Guyana Times - Thursday, September 2, 2021

Education Month

Illiteracy, P15 modernisation of education sector to be addressed in strategic plan

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

Issue No. 4758

THE BEACON OF TRUTH THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2021

AmCham should champion Guyana’s quest to remove trade barriers in US – President …as prominent attorney Devindra Kissoon takes helm Page 3

Guyana in 3rd wave of COVID-19 pandemic propelled by Delta variant – Dr Anthony Page 12

…vaccination “not mandatory”, but gazetted measures aim to create safe work environment – Ali

US$2M contract signed for 2 additional boarding bridges at CJIA Page 7

Husband stabs wife to death, commits suicide

PRICE

$80 VAT INCLUDED

WHAT'S INSIDE:

State House being restored to heritage P9 colour, no State funds used

Police corruption

Police must appreciate P7 their salaries – Region 5 Commander Crabwood Creek fatal beating

Pandit died from fractured skull, brain haemorrhage P14 – PME

Page 11

MoH driver charged for causing death by dangerous driving P8 Murders up by 33% in Region 5 – Commander Dead: Camile Robertson-Rodrigues

2 more COVID-19 deaths, 222 new cases recorded …as 2 fully-vaccinated persons with severe comorbidities die

Dead: Rollin Rodrigues

Pages 10 & 14

…cinemas get permission to sell snacks, only vaccinated persons can access gyms

P15

Body found in koker at P15 Wakenaam

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

NEWS

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS OPENINGS BRIDGE

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

Thursday, Sept 2 – 01:00h-02:30h and 13:30h-15:00h and Friday, Sept 3 – 02:00h-03:30h and 13:30h-15:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

AmCham should champion Guyana’s quest to remove trade barriers in US – President …as prominent attorney Devindra Kissoon takes helm

Thursday, Sept 2 – 13:40h-15:10h and Friday, Sept 3 – 14:30h-16:00h.

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

WEATHER TODAY

Sunny conditions are expected during the day with light rain showers and thunder likely in the late-afternoon into evening hours. Temperatures should range between 21 degrees Celsius and 30 degrees Celsius.

Winds: Northerly to North North-westerly between 1.78 metres and 4.47 metres.

High Tide: 13:14h reaching a maximum height of 2.08 metres.

Low Tide: 06:35h and 19:05h reaching minimum heights of 1.07 metres and 1.16 metres.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2021

LOTTERY NUMBERS E

02 10 11 16 18 24

FREE TICKET

08 Bonus Ball

DAILY MILLIONS

04 06 08 17 20 LUCKY 3

0

3

9

9

Afternoon Draw

9

5

Evening Draw

DRAW DE LINE

04 06 08 15 17 19 21 SUPER

PAY DAY

PAY DAY FRIDAY, AUGUST 27, 2021

02 06 10 13 14 13

03 11 12 14 18

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

$72.94/barrel

-0.07

Rough Rice

$238.5 /ton $483.30/ton

+0.15 -0.84

London Sugar

Live Spot Gold

USD Per Ounce

Bid/Ask

$1811.60

$1812.60

Low/High Change

$1808.30 -3.00

$1821.30 -0.17%

President Dr Irfaan Ali

P

rominent Attorneyat-Law Devindra Kissoon will be taking the helm as President of the American Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAM Guyana), following his election on Wednesday.

Wednesday saw AMCHAM holding its third Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the Arthur Chung Conference Center, where Kissoon was elected unopposed. Kissoon, who is a founding member of the London House Chambers law firm, played a prominent role in several court cases that followed the 2018 No Confidence Motion.

Meanwhile, Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA) executive Shyam Nokta was elected at the AGM as one of three Vice Presidents (VP).

His fellow VPs are Iman Cummings and Edwardo Repele. Additionally, Fitzroy McCloud will be returning as Treasurer of the chamber.

In his acceptance speech, Kissoon promised to continue the chamber’s legacy of forming a conduit between commercial interests in the United States of America (USA) and Guyana. He was also confident that the chamber would play a key role in Guyana’s standings on ease of doing business indices.

“We will continue to take our fiduciary role seriously, to provide our members with the highest possible service in promoting trade and investment, business development services, continued representation, and efforts to improve the local business climate,” the lawyer said.

“During my tenure as President, the Chamber will increase focus on attracting foreign investment to Guyana, increase joint ventures between Guyanese and American firms, increase AmCham’s civil society role, and work with the relevant authorities in bolstering our legal system, to increase efficiency and enforcement of contracts as well as general improvement in the Ease of Doing Business Rankings,” Kissoon added.

Bridge gap

Meanwhile, President Dr Irfaan Ali, who was among the attendees, congratulated Kissoon on his election and challenged members of AmCham Guyana to attract the necessary investments in the non-oil sectors, which

Attorney-at-Law Devindra Kissoon

include the agriculture sector. He also told the newly elected members that he is looking forward to them championing the country’s quest in the removal of barriers to trade.

He said that although the organisation has done very well in promoting opportunities for United States businesses in Guyana, more can be done for local businesses with investments in the US. He also referenced Guyana’s current exclusion from the US catfish market.

“Whilst I’ve seen great aggression in you championing the cause of American businesses here, which we appreciate, we need the same aggression in championing our cause. You should be in the forefront of ensuring that our catfish and our gilbaka (gillbacker) get back on the American Market,” Ali said, adding, “You should also be in the forefront of having seminars with our local farmers in telling them what opportunities exist in food supply and what they

need to do to be part of those opportunities.”

The Head of State also reminded the new executive of the need to take the organisation to the next level, and bridge the gap between them and ordinary Guyanese.

“When we do these things, then the ordinary people out there would see the necessity of what they term ‘sophisticated people’ in this room sitting; otherwise, we mean nothing to those people, none of us.

“Because when they look in this room, they will see a talk shop. But when they can see you out there fighting for something they know that can improve their lives or give them an opportunity, then they feel a part of this,” President Ali said.

According to the President, he is looking forward to continuing the progressive relationship between his Government and AmCham. It is a relationship, he said, that has led to positive outcomes for

Guyana, and has specifically helped to foster and strengthen increased trade and commercial ties with the United States.

The event was also attended by members of the Cabinet, the US Ambassador to Guyana, Sarah-Ann Lynch, and the outgoing President of the chamber, Zulfikar Ally. In one of his final acts as President, Ally had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with AMCHAM’s Trinidadian counterpart a few days ago.

The MoU will see the two organisations collaborating and working together to jointly host seminars focusing on key business issues, including but not limited to Health, Safety, Security and the Environment (HSSE), Trade Missions etc; collaborate to encourage members within both AmCham membership bodies, and to support Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives jointly. (G3)

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guyanatimesgy.com

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 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

Domestic violence

D

omestic 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.” However, domestic violence has many victims besides spousal partners.

On Monday, a 12-year-old found his mother fatally stabbed and covered in blood in their La Parfaite Harmonie, West Bank Demerara (WBD) home with his stepfather close by, having committed suicide. This is one of many tragic and traumatizing cases of domestic violence in Guyana.

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.

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, where 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.

Vice President of Guyana, Bharrat Jagdeo, met with the British High Commissioner to Guyana, Jane Miller (OBE), on Wednesday, and they discussed several issues of mutual interest (Office of the Vice President photo)

Without help for oil-producing countries, net zero by 2050 is a distant dream

… to meet climate targets and avoid economic collapse, countries need international support in the transition to clean energy

By Ali Allawi and Fatih Birol

I

n the Middle East and North Africa, global warming is not a distant threat, but an already painful reality. Rising temperatures are exacerbating water shortages. In Iraq, temperatures are estimated to be rising as much as seven times faster than the global average. Countries in this region are not only uniquely affected by global temperature rises: their centrality to global oil and gas markets makes their economies particularly vulnerable to the transition away from fossil fuels and towards cleaner energy sources. It’s essential the voices of Iraq and similar countries are heard at the COP26 climate change conference in Glasgow this November.

To stand a chance of limiting the worst effects of climate change, the world needs to fundamentally change the way it produces and consumes energy, burning less coal, oil and natural gas. The International Energy Agency’s recent global roadmap to net zero by 2050 shows the world’s demand for oil will need to decline from more than 90 million barrels a day to less than 25 million by 2050.

This would result in a 75 per cent plunge in net revenues for oil-producing economies, many of which are dominated by a public sector that relies on oil exports and the revenues they produce.

An energy transition that fails to engage with fossil fuel-producing countries and their needs could have profound implications for regional and international security and the stability of global energy markets. If oil revenues start to decline before producer countries have

successfully diversified their economies, livelihoods will be lost and poverty rates will increase. In a region with one of the youngest and fastest-growing populations in the world, economic hardship and increasing unemployment risk creating broader unrest and instability.

The COVID-19 crisis provides a cautionary tale.

Poverty rates in Iraq are estimated to have doubled in 2020. This is largely a result of the country’s decline in oil income, as prices nosedived globally because of the pandemic-induced collapse in demand. We cannot allow the livelihoods of millions of families to continue to be dictated by the vagaries of an unpredictable oil market.

Redressing this will require policies and investments that enable oil and gas-producing countries to channel capital and labour into productive industries for the future and stimulate the Private Sector. Indeed, this was one of the key motivations behind Iraq’s recent white paper for economic reform, which seeks to fundamentally alter the nature of the Iraqi economy, allowing the Private Sector to play a larger role, reducing the country’s reliance on hydrocarbon exports and committing to an economic renewal focused on environmentally-sound policies and technologies. The energy sector could play a role here by making use of the region’s vast potential for producing and supplying clean energy.

The decarbonisation strategies of different countries will be shaped by their individual circumstances. In Iraq, oil and gas production accounts for as much as 40 per cent of total greenhouse gas emissions, before any of this is even burned to fuel

cars or produce electricity.

This makes the country’s recent commitment to curbing gas flaring – an unnecessary and harmful practice where natural gas from oil wells is burned into the air – all the more important.

There are opportunities for decarbonisation within relatively easy reach. By making energy use more efficient across industries, transport and the building sector, countries could put the brakes on the runaway demand for energy growth they are currently experiencing. Increasing energy efficiency would have other benefits too: it would mean countries such as Iraq wouldn’t need to spend as much on increasing their overall level of electricity supply, and would allow them to create new jobs in areas such as the construction and maintenance of energy-efficient buildings. A recent International Energy Agency (IEA) report shows that for every US$1 million invested in energy efficiency, up to 30 jobs are created.

This is crucial in a country such as Iraq, with its young and fast-growing population.

Renewable energy offers countries the ability to build a cleaner and more efficient electricity sector, instead of relying on costly imports and polluting fossil fuels. The worst potential solar sites in Iraq get up to 60 per cent more direct energy from the sun than the best sites in Germany. And yet the solar plants that Germany has built to date together offer two and a half times the electricity capacity of all Iraq’s operational oil, gas and hydropower plants combined. Solar is increasingly becoming more affordable than electricity from fossil-fuel plants in many

parts of the world. Some large projects in the Middle East and North Africa are already at the forefront of this trend, but a lot of countries, Iraq included, will need support to capitalise on their huge solar resources.

This would bring tremendous economic benefits.

Iraq’s inability to provide enough electricity to meet demand has cost the country nearly US$120 billion over the past seven years, according to recent IEA analysis.

Power cuts are recurrent, and the cost of securing electricity from private generators has stifled many small- and medium-sized businesses. Renewables, especially solar, could provide a cost-effective means of addressing the issues that have plagued Iraq’s electricity system for so long by increasing the reliability and affordability of the energy needed to power homes and businesses. Policymakers in Iraq are also closely watching technological developments in the promising field of small nuclear reactors as an additional low-carbon energy source.

Countries such as Iraq cannot make the transition to clean energy alone. If they are to bring together the financial resources, expertise, and policies to transform their economies in an equitable, affordable way, they will need international support. Otherwise, the path to net zero and the security of the world’s energy markets will both be imperilled. (The Guardian) Ali Allawi is Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister of Iraq, and heads a ministerial committee reviewing the country’s efforts to address climate change.

Fatih Birol is Executive Director of the International Energy Agency

guyanatimesgy.com

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2021

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TIGI’s selective advocacy Amerindians benefit Repulsive court from development action against Govt’s vaccination programme under successive PPP/C Governments

Dear Editor, Amerindians of Guyana, our first people, and their communities have been major beneficiaries of the many transformational projects executed by successive PPP/C administrations throughout the country.

Through the aegis of the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs, dozens of projects, costing billions and increasing incrementally with each succeeding Budget, have been executed since the PPP/C took office in 1992, and are continuing to be executed for the qualitative improvement of Amerindians and their communities under the current Irfaan Ali-led Government.

These are the Hinterland Development projects programmed to make Amerindian communities self-sufficient, and finally integrating these well-deserving people into the mainstream of national life.

Amerindians and their communities have come a long way from those decades of criminal neglect, especially during the regime of the former People’s National Congress Government. The improved lives that are currently the daily experience of Amerindians and their hinterland communities are a direct result of a genuine policy on the part of the People’s Progressive Party/

Civic Government to correct the historical wrongs that our Amerindian brethren have suffered for so long.

One of the successes of the hinterland development programme has been its electrification initiative, beginning in 2005, from which an initial 11,000 solar panels were distributed to over 135 communities in Regions 1,7,8,9, and 10 before the coalition Government truncated the programme in 2015.

But Amerindian socio-economic development is a continuous process under every PPP/C Government; therefore, it should be of no surprise when the Government recently restarted distribution of solar panels to augment those already provided to hinterland communities and riverine areas that are “offgrid”.

Unsurprisingly, the political Opposition, the “Cummingsburg Two”, had levelled the accusation that these interventions were “vote-buying”. But successive PPP/C Governments’ records on hinterland development are best manifested in the much-improved lives and changes of Amerindians and their communities under their watch.

Sincerely, Attiya Baksh

Tale, saga of COVID measures Dear Editor, More than a year after draconian COVID-19 measures were implemented by the former Government, the anti-PPP Government unions now recognise this, and have filed court papers to have these and other measures revoked and overturned.

Nothing was seen wrong

before; suddenly, certain measures implemented by the current Government were found to be unfavourable, and the court rounds begin.

Not surprising in the tale and saga of COVID measures.

Sincerely, Shamshun Mohamed

Dear Editor, Through media reports, the public was made aware that three trade unions came together to file legal proceedings against the Attorney General of Guyana, in which they are seeking to quash the entirety of the Government’s vaccination programme.

These three unions: the Guyana Teachers Union (GTU), the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU), and the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC), have taken a stance against the Government’s vaccination policy wherein they are now trying to get rid of all the Government’s recommended guidelines and established protocols in relation to the opening of buildings, etc.

I write to you today because it is important for all Guyanese to understand what these court proceedings actually mean for the country in the context of COVID-19.

The proceedings filed by the GTU, GPSU, and GTUC seek to stop the Government from going forward with its vaccination programme. This basically means that the unions want the Government to stop vaccinating citizens.

Have these unions even considered what that would mean for the people of Guyana, and the level of death and disaster it can cause? I don’t think that they have given any consideration to such, because the reality is that, without the vaccines and the ex-

isting policy, hundreds of Guyanese would die every day.

In this regard, I am repulsed by the fact that these unions would file proceedings, knowing fully well the seriousness of COVID-19 and the need for countrywide vaccination.

It has been stated time and time again by the World Health Organization (WHO) that the only way out of this pandemic is for people to get vaccinated. The Government of Guyana has rolled out a robust vaccination programme, and has established a vaccination policy geared at protecting the lives of all citizens.

Against that backdrop, why would the GTU, GPSU, and GTUC want to steer away from that?

The actions of these three unions over the last couple of months in particular have proven that they are nothing more than fronts for the APNU/AFC coalition. They can argue that they are independent unions representing the people, but it is very clear where they stand. In fact, the very lawyer Darren Wade, who filed the proceedings for the unions, was on the APNU/ AFC’s list of candidates at the last election. This just proves yet again that these people are biased, and will do everything to attack the Government, even if it means gambling with the lives of Guyanese.

Sincerely, Anson Paul

Dear Editor, It is with much disappointment that I write to you today regarding the Transparency Institute Guyana Inc. (TIGI). As an institution that is supposed to be focused on transparency in the affairs of the country, we have seen it selectively speaking out on matters.

In my opinion, and I am sure many of your readers would agree, it is very transparent where the TIGI stands.

I ask that you kindly allow me to voice some of my concerns. First and foremost, there are several reasons why the TIGI in its current construct should be condemned by Guyanese.

However, I know that if I were to list them all, there would not be enough space in your publication to record them.

As I said at the beginning, the TIGI is supposed to be focused on promoting transparency, yet it is always silent when its voice is needed the most. I bring attention to the fact that, throughout the entire 2020 General and Regional Elections fiasco which we faced as a country, we heard nothing from this so-called “transparency institute”. When the APNU+AFC tried desperately to rig the elections in front of the nation and the world’s eyes, the TIGI was silent. We heard not a word from them when Mingo and Lowenfield tried to alter the results of the elections in favour of the coalition.

One would assume that as a pro-transparency organisation, it would’ve at least called on the APNU+AFC to be transparent by releas-

ing copies of their ‘winning’ SOPs. We are yet to hear anything in this regard.

I ask this: Where is the voice of Alfred Bhulai and the TIGI in this regard?

Editor, I wish to also point out that during the period 2015 to 2020, when the APNU+AFC coalition was in office, several exposures of massive corruption were made. Where was the TIGI then? It was silent throughout it all. However, prior to 2015, when the PPP/C was in Government, the TIGI was very vocal. It spoke out aggressively against the Government on every topic under the sun.

The trend here is very clear: It spoke out in the pre-2015 period, was silent during the 2015-to2020 period, and then suddenly became vocal again in the post-August 2020 period. Where were Alfred Bhulai and TIGI when the APNU+AFC hid the signing bonus for a year? When the Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan, said later that he thought it was a gift, we heard not even a murmur from TIGI. Suddenly Bhulai and the other fossils at GHRA have found their voice once again, and they are enabled by certain media interests.

Editor, it is very obvious where the TIGI stands, and, as such, anything that it says here onwards should be condemned, as it is biased and has lost whatever credibility it had.

Respectfully, Alvin Hamilton

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2021

Page

Foundation For the young who want to

By Marge Piercy

Talent is what they say you have after the novel is published and favorably reviewed. Beforehand what you have is a tedious delusion, a hobby like knitting.

Work is what you have done after the play is produced and the audience claps.

Before that friends keep asking when you are planning to go out and get a job.

Genius is what they know you had after the third volume of remarkable poems. Earlier they accuse you of withdrawing, ask why you don’t have a baby, call you a bum.

The reason people want M.F.A.’s, take workshops with fancy names when all you can really learn is a few techniques, typing instructions and somebody else’s mannerisms is that every artist lacks a license to hang on the wall like your optician, your vet proving you may be a clumsy sadist whose fillings fall into the stew but you’re certified a dentist.

The real writer is one who really writes. Talent is an invention like phlogiston after the fact of fire.

Work is its own cure. You have to like it better than being loved.

WORD SEARCH

NEWS

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

US$2M contract signed for 2 additional boarding bridges at CJIA A

contract for US$2 million was signed with China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) on Wednesday. It will aid in completion of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport expansion, with the procurement of two air bridges.

During the signing, Public Works Minister Juan Edghill explained that the contract is to ensure that two additional boarding bridges can be procured. He explained that the corridor must be extended if CJIA is to be able to accommodate the two air bridges and D & E long haul aircraft.

“Today’s signing ceremony is Government’s part to facilitate what China Harbour has to do as part of its expansion. They have to put in the corridors to facilitate two additional air bridges. And those corridors are to facilitate the D&E aircraft. Today’s signing, Government is engaging the supplier for the provision of the boarding bridges of itself.”

Cheddi Jagan International Airport

Edghill has said that with the signing, the way is open for Guyana to be a destination for long-haul flights, and the CJIA an important transit point. According to him, the D&E aircraft have the capacity to carry more than 300 passengers.

“The extended runway must be able to facilitate D and E type aircraft.

The D and E type aircraft are essentially the wide body aircraft that will do the trans-Atlantic flights; long hauls you call them,” Edghill said.

“These are planes that carry in excess of 300 pas-

sengers at a time. Its cargo capacity is enormous. Some of us have seen containers being lifted in and out of airplanes in movies and when we travel to New York.

That’s the type of airplanes we’re talking about.”

He further explained that the latest update of the CJIA expansion is that they are awaiting prefabricated building materials from China. These materials have, however, been held up by the global slowdown caused by COVID-19.

“For the expansion work to be done, the footprints are already mapped out and

foundations being prepared, just awaiting the arrival of steel and other prefabricated things from China, that has been somewhat delayed

by COVID and the shipping issues we have around the world.

“But we’re advancing, and today’s signing is to signal President Irfaan Ali’s commitment to get this airport into a world class airport,” Minister Edghill said.

When the air bridges arrive, it means CJIA will have six passenger boarding bridges. The extended corridor is part of the US$9M in extra work China Harbour

Engineering agreed to do.

Based on the Government’s agreement with the Chinese contractor, the expansion works are expected to be completed by this year end.

The Public Works Ministry had entered into an agreement with CHEC back in December, which would see the contractor doing US$9 million in additional works to further extend the airport at no cost to the State.

The new works involve an extension of the airport’s boarding corridor in order to accommodate the two pas-

senger boarding bridges, providing the airport with a total of six boarding bridges capable of servicing aircraft such as the Boeing 777, Dreamliner, the Airbus and similar trans-Atlantic aircraft.

It would also see the terminal building being extended to provide accommodation for additional commercial space, such as food courts and duty-free shops. The extended building will feature a modern airport façade covering the full length of the departure terminal.

The overall project was to be completed since December 31, 2018, under the former A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government, but has now been taken over by the PPP/C Government in an incomplete and downgraded state. In fact, the Granger-led APNU/AFC Administration had settled for a denigrated design while paying more than the allocated US$150 million.

(G3)

Police corruption

Police must appreciate their salaries – Region 5 Commander

R

egion Five C o m m a n d e r , Superintendent Carol Harding says that she has zero tolerance for Police corruption.

She made the comment during Tuesday evening’s Police & You Radio Programme, when asked by Guyana Police Force (GPF) Public Relations Officer Stan Gouveia of her posture on any allegations of corrupt activities that may bring discredit to the GPF. “…we’re being paid for a job and we should be appreciative of our salaries and do what we’re being paid to do.”

She, however, noted that it took two to foster corruption (bribes), since there has to be a giver in order for a member of the Police

“I think if a Policeman stops you on the road and demand money for which, a job which he is being paid for, which he or she is being paid for, then you have the right to go and make a complaint.”

The Commander went on to explain that “most times, persons are an enabler because of the dynamics of our court system and all of it, I find that persons

Region Five Commander, Superintendent Carol Harding

Force to become a receiver.

“If you are giving, you’re culpable and you need to be dealt with also. It’s not just the receiver,” the Commander highlighted.

She further stated that

if it was a case whereby the Police rank asked, the question to be answered is if that individual being asked to provide a bribe would have called to report that rank’s behaviour.

are enabling certain behaviours. “ “If you are gonna enable the Police, then both of you should be dealt with,” she expressed.

Unfortunately, it is the Police rank that usually faces the backlash.

Only recently, Assistant Superintendent Elston Baird, Head of the Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR), revealed that ‘givers’

of bribes can also be prosecuted as long as the receiver (Police rank) comes forward and gives a statement saying that they received a bribe from the accused.

He had also encouraged members of the public to go into the OPR offices within their region, or report to the Commander of that region, Police ranks who may be making demands, monetary or otherwise.

8 NEWS

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Arguments in legal challenge to town clerk’s appointment to begin on Monday

Georgetown Mayor Ubraj Narine

H

igh Court Justice Jo-Ann Barlow has fixed Monday to commence hearing oral arguments in an application filed by the Mayor and City Councillors (M&CC) of the municipality of Georgetown, challenging the appointment of Candace Nelson as acting Town Clerk.

Nelson was appointed to the post by the Local Government Commission (LGC), the sole respondent in the legal proceedings.

In a Fixed Date Application (FDA) filed at the Demerara High Court, the M&CC is contending

that Nelson’s appointment is unlawful.

The M&CC submits that she “is acting without lawful authority”, and will continue to disrupt the smooth and efficient functioning of the Council.

In the FDA, the Georgetown Mayor and City Councillors cite Nelson for taking disruptive actions which pose serious ongoing and continuing breaches that compromise the sanctity of the Council’s operations.

It accuses her of influencing the records of the M&CC’s statutory meetings by deleting matters from minutes of meetings, and seeking to dictate the contents of the agenda of later meetings.

According to the court document, Nelson suspended a tendering process that began months before her appointment, and has potentially compromised the ability of the M&CC to honour its contractual and other financial obligations.

She is also being accused of failing to facilitate a proper handover of the M&CC’s assets.

The M&CC has submitted that unless Nelson is removed, she will further disrupt the Council’s business.

Acting Town Clerk Candace Nelson

The M&CC is being represented by Attorney-at-law CV Satram, while Attorneyat-law Teni Housty is appearing for the LGC. Nelson was appointed after the LGC wrote to then acting Town Clerk Sherry Jerrick and instructed her to return to her substantive position of Assistant Town Clerk effective from July 27.

Chairman of the LGC, Julius Faerber, has recently said the decision to remove Jerrick was a unanimous one.

“That decision was unanimously voted in favour of, and when I said unan-

imously, there were seven Commissioners who were present at that time, and all seven of them voted in favour of having Ms Jerrick return to her substantive position. That was the situation that occurred,” he had told a news conference.

According to Faerber, the decision to appoint Nelson is in keeping with the authority vested in the Local Government Commission under Sections 12 and 13 of the Local Government Commission Act. Specifically, he pointed to Section 13 (2), which states: “The Commission shall have the power to deal with all matters relating to the staffing of Local Government organs, and in particular shall be responsible for employment, transfer, discipline, and dismissal of staff.”

Nelson had left the Council’s most recent statutory meeting after Mayor Narine indicated that the Council would not recognise or include her in the proceedings. An earlier meeting of the Council was adjourned after the Mayor and Councillors protested her appointment and demanded that she leave.

However, Nelson did not budge. (G1)

MoH driver charged for causing death by dangerous driving

Charged: Orlando Fraser

A

driver attached to the Ministry of Health was on Wednesday arraigned before Georgetown Magistrate Clive Nurse on a charge of causing death by dangerous driving.

Orlando Fraser, 50, of Pike Street, Kitty, Georgetown pleaded not guilty to the charge.

It is alleged that on February 19, 2021, at Vlissengen Road, Georgetown, he drove minibus PLL 5798 in a man-

ner dangerous to the public, thereby causing the death of 41-year-old Cuthbert Crandon.

According to reports, Crandon, who had no fixed place of abode, was struck by the speeding minibus as he rode his bicycle along Vlissengen Road, Georgetown in the vicinity of the Guyana Water Incorporated. The Police have said that Crandon sustained severe injuries.

According to a Police report, Crandon was proceeding south along the eastern drive lane of Vlissengen Road, holding a mattress on his head when he suddenly swerved right onto the western drive lane in an attempt to cross over to the western side of the road.

The cyclist allegedly ended up in the path of the minibus, which was proceeding south along the eastern drive lane of Vlissengen Road at a fast rate. Police have said that the bus driver swerved in an attempt to avoid the collision, but still ended up hitting Crandon, who fell onto the roadway and sustained injuries.

He was picked up in an unconscious state by an ambulance, and transport-

Dead: Cuthbert Crandon

ed to the Georgetown Public Hospital.

A diagnosis of Crandon’s injuries revealed that he suffered lung contusion and five broken ribs. Following investigations, Fraser was arrested and charged.

He was released on $250,000 bail, and will make another court appearance on September 29.

Rum kill...

Y

…me Pandit our Eyewitness knows that Guyana is sinking in a vortex of obscenities. This ranges from the macroobscenity of a Sanctimonious Gangster and his myrmidons attempting to steal an election literally in front of the entire world, to the daily micro-obscenities of interpersonal violence. When is there a day that some woman or girl isn’t chopped or brutalised in one way or another? One fella wrote such an outrageous letter to the press that you’d think there aren’t any good men in Guyana. He misses the point. Sure, there are good men here -- your Eyewitness is one, isn’t he? -- but we gotta go by the dominant tendency.

But this latest obscenity of a group of eleven drunken louts battering a Pandit to death takes the cake. All the man did was remonstrate with them about drinking and shouting obscenities from sundown to 2am in the morning IN FRONT OF HIS HOUSE!! They knew who the man was and what he stood for - a man of God, who tried to live a moral life. The low-life mob had been doing this for a long time, and had been asked repeatedly not to destroy the family’s peace. All to no avail – all they got were more curses and threats as to what they’d do to the man’s daughter.

But more to the point, the Pandit and his family had called the Police Station in next-door Skeldon several times in the past - and on the night in question. With the same response that Guyanese across the land get when they make noise-nuisance complaints - which is an offence!

- NO ACTION!!! And in this case a man was murdered.

And your Eyewitness doesn’t want to hear about any “manslaughter” charge; this was premeditated murder, since they’d threatened to do this several times previously.

Okay, the Police have to get their act together. But really, is anything gonna change when they’ve lost the plot in so many other areas of national life that they’re supposed to protect?? So, what it comes down to is we gotta deal with the source of the problem - which is “rum drinking”. And this isn’t as innocuous as it might sound to outsiders, since it’s our name for “alcoholism”. With us, as the Chutney Singer belted out, even though “Rum kill me muddah and rum kill me fadder”, it’s still “Rum till I die!!”

The sickness is mainly in the Indian-Guyanese community, and especially the Hindu-Guyanese community. And their leaders have to do something about it. It’s no excuse to say that alcohol was introduced during Indentureship by the sugar barons as a means of social control. So what?

Whatcha gonna do about it now??

…the society There are some groups who might say that “rum drinking” isn’t their problem. But they should realise that, in any country, the citizens are like fishes swimming in a pond - or a lake, is you will. And if the water is poisoned by some of the fishes, eventually all will die - or at least get sick. So rum drinking must be tackled nationally.

First of all, why aren’t there more sensitisation programmes about alcoholism being a DISEASE being done by the Ministry of Health?!! Secondly, the GRA can be directed to enforce the laws of the land, to ensure that rum shops can’t pop up all over the place like jumbie umbrellas.

They must be regulated, and the Government has the tool - the licences they operate under. Then the Public Health system must have alcoholism detox programmes, followed up by AA or similar programmes to rehabilitate alcoholics.

The Hindu religious organisations must move beyond song-and-dance in their relationship with their constituencies.

They have to address social problems like alcoholism, suicide and domestic violence.

…the drinker To paraphrase Brother Bob, here’s some advice to “rum suckers”: And what is to be must be/Every day the bucket goes to the well - But one day the bottom will drop out.

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

NEWS

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

State House being restored to heritage colour, no State funds used

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he People’s Progressive Party (PPP), like much of civil society and the National Trust, had made its displeasure known when State House was repainted under the former Government.

Now, efforts are underway to restore the historical site to its neutral glory.

The official residence of the President of Guyana, which was painted green under the former A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government, is currently being painted white, its original colour before 2015.

President Dr Irfaan Ali

State House being repainted

was asked about the restoration process and the origin of the funds, on the sidelines of an event on Wednesday.

According to the President, funds came from the Private Sector Commission (PSC) and not the national coffers.

“I know the Private Sector launched an initiative to get State House back to its heritage colour. The PSC wrote officially saying they would like to do this and the officials subsequently gave them the approval,” the President said.

“That’s not Government money. Colour doesn’t matter to me. National institutions matter. And if a national institution by law

is expected to be a certain way, then you’re supposed to respect the rule of law,” President Ali added.

Following the coalition’s ascent to office in 2015, it began a repainting frenzy on several public buildings, including what was then the Ministry of the Presidency and, eventually, State House in 2017.

IT also used the colour green, which is the dominant colour of the People’s National Congress (PNC) and APNU. Former President David Granger is the leader of both parties.

Whenever he was asked about it, however, Granger had pleaded innocence of

any law breaking.

Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo, who was at the time Opposition Leader, had lambasted the then Government for making repainting of historical buildings its priority. He had described it as a waste of taxpayers’ money.

“It is another senseless act by this Government; a total waste of taxpayers’ money. Painting public buildings in party colours cannot be the priority of our country when many people are looking for jobs or better welfare,” Jagdeo had said.

The National Trust is responsible for the preservation of monuments and historical sites in Guyana.

State House is a historical site, and as such, the National Trust has to be consulted on any change done to the building.

At the time, however, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Trust of Guyana, Nirvanie Persaud, had told Guyana Times that the entity was not consulted and that they would be seeking an explanation for the colour change.

“We have not been informed about any change to the colour, or (about) any repairs. We are in discussion with the Ministry of the Presidency,” Persaud had said.

The National Trust of

Guyana was established following the passage of the National Trust Act, No 7 of 1972. The main responsibility of the National Trust is the preservation of all monuments and historical sites in Guyana.

The National Trust’s website stated that State House, the official residence of the Executive President of Guyana, is located with its main façade facing Main Street, and borders New Market and Carmichael Streets, Cummingsburg, Georgetown. The structure is sometimes called Guyana House, and was formerly known as Government House. (G3)

10 NEWS

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

2 fully-vaccinated persons with severe comorbidities die from COVID-19 necessary. The thing about COVID-19 is that it does not come with COVID-19 alone. Most of the time… they have patients with comorbidities, so you’re treating the person according to how they present. So, some patients can come with an uncontrollable diabetes. So you have that coupled with COVID-19, so their treatment will vary from a person who maybe is a hypertensive with a heart attack.

tal health is also being catered for, with regular visits by psychiatrists and evaluations being done to determine whether permanent consultations are needed during hospitalisations and after discharge.

Capacity

The Ocean View hospital currently has the capacity to accommodate 204 patients, with 40 ICU beds.

Dr Anthony said plans

that’s really what we inherited… There were contractors who were on the site, who were paid – overpaid in many instances – but they didn’t complete their work.

So, we had to make sure that these things were done, and it really took an effort,” the Minister posited.

According to Dr Anthony, the fact that they were able to have the facility ready for its first patient in approx-

From left: Doctor in Charge of the Ocean View Hospital, Dr Tracy Bovell; Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony, and GPHC’s Director of Medical and Professional Services, Dr Fawcett Jeffrey, at Wednesday’s press conference

O

f the 624 persons who have to date died from the novel coronavirus in Guyana, only two of them had been fully vaccinated against COVID-19. However, according to Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony, they were suffering from severe comorbidities, which led to their deaths.

He made this revelation during a press conference on Wednesday morning to mark one year since the operationalisation of the Infectious Disease Hospital, known as the Ocean View facility, which is currently being used solely to treat infected patients and houses the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

In response to a question from Guyana Times, the Health Minister noted that with the exception of two

patients, none of the other persons who have died from COVID-19 were fully vaccinated.

“We have had two cases where persons passed away [and] they’ve had both doses [of COVID-19 vaccine], but they’ve had severe comorbidities. In both cases, they’ve had more than one illness… So outside of the vaccination, the prognosis would have been bad to begin with… the persons were extremely sick…but generally, as we know, the vaccines produce antibodies and they help to defend [our bodies], and that’s why we’re not seeing many persons coming into the hospital who have been vaccinated,” he explained.

Anthony also disclosed that there were some patients with only one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine who

died as well, but they, too, had severe comorbidities such as cardiac problems, diabetes, hypertension and so on.

Currently, 98 per cent of the 84 patients at the Ocean View Hospital at Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown are unvaccinated, with only one person being fully vaccinated. Of the 84 patients hospitalised, 34 are in the COVID-19 ICU.

Treatment

According to Dr Tracy Bovell, the doctor in charge at the Ocean View facility, they continue to treat COVID-infected patients with international practices, but based on individual health conditions.

“We are using remdesivir; we are using things like dexamethasone, we are using anti-biotics when

The Ocean View hospital at Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown

But the general treatment guidelines are the same ones they’re using internationally,” she explained.

Moreover, Dr Bovell noted that the staff of the hospital have and will continue to “give everything and more” to ensure that patients receive the best possible care.

She explained that since no visitors are allowed, the staff would step in and tend to patients’ needs outside of medical requirements.

In addition, the staff at the facility facilitates video calls between patients and their family members, not just in Guyana, but in other countries as well.

Moreover, Dr Bovell noted that patients’ men-

are afoot to expand the facility to house an additional 50 beds. Additionally, the Minister noted that capacity would be further boosted with the establishment of a portable field hospital which was donated by Qatar earlier this year, if the need arises.

Nevertheless, he recalled the state of the Ocean View hospital when the PPP/C Government took office in August 2020. It was without electricity, water, pumping, proper ventilation, and it was not equipped.

“It was a lot of work to be done…This place was literally a shell, nothing else – no equipment, no beds, no ventilators, no ICU… and

imately one month speaks volumes of the tirelessly work of the GPHC staff and management.

The hospital started with just seven ventilators and now has 47, and an additional 14 ventilators are expected soon.

Also reflecting on the past year of the Ocean View Hospital, Dr Fawcett Jeffery, Director of Medical and Professional Services at the GPHC, recalled preparing for COVID-19 before the virus spread to Guyana by creating and isolating spaces at the city hospital. He noted that with the spike in cases after the outbreak here, the need for much larger space was recognized, hence the Ocean View facility was identified.

He lamented the difficulties to procure equipment, since with the global pandemic, there is competition to get equipment and medical supplies, including PPEs. “We are a developing country, and we have to take what the developed countries left over,” he noted.

To date, some 2,336 patients have been admitted to the Ocean View facility, of which 2,001 of them have recovered. The hospital also recorded 335 deaths, of which 281 were ICU patients – 55.4 per cent of overall ICU patients at the facility. Total deaths at the Ocean View hospital is approximately 14 per cent of all the patients who were admitted there over the past year.

Meanwhile, there are presently 114 persons hospitalised with COVID-19 across Guyana. (G8)

NEWS

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Husband stabs wife to death, commits suicide

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Dead: Camile Robertson-Rodrigues

36-year-old mother of two was stabbed to death by her husband, who committed suicide after the gruesome act.

Dead are Camile Robertson-Rodrigues and her 46-year-old husband Rollin Rodrigues.

Reports are that the woman was killed at sometime between Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning at Recht Door—Zee, La Parfaite Harmonie, West Bank Demerara.

This newspaper was told that the killing stemmed from a dispute between the couple after RobertsonRodrigues allegedly went against her husband’s wishes and visited a friend’s party in the interior.

She returned home at about 19:30h on Tuesday and met her husband consuming alcohol. The woman’s nephew, Isiah Robertson, told this publication that the couple were arguing when he left the house shortly after and went to a nearby shop.

Dead: Rollin Rodrigues

“I don’t know what happened afterwards, because I end up go outside and at the shop to take lil drink, and when I sit down, I see them two coming out from the house going up the road to the next building, and me nah know what happened after then,” he stated.

On Wednesday morning, the woman’s 12-year-old son went to the home and called for his mother, but did not get a response. This newspaper was told that the child then peeped through the window and saw his mother lying on the bed in a pool of blood. He immediately alerted his uncle, who then confirmed the child’s report.

According to Isiah Robertson, after the alarm was raised, he rushed to the house, where he saw his uncle dead in an apparent suicide. After making this discovery, the nephew related, he had to kick down a door to gain access to a room, where he saw the woman dead on a bed. According to him, there was “blood all over”.

Police were called, and an examination of the woman’s body indicated that she was stabbed three times in different parts of her body.

Meanwhile, a family member who spoke to his publication related that the couple had had arguments in the past, wherein the man had threatened to kill the woman.

“Most times he does talk things when he drunk,” the family member explained.

The relative noted that the husband would often get upset when the woman goes out and does not make time for him.

“All he does say is when he come home from work, all he does need is time with she, and he ain’t getting that,” the family member said.

Rollin Rodrigues was working in the fishing industry. He is said to be a father of one from a previous relationship. The couple have no children together, but were married for seven years.

Both bodies were tak-

The house in which the couple’s bodies were discovered

en to the West Demerara Regional Hospital, where the couple were pronounced

dead on arrival. Their bodies are at the Ezekiel Funeral Parlor awaiting post mor-

tem examinations.

Police have since launched an investigation.

12 NEWS

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Guyana in 3rd wave of COVID-19 pandemic propelled by Delta variant – Dr Anthony …vaccination “not mandatory”, but gazetted measures aim to create safe work environment – Ali treatment of COVID-19 infections.

However, the Trinidad and Tobago Government reported last week that the Delta variant was detected in a traveller from Guyana.

As at Wednesday, Guyana’s COVID-19 death toll stood at 624, while active cases are currently 1950, of which some 114 persons are hospitalised countrywide, and there are 34 patients in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony

G

uyana is currently in its third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, and according to Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony, this is being driven primarily by the Delta variant.

“We are in the third wave. We feel that this one is being propelled by the Delta variant, and we are unfortunately going to see more cases and more hospitalisations,” Dr Anthony said during a press conference on Wednesday at the Ocean View hospital, which is being used to treat COVID-19infected patients.

While the Guyana Government has not officially confirmed the presence of the Delta variant in the country, the Health Minister

had previously explained that they are operating with the assumption that it has spread to local shores, given the increasing number of cases and hospitalisations, especially among the younger age groups.

Guyana does not have the capacity to conduct gene-sequencing, which is done with samples for COVID-infected persons to determine the variants, and in the past had to send 10 samples for testing abroad.

While those 10 samples were returned negative for COVID variants back in February, Dr Anthony said a few weeks ago, conducting more gene-sequencing is not a “priority” at this moment, since it would not change Government’s response or

Adequate

Dr Anthony said during the press conference that the systems in place are adequate to deal with the current COVID-19 infections.

But with cases, hospitalisations and deaths steadily increasing, he noted that more hospital space and equipment would be needed.

The Health Minister said critical to the preparation for the rising cases is the availability of oxygen. As it is, one patient uses approximately 15 litres per minute, with the maximum being 30 litres per minute for critically-ill patients.

While there is adequate oxygen available right now, Dr Anthony posited, they are nonetheless working out different scenarios and ca-

President Dr Irfaan Ali

tering for the possibility of a surge in cases.

“If we have a surge in cases, obviously we are going to have an increased demand on oxygen. We have been talking to the manufacturers about increasing capacity and what else can be done, and they are looking at a number of scenarios. So we have plotted a number of scenarios, [like] if we increase to so much, how much more oxygen we will demand…,” he stated.

Only about three weeks ago, a consultant from the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO) was in Guyana, and looked at the various hospitals across the country to assess their oxygen capabilities and how to improve their capacity.

“So, as we speak, every regional hospital has been in a preparation mode to add more oxygen capacity,” the Health Minister noted.

“In the same period when we had all these [new] cases over the last 24 hours, we probably had only 3500 vaccinations. Can we do more?

Of course we can, because we have more than 100 [vaccination] sites operating,” Minister Anthony stressed.

To date, some 315,279 persons have received a first dose vaccine, representing 61.5 per cent of the adult population. Meanwhile, 163,806

PCR tests.

Additionally, social spots and services are also made available to only vaccinated people.

However, there has been pushback from certain quarters, including some healthcare workers and teachers.

In fact, legal actions have been mounted by several workers’ unions challenging the vaccination requirements.

But, in response, President Dr Irfaan Ali on Wednesday told reporters on the sidelines of an event that these COVID-19 measures are aimed at creating a safe work environment, especially for those Guyanese who have sought to protect themselves by getting vaccinated.

“We have not made vaccination mandatory. What we have done is to say that in order to secure people who are vaccinated and have a safe work environment – and part of the labour relations

Oxygen plants

Additionally, Dr Anthony revealed that Government is in the process of procuring two oxygen plants. They have already been ordered, but due to the global demand and competition, they would arrive until later this year.

The Health Minister went on to point out that Government has been pushing its vaccination campaign which was launched to minimise the number of hospitalisations, since a sudden surge can overwhelm the country’s capacity to cope with the pandemic.

In fact, he pointed out that over the last week alone, there was a surge in COVID-19 cases.

“We’ve had, over the last 24 hours, 222 cases…coming from almost 3000 tests that were done. But that’s still a lot of cases that we’re detecting… We’re seeing more people coming in the hospitals, we’re seeing more cases, and we have to get people to take precautions.

persons 18 years and older are fully vaccinated, representing 31.7 per cent.

In regard to children, over 3400 have received their first dose of the PfizerBioNTech jab. After receiving 146,250 doses of the Pfizer vaccines, which the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved for adolescents, last week Government rolled out vaccination for children between the ages of 12 and 17 ahead of the reopening of schools next month.

Not mandatory

Meanwhile, Government has since implemented certain measures that have resulted in most state entities as well as some Private Sector companies requiring staff members to be vaccinated against COVID-19 or produce regular negative

is to have a safe work environment – if unvaccinated persons have a greater possibility of creating an unsafe environment, then you have to make decisions,” the Head of State contended.

He further pointed out that people need to understand the public health issue at hand, and the implications of having an unvaccinated population, particularly in the face of fast-spreading and deadlier COVID-19 mutations such as the Delta variant.

“Look at what is happening in many countries in the region with Delta. Many of the countries are running out of oxygen, and if we understand this and the public health implications of this, I’m sure we’ll all make the right decision, that we have to support vaccination,” President Ali posited. (G8)

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

14 NEWS

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2021|| GUYANATIMESGY.COM

2 more COVID-19 deaths, 222 new cases recorded …cinemas get permission to sell snacks, only vaccinated persons can access gyms

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

These latest fatalities are a 70-year-old female from Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Upper Berbice) and a 95-year-old male from Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne). According to the Ministry, they both died on Tuesday while receiving care at medical facilities.

With these fatalities, the total number of deaths in Guyana from the pandemic has gone up to 624.

Consequently, the death toll for the month of August is now 78, with a whopping 9 nine fatalities reported on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, a whopping 222 new COVID-19 cases were detected in the last 24 hours from 2,998 tests conducted. This took the total number of confirmed cases in the country to 25,770.

The Ministry’s updated COVID-19 Dashboard on Wednesday showed that 34 patients are in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU), while 1,916 persons are in isolation; that is, 107 in institutional isolation and the remaining 1,809 in home isolation.

This takes the current active cases in Guyana to 1,950. Additionally, there are seven other persons in institutional quarantine.

So far, some 23,196 persons have recovered from the life-threatening disease – 178 more recoveries have been recorded in the last 24 hours.

Meanwhile, a total of 269,961 persons have been tested for the novel coronavirus since the outbreak of the pandemic here last year. Of this number, 12,451 males and 13,319 females

GUYANA COVID-19 DASHBOARD SEPTEMBER 1 UPDATE

NUMBER OF NEW CASES

222

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN INSTITUTIONAL ISOLATION

107

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN HOME ISOLATION NUMBER OF PERSONS IN COVID-19 ICU

1809 34

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN INSTITUTIONAL QUARANTINE

7

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES BY GENDER (FEMALES)

13,319

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES BY GENDER (MALES)

12,451

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES IN GUYANA SINCE 2020

25,770

NUMBER OF RECOVERED CASES

23,196

TOTAL 1st DOSE VACCINATED

313,469

FULLY IMMUNISED

161,022

TOTAL NUMBER OF DEATHS

624

DISTRIBUTION OF TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES SINCE MARCH 2020 REGION 1

1362

REGION 2

801

REGION 3

3083

REGION 4

11,957

REGION 5

845

REGION 6

2071

REGION 7

1373

REGION 8

399

REGION 9

2249

REGION 10

1630

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.

were found to be positive.

Of the 222 new COVID cases recorded on Wednesday, one was recorded in Region One (BarimaWaini), 10 were recorded in Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam), 33 in Region Three (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara), a whopping 131 in Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica), nine in Region Five (MahaicaBerbice), three in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), 20 in Region Seven (Cuyuni-

Mazaruni), two in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) and 13 in Region 10 (Upper DemeraraBerbice).

There was no new case recorded in Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) in the last 24 hours.

In order to curb the rising number of cases in the country, the Guyana Government launched its COVID-19 vaccination exercise back in February, and is aggressively rolling it out in

the various regions in order to achieve heard immunity.

According to recent figures, some 61.5 per cent of the adult population has received their first dose of the vaccine, which is over 315,279 persons.

Meanwhile, fully immunised persons in the country are in excess of

163,806, representing approximately 31.7 per cent of the population who are 18 years and older.

Children vaccination

In regard to children, over 3400 have received their first jab. However, Government last week rolled out vaccination for children between the ages of 12 and 17 ahead of the reopening of schools next month. This was after Guyana received 146,250 doses of the PfizerBioNTech vaccines, which the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved for adolescents.

Since last Thursday, over 3,400 children in Guyana have been immused to date.

Government has said over 4,000 students have been granted consent to get vaccinated against the deadly virus.

Persons are encouraged to get immunized, since the COVID-19 vaccine gives full protection against death.

In fact, Health authorities have disclosed that no one who is fully vaccinated with both doses of the COVID-19 vaccines has been hospitalised or died from the virus.

Nevertheless, as more people continue to get vaccinated, authorities are urging the public to continue observing all COVID-19 preventative measures, which include masking in public, social distancing, and frequent hand washing and sanitising. The measures also include vaccination requirements to access certain social locations, such as restaurants and cinemas, as well as some Government services.

However, in the updated gazetted COVID-19 Emergency Measures for the month of September, Government has removed the restriction on the sale of food and drinks at cinemas.

In last month’s measures, cinemas were granted approval to reopen, but were only allowed to operate at 40 per cent capacity, and were not allowed to have food concession stands.

Now, in addition to being allowed to sell food, cinemas can operate at 60 per cent capacity.

The requirement for persons attending the cinemas to show proof of vaccination remains in place. Children, or those under the age of 18, will not be required to show a vaccination card. The new measures also state that patrons and staff are required to wear their face masks.

Moreover, the gazetted measures stipulate that only vaccinated persons are allowed access to gyms – including workers and members.

Meanwhile, the national COVID-19 curfew of 22:30hrs to 04:00hrs remains in effect.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), as at Wednesday, some 217,558,771 confirmed cases were reported globally, along with 4,517,240 deaths.

WHO also reported on Wednesday that in the Region of the Americas, that is, Latin America and the Caribbean, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases has increased to 83,970,406 while the death toll in the region has gone up to 2,103,348. (G8)

Crabwood Creek fatal beating

Pandit died from fractured skull, brain haemorrhage – PME

T

he post mortem examination conducted on the body of Rishi Bharrat, the pandit who was beaten to death outside of his Crabwood Creek, Corentyne, Berbice (East Berbice-Corentyne) home, has revealed that he died as a result of a fractured skull and brain haemorrhage.

Government Pathologist Dr Nehaul Singh conducted the PME on Wednesday, and the results were released by the Guyana Police Force (GPF).

“The body was then handed over to the relatives for burial,” the Police have said.

The 60-year-old was attacked and beaten to death outside of his Lot 10, Grant 106, Crabwood Creek home on August 28, after he requested that several disorderly men who were all imbibing remove from in front of his home. Four persons have since confessed to their involvement in the fatal

Dead: Pandit Rishi Bharrat

beating.

Reports are that the men were at a wedding celebration at Number 70 Village, Corentyne and the event was stopped by the Police as part of measures to enforce COVID-19 guidelines. The men then went to Crabwood Creek and purchased alcoholic beverages from a shop nearby, and continued im-

bibing.

When Bharrat went out to remonstrate with them, there was an exchange of words between him and the men, and he was attacked.

Two persons from the group reportedly removed boards from a bridge which stretched across a canal and lashed the father of four; one lash hit his head, and he was also hit to the head with beer bottles after falling to the ground.

The pandit, who operated his own temple, which was situated on the same premises, was pronounced dead at the Skeldon Hospital.

According to the now dead man’s wife, Jasmine, she had telephoned the Skeldon Police Station twice, seeking Police intervention after complaining of noise nuisance, and was told on the second occasion that the Police were responding and were already in the community.

NEWS

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Murders up by 33% in Education Month modernisation Region 5 – Commander Illiteracy, of education sector to be …Police engage men on domestic violence, sexual assault discussions

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urders in Region Five (MahaicaBerbice) have increased by a whopping 33 per cent, Regional Commander, Superintendent Carol Harding has revealed.

She made the revelation during her appearance on the Guyana Police Force’s weekly radio programme “Police & You” on Tuesday evening, noting that while murders have increased, overall serious crimes in the region has seen a 40 per cent reduction.

The Commander stated that as compared to last year which saw seven murders occurring, there were

only five within the region thus far for 2021.

This comes in light of the recently-reported 33 per cent increase in murder cases for the month of June.

However, she noted that there was still one unsolved murder, stating that the GPF is working overtime to ensure that the culpable individual faces the full brunt of the law.

Meanwhile, the Commander shared that her division has been making efforts to collaborate with pastors in gathering the men within the communities of the region to engage in discussions on do-

mestic violence and sexual assaults. “…I spoke to the Cops of Faith and I spoke to other pastors from all denominations and I asked them to have their men folks so that I can have discussions with them on domestic violence …sexual offences, because what I found, the women are really au fait with what is happening with the domestic violence. But for the men, they are not that au fait,” the Commander revealed.

Their lack of awareness, she revealed, is owed to the fact that there is a myth in which the men believe, that domestic violence is a woman’s thing.

Only a few months ago while speaking with Guyana Times, the Commander had stated that while no statistics were readily available on domestic violence, it was everybody’s business, and if it is not curbed, it could result in many other social issues developing in the society.

Just last year, the Child Care & Protection Agency (CCPA) reported that 97 boys between the ages of 14 and 18 were physically and sexually abused.

Body found in koker at Wakenaam

P

olice are investigating the circumstances surrounding the discovery of the body of a man who was yet to be identified.

The discovery was made by a resident of Wakenaam Island, Essequibo River around 09:00h on Wednesday.

According to Police, the resident said as he was heading to Maria’s Pleasure Koker, he observed a body floating in the water.

As such, he raised an alarm, causing a crowd to gather; Police were then summoned and retrieved the body.

The body, which was clad in a pair of brown short pants, was escorted to the Leonora Cottage Hospital where it was seen and examined by a doctor on duty, who confirmed the unidentified person’s demise.

The body that was found in a koker at Wakenaam

addressed in strategic plan

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he Education Ministry on Wednesday launched a five-year (2021-2025) education strategic sector plan which is expected to address issues of school-dropouts and inequities in education, as well as improving performance at all levels and boosting the overall efficiency of the education system.

The plan outlines how stakeholders can strengthen human resources development, ensure children at all school levels demonstrate the required skills at the end of the school cycle, reduce school dropouts, and ensure all learners are employable in their area of study.

With September 1 marking the beginning of Education Month 2021, which is being observed under the theme: “Education for all; innovative teaching and learning in a global pandemic”, it was made known that the launch of the plan yesterday was no coincidence.

Further, the plan will examine issues not just generally, but in detail based on geographical location, age and gender.

During the launch of the plan, Chief Planning Officer of the Education Ministry, Nicola Johnson provided an overview of some priorities of the strategic plan.

These are to improve governance and accountability, improve performance at all levels, improve efficiency of the education system, reduce inequalities in education, and contribute to lifelong learning and employability.

“The development of this plan started with a thorough education sector analy-

sis…our target as a sector is to ensure the management at the central and regional school level is strengthened by 2025,” the Chief Planning Officer stated.

M e a n w h i l e , Education Minister Priya Manickchand, in her feature address, spoke of the non-coincidence of the launch of the education strategic sector plan being done at the beginning of Education Month.

“We decided that we were going to kick off Education Month with the thing that was going to be most meaningful to the sector,” the Minister stated.

She also made reference to a 1992 report provided by the World Bank on Guyana’s situation with regard to education.

“In that report came a list of measures and recommendations that should have been taken to turn around that particular picture… one of which was that there must be an urgent crafting of a strategic plan, a sector plan, so that the Ministry itself, the Government, all

of its stakeholders…can all be on the same page about where we were, where we wanted to go, and where we were going to get there,” Manickchand said.

And, according to the Minister, the country has come a long way from that period in improving the education sector.

“We can say in this country that we moved parameters, that we improved on teacher training and physical infrastructure and the provision of resources and we can say evidentially that we have turned that situation around, but nowhere near to perfection. So, there’s still much work to be done.”

The 2030 vision for education is “Providing opportunities for quality equitable education and life-long learning for all” The ultimate goal of the plan is expected to contribute to employability and reduction of poverty by increasing performance at all levels and reducing the disparity of all subgroups.

16 NEWS

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

IsDB Uzbekistan meetings

Hit-and-run driver Finance Minister to ramp up released on $400,000 bail more support for development projects in Guyana

I

n continuing to advance Guyana’s development trajectory, Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh is currently attending the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Group’s Annual Meetings in Tashkent, Republic of Uzbekistan.

Guyana’s delegation attending the meeting also includes First Secretary and Chargé d’Affaires at Guyana’s Embassy in Kuwait, Safraaz Shadood.

The meetings, a release from the Finance Ministry said, is taking place from September 1 to September 4, and will see the IsDB’s Boards of Governors and General Assemblies discussing development, economic and financial issues along with institutional matters.

Guyana became a member of the IsDB in 2016, making it the 57th country and the second from Latin America after Suriname to join the Bank.

According to the release, the meetings of the Bank would usually attract over 2000 participants and the IsDB has noted that the Annual Meetings offer an ideal platform for decision-makers to discuss challenges and explore IsDB Group member countries’ economic and developmen-

Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh

tal opportunities.

It was also noted that during the Annual Meetings, “participants benefit from various knowledge-sharing and flagship events which feature top-level panellists from Governments, international and regional organisations, Private Sector, academia, and civil society”. Additionally, the Bank pointed out that the knowledge-sharing events programme provides a dynamic platform to discuss economic, financial and development issues of current interest to IsDB Group member countries and their partners, while they also aim to encourage discussions and

debates, and promote partnerships, cooperation, and exchange experiences.

After his assumption of office on August 2, 2020, President Irfaan Ali met with IsDB President, Dr Bandar Hajjar, and had discussions on financing for solar energy, agriculture, infrastructure, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and measures in the fight against COVID-19.

Then, in June, following the unprecedented flooding of several areas in Guyana, the IsDB committed to mobilising support for the country in terms of critical intervention measures following another meeting between its President and the Head of State. The IsDB President had assured (following that meeting) that the Bank would make all efforts to support Guyana’s rebuilding efforts and enable more resilient infrastructure.

Earlier this month, the Government applied for financial support from the IsDB for the Hinterland Electrification Programme.

It was pointed out that some funding would be used to target the construction and rehabilitation of two small hydropower plants in Lethem, Region Nine (Upper TakutuUpper Essequibo).

T

he driver of the motorcar which was involved in a fatal hitand-run accident has been placed on $400,000 bail, pending the hearing and determination of his trial.

When Sangodele Mentore was arraigned before Magistrate Alisha George for the offence of causing death by dangerous driving, he was not required to plead to the indictable charge, which stated that on August 6, 2021, at the Railway Embankment at Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown, he drove motor car PZZ 1276 in a manner dangerous to the public, thereby causing the death of 60-year-old Dhairam Harrilall.

Harrilall died three weeks after he was struck down by the reportedly speeding motorcar as he walked along the Railway Embankment.

He succumbed to his injuries sometime last week, while receiv-

Dead: Dhairam Harrilall

ing treatment in the High Dependency Unit of the Georgetown Public Hospital.

It was reported that the now dead man was walking along the southern side of Railway Embankment when he was allegedly struck by a motor vehicle bearing registration number PZZ 1276, which drove away.

As a result of the collision, the pedestrian fell onto the roadway and received injuries to his body. He was later picked up by Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT) in an unconscious condition and taken to the Georgetown Hospital, where he was treated and admitted as a patient in the Accident and Emergency Unit.

At the time of his admission, his condition was regarded as critical; he had sustained broken legs and lacerations to his head and body.

Police have said that ranks responded to a report about the accident, and upon arriving at the scene, they found only the registration plate PZZ 1276, which at the time they suspected belonged to the getaway car.

A few days after the accident, the driver of the car surrendered to the Police.

(G1)

Britain promises support for the Caribbean on climate change

Caricom Secretary-General Carla Barnett and new Ambassador of the United Kingdom to Caricom Jane Miller (Caricom Secretariat photo)

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he newly appointed United Kingdom Ambassador to the Caribbean Community (Caricom), Jane Miller, is promising the region that London will work with Caribbean countries on climate change issues.

Miller made the statement as she presented her credentials to Caricom Secretary General, Dr Carla Barnett, and according to a Caricom statement issued afterwards, they both agreed on the critical importance to the region and the wider world of the upcoming 26th United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Conference of the Parties (COP 26) to be held in Glasgow, Scotland in

November.

The statement said that Barnett stressed the need for the voices of the Small Island and low-lying coastal Developing States (SIDS) such as those in Caricom to be heard in the discussions in particular with regard to achieving the goal of keeping global warming to 1.5 degrees.

“It is no mere slogan for us in Caricom that we need 1.5 to stay alive,” she added.

The British diplomat said London respected “the powerful voice Caricom holds and we will continue to amplify your calls for greater climate ambition”.

“We work with Caricom on many issues but perhaps none as important as the fight against climate

change,” she added.

During the ceremony, Secretary General Barnett took the opportunity to thank the United Kingdom for its donations of coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines to Caricom member countries.

She said this was vital to assisting in controlling the spread of the virus and “spurring the economic revival so urgently needed in our community”.

Ambassador Miller said she recognised the “extraordinary efforts” of Caricom in protecting its people from the ravages of the pandemic.

“The UK will remain committed to working with our friends across the Caribbean in supporting a green and resilient recovery,” she added. (CMC)

NEWS

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

71 active COVID-19 cases in Region 6 …as New Amsterdam remains a hotspot

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Regional Health Officer (RHO) Dr Vishalya Sharma

ike the rest of the country, Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne) is in its third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. The region is showing an increase in active cases, moving from 31 last week to 71 as at Wednesday.

This is according to Regional Health Officer (RHO) Dr Vishalya Sharma, who said that New Amsterdam continues to be a hotspot in the Region with 25 active cases.

However, East Canje, which had recently been

deemed a hotspot, has now only 5 active cases.

“The other cases are distributed throughout the region, including Skeldon and parts of the Corentyne. We also would have noted that, in this region, we have so far had 56 deaths, which is unfortunate,” Sharma told the media during a press conference on Wednesday.

She said that most of the deaths occurred between the months of May, June and July.

During last month, there was a reduction, with seven

deaths.

“We are really hoping that this trend continues, because we are still in the middle of the third wave,” she said.

Meanwhile, the RHO has said that vaccination continues at all the sites across the region. She explained that while some persons have concerns about not being able to get the second dose of a particular vaccine in a timely manner, whenever it becomes available in the region, it will be distributed.

“We are all in the pandemic together, and we can only get out of it together. It is important that we have a little bit of patience and work together, rather than crowding the vaccination sites,” she explained.

The region has already vaccinated 65.6 percent of its adult population with the first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. Of that figure, 33 percent have received a second dose.

The RHO took the opportunity to advise persons who are eligible for a second dose of the vaccine to go to the health centre and have it administered.

“Our healthcare workers and the media have been fighting this pandemic for a long time, and the only way

out (is)…to be vaccinated. So, we all need to get on board and ensure that we get our vaccines,” she noted.

The RHO noted that while sensitisation programmes have been carried out in riverine communities, the Health Department will be revisiting those communities. These include Orealla, Siparuta and Barakara.

On the first day of the year, Region Six had no active COVID-19 cases.

According to Dr Sharma, currently, the figure is dropping, since it had reached 191 at one time and now it is 71.

“One of the challenges we face in New Amsterdam is that people are not adhering to the guidelines. Only yesterday I was told that a patient was tested positive, and when the team went to his home, they were told that he was out on the road. It has been more than a year… we need to do this together.

There is no other way out of this, except together. So, if we know that we are positive, it is important that we look out for each other. Follow the guidelines and stay at home,” Dr Sharma admonished.

Noting that healthcare workers play a major role, she said all must realise that it is a public health issue and play their part. (G4)

T&T: Crime Stoppers, cops aim to get 1000 guns off the street in 4 months

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eople with information on illegal guns may be able to receive at least TT$2500 in cash as a reward if they pass on their information to Crime Stoppers TT, as the crime-fighting organisation joins forces with the Police to tackle illegal guns.

The programme, which aims to find and seize 1000 illegal guns over the next four months, was announced at the weekly Police media briefing on Sackville Street, Port of Spain, on Wednesday.

Acting Police Commissioner Gary Griffith said the Police and Crime Stoppers would play active roles in the exercise, but citizens themselves must step up and give the information to protect themselves and their communities.

He said the information given would go a long way towards disrupting criminal activities and reminded the public that the seizure of

a single gun meant the possible prevention of several murders.

“Exposing a firearm can prevent your own child from being killed.

“We intend to find avenues through Crime Stoppers, through our Police app, through 482-GARY – you would be getting opportunities to give us that information without any fear of reprisal.”

Griffith said this was a massive operation and required teamwork between law-abiding citizens and the law enforcement officials.

“So if you are aware that someone has a gun under a piece of galvanise or somewhere, bring it to our attention. We intend to push heavily over the next four months.”

Griffith said for the past two decades, the police typically found between 800 and 1000 illegal guns a year.

(Excerpt from Trinidad Guardian)

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2021

Regional

Brazil Supreme Court weighs More vaccine donations landmark case on Indigenous are urgently needed in land rights the Americas – PAHO

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razil’s Supreme Court on Wednesday heard arguments for and against a cut-off date for land claims that Indigenous people say are vital for their survival, while the Government advocated for legal certainty for farmers in the agricultural powerhouse.

The top court weighed whether a State Government applied an overly narrow interpretation of Indigenous rights by only recognising tribal lands occupied by native communities at the time Brazil’s Constitution was ratified in 1988.

The case is expected to drag out for days and set a precedent that would affect hundreds of native land claims.

Indigenous people danced and chanted outside the court as they anxiously watched the proceedings on an outdoor screen.

A lawyer for the largest Indigenous umbrella organisation APIB, Luiz Eloy Amado of the Terena people, said the rule was unconstitutional, because there was no timeframe in the 1988

Indigenous people watch Brazil’s Supreme Court trial of a landmark case on Indigenous land rights on a screen in Brasilia, Brazil, September 1, 2021

Constitution, which guaranteed the right to ancestral lands.

“The land question is fundamental for Brazil’s Indigenous people,” Amado told the court. He added that some 800 claims, a quarter of which are in the final stages of recognition, would be stalled if the 1988 deadline was not rejected by the court.

Protected Indigenous lands offer a bulwark against deforestation in the Amazon.

A defeat in court for the

Indigenous people would set a precedent for the rollback of native rights that far-right President Jair Bolsonaro has sought with the backing of powerful farming interests.

The Government’s Solicitor General, Bruno Bianco, argued that the time framework gave legal security to farmers, many of whom have lived for decades on land once inhabited by natives who were pushed out by the arrival of European settlers. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Cuba prepares to vaccinate its children, entire population

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uba will begin vaccinating adolescents against COVID-19 this week and younger children from mid-September as part of a drive to immunise more than 90 per cent of the population by December, State-run media said on Wednesday.

All children ages 2 through 18 will receive at least two doses of the Cubadeveloped Soberana-2 vaccine beginning September 3, the official Cubadebate digital news outlet reported.

Health Ministry official Ileana Morales Suarez was quoted as saying the campaign would resemble annual vaccinations against various childhood diseases,

taking place at thousands of community-based family medical practices and clinics.

Trials of the vaccine in minors found it to be safe and that it elicited a stronger immune response than in adults, according to Stateowned manufacturer Finlay Institute.

The decision was announced at a weekly meeting of leaders and scientists to confront the pandemic on the Communist-run Caribbean island currently battling a Delta variant-driven surge that has strained its health system and hit the younger population much harder than previous versions of the virus.

Over the past week, Cuba averaged between 6500 and 7000 cases per day and 70 to 80 deaths, down significantly from a few weeks ago, but still one of the highest rates in the world in terms of cases per 100,000 inhabitants.

Vaccination of the adult population primarily using another locally-developed shot, Abdala, will be stepped up with the goal of ensuring all eligible adults have at least begun the three-shottreatment by the end of the month.

Cubans are desperate to get their kids back in school after months of home schooling, a prospect postponed again this September.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Salvadorans fret over looming bitcoin adoption

I

n the main handicraft market of El Salvador’s capital, traders complain that with a week to go before bitcoin becomes legal tender, no officials have come to explain how it will work or what benefits it may bring.

The sense of unease extends beyond San Salvador’s “Excuartel” market well into the Central American country of 6.4 million people that on Tuesday will become the first nation in the world to adopt bitcoin as legal tender.

“We don’t know the cur-

rency. We don’t know where it comes from. We don’t know if it’s going to bring us profit or loss,” said Claudia Molina, a 42-year-old seller of T-shirts and souvenirs.

“We don’t know anything.”

“They haven’t given us training. They haven’t told us what we’re going to use or how to make the change.”

At “Excuartel,” a popular tourist draw, President Nayib Bukele’s Government has installed one of the 200 ATMs of its Chivo digital wallet that will allow the cryptocurrency to be converted into dollars and

withdrawn without commission.

But some 18 traders and passers-by interviewed by Reuters said no authority has explained how bitcoin works, so most say they will not use it, at least to begin with.

In July, three out of four Salvadorans had reservations about the bitcoin plan, an opinion poll showed.

On Wednesday, about 300 protesters marched on El Salvador’s Congress to demand repeal of the new bitcoin law. (Excerpt from Reuters)

According to PAHO, more than a third of countries in the Americas have yet to vaccinate 20 per cent of their populations [File: Jose Luis Gonzalez/Reuters]

More coronavirus vaccine donations are urgently needed in the Americas, the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) says of a Region that has been hard-hit by the pandemic and where three-quarters of the population has yet to be fully immunised.

During a weekly news briefing, PAHO Director, Dr Carissa Etienne said 540 million doses are required to ensure that every country in the Americas can vaccinate at least 60 per cent of their population.

“We must expand vaccine access in our region, especially in the places that are lagging behind,” Etienne

said during the virtual briefing.

“The best way to protect against variants of concern, like the Delta variant, is to ensure more people are fully vaccinated everywhere,” she said.

Dr Etienne said the pandemic has disproportionately affected the Americas, as it is home to four of the top 10 countries with the highest number of cases, and accounts for nearly a third of global deaths.

During the past week, she said over 1.6 million new coronavirus cases have been reported in the Region and just under 22,000 deaths.

And although the US

has fully vaccinated more than half of its population, and Canada, Chile and Uruguay more than 60 per cent – these nations are the exception and much of the Americas region lags behind, Dr Etienne said.

“While every country in our Region has begun administering COVID-19 vaccines, immunisations are following the fault lines of inequality that have long divided our Region,” she said.

Dr Etienne added that more than a third of countries in the region have yet to vaccinate 20 per cent of their populations.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

INTERPOL Caribbean office set up in Barbados

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aw enforcement across the Region stands to receive a major boost with the establishment of an INTERPOL Caribbean Liaison Office.

It was officially launched on Wednesday with the signing of the formal agreement between the Government of Barbados and INTERPOL, at the Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Ministry, Culloden Road, St Michael offices.

Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Minister, Senator Dr Jerome Walcott, signed on behalf of the Government and INTERPOL was represented by Executive Director of Police Services, Stephen Kavanagh.

Walcott said the office would support the 15 Caricom Member States, as well as the five Caricom associate members Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, and Turks and Caicos. The office is also set to service Aruba, Cuba, Curaçao, Dominican Republic, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Puerto Rico and Dutch Sint Maarten.

Foreign Affairs Minister, Senator Dr Jerome Walcott (left) and Executive Director of Police Services, Stephen Kavanagh, signing the formal agreement for the establishment of the INTERPOL Caribbean Liaison Office

“The office will develop collaborative efforts throughout Caricom IMPACS, to underpin national and regional efforts, to screen incoming passengers against INTERPOL stolen and lost travel documents and other databases in light of the limited human and material resources available in the Region for this purpose,” he said.

He added there would be increased opportunities to use INTERPOL to improve

policing capabilities and develop training and capacity building for areas of crime.

“The INTERPOL Liaison Office will collaborate closely with Caricom IMPACS in support of law enforcement investigations, border management operations, screening of travel documents and will see training of regional security personnel on INTERPOL’s systems, processes, and capabilities,” he said. (Excerpt from Nation News)

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19

Around the world

OILNEWS OIL NEWS

Oil steadies; OPEC+ sticks to gradual output hikes

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il prices steadied on Wednesday after the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and its allies agreed to stick to their existing policy of gradual oil output increases.

Brent crude fell four cents to settle at US$71.59 a barrel.

US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude rose nine cents to settle at US$68.59 a barrel.

Brent had plumbed a session low of US$70.42 a barrel, while WTI fell as low as US$67.12 a barrel.

OPEC and allies led by Russia, a group known as OPEC+, agreed to stick to a policy from July of phasing out record output cuts by adding 400,000 barrels per day (bpd) a month to the market.

Still, the group revised up its 2022 demand outlook and faces US pressure to raise production more quickly.

“While the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic continue to cast some uncertainty, market fundamentals have strengthened and OECD [Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development] stocks continue to fall as the recovery accelerates,” OPEC+ said in a statement.

OPEC+ has fulfilled a goal of removing excess oil from the global market and it is important to keep the market balanced, said Russia’s top negotiator, Alexander Novak.

US gasoline stocks rose by 1.3 million barrels last week, the Energy Information Administration said. Analysts had expected a 1.6 million-barrel drop. Rising coronavirus infections could curtail demand in the United States in coming weeks, along with seasonal declines after summer driving season wanes.?

“The gasoline build came as Tropical Storm Henry shut traffic on the East Coast which was a big hit to summer driving season,” said Bob Yawger, Director of Energy Futures at Mizuho in New York. (Excerpt from Reuters)

WHO monitoring new coronavirus variant named Mu

A woman undergoes a COVID-19 test in Bogotá. The Mu variant was first identified in Colombia (Carlos Ortega/EPA photo)

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he World Health Organisation (WHO) has added another version of coronavirus to its list of “variants of interest” amid concerns that it may partially evade the immunity people have developed from past infection or vaccination.

The Mu variant, also known as B.1.621, was added to the WHO’s watchlist on August 30 after it was detected in 39 countries and found to possess a cluster of mutations that may make it less susceptible to the immune protection many have acquired.

According to the WHO’s weekly bulletin on the pandemic, the Mu variant “has a constellation of mutations that indicate potential properties of immune escape”.

Preliminary data suggests it may evade immune defences in a similar way to the Beta variant first discovered in South Africa, the

report adds, but this needs to be confirmed by further work.

The Mu variant was first identified in Colombia in January 2021. Since then, sporadic cases and some larger outbreaks have been recorded around the world.

Beyond South America, cases have been reported in the UK, Europe, the US and Hong Kong. While the variant makes up less than 0.1 per cent of COVID infections globally, it may be gaining ground in Colombia and Ecuador where it accounts for 39 per cent and 13 per cent of COVID cases respectively.

So far it has not raised alarm as much as Alpha and Delta, which are classified as more serious variants of concern, largely because of their increased transmissibility but also concerns about evading immune defences. (Excerpt from The Guardian)

Taliban wrestle with Afghan economy in chaos, humanitarian crisis A fghanistan’s new Taliban rulers struggled to keep the country functioning on Wednesday after the final withdrawal of US forces, with foreign donors alarmed about an impending humanitarian crisis.

Two weeks after the Taliban’s sweep into Kabul brought a chaotic end to 20 years of warfare, the Islamist militants have yet to name a new government or reveal how they intend to rule.

In an administrative vacuum, prices have soared and crowds have gathered at banks to withdraw cash.

Heavily-armed fighters have imposed control on the capital, but Taliban officials were grappling

In an administrative vacuum, prices have soared and crowds have gathered at banks to withdraw cash

with keeping hospitals and Government machinery running following the end of a huge airlift of foreigners and Afghans who had helped Western forces.

The new, Talibanappointed Central Bank Head has sought to re-

assure banks the group wants a fully functioning financial system, but has so far given little detail on how it will supply funds for it, bankers familiar with the matter said.

Qatar’s Al Jazeera television reported that Qatari technical experts had ar-

rived at the Taliban’s request to discuss resuming operations at Kabul airport, currently inoperable.

The Foreign Minister of neighbouring Pakistan, which has close ties to the Taliban, said he expected Afghanistan to have a new “consensus government” within days.

In Washington, where the end of America’s longest war has sparked the biggest crisis of President Joe Biden’s Administration, Undersecretary of State Victoria Nuland said the United States is looking at all possible options and routes to continue to help Americans and legal permanent residents leave Afghanistan.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Ida’s devastation shocks as fuel shortages hinder recovery S torm damage from Ida astounded officials on Wednesday a full three days after the powerful hurricane pounded southern Louisiana, as reconnaissance flights revealed entire communities devastated by winds and floods.

With President Joe Biden due to survey the destruction for himself on Sunday, Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards issued a plea for emergency fuel supplies to assist a million homes and businesses without power, and 600,000 people without water.

The number of fatalities

rose to six on Wednesday following the confirmed deaths of two electricity workers in Alabama who had been repairing the power grid, according to an executive with utilities provider Pike Electric.

Thousands more were in misery, with countless homes destroyed and towns flooded, evoking memories of Hurricane Katrina, which killed some 1800 and nearly destroyed New Orleans 16 years ago.

The southern coastline where Ida came ashore as a Category 4 hurricane on Sunday was hardest hit,

Tiffany Miller is embraced by her daughter Desilynn, 6, as she holds her one-yearold godchild after the storm destroyed their home

with the barrier island town of Grand Isle declared uninhabitable by the Parish President after it was cov-

ered by three feet (one metre) of sand.

“I had no idea how devastating the storm was,” Jefferson Parish President Cynthia Lee Sheng told a news conference after flying over Grand Isle and the rest of Ida’s path on Wednesday along with US Representative Steve Scalise, whose district took the brunt of the storm.

“We are a broken community right now,” Lee Sheng said. “It looks like matchsticks, like a little pile of matchsticks that you’re flying over.” (Excerpt from Reuters)

Israel opposes Biden’s plan to reopen US Palestinian mission in Jerusalem

I

srael said on Wednesday that a US plan to reopen its consulate in Jerusalem that has traditionally been a base for diplomatic outreach to Palestinians is a “bad idea” and could destabilise Prime Minister Naftali Bennett’s new Government.

The prior Administration of President Donald Trump signalled support for Israel’s claim on Jerusalem as its capital by moving the

US embassy there from Tel Aviv. It later subsumed the consulate, in west Jerusalem, in that mission.

It was among several moves that incensed the Palestinians, who want East Jerusalem as capital of a hoped-for future state.

President Joe Biden has pledged to restore ties with the Palestinians, back a two-state solution and move forward with reopening the consulate. It has

been closed since 2019, with Palestinian affairs handled by the Embassy.

“We think it’s a bad idea,” Foreign Minister Yair Lapid told a news conference when asked about the reopening. “Jerusalem is the sovereign capital of Israel and Israel alone, and, therefore, we don’t think it’s a good idea.

“We know that the (Biden) Administration has a different way of looking at

this, but since it is happening in Israel, we are sure they are listening to us very carefully.”

Wasel Abu Youssef, a senior Palestine Liberation Organisation official, told Reuters that the Israeli rejection of the consulate’s opening was expected, adding: “They are trying to maintain the status quo and block any political solution”. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Gunmen seize over 70 high-school students in northwest Nigeria

N

igerian Police say gunmen have abducted more than 70 students in the country’s northwest, in the latest in a series of school attacks targeting pupils.

Zamfara State Police spokesman Mohammed Shehu said in a statement that a large group of attackers stormed the Government Day Secondary School in the

remote village of Kaya on Wednesday morning, seizing 73 students.

“The abduction followed the invasion of the school by large numbers of armed bandits,” he added.

Shehu said Police rescue teams were working with the military to try to release the students.

Gangs of criminals known locally as “bandits” have

spread fear among local communities for years, but security forces have recently struggled to contain worsening violence.

More than 1000 students have been kidnapped from schools in northern Nigeria since December.

The gunmen have demanded large ransom payments from parents, and while most pupils ultimate-

ly have been released, some have died or been killed in captivity.

The latest incident came as several state Governments in central and northern Nigeria – including that of Zamfara – imposed a series of restrictions on residents in an attempt to stop mass kidnappings and other violent crimes. (Excerpt from Reuters)

20

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2021

guyanatimesgy.com

ARCHIE

ARIES (March 21April 19)

TAURUS

DILBERT

(April 20May 20)

GEMINI (May 21June 20)

CANCER (June 21July 22)

PEANUTS

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

CALVIN AND HOBBES

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

SUDOKU

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

Surround yourself with supportive people who have your back and offer suggestions that encourage you to pursue what makes you happy. An emotional plea will stabilize a meaningful relationship.

Uncertainty will prevail if you have too many options. If you pay attention and consider what makes you happy, it will be easier to figure out what to do next.

Physical activity will help.

Rely on common sense and your connections and charm to help you reach your goal. Speak up to avoid being put in a precarious position by someone who doesn’t share your beliefs.

Get involved in something unique or unfamiliar.

It will give you incentive to make changes at home that will help put the past behind you. Refuse to let an emotional matter spin out of control.

Refuse to let the changes taking place around you upset your plans. Don’t give information about your intentions to anyone who may try to interfere. Take a chance to spend some time with a loved one.

Push yourself, embrace change and be open to suggestions. Refuse to let emotional matters interfere with your business or financial prospects. You need to keep a clear head.

Don’t throw caution out the window when dealing with matters that can influence your position or reputation. Do your homework, and offer only the information that will prevent you being labeled “uncompromising.”

Keep life simple, take care of your responsibilities and navigate your way to a place that makes you feel good about who you are, what you accomplish and what you can look forward to.

SAGITTARIUS Use your intelligence, (Nov. 23strength and ability to make Dec. 21) the most of what you’ve got.

You’ll ward off any opposition and invite contributions and the support necessary to get things done your way.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22Jan. 19)

SOLUTION FOR LAST PUBLISHED PUZZLE

You’ll face plenty of questions if you are manipulative or pushy. Relax and let others do as they please. It will give you the chance to put your house in order and do your own thing.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20Feb. 19)

A money matter is best handled with finesse. Use your intelligence, and you’ll develop a plan that can turn a little into a lot. Don’t leave anything to chance or up to someone else.

PISCES

Choose friends wisely if you want to attract the right kind of people. The associates you align yourself with will determine what transpires.

Good partnerships will help you overcome adversity.

(Feb. 20March 20)

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2021

21

We are in talks over possible tri-nation series − CWI’s Johnny Grave reveals securing preparatory tour for U19s proved difficult

C

ricket West Indies’ Chief Executive Officer Johnny Grave has described efforts to secure preparatory tours for the regional U19s as difficult, given the ongoing COVID-19 situation, both in the region and overseas.

Speaking on the Good Morning Jojo sports show, Grave admitted he was not always confident the upcoming tour of England would have materialised, while he hinted of a possible tri-national series later this year as part of continued preparation efforts.

“You can imagine flying into the UK from the Caribbean was very uncertain, and we weren’t ever confident really that it would take place. It was always our

Cricket West Indies’ Chief Executive Officer Johnny Grave

ultimate aim and desire to give our under-19 team as much international prepara-

tion as we could possibly get in advance of what will be a home World Cup. We are in talks with two other international boards about coming to the Caribbean in December to play a tri- (nation) series before the under-19s,” he said.

The CEO also sought to address concerns over the unavailability of Head Coach Floyd Reifer, who will not accompany the 18-man squad on their preparatory tour to England from September 4-17.

Grave said efforts to have Reifer on the tour were thwarted by the fact that he already had contractual duties with the Jamaica Tallawahs for the ongoing Caribbean Premier League (CPL) in St Kitts, when he was brought on as head coach

in January.

“Floyd was asked whether he would lead the team into what would be a home World Cup in January and February of next year, and at that point he already had a contractual commitment with the Jamaica Tallawahs. At that stage, we didn’t even know whether we would be able to go on an under-19 tour, either away from home or have an under-19 team come into the region; so his Assistant Coach (Rohan Nurse) is taking the head coach mantle for the England tour. I am sure they would be in regular contact with Floyd, and Floyd would resume those head coach du-

ties once the CPL is finished,” he said.

The CWI official also revealed that venue inspections are currently being carried out in relation to the bidding process by regional boards to host matches during the ICC event.

“They are about to embark on a venue inspection of the shortlisted host countries, and I expect we would make an announcement in the next two weeks. We have identified form the bid process that all the countries in the region had the opportunity to bid, and we shortlisted Trinidad & Tobago, Antigua and Barbuda, St Kitts and

Nevis and Guyana,” Grave said.

The U19s tour to England will feature six Youth OneDay Internationals at The County Ground, Beckenham and The Polo Farm, Canterbury from Saturday September 4 to Friday September 17.

The West Indies Rising Stars U19s squad was selected following an eight-match trials series with 60 players.

From there the squad was reduced to 26 players, who were then involved in more intensive, targeted, high-performance coaching and simulation sessions. (Antigua Observer)

Bryson DeChambeau-Brooks Koepka row…

Epic 200m showdown set Fans face expulsion if for Brussels on Friday they shout "Brooksie!" − with Jackson, Richardson, Mboma in electrifying clash

T

he Women’s 200m at the Diamond League meeting in Brussels on Friday promises to be an electrifying affair, as it features some of the fastest women in the event in the world this year.

The world’s fastest woman, Elaine Thompson (21.53), is a late withdrawal, but the field is still stacked.

It features firebrand American Sha’Carri Richardson, Jamaica’s Shericka Jackson, and Olympic silver medalist and World U20 champion Christine Mboma of Namibia, both of whom have run faster over the halflap sprint than the upstart American.

The 18-year-old Mboma ran a lifetime best 21.81 for the silver medal in Tokyo, and 21.82 to win the World U20 title in Kenya last month. She will prove to be

a handful, not just for the American, but also for the Olympic 100m silver medalist Shericka Jackson, who ran a personal best 21.82 in June.

However, in a pre-meet media conference on Friday, Richardson, who will be running on fresher legs, said she hopes to go below her previous best. “I feel like a baby in such a company, because a lot of ladies have a time of 21 seconds behind their name.

I get into the starting blocks with the same eagerness for a 200m as I do for a 100m, so hopefully, I can prove that with a fast chrono. My coach and I are also working very hard to excel in both distances, so I'm really looking forward to diving under 22 seconds,” said Richardson, whose personal best is 22.00, but has a season-best time of 22.11 run in Gainesville, Florida in April.

She might very well need to dive under 22 seconds if she is to win, because also included in the line-up is the reigning European champion, the Briton Dina AsherSmith, who was hampered by a hamstring injury and was forced to withdraw from the event at the Tokyo Olympics last month.

Asher-Smith, who is gradually returning to full health, ran a season-best 22.06 in Italy in June, and will be hoping to get close to that time after a promising 22.19 for third in Eugene, Oregon on August 21.

Olympic finalist Beatrice Masilingi is also included in the line-up. The Namibian teenager, the sixth-place finisher at the Olympic Games in Tokyo, ran a personal best 22.18 for the silver medal at the World U20 Championships in Kenya last month. (Sportsmax)

H

ecklers be warned: add your voice to the Bryson DeChambeau v Brooks Koepka feud and you face expulsion from the course.

Koepka said DeChambeau was "fair game", after "not holding up his end of the bargain" in a row of quotes and social media comments that he says began in 2019.

Fans have chosen their sides in the dispute, and have managed to upset the PGA Tour with the manner they have expressed their support.

"Brooksie!" has been shouted from the galleries of recent tournaments as a notso-subtle or especially inventive heckle aimed at his fellow American DeChambeau.

On Sunday, after his playoff defeat to Patrick Cantlay in the BMW Championship, DeChambeau swore in re-

sponse to a fan who mocked him by saying, "Great job, Brooksie!"

"By coming to a PGA Tour event, you're expected to contribute to a welcoming and safe environment by refraining from, and reporting any unsafe, disruptive, or harassing behaviour," said PGA Tour chief Jay Monahan.

"Comments or gestures that undermine the inclusive and welcoming nature of the game will not be tolerated; nor will any harassment of players, caddies, volunteers, officials, staff or other spectators."

Monahan said "bad actors" targeting DeChambeau for abuse with cries of "Brooksie!" could be removed from an event.

"The reason I say 'yes' is: the barometer that we are all using is the word respect," Monahan said. "To me, when

you hear 'Brooksie!' yelled, or you hear any expression yelled, the question is: Is that respectful or disrespectful?

"That has been going on for an extended period of time. To me, at this point it's disrespectful, and that's the kind of behaviour that we're not going to tolerate going forward."

A number of golfers reacted to the crackdown, with England's Lee Westwood listing the multitude of less-than-complimentary names directed at him over the years.

Ireland's Shane Lowry, meanwhile, said he is often mistaken for Englishman Andrew 'Beef' Johnston.

"If everyone who calls me [Johnston] gets kicked out, there will be no fans left," the former Open champion wrote on Twitter. (BBC SPORTS)

22 OSCL 20-over Regular Season competition…

Windies T20 WC squad to be Mandolall slams 142 submitted on September 9 as Carr Tec whip Ms − CWI CEO Johnny Grave GUYANATIMESGY.COM

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2021

Team West Indies will play their first match in the T20 World Cup on October 23

By Brandon Corlette

C

ricket West Indies’ (CWI’s) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Johnny Grave has disclosed that the West Indies T20 World Cup squad will be announced on September 9.

He made this disclosure on the Mason and Guest radio programme on Tuesday evening.

"The deadline of the ICC for the names of the squad is on September 10, 30 days before the opening match. I imagine we will take it down right to the wire with the CPL going on, and announce it Caribbean time on September 9 and the morning in Dubai," Grave said.

He added: "Official squad is 15, but the International Cricket

Council (ICC) mandated eight staff. We are being able to take an additional seven people with the combination of support staff. Whether we take the full 30 is yet to be determined."

With all the COVID-19 travelling restrictions in place, CWI are considering the additional reserve players, who will serve as back-up players to the original 15-man squad.

Appearing last week on the same Mason and Guest programme, CWI Lead Selector Roger Harper disclosed that every West Indian player in the CPL will be on his selection radar. He is looking for 18 players, including reserves, to travel to the T20 World Cup. “The squad will be selected during the CPL (before

the end), because of the requirements of the ICC. The CPL is important. I think players have an opportunity just before the team is selected to remind us what they can do, and places are up for consideration,” he said.

“Players have an opportunity to stake a claim, so the CPL is very important.

It gives players (opportunity) to get in competitive cricket leading into the World Cup,” Harper said.

The West Indies, the only side to win the tournament twice, would also feature on the opening day of the Super 12s, as they kick off their defence of the title in Dubai against England, top ranked in the MRF Tyres ICC Men’s T20I team rankings.

Ahead of the T20 World Cup, West Indies captain Keiron Pollard said: “We are excited to begin defence of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup title later this year. T20 cricket is dynamic, and the international scene is highly competitive, with players constantly pushing the boundaries of innovation. We are expecting a spectacular event in the United Arab Emirates and Oman.”

West Indies T20 World Cup match schedule October 23: v England at Dubai (6pm/10am Eastern Caribbean/9am Jamaica) October 26: v South Africa at Dubai (2pm/6am Eastern Caribbean/5am Jamaica)

Phoebe by 105 runs

F

CWI CEO, Johnny Grave

October 29: v B2 at Sharjah (2pm/8am Eastern Caribbean/7am Jamaica) November 4: v A1, at Abu Dhabi (6pm/10am Eastern Caribbean/9am Jamaica) November 6: v Australia at Abu Dhabi (2pm/6am Eastern Caribbean/5am Jamaica) Some changes would be made to the West Indies Provisional Squad that played T20Is vs South Africa, Australia and Pakistan earlier this year. That squad read: Kieron Pollard(c), Nicholas Pooran(w/vc), Chris Gayle, Evin Lewis, Lendl Simmons, Andre Fletcher(wk), Shimron Hetmyer, Andre Russell, Jason Holder, Dwayne Bravo, Fabian Allen, Fidel Edwards, Obed McCoy, Oshane Thomas, Sheldon Cottrell, Kevin Sinclair, Hayden Walsh Jr., Akeal Hosein.

ormer national youth player Rovendra Mandolall slammed a belligerent 142 on Sunday when action in the 2021 Ontario Softball Cricket League (OSCL) 20-over Regular Season competition continued at Dean Park ground in Scarborough.

The right-handed Mandolall hammered 15 sixes and 11 fours as his team, Carr Tec, whipped Miss Phoebe Cricket Club by 105 runs.

Mandolall and ex-Guyana player Eion Katchay put together a steady 102-run second-wicket stand to see their side post a respectable 247-6 off 20 overs, while Miss Phoebe replied with only 142 all out in the 18th over.

Katchay assisted with 25, while Troy Gobin, who also represented Guyana at the under-19 level, was left not out on 21. Ken Ramiah went for 36 runs from his three overs, but was the most outstanding bowler for Miss Phoebe, having taken three wickets.

When Miss Phoebe batted, Ravi Konduparthi offered a fight with 30, and 29 came from Ashok Sridharan, but Ishree Persaud grabbed three wickets for seven runs off three overs to lead Carr Tec’s defence. Prabhu Balkaran and West Indies over-50 player Mohan Harihar were supportive with two wickets each.

The round-robin stage of the tournament was completed

Rovendra Mandolall

too, with Carr emerging the grand champion, having topped the points table with 70 points, inclusive of ten victories from 11 matches; while Mercenary came in second with 69 points, also ten wins from 11 outings.

The playoffs will begin on September 11. No other scores were available.

Meanwhile, Mandolall has joined Ravi Bodo, Amit Arjun and Avinash Sookdeo as the other centurions so far in this year’s season. The Essequibian Mandolall has been a prolific softball batsman over the past two consecutive decades in the OSCL, having already raked up more than 30 centuries.

CPL campaigners Evin Lewis, BFA boss grateful to GFF for launching Oshane Thomas for Rajasthan of Academy Training Centre Royals duty later this month …Launch set for September 4

T

he Guyana Football Federation will be officially launching its Academy Training Centre on September 4, 2021 at the Bartica Community Centre Ground at 15:00 hrs. The training centre will be open to boys and girls aged 6 to 17 years.

To commemorate the launch, there will be a complimentary U17 match between Rising Stars and Timehri Panthers. The BFA is also hoping to host a vaccination drive.

In an interview with this publication, BFA President Alden Marslowe was asked how the association felt with the return of training.

Marslowe said, “The BFA and all of it members are really excited to return to training. We are obviously approaching that anyway, because of a subtle transition in the form of the launching of our Academy Training Center. Of course, all this is still against the backdrop of a global pandemic, and so all of the COVID-19 prevention protocols would have to be observed. Our kids are also very happy to return to activities, especially since the reopening of schools has been announced.

BFA President Alden Marslowe

“In terms of what the BFA has envisioned being produced from this programme, once it’s run efficiently, it will definitely produce an overall development of the sport. We hope to produce international standard players.”

The BFA boss also said the Academy Training Centre (ATC) is a vision of the Guyana Football Federation, with the objective of crafting a singular style of football across the country.

Marslowe noted that the GFF had run the ATC for a number of years, be-

fore handing down ownership to each of its member associations, along with a hefty helping of support.

Marslowe relayed that, naturally, the BFA expects that the ATC will help to align the association with the national programme, since along with training for youths and coaches, education is being arranged for a number of instructors.

“The launching of the ATC is like I said, just the transition phase of our return to activities. However, football across the country still awaits the go-ahead from Government for a return to play, and that situation is continuously engaging the efforts of the GFF. So, as we wait, we are thankful for every little movement in that direction…and so starting our ATC feels like one giant leap,” Marslowe added.

Marslowe made this disclosure, “At our event to launch the ATC, we are hoping to accommodate personnel from the Department of Health, to conduct a vaccination exercise, because we believe that mass vaccination would hasten the return to normalcy in the sport and life in general.”

Barbados Royals, will be replacing the English duo of Jos Butler and Ben Stokes.

The 29-year-old Trinidadian opener will be having his third stint in the IPL, having played for the Mumbai Indians in 2018 and 2019.

Thomas represented the Royals in 2019 when he played four games for the franchise. (Sportsmax)

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2021

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

23

Amazon Warriors down

Knight Riders in Super Over showdown

T

he match belonged to Guyana Amazon Warriors' Romario Shepherd. He first took 3 for 24 to restrict Trinbago Knight Riders to 138 for 9, then he hit a nine-ball 18 to take Amazon Warriors to the same total, and finally conceded just four runs in the Super Over to help his side do the league-stage double over the defending champions.

Defending six runs in the Super Over, Shepherd first had Knight Riders captain Kieron Pollard hole out first ball. Then he did not allow Colin Munro or Tim Seifert to hit a boundary off the other five balls. His all-round effort justifiably earned him a Player-of-theMatch award too.

Nicholas Pooran's Amazon Warriors needed just 139 to win after Shepherd and offspinner Mohammad Hafeez picked up three wickets each to restrict Knight Riders to a below-par total. Shepherd made the most damage in the first innings' death overs, removing Pollard, Denesh Ramdin and Isuru Udana.

Hafeez had made early inroads by dismissing

Romario Shepherd was ecstatic after leading the Warriors to a win in the super over

opener Sunil Narine, No. 3 Tion Webster and an off-colour Tim Seifert. Colin Munro, who struggled with a 47-ball 40 in his team's last CPL match, found his form to anchor the innings with a 28-ball 32.

However regular falling of wickets never allowed the Knight Riders to push for a big total, and if it weren’t for Udana's nineball 21 in the slog overs, the Amazon Warriors might have been chasing a much lower total.

However, the Knight Riders fought back with the ball in the second innings powerplay.

Chandrapaul Hemraj and Odean Smith fell in the first two overs to Ravi Rampaul's deliveries, which had a tendency to snake into the stump line after pitching.

Shimron Hetmyer and Hafeez then began a rescue act, but the Pakistan international eventually perished for a 30-ball 16.

Narine then had Hetmyer and Shoaib Malik caught behind in quick succession, and after Rampaul picked off Pooran and Brandon King in consecutive balls, it looked like the Knight Riders were going to win the contest.

It, however, needed the Amazon Warriors' #9 and 10 players to take them to a tie. Shepherd tonked two sixes and a four to score 18, and then Naveen-Ul-Haq hit a five-ball 13. Amazon Warriors needed two off the final ball to seal a one-wicket win, but a run out while searching for the double dragged the game to overtime.

(ESPNcricinfo) Shimron Hetmyer and Nicholas Pooran contributed 27 each, which turned the game in the Warriors’ favour

SCOREBOARD TRINBAGO KNIGHT RIDERS INNINGS (20 OVERS MAXIMUM) Sunil Narine c Smith b Mohammad Hafeez 21 Lendl Simmons b Hemraj 0 Tion Webster b Mohammad Hafeez 19 Colin Munro c King b Imran Tahir 32 Tim Seifert b Mohammad Hafeez 4 Kieron Pollard (c) b Shepherd 13 Denesh Ramdin † c Smith b Shepherd 5 Isuru Udana c King b Shepherd 21 Akeal Hosein not out 9 Khary Pierre c †Pooran b Naveen-ul-Haq 0 Ravi Rampaul not out 5

GUYANA AMAZON WARRIORS INNINGS (TARGET: 139 RUNS FROM 20 OVERS) Chandrapaul Hemraj c Pollard b Rampaul 6 Mohammad Hafeez c Rampaul b Pierre 16 Odean Smith b Rampaul 0 Shimron Hetmyer c †Ramdin b Narine 27 Shoaib Malik c †Ramdin b Narine 14 Nicholas Pooran (c)† c Hosein b Rampaul 27 Brandon King c Hosein b Rampaul 10 Romario Shepherd b Hosein 18 Naveen-ul-Haq not out 13 Imran Tahir run out (Udana/†Ramdin) 2

Extras (lb 4, nb 1, w 4) 9 TOTAL (20 Ov, RR: 6.90)

Extras (lb 2, w 3) TOTAL (20 Ov, RR: 6.90)

138/9

Fall of wickets: 1-1 (Lendl Simmons, 0.2 ov), 2-39 (Sunil Narine, 5.3 ov), 3-46 (Tion Webster, 5.6 ov), 4-78 (Tim Seifert, 11.3 ov), 5-94 (Colin Munro, 14.6 ov), 6-98 (Kieron Pollard, 16.4 ov), 7-117 (Denesh Ramdin, 18.3 ov), 8-124 (Isuru Udana, 18.5 ov), 9-126 (Khary Pierre, 19.2 ov) BOWLING O-M-R-W Chandrapaul Hemraj 1-0-9-1 Romario Shepherd 4-1-24-3 Naveen-ul-Haq 3-0-31-1 Mohammad Hafeez 3-0-18-3 Imran Tahir 4-0-14-1 Odean Smith 4-0-28-0 Ashmead Nedd 1-0-10-0

5 138/9

Did not bat: Ashmead Nedd Fall of wickets: 1-7 (Chandrapaul Hemraj, 1.5 ov), 2-7 (Odean Smith, 1.6 ov), 3-40 (Mohammad Hafeez, 8.6 ov), 4-67 (Shoaib Malik, 13.2 ov), 5-68 (Shimron Hetmyer, 13.5 ov), 6-105 (Brandon King, 17.1 ov), 7-105 (Nicholas Pooran, 17.2 ov), 8-131 (Romario Shepherd, 19.2 ov), 9-138 (Imran Tahir, 19.6 ov) BOWLING O-M-R-W Akeal Hosein 4-0-16-1 Ravi Rampaul 4-0-29-4 Isuru Udana 3-0-38-0 Sunil Narine 4-0-9-2 Khary Pierre 4-0-38-1 Kieron Pollard 1-0-6-0 Match tied (Amazon Warriors won the one-over eliminator)

Pooran hoping Warriors would build on confidence - as St Lucia Kings battle awaits today − Pollard takes blame for TKR loss

By Brandon Corlette

G

uyana Amazon Warriors captain Nicholas Pooran is hoping that his team would build on the confidence they received from the Super Over win against Trinbago Knight Riders when they challenge St Lucia Kings today, Thursday September 2. The match will bowl off at 10:00h at Warner Park in St Kitts.

Reflecting on that Super Over win, Pooran noted that Warriors lacked intent in the middle overs. "We fought really hard as a franchise and a cricket team. We bowled extremely well today. When we batted, we kind of batted ourselves in a hole today; we didn't have enough intent in the middle overs. We came out on the right side today, but it's something to think on," Pooran said.

Romario Shepherd was the star of the show with his all-round efforts. Shepherd missed two games this season due to a swollen toe. Pooran said before the CPL commenced that this year would be Shepherd's year.

"First thing I told Romario before the CPL started was that this is his year. The way he was batting, bowling, fielding. His ethics, his body language, he wants to win games for the team. He proved he was a match-winner again today, and I'm very happy for him."

The Warriors captain also disclosed that he read the game wrong while he was batting at the crease in the chase. "Definitely, last over of Sunil, those batsmen at the end, I expect them to finish it. Polly bowled an over, and I felt we didn't read the situation (should

Captains Kieron Pollard and Nicholas Pooran

have gone after Pollard, rather than Narine)."

According to Pooran, the team is bonding as a family off the cricket field as well.

Meanwhile, captain Kieron Pollard, who was dismissed first ball in the super over, said he took full responsibility for TKR's loss.

"I take full responsibility for that (the Super Over defeat). It has been challenging (to score). You have seen all teams struggling, but having said that, we need to play with smarts. I thought we were short, but we bowled well. After the wicket of Nicholas, we should have been tighter, instead of giving freebies to Romario, but these things happen. (Hosein's catch) That was fantastic.

The way he has been going throughout the tournament was fantastic. And the way he came and bowled the last over, defended

8 and took us to the last over, showed his talent," Pollard said in the post-match interview. <<Shepherd reflects>> Romario Shepherd, from Tucber Park Cricket Club in New Amsterdam, said he was confident in bowling that super over.

"The coach told me before I went out to bat that I would bowl the over. I was confident. The wicket on the first ball was important, it put them on the backfoot. I'm pleased, I'm developing with the bat also.

I'm going out there and finishing games for us also. Every victory for us is important. We didn't want to go three down.

"Warriors have two wins in four matches, both victories came against TKR.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2021

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

Page 23

Amazon Warriors

down Knight Riders in Super Over showdown Rutherford hits 3rd half-century as Patriots win 4 from 4 SCOREBOARD S

t Kitts & Nevis Patriots carried on their unbeaten start in the 2021 Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) with a six-wicket victory over the Jamaica Tallawahs.

The Patriots won the toss and elected to field first, and a disciplined bowling performance restricted the Tallawahs to 166/8, a total that appeared under par for the track.

In reply, the Patriots proved that assessment to be accurate, as they made it four wins from four matches with another dominant batting display led by the tournament’s top scorer Sherfane Rutherford.

The Tallawahs got their inSherfane nings off to a lightning start with Rutherford the hard-hitting duo of Chadwick slammed Walton and Kennar Lewis putting another fifty on a blistering partnership of 41 runs inside 3.3 overs.

However, once Paul Van Meekeren dismissed Kennar Lewis, there was a shift in the innings with the Patriots tightening the screws courtesy of some economical bowling by captain DJ Bravo.

Things went from bad to worse for the Tallawahs

when Walton had to retire hurt, tweaking his hamstring after running a quick single.

It took an enterprising counter-attack by Rovman Powell and Carlos Brathwaite in the back end of the innings to revitalise the Tallawahs, and this was further boosted by some late blows by the lower order to ensure they posted a respectable total.

The Patriots made a similar start in their innings, with Evin Lewis bringing the early fireworks, but the wickets of Devon Thomas and Asif Ali in quick succession, followed by Evin Lewis, left the game in the balance.

If things were finely poised, Sherfane Rutherford and Fabian Allen made light work of the equation through a fantastic display of power hitting that saw the pair smash 55 runs from 20 balls to seal the win at a canter.

Bravo picked up three wickets

Tallawahs Innings Chadwick Walton†retired hurt Kennar Lewis c Rutherford b van Meekeren Haider Ali c & b Bravo Rovman Powell (c) c Rutherford b Drakes Shamarh Brooks c & b Bravo Carlos Brathwaite b Cottrell Andre Russell c †Thomas b van Meekeren Migael Pretorius c Bravo b Drakes Chris Green c †Thomas b Bravo Joshua James not out Fidel Edwards not out Extras (lb 13, w 10) TOTAL (20 Ov, RR: 8.30)

26 13 8 24 14 27 5 15 6 3 2

23 166/8

Fall of wickets: 1-41 (Kennar Lewis, 3.4 ov), 2-57 (Haider Ali, 7.3 ov), 2-59* (Chadwick Walton, retired hurt), 3-83 (Shamarh Brooks, 11.5 ov), 4-130 (Carlos Brathwaite, 16.3 ov), 5-137 (Andre Russell, 17.5 ov), 6-153 (Migael Pretorius, 18.4 ov), 7-153 (Rovman Powell, 18.5 ov), 8-162 (Chris Green, 19.3 ov) BOWLING O-M-R-W Sheldon Cottrell 4-0-28-1

Fawad Ahmed 2-0-19-0 Paul van Meekeren 4-0-27-2 Dominic Drakes 4-0-40-2 Dwayne Bravo 4-0-25-3 Fabian Allen 2-0-14-0 ST KITTS AND NEVIS PATRIOTS INNINGS (TARGET: 167 RUNS FROM 20 OVERS) Devon Thomas †c Powell b Pretorius 12 Evin Lewis c sub (KSA McKenzie) b Powell 39 Asif Ali lbw b Russell 4 Ravi Bopara b Edwards 18 Sherfane Rutherford not out 50 Fabian Allen not out 30 Extras (b 4, lb 1, nb 1, w 10) 16 TOTAL (17.4 Ov, RR: 9.56) 169/4 Did not bat: Dwayne Bravo (c), Dominic Drakes, Paul van Meekeren, Sheldon Cottrell, Fawad Ahmed Fall of wickets: 1-42 (Devon Thomas, 4.3 ov), 2-47 (Asif Ali, 5.3 ov), 3-72 (Evin Lewis, 8.4 ov), 4-114 (Ravi Bopara, 14.2 ov) BOWLING O-M-R-W Fidel Edwards 3.4-0-46-1 Chris Green 4-0-15-0 Migael Pretorius 4-0-38-1 Andre Russell 3-0-31-1 Rovman Powell 3-0-34-1

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