Guyana Times - Tuesday, May 25, 2021

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THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Issue No. 4658

TUESDAY, MAY 25, 2021

Guyanese must be prime beneficiaries of land – Ali …says land use policy will evolve to better protect Guyanese

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

Motorcycle bandits pull off daring robbery outside US P11 Embassy

Page 3

BoG's 1st quarter report

Page 2

Govt records $14.2B surplus in State coffers

Police promotion controversy

P8

Chief Justice “concerned” about declaration sought against PSC …ruling likely by June 18

…$46.7B in current budgetary funds expended

Hess Corp increases US Govt gifts Guyana shares in 5 freezers to improve Kaieteur oil block vaccine storage …following joint venture Page 7

Essequibo Coast man collapses, dies at backdam P11

partner's 5% farm-down

Electoral fraud cases

DPP objects to Lowenfield being added to case seeking release of SoPs, SoRs Page 10

…says CEO’s application hangs on “tenuous thread”

Security guard robbed while P11 walking home

Chargé d’affaires of the United States Embassy, Mark Cullinane and Health Minister, Frank Anthony display the gift agreement during the handing over of the five, ultra-low temperature $14 million freezers on Monday (Page 16)

Kairuni horrific accident

“We don’t know who to contact or where to go … to get help” – family of 3 persons killed Dead: 8-year-old Akese Jerome

Diamond resident convicted of taxi driver’s murder P13

See story on page 9

COVID-19 &P14 15 death toll rises, 105 new cases

Dead: Anthonia Henry

The area where the accident occurred

…over 184,000 persons received 1st dose COVID-19 vaccine …drive thru initiative continues on Wednesday

2 NEWS

TUESDAY, MAY 25, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BoG’s 1st quarter report

Govt records $14.2B surplus in State coffers …$46.7B in current budgetary funds expended

T

he Government has recorded a morethan-$14 billion surplus in its coffers – an increase from last year’s first quarter – which has been fuelled by increased revenue collection as against budgetary spending.

This is according to the Bank of Guyana (BoG) first-quarter report, which states that the overall financial position of the Public Sector as of March 2021 month-end was a surplus of $14.251 billion. This sum is applicable for both Central Government and NonFinancial Public Enterprises (NFPEs).

The report also provides a further breakdown. The Central Government’s overall balance was a surplus of $10.6 billion at end-March 2021, compared to a surplus of $6.5 billion one year earlier. According to the report, this can be attributed to increased revenue collection,

which was sufficient to offset budgetary spending during the review period.

“The current account recorded a surplus of $14.8 billion owing to increased revenue collections from taxation as business activities picked up following the gradual lifting of COVID-19 restrictions.

Total current revenue rose by 9.7 per cent to $61.559 billion.

“This performance reflected increased collection of income taxes by 9.8 per cent to $25.9 billion, VAT & excise taxes by 7.3 per cent to $25.3 billion, trade taxes by 5.8 per cent to $5.5 billion and other tax revenues by 32.3 per cent to $2.4 billion,” the report states.

According to the report, non-tax revenue meanwhile expanded by 29.5 per cent to $2.3 billion. When it comes to total current expenditure, a sum of $46.7 billion was spent during the first quarter. This reflects budgetary

The Bank of Guyana

spending.

“Transfer payments amounted to $21 billion while employment costs, spending on other goods & services and interest charges were $16.4 billion, $7.1 billion and $2 billion, respectively. The capital account deficit stood at $4.1 billion, with capital revenue amounting to $318 million while capital expenditure amounted to $4.5 billion.

“Capital revenue comprised proceeds received for projects amounting to $248

million and debt relief of $70 million under the Enhanced HIPC (E-HIPC – Enhanced Initiative for Heavily Indebted Poor Countries) initiative. Capital expenditure was in line with budgetary spending on developmental projects. Disbursements for the construction sector amounted to $2.9 billion and represented 65.5 per cent of total capital expenditure for the period under review.”

Meanwhile, the report also laid out the percentage of total capital expen-

diture, in various sectors: these include agriculture (7.8 per cent); social welfare (6.0 per cent); power generation (4.4 per cent); health (3.5 per cent); public safety (3.2 per cent); administration (2.1 per cent); environment & pure water (2.0 per cent); housing (1.8 per cent); transport & communication (1.7 per cent); education (0.7 per cent); financial transfers (0.5 per cent); culture/ youth (0.4 per cent); manufacturing (0.4 per cent) and national security & defence (0.1 per cent).

“There was no capital spending on fishing and tourist development. Central Government financing position amounted to net domestic savings of G$22,576 million and net external borrowings of G$11,965 million,” the report says.

Over the course of the period under review, several of these sectors flourished. It was noted in the report that

the agriculture sector recorded increased production of rice, fish and shrimp, sugar, eggs and poultry meat while the forestry subsector contracted. In the mining and quarrying sector, production of sand, bauxite, stone and gold was lower while crude oil and diamond production increased.

The manufacturing sector also recorded mixed performances with liquid pharmaceuticals, nitrogen gas, oxygen, paints and alcoholic beverages performing favourably while there was a decline in production of acetylene, ointments, tablets, and detergents.

The construction sector recorded positive performance on account of increased public and private construction while there were increased activities in the services sector as the authorities commenced lifting COVID-19 restrictive measures. (G3)

NEWS

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TUESDAY, MAY 25, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS OPENINGS BRIDGE

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

Tuesday, May 25 – 03:00h – 04:30h and Wednesday, May 26 – 03:30h – 05:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Tuesday, May 25 – 15:35h – 17:05h and Wednesday, May 26 – 16:35h – 18:05h.

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

WEATHER TODAY

Expect thundery showers and light rain showers during the day. There will be thundery showers at night. Temperatures should range between 23 degrees Celsius and 29 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East North-Easterly to North-Easterly between 1.78 metres and 4.47 metres.

High Tide: 15:53h reaching a maximum height of 2.75 metres.

Low Tide: 09:25h and 21:41h reaching minimum heights of 0.34 metre and 0.49 metre.

SATURDAY, MAY 22, 2021

LOTTERY NUMBERS E

02 04 09

10 20 23

FREE TICKET MONDAY, MAY 24, 2021

05 Bonus Ball

DAILY MILLIONS

01 05 10 19 22 LUCKY 3

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Afternoon Draw

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Evening Draw

DRAW DE LINE

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PAY DAY

PAY DAY FRIDAY, MAY 21, 2021

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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

$65.11/barrel

-2.38

Rough Rice

$236.88/ton

-0.14

London Sugar

$447.40/ton

0

Live Spot Gold

USD Per Ounce

Bid/Ask

$1886.10

$1877.10

Low/High Change

$1874.90 -4.40

$1887.10 -0.23%

Guyanese must be prime beneficiaries of land – Ali …says land use policy will evolve to better protect Guyanese

G

oing forward, President Dr Irfaan Ali said that the Government wants Guyanese to continue to be the prime beneficiaries of land allocations; including for commercial, industrial or residential purposes. And this is a policy he said will evolve over the coming years.

During the recently held diaspora conference, President Ali noted that Guyanese owning land is an important aspect of local content. According to him, the Government wants Guyanese to be the prime beneficiaries of their own land.

“Whilst now we have to use the land to catalyse important investment, we know that the reality is we live in a region… take Trinidad and Tobago for example. Outside investors cannot own the land. They either have to lease or rent land or a building. Land can only be owned by citizens.”

“I’m just giving that example. That is not the case in Guyana. But as we move forward, it has to be a flexible policy looking at demand and the future and ensuring that Guyanese are the prime beneficiaries of the land. And I’m speaking very frankly. That is a very important part of local content.”

The President also noted that provisions of important services including the rental of property should be the domain of Guyanese. The importance of this remaining in the hands of Guyanese is particularly evident in the oil and gas sector, with foreigners involved in the sector in need of housing and accommodations when they arrive.

“The simple things like rental of apartments, rental of buildings. Those should be left for the investment of Guyanese and rented by the companies when they come.

So, though the policy is not as drastic as those policies now, it definitely will evolve over the coming years,” Ali said.

It was further explained that land prices in some cases will be market driven, while in other cases will be subsidised. In fact, the President noted that it is the Government’s policy to use funds from the market driven land, to compensate for subsidising land.

This means that land in high demand areas will be as close as possible to market price. However, lowand middle-income housing, which the Government has promised to make available to Guyanese in the tens of thousands, will be subsidised.

The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/c) Government is targeting the distribution of a whopping 10,000 house lots to Guyanese in 2021, in keeping with their manifesto promise to deliver 50,000 lots within their first term in office.

President Irfaan Ali

Housing and Water Minister, Collin Croal had revealed back in February that the Government is focused on clearing the existing application backlog that currently stands at over 70,000. The Government also intends to distribute at least 7000 land titles to citizens, many of

whom have been waiting for years.

The areas which will be developed for these allocations include Onderneeming in Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam); Tuschen, Zeelugt, La Parfaite Harmonie, West Minster, Lust-en-Rust, Belle West

in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara); Farm, Covent Garden, Providence, Prospect, Perseverance, Peters Hall, Good Hope, Mon Repos, Non Pariel, Hope South, Hope Estate in Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica); Bath Settlement, Hope, Experiment in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice); Ordinance, Kilcoy, Chesney in Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne); Culvert City in Region Nine (Upper TakutuUpper Essequibo); and Amelia’s Ward, Linden, in Region 10.

The national housing development plan for 2021 includes the construction of 1000 homes for low-income earners in areas such as Cummings Lodge, Prospect, Providence, Little Diamond, Great Diamond, Onderneeming, Wales, Ordinance, Fortlands, Hampshire, Williamsburg and Amelia’s Ward. Another 100 is set aside for the hinterland communities. (G3)

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guyanatimesgy.com

TUESDAY, MAY 25, 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

GPF and the battered woman syndrome

N

ews reports over the past week outlined that the Human Services Ministry is seeking to strengthen its partnership with the Guyana Police Force (GPF). In one report, it was noted that with intense focus on children’s safety and abuse, and in a bid to strengthen collaboration, subject Minister, Dr Vindhya Persaud held discussions with Assistant Commissioner of Police, Clifton Hicken.

To be addressed, also, are cases of suicide, drugs, alcohol consumption, child sexual abuse and incest.

UN Women reports, in an article headlined “Ending violence against women,” inter alia: “One in three women worldwide experience physical or sexual violence, mostly by an intimate partner... At least 155 countries have passed laws on domestic violence, and 140 have legislation on sexual harassment in the workplace (World Bank 2020). But challenges remain in enforcing these laws, limiting women and girls’ access to safety and justice. Not enough is done to prevent violence, and when it does occur, it often goes unpunished.”

The article continues: “A woman’s right to live free from violence is upheld by international agreements such as the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and the 1993 UN Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women.”

It elucidates: “Only 40 per cent of women seek help of any sort after experiencing violence, and so we advocate for, and support, women and girls’ access to quality, multi-sectoral services essential for their safety, protection and recovery, especially for those who already suffer multiple forms of discrimination.

“We partner with Governments, UN agencies, civil society organisations and other institutions to find ways to prevent violence against women and girls, focusing on early education, respectful relationships, and working with men and boys.

Prevention is still the most cost-effective, long-term way to stop violence.”

The track record of the GPF in dealing with cases of domestic abuse is lamentable, to say the least. In many instances, male Police ranks have been accused of spousal abuse, even murder of their domestic partners, some of whom were themselves members of the GPF. The laissez-faire attitude of Police to victims of domestic abuse may stem from the fact that, while in the heat of the moment a battered woman may seek the protection of the Police in a crisis situation that imperils her life, she most often withdraws her complaint when the immediate threat has passed.

Battered woman syndrome, or battered person syndrome, is a psychological condition that can develop when a person experiences abuse, usually at the hands of an intimate partner.

Psychotherapist Lenore Walker developed the concept of battered woman syndrome in the late 1970s.

She wanted to describe the unique pattern of behaviour and emotions that can develop when a person experiences abuse.

Battered woman syndrome may make a victim feel helpless and overwhelmed by her situation, oftentimes accepting blame and feeling guilty that she somehow deserves her ill-treatment.

Psychiatrists ascribe the acceptance of, and subjugation to abuse in four stages, i.e: 1) Denial, whereby the person is unable to accept that they’re being abused, or they justify it as being “just that once”; 2) Guilt, catalysed by the person believing they caused the abuse; 3) Enlightenment, in this phase, the person realises that they didn’t deserve the abuse and acknowledges that their partner has an abusive personality; and 4) Responsibility – the person accepts that only the abuser holds responsibility for the abuse. In many cases, this is when they’ll explore their options for leaving the relationship. The term “domestic abuse” also includes child and elder abuse.

For Police to become effective social partners in battling the multiple scourges contributing to episodes of violence in society, oftentimes with tragic outcomes, not least the loss of lives and horrendous consequences therefrom, they need intense training in psychotherapy.

Guyanese have largely become blasé over incidences of spousal abuse, even murder, because of the regularity of women getting killed by their domestic partners. Minister Persaud’s campaign to form stakeholder partnerships to address these societal scourges should be commended.

Prime Minister, Brigadier (Ret'd), Mark Phillips meeting with former Prime Minister and President of Guyana, Samuel Hinds OE, on Monday. During the meeting, Phillips said that Hinds would make an excellent Ambassador to the United States of America. The former President paid a courtesy visit to the PM at his office on Camp Street, Georgetown (Office of the Prime Minister photo)

Bring some orderliness to our roads

Dear Editor, One of the things that make for a modern society is its orderliness or the way in which that society organises itself. Be it in commerce, Government, education, Judiciary and the whole gamut of things that makes everyday life worth living.

Society must carry out itself in a well-ordered manner.

One such way is in the proper layout and use of our roads and thoroughfares, it is an area that has captured my attention and concern over the years, having seen the situation at home as against those of other countries abroad.

And it is against that backdrop that I make my contribution.

There is no doubt that Guyana is blessed with much land space and many roads to accommodate vehicular traffic, however, when we look at the way in which many of these roadways are being used there is much to be desired. I make specific mention of the too many stretches of open highways which in the Guyanese context are veritable racing tracks and zones of death, this madness on our roads has to stop.

Now, much of what I have expressed above comes about

as a direct result of the way our roads are laid out. The present structural arrangement of our roads is designed to accommodate fast flowing and speeding motorists; hence the layout and general engineering work has to change to make it more modern and adaptable to safer and orderly road usage. It will also curb this nuisance death trap situation that now exists.

For starters, roundabouts ought to be installed at all nodal points and at all intersections where it is necessary and convenient. Roundabouts have a threefold effect in that they are a safer alternative to traffic signals and stop signs. The tight circle of a roundabout forces drivers to slow down, hence head on collisions and other fatal crashes become non-existent.

Slow speeds help vehicles to move into, around, and out of a roundabout with relative ease.

Secondly, roundabouts improve traffic flow and are better for the environment.

Research shows that traffic flow improves after traditional intersections are converted to roundabouts. Less idling reduces vehicular emissions and fuel consumption.

Thirdly, roundabouts are

safer for pedestrians who walk on sidewalks around the perimeter of the roundabout and cross paying attention to only one direction of traffic at a time. Crossing distances are relatively short while traffic speeds are lower than traditional intersections.

On this note, I further advocate that we build more sidewalks and footpaths, these are structures that would keep the pedestrian public out of the main pathway of moving traffic.

Here are some examples of places where roundabouts are of extreme importance.

1. The Eve Leary Intersection by The Police Training School.

2. The Pegasus Junction.

3. The Homestretch and Mandela Avenue Intersection.

4. The Vlissengen and South Road Intersection around the 1763 Monument Square.

5. The D’Urban Street and Mandela Avenue Intersection.

6. The Arapaima and Mandela Streets Junction, that is, by the East La Penitence Police Station.

7.

On the East Coast of Demerara Road, (a) The University of Guyana

Intersection. All other nodal points along the East Coast corridor.

8.

All nodal points along the East Bank, West Coast and West Bank of Demerara.

9. At both ends of the Berbice Bridge, that is, at the intersection on the western end before you go across the bridge and at the Palmyra junction on the eastern end.

10. The Sheet Anchor intersection.

The above list is by no means exhaustive and to this end I call on the Ministry of Public Works' Engineering team to make their own assessment and come up with their own list of futuristic developmental works.

As our nation heads into the future, one of the critical areas that we must pay strict attention to, is its infrastructure. It is a critical area when one considers how most of the large and more developed countries are fashioning theirs to meet the high demands of modern development. To this end, Guyana must take its place in this modern transformational arena.

Dear Editor, Sitting silently in our Constitution is Article 40 (1), which states that “every person in Guyana is entitled to the basic right to a happy, creative and productive life, free from hunger, ignorance, and want”. In this grand entitlement, the pivotal idea, around which the others revolve, is the freedom from want. Freedom from want, as a core human right, is embedded in the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Its historic roots, however, trace back to the Address to Congress by US President Franklin Roosevelt in 1941, who listed it as one of his four main global freedoms.

Roosevelt explained that a

man could never enjoy his full human rights if he was always necessitous.

What must it mean for us in Guyana to be free from want? It must mean to be liberated to live our best lives and to be our best selves. No longer must we be imprisoned by the struggle to meet basic needs, such as finding food, shelter, and dignity. No longer must we live in fear of the uncertainties of daily survival. We must be liberated to live (in the words of Article 40 (1)) “a happy, creative and productive life”. As such, we must be enabled also to follow our aspirations, discover our talents, and develop our skills. We must have time to be involved in commu-

nity and national life in whatever way. Our constitutional right to work, rest, recreation and leisure must make sense.

Freedom from want therefore activates and gives substance to most of the other human rights granted each of us by our Constitution.

The argument that such basic socioeconomic rights are only aspirational —that many countries are too poor to actually deliver on them— has become worn out. In any case, that excuse no longer holds for Guyana today. By 2024, we (the people) will be earning over US$ 1.5 billion annually in oil revenues to stash away in an already bulging Natural Resource Fund. With a small popula-

tion (and by now fully advised as a nation on the recipe to avoid the resource curse), no Guyanese must now be oppressed by the burden of want.

The aspiration in Article 40 (1) is fundamental to nation-building. It could and must be achieved in a few years. Working towards it brings benefits to individuals and families gradually and meaningfully each step of the way to the economic liberation of all. The political party most passionate about this mission and most capable to deliver the quickest is the party that deserves our support.

Respectfully, Neil Adams

Guyana to be free from want: Article 40 (1)

Sincerely, Sherwood Lowe

guyanatimesgy.com

TUESDAY, MAY 25, 2021

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Implications of COVID-19 on small-scale fishers

Dear Editor, The COVID-19 pandemic has drastically affected most small-scale fisheries that supply the majority of fish destined for direct human consumption in Guyana.

With quarantines and social distancing rules in effect, boats from many small-scale fisheries are not catching their usual take because of market disruptions and other factors, which is putting some communities dependent on the industry for food security, livelihoods at greater risk with rapid extensive social and economic effects.

These specifically are the implications of the pandemic for small-scale fishers, including marketing and processing aspects of the sector, and coastal fishing communities, the negative consequences to date have included complete shut-downs of some fisheries, knock-on economic effects from mar-

ket disruptions, increased health risks for fishers, processors and communities.

Despite the negative impacts of COVID-19 restrictions on many small-scale fisheries, some have risen to the challenge and remained committed to feeding the communities where they operate, keeping their local economies afloat and providing food to the most vulnerable households. These local networks and operations have provided a direct opportunity for household consumers to access fish protein outside of larger supply chains that have been disrupted by the coronavirus pandemic, such as to hotels and restaurants.

Three out of seven people rely on fish as their main source of protein —Yet, the role of fisheries in Guyana’s food security is undervalued.

Increased support could help the struggling small-scale

BCB should show appreciation, honour outstanding contributions Dear Editor, Recently, I had a chat with a gentleman in my village by the name of Siew Misir and he was telling me how the Berbice Cricket Board was not honouring and recognising the contributions of outstanding past administrators of the Berbice Cricket Board. My response to him was that probably the present administrators of the Board were not aware of their contributions and I will ensure that their contributions and achievements are known to cricket fans in Guyana and the diaspora.

Hence this letter.

Siew Misir was the Treasurer and Chairman of the selection committee of the Berbice Cricket Board from 1970 to 1976 and also a Berbice Board representative on the Guyana Cricket Board during that same period. The President then was Rampersaud Ramanand, who is now living in Canada.

He was popularly known as Krud and the Secretary was the late Vic Omrao.

Mr Misir told me that during their tenure, those six years were the glory days of Berbice cricket and he proceeded to serenade me on their accomplishments.

They brought a Surrey County Team to Guyana in 1973 and two matches were played at Rose Hall Canje ground and Skeldon ground against a Berbice team and the third match was played at Everest ground against a mixed Berbice and Demerara team. In 1972, they brought the Hyderabad Blues team from Pakistan which was captained by the legendary Haniff Mohamed and included Mustaq Mohamed, Sadiq Mohamed, Intikhab Alam and others. Three matches were played against a Berbice Eleven at Rose Hall Canje, Port Mourant and

Skeldon grounds. In 1975 they brought the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) team that was captained by the legendary and now Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan and included Zaheer Abbas, Safraz Nawaz and others. He told me that the two Pakistan teams drew large crowds at all the matches and they made a huge financial return which were ploughed back to develop Berbice cricket.

He also alluded to the three first division competitions that they organised during that period namely the three-day Davson Cup, 45 overs Carrega Cup and 50 overs Bristol Cup that unearthed players like Rohan Kanhai, Basil Butcher, Joe Solomon, Ivan Madray, Sugarboy Baijnauth, Roy Fredricks, Alvin Kallicharran, Randolph Ramnarace, Leslie Amsterdam, Kennedy Venkersammy, Gopie Beasmonie and others. In fact he told me that whenever Rohan Khanhai is in Guyana, he stays by him and sometimes Joe Solomon. He was also proud to boast that in those days the standard of cricket in Berbice was of a very high level and crowds flocked to see first division matches. It pains his heart to see the poor standard of cricket in Berbice now and with fans losing interest in first division cricket.

Talking to uncle Misir, it was clear that he is still passionate about Berbice and Guyana cricket and I would like to appeal to the Berbice Cricket Board to show their appreciation by recognising and honouring the outstanding contributions of these three legends of Berbice cricket.

Yours faithfully, Imtiaz Baccus

fisheries remain operational, encouraging sustainability and the health of the people relying on them, despite the PPP/C Government’s positive initiatives that provide opportunities upon which to build. Yet, the COVID-19 pandemic is a long way from over and these anecdotes from around the communities do not paint the full picture of what is currently happening or the longer-term effects in the months and years ahead. While our understanding of the implications of the pandemic is still incomplete, there is an urgent need to coordinate, plan and implement effective short- and long-term responses to this unfolding crisis. The foundation for this is already present in existing and new efforts by our

Minister of Agriculture.

It is my belief that we must mobilise financial resources for food and employment security for fishing communities most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

We must explore opportunities to increase resilience of small-scale fisheries supply chains, such as refrigeration and processing capacity, and strengthening local markets connecting fishers directly to household. We must allow flexibility with already allocated funds, or by re-orienting future funding opportunities to prioritise small-scale fisheries’ work.

We must elevate the importance of coastal fisheries for Guyana’s food, livelihood security and marine conservation, so that these com-

munities receive the support and attention they deserve during the pandemic and into the future. We can no longer afford to overlook the significance of this sector.

While the COVID-19 pandemic presents major challenges for the fisheries sector in Guyana and while there are some positive initiatives and outcomes, these are likely far outweighed by the negative consequences, especially for groups that are most vulnerable to these changes. Furthermore, the crisis is far from over. The short-term impacts that we have experienced now are likely to be followed by longterm crises related to economic hardships. The fisheries sector plays a vital role in food and livelihood security. Thus, I emphasise the

need for rapid mobilisation by all stakeholders in support of the fisheries sector.

Short-term responses must be swift and targeted to the most vulnerable. In the longer-term, there is a need to develop a coordinated response and support network to transform existing institutions, supply chains, and food systems in ways that improve conditions and resilience of the fisheries sector.

Our PPP/C Government remains committed to Guyana’s coastal community fisheries programmes and engaged these communities with works that support the wellbeing of people and their livelihoods.

Sincerely, David Adams

Silliness surrounding the oil sector has to stop

Dear Editor, Please permit me some space to respond to a letter

by Jamil Changlee which supports the lawsuit being brought by persons associated with Fair Deal for Guyana trying to shut down offshore oil production in that it violates the country’s Constitution and the rights of citizens to enjoy Guyana’s biodiversity inter alia.

The lawsuit is publicity seeking and entirely frivolous but I suppose the Attorney General will have to offer a defence at the taxpayers’ expense. And I have to wonder the purpose of such a fringe group that does not in fact want any Fair Deal but want zero oil produced offshore.

Those involved in bringing the case are of course well off with cushy jobs so prefer to ignore that part of the

Constitution which talks of the citizen’s “right to work in accordance with personal qualifications”. It would be nice to hear the opinions of the thousands who now have jobs in the energy sector which by and large offers better wages and employment conditions including physically safe working environments, and for women, ones largely free from discrimination and harassment.

There is, of course, in our midst an industry that is also a significant contributor to global warming: That is rice cultivation which emits 12 per cent of the world’s total methane output, a gas that is 23 times more damaging to the environment than CO2. Many studies have been done on this and estimates range from around 200 to 600 kg

of methane released per hectare of wetland, double cropped rice. With 98,000 hectares under cultivation in Guyana, that amounts to up to 58,000 tonnes of methane being released annually into the atmosphere.

So, will these same environmentalists also be bringing a case against the GRDB? Should the EPA require EIAs for new rice projects? Should they charge farmers for each tonne of methane produced?

Probably not. The point is that all economic activity creates GHGs. All that industries can do is try to mitigate such emissions but it should not come at the expense of human development. Especially for a country whose people have struggled for centuries to reach a level of economic comfort many in the devel-

oped world have enjoyed at our and other former colonies’ expense.

And that goes for those mangroves too. In this regard the Government is right by stating it will replant mangroves elsewhere to make up for those lost in the development of the West Bank of the Demerara River. What a simple solution. What would the mangrove huggers prefer? That those jobs from any shore base go to Trinidad so Guyana can feel self-righteous for saving the planet?

How does that even help?

At some point all the silliness surrounding the oil sector has to stop or maybe the elite will always need something about which to emit their own hot air?

Yours sincerely, Lynn Nicholas

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TUESDAY, MAY 25, 2021

Page

Foundation ◄

Question 1

Monday’s answers

The Rime of the Ancient Mariner

By Samuel Taylor Coleridge CONTINUED

For when it dawned—they dropped their arms, And clustered round the mast; Sweet sounds rose slowly through their mouths, And from their bodies passed.

Around, around, flew each sweet sound, Then darted to the Sun; Slowly the sounds came back again, Now mixed, now one by one.

Sometimes a-dropping from the sky I heard the sky-lark sing; Sometimes all little birds that are, How they seemed to fill the sea and air With their sweet jargoning!

And now 'twas like all instruments, Now like a lonely flute; And now it is an angel's song, That makes the heavens be mute.

It ceased; yet still the sails made on A pleasant noise till noon, A noise like of a hidden brook In the leafy month of June, That to the sleeping woods all night Singeth a quiet tune.

Till noon we quietly sailed on, Yet never a breeze did breathe: Slowly and smoothly went the ship, Moved onward from beneath.

Under the keel nine fathom deep, From the land of mist and snow, The spirit slid: and it was he That made the ship to go.

The sails at noon left off their tune, And the ship stood still also.

The Sun, right up above the mast, Had fixed her to the ocean: But in a minute she 'gan stir, With a short uneasy motion— Backwards and forwards half her length With a short uneasy motion.

R

esearch Amazonian wildlife and create a diorama and fact sheet on your research. A diorama is a model representing a scene with three-dimensional figures, either in miniature or as a large-scale museum exhibit.

Instructions

1. Research facts about the Amazon rainforest, including the wildlife of the region.

2. Make a list of the animals indigenous to the region.

3. Choose one animal and make a diorama of a scene that shows the animal in its natural habitat, complete with a fact sheet.

Then like a pawing horse let go, She made a sudden bound: It flung the blood into my head, And I fell down in a swound.

How long in that same fit I lay, I have not to declare; But ere my living life returned, I heard and in my soul discerned Two voices in the air.

'Is it he?' quoth one, 'Is this the man?

By him who died on cross, With his cruel bow he laid full low The harmless Albatross.

The spirit who bideth by himself In the land of mist and snow, He loved the bird that loved the man Who shot him with his bow.'

The other was a softer voice, As soft as honey-dew: Quoth he, 'The man hath penance done, And penance more will do.'

WORD SEARCH

NEWS

7

TUESDAY, MAY 25, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Hess Corp increases shares in Kaieteur oil block …following joint venture partner's 5% farm-down

pect of additional oil mapped across a 5750 square kilometre 3D seismic survey. It is located in the southern part of the Kaieteur Block, where the joint venture partners are grading the next potential targets for drilling.

Meanwhile, Executive Chairman Gary Walsh was quoted as lauding Hess’s move to increase its working interest in the Kaieteur Block. According to him, it is consistent with the Stabroek partners’ assessment that the total potential for oil in the basin is double what has been discovered so far.

This would make it in excess of 10 billion barrels of oil equivalent.

“We are very encouraged to see Hess, one of the Stabroek Block partners

The Kaieteur Block, relative to Stabroek and Canje Blocks

H

ess Corporation, which is a co-venturer alongside ExxonMobil and Ratio in the Kaieteur Block offshore Guyana, has increased its shares in the block following a farm down of 5 per cent working interest by Cataleya Energy (CEL).

This means that Hess, which formerly had a working interest of 15 per cent in the Kaieteur Block, will now have a 20 per cent working interest. The announcement was made on Monday

by Westmount Energy, itself possessing indirect shares in the 3.3-million-acre (13,535 square kilometre) block.

According to Westmount in its market update, Hess Corp’s increase can also be viewed in the context of the Tanager-1 oil discovery.

Back in November of 2020, oil was found but deemed as non-commercial.

“Westmount said high-quality reservoirs were also encountered in Tanager-1 at the deeper Santonian and Turonian intervals, though interpretation of the reservoir fluids was reported to be equivocal

and required further analysis.”

“A post-well Netherland, Sewell & Associatespublished competent person’s report indicated that the Tanager-1 Maastrichtian discovery contained a “best estimate” unrisked gross contingent

oil resource of 65.3 million barrels, with a “best estimate” unrisked net contingent oil resource attributable to the Kaieteur Block of 42.7 million barrels,” the market update said.

But it was further noted that in addition to Tanager-1, there is the pros-

and a leading player in the Guyana-Suriname Basin, increase its working interest in the Kaieteur Block on the back of the 2020 Tanager-1 oil discovery,” said Executive Chairman Gerard Walsh.

“It is also consistent with the view that considerable hydrocarbon resource potential may be present in the newly emerging deeper plays, such as the Lower Campanian-Upper Santonian play, where the 3D seismic data suggests that the channel systems are at least as extensive in area as they are in the shallower Maastrichtian-Upper Campanian Liza play fairway,” he said.

Exxon, through its subsidiary Esso Exploration

and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL) operates the block with a 35 per cent stake, Ratio owns 25 per cent, Cataleya Energy now has 20 per cent, and Hess now holds a 20 per cent stake in the Kaieteur Block.

Westmount owns stakes in Ratio (0.7 per cent) and Cataleya (5.4 per cent).

Westmount Energy is also an indirect partner in the Canje Block. The company owns an indirect interest in the Canje Block as a result of its 7.2 per cent interest in the issued share capital of JHI Associates. The Canje Block is operated by ExxonMobil (35 per cent), with Total (35 per cent), JHI (17.5 per cent), and MidAtlantic Oil & Gas Inc (12.5 per cent) as partners. (G3)

8 NEWS

TUESDAY, MAY 25, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Police promotion controversy

Chief Justice “concerned” about declaration sought against PSC …ruling likely by June 18

C

hief Justice (ag) Roxane George, SC, on Monday expressed that she was “concerned” over a declaration being sought against the Police Service Commission (PSC)

by Senior Superintendent of Police Calvin Brutus.

In December 2020, Brutus though his lawyer, CV Satram, moved to the High Court to challenge the Police 2020 promotions by the PSC. Among other things, Brutus contended that he is being bypassed for promotion to the rank of Assistant Commissioner even though he was recommended for promotion by the Top Cop and due to frivolous allegations of indiscipline against him for which he has not been called upon to defend.

During another hearing on Monday, the Chief Justice pointed out that Brutus is asking the court for a declaration that the practice and policy of the PSC utilising disciplinary matters as the basis for denying promotion is unlawful.

Justice George noted that she is a “little

Senior Superintendent of Police Calvin Brutus

concerned” about the declaration being sought. “We have to be very, very careful in making a declaration in that frame.”

“I think that it is very, very wide. This is not the only service commission.

There are a number of other service commissions and I am very concerned at the breadth of the declaration sought in this regard given the implications not only to this matter but to the entire Public and Teaching

Service [Commissions] and for that matter maybe even the Judicial Service Commission,” she added.

Satram has since filed additional submissions on behalf of his client. They have been served on Attorney General Anil Nandlall, SC, who along with the PSC are the named respondents in the case. Deputy Solicitor General Deborah Kumar, who appeared on behalf of the Attorney General requested seven days to file a reply. On Monday, Justice George also addressed the issue of costs.

While Satram said he will leave the issue of costs for the court to decide, Kumar said that she was instructed that the Attorney General will not be proceeding with costs at this time.

The Chief Justice has fixed June 18, 2021, for ruling and/or clarification. At an earlier hearing on April 9, 2021, Justice George had set Monday for ruling and/ or clarification.

At that hearing, Justice George noted that since the parties would have failed to arrive at an amicable reso-

Creating...

W

Chief Justice (ag) Roxane George, SC

lution outside of the court system, it was now necessary for a speedy conclusion given the nature of the case and the fact that “it has been going on for a little while.”

Bypassed complaint

The matter would have started when Brutus complained to the High Court that he is being bypassed for promotion due to frivolous accusations even though he was recommended for promotion by the Commissioner of Police.

Following the initial challenge, several other senior officers were added as interested parties.

Brutus among other things is seeking an order of certiorari quashing, nullifying, and/or cancelling the decision of the PSC to promote Senior Superintendents of Police Edmond Cooper, Phillip Azore, and Kurleigh Simon, who like him, have pending disciplinary matters, to the rank of Assistant Commissioner over him.

“The allegation was essentially that I wrote the [then] Minister of State without the permission of the Commissioner of Police,” Brutus complained in an affidavit. According to Brutus, the three ranks who were promoted in front of him are facing more serious allegations.

In an affidavit, Brutus outlined that his colleagues are facing disciplinary and/ or criminal investigations for dereliction of duty, facilitation of unlawful activities, perverting the course of justice, corruption by a public officer, among other offences.

“The difference in treatment of ranks who found themselves in the same grouping was substantially and fundamentally unfair, unreasonable, unequal, and discriminatory,” he argued.

TURN TO PAGE 12

... Independence hell ith “Independence Day” coming up tomorrow, maybe it’s time we look at the PNC that was handed our big prize. “Big”, because after being exploited by one European power after another – Dutch, periods of French and then the British – most of us natives not unreasonably thought we’d be enjoying all the goodies that were being scooped off to the “Mother Country”.

That’s what “Independence” meant to most people in the BG as British Guiana was called by one and all: enjoying the “good life” the British had lived.

And that’s what PNC followers must be reminded off when – as usual – they’ll carry on about the “Brilliant Burnham” who “led” us to independence! First of all, he didn’t “lead” us to anything save ruination. Let’s face the facts. By the time the 1958 “West Indian Federation” of 10 British colonies collapsed with the withdrawal of Jamaica in 1962, the Brits had already decided to grant independence to the entire lot. Including Guyana, which hadn’t even joined the Federation. How do you “lead” to get something that was handed to you?

What Burnham and the PNC did was to DELAY independence for Guyana. The Brits were gonna grant independence to the party that won the 1961 elections – which the PPP did! In early 1962, the PPP moved a motion in the National Assembly to debate the call for independence which the PNC boycotted. They’d already decided that the new name would be “Guyana” . A competition for a flag was launched and the Golden Arrowhead was chosen. The song “Dear Land of Guyana” was also composed in a similar manner – as was the motto – one people, one nation, one destiny!

If it wasn’t for the PNC’s treachery, Guyana would’ve been independent in the same year as Trinidad and Jamaica – 1962. As it was, the PNC and UF joined up with the CIA to torch Indian Guyanese businesses in central Georgetown on February 16 in what’s now known as “Black Friday”. If Burnham hadn’t gone along with the Brits and Yanks, there would’ve been no choice for them but to grant independence to Jagan’s PPP. And we would’ve been spared the subsequent riots of 1963 and 1964 which rent apart the country.

Those riots descended into virtual ethnic civil war that had repercussions which dominate our lives to this day – the ethnic divisions that erupt into violence whenever the PNC loses political office democratically. This is the “Independence” legacy of Burnham and the PNC! We can only wonder where we would’ve been if it weren’t for the overweening ambitions of Forbes Burnham!

And we don’t have to even mention the economic, social and political destruction in the 26 years following Independence!

Poor Guyana. ...a radical flank in PNC Some folks are so predictable it wants to make your Eyewitness puke! Ennui isn’t pretty! Take what’s happening in the PNC as realisation dawns that they will be wandering in the wilderness for the next 40 years after their brazen rigging attempt last March. All sorts of fissures that were already there have widened into factions – all trying to “take over” the party. Their claim, of course, isn’t that they want to get back into power to continue enriching themselves from the public coffers, but for the “good of their African Guyanese constituency”!

As if that constituency shared in the unfolding billiondollar GuyOil scandal, the consummated billion-dollar Durban Park scandal, etc! But back to the infighting. One predictable move is to form a “flank” movement – i.e. to accuse the incumbent leadership of BETRAYING the base by not being “authentic”. So we’re seeing a revival of the Black Nationalist movement from the seventies.

They forget you can’t cash the same cheque twice!! ...mayhem Looks like our road users are vying with our COVID-19 abusers – the ones who absolutely refuse to observe the social protocols and even to take the vaccines – to have bragging rights on highest number of deaths.

Aren’t these behaviour criminal?

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

NEWS

9

TUESDAY, MAY 25, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Kairuni horrific accident

“We don’t know who to contact or where to go … to get help” – family of 3 persons killed

Fabian Hosea Dead: Eight-year-old Akese Jerome

F

amily members of the eight-year-old girl who, along with her grandmother and aunt, was killed in a horrific accident on Sunday night are calling

Dead: Anthonia Henry

The motor car then ploughed into a group of persons, all relatives, who were sitting on the side of the road on the said curb.

The little girl was picked up in an unconscious state,

The area where the accident occurred

for justice and assistance.

Akese Jerome, her grandmother Anthonia Henry, and her aunt Melina Emmanuel were killed when a speeding car crashed into them as they were sitting at the curbside along the Kairuni Public Road, Linden-Soesdyke Highway.

Police had said motor car PHH 6628, which was being driven by a 39-year-old fireman of Mackenzie, Linden, was proceeding south along the eastern side of the road at a fast rate of speed, when he lost control and collided with the left side curb of the road.

placed into a passing vehicle and taken to the Diamond hospital, where she was pronounced dead on arrival.

Henry and Emmanuel were also picked up in an unconscious state and placed into a passing vehicle and taken to the Mackenzie Public Hospital where they were pronounced dead on arrival.

Other relatives, Alena Persaud and Rodwell Jerome, were also picked up in an unconscious state and placed into a passing vehicle. They were taken to the Mackenzie Hospital, where they were both examined by

The motor car that hit and killed the three persons at Kairuni Public Road, Linden-Soesdyke Highway

a doctor on duty.

Alena was then transferred to the Georgetown

Public Hospital, where she was placed in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU)

while Jerome was presently under observation at the Mackenzie Hospital.

A notice of intended prosecution has been served on the driver who is presently

in custody. A breathalyser test was carried out on him, but no alcohol was found in his system.

TURN TO PAGE 15

10 NEWS

TUESDAY, MAY 25, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Electoral fraud cases

DPP objects to Lowenfield being added to case seeking release of SoPs, SoRs …says CEO’s application hangs on “tenuous thread”

Attorney-at-Law Darshan Ramdhani

A

case mounted by Chief Elections Officer (CEO) Keith Lowenfield opposing an application filed by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Shalimar Ali-Hack, and Commissioner of Police Nigel Hoppie, who are seeking a court order to obtain certified copies of the Statements of

Poll (SoPs) and Statements of Recount (SoRs) from the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections is hanging on “tenuous thread”.

So contends Attorney-atLaw Darshan Ramdhani, who on behalf of the DPP and Top Cop has asked Chief Justice Roxane George, SC, to dismiss Lowenfield’s case. Pursuant to the Representation of the People Act (RoPA), Lowenfield is the sole custodian of the SoPs and SoRs. Ahead of the hearing into APNU/AFC election petition #88 which was dismissed last month, Justice George ordered the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to hand over the original copies of the SoPs and SoRs to the Registrar of the Supreme Court, Suenna Lovell, for safekeeping. That order was complied with.

Following the conclusion of the March 2020 General and Regional Elections which were embroiled in con-

Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield

troversy, several high-ranking GECOM officials were investigated by the Guyana Police Force. Apart from Lowenfield, the others charged are Deputy CEO Roxanne Myers, and Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) Returning Officer Clairmont Mingo.

It was the office of the

Attorney-at-Law Nigel Hughes

DPP that recommended that the trio be charged.

Sometime after, the Top Cop wrote to the Registrar requesting certified copies of the documents but was informed by her that she is unable to provide them without a court order.

As such, Ali-Hack and Hoppie filed the application

seeking orders directing the Registrar to have certified copies of the documents delivered to the Attorney General, Anil Nandlall, SC, forthwith. The Attorney General, GECOM, and the Registrar of the Supreme Court are the named respondents in the DPP and Commissioner of Police’s application.

They argued that the basis for their application is that the SoPs and SoRs are needed for the fair hearing of the charges as they constitute relevant evidence for the prosecution to prove the commission of the offences

by Lowenfield, Myers, and Mingo. But Lowenfield contended that other than for the purposes of an election petition, he has no authority under the law to release the election documents.

“Tenuous thread”

Ramdhani is asking the Chief Justice to dismiss Lowenfield’s application to be added as a party to the

Chief Justice (ag) Roxane George

proceedings. The lawyer contended that Section 102 and Section 19 of RoPA, which Lowenfield relies on, does “not at all confer any interest in Lowenfield as Chief Elections Officer that can be grounded in the Civil Procedure Rule to allow him to join in this proceedings.”

TURN TO PAGE 13

NEWS

11

TUESDAY, MAY 25, 2021| GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Motorcycle bandits pull off daring robbery outside US Embassy

T

wo men on a motorcycle committed a daring robbery in front of the United States Embassy, Young and Duke Streets, Georgetown, on Monday morning.

Reports are that the incident occurred at about 07:14h.

The Embassy notified on its website that the visitor was attempting to park when the assailants on motorcycles intercepted the vehicle.

While the suspects did not show any weapons, they used physical force to grab several personal items from inside the victim’s vehicle. The estimated losses and if the victim sustained any injuries was not revealed.

In light of this incident, the Embassy has reminded US citizens to exercise caution

A The US Embassy, Young and Duke Streets, Georgetown

to prevent future crime. They were asked to report crimes or attempted crimes immediately to the local Police in Georgetown by dialing 911 or the Guyana Police Force Quick Response Hotline - 2256411.

Some recommended actions included keeping a low profile, being aware of your surroundings particularly when entering and exiting a

vehicle and never leaving any valuables inside the car. In addition, persons were asked not to display expensive items; and provide colleagues and family with their daily plans and how to reach them.

“Do not physically resist any robbery attempt. Be a good witness by recording the suspect’s description, license number and vehicle information,” the consulate added.

Essequibo Coast man collapses, dies at backdam

P

olice are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of a 59-year-old man who collapsed and died at Richmond Backdam, Essequibo Coast, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam).

Dead is Toolsie Balgobin.

Reports are that Balgobin died at about 18:30h on Wednesday evening.

Balgobin worked at the Anna Regina Town Council as a clerk and was also a rice farmer. This newspaper was told that the man would normally go to the backdam in the afternoons to check his crop and cows.

Security guard robbed while walking home

Dead: Toolsie Balgobin

The man’s son, Rockliff Balgobin, related that he accompanied his father to the

backdam, adding that as the elderly Balgobin mounted his motorcycle and attempted to place his helmet on, he collapsed to the ground.

Attempts were made to resuscitate him but he succumbed.

The body was later taken to the Anna Regina Police Station, where it was examined for marks of violence but none was seen. It was then transported to the Suddie Hospital, where it was pronounced dead on arrival by a doctor on duty. A post-mortem examination was scheduled at the Suddie Hospital Mortuary.

26-year-old security guard was robbed at gunpoint in the vicinity of Cooper Street and Punt Trench, Albouystown, Georgetown, as she was making her way home.

Reports are that the incident occurred early Monday morning.

Investigations disclosed

that the victim was walking east along Punt Trench en route to her home at about 00:00h when she passed the perpetrators sitting. As she approached Cooper Street, the two suspects confronted her from behind.

One of them pointed a handgun at her and the other perpetrator relieved

her of her belongings. They then made good their escape north along Cooper Street.

The men escaped with a Samsung Galaxy S5 valued at $40,000, a black haversack valued $2500, $10,000 and personal documents.

The Police were called and have since launched an investigation. (G12)

12 NEWS

TUESDAY, MAY 25, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

GOAL scholarship awardees to be selected by July – Parag T

he deadline for scholarships offered through the Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL) has been extended to June 5, providing prospective applicants with enough time to submit their applications.

Public Service Minister, Sonia Parag told Guyana Times in a telephone interview on Monday that the two-tier selection process is still in place to select successful applicants. The selection will be completed by the first week of July.

“It has to go through the two-process stage. What happens is the Ministry of Education and the Guyana Online Academy of Learning would determine the eligibility of the persons for the admission into the universities and so I can’t give you a timeline for when they will be selected but what I can say is that they will be selected before the first week of July because these per-

sons are supposed to begin in the first week of July,” Parag told this publication.

The 20,000 scholarships promised by Government in its manifesto will be offered over five years, with 4500 of those scholarships to be awarded this year.

Less than one month after the official launch, close to 3500 applications are being processed by GOAL – the institution that will be managing the overall operational and functional components of the 20,000 free online scholarships initiative for the next five years.

The applications received represent online and hard-copy submissions from the 10 administrative regions for the 108 programmes being offered – some of which require no formal academic qualifications.

Persons who registered online but have not completed the application process are urged to complete

Public Service Minister Sonia Parag

the form and upload the supporting documents which include: a passport-size photograph; a copy of their National Identification Card/biometric page of their passport or driver’s licence; copies of transcripts and certificates of all academic achievements; motivational statement and a Letter of Support from current em-

Chief Justice “concerned”...

According to Brutus, the pending allegations of indiscipline were an irrelevant consideration in the circumstances of his promotion, since he is entitled to the presumption of innocence more so in light of the failure of the PSC to conclude all investigations expeditiously.

Against this backdrop, he argued, too, that the PSC committed an error of law and violated the principle of legality when it acted in a manner that was incompatible with his fundamental right to equality of treatment guaranteed under Article 149 (D) of the Constitution of Guyana.

ployer (if employed) or anyone in authority to attest to their character.

GOAL aims to expand the middle- and upper-class category of the population through enhancement of access to tertiary education that will support manpower requirements of both the private and public sectors by the year 2025.

All courses and programmes are fully online and accessible to students to download material and assignments at their convenience. In explaining the delivery of courses to students, Director of GOAL, Dr Jacob Opadeyi noted that students are expected to inculcate the personal study habit as there will be no daily, virtual online classes. However, scheduled online tutorials will be held to offer clarification and guidance, as may be required.

Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examinations (CAPE) will form the ba-

sis for these programmes.

However, applicants without CAPE certification who can provide evidence of higher-level education, academically or technical including a Certificate from the Cyril Potter College; any Technical Institute (TI) in Guyana and a Diploma from an accredited university in Guyana, will be eligible for consideration.

Referring to contractual obligation under the GOAL initiative, successful applicants will have to serve a period of community service during the life of their respective programme/course.

This month, it was announced that 19 more programmes have been added to the GOAL scholarship programme and will be offered by the University of the West Indies (UWI) Open Campus.

UWI is among five international universities offering 85 online programmes to Guyanese through the GOAL initiative. There are

programmes in the certificate, diploma, degree, master’s and postgraduate levels.

Other universities include the University of the Southern Caribbean, the University of Applied Sciences, the Indira Gandhi National Open University and the JAIN “Deemed To Be” University.

A few days ago, Government also announced, “Teachers who embark in studies in various disciplines at the partnering universities in distinctive and diverse programmes and are successful will receive incentives and recognition including monetary incentives; points for promotion; graduate status among other considerations.”

Interested individuals can apply at www.guyanagoal.org, www.goal.edu.gy or complete and submit hard copy application forms to the Ministry of Public Service.

ed that he has a Master of Business Administration, a Doctorate in Organisational Development, and is currently pursuing his Legal Education Certificate at the High Wooding Law School in Trinidad.

Besides asking the Court to grant an order overruling the PSC’s practice of not pro-

moting officers with pending disciplinary matters, Brutus is seeking several other orders and declarations, costs, damages. In the meantime, a conservatory order granted by the Chief Justice last December blocking the promotions by the PSC remains in effect until she renders her ruling next month. (G1)

(G12)

FROM PAGE 8

“The decision of the PSC was an abuse of power. It was an abuse of power and/or an improper exercise of the powers for the PSC to ignore the recommendations of the Commissioner of Police and its own established practice,” said Brutus who joined the Police Force in March 1994.

Brutus noted that he is

suitably qualified for and entitled to the promotion as he is better academically qualified than the ranks promoted in front of him. Brutus deposed that he is the holder of a Bachelor of Laws and a degree in Public Management from the University of Guyana.

Apart from these, he add-

NEWS

13

TUESDAY, MAY 25, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Diamond resident convicted of taxi driver’s murder A

jury on Monday found Diamond, East Bank Demerara resident Jermaine Jefford unanimously guilty of the August 1, 2016 murder of Orin David, the taxi driver who was gunned down in front of his Laing Avenue, Georgetown home.

The verdict was delivered before trial Judge Sandil Kissoon at the High Court in Demerara.

As a result of the verdict, Jefford called “Smokey” was further remanded to prison until June 9, 2021, when he will be sentenced. The convicted killer was represented by Senior Counsel Stanley Moore, while State Counsel Lisa Cave appeared on behalf of the prosecution.

When called on to lead a

Guilty: Jermaine Jefford

defence, Jefford gave an unsworn statement in which he professed his innocence.

“On the first of August 2016, I was at home at my

Freed: Howard Rambarose

Diamond residence with my three-year-old son and my girlfriend…The evidence being led against me is false and fabricated, your wor-

ship. I am innocent of this crime. I do not know about this crime…This is unfair to me sir…,” he had told Justice Kissoon.

Last week Friday, Jefford’s co-accused Howard Rambarose called “Spleen” was acquitted of the charge after Justice Kissoon upheld a no-case submission made by his lawyer, George Thomas. The Judge then directed the jury to return a formal verdict of not guilty.

According to reports, David also known as “Malik” was shot dead in front of his Lot 89 Laing Avenue, Georgetown home, in the presence of his reputed wife and relatives. It was reported that David, a father of one, was shot following an argument stemming

DPP objects to Lowenfield being...

“This is a public document we are dealing with…

There is nothing else for Lowenfield to hold on to in relation to these documents.

No issues of confidentiality, no issues of secrecy, no issues of privilege remain or exist. So, when you take away the tenuous thread on which he intends to hang this application, that is all that is left…” Ramdhani contended.

According to him, while there are “many, many” statutes that gave legal custody of records in certain entities to a named officer, “because they have custody means absolutely nothing” since the provisions of the Criminal Law (Procedure) Act is constitutionally recognised and enforced.

By the common law and Section 50 of the Criminal Law (Procedure) Act, he said that the Commissioner of Police and any member of the Police Force have the lawful right to collect and recover all documents and property which are relevant to the investigation and prosecution of any criminal offence.

“The State or the DPP and Police perform a public duty for the benefit of the public and they can rely on principles of the common law and statute law that is Section 50 of the Criminal

Law (Procedure) Act to search for, and secure any document; so, they are allowed to use it.”

Ramdhani submitted that instead of seeking a High Court order for the release of the SoPs and SoRs, the Police could have obtained a search warrant from a Magistrate to enter and search Lowenfield’s premises since he is currently the defendant in a criminal matter.

“This gentleman is charged as a defendant in the court. This gentleman is now here trying to stop the SoPs from being released,” the lawyer said, adding that “those rights he [Lowenfield] is claiming are only in relation to the civil election petition jurisdiction of the court and have nothing to do with a criminal proceeding.”

“Once the court comes to that conclusion this court will find that there is no interest at all in for [him] to be allowed to be joined in these proceedings,” Ramdhani said in asking Justice George to dismiss the CEO’s application.

Misconceived

Hughes, on the other hand, is contending that the application filed by the DPP and Commissioner of Police

is misconceived since his client no longer has custody of the SoPs and SoRs. He said that as a consequence of the Chief Justice’s order dated January 18, 2021, for the documents to be handed over to the Registrar, Lowenfield “has been divested of any legal jurisdiction” over the SoPs and SoRs. “This application is misconceived. GECOM does not have custody of these documents. The registrar is the court. And unless the Attorney General is representing the court, he would not be a proper party [to these proceedings].

You have clarified that the court has lawful possession of these documents. So, the court is the legal body that has possession of the documents,” counsel told Justice George.

Moreover, Hughes argued that other than for the purposes of an election petition, Lowenfield, in his capacity as CEO, has no authority to release the documents for what the DPP and Top Cop are requesting.

He said, “The purpose for which he has them is for the purpose for the conduct of the election. He does not have it for any other purpose. If the Police want copies, the CEO can only act as so far as to the powers vest-

from the payment of debts.

It was reported that David had bailed Jefford out of prison.

However, when he confronted Jefford for the money, a heated argument ensued between them. It is alleged that Jefford left David’s home and returned sometime after with four other men in a motor car.

One of the men exited the vehicle and discharged several rounds at David.

The injured man was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation where he was pronounced dead. Following a Preliminary Inquiry (PI) in 2017, Rambarose and Jefford were committed to stand trial for the offence before a Judge and jury. The Magistrate presiding over the PI had ruled that sufficient evidence had been presented to put them on trial.

mation or complaint for an offence in relation to ballot boxes, ballot papers, and other election material, the property in them may be stated to be in the Chief Election Officer.”

Questioned by the Chief Justice as to whether his client can release the SoPs to the Police given the frame-

work of the above provision, Hughes replied, “I suppose”, as he urged the court to grant Lowenfield’s application so that he can expand on his submissions.

The Chief Justice will deliver her ruling on Lowenfield’s request to be joined in the case on May 27. (G1)

Dead: Orin “Malik” David

FROM PAGE 10

ed in him under the [RoPA]. “…And that means he cannot release the documents. He does not have the jurisdiction to give it to anybody other than for the purpose he has them for.”

Amplifying his point, Hughes relied on Section 141 of RoPA which states, “In any indictment, infor-

14 NEWS

TUESDAY, MAY 25, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Over 184,000 persons received 1st dose COVID-19 vaccine …drive thru initiative continues on Wednesday

H

ealth Minister, Dr Frank Anthony on Monday called on persons with underlying sicknesses, such as high blood pressure and diabetes, to take the vaccine and protect themselves from existing risks.

While 67.2 per cent of persons 60 years and older have received their first jab; other figures stand at 34.9 per cent for the 40 to 59 age group and 28.9 per cent in the 18 to 39 subset. He noted that there is still need for improvement in these statistics.

“I have seen some people saying ‘I have high blood pressure. Can I get my vaccine?’ Yes, you can because the vaccine would help to protect you. Persons that would have diabetes and so forth, they need to come out because that’s what we’re calling comorbidities.

You have underlying conditions that put you at risk for COVID-19. In the older age category, while we have a relatively high percentage, we still need to get more people in this age range coming out and we want to get as close as possible to

80-85 per cent,” Dr Anthony underscored during his daily COVID-19 update.

As of Sunday, 184,319 individuals received their first dose of the vaccines, measuring approximately 37.9 per cent of the adult population. Of this number, 54,691 are fully immunised or 11.2 per cent.

Vaccine drive thru

The Ministry had seen a significant turnout at its first vaccination drive thru at the National Stadium, after over 1000 shots were administered. Because of this, Persons taking their COVID-19 vaccine during the “drive thru” initiative that was held at Guyana National Stadium on Saturday

a similar exercise is planned for this Wednesday at the same venue from 09:00h to 17:00h.

“We had seen people from Region Three coming over. We got a lot from the East Bank. We had people from Georgetown who drove them. So, people came from

predominantly Region Four and Three, which was good,” he expressed.

Meanwhile, the concept is also being considered by other regional health departments in order to attract a higher vaccination rate.

The Health Minister add-

ed, “I know some of the other Regional Health Officers in other regions have been contemplating doing similar or variations of this imitative.

Region Six this week is going to set up a drive thru by the Berbice River Bridge so people can go there and get their vaccines. They’re still putting the pieces together.

I know Region Two is also contemplating doing something similar.”

He also called on leaders to get immunised and spread the encouragement to people within their reach.

“I think it’s important that leaders urge people to come out and get vaccines.

And those leaders who have not been vaccinated should also take their vaccine, take a photograph of it, post it, so that other people can see; to encourage and inspire other people to get their vaccines.”

(G12)

NEWS

15

TUESDAY, MAY 25, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

COVID-19 death toll rises, 105 new cases

…May month death toll so far 62

T

he coronavirus death toll in Guyana has climbed to 62, with two more deaths on

Monday – moving closer to April’s record of 66 reported fatalities in one month.

In total, 361 deaths is the confirmed figure since COVID-19 was first detected locally. Latest deaths are a 69-year-old from Region One (Barima-Waini) and 86-year-old from Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo), who both died while receiving care at a medical facility. These two new deaths caused the death toll in Guyana to increase to 361.

Previously on Saturday and Sunday, there were eight reported deaths in the country. With statistics taking a steep ascent, May is likely to become the deadliest month in this pandemic.

Monday’s updated dashboard showed an increase of 105 new cases. This means the total confirmed cases in the country has now increased to 16,235. Active cases stand at 1868: 19 patients in the Intensive Care Unit; 94 in institutional isolation and 1755 in home isolation. Additionally, four persons were placed in institu-

tional quarantine.

Some 14,006 of the 8081 males and 8154 females that tested positive have since recovered. Guyana has tested 146,412 persons since the virus was detected here.

An analysis of new cases put six in Region One (BarimaWaini), 25 in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), three in Region Three (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara), 44 in Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica), five in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice), 17 in Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne), and five in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo).

Cases remained the same in Regions Seven (CuyuniMazaruni), Eight (PotaroSiparuni), and 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) at 1196, 290 and 1097 respectively.

Persons with commodities or underlying health conditions stand a higher risk of contracting a severe form of the coronavirus and as such, they have been cautioned to get immunised. (G12)

“We don’t know who to...

When Guyana Times visited the home of the family in the quiet Amerindian community, relatives were in a state of shock and deep grief.

The little girl’s uncle, Fabian Hosea told this publication that the driver of the vehicle claimed he had a “blown-out tyre” which caused him to lose control of the car.

Along with his niece, it was his mother and sister who died in the horrendous

smash-up.

“When I went out there, I saw my mother on the ground, my sister, my brother-in-law and my little niece…my mother was already dead, the little girl was already dead and only my sister, she was still alive but after she went to the hospital, I think she died in the hospital,” the man recounted.

Up to press time, he said his other injured rela-

FROM PAGE 9

tives were battling for their lives. According to Hosea, his mother and sister were wellknown in the area. He said his mother, in particular, played an important role as a caregiver to the family who originally hailed from the North West District (NWD).

They have been living at Kairuni for some 20 years.

“My mother was a very loving woman and caring, wellconcerned, she was wellknown around the area as

“Granny”, everybody respected her. To her grandchildren and children around here, she was a really important person to them… My sister was the same kind of person, she never used to go about and get herself involved in things and just live around, she never was employed anywhere, she was just a housewife…The child was just a little girl, she used to go Silver Hill Primary School. I never had this kind of experience, I

mean it’s three of them [that died], not only one,” the man expressed.

He related that his father died last year, and the grief was unbearable at this time.

Hosea is pleading with the Police to ensure justice is served. He is also asking for assistance to offset funeral expenses.

“We are poor people and some assistance would do well to the family, because we would have a lot of ex-

pense like the burial and other things. We don’t know who to contact or where to go, we ourselves need some advice on what we do, where can look, to get some help. And, I would like to see the Police investigate the matter and at least we want some justice,” Hosea said.

Persons interested in helping the family can reach them on (592)-678-8887 or (592) 613-7481.

16 NEWS

TUESDAY, MAY 25, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

US Govt gifts Guyana 5 freezers GPF calls on marketers, agents in “Yuri Ponzi Scheme” to visit CID to improve vaccine storage

Three of the ultra-low temperature freezers

T

he local COVID vaccination drive has received a boost with the donation of five ultra-low temperature freezers valued some US$72,000 (G$14 million) from the United States Embassy in Georgetown.

Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony received the equipment on Monday at the Ministry’s Central Supplies Unit in Kingston.

He expressed the Government’s appreciation for the donation, noting that it would serve a critical role in expanding the country’s vaccination storage capacity.

“We are indeed very happy today, because we have received these -80 freezers and as you know one of the most important components of managing vaccines is that you have to get an adequate cold storage system in place,” the Minister is quoted by the Department of Public Information as saying.

He added that the freezers compliment Guyana’s ultra-cold storage system as they can accommodate vaccines that need to be kept below normal storage temperatures.

According to Anthony, Government was engaged

in many discussions to source proper storage facilities for the vaccines and the Embassy had committed to help.

“Our colleagues from the Embassy here had assured us that they are going to help us with the relevant equipment and today you are seeing the donation of these freezers, so we are extremely happy about this.”

He thanked the Embassy for facilitating the repurpos-

ing of some US$200,000 under the Breakthrough Action Malaria programme so that the funds could be used to tackle the myths surrounding the COVID vaccines.

Meanwhile, Charge d’Affaires Mark Cullinane stated that the donation from the US Government would allow for the distribution of the vaccines in a proper state to the people of Guyana.

“They were able to make a contribution of five ultra-low temperature freezers that allows the leadership of Guyana to make Guyana safer, to distribute these vaccines in a good, laboratory form to the people of Guyana.”

Cullinane added that this particular donation is part of the US Department of Defense’s Humanitarian Assistance Program. Some US$150,000 has been spent locally to secure equipment to help Guyana address the pandemic.

A

s Police continue to investigate the massive “Ponzi scheme” which was being operated by Cuban national Yuri Garcia-Dominguez and his Guyanese wife, Ateeka Ishmael, the marketers and agents who were involved in the operation are urged to visit the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Headquarters at Eve Leary, Georgetown.

Yuri Garcia Dominquez and his wife, Ateeka Ishmael, were arrested in August of last year.

They are currently facing close to 100 charges for obtaining monies by false pretence; operating a pyramid scheme and operating a financial institution without the requisite registration.

The couple is currently out on over $30 million bail.

Given that investigations are still ongoing, the Police Force is asking all marketers and agents to visit the Criminal Investigation Department Headquarters,

Yuri Garcia-Dominquez and his wife, Ateeka Ishmael

Eve Leary, Georgetown, with all their documents of receiving and handing over of cash to the couple.

In October 2020, the couple’s lawyer, Dexter Todd, said that his clients will commence the process of repaying investors. But to date, only $3 million of the

Bethany village on 2-week lockdown

…as rise in COVID-19 cases recorded

W

ith an increase in COVID-19 positive cases in Bethany, Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam), the Amerindian community’s Village Council has ordered 14 days lockdown in an effort to curb the spread of the virus.

The lockdown began on May 24, 2021, as a result of several residents within the community testing positive for COVID-19.

Toshao Sonia Latchman told Guyana Times on Monday that the community has recorded 24 positive cases since May 22.

Bethany Toshao Sonia Latchman

With a population of approximately 500 people, Latchman believes it's imperative that action is taken now to protect residents and save lives.

Over the next 14 days, no one will be allowed in or out of the village, unless authorised by the relevant authorities. Along with that, other measures will be implemented and supervised by the regional authorities and the Disciplined Forces.

"On Saturday, 47 persons were tested and out of that 47, 24 were positive...

So, I spoke with the Regional

Health Officer, Dr Ranjeev Singh, to facilitate an increase in testing. However, the medical personnel will be in the village to do rapid testing. I understand the effect of the COVID virus and I expect that the residents will cooperate with the testing and adhere to the lockdown measures," Said Latchman.

Meanwhile, the Regional Task Force in collaboration with the Regional Health Services will be sending in its COVID team to conduct more testing and to ensure that there are adequate supplies of sanitation agents.

$4 billion has been returned.

Dominquez and his wife are the principals of Accelerated Capital Firm Incorporated. Sometime last year, the company ceased all operations in Guyana after authorities discovered that it was operating without a licence from the Guyana Securities Council.

The company claimed that it was not aware that it needed a licence to operate in Guyana since it already has an international licence to trade from the International Monetary Fund.

The Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Act prohibits businesses from operating as financial institutions without the necessary registration for regulation and supervision by the regulatory authorities, the Financial Intelligence Unit, and Guyana Securities Council.

The couple has maintained their innocence on all the charges levelled against them.

NEWS

17

TUESDAY, MAY 25, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Prioritising Sustainable Land Management (SLM) as a tool for development in Guyana I

n a rapidly changing world pressured by climate change and increasing populations, sustainable land management (SLM) is vital for development. It can help to improve livelihoods, achieve food security and protect ecosystems while ensuring that land, as an important resource, is also sustained for the benefit of future generations.

SLM includes technologies, policies and activities that allow the use of land resources – including soils, water, animals and plants – to produce goods that meet changing human needs, while ensuring the resources maintain productivity and environmental functions. For example, it may involve countries developing coherent policies and institutional framework that govern use and development of land. SLM is also supported through knowledge sharing and lessons learnt to scale up good land management practices including among land users. SLM recognises that interaction between land resources, climate and human activities influence productivity and sustainability of land-use systems.

Globally and nationally, SLM remains a priority with partners like the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) actively involved in assisting member countries to create enabling environment for sustainable development of land resources to meet the ever-increasing needs and demands of the world’s rapidly growing population and as a means for achieving Food Security for All (SDG

2).

With regards to Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), SLM is also linked to SDG 15: “Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss.”

More so, SLM is important to achieving SDG Target 15.3: “By 2030, combat desertification, restore degraded land and soil, including land affected by desertification, drought and floods, and strive to achieve a land degradation-neutral world.”

While it is recognised that all forms of land degradation cannot be stopped, it can be offset by improved management of land for agriculture, pastoral systems, forestry, and mining.

GLSC and its role in sustainable land management

Countries like Guyana, whose socio-economic development has traditionally relied on land-based activities, mainly agriculture, mining and forestry, are recognised for their commitment and strategic actions to integrate SLM. Guyana is currently implementing a Project to Mainstream Sustainable Land Development and Management (SLDM) aimed at creating an enabling environment to promote sustainable, and climate-resilient land development, management and reclamation. The Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission (GLSC) is the national implementing counterpart and a main beneficiary of the SLDM Project.

The FAO is the imple-

A mined-out area in Region 10

menting agency with overall responsibility for executing the project, in collaboration with GLSC. Mandated by the GLSC Act of 1999, “to have charge of and act as guardian over (all) public lands, rivers and creeks of Guyana,” the Commission has legal support in its functions of land administration and management in Guyana. Affirmed in GLSC’s functions, is responsibility for land use planning and land administration which contributes to sustainable land management. Land use planning involves the allocation of land for uses that provide the greatest sustainable benefits. Land administration refers to the process of determining, recording and disseminating information about the rights, regulations, value and uses of land when implementing land management for agriculture, forestry, mineral ex-

traction, conservation, tourism and urban development.

The GLSC enables land users the rights to access lands for different purposes/land uses such as agriculture, residential, commercial, industrial, grazing, recreational, ecclesiastical (religious) and tourism.

The SLDM project, which started in 2018, is carrying out several activities to improve GLSC’s capacity and workflows for improved land administration and land use planning, building on land monitoring, surveying, valuation, mapping, etc. These entail application and use of updated equipment, technology, tools and systems and capacity building through training, formal and otherwise, for GLSC staff and other partner agencies.

SLM and combating land degradation

Overall, project outcomes

seek to mainstream SLDM in policy and institutional and governance mechanisms to prevent degradation and restore degraded lands; and to boost Guyana’s institutional and human capacity for participatory and cohesive SLDM activities.

The project also targets improvement of local governance in three (3) regions to implement and scale up SLM interventions The SLDM project is supporting Guyana to achieve its goals and objectives for land use planning and development, reclamation, combating land degradation and SLM. These are activities linked to national strategies including the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) and framework for Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD+). The project is also assisting Guyana to meet its commit-

ments to international obligations on land management matters. Included in these are Guyana’s commitment to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) and achieving Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN).

GLSC is Guyana’s National Focal Point agency to UNCCD with oversight for implementing measures to achieve LDN. The fundamental aim of LDN is to preserve the land resource base, by ensuring no net loss of healthy and productive land, at the national level. This goal is to be achieved through a combination of measures that avoid, reduce and reverse land degradation.

Achieving LDN requires estimating the likely cumulative impacts of land use and land management decisions, and counterbalancing anticipated losses through strategically-planned rehabilitation or restoration of degraded land, within the same land type.

Natural resource utilisation and increasing settlement expansion are some factors contributing to land degradation in Guyana.

UNCCD global data has shown Guyana’s area of degraded land to be 0.003 per cent.

GLSC is engaged in transformative projects at the national and regional levels to reduce land degradation. As a part of a multi-country initiative with eight (8) other Caribbean states, Guyana would soon implement a SOILCARE Project. (Article submitted

by Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO] and written

by Ravena Gildharie)

18

guyanatimesgy.com

TUESDAY, MAY 25, 2021

Regional

Ecuador swears in conservative At least 14 killed in President amid economic crisis Peru attack before

C

o n s e r v a t i v e Ecuadorian President Guillermo Lasso took office on Monday promising to revive an economy battered by the coronavirus pandemic and create jobs for a population weary from years of painful austerity measures.

The 65-year-old former banker in April beat out socialist economist Andres Arauz, who had promised to restore the generous social spending programmes of former President Rafael Correa, who was in power for a decade until 2017.

“Ecuador must also mean a promise of balance in common life, balance between the causes of its people, balance between economic growth and social justice,” Lasso said in a speech after

Guillermo Lasso, a right-wing former banker, has promised an ambitious COVID-19 vaccination plan as Ecuador has only inoculated three per cent of its population to date [Dolores Ochoa/ AP Photo]

his swearing-in.

“Two cornerstones that will be the foundations of a prosperous and equitable country.”

But Lasso is tak-

ing over at a time of tight Government finances and with a Congress led by the Indigenous Pachakutik party, which has often opposed mining and oil industry

projects in the country.

Lasso has said he plans to promote new Private Sector investment and will seek a review of a US$6.5 billion agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to soften some of its terms.

He has also promised an ambitious COVID-19 vaccination plan.

He wants to vaccinate nine million people in his first 100 days in office to boost an economy that was crippled by quarantine measures for much of the last year.

Lasso said his new Government has reached out to pharmaceutical companies in the United States, China, and Russia in hopes of reaching that goal.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

presidential election

A Peruvian Army helicopter flying over the VRAEM area, between the rivers Ene, Apurimac and Mantaro, where authorities say 75 per cent of cocaine is produced in Peru [Cris Bouroncle/AFP file photo]

A Teenager reportedly assaulted by hospital staff member in Jamaica

A

n investigation has been launched into a case of alleged assault of a minor by a staff member at the Noel Holmes Hospital in Hanover.

The assault of the

teenager reportedly took place Sunday night at the Government facility.

Reports are that the girl was admitted on May 19.

When contacted, a senior officer from the Western

Regional Health Authority which manages the hospital in Hanover said while he has heard of the incident, he is yet to receive a formal report and as such, was unable to comment on the mat-

ter.

When contacted, Head of the Hanover police division, Superintendent Sharon Beeput, confirmed receiving a report of the incident.

(Jamaica Observer)

Antigua and Barbuda’s Prime Minister Gaston Browne

and decisive action in dealing with the pandemic that has killed 42 people and infected 1257 in his homeland.

Browne told the WHA that if action is not taken, “our one world will be injured irreparably with profound repercussions for all”.

The WHO Assembly was expected to address a number of issues, including a more effective and efficient World Health Organisation (WHO) providing better support to countries, health in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, mental health prepared-

ness for and response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the WHO immunisation agenda 2030.

Prime Minister Browne, who was among a small group of selected leaders to address the high-level segment, along with WHO Director General Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus, also raised the issue of vaccine equity, which he said was critical to achieving global herd immunity and to contain the emergence of deadlier and more debilitating COVID-19 variants. (Excerpt from Nation News)

conference that as of midnight, Trinidad and Tobago would be under a State of Emergency, I didn’t shed a tear, but I did emit a deep sigh of resignation. It was clear to me, as to many, that we had been inching our way steadily there and I asked myself rhetorically “why did we have to get to this point?” Weekes said.

However, Weekes said in large part, the current situation was due to “the somewhat schizophrenic nature of us Trinbagonians.”

“We exhibit the disorder in its classic dictionary definition — “a breakdown between thought, emotion, and behaviour, leading to

faulty perception, inappropriate actions and feelings, withdrawal from reality and personal relationships into fantasy and delusion, and a sense of mental fragmentation” — in other words “a mentality or approach characterised by inconsistent or contradictory elements,” Weekes said.

“Is one of the reasons for our present critical circumstances an identity crisis?

Naturally, as individuals, we subscribe to different ideologies, live in varied conditions, have divergent points of view, are of sundry ethnicities and have other distinctions, but people, we are first and foremost

Trinbagonians, members of one body. Whether we are of Indian or African descent, belong to the one per cent or the 99 per cent; supporters of UNC, PNM or none of the above; whether Trinidadian or Tobagonian; faithful or faithless, COVID-19 doesn’t discriminate and neither can we.”

Weekes made it clear that our present dire situation does not allow for selfish individualism, political agenda, vulgar profiteering, wild conspiracy theories, spreading disinformation, or practised laissez-faire attitudes. (Excerpt from Trinidad and Tobago Guardian)

Antigua wants urgent and binding plan to deal with COVID-19

T

he Antigua and Barbuda Government appealed on Monday for the World Health Assembly (WHA) to commit to an urgent and binding implementation plan in order to “arrest the tragedies” of the COVID-19 pandemic that has killed millions of people and infected several more millions worldwide since 2019.

In a recorded address to the 74th WHA, taking place virtually, Antigua Prime Minister Gaston Browne said the organisation must also agree to comprehensive

President knocks Trinis’ during COVID crisis

T

rinidad and Tobago President Paula-Mae Weekes on Sunday admitted she did not shed a tear when Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley announced a State of Emergency because she had to accept something unpleasant had to happen in order to curb the current spread of the COVID-19 virus across the country.

In a brief address at the National Day of Prayer, Weekes said, “We come together again to call on divine help during another dark period. Last Saturday, when I heard the Honourable Prime Minister announce during a media

t least 14 people, including two children, have been killed in a remote region of Peru known for coca production, the military said on Monday, less than two weeks before voters head to the polls for a presidential runoff.

Peru’s Police Chief, César Cervantes, told local television channel N that at least 18 people were killed, while the military said in a statement there were 14 victims.

“I strongly condemn the murders of these 14 people,” interim Peruvian President Francisco Sagasti tweeted on Monday, saying that he had ordered Army and Police patrols in the area “so that this terrorist act will not go unpunished”.

The killings took place in a community in Vizcatan de Ene, which is in an area of

the Peruvian Amazon that authorities believe is being used as a hideout by remnants of the Shining Path movement that battled the Government in the 1980s and 1990s.

The Valle de los Rios Apurimac, Ene y Mantaro (VRAEM) mountainous region is where 75 per cent of cocaine is produced in the South American country, according to authorities.

Police accuse Shining Path of acting as “bodyguards” for drug traffickers.

“It is likely there will be more deaths,” Cervantes told RPP radio on Monday.

The military accused Shining Path of being responsible for the killings, which it described as “an act of genocide”. But its statement also assured Peruvians of “a secure electoral process”. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

AMLO urges US not to downgrade Mexico’s air safety rating

M behaviour

exican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (AMLO) said on Monday that United States authorities should not downgrade Mexico’s air safety designation, arguing that his country is complying with all the relevant norms.

Reuters news agency reported on Friday that the US Government is preparing to downgrade Mexico’s aviation safety rating, a move that would bar Mexican carriers from adding new US flights and limit airlines’ ability to carry out marketing agreements.

“We have been complying with all the requirements. We feel that this decision should not be made,” Lopez Obrador said at a regular news conference when asked about the possibility of a US downgrade

of the safety classification.

The US Federal Aviation Administration’s planned move is expected to be announced in the coming days and follows a lengthy review of Mexico’s aviation oversight by the agency.

Lopez Obrador said that a downgrade would “not affect [Mexican] airlines because they are mostly dedicated to transporting passengers domestically”.

Downgrading Mexico from “category one” to “category two” would mean that current US service by Mexican carriers would be unaffected, but they could not launch new flights and airline-to-airline marketing practices such as selling seats on each other’s flights in code-share arrangements would be restricted. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

guyanatimesgy.com

TUESDAY, MAY 25, 2021

19

Around the World

OILNEWS OIL NEWS Oil jumps over 3 per cent as fears of Iranian exports ease

O

il prices rose more than 3 per cent on Monday as a demand bump fuelled by COVID-19 vaccination drives gave traders optimism that the market can absorb any Iranian oil that would come on the market if Western talks with Tehran lead to the lifting of sanctions.

A decline in deaths due to COVID-19 in India also bolstered expectations that oil demand could rise in coming weeks.

Brent crude oil futures settled up US$2.02, or 3 per cent, at US$68.46 a barrel, while July US West Texas Intermediate ended at US$66.05 a barrel, up US$2.47, or 3.9 per cent.

Prices also got a boost on expectations that a new deal with Iran is less likely than it was last week, said Bob Yawger, Director of Energy Futures at Mizuho in New York.

“The Iranians and western powers cannot get the details worked out that will get this deal signed and delivered,” Yawger said.

Iran and the UN nuclear watchdog are extending a recently expired monitoring agreement by a month, both sides said on Monday, avoiding a collapse that could have pitched wider talks on reviving the 2015 Iran nuclear deal into crisis.

Former President Donald Trump withdrew the United States from the deal in 2018 and re-imposed sanctions.

Even if large volumes of Iranian crude return to the market, it is unlikely to stall the drawdown in global oil stocks, said Stephen Brennock of oil broker PVM. “Additional supply from Tehran is poised to be absorbed by the market as a result of a vaccine-spurred surge in demand over the coming months,” he added.

Goldman Sachs said the case for higher prices remained intact even with a potential increase in Iranian exports. Its new base case for an October restart still supports an US$80 per barrel forecast for this summer, it added.

“Even aggressively assuming a restart in July, we estimate that Brent prices would still reach US$80 per barrel in fourth quarter 2021,” the bank said in a note. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Belarus faces sanctions backlash over jetliner “State piracy”

W

estern powers prepared to pile sanctions on Belarus and cut off its aviation links on Monday, furious after it scrambled a warplane to intercept a Ryanair aircraft and arrest a dissident journalist, an act one leader denounced as “State piracy”.

In a video posted online, the detained blogger Roman Protasevich, 26, said he was in good health, being held in a pretrial detention facility in Minsk, and acknowledged having played a role in organising mass disturbances in the capital last year.

In the video on the Telegram messaging app, he wore a dark sweatshirt and clasped his hands tightly in front of him. The comments were immediately dismissed by his allies as having been made under duress.

European Union leaders meeting in Brussels called for Belarusian airlines to be banned from the 27-nation bloc’s airspace and urged EU-based carriers to avoid

flying over the former Soviet republic, according to a joint statement.

They also agreed to widen the list of Belarusian individuals they already sanction and called on the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) to urgently investigate Belarus forcing a Ryanair plane to land in Minsk on a GreeceLithuania flight on Sunday.

Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney, using language that was echoed by a number of other EU countries, said: “This was effectively aviation piracy, State sponsored.”

The EU and other Western countries also called for the release of Protasevich, who was detained when the plane landed.

His social media feed from exile has been one of the last remaining independent outlets for news about Belarus since a mass crackdown on dissent last year. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Kuala Lumpur metro train crash injures more than 200 passengers

M

ore than 200 people have been injured in a train crash in the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur.

A metro train carrying 213 passengers collided with an empty one in a tunnel near the Petronas Towers, at about 20:45 (12:45 GMT), Police said.

The empty train had just been repaired, and was going in the opposite direction on the same track as the full one.

District Police Chief Mohamad Zainal Abdullah told reporters there was no sign of foul play.

“We are still investigating the incident... but we suspect that perhaps there was a miscommunication from the

The crash happened near the busy KLCC station, in front of the Petronas Towers

trains’ operation control centre,” he said.

Of the 213 injured, 47 people are in a serious condition while the other 166 have sustained minor injuries, he add-

ed.

Images and footage posted on social media in the hours after the incident showed bleeding passengers lying on the floor of the train carriage, which was covered in broken

glass.

In a statement posted on Facebook, Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said the crash, which happened near the city’s busy KLCC station, was “serious”.

He added that he had asked the train operator Prasarana Malaysia Berhad and the country’s Transport Minister “to conduct an in-depth probe to find out the cause of the accident”.

Transport Minister Wee Ka Siong said in a separate statement that the crash was the metro system’s first major accident in the 23 years it had been operating.

He also pledged to conduct a full investigation. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Samoa’s 1st female PM WHO sets new targets locked out of Parliament for vaccinating by losing opponent world’s poorest to end

“scandalous inequity”

T

Fiame Naomi Mata’afa (pictured centre, in white) is sworn in at the makeshift ceremony

S

amoa’s first female Prime Minister has been sworn into office in a tent after she was locked out of Parliament by her opponent, who has refused to step down.

Fiame Naomi Mata’afa took the oath of office in a marquee in the Parliament’s gardens, leaving uncertainty over who controls the Pacific island nation.

Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, who has been Prime Minister for 22 years, has ignored a court order to step down.

Mata’afa, 64, arrived at Parliament on Monday expecting to be sworn in.

But the former Deputy Prime Minister, who arrived alongside the Chief Justice, found herself barred from the building, which had been locked by allies of Malielegaoi in advance of her arrival.

Instead, Mata’afa and members of her Faatuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi (Fast)

party gathered in a marquee in Parliament’s gardens, in the capital Apia, with supporters looking on, and were sworn in one by one.

The ad-hoc ceremony was rejected by rivals as unofficial. Malielegaoi called the improvised swearing-in ceremony “illegal and unlawful”.

The controversy comes a month after the closest-run general election in Samoa’s history, which was followed by bitter disputes and legal challenges.

Malielegaoi’s Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP) was ousted from power after four decades by Mata’afa’s insurgent Fast party. Both parties won 25 seats, but a single independent MP broke the tie in favour of the Fast.

That led to legal manoeuvring by the HRPP, which claimed its opponents had not correctly met the quota of female MPs. (Excerpt from BBC News)

he COVID-19 pandemic is being perpetuated by a “scandalous inequity” in vaccine distribution, the head of the World Health Organisation (WHO) said on Monday as he set new targets for protecting people in the poorest countries.

WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned that no country should assume that it’s “out of the woods”, no matter its vaccination rate, as long as the SARS-CoV-2 virus and its variants spread elsewhere.

“As of today, more cases have been reported so far this year than in the whole of 2020. On current trends, the number of deaths will overtake last year’s total within the next three weeks. This is very tragic,” he said.

He said more than 75 per cent of all vaccines had been administered in just 10 countries.

“There is no diplomatic way to say it: a small group of countries that make and buy the majority of the world’s vaccines control the fate of the rest of the world.”

He urged countries to donate vaccine doses to COVAX to enable 10 per cent of the

World Health Organisation (WHO) Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus

populations of all countries to be inoculated by September and 30 per cent by year-end.

This meant vaccinating 250 million more people in just four months, he said.

“This is crucial to stop disease and death, keep our healthcare workers safe, reopen our societies and economies,” Tedros said.

Tedros also called on vaccine manufacturers to give COVAX the first right of refusal on new volumes of vaccines, or to commit 50 per cent of their volumes to COVAX this year. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Algae proteins partially restore man’s sight

T

he vision of a completely blind man has been partially restored using light-sensing proteins first found in algae.

The man was treated with a type of therapy called optogenetics, which uses the proteins to control cells at the back of his eye.

He first knew it was working when he realised he could see the painted stripes of a pedestrian crossing.

He can now grab and count objects on a table, Nature

Medicine reports.

The man, whose identity has not been revealed, lives in Brittany, France, and was treated in Paris.

He was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa which leads to the death of light-sensing cells on the surface of the retina - 40 years ago.

It affects more than two million people worldwide, and although complete blindness is rare, the man has had no vision for the

past two decades.

He was treated with optogenetics - a field new to medicine, but one that has long been a staple of fundamental neuroscience.

It uses light to control precisely the activity of brain cells and was used by the scientists to restore the ability of one of his eyes to detect light.

The technique is based on proteins, produced in algae, called channelrhodopsins, which change their be-

haviour in response to light.

The microbes use them to move towards the light.

The first step in the treatment was gene therapy.

The genetic instructions for making the rhodopsins were taken from algae and given to cells in the deep surviving layers of the retina at the back of his eye.

Now when they were hit with light, they would send an electrical signal to the brain. (Excerpt from BBC News)

20

TUESDAY, MAY 25, 2021

guyanatimesgy.com

ARCHIE

ARIES (March 21April 19)

An offer or partnership will not be as it appears. Dig deep to find out what underlying expectations someone has before you agree to get involved. It’s better to be safe than sorry.

TAURUS

Stay focused on what you want to achieve. The changes (April 20May 20) you make and the people you associate with will determine how well you do. Protect your private information and reputation.

DILBERT

Focus is the name of the game, and temptation is the hur(May 21- dle you’ll have to overcome. Be a June 20) straight shooter, and demand the same from others. Figure out what you’re up against, and what you have to do.

GEMINI

CANCER (June 21July 22)

PEANUTS

Step out of your comfort zone and make changes that will encourage you to follow your heart. Be creative and incorporate what you feel passionate about into your daily routine.

Assess a situation before LEO you respond to it. Your emo(July 23tions will be difficult to conAug. 22) trol if you let your imagination run wild. Don’t make an assumption; find out what’s going on.

CALVIN AND HOBBES

SUDOKU

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

Learn as you go, and don’t stop until you reach your objective. Someone will try to outmaneuver you if you don’t use your ingenuity to stay on top of your game. Don’t sell yourself short.

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

Do a good job, and you’ll reap the rewards. Ensure that you have covered every angle and have left nothing to chance. Discipline, hard work and charisma will be necessary.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

A personal improvement will help you raise your income. Add to your skills. Don’t feel you that you must pay for others or buy love or acceptance. Find something you can offer to others.

Get your facts straight SAGITTARIUS before you engage in an emo(Nov. 23tional encounter with someDec. 21) one close to you. Concentrate on how best to stabilize a situation that has the potential to run amok.

Self-improvement will pay

CAPRICORN off, but extravagance could be (Dec. 22your downfall. Don’t let tempJan. 19) tation lead you astray or allow

YESTERDAY'S WORD - RINGHALS

anyone to take advantage of you.

A domestic change will turn out better than anticipated.

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

Question everything and everyone. Look at the possibilities and how best to take advantage of a situation without going overboard. Balance and equality be necessary.

Control your emotions.

Leave nothing to chance when dealing with institu(Feb. 20March 20) tions, government agencies or finances. A smooth talker will lead you astray. Don’t trust anyone with your money or possessions.

PISCES

TUESDAY, MAY 25, 2021

Fifty and fabulous: Mickelson defies age to win PGA Championship P

hil Mickelson blocked out the distractions and kept his mind quiet in front of a raucous gallery to win the PGA Championship by two strokes on Sunday and become golf’s oldest major winner at the age of 50.

Mickelson battled through strong winds, shrugged off a few poor shots, and kept calm amid suffocating pressure to record a one-over-par 73 at the Ocean Course, holding his nerve with Brooks Koepka and Louis Oosthuizen breathing down his neck.

In collecting the sixth major of his career, and first since the 2013 British Open, Mickelson surpassed Julius Boros as the oldest major winner. Boros was 48 when he won the 1968 PGA Championship.

“This is just an incred-

him in a frenzied swarm.

Mickelson, who also won the tournament in 2005, later acknowledged he had been a little unnerved by the experience, while fellow competitor Koepka said he was “dinged” by spectators in the crush.

Security officials had to create a narrow path for Mickelson to navigate his way to the green, where he two-putted from 16 feet to seal the win.

“Quiet things down”

ible feeling, because I just believed that it was possible, but yet everything was saying it wasn’t,” said Mickelson, who is now the only player to have claimed PGA Tour victories 30 years apart.

“And I hope that others find that inspiration.

It might take a little extra

work, a little bit harder effort to maintain physically or maintain the skills, but, gosh, is it worth it.”

When Mickelson’s approach shot safely found the green at the final hole, a wild scene ensued as fans raced to follow one of the game’s alltime greats up the fairway and completely enveloped

Mickelson, who will get the chance to complete the career Grand Slam of all four modern majors at the US Open next month, said his triumph had yet to sink in.

“It’s been an incredible day, and I’ve not let myself kind of think about the results until now, now that it’s over,” Mickelson said after

finishing at six-under 282.

“I’ve tried to stay more in the present and at the shot at hand and not jump ahead and race. I’ve tried to shut my mind to a lot of stuff going around. I wasn’t watching TV. I wasn’t getting on my phone. I was just trying to quiet things down.”

Mickelson led by five shots with six holes to play, though the advantage was cut to two after bogeys at the 13th and 14th and a birdie at the 16th by Oosthuizen, who was playing in the penultimate pairing.

With victory in sight, an undeterred Mickelson showed great resolve and even flashed a thumbs-up to the crowd as he went on to reclaim a three-shot cushion with a birdie at the 16th before a bogey-par finish.

Mickelson was under no illusions that at this point in his career, when most players are long since done and dusted at the top level, wins are incredibly difficult to

21

come by.

“It’s very possible that this is the last tournament I ever win, if I’m being realistic,” he said.

“But it’s also very possible that I may have had a little bit of a breakthrough in some of my focus and maybe I go on a little bit of a run.”

Mickelson’s great rival Tiger Woods, who is home recovering from serious leg injuries suffered in a February car crash, was quick to congratulate him.

“Truly inspirational to see @PhilMickelson do it again at 50 years of age.

Congrats!!!!!!!,” the 15-time major champion tweeted.

Oosthuizen (73) and Koepka (74) finished in a share of second place while European Ryder Cup Captain Padraig Harrington (69), Ireland’s Shane Lowry (69), Englishman Paul Casey (71) and Harry Higgs (70) were a further two shots back in fourth place.

(Reuters)

NBA round-up:

Grizzlies stun top-seeded Jazz to open series D

i l l o n Brooks scored 31 points and Ja Morant added 26 to lead the number eight seed Memphis Grizzlies to a huge 112-109 road upset win over the number one ranked Utah Jazz in Salt Lake City on Sunday night in the first round of the Western Conference play-offs.

The young Grizzlies fell behind by 14 points in the first half, rallied to jump ahead by 17 points early in the fourth quarter and then held on to win on the top-seeded team’s home court just two days after earning a spot in the playoffs. While Utah rested, the Grizzlies had to beat San Antonio and Golden State in the NBA’s new play-in tournament to qualify.

a Grizzlies squad that is playing in the play-offs for the first time in four years.

Suns 99, Lakers 90

The Jazz were short-handed after All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell (ankle sprain) was ruled out of the game in the afternoon. Former Grizzlies guard Mike Conley played well for the Jazz with 22 points and 11 assists, and Bojan Bogdanovic lit up to score 29 points -- all in the second half -- to lead Utah.

Jonas Valanciunas had 15 points and 12 rebounds, while Kyle Anderson added 14 points and six steals for

Devin Booker recorded 34 points, eight assists and seven rebounds to lead Phoenix to a home victory over Los Angeles in the opening game of their Western Conference first-round series.

Deandre Ayton added 21 points on 10-of-11 shooting and collected 16 rebounds for the second-seeded Suns, who were playing in their first postseason game since 2010. Suns star Chris Paul played 36 minutes despite injuring his right shoulder in the second quarter when teammate Cameron Johnson clipped his arm.

LeBron James had 18 points, 10 assists, and seven rebounds while Anthony Davis had 13 on just 5-of16 shooting for the seventh-seeded Lakers. Game Two of the best-of-seven series is today in Phoenix.

76ers 125, Wizards 118 Tobias Harris set a play-off career high with 37 points to help hosts and top-seeded Philadelphia hold off eighth-seeded Washington in Game One of their Eastern Conference first-round series.

Harris scored the most points by a 76er in the first half of a play-off game (28) since Allen Iverson’s 30-point, first-half performance in Game One of the 2001 NBA Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers.

Joel Embiid finished with 30 points and six rebounds in just 30 minutes after battling early foul trouble.

Bradley Beal paced the Wizards with 33 points and 10 rebounds. Russell Westbrook had 16 points,

14 assists, and five rebounds, Davis Bertans added 14 points and Rui Hachimura, Alex Len, and Daniel Gafford each scored 12. Game Two is Wednesday night in Philadelphia.

Hawks 107, Knicks 105

Trae Young drove the lane for the game-winning floater with 0.9 seconds left as Atlanta mounted a late rally and edged hosts New York in Game One of an Eastern Conference

quarter-final series at Madison S q u a r e Garden.

Y o u n g scored 13 of his gamehigh 32 points in the fourth quarter for the Hawks, who led by as many as 11 in the first quarter. He also had 10 assists. Bogdan Bogdanovic had 18 points, while Lou Williams scored 13 points off the bench and John Collins finished with 12 points.

Reserve Alec Burks scored 18 of his 27 points in the fourth quarter for the Knicks, whose biggest lead was seven points in the third. Derrick Rose had 17 points off the bench, while Julius Randle (15 points, 12 rebounds) had a double-double. (Reuters)

22

TUESDAY, MAY 25, 2021

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

PYARG assists youth development at Strathavon – commits to more support S

ome 50 youths of the Strathavon AllStar Sport and Cultural Club on Sunday benefited from a donation of sport equipment from the President’s Youth Award Republic of Guyana (PYARG) initiative.

Speaking with the Department of Public Information (DPI) at a simple handing-over ceremony at the Strathavon sports ground, Club President Fazal Khan said the donation was “very much appreciated” as it would facilitate the development of youths in the community.

“My vision is to see our young people develop themselves [and] educate themselves, because education is the key to success,” he stressed.

Khan said the club has many school dropouts as

members. He added that the donation would allow the youths to be positively occupied.

P Y A R G Executive Officer Ivan B e n t h a m handed over the gear and informed the club that there would be an additional donation once the remaining equipment arrived in the PYARG Executive Officer Ivan Bentham engages residents country. of Strathavon and Club members (DPI photo) He said while ple for the world of work. has started, and we hope the COVID-19 “We plan to do a number to achieve much greater pandemic has reduced the programme’s activities, oth- of training – small training things,” Bentham explained.

The PYARG official stater avenues are being ex- and also with smaller numplored to prepare young peo- bers of young people. That ed that he was currently in

discussions with the Labour Ministry and the Agriculture Ministry to train youths in Strathavon and other communities in agro-processing, joinery, and business.

He said a proposal was given to the Natural Resources Ministry of for training in other areas.

“PYARG is not only about the award programme, but if you have an idea – a business idea, and

you would like to get funding for that idea, come into the office. We would advise you, prepare a plan so that we can help to sponsor whatever idea you have,” he told the youths.

The PYARG initiative began in 1998, and has benefited thousands of youths ages 14-24. It offers gold, silver, and bronze awards through a continuous programme.

(DPI)

Kemar Roach ends Surrey stint with 9-wicket haul in drawn match against Middlesex

Young players provide support for “Cricket Gear for Young and Promising Cricketers” Project

I

ntercounty Under-19 players Ariel Tilku and Aaron Beharry have contributed two used bats towards the “Cricket Gear for Young and Promising Cricketers in Guyana” Project.

This initiative is a joint effort of Kishan Das of the USA and former Berbice senior player and long-serving executive Anil Beharry. The Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club (RHTY&SC) also contributed an addi-

tional pair of batting pads.

Their aim is to provide cricket gear free of cost for young and talented cricketers in Guyana. The project is seeking new and used cricket gear which will then be distributed across the length and breadth of Guyana.

Total gear collected so far: 12 pairs of batting pads, 11 bats, eight pairs of batting gloves and two cricket bags.

Eight young players from Essequibo Coast have

W

Ariel Tilku (left) and Aaron Beharry

already benefited from four

bats and four pairs of batting pads.

In a joint statement, Tilku and Beharry indicated that they would be happy if the bats were given to young players in the county of Essequibo. They both participated in the recently-concluded Under-19 Cricket Tournament held in Essequibo and were impressed with the level of talent they saw. Devon Ramnauth was the sponsor of that competition.

Talent spotting will be done across Guyana, along with guidance from club leaders, to identify the recipient players. Players must be in school and disciplined. Players above school age will also be considered.

Das and Beharry expressed thanks to Imran and Javed Khan of West Indian Sports Complex, Option Group, Bish Panday of P and P Insurance Brokers, Sean Devers, Travis Simon, RHTY&SC, Tilku and Beharry.

Anyone interested in contributing can contact Anil Beharry on 623-6875 or Kishan Das on 1-718-6640896.

est Indies fast bowler Kemar Roach ended his five-game stint in the English County Championship on a high on Saturday, taking nine wickets in Surrey’s drawn match with Middlesex.

Roach, 32, took 4 for 61 as Middlesex, chasing Surrey’s first innings score of 190, were bowled out for 160. Jordan Clarke took 4 for 41 for Surrey that helped Roach undermine the efforts of Middlesex wicketkeeper John Simpson, who top-scored with 68.

With a 30-run lead on first innings, Surrey scored 259 for 2 declared in their second innings, thanks to Roy Burns’ unbeaten 104 and knocks of 74 from Mark Stoneman and 43 from Hashim Amla.

The sporting declaration was forced by weather conditions as the teams tried to force a result.

Set a target of 290, Middlesex reached 250 for 6 as the match ended in a draw.

Nick Gubbins made a game of it, scoring 124 with Captain Peter Handscomb contributing 70.

Roach, meanwhile, picked up 5 for 86 as Middlesex chased quick runs.

It was his second five-wicket haul of his stint to go along with a 10-wick-

et haul.

His nine wickets against Middlesex increased his haul to 22 wickets at an average of 20.54 and an economy rate of 3.36.

Roach will now return to the Caribbean to prepare for the upcoming two-Test series against South Africa next month having enjoyed his time in the United Kingdom.

“What can I say, My Surrey experience was amazing, nothing short of brilliant, but duty calls,” he posted on Instagram.

“I want to thank everyone at Surrey that made me feel at home, from the administration to the coaching staff and, of course, the players for allowing me to be a part of your family.

“I hope I left a good impression and you can have me back again in the near future. Good luck for the rest of the season.”

(Sportsmax)

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TUESDAY, MAY, 25, 2021

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Thomas, Tyrell credit training for 10K wins

S

cores of athletes battled ferocious rains on Sunday morning to compete in the Ex-Athletes and Friends Independence 10K race. When the rains and heavy winds stopped, it was Cleveland Thomas and Sheama Tyrell who emerged victorious.

For the pair of athletes, constant training has played a great role in their form and Sunday’s win.

In Thomas’ case, he felt it was a comfortable win for him.

“I must give God thanks for finishing and being victorious today (Sunday). The race this morning was a good race, I didn’t come out to pace

the race as usual, so I just sit down and I run the first half of the race comfortable, but I know my fitness level is high from my training, so I just went out and I execute in the last half,” Thomas told Guyana Times Sport exclusively.

“The last half was fairly good for me, I run the last half almost by myself, so I enjoy the race.”

When probed about his preparation, Thomas revealed that the notice of the race did not come far in advance, but he had his training plan to fall back on.

“Preparation wasn’t so much, because we had an on-and-off, on-and-off train-

ing but I still keep my fitness, I never stopped training, so my fitness level was at a percentage and when I heard about the race, I put in some extra work.”

Thomas and third-place finisher Winston Missigher are constant rivals on the 10K circuit, with Missigher edging Thomas in their last race.

Speaking on this competitiveness on the day, Thomas said, “He’s a good runner, maybe he’s not as fit as he would want to be, you know, I just execute to a good plan and I came out victorious today.”

23

Sheama Tyrell approaches the finish line

In a word to younger athletes coming up, Thomas urged them to focus on training and perfect their craft.

“I would just say don’t stop training, because training is essential. Even if you can’t get to do your normal routine training, you could still at least come out in the morning or even in the afternoon, just get in a little something, because you have to keep training,” he encouraged.

“If you don’t keep training, competition can pop up on you and you’ll be unfit and

won’t perform to your standards.”

On the other hand, although Tyrell enjoyed the ease of the race, there was no real challenge for her.

“It (the race) was very slow, I must say, very slow and very breezy. That’s the most I could say about the race, no real competition,” Tyrell told this publication.

Questioned about her training, she related that it has been restricted lately by the weather.

“We weren’t training

much, because it’s very rainy.

We rarely get time to go on the road, it was mostly home training and body build,” she explained.

Nonetheless, the young lady detailed her rigid training schedule, which eventually paid off.

“I train on the road in the morning, I try to do at least five miles a day. In the afternoon, we go on the track; so, we do distance in the morning and speed work in the afternoon. Every single day, it’s my job,” Tyrell related.

GTTA makes key intervention DaSilva, Puran, Lam enjoy wins over at GuySuCo Training busy chess weekend Centre Port Mourant J

T

Recipients pose with the equipment compliments of the GTTA

he Guyana Table Tennis Association (GTTA) made a key intervention into the development of table tennis at the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) Training Centre Port Mourant with the provision of table tennis equipment.

The GuySuCo Apprentice Training Centre, which falls under the guidance of renowned sports administrator Levi Nedd, served as an incubator of table tennis in the past and produced many players who competed at the national level. It will now have the opportunity to restart its table tennis programme.

Part of the immediate plans which have already commenced is having students engage in training orientation, multi ball, and competition activity

to identify the institution’s champions and establish a team which will challenge and compete against other schools and institutions under COVID-19 guidelines.

Nedd, who plays a key role in sports development in the Berbice region and collaborated with the GTTA for the support inputs, outlined that there was an abundance of talent residing at the institution and in the region and he was happy to partner with the GTTA in enabling a key developmental project. Further, he pledged his and the institution’s support towards ensuring that the equipment was utilised optimally towards the development of students’ talents and the sport.

The Association says it is is truly happy to part-

ner with the institution and make the investment in a key area and region that has produced many outstanding players in the past. This forms a major part of the GTTA’s developmental and rebuilding thrust in a key area in Region Six, aimed at building a platform for the sport as it continues to roll out many of its programmes.

The Centre was presented with two tables, a box of balls and one dozen training racquets, which will complement the barriers and table it possessed. Apprentices and management of the Centre lauded the GTTA for its kind gesture with the expectation that amid the pandemic coaching sessions would still be possible. An apprentice, Shawn Benn expressed gratitude on behalf of the Training Centre.

ustino DaSilva played an almost perfect six rounds of chess to emerge as the Guyana Chess Federation (GCF) Independence Champion. Owing to the number of participants, the six-round tournament was cut down to two days, commencing on Saturday, May 22.

DaSilva, who won five out of six games (acquiring the same number of points), had his only loss of the tournament to eventual junior champion, 15-yearold Kishan Puran. Gilbert Williams was second place with the same number of wins (five points), having only lost to DaSilva.

Joshua Gopaul completed the podium with four wins from six games.

Over in the junior category, Queen’s College’s Puran added another victory to his collection with four points from six games. Jessica Callender finished second among the juniors with 3.5 points, owing to three wins and a draw. The third position in that category saw a three-way tie. Raveon Adonis, Shelby Williams, and Rafael Shaw all garnered three points in the weekend tournament.

Owing to a number of the enlisted players cancelling their participation

Kishan Puran

in the Independence tournament and requesting competitions utilising the shorter format of the game,

the GCF is mulling whether the next tournament, most likely in June, will take on the blitz or rapid formats.

In a separate event over

the weekend, the GCF Women’s group rolled out its first event.

The event was an online chess competition catering to the Under-16 female players that consisted of five rounds.

The eventual champion was 13-year-old Pooja Lam, a student of the Saraswati Vidya Niketan School, who is up and coming on the chess scene.

Lam’s overall win was decided in the fourth round of the competition, when she came up against Queen’s College’s Mahila Rajkumar, the tournament favourite. In that encounter, Rajkumar blundered the Queen on move 22 and eventually went on to lose the encounter, deciding Lam’s competition victory.

Lam’s only blemish was a draw, resulting in her gaining 4.5 points.

Rajkumar had to settle for second place, garnering four points from her five games. Anya Lall of the Deaf Academy clinched third place after a pretty slow start. Her first two encounters resulted in a loss and a draw, before she pulled her game together to register a winning streak over the remaining rounds. Lall finished with 3.5 points to bag her spot in the top three.

TUESDAY, MAY 25, 2021

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

Page 23

Cleveland Thomas crosses the finish line for another 10K win

DaSilva, Puran, Lam enjoy wins over busy chess weekend Page 23

Thomas, Tyrell credit training for 10K wins

Page 23

Justino DaSilva

PYARG assists youth GTTA makes key intervention development at Strathavon at GuySuCo Training Page 22

– commits to more support

PYARG Executive Officer Ivan Bentham hands over sports gear to Strathavon All-Star Sports and Cultural Club President Fazal Khan (DPI photo)

Centre Port Mourant

Page 23

Players enjoying a game

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