Guyana Times - Thursday, October 14, 2021

P21

Local companies urged to up game to match First World countries

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See story on page 7

Issue No. 4800

THE BEACON OF TRUTH THURSDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2021

PRICE

US Ambassador lauds progress as Guyana improves on rule of law index

WHAT'S INSIDE:

Mahdia woman found murdered P5 in home

…AG assures Guyana firmly on course of respect for law

Govt secures financing from Islamic bank for hydropower projects See story on page 3

…GEA now seeking consultants to review designs, supervise construction

Bandit shot, accomplices nabbed after Bourda jewellery Page store robbery 2 …“This is a great embarrassment to my life” – mother to shot son

Misconduct in public office

PI into charges against Roxanne Myers to proceed Page – High Court rules 8

Albion Estate field workers down tools

$80 VAT INCLUDED

3 more P9 & 21 COVID-19 deaths, 150 new cases …36 persons in ICU …as Govt considers booster shot for people with weaker immune systems

Lack of gender diversity on State Boards raised by P10 Women Commission

…as Commission hands over reports to Parliament

8-year-old hit by car while P10 crossing road Ex-cop freed of reputed P22 wife’s murder Page 5

…want $250,000 announced for severed workers

2 NEWS

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Bandit shot, accomplices nabbed after Bourda jewellery store robbery …“This is a great embarrassment to my life” – mother to shot son

T

hree suspects who pulled off a daring robbery at Bharat’s Jewellery Store on Robb Street and Orange Walk, Bourda, Georgetown on Wednesday are now in Police custody after being caught shortly after the pilfering. One of the bandits was shot in the process.

The suspect was shot to his leg, after cops stormed the South Road, Georgetown

area just moments after they received reports of the robbery.

Guyana Times understands that the injured bandit and his two accomplices had just robbed the Bharat’s Jewellery Store and ended up in the South Road area.

The trio were cornered

by Police, and immediately went into hiding.

It was reported that during the officers’ search, a

man was found with a gunshot wound by a mob of persons, who found him hiding in a yard in the vicinity.

This publication was told by a resident that he was alerted that the bandits were lurking in the area after a stray bullet struck his water tank.

He was unable to give further details. Police have

entered.

He said he turned away for less than a minute and then he heard a loud sound; as he turned around, one of the perpetrators, who was armed with a gun, pointed the weapon at him.

His two accomplices attempted to smash one of the showcases, but it did not break and they went to an-

The shot suspect in the Police vehicle A large crowd gathered along South Road

since said that no rank fired any shots and it is unclear how the man received the gunshot wound.

After almost one hour of searching the area, law enforcement officers managed to arrest the other two suspects.

They are now in Police custody assisting with investigations.

Meanwhile, the 48-yearold owner of Bharat’s Jewellery Store explained that he was at his store on Wednesday about 12:15h when the three young men

other showcase which they broke and removed a quantity of jewellery before escaping with a cellphone valued $38,000, a small quantity of gold chains, rings and earrings.

They then ran south on Orange Walk.

Police in a statement said that a 30-year-old salesman at the jewellery store was also robbed.

According to Police, ranks on patrol duty were informed of the robbery and they gave chase in the suspects’ direction as they headed to South Road, Georgetown.

The suspects – on seeing the ranks – continued to run in different directions in or-

der to escape, but they were cornered between Orange Walk and Alexander Street.

“One of the suspects, who sustained what appeared to be a gunshot wound to his right upper thigh, was searched, but nothing was found on him or the others,” the Police said.

The injured suspect was escorted to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where he is presently receiving medical attention under Police guard.

This is the second time in five years that the Bharat’s Jewellery Store has been robbed. In 2016, bandits flocked the store and made off with a quantity of valuables.

On the scene, the mother of the shot bandit, in great frustration, told him: “This

is a great embarrassment to my life” as Police arrested him.

Meanwhile, business owners in the area while commending Police for the quick response said that the presence of more law enforcement was needed.

One business owner told this publication that only last week a stall owner in the Bourda Market was robbed in a similar manner.

“The City Constabulary is a waste of time; the Police need a better presence in the area. Christmas is approaching and better security measures need to be put in place to protect businesses and citizens.

Something needs to be done about security in this country,” one businessman said. (G9)

3 Govt secures financing from Islamic bank for hydropower projects NEWS

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS OPENINGS BRIDGE

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

Thursday, October 14 – 00:30h-02:00h and 11:30h-13:00h and Friday, October 15 – 01:00h-02:30h and 12:30h-14:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Thursday, October 14 –11:35h-13:05h and Friday, October 15 – 12:50h-14:20h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Sunny conditions are expected throughout the day. Partly cloudy to clear skies are expected in the night. Temperatures should range between 22 degrees Celsius and 32 degrees Celsius.

Winds: South South-Westerly to East NorthEasterly between 1.78 metres and 4.92 metres.

High Tide: 11:32h and 23:57h reaching maximum heights of 2.05 metres and 2.13 metres.

Low Tide: 17:25h reaching a minimum height of 1.22 metres.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2021

LOTTERY NUMBERS O

02 06 08

14 20 26

FREE TICKET

23 Bonus Ball

DAILY MILLIONS

06 12 18 19 20 LUCKY 3

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0

1

2

Afternoon Draw

1

5

Evening Draw

DRAW DE LINE

01 03 06 08 10 11 19 SUPER

PAY DAY

PAY DAY

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2021

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08 10 11 17 20

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

COMMODITIES Indicators

US$

Change %

Crude Oil

$83.18/barrel

-0.29

Rough Rice

$248.67/ton

+0.05

London Sugar

$521.90/ton

+0.42

Live Spot Gold

USD Per Ounce

Bid/Ask

$1790.50

$1791.50

Low/High Change

$1757.50 -2.30

$1797.20 - 0.13%

…GEA now seeking consultants to review designs, supervise construction

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he Government of Guyana, which has been ushering in a slew of projects that will cut Guyana’s reliance on Heavy Fuel Oil (HFO), has now secured funding from the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) for renewable energy projects.

According to the Guyana Energy Agency (GEA), funding has been secured from the Bank for the cost of the “Small Hydropower Project”, and some of that money will go towards consultancy services.

The GEA has, in fact, started tendering for consultants, issuing a notice inviting bids from firms for “Design Review and Construction Supervision of two hydropower plants”.

One project entails the construction of a new 0.5 megawatt (MW) hydropower plant at Kumu in the Rupununi and the other, the rehabilitation and upgrade of the Moco Moco hydropower facility, to 0.7 MW. “The consultancy services will be carried out over a period of 33 months from March 2022 to December 2024. The Guyana Energy Agency, the executing agency, now invites eligible consulting firms to indicate their interest in providing the services,” the GEA said in its notice.

“Interested consultants must provide specific information which demonstrates that they are qualified to perform the services (including brochures, description of similar assignments completed and/or ongoing, experience in similar conditions, availability of appropriate skills among staff, proof of legal status, company profile and contact details for authorised contact person(s) and financial status including audited financial statements for the last three years).”

It was only on Monday that Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo led a national stakeholder consultation at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC) aimed at updating Guyana’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) ahead of the convening of the United Nations COP26 summit.

Guyana’s last NDCs saw the country committing to 100 per cent renewable energy by 2025, a commitment that was unrealistic and is now being updated with more realistic goals and the projects to back them up. During the session, Jagdeo spoke of some of those projects that would help Guyana to increase its use of renewable energy.

“The gas-to-energy proj-

The defunct hydropower facility at Moco Moco

ect will, hopefully, by 2024, 2025, cut our emissions by 50 per cent. And then with solar, we hope to do between 30 to 50 megawatts of solar. And with the hydro, we’ve just opened the tender for hydro. We’re hoping that by 2027, we will probably achieve a 70 per cent cut in emissions,” the Vice President had said.

Jagdeo noted that with Guyana Power and Light (GPL) currently supplying approximately 140 megawatts of power, 500 megawatts of new power from renewable sources will severely cut emissions.

The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Administration is looking to have the gas-to-shore project done by 2023, and in an effort to further push this initiative, it has stipulated stiff fines and penalties in the Payara Licence against flaring of excess natural gas – something which Exxon has been flagged for doing in the Stabroek Block.

Exxon itself has said that the gas that would be required for the gasto-shore project is available. Estimates have put the figure required for the gas-to-shore project at 30 to 35 million cubic feet of natural gas.

Previously-released data from Norwegian research company Rystad Energy on Guyana had indicated that a little less than 20 per cent of the 1.8 billion Barrels of Oil Equivalent (BOE) discovered last year was gas.

The Haimara discovery made by Exxon last year was found to have 207 feet of high-quality gas condensate sandstone reservoirs.

But for reasons unclear, little progress was made by the previous A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government on the gas-to-shore project. There had only been talk of natural gas and

liquid petroleum plants, with the pipe carrying the gas to shore at a location along the East Coast of Demerara (ECD) and the power being integrated into the GPL grid.

Besides the gas-toshore project and the hydropower projects at Kumu Falls and Moco Moco, the Government is also bringing back the Amaila Falls Hydropower Project (AFHP). In fact, bidding was recently opened for the construction of the project, as well as supporting infrastructure to transmit the power to the Demerara Berbice Interconnected System (DBIS).

The project entails the construction of a 165 MW installed hydro dam, plant and related works, as well as transmission lines and structures from Amaila Falls in Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) to Sophia, Greater Georgetown. (G3)

4

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2021

Views Editor: Tusika Martin News Hotline: 231-8063 Editorial: 231-0544, 223-7230, 223-7231, 225-7761 Marketing: 231-8064 Accounts: 225-6707 Mailing address: Queens Atlantic Investment Estate Industrial Site, Ruimveldt, Georgetown Email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, marketing@guyanatimesgy.com

Confronting domestic violence

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n Wednesday evening, another woman lost her life at the hands of her reputed husband in Mahdia, Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni).

This has been a repeated scenario in Guyana, as, over and over, this continues to occur in our society.

Domestic violence has been described as “behaviour which causes one partner in a relationship to be afraid of the other.

Domestic violence can take the form of physical or sexual abuse, and forced social isolation away from friends and family members.”

The laws of Guyana prescribe one’s rights regarding this issue, which are laid out in the Domestic Violence Act as “recognised under the law and law enforcement agencies such as the courts”, and stipulate that the Guyana Police Force must help to enforce the rights of, and offer protection to, any man, woman, or child who may be experiencing domestic violence.

Some signs of domestic violence are described as persistent verbal abuse, such as quarrelling and cursing (one can add to that derogating one’s character and making unjustifiable insulting remarks about one’s self and one’s loved ones); threatening the person with physical violence (threatening to hit the person with hands or objects) as well as actually hitting the person; damaging the property of a person (such as breaking a person’s cellphone, tearing or burning a person’s clothing, among other things); following a person from place to place, even though that person does not want to be followed; hiding clothing or property used by the person (for example, hiding a person’s cellphone, their clothing, their identification card, their passport, and even their money); making persistent and/or unwelcome contact with the person (such as calling the person on their cellphone or home phone many times per day, watching the person’s house, waiting for the person to leave work or place of study, following the person from home or work, even though that person does not want to be followed or watched); and using abusive language to a person, or behaving towards a person in such a way that could result in that person being ill-treated.

For example, cursing and quarrelling with a person in front of others, and then encouraging others to do the same to the person.

A Government initiative to deal with the scourge of domestic violence suggested actions one should take to protect oneself (and possibly others) from domestic violence, and provides a descriptive analysis of a Protection Order. One of the suggestions made is to make a report to the nearest Police station, and therein lies a conundrum.

Those who are supposed “to protect and serve” most often have provided the catalyst for a tragedy to occur by their attitude and attention, or lack thereof, when a complainant drums up the requisite courage (most often with great difficulty) and lodges a complaint.

Guyanese have stopped being their brothers’ (and sisters’) keepers, because, in many communities, neighbours witnessing a continuum of, and escalating instances of, abuse refuse to become involved. They prefer to enjoy the enfolding tragedy, even adding to it with malicious rumour-mongering and strife-making, because the titillation of feuds and wars within families finds a corresponding resonance in the dark nuance resident in every soul, and the average person refuses to rise above their more decadent equivalencies to achieve a higher plane of thought and action, enough to maybe intercede – and probably save a family from ultimate destruction.

And one wonders what part the church bodies and religious leaders play in melding communities into units cohesive enough to fashion strategies for interventions within families and the general society, in efforts to divert energies into more productive and peaceful approaches to conflict resolution – even to the point of empowerment.

The acceleration in violence-prone conflicts within families and societies is spiralling to the extent where many lives have been lost, with many more dislocated, and there seems to be no end in sight.

Unless there is a holistic, proactive approach, in which all stakeholders in the nation are made aware that this cause and this fight is a national one, every effort made – valiant and committed as they may be – would prove woefully inadequate, because domestic violence is a national tradition entrenched in the Guyanese psyche.

Persons within communities most often do not think it is their business to report instances of abuse, and many women and children have suffered violations, and even been murdered, when a timely intervention could have saved someone’s life.

Minister within the Office of the President, Kwame McCoy shares a photo with Philomena “Fireball” Shury as she celebrates her 90th birth anniversary on Wednesday. Shury was a senior member of the People’s Progressive Party and served for over 15 years as a Member of Parliament (Office of the Prime Minister photo)

Guyanese must be proud of Prime Minister Mark Phillips’s representation overseas Dear Editor, Prime Minister Mark Phillips led a Government delegation that included Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance, Gail Teixeira; Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal; Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Oneidge Walrond; and Head of the Guyana Office for Investment, Dr Peter Ramsaroop, to the United States of America.

They spent a week making the rounds in South Florida at the invitation of the South Floridabased Guyanese American Chamber of Commerce, under the theme “Doing Business with Guyana.”

One area of their focus was meeting with members of the Guyanese diaspora to discuss investment opportunities and the transformation, while representing Guyana’s position as it relates to the border dispute with Venezuela.

Venezuela is claiming 70 per cent of Guyana’s territory in the Essequibo, with the land being claimed by the Bolivarian state also covers Guyana’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) into the lucrative Stabroek Block.

Prime Minister Mark Phillips was quick to point out to the world that the Treaty of Washington of 1899 settled the border dispute between Guyana and Venezuela. However, Guyana will look to-

wards the court and the rule of law, particularly the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to settle this issue.

One must remember that, last December, after decades of impasse, Guyana gained a significant victory in the attempt to definitively settle the controversy when the ICJ ruled that it has jurisdiction to determine the validity of the 1899 Arbitral Award on the frontier between Guyana and Venezuela.

The Court – the principal judicial organ of the United Nations – also declared that it could address the related question of the definitive settlement of the land boundary controversy between the two countries.

Venezuela has chosen not to participate in the case. However, earlier this month, during talks in Mexico City, Venezuela’s Government and Opposition representatives reached a partial agreement on its claim to Guyana’s Essequibo region. Venezuela has sought to claim most of Guyana’s Atlantic waters, which includes the offshore Stabroek Block, where ExxonMobil is leading.

Last Thursday, ExxonMobil announced a massive new discovery of oil deposits in offshore Guyana, and increased its estimate of the discovered recoverable resource to approximately 10 billion oil-equivalent barrels.

The finding adds to previous recoverable resource estimates which, since 2015, have added millions of dollars to the Guyanese economy, as well as jobs.

But the oil discovery also revived the border dispute that was supposedly settled in 1899.

Located west of the Essequibo River, the disputed region consists of 61,600 square miles.

After the matter failed to be settled at the level of the United Nations, it was transferred to the International Court of Justice.

As Guyanese, we must be proud of Prime Minister Mark Phillips’s representation overseas, which was commendable on the internal scene as he confirmed that Guyana remains confident that the International Court of Justice would rule in our favour.

Guyana has maintained its respect for that process, and we have continued to support that process. We believe that international law will finally be the mode to settle the controversy between Guyana and Venezuela.

The development of Guyana’s oil and gas sector is its best chance to maintain our country’s territorial integrity and sovereignty against unsubstantiated claims and aggression by Venezuela. The border controversy has plagued Guyana’s relations with Venezuela for more than

a century, and now a case on the validity of the 1899 Arbitral Award that settled the border sits with the International Court of Justice.

But although the process is ongoing, Venezuela has proven it is unwilling to cooperate with the global institution. Therefore, Guyana needs additional reinforcements, much of which can be found with regional and international allies that will be drawn to support the country due to its massive oil reserves.

Guyana already enjoys the support of the Caribbean Community (Caricom), but if this support is backed by material benefits, any threat to Guyanese sovereignty and territorial integrity has tangible implications for the region.

Also, Guyana has been noted as one of the top five countries that will have some of the world’s top oil resources, which means massive oil consumers and future investors, such as China and India, will remain engaged, as they are likely to benefit from the country’s future prosperity.

It is in our interest that this controversy is finally settled, so that oil investors feel comfortable that they are coming to invest in a country that has jurisdiction over all of its geographic space.

Sincerely, David Adams

NEWS

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Albion Estate field workers down tools …want $250,000 announced for severed workers

F

ield workers attached to the Albion Sugar Estate on the Corentyne, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) on Wednesday staged a protest exercise demanding that Government include them in the group to be beneficiaries of the $250,000 compensation for workers severed from the industry by the previous administration in 2016.

Vice President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo, while in Berbice last week, met with severed sugar workers at Skeldon and Rose Hall, East Canje.

“By January or so, each sugar worker who was severed would also get another $250,000 on their severance.

That would be between $1.7 and $1.8 billion, because we have 7,000 workers who were severed who will all get that.

If this is crucial, it is important that we fix this. It was a great injustice, and many

people stood out there and remained silent.” Jagdeo said while at Skeldon.

On Wednesday, the workers lined the entrance to the Albion Estate with their cutlasses held in the air, and then placed them on the ground, saying that they were not going back to the field until their demands are met.

They argue that some of the severed workers were rehired by Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) and so are now on an equal playing field with them. They also claim that most of the workers who were severed from the Estate have been able to find themselves jobs in other industries.

Workers’ representative Hernia Park explained that the $250,000 was only one of their demands.

“What we are saying is that if that goes to one section of sugar workers, it should

Some of the protesting sugar workers

be for everybody else. One of our demands is for the Vice President to come and meet the workers and make a commitment, or he can get someone to meet with us and deal with the issue at hand. If nobody wants to come to us, they can just make an announcement,” Parks said.

Another demand of the striking workers is that they receive a flood relief package.

They say that farmers are

currently receiving flood relief packages from Government, and during the same flood, they were unable to work for six weeks, hence they should be entitled to flood relief also, as workers in the agriculture sector.

Omadat Seecharran, who worked at Rose Hall Estate and was transferred to Albion when that estate was closed, has said that none of the Albion workers received any

relief despite the cultivation areas being under floodwaters for 65 days.

“No field worker had any work for six weeks, so definitely we were affected, and no one paid any attention to us.”

Over 1500 workers are on strike, forcing grinding at the Estate to come to a halt.

With 1752 workers on roll, 88.7 percent, or 1554, are on strike. Among the 158 work-

ers on strike are 14 cane harvesters.

The strike is not being supported by the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU), which represents the field workers.

This publication understands that GAWU is currently in discussion with the Government over several workers’ concerns. (G4)

Mahdia woman found murdered in home

A

47-year-old mother of four was discovered dead and her ex-lover has been taken into custody in Region Eight (PotaroSiparuni).

Dead is Denise Vieira, a businesswoman of Pepper Hill, Mahdia.

Based on Police reports, Vieira lived in a flat concrete structure and operated a small grocery shop in the building, while the suspect, a 33-year-old male pork-knocker, who is her reputed husband, resides in the same yard in a wooden structure in a partly-fenced section.

Reports are that the suspect and Vieira had lived together for about eight years, but due to an ongoing monthslong domestic dispute, Vieira decided to move out and build a house in the yard about three months ago.

The woman’s neighbour told Police about 13:15h on Wednesday, she was at home when she overheard Vieira

223-7230-1 (Ext 55)

Dead: Denise Vieira

saying loudly, “Get out my (expletive) place, leff me alone.”

Police said that about 13:30h, the 33-year-old man

reportedly left his house and proceeded next door and was hanging out with some friends, when a customer went to the woman’s shop to

make a purchase, but got no response.

The customer then went to the woman’s reputed husband and sought the whereabouts of the woman. Police said that the man then left and went over to the house and was seen making checks around the yard and in the woman’s shop.

He then proceeded into his house and told the customer that he found the woman on the kitchen floor of his house motionless, and from her hand she appeared to be dead.

At the time, what appeared to be blood was oozing from the woman’s mouth, nose, and about her face.

The suspect told Police

that he attempted to revive her by shaking her, but she was unresponsive.

A report was then made to the Police by neighbours.

The woman’s daughter Felica Evans on Wednesday evening told <<<Guyana Times>>> that she was of the belief that the man might have murdered her mother, and she was awaiting the results from the post-mortem examination.

She said the man would both physically and verbally abuse her mother which caused her to move out of the house. She said she was not aware of her mother having any health issues, and if she did, she would have informed her.

“She was not feeling unwell…and if she was feeling sick, she would have told me.

We are close and she would tell me anything. I honestly believe that he murdered her….,” Evans said.

The body of the woman was examined for marks of violence, which were recorded by the Police.

It was then taken to the Mahdia District Hospital, where Vieira’s death was officially pronounced, to await a post-mortem.

The suspect was contacted, told of the allegation, and cautioned. However, he has denied committing the crime.

He was arrested and placed into custody, as investigations continue. (G9)

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guyanatimesgy.com

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2021

News

Local content legislation coming soon – Minister Bharrat N atural Resources Minister Vickram Bharrat has given assurance that the long-awaited legislation for local content will be coming soon.

“Already, we are at the stage of drafting our local content legislation, and that would be presented to the National Assembly very soon, and then pass it through the National Assembly and then enacted as a law”, the Minister expressed.

He made this statement during his feature address as acting Tourism Minister during the Guyana National Bureau of Standards’ (GNBS’) National Quality Awards ceremony held on Wednesday evening.

The Minister made it clear that the top priority is making sure Guyanese as a whole are the main beneficiaries in all of the sectors.

“Local content is important to ensure that Guyanese and Guyanese businesses benefit from

our resources. That is the whole idea. That is the whole purpose of ensuring that we have a strong local content policy in place, supported by the requisite legislation - to ensure that our homegrown indigenous companies, our Guyanese companies, benefit from this sector and all the other sectors, not only oil and gas.”

On October 1, the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) called on Government to see that the legislation is passed by the end of the year. In a statement, the GCCI had noted, “The Chamber has been encouraged by the posture of the Government as it relates to local content, and calls on the Government to table Local Content legislation before the end of the year.”

This position was arrived at after the Private Sector body highlighted the overwhelming number of infrastructure projects being handled by for-

Natural Resources Minister, Vickram Bharrat

eign-owned companies.

This was coupled with the high volume of trucking, logistical, and other support services which are being operated by foreign-owned companies, particularly in relation to the oil and gas sector.

“The GCCI has been in receipt of several complaints from its membership of cases in which they are being bypassed for

work in favour of the aforementioned category of companies. This occurs in spite of the indigenous Guyanese enterprise being both commercially competitive and having the technical capability.

“The Chamber reiterates that it remains supportive of foreign investment in Guyana. We encourage, however, that this not be done at the ex-

pense and displacement of indigenous Guyanese companies,” the Chamber pointed out.

After assuming office in August last year, President Irfaan Ali established a High-Level Local Content Panel to review policy initiatives on local content in the petroleum sector and provide guidance for the development of Guyana’s Local Content Policy and Legislation.

The panel, chaired by Shyam Nokta, compiled and submitted the Local Content Report. Also on the panel were Carl Greenidge, Carvil Duncan, Anthony Paul, Kevin Ramnarine and the Natural Resources Ministry’s Legal Officer, Sasha Rajkumar-Budhan.

The end product was a list of recommendations, and subsequently a draft Local Content Policy that the Government had released in February of this year.

The stakeholders’ consultation on Guyana’s draft Local Content Policy for its petroleum sector started in

February, and President Dr Ali himself opened the discussion, from which authorities were expected to receive feedback and comments for the finalisation of the critical document.

Approximately 140 stakeholders were engaged by the panel in the compilation of the report. The report outlines several recommendations to improve the country’s policies and legislation. Among the key objectives of the Local Content Policy are: to enhance the skills and competencies of Guyanese citizens; promote maximum use of Guyanese in the petroleum sector workforce; maximise the use of locally sourced goods and services in the petroleum sector; enhance the capacity of Guyanese businesses and supply chains to become internationally competitive; enhance and make worldclass the training, technology, innovation and research and development base of Guyana, just to scratch the surface.

Local firms complain of delays in receiving payments from major oil and gas players

A

number of local companies which are providing services to major players in the local oil and gas industry have complained of long delays in receiving payments – a situation which negatively impacts their operations.

This has been re-

vealed by President of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), Timothy Tucker, during an interview on Wednesday.

“One of the issues that are being communicated to the GCCI in the oil and gas industry is the long wait

for payments,” Tucker disclosed, noting that it is a worrying issue.

He noted that some firms have reported to the GCCI that they have been waiting for as long as two years for payments for services they have provided. “[The] long wait for pay-

President of the GCCI, Timothy Tucker

ments is a troubling factor.

If a Guyanese company is bidding for, or won a contract, and they now have 60 days to receive their payments, some complaints that we’ve received is that on the 61st, 62nd day, and they call for their payment and there’s a problem with the invoice, and they have to resubmit the invoice, and the clock restarts,” he explained.

Tucker explained that this delay negatively impacts a local firm’s operation, and can cause that firm to lose profits.

“When Guyanese have to borrow money to finance their operation at ten per cent, and then you have to wait a year for your payment, then if your profitability was two or three per cent or ten per cent, then you’re already in a loss, because the cost to run your operation is ten per cent,” the GCCI Head pointed out.

“The payments being delayed are forcing them to a negative,” he added.

According to the GCCI President, this is an issue that needs to be urgently addressed.

“This is a serious problem with the payment system in the oil and gas industry. It’s too long…if there’s an issue in the invoice, contact that person and get them to fix the invoice; we don’t believe the clock should restart,” he declared.

“The process should be going through; any alterations, corrections or omissions can be dealt with from a simple level, but the payment must be completed in a timely manner if you want to build local capacity,” he further explained.

Tucker said the GCCI has already written to Government and the Centre of Local Business Development about this matter. (Amar Persaud)

NEWS

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

US Ambassador lauds progress as Guyana improves on rule of law index …AG assures Guyana firmly on course of respect for law

US Ambassador to Guyana, Sarah-Ann Lynch

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ith Guyana recording some progress from 2019 to 2021 in the US Chamber of Commerce rule of law global dashboard, United States Ambassador to Guyana, SarahAnn Lynch has expressed pleasure at the steps that have been taken and urged the Government to stay on track.

The American Chamber of Commerce of Guyana (AmCham Guyana) held a virtual seminar on Wednesday, where the rule of law in Guyana was the topic of discussion. During the seminar, the Ambassador referenced the fifth edition of the US Chamber of Commerce Global Rule of Law and Business Dashboard report.

The report shows Guyana improving its overall rule of law dashboard score from 44.32 in 2019 to 48.73 in 2021, an improvement of 4.41 that the diplomat lauded and encouraged the Government to continue.

“Today’s event is auspicious, as it comes only a week after the chambers publication of its Global Rule of Law and Business Dashboard 2021. I encourage you all to review the document, on the US Chamber’s website. And I’m pleased to report that Guyana’s score has improved,” the Ambassador said.

“I want to underscore the importance of the US Chamber of Commerce’s five pillars, for measuring the rule of law and drawing foreign investment. Those pillars are transparency, predictability, stability, accountability, and due process. If these principles become the routine standard for doing business in Guyana, this nation’s future will indeed be full of promise.”

She noted that there was a direct link between the international community’s efforts to uphold the rule of law in Guyana during last year’s General and Regional Elections controversy and the five pillars. Additionally, the diplomat warned that those who promoted democracy last year should also be promoting these pillars.

“In Guyana, we at the US Embassy also invoke the US Chamber’s five principles underpinning the rule of law, in addition to implementing international best practices in procurement and promoting mutually-beneficial local partnerships,” Lynch said.

“I see a direct line between the commitment of the international community to the rule of law in the 2020 election cycle and the role of the five principles in promoting the rule of law in Guyana’s commercial climate, so that it fosters equality, economic growth, and shared prosperity for all Guyanese,” Lynch said, also noting that the US was look-

Attorney General Anil Nandlall

ing forward to the Local Content Report and the Natural Resource Fund (NRF) Act being finalised.

Meanwhile, Attorney General Anil Nandlall, SC, another of the speakers at the event, assured the seminar that with Guyana now being governed by a democratically-elected government, the rule of law and the Constitution would be upheld.

“This has brought with it public confidence and an avalanche of interest from investors across the globe, in a manner never seen before. Once these investments begin to manifest themselves, the rule of law will continue to play a dominant role in our society,” the Senior Counsel said.

“I can go on, but time will not permit me. I hope, however, that I have been able to establish that there is a deep correlation and indeed nexus not only between the rule of law and a competitive business environment, but the rule of

Guyana’s ranking on the US Chamber of Commerce’s rule of law dashboard

law being the foundation of economic and social progress in any given society.”

It is expected that once the NRF Act, which stipulates that various committees must be established to provide oversight for the Fund, is reviewed, it will be brought to the National Assembly by the current Government.

In keeping with its manifesto commitments, the Government

has pledged to implement a number of measures to ensure accountable and transparent management of the country’s natural resources, including establishing an arm’s length Sovereign Wealth Fund insulated from political interference, and upholding the Santiago Principles of transparency and accountability, and the Extractive Industries Transparency Index (EITI). (G3)

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Misconduct in public office

PI into charges against Roxanne Myers to proceed – High Court rules

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ruling rendered on Wednesday by High Court Judge Franklin Holder has essentially cleared the way for Senior Magistrate Leron Daly to proceed with a Preliminary Inquiry (PI) into the two counts of misconduct in public office against former Deputy Chief Elections Officer (DCEO) Roxanne Myers.

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

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

In so doing, the Magistrate upheld submissions by Myers’s lawyer Nigel Hughes, who submitted that given the gravity of the offence, the charges against his client should remain indictable and proceed by way of a PI. Prosecutors, however, had opposed the lawyer’s request.

Special prosecutors in the matters submitted that they were satisfied with the penalty the offences attract at the Magistrate’s Court, and in light of the criminal justice system working slowly, requested that the matters be tried in the summary court, which, according to them, would see the case finishing faster.

One of those prosecutors, Attorney-at-Law Donavan Rangiah, deposed that the criminal justice system functions slowly, especially as it relates to jury trials, and this is now worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic.

He said that there are presently over 350 matters awaiting trial in the Demerara High Court, and with the current pace of trials, it is unlikely that the charges against Myers would be heard within the next four years. As such, the lawyer said he was satisfied that the penalty available to a Magistrate upon a conviction is a maximum of one year’s imprisonment, and not the common law maximum.

Judicial review proceedings

The DPP Shalimar AliHack, SC, had filed judicial review proceedings in which she sought an order of certiorari quashing the Magistrate’s decision on the ground that it was irrational, unreasonable, arbitrary, ultra vires, without legal foundation, contrary to natural justice, and without le-

Former Deputy Chief Elections Officer Roxanne Myers

gal authority.

Rangiah’s submissions had formed part of the DPP’s application. However, Justice Holder dismissed the DPP’s application, having found that there was nothing unlawful about the Magistrate’s ruling, since he was of the view that it was in keeping with the relevant laws and the Magistrate’s discretion.

Among other things, the DPP had asked the court for an advisory declaration that, in the circumstances of the charges, and in compliance with the Constitution of Guyana and a fair trial, the charges against Myers should proceed summarily. In her application, the DPP deposed that Magistrate Daly, in her oral reasons, said the charge against the former DCEO was serious and should be heard indictably.

The DPP said the Magistrate likened the offence for which Myers is charged to that of armed robbery and theft, as far as the court’s sentencing powers are concerned. According to Ali-Hack, Magistrate Daly also expressed concerns about the maximum penalty that could be imposed by the Magistrate’s Court, and effectively stated that the summary court is not able to punish adequately for the offence.

The DPP contended that Magistrate Daly’s decision engages Article 144 of the Constitution, with the likely result that the case may not be tried within a reasonable time.

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

She argued further that the Magistrate failed to consider that the right to a fair hearing within a reasonable time is for the benefit of both the prosecution and defence. The DPP argued, too, that Magistrate Daly failed to consider and/or failed to take into account that the resources of the State would be better utilised by the expeditious hearing and determination of the charges against Myers.

Against this backdrop, AliHack contended that the “decision by Magistrate Daly offends Article 144 (1) of the Constitution, which provides that all criminal cases should be afforded a fair hearing within a reasonable time.”

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

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

Lowenfield’s report claimed that the APNU/AFC coalition garnered 171,825 votes while the PPP/C gained 166,343 votes. How he arrived at those figures is still unknown. The certified results from the recount exercise supervised

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

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

ss

What’s the scoop...

Y

…on our debt? our Eyewitness is a fiscal conservative of the Ben Franklin school as far as his personal (meagre!) funds are concerned. “A penny saved is a penny earned”, said ole Ben! Not that this homily has done much for yours truly…but then, at least Ben said you have to start with that “penny”. And that’s been the problem! Not too many pennies have come your Eyewitness’s way, so his fiscal options have never been too challenging! Poverty does instill its own discipline, and he was never larcenously inclined!!

Anyhow, he got to thinking about fiscal matters at a different level when he read that our external debt has risen slightly to US$1.3 billion. Now, this external debt has always been like a jumbie to your Eyewitness, his having lived through the US$2.1 billion debt left around his neck like an albatross (that’s how it felt!) by Burnham!! Now, it might appear to you, dear reader, that US$1.3 billion isn’t that much less than US$2.1 billion, but that’s where your Eyewitness has to remind you that context is everything.

And the context is that when Burnham got us into debt, Guyana was forced to default on the humungous loans he had taken for his grandiose, megalomaniac, pie-in-thesky dreams. He’d nationalised all the big industries, while salivating at the thought of having all that money in his grubby big hands!! But it didn’t cross his mind that those companies needed to be MANAGED properly to deliver their profits, and the “square-pegs-in-round-holes” cronies he had put to run them just ran them into the ground!!

And defaulting on loans means the banks - private or the multilateral ones like the World Bank and IMF (banks will be banks!!) - will stop lending you, and the interest will start piling up faster than the droppings of an elephant with diarrhoea!! And it did, and as the sh*t hit, Burnham had to ban everything in sight!! Albeit, of course, the PNCite will tell you he didn’t REALLY ban things - just restricted the foreign currency to import them!! And that’s a classic example of “a distinction looking for a difference” ain’t it??

Anyhow, back to the present US$1.3B debt. This is the same it was back in April 2019 under the PNC, and this means that the PPP hasn’t really increased the external debt by a penny!! But, most importantly, one has to always balance debt in terms of one’s income. And, as we know, with our oil revenues piling up in the NY Fed and scheduled to double by next year…US$1.3B is nothing to worry about!!

Once we’re spending on infrastructure that’ll prepare our country for takeoff!!

Zoom!!

…on the new DHB? Guyanese can really make things difficult for themselves! Take the new-fixed-span concrete DHB that’s been in the making for almost a decade. Started by the PPP, it’s been held up for one reason or another after the PPP handed the baton over to then PNC in 2015. New feasibility studies were done…bids were submitted for design…some hanky-panky ensured that there was only one - which had to be dumped into the wastebasket etc, etc.

The PPP came up with another location from La Grange - 1/2 mile south of the present DHB on the West Side to Nandy Park, 1/2 mile south on the East Side. The La Grange side will feed into a new highway to Parika, and the Nandy Park side will be an overpass over the present EB Public Road into clover leaves connecting present and new highways being built.

Now, while the impact on the environment will be minimal…didn’t the EPA realise they should state why this is so??

Jeez!!

…on COVID on schools We’ve survived almost two years of the COVID pandemic, and obviously it’s affected every aspect of our lives…including our kids’.

The CSEC and CAPE results will signal how it’s been for them.

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

NEWS

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

3 more COVID-19 deaths, 150 new cases …36 persons in ICU

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he Health Ministry has reported that three more persons who had tested positive for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) have died. This takes the total number of deaths from the pandemic to 851. Two of the three persons were unvaccinated, while the vaccination sta-

tus of the other person is unknown.

The fatalities include a 63-year-old man from Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam) and a 70-yearold woman of Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica), who both passed away on October 12; and a 68-yearold woman of Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), who died on September 26.

This increases the death toll for September to 172 the highest number of such deaths ever recorded in a single month. Moreover, within the last 24 hours, 150 new cases were detected from 521 COVID-19 tests.

The total number of con-

firmed cases has climbed to 33,973.

A breakdown of the new cases follows: Region One - five cases; Region Two 13 cases; Region Three - 29 cases; Region Four - 68 cases; Region Five - six cases; Region Six - seven cases; Region Seven - seven cases; Region Nine - seven cases;

and Region 10 - eight cases.

A distribution of the 33,973 confirmed cases recorded since March 2020 follows: Region One – 1553; Region Two – 1319; Region Three – 4613; Region Four 16,260; Region Five – 1191; Region Six – 2390; Region Seven – 1704; Region Eight – 538; Region Nine – 2430; and Region 10 - 1975.

There are 36 persons in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU), 116 persons in institutional isolation, 23 persons in institutional quarantine, and 3,535 persons in home isolation.

Importantly, 29,435 persons have recovered from the virus to date.

As at Wednesday, 369,877 persons, or 72.1 per cent of the adult population, have received the first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, while 226,649 persons, or 44.2 per cent of the adult population, are fully vaccinated.

The Health Ministry has administered the first

dose of the Pfizer vaccine to 25,998 children between the ages of 12 and 17; this represents 35.6 per cent of persons in that age group.

Meanwhile, 15,653 adolescents, or 21.5 per cent of that population, are fully inoculated.

The Health Ministry is reminding all persons to observe the protocols of the COVID-19 Emergency Measures, which are in effect until October 31, 2021.

This order emphasises the need for correct and consistent use of a face mask when leaving home, the importance of maintaining the sixfeet physical distance from others, and the need for good

GUYANA COVID-19 DASHBOARD OCTOBER 13, 2021 UPDATE

NUMBER OF NEW CASES

150

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN INSTITUTIONAL ISOLATION

116

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN HOME ISOLATION

3535

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN COVID-19 ICU

36

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN INSTITUTIONAL QUARANTINE

23

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES BY GENDER (FEMALES)

17,892

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES BY GENDER (MALES)

16,081

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES IN GUYANA SINCE 2020

33,973

NUMBER OF RECOVERED CASES

29,435

TOTAL 1st DOSE VACCINATED

369,877

FULLY IMMUNISED

226,649

TOTAL NUMBER OF DEATHS

851

DISTRIBUTION OF TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES SINCE MARCH 2020 REGION 1

1553

REGION 2

1319

REGION 3

4613

REGION 4

16,260

REGION 5

1191

REGION 6

2390

REGION 7

1704

REGION 8

538

REGION 9

2430

REGION 10

1975

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.

hand-hygiene to help reduce the spread of COVID-19.

Anyone displaying symptoms associated with

COVID-19, or needing additional information is kindly asked to contact the COVID-19 hotline on 231-

1166, 226-7480, or 624-6674 immediately, or visit the MoH at www.health.gov.gy.

(G1)

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Lack of gender diversity on State Boards raised by Women Commission

…as Commission hands over reports to Parliament

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he Eighth and Ninth Annual Reports of the Women and Gender Equality Commission were handed over on Wednesday, with one Commissioner lamenting recent evidence of the lack of diversity on various Boards and management teams and the long road ahead to achieving gender equality.

The handing over of the reports, which are expected to be laid in the National Assembly when it reconvenes, took place at Parliament Building. On hand to receive the reports was Speaker of the National Assembly, Manzoor Nadir.

In his address to the attendees, Nadir spoke of the im-

The handing-over of the Eighth and Ninth Reports of the Women and Gender Equality Commission.

In the centre are the commission’s Chairperson, Indranie Chandarpal and Speaker of the National Assembly, Manzoor Nadir

portance of the work of the Commission.

“The diversity of our people in spite of our small

numbers continues to be a complex challenge. It is admirable that you’ve reached out to the unorganised. The

stats show that organised people, whether it be youth, women, general civil society, tend to be in the 10 per cent. The overwhelming majority of people are unorganised, and we tend to have the minority expressing a view for the majority,” the Speaker said.

He also spoke of the Women and Gender Equality commission’s responsibility to lay a solid foundation for the next generation, as well as the next commission that will succeed the current one.

Meanwhile, Nicole Cole, a women’s rights activist and member of the Commission, lamented the composition of various State Boards and management teams. One case she referenced was the all-male corporate team at the Guyana Water Inc (GWI).

“Yes, women would have progressed. You will find that in the report. But there are still many gaps as it relates to women really being at the table or having 50/50 and what it highlights is that there is still much work to be done if we are to really forge a world where women’s rights are respected as human rights,” Cole stated.

“Here is where we want to look at, right here in Guyana. Most recently, you would have seen we put out a letter calling on GWI – as a matter of fact, the two Ministers (of Housing) Collin Croal and Susan Rodrigues, to reverse what happened.

A 19-member (corporate executive) of all males? How does that happen?”

GWI’s management team, as revealed in a recent social media post by the entity, is headed by Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Shaik Baksh.

Other members are Nigel Niles, Executive Director, Corporate Services; Elvis Jordan, Executive Director, Human Resources and Development; Mark David, Executive Director, Finance; Aubrey Roberts, Executive Director, Project Implementation; Jawaharlall Ramjug, Executive Director, Operations; Jaigopaul Ram, Executive Director, Business Development; Oslton Thorman, Executive Director, Information and Communication Technology;

Christopher Vandeyar, Executive Director, Procurement; Marlon Daniels, Executive Director of Commercial Services and Customer Relations and Ramchand Jailal, Executive Director, Hinterland Services.

In the letter Cole referenced, which was penned by the Women and Gender Equality Commission’s Chairperson Indranie Chandarpal, she had implored the two Ministers to intervene in the issue of GWI’s management composition since it contravened Guyana’s principles and the constitutional provisions of gender equality.

“The GWI needs to advance into the second decade of the 21st century, and behave as if it is in step with Guyana’s constitutional and legal frameworks, and its global commitments that uphold gender equality,” Chandarpal had written.

“It is a well-known statistic the world over that it is women who are mainly impacted by the provisioning of water; and where there is no consistent water supply within homes, they are the main burden-bearers of fetching of water, etc.

The latter situation applies to Guyana in many marginalised communities in urban, peri-urban, rural, and hinterland communities.”

(G3)

8-year-old hit by car while crossing road

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n eight-year-old pedestrian is now hospitalised after he was hit by a motor car at Amelia’s Ward Public Road, in the vicinity of Toucan Drive Junction, Linden.

The accident occurred around 09:15h and involved motor car PRR 3003 driven by a 30-year-old of Victory Valley, Wismar, Linden.

It was reported that motor car PRR 3003 was proceeding west along Amelia’s Ward Public Road when its left rear-view mirror struck the child of Central Amelia’s Ward, Police said, who had run from the northern to the southern side of the road.

As a result, he fell to the road, and sustained injuries about his body.

The child was picked up in an unconscious state by the driver and taken to the Linden Hospital Complex, where he was treated for head injuries.

He was subsequently transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital.

The driver of the motor car is presently in Police custody assisting with the investigation. (G1)

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

COVID-19 measures

Businesses granted more time to get compliant – Health Minister

O

ver the past week, inspections conducted on businesses in both the public and private sectors found that many of them were not complying with the gazetted COVID-19 Emergency Measures. This was revealed by Health Minister Dr. Frank Anthony during Wednesday’s COVID-19 update.

When asked to give some details on the inspections being carried out by the Health and Emergency Operation Centre (HEOC), the Health Minister said that while they have been going “quite well”, it was discovered that many businesses have not been in compliance with the measures.

As such, he said, officials

“This thing is not about Government alone; this is about everybody working together to make sure all of us are safe. If we don’t do that, what we will end up with is that numbers will continue to increase and we will see more cases of hospitalisation and more cases of death…This is in our hands to control, but that control has to do with our behaviour and adherence to these measures. If we fail to do that, then the consequences are going to be the increase in cases, hospitalisation and deaths; it’s self-evident, we have to really start waking up.” – Health Minister have taken note of this, and have engaged business owners to point out the areas in

which they have been lacking.

He said the National

Construction of $1.2B Lusignan Prison on schedule for February 2022 completion

COVID-19 Task Force would be writing these businesses, giving them further time to “get themselves in order”.

The Health Minister disclosed that at least 52 businesses across the country were visited within the past week. The HCEO is conducting inspections to make sure that businesses are adhering to preventive measures such as physical or social distancing, handwashing/ sanitising, the use of face masks, and of course vaccination and asking for vaccination cards.

“We hope that we get more compliance. In addition to that, you would have noticed that, over the past week, a number of persons were arrested and prosecuted for violating these measures,” Dr Anthony added.

Noting that there are penalties for businesses violating the measures, Dr. Anthony said establishments are being given a chance to make sure they are complying, “rather than us imposing the penalties.”

“But if they don’t, they will leave us with no option but to enforce the penalty,” he warned. While Anthony

Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony

did not disclose what exactly is the penalty, he said, “You’ll know them when we get there”.

Recently, the Health Minister appealed to local businesses to enforce the COVID-19 measures. In fact, he stressed that adherence to the measures is everyone’s responsibility.

“This thing is not about Government alone; this is about everybody working together to make sure all of us are safe. If we don’t do that, what we will end up with is that numbers will continue to increase and we will see more cases of hospitalisation and more cases of death,” he said.

“This is in our hands to control, but that control has to do with our behaviour and adherence to these measures. If we fail to do that, then the consequences are going to be the increase in cases, hospitalisation, and deaths; it’s self-evident, we have to really start waking up.”

He said, too, that while the Task Force would work to enforce measures, it is everyone’s responsibility to change their behaviour.

“Because, for the Task Force to run behind every single person to see whether they are wearing a mask or not, that’s going to be quite a challenging endeavour,” he said.

Moreover, ranks of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) and the Guyana Police Force (GPF) have been conducting patrols countrywide to enforce the nationwide curfew from 22:30h to 04:00h.

The Police Force is urging all citizens to adhere to the COVID-19 regulations, and to report all breaches to the COVID-19 Task Force on hotlines 626-6674, 6243067, 624-2819, and toll-free (GTT) 0180. (G1)

Vaccination sites to be established within communities …as US donates tents to vaccination programme

Construction of the new facility is underway

T

hree new buildings are currently being constructed at the Lusignan Prison to hold close to 1000 inmates. The project is about 25% completed, and is expected to be finished by February 2022, according to Director of Prisons (ag) Nicklon Elliott.

On Wednesday, Prison Director Nicklon Elliot took media operatives on a tour of the facility, which included the existing holding, quarantine areas, the kitchen, and the old Lusignan Prison. In an interview with reporters, he explained that prisoners would be able to be more comfortable upon completion of the $1.2B facility.

“Prisoners will be living in a dormitory setting, where there will be housed with bed and mattresses, unlike the holding bay facility, where that is not happening at the moment…,” he explained.

In 2017, some 1,000 prisoners were transported to the Lusignan facility follow-

ing a mass fire that gutted the Camp Street Prions.

A holding area was constructed to temporarily house those inmates.

This new, modernised building will have a fire suppression system that will have access to adequate water, and will be in adherence to the specifications for the housing of prisoners.

According to Elliot, the current holding area currently houses about 800 prisoners, but upon completion, the new facility will be able to house over 1,000 prisoners. This is with hope that it would ease the congestion in the prisons.

“We have those at the Lusignan Prison, we have the admission section.

Because of the COVID-19 situation, we are admitting prisoners on admission, so those prisoners are required to spend their 14 days’ isolation period before they actually are transferred here,” he said.

Overcrowding

Further speaking on overcrowding, he added that the figurative hands of the prison service are tied as they cannot refuse persons sent there by the justice system; hence why they are struggling with the overcrowding.

There are plans to construct a trade school in the holding bay area, and the Prison Director also revealed that the female prison in New Amsterdam, Berbice will be moved to the Lusignan facility. The three facilities are being constructed by Mohamed’s Construction and Real Estate Agency, M&P Investment, and Nabi Construction Inc. Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn recently said Government is devising a programme, titled ‘A Fresh Start’, that aims to provide inmates with the requisite skills for their reintegration into society. (G9)

United States Ambassador to Guyana Sarah-Ann Lynch, Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony, Regional Representative attached to the United States Embassy Mike Clinton White; UNICEF Representative Nicholas Pron, and Director of Family and Primary Health Care Services of the Ministry of Health (MoH), Dr Ertensia Hamilton

I

n ongoing efforts to ramp-up up the country’s immunisation numbers, COVID-19 vaccination sites are to be established within communities across the country.

The United States Agency for International Development/ Eastern and Southern Caribbean donated ten tents to the Health Ministry to support community COVID-19 vaccination efforts. The tents are part of USAID’s vaccine assistance programme through the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

The handover ceremony was attended by Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony, UNICEF Country

Representative to Guyana and Suriname, Nicolas Pron, and U.S. Ambassador Sarah-Ann Lynch.

Ambassador Lynch lauded the efforts and the leadership of the Government of Guyana and the Health Ministry in taking vaccination into communities.

“I commend the Government of Guyana and the Ministry of Health for their efforts to make vaccines accessible within communities. We believe that these community campaigns will increase demand, enhance access, and reduce missed opportunities for vaccinations,” Lynch said.

Meanwhile, Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony

has extended his gratitude to the US Government and UNICEF for their partnership and support in Guyana’s COVID-19 response. Dr Anthony said the tents will be used to provide comfortable accommodation for persons visiting the COVID-19 vaccination sites across the regions. He reminded of the importance of being vaccinated to flatten the COVID-19 curve.

The United States Government has been a major contributor to the COVAX vaccine distribution system, which has donated 266,220 COVID-19 vaccines to Guyana, and another 143,250 Pfizer vaccines were donated directly from the United States.

NEWS

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Local companies urged to up game to match First World countries …as GNBS awards companies for high quality standards

Quality Control Chemist Leanna Simon receiving the Occupational Health and Safety practices Award on behalf of New GPC Inc

D

uring the Guyana National Bureau of Standards’ (GNBS’) National Quality Awards (NQA) ceremony on Tuesday evening, Natural Resources Minister Vickram Bharrat, who is currently performing the duties of the Tourism, Industry and Commerce Minister, challenged local companies to up their game in providing and maintaining goods and services of high standards and quality.

The GNBS-hosted National Quality Awards ceremony saw a number of local companies and businesses copping awards in the various categories. Some

36 Guyanese companies participated in this year’s edition of the Awards under the overall categories of manufacturing, services, small business manufacturing, small business services, and agro-processing. There were also specific awards for customer-focus, continuous improvement, and health & safety and environmental initiatives.

Entities such as New GPC, Machinery Corporation of Guyana (MACORP) Limited, Nand Persaud and Company Limited, Massy Gas Products (Guyana) Ltd., NAMILCO, Steve’s Jewellery, St

Joseph Hospital Medical Laboratory, Morning Glory Inc., Assuria General GY Inc. & Assuria Life GY Inc, AW&HW Aeronautical Engineering School, Puran Brothers Disposal Inc., Cevons Waste Management, Denmor Garment Manufacturers Inc., DoobayGafoor Medical & Research Centre Inc were presented with awards for meeting the stipulated criteria.

Minister Bharrat has said that with the growing investments Guyana is being exposed to, it is only necessary that the country reach the end of mediocracy by providing quality goods and services, which would ensure the growth of one’s business.

“It is time that Guyanese say that we have reached the end of mediocracy; that we’re demanding quality, that we’re demanding standards; ‘cause I think the time is right now,” he indicated. “I think the time for that, or the opportune time for that, is now, when we can throw mediocracy out the window and say from now on we’re only accepting quality-standard goods and services, especially from our homebred industries and business.”

He went on to highlight that the level of standard achieved by the participants is in preparation for the greater opportunities that the oil and gas sector is ex-

(L-R) Chairman of the National Standards Council (NSC), Vladim Persaud; Executive Director (ag) of the GNBS, Ramrattie Karan; and First Lady Arya Ali applauding after unveiling the ‘Made in Guyana’ certification mark

pected to bring to Guyana.

He assured that all Guyanese will be able to enjoy the wealth, regardless of their location within the country, since an overwhelming number of investors will be flocking the country’s shores.

Meanwhile, Minister within the Public Works Ministry, Deodat Indar, told the gathering that the Barbadian Government is assisting with the training of Guyanese in the hospitality sector. This, he noted, is aimed at having the standard of goods and services be at the same level as those of First World countries. “…that is what you have

to make sure, that when the expatriates come here – and for ourselves too, the standard of service that we give to our people is on par with those of First World countries,” he stated.

Also addressing the event was Chairman of the National Standards Council (NSC), Vladim Persaud, who highlighted the importance of recognizing the efforts of businesses in implementing the requirements of standards across sectors.

“I believe, like in anything else, we need to let those involved know how they are doing, especially when they are doing well…

What this does is heighten

confidence and encourage others to get on board and become more competitive,” Persaud said.

The Biennial NQA ceremony was the highlight of National Quality Week 2021. This year’s event also featured the launch of a ‘Made in Guyana’ certification mark, which was unveiled by First Lady Mrs. Arya Ali. The certification mark will be used by the GNBS to certify authentic Guyanese products based on the quantity of local raw materials used in their production and the number of Guyanese staff employed by their establishment, among other things.

COVID-19 vaccination

Booster shot for people with weaker immune systems being considered …specialists to make recommendation soon – Health Minister …WHO experts backing extra jab

Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony

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team of local and foreign experts is looking into whether people with weaker immune systems should be given an additional shot of a COVID-19 vaccine, and their findings will be known soon, says Health Minister Dr. Frank Anthony.

He made this disclosure on Wednesday during his daily COVID-19 update. For context, the Health Minister explained that the makers of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine have made a case to the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

that after six months of taking the vaccine, the level of antibodies against the virus will decline, hence the need for a third dose.

According to Dr Anthony, the FDA has considered this and has approved a third dose for a “special category of people”. He said this group includes very old people, whose immunity might not be robust, and persons with diseases that would have caused a compromise in their immune system.

Despite weaning of the antibodies, the Health Minister advised, persons are still pro-

tected from the deadly virus “because, with any vaccine, once you use the vaccine after your second dose, you will see the antibodies’ level come down, but you will still have particular antibodies that would circulate.”

He explained that these are called memory cells, “so if they encounter the virus, they will remember it, and they will trigger an immune response. That is natural for almost every vaccine.” He added that other countries around the world have examined administering a third dose, but have not found it necessary.

In Guyana’s case, Dr. Anthony noted, a team of experts has been studying “this problem”.

“They have examined the best practices in different countries where third doses are being used, and they are going to make some recommendations for us as we move forward. We have the matter of a third dose under consideration.”

WHO recommendation

On Monday, Reuters re-

ported that the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended that immunocompromised people be given an additional dose of COVID-19 vaccine, due to their higher risk of breakthrough infections after standard immunisation.

“The Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on immunisation said the additional dose should be offered ‘as part of an extended primary series, since these individuals are less likely to respond adequately to vaccination following a standard primary vaccine series, and are at high risk of severe COVID-19 disease’.”

During a news briefing, WHO Vaccine Director Kate O’Brien, in referring to people with lower immunity, said the recommendation is for a third vaccination, an additional vaccination in the primary series. “And again, that is based on the evidence showing that the immunogenicity and evidence on breakthrough infections are highly disproportionately represented by those people,” she added.

The panel also recommended that people over 60 receive an additional dose of the shots made by Chinese vaccine makers Sinopharm and Sinovac some one to three months after completing their schedule, citing evidence in studies in Latin America that they perform less well over time, the Reuters article reads.

The team of experts will review all global data on booster shots in a November 11 meeting, amid questions over variants and potential waning of immunity, O’Brien said adding that some 3.5 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines have

been administered.

“An estimated 1.5 billion doses are available globally each month, enough to meet the target of vaccinating 40% of each country’s population by year-end, but distribution is unequal.

Giving those booster doses to individuals who have already had the benefit of a primary response is like putting two life jackets on somebody and leaving others without any lifejacket. In this sense, we are talking about getting the first lifejacket onto people who have immunocompromising conditions,” said the WHO official. (G1)

22 NEWS Ex-cop freed of reputed wife’s murder THURSDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Off-duty firefighter “reprimanded” for responding to fire without gear

Fire Fighter Shekel Rogers Confessed killer Colin Grant

Ex-Police Sergeant Colin Bailey

Dead: Surmattie Ramnaress

ormer Police Sergeant Colin Bailey was on Wednesday acquitted of the August 2013 murder of his reputed wife Surmattie Ramnaress, after State prosecutors conceded that there was no evidence against him. As such, trial judge Jo Ann Barlow directed the jury to return a formal verdict of not guilty.

Attorneys-at-law Nigel Hughes, Ronald Daniels and Konyo Sandiford appeared on Bailey’s behalf.

On Tuesday, Bailey’s co-accused, Colin Grant, pleaded guilty to a manslaughter charge in relation to the woman’s killing. He admitted that between August 30 and 31, 2013, at Demerara,

he unlawfully killed Ramnaress, called ‘Kavita’.

The confessed killer will be sentenced on November 2 at the Demerara High Court.

The lifeless body of 36-year-old Ramnaress, called “Savita”, was found at around 10:00h on August 31, 2013, at her Lot 2430, 21st Avenue, Diamond Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara home. Her throat had been slit, her head bashed in, and her hip disjointed. Moreover, sections of her property had been destroyed by fire. The bottom flat of the house had been completely drenched with kerosene, and the entire house had been ransacked, which suggested that the

woman was robbed before she was killed. The perpetrators had also set alight a bond behind the house, and it was completely destroyed.

After the robbery, the killers escaped in one of the woman’s motor cars.

Recordings from the internal and external surveillance cameras were missing.

From the inception, investigators believed the robbery might have been an inside job, since there was no sign of forced entry into the premises. The woman’s property was protected by a high, grilled fence and an alarm system, which according to neighbours did not go off during the night of the gruesome murder. (G1)

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Nurse plunges into trench to avoid being caught with gun

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olice arrested a 24-year-old male nurse around 19:15h along Woolford Avenue on Tuesday after he plunged into a trench to avoid being caught with a gun.

Officers of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) said they were on motorcycle patrol on Woolford Avenue, Georgetown when a male riding a gold and black XR motorcycle was stopped and questioned by the ranks.

He then suddenly dismounted the motorcycle, and ran over, with Police in pursuit, to a nearby trench into which he leaped. He

Off-duty female firefighter Shekel Rogers battling the fire on Tuesday evening (Screen shot from Guyana Daily News live video)

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n off-duty female firefighter, Shekel Rogers, has been reprimanded for responding to the fire at Camp and Charlotte Streets, Georgetown.

This was confirmed by Public Relations Officer of the Guyana Fire Service (GFS), Silyne Griffith, who told media operatives that “that firefighter breached the protocol, and was reprimanded for doing so.”

The PRO was at the time providing clarity on a statement issued by the GFS, which stated that “it is against protocol for a firefighter to mount/ride the fire truck without being in full firefighting gear.”

The PRO further indicated that while the firefighter did not ride the truck, she showed up on the scene of

the fire and provided assistance without wearing protective gear. For this, the PRO indicated, the firefighter has been reprimanded.

When asked what penalty was meted out against the officer, the PRO did not respond.

Efforts to contact Fire Chief (ag) Gregory Wickham and Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn proved futile.

The fire in question erupted at around 21:00h last evening, and resulted in several persons being rendered homeless.

However, as Rogers faces disciplinary actions, there has been huge support for her on social media, as persons called out the management of GFS for their actions.

In supporting Rogers, social media erupted in con-

demning the actions of the GFS, adding that the brave firefighter should have been commended for going beyond the call of duty.

“So what must firefighters do if they see a fire and are off duty? Leave it? Many times off-duty cops help apprehend criminals…do they face disciplinary actions?” one person commented.

“She went beyond the call of duty and now she is facing disciplinary actions. This is not right. She helped saved the whole of Charlotte Street, because, if persons know the area, they would know that if that fire had spread, it would have been devastation on Regent Street,” another commented.

“This is what you call dedication and commitment to your duties. This young lady was off duty when the fire started, but that didn’t stop her from helping her co-workers and saving another in the process….

Kudos to this young lady.” “…one thing I can tell you about this queen is that she is passionate about her job…I’m so proud, thank you for serving,” a friend commented on social media.

NALICO/NAFICO gifts World Post Day annual essay winner laptop The firearm that was found in the trench

news@guyanatimesgy.com

was apprehended in the waterway.

Checks were subsequently made in the trench and a silver .32 revolver with the serial number filed off was found.

The nurse was told of the offence committed and cautioned during which time he remained silent.

He, along with the firearm, was taken to the Alberttown Police Station, where he was placed into custody and the firearm was marked, sealed, and lodged along with the motorcycle.

(G9)

The North American Life, Fire and General Insurance Company Limited (NALICO/NAFICO) has donated a laptop to the winner of this year’s World Post Day Annual Essay-Writing Competition, Aliya Deonarine of Charity Primary School.

In photo, Agency Manager Marlon Hendricks is handing over the laptop for Ms Deonarine to Ayantia Abel, representative of GPOC

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2021

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GUYANATIMESGY.COM

23

Rahul Tripathi’s dramatic 6 takes nervy Knight Riders into final

hey spent a large part of the chase in cruise control, and then Kolkata Knight Riders hit a wet patch that almost threatened to skid them right off the path and into an abyss.

From 13 runs needed in 25 balls, Knight Riders lost six wickets in 3.5 overs with only seven runs added, and faced an equation in which Rahul Tripathi was facing up to R Ashwin while needing to score six in the last two balls.

Tripathi had scored six from ten balls till then, missing more than connecting, while Ashwin had given up one run in four balls while nabbing two wickets.

Tripathi had set himself up for a quickish length ball outside off, and threw a season’s worth of verve into a flat-batted hit that was carried as much by nervous energy as anything else over the long-off boundary.

Knight Riders’ resurgence in the UAE leg of IPL 2021 continued with their seventh win in nine games. They are in the final, where Chennai Super Kings await.

Delhi Capitals had seemed down and all but out of the contest for most of the second innings, but they came alive with

The Knight Riders mobbed Rahul Tripathi after he took them over the line

a vengeance as Knight Riders panicked with the finish line in sight.

Before the nail-biting finish, Knight Riders set themselves up with a familiar template: the spinners choked the life out of the opposition, and the openers muscled a strong reply. Varun Chakravarthy was the bowling hero, taking 2 for 26 in four hardto-read overs, which could have easily been 3 for less than 26 if he hadn’t over-stepped by a millimetre.

While batting, they had the fearless Venkatesh Iyer to thank, the opener’s insouciant 55 off 41 setting up a foundation strong enough to withstand the

earthquake that came later.

Delhi Capitals’ brief flutter at the top Sent in to bat, Capitals began sedately, but overs three and four together brought 26 runs. Prithvi Shaw had begun aggressively, while Shikhar Dhawan hit a couple of sixes off Sunil Narine, after having spent his first seven balls scoreless.

Both openers flowing, and the score at a healthy 32 for no loss in four overs meant Capitals looked strong, but that was as good as it got for them while batting.

Varun struck with his first

Iyer’s grandstand finish Shreyas had come in to bat in the 12th over, which is later than he generally comes out for Capitals. For most of his innings, he just rotated the strike.

His fifth-wicket partner with Shimron Hetmyer was more adventurous, though he had a slice of luck when on 2 in the 17th over. A shovel was brilliantly caught by Shubman Gill diving forward at long-on, but Varun had over-stepped - by a thin margin.

Hetmyer whacked two sixes against Lockie Ferguson’s pace in the next over, though he gave it away when going for a nonexistent run to be caught short off the crease by a long margin.

Shreyas then provided a rousing end to the innings, hitting a four and a final-ball six off Shivam Mavi as he conceded 15 in the final over, and the Capitals’ total was in competitive territory, given how the pitch was playing. Mavi, who had 1 for 12 in three overs till then, had his figures spoilt somewhat.

Venkatesh Iyer takes off Venkatesh encapsulated the Knight Riders’ opening stand

Venkatesh Iyer scored his third half-century of the season

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best net front nine winner would receive a trophy plus a $1500 voucher, while the best net back nine winner would receive a trophy and a $1500 voucher. The player that gets nearest to the flag would receive a trophy plus a $1000 voucher.

The LGC has declared that players who participated in tournaments from September 18 to October 25 would be eligible for consideration for free entry as a player in the Guyana Open Tournament via a competition format. The points for free entry will be for the 10 best net scores for each tournament. Also, points will be awarded to the top five players of the day, based on their net scores.

The player who accumulates the most points at the end of the exercise will be declared the winner, and can participate in the Guyana Open without having to pay the tournament fee.

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 box to tee off at 12:30pm. Registration closes at 12 noon on Friday 15th October, 2021.

All COVID-19 protocols will be in effect.

of the 16th over. But it began a procession that didn’t look like it would end. Gill, who had essayed a breath-taking front-foot pull off Nortje over long-on, was caught behind off an uncharacteristic poke after a controlled innings, and Knight Riders suddenly found there weren’t that many wickets to spare.

The final over began with seven runs needed, and Knight Riders scored just one run off the first four balls, while also losing Shakib Al Hasan and Narine. It

Prithvi Shaw collapsed to the ground after Delhi Capitals’ defeat

12.2 overs had been bowled.

The scramble at the death There was no hint of the drama that would unfold when Nitish Rana pulled Anrich Nortje to deep square leg at the end

was left to Tripathi to provide the final punch.

Capitals, who had looked the best team on show in the league stage while deservedly topping it, ended their campaign with three straight losses. (ESPNcricinfo)

SCOREBOARD

LGC to host Trophy Stall Golf Tourney

he Lusignan Golf Club will come alive this Saturday, October 16, 2021 when they host the Trophy Stall Golf Tournament.

The tournament is set to commence at 12:30 hrs, and it will be a Medal play over 18 holes net score shotgun start.

The first-place winner would cart off a trophy plus a $5000 voucher, while the second-place winner would receive a trophy plus a $4000 voucher. The thirdplace winner would receive a trophy plus a $3000 voucher. The

worse end of the conditions. But even if the dew made the ball more difficult to grip and come on to the bat more easily, it still needed the batsmen to execute their shots against bowlers of high pedigree, and they did that with panache.

Venkatesh reached his halfcentury in 38 balls, eventually falling to Rabada when he pulled straight to deep square leg. That broke the opening stand, but by then Knight Riders already had 96 runs on the board, and only

ball, Shaw not reading the one coming into him to be trapped in front. That began Knight Riders’ familiar spin strangulation.

Dhawan looked like he would aim to bat through the innings, but fell to Varun before the pacers would come on at the death.

The returning Marcus Stoinis added balance to the Capitals side on paper, but batting him at three after so much time out in the cold didn’t come off. When Rishabh Pant also fell cheaply, Capitals were 90 for 4 in 15.2 overs, struggling to get above a run a ball.

The no-ball and Shreyas

with one shot. In the fifth over, he sauntered down the track and clubbed the ball effortlessly over long-on, and he did it against Kagiso Rabada. He had earlier deposited Axar Patel over deep midwicket too, and that nonchalant six off Rabada reinforced how dominantly Knight Riders had started.

The powerplay brought 51 runs with the openers still going strong, Shubman Gill playing the supporting role to Venkatesh’s swashbuckling strokeplay. The end of the powerplay didn’t slow the scoring down. Dew had set in with force just before Capitals’ innings ended, and they got the

DELHI CAPITALS INNINGS (20 OVERS MAXIMUM) Prithvi Shaw lbw b Varun 18 Shikhar Dhawan c Shakib Al Hasan b Varun 36 Marcus Stoinis b Shivam Mavi 18 Shreyas Iyer not out 30 Rishabh Pant (c)† c Tripathi b Ferguson 6 Shimron Hetmyer run out (Iyer/†Karthik) 17 Axar Patel not out 4 Extras (lb 1, nb 1, w 4) 6 TOTAL (20 Ov, RR: 6.75) 135/5 Did not bat: Ravichandran Ashwin, Kagiso Rabada, Avesh Khan, Anrich Nortje Fall of wickets: 1-32 (Prithvi Shaw, 4.1 ov), 2-71 (Marcus Stoinis, 11.3 ov), 3-83 (Shikhar Dhawan, 14.1 ov), 4-90 (Rishabh Pant, 15.2 ov), 5-117 (Shimron Hetmyer, 18.3 ov) BOWLING O-M-R-W Shakib Al Hasan 4-0-28-0 Lockie Ferguson 4-0-26-1 Sunil Narine 4-0-27-0 Varun Chakravarthy 4-0-26-2 Shivam Mavi 4-0-27-1

KOLKATA KNIGHT RIDERS INNINGS (TARGET: 136 RUNS FROM 20 OVERS) Shubman Gill c †Pant b Avesh Khan 46 Venkatesh Iyer c sub (SPD Smith) b Rabada 55 Nitish Rana c Hetmyer b Nortje 13 Rahul Tripathi not out 12 Dinesh Karthik † b Rabada 0 Eoin Morgan (c) b Nortje 0 Shakib Al Hasan lbw b Ashwin 0 Sunil Narine c Patel b Ashwin 0 Lockie Ferguson not out 0 Extras (lb 1, w 9) 10 TOTAL (19.5 Ov, RR: 6.85) 136/7 Did not bat: Shivam Mavi, Varun Chakravarthy Fall of wickets: 1-96 (Venkatesh Iyer, 12.2 ov), 2-123 (Nitish Rana, 15.6 ov), 3-125 (Shubman Gill, 16.4 ov), 4-126 (Dinesh Karthik, 17.6 ov), 5-129 (Eoin Morgan, 18.6 ov), 6-130 (Shakib Al Hasan, 19.3 ov), 7-130 (Sunil Narine, 19.4 ov) BOWLING O-M-R-W Anrich Nortje 4-0-31-2 Ravichandran Ashwin 3.5-0-27-2 Avesh Khan 4-0-22-1 Axar Patel 4-0-32-0 Kagiso Rabada 4-0-23-2

Softball cricket league formed in Essequibo

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he Essequibo Softball Cricket League (ESCL) has recently been formed, and Chairman Wakeel Layne has expressed excitement at this development since the launching last August.

According to Layne, the league, which is led by President Tom Bacchus, is already up and running, with ongoing competitions involving six teams in the over-40 20-over matches.

Layne has also said the ESCL will be having an annual competition in the veterans’ category, and next year he is expecting more teams

Wakeel Layne

participating. So far, the ESCL has got the Caribbean Cricket Club, Invaders Masters, Sunrisers Masters, Queenstown Tigers, Ravens

Sports Club and Reliance Hustlers participating.

“We want to see the continued growth of softball cricket in Essequibo, and this initiative is very pleasing and welcoming,” Layne, a veteran softball player, has said.

Meanwhile, two former Essequibo cricketers, Rovendra Mandolall and Devon Ramnauth, have commented on the initiative and opined that it would certainly be encouraging to keep the game alive, especially in the midst of the global pandemic.

Both players are currently based in Canada, but always

lend a helping hand to cricket in the Cinderella County.

Apart from ESCL officials Wakeel Layne and Tom Bacchus, Rajesh Gopaul has been elected Secretary, while Leema Jaiwan is serving as the Assistant Secretary/ Treasurer.

The championship game is billed for November 21 at Reliance ground, with the winning team taking home a trophy and $60,000.

Layne has also informed that other monetary prizes are up for grabs, along with more trophies. Outstanding individual performances will be rewarded as well.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2021

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

Pooran says recipe for T20 World Cup victory is: make good plans, stick with them

— says happy to see Hetmyer batting responsibly in IPL

By Brandon Corlette

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espite his poor run of form in the Vivo Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021, West Indies Vice-Captain Nicholas Pooran would want to flip the switch and be confident as the ICC T20 World Cup looms.

Speaking on Wednesday during a media conference, Pooran shared his opinion on what would make the West Indies successfully defend their title.

“For us to be successful, it’s simple: make good plans, and stick with (them) as much as possible. It is more about mental toughness in this World Cup, and enduring the pressure as much as possible,” he said.

“I think we have a lot of experienced and young, talented, skilled players. So, it is now for us to lean on these experienced players and cope

with the pressure, because it is the World Cup,” Pooran said.

The Trinidadian batting maestro has said it would be a plus for the West Indies team to win the World Cup for a third time, since the Caribbean side is equipped with players who won the World Cup twice. He emphasised that for the West Indies to defend their title successfully, they must make plans and stick with them.

He also praised the experienced duo of Kieron Pollard and Chris Gayle, whom he believes would formulate some good plans for the team to execute.

Moreover, Pooran spoke about the importance of having the dominant presence of the talismanic batsman Chris Gayle in the team.

“That experience is valuable to us; we are very happy (to have Gayle). Even off the

cricket field, he will back you, and he is one of the most positive guys in the Caribbean.

His presence makes captains change their plans,” Pooran said.

Having, through the IPL, firsthand experience of the playing conditions in the countries where the ICC T20 World Cup tournament would be played, and by now familiar with those conditions, Pooran shared his assessment of the conditions.

“The conditions here (are) nice to bat in Abu Dhabi and Sharjah. In the night, there is a lot of dew, so batting second is a good option, once we win the toss. I think the toss is very important in the night games in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. The day games in Abu Dhabi, it’s a fair game, balls spin and stick a bit. At Sharjah, it’s anybody’s game who performs best,” Pooran opined.

Pooran has also shared

Regional Four-Day tentatively set for January/February 2022

— Jimmy Adams on committee to review selection criteria

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ricket West Indies (CWI) are working towards hosting the Regional Four-Day tournament in late January/early February 2022. CWI Director of Cricket, Jimmy Adams, confirmed this on Tuesday’s Mason and Guest radio programme, and also disclosed that five rounds are being proposed.

“We have recommended that we start four-day cricket at the last week in January/ early February next year. It is desperately time for us to get four-day cricket in the region for more than one reason. At a minimum, we want to play at least five rounds, which would be half of what we normally play; that is a starting point. Ideally, I would love to get ten rounds of first-class cricket in, but starting with that,” Adams said.

Giving his opinion on the venues, and considering the COVID-19 pandemic, Adams has said he is hopeful of limited travels for the Caribbean teams.

“It might be that we use three teams stay at home and the other three teams travel for three rounds, and then two teams that did not travel travel in the second round, so there is some travel involved. Ideally,

from a development point of view, there is something to be said about players in different conditions playing in different territories,” he said.

In March 2020, the pandemic brought the Four-Day Championship to a halt with two rounds remaining, and, as a result, Barbados Pride were declared the winners, thumping the Guyana Jaguars.

Meanwhile, it has also been confirmed that a committee including Dr Kishore Shallow, Adams, Philo Wallace and Chairman Enoch Lewis has started the review process of the CWI selection policy. Of recent, this selection policy has been

CWI Director of Cricket, Jimmy Adams

under fire, more so with the team selected for the upcoming T20 World Cup. The former West Indies opener Philo Wallace has said this committee has come together to examine the selection policy, and a release from CWI is expected shortly. (Brandon Corlette)

his delight at having his team mate Shimron Hetmyer in the squad. Hetmyer has been having a good season in the IPL. “It’s always nice to see Hetmyer batting properly. He had his ups and downs, but it is very nice, especially at the IPL, because it is the biggest T20 League around the world; so, it is nice to see him take responsibility. As a West Indian, it is nice to see him maturing and getting scores,” Pooran has said of Hetmyer.

Pooran on the Dhoni inspiration Following a Punjab Kings versus Chennai Super Kings

match during the IPL, Pooran was seen conversing with the legendary Mahendra Singh Dhoni. Reflecting on that priceless moment, Pooran said: “I enjoy watching him bat. He is someone I look at a lot, especially wicket-keeping, being a finisher and playing that tough role in a T20 game or even 50-over cricket.

“We spoke about the game, to be honest, and the amount of time we have in T20 cricket, although we think we do not have much time. Listening to him - and it is something Pollard and Dwayne (Bravo) chat about - hearing from him (Dhoni) and listening how

calm he is about it, the conversation is all about intent, and how we go about it. He had some nice things to say about me, and I really appreciate it.

For him taking some time off and sharing some knowledge, I really enjoyed the conversation with him, and hopefully I can take his advice and move one step forward with my career and batting,” Pooran declared.

West Indies will play their first warm-up match, against Pakistan, on October 18, and will play their first official match of the tournament, against England, on October 23.

Coach Henry optimistic about Green Machine’s chances this weekend

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y now, Guyana’s National Rugby 7s team commonly known as the ‘Green Machine’, would have arrived in Turks and Caicos today, for their first international competition since the COVID-19 Pandemic hit last year. The Rugby Americas North (RAN) 7s Championships will run from October 16 to 17 and Head Coach of the local squad is pretty confident about their chances.

A 12-man Rugby 7s team from Guyana along with their Coach and Staff have headed out to the 9- team competition which promises to be scintillating with quality competitors like Jamaica and Mexico lined up for the coming weekend.

Based on the format of the competition and the Group Guyana is in, which includes Belize and Bermuda, ‘Green Machine’ Head Coach Theodore Henry is firm in his belief that Guyana can do well, and maybe even win the tournament.

“Well, for me personally I’ve always been of the mindset that going into this tournament, the least that we are accepting as a win for us, is finishing in the top four. That’s the least, but given the situation and how we’re seeded in the pool, it’s highly likely that we could make the finals of this tournament,” Henry said.

He continued, “And as you know, once you get into the final of a 7-a-side tournament, much like T20 cricket, it’s anybody’s game.”

has not experienced it as yet, so they’re basically going to be getting their feet wet in this tournament,” Coach henry commented.

He went on to add, “I’m hopeful, at the fact that, I’ve been there, experienced it, have a lot of knowledge and teaching is going to rub off on them and we don’t have to start from ground zero.”

With the team being a mixture of youth and Green Machine Head Coach experience, the Head Coach is Theodore Henry looking for the key players to As far as preparation went, ‘show up’ when needed. henry was content with their “Like we mentioned before, training but believes that the we have quite a lot of new team would have benefitted players added to this team. So, from some warm up games. it depends on the mindset that Coach Henry revealed, “This they enter this tournament team has been thoroughly with. If they’re going to go there prepared in terms of fitness, and bring out that ‘big game’ but match fitness is a totally mentality or they’re going to different scenario all together. fold under the pressure. And Like I mentioned before, had we’re that they bring out the we had the opportunity to play big game mentality, as we know some better opposition, I would Guyana is capable of doing,” have been more comfortable in Henry stated. terms of match fitness.”

The Green Machine consists When quizzed about his of captain Jamal Angus, Godfrey ingredients for success, Henry Broomes, Osei McKenzie, highlighted hard work and Rondel McArthur, Fabian experience, sharing hopes that Joseph, Lancelot Adonis, Peabo his experience in the sport will Hamilton, Avery Corbin, Oneil lead the Green Machine to the Charles, Jonathan Garnett, Cup. Lionel Holder and Tyrese “The ingredient that we Prescod. had, was basically hard work, Guyana will play their as well as experience. The first game against Belize on fact that we’ve been doing it Saturday. The other teams in the for a very long time, prior to competition are Jamaica, British winning our first championships Virgin Islands, Turks and Caicos in 2016, we’ve experienced a (Pool A), Mexico, Barbados and lot of heartbreak, we’ve lost a Curaçao (Pool B). lot of tournaments. This team

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