Guyana Times - Tuesday, July 13, 2021

Development financing

Guyana urges global community to deliver on P17 longstanding commitments Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

Issue No. 4707

THE BEACON OF TRUTH TUESDAY, JULY 13, 2021

Major construction ongoing on US$130M deep-water port in Berbice River See story on page 3

COVID-19 Auditor General Report pressures led Contention arises to increase over “missing” in domestic documents from APNU/AFC forced violence …896 Police reports, 104 convictions for 2021 property acquisition 2nd doses Sputnik V have landed, available from today – Minister Anthony Page 15

See story on page 7

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

GRA enforcement officer attacked, stabbed over rent P10 dispute …brother constantly tormented by landlady – sister

Toddler found dead with head in bucket of water P11

10-year-old drowns during seawall outing with brother, P11 cousin "Wild Buck" stabbed to P11 death during fight over cook City Hall P13 employees proceeding on leave without LGC’s approval Haiti arrests suspected P18 mastermind in President Moïse’s killing

See stories on pages 9 & 12

…as 5 more COVID-19 fatalities recorded, 49 new cases

Speaker to decide fate of NoConfidence Motions Page 14

Cuba protests: Arrests after thousands rally against Govt P18

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TUESDAY, JULY 13, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

NEWS

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TUESDAY, JULY 13, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS OPENINGS BRIDGE

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

Tuesday, July 13 – 04:00h – 05:30h and Wednesday, July 14 – 04:00h – 05:30h.

Major construction ongoing on US$130M deep-water port in Berbice River

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Tuesday, July 13 – 06:05h – 07:35h and Wednesday, July 14 – 06:45h – 09:45h.

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

WEATHER TODAY There will be thundery showers and sunny intervals during the day. Expect partly cloudy skies at night. Temperatures should range between 21 degrees Celsius and 31 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East North-Easterly to North-Easterly between 1.78 metres and 3.57 metres.

High Tide: 06:34h and 19:03h reaching maximum heights of 2.62 metres and 2.49 metres.

Low Tide: 12:36h reaching a minimum height of 0.61 metre.

Map of Crab Island

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COMMODITIES Indicators

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anadian-owned company CGX Energy Incorporated, which only recently started drilling for oil in the Corentyne Block offshore Guyana, has commenced construction on what will be Guyana’s first deep-water port in the Berbice River.

In updating shareholders, CGX explained that its subsidiary Grand Canal Industrial Estates Inc (GCIE) has been engaged in civil works related to the construction of the US$130 million Berbice Deep Water Port (BDWP).

The construction is being done on 30 acres of land on the eastern bank of the Berbice River, adjacent to Crab Island. At present, work is ongoing on the access road and connecting bridge for the site. Additionally, they are relocating utilities along the Berbice River.

“Construction of the wharf platform and access trestle are currently scheduled to begin in September 2021. The facility is designed to have a wharf platform of 220m length and 30m width, accessed by a 50m trestle,” the company said.

“An approved dredging program is intended to ensure continual unencumbered access to supply and cargo vessels. Depth is targeted to be maintained at a 7 m (23 ft) low-tide draft within the berth area and access channel that leads to the BDWP pier,” the company said in its update.

It was further explained that GCIE owns and operates a 16 acres laydown yard in Berbice at Bramfield along the main Corentyne Highway. This location is currently being used as a logistics base and will also service the port, which is located 3.2 km away.

The company further explained that the capital cost for the project is currently estimated at US$70 million.

It is expected, however, that when further expansion to construct heavy lift and fabrication facilities are done the cost will reach as high as US$130 million.

“Work is on schedule for the operationalisation of the offshore oil and gas support shore base by mid-2022 and for the operationalisation of containerised cargo, agricultural cargo and specialised cargo terminal by the end of 2023,” the company explained.

The CGX deep-water harbour project has been in the works since 2010, when the company secured a 50year lease on the property. But it wasn’t until late 2020 that GCIE began advertising for a number of senior positions related to the deep-water harbour project, including the positions of Project Manager, Civil Engineer and Health, Safety and Environmental

Officer.

Through the construction of its deep-water port, CGX has said it hopes to support Guyana’s rapidly growing oil and gas sector, as well as agricultural exports, container imports and exports.

In addition, the deep-water harbour is expected to facilitate cruise ship docking and regional shipping.

The company has said it would construct a 91-metre x 30-metre wharf platform and a 49-metre x 12-metre approach trestle, which would be able to accommodate two platform supply vessels. In addition, it plans to build a compacted port site with warehousing and tubular storage.

It also has to dredge the

access channel and basin offshore the wharf, as well as construct access roads and bridges and implement flood protection features for the site. The company had set itself a December 2021 target for the facility to be operational.

A major plus to the project is that it will stem the outsourcing of logistical services to Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) which is geographically close to Guyana and experienced enough in the oil and gas industry to snag work that should have been done locally.

But CGX, which has experienced a number of project delays over the years, was forced to relinquish 24.96 acres of land last year at the estuary of the Berbice river, in the vicinity of where the project is being undertaken.

Back in May 2019, the former Government had approved a Strategic Joint Venture between CGX Energy Inc and Frontera Energy Corporation to farm into two shallow-water offshore Petroleum Prospecting Licences for the Corentyne and Demerara Blocks – both of which are adjacent to ExxonMobil’s Stabroek Block, where multiple discoveries have been made.

CGX, which was given a November 2021 deadline to drill its first well in the Corentyne Block by the Government of Guyana, only spudded its first exploration well last week – the Kawa-1 well.

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TUESDAY, JULY 13, 2021

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

Domestic violence and COVID-19

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n a startling report revealed on Monday, the Judiciary and the Guyana Police Force reported that there has been an increase in domestic violence cases in Guyana.

Chancellor of the Judiciary (ag), Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards and Commissioner of Police (ag), Nigel Hoppie made this revelation.

Importantly, the Chancellor emphasised that Guyana, like many other countries, has seen a rise in domestic violence during the COVID-19 pandemic, while adding that domestic abuse, intimate partner violence, and psychosocial abuse have been part of the ills in society and must not go untackled.

Earlier this year, United Nations Deputy Secretary General Amina Mohammed had detailed the many problems women are faced with during lockdown and made recommendations in relation to various forms of support Governments and other partners could provide to ensure women are able to confront these challenges.

According to SG Mohammed, women bear the brunt of increased care-work during this pandemic. School closures further worsen this burden and places more stress on women. The disruption of livelihoods and their ability to earn a living – especially for those women who are informal wage workers – will decrease access to basic needs and services. This situation increases stress on families with the potential to intensify conflict and violence.

Violence against women and children has tremendous costs to communities and can remain with women and children for a lifetime. If not dealt with effectively, it can also pass from one generation to another. Over the years, the UN has been pushing countries towards implementing proactive measures to combat domestic violence.

These measures have included criminalising genderbased violence, putting on massive public awareness campaigns and providing training to equip both men and women to act as first responders and to support victims of the scourge at the community level.

Every year during the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, Guyana joins the World Health Organisation (WHO) and other partners to raise awareness about the global need to prevent and respond to violence against women, and provide support to survivors.

However, not many women admit to being victims of violence. The Human Services Minister, some time ago, said, “Domestic violence remains a taboo, shuttered behind closed doors and only emerging as bloody faces, bruised limbs, broken spirits and dead bodies. Fear of societal judgement, insecurities about children and finances, family pressure and manipulation keep this a hushed conversation or result in an overwhelming silence”.

As pointed out by the Human Services and Social Security Minister, “violence against women is a heinous crime and a pervasive breach of human rights. Yet, it continues to be one of the longest, hardest challenges to the world, and involves psyches, attitudes, poverty, cultures, emotional manipulation, substance abuse and lack of education”.

We had previously called for urgent action to be taken by the Government and other partners to end violence against women. We are pleased that some steps are being taken in this regard, including the 914-emergency hotline. Since its launch, the 24-hour hotline’s operators have been seeking to offer support, and referrals to victims and survivors, family, friends and professionals via an integration of the services available at both the Domestic Violence Unit and the Child Care and Protection Agency.

We echo the call by the Minister that better can and must be done. Everyone must work in every home, school, office, and community in every part of our country to expose violence against women where it exists, support the women, work with the perpetrators, create safe spaces, educate persons, and share solutions.

A fisherman throws his net beside the half-submerged M/V Palawan Pearl after it collided with a Cyprus-flagged BKM 104 dredger in Manila bay, Philippines (VOA.com)

Where there’s smoke, there’s fire

Dear Editor, Where there’s smoke, there’s fire, and where there’s fire, conspiracy theories are sure to follow. At least that’s what allegedly may have happened in connection with the fire that destroyed the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) building at Burnham Drive, Wismar, Linden, one year ago. One may have a clear memory of the morning of July 14, 2020, when the Police in Region 10 suspected that arsonists burnt down the Region 10 office of the Guyana Elections Commission.

Investigators at the time said they were told by a security guard, who was at the front of the rented building at First Alley, that at about 1:55 am, she heard an explosion at the back of the building.

She also said two men were seen running up the road into First Alley, even as the building was being engulfed in flames.

Attempts were made to destroy two other public buildings – an unoccupied Army Base of the Second Infantry Battalion, Maria’s Lodge, Essequibo, and the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) office at Anna Regina, Essequibo, during that same period, there were the many social media postings that suggested that arson was com-

mitted by the then PPP/C Opposition with leaders of the APNU/AFC requesting their supporters have an eye out on all of these mischief makers. It is astonishing to see how the truth has a way of revealing itself.

Two men who were arrested on July 5, 2021, in connection with the fire that destroyed the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) building at Wismar have reportedly confessed to being paid to execute the arson. The two were arrested exactly one year after committing the act. The arson was committed at the height of political uncertainty when the APNU/AFC coalition refused to give up power although it was clear from a national vote recount that the political party had lost the March 2020 elections.

It is understood that while being questioned by investigating ranks of the Guyana Police Force, the two men admitted their involvement and one of the men reportedly told Police that they were contacted by a third man, who was identified as Bryon Kendall called “Murgie”, on the night of July 13, 2020, and was instructed “to burn the GECOM building” claiming Kendall offered to pay him $150,000 to set the building on fire.

According to the law en-

forcement agency, the arson was politically motivated. “Since one of the suspects told law enforcement that Kendall told him that the reason for burning the building was because GECOM was taking too long to swear in Mr David Granger.

While Police have held Bryon “Murgie” Kendall an APNU/AFC member and a former Region 10 development officer for allegedly providing gasoline and paying $150,000 to the men, Police investigators also pursued a driver attached to the office of the Regional Chairman Region 10, and arrested him also in connection with the investigation surrounding the setting on fire of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Linden office.

Property burning and property destruction are part of a long, proud history of the PNCR members and supporters, the number of these incidents are countless, and most went unrecorded, but the property destruction has always been fair game to the PNC and PNCR supporters who themselves are considered property by their leaders. The reflection in a cherub-held mirror. The arson on July 14, 2020, was an outcry against the People’s Progress party/ Civic. Let everyone re-

member that such an outcry is a hypocrisy so long as the APNU/AFC allow these destructions. There are a number of reasons the destruction of property should be taken seriously rather than treated as an unfortunate externality or the expression of regrettably unchecked passions.

To begin with, pathologizing the act is tantamount to pathologizing the actors. With this latest revelation and the many that have followed this week, it is cleared now that APNU/ AFC would have damaged their credibility to the extent that future prospects of holding any office will be greatly diminished.

The destructive spate of fires to Government building and public building in Linden and Region 10 must stop and any person who wilfully and maliciously damages the property of another must be charged. It is sad in this day and age our young people will allow politicians to lead them down this path, being charged with arson is a very serious situation.

If you’re convicted of an arson crime you can face years in prison and substantial fines, not to mention having a criminal record that will follow you for the rest of your life.

Sincerely, David Adams

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TUESDAY, JULY 13, 2021

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

Give Cuba an equal chance Dear Editor, Since July 11, 2021, the international press has been reporting on the demonstrations that have been taking place in Cuba. This is due to the difficult economic situation that has been imposed on that country.

I say ‘imposed’ because Cuba, since the very early 1960s did not have the opportunity to compete on

a level playing field to get a chance to show the full strength of its system. That country has had to face one of the worse economic blockades in history. Many other countries which faced a less oppressive sanctions have collapsed.

Despite the great hardship that the people have to face, due to the blockade and the regular additional sanc-

tions, Cuba has achieved many impressive advances.

At this time when the world is fighting a pandemic, COVID-19, not seen for more than one hundred years, Cuba was able to develop two vaccines. The only developing country to do so.

Over the years Cuba was able to create the conditions for social and economic growth. It has a highly ed-

Cause for grave concern Dear Editor, The two No-Confidence Motions filed against two Ministers of Government respectively by the Opposition Leader and recent threats of a NoConfidence Motion against Leader of the Opposition Joseph Harmon by the governing PPP/C Government, which has a slim majority in Guyana’s highest decision-making body in the land, is cause for grave con-

cern and deeply worrying.

As President of the National Mine Workers Union of Guyana, I am profoundly worried over the developing situation and the lukewarm relationship between the Government and the office of the Opposition.

I wish to urge “baby steps” to be taken by both sides and allow people and country to be placed above personal and political in-

terest.

As President of the National Mine Workers Union of Guyana, I stand ready and willing to meditate between Government and Opposition and urge political maturity to prevail among our political leaders in Guyana.

Give political maturity a fighting chance.

Sincerely, Sherwyn Downer

To what extent GuySuCo and GAWU co-operating to turn around industry?

Dear Editor, Finally, this nation has heard of some good news from GuySuCo. Mr Sasenarine Singh, the CEO, stated that the company has surpassed its sales target of sugar and molasses for the first half of 2021 by $734 million even though there was a shortfall in production. GuySuCo had set a target of 42,609 metric tons of sugar for the first crop but was only able to produce 29,650 metric tons (29650/42609=69.6%) – but according to Singh, the corporation still raked in $5.9 billion.

I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the company on this achievement. It is a small step towards paying off the company’s monumental debt of $10.5 billion to Guyana, which the present Government has lent GuySuCo since taking office in August 2020.

In an earlier statement, Mr Singh lamented that only an average of 70 per cent of the canecutters are opting to access employment across the six estates and that mechanical harvesters were becoming mandatory to complete the workforce.

This, it can be supposed, does not have the approval of the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers’ Union, GAWU, which represents the canecutters.

Question: To what extent are GuySuCo and GAWU co-operating in order to

turn around the industry?

A daily average of 30 per cent absenteeism from any workforce is enough to have devastating effects on any industry, especially one which has been a huge financial burden on Guyana for many years. GAWU needs to ensure that more of their members commit to the effort needed, an effort which could have facilitated GuySuCo’s target fulfil-

ment.

Hopefully, for the second crop, GAWU will be able to reduce the level of absenteeism among its members and assist GuySuCo in achieving its target of 54,811 MT. This target is achievable but only if all stakeholders contribute fully.

With regards, Jonathan Yearwood

ucated population. It has a healthy population. The life expectancy in Cuba is equal to the most developed countries in the world.

The only obstacle to its growth is the economic blockade imposed by the United States.

Cuba is also forced to use a huge amount of its resources on security because of the hostility of the US. This is another unnecessary imposition on the Cuban people.

Despite all of these, Cuba was able to help many countries in this region, Africa and others to build their human capital. Such generosity is rarely known in human history.

Friends and well-wishers of Cuba had hoped that President Biden would have reversed the sanctions reimposed by the Donald Trump Administration on Cuba.

That hope sprang from the fact that President Biden was part of the Obama Government that had lifted many of the oppressive measures on Cuba. However, Biden seems to have adopted Trump’s line on Cuba.

No doubt we would hear from forces hostile to Cuba that the cause of this latest demonstration is the fault of the Cuban Administration.

That argument cannot hold.

To prove that, the United

States should lift the sanctions. Cuba should be allowed to function and compete on an equal basis. Only then would we be able to ascertain the true strength or weakness of the Cuban system. Failing to give Cuba an equal chance can only be interpreted as engineered economic oppression and the demonstration would be seen as instigation from outside.

End the blockade and allow Cuba an equal opportunity to build the economy and its social system.

Sincerely, Donald Ramotar Former President

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TUESDAY, JULY 13, 2021

Page

Foundation ◄

Question 1

Monday’s answers

By William Carlos Williams

I have eaten the plums that were in the icebox (Rome! Monsters!) about some pretty fantastic mythical beasts — the Minotaur, Medusa, the Manticores, Cerberus, the Chimera, and more…

The famous Hercules met up with some of these beasts when he was given 12 impossibly dangerous assignments — like stealing the golden apples of Zeus that were guarded by a dragon with 100 heads.

These 12 tasks are known as the Labours of Hercules. Hercules had the help of two deities — Hermes (the messenger) and Athena (goddess of war and wisdom) — who were there to help when the going got really tough. Your challenge is to create a 13th labour for Hercules, set in contemporary times. Develop a short narrative adventure story that includes characters, setting, a sequence of events, and a resolution.

Your Hercules can also call on any of the Greek gods to help him in this final task. To get started, think about some heroes you've met in favourite books, characters like Percy Jackson, Harry Potter, characters from the American Girls series, or Lyra from The Golden Compass.

(Readingrockets.org)

and which you were probably saving for breakfast Forgive me they were delicious so sweet and so cold

WORD SEARCH

NEWS

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TUESDAY, JULY 13, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

COVID-19 pressures led to increase in domestic violence …896 Police reports, 104 convictions for 2021

Inside the domestic violence interview room at the Leonora Magistrate’s Court

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hile COVID-19 related measures may have decreased the spread of the deadly virus, they seem to have created an ideal environment for an increase in domestic violence. On this note, the Judiciary and the Guyana Police Force have reported an increase in domestic violence cases.

This was revealed on Monday by Chancellor of the Judiciary Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards and Commissioner of Police Nigel Hoppie. They were at the time giving remarks at the opening of the domestic violence interview and virtual hearing rooms at the Leonora and Wales Magistrate’s Courts in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara).

The facilities at the Leonora and Wales Magistrate’s Courts cost $745,400 and $643,160, respectively.

Justice Cummings-Edwards, in her remarks, noted that domes-

tic violence is indeed an undeniable scourge that transcends racial, social, and economic lines.

Emphasising that domestic abuse, intimate partner violence, and psychosocial abuse and its likes have been part of the ills in society and must not go untackled, she disclosed that Guyana, like many other countries, has seen a rise in domestic violence during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Increase

For his part, Hoppie revealed that as of June 2021, the Police received 896 reports of domestic violence.

This, he said, resulted in 439 cases and 104 convictions.

He added that this is in comparison to 732 reports, 370 cases, and 85 convictions for the same period last year.

In 2020, 1672 reports were lodged which resulted in 893 cases and 112 convictions, while in 2019, 1499 reports of domestic violence were made which resulted

in 918 cases and 261 convictions.

“There is increased tension in the household and as a result of the pandemic this would have added to such tension and violence,” Justice Cummings-Edwards pointed out. She revealed that between 2019 and 2020, 5758 domestic violence matters were filed across all magisterial districts.

And while this is a significant number, she said it “very well represents an under-reporting” and went on to query “what about those cases in which the persons were intimidated, or afraid or ashamed to come forward?” So far for 2021, 1841 domestic violence matters have been filed at the various Magistrate’s Courts around Guyana.

According to Justice Cummings-Edwards, “Domestic violence matters take up a large percentage of the hearing in our courts, and this is something we cannot take lightly. We must have the facilities to ensure that persons coming to the court will receive justice…”

She said the lockdown did not curtail access to legal services because the Supreme Court was consciously aware of the fact that domestic violence should be an urgent legal service. With this in mind, she added that domestic violence was listed among the matters for urgent hearing in the Court’s COVID-19 Practice Directions.

Under the microscope

“Domestic violence is a crime against the core of human values and has become an international focus of countries around the world and the dire effects on the victims mainly women and

children and the accompanying social problems,” the Police Commissioner pointed out.

Here in Guyana, he said, domestic violence has been placed under the microscope with the launching of emergency hotlines by the Human Services and Social Security Ministry. Also, he said that there is another hotline and safe shelter for persons who may be living with an abuser given the implementation of the curfew to combat COVID-19.

According to the Top Cop, the Police Force has been doing its part to fight domestic violence, and in light of this, part of the curriculum at the Felix Austin Police College for recruits includes training on domestic violence. He said, too, that training and continuous education are also offered to all ranks.

“Since 2003, the Guyana Police Force has been offering training on the response of Police officers to domestic violence and child abuse reports.” There are currently domestic violence units decentralised across all policing divisions, the Police Commissioner informed. “...the Police is also providing a conducive atmosphere, one of confidentiality with special rooms at Police stations where persons make reports of domestic violence and have follow-up actions taken without inconveniences…This is additional proof of the intention to forge ahead with the strengthening of capacity to deal with domestic violence in our country.”

From left: Chief Justice (ag) Roxane George, UNICEF Guyana and Suriname Country Director Nicolas Charles Pron, and Chancellor of the Judiciary Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards

Men suffer too

While domestic violence frequently occurs against women, the Chancellor of the Judiciary pointed out that men, too are suffering from one form or another of this social ill.

Moreover, she disclosed that over the years, the court has found that victims/survivors of domestic violence are hesitant to speak out.

Justice Cummings-Edwards explained these persons are oftentimes intimidated by the surroundings of the court.

“The whole aura of the court is sometimes frightening,” she said while adding that they are afraid of being stigmatised and ridiculed when seeking certain orders under the domestic violence legislation. Cognisance of this, she added “care must be taken not to revictimized the applicants.”

Continuing with her remarks, she told those gathered that the Judiciary has been making domestic violence training available to

Judicial Officers and court staff. “Implementation of the various provisions of the Domestic Violence Act requires collaboration. All hands must be on deck…

The Police, the prosecutors, the NGOs, the people, the Court, the Clerks, the Magistrates…”

The Chancellor of the Judiciary assured that the facilities commissioned at the Leonora and Wales Magistrate’s Courts will be at all Magistrate’s Courts across the country.

The opening of the domestic violence interview and virtual hearing rooms at the two Magistrate’s Courts was done through financial support provided by UNICEF. Also present at Monday’s commissioning were UNICEF Guyana and Suriname Country Director Nicolas Charles Pron, several Judges of the High Court and Court of Appeal, Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan, and other Magistrates and Police ranks of Division Number Three. (G1)

8 NEWS

TUESDAY, JULY 13, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

1 acquitted, another for retrial over businessman’s murder

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Acquitted: Randy Isaacs

andy Isaacs, 25, one of the two men who were on trial for the February 23, 2013 murder of Enterprise, East Coast Demerara (ECD) businessman Kumar Mohabir, was on Monday found not guilty by a 12-member jury.

After almost three hours of deliberations, the jury was, however, unable to arrive at a verdict in relation to the indictment against his co-accused, 28-year-old Devon Thomas.

As such, Justice Sandil

Murder accused: Devon Thomas

Kissoon further remanded Thomas to prison pending another trial at the next practicable sitting of the Demerara Criminal Assizes.

Both Thomas and Isaacs were initially tried for the man’s murder in 2015. The jury, then, had found them guilty.

They had both been sentenced to 75 years in prison with the possibility of parole after serving a minimum of 40 years. Thomas and Isaacs subsequently mounted an

appeal against their conviction and sentence. Earlier this year, the Court of Appeal allowed their appeal, thereby setting aside their conviction and sentence. As such, their case was remitted to the High Court for a new trial.

Based on reports, Mohabir was with his family partaking in Mashramani celebrations at Vlissengen Road, Georgetown, when he was attacked and killed by a group of men who were armed with broken bottles.

The altercation reportedly stemmed from the now-dead man stepping on one of his attackers’ feet.

The men’s new trial commenced earlier this month before Justice Kissoon at the Demerara High Court.

Following the close of the case for the prosecution last week Thursday, Thomas and Isaacs were called on to lead a defence. They both elected to give unsworn statements.

Thomas told the jury that Police went to his home at Better Hope South, ECD, and informed him that he

The foreign nexus…

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Dead: Kumar Mohabir

was wanted for questioning concerning Mohabir’s murder.

“Police took me and my brother-in-law for questioning at the Ruimveldt Police Station. They asked me and show me a paper with a lot of names, I tell them that I did not know the names of any persons. Five minutes after they put on shackle and handcuffs on me. Police kept me at the station overnight,” Thomas had said in his statement to the court.

TURN TO PAGE 13

…of the Haitian exodus our Eyewitness continues to examine the assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moïse, not because of any morbid fascination with death, but at the oddity of it in this day and age. Folks don’t just go around assassinating Heads of State any longer! It’s just so…. well…CRUDE! The latest titbit of information coming this way was that a Haitian-origin Miami doctor might be the mastermind (or at least one of them) behind the mercenary hit. Two of the other Haitians captured with the Colombian hired guns – supposedly to act as interpreters – were also from the Miami area.

And this brings your Eyewitness to examining the role of “expatriate Haitians” and their “home” to maybe glean some lessons for us Guyanese – who also have a massive expatriate community. With Haiti being so close to America and that country practically running their raped and immiserised country between 1915 and 1937, the Haitian exodus into the US began. And hasn’t stopped since…to create wide-flung communities in New York, Miami and New Jersey, etc, that amount to over two million persons of Haitian descent! That’s a lot of people. There is also a large community in friendly French-speaking Montreal that started in the 1960s.

Now while the common perception of Haitians is that of the “boat people” scrambling ashore on Florida beaches, many of the community are from the solidly middle and upper classes who have established themselves in very respectable communities. Many Guyanese who’ve visited their relatives in Queens would know the Haitians in working-class Rosedale as well as middle-class Queens Village. Those who visited their relatives in Brooklyn would know they live cheek and jowl in Flatbush and Canarsie, etc. The Haitians consider their cohorts in Queens and (finally) Long Island to be more “upscale”!! All ethnic groups seem to recapitulate the same history of working hard and “moving up” into the suburbs!!

Down in Florida, Guyanese who have fled New York for the Sunshine State would have also met up with the Haitians there. Interestingly, many Haitians have also moved from up north for the climate!! But most Haitians who have recently arrived as “boat people” have pretty much stuck to Little Haiti in Miami and its environs. It has sadly become another inner-city ghetto.

With all the Haitians passing through Guyana to get to Brazil and Suriname, it wouldn’t surprise us to learn that there are large Haitian communities in Brazil and French Guiana. As in Little Haiti in Miami, these more recent arrivals who have fled Haiti are packed in slums and are quite exploited – starting with the coyotes who fleece them!

And Haiti continues to bleed.

…and their “navel strings” It’s a cliche to point out that the US is a “nation of immigrants”. With their racial pre-1965 immigration criteria, most of those immigrants came from Europe – first from Northern Europe, especially Germany and Ireland (because of famine, worse than the Haitians!) – and then the South with the Italians and Greeks. More recent arrivals like the Haitians and us – can learn a lot of what’s ahead by reading novels describing how those earlier immigrants fared.

One constant is the longing by the first generation for “the old country”. However, only a handful will ever return – and those who do rarely can fit in. So when we hear all the entreaties for our Diaspora to “return” and invest – some may invest but remain in the new homes they would’ve recreated in their “Little Guyana” and “Little Haiti”. Much like the “Little Italy” that preceded them in lower Manhattan. As Tom Wolfe reminded us, “You can’t go home again”.

Just as you can’t step into the same river twice! …and Revolution The Haitian expatriate doctor possibly behind the assassination should remind us of the several Guyanese armchair generals who’re preaching “Revolution!” from their PayPal-funded Facebook livestreams.

THEY should be reminded the FBI just arrested him!

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

NEWS

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TUESDAY, JULY 13, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

5 more COVID-19 fatalities recorded, 49 new cases GUYANA COVID-19 DASHBOARD JULY 12 UPDATE

NUMBER OF NEW CASES

49

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN INSTITUTIONAL ISOLATION

76

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN HOME ISOLATION

1318

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN COVID-19 ICU

11

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN INSTITUTIONAL QUARANTINE

0

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES BY GENDER (FEMALES)

10,746

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES BY GENDER (MALES)

10,256

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES IN GUYANA SINCE 2020

21,002

NUMBER OF RECOVERED CASES

19,100

TOTAL 1st DOSE VACCINATED

239,453

FULLY IMMUNISED

120,068

TOTAL NUMBER OF DEATHS

T

he Health Ministry on Monday announced that five more persons who tested positive for the novel coronavirus have died, hiking the country’s death toll to 497.

In the month of July so far, 21 individuals have succumbed.

The latest persons to succumb were a 65-yearold man from Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice); a 67-year-old man from Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara); an 86-year-old man from Region Four (MahaicaBerbice) and a 91-year-old woman, also from Region Four. They died on July 11.

On July 10, a 79-year-old man from Region Four also lost his life to the virus.

New cases

Some 49 new cases were detected within the course of one day – raising the total confirmed positives to 21,002.

There are 11 patients in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), 76 in institutional isolation and 1318 in home isolation. No one is currently in institutional quarantine.

Since the pandemic started, 202,087 individuals were tested – of which 10,256 males and 10,746 females were positive.

A regional breakdown of new cases showed four persons testing positive in Region One (BarimaWaini), three in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), two in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), 11 in Region Four (DemeraraMahaica), two in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice), 19 in Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne), and eight in Region 10 (Upper DemeraraBerbice).

There were no new positives in Regions Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), Eight

497

DISTRIBUTION OF TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES SINCE MARCH 2020 REGION 1

1267

REGION 2

588

REGION 3

2396

REGION 4

9580

REGION 5

693

REGION 6

1676

REGION 7

1270

REGION 8

380

REGION 9

1670

REGION 10

1482

(Potaro-Siparuni) and Region Nine (Upper TakutuUpper Essequibo).

Children

It was revealed on Monday by Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony that two of the children who were initially hospitalised due to the coronavirus have since been discharged. However, four children are in the hospital – two of whom are seeking intensive care. All of these children have some form of comorbidity or an underlying condition.

“The two that are in the ICU, one has been there for some time now and just early this morning (Monday), another child was admitted to the ICU. We currently have two in the ICU and two in the regular ward…They have different presentations and different illnesses but the doctors there are working with them to make sure they get better,” he shared.

Holistically, approximately 57 persons are hospitalised across the country after they would have contracted the virus – of which 11 are at the Infectious Disease Hospital,

Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara.

In light of infections and new deaths every day, the health official reminded that masks are the first line of defence against the virus, as he encouraged the public to abide by this guideline.

“We know that if it’s droplets, that it can travel as far as six feet but if its aerosols, they can even go further. In indoor environment, the aerosols can remain suspended in the air for a prolonged period of time. If you enter a room where someone who is positive but not wear-

ing their mask, then you can inhale these viral particles. The thing here is that we need to wear our mask constantly and correct at all times.”

Nevertheless, as more people continue to get vaccinated, authorities are urging the public to continue observing all COVID-19 preventative measures, partic-

ularly masking in public, social distancing and frequent hand washing and sanitising.

The measures also include a 22:30h (10:30 pm) to 04:00h (4 am) national curfew that is in effect until July 31, 2021.

If anyone is displaying any of the symptoms associated with COVID-19 or needs any additional information, contact the COVID-19 Hotline 2311166, 226-7480 or 624-6674 immediately or visit www. health.gov.gy. (G12)

10 NEWS

TUESDAY, JULY 13, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

GRA enforcement officer attacked, stabbed over rent dispute

…brother constantly tormented by landlady – sister

Murdered: Dwayne Taitt

A

n enforcement officer attached to the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) was in the wee hours of Monday stabbed to death after he was attacked by his landlady’s son at Middleton Street, Campbellville, Georgetown.

Dead is 24-year-old Dwayne Daniel Taitt of Lot 2 Middleton Street,

Campbellville, Georgetown, and formerly of West Ruimveldt, Georgetown.

Based on reports received, the now dead man was renting an apartment from the suspect’s mother, Jacklyn Lamaizon, where he lived with his reputed wife and 2-year-old daughter.

After the incident, the now dead man’s wife told detectives that on Sunday at about 17:30h, she along with her husband were at home when the landlady told them in the presence of the 42-year-old suspect that they have up to July 14, 2021, to vacate the premises.

However, on the day in question at about 00:30h, Taitt and his family were awakened by a loud banging on their apartment door and upon checking they observed the suspect armed with a piece of wood and he was screaming for them to move out.

The now dead man re-

Taitt rented the lower flat of the house

portedly opened the door and went out to the suspect, who was armed with a knife, with the aim of calming him down but instead, he was attacked.

apartment, we were on the phone with Dwayne’s wife and she was relating what was happening… She told us that after the continuous banging, her son came out and was heading to the Police station to make a report and it was then he was attacked and stabbed…,” the aggrieved mother stated.

The mother further stated that her son was due to move out of the apartment on Monday and was getting a hard time to collect his security deposit from the landlady. As such, she believes that the stabbing was as a result of the landlady not wanting to repay the deposit.

The now dead man had been living at the apartment

In a bid to escape, Taitt ran out on the street opposite his apartment but the suspect went after him.

The suspect eventually caught up with the vic-

One of the now dead man’s car tyres which was slashed

tim and dealt him one stab to the chest, causing the father of one to collapse on the roadway. The suspect then made good his escape.

The injured man was picked up by his reputed wife and a security guard and taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival. The body was examined and a wound was seen to his left upper chest.

It was taken to the hospital’s mortuary awaiting a post-mortem.

Meanwhile, the suspect was subsequently arrested and he is assisting with investigations. The weapon was also recovered.

When contacted, Tracy Taitt, the dead man’s mother told Guyana Times that she received a telephone call from her daughter-in-law just after midnight informing her about the commotion in the yard.

Upon receiving the call, the woman stated that she and her husband were making their way over to her son’s apartment when they received news of the stabbing incident.

“On our way over to the

for the past six months. At the scene on Monday morning, a sister explained that her brother was constantly tormented after he informed the landlady that he was leaving and would require his security deposit.

The sister further stated that the suspect also slashed her brother’s car tyres during the commotion. She noted that her brother was a quiet person and would not get into arguments and fights.

“He prefers to engage the Police and that was exactly what he was about to do when he was stabbed by the suspect… During the entire incident, the landlady was there and did nothing to stop her son from committing the act… is like whatever the landlady tells her son, he would react to it…” the sister noted.

The aggrieved young woman related that she and her now dead brother had lots of plans to expand his business. He had been employed at GRA for the past six years and only recently, he received a promotion.

NEWS

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TUESDAY, JULY 13, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Toddler found dead with “Wild Buck” stabbed to head in bucket of water death during fight over cook

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he lifeless body of 18-month-old Orinda August of Potsville, Kwakwani, Berbice River, Region 10 (Upper DemeraraBerbice), was found, with her head in a buck of water on Sunday.

The discovery was reportedly made between 17:30h and 18:10h.

Based on information received, the child was left at home in the company of her siblings - a 7-year-old male and a 15-year-old female by her mother who went to attend a funeral.

However, the sister, Ronella Couchman, was upstairs with the now dead toddler while her brother, Tyrel Williams, was downstairs playing. He later went upstairs to join his siblings and upon doing so, he observed the 15-year-old sleeping.

As such, he went to look for his baby sister and it was then he discovered her with her head in a bucket of water. He immediately raised an alarm and pulled his sister out of the water. The child was rushed to the Kwakwani Hospital Complex where she was pronounced dead on arrival.

The Police were contacted and an investigation was launched. There were no

Dead: 18-month-old Orinda August

marks of violence about the child’s body and no foul play was suspected.

In June 2020, 11-monthold Tatiana Alexander was discovered motionless in a

bucket of water at her Charity New Extension Scheme, Essequibo Coast home.

It was reported that on the day in question, the toddler was left in the care of her farther as the mother went to wash clothes. The father reportedly fell asleep, leaving the young toddler unsupervised.

After the mother was finished doing the laundry, she returned home but her baby was nowhere to be seen.

After searching around the home for a while, the woman made the shocking discovery.

It was reported that the toddler was apparently reaching for a cup which had fallen into the bucket of water. The child was pronounced dead on arrival at the Oscar Joseph Public Hospital.

A

miner was on Sunday evening stabbed to death during a fight with a colleague who was reportedly mistreating a cook at their mining camp at Ithaki Backdam, Mazaruni River, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni).

The dead man has been identified as Damieon popularly known as “Wild Buck” of Paramakatoi Village, Region 8 (Potaro-Siparuni).

Police stated that the now dead man and the suspect worked together. However, on the day in question at about 20:30h, the two men had a disagreement over the way the suspect treated a female cook at the mining camp.

The disagreement quickly escalated into a fight between the two men during

which the 27-year-old suspect reportedly whipped out a knife and stabbed the victim once to his neck.

As a result, the injured man fell to the ground and immediately became motionless. He was taken to the Bartica Regional Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival. An

examination performed on his body showed a gaping wound to the neck.

The body is at the hospital’s mortuary awaiting a post-mortem. The suspect was arrested and he is expected to make his court appearance before the end of the week.

10-year-old drowns during seawall outing with brother, cousin

T

he lifeless body of 10-year-old Anand Mangroo of Lot 380 Hope Low Lands, East Coast Demerara (ECD), was on Sunday evening pulled from the Hope seashore. The lad went missing earlier in the day after he was lashed towards the Hope Koker channel by a heavy wave.

At the time he disappeared, he was swimming with his 13-year-old brother and an 8-year-old cousin.

Based on reports received, after the lad was lashed towards the koker channel, he went under the water and never resurfaced. Following the incident, the lad’s brother reportedly screamed for as-

sistance but no one went to their aid.

Soon after relatives were informed of the incident and the Police were contacted. Scores of villagers and relatives turned up at the foreshore to look for the lad but he was not found.

Meanwhile, the Police were able to pull the child

out of the water a few hours after he disappeared. His body was taken to Lyken’s Funeral home awaiting a post-mortem.

An investigation has been launched into the incident.

Back in July 2018, the bodies of 14-yearold Timothy Robinson and his cousin, 10-year-

old Timothy Yearwood of Mosquito Hall, Mahaica, ECD, were found one day after they went missing while swimming at Unity Beach, Mahaica.

Robinson was reportedly found along the Hope Beach foreshore, while Yearwood was found in the vicinity of the Kitty foreshore, Georgetown.

12 NEWS 2nd doses Sputnik V have landed, available from today – Minister Anthony TUESDAY, JULY 13, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

T

he second dose of the Sputnik V vaccines have finally arrived in Guyana, and the Health Ministry will commence distribution of the jabs today.

Owing to the COVID-19 variants in many countries, spikes of the virus resulted in a shortage of the Russian-manufactured Sputnik V shots. Since May, Government had announced a delay in shipments to Guyana, as 182,000 second doses from its purchase were

outstanding.

Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony announced on Monday that Guyana is finally in receipt of second doses following the delivery of a consignment. Another batch is slated to arrive next week.

“We have now been able to get second dose Sputnik V into the country and as of tomorrow [today], we’ll start administering the second dose of the Sputnik V. You would also recall that we have given people a time

period, that is between four weeks to 12 weeks when you can come and get the second dose of the vaccine. If you wait for that 12-week period, the longer you wait, the better you will get the durability of your immune response,” the Minister said in the COVID-19 update.

The Sputnik V vaccines are taken within a fourto-12-week interval. The Minister outlined that those persons closer to the 90day deadline are being prioritised, followed by others

in waiting. He assured that every person would receive their last vaccine before this timeline expires.

“With the second dose that we now have, we would like to give it to the persons who would have received their first dose in April.

They’re now coming closer to that 90-day period and we want them to get first preference. We’re now getting in these second doses so we have a set that came in and next week, we’re going to get a next set. Everyone who would have received their first dose of the Sputnik V will get their second dose but I want to plead with the general public to allow those who would have received their vaccines in April to get their second dose now.”

Government had first ordered 400,000 doses of the Sputnik V vaccine – 200,000 first doses and 200,000 second doses. From that, Guyana has already received the 200,000 first doses as well as 61,000 of the second doses.

The country then placed a second order for 86,000 doses, comprising of 43,000 first doses and 43,000 sec-

Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony

ond doses. However, while all of the first doses from this second order were received, none of the second doses were delivered.

The AstraZeneca and Sinopharm vaccines are still being used in the immunisation campaign. While a person can request a specific vaccine, he noted that the Sinopharm shots are not recommended for persons 60 years and older, having considered its lower efficacy when compared to other jabs.

“People would have varying preferences and so depending on their preferences, we’re able to give them.

The only caveat we’re able to give them is that some of the vaccines, there’re specific age groups that can receive them so for instance with the Sinopharm vaccines, the manufacturers have advised use that persons 60 years and over should not receive the Sinopharm vaccine because they’re not as effective.

That is why we administer it to people 60 years and below,” Dr Anthony shared.

As of present, 239,453 persons or 49.2 per cent of the adult population have taken their first doses. Some 120,068 or 24.7 per cent have already returned for their second shot. (G12)

n employee attached to Health International Inc, Industrial Estate, Ruimveldt, Georgetown, was on Saturday robbed by a lone bicycle bandit on his way to work.

Based on reports received, on the day in question at about 06:20h, the employee, Nazim (only name given) was heading to work when he observed a man on a yellow bicycle approaching him.

The man reported solicited $200 from the labourer but he refused to give the man the money. Speaking with Guyana Times, the victim explained that the man became angry, whipped out a knife from his waist and began to threaten him.

Out of fear, Nazim stated that he reached into his

pocket, took out the $2000 that he had and handed it to the suspect who made good his escape on the pedal cycle.

The man, who is still traumatised, related that the incident took place in full view of a security guard of a nearby business but at no time did he come out to assist him.

The matter was not reported to the Police but the victim is urging persons who have to traverse the area to be extremely careful.

In the past two weeks, several of his workmates were also robbed. One of the victims went to make a report at the East La Penitence Police Station but when he arrived there, the doors were locked.

As such, he did not return to lodge the report.

Bicycle bandit robs labourer A

news@guyanatimesgy.com

NEWS

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TUESDAY, JULY 13, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Cop accused of beating City Hall employees proceeding on leave without LGC approval spouse remanded

S

ereste Brittlebank, the Police Constable who is accused of brutalising his common-law wife, was on Monday remanded to prison. He appeared before Magistrate Fabayo Azore at the Vigilance Magistrate’s Court on a charge of assault causing actual bodily harm.

He pleaded not guilty.

Brittlebank was remanded to prison. The matter comes up again on July 26. It was reported that the cop turned himself in at the Vigilance Police Station after media reports about him attacking his spouse on July 1.

It was reported that he mercilessly beat his spouse until she fell unconscious

Charged: Sereste Brittlebank

after she confronted him about being unfaithful. At the time of the incident, they were returning home in

a motor car from his friend’s birthday party. He reportedly continued assaulting his partner upon their arrival home. Following the attack, Brittlebank left the home.

A report was lodged with the Police the same night and the woman was taken to the hospital. The Police rank later surrendered, but reportedly not before calling his spouse and allegedly pleading with her to drop the case against him.

Reports indicate that Brittlebank, a rank attached to the Mahaica Police Station, is allegedly in the habit of abusing his wife while reportedly threatening her on several occasions.

(G1)

1 acquitted, another..

According to the murder accused, he was placed on an identification parade and “10 minutes after Police ranks came back and told him that he get point out for a murder that happened on Vlissengen Road.” He added, “I told them [Police ranks] I don’t know what you are talking about.”

Thomas said that he met his co-accused for the first time when they were arraigned at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

“I ask he [Isaacs] what is the reason why he here…

That was the first time in my life I ever see Randy Isaacs or ever speak to him.

I come in prison as a teenage boy. With all due respect members of the jury, I know to my heart, God

knows my heart, that I am innocent, I am really innocent,” said Thomas in conclusion.

Meanwhile, Isaacs, formerly of Montrose, ECD, had told the court that Police ranks went to his home and arrested him.

“They told me that I was going to be placed on an ID parade,” he said, adding that Police never informed him of how an ID parade works.

He said, “When I go into the room, no one looked like me, no one had height like me. I was the only person with a funny eye and tattoo.

They tell me I was picked out as a positive suspect. I told them that I don’t know anything about any murder.”

“Since I was in prison, I

FROM PAGE 8

was age 17. My father died while I was in prison. I am innocent of this charge. I did not bore anybody; I did not kill anybody. I would like to get my freedom to go and take care of my mother,” Isaacs had said in closing.

Thomas and Isaacs were represented by Attorneysat-Law Nigel Hughes, and associates, while Prosecutors Lisa Cave and Muntaz Ali appeared on behalf of the State.

Dozens of witnesses testified in the trial on behalf of the prosecution and defence including Police ranks, who investigated the killing, relatives of the now-dead man, and a pathologist who conducted a post-mortem examination on the remains of Mohabir. (G1)

E

mployees attached to the Georgetown Mayor and City Council (M&CC) have been proceeding on leave without any approval from the Local Government Commission – the body that has constitutional power to grant such.

This was revealed by acting Town Clerk Sherry Jerrick on Monday during a statutory meeting.

According to her records, the Commission has not granted any leave since the new Commissioners were appointed in April of this year.

But employees have acted on their own accord by proceeding on leave on the date for which they applied despite non-approval.

“The Local Government Commission has not approved anybody’s leave.

When you submitted the roster to them, to date they have not sent a single response to anybody’s leave.

Persons would have been proceeding on leave based on what they applied for and what was indicated on the roster…From since they commenced in April to now, I have not seen any letter showing that anybody’s leave was approved,” Jerrick outlined.

According to the Local Government Commission Act, “The Commission shall deal with all matters relating to staffing of local organs and in particular, shall

– (b) approve of renumeration, superannuation, training, leave and promotion of staff.”

This matter was particularly raised after the internal auditor was slammed for failing to start the process of getting the Council’s assets register in order. The Town Clerk pointed out there has been a “back and forth” situation in a bid to have these records in order, and to compound the issue, the said auditor is on leave.

“I wrote the internal auditor to submit the marking, whatever system for marking that is in place and the response is there is none…

That the list that she had, she doesn’t have a computer system to print it off…I wrote to request something,

a clarification, and her response is very uncooperative. When I brought it up to the committee, the committee sent it back and said I should write her.”

Responding to this revelation, Mayor Ubraj Narine asserted that no one will be sheltered in the event that they are found in dereliction of their duties.

The Town Clerk has since indicated that she has developed a system in which the assets can be tallied, and it will be forwarded to the relevant officers.

“I have come up with my own numbering system and that I would have forwarded to be used. That is what I will recommend that the audit unit use,” Jerrick told the Council. (G12)

14 NEWS Speaker to decide fate of No-Confidence Motions TUESDAY, JULY 13, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

…as Clerk completes examination of motions against Harmon, Benn, Anthony

Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony

Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn

he No-Confidence Motion against Opposition Leader Joseph Harmon, as well as the ones Harmon himself filed against Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony and Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn, are currently

being reviewed by Speaker of the National Assembly Manzoor Nadir.

This was confirmed when this publication made contact with Clerk of the National Assembly Sherlock Issacs on Monday. As per parliamentary practice,

T

these motions were submitted to the Clerk to ensure they did not “offend the standing orders” as he had indicated when he received them last week.

According to the Clerk, he has already forwarded them to Speaker of the National Assembly Manzoor Nadir, who will have the final say on whether they will be heard. It is expected that the Speaker will soon pronounce on the matters.

Harmon had filed motions against Ministers Anthony and Benn last week, calling for their resignations over what he claimed was their poor running of their Ministries. His motion against Dr Anthony was seconded by former junior Health Minister Dr Karen Cummings, while his motion against Benn was seconded by shadow Home Affairs Minister Geeta Chandan-Edmond.

The APNU/AFC contend-

Speaker of the National Assembly Manzoor Nadir

ed that the management of the spread of COVID-19 has been woeful and confirmed COVID cases and deaths are “spiralling out of control.”

The Government side, through Prime Minister, Retired Brigadier Mark Phillips, filed a NoConfidence Motion against Harmon the very next day.

According to the NCM prepared by Phillips, he is demanding Harmon’s immediate resignation from the position of Leader of the Opposition.

The NCM cites several grounds for Harmon’s removal, starting with his

role in the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change’s (APNU/AFC) desperate fight to stay in power after losing the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections.

Phillips also contended that the Opposition Leader “recklessly misinformed the public and the National Assembly” when it comes to the COVID-19 vaccine, its efficacy, and its acquisition by the Government.

This is a reference to Harmon’s recent campaign against the Government’s acquisition of Sputnik V vaccines, during which he even called for a halt to the distribution of the vaccine. According to Phillips, Harmon’s actions endangered lives and increased vaccine hesitancy among an already vulnerable population.

“And Whereas the Leader of the Opposition opportunistically used the horrific murder of the Henry youth from West Coast Berbice as a means to incite ethnic disharmony. And Whereas the Leader of the Opposition has consistently denigrated the representative of the joiner parties, Mr. Lenox Shuman, Deputy Speaker, as a legitimate member of the parliamentary opposition, even going so

Opposition Leader Joseph Harmon

far as to deny him holding an opposition seat on any parliamentary committee.

BE IT RESOLVED that this House expresses its lack of confidence in the Leader of the Opposition and calls for his immediate resignation,” Phillips said in his motion.

At present, the configuration of the National Assembly sees the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) with the parliamentary majority of 33 out of 65 seats.

APNU/AFC, the main Opposition party, has 31 seats, while the Liberty and Justice Party (LJP), in collaboration with two other parties, holds one. (G3)

NEWS

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TUESDAY, JULY 13, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Auditor General Report

Contention arises over “missing” documents from APNU/AFC forced property acquisition …PAC resumes sittings under new Chairman

PAC Chairman Jermaine Figueira

A

fter a hiatus precipitated by efforts to remove his predecessor, sittings of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) returned on Monday under new Chairman Jermaine Figueira, who oversaw the continued examination of the 2016 Auditor General report.

Figueira, an A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) parliamen-

tarian and longstanding member of this Committee, had on previous occasions deputised for David Patterson prior to his removal as Chairman.

During the first part of Monday’s sitting, the Committee examined the Audit Office findings on the Guyana Defence Force, Legal Affairs Ministry and what was then the Business Ministry, now known as the Tourism, Industry and Commerce Ministry.

On Monday, contention arose during the examination of the Legal Affairs Ministry and its handling of the compulsory acquisition of the Clarissa Riehl property. Under questioning from PAC Member Juan Edghill, Permanent Secretary Joylene Nestor-Burrowes said that there were no documents pertaining to the transaction.

“I’m aware of the matter of the compulsory acquisition. But I’m asking if the revocation was gazette, and

PAC member Juan Edghill

if that documentation was made available to the auditors so that this matter could be considered closed.

Because you were looking for the acquisition of land, to the tune of $40 million. In the first instance it was not budgeted for. And then you couldn’t go ahead and get the land. So where are we on this matter?” Edghill asked.

“The matter was closed… because there was never, as

Legal Affairs Ministry PS Joylene Nestor-Burrowes

far as I know, no documented evidence or no evidence pertaining to that matter in the Ministry… we have never seen it,” Nestor-Burrowes informed an incredulous Edghill.

Nestor-Burrowes’ predecessor as Permanent Secretary, Melissa Tucker, subsequently stepped in to express confidence that the documents were still at the Ministry. According to Tucker, who is now at the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, a process was followed that would have resulted in a paper trail.

TURN TO PAGE 16

Former Legal Affairs Ministry PS Melissa Tucker

16 NEWS

TUESDAY, JULY 13, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Agri Ministry seeking to double inland shrimp production

A Berbice man throws out his cast net

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griculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha is seeking to double the production of inland shrimp in an effort to further enhance the country’s agricultural potential. Inland shrimp production currently stands at some 250,000 kilograms per annum. Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) is the only region in the country involved in inland shrimp production. Inland shrimp

produce is commonly referred to as “black shrimp” or “Corentyne shrimp”. It has a high demand in the diaspora with prices reaching $20,000 for a five-gallon bucket.

However, there have been environmental concerns over the production of these shrimp with farmers breaching sea defences so that a percentage of saltwater can be added to the freshwater to improve the

salinity. As such efforts are being made to ensure that inland shrimp production is done in both a sustainable and environmentally friendly way. These points were emphasised by Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha when he met with farmers on Saturday. He said the goal is to move production to 500,000 kilograms per annum.

“That entails a num-

ber of interventions that Government has to make. We are doing this not only to increase your livelihood in terms of income. We are going this to increase the capacity of shrimp production in Region Six. And at the same time, it will help to create employment for people,” the Minister told fish farmers at Albion on Saturday.

The Ministry will be ensuring that proper infrastructure is in place so that farmers can access seawater for their fish farms. Layout and the placement of conduct tubes are slated to be completed this week. That project is expected to cost $58 million.

“We will have to assign machinery and our technical people will be coming there and I want you to know that we will not compromise any sea defence,” Mustapha added.

Work is expected to commence this week.

Farmers whose operations threaten the sea defence will have to make the

The popular “black shrimp” also called “Corentyne shrimp”

necessary adjustments.

According to the Minister, Government wants to further develop the shrimp industry.

The demand for inland shrimp from Guyana has resulted in business persons smuggling shrimp from neighbouring Suriname and using black hair die to colour the shrimp so that it looks like the “Corentyne black shrimp”.

However, the fake shrimp is seldom consumed locally but exported to North America.

“The aim of the

Government is to develop the fish industry to ensure that we have more exports.”

The Minister noted that special markets will be targeted for the inland shrimp.

He said jobs are also expected to be created in the process.

The aim is also to use more scientific methods to produce shrimp inland.

All the needed technical advice will be provided by the Ministry and arrangements are also being made to have fish feed produced locally. (G4)

$20,000 bail for man who Contention raises over... damaged State vehicle

A

man accused of damaging a vehicle belonging to the State was released on $20,000 bail after he made an appearance before Magistrate Leron Daly at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

Orlando Fraser denied the charge which alleged that on February 19, at Vlissengen Road, Georgetown, he damaged a vehicle belonging to the State.

Fraser, however, claimed that he was riding his motorbike on the road when he tried to swerve from another vehicle and accidentally

rode into the State-owned vehicle. After listening to his explanation, the Magistrate

released Fraser on bail.

He returns to court in September.

“There was a process for the compulsory acquisition for the land. Those monies, yes, correctly placed in the 2016 budget. However, the mistake on the accounting officer Nestor, is that she misinterpreted the question posed by the member in respect of being in possession of the documents… the process for revocation of the order would have occurred after I left, but I advised the PS that those documents should be at the Ministry,” Tucker said.

The PAC gave them until next week Monday to submit these documents.

Edghill laid down the documents he is expecting, including documents pertain-

ing to the decision to acquire the land, any engagement the Attorney General’s office would have had with Riehl on a fair price for said land, a copy of the order for compulsory acquisition and possibly a copy of the court’s written judgement halting the acquisition of the property.

Objected

Riehl, at that time Guyana’s High Commissioner to Canada and People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) stalwart, had fiercely resisted Government’s move to take control of the land in question, which is located at Middle and Carmichael

FROM PAGE 15

Streets, Georgetown, under the Acquisition of Lands for Public Purposes Act. The PNCR is the largest partner in the then governing A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) coalition. The then Government had gazetted the Order to compulsorily acquire Riehl’s property on September 22, 2016.

Media reports during that period had indicated that Riehl would be taking the Government to court, but the dust eventually settled on the matter. In 2019, however, Riehl was one the casualties in the APNU/ AFC’s decision to fire several diplomats. (G3)

NEWS

17

TUESDAY, JULY 13, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Development financing

Guyana urges global community to deliver on longstanding commitments

F

inance Minister Dr Ashni Singh has called on the global community to not be distracted from delivery on scale of resources including those promised 50 years ago as well as new resources to small economies which are vulnerable to natural disasters or pandemic.

He made the call while participating in a virtual 2021 United Nations High Level Political Forum Official side event organised by the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) and the Government of Antigua and Barbuda.

The participating governments and institutions were addressed at the opening by Professor Jeffrey D Sachs, who highlighted that the Small Island Developing

States (SIDS) have special vulnerabilities characterised by the fact that they are small, not diversified with related volatility, remote with the implications of huge costs of transport and vulnerable to climate shocks. These include rising sea levels, floods and droughts. A release from the Finance Ministry stated that Professor Sachs emphasised that in revamping development assistance there is need for more resources and the need for rich countries to “put their umbrella over the multilateral lending agencies”.

He noted that on a per capita basis the SIDS – with the exception of a couple – have contributed almost nothing to global climate change, but they are disproportionately afflicted by the

consequences of global climate change that they did not cause. He described this as imposed costs of greenhouse emissions of the rest of the world on SIDS. He expressed his hope that the revamped solution would be practical, scaled and exactly directed for the countries in need and expressed anticipation for the upcoming G20 meeting in Bali 2022 for key decisions.

International financing Following the first panel discussion on Measuring Multidimensional Vulnerability post COVID-19 and staying on track for Agenda 2030, Minister Singh led off the second panel discussion on International Financing to address Multidimensional Vulnerability in SIDS by

Sirisha Bandla: India celebrates woman who flew on Virgin Galactic

Sir Richard Branson celebrates with Sirisha Bandla perched on his shoulder

I

ndians are celebrating Sirisha Bandla’s flight to the edge of space on billionaire Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic rocket plane.

Bandla is the second woman born in India to go to space after Kalpana Chawla who died when the Columbia Space Shuttle crashed at re-entry in 2003.

The rocket flew high above New Mexico in the US before returning to Earth just an hour after leaving the ground.

Sir Richard called the trip the “experience of a lifetime”.

Sunday’s trip makes the UK entrepreneur the first of the new space tourism pioneers to try out their own vehicles, beating Amazon’s Jeff Bezos and SpaceX’s Elon Musk.

Bandla, who developed an early interest in space, works as the vice president of government affairs for Virgin Galactic.

Her grandfather told Reuters that “from the beginning, she was fascinated towards the sky, looking at

the sky, space, how to enter space and what is there”.

Earlier this month, Ms Bandla had tweeted that she would be part of the five-member crew on board the rocket: Her presence on the historic trip has stirred a lot of excitement in India, especially in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh where she was born in Guntur district.

Soon after the rocket’s return, Indians started sending her congratulatory messages on social media.

Vice President Venkaiah Naidu tweeted that “her achievement will motivate many more young girls in India and abroad to take up challenging careers”: Industrial Anand Mahindra wrote that “Indian women are not just breaking glass ceilings they’re literally dismantling ALL ceilings on this planet and rocketing into space”: MP Priyanka Chaturvedi congratulated Ms Bandla saying she was “rocking it totally and in

style”: The rocket plane, known as Unity reached the height reached of 85km (282,000ft; 53 miles).

Sir Richard was accompanied by pilots Dave Mackay and Michael Masucci and three Galactic employees, including Beth Moses, Colin Bennett and Ms Bandla.

“I have dreamt of this moment since I was a kid, but honestly nothing can prepare you for the view of Earth from space,” he said in a press conference following the flight. “The whole thing was just magical.”

Sir Richard first announced his intention to make a space plane in 2004, with the belief he could start a commercial service by 2007, says the BBC’s Science Correspondent Jonathan Amos.

But technical difficulties, including a fatal crash during a development flight in 2014, made the space project one of the most challenging ventures of his career. (BBC)

Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh

outlining the case of Guyana being a small country below sea level. He emphasised the fact that over 80 per cent of the population live on its low-lying coastal plain which is over one metre below sea level and where over 60 per cent of productive activity occurs. He, therefore, stressed on Guyana’s extreme vulnerability to climate change.

Singh referenced Professor Sachs’ point that Guyana especially was disproportionately contributing to the fight against climate change through the preservation of its pristine rainforest. He then noted that in 2005 devastating floods cost 59 per cent of Guyana’s GDP and indicated further the recent floods have seen entire communities under floodwaters for several weeks.

The Finance Minister alluded to the fact that sister countries in the Caribbean have also experienced hurricanes, earthquakes, volcanos which in some cases caused devastation equivalent to over 200 per cent of GDP being lost.

Singh pointed out that

Guyana is therefore strongly in favour of the arguments made regarding the limitations of per capita income as a primary determinant for eligibility. He also voiced Guyana’s support for the incorporation of vulnerability dimensions within the consideration for eligibility for development resource, further noting that while the conversation has to go beyond mere Official Development Assistance (ODA) there is need for recommitment on longstanding commitments already made including the 0.7 per cent Gross National Income (GNI) for ODA as well as on climate financing – both commitments yet to be realised.

Not be distracted

The Finance Minister further emphasised that the global community should not be distracted from delivery on scale of resources including those promised 50 years ago as well as new resources. This was especially important in small economies whose entire productive base could be wiped out by a pandemic or natural disaster and therefore would have no taxable production.

He, therefore, agreed that factors contributing to productive diversification needed to be examined, emphasising that, “Even as we consider questions of mobilising development support etc we also to have revisit the question of the development model that is being implemented or is being considered for many of these

countries because the reality is we have to find a way to diversify ourselves out of this extreme vulnerability that arises from a single productive sector generating all of our economic output and generating all of our Government revenue. That is not an easy question to answer. It’s a question that policy makers have been wrestling to answer for a long time but it’s a question that we have to redouble our efforts to find an answer.”

The Minister also emphasised that even as regional integration is pursued and despite this having much value to add, “we do have to take a long hard look at how we address the peculiar vulnerabilities that are faced by our countries and in particular this challenge of productive diversification”.

“It is very important that we don’t allow ourselves to be distracted with new conversations which might divert our attention from ensuring the delivery of commitments that we’ve already made, that we already embraced as a global community and that we are still struggling to deliver on.”

Despite Guyana becoming an oil producing country, the Ministry release stated that Government has been steadfast in its approach to ensure that the country’s economy is diversified from the reliance on any one sector and has been pushing to strengthen other productive sectors such as agriculture and tourism to add value and resilience in the case of future shocks and to avoid the Dutch Disease.

18

guyanatimesgy.com

TUESDAY, JULY 13, 2021

Regional

Cuba protests: Arrests Brazil’s Federal Police open probe into after thousands rally Bolsonaro over vaccine deal – source against Government A

Thousands took to the streets in protest over the Government’s handling of coronavirus and the economy

D

ozens of people have been arrested in Cuba after thousands joined the biggest protests for decades against the island’s Communist Government, media and Opposition sources say.

Cubans have been angered by the collapse of the economy, food and medicine shortages, price hikes and the Government’s handling of COVID-19.

The protests are significant as critics face harsh punishment for dissent.

The island’s President called for his supporters to

“fight” the protesters.

One of those at Sunday’s protests, named only as Alejandro, told BBC Mundo: “There is no food, no medicine, there is no freedom.

They do not let us live.”

Protesters shouted “freedom” and “down with the dictatorship” in demonstrations across Cuba, including the capital Havana.

“We are not afraid. We want change, we do not want any more dictatorship,” an unnamed protester in San Antonio told the BBC. Anti-Government protesters were arrested by

security forces who were assisted by plain clothes officers, Reuters news agency reports. Images on social media showed what appeared to be security forces detaining, beating, and pepper-spraying some of the protesters.

There were reports of Internet blackouts across the island and a photographer with Associated Press was injured after a confrontation with security forces.

In response to the rare unrest, President Miguel Díaz-Canel addressed the nation in a TV broadcast and blamed the US for the turmoil. He called its tight sanctions on Cuba – which have been in place in various forms since 1962 – a “policy of economic suffocation”.

Díaz-Canel said the protesters were mercenaries hired by the US to destabilise the country, and called for his supporters to go out and defend the revolution – referring to the 1959 uprising which ushered in Communist rule. (Excerpt from BBC News)

t the request of the Supreme Court, Brazil’s Federal Police have formally opened a probe into President Jair Bolsonaro related to alleged irregularities in the purchase of an Indian vaccine and could now question him, a source with knowledge of the matter said on Monday.

The President has been caught up in allegations of irregularities surrounding the 1.6 billion reais (US$316 million) contract signed in February for 20 million doses with a Brazilian intermediary for the vaccine’s maker, Bharat Biotech.

A Brazilian Senate commission investigating the Administration’s handling of the pandemic has cit-

H

Haitian-Americans.

National Police Chief Leon Charles told a news conference on Sunday that the arrested man, 63-yearold Dr Christian Emmanuel Sanon, flew to Haiti accompanied by hired security guards on a private jet in early June, and wanted to take over as President.

He allegedly hired Colombian mercenaries through a private Venezuelan security firm based in Florida.

The doctor is the third United States resident of Haitian origin – and the 21st person overall – to be

detained as a suspect in the case.

Charles did not explain Sanon’s motives beyond saying they were political.

“The mission of these attackers was initially to ensure the safety of Emmanuel Sanon, but later the mission was changed,” Charles said.

Charles added that among items found by officers at Sanon’s house in Haiti were a hat emblazoned with the logo of the US Drug Enforcement Administration, 20 boxes of bullets, gun parts, four automobile licence

ed suspicions of overpricing and corruption related to the contract. Some Senators have alleged that Bolsonaro

Venezuela announces terrorism charges against Guaidó ally after highway arrest

V

enezuelan Prosecutors on Monday said they had charged Opposition politician Freddy Guevara with terrorism and treason, among other alle-

Haiti arrests suspected mastermind in President Moïse’s killing aitian Police have arrested one of the suspected masterminds behind the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse.

Authorities said they detained a Haitian man, living in the US state of Florida, whom they accuse of hiring mercenaries to remove and replace the President.

Moïse was shot dead early on Wednesday at his Port-au-Prince home by what Haitian authorities describe as a unit of assassins comprising 26 Colombians and two

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro speaks during a news conference after a meeting at the Supreme Federal Court, in Brasilia, Brazil, July 12, 2021

did not immediately look into allegations of wrongdoing when he was alerted.

After the reports of irregularities became public, the Government suspended the contract.

The scandal has hurt Bolsonaro’s standing in the polls. Many are upset over his handling of the world’s second deadliest coronavirus outbreak; the vaccine corruption allegations; and rising prices for fuel, power and food.

Brazilian federal prosecutors and the comptroller general’s office, or CGU, are also separately investigating the alleged irregularities in the deal.

Bolsonaro has denied any wrongdoing. (Reuters)

plates from the Dominican Republic, two cars and correspondence with unidentified people.

Haitian Police have arrested 18 Colombians and three Haitian-Americans, including Sanon, over the murder, Charles said. Five Colombians are still at large and three were killed, he added.

The suspected assassins told investigators they were there to arrest him, not kill him, the Miami Herald and a person familiar with the matter said earlier on Sunday. (Al Jazeera)

gations, after the country’s intelligence service arrested him from his car on a Caracas highway.

Guevara is a close ally of Opposition Leader Juan Guaidó, who is recognized as the South American country’s legitimate President by the United States and others. Guaidó said unidentified armed men threatened him with arrest earlier on Monday as he left his apartment in an effort to assist Guevara.

In a statement, the Chief Prosecutor’s office said it had sought an arrest warrant for Guevara due to his alleged “ties with extremist groups and paramilitaries associated with the Colombian Government”.

The incidents took place as the Government and Opposition prepare for negotiations aimed at resolving the South American country’s deep political crisis. The US-backed Opposition labels

President Nicolás Maduro a dictator, alleging he rigged his 2018 re-election and uses the justice system to stifle dissent.

“We strongly condemn the arrest of Venezuelan Congressman Freddy Guevara and threats against Interim President Juan Guaidó in Venezuela,” Julie Chung, Acting Assistant Secretary for the US Department of State’s Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs, wrote on Twitter.

She urged the international community to join in condemning the acts and called for the release of all political prisoners in Venezuela.

Maduro, who retains the support of the military and denies that the election was rigged, has labelled Guaidó a US puppet and has accused him of conspiring to oust him in a coup. (Excerpt from Reuters)

US imposes visa curbs on Nicaraguan officials amid crackdown Hope remains after 15-member Honduran crew and boat T disappear in rough seas

he United States has imposed visa restrictions on 100 Nicaraguan officials it accuses of being involved in President Daniel Ortega’s escalating crackdown on political opponents ahead of November elections and other rights abuses.

In a statement on Monday, the US State Department said the restrictions would affect 100 members of the Nicaraguan assembly and judicial system, including Prosecutors and Judges, as well as some of their family members.

US visas held by the designated individuals have been revoked, the Department said, without saying which officials were subject to the restrictions.

“Specifically, those targeted in today’s action

Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega and Vice President Rosario Murillo gesture during a march in Managua, Nicaragua, on September 5, 2018 [File: Oswaldo Rivas/Reuters]

helped to enable the OrtegaMurillo regime’s attacks on democracy and human rights,” the statement said.

More than two dozen Nicaraguan presidential hopefuls, Opposition

Leaders, student activists and other figures have been arrested during the past month amid an unrelenting and sweeping crackdown by Ortega’s Government.

The long-time President

has justified the arrests by saying his administration was prosecuting criminals who were plotting a coup against him.

But civil society and human rights groups have accused the 75-year-old – who governed Nicaragua from 1979 to 1990 and returned to power in 2007, winning two successive re-election bids since then – of increasing authoritarianism.

“The gravity and intensification of the Ortega Government’s brutal crackdown on critics and members of the Opposition in recent weeks require a redoubling of international pressure,” José Miguel Vivanco, Americas director at Human Rights Watch, said in a statement on June 22. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

H

ope remains that the 15 Honduran crew members from the missing Falling Star lobster fishing vessel could be on a 12man raft and a 12-man skiff that were on the vessel when it disappeared in rough seas last Tuesday.

This was the optimistic view of Glenn Tuttle, co-manager of Boatwatch.org, an international network of resources to aid mariners that are missing or overdue, adding that they could be “floating around anywhere”.

The missing Hondurans have been identified as Sergio Green Castro, Domingo Peri Suazo, Dilson Omar Suazo, Geraldo Martinez, Jose Victor Calsido, Dayton Sabino

Martinez, Geraldo Alvarez Castillo, Jose Marcelo Castro, Edson Alejandro Castillo, Jose Angel Suazo, Claudio Castro, Henry Morales, Leonidas Martinez, Lander Nuñez, and Victor Manuel Castillo, according to Boatwatch.org.

“I can’t speculate [what has happened to them]. We like to believe there is always hope. They did have a life raft on-board that would hold about 12 people, and they did have a skiff that could hold about 12 people. It is quite possible they are in that skiff and that life raft is floating around out there somewhere.

There is some hope,” Tuttle told the Jamaica Observer on Sunday. (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

guyanatimesgy.com

TUESDAY, JULY 13, 2021

19

Around the World

OILNEWS OIL NEWS US oil mergers surge as energy, share prices recover from pandemic

U

S oil and gas mergers surged last quarter with the most US$1 billion plus combinations since 2014, according to data released on Monday, as rising energy and share prices led to larger oilpatch deals.

Producers are consolidating in US shale as oil and natural gas prices recover from last year's pandemic swoon and this month traded at multi-year highs. Smaller producers also are snapping up unwanted properties in a bet on continued demand for oil and gas while some big oil companies shift their acquisition emphasis to renewables.

Total value of the 40 reported deals last quarter was US$33 billion, estimated energy data provider Enverus Inc, up from US$44.5 billion for all of last year.

The quarter's seven US$1 billion plus deals were mostly in Texas and Colorado oilfields but a fifth of the total value was spend on natural gas properties in the US east, said Andrew Dittmar, Enverus' senior M&A analyst.

Natural gas shot into the spotlight with US prices rising 40 per cent this year, helping spark Southwestern Energy's US$2.7 billion acquisition of Indigo Natural Resources and EQT Corp's US$2.9 billion deal for northeast gas producer Alta Resources.

"There is still a lot of activity out there," said Dittmar, citing recovering share prices and the number of privateequity backed firms looking to sell. "Public companies are not done consolidating" smaller, closely-held producers, he said.

"If commodity prices stay strong, we'll see a fairly active rest of the year," Dittmar said.

A number of top oil companies including Royal Dutch Shell, Chevron, Exxon Mobil, and Occidental Petroleum are considering or have put US oil properties on the market due to rising buyer interest.

Top deals by price last quarter were Cabot Oil and Gas's US$7.4 billion combination with Cimarex Energy and Pioneer Natural Resources' US$6.4 billion acquisition of closely held DoublePoint Energy, both for assets in the Permian Basin of West Texas and New Mexico.

KKR & Co's Independence Energy merged with Contango Oil & Gas, a deal that valued the pair at US$5.7 billion, including debt, and will become a platform to acquire other producers. (Excerpt from Reuters)

N Korea dismisses US humanitarian aid as “sinister scheme”

U

S humanitarian aid is a "sinister political scheme" to put pressure on other countries, a North Korean researcher said, after suggestions from US allies such as South Korea that coronavirus vaccines or other help could promote cooperation.

North Korea's Foreign Ministry published the criticism of US aid on an official website on Sunday, a clear indication that it reflects Government thinking.

Kang Hyon Chol, identified as a senior researcher at the Ministry-affiliated Association for the Promotion of International Economic and Technological Exchange, listed a series of examples from around the world that he said highlight a US practice of linking aid to its foreign policy goals or pressure on human rights issues.

"This vividly reveals that the American ulterior intention of linking 'humanitarian assistance' with 'human rights issue' is to legitimise their pressure on the sover-

eign states and achieve their sinister political scheme," Kang wrote.

Among the examples he listed was declining American assistance to the Government in Afghanistan, where the United States is due to withdraw the last of its troops in coming weeks.

"In actual practice, many countries have undergone bitter tastes as a result of pinning much hope on the American 'aid' and 'humanitarian assistance'," Kang said.

American officials have said they are supportive of humanitarian aid to North Korea but that no efforts are underway to provide direct assistance.

South Korea has vowed it would provide coronavirus vaccines if requested, and some analysts have argued that such foreign aid could provide an opening to resume diplomatic talks with the North, which has rebuffed most overtures from Seoul and Washington since 2019.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Jaipur: Lightning strike kills 16 taking selfies in India

A

lightning strike killed at least 16 people and injured many more in Jaipur in northern India on Sunday.

The victims were taking selfies in the rain on top of a watch tower at the city's 12th Century Amer Fort, a popular tourist attraction.

Dozens have also died in lightning strikes in Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh states.

Lightning strikes kill some 2000 Indians on aver-

age every year, according to official data.

A senior Police Officer told the media that most of the people among the dead at the fort's tower were young.

Twenty-seven people were on the tower and the wall of the fort when the incident happened and some reportedly jumped to the ground.

Sunday alone saw nine more deaths from lightning strikes reported across Rajasthan state where Jaipur is located, according

to local media reports.

At least 41 people - mostly women and children - were reportedly killed in Uttar Pradesh state. The highest toll of 14 was recorded in the city of Allahabad (also known as Prayagraj).

Two men, who were taking shelter under a tree, died on the spot after they were struck by lightning in Firozabad city. The remaining deaths occurred in several districts across the state.

At least seven died in Madhya Pradesh. Experts say casualty numbers are high in the two states because a large number of people work outdoors in agriculture and construction.

The chief ministers of Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan and India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi have announced compensation for the families of those who died. (Excerpt from BBC News)

At least 39 killed, 20 injured in coronavirus hospital fire in Iraq – Police, medics

A

t least 39 people were killed and over 20 injured in a fire at a coronavirus hospital in Iraq's southern city of Nassiriya, health officials and Police said on Monday.

"Health crews carried charred bodies out of the burning hospital while many patients were coughing from the rising smoke," a Reuters reporter at the site of the fire site said.

State-run Iraq News Agency cited Health Ministry officials as saying that search operations at the al-Hussain coronavirus hospital were continuing after the fire was brought under control.

"Raging fires have trapped many patients inside the coronavirus ward and rescue teams are struggling to reach them," a health worker told Reuters

before entering the burning building.

Initial Police reports suggested that an oxygen tank explosion inside the hospital's COVID-19 ward was the likely cause of the fire, a policeman at the scene of the fire said.

Health sources said the death toll could rise as many patients were still missing. Two health workers were among the dead, they said.

In April, a fire caused by an oxygen tank explosion at a COVID-19 hospital in Baghdad took at least 82 lives while 110 people were also injured. read more Already decimated by war and sanctions, Iraq's healthcare system has struggled to cope with the coronavirus crisis, which has killed 17,592 people and infected more than 1.438 million. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Jacob Zuma: Military Nations ordering booster deployed to tackle unrest shots while others over jailed ex-President need 1st jabs – WHO

Looters have been clearing shops in Katlehong township, east of Johannesburg

S

outh Africa has deployed soldiers to tackle deadly unrest triggered by the jailing of former President Jacob Zuma.

Shops were looted and buildings set on fire on Monday as Zuma challenged his sentence at a hearing in the top court.

At least six people have been killed and 200 arrested since the unrest began last week, after Zuma handed himself in and began his 15-month sentence.

Zuma was convicted of contempt of court after failing to attend an inquiry into corruption during his presidency.

The 79-year-old, who denies corruption, is hoping to get the sentence rescinded or reduced at the Constitutional Court hearing. However, legal experts say his chances of success are slim.

The case has sparked an unprecedented legal drama in South Africa, which has never seen a former President jailed before.

A shopping centre in the

city of Pietermaritzburg, in Zuma's home province of KwaZulu-Natal, was set on fire on Monday. Images also showed other buildings and vehicles being set alight, and shops looted.

Police say opportunistic criminals have taken advantage of the chaos.

The violence has also spread to Johannesburg, in Gauteng province.

On Sunday, protesters armed with sticks, golf clubs and branches were seen marching through Johannesburg's central business district.

Some COVID vaccination sites have been forced to close amid safety concerns.

The military said troops were being deployed to assist Police and "quell the unrest that has gripped both [provinces] in the last few days".

Zuma was convicted of defying an instruction to give evidence at an inquiry into corruption during his nine years in power. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Tedros said they should instead direct their doses to COVAX, the vaccine-sharing programme mainly for middleincome and poorer countries [Laurent Gillieron/Pool/Reuters]

C

ountries should not be ordering booster shots for their vaccinated populations while other countries have yet to receive COVID-19 vaccines, the World Health Organisation said on Monday.

WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said deaths were again rising from the COVID-19 pandemic, the Delta variant was becoming dominant, and many countries had yet to receive enough vaccine doses to protect their health workers.

He singled out vaccine makers Pfizer and Moderna as companies that were aim-

ing to provide booster shots in countries where there were already high levels of vaccination.

Tedros said they should instead direct their doses to COVAX, the vaccine-sharing programme mainly for middle-income and poorer countries.

“The priority now must be to vaccinate those who have received no doses and protection,” the WHO chief said.

“I ask you, who would put firefighters on the frontline without protection? Who are most the vulnerable to the flames of the COVID-19 pandemic? The health workers on the frontlines, older persons and the vulnerable.”

The WHO’s chief scientist, Soumya Swaminathan, said the global health body had so far not seen evidence showing that booster shots were necessary for those who have received a full course of vaccines.

While boosters may be necessary one day, there was no evidence they were needed yet.

Mike Ryan, head of the WHO’s emergencies programme, said: “We will look back in anger, and we will look back in shame” if countries use precious doses on booster shots, at a time when vulnerable people are still dying without vaccines elsewhere. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

20

TUESDAY, JULY 13, 2021

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CALVIN AND HOBBES

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SUDOKU

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

Don't take on too much.

Channel your energy where it counts. Change begins with you, and your success depends on finishing what you start. Romance is on the rise.

Spend more time gathering information and studying the possibilities, and less time thinking about what others are doing. Be a leader, not a follower, and you will avoid bad situations.

Spend time fixing up your space and putting things in order. Don't let outside influences override what you know is best for you. Gauge your success by the happiness you achieve.

Explore the possibilities, associate with like-minded people and see what you can achieve. Your happiness is in your hands; choose the path that makes you feel good about who you are and what you do.

Do your best to make a difference. Make suggestions and offer your services. Your time and effort are as valuable as cash, if not more so.

Do what feels right and works for you.

Discuss matters of concern openly and honestly. Taking charge will help you bring about positive change and gain respect from your peers.

A professional incident will strike an emotional chord.

A disciplined approach to whatever you do will help you reach your goal. Take good care of your health and physical well-being. Stay in shape and don't take risks with your health.

You've got the right moves and brains to bring about positive lifestyle changes. Stop dreaming about what you want; begin the process that will lead to better days ahead.

Expand your mind.

Emotional situations will SAGITTARIUS be costly. Distance yourself (Nov. 23from people who try to take Dec. 21) advantage of you or who are misleading. Look inward and consider what will make you happy.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22Jan. 19)

SOLUTION FOR LAST PUBLISHED PUZZLE

An unexpected change will encourage financial gain.

An investment, major move or boost to your earning potential looks promising. Pay attention to detail; focus on what you can do to get ahead.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20Feb. 19)

Do your best to get along with others. Look for common ground, and you will overcome setbacks. Put your skills to the test, and implement adjustments if needed. Romance is featured.

PISCES

Embrace opportunities. Help bring about positive change. Home improvements, discussions with loved ones and big plans will brighten your day. Avoid physical risks.

(Feb. 20March 20)

TUESDAY, JULY 13, 2021

21

Jamaica top standings with 69 medals at NACAC championships in Costa Rica S

ixteen-year-old Tina Clayton produced the most outstanding performance over the weekend as team Jamaica dominated the North American, Central American and Caribbean Athletic Association (NACAC) U-23 and U-18 Championships, the first of the area’s regional events in 17 months.

Clayton improved her 100 metres personal best from 11.25s to 11.17s to claim gold in the U-18 category. Despite her impressive time, the best by world ranking standards, the mark was not among the 17 championship records broken at Costa Rica’s National Stadium. Her countrywoman and 2018 world U-20 champion Briana Williams kept her 11.11 time clocked at the previous edition in Mexico in 2019.

A world leader among U-18 athletes, Clayton’s 11.17 places her third-fastest among U-20 athletes in 2021, behind fellow Jamaicans Williams (10.97) and Ackera Nugent (11.09).

Two other 16-year-old Jamaicans also left their mark in San Jose. Alana Reid ran 23.78 for 200m gold and became the

first U-18 woman to break 24 seconds at the championships.

Reid also anchored her team to the 4x100m title in 45.49.

She was joined by 100m silver medallist Serena Cole, Clayton, and Kerrica Hill.

World leader Jaydon Hibbert broke the 16-metre barrier with a 16.02m leap in the triple jump, a 34cm improvement on his previous best.

The world’s fastest U-20 sprint hurdler and fourthfastest ever, Nugent, returned to the regional event where she placed second in the U-18 category and to the same stadium where she claimed silver at the Pan American U-20 Championships in 1999.

The 2021 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) bronze medallist easily dominated the 100m hurdles in 13.64, despite a strong headwind of -2.2m/s.

Sprint hurdler Orlando Bennett (13.65); 400m specialist Charokee Young (52.06) and long jumper Shakwon Coke (7.88m into a -2.6m/s wind) also shone for Jamaica, all in the U-23

category. Alicke Cranston also impressed with his 10.42 winning time in the 100m.

Alexander Ogando, member of the bronze medal-winning team for the Dominican Republic at the 2021 World Athletics Relays in Poland, impressed on the final day by winning the 200m in 20.59, just 0.05 shy of his personal best. Ogando, who has run 45.01 for 400m, will be a key piece in his country’s mixed relay at the Olympic Games in Tokyo.

With the CARIFTA Games suspended two consecutive

years owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, the regional championships opened an elusive competitive opportunity for U-20 athletes in the Region. Eighteenyear-old Bahamian Camille Rutherford took the sprint double in 11.36 and 23.42, a personal best at the longer distance.

National record-holder and Tokyo-bound Jonathan Jones won one of the five gold medals for Barbados by covering the one-lap race in

46.20, in a close battle with Jamaica’s 2018 world U-20 silver medallist Christopher Taylor, who was second with 46.58. Taylor has also qualified for the Summer Games.

Shiann Salmon, Taylor, 100m silver medallist Odaine Mcpherson and Young joined their efforts to set a new standard of 3:20.71 in the mixed relay, contested for the first time at the championships.

Their Jamaican teammates Kishay Rowe, Roshawn Clarke, Oneika Brissett and Delano

Kennedy set the new time of 3:25.27 in the U-18 category.

Juan Diego Castro led the home team with a victory in the 800m in 1:48.82.

Fourth at the 2017 World U-18 Championships, he has improved his national record in both the 800m and 1500m. His 17-year-old compatriot Sharon Lisseth Herrera set a meeting record in the 5000m race walk with 23:18.14.

In the same event, Guatemala’s Yasury Betzayda Palacios rewrote the record books with a 22:31.13 effort in the U-23 category. In total, 13 records were broken, plus the two mixed relays.

With 61 athletes, Jamaica dominated the medal tally with 67 medals (39 gold, 18 silver and 10 bronze), ahead of the host nation (19-20-23=62) and The Bahamas (17-18-7=42). All 19 participating nations won at least one medal. Owing to COVID restrictions, some regional powerhouses did not attend, including the United States, Canada, Cuba, and Mexico. (Sportsmax)

State of emergency begins in Bucks trounce Suns to cut host city Tokyo as Games near

NBA Finals deficit to 2-1

T

he Milwaukee Bucks scorched the Phoenix Suns 120-100 in Game Three of the NBA Finals on Sunday in front of an electric home crowd, cutting the deficit in the best-ofseven series to 2-1.

The Bucks had not been at their best in the previous two games in Phoenix, but were a different team with home-court advantage, ending the first half with a 15-point lead as two-time league Most Valuable Player (MVP) Giannis Antetokounmpo put up 18 points and grabbed eight rebounds.

The Suns whittled down the gap to four points midway through the third quarter, but Bucks point guard Jrue Holiday responded with a pair of three-pointers to give the home team some breathing room.

"It definitely was a turning point for me. Those shots felt great," Holiday said after the game. "Those going in, I kind of felt like the momentum was going their way before that – I kind of got the momentum back on our side."

The Suns trailed by 22 heading into the final quarter and were unable to make a game of it heading to the buzzer.

"We knew what type of game it was going to be, we

knew that we had to come here, play good basketball, compete as hard as possible and I was just trying to be aggressive," Antetokounmpo said.

The 26-year-old forward ended with 41 points, 13 rebounds, and six assists. He scored 42 points in Game Two and is only the sixth player to have 40-or-more points in consecutive NBA Finals games.

"In order for us to be

back (in) this series and give ourselves an opportunity to win this game, to win this series, to be champions, we got to bring it," said Antetokounmpo.

"We've got to stay aggressive, it's all mental right now."

The Suns made just nine of 31 three-point attempts and coughed up 14 turnovers.

The teams meet again in Milwaukee on Wednesday for Game Four. (Reuters)

O

lympic host city Tokyo entered a new state of emergency on Monday, less than two weeks before the Games begin amid worries about whether the measures can stem a rise in COVID-19 cases.

Organisers last week announced that spectators would be banned from nearly all venues. Spectators from abroad were already banned months ago, and officials are now asking residents to watch the Games on TV to keep the movement of people, which could spread contagion, to a minimum.

Opinion polls have consistently shown the Japanese public is concerned about going ahead with the Games during the pandemic.

Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga's handling of the pandemic – including an initially slow vaccination rollout -has eroded his support. The issue is especially sensitive ahead of a national election and a ruling party leadership race due later this year.

"We would ask people to support athletes from home," Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato said on a Sunday TV programme.

The Games, postponed from last year because of the pandemic, run from July 23 to August 8, while the state

of emergency –- the capital's fourth – lasts until August 22, shortly before the Paralympics begin.

The Government and organisers had long seen the Games as a chance to display Japan's recovery from a devastating 2011 earthquake and nuclear crisis.

On Saturday, the Governor of Fukushima prefecture, site of the nuclear disaster, said spectators would also be banned from softball and baseball games there, reversing an earlier decision.

Rising Tokyo infections

World number one tennis player Novak Djokovic said on Sunday he was "5050" about competing at the Tokyo Olympics following the organisers' decision to ban fans from attending and limits on the number of people he can take to the Games.

Some of the sport's biggest names, including Rafa Nadal, Dominic Thiem, Stan Wawrinka, Nick Kyrgios, Serena Williams and Simona Halep have already said that they will skip the Games.

Japan has recorded more than 815,440 COVID-19 cases and nearly 15,000 deaths.

Recent rises in Tokyo have been particularly worrisome amid a vaccination roll-

out that got off to a slow start and has faced supply glitches after speeding up. Only about 28 per cent of the population has received at least one shot of a COVID-19 vaccine.

Tokyo recorded 502 new cases on Sunday, the 23rd straight day of week-onweek gains, and experts worry that the public has grown weary of restrictions, mostly voluntary, on activities.

The coronavirus curbs include asking restaurants to close early and to stop serving alcohol in exchange for a Government subsidy, measures that have hit the eateries hard and caused many to complain of unfairness as the Games are set to go ahead.

Economy Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura, who is also in charge of the pandemic response, sparked outrage when he suggested late on Thursday he would ask banks to put pressure on eateries that do not comply with the stricter measures.

In an about-face, the Government's top spokesperson Kato said on Friday it had decided banks would not be asked to press restaurants and bars that do not follow the Government request to stop serving alcohol under the emergency restrictions. (Reuters)

22

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The victory gave the hosts an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series with the remaining two ODIs to be played on July 15 and 18 at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium.

Matthews, later ad-

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TAXI SERVICE Matthews was adjudged Player of the Match

Hayley Matthews celebrates her ton

A

sparkling unbeaten century by opener Hayley Matthews and three-wicket hauls by Chinelle Henry and Anisa Mohammed orchestrated an eight-wicket win for the West Indies Women in the third One-Day

International (ODI) against Pakistan Women at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in St John’s, Antigua, on

Omaima Sohail top scored for Pakistan with 62

GRFU shortlists training squad for RAN Sevens

T

he Guyana Rugby Football Union (GRFU) has shortlisted 34 players for the upcoming Rugby Americas North (RAN) Sevens tournament, scheduled for October 1617 in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

The squad listed for training is mostly made of newcomers with a few seasoned campaigners.

The Guyana “Green Machine” will be sharpening their skills to butt heads with arch-rivals Jamaica, who bested them in the last tournament in 2019.

This year’s tournament is a qualifier for the World Rugby Challenger Series in 2022.

The GRFU has already requested permission to commence training from the

National COVID-19 Task Force and is awaiting a response.

The GRFU remains committed to observing the COVID-19 protocols and also to the COVID-19 vaccination campaign.

The shortlisted players and their clubs are as follow:

Panthers Rugby Football Club

Godfrey Broomes, Jamal Angus, Osei McKenzie, Tyreese Prescod, Owen Adonis, Lancelot Adonis, D’Arcy Durant, Rondel McArthur, Kareem Fisher, and Selwyn Henry.

Caribs Rugby Football Club

Kempton David, Kevon David, Alex Crawford, Elio Cameron, and Makaya Smith.

Guyana Defence Force Rugby Football Club

Avery Corbin, Dwayne Schroder, Sean Phillips, Glenroy Poole, and Jamal Mona.

Police Rugby Football Club

Shawn David, Odida Douglas, Marlon Small, Adrian Hall, Kareem Simon, Michael Barrow, Scott Garraway, Richard Butcher, and James Osborne.

Hornets Rugby Football Club

Ryan Gonsalves, Rickford Cummings, Peabo Hamilton, Patrick King, and Johnathan Garnett.

Theodore Henry has been selected as the Head Coach, and Laurence Adonis is the Assistant Coach. George David has been appointed the Manager.

judged player of the match, smashed 11 fours in what was her second ODI century as the hosts overhauled a 183-run target in 40.1 overs. The right-handed batter returned unbeaten on 100, which she had accumulated from 121 balls.

The West Indies’ run chase had started with a 56-run first-wicket stand between Matthews and Kyshona Knight (18 off 31) before Anam Amin dismissed the latter in the 12th over.

It was then Matthews’ 106-run second-wicket partnership with Britney Cooper (45 off 69 balls) that sealed victory for the hosts.

Cooper hit three fours before she was dismissed by teenage fast bowler Fatima

Sana in the 36th over.

Earlier, Omaima Sohail hit her maiden ODI half-century as Pakistan were bowled out for 182 in 49 overs after being sent in to bat by Anisa Mohammed, who was deputising for Stafanie Taylor.

Sohail, a right-handed batter, crunched 62 off 79 balls with seven fours.

Her knock rescued Pakistan from 56 for three and included an 87-run partnership with Nida Dar, who became the first of Matthews’ two wickets after scoring 24.

Muneeba Ali was the second-best scorer with 25 off 39 balls. The opener struck four fours. She was dismissed by Henry, who also accounted for Pakistan Captain Javeria Khan and Anam Amin. (PCB.com)

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SCOREBOARD PAKISTAN WOMEN INNINGS (50 OVERS MAXIMUM) Muneeba Ali † b Henry 25 Ayesha Zafar b Selman 10 Javeria Khan (c) c Dottin b Henry 12 Omaima Sohail st †Kycia A Knight b Mohammed 62 Nida Dar c Henry b Matthews 24 Aliya Riaz b Matthews 6 Ayesha Naseem c Selman b Mohammed 3 Fatima Sana c Cooper b Mohammed 2 Diana Baig c Nation b Ramharack 1 Rameen Shamim not out 19 Anam Amin c Mohammed b Henry 3 Extras (b 4, w 11) 15 TOTAL (49 Ov, RR: 3.71) 182 Fall of wickets: 1-37 (Ayesha Zafar, 9.6 ov), 2-47 (Muneeba Ali, 13.4 ov), 3-56 (Javeria Khan, 15.6 ov), 4-143 (Nida Dar, 34.2 ov), 5-153 (Omaima Sohail, 37.3 ov), 6-155 (Aliya Riaz, 38.5 ov), 7-157 (Ayesha Naseem, 39.4 ov), 8-159 (Fatima Sana, 41.3 ov), 9-161 (Diana Baig, 42.6 ov), 10-182 (Anam Amin, 48.6 ov) BOWLING O-M-R-W Shamilia Connell 6-0-33-0 Shakera Selman 9-1-24-1 Hayley Matthews 10-2-30-2 Chinelle Henry 8-2-37-3 Karishma Ramharack 6-0-29-1 Anisa Mohammed 10-1-25-3

WEST INDIES WOMEN INNINGS (TARGET: 183 RUNS FROM 50 OVERS) Hayley Matthews not out 100 Kyshona Knight lbw b Anam Amin 18 Britney Cooper c Ayesha Naseem b Fatima Sana 45 Chedean Nation not out 13

223-7230-1 (Ext 55)

Extras (lb 2, w 5) 7 TOTAL (40.1 Ov, RR: 4.55) 183/2 Did not bat: Chinelle Henry, Kycia Knight †, Deandra Dottin, Anisa Mohammed (c), Shamilia Connell, Karishma Ramharack, Shakera Selman Fall of wickets: 1-56 (Kyshona Knight, 11.2 ov), 2-162 (Britney Cooper, 35.2 ov) BOWLING Diana Baig Anam Amin Fatima Sana Nida Dar Rameen Shamim Omaima Sohail

O-M-R-W 7-0-24-0 10-0-35-1 7-0-43-1 5.1-0-26-0 4.3-0-22-0 6.3-0-31-0

2237230-1

(Ext 55)

NOW!

TUESDAY, JULY 13, 2021

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Persaud vows to make Guyana proud at Olympics

F

ifteen-year-old Aleka Persaud is the youngest of seven athletes who will represent Guyana at the upcoming Tokyo Olympics.

Though it is no surprise for a teenager to qualify for the quadrennial event, Persaud’s ascension as Guyana’s swimming representative caught most off guard, owing to an International Swimming Federation (FINA) stipulation.

Jamila Sanmoogan was initially named, along with Andrew Fowler, to receive Universality spots for swimming, however, FINA later specified that the swimmer with the most points and fastest time should be the one to represent the country. It was eventually discovered that it would have to be the teenaged Persaud and not Sanmoogan, causing the Guyana Amateur Swimming Association (GASA) to make the switch.

“I was shocked at first. After I heard my colleague was going to the

Olympics, but then FINA stated that the fastest Guyanese swimmer must represent at the Olympics. After that information, I was very excited, I started running and jumping all around the house,” Persaud said, as she recalled her reaction to receiving the news about her Universality spot in the Tokyo Olympics.

The CARIFTA gold medallist departed Guyana on Sunday for a twoweek FINA training camp that will lead up to the Tokyo Games.

Speaking to the media over the weekend, the teenager talked about the personal significance of the achievement and the support that has led her to this stage.

“It means a lot. I’ve been training hard for the past few years, just for this moment. It is a dream come true to attend the Olympics this year,” she related.

About her support system, she added, “Everyone has been behind

me. I have my sponsors; my family –my mom is really behind me, she always pushes me past my limit; my dad is in the sport, so he expects everything out of me, so I will make them proud when I attend the Olympics.”

Though excited about representing Guyana at her first Olympic Games, Persaud is focused on attaining some goals.

“Yes, I’m prepared to swim at the Olympics this year.

“I want to improve, by God’s grace, improve on my 28.10s (personal best time) in the 50m freestyle,” Persaud went on to state.

When probed about any useful advice that she may have for young female athletes aspiring to make it to such an event, she had this to say: “They need to be focused, disciplined, have the right attitude, be ready, their mindset must change, can’t have a lackadaisical attitude. You have to always want to do it.”

Women’s squads announced for remaining CG Insurance ODIs, A Team matches …Gajnabi named in senior squad

generally spot on. All-rounder Chinelle Henry is back which will strengthen both batting and bowling. In addition, Shabika Gajnabi and Rashada Williams, who have both performed well in the A team, have been included which gives them the opportunity to get more experience at the senior level.”

Fans in the Caribbean can watch the CG Insurance ODIs live on Flow Sports or via the Flow Sports app. Live radio commentary is available on the Windies Cricket YouTube channel. Fans can also follow live ballby-ball scoring in the www. windiescricket.com live match centre. (Windies Cricket)

T

he Cricket West Indies (CWI) Women’s Selection Panel has named a 14-member West Indies Women squad for the remaining matches of the five-match CG Insurance One-Day International (ODI) Series against Pakistan at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium (SVRS) in Antigua.

The Selection Panel also named a 12-member West Indies Women A Team to play Pakistan Women A Team in the second and third matches of the 50-over A Team series on July 13 and July 16 at the Coolidge Cricket Ground (CCG) in Antigua. First ball in all matches is 09:30h (8:30am Jamaica Time).

In the senior squad, Rashada Williams and Shabika Gajnabi have been named to replace Caneisha Isaac and Aaliyah Alleyne, who are both injured.

Ann Browne-John, CWI’s Lead Selector of the Women’s Panel, said: “The team has had two clinical victories in the first two CG Insurance ODIs. There has been some outstanding innings and the bowling has been

Shabika Gajnabi has been named in the senior squad

WEST INDIES WOMEN’S SQUAD * Stafanie Taylor (Captain) * Anisa Mohammed (Vice Captain) * Shamilia Connell * Britney Cooper * Deandra Dottin * Shabika Gajnabi * Chinelle Henry * Kycia Knight * Kyshona Knight * Hayley Matthews * Chedean Nation * Karishma Ramharack * Shakera Selman * Rashada Williams

WEST INDIES WOMEN A TEAM SQUAD * Reniece Boyce (Captain) * Shanika Bruce * Cherry-Ann Fraser * Jannillea Glasgow * Sheneta Grimmond * Zaida James * Japhina Joseph * Qiana Joseph * Mandy Mangru * Kycia Schultz * Steffie Soogrim * Rachel Vincent

Persaud, along with Andrew Fowler, will represent Guyana in swimming. Meanwhile, table tennis player Chelsea Edghill, boxer Keevin Allicock, and track and field athletes Emanuel Archibald and Aliyah and Jasmine Abrams comprise the remaining Guyanese athletes that will participate in the July 23 to August 8 event.

Aside from the athletes, Guyana’s 16-member delegation will include Chef de Mission Garfield Wiltshire, COVID officer/ Physiotherapist Angelica Holder, Secretary General Deon Nurse, Athlete Representative Aliann Pompey, Swim Coach Shyka Gonsalves, Boxing Coach Sebert Blake, Table Tennis Coach Idi Lewis and Track and Field Coaches Julian Edmonds and Denzel Abrams.

23

Aleka Persaud

Essequibo Coast Cricket Club pick up 2 wins in OSCL competition … Madholall, Ramnauth complete fruitful weekend

I

The ECCC will be hoping to win all their games

t was an auspicious start for Essequibo Coast Cricket Club in the 2021 Ontario Softball Cricket League (OSCL) 20-over round-robin competition. On Saturday, they thrashed Miss Phoebe by a massive 156 runs at Ashtonbee Park, Scarborough, Ontario, Canada. And then on Sunday at Littles venue, also in Scarborough, Essequibo Coast beat Three Counties by eight wickets.

In Saturday’s opening fixture, Essequibo Coast won the toss and opted to take first strike.

They rattled up a formidable 203-4, including 36 penalty runs due to slow over rate by Miss Phoebe. Skipper Kenny Ramsawak made 50 while Oliver Manniram also scored 50. Davo Ramsawak (unrelated) cracked a cameo 33 and opener Tony Singh 18.

When Miss Phoebe batted, they had extras as the top score (13). Ravendra “Grajo” Madholall snatched 4-8 from

four overs while Captain Ramsawak supported with 2-8 in his two-over spell and Ivan Narine had 1-3 off two overs.

On Sunday, the action was more intense as Three Counties tallied up a challenging 151-6 off 19 overs, including penalty runs. Rakesh Ramotar made 44 while Essequibo Coast conceded 22 extras. On the bowling side, it was one wicket each for Ramsawak, Romel Harripersaud, Madholall and Nicolas Sanichara.

When Essequibo Coast batted, they reached 157-2 off 18 overs with Madholall hitting an unbeaten 92, which included six sixes and three fours. Narine contributed 18, but retired hurt while Sanichara made 16 and Devon Ramnauth, 7 not out.

The 12-team tournament is set to resume next weekend with back-to-back matches.

Notably, the Essequibo Coast Cricket Club were formed this year to participate in the

competition. It was founded by Ramsawak and Dave Ramnauth.

The Essequibo Coast Cricket Club (Toronto) feature members who hail from throughout the Essequibo Coast and now live in Canada.

Members include veterans Bertram “Ivan” Naraine and Raj Sankar (nephew of the late Kayman Sankar). Other notable members comprise former Essequibo and Guyana players Ravendra Madholall, Devon Ramnauth, Motie Naraine, Dilon Heyliger, Fazil Gani and Rakesh Gobardhan. Other Essequibians include Kenny Ramsawak, Nicolas Sanichara, Chandarpaul “Tony” Singh, Oliver Manram, Prem Narine, Kumar Singh, Allan “Stump” Ramnauth and Zaheer Mohamed. The Club's objective is to build a strong bond between Essequibians and promote good sportsmanship.

The 12-team competition is expected to run until September 19 on a round-robin basis.

TUESDAY, JULY 13, 2021

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

Hurricane Elsa move over! Old is gold!

Gayle Storm arrives …Windies clinch 3-0 series win over Australia Pooran finds some form

Nicholas Pooran scored a handy 32 off 27 deliveries, his innings was the second highest alongside Gayle’s 67. This was excellent for the young acting captain a s not only did he find some form but he maintained an unblemished record as captain w i t h three

I

Starc, Meredith make the breakthrough

The opening over saw Andre Fletcher smack Mitchell Starc for a crisp boundary, but the next ball saw him back in the pavil-

Wade, Finch capitalise

Earlier in the game, openers Matthew Wade and Aaron Finch made use of their opportunities as compared to the first two T20Is. They made use of the bad balls and ran important singles when necessary; however, Wade fell to McCoy on the first ball of over 4 for 23 with the score at 41-1.

Despite the partnership being broken, it was still an excellent start for the men from Down Under and they needed to make use of it.

kept things tight. Marsh was trapped for 9 by Fabien Allen, then specialist batsmen Alex Carey and Finch fell in quick succession.

Hayden Walsh Jr in particular continued to lure the batsmen into playing their shots which resulted in their wickets being lost. Australia moved from 41-1 to 80-4 , putting the West Indies in control.

Pooran played the Captain’s role like a champion, he m a n aged

Trouble in Paradise

W i t h t h e score o n

Moises Henriques top-scored with 33

t was a night full of action, there was no drama or no swaying of the game. Instead a storm arrived, a brutal storm in the form of Christopher Henry Gayle. He was unstoppable as he smashed balls to every part of the ground, he crucified the Australian bowling attack and showed the world why he is the “Universe Boss”.

Gayle played his part and in the end, the West Indies stormed to a comfortable 3-0 series win over their opponents, winning the third T20 International by six wickets ending on 142-4 in reply to Australia’s 141-6.

The Aussies made three changes in their line-up for the third T20I – Ashton Turner, Alex Carey, and Riley Meredith. The men, in maroon on the other hand, were confident in their lineup and maintained almost the same team with the exception of Obed McCoy coming in for the injured Fidel Edwards.

fourth and penultimate deliveries of over number 14 to take the game in emphatic fashion, winning with 31 balls to spare.

ion. Despite that early breakthrough, the West Indies kept on ticking, Gayle and Lendl Simmons shared a 30-plus partnership, which included a 19-run over from G a y l e off Josh

Gayle Storm arrives

Gayle showed the world why he is still one of the most destructive batsmen, and even though many might have said he should retire, he proved that he has still got it. His match-winning innings of 67 off 38 balls included four boundaries and seven towering sixes at a strike rate of 176.31. Furthermore, he also went on to achieve yet another milestone being the first player to score 14,000 T20 runs, including 22 centuries and 86 half-centuries from his 431 matches.

Hayden Walsh Jr celebrates a wicket

Nicholas Pooran looks to the heavens after leading his side to a series win

wins in three. Pooran hit the winning runs, scoring two boundaries off the

41-1, Finch and Mitchell Marsh needed to carry on, but the Windies bowlers

Australia rally on, but Windies tighten the reins

After four wickets fell, Moises Henriques and Ashton Turner carried on slowly and while they were able to cash in on a few classy shots, the West Indies pulled things back slowly. Their combination of Dwayne Bravo and Sheldon Cottrell in the last two overs was brilliant. The last 8.5 overs only yielded 61 runs. Henriques was dismissed by Bravo in the last over for 33 off 29, while Turner was run out for 24 off 22. In the end, after having such a good start, the Aussies were only able to post 141-6 in their allotted 20 overs. Walsh Jr was the pick of the bowlers with 2-18, Allen had 1-26, Bravo 1-17 and McCoy 1-9.

SCOREBOARD AUSTRALIA INNINGS (20 OVERS MAXIMUM) Matthew Wade † b McCoy Aaron Finch (c) cAllen b Walsh Mitchell Marsh lbw b Allen Alex Carey c Simmons b Walsh Moises Henriques c Allen b Bravo Ashton Turner run out (Bravo) Dan Christian not out

Hazelwood.

In the end, Meredith returned to remove Simmons for 15, as he was looking settled to have West Indies at 42-2.

his bowlers’ rotation and field with great excellence.

23 30 9 13 33 24 1

WEST INDIES INNINGS (TARGET: 142 RUNS FROM 20 OVERS) Andre Fletcher c Marsh b Starc 4 Lendl Simmons c Starc b Meredith 15 Chris Gayle c †Wade b Meredith 67 Nicholas Pooran (c)† not out 32 Dwayne Bravo c Zampa b Meredith 7 Andre Russell not out 7

Extras (lb 1, w 7) 8 TOTAL (20 Ov, RR: 7.05) 141/6

Extras (lb 4, nb 1, w 5) 10 TOTAL (14.5 Ov, RR: 9.57) 142/4

Did not bat: Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa, Riley Meredith, Josh Hazlewood

Did not bat: Shimron Hetmyer, Fabian Allen, Hayden Walsh, Obed McCoy, Sheldon Cottrell

Fall of wickets: 1-41 (Matthew Wade, 4.6 ov), 2-58 (Mitchell Marsh, 8.3 ov), 3-79 (Alex Carey, 11.1 ov), 4-80 (Aaron Finch, 11.5 ov), 5-139 (Moises Henriques, 19.3 ov), 6-141 (Ashton Turner, 19.6 ov)

Fall of wickets: 1-4 (Andre Fletcher, 0.3 ov), 2-42 (Lendl Simmons, 5.1 ov), 3-109 (Chris Gayle, 11.6 ov), 4-124 (Dwayne Bravo, 14.1 ov)

BOWLING Sheldon Cottrell Andre Russell Obed McCoy Dwayne Bravo Fabian Allen Hayden Walsh Chris Gayle

O-M-R-W 4-0-32-0 3-0-29-0 1-0-9-1 3-0-17-1 4-0-26-1 4-0-18-2 1-0-9-0

BOWLING Mitchell Starc Josh Hazlewood Riley Meredith Adam Zampa Mitchell Marsh

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