0.5 ov), 2-4 (Cheteshwar Pujara, 4.1 ov), 3-21 (Virat Kohli, 10.5 ov), 4-56 (Ajinkya Rahane, 25.5 ov), 5-58 (Rishabh Pant, 29.1 ov), 6-67 (Rohit Sharma, 36.4 ov),

7-67 (Mohammed Shami, 36.5 ov), 8-67 (Ravindra Jadeja, 37.2 ov), 9-67 (Jasprit Bumrah, 37.3 ov), 10-78 (Mohammed Siraj, 40.4 ov) BOWLING James Anderson Ollie Robinson Sam Curran Moeen Ali Craig Overton

O-M-R-W 8-5-6-3 10-3-16-2 10-2-27-2 2-0-4-0 10.4-5-14-3

ENGLAND 1ST INNINGS Rory Burns not out 52 Haseeb Hameed not out 60 Extras (b 4, nb 3, w 1) 8 TOTAL (42 Ov, RR: 2.85) 120 Yet to bat: Dawid Malan, Joe Root (c), Jonny Bairstow, Jos Buttler †, Moeen Ali, Sam Curran, Craig Overton, Ollie Robinson, James Anderson BOWLING O-M-R-W Ishant Sharma 7-0-26-0 Jasprit Bumrah 12-5-19-0 Mohammed Shami 11-2-39-0 Mohammed Siraj 7-1-26-0 Ravindra Jadeja 5-3-6-0

22

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

THURSDAY, AUGUST 26, 2021

Windies T20 WC squad to be submitted during CPL, says Lead Selector Roger Harper − backup wicketkeeping spot up for grabs

West Indies Lead Selector Roger Harper

By Brandon Corlette

T

he Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL), which will bowl off today, Thursday August 26, will be important for those players who want to book a ticket to the T20 World Cup, which is set to bowl off on October 17 in UAE and Oman.

Cricket West Indies Lead selector Roger Harper has said that every West Indian

The West Indies initial provisional squad may have some changes with Sunil Narine on the radar

player in the CPL will be on his selection radar. He is looking for 18 players, including reserves, to travel to the T20 World Cup. "The squad will be selected during the CPL, because of the requirements of the International Cricket Council (ICC). The CPL is important. I think players have an opportunity just before the team is selected to remind us what they can do, and places

are up for consideration,” he said.

“Players have an opportunity to stake a claim, so the CPL is very important.

It gives players (opportunity) to get in competitive cricket leading into the World Cup," Harper said during Tuesday's Mason and Guest programme.

Captain Kieron Pollard had indicated after the Pakistan T20 series that

West Indies have found what they are looking for in terms of selection of the 18-man provisional squad, but Harper has said players still have an opportunity to demand places in the West Indies T20 squad.

Nicholas Pooran is seen as the frontline wicket-keeper in the West Indies T20 squad. Andre Fletcher, who featured in the 18-man provisional squads that played South Africa, Australia and

Pakistan, and had an inconsistent run, will have to perform early in the CPL to remain in that 18-man squad.

According to Harper, the wicketkeeping spot is up for grabs.

"I will try not to get too specific with certain things, but I think there are a few areas that we will pay a little more attention to. I think (the) backup wicketkeeping spot we are still looking at.

There are other areas as well.

Players have an opportunity to say that they deserve a place in the (T20 World Cup) squad," Harper said.

Fresh from a good run in The Hundred in London, Sunil Narine would want to break into the West Indies team. Asked if Narine is on the selection radar, Harper said: "He is in the CPL, we are watching him. All players are qualified for selection, once they are available."

The West Indies, the only side to win the tournament twice, would also feature on the opening day of the Super 12s, as they kick off their defence of the title in Dubai

against England, top ranked in the MRF Tyres ICC Men’s T20I Team Rankings.

Ahead of the T20 World Cup, West Indies captain Pollard said: “We are excited to begin defence of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup title later this year. T20 cricket is dynamic, and the international scene is highly competitive, with players constantly pushing the boundaries of innovation. We are expecting a spectacular event in the United Arab Emirates and Oman.”

West Indies T20 World Cup match schedule

October 23: v England at Dubai (6pm/10am Eastern Caribbean/9am Jamaica) October 26: v South Africa at Dubai (2pm/6am Eastern Caribbean/5am Jamaica) October 29: v B2 at Sharjah (2pm/8am Eastern Caribbean/7am Jamaica) November 4: v A1, at Abu Dhabi (6pm/10am Eastern Caribbean/9am Jamaica) November 6: v Australia at Abu Dhabi (2pm/6am Eastern Caribbean/5am Jamaica)

Young Achievers Star-studded Canada-based Guyanese whip Eagles softball players on show Saturday Volleyball Club in epic duel Y

oung Achievers have claimed their spot on the top of the leaderboard with six points, having defeated Eagles Volleyball Club in a thrilling 5-set game held at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall on August 24, 2021.

Eagles Volleyball Club started the first set in a 10-point deficit due to their arriving late for the game. Young Achievers went on to win the set 25-17. Eagles Volleyball Club came back fighting in the second set, and defeated Achievers 25-19.

The Achievers then went on to claim the third set 25-17.

However, Eagles would not go down without a fight, and bounced back in the fourth set to beat Achievers 25-18.

The fifth set saw both teams locked in an exciting pointfor-point duel as each fought to claim victory, but the Young Achievers with their dominant performance claimed the fifth set 17-15.

The top scorers of Achievers Volleyball Club were Juan Valesquez with 13 points, Corwyn Richards with 11 points and Ryon Mangrau with 9 points.

The next leg of the DVA league will be played on Friday at 19:00 hrs, as the Eagles Volleyball Club takes on Castrol Strikers Volleyball Club. Games will be streamed live on the Guyana Volleyball Federation Facebook Page.

Organiser Damodar Daesrath

Royston Crandon and Hemnarine Chattergoon will showcase their skills in the matches

E

xcitement galore is highly anticipated this Saturday at Keele Top in Toronto for another edition of the Dassy and Friends Promotion softball eight-team InterCounty one-day extravaganza. A host of Canada-based top softball players is expected to feature.

Two teams each are slated to compete from Demerara, Essequibo, Berbice and a Canadian AllStars in both the round-arm

and flick-bowling categories. According to organiser Damodar Daesrath, the stage is set to hold these sides, and he is assuring fans the day would be exciting, as a legion of top softball players from across the Greater Toronto area will be congregating there as well.

The 15-overs white ball action will bowl off at 11:00hrs with two matches being played simultaneously, one each from the roundarm and flick-bowling.

Winners in the flick-bowling will receive Cdn$2,500 and a trophy, while the runners-up will take home $500 and a trophy.

For the round-arm, the champion side will pocket $2,000 and a trophy, while the runners-up would receive $500 and a trophy as well.

Daesrath, a former Guyana first-class cricket captain, once again acknowledges support of the sponsors for the day’s event, and thanks the teams in advance for their participation.

Apart from the on-field showdown, Daesrath, who also represented Canada

at the international level, informed that there will be some side attraction, especially with the performance of Trio Sisters from Foot Steps Dance Academy, while musical entertainment would be provided throughout the day.

He notified, too, that all COVID measures would be in place, and asks everyone attending to comply.

Some players are: former Guyana and West Indies cricketer Royston Crandon, Devon Ramnauth, Hemnarine Chattergoon, Azib Alli Hanif, Troy Gobin and Dillon Heyliger, among others.

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GUYANATIMESGY.COM

23

A rivalry of the ages: GAW, TKR set to bowl off CPL today always good to start the tournament with this high-profile game.

“With Pooran being captain and he is a Trinidadian, it is going to be added excitement," Khan said.

Returning to the GAW setup are experienced Pakistan off-spinning all-rounders Shoaib Malik and Mohammad Hafeez. Speaking ahead of the opening match, Khan said: “Malik played with us in 2019. He’s back with us this year. He has that calmness (and) professionalism, and he lends a lot of support to the younger players. He’s a total team person. With his overall experience, I’m sure he’s going to add value to the team.

“We have Mohammad Hafeez who has lifted his game over the last year or

Batsman Shimron Hetmyer will be a key player

lenge.”

Asked if defending champions TKR are keen to repeat the 100 per cent win record that they achieved last year, Jan replied, “We’re conscious of that. We’re not going to pay too much mind over what happened last year.

We played each game one at a time, ticked all the boxes.

Once we can do that, I don’t see any reason why we can’t do it again.”

Captain Nicholas Pooran

By Brandon Corlette

C

all it what you will, chicken curry or curried chicken, a match between Trinbago Knight Riders (TKR) and Guyana Amazon Warriors (GAW) is always a mouthwatering clash in the Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL).

These two teams will lock horns today, Thursday August 26, from 10:00h at Warner Park in St Kitts in the first match of the tournament.

Both teams are equipped with T20 stars, both locally and internationally recognised, and

this is the best way to get the tournament underway.

Operations Manager of the GAW, Omar Khan, is confident the 15-man squad led by Trinidadian Nicholas Pooran would execute well and win the first match.

"The rivalry between Trinidad and Guyana has always been there (in) the CPL and Regional tournaments.

We look forward to the opening game, it is going to be exciting, and it is a good game to start the tournament. I think CPL has always identified these two teams as the two most exciting teams, and it is

TKR are four-time champions of the CPL

so. We see him bringing stability and added value as an all-rounder. We think we have quite a compact batting line-up. Both Hafeez and Malik can give us some overs of spin,” Khan explained.

In regard to the opening match, TKR Head Coach Imran Jan has said, “(We’re) always excited to play against Guyana. It’s always been a rivalry that we look forward to.

The guys are up for the chal-

Hero CPL is a learning experience for Ashmead Nedd A

nother breakout star in the Guyana Amazon Warriors’ lineup last year was teenage sensation Ashmead Nedd, who picked up the most wickets (11 wickets) for the West Indies Under 19 team in the 2020 U19 World Cup. Nedd’s talent was discovered quite early, as he featured in the Under 19 World Cup in 2018 at 17 years old.

However, his shining moment came in the Regional Super 50 tournament, where he picked up 11 scalps in 6 games back in 2019, as part of the West Indies Emerging Players team.

Now 20 years old, Nedd appears to be getting better and better, and will once again suit up for the Amazon Warriors as they get their Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) campaign underway today.

With best CPL figures of 1 for 10 from 4 overs, there is much to expect from this youngster this year. A man of few words, Nedd has described his CPL debut as the ultimate learning experience, especially since he was coming off an 11-wicket

stint at the Under 19 World Cup. “The experience was great. Heading into CPL just after finishing my Under 19 World Cup, it was great. I learnt a lot during that period of time,” the spinner shared during an exclusive chat with <<Guyana Times Sport.>> Continuing on the topic, Nedd shared that his most valuable lesson was learning to adapt to whatever CPL’s explosive batsmen had to offer.

He explained, “What I was able to learn pretty fast was adapting to different batsmen, different strokemakers. It was pretty hard, but I still adapt, assess and got used to it.”

At home with the Amazon Warriors is where Nedd is most comfortable, as he discussed the existing camaraderie in the local franchise.

Commenting on the atmosphere thus far for the 2021 season, the 20-year-old said, “At times we’d be quite serious. In the preseason camp we had here (National Stadium, Providence) for

the past few days, we encouraged each other a lot.

I train with most of them, so it was pretty good, there was laughter and there were times when we had to get down to business.”

With the CPL admitting fans in this year’s tournament, coupled with several closed doors matches, the Guyanese spinner noted that absence of the fans in 2020 didn’t affect him too much.

“It wasn’t really strange, (because) I never played in front of much crowds, but it was pretty strange for the cricket fraternity.”

When asked what he would be working on to perfect in this 9th edition of the Hero CPL, Nedd was tight-lipped, but admitted that his goals are set already.

“I basically have my goals set out in my head. But I just want to play the cricket, enjoy and do what I could do best,” the GAW spinner disclosed.

(Jemima Holmes)

Meanwhile, GAW batsman Shimron Hetmyer has said Warner Park is not the fastest wicket in the Caribbean, but he expects spin to play a key part in the CPL. "Spin will play a key role for our spinners and spinners in general. I think we will come to the party," Hetmyer said.

Trinbago Knight Riders squad: Kieron Pollard (captain), Ravi Rampaul, Sunil Narine, Colin Munro, Yasir Shah, Darren Bravo, Lendl Simmons, Khary Pierre, Isuru Udana, Tim Seifert, Anderson Phillip, Denesh Ramdin, Tion Webster, Akeal Hosein, Jayden Seales, Leonardo Julien, Ali Khan.

Guyana Amazon Warriors squad: Nicholas Pooran (captain), Anthony Bramble, Chandrapaul Hemraj, Shimron Hetmyer, Imran Tahir, Brandon King, Mohammad Hafeez, Gudakesh Motie, Naveenul-Haq, Ashmead Nedd, Romario Shepherd, Shoaib Malik, Kevin Sinclair, Nial Smith, Odean Smith.

Barbados Royals and St Kitts and Nevis Patriots will play on Thursday as well at 19:00h.

Nial Smith signs 6-month contract with Lucozade Guyana’s Nial Smith

T

Ashmead Nedd celebrating during the U-19 World Cup

he pacer Nial Smith, Guyana Amazon Warriors’ (GAW’s) new addition, is the new face of the Lucozade brand in Guyana.

The revelation about his collaboration with the energy drink distributed by the Ansa McAl Group in Guyana came through a social media post on Wednesday morning.

The post read: “Lucozade has signed rising Guyanese pace bowler Nial Smith to a sixmonth contract. The up-and-coming pace bowler had a solid 2020 season, and is one of the cricketers to watch currently.”

Smith and Lucozade came to the contractual agreement recently, with Brand Manager of the energy drink, Triston Freeman, calling the signing “noteworthy” for the brand.

Smith noted that it was a “lifelong” dream to work with the Lucozade brand for a major product, and highlighted that he hopes for a long and successful relationship with Lucozade.”

Smith was hand-picked earlier this year as a newcomer to the Guyana Amazon Warriors (GAW) franchise, and is expected to make his Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) debut sometime during the next few weeks.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 26, 2021

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

Page 23

A rivalry of the ages: GAW, TKR set to bowl off CPL today Page 23

Hetmyer appointed Warriors’ vice captain …Nedd, Sinclair named Emerging Players

Shimron Hetmyer

Kevin Sinclair

Ashmead Nedd

uyana’s Shimron Hetmyer has been appointed vice-captain of the Guyana Amazon Warriors (GAW) team. This announcement comes as the Amazon Warriors go into action in the Hero Caribbean Premier League’s (CPL) first game of the 2021 season against Trinbago Knight Riders today.

This announcement was made by the GAW Management on Wednesday afternoon, and comes on the heels of Nicholas Pooran being appointed team captain earlier this week.

Hetmyer first turned out for the Warriors in 2016, and has remained with the franchise in

the ensuing years. The 24-yearold has racked up 931 runs for the franchise thus far. In 2018, Hetmyer became the youngest player to smash a Hero CPL century, doing so in 49 balls against the Jamaica Tallawahs.

This is the first time that Hetmyer would undertake a leadership role of any kind in the local franchise.

Meanwhile, Kevin Sinclair and Ashmead Nedd would be considered as the Emerging Players in the Amazon Warriors team. This title stipulates that these young talents would be mandated to play a minimum of five games in the T20 tournament.

According to word from

the Warriors camp, Nedd is expected to get the first shot at the Warriors’ opposition, as he suits up in today’s playing XI against the Trinbago Knight Riders.

In 2020, also as Emerging players, Kevin Sinclair featured in five matches, picking up as many wickets with best figures of 2/13. On the other hand, Nedd had four outings, grabbing three wickets and best figures of 1/10. According to CPL rules, “Each team must give a minimum of five games to an emerging player, either one player taking the field five times or a combination of appearances between the two players.”

G

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