Guyana Times - Thursday, June 3, 2021

NGSA students can write mock exams at home P16 Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Issue No. 4667

THURSDAY, JUNE 3, 2021

PRICE

Electoral fraud

PSC, GCCI laud move to fire Lowenfield, Myers, Mingo …say officers must be accountable

See story on page 3

Floods continue to wreak havoc as heavy rainfall persists countrywide

$80 VAT INCLUDED

WHAT'S INSIDE:

Corentyne rice farmers worried about crop as others count losses P17

Hope Wind Farm

Environmental Impact P15 Assessment submitted to EPA Intense rainfall/flooding

Miners, loggers warned to take precautions P10 “Good luck!” – Judge tells teen jailed for revenge P8 killing

Cosmetologist’s murder

…focus now to bring relief to affected citizens – PM …as ExxonMobil, RBL, GGMC donate $14.5M to CDC Prime Minister, Retired Brigadier Mark Phillips visited the National Gymnasium on Wednesday to examine the progress made by the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) in packing relief hampers for flood-affected Guyanese (See stories on pages 7&13)

May's COVID-19 death toll climbs to 97 with 5 more fatalities Page 11

Page 2

Silvercorp to acquire equity stake in Omai Gold Mines

…143 new cases detected …41.9% of Guyana’s adult population vaccinated …deal to fund additional drilling in Guyana

Taxis, minibuses operating in front of DHB to be relocated …move aimed at reducing traffic congestion – Minister

Page 16

Cousin recalls P14 gunman fleeing with cell phones after shooting her 7 injured as car plunges into trench …driver swerved to avoid hitting cows

P14

“Is not me thing” – man busted with ganja in P9 haversack

2 NEWS

THURSDAY, JUNE 3, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Silvercorp to acquire equity stake in Omai Gold Mines …deal to fund additional drilling in Guyana

I

n a bid to source funding for additional drilling at its Wenot deposit, Omai Gold Mines has made a deal with Canadian mining company Silvercorp Metals, one of the company’s shareholders, to purchase further shares.

In a statement on Wednesday, Omai noted that the deal would see C$3 million in gross proceedings being generated. The company will be issuing units at a price of C$0.17 per unit.

Each unit will consist of a common share and half of a common share purchase warrant.

“Two such half warrants constitute a full warrant (a “Warrant”). Each Warrant entitles the holder to acquire one Common Share at an exercise price of C$0.23 for a period of 36 months from the closing date of the offering,” Omai said in the statement.

“The proceeds from the

Omai’s operations in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni)

offering will be used for additional drilling under the Wenot deposit, the preparation of the company’s inaugural 43-101 resource estimate for Wenot, and to advance new high-priority exploration targets at Omai, including Broccoli Hill.”

According to Omai, Silvercorp indicated its intention to subscribe for ap-

proximately C$455,000 of the offering. Should total gross proceeds from the offering amount to C$3 million, Silvercorp is expected to hold a 15.2 per cent equity stake in Omai on a basic basis and increase its current ownership to 15.7 per cent on a partially-diluted basis.

The statement also in-

cluded comments from Omai Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mario Stifano, who expressed pleasure at the deal. He noted that the potential to significantly expand open-pit mining for minerals was great.

“We are delighted that Silvercorp is maintaining its pro rata ownership in Omai Gold Mines. The pos-

itive results from the ongoing drilling and assaying programme at the Wenot target that we previously announced – including 16.0 metres of 9.0 grams per tonne (g/t) gold, 32.1 metres of 3.6 g/t gold, and 14 metres of 9.1 g/t gold, indicates the potential to significantly expand the open-pit mineralisation at Wenot while it remains open at depth and on strike.

“Given the location on the prospective Guiana Shield that is home to other major gold discoveries, Omai exhibits excellent potential to host near surface as well as high-grade gold mineralisation such as hole OMU-28 which drilled 101 metres of 34.91 g/t gold at the Fennell deep target.”

Omai said: “The offering is subject to certain conditions including, but not limited to, the receipt of all necessary approvals, including the approval of the TSX Venture

Exchange (Canadian Stock Exchange).”

Omai Gold Mines, which has already started a 5000-metre drilling programme in the Wenot pit, had announced in April the presence of high-grade gold in the first two holes that extend at least 100 metres below ground.

The company only returned to the Wenot and Fennell pits at the Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) site in 2020 after leaving Guyana in 2015. It had announced in December that it would be pressing forward with the 5000-metre drilling programme.

It was only last November that Omai Gold Mines, which is aiming to reclaim its place as Guyana’s top gold producer, announced the impending resumption of trading on the Toronto Stock Exchange, following the recent reverse takeover of Avalon Investment Holdings.

Brazilian miner’s body found floating in Mazaruni River

T

he body of a 37-yearold Brazilian miner was found floating in the Mazaruni River, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni)

by Police after they received reports that the man had been missing for several days.

Police said suspicions were raised after the man’s boat was seen drifting in the river.

Dead is Allesandro Foss who is believed to have drowned between Saturday and Tuesday in the vicinity of Surinamo Landing.

He was last seen alive on May 29, when he was left to oversee a water dredge in the Mazaruni River in the vicinity of the Pappyshow Landing.

Around 11:00h on Tuesday, it was discovered that the miner was missing and his boat was seen drifting in the river.

As a result, a party of Policemen launched a probe and some 30 minutes later, they found the man’s

Dead: Allesandro Foss

body floating in the middle Mazaruni River.

His body was retrieved from the waterway and examined for marks of violence, but none was found.

The body was taken to the Bartica Regional Hospital, where Foss was officially pronounced dead on arrival at 20:00h.

An investigation has been launched. (G9)

NEWS

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THURSDAY, JUNE 3, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS OPENINGS BRIDGE

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

Thursday, June 3 – 00:30h-02:00h and 12:00h-13:30h and Friday, June 4 – 01:00h-02:30h and 12:30h-14:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Thursday, June 3 – 11:20h-12:50h and Friday, June 4 –12:45h-14:15h.

Electoral fraud

PSC, GCCI laud move to fire Lowenfield, Myers, Mingo …say officers must be accountable

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

WEATHER TODAY

Thundery showers and light rain showers are expected during the day. Partly cloudy skies are expected at night. Temperatures should range between 22 degrees Celsius and 29 degrees Celsius.

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

High Tide: 11:21h a reaching maximum height of 2.16 metres Low Tide: 17:25h reaching a minimum height of 1.01 metres.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 2, 2021

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

COMMODITIES Indicators

US$

Change %

Crude Oil

$71.35/barrel

+1.54

Rough Rice

$239.22 /ton

-0.10

London Sugar

$464.50/ton

-0.09

Live Spot Gold

USD Per Ounce

Bid/Ask

$1905.40

$1906.40

Low/High Change

$1894.80 -2.80

$1910.70 -0.15%

PSC Chairman Paul Cheong

B

oth the Private Sector Commission (PSC) and the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), two civil society organisations that played an integral role in the five-month fight for democracy in 2020, have lauded the steps being taken to hold high-ranking election officers complicit in electoral fraud accountable.

In a statement on Wednesday, the PSC reminded that it had long called for officers who were complicit to be removed from the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM).

In that vein, the PSC welcomed the recent move from Government-nominated GECOM Commissioners to table three motions calling for the immediate dismissal of three high-ranking election officers who are currently before the courts on electoral fraud charges.

“If it were that the Chairman of GECOM was failing to take action to clean up the Commission on the excuse that elections petitions had been filed on the matter of the elections, this excuse no longer obtains,” the PSC said.

On Wednesday, the PSC said it was particularly pleased to welcome the motion tabled by the GECOM Commissioners for the removal of these employees and looked forward to GECOM acting condignly.

The officers in question are Chief Elections Officer (CEO) Keith Lowenfield, his deputy Roxanne Myers and Region Four Returning Officer Clairmont Mingo.

According to the PSC, it is important that these officers be held accountable.

It is also important for GECOM to clean up its act so that urgent electoral reforms can be pursued.

“In December 2020, the Private Sector Commission issued a Statement recognising that Local Government Elections are due by the end of 2021, noted further that (Lowenfield, Mingo) and a number of other officials assisting these officers are charged before the Court with “mis-

conduct in public office” and expressed its concern that none of these officers have been dismissed from their employment at GECOM, nor have they been suspended from duty,” the body said.

The PSC added that it said then that “it is unthinkable and certainly unacceptable that GECOM should proceed to conduct Local Government Elections while these officers remain employed and involved in the conducting of these elections”.

The PSC then referenced the circumstances that led to the steps being taken against the trio. One of the accredited observers for the elections, the PSC recalled the events from the time the District Four count was started and halted by the machinations of a ‘sick’ Mingo to the time the count resumed from a spreadsheet of unknown origin, rather than the Statements of Poll (SoPs). The only reason this result was not declared was because a court order was issued preventing it.

“The country will recall that Mingo, again directed

by Lowenfield, aided and abetted by Roxanne Myers, resumed the count and continued to deliberately defy the order of the court, once again using a spreadsheet and then a bedsheet, failing to complete a credible tab-

diplomatic representatives of the USA and Canada,” the PSC reminded.

GCCI

GCCI President Timothy Tucker

ulation and verification of the Statements of Poll.”

The Private Sector Commission Observers were actively engaged and present, and witnessed first-hand this entire conspiracy along with the accredited observers of the Carter Center, the European Union and the Commonwealth and the

In the GCCI statement, the organisation applauded the steps to remove the officials from GECOM and also reminded of the urgent need for electoral reform to strengthen the country’s democracy.

According to the GCCI, it was through the actions of certain GECOM officials that Guyana was placed in a precarious position on the global stage during last year’s elections. At the same time, the GCCI reminded about the importance of undertaking the electoral reform process.

In its missive, the Chamber urged the leaders to continue with the reform process with the utmost urgency, and it anticipated the involvement of a wide range of stakeholders in the process.

TURN TO PAGE 7

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guyanatimesgy.com

THURSDAY, JUNE 3, 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

Preventing the scourge of suicide

I

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

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

Subsequent to that incident, two fathers attempted the same act.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony shares a photo moment with officials from the Government of Mexico, which donated two additional ventilators to aid Guyana’s fight against COVID-19 (DPI photo)

Response to retired professor of business & economics, Dr Ganga Ramdas

Dear Editor, Please permit me to respond to retired professor Dr Ganga Ramdas, who wrote a letter in the print media on June 2, 2021 captioned, “How much taxes should Exxon and the oil companies have paid?”

The retired professor’s analysis is unfortunately inherently weak, with very poor analogies to substantiate the learned professor’s argument.

Dr Ramdas failed to acknowledge that the fiscal regime which Exxon enjoys, inter alia, the Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) – though outside of the normal (national) fiscal regime which other companies are subjected to – is so designed to cater for the nature of the industry. That is to say, it is a new industry for Guyana, one that is highly capital intensive, the scale of investment activities is many times larger than Guyana’s GDP: wherein, for example, Exxon’s projections for Guyana are US$60 billion over a period of 30 years – which is equivalent to 8.5 times 2020 GDP (inclusive of the oil economy) and 15 times Guyana’s non-oil GDP using 2018 real GDP. Dr Ramdas argued that should Exxon pay taxes on its share of profit oil – by applying the tax rate to companies involved in commercial activities of 25%, “the oil companies should have paid

approximately $62 million in taxes”. He contends that this is a revenue loss for Guyana.

To put his argument into perspective, he implicitly argued that the taxes paid by pensioners and other companies subject to the normal income taxes applied to commercial and non-commercial firms in Guyana contributes towards building the infrastructure that exists, such as airports, roads, hospitals etc., which everyone utilizes; and that, effectively, the oil companies are using our airports and roads etc., for free

by virtue of being exempted from paying corporate taxes. This is a very misleading and non-contextual reasoning by Dr Ramdas, to say the least.

To support this view, let’s understand the PSA and Guyana’s true potential profit share during cost recovery and post cost recovery. Having said that, let’s look at some analyses using Liza Phase 1 project alone.

Liza phase 1 has a production capacity of 120,000 barrels per day, total investment cost of US$4.3 billion,

and comprise of 450 MMbl. Dr Ramdas does not seem to comprehend that because of the 75% cost recovery threshold, the recovery period for these investments will be very short. Liza phase 1 in the above illustration, for example, using an average price per barrel of US$45 at an annual production capacity of 43.8 million barrels of crude, the investment cost of US$4.3 billion will be recovered within 3 years using the payback method.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

guyanatimesgy.com

THURSDAY, JUNE 3, 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

Get rid of them Dear Editor, After the videos of President Ali visiting the various pump stations in Region 4 started surfacing on social media, I anxiously waited to see what would be the outcome.

So far, neither the news publications nor social media has mentioned anything, even though there’s plenty of speculation circulating all over. Added to that are images of piled-up garbage around the city, and similar to the pumps’ situation, there’s been a blame game.

Since before 2005, whenever there’s heavy rainfall, many places could be considered ‘hotspots’ for flooding, especially in Georgetown; and over the years, this trend has continued while the Government has tried various methods to combat the flooding.

Over the years, trenches and kokers that weren’t functioning started working again after what was affecting them had been addressed. While improvements could be seen in outlying regions, Region 4, especially in Georgetown, has remained the same or gotten

worse when there is flooding. Based on the videoed exposure of the actions of the sluice/pump attendants, I’ve started to question whether it was a deliberate action to sabotage the city, causing it to constantly get flooded and make the PPPC look bad.

Why did a President have to go see what was taking place? There are supervisors who are supposed to visit all the pumps/sluice/kokers throughout the day and night. Some even have motor bikes.

Editor, in the videos, clearly you could see that every one of the operators/attendants was failing to perform the duty they were supposed to do. Were they given instructions?

I cannot imagine that, in such a crucial situation, they all would turn off the pumps and go to sleep. Seeing former Minister Patterson and the Georgetown Mayor trying to defend the skullduggery that was exposed convinced me that all the time when Georgetown gets flood, instructions were given for technical sabotage to prevent the water from draining out

Not only City Hall Dear Editor, While City Hall is getting the full brunt of criticisms following the flooding of the city, it has been noted from reports in the media that other local government bodies and authorities were allegedly found equally wanting and lacking.

In regard to visits to communities and regions by

officials, the cry of residents was the lack of response from officials in their communities and villages to be proactive and render timely help and assistance. These allegations should be investigated, and errant officials disciplined.

Sincerely, Shamshun Mohamed

of Georgetown and cause the PPPC to get blamed for incompetence.

Whenever there is a flood, not only are householders affected, but the whole country is affected in various ways. agriculture: farms, animals; infrastructure: businesses, etc, get affected, resulting in increased prices for many things, money having to be spent unnecessarily to repair damages and help to replace losses suffered by farmers; people being prevented from going to work; sickness arising etc.

It shows clearly that certain politicians are interested only in their personal gains at the expense of society. Will this administration continue to allow this blatant sabotage to continue?

In closing, Editor, it seems to me that, every year, only when there’s flooding, the koker/pumps/sluice attendants would find it convenient to make some sort of mistake that causes severe discomfort to society. They would either be drunk, not go to work, cannot open koker, leave koker open, sleep away, and the list goes on. To my knowledge, these attendants are mostly pensioners working, and their average salary is around $2,500 per day.

A worker from the sugar estate earns around the same amount per day. It’s my humble view that because they are already getting pension, their attention is not fully focused on their duties that they are collecting another salary for.

As far back as I can remember, that is the behaviour of people operating the kokers, and its time Government seeks younger and more responsible people to operate these kokers/pumps.

The salary is just like the average salary, less working hours.

When its nip tide, the operators don’t even have to open the kokers at times, because the sea water is higher, they just have to be present at the kokers. And many times they done even go there!

Their working hours vary, depending on the tide, but most time they don’t work for three hours. And still, when we are on a critical situation, they are conveniently adding salt to the wounds. It’s time that Government seeks alternatives that are not so crucial to society, and get responsible people to man these sluice/ pumps/kokers.

Put the present operators to weed the burial grounds and road parapets, clean drains etc if their pensions are not enough. There are many pensioners that the NDCs are employing to do similar work, and most of them are at home by midday.

Many are of the view that the NDC just finding means to give them an extra change in their pockets. They go to work sites and hardly work.

It’s time that pensioners either stay at home and enjoy their pensions, or find jobs that are not that important.

Clearly, we could see that they are not functioning properly! The sanctimonious gangster took a set of pensioners out of retirement and gave them high-paying jobs that many young people work hard for. When everyone thought that we would have seen improvement, we got severe hardship. It’s time young people get better opportunities.

Sincerely, Sahadeo Bates

Response to retired professor of...

FROM PAGE 4

With the Net Present Value (NPV) investment appraisal method and a discount rate of 10%, the investment can be recovered within 4 years. As such, from the Liza 1 alone Guyana can earn over US$2 billion in the first five years and up to US$6 billion within ten years – taking the post recovery period into the equation. In other words, Guyana’s projected earnings from the Liza 1 development alone over the first decade is equivalent to 120% of current GDP; 3.5 times current level of total public debt, and 5 times Government’s revenue using 2019 figures.

The highest cost is usually the development cost, and therefore, when the development cost is recovered, the operating cost is typically minimal, since the infrastructure to extract the crude is already in place. To substantiate this view with reasonable certainty, a perusal of Exxon’s 2018 annual report confirmed that total operating cost was just about 27% of total revenue.

Hence, this means that in the post recovery period, profit share will be greater, assuming, for example, that operating cost will be 30% of total revenue, then effectively there will be 70% of revenue for profit share, of which 50% is Guyana’s share.

Consequently, Guyana’s profit share can be as much as 35% post recovery period + 2% royalty, resulting in a total take of 37%; up from 14.5% during the recovery period in the first three to four years for Liza Phase 1 development alone; and greater than the 25% corpo-

rate tax applicable to companies involved in commercial activities.

Then there is Liza phase 2 and many other FPSOs and development fields that will be operationalised over the decade.

Dr Ramdas is also incorrect to assert that the oil companies are using the existing infrastructure for free, given the aforementioned analysis. Further to note, the revenues earned from Guyana’s oil resources will in fact be utilised to propel Guyana’s transformational development and, in particular, infrastructure and education, as alluded to by His Excellency, the President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana. It should be noted as well that the Administration of the day is keen on implementing a strong local content policy which will ensure that Guyanese firms, professionals and the people at large are given maximum benefit in the sector, as well as the opportunity to participate in the emerging sectors. When more local firms participate in the sector, capitalising on the emerging opportunities as well as in the value chain and other sectors, the firms perform better, enjoy increased profits, and in turn pay more taxes – to put this simply.

It is against these backgrounds, that the analysis put forward by Dr Ramdas is far from being credibly sound and robust, ignoring the ‘country and global contexts’ altogether.

Yours faithfully, JC Bhagwandin

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THURSDAY, JUNE 3, 2021

Page

Foundation ◄

Question 1

a) Determine the common factors of both 30 and 45 b) Write two numbers where the digit 8 represent 8 hundreds. How many possible numbers can you have if none of them can exceed 1000? c) 10 mangoes cost $500.

How much would 20 oranges cost if the cost of a mango is twice that of an orange? Write an inequality to represent that information

W

rite a description of an invention that you would make in order to protect yourself or a loved one from coming to harm – which is a phrase that means getting hurt from a dangerous situation. In addition to playground equipment, the materials you have available to build your invention are: • a broken swing from a swing set • several candy wrappers • sand or mulch • a soccer ball • bendy straws from juice boxes • a scarf • four bricks (Adapted from startwithabook.org)

Wednesday’s answers

Step One: Read it Read the poem once to yourself and then aloud, all the way through. After doing so, the first question you should ask yourself is: What is this poem about?

Underline things that jump out at you. What is your first impression and immediate reaction to the poem?.

Step Two: Think about the title Think about the title of the poem. Is the poem about what it says in the title or is it not? Titles often provide important clues about what is at the heart of a piece. Likewise, a title may work ironically or in opposition to a poem. Questions to consider are: Does the title immediately change how you think about it?

Does the poem’s title paint a picture that gives a specific time frame, setting or action?

Does it imply multiple possibilities?

Step Three: Find out who is the speaker Understanding the speaker or persona is at the centre of a poem may help the piece appear more tangible. Questions to consider are: Who “tells” the poem?

Does the poem give any clues about the speaker’s personality, the point of view, age, or gender?

Who is the speaker addressing?

Does the speaker seem attached or detached from what is said?

Step Four: Think about the mood and tone Poems can be happy, sad or any of the many emotions humans feel. How would you describe the attitude or mood the poem is attempting to convey. How do you know the poet is trying to covey that emotion? Why? Are the lines short and meant to be read slow?

Or, does the poem move fast, and if so, why?

Step Five: Paraphase the poem Line-by-line, explain to yourself in simple terms what the poet said.

Step Six: Determine the theme The theme of a poem relates to a universal truth, issue, or conflict. To determine the theme, answer these questions: What is the subject?

Who is the speaker?

What situation are they in?

How do they feel about the subject?

What is the mood?

(Adapted from teachforamerica.org)

WORD SEARCH

NEWS

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THURSDAY, JUNE 3, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Floods 2021

Focus now to bring relief to affected citizens – PM …ExxonMobil, RBL, GGMC donate $14.5M to CDC

Prime Minister Mark Phillips was accompanied by CDC Director General Kester Craig during his visit to the Gymnasium on Wednesday to assess the preparation of relief hampers

P

rime Minister Brigadier (retired) Mark Phillips has said that Government’s focus right now is on bringing relief to flood-affected communities across the country, including conducting emergency works to drain the floodwater from the land.

He made this remark on Wednesday during a visit to the National Gymnasium, where the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) has set up operations to prepare relief hampers which include food items and sanitisation supplies for distribution to persons and communities that are being impacted by the inclement weather.

“So, the focus right now… is on bringing relief to all these communities – food stuff, sanitation hampers, setting up of shelters, and any quick emergency work we can do to get the water off the land in the fastest possible time,” he stated.

According to the PM, Government would continue to monitor the situation across the country as the heavy rainfall persists, resulting in floodwaters raising in some areas.

“Over the next 96 hours, we will continue to monitor the rainfall throughout Guyana, and we’ll continue to visit communities throughout Guyana to see the effects of the flooding, whether the water is receding, and what additional support we can give to those communities,” Phillips posited.

Already, more than 15,000 relief hampers have been distributed to flood-af-

fected communities across the country, and thousands more are slated to be given out.

During his visit to the relief centre, the PM noted that some 2500 hampers have already been packed, 1000 were in the process of being packed, and another 1500 were being loaded for distribution.

“We have hampers now that are being loaded now for distribution to Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice), and [today] we are focusing on Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni) and Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni),” the Prime Minister has said.

In fact, some 1,186 food hampers and 1,186 cleaning supplies for flood-affected residents arrived in Region Five on Wednesday afternoon. Additionally, 65 cases of bottled water were dispatched to Mahaicony Creek, while 35 cases were dispatched to the Regional Democratic Council (RDC).

Of the hampers already distributed, approximately 3000 have been sent to Region 10 (Upper DemeraraBerbice), where the logging community of Kwakwani is among the worst hit, with the flood water reaching the second floor of some houses and almost completely covering flat houses. Shelters have also been established for residents at Kwakwani and in Region Nine (Upper TakutuEssequibo) as well.

“Each one of these hampers can feed a family of five for two weeks, and while we would’ve given out hampers initially to all the commu-

nities, we’re also preparing additional hampers because some communities may need a further supply of hampers as we proceed through this operation,” the Prime Minister has posited.

Multi-sectoral & inter-agency approach

Nevertheless, he expressed satisfaction with the CDC’s “well-oiled” operation at the Gymnasium, noting that the relief supplies are being dispatched in a timely manner.

The CDC has been working with several Ministries and their sub-agencies, including the Agriculture Ministry’s National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) and the Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA), as well as the various Regional and Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (RDCs and NDCs) and Municipalities to ascertain the needs of communities and provide relief supplies. In fact, when the relief supplies are sent to the various regions, they are handed over to the RDCs in most cases for distribution.

Moreover, Government Ministers, including the Prime Minister himself, have been fanning out across Guyana to assess the situation and assist communities that are flooded. Even President Irfaan Ali has been on the ground last weekend, visiting several severely impacted regions.

PM Phillips has lauded all the stakeholders, including the Private Sector, for the inter-agency and

PSC, GCCI laud move...

FROM PAGE 3

“It is imperative that these reforms are undertaken to ensure that the inalienable rights of every citizen of Guyana are protected, and that our democracy – a pre-condition to a growing economy – is fortified in its safeguarding,” the GCCI said.

Following the gruelling five-month long ordeal that followed last year’s March 2 General and Regional Elections, the Government has promised electoral reform. This will involve the International Republican Institute (IRI).

The IRI has been working on a project to strength-

en the capacity of GECOM and the Attorney General’s Chambers, laying the groundwork for electoral reform. The 18-month project is being supported by the United States Department of State, with funding from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

The motions seeking the dismissal of the three GECOM officials were tabled by Commissioners Sase Gunraj, Bibi Shadick and Manoj Narayan – all lawyers – before GECOM Chair, Retired Justice Claudette Singh when they met on Tuesday.

Lowenfield, Myers, and Mingo are all before the courts on a number of electoral charges for their attempts to sway the results of the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections in favour of the then ruling A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government.

The motion to dismiss Lowenfield from his substantive post as CEO was tabled by Gunraj and Shadick, and listed 20 grounds on which he should be dismissed. In the case of Myers, the motion was submitted in the names of Shadick and Narayan. (G3)

multi-sectoral approach that has been taken to bring relief to the flood-affected persons and communities across Guyana.

“This is a very good example of all the agencies of the Government working together and with the support of the Private Sector of Guyana… In the shortest possible time, we’ve been able to send relief supplies to all the affected communities in Guyana, working both with Government officials and the Private Sector,” he stated, while also expressing gratitude to the many volunteers who are assisting the CDC in preparing the hampers for distribution.

The CDC has received donations from a number of entities, including civil society and the Private Sector.

This support continues, as two leading private companies and a state entity made financial donations to the Commission on Wednesday.

The Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) has handed over a cheque worth $3 million to support the Commission’s flood relief efforts. Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat, presented the cheque to Deputy Director-General of the CDC, Major Loring Benons, at the Ministry’s office.

ExxonMobil Guyana President Alistair Routledge presenting the $10M cheque to CDC Head Kester Craig on Wednesday

Additionally, a $1.5 million cheque was received from Republic Bank (Guyana) Limited. CDC Director General, Lieutenant Colonel Kester Craig, has expressed gratitude for the donation, which he said would go a long way in bringing relief to those affected.

Republic Bank’s Managing Director Stephen Grell, who handed over the cheque to the CDC Head, has stated that the Bank is touched by the catastrophic effects of flooding in some areas across Guyana, and feels compelled to make a difference.

Meanwhile, United States oil giant ExxonMobil Guyana has contributed a whopping $10 million to aid the ongoing flood relief efforts across Guyana.

President of ExxonMobil Guyana, Alistair Routledge,

handed over the cheque to Director General Craig on Wednesday.

“The magnitude of this flood and how it continues to affect so many people across Guyana is truly sad to see.

We recognise that there are so many needs at this time, and we are pleased to support the efforts of the Civil Defence Commission in bringing much-needed relief to those affected,” Routledge stated.

ExxonMobil Guyana has supported training for the CDC’s Voluntary Emergency Response Team (VERT), which the CDC Head indicated is instrumental to the agency’s response efforts.

He also pointed to other areas of support over the years, such as the CDC’s oil spill response capabilities, and labelled the company a true partner. (G8)

8 NEWS

THURSDAY, JUNE 3, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

“Good luck!” – Judge tells teen jailed for revenge killing

A

19-year-old labourer has been sentenced to four years’ imprisonment for killing a teenager with whom his brother had

Justice…

had an old grievance.

Richard Harrychand of Supenaam, Essequibo Coast appeared before Justice Navindra Singh at the

A Jailed: Richard Harrychand

Dead: Clive Osbourne

Essequibo High Court on May 18, initially indicted for the capital offence of murder, but he opted on Wednesday to plead guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter. He admitted that on June 2, 2019, in the county of Essequibo, he unlawfully killed 17-year-old Clive Osbourne.

Sentencing for Harrychand has been put off to Wednesday in order to facilitate the presentation of a probation report on him. He was represented by Attorneyat-law Lachmi Dindayal, while State Counsel Tiffini Lyken appeared on behalf of the prosecution.

During his address to the

court, Harrychand admitted to stabbing Osbourne as revenge for his brother. He, however, expressed remorse for his action. “I am truly sorry for the loss,” the confessed killer said.

According to reports, on June 2, 2019, Osborne was with a group of friends at a shop on the Essequibo Coast when a fight broke out between him and Harrychand, during which Harrcychand stabbed him to his head, chest, and abdomen with a knife.

The teen was picked up in an unconscious state and rushed to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival. His cause of death has been given as perforation of the heart due to stab wounds.

In a plea in mitigation, Harrychand’s lawyer told the court Harrychand is “very sorry” for what had happened.

According to defence counsel, the circumstance surrounding Osbourne’s death was a “spur-of-the-moment.”

The lawyer said Harrychand has no prior convictions, and that he cooperated with the Police in all aspects of the investigation.

According to Dindayal, Harrychand is the sole breadwinner for his mother, who is a wheelchair user. “He is a very pivotal part of his family.

He is determined to change, and to be a good person,” said Dindayal, who described Harrychand as a very quiet, honest, and industrious man.

The lawyer also said that Harrychand has been a well-behaved prisoner.

For her part, prosecutor Lyken urged the court to consider the fact that a knife had been used to inflict injuries on the now dead man.

“The accused [Harrychand] action went over and above of what can be described as necessary…,” she noted.

In the end, Justice Singh advised Harrychand to take the various courses offered by the prison. “Make sure when you come out [of prison] you have something better under your belt, education or skillwise. Good luck!” the Judge said to Harrychand before he was taken away to begin serving his sentence.

In calculating an appropriate sentence, Justice Singh started at a base of 30 years, from which he made several deductions for mitigating factors, favourable probation report, early guilty plea, and Harrychand’s “youthfulness”.

(G1)

…for Guyanese voters t long last, it appears that the Guyanese people who cast their votes on March 2 last year so peacefully and with discipline will finally get justice this month, since a motion to fire the chief culprits in GECOM, who sabotaged the counting, was just laid before the Commission. Your Eyewitness, of course, is referring to Lowenfield, Myers and Mingo. They do sound like one of those sleazy ambulance-chasing legal firms, don’t they?!

But surely your Eyewitness doesn’t have to reprieve the litany of subterfuges they pulled in order to carry out the bidding of their PNC masters, does he? How many times do we have to be reminded of all the stunts Mingo committed - aided and abetted by his two supervisors, Lowenfield and Myers?

His faking a heart attack to be rushed to GPHC, so that the Reg 4 SOPs’ tallying would be halted. He reminded your Eyewitness of Red Foxx’s classic running gag on his comedy show “Sanford and Son”. As soon as his character, Fred, finds himself in a fix, he clutches his heart, rolls his eyes heavenwards, and yells to his long-departed wife, “This is the big one! I'm dying! You hear that, Elizabeth!

I'm coming to join you, honey!”

But Mingo’s stunt was anything but funny. It was downright evil. And in all of it, Lowenfield and Myers not only stood mute, but insisted everything was hunky-dory!

In fact, after Mingo was forced by the courts to conduct a second, more transparent tallying at GECOM HQ, the man insisted on using a soiled bedsheet to repeat his cockishness. And his bosses remained mute.

The motion details all the labyrinthine twists and turns these three subjected the nation to - and now it’s all left to the Chairwoman, Claudette Singh. After all, we already know the three PNC and three PPP Commissioners will be cancelling out each other’s votes! Justice Singh has had a long and distinguished career at the bar and bench, and we remind her of the legal Latin phrase her generation were told to hearken to back in law school: “F?at j?stitia ruat cælum” - let justice be done though the heavens fall”! Because, though we all know there will be all sorts of thunder and lightning from the PNC and their troglodytes, the heavens will remain intact because Justice Singh will be upholding justice.

Starting from 1964, when the PNC were given power, they subverted every state institution to illegally remain in power. Burnham knew that once he had so many citizens fill in fake ballots to replace the real ones citizens cast, he’d destroy any chance of Guyanese really using “independence” to free ourselves.

Let’s start anew with these firings! …in choosing Governments Now, while we’re throwing out the miscreants who betrayed the trust conferred on them to perform the most important task for us, the people - choosing our Government - we cannot forget that this is only the beginning. We just can’t replace them with just any old bodies. As Burnham once cynically said, another Rasta will just take their places! We must have a vetting process for the positions in the GECOM Secretariat - not just the top tier.

Let us not forget that one criterion must be adhered to is its ethnic composition. Following up on a complaint, the ERC had determined that there was clear ethnic bias in the Secretariat’s hiring practices. After Granger broke constitutional law and unilaterally hired James Patterson, he went on to not just reject the qualified previous Dep. CEO to be rehired, but maligned his character with no evidence. And went on to hire Myers. And look how that turned out!!

One of the criteria for hiring in the Secretariat must be ethnic equity! …and bail We know the criterion for setting bail is a Magistrate’s judgement call on whether the person charged would show up for court. But, in that judgement, aren’t the nature of the crime and previous convictions factors?

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

NEWS

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THURSDAY, JUNE 3, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Woman on $200,000 bail for ganja in chicken

Jennette Gravesande

A

40-year-old businesswoman was on Wednesday granted $200,000 bail after she was busted with 565 grams of marijuana in frozen chicken.

Jennette Gravesande of Best Village, West

Coast Demerara (WCD), appeared before Magistrate Crystal Lambert at the Bartica Magistrate’s Court charged with possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking.

She pleaded not guilty and was placed on bail. The matter has been postponed to June 23, 2021.

Police had said in a statement that the ganja bust was made on Saturday morning at the 70km Police Checkpoint in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni).

During a routine stop-and-search exercise, a lorry driven by a resident of Cornelia Ida, WCD was stopped by Police Officers. The vehicle was transporting 12 passengers.

A cooler belonging to one of the passengers, a female shop owner, was searched and 11 frozen chickens which contained 11 bulky parcels of marijuana were found.

The shop owner was told of the offence, arrested, and cautioned. According to the Police’s statement, the woman admitted that the illegal drug belonged to her. “Officer, I buy this weed from a girl to go and sell,” she reportedly confessed.

“Is not me thing” – man busted with ganja in haversack

A

23-year-old man is now in Police custody after he was arrested on Tuesday by ranks who unearthed 207 grams of cannabis sativa inside his haversack.

It was reported that about 12:00h, the man had been standing near a shop on the Onderneeming Village, West Bank Demerara (WBD) roadway, when he was arrested.

Police said acting on information, they went to Onderneeming First Bridge, where they saw the male standing on the road near a shop with a green haversack in his possession.

When approached by ranks, he identified himself and stated his address.

“A search of his person was requested, and granted and conducted. Nothing was found on his person, but in the haversack, a bulky transparent plastic wrapped around a black plastic bag containing a quantity of leaves, seeds, and stems suspected to be cannabis and a black plastic bag with 25 small transparent ziplock bags containing a quantity of leaves, seeds, and stems suspected to be cannabis were found,” Police said.

The suspect reportedly denied ownership of the illicit substance, saying “is not me

The ganja that was found in the man’s haversack

thing”.

He was arrested and escorted to Parfaite Harmonie Police Station, where the cannabis was weighed and amounted to 207 grams.

The suspect remains in custody pending charges.

10 NEWS

THURSDAY, JUNE 3, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Intense rainfall/flooding

Miners, loggers warned to take precautions

A

s intense rainfall continues, the Natural Resources Ministry (MNRE) has alerted all miners and loggers to take extreme precaution in the way they operate and use hinterland infrastructure.

This advisory was issued on Wednesday in light of the ongoing intense weather conditions.

The MNRE has said the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission and the Guyana Forestry Commission are cognisant that the present weather conditions would pose great challenges to operators in those sectors, and would impact the natural resources sector and its productivity.

As such, the MNRE is urging all stakeholders to exercise caution in their op-

File photo: A mining pit in Guyana’s interior

erations, and to observe all necessary safety practices in keeping with sustainable logging and mining guidelines, in order to prevent accidents.

While the current weather conditions pose a threat to the natural resources sector, the MNRE has said, it and its agencies remain committed

to developing the sector responsibly, while achieving its targets. Stakeholders in need of technical guidance can make contact with either the

Guyana Geology and Mines Commission or the Guyana Forestry Commission respectively, via telephone numbers 225-2865 and 226-7272.

On Monday, miner Olrick Matthews died after a tree fell into a mining pit in which he was working at the Sandhills Backdam, Cuyuni, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni).

Reports are that the tree was uprooted and fell at about 12:45h during heavy rainfall.

On April 25, Police reported that a man identified only as “Coolie” died following a mining accident at Kuribrong Backdam, Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni).

Based on information received, the now dead man was working in a mining pit when it reportedly caved in, and he was pinned by a fallen tree. Among the mining

deaths that occurred within the past year are that of 20-year-old Clavor Paul.

This miner was killed after the walls of a pit in which he was working at St Elizabeth Backdam, Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) caved in.

The Police have said that at the time of the incident, Paul, of St Ignatius Village in Central Rupununi, was operating a ‘marrock engine’.

Donston John, 59, died in a mining pit at Konawaruk Backdam, Whitewater Mountain, Region Eight after it caved in on him.

And Brazilian miner Cicero Ferreira Pereira, aged 55, was killed after a 200-pound rock crushed him to death while he was working at Puruni Mines in Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni).

NEWS

11

THURSDAY, JUNE 3, 2021| GUYANATIMESGY.COM

May’s COVID-19 death toll climbs to 97 with 5 more fatalities …143 new cases detected …41.9% of Guyana’s adult population vaccinated

T

he COVID-19 death toll for the month of May has gone up to 97 after five more fatalities were reported on Wednesday.

According to the Health Ministry, these new fatalities include a 90-yearold female from Region Three (Essequibo Islands-

and a male from Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) and a female from Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice), both 65 years old – were all recorded on Monday.

The Ministry explained that these patients were admitted with COVID-19-like symptoms and died while receiving care at various medical institutions across the country. It was noted that samples were taken at the time of admission, and the results subsequently returned positive.

With these five new fatalities, the total number of deaths from the pandemic in Guyana is now 396. Only on Tuesday, two other fatalities were reported. May became the deadliest month since the outbreak of the novel coronavirus here last year after surpassing April’s 66 COVID-19 deaths.

New cases

West Demerara), who died on May 21. The other four deaths – a 54-yearold female and a 68-yearold male, both from Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni),

Meanwhile, the Health Ministry also reported on Wednesday that another 143 persons have tested positive for COVID-19.

This, according to the updated COVID-19 dashboard, now takes the total number of COVID-19 cases in Guyana to 17,257.

However, only 1834 of these are active cases.

These include 19 patients in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and 1815 persons in isolation – 97 in institutional isolation and 1718 in home isolation.

Additionally, there are four persons in institutional quarantine.

On the other hand, the number of persons who have recovered from the life-threatening disease to date has gone up to 15,027 – some 148 more recoveries than the figure reported the previous day.

So far, the total number of persons who have been tested for the novel coronavirus in Guyana is 156,180, of which 8537 males and 8720 females were found to be positive.

Of the 143 new cases reported on Wednesday, three are from Region One (Barima-Waini), 11 from Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam), 12 from Region Three, a whopping 50 cases from Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica), four from Region Five (MahaicaBerbice), 13 from Region Six, three cases from Region Seven, 28 from Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper

Essequibo) and 19 cases from Region 10.

There were no new cases reported in Region Eight in the past 24 hours, according to Wednesday’s dashboard.

More persons taking vaccines The Guyana Government launched its COVID-19 vaccination exercise back in February and is aggressively rolling it out in the various regions in order to achieve herd immunity. Only earlier this week, the vaccination campaign reached the milestone of immunising some 200,000 persons with their first jab.

In an update on the COVID-19 situation in the country, Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony on Wednesday disclosed that more people were turning up to get inoculated thus taking Guyana closer to achieving herd immunity, which will decrease the possibility of persons being infected with

Taxi driver robbed at knifepoint by ‘passengers’

A

30-year-old taxi driver was robbed of his Samsung Note 9 cellular phone worth $200,000, a gold chain, one gold ring, one diamond ring and $405,000 by two men who entered his vehicle at the Giftland Mall, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown posing as passengers.

Police said on Tuesday about 21:00h, the taxi driv-

er had been dispatched to the Giftland Mall, to collect a passenger.

Upon his arrival, he picked up two males who requested to be taken to Beterverwagting, East Coast Demerara (ECD).

However, in the vicinity of Masjid Road, Vryheids Lust, ECD, the male seated in the back seat of the motor car, placed a knife to the victim’s

neck, while the male seated in the front passenger seat relieved him of his valuables.

They then made good their escape.

Subsequently, the taxi driver alerted persons in the area and a search was conducted by public-spirited citizens of Le Ressouvenir, ECD, who caught an 18-year-old suspect and handed him over to the Police.

A search of the suspect unearthed a knife, clothing, and duct tape. He also had injuries to the left side of his head.

The suspect was arrested and escorted to the Sparendaam Police Station and then to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where he was treated. He is in Police custody as investigations continue. (G9)

COVID-19. To achieve herd immunity, close to 500,000 individuals in the country must be vaccinated.

As of Tuesday, 203,847 persons had received their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. This represents 41.9 per cent of the country’s adult population. When it comes to those who are fully immunised, the number stands at 70,778 or 14.5 per cent of persons 18 years and older.

A further breakdown of these figures shows that some 70.5 per cent of persons 60 years and above have received their first jab.

First doses were also administered to 38.3 per cent of persons in the 40-49 age group and to 33.7 per cent of those in the 18-39 age category.

“So, the numbers are going up, but we still have a lot of work to do,” the Minister noted.

In fact, Dr Anthony pointed out that while the overall vaccination figures were increasing, some regions were still lagging. This is

the case with the Upper DemeraraBerbice region.

“Region 10 continues to be an outlier in terms of not getting enough people vaccinated, so we still have Region 10 lagging.

They’re just a little bit above 10 per cent whereas the national average is closer to mid-40s and that’s for the first dose vaccines. So, there is still a long way to go with Region 10 and we have to keep pressing and continuing the work there,” Minister Anthony noted.

Meanwhile, as more people continue to get vaccinated, the Health Minister is 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 (10:30pm) to 04:00h (4am) national curfew.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), as of Sunday, some 170,812,850 confirmed cases were reported globally along with 3,557,586 deaths.

WHO also reported on Sunday that in the Region of the Americas, that is, Latin America and the Caribbean, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases has increased to 67,594,259 while the death toll has gone up to 1,656,049. (G8)

12 NEWS

THURSDAY, JUNE 3, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Floodwaters receding slowly in Region 2 …cattle, other livestock severely affected

Regional stakeholders meeting at the Region Two RDC boardroom to discuss challenges farmers and residents are facing

A

dministrative officials of Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) have said that works are ongoing to alleviate flooding in the region, which has been caused by persistent rainfall and high tides.

Examinations conducted at several pump stations, including at Taymouth Manor, Anna Regina, Devonshire Castle and Charity, have found all pumps operable.

According to regional officials, Region Two has 20

pumps, and all are operable. Four of those pumps were recently repaired by the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA).

Region 2 Executive Officer Devanand Ramdatt has since said that money has been approved to purchase more fuel to enable the pumps to continue working while the flooding continues in the region.

He had requested $6.7M from the Finance Ministry for the purchase of fuel, and that request has been approved.

Ramdatt has said that, currently, several mini excavators are assisting to execute drainage and irrigation works along the Essequibo Coast.

Several communities along that Coast have experienced flooding due to heavy rainfall and, in some cases, extreme high tides. This has resulted in accumulations of some four to five feet of water in some communities, especially at Karawab, Kabakaburi and in the Pomeroon.

This newspaper has been told by Regional Vice Chairman Humace Oodit that communities in the Pomeroon River remain under water, but the water is receding slowly. Several regional officials revisited the area on Wednesday to conduct further assessments of the situation.

Losses

This newspaper has been told that livestock farmers in the Pomeroon are counting their losses. Many farmers

parents keep their children indoors, and prevent them from getting into contact with the contaminated floodwaters.

Challenges

A Pomeroon farmer standing in waist-high in water on his farm

had invested millions of dollars in livestock, but several have had their investments affected by the floodwaters.

Farmers most affected are at Jacklow, Upper Pomeroon River.

Additionally, over 100 head of cattle and 200 sheep have contracted sickness in the stagnant water, while a large-scale poultry farmer with over 2000 meat birds has been adversely affected.

“As for me, it is heart-touching to see farmers grieving for their losses…

Pomeroon farmlands under water

Relief supplies hampers being taken to flood-affected Region Two communities

many farmers invested millions of dollars on their farms, and were excited to see them bloom, and now that the rain is pouring heavily in the country while the high tide steps in, it covers their entire farmland, leaving tall coconut trees alone standing.

“It is a difficult time for me as well, my farm is also inundated…I lost my crops, even some small coconut trees toppled as the soil washed away,” Regional Chairperson Vilma De Silva told this publication.

Flood relief

Meanwhile, the Region Two Flood Relief Committee, in collaboration with the Regional Democratic Council, continues to distribute food hampers to residents in Pomeroon. They have managed to distribute 1650 relief hampers to residents in affected areas.

According to REO Ramdatt, efforts have been made to bring food hampers and cleaning detergents to scores of families within the affected areas. He said ham-

On Monday, the Region Two administration held a meeting with Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) overseers, village councillors and major stakeholders to discuss challenges farmers and residents are facing with the existing weather conditions in the region.

Speaking at that meeting, Toshao Monty Simon of Kabakaburi related that more than 150 persons residing in the community are severely affected. He said the water has receded, but ris-

pers have been donated to families in all Amerindian communities, including Pomeroon, Kabakaburi, Mainstay, Bethany and Karawab. Additionally, over 300 hampers have been donated to residents of Charity Squatting Area.

Medical facilities

Regional Health Officer (RHO) Dr Ranjeev Singh is currently on a three-day visit to communities in the Pomeroon River, where he is conducting a health assessment of flood-affected communities to assess the situation and provide treatment to needy residents.

Dr Singh disclosed that health officials would be in several Amerindian communities to educate affected residents on proper sanitation, how to conduct foot baths, and also how to treat water. He said this would aid in eliminating water-borne diseases. He also said medical outreaches are conducted so that ointments can be given to persons if they have rashes etc.

He, however, has asked that

es at different periods, due to high tides. Further, the koker in the village is not operable, and lands remain under water.

The regional administration has decided to assist affected communities by donating tubes for the building of defence dams, besides cutlasses, hoes and other necessities to several farmers.

Moreover, an environmental health team would be dispatched to the affected communities to educate persons on the effect of the floods on their health and to monitor residents’ health.

Meanwhile, the Guyana Livestock Development Authority has revealed that a team was out in the field to gather firsthand information. Based on reports, from West Berry to Pomeroon, parts of Bounty Hall, New Road and Charity have been flooded, while from Henrietta to Dartmouth and parts of Richmond, Lima Sands and Hampton Court have also been affected. However, the floodwater receded as a result of operable pump stations.

Regional Chairperson Vilma De Silva has said that flooding has a negative economic impact on farmers’ lives, and a team will work diligently to assist residents and farmers to maintain and clean blocked access drains.

She said the region would work more collectively towards development, and, as such, would ensure that people are not further affected.

“Economic spin-off benefits every Essequibian…so let us work together and ensure that the region looks good and residents are comfortable,” De Silva has said.

13 Floods continue to wreak havoc as heavy rainfall persists countrywide NEWS

THURSDAY, JUNE 3, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

CDC Director Kester Craig at the presser

H

eavy rainfall persists countrywide, and almost all administrative regions continue to be severely affected by intense flooding.

The Civil Defence Commission (CDC), in providing an update on the situation during a press conference on Wednesday, revealed that floods have worsened in Region Ten (Upper Demerara-Berbice), and several houses are now completely under water in Kwakwani.

The Civil Defence Commission has, within the last 15 days, deployed several teams countrywide to conduct rapid assessments of the flooding in various administrative regions. Director General of the Civil Defence Commission, Lieutenant Colonel Kester Craig, has said the assessments were done in collaboration with various agencies, including the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority, the Agriculture Ministry, and the Regional Democratic Councils.

“The assessment revealed that areas remain inundated even when the tides are at (their) lowest, and lands could not drain efficiently

in some parts of the country.

However, in many areas, the flooding persisted.

It has been reported that in Region One, all three subdistricts are affected; while in Region Three, flooding exists in a number of communities.

“A pump was deployed to Parika, and two irrigators are to be installed at the De Kendren sluice to assist the Tuschen-Uitvlugt NDC”, Craig explained.

There is no major flooding in Region Four, he explained.

However, in Region Five,

Floodwaters remain high in Kwakwani, Region 10

in Wismar, but remain extremely high at Rockstone, Kwakwani and Arima. Food hampers and cleaning supplies are dispatched and distributed, and three shelters have since been established,” he detailed.

Kwakwani residents have recently had to evacuate their homes amid widespread flooding. The Kwakwani Primary School is now serving as a

since many were within basins…. In many instances, poor drainage caused by lack of maintenance damaged infrastructure and (aggravated) the situation. Residents in farming communities have reported loss of crops and livestock,” he said.

Colonel Craig explained that through collaborative efforts, several pieces of equipment were deployed to conduct remedial works, such as the clearing of drains and outfalls, which significantly helped to abate the flooding

the Mahaicony and Mahaica rivers are above normal levels, causing flooding. In Region Six, there is flooding in every area, except Skeldon.

In Region 7 there is no flooding in Bartica, but riverine areas are affected.

Region Eight remains flooded, while Region Nine has seen a decrease in water levels. Region Ten has been hardest hit by the flooding, he explained.

“In Region 10, water receded in Mackenzie and

temporary shelter for persons displaced by the floods. It has been reported that mattresses from the Students’ Hostel and other supplies have recently been taken to the location to assist residents.

Colonel Craig added that other shelters have been set up across the country to cater to persons who have been affected by the flood. He said those shelters would remain

in place until persons can return to their homes.

The CDC Director added that, in total, there are about 10,000 households that have been affected by the countrywide flooding.

According to the weather forecast, heavy rainfall is expected to continue throughout the week, and residents are encouraged to take all precautionary actions.

14 NEWS

THURSDAY, JUNE 3, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Cosmetologist’s murder

Cousin recalls gunman fleeing with cell phones after shooting her

Dead: Ashmini Hariram

F

eroma Samwaroo, who witnessed the gunning down of her 19-year-old cousin Ashmini Hariram, has told a jury that the person who shot Hariram escaped with her cell phones in a waiting motorcar.

Samwaroo testified on Monday in the trial of Lennox Wayne, who is accused of murdering the teenager on July 10, 2014 in the county of Demerara.

Upon his arraignment before Justice Sandil Kissoon, Wayne, called ‘Two Colour’, pleaded not guilty to the murder charge. He is being represented by Attorneyat-law Nigel Hughes, while State Counsels Lisa Cave and Mohammed Ali are appearing for the prosecution.

According to reports, Hariram, a cosmetologist of Lusignan, East Coast Demerara, was shot and killed just after she and her cousin disembarked a minibus in that communi-

ty. It was reported that a man emerged from a motorcar and, at close range, shot Hariram to the right side of her head before re-entering the motor car, which sped off.

Media reports are that Wayne gave Police oral statements detailing his role in Hariram’s execution. On September 8, 2014, Wayne was charged with the teenager’s murder, and was remanded to prison.

Led into evidence by the prosecutors, Samwaroo told the 12-member jury that, on the day in question, she and her cousin had left home to pay bills. She recounted that she and Hariram took a minibus to Georgetown, where they made a stop on Main Street, Georgetown to pay some more bills.

According to the witness, thereafter, she and her cousin went in the vicinity of the Guyana Post Office Corporation to purchase “bleaching powder”.

They then boarded a Route 44 minibus and headed for Lusignan.

Samwaroo recalled, “While going home, we stopped on the Lusignan Railway, the golf road, and walked in. While walking in, she [Hariram] was going and buy something, and she didn’t have enough money, so I had to give her some money. I went into my bag for the money.

“While I was in the bag taking out the money, someone was in front of her already. When the person was in front of her and I gave her the money…they shot

shoot!” that he realised that his neighbour had been shot. “…I saw a six-footer guy enter the left passenger side of a burgundy vehicle. He had a silver object in his hand…I assume it was a pistol because of the explosive sound. After he enter the vehicle, I ran to my family and scramble them and get them in the home,” the witness re-

called.

Singh said the six-footer guy had on jeans and a cap.

He recalled that when he saw Hariram, she was panting for breath and frothing.

“There was a wound on her neck. We placed her inside a bedsheet and placed her in the car and took her to the hospital,” he added.

Asked by Hughes if he

had seen the face of the six-footer man, Singh replied, “I didn’t see he face.

It was just a small glance.

I wasn’t paying attention there, because I was doing my work.”

This trial is continuing at the High Court in Demerara. The prosecution has already called more than 10 witnesses.

7 injured as car plunges into trench …driver swerved to avoid hitting cows

Murder accused Lennox Wayne, called “Two Colour”

her and she fell. The person took away her cell phones. I started screaming, and the neighbours came out.”

Asked by prosecutor Cave if she had seen the person who shot her relative, Samwaroo replied in the negative, adding that neither did she see the direction in which the car had sped off.

Under cross-examination by defence counsel, the witness said she attended an identification parade concerning this matter, but did not point out anyone.

Meanwhile, Hariram’s neighbour Terry Singh said that on July 10, 2014, at around 11:00h, he was in his yard “doing some gardening and cleaning” when he heard a loud explosion.

Singh said that at first instance he thought that a motorcycle wheel had exploded. But it was not until he heard a relative shouting, “Oh God! Look, Munisha get

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even persons were injured on Wednesday morning in a vehicle accident on the Edingburgh Public Road in East Bank Berbice.

Those injured are the vehicle driver Sabitree Seecharan of Glasgow Housing Scheme, and occupants of the car: Jerreau Charles, who was seated in the front passenger seat; Anthony Santos, Martin Sookie, Anil Lowe, Nichlos Richards, Felicia Reynolds and Shavina Davis.

Police have said the car was proceeding north along the western drive lane at a fast rate of speed when the driver alleged seeing two cows walking across the road.

She applied brakes and swerved west, and in so doing lost control of the vehicle, which ended up in a trench.

As a result, the driver and all the occupants received injuries about their bodies, and the car was also damaged.

They were all taken out of the vehicle in a conscious condition by public-spirited citizens and taken to New Amsterdam Public Hospital, where the driver was treated and sent

The car that was involved in the accident

away, while the five male occupants were admitted for observation in the Accident and Emergency Department, suffering from minor cuts and bruises about their bodies.

The two female occupants were admitted to the female surgical ward, suffering from head injuries and bruises about their bod-

ies. The condition of each is regarded as stable.

A statement was taken from the driver, and a breathalyzer test conducted on her read zero.

An original notice of intended prosecution has been served on the driver, who was arrested and is presently in custody assisting with the investigation.

NEWS

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THURSDAY, JUNE 3, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Hope Wind Farm

Environmental Impact Assessment submitted to EPA

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n Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the Hope Wind Farm project has been submitted to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that promises, among other things, to save Guyana US$10 million in Heavy Fuel Oil (HFO) imports annually.

According to the base case scenario in the EIA Hope Energy Development (HED) submitted, the proposed Wind Farm hopes to produce a total of 25.2 megawatts (MW) of power, with six wind turbines at 4.2-MW capacity being built along Hope Beach from Hope to Anns Grove on the East Coast of Demerara and in the Chapman Grove area respectively.

HED claimed in the EIA that the project would re-

sult in a “10 per cent reduction in GPL’s fuel oil generation requirement and 10 per cent reduction in pollutants emitted by Georgetown-located HFO generators (and impact to the city population) and 10 per cent reduction in (greenhouse gases) emitted which is a significant step towards Guyana’s Paris Agreement commitments.”

It also noted that the project would have significant impact on the economy: “long-term low-cost power for GPL, substantial local ownership of the assets with long-term project revenues remaining in Guyana and reduction in foreign exchange losses for fuel imports by over US$10 million per year”.

HED also noted in the EIA that the project

would bring both temporary (during the construction phase) and permanent (during operation) employment opportunities, and skills training for local residents.

The project is intended to sit on land for which the company has a 50-year lease dating from 2007.

According to the EPA in a notice, members of the public are invited to review the EIA and make written submissions on the project within 60 days.

Inherited project

The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government had inherited the Hope Wind Farm project, which the ousted A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government

A site drawing for the proposed project

had cited as part of the green economy plan.

But despite HED’s claim of being able to produce almost 26MW of power, it

3 to face Judge, jury on Monday for accountant’s murder

Murder accused: Clifton Gibson and Linton Eastman

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ome Monday, Clifton Gibson, Linton Eastman and Stancey Rodney will go on trial for the June 17, 2015 murder of Jason Cort, the 27-year-old Rubis accountant who was shot dead by bandits shortly after entering his home.

Gibson, Eastman, and Rodney were arraigned before Justice Sandil Kissoon on Wednesday at the High

Court in Demerara. The trio pleaded not guilty to the murder indictment presented against them by State Prosecutors Lisa Cave and Mohammed Ali. Attorneys-at-law George Thomas, Melvin Duke, and Glen Hanoman are appearing for the defence. The prosecution is expected to call more than 12 witnesses when the trial commences

Murder accused: Stancey Rodney

on Monday.

Cort, a senior employee at Rubis Guyana Inc, was gunned down at his Lot 262 Jamoon Drive, Meadowbrook home in Georgetown. He was fatally shot to his chest after entering his home with his fiancée, Shauna Garraway. He was pronounced dead on arrival at a private city hospital.

Dead: Jason Cort

Several persons had related that upon hearing a loud explosion and looking outside, they observed persons scaling the fence of Cort’s home and making good their escape up the road.

Following the shooting, the three men were arrested and charged with the capital offence. (G1)

was revealed by the Public Works Ministry last year that the wind farm could actually only produce under 10MW of power.

This was communicated by the Ministry in response to questions posed

by Guyana Times. The project was originally marketed and touted by the previous APNU/AFC Government as being capable of producing 26MW of power. But according to the Ministry, an assessment has shown that the project’s capacity is significantly less.

“During the period 20132015, the project generation configuration was proposed at 26MW. However, in 2016, the Ministry of Public Infrastructure determined to seek independent technical and financial guidance to support the Ministry and GPL (Guyana Power and Light) in the assessment of the project and in its engagements with the developer,” the Ministry said in a statement to this publication.

It added that it was determined “that due to potential negative environmental impacts (housing and other developments

within the proposed project area over time), the capacity of the project was constrained to less than 10MW”.

While there had been talk of a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) between the Government and the developers, things have not progressed past that stage.

In fact, the Ministry pointed out that the last engagement between the Ministry and the Hope Wind Farm developers was in 2018.

According to the Ministry, it is important that the developer obtains environmental authorisation for the engagements on the project to go forward.

This would serve to confirm the scope of the project.

While not as stable as hydropower, wind energy generated by turbines is a form of renewable energy. But the Hope Beach Wind Farm project, at less than 10MW, can supply only a fraction of what the proposed Amaila Falls Hydro Project (AFHP), at 165MW, could have supplied. Amaila Falls Hydro Project was shelved by the previous APNU/AFC Government.

16 NEWS

THURSDAY, JUNE 3, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Taxis, minibuses operating in front of DHB to be relocated …move aimed at reducing traffic congestion – Minister

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ublic Works Minister Juan Edghill met with minibus and taxi operators who ply their trade at the Demerara Harbour Bridge (DHB) on the tarmac at Peters’ Hall, East Bank Demerara (EBD) on Wednesday.

During the meeting, Edghill explained to the operators that they would have to be relocated to minimise traffic congestion and to allow emergency vehicles easier access to the Harbour Bridge.

Edghill stated that he preferred to speak with the operators rather than implement

The area where the buses and taxis began operating from on Wednesday

Labourer stabbed with broken bottle during row

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25-year-old labourer was stabbed multiple times about his body with a broken bottle during a row on Tuesday at the Kumaka Waterfront, Mabaruma, North West District (NWD), Region One (Barima-Waini).

Eon Bovell, of Mabaruma, was stabbed about 22:30h on Tuesday.

Police said Bovell was at a public place imbibing when the suspect approached him and an argument ensued.

The suspect then broke a Guinness bottle and dealt Bovell several stabs about his body before making good

his escape.

The labourer was rushed to the Mabaruma Regional Hospital, where he was examined by a doctor on duty, treated, and later sent

away.

A report was made at the Mabaruma Police Station; however, the suspect has not yet been arrested.

Investigations are ongoing.

policies that would put them out of business.

It has been proposed that the bus drivers relocate to the parking lot opposite the DHB Head Office on the northern side of the Bridge, while the taxi drivers operate from the street before the Harbour Bridge, near the overpass.

One of the drivers informed the Minister that he was concerned that when they are repositioned, passengers may be unable to locate them. In response, Edghill assured the drivers that a notice would be disseminated to commuters.

Further, he reassured the operators that commuters would find them wherever they are relocated and the changes were absolutely necessary at this time.

He told the operators that the necessary infrastructure would be put in place to make the service comfortable. This would include asphalt paving of the locations, adequate lighting, and proper drainage.

“The issue is making a smooth transition. We want to ensure that economic activity continues,” the Minister said.

When Guyana Times visited the area on Wednesday afternoon, there were mixed reactions to the decision to relocate them.

“Awe feel pleased for coming and park here so, the

Some of the drivers who met with Public Works Minister Juan Edghill

Minister give we okay to park in the street here and I accept this here right now,” one driver said.

“I feel bad in a kind of way because here is tough for busmen, I working bus ‘bout eight years now, but I do it part time. I see this as way where people got to depend, they got their family, they got rent and all them things to pay. And we looking for some sort of betterment, because this here is pressure on we because if you use to take home $4000, you taking home $2000 now, and that can’t maintain you and your family, is hard on you, is like a couple morning now they move we,” another driver contended.

Others noted that they were not pleased but would

comply with the decision.

“Well, in connection the parking area [to] that we discussed this morning [Wednesday], the taxi drivers are not so pleased about it, but still, we will try to make use of whatever we have here,” another driver said. “A next thing, we have a lot of buses coming in front the hire car park that we have discussed and if you notice, you have some over there, you have some bus over here, the Minister and the Demerara Harbour Bridge manager said that the buses supposed to be at the back and they’re at the front, and constantly, we are getting the same problem. I am not fully agreeing with what the Minister said, but like I said, we have to make much of what we have.”

NGSA students can write mock exams at home

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ducation Minister Priya Manickchand has, over the past few days, met with Grade Six teachers and parents of Grade Six students from the 11 education districts (Regions 1 to 10 and Georgetown) regarding the writing of the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) 2021.

The Education Ministry on Wednesday said engagements were done via separate Zoom meetings, and told of what the Ministry has done and how their children would be assisted to write the NGSA on August 4th and 5th, 2021 and the mock examinations to be held on June 9th and 10th and in July 2021.

The first mock examination will be treated as a practice examination for students, and a diagnostic examination for teachers who have not seen their children for over a

year.

The students have the option of writing the first mock examination in school under strict COVID-19 protocols, or have the examination papers uplifted from their respective schools, completed at home, and returned to the school to be marked by the teacher.

Additionally, a parent can decide that their child would not write this examination at all.

Considering the national situation regarding major flooding in the regions, the examination can also be written on other dates, but as close as possible to the scheduled dates.

The Ministry is also working on a solution that would allow students to take the paper one aspect of the mock examinations online using a platform provided by the Education Ministry.

The Ministry of Education is hoping that the second mock examination could be held in schools under strict examination guidelines in order to provide all students with the examination experience before sitting the NGSA in August in their respective schools.

Parents and teachers have also been told that it is not mandatory for students to be dressed in their school uniform when writing the mock examinations and the NGSA. However, students must be appropriately dressed, and there must be no writing printed on their clothing.

Over the coming days, each student would receive a Care Package containing face masks, vitamin support, hand sanitizer, and stationery items to be used when writing their two-day examination.

Teachers would also receive a Care Package containing face masks, face shield, vitamin support and hand sanitizer.

During the meetings, Minister Manickchand also encouraged parents and teachers to get vaccinated so that they can protect themselves and their loved ones from the effects of COVID-19.

She said the more Guyanese that are vaccinated, the sooner the country can return to some form of normalcy.

NEWS

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THURSDAY, JUNE 3, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Corentyne rice farmers worried about crop as others count losses

The water in the rice fields at Number 56 Village

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ome Corentyne rice farmers (Region Six: East BerbiceCorentyne) are worried that they may not be able to go back into the crop as a result of the extensive flooding.

Apart from rice farmers, cash crop farmers have suffered total losses as a result of floodwaters which have affected every village on the Corentyne Coast. In the #52-74 area, considered the front lands of the Black Bush Polder, 14,000 acres of rice fields exist.

Unseasonal rainfall in March and April affected early harvesting, and an abundance of seasonal rainfall in May has severely im-

pacted harvesting in that area, as many dams used to transport harvested paddy from the fields have become inaccessible.

Over 95 percent of the rice crop has, however, been harvested, but the yield for the last 10 percent harvested has been poor because of inundation of the fields.

Already, 15 farmers have gone back into the crop, cultivating 9,000 acres.

However, Rice Producers Association (RPA) Extension Officer Ramlakhan Singh has said that if the necessary steps are not taken urgently, those farmers would lose what they have already planted. The rice is under

one foot of water, and according to Singh, it looks as if all the plants would die.

He is also of the opinion that many farmers would not be able to go back into the crop because, by the time the water is eventually drained off of the land, it would be too late in the year to cultivate rice.

Singh noted that if farmers plant too late, they would not have enough time to harvest before the next rainy season commences.

Singh, who cultivated 65,000 acres of rice, believes the water is coming through the Manarabisi Pump Station which takes water from the Canje River for irri-

gation purposes in the Black Bush Polder and the front lands along the Corentyne Coast.

The water from the Canje River has forced the doors of the Pump Station open, allowing water to get into the cultivation area.

“If we don’t close the siphon doors of the Manarabisi Pump and seal the entire intake that takes water to the rice fields, which is about twelve boxes, we will end up with huge water, and we may not be able to plant,” he explained.

Meanwhile, cash crop farmers in the area are also suffering, having lost all.

Tottaram Dass, who cultivates several vegetables, including tomatoes, told this publication that rain had been falling on a daily basis, and as a result he has lost all that he had planted.

“Seven hundred roots of pepper, all damaged! The root get soft and they rotten!”

Apart from this, Dass noted, 1100 tomato plants which were bearing have also died as a result of the

Cash crop farmer Tottaram Dass

persistent rainfall.

However, he noted that he has been able to harvest some vegetables before the plants died.

“Everything bear, but we ent get to pick all,” he added.

Dass estimates his losses in terms of the vegetables which were ready to be harvested at $100,000.

Nevertheless, he said, wholesalers have been offering premium prices to farmers.

According to some farm-

Rice farmer Ramlakhan Singh

ers, wholesalers are now paying $700 for a bag of eggplant. At the Port Mourant market, the vegetable is being sold wholesale at $10,000 per bag.

Meanwhile, at the New Amsterdam Market, boulangers are being retailed at $100 each. Vendors note that the price have doubled since the flood.

At the same market, ochro was being retailed at $200 per pound, and three weeks ago, the price was $100 per pound. (Andrew Carmichael)

Army rebuilds bridge at Meten-Meer-Zorg

The heavy-duty bridge built by the Army’s Engineer Corps

The commissioning of the heavy-duty bridge at Meten-Meer-Zorg

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anks of the Guyana Defence Force’s (GDF’s) 4 Engineers Battalion have constructed a heavy-duty bridge at PremNagar, Meten-MeerZorg, West Coast Demerara.

This is another project in a series of similar works to be executed countrywide as part of the Government’s community-based initiative.

It will see the Force becoming more community oriented in its service to Guyana.

Replacing the old timber structure which had served the community for many decades, the new bridge is a composite material structure comprising steel, I-section beams and concrete decking.

The bridge was officially handed over to residents during a simple commission-

ing ceremony on Tuesday.

Construction of the bridge commenced on January 29, 2021 and concluded on April 30, 2021.

Local Government and Regional Development Minister Nigel Dharamlall, who attended the commissioning ceremony, has said he is pleased with the work of the soldiers.

“I am pleased with the work done by the GDF, and I’m happy with the initiative taken by the President to collaborate efforts. The GDF does indeed have many talents and skills, and I’m also grateful that they were able to complete the construction in a timely manner and at seventy percent of the original cost,” he said.

The Minister also remarked that he is looking

forward to having more engagements with the GDF in the development of communities countrywide.

Meanwhile, Government Projects Engineer, Brigadier (ret’d) Gary Beaton, expressed thanks to the President and Commander in Chief, Dr. Irfaan Ali, for the increased exposure being granted to the ranks of the 4 Engineers Battalion.

He noted that the project denotes a sense of fulfilment and duty.

Brigadier (ret’d) Beaton also expressed thanks to the Regional Democratic Council for accommodating the ranks.

The new bridge was welcomed by residents of the Meten-Meer-Zorg community.

One such person, Rajdai

Indar, expressed gratitude for the work done.

“I am happy for the new bridge, cause the old one was in a terrible state for a very long time. I am pleased!” she said.

Similar sentiments were shared by Mahadeo Shivpersaud, another resident of the area. He was most satisfied with the fact that it is now much safer for fellow members of the community and, more specifically, vehicles to now manoeuvre safely across the bridge.

Further, Awad Williams, who has been resident in the community for over 63 years, related the terrible condition of the old bridge, and thanked the Government and the Force for the work done to make it new.

It has been noted that the total value of the bridge has saved Government some 30 per cent of actual cost, had the project gone to tender.

The teams working on these projects are exclusive-

ly members of the GDF, and are skilled personnel who are qualified in the field and have successfully completed several engineering projects both within the Force and in several parts of the country.

The Engineering Corps’ heightened role in national development through infrastructure projects across the country falls in line with President Ali’s vision for a more community-oriented

military.

The Commander in Chief is adamant in this vision as he seeks to sensitise communities of the developmental role that the military could play. This will also reinforce confidence in the armed forces.

According to the President, the GDF will play a critical role in the country’s infrastructure transformation.

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guyanatimesgy.com

THURSDAY, JUNE 3, 2021

Regional

Guatemalan President Brazil’s Supreme Court authorises criminal probe into Environment Minister says graft fighter biased,

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Brazilian Supreme Court Judge has authorised a criminal investigation into allegations that Environment Minister Ricardo Salles obstructed a Police probe into illegal logging, according to a document seen by Reuters on Wednesday.

The decision by Judge Carmen Lucia came in response to a request by Brazil’s top Prosecutor, known as the PGR. It comes as President Jair Bolsonaro’s Government is also facing criticism over high COVID-19 death and case numbers.

A representative for Salles denied all wrongdo-

Brazilian Environment Minister Ricardo Salles speaks during a news conference after a virtual global climate summit in Brasilia, Brazil, April 22, 2021

ing.

“The investigation will demonstrate that there is no, and there never was, any crime,” the representative said in a statement.

Salles has been leading US-Brazil talks over funding to protect the Amazon jungle, the world’s largest rainforest, which is under threat from logging and fires. Last month, Police searched properties connected to Salles and other officials in a probe of allegations they allowed illegal exports of timber from the Amazon region to the United States and Europe.

On Tuesday, the PGR asked the Supreme Court for authorisation to investi-

gate Salles on suspicion of administrative crimes, for allegedly hindering both environmental inspections and investigation of organised crime.

A growing chorus of environmental advocates and sustainability-focused investors have demanded that Salles be removed as Minister for his efforts to roll back environmental protections in the country.

Last year, a video of a Cabinet meeting showed Salles saying the Government should loosen environmental regulations while the public was distracted by COVID-19.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Prime Minister Mitchell, who has in the past served on the CDB Board of Governors, said from his experience, the Region's premier financial institution tends to be too bureaucratic and when dealing with the bureaucracies of regional Governments, this compounds the problem.

Mitchell said Grenada has been seeking the Bank's support for an assessment of hazards across the country for many years, particularly as it relates to loosened boulders rolling down from hillsides and posing a threat to

motorists and others.

“If those who sit at the top do not change the structure and demand accountability, it may not happen.

I don't think we challenge ourselves enough in terms of addressing the bureaucracy. We are too settled in our own comfort zones while there are many people suffering, waiting for us to create opportunities that can help them. I, therefore, challenge the Bank to act more aggressively in delivering on its mandate.” (Excerpt from CMC)

Grenada PM wants CDB to be more aggressive in assisting regional countries

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renada's Prime Minister, Dr Keith Mitchell, has challenged the Barbados-based Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) to be more aggressive in its approach to helping borrowing member countries (BMC) address developmental challenges.

“These are tough times for the Region, and the CDB and its personnel have to become even more innovative in serving Member States,” Mitchell told newly-appointed CDB President, Dr Hyginus “Gene” Leon,

during an introductory virtual call on Tuesday.

“It cannot be business as usual in this time of crisis.

The pandemic has created enormous challenges, but it has also opened up immense opportunities and we must find a way to harness these for the benefit of the Region's development,” Mitchell said.

Mitchell, during the call with Leon and senior CDB members, addressed several critical issues, calling for more innovation in the execution of the CDB's mandate.

Nicaraguan Police raid home of Opposition presidential hopeful

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icaraguan Police have raided the home of Opposition Leader and potential presidential candidate Cristiana Chamorro, escalating a political battle ahead of elections later this year.

Her brother, Carlos Fernando Chamorro, director of the independent news outlet Confidencial, confirmed Wednesday’s raid on Twitter and said his sister had been ordered detained.

Social media and local television broadcast live images of Police entering and surrounding Chamorro’s home in Managua, the capital. Officers could be seen using force to eject Journalists who had arrived to cover the

scene.

Nicaraguan Prosecutors sought Chamorro’s arrest for money laundering and other crimes, including a lesser citation for misrepresentation, earlier this week.

The 67-year-old Journalist, who does not belong to a political party, is regarded as a serious challenger to President Daniel Ortega in November presidential elections, though he has not confirmed he will seek a fourth term.

A Judge in the capital Managua put out the arrest order, acceding to a request from the Attorney General, a statement from judicial authorities said.

The attorney general

Cristiana Chamorro, who is seeking to challenge long-time President Daniel Ortega in elections in November, arrives at the Nicaragua Attorney General of the Republic office after the Government announced a money-laundering investigation against her, in Managua, Nicaragua, on May 21 [Carlos Herrera/ Reuters file photo]

also on Tuesday formally sought Chamorro’s disqualification from holding public office due to the criminal investigation launched against her.

Chamorro denies the charges, calling them a

“farce” that aims to prevent her from seeking the presidency. Neither Chamorro nor her representatives could immediately be reached for comment by the Reuters news agency.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

this past Friday the application for habeas corpus will be heard in open court on Wednesday and that “there shall be no publication or discussion or notification of the press regarding this matter without leave and/or permission of the court”.

Choksi, 62, was granted Antigua & Barbuda citizenship four years ago under the island’s Citizenship

by Investment Programme (CBI).

He is wanted by the Indian judicial authorities for criminal conspiracy, criminal breach of trust, cheating and dishonesty, including delivery of property, corruption and money laundering.

Indian authorities want him extradited to face the charges which he denies.

(CMC)

Dominican Judge orders Antigua & Barbuda citizen to appear on illegal entry charges

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igh Court Judge Bernie StephensonBrooks ordered Indiaborn Antigua & Barbuda citizen Mehul Choksi to appear in court on Wednesday, as she began hearing arguments regarding his illegal entry last month into Dominica.

Choksi, who has been detained at the DominicaFriendship hospital, was not in court at the start of the

hearing of the habeas corpus filed by his Attorneys.

But the Judge ruled that he has to present himself to the court before the end of the working day.

This past Friday, the High Court kept in place the interim injunction restricting his repatriation until the matter is fully ventilated in court.

The Judge also ruled

ahead of Harris visit

Guatemalan President Alejandro Giammattei speaks during an interview with Reuters at the National Palace of Culture in Guatemala City, Guatemala, June 1, 2021

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u a t e m a l a ' s President Alejandro Giammattei criticised the country's bestknown graft Prosecutor for what he said was a left-wing politicisation of the fight against corruption, a view at odds with strong US backing for his work.

Speaking in an interview with Reuters late on Tuesday, Giammattei nonetheless expressed hope that a visit to Guatemala next week by US Vice President Kamala Harris will produce shared strategies to create prosperity in rural areas prone to emigration.

Harris, a Democrat, is in charge of Washington efforts to tackle the causes of mass migration from Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador, collectively dubbed the Northern Triangle, including a focus on corruption and poor governance that she says limit opportunities. There is a US$4 billion aid package to the region in play.

To tackle the root caus-

es of migration, the United States should focus on countering drug trafficking, which has "corrupted the political system", said Giammattei.

He said he would ask Harris to channel rural support via the World Food Programme and the Government. Much US aid currently goes to non-governmental projects.

"When we look at the new map of migration, the majority leave from rural areas," Giammattei said. "An alliance between Guatemala and the United States can help overcome these structural causes through institutional programmes."

The 65-year-old president detailed his own efforts to clean up Government, including a presidential commission he set up, a bill aimed at tackling money laundering, and his obstruction of a law passed by Congress that would allow local officials greater discretional spending. (Excerpt from Reuters)

T&T National Security Minister assures safety of borders as Indian variant found in Venezuela

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ith the Indian variant of the COVID-19 virus now detected in neighbouring Venezuela, the Trinidad and Tobago Government has assured that plans and operations to improve border security have been ongoing and are well underway.

National Security Minister Fitzgerald Hinds gave the assurance Monday night when asked about border security.

It came after Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro on Monday confirmed the arrival of the Indian variant in Venezuela according to AlbertoNews. The cases entered through the southwest state of Apure near the border with Colombia.

Five women who returned to Venezuela from studies in Colombia tested positive for the Indian variant.

T&T has only detected cases of the UK variant and the Brazilian variant – the latter first found in a sample from a Venezuelan migrant in April.

T&T’s borders have been closed since March 2020.

On the Indian variant

National Security Minister Fitzgerald Hinds.

arriving “next door”, Hinds said all countries face the risk of virus spread as a result of movement.

“That’s always a risk. All countries are now dealing with it. T&T’s no different.

Once this virus and variants exist they can be transmitted from human to human, they’re popping up all over,” he said.

Hinds said T&T, as an island nation, is beset with many unofficial ports of entry but without clear scientific proof, one couldn’t say for certain that Venezuelan migrants are a virus source.

“But we’re paying attention to all borders,” he assured.

(Excerpt from Trinidad Guardian)

guyanatimesgy.com

THURSDAY, JUNE 3, 2021

19

Around the World Israeli Opposition Leaders agree to form Govt, oust Netanyahu I sraeli Opposition Leader Yair Lapid has informed the country’s President that he can form a coalition Government, a move that would bring an end to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s 12 years in power.

Lapid, leader of the Yesh Atid party, was tasked with forming a Government by President Reuven Rivlin after Netanyahu again failed to put together his own coalition following Israel’s fourth election in less than two years.

In a statement shared on Twitter on Wednesday, Lapid said he had informed Rivlin of the deal.

“This Government will work for all the citizens of Israel, those that voted for it and those that didn’t. It

Under the coalition agreement, Naftali Bennett (left) and Yair Lapid (right) will rotate the position of Prime Minister [Ammar Awad/Amir Cohen/Reuters]

will do everything to unite Israeli society,” he said shortly before a midnight deadline (21:00 GMT).

Lapid, a former TV presenter and a secular cen-

trist, won the crucial support of hardline religious-nationalist Naftali Bennett, a tech multi-millionaire who has held a number of Government port-

folios including the Defence Ministry, on Sunday.

Under the coalition agreement, Bennett and Lapid would rotate the role of prime minister, with Bennett taking up the post for the first two years and Lapid the final two.

The agreement still needs to be voted on in the Knesset, Israel’s Parliament, where it requires majority support before the Government can be sworn in. The vote is expected to be held within seven to 12 days, The Washington Post reported.

Israel’s latest political drama adds to the woes of Netanyahu, who is on trial for criminal charges of fraud, bribery and breach of trust while in office – accusations he denies. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Britain hosts G7 health summit amid pressure to broaden COVID vaccine access

B

ritain will host Health Ministers from the Group of Seven (G7) rich countries in Oxford today for a two-day summit, as pressure intensifies to do more to broaden access to COVID-19 vaccines across the world.

British Foreign Minister Dominic Raab has said that equitable access to coronavirus vaccines will be at the top of the agenda when G7 leaders meet next week.

But as Health Ministers gather at the University of Oxford, where AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine was invented, charities stressed

Britain could do more by supporting a temporary waiver on intellectual property rights of pharmaceutical firms.

US President Joe Biden has backed calls from many developing countries for the waiver, in the hope this would boost production and allow more equitable distribution, but Britain and some European countries have expressed reservations.

"G7 leaders must take this moment to stand on the right side of history by putting their full support behind the vaccine patent waiver," said Anna

Marriott, Oxfam’s Health Policy Manager.

"The G7 may be getting the vaccines they need, but too much of the world is not and people are paying for patent protection with their lives."

Britain has said technology transfers with notfor-profit pricing, a model AstraZeneca has used, can achieve many of the same aims as a patent waiver without disincentivising research.

A G7 report on progress in efforts to improve health in developing countries will be published today, and

Western Sahara independence leader Brahim Ghali back in Algeria

T

he leader of the Western Sahara independence movement, Brahim Ghali, has returned to Algeria after spending more than a month in Spain.

The Polisario Front chief’s stay at a Spanish hospital triggered a diplomatic row between Spain and Morocco.

“He arrived safe and sound,” said Jalil Mohamed, the Polisario Front’s spokesman in Spain.

Ghali arrived in Algiers about 03:00h (0200 GMT), where he will continue his recovery from a severe case of COVID-19, Polisario Front official Abdelkader Taleb Omar told Algeria’s APS news agency.

He added that Ghali’s improving health meant he no longer needed hospitalisation in Spain.

Algerian State television showed President Abdelmadjid Tebboune visiting Ghali in a military hospital, but gave no details of their discussion.

British Health Minister Matt Hancock said he would agree with G7 counterparts on a system to share data on any early warning signs of the next pandemic. (Excerpt from Reuters)

OILNEWS OIL NEWS Oil hits over 1-year high on OPEC+ supply discipline, demand prospects

O

il prices surged on Wednesday, hitting their highest in more than a year from a decision by the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and allies to stick to the plan to gradually restore supply, along with the slow pace of nuclear talks between Iran and the United States.

Brent crude rose US$1.1, or 1.6 per cent, to settle at US$71.35 a barrel. It reached US$71.48 a barrel, its highest since January 2020.

US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude rose US$1.11, or 1.6 per cent, to settle at US$68.83 a barrel. It hit US$69.00 during the session, its highest since October 2018.

Expecting a recovery in demand, OPEC and its allies, together known as OPEC+, agreed on Tuesday to maintain their plan to gradually ease supply curbs through July.

"The oil market welcomed the OPEC+ decision to stick with its existing production plan, and in conjunction with positive global demand indications, prices are gaining further today," said Louise Dickson, Rystad Energy oil markets analyst.

The OPEC+ meeting took 20 minutes, shortest in the group's history, indicating unity among members and their confidence in the market's recovery, analysts said.

OPEC+ data shows the group is now more upbeat about the pace of rebalancing in the oil market than it was a month ago.

Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman said solid demand recovery in the United States and China and the pace of COVID-19 vaccine rollouts can only lead to further rebalancing of the global oil market.

"We expect oil prices to move well beyond US$70 per barrel towards mid-year," said Norbert Rucker, analyst at Swiss bank Julius Baer. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Fears of environmental disaster as oil-laden ship sinks off Sri Lanka

A

chemical-laden cargo ship is sinking off the coast of Sri Lanka, sparking fears of an environmental disaster.

The Singapore-registered X-Press Pearl had been on fire for almost two weeks before the blaze was put out this week.

Hundreds of tonnes of oil from fuel tanks could leak into the sea, devastating nearby marine life.

The Sri Lankan and Indian navies had worked jointly over the past days in an attempt to put out the fire and prevent the ship from breaking up and sinking.

But rough seas and monsoonal winds hampered the operation, just outside the port of Colombo.

"Salvors are trying to tow the ship to deep sea before it sinks to minimise the marine pollution, but the rear area of the ship has drifted," Sri Lanka Navy spokesman Captain Indika Silva told the BBC. The stern appeared to be resting on the seabed.

Environmentalist Dr Ajantha Perera told the BBC that the sinking posed "the worst environmental scenario".

"With all the dangerous

goods, the nitric acid and all these other things, and the oil in the ship, if it's sinking it will basically destroy the whole bottom of the sea," she said.

Dr Perera said divers should have been sent down to examine the ship before it was towed out to sea.

"The environmental issues will remain in our waters now," she added.

The coastal stretch near the city of Negombo – home to some of the country's most pristine beaches – has already seen oil and debris pollution for days. (Excerpt from BBC News)

NASA announces two new missions

N Brahim Ghali was hospitalised in Spain with COVID-19 [File: Ryad Kramdi/AFP]

Rabat has not yet commented on Ghali’s departure from Spain, but had previously said that it would not alone resolve the dispute.

The Algeria-backed Polisario Front is fighting for the independence of Western Sahara, which was a Spanish colony until the mid-1970s and is claimed by Morocco.

Ghali, who was suffering a serious bout of COVID-19,

had been admitted to a Spanish hospital in April on humanitarian grounds, the Madrid government said.

He left Spain several hours after appearing remotely in a hearing with the Spanish high court on a war crimes case. Following the hearing, Judges did not impose any restrictions on the Polisario leader and allowed him to leave the country.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

asa has announced that it is sending two new missions to Venus in order to examine the planet's atmosphere and geological features.

The missions, which have each been awarded US$500m in funding, are due to launch between 2028 and 2030.

Nasa administrator Bill Nelson said the missions would offer the "chance to investigate a planet we haven't been to in more than 30 years".

The last probe to visit the planet was the Magellan orbiter in 1990.

However other vessels

have made fly-bys since then.

The missions were picked following a peer-review process and were chosen based on their potential scientific value and the feasibility of their development plans.

"These two sister missions both aim to understand how Venus became an inferno-like world, capable of melting lead at the surface," Mr Nelson said.

Venus is the second planet from the sun and the hottest planet in the solar system with a surface temperature of 500C – hot enough to melt lead.

The Davinci+ (Deep

Atmosphere Venus Investigation of Noble gases, Chemistry, and Imaging) mission will measure the planet's atmosphere to gain insight into how it formed and evolved.

It will also aim to determine whether Venus ever had an ocean.

Davinci+ is expected to return the first high resolution images of the planet's "tesserae" geological features. Scientists believe these features could be comparable to continents on Earth and could suggest that Venus has plate tectonics. (Excerpt from BBC News)

20

THURSDAY, JUNE 3, 2021

guyanatimesgy.com

ARCHIE

ARIES (March 21April 19)

Be secretive about the changes you want to make so you can get things done without interference. Don't lie if someone asks you a direct question, but don't let it fluster you either.

Take on only what you can TAURUS do efficiently. It won't pay to (April 20- put your reputation on the May 20) line to make someone else look good. Take the path that offers less aggravation for the best results.

DILBERT

GEMINI (May 21June 20)

CANCER (June 21July 22)

PEANUTS

Share facts. If you pass along information that doesn't come from a reliable source, you will jeopardize your reputation. Look for opportunities to improve your everyday life.

It's time to start anew.

Embrace opportunities with enthusiasm and a healthy imagination. Take the lead and inspire others. Bring about positive change on a budget that is within your means.

Don't let others ruin your LEO day. Consider what's import(July 23ant to you and head in a posAug. 22) itive direction. A commitment to make a difference will encourage you to follow your heart.

CALVIN AND HOBBES

SUDOKU

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

Think less and do more.

Take control of what's going on around you. Reach out to someone in need, and share your experience. What you do to make the world a better place will raise your profile.

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

Clear your head. Refuse to let others persuade you to get involved in something that isn't in your best interest.

Focus on what's important to you and how you can use your skills to make a difference.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

Step up and take care of unfinished business. Clear time and space to make room for new beginnings. Now is not the time to dawdle or to dwell on the past. Pick up the pace and get back in the game.

Stick close to home and SAGITTARIUS to the people you trust.

(Nov. 23Distance yourself from takDec. 21) ers and those enticing you to do things you shouldn't.

Discipline will pay off. Don't stop believing!

Don't

jeopardize

your

CAPRICORN health. Assess a situa(Dec. 22tion and look for the best Jan. 19) way to get things done with

the least amount of risk. A change at home will make your life easier.

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

Put your effort where it will do some good. A change at home will lift your spirits as long as you stick to a budget. Don't let your emotions get in the way of your intelligence.

Your imagination is working overtime. Don't make any (Feb. 20- assumptions. Get the facts and March 20) mull over your options. Keep busy physically and you will find it easier to remain calm and find a suitable solution to whatever troubles you.

PISCES

THURSDAY, JUNE 3, 2021

21

CWI fully supports “freedom of choice” policy – but refusing COVID-19T shots could 'cost' players in the future

D

r Akshai Mansingh, a member of Cricket West Indies (CWI) Medical Advisory Committee, has cautioned that unvaccinated players could eventually find it difficult to take part in leagues around the world, as more of the global population gets vaccinated.

There currently are no cricket leagues around the world that require players to be vaccinated in order to participate in a competition. However, with the risk and expense attached to

the current model of staging tournaments in a biosecure environment, and with increasing evidence of the positive effect of vac-

cination in preventing the spread of the virus, there is no guarantee things would stay the same.

A few current members

Best v Best 4-Day match…

of the squad have taken the vaccine, but some remain hesitant at this point in time. Mansingh has pointed out that it is the duty of the medical team to educate the players on the risks and benefits of getting vaccinated, but at the end of the day, the freedom to make individual choices had to be respected. He speculated, however, that the choices could plausibly, in the near future, affect an individual’s ability to earn

an income.

“We live in a free society, and we have to respect the decisions of people.

But there may be leagues around the world who say, ‘If you are not vaccinated, then we will not take you,’ and that is when personal decisions will have to made,” Mansingh told the Mason and Guest Radio programme.

“We have erred on the side of freedom of choice, etc., etc. and we will en-

tertain the discussion, but there are leagues that are going to pop up which will not entertain the discussion,” he added.

“We allowed people to opt-out of bubbles that we knew were safe, and some of the people that opted out at that time made a completely different choice when they went to India, which was the second most infected country in the world.” (Taken from Sportsmax and adapted)

NBA round-up…

James Harden, Nets finish off Celtics to advance

Powell's 95 highlights day 3 – Hamilton XI need 93 runs to win on final day

O

ut-of-favour West Indies batsman Kieran Powell has given the selectors something to think about on day three of the Best v Best 4-Day match in St Lucia, as the West Indies continue preparing for the first Test against South Africa on June 10.

The left-handed Powell stroked a composed 95 to give his team, Jahmar Hamilton XI, the edge heading into the final day. They require 93 runs for a win, with the overnight score being 218-4.

Resuming the third day on 197-3 with a lead of 283 runs, Blackwood's XI stumbled to 224 all out in 55.3 overs. Overnight unbeaten batsmen centurion Shai Hope and Jermaine Blackwood fell quickly, without adding too much to their scores.

Hope, who is eyeing a Test return, was the first to be dismissed, for 106 which came off 138 balls. He added only four to his overnight score before being removed by the impressive Trinidadian Jayden Seales.

He had hit nine fours and six maximums.

Blackwood followed soon after scoring 24. The score was then on 201-5, but the final five wickets fell for 21 runs as another batting meltdown came upon this match.

John Campbell has continued to struggle. Batting at number six, he managed only two, while wicket-keep-

er Joshua Da Silva made three.

Rahkeem Cornwall, who had some scores under his belt against Sri Lanka, also fell cheaply (08). It was all single digit scores for Blackwood's XI after Mayers hit 40 on day two, Hope having hit 106, and Blackwood scoring 24.

The pick of the bowlers was Seales, who finished with 4-40 in 11.3 overs, w h i l e Raymon Reifer, who scored 60 not out, bagged 2-22 and fellow leftarm seamer Preston McSween took 2-35.

Hamilton's XI required 311 runs to win. In reply, openers Kieran Powell and Sheyne Moseley had solid starts, taking the team to 9-0. At the morning session, Shannon Gabriel left the field after bowling 10 balls and developing some tightness in his right hamstring.

Upon return for the afternoon session, Guyana's Nial Smith, who claimed 3-35 in the first innings, left the field with a discomfort in his back.

Moseley was the first wicket to fall, scoring an attractive 36. He added 63 for the first wicket with Powell. Three runs later, Nkrumah Bonner fell for one as Hamilton XI crept to 66-2.

Brooks looked promising, but fell for 39 when he was trapped by Veerasammy

Permaul, who bowled only two overs, both being maidens in the first innings.

Roston Chase retired hurt for one, while Paul Palmer and Raymon Reifer are batting on 15 and 22 respectively. The duo will aim to bat Hamilton's XI closer to the target of 311 when they resume on 218-4 in 71 overs.

Cornwall has had 2-61 in 20 overs thus far. The final day will commence on Thursday from 10:00h Eastern Caribbean time.

T

he Phoenix Suns moved 3-2 ahead in their NBA first round playoffs series against the Los Angeles Lakers with a 115-85 victory, but star guard Chris Paul went down after re-injuring his shoulder.

Devin Booker top scored for the Suns with 30 points, seven rebounds and five assists as the Suns move within one win of knocking out the reigning champions.

The Suns, however, will be sweating on Paul's fitness ahead of Game 6 after going down clutching his sore right shoulder, having played 23 minutes, with nine points and six assists.

Phoenix blew the game open with a remarkable 3210 second quarter, opening up a 32-point half-time lead which the Lakers, who were without Anthony Davis, never threatened in the second half.

LeBron James top scored with 24 points including six three-pointers along with five rebounds and seven assists, while Andre Drummond had seven points and 13 rebounds.

The series returns to Los Angeles for Game 6, before the final match in Arizona if required.

Nugs win in double overtime, Nets progress Nikola Jokic and Damian Lillard traded blows as the Denver Nuggets edged the Portland Trail Blazers 147-140 in a double over-time thriller.

Jokic finished with 38 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists, while Michael Porter Jr had 26 points, including a clutch late three-pointer along with 12 rebounds and three assists.

Lillard remarkably scored 55 points for the defeated Blazers, along with six rebounds and 10 assists, although he may regret passing to CJ McCollum with nine seconds left at 143-140 down.

McCollum mis-controlled and stepped out of play, forcing the decisive turnover.

In a back-and-forth encounter, McCollum had earlier drained a three-pointer to send the game into overtime.

The Brooklyn Nets finished the job in their first round series against the Boston Celtics with James Harden starring in a 123-109 win which completed a 4-1 victory.

Harden produced a tripledouble, scoring 34 points with 10 rebounds and 10 assists for the Nets.

Kyrie Irving added 25 points, while Kevin Durant contributed 24, including four three-pointers shooting at 66 per cent from beyond the arc.

The Nets will next face the Milwaukee Bucks in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

Wayward Tatum's radar off Jayson Tatum was a lone hand for the Celtics, managing 32 points, although he shot poorly, albeit regularly under intense heat, at 12-from-27 from the field and 36.4 per cent from beyond the arc.

History-making haul in losing cause Lillard's 55 points came in a losing cause, making history as the third most in a defeat in NBA playoffs history behind Michael Jordan's 63 against the Celtics in 1986 and Donovan Mitchell's 57 against the Nuggets in 2020. He also had a record 12 threes.

Tuesday's results Brooklyn Nets: 123; Boston Celtics: 109 Denver Nuggets: 147 (OT) Portland Trail Blazers: 140 Phoenix Suns: 115; Los Angeles Lakers: 85 (Sportsmax)

22 Briton John continues to top GCF rankings

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

THURSDAY, JUNE 3, 2021

– 4 Guyanese to feature in USA this weekend

G

uyana's top cyclist Briton John continues to reign supreme at the Guyana Cycling Federation’s (GCF’s) Points Classification system. In the latest points classification, the ‘We Stand United rider’, who recorded his major win in the Independence three-stage, has 93 points, enjoying a 30-point gap to Team Evolutions' Christopher Griffith with 63 points.

Last year's top rider and Team Foundation's Jamual John is in third spot with 53 points, while Paul DeNobrega has 49 points in fourth. Raynauth Jeffrey, who has returned to the United States of America, has 41 points while veteran rider Alex Mendes has 30.

The senior National road-race champion Romello Crawford has 20 points, while Marcus Keiler has 17, and Curtis Dey has 13.

In the Masters category, Mendes has 35 points, while

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Stephen Fernandes has 25, Paul Choweenam has (24) and national masters champion in the road-race, Walter GrantStuart has 18 points.

Jaikarran Sukhai has 16 and Junior Niles has 13.

Guyana’s top female rider Suzanne Hamilton has 20 points, while Shenika Teixeira has 10

2021 CPL to feature West Indies Future Stars for the third year in succession

points. Aaron Newton who emerged as the junior champion for 2021 has 26 points, and Berbician Mario Washington has 22 points. Alexander Leung has 22 points, and David Hicks has 18 points.

Meanwhile, four of Guyana's top cyclists are set to be in action this weekend at the 2021 Armed Forces Cycling Classic in Arlington County, Virginia, USA. Michael Anthony, Jamual John and Raynauth Jeffrey will be racing as part of a six member CRCA/Foundation

CCB Elite Team, while 2021 National Road Race Champion Romello Crawford will compete in a five member CRCA/Jamison Cannondale squad.

The weekend’s racing begins with the 6-corner Crystal Cup Criterium on Saturday, June 5, which will span 1hr 30mins. On Sunday, they will race in the 100lap (62 miles) Clarendon Cup, which is known as one of the most difficult criterium races in the USA due to technical demands of the course and the high quality of the participants.

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Record-breaking weekend was a test that proved Briana Williams is exactly where she should be, says coach

C

ricket West Indies (CWI) and the Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) will continue to offer development opportunities to some of the best young West Indians in the ninth edition of the CPL, which takes place in St Kitts later this year. Since 2019, and for the third consecutive season, twelve (12) players have been drafted, retained or signed into the two mandatory Emerging Player positions in each of the six CPL franchises.

Each CPL franchise will have to field an Emerging Player a minimum of five times during the tournament, ensuring that these players get at least some competitive playing experience and the opportunity to train with some of the best players and coaches from across the Caribbean, and around the world.

The list of 12 retained and drafted players includes recent West Indies Men’s Test and T20I debutants Joshua Da Silva and Kevin Sinclair who will feature for the St Kitts & Nevis Patriots and Guyana Amazon Warriors respectively. At relatively young ages, these two players have notably risen through the CWI development ranks in the last 18 months since featuring for the victorious West Indies Emerging team in the 2019 CG Insurance Super50 Cup. Four of the Emerging Players will be experiencing the CPL for the first time: Joshua James, Kirk McKenzie, Kadeem Alleyne and Leonardo Julien. McKenzie and James were members of the West Indies Under-19 side that featured in the last ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup, held in South

Africa in 2020, who now have a chance to develop their white ball skills with the Jamaica Tallawahs.

CWI’s Director of Cricket, Jimmy Adams congratulated the selected players saying: “CWI is extremely happy for the 12 Emerging Players who will participate in this year’s CPL tournament. The Emerging Player programme is now a focal point of our elite player pathway and the CPL plays a critical role in exposing these young players to elite players and high level competition. We have no doubt that the experience gained by these young players will be a significant factor in establishing the next generation of international players within this format of the game.”

Reflecting on the third year of the CWI and CPL collaboration, CWI’s High-Performance Manager Graeme West said: “The Emerging Player Programme underlines the growth and strength of the CWI and CPL partnership. In a year where running high-performance activities for our talented young players has been challenging, CPL will provide the 12 emerging players a great learning and development opportunity.”

“With seven players retained from the 2020 CPL, this draft represents a reward for the performances and potential that the franchises saw from the Emerging Players in Trinidad last year. I’m delighted that three players from last year’s West Indies Under-19 squad have been drafted for the first time with McKenzie, James and Julian joining team-mates Nedd, Young and Seales who will look

to build on their performances in 2020. The drafting of Kadeem Alleyne is really significant as it demonstrates to all young cricketers in the Caribbean that outstanding performances in local tournaments can be recognized and rewarded.”

The full list of drafted, retained and signed Emerging Players for their respective CPL teams is as follows (Home Territory Cricket Board in brackets): Joshua Bishop​​ (Barbados) - Retained

by Barbados Tridents

B

riana Williams’s four races over two days last weekend was a test that she passed with flying colours, notwithNyeem Young (Barbados) standing a minor slip along - Retained by Barbados the way.

Williams, 19, who broke Tridents her national U20 record Ashmead Nedd​​(Guyana) - Retained by Guyana twice between Sunday and Monday night, ran times of Warriors Kevin Sinclair (Guyana) 11.19 and 11.01 on Sunday - Retained by Guyana at the JAC Summer Open in Jacksonville, Florida.

Warriors Joshua James* (Trinidad The 11.01 lowered her na& Tobago) - Drafted by tional U20 record of 11.02 set in Albuquerque, New Jamaica Tallawahs Kirk McKenzie​​* Mexico in June 2019.

The record would last (Jamaica) - Drafted by just over 24 hours, as, Jamaica Tallawahs Dominic​ Drakes on Monday night, at the (Barbados) - Retained by St American Track League’s Duval County Challenge Kitts & Nevis Patriots Joshua Da Silva​​ inside Hodges Stadium (Trinidad & Tobago) - in Jacksonville, she ran a Retained by St Kitts & Nevis wind-aided 10.97 and then a wind-legal 10.98 to lower Patriots Kadeem Alleyne* the record once more.

Her coach, Ato Boldon, (Barbados) - Drafted by St was pleased with everyLucia Zouks Jeavor Royal (Jamaica) thing, except Monday’s poor start, that his young charge - Drafted by St Lucia Zouks Leonardo Julien* delivered over the two days, (Trinidad & Tobago) - Signed and declared afterwards that she is right where he

by Trinbago Knight Riders Jayden Seales​​ (Trinidad wanted her to be four weeks & Tobago) - Retained by from Jamaica’s National Championships to select a Trinbago Knight Riders *denotes players drafted team to the Olympic Games in July. to CPL for the first time

“I liked the fact that she competed, but it’s just strange for me to not see Briana react well to the gun. She didn’t react normally to the gun, and then she panicked a little bit and stood up out of her drive phase,” he said.

“It tells me that where I thought she should be is where she is. That was 10.87, she lost about a tenth with not having a normal Briana start.”

Looking at the bigger picture, Boldon said Williams proved that she is ready to handle multiple rounds of competition, circumstances she will face at the national championships at the end of June and at the Olympic Games in Tokyo, should she get there.

“The most important thing about this weekend is that this young lady ran 11.19, 11.01, 10.97 and 10.98, so her body can handle the work, she is ready for rounds. This was more a workout than anything else, because I purposely wanted to push her,” he said.

“We will back off this week and get her ready for the last couple of races, and then get her ready for trials.” (Sportsmax)

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Proteas arrive for Windies series

S

outh Africa touched down on Tuesday for the two-Test series against West Indies starting next week, marking only the second international series in the Caribbean since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The squad, who will also play five Twenty20 Internationals in Grenada, will now undergo three days of quarantine and must return two negative PCR tests before being allowed to train.

Following quarantine, the squad is expected to play a two-day practice match in preparation

for the first Test which gets underway on June 10 at the Daren Sammy National Stadium.

The 19-man Test squad is being led by Dean Elgar for the first time while Temba Bavuma, the first Black African to make a Test hundred for South Africa, has taken charge of the white-ball unit.

Selectors have named six uncapped players in the Test squad with Prenelan Subrayen, Lizaad Williams Kyle Verreynne, Keegan Petersen, Sarel Erwee and Marco Jansen, all newcomers.

Neither superstar AB de Villiers nor former Test

Guyanese Shereeda Yusuf champions World Archery America’s Logo Competition

skipper Faf du Plessis, both experienced campaigners, were selected for the trip.

On South Africa’s last Test tour of the Caribbean in 2010, Graeme Smith’s side beat the hosts 2-0 in a three-Test series, win-

ning at Port of Spain and Bridgetown.

Meanwhile, a West Indies 30-man squad have been training here for nearly three weeks and currently mid-way through a four-day match, from which the final Test

squad will be chosen.

The series between West Indies and South Africa was scheduled to be staged last year but was scrapped – along with the entire home schedule – after the outbreak of COVID-19 which also

forced a global cessation of the game.

Like the Sri Lanka series in March, the series will be staged behind closed doors and under strict health protocols, as has become the norm during the pandemic.

The second Test will also be played at the Daren Sammy National Stadium starting June 18 before Grenada’s National Stadium hosts the T20 series from June 26 to July 3.

South Africa’s tour will kick off a busy period for West Indies where they also host Australia in five T20Is here and in three One-Day Internationals in Barbados from July 9-24, before welcoming Pakistan for five T20Is in Barbados and Guyana, along with two Tests in Jamaica, from July 27 to August 4.

(CMC)

Bess pleased with display of talent at 2021 Novices Bodybuilding and Fitness Competition

S

Shereeda Yusuf’s winning logo

hereeda Yusuf has shone a positive light on Guyana on the International Archery stage by winning a World Archery Americas’ Gender Equity Committee Logo competition.

The Gender Equity Committee sought to commemorate International Woman’s Day (March 8) with the competition, which was said to have received a large number of creative entries from across the Americas.

While the participants were applauded for their beautiful submissions by the Panel, it was the WAA’s Gender Equity Committee Chair Vidushi PersaudMcKinnon who detailed that there were several judging criteria to ascertain the best Logo for the Committee.

The criteria included the artists’ ability to encompass promoting archery as a sport for everyone, such as men and women in the Americas.

Further, the Logo design was required to express equity, archery, inclusion, the Americas, all together under one depiction.

In this regard, the Panel unanimously decided upon the winner of what would be the international entity’s future logo, which uses similar colours of WAA to show the linkage.

According to the

Panel, the winning logo easily met all the criteria. It is composed of a map of the Americas overlayed by layer circular design of four arrows and bow to depicting the diversity but oneness in the Americas. There is a tiny hand-print in multi-colour as a dot on the “i” to not just add artistic flare, but to demonstrate that everyone is entitled to be treated the same, regardless of origin, race, creed, ethnicity or personal circumstance: reiterating the theme “We are one”.

As such, WAA Gender Equity Committee proudly announced that the winner of the Logo Competition is Shereeda Yusuf from Guyana, who was thereby awarded bragging rights for what will become a familiar logo to be used across the Americas.

In addition, a presentation will be made to her from World Archery Americas of a US$100.00 monetary prize.

Upon receiving the great news, Yusuf indicated she was “shocked and happy” that her humble effort was so well received.

President of Archery Guyana, Mohamed Khan, expressed delight at this news, stating that he is enthused at the women putting Guyana on the world stage, and he extended congratulations to Yusuf.

– Intermediates tentatively set for July – Grateful to sponsors

Overall winner of the competition, Michael Sampson, receiving his prize from GBBFF President Keavon Bess (Emmerson Campbell Photo)

T

he Guyana Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation (GBBFF) hosted its 2021 Novices Bodybuilding and Fitness Competition and Mr Linden Classic on May 29 at LICHAS Hall in Linden.

The virtual event was live-streamed on all popular social media networks.

President of the GBBFF, Keavon Bess, has said he is proud of the entire show. He has deemed it a great display of Guyanese talent.

Emerging victorious were Yusuf Khan, Aliya Wong and Michael Sampson

in their respective categories. In a statement, Bess said, “The entire show, from beginning to end, was a great display of Guyanese talent in bodybuilding. The athletes did a wonderful job on stage, as even the judges were surprised at the package the athletes delivered in light of the COVID-19 situation.

“Athletes were enthusiastic (to compete), the athletes went on stage and did their best. We had 12 athletes in the Physique category, which helps us to realise that this category we

need to put more effort to, and we need to bring it to the same importance and relevance just as bodybuilding.”

He said the GBBFF is pleased that there were three females that competed in the Bikini Category, and relayed that he has noticed that as of late there have been more females coming on board to take part.

The GBBFF boss also reiterated that the competition was great, and went smoothly, as all COVID-19 protocols were followed, such as sanitizing, wear-

ing of masks etc, to ensure the competition was as safe as possible. He was also grateful to sponsors Fitness Express, DeSinco Trading, the judges, the executive members of the GBBFF, and, more importantly, the athletes who made the show possible.

Next on the GBBFF calendar is the Intermediate bodybuilding competition, which will be held in Berbice and is tentatively set for the end of July, 2021. It was announced that the National Senior Championships are set for December.

THURSDAY, JUNE 3, 2021

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

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Proteas arrive for Windies series Page 22

Bess pleased with display Briton John continues of talent at 2021 Novices Body to top GCF rankings building and Fitness Competition – 4 Guyanese to feature in USA this weekend

– Intermediates tentatively set for July – Grateful to sponsors

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