Guyana Times - Tuesday March 9, 2021

Over 363,932 persons took filaria pills

P13

…as campaign moves to Regions 1,2,5,7 Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Issue No. 4582

TUESDAY, MARCH 9, 2021

EPA, GGMC conducting inspection of ExxonMobil’s operations offshore guyanatimesgy.com

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

2 more persons succumb to COVID-19 P12 …persons jumping vaccine queue will be penalised – Minister

…company to slash flaring end of March See story on page 3 …repairs on malfunctioning gas compressor completed

President, VP meet with ABCE diplomats

President Dr Irfaan Ali, along with Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo, met with United States Ambassador to Guyana, Sarah-Ann Lynch; acting United Kingdom High Commissioner to Guyana, Ross Denny; Canadian High Commissioner to Guyana, Mark Berman and European Union High Commissioner to Guyana, Fernando Ponz Canto at his Office on Shiv Chanderpaul Drive, Georgetown on Monday

EBD prolonged power CGX 2021 oil exploration offshore outages caused by Guyana to cost US$90M private excavation …company eyes 2 wells for Corentyne, Demerara blocks works – GPL Harry and Meghan rattle British monarchy’s gilded cage

P10 Over 7lbs cocaine found in salt fish at CJIA

Close to 30,000 bags of sugar from Blairmont earmarked for P9 Caricom Butcher appeals 15-year jail P12 term for cattle farmer’s murder

Page 7

See story on page 11

See story on page 17

...skin colour remark "not Queen nor Duke" – Oprah Winfrey

Pedestrian P7 killed on spot after being struck by truck

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TUESDAY, MARCH 9, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

3 EPA, GGMC conducting inspection of ExxonMobil’s operations offshore NEWS

TUESDAY, MARCH 9, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS OPENINGS BRIDGE

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Tuesday, March 9 – 01:30h – 03:00h and 13:30h – 15:00h and Wednesday, March 10 – 02:00h – 03:30h and 13:30h – 15:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Tuesday, March 9 – 13:45h – 15:15h and Wednesday, March 10 – 14:40h – 16:10h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY

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

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

High Tide: 14:00h reaching a maximum height of 2.25 metres.

Low Tide: 07:31h and 20:10h reaching minimum heights of 1.11 metres and 0.9 metre.

SATURDAY, MARCH 6, 2021

LOTTERY NUMBERS G

01 05 07

09 20 22

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17 Bonus Ball

MONDAY, MARCH 8, 2021 DAILY MILLIONS

03 12 17 21 25 LUCKY 3

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Afternoon Draw

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Evening Draw

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

COMMODITIES Indicators

US$

Change %

Crude Oil

$68.24/barrel

-1.64

Rough Rice

$237.47/ton

-0.51

London Sugar

$460.00/ton

-0.76

Live Spot Gold

USD Per Ounce

Bid/Ask

$1684.10

$1685.10

Low/High Change

$1776.50 +1.20

$1709.50 +0.07%

…company to slash flaring end of March …repairs on malfunctioning gas compressor completed

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he flash gas compressor that malfunctioned onboard the Liza Destiny Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel, resulting in oil giant ExxonMobil flaring 16 million cubic feet of gas daily offshore Guyana, has been repaired and is likely to be sent to Guyana this week.

According to the company in a statement on Monday, the technical teams are currently finalising the logistics for the flash gas compressor and silencers to depart Germany where it was being repaired, to Guyana sometime this week.

“This follows the successful completion of repairs, upgrades and mechanical testing of the compressor by MAN Energy Solutions, the equipment’s manufacturer, with quality assurance and control by experts from the vessel’s owner SBM Offshore as well as ExxonMobil,” the statement read.

It noted that a team from the Environmental Protection Agency and the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission are progressing with the inspection of operations offshore.

The statement also detailed that in anticipation of the arrival of the compressor and silencers, teams on the Liza Destiny FPSO are preparing rigging and lifting equipment necessary to reinstall the equipment.

This publication, meanwhile, asked the company’s spokesperson, Janelle Persaud, about when flaring, currently averaging at 16 million cubic feet of gas per day, can be expected to return to normal pilot levels after the reinstallation of the gas compressor.

According to her, Exxon is aiming to have the compressor safely back online by the end of this month, at which time the oil giant is optimistic it can return flaring to pilot levels, which would average one million cubic feet of gas per day or less.

In the latter part of January, Esso Exploration & Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL) had announced that it was experiencing technical problems with the seal on Liza Destiny’s flash gas compressor.

The problem resulted in Exxon having to reduce its production and also conduct routine flaring. Last month.

Exxon had announced that an “axial vibration” was to blame for the failure of its compressor, which had to be shipped to the German workshop of MAN Energy Solutions.

It was subsequently re-

Flaring on the Liza Destiny FPSO (Annette Arjoon photo)

vealed that Exxon had been flaring 16 million cubic feet of gas per day, an increase from the volume of flaring the company conducted last year which reportedly ranged between 12 and 15 million cubic feet.

It is a situation that Exxon executives have said no one is happy with, even as they work along with the regulatory agencies. Additionally, it was announced that Exxon is currently producing around 120,000 barrels of oil per day (bpd). Before the flaring, production was at 130,000 bpd.

While some have called for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to act, their hands are, in fact, tied. At a press conference, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo had pointed out that Exxon is limited to flaring 14 billion cubic feet of gas.

According to him, this is per the approved

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), which means that according to calculations, Exxon wouldn’t reach that flaring ceiling at current levels until the end of April 2021. Nevertheless, he had described the company’s current routine flaring as unacceptable.

However, Jagdeo had noted that by June of 2022, when the Liza 1 permit expires and has to be renewed, Exxon will have to submit to the inclusion of fines in the

Liza 1 permit that is similar to what is obtained in the Payara permit.

Back in December of last year, on the oil company’s first year anniversary since commencing production in 2019, the company’s Country Manager, Alastair Routledge, had expressed disappointment at the equipment issues they experienced and had also assured that routine flaring would not be employed.

(Jarryl Bryan)

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guyanatimesgy.com

TUESDAY, MARCH 9, 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

Gender equality, domestic violence, empowerment

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s Guyana joined the rest of the world in celebrating International Women’s Day, discussions were led around gender equality and empowerment of women.

The United Nations has said in its report on attainment of the Millennium Development Goals, more particularly Goal Three: Promote Gender Equality and Empower Women –Guyana has made good progress in the area of gender equality, and has achieved gender parity. With respect to Guyana’s commitments to safety and protection from violence – SDG 5, the UN has also reported that Guyana seeks to build a country in which women and girls live in safety, and are protected from different forms of abuse, such as trafficking in persons, domestic violence, and workplace hazards.

Additionally, it stated that Guyana continues to make great strides towards achievement of the internationally-agreed development goals relative to gender equality and women’s empowerment, particularly in mainstreaming a gender perspective into policies and programmes.

It is no secret that women worldwide, including those in Guyana, continue to face unacceptable levels of violence in various forms. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has estimated that one in three women worldwide has experienced physical and/or sexual violence, mostly from an intimate partner.

The COVID-19 pandemic has further contributed to increasing risks of violence, particularly domestic violence, against women.

The UN pointed to reports from countries around the world which suggest that restrictions in movement, social isolation, coupled with increased social and economic pressures, are leading to an increase in violence in the home.

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

According to DSG Mohammed, women bear the brunt of increased care-work during this pandemic. School closures further worsen this burden, and place more stress on women.

The disruption of their livelihoods and their ability to earn a living – especially for those women who are informal wage workers – will decrease access to basic needs and services. This situation increases stress on families, with the potential to intensify conflict and violence.

Violence against women and children has tremendous costs to communities, and can remain with women and children for a lifetime. If not dealt with effectively, it can also pass from one generation to another.

Over the years, the UN has been pushing countries towards implementing proactive measures to combat domestic violence.

These measures have included criminalising gender-based violence; holding massive public awareness campaigns; providing training to equip both men and women to act as first responders and supporting victims of the scourge at the community level.

As a matter of fact, the Human Services and Social Security Ministry late last year launched a new campaign, #enoughwiththeviolence, to coincide with the 16 Days of Activism.

However, not many women admit to being victims of violence.

According to the Ministry, “Domestic violence remains a taboo, shuttered behind closed doors and only emerging as bloody faces, bruised limbs, broken spirits and dead bodies. Fear of societal judgement, insecurities about children and finances, family pressure and manipulation keep this a hushed conversation or result in an overwhelming silence.”

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

We had previously called for urgent action to be taken by the Government and other partners to end violence against women.

We are pleased that some steps are being taken in this regard.

It was also revealed that nine social workers were trained through the Survivors Advocacy Programme to offer emotional support and crisis counselling to victims of domestic and sexual violence, and act on the victims’ behalf when necessary. These are all good initiatives.

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

First Lady Arya Ali joined by Human Services Minister, Dr Vindhya Persaud and Heads of diplomatic missions in Guyana promoting social, economic and political liberation and empowerment of women share a photo to celebrate International Women’s Day

Losing all sense of reality Dear Editor, I recently watched an interview hosted by Oprah Winfrey with the legendary Jim Jones’ son and after that viewing, I asked myself the candid question, what in the world would have led so many persons - a great portion of them being educated people - to willingly go forward and commit suicide, why? And immediately the answer came to me – when someone is truly brainwashed they lose all sense of reality and this is the ultimate result.

Now, in that same light, I turn my attention to the Guyana scene where similar sentiments run high when you consider the actions of the Opposition PNC-led coalition.

Here we find a group of individuals who are brainwashed through and through and they are playing out that mantra on every stage they can possibly can. They have become so brainwashed that there is no limit to their actions as they go from stage to stage, all in the attempt to prove themselves credible, honest and just before the eyes of their onlookers.

I call this the second level of brainwashing which is illusion. This second tier is fitted with a religious touch to it, which makes them even more dangerous, because when you can

so delude yourself into believing something then try to convert others into believing that crazy pursuit then something is definitely wrong with you. Here is where the idea of rigging had its genesis.

When you assess the situation for what it is worth, you get a firm grasp as to where this rigging philosophy came from. Theirs is the “God-given” belief that the party can actually win an election, so despite the hard copy of the SoPs staring you right in the face, telling you that you have lost, Lowenfield can boldly disregard that and render copies of his own to forge a win for his party. I must say Burnham must have done an awfully good job at brainwashing his subjects!

When that did not work, they would resort to other pesky acts of delusion such as Cathy Hughes’ alarming outburst of someone stealing her laptop, that someone meaning one from the Government’s side of the House sneaking up behind her back to steal her laptop. That falsity would have gained ground had it not been for the lawmen’s timely intervention. When the Police insisted on reviewing the CCTV cameras, she suddenly found her laptop in the exact same place where she left it, poor Cathy, how delusion-

al, to say the least! Then, there was another and yet another of those missing laptops and notebooks as the ludicrous allegations kept coming, all in an attempt to stall the national debate and create confusion.

Finally, these psychotic behaviours came to a head with Mrs Sarabo-Halley’s claim of being physically attacked and injured by Minister Kwame McCoy, she was so dogmatic about it that she went on to hold a press conference to publicise her case. When cornered by the fact that she must present evidence to back up her claims, she too backpedalled to issue the statement that the CCTV cameras would not reveal anything of the assault. Now, this very disturbing, because here is it you are calling out a male member of Government on as assault issue but fail to produce the evidence. This is a very reprehensible act and I urge the accused Minister to file a lawsuit so that this matter can get the necessary legal attention and bring this nonsense to a close, because failing this, more grievous accusations might be forthcoming from that very same source which the Minister might be without the necessary evidence to prove it.

What triggers these

acts of psychosis, I would say is a vivid manifestation of brainwashing, because these are not mad people as we might want to categorise them in the normal medical interpretation of things, rather, it is a case of a mind that has been utterly brainwashed.

This double dose of brainwashing causes someone to carry out these disgraceful acts. Fabrications, lies and innuendoes become a preoccupation, you tell yourself these many times that it did happen and you act it out as reality.

So, when all else fails, then there is the resort to race and class. During this past week, we were subjected to the most dehumanising language in race and class that quite frankly I would not want to hear ever again in the House.

The hallowed chambers should resound with healthy debate on developmental issues and the moving of this nation forward, not on nonsensical issues and partisan political posturing.

Hence, I would make the clarion call for truth, justice and respect for the rule of law to prevail and to top it off, some good jail time should wipe that brainwashed foolishness out of them. I rest my case.

Respectfully, Neil Adams

guyanatimesgy.com

TUESDAY, MARCH 9, 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

Women's plight in their fight for right We must always Dear Editor, When women are seen, counted, and in positions to lead, the whole world benefits. This is the fundamental theme which the world at large is focusing on to mark the occasion of International Women’s Day. The world will benefit as women are heard and this was amply magnified on Sunday as Oprah Winfrey hogged the limelight to host the TV platform to showcase the plight of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, confirming that she is the Queen for TV talk shows. In a pandemic world, women are, daily, challenged for their resilience, facing the home environment, work atmosphere and the outside world at large, fighting for liberty, equality, acknowledgement, recognition, acceptance and opportunity. Kamala Harris recently broke the glass ceiling to gain world attention last November, when she was appointed Vice President to US President Joe Biden in the most powerful nation on earth. At home, First Lady Arya Ali is swinging the baton at the helm, leading an army of prolific women occupying many key ministerial positions to govern the interest of the Guyanese public. These women are educated, determined, and progressive and have a mission to stamp their authority not to be underestimated.

They also have an agenda to raise the bar for women and peruse and pursue a path for Guyana, with an interest to uplift the status of women and take care of their wel-

fare satisfactorily and effectively.

It’s A Man’s Man’s Man’s World’s is a song written

by James Brown and Betty Jean Newsome, recorded on Feb 16, 1966, and reached the No 1 position on the NY Billboard R&B chart. This type of alienation sadly underscores the importance of women; satiates the bias presumptuousness of a woman’s place is in the home; inflames prejudice and inflates the male ego! While there is a predominantly gender imbalance in the workforce, females tend to dominate the teaching, nursing and administrative professions. The world is changing and the new face is amply captured by Deepshikha Deshmukh, a wife, a daughter-in-law and mother who wears many hats with ease as she competently juggles and multi-task with life also as a film producer and an entrepreneur. She is a symbol of strength and courage and as a mother, she exemplifies the superpower to organise, delegate, work with a schedule and be a disciplinarian. Her advice is for females to leave the comfort, believe in themselves, have faith, be conscious of the environment and seek a platform to apply their talent.

Women have had a rough year, and Vice President Kamala Harris knows it.

In her speech before the European Parliament on International Women’s Day, an event aimed at celebrating women’s empowerment and leadership during COVID-19 times, Vice

President Kamala Harris called on nations to build a world that works for women. “Doing so it is not just an act of goodwill,” Harris said, “but a show of strength. If we build a world that works for women, our nations will all be safer, stronger, and more prosperous.” Canada on Monday took a step to ensure that its upcoming spring budget, which will also outline a promised post-pandemic stimulus package, includes measures to get women working and address gender inequality. Their Finance Minister, Chrystia Freeland said, "Canada's future prosperity and competitiveness depend on the ability of women to participate equally – and fully – in our workforce." She has promised a national childcare plan as a stimulus package worth up to C$100 billion over three tears to support women and their domestic needs. "To build a fairer and more equal Canada, we must ensure a feminist, intersectional recovery from this crisis," Freeland said.

US President Biden last week congratulated Swati Mohan, Guidance and Control Engineer at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab’s Perseverance team, after as a leader, successfully landed a robot on Mars. He also has a slew of women on his management team. Twelve American men have walked on the moon. The last Apollo astronaut left his footprint there in December 1972.

Now, a half-century later, NASA is planning to send people back to the moon.

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The new NASA programme is called Artemis, after Apollo's mythical twin sister, and the goal is that the next footprint on the moon will be made by a woman.

The Artemis programme isn't just named for a woman, it's largely being run by women. Charlie BlackwellThompson is NASA's first female launch director.

Despite the many advances of women to key positions throughout the world, “Simply put, our world does not yet work for women as it should,” according to Kamala Harris. Anupriya Goenka, an actress, is known to be a strong voice for gender equality and women empowerment. "It is quite ironical that at a time when we have women in power positions, many of us are still denied of our basic rights, and equal opportunity is still a myth which is why pay disparity continues to be a burning issue," she said, adding, "What bothers me is that women are judged based on how they dress and how they speak, be it in personal or professional circles. If we don’t adhere to society’s definition of morality, we are called all sorts of names and are accused of sending out signals to invite men." There is an urge for everyone to do their bit in spreading awareness in creating a society that gives respect and opportunity to both men and women which can bring about a shift in people’s mindset.

Respectfully, Jai Lall

e should believe that God is the indweller of the heart and must follow the teaching that comes from the heart and adopt good methods to follow such a teaching.

Our ancients have given us sacred paths of yoga (spiritual practices) and meditation to overcome evils and gain control over our senses. To control anger and hatred, the ancient sages left their villages and went to the forest. Today it is not necessary to retire to the forest to get rid of anger and hatred. Virtue cannot be practised in a vacuum. If you live in an atmosphere of anger and are able to control it, then it is a meritorious achievement. But if you live in a forest where there is no room for anger and say that you have controlled your anger, it is not meaningful.

You must, therefore, remain in the worldly surroundings where there is ample scope for the rising up of emotions of anger and hatred, and then learn to control them. That will be a meritorious achievement. (Ch 17, Summer Showers in Brindavan, 1972)

Shri Sathya Sai Baba Organisation

show our respect for Dr Cheddi Jagan

Dear Editor, Comrades from all walks of life reflect upon our great founder leader who had dedicated his passion and love towards the uplifting of our people. Even after he embraced those who in turn rejected and betrayed him, he found the strength to continue to uplift those who remained loyal to his vision for our great nation. Thanks to him our people have many opportunities before them and a clear understanding of how to go forward in the quest for the betterment of all of our comrades. We shall not forsake his sacrifice and we continue to learn from his experience. The leadership he had given to our people continues to unite us as our ancestors were initially united in their struggle for independence. Though hunger for power and greed has separated and led many away from the path that was set for our upliftment, his vision continues to lead those who are steadfast in what he had begun.

We continue to fight for the betterment of our families, our villages, our communities, our workers and all law-abiding citizens of our nation. The passion and principles of HE Dr Cheddi Jagan continue to lead us to fight for a stronger, united, safe and prosperous nation that continues to progress down a path where

we no longer have those amongst us that are treated unfairly and whose universal rights are not respected and protected by our country. All Guyanese must show respect for the sacrifices made over the years by His Excellency Dr Cheddi Jagan and his wife Her Excellency Janet Jagan.

Without their presence and dedication to our nation the voice of reason and consideration for those who were neglected due to race, economic circumstances and a belief that is rooted in the Cooperative spirit we would not have progressed this far as one nation.

Communal thought brings clearer perspective, cooperative action brings progress and a deep belief in the will of the people brings with it a nation that embraces the right to vote and with this responsibility our nation cannot neglect the voice and future of its citizens including those of its sons and daughters. For these reasons and all the fruit that His Excellency's fight for the right to vote has brought into fruition, we must always show our respect and thanks for our founder leader HE Dr Cheddi Jagan.

In memory of His Excellency Dr Cheddi Jagan.

Sincerely, Jamil Changlee

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TUESDAY, MARCH 9, 2021

Foundation ◄

Page

Question 1

Monday’s answers

Æsop’s Fables

FOR CHILDREN

1a) 21, 67, 108, 176, 227, 906 1b) The factors of 21 are 1, 3, 7, 21 1c) The difference between the smallest and largest ticket number = 906 (largest ticket number) – 21 (smallest ticket number) = 885 1d) 67 and 108 would result in 100 if rounded to the nearest 100.

Explode-A-Bag Materials:

Pans or Bowls Baking Soda Pouch (1 rounded tbsp baking soda, in a piece of single-ply toilet paper) (1/4 cup or 75mL) 1/3 cup measuring cups Ziploc sandwich bag

Instructions:

To make baking soda pouch (prep ahead): Measure 1 rounded tablespoon of baking soda into a square of single ply toilet paper. Fold horizontally and secure with a small piece of tape, then fold vertically and wrap it all the way around with a l a r g e piece of tape, ensuring it will stay

closed. Make 1 per group.

Find three friends or relatives to help you.

Teammate #1 is bag security guard. This person is in charge on holding the sandwich bag and opening and closing it when needed.

(Demonstrate how to open bag only half way and close by sliding fingers across to ensure it is completely sealed) Teammate #2 measures 1/3 cup or 75mL vinegar. #1 should open bag, #2 pour in vinegar, then #1 practise closing bag so it cannot spill Teammate #3 is in charge of the baking soda pouch. Explain all directions first before adding pouches, as reaction is fast. *Wear goggles for this step if available.* Open bag slightly, allow empty portion to hang over edge of pan and add baking soda pouch so that it does not touch vinegar #1 zip bag shut without mixing chemical yet Teammate #4 (That is you!) lift bag, allowing chemicals to mix. Shake three times, place in pan/bowl and observe what happens!

How it works:

When the baking soda and vinegar mix, it results in a chemical reaction that produces carbon dioxide (CO2) along with water (H2O) and sodium acetate. If the bag is properly sealed, the carbon dioxide is trapped and fills the bag until it cannot hold any more, at which point it pops! (sciencefun.org)

The

Lion

the

A

and

Fox

fox entered into partnership with a lion on the pretence of becoming his servant.

Each undertook his proper duty in accordance with his own nature and powers.

The fox discovered and pointed out the prey; the lion sprang on it and seized it.

The fox soon became jealous of the lion carrying off the lion’s share, and said that he would no longer find out the prey, but would capture it on his own account.

The next day he attempted to snatch a lamb from the fold, but he himself fell prey to the huntsmen and hounds.

WORD SEARCH

NEWS

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TUESDAY, MARCH 9, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

CGX 2021 oil exploration offshore Guyana to cost US$90M …company eyes 2 wells for Corentyne, Demerara Blocks

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GX Energy’s drill campaign, which is scheduled to kick off in the second half of 2021 with two wells being drilled in the Corentyne and Demerara Blocks, is expected to cost the company some US$90 million.

This was revealed by the company on Monday.

According to CGX Energy, the estimated total cost of US$90 million for its 2021 exploration programme is based on presently available information… an indication that this sum could change.

They also gave details of the two wells that will be drilled. The Kawa-1 well, which is earmarked for the Corentyne Block, will be drilled to a depth of approximately 6500 metres in 370-metre-deep water.

“The primary target is a Santonian age, stratigraphic trap, interpreted to be analogous to the discoveries immediately to the east on Block 58 in Suriname. The prospect is named after the iconic mountain overlooking the village of Paramakatoi in the Pakaraima Mountains of Guyana,” the company said.

Meanwhile, the Makarapan-1 exploration well will be drilled in the Demerara to a total depth of approximately 3500 metres in a water depth of approximately 1000 metres, significantly deeper water than the Kawa well.

“The primary target is an Aptian age, sandstone reservoir. The prospect is named after the Precambrian mountain overlooking the Rupununi Savannahs of Guyana,” CGX said in a statement.

CGX and its Joint Venture partner Frontera Energy had previously commissioned an independent report, which had revealed that they are potentially sitting on 4.9 million Barrels of Oil Equivalent (BOE) in the Demerara and Corentyne, Guyana oil blocks.

However, the report had hastened to add that there is no certainty that the company can recover the oil or that it is even commercially viable. According to the report, there are a total of 32 prospects in the two blocks, inclusive of 27 in the Corentyne Block and five in

CGX’s holdings offshore Guyana

the Demerara Block.

These prospects potentially have 4.940 million BOE un-risked and 884 million BOE in them. An unrisked prospect, however, is one where the volume of oil is predicated on the basis that everything goes as planned and the oil is commercially viable and recoverable. The report makes it clear that it cannot give

such certainty.

Last year November, CGX had announced that the Government, following discussions on the drilling delays in the Corentyne oil block, had agreed to give CGX a one-year extension until November 27, 2021, by which time they are expected to commence drilling in the Corentyne Block.

Back in May 2019, the

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

made.

The farm-in joint venture allowed Frontera to acquire a 33.333 per cent working interest in the two blocks.

The agreement should have seen CGX’s Utakwaaka well in the Corentyne Block being drilled by November 27, 2019, with an additional exploration well being drilled

by November 27, 2022.

In the Demerara Block, an exploration well was supposed to have been drilled by February 12, 2021, with a further exploration well being drilled by February 12, 2023. However, CGX is yet to drill a well in the Corentyne Block, something which the current Government has expressed concern over. This situation persists even as a number of new companies have expressed an interest in Guyana’s oil blocks.

Additionally, the company had also revealed its decision to relinquish 24.96 acres of land at the estuary of the Berbice River that was earmarked for its deepwater project, following negotiations with the Government of Guyana. (G3)

Pedestrian killed on spot after being struck by truck

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pedestrian was on Monday morning killed after he was struck down by a motor lorry in the vicinity of the junction of Houston Public Road and Nelson Mandela Avenue, Georgetown.

Dead is Gansham Cooblall, a 60-year-old of Curtis Street, Albouystown.

Reports are that the accident occurred at about 10:30h when the truck was driven by a 33-year-old man of Phase 3, Providence, EBD. According to Police, the left side front of the truck collided with the pedestrian and as a result, Cooblall fell onto the road’s surface where the left side front wheel ran over him.

Persons at the scene raised an alarm after the man was struck and alerted the driver of the truck of

what had occurred. After realising that he had collided with a pedestrian, the driver then attempted to reverse, and in doing so he further collided with a truck - GRR 9016 - which was behind him.

Guyana Times was told by persons at the scene that the victim frequented the vicinity of the Houston

Gansham Cooblall’s body on the roadway where he was struck and killed

Public Road junction where he sought financial assistance from drivers and passersby.

A breathalyser test was conducted on the driver which revealed that there was no trace of alcohol in his system.

The driver of the truck is in Police custody assisting with the investigations.

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TUESDAY, MARCH 9, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Where to begin...

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...with the Police ur Police Force is comparatively small – a beefed-up 4900 ranks representing a 37% increase between 2014 and 2019 by the PNC. So, it’s very shocking when we hear from Commissioner of Police (ag), Nigel Hoppie that 47 of them are currently before the courts facing CRIMINAL charges. That’s 1% of the GPF accused of committing criminal acts! And we know like everything else in Guyana, this is just the tip of the iceberg. Most folks don’t bother to bring action against the Police for fear of vindictive retaliation.

On that front, surely it wasn’t coincidental that in the same edition of the newspaper that reported the shocking percentage of criminally charged Police, the owner of Giftland Mall wrote to the press of his facility – the LARGEST Mall in Guyana – being targeted for shakedowns by the police on a routine basis. Now if the Police – and he identified the commanding officers responsible – can target Giftland, imagine the travails of ordinary businesses and (Lord have mercy!) ordinary citizens on the road!!

Now it’s customary at this point to offer a disclaimer to the effect that “not all police are bad”! Of course, they aren’t!

But from all available evidence, the number of “bad apples” is just too high and citizens can’t be blamed for thinking the entire barrel is rotten! The stench from the said barrel is just too putrid to conclude otherwise. So, what to do? The first thing is for the powers-that-be to stop pussyfooting around the issue and accept that for the longest while, we’ve got a problem on our hands. And it’s a problem that goes to the nub of our very existence.

All the brains up to now, of course, have assured us that what separates us from that “state of nature” where our precarious existence was “nasty, brutish and short” is our ability to institute and maintain some sort of law and order.

And in this regime, the Police are in the forefront of that enforcement. If they break – as it appears they are – we all go down that slippery slope into the law of the jungle.

It’s also not a coincidence that their cohorts in the Prison Service are as criminally challenged!

The drive to “professionalise” our Police Force isn’t to produce a new analysis and Report. We have enough of these gathering dust in various cupboards. Those at the very top have to lead by example and demonstrate that they won’t brook any nonsense. And let’s not hear that it can’t be done.

When the “white men” were here, there was professionalism. We mightn’t have agreed with some of the laws.

But, by golly, they were enforced! ...on defeating COVID-19 As you, Dear Readers would know, your Eyewitness has been railing with upraised hands for leaders to stand up and be counted on the matter of enforcing the COVID-19 regulations. Well, this weekend, no one but the PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC, Irfaan Ali put his hand up in a most dramatic manner. Invited to be the patron at a T20 Softball final at Everest Cricket Club – where the Speaker of the House is the President – President Ali showed up for the last innings.

But he noticed that a significant percentage of the spectators weren’t following the “mask and social distancing” guidelines. And what did he do? He immediately took the announcer’s mike and announced his disappointment and disagreement with the organisers – the Georgetown Softball League – for permitting the state of affairs. Even though they claimed they’d given out masks, it was clear that too many spectators had been allowed in.

To their credit, they called off the match! Those who have ears, let them hear! ...on the order of vaccination Following the 20,000 Chinese Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccines, came the Indian 80,000 shipment of AstraZeneca.

Now following the hygienic rules, the mass immunisation programme to herd immunity can begin!

So, who’s next? The elderly or the Disciplined Forces?

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

9 Close to 30,000 bags of sugar from Blairmont earmarked for Caricom NEWS

TUESDAY, MARCH 9, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

…estate looking to solidify position as GuySuCo profit centre

Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government closed the Wales Estate, and the following year, shut down the Enmore, Rose Hall and Skeldon Estates, putting over 7000 sugar workers on the breadline.

The downsizing of the sugar industry saw only the Uitvlugt, Blairmont and Albion Estates being in operation. The assets of the closed estates were put under the control of the Special Purpose Unit of the National

B

Blairmont Estate

lairmont Estate alone will account for 30,000 bags of sugar exported to the Caribbean Community, with the first shipment leaving this week, as the estate aims to become a profit centre for the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo).

According to a statement from the Blairmont estate, it is currently producing 29,000 bags of sugar packaged for the Caribbean Community (Caricom) market. The first shipment of 6000 bags leaves for Trinidad sometime this week.

“We are also packaging 5kg sugar for the Caricom markets and will commence packaging 1kg and 2kg sugar by the 20th of March when materials for those packaging sizes will be available. Bulk sugar has to be in our review mirror, the Estate is aiming to produce not more than 10% of its total sugar production as raw bulk sugar.”

“Finally, Blairmont Estate is engineering itself to become one of GuySuCo’s profit centres.

The Corporation and its stakeholders will be investing heavily in Blairmont and these investments will see Blaimont Estate maximising its production of bag and package sugar,” they said in their statement.

GuySuCo profit centre

Meanwhile, the sugar estate was also able to surpass its weekly target for the first time in over a year. In an interview with this publication, Blairmont Estate Manager Hutton Griffith spoke of how the estate was able to surpass its target.

According to him, capital injections from the 2020 budget was used to improve the estate’s operations and machinery. He also detailed the previous issues that hindered the estate and kept it from meeting its targets.

“There are a couple of things. One of the major inputs was the work done in the factory, in terms of repairs and with regards to our dams and cultivation.

There’s an increase in the fleet of cane transport tractors, which has made a significant impact. In 2020 we had three to four cane transport tractors and now we

have nine.”

“One of the big issues we had was that we did not have enough cane transport tractors to bring the cane to the factory. We also had issues with the dams, which was in a very poor state.

We also had some amount of weather that affected us.

But the main issues were with cane transport and the dam,” Griffith explained.

Now that these issues have been surmounted, he explained what last week’s production figures were and its significance to Blairmont.

According to Griffith, Blairmont had set a weekly target of 1077 tonnes of sugar. However, the estate wound up producing 1143 tonnes of sugar. The last time the estate surpassed its target, according to the Manager, was November 15, 2019.

There is an offshoot of the increased production.

According to Griffith, worker morale has lifted and so has attendance. He explained that last week’s attendance was 69 per cent, up from 63 per cent.

Back in 2016, the former A Partnership for National

Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) for divestment.

Under the current People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Government, the corporation is eyeing the reopening of Enmore and Rose Hall Estates by 2022. It is expected that the Rose Hall factory will be the first to become operational, while the Skeldon factory will be returned to operation by 2023.

The Wales factory will be divested. (G3)

Blairmont Estate Manager Hutton Griffith

Police find 4000 grams of ganja stashed in car bumper

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anks of the Guyana Police Force on Monday morning intercepted a car with a quantity of cannabis at the Weldaad Public Road, West Coast Berbice (WCB).

Reports are that ranks from the Weldaad Police Station were conducting a roadblock along the Public Road about 10:48h when a motor car driven by a 42-year-old Corentyne, Berbice resident was stopped and searched.

During the search, nine transparent bulky parcels containing a quantity of leaves, seeds, and stems suspected to be cannabis were found stashed in the back bumper of the car.

The driver of the car was told of the offence, and arrested and cautioned.

The suspected cannabis was further weighed in the presence of the suspect, and amounted to 4318 grams.

The driver was taken into custody and is being processed for court.

Investigations are ongoing.

Meanwhile, in January

The parcels of cannabis found in the car’s bumper

of this year, Police had discovered a quantity of ammunition in a car during a roadblock at Weldaad Police Station.

Although two of the occupants of the car had fled the scene, a search was conduct-

ed in the presence of the driver, and Police discovered two boxes containing a total of 35 12-gauge ammunition, a slasher, a Yamaha boat engine, a gasoline bottle, an RB battery, a power bar, a blender, and a toolkit with tools.

Further checks conducted in the area where the occupants fled led to the discovery of a Remington 12-gauge shotgun.

The items were lodged, and the driver was arrested.

(G15)

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TUESDAY, MARCH 9, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Over 7lbs cocaine found in salt fish at CJIA

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anks of the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) this morning intercepted some 3.3 kilograms of cocaine in packages destined for Miami, United States of America (USA).

The bust was made at a cargo shed at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA).

The cocaine that was unearthed in the salted fish at CJIA

CANU, in a statement, said it unearthed 280 pieces of plastic-wrapped pencil-shaped parcels of suspected cocaine hidden in the bones of salted fish intended for export.

A total of six persons are currently in custody pending

investigation.

On March 1, narcotics Police in Jamaica unearthed 139.4kg (306.5lbs) of cocaine in containers shipped from Guyana which contained rice and logs.

Reports out of Jamaica stated that the illegal substance was found in the containers at the Kingston Freeport Terminal Limited (KFTL).

According to reports, the drug was found in two of six transhipment containers that arrived on the island from Guyana.

One container packed with logs of lumber was found to have a box with parcels of cocaine while the second had multiple duffle bags that also contained parcels of the illegal substance.

The consignment was destined for Haiti and China. A senior law enforcement official has since said that an investigation has been launched locally since from the records reviewed, the containers were cleared by customs for shipment.

On February 20, a 23-year-old outgoing passenger at the Eugene F Correia International Airport was arrested after she was busted with a quantity of narcot-

ics in her vagina. After being busted, the Barbados-bound woman also admitted that in addition to the drugs in her vagina, she had also swallowed several cocaine-filled pellets.

On January 27, CANU found a box containing locally-made snacks and concealed cocaine at Eugene F Correia International Airport, Ogle

CANU ranks had found some 534 grams of cocaine in a package of local snacks which was destined for Brooklyn, New York, USA, on Wednesday last.

It is alleged that 30-yearold Pathrina Pilgrim of Lot 2 C North Road, Bourda, Georgetown, had attempted to ship the package abroad.

The Customs Anti-

Narcotics Unit (CANU) has said the box was intercepted before it was loaded onto a flight at the Eugene F Correia International Airport, Ogle.

The box, which contained packets of coconut biscuit, mittai, chicken foot, and a packet of uncooked vermicelli, had the cocaine wrapped in carbon and concealed in a false wall at the bottom.

Berbice crash victim dies

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hirty-year-old Sherry Alica Jaigobin of Bath Settlement, West Coast Berbice (WCB), Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice), who was injured in an accident that claimed the life of her husband on Thursday last, has succumbed to her injuries.

The woman died at around

The wrecked car

The accident took place in the vicinity of the Berbice River Bridge Road, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne).

It was reported that on March 4, Sherry Alica Jaigobin and her husband, 33-yearSherry Alica Jaigobin and her old Vijay Jaigobin, husband Vijay Jaigobin a goldsmith, were travelling along the 06:20h on Monday at the Georgetown Public Hospital access road to the bridge at a fast rate of speed. As a result, Corporation (GPHC). the man lost control of the ve-

hicle, slammed into a concrete culvert, and ended up in a nearby trench. The car came to a halt with its wheels in the air.

Public-spirited persons rushed to the scene and managed to pull the injured couple from the wreckage. They were taken to the New Amsterdam Public Hospital where the man was pronounced dead on arrival and his wife was admitted as a patient and later transferred to GPHC. The couple leaves to mourn three children.

NEWS

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TUESDAY, MARCH 9, 2021|| GUYANATIMESGY.COM

EBD prolonged power outages caused by private excavation works – GPL

Prime Minister, Brigadier (ret’d) Mark Phillips (centre), Minister within the Public Works Ministry Deodat Indar along with members of GPL’s Board of Directors

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he Guyana Power and Light on Monday said that following a prolonged period of power outages affecting customers from Nandy Park to Grove, East Bank Demerara (EBD), the company’s technical team conducted a comprehensive inspection of its network and discovered a dislodged Guy-wire on one of the company’s primary poles carrying the 13.8 kV (13,800 volts) network.

According to GPL, the Guy-wire, which was used to provide support to the primary pole and network, was dislodged during excavation works by a landowner in the Re-migrant Scheme at

Providence, EBD. The dislodgment of the Guy-wire disrupted the angle of the pole, resulting in the sagging of the 13.8 kV conductor.

As a result, the power company noted that the conductor came into contact with the earth wire on the low voltage network, causing the disruption in the power supply which customers first experienced in the early afternoon hours of Sunday.

Remedial work commenced immediately to restore service to the affected areas.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Brigadier (ret’d)

Mark Phillips held an urgent meeting with GPL on Monday to address blackout complaints from residents in Regions Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) and Four.

The Prime Minister told DPI the blackouts are due to a poorly maintained electricity grid which the power company is rectifying.

“We have inherited a transmission and distribution system that, frankly speaking, should have gone through continuous maintenance over the last five years. My understanding is that the maintenance schedule over the last five years has not been consistent. So,

Excavation works close to the networks

we are at a stage now where we are doing a lot of corrective maintenance work,” he said.

Prime Minister Phillips said much more emphasis will be placed on strengthening GPL’s communication with residents on the planned maintenance works so that households can prop-

The affected primary structure

erly prepare for the inconveniences that may arise.

Additionally, Minister within the Ministry of Public Works Deodat Indar, who was also at the meeting, said GPL will prioritise additional works as it seeks to fix the transmission issues.

“There’re areas which we

are looking into, which is inspection, putting more focus on inspection and preventative maintenance,” he said.

Additionally, Chief Executive Officer of GPL, Bharat Dindyal said the power outages are expected to lessen over the coming weeks.

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TUESDAY, MARCH 9, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

2 more persons succumb to COVID-19 …persons jumping vaccine queue will be penalised – Minister

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wo women on Sunday succumbed to the coronavirus disease, increasing Guyana’s death toll to 203.

The Health Ministry informed on Monday that the latest fatalities are a 69-year-old from Region Four (DemeraraMahaica) and a 64-yearold from Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).

Both

women had tested positive for COVID-19 and died while receiving medical care.

On Saturday, the last fatality was announced after a 57-year-old male from Region Four also succumbed at a medical facility.

Positive cases also increased by seven and the total confirmed cases have

now climbed to 8814. The data showed that 8171 patients have recovered after 4357 males and 4277 females tested positive for the life-threatening virus. The new cases emerged from 354 samples that were sent for testing.

According to the Ministry’s dashboard, there are eight persons in the designated Intensive Care Unit (ICU), 389 in home isolation, 43 in institutional isolation and 38 in institutional quarantine.

From the new cases, five were detected in Region Four and two in Region Five (DemeraraMahaica).

Jumping queue

With the tranches of 100,000 vaccines received within the past week from China and India, Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony said the country can vaccinate at least 50,000 persons.

The plan is to move ahead with vaccines for healthcare

workers from both the public and private sectors. The older population, mainly 60 years and above, will follow after along with individuals suffering from comorbidities.

“We are going to offer it first of all to healthcare workers across the country and to make sure that they get these vaccines first. The reason being is that healthcare workers are at higher risks because they interact with the public, they interact with a lot of sick people and there’s that possibility that they themselves can become infected with a person who has COVID. So, we want to make sure that they’re properly immunised,” he shared.

The Minister cautioned that if persons are found jumping the queue to get vaccinated, strict penalties will be brought against them. This is since the highrisk groups are being prioritised to suit the limited doses. Once the other 100,000

jabs are received this month from the COVAX mechanism, they can open to accommodate more persons.

“We want to make sure that we’re able to prioritise these vaccines to people who need them the most and who are most at risk. Eventually, we’ll get vaccines to everyone in the country but at this stage, as we get a limited amount, we want to make sure that we give it to the right priority groups.”

The Ministry is also considering a request for parliamentarians to be vaccinated with this current tranche.

All Guyanese are reminded to observe the protocols of the COVID-19 Emergency Measures (No 15), which are in effect until March 31, 2021. This order emphasises the need for correct

and consistent use of a face mask when leaving home; the importance of maintaining the six feet physical distance from others and the need for good hand hygiene to help reduce the spread of COVID-19. (G12)

Butcher appeals 15-year jail term for cattle farmer’s murder

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sif Hamid, the Corriverton, Berbice butcher who was sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment for manslaughter over the unlawful killing of an elderly cattle farmer whose remains he burnt aback his house, has filed an appeal against his conviction and sentence which he deems “severe.”

On January 27, 2021, Justice Simone MorrisRamlall presiding at the High Court in Berbice, imposed the custodial sentence after Hamid, 27, who was initially indicted for murder, pleaded guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter.

In August 2015, Hamid unlawfully killed 76-year-old Henry Lalmam of Number 56 Village, Corentyne, Berbice.

Reports in 2015 were that Hamid had been taking animals from the cattle

Dead: Henry Lalmam

Convicted killer: Asif Hamid

farmer on a credit arrangement just as his father had done. According to reports, Police found evidence that suggests that Lalman had spoken to Hamid’s father about an outstanding bill, and the elder Hamid had expressed alarm since he did not send his son on such an arrangement.

Lalman subsequently made contact with the younger Hamid to enquire about the outstanding money and was invited to his home.

It was there that Hamid killed the cattle farmer.

Worried about the cattle farmer’s whereabouts, his family reported him missing.

Close relatives of Hamid’s informed Police about the debt issue. When questioned at the time, the younger Hamid had said he had not seen Lalman.

Investigators searching the yard for evidence discovered a recently-dug-up area behind the house.

It was later found to contain the remains of the cattle

farmer. The younger Hamid later confessed to killing his father’s friend to avoid having to pay his bill.

Justice Morris-Ramlall had asked for a probation report before sentencing the confessed killer. The report revealed that Hamid had a sound secondary school education having obtained seven subjects at CSEC. After he left school, Hamid took up his father’s trade as a butcher. His relatives related that apart from being a habitual gambler, he was of good character.

State Prosecutor Tuanna Hardy reminded the court that the killer’s actions were as a result of his gambling habit and greed. The prosecutor said that the elderly cattle farmer trusted Hamid. In this regard, she asked the Judge to impose a sentence that reflects the serious nature of the offence.

In handing down the sentence, Justice MorrisRamlall pointed out that Hamid took advantage of the elderly man who he lured to his yard. (G1)

NEWS

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TUESDAY, MARCH 9, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Over 363,932 persons Judge, jury hear testimony took filaria pills from victim’s mother 2003 Blue Iguana murder trial

…as campaign moves to Regions 1, 2, 5, 7

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he mass drug administration to eliminate filariasis is seeing positive results, with over 360,000 persons taking the pills across the country over the weeks.

Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony shared on Monday that 363,932 persons were reached as of this weekend in the populous Regions Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), Four (DemeraraMahaica), Six (East BerbiceCorentyne) and 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).

Over the weekend, the campaign has been launched in Regions One (Barima-Waini), Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), Five (Mahaica-Berbice) and Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) but the rollout started on Monday.

Dr Anthony said Region One saw a strong turnout during the launching, and it is

expected that a high number of persons will take the medications.

“We had a good turnout and a number of pill distributors who came out and other influencers in the community so I suspect that the rollout of the filaria campaign in Region One is going to be very strong.

The last time when they had such a campaign, they were able to get at least 74 per cent of the people taking the medication and we hope that they can do the same or already be better this time around. From the enthusiasm that I saw, I think we’re going to do better,” the Minister explained during the coronavirus update.

For the campaign, training has been completed for

Persons across the country have been taking their pills to eliminate filaria

1400 pill distributors, 170 field officers, 20 regional coordinators and eight national supervisors spanning 138 health facilities across the

country. For those persons who have already contracted filaria, he said they are working on treatment to prevent them from developing a disability.

It is recommended by the World Health Organisation to roll out a mass administration of medicines in countries seeking to eliminate filariasis completely. Guyana would have completed the administration of the first round of pills and now the last round will be administered to citizens. Once the campaign starts in February, it will end

by May. Guyanese are given three tablets; Ivermectin, Diethylcarbamazine (DEC) and Albendazole. The combi-

nation of pills is referred to as the IDA. The number of tablets varies per age, and they are not to be given to pregnant women and children below the age of two years old.

According to information from the World Health Organisation (WHO), the disease is caused by three species of thread-like nematode worms, known as filariae – Wuchereria bancrofti, Brugia malayi and Brugia timori. Male worms range from three to four centimetres in length, and female worms eight to 10 centimetres.

The World Health Organisation data shows that some 900 million people in 49 different countries are at risk of contracting filaria. As such, the Health Minister has said this forms a national effort to completely eliminate filaria, as he called for political unity in realising this objective.

“More than 90 per cent of our population is at risk of this disease…Once we complete this exercise, then henceforth, nobody in Guyana should ever have to deal with filaria again. If we are able to accomplish this as a people, then that is going to be a wonderful achievement for all of us...This exercise is one where all of us would have to come together as one people to fight this disease and I am extremely happy that we can have political unity so that we can demonstrate to our public that there is no politics involved here,” Dr Anthony had said during the campaign launch in Region Four. (G12)

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he mother of a man who was killed back in 2003 in front of the Blue Iguana Night Club, Alberttown, Georgetown, took the stand on Monday in the trial of his accused killer. Mark Lowchee, called “Mark Lee” is accused of the September 21, 2003 murder of Collis De Abreau. Lowchee has pleaded not guilty to the murder indictment presented against him by State Counsel Tiffini Lyken.

The trial of the murder accused commenced on Monday before Justice Navindra Singh and a 12-member jury at the High Court in Georgetown.

Lowchee, who is appearing in court virtually, is being represented by Attorney-at-Law Ravindra Mohabir.

During her opening address, Prosecutor Lyken told the jury that on September 21, 2003, at around 04:00h, De Abreau was standing with friends outside the Blue Iguana Night Club when an argument ensued between Lowchee and another person. According to the prosecutor, loud explosions were heard sometime after and De Abreau was seen running.

Prosecutor Lyken said that the young man was later discovered in a nearby yard with what appeared to be gunshot wounds to his chest. She said that his cause of death was given as perforation of the heart and lungs as a result of gunshot injuries. Following the killing, a wanted bulletin was issued for Lowchee. He was, however, apprehended by the Police until 2017.

Jone De Abreu, the mother of the now dead man, testified that during September 2003, she resided at Lot 57 Fourth Street, Alberttown, Georgetown, with her husband and children. The woman said that at about 01:30h on September 21, 2003, she

Murder accused: Mark Lowchee

overheard Collis asking his stepfather for money.

That morning, Jone De Abreu recounted that she woke up around 05:00h and noticed that Collis was not there. She said she decided to go and look for him. She said that before she left for the road, she went into the washroom, where she heard five gunshots. Nevertheless, she went in search of her son at Fifth and Light Streets, Aberttown, Georgetown, where she met one of his male friends.

She told the court that she asked the man for “Collis” and he started “cursing me up.”

She added that she then went to her sister’s home in the same area and told her that “Collis did not come home.”

Jones related that she stayed at her sister’s residence for a while.

The woman recalled that she left and whilst walking down the road she saw a group of people gathered and a guy came up to her and told her that her son was shot.

According to her, her son was placed in a vehicle and transported to the Georgetown Public Hospital.

The witness related that when she arrived at the hospital, nurses took her into the Accident & Emergency Room where she saw her son lying motionlessly on a bed.

Dead: Collis De Abreu

De Abreu broke down into tears while relating that doctors later informed her that her son had died. The mother added that she examined her son’s body which had a wound to the left side chest.

Also, testifying was Police rank Eon Joseph, who told the court that on November 19, 2017, he was performing patrol duties when he received a report of a murder suspect standing at Middle and East Streets, Georgetown. Joseph said that he and a party of policemen went to the location where they contacted Lowchee, who fit the description of the murder suspect.

According to the Police rank, the murder accused told him that his name was “Mark Lee” after which he told him that he was wanted for a murder that occurred in 2003 and cautioned him before taking him into custody at the Alberttown Police Station. Police Sergeant Nigel Gravesande, who was part of the initial investigations was also called to the stand.

Government Pathologist Dr Nehaul Singh give testimony about a post-mortem examination he performed on Collis De Abreu’s remains and his cause of death. Meanwhile, Akes De Abreau, the brother of the deceased, said he witnessed the post-mortem examination. This trial is continuing. (G1)

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TUESDAY, MARCH 9, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

charged for assault, Murder accused Vendors damage to property to know fate soon G

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25-year-old man, Tony Rampersaud, who is on trial for murder at the High Court on the Essequibo Coast, Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam), will know his fate on Thursday when the jury returns from deliberation. Tony Rampersaud is on trial for the November 19, 2016 murder of Henry Mendonca, a Venezuelan.

According to the facts, Rampersaud and Mendonca, who both resided in Venezuela, came to Guyana on the day in question and were drinking at the Eteringbang Landing.

However, an argument ensued between the two and Rampersaud allegedly broke a bottle and stabbed Mendonca to his abdomen.

The injured man was taken to San Martin Hospital in Venezuela, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

His trial is taking place before Justice Gino Persaud and a 12-member jury. State Counsel Lisa Cave is presenting the case for the prosecution.

Meanwhile, in another case at the High Court in

Murder accused: Tony Rampersaud

Convicted killer: Alvin Calder

Suddie, 50-year-old Alvin Calder, who was found guilty on a manslaughter charge, will be sentenced today. According to the charge, on April 12, 2007, at White Water Landing, Potaro, Essequibo, Calder, formerly of Great Diamond, East Bank Demerara, unlawfully killed Joseph Willy, called “Jeff-man”.

Media reports are that Calder was only apprehended in 2016, nine years after he allegedly killed the man.

It was reported that the men were involved in a drug deal

that went bad. Moreover, Willy had allegedly owed the accused $150,000 for goods he had taken from his shop and had refused to pay him despite several requests.

According to reports, on the day in question, Calder saw a relative of the now dead man and confronted her over the monies he owed.

After Willy learned of the confrontation, he reportedly approached Calder armed with a cutlass. At that point, it was reported that Calder shot him twice, and then made good his escape. (G1)

Integration and Big Data Analytics.

The orientation ceremony for the first two cohorts, which comprise eighty students, was held virtually on March 5 and the training programme which began on March 6 will run until May 29, 2021.

Classes are being held virtually, once per week.

Lecturers, current stu-

dents, and a few graduates of the Computer Science Department at the University of Guyana will deliver the programme completely in Guyana.

The agreement between the University of Guyana and SlashRoots Foundation (SRFDN), entered into in 2019, stipulates that UG will train about 150 students in the areas of Digital/Data

anesh Ramcharran, a 19-year-old vendor, found himself before Magistrate Sherdell IsaacsMarcus at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Monday to answer to two charges - assault and making use of abusive language.

The first charge stated that on December 11, 2020, at Water Street, Georgetown, the teen unlawfully assaulted Kennard Ramah so as to cause him actual bodily harm.

It was further alleged that on December 11, 2020, at Water Street, Georgetown, he displayed threatening behaviour to Ramah.

Ramcharran pleaded not guilty to both charges and was released on bail in the sum of $20,000 The matter has been adjourned to April 8, 2021.

Meanwhile, another Vendor, Vanessa Gonsalves, was also arraigned before Magistrate Isaacs.

The 38-year-old of Princes Street, Georgetown, was called to answer four charges at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

Her first charge stated that on March 5, 2021, at Russell Street, Charlestown,

UG partners with Google, CSOD to train 150 youngsters in Guyana

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he University of Guyana, on Saturday, kicked off a threemonth training programme specially designed for youngsters.

Guyana’s national university partnered with the Caribbean School of Data (CSOD) to deliver in the areas of Digital/Data Literacy, Data Management, Data Visualisation, Data

Literacy, Data Management, Data Visualisation, Data Integration and Big Data Analytics.

The academic agreement was signed over a year ago, however, the commencement of the programme suffered some delays due to the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic which required the original face-to-face format to be converted to online.

The training initiative, which also involves several other regional territories, seeks to increase employability and economic opportunities for at-risk youth across the Caribbean through digital literacy and data skills training.

The project aims to train 150 young men and women, aged 18-29, in digital and data skills and help them to acquire new job competencies which are essential for the emerging digital economy and the workplace.

The project is funded by Google.org, Google’s philanthropy organisation, and is executed by a network of regional partners across the Caribbean through the CSOD’s unique blended learning model.

The University of Guyana has delivered several community-based digital skills programmes over the last eight months as part of its citizen success goal outlined in its Blueprint 2040.

she displayed threatening behaviour towards Alicia Adams.

It was further stated that on March 5, 2021, at Russell Street, Charlestown, Gonsalves made use of abusive language towards Alicia Adams.

Moreover, it was alleged that on March 5, 2021, at Russell Street, Charlestown, the defendant had unlawfully assaulted Police Constable Vickram Luknauth, a peace officer who was acting in the execution of his duty.

Meanwhile, the final charge read to the defendant stated that on March 5, 2021, at Russell Street, Charlestown, she unlawfully and maliciously damaged a tactical vest, valued at $9500 - property of Vickram Luknauth.

Gonsalves, who was represented by Attorney-at-Law Darren Wade, pleaded not guilty to all four charges.

Her attorney in his bail application stated that his client was assaulted by ranks and received a black

and blue eye as a result.

He noted that Gonsalves was held in Police custody from March 5 until March 8, adding that this is an extensive period to be detained for bailable offences.

Attorney Wade concluded by asking Magistrate IsaacsMarcus for his client to be released on recognisance.

However, the Police Prosecutor objected to the attorney’s request, stating that Gonsalves had assaulted a peace officer and damaged his property.

He explained that on the day in question, Constable Luknauth was the officer tasked with providing security to the personnel involved in the distribution of the COVID-19 relief cash grant.

It was during this exercise he alleged that Gonsalves had assaulted him Nevertheless, Magistrate Isaacs-Marcus granted Gonsalves bail in the sum of $5000 for the threatening behaviour charge and self-bail on all other charges. (G15)

Foreign language training for 914 hotline operators

T

he Human Services and Social Security Ministry will be offering foreign language training for operators of the 914 emergency hotline, which was established to provide services to victims of abuse.

Minister Dr Vindhya Persaud made this statement in an interview with DPI, even as she expressed her disappointment at the fresh spate of violence against women, the most recent being the brutal attack and rape of a Venezuelan migrant.

“Because we are now conscious of the needs of migrants, we saw in the news that there were some difficulties because of the language barrier, we are going to work to have at least two of these operators speak Spanish or Portuguese so that we can extend these services to those persons who need it.”

Persaud explained that the 914 hotline aims to provide services to all persons, including migrants. The hotline was created so that individuals, including victims of domestic and sexual violence, could call for assistance or report incidences of

abuse.

The Survivors Advocates Programme, she said, is linked directly to the 914 toll-free number. Through that programme, victims of abuse could access psychosocial support and counselling.

“Then there are women who are living in habitually abusive situations, they may have children, they may not have the financial wherewithal, they may not have skills, so then comes the programme where we are working to equip women with technical, vocational skills training and even functional literacy. These women can access this by calling 914,” Persaud said.

Additionally, the Government has significantly increased the subvention to the organisations providing safe spaces and shelters for women. Fifty million dollars was budgeted for those entities.

A court superintendent department would also be established with a cadre of lawyers to lead prosecutions in each regional division for cases of domestic violence.

Public engagements and campaigns will also be executed throughout the year.

NEWS

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TUESDAY, MARCH 9, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

GBTI endorses efforts to challenge gender inequalities

GBTI CEO James Foster pens his message on the signage

T

he Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI) on Monday kick-started a public signing campaign to endorse International Women’s Day (IWD), in which persons can choose to highlight the various aspects of gender balance and inclusion that they wish to see.

Throughout the month of March, the “Guyana” signage at Kingston, Georgetown, has been rebranded to provide a space for persons to leave a message or share some form of empowerment to women. This initiative materialised through a part-

nership with the Canadian High Commission and Impressions.

Chief Executive Officer of GBTI, James Foster underscored, “A gender-balanced Guyana is a better Guyana, not just for women but for all of us.”

M e a n w h i l e , Representative from the Canadian High Commission, Jake Thomas acknowledged the progress which has been made to eliminate the patriarchal facets of society that limit women from reaching their potential. However, he noted that more needs to be done.

“Substantial progress has been made since we celebrated the first International Women’s Day in the early 20th century. Women have the right to vote, to education, improved access to healthcare and more and more women are contributing to decision making processes and opportunities. This does not mean that equality has been achieved. Challenges remain and there is much to be done, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic,” Thomas identified.

Globally, he identified women’s issues such as protection from domestic abuse, gender-based violence, discrimination and affordable childcare.

Impressions Marking Manager Debbie Persaud added that the achievements made by women across the globe make them a force to be reckoned with as they take over leadership roles in various field.

“Today, we celebrate International Women’s Day – a day to honour the strength, achievements and strive made by our women from all across the world from different backgrounds.

Today, we have diverse representation across all sectors, economically, culturally, politically and sports

International Women’s Day celebrated

just to name a few. We see women taking up leadership roles in the sphere of politics as President and Prime Ministers, CEOs and managers.”

International Women’s Day is being celebrated this year under the theme: #ChoosetoChallenge.

The theme urges people to call out gender bias and inequality with the goal of making major changes and promoting inclusivity.

Secretary General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres has said that the COVID-19 pandemic has

erased decades of progress towards gender equality.

Comparing the high job losses, disrupted schooling and the escalating crisis of domestic violence and exploitation, it was emphasised that women’s lives have been upended and their rights eroded.

“The consequences will far outlast the pandemic.

But women have also been on the frontlines of pandemic response. They are the essential workers keeping people alive and holding economies, communities and families together. They are

among the leaders who have kept prevalence rates lower, and countries on track for recovery. This year’s International Women’s Day highlights the transformative power of women’s equal participation,” Guterres had stated.

With women now serving in equal numbers at the top leadership posts at the United Nations, he said the organisation has witnessed even more concerted action to secure peace, sustainable development and human rights. (G12)

Harry and Meghan rattle British monarchy’s gilded cage ...skin colour remark “not Queen nor Duke” – Oprah Winfrey

By Jonny Dymond

T

raditionally the Palace protects the family by drawing a curtain between the public, formal stuff and the personal stuff; its refusal to comment on the personal is a strategic interpretation of the family’s maxim – “never explain, never complain”.

The public/personal divide has always been an artifice. Royals get married in front of tens of millions of people, have State funerals, release photos on birthdays and anniversaries, exchange insights into their lives in return for easy-going and generous coverage.

But the divide, however often disregarded, remains the guiding principle of the family’s formal relationship with the outside world.

Now the contradictions that spring from the mix of personal and public are playing out.

Some key allegations are about the personal behaviour and comments of members of the Royal Family and how, through collective neglect and perhaps some malicious intent,

Britain’s Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, are interviewed by Oprah Winfrey

they left Harry and Meghan no choice but to leave.

Other statements painted a terrible portrait of unfeeling staff and courtiers.

The entire institution was portrayed as if nothing had been learnt from the days of Diana – Prince Harry and Prince William’s late mother.

The duchess is a formidable communicator and has proved herself a very bad woman to pick a fight with. A newly-liberated

Harry spoke with almost-eloquence.

“A knife to the heart”

Meghan dealt some of the heaviest blows. What is the Palace to say about the accusation that an unnamed member of the family made a comment - -more than one by the sounds of things – about the skin colour of the couple’s child-to-be? The mind boggles.

But alongside the per-

sonal pain and anger rippling through the duchess’s testimony, there came from Harry condemnation of the institution – the suggestion that it was incapable of change, incapable of love, incapable of understanding.

The contradictions of the Palace, and of the monarchy, are exactly that which makes it so special, so strange, so interesting and so difficult to work within – the merging of personal and

public roles, the accretion of tradition, the mix of public accountability, ceaseless media interest, and the need to remain relevant.

Harry’s suggestion that his family too – his father Prince Charles, his brother Prince William – are “trapped” in their world, and that he felt “compassion” for them, was a velvet-covered knife into the heart of the modern monarchy.

Royal life is conducted from within a gilded cage; the players are not meant to rattle the bars from the outside.

These are the contradictions Harry walked away (or, in his words, stepped back) from. He was uncomfortable with them before he was married. And when he saw his wife suffering as a result of his being “trapped” in royal life, he found a way out with her.

There are also the contradictions that lie behind many of the decisions that they both spoke out about and are clearly very unhappy about.

It is public money that pays for security. It is tradition that dictates who gets

what title. There is no HR department for working royals because it is a family affair. What you do in front of the cameras matters because it reflects on the institution as a whole.

This meshing of personal and public is unique. It is what being a modern royal is all about. And inside it is often a hugely uncomfortable place to be. Harry knew that. Presumably he warned Meghan. But that warning wasn’t enough.

Harry and Meghan’s experience suggests that the contradictions are too great.

Maybe their interview will act as a catalyst for change.

But the Crown has been around for a very long time, and change does not come easily to a body in which the past plays such an outsize role.

Meanwhile, Oprah has said Prince Harry clarified it was neither the Queen nor the Duke of Edinburgh who questioned what his son’s skin colour would be.

Oprah told CBS News on Monday the Prince “did not tell me who was part of those conversations”. (BBC News)

18

guyanatimesgy.com

TUESDAY, MARCH 9, 2021

Regional

Brazil’s ex-President Lula Activist says trafficking of cleared by Supreme Court minors on increase in Haiti

B

razil’s ex-President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has been cleared of corruption by a Supreme Court Judge, opening a path to a possible run for the presidency in 2022.

Lula, a left-wing icon to many, was freed in 2019 after 18 months in jail.

He was convicted following an investigation, “Operation Car Wash”, into a huge bribery scandal which ensnared politicians and business leaders.

But Supreme Court Justice Edson Fachin annulled Lula’s convictions.

He said in a statement that a court in the southern city of Curitiba did not have the right to try the four cases, which should instead be heard by a federal court in the capital, Brasilia.

The ruling, which still has to be considered by the full Supreme Court, restores Lula’s political rights, un-

Brazil’s ex-President Inácio Lula da Silva

Luiz

less his convictions are reinstated.

“This is recognition that we were right throughout this long legal battle,” his lawyers said in a statement.

Lula, President from 2003 to 2010, could theoretically run against President Jair Bolsonaro. The rightwing incumbent is thought likely to seek re-election next year.

Giving his reaction outside the presidential pal-

ace, Bolsonaro accused the Supreme Court Judge of bias.

Lula, now 75, was jailed in 2018 for 12 years for receiving a beachside apartment from an engineering company implicated in the “Operation Car Wash” investigation. This was later reduced to eight years and 10 months.

In 2019, he was given a further 12 years in jail for accepting bribes in the form of renovation work at a country house from construction companies.

But in the same year, he was freed after the Supreme Court ruled that defendants should not be jailed until their appeal process has been exhausted.

Lula had denied all the charges, saying they were aimed at preventing him from running for President again in 2018. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Biden grants temporary protected status to Venezuelans in US who fled country's turmoil

T

he Biden Administration is granting temporary protected status to Venezuelan migrants living in the United States, and is also working to coordinate international pressure against President Nicolás Maduro to hold free and fair elections, senior US officials said on Monday.

The decision, which could aid an estimated 320,000 people, fulfils a promise that President Joe Biden made during the 2020 election campaign to give shelter to Venezuelans who left their homeland amid economic collapse,

humanitarian crisis, and political turmoil under Maduro.

Venezuelans in the United States will have to show they have been residing in the country continuously as of March 8, 2021, to qualify for the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designation, the officials told reporters. If they meet the criteria, they will be given an 18-month reprieve to stay and can also obtain work permits.

The decision stems from “extraordinary temporary conditions” in Venezuela, including “widespread hunger and malnutrition, growing presence and in-

fluence of non-State armed groups, a crumbling infrastructure,” one official said.

“It is not safe for them to return,” the official added.

Some 5.4 million Venezuelans have emigrated in recent years, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

When Biden took office on January 20, he inherited from his predecessor, Donald Trump, an array of harsh sanctions that further tightened the economic noose on the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) State but failed to unseat Maduro.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

US Coast Guard transfers Cubans to Bahamian officials

T

he United States Coast Guard on Friday transferred six Cuban migrants to Bahamian authorities after they were found stranded on Anguilla Cay. On Saturday, the Coast Guard said that during a routine patrol, an Air Station Miami HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircrew spotted the six people and dropped lifesaving supplies to them.

“The Coast Guard cutter rescue crew arrived on scene, Thursday, and ensured the six people: five adults and one 17-year-old unaccompanied minor, did not have medical concerns before bringing them on the ship.

Once aboard a cutter, the US Coast Guard said all migrants receive food, water, shelter and basic medical at-

T

he trafficking of children and adolescents along the border shared by Haiti and the Dominican Republic has intensified.

This is according to Jorge Galván, a human rights activist in the Dominican Republic, who says the trafficking mainly takes place along the border of the Province of Dajabon.

According to Galván, when these minors are illegally transferred from Haiti, they are exposed to all kinds of abuse from the traffickers.

He said the problem was dramatic and that an urgent solution must be

sought because more and more of them were arriving every day.

He said that most of the children and adolescents spend nights in public places or sleep in abandoned buildings.

“On the day they walk the streets with shoe polish boxes, others clean the windows of vehicles, still others devote themselves to begging, collecting bottles, plastics and other objects that people throw away and that they can resell, often on behalf of unscrupulous individuals.”

He added that some victims of mafias operating in Haiti in collusion with Dominicans are being ex-

ploited and often abused or sold in prostitution networks.

According to Haitian professor Jean Baptiste, who is also a former leader of Civil Protection in Cap Haitien, child trafficking to the Dominican Republic is serious.

Meanwhile, the Vice President of the Coordinator of Popular Organisations of the South Zone of Santiago, José Alberto Peña, says that along with representatives of other entities, he recently saved seven Haitian children who were residing in the poor area known as “Cañada del Diablo”, where they were being exploited.

(CMC)

Women's day: Mexico barrier turned into women's memorial

F

encing erected to protect Mexico's National Palace ahead of a planned march to mark International Women's Day has been turned into a memorial.

The names of hundreds of victims of femicides – murders of women because of their gender – have been painted on the metal fencing.

The three-metre-high (9.8ft) barrier was put up to protect the palace "from vandalism", the Government said.

Women's groups say the Government does not do enough to combat femicides.

They also criticised President Andrés Manuel López Obrador for ordering the National Palace and the Palace of Fine Arts to be surrounded by barriers, asking what he was afraid of.

The President responded by saying that the barriers were put up "not out of fear, but to prevent provocations and to protect historic buildings".

"Last time around, bombs were thrown against this

Women's groups have turned the metal fencing into an impromptu memorial for the victims of femicides

historic building," he said, referring to protests over the brutal murder of a seven-year-old girl in February 2020 in which slogans were sprayed on to the walls of the National Palace and petrol bombs lobbed against a door.

The president added women had the right to protest, but he said there was "much provocation, many people infiltrate [the protests] and seek to do damage, they use violence as a form of protest and throw Molotov cocktails, and we

don't want anyone to get injured".

He also said he was "not a male chauvinist", in response to criticism by women who say he has ignored the problem of violence against women.

Women's rights activists say they want to draw attention to the hundreds of women that are killed every year in Mexico. Government figures suggest at least 939 women were victims of femicide in 2020. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Former Petrojam Chairman charged with 12 counts of fraud

T Six Cubans were handed over to authorities in The Bahamas (CMC)

tention.

Throughout the interdiction, the US Coast Guard said crew members were equipped with personal protective equipment “to minimise potential exposure to any possible case of [coronavirus] COVID-19”.

“There were no migrants in these cases reported to

have any COVID-19-related symptoms,” the US Coast Guard said.

Since October 1, 2020, the US Coast Guard said its crews have interdicted 87 Cubans compared to fiscal year 2020, October 1, 2019-September 30, 2020, where crews interdicted 49 Cubans. (CMC)

he former Chairman of Petrojam, Dr Perceval Bahado-Singh, has been slapped with multiple fraud charges related to US$73,620 that he allegedly dishonestly obtained during the time he led the Board at the island’s sole petroleum refinery, the Major Organised Crime and AntiCorruption Agency (MOCA) announced Monday.

MOCA said detectives arrested Bahado-Singh and charged him with 12 counts of obtaining the money by means of false pretence.

It is alleged that between December 2016 and May 2018, he fraudulently claimed several reimbursements and was paid the monies by Petrojam for overseas business trips that he did not attend.

“MOCA conducted a thorough multijurisdictional investigation into these allegations, prepared and submitted a file to the Director of Public Prosecution, who ruled that criminal charges be filed,” the agency, which focuses on tackling corruption in the

public sector and bringing high-value criminal targets to justice, said in a statement.

“Dr Bahado-Singh was interviewed in the presence of his Attorney and subsequently arrested and charged by MOCA detectives.”

He was offered bail and will appear in the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court on March 17.

MOCA said the investigation continues with a view to conducting other interviews shortly. (CMC)

guyanatimesgy.com

TUESDAY, MARCH 9, 2021

19

Around the World

OILNEWS OIL NEWS Oil settles lower, shrugs off Saudi attack after climbing above $70/bbl

O

il prices settled lower on Monday, retreating from a session peak above US$70 a barrel after attacks on oil facilities in Saudi Arabia lifted prices that high for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic began.

Yemen’s Houthi forces fired drones and missiles at the heart of the Saudi oil industry on Sunday, including a Saudi Aramco facility at Ras Tanura vital to petroleum exports. Riyadh said there were no casualties or loss of property.

“The situation evaporated when it became obvious that there was no damage to the largest oil facility in the world,” said Bob Yawger, director of energy futures at Mizuho.

Brent climbed as high as US$71.38 a barrel in early Asian trade, its highest since Jan 8, 2020. It settled down US$1.12 or 1.6 per cent at US$68.24.

US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude settled down US$1.04 or 1.6 per cent at US$65.05. The session high was US$67.98 a barrel, its highest since October 2018.

Brent and WTI prices have climbed for four consecutive sessions.

The United States expressed alarm at “genuine security threats” to Saudi Arabia and said it would look at improving support for Saudi defences.

“The activity is worthy of some increased geopolitical premium,” said Jim Ritterbusch, President of Ritterbusch and Associates in Galena, Illinois.

The attack follows last week’s move by the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, Russia and their oilproducing allies, known as OPEC+, to agree on broadly sticking with output cuts despite rising crude prices.

“Last week’s OPEC + agreement to restrain output at virtually current levels was a major development that has yet to be fully discounted,” Ritterbusch said.

Also adding support, the US Senate approved a US$1.9 trillion stimulus bill, which is expected to boost fuel demand as the economy gets a lift. Economic data from the United States and China was also positive. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Senegal protests: Ousmane Sonko charged with rape

Sonko's supporters squared up to security forces outside the court on Monday

A

Judge in Senegal has charged opposition leader Ousmane Sonko with rape and released him on bail, after days of deadly protests sparked by his arrest last week.

"He is going home. He is free," said Etienne Ndione, one of his lawyers.

Sonko, 46, is accused of assaulting a woman who worked in a beauty salon.

He said the case is politically motivated to stop him running again in elections in 2024. He came third in the 2019 poll with 16 per cent of the vote.

Demonstrators scuffled with security forces outside court in the capital, Dakar, before Monday's hearing.

Police have deployed armoured cars in the city in the wake of several days of clashes in which at least eight people were killed, including a teenager in the southern town of Diaobé -

the most serious violence Senegal has seen for several years.

Tear gas was also fired at protesters in central Dakar on Monday, after they pelted officers with stones.

Sonko is popular among young Senegalese, and an opposition collective known as the Movement for the Defence of Democracy has called for three days of mass protests, starting on Monday.

Schools in the capital have also been ordered to close for a week following the unrest.

Senegal's neighbours in the West African regional bloc, Ecowas, have condemned the violence and called on "all parties to exercise restraint and remain calm" - adding that the authorities should "take the necessary measures to ease tensions and guarantee the freedom to demonstrate peacefully". (Excerpt from BBC News)

Women rally across the world despite coronavirus restrictions

T

housands of women across the globe took part in annual marches and protests to mark International Women’s Day, in a muted affair due to restrictions on large gatherings as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

From India to the Philippines to Spain, women called for equal rights and freedoms and an end to violence against women.

Several hundred Muslim Uighur women in Turkey staged an International Women’s Day march along the Bosphorus demanding the closure of mass incarceration camps in China’s Xinjiang region.

In the Philippines, hundreds of mostly female demonstrators rallied in the capital Manila and took aim

at the country’s President, Rodrigo Duterte, for alleged rights abuses against women.

Protesters smashed an effigy of Duterte with sledgehammers during a demonstration near his residence

in Manila during which women’s rights activists denounced him for what they called abusive security policies.

At the national palace in Mexico City, protesters painted the names of hun-

dreds of femicide victims across three-metre metal barriers that were erected last week to protect the historic building from vandalism during Monday’s marches.

In India, thousands of female farmers held sit-ins and took part in a hunger strike in the capital as they protested the new agricultural laws.

In Spain, more than 100 protesters defied a court order prohibiting protests by gathering – while staying at a distance from each other – in Madrid’s Puerta del Sol central square. They shouted “Enough with patriarchal justice!” and held banners against fascism and calling for an end to violence and repression against women.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Walensky said in a statement.

The guidelines say fully vaccinated people can: visit with other fully vaccinated people indoors without wearing masks or physical distancing, visit with unvaccinated people from a single household who are at low risk for severe COVID-19 disease indoors without wearing masks or physical distancing and refrain from quarantine and testing following a known exposure if asymptomatic.

The guidelines also say fully vaccinated people can visit with unvaccinated people from a single household where there is no high risk of COVID-19.

However, fully vaccinated people should continue to “wear masks, maintain physical distance, and practice other prevention measures when visiting with unvaccinated people from multiple households”, as well as avoid “medium- and large-sized in-person gatherings”, the CDC said.

The release is an attempt to answer growing questions about what it means to be fully vaccinated, as adults grow tired of more than a year of social distancing, and in some cases, isolation from friends and family.

A person is considered fully vaccinated two weeks after receiving two doses of the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines, or the single dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

An Ethnic Uighur demonstrator holding a placard reading “rape is a crime of humanity” takes part in a gathering on the occasion of International Women’s Day to protest China’s treatment of Uighurs, in Istanbul, Turkey [Murad Sezer/Reuters]

CDC says fully-vaccinated may gather without masks, visit family

F

ully vaccinated people in the United States may gather with other vaccinated people indoors without wearing a mask or social distancing, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said in guidelines released on Monday.

“We know that people want to get vaccinated so they can get back to doing the things they enjoy with the people they love,” CDC Director Dr Rochelle

Yemen war: Many feared dead after fire at migrant detention centre

Many people are feared dead after a fire at a migrant detention centre in Yemen's capital, Sanaa, on Sunday.

The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) confirmed eight deaths, but officials at the

UN agency said as many 30 might have been killed.

It is not known what caused the blaze at the facility, which was holding hundreds of mostly Ethiopian migrants.

But an air strike by a Saudi-led coalition fighting

the rebel Houthi movement damaged buildings nearby.

The coalition carried out the strikes on Sanaa as the Houthis launched drones and ballistic missiles at cities and oil installations in Saudi Arabia.

Yemen has been devas-

China says hopes US will remove “unreasonable” curbs on cooperation

C

hina urged the United States on Sunday to remove “unreasonable” curbs on cooperation as soon as possible and work together on issues like climate change, while accusing Washington of bringing chaos in the name of spreading democracy.

Last week, US President Joe Biden singled out a “growing rivalry with China” as a key challenge facing the United States, with his top diplomat describing the country as “the biggest geopolitical test” of this century.

Speaking at his annual news conference, the Chinese Government’s top diplomat, State Councillor Wang Yi, struck a tough line even as he outlined where

the world’s two biggest economies could work together.

Questioned about USChina frictions over Taiwan, Xinjiang and the disputed South China Sea, Wang said Beijing “will never accept baseless accusations and smears”.

The United States had used democracy and human rights as a basis for arbitrarily interfering with other countries’ affairs, he said.

“The US should realise this as soon as possible, otherwise the world will continue to experience instability.”

The White House brushed aside the criticisms over Taiwan and said Washington would continue to support Taipei.

Wang said differenc-

es between Beijing and Washington must be managed carefully, the two sides must advocate healthy competition not zero-sum finger-pointing, and that areas like climate change and fighting the pandemic were where they could cooperate.

The United States and China are at odds over influence in the Indo-Pacific region, Beijing’s economic practices, Hong Kong, Taiwan and human rights in China’s Xinjiang region.

The Biden Administration has indicated it will broadly continue the tough approach to China taken by former President Donald Trump, but do so in coordination with allies. (Excerpt from Reuters)

tated by a conflict that escalated in 2015, when the Iran-aligned Houthis seized control of large parts of the country and the Saudiled coalition launched an operation to restore the Government's rule.

The UN said the war has caused created the world's worst humanitarian crisis and caused an estimated 233,000 deaths, including 131,000 from indirect causes such as lack of food, health services and infrastructure.

IOM regional director Carmela Godeu said in a tweet that both migrants and guards were among those who died in Sunday's fire.

The migration group's staff were offering emergency care to more than 170 injured people, of whom at least 90 were in serious condition.

In a statement, the Houthi authorities said they held the IOM and the UN fully responsible for the fire, accusing them of failing to house migrants and not helping to deport them. Neither function is part of the IOM's mandate.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

20

TUESDAY, MARCH 9, 2021

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Adapt to change and go about your business. Embrace new beginnings with enthusiasm. How you use your energy to get things done will help you gain support and the respect you desire.

Keep your life simple and your promises practical. Refuse to let your emotions get in the way of common sense. Focus on self-improvement instead of trying to change others.

Don’t let down your guard, even if someone is complimentary or seductive. Be wary when someone turns on the charm or uses emotional tactics to take advantage of you. Don’t let anger set in.

Educate yourself before sharing your opinion.

Change can be helpful if it saves you money, improves your health or helps you make a difference. Nurture a meaningful relationship.

Look for the right opportunity. Don’t let someone talk you into something that will benefit them, not you.

Carefully choose with whom you associate. A partnership must be equitable.

Learn through observation, and make adjustments that will help you attain a better position. An older or established individual will offer insight. Don’t be afraid to try something new.

Be receptive to suggestions. Focus on education, communication and expanding your interests and circle of friends. Let your curiosity and desire for mental stimulation lead the way.

Pace yourself, think matters through and look at all sides of a situation. Focus on what’s possible, and you’ll find unique ways to evade tricky situations.

Make peace and love priorities.

Focus on how you earn SAGITTARIUS your living or manage your (Nov. 23money. Be wary of people takDec. 21) ing advantage of you or not being honest about their longterm plans. You may have to go it alone, at least for a while.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22Jan. 19)

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

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Take care of yourself.

Start a fitness routine that encourages you to pay close attention to diet and lifestyle, and it will lift your spirits and confidence.

Success can be yours.

Discipline, hard work and persistence will be necessary today. Getting along and keeping the peace will make your life easier. Consider what’s important to you and work to achieve it.

Take the initiative to address issues that are slowing you down. Focus on efficiency and productivity so you can accomplish what you set out to do. A change of heart will pay off.

TUESDAY, MARCH 9, 2021

21

GFF celebrates IWD with call for change T

he Guyana Football Federation (GFF) commemorated International Women’s Day (IWD) with a challenge to society to change the way it perceives and treats women, while issuing a call for more girls and women to participate in football.

Observed on March 8, IWD is an opportunity for communities to honour the social, economic, cultural, and political accomplishments of women around the world. This year’s theme is “choose to challenge”, with a special focus on calling out gender bias and inequality, celebrating women’s achievements and working together to create an inclusive world.

“International Women’s Day brings awareness to the achievements of women across the globe without regard for race, religion, culture, language, or anything that divides us,” said GFF Third Vice President and Attorney-atLaw Thandi McAllister, adding that her wish for IWD was “a cure for misogyny”.

“Having established that the contributions of women are indeed invaluable, I’m

Andrea Johnson

happy that there is a day set aside for the acknowledgement and celebration of women and their everyday sacrifices, contributions, and achievements in every sector,” McAllister, who serves on the Caribbean Football Union Legal Committee, said.

“Men are not the competition,” she said. “Yes, they may have set standards for the game, but not yours, for their own game. You’re entitled to play like a girl, win, lose or draw – just play.”

Guyana National Women’s Football Association President Andrea Johnson, said: “One woman can make a difference,

but together we can rock the world.”

“I am grateful to be a woman. I must have done something great in another life,” she said.

“Feminism isn’t about making a woman stronger; women are already strong. It’s about changing the way the world perceives that strength.

Eleanor Roosevelt once said, ‘No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.’”

“It is the vision that men and women should be treated equally in social, economic and all other aspects of society, and not to be discriminated against because of gender,” she added.

As part of its observance, the GFF has also produced a series of video interviews with young female footballers aimed at encouraging more girls and women to participate in the sport.

U-20 and U-17 international midfielder Shamya Daniels stars in one of the videos, which were shared on the GFF’s social media channels on Monday – a day dedicated to women’s football.

“Any sport you play – it’s not just a game that men only

Shamya Daniels

can play; women can go out there and prove everyone else wrong,” Daniels said. “I would like to encourage all the young girls and women out there to come out and play the sport and just enjoy it while you do it.”

This year, the senior women’s national team are scheduled to take part in FIFA Women’s World Cup qualifiers in October and November, while the U-20 team participate in CONCACAF U20 Women’s Championship qualifiers in September and the U-17s compete in the CONCACAF U-17 Women’s

Championship in August. The GFF will also host its U-15 squad in a camp to prepare for regional competition next year.

Depending on the COVID-19 pandemic and approvals from the authorities, the GFF has approved the following domestic women’s football activities this year: the GFF Always Women’s Development League, the Rupununi Women’s League, a Regional Association women’s development tournament, and Regional Association girls’ football development festivals.

The Federation is also planning a series of school pilot projects, including an U-15 tournament in West Demerara, an U-13 tournament in Upper Demerara, and

Thandi McAllister

U-11 and U-9 tournaments in the East Bank/Georgetown region. Once successfully completed, these tournament models would be expanded to other regions.

All-Star Game: Flawless MVP Giannis fuels Team LeBron past Team Durant

Reggae Boyz reject JFF wage offer, willing to forego World Cup qualifiers and Gold Cup

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eggae Boyz Captain Andre Blake has confirmed that the players have rejected the Jamaica Football Federation’s offer on terms and wages for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers and CONCACAF Gold Cup saying that they are willing to boycott all those competitions as they seek respect and fairness from their local football authorities.

“The players are prepared to go all the way,” Blake told Sportsmax.TV on Monday. “They treat us like slaves and we are done being slaves!”

The players had made an initial request of US$7000 per player per match for the World Cup qualifiers set to begin in September. The JFF countered with an offer of US$2000 per match with bonuses of US$1000 for each win and US$500 for a draw. They claim they are unable to afford more.

The players had until last Friday to sign their contracts, but sources indicate that the JFF had extended the deadline by a “few days” to give them more time to mull what has been described as a “take it or leave it” offer.

However, on the weekend, the players began to post ‘Take A Stand’ memes on their social media pages, a clear indication that they were not willing to accept the JFF’s offer.

Blake confirmed that to Sportsmax.

TV. “The JFF submitted an offer, we countered that offer and they said they weren’t prepared to counter our offer,” Blake said.

“We did have a new offer to put to the JFF and they made it clear, so after they did not counter-counter our offer, we reached out to let them know we were going to send in a new offer and they outright let us know that it was almost pointless to send the new offer, because they will not entertain it.

“What they have on the table is what it is; you sign it, you are eligible for selection; if you don’t, then you’re not. So, at this point, yes, I and the players said ‘sor-

G

ry, but we cannot sign that contract’, so that’s where we’re at right now.”

Blake said the players have now decided to take a stand, because they believe the abuse at the hands of the JFF has been going on for too long. “It’s been generation on top of generation, anybody who has played for Jamaica can attest to this,” he said.

“If we don’t put a stop to this, 20 years later, my kids’ kids or other players’ kids or public members’ kids are going to be playing for the same money and under the same poor organisation, structure and poor professionalism and poor communication and Jamaica football will never get better.”

He explained further that the current stance that the players were taking was not just about money.

“It’s more about respect and how the JFF approaches negotiations,” he said referring to the leaked voice note on recent negotiations where JFF officials were heard referring to the players in a disrespectful manner as they tried to negotiate terms for the two-match trip to Saudi Arabia in November 2020.

“The way the JFF goes about business is unacceptable and the players are just at a point where we think we have had enough,” Blake said. “Some things need to

change. The JFF can definitely operate in a more professional manner.

“There is just so much more than they make it seem as if players are just in it for the money. They can go ahead and violate negotiations by leaking what they want and keep confidential what they want just to paint a bad picture of the players.”

Asked what he would like to see the JFF do to improve their relationship with the players, Blake said: “They JFF need to start to put the players first. The JFF is not putting the players in the best possible position to be successful. And when we are not successful using baskets to carry water, everything falls back on the players.

“Travel arrangements are poor; hotel accommodations are poor; communication, poor; organisation, poor. It’s been going on for a while and we have just had enough. That’s the point where we are at right now and it’s nothing about whether you’re willing to play for free.

“The JFF, they do things backwards.

The Board should enjoy all the luxury treatment and reap all the benefits while the players go out there and do all the work. It’s slavery and we’re done being slaves for the JFF.” Calls to members of the JFF executive went unanswered. (Sportsmax)

iannis Antetokounmpo added another Most Valuable Player (MVP) award to his growing collection as the Milwaukee Bucks superstar guided Team LeBron to a 170-150 victory over Team Durant in Sunday’s All-Star Game.

The previous three All-Star contests had pitted LeBron James against Antetokounmpo in a mouth-watering Team LeBron versus Team Giannis match-up.

But James and Antetokounmpo joined forces for this year’s 70th All-Star Game as the latter fuelled Team LeBron to a comprehensive win in Atlanta.

Two-time reigning NBA MVP Antetokounmpo – drafted first by Los Angeles Lakers superstar James – led Team LeBron to a fourth consecutive All-Star triumph behind his game-high 35 points on 16-for16 shooting.

Antetokounmpo joined Wilt Chamberlain as the only players in NBA history to go 16-for-16 or better from the field in any game (regular season, play-offs or All-Star Game), per Stats Perform.

Chamberlain accomplished the feat twice in the regular season in 1966-67 (18-for-18 and 16-for-16).

Antetokounmpo’s performance earned All-Star Game Kobe Bryant MVP honours for the first time in his career.

Team LeBron – without Joel Embiid as he joined Philadelphia 76ers teammate and Team Durant’s Ben Simmons in sitting out due to COVID-19 contact tracing – entered the fourth quarter requiring only 24 points to seal victory under the Elam Ending rule.

Each of the first three quarters started with the score at 0-0 and lasted the standard 12 minutes, with the game clock turned off for the final period and a final target score set.

Team LeBron’s Damian Lillard sealed the victory with a three-pointer – the Portland Trail Blazers guard posting 32 points.

Stephen Curry, who won the Three-Point Contest as All-Star proceedings were condensed into one day amid the coronavirus pandemic – had 28 points for Team LeBron, including eight three-pointers in 22 minutes.

Jaylen Brown was next best for Team LeBron, while James tallied four points, four assists, two rebounds and a block in 13 minutes of action and Chris Paul posted six points and 16 assists.

Bradley Beal (26); Kyrie Irving (24 and 12 assists); James Harden (21); Jayson Tatum (21); Donovan Mitchell (15); Zach Lavine (13) and Zion Williamson (10) all had double-digit points for Team Durant. (Sportsmax)

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GUYANATIMESGY.COM

TUESDAY, MARCH 9, 2021

Roy’s Pharmacy/Hope Coconut Industries golf tournament…

Watkins adjudged overall winner CLASSIFIED ADS

T

wenty-five golfers participated in the Roy’s Pharmacy/Hope Coconut Industries golf tournament on Saturday last at Lusignan Golf Club, and Tom Watkins emerged as the overall winner.

There was an approximately 15-minute delay in starting owing to rain, but there was no further delay once the tournament got started. Watkins had hc 9 gross 74 net 65, second was Paton George – hc 14 gross 82 net 68, third was Anand Persaud with hc 25 gross 94 net 69 and fourth was Mario

tee, Vice President P a t o n George extended appreciation to the co-sponsors for their partnership and commitment in making this tournament an annual event.

The great work done in environmentally-friendly farming by

Paton George took second place

Acuna with hc 27 gross 97 net 70.

Speaking on behalf of the LGC executive commit-

Hope Coconut Industries was on full display during the trophy presentation – guests were given a variety

of coconut plants and in addition, plants were donated to the Golf Club to be planted.

George went on to say, “We especially like to thank the main sponsor, Roy’s Pharmacy – this neighbourhood pharmacy is a staple in the heart of Georgetown and we extend heartfelt appreciation to the team at Roy’s. Finally, we are always glad to have firsttime winners and challenge the champ Tom Watkins of ExxonMobil to try next

Nafico on board with “Big Man Cricket”

N

orth American Fire & General Insurance Company Limited (Nafico) of Regent and Hinck Streets, Georgetown, is the latest entity to join the growing list of sponsors of the “Big Man Cricket” (BMC) tournament, which is scheduled to commence on Saturday, March 13, 2021.

Nafico and North American Life Insurance Company Limited (Nalico) are two of the largest life and general insurance companies with 15 branches across Guyana.

Nalico and Nafico are wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Edward B Beharry & Co Ltd. Nalico offers a wide range of life, health, pension and annuity products.

Nalico/Nafico representative Vikash Persaud hands over the sponsorship cheque to BMC Chairman Raj Singh

Nafico offers a wide range of property, liability and motor insurance products.

Basil Mahadeo, who serves as the Chief Executive Officer, readily agreed to co-sponsor the “Big Man Cricket” tourna-

ment, since he believes it would help to get our senior cricketers more actively involved in the game of cricket which ultimately would lead to healthier lifestyles and enhancement of the community. (BMC release)

he got off to a rough start with a double bogey on the first hole, he calmed himself down by just enjoying the outing, and the good results followed. Tom has been competing for a chance to win over the last few months and was finally successful. His game is strong enough to win again, but the competition will be stiff.”

Roy’s Pharmacy, located in the Bourda Market, provides affordable medicines to the Guyanese people. Hope Coconut Industries is leadTom Watkins won the competition ing the way in the revitalisation week of the coconut industry in to repeat as champion. Tom Guyana – two Guyanese was very proud to have acbusinesses showing good complished this feat and corporate social responsibilsaid in his acceptance speech that even though ity and supporting golf.

GCB claims “Big Man Cricket” is unsanctioned

F

ollowing recent reports in other sections of the media regarding the launch and sponsorship of the “Big Man Cricket” Tournament, the Guyana Cricket B o a r d ( G C B ) has issued an advisory, stating that the tournament is not approved by the cricketing body.

The GCB statement released on Monday reads: “The GCB hereby takes this opportunity to reliably inform all County Boards, their affiliate Associations/ Committees and their subsidiary clubs that to date, a n y cricket tournament being held under the auspices of Big Man Cricket and/or under, or for a body purporting to represent the "Big Man Cricket" is not approved by the GCB. “It should be noted that the GCB finds it highly disturbing that there appears to be continued attempts to conduct Big Man Cricket tournament(s) that is/ are not approved by the

GCB. The GCB views the aligned actions of individuals so interested in hosting such tournament(s) as subverting the role and responsibility of the GCB by preparing to organise and manage the purported tournament(s), as well as the probable hosting of a cricket tournament which may attract regional teams.

“This is highly unacceptable and the GCB is not prepared to have the formation of bodies subverting its obligations and interest. As a consequence, the GCB feels obligated to communicate the information aforementioned, so that the relevant representatives of cricket entities can be cognisant of the GCB's present position on "BIG Man Cricket Tournament(s)".”

The tournament which has garnered support of numerous corporate entities to date, is scheduled to commence on Saturday, March 13, 2021.

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Devaun “Scooby” Barrington crosses the finish line first in the Open 400m

A glimpse of the long jump action

AAG contemplating more meets T

…Baird picks up injury, Archibald shows consistency

he Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG), much like its athletes, is constantly jumping over hurdles in order to get ahead.

Its biggest one yet is getting timely and necessary approval from the country’s National COVID-19 Task Force in order to host track and field meets. Only the second meet of the year was hosted on Sunday last, a stark contrast to the Association’s planned calendar that would have three meets completed by this time.

With the usual suspects standing out in Sunday’s track and field meet, AAG President Aubrey Hutson shared some of the challenges the Association is facing in trying to host enough meets and keeping them all within COVID-19 guidelines.

Leslain Baird writhes in pain after picking up an injury

AAG President Hutson, speaking exclusively with Guyana Times Sport, shared that organising events was an ongoing challenge.

“It is a challenge, we try to satisfy everybody, but you know, this sport is about ensuring that we get as many qualifiers as possible for the

Olympics,” he said.

“We continue to prepare as though we’re going to get a positive word from the Government of Guyana.

So, if we have to cancel the Saturday before, the Friday before, it’s fine, but we plan every event like it’s going to happen and hope that the Government sees the im-

portance of us having these events and support us,” Hutson stated.

The trick in the trade for the AAG is managing to provide enough meets so as to furnish athletes with adequate opportunities to qualify for the Olympics.

To this end, Hutson shared the AAG mindset when planning meets.

“We have to look at our athletes; we have to look at those that are close to getting to the Olympics and we have to fashion our events to suit them. Not that we’re not taking every athlete into consideration but our focus is primarily on the Emmanuel Archibalds, the Leslain Baird[s] and Devaun Barrington[s],” he revealed.

“Akeem Stewart – yes, he’s here, but not giving us the kind of performance we’d like to see as yet, but

FIBA Basketball World Cup, Americas Pre-Qualifier…

Guyana’s men’s national team highest-ranked in contest

T

he Guyana Basketball Federation (GABF) has been confirmed as one of the four national basketball federations that will be competing in the first round of the FIBA Basketball World Cup Americas Pre-Qualifier in the city of San Salvador, El Salvador.

The competition dates have also been confirmed as April 14-18, 2021, which is one week later than, previously communicated. The competition schedule has been adjusted to allow for the completion of the FIBA Basketball Champions League Americas (BCLA) to allow national federations to field their best teams in the first round of the FIBA Basketball World Cup – the Americas Pre-Qualifier.

The Guyana Men’s National Team (GMNT) are expected to arrive in San Salvador on April 12 and depart April 19. The competition will be played under the round-robin format and the top three teams will advance to the second round of the FIBA Basketball World Cup Americas Pre-Qualifier in July 2021.

FIBA Basketball World Cup Americas PreQualifier 1st round participating national teams

AAG President Aubrey Hutson

outside of that, we’re looking to set our programme in such a way that it can benefit these athletes.”

While disclosing that there have been calls for more meets leading up to the National Seniors, Hutson explained that the main focus was keeping the Association’s events within the COVID-19 guidelines.

“Some of our coaches are calling for another meet before we go into our National Senior Championships in April, because they said that sometimes the distance between this and what I perceive to be the second developmental meet and the next

competition way in April is a little too long,” the AAG boss further explained.

He added, “We’re trying to control the people that come into the venue, we’re pleading with our athletes to kindly wear their masks when not competing. And we’re doing as an association, everything we possibly can to ensure the sport is conducted in a safe manner and any event that we hold does not become a super-spreader event for COVID-19.”

Meanwhile on Sunday, Emmanuel Archibald clocked 10.24s and 8.07m to cop the top spots in the 100m and long jump events respectively. Devaun Barrington won the 400m sprint while Akeem Stewart did the same in the 200m.

In the female version of the 200m race, Keliza Smith crossed the finish line first.

Leslain Baird while surpassing 70m in his first javelin throw, picked up an injury in the second. The severity of his condition was still unknown up to press time. (Jemima Holmes)

GSCL Inc issues apology for breach in COVID-19 guidelines President Dr Irfaan Ali addressing the crowd

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are: • Costa Rica (CRC) • Guyana (GUY) • El Salvador (ESA) • Nicaragua (NCA) The GMNT are the highest-ranked team in this competition according to the latest FIBA World Rankings. Guyana’s highest achieved rank was 98 in late November 2020, but the team have since fallen two spots owing to the lack of international competition.

FIBA World Rankings (WR) presented by Nike: • Guyana (GUY) – WR 100 • Costa Rica (CRC) WR 106

• Nicaragua (NCA) – WR 116 • El Salvador (ESA) – WR -133 FIBA Americas Regional Office has provided the GABF with a comprehensive package outlining the requirements and deadlines for completing and uploading the required documents into the competition portal, including the Eligibility of Players; Preliminary Delegation List (maximum of 24); Team Doctor; COVID-19 Compliance Team Official; Pre-Travel PCR Test Results and Uniform Artwork to name a few.

FIBA has also communi-

cated that at its discretion, doping checks can be performed at any of the venues of the event, whether at competition venue, training venues or hotel, during competition time and the GMNT must comply with any anti-doping officer according to Article 2 of the FIBA Internal Regulations, Book 4 that oversee anti-doping rule violations.

All GMNT players are mandated to complete the WADA Whereabouts form as mandated by the GABF and the Guyana Olympic Association-National AntiDoping Organisation (GOA/ NADO).

hen the Georgetown Softball Cricket League (GSCL) Inc hosted the inaugural President’s T20 Softball Cup Finals on Sunday, March 7, 2021, the Open final came to an abrupt stop as the organisers recognised a breach in the COVID-19 guidelines.

This was after President of Guyana, His Excellency, Dr Irfaan Ali reprimanded the organisers and the spectators for their flouting of the protocols.

As such, the GSCL Inc has issued a letter of apology. In the letter, it said, “On behalf of the Executives of the Georgetown Softball Cricket League Inc, we humbly apologise for

the breaching of the COVID-19 guidelines at the finals of the inaugural President T20 Softball Cricket Tournament held on the 7th March, 2021 at the Everest Cricket Club.

The league had systems in place such as providing masks and sanitising every person upon entry, but ultimately, we had failed to completely control the situation, since it is difficult to have complete control over every individual and as such, we accept full responsibility. We are terribly sorry and once again humbly apologise. We do look forward to a continued working relationship.”

Meanwhile, the Everest Cricket Club has been closed for sanitising and to put more COVID-19 measures in place.

TUESDAY, MARCH 9, 2021

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

AAG contemplating more meets

Roy’s Pharmacy / Hope Coconut Industries golf tournament…

The winners pose with their trophies

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Emmanuel Archibald was on top in all his events

Watkins adjudged overall winner

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GSCL Inc President Ian John also issued a public apology at the event

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…Baird picks up injury, Archibald shows consistency

FIBA Basketball World Cup, Americas Pre-Qualifier…

Guyana’s men’s national team highest-ranked in contest

GSCL Inc Issues apology for Breach in COVID-19 guidelines GUYANA TIMES - www.guyanatimesgy.com, email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, NEWS HOTLINE: 231-8063 EDITORIAL: 223-7230, 223-7231, 231-0544, 225-7761 SPORT: sport@guyanatimesgy.com SALES AND MARKETING: 231-8064 - marketing@guyanatimesgy.com - PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY GUYANA TIMES INC.

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