Guyana Times - Tuesday, July 26, 2022

Over 650 persons benefit from P14 CIOG’s medical outreach Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Issue No. 5081

TUESDAY, JULY 26, 2022

PRICE

Private Sector investment, strengthened food & energy security priority in US-Guyana talks …as US Govt to support

WHAT'S INSIDE:

Security guard dies at city P14 hotel

Pages 12&13

banking, finance, tourism sectors

More than 1000 job seekers attend mining career fair P15

P10 Guyana monitoring 838 active COVID cases

Guyana’s President Dr Irfaan Ali meeting with US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken in Washington on Monday (Office of the President photo)

Int’l Building Expo

$100 VAT INCLUDED

Page 3

Thousands allocated house lots after …no doubt goal of 5000 house lots, years of waiting 3000 land titles achievable – CH&PA Head Redouble efforts to ensure GCAA Director Region is zone of peace – PM Phillips to 2022 PROSUR Summit General's contract being reviewed – Edghill Page 7

Driver who allegedly struck down man and dumped body granted $1.8M P8 bail

Coordinated P11 international approach needed for monkeypox – Health Minister

Page 2

…says agency needs professionals to guide Guyana’s advancement in aviation

30 workers laid off as AMCAR abruptly shuts down Rosignol processing plant …company breached Termination Act – GAWU

Page 9

Man sentenced in absentia for armed robberies captured P11

2 NEWS

TUESDAY, JULY 26, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

GCAA Director General’s contract being reviewed – Edghill …says agency needs professionals to guide Guyana’s advancement in aviation

Public Works Minister Juan Edghill

T

he matter of renewing the employment contract of Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) Director General Egbert Field, is currently under review. This is ac-

cording to Public Works Minister Juan Edghill, who debunked reports that Field was being forced out due to politics.

The Minister had cause to issue a statement on the

GCAA Director General, Lt Colonel (ret’d) Egbert Field

matter, after reports started swirling ranging from Field being forced out, to him actually quitting.

Edghill explained that in reality, Field wrote to inform him that his current

contract would be expiring on August 2, 2022.

“I make this statement based on several inquiries made concerning the current employment contract of the Director General of

the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), Lt. Col. Egbert Field.”

“As the Minister of Public Works, I have been informed via a letter from Director General Field of the expiration of his current contract on August 2nd, 2022. Mr Field’s letter is being addressed with the view to the renewal of the contract,” Edghill explained.

He went on to make it clear that the Government of Guyana employs persons solely based on meritocracy, adding that the GCAA in particular, needs professionals who will guide Guyana’s advancement in aviation.

“Allow me to make it abundantly clear that the Government of Guyana’s employment practice is solely based on meritocracy. We do not subscribe to views that are being peddled by some on the social media platforms that Mr Field is being forced out of his job because of politics,” Edghill said in his statement.

“As a Government focused on the development of our country and the advancement of our people, we strive to ensure persons capable and competent are always serving in areas and offices to propel change and development.”

A well-placed source has meanwhile confirmed that a meeting is planned for this week, during which Field’s employment is expected to come up. Efforts by this publication to contact Field himself were futile.

Field, a former pilot in the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) and aviation official in Jamaica, was appointed to Head the GCAA in 2016. He took over the substantive role left by Zulficar Mohamed, who had retired in May of the previous year.

Over the last few years, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government has identified plans to make Guyana into a hub for regional trav-

el as part of its agenda.

Last year, Edghill had said that Guyana has made significant progress towards its goal of attracting and having the capacity for increased regional air traffic.

Investments in this regard have included establishing a State Safety Programme/Safety Management System (SSP/ SMS), as well as upgrading the Communications Navigations Surveillance/ Air Traffic Management System to improve the performance of the Air Navigation System.

Efforts have also been made to enhance Air Traffic Control monitoring capabilities using the Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast (ADS-8) technology at strategic locations throughout the country.

Last year, Field had announced that six new airlines are showing interest in starting operations in this country. Earlier in 2021, reports had indicated that air service providers such as FlyAllWays, InterCaribbean Airways, One Caribbean Limited, JetAir Caribbean, Skybus Airlines, Sky High Aviation Services and Guyana Rotorcraft Services Inc had expressed interest in operating in Guyana.

So far, Skybus Airlines, InterCaribbean Airways and FlyAllWays have obtained approval to begin operating.

While attending the Conference on International Air Transport Cooperation in South Korea recently, Minister within the Public Works Ministry Deodat Indar had given statistics on the state of Guyana’s aviation sector and the number of flights returning.

For instance, Guyana’s passenger numbers are on course to increase by 5 per cent this year, compared to pre-pandemic numbers from 2019. This is a turnaround from 2020, when domestic air traffic dropped by 46 per cent. (G3)

NEWS

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TUESDAY, JULY 26, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS OPENINGS BRIDGE

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

Tuesday, July 26 – 02:00h – 03:30h and Wednesday, July 27 – 02:30h – 04:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Tuesday, July 26 – 15:35h – 17:05h and Wednesday, July 27 – 16:15h – 17:45h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

Parika and Supenaam departure times – 05:00h, 10:00h-12:00h, 16:00h, 18:30h daily

Int’l Building Expo

Thousands allocated house lots after years of waiting …no doubt goal of 5000 house lots, 3000 land titles achievable – CH&PA Head

WEATHER TODAY

There will be sunshine and light cloud during the day. Expect light rain showers and partly cloudy skies at night. Temperatures should range between 21 degrees Celsius and 30 degrees Celsius.

Winds: South-Westerly to Westerly between 1.78 metres and 3.57 metres.

High Tide: 15:14h reaching a maximum height of 2.25 metres.

Low Tide: 08:46h and 21:00h reaching minimum heights of 0.87 metre and 0.97 metre.

CH&PA CEO Sherwyn Greaves

P

SATURDAY, JULY 23, 2022

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COMMODITIES Indicators

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ersons were beaming with smiles as they were allocated their house lots at the International Building Expo 2022 as a part of the Housing Ministry’s “Dream Realised” housing initiative.

Speaking with Guyana Times on Monday, several persons who had just received their allocation expressed that they have been waiting numerous years to be issued a house lot, some whom even applied over a decade ago.

Christopher Kissoon, who had applied for a house lot since 2011, was elated to have received a house lot after years of waiting. He commended the initiative, which has now granted himself and his family a place to call home.

“I applied for this house lot since 2011, and I got approved and it’s a blessing.

I’m very happy, I’m joyful, I feel like celebrating because I’ve never really owned anything much in my life and this here is blessing to me.

“I want to thank the people in higher authority who made this possible for more and my kids so we can always have somewhere to call home,” he said.

Anjamie Beepat, who was also allocated a house lot, explained that she is aiming to start construction on her house lot as soon as possible.

“I’m very happy and very excited because I have waited quite some time now…I applied in 2017…this is like a dream come true waiting for a land on your own.

“I came yesterday and I received a call last and they said to come in…. I’ll start construction as soon as possible.”

Karran Singh further commended the services offered at the expo, lamenting that the event was well organised.

“I am satisfied, I must say, with this initiative that they have taken cause today I go through…it’s well organised I must say. Mostly when you have these kinds

Anjamie Beepat

Bibi Narine

Karran Singh

Satesh Ramkehlawan

of events it’s a lot of bullying, people tugging and so

but I see that they are conducting themselves pretty

Christopher Kissoon

well here,” he explained.

Several other allotees also shared similar comments on the initiative.

“I feel very happy I received a house lot; I was so happy when I got that call last night.”

“I’m also really happy that along with me everybody else get through. This housing drive, it helped a lot of people, because a lot of people waiting for a very long time,” Bibi Narine said.

“I’ve been waiting 11 years, so I feel happy now because I got through, and everything just went my way today, which is nice,” Satesh Ramkelwan said.

TURN TO PAGE 7

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guyanatimesgy.com

TUESDAY, JULY 26, 2022

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

Violation of women’s and children’s rights

T

he local media has recently reported numerous cases involving sexual assault engaging the attention of the judicial system. During the court hearings, in quite a few of them, the nation was shocked to learn of the details which emerged of how the victims were sexually and physically abused.

In one of the most recent horrifying cases, a taxi driver from Tucville, Georgetown, who has since been jailed for 11 years, preyed on a vulnerable sex worker. The victim, in her impact statement, said that she is a mother of three, described the accused as “monster”, noting that since the tragic ordeal, “I have a lot of fear, anger, hatred, and helplessness.” She besought the court to lock up the perpetrator for life, so that he could not hurt anyone else.

The rape survivor told the presiding Judge: “I want you to help me to get justice for myself and the other victims, because I wasn’t the only victim of that monster. I would want to kill him with my own hands, because that man destroyed our [her family’s] lives.”

This is just one of a long list of cases of women being sexually violated. While life would never be the same again for the victims involved, it is good to see that the perpetrators are facing justice for these despicable and cruel acts. However, this might just be the tip of the iceberg as it is highly believed that many sexual abuse cases, including those with children, are deliberately hidden and go unreported for various reasons.

Sexual violence against women and children is considered to be a gross violation of rights. According to UNICEF, sexual violence can take the form of sexual abuse, harassment, rape or sexual exploitation in prostitution or pornography. It can happen in homes, institutions, schools, workplaces, in travel and tourism facilities, and within communities. Increasingly, the Internet and mobile phones also put children at risk of sexual violence as some adults look to the Internet to pursue sexual relationships with children. There is also an increase in the number and circulation of images of child abuse.

A UNICEF study, “Hidden in Plain Sight” estimates that worldwide, around 120 million girls under the age of 20 (about 1 in 10) have been subjected to forced sexual intercourse or other forced sexual acts at some point of their lives. Boys also report experiences of sexual violence, but they do so to a lesser extent than girls.

Evidence shows that sexual violence can have serious short- and long-term physical, psychological and social consequences not only for girls or boys, but also for their families and communities. This includes increased risks for illness, unwanted pregnancy, psychological distress, stigma, discrimination and difficulties at school.

In Guyana, the Child Care and Protection Agency (CCPA) and the Human Services Ministry, along with various NonGovernmental Organisations (NGOs), have been on the frontline in bringing some of these cases to light. These agencies must continue to work diligently in ensuring that all such cases are brought to the fore where they could be properly investigated and prosecuted.

The Guyana Police Force is also a key partner in the fight against women and child sexual violence. The Force must continue to provide the necessary training to its officers to properly investigate sexual crimes against women and children. Our women and children need to be assured that when violence against them is reported, the law will act quickly to persecute the perpetrators and that our judicial system will function efficiently and equitably to bring such criminals to justice.

Importantly, too, is that all the necessary support systems must be put in place to ensure victims and their families are provided with counselling, etc, to overcome the trauma of sexual violence.

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

First Lady Arya Ali examining the interior of one of the model houses during a visit to International Building Expo, 2022 on Monday (Housing Ministry photo)

Spectacular Emancipation Day celebrations planned for Corentyne Dear Editor, After two years of being indoors or rather housed-up in Guyana, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, children were barred from attending schools, libraries and recreation facilities and adults could not have even entered their place of worship. Every holiday, including two of the most prominent in the country, Easter and Christmas, were spent indoors during this period, with a small family circle. This has taken a mental and physical toll on our society with the restrictions imposed by the Government to prevent the spread of the COVID 19 virus. But it is finally over now, as the Macedonia-Joppa Volunteer Committee (MJVC) is sponsoring the largest Emancipation celebrations ever on the Corentyne.

Members of the MJVC have invited all the residents of the villages in Macedonia-Joppa district to grab at this glorious opportunity and celebrate Emancipation in the most extravagant way possible. They have chosen the theme “Upliftment” for this year’s celebrations to commemorate the abolition of slavery in Guyana in 1834 and to mark 188 years of Emancipation.

In Guyana, August 1, 1994, Emancipation Day was declared a national holiday for the first time and has since grown into a major national festival, where thousands of people participate in various activities. Emancipation Day celebrations in the Macedonia-Joppa district will be an all-day long event at the Eversham Community Pavilion. The all-day long activities will kick off at 6:30 am with a mile long road race comprised of two categories--male and female. The male category race will start from Macedonia (No. 35 Village) and end at the Eversham Community Pavilion and the female

category will begin from the No 43 Village and end at the pavilion as well. Monetary prizes will be awarded to the participants in the following order for both categories. The winners of each race will receive GY$20,000, the 2nd place runners will each receive GY$15,000, and the third and fourth place runners will each receive GY$10,000 and GY$5000, respectively. There are approximately two dozen individuals who have already registered for both categories of the race. It is expected to be a very competitive event.

At 10:00 am, there will be a road march with African drums and traditional calypso music for the villagers including children to revel in. The road march will commence from the No 35 Village and wind its way to No 43 Village and then to the Eversham Community Pavilion.

After which there will be a flag raising ceremony, followed by the singing of the National Anthem and “Arise Guyana”. (See ballad below).

At 12:30 pm, lunch will be served to the attendees. This will be followed by a cultural programme which will inform the people, especially youths about the birth of Emancipation Day, a brief account of slavery and its abolishment and the history of the various villages in the community and their progress thus far. After, there will be a cultural display of African attires by children, men, and women of the community.

There will also be a display of delicious African dishes (metemgee, foo-foo) and drinks (mauby). The allday long activities will see the villagers decked out in African attire, traditional folk and African songs played, various exhibits of African cultural customs, folk games to take part in, African crafts and artwork on display, singing, dancing (mas-

querade), and drumming (African Drums), to enjoy the activities. All members of the community will participate, regardless of age, race, creed, gender, or political affiliation. It is expected to be the largest event on the Corentyne, So, being in the Macedonia-Joppa district for Emancipation Day will expose one to a diverse culture that is not quite like any other found in the country.

It will be a major turning point in the district’s history as the MacedoniaJoppa Volunteer Committee plan to make Emancipation Day celebrations an annually event.

Nickel Ross-Albert MJVC-Public Relation Director ARISE, GUYANA Valerie Rodway When Freedom waved her banner bright On Ayanganna's verdant height, A Nation's glad triumphant song Reverb'rant rose full, loud and long; Guyana, fair Guyana, Be true to your higher destiny.

With valiant will and purpose keen A Nation strove in faith serene, Bold Cuffy's dream of Sixty-three Today's a sheer reality, Guyana, fair Guyana, Be true to your nobler destiny.

Arise! Guyana's sons, Arise!

May you be steeled by action wise, Guard well our sacred heritage That it may thrive from age to age.

Guyana, blessed Guyana, Be proud of your glorious destiny. .

Sincerely, Dr Asquith Rose

guyanatimesgy.com

TUESDAY, JULY 26, 2022

5

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

Govt is ready - taking no chance with monkeypox Dear Editor, What a nice thing to learn that already, the Ministry of Health is in talks with PAHO (Pan-American Health Organisation), to acquire smallpox vaccines.

We need to be pro-active and this sign here is good indeed. Just a few days ago, the monkeypox outbreak was declared a global health emergency by the World Health Organisation (WHO). The classification is the highest alert that the WHO can issue and follows a worldwide upsurge in cases. It came at the end of the second meeting of the WHO's emergency committee on the virus. The data now show that more than

16,000 cases have now been reported from 75 countries, and this is according to WHO Director General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. Further scrutiny details that there had been five deaths so far as a result of the outbreak. I add that there are only two other such health emergencies at present, the coronavirus pandemic and the continuing effort to eradicate polio.

On the local front, I commend Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony, as he is again leading from a pre-emptive position. He stated that his Ministry is working with PAHO to acquire smallpox vaccines to combat the possibility of a

confirmed monkeypox case in Guyana. In his exact statement, he emphasised that “We are working to acquire the vaccine that is being produced in Denmark, but we’re working through PAHO. PAHO has been talking to the manufacturer and they are trying to secure doses for the Americas and out of the allocation that they are trying to secure, we would benefit from some of those allocations.”

This is commendable and reflects professionalism and concern for the nation.

I remind all of us that those who are 40 years and younger are more at risk of contracting monkeypox, since they would not have

gotten the smallpox vaccination. Why? The last smallpox vaccine administration was conducted in 1980, after it was declared to be eradicated by the World Health Organisation (WHO). Also, we need to know that because the monkeypox virus is closely related to the virus that causes smallpox, the smallpox vaccine can protect people from getting monkeypox.

Past data from suggest that the smallpox vaccine is at least 85 per cent effective in preventing monkeypox.

The Minister also expanded on this, explaining that “When we were doing the vaccination for smallpox, that gave you protec-

Best and worst of civil society activism Dear Editor, The best of civil society activism is engendered in Jonathan Yearwood’s request for information on the “contract(s) entered into by the Ministry of Housing and Water with Impressions Inc, particularly relating to the organising of the ongoing International Building Expo”; conversely, the worst is seen in the call

by Transparency Institute Guyana Inc (TIGI) for a Commission of Inquiry “as regards the disclosures by VICE News on suggestions that there is an organized system of bribery of officials of government at very high levels and systems to provide money-laundering services”. There is a vast difference between the two seemingly similar actions and these should be explained to give guidance to those seeking better governance through activism.

In requesting the Office of the Commissioner of Information, Yearwood is putting the system to the test and two things can happen; the Commissioner can deliver the contract or he can stymie delivery. If the contract is delivered, Yearwood can proceed to make a case for an open tender of services such as those involved based on the contents of the contract, if stymied, Yearwood can make the case that the Office of the Commissioner of Information is useless and

of no effect and mobilise local and international support to force a fix. This is a well-thought-out and logical approach to activism that has clear pathways to better governance that must be applauded.

TIGI would do well to think before jumping on CoI bandwagons. To date, Guyana’s CoIs have cost taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars and have not provided a single finding of legal value; to ask us to pay for a CoI based on the spiel of a con man is patently ridiculous, the other claims of systems to provide money laundering services are more than adequately addressed by the Anti-Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism Act of 2009 (and amendments).

All Guyanese know the horrors of dealing with the banking system where even Bank of Guyana checks are treated with suspicion by local banks. I believe those systems to be stringent and well-enforced enough to curb any money laundering schemes.

The APNU/AFC/Granger Administration used every local and international agency to dig into Bharrat Jagdeo’s finances without adverse results; what then would TIGI have us pay to inquire? What are the clear issues and/or criminal acts?

If Su took money from persons and made promises then asked for favours to

get the same done? Would that be illegal? Bharrat Jagdeo has met hundreds of thousands of Guyanese, made promises, and delivered most of them; is that not the purpose of a life in politics? I fear that the actions of TIGI are driven by a pro-Catholic/anti-Hindu agenda as there was a marked reluctance to call for any inquiry into Cathy Hughes despite evidence of her signature on documents and checks from her (then) Ministry to her company Videomega Productions.

The Rodney Assassination CoI cost $97 million and the Granger Assassination plot CoI cost $83 million, can we say Guyanese taxpayers benefited from these in any way?

TIGI is free to source funds

and finances any inquiry of their own but I urge restraint in splurging the taxpayers’ dimes.

Editor, I reiterate support for the approach taken by Jonathan Yearwood to activism and look forward to seeing him (and others) progress using logic and legal methods available to expose weakness in our system and possible corruption. Conversely, I find the thoughtless, illogical approach used by TIGI nothing more than a cheap publicity stunt that is beneath the dignity of their illustrious moniker, this is more suited to the Opposition benches in Parliament where bombast has permanent residence.

tive effect. If you were vaccinated for smallpox, it protected you against monkeypox because they are of the same family. But, in most of the world, smallpox is now being eliminated, so the last set of vaccines that have probably been given was around the 1980s.” He really wants us to be aware that “… persons now, who are younger than 40, they don’t have any immunity against smallpox and against, obviously, monkeypox, because they have not benefited from that type of vaccination. So, with this circulation of these cases going around, obviously, this younger population can be vulnerable. That’s what we’re seeing globally.”

My hope is that we will rally behind the Minister of Health, as we must be ready and at all times be prepared for a possible outbreak of the disease. Too many lapsed during the fight against COVID-19.

This must not be repeat-

ed. I note that a series of workshops are underway, in the country, targeting the groups of people who are at risk of contracting monkeypox. I like the fact that the Ministry of Health is currently training persons on how to conduct monkeypox testing, and in fact, one of the local staff members is already engaged in training being conducted

by PAHO for the Caribbean region. In summation, from the Government’s perspective, “…we are equipping the system to ensure that we can detect any cases if ever that happens.”

We can do our part. We need to be mature and update ourselves with the relevant information. WHO is encouraging people to stay informed from reliable sources, such as national health authorities (our own MOH). Prevention is always the better route.

Yours truly, H Singh

Sincerely, Robin Singh

Tuesday, July 26, 2022 06:00 06:30 07:00 08:00 08:30 09:30 10:00 11:00 11:30 12:00 13:37 14:00 14:30 15:00 15:30 16:00 16:30 17:00 17:44 18:00 18:30 19:00 20:00 20:30 21:00 22:00 00:00

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TUESDAY, JULY 26, 2022

Page

Foundation ◄

Multiplying fractions and mixed numbers To multiply a fraction and a whole number, you need to multiply the numerator by the whole number. Then place the product over the denominator.

Example:Multiply 26 x 2/8 Step 1: Multiply the whole number by the numerator of the fraction: 26 x 2 = 52 Step 2: Place the product over the denominator of the original fraction: 52/8 Step 3: The product will often be an improper fraction. You may need to change it to a mixed number.

CONTINUED FROM MONDAY

Exercises: Multiply 1) 2 x 1/3

4) 24 x 1/2

2) 5 x 4/10

5) 6 x 5/9

3) 13 x 7/14

6) 52 x 8/24

By

The next man he met was a countryman carrying a fine white goose. The countryman stopped to ask what was o’clock; this led to further chat; and Hans told him all his luck, how he had so many good bargains, and how all the world went gay and smiling with him. The countryman than began to tell his tale, and said he was going to take the goose to a christening. “Feel,” said he, “how heavy it is, and yet it is only eight weeks old.

Whoever roasts and eats it will find plenty of fat upon it, it has lived so well!” “You’re right,” said Hans, as he weighed it in his hand; “but if you talk of fat, my pig is no trifle.” Meantime the countryman began to look grave, and shook his head. “Hark ye!” said he, “my worthy friend, you seem

the

Brothers Grimm

a good sort of fellow, so I can’t help doing you a kind turn. Your pig may get you into a scrape. In the village I just came from, the squire has had a pig stolen out of his sty. I was dreadfully afraid when I saw you that you had got the squire’s pig. If you have, and they catch you, it will be a bad job for you. The least they will do will be to throw you into the horse-pond. Can you swim?”

Poor Hans was sadly frightened. “Good man,” cried he, “pray get me out of this scrape. I know nothing of where the pig was either bred or born; but he may have been the squire’s for aught I can tell: you know this country better than I do, take my pig and give me the goose.” “I ought to have something into the bargain,” said the countryman; “give a fat goose for a pig, indeed! “Tis not everyone would do so

much for you as that. However, I will not be hard upon you, as you are in trouble.” Then he took the string in his hand, and drove off the pig by a side path; while Hans went on the way homewards free from care. “After all,” thought he, “that chap is pretty well taken in. I don’t care whose pig it is, but wherever it came from it has been a very good friend to me. I have much the best of the bargain.

First there will be a capital roast; then the fat will find me in goose-grease for six months; and then there are all the beautiful white feathers. I will put them into my pillow, and then I am sure I shall sleep soundly without rocking. How happy my mother will be! Talk of a pig, indeed! Give me a fine fat goose.”

WORD SEARCH

NEWS

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TUESDAY, JULY 26, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Redouble efforts to ensure Region is zone of peace – PM Phillips to 2022 PROSUR Summit …says security landscape of region now more complex, evolving

P

rime Minister, Retired Brigadier Mark Phillips, during a recent trip to Paraguay for the Forum for the Progress and Integration of South America (PROSUR), used the opportunity to lobby for the support of other Latin American countries in Guyana’s border controversy against Venezuela.

The PROSUR Summit was held under the theme: “International Cooperation in the Fight against Transnational Organised Crime to Guarantee Regional Security and Stability” in Asunción, Paraguay.

During the summit, the Prime Minister warned the other Heads of State of the member and observer countries – which include Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Bolivia and Suriname – that Venezuela is a threat to the entire region and its stability.

“We can all agree that the security landscape of our region has become ever more complex and is evolv-

ing every day. The region must enhance its efforts to build and consolidate cooperation arrangements in security. We must therefore redouble our efforts to ensure that our region is a zone of peace,” Phillips said.

Phillips also spoke to Guyana’s commitment to combat transnational organised crime. This commitment, he noted, is manifested in Guyana’s membership of regional and hemispheric organisations, including the Caribbean Community (Caricom) Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (IMPACS), the Regional Security Strategy (RSS), INTERPOL and Caribbean Regional Drug Law Enforcement Training Centre (REDTRAC).

“Guyana has taken steps to counter challenges by strengthening and creating the relevant law enforcement institutions. Not only do we have the institutions, but we have laws to deal with the various types of crimes,” Phillips explained.

Prime Minister, Brig (ret’d) Mark Phillips (2nd, left) with other leaders at the PROSUR Summit

“Guyana welcomes this discussion and supports the proposal by the Government of Paraguay to establish a course of action in the fight against transnational organised crime, through the exchange of information among security services and international

Thousands allocated house lots...

Tremendous outcome

Meanwhile, Chief Executive Officer of the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA), Sherwyn Greaves highlighted that with the tremendous outcome that they have been witnessing, they will be able to achieve distribution of the targeted 5000 house lots and 3000 land titles.

“Yesterday (Sunday) we ended with close to 3000 house lots being distributed so hope by the end of today (Monday) we would have achieved our target of 5000, based on the activity that we see, we have no doubt that we will do it because persons are streaming in and we are moving

apace.”

“So far, we have distributed close to 1500 titles… for today (Monday) we have already distributed over 200 house lots and we just started about an hour, hour and a half ago so based on that I’m confident that we’ll get to our target.”

“This activity won’t continue here…but people can still come into the office and be dealt with but the expo in its self continues.”

Greaves also stated that with the success they’ve had at this year’s building expo, they are in discussions to have this activity conducted every year.

“We were speaking up to yesterday (Sunday) saying based on the success more than likely we’ll have to do

this again every year,” he said.

The expo has returned after a hiatus and is dubbed the blueprint of the future infrastructure.

It has attracted some 350 participants, of which at least 25 are foreign companies including some from the Caribbean – Suriname, St Lucia, Trinidad and Tobago, and Barbados along with others from the United States, Canada, and Ghana.

The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) promised to deliver 50,000 house lots to Guyanese by 2025 in its campaign manifesto.

Over 11,000 house lots were distributed since the Government took office in August 2020.

cooperation in the matter.”

Meanwhile, in a Declaration of member countries of PROSUR on Regional Security that followed the meeting, the first thing the Heads of Government agreed on, was the promotion of peace and respect for sovereignty throughout the region.

“The Heads of State and Government and High Representatives of the Republic Federation of Brazil, the Republic of Colombia, the Republic of Ecuador, the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, the Republic of Paraguay, the Republic of Peru and the Republic of Suriname, meeting in the city of Luque, on July 21 of 2022, we declare the following;”

“We reaffirm our commitment to the consolidation of peace, the promotion and protection of the rights [of] humans, the democracy, the strengthening of the principles of solidarity and cooperation and respect for the sovereignty of States, as well as the fight against transnational organised crime and related crimes,” the declaration stated.

Venezuela has laid spurious claims to more than two-thirds of Guyana’s landmass in Essequibo and a portion of its exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in which almost 11 billion barrels of oil have been discovered over the past seven years.

Guyana approached the World Court in 2018 seek-

ing a final and binding judgement to reinforce that the 1899 Arbitral Award remains valid and binding on all parties as well as legal affirmation that Guyana’s Essequibo region, which contains much of the country’s natural resources, belongs to Guyana and not Venezuela.

Guyana moved to the World Court after exhausting all means of negotiation with Venezuela and the failed good offices process between the two South American neighbours. The Spanish-speaking nation had initially refused to participate in the proceedings and had even challenged the court’s jurisdiction to hear the matter. But in December 2020, the ICJ established that it has jurisdiction to hear the substantive case – something which Venezuela did not accept.

Back in March of this year, Guyana had submitted its written arguments for its memorial to the ICJ, which was a requirement by the court following its December 18, 2020, decision that it had the jurisdiction to hear the case against Venezuela.

Venezuela has since filed an objection, which according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, is nothing more than a bid to delay the substantial hearing of the 1899 Arbitral award case before the ICJ, after refusing to join the proceedings since 2018.

8 NEWS Driver who allegedly struck man down and dumped body granted $1.8M bail TUESDAY, JULY 26, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Dead: Reonol Williams

T

he 53-year-old Ann’s Grove, East Coast Demerara (ECD) man who was initially remanded to prison for causing the death of Reonol Williams, whom he allegedly struck down and then dumped overboard, has been released on $1.8 million bail for a slew of traffic offences.

Daniel Melbourne, a musician and father of three, was charged on June 10 and appeared before Magistrate Fabayo Azore at the Vigilance Magistrate’s

Court.

Then he was remanded to prison. At his second court appearance, on Friday, however, the accused’s lawyer, Patrice Henry, renewed an application for reasonable bail on his client’s behalf.

He was charged with the following offences: causing death by dangerous driving; failure to report an accident; failure to render assistance; failure to produce his vehicle for examination, giving false information to the Police,

and attempting to obstruct the course of justice.

The Magistrate granted Melbourne bail on each of the charges, amounting to $1.8 million.

Melbourne’s next court date is October 28.

Williams, 50, a father of two and labourer of Enmore, ECD, went missing on May 23 after he was struck down, allegedly by Melbourne, who was driving a red Toyota Fielder wagon, PAB 2552.

The accident occurred on the Enmore Public Road, ECD. Following the accident, Melbourne picked up the injured man to take him to the hospital but this was never done.

Instead, Williams disappeared without a trace.

His family had reported the man’s disappearance to the Police and an investigation was launched. The owner of the car was arrested but after interrogation, he claimed that he was in the interior and that one of his nephews had taken the car without his knowledge. As such, he was released on station bail.

However, after almost two weeks and no signs of Williams, the family re-

Changes…

T

Accused: Daniel Melbourne

quested an audience with Police Commissioner (ag) Clifton Hicken. After the meeting, the Major Crimes Investigation Unit of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) was instructed to take up the case.

Rearrested

As a result, Melbourne was rearrested and during interrogation, he took detectives to the location along the Coldingen Access Road, ECD, where Williams’s decomposed body was discovered.

Williams’s sister identified the body to be that of her brother, based on the clothes on the remains found. She told detectives that her brother was wearing the same clothes when he went missing.

According to Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum, Melbourne confessed that he was the driver of the motor car at the time of the accident. He reportedly admitted that after he struck Williams down, he placed him in his vehicle and as he was driving, he observed that Williams was motionless.

Out of fear, he further admitted that he stopped the car at a bridge in Coldingen, ECD, and disposed of the body in the trench.

After doing this, he told detectives that he went home and informed his mother that his vehicle was missing and that he had made a report to the Police.

Further, he also admitted that the initial information he provided to the Police about him being in the interior was false.

After Williams was struck down, a friend of his who witnessed the accident had gone to the now dead man’s family’s home to inform them that he was taken to the hospital. But after checking several hospitals – both public and private – Williams was not found.

(G1)

…in the Constitution

here are folks who’ve been stamping their feet and screaming “constitutional change or else!!” After our history with constitutional change in Guyana, you wonder where this demand is coming from!! And Lord knows, we’ve been changing Constitutions in this country like some folks change drawers!! The British were fond of changing Constitutions whenever the rights promised in their latest iteration started to be taken seriously – and ordinary folks started to get power in their hands!! Can’t do!!

Back in 1891, the local Coloured and Portuguese middle class started getting voted into office and demanding all sorts of rights for themselves: like having a right to ask how their taxes were being spent!! Imagine the gall?? Did they think they were sugar planters??!! It wasn’t long before a “Crown Colony Constitution” was imposed and put matters right!! The Governor was now the supremo and could control the Government through his appointive power!!

By 1950, we had another Constitution which resulted in a PPP Government coming to power in 1953. They lasted a whole 133 days before the Constitution was changed to throw them out!! And so it went…Independence Constitution in 1966 after the PNC decided to back the colonials and betray the country…1980 Constitution to make Burnham supreme leader for life…2000 constitutional reform with hundreds of changes – like reducing the powers of the President, etc…But here we are, demanding more of what clearly hasn’t worked.

Now, you’d think after all these horrible experiences with Constitutions and Constitutional Change, folks would’ve gotten a bit leery about pushing for more of the same. But no siree, Bob!! The Attorney General has assured the members of the Opposition in the “Parliamentary Standing Committee on Constitutional Reform” that this coming week he’ll submit the terms of reference, etc, of the Commission that had been announced by Pres Ali for debate.

But your Eyewitness will tell you what…and bet you dollars to donuts – the only thing coming out of this exercise will be another opportunity for the Opposition to scream bloody murder, stage new protests that may end up with some condign beatings of some hapless perceived PPP supporters. Sure, some well-meaning people will deliver well-thought-out proposals – most likely based on some institution or other that works in some other country.

But have they considered that there may be particular circumstances in those countries that make them work??

And that we may not necessarily possess those conditions??

Let’s face it, shall we?? We really can’t grow oak trees here, can we?

And another thing that was said by the fella who wrote the Indian Constitution. “However good a Constitution may be, if those who are implementing it are not good, it will prove to be bad’!! …in (PNC) financial institutions Your Eyewitness has a good chuckle when he read a Trade Unionist knocking the PPP’s housing drive and praising the miserably failed PNC attempt. Specifically, he mentioned a “Guyana Cooperative Mortgage Finance Bank” (GCMFB), which financed low-income housing from Government funds. Your Eyewitness will quote without comment from the 1993 World Bank report that recommended it be shuttered!!

“GCMFB has had no new sources of additional funds since 1988 and thus has funded itself exclusively from loan recoveries, currently estimated at G$1 million (US$8,000) per month. With a staff of 51 and four branches, this is a very small revenue base to cover administrative costs. In 1991, salaries and benefits absorbed 45% of total revenues) and other operating expenses absorbed 37% of total revenues.”

“The Government should accelerate the granting of titles and…allocate the large public sector holdings of unused land…to housing…The Government also might undertake targeted programs to assist low-income families to maintain and rehabilitate their homes.”

Like the PPP’s doing!! …in royalty Your Eyewitness was tickled pink to learn that some African Royalty will be gracing our not-so-fair land for Emancipation. We hope the organisers will be teaching us the protocols of interacting with them so we don’t look TOO gauche!!

The views expressed in this column are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Guyana Times’ editorial policy and stance

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

NEWS

9

TUESDAY, JULY 26, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

30 workers laid off as AMCAR abruptly shuts down Rosignol processing plant

…company breached Termination Act – GAWU

File photo: Workers in the processing plant at Amazon Caribbean Guyana Limited

T

hirty persons attached to heart of palm exporter Amazon Caribbean Guyana Limited have been placed on the breadline, after the company decided to cease operation at the Rosignol, West Bank Berbice plant on Monday.

It is a decision which

the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU), the representative of the plant employees, said it was “stunned” by.

“The company, which had for some time, had been complaining about challenges it was encountering. The Union was also aware that the com-

Accused in murder of Sophia bread vendor to know fate today

Dead: Andre Melroy Alexander

Dead: Neville Forde

eville Forde, who is accused of the 2017 murder of Sophia, Greater Georgetown bread vendor, Andre Melroy Alexander, will know his fate today when the jury retires for deliberations.

Presiding Judge, Jo Ann Barlow, will sum up the evidence in the case this morning before putting it to the 12-member jury for deliberations on a verdict.

Forde, during his arraignment earlier this month, had pleaded not guilty to the charge which alleged that he murdered Alexander on May 5, 2017, during a robbery.

Alexander, formerly of C Field Sophia, was shot dead by two motorcycle bandits.

The robbers fled with an undisclosed amount of cash.

The father of two was reportedly shot once to the chest and succumbed while receiving medical attention at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).

It was reported that the now dead man and his wife were in their shop when the two men approached on a motorcycle and requested

three loaves of bread.

The pillion rider took out a $5000 bill to pay and while Alexander was in the process of making change, he whipped out a gun and demanded cash.

Upon seeing this, the man’s wife ran towards their home, which is a stone’s throw away, and raised an alarm. However, her husband refused to cooperate and the suspect grabbed the money he had in his hand and discharged several rounds in the process.

One of the bullets reportedly struck the bread vendor to the chest. Upon realising that the man was shot, the two young men escaped on the motorcycle.

Forde’s legal team is being led by Attorney-at-Law Ronald Daniels while Senior State Counsel Lisa Cave is appearing on behalf of the prosecution.

In 2019, Forde’s co-accused, Shaquille Grant called “Soldier Man”, was freed after Justice Navindra Singh upheld a no-case submission made on his behalf by his lawyer. (G9)

N

pany’s principals were in contact with the Government to address some of the difficulties they were confronting. It was, therefore, shocking when the GAWU learnt that the AMCAR had decided to close its operations at this time,” said the Union in a statement.

The 30-person workforce was informed simultaneously with the Union though AMCAR has sev-

eral obligations as per the Termination of Employment and Severance Pay Act. For the workers, GAWU said the news was a “bombshell” as they have to seek elsewhere to secure a livelihood.

“The GAWU stands with them in this difficult period. The mostly female workforce is saddened by the company’s decision to terminate them more so as they were highly dependent on their earnings.”

Sudden

When contacted on Monday, GAWU President Seepaul Narine told Guyana Times that this move was sudden and in breach of the Termination of Employment and Severance Pay Act. “According to the Termination Act, they ought to talk to the Union and inform us at least six weeks before. They have failed to

do that and so far, have not provided any explanation,” Narine expressed.

When asked about ongoing talks between the Union and the company, the GAWU President said there were

none.

In the meantime, the Union has written the company in respect of their obligations and is hopeful that a response will soon be forthcoming. (G12)

10 NEWS

TUESDAY, JULY 26, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Guyana monitoring 838 active COVID cases T

he number of positive coronavirus cases continues to rise in Guyana, with 21 new infections reported as of Monday.

The Health Ministry shared that confirmed cases have moved up to 69,468.

In the Health Ministry’s dashboard, there are five persons in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), 808 in home isolation, 25 in institutional isolation and two in institutional quarantine.

The death toll from the virus remains at 1270, after the latest fatality on Sunday. There are 838 active coronavirus cases across the country. A total of 23 patients has been hospitalised – inclusive of 15 at the Infectious Diseases Hospital.

An analysis shows new cases dispersed among four regions, with two in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), three in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), 11 in Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica),

and five in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne).

There were no reported hikes in Regions One (Barima-Waini), Five (Mahaica-Berbice), Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), Eight (Potaro-Siparuni), Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) and 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).

There continues to be an underestimating of cases recorded daily, according to Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony on Monday. This has been the result of reduced testing since persons are not presenting themselves at the sites, coupled with the prevalence of home test kits.

Vaccination figures show that 444,769 or 86.7 per cent of adults have taken a first dose, while some 344,481 or 67.2 per cent are fully vaccinated.

For adolescents between the ages of 12 and 17, 35,326 first doses and 25,847, or 35.4 per cent, second doses have been administered.

Vaccination for children in the five to 11 category shows 5782 first doses or 5.7 per cent. Only 1232 or 1.2 per cent have returned for their second shot. In addition, 70,689 persons have returned for their booster shots thus far.

According to the recent figures of the World Health Organisation (WHO), some 565,207,160 confirmed cases were reported globally along with 6,373,739 deaths.

In the Region of the Americas, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases has increased to 168,183,683 while the death toll has gone up to 2,779,572.

If anyone is displaying any of the symptoms associated with COVID-19, or need any additional information, they are asked to contact the COVID-19 Hotline on 231-1166, 2267480 or 624-6674 immediately or visit www.health. gov.gy. (G12)

GUYANA COVID-19 DASHBOARD JULY 26, 2022 UPDATE

NUMBER OF NEW CASES

21

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN INSTITUTIONAL ISOLATION

25

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN HOME ISOLATION

808

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN COVID-19 ICU

5

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN INSTITUTIONAL QUARANTINE

2

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES BY GENDER (FEMALES)

37,628

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES BY GENDER (MALES)

31,840

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES IN GUYANA SINCE 2020

69,468

NUMBER OF RECOVERED CASES

67,360

TOTAL 1st DOSE VACCINATED FULLY IMMUNISED TOTAL NUMBER OF DEATHS

DISTRIBUTION OF TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES SINCE MARCH 2020 REGION 1

2665

REGION 2

3057

REGION 3

8563

REGION 4

34,584

REGION 5

2540

REGION 6

6679

REGION 7

2562

REGION 8

886

REGION 9

4271

REGION 10

3661

HERE IS HOW YOU CAN BE SAFE DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC Wear a face mask.

441,911 341,493 1270

Keep a physical distance of at least 6 feet.

Wash your hands or use handsanitizer If you have any symptoms, call the COVID-19 Hotline.

GET MEDICAL ADVICE ON COVID-19 FROM MOH 24/7 HOTLINE NUMBERS: 2311166; 226 7480; 624 6674; 624 2819; 624 3067 OR 180/181.

NEWS

11

TUESDAY, JULY 26, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Coordinated international approach needed for monkeypox – Health Minister

T

he World Health Organisation has declared the Monkeypox outbreak a public health emergency.

So far, Monkeypox has been detected thousands of cases in about 75 countries. Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony expressed on Monday that there is need for coordinated approach on the international level to develop a holistic response to this new public health situation.

“I think once the WHO has declared a public health emergency, then that helps to galvanize the international community to have a coordinated approach in how they tackle the particular disease. In this case, there is need for a more coordinated international response to monkeypox. So far, I think countries have been going about it in their own individual way but it is important that you have a more coordinated approach… Now that we have this declaration, it’s going to help to coordinate the international efforts,” he revealed.

To date, the Health Minister has confirmed that Guyana is still Monkeypox free – despite cases detected in countries like Jamaica and Barbados.

Guyana has been building its capacity to detect

to treat Monkeypox.

On Saturday, WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom stated, “There is also a clear risk of further international spread, although the risk of interference with international

traffic remains low for the moment. So, in short, we have an outbreak that has spread around the world rapidly, through new modes of transmission, about which we understand too little, and which meets the

criteria in the International Health Regulations. For all of these reasons, I have decided that the global monkeypox outbreak represents a public health emergency of international concern.”

(G12)

Man sentenced in absentia for armed robberies captured Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony

Monkeypox using PCR machines and other skillsets to complement the current resource at the National Public Health Reference Laboratory.

The Chief Medical Officer would have issued instructions to doctors in the systems, to keep on high alert for signs that might be indicative of Monkeypox and, the steps to be taken in keeping with procedures.

Monkeypox would appear as a rash. From the time a person is exposed to the signs of infections will take approximately five to 13 days but can continue for up to 21 days.

The acute skin rash may be present with maculopapular (flat based lesions)

to vesicles (fluid-filled blisters), pustules, and subsequent crusting affecting the dace, palms of the hand, soles of the feet and the rest of the body.

It may be accompanied with headache, acute onset of fever, myalgia, back pain, asthenia and lymphadenopathy. Monkeypox virus is transmitted from one person to another by close contact with lesions, body fluids, respiratory droplets and contaminated materials such as bedding.

Presently, antiretroviral treatment is used but it is not widely available around the world. Guyana is also making attempts to procure some smallpox vaccines, which have been used

T

revor Xavier, who was sentenced to three and a half years in jail in absentia for three counts of robbery under arms and escaping from lawful custody was arrested by the Police last Friday.

Xavier, called “Guyanese 6ix9nine”, 30, was captured at Albouystown, Georgetown, and later escorted to the Brickdam Police Station. He will serve his sentence at the Lusignan Prison.

In November 2016, he was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment for escaping from lawful custody. In March of this year, he was handed a three-year sentence on the robbery charges.

Reports state that in October 2018, Xavier and four other men were remanded to prison on multiple armed robbery charges when they appeared before

Captured robbery convict, Trevor Xavier

a Magistrate.

The charges alleged that on October 16, 2018, at Parika, East Bank

Essequibo (EBE), the men, while armed with guns, robbed four persons of $90,000 in cash, cellphones, and a laptop.

According to the Police, the robbery reportedly occurred around 22:20h at a sports bar when the perpetrators who drove up in a motor car, exited and pounced on the victims.

After robbing the victims, the men proceeded to discharge a round in the air, reboarded the car they arrived in, and sped off. The Police subsequently intercepted the car along with two of the perpetrators at Cornelia Ida, West Coast Demerara (WCD). Another suspect was later apprehended in a minibus in the vicinity of the Demerara Harbour Bridge. A quantity of stolen items along with an unlicensed gun and ammunition and two toques were found on the suspect. (G1)

12 NEWS

TUESDAY, JULY 26, 2022

Private Sector investm & energy security prior

…as US Govt to support banking, finance, t

F

inancing and private sector investment have already been the focal points of discussion between Guyana and the United States of America, as President Irfaan Ali leads the delegation in Washington, DC. The Head of State along with Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo; Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister Hugh Todd; Guyana’s Ambassador to the United States, Samuel Hinds and Foreign Secretary Robert Persaud are currently in the US for a series of high-level meetings geared at strengthening bilateral ties between the two countries.

Ali and US Deputy Secretary of Commerce, Don Graves on Monday held fruitful discussions. Deputy Secretary Greaves committed support to the Government of Guyana in the areas of banking, finance, and tourism as well as US private sector investment into Guyana.

Consequently, President Ali has also committed to working closely with the Department of Commerce and other US agencies to facilitate US private sector investment in Guyana.

Speaking on his engagement, Ali shared, “We have been discussing many matters of mutual interests and areas which we can strengthen and expand our relationship. The goal of this week is to bring harmonisation between the plans and programmes of Guyana and the aspirations of the US, both at the Government and private sector level. We cannot have a partnership unless the two countries have a fulsome understanding of the developmental priorities, challenges and opportunities.”

Discussions on Monday extended to climate change, food security, energy security, regional security among others.

Balanced development

In conversation during the Leaders of the Americas Series by Atlantic Council, the Guyanese Head of State said low-hanging fruits were identified during talks relating to trade and commerce. In building private sector relations, Ali noted that Government is creating balanced development.

“We were able to identify areas that we can immediately target to support the aspirations of Guyana whilst at the same time opening up opportunities for the US private sector…We have to ensure we grow the country in such a way that the private sector is growing, creating jobs while we create an enabling environment for that growth in the private sector. We are growing the skills-depth of the population so that they are prepared.”

The President said Guyana is expanding its environmental credentials on climate change, taking leadership in this aim. Government has also paid keen attention on food security, and this is evident from its stance in the regional Caricom

13

NEWS

| GUYANATIMESGY.COM

ment, strengthened food rity in US-Guyana talks

tourism sectors

agenda to reduce the food import bill by 25 per cent in 2025. He added that the US can be a key player in unlocking financing for mitigation measures.

He informed, “We cannot address climate change singularly. All of us must embrace this challenge and commit ourselves to targets that would mitigate the effects of climate change. The Caribbean region is one of the most affected in terms of climate disasters so any support that comes to the region is support well-received. We see the US as a strategic partner in helping the region to unlock concessional financing for adaptation and mitigation.”

At the invitation of the US Government, the delegation is to meet with other high-ranking US Government officials, including the Secretary of State and leaders of Congress and the Senate.

President Ali will be featured on the CSIS Americas Programme, discussing “Strengthening the Guyana-US Bilateral Relationship”.

According to the CSIS website, this event will provide an opportunity to delve deeper into the

US-Guyana partnership and will explore pathways to strengthening democratic practices, the challenges and opportunities for Guyanese oil wealth, and ways to bolster the economy to improve the socioeconomic outlook for the country. In addition, the discussion will touch upon Guyana’s role in the region, discuss the GuyanaVenezuela border dispute, and assess the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic and the opportunities for economic rebuilding and human capital development.

The United States and Guyana have a deep-rooted history of trade, public health initiatives, economic development, and collaboration to empower civil society, promote stability, and reinforce security.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has stated that Guyana’s economy is the fastest growing in the world. Its economy is forecast to grow this year at roughly 47 per cent with a projected GDP of $9.5 billion. Additionally, Guyana serves as a gateway to Caribbean trade development as it is home to the Caribbean Community (Caricom) Secretariat.

Only last month, President Ali attended the Summit of the Americas that was held in California, US, under the theme: “Building a Sustainable, Resilient, and Equitable Future”.

During his presentation at the Second Plenary session, he underscored the importance of equality, democracy, and energy security to the sustainability of countries in the Americas and the Caribbean, noting that the region has the potential to address these pressing issues.

The Guyanese Head of State told his colleagues from the western hemisphere that issues plaguing countries such as inequalities, threats to democracy, and energy insecurity among others cannot be divorced from the sustainability and prosperity of the region.

President Dr Irfaan Ali with US Deputy Secretary of Commerce Don Graves

14 NEWS

TUESDAY, JULY 26, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Over 650 persons benefit from CIOG’s medical outreach

Persons at the medical outreach hosted by the Central Islamic Organisation of Guyana (CIOG) on Sunday at the Anna Regina Masjid Complex

S

ome 672 persons have benefited from medical outreach hosted by the Central Islamic Organisation of Guyana (CIOG) on Sunday at the Anna Regina Masjid Complex, Region Two (Pomeroon- Supenaam).

CIOG said on Monday that the primary purpose of the outreach was to provide medical assistance to the people of Essequibo.

The services provided at the outreach were blood pressure, glucose, HIV and STI testing, dentistry and eye care, Pap Smear tests, COVID-19 vaccination and booster shots, with medical check-ups and advice from general and specialty doctors. The medical team was able to provide care to more than 672 persons inclusive of children, the elderly, and the differently-abled.

Along with the medical care provided, the residents present were issued with packages of basic daily necessities, inclusive of face masks, clothing, sanitary diapers (both children and adults), sanitisers and sanitising wipes, soaps, mosquito nets, reading glasses with provision of over-the-counter and prescription medication to each patient.

The outreach was supported by the Guyana Cancer Foundation; Guyana Defence Force

(GDF); Guyana Police Force (GPF) – Regional Division 2; Regional Health Authority Two, Eureka Medical Laboratory, National AIDS Programme Secretariat, National Blood Transfusion Services, Region Two; COVID-19 vaccination team, dental team, and 0ptomology team of Region Two; SEWA International; Diaspora Auxilium; United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) and the US Embassy's Civil Affairs Team and Military

Information Support Team to Guyana.

CIOG expressed thanks to the executives and members of the Anna Regina Masjid Complex, the members of the GDF and GPF for their hard work and dedication and their kind support and cooperation as well as all the supporting partners. Its gratitude was also extended to the doctors, nurses and other personnel, who gave their time and service voluntarily in making the humanitarian initiative a successful one.

Security guard dies at city hotel

A

security guard died at a city hotel where he was stationed.

Dead is 61-year-old Mark Yaw. Reports are that Yaw was on duty at a hotel located at Cummings and Robb Streets, Georgetown.

According to reports around 10:30h on Monday, Yaw was found sitting in a chair breathing heavily in the office of the hotel by the manager.

In an attempt to ascertain, what was wrong the manager asked what was the issue and Yaw responded “suicide” while attempting to stand, but fell to the floor.

The manager then contacted 911 and an ambulance arrived shortly after.

The man at the time was found to be unresponsive

and was later pronounced dead at the Georgetown Public Hospital. Police have since launched an investigation.

NEWS

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TUESDAY, JULY 26, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

More than 1000 job seekers Mocha resident wins car in GBTI promotion attend mining career fair ticipation from students at Government Technical Institute, New Guyana School, Accountancy Training Centre (ATC), Guyana Industrial Training Centre, Linden Technical Institute and New Amsterdam Technical Institute.

Shanks added “With multiple mining projects coming online in Guyana, there will be significant opportunity for growth. Our partners are actively hiring

E

xcel Guyana hosted a Mining Industry Career Fair to fill over 200 current positions and build a pipeline of potential candidates for another 1500 jobs that are expected to come online in the next two years.

The event attracted more than 1000 local job seekers, applying for all levels of mining operations from attendant to shift supervisor, as well as administrative and operations, support specialists such as logistics, lab technicians, security, as well as health and safety services.

“We are so excited for the turnout of such high-quality, local candidates. These career opportunities will enrich the lives of many Guyanese families and our community,” Chief Executive Officer of Excel Guyana Inc, Kris Sammy said.

He added that the company is proud to be a part of President Dr Irfaan Ali’s “One Guyana” initiative and bringing together strategic partnerships that “elevate our local and international clients, partners, and the communities that we serve.”

The company said on Monday that all the positions listed through the career fair offer a competitive salary and benefits package, with health and life insurance. “Reliable transportation will be provided for shifts that include short rotations to the mining site, which is located on shore,” the company said.

Meanwhile, Vice President of Client Services and Recruitment at Excel Guyana Inc, Ewan Shanks said that the Mining Industry Career Fair was the first step in creating sustainable, longterm careers for successful applicants. With many entry-level positions available, the firm invited par-

experienced mining professionals and training new professionals to grow into long-term positions with the organisations.”

Excel Guyana recently became the first Guyanese business to earn its Integrated Management Systems (IMS) Certification from SGS, the world’s leading ISO certification company, with the implementation of three ISO systems including the ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System, the ISO 45001:2018 Occupational Health and Safety Management System, and the ISO 14001:2015 Environmental Management Systems.

Excited Giovanni Browne in his new car (Jemima Holmes photo)

G

iovanni Browne, a resident of Mocha Arcadia, East Bank Demerara, was all smiles on Sunday evening after he drove out of the Guyana National Stadium with a brand-new SUV, compliments of the Guyana Bank for Trade & Industry Limited (GBTI).

Browne, who is a customer at the Diamond Branch, was the grand prize winner of GBTI’s “Drive Home” promotion – a promotion specifically designed to reward persons applying for loans through the banking institution.

Browne entered the promotion after qualifying for a loan from the bank.

An excited Browne said that he is grateful for the GBTI staff who have helped him “tremendously” since he signed up as a customer.

“The staff there have worked with me tremendously, been through thick and thin with me, been helping me piece by piece and I’m very grateful [to] them,” he said.

Browne, who is a Logistics Coordinator, said that it is a dream come true for him.

“Right now, how I feel;

I’m very speechless. This is a dream come true. God has been step by step with me.

And I just want to say thank you. Thank you to GBTI.” GBTI wrapped up its 6-week-long promotion at the International Building Expo on Sunday evening. The promotion began on June 17.

Public Relations and Marketing Manager of GBTI, Pamela Binda said that the “Drive Home” campaign was specifically designed to tie in with the International Building Expo so that they could work with the Government to make financing for homes more readily available for Guyanese.

“So it's essentially our driver campaign was specifically made to tie into Building Expo so that we can work together with the Government in making financing for homes more available to Guyanese out there,” she said.

Persons had to be approved or preapproved between June 17 to July 24 to automatically enter the promotion.

Binda said that the bank received an overwhelming response from persons applying for loans to construct their

homes. She said that over 100 persons were approved during the promotion period.

“So, we had an overwhelming response of entrance, both in branch as well as online. The amount of persons that we had that were actually approved, was over 100,” she noted.

She said that the bank continues to receive inquiries and applications from persons.

“We keep getting inquiries, we keep getting a lot of applications. And one of the things we noted is that you know what, Guyanese need to have access to finance their own home. And actually, GBTI saw that even before Building Expo we saw to even reduce our rates. So, we made it more competitive for persons who come to us and make us their first banker. So our interest rate is 3.99, the lowest in the market right now.”

A washer from innovations America, a bed and mattress from Comfort Sleep, and a mobile phone were also given to GBTI customers as consultation prizes.

The International Building Expo will come to an end this evening evening at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence, EBD, after it was extended by the Ministry of Housing and Water on Saturday following positive reviews and overwhelming support from visitors and exhibitors.

The expo, which is being held under the theme “A New Frontier For Building a One Guyana” was slated to conclude on Sunday.

16 NEWS

TUESDAY, JULY 26, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

$1B in free fertiliser

Farmers to begin receiving assistance soon – Agri Minister …assured of testing to ensure top quality supplied

A

griculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha along with officials from the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) on Monday met with members of the Rice Farmers’ Fertiliser Assistance Registration and Verification Committee to discuss the Government’s fertiliser assistance programme. The over $1 billion programme was announced in May by President Dr Irfaan Ali. The meeting on Monday was held to discuss the lists of rice farmers per region, who were eligible for the fertiliser assistance based on information gathered by the various committee members represented. According to a release from the Agriculture Ministry, Mustapha disclosed that to date, approximately 168,000 acres have been sown but that it was anticipated that that figure would increase before the end of the advised sowing period, which is scheduled to close at the end of the month.

“To date, we have just

Some of the farmers who attended the meeting

about 168,000 acres that were sown but we are anticipating that by the end of this month, that total will increase because people are still sowing. I’m very optimistic that by the end of the sowing period this figure will increase to just about 200,000 acres. At the end of the process, we have to ensure the persons who are entitled receive and receive what they deserve.

Hopefully, before the week is out the contract for the fertilisers will be awarded to

suppliers. Once this is done, farmers will receive their vouchers and can begin collecting fertilisers from those suppliers,” the Minister is quoted as saying.

While going through the lists submitted by the committee for the various regions for acres sown to date, Mustapha disclosed that Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam) had recorded some 31,884 acres sown; Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) had recorded some 14,370

acres sown; Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) had recorded some 7440 acres sown, Region Five (MahaicaBerbice) had recorded some 58,062 acres sown, and Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne) had recorded some 57,270 acres sown.

Flood relief exercise

Referencing the issues faced during the flood relief exercise, Mustapha urged the committee members to ensure the lists were transparent and accurately reflected the activities in the various regions.

“We do not want to end up in a situation where people point fingers at the end of the exercise saying that people who lost did not receive relief and people who did not lose received relief as was and still is the case with the flood relief exercise.

I want us to have a clean and transparent list. A list that

reflects what is taking place right now in the country in terms of persons who cultivated this crop,” he said.

Since taking office, the Government has announced several relief initiatives targeting various categories of Guyanese in a bid to ease the rising cost of living. Mustapha said that given the impact of the global pandemic and the war in Ukraine, the Government has been making sizable budgetary allocations to fund its various relief and assistance initiatives.

“We know that persons in the industry needed help.

Fertiliser prices were going up. Rice is an important commodity for us. It earns the country a lot of revenue.

This is why the Government is giving assistance to these sectors; these are productive sectors,” the Minister said.

Farmers also raised concerns about the quality of fertiliser currently on the market, noting that they are now forced to use 50 per cent more on their crops.

Mustapha informed them that the Ministry’s Pesticide and Toxic Chemicals Control Board (PTCCB) now has the capacity to test those inputs to ensure they meet the standard required for their intended purposes.

President Ali had announced that the Government will be purchasing and distributing, free of cost, $1 billion in fertilisers to both cash crop and rice farmers all across Guyana as

a means of absorbing the rising global costs for the commodity and to prevent the costs from being passed on to consumers at the market.

Guyana Times reported last Thursday, that two months after President Dr Irfaan Ali had announced that his Government would purchase $1 billion worth of fertiliser to distribute to farmers across various regions, the tender for that project is out, and has already attracted a number of bids.

The bids for this tender, which is seeking a company to supply 5000 metric tons of granular urea fertiliser, were opened at the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) this week.

According to the tender, the fertiliser would be distributed in Regions One (Barima-Waini), Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), Three (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara), Four (Demerara-Mahaica), Five (Mahaica-Berbice) and Six (East Berbice-Corentyne).

Among the bidders, Caricom Rice Mill Limited entered a bid of $1.1 billion and Dax Contracting Services entered a bid of $1.2 billion. Cyril Singh Agricultural Enterprise Incorporated had a bid price of $495 million. Meanwhile Rayaadul Hakh Rice Industries bid in Regions One, Two, Three, Four, Five and Six.

17 Guyana has 3rd largest gas reserves in Latin America – analyst NEWS

TUESDAY, JULY 26, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

…behind only Venezuela, Argentina with estimated 13.2B cubic ft of gas

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uyana, which only became an oil producer in 2019, is sitting on what is being described as the 3rd largest gas reserves in Latin America, behind only Venezuela and Argentina.

This is according to Energy Co-Director at Americas Market Intelligence (AMI), Arthur Deakin.

Deakin was at the time taking part in a panel discussion organised by the Guyana Business Journal (GBJ) and Caribbean Policy Consortium, titled “Guyana Upstream: A Rystad Energy Industry And Country Benchmarking Update”.

According to Deakin, with the amount of gas potentially in the Stabroek Block, more conversations are needed on how Guyana

can monetise it. He noted that based on their calculations, Guyana has some 13.2 billion cubic feet of associated gas.

“If it (associated gas) is 20 per cent of the 11 billion barrels of oil equivalent that have been discovered, that would equal, more or less by our calculations, 13.2 billion cubic feet of associated gas which would make Guyana have the third largest gas reserves in Latin America, behind Venezuela and Argentina.”

“These (infrastructure) projects have been part of the plan for many decades, but now that Guyana actually has the money, or has the money coming in, it’s really time to implement it,” Deakin said.

He recommended that

Guyana look into developing a Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) export terminal, but also seek to export low carbon fuels, hydrogen and natural gas. All of this is important in planning for transitioning energy demands.

“It’s important to put Guyana’s discoveries in the wider context of the energy sector and the transition that is inevitable. It seems we’re pretty much at capacity, when it comes to oil production.”

“As energy demand continues to increase, we’re going to need other types of countries and resources to come in and full that gap.

Of course, renewable energy is going to be a huge part of that energy storage.

Natural gas, when possi-

ble,” Deakin said.

Government has been forging ahead with the gasto-shore project, which will have a 25-year lifespan and is expected to employ up to 800 workers during the peak construction stage, as well as some 40 full-time workers during the operations stage, and another 50 workers during the decommissioning stage.

It will feature approximately 220 kilometres of a subsea pipeline offshore that will run from the Destiny and Unity Floating, Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessels in the Stabroek Block to onshore. Upon landing on the West Coast Demerara shore, the pipeline will continue approximately 25 kilometres to the NGL

plant at Wales, West Bank Demerara.

The pipeline would be 12 inches and is expected to transport some 50 million standard cubic feet per day (mmscfd) of dry gas to the NGL plant but has the capacity to push as much 120 mmscfd.

The pipeline’s route onshore will follow the same path with the fibre optic cables and will terminate at Hermitage, part of the Wales Development Zone (WDZ) which will house the gas-to-shore project.

The Guyana Government has already invited interested parties to make investments in the Wales Development Zone, which will be heavily industrialised and for which approximately 150 acres of land

has been allocated. Those lands were previously used by the Wales Sugar Estate.

Head of the Gas-toShore Task Force, Winston Brassington has previously stated that ExxonMobil Guyana, which is funding the pipeline aspect of the project out of cost oil, has found that there would be substantial savings from combining these two facilities.

Hence, it was agreed that the power plant and the NGL plant be done under a combined Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) process. The aim is to deliver rich gas by the end of 2024 for the power plant while the NGL facility is slated to be online by 2025.

(G3)

Death of 17 Haitian migrants

Tragedy brings to forefront desperate situation in Haiti – Caricom …extends condolences to families

who are taking advantage of people trying to escape.

According to the local authorities in The Bahamas, they had rescued 25 passengers from the 30-foot speedboat that overturned in the rough sea waters about seven miles from The Bahamas shortly after midnight on Sunday. They said that some 60 people had been in the boat. The Bahamian

Survivors of a migrant boat that capsized perch on the overturned vessel off the coast of New Providence Island, Bahamas July 24, 2022. Royal Bahamas Defence Force/Handout via Reuters

F

ollowing the loss of at least 17 Haitians, including a child, all of whom died after their boat capsized off the coast of The Bahamas on its way to Florida, on Sunday, the Caribbean Community (Caricom) has expressed

its continued hope to bring peace, security, and development to Haiti.

In a statement on Monday, Caricom said, “The Caribbean Community (Caricom) is extremely saddened by the tragic loss of life at sea of a number of

Haitians off the coast of The Bahamas on Sunday 24 July.”

This is the latest tragedy, according to Caricom, which brings to the forefront the desperate situation in Haiti and the reprehensible nature of the actions of those

and American Coast Guards were searching for those missing.

“Caricom looks forward to the apprehension and bringing to justice of those who prey on the hopes and aspirations of vulnerable persons,” Caricom’s statement read, “Caricom will continue to work with Haiti and the international community to bring peace, secu-

rity, and development to our sister nation.”

Caricom extended its condolences to the relatives of those who lost their lives and to the Government and people of Haiti.

This heart-breaking tragedy is the worst loss of life in Bahamian waters since at least 2019 when 27 Haitian migrants died in a similar situation.

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TUESDAY, JULY 26, 2022

guyanatimesgy.com

Regional

St Vincent PM proposes vote on T&T: Enterprise man fined removing Queen as Head of State for beating father with plank

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P

rime Minister, Dr Ralph Gonsalves on Monday proposed a single-item referendum asking the people of St Vincent and the Grenadines to decide whether or not to replace Britain’s Queen Elizabeth with a non-executive, homegrown President as Head of State.

But Gonsalves told Parliament that he would only pursue the referendum if there was bipartisan support.

“I will tell you this. I am prepared, if the Opposition agrees today, before the end of the year or early next year to put one question in a referendum: to have a homegrown President in the manner in which I’ve just described, a non-executive President, and as was laid out in the proposed constitution, and let us go with that one single issue to the people to complete the national democratic task,” Gonsalves said.

In 2009, Vincentians overwhelmingly rejected the proposed revised Constitution with 29,019

Chaguanas man who beat his father with a piece of wood has been fined TT$300.

Terry Sugrin was fined by Magistrate Duane Murray in the Chaguanas district court on Monday.

If he fails to pay the fine, Sugrin will serve four months

President of the main Opposition New Democratic Party (NDP), noted that Dr Gonsalves had recently received the highest national award from the Cuban government.

He said this raises the question of national awards or rewards for Vincentians for meritorious service.

“What is stopping us?”

Leacock said.

Gonsalves also said that if there was bipartisan support for the referendum a committee would also be set up to establish national honours. (Excerpt from CMC)

Mexican crypto exchange Bitso reaches more than 1 million users in Brazil

M

exican cryptocurrency exchange Bitso has hit the one million users’ mark in Brazil about a year after it launched in the country, according to the company’s Brazil chief.

“We beat one million users in Brazil earlier than expected, and our transaction volumes grew by 66 per cent in June from May,” Thales Freitas told Reuters in an interview.

He did not provide detailed figures, but said that July readings have already exceeded the previous month despite the recent downturn

seen across most major crypto currencies.

Founded in 2014 and headquartered in Mexico, Bitso raised US$250 million in a funding round in May 2021, which valued the platform at US$2.2 billion ahead of its debut in Brazil.

Freitas, a former executive at Citi and HSBC, took over in Bitso’s second largest market, Brazil, three months ago with the mission of leading the company through an increasingly adverse scenario of intense asset volatility and higher interest rates.

To overcome these hur-

dles, Bitso has boosted its incentive programme, offering returns of up to 15 per cent per year in stablecoins, digital currencies pegged to traditional assets such as the US dollar.

“Brazilian investors love fixed income, and stablecoins are a good way to diversify,” Freitas said.

Bitso is currently awaiting central bank approval of its application for a payment institution licence in Brazil, where it currently operates in partnership with lenders Banco Genial and Starkbank.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Antigua PM threatens to sue T&T over US$60M CLICO debt

T

he Trinidad and Tobago Government is being asked to pay up US$60 million owed on CLICO liability or risk possibly being sued by Caricom counterpart Antigua.

Antigua Prime Minister Gaston Browne on Saturday called on T&T to pay up the sum as he noted a third letter on the issue would soon be sent to the T&T Government.

However, if T&T continues to treat the matter with contempt, “then we’ll have no choice but to sue them”, Browne said.

He noted that T&T’s Government did not provide a proper response on the issue.

Browne spoke about the matter on Antigua’s Pointe FM’s “Browne and Browne” radio show on Saturday and the story began circulating on social media.

Browne has been Chairman of the sub-committee on insurance within the Caricom union since about a year ago. He said significant progress was made on the CLICO-British American Insurance company (Baico) issue.

Barbados’s Government agreed to pay US$37 million for the assets of CLICO International in Barbados.

For Baico, some US$9.3 million will come from St Kitts for the Nevis Island administration bond and US$8.2

liming at a neighbour’s house for long hours.

The younger Sugrin took the piece of wood and hit his father on the face and right hand. The elder man reported his son to the Police.

Alexander charged Sugrin with the offence of assault by beating. (Trinidad Newsday)

IMF chief welcomes push to boost Argentina’s fiscal health

Queen Elizabeth

“no” votes and 22,493 “yes” votes.

“I agree that we are now 12 years away from the referendum,” said Dr Gonsalves, who had previously said that he would leave the question of constitutional reform to future leaders.

On November 30, last year, Barbados removed the Queen of England as its Head of State, electing Dame Sandra Mason as its first local Head of State.

Earlier, Opposition lawmaker, Major St Clair Leacock, who is a Vice

in jail.

He was charged by PC Brandon Alexander for the offence, which took place on Friday at Chrissie Terrace, Enterprise.

The summary of the evidence presented by the Police said Sugrin’s father had an altercation with his son for

million will be collected from St Lucia’s pledged assets.

The sale of real estate assets to the various territories was agreed and it was even suggested the Governments could buy them if they need them, he added.

Browne said litigation was also being pursued against CLICO founder Lawrence Duprey and company and “possibly, we may eventually have to sue the Government of T&T because as you know, they had agreed to provide a settlement of US$100 million and they paid about close to US$40 million and the balance of US$60 million remains unpaid.” (Excerpt from Trinidad Guardian)

IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva

T

he Head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Monday described a meeting with Argentina’s Economy Minister, Silvina Batakis, as

“productive”, amid a deepening economic crisis afflicting South America’s third-biggest economy.

IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva added in a post on Twitter that she welcomes Batakis’s efforts “to strengthen fiscal sustainability” in the country.

Meanwhile, the IDB President said on Monday that the Bank IDB could not “rubber-stamp” cash for Argentina without it meeting commitments to improve macroeconomic conditions, In a letter to the editor published by The Wall Street Journal, Mauricio ClaverCarone said the Bank has a “duty to help members like Argentina”, but was also “eager for Argentina to meet commitments to the IMF (International Monetary

Fund) to improve macroeconomic conditions”.

Claver-Carone said Argentina was asking to approve a new US$500 million unconditional loan, and that the Bank has disbursed US$2.5 billion to the country since late 2020 for healthcare, clean water and infrastructure projects.

“As much as the IDB wants to approve new funds for Argentina, it cannot rubber-stamp requests to do so without prudently ensuring it has a development impact,” he said.

Argentina, which faces a challenging macroeconomic scenario with spiralling inflation and a currency at record lows against the dollar, already has a US$44 billion programme sealed with the IMF. (Excerpts from Reuters)

Panama to regulate prices of 72 food items to ease rising living costs

A demonstrator holds up a sign with a map of Panama and the word “Corruption” during a protest to demand the Government steps to curb inflation and lower fuel and food prices, in Panama City, Panama, July 12, 2022 (Reuters/Erick Marciscano file photo)

T

he Panamanian Government announced on Monday it would regulate the price of 72 food items following weeks of angry protests and street blockades demanding the Government take measures to stem the quickly-rising cost of living.

Across the dollarised Central American nation protesters have been blocking roads and even stopping trucks from delivering food, a pressure tactic in the threeweek-old protests as inflation accelerated to 5.2 per cent in the year through June.

That is up from annual inflation of 2.6 per cent in

December 2021.

“With the regulation of the 72 products, the cost of the basic food basket would decrease by 30 per cent, a savings of more than US$80,” the President’s office said in a statement, after the Government and powerful unions, with the Catholic Church acting as a mediator, reached an agreement.

President Laurentino Cortizo’s Government has already put in place price controls on a dozen food items and austerity measures for public institutions that included 10 per cent of Government workers.

But demonstrators are

demanding more be done, including curbs on public spending, greater transparency, and more investments in health and education.

Cortizo’s Government first set the price of gasoline and diesel at US$3.95 per gallon, and then lowered it to US$3.25, in a failed attempt to stop the nationwide demonstrations.

Negotiations are ongoing and the Government has asked protesters to end the street blockades in the meantime, but demonstrators have refused to do so until an agreement on all demands is reached. (Excerpt from Reuters)

guyanatimesgy.com

TUESDAY, JULY 26, 2022

19

Around the World

OILNEWS OIL NEWS Oil rises $2 as dollar eases, market wary of Fed

O

il prices rose about US$2 on Monday, bolstered by supply fears, a dip in the US dollar and early strength in equity markets, but prices seesawed as some worried fuel demand could weaken if the Federal Reserve raises US interest rates too aggressively.

Brent crude futures for September settled up US$1.95, or 1.9 per cent, at US$105.15 a barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures rose US$2, or 2.1 per cent, to settle at US$96.70 a barrel.

"A slightly weaker US dollar and improving equity markets are supporting oil," UBS oil analyst Giovanni Staunovo said. After early strength, US stocks moved lower in afternoon trading, with investors cautious about the Fed meeting this week and earnings from several growth companies.

Oil futures have been volatile in recent weeks, pressured by worries that rising interest rates could slow economic activity and fuel demand but supported by tight supply, especially since Russia's invasion of Ukraine and Western sanctions on Moscow.

"The US and European economies are slowing and with the Federal Reserve set to raise interest rates again this week, traders remain very cautious," said Dennis Kissler, senior Vice President of trading at BOK Financial.

Fed officials have indicated the US central bank would likely raise rates by 75 basis points at its July 26-27 meeting.

China, the world's second-biggest economy, narrowly missed a contraction in the second quarter, growing just 0.4 per cent year-onyear.

But a steep front-month premium over the second month continues to signal near-term supply tightness. The spread settled at US$4.82/bbl on Friday, an all-time high when excluding expiry-related spikes in the two previous months.

Libya's National Oil Corporation (NOC) said it aimed to bring back production to 1.2 million barrels per day (bpd) in two weeks, from around 860,000 bpd.

But analysts expect Libya's output to remain volatile as tensions remained high after clashes between rival political factions over the weekend.

Prices drew support from "expectations that Russian oil supply will edge lower in the months ahead as widely-expected plans for a price cap on Russian oil may have the opposite effect on oil prices than hoped for," said Warren Patterson, head of commodities strategy at ING. The European Union said last week it would allow Russian stateowned companies to ship oil to third countries under an adjustment of sanctions agreed by member states last week aimed at limiting the risks to global energy security.

On Friday, Russian Central Bank Governor Elvira Nabiullina said Russia would not supply oil to countries that imposed a price cap on its oil.

Russia's Gazprom said flows through Nord Stream 1, Russia's single biggest gas link to German, would fall to 33 million cubic metres per day, just 20 per cent of capacity, from 0400 GMT on Wednesday.

That could lead to additional switching to crude from gas, supporting oil prices, said Andrew Lipow of Lipow Oil Associates in Houston. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Ukraine war: Grain exports could restart “within days”

U

kraine has said the first vessels with grain could leave its Black Sea ports "within days" under a landmark UN-brokered deal signed on Friday.

"If the sides guarantee security, the agreement will work. If they do not, it will not work," Infrastructure Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov said.

Russia fired missiles on Ukraine's main port of Odesa on Saturday, raising fears that the deal could be derailed.

Moscow's invasion in February has all but ended Ukraine's grain exports.

As many as 20 million tonnes of grain are trapped in ports, unable to leave because of Russian naval forces controlling most of the Black Sea.

The deal - which took two months to reach - is set to last for 120 days, with a co-ordination and monitoring centre to be established in Istanbul, staffed by UN, Turkish, Russian and Ukrainian officials.

It can be renewed if both parties agree

Heavy fighting has also damaged harvests and left ports blocked and mined.

This has led to food shortages and price rises across Africa, which usually relies on Ukraine - as well as Russia - for wheat.

In another development, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Moscow would help Ukrainians "to get rid of the regime that is absolutely anti-people" - despite earlier pledges that Moscow was not seek-

Japan's Police to take measures after wild monkey rampages

Authorities are still figuring out if one rogue animal or a gang of perpetrators are behind the attacks

J

apanese Police are turning to tranquiliser guns in an attempt to stem the tide of wild monkey attacks that have been terrorising residents.

In recent weeks, 42 people have been reported injured in Yamaguchi city - including children and the elderly.

The attacks are being blamed on Japanese macaques.

However, while they are a common sight in large parts of the country, incidents like these are unusual.

"It's rare to see this many attacks in a short period of time," said one city official, declining to give their name.

"Initially only children and women were attacked.

Recently elderly people and

adult men have been targeted too."

Attempts to capture the animals with traps ended in failure and Police patrols implemented since the first attack in early July have failed to deter the culprits.

Authorities are also unsure if the assaults are the work of a single rogue monkey or several.

Injuries have varied, with local media reporting victims have received anything from scratches, bitten legs and hands, to bitten necks and stomachs.

Stories include a fouryear-old girl scratched during an apartment breakin, while in another instance

S

Ranil Wickremesinghe will take to ease the impact of the crisis after taking office last week following a victory in a Parliament vote.

His predecessor, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, fled the country and then resigned earlier this month after mass protests against his mishandling of the economy, with protesters storming his official residence and office.

Sri Lanka also reopened its schools on Monday after severe fuel shortages and political unrest kept them closed for nearly a month.

However, public sector employees have been asked to continue working from home for one more month,

the Government said in a circular issued on Sunday.

Lanka IOC, the country's second largest fuel retailer, will import two fuel shipments of around 30,000 tonnes each in August, its managing director Manoj Gupta said.

"We are working collectively with the Government to reduce the pain and our priority is to supply to industries," Gupta told Reuters.

Sri Lanka is in talks with the International Monetary Fund about a bailout package worth up to $3 billion, while it also seeks help from allies, including neighbouring India and China. (Excerpt from Reuters)

a monkey breached a kindergarten classroom.

Some residents have reported multiple incursions in their homes as the primates gain access by sliding screen doors or entering through open windows.

Once a vulnerable species, Japanese macaque numbers have recently increased.

They are now listed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature as a species of "Least Concern".

However, their recovery has "triggered serious conflicts between people and the macaques", according to research from Yamagata University. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Three dead, including gunman, in Canada shooting – Police

Sri Lanka to restrict fuel imports for next 12 months

ri Lanka will restrict fuel imports for the next 12 months because of a severe shortage of foreign exchange, its Energy Minister said on Monday, as the island nation's new Government seeks to find a way out of a crippling economic crisis.

The country of 22 million has been grappling with a lack of essentials, including fuel and medicines, for months, after its foreign exchange reserves ran dry because of economic mismanagement and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The rationing system is among the first steps that Sri Lanka's new President

ing to topple Ukraine's Government.

The deal - which took two months to reach - is set to last for 120 days, with a co-ordination and monitoring centre to be established in Istanbul, staffed

by UN, Turkish, Russian and Ukrainian officials. It can be renewed if both parties agree.

Kubrakov said Ukraine was hoping that the centre would be set up this week.

Russia has not commented on the latest developments.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russia of "barbarism" after the Odesa attack, saying it showed Moscow could not be trusted to stick to the deal.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

A vehicle with bullet holes visible on the windshield is seen after authorities alerted residents of multiple shootings targeting transient victims in the Vancouver suburb of Langley, British Columbia, Canada July 25, 2022

T

hree people including the suspected gunman were killed in a series of shootings early on Monday in the Canadian province of British Columbia, Police said.

Authorities had earlier issued an emergency alert for multiple shootings in the city of Langley involving homeless people and asked residents to stay away from the area.

"We are actively investigating a series of shootings that has left two dead, one in

critical condition and another with serious injuries," said Chief Superintendent Ghalib Bhayani of the regional Royal Canadian Mountain Police force.

"At this time we don’t know the motive behind this deadly incident, nor if there was any relationship between the deceased suspect and the victims."

A Reuters witness saw two black SUVs, similar to those used by Police emergency response teams, in a ditch near

one of the shooting sites. One vehicle had bullet holes in the windshield.

Police in Langley, a suburb of Vancouver, said they responded to "multiple reports of shots fired with several victims and several different scenes throughout the City of Langley, and one scene in the Township of Langley" and asked the public to remain out of several areas, including the parking lot of a casino and a bus stop.

In an alert sent to B.C. residents' phones, police said the shootings involved "transient victims," or homeless people.

The alert said the suspect was described as a white man in overalls and a camouflage t-shirt.

Multiple shootings are much less common in Canada than in neighboring United States. Canada has stricter gun laws than its southern neighbour, though Canadians are allowed to own firearms as long as they have a licence. (Excerpt from Reuters)

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TUESDAY, JULY 26, 2022

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DAILY HOROSCOPES

ARCHIE

Refuse to let an overrated opinion lead you astray. Dissect information and use intelligence to find an efficient way to get what you want. Set ground rules and stick to them.

(March 21-April 19) Uncertainty will set in if you listen to someone negative. Look for the silver lining, and you will find a way to combat any disruption that comes your way.

Self-improvement is favored.

DILBERT

(April 20-May 20) Don't let anyone take advantage of you. Focus on what's essential. Do the research yourself instead of trusting others to offer an honest opinion. Now's the time to go for the brass ring.

(May 21-June 20)

PEANUTS (June 21-July 22)

Spend time with someone who motivates you to do better. Listen to advice and consider how to utilize any offers you receive to improve your life. Stop waiting for things to happen and get moving.

Test the water before you decide to get wet. Know what you are up against, and use the tools and skills you have mastered to combat anything negative.

Strength comes from knowing your limitations.

(July 23-Aug. 22) Branch out, try something new and exciting, and get involved and make a difference. Helping others will encourage you to pay closer attention to those closest to you.

CALVIN AND HOBBES

(Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Think before you do something you'll regret. Don't take out your frustration on others. Observe what's going on and wait to see the results. Time is on your side, so let things unfold naturally.

(Sept. 23-Oct. 23) Personal changes will lift your spirits and build confidence. A shift in your living arrangements will help rectify a problem. An innovative approach will pay off. Romance is on the rise.

SUDOKU (Oct. 24-Nov. 22)

The changes unfolding around you are not solid. Take a pass if you feel the least bit uncomfortable with arrangements made by others. Discipline will help counter disagreeable behavior.

(Nov. 23-Dec. 21) You'll gravitate toward someone who shares your feelings. Be a good listener because the information you receive will give you a better understanding of a situation involving a loved one.

SOLUTION FOR LAST PUBLISHED PUZZLE

(Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Review your options. Don't let anger force you to make a premature move.

Discipline is required if you want to finish what you start and reap the rewards you deserve.

(Jan. 20-Feb. 19)

(Feb. 20-March 20)

Explore new possibilities and connect with people who share your concerns.

Put your heart and soul into making a difference. Keep your expenditures low, while still helping others. Romance is favored.

TUESDAY, JULY 26, 2022

21

Sharma, Pant, Karthik join Kuldeep and Bishnoi in Trinidad

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ndian players for the fivematch T20 International (T20I) series arrived in the Caribbean on Monday.

Kuldeep Yadav, R Ashwin, Ravi Bishnoi and Harshal Patel who came back to India after the England series departed from Mumbai on Sunday. As for Captain Rohit Sharma and Rishabh Pant, they set sail from the United Kingdom, arriving in Trinidad on Monday alongside Dinesh Karthik.

On Monday, Pant shared on his social media that the Indian wicketkeeper alongside Captain Sharma and Karthik had arrived in Trinidad. The trio will take part in the five-match T20 series, with the first two games in

Dinesh Karthik, Rishabh Pant, and Rohit Sharma have arrived in Trinidad

Trinidad. The action then moves to Warner Park, Basseterre, St Kitts. The final two games will be played in Lauderhill, Florida.

Ashwin returned after the fifth Test against England while

Karthik, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, and others returned home after the three-match T20 series against England. As they are not part of the One-Day International (ODI) squad for the Windies tour,

Bartica Summer Splash Regatta – Grass Track

Steven Nobrega takes Pro category, David DeNobrega is Novice champ

Steven Nobrega, Professional category overall winner

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undreds of grass track fans and supporters were entertained to the fullest on Saturday when the Bartica Business Development Committee (BBDC) in association with Sean Jacobs brought off another of its multiple sporting events to mark the Bartica Summer Splash Regatta.

Contested at the Mongrippa Hill Facility, it was an entertaining day of action as the competitors, some of whom were in daredevil mode, braved the slippery conditions brought on by the rain to entertain their supporters and fans.

The day’s action was well-received as was the performances of the youngest competitor of the day, nineyear-old Lishon Lewis.

When the action was done and dusted, emerging as the Professional overall winner was seasoned campaigner Steven Nobrega, who amassed 30 points by winning all the Pro races.

Conroy Cox took the runnerup position six points adrift with the third place going to Bobby Rasul with 18 points. The top three competitors in each category were all well-rewarded in the various events.

David De Nobrega took the top spot among the Novices with a total of 28 points;

85cc overall winner Demetri Prowell (right) in the company of nineyear-old Lishon Lewis (second right) and the other competitors

Shaquan Sawh was second overall with 20 points followed

by Leandro Adams on 16 points.

Bu it was the 85cc events which captured the hearts and applause of the fans. This category attracted 14- and 15-year-old competitors with the youngest being the nineyear-old Lewis, who was the runner-up in one of the events;

million in cash and other prizes were handed out.

Sponsors of the event were ANSA McAL, Timmerman’s Mining, Sheik’s Mining, Sir’s Service Station, Le-Mya Welcome, Rats Mining, Xclusive Minerals, Ambrose Construction & Cleaning Service, Mark and Elda’s Sports Bar, Futu’s Sports Bar, Pro Dental, Evvy’s Cakes and

Following are the full results of the day Place

Category

Name

Points

1st

Professional

Steven Nobrega

30

Conroy Cox

24

Bobby Rasul

18

David De Nobrega

28

2nd

Shaquan Sawh

20

3rd

Leandro Adams

16

1st

Casey DeAgrella

10

Earl David

20

2nd

Morris Glenn

14

3rd

Lashawn Timmerman

14

Antonio Jardine

20

2nd

Meshach Kendall

14

3rd

Dale Bissoon

8

Demetri Prowell

18

Daniel Narine

14

Luquan Jackson

10

2nd 3rd 1st

1st

1st

1st

Novice

XR

Bush Bike

85CC

2nd 3rd 1st

BMX

Tyrell Noel

he led for two of the four laps before eventual winner Demetri Prowell took charge and won the event.

Prowell went on to take the overall trophy as close to one

Treats, Wei Fung Restaurant, Tyree Outboard & Spares, W K Enterprise, Jamella’s Inn, Mark Scarder, Pandit & Sons Auto Spares, HML Logistics and Scarder’s Meat Centre.

they will directly link up with the T20 squad. Sharma and Pant will return from their vacation.

However, Jasprit Bumrah has been rested from the entire tour.

The fate of KL Rahul hangs in balance: While Rahul was supposed to appear for a fitness test on Sunday before he could, he tested positive for COVID-19.

His mandatory seven-day quarantine period will only end on July 26 and post that, he will have to appear for a fitness test.

Considering that he returns two negative COVID-19 tests, he will still be required to give a cardiovascular test and only then be eligible to return.

KL Rahul

In such circumstances, it’s fair to assume that if not the entire tour, the Indian Vice Captain will miss at least the first T20 slated for July 29. The second T20 is scheduled for August 1 and he could make it

to the Caribbean if he passes all requisite tests. But he will only be able to join the squad on July 31 or August 1. That all but rules him out of the second T20 as well. (Insidesports) India’s squad for the T20Is: Rohit Sharma (Captain); Ishan Kishan; KL Rahul (subject to fitness test); Suryakumar Yadav; Deepak Hooda; Shreyas Iyer; Dinesh Karthik; Rishabh Pant; Hardik Pandya; Ravindra Jadeja; Axar Patel; R Ashwin; Ravi Bishnoi; Kuldeep Yadav (subject to fitness test); Bhuvneshwar Kumar; Avesh Khan; Harshal Patel and Arshdeep Singh.

Caribbean athletes put on a show as World Championships come to an end in Eugene

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he just-concluded 2022 World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon, USA saw the Caribbean grab the opportunity to represent themselves well on the global stage with both hands.

The Region took home 17 medals in total – five golds, nine silvers, and three bronzes, with Jamaica leading the Caribbean medal count with 10 ahead of Grenada and the Dominican Republic ,who got two each while The Bahamas, Barbados, and Puerto Rico all took home one apiece.

There were a number of standout performances throughout the 10 days starting with Jamaicans Shelly-Ann FraserPryce and Shericka Jackson.

Fraser-Pryce produced a championship record 10.67 to defend her 100 metres title and win her fifth in total. Fraser-Pryce also won her second 200m medal in her World Championships career, a silver in a season’s best 22.81.

Jackson ran a personal best 10.73 for silver in the 100m behind Fraser-Pryce and followed that up with one of the performances of the Championships in the 200m. She produced a time of 21.45 to win her first global title and become the fastest woman alive over the distance.

Double Olympic champion Elaine Thompson-Herah came third in the 100m in 10.81 to complete Jamaica's second consecutive 100m clean sweep at a major championship.

Fraser-Pryce, Jackson, and Thompson-Herah then teamed up with Kemba Nelson to win silver in the 4x100m in 41.18 behind the USA (41.14).

We now move to the 400m where the Caribbean women swept the medals. Bahamian Shaunae Miller-Uibo became the first female to complete the world event cycle (gold medals at the World Youth Championships, World Junior Championships, World Indoor Championships, World Championships and Olympics) by finally winning her

maiden world title with a worldleading 49.11.

The Dominican Republic’s Marileidy Paulino, the world leader coming into the Championships, followed up her silver medal in Tokyo last year with 49.60 to claim silver once more.

Barbados’s Sada Williams produced a brilliant personal best and national record 49.75 to take home bronze, becoming the first Barbadian woman to win a World Championship medal.

In the men’s equivalent, Grenadian superstar Kirani James ran 44.48 for silver behind American Michael Norman (44.30). This was James’s third World Championships medal and first since 2015 when he won bronze.

Paulino was also part of the brilliant quartet that took the Dominican Republic to gold in the Mixed Relay. Paulino combined with Fiordaliza Cofil, Lidio Andres Feliz, and Alexander Ogando to run 3:09.82 for gold.

Staying on the track, Jamaica’s Britany Anderson followed up on the promise she’s shown all season to secure a silver medal in the 100m hurdles.

Anderson ran a new national record 12.31 in the semi-finals before running a wind-aided 12.23 to secure the silver medal behind Nigeria’s Tobi Amusan, who clocked an astounding 12.06 for victory after running a legal world record 12.12 earlier in the semis.

Puerto Rican Olympic champion Jasmine CamachoQuinn ran the same time as Anderson to take home bronze.

Jamaica picked up silver

medals in both the men's and women's 4x400m relays. The men comprising Ackeem Bloomfield, Nathon Allen, Jevaughn Powell and Christopher Taylor registered 2:58.58 to finish behind the USA (2:56.17) while the women with Candice McLeod, Janieve Russell, Stephenie Ann McPherson and Charokee Young produced 3:20.74 to finish behind the Americans (3:17.79).

In the field, Grenada’s Anderson Peters became only the second man to defend his javelin world title.

The 2022 world leader produced a best throw of 90.54m to successfully defend his title from Doha three years ago, replicating a feat only matched

by Czech world record holder Jan Zelezny who won consecutive world titles in 1993 and 1995 before returning to the top spot in 2001.

Peters produced an amazing series, registering 90.21m, 90.46m, 87.21m, 88.11m, 85.83m and 90.54m in his six rounds.

Jamaica’s Shanieka Ricketts produced a season’s best 14.89m to take silver in the women’s triple jump behind Venezuelan world record holder and Olympic champion Yulimar Rojas (15.47m).

Ricketts produced jumps of 14.89m, 14.86m, 14.37m, 14.40m, 14.62m and 14.80m for one of her best series of her career.

The Region will be hoping for an even better showing at the 2023 World Championships scheduled for August 19-27 in Budapest, Hungary. (Sportsmax)

22

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

TUESDAY, JULY 26, 2022

CPCE students to participate in “Football For Schools” training O ver the next two days, students of the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE) will be participating in a training session under the recentlylaunched “Football For Schools” Programme.

The “Football For Schools” initiative is a programme developed by FIFA and UNICEF that targets children from ages four to 14 to develop an interest in the sport, while simultaneously addressing many problems that young boys and girls experience across the globe.

This was explained by Guyana Football Federation (GFF) President Wayne Forde at the engagement held at the CPCE. He said that in addition to teaching the sport to children, the programme teaches life skills by infusing them into the teaching curriculum of the programme.

These include selfconfidence, learning to win and learning to lose among other skills that learners can take into adulthood.

He said that to ensure

CPCE Principal (ag) Noella Joseph

the programme’s success, having teachers onboard was critical since they could impart knowledge to students and effectively implement the programme in schools across Guyana.

Forde reminded the teachers that Guyana was the first country in the CONCACAF Federation of 41 member states to start the programme.

He said that it was fitting that we seized each opportunity to make the Guyanese experience into a model that other countries can adopt.

Education Specialist in the Education Ministry, Dr Olato Sam said that part of the

Education Specialist in the Education Ministry, Dr Olato Sam

Ministry’s duty was to create the enabling environment to ensure that young people thrive. He said that the partnership with teachers to effectively roll out this programme was important as they were some of the most dynamic individuals in the world.

He said that the FIFA “Football for Schools” programme offered a pathway for young children to develop an interest in the sport, inculcate healthy life skills and equip them with the skills to become the stars that they could be. “We know that we

have that potential in Guyana,” Dr Sam noted.

Dr Sam told the teachers that every aspect of the twoday training session would add value to the schools and communities they would return to.

He said, “This is being rolled out in every primary and secondary school in Guyana.

We hope that you can be the ambassadors in your schools and regions.”

LGC VP says current weather patterns have impact on game …optimistic everything will be on track by August

CPCE Principal (ag) Noella Joseph thanked the teachers for being part of the programme and thanked the leadership of the Ministry for partnering with the CPCE to have additional teachers trained under the programme.

The first training sessions were held in May 2022 and targeted approximately 45 teachers representing the 11 Education Districts. This partnership with the CPCE will see more than

50 additional teachers being trained.

Coaching Education Officer of the GFF, Linden France told the teachers that the first day and the first half of the second day would feature theoretical work while the second half of today would focus on the practical aspects of the programme. (Education Ministry's Public Relations Department)

GCB Under-19 Inter-County 2Day Tournament postponed due to heavy and persistent rainfall

LGC VP Paton George

By Timothy Jaikarran

T

he rainy season usually occurs over the months of May and June; however, it is now July, and the rains continue. For the Lusignan Golf Club (LGC) this extended rainy season means that there is a lack of competitive golf and according to the Vice President, Paton George the weather patterns are having an impact on golf.

In an exclusive interview with Guyana Times Sport, when asked

The LGC Vice President has commended the management of the club for the excellent work they have done in keeping the course in shape

know we do have members that take every opportunity as the weather breaks to come out and play. The golf course, the field

Many golfers will be itching to get back to competitive golf

his views on the extended period, George said, “Yes, it is the rainy season for sure, an extended rainy season and it is having an impact on golf at the club. You

is still drained well, but there is a limit to the drainage of water, depending on the downpours.

But for the most part, if the weather breaks for a day or two, we are able to get the course

back in playing condition for a day or two. If not the full field, a large amount of area or holes that can be played.”

George went on to state that because management have been on top of their game, shortly after the weather breaks, the club is back up and functioning. He divulged that in the meantime as they awaited the ending of the rainy season, members were engaged in other activities, using the full amenities of the clubhouse such as pools, table tennis, dominoes, cards, etc.

“The club is still open, there is still some buzz to some extent and activities even while we have inclement weather. Some of the activities we have for when the weather clears are we have some private activities and some golf-related activities on the agenda including a backto-school event for kids which is planned for the end of August,”

George revealed.

The LGC Vice President also related that he was optimistic that by the end of August, the weather would clear and they would have a great kids’ event.

He explained that some of the children who had participated in the Easter event were now regular visitors at the club and they were learning to play the sport. George said that this would fulfil one of the club’s goals which is to have new members/people come to the club and learn the game. He further went on to state that once children were of a certain age, they were allowed to play free of cost, but the club would also encourage them to get coaching and guidance.

In closing, George said, “The club is open for anyone to come and learn the game and we look forward to the weather breaking, so these activities can continue.”

Jonathan Rampersaud and Jeremy Sandia spun Berbice to a big win

T

he Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Under-19 Inter-County 2-Day Tournament has been postponed owing to unusually heavy and persistent rainfall over the past few days.

The tournament, which got underway on Wednesday, July 20, 2022, was expected to be completed on August 2, 2022. However, only two rain-affected matches were completed at the LBI Cricket Facility. Berbice defeated Rising Star XI by an innings and 31 runs in the first round while Demerara won first innings

points against Essequibo in the second round.

The recommencement of the tournament will be announced later.

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TUESDAY, JULY 26, 2022

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

23

Guyanese contingent touches down for Birmingham Commonwealth Games

Guyana’s boxing team after arriving for the Commonwealth Games

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hree days away from day one of the 22nd edition of the Commonwealth Games, Guyana’s athletes begin arriving in the city today for the highly-anticipated sports event.

The 32-member contingent is touching down in phases with the swimming team, along with their coach, reaching the athletes village first, followed by part of the table tennis team and then the boxers.

Guyana will be represented in seven sport disciplines at the July 28-August 8 Games – badminton, boxing, cycling, squash, swimming, table tennis, and track and field.

The entire swim team comprising Patrice Mahaica, Paul Mahaica, Aleka Persaud and Sekhel Tzedeq, along with the entire boxing team comprising Desmond Amsterdam, Colin Lewis and Keevin Allicock, have all arrived in Birmingham.

The teams are accompanied

members of the squash team, with Shomari Wiltshire and Jason-Ray and Ashley Khalil arriving today.

Boxing, squash and table tennis are among the first sports to spring into action on July 29.

See list of athletes below: Badminton: Men – Narayan Ramdhani (singles, mixed doubles) Women – Priyanna Ramdhani (single, mixed doubles) Boxing: Keevin Allicock (featherweight); Desmond Amsterdam (middleweight) and Colin Lewis (welterweight) Cycling: Christopher Griffith (time trial, road race) Squash: Men – Jason-Ray Khalil

Sekhel Tzedeq (50m backstroke, 50m freestyle, 100m backstroke, 100m freestyle) Women – Patrice Mahaica (50m backstroke, 50m freestyle, 100m freestyle) and Aleka Persaud (50m butterfly, 50m freestyle, 100m butterfly, 100m freestyle) Table tennis: Men – Shemar Britton (singles, doubles, team, mixed doubles); Christopher Franklin (singles, doubles, team, mixed doubles), Jonathan Van Lange (singles, doubles, team, mixed doubles) and Joel Alleyne (doubles, team) Women – Chelsea Edghill (singles, doubles, team, mixed doubles); Natalie Cummings (singles, doubles, team, mixed doubles); Priscila Greaves (singles, doubles, team) and Thuraia Thomas (doubles, team, mixed doubles)

Some members of the squash team have arrived in Birmingham for the Commonwealth Games

“One Guyana” sport facility concept unveiled at Building Expo

An architect’s impression of the “One Guyana” sport complex concept

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Guyana’s Swimming team for the Commonwealth Games

by Coaches Sean Baksh and Terrence Poole and Sebert Blake respectively.

Meanwhile, the majority of the table tennis team, in Shemar Britton, Joel Alleyne, Christopher Franklin, Natalie Cummings, Priscilla Greaves, and Thuraia Thomas have arrived with Coach Idi Lewis and Linden Johnson.

Team members Chelsea Edghill and Jonathan Van Lange are yet to arrive.

Also arriving are some

(singles, doubles, mixed doubles) and Shomari Wiltshire (singles, doubles, mixed doubles) Women – Ashley Khalil (singles, doubles, mixed doubles) and Mary Fung-AFat (singles, doubles, mixed doubles) Swimming: Men – Paul Mahaica (50m butterfly, 50m freestyle, 100m butterfly, 100m freestyle) and

Track and field: Men – Emanuel Archibald (long jump, 100m, 4x100m); Arinze Chance (200m, 400m, 4x100m); Akeem Stewart (100m, 200m, 4x100m); Noelex Holder (100m, 200m, 4x100m) and Quamel Prince (800m).

Women – Chantoba Bright (triple jump); Jasmine Abrams (100m); Aaliyah Abrams (200m, 400m); Kenisha Phillips (200m, 400m) and Joanna Archer (800m).

rime Minister, Brigadier (Retired) Mark Phillips and Housing and Water Minister Collin Croal were among the first to witness a new sport complex concept at the International Building Expo over the weekend.

The “One Guyana” sport facility is one that is being hailed as revolutionary for Guyana’s sport climate, with the ability to transform access to proper facilities for a number of sports in Guyana.

Conceptualised by AJM Enterprise, the complex would be home to nine sport disciplines.

Architect attached to AJM Enterprise, Sunny Kissoon, outlined the particulars of the concept.

“It’s a concept by AJM, where we are trying to elevate the level of horse racing in Guyana and we are also incorporating other sports.

We designed a concept that can hold 20,000 people in the stadium and we are also incorporating indoor and outdoor sport facilities,” he related to Guyana Times Sport.

AJM, which has a particular focus on the sport of horse racing and is gearing up for the hosting of the Guyana Cup 2022, also sees the facility as an avenue for expanding Guyana’s

AJM’s Totaram Sooknanan

horse racing competition.

Kissoon explained, “Of course, because when you look at it, for the horse racing track, it would be for international competitors also. We’re now looking at the laws, to get to bring in people and their horses and people must be able to take out back their horses, which is not currently permitted in Guyana.

“So, that would also encourage the overseas people to come here in Guyana and compete at the horseracing track,” he added.

Not just for enjoyment – AJM also has high hopes for the environs of the “One Guyana” facility. Kissoon mentioned that following the completion of the sporting complex, there were additional plans to construct a housing scheme and a hotel, in order to lend to Guyana’s sport tourism product.

Indoor facilities at the “One Guyana” complex will contain a gymnasium, pool

AJM Enterprise’s Sunny Kissoon

hall, swimming and table tennis facilities, while the outdoor facilities will cater to cricket, football, go karting, lawn tennis and horse racing.

Another representative of AJM, Totaram Sooknanan detailed other hopes for the facility.

Sooknanan shared, “The One Guyana concept, what we’re also trying to achieve is to have young people more involved in sporting activities.”

This is in hopes of turning youths away from drugs and alcohol consumption and involvement in crime.

Sooknanan explained, “With this sporting facility we can keep them engaged and interactive, so that we take them away from those activities and have them more involved in something they can have a future with.”

The facility will spread across approximately 300 acres of land.

TUESDAY, JULY 26, 2022

Page 22

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

Page 23

CPCE students to participate Guyanese contingent touches in “Football For down for Birmingham Schools” training Commonwealth Games LGC VP says current weather patterns have impact on game Page 22

…optimistic everything will be on track by August

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