Guyana Times - Thursday, July 8, 2021

P17

Over $340M in contracts inked by Agri Ministry Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Issue No. 4702

THURSDAY, JULY 8, 2021

Haiti's President assassinated

PRICE

WHAT'S INSIDE:

See stories on pages 3 & 18

GuySuCo pays off almost P10 $900M in debts in 9 months …clears debt to GAWU, starts repaying NIS

Late Haitian President Jovenel Moïse

...assassination has no place in contemporary Caribbean – President Ali

…flags on Govt buildings across Caricom being flown at half-staff

Govt files No-Confidence Motion against Harmon Page 2

…demands immediate resignation as Opposition Leader

$80 VAT INCLUDED

Berbice man killed by car on Corentyne highway P13 Ex-cons remanded for murder of taxi P8 driver

Misconduct in public office

DPP seeks to quash Magistrate’s ruling in Roxanne Myers case …wants cases handled in Magistrate’s Court See story on page 11

Food security declined under APNU/AFC Govt – Ali

…says PPP/C committed to resuscitating agriculture Page 7 …hands over $446M in tractors to Indigenous communities

2 more COVID COVID-19 -19 fatalities, 77 new cases See stories on pages 9 &14

…10 more vaccination sites for Georgetown – Health Minister

Accused arsonist remanded P12 for setting vulcanising shop, houses on fire

Prostitution, P15 sexual offences among issues facing Region 9

Orealla Council cannot account for $40M – P16 audit report

2 NEWS

THURSDAY, JULY 8, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Govt files No-Confidence Motion against Harmon …demands immediate resignation as Opposition Leader I n a shocking twist one day after Opposition Leader Joseph Harmon filed No-Confidence Motions (NCM’s) against two People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Government Ministers, Prime Minister Retired Brigadier Mark Phillips has slapped Harmon with a NCM of his own.

According to the motion seen by this publication prepared by Phillips, he is demanding Harmon’s immediate resignation from the position of Leader of the

President Dr Irfaan Ali

Opposition.

The NCM cites several grounds for Harmon’s removal, starting with his role in the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change’s (APNU/AFC) desperate fight to stay in power after losing the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections.

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

Prime Minister, Brigadier (ret’d) Mark Phillips

the government.

This is a reference to Harmon’s recent campaign against the Government’s acquisition of Sputnik-V vaccines, during which he even called for a halt to the distribution of the vaccine. According to Phillips, Harmon’s actions endangered lives and increased vaccine hesitancy among an already vulnerable population.

“And whereas the Leader of the Opposition opportunistically used the horrific murder of the Henry youth from West Coast Berbice as a means to incite ethnic disharmony. And whereas the Leader of the Opposition has consistently denigrated the representative of the joiner parties, Mr. Lenox Shuman, Deputy Speaker, as a legitimate member of the parliamentary opposition, even going so far as to deny him holding an opposition seat on any parliamentary committee. Be It Resolved that this House expresses its lack of confidence in the Leader of the Opposition and calls for his immediate resignation,” Phillips said in his motion.

No effort, political drama

Meanwhile, On Wednesday, President Dr Irfaan Ali also poured cold water over the motions of no confidence APNU/ AFC brought against his Ministers, saying the Opposition did not even put any effort into their motions.

During an interview with the media on the side lines of another event, the President pointed out that the motions filed against Minister of Health Dr Frank Anthony and Minister of Home Affairs Robeson Benn are one-liners that seem to have been hurriedly put together.

“If you are going to do something meaningful you should put effort [into] it.

Have you seen it? The motion is one line. They didn’t spend time to put effort… it is just political drama and it has no thinking or structure or work behind it… it’s just political drama and I don’t have time for that,” the President said.

President Ali went on to say that his focus remains on delivering on his party’s promise to the Guyanese people, something he noted both Ministers Anthony and Benn have been doing. However, he did note that the motions filed by APNU/AFC will give his Government the chance to once again examine the coalition’s record in office.

Motions

Harmon filed the motions against Dr Anthony and Benn on Tuesday, de-

Opposition Leader Joseph Harmon

scending on the National Assembly with a number of his fellow Opposition Members of Parliament (MPs) in tow.

His motion against Dr Anthony is being seconded by former junior Minister of Health, Dr Karen Cummings. On the other hand, his motion against Benn is being seconded by shadow Home Affairs Minister Geeta ChandanEdmonds.

Upon receiving the motion, Clerk of the National Assembly Sherlock Issacs informed the Opposition Leader that he will examine the motions to ensure they “do not offend the standing orders”, after which they will be transmitted to Speaker of the National Assembly Manzoor Nadir, for his approval or disapproval. Issacs did promise Harmon, however, that he would handle the motions expeditiously.

According to a statement from the APNU/AFC afterwards, “…in filing these NoConfidence Motions, is acting on behalf of hundreds of thousands of Guyanese who have lost all confidence in the performance of these two incompetent Ministers to perform their duties.”

The APNU/AFC contended that “the management of the spread of COVID-19 has been woeful, there has been questionable procurement of vaccines and confirmed COVID cases and deaths are spiralling out of control. Dr Anthony must bear direct responsibility for the health care crisis and disaster he has placed Guyana in, imperilling the lives and health and wellbeing of every citizen. The nation has lost confidence in Dr Anthony and we formally take action on behalf of the people of Guyana today.”

At present, the configuration of the National Assembly sees the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) with the parliamentary majority of 33 out of 65 seats.

APNU/AFC, the main Opposition party, has 31 seats, while the Liberty and Justice Party (LJP), in collaboration with two other parties, holds one.

NEWS

3

THURSDAY, JULY 8, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS OPENINGS BRIDGE

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

Thursday, July 8 – 03:00h-04:30h and Friday, July 9 – 03:30h-05:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Thursday, July 8 – 16:00h-17:30h and Friday, July 9 – 16:35h-18:05h.

Haiti's President assassinated

...assassination has no place in contemporary Caribbean – President Ali

…flags on Govt buildings across Caricom being flown at half-staff

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

WEATHER TODAY There will be thundery showers during the day.

Expect partly cloudy skies at night. Temperatures should range between 21 degrees Celsius and 31 degrees Celsius.

Winds: South-Easterly to South South-Easterly between 1.78 metres and 3.57 metres.

High Tide: 15:39h reaching a maximum height of 2.36 metres.

Low Tide: 09:12h and 21:24h reaching minimum heights of 0.75 metre and 0.86 metre.

President Irfaan Ali

P

resident Dr Irfaan Ali has strongly condemned Wednesday’s assassination of President of Haiti, Jovenel Moïse, say-

ues and constitutional rule,” the statement from the Office of the President detailed.

Moreover, President Ali went on to tell reporters on the side lines of an event on Wednesday that, “…Violence and killing and assassination is definitely not a means to an end in resolving any issue.

It is a cowardly act. It has no place in our region and we condemn it totally.”

Further, the Guyanese Head of State went on to outline in the missive from his office that the assassination of President Moïse compounds the already disquieting political and constitutional crisis in Haiti.

Nevertheless, he stressed that Guyana will continue

“Those responsible for this indefensible and cowardly execution must be brought swiftly to justice. Political assassination has no place in the contemporary Caribbean. It solves nothing nor resolves anything. Such murderous actions are repugnant to the values of the regional integration movement and incompatible with democratic values and constitutional rule” – President Irfaan Ali

WEDNESDAY, JULY 7, 2021

LOTTERY NUMBERS C

06 07 10 11 20 26

17

FREE TICKET

Bonus Ball

DAILY MILLIONS

02 05 08 10 18 LUCKY 3

2

1

8

2

Afternoon Draw

0

5

Evening Draw

DRAW DE LINE

07 09 11 14 15 18 20 SUPER

PAY DAY

PAY DAY

FRIDAY, JULY 2, 2021

04 06 08 09 11 13

06 12 15 20 21

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

COMMODITIES Indicators

US$

Change %

Crude Oil

$73.43/barrel

-1.50

Rough Rice

$231.98 /ton

-0.09

London Sugar

$438.70/ton

-1.19

Live Spot Gold

USD Per Ounce

Bid/Ask

$1797.70

$1798.70

Low/High Change

$1797.90 -5.70

$1798.70 -0.32

ing that such acts have no place in the contemporary Caribbean.

According to interim Prime Minister Claude Joseph, President Moïse was killed in an attack on his home in Haiti’s capital of Port-au-Prince. Joseph said the Head of State’s private residence was stormed by unidentified armed men in the wee hours of Wednesday, who shot the 53-year-old leader to death, while injuring his wife, First Lady Martine Moïse.

The First Lady has since been flown to the Jackson Health System’s Ryder Trauma Center, South Florida, for treatment and is said to be in a critical condition.

In a statement, Prime Minister Joseph described the killing as a “hateful, inhumane and barbaric act.”

He said, “The country’s security situation is under the control of the National Police of Haiti and the Armed Forces of Haiti… Democracy and the republic will win.”

Shocked and stunned

President Ali, in a statement on Wednesday, said he is shocked and stunned by the tragic news of President Moïse’s assassination. He posited that this horrific act is a tragedy for both Haiti and the Caribbean region.

“Those responsible for this indefensible and cowardly execution must be brought swiftly to justice. Political assassination has no place in the contemporary Caribbean.

It solves nothing nor resolves anything. Such murderous actions are repugnant to the values of the regional integration movement and incompatible with democratic val-

to work with the Caribbean Community (Caricom) in seeking to engage with Haiti in order to ensure peace and stability.

“On behalf of the Government and people of Guyana, and on my own behalf, I extend deepest con-

Haiti’s President Jovenel Moïse who was assassinated and First Lady Martine Moïse, who is battling for her life in a Miami Hospital

dolences to the Government and people of the Republic of Haiti and to the wife and family of President Moïse. I ask all Guyanese to pay respectful homage to the memory of the late President,” President Ali said in the statement.

Meanwhile, as a show of respect for the late Haitian Head of State, President Ali on Wednesday ordered that the national flags at all Government Ministries, agencies, and institutions, be flown at half-staff.

Starting on Wednesday, the Golden Arrowhead will continue to be flown at halfstaff today, Friday and on the day of the funeral of the late President Moïse. That date is yet to be announced.

Caricom

This move was adopted by the Member States of the

Community and the Caricom Secretariat. Beginning immediately, they will fly their national flags and the Caricom Standard at half-mast for three days, as well as on the day of the funeral.

After news of President Moïse’s assassination broke, Caribbean leaders have come out condemning the act.

In fact, Heads of Caricom Member States convened a Special Emergency Session on Wednesday to discuss the current situation in Haiti and the grouping’s response.

According to a statement from the Caricom Secretariat, the regional body has expressed its willingness to play a leading role in facilitating a process of national dialogue and negotiation to help the Haitian people and their institutions to craft an indigenous solution to the crisis.

TURN TO PAGE 7

4

guyanatimesgy.com

THURSDAY, JULY 8, 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

Women’s role in nation building

O

ne of the best ways by which individuals can be empowered is by an appropriate education and creation of empowerment programmes to enable equitable opportunities for upward mobility for every citizen, yet disadvantaged women and youths proliferate not only in Guyana but the Caribbean and further afield.

Societies in general are veering away from male domination in work places, and Government and the Private Sector are determined to provide equal opportunities for employees – regardless of gender.

The issue of women and their role in development has always been a topic of interest, and debates have centred around the challenges women face in getting access to the same opportunities as men, and, in a general sense, programmes and policies that could be implemented to ensure their economic and social advancement.

Women, over the years, have made tremendous progress not only in terms of their own advancement, but by playing key roles in the development of their own communities, and, by extension, allowing other women opportunities to develop themselves. However, many challenges remain, and these must be tackled to ensure that women have access to the opportunities and resources needed to allow them to lead more productive and fulfilling lives.

However, women – the child-bearers and primary childcarers – are disadvantaged by domestic responsibilities; and many men abdicate their responsibilities in parenting and being equal partners in the home.

There is a dire need for men to create behavioural change in their domestic and child-rearing engagements: the accrued benefits to the entire family would be manifold; and the satisfaction and happiness of family togetherness would redound to the well-being of everyone, not least the children. If they grow up in an environment of caring and sharing, most likely they would become rounded adults, and incidents of juvenile delinquency would be reduced. Most of the ills in society are caused by delinquent fathers and spouses.

Despite many attempts by successive Governments to empower/educate women and youths in diverse ways, there are still great numbers of women with leadership skills and business acumen who are constrained by diverse circumstances from optimising their potential for wealth and job creation.

Some years ago, under the Administration of former President Bharrat Jagdeo, the Social Protection Ministry, in collaboration with the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI), launched the “Women of Worth” (WoW) loan programme, which helped single-parent women start and/or expand their businesses. This initiative was driven by then subject Minister Priya Manickchand.

Through initiatives like Women of Worth, Government, in partnership with institutions like GBTI, has proven that providing enabling mechanisms can make a tangible impact on the lives of vulnerable women and, consequently, their children. By removing financial obstacles, the partnership with GBTI helped women realise their true potential through building businesses.

Through the WoW initiative, women used their acumen to grow local communities, build wealth, and ultimately contribute to making Guyana better as a whole.

Before their advent into politics in then British Guiana, local women were treated as lesser by the colonial overlords. Women could not work in the Public Service after marriage, and they certainly could not vote, among a multiplicity of human/women’s rights constraints.

Over the years, intrepid women fought for equality, and after much struggle and countless engagements at various fora, women were permitted greater freedoms in the socio-political dynamics of the nation. Today, women proliferate in leadership roles in every sphere of activity in the nation.

Students of the Company Road Primary School in Buxton writing their second NGSA Mock Examination on Wednesday (Education Ministry photo)

Shameless and vulgar action

by Christopher Jones

Dear Editor, I stumbled on a social media post purportedly by the Opposition Chief Whip, Mr Christopher Jones, alleging “Full Foolishness on Mandela Road Project”.

For the record, the PPP/C Government inherited a failed, mismanaged, non-implementing project when it came to office in August 2020.

We re-revived, reenergised and remobilised the contractor, and it’s obvious for all to see the inconveniences that motorists are currently experiencing that work is moving at a pace. I thank Mr Jones for highlighting progress and admiring the successes of the PPP/C in getting this project delivered to the Guyanese people.

A four-lane road must have medians. A median is intended to provide a uniform barrier to the unsafe openings and is non-discriminatory in nature. All properties, businesses, religious and recreational facilities are treated in

the same manner with the installation of the median. They are no exceptions, given that safety to all road users is our number one (1) priority. The online video alleges that there is some intent to kill the business of Mr James’ Rubis Gas Station.

Mr James wrote the Ministry requesting a review of an opening to facilitate his business and users of the Post Office. He was engaged by the Ministry of Public Works; a site visit was conducted and he was satisfied with the outcomes. For the record, had the APNU/AFC remained in Office, the design of the median and the safe opening with traffic lights would have been exactly what is taking place since the were no changes to the design since the PPP/C took office. For Mr Jones to cry foolishness, he is clearly highlighting his displeasure with the mismanagement of the APNU/AFC while they were in office.

Public consultations on

the project design and road changes were made, including the main consultation at the North Ruimveldt Multilateral School. The entire project was drawn and posted on the auditorium walls. Both Ministry officials and consultants were present to address any concerns or comments from stakeholders, but this was 2013, a period when the PPP/C governed and engaged in stakeholder consultation rather than pandering to the elite and privileged few, as we see with the several changes made during the APNU/AFC tenure to accommodate special interests.

In every part of the world, medians are desirable and are used on highways carrying four or more lanes and safe openings regulated by traffic lights to facilitate the flow of traffic. In Guyana, it is no different. Check all the highways that we built, four-lanes, and they all have medians. The APNU/AFC’s spokesman is looking to steal headlines and

acquire some amount of relevance.

This silliness and attempt to agitate the residents of South Georgetown must be seen for what it is, shameless and vulgar.

The four-lane coming from Diamond connecting at the North Ruimveldt Multilateral School turn will be accommodated by a roundabout, providing residents of South Georgetown with better access, more connections, and safer use of our roadways.

When there is development, there are always changes.

The PPP/C commits to the development of Guyana in a non-discriminatory people-centred, and engaging manner.

Is this entire episode based on self-interest?

Is Mr Jones not a resident in the Tucville area?

Dear Editor, The Mayor and some City Councillors now all of a sudden have a problem with the Local Government Commission exercising its authority in the affairs of the Georgetown City Council. It was reported in the news that the Mayor and Chairman of the Finance Committee were barred from a meeting held by the Commission to discuss Human Resource issues. The real question is: were they invited? If they weren’t then they cannot be barred because they were not invited in the first place. And why would the Mayor turn up to a meeting that he was not invited to? Naturally, he was embarrassed because he breached normal protocols.

But with all the problems in the city including heaps of

garbage, everywhere, flooding in different parts, run down municipal buildings, no money at the Council to do basic things and very low staff morale, the Mayor can still find time to attend a meeting to which he had no invite. It is, to say the least, unbelievable. Imagine the Mayor of an untidy capital is busy arguing about not being invited to a meeting rather than being busy with cleaning up. It is shameful.

The funny thing about all of this is that when the Commission was chaired by Mr Mortimer Mingo, a member of the Central Executive Committee of the PNCR, that same Mayor and his band of Councillors had no problem with the Local Government Commission then. Quite a few officers were dismissed

by that body without due and lawful process, including the Chief Constable and the Deputy Town Clerk. The Mayor even attempted to get the current City Engineer fired. Luckily, the life of that Commission expired before he could have succeeded. He attempted to do it at the Council but that officer was strong, took the matter to court and won. Also, they, the Mayor and his merry band of Councillors, attempted to get the Commission to employ a group of hand-picked individuals for top positions at the Council, one of whom was the Secretary to the unlawful Commission of Inquiry, by the then Commission. But even that Commission refused to honour that recommendation.

So why the problem with this Commission? What is

different now? The answer to that is simply this: the Local Government Commission is now chaired by a member of the ruling party, the PPP/C, Julius Faerber, an honourable man, who knows about Local Government administration. The trouble is that the Mayor and his cohorts cannot influence or control the work of this Commission, in any way, so there is a problem; there will always be a problem. His friends and comrades are no longer in charge. Now he has to abide by the rules and respect the Commission. The Local Government Commission Act of 2013 is clear on the powers, duties and responsibilities of the Commission.

Sincerely, Bishop Juan A Edghill Minister of Public Works

Mayor has to abide by rules, respect Local Govt Commission

Yours truly, Anthony Subner

guyanatimesgy.com

THURSDAY, JULY 8, 2021

5

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

On Indo-Caribbean post-graduates, ABDs, PhDs and professors Dear Editor, In all Caribbean academic conferences, seminars, webinars, panel presentations and roundtables, there are few Indo-Caribbean researchers, scholars and intellectuals. Given that they are a numerical minority in the region, they are still almost invisible because they just do not appear in the audience or on the stage.

But you do see these university “educated” people from the Humanities and Social Sciences in all-Indian Facebook, WhatsApp and email chat groups and communal blogs. They speak in safe spaces such as private gatherings and in Indian Diaspora Conferences usually held in communal venues such as the NCIC Divali Nagar, rather than in uni-

versity auditoriums.

They hardly appear in large multi-ethnic fora dominated by non-Indians, and are incapable or too scared to debate with Afro intellectuals on race and ethnicity. Perhaps they have taken a decision to self-surrender into silence and invisibility because they have been shouted down too many times. Their gravest mortal fear is to be called “racist”, so they avoid any semblance of researching, writing or talking in public spaces about Indian identity. Not unexpected, they fear talking or writing about institutionalised discrimination and systemic racism against their own Indian group, even when they themselves are victims.

If these post-graduates, ABDs (All but dissertation), PhDs and professors do appear in multi-racial gatherings, they are apologetic about being IndoCaribbean, assume a Black persona, and viciously attack fellow Indians and Indian identity to prove to others that “I am not one of them Indian” or “I am not one like them Indian”. If they do appear in multi-ethnic conferences, it is to talk about their research on the past (indentureship, 18381917), not the present; talk about past oppression by Whites, not about present institutionalised discrimination by Blacks.

It is a type of Saheb Babu or Uncle Tom personality, the latter drawn from Harriet Beecher

Stowe’s novel Uncle Tom’s Cabin (1852) in which the title character is an enslaved African American. In an attempt to cope with threats, Tom becomes passive, submissive, subservient and appeasing to his master.

This type of Indian academic, teaching in Blackdominated (community) colleges and universities, give up or hide their ethnic outlook, traits and practices in order to be accepted into the mainstream.

The theory of multicultural psychology explains ethnic minority behaviour as a means of coping with threats, hostility and subjugation by dominant individuals and groups.

[Multicultural psychology explains all aspects of human behaviour as they oc-

APNU/AFC’s latest publicity stunt Dear Editor, I have taken note of the APNU/AFC’s criticisms of the Dr Irfaan Ali-led PPP/C Government’s management of the country’s fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

They have taken a step further by bringing forth a NoConfidence Motion to support the same narrative.

Guyanese are smart people and just as how they have seen through every APNU/ AFC untruth ranging from 33 not being the majority of 65 to them being fraudulently removed from office, they will see through this latest charade.

We are all aware that the APNU/AFC continues to put forward its erroneous claim that the Minister of Health has been doing a poor job in terms of managing the pandemic in Guyana. They support this by saying that when they were in Government the COVID-19 numbers were significantly lower. But

those numbers were clearly influenced by the deliberate policy of low testing that they employed, which was rigidly enforced by Volda Lawrence on whose desks the test results had to go before even the persons tested were made aware of their status. This isn’t the case now as the PPP/C Government when it took office in August significantly increased the amount of testing being done and with that reality obviously would come more detection of positive cases.

Further, I put forth this question to the coalition: if their management of the pandemic was so good and the numbers were so low as they claim then why was there a need for them to spend $1.6 billion on a COVID-19 hospital? What about the Pan American Health Organisation/World Health Organisation’s (PAHO/WHO) projection in early April 2020 that cases

in Guyana could reach as much as 20,000 by May 5 of that same year?

The answer is very simple.

Despite which Government came into office, the COVID-19 numbers would have been far more than what it was at the beginning of 2020. Even if the APNU/AFC were successful in defying the will of the electorate in 2020, COVID-19 would have affected Guyanese far worse given their dismal record in dealing with the pandemic in its initial stages.

I am positive that many other right-thinking Guyanese would agree with me when I say that

the PPP/C Government has demonstrated far better management of Guyana’s fight against COVID-19.

In fact, it was this Government who procured PPEs, provided incentives to those in the frontline of the fight as well as relief to the ordinary Guyanese.

They have also undertaken a robust vaccination campaign, the success of which the APNU/AFC is trying to stymie. As such, I find the APNU/AFC’s stance and its latest publicity stunt in the form of a No-Confidence Motion to be ridiculous.

Yours truly, Alvin Hamilton

cur in settings where people of different racial and cultural backgrounds encounter each other (Peony Elyn Fhagen, 2010)].

As ethnic minorities, Saheb Babus and Uncle Toms even identify with hegemonic group members and adopt their thoughts, views, expressions and behaviour. They become docile, non-assertive and

non-interrogative as a survival technique for recruitment, permanent employment (tenure), promotion, peace and self-preservation as well as to maintain good, friendly relations with their aggressors and superiors to avoid retaliation.

Dear Editor, The shocking death by assassination of a sitting Head of State, President Jovenel Moïse of Haiti, must be seen as a worrying development for our tiny Caricom nation, and must be condemned in the strongest terms.

Whatever purpose is

hoped to be achieved from this horrific crime must not be allowed to succeed.

Caricom must come out of this tragedy stronger and unified.

My thoughts and prayers are with the people of Haiti.

Sincerely, Dr Kumar Mohabir (Anthropologist)

This tragedy must unite Caricom

Sincerely, Shamshun Mohamed

Post-mortem can’t bring back the dead Dear Editor, No amount of frontpage coverage or editorials will resurrect Mike McCormack’s Guyana Human Rights Association (GHRA) from the dead. The GHRA has long lost its relevance and whatever credibility it had.

They say you shouldn’t speak ill of the dead but this undemocratic outfit which has had McCormack as its head for over 40 years is viewed by a large part of the population as an APNU/

AFC mouthpiece. That it was in an apparent comatose state during the blatant attempt to rig the March 2, 2020 General Elections and has suddenly awoken from its sleep, echoing positions taken by the APNU/AFC, gives credence to this view.

McCormack’s fulminations have been largely ignored by the many mainstream media houses for good reasons.

Yours truly, Erin Northe

6

THURSDAY, JULY 8, 2021

Page

Foundation ◄

Question 1

Wednesday’s answers

On the Cards and Dice

By Sir Walter Ralegh

Before the sixth day of the next new year, Strange wonders in this kingdom shall appear: Four kings shall be assembled in this isle, Where they shall keep great tumult for awhile.

Many men then shall have an end of crosses, And many likewise shall sustain great losses; Many that now full joyful are and glad, Shall at that time be sorrowful and sad; Full many a Christian's heart shall quake for fear, The dreadful sound of trump when he shall hear.

Dead bones shall then be tumbled up and down, In every city and in every town.

By day or night this tumult shall not cease, Until an herald shall proclaim a peace; An herald strong, the like was never born, Whose very beard is flesh and mouth is horn.

WORD SEARCH

L

itter is unsightly, but the harm it does goes far beyond just looking like a mess. More than one million animals, including seabirds, die each year from being tangled up in plastic trash or from eating it.

Ocean litter may come from anywhere because much of it is carried to the sea by rivers. Plastic waste also causes problems for animals on land. They may become entangled in it, or they find small pieces of it and feed it to their young.

Disposing of trash properly is a valuable way to help save the lives of wildlife.

Get thinking

Name products that you use regularly. How many of these products come in plastic packag-

ing? How do you dispose of these products? Where do these products go once you have disposed of them?

Discuss how you can be a better friend of the environment. (Adapted from startwithabook.org)

NEWS

7

THURSDAY, JULY 8, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Food security declined under APNU/AFC Govt – Ali …says PPP/C committed to resuscitating agriculture …hands over $446M in tractors to Indigenous communities

where the six years of reversal of our economy and neglect we experienced, today we’re correcting those issues.”

“And we’re working assiduously with the government to ensure that Amerindian development is accelerated. And in so doing, one of the most important pillars of our economy, agriculture, is being addressed,” she said.

It is understood that an additional 83 tractors, hydraulic carriage, and imple-

ments will be handed over to more hinterland communities to support agriculture in the villages.

Last year, an Amerindian Development Fund (ADF) was established to provide funding to support the socio-economic development of Amerindian communities and villages, through the implementation of their Community Development Plans (CDPs).

CDPs were identified and developed by the Amerindian villages them-

Haiti's President...

President Irfaan Ali handing over the tractor keys to Toshao for Wakapao, Region Two, Lloyd Perreira

R

eminding of how food security declined between 2015 and 2020 under the former A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government, President Dr Irfaan Ali made it clear that Government is committed to addressing this.

He made these remarks on Wednesday during a ceremony at the Hinterland Student Dormitory at Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara, to hand over 30 tractors and trailers totalling some $446 million to Toshaos of Amerindian villages across the country.

The President assured

the village leaders that his Government will work closely with farmers to restore the viability of their farmlands. According to him, a plan is underway that will help farmers recover, while building a more resilient agriculture sector.

“Food security has been impacted by the decline in non-traditional agriculture between 2015-2020.

Production of non-traditional agriculture declined from 11,000 metric tonnes in 2015 to 9077 metric tonnes in 2020. This is compounded also, by the decline in agro-processing.”

“Many interior communities have been affected by the

floods resulting in the loss of produce and the destruction of farmlands. In some communities, the availability of food remains perilous. We are, however, going to rebuild stronger and better,” the President said.

Meanwhile, Amerindian Affairs Minister Pauline Sukhai also spoke of the significance of the equipment being allocated. According to her, it is a tangible investment in the development of the Indigenous people.

“Our event today (Wednesday) is to ensure that the investment touches the lives of Amerindians across the hinterland, where many of us resides and

They also called on the people of Haiti to remain calm, and to overcome their differences and unite at this moment of national peril.

“Heads of Government strongly condemn this abhorrent and reprehensible act that comes at a time of deep turmoil and institutional weakness in the country.

They called for the perpetrators to be apprehended and brought to justice, and for law and order to prevail. In accordance with its values, as expressed in its Charter of Civil Society, the Caribbean Community does not settle its differences by violence which undermines democracy and the rule of law, but peacefully through dialogue and recourse to democratic institutions,” the missive from the Secretariat stated.

Further, the Caricom leaders also expressed concerned about the condition of

Mrs Moise and wished her a full and speedy recovery.

Pain inflicted on Haiti

Also extending his condolences, current Chairman of Caricom, Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda Gaston Browne, said the entire region feels the pain which has been inflicted on Haiti by President Moïse’s killing.

PM Browne posited that that the Haitian leader’s assassination further complicates the jostling for power that has characterised the French-speaking Caricom Member State and its future.

President Moïse had led Haiti since 2017 after his predecessor Michel Martelly stepped down.

According to BBC, Moïse’s time in office was rocky as he faced accusations of corruption and was challenged by waves of often vi-

selves which proposed their priority projects to be financed under the GRIF ADF. President Ali had announced $800 million being allocated in the 2020 emergency budget for the fund.

At the time, APNU/ AFC’s decision to vote against the Amerindian capital budget in Parliament provoked much criticism against them. Their vote against the budget included a vote against over $200 million in grants to Amerindian communities. (G3) FROM PAGE 3

olent anti-Government protests. There were widespread protests in the capital and other cities earlier this year, as people demanded his resignation.

It reported that Haiti’s Opposition said that Moïse’s five-year term should have ended on February 7, 2021, five years to the day since Martelly stepped down. But there had been a year’s delay to elections after that, and Moïse insisted he had one more year to serve as he did not take office until February 7, 2017.

In February, on the day the Opposition wanted him to leave office, Moïse said an attempt to kill him and overthrow the Government had been foiled, the BBC said.

Chronic instability, dictatorships and natural disasters have left Haiti as one of the poorest nations in the Americas. (G8)

8 NEWS

THURSDAY, JULY 8, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Ex-cons remanded for murder of taxi driver

Murder accused: Kenty Bacchus

Murder accused: Seyon James

ays after the body of a 53-year-old taxi driver was found dumped at Ogle, East Coast Demerara, two ex-convicts were on Wednesday remanded to prison on a joint murder charge.

Appearing before Magistrate Rochelle Liverpool were 34-yearold Kenty Bacchus, called “Trini”, a welder of Water Street, Georgetown, and Seyon James, called “Lil

Alfey”, 25, a fish vendor of Laing Avenue, Georgetown.

They were not required to plead to the indictable charge which stated that on June 30, at Block 1 Ogle, East Coast Demerara, they murdered Kenrick Trim. They were remanded to prison and the case will continue on August 6 when they will make another appearance at the Sparendaam Magistrates’ Courts.

D

Police, in a statement, said that the taxi driver was found dead at Block 1 Ogle. According to Police, Trim’s body appeared to have been dumped from a silver-grey Toyota Premio car, HC 5311, which was parked a short distance away. It is suspected that he was killed during the commission of a robbery.

Trim was wearing a gold chain and ring when he left his home, but when his body was found his jewellery was missing. At the time of his arrest, Bacchus was reportedly found in possession of the dead man’s cellphone- a black Samsung Galaxy A20. The two murder accused reportedly met while serving time in jail.

During interrogation, Bacchus allegedly gave a confession statement in which he implicated James. James reportedly told detectives that on the day in question, Bacchus picked him up from the minibus park in Georgetown and they

Upping the ante…

Dead: Taxi driver Kenrick Trim

travelled to a snackette in Carmichael Street, Georgetown.

James said that soon after leaving the snackette, they joined a taxi which was driven by the nowdead man. The fish vendor confessed that his accomplice sat behind the driver while he sat behind the front passenger’s seat and they requested to be taken to a location along the East Coast of Demerara.

TURN TO PAGE 10

J

…in Haiti ust when you thought it couldn’t get worse for Haiti… it just did as its President Jovenel Moise was shot dead by unidentified attackers yesterday at his private residence. For weeks gangs had been wreaking violence as they claimed to be protesting against Moise’s rule, which had become increasingly – and depressingly – dictatorial since his election in 2017. Elections had been due two years ago, but – as has become a pattern in Haiti for over two centuries – it seems every leader becomes infected with an anti-democratic virus!

We all know Haiti was the first slave society to win its independence from a European power – the French, under Napoleon and on the battlefield, to boot! – way back in 1804? Now you’d think with that head-start the country ought to’ve been in the frontline states as far as development goes. But it was not to be – for all sorts of reasons, many of which are still in play and which have precipitated the present crisis.

Whoever said, “The past isn’t dead…. it’s not even past!” had to’ve had Haiti in mind! France hadn’t even been thrown out when the divisions between the mulatto and black Haitians caused the country to be effectively split in two. From being the richest colony with the largest sugar production for Europe, it slid to the poorest as it lost its sugar markets and descended into a tenuous peasant subsistence economy. This served to precipitate one of the earliest and devastating deforestation tragedies on Earth.

Afraid of Haiti having a demonstrator effect among its own slaves, the US – which had just kicked out THEIR European ruler – sided with France to impose crippling reparations on the fledgling state, which were only repaid in 1947!! As such, there just wasn’t any surplus to spend on infrastructure, etc, but loans had to be taken to service the reparations which just added to the pile of debt!! Talk about Sisyphus and his eternal burden!!

In 1915, the Americans invaded to control taxes and the treasury to ensure bank loans were serviced. When they left in 1937, Haiti fell into the hands of a series of despots ending with Papa Doc Duvalier at the head of his goon squad, the Tonton Macoutes from 1957. He, of course, terrorised the populace and raped the country’s treasury as did his son, Baby Doc, who took over and ruled till 1986. Sadly after he fled – courtesy of an uprising - the instability in governance continued even as the natural disasters of earthquakes and hurricanes kept ensuring that Haiti never got off its knees.

The Haitian migrants in our news are just one of the consequences of Haiti’s tragedy.

Which is about to get worse. …in the National Assembly The PNC under Granger and Harmon are getting desperate as they seem to be inexorably headed into oblivion. They’re fighting a rearguard action against vicious attacks from within, on their leadership. Their stratagem of “not recognising” the PPP Government after their rigging attempt failed ignominiously – not least of all because they insisted on being the “Opposition”. One can only be an “Opposition” to a GOVERNMENT!!

Anyhow, they’ve just used that Opposition platform by laying No Confidence Motions against Minister of Health, Frank Anthony and Minister of Home Affairs, Robeson Benn! This isn’t just risible because they don’t have the votes to pass the motions but they’re clearly still miffed they were effectively checkmated, voted out of office after the PPP’s No Confidence Motion. Charrandas in their craw!

They’re trying to placate their fast-disappearing base by showing them they’re “doing something”!! Never mind it’s just spinning wheels!

They’ll just be adding to global warming as they spout tons of hot air in the National Assembly! …by new party Ex-WPA executive member, MP Sarabo-Halley, has a jejune letter in the press “The ethnic and racial division does not tangibly benefit most of us”.

Was it on behalf of her “Guyana Nation Builders Movement (GNBM) or APNU? Readers are invited to send their comments by email to eye@guyanatimesgy.com

NEWS

9

THURSDAY, JULY 8, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

2 more fatalities take COVID-19 death toll to 484 …77 new cases

T

wo more persons who tested positive for the novel coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) have died, according to the Health Ministry on Wednesday.

This now takes the total number of deaths from the virus locally to 484.

According to the Ministry, these latest fatalities are two males, a 59-year-old from Region Three (Essequibo Islands -West Demerara) and a 65-year-old from Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica).

They both died on Tuesday while receiving care at medical facilities.

Since the beginning of July, eight persons have succumbed to the life-threatening disease. The total number of deaths from the virus in the month of June was 78. May was the deadliest month with 99 COVID-19 fatalities after surpassing April’s 66 death toll.

Meanwhile, some 77 new COVID-19 cases were detected from 920 tests conducted in the previous 24 hours.

With this, the total number of confirmed cases in Guyana is now 20,645 – 10,090 males and 10,555 females.

However, only 1514 of these are currently active cases. These include 15 patients in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and the remaining 1499 persons in isolation, that is, 89 in institutional isolation and

GUYANA COVID-19 DASHBOARD

the remaining 1410 in home isolation.

JULY 7 UPDATE There are also three other persons in instiDISTRIBUTION OF TOTAL NUMBER OF NEW CASES 77 tutional quarantine, acCONFIRMED CASES SINCE MARCH 2020 cording to the Ministry’s NUMBER OF PERSONS IN COVID-19 dashboard on 89 REGION 1 1243 INSTITUTIONAL ISOLATION Wednesday.

Additionally, some REGION 2 571 18,647 persons have NUMBER OF PERSONS IN 1410 REGION 3 2349 recovered from the HOME ISOLATION life-threatening virus to REGION 4 9424 date.

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN 14 Meanwhile, since the REGION 5 678 COVID-19 ICU outbreak of the pandemREGION 6 1620 ic in Guyana last year, NUMBER OF PERSONS IN 3 195,695 persons have INSTITUTIONAL QUARANTINE REGION 7 1267 been tested for the novel coronavirus so far.

REGION 8 380 TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES BY A breakdown of the 77 10,555 GENDER (FEMALES) REGION 9 1659 new cases on Wednesday showed that five were REGION 10 1454 TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES BY detected in Region One 10,090 GENDER (MALES) (Barima-Waini); two cases in Region Two HERE IS HOW YOU CAN BE TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES (Pomeroon-Supenaam); 20,645 SAFE DURING THE COVID-19 IN GUYANA SINCE 2020 five in Region Three; PANDEMIC a whopping 23 cases Wear a face mask. in Region Four; one in NUMBER OF RECOVERED CASES 18,647 Region Five (MahaicaKeep a physical distance of at least 6 feet.

Berbice); eight casTOTAL 1st DOSE VACCINATED 235,796 es in Region Six (East Wash your hands or use handsanitizer Berbice-Corentyne); four FULLY IMMUNISED 114,394 in Region Nine (Upper If you have any symptoms, call the Takutu-Upper Essequibo) COVID-19 Hotline.

TOTAL NUMBER OF DEATHS and the remaining 29 cas484 es in Region 10 (Upper GET MEDICAL ADVICE ON COVID-19 FROM MOH 24/7 HOTLINE NUMBERS: 2311166; 226 7480; 624 6674; 624 2819; 624 3067 OR 180/181.

Demerara-Berbice).

There were no new Government launched its COVID-19 vaccine, repre- Meanwhile, fully immunised cases recorded in Regions COVID-19 vaccination exer- senting some 48.6 per cent persons in the country as of Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) cise back in February and is of the adult population. Tuesday are some 115,652, and Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) aggressively rolling it out in in the previous 24 hours, the various regions in order according to Wednesday’s to achieve heard immunity.

COVID-19 dashboard.

As of Tuesday, some In order to curb the ris236,409 persons have reing number of cases in ceived their first dose of a the country, the Guyana

that is, approximately 23.8 per cent of persons 18 years and older.

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

Nevertheless, as more people continue to get vaccinated, authorities are urging the public to continue observing all COVID-19 preventative measures, particularly masking in public, social distancing and frequent hand washing and sanitising. The measures also include a 22:30h (10:30 pm) to 04:00h (4 am) national curfew that is in effect until July 31, 2021.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), as of Wednesday, some 184,324,026 confirmed cases were reported globally along with 3,992,680 deaths.

The WHO also reported on Wednesday that in the Region of the Americas, that is, Latin America and the Caribbean, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases has increased to 73,118,205 while the death toll has gone up to 1,922,926.

10 NEWS GuySuCo pays off almost $900M in debt in 9 months THURSDAY, JULY 8, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

…clears debt to GAWU, starts repaying NIS

T

he Guyana Sugar C o r p o r a t i o n (GuySuCo) has paid off almost $900 million in debt to its urgent trade creditors and unions, in the process clearing its longstanding debt to the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU).

During an interview with Guyana Times, GuySuCo’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Sasenarine Singh spoke of the strides the Corporation has made in clearing its debts. He explained that GuySuCo has

sought to tackle its most urgent debts first and has paid out almost $900 million over the past few months.

“GuySuCo has different kinds of debts. It has urgent debts. And urgent debts are those debts that if we don’t pay, the whole operation grinds to a halt. Like BACIF, Brass Aluminum Cast Iron Foundry, the people who make bearings and cast-iron parts for the estate,” he explained.

“If they withdraw their services from GuySuCo, then GuySuCo is in trouble.

So that kind of urgent debt is about $1 billion. That is now reduced to about $750 million.

Now while we’ve paid $700 million down, it’s a combination of everything.”

Included in the amounts GuySuCo has paid down over the past nine months is money owed to GAWU – the Union representing the sugar

GuySuCo CEO Sasenarine Singh reported that the Corporation has been able to pay off its debt to GAWU

workers, and the National insurance Scheme (NIS).

“NIS, the trade creditors who are urgent, GAWU, the foreign creditors like the people who we buy the fertilisers from, the agro chemicals from. So, it’s a combination of many factors. But what we’ve seen is the trade creditors have come down.

“We’ve started paying NIS. We’ve seen that GuySuCo does not owe anything to GAWU to date.

We’ve paid off every single dime we owed to GAWU in the past. GuySuCo has paid off all of its agro-chemical debts, and has paid for all its agro-chemicals for 2021.”

Singh said that while GuySuCo has taken care of its core debts, it would struggle financially with the Albion Estate. Albion has been inundated with floodwaters brought on by the torrential rains that have battered Guyana over the past few weeks.

“We’re in a good place when it comes to our core needs. Where we will struggle is how we’ll pay for the employment costs at Albion when there’s no production.

That’s the challenge. But I presume in a month’s time, we’ll have a better idea how that will crystalise,” the CEO explained.

Albion is GuySuCo’s largest estate and has also

been the worst hit by flooding.

The CEO had explained that Albion experienced 74 per cent more rainfall in the first half of the year than the 66-year annual average of 736 millimetres.

This has resulted in the entire cane cultivation at Albion being inundated with water and even if the rain stops now, the situation will still result in Albion falling short of its production target for this year.

“The sugar industry has been hit by rain and more rain. The authorities have declared a category two national disaster in some areas. And Albion Estate is one of those areas… if the rain stops today, Albion will have a shortfall of about 12,000 metric tonnes of sugar across this year,” CEO Singh had explained.

“While it looks very good on the East Coast of Demerara because of two things, the Hope Canal project has done a fantastic job, as well as GuySuCo and NDIA [National Drainage and Irrigation Agency] having all their pumps on the seawall functioning, the situation is not the same in central Corentyne.”

Guyana has been inundated by heavy rains since May, which has caused widespread flooding. The devastation includes submerged buildings and vehicles with adverse effects on crops, livestock and health.

It has been noted that the rainfall experienced in May alone was recorded as the second highest level of rainfall across the country in the last 40 years. Last month, President Irfaan Ali formally declared the flooding a national disaster.

Ex-cons remanded for murder...

FROM PAGE 8

While in the vicinity of Ogle, the 25-year-old told investigators, his accomplice grabbed Trim by his neck and started to choke him until he passed out. He said that his accomplice then pulled Trim over to the back seat by which time he started to regain consciousness.

As such, the 34-year-old man stabbed the taxi driver several times about his body with a knife. Further, the 25-year-old confessed that his accomplice then took off the now dead man’s gold ring and chain and relieved him of some money that he

had in his pocket and the black Samsung cellphone.

After committing the act, Bacchus drove the car to a spot in Ogle where he threw out the deceased’s body. However, as he was reversing the car, it got stuck in the mud. This led to them both exiting the car after which, Bacchus gave James $10,000 and disposed of the knife in a clump of bushes. The alleged killers then made their way onto the main road, boarded a minibus, and went back to Georgetown. (G1)

NEWS

11

THURSDAY, JULY 8, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Misconduct in public office

DPP seeks to quash Magistrate’s ruling in Roxanne Myers case

…wants cases handled in Magistrate’s Court

J

udicial review proceedings have been filed at the Demerara High Court by the Director of Public Prosecutions Shalimar Ali-Hack, SC, who is seeking to quash the decision of Magistrate Leron Daly to have the two counts of misconduct in public office against Deputy Chief Elections Officer (DCEO) Roxanne Myers proceed indictably.

In February, Magistrate Daly ruled that a PI will be conducted into the charges against Myers to determine whether there is sufficient evidence to warrant a jury trial at the High Court.

In coming to her decision, the Magistrate overruled submissions by a team of lawyers hired by the DPP to prosecute the electoral fraud cases. The lawyers had moved to have the matters tried summarily, which would have seen them being heard and determined by a Magistrate.

But Myers’ lawyers, including Nigel Hughes, objected to the prosecution’s request and sought to have the matters proceed indictably. The Magistrate ruled in their favour.

It is alleged that between March 4 and 14, 2020, at High and Cowan Streets, Kingston, Georgetown, Myers wilfully misconducted herself together with Region Four Returning Officer Clairmont Mingo and others, to declare a fraudulent account of votes for the Regional and General Elections of March 2, 2020, the said misconduct amounting to a breach of the public’s trust in the office of the said Returning Officer without any reasonable excuse or justification.

Quash

In her application for judicial review filed against Attorney General Anil Nandlall, SC, and Magistrate Daly, the DPP is seeking an order of certiorari quashing the decision of the Magistrate on the ground that it is irrational, unreasonable, arbitrary, ultra vires, without legal foundation, contrary to natural justice and without legal authority.

Ali-Hack, among other things, is also asking the court to grant an advisory declaration that in the circumstances of the charges and in compliance with the Constitution of Guyana and a fair trial that the charges against Myers proceed by way of a summary trial.

In her application, the DPP deposed that Magistrate Daly, in her oral reasons, said that the charge against the DCEO was serious and should be heard indictably. The DPP said that the Magistrate likened the offence for which Myers is charged to that of armed robbery and theft as far as the court’s sentencing powers were concerned.

According to Ali-Hack, Magistrate Daly also expressed concerns about the maximum penalty that could be imposed by the Magistrate’s Court and effectively stated that the summary court is not able to punish adequately for the offence. But the DPP contended that Magistrate Daly’s decision engages Article 144

Director of Public Prosecutions Shalimar Ali-Hack, SC

of the Constitution of Guyana with the likely result that the case may not be tried within a reasonable time.

In arriving at her decision, the DPP contended that the Magistrate failed to consider that the High Court could impose no greater penalty than the Magistrate’s Court on any conviction for the offences charged and erroneously proceeded on the basis that the High Court could in certain circumstances impose a greater penalty than the Magistrate’s Court.

“The Learned Magistrate took into account matters Her Worship could not properly in law take into account, namely that on a trial by indictment before the High Court, the Judge could use aggravating matters disclosed by the offences to impose a penalty which was greater than that which could be imposed by the Magistrate on summary disposal,” the DPP argued.

The Senior Counsel submitted that the question of the adequacy of the punishment which could be imposed by either court was the substantial basis for the exercise of the Magistrate’s discretion.

She argued further that the Magistrate failed to consider that the right to a fair hearing within a reasonable time is for the benefit of both the prosecutor and defence.

The DPP argued, too, that Magistrate Daly failed to consider and/or failed to take into account that the resources of the State would be better utilised by the expeditious hearing and determination of the charges against Myers. Against this backdrop, Ali-Hack contended that the “decision by Magistrate Daly offends Article 144 (1) of the Constitution which provides that all criminal cases should be afforded a fair hearing within a reasonable time.”

Not tried within reasonable time

Meanwhile, special prosecutor Attorney-at-Law Donavan Rangiah in an affidavit in support of the DPP’s application pointed out that the criminal justice system functions slowly, especially as it relates to jury trials, and this is now worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Rangiah said that there are presently over 350 matters awaiting trial in the High Court, and with the current pace of trials it is unlikely that the charges against Myers would be heard within the next four years. As such, the lawyer said he is satisfied that the penalty available to a Magistrate upon a conviction

is a maximum of one year imprisonment and not the common law maximum.

Additionally, Rangiah said that it is accepted practice in Guyana that most criminal matters where the punishment is within the Magistrate’s range of punishment [except for those that cannot be heard summarily], be heard summarily.

Considering this, he argued that is it irrational and unreasonable for the Magistrate Court to conduct PIs for matters which can be dealt with summarily and punished adequately, and which the State wishes to proceed with summarily.

The prosecutor pointed out that in every previous instance in which the State has proffered a charge of misconduct in public office the matter was dealt with by way of a summary trial.

“There are other charges of misconduct in public office related to allegations arising out of the March 2020 elec-

Magistrate Leron Daly

tions and only recently the Chief Magistrate has ruled that she can adequately punish in the event of convictions.

That some of the elections-related charges should be heard summarily and some have to be tried indictably would frustrate the administration of justice and leave significant matters of national importance unresolved for a long time,” his affidavit reads.

Justice Franklin Holder, will on September 9, rule on

the DPP’s application.

A team of special prosecutors has been hired to prosecute the electoral fraud cases against Chief Elections Officer (CEO) Keith Lowenfield, DCEO Myers, Mingo, GECOM clerks Denise Bob-Cummings and Michelle Miller, GECOM Elections Officer Shefern February and Information Technology Officer Enrique Livan, APNU/AFC activist Carol Joseph, and People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) Chairperson and former Public Health Minister Volda Lawrence.

The more than 25 matters are currently before three Magistrates – Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan and Magistrates Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus and Leron Daly.

Lowenfield’s report claimed that the APNU/AFC coalition garnered 171,825 votes while the PPP/C gained 166,343 votes.

How he arrived at those figures is still unknown. The certified results from the re-

Deputy Chief Elections Officer Roxanne Myers

count exercise supervised

by GECOM and a high-level team from the Caribbean Community (Caricom) pellucidly showed that the PPP/C won with 233,336 votes while the coalition garnered 217,920.

The recount exercise also proved that Mingo heavily inflated the figures in Region Four – Guyana’s largest voting District – in favour of the then caretaker APNU/AFC regime. (G1)

12 NEWS

THURSDAY, JULY 8, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Accused arsonist remanded for setting vulcanising shop, houses on fire A

n alleged arsonist was on Wednesday remanded to prison on charges which stated that he set fire to several properties at D’Urban and George Streets, Georgetown.

Calvin Lawrence, 22, of Lot 101 Leopold Street, Werk-en-Rust, Georgetown was taken before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan.

The first charge stated that on June 24, 2021, at Lot 1 George Street, Werken-Rust, he unlawfully and maliciously set fire to a dwelling house valued $18 million, containing articles valued at $6 million, property of Collin Bentley.

It was further alleged that on the same day at the said location, he unlawfully and maliciously set fire to

a dwelling house owned by Nalini Baboolall and valued $38 million, which contained articles valued $16 million belonging to Kevin Phillips. It is also alleged that on June 24, 2021, at Lot 1 George Street, Werken-Rust, he unlawfully and maliciously set fire to a dwelling house valued $250 million, containing articles worth $30 million, property

Meanwhile, Maniram owns the four-storey building which housed the Elegance Jewellery and Pawn Shop. That building is located east of Baboolall’s property. Phillips rented Baboolall’s property. The ground floor housed his vulcanising shop, while he and his family and Venezuelan migrants lived on the upper flat.

rested.

The Prosecutor disclosed that the defendant was arrested after Phillips identified him and another man called “Vishal” from Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) footage obtained from Elegance Jewellery and Pawn Shop. Phillips told the Police that Lawrence and “Vishal” were regular visitors at his

Remanded: Calvin Lawrence

The house and vulcanising shop were reduced to ashes, while the pawn shop’s western walls were scorched

of Hardat Maniram.

The defendant was not required to plead to the charges. The case continues on July 21 at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

The Police Prosecutor related that Baboolall is the owner of the property at Lot 1 George and D’Urban Street, Werken-Rust, which once housed a wooden two-storey building.

According to the Prosecutor, around 01:00h on June 24, Phillips said he was awakened by the incessant barking of his dogs.

Upon checking through the vent of the windows, Phillips saw two men running from his premises, the Prosecutor said. Soon after, Phillips heard his neighbour screaming fire.

Following Police’s investigations, Lawrence was ar-

vulcanising shop.

“We tried to contain the fire, but we couldn’t do that…We tried to save something, but we didn’t get to, since everything is just burnt. We sell electrical bikes, and all of them were destroyed. We also have people who had their bikes in the shop, and those were destroyed,” Phillips had told reporters shortly after the blaze. (G1)

NEWS

13

THURSDAY, JULY 8, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Berbice man killed by car on Corentyne highway

A

Corentyne, Berbice, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) man was killed by a speeding car as he was riding along the Albion Public Road.

Dead is 58-year-old Snerace Mackoon of KilcoyChesney, North Corentyne, Berbice.

Meanwhile, a 35-year-old passenger in the motor car sustained minor injuries.

Reports are that the accident involving motor car HB 4053, which was driven by a 31-year-old man of Edinburgh, East Bank Berbice (EBB) and the pedal

cyclist, occurred about 07:45h on Wednesday.

Police have since said that investigations revealed that the pedal cyclist was proceeding east along the road, in the vicinity of Cropper School Street, when he attempted to cross the road from north to south. It was while crossing that he was hit by the motor car, which was proceeding west.

As a result of the collision, the pedal cyclist was thrown onto the left front windshield before falling to the road’s surface and sustaining injuries to his head and body.

He was picked up by the driver in an unconscious condition and taken to the Port Mourant Public Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

The body of the deceased is presently at Ramoo Funeral Parlour awaiting a post-mortem examination.

Police said a breathalyser test was conducted on the driver of the motor car and there was no trace of alcohol.

They also stated that they have reviewed Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) footage of the accident as investigations continue. (G9)

Kuru Kururu peacemaker stabbed multiple times

A

Kuru Kururu, LindenSoesdyke Highway man was on Saturday brutally stabbed multiple times about his face and body after he tried to make peace between his friend and a suspect, who has not yet been identified.

Guyana Timeswas informed that the victim was imbibing at a shop with his friends in the community when an argument ensued between his friend and another

man.

As the men were about to fight, the victim approached them and attempted to make peace but was instead stabbed multiple times about his face and body by the suspect.

When contacted on Wednesday, Police Commander, Senior Superintendent Mahendra Siwnarine said he was only made aware of the incident on Wednesday, since no official report was made to the Police.

Commander Siwnarine said after hearing of the incident, he scheduled a meeting with the victim today, when an official report will be made.

“I am now dealing with it. The victim is supposed to come tomorrow [Thursday] for the officers to follow it up.

Apparently, the person was stabbed and they went to the hospital and now we are being informed about it,” the Commander told this publication.

Man who fled Police Station after arrest remanded

A

ppearing before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan on Wednesday was 21-year-old Anthony Prince of Tucville, Georgetown. He was remanded to prison on charges which stated that he escaped from the Brickdam Police Station and committed armed robbery. He pleaded not guilty to the charges.

It is alleged that on June 9 at Brickdam Police Station, Georgetown, while being in custody on an arrest warrant, he escaped from custody. It was further alleged that on May 17 at Duncan Street, Georgetown, he robbed Carl Gonsalves of several face masks and cash amounting to $27,000.

According to the Police Prosecutor, on June 9, Prince and another man were ar-

Robbery accused: Anthony Prince

rested for allegedly stealing items from Nickel Peters on April 24, at Brickdam, Georgetown. Following investigations, the Prosecutor related that Prince was released on station bail after being charged with the offence.

Additionally, the defen-

dant was informed that he has to attend the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts to answer to the charge, but he never showed up for the court hearing, causing the Magistrate to issue a warrant for his arrest.

Acting on information, the Police arrested him on June 9 and escorted him to the Brickdam Police Station, where he was shackled.

However, Prince managed to pick the lock and made good his escape. He was rearrested on July 3.

During his address to the court, Prince said that there were no handcuffs and shackles on him. He claimed that a Police rank collected $5000 from him and told him that he was free to go.

Prince will return to court later this month.

14 NEWS

THURSDAY, JULY 8, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

10 more vaccination sites for Georgetown – Health Minister …90% of COVID-infected persons recovered

A

s the Guyana Government pushes to have more persons vaccinated against COVID-19, 10 more vaccination sites will be set up across Georgetown by this weekend.

This is according to Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony during Wednesday’s update on the COVID-19 situation in the country.

“We’re working to get more [COVID-19 vaccination] sites in Georgetown.

We’ve started the discussion with the municipality and the persons in charge of the various health centres,” he noted.

In fact, only last week, the Health Ministry conducted training sessions for the workers at these health centres to prepare them to administer the COVID-19 jabs to the public.

“As of [Tuesday], we’ve added an additional six sites and by the end of this

A young woman receiving her COVID-19 vaccine at the Health Ministry’s site in Georgetown (MoH photo)

week, we will add another four sites. So, this would increase about 10 sites in Georgetown and hopefully, persons who have not been vaccinated as yet would take the opportunity to get vaccinated,” Dr Anthony noted.

Currently, there are two fixed vaccination sites in the capital city – the Georgetown Public Hospital and the Health Ministry’s

Brickdam office.

Recovery rate

But even as health authorities are pushing persons to get immunised against COVID-19, Dr Anthony pointed out that Guyana has a “fairly good recovery rate” from the deadly virus.

According to Wednesday’s COVID-19

dashboard, of the 20, 645 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Guyana since the outbreak of the novel coronavirus here in March 2020, some 18,647 persons have recovered from the life-threatening virus.

“With the numbers that we’re seeing – [18,647] so far recovering, I think it’s a good number. Of course, we’d like to see it much better, but unfortunately, there were persons who had the severe form of COVID and died as a result… This 90 per cent is everyone who have recovered… which meant that they would have gone through, whether it’s a 10-day period of isolation for mild or asymptomatic persons and then gotten [released] or for those that have been hospitalised, they would’ve been there for the period of hospitalisation and then gotten discharged [after recovering],” the Minister stated.

In order to curb the spread of COVID-19, Government has been aggressively rolling out its vaccination campaign since February this year.

To date, some 236, 409 persons have received their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. This amounts to approximately 48.6 per cent of Guyana’s adult population.

Further, some 115,652 persons have taken both doses of the COVID-19 jab, representing 23.8 per cent of the population 18 years and older who are now fully vaccinated against the deadly vi-

Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony

rus.

The Health Minister explained that while there has been a good response to the vaccination exercise, the older age groups (40 years and older) account for the majority of vaccinated persons.

“At least first dose vaccination rates among older persons have been extremely high – 75 per cent. And the lower age group (39 to 18), because we started later with them, we’ve seen uptake in this age group, but it is not as much as we wanted it to be and therefore, we’re encouraging persons to come out and get their vaccines,” he posited.

Dr Anthony attributed this slow intake by the younger generation to the fact that initial data had shown that the elderly population was more vulnerable to the virus while the young generations had a mild version. However, he pointed out that this pat-

tern has changed since relatively younger persons are being hospitalised with severe symptoms caused by COVID-19.

“The better thing is to make sure that you get vaccinated so as to prevent the severe form of the disease and to even prevent deaths.

So, we want to appeal to that younger age group to make sure that they take their vaccines,” he implored.

In addition to getting immunised, the Health Minister also outlined the importance of continuing to follow the COVID-19 guidelines such as wearing face masks and social distancing.

Further, Dr Anthony urged parents to ensure that children continue to receive their routine vaccines.

“Most of vaccines we’re giving right now are for children and there is nothing stopping children from getting their routine vaccines,” he insisted. (G8)

NEWS

15

THURSDAY, JULY 8, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Prostitution, sexual Police raid unearths 506g ganja offences among issues in ECD house A facing Region 9 P

olice Commander for Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo), Raphael Rose has said that there are a number of issues affecting his district ranging from prostitution to arson and traffic violations as well as sexual offences, which are seeing an increase this year.

He made the disclosure Wednesday evening during this week’s edition of “Police and You”.

For the year so far, the Commander said there has been a decrease in simple arson and break and entry, but there are increases in other areas of crime.

“Other than serious larceny, there have been an increase in not really serious crimes but sexual offences comparing the period last year. This year there were 10 reported cases and last year there were six reported cases,” Commander Rose stated.

He explained that sexual offences were mainly committed by family members, and as such, he and his ranks intended to sensitise persons in the villages about these types of crime.

“If it is the Police’s role to [do] sensitisation? Yes, because we are welfare officers at some stage and if we can avoid these offences…, then yes, we have that role,” the Commander stated.

He explained that they have started working closely with the Welfare and Child Care Protection to curb this issue.

“So, we need more, like the child protection agency more equipped in terms

Police Commander for Region Nine, Raphael Rose

of transportation and areas where they can house victims that have been affected, because, in most cases, the victim has to remain in the same house with the father other than if the Police step in,” Rose said.

He also noted that contrary to popular belief, the region faces its fair share of traffic violations.

“What we would’ve observed is they are riding the Brazilian number plate motorcycles and we start doing some sensitisation along with going to the villages to let them understand that riding those motorcycles in Lethem and they would’ve been involved in an accident, then they have no compensation, because it doesn’t register in Guyana,” the Commander explained.

Meanwhile, while he did not get into much detail, the Commander revealed that there were several reports of prostitution in the region and these were being addressed.

Police raid conducted at Enmore-Foulis Squatting Area, East Coast Demerara (ECD) has unearthed 506 grams of marijuana.

Reports are that on Wednesday Police conducted the raid at the home of a 57-year-old man and the illegal drugs were found.

In a statement, Police said that ranks from Regional Division 4 C, led by a senior superintendent, carried out an intelligence-led operation at the home of the suspect, leading to the discovery of the cannabis, a quantity of tobacco leaves and $70,600.

The cannabis was found concealed in a black bag which had two transparent parcels.

The man was subsequently arrested.

Just two days ago four persons were arrested following the discovery of a quantity of cocaine and marijuana during a Police operation at ECD. A search was conducted on two homes in the community during which a red plastic bag filled with 10 transparent ziplock bags containing ganja was discovered.

Following the discovery, two men were told of the offence, cautioned and arrested but both men denied knowledge of the drugs.

On the same day, Police went to another home and during the search there,

such, they were questioned. One of the suspects reportedly told Police that the drug was a “side hustle”.

T h e four men were taken to the Criminal

The ganja that was found at Enmore

one white plate with a black plastic bag containing a whitish rock-like substance, suspected to be cocaine, was found in the backyard.

Two men were at the premises at the time and as

Investigations Department (CID) Headquarters where the cocaine was weighed in their presence, amounting to four grams. The cannabis was also weighed and amounted to 17 grams.

16 NEWS

THURSDAY, JULY 8, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Orealla Council cannot account for $40M – audit report

A

n audit conducted into the financial affairs of the Orealla Village Council has found that almost $40 million is unaccounted for.

The audit which was conducted by the Amerindian Affairs Ministry, found that the village’s Toshao had been almost singlehandedly running the affairs of the Council.

The audit was conducted for the period May 2018 to February 2021. According to the audit report, focus was placed on the economic

activities, income, in accordance with the Amerindian Act which states that the Toshao is responsible for ensuring good governance, including accountability and transparency.

Region Six Chairman David Armogan on Wednesday said that the report is not encouraging as it revealed several irregularities.

“For example, one of the major things enshrined in the Act of the Toshao and the Amerindian Village Councils is that they must

provide good governance, they must have regular meetings so that the community would know what is going on and they must be accountable and have all their financial records kept properly,” Armogan related.

However, the audit found that the cash book was not updated since January of 2020, and it showed major signs of manipulation, information recorded in the Council's cash book lacked clarity, the cash book had errors of calculation, omission, data entry and errors of principals.

Over the period in review, the Council collected $97.1 million and spent $57 million but only had $290,160 as a balance.

According to the audit report, bank information was examined and according to the Treasurer and the details in the general cash book, withdrawals were taken into immediate use, that is, without passing through the Council's cash books.

According to the audit, there is no accountability

for the presidential grants of $1.5 million collected annually. It also revealed that the Council has been writing its own receipts when purchases were made.

The Regional Chairman noted that it is wrong for someone to write their receipt when they make a purchase for someone.

“That person should be writing the receipt and giving you for the money that you are paying. What they are doing is not in accordance with accounting principles,” Armogan said.

The audit also found that loans totalling $1,650,260, were issued to family members of the Council.

According to the Regional Chairman, there is no record of repayment or a repayment plan and it appears as though those persons were given grants.

“However, despite the Village Council continue to issue loans, the Toshao nor any of his Councillors could not satisfy the Ministry's team with a loans register, a favourable system to man-

Region Six Chairman David Armogan

age loans or a method, to retrieve their outstanding loans, as a result, this also has become a liability under the existing Council,” the report said in part.

Worrying the Chairman also noted is that the report points out that during the period the Village Guest House was under construction, the Toshao’s Guest House was under similar works and all village assets that were procured for the Village Guest House were stored in the Toshao’s Guest

House, which constituted a conflict of interest.

“On the day of the audit, we were informed by Toshao and Councillors that all projects are managed by the Toshao and Deputy in relation to purchases and actual works, and receipts were forward to the Treasurer.

However, in a subsequent meeting at the Ministry with the Toshao he explained that all monies in relation to the presidential grant were depleted,” the audit report stated. (G4)

17 Over $340M in contracts inked by Agri Ministry NEWS

THURSDAY, JULY 8, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

I

Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha with contractors at the contract signing

n advancing the execution of its 2021 work programme, the Ministry of Agriculture on Wednesday signed several contracts totalling in excess of $340 million that will see enhancement and development of agricultural activities across Guyana.

This included two contracts, amounting to a total of $45,949,100, signed between the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) and A&S General Store for the execution of empoldering works to farmlands along the Manicuru (Lot One – $24,032,660) and Dredge Creek area (Lot Two – $21,916,440), Upper Pomeroon, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam).

The project is said to be for the enhancement of the drainage capacity of approximately 400 acres of farmlands and residential areas. These works are to be carried out in an attempt to reduce flooding due to swollen creeks during events of excessive rainfall.

Meanwhile, another con-

tract valuing $29,910,000 was allocated to General Equipment Guyana Limited (GENEQUIP) for Supply and Delivery of Tillage Implements. This contact will see the procurement of eight disc-ploughs, six trailing harrows, and 10 four-wheel drive agricultural tractors. Five of the tractors will be used for mechanical tillage, while the other five will be used for operating mechanical rotary drain-ditchers.

The NDIA also inked a contract with Farm Supplies Limited totalling $10,146,000 for Tractor and Fuel Bowser to advance agricultural activities in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo).

Ele’s Trading & Hardware signed a contract with the Authority totalling $10,254,147 for supply of irrigation pipes to supply fresh water to approximately 25 farmers in Mountain Foot/ Yawong Village in Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni).

Additionally, Khan’s Construction and

Transportation Services Inc signed a $25,597,800 contract with NDIA for the rehabilitation of drainage and irrigation channels in Cane Grove, Region Four (DemeraraMahaica). Further, Zeebo and Sons Construction signed three contracts totalling $35,050,730, also for the rehabilitation of drainage and irrigation channels in Cane Grove, Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica).

Meanwhile, there were three contracts for the purchasing of agricultural equipment for the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) all of which were signed for by GENEQUIP totalling at $183,750,000 for the supply and delivery of Tillage Implements to GuySuCo ($29,910,000); 200-horsepower 4-wheel drive agricultural tractors to GuySuCo ($89,170,000); and 100-120 horsepower 4-wheel drive agricultural tractors to GuySuCo. At the signing ceremony at the Ministry’s Boardroom,

Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha reminded contractors of the obligation they have to produce the best quality work, even though their main focus may be seeing that their businesses prosper.

He also charged that they ensure the works are completed by the deadline given, since time will not be extended for the contracts. “… You have an obligation to the country. You have an obligation also to the people of our country to ensure

the work that you’ll be doing …quality work… ensuring that these works are completed on time and at the end of these contracts that everyone will be satisfied with the type of work that will be executed,” the Minister stated.

Mustapha also made mention of his Government’s promise of reopening the closed sugar estates, stating that they are working aggressively in persuing the goals they have set.

Budgetary allocations

have been made to GuySuCo to do work and prepare for the reopening of closed sugar estates and targets have been set to reopen these estates in phases.

Even though Guyana is now an oil-producing nation, Minister Mustapha said that agriculture in the country is being revived and there has been an upsurge in agricultural works across the country, with a number of persons coming forward to get back into the agriculture sector.

Guyana-Brazil border

Police on high alert over illegal entry – Region 9 Commander

P

olice are said to be on high alert for persons entering and leaving Guyana illegally by way of the Guyana-Brazil border in Region Nine (Upper TakutuUpper Essequibo). This was disclosed by the region’s newly appointed Commander, Superintendent Raphael Rose, during a weekly radio programme “The Police and You” on Tuesday evening.

Even with the boarders being closed by the National COVID-19 Task Force, the Commander revealed that a 24-hour joint security with the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) on the Takutu Bridge has been put in place to combat the illegal entry and departure of persons. “…we would turn persons back who would

try to enter into Guyana based on the lockdown rules,” he stated. Apart from one specified day that is facilitated for trading, the borders are kept closed.

He noted that there are other areas that are prone to illegal entry and exit between Guyana and Brazil, naming the most popular to be the village Saint Ignatius, which is located in the Rupununi Savannahs of Guyana. Persons are known to be smuggled across the river to enter or leave Guyana.

“We would do routine patrols and we would ask the public to share any information of persons coming over… the Police cannot be all the way along those areas, so we would have shared our numbers with the

community, because the river runs straight along the Saint Ignatius area.”

The Commander stated that where persons [Brazilians] are seen in Lethem and are known to have crossed over illegally, they are usually arrested and taken to Immigration to ascertain whether or not they would have entered Guyana illegally, and if that was the case, they are usually sent back to Brazil and handed over to the authorities. He also mentioned that in cases whereby Haitians, Cubans, or any other foreign nationals try to enter Lethem, there are three checkpoints that the Division have in place at Kurupukari, Kirkwood, and Annai.

18

guyanatimesgy.com

THURSDAY, JULY 8, 2021

Regional

Gunmen assassinate Haitian President World Food Programme distributing food at his home, hunt launched for killers starts in crisis-hit Venezuela

H

aitian President Jovenel Moise was shot dead by gunmen with assault rifles in his private residence overnight on Wednesday, sparking fears of a further descent into chaos in the impoverished Caribbean nation as a manhunt got underway.

The Government declared a two-week state of emergency to help it hunt down the killers whom Haiti’s Ambassador to the United States, Bocchit Edmond, described as a group of “foreign mercenaries” and well-trained killers.

The gunmen spoke English and Spanish, said interim Prime Minister Claude Joseph, who assumed the leadership of the country, where the majority speak French or Haitian Creole.

“My compatriots – remain calm because the situation is under control,” Joseph said in a televised address to the nation, backed by a row of somber-faced officials. “This blow has wounded this country, this nation, but it will not go unpunished.”

Haiti, a country of about 11 million people, has struggled to achieve stability since the fall of the Duvalier dynastic dictatorship in 1986, and has grappled with a series of coups and foreign interventions.

The President’s wife,

A boy touches food displayed on a bed for a photo at his house in Barquisimeto, Venezuela, November 28, 2019 Haitian President Jovenel Moise

Martine Moise, was also shot in the attack, which took place around 01:00h local time (0500 GMT) at the couple’s home in the hills above Port-au-Prince. She is in critical condition and arrived in Florida late on Wednesday for treatment, according to local US television stations.

Edmond told Reuters in an interview the gunmen were masquerading as US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agents as they entered Moise’s guarded residence under cover of nightfall – a move that would likely have helped them gain entry.

Haitian authorities would welcome US security assistance in the wake of the assassination, he said.

US President Joe Biden denounced the killing as “heinous” and called the situation in Haiti – which lies some 700 miles (1125 kilometres) off the Florida coast – worrisome. “We stand ready to assist as we continue to work for a safe and secure Haiti,” he said.

Many people in Haiti had wanted Moise to leave office.

Ever since he took over in 2017, he faced calls to resign and mass protests – first over corruption allegations and his management of the economy, then over his increasing grip on power.

Lately, he presided over a worsening state of gang violence that rights activists say is linked to politics and business leaders using armed groups for their

own ends. In recent months, many districts of the capital Port-au-Prince had become no-go zones.

Moise had talked of dark forces at play behind the unrest: fellow politicians and corrupt oligarchs unhappy with his attempts to clean up Government contracts and to reform Haitian politics. He provided no proof of this.

Joseph said the Police and Army had the situation under control although they were widely deemed to be understaffed and underequipped compared to the powerful gangs.

The streets of the usually bustling capital were mostly deserted on Wednesday and the airport was closed.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

T

he United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) said on Wednesday it had begun distributing school meals to children in Venezuela, where some seven million people require humanitarian assistance after years of economic collapse in the once-prosperous nation.

The WFP’s first takehome rations were distributed for children under six years old at some 277 schools and preschools, as well as school staff, in 25 municipalities in north-western Falcon state, WFP said in a statement.

Since Venezuela’s schools are closed owing to the coronavirus pandemic, parents or teachers picked up the monthly rations – which consist of 6 kg (13 pounds) of rice; 4 kg (9 pounds) of lentils; 454 grams (1 pound) of salt and one litre (2 pints) of vegetable oil – on their behalf, ac-

cording to Susana Rico, the WFP’s Venezuela representative.

“We are reaching these vulnerable children at a critical stage of their lives when their brains and bodies need nutritious food to develop to their full potential,” Rico was quoted as saying in the statement.

Activists had been clamouring for years for Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro to allow the WFP to distribute food in the country, which contains the world’s largest crude reserves by some measures, as a drop in crude prices and gaping fiscal deficits led to hyperinflation and recession.

Maduro and the WFP reached a deal in April, in what was seen by some analysts and Western diplomats as a concession by the Government aimed at getting US sanctions on its oil industry lifted. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Caricom leaders express shock at assassination of Haiti’s President More than half of global

T

he Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (Caricom) have expressed shock and sadness over the assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moise Wednesday morning.

The Heads met in a special emergency session in the wake of Moise’s assassination.

The regional body said it was concerned by the condition of his wife, Martine Moise, who was gravely wounded in the attack and wished her a full and speedy recovery The Heads of Government strongly condemned the “abhorrent and reprehensible” act that comes at a time of deep turmoil and institutional weakness in the country.

They called for the perpetrators to be apprehended and brought to justice, and for law and order to prevail.

“In accordance with its

COVID-19 deaths in the Americas –PAHO

D

A Haitian Police Officer stands guard outside the presidential residence on July 7, 2021 in Port-auPrince, Haiti (AFP photo)

values, as expressed in its Charter of Civil Society, the Caribbean Community does not settle its differences by violence which undermines democracy and the rule of law, but peacefully through dialogue and recourse to democratic insti-

tutions,” the group said in a statement today.

Caricom furthered expressed its willingness to play a lead role in facilitating a process of national dialogue and negotiation to help the Haitian people and their institutions to

craft an indigenous solution to the crisis.

The regional group called on the people of Haiti to remain calm, and to overcome their differences and unite at this moment of national peril. (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

espite a decline in overall COVID-19 cases and deaths in the Americas, last week the Region accounted for more than half of global deaths from the disease, according to the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO).

During a regular news briefing on Wednesday, PAHO Director, Dr Carissa Etienne said inequity in access to health care and vaccines was largely to blame.

“This is a clear sign that the toll of the pandemic in the Americas continues to devastate families and communities, even as parts of our Region are experiencing some relief,” Etienne said.

According to PAHO’s figures, a quarter of people in the Americas region have been fully vaccinated, and at least 600 million doses have been administered. But

more than half of these doses have been in the United States.

While 67 per cent of adults have received at least one vaccination shot in the US, several countries, particularly in Central America, have yet to make meaningful advances in their vaccination campaigns.

“We must celebrate that a nation that has been so heavily impacted by the pandemic was able to turn the tide, but we can’t close our eyes to the stark inequities on vaccine access,” Etienne said.

El Salvador, Honduras, Panama and some parts of Guatemala are seeing a rise in cases, Dr Etienne said.

And Cuba is reporting the highest number of new cases since the beginning of the pandemic. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

guyanatimesgy.com

THURSDAY, JULY 8, 2021

19

Around the World

OILNEWS OIL NEWS Oil falls in volatile trade as investors seek OPEC clarity

O

il prices fell more than US$1 a barrel on Wednesday in another seesaw trading session, as investors feared what this week's collapse in talks by the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies, including Russia, known as OPEC+, meant for worldwide production.

Crude markets have been volatile over the last two days following the breakdown of discussions between major oil producers Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Brent crude settled at US$73.43 a barrel, falling US$1.10 or 1.5 per cent. US West Texas Intermediate settled at US$72.20 a barrel, shedding US$1.17 or 1.6 per cent. Both benchmarks rallied more than US$1 a barrel earlier in the session, similar to Tuesday's action.

OPEC+ has restrained supply for more than a year since demand crashed during the coronavirus pandemic.

The group is maintaining nearly six million barrels per day of output cuts and was expected to add to supply, but three days of meetings failed to close divisions between the Saudis and the Emiratis.

For now, the existing agreement that keeps supply restrained remains in force. But the breakdown also could lead producers, eager to capitalise on the rebound in demand, to start supplying more oil than previously predicted.

"Some people are fearing a production war, but I think most people think that's unlikely," said Phil Flynn, senior analyst at Price Futures Group in Chicago. "It is possible the UAE could leave OPEC and just do its own thing, and if that happens, then it would be a question of competition for market share." (Excerpt from Reuters)

Legendary actor Dilip Kumar passes away at 98

L

egendary actor Dilip Kumar, who was popularly known as the tragedy king of Bollywood, passed away on Wednesday morning. The actor was 98 and is survived by his wife, veteran actor Saira Banu. His funeral took place later that day in Mumbai and his mortal remains were taken to his Bandra residence. The actor would have been accorded a State funeral, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray had announced.

Dr Jalil Parkar told Indianexpress.com that Kumar passed away at 7:30h on Wednesday. “He passed away due to prolonged illness. He was 98,” added Dr Parkar.

Doctors said Kumar suffered from advanced prostate cancer that had spread to other organs of his body. “He had water in pleural cavity, and he suffered a kidney failure. He required blood transfusion multiple times. We carried the last transfusion but it did not help,” a hospital doctor said. He suffered a drop in blood pressure and haemoglobin towards the end. “The cancer spread made it difficult to treat him,” the doctor said

Dilip Kumar was popularly known as the tragedy king of Bollywood

The actor’s official Twitter account also confirmed the news of his death, “With a heavy heart and profound grief, I announce the passing away of our beloved Dilip Saab, few minutes ago. We are from God and to Him we return.”

Personalities from the world of politics, entertainment and sports mourned his loss. President Ram Nath Kovind wrote: “Dilip Kumar summarised in himself a history of emerging India. The thespian’s charm transcended all boundaries, and he was loved across the subcontinent. With his demise, an era ends. Dilip Saab will live forever in the heart of India. Condolences to family and countless fans.”

(Excerpt from Indian Express)

South Africa's Zuma hands himself over to Police to begin sentence

S

outh Africa’s former President, Jacob Zuma turned himself in to Police on Wednesday to begin 15 months in jail for contempt of court, the culmination of a long legal drama seen as a test of the post-apartheid State's ability to enforce the rule of law.

Police spokesperson Lirandzu Themba confirmed in a statement that Zuma was in Police custody, in compliance with the Constitutional Court judgment.

The court gave Zuma a 15-month jail term last week for defying an instruction earlier in February to give evidence at an inquiry into corruption during his nine years in power un-

Former South African President, Jacob Zuma

til 2018. The inquiry is led

by Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo.

Police had been instructed to arrest Zuma by the end

of Wednesday if he failed to appear at a police station.

Hundreds of his supporters, some of them armed with guns, spears and

shields, had gathered nearby at his rural homestead in Nkandla, eastern South Africa, to try to prevent his arrest.

But in the end, the 79-year-old Zuma decided to go quietly.

"President Zuma has decided to comply with the incarceration order," his foundation said, the first time Zuma's camp had shown any willingness to cooperate with the court.

It was a remarkable fall for a revered veteran of the African National Congress liberation movement, who was jailed by South Africa's white minority rulers for his part in its struggle to make everyone equal before the law. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Trump sues Twitter, Google and Facebook alleging “censorship”

F

ormer US President Donald Trump has filed a lawsuit against tech giants Google, Twitter and Facebook, claiming that he is the victim of censorship.

The class action lawsuit also targets the three companies' Chief Executive Officers (CEOs).

Trump was suspended from his social accounts in January over public safety concerns in the wake of the Capitol riots, led by his supporters.

On Wednesday, Trump called the lawsuit "a very beautiful development for our freedom of speech".

In a news conference from his golf resort in Bedminster, New Jersey, Trump railed against social media companies and Democrats, who he accused of espousing misin-

formation.

"We are demanding an end to the shadow-banning, a stop to the silencing, and a stop to the blacklisting, banishing, and cancelling that you know so well," he said.

The suit requests a court order to end alleged censorship. Trump added that if they could ban a president, "they can do it to anyone".

None of the tech companies named have yet responded to the lawsuit, which was filed to a federal court in Florida.

Trump was joined at the announcement by former Trump officials who have since created the not-forprofit America First Policy Institute.

The former President called the post that got him banned from Twitter, "the

Taliban battle their way into western Afghan city

T

he Taliban briefly entered a key city in western Afghanistan as they pursue a rapid advance before NATO troops leave.

The local governor told the BBC that Government officials had been moved to a nearby army base as the militants moved towards the centre of Qala-e-Naw. But local officials and the Defence Ministry later said the Taliban were dislodged from Government buildings and troops had cleared most of the city.

The Taliban is making gains in the country as the US and allies pull out.

The vast majority of remaining foreign forces in Afghanistan have left ahead of a September 11 deadline, leaving the Afghan military in sole charge of security.

Security forces carried out air strikes to clear militants from Qala-e-Naw, in the western Badghis province, officials

said, and special forces were used to remove insurgents from the Government buildings they had briefly occupied.

Before the apparent turnaround, local sources told the BBC the Taliban moved on the city's prison and freed about 400 inmates, including more than 100 of the group's fighters.

Governor Hisamudin Shams said he had seen the Taliban in the district of Qala-e-Naw where he lives, and the headquarters of the intelligence service had been set on fire.

But he had denied reports the city had fallen to the Taliban, and said Afghan troops were defending it.

The Governor told Reuters the militants attacked the city from three directions in the morning. Other local officials said there was panic among residents. (Excerpt from BBC News)

most loving sentence".

According to Twitter, the tweets that resulted in Trump's ban for "glorification of violence" were from January 8, two days after

the rioting in the nation's capital. The riot followed his repeated claims, without evidence, that the election was rigged in Joe Biden's favour.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

Ever Given: Ship that blocked Suez Canal sets sail after deal signed

The Ever Given, part of the Evergreen fleet, has been held at the Great Bitter Lake near Ismailia for three months

A

huge container ship that blocked the Suez Canal in March – disrupting global trade – is finally leaving the waterway after Egypt signed a compensation deal with its owners and insurers.

The Ever Given weighed anchor shortly after 11:30h local time (09:30 GMT) and headed north towards the Mediterranean escorted by tugs.

The ship has been impounded for three months near the canal city of Ismailia.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but Egypt had demanded US$550 million.

As it got under way, Egyptian TV showed footage of the Captain and a crew member being presented with flowers and a plaque on board the ship.

The 193-kilometres (120mile) Suez Canal connects the Mediterranean Sea at

the canal's northern end to the Red Sea in the south and provides the shortest sea link between Asia and Europe.

But the vital waterway was blocked when the 400-metre-long (1312ft) Ever Given became wedged across it after running aground amid high winds.

Global trade was disrupted as hundreds of ships were stuck in the traffic jam.

The container ship was refloated following a six-day salvage operation that involved a flotilla of tug boats and dredging vessels. One person was killed during the operation.

Since then, the Suez Canal Authority (SCA) has been seeking compensation from the Ever Given's Japanese owner Shoei Kisen for the cost of the salvage operation, damage to the canal's banks and other losses.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

20

THURSDAY, JULY 8, 2021

guyanatimesgy.com

ARCHIE

ARIES (March 21April 19)

TAURUS

DILBERT

(April 20May 20)

GEMINI (May 21June 20)

CANCER (June 21July 22)

PEANUTS

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

CALVIN AND HOBBES

SUDOKU

Authenticate information. Dedicate time to helping a cause or someone in need of assistance. The rewards will be worth the effort. Romance is in the stars, and a passionate gesture will be welcome.

Leave nothing to chance.

An emotional situation will arise if you make assumptions.

A problem at home will affect your ability to get things done on time. Avoid overpaying for something.

Emotions will be difficult to control. Don’t accommodate someone who is trying to guilt you into doing something. Honesty will pay off.

Let your experience guide you.

Express yourself creatively, but don’t make impossible promises. Staying within your limits will ease stress and encourage you to take precautions when dealing with persuasive individuals.

Use common sense.

Distance yourself from gossip and manipulative or controlling people. Do your own thing and take care of your physical and emotional well-being.

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

Look for the positive in everything and everyone. Work alongside those who are trying to get similar results.

Find an innovative way to work around any restrictions you encounter.

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

Rethink your strategy and cut back where you can. Simplicity will help you streamline your plans to ensure you reach your goal.

Take physical action, and finish what you start.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

Put home and family first.

Make adjustments that will encourage you to be more productive. Clear a space and get down to business. Reinvent the way you approach people and projects.

Look inward and work on SAGITTARIUS self-improvement. Fitness, (Nov. 23health, love and lifestyle Dec. 21) changes will lead to personal happiness. Make plans with someone you want to get to know better.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22Jan. 19)

SOLUTION FOR LAST PUBLISHED PUZZLE

If you don’t like something, make a change. Take control of situations, and you’ll uncover an opportunity that will encourage you to let go of negativity and embrace a positive attitude.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20Feb. 19)

Go over every detail, then find the best way to proceed.

Aim to get things right the first time and avoid setbacks. Get along with others, but don’t agree to something just to keep the peace.

PISCES

Take pride in what you do, and make changes based on what you can financially afford. Expect someone to misrepresent you or lead you astray. Take matters into your own hands.

(Feb. 20March 20)

THURSDAY, JULY 8, 2021

21

Essequibo Committees to benefit from Star Sports, Odyssey Sightseeing Tours donation

T

he Cricket Development Committee (CDC) of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) recently donated a valuable set of coaching equipment to Ryan Hercules, chairman of the Special Development sub-committee for Essequibo’s cricket. The equipment was donated to the CDC of the GCB by the proprietor of Star Sports and former national player, Sheik Mohamed.

Territorial Development

Officer of the GCB, Colin Stuart handed over the coaching equipment to Hercules and in so doing complimented Hercules and his deputy chairman for their high levels of enthusiasm and interest demonstrated to action the work of the newly formed subcommittee responsible for assisting with the development of cricket in Essequibo. He pointed out that there is clearly much work to be done to improve the standard of

cricket across Guyana and that the GCB looks forward to collaborating with all affiliate associations in structuring a sustained approach to the development of cricket.

Stuart went on to remark, that the GCB is grateful to Star Sports for their generous donation and feels confident that the coaching equipment will go a far way in enhancing the activities of Essequibo’s coaching and education program.

Australia's T20 World Cup ambitions in "focus" as WI series nears

Ryan Hercules (left) and Colin Stuart (right) at the handing over of the equipment

Hercules, in accepting the donation, was high in praise of Star Sports, indicating that the donation will assist coaches at the county level in delivering their related

tasks. He commended the CDC of the GCB for the work they are doing and pointed out that by placing a subcommittee arm of the CDC to focus on Essequibo’s

cricket development, it gives the assigned individuals the opportunity to narrow their focus on critical development areas required for Essequibo cricket in a timely manner.

Essequibo Committees to benefit from substantial donation from Odyssey Sightseeing Tours

A

ustralia fast bowler Mitchell Starc can’t wait to get stuck into a lengthy stint of T20I cricket ahead of the ICC Men’s ICC T20 World Cup later this year.

Australia is currently in the Caribbean for five T20Is and three ODIs against the West Indies, with a mooted five-T20I tour of Bangladesh to follow if all goes according to plan.

Australia’s squad is packed full of up-and-comers and Starc says the series presents the chance for them to push for selection at the T20 World Cup. “It’s really exciting with some young guys or less experienced guys on this tour,” he said. “It’ll be a really good opportunity to put their foot forward and take a World Cup spot with 10 T20s in the leadup, which is fantastic.”

While Australia is short a handful of first-team regulars, the squad is not short on quality, with cross-format stars Starc and Josh Hazlewood both playing, as well as Aaron Finch (2nd

on the T20I batting rankings), Ashton Agar (3rd on the bowling rankings) and Adam Zampa (8th on the bowling rankings).

The T20 World Cup remains the one ICC trophy Australia’s men’s team has not won, and Starc believes the coming 10 matches are a chance for the side to find their rhythm before their title tilt.

“It’s a great opportunity for the group to start preparing with a bit more focus on that World Cup,” he said of the upcoming T20 campaigns.

“I don’t think I’ve played 10 (international) T20s in the last

MitchellStarc Starc Mitchell

four years, let alone in the space of a couple of weeks.

“Personally it’d be nice to get into a rhythm of T20 cricket ahead of the World Cup. For the guys working on a few things … it’s a nice opportunity to put those things on show in conditions that will be quite similar to what we’ll face in the World Cup.” While Australia’s focus will be on winning in the Caribbean, it also provides captain Finch and coach Justin Langer with the chance to hone in on the make-up of their side for the tournament.

“It’s great preparation for the World Cup, it’s a good chance to try a few things,” Starc said.

“We’ll obviously want to try and win the series but it’s also a chance to put a few things in place that we might want to, some combinations or whatnot for the World Cup, so it’s going to be a really exciting series.”

Australia face the West Indies in the first of five T20Is on Friday. (ICC CRICKET)

Representatives from Odyssey Tours, Essequibo & GCB representatives at the handing-over ceremony

T

he Committees in Essequibo are set to have their cricket development activities boosted from the substantial donation of cricket equipment made by Troy Khan, a manager of Odyssey Sightseeing Tours Guyana Inc. The donation was made to Ryan Hercules, chairman of the Special sub-committee for the Development of Essequibo’s Cricket who received the equipment on behalf of the Area Committees of the Essequibo Cricket Board (ECB).

In brief remarks, manager Troy Khan indicated that this company has a vast interest in the development of cricket in Guyana and that having been approached by the CDC of the GCB for support, they felt obliged to make this meaningful contribution. He went on to state, that given the initial feedback on the needs of the Area Committees in Essequibo, members of his

company decided that the donation of balls and scoring books will go a far way in assisting the Area Committees with running off cricket tournaments, particularly in recording and storing valuable data for future purposes such as player selection.

Hercules, in accepting the donation, commended Odyssey Tours on their substantial contribution reiterating its value to cricket competitions and player selections in Essequibo. He remarked that the gesture is a worthwhile one and that members of the Area Committees of the Essequibo Cricket Board (ECB) are grateful for this donation. He went on to say that with the cost of scorebooks and balls being offset, it will enable the Area Committees to place their limited finances in other areas required to conduct cricket competitions.

Territorial Development

Officer of the GCB, Colin Stuart, expressed appreciation to Odyssey Sightseeing Tours Guyana Inc. for their substantial donation which he indicated will certainly make a positive impact on Essequibo’s cricket. He remarked that, with corporate Guyana placing greater emphasis on the development of sports in Guyana, players and administrators are set to benefit from more structured approaches to player development. As such, the value of this contribution cannot be underestimated.

This collaborative approach to cricket development will hopefully catapult Guyana’s cricket to new heights and we are confident that the contribution made by Odyssey Tours to the ECB’s Area Committees will help in no small measure to improve the standard of cricket in Essequibo.

22

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

THURSDAY, JULY 8, 2021

Taylor’s century propels West Indies to 5-wicket win

Taylor on her way to her sixth ODI century

S

tafanie Taylor’s undefeated 105 off 116 scripted a five-wicket win for West Indies Women against Pakistan Women in the first of the five One-Day Internationals at Coolidge Cricket Ground.

The West Indies captain smashed 11 fours and two sixes in what was her maiden century against Pakistan and sixth overall.

Player of the match Taylor had walked in the middle in the 12th over after Nida Dar, who scored her third half-century in the ongoing year earlier in the day, dismissed Hayley Matthews in a wicket maiden. The right-handed batter struck 33-run partner-

Taylor picked up three wickets with the ball

were Aliya (12 off 30) and Sidra Nawaz (three off five).

Anisa Mohammed’s offspin was instrumental in providing the hosts breakthroughs at the crucial junctures. She trapped Javeria Khan (five off 15) in front of stumps, before Omaima (15 off 28) holed out to deep mid-wicket. Shamilia Connell and Shakera Selman picked up a wicket each.

Pakistan rode to 205 for nine after Stafanie Taylor opted to bowl after winning the toss, thanks to Nida Dar’s 55 off 71. The all-rounder stitched crucial partnerships of 22 and 32 with Omaima Sohail and Aliya Riaz, respectively, to rescue her side from 99 for three.

The right-handed batter struck four fours and a six over long-on in her career’s seventh half-century. Pakistan were provided a solid 70-run opening partnership by Muneeba Ali, who recorded her high-

Ayesha Zafar

for 47. Her 10 overs included two maidens.

Diana Baig (one for 34), Nida (one for 34) and Omaima Sohail (none for 11) bowled under the economy rate of four.

Nida completed her quote of 10 overs – which included two maidens. Diana and Omaima bowled 8.5 and three overs, with the former also delivering a maiden.

FOR SALE Mix Breed Puppies for Sale. Contact: Tel- 253-3114/692-0126.

TAXI SERVICE

SCOREBOARD

Nida Dar

ship with Kycia Knight, who was sent back to the pavilion by left-arm orthodox Sadia Iqbal in another wicket maiden, before a 46-run stand with Deandra Dottin (nine off 17) in which Taylor played the leading role.

Chedean Nation provided her captain the desired support with a 39-ball 23, before Britney Cooper smashed three boundaries in her 17 not out off 21 to help West Indies cross the line with 13 balls spare. Sadia was the standout bowler for Pakistan with two

CLASSIFIED ADS

est score at this level by hitting 51-ball 36, and Ayesha Zafar, who fell four runs short of what would have been her fourth half-century in ODIs. Ayesha smashed six fours in her 70-ball 46 before she was dismissed by Taylor. The West Indies captain took three wickets for 29 runs from 10 overs. Her other two wickets

T

he Cricket West Indies (CWI) Selection Panel announced the West Indies squad for the CG Insurance One-Day International (ODI) Series against Australia.

The squad features most of the players from the 3-0 clean sweep over Sri Lanka in the CG Insurance ODI Series earlier this year.

There are recalls for experienced left-arm fast bowler Sheldon Cottrell; Shimron Hetmyer, the left-handed top-order batsman; and Roston Chase, the right-handed all-rounder.

The CG Insurance ODI Series will be played at Kensington Oval in Barbados on July 20, 22 and 24 with all three matches scheduled as day/night encounters. First ball is 2:30pm (1:30pm Jamaica Time). There is great anticipation as this is Australia’s first tour of the West Indies since the tri-nation series

Pakistan Innings Muneeba Ali run out (Nation/ †Kycia A Knight) 36 Ayesha Zafar c Dottin b Taylor 46 Javeria Khan (c) lbw b Mohammed 5 Omaima Sohail c Cooper b Mohammed 15 Nida Dar c Dottin b Selman 55 Aliya Riaz lbw b Taylor 12 Sidra Nawaz † lbw b Taylor 3 Fatima Sana c Selman b Connell 9 Diana Baig run out (Cooper) 7 Nashra Sandhu not out 2 Sadia Iqbal not out 1 Extras (b 1, lb 2, nb 1, w 10) 14 TOTAL (50 Ov, RR: 4.10) 205/9 Fall of wickets: 1-70 (Muneeba Ali, 15.6 ov), 2-88 (Javeria Khan, 21.2 ov), 3-99 (Ayesha Zafar, 24.3 ov), 4-121 (Omaima Sohail, 33.1 ov), 5-153 (Aliya Riaz, 41.2 ov), 6-170 (Sidra Nawaz, 43.3 ov), 7-188 (Nida Dar, 46.2 ov), 8-201 (Diana Baig, 49.1 ov), 9-203 (Fatima Sana, 49.4 ov) BOWLING O-M-R-W Shamilia Connell 10-0-37-1 Shakera Selman 9-0-46-1 Caneisha Isaac 4-0-22-0 Hayley Matthews 7-0-37-0 Stafanie Taylor 10-0-29-3

Anisa Mohammed 10-0-31-2 WEST INDIES WOMEN INNINGS (TARGET: 206 RUNS FROM 50 OVERS) Hayley Matthews st †Sidra Nawaz b Nida Dar 16 Kyshona Knight c †Sidra Nawaz b Fatima Sana 8 Kycia Knight † c Diana Baig b Sadia Iqbal 19 Stafanie Taylor (c) not out 105 Deandra Dottin c & b Sadia Iqbal 9 Chedean Nation c Omaima Sohail b Diana Baig 23 Britney Cooper not out 17 Extras (lb 6, w 6) 12 TOTAL (47.5 Ov, RR: 4.36) 209/5 Did not bat: Shamilia Connell, Anisa Mohammed, Caneisha Isaac, Shakera Selman Fall of wickets: 1-19 (Kyshona Knight, 5.2 ov), 2-42 (Hayley Matthews, 11.4 ov), 3-75 (Kycia Knight, 21.5 ov), 4-121 (Deandra Dottin, 30.5 ov), 5-167 (Chedean Nation, 42.1 ov) BOWLING O-M-R-W Diana Baig 8.5-1-34-1 Fatima Sana 7-0-35-1 Nida Dar 10-2-34-1 Nashra Sandhu 9-0-42-0 Sadia Iqbal 10-2-47-2 Omaima Sohail 3-0-11-0

Hetmyer, Shepherd included in 15-member squad named for CG Insurance ODI Series against Australia back in 2016.

The series forms part of the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) ODI Super League where both teams are aiming to win points to be one of the top seven teams that will secure automatic qualification for the 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup in India.

Roger Harper, Lead Selector said:

“This squad is coming off a comprehensive series win against Sri Lanka which should boost their confidence going into what is expected to be a tougher contest against Australia. The return of Shimron Hetmyer, Roston Chase and Sheldon Cottrell adds greater depth and experience to the squad.”

He added:

“Playing in familiar home conditions, hopefully will

Elegant Cabs. 231-1494 / 2264277, Cell #: 625-6600. 24 hrs.

WANTED 1 Security Guard wanted.

Tel# 223-6156

Classified Ads $5+VAT per word

Call: 223-7230-1 Ext 50

223-7230-1 (Ext 55) bring out the best in each player thereby enabling the team to perform at a consistently high standard. This CG Insurance ODI series against Australia is part of the ICC Cricket World Cup qualification process where every game and every point counts, so it is very important.”

FULL SQUAD

Kieron Pollard (Captain) Shai Hope (Vice Captain) Fabian Allen Darren Bravo Roston Chase Sheldon Cottrell Shimron Hetmyer Jason Holder Akeal Hosein Alzarri Joseph Evin Lewis Jason Mohammed Anderson Philip Nicholas Pooran Romario Shepherd (Windies Cricket)

2237230-1

(Ext 55)

NOW!

THURSDAY, JULY 8, 2021

G

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Fowler, Persaud set for pre-Olympic camp President Dwayne Scott, the duo will benefit significantly from the exercise.

“To her (Persaud) benefit, all the swimmers who will be at the Olympic Games are exposed to the FINA clinic. So, she will be exposed to international athletes in a camp system undergoing FINA approved preparatory work alongside FINA coaches, and FINA athletes in Tokyo, which is basically where the swimming event is going to be held,” Scott disclosed.

The Guyanese pair, who were awarded universality spots by FINA to participate in the Olympics, will have many eyes on their performances.

The GASA President is optimistic that they can record some personal best times.

“What I would like to see from both athletes is for them to put up their best time, their personal best time. I’m confident that Aleka can do that, I’m also confident that with the preparatory work that Mr Fowler was undergoing, he should be able to do that,” an expectant GASA President said.

Touching on the fact that the swimmers had not made the Olympic qualifying standard, Scott added, “Just rememAleka Persaud ber that, both athletes are there not because

uyana’s two Olympic swimmers Andrew Fowler and Aleka Persaud are expected to make an early departure for Tokyo, as they get involved in a training camp.

The International Swimming Federation (FINA) training camp is being hosted in Tokyo, Japan, during the weeks prior to the Olympic Games and Guyana’s two candidates will not miss the preparatory event.

Persaud and Fowler will jet off for the camp in the new week, that will see participation from some of the world’s best swimmers who are competing at the Olympic Games.

According to Guyana A m a t e u r Swimming

Association (GASA)

they would have made an Olympic qualification time.

What we would hope coming out of this event that they could at least put up a time that can allow them to meet the minimum qualification time, even if it’s at the Olympics.”

As many would know, Persaud was not the initial female swimmer pegged for the quadrennial event.

In this instance, Scott divulged on the scenario that caused Jamila Sanmoogan to be replaced.

“Athletes who go to the Olympics on the universality position, would have first had to be at the World Championships, which usually happens at the end of the calendar year. And they would have had to identify with the FINA point system. Now if you would have had more than one athlete who would have been at the World Championship, it would mean that the athlete with the highest FINA points will be the athlete that FINA will select,” Scott advised.

“What has happened is because of the pandemic and the absence of a World Championship last year.

FINA, even though they have recognised Jamila as the athlete who would have been at the World Championship, the previous year, based on developments that would have happened in the fraternity, athletes may have been in-

Teddy Singh makes donation to “Cricket Gear For Young and Promising Cricketers in Guyana” Project

F

23

ormer Floodlights Masters Softball Cricket allrounder, Teddy Singh has donated two pairs of cricket boots for “Cricket Gear for Young and Promising Cricketers in Guyana” project. This initiative is a joint effort of Kishan Das of the USA and Anil Beharry.

Their aim is to provide Cricket gear free of cost for young and talented cricketers in Guyana. The project is seeking new and used cricket gear which will then be distributed across the length and breadth of Guyana.

Rabindra, as he popularly known, said that he is happy to be part of this initiative and intended to make a contribution from the time he saw it in the press. He also stated that he is confident that his contribution will make a

difference in the lives of two young cricketers. The boots were bought from Ravi Etwaroo of cricket Zone, USA and will shipped in shortly.

Total cricket related items collected so far: cash for first aid kit, two cricket boots, twelve pairs of batting pads, eleven bats, eight pairs of batting gloves and two cricket bags.

Fifteen young players from Essequibo Coast and Pomeroon have already benefited from five bats, six pairs of batting pads and four pairs of batting gloves.

Two clubs in the Pomeroon area also benefited from two used bats.

Talent spotting will be done across Guyana along with guidance from club leaders to identify the players. Players must be in school and disciplined.

Teddy Singh

Players above school age will also be considered.

Das and Beharry would like to thank Imran and Javed Khan of West Indian Sports Complex, Option Group, Bish Panday of P and P Insurance Brokers, Sean Devers, Travis Simon, Hilbert Foster of RHTY&SC, Ariel Tilku, Aaron Beharry, Devon Ramnauth, Sherman Austin, Teddy Singh, Leana Bachan and Imran Saccoor.

Anyone interested incontributing can contact Anil Beharry on 623 6875 or Kishan Das on 1 718 664 0896.

jured, may not have been active anymore, they then went on to say ‘the athlete with the highest FINA points which will ultimately mean the athlete who may have put up one of the fastest times in last year or two, would have been the athlete who should be representing the country.”

According to Scott, on this basis, Persaud was the one to have put up the faster time at the CARIFTA Games, allowing her to ac-

Dwayne Scott

cumulate more points.

“So, it wasn’t a case in which we didn’t even, we actually query this with FINA because we would have already prepared Jamila to be at the Olympics,” Scott added, noting that the GASA was careful about the switch.

The training camp is slated for July 11 to 23 and the Guyanese swimmers will be accompanied by Coach Shyka Gonsalves.

Disappointed Harper expects West Indies to bounce back against Australia – Holder to be rested for Australia T20Is

By Brandon Corlette

W

est Indies lead selector Roger Harper is disappointed after the West Indies lost the T20 International series against South Africa 3-2 in Grenada.

The Guyanese Harper, who believes that the T20I team is capable of producing better results, said the West Indies team was placed to win all the matches.

Appearing on the Mason and Guest radio programme, Harper said: “the batting was the area that let us down, particularly between over number seven and 14. That was the phase we created a lot of problems for ourselves. The bowling held its own, but (Evin) Lewis showed what he is capable of.”

Age, ability and experience have influenced the Harper-led selection panel to select that 18-man provisional squad for the T20I home series. “A team with that much experience should not be losing games like this and perform in the manner in which we did, that was very disappointed.”

The lead selector also hinted that with 10 T20I matches remaining before the T20 World Cup, all players in the 18-man pro-

visional squad will get an opportunity. From a batting perspective, Harper is expecting more from the senior guys, including Chris Gayle and Andre Russell.

On the topic of Gayle batting at number three, Harper said the "Universe Boss" has had success at that position playing in the Indian Premier League.

“We have to see how we go forward,” Harper said on Gayle’s batting position.

Former cricketers have noted that the West Indies batsmen are playing without a cricketing brain.

Additionally, Head Coach Phil Simmons also said the West Indies players are lacking tactically. The lead selector said the West Indies may have been carried away with the method after the first game. “I think at times we can put a lot more thought into our approach to things,” Harper disclosed.

When asked if the CPL produces talent to represent West Indies, Harper added: “Players have been given opportunities coming forward. We want to see young players pushing our senior players hard through performance,” Harper said.

Harper also confirmed that Jason Holder will not play in the five T20I matches against Australia, start-

ing on Friday, July 9 from 19:30h Eastern Caribbean time. While considering Holder’s workload and the upcoming Test matches against Pakistan, Harper said Holder will return to play in the One-Day Internationals against Australia that is billed for Bridgetown Barbados.

West Indies favoured chasing totals against South Africa but still lost three matches. Harper defended this ploy citing that West Indies have had previous success while chasing. Looking ahead for the Australia tour, Harper is expecting the batsmen to come to the party. “I expect them to pull them socks up and perform. We expect a tough challenge from Australia but we are capable of holding our own,” Harper cited.

West Indies Provisional Squad for T20Is for Australia and Pakistan series: Kieron Pollard(c), Nicholas Pooran(w/vc), Chris Gayle, Evin Lewis, Lendl Simmons, Andre Fletcher(wk), Shimron Hetmyer, Andre Russell, Jason Holder, Dwayne Bravo, Fabian Allen, Fidel Edwards, Obed McCoy, Oshane Thomas, Sheldon Cottrell, Kevin Sinclair, Hayden Walsh Jr, Akeal Hosein.

THURSDAY, JULY 8, 2021

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

Fowler, Persaud set for pre-Olympic camp

Pg 22

Taylor’s century propels West Indies to 5-wicket win

Disappointed Harper expects West Indies to bounce back against Australia

Page 22

Shimron Hetmyer

Pg 23

Romario Shepherd

Hetmyer, Shepherd included in 15-member squad named for CG Insurance ODI Series against Australia

Pg 23

– Holder to be rested for Australia T20Is

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