Guyana Times - Thursday November 4, 2021

Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana Issue No. 4821

guyanatimesgy.com

THE BEACON OF TRUTH THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2021

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Diwali 2021

See story on page 3

Guyana’s prosperity must be paired with increased caring – President Ali …diversity has worked, will continue to work to Guyana’s advantage – Opposition

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

“I gon kill you and yuh man” – ex-husband before shooting woman P18 Doctor’s murder

Employees P25 who ‘found’ body detained

Berbice woman bites rapist, P18 runs for help …attacked while walking along street GDF 56th Anniversary

“We need to have more P23 professional soldiers” – Brigadier Bess

A rangoli display at the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry’s Port Mourant, Berbice, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) branch on Wednesday (GBTI photo)

Teen bandit shot dead by plainclothes …reportedly attempted cop to snatch chain in Stabroek Market

Wanted bulletin issued for former SOCU Head

Page 7

Page 2

...as High Court orders GRA to hand over tax info to SOCU in money laundering probe Unauthorised use of spectrum

Oil & gas sector

Govt looking to train 1000 Guyanese P22 per year at National Oil Institute …seeks to better equip locals to take up lucrative jobs

Dead: Sydel Bourne

Govt discontinues criminal, civil cases against Digicel after amicable settlement Page 25

…matter resolved in the best national interest – AG

2 more P24 COVID-19 deaths, 81 new cases recorded

2 NEWS

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Wanted bulletin issued for former SOCU Head …as High Court orders GRA to hand over tax info to SOCU in money laundering probe

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he Guyana Police Force (GPF) on Wednesday issued a wanted bulletin for former Head of the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU), Sydney James,

who had been sent on administrative leave and subsequently replaced under the coalition Government following allegations of mismanagement and falsifying doc-

uments.

In a notice, the Police Force said James, whose address was given as George Avenue, Lamaha Springs, North Ruimveldt,

Georgetown, is wanted for questioning in relation to obtaining money by false pretence and fraud offences. “[He is] wanted for questioning in connection with a

Wanted: Former SOCU Head Sydney James

series of reports of obtaining money by false pretences committed in Georgetown, Guyana.

The Police are asking anyone with information that may lead to the arrest of the former SOCU Head to contact the Special Organised Crime Unit on 225-3079 and 225-3084 or the nearest Police Station.

In 2019, SOCU officials, including James, had faced accusations regarding falsified invoices which had borne forged signatures. This was unearthed after a forensic audit was launched by the Police Force, which has oversight of the white-collar crime body, into SOCU’s operations.

Other irregularities that were unearthed had included falsified records and miss-

ing documents. According to reports, there was even a case of an official who alleged his signature was forged. In addition, there are reports of listed expenditure being concocted and receipts being backdated.

James was sent on leave and subsequently replaced by then Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan.

Money laundering probe

Meanwhile, in another SOCU investigation – this time for money laundering – the High Court on Monday ordered the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) to produce documents to the law enforcement agency as part of an ongoing probe involving $103 million.

TURN TO PAGE 7

NEWS

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS OPENINGS BRIDGE

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

Thursday, November 4 – 03:00h-04:30h and Friday, November 5 – 03:30h-05:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Thursday, November 4 – 15:50h-17:20h and Friday, November 5 – 16:30h-18:00h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

Diwali 2021

Guyana’s prosperity must be paired with increased caring – President Ali …diversity has worked, will continue to work to Guyana’s advantage – Opposition

Parika and Supenaam departure times – 05:00h, 10:00h-12:00h, 16:00h, 18:30h daily

WEATHER TODAY There will be sunshine during the day. Expect clear skies at night. Temperatures should range between 21 degrees Celsius and 31 degrees Celsius.

Winds: Northerly to West South-Westerly between 1.78 metres and 4.92 metres.

High Tide: 16:07h reaching a maximum height of 2.93 metres.

Low Tide: 09:42h and 22:06h reaching minimum heights of 0.41 metre and 0.25 metre.

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2021

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President Dr Irfaan Ali

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resident Dr Irfaan Ali on Wednesday used the occasion of Diwali to send a message to all Guyanese that with the impending prosperity coming Guyana’s way through the oil and gas sector, comes the need for increased caring and generosity.

In his message, he extended greetings to all Guyanese, but particularly to all Hindu brothers and sisters, on the occasion of Diwali, widely known as the Festival of Lights.

According to Ali, the festival’s bright and colourful lights not only remind of the welcome return of Lord Rama, Sita and Lakshman

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223-7230-1 (Ext 55)

to Ayodhya, but also the blessings of fortune bestowed by Lakshmi.

“Diwali is celebrated with great fervour. It is a happy and momentous time for Hindus who observe this festival through worship, the sharing of sweets, outward expressions of kindness and the cleaning, decorating, and the illumination of their homes,” the President noted.

According to Ali, a diya, as simple as it is, is, nevertheless, a powerful symbol of the divine spark within everyone and which, if properly directed, can lead towards enlightenment and prosperity. In the case of Guyana, he reminded that the country was on a path of shared prosperity.

“Guyana is on an irreversible path towards a future of shared prosperity.

All Guyanese will benefit from our country’s development. Prosperity, however, is not the mere accumulation of wealth but is allied to a generous and caring spirit. As is noted in the sacred text, “One may amass wealth with hundreds of hands, but one should also distribute it with thousands of hands,” Ali said in

his message.

“May the sacred festival of Diwali ignite in all of us the flame of love and concern for others, and may it bless us with the spirit of generosity. May the festival’s warm glow help to promote stronger bonds of love, care, and togetherness within our society and act as a springboard towards a future characterised by a common well-being!”

Unity in diversity

Meanwhile, the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) coalition in its Diwali message said that as Guyanese celebrate this auspicious occasion, “we are reminded that light always triumphs over darkness and good over evil.

The APNU/AFC remains committed to ensuring unity in diversity so that our beloved country can experience real development and progress”.

This year’s celebration again, the Opposition added, will be curtailed by the prevailing COVID-19 pandemic, “but Diwali celebration, as we know, is etched in our hearts as Guyanese.

So, as we partake in this

Opposition Leader Joseph Harmon

year’s festivities, let us do so responsibly observing all COVID-19 guidelines and be respectful towards each other.”

It added that the APNU/ AFC coalition has always been and will always remain respectful of Guyana’s cultural and religious diversity and believes that “our diversity has worked and will continue to work to the country’s advantage. Guyana is a multi-religious, multi-ethnic and multi-cultural country. We see our diversity as an asset not a liability. Our coalition is proud to belong to a society of many faiths.”

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guyanatimesgy.com

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 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

The Festival of Lights during COVID-19

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onight will be the darkest and longest night of the year. To us in Guyana, who are near the Equator, the lengthening is not as significant at that for countries nearer the North Pole. In India, for instance, from where almost half of our population originated, at this time, early man would have reaped his crops and prepared for winter.

Lights were lit to celebrate the harvests and also to mark the gradual lengthening of the days and the return of light.

This was the birth of Diwali, that joyous festival in which God, in the female form of “Mother Lakshmi”, the giver of wealth and light, is worshipped. Food was wealth to early man, and one can understand why She is worshipped at this time. Hindus are very clear about the need for man to acquire wealth: it is his duty, for without wealth man cannot take care of any of his mortal obligations. But even more important that acquiring wealth is its distribution for the upliftment of society. The Hindu is exhorted to “earn with a hundred hands; give with a thousand”.

The first prayer uttered by the Hindu upon awakening, while looking at his open palms, is “Lakshmi (Goddess of Wealth) is on the tip of my fingers; Saraswati (Goddess of Knowledge) is in the middle and Govinda (The God of Protection) is at its base.” Man, then, is responsible for earning wealth; but, to do so, he must acquire knowledge. Armed with wealth and knowledge, he will be able to protect him/herself, family, community and country.

This acquiring of knowledge is one of the “lights” that Divali reminds us must be lit. In Guyana today, there is much ignorance abounding, and because of this, society suffers. The knowledge of how we can make our society more harmonious is available; many countries also had similar challenges, but worked successfully to address them. Is there a Guyanese who really does not have the “information” that the leaders of all the groups of Guyana must cooperate for the development of our country? But information must be validated through action to become “knowledge”: and until we all choose leaders who are prepared to work together for the common good, we are all ensuring our dark nights will only lengthen.

Diwali also suggests another message - for the individual.

When the nights were getting longer, early man would have seen that the individual lights did not make a difference, but together the sun could be evoked. Let there be light! And this is what we also have to do in Guyana. In addition to selecting leaders who have the interests of all the people at heart, individuals also have to light their own lights to eliminate whatever darkness confronts them. Is it a problem with a neighbour? A co-worker? Then do what it takes to resolve the problem - that will be “lighting a light”.

The actual festival of Diwali has also come down to us with other practices that are of immense value to creating a more cohesive society: the process is as important as the content. There is a complete and most thorough cleaning of the home by all members of the Hindu family to welcome Mother Lakshmi into that home. There is also the cooking of sweetmeats and creating of diyas (fast disappearing) which all help to bring the family closer together. The sharing of the sweetmeats with neighbours and friends spreads that closeness far and wide in the community.

In multi-ethnic and multi-religious Guyana, it is a welcome development that groups other than Hindus are participating in this festival of Divali, which can play such a positive role in nation building. The Hindus themselves have increasingly begun to take the festival into the public space, where the rest of the country can be engaged. The Diwali Motorcade, which unfortunately had to be cancelled this year again due to COVID-19 - but rather take on a virtual form - has become a feature in Guyana’s cultural heritage.

Shubh Diwali to all!

Natural Resources Minister Vickram Bharrat, along with staff within the Ministry and agencies share a photo during an inter-agency Rangoli Competition as part of the activities to mark the observance of Diwali 2021 (Natural Resources Ministry photo)

Is the Judiciary immune from criticisms?

Dear Editor, The criticisms of the Guyana Court of Appeal’s (CoA’s) rulings on election-related matters, which have been overruled by the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) and rightly criticised by scholars and political pundits, have incurred the displeasure of the Chancellor of the Judiciary: “They sit in their ivory towers and make their statements on social media and otherwise; it is a sad state of affairs in Guyana.”

This comment has perplexed many observers of the Guyana political scene, who regard decisions like ‘33 is not a majority of a 65-House Chamber’ as unbelievable and deserving of being critiqued.

The Guyana Constitution does not prohibit criticisms of Judges’ decisions.

Notes the prestigious US Brennan Center: “Judges aren’t immune from pointed criticism.”

There is an unwritten rule (custom) that members within the three (3) branches (Legislative, Executive and Judiciary) should not criticise one another over decisions they make. However, this custom is a colonial legacy which was designed to control subjugated peoples’ agitation during colonialism.

But, even then, attitudes had been ambivalent.

The Judiciary, as part of its public interest role, for example, had gone beyond its jurisdiction to address the social ills of society.

It was Chief Justice (CJ)

Joseph Beaumont who described indentureship as a “monstrous rotten system.”

Because he reversed a decision made by a Magistrate against an indentured immigrant, he was dismissed.

That was the fate of the CJ under colonialism.

The Judiciary, like the Cabinet, or Parliament, is no super class. Ambivalence during colonialism within the Judiciary has persisted into contemporary society. AFC Leader Raphael Trotman stated. “We don’t believe that the executive should be commenting on individual cases.

(2/3/2017). However, he quickly undermined that position: “the judiciary is not exempt from comment from time to time, and some may even criticise. This, he said, has given rise to legal opinions and decisions throughout the Commonwealth.”

Ralph Ramkarran chided Raphael Trotman, who “twisted the intimidatory knife in an already suppurating wound, and to what end? send the message home? Make sure that the Chancellor is officially humiliated by a Government official? Let him know that the Cabinet will be noting his behaviour?”

When the previous acting Chancellor Carl Singh made certain decisions (like the third term presidential and race baiting cases) he and the CoA were also subject to criticisms (including a call to revoke Carl Singh’s acting appointment) by the media operatives and by

Government functionaries.

Mr Singh reacted: “My constitutional tenure expires on the 23rd of February 2017, and until such time, unless my appointment is revoked, I intend to exercise my functions as a Judge.”

While critiques of the Judiciary are permissible, threatening behaviour and personal attacks are prohibited (as when a former coalition Minister threatened a sitting Judge in 2017).

Notwithstanding the Chancellor’s uneasiness with criticisms, she

assured, “we [the Judges] are all transparent, we are dealing with all of this to put all the facts out in the interest of justice.”

In a democracy, where free speech is enshrined in the Constitution, and in a context where there is emerging an ‘age of reason’ and knowledge-driven culture, Judges’ decisions in accordance with this reality should be under constant review, and be subject to critiques by citizens.

Dear Editor, On July 29th, 2021, my wife and I flew for the first time on Jet Blue to New York. The flight departed Guyana over an hour late, and consequently arrived in New York too late for us to make our connecting flight to Boston.

On clearing our baggage in New York, Jet Blue failed to deliver one of our suitcases. We subsequently learnt that approximately 40 other suitcases had been left in Guyana.

It took us over four hours of standing in a queue to duly report the missing suitcase to the Jet Blue office, where we were assured that the suitcase would be on the next flight to New York, and forwarded to our destination in Boston.

It never happened. In fact, the next Jet Blue flight was cancelled.

The suitcase was never delivered. We had com-

pleted a form providing the required details, which directed us on the means for receiving compensation for the failed delivery of the suitcase, and which we duly observed.

We finally, having appealed to the local representatives of Jet Blue in Guyana, retrieved our suitcase in Guyana, much later.

We, of course, had no alternative but to buy clothes to the amount authorised in the form, and submitted a claim as directed.

We addressed the claim to an address given in the Jet Blue form in Salt Lake City, Utah, only to have it returned by the post office, quote, ‘address not found’.

We have sent several emails and we have spoken with the Jet Blue representative in Guyana, who, to date, has failed to respond.

Sincerely, Dr Tara Singh

Jet Blue blues

Yours sincerely, Kit & Gem Nascimento

guyanatimesgy.com

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2021

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

Towards an understanding of Diwali Dear Editor, Diwali is a festival that occurs on the fifteenth day of the Indian calendar month of Kaartik. Diwali, also called Deepavali, means “rows of lighted lamps”, and the celebration is often referred to as the Festival of Lights.

During this time, homes are thoroughly cleaned, and windows are opened to welcome the coming of new wealth. Little oil lamps, called deeyaas, are lit and placed in rows to commemorate the occasion. Gifts are exchanged, and festive meals are prepared during Diwali.

The celebration means as much to Hindus as Christmas does to Christians.

Festivals

Festivals are an expressive way to celebrate our glorious heritage, our culture, and our traditions. They are meant to motivate us to rejoice on special occasions, and to express emotions with our loved ones.

Festivals play an important role in adding structure to our social lives, and connecting us with our families and our historical backgrounds. They give us a necessary distraction from exhausting routines in our day-to-day lives and inspire us to remember ethics and values that have moulded us from childhood.

As we observe festivals, we pass on knowledge, legends, and traditions to the next generation.

The first thing to note about Diwali is that it is a festival. Festival time is characteristically different from ordinary, everyday time. Festival time is sacred time, whereas everyday time is filled with insecurity, fear, profanity, and corruption. Festival is called Parva in Sanskrit, and, by definition, Parva is

that which makes us complete – it makes us sacred, courageous, and connected with our inner selves. Diwali, like Phaguaa-Holi, is one festival that makes us feel complete.

Diwali and dark night

The second point about Diwali is that it occurs on the darkest night of the month, called Amaavasyaa. Outer atmospheric darkness is significant of inner emotional and spiritual darkness. When we kindle and place lamps on the outside, Diwali is calling upon us to kindle and place the lamp of wisdom in the temple of our heart. Additionally, the Diwali festival gives us a clarion call to seek out all human hearts that are dark with emotional turbulence.

There are millions of souls out there groping in darkness – afraid of what is yet to come.

Diwali calls upon us to share the light of wisdom with such souls, and thus lend them a sense of assurance and protection.

Diwali and reaping harvest

The third point is that Diwali is a time when farmers reap bountiful harvests.

Reaping crops is considered a time of amassing wealth. In Vedic/Hindu society and culture, wealth is seen as a positive notion. Vayam syaama patayo rayeenaam – Let us be masters of wealth in abundance, says the Yajur Veda.

Wealth is not a corruptive contrivance used to harm others.

What is corrupt is one’s attitude towards wealth. Wealth equals power, and power is good, as long as it does not harm another living creature.

Wealth should be used to develop oneself and the society in which one lives. It should not be a barometer to measure social prestige, but

should be a tool for us to rise to higher levels of magnanimity and divinity. In celebrating Diwali, we perform Havan by chanting holy Mantras and making offerings of newly harvested grains unto a blazing sacrificial fire, and then sharing a portion of our accumulated wealth.

Vedic tradition teaches us the concept of Prasaad.

Prasaad is what remains after a portion has been offered.

Is your wealth Prasaad? Have you shared your resources with someone who is hungry, or who does not have enough to make a success of life? This is another call inherent in the celebration of Diwali.

We who are not farmers by profession can still feel comfortable with this sowing-reaping significance of Diwali. The question is one that targets the inner spirit: Did we sow seeds of virtuous inclinations and habits, called Sanskaars, that can germinate and grow into bearing fruits of enriched character?

Is this year’s Diwali the time for us to reap such fruits?

Diwali and Rishi Dayananda

In addition to focusing on wealth on Diwali Day, Hindus also focus on the passing of the leonine soul of Mahaa Rishi Swami Dayananda Saraswati. On Diwali Day, October 30, in the year 1883, Rishi Dayananda breathed his last and entered into Emancipation. Approximately half of an hour before he breathed his last, many of the Rishi’s devoted followers stood in front of him, contemplating the noble figure lying prostrate before them. Sometime between 5:30 and 5:40pm, the Rishi beckoned, giving a signal that they stand behind him. They all did, in total silence. The Rishi now signalled

for all doors and windows to be opened up, and looking at the ceiling, asked: What is the day and date today?

What fortnight [Paksha] is it?

Reply: Swamiji, it is the end of the dark fortnight [Amavasya Krishna Paksh]. Today is Tuesday. Hearing this, he looked up at the ceiling, composed himself for contemplation, began chanting Veda Mantras, and praised God in both Sanskrit and Hindi.

With deep joy on his face, he repeated the Gayatri Mantra in clear tones, and was absorbed in deep trance [Yoga Samadhi] for quite a few minutes. He then opened his eyes and exclaimed, in a tone lower than normal: Merciful and Almighty God! What a wonderful life-drama You have enacted!

This is Your Will! Yea! This is Your Will!

Let Your Will be fulfilled!

With these last words, the Rishi turned in his bed to lie sideways, took a deep in-breath, held it for a while, and then completely expelled it with one vigorous effort.

The soul of India’s greatest saviour in modern times had finally passed on into the Great Beyond. It was 6:00pm, Diwali Day, October 30, 1883.

Historians ask a pertinent question: Seeing that the festival of lights started simultaneously with the exit of the Rishi’s Soul, can we ask: Can it be intelligently assumed that the universal illumination of Diwali was in honour of the departed Soul? Can it be further assumed that a huge, bright, and glorious light in the form of the Rishi had kindled countless human heartlights, saw them flickering luminously, and then departed?

Those present around the Rishi’s bed on Diwali Day,

May all negativities be extinguished with the brightness of Diwali Dear Editor, Throughout the world, including Guyana, Diwali is celebrated on Thursday, November 4th.

The sages who instituted this Deepawali custom may have hoped that their descendants would realise its benefits and make it a regular habit in their lives.

Unite and unify

Diwali is a unifying event, and it can soften even the hardest of hearts. It is a time when people mingle about in joy, and embrace one another. Those with keen inner spiritual ears will clearly hear the voice of the sages, “O children of God unite, and love all.” The vibrations produced by the greetings of love, which fill the atmosphere, are powerful.

When the heart has been considerably hardened, only a continuous celebration of Deepavali can rekindle the urgent need of turning away from the ruinous path of hatred.

Prosper and progress

On this day, Hindu merchants in North India open their new account books and pray for success and prosperity during the coming year.

People buy new clothes for the family. Employers, too, purchase new clothes for their employees.

Homes are cleaned and decorated by day, and illuminated by night with earthen oil lamps. The best and finest illuminations can be seen from Berbice to Demerara, and throughout to Essequibo.

The famous Golden Temple at Amritsar in India is lit in the evening with thousands of lamps. This festival instills charity in the hearts of people, who perform good deeds. This includes Govardhan Puja, a celebration by Vaishnavites on the fourth day of Diwali. On this day, they feed the poor on an incredible scale.

Illuminate your inner self

The lights of Diwali also signify a time of inner illumi-

nation. Hindus believe that the light of lights is the one that steadily shines in the chamber of the heart. Sitting quietly and fixing the mind on this supreme light illuminates the soul. It is an opportunity to cultivate and enjoy eternal bliss.

From darkness unto light

In each legend, myth, and story of Deepawali lies the significance of the victory of good over evil. It is with each Deepawali and the lights that illuminate our homes and hearts that this simple truth finds new reason and hope.

From darkness unto light — the light empowers us to commit ourselves to good deeds, and brings us closer to divinity. During Diwali, lights illuminate every corner of the world, and the scent of incense sticks hangs in the air, mingled with the sounds of firecrackers, joy, togetherness, and hope.

Diwali is celebrated around the globe. Outside of India, it is more than a Hindu festival; it’s a celebration

of South-Asian identities, Hindus, followers, observers and other participants.

If you are away from the sights and sounds of Diwali, light a diya, sit quietly, shut your eyes, withdraw the senses, concentrate on this supreme light, and illuminate the soul.

This Diwali season is truncated with so many deaths due to COVID-19 and crime in Guyana. Let us light a special diya for all the departed souls we have lost, and say a special prayer in their memory. Let us pray also for the well-being of all the leaders of this country and the rest of the world, to always do what is best and right for the people by exercising wisdom, care and good judgement.

May all negativities be extinguished from everyone, especially the sick, oppressed and depressed, with the brightness of Diwali.

Shubh Diwali to you and your family.

Respectfully, Jai Lall

1883 would never forget that moment in history when the soul of the Rishi passed on in peace and tranquility. In their experience, it was as if a huge, tall mountain had suddenly collapsed and left them stunned and shocked.

Gurudatt Vidyarthi of Lahore, Punjab, a scientist and agnostic, who was looking at the Rishi all the time, standing on one side of the room, was converted in a moment from being a skeptic to a confirmed God-believer. The moving scene of the Rishi’s calm and resigned ‘death’ forever wiped away from his mind the lingering doubts that he had entertained about the existence of God. Swamiji’s socalled death gave Gurudatt a new life and a new faith.

As Swamiji’s soul flew to the Great Beyond, Gurudatt saw bright visions: one was the Rishi’s death without tears of agony, and the other was the Rishi, comparable to a huge, bright light, kindling, in Diwali style, the flickering light of hope in the hearts of humanity, overcome for centuries by hate, untruth, superstition, and irrationality.

Did death conquer Dayananda? Gurudatt asked himself. Reply: Oh no! it was Dayananda who conquered death. The Rishi cast off life with as little concern as an elephant casting off a garland of flowers. His life was filled with the bliss of the soul, and he made humanity drink from his hand the nectar of that bliss. And now he passed into the reservoir of God’s Bliss.

The Rishi’s followers and admiring friends may lament over his death, but in life, he stood face to face before His God, executing His command, for which he was sent into the world.

Diwali and brothersister relationship Another practice during Diwali is Bhaiyyaa Dooj. On this day, women are given gifts by their brothers, and are held in the highest respect.

While Rakshaa Bandhan is Sisters’ Day, Bhaiyyaa Dooj is Brothers’ Day.

Diwali – a new financial year In North India, Diwali is also the time to close old accounts books and open new ones, and so it represents the commencement of a new fiscal year. Hence, many Hindus celebrate the dawn of a new year.

In certain other parts of India, the celebration of Diwali lasts for five days. Each of the five days is marked with worship and meditation. During these five days, people focus on a celebration of life, joy, and goodness. From darkness we enter into light, and light empowers us to do good deeds and bring ourselves closer to divinity.

Conclusion Diwali calls upon all human beings to recognise that there are many minds living in so much darkness that they see no bright future for themselves. Homes are broken, children run to the streets looking for support from drugs and crime; and generally, people are hungry.

This Diwali, as you and I chant Mantras and kindle little lamps, let us focus on our own selves and the selves of people in the community. Place a deeyaa in your heart, in your home, in your village community, and in the nation at large.

And, finally, let’s remember the soul of Rishi Dayananda Saraswati.

Happy Diwali!

Satish Prakash, PhD

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2021

Page

Foundation

Materials

Transparent glass bangles Craft board Craft knife Pencil Clear adhesive glue Beads Candle

Instructions

Step 1: Select transparent glass bangles for this project. The selected bangles should be of the same size for each candle holder. Take a piece of craft board and place a bangle on it. Use pencil to trace the inner circle of the bangle.

Step 2: Use x-acto knife to cut out the traced circle from the craft board.

Step 3: Place the cut-out circle inside the bangle (the one used for tracing the circle) and apply clear adhesive glue around the side to join the board cut out with the bangle.

Step 4: Now start adding more bangles, one on the top of the other one to create the candle holder. Use clear adhesive glue to join the bangles.

Step 5: Keep adding bangles until reaching the required height for the candle holder. Mix and match different coloured bangles.

Step 6: Add final decorations to your Diwali candle holder by adding beads to the top open end. Add more decorative items if you want to. Now place a candle inside the holder and light up the candle!

Enjoy! You have now completed our bangle-based Diwali candle holder!

Isn’t it pretty?! (redtedart.com)

Diwali is delight, Diwali is delight No dark night, Everywhere light Things are bright, Diwali is delight Have sweet bite, Fireworks at height Joyful sight, Diwali is delight Bliss and peace we should invite On this lit Diwali night Let the glow be bright and bright Nothing dark should be inside Let not crackers show their might Nor should smoke reach new height Let not pollution sharply brite Do what you can in this fight Let’s enjoy the tasty diet But for display it’s only light Diwali is delight, Diwali is delight. (theholidayspot.com)

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Teen bandit shot dead by plainclothes cop …reportedly attempted to snatch chain in Stabroek Market A

16-year-old was fatally shot on Wednesday afternoon by a plainclothes Police Officer after he allegedly snatched a chain off the neck of the rank’s reputed wife at the Stabroek Market, Georgetown.

Dead is Sydel Bourne, of Agricola, Greater Georgetown.

The incident occurred about 14:20h at the second gate of Stabroek Market.

According to the Guyana Police Force (GPF) in a statement, the Police Officer was

Dead teen: Sydel Bourne

in plain clothes and armed with his service pistol at the time. He was with his reputed wife, who was wearing a gold chain, and they were shopping in the Stabroek Market area.

It was reported that the couple were attacked by Bourne, who was armed with a knife and accompanied by two other male suspects.

Although the woman put up a fight, the perpetrators were able to burst the chain off her neck.

Wanted bulletin issued for...

According to the Police, the High Court on Monday dismissed an application for a variation of a production order that was filed by the GRA and directed the Commissioner General to comply, within 14 days, with the production order granted by Chief Justice (ag) Roxane George, SC, on August 12.

The production order was granted pursuant to Section 24 of the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Act, Cap 10:11, seeking the production of documents in the possession of the Commissioner General or a duly authorised officer/

agent of the Guyana Revenue Authority, a body corporate established pursuant to Section 9 of the Revenue Act, Cap. 79:04, Laws of Guyana, with its head office located at Lots 200-201 Camp Street, Georgetown.

“Pursuant to the court order, SOCU has been asking the Revenue Authority for the documents, which are part of investigations into money laundering involving in excess of one hundred and three million dollars (G$103,000,000).

However, the Revenue Authority has refused to produce same on the grounds that it is obligated to safeguard the

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returns declaration and other taxpayer information in accordance with Section 23 of the Revenue Act,” a statement from the Police Force detailed.

It noted that the court emphasised that Sections 111 and 112 of the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Act, Cap 10:11 is clear as it supersedes Section 23 of the Revenue Act Cap. 79:04 and protects the Revenue Authority from liability where documents/information are produced to SOCU. The court further ordered costs against the GRA in the sum of $75,000. (G8)

Undertakers removing the body from the scene at the Stabroek Market

The Police said one of the suspects then told Bourne to stab the woman and it was at this stage that the Policeman whipped out his service weapon and discharged a round in the suspects’ direction, hitting the teenager to his body.

The other two suspects managed to escape, the Police said.

The incident was witnessed by vendors who ply their trade outside the Stabroek Market, and sparked outrage.

Speaking with reporters

at the scene, one vendor explained that she did not see any confrontation between the now dead teen and the couple, and only became aware that something was happening when the armed man ran after the teenager.

According to the vendor, following the shooting, the man picked up his bags and grabbed his reputed wife, and they went to the Outpost to report the incident.

Bourne was pronounced dead at the scene by emergency workers, who had arrived on the scene with an

ambulance, but left without removing the body.

Undertakers subsequently arrived and removed the body. This was after Crime Scene Investigators cordoned off the area much to the chagrin of vendors and members of the public, who had gathered around to get a glimpse of the body.

Meanwhile, the Police did not confirm whether the knife that Bourne used during the robbery was found on his person. An investigation has been launched. (G8)

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Ruby businessman’s murder

Hitman serving death sentence asks court to overturn conviction T he 34-year-old hitman who was handed the death penalty early last month for the murder of an elderly Ruby, East Bank Essequibo (EBE) businessman has moved to the Court of Appeal, seeking to overturn his conviction and sentence.

Linden Lewis and that businessman’s daughter, Bibi Nazeela Habiboodean, were found guilty by a jury of murdering her father Habiboodean (only name given) between February 14 and 15, 2007. There are no records at the Court of Appeal of Bibi filing an appeal against her conviction and sentence.

Bibi, in her late 50s, had contracted Lewis, called ‘Bullet’, 34, to beat her 76-yearold father to force the elderly man to sign over his property to her. It was reported that the pensioner was badly beaten at his home on February 14, 2008. The elderly man, who owned a gas station, died the following day while receiving treatment at a hospital.

Shortly after the businessman was killed, the Police had arrested Bibi and Terry Lewton, who was employed by the late businessman.

However, they were both discharged in 2009 because there was insufficient evidence to sustain a conviction following a Preliminary Inquiry which was held at the Vreed-enHoop Magistrate’s Court.

The murder of the pensioner had gone cold for several years, until 2016, when Police received new leads which led to his daughter being arrested again, as well as the hitman.

That year, Lewis was arrested for questioning about the murders of Good Hope, East Bank Essequibo rice farmers Mohamed and Jamilla Munir.

Police said he confessed to being the hitman in Habiboodean’s murder, and

Climate commitments…

Y Left to right: Bibi Nazeela Habiboodean, Habiboodean, and Linden Lewis

implicated Habiboodean’s daughter as the plotter. The woman later turned herself over to the Police in the company of her lawyer.

The jury in their trial deliberated for close to two hours before emerging with unanimous guilty verdicts.

Despite the verdict, they had maintained their innocence.

“With all due respect, members of the jury…to be honest with y’all, I know y’all is just human beings, and y’all seh y’all find me guilty. I still telling y’all me ain’t do nothing. To be honest with y’all, me ain’t get a fair trial. I gon left everything in the hands of God,” Lewis had said.

“I am innocent of this offence,” Bibi had said in her remarks.

During the trial, Prosecution witness Police detective Inspector Devon Lowe had testified that Lewis give Police a caution statement in which he confessed to killing the businessman on the instruction of the businessman’s daughter, who had promised him $6 million, a house, a car, and a piece of land.

Lewis, Inspector Lowe

said, told ranks that Bibi wanted her father dead because, unlike her other siblings, she did not get any of his assets.

“He [Habiboodean] alone went sitting down in a chair, and he ask me what I doing in the house, and I tell he he daughter send me to kill him.

Then I start fuh cuff he up on he neck, chest and belly, and he stop move,” Inspector Lowe said as he read aloud Lewis’s caution statement in court.

Inspector Lowe testified that Lewis had told him that after he had killed the man, he asked Bibi about his $6 million payment and the other items she had promised him, but she told him that she had to go to the bank. According to the Police Inspector, Lewis related that the woman paid him only $5000.

The murder accused told Police ranks that shortly after, a man by the name of “John” gave him another $5000 and told him to go away in the “bush”, and that everything would be okay upon his return.

The Police witness said Lewis told him, “So I guh way to Puruni Backdam. Two

years after I come back, I hear the matter finish, and I ask John what happened to my car, my money, and house and land, and he tell me the money done on lawyer and tuck shop, and I ain’t got nothing to get.

That was it, and I never ask back for anything, and I never see back the woman.

“Dem take advantage of me cause I deh young and didn’t thinking straight. I even hear my uncle Michael get $7 million from [Bibi] for this same wuk. I did lash [her] father in he head with a wood, and I throw away the wood at the back of the yard,” Lewis said in the statement.

Meanwhile, Bibi, who give an unsworn statement in her defence, denied knowing Lewis prior to her father’s death. Her lawyer, Yearwood, had asked her, “Did you at any time tell [Lewis] that you would give him $6 million, house, land and car fuh done [kill] your father?” The woman responded in the negative.

Yearwood again asked, “Were you in any way involved in the death of your father?”

Bibi answered, “Sir, I never do that, sir.”

In telling her side of the story, Bibi also refuted Inspector Lowe’s assertion of a confrontation being held between her and Lewis at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Headquarters, Eve Leary, Georgetown.

Justice Kissoon, in his sentencing remarks, said the “unthinkable” and “unspeakable” have occurred, considering the circumstances of the elderly man’s death.

The Judge described Habiboodean as a father of 76 years, who toiled and sacrificed over the years, while adding that he was viciously and violently beaten to death in his home in the course of events “conceived, planned, and set in train by none other than his daughter.”

Bibi, Justice Kissoon noted, was motivated by greed and an overwhelming desire for further financial and material wealth, and as a result procured, directed, and commanded Lewis to inflict violence on her elderly father to compel him to sign a document to grant her authority to deal with his interest in property.

Having regard to the circumstances of the case, Justice Kissoon said, the rage and revulsion of society to this crime must be, and shall be, reflected in the sentence of this court. (G1)

…in Edinburgh our Eyewitness is bemused by the outrage of some of the chatterati from Georgetown, and (mostly) foreign, over President Ali telling the COP 26 crowd that Guyana will be cutting its emissions by 70% come 2030. Well…how dare he do this and hadn’t consulted the “Guyanese people”!!

Those same good folks, however, have been demanding we leave our 10 billion barrels of oil and counting (with our toes now!!) under the Atlantic Ocean. Did they consult the rest of the Guyanese population - especially those of us who have to live in our (squalid) Third World conditions while they “cock-up dem foot” in foreign?

You bet they didn’t…but they boldly and arrogantly speak for all “Guyana”!! Never mind the President had already committed to holding NATIONAL consultations on the question of our programme on Climate Change. One local who weighed in was “Joinder” MP Schuman - member of our Indigenous People’s - who complained his folks weren’t consulted. Well, they ARE an important cog in our Climate mitigation efforts, being guardians of our forests and interior regions.

And they’ve been consulted all along during the Norway REDD arrangement, through which we collected some US$250M for conserving our forests. And they WILL be consulted in the next few months. The point of the matter is that forest conservation will only be one part of our overall Climate measure. And we will be monetising this along the lines of the Norway deal, or with the carbon credit market that maybe will finally become a viable reality after COP26.

Indigenous Peoples will directly benefit - as they did in the past from these funds.

Your Eyewitness understands that it would’ve been best to hold the consultations before going off to Edinburgh. But the situation that the President and his Cabinet found themselves in after the 5-month holdout by Granger wasn’t exactly conducive to country outreaches. Has everyone forgotten the riots of West Berbice? The need for the 2021 Budget to be compiled within months to meet the statutory deadline?

The COVID pandemic and vaccine hesitancy? The protests by teachers? The PNC certainly left them with a barrage of challenges!!

So, the President merely presented an aspirational target for our efforts - which we will attempt to achieve through hydro, solar and wind power, natural gas rather than heavy oil, and of course our carbon-capturing forests! All of this must be done within the Government’s GREATER responsibility to improve our living standards by slashing unemployment through policies that encourage the Private Sector to establish more businesses.

The developed countries - the biggest transgressors reneged on commitments from 2015. Did the chatterati censor them?

We’ll simply do our best to do the right thing!! …and apocalypse now?

Well, the biggest contributors to Global Warming, not coincidentally, are also the most developed economies, and they have a nice cozy club called “G-20”. They comprise 80% of world GDP, 75% of global trade, and 60% of the world's population! So, as they go, the world follows! They met just before COP26 started in Edinburgh, and gave us a precursor as what we should expect from them by next week, when the Conference winds down. And that foreshadowing wasn’t such good news for those of us who see disaster ahead if they don’t reign in their inexorable drive to consume more and more - driven by fossil fuel power. They only cagily noted "the key relevance" of halting net emissions "by or around mid-century" - with no commitments on coal.

"This was a moment for the G20 to act with the responsibility they have as the biggest emitters, yet we only see half-measures rather than concrete urgent action," said sustainable development advocacy group Global Citizen. …and the poor G-20 failed to meet their pledge on "climate financing" their 2009 pledge to provide $100 billion per year by 2020 to help developing countries tackle climate change.

Generating “Climate reduction hesitancy” among developing nations to accelerate their emissions redactions!

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

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Murder suspect dies by suicide

Dead murder suspect Davin Persaud

O

ne of the suspects in the murder of Trevor Allen of Parika Facade, East Bank Essequibo (EBE) has reportedly committed suicide, the Police have said.

Dead is Davin Persaud, called “Chrissy”, 28, also of Parika Facade, EBE. Guyana Times understands that the man died at around 01:15h on Wednesday at the Skeldon Public Hospital, after he reportedly consumed a poisonous substance. It was noted that the suspect committed the act while in the company of a male relative at Number

74 Village, Corentyne, Berbice. He was rushed to the Skeldon Public Hospital, where he was admitted in critical condition under Police guard. However, he subsequently succumbed to his injuries.

Allen was, on October 31, beaten, stabbed, and chopped to death by four men. Reports are that Allen was consuming alcohol in the company of his two brothers at a shop in the area at around 20:50h when he got into a heated argument with a known male, who is one of the suspects.

As a result, the suspect held on to Allen and dealt him a cuff to his face, which resulted in a scuffle between them. During the ordeal, the other three suspects arrived, armed with a cutlass and knives. They began to stab and chop Allen about his body.

One of the victim’s brothers, Harvey Allen, made an attempt to rescue him, but received a chop to his back, which caused him to seek refuge in a nearby canal, where he watched the suspects continue to assault his brother.

The Police have said the suspects then armed themselves with bricks and began

Woman robbed, pushed out of car on WCD

O

ne person is now in Police custody in connection with the armed robbery of a 21-yearold woman, which occurred on Tuesday night in the vicinity of the Leonora Synthetic Track on the West Coast of Demerara (WCD).

Reports are that, at around 22:15h on Tuesday, the woman was robbed of a grey LG cellphone valued at $30,000; a black purse valued at $11,000, and containing $14,500 along with her ID and COVID-19 vaccination book.

The Police have said that the young woman had just left work, and had stopped motorcar PVV 5519 to transport her to her residence. She entered the back seat, where a

male was seated, while another male was in the front passenger seat.

While in the vicinity of the Leonora Synthetic Track, the male passenger in the front seat told the driver to stop, while the male in the back seat turned to the victim, and pulled out a silver metal knife with which he cut the victim’s purse and took away her valuables. She was then pushed out of the car, and the driver drove away, heading east.

A report was made, and quick response by the police led to the driver of the said car being intercepted at Windsor Forest Public Road, WCD. A hunt in now on for the other two male suspects. A probe has been launched. (G9)

to pelt at Harvey, who was raising an alarm.

Persons in the area sum-

moned the Police, but upon arrival, the suspects had already made good their escape

on foot.

The body of Allen was seen lying motionless. There

were five stab wounds on the abdomen area and a chop wound to the forehead. (G9)

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AmCham Guyana, T&T seeking stronger trade, investment ties …as Chambers’ Presidents host 1st meeting

I

n a bid for increased trade and investment ties, the Presidents of the American Chamber of Commerce of Trinidad and Tobago (AmCham T&T) and AmCham Guyana have started holding meetings to discuss strengthened collaboration.

AmCham Guyana President Devindra Kissoon and AmCham T&T President Toni SirjuRamnarine recently met

at the Hyatt Hotel in Trinidad, where they discussed increased collaboration. It was the first formal meeting between the two.

The meeting follows the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two organisations on August 6, 2021 in Georgetown which laid the framework for collaboration. The MoU also outlined the respective roles

and responsibilities of both organisations in working to increase collaboration between members.

During the meeting, Kissoon expressed appreciation for AmCham T&T for extending an invitation to the membership of AmCham Guyana to attend the 25th Annual Health, Safety, Security and Environment (HSSE) Conference, which was held virtually.

Kissoon welcomed the support from AmCham T&T. “AmCham Guyana is most grateful for the support given by AmCham T&T, President SirjuRamnarine has repeatedly and sincerely extended a warm welcome to our newly-formed Chamber, and we in AmCham Guyana are most excited to reciprocate. We reaffirm our commitment to support

AmCham Guyana President Devindra Kissoon and AmCham T&T President Toni Sirju-Ramnarine

our respective members in strengthening American commercial business interests in both Guyana and Trinidad,” Kissoon said.

Meanwhile, SirjuRamnarine spoke of the potential for stronger ties between the two Chambers, noting that this was needed with the impact from COVID-19 pandemic on businesses. According to her, she looks forward to this increased collaboration over the next few months.

“We are very delighted to build on the partnership with our colleagues at AmCham Guyana. I strongly believe that our organisations can find beneficial partnerships around issues related to increasing trade and investment, strengthening the rule of law and improving the ease of doing business to create more high-value jobs in our respective nations,” she said.

“We are very happy to continue our relationship with AmCham Guyana through its second President, very much aware of the impact on local business from the pan-

demic. Moving forward and working collaboratively will ensure that our organisations are providing much-needed advocacy and leadership on issues of national and regional importance through the sharing of expertise, contacts, and other resources,” she added.

AmCham T&T and AmCham Guyana are members of the American Chambers of Commerce in Latin America and the Caribbean (AACCLA), which are independent, non-profit business organisations based in 28 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Their primary objective is to promote trade and investment between their countries and the United States.

Collectively, AmChams represent over 20,000 US and local companies and executives managing the bulk of US investments in the Region.

As members of AACCLA, AmChams are affiliated with the US Chamber of Commerce, the largest business federation in the world. (G3)

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“I gon kill you and yuh man!” – exhusband before shooting woman

A

36-year-old businesswoman of Block 22 Squatting Area, Wismar, Linden, Region Ten (Upper Demerara-Berbice) was on Wednesday evening shot to her abdomen by her ex-husband, who had in the past threatened to kill her.

The woman, who operates a grocery store from her home, was in the shop at around 17:00h when her ex-husband arrived and threatened to kill her. “I gon kill you and yuh man!” the man reportedly told his exwife.

The woman did not take the threat seriously, and continued plying her trade as her ex-husband left. At about 19:30h, the woman was still in her shop when the ex-husband returned.

This time he was armed with a gun, with which he fired two shots in the direc-

tion of the businesswoman.

One of the bullets struck the woman to the right-side abdomen, causing her to fall to the ground. The suspect then made good his escape on foot in an unknown direction.

The victim managed to make a phone call to some church members, who assisted in taking her to the Linden Hospital Complex, where she was admitted a patient being treated for gunshot injuries.

Acting on information received, Police arrested the suspect at Canvas City at around 20:45h. the man was escorted to the Mackenzie Police Station, where he was told of the allegation and was cautioned. He opted to remain silent.

He has been taken into custody, pending investigations. (G9)

Berbice woman bites rapist, runs for help …attacked while walking along street

A

21-year-old woman from Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) was on Tuesday evening attacked and raped as she was walking along a street in her community.

In a Police report, it was stated that the incident occurred at around 18:15h, and the male suspect has since been arrested.

Reports are that, as the woman was walking along the street, the suspect ap-

proached from behind, grabbed her by the neck and threw her into a bushy drain before raping her. During the ordeal, the victim managed to bite the perpetrator and escape.

A report was made to the Police, and the woman was escorted to the hospital. The suspect was thereafter arrested and told of the offence, and he admitted. He has been placed into custody pending charges. (G9)

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Oil & gas sector

Govt looking to train 1000 Guyanese per year at National Oil Institute …seeks to better equip locals to take up lucrative jobs

Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo

V

ice President Bharrat Jagdeo has said that a National Training Institute, on which construction will start next year, is expected to churn out as many as 1000 Guyanese

graduates per year for Guyana’s growing oil and gas sector.

During a recent press conference, Jagdeo spoke of local content and the efforts the authorities are making to

come up with a robust policy and framework. One aspect of these efforts involves the Government taking advice from those with oil and gas experience, including from Ghana, which will be sending a team of experts to Guyana.

Another aspect is ensuring Guyana’s labour market is equipped to benefit directly from the growing oil and gas sector through training.

This includes setting up a National Training Institute next year.

“We’re looking to train.

By early next year, we’d start building out a National Training Institute that will hopefully train a thousand persons per year. Looking to train now maybe 600 to 700 welders in a short-term certification programme,”

From left: Minister within the Public Works Ministry, Deodat Indar; GOGEC Vice President Luanna Persaud; Natural Resources Minister Vickram Bharrat MP, and GOGEC President Manniram Prashad at the commissioning of the training centre

Jagdeo explained.

“This is not just putting in place the framework, putting in place a mechanism to

ensure the companies comply with their obligations, but also training people to make sure they can access

the opportunities. Because if you do not do that, they will not be able to,” he explained.

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NEWS

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Former cop wants his rape “We need to have more professional conviction overturned soldiers” – Brigadier Bess T GDF’s 56th Anniversary

wo weeks after he was sentenced to 25 years’ imprisonment for raping a woman at the Turkeyen Police Station, former Policeman Devon Chapman is asking the Court of Appeal to overturn his conviction.

Chapman, 25, along with former Policeman Leon Ashby, 35, were found guilty of the crime on September 27 by a jury. Ashby was also sentenced to 25 years in prison. There are, however, no records of him filing an appeal against his conviction and sentence.

The prison term was imposed by Demerara High Court Judge Jo-Ann Barlow.

On January 1, 2018, in the county of Demerara, the convicts engaged in sexual penetration of the woman without her consent. The duo, who were both represented by counsel, had initially pleaded not guilty.

At about 01:13h on New Year’s Day 2018, the woman had left her Sophia, Greater Georgetown home and had gone to the Police station to make a report against a man who had thrown a squib at her son’s face.

After lodging the report, she had requested to use the washroom, and was guided to

“I

intend to explore several initiatives that will enhance professional military education opportunities for this body of men and women. We need to have more professional soldiers who stand out in their units in terms of knowledge and abilities. You will be given the scope, as I want to see you perform better in your respective duties,” Chief of staff, Brigadier Godfrey Bess, stated.

He was at the time giving remarks during a Thanksgiving ceremony on Sunday held at the Auditorium at Base Camp Ayanganna, Georgetown.

The Guyana Defence Force is this month celebrating 56 years of service to the nation.

Bess took the opportunity to reveal his vision for a more empowered Non-Commissioned Officer Corps. He stated that his goal is to develop the members of the Corps and afford them more opportunities to develop the skills and knowledge needed for them to perform more complex du-

Chief of Staff, Brigadier Godfrey Bess

ties.

“They are accountable for caring our soldiers and setting the example for them, and as experienced and expert soldiers, they play a role in the development of our junior officers,” he expressed.

The Chief of Staff called for a recommitment of service by each officer and soldier. He urged that they continue to uphold the values and standards of the Force.

Brigadier Bess told ranks that they should never forget the sacrifice embodied in each of them, and that their service today would enable the organisation to celebrate hundreds of anniversaries in the future.

“I want to personally celebrate each and every member of this Force. I celebrate you for carrying out your role as a value-added member of this organisation that we all love,” he said.

Govt looking to train...

Earlier this year, it was announced that a new oil and gas training centre had been opened by the Guyana Oil and Gas Energy Chamber (GOGEC). The centre, located in Middle Street, Georgetown, was commissioned in the presence of Natural Resources Minister Vickram Bharrat and Minister within the Public Works Ministry, Deodat Indar.

ExxonMobil, which has largely sourced services from neighbouring Trinidad and Tobago for its operations in Guyana since it started exploration activities here, has said that with the strides Guyana has made to build capacity, virtually all of these services are likely to be sourced locally by 2022 as more and more prime contractors set up shop in Guyana.

Among these prime contractors are Halliburton, a United States-based oilfield contractor that has been providing a range of drilling services to Exxon; Saipem, which has been providing installation services for Exxon’s Liza Phase 2; and

TechnipFMC, which is in charge of installing the subsea system for the Payara oil field - Exxon’s third development in Guyana’s waters.

The presence of these companies in Guyana means there are increased employment opportunities for locals.

Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL) is Exxon’s local subsidiary. It is the operator, and holds 45 per cent interest in the Stabroek Block, while Hess Guyana Exploration Ltd holds 30 per cent interest, and CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of CNOOC Limited, holds the remaining 25 per cent interest.

Over in the Kaieteur block, Exxon is the operator with a 35 per cent stake, while Ratio owns 25 per cent.

Cataleya Energy and Hess each also own a 20 per cent stake in the Kaieteur Block, while Westmount Energy owns stakes in Ratio (0.7 per cent) and Cataleya (5.4 per cent).

Meanwhile, Exxon also holds a 35 per cent stake in the Canje block, where it is

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also the operator. The oil giant’s co-venturers in the Canje block are Total, JHI Associates Incorporated and Mid-Atlantic Oil and Gas. ExxonMobil has said it anticipates that at least six projects offshore Guyana will be online by 2027. A fourth project, Yellowtail, has been identified within the block with anticipated start-up in late 2025, pending Government approvals and project sanctioning.

This project will develop the Yellowtail and Redtail fields, which are located about 19 miles (30 kilometres) southeast of the Liza developments.

The start-up of Liza Phase 2 remains on target for 2022, as the Liza Unity FPSO prepares for sail away from Singapore to Guyana later this year. The Unity FPSO has a production capacity of 220,000 barrels of oil per day at peak rates. The hull for the Prosperity FPSO vessel, the third project at the Payara Field, is complete, and topsides construction activities have commenced in Singapore with a startup target of 2024. (G3)

Rape convicts: Former Policemen Delon Chapman (right) and Leon Ashby

the upper flat of the building.

Chapman, the jury heard, had taken the woman upstairs and pointed her to a hallway, where she did not see a toilet, but instead two bathrooms that were under construction.

After the woman had used the bathroom, Chapman had followed her up the stairs and grabbed her by the neck.

The jury was told that he had “viced” the woman from behind and told her, “You gotto get f***.”

The victim said Ashby, who was there, fetched her into a room and placed her on a mattress on a spring bed.

She said she was placed to lie on her belly. She recounted

that Ashby then pulled down her underwear and raped her.

The ordeal lasted for about 20 minutes.

According to the victim, Ashby then grabbed her neck, while Chapman mounted her and raped her for about 10 minutes.

Notwithstanding the jury’s verdict, both Chapman and Asby had maintained their innocence. “I just want to say that I am innocent, and if this matter ever retry again, I just want y’all to understand that none of this never happened,” said Chapman in brief remarks to the court at his sentencing hearing.

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24 NEWS 2 more COVID-19 deaths, 81 new cases recorded THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

GUYANA COVID-19 DASHBOARD NOVEMBER 3, 2021 UPDATE

NUMBER OF NEW CASES

81

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN INSTITUTIONAL ISOLATION

57

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN HOME ISOLATION

2455

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN COVID-19 ICU

18

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN INSTITUTIONAL QUARANTINE

7

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES BY GENDER (FEMALES)

18,880

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES BY GENDER (MALES)

16,920

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES IN GUYANA SINCE 2020

35,800

NUMBER OF RECOVERED CASES

32,342

TOTAL 1st DOSE VACCINATED

383,943

FULLY IMMUNISED

247,822

TOTAL NUMBER OF DEATHS

928

DISTRIBUTION OF TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES SINCE MARCH 2020 REGION 1

1624

REGION 2

1448

REGION 3

4853

REGION 4

16,996

REGION 5

1301

REGION 6

2683

REGION 7

1752

REGION 8

593

REGION 9

2449

REGION 10

2101

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

Keep a physical distance of at least 6 feet.

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

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

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uyana’s COVID-19 death toll has risen to 928 after two more persons who had tested positive for the deadly virus succumbed.

These latest fatalities are an 80-year-old female from Region Four (DemeraraMahaica) and an 83-yearold male from Region One (Barima-Waini), both of whom died on November 1.

According to the Health Ministry on Wednesday, the male had been fully vaccinated while the female had been unvaccinated.

Meanwhile, another 81 new COVID-19 infections have been detected within a 24-hour period from 1,172 tests conducted. This now takes the total number of confirmed cases in the country to 35,800. However, only 2,530 of these are currently active cases, including 18 patients in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and the remaining 2512 persons in isola-

tion. that is, 57 in institutional isolation and the other 2,455 in home isolation.

There are also seven other persons in institutional quarantine.

So far, some 32,342 persons have recovered from the life-threatening disease in Guyana – 124 recoveries more than the figures reported on the previous day.

Moreover, 357,994 persons have been tested for the novel coronavirus in the country to date, and of this amount, some 16,920 males and 18,880 females were found to be positive.

New cases

Of the 81 new cases reported on Wednesday, one was from the BarimaWaini community of Region One; four were from the Pomeroon-Supenaam community of Region Two; 15 were from the Essequibo Islands-West Demerara community of Region Three;

a whopping 31 were from the Demerara-Mahaica community of Region Four; another five were from the Mahaica-Berbice community of Region Five; 12 were from the East Berbice-Corentyne community of Region Six; eight were from the CuyuniMazaruni community of Region Seven; one was from the Potaro-Siparuni community of Region Eight; and the remaining four cases were from the Upper DemeraraBerbice community of Region 10.

No new case was recorded in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) on Wednesday.

The Guyana Government launched its COVID-19 vaccination exercise back in February, and continues to roll it out across the various regions in order to achieve herd immunity and reduce the number of COVID-19 infections.

To date, over 383,000 per-

Former cop wants...

Ashby told Justice Barlow, “I have been a law-abiding citizen all my life. I have been in the Police Force for 12 years, and I have risked my life and a whole lot of things for the Force. This did not occur.

When my family provides a lawyer and appeal this case, I hope you can retry this case and give me a fair retrial.”

At a sentencing hearing, Justice Barlow pointed out that the former Policemen lured the woman to a place where their unlawful acts

could have gone undetected by other persons at the Police station. Noting that Ashby and Chapman were serving law enforcement ranks at the time, Justice Barlow said that a serious breach of trust had occurred when “ranks who swore to serve and protect violated the woman in the manner she detailed”.

The Judge said the evidence revealed that the duo had threatened to kill the woman if she told anyone about the incident.

“According to the victim im-

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pact statement, fear and anxiety still affect the virtual complainant’s life. There was a total lack of remorse, as [the convicts] indicate that they have not committed this offence,” she added.

Justice Barlow ordered that, during their incarceration, the men undergo counselling tailored for persons convicted of sexual offences. Chapman and Ashby had been released on $80,000 bail pending the hearing and determination of their trial. (G1)

sons, or 74.7 per cent of the adult population, have received their first dose of the vaccine. More than 245,900 persons who are 18 years and older have received their first dose of the vaccine, and approximately 47.9 per cent or this demographic are fully immunised. Moreover, some 27,498 children between the ages of 12 and 17 have received their first dose of the vaccine, and 25.2 per cent of this demographic have been fully vaccinated.

Increasing hospitalisation capacity

However, even as the COVID-19 vaccination drive is ongoing, there continues to be a high number of new infections recorded daily, with the hospitalisation figures also going up. To this end, Government is working to develop the country’s capacity to cater for increased hospitalisations and isolation of COVID-19 patients in each region across the country.

During his COVID-19 update on Wednesday, Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony revealed that each of the regional hospitals is equipped to properly facilitate care of COVID patients.

The Infectious Diseases Hospital at Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown remains the central facility to house persons who require hospitalisation, and has an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) with a capacity to house 59

persons.

“In Region One, we have a section of the Mabaruma Hospital that can accommodate COVID patients. We also have at Port Kaituma, a section of that hospital that is dedicated to COVID-19 patients. That’s where, over the last several months, we have been isolating COVID-19 patients. We also have sections of the Kumaka Hospital in Region One, where we can do that type of isolation as well,” he disclosed.

Government has also refurbished the Suddie Regional Hospital in Region Two, adding ventilators and oxygen supplies. “We have extended the COVID Isolation Centre for West Demerara Regional Hospital, because, as you see currently, we have a number of cases in Region Three and we want to make sure we have the right capacity to take care of those patients,” Minister Anthony said.

The West Demerara Regional Hospital can now accommodate 50 COVID patients, and with its proximity to Region Four, critical patients are easily transported to the Infectious Diseases Hospital.

In Region Five, works are ongoing at the Mahaicony Cottage Hospital to create an ICU space, while at the Experiment Health Centre, one of the buildings has been repurposed to cater solely to COVID patients.

Similarly, at the Linden Hospital Complex and the Mahdia and Bartica Hospitals, capacity has been built to cater for COVID patients.

Only recently, the Government commissioned a six-bed ICU at the Lethem Hospital.

With the infrastructure being put in place, Minister Anthony is also championing the Government’s vaccination campaign. He noted that the spread of COVID has decreased in workplaces, as more staff are being vaccinated.

“If the workplace is adhering to the COVID-19 measures, which means that people would have to keep social distance, sanitise their hands, wear their masks, then you will have a reduction in cases as I aforesaid, if they are fully vaccinated.

So, if people observe these requirements, then the cases will be far less,” he said.

Nevertheless, persons are encouraged to get immunized, since the COVID-19 vaccine provides a layer of protection against severe symptoms of COVID-19.

As more people continue to get vaccinated, authorities are urging the public to continue observing all COVID-19 preventative measures, which include full vaccination requirements to access any public building such as restaurants, places of worship, schools as well as Government buildings. (G8)

Construction worker remanded for jewellery shop robbery

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onstruction worker Jason Cadogan of Seaforth Street, Campbellville, Georgetown was on Wednesday remanded to prison for allegedly robbing five persons at a jewellery shop back in August.

The 24-year-old was arraigned in Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan’s court on five counts of robbery under arms. It is alleged that on August 18, 2021, while in the company of another and armed with a gun, he robbed Bibi Bacchus, Ronald Junior, Suraj Paul, Rajpattie Rangoli, and Sachin Khan of a quantity of gold, cash, and other items to the value of $2.7 million.

He pleaded not guilty to the charges, and his lawyer Latchmie Rahamat asked the Magistrate to release her client on reasonable bail.

She told the court that her client has an alibi to which 10 persons can attest. The lawyer said that at the time of the robbery, Cadogan was attending a party.

The Police Prosecutor told the court that on the day in question, at around 20:45h, business owner Dexter John was at his jewellery shop at Da Silva

Robbery accused Jason Cadogan

Street, Kitty, tending to customers when three men armed with guns stormed the place.

The men demanded that everyone hand over their valuables, and after collecting the loot, the suspects made good their escape on two motorcycles.

According to the Prosecutor, Cadogan was arrested by the Police concerning another crime, and when placed on an identification

parade, was positively pointed out by the businessman.

Cadogan is the second person to be charged with robbing the jewellery store.

The Police Prosecutor objected to him being released on bail, citing the prevalence and penalty attached to the offence. In the end, the Chief Magistrate upheld the prosecutor’s submission and remanded the defendant to prison. The matter continues on November 17. (G1)

NEWS

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Unauthorised use of spectrum

Govt discontinues criminal, civil cases against Digicel after amicable settlement …matter resolved in the best national interest – AG

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he Government of Guyana has discontinued civil and criminal proceedings against Digicel which it had accused of unlawfully using spectrum and owing $2 billion in licence fees, following a settlement between the parties, Attorney General Anil Nandlall, SC, confirmed on Wednesday.

“The issue of controversy between the parties was amicably resolved after prolonged discussions. As a consequence, all proceedings filed by the parties against each other were withdrawn and discontinued,” the Attorney General told Guyana Times.

He was, however, tightlipped about the details regarding the settlement, and only stated that “the Government is satisfied that the matter has been resolved in the best national interest”.

Last month, Nandlall and the Telecommunications Agency filed a lawsuit against Digicel in which it was claimed that the company was unlawfully using 700 MHz and 1800 MHz of

Prime Minister Mark Phillips

the telecommunications spectrum. In court documents seen by this publication, the Attorney General had sought damages in favour of the State in an amount not less than $200,000.

He had also asked the High Court for an order disgorging all revenue and profits earned by Digicel arising out of its unlawful activity, and a corresponding order that an assessment hearing is held and evidence taken to determine the amount to be

awarded to the State.

In court documents seen by this publication, Nandlall deposed that on November 5 and 6, 2020, as part of the Telecommunications Agency’s frequency monitoring exercises, it was discovered that Digicel was unlawfully using the 700 MHz band to transmit between the frequencies of 770 MHz and 785 MHz at its Waterloo Street and Kitty, Georgetown towers.

It was discovered that the company was similarly abusing the 1800 MHz band.

Nandlall had submitted that Digicel’s unlawful use of the spectrum was causing significant interference to GTT and E-Networks. He had argued that the company’s unlawful use of the spectrum was preventing E-Networks and GTT from deploying their services to tens of thousands of Guyanese.

Nandlall had said that Digicel was sent a cease-anddesist letter to stop the unauthorised use of the spectrum. Instead of complying,

Attorney General Anil Nandlall, SC

he pointed out, the company demanded that the letter be rescinded, stating that the spectrum was being used in the best interest of its customers.

Digicel had also instituted legal proceedings against the Telecommunications Agency in which it sought an order to quash the cease-and-desist letter. The Attorney General had also said that Digicel, despite being required to pay one per cent of its gross reve-

nue as a licence fee for its cellular licence, never paid the Government the imposed fee, estimated to be more than $2 billion.

Even though the company was recently invoiced for a portion of the fees, Nandlall had said that the sum, at the time of the filing of the lawsuit, remained outstanding.

To this end, he contended that Digicel was disrupting the Telecommunications Agency and the Government’s efforts to liberalise the sector, warranting urgent and immediate court intervention.

Meanwhile, Digicel Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Gregory Dean had been summoned last month to appear at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on over a dozen charges which alleged that the company engaged in the unauthorised use of various portions of the telecommunications spectrum.

The criminal charges were instituted against Dean

by Prime Minister Mark Phillips, who has responsibility for Guyana’s telecommu-

Digicel’s CEO Gregory Dean

nications sector, pursuant to the Telecommunications Act of 2016. The charges had alleged that the company, on a number of occasions, illegally used the 700 MHz and 1800 MHz bands. Some of the offences date back to 2020.

The Prime Minister had argued that the unauthorised use of the spectrum is in violation of Regulations 9(4)(b) and 11 of the Telecommunications (Spectrum Management) Regulations 2020, No 5 of 2020. (G1)

Doctor’s murder

Employees who ‘found’ body detained …Guyana has lost one of its most experienced biomedical pathologists – Health Ministry

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he medical fraternity was thrown into a state of shock when news of the murder of 49-year-old Dr Collin Roach was reported.

The prominent practitioner was found dead on Tuesday evening in his Duke Street, Kingston office, and two employees have since been detained, Police said.

Dr Roach owned and operated the International Medical Clinic located at Lot 111 Duke Street, Kingston, Georgetown.

Police in a report said two males who work with the doctor on Tuesday said the clinic was opened for business between 07:00h and 15:00h.

After the clinic closed, one of the males went out of the building while the other retired to his living quarters in the top flat, leaving the doctor in his office on the middle flat.

Police said at 20:00h a male was seen exiting the building and returned about seven minutes later and

re-entered the clinic.

About 22:18h, the vehicle belonging to the doctor headed north out of Duke Street.

It was further observed that the lights in the doctor's office were still on which prompted one of the employees to call the doctor on his cellular phone, but he received no answer.

The medical doctor was later found lying motionless on his back in a pool of blood in the examination area.

Police were summoned and a wound was seen on the left side of the doctor’s forehead. Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) pronounced him dead on the scene, and his body was taken to the Memorial Gardens Mortuary to await a post-mortem.

The investigation continues.

Loss to Guyana

The Ministry of Health (MoH), in a condolence statement, said that Guyana has lost one of its most experi-

Murdered: Dr Colin Roach

enced biomedical pathologists.

Dr Roach, the Ministry said, was part of the pioneering team that began revolutionising laboratory science in Guyana and was a leading member of the team that began the transformation of

manual procedures to automated technology.

“When PEPFAR worked with the MoH to establish the National Public Health Reference Laboratory (NPHRL), Dr Roach was the person that led the technical team under the then Minister of Health that put together the plan. He was appointed the first Director of the NPHRL. Later, he was appointed as a consultant to the United States (US) Centre for Disease Control (CDC). PCR (DNA) testing was also pioneered in Guyana by Dr Roach,” the Ministry’s statement read.

At the time of his death, the doctor was in close discussion with the Health Ministry as they began a new era of transformation for chemical pathology.

Family and friends of Dr Roach are also in disbelief at his sudden death, and are trying to put the puzzle together to discover what may have led to his demise.

Scores of persons turned to social media on

The office where Dr Colin Roach’s body was found

Wednesday to express their condolences to his family.

One friend said, “To wake up to this news of your murder, my friend, is beyond shocking. What and who could have done this to you? My heart is heavy and my eyes are filled with tears!

Such a noble, thriving, brilliant, and balanced soul!

What a loss for Guyana!!

Who did this to you, Colin?”.

“It saddens my heart

to learn that I lost a brother and very close friend.

If Kindness was a person this would be him [Dr Roach]. He’s always willing to help without looking for a reward. Always supporting with every effort for the youths around him. My heart ripped out of place,” another friend expressed.

Opposition Leader Joseph Harmon also extended condolences to the doctor’s family and friends. (G9)

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

India will always be a strategic partner Diwali reassures hope, strengthening our resolve to and a friend - Indian High Commissioner mitigate adversities – PPP M

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iwali is universally recognised as the festival of light, the triumph of knowledge over ignorance, and the substitution of all that is negative with that which is positive.

As we celebrate this most auspicious occasion on the Hindu calendar, we call on all Guyanese, in particular our Hindu brothers and sisters, to reflect upon the significance of this great festival and to inculcate its message into their daily lives.

This message is extremely relevant today, in face of the many challenges that impact

humanity across the world.

It reassures hope, thereby strengthening our resolve to mitigate adversities.

Occasions like Diwali continue to present the opportunity for all of our people to display to the world, as one nation, the beauty and uniqueness of our cultural, ethnic and religious diversity and tolerance. Let us all remain open to be inspired by its pertinent messages, and to work for the best interest of our country and fellow men and women, building stronger bonds of togetherness.

The ongoing COVID-19

pandemic continues to impact the customary observances and celebrations of national events. The much-anticipated countrywide motorcades that have become synonymous with Diwali and served to bring our people together will, regrettably, once again be curtailed. Despite the challenges of that reality, we are confident that the light of the diyas will continue to shine into our hearts, comforting and guiding us during this period.

The PPP wishes to extend warm Diwali greetings to every Guyanese, especially our Hindu brothers and sisters.

Shubh Deepavali to all!

May Diwali remind us that we make Guyana a brighter place - GOGEC

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iwali, or Deepavali, is a national holiday observed annually on Amawasya (New Moon) in the lunar Hindu month of Kartik.

The word Deepavali means “cluster of lights”. Deepavali, or Diwali, threatens darkness in all its names and forms, and influences the emergence of an illuminated society in which there exist understanding, mutual respect, love and

harmony.

Diwali signifies the victory of good over evil, of life over death, and of light over darkness. May the modesty of the simple diya that is lit at this time remind us all that we can contribute to making our country and our world a much brighter place by generously illuminating the lives of others through doing good and through being good.

Diwali is not just limited

to our homes or colonies or educational institutions, but has extended roots towards business areas as well; and as we celebrate the festival of lights, the Guyana Oil and Gas Energy Chamber - GOGEC - wishes all Guyanese a sparkling Diwali.

May you enjoy this festive season with your loved ones, and engage in celebrations; and may you be blessed with happiness and prosperity.

Deepavali is unifying Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha

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s the world adjusts to the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, our festivals are staples that keep us grounded, resilient, and optimistic. Powerful messages of unity, goodness and positivity emanate from Diwali - a national holiday, and one of the loveliest festivals on our calendar.

Observed annually on Amawasya (New Moon) in the Hindu month of Kartik, Deepavali, a Sanskrit word, means “cluster of lights”, and this sacred festival has deep significance.

Deepavali is synonymous with Lakshmi Puja - homage to the Goddess Maha Lakshmi, the eternal source of prosperity and spiritual upliftment.

The observance extends over a 5-day period, which begins on the 13th day of the dark half of Kartik, when a single diya is lit on Dhanteras and a prayer is said for longevity and prosperity. The second day, Choti Diwali, a few diyas are kindled, celebrating the defeat of Narkasur, a despot who disrespected and confined women.

Diwali is celebrated on the third day, and threatens darkness in all its forms and influences the emergence of an illuminated society in which there exists understanding, mutual respect, love and harmony.

The principal prayer at this time, “Tamaso Ma Jyotir

Gamaya”: from darkness, lead us unto light, sends the signal of hope, expectation and optimism.

The next day, Pratipada in the bright half of Kartik, is for Goverdhan puja. The final day is Bhai Duj, when sisters tie a thread on the wrists of their brothers, renewing their love.

The festival of Deepavali has spiritual, economic and social dimensions. Its social construct involves families and communities engaged in lighting diyas and in cordial friendly engagement.

From an economic perspective, Deepavali is celebrated at a time when globally there is movement towards ensuring that people are poised to recover from the impact of the pandemic, and prayers are said to eradicate impediments to financial stability. The Hindu perception of “VASUDEVA KUTUMBAKAM”, the universe is one family, fits in admirably with the emphasis on global vision and action for the elimination of poverty and the construction of a world wherein humanity can live in equitable atmosphere.

A deeper spiritual consciousness is encouraged by the festival; people are encouraged to find and kindle the inherent divine light as diyas are lit.

I would like to remind all that Deepavali can make a

profound impact on a negative environment, as it creates a climate conducive to fraternity, goodwill, and mutual respect for each other.

As we celebrate this sacred festival, let us continue our drive and advocacy for the empowerment and protection of children, women, and the vulnerable against violence and abuse; for equal opportunity for all; for a safer and securer country; for protection of citizens’ rights and welfare; and for economic progress and abundance for all Guyanese.

These must remain prominent on our agenda.

It is my prayer that Guyana and my Guyanese brothers and sisters would be abundantly blessed by Maha Lakshmi, so that our country would always enjoy unity, peace and prosperity.

I am delighted to extend greetings to all on this festive occasion, and look forward to an infinite number of years of Guyana continuing to celebrate this beautiful festival in a manner that can be emulated by the world. It is a heart-warming reminder of how beautifully we celebrate our diversity through respect for each other’s traditions, cultures and beliefs.

Let the light of Deepavali burn infinitely, eliminating darkness in all its forms, and fusing us in a bond of love, respect and unity.

Shubh Deepavali to all.

y dear brothers & sisters of Guyana, greetings from the High Commission of India in Guyana.

First of all, let me wish you all Happy Deepavali from the people and Government of India, and from the High Commission of India in Guyana.

Hope you are having a bright and wonderful celebration.

May your life be as colourful, shimmering and magical as the lights of Diwali. May the gleam of diyas enlighten your spirit and vanquish darkness from your life.

It is a reminder of the traditions we share across continents and cultures.

Today, Hindus, Jains, Sikhs and Buddhists - some of the world’s oldest religions - light the diya with family and friends. You celebrate life’s blessings - the triumph of knowledge over ignorance and good over evil.

Guyana, like India, is truly a great, diverse nation, strengthened by the contributions of all people.

The amazing solidarity and brotherhood between all religions in Guyana is the example I give to everyone back home in India.

Bilateral relations between Guyana and India have been growing steadily, and have seen greater visibility and enhanced momentum in all areas. India is a valuable and trusted partner in Guyana’s growth story.

India is committed to further strengthen and deepen the warm and friendly ties with Guyana. Guyana looks towards India for collaboration in many sectors, including infrastructure, healthcare, agriculture, education, hospitality, manufacturing, IT, renewable energy, SMEs etc.

Government of India will be happy to support Guyana in all possible ways to assist in its requirements & continued growth, and encourage Indian companies to work with Guyanese companies with offers of technology support and knowledge-sharing. India is also offering training and

capacity-building in civilian, defence and media sectors for nation building.

Taking this opportunity, I would also like to reiterate that the Government of India, led

by Honourable Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi, is giving greater importance to the Indian Diaspora the world over, especially with our Indian Diaspora in the Girmitiya lands, including Guyana, Suriname, Trinidad & Tobago, Mauritius, Fiji and South Africa, to build everlasting links with the Motherland, India.

India will always be a strategic partner and a friend in need and deed for Guyana.

We pray for the progress and wellbeing of Guyana and its people.

Once again, I wish you all and all your loved ones a Happy Diwali and Happy New Year. I wish you all happiness, joy, prosperity and health. God bless you all. Long live IndiaGuyana friendship.

India’s High Commissioner to Guyana, K.J Srinivasa

Let the diyas of the mind illuminate wisdom in all communities – GAWU

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iwali or Deepavali, the festival of lights, is yet another manifestation of the rich culture of Guyana.

Characterised by lit diyas beautifully adorning homes and temples, Diwali, or Deepavali, reminds us of the powerful message of the occasion. The festival symbolises the spiritual victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance.

Now a nationallyembraced public holiday, Diwali captures the attention — even participation — of thousands of Guyanese citizens, including nonHindus. The festival threatens darkness in all its forms, and influences the emergence of

an illuminated society in which there exist understanding, tolerance, love, and cordiality.

Festivals like Deepavali serve to rekindle hopes and expectations, and influence society in a positive direction.

This year’s Diwali celebration carries even more significance, as our country, and indeed the world, is caught in the throes of the COVID-19 pandemic. As we recognise the massive toll the pandemic has exacted, we are imbued by the message of Diwali. We are reminded that even the darkest night has an end, and mankind will once again succeed in this latest travail.

Absent from this year’s Diwali celebration will be the

colourful and spectacular motorcade floats which attract thousands of Guyanese from all walks of life. While many Guyanese will certainly miss the event, we urge appropriate and safe celebrations, and for our people to abide with the COVID-19 protocols.

Our brief message, therefore, is for the celebrants and leaders alike: Let the diyas of the mind illuminate wisdom in all communities, in places of work and worship, in Government and Parliament, to lighten the poor man’s burdens through righteous policies and programmes.

This is the least, but the most sought-after circumstance that the Union can hope for.

Commit to building upon enduring festival of lights to sustain peace, brotherhood – ERC

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he Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) extends Diwali greetings to the Hindu community and to all Guyanese at home and abroad, even as it reminds of the festival’s pertinent message – the triumph of light over darkness, and good over evil.

The time-honoured lessons of Diwali provide inspiration and guidance for us to cherish the inevitable positives that would bloom after the negatives are overcome. The Commission supports the conviction that positive actions will eventually remove the destructive veil

of division and disharmony in order to achieve national harmony.

For Hindus, Diwali symbolises the lighted path prepared to herald the homecoming of Lord Rama after 14 years of exile and after defeating King Ravana’s tyranny thousands of years ago.

Although the traditional artistic and well-lit Diwali motorcades traversing the roadways are now suspended, the true spirit and illuminating message of Diwali would nevertheless be sustained by the thousands of flickering diyas country-

wide. The significance of this national observance is replete with messages of victory and the emergence from darkness and despair.

The Commission therefore urges Guyanese to endeavour, and commit to building upon, the enduring festival of lights to sustain peace and brotherhood.

The ERC remains positive for the advancement of the multi-religious Guyanese nation and its peoples, but cautions everyone to exercise utmost care to stay safe in the midst of the pandemic.

Shubh Diwali to all from the Ethnic Relations Commission!

guyanatimesgy.com

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2021

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Regional

Guatemalan Police find 54 Haitian ICC to investigate possible crimes against migrants in truck trailer humanity in Venezuela P olice in Guatemala have found 54 Haitian migrants, including 14 children, travelling towards Mexico in a truck trailer with the hope of reaching the United States, according to officials.

Two Guatemalans suspected of driving the truck were detained, Police spokesman Jorge Aguilar said in a statement on Tuesday.

The Haitians were “immediately given assistance and transported to the bor-

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he International Criminal Court (ICC) will investigate whether crimes against humanity were committed during Venezuela’s clampdown on anti-Government protests in 2017, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan have announced.

After a preliminary evaluation, Khan “has decided to move on to the next phase to seek the truth”, Maduro said on Wednesday.

“We respect his decision as a state, though we have made clear we do not share it,” he said. “We have signed an agreement that does guarantee, in an effective way, cooperation, positive complementarity, mutual support, constructive dialogue to seek truth and justice.”

For his part, Khan stressed the court’s independence and said its investigations should not be politicised.

“I ask everyone, as we enter this new phase, to give my office space to do its work,” he said.

Jose Miguel Vivanco, Executive director of the

People protest in front of the Bolivarian National Intelligence Service (SEBIN) headquarters during the visit of ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan, in Caracas, Venezuela on November 3 [Leonardo Fernandez Viloria/Reuters]

Americas division at Human Rights Watch, said on Wednesday evening that the “decision – the first in Latin American history – gives hope of justice to the hundreds of victims of brutal repression by the Maduro regime”.

The ICC has been conducting a preliminary examination into the country since 2018, and Khan’s predecessor Fatou Bensouda said there was a “reasonable basis” to believe the Government had committed

crimes against humanity.

Maduro complained that the Venezuelan State was not given access to the documents and information evaluated during that phase.

“We were blind in that stage,” said the President.

During Khan’s three-day visit to the South American nation, which began on Sunday, small groups of family members of the victims of alleged rights abuses held street protests demanding an audience with Khan.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Chile leftist presidential candidate Boric tests positive for COVID-19

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hilean presidential candidate Gabriel Boric, champion for the left and one of the top runners in pre-election polls, said on Wednesday he had tested positive for COVID-19 and would self-isolate, less than three weeks before the Andean country votes.

In a post on Twitter, centre-left former student leader Boric, 35, said he had just received the positive test and called on his contacts to follow pandemic protocols.

The leader of the broad leftist Frente Amplio coalition, which includes the country's Communist Party, had

gone into preventive isolation earlier in the week when he posted that he had a fever, a challenge for his team ahead of the November 21 vote.

Boric is seen just behind ultra-conservative candidate José Antonio Kast in election polls, with many surveys showing the leftist winning a likely second-round run-off in December.

Chile's presidential election, the first since widespread protests in 2019 rocked the world's top copper producer, is a crossroads for the nation, long seen as a safe harbour for investors, miners, and business in South

America.

Boric's press team said the candidate has already received two vaccine doses against the virus and had been planning to take a booster shot.

"Let's take care of ourselves and ensure no one goes without their vaccine," Boric said on Twitter.

"We will connect to talk about the changes that we will promote together, and once the protocols are met, I will be with you again on the streets. My hugs to all our volunteers who today more than ever lead our campaign."

(Excerpt from Reuters)

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Emergency workers dig for survivors after a mudslide buried two houses in Mallama, Narino province, Colombia [File: Leonardo Castro/AFP]

Eduardo Jose Gonzalez had ordered a search and rescue team deployed to the site and “he will travel first

thing in the morning to the municipality”, the agency said.

However, rescue oper-

grants have crossed the Darian Gap in 2021 so far, according to official Panamanian figures, almost as many as during the past six years combined.

More than 50 migrants have died trying to cross that jungle this year alone, according to Panamanian authorities.

The jungle route is full of peril, including wild animals, armed gangs, and dangerous rivers. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Jamaicans should be concerned by the hypocrisy displayed by Holness at COP26, PNP says

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he Opposition People's National Party (PNP) says the inconsistencies between the words of Prime Minister Andrew Holness on the world stage and his actions at home are quite stark and should concern us all.

In a statement on Wednesday, PNP Spokesperson on Land Environment & Climate Change, Sophia FrazerBinns, said the Prime Minister could not participate in COP26 in good faith, demanding international climate action and financing while destroying Jamaica's vital forest reserves, mature mangroves, overturning NEPA's decisions, and failing to agree on an acceptable mining buffer zone among other things.

“The Government is yet to achieve the delicate balance between economic growth and environmental sustainability even in the face of the unprecedented climate crisis,” Frazer-Binns said.

PNP Spokesperson on Land Environment & Climate Change, Sophia Frazer-Binns and Prime Minister Andrew Holness

Stressing the need for more than words, FrazerBinns said, “We need climate justice for mining communities, many of whom are still displaced and without titles…We need climate action to protect the Cockpit Country.”

“Jamaica requires our Prime Minister to lead with actions not words. As a Small Island Developing

State, our Prime Minister must lead the charge in preserving one of our greatest economic and social assets: our environment. Even as we support international demands for the worst polluters to move towards net zero emissions and deliver on the $100 billion yearly funding promised,” FrazerBinns added. (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

Clutching graveyard crosses, hundreds protest violence against women in Mexico

H

olding aloft crosses bearing the names of murdered

Deadly landslide hits western Colombia t least 11 people have died in a landslide in Colombia’s western Narino province, according to authorities, with dozens more hurt or missing.

The South American country’s disaster relief agency (UNGRD) said late on Tuesday that the landslide occurred after heavy rains in the rural town of Mallama.

At least 10 people were also injured and between 15 and 20 people were believed to be missing, the agency said.

Two buildings were destroyed in the event.

UNGRD director

der” with Honduras, from where they had entered Guatemala illegally.

Scores of Haitians have arrived in Central America trying to reach the US, adding to the already large numbers of people from the region also looking for a brighter future there.

Many Haitians arrive in Central America after crossing the treacherous Darian Gap jungle between Colombia and Panama.

Upwards of 100,000 mi-

ations were suspended on Tuesday because of the potential for more landslides due to rain and were set to resume on Wednesday morning.

Landslides are common in mountainous Colombia, especially during the rainy season and in areas where precarious informal housing and narrow roadways are constructed on deforested Andean hillsides.

In 2017, more than 200 people were killed in mudslides triggered by torrential rains in the city of Mocoa in neighbouring Putumayo province. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

women, hundreds of people marched in Mexico's capital on Wednesday to protest violence against women amid a steady nationwide increase in femicides.

Chanting "We are your voice", organisers used megaphones to read out the names of murdered women in downtown Mexico City.

The "Day of Dead Women" march took place a day after Mexico's national holiday Day of the Dead.

About 500 people took part in the protest, according to a Reuters witness.

Some 762 women were murdered between January and September this year, a five per cent rise from the same period in 2020, according to Government data published in October.

The recent uptick continues the 130 per cent increase in femicides from

2015 to 2020 that has sparked widespread protests calling for urgent action to stop the violence.

From 2015 to 2018, the year President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador took office, annual femicides went from 427 to over 900 and have only increased each year of his administration.

Security Minister Rosa Icela Rodriguez earlier in the day touted a decline in femicides between August and September this year, adding the Government has opened 73 centres for women's justice across Mexico to help female victims of violence.

Emergency calls related to violence against women in Mexico rose more than 30 per cent in 2020, as COVID-19 lockdowns kept families stuck at home.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

28

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2021

Around the World

Iran nuclear deal: Talks to resume within weeks

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi is expected to take a tough approach to negotiations

T

alks aimed at reviving the landmark 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and six other nations are to resume this month.

Iran’s chief negotiator Ali Baqeri Kani said that his Government had agreed to meet in Vienna on

November 29.

The discussions have been on hold since the election of Iran’s new hard-line President in June.

The US pulled out of the deal under President Donald Trump, but Washington has since said it could consider

rejoining.

The Biden Administration said it would attend the Vienna meet, along with the remaining signatories, the United Kingdom, China, France, Germany and Russia.

Writing on Twitter on Wednesday, Kani said Iran had “agreed to start the negotiations aiming at removal of unlawful and inhumane sanctions on November 29 in Vienna”.

Ned Price, a spokesperson for the US State Department, said that a deal could be reached quickly if Iran’s representatives were “serious”.

But he added that the US would expect negotiations to pick up where they left off after the sixth round of talks

in Vienna in June.

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi is expected to take a tough approach to negotiations.

Western nations have been calling on Iran to rejoin negotiations for months, warning that Tehran’s nuclear advances have now strayed significantly beyond the limits set by the original deal.

Under the 2015 agreement, Iran agreed to restrictions on its enrichment of uranium, which has civilian uses, but can also be used in nuclear weapons; the amount of that material it could stockpile; and also the type of machinery (centrifuges) used to perform the enriching. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Asia tourism reopens, but Chinese stuck at home due to COVID

A

sia’s gradual easing of international travel curbs is proving a welcome relief for the region’s hard-hit tourism operators slowly opening up to visitors from around the world – with one giant exception.

China, previously the world’s largest outbound tourism market, is keeping international air capacity at just two per cent of pre-pandemic levels and has yet to relax tight travel restrictions as it sticks to zero tolerance for COVID-19.

That has left a US$255 billion annual spending hole

in the global tourism market for operators such as Thailand’s Laguna Phuket to try and fill.

Managing director Ravi Chandran says Laguna Phuket’s five resorts have shifted their marketing focus to Europe, the United States and United Arab Emirates to make up for the loss of Chinese visitors, who accounted for 25 per cent to 30 per cent of its pre-COVID business.

“Up to today, we have not done significant marketing or promotion in China ... because we don’t feel anything coming our way,” Chandran

said.

The pandemic has cost Thailand an estimated US$50 billion a year in tourism revenue.

Thailand hopes to receive 180,000 foreign tourists this year, a fraction of around 40 million it received in 2019, as it opened places beyond Phuket to tourists on

Biden rejects blame for shock Virginia election defeat

Ethiopia’s war marked by “extreme brutality” from all sides – UN

A

joint investigation into alleged atrocities in Ethiopia found all sides committed grave abuses that may amount to crimes against humanity and war crimes in the yearlong war in the Tigray region.

The report, a collaboration by the United Nations human rights office with the Government-created Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC), was released on Wednesday as the country enters a new state of emergency with rival Tigrayan forces threatening to advance on the capital, Addis Ababa.

It came as the United States State Department said it was sending Jeffrey Feltman, special envoy for the Horn of Africa, to Ethiopia for talks on Thursday and Friday to urge “all Ethiopians to commit to peace and resolution of grievances through dia-

logue”.

“The United States is increasingly troubled by the expansion of combat operations and intercommunal violence in Ethiopia and is closely monitoring the situation,” a State Department spokesperson said.

Michelle Bachelet, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, said the Tigray conflict has been marked by “extreme brutality”.

“Civilians in Tigray have been subjected to brutal violence and suffering,” Bachelet said in a press conference on Wednesday.

“The joint investigation team has covered numerous violations and abuses including unlawful killings and extrajudicial executions, torture, sexual and gender-based violence, violations against refugees and forced displacement of civilians.” (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Monday.

Many experts expect China to keep stringent measures such as up to a three-week quarantine for those returning home until at least the second quarter of next year and possibly then open gradually on a country-by-country basis.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

P

President Joe Biden

resident Joe Biden has rejected suggestions that his Democratic party’s shock loss in the Virginia Governor’s race was a verdict on his presidency.

Biden argued that the miring of his legislative agenda in a Capitol Hill logjam did not affect the outcome.

He cited “Trump voters”, schools, jobs and petrol prices as other reasons for the surprise defeat of Terry McAuliffe.

Republican Glenn Youngkin, a political newcomer, came from behind to win the Virginia Governor’s race on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the New

Jersey Governor’s race went down to a nail-biting dead heat between the Democratic incumbent, Phil Murphy, and a little-known Republican challenger, Jack Ciattarelli.

But the Associated Press news agency reported on Wednesday that Murphy has won that race.

During Wednesday’s White House press conference, Biden was asked whether he accepted any blame for Tuesday’s result.

He said voters are “upset and uncertain about a lot of things”, including the pandemic, education, the economy and the price of petrol.

Biden conceded Democrats should have passed his signature US$1.75 trillion package of social and climate programmes and a US$1 trillion infrastructure bill before Tuesday’s election.

He added: “But I’m not sure I would be able to have changed the number of very conservative folks who turned out in the red districts who were Trump voters.”

Rising inflation, a slow economic recovery, and a chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan have also hit Biden’s approval rating.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

OILNEWS OIL NEWS Oil falls to near 4-week low after big build in US inventories

O

il prices fell to a near four-week low on Wednesday, after US crude stocks rose more than expected, as gasoline inventories in the world’s largest oil consumer hit a four-year low.

Brent crude futures fell US$2.73, or 3.2 per cent, to settle at US$81.99 a barrel, while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude fell US$3.05, or 3.6 per cent, to settle at US$80.86.

That was the biggest daily percentage declines for both benchmarks since early August and the lowest closes for Brent since October 7 and WTI since October 13.

Weekly crude stocks rose more by 3.3 million barrels, more than expected, but gasoline stocks fell to their lowest level since November 2017. US oil market supply has tightened, with stocks at the Cushing, Oklahoma storage hub at their lowest in three years.

The US Federal Reserve, as expected, said it would commence tapering asset purchases this month. Traders said that could sap some speculative buying in risk assets, including oil.

“Markets already have been under pressure,” said Phil Flynn, analyst at Price Futures Group in Chicago. “We’re down because of profit taking from the Fed meeting today.”

US President Joe Biden, speaking at the COP26 global climate summit in Glasgow, blamed a surge in oil and gas prices on a refusal by Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) nations to pump more crude. The average retail price of a gallon of gasoline in the United States was lately at US$3.40, according to AAA, up about 20 cents from a month ago.

OPEC and its allies, a group known as OPEC+, meets today and is expected to reconfirm plans to keep monthly supply increases steady despite calls for an acceleration.

In a sign high prices are encouraging more supply, BP Plc said on Tuesday it would ramp up investments in onshore US shale oil and gas to US$1.5 billion in 2022 from US$1 billion this year. Overall, US output increased to 11.5 million barrels per day, equalling the highest level this year. (Reuters)

US sanctions Israeli firm NSO Group over spyware

T

he Biden Administration has blacklisted Israeli firm NSO Group, accusing the technology company of developing and supplying spyware to foreign Governments “that used these tools to maliciously” target a range of actors, including Journalists and activists.

In a statement on Wednesday, the US Department of Commerce said NSO Group was among four firms being added to its Entity List of companies considered to be engaged in activities contrary to US foreign policy and national security.

NSO Group sparked outrage from rights groups earlier this year after an investigation by international media outlets revealed the firm’s Pegasus spyware was used by security forces and authoritarian Governments in several countries.

The Entity List, which incurs US trade restrictions, includes the Chinese smartphone manufacturer Huawei.

NSO Group and another Israeli firm, Candiru, were added because their spyware has “enabled foreign Governments to conduct transnational repression, which is the practice of authoritarian Governments targeting dissidents, Journalists and activists outside of their sovereign borders to silence dissent”, the Commerce Department said.

“Such practices threaten the rules-based international order,” it added.

NSO Group said it was “dismayed” by the US decision and vowed to advocate to reverse it.

“We look forward to presenting the full information regarding how we have the world’s most rigorous compliance and human rights programmes that are based on the American values we deeply share, which already resulted in multiple terminations of contacts with Government agencies that misused our products,” a spokesperson for the firm said in a statement. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

guyanatimesgy.com

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2021

29

ARCHIE

ARIES (March 21April 19)

TAURUS

DILBERT

(April 20May 20)

GEMINI (May 21June 20)

CANCER (June 21July 22)

PEANUTS

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

CALVIN AND HOBBES

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

SUDOKU

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

Set your sights on what you can do to better yourself. Don't be afraid to try something new or sign up for something that interests you. Expand your horizons and discover new things.

You'll face confusion if you let someone dictate what you can do. Trust in your instincts, follow your heart and use your charm to outmaneuver anyone who stands in your way.

Look at what you can do to get ahead and prepare to take on a challenge. Don't limit your scope of action because of someone's negativity.

Check every angle, and you'll come up with a great plan.

Find a unique way to pass the hours. Participate in something interesting, and you'll gain perspective regarding how to spend your time. Your attitude will push you in a positive direction.

Nothing will be as it appears. Slow down, verify information and question anyone who is being pushy or manipulative. Look for better alternatives before you make a move.

Busy yourself solving problems. Dealing with other people's affairs may be burdensome but beneficial.

Your dedication and persistence will help others and yourself.

Moderation will help you avoid anxiety and frustration. Altering how you structure your spending or manage your investments or accounts will ease stress and encourage you to make further lifestyle changes.

Take stock and eliminate what you don't need.

Minimizing your overhead and clutter will clear the way for what's to come. Make time for the people and pastimes that lift your spirits.

Consider who you are SAGITTARIUS dealing with before sharing (Nov. 23information. Complications Dec. 21) will surface if you aren't specific. Stick to the truth, and question anything that sounds too good to be true.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22Jan. 19)

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

Discipline and fair play are mandatory if you expect to reach your goal. Abide by the rules, set high standards and don't deviate from a plan if it might cost you financially.

Emotional matters will set you off and send you down an unpredictable path. Take a step back and rethink your position before you share your thoughts. You are better off understating a situation.

Count your blessings. It's up to you to bring about the (Feb. 20changes that will give you March 20) a financial edge and connect you to people who share your sentiments and general direction.

PISCES

30

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2021

Batters fire India to massive victory and NRR boost in must-win game was treated like an offspinner

by KL Rahul. In just the first two overs of spin, India had hit three fours and a six; in 16 overs of spin in the previous two matches they had managed a total of three fours and no sixes.

Naveen-ul-Haq was also taken down in the powerplay, which India ended at 53 for 0.

Storm after a lull Hamid Hassan bowled an excellent sixth over, in which he conceded just one run. This started a brief period of clawing back for Afghanistan. In the ninth over, though, Rahul ended a 20-ball boundary drought by helping a wayward Sharafuddin delivery down the leg side.

Rahul and Rohit opened KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma gave India a fantastic start, putting together 140 runs

I

n the 50-Over World Cup in 2007, India followed up their crushing loss in their opening game to Bangladesh with a total blowout of Bermuda with a score of 413, the highest score of that World Cup. After two similar defeats in this T20 World Cup, India have registered the highest score of this tournament – 210 - against Afghanistan, and a big win as a result.

However, India will hope that, unlike in 2007, this win has some consequence. India will now hope that Afghanistan upset New Zealand, following which they can hope to correct their own net run-rate in the last match of the Super 12s, against Namibia.

Against a side missing one of their two big spinners - Mujeeb ur Rahman - India's openers KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma looked more at home, putting together India's biggest opening stand at T20 World Cups. Hardik Pandya and Rishabh Pant then provided India the finishing kick with a 63-run partnership in the last 3.3 overs.

Having put such a high total, India's bowling was too

good for Afghanistan, keeping them to 144, moving into positives on the net run-rate.

Afghanistan's net run-rate dropped from 3.1 to 1.481.

The Rohit-Rahul start

It is extremely difficult to look for anything that might have been different in India's batting when compared to the

69 74 27 35

Extras(b 2, lb 1, nb 1, w 1) 5 TOTAL(20 Ov, RR: 10.50) 210/2 Did not bat: Virat Kohli (c), Suryakumar Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Ravichandran Ashwin, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah Fall of wickets: 1-140 (Rohit Sharma, 14.4 ov), 2-147 (KL Rahul, 16.3 ov) BOWLING Mohammad Nabi Sharafuddin Ashraf Naveen-ul-Haq Hamid Hassan Gulbadin Naib Rashid Khan Karim Janat

O-M-R-W 1-0-7-0 2-0-25-0 4-0-59-0 4-0-34-0 4-0-39-1 4-0-36-0 1-0-7-1

AFGHANISTAN INNINGS (TARGET: 211 RUNS FROM 20 OVERS) Hazratullah Zazai c Thakur b Bumrah 13

Afghanistan field first

For only the third time in their last 16 won tosses, Afghanistan went against their formula of batting first and inserted India.

There are three possible reasons for it: the tournament has been extraordinarily chase-friendly, there is heavy dew, and Afghanistan didn't have Mujeeb. It was an interesting choice, not just for these reasons, but also because it spoke of their mindset.

If Afghanistan felt defensive in Mujeeb's absence, they could have batted first, because you stand to lose more net run-rate points when chasing and losing big.

On the other hand, India were looking for the win first and foremost, and would themselves have chased.

SCOREBOARD

INDIA INNINGS (20 OVERS MAXIMUM) KL Rahul b Gulbadin Naib Rohit Sharma c Mohammad Nabi b Karim Janat Rishabh Pant † not out Hardik Pandya not out

hit five sixes and five fours between them to pulverise Afghanistan.

Shami, Bumrah set Afghanistan back

Hardik Pandya gave India the finishing kick

previous two games. They had no left-arm swing, no extreme pace, no mystery spin to tackle here. The only real challenge for them was Rashid Khan, and even he would be half as effective, given that he had no support.

As it turned out, Afghanistan opened the bowling with an offspinner against two right-hand batters, something you would never ever voluntarily do if you were at full strength. Mohammed Nabi might have got out of that first over with just seven runs conceded, but Sharafuddin Ashraf, who hardly turns his left-arm orthodox deliveries,

up again, and crucially they took down Rashid too. Rashid dealt almost exclusively in wrong'uns, and both the batters looked to hit him into the leg side. Rahul swept him for a four, and Rohit hit successive sixes: a loft over wide long-on and a slog-sweep. They both fell trying to accelerate, but not before having out on 140.

Pandya-Pant finish off in style

This is the worst time to bowl to big hitters, as they have nothing to lose and they know there are more to come.

With no real price on their wickets, Pant and Pandya

For Afghanistan to have any shot at the target, they needed a big start from Hazratullah Zazai and Mohammad Shahzad, but the pace and movement of Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah were too good for them. Shami accounted for Zazai at the end of the third over, and Bumrah for Shahzad at the start of the fourth, making it 13 for 2.

Jadeja, Ashwin turn back the clock

Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Gulbadin Naib slaved some of the powerplay with some lusty blows, but the spinners pulled them right back. Playing together in limited-overs cricket for the first time since 2017,

Mohammad Shahzad † c Ashwin b Mohammed Shami 0 Rahmanullah Gurbaz c Pandya b Jadeja 19 Gulbadin Naib lbw b Ashwin 18 Najibullah Zadran b Ashwin 11 Mohammad Nabi (c) c Jadeja b Mohammed Shami 35 Karim Janat not out 42 Rashid Khan c Pandya b Mohammed Shami 0 Sharafuddin Ashraf not out 2 Extras (w 4) 4 TOTAL (20 Ov, RR: 7.19) 144/7 Did not bat: Naveen-ul-Haq, Hamid Hassan Fall of wickets: 1-13 (Mohammad Shahzad, 2.6 ov), 2-13 (Hazratullah Zazai, 3.1 ov), 3-48 (Rahmanullah Gurbaz, 6.5 ov), 4-59 (Gulbadin Naib, 9.3 ov), 5-69 (Najibullah Zadran, 11.5 ov), 6-126 (Mohammad Nabi, 18.1 ov), 7-127 (Rashid Khan, 18.3 ov) BOWLING O-M-R-W Mohammed Shami 4-0-32-3 Jasprit Bumrah 4-0-25-1 Hardik Pandya 2-0-23-0 Ravindra Jadeja 3-0-19-1 Ravichandran Ashwin 4-0-14-2 Shardul Thakur 3-0-31-0 Ravindra Jadeja and R Ashwin worked in partnership. With two right-hand batters in the middle, Jadeja was brought on first, but he struck in his first over to bring in a left-hand batter for Ashwin, who went on to take out the other right-hand batter first with a carrom ball.

When he got rid of Najibullah Zadran, too, Afghanistan were staring at a highly damaging defeat at 69 for 5.

Nabi, Janat salvage something

Nabi and Karim Janat then played out the bowling till the start of the death overs, and then managed some quick runs to add 57 off 38 for the sixth wicket. Even though Nabi didn't bat till the end, Janat ended up with 42 off 22 to take Afghanistan to 144, runs that might still prove crucial for one of the three teams. (ESPNcricinfo)

Best v Best 3-day cricket…

Cornwall, Reifer, Joseph shine as final ends in draw

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A Alzarri Joseph Rahkeem Cornwall

R

Raymon Reifer

ahkeem Cornwall scored a half-century and picked up two quick wickets in the second innings of the final Best

v Best match in Antigua, which ended in a draw.

Raymon Reifer continued his good batting form, scoring a fine un-

beaten 62, while Rahkeem Cornwall made 54 as Team Blackwood posted 268 all out in replying to Team Brathwaite’s 326-6.

Alzaari Joseph also picked up 4-48 for Team Brathwaite, while Jomel Warrican claimed 3-48.

In response, Team

Brathwaite made 46-4 in 16.4 overs, while Shannon Gabriel claimed 2-24 with Cornwall’s 2-2.

Team Blackwood ended on 57-1 in 16.2 overs when stumps were drawn on the third and final day.

West Indies players are using the Best v Best series

as part of their preparation for a two-match Test series in Sri Lanka. Both of those Test matches will be played at the Galle International Stadium. West Indies will have a four-day warm-up match in Colombo from November 14 to 17. The Test matches will follow on November 21 to 25 and November 29 to December 3.

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2021

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

31

GFF, Kashif & Shanghai join forces for Super 16 Cup

T

he Guyana Football Federation (GFF) and renowned organizers Kashif and Shanghai will be teaming up once again, to bring highly anticipated yearend football action in a matter of weeks.

This is according to a message from GFF President Wayne Forde, that was disseminated on Thursday, followed by a press briefing, where the details of the partnership was discussed.

“K&S has a long track record of organising highly engaging and successful football events, which are vital for the development of football in terms of increasing participation among players, officials, coaches and fans, as well as driving much-needed private and public sector investment in the game.”

“It is my pleasure to announce today that the GFF will, once again, join forces with K&S for the staging of

Wayne Forde

Kashif Muhammad

the 2021 GFF-K&S Super 16 Cup,” Forde wrote in his message.

According to the GFF boss, the Super 16 Cup preliminary rounds will take place at the regional association level across Guyana, with clubs from eight of nine associations competing for places in the finals. A representative XI from the Rupununi Football

Association will qualify directly for the round of sixteen playoffs.

The last collaboration between the two entities came in December-January 2020/2021, when they hosted a short-format “Bounce back” football tournament.

Notably, Kashi and Shanghai are elated to team up with the Federation once

again, in the interest of the betterment of football.

“Football, we think, is in safe hands. This type of collaboration can only do well for football because we see, over the years, even though football wasn’t being played on the outside, the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) was doing a fantastic job on the inside,” “One of the main evidence is the all weather football field that we have outside there right now. So, we’re on our way to making this really good once again,” Kashif Muhammad, one half of the K&S brand, said on Wednesday.

Sharing on the specifics of the tournaments, Forde disclosed that the team is striving to set up a ‘Command Centre’ where information on or about the tournament can be sought out.

“We would like to have everyone involved, the GFF team and the K&S team in one space, with the necessary re-

sources, because we know it’s going to be very, very busy,” Forde revealed.

On the format of the tournament, the GFF President said, “We may end up going to a straight knockout format.

We were hoping to give a little more mileage on the clock with the guys on their legs, but time may not permit. So, we may have to go into the association put two groups this way and have them go at each other.”

Shifting his focus to the Coronavirus pandemic and the strain it may or may not place on the event, Forde stated that weather is the least of the GFF’s worries, and the management of the COVID-19

Rahul Dravid appointed new India head coach on two-year term

Guptill’s brilliance helps New R Zealand see off steely Scotland

N

ew Zealand have gained two valuable points with a solid win over Scotland, who applied themselves better than they did in the first two Super 12 fixtures.

It means New Zealand join Afghanistan on four points in Group 2, which sets up an intriguing clash between the two teams on Sunday. Before that, Afghanistan have to play India, the result of which could also be crucial in determining who progresses to the semi-final (India won that game; see story in this publication).

On a fresh pitch in Dubai, described by the television commentators as the best for run-scoring in the tournament so far, New Zealand posted 172 for 5, thanks largely to a 105-run fourth-wicket stand between Martin Guptill and Glenn Phillips. Guptill went on to score a 50-ball 93.

Scotland's chase was steady, and even threatening in parts, but they struggled to keep up with the required run-rate. They reached their 50 in 6.2 overs, and needed 97 runs off the last 10.

Mitchell Santner and Tim Southee were miserly, but Scotland stayed in the hunt until close to the end. An unbeaten 50-run stand between Michael Leask and Chris Greaves kept them in with a chance until the last over, but New Zealand's experience held out.

Martin's milestones Guptill anchored and then accelerated New Zealand's innings, and enjoyed several achievements along the way. He became the second batter to reach 3000 T20I runs when he sent an Alasdair Evans leg-stump half-volley over backward square leg for six.

Guptill is second only to Virat Kohli in T20I runs, and is only 156 runs behind. He also became the batter with the most sixes in this format, when he slog-swept Chris Greaves onto the top tier of the stands. That was Guptill's 150th six in T20Is and measured 102 metres, one short of the biggest in the tournament so far.

Guptill shared in a 105-run stand with Phillips, which formed the spine of New Zealand's total, and was in a good position to bring up his third T20I hundred, but was out when he chipped Brad Wheal to long-on to end what looked like an exhausting innings.

Sharif's double-strike in the powerplay Safyaan Sharif pulled Scotland back from their worst start in this tournament - an opening over that cost 13 runs - when he gave away only a single in the second over. Then, he changed ends and pushed them ahead with a double-strike in the fifth over, which was one wide away from giving Scotland their first maiden over at this com-

picking the knuckle ball and driving it through the covers. He got a top-edge as he tried to pull the fourth a bouncer - and it went over the wicket-keeper's head for four, and then he settled to slice the fifth ball past gully. The final delivery was back of a length and could have been swatted through

petition.

With the first ball of his second over, Sharif had Daryl Mitchell trapped on the back pad with a delivery that looked a touch too high at first glance. Ahsan Raza raised his finger and Mitchell reviewed, but ball-tracking showed the ball tickling the bails, and the decision was upheld.

Four balls later, Sharif bagged one of the wickets of his career when Kane Williamson followed a delivery headed down the leg side, Matthew Cross took a diving catch to his left and Williamson walked.

New Zealand were 36 for 2, which became 52 for 3 when Devon Conway was dismissed for 1, and they in some trouble.

Martin Guptill scored a 56-ball 93

Post-powerplay strangle Scotland applied a squeeze through spin in the four overs after the Powerplay to put the brakes on New Zealand. Mark Watt and Chris Greaves gave away just 18 runs in 24 balls between overs 6-10, with only one boundary. Watt also got rid of Conway in that time to continue a magical run at this T20 World Cup. He has taken at least one wicket in all the nine matches he has played at the men's T20 World Cup. And he has been miserly too. Watt has conceded less than 24 runs in all but his debut game, where he went for 30 runs.

Maiden and then the most The 13th maiden over at this competition came from Adam Milne, who bowled the fourth over of Scotland's chase. All six of his deliveries were back of a length and speedy.

He reached up to 147kph and beat Matthew Cross three times in the over to complete only his second runless over in his format. His first was vs Pakistan in 2016.

But Milne did not have the final say on the Powerplay after Cross got his own back in the sixth over, when he hit five successive fours, and should have had a sixth.

Cross pulled the first two balls before

mid-wicket, but Cross inside-edged onto his pad.

It's only the second time we've seen five fours in an over in the men's T20I World Cup, after Jacques Kallis did the same against Scotland's Jan Stander in 2009. (ESPNcricinfo)

SCOREBOARD

NEW ZEALAND INNINGS (20 OVERS MAXIMUM) Martin Guptill c MacLeod b Wheal 93 Daryl Mitchell lbw b Sharif 13 Kane Williamson (c) c †Cross b Sharif 0 Devon Conway † c †Cross b Watt 1 Glenn Phillips c Greaves b Wheal 33 James Neesham not out 10 Mitchell Santner not out 2 Extras (lb 5, w 15) 20 TOTAL (20 Ov, RR: 8.60) 172/5 Did not bat: Adam Milne, Tim Southee, Ish Sodhi, Trent Boult Fall of wickets: 1-35 (Daryl Mitchell, 4.1 ov), 2-35 (Kane Williamson, 4.5 ov), 3-52 (Devon Conway, 6.1 ov), 4-157 (Glenn Phillips, 18.2 ov), 5-157 (Martin Guptill, 18.3 ov) BOWLING Brad Wheal Safyaan Sharif Alasdair Evans Mark Watt Chris Greaves Michael Leask

O-M-R-W 4-0-40-2 4-0-28-2 4-0-48-0 4-0-13-1 3-0-26-0 1-0-12-0

SCOTLAND INNINGS (TARGET: 173 RUNS FROM 20 OVERS) George Munsey c Southee b Sodhi 22 Kyle Coetzer (c) c Southee b Boult 17 Matthew Cross † b Southee 27 Richie Berrington c †Conway b Sodhi 20 Calum MacLeod b Boult 12 Michael Leask not out 42 Chris Greaves not out 8 Extras (lb 2, w 6) 8 TOTAL (20 Ov, RR: 7.80) 156/5 Did not bat: Mark Watt, Safyaan Sharif, Alasdair Evans, Brad Wheal Fall of wickets: 1-21 (Kyle Coetzer, 2.4 ov), 2-66 (George Munsey, 7.5 ov), 3-76 (Matthew Cross, 10.5 ov), 4-102 (Calum MacLeod, 14.5 ov), 5-106 (Richie Berrington, 15.4 ov) BOWLING Trent Boult Tim Southee Adam Milne Mitchell Santner Ish Sodhi

O-M-R-W 4-0-29-2 4-0-24-1 4-1-36-0 4-0-23-0 4-0-42-2

situation being intrinsic to the success of the tournament.

“In our planning we have to cater for every eventuality.

December being a wet month is not anything that we’re unaccustomed to, the good thing is that we have a venue that is not affected by the weather, so I think that we’re going to be good with that,” Forde shared.

He added, “The one that we have to really manage is the COVID-19 situation and there is where, the only way we can succeed, that is if we have the full cooperation of our players, our officials and our fans. If we don’t have that, then we have some challenges that we prefer not to deal with.”

ahul Dravid will succeed Ravi Shastri as head coach of the national men's team after the ongoing T20 World Cup in the UAE. Dravid's two-year term will begin with the upcoming home series against New Zealand, starting November 17.

"It is an absolute honour to be appointed as the new head coach of the Indian cricket team, I am really looking forward to this role," Dravid was quoted as saying in a BCCI statement. "Under Mr (Ravi) Shastri, the team has done very well, and I hope to work with the team to take this forward.

"Having worked closely with most of the boys either at NCA [National Cricket Academy], U19 and India A setup, I know they have the passion and desire to improve every day. There are some marquee multi-team events in the next two years, and I look forward to working with the players and the support staff to achieve our potential."

"Rahul's effort at the NCA has nurtured several young cricketing talents who have gone on to represent the country at the international stage. I am hopeful that his new stint will take Indian cricket to new heights"- Sourav Ganguly Dravid's appointment made official by the cricket advisory committee comprising Sulakshana Naik and RP Singh on Wednesday - was always on the cards after he sent in a formal application for the position. This was after he was convinced to do so

by Sourav Ganguly, Dravid's former team-mate who is now the BCCI president, along with the board's top brass following meetings during the IPL playoffs last month.

"Rahul's effort at the NCA has nurtured several young cricketing talents who have gone on to represent the country at the international stage," Ganguly said. "I am hopeful that his new stint will take Indian cricket to new heights.

Rahul has had an illustrious playing career and is one of the greats of the game. He has also served Indian cricket as Head of National Cricket Academy (NCA) with distinction."

Dravid has been director of the NCA in Bengaluru following four years as coach of India A and India Under-19.

Under him, India reached two Under-19 World Cup finals, losing one (to West Indies in 2016) and winning one (against Australia in 2018). At the NCA, Dravid helped set up a process for injury management and rehabilitation, as well as training programmes for coaches across the country, and developed roadmaps for age-group, men's and women's cricket.

In July, Dravid stepped in as interim head coach for the limited-overs series in Sri Lanka. The series was held concurrently with the men's Test tour of England, which was helmed by Shastri. Since then, speculation has been rife about Dravid taking over full time after Shastri's tenure ended.

Shastri, who replaced Anil Kumble in July 2017, will end his stint as head coach with many accomplishments. Under him, India became the first Asian team to beat Australia in Australia (2018-19) in a Test series. They went on to repeat that feat earlier this year.

India also made a run to the final of the inaugural World Test Championship, which they lost to New Zealand. Soon after that, they took a 2-1 lead in the five-Test series in England before the series was postponed - the final Test will take place next year - because of a Covid-19-related concern in the Indian camp.

Dravid's support staff is set to be announced in due course.

Paras Mhambrey, Dravid's colleague at the NCA, is the front-runner to replace Bharat Arun as bowling coach, while Abhay Sharma and Ajay Ratra are among those who have applied for the position of fielding coach. On Wednesday, current batting coach Vikram Rathour confirmed his re-application for the position.

Dravid takes over at a busy time, with India set to host New Zealand for three T20Is and two Tests. In December, India are scheduled to tour South Africa for three Tests, three ODIs and four T20Is. Upon their return, India will host West Indies, Sri Lanka and South Africa as part of the 2021-22 home season.

Among Dravid's immediate challenge is to oversee the captaincy transition in the T20I format with Virat Kohli set to give up captaincy after the T20I World Cup. (ESPNCricinfo)

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2021

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

14th MACORP Golf Tourney BCB Patron’s Fund social skills seminar starts on Saturday to tee off this Saturday … top players to participate -20+ youths to receive funds under Patron’s Educational Grant

T

By Timothy Jaikarran

T

he Lusignan Golf Club (LGC) will come alive yet again as the MACORP Golf tournament, set for this Saturday November 6, 2021, is hosted.

Tee-off time is set for 12:00 hrs, and the format will be medal play over 18 holes net scores in 4 flights and shotgun start. It is expected that some of the top players from Guyana and around the region would be participating in this highly anticipated tournament.

MACORP CEO Guillermo Escarraga, in delivering the feature address, stressed on the importance of supporting the Lusignan Golf Club. “We understand that golf is a tough game that requires the highest of standards for you to be a good player, and we believe in those high standards and we put them in practice in everything that we do; that is why our association with golf is so important to us. We want to invite the youth to come and play. This is a wonderful game to improve and better yourself, because there are a lot of skills, commitment and discipline that are required, and we want to embrace those values.

We want to promote those values through the game of golf in Guyana,” Escarraga declared.

Also speaking at the simple ceremony was Lusignan Golf Club President, Patanjilee Persaud, who praised the MACORP Group. “I would like to congratulate MACORP and

MACORP CEO Guillermo Escarraga handing over the cheque to LGC President, Patanjilee Persaud

CATERPILLAR for playing an important part in assisting the Lusignan Golf Club in its maintenance. We have called on them many times, and they have shown good corporate social responsibility for helping and assisting golf and in general sports.

“Golf is a unique sport. It brings authenticity to persons, it brings out the character in you, it is an ethical game. You are left unto yourself to regulate and monitor yourself,” Persaud declared.

The flights will be Men’s 0-9,10-18, 19-28, and Ladies 0-36. The prizes will be given out from first to third position in each flight based on net scores. There will also be prizes for nearest to flag, longest drive, best net overall-champion player of the day, and best gross.

Moreover, golfing paraphernalia will be distributed to all players, and there will be a card raffle at the end of the

presentation ceremony.

All participants are advised to contact the club’s manager on the day of the tournament to collect their score cards, pay the tournament fees, and proceed to their allocated tee boxes to tee off.

Presentation of prizes will be held upon the completion of the tournament, at around 5:30pm.

Persons interested in registering are asked to contact Lusignan Golf Club on 2205660. Registration closes at noon tomorrow. All COVID protocol will be observed.

Fifteen years ago, MACORP joined with the Lusignan Golf Club, and has since continuously supported the club. MACORP is known for its support of community service projects and sports in Guyana. MACORP is the only authorised dealer of Caterpillar products in Guyana.

he Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) will, on Saturday November 6, be hosting the first of four social skills seminars for a combined 160 youths across the proverbial Ancient County. This first seminar would be held at the New Amsterdam Secondary School and would be declared open by the BCB Patron, the Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat, and BCB President Hilbert Foster.

Some 42 youths drawn from the New Amsterdam/ Canje area would attend the seminar, which would be conducted by graduate students of the Social Work Programme of the University of Guyana Tain Campus, and by other qualified personnel.

Foster has said the seminars are the brainchild of the BCB Patron Vickram Bharrat, who said he wants the county to produce players of the highest calibre on and off the cricket field.

Among the topics that would be discussed are public speaking, table manners, basic mannerisms and etiquette, balancing sports and education, problem management/conflict resolution, leadership, team building, and mental health.

Participants of the first seminar would be drawn

BCB President, Hilbert Foster

BCB Patron Vickram Bharrat, the Minister of Natural Resources

from the following cricket clubs: Edinburgh, Mt Sinai, Tucber Park, East Bank Blazers, Guymine, Rose Hall Canje and the Kendall’s Union.

Foster has disclosed that similar seminars would be held for youths in three other areas - West Berbice, on November 13 at the Fort Wellington Secondary School; Upper Corentyne, on November 20th at the Skeldon Community Centre; and for the Lower Corentyne, on November 27th at the Albion Community Centre.

These seminars would be followed by a one-day mini cricket academy in each of the sub-associations on the day immediately following the seminar. Those

academies would be held at Rose Hall Canje, Cotton Tree, Skeldon, and Albion respectively, and would be conducted by a battery of cricket coaches, which includes Winston Smith, Leslie Soloman, Julian Moore, Balram Samaroo and Travis Hardcourt.

During the seminars, the BCB would be handing over educational grants to 5 students in each sub-association under the BCB Patron’s Fund. The BCB has, over the last four years, placed much emphasis on the promotion of education among its players, and hundreds of youths have benefited over from grants and donations of educational materials, school bags and cycles.

ICC T20 World Cup…

We have not done justice to our talents, says Pollard T

By Brandon Corlette

he West Indies having played three games in the ICC T20 World Cup, have thus far recorded a solitary win after suffering two heavy defeats. Captain Kieron Pollard and his team will be playing Sri Lanka today (Thursday November 4) from 10:00h Eastern Caribbean time, and again the batting will be in focus, since that aspect of the West Indies’ game has been a letdown.

In three innings, Evin Lewis has scored 68 runs and Nicholas Pooran 53 runs; they lead the West Indies’ poor batting effort. Akeal Hosein continues to be the stand-out bowler with four wickets in three

outings at a top economy rate of 6.25.

After such poor collective performances, Pollard does not seem to be arrogant, and has accepted that the team performed poorly. Speaking on the eve of the match in a virtual press conference, Pollard said that, from a batting perspective, team members have not done justice to their talents.

Pollard, who left the field during the batting innings, and did not play a part while Bangladesh were batting, also said he is feeling “okay”.

"I am feeling pretty okay. I did some training over the last couple days or so, and I pulled up pretty well. It's just a matter of putting the final touches and see what happens tomor-

row," Pollard indicated.

While sharing his message to the fans, Pollard said: "Most of the fans are disappointed with the position we are in as a team, and it is something we accept. We have couple games to try and finish the tournament on a high; finish the preliminary stages and see mathematically where we sit. But the main focus is winning the two games, and everything can take care of itself afterwards."

Despite the poor defence to the T20 World Cup, Pollard's men are confident and hungry to show their pride with a win.

"Nothing is impossible. What I can safely say is, ‘Yes the guys are confident’. We know what is needed, especially from a runrate perspective, and we will

take all things into consideration when that match starts.

It is important we continue to try and improve, especially from a batting perspective.

"Mood is good from play-

ers. The mindset is good, the mood has not dropped. As individuals, we are disappointed how things transpired. The pride that these guys have, they would want to give good

account of themselves."

West Indies will be up against the new number one T20I bowler Wanindu Hasaranga. Pollard described the leg-spinner as a trump card, but has said that, as a unit, the West Indies have spoken about, and planned for, the entire Sri Lanka team. "We are coming up against a Sri Lanka team and we are looking forward to playing a good solid game of cricket," Pollard said.

Sri Lanka are out of the T20 World Cup, and West Indies’ chances are hanging by the thinnest of threads. With surrounding noise, the 'big boys' will have an opportunity to prove themselves, and, in the process, give the West Indies something to smile about.

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