Guyana Times - Tuesday, June 1, 2021

Johnson & Johnson vaccines will ease rollout in hinterland – Health Minister Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

Issue No. 4665

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THE BEACON OF TRUTH TUESDAY, JUNE 1, 2021

Electoral fraud

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Official Region 4 SoPs handed over to Police …as probe into Lowenfield intensifies

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

Former Journalist Mondale Smith loses battle to COVID-19 P15

See story on page 3

Paul Slowe caught in his web of unprofessionalism – Ali Page 3

…rejects claim of influencing Police Service Commission Heavy, continuous rainfall

“It is really scary” – El Paso residents face intense flooding as Potaro River overflows Page 17

…abandoned hydropower plant bridge collapses Pages 10,12&13 ...CDC warns Region 7 residents of mudslides Citywide flooding

People’s lives depend on efficiency – President outraged after finding pumps off, staff sleeping

…"it wasn’t me" – City Engineer

Berbice carpenter’s murder

Marcus Bisram to face Judge, jury; to turn self in to P16 Police Curfew remains in place until P8 June 30 NDCs have failed to carry out mandate – flood-affected Corentyne P14 residents 4 COVID-19 fatalities raise May’s death P9 toll to 90 Child rapist jailed for 15 years P16

Guyana-Venezuela border case

Australia-born Judge sitting P8 on ICJ panel dies Ganja found stuffed in frozen P11 chickens

2 NEWS

TUESDAY, JUNE 1, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Johnson & Johnson vaccines will ease rollout in hinterland – Health Minister

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he 150,000 Johnson and Johnson vaccines which Guyana is set to receive by June will significantly assist the health sector in immunising hinterland and remote communities.

Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony expressed during Monday’s COVID-19 update that the single-dose advantage of this vaccine will enable an easier rollout in hinterland communities and other remoted areas.

“We’re hopeful that during June, that we’ll be

able to get the vaccines.

What we were told is that the vaccines would be the J&J vaccine, which is the one-dose vaccine. I think once we’re able to get that, it would be very appropriate for us to use that, especially in the interior areas because some of those areas are very difficult to reach and if you give the one shot, then that would be very helpful for the staff out there,” the Minister said.

Government has made a down payment of US$36,000 for the acquisition of 150,000

Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony

vaccines through a partnership between the African Union and the Caribbean Community to make vaccines accessible to the region. In total, some 1.5 million doses of vaccines will be available to the Caribbean through this agreement.

Other provisions are in place to have more Sputnik V vaccines, and the remainder from the COVAX mechanism. Meanwhile, those persons who have not taken their second doses as yet were encouraged to do so, since it will ultimately en-

hance protection against the novel disease.

“I want to make a special appeal to those persons who received their Sinopharm vaccines, please come and get your second dose. We want to make sure you get your second dose so that the efficacy can go up. We’re really happy that people came forward in getting their first dose vaccines…However, when you get your first dose, the story is not over because we still see a few people can get infected after the first dose.”

Additionally, the Minister outlined that from the completely vaccinated population, there has not been any infections or hospitalisation brought on by the virus.

He assured, “We want people to come back and get their second dose because we have seen that everyone who got the second dose are not getting the infection.

We haven’t had any case of any person who is fully vaccinated coming into the hospital. We have had no case of someone fully vaccinated getting in the ICU nor have we had any case of someone fully vaccinated dying from COVID.” COVAX had promised to deliver vaccines to cover 20 per cent of the population at

zero cost, and had already sent 62,400 doses earlier this year. Guyana has also used 80,000 AstraZeneca and 20,000 Sinopharm doses from the Indian and Chinese Governments, respectively, as well as 3000 from Barbados. From the purchase of 400,000 Sputnik V vaccines from Russia, Guyana has already received over 205,000 doses.

The Health Minister also used the platform to remind persons that as soon as the delayed shipment of Sputnik V vaccines arrive, persons will be informed immediately to get their second dose.

“For those persons that got first dose Sputnik, we are going to get your second dose and as you know, we have extended the time anywhere between four weeks and 12 weeks. As soon as we get the second dose this week, we’ll announce it so those persons who are due can come and get their second doses,” he shared.

198,956 first doses

Some 198,956 first doses have been administered since the start of the vaccination campaign this year, amounting to 40.9 per cent of the eligible population.

For second doses, the figure stands at 68,333 or 14 per cent. (G12)

Motorcyclist gets bail for Rupert Craig Highway fatal accident

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lmost three months after an accident that claimed the life of 73-year-old Shri Chandra Persaud of Thomas Street, Kitty, Georgetown, the driver was arraigned for the offence when he appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Monday.

Shaquelle Williams pleaded not guilty to the charge which stated that on February 6, 2021, he rode his motorcycle, CJ 2794, in a manner dangerous to the public thereby causing the death of Shir Chandra Persaud.

The accident reportedly took place along the Rupert Craig Highway, Greater Georgetown. Nevertheless, Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan granted the accused bail in the sum of $250,000.

It was reported that the former tutor attached to the Adult Basic Education (ABE) programme at School of the Nations died while receiving medical attention at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) moments after he was struck down by Williams in the vicinity of the Russian Embassy.

The accident reportedly occurred at about 18:40h as

Dead: Shri Chandra Persaud

the motorcycle was proceeding along the highway and collided with Persaud who was attempting to cross the road.

Following the collision, both Persaud and the Williams fell onto the roadway and sustained injuries about their bodies. They were picked up and taken to the GPHC where they received medical attention but Persaud subsequently succumbed.

Meanwhile, Williams is expected to make his next court appearance on June 14, 2021.

NEWS

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TUESDAY, JUNE 1, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS OPENINGS BRIDGE

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

Tuesday, June 1 – 09:30h – 11:00h and Wednesday, June 2 – 10:30h – 12:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Tuesday, June 1 – 09:05h – 10:35h and Wednesday, June 2 – 10:15h – 11:45h.

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

WEATHER TODAY

Expect thundery showers and light rain showers during the day. There will be light rain showers at night. Temperatures should range between 23 degrees Celsius and 28 degrees Celsius.

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

High Tide: 08:59h and 21:47h reaching maximum heights of 2.28 metres and 2.15 metres.

Low Tide: 15:10h reaching a minimum height of 0.94 metre.

Paul Slowe caught in his web of unprofessionalism – Ali …rejects claim of influencing Police Service Commission

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resident Dr Irfaan Ali has staunchly denied claims made

by Chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC) Paul Slowe, that he interfered in the functioning of the Commission, noting that all contact he had with Slowe was with the utmost professionalism as Head of State.

The President was on Monday referring to PSC Chairman Slowe, who had earlier held a virtual press conference with his lawyer, Selwyn Pieters, during which he accused the Head of State of attempting to influence the Commission’s promotion of officers.

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Labelling this claim as malicious, the President said that all he did was have a meeting with Slowe like he had meetings with other independent Commissioners and the Judiciary.

“I find it convenient and opportunistic that Mr Paul Slowe would make the accusation that I tried to influence him and the work of the Police Service Commission.

This is not only far from the truth, but it is a malicious attempt to change the narrative,” President Ali said in the statement.

“Mr Slowe, like other independent Commissioners, the Judiciary, and I had a meeting. At that meeting, I raised various concerns with him that were brought to my attention without prejudice.

As President, my desire is to see these Commissions function professionally and independently.”

The President asked about the evidence or the result of the influence that Slowe claimed was exerted on him. According to Ali, it is, in fact, Slowe who has brought the independence of the Commission he serves into question. Here, the President drew reference to Slowe’s choice of legal counsel, who include Opposition Members of Parliament.

“It is clear as day that

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President Irfaan Ali

Mr Slowe is bringing the independence and professionalism of the PSC into question when he aligns the PSC with Opposition Member of Parliament Ganesh Mahipaul and retain Opposition Members of Parliament Roysdale Forde, Khemraj Ramjattan, Raphael Trotman, Geeta Chandan-Edmond, Amanda Walton Desir to institute proceedings against the Government of Guyana.”

This action of Slowe, the President said, is what he should explain. “How can an independent commissioner align himself with a political party and a political party member’s action against the Government? Where is the independence?” the President questioned, while pointing that his meeting with Slowe occurred just months into his Presidency, yet the PSC Chairman was raising it now. According to Ali, this is opportunistic behaviour on the part of Slowe.

“It is therefore not only opportunistic but a total lie that my meeting with Mr Slowe was to exercise any influence. This level of distortion and public mischief by the Chairman of this Commission exposes his leadership and alignment.”

“My meeting with Mr Slowe was within the first few months of my Presidency, more than eight months ago; the question is, why only now? I guess his unprofessional exposure and links are making him desperate,” the statement said.

During his press conference with his Attorney-atLaw Pieters, Slowe claimed that the President met with him and also telephoned him. Slowe claimed that during those interactions, the President tried to persuade him to have officers with disciplinary matters promoted.

Fraud, sexual assault charges

Slowe is presently facing charges of conspiracy to defraud the Guyana Police Force of $10 million. He has also been accused of sexu-

Police Service Commission Chairman Paul Slowe

ally assaulting a female officer, something he has denied.

Prime Minister Brigadier (retired) Mark Phillips recently wrote to Slowe and fellow retired Assistant Commissioner of Police Clinton Conway, asking that they show cause why the charges levelled against them should not merit their removal from the Commission. During the press conference, it was acknowledged by Pieters that the Prime Minister was within his rights to do this.

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TUESDAY, JUNE 1, 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

M&CC failing its obligations to taxpayers

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uyana’s Head of State is coming in for high praise for his decision to make impromptu visits to sluices and pumps in Georgetown. The unannounced visits came as the city was under several inches of water causing much discomfort and losses for citizens. But more surprisingly, even as citizens battled the floodwaters, the City’s Mayor nor his Council made an effort to ensure that drainage facilities and equipment are functioning but rather the President, Dr Irfaan Ali instead discovered several pump attendants napping, with the equipment needed to drain the city of floodwaters turned off.

This comes even as Central Government has been trying to mend its differences with the always cash-strapped the Mayor and City Council (M&CC). Also, this comes on the heels of Central Government giving City Hall $30 million with a pledge of a further $100 million.

The constant lacking of finances by the M&CC is hardly surprising as, over the years, this entity has always been cashstrapped and mismanaged.

This newspaper has previously said that the M&CC not only owes garbage collection contractors, but also the National Insurance Scheme (NIS). Of great concern is its lack of payment to NIS. This means that the M&CC has put the employees’ benefits and entitlements at risk because of missing contributions. Also, of great concern is: why did NIS tolerate M&CC’s unlawful act?

Year after year, City Hall has come in for heavy criticism over the management of its finances.

Just last week, Local Government and Regional Development Minister Nigel Dharamlall spoke of the issue of accountability and lack of transparency and mismanagement of funds at the M&CC. Last year, the Local Government Minister had accused City Hall of “gross incompetence and mismanagement”. According to the Minister, the only thing that has been done in a year, despite $65 million being provided to City Hall to construct the admin building, was a design review of the structure that ought to be built.

It could be recalled also that the M&CC and then the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government had embarked on a massive citywide clean-up campaign in Georgetown and its environs.

While these efforts produced fairly good results regarding the general appearance of the city and its environs, the then political Opposition at the time, the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) and other stakeholders had raised questions in relation to the contracts awarded to carry out the works. However, in spite of concerns that were raised about accountability and transparency, no effort was made to provide clarity to the public in relation to the sums expended and the beneficiaries of the contracts.

Again, year after year, there have been calls for a forensic audit to be carried out into the operations of City Hall. These calls continue to reverberate in the interest of transparency and accountability of public funds.

This publication has previously called for and will continue to call for such an audit, as in addition to determining to what extent public funds are being expended in a transparent and efficient manner, it would also seek to examine the tax collecting system to determine if the allegations of dishonesty, deficiency, and discrepancies have any merit.

The Government certainly cannot keep pumping tax dollars into the operations of City Hall without putting the necessary safeguards in place to ensure that public monies are accounted for.

Perhaps, a reason why the M&CC seems to think that it can always depend on Central Government for a bailout is because it is under no pressure to perform. The leniency that has been afforded the Council must stop if there is to be any improvements at City Hall.

We support President Ali when he said on Sunday that there were no excuses for the irresponsibility displayed by the M&CC and its staff who neglected their duties causing major flooding in the city.

Former Prime Minister and President and now Ambassador designate, Samuel Hinds paid a courtesy call on Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh on Monday. The visit is part of a series of meetings Hinds has been having with Ministers and officials before he departs Guyana to take up his post as Guyana’s Ambassador to the USA (Finance Ministry photo)

Paul Slowe has become a desperate man – PPP t must be now evident to all that Opposition Leader Joseph Harmon and the APNU/AFC are desperately attempting to gain some type of approbation with the international community after destroying their credibility and whatever semblance of relationship which existed by their five years of constitutional violations, their refusal to accept defeat by a No-Confidence Motion, and their vulgar attempt to rig the 2020 National

munity.

The latest such appeal follows Mr Paul Slowe’s dishonest attempt to implicate President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali in some constitutional wrongdoings.

Mr Harmon and the APNU/AFC would like Guyanese and the international community to forget about the blatant attempt by Simona Broomes to direct the Public Service Commission to halt promotions of public servants upon the instructions of former President David Granger. Legal proceedings were filed and Attorney General Basil

and Regional Elections.

For these atrocities, they were roundly condemned by the international community and responded with indecent and vitriolic abuses and insults.

Recently, every time an occasion presents itself, they make a public appeal to the international com-

Williams consented to an Order before the then Chief Justice that the letter constituted political interference with an independent, constitutional tribunal in contravention of the Constitution.

They would also like Guyanese and the international community to for-

Full statement issued by the People’s Progressive Party on Paul Slowe’s claims

I

get that Carvil Duncan, Chairman of the Public Service Commission was summoned to the Office of the President by President David Granger and Joseph Harmon and threatened that if he does not resign; there would be ‘blood on the carpet.’

When Duncan challenged the attempt to remove him from office, Attorney General Basil Williams threatened the Judge who was hearing the case in open court, causing the legal proceedings never to be determined.

Harmon and the APNU/AFC would also like Guyanese and the international community to forget that he, Harmon, wrote to the Police Service Commission on behalf of President Granger, instructing the Commission to halt Police promotions.

Again, it is a matter of public record that Harmon’s letter was challenged by court proceedings and a different Chief Justice ruled that he was guilty of violating the Constitution

by politically interfering with an independent constitutional body.

So Harmon and the APNU/AFC should be the last to speak about these matters. His outpourings therefore, constitute hypocrisy, duplicity and the shedding of crocodile tears.

As for Mr Slowe, he is alleging that the President attempted to influence him in a conversation since last year but kept that a secret and perhaps, no one would have heard about it, had he not been slapped with a $10,000,000 fraud charge along with a charge for sexual assault.

This gentleman who now presents himself as a paragon of virtue saw nothing wrong in receiving millions of dollars from the Guyana Police Force while he is the Chairman of a constitutional commission, wielding disciplinary powers over the very Force.

This same gentleman is being accused by an Assistant Superintendent of Police of attempting to sexually assault her in his capacity as Chairman of the Police Service Commission.

Clearly, in the face of these very serious allegations, Mr Slowe has become a desperate man.

President Mohamed Irfaan Ali has already rejected these allegations.

They are simply without merit or credibility.

guyanatimesgy.com

TUESDAY, JUNE 1, 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

Working for progress, prosperity of Guyana Dear Editor, The La Nina season has been with us since November last year and at this point it would seem, undoubtedly so, that it is increasing in intensity. However, with each passing day, blames are being directed to NDCs and RDCs and I would say many are unjustified. A few did venture to blame the Government and this would seem more political than real. Fortunately, many see the current phenomena as it is, an act of God which cannot be stopped but which can be mitigated

and relief given to those affected, which is a huge number indeed, since no region is spared and no community unaffected.

We have witnessed from day one that this Government had hit the ground running and that pace has accelerated over the past months. The President and his men have been to all the regions, addressing the problems faced by the people and resolving many on the spot. This is unprecedented and unique in this country and the people can immediately see that

Citizens are collateral damage Dear Editor, The Chief citizen is miffed at suggestions of deliberate flooding in the city, but the Council, under whose management the city falls, must bear some responsibility for this.

Each time it rains this is the result. In this day and age, this unacceptable state of affairs ought to be a thing of the past.

To suggest though, flood-

ing was a deliberate and calculated act is taking it too far. More like negligence and ineptitude. Of course, the city engineer department will offer the explanation it is hampered by lack of tools and equipment.

And the vicious cycle of flooding continues and citizens are collateral damage.

Sincerely, Shamshun Mohamed

Sports have a new lease of life in Guyana Dear Editor, Permit me a space in your newspapers to first congratulate the Hon Charles Ramson Jnr in appointing a diverse Sports Commission and the appointment of the battle tested sporting Tzar, Steve Ninvalle as the Director of Sports.

I believe as a citizen, irrespective of political affiliation, Gregory “Kashif Mohammad” Charles should have long been in sporting administration in this country.

Yes, I agree he is no stranger to controversy; however, he is the most successful sports administrator this country has ever produced. In offering my personal congratulations to him and the other members of the commission, I will like to see him apply the administrative skills in his new role and totally re-brand Guyana’s sporting image.

With Ninvalle as a trusted henchman, our sporting fraternity is now having what I consider, a new lease of life.

We are moving from a position of a person who was practically clueless in sports, to people who are self-starters and require little or no supervision.

I will like to see this new team put certain systems in place immediately.

The re-introduction of every possible sporting discipline from the grassroots level, since more now than ever, students are writing Physical Education at the CXC level.

Team up with the University administration for the introduction of sporting administration courses at the tertiary level, both in the faculty of Health Sciences for sports Medicine and Psychology and

Social Sciences for Sports Management.

The needs to be a recapitalisation of all the neglected sports facilities countrywide, collaboration with the Police Force and the station management committees in each area and the promotion of sports to reduce the occurrence crime in the neighbourhoods.

Employ a proper media unit and publicise activities as often as possible, so the citizenry will always be informed.

Allow access to the relevant personnel by all and sundry, so you people will be au fait with the needs of each community countrywide.

Set key performance objectives for each area to ensure development at all cost.

Wherever necessary, replace any deadwood that will hinder the functioning of the organisation.

Spend money allocated for the respective disciplines and avoid any chance of returning to treasury, the youths out there need all the support at this time.

As we look ahead with optimism, the public deserves to see a proper sports programme rolled out by this team, something we can monitor, because like me, the public is aware that there is no short of talent in the arena right now.

As I say heartfelt congratulations to this team, in the same vein, I sincerely ask you to deliver, for expectation countrywide is extremely high at this time.

Please don’t disappoint Guyana.

Sincerely, Ronald Shepherd

this Government does not discriminate and is indeed a Government for the people.

This is quite unlike the last coalition Government which addressed their own selfish agenda and victimised communities which are deemed supporters of the PPP/C. I wrote several letters on this.

Indeed, the past months have seen a lot of progress in drainage made: countless drains, canals and trenches across the country, some of which have not been touched by the coalition have been cleaned and excavated but I would like to single out Region Six. Residents in Region Six have seen this process unfolding daily by the RDC spearheaded by the Chairman and the Vice Chairman. Mr Zamal Hussain as the new VC has indeed set a very high standard, surpassing the best so far. This official has been relentless in his drive to bring betterment to all the communities of the region. Sadly, a few malcontents are content-

ed to criticise and condemn rather than compliment.

But as usual no matter how much is done there is always a few who are not contented since they have their personal agenda and prejudices.

The Minister of Agriculture, Mr Zulfikar Mustapha has been indefatigable and showed great competence in handling and resolving all issues brought to him including those on his outreaches to all the regions.

He must be lavishly congratulated by all. Again, he dispensed his services with no discrimination, as it should and ought to be. He and his team have been tireless in bringing speedy resolutions during this worst La Nina period. This Minister is taking agriculture back to the time when Guyana was the “bread basket” of the Caribbean, but this time it will be beyond.

As the rain intensified, countless measures have been put in place to alleviate the situation and the

President has already decreed that help will be given to the affected areas. Pumps have been installed in all the main drainage areas but the rains keep coming and this is what needs to be understood.

It takes time for water to be drained and when there is continuous rainfall it is difficult for the water level to decrease. Unfortunately, as the water level continues to rise above what is deemed normal there is bound to be issues which could not have been foreseen but which have to be addressed now and this is what is happening. The Government has been doing what is necessary with great alacrity. For instance, there will be breaches and overtopping which could not have been anticipated. These things happen all over the world even with those having the best infrastructures and drainage systems. Here we have a country which has been grossly neglected by the coalition for the past 5 years,

and may I add that some who are complaining, condemning and protesting now did absolutely nothing then. Patience and prayer are required!

This Government has been working tirelessly to correct the ills of the coalition and must be supported by all. I will not go into details but suffice to say that this Government has been fulfilling all its election promises so far despite this country being hit with both the coronavirus and now the “great flood” once again (last in 2005).

Did I mention the many attempts by the coalition to rig the 2020 elections? That was a pandemic in its own rights and until now the battle to cover those nefarious attempts continue in the courts.

The PPP/C Government will always work for the progress and prosperity for this country and all its people. That is a guarantee!

Yours sincerely, Haseef Yusuf

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TUESDAY, JUNE 1, 2021

Page

Foundation ◄

Question 1

Monday’s answers

By Samuel Taylor Coleridge

Continued Part VII And now, all in my own countree, I stood on the firm land!

The Hermit stepped forth from the boat, And scarcely he could stand.

Pictograph Story

WORD SEARCH

'O shrieve me, shrieve me, holy man!'

The Hermit crossed his brow.

'Say quick,' quoth he, 'I bid thee say— What manner of man art thou?'

Forthwith this frame of mine was wrenched With a woful agony, Which forced me to begin my tale; And then it left me free.

Since then, at an uncertain hour, That agony returns: And till my ghastly tale is told, This heart within me burns.

I pass, like night, from land to land; I have strange power of speech; That moment that his face I see, I know the man that must hear me: To him my tale I teach.

What loud uproar bursts from that door!

The wedding-guests are there: But in the garden-bower the bride And bride-maids singing are: And hark the little vesper bell, Which biddeth me to prayer!

Write a story using the following Native American pictographs (Adapted from startwithabook.org)

O Wedding-Guest! this soul hath been Alone on a wide wide sea: So lonely 'twas, that God himself Scarce seemèd there to be.

O sweeter than the marriage-feast, 'Tis sweeter far to me, To walk together to the kirk With a goodly company!— To walk together to the kirk, And all together pray, While each to his great Father bends, Old men, and babes, and loving friends And youths and maidens gay!

Farewell, farewell! but this I tell To thee, thou Wedding-Guest!

He prayeth well, who loveth well Both man and bird and beast.

He prayeth best, who loveth best All things both great and small; For the dear God who loveth us, He made and loveth all.

The Mariner, whose eye is bright, Whose beard with age is hoar, Is gone: and now the Wedding-Guest Turned from the bridegroom's door.

He went like one that hath been stunned, And is of sense forlorn: A sadder and a wiser man, He rose the morrow morn.

NEWS

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TUESDAY, JUNE 1, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Electoral fraud

Official Region 4 SoPs handed over to Police …as probe into Lowenfield intensifies

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tatements of Poll (SoPs) for the country’s largest voting district, Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) were on Monday handed over to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Guyana Police Force (GPF).

This was confirmed by reliable sources close to the ongoing investigations into electoral fraud committed during the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections and it follows the recent ruling of the High Court on the SoPs. On May 27, acting Chief Justice Roxane George ordered the release of the documents to the Police and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to facilitate the Police investigations.

DPP Shalimar Ali-Hack, SC, and Commissioner of Police Nigel Hoppie had filed an application requesting certified copies of the SoPs and Statements of Recount (SoRs). However, Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield had staunchly opposed their release.

As part of the hearing of APNU/AFC’s election petition #88, which was subsequently thrown out, Justice George had ordered the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to hand over the original copies of the SoPs and SoRs to the Registrar of the Supreme

Police Commissioner (ag) Nigel Hoppie

Court of Judicature, Sueanna Lovell, for safekeeping.

Following the conclusion of the March 2020 General and Regional Elections which were embroiled in controversy, several high-ranking GECOM officials were investigated and placed before the courts.

They are Lowenfield, Deputy Chief Elections Officer (DECO) Roxanne Myers, and Region Four Returning Officer Clairmont Mingo. Police later sent a file to the chambers of the DPP which recommended charges for the trio.

Lowenfield, Myers, and Mingo were subsequently charged with several counts of misconduct in public office in relation to their conduct at the national elections.

Lowenfield was also

charged with forgery for allegedly uttering forged documents on two occasions purporting to show that they were a true report of all the votes cast at the March 2020 General and Regional Elections.

They were all released on monetary bail pending the hearing and determination of their trial. In her application requesting certified copies of the documents, the DPP said that after charges were laid against the trio, she advised and instructed the Police to obtain certified copies of the SoRs and SoPs from GECOM as part of its probe and evidence gathering for presentation in court.

According to Ali-Hack, the SoPs and SoRs are necessary for the fair hearing of the charges as they constitute relevant evidence for the prosecution to prove the commission of the offences for which Lowenfield, Myers, and Mingo are charged.

Lowenfield’s report to GECOM had claimed that the APNU/AFC coalition garnered 171,825 votes while the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) gained 166,343 votes. How he arrived at those figures is still unknown.

The certified results from the recount exercise supervised by GECOM and a high-level team from the Caribbean Community (Caricom) pellucidly showed

DPP Shalimar Ali-Hack, SC

that the PPP/C won with 233,336 votes while the coalition garnered 217,920.

The recount exercise also proved that Mingo heavily inflated the figures in Region Four – Guyana’s largest voting district – in favour of the then caretaker APNU/AFC regime.

The DPP has since hired a team of special prosecutors consisting of about six attorneys-at-law to prosecute the electoral fraud cases on behalf of the State.

In the meantime, it has been decided that the electoral fraud cases against Myers will continue on August 3, 2021, when the matters are set to be called for reports before Senior Magistrate Leron Daly at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

In February last, Magistrate Daly ruled that a Preliminary Inquiry (PI)

would be conducted into the two counts of misconduct in public office against Myers.

This means that the presiding Magistrate will now conduct a PI to determine whether there is sufficient evidence to commit Myers to stand trial at the High Court.

It is alleged that between March 4 and 14, 2020, at High and Cowan Streets, Kingston, Georgetown, in her capacity as Deputy Chief Elections Officer of GECOM, Myers wilfully misconducted herself together with Region Four Returning Officer Clairmont Mingo and others, to declare a fraudulent account of votes for the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections.

The said misconduct amounted to a breach of the

Keith Lowenfield

public’s trust in the office of the said Returning Officer for District Four of GECOM, without any reasonable excuse or justification. Myers has not been required to plead to the indictable charges. She was released on $300,000 bail. (G3)

8 NEWS

TUESDAY, JUNE 1, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Guyana-Venezuela border case

Australia-born Judge sitting on ICJ panel dies

A

ustralian born International Court of Justice (ICJ) Judge James Richard Crawford who was sitting on the panel of Judges hearing the Guyana-Venezuela’s border controversy case has died.

According to a statement from the ICJ, Judge Crawford passed away on May 31 in The Hague, Netherlands.

Judge Crawford had been a Member of the Court since February 6, 2015, and his term of office was due to expire in February 2024.

The statement explained that Judge Crawford was born in Adelaide, Australia, on November 14, 1948. After obtaining undergraduate degrees from the University of Adelaide, he pursued his studies as a postgraduate at the University of Oxford and later obtained further postgraduate qualifications from various universities across Europe.

“Judge Crawford was called to the Bar as Barrister and Solicitor of the High Court of Australia in 1977.

He was called to the Bar as Barrister of the Supreme Court of New South Wales on 6 November 1987 and was appointed Senior Counsel on 7 November 1997. During his illustrious career, Judge Crawford held a number of key positions in his home country. Most notably he served as Commissioner of the Australian Law Reform Commission (19821990) and as a member of the Australian National Commission for UNESCO

ICJ Judge James Richard Crawford

(1984-1988).”

“He was also a member of the Advisory Committee on the Australian Judicial System, Constitutional Commission (1985-1987) and a member of the Admiralty Rules Committee (1989-1992). At the international level, Judge Crawford’s positions included member of the United Nations International Law Commission (1992-2001) and Special Rapporteur on State Responsibility (19972001),” the statement said.

It was further explained that prior to his election to the International Court of Justice, he served as senior counsel, counsel or co-counsel in some 30 contentious and advisory proceedings before the Court. He also served as President, Judge, arbitrator or counsel in a number of other proceedings before various national and international courts and tri-

bunals.

“In addition, he testified as an expert witness in the highest domestic courts of several States, and produced expert reports and opinions. Throughout his career, Judge Crawford published books, official reports and academic articles on a wide array of topics of international law, many of which are well known to legal practitioners and students. He also held many academic positions in renowned universities and research centres.”

“The recipient of various honorary titles and prizes, Judge Crawford participated in a number of professional associations and learned societies in different capacities. He is a former member of the Curatorium of The Hague Academy of International Law (elected in 1999), and an associate (elected in 1985) and member (since 1991) of the Institut de droit international.”

Case

Back in March, the ICJ had granted Guyana until March 8, 2022, to file its written submissions for the case, after requesting 12 months. Venezuela was given until March 8, 2023, to submit its counter memorial Guyana filed its case with the World Court on March 29, 2018, seeking a final and binding judgement that the 1899 Arbitral Award, which established the location of the land boundary between the then-British Guiana and Venezuela, remains valid and binding, and that Guyana’s Essequibo region belongs to Guyana, and not Venezuela as is be-

ing claimed by the Spanishspeaking country.

Guyana moved to the World Court after exhausting all means of negotiation with Venezuela.

United Nations Secretary General António Guterres, in January 2018 decided that the case should be settled by the ICJ after exercising the powers vested in him to decide how the controversy should be settled by the 1966 Geneva Agreement between Guyana, Venezuela and the United Kingdom.

However, Venezuela had claimed, in a letter to the World Court, that the Secretary General exceeded his authority under the Geneva Agreement, and therefore, the Court lacks jurisdiction to adjudicate the lawsuit filed by Guyana.

The ICJ is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations. It was established by the United Nations Charter in June 1945 and began its activities in April 1946. The Court is composed of 15 Judges elected for a nine-year term by the General Assembly and the Security Council of the United Nations. The seat of the Court is at the Peace Palace in The Hague (Netherlands).

The Court has a twofold role: first, to settle, in accordance with international law, through judgements which have binding force and are without appeal for the parties concerned, legal disputes submitted to it by States; and, second, to give advisory opinions on legal questions referred to it by duly authorised United Nations organs and agencies of the system.

Curfew remains in place until June 30

T

he Government of Guyana has extended the national curfew to June 30 with the lockdown hours in effect from 22:30h (10:30pm) to 04:00h (4am), along with restrictions on social activities and other measures.

On Monday, the Health Ministry and National COVID-19 Task Force issued the gazetted COVID-19 Measures for the new month.

As part of the measures, persons are still required to wear masks while in public spaces. The measures also stipulate that all gatherings are limited to no more than 10 people and social activities are also prohibited. Recreational activities at rivers, creeks, beaches,

swimming pools, and internal waters remain prohibited.

However, physical exercise is permitted in parks, on roads, seawalls, beaches and near rivers and creeks where persons can be safely distanced six feet from each other.

The measures also state that no person shall visit or be permitted to visit any place of quarantine or an isolation facility or prison or correctional facility. Persons are not allowed to visit a patient in a hospital, nursing home, senior citizens’ home or any other care facility.

Meanwhile, places of worship, gyms, fitness centres, and restaurants (indoor and outdoor dining) can operate at limited capacity.

Spiting...

T

...their own lives here’s the saying, “Cut yuh nose fuh spite yuh face!” that describes what the Mayor and his City Council are inflicting on their constituents in Georgetown.

Ever since the PPP finally took office last August, the PNC machinery has embarked on a cynical programme to “show” that the PPP is discriminating against their supporters. Not a day passes when they don’t concoct one “slight” or another to rile up their base.

Going after the blatantly-illegal giveaways of hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of prime real estate? PPP Victimisation! Charging Patterson and Ferguson for accepting millions of dollars’ worth of “gifts” from the agencies under their control? PPP Victimisation! And don’t even mention firing all the political hacks at SOCU and SARA! Imagine one of their news lapdogs could contrast the news that the PNC had over-staffed GWI by hundreds – while almost tripling the wage bill – with the Government trying to resuscitate the PNC-shuttered sugar estates as an example of PPP’s supposed bias! As if those GWI workers “producing” more water!!

But now they’re taking their mudslinging at the PPP to a whole new level where they’re harming their community – just to play politics. They started with the distribution of relief hampers to needy communities, where they told their supporters that the PPP was insulting them as “needy hungry-bellies”!! And not only insisting that the Minister of Sport’s outreach to footballplaying youths in Buxton was duplicitous but actually having the community insulting the participating youths as “sell-outs”!

And we arrive to the lowest blow of them all – the Mayor and his City Council –- controlled by the PNC since before independence – conspiring to let Georgetown continue going to the dogs just to show that “the PPP hates Georgetown”! With the media and the diplomatic community living in the city, they figure they can SHOW as well as tell about PPP’s “perfidy”! They forget that when the PNC came into power in 2015, they spruced up the city for their Independence Jubilee Bash – and then promptly allowed it to slide back into filth and decrepitude! Even though their employees (and payroll!) had ballooned out of control with the hiring of relatives and friends! (Presumably under the “Volda Declaration!)

So, with the rains rivalling the great deluge of 2005, what does the M&CC do? Well, allow the drains to remain clogged, the canals to remain silted up and the kokers to be closed at low tide –- when the water would’ve been drained! Are they worried about the health risks they are posing to their constituents? Nah!!

They’re chortling over the propaganda effect of showing a flooded city to the world as proof of the PPP’s “partisanship”! ...road users no more?

Fool me once, shame on you...fool me twice, shame on me! The Police just announced that there will be no more random stops by traffic Police just for you to show your documents. How many times haven’t we heard this before? Is it about fooling me a thousand times? Well, not your (jaded) Eyewitness! He’ll believe it when he experiences it and he doesn’t see this happening in this lifetime!

Now you know that when the traffic cop pulls you over now all he’ll do is make up some ridiculous “reason” for doing so. Like “you crossed a yellow line in the road”.

Who the heck will you get to say otherwise excepting your wife at your side? And she will be dubbed an “interested party” by the Magistrate if you go to court to contest the ticket you’ll be handed if you don’t produce your papers!

The point being that the Police, who are shaking us down, aren’t “interested parties”!

They “serve and protect” us! ...the Police system Your Eyewitness just listened to a Zoom programme in which the embattled erstwhile Chairman of the Police Commission did a “slash and burn” on the entire edifice of the GPF. He ain’t going quietly into the night!

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

NEWS

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TUESDAY, JUNE 1, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

4 COVID-19 fatalities raise May’s death toll to 90 …42 new cases, 23 in ICU

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ay has ended with 90 coronavirus fatalities – four of which were reported on Monday. Guyana has since recorded 389 deaths from the novel virus since the start of the pandemic.

This is the highest number of deaths to be reported in one month locally, with April taking second place with 66 deaths. In two months, there have been a whopping 156 reported deaths in the country.

The Health Ministry announced the latest fatalities as an 81-year-old male from Region 10, an 83-year-old female from Region Four and a 30-year-old male from Region Nine, all of whom died on Saturday. The fourth person to succumb is a 65-year-old male from Region Three, who died later on Sunday.

Previously on Sunday, three deaths from Region Four were announced; name-

ly a 58-year-old and 71-yearold female; and a 65-year-old male.

New cases

Monday’s dashboard showed an increase of 42 new cases in one day. The total confirmed cases in the country have now increased to 16,952.

There are 23 patients in the Intensive Care Unit, 102 in institutional isolation, 1916 in home isolation and nine in institutional quarantine.

Some 14,552 of the 8399 males and 8553 females that tested positive have since recovered. Guyana has tested 153,989 persons since the virus was detected here.

An analysis of new cases showed two cases from Region One (Barima-Waini), two in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), 11 in Region Four (DemeraraMahaica), 22 in Region Six

(East Berbice-Corentyne), two in Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni) and three in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).

Cases remained the same in Regions Two (PomeroonSupenaam), Five (MahaicaBerbice), Eight (PotaroSiparuni) and Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) at 468, 578, 365 and 811 respectively.

According to Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony, Guyana is actively trying to ensure that hospitalised cases are managed adequately to enable more recoveries.

“We continue to manage the patients as best as we can.

As you know, 80 per cent of the persons who are infected with COVID would not be hospitalised. For those persons who come to the hospital, we normally would evaluate them. Those who need ventilatory support or oth-

er forms of respiratory support, we’re able to give that to them. Of course, there are medications that you can use.

We have been working hard to make sure that we have more persons recovering from hospitalisation,” Dr Anthony explained.

Guyana currently has over 2000 active cases of the coronavirus, spanning health facilities across the country and at the specialised Infectious Diseases Hospital at Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara. Management of such cases, he said, can be challenging.

“We currently have 2041 active cases and of those, we have 104 right now in hospital with 23 in the ICU. Of those in the ICU, we have four patients on ventilators. It is a challenging task to manage those persons that we have in hospital. They’re not just at

Ocean View, but they’re also at various regional hospitals.

The medical staff have been

working very hard to assist people to survive the disease.”

(G12)

10 NEWS

TUESDAY, JUNE 1, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

CDC warns Region 7 residents of mudslides …advises them to move to higher ground

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Public Works Minister Bishop Juan Edghill assisting with the distribution of relief hampers to flood-affected residents of various areas in Kwakwani, Region 10

he Guyana Civil Defence Commission (CDC) on Monday issued a warning to residents living along the Cuyuni and Mazaruni Rivers, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), to move to higher grounds as mudslides are expected.

The CDC explained that the National Weather Watch Centre forecasts that conditions will likely lead to continued flooding of areas already under water and as such those residents could be affected. It also urged that the residents take the necessary precautions to safeguard life and property against flooding, heavy winds and mudslides.

Meanwhile, the emer-

gency response body also activated its volunteer corps to support the Commission and provide relief to residents in flood-affected regions.

During an Emergency Volunteer Meeting held via Zoom on Sunday, Director General, Lieutenant Colonel Kester Craig told the more than 45 volunteers in attendance to be on standby to offer support in the areas of emergency response and monitoring, packing of hampers and shelter management across the country.

Craig said that with the activation of the Regional Disaster Risk Management System, support will be needed at the level of the

municipalities, Regional Democratic Councils and Neighbouring Democratic Councils.

“Over the years, we have been working hard as possible in the 10 administrative regions to develop our regional response mechanisms. In some regions, especially those that are impacted regularly by events, the system is more oiled… where in others, the system is very rusty…with the support from Central Government, we will support them where they have deficiencies,” he noted.

The Director General said support is also needed for the Commission’s National Emergency Management

System (NEMS) which has been receiving an influx of messages and telephone calls concerning flood activities in affected regions.

“I’ve directed that all of those calls, missed calls must be returned, and get the information from those people as far as possible,” he told the volunteers.

Volunteers were also told of the possibility of setting up more shelters in flood-affected areas and as such shelter management support may be needed. Volunteers trained in this area were told to be on standby as their expertise will be required.

Shelters have been set up in Regions Nine (Upper

Takutu-Upper Essequibo) and 10 (Upper DemeraraBerbice) with calls for shelters in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice).

Association (GGDMA), whose members operate heavily in Region Seven, donated $1.5 million to the CDC to assist communities

A volunteer assisting with packing emergency supply items for flood-affected persons

CDC Director General Kester Craig looks on as volunteers pack hampers for flood-affected citizens

As it relates to the level of impact, the Director General stated that the situation can be considered a Level One response but if heavy rainfall continues it can escalate to Level Two which will be more labour intensive, thus requiring support.

The CDC has committed to monitoring all areas across Guyana during this prolonged rainy season and encourages persons to register as a volunteer.

Meanwhile, the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners

which have been affected by the recent flooding.

The donation by the GGDMA was in response to a request made by the CDC for assistance in the establishment of shelters, and to bring relief to several communities negatively impacted by the recent heavy rainfall.

The GGDMA said it will continue to monitor several areas in mining districts which are among some of the areas affected and will also offer support to miners and other communities. (G2)

NEWS

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TUESDAY, JUNE 1, 2021| GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Ganja found stuffed 1 injured after car slams into fence, turns turtle in frozen chickens

The frozen chickens with the ganja

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40-year-old woman of Best Village, West Coast Demerara (WCD), was on Saturday arrested after a quantity of ganja was found stuffed in chickens at No 70 Police Checkpoint, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni).

Police stated that on the day in question, during a routine stop and search exercise, ranks intercepted a motor lorry bearing

which 11 frozen chickens was observed with bulky parcels wrapped in plastic and foil wrap stuffed in them.

A closer inspection of the content in the parcels proved that they contained cannabis. As such, she was told of the offence, arrested and cautioned during which she reportedly told Police “Officer I buy this weed from a girl to go and

The chicken packed in the cooler at the checkpoint

registration number GZZ 3698 which was driven by a 46-year-old resident of Cornelia Ida, West Coast Demerara and transporting 12 passengers.

However, a cooler belonging to one of the passengers was searched during

sell.”

The cannabis and the suspect were escorted to the Bartica Police Station where the ganja was weighed in her presence and amounted to 565 grams. She remains in custody pending charges.

The wrecked car being taken away from the scene

The broken fence after the collision (Royan Abrams photos)

female driver is nursing injuries to her head and other parts of her body after the car she was driving turned turtle along the No 50 Public Road, Corentyne, Berbice, on Sunday evening.

The injured woman was identified as 23-year-old Karishma Gurahoo of No 47

negotiating a right bend.

As a result, the vehicle reportedly collided with a wooden fence then toppled several times before ending up in a nearby trench.

She was pulled from the wreckage by public-spirited citizens in a conscious state and taken to the Port Mourant Public

A

Village, Corentyne, Berbice.

Based on reports received, at about 19:00h on the day in question, the motor car bearing registration number PYY 6166 which was driven by the young lady was proceeding along the No 50 roadway at a fast rate of speed when she lost control of the vehicle while

Hospital where she was treated and transferred to New Amsterdam Public Hospital.

There, she was admitted a patient suffering from head and other injuries about her body. Her condition is regarded as stable.

An investigation has been launched into the accident.

TUESDAY, JUNE 1, 2021 |

Heavy, contin

“It is really scary” – El Paso residents face R

…abandoned hydropowe

esidents of El Paso, Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) are bracing themselves for the worst as the Potaro River overflows amid intense flooding due to heavy and continuous rainfall in the area.

In addition, a significant part of the abandoned Tumatumari Hydropower Station bridge has collapsed, causing the water to rush with great intensity.

When contacted by this publication, villagers said that the situation is unprecedented. One resident said that in her 31 years of living at El Paso, she has never experienced such flooding.

“It is really scary…the hydro wall break away and so the water rushing more quickly,” she expressed.

Another resident explained that floodwater has submerged two houses while water has started to flow into others.

“We didn’t expect the water to come so high. We had to take a boat and break the roof of a businesswoman’s house to get out her things,” the resident explained.

Meanwhile, a section of the road leading to El Paso has been submerged. This has affected vehicles from entering the area.

“You have to drive to a point. Park and take a boat and cross a section of the road because the water so high the vehicles will

sink,” a driver not A motorcyclist hide his motorcycl swim across the home to his wife a When contacte of Parliament, Am Sukhai said she w fected area to deliv idents.

El Paso falls Mahdia, however, David Adams said date on the situatio The Civil Defe has confirmed tha sists across Guyan regions have been

Malaria,

Meanwhile, ove es are severely affe by heavy rainfall i Recently, villag Upper Essequibo severely flooded, w heavy rainfall in lands, cattle, and the flood waters evacuate.

The Civil Defe

| GUYANATIMESGY.COM

nuous rainfall

e intense flooding as Potaro River overflows

er plant bridge collapses

ted. t recalled that he had to le in the bush nearby and submerged road to get and young children. ed on Monday, Member merindian Affairs Pauline was on her way to the afver relief hampers to res-

under the township of , when contacted, Mayor d he could not give an upon as he is in Georgetown. ence Commission (CDC) at as torrential rain perna, all ten administrative hit by floods.

dengue, typhoid

er in Region Nine, villagected by the floods caused in the area. ges of the Upper Takutudistrict of Guyana were which was caused by the n the area. Many farmlivestock were lost while forced the villagers to

ence Commission, Public

Works Ministry and Regional Democratic Council of Region Nine partnered in order provide shelters and relief hampers to the residents who were severely affected by the floods.

During a call-in interview on Monday with the Regional Executive Officer, Karl Singh, he said that there is an outbreak of malaria, dengue, typhoid and other water-borne diseases in the entire North Rupununi District.

Malaria is transmitted through the Anopheles mosquito while dengue is transmitted through the Aedes mosquito, both also carry other diseases as well. These mosquitoes breed well in flood waters in large numbers leading to these outbreaks.

The REO stated that a health team has been situated in the said district, which is currently doing blood smears and tests for the diseases. They are also providing the necessary treatment and advice for patients who have been infected.

The REO stated that the Apoteri, BaiShaizon and Shea villages are still currently underwater along with Sand Creek where ten homes have collapsed. He also explained that the roads and farms of Massara are completely flooded and that the Public Works Ministry is currently trying to assist in the said area.

14 NEWS

TUESDAY, JUNE 1, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

NDCs have failed to carry out mandate – flood-affected Corentyne residents

GLDA officers treating animals in the Cookrite Savannah

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s residents of Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne) continue to grapple with severe flooding brought on by persistent rainfall and overtopping of the Canje Creek, the Agriculture Ministry said that calls are being made for the regional representatives, more so the various Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) to step up and do their job.

This common complaint was raised with Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha during day two of his regional flood assessment exercise

in Region Six. According to the Agriculture Ministry, Nailini Boodhoo, a resident of No 59 Village, said that the NDC has failed the people.

“The Chairman don’t do anything. Look at the condition of the dam here. Look at this drain. If we can get better drainage or them used to clean the drains we would never get this kinda flooding.

The man don’t even come to meet with the people,” Boodhoo said.

Another resident, Bergett McGregor from No 53 Village, also said that the

NDC Chairman for her area has also failed to carry out the works needed to maintain the neighbourhood.

“Minister I’ve been waiting to meet with you. This situation is very hard on us and we need help. We appreciate what the Ministry is doing because I know pumps are being brought to the region but if the NDC was doing their job we would be in a better state. The NDC is not doing anything for us. Look at the drains. They don’t even clean these drains. We are paying our rates and taxes and we are not getting any help. When you go to the office, it is like you go there to waste time because they do not put any effort into coming and seeing what the people are going through,” McGregor said.

Residents, the Ministry said, also raised issues with the operation of certain structures in their communities. While efforts were being made to drain severely affected areas in Black Bush Polder, residents from other villages along the Coast have been accused of tampering with one of the structures in an attempt to allow the flow of water through their com-

Some of the stranded animals in the savannah

munity.

Farmers were also of the opinion that relevant officials failed to engage both parties in a timely manner, which resulted in further conflict.

Mustapha, in response, told residents after conducting a comprehensive regional assessment, several immediate interventions will be implemented within the next 24 hours.

As it relates to the operation of structures in the region, Mustapha told residents that a system has to be in place to ensure water from severely affected areas does not drain into areas that are less affected. He also cautioned residents against tampering with drainage and irrigation structures.

The Minister also told residents that hampers with food items and cleaning supplies would be made available through the Civil Defence Commission. Residents expressed that in the past, only a select few would benefit from the relief. Minister Mustapha asked that villag-

ers identify representatives to work along with the team carrying out the distribution to ensure everyone benefits.

GLDA delivers

Officers from the Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA) on Sunday distributed feed to affected farmers in some parts of the region.

During his visit to Black Bush Polder on Saturday, President Dr Irfaan Ali said that immediate assistance was needed for animals that have been stranded in the Cookrite Savannah.

Farmers who usually graze their animals there had expressed that there were no other alternative areas in the region for them to house their animals.

They appealed to the Head of State to have some feed made available to feed their animals.

GLDA officers also treated a number of animals who would’ve suffered injuries while attempting to seek higher ground.

After the Minister

would’ve concluded the exercise, NDIA officials in the region provided an update on the interventions made thus far.

Residents from the No 52-54 area had requested additional infrastructure in the form of additional tubing be made available to assist with draining the area. The NDIA was able to make those materials available. An excavator was also sent to the area to assist with clearing the drains. A mobile pump is currently being installed at Anchor Ville. Meanwhile, two additional pumps have been installed at Whim and Letter Kenny. Two tractor pumps have been deployed to assist with drainage in Eversham and a mini-excavator has been sent to clear blocked internal drains in Bangladesh.

NAREI and GLDA have also commenced their assessment to determine the losses faced by cash crops and livestock farmers in the region.

GRDB officers have also commenced preliminary assessments in the region.

NEWS

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TUESDAY, JUNE 1, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Former Journalist Mondale Smith loses battle to COVID-19

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ormer journalist and popular broadcaster Mondale Smith has lost the battle to the deadly novel coronavirus (COVID-19), throwing the media fraternity into a deep state of mourning.

The Health Ministry confirmed Smith’s death on Monday morning. He passed away while a patient at the Infectious Disease Hospital’s Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara.

However, his death was not reflected in the daily dashboard update on Monday.

Smith became ill with COVID-19 sometime last week and later became hospitalised after he encountered breathing issues.

President of the Guyana Press Association (GPA), Nazima Raghubir indicated that Smith’s death was confirmed by the Health Minister when she contacted him.

GPA extended its condolences to the family and friends of Smith via a statement.

Smith started his media career at the Guyana Broadcasting Authority

in the early 1990s, he produced as well as hosted radio shows at the State broadcasting agency. He would later join the Evening News and eventually became one of the faces of Prime News newscast.

There, he anchored the news, covered hard news and sports for that entity.

Smith also worked at the Guyana Times for over three years as a senior journalist. We was also a feature writer for Guyana Times.

Smith also worked at Kaieteur News among several other places.

“Throughout his media career, he never backed down from a challenge or a story, he was known for his many stand-ups and for going after stories that showed the reality we lived in. All of this spoke of Mondale’s versatility and love for journalism, he was always eager to tackle an issue or go after a story. Even as Mondale had moved on to another career, he would share stories or highlighted issues that came to him,” GPA President Raghubir said in a statement of con-

Mondale Smith

dolence to his family.

A number of Smith’s former media colleagues took to social media to express profound sadness and share good memories of working with him.

Smith’s most recent job was that of personal assistant to former Education Minister Nicolette Henry.

He was appointed to the post sometime in 2016 and served until 2020.

He was an avid cook and had been running a catering business while employed with the Ministry. After

the change of Government, he was offered another role but declined to focus more on his catering business.

It resulted in him opening Chef Mondale’s Kitchen on Church Street, Georgetown.

There he served “creole cuisine catering to everyone seeking quality, healthy, Guyanese cooking... Because you are from Kings and Queens you must eat like Royalty”.

Smith had a deep love for food and culture and would often be seen either covering or participating in various cultural activities.

He was also well known for assisting to tell the stories and share the struggles of everyday Guyanese.

A devout Christian, Smith’s last Facebook post was that of a link to Tamela Mann’s performance of “Take Me to the King.”

The Education Ministry in a statement on Monday said, “The Ministry of Education is truly sad-

dened by the passing of Mr Mondale Smith, who served the Ministry in various capacities. His presence and contributions will not be forgotten. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends as we wish them courage and peace during this time of mourning.”

Education Minister Priya Manickchand also expressed her condolences to the family of Smith and urged everyone to ensure they get vaccinated against the deadly virus.

The Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD) said that Smith had always been a supporter of its activities and even participated in some of its earliest activities, like community support groups which were held in 2005.

“As a journalist, he took great pride in covering our events for various media houses where

he worked over the years.

Mondale was also the Master of Ceremonies at several #SASOD events.

Most recently, in December 2018, he was the MC at our 15th anniversary cocktail reception at which then Minister of Education, Dr Nicolette Henry, was the guest speaker. At the time, Mondale was the Minister’s Personal Assistant with Responsibility for Public Relations. #MondaleSmith is a household name in #Guyana. His contributions to the media, arts, culture and entrepreneurship are too numerous to mention,” SASOD said via a statement on its Facebook page.

Opposition Leader Joseph Harmon said “Mondale was an outstanding journalist with a strong sense of social justice whose contribution to media in Guyana has been significant and whose absence from media and the society will be deeply missed.”

16 NEWS

TUESDAY, JUNE 1, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Berbice carpenter’s murder

Marcus Bisram to face Judge, jury; to turn self in to Police …after Appeal Court affirms DPP’s committal directive

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he Court of Appeal has affirmed a directive by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Shalimar Ali-Hack, SC, for US-based Guyanese Marcus Bisram to be committed to stand trial for the October 2016 murder of Berbice carpenter Faiyaz Narinedatt, whose lifeless body was found on the roadway. In the unanimous decision delivered on Monday by acting Chancellor of the Judiciary Justice Yonette CummingsEdwards, the appeal court overturned an order of certiorari quashing the DPP’s directive which was granted by the High Court in June 2020.

An oral request for a stay of the judgement by Bisram’s lawyer, Arduranauth Gossai, was declined by the Court of Appeal. As such, Gossai is likely to hand over his murder accused client to the Police. Bisram will then be placed on remand pending the hearing and determination of his trial at the High Court in Berbice. In the meantime, Gossai has also given oral notice of his intention to appeal the decision of the Court of Appeal at the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ).

In

Certiorari

June

2020,

High

Murder accused: Marcus Bisram

Court Judge Simone MorrisRamlall issued an order of certiorari quashing the directive by Ali-Hack to Magistrate Renita Singh for Bisram to be committed to stand trial for the capital offence in the High Court.

Justice Morris-Ramlall had also granted an order prohibiting the DPP from bringing an indictment for murder against Bisram in the High Court.

Bisram was released from prison where he had been on remand. Magistrate Singh had discharged the charge against Bisram and informed him that he was free to go, following a Preliminary Inquiry (PI) on March 30, 2020. At the close of the PI, the Magistrate

found that the prosecution failed to establish a prima facie case against him.

However, on the day of the discharge, the DPP exercised her powers under Section 72 (1) and (2) (ii) (b) of the Criminal Law (Procedure) Act, by requesting that the depositions be sent to her and directed the Magistrate to reopen the PI with a view of committing Bisram. The Magistrate complied and thereafter called on Bisram, who had been rearrested to lead a defence.

At the close of the case for the defence, the Magistrate found that there was insufficient evidence to support the charge and adjourned the matter to April 6, 2020, for further directions from the DPP. On April 6, 2020, the DPP directed that Bisram be committed to stand trial in the High Court. This direction was duly complied with on the said date by the Magistrate. Bisram then moved to the High Court seeking judicial review of the DPP’s directive.

In ruling that the DPP’s directive for committal was unlawful and unreasonable, Justice Morris-Ramlall, among other things, held that the evidence disclosed against Bisram by the prosecution did not meet the re-

Twin boys safely delivered via emergency C-section at Region 7 NICU

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egional Health Officer for Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), Dr Edward Sagala has expressed gratitude to the President Dr Irfaan Ali-led Government for ensuring that the region’s health unit is functioning properly, following the safe delivery of twins by emergency caesarean.

Dr Sagala told the Department of Public Information that the babies were delivered after their mother suffered a fall.

“Now, two healthy twin boys and both below 2500 grams are safely here. We have a state-of-the-art Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) with trained staff,” Dr Sagala said.

The NICU was commissioned under the previous Administration and equipped through a partnership between the Health Ministry and Guyana Help the Kids Organisation. Dr Sagala said it had not been functioning to capacity, mainly due to the shortage of supplies and critical equipment such as the CPAP machine and ventilator.

“NICU is now functional again, thanks to the much-appreciated efforts of Dr Vishwa Mahadeo, whose efforts have also seen other

Dead: Faiyaz Narinedatt

quired evidentiary threshold to support calling on him to lead a defence.

In fact, the Judge ruled that no prima facie case had been made out against him to put him on trial by a jury before a Judge. “…The evidence is insufficient, or, in other words, it is not of the quality that a reasonable jury properly directed could safely convict on it.”

Ali-Hack then filed an appeal against Justice MorrisRamlall’s decision with the appeal court.

Jury trial

Justice CummingsEdwards underscored that the issues raised in this appeal would be better ventilated at the trial court by a jury. “The issues raised, we think, would have been better ventilated at the trial court where the trial Judge would have weighed all the issues in relation to the evidence and decide whether or not it would have been left for a jury,” she said.

According to the Chancellor, “The decision to commit by the Magistrate would have had to be based on the evidence which the DPP ought to have reviewed… We are of the view that the committal proceedings by the Magistrate and the directive by the Director of Public Prosecutions would not have been invalid,” Justice Cummings-Edwards noted.

In her ruling, Justice Morris-Ramlall had outlined that the evidence of Chaman

Chunilall was the body and soul of the prosecution’s case against Bisram and that there was no other evidence, either direct or circumstantial linking him to the murder charge.

“At the close of the case for the prosecution, the evidence of Chunilall was totally discredited and rendered manifestly unreliable. The evidence remained substantially the same at the close of the case for the defence,” the High Court Judge had said.

However, citing a plethora of case laws, the appeal court in adopting the pronouncements therein held, “It is not the Judge’s job to weigh the evidence and to decide who is telling the truth and to stop the case merely because he thinks the witness is lying. To do that is to usurp the functions of the jury…”

Evidence sufficient

The DPP had always maintained that her directive for committal was lawful as there is sufficient evidence against Bisram to warrant a trial by a jury before a Judge. In fact, during the appeal hearing, AliHack submitted that the evidence in the case against Bisram is sufficient, and any reasonable jury, if properly directed, can safely convict.

The DPP said that the evidence given by Chunilall was admissible and the issue that arises is the issue of credibility, which is for a jury to decide. “This is a proper case for a committal, for it to go to trial in the High Court,” Ali-Hack said as she urged the court to quash the High Court’s ruling.

Bisram had contended that the DPP’s directive infringed his constitutional rights provided for in Articles 122 (a) and 144 (1) of the Constitution of Guyana and the separation of powers doctrine. However, this contention was rejected by the Court of Appeal which held that the DPP, in making the directive, acted within the ambit of powers invested in

Chancellor (ag) Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards

her under the Constitution and statute.

Extradition

Bisram was extradited from the United States to Guyana in 2019 to face the murder charge. There was an extended fight in US courts to block his extradition. He was then charged and remanded to prison for the murder of Narinedatt, a father of two, of Number 72 Village Corentyne, Berbice.

It is alleged that on the day of the killing, Bisram had a party at his home which Narinedatt and others attended. Media reports are that Narinedatt went to the yard and was followed

by Bisram, who reportedly came up behind him and started “feeling him up.”

It was reported that Narinedatt slapped and chucked Bisram, who allegedly directed his friends to kill him. According to reports, several men beat the carpenter and dumped his body on the Number 70 Village Corentyne, Berbice road.

It was reported that they then drove over his body on the roadway at Number 70 village Corentyne, Berbice to make it appear like a vehicular accident.

Five other men: Orlando Dickie, Radesh Motie, Diodath Datt, Harri Paul Parsram, and Niran Yacoob are currently awaiting trial at the High Court in Berbice for Narinedatt’s murder. (G1)

Child rapist jailed for 15 years

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Twin boys in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) in Region Seven’s health unit

departments functioning to capacity such as the X-ray unit and laboratory,” he is quoted by DPI as saying.

Dr Sagala said in a week’s time, the CT scanner should be fully functional as well.

To date, 15 neonates have since used the NICU. Also, two Bartica nurses who have been trained are also serving the unit. In the absence of a neonatologist, a Cuban paediatrician is in charge of the NICU.

driane Sewdeen, the man who was found guilty by a jury of raping an 11-year-old girl, has been sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment. The custodial sentence was handed down

by Justice Gino Persaud at the High Court in Essequibo.

Sewdeen, who was initially indicted on two counts of rape committed on the young girl, was found guilty on one count.

That count detailed that on July 9, 2018, in the county of Essequibo, he engaged in sexual penetration of the underage girl. Following his arraignment before Justice Persaud, he had pleaded not guilty to the charge. The case

Child rapist: Adriane Sewdeen

for the prosecution was presented by State Counsel Lisa Cave.

According to the facts,

on July 9, 2018, Sewdeen’s wife had taken one of their three children to a graduation ceremony and had left the 11-year-old schoolgirl in his care. When Sewdeen returned home from work, he took the girl into a bedroom and raped her.

The other charge against him had alleged that during May 2018, he engaged in sexual penetration of the said girl. He was, however, acquitted by the jury on this charge.

In that case, it was alleged that the girl’s mother had left her in the care of Sewdeen and his wife. When his wife went out, it was alleged, Sewdeen returned home and raped the child. (G1)

NEWS

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TUESDAY, JUNE 1, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Citywide flooding

People’s lives depend on efficiency – President outraged after finding pumps off, staff sleeping …“it wasn’t me” – City Engineer

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President Irfaan Ali during his impromptu visit Sunday evening

resident Dr Irfaan Ali’s decision to do impromptu visits to sluices and pumps around the city late Sunday evening caught several pump attendants napping, with the equipment needed to drain the city of floodwaters turned off.

Such was the case when President Ali and team arrived for an inspection of the pumps at Riverview, Ruimveldt; Lombard Street and Kitty Pump Station.

Upon arrival at Riverview, Ruimveldt, it

Pump Station where both pumps were working. The pump attendant related that they had been running over the last 24 hours. He noted that he was pleased with the work done and the commitment shown at the pump stations in Meadow Bank, Central Georgetown, Kingston (while assessing the Lamaha Street pumps), Liliendaal and Hope Canal.

Hope Canal model

After more than two hours of inspection, President Ali made his last

City Engineer Colvern Venture

was found that the pumps at that location were off, the koker doors were closed and the worker was asleep.

“This is what we are talking about, I came out here myself to verify tonight.

The main pump to drain the city is turned off. Up to today, we said that the pumps need to be on 24 hours… while we have to deal with the heavy rainfall we have to deal decisively with the irresponsibility and negligence,” the President said.

Meanwhile, a similar situation was found at Lombard Street, Georgetown, forcing the President to question why the pump was not on. Another stop was made at the Kitty Pump Station, where it was found that two of the city’s most important pumps were not working. However, minutes after President Ali arrived, one of the pumps was mysteriously turned on.

The journey continued on to the Liliendaal

stop at the Hope Canal pumping station, which was working at full power.

According to him, the Hope Canal model may have to be replicated in other parts of the country to ensure flooding does not happen.

“This is one of the signature projects in previous PPP Governments. And if this canal was not here now, the East Coast would have been under water. So, this facility has really helped out tremendously.”

“And it is facilities like this that may have to replicate in Berbice and in other areas, to drain directly from the backlands straight out to the ocean. It’s only these facilities that can give you direct drainage,” President Ali said.

When he visited the station, all eight sluice doors were opened and were taking off large volumes of water from nearby communities.

Lives at stake

The President reminded that across the country, Guyanese are living under tremendous stress as many have seen their homes flooded, crops and livestock destroyed and their livelihood affected.

“We can have the best infrastructure; we can create the best environment, but if we don’t manage that infrastructure, if we don’t manage the environment, if we don’t take care of it, if we don’t ensure that we work efficiently, it’s for nothing.

And this is more than efficiency, you have to work conscientiously.

People’s lives depend on it.”

He pointed out that the floodwaters and the rainfall do not discriminate and have nothing to do with politics, but affect all Guyanese.

“So, as a caring Government, we are out here. Not only am I out here, but different Cabinet members are also in different areas… the situation is very, very difficult at the moment... At the end of the day, people are suffering and that is what worries me; that is what bothers me.”

‘It wasn’t me’

The Georgetown Mayor and City Council (GM&CC) is meanwhile refusing to shoulder blame for flooding in the capital city, with City Engineer Colvern Venture in a press conference on Monday asserting that flooding was unavoidable considering the volume of rainfall.

The flooding that affected large parts of Georgetown had been blamed on negligence by the Mayor and City Council throughout the weekend. However, Venture said the flooding was in fact unavoidable and there was nothing the city could do about it.

“Based on the records that I would have received and looked at, the amount of rainfall within that period could not have avoided any flooding in the city.

We would have encountered that based on the millime-

tres of rainfall we received.”

“But while that is so, the Council did put in effect its operation in terms of going around and checking to see where there were blockages and so forth. And to see how we could reduce those issues as quickly as possible,” Venture said.

When it comes to the sluices and pumps, the City Engineer said that these were opened and operational throughout the weekend.

He claimed that only one location, at Lamaha Street, presented any challenges.

“The sluices and the pumps… started opening from 10:00 (on Saturday) and went into the early mornings of yesterday morning. Based on the records and reports I received from my engineers and other officers on the ground, there were quite a few pumps that were operational,” Venture claimed.

“In fact, all the pumps were operational. The sluic-

President Ali questions an attendant as to the reason why one of the pumps was off

es along the Demerara River, they were open. Save and except for one sluice which we had some challenges with. And that’s at the Lamaha Street. There is heavy siltation of both the inlet and outlet at that location. However, the pump compensates for that aspect of it.”

President Ali is not alone in observing pump attendants sleeping on the job.

Other Ministers, including Public Works Minister Juan Edghill and Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha, also made similar observations during their inspections. (G3)

Caribbean Studies Association Conference highlights regional challenges

Caribbean Studies Association President, Dr Tavis Jules

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he Caribbean Studies Association on Monday opened its first virtual conference, taking a dive at pressing affairs in the region and how countries can steer away from policies that will negatively affect growth.

Joining with the University of Guyana to deliver the conference virtually, the United States Embassy is the primary sponsor of the event.

President of the Caribbean Studies Association, Dr Tavis Jules acknowledged that the extant pandemic crisis has highlighted inequalities within the region, and is a wakeup call as to whether it can achieve current sustainable development goals.

“COVID-19 has shone a light on the inequalities that continues to exacerbate the region. It has brought to our attention, the plight of achieving the UN sustainable development goals by 2030 and the aspirations for

a more inclusive and equitable world. In this context, the amplification of vaccine apartheid, which has left Caribbean countries undersupplied and vulnerable to the pandemic,” Dr Jules noted.

He added that the Caribbean identity is slowly changing, taking on the shape of globalisation. With this, there is a rise of “haphazard” development.

“Caribbean culture is metamorphising as globalisation has replaced indigenous Caribbean identities with McDonaldisation.

Today’s Caribbean is not the Caribbean that our forefathers freed from the bosom of former colonial masters.

Economic development has been haphazard and some countries rely on the monocrop of tourism and others staking their hopes on non-renewable fossil fuels such as oil as gas.”

The Assistant Professor of Layola University added, “It has long been recognised that small states of the Caribbean need each other to engender a sustainable development. Rather than band together to deepen economic integration, the regional project of today has become reliant on functional cooperation to achieve deeper regionalism.”

Meanwhile, Vice Chancellor, Professor Paloma Mohamed labelled this initiative as an opportunity to exchange research and build collaboration to address current problems.

“We will, over the next few days, be able to share

US Ambassador Sarah-Ann Lynch

our intellectual gifts, curiosities, solutions, creative and innovative talents as well as new and emerging research around the persistent problems of our day in a new and promising virtual environment.”

United States Ambassador to Guyana Sarah-Ann Lynch reassured that her country is committed to assisting the region on the educational front, through stronger partnerships.

“It is my hope that this conference builds stronger partnerships for the region and that the United States is considered the partner of choice when it comes to academic excellence…

Education and research are the foundations for prosperity and you are in the vanguard of those efforts,” she expressed.

The conference will last until June 4, targeting politics, industry, ecology and the economy of the region.

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guyanatimesgy.com

TUESDAY, JUNE 1, 2021

Regional

COVID: Peru more than doubles St Lucia eases health regulations for fully-vaccinated people death toll after review

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eru has more than doubled its COVID death toll following a review, making it the country with the world's highest death rate per capita, according to Johns Hopkins University data.

The official death toll now sits at more than 180,000, up from 69,342.

Prime Minister Violeta Bermudez told reporters that the number was raised on the advice of Peruvian and international experts.

This was in line with socalled excess deaths figures.

Excess deaths are a measure of how many more people are dying than would be expected based on the previous few years.

"We think it is our duty to make public this updated information," Bermudez said.

Peru has been one of the worst-hit countries in Latin America, resulting in an overstretched healthcare system and a lack of oxygen tanks.

The rise is in line with so-called excess deaths figures

The official number of Covid deaths now stands at 180,764, a huge increase on the previous official figure of 69,342.

In comparison, neighbouring Colombia has registered 88,282 deaths and Bolivia has reported more than 14,000, while Brazil has one of the world's highest death tolls with more than 460,000.

But Peru now has the highest number of deaths in the world in relation to the size of its population, according to Johns Hopkins data.

Hungary previously had the worst number of deaths per capita at around 300 per 100,000 people. Now Peru stands at more than 500 Covid deaths per 100,000 people. (Excerpt from BBC News)

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Alcantara’s friend and fellow activist Iris Ruiz told the Reuters news agency.

“There was so much uncertainty before.”

The General Calixto Garcia university hospital where he was treated announced “his complete recovery” and said Otero Alcantara “reiterated his gratitude to the personnel that looked after him at every opportunity”.

In the early days of his hospital stay, authorities released videos of him appearing in good health, but those close to Otero Alcantara said they had been unable to communicate with him.

Amnesty International

individuals had received the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine up to this past Friday and 18,277 others have received the second dose.

The statement said the Cabinet of Prime Minister Allen Chastanet after “careful deliberation on recommendations from the Command Centre” had agreed to adjust the COVID-19 protocols to allow concessions for fully vaccinated people based on the protection being provided by vaccination in keeping with the science.

But it warned that all

public health measures such as mandatory mask wearing in public, social distancing, and washing and sanitising of hands remain in place. It said the daily curfew remains 21:00h-04:00h. (local time).

The Government said competitive sporting events or activities must receive approval from the Ministry of Health and returning nationals and visitors with a negative PCR test and who are fully vaccinated will not require quarantine “random testing will be done at all arrival points”. (Excerpt from CMC)

Trini opera tenor to receive Guinness World Record award

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earlier this month described him as a “prisoner of conscience”, saying State security appeared to have him under supervision and incommunicado at the hospital.

US State Department official Julie Chung had raised concerns about Otero Alcantara’s condition when he was admitted to hospital and urged the Cuban Government “to take immediate steps to protect his life and health”.

The United States Embassy in Cuba also said at that time that Otero Alcantara, like all Cubans, “deserves to be treated with dignity and respect”.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

rom his days appearing on Hazel Ward Redman's Twelve and Under to performing before members of the British Royal Family, T&T bornUK-based opera singer Neil Latchman is now awaiting a most prestigious honour to be bestowed upon him in his career—a Guinness World Record award, for his unprecedented 2018, performance at Leh, Ladakh, in the Himalayan mountains, where he belted out high notes alongside harpist Siobhan Brady, at a height of 3495 metres.

The Trinidadian St Mary’s College alumnus lauded the land of his birth as having a significant impact on his career.

“The Trinidad I grew up in was absolutely wonderful. So my childhood memories constantly draw me back to it like a magnet. To this day, I feel butterflies in my stomach as the plane touch-

Russian Sputnik V vaccine on Monday at the government-owned Hotel Alba in Caracas.

Around 20 cubicles were arranged in a spacious room on the ground floor of the hotel where health authorities expect

to administer the first dose to 1000 people by the end of Monday, said Dr Rhode Longa, the site coordinator.

Two blocks from the hotel, Coromoto Teran, a 47-year-old homemaker, stood in line after learning about the effort via neighbours. But upon reaching the hotel, she was told she did not have the "right to vaccination" because she was neither a health worker nor a senior citizen, the two current target populations.

The Health Ministry has not offered details on the total number of people it has vaccinated. The Information Ministry did not immediately reply to a request for comment.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Leading Cuban dissident released from hospital

dissident Cuban artist who spent eight days on a hunger strike has been released from hospital, the Havana public health authority said on Monday.

Luis Manuel Otero Alcantara, the 33-year-old leader of the San Isidro protest movement (MSI) of artists and intellectuals pushing for greater freedom of expression, went on a hunger strike last month to protest against authorities seizing several of his works.

He was admitted to hospital on May 2, eight days into his hunger strike.

“I’m really happy and relieved, he’s at his family home now at least,” Otero

he St Lucia Government announced several amendments to the coronavirus (COVID-19) prevention and control regulation, including allowing for returning nationals and visitors with a negative PCR test and who are fully vaccinated not to be quarantined.

The Government said the measures took effect from Monday until June 30, as the island continues to strengthen its vaccination campaign.

A Government statement said a total of 27,709

Neil Latchman

es down in either Trinidad or Tobago. I do have a soft spot for Tobago and have many wonderful friends there. My father was a businessman with stores on Frederick Street and my mother a lecturer in French at UWI and John Donaldson Institute, so quite different people, a mixture that makes me pragmatic as well as aesthetic.

Not a bad combination in my profession,” Latchman said.

“Primary school was wonderful. We lived in Cascade,

Port-of-Spain, and I went to St. Bernadette’s Primary School in St. Ann’s.

To this day, I have extremely fond memories of walking home for lunch and sometimes stopping off at Hi-Lo (Massy Stores), on my way home to chat with the staff.

My mother would be really annoyed with me wondering where I was and eventually calling the Manager, as she knew that was my favourite port of call. I was always a people person and nothing’s changed! The singing and music definitely were rooted at St. Bernadette’s.

Sister Chanel who was in charge of music there was very encouraging of my talent and so was Linda Hadeed who taught at the school. The Music Festival and “Twelve and under” days began there.” (Excerpt from Trinidad Guardian)

Jamaica Government Long lines and confusion as Venezuela postpones national assessments begins COVID-19 vaccination

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undreds of senior citizens and health workers stood in long lines on Monday to get vaccinated against the coronavirus as part of Venezuela's inoculation campaign, which has been held up by payment problems and political disputes.

The Government of President Nicolás Maduro for months said it was unable to pay for vaccines due to US sanctions, but last month announced it had come up with the funds to enter the global COVAX programme.

The campaign that officially began over the weekend is using vaccines provided by Russia and China.

Reuters data shows that only 1.1 per cent of the pop-

President Nicolás Maduro

ulation has received at least one vaccine shot so far.

"A little more information is required. We get very confused, which is to be expected due to impatience," said Luis Gonzalez, 90, a retiree, after receiving his first dose of the

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he Jamaica Government announced on Monday the postponement of all the remaining national assessments at the primary school level until the latter half of the Christmas Term of the upcoming 2021-2022 academic year.

In a statement, the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information said the decision was taken after a series of consultations with key stakeholders and consultant psychometricians concerning the administration of the 2021 sitting of Primary Exit Profile (PEP) Grade 4 and Grade 5 assessments.

It said the assessments to be postponed include the Grade 3 diagnostic test, the Grade 4 performance tasks

and the Grade 5 performance tasks.

“Based on this decision, effective (Monday, May 31), boards of management (and) Principals of schools that have been approved by the Ministry of Health and Wellness as COVID-19 compliant, should ensure that all Grade 4 and Grade 5 students are scheduled for face-to-face instruction in preparation for their examinations,” the ministry said.

It said that the Grade 9 Achievement Test (GNAT) has been cancelled for 2021 and that all students registered to sit the GNAT will be placed in schools that are in proximity to their home address or attending school consistent with the approach used in June last year, or both. (CMC)

guyanatimesgy.com

TUESDAY, JUNE 1, 2021

19

Around the World

OILNEWS OIL NEWS Oil nears US$70 a barrel lifted by brighter demand outlook

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il prices firmed on Monday, with Brent trading near US$70 a barrel on growing optimism that fuel demand will grow in the next quarter, while investors looked ahead to see how producers will respond at this week’s OPEC+ meeting.

Trading was thin as markets in the United States and United Kingdom were closed on Monday due to public holidays. Brent crude futures settled up 60 cents, or 0.9 per cent, at US$69.32 a barrel, off a session high of US$69.82.

US West Texas Intermediate crude rose 0.9 per cent and last traded at US$66.91 a barrel. Both contracts were set for a second monthly gain.

Analysts expect oil demand growth to outstrip supply despite the possible return of Iranian crude and condensate exports.

“Despite the mobility restrictions that are still in place, oil demand is recovering dynamically around the world,” Commerzbank said.

Iran has been in talks with world powers since April, working on steps that Tehran and Washington must take on sanctions and nuclear activities to return to full compliance with the 2015 nuclear pact.

The Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and allies including Russia will meet on Tuesday.

The group known as OPEC+ is expected to stay the course on plans to gradually ease supply cuts until July.

“Trading excitement often drives the market just before OPEC+ meetings, and there is confidence that the oil producer group will demonstrate supply restraint at its meeting on Tuesday,” Louise Dickson, oil markets analyst at Rystad Energy said in a note to clients.

A Joint Technical Committee (JTC) for the alliance kept its global oil demand growth forecast for 2021 unchanged at about six million barrels per day, two sources from the group told Reuters on Monday.

Separately, crude output in the US soared 14.3 per cent in March, the Energy Information Administration reported on Friday, while Baker Hughes data showed the number of oil and gas rigs in operation rose for the 10th month in a row last week. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

COVID: WHO renames UK and other variants with Greek letters

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he World Health Organisation (WHO) has announced a new naming system for variants of COVID-19.

From now on the WHO will use Greek letters to refer to variants first detected in countries like the UK, South Africa and India.

The UK variant for instance is labelled as Alpha, the South African Beta, and the Indian as Delta.

The WHO said this was to simplify discussions but also to help remove some stigma from the names.

Earlier this month the Indian Government criticised the naming of variant B.1.617.2 - first detected in the country last October - as the "Indian variant", though the WHO had never officially labelled it as such.

Letters will refer to both variants of concern, and variants of interest. A full list of names has been pub-

lished on the WHO website.

These Greek letters will not replace existing scientific names. If more than 24 variants are officially identified, the system runs out of Greek letters, and a new naming programme will be announced, Van Kerkhove told STAT News in an interview.

On Monday, a scientist advising the UK Government said the country was in the early stages of a third wave of coronavirus infections, in part driven by the Delta, or Indian variant.

Vietnam, meanwhile, has detected what appears to be a combination of those two variants. On Saturday, the country's Health Minister said it could spread quickly through the air and described it as "very dangerous". (Excerpt from BBC News)

3-child policy: China lifts cap on births in major policy shift

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arried Chinese couples may have up to three children, China announced on Monday, in a major shift from the existing limit of two after recent data showed a dramatic decline in births in the world's most populous country.

Beijing scrapped its decades-old one-child policy in 2016, replacing it with a two-child limit to try and stave off risks to its economy from a rapidly aging population. But that failed to result in a sustained surge in births given the high cost of raising children in Chinese cities, a challenge that persists to this day.

The policy change will come with "supportive measures, which will be conducive to improving our coun-

People ride bicycles and motorbikes on a street, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, in Shanghai, China May 31, 2021

try's population structure, fulfilling the country's strategy of actively coping with an ageing population", the official Xinhua news agency said following a polit-

buro meeting chaired by President Xi Jinping.

Among those measures, China will lower educational costs for families, step up tax and housing support,

guarantee the legal interests of working women and clamp down on "sky-high" dowries, it said, without giving specifics. It would also look to educate young people "on marriage and love".

China had a fertility rate of just 1.3 children per woman in 2020, recent data showed, on par with ageing societies like Japan and Italy and far short of the roughly 2.1 needed for replacement level.

"People are held back not by the two-children limit, but by the incredibly high costs of raising children in today's China. Housing, extracurricular activities, food, trips, and everything else add up quickly," Yifei Li, a sociologist at NYU Shanghai, told Reuters.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

At least 55 killed in eastern Congo massacres, UN says

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t least 55 people were killed overnight in two attacks on villages in eastern Congo, the United Nations said on Monday, in potentially the worst night of violence the area has seen in at least four years.

The army and a local civil rights group blamed the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), an Islamist armed group, for raiding the village of Tchabi and a camp for displaced people near

Boga, another village. Both are close to the border of Uganda.

Houses were burned and civilians abducted, the UN office for humanitarian affairs said in a statement.

Albert Basegu, the head of a civil rights group in Boga, told Reuters by telephone that he had been alerted to the attack by the sound of cries at a neighbour's house.

The Kivu Security Tracker (KST), which has mapped unrest in restive

eastern Congo since June 2017, said on Twitter the wife of a local chief was among the dead. It did not attribute blame for the killings.

The ADF is believed to have killed more than 850 people in 2020, according to the United Nations, in a spate of reprisal attacks on civilians after the army began operations against it the year before.

In March the United States labelled the ADF a

foreign terrorist organisation. The group has in the past proclaimed allegiance to Islamic State, although the United Nations says evidence linking it to other Islamist militant networks is scant.

President Felix Tshisekedi declared a state of siege in Congo's North Kivu and Ituri provinces on May 1 in an attempt to curb increasing attacks by militant groups. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Iran fails to explain uranium traces found at several sites – IAEA report

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ran has failed to explain traces of uranium found at several undeclared sites, a report by the UN nuclear watchdog showed on Monday, possibly setting up a fresh diplomatic clash between Tehran and the West that could derail wider nuclear talks.

Three months ago Britain, France and Germany scrapped a US-backed plan for the International Atomic Energy Agency's 35-nation Board of Governors to criticise Iran for failing to fully explain the origin of the particles; the three backed off as IAEA chief Rafael Grossi announced fresh talks with Iran.

It will now be up to the three European powers to

decide whether to revive their push for a resolution criticising Iran, which could undermine wider negotiations to revive the 2015 Iran nuclear deal at talks currently underway in Vienna.

Grossi had hoped to report progress before the board meets again next week.

In a separate quarterly report also sent to member states on Monday and seen

by Reuters, the agency gave

an indication of the damage done to Iran's production of enriched uranium by an explosion and power cut at its Natanz site last month that Tehran has blamed on Israel.

Iran's quarterly increase in its stock of enriched uranium was the lowest since August 2019 at just 273 kg, bringing the total to 3241 kg, according to an IAEA estimate. It was not able to fully verify the stock because Iran has downgraded cooperation.

That total is many times the 202.8 kg limit set by the nuclear deal, but still well below the more than six tonnes Iran possessed before the deal. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

since 1992 following the fall of the Soviet Union, and has maintained a diplomatic mission to NATO since 1998.

Belarusian personnel can attend seminars and meetings at NATO and in NATO countries as part of a cooperation partnership that tackles issues such as arms control and military education.

"We have decided to restrict the access of Belarusian personnel to the NATO headquarters," Stoltenberg told a news conference ahead of meetings of NATO Defence and Foreign Ministers on Tuesday, without giving more details.

The forced landing of a Ryanair flight from Athens to Vilnius earlier this month

by Belarus to arrest a dissi-

dent journalist caused outrage in the West.

However, a proposal to suspend Belarus from bilateral NATO cooperation, known as the Partnership for Peace, was not taken up by diplomats last week, after Turkey blocked the idea for fear of antagonising Russia, Minsk's closest ally, diplomats said. (Excerpt from Reuters)

The Iranian flag waves in front of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) headquarters, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, in Vienna, Austria, May 23, 2021

NATO restricts Belarusian access to HQ

P

ersonnel at Belarus' diplomatic mission to NATO will have their access restricted at the alliance's headquarters, Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on Monday, following the forced landing of a passenger plane by Minsk.

Belarus is not a member of NATO but has had ties with the military alliance

20

TUESDAY, JUNE 1, 2021

guyanatimesgy.com

ARCHIE

ARIES (March 21April 19)

You’ll receive important information from a friendly conversation. Take the high road if someone says something unkind. Patience will pay off and help you get your way in the end.

Set your sights on what TAURUS and who can help you get (April 20- ahead. Show compassion and May 20) understanding; you’ll get exactly what you want. An unexpected professional or financial change will pay off.

DILBERT

Observation will help you avoid a sticky situation.

(May 21- Knowledge is key when it comes June 20) to getting ahead and making a good impression. Don’t expect anything from others, and promise only what’s possible.

GEMINI

CANCER (June 21July 22)

PEANUTS

Take a chance and try something you’ve never done.

Explore avenues that allow you to use your imagination, and let your creativity flow.

A change may be frightening, but it will turn out well.

Hang on to your cash. A LEO spending spree won’t make you (July 23feel better. Do your best to save Aug. 22) for something that will benefit you mentally, physically, emotionally or financially.

CALVIN AND HOBBES

SUDOKU

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

Make a change, but before you do, make sure you aren’t disrupting someone’s life or emotional well-being.

Honesty, integrity and concern for others will help you gain approval and assistance.

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

You’ll learn plenty if you sit back and observe.

Moderation will be the key to success. Focus on education, personal growth and getting along with others. Everything will fall into place.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

Take more time to make your home comfortable.

Decluttering your space will make it easier to head in a positive direction. A move may seem impossible, but you’ll eventually make it.

Think twice before SAGITTARIUS you share your thoughts (Nov. 23and opinions with others.

Dec. 21) Someone will use your openness to interfere with your plans. A partnership will need an adjustment.

Don’t be fooled by what

CAPRICORN others say or do. An offer may (Dec. 22sound amazing, but will be Jan. 19) lacking in the end. Bide your time; focus on personal changes that will make your life easier.

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

Don’t limit what you can do. Seize the moment, take advantage of what’s available to you and express your feelings and plans to those who will be affected by your decisions. Romance is favored.

Get the lowdown before you approach someone who (Feb. 20isn’t likely to share your enMarch 20) thusiasm, opinions or goals. A problem at home will escalate if you try to hide information.

PISCES

TUESDAY, JUNE 1, 2021

21

NBA round-up: Chris Paul helps Suns even series with Lakers

C

hris Paul collected 18 points and nine assists to lift the visiting Phoenix Suns to a 100-92 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday afternoon in Game Four of their Western Conference firstround series.

Devin Booker and Jae Crowder each scored 17 points, and Deandre Ayton recorded 14 points and 17 rebounds for the Suns, who evened their best-of-seven series with Los Angeles at two wins apiece. The teams reconvene in Phoenix today for Game Five.

L e B r o n James had 25 points and 12 rebounds for the Lakers, who saw Anthony Davis exit the contest with a strained left groin following a drive to the basket with 48.3 seconds left in the second quarter.

Davis made just two of nine shots for six points before departing.

Phoenix exploited Davis’s absence in the third quarter, outscoring Los Angeles by a 27-15 margin to take an 81-65 lead. James sank a free throw to trim Phoenix’s lead to 95-88 with 2:40 left in the fourth quarter. Crowder stopped the momentum by drilling a corner three-pointer with 1:23 to play.

Clippers 106, Mavericks 81

Kawhi Leonard had 29 points and 10 rebounds to

set by Jason Kidd against Toronto in 2007. Jayson Tatum followed up his 50-point game from Friday by scoring 40, but Boston had few answers defensively for Brooklyn’s stars.

Hawks 113, Knicks 96

help Los Angeles even its Western Conference firstround play-off series against hosts Dallas with a win in Game Four.

Paul George added 20 points and nine rebounds for the Clippers, who lost the first two games of the series in Los Angeles before bouncing back to win the next two on the road. Reggie Jackson scored 15 points.

Mavericks All-Star Luka Doncic, who had averaged 38 points in the first three games of the series, was

BCCI in talks with West Indies board to advance start of CPL 2021 to avoid clash with IPL 2021

S

uspended midway into its 14th season owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, the lucrative Indian Premier League (IPL) was on Saturday approved by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for resumption in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in the middle of September.

The BCCI is trying to convince Cricket West Indies to advance the start of the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) by a week or 10 days to ensure a seamless bubble-to-bubble transfer of players for the IPL's resumption in the UAE come September.

The CPL is scheduled to get underway from August 28 with the final to be played on September 19, while the remaining part of the IPL is likely to be held from September 18 to October 10, not leaving the players with

any time to settle down.

"We are in talks with Cricket West Indies. We are hoping that if CPL can be finished a few days in advance, it would help in a bubble-to-bubble transfer of all players to Dubai and in time to complete the mandatory three-day quarantine," a BCCI source, privy to the development, told PTI on Sunday.

If the BCCI and CWI fail to reach an agreement over dates, some of the biggest players could miss the initial few matches or maybe the first half of the IPL.

The big names involved in both T20 leagues are Mumbai Indians' five-time IPLwinning influential all-rounder Kieron Pollard, the swashbuckling Chris Gayle, seasoned all-rounder Dwayne Bravo, Shimron Hetmyer, Jason Holder, Nicholas Pooran, Fabien Allen, Keemo Paul, Sunil Narine and Trinidad and Tobago Coach Brendon McCullum, who is also at the helm of affairs in Kolkata Knight Riders.

The upcoming edition will be the CPL's ninth season and will feature some of the format's biggest superstars from across the world.

The IPL's resumption was approved during the BCCI's SGM on Saturday, less than a month after the league was suspended because of COVID-19 cases in its bio-bubble. (Hindustan Times)

limited to 19 points, six rebounds, and six assists.

He made just nine of 24 shots from the field, including 1-for-7 from three-point range.

Nets 141, Celtics 126

Kevin Durant scored 42 points and Kyrie Irving added 39 as Brooklyn took control in the second quarter and pulled away in the third in a rout of hosts Boston in Game Four of its Eastern Conference first-round series.

The Nets, the number two seed in the East, lead the series three games to one and can secure their first trip to the conference semi-finals since 2014 tonight in Brooklyn. Durant produced his 12th career 40-point postseason game by shooting 14 of 20 from the field and hitting all 11 of his free throws.

James Harden added 23 points and a play-off career-high 18 assists to fall one shy of the franchise’s play-off record for assists

Atlanta’s Trae Young torched visiting New York for 27 points and led the Hawks to a blowout win in Game Four, giving them a 3-1 lead in the Eastern Conference first-round series.

Young added nine assists and made four three-pointers, raising his scoring total to 110 points in the series. Atlanta extended its home winning streak to 13 games, the NBA’s longest active streak. Atlanta’s John Collins posted 22 points and eight rebounds, and the Hawks also got 21 points from Danilo Gallinari.

New York were led

by Julius Randle with 23 points, on 7-of-19 shooting, with 10 rebounds and seven assists. RJ Barrett scored 21, and Derrick Rose added 18 points and six assists.

(Reuters)

MAQ USA T10 League

Hemraj emerges as leading run-scorer

…grateful for excellent performance heading into CPL

G

uyana Amazon Warriors batsman Chandrapaul Hemraj continues to impress and improve in his game as the Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) T20 is just around the corner.

The stylish left-hander recently concluded his journey in the MAQ USA T10 League, where he emerged as the leading run-scorer.

Hemraj had stellar performances of 60 off 19 balls and 66 off 25 balls in convincing match-winning innings. His team, South Central Region made it to the final, but lost to Atlantic Region by eight wickets.

South Central batted first and posted 115-6 in their allotted 10 overs, Atlantic Region then chased the total with two balls to spare, ending on 116-2. Hemraj ended the tournament hitting 25 sixes and scored the most

runs – 235 – at an average of 58.75 and a strike rate of 235.

In an invited comment, Hemraj said, “It’s been a decent weekend of cricket at MAQ Stadium playing on turf pitches. It had some good players in the tournament. Hemraj also scored This is the most runs (235); g o o d highest score (66 practice off 25 balls) and the most sixes (25) g o i n g into CPL.” ing to carry his form into Prior to the 2021 tour- the tournament. While T10 nament, in 2020 he played and T20 are different platin the US OPEN CRICKET forms, Hemraj’s batting has 2020 and walked away with shown a vast improvement 190 runs, a high score of 87, and if he has his way, he and an average of 63.33 at a will be among the top scorstrike rate of 163.79 while ers this year. The 2021 tourplaying for the Somerset nament gets underway on Cavaliers.

August 28 and runs until When the 2021 edition September 19; all 33 matchof the Hero CPL commenc- es will be played at Warner es, Hemraj will be look- Park in St Kitts.

22

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

TUESDAY, JUNE 1, 2021

RHTY&SC, St Francis host surprise tribute programme …Foster hailed as outstanding youth leader, mentor, and humanitarian

L

ong-standing Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club (RHTY&SC) Secretary/Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Hilbert Foster on Sunday was described as an outstanding youth leader, humanitarian and mentor, who has touched and changed the lives of countless persons, especially youths and the less fortunate.

Foster was a special guest at a tribute event, which was coordinated by executives of the RHTY≻ Berbice Cricket Board (BCB); St Francis Community Developers; the Roman Catholic community of Port Mourant; family and his close friends. The BCB President had turned up at the event, expecting to be part of a ceremony to hon-

The new CWI Director poses with some of the RHTY&SC cricketers after the ceremony

honour Foster on numerous occasions, but he always turned them down as he worked to make a positive difference, not to be honoured. The event, Naidu noted, was done in appreciation for the outstanding work

Shawn Perriera hands over a plaque to Foster on behalf of the club

our his elder brother Alex, President of St Francis.

RHTY&SC Assistant Secretary /CEO Simon Naidu noted that the organisers were forced to host a surprise event as Foster would have never agreed to be honoured. The Club, he stated, had attempted to

that the 52-year-old Foster has done over the years at the club, BCB, St Francis and for the Catholic community in Berbice. The groups also honoured Foster for his elevation to Vice President of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) and his achievement as the first Director of

Cricket West Indies (CWI) from the Ancient County.

Speakers at the function included Rose Hall Town Mayor Dave Budhu, GCB President Bissoondyal Singh, BCB Treasurer Dr Cecil Beharry, St Francis Community Developers President Alex Foster, Carol Appadu of the Catholic Church, GCB Executive and long-time friend Anil Beharry, Ameer Rahaman of the Rose Hall Canje Cricket Club, Upper Corentyne Cricket Board Vice President Sydney Jackman, Journalist Brandon Corlette, RHTY&SC Youth Ambassadors Denica Henry and Marissa Foster . Other speakers included Father Ramesh Vanan of the Catholic Church who offered prayers, and sponsor representatives Alisa Anderson, Poonai Bhiroog and Avie Lindee.

All of the speakers spoke highly of the outstanding work that Foster has done for close to four decades and his impact on the lives of so many. His ability to stay grounded, to be humble at all times and his approachable nature were lauded as

his main strengths along with an unmatchable ability to be visionary in his planning. Special mention was made of his hard work to

guidelines. Several former associates and work colleagues of Foster, including Moonish Singh, Brian Ramphal, Mortimer George, and Karen Nero sent congratulations via pre-recorded messages from their homes overseas.

An unusually emotional Foster stated that he felt humbled to be honoured, but he was doing what came naturally to him. Serving people, he noted, is work he enjoys and as long as God gives him health he would continue to serve humanity. In remarks directed to the youths in the audience, he urged them to focus on their education while rejecting the evil ways of Satan. Foster hailed

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Hilbert Foster poses with members of his family during the ceremony

turn around the fortunes of the BCB in just a matter of months after taking over a system that was totally destroyed.

GCB President Singh noted that Guyana cricket was proud to have a leader like Foster while Ameer Rahaman called the BCB President his mentor and

the support he has received from the clubs, his fellow parishioners of the Catholic community in Port Mourant and the BCB. Speaking directly to Singh, Foster stated that he was pleased to serve as his Vice President and committed himself and the GCB Board to working overtime to take cricket in

223-7230-1 (Ext 55)

CPL 2021: Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan unlikely to get NOC, warns BCB

I

n what could be a big blow to the Jamaica Tallawahs, the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) franchise could miss the services of star all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan in the upcoming season.

According to a Cricbuzz report, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has hinted that Al Hasan is unlikely to get a No-Objection Certificate (NOC) for CPL 2021. Al Hasan returned to Jamaica Tallawahs, a franchise he represented in 2016 and 2017, when he

won the title in his first stint.

The reason why the BCB is hesitant to give Al Hasan the NOC is because Bangladesh are expected to have a busy schedule at that point considering they are expected to host Australia, with England and New Zealand scheduled to follow.

BCB Cricket Operation Chairman Akram Khan revealed although they have not taken any decision in this regard, they are expecting to field a fullstrength team for those matches. “We have not taken any decision about it (NOC for CPL 2021). When the time comes, we can take a decision in this regard. We certainly want to play against them with our fullstrength squad.”(Inside Sport)

The Captain of the Rose Hall Canje CC honours Foster

role model who leads from the front. Several speakers spoke on the impact that the new CWI Director has had on their personal development and the fact that he was always available to offer words of advice. The programme also featured several cultural items that lightened up the atmosphere for the appreciative gathering. The event was hosted under very strict COVID-19

Guyana to another level.

At the conclusion of the well- organised three-hour event, several tokens of appreciation were handed over to Foster on behalf of the different organisations he is associated with. An appreciation booklet on the work of Foster was also launched with sponsorship from Bakewell while an exhibition was hosted on his journey over the past 30 years.

2237230-1

(Ext 55)

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TUESDAY, JUNE 1, 2021

Guyana adds 2 bronzes to SA medal count G

uyana’s medal count at the South American Senior Championships moved up to five on Monday, following two bronze-worthy performances. The local contingent managed to accumulate one silver and four bronze medals over the busy weekend in Guayaquil, Ecuador.

Andrea Foster crossed the line third in the women’s 800 metres event, with a time of 2.05.93 for the final podium position. Uruguay’s Deborah Rodriguez clocked 2.03.38 to win the event, and Brazil’s Maria de Lima Flavia came second with 2.05.00.

Foster bettered her preliminary time of 2.07.93, which she clocked to make it into Monday’s final. In that race, she was second to Daniella Squire of Argentina, who finished first

with 2.07.44.

On the men’s side of the draw, Quamel Prince was split seconds slower than his qualifying time, but it was not good enough for the podium. On Sunday, Prince ran 1.40.1 in the preliminary race, ahead of Guyana’s Devaun Barrington who ran 1.50.99, missing out on the final.

In the final, Prince clocked 1.49.48 for fifth place. Brazil’s Andre Thiago Do Rosario championed the event with 1.45.62, while Colombia’s Jhonatan Rodriguez and Venezuela’s Ryan Ignaiker Lopez Parra clocked 1.47.01 and 1.47.78 for second and third, respectively.

Also securing bronze for Guyana were the men’s 4x100m team. The relay team comprising Jeremy

Bascom, Akeem Stewart, Emmanuel Archibald and Noelex Holder came home in 40.02s.

Brazil took gold in the event with a time of 39.10s while Colombia clocked 39.65s for second place.

In the 200m event, though finishing fifth in their respective heats, Akeem Stewart ran a better time (21.18s) than Arinze Chance (21.84s), to be the lone Guyanese in the final.

However, it was a story of heartbreak for Stewart as he was disqualified for a false start in the final.

The Brazilian pair of Felipe Bardi and Vilar Lucas Conceicao walked away with the top two positions in the race, finishing 20.49s and 20.62s respectively. Anderson Espinales was third with 20.63s.

said the 30-year-old defender, who was the youngest player to play in the English Premier League when he made his debut for Fulham aged 16 years and 68 days in May 2007.

“We’ve got two games

League in November 2019.

“There’s an excitement in the camp. Going on the last camp, we didn’t perform to our full potential, which was disappointing for us, so we are excited to get into these two games now and put that right. We want to win both games. I look at both these games and I think we are favourites to win them. I think we will be the better team and we’ve got more than enough quality to win both of these games,” Briggs declared.

Head Coach Marcio Maximo said Briggs was a natural choice to lead the team because of the professional example he set for the other players during matches and away from the field of play.

“Equally important as performance and attitude on the pitch is attitude off the pitch – that is why we have chosen Briggs,” Maximo said. “He always showed good commitment and a professional attitude. He stimulates all the younger players to follow his example. He is always at the same level in good and bad times, totally professional, and the players respect him.”

The Golden Jaguars are training in Antigua before they depart for St Kitts and Nevis on June 2 for their last two first-round matches. After a 3-0 loss against Trinidad and Tobago and a 4-0 win over The Bahamas in March, Guyana lie in third place in Group F and require favourable results elsewhere to reach the sec-

Over the weekend, Archibald, Guyana’s long jump record holder, bagged a silver in the men’s 100m sprint. He clocked 10.23s behind Brazil’s Bardi, who finished first with 10.10s. His fortunes were not the same in his signature event, as he finished seventh in the long jump with a best jump of 7.75m. Fellow long jumper Micaiah Washington also came up short with a best jump of 7.34m.

On the distaff side, Jasmine Abrams copped bronze in the 100m after clocking 11.50s. Crossing the line before her were Brazil’s Cristina Silva and Ecuador’s Marizol Landazuri, who recorded times of 11.31s and 11.39s for second and third respectively.

Also finishing third was Jenea McCammon, who

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

competed in the 100m hurdles. Clocking 13.63s, the Guyanese was preceded by Brazil’s Ketiley Batista (12.96s) and Peru’s Diana Bazalar (13.47s).

In another unproductive outing, Chance missed out in the final of the 400m event, clocking 46.81s for fourth place. Kelvis Jose Villazana of Venezuela was the first man to cross the line with 45.82s, while Brazil’s Lucas Da Silva Carvalho and

23

Andrea Foster

Raul Pedroza of Colombia were second and third with 46.31s and 46.58s.

Trim and Chapman return as President, Briggs to captain Golden Jaguars General Secretary of MSC In FIFA World Cup Qualifiers

F

ormer England youth international Matthew Briggs will captain Guyana’s senior men’s national team in their two 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers in June.

Briggs, who plies

Matthew Briggs will captain Guyana’s senior men’s national team

his trade in the Danish Superliga for Vejle Boldklub, will lead the side in their must-win Group F fixtures against St Kitts and Nevis on June 4 and Puerto Rico on June 8.

“I’m honoured to accept the captaincy – it’s always been a dream of mine to captain a national team, so I am thoroughly excited to get this journey started and to see what the future holds,”

coming up and I hope we all give 110 per cent like I know we will. We’ve got all the capabilities to go and win both of these games,” he said.

Briggs made his first international appearance for the Golden Jaguars in a 2-0 friendly win against Grenada in 2015. Capped 14 times so far, he scored his first goal for Guyana in a 4-2 victory over Aruba in the CONCACAF Nations

T

GFF President Wayne Forde

ond round. Only the top team from each group will progress.

“We wish Matthew all the best as he skippers the Golden Jaguars for the first time in June,” said Guyana Football Federation (GFF) President Wayne Forde.

“It’s a great honour to lead one’s country, and we know Matthew has got everything it takes to be an inspiration and example to his team, on and off the pitch.

“We would also like to pay tribute to Sam Cox, who has captained Guyana with passion and dedication in recent years. Sam has been a great ambassador and warrior for Golden Jaguars.

The whole nation is grateful for his service in leading Guyana to some of its greatest moments on the pitch, including reaching its first men’s CONCACAF Gold Cup in 2019,” Forde said.

he Mackenzie Sports Club (MSC), in Linden, has opted to trek a familiar trail by re-electing Avery Trim to steer the leading sports institution in the mining town when the Club held its Annual General Meeting and Biennial Elections on Sunday evening at the MSC Lounge.

Also gaining the approval of members to continue in his Avery Trim has been re-elected as the MSC President post was General Officer (PRO), is now the Secretary Joseph Third Vice President.

Chapman.

The Assistant to Trim pledged to do his best to bring back the hey- the General Secretary days of the MSC. He add- is Coretta Braithwaite ed that he hoped that the Walton while the new is Derron practice did not continue Treasurer of some persons just tak- John and his assistant ing up positions on the is John Trim, who was a executive and failing to Committee Member on be part of the process in the previous executive.

Judy Gravesande Noel taking the Club to higher will serve as the new PRO heights.

He promised to serve while the Committee as a president for the ben- Members are Audwin Compton efit of all the members, Rutherford, the community as a whole London, Troy Roberts, and those in the Diaspora and Robert Langevine.

The Linden Mayor who are willing to help build the Club back to its and Town Council, the Regional Democratic former glory. and the While Trim and Council Chapman were re-elected, Government of Guyana there is a new First Vice are being written to their reprePresident in Norris King appoint who served previously as sentatives to sit on the Assistant Secretary/ what is known as the Treasurer. Rawle Toney Management Committee is new to the body as the of the MSC. Veteran trade unionist Second Vice President while Keith Semple, who Charles Sampson served was the Public Relations as the Returning Officer.

TUESDAY, JUNE 1, 2021

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

MAQ USA T10 League

Pg 23

Pg 21

Hemraj emerges as Briggs to captain Golden Jaguars In FIFA leading run-scorer …grateful for excellent performance heading into CPL

World Cup Qualifiers

Pg 23

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