Guyana Times - Tuesday, July 27, 2021

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THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Issue No. 4721

TUESDAY, JULY 27, 2021

PRICE

“Dream Realised” housing initiative

$80 VAT INCLUDED

WHAT'S INSIDE:

1000 low-income house lots distributed in Region 4 See story on page 3

Forensic lab

APNU/AFC failed to take legal action P2 against contractor for non-delivery of equipment …despite AG's recommendations 5 years ago

…low-income housing is a pillar of development – Croal on subsidised lots

Govt to crack down on engineers who fraudulently certify works Deadly weekend: $400M approved by Parliament 3 die in separate for accidents GuySuCo Page 9

See story on page 14

See story on page 12

Dead: Stephen Bishop

Dead: Issac Hussain

Dead: Kenneth Smith

in 2016 withheld by APNU/AFC

10,000 2nd dose Sputnik V arrive in Guyana See story on page 13

…3 more deaths, 31 new COVID cases recorded

Mother of 3 kills abusive partner with knife used to attack her P14

Legal advice on NCMs P7 against Harmon, Ministers by weekend – Clerk Woman stabs teen after P9 he ended relationship St Lucians vote in crucial general P17 election …swing towards SLP – Wickham

2 NEWS

TUESDAY, JULY 27, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Forensic lab

APNU/AFC failed to take legal action against contractor for non-delivery of equipment …despite AG’s recommendations 5 years ago

D

espite the Audit Office of Guyana recommending legal action five years ago against a contractor who reneged on his contract to deliver equipment for the Forensic Laboratory, no legal action has been taken against the contractor.

This was revealed at the sitting of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Monday, which followed up on issues that were red flagged by Auditor General Deodat Sharma in his 2016 Report.

One of the issues was an agreement the then Public Security Ministry signed with an overseas supplier, who was contracted to pro-

cure $21.9 million worth of equipment for the Forensic Laboratory at Turkeyen, East Coast Demerara (ECD).

The supplier was paid $9.974 million in 2017, but only supplied $3.191 million in forensic laboratory materials. This left materials with a value of $6.783 million that were not delivered.

The Auditor General had recommended in his 2016 report that the then Public Security Ministry take legal action against the contractor.

When PAC member Dharamkumar Seeraj enquired on Monday whether this was ever done, Principal Assistant Secretary for

Finance at the renamed Ministry of Home Affairs, Meyers, replied in the negative.

“If no legal action was taken, can the PAC be informed if the items in question, if they were subsequently delivered?” Seeraj then asked.

“Items to the value of $12.8 million were delivered. The Ministry would have subsequently applied liquidated damages and terminated the contract,” Head Accountant Meyers further explained.

Liquidated damages are a contractual provision that allows an affected party to claim a sum of money in the case of a breach of contract. They are non-punitive; unlike the damages a court may have awarded for the breach had the Ministry taken legal action.

Another observation that was made by the Auditor General was the presence of three cheques, to the value of $11.955 million, that remained on hand at the Ministry. In fact, two of these cheques totaling $10.961 million had become

Forensic Laboratory

stale dated.

A stale dated cheque is one that has been kept on hand past a stipulated time after it was written.

According to the Auditor General, the Ministry of Public Security was therefore in breach of the Fiscal Management and Accountability Act (FMAA) and the Procurement Act 2003. It was recommended that these cheques be updated and refunded to the Consolidated Fund.

The $1.049 billion Guyana Forensic Science Laboratory (GFSL) was opened since July 2014, but only received the requisite tools to be fully able to con-

duct DNA testing in 2019.

When the building was first commissioned it had four departments including toxicology, documents, trace evidence and chemistry with six non-analytical departments namely security, quality system, information system, facilities operations, evidence and administration departments.

Following its launch, however, the GFSL opened two other departments, namely the Forensic Radio Evidence and the DNA aspect which was commissioned in June of 2019. At the time of the commissioning, the lab’s Director Delon France had listed the newly

added features.

“The laboratory is now a national pioneer for human identification using Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) testing and it enables us to conduct three main things: DNA testing for comparison or matching evidence to a suspect, paternity testing, family mapping or family testing where you can use the family DNA to identify a suspect even if we don’t have that particular suspect’s DNA. We can match a crime scene to a family member and then we can narrow it down through investigation of who actually committed the crime,” he had explained. (G3)

Labourer jailed for grabbing woman’s breast

S

enior Magistrate Leron Daly has found a man guilty of sexual assault. Jason Yarris, 33, was charged back in April 2021, with sexually assaulting a city policewoman by grabbing her breast without her consent. The incident occurred on December 7, 2020, at Water Street, Georgetown.

The prosecutor had told the court that the Bent Street, Werk-en-Rust, Georgetown labourer walked

up to the woman and grabbed her breast before walking away.

At the time of the commission of the offence, the Constable was acting in the execution of her duties. She later reported the matter to the Police.

In early March, Yarris was slapped with a similar charge when he appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan. He was released on $30,000 bail.

The charge stated that on September 24, 2020, at Bent Street, Werk-en-Rust, Georgetown, he committed a sexual assault by touching the woman’s buttocks without her consent.

According to facts, on the day in question, the postwoman was riding her bicycle in the vicinity of Bent and John Streets, Werk-enRust, Georgetown, delivering mail. As the woman entered Yarris’ yard, he approached

her and pulled her bicycle.

The woman pulled the bicycle from Yarris, and in turn, he grabbed her butt and walked away. The woman continued her duties.

While doing so, Yarris attempted to grab her breasts.

Out of fear, she screamed and neighbours went to her rescue.

She later made a report to the Police and based on investigations, Yarris was arrested and charged. (G1)

NEWS

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TUESDAY, JULY 27, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS OPENINGS BRIDGE

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

Tuesday, July 27 – 04:00h – 05:30h and Wednesday, July 28 – 04:00h – 05:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Tuesday, July 27 – 06:25h – 07:55h and Wednesday, July 28 – 07:05h – 08:35h.

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

“Dream Realised” housing initiative

1000 low-income house lots distributed in Region 4 …low-income housing is a pillar of development – Croal on subsidised lots

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

Winds: Easterly to South South-Easterly between 1.78 metres and 3.12 metres.

High Tide: 06:38h and 19:02h reaching maximum heights of 2.63 metres and 2.51 metres.

Low Tide: 12:37h reaching a minimum height of 0.62 metre.

Minister within the Housing and Water Ministry, Susan Rodrigues with an allottee as she picks her lot number

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SATURDAY, JULY 24, 2021

LOTTERY NUMBERS H

04 05 08 11 12 25

FREE TICKET

21 Bonus Ball

MONDAY, JULY 26, 2021

DAILY MILLIONS

08 12 13 20 22 LUCKY 3

4

7

1

7

Afternoon Draw

7

1

Evening Draw

DRAW DE LINE

03 04 09 10 11 13 19 SUPER

PAY DAY

PAY DAY

FRIDAY, JULY 23, 2021

03 12 13 14 15 13

05 14 15 20 21

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

COMMODITIES Indicators

US$

Change %

Crude Oil

$74.50/barrel

+0.54

Rough Rice

$243.36 /ton

-0.11

London Sugar

$457.70/ton

-0.00

Live Spot Gold

USD Per Ounce

Bid/Ask

$1796.30

$1797.30

Low/High Change

$1795.70 -1.20

$1812.70 -0.07%

t was an emotional day for a number of persons when the Housing and Water Ministry took its flagship “Dream Realised” housing initiative to the National Stadium, Providence, to allocate 1000 house lots.

The two-day event commenced on Monday and will conclude today with 334 persons receiving their land titles as well.

The lots were allocated for Block 18, Plantation Golden Grove, East Bank Demerara (EBD), which was tailored to specifically target low-income earners.

Junior Housing Minister Susan Rodrigues said that the low-income bracket is as important as those in the higher brackets when it comes to accessing house lots, adding that the Ministry will continue to ensure that they are benefitting. She explained that 75 per cent of the allotees are from the low-income bracket.

“Sometimes the low-income earners tend to be forgotten but today’s activity, today’s allocation exercise is solely for the purpose of low-income earners, for the households that need it the most. Your Government is here to support you. We can think of no better use for the land that we have made available,” she said.

Rodrigues said the oneyear anniversary of the People’s Progressive Party Government is rapidly approaching and they are well within their promises of ensuring that 50,000 house lots are allocated during their five-year term.

“It shows the values that we have as a Government, it shows this is the priority. This is our priority and this is the legacy of our party and the legacy of our Government that we are always here to support the working class, and we are always ensuring that our policies are pro poor and always support vulnerable commu-

nities and people who need it the most. We’re always there to support families and ensuring and even more so in the housing and water sectors ensuring that we not just allocate land, but that we promote home ownership and that Guyanese can live in dignity knowing that the roofs over their heads is their own, that that they can go to sleep at nights with that security knowing that they own their own home and that they possess a document to prove their ownership,” the Minister told the gathering.

A young man picks his lot number from Housing and Water Minister Collin Croal

Taking a jab at the APNU/ AFC Administration’s allocation record, Rodrigues said that by August 2, 2021 – the Irfaan Ali-led Government’s first anniversary – they would have allocated more lots than the David Granger Government did in its five years in power.

Restoring confidence

The Minister said that she hopes that the allocation drives act as a form of restoring the confidence of the Guyanese people in the Government and particularly the Central Housing and Planning Authority

(CH&PA).

“We are working to deliver for the people of our country because we understand the need, we understand the gap that has been left there and we have to fill that gap and we have to deliver for the people of our country.

We know that the expectation is on us and we know that we have to deliver for the people of our country, and we have to demonstrate our commitment to distributing land equitably across all regions, across all racial divides, across all political affiliations,” she said.

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guyanatimesgy.com

TUESDAY, JULY 27, 2021

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

Transforming Guyana

G

uyana becoming a developed country is not merely an optimistic hope but a doable and achievable reality because Government’s budgetary facilitation of Private Sector investments can propel this nation into firstworld status.

Before the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Administration assumed the primary executive office in the land in October of 1992, Guyana was rated on international developmental indices as being on par with Haiti. Graphed during the People’s National Congress (PNC) Administration as the least developed nation in the world, with a crippling debt burden, Guyana’s development under the astute leadership provided by successive PPP/C Presidents was rapid.

After a relatively short time span of approximately two decades Guyana was being recognised by the world as a middle-income developing country, and described by Prime Minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines as “The only shining star in the Caribbean”.

The popular prognosis heralded great things for this nation, because the focus of the PPP/C Administrations – then and now – is to make Guyana a modern and developed country; and Guyana had indeed been inexorably moving from a middle-income developing country to becoming, in the not-too-distant future, a developed country.

However, for the country to achieve such a status, it has to be a joint effort by all stakeholders working in conjunction and cooperation with Government. There have been, in the past, multiple successful partnerships between the Government, Private Sector and other stakeholders to work together to create of Guyana a modern society.

The transformation of the national socio-economic landscape has not been easy, because there are elements of negativity who are intent on stymieing every developmental initiative.

Regrettably, this progressive developmental paradigm took a relentless and rapid retrogression – in every sector – with the advent of another PNC-led Government in 2015.

Post-2015 elections, a relentless reversal of Guyana’s developmental trajectory, under the coalition Government administration, brought this country to an almost bankrupt state, with a debt burden of billions of dollars.

One of the worst disincentives to private investment in Guyana is the high energy costs, which send overheads skyrocketing, especially in the manufacturing sector; and the PPP/C Government had attempted to address this problem through hydropower, but had reached the usual developmental roadblocks from the PNC-led A Partnership for National Unity/ Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Opposition, which used every armament in their arsenal to shoot down the project.

It is a proven fact that not having cheap energy is one of the most prohibitive factors that has impeded Guyana’s manufacturing sector from surging.

However, despite the setback with the Amaila Falls Hydro Project, the recently-elected President Irfaan Ali is adamant that the pursuit of alternative energy will be prioritised so that Government can provide cheap energy for the development of a strong industrial manufacturing sector and a strong processing sector. With a progressing agricultural sector that can easily develop an agro-industrial complex, Guyana is once again climbing global developmental graphs.

During the 2020 Budget debates, various Government Members of Parliament (MPs) outlined future transformative plans geared to making the dream of taking Guyana from a middle-income developing country to a developed country, and one could only hope that the joint Opposition would allow good sense and patriotism to prevail over self-centred agendas to work along on these visionary plans and projects that would benefit all Guyanese and create of this country, not only “the only shining star of the Caribbean” but the shining star of the world.

Successive PPP/C Governments have always held out an outstretched hand to the Opposition and all stakeholders in the nation, with scant success of cooperation from the joint Opposition; and history will record their negative contributions to the development of this nation. The ball is in the Opposition’s court.

Children of Annai Village, North Rupununi, Region Nine (Upper Takutu–Upper Essequibo) performing a poem during the distribution of “Because We Care” cash grant in their community (Education Ministry photo)

OAI unlawfully imposing 10% increases on lease holders

Dear Editor, Though Ogle Airport Inc’s (OAI) Public Relations would toss aside serious matters raised by stakeholders as mere storm in a teapot in its quest to pull a veil over the Government’s eyes, nothing can be further from the truth.

In early 2018, unknown to key stakeholders, OAI went ahead and renewed the Eugene F Correia International Airport’s Land Lease with the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission (GLSC), seven years in advance to its expiry date.

The First Term Renewal of the Airport Land Lease is viewed as being done unlawfully, prematurely, clandestinely and out of fear that the imminent change in Government would disapprove of OAI managing the affairs of the Airport given that the present Government while in Opposition was never in agreement with OAI’s decision to change the Airport’s name, and leasing lands to oil and gas companies for non-aviation related activities at the Airport.

However, OAI, aware of the political dynamics in motion at the time, took advantage of its close connections with the coalition-led Government to intentionally disrupt and interfere in the duration of the natural life of the 2001 Land Lease Agreement between itself and the Government for the benefit of securing its interest and being in control of the Airport for the next 50 years.

According to Article Two of the 2001 Master Lease,

the correct and lawful thing to do when the time for renewal would have arrived is for OAI to apply to the subject Minister 180 days in advance to the expiry of the Airport Lease thus signalling its intentions to continue in its role as the Airport Operator.

Now, depending on the satisfactory outcome of a performance review of OAI’s performance which is required to be carried out by the Airport Review Panel, only then can the subject Minister be guided to grant approval for OAI to continue and the Airport Lease to be renewed.

The established legal process for the Airport Lease renewal was breached because there is no Airport Review Panel in existence to carry out such mandatory performance review and to provide guidance to the former subject Minister. Therefore, how can the subject Minister give the approval for OAI to continue as the Airport Operator and get the GLSC to renew the Airport Lease for another 50 years, 7 years ahead of its expiry?

To add insult to injury, three years subsequent to the Airport’s Lease renewal, OAI has now unlawfully increased its sublease fees by 10 per cent, masking the increase as a GLSC fees increase, which it wants lease holders to bear. How can this ever be fair; and why do operators now have to bear a cost the Airport incurs, when OAI is not an NGO, but a profit-making organisation?

In early 2019, OAI tried a similar stunt when it was

moving ahead to unlawfully increase all of its fees by 10 per cent, disguising the increase by calling it “security fees”. We intervened and OAI aborted its plan.

OAI has a habit of levying exorbitant fees onto lease holders over the years, in that the cost to construct vital infrastructure at the Airport such as taxiways, drainages and access roads - cost obligations of OAI, is borne solely by the lease holders as upfront costs or “infrastructure fees” paid to OAI; and then OAI converts those infrastructure into its own assets, which it then turns around and charges the lease holders user and maintenance fees to use those same assets. In other words, one pays to build his own house from scratch only for another person to gain possession

of it and then charge the real owner a high rent to live in it. How can this ever be fair?

I am calling on the subject Minister to immediately look into the affairs, breaches, unlawful imposition of fees upon lease holders and the operations of OAI. Think about the potential adverse impact Airport fee increases can have on domestic ticket prices.

Do not be blinded by the facade of a guided tour of the Eugene F Correia International Airport by both Ministers of Public Works facilitated by OAI immediately after a change in Government.

Yours faithfully, Capt A Mazahar Ally Managing Director Air Services Ltd, AMSL & GRSI

More clarity needed as gas to energy project proceeds Dear Editor, The gas to energy project is one of the most exciting parts of oil development for many like myself in the business community that have long complained that expensive and unreliable electricity has held Guyana back. The concept of cheaper, cleaner, and more available energy is an enticing one.

But the Government can and must do more to show how this project will be completed. There is an understandable public frustration with the

lack of answers. The public has real questions and the Administration must provide more answers.

Thankfully the Government is starting to provide us with the opportunity to ask questions about the ongoing project development. The scoping meetings, which have been set up in a number of towns, even in more rural locations, have been helpful to address some of our concerns, and show the Government’s willingness to be open.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

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TUESDAY, JULY 27, 2021

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

Put energies towards positive suggestions Dear Editor, The Request For Proposals for Amaila Falls Hydro has once again motivated persons to write and express negatives about the project; this leads me to ask if our opinionated class (media, professionals of various types, and armchair experts) have any interest in real development for Guyana? We cannot continue to pour uninformed negative opinions into the public domain without understanding the impact on the investment climate, to be pellucid, I have no issue with well researched and presented arguments against any development project but the noise of negative Nancys has cost us dearly in the past and seem poised to attempt same again.

Winston Brassington wrote a document entitled “Challenges to building the Georgetown Marriott” and it should be required reading in high school; the document details among other things a preponderance of negative newspaper editorials, opinions, letters to the editor aimed at stopping or stymieing that project. The Marriott was conceived and executed pre-oil and today stands as a monument to the vision and ability of a PPP/C Administration to conceive, finance, and execute projects to successful completion. This brings us back to the barriers to progress for Guyana is faced with challenges beyond negative opinions and these require some tough decisions from the Irfaan Ali Administration.

Among them is the un-

availability of sand to meet construction schedules; this is due to increased demand and the inability/refusal of those with licences to operate sandpits to increase production hours. Guyana needs a mental shift in all sectors to realise real development; the new paradigm requires 24/7 work shifts and operators who understand how they fit into the development matrix.

Government has to inform and assist sand pit operators to get to 24/7 capacity or find alternative operators and possibly designate a Ministry to operate sandpits as a boost to supply.

The local wharves are operating at capacity (import and export) and logically the Government will make a Request For Proposals for a deep-water harbour to facilitate new wharves (possibly in the Berbice river) and this will trigger a new wave of negatives to add to the technical challenges posed by such a large-scale project. Is it too much to ask that the (inevitable) criticism be based on fact and research?

Failing that, Guyana is going to become a pariah state for investors whom we are asking to fund, build, own, operate, and then transfer to State various massive bits of essential infrastructure. If we cannot attract this type of investor, Guyana will have to borrow and/or fund its infrastructure projects, which is not the most desirable model for development.

If the Amaila Hydro can be built without taxpayers’ dollars being spent, then I say more power to us as a people (literally) and naysay-

More clarity needed...

So much of the lack of information stems from the fact that we are still in the initial stages of the project despite such wide coverage. Reading headlines, it sometimes seems as if steel is going into the ground each day when in fact the project is still in an early “assessment” phase.

Many of the biggest concerns about things like cost aren’t things that can be known without committing real investment to hire engineers and con-

FROM PAGE 4

sultants to evaluate the prospect. But that would be premature and even illegal if Government funds were spent on that before an environmental impact assessment or community meetings were done.

More clarity from the Government about that process and the careful, measured pace it must proceed at would go a long way towards soothing the community’s concerns.

Sincerely, Donald Singh

ers need to put energies towards positive suggestions on how we can achieve this and other major projects at the lowest possible cost and greatest returns for all Guyanese.

Faithfully, Robin Singh

Inconsiderate businesses occupying pedestrian walkway in Anna Regina Dear Editor, This letter is being directed to President Irfaan Ali because all other appeals, over the last several years, have been met with deaf ears.

The students of Anna Regina are in grave danger because of greedy businesses.

Anna Regina is the

Support for Gandhi Street in Georgetown Dear Editor, The Indian Diaspora Council International (IDC), in collaboration with Guyana IDC Chapter headed by business magnate Mr Yesu Persaud fully supports the proposal by Guyana’s Indian Commemoration Trust (ICT) in naming of a street in Georgetown honouring Mahatma Gandhi, a globally renowned historical icon whose life and legacy have also positively affected the people of Guyana in many significant ways.

The proposal was submitted to Georgetown Mayor Ubraj Narine by ICT’s Chairman Dr Yesu Persaud who stated that: “Although Guyana has previously recognized Gandhi with a statute at Promenade Garden, and both Gandhi and Mandela with several postage stamps, the additional recognition of naming a street in Georgetown would certainly add to Gandhi’s stature among Guyanese and others. We believe that street naming honouring Gandhi would enhance Guyana’s recognition of Gandhi similar to other countries which have named streets, avenues, boulevards and highways after this international stalwart”.

Currently “Nelson Mandela Avenue” in Georgetown honours Nelson Mandela who closely followed the teachings of Gandhi in organising peaceful protests and ultimately

achieving the end of apartheid and oppressive rule, social injustice and legally ending racial discrimination in South Africa.

“The world pays special homage and grateful recognition of Mohandas Gandhi as the preeminent leader of the Indian independence movement in British-ruled India through non-violence means. Mahatma Gandhi’s non- violence teachings have inspired many to protest in peaceful ways against oppression, subjugation and violent discrimination in many countries. Gandhi developed this non-violent way first and he succeeded in his goals, as India was completely freed from a European’s country domination”, ICT proposal further stated.

“As a multi-ethnic society with a long history of slavery and Indian indentureship, and its struggle for freedom and independence, Guyana’s further recognition of Gandhi in the same manner as honouring Mandela would be fitting and timely – in view of current global pandemic as well as turmoil in South Africa and other countries”.

IDC looks forward to Georgetown, Guyana, naming a street honouring Mahatma Gandhi as truly deserving.

Sincerely, Indian Diaspora Council (IDC)

main educational hub for Essequibo. It is home to two large public high schools, a privately-run Islamic high school, a primary school that is the largest in the country, three nursery schools, multiple day care facilities and places of private lessons for all levels, a technical college, an agricultural school, a teachers’ training college and countless other educational and support facilities.

Thousands of students commute to Anna Regina for school from the length and breadth of Region 2 and must therefore walk along the walkways and sidewalks of Anna Regina.

The Government has provided very ample sidewalks to accommodate this need and to create a safe and orderly environment for our students and the public.

However, the greedy, inconsiderate and lawless behaviour of most of the large businesses along the Anna Regina main road has nullified the safety and order the Government has provided to these students.

These businesses have bullied their way into placing permanent, enclosure structures over the public sidewalks and are using these permanent structures as extensions of their businesses, denying the public and students the use and safety of the sidewalks.

These bullies are forcing the community and the students to use the actual main road

where there is heavy vehicular traffic, as a footpath.

It boggles the mind that these businesses can with impunity annex public property, that actively serves the public by providing an essential function, and convert it to private use without any consequence. How is this fair to the thousands of taxpayers who paid to have these sidewalks built? How can the Government allow this lawlessness? How can the Government so casually place citizens at risk like this?

This is an ongoing situation for several years now, and it has been getting progressively worst. I am surprised no one has yet been killed in an automobile accident. Perhaps this is what it will take for the Government to get up and rectify this atrocious state of affairs.

Perhaps the tragedy of a heavily laden sand truck running over an innocent gaggle of bright faced school children, splattering their blood and brains over their crisp green and white uniforms and leaving their mangled little bodies and crushed skulls pressed into the middle of the road for all to see, is what the Government is waiting for before it can be galvanised into action. Help us fix this lawlessness before any child dies needlessly.

Sincerely, Region 2 parent

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Foundation ◄

anthem for my belly after eating too much

Past NGSA questions

By Kara Jackson

R

emember the Mighty Sven from Happy Feet 2? He was an Atlantic puffin and not a magical penguin as he claimed. Atlantic puffins have distinctive large, triangular red-orange bills with a bluegray base and yellow ridge. Their head, neck, back and wings are black, while their cheeks are pale gray and

white. Puffins have bright orange legs and webbed feet. Puffins live most of their lives at sea (except during breeding season) and are adept at both swimming and flying. They can dive for up to a minute, but are usually underwater for 20 to 30 seconds at a time, reaching depths of up to 300 feet. Puffins use their wings to

push through the water and can swim as fast as 10 miles per hour. They can also fly about 50 miles per hour, thanks to wicked-fast wings that can beat up to 400 times a minute.

Write a story describing why The Mighty Sven was able to masquerade as a magical penguin. (Adapted from aqua.org)

i look in the mirror, and all the chips i’ve eaten this month have accumulated like schoolwork at the bottom of my tummy, my belly—a country i’m trying to love. my mouth is a lover devoted to you, my belly, my belly the birds will string a song together with wind for you and your army of solids, militia of grease. americans love excess, but we also love jeans, and refuse to make excess comfortable in them. i step into a fashionable prison, my middle managed and fastened into suffering. my gracious gut, dutiful dome, i will wear a house for you that you can live in, promise walls that embrace your growing flesh, and watch you reach toward everything possible.

(Source: Poetry (March 2021))

WORD SEARCH

NEWS

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TUESDAY, JULY 27, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Legal advice on NCMs against Harmon, Ministers by weekend – Clerk L egal advice on the No Confidence Motions against Opposition Leader Joseph Harmon and two Government Ministers, which was sought from the Legal Affairs Ministry, is likely to be provided by the end of this week.

This was confirmed

by Clerk of the National Assembly Sherlock Issacs, in a brief interview with this publication. According to Issacs, he followed up on the matter on Monday with Attorney General Anil Nandlall, SC. “He said he was a bit busy, dealing with other official matters. And I should expect (a response) from him by the end of the week,” Issacs, who had requested the information on behalf of the Speaker, said.

Opposition Leader Joseph Harmon had filed NoConfidence Motions against Minister of Health Dr Frank Anthony and Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn a few weeks back. In his motions, he had called for their resignations over what he claimed was their poor running of their Ministries.

His motion against Dr Anthony was seconded by former junior Health Minister Dr Karen Cummings, while his motion against Benn was seconded by shadow Home Affairs Minister Geeta ChandanEdmond.

The A Partnership for

Opposition Leader Joseph Harmon

National Unity/Alliance For Change’s (APNU/AFC) contended that the management of the spread of COVID-19 has been woeful and confirmed COVID cases and deaths are “spiralling out of control.” In the case of Benn, their grievances included the setting up of the Regional Joint Support crime fighting team.

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

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

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

in the APNU/AFC fight to stay in power after losing the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections.

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

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

“And Whereas the Leader of the Opposition opportunistically used the horrific murder of the Henry youth from West Coast Berbice as a means to incite ethnic disharmony. And Whereas the Leader of the Opposition has consistently denigrated the representative of the joiner parties, Mr Lenox Shuman, Deputy Speaker, as a legitimate member of the parliamentary opposition, even going so far as to deny him holding an opposition seat on any parliamentary committee. Be It Resolved that this House expresses its lack of confidence in the Leader of the Opposition and calls for his immediate resigna-

Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony

tion,” Phillips said in his motion.

In the wake of these No-Confidence Motions, Speaker of the National Assembly Manzoor Nadir had sought legal advice from the AG Chambers earlier this month. Based on this legal advice, Nadir will have the final say on whether the motions will be allowed on the floor of the National Assembly or not.

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

APNU/AFC, the main Opposition party, has 31 seats, while the Liberty and Justice Party (LJP), in col-

Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn

laboration with two other parties, holds one. (G3)

8 NEWS

TUESDAY, JULY 27, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

“Chuckie” for retrial today over aunt’s murder

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retrial for 27-year-old Kevin Mohan, who is accused of murdering his aunt, will commence today before Justice Sandil Kissoon at the High Court in Demerara. On Monday, a 12-member mixed jury was empanelled. It is alleged that on September 4, 2016, at Cummings Lodge, Greater Georgetown, Mohan called “Chuckie” murdered Anita Mohan during the course/furtherance of a robbery.

Mohan, who pleaded not guilty to the charge, is being represented by Attorney-atLaw Damien Da Silva, while State Counsel Lisa Cave and Muntaz Ali are appearing

Murder accused: Kevin Mohan, called “Chuckie”

on behalf of the prosecution.

The prosecution is expected to call a total of 11 witnesses, inclusive of Police ranks, civilians, and a medical doctor.

Based on reports, the battered body of 48-year-old Anita Mohan was discovered in a pool of blood in the kitchen of her Lot 315 South East Cummings Lodge, Greater Georgetown home.

A post-mortem examination revealed that the woman sustained a chop wound to her head and one in the vicinity of her temple, along with a stab wound to her chin and one in her mouth.

A portion of her tongue was severed, and she was strangled. (G1)

Preparing…

W

Dead: Anita Mohan

Trial pending for labourer accused of killing mason

Murder accused: Michael Emanuel

T

he trial of a 25-yearold labourer who is accused of fatally stabbing Wismar,

Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) labourer Leonard Peters is set to begin on August 4. Before Justice Sandil Kisson and a jury, Michael Emanuel was on Monday indicted for the December 21, 2018 murder of Leonard Peters.

The murder accused appeared at the Demerara High Court from prison via Zoom and pleaded not guilty to the charge. He is being represented by lawyer Damien Da Silva, while State Counsel Lisa Cave and State Counsel Muntaz Ali are presenting the case for the prosecution.

Based on reports, Peters was lashed to his head and stabbed to his chest during a fight at a social event. He

died while receiving treatment at the hospital.

It was reported that the incident stemmed from

a misunderstanding between Peters and Emanuel’s 19-year-old brother while they were at a party. Whilst at the event, Peters accidentally spilled alcohol on the teenager and they ended up in a scuffle. The teen then went home and complained to his mother.

Peters is alleged to have run in the yard and attacked the teenager when Emanuel intervened.

According to the reports, he armed himself with a piece of wood which he used to attack the brothers.

Emanuel, however, managed to disarm Peters and allegedly dealt him a blow to his head.

During the scuffle, Peters was also stabbed. (G1)

munition that were hidden under the man’s pillow. The elder Pollard did not proceed with the charge.

Then in March 2019, Pollard appeared before the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on a charge which alleged that he stole a Samsung Galaxy cell phone valued at $44,000 from a woman. He allegedly committed the offence on February 19, 2019, at Croal Street, Georgetown.

Meanwhile, in August 2019, he was brought before the courts for stealing another phone. The charge alleged that on August 5, 2019, at Croal Street, he stole a cell phone valued at $35,000 from Saskia Pestano.

Facts disclosed that the woman was in a Route 48 minibus when the phone was snatched out of her hand. The minibus had stopped for a passenger to disembark and Pestano was sitting by an open window seat.

Pollard allegedly ran up to the minibus window, snatched the phone, and ran away.

He was caught by public-spirited persons. A report

was filed at the Stabroek Market Police Outpost and a search was conducted and the cell phone was found in his possession.

In September 2019, he was charged with robbing someone of their cellular phone. That charge stated that on September 13, 2019, at Camp Street, Georgetown, while being in the company of others, he robbed Bob Sachin of a cell phone valued at $44,000 and $1000.

The court was told that on the day in question at around 17:30h, the virtual complainant was walking along Camp Street and was using his cellular phone when Pollard snatched it.

When the virtual complainant and two other men approached Pollard and his accomplices, he told them “Don’t do nothing before we do you something.”

Nevertheless, the virtual complainant was able to raise an alarm and two passing Police ranks give chase and apprehended the alleged robbers.

Pollard also has pending charges for robbery under arms and robbery with violence. (G1)

Dead: Leonard Peters

Accused chain snatcher remanded

C

hris Pollard, who has several pending robbery charges before the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts, is now accused of snatching a woman’s chain. The 20-year-old appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Monday where he pleaded not guilty to the charge.

It is alleged that on July 22, at the Route 47 Bus Park, Stabroek, Georgetown, he stole from the person of Tenecia Dick, a gold chain valued at $70,000 - property of the said Dick. The alleged thief was remanded to prison by Senior Magistrate Leron Daly who adjourned the case until August 30.

The Police prosecutor told the court that the virtual complainant and defendant are known to each other. While the woman was about to board a minibus, it is alleged that Pollard walked up to her and snatched the gold chain that she was wearing around her neck.

Dick gave chase behind Pollard, and with the help of public-spirited citizens, she was able to apprehend him.

The prosecutor opposed Pollard being released on

Remanded: Chris Pollard

bail on the ground that he is facing similar charges. The prosecutor’s objection was upheld by the Magistrate.

In February 2018, Pollard was charged with stealing his father’s licenced firearm. The charge against him stated that on January 28, 2018, at David Street, Kitty, Georgetown, he stole a .32 pistol, along with 10 matching rounds of ammunition valued at $252,600 from Peter Pollard.

It was revealed that Pollard, who was then 18, visited his father’s home and stole the gun and am-

…for emancipation ell, here we are…less than a week away from celebrating Emancipation Day and your Eyewitness is getting pretty excited. After all, we just can’t think of the “emancipation” that occurred back in 1838. That was just a BEGINNING! How emancipated are we NOW?? Did you think that just being told that you won’t be drawn and quartered if you just couldn’t finish your “task” but you still have to show up to do the same work, under the same “driver” meant “emancipation”? No Siree Bob!!

Listen Budday…being “emancipated” means you should be free to “choose” whether you want to work or not!! And whether you want to work under those particular conditions. After all, after Apprenticeship finished, many of the ex-slaves just took the money they’d saved during the four years and bought out plantations where the owners had taken the money (“compensation” from the British Government) and ran. They built their own cottages and started their own farms and showed up to work whenever they felt like it!! And when they did show up, they insisted on demanding rates they felt were fair to them. NOW they had choice!!

Frankly, your Eyewitness thinks we should simply pick up on this example. Is he really emancipated when he has to crank out one of these pieces every day of the year? How different is this from slavery?? OK…from Apprenticeship! Seriously, folks, just think about it… what’s the difference between our life of drudgery and slavery? OK…there’s those whips and chains he alluded to earlier…aren’t the tongue lashings from heartless bosses, along the same spectrum??

This pandemic has made your Eyewitness want to emulate our emancipated forefathers and foremothers and simply chuck it all in and turn his backyard into a garden to take care of all his needs. The Government has been encouraging we city folks to become selfsufficient, no? And chickens don’t really need coops when they come home to roost, do they?

He can also bring home one of those goats wandering about the place and once a year get some meat. Curried goat, anyone? From the surplus, he can sell to get some money to buy the one necessity he can’t plant - beer!

Of course, with the change in the law and all that… he could also plant a couple of ganja plants and call it “hemp” so that he can split a spliff on his special days!!

He’d be saving on medical bills since he’ll be eating 100% organic (he’ll only use fertiliser produced by his goat). Now don’t tell your Eyewitness that it can’t be done.

It was done by our ancestors and by golly so will your Eyewitness! …Local Government Elections Will somebody get real about Local Government Elections? Your Eyewitness knows that by operation of the law, they’re due sometime this year. But heck…so is the PNC Congress! And from all he’s reading, this is even more urgent!! But we know that the PNC-governmentin-waiting has decided that it can’t be held because of COVID 19!! So are the rest of us chopped liver? Nobody cares about us??

Georgetown as the largest municipality had regressed to its normal state of decrepitude and it seems acceptable to everyone who lives there. We KNOW THE SAME LOT WILL BE RETURNED and the city voters are our most woke set of voters! The other Local Government bodies have quite a ways to reach that state and your Eyewitness knows is sure “as Georgetown goes” so will the rest of the nation!

So let’s do what was done for years through the cooperation of the PNC and the Government - just convene Parliament and postpone the LGE! We know some folks will behave bad when they lose once again!!

…for the hereafter Public Service Message: Stephen Harmon, a member of the S California Hillsong megachurch, who’d mocked COVID-19 vaccines, has died after a month-long battle with the virus.

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

NEWS

9

TUESDAY, JULY 27, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Govt to crack down on engineers who fraudulently certify works W

ith the Public A c c o u n t s Committee (PAC) uncovering increasing cases of overpayment of contractors, Ministry staff who fraudulently certify works will soon start feeling the squeeze following directives from the committee.

During Monday’s sitting of the PAC, the Home Affairs Ministry was put under the microscope. It was found that there were several cases of overpayment at the Ministry, dating back to 2016 when it was known as the Public Security Ministry.

The sheer prevalence of overpayments forced PAC member Ganesh Mahipaul to enquire as to the reason for the phenomenon. The general reasons for overpayments were explained by Senior Engineer Danny Ramdehlor.

“There are several cases that lead to overpayment of contractors. A principal one is not having approved variations in the file. There are many cases where contractors go ahead and do unapproved work. That inevitably leads to overpayments.”

“In other cases, there are discrepancies in measure-

Finance Secretary Sukrishnalall Pasha

Woman stabs teen after he ended relationship

A

n 18-year-old lad of Tabatinga Drive, Lethem, Central Rupununi was on Sunday afternoon stabbed by a 20-year-old woman with whom he had just broken up.

Police said the young woman became annoyed after the teen said he wanted to end their relationship. As

such, the woman armed herself with a knife and stabbed him twice on his arms.

The victim then ran over to nearby family members who took him to the Lethem Regional Hospital, where he was treated and sent away.

The suspect remains at large. Investigations are ongoing.

Less than a week ago,

a 25-year-old man identified as Mahindra Singh of Murphy Dam, West Bank Berbice (WBB), was attacked and stabbed by a man a short distance from his home.

Investigations have revealed that the victim’s wife and her sister had a heated argument last Monday over her taking her husband home to sleep, because he was highly inebriated and being a nuisance. They were attacked as they were heading home, with the suspect stabbing the victim to the right side of his chest with a broken glass bottle.

Singh collapsed and was picked up and taken to the Fort Wellington Public Hospital, where he was treated, but he was later transferred to the New Amsterdam Hospital in serious condition.

ments between the Ministry Engineers and the Audit Office. Many times, that doesn’t lead to very big overpayments because they are discrepancies in the measurements,” he explained.

Overpayments to the tune of $3.5 million were made on a contract for works on the Albion Police Station.

According to the Auditor General, the contractor had accepted liability after the Ministry had written to the consultant.

It was explained that during 2015, 2016 and in January 2017, the Ministry recovered $750,000 from the contractor. This left an amount of $2.754 million still to be recovered. Additionally, a letter was written to the Ministry of Legal Affairs for advice on recovering the money.

“However, on July 2, 2015, the contractor wrote the Ministry accepting the overpayment and gave commitment that the sum overpaid would be repaid soon.

At the time of reporting, the sum of $2.754 million still remained outstanding,” the report said, noting that the Ministry was advised to pursue the matter.

In the case of the Kamarang Police Station,

overpayments totalling $1.2 million were made. In fact, it was found that the Kamarang Police Station had as many as 20 discrepancies with measurements.

These discrepancies included material being substituted.

Despite this, the Ministry certified these works, causing the Finance Ministry to disburse payments. These repeat offenses would cause Chairman of the PAC, Jermaine Figueira, to urge action against staff who are responsible for such overpayments, since he noted that the focus is usually on the contractors when it is the Ministry staff who approved the work.

“In light of these revelations FS, your office has to do something. Send a circular to that effect. That before these works are signed off, it has to satisfy the scope of works.

And if the engineers or clerk of works are responsible for overpayments happening at those agencies, they are the ones that should be sanctioned as well.”

“Because they are responsible for certifying these works as per the contract requirements. Because when the Audit Office go in and their engineers go back and measure the work, they re-

alise that this scope of work wasn’t followed,” Figueira said.

Finance Secretary Sukrishnalall Pasha meanwhile indicated that a circular to this effect would be sent out. According to him, such actions are a breach of the Fiscal Management and Accountability Act (FMAA).

“It is a serious matter and it actually constitutes an offence. Because if you are to look at it logically, there may be some amount of falsification of documents submitted. We would treat the documents submitted to our Ministry as authentic documents to make payments accordingly.”

“So that message will have to be sent out. If it can be proven that there was falsification of documents, then it would constitute an offense and the consequences are spelt out in section 85 of the FMAA, which would be three years’ imprisonment,” Pasha said.

Meanwhile, Permanent Secretary Mae Thomas spoke of a new system being implemented that would better monitor large-scale contracts. This includes putting persons whose specific job would be contract management. (G3)

10

TUESDAY, JULY 27, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

11 PSC discusses electoral reform with new British High Commissioner T NEWS

TUESDAY, JULY 27, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

he Private Sector Commission met with newly accredited British High Commissioner Jane Caroline Miller where they discussed, among other things, the need for electoral reforms in Guyana.

The PSC’s delegation was led by Chairman Paul Cheong.

On Monday, the PSC said that the cordial and fruitful discussion focused on several areas of mutual interest to the United Kingdom and Guyana, inclusive of matters pertaining to governance, electoral reform, local content, joint ventures, ease of doing business, enhancement of technical skills, and the overall enhancement of business activities.

Cheong, during the meeting, underlined the need for the establishment of a strategic productive relationship with the United Kingdom in an effort to strengthen bilateral relations with Guyana’s Private Sector.

The High Commissioner expressed her gratitude for the meeting and expressed hope for continuous engagements of this nature.

The meeting was also at-

British High Commissioner Jane Caroline Miller meeting with executives of the PSC which was led

by Chairman Paul Cheong

tended by representatives of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce (GCCI), the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA), and other executives of the PSC. The issue of electoral reform continues to dominate all discussions following the aftermath of the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections. The 5-month tumultuous impasse has brought to the fore the need for constitutional reforms as well as a complete reformation of Guyana’s electoral machinery.

There were concerted efforts by the former governing A Partnership for

National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) and some GECOM officials to undermine democracy after the elections were held.

A number of ploys were involved, from GECOM officials inflating numbers to favour the former ruling party to supporters of the APNU/ AFC using the courts to drag out the process after the elections were held.

However, a 33-day recount showed that the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) won the elections, but it took the firmness of local and regional courts; the resilience of GECOM Chair, Retired Justice Claudette Singh and

threats of sanctions from the international community led by the United States before former President David Granger finally stepped aside and allowed President Ali to be sworn in.

Following the March 2020 elections fiasco, several observer missions made recommendations for reforms at the Guyana Elections Commission as well as to the entire electoral system.

Earlier in the year, the United States Department of State made the announcement that it will be supporting an 18-month project to strengthen the capacity of GECOM and the Attorney General’s Chambers to lay

the groundwork as it relates to electoral reform.

The project, which will be implemented by the International Republican Institute (IRI), will also see efforts undertaken to encourage local civil society organisations (CSOs) to advocate for electoral reform in accordance with regional and international standards.

According to the US Embassy in Georgetown, through this project, GECOM, the AG Chambers, and civil society bodies will collaboratively consolidate and improve local electoral and constitutional law knowledge, establish an internal timeline to address electoral reform, improve collaboration for joint advocacy actions, and prioritise electoral and constitutional law issues while promoting reform through citizen engagement.

The project is part of ongoing support activities by the US Government to strengthen the capacity of Guyana’s governance for the benefit of all Guyanese.

This is especially significant given the critical role the US played in defending

Guyana’s democracy last year. In fact, the US was the only country to impose visa restrictions against those persons who were responsible for or complicit in undermining Guyana’s democracy following the March 2 elections.

Since, then Guyana has been offered assistance, mostly technical, from several other bilateral partners – including Canada and India as well as various international organisations – to aid in the electoral reform process.

Thus far, several GECOM workers have been brought before the courts for the roles they played in attempting to sway the results of the March 2020 elections. The list includes Chief Elections Officer (CEO) Keith Lowenfield; Deputy CEO Roxanne Myers; Region Four Returning Officer Clairmont Mingo; and several ancillary staffers.

A national recount conducted showed that the PPP/C won the elections with 233,336 votes – some 15,416 more votes than the 217,920 votes that the APNU/AFC secured.

12 NEWS

TUESDAY, JULY 27, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Deadly weekend: 3 die in separate accidents T

hree persons lost their lives over the weekend in separate accidents at Uitvlugt, West Coast Demerara; Providence, East Bank Demerara and Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo.

Dead are Kenneth Smith, Stephen Bishop and Isaac Hussain.

The first accident occurred on at De Willem Public Road, West Coast Demerara (WCD), on Saturday, which caused the death of Kenneth Smith, 54, of Ocean View Uitvlugt, WCD. Police said that the accident involved motor pickup GPP 8150 and motor car PZZ 9052 which was driven by a University of Guyana (UG) student who lost control of the car he was driving, killing Smith and injuring 43-year-old Rampaul Sursen, a carpenter of Tuschen New Scheme, East Bank Essequibo (EBE).

Based on reports received, at about 17:45h on Saturday, motor pick-up GPP 8150 driven by 39-year-old Sahadeo Singh of Hydronie, EBE, was proceeding along the De Willem Public Road in a line of traffic when the driver alleged that he indicated that he was making a turn into Harry Kissoon Street.

In the process of doing so, the UG student who was driving lost control of his vehicle and collided with the motor pick-up before crashing into a fence and eventually colliding with the two men - Smith and Sursen who were standing in the yard.

As a result of the collision, both men sustained injuries about their bodies.

They were picked up in an unconscious state and taken to the Leonora Cottage Hospital.

Smith, however, succumbed while receiving treatment and Sursen was referred to the West Demerara Regional Hospital where he was admitted with a fractured left ankle and other injuries about his body.

The UG student, of Public Road, Hague, WCD, was arrested. A breathalyser test

Dead: Stephen Bishop

man was driving his motor car at a fast rate of speed proceeding south along the eastern carriageway.

The driver alleged that the pedestrian suddenly ran across the road and upon seeing this, he applied brakes but to no avail.

The car collided with the man, causing him to fall onto the road’s surface where he received injuries.

He was picked up in an unconscious state and taken to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre where he was examined by doctors on duty and pronounced dead.

When Guyana Times vis-

The car that struck Bishop down

was conducted on both drivers but there were no traces of alcohol in their systems.

Providence accident

The second accident occurred on Sunday at about 18:55h on the Providence Public Road, East Bank Demerara, which left 51-year-old Stephen Bishop of North East La Penitence dead.

Reports are that the man was struck down by a 34-year-old driver of Herstelling New Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara (EBD), who was intoxicated.

According to reports, the

ited the family on Monday, the man’s only child, 26-year-old Stephen Bishop Junior, was completely devastated.

The mother of the victim’s son, Marcia Craig, explained that the father and son had a close relationship and now the young man is traumatised.

“My son come waking me up this morning (Monday) crying in tears, it was so shocking for me because I only spoke to him two days ago. We did call whole night last night because we had a lil birthday party here, so we expected him [to come] because he was fun, he is the

Dead: Issac Hussain

Backlog and 49,000 pending applications

As the population continues to grow and more people become eligible for house lots, more and more applications are being en-

Minister Susan Rodrigues with an allotee as she picks her lot number

Dead: Kenneth Smith

life of the party,” Craig explained, noting that the man never showed up.

It was only on Monday morning that the family was notified of the accident.

Maureen Scott, the now dead man’s sister, said she was the one to be informed of her brother’s death.

“This morning (Monday), the Police call me about 5 o’clock and ask me my name, and…they said he get knock down last night,” Scott told Guyana Times.

She said Bishop had gone to the Ramada Princess Hotel, Providence, where he was visiting another sibling who had arrived from overseas.

Meanwhile, the driver of the motor car has since been arrested and is assisting with the investigations.

“I want to see the person who did this, you know, we need justice. He family need justice,” Craig expressed.

The car Hussain was driving at the time of the accident

Tuschen accident

Also, on Sunday at around 23:30h, an 18-yearold man of Tuschen, EBE, died, and two teenagers are said to be in a critical condition after the motor car they were travelling in crashed into a parked truck at Uitvlugt, EBE. Dead is Isaac Hussain, a DJ, and injured are 19-year-old Michael Gomes of Tuschen, and 22-yearold Pertab Singh of Parika, EBE. Reports are that Hussain, the driver of motor car PZZ 5096, was proceed-

1000 low-income house lots...

Rodrigues, in an attempt to appease concerns of some communities about further opening their villages, said that the new infrastructure work will result in increased property value and increased business among other benefits.

She also spoke directly to those persons still waiting for their house lots, thanking them for their patience adding that they are working to ensure the backlog is addressed.

ing west along the southern side of the road when he allegedly lost control and collided with the truck.

The driver and the two other occupants were rescued by public-spirited citizens and taken to the Leonora Cottage Hospital where they received medical attention.

However, at around 01:30h on Monday, Hussain succumbed to his injuries.

According to his mother Nadira Hussain, her son left his home on Sunday and said he was going for a drive around the corner. However, sometime later, she received

a phone call that he was involved in an accident.

“All he said was mommy meh coming back, and I ask he how far he going and he say mommy meh going right around the turn, I coming back just now and that was all…The person the call told us to come now to Cottage Hospital. When we go there, they said he was critical and have to transfer him to Georgetown Hospital,” the grieving mother explained.

The young man’s mother said after he was transferred to the city hospital,

she was told by doctors that he was not going to make it because he was haemorrhaging in the brain. She said he was at the time on a life support machine, and did not make it out the day.

“This is very hard for me because this is my only son. This is really, really hurting me because he is just 18 years old. He just to go and play songs and come home back. He doesn’t go nowhere, he doesn’t have no friends apart from his DJ friends them...”, the tearful woman said. (LaWanda McAllister)

FROM PAGE 3

tered into the system. There has always been a backlog in the processing of those applications and according to Housing Minister Collin Croal, for Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) alone there are 49,000 pending applications.

Of those applications there are 29,000 from low-income earners alone.

“So today’s allocations which amount to a 1000 will put a small dent in the backlog and for this let me thank the staff of the CHPA for implementing changes which have made the qualification process easier…The cost of these lots is heavily subsidised by the Government and at a minimum of $250,000.00 per lot, allotees will pay far below mar-

ket prices for prime spots of land. Low-income housing for citizens is a pillar of development that is representative of the commitment of our Government to bettering the lives of all Guyanese, so I am extremely proud to be handing out these allocations today,” Croal said.

He added that in addition to the goal of delivering 10,000 house lots per annum, the Government is also constructing 500 low-income homes, explaining that the investments in developing communities is significant.

“On the East Bank corridor alone, works are ongoing at Providence, Prospect, Little Diamond and Great Diamond; the four-lane highway from Mandela to

Eccles, the access bridge at Mocha and roads at Providence and Herstelling.

These interventions to make life easier for citizens cost some $6,492,385,760. This together with the cost of similar works on the East Coast projects at Cummings Lodge, LBI, Mon Repos, Annandale, Vigilance, Bladen Hall and Strathspey amounts to a whopping $10,179,268,340 for Region Four. Additionally, the area for allocations over this 2-day event will see an investment of $2.2 billion in the new year,” he informed.

He added that similar investments are being made throughout the country to ensure that every Guyanese can access quality housing and house lots.

NEWS

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TUESDAY, JULY 27, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

10,000 2nd dose Sputnik V arrive in Guyana …3 more deaths, 31 new COVID cases recorded

G

uyana received 10,000 second doses of Sputnik V vaccines on Monday morning.

In his COVID-19 update on Monday, Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony said that the Ministry will continue the administration of the second doses of the Russian Sputnik V vaccine today.

According to Dr Anthony, the administration of the vaccines will continue for those who received their first doses in April and will be extended to those persons who received theirs in May. He said that the period to receive the second dose of the Russian-made vaccine is between four to 12 weeks.

Dr Anthony added that the Ministry is aware that a lot of persons already took their first dose and many are now eligible for their second dose.

“We have been following that protocol so those persons, as of last week, as you would recall we have started giving the second dose to those persons who got their first dose in April. We’ll continue that process from tomorrow anybody remaining from April will be able to access their second dose,” the Health Minister said.

He has since called for persons to visit a vaccination site to receive their second jabs, adding that the Ministry is also administering the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine, and Sinopharm.

Guyana had experienced a delay in receiving the shipment of the second component after there was a global shortage due to the spike in the Delta variant.

Slowdown

Additionally, Dr Anthony revealed that authorities are seeing a “slowdown” of persons coming out to get vacci-

nated against COVID-19.

“Generally, we have to get more people coming out…we’ve seen a slowdown, so to speak, of persons coming out to get the vaccine,” he stated during Monday’s update on the situation.

To date, 246,716 persons have received a first dose of the vaccine, representing 50.7 per cent of adult population while 130,429 persons are fully inoculated, representing 26.8 per cent.

Regions Eight (PotaroSiparuni) and 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) are lagging behind with regards to the vaccination uptake, when compared to other regions.

The Health Minister noted that efforts are being made to encourage vaccination not only in those regions, but countrywide.

He reminded that the current COVID-19 restrictions cannot be removed unless the country achieves herd immunity.

“If we want to remove some of the restrictions that we currently have, then the only way we’ll be able to do that is if we’re able to achieve herd immunity and to do that, people will have to get the vaccines,” Dr Anthony posited.

The Health Minister had previously explained that for Guyana to achieve herd immunity, between 80 per cent to 85 per cent of the population needs to be fully vaccinated.

The country had experienced and continues to experience a delay in receiving the shipment of the second component after there was a global shortage due to the spike in the Delta variant. The Sputnik V vaccine has proven most effective against this variant.

In addition to these three

vaccines, the country is expected to get a shipment of Johnson and Johnson vaccines next month. The Guyana Government had made a down payment for the acquisition of 150,000 single-dose Johnson and Johnson vaccines under a partnership agreement between the African Union and the Caribbean Community (Caricom).

Deaths, new cases

Also on Monday, the Ministry reported that three more persons who were infected with the novel coronavirus have died, taking the country’s death toll to 530.

The latest fatalities are a 37-year-old woman from Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara); a 70-year-old woman from Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo), and a 73-year-old man from Region Four (DemeraraMahaica).

Meanwhile, the country has recorded 31 new COVID cases, taking the total positives recorded since March 2020 to 22,181. Of this amount there has been 20,665 recoveries.

There are nine persons in the Intensive Care Unit; 70 in institutional isolation and 907 in home isolation.

There were 31 new cases recorded on Monday from 559 tests.

The new cases are two in Region Three; 15 in Region Four; one in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice); nine in Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne) and four in Region 10 (Upper DemeraraBerbice).

Authorities are urging the public to continue observing all COVID-19 preventative measures, particularly masking in public, social distancing and fre-

GUYANA COVID-19 DASHBOARD JULY 27 UPDATE

NUMBER OF NEW CASES

31

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN INSTITUTIONAL ISOLATION

70

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN HOME ISOLATION

907

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN COVID-19 ICU

9

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN INSTITUTIONAL QUARANTINE

0

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES BY GENDER (FEMALES)

11,348

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES BY GENDER (MALES)

10,833

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES IN GUYANA SINCE 2020

22,181

NUMBER OF RECOVERED CASES

20,665

TOTAL 1st DOSE VACCINATED

246,716

FULLY IMMUNISED

130,429

TOTAL NUMBER OF DEATHS

530

DISTRIBUTION OF TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES SINCE MARCH 2020 REGION 1

1295

REGION 2

623

REGION 3

2514

REGION 4

9928

REGION 5

742

REGION 6

1857

REGION 7

1277

REGION 8

380

REGION 9

2034

REGION 10

1541

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

Keep a physical distance of at least 6 feet.

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

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

quent hand washing and sanitising. The measures also include a 22:30h (10:30 pm) to 04:00h (4 am) national curfew that is in effect until

July 31, 2021.

If anyone is displaying any of the symptoms associated with COVID-19 or needs any addition-

al information, contact the COVID-19 Hotline 2311166, 226-7480 or 624-6674 immediately or visit www. health.gov.gy.

14 NEWS

TUESDAY, JULY 27, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

$400M approved by Parliament for GuySuCo in 2016 withheld by APNU/AFC

S

hocking information has come to light that the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) never received $400 million that was approved in the former A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) 2016 budget.

The matter was addressed by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Monday, when former Agriculture Ministry Permanent Secretary George Jervis was called before the committee. According to Jervis, the monies were approved for GuySuCo, but he said that the monies, which were intended for purchasing machinery and equipment that would be used for harvesting and land preparations at the Albion, Rose Hall and Uitvlugt Estates, were in fact never released by the Government.

It was not the first time that monies that were for a specific purpose for GuySuCo were used for other purposes by the then APNU/AFC Administration. In 2018 the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL), through Republic Bank, arranged a $30 billion syndicated bond at a rate of 4.75 per cent interest and a five-year repayment period to recapitalise

the closed estates. GuySuCo was allocated a further $2 billion in Budget 2021 by the PPP/C Government for capital works to be undertaken at the various estates to help in the turnaround of the sugar industry.

Due to the deteriorating state of the Wales factory, that estate will be converted into the Wales Development Authority – an industrial facility that will see the de-

GuySuCo. However, a significant part of the bond was never used for the purposes it was secured. The previous APNU/AFC Government itself had admitted that between July 2018 to February 2020, $9.7 billion was disbursed from the bond to GuySuCo to fund its operational expenditure – much of which was outside the terms of the bond.

Back in 2016, the former APNU/AFC closed the Wales Estate, and the following year, shut down the Enmore, Rose Hall and Skeldon Estates, putting over 7000 sugar workers on the breadline.

Over 7000 of those workers have not been able to se-

cure permanent jobs and remain on the breadline years later. The downsizing of the sugar industry resulted in only the Uitvlugt, Blairmont and Albion Estates in operation.

The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), during the 2020 election campaign trail, had promised to reopen those estates and rehire those sacked workers. Since the PPP/C Administration assumed office in August 2020, they have been putting systems in place to reopen the Enmore, Rose Hall and Skeldon Estates.

Some $5 billion was allocated in the 2020 emergency budget, which would be injected into the sugar industry for the phased reopening of

velopment of not only agriculture but agro-industries, processing facilities, manufacturing and other sectors to drive economic activities.

A d d i t i o n a l l y , Government, through the GuySuCo has already moved to rehire over 700 sugar workers.

The reopening of the Rose Hall Estate in East BerbiceCorentyne, for which a recruitment drive was started

last week, is scheduled for October 2022 as GuySuCo is currently undertaking inspections and remedial work to get the estate ready.

In an interview with the media, Rose Hall Estate Manager Balraj Dhanraj spoke of the efforts to reopen the estate. According to him, the estate is on course for its rescheduled reopening in October of 2022, set within the second crop. (G3)

Mother of 3 kills abusive partner with knife used to attack her

The house where the incident transpired

A

28-year-old woman has allegedly killed the father of her three children following years of abuse.

The incident occurred around 16:15h on Sunday while the man, Anthony Pakanram, was abusing the woman.

According to the Police, the couple shared a relationship for several years during which the now dead man would usually abuse the woman.

On Saturday, the couple had a misunderstanding which resulted in the man physically assaulting the woman.

This caused the woman to move out of their shared home and return to her parents’ house at Old Road, Providence, East Bank Demerara (EBD).

On Sunday, the man went to the Providence home, where he started to argue with his reputed wife. Police said during the encounter, he became angry and armed himself with a knife.

Despite the woman trying to flee, Pakanram cornered her and a scuffle ensued. The suspect then

heard the victim groan and saw him bleeding from the neck. After they physically separated, Pakanram walked a short distance and then collapsed, Police said.

He was rushed to the Diamond hospital by family members, but died while receiving medical care.

When Guyana Times visited the area on Monday, family members did not want to speak with the media. However, a neighbour related to this publication what transpired. She said the man arrived at the house in the company of his family members.

“When they came, his daughter open the gate because is her father, she wouldn’t want him outside.

When he came in, he went to the back and he sat on the step and he called for the wife, so when he called for the wife, she didn’t come out immediately. But she came out eventually and he started to beat she, so they end up in scuffle and with the scuffle now…,” the neighbour recalled.

The neighbour said she then heard screams coming from the house, and when

she went to investigate, she saw the man lying in a pool of blood.

The woman related that the suspect informed her that the now dead man was accidentally stabbed to his neck during the confrontation.

“She turn back the knife to him, just so the knife don’t catch her, and he push her and she fell, and when she fell, he fell on her…he fell on the knife from what I get to understand,” the neighbour explained.

Moreover, the neighbour said shortly after the incident occurred, the now dead man’s brother went to the house.

“The brother came, that’s after the body done gone to the hospital and so, and he ask her ‘what you did, what you did?’ And he pull her by her hair and started to beat her and so.”

Contacted for an update on the matter on Monday afternoon, Regional Police Commander Mahendra Siwnarine said the woman remained in custody. He added that Police were conducting a “murder investigation”.

NEWS

15

TUESDAY, JULY 27, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Cash grants testament to Govt’s commitment to education – PM

Prime Minister, Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips and his wife Mignon Bowen-Phillips share a photo with some students at Kwakwani, Region 10

P

rime Minister, Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips has said that the reintroduction of the “Because We Care” cash

grant programme is a testament to the Government’s commitment to education development and to its ability to deliver on its promises.

Phillips launched the distribution process for the grant on Monday in Kwakwani, Region 10 (Upper DemeraraBerbice). He was accompanied by his wife, Mignon Bowen-Phillips.

The money which amounts to $15,000, is being distributed along with a uniform grant valued at $4000 to parents of public school students.

Collectively, approximately 11,000 students in the region will benefit from the initiative, which totals roughly $209 million, a release from the Office of the Prime Minister stated.

Because We Care

During his remarks to parents gathered in the auditorium of the Kwakwani Secondary School, Phillips said that although access to

Only way to end TIP is to jail traffickers – Minister tells Venezuelan re-migrants

Human Services and Social Security Minister, Dr Vindhya Persaud shares a photo with the participants of the C-TIP training

“E

ach one of you is in a good place to help change someone’s life. I’m here to support the process and the Counter-Trafficking in Persons Department is doing intense work in this area,” Human Services and Social Security Minister, Dr Vindhya Persaud told a group of Venezuelan re-migrants.

They were the latest set of persons to be trained by the Ministry’s CounterTrafficking in Persons (C-TIP) Unit, which has fanned out across the country to conduct training with key people who may come into direct contact with traffickers and their victims.

The Ministry has dedicated the month of July to C-TIP and earlier this month launched the STOP592 campaign in Bartica, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni).

The latest training, held

at Windjammer in Kitty, was conducted by Senior Probation and Social Services Officer Deneise Ralph.

On Monday, the Ministry in a release said that Persaud paid a visit to the group of 15 participants to offer words of encouragement to the participants who came from Regions One, Two, Three, Four, and Seven.

“Identifying the traffickers is the biggest problem but if they’re not stopped, more will join them. The only way to end this is to put these people behind bars; if they feel they can get off, they won’t stop. Let’s go out there stronger together. Trafficking in Persons is a heinous crime against people,” Persaud urged. She then held one-on-one interactions with some of the participants.

According to her, it was

important for the re-migrants to be trained because when they come to the country they must understand our country’s policies, laws and procedures. “The community engagement is the best engagement. We’re trying different avenues of how we engage people,” she said.

Moreover, Ralph said the training session would serve to empower the participants and would help them pass on their knowledge to their respective communities so that they can now act as focal points for the Ministry in helping to curb the problem.

Meanwhile, Persaud took the opportunity to speak on the Women’s Innovation and Investment Network (WIIN) programme and encouraged the participants to sign up for the programmes so that they could share their knowledge with persons escaping from traffickers.

Prime Minister Mark Phillips speaking with parents who gathered to collect the cash grant for their children

public education from nursery to secondary is free, additional costs can be burdensome to parents.

He added that the Government is aware that assisting parents in offsetting these expenses would bring relief.

“In our manifesto when we went to the people seeking to be elected, we made it clear that we will return the “Because We Care” grant, because we’re convinced that notwithstanding that education is free in Guyana, whatever additional assistance the Government can give to the people of Guyana who have children in school will be most welcomed by the people.”

Jacqueline Williams, a

parent of three children, aged 13, eight and five, was among the first group of persons to receive the money in Kwakwani. The elated mother received $57,000 directly from the Prime Minister.

She said whether school continues online or in the physical classroom, the money will be very useful for her.

“It will really help me to buy their school things, especially since COVID has affected everyone financially… the Prime Minister also mentioned that by 2025 the money will go up to $50,000 and I think that will be really nice.”

Kwakwani Utilities Incorporated

Additionally,

during

his visit to Kwakwani, the Prime Minister toured the head office of the Kwakwani Utilities Incorporated (KUI) and met with staff members.

He subsequently inspected several facilities under the control of the utility regulator in the predominantly mining and logging community. Among the sites visited were the Kwakwani power generation plant, the Kwakwani water treatment plant and a newly installed water distribution system, which will supply potable water to approximately 400 residents of Jonestown.

Phillips was accompanied by General Manager of KUI, David Adams and Regional Executive Officer Dwight John.

16 NEWS LA man who mocked Vaccination pace suggests Jamaica might have to play catch-up - says official COVID-19 vaccines I dies of virus TUESDAY, JULY 27, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

A

California man who mocked Covid-19 vaccines on social media has died after a month-long battle with the virus.

Stephen Harmon, a member of the Hillsong megachurch, had been a vocal opponent of vaccines, making a series of jokes about not having the vaccine.

"Got 99 problems but a vax ain't one," the 34-yearold tweeted to his 7,000 followers in June.

He was treated for pneumonia and Covid-19 in a hospital outside Los Angeles, where he died on Wednesday.

In the days leading up to his death, Mr Harmon documented his fight to stay alive, posting pictures of himself in his hospital bed.

"Please pray y'all, they really want to intubate me and put me on a ventilator," he said.

In his final tweet on Wednesday, Mr Harmon said he had decided to go under intubation.

"Don't know when I'll wake up, please pray," he wrote.

Despite his struggle with the virus, Mr Harmon still said he would reject being jabbed, saying his religious faith would protect him.

Stephen Harmon

Prior to his death, had joked about the pandemic and vaccines, sharing memes saying he trusted the Bible over top US disease expert Dr Anthony Fauci.

Hillsong founder Brian Houston confirmed news of his death in a tweet on Thursday.

"Ben has just passed on to us the devastating news that our beloved friend, Stephen Harmon has passed away from Covid. Heartbreaking," Mr Houston said. In an Instagram post, he paid tribute to Mr Harmon.

"He was one of the most generous people I know and he had so much in front of him," he wrote on Instagram.

"He would always turn up to our grandkids soccer games and he will be missed by so many. RIP." He added that the church encourages its members "to follow the guidance of their doctors".

California has seen a rise in Covid-19 cases in recent weeks, with the majority of those being taken to hospital unvaccinated. (BBC)

NSTEAD of toying with the idea of a vaccine mandate, the Government should be considering the implications of the slow pace of vaccination in the face of new variants of COVID-19, and whether the country could find itself in a precarious situation with its vaccination target.

That is the view of family physician, Dr Marc Ricketts who says given the pace of vaccination roll-out here, Jamaica will have to play catch-up, as by the time health authorities get one million people vaccinated current vaccines would have become outdated.

“Pfizer has already said there is going to have to be another vaccine soon.

Inasmuch as they are not coming out and stating that the vaccine is less and less effective with the new variants, the evidence is there.

So, we can take forever to vaccinate our population and see what happens by the time we reach halfway into it, or maybe a third, and we don't get to the next two thirds yet. Maybe that's one of the things we should be looking at while talking about a possible mandate,” he told the Jamaica Observer.

The medical doctor was speaking against the background of statements made

by Health Minister Dr Christopher Tufton at a parliamentary committee meeting last week, pointing to vaccination mandates and policy being implemented by other jurisdictions, to bump

Dr Marc Ricketts

up numbers, as the world desperately races towards herd immunity against COVID-19.

Dr Tufton said it is anticipated that as vaccinations here move towards the one-million mark, it will be harder to get the remaining numbers to meet the two-million target by next March. He said there would come a point when the Government must consider other measures, pointing to countries such as France where proof of vaccination is required to enter restaurants, and other public facilities. Ricketts said he was against any vaccine mandate move, pointing to the Nuremburg code which sets out research ethics principles for human experimentation. The code resulted from the Nuremberg trials

at the end of World War II. It states that persons should have legal capacity to give consent, and exercise free power of choice “without the intervention of any element of force, fraud, deceit, duress, overreaching, or other ulterior form of constraint or coercion; and should have sufficient knowledge and comprehension of the elements of the subject matter involved, as to enable him to make an understanding and enlightened decision”.

It says the nature, duration and purpose of the experiment, all inconveniences and hazards reasonably to be expected, and the effects upon a person's health or person which may come from his participation in the experiment, should be made known. (Jamaica Observer)

US combat forces to leave Iraq by end of year P

resident Joe Biden says US forces will end their combat mission in Iraq by the end of this year, but will continue to train and advise the Iraqi military.

The announcement came after Mr Biden held talks with Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa alKadhimi at the White House.

There are currently 2,500 US troops in Iraq helping local forces counter what remains of the Islamic State group.

Numbers of US troops are likely to stay the same but the move is being seen as an attempt to help the Iraqi PM. The US presence in Iraq has become a major issue since top Iranian general Qasem Soleimani and the

leader of an Iran-backed Shia Muslim militia were killed in a US drone strike in the capital Baghdad last year.

Political parties aligned to Iran have demanded the withdrawal of all forces from the US-led global coalition against IS, despite the continuing threat posed by the Sunni jihadist group.

Shia militias have meanwhile been accused by the US of carrying out hundreds of rocket, mortar and drone attacks on Iraqi military bases that host coalition forces in an apparent attempt to pressure them to leave.

For the US president, the announcement marks the end of another war that began under former President George W Bush.

This year he said US troops would leave Afghanistan.

Speaking at the White House, Mr Biden told his Iraqi counterpart "our counter-terrorism co-operation will continue even as we shift to this new phase."

Kadhimi responded: "Today our relationship is stronger than ever.

Our co-operation is for the economy, the environment, health, education, culture and more." He has insisted no foreign combat troops

are needed in Iraq. US-led forces invaded Iraq in 2003 to overthrow President Saddam Hussein and eliminate weapons of mass destruction that turned out not to exist.

Then President George

W Bush promised a "free and peaceful Iraq", but it was engulfed by a bloody sectarian insurgency.

US combat troops eventually withdrew in 2011.

However, they returned at the request of the Iraqi government three years later, when IS militants overran large parts of the country.

Following the military defeat of IS in Iraq at the end of 2017, US forces remained to help prevent a resurgence of the group.

"Our role in Iraq will be dealing with being available to continue to train, to assist, to help and deal with ISIS as it arrives," Mr Biden added at the meeting.

"But we're not going to be, by the end of the year, in a combat mission."

(BBC)

NEWS

17

TUESDAY, JULY 27, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

St Lucians vote in crucial general election Swing towards

P

Prime Minister Allen Chastanet his wife and other family members display their inked fingers

rime Minister Allen Chastanet cast his ballot on Monday, urging St Lucians to go and vote while exercising caution due to the protocols put in pace to prevent the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Chastanet, who is seeking a second consecutive term in office, is leading his United Workers Party (UWP) into the elections that political observers here say is a tight affair and could result in the possible formation of coalition government.

His strongest challenge is

coming from the main opposition St Lucia Labour Party (SLP), which has nominated candidates for 15 of the 17 constituencies.

“Very excited. Just got to vote and I see people coming out in record numbers and I will continue to say please exercise patience. Because of COVID, new protocols have been put in place, nobody wants to disenfranchise you,” he said after casting his ballot in the Gros-Islet constituency.

“It is going to take a little bit longer, be patient and let’s make sure every-

body can vote. Continue to be safe,” Chastanet said in a statement posted on his Facebook page after voting.

However the SLP leader, Phillip J. Pierre said he was “very confident” of victory at the polls, even as he lamented the slow pace of voting, which he did not attribute to the early morning rains.

“Today is the important day. Today is when the people are going to decide what’s happening. I feel confident,” he said.

He noted that there has been so far “a heavy turnout, but the process is slow”.

“I think they could try to hasten the process, it is really slow, and people are getting very nervous and very anxious. They have been a few hiccups but nothing of any great concern,” Pierre told MBC Television.

“But all I want to tell St Lucians, we have a chance today (Monday) to change the government. We have a chance today (Monday) to bring good governance to St Lucia. That’s your chance . . . be patient, go to vote, we will not have that chance again for the next five years,” he added.

The polling stations are due to close at 6 p.m. and the country should begin receiving the results of the polls within two hours after closure.

In the last general election, the UWP won 11 of the 17 seats. The party is the only one contesting all seats.

The newly-formed Green National Party (GNP) is contesting eight seats and there are a handful of independent candidates, including former prime minister Stephenson King, who for nearly three decades had been the standard bearer of the UWP in the Castries North constituency.

King is contesting that seat against Janine GiraudyMcIntyre, the former president of the Senate and the daughter of the late Henry Giraudy, one of the founding members of the UWP. (CMC)

SLP in St Lucia elections – Wickham

Political strategist Peter Wickham

T

he main opposition St Lucia Labour Party (SLP) was leading in most of the constituencies as counting continued following the general elections held here earlier on Monday.

Political strategist and director of the Barbados-based Caribbean Development Research Services (CADRES), Peter Wickham, speaking on television here, said that the results seem to show a “significantly greater swing that I had expected from the ruling party.

“As it stands now, the swing is in double digits

and the United Workers Party (UWP) would have to do very well to try and contain that swing,” Wickham said, acknowledging that the SLP have been winning “in every singly constituency”. In the 2016 general election, the UWP won 11 of the 17 seats with the SLP winning the remainder.

The two independent candidates, including former prime minister Stephenson King, seem to be in line to create history, winning the Castries North and Castries Central seats respectively. (CMC)

18

guyanatimesgy.com

TUESDAY, JULY 27, 2021

News

Brazil’s health regulator cancels Nicaragua: Another Ortega rival clinical study for COVID vaccine arrested, says US aims to undermine vote

W

B

razilian health regulator Anvisa on Monday said it had cancelled a clinical study for the Covaxin vaccine for COVID-19 developed

by India’s Bharat Biotech, amid allegations of irregularities in the Government’s efforts to buy millions of doses of the shot.

Bharat on Friday said it had terminated a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the local partner company acting as its intermediary

in Brazil, with Anvisa saying on Monday that the trials could not go forward as a result and would be can-

celled.

Anvisa had previously suspended the trials temporarily. (Reuters)

Northern Nigeria state suspends schools due to insecurity

FILE PHOTO: Pieces of furniture are seen inside a classroom at Bethel Baptist High School where unspecified number of student were kidnapped at Damishi, Kaduna

T

he northern Nigerian state of Kaduna has suspended all schooling due to insecurity, state officials said on Monday, amid a spate of student kidnappings in the region that has rocked Africa's most populous country.

"We have asked students

to stay away for three weeks, after which in the third week we will review the situation and get across to the public and the students," said Mohammed Makarfi, Kaduna state's commissioner of education, by phone.

The state had already imposed a three-week sus-

pension on schooling that expired on Sunday, said another official who asked not to be named because he was not authorised to speak to media.

"The directive of the Governor to extend the suspension of resumption till further notice is to ensure the safety of students in all schools," said the official.

On Sunday, kidnappers who raided a boarding school earlier this month released 28 children, though another 81 remain in captivity, said a pastor involved in the negotiations.

The attack on the Bethel Baptist High School in Kaduna was the 10th mass school kidnapping since December in northwest Nigeria, which authorities have attributed to criminal gangs seeking ransom payments. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Severe floods hammer Costa Rica, 2 dead

A school damaged by a mudslide caused by heavy rains is pictured in Limón, Costa Rica, July 26, 2021

R

elentless rainfall in the Caribbean region caused at least two deaths amid severe flooding and major infrastructure damage in northern and eastern Costa Rica, authorities said on Monday.

Two people were killed and another two were missing, according to the Red Cross in Costa Rica. Some 3000 people were forced to seek refuge from the ex-

treme weather in emergency shelters, authorities said.

Nearly a quarter of Costa Rica is under a “red alert” declared by the National Emergency Commission (CNE) for flooding and landslides, including the northern municipalities of San Carlos, Upala, Guatuso and the Caribbean zones of Limón, Matina, Talamanca, Sarapiquí and Turrialba.

Turrialba, which is 60 kilometres (37 miles) east of San José, received in just one day the usual amount of rain for the entire month of July, according to Mayor Luis Fernando León.

“We were not prepared for this magnitude. It is an extreme event that has not occurred since 1978,” León told Reuters by telephone.

The rains were worsened by the position of the Intertropical Convergence Zone, a band of rain encircling the globe, and humidity carried by trade winds, the National Meteorological Institute (IMN) said in a weekend statement.

By Monday, rains had let up enough that authorities were able to deliver aid to some affected areas, President Carlos Alvarado said.

“There is a decrease in rainfall and it is getting easier to access aid and work to remove debris and begin to rebuild normalcy in these communities,” Alvarado said. (Excerpt from Reuters)

ith a seventh Opposition presidential hopeful under arrest, Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega in a speech described his political opponents as pawns being used by the United States against him.

Scores of prominent Nicaraguans, including seven politicians aiming to run for President in November, have been arrested amid accusations of plots to stage a coup. Many have fled abroad.

In a speech at a public event on Sunday, Ortega criticised Opposition figures saying they were part of the “Yankee policy” and that the Opposition “has no shame. They don’t de-

serve to even be called Nicaraguans ... The empire uses them and when they win, kicks them out, too.”

Ortega repeatedly referred to the United States as “the empire” and said there was no room for understanding or negotiating with Washington. The United States has called the detentions an attack on democracy and imposed sanctions in June against four Nicaraguans, including Ortega’s daughter.

Ortega, who is seeking a fourth consecutive term, said: “The empire does not want elections in Nicaragua, the empire wants to boycott them, it wants to re-sow terrorism in our country.”

The US State Department earlier in July also imposed visa restrictions on 100 Nicaraguans affiliated with the Nicaraguan National Assembly and judicial system.

Nicaragua’s national Police said they detained the seventh opposition figure over the weekend, presidential hopeful Noel Vidaurre.

Vidaurre was placed under house arrest for “carrying out actions that undermine independence and incite foreign interference in internal affairs”, among other accusations, according to the Police statement. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Trinidad: 3 young siblings die in Maraval blaze, would-be rescuers injured

T

he quiet of Rookery Nook, Maraval, went up in flames early on Monday when three children from one family died in a house fire.

Newsday arrived as fire officers extinguished the last of the blaze and emergency medical workers treated burn victims.

Speaking with reporters, Chief Fire Officer Arnold Bristo said when fire officers arrived after getting a report of a fire around 7:36h, they saw the building was already well ablaze.

Three siblings – Ezekiel, 17; Faith, six and Kaden, three – died as they were trapped in the house.

He said the children’s father, Troy Burke, survived, but was injured when he tried to rescue the children.

Their mother Genevieve Rodriguez escaped the fire.

A grieving relative of the three children who perished in a house fire at 1 Rookery Nook in Maraval

Several videos shared on social media showed neighbours and passers-by rushing to the burning house to try and assist the children.

Newsday understands among those who tried to help were a doubles vendor and an Assistant Superintendent of Police from the Western Division, who were injured in the at-

tempt. A fire officer was also injured.

The house was destroyed, but no other buildings in the area were affected.

Several relatives were visibly shaken by the deaths and consoled each other as they were questioned by fire officers and Police. (Excerpt from Trinidad Newsday)

Peru’s Opposition to lead Congress in setback for President-elect

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n Opposition-led alliance won a vote on Monday to lead Peru’s Congress, a setback for socialist President-elect Pedro Castillo on the eve of his inauguration and a sign of challenges ahead to his plans to reform the Constitution and increase mining taxes.

A leadership team, headed by centrist legislator María del Carmen Alva from the Popular Action party, won by 69 to 10 votes over a group led by retired military man Jorge Montoya from an ultra-conservative rightwing party.

A list of candidates proposed by Castillo’s Free Peru party was rejected over procedural issues, underscoring challenges the outsider President-elect faces pushing through reform in a fragmented legislature where no single party has a majority.

Alva, who will be Congress President for the 2021-2022 legislative period, had support from the right-wing Popular Force party of Keiko Fujimori, who narrowly lost to Castillo in a knife-edge June 6 runoff and has pledged to fight him.

“Congress will guarantee the balance of powers

that the country needs,” Alva said in a speech after the vote, adding she was open to working with the Government “within the framework of a respectful dialogue”.

“Let’s end the conflict between the powers,” she said.

Castillo gained strong support from poorer, rural Peruvians on a platform pledging to redraft the Andean country’s decades-old Constitution and sharply raise taxes on copper mining firms to pay for reforms in health care and education. (Excerpt from Reuters)

guyanatimesgy.com

TUESDAY, JULY 27, 2021

19

Around the World

OILNEWS OIL NEWS Oil steadies in undersupplied market but coronavirus cases weigh

O

il prices steadied on Monday after a choppy session as the spread of the COVID-19 Delta variant stoked fears about fuel demand, but losses were limited by forecasts that crude supply will be tight the rest of the year.

Brent crude futures rose 40 cents, or 0.5 per cent, to end the session at US$74.50 a barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate crude slipped by 16 cents, or 0.2 per cent, to settle at US$71.91.

Early in the session, both benchmarks fell by more than US$1 a barrel.

"Risk appetite has clearly massively improved over the last week and just like other risk assets, oil is taking a breather ahead of an intense few days," Craig Erlam, senior market analyst at OANDA said.

"The second quarter recovery has got pulses racing at the prospect of what's to come. The next wave of COVID is a downside risk to that but not to the extent that the previous surges have.

Optimism is still strong and for good reason."

Coronavirus cases kept rising over the weekend, with some countries reporting record daily increases and extending lockdown measures. China, the world's largest crude importer, has also registered a rise in COVID-19 cases.

Some fear China's oil imports could grow this year at the slowest rate in two decades despite an expected rise in refining rates in the second half, due to Beijing's crackdown on misuse of import quotas combined with the impact of high crude prices.

"The Delta variant is still spreading and China has started to clamp down on teapots (independent refiners), so their import growth would not be that much," said Avtar Sandu, a senior commodities manager at Singapore's Phillips Futures.

Reports from India also point to only muted oil demand, Commerzbank analysts said in a note.

"Oil imports in June decreased to a nine-month low, while crude oil processing was only marginally above the low May level, which was influenced by the pandemic restrictions," they said.

Still, both crude benchmarks last week recovered from a 7 per cent slump early in the week and marked their first weekly gains in two to three weeks, boosted by strong US demand and expectations of tight supplies.

Inventories at Cushing, Oklahoma, the delivery point for US crude futures, declined by about 2.6 million barrels last week, traders said, citing data from Wood Mackenzie.

Global oil markets are expected to remain in deficit despite a decision by the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies, collectively known as OPEC+, to raise production through the rest of the year.

"There is seemingly a battle within the energy complex between the prevailing supply deficit engineered by OPEC+ and the threat of the COVID-19 Delta variant in regions with low vaccination rates," said StoneX analyst Kevin Solomon.

"The slow take-up of vaccinations will continue to limit some upside in oil demand in those regions, and there will be intermittent spells in the recovery in the coming months." (Excerpt from Reuters)

Tunisian democracy in turmoil after President sacks Government

T

unisia is facing the worst crisis in its decade of democracy on Monday after President Kais Saied ousted the Government and suspended Parliament with help from the army, a move denounced as a coup by the country's main parties, including Islamists.

He extended some existing measures aimed at countering the pandemic, including a curfew and internal travel bans, but which would also have the effect of dampening street opposition.

Saied's action followed months of deadlock and disputes pitting him against Prime Minister Hichem Mechichi and a fragmented Parliament as Tunisia descended into an economic crisis exacerbated by one of Africa's worst COVID-19

Police officers stand guard as supporters of Tunisia's biggest political party, the moderate Islamist Ennahda, gather outside the Parliament building in Tunis, Tunisia July 26, 2021

outbreaks.

The crisis risks morphing into street confrontations as Saied's critics, including Islamists repressed for decades under a previous autocracy, warned he was endangering the democratic

Record-smashing heat extremes may become much more likely with climate change – study Cyprus. Cuba. Turkey.

Canada. Northern Ireland.

Antarctica. All recorded their hottest-ever temperatures in the last two years, and according to a new study, more such extremes are coming.

In the next three decades, "record-shattering" heat waves could become two to seven times more frequent in the world than in the last 30 years, scientists report in a study published Monday in the journal Nature Climate Change.

Beyond 2050, if current greenhouse gas emissions trends continue, such record-breaking heat waves could be three to 21 times more frequent, the study found.

Even with the records seen in 2021, "we haven't seen anything close to the most intense heat waves possible under today's climate, let alone

the ones we expect to see in the coming decades," said co-author Erich Fischer, a climate scientist at ETH Zurich.

For the study, the researchers used climate modelling to calculate the likelihood of record-breaking heat that lasted at least seven days and far surpassed earlier records.

Communities preparing for climate change need to be preparing for such extremes, he said.

Last month's Canadian heat wave killed hundreds of people and reached 121 Fahrenheit (49.6 Celsius) - an eye-popping 8 degrees Fahrenheit (4.6 degrees Celsius) above the country's previous record, set in 1937.

"We should no longer be surprised if we see records smashed by large margins," Fischer said.

If greenhouse gas emissions are aggressively cut,

China accuses US of oppressing Beijing in high-level talks

China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi accused the US of oppressing his country

C

hina has accused the US of oppressing Beijing and urged Washington to remove sanctions and tariffs in high-level talks in the north-eastern port city of Tianjin.

Foreign Minister Wang Yi said it was up to the US

to "make the right choice".

He made the comments during talks with US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman, who said Washington was not seeking conflict with China.

Sherman is the most senior US official to visit

system introduced after the 2011 Arab Spring uprising.

Rival groups faced off outside the Parliament building on Monday, pelting each other with stones and hurling insults, but the size of the protests was limited to hun-

dreds, and there were no major reported incidents of violence.

Saied, who invoked emergency powers under the Constitution late on Sunday to dismiss Mechichi and suspend Parliament for 30 days, on Monday stopped travel between cities for a month and tightened pandemic curfew restrictions.

He also reiterated a long existing rule that has not been commonly observed banning public gatherings of three or more people in streets or squares.

His intervention followed protests in major cities on Sunday over the Government's handling of the pandemic, with a spike in cases, and economy. He has rejected accusations of a coup. (Excerpt from Reuters)

China in months.

The relationship between the two nations is crucial to both sides and the wider world. Beijing has repeatedly called on the new Administration in Washington to improve relations that deteriorated under Donald Trump.

But President Joe Biden has continued to take a firm approach towards China, especially on issues like human rights and sanctions.

Earlier on Monday, China's Vice Foreign Minister Xie Feng said the US was "demonising" his country because it was seen as an "imagined enemy".

Xie had previously said the US wanted to blame China for its own structural problems, according to a statement by China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

"It is as if when China's development is contained...

America would become great again."

Following the talks on Monday, Sherman said it was difficult to know if things would improve in the months ahead.

The US Department of State had earlier said it was hoping to hold "candid exchanges" to "advance US interests and... responsibly manage the relationship".

The US-China visit is widely being viewed as a preparatory step for an eventual meeting between Biden and his Chinese counterpart, President Xi Jinping. But officials said this was not discussed during Monday's talks, which lasted for about four hours. (Excerpt from BBC News)

the likelihood of heat waves would remain high but the chances of exceeding records

would eventually fall over time, the study suggests.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Sandstorm causes multiple vehicle crash in Utah, killing 8

The scene of a fatal pileup, Sunday, July 25, 2021, on Interstate 15 in Millard County, near the town of Kanosh, Utah

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A sandstorm caused a huge 22-vehicle pileup on a highway in the Mountain West US state of Utah that left eight people dead, including children, authorities said.

The Sunday afternoon crashes on Interstate 15 near the town of Kanosh came at the end of a holiday weekend for the state that often leads to increased highway traffic. At least 10 people were taken to hospitals, including three in critical condition, according to the Utah Highway Patrol.

Ground and air ambulances were used to transport crash victims.

The pileup occurred during a period of high winds that caused a dust storm or sandstorm that reduced visibility, the highway patrol said.

Five of the eight people killed were in one vehicle, while two others were in another vehicle, according to

a news release. Another fatality was in a third vehicle.

Several children were among the dead, Highway Patrol Sargeant Cameron Rhoden told KUTV in Salt Lake City.

“We have vehicles all over.

Several vehicles tried to swerve off the roadway. We have vehicles that are flipped up on their sides,” Rhoden said. “One of the vehicles that was pulling a trailer, the trailer has pretty much completely been destroyed and is on the freeway.”

I-15 remained partially shut down late Sunday.

Traffic was redirected around the crash site.

Roadways on Sunday were full of drivers headed home after a long weekend to celebrate a state holiday recognising Utah history and settlers from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who trekked west in search of religious freedom.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

20

TUESDAY, JULY 27, 2021

guyanatimesgy.com

ARCHIE

ARIES (March 21April 19)

TAURUS

DILBERT

(April 20May 20)

GEMINI (May 21June 20)

CANCER (June 21July 22)

PEANUTS

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

CALVIN AND HOBBES

SUDOKU

Look for a direct route to avoid confusion. You'll require discipline if you want to avoid backtracking. Reach out to someone in the know, and it will help you eliminate mistakes.

Uncertainty will set in if you let others make decisions for you. If you do things yourself, you'll gain perspective and make connections that will help you advance.

Romance is on the rise.

Learn from experience and stay in control. You know what you want better than anyone, so follow through with your plans from beginning to end. Don't forgo an opportunity to please someone.

Step up and do things your way. Take control, make a statement and expand your circle of friends. An adjustment to please a friend, relative or loved one will lead to an unexpected opportunity.

Look for alternative learning methods that will keep you sharp, current and better equipped to navigate your way to the top. Change begins within, and discipline will be necessary.

Use your imagination and express your intentions, and you'll captivate the minds of like-minded people.

Step into a leadership position and set a strategy that will lead to opportunities.

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

Gather information that will help you determine your best professional or financial move. Take the initiative and be a problem solver, and doors will open. Group endeavors will gain recognition.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

Spend more time working toward a personal goal.

Make an effort to declutter your space. Letting go of the past will set you free and prompt you to start a new chapter in your life.

Refuse to let anyone SAGITTARIUS play with your emotions.

(Nov. 23Question whatever sounds Dec. 21) suspicious, and be practical when dealing with others and their ideas. Focus on personal growth.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22Jan. 19)

SOLUTION FOR LAST PUBLISHED PUZZLE

Take the route that suits your needs. Put more time into staying fit and healthy and building equity and financial stability.

The aim is to ease stress, not to ramp it up.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20Feb. 19)

Stop worrying about what others do and pay attention to what you can do to make your life better. Take responsibility and put your plans in motion. Set high standards and strive to reach your goal.

PISCES

Turn a negative into a positive. A change someone makes will benefit you if you are quick to react and take advantage of what's available.

Create what you want in your mind, then make it happen.

(Feb. 20March 20)

TUESDAY, JULY 27, 2021

21

Tokyo Olympics: Eddie Hall v Hafthor Björnsson Naomi Osaka & boxing fight postponed due to injury Novak Djokovic E reach 3rd round ddie Hall has been forced to withdraw from his upcoming boxing match with Hafthor Björnsson in Florida after suffering a "serious injury".

The duo are two of the most-renowned strongmen in the world, and were expected to clash in America after over a year of build-up in what was dubbed the “heaviest boxing match in history”.

But according to promoters MTK Global who were helping CoreSports to promote the event, former World's strongest man winner Hall has suffered an injury which will require him to undergo surgery, pushing the bout back to March or April next year.

The event will still take place on September 18 at the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Florida, and Björnsson may even compete in a third exhibition bout.

However, the promoters have been unable to guarantee a bout for Björnsson to ticketholders, who will be offered refunds from the point of sale should they choose not to attend.

CrossFit rivals Josh Bridges and Jacob Heppner will now face off in the new main event, while the likes of Avril Mathie, Stefi Cohen, and others will compete as well.

CoreSports have confirmed that anybody who has pre-ordered the payper-view of the bout will not only be given the chance to watch Hall v Björnsson when it does happen, but will also get the September fight card for free.

Björnsson has been preparing intensely for the fight, training multiple times a day, dropping 50 lbs and taking exhibition matches with solid pros

Steven Ward and Simon Vallily.

He most recently took on Commonwealth Games gold medallist Vallily in Dubai, in a fight that saw both men hit the ground in a hard-hitting four rounds of action.

Vallily entered the ring a whopping 80 lbs lighter than his opponent, although his strong amateur background and 21 pro bouts made him the much more experienced fighter in what was essentially no more than a hard spar without headgear.

The Icelandic Game of Thrones star took a few strong shots from Vallily

early, and was rocked in the second before being brutally put down in the third.

Earlier this year, Hall claimed that Björnsson's initial warm-up against Ward was the ‘biggest load of s***’, saying on his YouTube channel: "He didn't land a single punch in three rounds.

“Anyone with any boxing tenacity about them, will know that was the biggest load of s*** that has probably ever happened in boxing.

“I want to say a big thank you to Thor for doing that match and putting it out on the Internet, it has literally given me the best advantage that I have ever had.”

However, the Icelandic giant showed huge signs of improvement from that showing against Ward when he faced Vallily, and was likely to enter the ring as favourite against Hall.

The new date will be announced shortly, and as yet neither man has commented on the cancellation, although they have both been active on social media on Monday. (The Mirror)

Hasan Ali eager to establish himself as an all-rounder

S

ince marking his return to international cricket in January this year, Hasan Ali has demonstrated his ability to hit the ball out of the park many a time. He grabbed the attention of the fans and followers of the game alike when he deposited England’s Matt Parkinson in the stands at the historic Lord’s on three successive deliveries in the second One-Day International.

Ali has smashed 14 sixes and as many fours in 15 international matches and averages above 21 in this timeframe, which is almost six runs more than his career average, and is eager to continue to improve his batting skills to establish himself as an all-rounder.

Prior to his return to Pakistan colours after recovering from an injury, which kept him out of the international game for almost 18 months, Ali made headlines when he scored a sparkling 106 not out off just 61, smashing seven

sixes and 10 fours, to help Central Punjab to tie the final of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy 2020-21 against Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

He looks up to the legendary cricketers in former Test Captain Wasim Akram, Abdul Razzaq and Azhar Mahmood to build his game.

Ali said on Monday: “I want to see myself as an all-rounder in all three formats and I am putting in extra yards in the nets. I am inspired by Wasim Akram, Abdul Razzaq, and Azhar Mahmood and want to contribute in crucial times for my team.

“I usually get to bat in death overs in T20Is and the only option I have at that point is to hit the ball hard.

I am working to improve my power-hitting in the practice sessions and learning how to score more and more runs against yorkers, bouncers and slower deliveries.”

Ali arrived in the Caribbean after impressive outings with the ball

in England. He became the eighth Pakistan bowler to immortalise himself by making the prestigious Lord’s honours’ board. He took five for 51 in the second ODI before bowling an impressive spell, in which he gave only 28 runs, in the last T20I. “T20 cricket is all about variations and a good bowler should have command on bowling different variations.

I have been practising different deliveries in the nets and am very keen to do better in the upcoming series against the West Indies.

“I believe in giving everything for the team once I step in the field – whether it is by taking a wicket or hitting the ball out of the park.”

(Pakistan Cricket Board)

Schedule of the T20I series: Jul 28 – 1st T20I, Kensington Oval, Barbados Jul 31 – 2nd T20I, Providence Stadium, Guyana Aug 1 – 3rd T20I, Providence Stadium, Guyana Aug 3 – 4th T20I, Providence Stadium, Guyana

J

apan's Naomi Osaka cruised into the third round of the Tokyo Olympics women's singles with a 65-minute victory over Viktorija Golubic.

Second seed Osaka, the favourite for the gold medal following world number one Ashleigh Barty's first-round exit, beat the Swiss 6-3 6-2.

Osaka will face Marketa Vondrousova, who beat Mihaela Buzarnescu 6-1 6-2, for a quarter-final spot.

World number one Novak Djokovic beat Germany's JanLennard Struff 6-4 6-3.

Djokovic is bidding for a first Olympic gold medal after winning bronze in Beijing 2008.

Great Britain's Jamie Murray and Neal Skupski were knocked out of the men's doubles in the second round, losing 6-3 6-4 to Japan's Kei Nishikori and Ben McLachlan.

Osaka, 23, took an eightweek break before the Games in order to protect her mental health.

She described making her comeback in the Olympics as being an "interesting" experience.

"The flag is next to my name no matter what tournament I play, but I feel like the scale of this is much bigger," she told American TV. "It's something I've been waiting for for eight years."

Spain's two-time Grand Slam champion Muguruza saw off China's Wang Qiang 6-3 6-0 in 61 minutes.

French Open runner-up Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, representing the Russian Olympic Committee, took only 54 minutes to beat Germany's Anna-Lena Friedsam 6-1 6-1.

Czech former world number one Karolina Pliskova progressed with a 6-3 6-7 6-1 victory over Spain's Carla Suarez Navarro.

Germany's Alexander Zverev advanced in the men's singles, beating Colombia's Daniel Elahi Galan 6-2 6-2. (BBC Sport)

Tokyo Olympics: Tom Pidcock wins mountain bike gold for GB

T

om Pidcock won Great Britain's third Olympic gold of the Tokyo Games with a dominant performance in the men's mountain bike cross-country.

The 21-year-old from Leeds moved into the lead midway through the race and never relinquished it as he finished ahead of Swiss world number one Mathias Flueckiger and David Valero of Spain to take Britain's first gold in the sport.

Pidcock's win came two months after he broke a collarbone in training.

He was back on his bike six days after surgery, declaring that he would win in Tokyo.

He prepared for the soaring temperatures by training in a heated tent at home and that paid off as he handled the punishing course and conditions far better than the field, finishing 20 seconds clear.

Such was his dominance that he was able to unfurl a Union Jack and wave it as he crossed the finish line.

Pidcock said: "I'm always better when I take control myself. I take my own lines, my own speed. Once we started I was fine, all the nerves kind of went and I concentrated on the race.

"It's nothing like any other race. The Olympics just transcends any sport. You compete and represent your country and everyone in your country is behind you, no matter in what sports they like. It's just national pride, it's unbelievable."

Pidcock's gold follows those won for GB on Monday by Adam Peaty in the 100m breaststroke and Tom Daley and Matty Lee in the men's synchronised 10m platform diving.

Dutchman Mathieu van der Poel led the mountain biking race in the opening stages before crashing out in dramatic fashion.

He later tweeted there had originally been a plank on the other side of the rock where he was expecting to land after a jump.

Pidcock added an Olympic title to a long and diverse list of accolades, having won world titles in Cyclo-Cross, road and mountain bike events at the Under-23 level.

"I've trained really hard, I knew I was in great shape, but there's always doubt when I haven't performed in a race," said Pidcock, who rides on the road for Ineos Grenadiers.

"I have high expectations on myself, but I delivered."

He is the first Briton to win an Olympic medal of any kind in mountain biking, with GB's previous best a fifth place by Liam Killen at Athens 2004.

Pidcock, who turns 22 on Friday, is now the youngest Olympic mountain bike champion, breaking the record set by Sweden's Jenny Rissveds at Rio 2016 by 79 days. (BBC Sport)

22 A welcomed return: Fans in Guyana ready for West Indies-Pakistan T20Is

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

TUESDAY, JULY 27, 2021

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he West Indies return to Guyana and fullyvaccinated fans will be able to watch the T20 team in action as they continue preparations for the International Cricket Council (ICC) T20 World Cup in October2021.

The reigning T20 world champions will face-off against Pakistan at the Guyana National Stadium in the final three matches of the Osaka Presents PSO Cup on Saturday, July 31; Sunday, August 1 and Tuesday, August 3. First ball bowls off at 11am (10am Jamaica time). These are the final three T20 International matches that the West Indies play in the Caribbean in 2021 prior to selecting the squad for the ICC T20 World Cup. The Government of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana and the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) in partnership with Cricket West Indies (CWI) have come together to ensure fully-vaccinated fans can be in attendance. Fullyvaccinated fans are those who have received their second dose of COVID-19 vaccine at least one week before the date of the match they will be attending. Also, spectators will need to wear face masks to gain entry to the matches and then keep wearing masks throughout. Fans will also need to remain socially distanced at all times.

CWI Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Johnny Grave said: “As we make a welcome return to Guyana, there is great anticipation and expectation as our passionate loyal supporters will get a chance to see the West Indies in action.

“This is great news for

our fans who we know will be eager to attend the three Osaka Presents PSO Cup West Indies vs Pakistan T20Is at the National Stadium at Providence. In the build-up to the matches, we have worked with our colleagues at the GCB and the Government to make sure all the necessary protocols are in place and

all requirements are met to ensure the safety of players, officials, and spectators. Our T20 team has been in superb form and we hope to see them continue in this vein and give the people of Guyana and the whole of the West Indies plenty to shout about.”

T i c k e t prices are $4000(GYD) for each match. There are three locations where fans can make ticket purchases: GCB office – Regent Road, Bourda; Imran & Son –73 A Rose Hall Town, Berbice, and at Imam Bacchus & Sons – Affiance, Essequibo Coast.

Ticket sales will start on Wednesday, July 28,2021 and will be available every day from 9:00am- 5:00pm (09:00h-17:00h).

For fans to get a ticket and gain access to the Stadium,

the following steps must be taken to meet COVID-19 match protocols: • The ticket office location is at the main entrance to the Guyana National Stadium.

• Health Ministry officials will be on hand to validate vaccination documentation and check tickets and ID. • Fans will need to present their ID, cricket ticket and vaccination documentation to be allowed entry.

• Fans will need to wear face masks at all times and social distance in the Stadium.

• Fans will be accommodated in all stands, but will not be admitted to the grass mound.

• No re-entry allowed if fans leave the venue.

• Under-18s will not be allowed entry.

• Fans will be able to purchase tickets for themselves, friends, and family members.

• Tickets will be available from 9:00am to 5:00pm on non-match days and 7:00am to 11:00am on match days.

Additionally, with vendors not available in the Stadium, fans will be allowed to bring their own food and nonalcoholic drinks. The following list of restrictions must be adhered to for entry into the ground on match day: • Fans can bring in coolers of a size that can fit under their seat (12x12x12).

• Any ice in coolers must remain bagged to allow security inspection of coolers.

• Glass bottles of any kind are not allowed.

• Alcohol of any kind is not allowed.

• No knives, sharp metal objects, or firearms.

Referee Agard, ITO Chase for AMBC Youth Championships

G

Ramona Agard

uyana is expected to be represented on both sides of the ring in the upcoming Americas Boxing Confederation (AMBC) Youth Championship (Pan American Youth Games) as two of the most experienced judges of the Guyana

Elton Chase

Boxing Association (GBA) will be officiating at the event later this year.

One-star referee/ judge Ramona Agard and International Technical Officer (ITO) Elton Chase have been selected to participate in the Championships, which will

see athletes from over 30 countries participating.

Agard is one of three local AIBA certified one-star officials, while Chase is the only ITO in Guyana. GBA President Steve Ninvalle, in an invited comment, applauded the selection of the two while claiming that it would provide much-needed exposure for the duo.

T h e AMBC Youth Championships are scheduled for November 25-December 5 in Cali, Colombia.

GFF publishes latest newsletter as focus shifts to Lady Jags

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he Guyana F o o t b a l l Federation (GFF) has published the latest edition of its GFFNOW official newsletter, covering the May-June period.

The regular newsletter features coverage of the Lady Jags’ return to training ahead of FIFA World Cup qualifiers in November and a spotlight on three of the goalkeepers in the Guyana national women’s football programme.

There is also coverage of the Golden Jaguars’ recent FIFA World Cup qualifiers and CONCACAF Gold Cup appearance, alongside updates on the GFF’s groundbreaking Members Financial

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Guyana quarter-miler Abrams looking to take Classified Ads next step in Tokyo

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uyana’s 400m sprinter Aliyah Abrams will approach competing at the Tokyo 2020 Games with fresh zeal after taking full advantage of the enforced break from the sport the coronavirus pandemic provided last season.

Like many others, the Guyana national champion found herself upended with heavily-disrupted training sessions, the majority of meets cancelled, and even eventual postponement of the Olympics. Still, she endeavoured to make the best use of the situation and found unexpected benefits.

“Despite the Games being cancelled and a whole lot of meets being cancelled, it was the reset that I needed,” Abrams told SportsMax.TV. “Sometimes you just need to step away from track and pursue and do other things that you enjoy. When you come back to doing it, you can rekindle that flame that you had,” she added.

“A lot of things were shut down, but I got a chance to spend some time with the people I love and recover my body and my mind.”

For the 24-year-old, Tokyo will represent her second appearance on track and field’s biggest stage, and in addition to being in a better frame of mind, she is also feeling in better physical shape.

“It’s been five years from 2016 to the 2021 Olympics, I was able to compete internationally and do well at Worlds and at Pan Ams, so I have more experience, I’m in better physical shape as well. I’ve also run faster than I did heading into the first Olympics,” Abrams said.

The quarter-miler, who has a personal best of 51.13, has targeted cracking the 50-seconds barrier in Tokyo, but in a highly-competitive field that may not be enough to earn a place among the top eight women in the world. Win or lose though, the plucky athlete certainly intends to give it her best shot.

“I haven’t been running the third 100 of my race the way that I want to this season, so I have been working on how to better execute that. The problem has been the second part of my race. Once I set that up, I’ll be in good standing,” Abrams went on.

On her Olympic debut in Rio, Abrams exited the competition in the first round; she has much higher targets this time around.

“My ultimate goal this time around is to make it to the final; that would be a success for me." (Sportsmax)

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WI v PAK at Providence…

“Fully-vaccinated” entails 2-week period after 2nd dose – Health Minister

By Jemima Holmes

A

fter more than a year, international cricket will return to the National Stadium, as West Indies take on Pakistan in three of four T20 Internationals at the Providence venue.

While this is no longer breaking news, what fans have been awaiting is the confirmation that they will be able to see the Caribbean team in action.

Confirming reports that surfaced over the weekend, Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony, on Monday morning, during his daily COVID-19 update, finally confirmed that 40 per cent of Providence 15,000 seat capacity will be filled by fans during the series with masks being worn during the entirety of the games and alternate seating being mandatory.

Dr Anthony also shared some of the other protocols and provisions that are in place, as the National Stadium Providence prepares to host West Indies and Pakistan.

According to Dr Anthony, consultations with all the relevant bodies were carried out.

“We’ve had discussions with the Guyana Cricket Board; the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports (MOCYS); the National COVID-19 Task Force and we’ve also received guidance from the

The National Stadium, Providence is set to welcome cricket and its fans

International Cricket Council and the WICB. “And in all of those discussions we’re looking at how we can host these matches successfully, as well as have a balance in getting some patrons or some fans who would like to attend these matches,” Dr Anthony shared.

While fully-vaccinated fans over the age of 18 will be allowed entry, once they produce their vaccine and identification cards, there are conditions being applied to the term “fully vaccinated”.

“The first one is to make sure that those

"I woke up in beast mode": Petterson-Griffith smashes records

… Abrigo, Parmanand, Hirawan, Tucker, Cummings among winners’ row

who would be attending the matches are fully vaccinated,” the Health Minister declared.

As such, the Minister explained in detail, “What do we mean by fully vaccinated? Fully vaccinated means that you had both doses of the vaccine and after the second dose, two weeks would have elapsed. Which means you would have had adequate antibodies in your system to protect you against COVID.” “Even if you have a ticket and you don’t have your vaccination card to prove that you’re fully vaccinated, you will not be allowed into the Stadium,” Dr Anthony warned.

Among the other protocols at the Stadium, there will be an ‘elaborate’ map in place, as spectators go through stops and checks and the

presence of medical professionals will be amplified.

“The task force, along with the cricket board, would have visited the Stadium, mapped out a pathway for any potential fan that will be coming, at what point they will be stopped, checked and so forth. So, there’s a very elaborate process, that a fan coming to watch these matches would have to go through,” he divulged during the daily update.

On the matter of medical professionals, the Health Minister revealed, “We’ll have health and medical personnel at the Stadium. Those persons are normally there when you have a match. So, those persons, if there are any injuries or so forth, they’ll be on hand to lend assistance.

Dr Anthony went on to specify, “So, we’ll have personnel from the Ministry of Health; we will have personnel from the CDC (Civil Defence Commission) who would also be there and these persons would help guarantee the safety of persons from a health perspective.”

To avoid crowding and gathering, there will be no concession stands operating at the venue, while other Stadium rules such as a prohibition on glass bottles remain in place.

West Indies and Pakistan will clash on July 31, and August 1 and 3. Tickets for the three matches will go on sale from tomorrow, Wednesday, July 28 at the Guyana Cricket Board’s head office, Regent Road, Bourda; Imran & Son – 73 A Rose Hall Town, Berbice, and at Imam Bacchus & Sons – Affiance, Essequibo Coast.

Edghill, Allicock receive Olympic certification action is swimmer Andrew Fowler, who will battle s other swimmers in Heat 1 of the Men’s 100m freestyle. Fowler has the fastest entry time in the meet, at 54.10s; he will be in action at 6.00am, local time, this morning.

Last Friday, Edghill registered Guyana’s first-ever win in table tennis at the Olympic Games, as she defeated Fiji’s Sally Yee, 4 sets to 1, 11-5, 4-11, 11-3, 116, 11-8. However, on Saturday morning, Edghill bowed out of the women’s singles competition with a 4-0 loss to

Keisha Abrigo won her 69kg class Alex Parmanand was dominant in the junior unequipped division

Carlos Petterson-Griffith (Emmerson Campbell photos)

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arlos "The Showstopper" Petterson-Griffith was undeniably the man to watch as he went on to crush his national squat, deadlift and total records on Sunday last as the Guyana Amateur Powerlifting Federation (GAPLF) hosted its Masters and Immediate Championships. This event was hosted at the Saint Stanislaus College, which saw a total of 19 records being broken.

The event featured the Masters and Intermediate categories. Keisha Abrigo (Female Intermediate); Alex Parmanand (Male Intermediate); Homwattie Hirawan (Female Masters); Frank Tucker (Male Masters Equipped) and Noel Cummings (Male Masters Equipped) all walked away with the overall best lifter titles.

Petterson-Griffith, who is preparing for international duties in the PanAm Regional Powerlifting Championship, needed to push in some excellent performances ahead of the muchanticipated tournament.

The powerhouse shattered his personal best records which he recorded in April 2021. In April, he recorded a total of 822kg – Squatting 307kg, Bench Press 165kg and Deadlift 350kg. While on Sunday he tallied figures of 85 kg – Squat 330kg, Bench Press 160kg and Deadlift 360kg.

When asked how he felt about his results as time draws closer, Petterson-Griffith said, “I feel good; nevertheless I'm thankful for yesterday's turnout of upcoming athletes and supporters. For the NAPF/FESUPO and Pan American championship, I'm among the top three and for Worlds the work continues since I'm just three months away from it.

Chelsea Edghill receives her certificate from Aliann Pompey

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Meanwhile, Abrigo walked away with yet another medal as she outshined her opponents in the 69kg class. The Exodus Gym member recorded a best squat of 137.5kg, best bench press of 60kg, a deadlift of 172.5kg as well as the highest good lift points of 77.183.

Parmanand, on the other hand, broke records in the squat, bench press, deadlift and total records in the junior unequipped division. He recorded excellent figures of 237.5kg squat, 127.5kg bench press, 255kg dead lift and good lift points of 78.458, which was the highest among the intermediates.

Some of the top sponsors on board of the record-breaking event were Fitness Express, Kares Engineering, Dyna’s Embroidery, Trophy Stall, and Pele Alumni.

hile there was no onfield action for the Guyanese team at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics on Monday, table tennis player Chelsea Edghill and boxer Keevin Allicock officially became Olympians, as they received the necessary certification.

The presentation was made to the Guyanese pair by fellow Guyanese Olympian Aliann Pompey, who handed over the certificates on behalf of the World Olympians Associations (WOA), of which Pompey is an Executive Member.

Similarly, to Pompey, the letters ‘OLY’ will be attached behind Edghill’s and Allicock’s names, signifying their achievement at the Games.

“What you have achieved here can never be undone; this is you forever. Congratulations again, so proud of you both,” the former 400m specialist said

Keevin Allicock and Aliann Pompey display his certificate

to the pair in a social media post on Monday.

Pompey is currently a part of the Guyanese contingent at the Tokyo Games as the country’s Athlete Representative.

Although Edghill and Allicock are now out of contention at the Games, the next Guyanese Olympian that will dive into

South Korea’s Shin Yubin. The sets went 11-7, 11-8, 11-1, 1210.

On the other hand, Allicock was unable to get past the Dominican Republic’s Alexy de la Cruz in their Round of 32 featherweight bout, also on Saturday morning. De la Cruz won on unanimous decision.

TUESDAY, JULY 27, 2021

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

Matthew Wade backs up Australia’s bowlers to secure series victory L

ed by a collective bowling display from their quicks and spinners, then finished by Matthew Wade’s half-century, a significantlydepleted Australia took the One-Day International (ODI) series against West Indies with a four-wicket victory in Barbados on a surface where batting was a challenge throughout.

Australia’s trio of spinners – the recalled Ashton Agar, Adam Zampa and Ashton Turner – shared five wickets with the tally matched by Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood as West Indies could only muster 152

from Wade, Alex Carey and Mitchell Marsh paid dividends as the target was quickly whittled down despite the loss of wickets.

Marsh’s 29 off 21 balls with three sixes made considerable inroads until he fell in a Sheldon Cottrell over that cost 17 – a sizeable chunk of a small chase. When Carey was lbw on review against Walsh Jr, it was 99 for 4 and West Indies still had a chance, but Wade twice found the stands to finish the job with a 51-ball fifty.

Australia had all-but acknowledged they misread

ankle injury further stretched their resources with Aaron Finch out of the tour.

After Lewis had retired hurt under concussion protocols when he top-edged Starc into his helmet, Hazlewood, who was rested for the second match, made the first breakthrough as the recalled Shimron Hetmyer dragged into his stumps.

Spin was introduced in the seventh over and proceeded to make major inroads. Shai Hope popped a catch to point when a delivery from Agar went through the top and Turner continued his handy role with the ball when Nicholas Pooran shouldered arms at one that went straight on and into off stump.

Darren Bravo had deposited one delivery from Agar straight for six, but an attempted repeat ended in an ugly carve to point when he was defeated by a shorter length.

A return to pace brought reward straightaway when Starc struck with the first ball of his second spell, having Kieron Pollard caught at cover Evin Lewis remained not out on 55, but it wasn’t enough to save as the West Indies Captain paid his side the price for driving.

Lewis returned at the fall of the fifth wicket, but soon lost having had the chance to bat conditions in the previous Jason Holder when he played first. Evin Lewis, who returned match when they continued across the line at Zampa. While after retiring hurt in the fourth with a pace-heavy attack and conditions were difficult, West over after a blow on the made amends this time with Indies had a helping hand in a helmet, was the only batter to the recall of Agar, who had number of their dismissals. pass 18. recovered from a hamstring Lewis and Alzarri Joseph The chase wobbled to begin injury. showed what was possible with with and the spin of Akeal He was one of three changes a 44-run stand that mixed good Hosein and Hayden Walsh Jr with Dan Christian brought threatened to undo Australia’s back for his first ODI in seven defence with some occasional good work in the field, but a years – and first List A match in aggression, but Hazlewood calculated positive approach four – after Ben McDermott’s broke through with his first ball

back when he found Joseph’s edge.

None of the lower order could stay with Lewis long enough and towards the back end of the innings the scoring dried to a trickle with Australia happy to bowl as much as possible to the tailenders and Lewis not farming the strike until Cottrell arrived.

Lewis brought up his fifty from 66 balls when he swung Zampa’s last delivery over deep midwicket for six, but it left Cottrell on strike to Starc.

It took just one more ball and lifted Starc’s series tally to 11 wickets at 10.83.

Australia began in stuttering fashion with Moises Henriques, who has had a disappointing tour, trapped lbw by Hosein the ball after a huge shout for a catch at short leg. It was something of a surprise that Henriques filled in for the injured McDermott at the top - just the fourth time he had opened in List A cricket – and he has missed his chance to make a claim for a longer run in the team.

Josh Philippe, too, has struggled to adapt to the pitches on this tour and glanced an edge down the leg side against Joseph in the eighth over.

Australia decided that prodding their way to the target would be fraught with danger and Marsh took it upon himself to hurry things along before gloving a pull down the leg side having taken 10 off two balls against Cottrell.

Carey was busy at the crease, relying heavily on sweeps, and was dropped at short third man on 18 by Joseph off a reverse.

A conventional sweep brought his downfall when Walsh Jr straightened one to take leg stump.

Knowing that West Indies’ two main spinners turned the ball the same away – Pollard had experimented with two

overs of offspin – the lefthanded Agar was sent in at No. 6 and alongside Wade it soon became a canter for Australia, who have still not lost a bilateral one-day series against West Indies since 1995. (ESPN cricinfo)

SCOREBOARD WEST INDIES INNINGS (50 OVERS MAXIMUM) Evin Lewis not out 55 Shai Hope †c Marsh b Agar 14 Shimron Hetmyer b Hazlewood 6 Darren Bravo c Philippe b Agar 18 Nicholas Pooran b Turner 3 Kieron Pollard (c) c Turner b Starc 11 Jason Holder b Zampa 5 Alzarri Joseph c †Carey b Hazlewood 15 Hayden Walsh c Henriques b Starc 7 Akeal Hosein st †Carey b Zampa 3 Sheldon Cottrell b Starc 0 Extras (b 4, lb 4, w 7) 15 TOTAL (45.1 Ov, RR: 3.36) 152 Fall of wickets: 0-14 (3.6 ov), 1-24 (Shimron Hetmyer, 7.2 ov), 2-41 (Shai Hope, 12.2 ov), 3-46 (Nicholas Pooran, 13.6 ov), 4-59 (Darren Bravo, 18.2 ov), 5-71 (Kieron Pollard, 22.1 ov), 6-75 (Jason Holder, 23.5 ov), 7-119 (Alzarri Joseph, 35.1 ov), 8-132 (Hayden Walsh, 38.2 ov), 9-137 (Akeal Hosein, 40.5 ov), 10-152 (Sheldon Cottrell, 45.1 ov) BOWLING Mitchell Starc Josh Hazlewood Ashton Agar Ashton Turner Adam Zampa

AUSTRALIA INNINGS (TARGET: 153 RUNS FROM 50 OVERS) Josh Philippe c †Hope b Joseph 10 Moises Henriqueslbw b Hosein 1 Alex Carey (c)† lbw b Walsh 35 Mitchell Marsh c †Hope b Cottrell 29 Matthew Wade not out 51 Ashton Agar not out 19 Extras (nb 1, w 7) 8 TOTAL (30.3 Ov, RR: 5.01) 153/4 Did not bat: Ashton Turner, Dan Christian, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood Fall of wickets: 1-10 (Moises Henriques, 2.2 ov), 2-27 (Josh Philippe, 7.4 ov), 3-65 (Mitchell Marsh, 13.4 ov), 4-99 (Alex Carey, 20.1 ov) BOWLING Sheldon Cottrell Jason Holder Akeal Hosein Alzarri Joseph Hayden Walsh Kieron Pollard Nicholas Pooran

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