Guyana Times - Tuesday, January 26, 2021

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Issue No. 4540

P15

THE BEACON OF TRUTH TUESDAY, JANUARY 26, 2021

PRICE

Detention of vessels, crew members by Venezuelan authorities

Guyana’s Foreign Affairs Minister holds virtual meeting with Venezuelan counterpart Page 3

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

Man chopped to death after allegedly attacking P10 Policeman Miner busted with ganja during Police operations P10

– protest note issued demanding immediate release of crews – commits to reunite detained crew members with families

Patterson, Adams charged for $163M fraud at DHB Page 9

France signals interest UG medical in constructing student drowns during outing Corentyne River bridge …to submit EoI with friends No need for joinder parties on committees – Harmon Page 11

Page 10

Page 12

– says their inclusion a plot to weaken APNU/AFC presence

P13 19 new COVID-19 cases recorded in 24h

6 injured after driver loses control of P10 speeding car Wife, hitman on trial for Herstelling P15 block maker’s murder

P16 NDIA commences work in floodprone area at Lowland

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TUESDAY, JANUARY 26, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

NEWS

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TUESDAY, JANUARY 26, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS OPENINGS BRIDGE

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Tuesday, January 26 – 03:00h – 04:30h and 13:30h – 15:00h and Wednesday, January 27 – 03:30h – 05:00h and 13:30h – 15:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Tuesday, January 26 – 14:30h – 16:00h and Wednesday, January 27 – 15:20h – 16:50h.

Detention of vessels, crew members by Venezuelan authorities

Guyana’s Foreign Affairs Minister holds virtual meeting with Venezuelan counterpart – protest note issued demanding immediate release of crews – commits to reunite detained crew members with families

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Sunshine will prevail during the day. There will be clear skies during the night. Temperatures should range between 21 degrees Celsius and 30 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East North-Easterly to North-Easterly to North North-Easterly to Northerly between 1.78 metres and 4.91 metres.

High Tide: 15:06h reaching a maximum height of 2.44 metres.

Low Tide: 08:40h and 21:10h reaching minimum heights of 0.93 metre and 0.73 metre.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 23, 2021

LOTTERY NUMBERS J

02 12 14

18 19 29

FREE TICKET

09 Bonus Ball

MONDAY, JANUARY 25, 2021

DAILY MILLIONS

06 08 17 21 23 LUCKY 3

7

7

4

6

Afternoon Draw

2

8

Evening Draw

DRAW DE LINE

04

07

08

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17 18 20

PAY DAY

SUPER PAY DAY FRIDAY, JANUARY 22, 2021

04 06 07 09 13

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

COMMODITIES Indicators

US$

Change %

Crude Oil

$55.88/barrel

+0.84

Rough Rice

$237.15/ton

-0.38

London Sugar

$445.20/ton

+0.09

Live Spot Gold

USD Per Ounce

Bid/Ask

$1859.80

$1860.90

Low/High Change

$1846.70 +3.60

$1868.70 +0.19%

The Minister’s meeting with the owners of the vessels

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inister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Hugh Todd held a virtual meeting with his Venezuelan counterpart, Jorge Arreaza to discuss the status of Guyanese-registered fishing vessels – the Lady Nayera and the Sea Wolf – and crews which were detained by the Venezuelan Coast Guard.

The meeting took place Monday afternoon. According to a statement from the Ministry, the meeting would specifically focus on the welfare and release of the crew, their catch, and vessels. Efforts to make contact with Minister Todd following the meeting were futile.

In addition, on Monday, the Minister also called in the Chargé d’Affaires of the Embassy of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Moses Chavez, to transfer a protest note from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Guyana to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Venezuela.

The protest note firmly condemned the illegal detention of the captains and crews of the Guyanese-registered fishing vessels and called for their immediate release.

The Foreign Affairs Ministry also stated that the Government is using all diplomatic channels to ensure the safe return of the 12-member crew and vessels to Guyana.

In a statement issued, Minister Todd took the opportunity of the meeting with Chavez to voice his concerns on the matter. The Foreign Minister also highlighted the regional zone of peace and called for Venezuela to operate in a manner consistent with international rule of law.

In the note, the Minister also reiterated Guyana’s commitment to the International Court of Justice as a means of bringing to a close the GuyanaVenezuela border controversy. He had further added that based on latitude and longitude, the two vessels were well within Guyana’s territory.

“The action coming out of Caracas is distasteful,” Todd said in the note, while the statement also listed the coordinates that the two vessels were intercepted at by Venezuelan naval vessel Commandante Hugo Chavez GC 24, while operating off the coast of Waini Point.

According to the statement, the coordinates were N 80 49’ 06”/ w 590 37’ 40” W.

Vessel owners

Meanwhile, Minister Todd also met with the owners of the two vessels, Prem Kumar Lallbachan of the Lady Nayera and Trevor Daniels of the Sea Wolf.

“During the meeting, he conveyed the Government’s commitment towards the release of the crews and vessels. The Foreign Minister also provided the owners with an update on the Government’s efforts including the issuance of a statement condemning the recent actions of Venezuela and the transmission of a note verbale in protest of the Venezuelan navy’s actions,” an issued statement noted.

The statement quoted the Minister as assuring the owners that they will remain in contact with the owners and that the Government is “doing all within our power to reunite the crew members with their families and help you to continue with your business.”

Late Saturday evening, the Foreign Affairs Ministry had revealed that the two Guyaneseregistered fishing vessels were operating off the coast of Waini Point in Guyana’s EEZ when they were intercepted by the Venezuelan naval vessel, Commandante Hugo Chavez GC 24.

In fact, the statement said that the Venezuelan vessel was illegally sailing within Guyana’s EEZ and contiguous zone when it intercepted and boarded the vessels, whose captains were instructed to chart a course to Port Guiria, where they were detained. According to the Ministry, the Guyana

Government was not notified of the detention of its nationals, in contravention of established norms.

The crew of the Lady Nayera include Captain Richard Ramnarine and his crew members Ramlakan Kamal, Nick Raghubar, Javin Boston, Michael Domingo and Joel Joseph. On the other hand, the Sea Wolf was captained

by Captain Toney Garraway, while the crew members included Errol Gardener, Orland Roberts, Christopher Shaw, Shirvin Oneil and Randy Henry.

The detention of the two vessels comes on the heels of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro’s recent presidential decree which reinforced his country’s illegal claim to Guyana’s Essequibo region.

Additionally, the Venezuelan President had announced that he has written to

Venezuelan Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza

Secretary General of the United Nations (UN) Antonio Guterres, to lead direct negotiations between the two countries, as opposed to the binding judgement of the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

That option has been exhausted, however, as the UN tried to mediate discussions between Guyana and Venezuela for years as part of an ultimately futile good offices process until Guyana activated its right to take Venezuela to the ICJ in 2018 to get a final ruling on the border issue.

In the wake of Maduro’s decree, condemnation has flowed from President Dr Irfaan Ali, Opposition Leader Joseph Harmon, the United States and Canada, as well as the Caribbean Community (Caricom).

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TUESDAY, JANUARY 26, 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

Disturbing child abuse stats

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et another startling disclosure on children in Guyana was made by the Social Protection Ministry on Sunday with a report compiled by the Child Care and Protection Agency (CCPA) that 3129 children in Guyana faced some type of abuse in 2020.

More startling is the fact that high on the types of abuse are sexual abuse and neglect. In the high category of sexual abuse, the CCPA found that 688 girls were sexually abused, with 382 between the ages of 14 and 18 being abused at home. Astonishing also is the fact that many of these girls were violated and abused by persons brought into the homes, especially by their mothers. Another 632 girls faced neglect, while 258 were physically abused, 104 were verbally abused, 12 witnessed abuse and four were abandoned. The 8-13 age group had the highest percentage of abuse victims with 579, followed by the 14-18 age group with 544, then the 4-7 age group with 288, and the 0-3 age group with 287.

Globally, staggering numbers of children are experiencing violence, in varied forms, often by those entrusted to take care of them. While girls are predominately the victims of sexual abuse, boys too experience abuse as well. The most recent report by CCPA also revealed that 1431 boys were abused with 751 of them neglected. This type of abuse was prevalent among boys between the ages of 0 and 13, accounting for 674 of the victims. Another 432 boys experienced physical abuse, 127 were sexually abused, 102 were verbally abused, 10 abandoned, and nine witnessed abuse.

The figures in relation to this level of abuse are shocking and it is quite clear that Government and international partners need to keep the issue on the front burner where it is always treated as a matter of serious concern. However, more alarmingly, 42 per cent of the 2822 perpetrators who committed these heinous acts were mothers. The records showed that many of them physically abused their children.

CCPA records also revealed that 596 fathers and 172 grandparents numbered among the abusers.

In its quest to end violence against children, the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) had made several recommendations, which if taken seriously could go a far way in protecting our children. Among the recommendations are: i) Adopting well-coordinated national action plans to end violence against children – incorporating education, social welfare, justice and health systems, as well as communities and children themselves. ii) Changing behaviours of adults and addressing factors that contribute to violence against children, including economic and social inequities, social and cultural norms that condone violence, inadequate policies and legislation, insufficient services for victims, and limited investments in effective systems to prevent and respond to violence. iii) Focusing national policies on minimising violent behaviour, reducing inequalities, and limiting access to firearms and other weapons. iv) Building social service systems and training social workers to provide referrals, counselling and therapeutic services for children who have experienced violence. v) Educating children, parents, teachers, and community members to recognise violence in all its many forms and empowering them to speak out and report violence safely. vi)Collecting better disaggregated data on violence against children and tracking progress through robust monitoring and evaluation.

Children, irrespective of their ethnic, religious, cultural or social backgrounds, deserve to grow up in an environment where they feel safe and are part of loving and nurturing families.

We, therefore, support the Human Services and Social Security Minister, Dr Vindhya Persaud’s impassioned plea to mothers – who may be driven by economic hardship and financial opportunism –- to “be very careful of the persons that you let into your homes…you are exposing your children to an unknown, and you’re placing your children sometimes in harm’s way. Be very conscious of your child’s whereabouts and with whom you leave your child with.”

Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo on Monday engaged British High Commissioner (designate) to Guyana, His Excellency, Ross Denny during a courtesy call at the Office of the President. Also in photo is a staff of the British High Commission

A salute to India, a tribute to Nehru Dear Editor, On January 26, 1950, India became a Republic. It was an important date since it marked a complete break with the British colonial power.

At that time, India was in a desperate position. The country was partitioned and hundreds of thousands died in communal violence.

Economically it was one of the poorest in the world. India’s share of the world economy was just 3 per cent in 1947. A fall from 27 per cent in 1700s when the British colonised her.

Its manufacturing was almost non-existent - just 7 per cent of GDP in 1947 and manufacturing export just 2 per cent.

Starvation and famine were the main news that came out of that country. This year, India is celebrating its 71st Anniversary in another desperate time for the world.

COVID-19 has been devastating our world, killing more than a million and damaging the world economy greatly.

Millions are unemployed.

India, even though it too is facing great problems caused

by COVID, has not isolated itself as some countries in the world have done. It is not just thinking selflessly but helping the world to overcome this dreaded disease. Already it has donated more than a million vaccines to its neighbours and is fulfilling requests further afield, including the Caribbean.

India is doing this while the West is buying up and trying to hoard vaccines for their own population. Canada, for instance, has brought more than 5 times what its population needs. But India is more than a vaccines power.

In the last 71 years, India

has become a major power in science and technology. One of the world’s leaders in ICT. It has sent probes into outer space at a cost way below other countries doing the same.

It is a manufacturing power, producing high-quality machinery and equipment. This country was able to achieve this due to the quality of leadership, the enlightened leadership provided mainly by its first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, a gentle giant.

Nehru concentrated on building India’s human capital. He began building worldclass educational institutions that have made his country so respected today.

Even more important he sunk democracy deeply in India society. His respect for democratic norms, for Parliament, the courts, is leg-

endary. He was more than just an Indian leader. He was profoundly internationalist.

On the world stage, he organised the former colonies to defend their sovereignty against superpower politics of the post-war period. He with Kwame Nkruma of Ghana, Tito of Yugoslavia and Sukarno of Indonesia organised the NonAligned Movement that made an important contribution to international relations during the Cold War and helped defend post-colonial societies independence.

Jawaharlal Nehru was a profound thinker, an internationalist and humanitarian of gigantic proportion.

On this Anniversary, I salute the Great Soul!

Sincerely, Donald Ramotar Former President

Guyana should request vaccines from PM Modi Dear Editor, Guyana and India have very friendly relations. India has been doling out tens of millions of American dollars in aid to Guyana. There is no reason why India won’t supply vaccines to Guyana.

Guyana should approach the Government of India for a grant for anti-Covid vaccines and to purchase the rest needed to immunise our population.

India has been donating vaccines to virtually every country that requested it. It is part of India’s new diplomacy effort to strengthen relations with countries and regions by making vaccines available to them. The wealthy White countries have not been donating vaccines to the poor developing countries.

They don’t have enough for themselves and as such cannot make vaccines available to other countries.

India has been shipping anti-Covid vaccines to her neighbours and countries around the globe in what is described as “Covine Diplomacy” as India seeks to bolster relations with countries in the greater South Asian region and around the globe. Country after country has approached the Indian Prime Minister Narendra

Modi pleading for vaccines.

Countries or governments that were known to be hostile to India and Indians settled there have approached India for help. India has responded positively though not providing the amount requested. India has to supply the globe with vaccines plus inoculate her own population of almost 1.4 billion. Thus, the Indian Government offered varying amounts of free vaccines depending on population size.

India rolled out her vaccine a week ago and has vaccinated almost two million people. India has donated millions of doses gratis and shipped them on state-owned carrier Air India that has been delivering vaccines globally. The carrier was due to be privatised last April but COVID prevented completion of a deal. Air India is now saving humanity transporting vaccines and virtually for free and Indian Government expense. The carrier has also been transporting millions of Indians stranded around the globe.

The company that manufactures the vaccines in India sells them commercially to the Indian Government and to other nations. One of the compa-

nies is funded by the Indian Government.

Each vaccine dose costs $4, about a tenth of the cost of vaccines made in the US, UK, and Europe. India gives her neighbours the vaccines for free and also to several other countries including in South America. In addition, some countries have purchased vaccines. Brazil got two million doses. Barbados and Dominica have asked PM Modi for some free vaccines and offered to pay for the rest enough to vaccinate their population. There is no reason why Guyana cannot do the same.

India has two vaccines in the market — AstraZeneca that makes Covishield and Covaxin. Both are safe. Six other vaccines are in the pipeline and should be ready in another month — undergoing final phase of human trial for efficacy.

India’s drug regulator has given the green light to Covishield (the local name for the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine developed in the UK) and Covaxin, locally-made by pharma company Bharat Biotech.

That company exports various vaccines to 123 countries.

India is a vaccine powerhouse, producing 60 per cent

of the world’s vaccines and is home to half a dozen major European and American manufacturers.

India’s two vaccines can be stored at regular fridge temperatures. European and American vaccines must be stored at temperatures of between minus 20 and 70 degrees Celsius. Poor countries lack the capacity to store vaccines at such low temperatures.

The companies that make the two vaccines expect to produce between 600 and 700 million doses this year. They have received an order of over one billion doses for this year and the orders keep piling up. For maximum efficacy, two doses are needed. A new factory that was being set up to ramp up production of more vaccines was destroyed in a fire a few days ago. Additional production would be affected in the short term. But there are enough vaccines to inoculate the aged and vulnerable in the short term as the world awaits production. Guyana can request India for tens of thousands for the vulnerable among us.

Yours truly, Dr Vishnu Bisram

guyanatimesgy.com

TUESDAY, JANUARY 26, 2021

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

our society “could not All vestiges of corruption Why survive” under the APNU/AFC? must be removed

Dear Editor, During the past week, we became inundated with the revelations of the corrupt practices of the PNC Government while in office. The scope and magnitude of the corruption are yet to peak as more and more corrupt activities are unearthed as the audit moves forward into the various Ministries of Government.

The central figure in this latest plague is the “honourable”, or should I rephrase that statement to read, the dishonourable David Patterson – he received millions in gifts and furnishings gifted to him from various Government agencies. These were all wrapped and packaged with the hardearned taxpayers’ dollars, so from our very own vantage point, Patterson can rightly be called “the minister of gifts.”

Now, this guy is “notoriously gifted” having received numerous kickbacks ever since he assumed ministerial office in 2015, some of these he apportioned to himself, while others he coaxed out of some of the agencies that came under his Ministry. It seems that his kleptomaniac tendencies were well in place long before he assumed office! Patterson is the prime example of what we can describe as what the office of a Minister can do for him, rather than what he as a Minister can do for his country.

It is a totally unacceptable, dishonest and reprehensible position to take by such high office. But this is the situation we had to endure as a nation for five years and 3 months.

Ministers of Government, by law, are prohibited from receiving gifts, for the simple reason that it is an avenue that can be exploited for corrupt purposes. This fact is explicitly clear, so Patterson cannot feign ignorance of it, which also tells us that this shameless denizen was out of place to have mentioned that

it is a customary act to receive gifts. So, let us quickly audit the stewardship of this man.

In the first instance, Patterson is on record as a Minister who never, I repeat, who never completed any project during his watch, which tells you that he was far too busy accepting gifts than to address the assigned duties of getting the people’s work done. Working for the people was the least on his list of duties. I am talking about his gifts of monies placed into his personal bank account by the Chinese, while jewellery of all sorts was lavished on him from his acolytes. This was his agenda while holding public office.

We are also mindful of this Minister’s suspicious and shady affiliations, as we take into account that his brother was busted with near 8 pounds of cocaine in Grenada.

Despite damning evidence of a brother who left these shores with the illegal substance, the persons who facilitated that drug transaction, as well as his intendant corrupt associates, we are still left in the dark to figure that out. So, but for the fact that Patterson was one of theirs, the Granger Government was not in any way eager to pursue nor prosecute the offending brother in this matter, quite interesting to say the least!

But this we do know – around the same time that Patterson’s brother was held with the illegal substance, there was another drug bust of a Guyanese Indian gentleman by the Grenadian authorities. In that second bust, there is a lot of mystery surrounding that incident. The Indian gentleman was never charged nor was he brought before a court of law. This raises a lot of questions: why would an Indian held with drugs be let off the hook so easily knowing the racial pol-

itics that exists in our country? This just doesn’t make sense. In addition, you must take into consideration that there is another so named Patterson individual who was at one time the acting Chief Justice of that Island. Could it be that each and every one of the above factors was acting in concert? I, therefore, call on you my readers to draw your inferences on this matter.

But lest the PNC should insinuate that these revelations are in any way a vindictive move by the governing PPP/C Government, then they should just take a step back and review their own actions towards the PPP/C when they were in power. Theirs was a constant parade of PPP/C personnel before the courts, from former Presidents to wheelchair-bound Dr Luncheon, none was exempt. So, the PNC are bereft of excuses when it comes to their actions in Government, all they have to do is stand and take it like a man.

My advice to the Government is that Patterson and his cohorts ought to be dragged before every court to answer charges for their corrupt practices. Either they make restitution as in the Westford case (hope I am quoting the right individual) or face jail time, we demand no more, no less.

I close by saying there is a new dispensation blowing through the land, that is we will not countenance corruption - in no shape or form - and in the same way we did not tolerate it under the PPP/C we will not give it a free pass under the APNU/AFC. Everyone must be held accountable to the people of this country. All vestiges of corruption must be removed from Government as we pilot the way forward.

Respectfully, Neil Adams

Dear Editor, Guyanese must “start raising hell” over the recent revelations of the former APNU/AFC Government’s waste of taxpayers’ monies, fraud, and questionable contract, misappropriation of funds, which are all serious crimes, let’s urge our PPP /C Administration to continue to reveal these wrongdoers and let them face the law.

The APNU/AFC coalition had put this country through five tumultuous months as it desperately tried to alter the results of the election and illegally hang on to power even though they were massively defeated at the March 2 polls.

This was the same APNU/ AFC that had been illegally occupying the seats of Government for some two years, since it delayed the holding of elections in March 2019 – which was constitutionally mandated after it was defeated by the passage of a No-Confidence Motion in the National Assembly.

One must not forget it was our Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo who told the National Assembly during his virtual presentation which made it crystal clear that the country will, in time, be “shocked” by the revelations of high fraudulence by former officials of the Granger regime including instances of bribery.

Guyanese, we have already seen the “criminality” that took place at NICIL where the largescale transfer of resources obtained, again, involving many high officials of the past Administration, who were “neck-deep” in those transactions. Former Minister of Public Infrastructure David Patterson and former General Manager of the Demerara Harbour Bridge, Rolston Adams were Monday charged jointly with allegedly defrauding the Bridge Corporation of $162,635,015.

They were granted

98th birth anniversary of Mr Horatio Benn, CCH

Dear Editor, Kindly allow me space in your newspaper to inform the nation that January 24, 2021, was the ninety-eighth birth anniversary of a preeminent patriot of Guyana, Mr Brindley Horatio Benn, CCH. Minister Benn was Deputy Premier to Premier Dr Cheddi B Jagan and held ministerial portfolios in Community Development and Education, and Agriculture and Natural Resources. He inaugurated the Guyana School of Agriculture in 1963 insisting on the practice of “scientific agriculture” and initiated major projects including the Black Bush Polder Scheme and the Boerasirie Conservancy in the early 1960s.

This was during the final push in the fight for independence, and Mr Benn not only participated at the Conferences in London demanding that his country become a sovereign nation, but he travelled widely, carrying the flame of self-determination for all of the world’s colonies at the time. In this endeavour, he met with many leaders, including Nehru of India, Nkrumah of Ghana, Selassie of Ethiopia, Ben Bella of Algeria, Zhou

Enlai of China, and others, gaining solidarity for British Guiana’s cause, and presaging what would later become the Non-Aligned Movement.

Three years under “restriction of movement”, and his later jailing at Her Majesty’s Penal Colony at Sibley Hall only served to strengthen his determination to help free his nation from British colonialism.

He formed his own Working Peoples Vanguard Party in 1968, unreservedly deepening this commitment, now against the Burnham dictatorship, and the new colonialism represented by the IMF. In remarks dripping with contempt and mixed with sadness, he described to his children one day how the “third world” nations had to “hang yuh mouth where the soup drop” to get a little aid from the donor nations.

In his little hand-typed mimeographed bulletins, (when the machine had not been confiscated by police) he was one of the first to sound the alarm about the regime’s dalliance with the Jonestown “experiment”.

When the PPP was returned to office in 1992, Brindley Benn was appointed

High Commissioner to Canada, where he served with distinction, and helped to rekindle a love of their native land in expatriate Guyanese. He was awarded the Cacique Crown of Honor by President Jagan for his fight for democracy, and his outstanding service to his country.

Editor, I particularly would like to highlight that it was Minister of Education and Community Development Benn, in his feature address at the October 1957 celebration of National History and Culture Week, which he inaugurated, who famously exhorted: “British Guiana can make a unique contribution to history only if we weld ourselves into one people, one nation, and pursue one destiny”. His words were later co-opted as the national motto, and they must stand out as a signpost for Guyana’s present and future.

May the courage and patriotism of Brindley Horatio Benn inspire his countrymen always.

A book detailing this rich legacy will be published in a month’s time.

Yours cordially, Lena Platt (nee Benn)

$200,000 bail.

Patterson and Adams were both in the spotlight as of recent for receiving expensive gifts from agencies which fell under their preview, Patterson while being former Minister of Public Infrastructure and Adams General Manager – something which Patterson denied at first, but after evidence surfaced on the purchases, Patterson buckled under pressure and admitted receiving the gold band, these sagas and “their deep involvement in an attempt to fraud the people of Guyana.

Guyanese, it must be noted that we desperately needed “to turn the corner” on the practices of the APNU/AFC that had caused our country to go down in flames”. What is unfolding in front our eyes are a clear indication why our society “could not survive” under the APNU/AFC, “the blatant waste of taxpayer dollars”, which had threatened “to drag all of us down with it” through ever-increasing taxes, inferior public services and the undermining of a meritocracy.

As recent as Friday, over $34 million dollars was unaccounted for in Region 10.

The People’s Progressive Party/Civic Administration is only in Government six months and the Auditor General’s Audit reports have revealed multiple incidents of fraud, corruption, waste of taxpayer funds and public sector mismanagement resulting from the absence of or weak controls and inadequate supervision.

The report disclosed missing documents to cover up fraudulent activities was “a matter of routine” The Auditor General also cited missing funds that could not be accounted in some instances.

Many Government contracts were put out to competitive bidding where the Government’s Tenders Board was routinely bypassed in the awarding of contracts that should have gone before it, all these done under the former APNU/AFC Government.

These people needed to be held accountable for the way in which they have used taxpayer monies. Where’s was the accountability and responsibility? Guyanese, “It’s our money they’ were spending. If you didn’t do your job back then you should be held accountable. The only way we’re going to return to the equitable enforcement of the rule of law is if this is done.

There has to be a line in the sand that can’t be crossed.

They should be held to task.

It’s just ridiculous.”

Guyanese must demand accountability from the former APNU/AFC Government. It is in every citizen’s interest to demand higher standards from politicians and the public service, otherwise, their financial well-being will be directly impacted - as it has already been done under the former APNU/AFC Government through higher taxes to pay for excessive and wasteful Government spending under the previous Government We’ve got to get this out of the system, It’s just killing us.

These matters highlight the need for greater transparency in the public procurement process, the PPP/C Government has taken that giant leap already showing that public office holders have a general duty to act in the interests of the nation as a whole and owe a special duty of care to our citizens.

Sincerely, David Adams

E

mbodiments of love!

Wherever you are, in whatever circumstances you are placed in, do not ever forget God. Sarvada sarva kaleshu sarvatra Hari chintanam (Always, at all times, under all circumstances contemplate on God).

Whatever activity you undertake, dedicate it to God. All the powers in your body are the gifts of God. In fact, divinity pervades every inch, every cell and every atom of your body. If you waste such divine power, it amounts to sacrilege. Dedicate your body, mind, intellect; in fact, everything of yours, to God! The games you play should not be limited to one day. In fact, life is a game; play it.

Unity is divinity. Whatever you do, whatever you speak, whatever you think - in every aspect of your life - that unity must be reflected. That is the true culture of the Bharatiyas (Indians). (Divine Discourse, Jan 14, 2003)

Shri Sathya Sai Baba Organisation

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TUESDAY, JANUARY 26, 2021

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Foundation ◄

A

Prime and Composite Numbers

prime number is a whole number that cannot be divided exactly by other whole numbers except itself and 1. That is the same as saying prime numbers cannot be made by multiplying other whole numbers.

Example: 5 is a prime number.

We cannot multiply other whole numbers like 2, 3 or 4 together to make 5.

5 can only be divided by 5 or 1 without leaving a remainder.

Example: 6 is a composite number 6 can be made by 2×3 so it is not a prime number, it is a composite number 6 can be divided exactly by 2, or by 3: Example: 7 is a prime number.

We cannot multiply other whole numbers like 2, 3 or 4 together to make 7.

1)

Æsop’s Fables

FOR CHILDREN

7 cannot be divided up exactly: When a number can be divided up exactly it is a composite number When a number cannot be divided up exactly it is a prime number So 6 is composite, but 7 is prime

Exercises: 1) List the prime numbers between 1 and 100.

Monday’s answers

Cost Price (CP) = $10.50 Selling Price (SP) = $12 The SP is greater than the CP therefore a profit

(gain) was made

Profit = SP – CP

Profit = $12.00 – $10.50

= $1.50

2)

Cost Price (CP) = $570 Selling Price (SP) = $350 The CP is greater than the SP therefore a loss was made

Loss = CP – SP

Loss = $570 – $350

= $20

T

wo neighbours came before Jupiter and prayed him to grant their hearts' desire. Now the one was full of avarice, and the other eaten up with envy.

So to punish them both, Jupiter granted that each might have whatever he wished for himself, but only on condition that his neighbour had twice as much.

The Avaricious man prayed to have a room full of gold. No sooner said than done; but all his joy was turned to grief when he found that his neighbour had two rooms full of the precious metal.

Then came the turn of the Envious man, who could not bear to think that his neighbour had any joy at all. So he prayed that he might have one of his own eyes put out, by which means his companion would become totally blind.

WORD SEARCH

NEWS

7

TUESDAY, JANUARY 26, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

APNU/AFC to appeal dismissal of 2nd election petition – Opposition Leader still believes petition has merit

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Opposition Leader Joseph Harmon

week after the A Partnership for National Unity/ Alliance For Change (APNU/ AFC) had one of its election petitions thrown out, Opposition Leader Joseph Harmon has indicated his party’s intention to appeal the decision.

Harmon made this pronouncement during a virtual press conference on Monday. He noted that the party believes that it has solid grounds for the petition and will as such, appeal its dismissal by acting Chief Justice Roxane George.

“I wish to address the issue of our elections pe-

titions. And I wish to assure all our supporters and Guyanese who have a deep interest in the outcome of this matter, we will pursue our election petitions, both of them. Petition number 88, we will pursue that with unrelenting vigour.”

“And we shall appeal the decision of the Chief Justice with regards to petition 99, which she ruled was not permissible. We do not agree with her ruling and as the law provides, we will appeal that decision,” the Opposition Leader said.

According to Harmon, the petitions address key questions that pertain

to the March 2 General and Regional Elections.

However, when it comes to the lone surviving petition, Harmon said that they will be making submissions to the court.

“While they address separate issues, they will establish that fraud was prevalent in the March 2020 elections… with respect to petition 88, we expect a hearing of that petition in the courts in early April. In the interim, the parties will be providing submissions to the court every two weeks, leading up to that date. So, we already have a timeline.”

Petition 99 of 2020, filed on September 15, 2020, by APNU/AFC agents Monica Thomas and Brennan Nurse, had asked the court to order the Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Retired Justice Claudette Singh, to declare David Granger as President.

However, Chief Justice George dismissed the petition on the grounds that it was not properly served to former President Granger.

Granger, who is also the leader of APNU/AFC’s List of Candidates and named as the second respondent, was served on September 25,

10 days after petition 99 of 2020 was filed on September 15 and five days outside of the legal timeframe outlined in the National Assembly Validity of Elections Act. “As [a] consequence, the late service of Petition 99 of 2020 on the second respondent amount to non-service on him. This would lead to nullification of petition 99p2020 ab initio, more so as the court has to consider this status quo at the time of service and not the proceedings or position of a party or parties adopted thereafter.

This is to say from the time petition 99p2020 was served out of time on the second respondent as a necessary party, it was a non-starter,” the Chief Justice had posited when she delivered her ruling.

Thomas and Nurse named Chief Elections Officer (CEO) Keith Lowenfield, David Granger – APNU/AFC, Horatio Edmonson – Federal United Party, Bharrat Jagdeo – People’s Progressive Party/Civic, John Flores – Liberty and Justice Party, Asha Kissoon – The New Movement, Vishnu Bandhu – United Republican Party, Adebin Kindi Ali – Change

Chief Justice (ag) Roxane George

Guyana, Patrick Bourne – People’s Republic Party, Jonathan Yearwood – A New and United Guyana, Shazam Ally – The Citizenship Initiative, and Gerald Perreira of Organisation for the Victory of the People as respondents. The Attorney General Chambers also joined the proceedings.

During the last hearing on November 30, 2020, prior to the ruling, Trinidadian Senior Counsel Douglas Mendes (representing the interest of Vice President Jagdeo and the PPP/C) and Attorney General Anil

Nandlall, argued that the late service of the petition to Granger served as grounds for dismissal.

However, lawyers for the petitioners had asked the court to overlook the deficiencies in the service of the petition on Granger, who is the second respondent and Head of the APNU/AFC’s List of Candidates, hence, spare their petition from being tossed out. They insisted that he was served on September 18 – in keeping with the statutory requirements.

8 NEWS

TUESDAY, JANUARY 26, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

2 arraigned for armed robbery, break and enter and larceny P

atrick Letlow was on Monday arraigned for armed robbery and break and enter and larceny when he appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts before Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus.

The first charge against him stated that on December 23, 2020, at Guyhoc Park, Georgetown, while in the company of another and

armed with a handgun, he robbed Romeo London of one Honda XR motorcycle bearing registration number CK 5849 valued at $490,000.

Police further stated that on December 22, 2020, he broke into the home of Christy Orna and stole one Honda motorcycle bearing registration number CJ 8848 valued at $185,000, property of London. Letlow

pleaded not guilty to both charges and was released on $100,000 bail.

Meanwhile, in another case, Tony Singh, 29, was accused of break and enter and larceny when he appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

The charges against him stated that between January 4 and 5, 2021, while in the company of others, he broke

into the Cuba Dollar Store and stole a quantity of clothing, curtains, blankets, 91 bottles of sanitisers, electrical items, one water dispenser and one DVR and CCTV cameras, property of Natoya Sills.

Singh, who is unemployed and has no fixed place of abode, was remanded to prison after he pleaded guilty to the charge.

Man gets 30 months’ jail for breaking into mandir, homes

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orty-one-yearold Gopaul Singh of Ankervill Port Mourant, Corentyne, Berbice, was on Monday sentenced to 30 months in jail on six counts of break and enter and larceny.

He appeared before Magistrate Rabindranauth

Singh at the Albion Magistrate’s Court where he pleaded guilty to all the charges when they were read to him.

The unemployed man was charged with two counts of break and enter and larceny committed on a grocery shop – property of Gannis

Prittipal – and another two counts committed on a house owned by Samantha Maripeen.

He was further charged with two counts of break and enter and larceny committed on the Shivashram Saga Mandir.

Jailed: Gopaul Singh

The farce...

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...of Venezuela’s controversy ow don’t get your Eyewitness wrong. He doesn’t think Maduro’s sabre rattling from Caracas is “ha ha” funny. It’s the farce that follows the “tragedy” Marx warned about. A man who insists on holding on to power when five million of his citizens have fled like beggars to neighbouring countries shouldn’t elicit laughter – but dread. The former bus driver proves he isn’t guided by reason – but passions of the basest kind. The kind of passion that motivates demented dictators who’re convinced they have the key to Utopia. And by golly, they don’t mind if everyone has to die while they “prove” their point! Older folks remember Burnham and his “cooperative socialism” panacea, don’t you?

Maduro has fighter jets and tanks and troops manned by officers galore who’re now the elite of the forces backing Maduro. After all, they’ve been asked to run almost all institutions – including the sputtering oil industry. They live high off the hog, emaciated as the latter may be!! So yes, we must take Maduro’s megalomaniac sounding threats seriously. Now, your Eyewitness knows that the US has a naval vessel patrolling our waters. But note that Maduro’s seizure of our two fishing vessels and their crew was done when the said US vessel was still here! His action is as much thumbing his nose to the Americans as threatening us. And he has all those possible fifth columnists flowing into Reg 1.

Let’s not forget that the EU just reversed their acceptance of Maduro’s bête noir, the US/Trump-backed Guaidó, as the rightful President of Venezuela. Maduro would’ve been quite encouraged by this move – which coincided with Biden’s strife-ridden accession to the American Presidency after the expulsion of the disgraced Trump. He must figure that with all the challenges Biden will be facing domestically – COVID-19, a shattered economy, high unemployment and a raucous right-wing insurgency – he won’t want to embark on a foreign expedition.

But he chooses to ignore that one way Biden can placate the restive right that received 74 million votes – would be to follow JFK’s lead in the sixties and show he’s tough on “commies”! At that time Guyana was on the “receiving end” while Venezuela was on the “giving end”!

As the world turns so do the tables get turned!

But the farce is that Venezuela has based its border threat on the claims of an angry lawyer to the 1899 Arbitral Commission, Prevost-Mallet who claimed there was a “deal” between the UK and Russian arbitrators to “fix” the border in favour of the UK. His claim was published fifty years after the Award and after he’d died!

And most importantly, after all the arbitrators had died.

What a farce! ...of opposing gas-to-shore power Now, there’s nothing wrong about citizens scrutinising the actions of their governments. But shouldn’t there be some rhyme and reason to the scrutiny – beyond selling newspapers and feeding egos? Now obviously there are some well-meaning sods out there who have an ideological grouse against fossil fuels for its adverse impact on Climate Change.

But your Eyewitness frankly believes that in the grand scheme of things, since that change was engendered during the Industrial Revolution for 250 years – and we received absolutely NONE of the consequent development, we should think about number 1 for once – us! Let’s note that as fossil fuels start phasing out, that’s exactly what the NOW developed countries are doing!!

But wasn’t it this same chattering class that opposed the Amalia Falls Hydro Electric Project about a decade ago – along with the APNU and AFC? And DID manage to derail it? You can’t win with them!

Once the EPA passes on the gas-to-shore project...full steam ahead! ...on the Henry murders Your Eyewitness understands the grief of the Henry family - -and so also that of the Singh family, all from West Berbice. But why protest the charges against the arraigned three?

They have contra evidence?

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

NEWS

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TUESDAY, JANUARY 26, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Patterson, Adams charged for $163M fraud at DHB Sole-sourced

AFC General Secretary and former Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson (in red shirt) joined the protest action after his court appearance

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lliance for Change (AFC) General Secretary and former Public Infrastructure Minister, David Patterson and former General Manager of the Demerara Harbour Bridge Corporation (DHBC), Rawlston Adams were on Monday released on $200,000 bail each on a charge which alleged they conspired to defraud the company of $162,635,015.

The men, who were initially supposed to be arraigned before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan, were instead brought before Senior Magistrate Leron Daly after the Chief Magistrate recused herself from hearing the matter since she informed the court that she is known to Patterson and Adams and does not want any bias to be perceived.

The men were not required to plead to the indictable charge which stated that between November 18, 2016, and February 1, 2018, at Georgetown, they conspired together with each other and with other persons unknown to defraud the DHBC asphalt plant of $162,635,015 – funds for a project about a feasibility study and design for a new bridge which was not a function of that corporation and so monies from the asphalt plant account could not be used.

Patterson, who serves as Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, was represented by Attorneysat-Law Nigel Hughes, Ronald Burch-Smith, and Khemraj Ramjattan, while Adams was represented

by Attorney-at-Law Glen Hanoman.

Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) Prosecutor, Attorney-at-Law Leslyn Noble asked for the men to be released on substantial bail and for them to lodge their passports.

However, this was strongly opposed by defence counsel who informed the court that their clients are not flight risks. In doing so, the lawyers provided the court with a brief incite of their clients’ profession-

al careers. Moreover, they informed that during the investigation stage, their clients were released on self-bail by SOCU, and were reporting to the agency when required.

Magistrate Daly granted the men bail and did not impose the condition of having them lodge their passports. They will make their next court appearance on February 15, 2021, for the commencement of the trial.

Protest

Meanwhile, as Patterson and Adams were being arraigned on the charges, several persons led by Opposition Leader Joseph Harmon picketed outside of the courthouse.

Armed with their placards, chants of “Patto deliver, [Juan] Edghill [Public Works Minister] is a failure,” “Roundabout, Patto” and “PPP stop thieving taxpayers’ money through COVID relief”, emerged from the crowd.

Speaking with the media, Harmon said that Patterson was being charged for a matter that has already been dealt with

by Retired Judge Claudette Singh when she was the Police Force’s legal advisor.

“This action by the PPP regime is basically a vindictive action and it is meant to create some problem with the leadership of the APNU/AFC… This Government is using the Guyana Police Force; they have weaponised the Guyana Police Force to take action against citizens when there is no real cause of action.”

According to Harmon, “This action is dead and there is absolutely no reason why the Police should be bringing this action at this point in time against David Patterson. Patterson is a thorn in the sight of the PPP, he is disturbing them in the Public Accounts Committee…”

Last week Friday, Patterson and Adams were questioned by the SOCU. Patterson was once cleared in 2019 by investigators from SOCU when it comes to the sole-sourced contract to Dutch company LievenseCSO for the design and feasibility study of the new Demerara River bridge.

But both the Public Procurement Commission (PPC) and the Auditor General had red-flagged Patterson for requesting from the then Cabinet that the feasibility contract be sole-sourced instead of being processed through the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB).

The PPC had found that after the bidding process was annulled because of non-responsive bidders, NPTAB had approved for the project to be re-tendered. Back in November of last year, Public Works Minister Juan Edghill had disclosed that the Guyana Police Force was actively probing the award of the 2016 $145 million contract to LievenseCSO. The Minister had said the investigation follows a formal complaint to law enforcement. The then Opposition PPP/C had requested that the Public Procurement Commission (PPC) investigate the award of the contract.

The party had sought to hold the David Granger Administration accountable for sole-sourcing the contractor, rather than following the procurement laws.

When the PPP/C completed its investigation and handed its report over on August 7, 2018, it noted that several companies had

Former General Manager of the DHBC, Rawlston Adams at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts

bid for the project to do the feasibility study and design for the new Demerara River bridge and 12 companies had been shortlisted.

The report had added that only two of the 12 companies had made proposals. As such, the bidding process was annulled.

It further noted that on November 12, 2016, the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) approved the move for the project to be re-tendered.

However, the project was not re-tendered; instead, LievenseCSO was engaged by the Public Infrastructure Ministry to do the work. Page seven of the report noted that the

bid from LievenseCSO was “unsolicited”, but Patterson took the company’s proposal to Cabinet for approval, and Cabinet granted its approval for the company to be engaged.

The report, on page seven, also stated that monies to be spent on the project were taken from the asphalt plant accounts. Reports indicate that in 2017, $215.3 million was used from the fund, while in 2018 a further $74 million was withdrawn.

The original sum approved by Cabinet for the contract was $161.5 million. It is understood that the contract price for the handpicked LievenseCSO was actually $148 million.

10 NEWS

TUESDAY, JANUARY 26, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

UG medical student Man chopped to death after allegedly attacking Policeman drowns during A outing with friends n Onderneeming, Essequibo Coast man on Sunday succumbed to several chop wounds which he received after allegedly attacking a Police Sergeant with a cutlass.

Dead is 73-year-old Patrick George, a pensioner of Onderneeming, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam).

Based on reports received, on the day at about

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Sunday afternoon outing with friends turned tragic when a 24-year-old medical student of the University of Guyana (UG) took a fatal plunge into a creek at St Ignatius, Central Rupununi, Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo). The dead woman has been identified as Kimberlee Yow, also of St Ignatius, Lethem.

Based on reports received, on the day in question at about 15:00h, the third-year medical student was picked up by a group of friends to go swimming.

However, shortly after 18:00h, her sister received a telephone call that Yow had drowned and that her body was subsequently retrieved.

The details surrounding the incident are still sketchy but her body is at the Lethem Hospital Mortuary awaiting a post-mortem.

The now dead young wom-

13:45h, the Police Sergeant was cleaning his yard and surroundings when he was approached by George – who was his neighbour.

The victim reportedly pulled a zinc sheet from the fence separating the two properties and gained access to the other land. He then used a cutlass and a piece of metal to attack the policeman.

As a result, the Police rank brandished a cutlass he was using at the time and in retaliation, chopped George.

The pensioner dropped the weapons he was carrying and escaped through the said zinc fence.

At about 10:00h on Monday, Police acting on information received went to the home of George, where they found his motion-

less body at the steps of his home.

There were wounds to his forehead, wrist and chest.

He was taken to the Suddie Public Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival. The body was taken to the Charity mortuary and is awaiting a post-mortem. The Sergeant is currently under close arrest as the probe continues.

6 injured after driver loses control of speeding car

S Dead: Kimberlee Yow

an, during her studies, stayed in Georgetown but returned to her native village since the tertiary institution closed to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Meanwhile, the friends with whom the young woman went swimming were detained and questioned by the Police.

ix pedestrians are currently patients at the West Demerara Regional Hospital following a hit-and-run accident on Sunday afternoon, at Canal Number One Polder access road, West Bank Demerara (WBD).

The injured persons are Lilowattie Barnabas, 29;

Alana Grant, 15; eight-yearold Rajin Mahendranauth; Esha Mahendranauth, 8; three-year-old Mesha Margar, and seven-year-old Tanesha Mahendranauth.

According to the information received, a motor car was proceeding along the roadway at a fast rate when the driver attempt-

ed to overtake another vehicle.

In the process, he reportedly lost control of the vehicle and collided with the group of pedestrians who were all walking on the grass parapet.

As a result of the collision, the pedestrians received multiple injuries

about their bodies. They were all taken to the West Demerara Regional Hospital (WDRH) where they were treated and admitted.

Their conditions are said to be stable. Authorities are now in search of the driver of the car, who fled the scene. An investigation has been launched.

Miner busted with ganja during Police operations

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party of Police ranks conducted several raids at “Poppy Show” and Tamakay Landings, Upper

Mazaruni River, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), during which a quantity of ganja was unearthed.

The ganja that was found in the apartment

Police stated that the raids were conducted between Saturday and Sunday.

During the raid, the Police reported that a 26-yearold miner of Sideline Dam Golden Grove, East Coast Demerara (ECD), was arrested after he was found with 540 grams of ganja in his possession. At the time, he was at Poppy Show Landing.

Additionally, Police conducted a search at an apart-

ment building where four parcels of compressed marijuana were found. At the time of the raid, the person who was occupying the room was not at the location.

The Police, however, have made checks for him but their efforts proved futile. The ganja was lodged at the station as investigations continue. The miner, who was taken into custody, will make his court appearance shortly.

Linden Policemen granted bail on assault charges

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wo Linden Police Constables who appeared before Magistrate Wanda Fortune at the Linden Magistrate’s Court on Monday, charged with the offences of assault causing actual bodily harm and unlawful wounding, were each granted bail in the sum of $25,000.

The defendants, Police Constables Roger Smith and Kevin Watson, were charged with the offences committed on Devon Trotman and Glen Eastman

– the Virtual Complainants (VCs).

The alleged incident occurred on October 11, 2020, at Cinderella City, Amelia’s Ward, Linden.

Police Constable Smith, through his attorney, Leslyn Charles pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were read to him.

Constable Watson, who was unrepresented, also pleaded not guilty to the charges. The case was adjourned until February 12, 2021, for report and fixture.

NEWS

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TUESDAY, JANUARY 26,, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

France signals interest in constructing Corentyne River bridge

…to submit EoI

Public Works Minister Juan Edghill meeting with Ambassador of the French Republic to the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, His Excellency Antoine Joly and team

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rance has expressed an interest in building the Corentyne River bridge which will link the South American nations of Guyana and Suriname.

This was revealed in a statement released by the Department of Public Information (DPI) which noted that on Monday, Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill met with Ambassador of the French Republic to the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, His Excellency Antoine Joly and team.

The visiting delegation comprised the Ambassador along with Jean-Francois Gerin, Christophe Sureau, Christine Sureau, Yorgo Hernandez and Philippe Lamoure.

It was explained that during the meeting, prospective areas for future collaboration were discussed.

“The French Ambassador shared interest in the maintenance of Guyana’s vessels and building of the Corentyne River bridge,” the statement noted.

Minister Edghill said the French will be more than welcomed to submit their Expressions of Interest for that project, as well as other projects on the transformational agenda of the Guyana Government.

The Public Works Minister also expressed his interest in building the capacity of the local workforce through collaboration with the French.

He pointed out the importance of maintenance works to the local fleet of vessels, especially since two are currently in dry dock, awaiting repairs.

The Ambassador welcomed the thought of collaboration between the two countries in the near future.

in October 2020, Suriname’s Public Works Minister, Dr Riad Nurmohamed, and Guyana’s Public Works Minister, Juan Edghill, had visited the site of the proposed GuyanaSuriname river bridge across the Corentyne River.

There were three points of demarcation identified – Moleson Creek, Long Island in the Corentyne River and South Drain in Suriname.

In November 2020, Guyana and Suriname signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the construction of the bridge.

The MoU was signed by Guyana’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Hugh Todd, and his Surinamese counterpart, Albert Ramdin, at the Presidential Palace in Paramaribo.

In December 2020, Canada had expressed an interest in constructing the bridge.

During an exclusive interview with this publication, outgoing Canadian diplomat Lilian Chatterjee had explained that the Canadian Commercial Corporation (CCC) is among several organisations interested in building the bridge.

Guyana’s President, Dr Irfaan Ali, had held a virtual meeting with Chatterjee and representatives of the CCC to discuss several major infrastructure projects in Guyana, including the Corentyne River bridge.

The Corentyne River Bridge will not only link the two neighbouring countries of Guyana and Suriname, but also open up access to greater economic opportunities beyond them into French Guyana, and through the road network being developed into Brazil, and eventually further into South America.

Reports indicate that the Corentyne River bridge is

expected to be a flat bridge from Guyana to Long Island in the Corentyne River and then a high-span bridge from there to the Surinamese mainland to allow for heavy marine traffic. This bridge is expected to promote the safe movement of people and products.

Moreover, it is anticipated that Long Island will become an economic hub

Public Works Minister of Suriname, Dr Riad Nurmohamed and Public Works Minister of Guyana Juan Edghill planting the flags of the two countries at Long Island, Corentyne River, last year

and free zone that will also see major infrastructural development such as hotels, recreational parks, entertainment spots, tourist attractions, malls

and farmers’ markets.

With the recent commitments to bridge Guyana and Suriname over the Corentyne River within five years, this project is

expected to open up the pathway for other major developmental projects including the muchanticipated deep-water harbour project in Guyana.

12 NEWS No need for joinder parties on committees – Harmon TUESDAY, JANUARY 26, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

...says their inclusion a plot to weaken APNU/AFC presence

Opposition Harmon

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Leader

Joseph

ecent calls by Opposition parties in the National Assembly for more inclusion on parliamentary sectoral and select communities are unlikely to find favour with Opposition Leader Joseph Harmon as he shoots down the suggestion.

During a press conference on Monday, Harmon was asked to comment on the joinder parties: Liberty and Justice Party (LJP), A New and United Guyana (ANUG) and The New Movement (TNM) and their recent calls for inclusion.

Harmon, who belongs to the main Opposition, A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC), pointed out that LJP presidential candidate Lenox Shuman has already been appointed as Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly.

Pressed on their concerns that they have been excluded from the parliamentary committees, Harmon intimated that it was too late for them.

“I think we have made that determination already.

We’ve gone through the process of electing a Speaker and Deputy Speaker, we’ve gone through the process of appointing members and

Deputy Speaker and LJP leader Lenox Shuman

ANUG leader Ralph Ramkarran

Chairpersons of these committees,” he said.

“And it is quite strange that at this time, when all these committees have started to work, that this noise is being made,” Harmon also said, going on to accuse the joinder parties of having an agenda to dilute the pres-

ence of APNU/AFC on the committees and noting that he does not see “how that is going to happen.”

In a statement on Saturday, the joinder parties called for inclusion in the decision-making avenues offered by the parliamentary committees, in or-

der to ensure transparency and efficiency of a “progressive society”.

The joinder parties had pointed out that the current standing orders governing the selection of these parliamentary committees perpetuate the inclusion of only two parties by forcing all other parties to fall under the discretion of the Opposition Leader.

The parties called for all voters to be represented adequately by abolishing the control which the largest Opposition party has to determine where small parties should sit on the various committees. Going forward, the joinder seat will propose these amendments.

Presently, the APNU/AFC is the larger party on the Opposition bench.

“This gives the largest Opposition party control over whether the third parties will be given a seat on the parliamentary committees, and institutionalises an undemocratic system which leaves a significant portion of the electorate unrepresented in the decision-making processes.

All voters who have representation in the National Assembly should fairly be represented at the table, and this should be rejected in the standing orders,” the missive announced.

The three joinder parties collectively won a single seat in the 65-seat National Assembly following the March 2020 General and Regional Elections. The number of votes indicated that of the trio, LJP secured the most votes with 2657, while ANUG and TMN secured 2313 and 244 respectively.

The duration of the terms, according to the

TNM leader, Dr Asha Kissoon

joinder agreement, stipulates that LJP in the form of Shuman would occupy the seat for two years, six months and 20 days, while ANUG would serve for two years five months, and TNM for 80 days. The three parties had previously committed to acting as a broker between the Government and the main Opposition.

Deputy Speaker Shuman had previously told this publication that he would use his voting rights at the legislative branch in the interest of all Guyanese, but he has particularly committed to advocating for Indigenous peoples’ rights, since according to him, the country’s first peoples are largely unrepresented in the National Assembly.

Constitutional reform was also on his agenda.

This publication, meanwhile, reached out to Shuman on Monday to confirm whether he or his party were ever consulted on nominations to any of the parliamentary committees.

However, calls to his number went unanswered.

NEWS

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TUESDAY, JANUARY 26, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

19 new COVID-19 cases recorded in 24h A

total of 19 new COVID-19 cases were confirmed on Monday from samples that were taken within one day, New statistics provided by the Health Ministry showed that there are now 7317 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 172 deaths.

The latest fatalities were reported on Sunday, following the deaths of two males - a 78-year-old from Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) and a 60-year-old from Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica).

However, six patients remain in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), 38 in institutional isolation and six in institutional quarantine. There are also 670 persons in home isolation. Some 6431 of the 3756 males and 3561 females have recovered completely. To date, Guyana has tested 46,895 individuals.

Meanwhile, an analysis of new cases showed that new cases were confirmed in Regions One (Barima-Waini), Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), Three (Essequibo Islands-

West Demerara), Four (Demerara-Mahaica), Five (Mahaica-Berbice), Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) and 10 (Upper Demerara-

Berbice).

The total cases detected thus far in Regions Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) and Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) remain constant

at 232 and 409 respectively.

M i n i s t e r of Health, Dr Frank Anthony on Monday related that efforts are ongoing to acquire vaccines, noting that more will be available in the near future. Guyana will be acquiring its first batch through the COVAX mechanism.

“Vaccines are going to become more available on the international market and many of the countries that are manufacturing the vaccines are giving them emergency use authorisation…

We’ll have to see how vaccines become available and which ones are being registered with the WHO and so forth. Once they’re registered with the WHO, I think we can get them in Guyana as well,” the Minister indicated.

COVAX, the global ini-

Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony

tiative to ensure access to coronavirus vaccines for all countries despite economic status, would have signed an advance purchase agreement with Pfizer for up to 40 million doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine candidate last week. This vaccine has already received the WHO emergency use listing. As such, COVAX announced that rollout will commence with the successful negotiation and execution of supply agreements.

COVAX also said that it will exercise an option via an existing agreement with Serum Institute of India (SII) to receive its first 100 million doses of

the AstraZeneca/Oxford University-developed vaccine.

COVAX also anticipates that with another existing agreement with AstraZeneca, at least 50 million further doses of the AstraZeneca/Oxford vaccine will be available for delivery to COVAX participants.

Initiatives led by the World Health Organisation, UNICEF and Gavi, are already well underway for COVAX to deliver vaccines to economies eligible for support. Gavi is making US$150 million available from its core funding as initial support for preparedness and delivery.

14 NEWS

TUESDAY, JANUARY 26, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Henry family, friends picket OP ...do not believe “real” killers were arrested ...no evidence for claim produced

Isaiah Henry

Joel Henry

ollowing a detailed confession statement, Police moved swiftly to institute charges against three men for the gruesome murders of Joel and Isaiah Henry, the two teenage cousins whose mutilated bodies were discovered

in the backlands of Cotton Tree, West Coast Berbice (WCB), in September 2020.

Although this has been hailed as a major breakthrough in the case by President Dr Irfaan Ali, several family members of the murdered teens are calling

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for justice as they are of the firm belief that the mastermind and perhaps, the real killers, are at large.

“We need justice. We are not too confident that those three boys are capable alone of doing this job. The Police need to go after the masterminds,” Gladston Henry, the father of Isaiah said as he and other family members staged a peaceful protest outside of the Office of the President on Monday. The grieving man believes that the “right killers” are still at large.

A few days after the boys’ mutilated bodies were found, Police had arrested a well-known Cotton Tree rice farmer, his son, and his employees. But the Police have asked the relatives of the dead teens to provide evidence if they are in possession of any that would lead to the arrest of the person(s)

Isaiah Henry’s father Gladson wants the Police to go after the teen’s real killers

Isaiah’s mother protesting outside of the Office of the President on Monday

responsible for the deaths of the two teenagers.

To date, the family has been making the accusation without any proof.

However, according to the older Henry, he is displeased with the Police not asking the Argentine Team of Forensic Anthropology, headed by Dr Luis Fondebrider, for assistance.

Vinod Gopaul, called “Magga”

Dr Fondebrider was in Guyana to determine if any help could be offered by the Argentine team.

On September 6, 2020, the badly mutilated bodies of the Henry cousins: Isaiah, 16, and Joel 19, were found in the backlands at West Coast Berbice after they had left their Number Three Village home to pick coconuts but did not return home. Singh was found murdered on September 6, 2020, at Number Three Village backlands in what was dubbed a retaliatory killing.

Currently on remand for the murders of the Henry cousins are Akash Singh, 19, called “Monkey,” of Zeelugt,

Anil Sancharra, called “Dan pole” and “Rasta”

Akash Singh, called “Monkey”

East Bank Essequibo (EBE); his stepbrother, 33-yearold Anil Sancharra, called “Dan pole” and “Rasta,” of D’Edward, WCB; and 34-year-old Vinod Gopaul called “Magga,” of Yakusari, Black Bush Polder, Corentyne, Berbice. They are due for another court appearance on February 2, 2020.

It is being alleged that the teenagers were killed over a marijuana farm that had been destroyed in the area.

The murders sparked widespread protest action, particularly along the West Coast Berbice (WCB) corridor, with persons blocking the roads and burning debris while calling for justice. The situation escalated when protesters blocked traffic along the WCB roadway while robbing, beating, and extorting innocent commuters. Millions of dollars were also lost as vehicles went up in flames.

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TUESDAY, JANUARY 26, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Filariasis campaign

70% reach will earn Guyana filaria elimination certificate

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he last dosage of filaria pills is ready for countrywide distribution in February and according to Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony, if there is a 70 per cent reach across the population, Guyana will receive certification that it has completely eliminated filaria.

As such, Dr Anthony encouraged the citizenry to take the pills as he lauded the initiative. He noted that while trained personnel are ready to take on this countrywide campaign, support from the public is crucial.

“This would be a good

programme we are rolling out because once we have been able to reach at least 70 per cent of our population, during this current rollout then we would get certification that we would have eliminated filaria from Guyana. That is something that we are aiming towards but for us to achieve elimination, we really need people to take the tablets,” he underscored.

Dr Anthony has already put mechanisms in place to ensure all stakeholders are reached. As a result, the Education Ministry has collaborated to ensure that

Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony

Wife, hitman on trial for Herstelling block maker’s murder

Murder accused: Oswald Yaw

Beverly Persaud

Dead: Nathan Persaud

ifty-two-year-old Beverly Persaud and 27-year-old Oswald Yaw are currently on trial before Justice Navindra Singh and a 12-person jury for the September 2015 murder of her husband, Nathan Persaud.

It is alleged that they, on September 10, 2015, at Herstelling, East Bank Demerara, murdered Nathan Persaud in pursuance of a financial arrangement by Beverly Persaud.

According to reports, a neighbour heard screams

from the residence but did not think to investigate until a man was seen leaving the home several minutes later, rousing his suspicions. The neighbour alerted others and they proceeded to the house at 66 Herstelling New Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara, where they discovered Nathan Persaud’s battered body.

A brick and a hammer were found at the crime scene leading investigators to believe that the objects were used to mur-

der Persaud. The man had several stab wounds about his body and his head was bashed in. It was reported that the man’s killing stemmed from a bitter property dispute he was having with his wife.

Persaud is being represented by Attorney-at-Law Ravindra Mohabir, while Attorney-at-Law Rachael Bakker is appearing for Yaw. The case for the prosecution is being presented by State Counsel Teriq Mohammed and State Counsel Tiffini Lyken.

F

the pills are distributed at schools nationwide with the permission of parents.

Giving an update on the distribution, Dr Anthony indicated that many students are also at home and will receive the pills through the house-to-house drive.

“While schools in the past are one of the areas we would’ve targeted, students are out of school. Once we do the house-to-house distribution, we will reach those students. Those who are in school, we will be reaching them at school and we have a form that myself and Minister Manickchand would have signed asking the parents to allow students who are in school to take the medicines there.”

It is recommended by the World Health Organisation to roll out a mass administration of medicines in countries seeking to eliminate filariasis completely. Guyana would have completed the first round over one year ago, and now the last round will be administered to citizens. Once the campaign starts in February, it should finish later that month.

It was highlighted that

training has already commenced for persons who will be administering the medications. Teams will be sent to various communities across Guyana, visiting each household. After the programme is completed, the WHO will be tasked with evaluating the country, officially certifying whether the country is free of filaria.

The Minister had said previously, “For the first time, we’ll be able to eliminate filaria in Guyana. For us to do that, it takes a lot of work. We need people to assist us by taking the medication and once we finish this exercise, we will have an evaluation by the WHO and other partners and they would certify whether or not we’re filaria-free.”

Last September, a Lymphatic Filariasis Elimination Campaign was launched and spearheaded by the Mass Drug Administration (MDA). The programme sought to target areas where the population is vulnerable to the disease. Guyanese were given three tablets; Ivermectin, Diethylcarbamazine (DEC) and Albendazole. The com-

bination of pills is referred to as the IDA. The number of tablets varies per age, and they are not to be given to pregnant women and children below the age of two years old. It is said that a person requires five annual doses of the pills before they become immune to the mosquito-borne disease.

According to information from the World Health Organisation (WHO), the disease is caused by three species of thread-like nematode worms, known as filariae – Wuchereria bancrofti, Brugia malayi and Brugia timori. Male worms range from three to four centimetres in length, and female worms eight to10 centimetres.

The worms target the lymphatic system, which is an essential component of the body’s immune system as they are essentially a network of nodes and vessels that maintain the delicate fluid balance between blood and body tissues. But when someone is infected, the male and female worms form “nests” together in this vital system.

16 NEWS NDIA commences work in flood-prone area at Lowland R TUESDAY, JANUARY 26, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

esidents of Lowland on the East Coast of Demerara (ECD) have lauded the swift action by the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) to commence works on several drains and canals in the village in an effort to alleviate flooding in the area.

This comes days after residents met with Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha and vented their concerns.

Immediately after the community outreach, an excavator was deployed to the area on Saturday last and works are currently ongoing. Once completed, hundreds of villagers stand to benefit from the approximately 2770 rods of drainage channels that will be cleared.

The ongoing works are being executed at an estimated cost of over $2.2 million and should be completed within the next three weeks.

Residents of Lowland expressed their satisfaction with the swift action of the

A section of one of the drains in Lowland that have been cleared

Ministry to bring some level of relief to the community.

However, during the meeting, residents raised a number of issues with the Minister and his team, which included the need for works to be done on many drains and canals, rehabilitation work to the main roads and land allocations, as many persons are currently squatting.

The subject Minister immediately committed to having a machine deployed to the area to commence works as part of a complete upgrade to the community’s drainage system.

The machine is expected to remain in the area until all the works have been completed. The NDIA was also tasked with compiling a report detailing the extent

of the works to be done in the area on a regular basis.

Minister Mustapha told the residents that the Government is looking at developing a plan to upgrade the country’s entire drainage system.

He noted that with climate change, rising sea levels and somewhat unpredictable weather patterns, the Government has begun the groundwork to ensure a comprehensive drainage and irrigation system is developed and introduced within the next five years.

“Guyana is below sea level so it is Government’s responsibility to put systems in place to safeguard the citizens of this country from the effects of flooding.

This is why we have commenced working on a comprehensive plan to improve the country’s drainage system. I cannot disclose too much now, what I can say is that we will be installing more drainage pumps in these vulnerable areas, as well as scheduling maintenance works on these ca-

NDIA engineers examining the works done so far

nals and drains. We know for a fact that prior to this Government taking office, things were done in a reactive manner. Only when there was flooding or during the rainy season then you would see works being done.

As Minister of Agriculture, I will ensure agencies such as the NDIA are proactive.

They will be guided by a clear work programme developed using both technical knowledge and stake-

holder consultation. This is to ensure the needs of the persons set to benefit are considered,” Minister Mustapha said.

The subject Minister also said that Budget 2021 will set the foundation for the Government’s developmental agenda which will see a complete transformation to Guyana’s economy through investments in the country’s productive sectors.

Cloth masks can protect public against new COVID-19 variants – Health Minister …only personnel in high-risk settings need increased protection

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ews of new COVID-19 variants appearing in several locations across the world has raised questions about whether enhanced protective measures are needed.

These were clarified by Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony, who related on Monday that the general population can continue using regular masks since they are not in high-risk environments.

During the coronavirus

update, he noted that as long as there is some form of covering over the nose and mouth, persons in the public domain are shielded from possible viral droplets.

While cloth masks do not offer the same protection as N95 and surgical masks, they will prevent these droplets from entering the respiratory system.

“The cloth masks would offer protection against droplets but they’re not as protective as an N95 or sur-

gical that is purposely designed to prevent viral infections.

Because most people are not in a high-risk environment, these masks would work fine. It functions as a mechanism to prevent viral transmission and because you’re not in a high-risk environment, it would be protective. There are many studies that have demonstrated this and our guidance is to make sure that people continue to wear some form of covering

over their nose or mouth.

It doesn’t matter which strain or variant we’re dealing with. Once we’re taking these protective measures, you are going to prevent transmission,” the Minister expounded.

In risky settings such as hospitals, the level of protection is more important especially when dealing with positive patients.

This is where consideration is taken to wear an N95 or surgical mask, which is reinforced for greater defence.

“The recommendation is that if you’re in a high-risk environment, then you use material that would be appropriate. An N95 mask is designed to be used in a high-risk environment such as a hospital, doctor interacting with patients who has COVID-19…That’s one of your highest forms of protection because an N95

mask would have five layers. Then you have surgical masks, which is also highly effective and sometimes would be as effective as the N95 mask but they’re used also in more high-risk settings.”

Transmission of COVID-19 happens through droplets or aerosols. Persons have been cautioned that having a face covering when in public will block this viral infection from spreading.

The Minister detailed, “Aerosols are very tiny particles and therefore you want to guard against that so any face covering that covers your nose and your mouth would act as a barrier to prevent particles, whether it’s droplets, to enter into the person’s respiratory and alimentary system. It’s a way of physically blocking that trans-

Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony

mission.”

According to the World Health Organisation, medical masks and respirator masks are similar in their protection value. However, respirators are specific for certain instances because they have a tightly fitted component to them.

“Respirator masks are designed to protect healthcare workers who provide care to COVID-19 patients in settings and areas where aerosol-generating procedures are undertaken. Healthcare workers should be fit tested before using a respirator to ensure that they are wearing the correct size. Wearing a loose-fitting respirator will not offer the same protection to the wearer and may allow small particles to get inside the mask through the sides,” the organisation detailed.

Apart from wearing masks correctly, there are other sanitisation and social distancing protocols to decrease the risks of contracting the coronavirus.

NEWS

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TUESDAY, JANUARY 26, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Region 10 youth commend ministerial consultation – issues to be discussed at 2021 budget debates

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wide cross-section of Upper DemeraraBerbice (Region 10) youth lauded Sunday’s community consultation led by Minister within the Office of the Prime Minister with responsibility for Public Affairs, Kwame McCoy and Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Charles Ramson Jr. Minister McCoy said the Watooka Guest House meeting was designed to channel issues and concerns facing the region into the National Assembly.

“It comes just before the budget presentation. So, the information they have been able to share with us – the discussions they had with us – we can … find, based on the considerations and the priorities, many of them in the budget submissions, in the budget presentation

for 2021,” the Minister stated.

Meanwhile, Minister Ramson Jr reminded the residents that the engagement was intended to help them establish sustainable communities and not to score political points.

The Minister stated that “the election is over. You have a new Government.

We have to get on with the business of development.”

Several of the attendees welcomed the outreach.

Alliyah Dey of the Coomacka Mines community added, “I think it is a very great opportunity for youths to actually come out and instead of sitting down at home and doing nothing, they actually have the opportunity to come out and greet with Ministers and share their ideas on what they think shall be good for

Culture, Youth and Sport Minister Charles Ramson Jr engaging residents in Linden

them and also help with the development of their com-

munity.”

The young woman was

accompanied by her cousin, Deshawnna Dest, who not only described the consultation as “interactive” but voiced her support for collaborative action.

Another youth, Akeila Handy, who resides in

Linden teacher granted bail for breaching COVID-19 guidelines

Biden extends Europe, Brazil travel restrictions, adds South Africa

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S President Joe Biden signed an order on Monday barring most non-US citizens who have recently been in South Africa from entering the United States, effective Saturday.

Biden’s order also reimposes an entry ban, set to expire on Tuesday, on nearly all non-US travellers who have been in Brazil, the United Kingdom, Ireland and 26 countries in Europe that allow travel across open borders. Last week, then-US President Donald Trump revoked those restrictions which were imposed last year effective Tuesday.

“With the pandemic worsening and more contagious variants spreading, this isn’t the time to be lifting restrictions on international travel,” White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki said at a news briefing.

South Africa’s Foreign Ministry did not immediately provide a comment.

Some health officials are concerned current vaccines may not be effective against

the South Africa COVID-19 variant, which also raises the prospect of re-infection.

South Africa’s 501Y.V2 variant is 50 per cent more infectious than the regular strain and has been detected in at least 20 countries.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Rochelle Walensky is now expected

to sign a separate order today requiring masks on all airplanes and public transportation for all travellers aged 2 and older, officials told Reuters. The order was originally set to be signed Monday.

The Transportation Security Administration is expected this week to issue a separate security direc-

tive related to masks, people briefed on the matter said.

Today, new CDC rules take effect requiring all international air travellers aged 2 and older to present a negative coronavirus test taken within three calendar days of travel or proof of recovery from COVID-19 to enter the United States.

The CDC said on January 12 it would not grant temporary waivers to airlines to exempt some travellers from countries with limited testing capacity. Numerous U.S. airlines last week sought waivers.

The State Department and CDC on Monday again urged US citizens to “reconsider travel abroad, and postpone all non-essential travel”.

The State Department said in a statement Americans could “have difficulty accessing a test. ...

What plan do you have to ensure you can get a test that meets the requirement in order to come home on time?”

(Excerpt from Reuters)

vilian toll in World War Two and twice the number killed in the 1940-41 Blitz bombing campaign, although the total population was lower then.

Behind the numbers there is grief and anger.

Jamie Brown’s 65-yearold father died at the end of March after it was suspected he contracted COVID-19 while travelling on a train into London for work. At the time, the Government was mulling a lockdown.

Told by medics to stay at home, he awoke days later with a tight chest, disorientated and nauseous, and was taken to hospital in an am-

bulance. He died from a cardiac arrest five minutes after arriving.

His son said the virus had damaged his lungs to the point where his heart gave up. He was a month away from retirement. “For me, it has been terrifying and harrowing to see everything that you hope for taken away. He will never be at my wedding; he will never meet any grandkids,” Brown told Reuters.

“Then, you watch the death toll rising whilst Ministers pat themselves on the back and tell you what a good job they have done. It

changes very quickly from a personal to a collective grief.”

Some scientists and Opposition politicians say Johnson acted too slowly to stop the spread of the virus and then bungled both the Government’s strategy and execution of its response.

Johnson has resisted calls for an inquiry into the handling of the crisis and Ministers say that while they have not got everything right, they were making decisions at speed and have among the best global vaccination programmes.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

US President Joe Biden signs executive orders in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, after his inauguration as the 46th President of the United States, US, January 20, 2021

Anger and grief as United Kingdom's COVID-19 death toll nears 100,000

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s the United Kingdom’s COVID-19 death toll approaches 100,000, grief-stricken relatives of the dead expressed anger at Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s handling of the worst public health crisis in a century.

When the novel coronavirus, which first emerged in China in 2019, slid silently across the United Kingdom in March, Johnson initially said he was confident it could be sent packing in weeks.

But 98,531 deaths later, the United Kingdom has the world’s fifth worst official death toll – more than its ci-

Linden, was optimistic the engagement would lead to changes in her community.

“I think that it was a very good idea for them to come out and speak to the people of Linden because there are several factors which are hindering success in the community and now that our voices are heard, we feel more comfortable and feel relaxed that we actually know something is going to happen.”

For Mr Curt Murphy of Ituni, the meeting “is a good initiative by the Ministers…

I think it gave everyone the opportunity to say exactly what is it that they need.”

The meeting captured a range of issues, from infrastructural to social, and came on the heels of the inaugural outreach within the region spearheaded

by President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali just two weeks ago.

The Ministers were accompanied by other officials who facilitated the discussions.

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Linden, Region 10 (Upper DemeraraBerbice) teacher who appeared at the Linden Magistrate’s Court on Monday, charged with breach of restriction on social activities was granted $30,000 bail by Magistrate Wanda Fortune.

The charge against the defendant, Delon King, who

is attached to the Mackenzie High School and of Block 22 Wismar, Linden, alleged that he hosted a private party on Sunday, January 24, 2021, at Four Corner, Wismar, Linden, thus breaching the COVID-19 guidelines.

He, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge. The case was adjourned until February 12, 2021, for trial.

Trump transgender military ban overturned

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resident Joe Biden has repealed Donald Trump's ban on transgender Americans joining the military.

The ban was announced

by Trump during his first year in office.

"Transgender service members will no longer be subject to the possibility of discharge or separation on the basis of gender identity," the White House said.

There were 8980 active duty transgender troops in 2019, according to Department of Defence data analysed by the Palm Center, a non-profit group.

"President Biden believes that gender identity should not be a bar to military service, and that America's strength is found in its diversity," the White House statement added.

New Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin, a retired Army General, said in a statement: "The Department will immediately take appropriate policy action to ensure individuals who identify

as transgender are eligible to enter and serve in their self-identified gender."

"The United States Armed Forces are in the business of defending our fellow citizens from our enemies, foreign and domestic. I believe we accomplish that mission more effectively when we represent all our fellow citizens," he added.

Trump announced on Twitter in 2017 that the country would no longer "accept or allow" transgender Americans to serve in the military, citing "tremendous medical costs and disruption".

The ban took effect in April 2019. Trans personnel who were already serving were allowed to continue, but new recruits were locked out.

Jim Mattis, the then Defence Secretary, refined the policy to limit it to individuals with a history of gender dysphoria, or when a person's biological sex and identity do not match.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

18

guyanatimesgy.com

TUESDAY, JANUARY 26, 2021

Regional

Parents shouldn't be Suriname’s President Jamaica: denied right to legal recourse re tests positive for virus COVID exposure in schools — PNP S P urinamese President Chandrikapersad Santokhi has tested positive for coronavirus (COVID-19) while several members of his Cabinet who were in contact with him in recent days are being tested for the highly contagious virus, the Government’s information service CDS has confirmed.

In an address to the nation on Sunday, Santokhi said he was feeling strong and had no symptoms of the virus, but would remain at home on the advice of health authorities.

He is in isolation at his private residence where he said he will be working for the next few days.

The CDS said contact tracing is underway and the process of testing everyone who had been in contact with President Santokhi should be completed by today.

So far, the Ministers

Surinamese President Chandrikapersad Santokhi

of Foreign Affairs, International Business & International Cooperation, Spatial Zoning and Environment and Finance and Planning have tested negative.

According to the CDS press release, the Office of the President is being disinfected. Cabinet Ministers were instructed to work from

home for the next three days and encouraged not to entertain visitors. They were also advised to take necessary precautions at home until they have been tested and get a negative result.

Meanwhile, President Santokhi has called on residents to adhere strictly to the Government’s COVID-19 measures to help prevent the spread of the virus.

There have been 7246 confirmed COVID-19 cases recorded in Suriname since the start of the pandemic. There are 682 active cases, of which 79 are being treated in hospitals, including seven patients in the Intensive Care Unit.

The death toll has reached 149. In January alone, 28 people died from the disease, making this month the deadliest since the virus was detected in Suriname on March 13, 2020. (CMC)

Ecuadorian Amazon: 3 European banks stop funding trade of oil

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NP Paribas, Credit Suisse and ING — have committed to halting the financing of the trade of oil from the Amazon region of Ecuador.

The three banks that have recently indicated such a policy change — in emails sent to environmental groups Amazon Watch and Stand.earth — are collectively responsible for US$5.5 billion in Ecuadorian Amazon oil financing since 2009.

The decisions come several months after a critical report published last August by those two groups exposed how a handful of banks in Europe have provided US$10 billion in fi-

nancing for over 155 million barrels of oil exported from South America to the United States.

In total, that fuel has produced an estimated 66 million metric tonnes of carbon dioxide, equivalent to the annual emissions from 17 coal-fired power plants.

More than 40 per cent of that oil has gone to refineries in the US state of California.

While the banks are expected to release binding details over the coming months, BNP Paribas has already publicised its new commitment to not finance “the seaborne exports of oil from the [coastal] Esmeraldas region in

Ecuador”.

Claire Schiff, a spokesperson for the Paris-based bank, told Al Jazeera that the company was continuously improving guidelines for “investment activities in sectors that present ESG [environmental, social and governance] risks”.

As one of the Earth’s most biodiverse ecosystems, the Amazon sacred headwaters is home to 500,000 Indigenous people. Their health and livelihoods are threatened by deforestation and the expansion of industrial drilling in their territories around Yasuni National Park and elsewhere. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Mexican President still running Government despite COVID-19 diagnosis, Minister says

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espite his COVID-19 diagnosis at the weekend, Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador continues to run the Government and should recover soon, a senior Minister said on Monday, sounding an optimistic note on the leader’s health.

Interior Minister Olga Sanchez told reporters at a regular government news conference that Lopez Obrador feels well after he announced on Sunday that he had mild symptoms of COVID-19.

President Lopez Obrador tested positive for COVID-19, he said on

Mexico's President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador attends a news conference where he announced that he sent his well wishes to President-elect Joe Biden ahead of Biden's inauguration later in the day, at the National Palace in Mexico City, Mexico, January 20, 2021

Sunday, adding that his symptoms were light and

that he was receiving medical treatment. (Reuters)

eople's National Party (PNP) spokesperson on education and training, Dr Angela Brown Burke has expressed shock at reports that some schools are asking parents to sign waivers of indemnity regarding COVID-19 exposure without the direction or knowledge of the Education Ministry.

“That schools are asking parents to sign any legal waiver without the knowledge of the Ministry is surprising, but it is even more shocking that we are talking about waivers regarding potential risk to the health of our children,” Brown Burke said in a statement.

The spokesperson has called for greater consultations, in order that informed

Shadow Minister of Education and Training, Dr Angela Brown Burke

decisions can be made about the health and safety of students.

She said that the reopening of schools and the con-

ditions under which they operate should be done in consultation with all stakeholders.

Brown Burke indicated that in order for these consultations to be effective, data regarding rates of local infection and variables used to decide the readiness of an institution for face-toface engagement should be shared with stakeholders.

“In the sharing of such information everyone would be allowed to be engaged in monitoring the required conditions. It also provides an opportunity for all stakeholders to have a clear sense of their individual and shared responsibilities,” she said. (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

Burnt bodies found in vehicles on US-Mexico border

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he burnt bodies of 19 people have been found close to the Mexican border with the US, according to officials from Tamaulipas state.

Police found two burntout vehicles on Saturday and initial findings indicate the people were shot and then set alight.

Violent drug gangs operate in the area, where migrants also try to cross the border into Texas.

An official said the victims may be undocumented migrants, reports AFP. The north-eastern state of Tamaulipas is known for violent killings and disappearances, often linked to powerful drug cartels who battle for territory.

The Mexican Government is fighting what it calls a war on drugs, and its security forces have previously been accused of detaining suspects who later go missing.

In the latest incident, the bodies were found near the town of Camargo which borders the US state of Texas.

Autopsies are underway, but the Tamaulipas state prosecutor's office said that the poor condition of the remains was complicating the procedures.

An investigation has begun to determine if the people killed were migrants travelling from Guatemala to try to reach the US. Officials have contact-

ed the Guatemalan consular authorities in Mexico "to provide the necessary information and try to identify some of the people believed to be Guatemalan migrants", an official told AFP news agency.

In recent weeks a group of about 7000 people had been travelling north from Guatemala to find a better life in the US, but the group was disbanded by security forces near the border with Honduras.

Every year thousands of people from Central American attempt to make the long journey, often on foot, to the US through Mexico, many fleeing poverty and violence. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Community spread of COVID in Barbados

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here is community spread of COVID-19 in Barbados.

Health Minister Jeffrey Bostic made the disclosure during Saturday’s COVID-19 management update by the Government of Barbados which was streamed live from Ilaro Court, confirming what many suspected after the cases mushroomed at the end of 2020.

He still can’t say if one of the variant strains is on island as the samples are in the queue at the Caribbean Public Health Laboratory in Trinidad and Tobago.

For several weeks, Government and health officials shied away from the term community spread, instead focusing on the clusters which broke out on the West Coast, South Coast and at Her Majesty’s Prison Dodds.

However, there are now cases which can’t be linked to contacts or existing cases.

“For those cases where we have exhausted our efforts in terms of finding a link, we now, based on the public health officials, have reached the stage where we believe and we are declaring that there is community transmission in Barbados,” Bostic said.

The Minister said this was anticipated

from the inception last year, which led to the standing up of Blackman and Gollop Primary School and there are other facilities which can be adapted in a similar fashion.

“Our strategy at the moment is trying to find persons that we consider to have been exposed to known positive cases, continue to assess them, place them in quarantine, and to test all primary contacts, and this will continue, but with some intensification in places of greatest interest.” (Excerpt from Nation News)

guyanatimesgy.com

TUESDAY, JANUARY 26, 2021

19

Around the World

OILNEWS OIL NEWS Oil rises 1% on US stimulus hopes, supply concerns

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il prices rose about 1 per cent on Monday as optimism around US stimulus plans and some supply concerns boosted futures, but demand worries prompted by coronavirus lockdowns limited gains.

Brent crude futures rose 47 cents, 0.9 per cent, to settle at US$55.88 a barrel. US West Texas Intermediate crude ended 50 cents, or 1 per cent, higher at US$52.77 a barrel.

Officials in US President Joe Biden’s administration on a Sunday call with Republican and Democratic lawmakers tried to head off Republican concerns that his US$1.9 trillion pandemic relief proposal was too expensive.

“Newly inaugurated President Biden seems to be pushing for a quick approval of his proposed $1.9 trillion pandemic relief package, a development interpreted by the market as a clear indication that the new U.S. administration aims to kickstart an economic recovery, which will naturally benefit fuel consumption,” said Bjornar Tonhaugen, Rystad Energy’s head of oil markets.

On the supply side, the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies’ compliance with pledged oil output curbs is averaging 85 per cent so far in January, tanker tracker Petro-Logistics said on Monday. The data suggest the group had improved its adherence to pledged supply curbs.

In Indonesia, the country said its coast guard seized an Iranian-flagged tanker over suspected illegal fuel transfers, raising the prospect of more tensions in the oil-exporting Gulf.

Output from Kazakhstan’s giant Tengiz field was disrupted by a power outage on Jan 17.

Meanwhile, European nations have imposed tough restrictions to halt the spread of the virus, while China reported a rise in new COVID-19 cases, casting a pall over demand prospects in the world’s largest energy consumer.

Barclays raised its 2021 oil price forecasts, but said rising cases in China could contribute to near-term pullbacks.

China’s Xi warns against “new Cold War”

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hinese President Xi Jinping has warned global leaders against starting a “new Cold War” and urged unity in the face of the coronavirus pandemic.

“To build small cliques or start a new Cold War, to reject, threaten or intimidate others … will only push the world into division,” said Xi at an all-virtual Davos forum on Monday.

The words appeared to be aimed at US President Joe Biden’s plans to revitalise global alliances to counter China’s growing influence.

Biden, busy handling several urgent domestic crises, did not participate at Davos and tasked US climate envoy John Kerry with representing Washington.

In a swipe at moves targeting China launched by the previous US Administration under Donald Trump, Xi said confrontation “will always end up harming every nation’s interests and sacrificing people’s welfare”.

Xi, making his first appearance at the forum since his vigorous defence of free trade and globalisation in an address in Davos in 2017, advocated multilateralism as the way out of current challenges in a roughly 25-minute speech.

The international community should be governed in accordance with rules and consensus reached by all countries, instead of by one or several issuing orders,

he said, without naming the countries.

Under Trump, tensions simmered between the US and China, the world’s top two economies, on issues ranging from trade and technology to Hong Kong, Xinjiang and the coronavirus.

The Chinese leader also reaffirmed Beijing’s ambitious climate pledges to slash carbon emissions by 65 per cent by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060 – both significant commitments as China emits a quarter of the world’s greenhouse gases. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Sri Lanka’s cremation of COVID dead a “human rights violation” T

he United Nations has urged the Sri Lankan Government to halt its policy of forced cremations of coronavirus victims, a practice it said went against the beliefs of the country’s Muslims and other minority populations.

Ignoring the World Health Organisation’s guidelines – which permit burials and cremations – Sri Lanka made cremation mandatory in March last year for people who die, or are suspected to have died, from the coronavirus.

The UN’s human rights experts said on Monday the policy could “foment existing prejudices, intolerance and violence”.

“The imposition of cremation as the only option

Sri Lankan municipal workers carry a body of a COVID-19 victim for cremation in Colombo, Sri Lanka

for handling the bodies confirmed or suspected of COVID-19 amounts to a human rights violation,” the experts said in a statement.

“There has been no estab-

Moderna vaccine appears to work against variants

M

oderna's COVID vaccine appears to work against new, more infectious variants of the pandemic virus found in the UK and South Africa, say scientists from the US pharmaceutical company.

Early laboratory tests suggest antibodies triggered by the vaccine can recognise and fight the new variants.

More studies are needed to confirm this is true for people who have been vaccinated.

The new variants have

been spreading fast in a number of nations.

They have undergone changes or mutations that mean they can infect human cells more easily than the original version of coronavirus that started the pandemic.

Experts think the UK strain, which emerged in September, may be up to 70 per cent more transmissible.

Current vaccines were designed around earlier variants, but scientists believe they should still work

A

against the new ones, although perhaps not quite as well. There are already some early results that suggest the Pfizer vaccine protects against the new UK variant.

For the Moderna study, researchers looked at blood samples taken from eight people who had received the recommended two doses of the Moderna vaccine.

The findings are yet to be peer-reviewed, but suggest immunity from the vaccine recognises the new variants.

Neutralising antibodies, made by the body's immune system, stop the virus from entering cells.

Blood samples exposed to the new variants appeared to have sufficient antibodies to achieve this neutralising effect, although it was not as strong for the South Africa variant as for the UK one.

Moderna said this could mean that protection against the South Africa variant might disappear more quickly. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Italy PM Conte to resign today, seek fresh mandate

I

talian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte will hand in his resignation to the Head of State today after a morning Cabinet meeting to inform his Ministers, Conte’s office said.

The Prime Minister, who has been in office since June 2018, hopes President Sergio Mattarella will give

him a mandate to form a new Government with broader backing in Parliament, senior Government sources said.

Conte lost his majority in the Upper House Senate last week, when the centrist Italia Viva party led by former premier Matteo Renzi quit the coalition in a row over the Government’s han-

Vietnam War: French court to hear landmark Agent Orange case French court is set to hear a landmark case against more than a dozen companies that supplied the US with the notorious chemical Agent Orange during the Vietnam War. The case was brought by Tran To Nga, a 78-year-old French-Vietnamese woman who covered the conflict as a journalist.

She accuses the chemical firms of causing harm to her and her children.

It is the first time civilian victims of Agent Orange have had their cases heard in court.

The highly toxic defoliant was sprayed by US forces to

lished medical or scientific evidence in Sri Lanka or other countries that burial of dead bodies leads to increased risk of spreading communicable diseases such

as COVID-19.”

The UN experts noted that while the Government tasked health authorities to explore burial options amid the pandemic, the advice of a panel of experts to include both burial and cremations as options was allegedly ignored.

“We hope that the report of local burial options by the main committee referred to by the Health Minister will be available soon and that the authorities will stop pursuing a burial solution in a foreign country.”

Amnesty International also called on authorities to “respect the right of religious minorities to carry out the final rites” according to their own traditions.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

destroy jungles and uncover the enemy's hiding places from 1962 until 1971.

It contained dioxin, which is one of the most toxic chemicals known to humans, and has been linked to increased rates of cancers and birth defects.

Vietnam said several million people have been affected by Agent Orange, including 150,000 children born with severe birth defects.

Nga is seeking damages in recognition of the health problems herself, her children and many others have suffered as a result of the chemical's use.

She is also seeking recog-

nition of the damage Agent Orange caused to the environment. The substance destroyed plants, poisoned animals, and polluted Vietnam's soil and rivers.

The named companies, meanwhile, insist it was the US military that designed and made Agent Orange and say they cannot be held responsible for how it was used during the conflict.

But lawyers for Nga are expected to argue that the firms misled the US government over how toxic the substance was. Cabanes described the toxicity of Agent Orange as "absolutely phenomenal".

(Excerpt from BBC News)

Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte attends a debate before a confidence vote in the Upper House of Parliament after former Prime Minister Matteo Renzi pulled his party out of Government, in Rome, Italy, January 19, 2021

dling of the coronavirus crisis and economic recession.

Conte’s efforts to lure centrist and independent senators to the Government’s ranks have met little success.

Italy has had 66 governments since World War Two and Administrations are regularly ripped up and then pieced back together in tortuous, behind-the-scenes talks that open the way for Cabinet reshuffles and policy reviews.

However, once a Prime Minister resigns, there is no guarantee that a new coalition can form, and always a risk that early elections

might end up as the only viable solution.

Earlier, lawmakers in the Prime Minister’s own coalition warned he would face defeat in Parliament this week in a vote over a contested report on the justice system, which could only be averted by handing his resignation.

Conte had resisted resigning so far for fear that he might not be reappointed. Instead, he tried to draw wavering Senators into his camp with vague promises of a new Government pact and possible ministerial positions. (Excerpt from Reuters)

20

TUESDAY, JANUARY 26, 2021

guyanatimesgy.com

ARCHIE

ARIES

(March 21April 19)

TAURUS (April 20May 20)

DILBERT

GEMINI (May 21June 20)

Seek refuge in what you know and what you can do, not in what others want.

Manage your money well, and don’t make donations you cannot afford. Take better care of yourself.

Put more thought into how you do a job or take care of your responsibilities.

Taking a different approach will draw the attention of someone influential. Don’t be afraid to ask direct questions.

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

Keep your secrets to yourself. Someone will use personal information against you if you are too trusting.

Look for ways to stabilize your life; focus on saving and personal growth.

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

SCORPIO

SUDOKU

Keep things simple.

Don’t alter your life because of what someone else does.

Use your imagination to come up with a plan that will utilize your skills. Take ownership of your life and decisions.

CANCER (June 21July 22)

PEANUTS

CALVIN AND HOBBES

Be conscious of what’s happening around you. Look for solutions that are fair and practical. Learn from mistakes, and make adjustments that will help you achieve the success you desire.

(Oct. 24Nov. 22)

You’ll get help when needed. A friendly gesture will bring high returns.

Fitness, self-improvement and quality time with someone special are favored.

Make a plan and get moving.

Emotions will surface if you mix business with pleasure. Choose your words carefully, and direct your energy into something constructive. Use your imagination.

Do your own thing. Refuse to let anyone draw you into an impossible or confounding situation. Soul-searching will lead to self-improvement and greater confidence. Romance will enhance your life.

A change at home may SAGITTARIUS be upsetting, but, in the (Nov. 23end, you’ll adjust. It’s time Dec. 21) to embrace new beginnings and discard what no longer works for you. A change of scenery will be enlightening.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22Jan. 19)

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

PISCES (Feb. 20March 20)

The changes you make should result in greater comfort for you and your loved ones. Look over your options and weigh the pros and cons.

Ask for the approval of anyone affected by what you do.

Refuse to let negativity set in, regardless of what those around you do or say.

Keep your emotions under control, and set a standard for others. An optimistic attitude will help you attract supporters.

Make changes at home to suit your needs. Feeling comfortable encourage you to do things that make you happy.

Reach out to someone who makes a difference in your life. Romance is in the stars.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 26, 2021

21

GABF confident heading into AmeriCup 2021

– “Guyana will be ready to qualify,” says Haynes

GABF General Secretary Patrick Haynes

T

he new 3x3 format in basketball is taking the world by storm, and as such, Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF) General Secretary Patrick Haynes is confident that Guyana

will do well when the tournament commences.

Of the 25 National Federations participating in the FIBA 3x3 AmeriCup2021, Guyana is ranked 23rd. Guyana have seen many successes in the 3x3 format and are expected to dominate when they hit the court. Due to the number of eligible teams, the FIBA 3x3 AmeriCup 2021 will have to be played with a main draw and a qualifier.

A number of teams will qualify directly to the main draw, while the rest of the teams shall qualify via a qualification draw or a qualification tournament.

Teams will be assigned to the main draw or the qualifier based on the FIBA 3x3 Federation Ranking in the respective category as of

“The return is here, guys!” “Cubby” Taylor glad to have been able to prove himself once more

C

hristopher “Cubby” Taylor says he is glad to have got the chance to prove himself to the world once more following his impressive indoor debut in Arkansas on Sunday.

In his first-ever indoor meet, Taylor, who spent much of the last two years recovering from injury and training at the Tumbleweed camp in Florida, produced a fast 45.73s to finish second behind Fred Kerley at the opening meeting of the American Track League in Fayetteville.

Kerley won in an even more impressive 45.03 pulling away from Taylor in the final few metres after the Jamaican tried to challenge him late in the race. They were the only two runners under 46 seconds in the race in which Travean Caldwell was third in 46.25.

“Cubby”, as Taylor was known during a stellar high school career, said he was pleased to show that his senior career was not over before it even began.

“So, I did my first indoor race of my career and it turned out to be history, but let’s leave that for later. It has been two years since I’ve gotten a serious injury and I hadn’t gotten the chance to prove myself back to the world,” Taylor said in a post on his Instagram page.

“Big thanks to my management team, my teammates, and coach @ranareider for not giving up on me. The return is here, guys; it’s here.”

The post was made under a video of the race that has been viewed more than 6500 times and generated many positive responses from his adoring fans. (Sportsmax)

November 1, 2020, with the best-ranked teams and the FIBA 3x3 AmeriCup 2021 host qualifying directly to the main draw, and all remaining teams entering the qualifier. As it is right now, Guyana do not know whether they will enter the main draw or qualifier, so they

will have to wait until further results are announced.

Sharing his sentiments on the news, General Secretary Haynes said, “Guyana feels very excited about this opportunity to compete in the FIBA 3x3 AmeriCup. Guyana has had some success at the Antilles

3x3 finals in St Lucia and again in Guyana. Hence, we feel very confident going in to this tournament.

We are not sure of which category we are going to be placed in as it goes by the ranking points, as this is accumulated by the number of players that are ac-

tively playing the game and also the number of 3x3 events that the country hosts.”

Haynes went on to state that regardless of where the Guyana team are placed, whether it be the main draw or qualifier, they will be ready. He also relayed that he was energised that Guyana have qualified and he has been working tirelessly with the GABF executives and the 3x3 personnel that were employed. In closing, Haynes reiterated that this was a good look for Guyana and it was a good way for the return of basketball to Guyana.

Lampard sacked as Chelsea Head Coach

F

rank Lampard has been sacked as Chelsea Head Coach, the Blues have confirmed.

Widespread reports emerged on Monday that the Blues were set to dismiss Lampard after a run of two wins in eight Premier League games left them ninth, 11 points off the pace.

Confirmation soon followed, bringing to an end Lampard’s 18-month reign back at the club where he remains the all-time record goalscorer, with former Paris Saint-Germain boss Thomas Tuchel expected to be appointed as his successor.

Chelsea’s statement did not comment on Tuchel’s potential arrival, but read: “This has been a very difficult decision, and not one that the owner and the Board have taken lightly.

“We are grateful to Frank for what he has achieved in his time as Head Coach of the club. However, recent results and performances have not met the club’s expectations, leaving the club mid-table without any clear path to sustained improvement.

“There can never be a good time to part ways with a club legend such as Frank, but after lengthy deliberation and consideration it was decided a change is needed now to give the club time to improve performances and results this season.”

Owner Roman Abramovich added: “This was a very difficult decision for the club, not least because I have an excellent personal relationship with Frank and I have the utmost respect for him.

“He is a man of great integrity and has the highest of work ethics.

However, under current circumstanc-

Frank Lampard

es we believe it is best to change managers.

“On behalf of everyone at the club, the Board and personally, I would like to thank Frank for his work as Head Coach and wish him every success in the future.

“He is an important icon of this great club and his status here remains undiminished. He will always be warmly welcomed back at Stamford Bridge.”

Lampard was unable to replicate the success of his playing career at Stamford Bridge, where he won 11 major trophies in 13 years.

This was his second senior coaching role, having fallen just short of promotion from the Championship with Derby County in 2018-19.

A return to Chelsea followed, with Lampard given the task of oversee-

ing a period of transition as the club served a transfer ban while bringing through a number of players from their talented academy.

Mason Mount, Tammy Abraham, and Reece James all established themselves as regulars as the Blues qualified for the Champions League last term and reached the FA Cup final.

Expectations were raised by significant expenditure in the close-season transfer window, with Timo Werner, Kai Havertz, Hakim Ziyech, and Ben Chilwell among those arriving, and Chelsea initially thrived, climbing to the top of the table in December 2020.

But the 2020-21 campaign has since gone on a downward spiral, their poor run of form including defeats to Everton, Wolves, Arsenal, Manchester City, and Leicester City.

The latter three reverses were especially humbling, handing struggling Arsenal a much-needed win before being completely outplayed by City. Leicester – title contenders unlike Chelsea – were comfortable in Lampard’s final league game in charge on Tuesday.

Lampard’s tenure ended with a 3-1 victory against Luton Town in the FA Cup in which Abraham scored a hattrick, although Werner’s struggles continued with a penalty miss.

Werner and Havertz have failed to perform consistently following their big-money moves from the Bundesliga.

They will hope to be boosted by the apparently imminent appointment of fellow German Tuchel, who won two Ligue 1 titles and made the Champions League final with PSG. (Sportsmax)

22

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

TUESDAY, JANUARY 26, 2021

Luckless Windies whitewashed!!!

T

he process was different, but the result was similar. Chasing a total for the first time in the series, the inexperienced West Indies line-up came a cropper once again to manage just 177 in 44.2 overs against Bangladesh to lose the OneDay International (ODI) series 3-0 and not collect a single point for the ODI Super League.

With the top score again coming from Rovman Powell in the lower order, West Indies were no match for Bangladesh's competitive 297 scored on the back of attacking half-centuries from Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah, and cautious fifties from Tamim Iqbal and

Mohammad Saifuddin meant the visitors were hardly in the chase. Number three Nkrumah Bonner blocked one end for a long period, and it was only him and Powell who provided any kind of resistance by facing over 40 balls each for contrasting scores of 31 and 47 respectively.

Rahman was the first to strike when he had Kjorn Ottley caught behind for 1 and dismissed Sunil Ambris for the third time in the series. Spin soon came on from both ends and Mehidy Hasan Miraz got one to straighten from around the wicket that caught Kyle Mayers on the back foot for 11. Captain Jason Mohammed and Bonners saw through a boundary-less phase of 15 overs and a wicketless first spell from Shakib, but both batsmen fell in successive overs off Saifuddin, who returned to the XI and finished with 3 for 51. Powell was promoted to number 6, but the asking rate was already over eight an over. He started with a six off Rovman Powell top-scored for the West Indies his third ball and scored runs Shakib Al Hasan. with much more freedom comUnlike in the first two pared to the others yet again, ODIs, the West Indies bats- only to delay the inevitable. men showed more fight With Bangladesh batting against the spinners, but the first for the first time this setwin strikes from Mustafizur ries, Iqbal's 64 and Shakib's Rahman early on, and then 51 set the stage for Rahim in the middle overs from and Mahmudullah to launch

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PUPPIES FOR SALE Bangladesh swept the series 3-0

an attack at the end to collect 100 runs off the last 10 overs and post their highest total at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium.

West Indies' inexperienced attack could not sustain the accuracy they showed at the start. Mahmudullah collected boundaries in the slog overs even as Alzarri Joseph kept things tight as the hosts targeted the inexperienced bowlers – Mahmudullah stayed unbeaten on 64 off 43 that had three fours and as many sixes, the big hits coming off debutant Keon Harding and Raymon Reifer. Harding's none for 88 were the most expensive figures by a West Indies bowler on debut, overtaking Oshane Thomas' 1 for 83 against India in 2018, including the last over of the innings which leaked 22 runs with two sixes and a no ball.

The real push in the Bangladesh innings came once Rahim joined Shakib after 28 overs. With two consecutive fours, one a reverse sweep and the other a conventional one off left-arm spinner Akeal Hosein, in his first

10 balls, Rahim made it clear his plan was to accelerate.

While Shakib played as many as 41 dots in his 81-ball stay, Rahim moved around in the crease for regular strike rotation and powered them past 250 when he muscled Reifer for two sixes on the leg side and launched Joseph over the covers for a four in between.

Bangladesh were 252 with 22 balls left when Rahim was caught at cover. Mahmudullah finished the 47th over with two wellplaced fours before Joseph and Reifer conceded only 13 runs off the next two overs, leaving Harding with the big task of bowling the last over on his international debut. Mahmudullah started it with a six over the covers for his 22nd ODI fifty, Soumya Sarkar was run-out two balls later before Saifuddin struck a four and Mahmudullah finished the innings with a six over long-on. That was not the end, though, as replays showed Harding had overstepped, and Mahmudullah collected two more runs to take the last-over tally to 22.

West Indies had bowled

much better earlier after opting to field. Joseph trapped Liton Das lbw with an in-ducker for a duck and firstchange Mayers did the same for Najmul Hossain Shanto.

Shakib and Iqbal played out a long boundary-less phase of 15 overs against the precision of Hosein and Reifer, who bowled stump to stump and just outside off in the absence of much movement on offer.

Shakib broke the shackles with a late cut for four to third man, and Iqbal followed it with a spectacular six over the covers against Jason in the next over. Joseph briefly gave West Indies a chance of putting the hosts on the back foot when he had Iqbal caught at midwicket with a short-ball plan, but the attacking mindset Rahim brought did not give the visitors a chance.

West Indies will also rue the seven wides Harding sent down and the return catch Mayers put down off the first ball Shakib faced in the ninth over of the innings, right after Shanto's wicket, although it was a touch chance in the bowler's follow through.

(ESPNcricinfo)

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Giannis ignites Bucks; Celtics' Brown SCOREBOARD has memorable 33-point performance

T

he Milwaukee Bucks snapped a two-game skid thanks to Giannis Antetokounmpo, whose double-double fuelled a 129-115 win over the Atlanta Hawks.

After the Bucks dropped back-to-back games, twotime reigning NBA MVP Antetokounmpo posted 27 points, 14 rebounds, and eight assists on Sunday.

Antetokounmpo became the sixth Bucks player to record 11,000 career points thanks to his performance in Milwaukee.

The Hawks – playing without Trae Young – were led by De'Andre Hunter's game-high 33 points and John Collins' 30 points, but it was not enough.

Jaylen Brown produced a scintillating display as the Boston Celtics outlasted the Cleveland Cavaliers 141-103.

Brown had 33 points in just 19 minutes – the most by any player in fewer than 20 minutes played during the shot-clock era (1954-55), according to NBA.com/Stats.

Kawhi stars

The Los Angeles Clippers celebrated their seventh consecutive victory behind Kawhi Leonard's 34 points in a 108-100 win against the

Oklahoma City Thunder. The Clippers improved to 13-4, tying defending champions and city rivals the Los Angeles Lakers for the league's best record.

Gordon Hayward flexed his muscles with a gamehigh 39 points to lead the Charlotte Hornets past the Orlando Magic 107-104.

A season-high 30 points from OG Anunoby saw the Toronto Raptors top the Indiana Pacers 107-102 for a fifth victory in six games.

Westbrook struggles on return

For the first time in almost two weeks, Russell Westbrook was back on the court for the struggling Washington Wizards. However, the former MVP finished with just nine points in 25 minutes.

Westbrook was three-of-11 from the field, while he made just one of three attempts from beyond the arc. He also had four turnovers as the Wizards lost 121-101 to the San Antonio Spurs.

Paul George has been in good form this season, but he struggled in the Clippers' win. He was four-of-13 from the field and only two-of-eight from three-point range for 11 points and four turnovers in 33 minutes.

Hayward proving his worth

Michael Jordan and the Hornets opted to give Hayward a big payday to lure him from Boston. The former All-Star has returned to his best with the Hornets, continuing his fine form with the game-winning shot with 0.7 seconds remaining.

Sunday's results

Toronto Raptors 107-102 Indiana Pacers Los Angeles Clippers 108100 Oklahoma City Thunder Boston Celtics 141-103 Cleveland Cavaliers Charlotte Hornets 107104 Orlando Magic San Antonio Spurs 121101 Washington Wizards Milwaukee Bucks 129-115 Atlanta Hawks Portland Trail Blazers 116-113 New York Knicks Memphis GrizzliesSacramento Kings (postponed)

76ers at Pistons

The in-form Philadelphia 76ers (12-5) – the Eastern Conference leaders – were scheduled to put their threegame winning streak on the line against the lowly Detroit Pistons (3-13) on Monday.

(Sportsmax)

BANGLADESH INNINGS (50 OVERS MAXIMUM) Tamim Iqbal (c) c Hosein b Joseph 64 Liton Das † lbw b Joseph 0 Najmul Hossain Shanto lbw b Mayers 20 Shakib Al Hasan b Reifer 51 Mushfiqur Rahim c Joseph b Reifer 64 Mahmudullah not out 64 Soumya Sarkar run out (Hosein/†Hamilton) 7 Mohammad Saifuddin not out 5 Extras (lb 4, nb 3, w 15) 22 TOTAL (50 Ov, RR: 5.94) 297/6 Fall of wickets: 1-1 (Liton Das, 0.5 ov), 2-38 (Najmul Hossain Shanto, 8.4 ov), 3-131 (Tamim Iqbal, 27.6 ov), 4-179 (Shakib Al Hasan, 36.4 ov), 5-251 (Mushfiqur Rahim, 46.2 ov), 6-283 (Soumya Sarkar, 49.3 ov) BOWLING Alzarri Joseph Keon Harding Kyle Mayers Raymon Reifer Akeal Hosein Jason Mohammed

10-0-48-2 10-0-88-0 7-0-34-1 10-0-61-2 10-0-46-0 3-0-16-0

WEST INDIES INNINGS (TARGET: 298 RUNS FROM 50 OVERS) Kjorn Ottley c Mushfiqur Rahim b Mustafizur Rahman 1 Sunil Ambris lbw Mustafizur Rahman 13 Nkrumah Bonner b Mohammad Saifuddin 31

Kyle Mayers lbw b Mehidy Hasan Miraz 11 Jason Mohammed (c) c Mushfiqur Rahim b Mohammad Saifuddin 17 Rovman Powell lbw b Soumya Sarkar 47 Jahmar Hamilton † c Mushfiqur Rahim b Mehidy Hasan Miraz 5 Raymon Reifer c & b Taskin Ahmed 27 Alzarri Joseph run out (Najmul Hossain Shanto/Mohammad Saifuddin) 11 Akeal Hosein c Mushfiqur Rahim b Mohammad Saifuddin 0 Keon Harding not out 1 Extras (b 1, lb 2, nb 2, w 8) 13 TOTAL (44.2 Ov, RR: 3.99) 177 Fall of wickets: 1-7 (Kjorn Ottley, 1.6 ov), 2-30 (Sunil Ambris, 5.4 ov), 3-47 (Kyle Mayers, 12.1 ov), 4-79 (Jason Mohammed, 23.1 ov), 5-93 (Nkrumah Bonner, 25.3 ov), 6-117 (Jahmar Hamilton, 30.4 ov), 7-155 (Rovman Powell, 40.4 ov), 8-174 (Alzarri Joseph, 43.1 ov), 9-175 (Akeal Hosein, 43.4 ov), 10-177 (Raymon Reifer, 44.2 ov) BOWLING Mohammad Saifuddin 9-0-51-3 Mustafizur Rahman 6-0-24-2 Taskin Ahmed 8.2-1-32-1 Mehidy Miraz 10-2-18-2 Shakib Al Hasan 4.5-0-12-0 Mahmudullah 2-0-11-0 Soumya Sarkar 3.1-0-22-1 Najmul Shanto 1-0-4-0

223-7230-1 (Ext 55)

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(Ext 55)

NOW!

TUESDAY, JANUARY 26, 2021

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

23

Going gaga for India’s phenomenal victory

By Jemima Holmes

A

lthough the time zone starkly contrasts with that of Guyana, many Guyanese stayed up from 12 midnight to 4am glued to their television sets on day five of the fourth Test match between India and Australia in Brisbane.

From 36 all out in Adelaide, India did well to bring themselves back into competitive stride in the Border- Gavaskar series, when it was level 1-1 and the series winner depended on the result of the Test

“At this rate of injuries, even Sunil Gavaskar will be made to play in the XI,” Dr Srinivasa joked.

The fact was, India’s chances were slim to none, but that’s the x factor that makes the historic games even more memorable.

An avid cricket fan, Dr Srinivasa was quite aware of the deficit that India had in the game, “The combined number of wickets between these four bowlers is 13. While the opposition Australian team, the top four bowlers have a thousand wickets between them. So, you can imag-

Sport Journalist Jemima Holmes chats with Indian High Commissioner, Dr KJ Srinivasa

match in Australia’s strongest fortress, the Gabba.

The disadvantage, however, was the absence of regular Test Captain Virat Kohli, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah, Ishant Sharma, Ravindra Jadeja and Hanuman Vihari, among others. It was a team of youngsters who would go to achieve the unthinkable.

“It was a game of the last man standing. Who would play in the XI was basically who was fit,” the Indian High Commissioner to Guyana, Dr KJ Srinivasa said, reflecting on last week’s history-making game.

ine it’s a David vs Goliath fight.”

Yet, the team of upcoming talents like Rishabh Pant, Shubhman Gill, Mohammed Siraj, Shardul Thakur and Thangarasu Natarajan, pulled off the first win for visitors at The Gabba in 32 years.

“As they say when you’re faced with adversity, your true character comes out. So, these debutants, these players, I think they embody what the new India is all about. It’s about your grit, your determination, your resilience and your competitive spirit. They gave it all,” the High

Commissioner commented.

He continued, “It was a path-breaking day, I must say. It was a day of tremendous joy, not only for the Indian supporters, but also across the world I could see and read the comments of great cricketers, but at the same time even common men on the street from Australia, to South Africa, to West Indies.”

“Everybody was going gaga about this phenomenal Indian victory, going against all odds,” the High Commissioner marvelled.

What will stick with those young players, aside from the breath-taking victory in Australia, is the reception they received from their countrymen and women upon their return home. In spite of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, Indian cricket fans packed the airports and lined the streets to catch a glimpse of their own local heroes and to celebrate the team – a practice that is hardly seen in recent times.

This showed the true cricket culture that India holds dear and the Indian High Commissioner to Guyana agrees.

“India as a culture has always been celebrating its heroes, which culture doesn’t?” Dr Srinivasa rightfully questioned.

He went on to state, “As they say, people, when they see heroes who have made history and who are selfmade, that gives them more glamour, more charm.”

Expounding on the topic, Dr Srinivasa shared with <<<Guyana Times Sport>>> that the festivities were more about celebrating their humble beginnings, from which they went on to do marvellous things.

“They are these rags-to-riches stories and these are the kinds of stories that people like. And you can see that in the reception that we have always done. Of course, they

It was with a sense of national pride that the Indian team revelled in their historic victory

came back as winners, but apart from that, the people recognise that these guys have done it in the first series, coming from humble background and I think this is a reflection of the true love and respect that the Indian public has for all these cricketers,” the High Commissioner posited.

Aside from all the glitz and glamour of India’s triumphant victory, the tour was stained by the hurling of racist remarks, from the stands at various venues.

Dr Srinivasa, when probed about the disappointing actions of those few Australians, noted that such an act went against everything that cricket embodied.

“Cricket, we all play it in a very friendly spirit. We all enjoy it as a game and such unfortunate incidents especially when they happen when the game is going on, it can disturb the psychology, concentration of the players. But here again, the strength and character of the

players of the Indian team came to fore,” he said.

However, the High Commissioner praised the authorities involved for their swift action, highlighting that it played a great role in maintaining the confidence of the players involved.

“We have already had this history of racial abuse in Sydney on many previous tours, but the quick action by the Cricket Board and the teams actually help to build the confidence for the teams that we cannot tolerate such racism and I think that message went out loud and clear when they evicted those five people from the stadium.”

It is the High Commissioner’s view that this adversity helped to bring out the best in those cricketers.

“These are young people, playing their first series abroad and for them to be subjected to such racial comments, actually helped them to steel themselves and bring out the best in them,” Dr Srinivasa posited.

CWI…announces match schedule for CG Insurance Super50 Cup to run from February 7 to 27, feature 6 regional rival teams playing 19 matches

C

ricket West Indies (CWI) has announced the return of regional 50-over cricket to the Caribbean with the fixtures for the rescheduled CG Insurance Super50 Cup to be played in Antigua in February.

The health risks related to the COVID-19 pandemic caused major disruption to all domestic cricket since late March 2020, with no competitive cricket allowed regionally except for an abridged version of the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) which took place last August in Trinidad.

This year’s annual CG Insurance Super50 Cup will provide a platform for the Region’s six major cricketing rivals to clash in 19 action-packed 50-over matches starting from Sunday, February 7 when Leeward Islands Hurricanes host the Windward Islands Volcanoes.

The tournament will come to an exciting climax when the new champions are crowned on Saturday, February 27.

The 2019-20 champions, West Indies Emerging Players, are unable to defend their 2019 trophy due to COVID-19 constraints, however several of those players now feature in the squads of the six competing franchise teams, one of which will emerge as the CG Insurance Super50 Cup

champions.

Each team will play each other on a round-robin basis with the top four teams qualifying for the semi-finals and the opportunity to reach the grand final. Matches will be played at Antigua’s two int e r n a t i o n - al cricket ven-

ues – the Coolidge Cricket Ground (CCG) and the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium (SVRS). There will be 13 matches at CCG, including the semi-finals and final, and six matches at SVRS. West Indies One-Day International (ODI) Captain Kieron Pollard, who will be participating in this year’s tournament after a one-year absence, said: "It is very good that cricket is coming back to the Caribbean ... players will get the opportunity to show-

case their skills and entertain our fans. It has been a trying 2020 for cricketers and the whole Caribbean, so it is really good that we have the CG Insurance Super50 Cup being played at this time and hopefully it can unearth some new talent.”

CWI has been working closely with the Health and Sport Ministries in Antigua and Barbuda to orchestrate logistics and agree on the safety and medical protocols for the commencement and duration of the tournament. All players, support staff, match officials, and supporting professionals will be tested, with negative COVID-19 results needed before their arrival into Antigua. Players, support staff, and match officials will operate within a bio-secure bubble and will be tested at regular intervals during the tournament with assistance from the local Health Ministry and the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA).

CWI Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Johnny Grave commented: “A huge amount of planning and work has been put in to ensure that the Super50 Cup can return, and CWI would like to offer our sincere thanks and appreciation to the Government of Antigua and Barbuda, title partners CG Insurance, our host broadcasters ESPN Caribbean and our colleagues

at the Leeward Islands Cricket Board and the Antigua and Barbuda Cricket Association, for all of their support in helping to stage the tournament during these unprecedented times.”

CG Insurance CEO Naz Farrow said: “CG Insurance is proud to sponsor the CWI Super50 Cup and thrilled to be a part of the first tournament of 2021. We are happy to support the many players and organisers involved and rec-

ognise the major efforts that have gone into the preparation of this event during these unique times. By partnering with the CWI series, we have the opportunity to support our various Caribbean nations and to showcase that we are stronger together.”

The CG Insurance Super50 Cup is the marquee 50-over event in the West Indies, featuring the six long-standing territorial rivals – Barbados Pride,

Guyana Jaguars, Jamaica Scorpions, Leeward Islands Hurricanes, Trinidad & Tobago Red Force, and the Windward Islands Volcanoes.

This is the second edition of the Super50 Cup featuring CG Insurance as title sponsors, and the event promises to stage big performances and memorable moments as the teams go in pursuit of the coveted CG Insurance Super50 Cup title and being awarded the Sir Clive Lloyd Trophy.

Match schedule for the CG Insurance Super50 Cup

Coolidge Cricket Ground — CCG Sir Vivian Richards Stadium — SVRS All matches at CCG are day/night unless otherwise stated All matches at SVRS are day matches Day matches start 9am (8am Jamaica Time) Day/night matches start 1:30pm (12:30pm Jamaica Time) DATE MATCH VENUE SUN Feb 7 Leewards Hurricanes v Windwards Volcanoes CCG MON Feb 8 Guyana Jaguars v Barbados Pride CCG WED Feb 10 Leewards Hurricanes v Barbados Pride CCG THU Feb 11 Jamaica Scorpions v Trinidad & Tobago Red Force SVRS FRI Feb 12 Leewards Hurricanes v Guyana Jaguars CCG SAT Feb 13 Windwards Volcanoes v Trinidad & Tobago Red Force CCG SUN Feb 14 Jamaica Scorpions v Guyana Jaguars CCG MON Feb 15 Trinidad & Tobago Red Force v Barbados Pride SVRS TUE Feb 16 Windwards Volcanoes v Jamaica Scorpions CCG WED Feb 17 Leewards Hurricanes v Trinidad & Tobago Red Force CCG THU Feb 18 Windwards Volcanoes v Barbados Pride SVRS FRI Feb 19 Leewards Hurricanes v Jamaica Scorpions SVRS SAT Feb 20 Guyana Jaguars v Trinidad & Tobago Red Force CCG SUN Feb 21 Barbados Pride v Jamaica Scorpions CCG MON Feb 22 Windwards Volcanoes v Guyana Jaguars

SVRS WED Feb 24 SEMI-FINAL 1 CCG THU Feb 25 SEMI-FINAL 2 CCG FRI Feb 26 Fifth placed v Sixth placed SVRS SAT Feb 27 FINAL CCG

TUESDAY, JANUARY 26, 2021

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

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CWI announces match schedule for the CG Insurance Super50 Cup

…Running from February 7 to 27; Featuring six regional rival teams playing 19 matches

Going gaga for GABF confident heading India’s phenomenal into AmeriCup 2021 victory Pg 21

Pg 23

Indian High Commissioner to Guyana, Dr KJ Srinivasa

– “Guyana will be ready to qualify,” says Haynes

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