Guyana Times - Thursday, September 9, 2021

Govt reviewing investment proposals from Diaspora P

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…proposals received in oil & gas, medical & other areas − Diaspora Unit Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

Issue No. 4765

THE BEACON OF TRUTH THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2021

Guyana’s Govt, Opposition reject Venezuela’s latest claim to Essequibo See story on page 3

Majority of teachers countrywide boycott GTU’s strike, protest Page 5

…as group protests in front of Education Ministry

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WHAT'S INSIDE: Soldier, girlfriend’s execution

Carpenter confesses to killing GDF rank for allegedly raping close relative P13 …girlfriend was collateral damage

Over 1000 P13 arrested for breaching COVID guidelines in Region 6 – Commander …as cops clamp down on “secret” party locations

208 cases of rape recorded for year P so far – Police 15 Motorcycle P10 bandits rob commuters at DHB A St Angela’s Primary School teacher (right) and a Mahdia Nursery School teacher conducting classes on Wednesday (Education Ministry photos)

Govt will improve living conditions, welfare of people living with disabilities − President Page 17

Nothing illegal about new gazetted vaccination measures – AG Nandlall Page 7

3 more unvaccinated persons die from COVID-19 …289 new cases recorded Page 9

Works on $200M Cane Grove P14 Road project 50% complete

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Govt reviewing investment proposals from Diaspora …proposals received in oil & gas, medical & other areas – Diaspora Unit

S

ince the formation of the Diaspora Unit in the Foreign Affairs Ministry, there has been considerable interest from the Guyanese diaspora in investing in, and collaborating with, the Government in a number of issues, including education and health.

The Diaspora Unit hosted a virtual webinar on Wednesday with members of the diaspora. During the discussion, Diaspora Unit head Rosalinda Rasul revealed the various areas that have most piqued the interest of the diaspora.

“We’ve had so many meetings from June (to now), and persons will probably ask what were the tangibles…we have commit-

Diaspora Unit Head Rosalinda Rasul

ments and proposals for projects in oil and gas, tech-

nology, sport, services, manufacturing, construction, food franchises, just to name a few,” Rasul said.

She noted that the unit has already facilitated a Canadian diaspora group to talk with the Health Ministry, adding, “They’re going to do a medical outreach in Region Two later this year. We already facilitated another group out of Canada who want to establish an orphanage and training facility for at-risk young people.”

There have also been commitments from USbased Guyanese to establish a state-of-the-art shore base facility and training academy. Interest has also been registered in the areas of agro-processing, construction, and the medical sector.

Discussions with the United Kingdom (UK) diaspora are expected to start soon on a programme for elderly care.

“Discussions will also start next week for a project in mental health. This is a major area for which we have seen a lot of interest being expressed by members of the diaspora. We’ve already reached out to a number of persons on sports and cultural development,” Rasul also said.

“We have commitments for the establishment of a high-tech park and a busi-

ness incubator that’s going to help local companies and small businesses, particularly that want to take their businesses up to the next level.”

There has also been interest, particularly among the Caribbean diaspora, for investment opportunities in the tourism sector particularly ziplining and multi-destination tourism.

These discussions are slated to commence soon.

She further explained that members of the UK diaspora have expressed an interest in donating medical equipment to hospitals.

There is also a proposal from the Canadian diaspora for law enforcement wellness programmes and social initiatives. This proposal has been passed on to the Home Affairs Ministry.

Eagerness to partner

Meanwhile, Foreign Secretary Robert Persaud reiterated the Ministry’s eagerness to partner with members of the diaspora and utilise its diaspora policy.

He also laid out what members of the diaspora can expect in the coming months.

“In the coming months, you can expect the Government to work to ensure its relations with you are strengthened and its engagement is sustained. You can expect a new Diaspora

Foreign Secretary Robert Persaud

online platform that will enable you to stay connected with us, and always be updated on events, news and opportunities in Guyana. It will serve as a key information and interactive portal for you.

“We will soon be hosting a conference targeting 2nd and 3rd generation youths in the Diaspora, and in addition to this activity that seeks to engage youths, there will be the launching of a Diaspora Youth Volunteer project that is being done in collaboration with the International Organization for Migration,” Persaud further explained.

Meanwhile, a few mem-

bers of the diaspora who took part in Wednesday’s webinar testified to the responsiveness of the Government to their attempts to reach out.

Canada-based Guyanese Amar Ram, who said he recently led a Canadian delegation to Guyana, came away with a good experience.

“I’d like to give my unsolicited feedback on the Diaspora Unit. Every appointment booked was fulfilled. Every time we attempted to reach out to the Diaspora Unit it was done in an effective manner,” he said.

Since its return to office, the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Government has made engaging the diaspora, particularly at a pivotal time of Guyana’s development, a priority. Apart from diaspora engagement, Government has been engaging Guyanese missions, consulates, consuls-general and honorary consuls across the globe.

This has extended to Guyanese organisations in North America and elsewhere, to update on developmental projects. An allocation of $50 million was earmarked for the Diaspora and Remigration Unit for staffing, internships, and providing the positive information that would attract possible remigrants. (G3)

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…Foreign Secretary urges Diaspora to use influence in defence of sovereignty

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enezuela’s latest attempts to assert its unilateral and illegal claims on the Essequibo region have been firmly rejected by both the Government and the Opposition, who on Wednesday stood united in reaffirming Guyana’s sovereignty.

The Venezuelan Government and political Opposition met in Mexico days ago to iron out their differences at home. It was supposed to be a discussion about Venezuela’s domestic politics, with a number of other countries, including the Netherlands, Russia, Turkey, Norway and Bolivia taking part.

Instead, the two sides ratified partial agreements reinforcing Venezuela’s illegal claim to Essequibo.

The Guyana Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Ministry on Wednesday issued a stinging statement rebuking the agreement, which it noted is an overt threat to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Guyana.

“The Government of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana firmly rejects the agreement signed by the Heads of Delegation of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and the Unity Platform of Venezuela in Mexico City on September 6, 2021. That agreement is an overt threat to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Guyana,” the Foreign Affairs Ministry said.

It added, “Guyana cannot be used as an altar of sacrifice for settlement of Venezuela’s internal political differences. While the Government of Guyana welcomes domestic accord within Venezuela, an agreement defying international law and process is not a basis for mediating harmony.”

The Ministry further reminded that Guyana and Venezuela’s border controversy is before the International Court of Justice (ICJ), and will remain there until there is a peaceful and final resolution.

Opposition support

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Meanwhile, A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change’s (APNU/AFC’s) Shadow Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amanza Walton-Desir, in a statement said the Opposition takes note of the recent agreement and reaffirms Guyana’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

She also made it clear that the Opposition supports the peaceful settlement and national approach towards the border controversy.

Reaffirming Guyana’s sovereignty, Walton-Desir reminded that the border controversy must be resolved before the ICJ. “The APNU+AFC Coalition takes this oppor-

Foreign Affairs Minister Hugh Todd

tunity to reaffirm the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Guyana, and to remind that the Guyana/Venezuela controversy remains before the International Court of Justice for resolution.

“We reiterate our faith in the rule of international law in pursuit of a peaceful settlement in this regard, and our continued support of a national approach to safeguarding Guyana’s sovereignty,” the statement read.

Diaspora

During a virtual engagement with the diaspora on Wednesday, Foreign Secretary Robert Persaud also addressed the issue.

In a forceful message repudiating Venezuela’s recent claim, he also called on the Guyanese diaspora to use their influence abroad to help in the defense of

Guyana’s sovereignty.

“We encourage you, members of our Diaspora, to further familiarise yourself with this very important issue. The historical context of the Guyana-Venezuela controversy is available on the Ministry’s online platforms for your perusal. Other materials are also available on said platform.

“Further, we call on you to bring this matter to the attention of the House Representatives of your State, your Senators, Parliamentarians and other representatives of Government in the countries you reside. We must lobby in support of our beloved land,” Persaud said.

Guyana filed its case against Venezuela with the World Court on March 29, 2018, seeking a final and binding judgement that the 1899 Arbitral Award which established the location of the land boundary between the then-British Guiana and Venezuela remains valid and binding, and that Guyana’s Essequibo region belongs to Guyana and not Venezuela, as is being claimed by the Spanish-speaking country.

Guyana moved to the World Court after exhausting all means of negotiation with Venezuela.

Then United Nations Secretary General António Guterres, in January 2018, decided that the case should be settled by the ICJ after exercising the powers vested in him to decide how the con-

Shadow Foreign Affairs Minister Amanza Walton-Desir

troversy should be settled by the 1966 Geneva Agreement between Guyana, Venezuela and the United Kingdom.

The ICJ is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations. It was established by the United Nations Charter in June 1945, and began its activities in April 1946. The Court is composed of 15 Judges elected for a nine-year term by the General Assembly and the Security Council of the United Nations. The seat of the Court is at the Peace Palace in The Hague (Netherlands).

Back in March 2021, the ICJ had granted Guyana until March 8, 2022 to file its written submissions for the case, after requesting 12 months. Venezuela was given until March 8, 2023 to submit its counter memorial. (G3)

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 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

Vaccines

W

hen the COVID-19 pandemic burst upon an unsuspecting world at the end of 2019, the race was on to create vaccines that would stimulate the body’s immune system to produce antibodies to counter the virus. Hundreds of thousands were dying in the most developed countries.

Vaccines had been around for over 200 years, and their efficacy has been proven through the elimination of several diseases, such as smallpox and polio. Because of new techniques, a number of vaccines were produced in record time – the first one by PfizerBioTech in just under a year.

Before that, the record was four years. The world breathed a sigh of relief, since with their previous experience, the science predicted that after approximately 60-70% of a population was vaccinated, “herd immunity” – in which transmissions are reduced to very low levels – would be achieved. The concern now shifted to how quickly the vaccines would be produced and distributed, especially to the poorer countries.

But as the year went by and the number of deaths from the pandemic plummeted with the use of the vaccines – in conjunction with a regime of physical protocols to stop the transmission of the virus to others through wearing masks, etc – a new phenomenon reared its head: vaccine hesitancy.

Citizens to whom vaccines were available refused to take them, and in doing so, made the push for herd immunity almost impossible. This vaccine hesitancy has erupted in Guyana with a vengeance, even after the Government moved mountains to secure vaccines to inoculate the country. This hesitancy is now being used by the PNC-affiliated Opposition as an anti-Government mobilisation mechanism, by insisting that the measures introduced to encourage citizens to accept vaccination are “authoritarian” and a violation of their constitutional human rights.

A study done in Germany in March of this year, “Overcoming COVID-19 vaccination resistance when alternative policies affect the dynamics of conformism, social norms, and crowding out”, sheds some light on the phenomenon, and offers some suggestions to policy makers who want their countries to achieve herd immunity through vaccination.

“The implementation of any policy as a legally enforced requirement or a morally framed recommendation signals to citizens the nature of the relationship in which they are engaged: hierarchical if enforced or, alternatively, as members of a community, perhaps subject to a social contract if voluntary.

“First, mandating vaccination by law may have a substantial negative impact on voluntary compliance, and may be unnecessary even if vaccine hesitancy is initially high. Given limited state capacities and citizen opposition, reaching the target in a timely manner by enforcement could be impossible and, in any case, might bear costs, including heightened social conflict and further citizen alienation from Government or professional elites. The result could be a negative cascade of public distrust fuelling vaccine resistance, requiring more extensive enforcement and, in turn, further eroding public trust. However, we also show that if vaccine willingness is insufficient to induce cumulative increases in compliance, enforcement is unavoidable.

“Second, an important anti–COVID-19 policy is to enhance public trust, possibly through greater transparency and accountability of political and professional elites. Active measures to enhance public trust could reduce the fraction of the population that would have to be required to be vaccinated unwillingly in order to surpass the target.

“Third, convincing citizens that the vaccine is effective appears to be important. A person viscerally opposed to enforced vaccination may be more comfortable believing that vaccines are ineffective, so the causation could run in both directions. But as increasing numbers are vaccinated and infection incidence falls, it may be easier to disrupt a belief that the vaccine is ineffective, which in turn could undermine antivaccine sentiments.

“Finally, our model suggests that even if the willing fraction is initially modest, reporting the prevalence of those already or willing to be vaccinated may be sufficient to induce a cascade of others to abandon their vaccination hesitancy. Conversely, media attention to those refusing the vaccine could also generate a conformist cascade of vaccine resistance.”

President Dr Irfaan Ali was on Wednesday presented with a framed canvas print of the ‘When you Enter this Office’ poster by overseas-based Guyanese Seema Persaud. Persaud said she felt that the gift was perfect for the Head of State, since he is a “people person” who has an affinity with inspirational and motivational quotes. (Office of the President photo)

Climate disaster is the new normal. Can we save ourselves?

By Spencer Bokat-Lindell

H

ow to summarize the summer of 2021? I might choose a statistic: Nearly one-third of Americans live in a county that was hit by a weather disaster in the past three months, up from just about one-tenth during the same period five years ago, according to The Washington Post.

Scientists long ago predicted that climate change would cause heat waves, floods and storms to grow more frequent and more intense, and the relationship has become much clearer in recent years. But “these events tell us we’re not prepared,” Alice Hill, who oversaw planning for climate risks on the National Security Council during the Obama Administration, told The Times. “We have built our cities, our communities, to a climate that no longer exists.”

What does the United States need to do to prepare for a hotter future, and what are the limits of adaptation? Here’s what people are saying.

Mitigate, adapt or suffer

Fourteen years ago, a Harvard climate and energy expert, John Holdren, coined a kind of axiom for the three choices climate change posed for humanity: Mitigation — the elimination of greenhouse gas emissions — adaptation and suffering. “We’re going to do some of each,” he said. “The question is what the mix is going to be.”

For years, the policy conversation has rightfully been dominated by the first part of the equation, because, as he explained, “the more mitigation we do, the less adaptation will be required and the less suffering there will be.”

But nations delayed curbing their emissions for so long that global warming is now guaranteed to intensify in the next three de-

cades. And that means that mitigation alone, while still as necessary as ever, is no longer sufficient to prevent suffering: As devastating as recent extreme weather events have been, scientists say the next 30 years will bring even more, hotter heat waves, longer and more intense droughts, and more episodes of catastrophic flooding.

In its 2018 National Climate Assessment, the federal government released a sweeping report of all the ways the United States would need to adapt.

Here are just four, courtesy of The Times’s Brad Plumer: Rethink how we farm: Intensifying drought and extreme heat jeopardises both the yields of crops and the workers who harvest them. Farmers may have to use more precise irrigation techniques to conserve water, relocate production and invest in climate-controlled buildings.

Build for the future, not the past: The nation’s deteriorating infrastructure — its roads, sewer systems, public transportation, power plants and transmission lines — was built with historical weather conditions in mind, so it can’t just be repaired; it also has to be rebuilt or retrofitted for the weather of the future.

Enlist nature to help: Restoring degraded wetlands and expanding green space can protect cities and coasts from flooding, while planting more trees can reduce urban temperatures and protect people from deadly heat waves.

Expect the unexpected: Earth hasn’t warmed this quickly in tens of millions of years, long before humans even existed. Changes this rapid are likely to bring unpredictable dangers, and the more the world warms, the greater the risk of such surprises, some of which may be irreversible and self-reinforcing.

At the moment, howev-

er, there is no national plan for climate adaptation, just as there is no national plan for mitigation. Every year, the federal government spends about US$46 billion on recovery from disasters — about seven times what it spends on resilience, as David G Victor, Sadie Frank and Eric Gesick note in The Times. In many cases, recovery money is spent in ways that increase the risks and costs of climate change by inviting people to build and move into harm’s way.

“When communities are flattened by nature, the nation helps pay for rebuilding — often rebuilding the same infrastructure in the same place, a target for the next disaster,” they write.

“Redirecting federal money toward resilience rather than simply rebuilding after disasters will be hard.

But the longer we wait, the harder it will become as the costs of climate change mount.”

“The truth is that you can’t protect everything”

The 2018 National Climate Assessment mentioned a fifth major strategy the United States will need to adapt to climate change: Get out of the way. In some parts of the country, particularly along coastlines, many areas will become too expensive or impractical to inhabit; some already have.

“We need to decide where it is in our national interest to be spending federal money, and equally important, where that coastal protection has the best chance of providing meaningful, longer-term protection,” Robert S Young writes in The Times. “In the many places we cannot protect, we must seriously discuss how we can take measured, gradual steps to move people and homes away from the hazards.”

But the United States has no clear national plan for climate migration either, as Alexandra Tempus explains in The Times. She

notes that some 1.7 million disaster-related displacements occurred in 2020 alone, according to the Internal Displacement Monitoring Center, but the process is entirely reactive and ad hoc, with homeowners routinely left to wait years before obtaining buyouts.

“Real change — like relocating entire neighbourhoods and communities out of harm’s way — would be far better handled not in times of crisis, when the displaced must weigh complex decisions in the midst of chaos and loss, but before a crisis hits,” she writes.

But more proactive migration will prove difficult in the United States, where Government is especially loath to infringe on personal property rights.

Consider, by comparison, the Netherlands: There, where much of the land lies below sea level, government water boards have the ultimate authority over land use and there is no national flood insurance program because, the Dutch argue, the Government’s job is to protect people, not homeownership, from floods.

“If they determine an area is needed for flood protection, its residents must move,” The Times reports.

“It’s a different story in the United States.”

The limits of adaptation

Just as humanity’s failure to eliminate greenhouse gas emissions has made a necessity of adaptation, so too, if that failure continues, will it make a necessity of suffering. “There are limits to how much the country, and the world, can adapt,” The Times’s Christopher Flavelle, Anne Barnard, Brad Plumer and Michael Kimmelman write. “And if nations don’t do more to cut greenhouse gas emissions that are driving climate change, they may soon run up against the outer edges of resilience.” (Excerpt from New York Times)

guyanatimesgy.com

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2021

5

News

Majority of teachers countrywide boycott GTU’s strike, protest …as group protests in front of Education Ministry

T

Teachers conducting classes at Stella Maris Primary

he majority of teachers across the country turned up to work on Wednesday boycotting the Guyana Teachers Union (GTU) call for them to strike. The GTU had called for teachers, who have been out of the classrooms for 17 months owing to COVID-19, to down tools to protest the Government’s vaccination programme.

On Wednesday, led by executives of the GTU and A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) parliamentarian, Coretta McDonald, who is also the GTU General

students. Pointing to the rise in COVID-19 deaths and positive cases, the GTU said it believed that it was unsafe to fully reopen schools for faceto-face learning.

Measures to protect

In response to the rise in COVID-19 deaths and cases, the Government has mandated that any person wishing to enter a public building must be vaccinated. A public building refers to a building to which the public has lawful access and includes both privately- and publicly-owned buildings, including learning institutions. An unvaccinat-

A teacher carrying on her class at Mahdia Primary School on Wednesday

my choice”, the group of protesting teachers chanted that they should be allowed to choose whether they want to be vaccinated or not.

“Lift the [vaccination] restrictions,” said GTU General Secretary McDonald, adding “if you start doing that we are back in the classrooms full force on Friday”.

GTU’s Administrative Officer, Lancelot Baptiste explained that the protest action was necessary owing to the delay in Government meeting with the Union.

Boycott

Despite the GTU’s strike

of 769 teachers at the primary level, only 27 were absent/engaged in strike action on Wednesday. Three of the schools remained closed owing to the pandemic, one was closed for repairs, while two schools were engaged in online classes.

There are 265 teachers at the nursery level in this region, only 19 of them were absent/engaged in strike action on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) teachers also boycotted calls

by GTU to strike.

Of the 110 schools in the region, only teachers from three schools chose to send the students home and remain in school. The three

Wednesday, said teachers were eager to be back in the classroom.

“At some of the schools, there were some teachers who would have heeded the Union’s call, but at the majority of schools the teachers defied the Union’s advice,” Region Six Chairman Armogan told reporters on Wednesday afternoon.

He pointed out that more than 70 per cent of the teachers in the region were vaccinated while 39 per cent of medical staff in the region were vaccinated.

Uncaring

In a statement late Tuesday night, the Education Ministry described the GTU’s

for those who do not want to be inoculated – all of this to keep teachers, their families, and our children safe,” the Ministry reiterated. It said that the Government has spared no effort to make vaccines available to every member of the public in an effort to return the country to a state of normalcy.

The Education Ministry is adamant that there was no grievance/basis for strike action and urged all teachers, parents, and administrators not to fall prey to the “political machinations of Coretta McDonald and the small cabal of self-serving individuals who have hijacked the Guyana Teachers Union”.

The Education Ministry

A group of teachers picketing in front of the Education Ministry’s Brickdam headquarters calling on the Government to withdraw its vaccination policy

Secretary, a group of teachers from Region Four (DemeraraMahaica) staged a protest in front of the Education Ministry’s Brickdam, Georgetown headquarters calling on the Government to rescind its recent vaccination policy.

After being closed for more than a year, some schools in Guyana reopened on Monday for face-to-face classes. The Union said that unvaccinated teachers were locked out of school buildings. The Union, however, is also against the reopening of schools until safety protocols are agreed with the Union for the protection of teachers and

ed person who wants to enter a public building must make an appointment and present a negative PCR test taken within seven days of the day they want entry.

Only tests from a Health Ministry-approved laboratory are accepted. This is just one of the measures announced in its Official Gazette on September 4, which are slated to last until September 30. But on Tuesday, the GTU issued a notice to teachers entitled “Boots on de ground”, calling for them to protest in front of the Education Ministry’s Brickdam office on September 8, 9, and 10.

Armed with placards with the words “My body,

action, a senior official at the Education Ministry told Guyana Times that the majority of teachers across the country have reported for duty with just a handful of schools closed.

This newspaper was told that the lowest turnout of teachers was recorded in Regions Four (MahaicaBerbice) and Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).

When contacted on Wednesday, Education Minister Priya Manickchand said the Ministry was monitoring the situation.

Data seen by this publication shows that in Region Three (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara), of a total

schools where teachers sent home the students were Fort Ordinance Nursery, Fyrish Nursery, and Williamsburg Nursery.

At the primary school level, more than 75 per cent of teachers were in classrooms.

Secondary schools in the region are not currently open for face-to-face learning.

Region Six Chairman David Armogan said despite a few teachers being absent, this did not significantly affect the delivery of education in the region.

Regional Executive Officer (REO) Narindra Persaud, who visited several schools in the region on

call for protest action as “uncaring and unconscionable”, while condemning it as “irresponsible and not reflective of the realities of the present state of the COVID-19 pandemic nor the needs of the nation’s children”.

According to the missive, teachers have been accorded the status of a most valuable resource and were paid their full salary and benefits throughout the 17 months that schools were closed. The Ministry said that teachers received no salary cuts, neither were they laid off like in many other countries.

“Vaccination of teachers is not mandatory and there are clear guidelines issued

said it was also calling on teachers to reject the “unconscionable call of the GTU, Coretta McDonald, and her political cohorts in favour of serving the children of our nation and advancing their education and socialisation as we exit this pandemic and reclaim our lives”.

The Public Service Ministry has also reminded that all teachers who do not report for duty will not be paid. Meanwhile, Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony has defended the updated vaccination requirements as necessary to ensure public safety. (G1)

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2021

Page

Foundation

By Mother Goose

Little boy blue, Come blow your horn, The sheep’s in the meadow, The cow’s in the corn.

But where is the boy Who looks after the sheep?

He’s under a haystack, Fast asleep.

Source: The Dorling Kindersley Book of Nursery Rhymes (2000)

WORD SEARCH

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Nothing illegal about new gazetted vaccination measures – AG Nandlall

A

ttorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall has defended the new vaccination measures implemented by Government for entry into public buildings, arguing that these requirements are not illegal.

Last weekend, Government gazetted a new set of COVID-19 measures relative to entry into public buildings. Those stipulated that only vaccinated persons or those who present a negative PCR test taken within

three days prior could enter any public building.

Public buildings have been classified as both stateowned and private premises such as supermarkets, restaurants, malls and places of worships etc.

Speaking on this week’s edition of his programme – Issues In The News – Nandlall explained that these new vaccination requirements are similar to any other rules and regulations in place for public buildings.

On this note, he dispelled the argument of individual rights and freedom being violated with these measures.

“You have a right to enter cinema, but if you don’t have the money to pay the entrance fee, you can’t go there

and claim that you have a right to enter, and that your freedom of movement is being restricted because your freedom of movement is now subject to an entry fee to enter that building. Well, similarly, your freedom of movement to enter any building is now subject to the production of a vaccination card.

It is as simple as that, and nothing is illegal or unlawful about that,” the AG contended.

Nandlall further pointed out that, like other countries around the world, Guyana’s

High Court has already pronounced on the legality of the COVID-19 measures in a legal challenge last year, stating that they are for the public good, and therefore are valid, binding and enforceable.

Legal and pragmatic options

He also argued that the Guyana Government’s actions have been vindicated in the legal advice from former Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) President and current Pro-Chancellor at the University of the West Indies, Sir Dennis Byron, and UWI Professor RoseMarie Belle-Antoine to the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States’ (OECS) Heads of Governments.

They provided recommen-

dations on legal and pragmatic options for OECS Governments as they seek to balance the public health interest of all countries with any rights of individuals.

According to a missive from the OECS, “…the advice received is that there is no constitutional bar for employers, including government, to require that particular job or jobs generally be done by persons who are vaccinated against COVID-19, especially so during the period of a pandemic or a public health emergency.”

On this note, the Attorney General posited that fundamental rights and freedoms must bend and bow to the importance of public health and the public good. He further noted that individual rights and freedoms are not absolute, but must be curtailed in the interest of the public health of society and its citizens.

He also reminded that vaccines are nothing new, and have been mandatory for decades not only in the Caribbean, but the Commonwealth as well; while noting too that even individual rights and freedom are subjected to restrictions.

Nandlall emphasised that all of Guyana’s efforts and measures have been vindicated and embraced in the legal advice from the UWI officials.

“What we are doing in Guyana accords with the principles adumbrated and outlined in that legal opinion of the former President of the Caribbean Court of

Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall

Justice, Sir Dennis Bryon, and Professor Rose-Marie Antoine in their opinion to the OECS Heads of Government. And I am pleased that we are walking alongside those Governments in what they are doing, and based on analysis contained in that legal opinion, we have acted consistently with what the law says,” the AG noted.

He went on to state that, “…all the rights arguments that people have been advancing have been reject-

ed… by courts that have adjudicated in these cases.

The Human Rights Court has pronounced on this matter. Our High Court has pronounced on this matter as well.”

AG Nandlall posited that, with COVID-19 cases increasing daily, collective and responsible actions are needed. He reassured that Government would continue to do all it can to ensure the public health of citizens are maintained.

The Minister implored persons not to be swayed by certain positions being peddled, and to get vaccinated to protect themselves, loved ones and the people around them.

In light of the new COVID-19 vaccination measures, many buildings, including private businesses, have enforced the restrictions. However, Government’s new measures have sparked pushback from some quarters.

The Guyana Teachers Union (GTU) has called a three-day strike, which started on Wednesday, but most teachers across the country have boycotted the

strike and turned up at schools.

On Monday, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) enforced a region-wide lockdown in protest against the new vaccine requirement guidelines. However, these actions have been spearheaded by Oppositionaffiliated officials, and during his weekly programme, AG Nandlall called out the leadership of the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Coalition for sending “mixed and confusing signals” and for being “hypocritical and duplicitous.”

“You can’t be supporting the vaccination programme on the one hand, and then, on the other hand, be objecting to the measures that the Government is imposing to have complicity and compliance with the vaccination programme on the basis that the Government is coercing persons to take the vaccine. It’s either you support the vaccine or you don’t support the vaccine. It is simple as that,” he contended. (G12)

8 NEWS Duo plead not guilty to murdering Gafoor’s manager THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Murder victim Terry Lackhan

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wo men were on Tuesday arraigned before Justice Sandil Kissoon for the murder of Terry Lackhan, manager of Gafoor and Sons.

The duo, David Qutar

(29) formerly of Foulis, East Coast Demerara (ECD) and 32-year-old Patrick Ross, formerly of Herstelling, East Bank Demerara (EBD), pleaded not guilty to the charge before a 12-member jury at the Demerara High Court.

Particulars of the charge allege that on July 21, 2016, at Herstelling, EBD, they murdered Terry Lackhan during the course or furtherance of a robbery.

The men will go on trial for the offence from September 27 at the High Court in Demerara. They are jointly being represented by attorney-at-law Ravindra Mohabir, while Senior State Counsel Lisa Cave is presenting the case for the prosecution.

At the time of his demise, Lackhan was employed

No permanent...

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Murder accused David Qutar

Murder accused Patrick Ross

as a manager at Gafoors.

Reports are that the lifeless body of the 55-year-old man was discovered by a neighbour on the night of July 21, 2016, shortly after a man was reportedly seen exiting

his Herstelling home with several bags.

Reports are that his lifeless body was found next to a wardrobe with a rope tied around his neck. Several bottles of tablets and photographs of his family were also found close to him. From the evidence, Lackhan’s killers were attempting to stage the scene to make it appear as though he had committed suicide.

Improvised gun, ammo found in Sophia yard

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36-year-old man of B Field Sophia, Greater Georgetown was on Wednesday arrested after he was found with an improvised gun and .32 ammunition.

The Police have said that on the day in question, at about 10:00h, a team of Police ranks acting on information received went to B Field Sophia, where a search was conducted on the premises of the suspect.

During that search, ranks discovered the firearm and one .32 round of ammunition in a chair in the suspect’s yard. The man

The improvised gun found on the suspect’s premises

was arrested and taken into custody at the Alberttown

Linden man acquitted of rape

Police Station, where the firearm was lodged as investigations continue.

Freed: Cliff David

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12-member jury on Tuesday found a 24-year-old man of Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) not guilty of rape.

Cliff David of Wismar, Linden had been on trial for the offence of rape of a child under 16 before Justice JoAnn Barlow at the Demerara High Court.

David was represented by Attorney-at-law Teriq Mohammed, while the case for the prosecution was led

by State Counsel Latifah Elliot. David had initially pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The underage girl had claimed that she was raped on March 15, 2019. It was reported that the girl was in the process of leaving David’s house after visiting his sister when he grabbed her, took her into his bedroom, and committed the act.

…friends in Venezuela he recent agreement struck between Venezuela’s Government of Maduro and the “Opposition-cumgovernment” – depending on who you speak to ! – of Guaidó shouldn’t surprise anyone. Just illustrates one of your Eyewitness’s favourite maxims – “there are no permanent friends or permanent enemies – just permanent interests.” And it’s the golden rule of International Relations! Some folks would have us believe that it was just “low hanging fruits” for Mexico to get the two warring sides to agree on something. And maybe it was – but THAT’s the point, ain’t it??

Venezuelan politics has always been fractious – that “hot-blooded” Latin temperament?!! But for ALL Venezuelans, the ONE issue that unites them is that “Essequibo belongs to us and we wuz robbed!!” This has been so long before they brought their claim in the UN in 1962 – when they were encouraged by a US trying to remove the “red” PPP from office. And since that time, it’s been beaten into the hearts and minds of Venezuelans in their schools, in their homes, and in the army and navy.

They even altered their Constitution to declare their “ownership”!!

So, all those who though that when Chavez was around, he and his “red” successor Maduro would be “fair” to us in some sort of “socialist solidarity” and abandon their claim -- were just smoking something!! No Venezuelan leader will flex on the Essequibo issue and we should never forget this! So let’s move on to our reaction and compliment the Government for coming out swinging and rejecting their posturing in no holds-barred statement!

The Govt knows that as far as settling their manufactured “controversy”, we’ve already scored the critical victory to have the World Court accept the recommendation of the Secretary General of the United Nations to adjudicate the matter!! That’s it, folks – CHECKMATE – since this position was arrived at by the relevant bodies’ interpretation of the 1966 Geneva Agreement – which Venezuela signed!! It’s not for them to now say they don’t accept the jurisdiction of the World Court!! Too late shall be the cry!!

We just have to wait for that decision, which is a foregone conclusion – hence Venezuela’s refusal to participate! Your Eyewitness sees that the PNC Opposition has now risen to the occasion and supported the Government’s rebuke of the Venezuelan perfidy. Back in the seventies, even though Cheddi Jagan had objected to Burnham’s rigging the elections, he offered his party’s support unequivocally! All Guyanese sang along with Dave Martins and the Trade Winds: “We ain’t giving up no mountains, we ain’t giving up no river that belongs to we… not one rice grain…not a blade of grass”.

…leader?

But the question is, “Where is Harmon?” Your Eyewitness can understand Granger’s move: to play possum and let his supporters like Amna Ally smoke out the challengers to his leadership of the PNC. He knows the infighting – even between the wannabe leaders will be fierce -- there’s gonna be blood flowing! Maybe even literally!! And then at the end…when it all ends up with fistfights at Congress, he’ll be summoned back as the “Knight in Shining Armour”!! Could be as Don Quixote, … but what the heck?!

But why would Harmon drop out of sight and have Roysdale Forde “act” as Opposition Leader? Wasn’t Forde one of the “young’uns” Granger had hand-picked because they had no base and were his “creatures”?? So Harmon wouldn’t have to worry about his back? Has the forbidden fruit already entered the garden that Granger has pruned and planted so carefully?

So is Harmon “doing a Granger” to suss out challengers?

And is Forde the goat tied to the stake to bring out the tigers??

…strategy What’s this “boots on the ground” we’re hearing about from the Teachers Union before they call a strike?? Is this a trial balloon? Listen, this isn’t the PNC way.

They always act first and think afterwards!!

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

NEWS

9

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

3 more unvaccinated persons die from COVID-19 …289 new cases recorded

GUYANA COVID-19 DASHBOARD SEPTEMBER 8 UPDATE

NUMBER OF NEW CASES

289

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN INSTITUTIONAL ISOLATION

131

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

2475 36

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN INSTITUTIONAL QUARANTINE

6

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES BY GENDER (FEMALES)

14,039

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES BY GENDER (MALES)

13,022

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES IN GUYANA SINCE 2020

27,061

NUMBER OF RECOVERED CASES

23,762

TOTAL 1st DOSE VACCINATED

325,095

FULLY IMMUNISED

170,125

TOTAL NUMBER OF DEATHS

657

DISTRIBUTION OF TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES SINCE MARCH 2020 REGION 1

1382

REGION 2

887

REGION 3

3313

REGION 4

12,729

REGION 5

894

REGION 6

2119

REGION 7

1412

REGION 8

410

REGION 9

2259

REGION 10

1656

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.

H

ealth Minister, Dr Frank Anthony on Wednesday reiterated the importance of persons getting vaccinated against the life-threatening novel coronavirus as he announced that another three unvaccinated persons have died from complications caused by the disease.

The latest fatalities are all females – a 36-yearold and a 45-year-old from Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), and an 81-year-old woman from Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica).

They all died on Tuesday while receiving care at medical institutions across the country after previously being admitted with COVID19-like symptoms. Samples

taken at the time of admission subsequently returned positive tests.

With these, the total number of deaths from the virus in Guyana has gone up to 657. Consequently, the COVID-19 death toll for the month of September has climbed to 32.

Meanwhile, some 2205 tests were conducted in the previous 24 hours from which 289 new infections were detected. This takes the total number of confirmed cases in Guyana to 27, 061.

Also, in the previous 24 hours, active cases in Guyana went up to 2642, including 36 patients in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU), with 131 persons in institutional isola-

tion and 2475 persons in home isolation.

In fact, 125 persons who are infected with COVID-19 are currently patients in hospitals across the country with 92 of them at the Ocean View facility at Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown, which houses the COVID-19 ICU. Moreover, there are another six persons in institutional quarantine. To date, some 23,762 persons have recovered from the life-threatening disease – with 66 more recoveries than the day before.

Since the outbreak of the novel coronavirus in Guyana last year, some 280,748 persons have been tested and of this, 13,022 males and 14,039 females

were found to be positive.

New cases

The 289 new cases recorded on Wednesday comprised persons from all 10 regions across of Guyana.

According to the Ministry’s COVID-19 dashboard, these include four cases from Region One (Barima-Waini); 16 cases from Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam); 48 from Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara; a whopping 179 cases from Demerara-Mahaica; seven from Region Five (MahaicaBerbice), 15 from Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), five from Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), two from Region Eight (PotaroSiparuni), five from Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) and the remaining eight cases from Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Upper

Berbice).

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 across the various regions in order to achieve herd immunity.

So far, some 325,095 adults have received their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, which represents 63.4 per cent of the adult population. Of that amount, 170,125 persons are fully immunised, that is, 33.2 per cent of persons 18 years and older.

Earlier this month, Government also began the vaccination of children using the Pfizer jab and to date, some 15,241 adolescents between the ages of 12 and 17 have been given their first shot – reflecting 20.9 per cent of those with-

in that age group.

According to Minister Anthony, Tuesday saw a record 6103 persons being vaccinated in one day. This includes 2507 adults taking their first dose, another 916 persons getting their second dose and some 2678 children receiving their first shot of the Pfizer vaccine.

He used the opportunity to commend the staff both within the Health Ministry as well as the Education Ministry in rolling out the vaccination exercise.

In the same breath, however, Dr Anthony cautioned against the increasing cases of COVID-19 infections which are leading to more hospitalisations and admissions in the ICU. This, he explained, is as a result of the Delta variant, which Government suspects is circulating here, being more easily transmitted.

TURN TO PAGE 14

10 NEWS

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Motorcycle bandits rob commuters at DHB Armed bandits storm ital food shop, rob patrons

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The stolen items that were recovered on the bandits

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ours after a motorcycle gang had staged a daring robbery on several commuters at the Demerara Harbour Bridge on Wednesday, two of the perpetrators were arrested at Castello Housing Scheme and in Albouystown, Georgetown respectively.

Those arrested are 15 years old and 23 years old.

The Police have said the command centre, via its CCTV system, captured four motorcycles, all with riders and pillion riders, robbing several persons at the eastern end of the Demerara Harbour Bridge.

The victims were relieved of three cellphones, a pink

One of the motorcycles involved in the robbery

A bag that one of the perpetrators was carrying at the time of his arrest

handbag, cash, lighters, cigarettes, a bunch of keys and

a black 110 motorcycle.

After committing the act, the perpetrators then headed to Georgetown. As a result, anti-crime patrols in Division 4A were immediately alerted, and intercepted two of the suspects with one of the motorcycles.

The 23-year-old male was caught hiding in a dugout with water at North East La Penitence, while the

15-year-old was arrested in James Street, Albouystown.

Police have since recovered the stolen items. The two were taken into custody as Police continue their search for the other perpetrators.

The victims of this robbery are asked to visit the Brickdam Police Station to identify their belongings.

ix armed bandits stormed the ital food shop at Annandale, East Coast Demerara (ECD) on Tuesday evening, and robbed several cricket fans who were glued to the television set watching the CPL game.

During the robbery, which took place at about 22:20h, five men were relieved of cash, phones and personal belongings. In fact, the Police have said the victims were all from Buxton, ECD. A 32-year-old victim was relieved of one Samsung cellphone and one Eagle wallet containing one ID card and $16,500 in cash. A 28-yearold victim was robbed of one black Samsung Galaxy 8plus cellphone; a 27-year-old was relieved of an iPhone 8plus; another 27-year-old was re-

lieved of a gold chain weighing 13 pennyweight, and a 29-year-old was robbed of one Samsung J3 Star cellphone and one 12 pennyweight gold chain.

Based on reports received, the victims were at the Ital food shop on the Annandale Railway Embankment, watching television while playing a game of cards when six armed men stormed the establishment and held them at gunpoint.

The bandits then relieved the men of the abovementioned items, while an unarmed female remained on a motorcycle. After committing the robbery, the men jumped on their motorcycles and made good their escape. The matter was reported, but no arrest has been made.

Pensioner injured in 2-vehicle collision

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pensioner is now suffering a fractured left leg after the motorcycle he was driving collided with a motorcar along the Zeeburg Public Road, West Coast Demerara (WCD), on Tuesday.

The injured man is 65-year-old Desmond Forde of North East Stewartville Housing Scheme, WCD. Based on information received, motorcar PXX 8833, driven by a 23-yearold man of Tuschen Railway Embankment, East Bank Essequibo (EBE), was proceeding along the main access road when it suddenly made a right turn and into the path of the motorcycle, which was behind it.

As a result, the right front portion of the motorcar collided with the front of the motorcycle, causing the motorcyclist to fall onto the roadway.

He was picked up in a conscious state by public-spirited persons and taken to the Leonora Cottage Hospital, where he was examined and treated for the fractured left leg. He was subsequently admitted a patient.

However, the driver of the motorcar has been arrested and taken to the Leonora Police Station, where he has been placed in custody. A breathalyzer test conducted on him indicated there were no traces of alcohol in his system. Investigations are ongoing.

Rupununi man arrested after 5grams of ganja found in home

The ganja that was found by Police

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26-year-old man was on Tuesday taken into custody after 5 grams of cannabis were found in his home at Tabatinga, Central Rupununi, Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) during a Police operation.

The Police have said that on the day in question, at about 23:30h, ranks were on mobile patrol when they observed a group of persons gathered in front of a house.

Having seen the gathering, the ranks request a search to be done on the house, and a male who identified

himself as the owner of the house agreed for the search to be done in his presence.

During the search, the Police found on a television stand in the living room a wrapped transparent plastic bag containing several small Ziplock bags each with a quantity of ganja.

The home owner was told of the offence and cautioned, during which he claimed ownership of the cannabis.

He was arrested and taken to the Lethem Police Station, where the ganja was weighed in his presence and amounted to five grams.

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

NEWS

13

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Soldier, girlfriend’s execution

Carpenter confesses to killing GDF rank for allegedly raping close relative …girlfriend was collateral damage

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23-year-old carpenter of Sophia, Greater Georgetown, who was wanted by the Police for questioning in relation to the shooting death of Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Lance Corporal Daniel Fraser and his girlfriend Sheniqua Hodge, has confessed to the heinous crime.

He made the confession following his arrest and interrogation by members of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) on Wednesday at the Brickdam Police Station.

During interrogation, he told detectives that on November 2, 2020, Fraser and two other men allegedly raped a close relative of his, and ever since the incident, the now dead GDF rank was

in the habit of disrespecting and threatening him.

However, he stated that on September 1, 2021, at about 20:30h, he left his mother’s Meadow Brook home and went to the home of the rape victim.

At about 23:00h, he left the relative’s home on a black BMX bicycle, and was on his way to visit a friend who resides between B & C Fields Sophia when he saw Fraser imbibing at a shop in ‘C’ Field, Sophia.

He claimed that the now dead man threatened him while making derogatory remarks about his relative, whom he had raped. As such, the suspect said, he went back to his mother’s house, where he collected a handgun which he claimed he had found some time

back at the Blacka Bridge.

With the firearm in his possession, he reportedly went back to the friend’s home.

Further, he confessed that as he was approaching a bridge that leads to ‘C’ Field Sophia, he saw Fraser and a few other persons were about to cross the said bridge, and as such, he turned back and went to B Field, Sophia.

Shortly after, he reportedly saw Fraser and Hodge on a motorcycle. Another man was behind them on another motorcycle, he added.

He related that upon seeing him, Fraser shouted, “Look he deh hey.” At that time, the suspect whipped out the gun from his pants crotch and discharged several rounds in the direction

Murdered: GDF Lance Corporal Daniel Fraser and Sheniqua Hodge

of the couple.

After committing the act, the suspect claimed, he dropped the gun and escaped into ‘A’ Field Sophia, where he took off his clothes, left them on a dam and went

Over 1000 arrested for breaching COVID guidelines in Reg 6 – Commander

– as Police clamp down on “secret” party locations

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ver 1000 persons have been arrested for breaching the COVID-19 guidelines in Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne) between January and August 2021, according to Police Commander Senior Superintendent Jairam Ramlakhan.

He made this revelation during the Guyana Police Force’s weekly “Police & You” radio programme on Tuesday evening, while noting that private parties at secret locations were the main cause of the COVID-19 breaches.

“The COVID guidelines are not being adhered to fully for many reasons, but we have embarked on a very robust enforcement campaign,” the commander has said.

Ramlakhan explained that the campaigns have led to the arrest of 1010 persons, and more than half of the cases have already been dealt with.

He noted that due to the

B Division Commander, Jairam Ramlakhan

relationship the Police have with the public, his team is on top of its game in getting the necessary information in regard to locations of private parties and those who are responsible for organising the events.

“So far, because of our network with the public,

these private parties, even though…not advertised, we are able to be on top… be on top in the sense that we get information as to who’s planning, and where”, Ramlakhan shared.

However, he stated that the violators are most times warned, rather than being prosecuted, due to the time-consuming process involved in charging all of them.

“We approach and… re-advise them as to the protocols about the prohibition, about the COVID-19 guidelines, and of the consequences.”

Moreover, the Commander related that the Police continue to sensitise and educate the public about the seriousness of the virus.

Additionally, by working with the National COVID-19 Task Force via a WhatsApp group, where information is being shared, the Police in B Division are able to effectively carry out their duties in

regard to COVID breaches.

Meanwhile, a number of businesses have also been suspended for a period of one to three months for breaching the COVID-19 guidelines.

“There are a number of persons or businesses who, we are aware of, had their businesses suspended for 3 months, 1 month and so on.

The message is spreading, and persons are now very cautious how they go about their business, especially in breaching the curfew or overcrowding their establishments”, the Commander revealed.

back to his mother’s home, where he remained until he was arrested on Wednesday.

Guyana Times understands that investigators were able to confirmed that the suspect’s relative did make a report on May 27, 2021 that she was raped

by Daniel Fraser and another member of the GDF. In that report, she claimed that the incident took place in February 2021, but out of embarrassment, she had refused to seek medical attention. The rape matter is still being investigated.

Fraser, 26, of Lot 598 A Field Sophia, Greater Georgetown, and 23-yearold Hodge, formerly of South Ruimveldt, Georgetown and of Barbados, were riddled with bullets moments after leaving a party in C Field Sophia, Greater Georgetown, on Wednesday evening last.

In fact, a post-mortem performed on the bodies proved that Fraser died from one gunshot injury to the chest, while his girlfriend died from multiple gunshot injuries.

It was reported that on the day in question, the now

dead couple was at a party at C Field Sophia, but left for home at about 23:30h on motorcycle CK 9296.

However, as they were heading along the last street in B Field Sophia, they were confronted by a male on a bicycle, who discharged several rounds at them before fleeing the scene. Police initially stated that Fraser died on the spot, while Forde succumbed on the way to the Georgetown Public Hospital.

Fraser reportedly sustained two gunshot wounds to the chest in the vicinity of the heart, while Forde received three gunshot injuries – one to the chest, one to her right knee, and one to the right-side abdomen, which exited the left-side abdomen.

Hodge reportedly arrived in Guyana in July to sort out some documents to join the Barbados Defence Force. Relatives had told Guyana Times that after she arrived in Guyana, she and Fraser met for the first time, but prior to that, they would communicate over the phone.

Investigators had stated that the now dead woman is the mother of a 4-year-old boy from a previous relationship, which ended. After the relationship came to an end, the child’s father had threatened to kill the woman several times after she and Fraser started a relationship.

After the shooting incident, the man was arrested and questioned. During interrogation, he held out that he was not involved in the execution-style killing of the two young people.

14 NEWS Works on $200M Cane Grove Road project 50% complete THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2021|| GUYANATIMESGY.COM

…$38M Bendulla Dam works close to completion

ent weather and trucks that are traversing the road, it has been severely damaged.

“As a result of the rain and the movement of heavy vehicles, we have sections that have been deteriorated, that the taxis and private cars are finding it difficult to navigate without getting damage,” Edghill had said, further explaining that the next step for the Ministry was getting the work done.

“This road is an important road. It has a rice mill – people have to get their produce out…we got to get the remedy done. That’s the way we’re going to do our work; bringing satis-

Public Works Minister Juan Edghill and team during the inspection of the works

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ublic Works Minister Juan Edghill, who on Wednesday visited a number of ongoing construction works, has revealed that the $200 million Cane Grove Public Road is halfway completed.

Works on the Cane Grove Main Access Road, on the East Coast of Demerara (ECD), are being executed

by Colin Talbot Contracting Service. The Minister was shown the ongoing works during his inspection, and subsequently revealed that the works are about 50 per cent completed.

He also inspected ongoing works in Bendulla Dam, also in Cane Grove, which cost $38 million dollars and are being executed

by Associated Construction Services. Those works, according to the Minister in a post on social media, are

faction to the people, and that’s what we commit to do – serve the people of Guyana.”

It was noted that the sum of $200 million is allocated to do sectional repairs on the road. This contract was awarded to Colin Talbot Construction.

Additionally, three other roads within the village are set to be completed as well.

The Cane Grove Public Road was set to be completed by July 12, but was delayed owing to several factors, including inclement weather. As a result, the Minister called for the immediate completion of the works. (G3)

Suspected bandit nabbed during Police chase at Ogle

I File photo: The state of the road prior to construction

about 75 per cent completed.

Last month, Edghill and Minister within the Local Government and Regional Development Ministry, Anand Persaud, visited Cane Grove to inspect the main access road for themselves.

Residents and other users have found the road,

which had been in a deplorable state for some time now, difficult to navigate.

As such, they were promised that remedial works would be conducted prior to scheduled reconstruction works that are set to be done on the road.

The Public Works Minister stated at the time that, owing to the inclem-

n light of several armed robberies being committed in ‘C’ Division, East Coast Demerara (ECD), Police, acting on intelligence gathered, were on mobile surveillance when they observed four members of a suspected gang riding along the Plaisance Railway Embankment on two motorcycles.

The ranks closed in on the men in an attempt to intercept them, after it was suspected from their actions that they were about to rob a female who was standing on the roadway, but the suspects drove away and the Police gave chase.

The Police have said the two pairs of suspects went in separate directions on their motorcycles, but the ranks continued behind one of the pairs along the Ogle Airport Road.

During that chase, the pillion rider reportedly discharged rounds at the Police, who returned fire.

The motorcycle that was seized

The two suspects then abandoned the motorcycle and started to run. However, one of them was arrested

while the other managed to evade Police ranks. The motorcycle was also seized as investigations continue.

3 more unvaccinated...

“So, if people are not taking the precautions and they’re exposed to infected persons, they are going to get the virus. Now, some people might get it mildly and some others might have a moderate form of the disease and there are those persons who would have the severe form of the disease… [and] it could require hospitalisation and possibly, you’d have to come into the ICU. So, again we’ve seen the numbers in hospitals go up, we’ve seen the ICU patients going up, we know this happens with the Delta variant and that’s why we’ve been urging people to be very cautious and take precautions,” the Health Minister added.

Nevertheless, as more people continue to get vaccinated, authorities are urging the public to continue observing all COVID-19 preventative measures, particularly masking in public, social distancing, and frequent hand washing and sanitising. The measures have been updated to also include vaccination requirements to access all public buildings, including privately-owned premises such as supermarkets, restaurants, and places of worship.

No more passenger locator/ health declaration

Meanwhile, Government has also revised travel requirements for persons entering Guyana.

FROM PAGE 9

The Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) announced on Wednesday that persons are no longer required to submit the Passenger Locator/Health Declaration Form prior to travelling to Guyana.

“To further enhance the passenger travel experience, a decision was taken to discontinue the use of the form with immediate effect,” the CJIA stated.

In order to enter Guyana, persons are now only required to provide a negative PCR test, taken no later than seven days – if it is within four to seven days, then a second test is required at the CJIA before entering the country – and proof of vaccination. (G12)

NEWS

15

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

208 cases of rape recorded for year so far – Police …increase of 47.5% from 2020

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hile the Guyana Police Force (GPF) has reported that serious crime is down by 20 per cent for the period January 1 to September 6, 2021 when compared to the same period last year, the Force has recorded a whopping 47.5 per cent increase in rape.

A total of 208 rape cases were reported up to September 6, 2021 when compared to 141 for the same period in 2020. Statistics also revealed that 78 persons were charged with rape – a 21.9 per cent increase from the corresponding period last year.

The crime of robbery also saw an increase of 21.1 per cent. During the reporting period, the Police had one report of kidnapping.

However, murders, armed robbery, robbery with aggravation, break and enter and larceny, larceny

from a person, robbery with violence and burglary have all recorded significant declines.

With respect to murders, a staggering 54 persons lost their lives in the disorderly category followed by 14 who were killed in domestic disputes while seven persons were killed during robberies and five were executed.

There are nine cases whereby the reason for the murder is unknown. The majority of the 89 reported murders were committed in Division 4A (Georgetown).

The 89 murders represent a 19.8 per cent decrease when compared to 111 in 2020 over the same period. Further, the Police related that 72 persons were arraigned for the heinous crime thus far for the year.

With respect to seizure of illegal firearms, the Police have reported that a total

of 44 guns were confiscated between January 1 and September 6, 2021 –10 revolvers, 14 shotguns, and 20 pistols.

With respect to drug seizures, the Police stated that it has seized a total of 157 kilograms of cannabis, 536 kilograms of cocaine and 52 grams of ecstasy. The amount of cannabis and ecstasy seized saw a decline from the previous year, but there has been an increase in the amount of cocaine seized for this year.

In addition, a total of 93 acres of cannabis were destroyed when compared to 39 acres in 2020.

Meanwhile, several persons were charged and remanded to prison for several serious crimes between August 6 and September 6, 2021.

These include Peon Lee, Keyon King and Delroy Jackson for the multi-

million-dollar gold heist committed on Wallison’s Trading, Gordon Street, Kitty, Georgetown. In addi-

tion, six persons – Gregory Tejpertab, Ranzan Ally, Anil Angershalam, Javed Ghanie, Devendra Khemraj

and Vidaiand Khemraj – were arraigned for the murder of Corentyne Pandit Rishi Bharrat.

Massy Guyana advocates for suicide prevention, 41 apprentices to be technically mental health awareness trained by GuySuCo

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The Port Mourant Training Centre

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he Guyana Sugar C o r p o r a t i o n Incorporated (GuySuCo) has announced that 41 apprentices have been inducted to its Port Mourant Apprentice Training Centre in Region Six, where they will be technically trained and prepared to join the operating factories.

These apprentices were recruited recently after the successful completion of a series of assessments and interviews. During the preliminary stage of the recruitment process, 214 applications were received.

This year’s cohort of apprentices is sponsored by the four operating sugar estates. After the completion of their apprenticeship, it is expected that the individuals would be employed at their respective sponsor estate.

Of the recruits inducted, 11 of them, between the ages of 16 and 18 years of age, are from areas surrounding the Rose Hall Estate, where they were afforded the opportunity to prepare themselves for lucrative technical opportunities in the operation of the Rose Hall Estate Factory, which is expected to become operation in October 2022.

At the induction ceremony, manager of the centre, Jainarine Sookpaul, told recruits, “You are fortunate,

as you are the chosen ones.

This institution stands on the pillars of tradition, honour and discipline. Over the years, the Training Centre has earned a reputation of delivering individuals of high discipline.”

Acknowledging the fact that this batch of apprentices is commencing their training during the global COVID-19 pandemic, Sookpaul assured that all measures are taken to ensure the health and safety of each individual.

“We have been conducting face-to-face training since February 2021, and have not registered any COVID-19 positive case here at the Centre. We intend to continue to follow the established protocols, and all persons joining the Training Centre must be fully vaccinated. We will provide support to ensure all our apprentices and staff are fully vaccinated.”

Meanwhile, GuySuCo’s Compensation and Business Development Manager, Shurwyn Stewart, added, “We wish to thank the Government of Guyana for their investment in GuySuCo and GTC/PM, but the success of each recruit is a collective responsibility of everyone, inclusive of parents and, importantly, the recruits themselves, who must maintain a high level of discipline and commit-

ment.”

In 1957, Bookers Sugar Estates established an Apprentice Training Facility, called the Port Mourant Apprentice Training Centre (PMTC).

The facility was established to provide young Guyanese with greater opportunities to equip themselves with technical skills. Since 1957, the number attending training has grown steadily, and, to date, 3,399 young persons have been trained at PMTC. G u y S u C o ’ s Apprenticeship Scheme is recognised as the best in Guyana, with the majority of graduates progressing into skilled and supervisory positions in GuySuCo after a period of consolidation in their jobs on completion of their apprenticeship.

Technical disciplines include: industrial electrical installation, engineering fitting & machining, factory process instrumentation, heavy and light automotive engineering, automotive electrical engineering, and factory process sugar boiling.

The GuySuCo Training Centre/Port Mourant (GTC/ PM) provides an essential function, it supplies employees with core technical skills for the fields and factories.

It said upgrade and future modernisation of the other factories would also require such competencies.

orld Suicide Prevention Day will be celebrated on September 10 under the theme ‘Creating Hope Through Action’, and, as such, the Massy Group in Guyana continues on its journey to target youths and young adults in its suicide prevention and mental health awareness programmes.

The programmes are tailored to provide assistance and hope for persons dealing with mental and emotional struggles.

In support of World Suicide Prevention and World Mental Health Day, more than 800 Massy employees will be adorned with

yellow and green to show solidarity.

Additionally, the Group would host a Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Poetry Competition from September 1 to October 10, in collaboration with the Health Ministry’s Mental Health Unit. It would target persons between the ages of 11 and 35. The competition would also be open to employees of the Massy Guyana Group, and mone-

tary prizes would be given to first and second place winners in two categories.

The Massy Group encourages everyone to educate themselves on the telltale signs of suicide, with the intention of reaching out and assisting.

The public is also encouraged to call the lifelines: 223-0001, 223-0009, 6007896, or 623-4444 if they know anyone who may have intention to commit suicide.

16 NEWS

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Law Reform Commission must be proactive not reactive – Nandlall

AG Anil Nandlall with the members of the Law Reform Commission at their inaugural meeting on Wednesday

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he Law Reform Commission of Guyana has officially commenced work on Wednesday with a charge from Legal Affairs Minister and Attorney General Anil Nandlall not to be reactive but rather proactive in the execution of its mandate.

“We have had law reform in Guyana being reactive.

So, something happens, you go and pass the law to correct it. We will try to get this Law Reform Commission to be proactive so that we have legislation in anticipation of, and not as a reaction to,” Nandlall told reporters after meeting with the full commission at its Middle Street, Georgetown office.

During the meeting, he held discussions with the Commission on its agenda going forward. He outlined that the Law Reform Commission has a long and arduous task ahead.

“We are still grappling with the mammoth nature of the agenda that the Commission has to execute,” he indicated.

However, one of the first tasks the Law Reform

Commission will undertake is working in tandem with the Law Revision Commission, which is headed by Nandlall, to revise the laws of Guyana.

“Firstly, [they will have] to correct all of the errors and omissions that we would have made during the last revision exercise when we consolidated the laws in 2012…

We want to now revise the laws from 2012 to 2021. That means we have to incorporate into the laws, all the amendments that we would have passed since 2012 in the National Assembly and also all the new laws that we would have passed and put them into consolidated volumes that will be the updated laws of Guyana,” the Attorney General stated.

According to the Legal Affairs Minister, when that process is completed, the Law Reform Commission will begin its work of holistically reviewing the Laws of Guyana with a view of reforming them, especially those that are archaic.

This, he noted, will require the seven-member Commission conducting pub-

lic consultations on “thorny issues” such as decriminalising suicide, the removal of the death penalty and decriminalisation of marijuana.

“So the Law Reform Commission will be dealing with thorny issues and make recommendations to the Government… It is the Law Reform Commission that must go out now and have the consultations, trash out the thorny issues and then come back with reports and recommendations based upon their consultations which will be taken into account by the Government of the day,” AG Nandlall posited.

Meanwhile, Law Reform Commission Chairman,

The Law Reform Commission is housed in the National Sport Commission building on Middle Street, Georgetown

Retired Justice B.S. Roy said they were cognisant of the responsibilities given to the Commission and would give of their best to fulfil them.

Another Commission member Clarissa Riehl acknowledged the large volume of work to be done, but reassured that the Commission was up to the task.

“We really have to put our heads down and work…

Lots of things happening in Guyana as we all know, lots of progress being made with the oil and gas, and areas like that – public health with the global pandemic in Guyana and getting more severe in

Guyana every day. The legislation [will have to be] put in place for all of these things.

We have legislation in public health which is more than 100 years old. So, we have to bring all of these things up to scratch. So, there is a whole lot of work,” she noted.

The other members of the Law Reform Commission are: Teni Housty, Emily Dodson, Roopnarine Satram, Deenawatie Panday and Brian O’ Toole. They had their first meeting on Wednesday when they ironed out the agenda of the Commission going forward.

The body is required to

meet four times monthly.

Additionally, the Commission will be working closely with the Regional Director of the IMPACT Justice Project, Professor Velma Newton, from Barbados.

The seven-member Commission was sworn in last month by President Dr Irfaan Ali, who charged them to modernise the laws of Guyana to reflect societal and economic changes taking place in the country. The current Law Reform Commission, which is the first of its kind in Guyana, will be in effect for three years. (G8)

Farfan and Mendes, T&T company launch $800M venture in Guyana

F

arfan and Mendes group of Guyana and FT Farfan of Trinidad and Tobago on Wednesday officially launched their joint venture IBIS Construction Equipment Sales and Rentals, better known as ICON, at La Bonne Intention (LBI), East Coast Demerara (ECD) along with the opening of its showroom.

With an investment of over $800 million, the goal of ICON is to combine the experience and reputations of the Farfan and Mendes Group in the construction, oil and gas, agriculture, manufacturing, and Government sectors as well as serving small and medium businesses.

The venture currently has 10 employees, all of whom are Guyanese.

ICON represents internationally-established industry brands such as JCB, Belle, Multiquip, Lincoln Electric, Linde, Thompson Pumps, DeWalt/Milwaukee, Generac and JLG among other leading brands.

Additionally, it offers an extensive range of equipment and tools including but not limited to excavators, backhoes, scissors lifts, power systems, generators, welding equipment, compressors, and forklifts as well as drills, saws, and other power tools.

ICON is also an authorised agent for STIHL and KARCHER equipment.

ICON Chairman Andrew Mendes noted that the launch of the venture is nothing new, but rather a restoration of an over 50year partnership.

With Guyana being on the road to major infrastructural development, the Chairman believes that ICON will be an asset to that journey. ” We are excited to be operating in Guyana and bring with us industry-leading brands to be part of the continued development and growth of such a dynamic market. Our years of experience and partnerships with our suppliers and customers combine to make this venture a unique opportunity to serve our valued customers,” the Chairman stated.

“It is not by any means a spur-of-the moment deci-

sion, and has been developed over the past three years in recognition of Guyana’s expediential growth opportunities and our company’s combined abilities to provide essential products and services for all sectors of development, not just oil and gas.”

Public Works Minister Juan Edghill congratulated the company on the venture and stated that the Government welcomes Private Sector partnership for the modernization and transformation of Guyana.

“Infrastructural development is key. It means we have to build thousands of kilometres of highways; we have to build community roads, because of Guyana’s own peculiar circumstances,” Edghill said.

He also spoke of the importance of the country’s in-

frastructural development, strengthened relationships with other countries, and the need for Guyanese to participate and benefit from these developments.

“Guyana is not going to be a place where we’re gonna just continue to be at each other’s throats. Guyana is a place where we’re gonna lock arms in partnership to develop this country.

“And that is why our One Guyana platform and our One Guyana agenda must be embraced by all, and that is why we are putting special attention into our local content, because these opportunities could exist and could be swallowed up if there’s not a regulated framework to ensure Guyanese participation and Guyanese benefits.”

NEWS

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Govt will improve living conditions, welfare of people living with disabilities – President P resident Dr Irfaan Ali on Wednesday facilitated a virtual meeting with members of the National Commission on Disability (NCD) where he reassured them of his Government’s proactive agenda, which will enhance the welfare and living conditions of persons with disabilities in Guyana.

“We have an agenda that looks at improving the living conditions, the welfare and ensuring that we mainstream our efforts in relation to persons living with disabilities in the social and economic development of the country,” the Head of State is quoted by the Office of the President’s Press and Publicity Unit as saying.

Ali related that this was not being done in an “ad hoc manner”, since his Government has had engagements with different groups across the country and is already putting measures in place to enhance the lives of Guyanese with disabilities.

He said that Government made provisions in the budget to commence the con-

President Dr Irfaan Ali

struction of facilities, while it has also assisted through a one-off cash grant of $25,000 each for persons living with disabilities.

“Of course, we see this as just the beginning, we have to look at facilities throughout the country and in all the regions, so that we can better be able to provide services.”

Job creation

The Head of State also noted that the Government has engaged the Private Sector to help facilitate employment for persons with disabilities.

He emphasised that technological advancement has made it easier for persons with disabilities to be able to work in certain industries, such as the Business Process

Outsourcing (BPO) industry since work can be done from home.

He indicated that Government and new call centres are streamlining programmes to enhance the efficiency of the available technology, to help develop working opportunities for persons living with disabilities.

Ali added that the Government was working on moving a number of its services to an online/digital platform; also high on the agenda was an effective 911 system and the development of an online Government query system. These systems will be designed to create working opportunities for persons living with disabilities.

The Head of State pointed out that this can help persons to be “economically empowered and that’s an important part of the equation.

It is not just about providing the facilities and earmarking resources; it’s ensuring that they have an opportunity to actively participate in the advancement and development of the country”.

Greater integration

Ali also noted that the Government was engaging the banking sector to help facilitate homeownership for persons living with disabilities.

“Of course, the Government will have to actually step up in a bigger way and this will have to be a major part of our social outsourcing….I can assure you that we will work as hard as possible to ensure that we have greater integration and greater support

for persons living with disabilities.”

Acting NCD Chair Vidushi Persaud-McKinnon praised President Ali for facilitating the meeting and for ensuring that provisions were made for persons with disabilities through the oneoff cash grant.

She also said that she was pleased to hear all the steps and strategies that the Government has been embarking on as it relates to improving the lives, welfare and opportunities for persons living with disabilities.

18

guyanatimesgy.com

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2021

Regional

COVID cases soar in the Americas Haitian Government as vaccination rates lag – PAHO unveils – and plugs – draft of new Constitution A

H

aiti’s Government published a draft new Constitution on Wednesday and again plugged the idea of reform as the country remains mired in crisis since the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse.

“A new constitution would not be a panacea to resolve all of our problems,” Prime Minister Ariel Henry said.

“But if we manage to agree on this way of organising governance in a more balanced and efficient way, it will be a point of departure for other agreements on the future of our country,” he said.

Haitian politicians and everyday people are deeply divided over how their poor

Prime Minister Ariel Henry

and disaster-prone nation should be run right now, as it tries to recover from the killing of Moïse in his residence on July 7.

The Government formed after the assassination,

led by Henry, wants general elections to be held as soon as possible, while the Opposition says there should be a transitional government for two years.

Besides legislative elections — which actually should have been held in 2018, but were delayed — and presidential elections, the Government wants to push through constitutional reform that Moïse had already begun.

Defenders of the new constitution say it would help battle the chronic problem of corruption by making it easier to hold trials in regular courts of Government officials, Cabinet Ministers and the President once he or she leaves office. (Excerpt from AFP)

Trinidad: Roofs ripped off in Las Lomas following morning thunderstorm

T

rinidad: Roofs ripped off in Las Lomas following morning thunderstorm Seven homes in Las Lomas lost their roofs to gusty winds on Wednesday morning.

An isolated thunderstorm associated with the passage of a tropical wave moved across Central and Northern Trinidad on Wednesday morning, producing gusty winds as it moved westward. A wind gust of 61 kilometres per hour (km/h) was reported at the Piarco International Airport at 08:00h, with visibility reduced to one kilometre.

This isolated thunderstorm produced frequent lightning and ominous skies as a shelf cloud ahead of the storm moved west.

According to Councillor for Las Lomas/

Heavy rainfall soaked furniture and appliances across the homes, compounding damage

San Raphael, Balmati Gosyne, heavy rainfall soaked furniture and appliances across these seven homes, compounding damage.

The Couva/Tabaquite/ Talparo Regional Corporation (CTTRC)

Disaster Management Unit is conducting assessments.

Councillor Gosyne added that the Corporation would be appealing to the National Commission for Self Help and the Ministry of Social Development to provide relief to affected residents expediently.

Just under a week ago, another tropical wave tore across the country with winds as high as 95 KM/H recorded. The Couva/Tabaquite/Talparo area, with nearly 200 reports of adverse weather, was the worst affected area of Trinidad and Tobago. There were 147 reports of roof damage within this region, 32 reports of fallen trees, and at least 10 instances of fallen utility poles following the September 2 to 3 inclement weather event.

(Trinidad Guardian)

mid lagging vaccination rates, new COVID-19 infections in the Americas are nearly double the rate they were at the same time last year, the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) says.

In a weekly virtual news briefing on Wednesday, PAHO Director, Dr Carissa Etienne said only 28 per cent of people in Latin America and the Caribbean have been fully vaccinated so far, largely owing to limited supplies.

While we should celebrate that Canada, Chile, and Uruguay have fully vaccinated over twothirds of their populations,” Dr Etienne said, “we cannot forget that one-fourth of countries in our region have yet to vaccinate 20 per cent of their people – and in some places, coverage is much lower.”

“This inequality is unacceptable,” she said.

Guatemala and Nicaragua, she said, have not reached the 10 per

Over the past week nearly 1.5 million new COVID-19 infections have been reported in the Americas and more than 22,000 deaths [Gustavo Graf/Reuters]

cent mark in vaccinations, while less than one per cent of Haiti’s population is vaccinated.

PAHO said over the last week, nearly 1.5 million new COVID-19 infections have been reported in the Americas and more than 22,000 deaths.

Dr Etienne also discussed the issue of maternal health, noting that since the outbreak of the pandemic more than 270,000 pregnant women have been infected with COVID in the Americas and more than 2600 have

died.

“Most countries in our region have already reported more cases and deaths among pregnant women this year than in all of 2020,” Dr Etienne said, adding that in Mexico and Colombia, COVID-19 has become the leading cause of maternal death.

PAHO recommends that pregnant women past their first trimester, as well as those who are breastfeeding, get vaccinated for COVID-19.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Brazil: Truckers partially block routes, grains still shipping

B

razilian truckers have staged demonstrations and partially blocked key routes in several states, according to a Federal Highway Police (PRF) bulletin seen

by Reuters on Wednesday, though grains exporters said shipments have not been affected.

Truckers were still partially blocking highways at 17:30h local time in eight states, according to a separate statement from the Infrastructure Ministry based on PRF reports.

Authorities said they are working to disperse protesters and free up all highways by midnight, the ministry added.

In late morning, PRF re-

ported 53 blockades on federal roads tied to “social and political events, not involving key issues for independent truckers”.

President Jair Bolsonaro drew tens of thousands of supporters to major cities on Tuesday, including some truckers, using a national holiday to step up his attacks on Brazil’s Supreme Court and voting system, according to the Rio de Janeiro Branch of the PRF. Truckers have previously demonstrated this year over high fuel prices.

Wednesday’s blockades affected top grain-producing state Mato Grosso, as well as Minas Gerais, where fuel truckers took part in a 24-hour strike be-

ginning on Tuesday.

Blockades were also reported near the port of São Francisco do Sul in Santa Catarina and in Paraná, near Brazil’s second-busiest grain port, regional PRF branches said on Twitter.

Brazilian grains exporters association ANEC, which represents global merchants such as Cargill and Bunge, said the blockades were not currently affecting grain shipments to ports.

In a statement to Reuters, ANEC called the truckers’ demonstrations “a concern,” and said it was counting on authorities to find a quick solution.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

In world’s first, Cuba starts COVID jabs for toddlers C

uba on Monday became the first country in the world to vaccinate children from the age of two against COVID-19, using homegrown jabs not recognised by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

The communist island of 11.2 million people aims to inoculate all its children before reopening schools that have been closed for the most part since March 2020.

The new school year

started on Monday, but from home via television programmes, as most Cuban homes do not have Internet access.

Having completed clinical trials on minors with its Abdala and Soberana vaccines, Cuba kicked off its inoculation campaign for children on Friday, starting with those 12 and older.

On Monday, it started distributing jabs in the 2-11 age group in the central province of Cienfuegos.

The Cuban Government has announced schools will reopen gradually, in October and November, but only after all children have been vaccinated (AFP/Adalberto Roque)

Several other countries in the world are vaccinating children from the age of 12, and some are conducting trials in younger kids.

Countries such as China, the United Arab Emirates, and Venezuela have announced they plan to vaccinate younger children, but Cuba is the first to do so.

Chile on Monday approved the Chinese Sinovac vaccines for children between six and 12.

The Cuban vaccines, the first developed in Latin America, have not undergone international, scientific peer review.

They are based on recombinant protein technology – the same used by the United States’ Novavax and France’s Sanofi jabs also awaiting WHO approval.

Unlike many other shots in use, recombinant vaccines do not require extreme refrigeration.

(Excerpt from AFP)

guyanatimesgy.com

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2021

19

Around the world

OILNEWS OIL NEWS Oil settles up 1% on low US output after hurricane O

il prices jumped on Wednesday and settled up more than one per cent as US Gulf of Mexico producers made slow progress in restoring output after Hurricane Ida. Brent settled up 91 cents, or 1.3 per cent, at US$72.60 and West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude settled up 95 cents, or 1.4 per cent, to US$69.30 a barrel.

Producers in the Gulf are still struggling to restart operations nine days after Ida swept through the region with powerful winds and drenching rain.

About 77 per cent of US Gulf production remained offline on Tuesday, or about 1.4 million barrels per day (bpd). About 17.5 million barrels of oil have been lost to the market so far.

The Gulf’s offshore wells make up about 17 per cent of US output.

“Refinery operations appear to be making a quicker recovery,” ING analysts said in a note.

Capacity of about one million barrels per day (bpd) was temporarily closed, down from a peak of more than two million bpd, ING said, citing the latest situation report from the Department of Energy.

Traders will be closely watching inventory data from the American Petroleum Institute industry group, which was due later on Wednesday, and the US Energy Information Administration today for a clearer picture of the storm’s impact on crude production and refinery output.

Analysts polled by Reuters expect, on average, that crude stocks fell by 3.8 million barrels in the week to September 3, and they anticipate petrol stocks were down by 3.6 million barrels and distillates down by three million barrels. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Former billionaire CEO’s trial for fraud continues

T

heranos founder Elizabeth Holmes “lied and cheated” for money and fame, prosecutors alleged on the first day of the former Silicon Valley star’s trial.

Holmes faces 12 fraud charges over her role at the now-defunct blood-testing firm which was once worth US$9 billion.

She is accused of deceiving investors and patients by claiming Theranos could detect common illnesses using just a few drops of blood from a finger prick.

Her lawyers said she was simply a naive businesswoman whose firm failed.

“Failure is not a crime.

Trying your hardest and coming up short is not a crime,” Lance Wade, a lawyer for the defence said in his opening statement on Wednesday.

In what will be a closely-watched trial in San Jose, California, Holmes denies all the charges against her but could face 20 years in prison if found guilty.

Former Theranos executive Ramesh “Sunny” Balwani – who was romantically involved with

World wary of Taliban government

A

fghanistan’s new rulers have rewarded Taliban veterans and hardliners with plum posts in the Cabinet despite promising an inclusive government, but the choices could pose obstacles in the country getting Western recognition and aid.

At least three members named in what was described as an acting Cabinet on Tuesday were among the Taliban Five, who were long-term detainees at the United States military prison in Guantanamo Bay and freed seven years ago in exchange for an American soldier in Taliban custody.

The Interior Ministry went to Sirajuddin Haqqani, head of the Haqqani Network, who is wanted by the US on terrorism charges and carries a bounty of up

Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, the Taliban’s deputy leader and negotiator, and other delegation members attend the Afghan peace conference in March in Moscow, Russia - (Reuters)

to US$10 million.

His uncle, with a bounty of US$5 million, is the Minister for Refugees and Repatriation.

The 33-strong Cabinet was dominated by Pashtun

men, mostly battle-hardened veterans of the two-decade war against the American-backed Government.

There were no women and just three members

from minorities, although these included the powerful positions of Deputy Prime Minister, held by the Uzbek Abdul Salam Hanafi, and army Chief, held by the Tajik Qari Faseeh udin.

“The way they have set about constituting a government sends the wrong signal,” said Rohan Gunaratna, professor of security studies at Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University.

He added that the choices made it extremely difficult for the international community to recognise the new government.

“Afghanistan will not achieve a seat in the UN,” he said.

Foreign countries greeted the makeup of the new government in Afghanistan with caution and dismay.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Chinese businessman gets 2 ECOWAS suspends Guinea after years in prison for exporting coup, says it will send mediators US marine tech to China

A

Chinese businessman was sentenced on Wednesday to two years in prison after admitting that he illegally exported marine technology with uses in anti-submarine warfare from the United States for the benefit of a Chinese military university.

Shuren Qin, who founded a company that sold oceanographic instruments, was sentenced by US District Judge Denise Casper in Boston after admitting he illegally exported devices called hydrophones that can be used to monitor sound underwater.

Prosecutors had sought seven and a half years in prison for Qin, who must also pay a US$20,000 fine.

His guilty plea was conditional, allowing him to appeal a ruling by Casper to not suppress the evidence against him.

The marine biologist was charged in 2018 amid rising US concerns about

China’s national security threat, a continued focus of the Biden Administration.

Qin, 45, had already served three months in jail after his arrest.

Defence lawyers said he founded LinkOcean Technologies Ltd in China in 2005 to provide oceanographic instruments to scientists, and immigrated to the United States with his family in 2014 as a permanent resident.

Prosecutors said Qin from 2015 to 2016 exported hydrophones to Northwestern Polytechnical University, a Chinese military research institute involved in underwater drone projects, by deceiving a US supplier and without obtaining export licences.

His lawyers say Qin was unaware of the university’s intended purposes for the products, which also had civilian, scientific uses.

“These are not top-secret technologies,” said Qin’s lawyer, Sara Silva.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

W

est Africa’s main regional bloc has suspended Guinea’s membership, days after a military coup that removed President Alpha Conde.

During an extraordinary virtual summit on Wednesday, leaders from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) demanded a return to the constitutional order and the immediate release of Conde, who was arrested by special forces led by Lieutenant Colonel Mamady Doumbouya on Sunday.

The ECOWAS leaders also agreed to send a high-level mission to Guinea as soon as today.

“At the end of that mission, ECOWAS should be able to re-examine its position,” Alpha Barry, Burkina Faso’s Foreign Minister, told reporters in Ouagadougou after the meeting.

The bloc’s decision comes after the coup sparked broad diplomatic condemnation, but was also met jubilation in some parts of the capital,

Conakry, where residents turned out on the streets to applaud passing soldiers.

The 83-year-old became the first democratically-elected president in 2010 and was re-elected in 2015.

But last year, Conde pushed through a constitutional change to allow himself to run for a third term, a move his opponents said was illegal. Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara also won a third term last year after changing his country’s Constitution.

ECOWAS was criticised at the time by activists for remaining silent about Conde and Ouattara’s thirdterm bids.

Elsewhere in the region, Mali’s military staged coups in August 2020 and then again in May this year. ECOWAS condemned the coups and temporarily imposed sanctions. It said on Tuesday it was concerned that Mali’s transitional government had not made sufficient progress towards organising elections next February as promised.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Russian Emergencies Minister dies on Arctic drill

Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes is charged with 12 counts of fraud

Holmes for years – faces the same charges, but will be tried separately next year. He has also pleaded not guilty.

Once dubbed the world’s youngest self-made female billionaire and the “next Steve Jobs”, Holmes’ fell spectacularly from grace after it emerged in 2015 that her blood-testing devices did not work.

Theranos was also found to be doing most of its testing on commercially available machines made by other manufacturers, suggesting she was aware of the issues. (Excerpt from BBC News)

R

ussian Emergencies Minister Yevgeny Zinichev has died in an accident during a big Arctic civil defence exercise.

The Ministry said Zinichev, 55, had died in the Norilsk area while trying to save someone’s life.

A cameraman had fallen off a cliff during an interview, according to Margarita Simonyan, the head of Russian broadcaster RT. “He and the cameraman were on the edge of a cliff.

The cameraman slipped and fell into the water,” she said.

“Zinichev rushed after the fallen man and died after hitting a protruding rock.” The cameraman, lat-

er named as film director Alexander Melnik, 63, also died. Russian media said the accident happened at the Kitabo Oron waterfall in the Putorana nature reserve in northern Siberia, some 165 kilometres (100 miles) west of Norilsk.

Zinichev had been Emergencies Minister since 2018 and for years was reportedly a key member of President Vladimir Putin’s security detail.

For most of his career he worked in state security, beginning with the Soviet KGB and eventually rising to number two in Russia’s federal security service in 2016.

A Kremlin statement said Putin had shared

Russian Emergencies Minister Yevgeny Zinichev

many years working with Zinichev and spokesman Dmitry Peskov said it was a great loss.

Melnik was a director and screenwriter and was known for his 2015 Arctic adventure film “Territory”.

The film was shot on the Putorana plateau where he died. He was planning a documentary on the development of the Arctic and Russia’s Northern Sea Route.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2021

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ARCHIE

ARIES (March 21April 19)

TAURUS

DILBERT

(April 20May 20)

GEMINI (May 21June 20)

CANCER (June 21July 22)

PEANUTS

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You will be exhilarated by the people you meet and the progress you make.

An opportunity to head in a creative direction will boost your need to explore new territory.

Get involved in something geared toward peace of mind, fitness and productivity. Restlessness will set in if you don’t keep moving. Make decisions based on what you want, and you will excel.

Spend time with someone who shares your beliefs, enjoys the same pastimes and makes you feel good about yourself. Networking functions will prove to be beneficial. Romance is featured.

Having a clear picture will help you decipher the best way to deal with problems that involve others. In the end, you are better off choosing what fits your lifestyle. Please yourself.

If you get caught in someone’s drama, you’ll miss a chance to explore new possibilities. Personal gain, educational pursuits and finding your bliss are in your best interest.

Let new energy into your life and pursue the people, places and things that bring you joy. Share your feelings with someone you love.

Don’t fear change; move forward with confidence.

Aim to stabilize your life and your home environment, and dedicate more time to enjoying the company of those you love. Choose what makes you happy.

Romance is favored.

Declutter your life, your home and your mind of stuff that belongs in the past. Learn from the lessons you’ve encountered, and strive for better days ahead.

Participate in discusSAGITTARIUS sions that interest you or (Nov. 23spark your imagination. A Dec. 21) chance to help someone or something you believe in will lead to a revelation that will change how you move forward.

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Double-check whatever information comes your way before you pass it along. Expect someone to use emotional tactics to swing your opinion. Do the work yourself to avoid mistakes and disappointment.

Make the most with what you’ve got. Your ingenuity and dedication will shine through and give you the platform you require to get your point across. Celebrate a victory with someone you love.

Don’t feel the need to interfere when it’s best to make sure you have your life in order before you judge what someone else is doing. Nurture relationships instead of trying to change them.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2021

21

Bishop century takes West Indies U19 to victory over England T

eddy Bishop hammered a brilliant century to lead the West Indies Rising Stars U19 team to a narrow two-wicket win over England U19s in the 3rd Youth ODI at Beckenham on Wednesday.

The 18-year-old batsman from Grenada hit 133 off 117 balls, with 20 fours as the West Indies U19 team overhauled 240 for victory.

Bishop entered the fray with the West Indies U19s tottering at 12/2, before putting on 69 for the third wicket with skipper Ackeem Auguste (18).

He then added a further 73 with vice-captain Giovante DePeiza (21) to take the Rising Stars to within 49 runs of victory with five wickets standing.

However, Bishop fell for 133 on 228/7, with his team still needing 12 runs for victory, to set up a grandstand finish.

England U19s then prised out McKenny Clarke (1) to raise hopes of an unexpected victory.

SCOREBOARD ENGLAND UNDER-19S INNINGS (50 OVERS MAXIMUM) Tom Prest (c)c M Clarke b Edward 4 George Thomas b M Clarke 18 William Luxton c Jagessar bEdward 27 Jacob Bethell c Depeiza b Amory 13 George Bell c †RA Clarke b Layne 44 James Coles c †RA Clarke b Mahase 1 Alex Horton †c †RA Clarke b Mahase 21 Thomas Aspinwall c sub b M Clarke 41 Archie Lenham run out (Jagessar) 19 Nathan Barnwell not out 25 Harry Petrie not out 3

Teddy Bishop scored 133

However, Nathan Edwards (17 not out) and Johann Layne (8 not out) slammed the door shut to close out the victory by two wickets with 28 balls to spare.

Earlier, England U19 got to 239/9 in their 50 overs, with T&T's Andershm

Mahase taking 2/42.

McKenny Clarke had 2/52, while Nathan Edward got 2/46.

George Bell (44) and Tom Aspinall (41) were the top batsmen for England.

The six-match series is now poised at 2-1 with the West Indies narrowly los-

ing the second match by one wicket.

Bishop, who had 97 not out in the second ODI, was not denied this time around, getting his first hundred for the regional team.

The 4th ODI is on Friday at Canterbury. (TT Loop News)

West Indies should move on from Chris Gayle for T20 World Cup, says Philo Wallace − "Past performances don't cut it."

F

ormer West Indies opener Philo Wallace does not believe Chris Gayle should be included in a West Indies squad for the ICC T20 World Cup to be held in the United Arab Emirates next month.

Wallace believes the 42-year-old Jamaican, arguably the best T20 player in history, who has served West Indies cricket well over the years, is now well past his best.

He cites Gayle's performances so far in the 2021 Hero Caribbean P r e m i e r League as clear signs t h a t t h e

Universe Boss is not the game-changing player he used to be.

“Past performances don’t cut it,” Wallace argued while speaking on the Mason&Guest radio show in Barbados on Tuesday evening. “Gayle has done wonderfully well. I have no disrespect for Christopher Gayle. I think he has done wonderfully well for the West Indies and himself, but the time has come (when) you need to sit down or stand in a mirror and say, ‘Can I make it? Can I make it through a World Cup?’” At the time he made his comments, Gayle had scored 83 runs in five matches in the 2021 CPL, with a top score of 42. He is averaging 16.6 runs an innings, and has a strike rate of 110.60. According to Wallace, those numbers are simply not good enough.

“For where he is right now in the CPL, it’s a bit of a struggle for someone like Gayle, knowing his reputation and what he can do; but you want people of that vintage to be striking it,” Wallace said.

“You had enough time to prepare for the CPL,

and you know that the CPL is coming before selection for the World Cup. If you really wanted to make a statement that, ‘I want to go to the World Cup despite my age’, you need to be striking the ball and score runs. There is no excuse for it.”

Wallace named the team he would select for the World Cup, and it included Kieron Pollard (captain) Nicholas Pooran (vice-captain), Evin Lewis, Lendl Simmons Shimron Hetmyer, Fabian Allen, Andre Russell, Obed McCoy, Dwayne Bravo, Jason Holder, Andre Fletcher, Hayden Walsh Jr, Akeal Hosein, Odean Smith and Roston Chase.

He listed Sherfane Rutherford, Oshane Thomas and Romario Shepherd as his reserves.

“There is no Gayle, there is no Fidel Edwards, because I feel when you get to a certain vintage and you are not fit, you have to quit,” Wallace said.

“This cricket is going to be hard. The UAE is not going to be easy against the best players in the world. New Zealand has left out Ross Taylor as well, so they’re looking to move on. West Indies cricket needs to move on.” (Sportsmax)

Extras (b 4, lb 11, w 8) 23 TOTAL (50 Ov, RR: 4.77) 239/9 Fall of wickets: 1-6 (Tom Prest, 1.6 ov), 2-53 (William Luxton, 9.5 ov), 3-53 (George Thomas, 10.1 ov), 4-81 (Jacob Bethell, 17.5 ov), 5-82 (James Coles, 18.3 ov), 6-120 (Alex Horton, 26.5 ov), 7-159 (George Bell, 36.6 ov), 8-199 (Thomas Aspinwall, 44.1 ov), 9-212 (Archie Lenham, 46.3 ov) BOWLING Johann Layne Nathan Edward McKenny Clarke Onaje Amory Anderson Mahase Giovonte DePeiza

O-M-R-W 8-0-35-1 9-0-46-2 10-1-52-2 10-2-29-1 10-1-42-2 3-0-20-0

WEST INDIES UNDER-19S INNINGS (TARGET: 240 RUNS FROM 50 OVERS) Anderson Amurdan c Thomas b Barnwell 4 Justin Jagessar c Bethell b Barnwell 5 Teddy Bishop b Coles 133 Ackeem Auguste (c) c Petrie b Bethell 18 Rivaldo Clarke † c Bethell b Aspinwall 16 Giovonte DePeiza run out (Luxton) 21 Anderson Mahase c †Horton b Lenham 2 Nathan Edward not out 17 McKenny Clarke b Barnwell 1 Johann Layne not out 8 Extras (lb 2, w 14) 16 TOTAL (47 Ov, RR: 5.12) 241/8 Did not bat: Onaje Amory Fall of wickets: 1-11 (Justin Jagessar, 4.1 ov), 2-12 (Anderson Amurdan, 4.4 ov), 3-81 (Ackeem Auguste, 15.6 ov), 4-118 (Rivaldo Clarke, 23.5 ov), 5-191 (Giovonte DePeiza, 39.5 ov), 6-205 (Anderson Mahase, 42.1 ov), 7-228 (Teddy Bishop, 45.3 ov), 8-233 (McKenny Clarke, 46.2 ov) BOWLING Nathan Barnwell Harry Petrie Thomas Aspinwall Tom Prest Archie Lenham Jacob Bethell James Coles George Thomas

O-M-R-W 5-0-30-3 6-0-35-0 6-0-36-1 3-0-16-0 10-1-53-1 3-0-7-1 8-0-36-1 6-0-26-0

R Ashwin picked, MS Dhoni named mentor of India's T20 World Cup squad

N

EW DELHI, - India picked off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin in their 15-man squad for this year's Twenty20 World Cup, and named Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who led them to the 2007 title, as the team mentor on Wednesday.

Ashwin last played a Twenty20 International four years ago, but was one of three specialist slow bowlers selected, along with leg-spinner Rahul Chahar and mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy.

The tournament, which begins next month, was scheduled to be held in India, but the COVID-19 situation in that country forced organisers to shift it to the United Arab Emirates and Oman.

"The wickets in the UAE are usually low and slow, and you need an off-spinner in your side," Chief Selector Chetan Sharma

told a virtual news conference.

"Ashwin has been doing consistently well in the Indian Premier League over the years. Washington Sundar could have been another option, but he remains injured."

Wrist-spinners Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav were omitted, and opener Shikhar Dhawan was also left out.

Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul are likely to open for India, while Ishan Kishan, who can also keep wicket, was picked as a third option.

"Ishan Kishan can open the innings and he can fit in the middle order as well," Chetan Sharma said.

"He gives us a lot of options."

Captain Virat Kohli has been toying with the idea of opening the innings, and Sharma said the team management would take a

final call on this.

India named three all-rounders in the squad: Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel.

Suryakumar Yadav was picked ahead of fellow Mumbai player Shreyas Iyer, who is returning from a shoulder injury, and has been named as one of three reserves.

Inaugural champions India begin their bid for a second title in a Super 12 match in Dubai against arch-rivals Pakistan on Oct. 24.

Squad: Virat Kohli (captain), Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant (wicketkeeper), Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Rahul Chahar, Ravichandran Ashwin, Axar Patel, Varun Chakravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami.

(Reuters)

22

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2021

J

Andre Russell blasted 28 off 17

Rovman Powell, Andre Russell fire up Tallawahs as Patriots stumble again

amaica Tallawahs kept their hopes of involvement in the knockout stages of the CPL alive with a 22-run win over Saint Kitts and Nevis Patriots in the early game at Warner Park.

Shamarh Brooks top-scored for Tallawahs with 43, but they were grateful to a pair of six-laden cameos from Rovman Powell and Andre Russell to get them up to a challenging score, after being inserted at the toss.

This defeat was the table-topping Patriots' third in a row, after they had started the tournament with five successive wins, and left them with two fixtures against Trinbago Knightriders, currently lying in second, with which to confirm their progress to the semi-finals.

A target of 170 was only a few runs more than the 167

Patriots had chased in the fixture between these sides a week ago. But Sherfane Rutherford, Player of the Match on that occasion, missed out after splitting the webbing on his

"I am with Dem" golf tournament set for this Saturday at LGC

hand, and regular captain Dwayne Bravo was also not fit to return.

Chris Gayle, the standin skipper, was one of two Patriots wickets to fall in the Powerplay, as they limped to 34 for 2 with just four boundaries. Evin Lewis was caught behind off Migael Pretorius for 5, and Gayle was bowled by Chris Green's first ball, leaving Devon Thomas and Joshua Da Silva with a rebuilding job

to do.

It was arguably a brief the pair took too seriously, as Patriots reached 56 for 2 at halfway - needing a further 114 at almost two runs a ball. Da Silva hit Veerasammy Permaul over long-

on for six in the ninth over, and took the same bowler for a brace of fours in the 11th, before benefiting from two drops in as many overs.

He was eventually run out for 28 off 31 in the 13th, and although Thomas responded by hitting six and four off Carlos Brathwaite, when he top-edged Permaul to short third, the asking rate had risen to 79 off 35.

Dominic Drakes and Fabian Allen cleared the ropes a few times to keep an unlikely win just about within range, but

Pretorius finished with 3 for 26 as Tallawahs closed out their third win of the tournament after a run of three Shamarh Brooks scored 43 off 33 to set the tone for the Tallawahs

SCOREBOARD

(L to R) LGC President Patanjilee Persaud, Patrick Prashad, Maxim Mangra, Sales and Marketing Executive Sharmela Ramsammy, and CEO Melissa DeSantos

T

he golfing action will continue at the Lusignan Golf Club this Saturday, September 11, 2021 as they gear up to host “I am with Dem" golf tournament, sponsored by Demerara Mutual Life Group.

The tournament will tee off at 12:30 pm and will be medal play over 18 holes net score shotgun start.

For further registration persons are asked to contact the Lusignan Golf Club on 220-5660 to register. Registration closes at 12pm (noon)on Friday 10th September.

There will be various prizes up for grabs, such as trophies and vouchers based on net scores. The first-place winner will cart off a trophy plus a $5000 voucher, second place a trophy plus a $4000 voucher, and third place a trophy plus a $3000 voucher. For the best net front nine (trophy plus $1500 voucher); best net back nine (trophy plus $1500 voucher); and nearest to the flag (trophy plus $1000 voucher).

At a simple handover ceremony LGC President Patanjilee Persaud stated that the LGC is appreciative of the joint collaboration between the golf club and the Demerara Mutual Life Group. He relayed that the LGC is also appreciative of the corporate responsibility the insurance company has shown in assisting with the sponsorship of the sport, and he is looking forward

to a great weekend. He reiterated that the LGC is thankful to Demerara Mutual and the entire business community.

Also speaking on behalf of the Demerara Mutual Life Group, Sales and Marketing Executive Sharmela Ramsammy said, “We’ve been associated with these golf tournaments for over 10 years, and this year is no different. We are happy and excited to once again sponsor the tournament. And we at Demerara Mutual, what we like to do is to promote the game of golf. As you know, golf is not one of the most popular sports in Guyana, but with our collaboration and other collaborations, we hope to make it one of the most popular sports in Guyana. So, we are inviting everyone to come down and support the event this Saturday.”

The players will be itching for action once again, as they attempt to hone their skills with the Guyana Open just around the corner. Since the rain has eased, interest in the sport has picked up, and the course is in spectacular condition, which is a welcoming sign for many of Guyana’s top golfers.

All participants are advised to contact the club’s manager on the day of the tournament, to collect their score cards, pay the tournament fees, and proceed to their allocated tee boxes to tee off at 12:30pm.

All COVID-19 protocols will be in effect.

JAMAICA TALLAWAHS INNINGS (20 OVERS MAXIMUM) Kennar Lewis †c Lewis b Fawad Ahmed 20 Kirk McKenzie b Jaggesar 19 Shamarh Brooks c Lewis b Jaggesar 43 Rovman Powell (c) c Drakes b Allen 37 Carlos Brathwaite c Bopara b Fawad Ahmed 1 Andre Russell c Bopara b Drakes 28 Haider Ali c †Da Silva b Drakes 3 Migael Pretorius c Lewis b van Meekeren 1 Imad Wasim not out 1 Chris Green not out 1

ST KITTS AND NEVIS PATRIOTS INNINGS (TARGET: 170 RUNS FROM 20 OVERS) Evin Lewis c †Lewis b Pretorius 5 Devon Thomas c Pretorius b Permaul 34 Chris Gayle (c) b Green 12 Joshua Da Silva † run out (Brathwaite/Imad Wasim) 28 Ravi Bopara c Powell b Permaul 6 Dominic Drakes c Russell b Pretorius 22 Fabian Allen b Russell 18 Andre McCarthy not out 5 Paul van Meekeren c Russell b Pretorius 3 Jon-Russ Jaggesar not out 1

Extras (lb 1, nb 1, w 13) 15 TOTAL (20 Ov, RR: 8.45) 169/8 Did not bat: Veerasammy Permaul Fall of wickets: 1-37 (Kennar Lewis, 5.2 ov), 2-55 (Kirk McKenzie, 7.1 ov), 3-109 (Rovman Powell, 12.6 ov), 4-111 (Carlos Brathwaite, 13.4 ov), 5-159 (Shamarh Brooks, 17.2 ov), 6-165 (Andre Russell, 18.3 ov), 7-166 (Haider Ali, 18.5 ov), 8-166 (Migael Pretorius, 19.1 ov) BOWLING O-M-R-W Fabian Allen 4-0-39-1 Paul van Meekeren 4-0-40-1 Dominic Drakes 4-0-40-2 Fawad Ahmed 3-0-14-2 Ravi Bopara 1-0-15-0 Jon-Russ Jaggesar 4-0-20-2

Extras (b 6, lb 3, w 4) 13 TOTAL (20 Ov, RR: 7.35) 147/8 Did not bat: Fawad Ahmed Fall of wickets: 1-7 (Evin Lewis, 1.4 ov), 2-28 (Chris Gayle, 4.1 ov), 3-77 (Joshua Da Silva, 12.4 ov), 4-91 (Devon Thomas, 14.1 ov), 5-98 (Ravi Bopara, 14.5 ov), 6-122 (Dominic Drakes, 17.2 ov), 7-137 (Fabian Allen, 18.4 ov), 8-141 (Paul van Meekeren, 19.3 ov) BOWLING O-M-R-W Imad Wasim 4-0-31-0 Migael Pretorius 4-1-25-3 Chris Green 4-0-19-1 Andre Russell 2-0-13-1 Veerasammy Permaul 4-0-31-2 Carlos Brathwaite 2-0-19-0

Migael Pretorious bagged 3-26

straight defeats.

Tallawahs made a solid start to their innings, with Kennar Lewis clubbing the second and third balls of Allen's opening over for six. Lewis departed in the Powerplay to Fawad Ahmed's second delivery hoicked heedlessly straight to deep backward square leg - but Brooks kept things ticking as Tallawahs reached 74 for 2 after ten overs, Kirk McKenzie being the other batter to fall.

The wheels began to come off for Patriots when Powell thrashed Drakes for back-to-back sixes over the short leg-side boundary as the 11th over cost 18. Powell struck two more sixes in Allen's next over, before miscuing another cross-batted heave into the off side; then Brooks began to find his range as Drakes leaked another 13.

Worse was to come, as Paul van Meekeren was mangled for two fours and two sixes by Russell in an over that included two wides and a no-ball, and he went for 24.

Drakes and van Meekeren responded well at the death, conceding just seven runs from the 19th and 20th overs, but Tallawahs already had enough. (ESPNCricinfo)

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2021

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

23

Gyms receive equipment donated from AIBA S

everal boxing gyms across Guyana are in for some major resource upgrades following the handing over of a donation from the International Boxing Association (AIBA) to the Guyana Boxing Association.

The simple hand-over ceremony was conducted on Wednesday morning at the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport’s Main Street office, where Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) President Steve Ninvalle distributed several quantities of gloves, rope, heavy bags, bandages, mouth guards and hand pads, among other items relative to the sport to the heads of the various gyms.

In giving some background to the donation, Ninvalle related that it is a delivered promise from AIBA President Umar Kremlyov.

“The equipment is a promise made by the now President of AIBA, Umar Kremlyov, to make sure that they assist all associations across the world.

Guyana has received, so have several other countries in the English- speaking Caribbean, Central America, South America, North American, Asia, and right across the world,” Ninvalle

GBA President Steve Ninvalle (C) making the presentation Some of the equipment from which the local gyms would benefit

shared.

In a bid to register his gratitude, the GBA boss stated, “We are very, very happy that we could have had this injection, which would assist us greatly in our development. We’re still in a COVID season, but we expect to come out soon, and these gears will be assisting us in Guyana remaining the number 1 boxing country in Caricom, and we hope it can assist us in becoming Number 1 in Latin America.”

Ninvalle, a strong supporter of Kremlyov and his initiatives, again took the opportunity to express his

faith in the AIBA President.

“It is my belief that once he remains the President of AIBA, each and every one of the 204 countries affiliated to that body will see a rise in the development of the sport.”

He added, “So, on behalf of the Guyana Boxing Association, I would like to say a heartfelt, ‘Thank you,’ to Umar Kremlyov. Guyana will remain supporting him in his initiatives, and we do hope that he can continue supporting us and the Caribbean.”

Technical Director of the GBA, Coach Terrence Poole

MS, voiced his gratitude for the items, underscoring that they would play an integral role in the development of the sport.

“I would have made a statement on International Boxing Day, where I was calling for resources to be given to Guyana. I don’t know if that message is out there so fast, but now, as you can see, we have some resources,

which will do well for amateur boxing in Guyana,” Poole stated, alluding to his call for AIBA to lend Guyana a hand resource-wise in the International Boxing Day video message.

Poole continued, “Without equipment, the gyms cannot function; so, this equipment today, I think it will do us very good.

All the gyms! I think it

would have more boxers in your gyms.”

However, the ecstasy of the moment did not come without a staunch warning from the coach, who stressed that the equipment must be used in the right way.

“It’s important that the gears are being used for the intended purpose, which we know that would be,” Poole said.

Taylor-less Windies Women must return to drawing board, says Dottin

Ramdhani siblings move up Pan Am rankings B adminton-playing siblings Priyanna and Narayan Ramdhani have made considerable strides in the Pan American Badminton rankings as they work towards qualifying for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

After spending time in Guyana, where they assisted in conducting several of the Guyana Badminton Association’s (GBA’s) programmes, Narayan and Priyanna Ramdhani are battening down to business in Canada, where they attend university and college respectively on Badminton scholarships.

After facilitating the Shuttle Time programme in two schools in Linden and another two in Berbice, Air Badminton at the

Priyanna and Narayan Ramdhani

University of Guyana and the Nexgen Golf Academy in Georgetown, the pair championed the National Badminton Tournament while simultaneously assisting the local players to get their play to a higher standard.

Priyanna was then selected by the Pan American Badminton Federation to attend a High-Level Camp in Aguascalientes, Mexico, from August 23- August 31. After that, the duo took part in the high- level Mexican International Challenge 2021 in the same Mexican City from September 1-5, where, through commendable performances, they were able to boost their Pan American rankings.

Previously ranked at 38 in the Pan Am region earlier this year, Narayan is now set at 31.

Priyanna made a larger jump, moving from 53 to 39. As a mixed doubles pair, the siblings are now ranked 24, seven spots from their previous 31 rank.

Next on the agenda for the pair will be Alberta Colleges Athletics Conference (ACAC) and Canadian Collegiate Athletics Association (CCAA) tournaments within the next few weeks/months.

The Guyana Badminton Association (GBA) wishes to extend its gratitude to a number of organisations and individuals who have played a role in ensuring the siblings had successful international outings. The list includes the Ministry of Culture, Youth & Sport (High Level Training in Canada), the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) High Performance Club in Canada, Mexican International Tournament, and the New Amsterdam Badminton Club.

West Indies Women are without Stafanie Taylor

A

fter West Indies Women suffered a heavy defeat in the first One Day International against South Africa Women, vice-captain Deandra Dottin said the team must return to the drawing board and score more runs with the bat.

"The top-order, at least one body should bat through and stay there. I think we were short of partnerships; scoring only 150, we were a bit short. We need to go back to the drawing board and come up with ways of scoring 200. I know we have the ability, we just need to go back to the drawing board, stick to the basics, and come next game with our best foot forward," Dottin said.

The West Indies are already without regualr captain Stafanie Taylor, who has been the rock of the team. Cricket West Indies belatedly announced on Tuesday that the talismanic all-rounder would be unavailable after taking a “personal leave of absence”.

Taylor also missed the three-match Twenty20 series last week, when she was forced to isolate in Antigua, after being identified as a primary contact of a positive COVID-19 case in Jamaica.

“The captain Stafanie Taylor will also miss this series, but it gives an opportunity for players to put up their hand and start to build on their performances as the team continues to prepare for the ICC Cricket World Cup qualifiers,” said lead women’s selector

Anne Browne-John.

The 30-year-old Taylor, a top order batter who bowls off-spin, is the Caribbean side’s most experienced ODI player with 4,929 runs at an average of nearly 45, and 145 wickets at 21 runs apiece.

In her absence, off-spinner Anisa Mohammad will lead the 13-member unit, which was announced on Tuesday morning, just hours before the start of the first ODI at Coolidge Cricket Ground.

“The T20I series had some creditable performances, and some of the young players have started to come through,” BrowneJohn said. “Now that the CG Insurance ODI series is at hand, the players have to change their mindset and adjust to the longer format. The squad shows a mix of experience and youth, which is good for future development,” the Women's lead selector said.

West Indies Women, under head coach Courtney Walsh, are currently preparing for the ICC Women’s World Cup Qualifiers in Zimbabwe from November 21 to December 5. Both teams will return to play on Friday September 10 from 10:00h local time.

Squad for second ODI – Anisa Mohammed (captain), Deandra Dottin (vice-captain), Aaliyah Alleyne, Britney Cooper, Shamilia Connell, Shabika Gajnabi, Chinelle Henry, Qiana Joseph, Kycia Knight, Kyshona Knight, Hayley Matthews, Chedean Nation, Karishma Ramharack. (Brandon Corlette)

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2021

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

King, Motie lead Amazon Warriors back into top 4 G

uyana Amazon Warriors moved back into the top four of the 2021 Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) table with a 17-run victory over the Saint Lucia Kings.

The Amazon Warriors won the toss and elected to bat first, but they had to overcome an early wobble to post a competitive total, led

by Brandon King’s enterprising 77.

In reply the Kings looked as if they were in cruise control when Roston Chase and

Rovman Powell, Andre Russell fire up Tallawahs as Patriots stumble again

Page 22

Tim David put together a big partnership, but excellent death bowling tightened the screws and the Kings succumbed to the pressure.

Having been supplanted in the top four by Jamaica Tallawahs earlier in the day, Guyana needed a win to reignite their competition. However, three early wickets in the PowerPlay put them on the backfoot as Wahab Riaz and Jeavor Royal made the early breakthroughs.

King came to the Amazon Warriors’ rescue with his first Hero CPL 50 of the season, but other than Nicholas Pooran’s 25, no batsman was able to stick with King.

Once King fell for his sparkling 77, Odean Smith was able to add some maximums to take Guyana to a challenging total of 151.

Saint Lucia Kings were circumspect in their early reply, and found themselves three wickets down with 43 runs on the board.

Gudakesh Motie’s parsimonious spin bowling saw him take 2/12 from his four overs to keep the Amazon Warriors well in the hunt.

Roston Chase and Tim David put together a boundary-laden partnership of 75 from 63 balls, but just as it seemed they would take

the Kings home, Naveen Ul-Haq and Odean Smith bowled four excellent overs to seal two crucial points for the Amazon Warriors.

(CPL)

SCOREBOARD GAW INNINGS Brandon King c Paul b McCoy 77 Chandrapaul Hemraj c Wahab Riaz b Royal 0 Shimron Hetmyer b Wahab Riaz 1 Shoaib Malik c †Fletcher b Wahab Riaz 1 Mohammad Hafeez c Williams b Royal 12 Nicholas Pooran (c)†c Royal b Chase 25 Odean Smith not out 18 Romario Shepherd not out 2 Extras (b 2, lb 6, w 7) 15 TOTAL (20 Ov, RR: 7.55) 151/6 Did not bat: Gudakesh Motie, Naveen-ul-Haq, Imran Tahir Fall of wickets: 1-5 (Chandrapaul Hemraj, 0.6 ov), 2-7 (Shimron Hetmyer, 1.5 ov), 3-17 (Shoaib Malik, 3.5 ov), 4-52 (Mohammad Hafeez, 8.3 ov), 5-103 (Nicholas Pooran, 15.5 ov), 6-123 (Brandon King, 17.5 ov) BOWLING Jeavor Royal Wahab Riaz Obed McCoy Kesrick Williams Samit Patel Roston Chase

O-M-R-W 3-0-17-2 4-0-16-2 3-0-26-1 3-0-41-0 3-0-15-0 4-0-28-1

ST LUCIA KINGS INNINGS (TARGET: 152 RUNS FROM 20 OVERS) Andre Fletcher †b Imran Tahir 8 Faf du Plessis (c) c & b Moti-Kanhai 19 Samit Patel b Moti-Kanhai 9 Roston Chase c Shoaib Malik b Naveen-ul-Haq 40 Tim David not out 47 Keemo Paul b Smith 1 Jeavor Royal c †Pooran b Smith 0 Wahab Riaz not out 2 Extras (lb 2, w 6) 8 TOTAL (20 Ov, RR: 6.70) 134/6 Did not bat: Keron Cottoy, Obed McCoy, Kesrick Williams Fall of wickets: 1-29 (Faf du Plessis, 4.1 ov), 2-35 (Andre Fletcher, 5.4 ov), 3-43 (Samit Patel, 6.5 ov), 4-118 (Roston Chase, 17.2 ov), 5-123 (Keemo Paul, 18.3 ov), 6-123 (Jeavor Royal, 18.4 ov) BOWLING O-M-R-W Gudakesh Motie 4-1-12-2 Imran Tahir 4-0-32-1 Romario Shepherd 4-0-38-0 Shoaib Malik 1-0-8-0 Odean Smith 2-0-12-2 Chandrapaul Hemraj 1-0-5-0 Naveen-ul-Haq 4-0-25-1

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