Guyana Times - Thursday January 14, 2021

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

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Issue No. 4528

THURSDAY, JANUARY 14, 2021

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WCB teens’ murder

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

Police make major breakthrough:

Venezuelan Syndicato P2 gang still a threat – GDF …says Army remains vigilant

See story on page 3

Secure confessions

…charges likely soon, as DPP engaged – Crime Chief Venezuela’s provocation on border controversy

Guyana will not accept bullyism – AG See story on page 9

Govt to take delinquent P15 contractors to court Over 500 children in Guyana tested positive for COVID-19 – Dr P13 Anthony …as 43 new cases recorded

Father of 1 P10 killed in headon collision

…urges unity in defence of sovereignty

Guyana, India ink US$12.7M contract for ocean-going ferry See story on page 7

...US$8M in grant from India T&HD General Manager Marclene Merchant signing the contract for the new ocean-going vessel on Wednesday as Public Works Minister Juan Edghill and Indian High Commissioner Dr KJ Srinivasa, along with local representatives from GRES, witness

US vessel sent to patrol offshore Guyana intercepts drug traffickers

Page 10

Drugs, improvised P8 weapons unearthed at NA Prison

$63M fertiliser testing lab P11 opens

2 NEWS

THURSDAY, JANUARY 14, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Venezuelan Syndicato gang still a threat – GDF …says Army remains vigilant

T

he Venezuela-based Syndicato gang has a long history of attacks on Guyanese in border locations. And according to Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Chief of Staff, Brigadier General Godfrey Bess, the gang remains a threat owing to the breakdown in law and order in the neighbouring country.

Chief of Staff Bess was at the time addressing the media following the signing of an agreement at State House on Tuesday.

According to Bess, the Syndicato gang remains very much a threat to Guyana’s border security.

“The Syndicato threat, it’s still there, because we all are aware of the situation in Venezuela where the country, it’s poorly led and their economic and social issues that force nonState actors to survive,” Bess said.

He noted that Guyana’s proximity to Venezuela meant that non-State actors such as the Syndicato

gang persisted as a threat.

However, he assured that it was a threat that the GDF continued to address.

“Because of our border with Venezuela, we definitely are affected by that, but I must say that we, the Guyana Defence Force, we are ever vigilant and we continue to work to ensure that the citizens of Guyana are safe,” the Chief of Staff added.

Only in September of 2020, a joint patrol comprising ranks from the GDF and the Guyana Police Force (GPF) came under fire by members of the notorious gang while they were conducting a routine joint patrol in the Cuyuni River, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni).

It was reported that the gang had been terrorising persons on both sides of the border, including miners, demanding payment for safe passage.

The Joint Services ranks had returned fire.

None of the ranks had

GDF Chief of Staff, Brigadier General Godfrey Bess

been injured.

Owing to the increase in attacks on Guyanese, especially gold miners, by the Syndicato gang over the past few years, the Police had increased their presence in several areas along the Cuyuni River.

And it paid off, because in 2019, Police ranks nabbed five persons in boats travelling along

the Cuyuni River and unearthed grenades, several weapons and narcotics. Among the men were Syndicato gang members.

In October 2020, four Venezuelan nationals who were suspected to be mem-

bers of the gang were arrested in Port Kaituma, Region One (BarimaWaini). The GPF, in a statement, said the Venezuelans claimed to be miners in Venezuela.

The Force said the foreign nationals were arrested for failing to present themselves to immigration officers upon entry to this country while the Guyanese were arrested for aiding and abetting them to illegally enter Guyana. Two All-Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) along with $100,000 and a quantity of raw gold were confiscated.

In addition, back in 2019, a man suspected to be a member of the Syndicato gang was killed after security officers held off an attack that lasted for over an hour and a half at a mining camp at Black Water, Cuyuni, Region

Seven.

In 2018, the Syndicato gang struck horror in the hearts of many when a video emerged of the gang beheading a young Guyanese man in Venezuela. At the time, the matter reached the level of the National Security Committee.

The GDF’s admission that the Syndicato gang remains a threat comes in the wake of heightened tension over a decree issued by embattled Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, unilaterally purporting to lay claim to Guyana’s territory.

This decree has been condemned by President Dr Irfaan Ali; Opposition Leader Joseph Harmon; the United States; the Organisation of American States (OAS) and the Caribbean Community (Caricom). (G3)

Porter seriously injured in freak accident

A

23-year-old porter was seriously injured on Tuesday while attempting to assist a vehicle at Five Star Backdam Trail, North West District (NWD), Region One (Barima-Waini).

Reports are Navindra Balkaram, a porter on motor

lorry GYY 249, had attempted to assist another driver, who was experiencing issues with his vehicle. Police said that while helping the driver, Balkaram was injured by the rear-right wheel of the vehicle.

As a result, he sustained

serious injuries about his body.

Owing to the severity of his condition, he had to be air-dashed to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where he remains a patient.

An investigation has been launched.

NEWS

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 14, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS OPENINGS BRIDGE

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Thursday, January 14 – 04:00h-05:30h and Friday, January 15 – 04:30h-06:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Thursday, January 14 – 05:10h-06:40h and Friday, January 15 – 05:50h-07:20h.

WCB teens’ murder

Police make major breakthrough: Secure confessions …charges likely soon, as DPP engaged – Crime Chief

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I

n a stunning turnaround of fortunes, the Guyana Police Force (GPF) has made a breakthrough in investigations into the brutal murders of two of the three West Coast Berbice (WCB) teens, who were killed in September 2020.

According to a senior official of the GPF, the GPF’s Major Crimes Unit has secured confessions regarding the murders of Isaiah and Joel Henry, whose mutilated bodies were found in a backdam at Cotton Tree, West Coast Berbice (WCB) on September 6.

It is understood that the Major Crimes Unit had been grilling three suspects who were arrested for possession of firearms. The source noted that in the wake of the confession, charges are likely to be laid soon against those suspects.

Meanwhile, when contacted, the Crime Chief, Senior Superintendent of Police Wendell Blanhum, confirmed that three suspects are in custody for the murders of the teens.

He, however, declined to give any details, but noted that the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has been engaged on the way forward.

He was also optimistic that the Police investigation can be concluded very soon.

Teens’ murders

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FRIDAY, JANUARY 8, 2020

01 02

Crime Chief, Senior Superintendent of Police Wendell Blanhum

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On September 6, 2020, the bodies of Isaiah and Joel Henry were found in the backlands of Cotton Tree, WCB – almost one day after they were reported missing.

Relatives said that teens had left their Number Three Village, WCB home to pick coconuts in the backlands, but did not return home.

Their butchered bodies were found in clumps of bushes partially covered in mud, after relatives went in search of them.

The news of their deaths sparked protests across several villages along the West Berbice corridor, and commuters and other innocent persons were beaten and robbed, while roads were

blocked and vehicles were torched by residents of the area.

Three days later, on September 9, 2020, 17-yearold Haresh Singh was found murdered at the Number Three Village backlands. It is suspected that his death was in retaliation for the murders of Isaiah and Joel, since he was related to one of the persons initially held by the Police.

All three murdered teens had suffered horrendous deaths. According to post-mortem results, the Henry teens died as a result of haemorrhage and shock owing to the extent of their wounds; their spines were also severed. In the case of Singh, his death resulted from brain hemorrhage, blunt trauma to the head compounded by compression injuries to the neck.

Police had explained that the location where the bodies of the Henry boys were found was not the primary crime scene; that is, it was not the location where the boys were killed. According to the Police, the bodies were moved and placed at the locations post mortem.

Investigation

Notwithstanding, some forensic evidence was retrieved from the secondary crime scene, and it was submitted to the Guyana Forensic Laboratory for DNA analysis to be conducted.

The GPF had also explained that DNA samples were collected from the suspects who were initially in custody, and those were sent for comparative analysis.

Isaiah Henry

On September 14, the Force explained that the results would be available in three weeks.

The results, however, came back, but none of the samples that were taken to St Lucia implicated any of the persons who were initially taken into custody.

The Government had taken certain extraordinary steps in an effort to solve the crime, including inviting a Caricom Regional Security System (RSS) team to assist with the investigation.

The team subsequently rec-

Joel Henry

ommended that the Police do additional probe.

Meanwhile, Dr Louis Fondebrider, an expert from the Argentine Team of Forensic Anthropology, recently visited Guyana in a bid to determine if any support could be given towards solving the murders.

While in Guyana, Dr. Fondebrider met with a number of top officials, including Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn, Police Commissioner Nigel Hoppie, and Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum. (G3)

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 14, 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

Guyana’s commitment to food security

D

ue to the COVID-19 pandemic affecting the Region and the world at large the issue of agriculture and food security has not been talked about much. However, we have always maintained that food security for the Region is as important as any other matter and must be treated as such by Governments and other development partners.

In Guyana’s case, we have been at the forefront over the years in pushing for an effective agriculture and food security strategy. In December 2020 at the seventh virtual Summit of the Heads of State of Caricom and the Republic of Cuba, President Dr Irfaan Ali brought the issue of regional food security once again into the spotlight. The president used the opportunity to press the Caribbean Community (Caricom) to review the inter-regional trade mechanism and its food security in an effort to strengthen the bloc and place greater focus on an Agriculture and Food Security Strategy.

We believe that regional Heads need to place more emphasis on developing their agriculture sector and make the kind of investments necessary to ensure the Region is not only food secure but we produce enough to tap into export markets so as to earn foreign exchange.

It could be recalled that in 2002, former President Bharrat Jagdeo, who had lead responsibility at the time for Agriculture in the Caricom quasi-Cabinet, had sought assistance from the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) to boost the Region’s efforts in ensuring it is food secure. One year after, he proposed that the Region build on its past efforts to develop a common agricultural policy, and requested that the IICA and the FAO support the Caricom Secretariat in developing a framework for repositioning agriculture in the Region.

In underlining the problems that the agricultural sector faces in the Region, Jagdeo had stressed that in the changing global environment, the sector was neither providing for food security nor earning the foreign exchange needed to cover the Region’s growing food import bill.

In addition, at a Caricom Heads of Government Conference in Grand Anse, Grenada, Jagdeo had presented a paper entitled “A Framework for the Repositioning of Caribbean Agriculture”. In that framework, he stressed the need for a regional policy and strategy aimed at strengthening food security and alleviating poverty, and in January 2005, the President’s proposal was formally dubbed the “Jagdeo Initiative” with the theme “Strengthening Agriculture for Sustainable Development”.

The declining role of agriculture in the Region, the continuing loss of preferential markets for the Region’s traditional products, and the rapidly-increasing extraregional food import bill are among the serious and challenging issues highlighted in the Initiative. However, while there has been much banter on the topic, it is not clear what concrete actions (if any) were taken since then to strengthen the Region’s agriculture sector and to bring it to a level envisaged in the “Jagdeo Initiative”.

Regional Governments would need to show by their actions that they are willing to go beyond the rhetoric.

Guyana has made tremendous efforts to ensure the country produces enough to meet the demands of its citizens.

As we are presently doing, other countries would need to organise themselves and their individual farming sectors and encourage young persons to embrace new technologies to see farming and agriculture as a business. By doing so, the Region would not only be ensuring there is enough food to satisfy the demands of people, but the surplus of what is produced could be exported.

Several years after, many of the proposals detailed in the Jagdeo Initiative are still relevant and perhaps even more needed, now considering the changing global dynamics as it relates to countries producing enough to meet the needs of their populations and to satisfy export markets.

President Ali’s call for countries to develop an effective agriculture and food security strategy is another reminder of Guyana’s commitment to the issue of food security. It would be to Caricom’s benefit if other countries follow suit.

President Dr Irfaan Ali signing the Book of Condolences on Wednesday in tribute to late PPP Central Committee Member Majeed Hussain, who died on Saturday last. President Ali, along with top Government officials and other party members, gathered at Freedom House, where the party song was sung before Hussain’s body was taken to Cummings Lodge, Greater Georgetown for burial

Let the investigation commence Dear Editor, The withdrawal of the report, “Signed Away”, by the Global Witness (GW) organisation saw a swift response by Raphael Trotman in the media. The protagonist sought to use this event as a reason that precipitated the fall of the Granger government. He also used this to downplay his role in that sordid affair that allegedly saw Guyana losing US$55 billion in Exxon’s oil deal.

I contacted the Director of GW to seek clarification regarding the reasons for the withdrawal, and inquired if GW had changed its premises in that “Signed Away” report (except for the overestimation (oil money) benefits to Guyana). GW

has affirmed that it stands by the integrity of the evidence presented, and stands by the fiscal model produced

by OpenOil, which was commissioned by that environmental/human rights body.

GW is an apolitical organisation whose mission is to point out ecological and human rights abuses by the exploitation of natural resources and corruption in the global political and economic system.

It is preposterous to surmise that the “Signed Away” report was orchestrated as a tool to bring down the Granger government, as alluded to by Trotman.

Of particular interest to the Guyanese people is what Trotman said regarding the

oil revenues (with Exxon).

The report states that “Trotman also told Global Witness that getting maximum revenues from Exxon was not the Government’s main aim, and the country needed Exxon to help protect its borders from Venezuela”.

(Hmmm – getting maximum revenue from Exxon not a priority??)

According to the GW report, Trotman undertook “a lavish trip to the (Exxon) company’s Texas headquarters, complete with a firstclass flight, a stay at an expensive hotel, and a meal at an exclusive restaurant”, and that Exxon’s internal policy prohibits gifts that may “improperly influence pending business decisions.”

The report concludes that, “Trotman may have had a conflict of interest during the deal, because his political ally, Nigel Hughes, was a lawyer for Exxon. His firm has represented the company since 2009, but Hughes denies he worked on the Stabroek oil reserve deal.”

Mr Trotman seeks to have an investigation (into his role) in the oil agreement(s), and claims that such an investigation “will receive my full and unequivocal support.” Let the investigation commence; the Guyanese people want to know how they lost US$55 billion!

Yours truly, Dr Devanand Bhagwan

We will defend the rights of our country – peacefully

Dear Editor, The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela should be Guyana’s friendly, helpful neighbour. It came out of the cradle of underdevelopment before us, and grew to be wealthy with the earth’s resources. But it also grew instincts of greed and power – and of expansionism, to satisfy both.

Certainly, there are good people in Venezuela who disdain these motivations; but there are powerful cabals who cling to them, alien though they are to the spirit of pan-Latin American cooperation and respect espoused by the country’s national hero, Simon Bolivar.

For over a century and a half, Venezuela lived with

its borders, including with Guyana, when they were colonial borders. Clearly, they could endure colonial borders, but not those of the true people of Guyana – our Indigenous people, and the sons and daughters of imperial years of slavery, and indenture and immigrant labour, moulded into a young nation.

As we sought to exercise our right to self-determination in the 1960s – as colonialism collapsed worldwide – Venezuelan greed could not be contained. Under nationalist and even Cold War flags, they laid siege to almost three-quarters of Guyana an emerging infant neighbour. With old conquistadorial adventurism, they sought

to disqualify Guyana’s birth and birthright. They failed to disable us at birth, because both “mighty” Britain and “small” Guyana resisted.

Guyana would be the territory within the borders of its cradle of Independence unless, in the unlikely event, the world’s highest judicial body, the International Court of Justice (ICJ), were to someday rule that Guyana’s self-determination was misplaced.

But Venezuelan imperial ambitions never liked the law. It was too pure for their indecency of territorial theft.

And so it remains – only now magnified by the reality that “small” Guyana has the prospect of off-shore oil resources. Venezuela’s territorial

greed - like Nazi Germany’s Lebensraum (grabbing territory in Eastern Europe by force) - is now heightened by criminal enrichment.

The ICJ, to whom the Secretary-General of the United Nations has entrusted the resolution of this unseemly matter, has ruled that it is the right place to do so.

That affirmation of the lawful path has inflamed the forces of poaching in Caracas, who now threaten, in their raves, to further defy international law and the peace and security of the Caribbean region as they reach out in a maritime clutch against Guyana and beyond it.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 14, 2021

5

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Agriculture must be given priority during COVID-19

Dear Editor, Agriculture must be given priority during the COVID-19 pandemic, as it is perhaps the most resilient sector of the economy.

The nation at large, and farmers in particular, recognise the significance of farming to the economy.

Farmers and the public say Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha has been very active on the ground, providing support to the farming community.

He has received kudos from farmers all over the country for his work ethic. As I travel around conducting an opinion poll, farmers say he has been very engaging, listening to them and providing much needed support.

In looking at the economy, from my interaction with people from all classes, it appears that construction, real estate, banking, and mining are among the

most resilient sectors of the economy during the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. Some planned construction is delayed because of the pandemic.

There is not much demand for office space and high-end residential developments that are further weakened by mobility restrictions; but oil and gas projects are proceeding, as is some home construction.

People don’t have much spending power to purchase property or rehabilitate homes, but surplus money is invested in construction.

So, investors are not really facing losses; property values will increase when oil money flows. Mining products don’t rot, and some minerals have an instant market, gold and diamonds in particular.

Those with surplus capital are proceeding with construction with the ex-

pectation that when the COVID-19 pandemic eases and money starts to flow, people will purchase property. People have to eat, and as such need money.

They tap into savings utilising banking services, with the banks making money through their fees. Since there is a demand for food, agriculture is sustained, and remains perhaps the most resilient aspect of the economy.

However, since many workers lost their job due to termination by the coalition government, closure of factories, and COVID-19, many people have gone into market vending of agro-produce to make ends meet, but money has not been circulating. In addition, there is a surplus of vendors, accompanied by a shortage of funds by consumers to purchase food. So, farmers are not earning much from

their crops, and most vendors are barely eking out a living.

But food is plentiful, and most farmers are not losing money, except through inclement weather conditions. Many consumers, especially in rural and hinterland areas, produce a lot of food for domestic consumption.

Government must look to export food in the Caribbean and in the diaspora, especially to the USA and Canada, where there is huge demand for Guyanese produce. The two stimulus packages have provided much needed relief among the poorer sections of society, especially during the end-of- year holiday, and this New Year so far.

People are observed spending, creating a small spurt in the retail sector.

Agriculture is still the hope of the future. And it

Guyana should pay keen attention to what Guaidó has to say

Dear Editor, With just a few days to go before US Presidentelect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris are inaugurated, USinstalled “interim” or alternative Venezuela President, Juan Guaidó, will share his vision of the next steps for his country for 2021.

It would be interesting to hear how he sees the policy of the new US Administration on Venezuela, and how that policy is likely to impact

him and Venezuela/Guyana relations.

Guaidó’s presentation will take place on Friday morning at an event put on by the Council for the Americas/Americas Society.

Here is the text of the invitation I received to participate: Nicolás Maduro held fraudulent legislative elections on December 6. Fully 60 countries have issued or joined public statements condemning those elec-

tions as neither free nor fair. On December 26, 2020, the Venezuelan National Assembly voted in favour of extending its current term beyond January 5, 2021.

At this event, Juan Guaidó, who will continue to serve as interim president beyond that date as well, will present his vision for next steps in the new year. Colombian Vice Foreign Minister Adriana Mejía and U.S. Ambassador to Venezuela James Story

will give welcoming remarks. To close the event, a panel of Venezuelan civil society leaders, including student leaders, health workers, and dissident chavistas, will share their views on the challenges that face the country in 2021.”

I would advise that Guyana pays keen attention to what Guaidó has to say.

Regards, Wesley Kirton

must be protected as a key indicator of economic activity. It could provide a platform for national recovery from the pandemic as the country waits for oil money, not expected until three to five years hence.

Government must encourage farmers to produce, even if there is a surplus in the market. Prices of essential foods have not been decreasing, although vendors suffer losses. Supply and demand are not working in Guyana’s agro-economy.

Government must find a way to subsidise farming.

There is a surplus of food, especially vegetables and ground provisions; overseas markets are needed.

Government has to find ways to help farmers to export food – perhaps through some arrangement with the airlines which are flying very light over the last couple months, at less than 50% capacity. Government could subsidise air freight to New York and Toronto, where there is strong demand for all kinds of vegetables. Once the price is right, the diaspora would be attracted to Guyanese produce, which in turn would help to provide revenues to farmers in Guyana to sustain the economy as the nation awaits the oil funds.

Yours truly, Vishnu Bisram

We will defend the...

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4

The Venezuelan President’s decree of January 7, 2021, with its promulgation of a so-called ‘Atlantic Façade’ that claims sovereignty and exclusive sovereign rights for Venezuela in the waters and seabed adjacent to Guyana’s coast west of the Essequibo River, is not only a violation of international law, it is also a blatant attempt to snatch Guyana’s territory and maritime space.

We must not permit this to happen. In the forefront of pressing for such resistance must be the younger people of this, our beloved country. Under no circumstance should we countenance any attempt to erode the sovereignty and territorial integrity of our nation.

The Caribbean Community has already spoken out publicly against it, and so have the United States and Canada.

Having failed to silence the voice of global justice, shame should overwhelm Venezuela.

Regrettably, that is unlikely. Therefore, the youth of Guyana must stand up now, and let Venezuela and the world know that we will defend the rights of our country – peacefully, and in accordance with the applicable rules of international law.

We will not genuflect to threats, or to unilateral illegal declarations by any party in Venezuela.

Sincerely, Thandi R McAllister

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Foundation ◄

1) Look at the chart of Lisa’s Hotdogs sales of hot dogs On what day was the most hot dogs sold?

On what day was the fewest hot dogs sold?

How many more hot dogs were sold on Sunday than Monday?

2) Look at the line graph of school concert ticket sales.

In what month was the most tickets sold?

About how many tickets were sold per month?

In what month was the fewest tickets sold?

Æsop’s Fables

FOR CHILDREN 4) Look at the pie-chart of students’ favourite breakfast foods.

What is the favourite breakfast food of students?

Do more students prefer porridge or cereals?

If so, by what percentage?

5) The Guyana Police Force has recorded several accidents over the last eight days: 1, 4, 5, 4, 12, 4, 8, 9, with each number representing a daily total.

What is the average number (mean) of accidents per day?

What is the mode of the sample?

What is the median of the sample?

6) John has been appointed the official scorekeeper for the school’s basketball team. He recorded the following scores for his teammates over the past five games: Paul: 23, 34, 11, 26, 18 Harrinan: 10, 8, 9, 12, 29 Chris: 20, 0, 19, 12, 2 Keenan: 23, 7, 6, 5, 17 Create a stem-and-leaf plot using the data.

3) Look at the double line graph of grades versus hours of TV watched.

Which grades coincide with the most hours of TV watched?

Which grades coincide with the fewest hours of TV watched?

7) Using the raw data for the basketball scores in Question 6, create a box-and-whisker plot.

What is the range of the data?

What is the median of the data?

8) Anjalie gathered stones from a nearby stream. She collected 12 stones in all, and she noticed that 8 stones were dark grey and 4 were white before she put them in a bag.

Draw a tree diagram to show the possible outcomes if Anjalie were to pick a stone from the bag.

9) At a school Christmas party, 6 students brought fried chicken, 5 brought beverages, 12 brought snacks and 3 brought ice-cream. Draw a Venn Diagram and record the data.

10) James and 16 other students put their names on a piece of paper and put them in a cap.

If there are 9 girls in the group, what is the probability that a girl’s name will be picked from the cap?

What is the probability that James ’s name will not be picked from the cap?

A

pack of wolves lurked near the sheep pasture.

But the dogs kept them all at a respectful distance, and the sheep grazed in perfect safety.

But now the wolves thought of a plan to trick the sheep.

“Why is there always this hostility between us?” they said. “If it were not for those dogs who are always stirring up trouble, I am sure we should get along beautifully. Send them away and you will see what good friends we shall become.”

The sheep were easily fooled. They persuaded the dogs to go away, and that very evening the wolves had the grandest feast of their lives.

WORD SEARCH

NEWS

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 14, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Guyana, India ink US$12.7M contract for ocean-going ferry

...US$8M in grant from India

I

n less than two years, Guyana will have a spanking new ocean-going passenger and cargo ferry vessel added to its fleet, after a US$12.7 million contract was signed on Wednesday for the construction of a vessel to ply the North-West DistrictGeorgetown route.

This is part of a US$18 million project being funded by the Indian Government; that is, US$8 million grant and US$10 million Line of Credit (LOC).

Signing the US$12,733,403 contract in the Boardroom of the Public Works Ministry were General Manager of the Transport and Harbours Department, Marclene Merchant, and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Vladim Persaud, who signed as a witness.

This was done in the presence of local representatives of the India-based Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Ltd (GRES), which has been contracted to build the vessel. The company will have 18 months to deliver the vessel, which will have larger capacity for cargo, and allow for reduced travel time as well as greater passenger comfort and safety.

Public Works Minister Juan Edghill reminded that former President Donald Ramotar, under the last PPP/C Administration, had secured funding from the Indian Government for the vessel, but no significant progress had been made in the last five years.

T&HD General Manager Marclene Merchant signing the contract for the new ocean-going vessel on Wednesday as Public Works Minister Juan Edghill and Indian High Commissioner Dr KJ Srinivasa, along with local representatives from GRES, witness

“The money for the ferry was available. We came back to office five years later, no contract was awarded and signed, no ferry was built, and the monies still available,” Edghill asserted.

He noting that, within months, the Irfaan Ali-led Administration had been able to resolve what had seemed an “insurmountable” problem with the project.

The Public Works Minister went on to emphasise the need for such a vessel to ply the North-West District-to-Georgetown route.

“The vessel that currently serves that route has developed serious problems – the MV Kimbia. It must go

into dry dock because it has developed a hole in the bow.

These vessels are aged, and that was one of the reasons why the PPP/C, in a previous administration, was seeking to renew and modernise the fleet. But only God knows why the delays for five years,” he posited.

According to Minister Edghill, the APNU/AFC Coalition was attempting to award the contract to the highest bidder, which he said was “not flying at the procurement level…and you are dealing with a bilateral partner that has processes and expects that your own processes in your own country are followed.”

Project finally taking off

The

Indian

High

Commissioner to Guyana, Dr K.J. Srinivasa, had told Guyana Times back in November 2020 that the EXIM (Export-Import) Bank of India had blocked clearance of the funds due to some issues.

GRES, the Indian firm contracted to build the vessel, was the lowest bidder. As such, during Wednesday’s contract signing, Dr Srinivasa expressed elation at the US$18 project finally taking off, noting that additional works are being undertaken under this initiative.

“Out of this US$12.733 million being spent for this particular ferry, the first US$8 million will be taken care of as a grant by the Government of India. So, only US$4.733 million will be the line of credit component. The remaining amount of the US$18 million, we are seeing how best we can work in upgrading the stellings at both the arrival and departure ports.

“We got the proposal from the Government of Guyana [on Wednesday] so we plan to take it up with our Ministry back home, and see how best we can work with that at a fast pace,” the Indian diplomat stated.

It was noted that the US$12.7 million will be disbursed in three phases to the contractor. An advanced payment of 20 per cent of the contract sum; that is, US$2,253,601, will be paid in the coming days, and then 40 per cent – amounting to US$5,239,901 – will be released later this year at various construction milestone dates. The final sum of the remaining 40 per cent will be disbursed in 2022 after the installation of the main engines and steering systems, and upon receipt and acceptance of the vessel.

GRES is a prominent shipbuilding company under the administrative

control of the Ministry of Defence in India, and primarily caters to the shipbuilding requirements of the Indian Navy and the Indian Coast Guard.

The shipbuilding product line extends its span from technologically sophisticated frigates and corvettes to fast patrol vessels.

In the last five decades, GRES has built and delivered ships ranging from small to large and advanced vessels, including frigates, anti-submarine warfare corvettes, missile corvettes, landing ship tanks, landing craft utilities, survey vessels, fleet replenishment tankers, fast patrol vessels, offshore patrol vessels, inshore patrol vessels, WJFAC, hovercrafts and fast interceptor boats for the Indian Navy, Indian Coast Guard, MHA, and governments of other countries.

GRES has built and supplied more than 750 vessels to carry men and material for the surveillance of the coast line. Over the years, the company has responded to the various shipbuilding requirements of the Indian Defence Services, and has evolved from building simpler vessels to building larger and technically advanced warships.

The company was represented at Wednesday’s signing by Vishnu Doerga and Daniel Sugrim. (G8)

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 14, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Drugs, improvised weapons unearthed at NA Prison

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raid at the New Amsterdam Prison has unearthed a number of contraband items.

The Police have said that, on Wednesday, a total of 85 ranks from the Joint Services conducted a raid at about 06:20h at the Prison. Among the items confiscated were six lighters, a quantity of wires, one phone charger, a quantity of Ziplock bags, four metal spoons, six improvised weapons, a quantity of razor blades, one adapter, two phone batteries, four chargers and cables, eight Ziplock bags containing leaves, seeds, stems and 30 grams of

New Amsterdam Prison

ganja.

Prison officials also found one pair of scissors, four cellular phones, one

mirror and one nail clip.

Only last week, two inmates of the Lusignan Prison were found with a

quantity of ganja and several contraband items, following a raid.

Prison officials conducted a search on the two inmates and discovered 490 grams of cannabis in their possession.

They also unearthed one cellphone, one earpiece, 29 packets of cigarettes, a quantity of Ziploc bags, 12 smoking papers, a quantity of tobacco leaves, and $30,000.

Following the discovery, the suspected cannabis was weighed in their presence and amounted to 490 grams. The items and the inmates were taken to the Vigilance Police Station. (G9)

Police charged for forging sick leave form

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Police Constable was on Tuesday placed on $50,000 bail when he appeared before Linden Magistrate Wanda Fortune to answer three counts of uttering forged documents committed on Public

Justice.

Omali Lloyd denied the charges, but the Prosecution is contending that on two occasions, the Police Constable produced sick leave forms from two doctors and leave form purportedly signed by

an officer, and upon verification, none was proven to be authentic.

He was placed on $25,000 bail each on two of the three charges, and was granted self-bail on the third charge.

A condition for his being

placed on bail is that the cop has to lodge his passport at the Wismar Police Station and report thereto weekly until the completion of his cases. The matters have been adjourned to January 22.

Judgement Day…

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…on American democracy mericans don’t mess around when it comes to the sanctity (or image) of their Republic! Ever since 1776, when they threw out King George III and established the first Republic in the modern world, they’ve become a beacon for democratic rule. The monarchy had been the established way to rule for millennia, and most folks never contemplated that running a government could be a “public thing” - res publica - where ordinary people could choose their government!

The Americans set an example for the world, and pretty soon France, in 1789, Haiti in 1791, and the rest of Spanish (Latin) America in the early 19th century followed like dominoes. But booting out their king wasn’t America’s greatest example; after all, over the millennia, many a Royal head had rolled, as Charles I of England discovered! It was the introduction of a written CONSTITUTION to spell out exactly how their rulers and leaders would be elected - and ejected!

And we arrive at Donald Trump and his frenzied attempts to remain in office, even though he’d been rejected at the polls. Of course, there had been constitutionally approved recourse to the courts to deal with his allegations of the Democratic dead coming out of their graves to vote, and other “anomalies”. But the courts had thrown out these challenges, and all that was left was their second stage “Electoral College” vote to confirm the winner.

And this was where Trump crossed the Rubicon between constitutional democratic governance and seizing power by force. In this day of social media and mass media, the drama of Trump inciting his insurrectionary supporters - and they invading the Capitol and five persons getting killed - played out before the entire world. And what does the Constitution say about this?

Well, in 1967 they’d amended their Constitution (25th Amendment) to clarify the order of succession when a president resigns, dies or becomes ill; is temporarily incapacitated, or is unable to execute his duties. The last would require VP Pence and a majority of the Cabinet to vote to remove Trump from office due to his inability to “discharge the powers and duties of his office”. But even though Pence had signalled that Trump should go, he balked.

And so it came down to another stipulation of the Constitution: Congress has the authority to impeach and remove the President upon a determination that he engaged in treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors.

The Democrats, supported by some Republicans, have now impeached or charged Trump with “incitement of insurrection” and the penalty would be decided by the Senate in a trial.

Trump had already been impeached, but the Republican Senate didn’t try him.

This time they’ll bar him from running again. Checkmate!! …on our Caribbean roots The question of our Caribbean heritage comes up again and again - especially now that “race” has come to the fore in the US. We’ve always seemed to take our cues on this matter from our Big Brother to the North! Just because he was assassinated by the PNC, hope we haven’t all forgotten the American Black Power Movement that Rodney imported into the region a half-century ago!

Well, one nuance we’ve studiously swept under the carpet just peeped out in the wake of Kamala Harris becoming the US VP-Elect. One letter writer, Conrad Barrow, wrote that she’s “the first female Vice-President, the first known Vice- President of African, Indian and Caribbean descent.”

But her father Donald Harris has insisted, “My roots go back to my paternal grandmother Miss Chrisnée Christiana Brown, descendant of Hamilton Brown, who’s on record as plantation and slave owner and founder of Brown’s Town.

Brown was white, so Kamala’s dad’s “Mixed”.

Why deny Kamala’s white heritage? …on Climate Change There’s no question that the tipping point on Climate Change is nigh upon us. So why aren’t these folks pushing for our oil to remain underground, not lobbying the big polluters who enjoyed 200 years of flagrant pollution?

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

NEWS

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 14, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Venezuela's provocation on border controversy

Guyana will not accept bullyism – AG …urges unity in defence of sovereignty

Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall

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ttorney General Anil Nandlall has declared that Guyana will not be bullied by neighbouring Venezuela, which has made new claims to its maritime border west of the Essequibo Coast.

During his weekly programme, Issues In The News, Nandlall said Venezuela “… just wants to behave like a bully. It wants to abrogate international law. It doesn’t want to settle the dispute in a court that has the jurisdiction to do so, it wants to go extra-judicial, it would appear, for the settlement of this dispute. Well, we are not going to accept such bullyism.”

Last week, the Nicolás Maduro government issued a decree claiming for Venezuela sovereignty and exclusive sovereign rights in the waters and seabed adjacent to Guyana’s coast west of the Essequibo River – a move which has been widely rejected here by Government, the Opposition, civil society bodies and bilat-

eral partners.

Venezuela has claimed it is being shortchanged after the International Court of Justice (ICJ) – which Guyana has approached for a final and binding settlement of the border controversy – set a case management hearing for Friday, January 15, 2021. The Spanishspeaking nation has said it has not been given sufficient time to prepare for the hearing of the case, but Guyana’s Attorney General is of the view that Venezuela’s misinterpretation of tomorrow’s hearing might be deliberate.

“All of this is deliberate!

Venezuela wants to go rogue, and that is why Guyana has appealed to all our friends in the region and around the world for their support and solidarity, because Venezuela is obviously moving in a direction of a rogue nation. It is not considering itself bound by international law, international practices, international procedures, international precedents,” he contended.

Nandlall has posited that it is fortunate that, over the years, Guyanese, especially politicians, have been mature enough to put partisan politics aside and field a united front whenever this matter arises.

“Right now it is at its fore, and I hope that the same type of unity and the same type of nationalism will be galvanised across the political divide, so that we can show the world that while we may have a billion differences, but on this issue, all the politicians, all the political parties, all the people – every ethnic group, every racial group, every religious organisation, every national important organisation – stands firmly and stands unitedly in defending our territorial sovereignty,” the AG contended.

Based on the recommendation of United Nations Secretary General António Guterres, following the failed Good Officers’ Process, Guyana filed an application seeking a final and binding judgment to reinforce that the 1899 Arbitral Award remains valid and binding on all parties; and legal affirmation that Guyana’s Essequibo region, which contains much of Guyana’s natural resources, belongs to Guyana, and not Venezuela.

However, the Government of Venezuela has claimed, in a letter dated June 2018 to the World Court, that the UN SG exceeded his authority under the 1966 Geneva Agreement when he referred the case to the ICJ, and therefore the court lacks jurisdiction to adjudicate the matter.

Nandlall further opined that Venezuela is refusing to submit to the ICJ’s jurisdiction because it knows that if the matter is fairly adjudicated in accordance with international law, norms and practices, then Venezuela does not have a case.

He explained that the ICJ was established just after the end of the Second World War with the purpose of no longer pursuing the paths of war but resort to legal conciliatory and judicial-styled and fashioned methods to resolve international disputes, and national disputes among territories in the world.

It was expected, he added, that countries would willingly submit themselves to the jurisdiction of these tribunals and organisations in order to settle territorial disputes.

“Unfortunately Venezuela, in abrogation of international law and in violation of all the treaties that they would have signed on to, which would have mandated them to submit them-

selves to the jurisdiction of these tribunals, is now refusing itself to the jurisdiction of the court,” Nandlall stated.

The Attorney General went on to note that while it is within the sovereign rights of nations not to submit to treaties or international organisations such as the World Court, if they do not wish to – which he says is an incidence of sovereignty - one would expect that a country would have “solid grounds” for not submitting to the jurisdiction of these international tribunals.

“Venezuela has not stated a sensible or plausible reason why it is not subjecting itself to the Court’s jurisdiction. So, the Court had to do the next best thing and assess the conduct of Venezuela in order to determine whether that conduct amounted to submission to the jurisdiction of the court.

“One cannot participate in a process and then when the process culminates or reaches such a level that in-

volves the court taking control of it, [one changes one’s mind]. One is not allowed – either by municipal law or by international law – to extricate one’s self and deny the existence of a consistent course of conduct moving in a particular direction,” the AG pointed out.

According to Nandlall, those were the principles of law considered by the ICJ during its December 18, 2020 decision, when it ruled that it has jurisdiction to adjudicate over the border controversy case.

In a majority ruling, the ICJ found that both Guyana and Venezuela have consented to judicial settlememt when it signed the Geneva Agreement, since the judicial process via the ICJ is one of the means available to the Secretary-General in determining the controversy.

To this end, Nandlall said the Court’s decision is binding on both parties, and that it can join the proceedings in the substantive case. (G8)

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Father of 1 killed in US vessel sent to patrol offshore Guyana head-on collision intercepts drug traffickers

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31-year-old minibus driver of Prashad Nagar, Georgetown was on Tuesday evening killed in an accident on the Soesdyke-Linden Highway.

Dead is Uriel Reynolds, a father of one. Reports are that at about 19:15h on Tuesday, Reynolds was driving minibus PPP 3468 along the Soesdyke-Linden Highway when a pickup truck which was allegedly travelling at a fast rate of speed crashed into his vehicle.

Police have since stated that Reynolds was proceeding west along the Soesdyke Highway when the collision occurred with the pickup, which was heading east.

As a result of the headon collision, Reynolds was trapped in the minibus.

Public-spirited citizens managed to free him from the wreckage and rush him, along with another passenger, to the Georgetown Public Hospital. However, Reynolds was pronounced dead on arrival there.

In a social media post on Tuesday, the man’s father, Eion Reynolds, recalled seeing his son’s lifeless body at the hospital.

“At the hospital I viewed my son’s lifeless body with visible blood still on his nostrils and ears, where

Dead: Uriel Reynolds

he had obviously bled. His two feet were crushed, with gaping wounds all the way through the bone, and compound fracture. Persons had to literally pull the front of the bus apart to free him from where he was pinned and bleeding,” the grieving father stated.

The senior Reynolds said his son had just turned 31 last December, and had so much to live for, including his seven-year-old son, who will greatly miss him.

He is calling for justice to be served for his child.

“JUSTICE will be served, if it’s the last thing I do!”, the grieving man posted on social media. (G9)

uyana’s partnership with the United States Navy has borne early fruit even before the Americans officially start their mission along Guyana’s coast, as the USCGC Stone intercepted a vessel in the process of trafficking drugs.

According to information released by the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service (DVIDS), the vessel while en route to Guyana to conduct its joint patrols in keeping with Operation Southern Cross came across the vessel south of the Dominican Republic.

It was explained that acting on information from a maritime patrol aircraft, the USCGC Stone approached the vessel and used its US Coast Guard authority to stop them.

Another ship, the USCGC Raymond Evans, subsequently arrived on the scene.

“A Coast Guard boarding team from the Raymond Evans conducted a law enforcement boarding, testing packages found aboard the vessel, revealing bales of cocaine estimated at 2148.5 lbs (970 kgs) total,” DVIDS said in a statement.

“Stone’s crew remained on scene during the search of the vessel to assist if needed.

Following the boarding, the Raymond Evans crew took possession of the contraband and detained the four suspected narcotics trafficking vessel members. They are working with the US Coast Guard

The USCGC Stone patrolling offshore Guyana

7th District and Department of Justice on the next steps.”

The DVIDS statement included quotes from senior officials in the US Navy. Vice Admiral Steven Poilin, who commands the US Coast Guard Atlantic Area, was unsurprised at the ship’s efficiency during the drug bust.

According to him, it is what the Captain, the crew, and the Coast Guard prepare for.

“USCGC Stone is a highly-capable multipurpose platform and ready to conduct missions to save lives, support lawful activities on the high seas, and highlight and build Coast Guard partnerships with other nations,” DVIDS said.

“Stone’s crew is exhibiting the highest professional competence, reinforcing that Stone is well-suited to help our partners in the South Atlantic expose and address illicit activities in the maritime domain.

These transnational criminal activities – be it illegal fishing or the trafficking of people, drugs, money, etc – chal-

lenge global security, and only together can we combat these threats.”

Meanwhile, USCGC Stone’s commanding officer, Captain Adam Morrison expressed pride at the work done by his crew and their ability to make an immediate impact on their first patrol. According to him, the crew looks forward to working with the Guyana Coast Guard. And Rear Admiral Andrew Tiongson, the Director of Operations at the US Southern Command, was optimistic about the work USCGC Stone will continue to do.

“Our teammates aboard USCGC Stone are helping keep our shared neighbourhood – the Western Hemisphere – safe, successfully stopping illicit narcotics smuggling, while continuing their equally-important mission to counter predatory and irresponsible IUU [illegal, unregulated, and unreported] fishing, a growing threat to our partner nations’ sovereignty and our collective regional security,” Tiongson

said.

It was announced recently that in keeping with efforts to increase maritime security in the Atlantic Ocean, the US Navy has sent the USCGC Stone, a brand-new cutter, to patrol offshore a number of countries in the Region. It has already started patrolling offshore Guyana.

The USCGC Stone is a Legend-class cutter, considered one of the most technologically-advanced ships in the US Coast Guard’s fleet with a range of 12,000 nautical miles.

This class of cutters usually measure 127 metres, with a 54-foot beam (width at the widest point of the ship) and can reach a top speed of over 28 knots.

The ship will be on a multi-month deployment to the South Atlantic Ocean and will be tasked with countering illegal, unregulated, and unreported fishing, while also strengthening relationships for maritime sovereignty and security throughout the Region. (G3)

NEWS

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 14, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

$63M fertiliser testing lab opens I

n an effort to improve the quality of crops being produced locally, the Government has opened a new, state-of-the-art fertiliser testing facility in the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute’s Compound at Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara.

This new lab, which costs some $63 million, was on Wednesday commissioned by the Agriculture Ministry’s Pesticide and Toxic Chemicals Control Board. Commissioning of this new fertiliser testing facility comes a few months after farmers had made several complaints about the poor quality of fertilisers they had received from the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI).

They had raised the concerns in October 2020 when Agriculture Minister

Zulfikar Mustapha visited some farmers at Buxton on the East Coast of Demerara.

During that meeting, Mustapha had committed to having the issue rectified.

Now, some three months later, the fertiliser Testing Laboratory is now opened with the aim of having better quality control of the fertilisers being distributed to farmers.

“I am happy because of this milestone and achievement that demonstrates our Government’s commitment not only to agriculture, but to our farmers as well.

Since taken office, I have had the opportunity to visit a number of farming communities, and I can clearly tell you (that) on many of those visits, farmers have echoed their concerns about the quality of fertiliser imported and distributed in Guyana,”

Mustapha told the gathering.

Moreover, the Agriculture Minister said his intention is to have the officers go out into the fields

more often and listen to farmers’ concerns.

“This project here today tells us that this is direct response to the needs of our farmers, the problems

they are being faced with over the last few years; and today we are addressing one of those concerns, and that is a major concern for the farmers around the

country,” he added.

Mustapha is encouraging stakeholders to work along with the Agriculture Ministry and the Pesticide and Toxic Chemicals Board to guarantee the authenticity of the products being used in the local agriculture sector.

“Over the years, historically, Guyana has been the focal point for agriculture in the Caribbean. Over the last five years, we have ceded that position to St. Vincent, and rest assured that, as Minister of Agriculture, I am optimistic that we will take back that position shortly, as the chief spokesperson for agriculture in the Caribbean,” he pointed out.

This new facility is one of two laboratories in the entire Caribbean that has the capacity for this advanced level of fertiliser testing. (G9)

Linden hire car drivers strike to keep “double” fares

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Hire car drivers in Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) on strike on Wednesday

ire car drivers in Linden, Region 10 (Upper DemeraraBerbice) commenced strike action in the community on Wednesday over a proposal by the regional authorities to have them revert to charging the regular fares for transportation.

The drivers who are popularly known as the $100 car operators, who operate within Linden, and those who ply the Linden-Georgetown route had increased their fares because their passenger capacity had been reduced to 75 percent based on COVID-19 social distancing guidelines.

However, in light of Government’s decision to allow public transportation to return to full passenger capacity, the regional authorities have urged Linden drivers to revert to charging their original fares.

The $100 car operators had reportedly doubled their fares, and increases were

also noted with some vehicles travelling from Linden to Georgetown. Passengers were left stranded in the community on Wednesday after the operators refused to work, but remained

parked.

According to some of these drivers, the main concern is the move to return to the normal capacity, owing to COVID-19 fears.

The Regional Democratic

Council (RDC), in a recent statement, urged operators to reduce their fares.

“The Regional Democratic Council has noted the provisions outlined by Government in the Official Gazette of December 30th, 2020, where it is ordered that: ‘any person who provides public transportation within Guyana, whether by land, water or air, may carry the number of passengers which the motor vehicle is licensed to carry, and shall comply with the measures under paragraph 12’ (which states that each passenger MUST wear a face mask).”

The RDC added that it had taken note that operators of hire cars and buses had raised their fares in the face of having to carry a reduced number of passen-

gers, but they are now authorised to carry their full complement of passengers.

“Our nurses, teachers, students, and indeed all residents, have borne these increased charges for many months now, and since the Government has decided to allow public transportation providers to return their operations to normal, it is only fair that the transportation charges are returned to normal as well. As such, the Council urges those persons providing public transportation to return to the original transportation charges immediately,” the statement

read.

The RDC also urged residents to continue to practise social distancing where possible, to wear a face mask as well as to wash or sanitise their hands frequently, while respecting all COVID-19 guidelines as established by the Health Ministry.

The increase in transportation fares in the community has also engaged the attention of the Linden Mayor and Town Council (LM&TC).

Senior citizens in particular were negatively impacted, and had complained about the steep increase in fares in Linden. (G13)

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 14, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Dentist charged for allegedly refusing Highway accident Truck driver charged for causing to treat patient based on ethnicity …as ERC accused of breaking its SoPs

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dentist attached to the Fort Wellington Hospital was on Wednesday placed before the court for allegedly refusing to treat a patient based on her ethnicity.

Dr Surendrapaul Rampersaud, of Cotton Tree Village, West Coast Berbice (WCB), appeared before Magistrate Peter Hugh and pleaded not guilty to the charge.

It is alleged that on September 18, 2020, at the Fort Wellington Hospital while being employed as a dental surgeon, the 33-yearold refused to perform a tooth extraction on a child because of the patient’s ethnicity.

The charges were brought by the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) under the Representation of the People’s Act Section 139: A (ll).

The dental surgeon was released on his own recognisance and will have to return to court on January 22.

He is being represented by Attorneys Horacio Edmondson

Charged: Dr Surendrapaul Rampersaud

and Joel Edmond.

However, the matter did not go down well with some ERC Commissioners who stated that the Commission has numerous Standard Operating Procedures (SoPs) that must be followed before charges are implemented. In this case, a Commissioner said,

death by dangerous driving

those SoPs were not followed.

Meanwhile, an ERC Commissioner, who serves on the disciplinary committee, said there were recommendations to have the matter sent to the medical board. However, persons went ahead and implemented the charges without taking the matter to the full Commission.

ERC Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Renne Chester, in an invited comment, noted that the normal procedure is for complaints to be sent to an investigating committee and then based on the findings, each case is sent to a sub-committee which is made up of legal minds who will interview the investigators.

As it relates to whatever recommendations are made, those recommendations should be taken to the full Commission for ratification.

Chester could not say why those procedures were not followed, but promised to look into it. (G4)

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51-year-old truck driver of Bath Settlement, West Coast Berbice (WCB), was on Wednesday charged with causing the death of Massy Stores employee Dayle Jordan in an accident along the Linden-Soesdyke Highway.

Suresh Latchman was arraigned before Magistrate Judy Latchman at the Providence Magistrates’ Courts.

The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge which stated that on January 8, 2021, at Linden-Soesdyke Highway, he drove a motor truck in a manner dangerous to the public, causing the death of Jordan, 36, of La Retraite, West Bank Demerara (WBD).

Reports are the accident occurred about 23:30h along the Yarrowkabra section of the Linden-Soesdyke Highway.

Police said that a motor pick-up driven by Latchman was proceeding north along the western side of the Highway when Jordan, who was also transporting a pillion rider, his fiancée on the motorcycle, allegedly over-

Dead: Dayle Jordan

took a car and ended up in the path of the truck, causing a collision.

Jordan and his fiancée were taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival. According to the Police, the truck driver was found to be above the legal limit for alcohol. (G1)

Marcus Bisram appeal

DPP’s directive for committal amounts to judicial interference – lawyer …directive for committal lawful – DPP

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rticle 122 of the Constitution of Guyana reads: “All courts and all persons presiding over the courts shall exercise their functions independently of the control and direction of any other person or authority; and shall be free and independent from political, executive and any other form of direction.”

When one considers a directive to Magistrate Renita Singh by Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Shalimar Ali-Hack, SC, for Guyana-born US citizen Marcus Bisram to be committed to stand trial for murder in the High Court, even though he was discharged after a preliminary inquiry, it amounts to obvious judicial interference, having regard to the above constitutional provision.

So contends Attorney-atLaw Arudranauth Gossai, who on Wednesday urged the Court of Appeal to dismiss an appeal filed by the DPP, in which she has asked the court to set aside an order granted by High Court Justice Simone MorrisRamlall quashing as unlawful her directive to the Magistrate. The High Court order essentially sets Bisram free and prohibits the DPP from bringing a murder indictment against him.

Interference

According to Gossai, the directive from the DPP to the Magistrate, to commit Bisram to stand trial, offends the separation of powers’ doctrine. He contends that the determination of whether a prima facie case was made out is a judicial process that has to be determined by the Magistrate in

Marcus Bisram

the preliminary inquiry.

The lawyer reasoned that Article 122 A of the Constitution “created an independent judiciary, and expressly provides that all courts and all persons presiding over the courts shall exercise their functions independently of the control and direction of any other person or authority; and shall be free and independent from political, executive and any form of direction and control.”

Against this backdrop, the lawyer argues that the directive of the DPP to the Magistrate was a clear attempt by the DPP to direct, influence, and control the Magistrate in her judicial function. Further, he underlined that any interference by the Executive on the

Judiciary would offend the doctrine of the separation of powers and the independence of the judiciary, as envisaged by the Constitution.

Strike down

The DPP, in giving the directive for committal, used powers vested in her under Section 72 of the Criminal Law Offences Act. Gossai, however, is arguing that this provision is unconstitutional, since the provision infringes on Articles 122 (a) and 144 (1) of the Constitution and the doctrine of the separation of powers.

He urged the Court of Appeal to strike down, as being unconstitutional, the offending parts/provisions / words in the aforementioned Section of the Act. According

to Gossai, the provisions of Section 72 (2) (ii) (a) seek to encroach on the judicial determination of a Magistrate.

Such an encroachment, he pointed out, would offend the separation of powers doctrine.

“The DPP cannot seek to determine the outcome of the preliminary inquiry. If the Court were to hold that the DPP had such powers, it would, respectfully, mean that the DPP (the Executive) would be empowered to influence the court in a manner which is specifically prohibited by Article 122 A of the Constitution.”

Bisram’s lawyer has, moreover, submitted that the power to adjudicate in criminal proceedings vests exclusively in the courts and no one else, and the provisions of Section 72 of the Criminal Law Offences Act has the effect of undermining the judicial power of the Judiciary and impinge on the doctrine of separation of powers and the independence of the judiciary.

He said the provisions of Section 72 are manifestly inconsistent with the supremacy of the Constitution, as enshrined in Article 8. Gossai underscored that, given the foregoing, the provisions of Section 72 make it clear that the Executive is vested with a purely judicial function, which offends the separation of powers and contravenes the provisions of Article 122 A of the Constitution.

In a 32-page judgment, Justice Morris-Ramlall analysed the evidence the prosecution presented against Bisram, and held that the evidence disclosed by the prosecution did not meet the required evidentiary thresh-

Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Shalimar Ali-Hack, SC

old. “…The evidence is insufficient, or, in other words, it is not of the quality that a reasonable jury properly directed could safely convict on it. The state or extent of the evidence is a relevant factor that should have been taken into account by the DPP in arriving at her decisions.”

Directive lawful

However, the DPP has maintained that her directive for committal was lawful. During her arguments to the Court of Appeal on Wednesday, she contended that there is sufficient evidence against Bisram to warrant a committal for him to face trial by a jury before a judge.

The DPP contends that the evidence is sufficient, and any reasonable jury, if properly directed, can safely convict.

According to the DPP, the evidence of Chaman Chunilall, a witness, was admissible evidence, and the issue that arises is the issue

of credibility, which is an issue for a jury to determine.

“This is a proper case for a committal, for it to go to trial in the High Court,” Ali-Hack said in her submissions to the appellate court.

Gossai also wants the court to award Bisram monetary damages for the period he was unlawfully incarcerated because of the actions of the DPP and the State.

This case is being heard by Chancellor of the Judiciary Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards, and Justices of Appeal Rishi Persaud and Dawn Gregory.

The panel will hear further arguments on February 3, 2021.

Bisram was charged with the October 2016 murder of Berbice carpenter and father of two, Faiyaz Narinedatt.

Media reports are that Narinedatt had gone to the yard, and was followed by Bisram, who reportedly came up behind him and made sexual advances. It was reported that Narinedatt rejected Bisram’s advances and slapped and chucked him, and Bisram then directed his friends to kill Narinedatt.

According to reports, several men had beaten Narinedatt and had dumped his body on the roadway at Number 70 Village Corentyne, Berbice. It was reported that they then drove over his body to make it appear like he was a victim of a vehicular accident.

Five other men: Orlando Dickie, Radesh Motie, Diodath Datt, Harri Paul Parsram, and Niran Yacoob, are currently awaiting trial at the High Court for Narinedatt’s murder. (G1)

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 14, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Over 500 children in Guyana tested positive for COVID-19 – Dr Anthony …as 43 new cases recorded

Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony

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f the more than 6000 COVID-19 cases which have been recorded in Guyana to date, some 537 have been children, according to Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony.

The Minister made this disclosure during his daily update on the COVID-19 situation in the country on Wednesday.

He explained that since they started testing in the country, a total of 114 children between the ages of 0 and five tested positive.

Additionally, 176 children between the ages of five and nine, and another 247 children between the ages of 10 and 14 tested positive.

“We haven’t had any serious ailments with children. Most of them were asymptomatic and they were monitored at home and basically, they have recovered,” Dr Anthony ex-

plained.

According to the Minister, these asymptomatic children were only detected owing to contact tracing after positive cases were recorded.

“When you go into a household, there might be children in that household and we would test everybody in the household if we believe that they would’ve been exposed to someone who’s positive… and because we’ve been doing that, we have detected a number of children who have come back positive,”

he noted.

With Guyana currently preparing for mass immunisation with the COVID-19 vaccine, the Health Minister was asked about plans for the vaccination of children in the country. However, he pointed out that the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines – which have been approved for emergency usage in other countries – cannot be

used to immunise children.

He explained that clinical trials were underway to develop a vaccine for children. Pfizer has already started clinical trials for children between the ages of 12 and 15, and in two months’ time, trials will commence for the 12 to 5 age group.

“Those trials – the first one between 15 to 12 – that one has started, but it’s not completed and because there isn’t any data, that is why it is not allowed for children to be vaccinated at this time. The 12 to 5

age group, that trial is yet to be started. I think that trial will start sometime in April. So, as it is right now, there is no vaccine that is available for the immunisation of children,” Minister Anthony stated.

New cases

Meanwhile, the Health Ministry reported on Wednesday that 43 new cases were detected.

According to the Ministry’s updated COVID-19 dashboard, the total number of COVID-19 cases recorded in the country is 6696 – 3439 males and 3257 females.

However, of these, only 463 are active cases.

These comprise four patients in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and 459 persons in isolation – 57 in institutional isolation and 402 in home isolation.

In addition, there are 30 persons in institutional quarantine.

The COVID-19 death toll remains the same at 170. The last coronavirus fatality was recorded on Sunday when a 65-year-old male from Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) died while receiving care at a medical facility.

Further, the number of persons who have recovered from the life-threatening disease thus far has increased to 6063 – 16 more recoveries than the figure reported the previous day.

Meanwhile, Guyana has tested some 42, 327 persons for the novel coronavirus thus far.

Of the 43 new cases recorded on Wednesday, two were detected in Regions One (Barima-Waini), Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) and Three (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara), while

15 cases were reported in Demerara-Mahaica, two in Region Five (MahaicaBerbice), 11 in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), four in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) and five in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).

The figures in the other two regions – Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) and Region Nine (Upper Essequibo- Upper Takutu) – remained the same.

According to the World

Health Organisation (WHO), as of Wednesday, some 90,335,008 confirmed COVID-19 cases were reported globally along with 1,954,336 deaths.

WHO also reported on Wednesday that in the Region of the Americas (Latin America and the Caribbean), the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases has increased to 39,835,210 while the death toll in the Region has gone up to 925,289. (G8)

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 14, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Prowling bandits attack WCD, All arriving passengers to US must produce negative COVID-19 EBD, Essequibo Coast residents test no older than 3 days – CDC A

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ll persons travelling to the United States will now have to produce a negative COVID-19 test result that must not be more than three days old.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention made this announcement on Tuesday, stating that the new requirement will be effective as of January 26, 2021.

In the notice, the CDC said that it was expanding the requirement for a negative COVID-19 test to all air passengers entering the United States.

“Air passengers are required to get a viral test (a test for current infection) within the three days before their flight to the US departs, and provide written documentation of their laboratory test result (paper or electronic copy) to the airline or provide documentation of having recovered from COVID-19.

Airlines must confirm the negative test result for all passengers or documentation of recovery before they board. If a passenger does not provide documentation of a

negative test or recovery, or chooses not to take a test, the airline must deny boarding to the passenger,” the CDC said.

Testing before and after travel is a critical layer to slow the introduction and spread of COVID-19. This strategy is consistent with the current phase of the pandemic and more efficiently protects the health of Americans, the CDC stated.

Variants of the SARSCoV-2 virus continue to emerge in countries around the world, the CDC said, and

news@guyanatimesgy.com

there is evidence of increased transmissibility of some of these variants. With the US already in surge status, the testing requirement for air passengers will help slow the spread of the virus as authorities work to vaccinate the American public.

“Before departure to the United States, a required test, combined with the CDC recommendations to get tested again three-five days after arrival and stay home for seven days post-travel, will help slow the spread of COVID-19 within US communities from travel-related infections. Predeparture testing with results known and acted upon before travel begins will help identify infected travellers before they board airplanes.”

According to the CDC Director Robert R Redfield, MD, testing does not eliminate all risk, “but when combined with a period of staying at home and everyday precautions like wearing masks and social distancing, it can make travel safer, healthier, and more responsible by reducing spread on planes, in airports, and at destinations.”

This order was signed by the CDC Director on January 12, 2021.

43-year-old man of Maria’s Lodge Old Road, Essequibo Coast, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) was on Tuesday beaten by two armed bandits as they robbed him while he was entering his home.

Hemant Dhanpaul, aka "Chicken", was attacked about 23:30h as he was making his way into the lower flat of his home. Dhanpaul told Police that he was confronted by the two men, one of whom was armed with a cutlass and the other, what appeared to be a firearm. He related that the suspect who was armed with the cutlass dealt him several lashes about his body.

He said while the suspect was beating him, his accomplice pointed the suspected firearm in his direction and started demanding money.

Dhanpaul, however, managed to raise an alarm,

causing the men to flee empty-handed. Dhanpaul was subsequently escorted by Police to the Suddie Public Hospital, where he received medical attention.

Meanwhile, also on Tuesday, about 20:30h, Daniel Rooplall, 21, a labourer of Back Street, Patentia, West Bank Demerara (WBD), was robbed on the Patentia Public Road, of his LG cellular phone valued $40,000 by a bandit who was armed with a cutlass.

It was reported that Rooplall was walking along the Patentia Public Road when he was approached by a man.

He said upon stopping him, the man placed the weapon to his neck while demanding that he hand over all his valuables. Rooplall told Police that in fear for his life, he handed over his cellphone. The suspect then made good his escape on

foot.

The matter was subsequently reported to the Wales Police Station, and checks were made for the suspect in the area, but they proved futile.

Additionally, a 19-yearold teacher of Barama Compound, Land of Canaan, East Bank Demerara (EBD), was robbed on Tuesday around the Stabroek Market area, Georgetown.

Yogeshwar Seemangal told Police that about 20:45h three men armed with cutlasses robbed him of a haversack valued $6000, a Samsung cellphone valued $71,000 and a pair of AirPods valued $3500 while he was walking along Cornhill Street, Georgetown.

Police revealed that two of the three suspects were arrested and were assisting law enforcement in their investigation. (G9)

40-year-old charged for raping 13-year-old girl

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40-year-old man was on Wednesday charged for raping a 13-year-old girl.

Collin Venture appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts. It is alleged that during September 2020 at Georgetown, he engaged in sexual penetration with a child under the age of 16.

Venture, who was not required to plead to the indictable charge, was released on $150,000 bail.

However, as a condition of bail, he was instructed to report to the Police Station weekly until the

Collin Venture

hearing and determination of a Preliminary Inquiry

(PI). Venture will make his next court appearance on Monday.

Based on information, Venture is known to the teenage girl and it is alleged that he was in the habit of taking the girl into a toilet behind a shop where he would rape her.

The matter came to light after the girl’s stepmother searched her phone and discovered some very disturbing messages between her and Venture. The young girl was confronted and she admitted that Venture raped her. A report was made to the Police, and the man was arrested and charged. (G1)

15 Govt to take delinquent contractors to court T NEWS

THURSDAY, JANUARY 14, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

he PPP/C Government will be implementing stringent measures, such as stronger penalties and lawsuits, this year to deal with delinquent contractors, who continue to waste taxpayers’ money and produce substandard, shoddy work.

This is according to Attorney General Anil Nandlall during his weekly programme – Issues In The News. He pointed out that this administration is overhauling the entire procurement process so as to ensure that contractors can no longer be negligent on Government projects.

“For years, we have had millions and millions of dollars haemorrhaging in this procurement process and in the way contracts are being executed. Well, now it will not continue anymore. Legal proceedings will be filed against contractors when they breach their contracts; contracts will be terminated; liquidated damages will be applied where appropriate; and contractors will be sanctioned for delinquent, negligent, and substandard work. It cannot be business as usually anymore,” the Attorney General asserted.

Against this backdrop, Nandlall disclosed that, in the coming days, lawsuits will be filed against certain firms for violating their contracts with Government.

“This month, two contractors will be sued for breaching their contracts with the Government, and millions of dollars will be claimed against them for breach of contract. For loss of use of the public facility which they were contracted to build, liquidated damages will be applied, interest will have to be paid on the Government’s money, and there are going to be other consequences that will affect their ability to get work in the future,” he disclosed.

The Attorney General added that even state engineers found to be complicit will have to face the same fate.

“They will also be penalised, and they will also be joined as defendants and sued with the contractors; because, in many cases, it is either through their negligence, through their oversight, or, quietly frankly, through their conspiratorial actions that the contractors are able to perpetrate and perpetuate these trav-

Attorney General Anil Nandlall

esties and violate their contracts with impunity,” the AG stressed.

Nandlall, who is also the Legal Affairs Minister, further disclosed that Government would be creating offences along with penalties for contractual breaches.

“We are reviewing the Procurement Act to create some offences, and to add high-penalty criminal offences when there is violation of that legislation, so that the Auditor General’s

Former Bishops’ High student with a passion for int’l law admitted to local Bar

Attorney-at-Law Jamaal Duff and Chief Justice (ag) Roxane George

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former student of the Bishops’ High School, who has a passion for international and environmental law, was on Wednesday admitted to the local Bar. The petition for 23-yearold Jamaal Duff, one among the 32 Guyanese who graduated from the Hugh Wooding Law School late last year, was presented by Attorneyat-Law Ronald Burch-Smith before Chief Justice Roxane George at the High Court in Georgetown.

“International and environmental law is my preference. I am very interested in the environment, and with the new development with Guyana having oil, that will be an area of concern. As much as people are specialising in oil and gas, the repercussions from this oil and gas exploration on the environment need to be dealt

with,” the young lawyer shared with Guyana Times.

In a courtroom packed with his family members, friends, and well-wishers, Duff expressed gratitude to his parents and thanked Attorneys-at-Law Ronald Burch-Smith and Mark Waldron for their guidance throughout his legal journey.

“My journey to becoming an attorney-at-law was certainly not easy. It included late nights, early mornings, sometimes no sleep at all, and so many other sacrifices. It was also filled with a lot of fond memories shared with my colleagues,” he recounted.

“I am truly at a loss for words. This all feels so surreal. My journey to this point has been a rollercoaster ride. It was my law teacher from Bishops’, Miss Claire Maison, who first inspired me to pursue law.”

For her part, Justice George, in accepting Duff’s petition, said it is always a pleasure to admit former students of her alma mater.

The Chief Justice charged Duff to embody honesty, integrity, and respectfulness, as these attributes would contribute to his elevation in the legal profession.

Justice George also seized the opportunity to explain to Duff that the profession into which he has entered is very demanding. In doing so, she described the law as “a very jealous mistress”, and told him that his job would only get tougher, as he would be required to work long hours.

She was also impressed with his Bar admission speech, particularly where he described himself as being ambitious, dedicated, and self-motivated. On this note, Justice George urged the young lawyer, “Let these be words that you practise; give life to these words.”

The Chief Justice reminded him that he must, at all times, uphold the integrity of this noble profession.

“Be honest with the court, be on time. Ensure that you are respectful of the court and your colleagues at all times, and respectful and frank with your clients,” Justice George told Duff.

Meanwhile, Duff’s advice to anyone wanting to enter the legal field is: “It is tough, but you can do it if you dedicate yourself and put in the work. Don’t let anyone tell you you cannot do it. You will always have late nights with exams and assignments.” (G1)

Report can have teeth when it comes out,” the Minister disclosed.

According to AG Nandlall, “We welcome contractors, but we want good quality work, because we are paying good taxpayers’ money and a lot of taxpayers’ money, and this haemorrhaging; this unlawfulness; this humongous wastage must stop.”

Since taking office, the PPP/C Government has already terminated several multi-million-dollar contracts due to a number of breaches by contractors.

Among those terminated are the contract to Courtney Benn Contracting Services for reconstruction of the St. Roses High School, and the contract to BK International Inc for construction of the Yarrowkabra Secondary School.

The contract to rebuild the St Roses High School in Georgetown was awarded in 2018, but works have been delayed due to issues with the advance payments as well as design changes. The previous coalition regime had extended the deadline

in December 2019 to August 2021. However, the contractor hardly did any work over the last year.

Auditor General Deodat Sharma had recommended that the contract with Courtney Benn Contracting Services be terminated on ground that the contractor failed to complete the work more than a year after the award.

It was reported that only nine per cent of the works had been completed; that is, the driving of piles since the extension, but the cost of the project went up to $412.3 million from $352.7 million, and this new sum included pile driving.

In the termination letter issued by AG Nandlall back in November 2020, the contracting firm was told that it “…has committed a fundamental breach of the terms of the contract, and as a result thereof, the Government of Guyana hereby exercises its right to terminate the contract with immediate effect.”

With regard to the $826.5 contract for the Yarrowkabra Secondary

School, which was awarded in January 2020 despite the passage of the no-confidence motion against the APNU/AFC Government in December 2019, the deadline is March 12, 2021.

However, it has been noted that only five per cent of the schedule of works had been completed at the time of termination in November.

BK International was told that “…your company has committed a fundamental breach of the terms of the contract, and as a result thereof, the Government of Guyana hereby exercises its right to terminate the contract with immediate effect.”

The grounds for termination were cited as the failure to comply with the schedule of works, and the inordinate delay in the completion of work on the project.

Nandlall had said at the time of termination that Government would activate the provisions in the contract, such as a fine of ten per cent of the contract sum as liquidated damages, and have the company surrender its performance security as a consequence. (G8)

tus online and receive timely alerts on account events.

Additionally, online communication with the agency will be boosted, allowing taxpayers to correspond effortlessly and submit queries. To prepare taxpayers, the Information Technology department has launched

a website: www.gra.gov.gy/ optimal, which provides resources and information that allow all taxpayers to become acquainted with upcoming changes, new and updated returns, forms, and the various due dates. The website also organises the changes according to taxpayer type for convenient access. Visit www.gra.gov. gy/optimal for more information about the upcoming launch, features, and benefits. Taxpayers are also encouraged to look at the video presentations which cover promotional, guidance and other useful content. The site will be continuously updated with new content until the launch.

GRA tax operations to be upgraded in February

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n February 2021, the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) will be replacing the current tax administration software – TRIPS II – with a new tax software Optimal Revenue Management System (RMS) to improve taxpayer convenience and internal operational efficiencies.

In a Department of Public Information (DPI) report, it was stated that the Optimal RMS is designed to improve taxpayers’ experience with the GRA while providing a convenient and intuitive online service. It is a powerful and flexible tool that brings together taxpayer information, transactions, and communications within one user-friendly system.

This overhaul of tax administration uses trustworthy data and facilitates high-quality and timely services to clients, which includes faster processing of refunds. This highly-anticipated venture is expected to deliver improved interactions on tax operational services for both staff and taxpayers, where manual processing of applications will be a relic of the past.

The online platform caters for all tax purposes, and taxpayers will be able to view their current tax sta-

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 14, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Glowing tributes for fallen PPP/C Central Committee Member …Majeed Hussain remembered as son of the soil

ments while reiterating that the party has suffered a tremendous loss.

“Majeed Hussain’s passing will leave a gap in the lives of many people; in the lives of his friends, his family, and, most importantly for me, a huge hole in the leadership of the People’s Progressive Party,” the Vice President is quoted as saying by the Public Information and Press

Services Unit within the Office of the President.

The Vice President noted that while there are many persons who contributed to the struggle to free Guyana post 2015, Majeed was always in the “thick of things” in every action taken by the PPP/C. A number of other prominent politicians, including Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance,

Gail Teixeira; Minister of Agriculture, Hon Zulfikar Mustapha; former Minister Harripersaud Nokta and MP Lenox Shuman, joined with family members to reflect on the life of Hussain.

Hussain, who died on Saturday morning at the age of 59, leaves to mourn his wife and three children. He was laid to rest on Wednesday at Cummings Lodge Cemetery.

Caricom concerned that access to COVID-19 vaccines in Caribbean not equitable Relatives and friends of the late PPP Central Committee Member Majeed Hussain paying their last respects

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resident Dr Irfaan Ali led tributes for fallen People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) Central Committee Member Majeed Hussain at a Night of Reflection and Memorial Service held at the Muslim Youth Organisation compound on Woolford Avenue in Georgetown on Tuesday evening.

President Ali said he was at a loss for words in coming to grips with the death of a “friend and brother”.

“This is a great loss for the party and a great loss for me personally,” the Head of State is quoted as saying by the Public Information and Press Services Unit of the Office of the President.

He described the relationship as special, and reflected on Hussain’s influence throughout his political career.

“Who Majeed Hussain is to the PPP and to me personally, there's no words that can describe the rela-

tionship. In local terms, I think you would describe this as someone who always have your back. There was not a moment that Majeed Hussain did not have my back throughout my political development. I can point to specific examples where Majeed stood up with me, where Majeed stood up side by side with me…I can assure you, in every corner of this country he is known because of his love; first of all, for life, his love for humanity, his love for country, and his love for community. And in demonstrating his love for all of this, he loved, he cared, and he held the People's Progressive Party as his greatest love, and he cherished the party.”

The President also reflected on Comrade Majeed’s positive attitude, and how he embraced every task with honour and dignity.

“This is the Majeed Hussain whom we celebrate.”

The President then ex-

pressed profound gratitude to the family members for their support throughout the years. “You loaned us a gem, and we cherished him and loved him tremendously.”

President Ali also expressed appreciation to the doctors and nurses who cared for Majeed during his period of illness.

He assured all that in Majeed’s honour, the party would continue to push on in service to all Guyanese.

“This is also an opportunity for us to reflect that time is passing us by so quickly. We're all getting older, but we remain committed to what brought us together in the first place; that is, the people of Guyana, the People's Progressive Party, and serving our country.

This is a great loss for the party and a great loss for me personally.”

Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo, who also serves as General Secretary of the PPP/C, echoed similar senti-

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xpressing concern that regional States may not have equal access to COVID-19 vaccines, Caricom has called for a global summit to address the matter.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, Caricom said it was “deeply concerned at the current prospect of inequitable access to vaccines . . . especially for frontline workers and vulnerable populations”, as the world grapples with the challenge of controlling the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The reality is that small States will find it difficult to compete in the marketplace to ensure equitable access for vaccines,” it said.

“Given the transmissibility of the virus, all countries are vulnerable and should work together. The Caribbean Community,

therefore, calls for a global summit in the context of the World Health Organisation's ACT-A Facilitation Council to discuss equitable access and distribution of the COVID-19 vaccines.”

Caricom added that the inextricable link – economically, socially, and by virtue of travel – with neighbours and the wider international community makes it imperative for Member States to be afforded access to vaccines as a matter of urgent priority.

“This action will be mutually beneficial in breaking the transmission of the virus. Notwithstanding that appeal, the Community will explore all available options to access vaccines in order to protect its population from the ravages of the pandemic,” it added.

As of January 9, there were 43 vaccines being developed across the world that are in phase one trials.

Twenty are in phase two and another 20 are in phase three trials. Seven vaccines are in early or limited use in countries and three are fully approved for use.

The British Overseas Territories of Bermuda and the Cayman Islands have already received shipments of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine from the United Kingdom and have started vaccination programmes.

Meanwhile, Caricom nations which joined the COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access Facility (COVAX Facility) as part of their strategic approach to access safe vaccines, are awaiting shipments anticipated to arrive in the first half of 2021. (CMC)

Resumption of Guyana/ Suriname ferry to be discussed at diplomatic level

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ublic Works Minister Juan Edghill has said that resumption of the Guyana/Suriname ferry service is to be discussed at the diplomatic level between the two countries.

He made this statement on the sidelines of another engagement hosted on Wednesday at that Ministry.

“That is going to be discussed and determined at the diplomatic level. We had established a date in December. That was shifted because of the Cuban caravan that was assembled at the border, and [we’re] looking for a diplomatic solution on how we deal with that,” the Minister is quoted by the Department of Public Information as saying.

Edghill has also said the MV Canawaima is in dry dock in Suriname undergoing repairs. DirectorGeneral of the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD), Stephen Thomas, and two technical officers from the Ministry will travel to Suriname to inspect the vessel and make an assessment.

The Minister has said that once a resolution is

The MB Sandaka

reached, systems are in place to resume the ferry service.

“The Ministry of Public Works, with the support of the Transport and Harbours Department, stands willing and ready at any moment to deploy the MB Sandaka to start to provide service between Guyana and Suriname, once we could have the agreement between both sides and the resolution to the problem that developed at South Drain. So, there is no impediment in opening the crossing as it relates to the boat, because there is a substitute vessel that is available to start working.”

Last November, Guyana and Suriname signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the construction of a bridge linking the two countries. The signing was done during President Dr Irfaan Ali’s state visit to Suriname.

The President had said, “ONCE constructed, not IF constructed, the bridge will serve as a permanent physical link between the people of Guyana and Suriname; but, more importantly, that link to the rest of the South American continent.”

Guyana and Suriname have had formal diplomatic ties for 45 years.

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 14, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

EPA, sawmillers address T&T mom seeks justice pollution of Wellington after cop rapes daughter Park Mangrove Reserve A

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Senior Environmental Officer Karen Small engages with a sawmiller (DPI photo)

he Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Wednesday engaged residents of Whim, Corentyne and sawmillers along the Corentyne Coast to find solutions to the pollution of the Wellington Park Mangrove Reserve.

A study conducted by the University of Guyana (UG) in 2019 found noticeable, extensive erosion and pollution to the mangrove reserve from sawdust, which contributed to a significant loss of the mangrove forest.

Senior Environmental Officer Karen Small said in instances of pollution where mangroves exist, the EPA must address those issues.

“The EPA Act contains a

number of provisions which are relevant to mangroves of which gives the agency responsibility that may cross over to conservation and management of any threat to mangrove. That is how we play a role; it is part of our natural environment.”

Site inspections of sawmill operations by the EPA in November found sawmill waste, among other forms of pollution, along the Corentyne River accumulating at the reserve.

The meeting also discussed the establishment of a governance structure with community members, sawmill operators ,and the EPA from which a management plan would be drafted.

So far, the community participated in scientific analysis of the area with UG. The EPA has also conducted site inspections of sawmill operations and is working closely with the Skeldon Energy Incorporated. Consultations were also held with community members for the drafting of the management plan.

Meanwhile, the EPA has called on sawmill operators to utilise their containment bins to properly store waste.

The Agency also encouraged residents to remain vigilant over the protection of the mangroves.

Wellington Park is one of the Mangrove Restoration Sites in Guyana.

Local Govt Ministry commissions $5M health boat in Region 2

Local Government and Regional Development Minister Nigel Dharamlall commissioning the new health boat

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$5 million health boat has been commissioned in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) to ensure residents in riverine communities have more access to healthcare.

Local Government and Regional Development Minister Nigel Dharamlall handed over the boat to the regional administration on Sunday. The minister told DPI that the presentation was in keeping with the Government’s goal to ensure that all citizens have access to adequate healthcare.

“It is important to en-

hance logistics in the Pomeroon, since we have many villages along the Pomeroon as well as the lower Pomeroon. It is part of the Government’s mandate to get out into communities as much as possible; this includes our doctors, nurses and medical workers into the facilities to care for our citizens.”

Dharamlall encouraged the Regional Health Department to make full use of the boat to serve residents.

Regional Health Officer Dr Ranjeev Singh, in thank-

ing the Government, said: “I am planning on doing weekly check-ups at the riverine health centres or posts, so that doctors can see patients in here, so that they can be treated; because, as you know, those residents do not see doctors for a long time.

This is either because they cannot even travel, or they cannot afford to.”

Minister Dharamlall told the officials that this exercise is one of the many initiatives intended to advance the Region’s development and enhance residents’ quality of life.

Morvant mother who says her daughter was sexually assaulted by a police officer in July 2020 is appealing for justice for her child as she claims investigators are dragging their feet with the case.

The woman, who did not wish to be identified, told Guardian Media on July 4, 2020, she was heartbroken when her 12-year-old daughter confided in her that she was sexually assaulted.

She said the child told her about the incident after she returned home from spending time at a relative’s house.

“She asked me first what would happen if he (the alleged perpetrator) was locked up and eventually she just came out and told me everything. I was so angry, I wanted to report it right away but she seemed too scared,” the woman said.

But she said the next day, she told the child that abuse must be reported.

“I learned about the grooming that paedophiles do and it all added up. I made her dress and took her to the police station to make the report.”

But it would take two days and visits to four different police stations before a report was taken from the child.

The woman said weeks later, the child was sent for a medical report to be done at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex.

She said since then, she has had difficulty in getting any updates from investigators despite making frequent calls to the police station.

While she waits, each day her daughter becomes more withdrawn. She has spoken out- like victims and survivors are often urged to do- and no action has been taken against her alleged abuser.

“I want this to just end at some point because while my daughter would seem as though everything is ok, she is not eating, she is not dealing with things the way she used to before, she is asking me to sleep with her in the night,” the distraught mother said.

She said because the alleged perpetrator was known to her family, the child has now become the subject of victim-shaming and they have both been cut-off from relatives and friends who support the alleged abuser.

“They are saying all kinds of things about her and labelling her in a certain way. I wanted to think that anyone hearing of something like this, their first instinct would be to protect the child, not to protect an adult who can fend for themselves,” the woman said.

She said on Monday, she again contacted the police station, only to be told officers had grown weary of her

persistence.

“They told me they do not have my paperwork, they do not have the new paperwork that was done pertaining to the investigation and they had no update to give me.

The officer also informed me that because of my attitude, officers have made a statement that they do not want to interact with me,” she said.

She made an appeal for better procedures to be put into place to protect children who speak out against abuse.

“We need to do better when it comes to children and protecting our children and our women, I can only talk about my daughter and I can only say she does not feel safe sometimes, she did not deserve to be interrogated like a criminal at the police station and while the officers saying he (alleged abuser) has not been interviewed yet.”

Guardian Media contacted Police Commissioner Gary Griffith who asked that the woman send the information directly to him.

The Commissioner said he would ensure the matter is thoroughly investigated.

(T&T Guardian)

18

guyanatimesgy.com

THURSDAY, JANUARY 14, 2021

Regional

Brazil’s Bolsonaro sabotaged Persad-Bissessar‘s “done anti-COVID-19 efforts, says playing nice”, says no law to stop citizens coming to T&T Human Rights Watch

B

razil’s right-wing President Jair Bolsonaro has tried to sabotage efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19 in his country and pursued policies that undermine the rights of Brazilians, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said on Wednesday.

The Supreme Court, Congress and other institutions have stepped up to protect Brazilians and blocked some of Bolsonaro’s most damaging policies, the rights group said in the Brazil chapter of its annual world report.

The group’s Executive Director predicted that Washington would join the European Union in pressuring Bolsonaro’s Government to protect the Amazon from deforestation under the incoming Administration of US President-elect Joe Biden.

Bolsonaro wanted to re-

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro

move the authority of states to restrict people’s movements, as they sought to contain the world’s second-deadliest coronavirus outbreak after the United States, but the Supreme Court ruled against him.

The top court also intervened to stop his Government withholding

COVID-19 data from the public. It also overturned a presidential veto of legislation requiring the use of masks in prison. In July, it ordered the Administration to draft a plan to protect Brazil’s vulnerable Indigenous peoples from the pandemic, while Congress passed a bill forcing it to provide emergency health care to Indigenous communities.

Bolsonaro has consistently downplayed the gravity of COVID-19, calling it “a little flu” and criticising lockdowns and social distancing measures. HRW said he has disseminated misleading information about the virus.

The President’s office did not immediately reply to a request for comment.

Bolsonaro has argued that lockdowns damage Brazil’s economy and leave many out of work. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Caricom says US designation of Cuba as State sponsor of terrorism unwarranted

T

he Donald Trump Administration’s decision to put Cuba back on a list of countries considered State sponsors of terrorism has drawn the ire of the Caribbean Community (Caricom), which denounced the “unilateral declaration” by the outgoing Administration and said it was unjustified.

The Trump Administration made the announcement on Monday, with Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo saying that the re-designation was warranted, because Cuba has repeatedly provided support for acts of international terrorism in granting safe harbour to terrorists, including

several American fugitives.

However, in a statement on Wednesday, Caricom contended that “Cuba’s international conduct does not in any way warrant that designation”.

“This further attack on the country adversely affects its international standing and its social, human and economic development and is another misguided action in addition to the unproductive, unnecessary and illegal financial and economic embargo already imposed on this Caribbean nation by the United States,” it said.

“Caricom calls for the immediate review and reversal of these unjustified actions taken in regard to Cuba and

looks forward to the United States moving towards normalising relations with Cuba.”

The US action subjects Cuba to sanctions that penalise people and countries engaging in certain trade with Cuba, restricts US foreign assistance, and bans defence exports and sales.

According to Pompeo’s statement, the Trump Administration has been focused from the start on “denying the Castro regime the resources it uses to oppress its people at home, and countering its malign interference in Venezuela and the rest of the Western Hemisphere”. (Excerpt from CMC)

O

pposition Leader Kamla PersadBissessar is calling on National Security Minister Stuart Young to answer questions about the border control Police and rules of exemption which have been leaving citizens stranded abroad.

Speaking at Monday night’s United National Congress (UNC) virtual campaign meeting, PersadBissessar said she has information that senior immigration officers have been blocked from using the computer systems while junior and complicit ones are granted access.

“Immigration access to computers have been locked out. Several senior people locked out. Who else is coming here that we don’t know about?”

Persad-Bissessar asked.

“Stuart, the truth will always come out,” she said.

She said the current ex-

emption policy favours some more than others.

Persad-Bissessar also said that there was no law which gave Young the power to determine who can come in and who cannot.

“Where do you get the power? From under which law you have the power to stop a citizen to come home?”

Persad-Bissessar asked.

“Is it true that once you land here you must get in?” she said.

Persad-Bissessar said that she was being told that people were coming in on flights with no exemption and could not be stopped.

“Some few have contacts complicit with others, they board an aircraft and come in,” she said.

“We are told now you are booking flights and airlines getting exemptions from you,” she added.

Persad-Bissessar recalled last year’s visit by

UNC leader Kamla PersadBissessar, during Monday night’s virtual meeting

Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez during the border lockdown and questioned what Rodriguez brought into the country.

She said people want the UNC to stay quiet when the country was “being robbed” by the Government.

“Well, I am done being nice,” she said. (Excerpt from Trinidad Guardian)

Mexico registers record daily death toll

A

way from issues in education in England, health officials in Mexico say 1314 COVID19-related deaths were registered on Tuesday. It’s the highest figures since the start of the pandemic.

Mexico is the country with the fourth-highest number of deaths worldwide, after the US, Brazil, and India.

The country has begun a vaccination drive, but with more than 127 million inhabitants, health officials say they are facing a mammoth task.

On Tuesday, almost 440,000 doses of the PfizerBioNTech vaccine arrived in

Mexico City –- the fifth shipment so far – and will now be distributed to 25 Mexican states.

Health officials there are also expected to decide this

week on whether to authorise Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine. The Government said that if Sputnik V was authorised it would plan to buy 24 million doses. (BBC News)

intellectual leadership in support of social justice, institutional equity and economic development for marginalised and oppressed ethnicities and nations.

Sir Hilary, Vice Chancellor Of The University of the West Indies, President of Universities Caribbean, Chairman of the Caribbean Examinations Council, Chairman of the Caricom Reparations Commission and advisor on Sustainable Development to former United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, will receive the Peace and Freedom Award.

Dr Fauci, famous American physician and renowned Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), will receive the Lifetime Community Service Award.

Prior awardees include the 42nd President of the United States, Bill Clinton; Berry Gordy, founder of Motown Music and the 82nd Attorney General of the USA, Eric Holder. Event speakers included President-elect Joe Biden and United States Attorney General Loretta Lynch.

(Excerpt from Nation News)

Shakira is the latest star to sell the rights to her songs Sir Hilary, Dr Fauci to get MLK Day awards

S

hakira has become the latest artiste to sell the rights to her music for a multimillion-dollar sum.

All 145 of her songs, including “Hips Don’t Lie”, “Whenever, Wherever” and “She Wolf”, are included in the deal.

The songs have made her the best-selling female Latin artiste of all time, with 80 million records sold worldwide.

The deal was struck with the Hipgnosis Song Fund, which also recently acquired Blondie and Neil Young’s music.

Hipgnosis company did not disclose financial details of the sale, but it typically pays the equivalent of 15 years’ royalties up front.

With tax relief, many walk away with “about 25

years’ worth of money in one fell swoop”, the company’s founder, Merck Mercuriadis, told the BBC last year.

That provides the artists with immediate financial security, while Hipgnosis – which owns the songs in perpetuity – hopes to profit by building new revenue streams for the music via film and TV licensing, merchandise, cover versions and performance royalties.

Hipgnosis has been on a billion-dollar spending spree over the last few years, snapping up the rights to music by artistes like Nile Rodgers, Blondie, Barry Manilow, Chrissie Hynde and Fleetwood Mac’s Lindsey Buckingham.

Shakira’s hits came more recently than those “legacy” artists, but she is one of the

P

Shakira is one of the most successful Latin recording artistes of all time

most successful singer-songwriters of the last 25 years.

Since releasing her first album in 1991, at the age of 13, she has sold more than 80 million records, won three Grammy Awards and 12 Latin Grammy Awards.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

rofessor Sir Hilary Beckles and Dr Anthony Fauci will be conferred with Dr Martin Luther King Jr Day awards by the US National Action Network (NAN).

President and founder Reverend Al Sharpton said the 30th anniversary awards would take place on MLK Day, January 18, The work and the legacy of Dr King are celebrated at the annual breakfast event and people are honoured with a view to refocusing and sustaining his dream.

Sir Hilary is recognised for his global advocacy, academic scholarship, and

guyanatimesgy.com

THURSDAY, JANUARY 14, 2021

19

Around the World

OILNEWS OIL NEWS Oil rises on crude draw despite product builds

C

rude oil prices jumped further Wednesday after the Energy Information Administration (EIA) reported a crude oil inventory draw of 3.2 million barrels for the week to January 8.

This compared with an estimated draw of 5.82 million barrels from the American Petroleum Institute (API) and analyst expectations of a draw totalling 2.72 million barrels.

It also adds onto the inventory decline of as much as 8 million barrels reported for the previous week, which helped push oil prices higher.

Brent crude on Tuesday rose above US$57 a barrel for the first time in almost a year thanks to Saudi Arabia’s decision to cut an additional 1 million bpd in production in February and March as the collective OPEC+ effort to control prices appeared to not be effective enough for the Kingdom.

This decision spurred talk of tight supply facing the world despite still sluggish demand amid still high new COVID-19 case numbers in some key markets, including the United States and India, even though demand is improving strongly in India as fuel demand booms. (Excerpt from Oilprice.com)

Uganda orders Internet blackout until further notice – MTN

A man walks past a painting on the wall of the Ugandan electoral commission compound in Kampala, Uganda January 13, 2021

U

ganda’s communications regulator ordered telecoms operators in the country to suspend all internet gateways from Wednesday evening until further notice, South African telecoms company MTN Group said.

The blackout came on the eve of a presidential election in which long-time leader Yoweri Museveni is facing an Opposition galvanised by popular singer Bobi Wine, despite a campaign marked by brutal crackdowns.

Ugandans reported difficulties accessing the Internet via mobile devices and wireless connections on Wednesday evening and Internet monitor NetBlocks said on Twitter that the country was experiencing a nationwide blackout from 19:00h. (1600 GMT).

“I can confirm that MTN Uganda and all Licensed Telecommunication Operators in the country have received a di-

rective from Uganda C o m m u n i c a t i o n s Commission (UCC) to implement a suspension of the operation of all internet Gateways and associated access points,” Nompilo Morafo, MTN’s group executive for corporate affairs told Reuters.

UCC spokesman Ibrahim Bbossa did not respond to phones calls and messages requesting comment.

MTN Uganda (MTNU) is Uganda’s leading mobile operator with 60 per cent of the market.

“MTNU will continue engaging with the relevant stakeholders to limit the duration of the service disruption,” Morafo said.

The Internet ban came day after Uganda banned all social media and messaging apps ahead of the vote, which the President said was in retaliation for Facebook taking down some pro-Government accounts.

(Reuters)

Donald Trump impeached for “inciting” US Capitol riot

T

he US House of Representatives has impeached President Donald Trump for “incitement of insurrection” after a mob of his supporters stormed the United States Capitol last week, marking the first time in US history that a President has been impeached twice.

The House resolution, which passed by a vote of 232-197 on Wednesday afternoon, states that Trump’s actions and remarks ahead of the storming of the Capitol building in Washington, DC incited the rioters.

“We know that the President of the United States incited this insurrection, this armed rebellion against our common country,” said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi during a debate before the vote.

“He must go. He is a clear and present danger to the nation that we all love,” she said.

Ten Republicans joined

222 Democrats in voting to impeach Trump, making the vote a bipartisan rebuke of the President’s attempts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election.

The riot at the Capitol on January 6 left five people dead and sent shockwaves across the US and the world, spurring Democratic Party legislators to launch an impeachment push against Trump in his final days in the White House.

The Capitol was stormed after Trump delivered an inflammatory speech to a crowd of his supporters that had gathered to protest Congress’ certification of US President-elect Joe Biden’s election victory.

The impeachment article states that in the months before January 6, Trump repeated false claims of widespread election fraud and said the results should not be accepted.

He also “wilfully made statements that, in context,

Ten Republicans voted to impeach the Republican president [File: Carlos Barria/ Reuters]

encouraged – and foreseeably resulted in – lawless action at the Capitol, such as: ‘if you don’t fight like hell you’re not going to have a country any more,'” the article states.

Trump did not immediately comment on his impeachment.

But he called for restraint earlier on Wednesday after reports of more planned

demonstrations.

“I urge that there must be NO violence, NO lawbreaking and NO vandalism of any kind. That is not what I stand for, and it is not what America stands for,” Trump said in a statement.

The President had remained defiant on Tuesday, rejecting Democrats’ impeachment effort as dangerous and “a continuation of the greatest and most vicious witchhunt in the history of our country”.

The House named managers to prosecute the charge of insurrection against Trump in a Senate trial, which would not begin until after President-elect Joe Biden is inaugurated on January 20.

That’s when Democrats are poised to take control of the Senate. At least two Senate Republicans have already called on Trump to step down, and a third has said they would consider voting for impeachment.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

UK reports record 1564 Italy's Opposition centre-right daily COVID deaths parties demand

B

ritain has the highest death toll in Europe with nearly 85,000 deaths and at least 3.2 million infections reported to date.

The United Kingdom reported a daily record of 1564 coronavirus fatalities on Wednesday, the first time the death toll passed the 1500-mark since March last year.

Meanwhile, Spain’s Galicia, La Rioja and Cantabria regions became the latest areas to impose more stringent COVID-19 restrictions amid a rapid increase in infections.

Worldwide, more than 91 million coronavirus cases have been reported with more than 1.9 million deaths.

Meanwhile, Lebanon’s caretaker Health Minister, Hamad Hassan has tested positive for coronavirus and was admitted to hospital, a statement from the Ministry said.

“The Minister has been admitted

to Saint George hospital for treatment,” the statement said.

Lebanon’s hospitals are running out of capacity to treat critically-ill patients as COVID-19 infections surge after the Christmas and New Year holiday period.

Meanwhile, The African Vaccine Acquisition Task Team has secured a provisional 270 million COVID-19 vaccine doses for African countries, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said.

“As a result of our own efforts we have so far secured a commitment of a provisional amount of 270 million vaccines from three major suppliers: Pfizer, AstraZeneca (through the Serum Institute of India) and Johnson & Johnson,” Ramaphosa, who is the African Union chair, said in a statement. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

resignation of PM Conte

I

taly’s Opposition centre-right bloc called on Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte to resign on Wednesday after the small Italia Viva party pulled its Ministers from the Cabinet, pushing the ruling coalition towards collapse.

In a joint statement, the League, Brothers of Italy and Forza Italia, said that the best way to guarantee stable government at this point would be early elections.

Nicola Zingaretti, the head of the co-ruling coalition Democratic Party (PD) denounced Italia Viva’s move as a “serious mistake”, saying it ran counter to Italy’s best interests. (Reuters)

Irish PM apologises over mother and baby homes

T

he Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister) has apologised after an investigation into the country's mother and baby homes.

The report found an "appalling level of infant mortality".

Established in the 19th and 20th Centuries, the institutions housed women and girls who became pregnant outside marriage.

Micheál Martin apologised for the "profound and generational wrong" to survivors of mother-and-baby homes.

About 9000 children died in the 18 institutions under investigation.

The Irish Government said the report revealed the country had a "stifling, op-

The scandal became an international news story when "significant human remains" were found on the grounds of a former home in County Galway

pressive and brutally misogynistic culture".

Following publication,

the

report's Taoiseach

Martin said it described a "dark, difficult and shameful chapter" of Irish history.

On Wednesday, Martin issued a full apology on behalf of the state in the Dáil (Irish Parliament).

He said the report highlighted a "profound failure" of empathy, understanding and compassion over a long period.

There have also been calls for an inquiry into mother and baby homes in Northern Ireland.

Stormont commissioned research into whether or not there should an inquiry held into the homes which operated in Northern Ireland, is due to be published by the end of January. (Excerpt from BBC News)

20

THURSDAY, JANUARY 14, 2021

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ARCHIE

ARIES

(March 21April 19)

TAURUS (April 20May 20)

DILBERT

GEMINI (May 21June 20)

CANCER (June 21July 22)

PEANUTS

CALVIN AND HOBBES

Not everyone will share your concerns or beliefs. Be open to suggestions, and use the information you get to assemble your thoughts and plans. If you want something done, be prepared to do the work yourself.

Research, gather facts and proceed alone if necessary. Refuse to get involved in a scheme that sounds too good to be true.

Say no to manipulative individuals.

Stick to creative projects and people you can trust to be honest with you.

A change can be favorable if it doesn’t entail joint endeavors or shared expenses. Don’t take any risks.

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

Don’t be confused by the changes someone makes.

Adjust and keep heading in a direction that will benefit you. Use your charm and physical attributes to get what you want.

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

Invest more time and energy into your home and family. Set up schedules and projects that will help bring you closer to the people you love.

Don’t disregard someone’s feelings.

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

Less talk and more action will avert opposition. Take a disciplined approach to the way you deal with friends and family, and you will persuade everyone to pitch in and help.

Don’t go over budget.

SCORPIO

An opportunity to change direction will entice you, but before you jump from one thing to another, consider the consequences.

If uncertainty is apparent, rethink your strategy.

(Oct. 24Nov. 22)

SUDOKU

Use your knowledge and insight to overcome adversity. Use discretion, and be clear and factual in your response to others’ ideas. Don’t give in to demands; just do what you can.

Find your rhythm and SAGITTARIUS do your own thing. Don’t let anyone convince you to (Nov. 23invest in something that Dec. 21) will benefit others more than it will you. Test your intelligence with a challenge.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22Jan. 19)

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

PISCES (Feb. 20March 20)

An unexpected change will result if you have trouble making up your mind or you let your emotions take charge.

Consider what you can do to ease stress and keep a loved one happy.

Keep busy and do something constructive, and you’ll avoid getting into a spat. Someone is likely to overreact or start something that could spin out of control.

Someone will give you the wrong impression. Don’t believe everything you hear.

Check facts, and you’ll discover the best way to handle a change of plans. Put your energy where it will count the most.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 14, 2021

21

Kyle Sinckler out of Six Nations rugby opener – after ban for foul-mouthed outburst

K

yle Sinckler has been ruled out of England’s opening Six Nations match against Scotland next month, after he was banned for two weeks for swearing at a referee.

Sinckler was found guilty of “failing to respect the authority of the match official” during Bristol’s 20-7 win over Exeter, and with the next two rounds of the Champions Cup postponed and the Premiership taking a two-week break, he will be suspended for the opening weekend of the Championship, assuming it goes ahead as planned.

On Wednesday, Six Nations organisers reaffirmed their position: that the championship will take place “as scheduled”, but doubts remain after the

French sports minister, Roxana Maracineanu, said on Tuesday she requires additional guarantees before France is allowed to play in England and Ireland. The Six Nations did confirm that the women’s competition has been postponed until “late spring or earlier summer”.

Sinckler’s ban officially applies to two Bristol matches – against Bath on 29 January, and Sale the day before England face Scotland – based on the principle that Eddie Jones has not yet selected his Six Nations squad and there are no guarantees the 27-yearold forward would have been included. In effect, Sinckler’s likely international involvement was ignored by the panel.

All players selected by

Jones will be unavailable for the round Premiership matches in the last week of January, however, meaning Sinckler is only likely to miss one “meaningful match” in which he would have played - against Scotland - rather than the two his ban should dictate. So, he is set to be available to face Italy on 13 February, but his absence a g a i n s t Scotland is still a headache for Jones.

During Bristol’s victory last Saturday, Sinckler said to referee Karl Dickson,

“Are you f***ing s e r i ous?” af-

Francesca Jones qualifies for 1st Grand Slam tournament in Australian Open

B

ritain’s Francesca Jones overcame a “wee mental breakdown” because of cuts on her fingers to qualify for a Grand Slam for the first time.

The 20-year-old booked a place at the Australian Open with a crushing 6-0 6-1 victory over China’s Lu Jiajing in the final round of qualifying in Dubai.

“I’m just super happy to qualify, and really looking forward to getting out to Oz,” she said.

The Australian Open starts on 8 February in Melbourne. Jones will head there on Friday, and will have to quarantine for 14 days because of coronavirus rules. But before that, she needs to tackle the fact that she had not really packed for such a long stay away from home, or for the hot weather of an Australian summer.

“The first thing I need to do when I get to my room is get laundry done,” she said.

“I didn’t want to jinx anything, so I brought enough, but not too much. I went to London for Christmas, and so had loads of winter clothes with me.”

Indeed, it was the time spent in the chilly UK that caused the injuries to her fingers, which were concerning her so much. “My fingers had split from the cold in the UK, and I couldn’t hold my racquet too well on my forehand side,” she told a news conference. “So, I had a wee mental breakdown before the match.

“A few days before the match, my fingers were still cut, and I wasn’t sure I was going to be able to take advantage of my [forehand] weapon.”

But Jones - who has a rare genetic condition that means she was born with three fingers and a thumb on each hand, three toes on her right foot and four toes on her left - put in a devastating display to win in just 61 minutes.

The Bradford-born youngster got straight on the phone to her parents, who were watching from their home in Weybridge, Surrey.

“They didn’t have much to say; all I could hear was crying and screams,” s a i d Jones, who had b e e n playing in her first overseas G r an d S l a m qualifying draw.

In reaching the main draw, Jones defeated former world top 30 player Monica Niculescu, and then defeated Jana Fett, before her win over Lu, who is 200th in the world rankings.

Jones, who has ectrodactyly ectodermal dysplasia syndrome, plays with a light racquet and very small grip, and

in the gym works hard on balance and technique. Her feet do not always move the way other people’s feet do, so she has to be precise to avoid injury.

Fuelled by the skepticism of one particular medical specialist, Jones was accepted into the famed Sanchez Casal Academy in Barcelona at the age of nine.

“I use it [the condition] as a positive and advantage in many ways. I’m not playing out of revenge [on the doubters],” she said. “I’m playing to have a positive impact on people who read my story, and I hope people can take the positives from it and build on it.” (BBC Sport)

ter the official ruled there had been no foul play in a tackle by Luke CowanDickie.

Sinckler contested the charge, but it was upheld, and a low-end sanction of two weeks was applied. Sinckler apologised on social media before his hearing, but there w a s n o mitigation, given any reduction would have represented the maximum available, and Sinckler was banned for seven weeks in 2017.

“The panel found that his

actions disrespected the authority of the referee,” read an RFU statement. “It was in breach of a core value of rugby - respect of match officials - and warranted a red card.”

Meanwhile, the Six Nations expects to confirm future dates for the women’s competition – and the Under-20s, which has also been postponed – by the end of the month. With England being the only fully professional team in the competition, providing the necessary safety guarantees has proven insurmountable, given some players have jobs, including as frontline workers.

Also, as revealed by the Guardian in April, Six Nations’ organisers had been exploring staging the women’s competition at a different time of year to the men’s, to maximise exposure. (The Guardian)

Mohamed Salah is very happy at Liverpool, says Fabinho

A

mid speculation over the future of star forward Mohamed Salah’s future, Brazil international Fabinho has insisted that Salah is “very happy” at Liverpool.

Salah sparked talk about his future after refusing to rule out a move to LaLiga champions Real Madrid or Barcelona in an interview with Diario AS last month.

Fabinho has said the speculation about Salah is normal, adding that the forward is happy at Anfield.

“Big players will always have their names involved in rumours. Salah plays for Liverpool, one of the biggest teams in the world.

I think it’s normal to see his name linked to oth-

er teams, especially from different leagues,” he told ESPN Brasil on Tuesday.

“Anyway, I see him very happy here, and pleased with his performances this season. He’s very demanding with himself, he wants to be the best, he wants to help the team, and works hard for it.

It’s always been the case, and it hasn’t changed at all. He keeps scoring goals, which everyone is used to seeing.

“In the changing room, he’s always talking to everyone and making jokes.

I don’t see anything affecting him.

“Overall, I am not following the news, so I’m not sure about any rumours.

As I said, top quality players will always be linked to big clubs.”

Premier League holders Liverpool have struggled for consistency so far this season, and Manchester United’s win over Burnley on Tuesday sent the Red Devils three points clear of their rivals.

But Fabinho has said Jurgen Klopp’s side, who host United on Sunday, were concentrating on themselves. “They are definitely confident and enjoying a good momentum in the league. They are winning some games that perhaps they weren’t last season, such as against Wolves,” he said.

“However, our focus isn’t exclusively on Manchester United. The main thing is trying to play our football and winning games.” (Adapted from Sportsmax)

22

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

THURSDAY, JANUARY 14, 2021

GAW’s Rutherford looking to CLASSIFIED ADS impress in Pakistan Super League – aiming to improve fitness and become full-time all-rounder FOR SALE

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By Timothy Jaikarran

S

ome sporting disciplines have resumed activities even as the mutating coronavirus continues to take the world by storm. This would include some cricketing leagues, one of which is the Pakistan Super League (PSL) of which Guyana’s very own Sherfane Rutherford of the Guyana Amazon Warriors (GAW) is looking to showcase his skills against some of the world’s best players.

Rutherford played for the Karachi Kings in 2020, and while he played only two matches in total, he was still a part of the winning team, as the Kings lifted the PSL title. The reason why he had played in only two matches in the PSL was because he was involved with the Mumbai Indians in the IPL, which also won the IPL T20 title, and it was from there he had headed over to the PSL. When the pandemic hit the world and everything was at a standstill, the indomitable Sherfane Rutherford

Sherfane Rutherford also won the IPL 2020 title with the Mumbai Indians

continued to push himself because he knew it was essential for him to keep fit and match ready as he awaited his call-up.

When the draft for the PSL 2021 edition was held, Rutherford was roped in

by Peshwar Zalmi, but before that, he had proven his worth in the US Open T20 League. Playing in a total of five matches for the Atlanta Paramveers, he racked up a total of 116 runs, with a high score of 69 and a batting av-

erage of 38.67 at a strike rate of 111.54. He also chipped in with the ball at times, being able to bowl a total of 4 overs for 24 runs while bagging 3 wickets at an economy rate of 6.00.

In an interview with this publication, Rutherford was asked how it felt to be selected by his new franchise, and he responded: “First of all, I thank God for the opportunity, and it’s always a special feeling when selected for a new franchise. I just

“Big year ahead, seize the moment!”

want to take the opportunity to do the best I can, and enjoy it as well. In terms of my intentions, it is always to win and to perform well, so nothing will change going to Pakistan.

“Well, for me, playing cricket during the pandemic and having to stay in a bubble is one of the hardest things I’ve ever experienced. But I am happy that I am getting the opportunity to play some cricket, which means that despite being confined and whatever else comes with being in a bubble, I need to find ways to enjoy myself.”

Rutherford has disclosed that playing in various leagues around the world has helped him grow as a cricketer. He noted that b e ing able to play for different

franchises is something he wants. The left- hander relayed that he is able to gain knowledge and skill to combat the different conditions when he takes to the field, which in turn is preparing him to become a great player in the future.

The 23-year-old insists he has been working really hard on bowling, as it is something he wishes to add to his resume. He made it clear that his intention is to become a full-time all-rounder, and not just a batsman.

Further, Rutherford has emphasised that his fitness is improving. He spoke very highly of his fitness, and disclosed he has been working very hard on it, noting that in order to perform better, one must have a good fitness standard.

Rutherford told this publication, “From here I am only looking to get better. To my fans and people in the Caribbean, I would like to thank you for your support and words of encouragement.

It means a lot, and just continue to be safe.”

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– Windies Head Coach Phil Simmons tells players

223-7230-1 (Ext 55)

West Indies Head Coach Phil Simmons

Joel Embiid stars as Philadelphia 76ers beat Miami Heat

– LeBron James guides LA Lakers to win

J

W

est Indies Head Coach Phil Simmons expects a big year of cricket ahead, and has urged his players in Bangladesh to cement their spots during the upcoming series.

The former West Indies allrounder spoke from Dhaka to members of the media via Zoom conference on Tuesday, and was quite clear with the advice as the #MenInMaroon prepare to face the home side in three ODIs and two Tests.

“My role and my message to all the players here (is): you’re not here to fill in, you’re here to give yourself a chance,” Simmons said. “You have a chance now to seal your place in this team.

If you do well here, that augurs well for you going forward.

He added: “You come here, you do well in the three games in the ODI series and the two Test matches, then you’re putting yourself in a place where nobody can move you. So, you have that opportunity, and only you have

that opportunity.”

West Indies start the tour next Wednesday, January 20, with the first ODI under lights at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur. Before that, they will have a 50-over warm-up match on Monday, January 18, against the Bangladesh Cricket Board XI at the BKSP in Savar.

With a packed home schedule planned for later in the year, including tours by Sri Lanka, South Africa, Australia and Pakistan, Simmons has said that fielding new players on the current tour would help expand the pool of players to choose

from.

“When we went to England last year, we carried 25 players, and we’ve seen a couple young players, including the two (Chemar Holder and Joshua Da Silva) that made their debut in New Zealand, come through from that,” Simmons said.

“We’ve seen a few of the other young players that we know on this tour that we didn’t know before that; so, this opens up the pool. There is a lot of cricket ahead this year…that’s a lot of opportunities for players to perform and do well for West Indies,” he explained.

oel Embiid scored 45 points for the Philadelphia 76ers as they claimed an overtime win over the Miami Heat.

Thirty-five of Embiid’s haul came in the second half and overtime, and he also notched 16 rebounds, five steals and four assists in a 137-134 victory.

Team-mate Danny Green equalled a franchise record with nine three-pointers in his 29 score, while Tyler Herro top-scored for the Heat with 34.

Victory saw the Sixers end their three-game losing streak.

Elsewhere, LeBron James scored 22 of his 26 points in the first half, as the Los Angeles Lakers eased past the Houston Rockets 117-100 to give the Rockets their second thrashing in as many games.

Five other Lakers players joined James in double figures, as the reigning NBA champions and Western Conference leaders maintained their perfect record on the road.

The Brooklyn Nets

overcame an 18-point deficit to beat the Denver Nuggets 122-116, with Kevin Durant finishing with 34 points, 13 assists and nine rebounds.

The score had been level at 113-113 with one minute 44 seconds left on the clock, before Bruce Brown swung the game in the Nets’ favour from the baseline.

The Utah Jazz, second in the Western Conference, cruised past the Cleveland Cavaliers in a 117-87 win, with Donovan Mitchell and Jordan Clarkson scoring 27 and 21 points respectively.

Lonnie Walker IV led the San Antonio Spurs to a 112-102 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder, who are now four games without a win on home soil.

And in Tuesday’s late game, the Indiana Pacers beat the Golden State Warriors 104-95 to win for the first time in three games.

Myles Turner’s third threepointer of the match, with three minutes remaining and the scores level at 90-90, gave the Pacers a lead they didn’t relinquish. (BBC Sport)

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 14, 2021

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

23

Ramson resolute about non-engagement with GCB T

he Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport (MCYS), the honourable Charles Ramson Jr, is steadfast in his resolution to get the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) to host an election that would make way for a legitimate cricket authority to be in place in Guyana.

He had advocated staunchly for the GCB to carry out the process of electing office-bearers following the restoration of the Guyana Cricket Administration Act (GCAA) in September 2020, and Ramson Jr has indicated that a legitimate cricket authority in Guyana is still high on his list of priorities; and as a result of the current board’s recalcitrance in this respect,

his ministry would not be engaging them.

The Minister took this position while addressing claims that a football tournament hosted at the National Stadium at Providence had left the pitch in disrepair, and players were unable to carry out any upcoming cricket activities.

He has said, “As I’m on the subject of the GCB, I want to make it very clear that the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport does not engage with the body that calls itself the GCB, because it is an illegitimate body that does not represent the association that is supposed to be compliant according to the laws of Guyana.”

In a very impassioned exchange with Guyana Times Sport, Ramson Jr revealed that this is the reason why the Ministry has not been engaging directly with that body.

“I want to make it very clear that one of the reasons you have seen since the restoration of the Act, which (had) happened in SeptemberOctober, that until there is legitimate election for the sports organisation that is responsible for cricket in Guyana, the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport will not engage with the body called the GCB as a representative thereof,” he explained.

Further, this subject Minister for Sport said, “And until those elections are con-

Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Charles Ramson Jr

Sections 7 and 8 of the Guyana Cricket Administration Act

ducted, that body that is calling itself the GCB and attempting to hold itself out to be the legitimate representative of cricket in Guyana is not the body the Ministry recognises as being the legitimate body we will engage with.”

The GCAA, Chapter 21:03, was passed back in 2014 with support from both major parties. However, in the subsequent years, the Act was challenged in the High Court.

The Act was challenged in 2014 through a Fixed Date Application (FDA), and in 2018 in the High Court before an appeal by the GCB et al was taken to the Court of Appeal.

While the proceedings

were going on, the Court had ordered that the then Guyana Cricket Board could act in the interim as the GCB until the matter has been concluded. However, it is alleged that then Attorney General Basil Williams and Sport Minister George Norton, along with the attorney then representing the GCB, consented to having the provisions of the Act suspended.

Concerning the election, the Act reads, “17. The Minister, after meaningful consultation with the West Indies Cricket Board, shall, (a) be responsible for the appointment of a Cricket Ombudsman, who shall be responsible for the verification of the Register of Clubs

and for performing the functions of Returning Officer for the first election of the membership of the Guyana Cricket Board, (b) have no part to play in respect to the holding of subsequent elections of the said cricket board and the election and the appointment of the Ombudsman.

18.

Subsequent elections to the Guyana Cricket Board shall be held in accordance with the provision of this act (Sections 7 and 8) and subsequent elections of the Ombudsman shall be held in accordance with Section 10”.

According to the Sport Minister, a Court Order will soon give direction on when the elections should be held.

Shepherd recovers from COVID-19, sets sight on Super50 Cup – Jaguars players isolated after Shepherd's positive test

By Brandon Corlette

R

omario Shepherd has become the first Guyanese cricketer to test positive for COVID-19.

This happened in early January, and it resulted in Shepherd missing the flight taking the West Indies touring squad to Bangladesh, as he was initially set to play in the three-match One Day International (ODI) series.

Speaking exclusively on the Mason and Guest radio programme, Shepherd said he has fully recovered and has undergone ten days of isolation in Berbice, away from his family.

"I was staying upstairs, away from everyone, and I could not come down. The funny thing about it is that I had no symptoms, I was nor-

mal throughout those ten days; so, I think I am fully recovered, I am good," Shepherd said.

The stocky, fast-bowling all-rounder said he is aiming to return to competitive cricket with the focus on the Regional Super50 Cup, which is set to be played from February 7 to February 27 in Antigua.

"The Guyana Jaguars started preparation. I had begun training with the Jaguars team, and when I tested positive for COVID-19, all the guys went on isolation," Shepherd disclosed.

Shepherd, who is the sponsor of an under-13 tournament in Berbice, said the President of the Berbice Cricket Board

had reached out to him, and he is gratified to lend his support when he is in a position to do so.

T h e 26-year-old Shepherd was set to play three ODIs on January 20, 22 and 25 in Dhaka and Chattogram, Bangladesh, but has been replaced by Barbadian speedster Keon Harding.

Shepherd had taken his COVID-19 test on January 2, and was due to leave Guyana on January 8, to link up

with other members of the squad who were going on the tour of Bangladesh. This, however, was not to be.

Shepherd was impressive with the bat for the West Indies A in the two four-day matches against New Zealand A in early December, scoring his maiden first-class hundred (133) and following it up with an unbeaten 77. He has represented the West Indies in five ODIs and three T20Is. In the recent series against New Zealand A, Shepherd hit 232 runs at an impressive average of 77.3, including a career best 133* and an unbeaten 77. This lad, who plays his local cricket for Tucber Park in New Amsterdam, has credited his maiden first-class ton to the preparation he had undergone prior to the first-class match in New Zealand.

Romario Shepherd has a first-class record that is better than those of most of his Caribbean counterparts. In 25 first-class matches, this right-arm speedster has taken 74 wickets at an average of 24.62, with a best bowling figure of 5-24. Moreover, his value increased exponentially when he showed his ability with the bat against that New Zealand ‘A’ side.

If Shepherd is able to play for the Guyana Jaguars in the Super50 Cup, it would certainly boost the Jaguars’ chances of success. Having played 29 List A matches and taken 36 wickets in that format of the game, Shepherd is yet to display the full range of his skill with the bat. However, this Super50 tournament may see Shepherd continue his rich vein of form in that regard.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 14, 2021

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

GCB accuses Sport Minister of political interference

– releases video of damage to pitch square at National Stadium

F

Shepherd recovers from COVID-19, sets sight on Super50 Cup – Jaguars players isolated afterShepherd’s Page 23 positive test

GAW’s Rutherford looking to impress in Pakistan Super League

– aiming to improve fitness and become full-time all-rounder

acing allegations of dispensing inaccurate information, the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) has sought to set the record straight concerning the condition of the pitch at the National Stadium at Providence, and its legitimacy as the body administering the affairs of cricket in Guyana.

Over the past few days, an issue has arisen in the sport fraternity in Guyana. That issue, which has taken the Guyanese sporting population by storm, is the hosting of football at the Guyana National Stadium at Providence, which was claimed to have damaged the pitch.

The following is a full statement from the GCB: The Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) has a mandate to organise, promote and manage the development and operations of cricket in Guyana. This includes ensuring that proper facilities are used in accordance with prescribed standards for regional and international cricket.

These standards also guide our decisions in selecting facilities for domestic matches, as well as for directing the construct of our facility upgrade initiatives. This direction is evident by the enormous investment in time and money spent at the LBI facility. Such degree of investment serves to reiterate the significance of stipulated standards for the hosting of professional cricket activities and the use of pathway exercises that are required by players to attain levels of professionalism.

Therefore, it would be error to underscore the significance of obtaining and/or mandating that required standards of facilities be upheld. It must be acknowledged that the GCB has consistently objected to various aspects of the Cricket Administration Act based on strong and valid arguments.

As a consequence, the GCB finds it disheartening that there once again appear to be political interference in the administration of cricket in Guyana, all be it that this time the interference seems to be ignited by Minister Charles Ramson Jr. Nevertheless, it must be recognized that the GCB’s challenge to the Cricket Administration Act remains to be heard. The GCB vehemently believes that once the same challenge is heard, the GCB presented arguments will be unabatedly upheld. This apart, the GCB does not wish to comment at this time on particulars relating to the court matters, since such matters are sub judice.

Further, with relevance to the current nature of the pitch square at the National Stadium, Providence, the GCB wrote to the management of the facility seeking the use of the ground for the preparation of the Guyana Jaguars

squad, for the Regional Super 50tournament which is scheduled for February 2021.

The request for its use for preparation activities for this facility was geared at match simulations, and having been familiar with the type of surfaces offered therein, it was felt that the pitch square at the National Stadium, Providence would provide the Guyana Jaguars with adequate preparation for their regional encounter.

However, the GCB was informed by the management of the Stadium of damage to the pitch square, and subsequently visited the same facility to observe the informed damages. As a consequence, the GCB is in possession of a video depicting the severity of the damage to aspects of the pitch square on the day of our visit.

Additionally, it must be noted that at no time did the GCB issue a press release, as stated by Minister Ramson, on the nature of the pitch square subsequent to the football matches that were recently played at the Guyana National Stadium.

In fact, the secretary of the GCB, in an invited comment from media sources, stated a position that is universally recognized with reference to international facility maintenance and management, and in this case with its applicability to the pitch square.

It must also be stated, that when Minister Charles Ramson Jr. took office, he summons the GCB to a meeting of which all the executive members attended with the exception of three such members. The meeting appeared to have projected the necessity for camaraderie and a unified trust in delivering the cricket goals and objectives for the country.

However, noticeably the Minister sought to utilize his office to facilitate approval of cricket in Guyana, a role and function normally undertaken by the GCB in fulfilling its mandate to organize, develop, promote and manage cricket in Guyana.

Consequentially, the GCB objected to this approach which apparently sought to subdue the power and authority that is conferred on the GCB. Here again, the GCB reiterate its position that the Cricket Administration Act needs to be revisited to clearly avoid government interference and other controversial clauses.

As a result, due to the unavailability of the Stadium, the GCB will now be forced to play their three (3) pretournament practice matches at the LBI facility on Monday January 18, 2021, Thursday January 21, and Saturday January 23, 2021.

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