Guyana Times - Tuesday, May 3, 2022

“It’s been really hard” – mother of 10-year-old cancer patient

P14

…leaves for India today for life-changing surgery Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Issue No. 4997

guyanatimesgy.com

TUESDAY, MAY 3, 2022

PRICE

World Press Freedom Day

Media freedom is a cornerstone of democratic societies – ABCE diplomats Pages 2&7

$100 VAT INCLUDED

WHAT'S INSIDE:

P5 Armed robberies up by 300%, road fatalities by 250% – Berbice Commander

…safeguard against emerging cyber security threats – GPA urges Journalists, media houses

New firm to P16 start post-2017 cost oil audit in weeks – VP …says Govt engaged in building capacity at GRA for audits

US Ambassador Sarah-Ann Lynch

British High Commissioner Jane Miller

Canadian High Commissioner Mark European Union Ambassador, Berman Dr Fernando Ponz Cantó

Eid-Ul-Fitr

“We are created with the ability to love, to be peaceful, to be humble” – Pres Ali

Boat carrying 11 persons P9 capsizes in Essequibo River

Faulty wiring causes fire at West Ruimveldt home P10

Page 11

…as Prime Minister emphasises importance of togetherness

Students caught Guyana’s future development in selling drugs in energy sector, growth on showcase Region 9 schools Offshore Technology Conference 2022

Page 3

Page 10

…Police arrest adult suppliers of illicit substance

6 persons P8 slapped with DUI charges

2 NEWS

TUESDAY, MAY 3, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Press Freedom Day 2022

Safeguard against emerging cyber security threats – GPA urges Journalists, media houses J

ournalists and media entities around the world are transitioning to online-based outputs, leaving conventional methods behind. The Guyana Press Association (GPA) has recognised that this gives rise to cyber intrusions which can breach the right to freedom of speech.

Today, World Press Freedom Day is being observed under the theme

“Journalism Under Digital Siege.”

The Association, in its statement, shared that this theme is appropriate with the emergence of more online-based media and the transition to or convergence of conventional media to social media platforms.

However, this undoubtedly exposes these media to inherent threats to their Information Technology systems.

“We refer, here, to costly and destructive intrusions by Ransomware and Spyware. These pose the severe risk of threatening the financial and technological existence of media houses. Ultimately, this affects the public at large which the media serves and thus can affect the freedom of expression which is a fundamental human right,” the GPA penned.

Taking this into consideration, journalists and media houses have been charged to take all necessary steps to guard and insulate themselves against such threats.

“No longer do State intelligence gathering agents have to monitor journalists and media houses around the world by their physical presence. These can be done using spyware to ascertain journalists’ sources and so impose sanctions and take other actions against those sources and journalists themselves. Take note that the Cyber Crime Act criminalises the transmission of certain information by electronic means, hence our concern.”

Journalists have been advised to be wary of what they download and from which sources on their mobile phones and other electronic devices as such acts can potentially install spyware that can access their information and contacts.

“Additionally, media houses should of necessity take the requisite action to minimise the surveillance and monitoring of their work in violation of the freedom to receive and impart ideas,” said the organisation.

On the other hand, the Association of Caribbean Media Workers (ACM) also shared that this year’s theme casts a global spotlight on the security of journalists in pursuit of their professional commitments.

“Often, when media workers speak of security, we refer to physical security under hostile conditions.

These may include such as coups d’etat, violent protests, and terrorist activities. While not diminishing the significance of these, media workers and particularly journalists are increasingly falling prey to cybersecurity threats,” the regional entity recognised.

Threats coming from cyber breaches, can ultimately lead to physical harm of journalists, their sources, and the damage or destruction of their Information Technology (IT) devices and infrastructure.

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NEWS

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TUESDAY, MAY 3, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Offshore Technology Conference 2022

BRIDGE OPENINGS OPENINGS BRIDGE

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

Tuesday, May 3 – 03:30h – 05:00h and Wednesday, May 4 – 04:00h – 05:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Tuesday, May 3 – 05:05h – 06:35h and Wednesday, May 4 – 05:30h – 07:00h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY

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

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

High Tide: 18:01h reaching a maximum height of 2.54 metres.

Low Tide: 11:36h and 23:45h reaching minimum heights of 0.52 metre and 0.72 metre.

SATURDAY, APRIL 30, 2022

LOTTERY NUMBERS H

01 05 09

11 15 19

FREE TICKET

28 Bonus Ball

DAILY MILLIONS

06 10 16 18 21 LUCKY 3

3

6

3

8

Afternoon Draw

1

7

Evening Draw

DRAW DE LINE

03 09 12 15 19 20 21 SUPER

PAY DAY

PAY DAY

FRIDAY, APRIL 22, 2022

05 10 11 12 17

08 13 14 16 19

13

1

2 Afternoon Draw

3X Afternoon Draw

4

3 Evening Draw

5X Evening Draw

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

$109.36/barrel

+0.02

Rough Rice

$310.86/ton

+0.58

London Sugar

$529.40/ton

0.00

Live Spot Gold

USD Per Ounce

Bid/Ask

$1865.80

$1866.80

Low/High Change

$1853.70 +2.40

$1888.80 +0.13%

Guyana’s future development in energy sector, growth on showcase …as high-level Govt, Private Sector delegation participates in Texas conference

G

uyana, which has fielded a high-level delegation of public and Private Sector officials to the Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) 2022 in Houston, Texas, United States of America (USA), is presently the highlight of the conference.

This was revealed by the Natural Resources Ministry, as subject Minister Vickram Bharrat is leading a delegation from his Ministry at the OTC. It was explained that the efforts of the Guyana Office for Investment (GOInvest) and other participating Guyanese Private Sector delegates, were instrumental for allowing greater networking and partnerships.

Further, the Natural Resources Ministry statement said that it is “encouraged by the participation at the technical forums, as the Guyana team will highlight the future development of our energy sector and growth of our local industries through local content mechanisms. Guyana is once again, the highlight of OTC,” the Ministry said.

Also in attendance at OTC are Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo; Chief Investment Officer of GOInvest, Dr Peter Ramsaroop; Chairman of the Private Sector Commission (PSC), Paul Cheong; Chairman of PSC’s Local Content Advisory Group, and Vice President of the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham), Shyam Nokta.

Other Private Sector figures include President of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce & Industry (GCCI), Timothy Tucker; Energy Advisor, Manniram Prashad; Director of Guyana Oil & Gas Support Services, Nicholas Boyer-Deygoo and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Gaico Construction Inc, Komal Singh.

US Ambassador to Guyana, Sarah-Ann Lynch; Deputy Chief of Mission for Guyana’s Embassy in Washington DC, Zulfikar Ally; Senior Petroleum Coordinator, Bobby Gossai and Director of the Local Content Secretariat, Martin Pertab and Member of Parliament Sanjeev Datadin also attended the conference.

OTC provides access to leading-edge technical information, the industry’s largest equipment exhibition, and valuable new professional contacts from around the world. The event, which is being held at the NRG Park during May 2-5, will see energy professionals meeting to exchange ideas and opinions to advance scientific and technical knowledge for offshore resources.

In Guyana, there have so far been 31 commercial oil finds in the Stabroek Block, which is being developed by oil giant ExxonMobil

Minister Vickram Bharrat; GO-Invest CEO, Dr Peter Ramsaroop; US Ambassador to Guyana, SarahAnn Lynch and GOGEC President Manniram Prashad at the opening of the Guyana booth in Houston, Texas

through its subsidiary, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL).

ExxonMobil has four projects developing the recoverable resource offshore Guyana. The Liza Phase 1 is currently producing approximately 130,000 barrels per day utilising the Liza Destiny floating produc-

tion storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel.

The Liza Phase 2 is meanwhile ramping up towards its capacity of 220,000 barrels per day using the Liza Unity FPSO. The third project, Payara, is scheduled to begin production at the end of 2023 with a capacity of 220,000 barrels

per day from the Prosperity FPSO, which is currently under construction in Singapore. The fourth project, Yellowtail, is expected to produce 250,000 barrels per day when the One Guyana FPSO comes online in 2025.

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guyanatimesgy.com

TUESDAY, MAY 3, 2022

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

Press Freedom Day: "Journalism Under Digital Siege”

T

oday Guyana joins the rest of the world in observing World Press Freedom Day themed "Journalism Under Digital Siege.”

This theme is indeed most fitting given the rise of online media along with conventional media houses captivating and utilising the many social media platforms. This transition and transformation have now opened the door for media houses to be intruded by intentional dangerous hacking software which can threaten the entire existence of a media house.

It is no surprise, therefore, that the Guyana Press Association has called on media houses and Journalists to take all the “necessary steps to guard” and insulate themselves against such threats as spyware.

To quote the Press Association’s message: “…media houses should of necessity take the requisite action to minimise the surveillance and monitoring of their work in violation of the freedom to receive and impart ideas.”

However, such threats in today’s context do not only breach the security of the media entities, but can also lead to the physical harm of Journalists and their sources.

It is the Association of Caribbean Media Workers which said: “The environment within which Journalists in the Caribbean operate is becoming increasingly perilous. Even so, many countries have already enacted legislation to intercept communication and counter what they regard as cybercrime.

There is evidence to support the view that cybercrime legislation can become abused and become problematic in the context of the preservation of free expression…with most media and Journalists having an online presence, media enterprises have become acutely aware of some inherent vulnerabilities. These include exposure to hackers whose sole objective is to destroy channels that offend the public or private status quo and so inhibit the free flow of the truth to the wider public.”

In the context of Guyana, under the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government, there was a huge debate when the then David Grangerled Government made a backway step and pushed ahead with Section 18 (1) of the cybercrime legislation. This section speaks to charging persons utilising cyberspace to register their dissatisfaction with the Government of the day. Section 18 (1) states: “A person commits an offence of sedition if the person, whether in or out of Guyana, intentionally publishes, transmits or circulates by use of a computer system or any other means, a statement or words, either spoken or written, a text, video, image, sign, visible representation, or other thing that brings or attempts to bring into hatred or contempt, or excites or attempts to excite disaffection towards the Government established by law in Guyana; advocates the use, without authority of law, of force as a means of accomplishing a governmental change within Guyana”, among other things.

It could be recalled that the then AG Basil Williams first read the Bill on August 4, 2016, and it was sent to a Special Select Committee, where it stayed for two years and was then sent back to the National Assembly unchanged. The contents created quite an uproar then and continue to create that uproar among the media as freedom of expression was being stifled by the legislation. Locally and around the world, the media has a crucial responsibility to act as a watchdog to protect public interest against malpractice and to create public awareness. As the fourth estate, exchangeable with the fourth pillar of democracy, the media’s role is to act against injustice, oppression, transgressions and prejudice in society.

Freedoms that Guyanese have come to enjoy over time did not come easy. Some, unfortunately, paid with their lives in the struggles for their attainment.

We welcomed the World Press Freedom Day message by the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and European Union diplomats in Guyana, when they said in a joint statement: “World Press Freedom Day gives us an opportunity to acknowledge the significant work of Journalists, remind ourselves of the fundamental principles of press freedom and assess the current state of press freedom, locally and around the world…we recognise that media freedom is a cornerstone of democratic societies and essential to the protection of human rights, fundamental freedoms and universal values anchored in the Universal Declaration for Human Rights.”

President Dr Irfaan Ali and First Lady Arya Ali joined in the festive celebrations of Eid-Ul-Fitr (Office of the President photo)

Ukraine: From breadbasket to breadcrumbs

By Gabriela Bucher

Executive Director of Oxfam International

A

mother in Somalia skips another meal so her children can eat. A father in Syria works for 13 hours but still cannot afford enough food for his family. A father in Niger sees his children go to sleep hungry.

Food prices, already rising from the pandemic, have skyrocketed because of the war in Ukraine; the World Bank estimating a shocking 37 per cent rise. The price of wheat soared 80 per cent between April 2020 and December 2021. In Syria, food prices have doubled in the last year.

The world was already rife with hunger before COVID-19 struck. In 2020, up to 811 million people – nearly one in 10 people – did not have enough food. And now the world is hurtling towards an unprecedented hunger crisis.

Many poorer countries are unable – and are too often made unable by an unequal global food system – to produce enough food to feed their people. They must rely on food imports. The reason is simple: crops are difficult to grow. The reasons for this are less simple: man-made climate breakdown is intensifying floods and droughts, locusts are ravaging crops, conflicts are destroying farmland and infrastructure, and people simply do not have enough money to buy seeds and equipment to grow crops.

Moreover, half of crops globally are now used to pro-

duce biofuels, animal feed and other products, like textiles. Many of these crops are monoculture, growing only one type of crop which destroys biodiversity and pulls nutrients from the soil.

Not only is valuable farming land being used to grow crops not for food, but also the type of farming used damages the environment and results in fewer crops in the long term.

The reliance on food imports creates extreme vulnerability to external shocks.

Nearly half of African countries import more than a third of their wheat from Russia and Ukraine.

Fifteen countries, including Lebanon, Egypt and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, import more than half their share. Nearly all of Somalia’s wheat, where the worst drought in over 40 years has left millions facing famine-like conditions, comes from Russia and Ukraine.

And so rising and fluctuating food prices have hit vulnerable countries like a sledgehammer. Forty-two per cent of Yemen’s wheat was shipped from Ukraine in the three months from December 20, 2021 to March 6, 2022, according to a shipping source consulted by Oxfam. A week after the war in Ukraine started, wheat prices in war-torn Yemen increased by 24 per cent. The United Nations has said the country’s already dire hunger crisis is “teetering on the edge of outright catastrophe”. Lesson learned: dependency is dangerous.

Insanity is repeating the same mistakes and ex-

pecting different results.

Advocates of large-scale, intensive industrial agriculture are saying, yet again, that we should ramp up global production. But this is not the solution. The world’s farmers produce enough food to feed the global population, and in recent years, the world has witnessed record harvests of grain production. The main problem is access to food, not availability. We need systemic change, not a short-term fix.

Governments tried to take short-cuts during the global 2007 – 2008 global food crisis which saw wheat and rice prices nearly double, pushing 100 million people into poverty, and by 2009 over one billion into hunger.

The policy responses were either one-off, short-term initiatives or focused on the wrong target – increased production and investment in the private sector. These measures did nothing but plaster over the already existing cracks in the global food system, a system that is unsustainable for people and the planet.

We need to recognise that the underlying causes of hunger lie in extreme inequality.

Immediately, governments must urgently bridge the gap between what people can afford and the price of the food they need. More funds are needed to deliver aid to people facing severe hunger across the world. Most importantly, donor governments should not raid aid budgets earmarked for crises in poor countries to pay for the new costs of Ukrainian support.

Denmark has already cut their funding to Mali, Syria

and Bangladesh. Sweden has followed suit. No life is more valuable than another. Rich countries rightfully spent trillions of dollars to save their economies from the impact of the pandemic. A mere fraction of that is needed to make sure people around the world can put food on the table. But governments must go much further. That means investing in a sustainable future for all, in which small-scale family farming plays a key role.

Small-scale family farms feed one-third of the world’s population, and in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa they provide more than 70 per cent of the food supply. If these farmers had more access to land, water, funding, infrastructure and markets, and their rights protected, they could produce much more food. They could drastically reduce poverty and hunger. That means, vitally, addressing the unequal climate crisis in which the poorest people and smallscale farmers who did the least to cause the crisis suffer the most at the expense of the over-consumption of the one per cent. And it means addressing extreme land inequality – including guaranteeing women smallholder farmers land rights.

These are all things governments can – and should – urgently do. Hunger is unacceptable in the 21st century. To witness millions a step away from famine in a world of plenty, in a world where billionaire wealth has exploded, is an abomination. Only the right political choices can end hunger.

(Al Jazeera)

guyanatimesgy.com

TUESDAY, MAY 3, 2022

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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

Let's talk about NIS

GIRMIT: The Indian Indentured Agreement (“Agreement”, pronounced “Girmit”

by Fijian Indentureds, led to the indentured Indians and their descendants naming themselves as “Girmitiyas or “People of the Agreement”)

I

ndian indenture began in 1834 to Mauritius and in 1838 was extended to British Guiana upon application by the planter John Gladstone, owner of Pln Vreed-en-Hoop, WCD.

As with earlier European indentured contracts, the period of service; wages and terms of employment were spelled out as well as the benefit offered at the end of the contract, here a return trip to India.

The pertinent terms were: Period of Service: Five years.

Nature of labour: Work in fields, factory or any other labour in plantations.

Number of days work weekly: Every day except Sunday or authorised holidays.

Number of hours per day: 7 hours in fields or 10 hours in factory. (In reality it was from 6am to 6pm in the fields) Wages: Adult males: 1 shilling daily; females and children under 16, 8 pence (1/4 shilling) daily.

(This wage was unchanged through indentureship) Return passage: After continuous residence of ten years, the immigrant was entitled to a return trip to India. (This was worth $60) Other: food was provided for first 3 months and wages deducted to defray cost. Lodging in logies, and hospitals for the sick were to be provided.

The most important condition - that they could be prosecuted criminally (jailed and fined) for breaches of the civil contract - was not mentioned.

DID YOU KNOW?

Very few of the immigrants were literate and as such were affixing their thumbprint or mark to a legal document that “bound” them for five years on sufferance of being jailed for its slightest violation.

The hours of the “Girmit” were never observed by the planters and were invariably at best from 6am (dayclean) to 6pm (sundown) because Girmitiyas had to complete specified “tasks” - pronounced “Tass”.

Dear Editor, The National Insurance Scheme or NIS is a largescale systematic plan or arrangement put in place to attaining a particular good.

That good is for a worker at the twilight years of his existence to go and gain remuneration for his continued sustenance on this earth. It is a noble scheme that has helped countless workers over the years, and I salute the scheme.

Now, the workings of this institution entail a weekly or monthly contribution into the fund that would redound to the contributor's own benefit at the end of his working life. Another important point to note, is that monies

paid into the fund is insulated by the security mechanisms of the State, which simply means that the NIS cannot go bankrupt. There is the fundamental principle laid down, that the State must ensure that monies deposited there must be available for payout to the worker irrespective of whether things go bad in the country; the worker is guaranteed of an income at the end of his active work life.

The PNC, through its economically backward instrumentalities, thought it best to sack thousands of workers, which in essence weakened the NIS at its very core. The sacking of those workers meant that

the systematic contributions of those workers was wiped out. During those five years of PNC rampage, the tenor of regular and scheduled income generation to the NIS was eroded.

But instead of accepting their fault they have accentuated it by saying it is Jagdeo's fault for investing part of the NIS in the Berbice Bridge. They did not stop to think that it was as a direct result of the sound investment in the Berbice Bridge that The NIS is still receiving dividends in its investment, and for which the fund is still made buoyant. Left to their narrow and myopic view of the NIS we would be bankrupt by now.

I am saying neither is the NIS an almshouse, as the PNC would want to make it, that is, an institution left to the "generous" contributions of "kind-hearted" individuals, or the infilling of the crumbs that might occasionally fall from the tables of the rich, far from it! The NIS is the result of deliberate and systematic contributions of the working public and purposeful investment.

Overall, this principled economic approach is even upheld by the credit unions.

So, I am aghast at this foolishness coming from the PNC. Respectfully, Neil Adams

The Rose Hall Airport

Dear Editor, The Guyana Government recently announced some major development plans for Region 6. These include the building of: hotels, a stadium, a private hospital, a deep- water harbour and a Eugene F. Correia-sized International Airport. These are all very interesting plans and I wish them every success. Of note, is that except for the building of the airport at the Rose Hall Sugar Estate, these ventures will all be undertaken by private investors. This airport will have to be built by the Government, using the taxpayers’ money.

In November, 2001, Trans Guyana Airways launched scheduled, Tuesday and Thursday flights between Ogle and Rose Hall. The morning flights left Ogle at 06:45h and Rose Hall at 07:15h.

The return flights left Ogle at 15:45h, arriving at Rose Hall at 16:15h, with the aircraft returning to Ogle at 16:45 hrs. These Ogle/Rose Hall flights did not continue for a long period as there was a lack of customers using the service, making it unprofitable, even though the costs were $4,500 for a one-way ticket and $8,000 for a return ticket.

Building a Eugene F. Correia-sized and type of airport is a major investment which needs careful consideration. This needs to start with a feasibility

study, especially as a major, local, private airline has already tried and discontinued this route. Further, the Government needs to have pivotal discussions with the aircraft operators at the Eugene F. Correia airport. This will give the Government insight as to what makes this airport a success and if this success can be replicated at Rose Hall.

The president of the Berbice Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Ryan Alexander, is quoted as saying, “If you do a survey of Guyanese travelling back and forth from North America, you would see that a large percentage is from Berbice. They have long complained about the distance and the traffic buildup in and out. (So for) East and West Berbice residents, we see that as one of the options of reducing (travel) time into Guyana and our ease of travelling. We are happy for this type of infrastructure which would see a free flow not only for us but investors and (other) business persons. They can fly in, be at the area and make decisions and be back out without this long travel to get back to their destination.

This would open up gates, doors, and avenues for the world to zoom in on Region 6 (in Guyana),” This comment clearly indicates that no survey or feasibility study has been done. Therefore no one

knows how many international travellers will be expected to use this airport.

Additionally, no one knows how many airlines will be willing to use this facility.

However, we do know that this type/size of airport cannot facilitate the larger aircraft which will be used on the longer routes, eg New York, London, Canada. For international travel, the time taken to switch to/from smaller planes at the Cheddie Jagan International Airport (CJIA) and fly to/from The Rose Hall Airport must be compared to the length of the drive from the CJIA to/from Berbice. Local travel be-

tween The Rose Hall Airport and The Eugene F. Correia Airport (including the time for pre- and post-flight procedures) must be compared to the driving time between Berbice and Georgetown (approximately ninety minutes).

Should the airport prove not to be feasible, perhaps the money should be spent building a 4 lane highway with a speed limit of 100km/ hr from Georgetown to the Berbice River Bridge. That will certainly reduce the present driving time for the trip.

Respectfully, Jonathan Yearwood

Tuesday, May 3, 2022

06:00 06:30 07:00 08:00 08:30 09:00 10:00 11:00 11:30 12:00 13:30 14:00 14:30 15:00 16:00 17:00 18:00 18:30 19:00 20:00 20:30 21:00 22:00 23:00

00:00

(Sign on) Inspirational Time Cartoons Evening News (RB) Stay Woke Pioneer Woman National Geographic House Hunter Renovation Paternity Court Divorce Court Movie - Black Beauty (1994) Wheel of Fortune The Thundermans S2 E11 The Evermoor Chronicles S1 E8 Indian Soaps Lost in Space S2 E9 The Young & The Restless CNN Teaching the Truth in Love The Evening News Stop Suffering For Better or Worse S5 E6 Dynasty S1 E19 Blacklist S5 E4 The Vampire Diaries S5 E1

Sign off

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TUESDAY, MAY 3, 2022

Page

Foundation ◄

Magic bending water

I

n this fun and easy science experiment for kids, we are going to explore static electricity and use it to make water move and appear to bend.

Materials:

Plastic hair comb Faucet with running water

Instructions:

Run the plastic comb through your hair several times.

Next, hold the comb near a small running stream of water from a sink faucet.

Observe what happens to the stream of water.

Note: The lower the humidity, the

better this experiment will work.

How it works: As the plastic comb moves through hair, it builds up a negative charge.

Things that have a negative charge attract things that have a positive charge. The two hydrogen atoms of water have a positive charge. Due the liquid nature of water, the hydrogen atoms are able to move freely and are able to attract or “bend” and move toward the negatively charged plastic hair comb.

Re-enter ARIEL, invisible, playing and singing; FERDINAND following ARIEL'S song.

Come unto these yellow sands, And then take hands: Courtsied when you have and kiss'd The wild waves whist, Foot it featly here and there; And, sweet sprites, the burthen bear.

Hark, hark!

Burthen [dispersedly, within The watch-dogs bark!

Burthen Bow-wow

23.82

2.382

Hark, hark! I hear The strain of strutting chanticleer Cry, Cock-a-diddle-dow.

FERDINAND Where should this music be? i' the air or the earth?

It sounds no more: and sure, it waits upon Some god o' the island. Sitting on a bank, Weeping again the king my father's wreck, This music crept by me upon the waters, Allaying both their fury and my passion With its sweet air: thence I have follow'd it, Or it hath drawn me rather. But 'tis gone.

behave

Make this a science project:

Try different liquids. Are you able to negatively charge other items like a balloon, piece of PVC pipe, piece of Styrofoam, etc. Test to see if different

The Tempest CONTINUED FROM MONDAY

temperatures of water differently. (sciencefun.org)

No, it begins again.

ARIEL sings Full fathom five thy father lies; Of his bones are coral made; Those are pearls that were his eyes: Nothing of him that doth fade But doth suffer a sea-change Into something rich and strange.

Sea-nymphs hourly ring his knell Burthen Ding-dong Hark! now I hear them,--Ding-dong, bell.

FERDINAND The ditty does remember my drown'd father.

This is no mortal business, nor no sound That the earth owes.

I hear it now above me.

PROSPERO The fringed curtains of thine eye advance And say what thou seest yond.

MIRANDA What is't? a spirit?

Lord, how it looks about! Believe me, sir, It carries a brave form. But 'tis a spirit.

PROSPERO No, wench; it eats and sleeps and hath such senses As we have, such. This

“You are always a student, never a master.

You have to keep moving forward” – Conrad Hall

gallant which thou seest Was in the wreck; and, but he's something stain'd With grief that's beauty's canker, thou mightst call him A goodly person: he hath lost his fellows And strays about to find 'em.

MIRANDA I might call him A thing divine, for nothing natural I ever saw so noble.

PROSPERO [Aside] It goes on, I see, As my soul prompts it.

Spirit, fine spirit! I'll free thee Within two days for this.

FERDINAND Most sure, the goddess On whom these airs attend! Vouchsafe my prayer May know if you remain upon this island; And that you will some good instruction give How I may bear me here: my prime request, Which I do last pronounce, is, O you wonder!

If you be maid or no?

MIRANDA No wonder, sir; But certainly a maid.

FERDINAND My language! heavens!

I am the best of them that speak this speech, Were I but where 'tis spoken.

PROSPERO How? the best?

What wert thou, if the King of Naples heard thee?

FERDINAND A single thing, as I am now, that wonders To hear thee speak of Naples. He does hear me; And that he does I weep: myself am Naples, Who with mine eyes, never since at ebb, beheld The king my father wreck'd.

MIRANDA Alack, for mercy!

FERDINAND Yes, faith, and all his lords; the Duke of Milan And his brave son being twain.

PROSPERO [Aside] The Duke of Milan And his more braver daughter could control thee, If now 'twere fit to do't. At the first sight They have changed eyes. Delicate Ariel, I'll set thee free for this.

To FERDINAND A word, good sir; I fear you have done yourself some wrong: a word.

MIRANDA Why speaks my father so ungently? This Is the third man that e'er I saw, the first That e'er I sigh'd for: pity move my father To be inclined my way!

WORD SEARCH

NEWS

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TUESDAY, MAY 3, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

World Press Freedom Day

Media freedom is a cornerstone of democratic societies – ABCE diplomats …emphasise importance of protecting, facilitating media

US Ambassador Sarah-Ann Lynch

T

oday is World Press Freedom Day and the ABCE diplomats (United States, United Kingdom, Canada and European Union) have taken the opportunity to hail the important role the media plays in Guyana, while urging greater protection and facilitation for them.

The Head of Mission of the US Embassy, Ambassador SarahAnn Lynch; British High Commissioner Jane Miller; Canadian High Commissioner Mark Berman, and European Union Ambassador Dr Fernando Ponz Cantó, joined to observe World Press Freedom Day under the theme, “Journalism under Digital Siege.”

“World Press Freedom Day gives us an opportunity to acknowledge the significant work of journalists, remind ourselves of the fundamental principles of press freedom and assess the current state of press freedom locally and around the world,” the Heads of Mission said in a state-

British High Commissioner Jane Miller

ment.

“We recognise that media freedom is a cornerstone of democratic societies and essential to the protection of human rights, fundamental freedoms and universal values anchored in the Universal Declaration for Human Rights.”

According to the diplomats, media plays an essential role in societies by defending and advancing the truth and amplifying the voices of the public.

The diplomats noted that this has been particularly evident in Guyana.

“Journalists have been at the forefront in times of danger in Guyana, including during incidents such as fires and flooding and they tell the heart-breaking stories of women and families who have been victims of domestic violence.”

“Members of the media are a key source of information on national topics such as Guyana’s rapid development, while at the same time holding government, opposition, parliamentarians and others account-

able,” they further said.

With Guyana’s resource estimate for oil nearing 11 billion barrels and ExxonMobil’s anticipation of at least six projects offshore Guyana going online by 2027, the diplomats made it clear that it has never been more important than now for the media to play its part when it comes to accountability.

“Press attention to accountability has never been more important in Guyana with a historically large revenue stream entering government coffers and a regularly stated intent to use those resources for a development agenda that cuts across all regions and races. There is also a larger principle at stake that strong democracies require free information flow in the public marketplace of opinions and ideas. As inconvenient as criticism can be to government officials and other leaders, it is an essential part of the democratic cacophony.”

“For example, throughout the COVID-19 pandem-

Canadian High Commissioner Mark Berman

ic, the media has helped to keep societies updated about developments with the pandemic, to learn of best practices to prevent the spread of the virus and importantly to counter false or misleading information,” they said.

With matters of life and the quality of life in the balance, the diplomats emphasised that journalists must be allowed to report facts freely without attacks and acts of intimidation or censorship.

This is particularly since the capacity to speak truth is constantly under attack around the world.

Media freedom also requires freedom from all forms of undue influence

European Union Ambassador, Dr Fernando Ponz Cantó

or pressure, be it political, economic or financial, so that they can report independently and objectively.

“The abuse and harassment of journalists while doing their jobs must also not be tolerated. Female journalists and members of the LGBTQ community are often victims of inappropriate comments and sexual harassment and that must end,” the diplomats said.

“In a time where journalists are increasingly using a digital space, it is clear that bold action is needed from governments to acknowledge and address the evolving media environment. As the media continues to transform

locally, the presence and voice of the Guyana Press Association is even more important.”

According to the diplomats, it also bodes well that Guyana is a member of the Media Freedom Coalition, a cross-regional collaboration involving 52 countries that focus on freedom of the press advocacy.

“We thank journalists in Guyana for their continuous work which has not only informed but uplifted the voices of communities and we commit to continuing to support the local media and the fundamental principles of press freedom,” the diplomats said.

(G3)

8 NEWS

TUESDAY, MAY 3, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

6 persons slapped with DUI charges

Same ole…

Kaeron Thomas

P

Carlos Billey

olice traffic ranks arrested and charged six men during the past week for driving while they were above the prescribed alcohol limit. These alleged law breakers will be arraigned during this month at Magistrate’s Courts along the East Coast of Demerara (ECD).

Charged are Kaeron Thomas, 39, of Second Street, Montrose, ECD; Carlos Billey, 49, of Sideline Dam Beterverwagting, ECD; 33-year-old Andy Sugrim of Rebecca Rust, Mahaicony,

Andy Sugrim

ECD; Mahendra Arjune, a 27-year-old of Haslington, ECD; 24-year-old Jermaine Vasconcellos of Middle Street, Buxton, ECD; and Adrian Ramdeo, 55, of Lusignan, ECD. Driving while above the prescribed alcohol limit attracts a charge for the offence of driving under the influence (DUI) which carries a fine. Persons can be charged for this traffic violation if, when tested, their blood alcohol content is found to exceed the prescribed limit of 35 micrograms of alcohol in 100 mil-

Mahendra Arjune

Jermaine Vasconcellos

lilitres of breath, and their blood alcohol concentration exceeds 80 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood.

The Guyana Police Force (GPF) has launched countrywide campaigns aimed at encouraging drivers to practise safe road use.

At one such campaign on the Beterverwagting Public Road, ECD drivers were lectured on the road safety theme “Arrive Alive, Stop Speeding, Don’t Drink & Drive”; obeying traffic officials, signs and functions of the traffic light; adher-

Adrian Ramdeo

ence to the speed limits and maintenance of motor vehicles.

They were also advised against using handheld devices while driving and driving a vehicle under the influence of alcohol. Drivers were also told to ensure that their driver’s licence and other documents are up to date before using a motor vehicle.

Police statistics show that driving under the influence of alcohol and excessive speeding are the leading causes of accidents in Guyana. (G1)

Y

…trade union rigmarole our Eyewitness wonders if when the Dodo was becoming extinct it did all sorts of crazy things.

No…he doesn’t have too much time on his hands to be wondering idly about things!! The thought came to him at the goings-on by the Guyanese Trade Unions on their special day - Labour Day! These guys are gonna be extinct pretty soon if they continue down the crazy road they’re marching in their red shirts. Didn’t the 7000 fired sugar workers send a message to these unions?? They really believe they’ll be getting back their old numbers?

Let’s face it if they won’t. The new economy that’s evolving ain’t gonna be unionised like sugar or bauxite for most of its employees. The infrastructural work in the next decade that’ll burn up billions gushing from oil will use ad-hoc work forces!! Even though it may be rational to accept that “there’s strength in numbers”, those workers will reject the regimented approach that came out of the sugar culture. They’re gonna be a new breed of “blue collar” workers – which sugar workers never were in any case. They were the last victims of the mentality that came out of slavery and Indentureship… authoritarian rule by managers and unionists!

But back to the May Day commemorations. It was worse than your Eyewitness had predicted yesterday and it appeared the unions were sending out “Mayday” signals rather than May Day “solidarity forever” bonhomie!! The TUC and FITUG, the two “Umbrella” organisations, didn’t even bother to show up at the same spot to then march on to separate venues for their speeches. Even that transitory “unity” was trampled as they demonstrated they’d made a conscious effort to show they’re divided by starting out from their different venues by gathering at THE locales this year. Not even a genuflection to Unity!

But that didn’t stop them from continuously bemoaning the “lack of unity”!! From the number of times this phrase was used, you’d NEVER think they were talking about themselves!! Did they even make an EFFORT to show unity for one day of the year? Over at Critchlow Labour College, the TUC came out to be addressed by the Leader of the PNC/Opposition and other Trade Union leaders, who’ve made it clear they ain’t gonna hide their political loyalty under no fig leaves! No mo’!

In the meantime, Pres Ali pulled off a stunner when he invited all trade union leaders to break bread on May Day with he and some Ministers!! At least, he was able to bring a modicum of unity when even the GPSU showed up with GAWU, NAACIE, GLU, and CCWU. Maybe he should be Honorary President of all unions? …rhetoric from PNC unions For some (good) reasons, FITUG is seen as aligned to the PPP. But this May Day, they flagellated them for not following through on their minimum wage commitment!! Since last year the Ministry of Labour’s National Tripartite Committee (NTC) had agreed to up the minimum wage from the current $44,200 to $60,000.

But since then,…. silence!! In the meantime, the cost of living has skyrocketed with the double whammy of COVID-19 and the Ukraine War!! Even the $60,000 wage is now passé.

But over at the TUC gathering at the CLC…it was the same ole, same ole. Screaming at the PPP Govt for everything under the sun!! You could be forgiven for thinking you were on the homestretch of a tightly contested political campaign. And it wasn’t only the PNC leader who harangued the gathering ,but a slew of his (handpicked) team he’s desperately trying to promote.

Luckily, the workers who’d marched into the CLC had the good sense to depart once the speechifying began!! …road slaughter In our mudland, nowadays, there are two constants in the news – road accidents and violence against women.

And looks like we just don’t have the will – political and otherwise – to get a grip on the carnage.

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

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

NEWS

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TUESDAY, MAY 3, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Guyana’s future development...

Boat carrying 11 persons capsizes in Essequibo River

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leven persons were en route to Fort Island on Monday, when the boat in which they were travelling capsized in the Essequibo River.

Guyana Times was informed that all of the passengers and the boat captain – accounting for the 11 persons – made it safely to shore after the traumatic incident unfolded.

Based on reports, the boat was chartered from Leguan to transport the persons to Fort Island for an outing. It picked up a few persons from the Parika Ferry Stelling, East Bank Essequibo, before embarking on the journey.

A few minutes into the ride, the boat captain reportedly attempted to clear a wave and misfortune struck when the small vessel capsized. Everyone on board survived after assistance was deployed but were traumatised from the unfortunate event.

This publication un-

derstands that the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) is aware of the incident.

This is the latest of boat mishap incidents to be reported in recent time. On Friday, a vessel capsized and sank in the Canje River. At the time of the incident, the vessel was reportedly tied to a punt.

The body of 29-yearold Richard John of Mimi Dam Angoy’s Avenue, New Amsterdam, who went missing when the boat submerged, was on Sunday pulled from the river. The search is still on for Shellon Williamson, a 27-year-old mother of three who was in the vessel.

The captain and his two brothers were able to swim to safety and after realising that Williamson was left behind, the now dead man returned to the boat but was not seen until his lifeless body was discovered floating some 34 hours later.

Meanwhile, an unidentified miner has been feared dead following a boat mishap at Gatie Falls, Semang Creek, Middle Mazaruni River, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), on Saturday. He was one of six men who departed Long Island, Middle Mazaruni River, and travelled to Semang Creek.

Upon arriving at the location, they stopped at Semang Landing and later continued their journey.

Police stated that sometime after leaving the landing, the captain experienced a problem with his leg and as such, one of the occupants took control of the vessel. It was reported that whilst navigating the boat in the vicinity of Gatie Falls, the boat’s engine collided with a rock. As a result, the occupants were thrown overboard. Five of the men managed to swim to shore but the sixth did not surface. (G12)

Safeguard against emerging...

“The environment within which journalists in the Caribbean operate is becoming increasingly perilous.

Even so, many countries have already enacted legislation to intercept communication and counter what they regard as cybercrime.

There is evidence to support the view that cybercrime legislation can become abused and become problematic in the context of the preservation of free expression.”

In a number of Caribbean countries, state entities

have been accused of acquiring spyware that can access digital communication and undermine privacy and other rights. The ACM has asked Caribbean governments and their domestic allied institutions to take all necessary steps to ensure that journalists are not targeted with the intention of revealing the identity of confidential sources.

ACM further detailed, “With most media and journalists having an online presence, media enterprises

FROM PAGE 2

have become acutely aware of some inherent vulnerabilities. These include exposure to hackers whose sole objective is to destroy channels that offend the public or private status quo and so inhibit the free flow of the truth to the wider public.”

The Association has pledged to treat the matter of cyber security and journalism with utmost priority in conjunction with state and non-state actors as well as international affiliates.

(G12)

FROM PAGE 3

A section of Guyana’s delegates at the OTC conference in Texas

Only recently, Exxon had announced finding oil at three sites - the Barreleye, Patwa-1, and Lukanani-1 wells offshore Guyana in the Stabroek Block. The three discoveries are southeast of the Liza and Payara developments and bring to five the discoveries made

by Exxon in Guyana for the year.

It was explained that the Barreleye-1 well encountered approximately 230 feet (70 metres) of hydro-

carbon-bearing sandstone and was drilled in 3840 feet (1170 metres) of water. The second well, Patwa-1, encountered 108 feet (33 metres) of hydrocarbon-bearing sandstone and was drilled in 6315 feet (1925 metres) of water.

Meanwhile, the Lukanani-1 well encountered 115 feet (35 metres) of hydrocarbon-bearing sandstone and was drilled at a water depth of 4068 feet (1240 metres). Operations,

it was explained, are ongoing at both Barreleye-1 and Lukanani-1.

The oil rich Stabroek Block is 6.6 million acres (26,800 square kilometres).

EEPGL is the operator and holds 45 per cent interest in the block. Hess Guyana Exploration Ltd holds 30 per cent interest, and CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of CNOOC Limited, holds the remaining 25 per cent interest.

10 NEWS

TUESDAY, MAY 3, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Faulty wiring causes fire Students caught selling at West Ruimveldt home drugs in Region 9 schools …Police arrest adult suppliers of illicit substance

I

The structure that was completely gutted by fire

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aulty electrical wiring is the alleged cause of a devastating fire at West Ruimveldt Housing Scheme, Georgetown, which occurred in the wee hours of Monday morning.

A house, owned and occupied by Shabikie Fermandes, was completely gutted.

The Guyana Fire Service reported that it received a call at about 04:47h, alerting first responders to a fire at Lot 188 West Ruimveldt Housing Scheme.

Two tenders from the Central Fire Station and another from the West Ruimveldt Fire Station were immediately dispatched to the location.

Upon arrival, firefighters observed that the two-storey wooden and concrete building was engulfed

in flames. Efforts to save the structure proved futile; and the uninsured building and its contents were destroyed. The woman has been left homeless.

“The purported cause of the fire is faulty electrical wiring which resulted in arcing and sparking, ignited and spread to nearby combustibles,” the Fire Service has contended.

Also affected by the blaze was another wooden and concrete building located at Lot 189 West Ruimveldt Housing Scheme, in which a family of three resided.

Due to radiated heat from the building of origin, one AC unit was slightly damaged and 10 metres of PVC guttering on the northern side of the building was destroyed.

“The Guyana Fire

Service continues to encourage citizens to equip their homes with smoke detectors and fire extinguishers and to adhere to safety measures in order to protect their home and loved ones from fire emergencies,” the public has been advised.

In the past, the GFS has warned homeowners to unplug electrical appliances after use and do not leave them plugged in for prolonged periods. In addition, overloading power strips or electrical circuits have been considered a dangerous practice.

Fires can also be prevented in some instances by ensuring that stoves are turned off properly when cooking and matches or cigarettes are put out completely when smoking.

(G12)

nvestigations have found that school-aged children in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) are engaged in the sale of illicit drugs. This has prompted swift action by Police officers in the division which has led to the arrest of the adults suspected of giving the minors the narcotics to sell. This was revealed by Regional Division Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) Commander, Superintendent Raphael Rose during a conversation on policing, community relations and partnerships in that region. During a recent Police outreach in the Karasabai District, Commander Rose said that ranks were informed by a teacher of a teen boy being accosted with drugs while at school.

The teenager, he noted, indicated that an adult was giving him the narcotics to sell. Commander Rose said ranks interviewed the child and were able to arrest the adult. There was also a similar case in the Annai District, he revealed, adding that Police received information about persons selling drugs at the Annai Secondary School.

He added, “We received information from the teachers and other persons in the school and we were able to arrest the adults who gave the children the [narcotics].”

Outreaches

In an effort to fight the drug scourge, Commander Rose said, “We continue to follow up with the schools by keeping daily outreaches with them, sensitising them in many areas, not just drugs alone, but teenage pregnancy… At times we have reports of teenage pregnancy.” He said that Police in that division has a continuous struc-

Regional Divisional Commander, Superintendent Raphael Rose

ture to work with schools and all the youths in the region. To this end, an outreach was recently held at a playground in Lethem during which Police ranks encouraged youths to do meaningful things with their life and take part in the Police Force’s training programme. Most of them, Commander Rose said, signalled their intention of joining the programme.

Collaboration

Head of the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU), James Singh recently revealed that the law enforcement agency will be collaborating with the Education Ministry and other stakeholders to develop a programme that would see officials visiting schools to educate children on the ills of using drugs.

While the main target audience would be students, he said, the programme would see teachers playing a crucial role in its implementation and effectiveness. “It’s not only about working with the students, but also working with the teachers. They must also be able to see the behavioural patterns of per-

sons. That gives us a better idea if persons are on drugs or something else, so we can work with them also,” Singh explained.

CANU is working assiduously to stop the use and sale of illegal drugs.

“We’re doing a lot of work in various communities, and the aim here is to target persons who are engaged in selling narcotics, regardless of where, whether it is close by a school or even in that community itself. That’s why again I will ask…if you know persons who are engaged in selling narcotics within your community anywhere, let us know confidentially, and we will take the necessary action,” the CANU Head noted.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court of Judicature recently announced that preparations are steaming ahead for the launch of Guyana’s first Adolescent/Juvenile Drug Treatment Court (DTC), which is aimed at rehabilitating drug abusers.

The Judiciary noted that this court is essentially a problem-solving court that will address the needs of each participant, including their drug use as well as the criminal behaviour associated with it.

It noted, too, that such courts are an important tool in the fight against drug addiction, having a focus on the individual, to ensure that not only is justice served, but that the individual receives the support necessary to help them become, or resume being, productive, law-abiding persons.

The Judiciary has said it is aware that drug addiction has become a societal and public health issue, and that many drug addicts commit minor offences to support their habit. (G1)

NEWS

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TUESDAY, MAY 3, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Eid-Ul-Fitr

“We are created with the ability to love, to be peaceful, to be humble” – Pres Ali …as Prime Minister emphasises importance of togetherness

Prime Minister, Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips joins the prayer offerings for Eid

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he holy month of Ramadan on Monday culminated with the grand celebration of Eid-ulFitr, where President Irfaan Ali has encouraged for the virtues shown during this period to continue as a way of life.

The Head of State started the celebratory day for the Islamic community by joining Muslim Youth Organisation (MYO) in the early hours. His message reflected on the teachings drawn during Ramadan, surrounding the ability to love and show compassion to one another.

“We are created with the ability to love, to be peaceful, to be humble, to be charitable, to make sacrifices, to be respectful. More importantly, we are created with the ability to be better than we are. This is the personal message that Ramadan has reenforced to all of us,” said the President.

Moreover, he asserted that this season emphasises the fact that there is no difference between people when placed before God. “It has reemphasised the point that regardless of where we stand or sit in life, we are but one. The purpose of us standing together in prayers is to demonstrate and reinforce this fact that before God Almighty, we are nothing but the same.

There is absolutely no difference based on any character, whether rich or poor.

It is these principles and examples that we were able to demonstrate to ourselves and allow us to be better humans, better citizens, a better country, and a better world.”

Consequently, the Head of State concluded that

Guyanese should continue to practice such values as a way of life, now that the fasting period has ended. This, Ali noted, would result in a more peaceful society.

“Let not Ramadan be the only occasion in which we get together in community. Let Ramadan not only be the occasion in which we express these virtues. What Ramadan has done for us is demonstrated to us that we have the ability to do it.

We must all make it a way of life. We must also continue to do our part in standing up for what is right, standing up for principles, the rule of law, democracy and standing up against injustice. If we are to ensure that the virtues and blessings of Ramadan continues, then we should all aspire to take some of this forward so that our lives can be completely improved. It is much easier to live in peace and humility,” he expressed at the MYO gathering.

After this engagement, Ali also engaged families at his at Leonora, West Coast Demerara home and around the community.

Freedom to worship

Meanwhile, Prime Minister, Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips during his visit to No 11 Woodley Park Masjid in Berbice for the Eidul-Fitr celebrations, spoke of

the importance of respect for religious beliefs in Guyana and promised that freedom to worship would remain a hallmark of the Government.

The Prime Minister also spoke of the importance of togetherness.

“You have a Government that is committed to ensuring that ‘One Guyana’ is our concept for the development of Guyana. A ‘One Guyana’ that will respect all religions and that will ensure we can gather and celebrate together,” Phillips is quoted as saying in a release from the Office of the Prime Minister.

He added that the Islamic community is known for its charitable work, and the Government will continue to support and work in conjunction with the community.

Eid, popularly known as Eid-ul-Fitr, is a festival observed by the Muslim community to celebrate the conclusion of the month of fasting. Eid-ul-Fitr literally means “festival of breaking the fast”.

Eid is celebrated on the first date of Shawwal, that is, the tenth month of the Hijra calendar. During the festival, Muslims exchange gifts, greet their neighbours as a mark of solidarity and brotherhood.

A commemoration of Muhammad’s first revelation, the annual obser-

President Ali and the First Lady flanked by a family during the celebrations

vance of Ramadan is regarded as one of the Five Pillars

of Islam and lasts twenty-nine to thirty days, from

one sighting of the crescent moon to the next. (G12)

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TUESDAY, MAY 3,, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

“It’s been really hard” – mother of 10-year-old cancer patient …leaves for India today for life-changing surgery

Rachana Rukhram before her diagnosis By: Shane Marks

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t is said that life is full of unexpected moments. There is no way of predicting what the future holds, for any of us. This can be said for 10-year-old Rachana Rukhram, who was diagnosed with cancer about

a month ago. This diagnosis needs immediate treatment.

One month ago, Rachana, at just 10-years-old, got the news that changed her life.

Rachana was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML), a common type of cancer, that can worsen at a rapid speed if not countered

Rachana’s mother, Arce Ramdhol

Rachana Rukhram after her diagnosis

with immediate treatment.

Arce Ramdhol, the 29-year-old mother said that Rachana was experiencing

some vomiting and fever.

The quick-thinking mother decided to take the young girl to the hospital due to her motherly instincts concerning her daughter’s health.

Several tests were conducted on the child at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), which was followed by her heart-breaking diagnosis. Since her diagnosis, Rachana has been a patient at the GPHC. Ramdhol explained that it is really hard having to watch her only child go through the struggle of having to deal with life-threatening cancer.

“It’s been really hard,” she said. “It’s been hard emotionally, financially, and in any way, you can think of being in a hard position, that’s how it has been. The only thing that we can try to do is get help, and we need help in order to get her help.”

Rachana needs a bone-marrow transplant in order for her to go on living her life, a surgery that is not offered at the GPHC to save the young girl's life. But, when one door closes, another one opens.

Ramdhol explained over a phone interview with this publication that thanks to famous, renowned cricketers, Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Brian Lara, Rachana now has the option to fly to India where she could possibly undergo a bone-marrow transplant, if a match is found. This surgery, how-

ever, is highly expensive and poses a huge conflict for Rachana and her family.

“Her treatment is very expensive and there is no treatment for her here in Guyana, so the best option is in India. She’s actually heading there [India] to do a bone-marrow transplant,” Ramdhol said.

She said that the finance for the surgery is what she needs help with since she can’t afford such surgery on her own, and cannot turn to a family member for the sum of money either. She has to raise US$127,500, approximately GY$26,686,553.

“That’s the money that we have to reach, or that we have to raise to pay off her treatment. So, that’s where we really need help because we can’t afford it. We have Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Brian Lara involved in this. They’re the ones who reached out to Dr Matthew Sammy in Trinidad, then they reached out to the doctors in India. The challenge is getting the finance,” Ramdhol explained, adding that “Almost $27 million is not money that one man can give, it takes a large group of people, maybe an entire country to raise this sum of money,” she said.

The strong mother has been by her daughter’s side since her diagnosis, holding her hands every step of the way, but this has not been easy for her to do.

“Well, to be honest, actually since my daughter has been in the hospital, I’m there with her every day, her dad is also there. I would be there almost every night and to be honest, it’s not an easy

task to go through, knowing that your kid is seriously ill like that. And sometimes when she cries out for pain, knowing that you can’t do anything to help her, the most that you can do is cry with her. That’s a very hurtful thing to go through because it’s like you’re feeling helpless. We know for sure that there is help in India, and the only thing that is lacking is money.”

The worried mother is calling on the public for assistance to raise Rachana’s medical expenses while in India.

“I’m trying to be positive as I can to support her.

I don’t want to break down, because if I break down, then who’s going to support her? I have to be strong for her. As I am strong for her, I would like the public to be strong for me in order to save her. That’s all I’m asking for,” she begged.

A GoFundMe (https:// www.gofundme.com/f/rachanas-battle-against-cancer) page has already been organised by the child’s uncle, Kurt Rukhram, who Ramdhol explained is Rachana’s biggest supporter.

Rachana and her mother will leave this morning for India with blood samples from her father for doctors to test for a possible bone-marrow match.

Rachana is looking forward to writing her Grade Six examinations next year.

Persons who are willing are urged to help 10-yearold Rachana, who was a grade A student of Cane Grove Primary, East Coast Demerara.

NEWS

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TUESDAY, MAY 3, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

UG to host symposium commemorating 184th anniversary of Indian arrival to Guyana Kendall are among those scheduled to make remarks at the virtual event.

Professor Baytoram Ramharack, one of the leading academics, will present on Jung Bahadur Singh & Balram Singh Rai; Dr Seeta Shah Roath will present on Esther Mahadeo; Professor Somdat Mahabir will present on Nutan Bishun and Premsukh Poonai, while Cliff Rajkumar will present on Pam & Harry Harrack.

The presentations will be followed by discussion sessions.

The symposium will also feature cultural presentations and readings from the works of IndoGuyanese writers by present and past students of the UG, including award-winning poet Gabrielle Mohamed. Another feature of the symposium will be a spotlight on Guyanese poet Mahadai Das and her artistic focus on another group of undersung persons of Indian heritage: women.

In celebrating less-

T

he University of Guyana will be hosting a three-hourlong symposium on May 4 to commemorate the 184th anniversary of the arrival of East Indians in Guyana.

The symposium, which will be held virtually from 17:00h to 20:00h will fo-

cus on the lesser-known and lesser-celebrated East Indians who have made significant contributions to the development of Guyana since their arrival 184 years ago.

The High Commissioner of India to Guyana, Dr KJ Srinivasa; University of

Guyana’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof Paloma MohamedMartin; Dean of the Faculty of Education and Humanities (FEH), Dr Roslin Khan; Lecturer in the FEH Alim Hosein; Head of the Department of Language and Cultural Studies, FEH, Andrew

er-known historic and contemporary East Indians who helped to develop Guyana, and also looking forward to contemporary and future development of Indo-Guyanese culture and scholarship in Guyana, the symposium will widen the thinking on the IndoGuyanese contributions and presence in Guyana.

The declaration of May 5 as Arrival Day followed the passage on April 14, 2003, in the National Assembly, of Resolution No 12 of 2003. It celebrates the contributions to the national development of our African, Indian, Chinese, Portuguese, and European ancestors, and their descendants.

Arrival Day contests us to appreciate diverse peoples and their cultures and encourages Guyanese to strive for a society in which the contributions of every ethnic group are recognised, respected, and rewarded.

May 5 also marks Indian Arrival Day. The first set of East Indians ar-

rived in Guyana on May 5 in 1838, as part of a scheme of "indentureship” or contracted labour devised by the planters to obtain the labour for the sugar estates after the end of slavery in 1834. Between 1838 and 1917, when indentureship ended, an estimated 240,000 Indians were brought to Guyana.

The UG Press will also host the virtual book launch of “Kiskadee Days” by Gaitri PagrachChandra later in May to continue the month of commemoration of Indian arrival and their contributions to Guyana.

The University will also host similar events for Emancipation Day and Indigenous Peoples Month on these commemorative days later this year.

The symposium is free of cost and open to the public. Interested persons are asked to register ahead of the symposium at https:// tiny.one/Arrival-Heroes.

The site is already open for registration from members of the public.

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TUESDAY, MAY 3, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

New firm to start post-2017 cost oil audit in weeks – VP …says Govt engaged in building capacity at GRA for audits

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new company will start the audit of the post-2017 cost oil incurred by ExxonMobil in the Stabroek Block in a matter of weeks, with Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo revealing that negotiations surrounding this audit have been completed.

During a recent press conference, Jagdeo explained that the Government had some disagreements over expenditure in the audit up to 2017. According to him, a process is ongoing that is seeking to resolve those disagreements.

But in the meantime, the post2017 audit will move forward.

"We then went out to tender and we wanted a local group to be part of the audit for the future. I gather the bid came in a bit high. The negotiations have been completed.

So, in a matter of weeks, the new company will start the audit from 2017 to 2020… the contract should be out shortly,” Jagdeo explained.

When it comes to the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), Jagdeo explained that the agency is building its capacity for auditing cost oil claims from oil companies. Among the steps the Government has taken to help GRA along its way, is having Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh meet with stakeholders to

The Guyana Revenue Authority

arrange training. Additionally, GRA will get funding to upgrade its capacity.

“What is going on is GRA is building its own capability and by including, for the first time, Guyanese on this audit… they were claiming Guyanese don’t have the expertise. So now we’ll be able to have Guyanese companies building the expertise, auditing oil and gas expenditure.”

“Third, we have asked Minister

Singh to meet with the insurance association of Guyana, so that we can fund training for all the members. Accountants and auditors, that the Government is willing to pay for all the training and upgrades, through the association working with the Ministry, so we can upgrade national capability.”

In addition to financial audits, Jagdeo noted the importance of performance audits. According to him, it is important that the

Audit Office of Guyana have auditors with those capabilities so that they can do those performance audits.

According to Annex C of the PSA Guyana signed with Exxon, pre-contract costs “shall include four hundred and sixty million, two hundred and thirty-seven hundred thousand and nine hundred and eighteen United States Dollars (US$460,237,918) in respect of all such costs incurred under the 1999 Petroleum Agreement prior to the year ended 2015”.

There is an additional sum of approximately US$400 million from 2016 to 2017, which it is believed will also come under the rubric of cost oil. Meanwhile, the post-2017 sum is believed to be over US$9 billion, inclusive of sanctioning expenses for the Liza Phase One and Two projects.

When the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government assumed office in 2020, it took over the shepherding of audits for ExxonMobil’s pre-contract and other pre-2017 costs. The pre-contract cost audit was conducted by the UK firm, IHS Markit, which was hired by the previous Administration four years after oil was first discovered offshore.

Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo

Based on the bids that were opened last year when Government went out to tender to audit the post-2017 cost oil claims, four international audit firms and one local firm had submitted bids for the project.

The international firms were Bayphase Limited of the United Kingdom (UK); Rosa Correia and Associates of Portugal in partnership with Swale House Partners of the United States; Squire Pat, Gaffney Cline and Associates Incorporated of the UK and Calendar Law Firm. The local company was Eclisar Financial and Professional Services.

Armed robberies up by 300%, road fatalities by 250% – Berbice Commander T

here has been a reduction in serious crime in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) for the first four months of the year

compared with the first four months last year but a massive increase in robberies and accidents.

This is according to

Commander Boodnarine Persaud.

Despite the overall reduction in serious crime, there has been a 300 per cent in-

crease in armed robberies.

For the first four months of the year, there were 12 instances of armed robberies compared with 4 for the same period last year – representing a 300 per cent increase.

According to Commander Boodnarine Persaud, there was a two-month period when robberies in the region stood at zero.

“For the entire March and April, we have seen a quiet period and during that period we have several drug eradications exercises and we made several raids and we were able to take six firearms off of the road; five small arms and one shotgun.”

The Commander said illegal drug cultivation fields with a street value of in excess of $500 million were destroyed during the first four months of the year.

So far for the year, there were four murders.

The suspects in the first three have all been arrested and charged while the suspect for the fourth is currently in Police custody and is expected to be charged shortly.

“As I am speaking there is a report that someone joined a motor car to go and do business; a money changer, and he reported that somewhere at Number 19 (East Coast Berbice) he was

stuck up by the same person who he was supposed to be changing the money for and robbed $1.5 million.”

The Commander said if persons are going to do business with someone and the person is coming with their own vehicle they should be acquainted with that person.

“That is the first robbery after months,” Commander Persaud added.

Of concern to the department, the Commander pointed out, is noise nuisance and they are receiving frequent reports of same.

He pointed out that there is some difficulty in prosecuting persons for that offence since it requires a complainant.

“Because to establish noise nuisance, one must make loud and continuous noise to the annoyance of someone whose name should be mentioned on the jacket and persons most time want to be anonymous. Sometimes we are fortunate to go and meet the music playing,” he explained.

Meanwhile, as it relates to traffic, there is a 250 per cent increase in road deaths when compared with the first four months of last year. So far this year, there have been five road deaths in the region compared with one for the corresponding period last year.

The Commander blames

Commander Boodnarine Persaud

this increase on the lifting of the curfew.

“These accidents occurred after the curfew would have been lifted, but we did some work and we were gifted with some additional vehicles and we were able to have more patrols.

Some of the things we have been doing is that we have intel vehicles so persons might say that we are not working but we do have vehicles out there and we are able to keep the crime rate down by identifying some of the known characters and the movements of persons who are suspected of committing criminal acts,” the Commander explained. (G4)

NEWS

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TUESDAY, MAY 3, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Report uncovers gang rape UWI appoints first at T&T children’s homes female principal at

S

ecret trips to Mayaro with unapproved adults, transactions of marijuana for sex, gang rape initiations and former residents living at the homes of staff members are some of the horrific revelations made into the culture of sexual abuse at children’s homes in this country.

In a report titled “Safeguarding Children in Community Residences and Child Support Centres in Trinidad and Tobago” several children’s homes were exposed for their practices and complicity with respect to sexual abuse at the facilities.

None more damning that the findings at The Margaret Kistow Children’s Home in Arima.

The report has recommended that the Children’s Authority immediately suspend its operations.

The report states that “The manager indicated that he invites boys who age out to live with him. Three boys currently reside with the manager. According to the manager, “nothing wrong with this, I doing this for years because they have nowhere else to go.”

Upon enquiry, neighbours confirmed to the Investigation Team that they saw boys frequenting the home of the manager.”

The report went on to say, “statements from the manager indicated that residents often leave the home to purchase marijuana and return to smoke it on the compound.

This increases the probability of child abuse in the form of transactional sex.”

The report said that the

Margaret Kistow Children’s Home allowed its residents to go on trips with adults which were logged in a clandestine manner.

“The home allows children to spend weekends in Mayaro with individuals who are not the children’s legal guardians/ parents and the information is logged in a special book.

This practice contravenes the Authority’s policy.”

The report also noted a lapse in conducting the necessary background checks resulting in the employment of a person who has prior allegations of sexual abuse.

In addition to recommending that the home’s operations be suspended pending an investigation by the Children’s Authority, the report said that the practice of sending out children should be immediately stopped and that the Authority must be notified when a resident is transitioning from the Home to a staff’s private home.

Guardian Media called the Margaret Kistow Children’s Home for a comment but an automated voicemail message said their hours of operation on Sunday ends at 2 pm. We called at 1.30 pm.

The report said the home is unlicensed and as of July 2021 had 40 residents (17 boys, 21 girls, 2 young men) in a facility with a population capacity of 35.

The St Jude’s Home for Girls was also exposed in the report, where gang rape and sexual grooming by security guards were said to be some of the problems found.

According to the report,

“Frequent sexual activity occurs among residents including situations that residents described as “gang rape.” The allegation of gang rape was found to be part of the “hazing process.” Sexual interaction and grooming were found to have occurred between residents and staff and security personnel.

The report went on to say that security guards have been found complicit in supplying psychotropic substances and other unregulated drugs to residents.

“The situation increases the children’s vulnerability regarding sexual abuse.

Additionally, the practice contravenes the Dangerous Drugs Act, Section 7.”

The investigation also found that in one case a security guard allowed a girl to escape the premises in order to have possible sexual relations with an adult.

The report named a family whose sexual involvement with residents was described as “habitual.”

The report found that there is a “pattern of gross negligence on the part of Management in the use of Security Guards for the supervision of girls.” The investigative committee recommended that Management be held accountable for failing to safeguard the girls.

On April 8, three girls ran away from this facility.

St Jude’s Home for Girls is also not licensed according to the report with a population of 56 girls as of July 2021.

The Dominic’s Children’s Home was reported as a facil-

ity that fails to indemnify and protect residents from grooming and thus sexual abuse.

At the St Mary’s Children’s Home it was found that incident reports are not fully capturing the extent of sexual abuse and at the Casa de Corazon Children’s Home it was revealed that management identified a female staff member who was found to be having inappropriate interactions with a resident at “odd hours.”

The report scolds the Children’s Authority for not doing its job in monitoring what goes on at these facilities. The investigative committee noted that the children who come into the State’s care usually are survivors of trauma and abuse at home.

“The fact that this type of abuse also occurs in the State system is inexcusable in the face of responsibility of the State to provide a safe and secure environment.”

The 139-page report was released by the Office of the Prime Minister after being laid in Parliament on Friday

by Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister, Ayanna Webster-Roy. This was the result of a Cabinet-appointed independent investigative team tasked with probing reports of child abuse at children’s homes.

Minister Webster-Roy announced that $126 million will be allocated to a task force with a six-week deadline to come up with an action plan for the recommendations coming out of the report. (T&T Guardian)

St Augustine campus

T

he University of the West Indies (UWI) on Saturday appointed Professor Rose-Marie Belle Antoine as the new principal of the university’s St Augustine campus.

The decision was made during The UWI’s University Council meeting on April 29.

The appointment takes effect on August 1, and Antoine will replace outgoing principal Professor Brian Copeland and become the first woman to hold the post.

The UWI’s website states Antoine is a Cambridge and Oxford scholar who holds a doctorate from Oxford University in offshore financial law.

Antoine started her journey with The UWI as a temporary law lecturer at the Cave Hill campus in 1989 and then became a lecturer in 1991.

Since then, she has served in several high-ranking positions at UWI including law faculty dean and pro vice-chancellor of the Board for Graduate Studies and Research.

During her time as law faculty dean, Antoine was instrumental in creating the Makandal Daaga Scholarship, which is an equal-opportunity scholarship aiming to support law students who are outstanding in and out of the classroom.

Outside of her work

Professor Antoine

Rose-Marie

Belle

with The UWI, Antoine has served as president of the Organization of American States Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, where she has also been the Rapporteur for Persons of African Descent and Rapporteur for Indigenous Peoples.

As chairman of Caricom’s marijuana commission, Antoine has been an advocate for the decriminalisation of marijuana and the creation of a sustainable cannabis industry.

She also currently serves as president of the Family Planning Association.

Former principals of UWI St Augustine campus include Prof Clement Sankat (2008-2016), former MP Dr Bhoendradatt Tewarie (2001-2007), Prof Compton Bourne (1996-2001), former president George Maxwell Richards (1985-1996), Prof Lloyd Braithwaite (19691984), Sir Dudley Huggins (1963-1969) and Sir Philip Sherlock (1960-1963). (CMC)

18

guyanatimesgy.com

TUESDAY, MAY 3, 2022

Regional

Haiti gang holding kidnapped Colombia presidential candidate says gang planned to attack him on campaign trail diplomat for ransom

G

T

he Dominican Republic has urged Haiti to do everything in its power to ensure the safe release of one of its diplomats who was kidnapped on Friday.

The trade attaché at the Dominican Embassy in Portau-Prince, Carlos Guillén, was seized by gang members while he was travelling to neighbouring Dominican Republic.

Dominican officials said that the 400 Mawozo gang was behind the kidnapping.

In October, 400 Mawozo abducted 16 US citizens and a Canadian who were in Haiti for the NGO Christian Aid Ministries. The gang demanded a ransom of US$1 million for each of them.

The missionaries and their families all managed to regain their freedom two months later. Christian Aid Ministries said 12 of them had escaped their captors and that five others had been released earlier.

It was not clear if any

The Haitian Police has struggled to contain gang violence

ransom was paid.

Dominican newspaper Listín Diario said Guillén had been travelling from the Haitian capital, Port-auPrince, by road to Jimaní, a city across the border in the Dominican Republic, when contact with him was lost.

The Dominican Ambassador in Haiti, Faruk Castillo, said his colleague had been kidnapped in the Croix-des-Bouquets area, east of the capital.

Croix-des-Bouquets is the stronghold of 400 Mawozo, which security

sources describe as the largest criminal gang in Haiti.

Dominican media published a photo of the kidnapped diplomat and reported that the gang had demanded US$500,000 for his release.

Kidnappings for ransom are thought to be one of the main sources of income for the powerful criminal group.

And while it is the abductions of foreigners which have received much of the media attention, Haitians have been the main victims.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

Mottley calls on workers to commit to transform Barbados

W

e could not be where we are today without you, Prime Minister Mia Mottley told workers in her May Day address on Sunday.

But moving forward, if Barbados wants to meet its target of becoming a worldclass nation by 2030, there has to be a renewed commitment by workers, to be better, faster and innovative.

“The truth is, we have done so much, but I will tell you, there is still so much more to

do. Going forward, if we want to maintain and even improve the standard of living to which we have become accustomed, and to secure a worthwhile legacy for our children, business as usual cannot, cannot be our approach,” she emphasised.

“We have to be better. We have to be faster. We have to be more nimble. Our approaches have to be grounded in creativity as much as science. In one word, we have to be different, and we have to innovate.”

The Prime Minister said

the last two years – marred by the COVID-19 pandemic – have been very challenging, but they are also presenting new opportunities.

“They bring with them the potential to improve our lives and to transform our landscape by phenomenal measure, but we cannot do it – and you are going to hear me say so over and over – we cannot do it without you, the workers of Barbados,” Mottley said.

(Excerpt from Nation News)

Peru: Months after huge earthquake, survivors feel abandoned

I

n this isolated jungle region some 1200 kilometres north of the Peruvian capital, hundreds of people are still homeless after a huge earthquake last November triggered landslides and flooding.

Communities along the turbulent Utcubamba and Maranon Rivers lost everything: their homes, livelihoods, schools and health centres.

In elections a year ago, this area was part of the rural political heartland of Pedro Castillo, the leftist politician who assumed the presidency last July. But today, many are blaming Castillo’s Government for their ongoing predicament.

Soon after the earthquake, Castillo and an array of Ministers landed by helicopter in the rural community of Santa Rosa, some 120km west of Bagua, and promised displaced residents that they would be airlifted to a safe, tem-

ustavo Petro, the leftist front-runner in Colombia’s presidential election, on Monday cancelled events in the country’s coffee region because of what his office said was a plot by a crime gang to attack him.

Petro, a former M-19 guerrilla and Mayor of Bogota, was scheduled to travel to the region, including the city of Manizales, on Tuesday and Wednesday, ahead of the scheduled vote on May 29.

But the visit has been called off after Petro’s security team got information the La Cordillera crime gang was planning an attack, his

office said in a statement.

“According to work carried out by the security team, which received first-hand information from sources in the area, the criminal group La Cordillera was planning to make an attempt on the life of presidential candidate Gustavo Petro,” said the statement, the authenticity of which was confirmed by press officers from the campaign.

The National Police said they would give a statement on the case later on Monday afternoon.

La Cordillera, which operates largely in the coffee region, was blamed by Police for the death of a lo-

cal organiser of anti-government marches which swept the country a year ago.

Petro lead an opinion poll last week with 43.6 per cent of prospective firstround votes, while his closest rival, the centre-right Federico Gutierrez, tallied 26.7 per cent.

Petro has attracted support on his promises to right profound income inequality in the Andean country, including via a redistribution of pension savings. But investors have warned the pension plan and his pledge to halt new oil projects could put the country’s economic stability at risk. (Excerpt from Reuters)

British Virgin Islands protesters decry plan for direct UK rule

H

undreds of people have protested in the British Virgin Islands (BVI) against a proposal to put the overseas British territory under the direct control of the United Kingdom.

The rally on Monday came days after the BVI Premier was arrested in the US city of Miami on drug-related charges.

A report released on Friday that was commissioned by Queen Elizabeth’s representative to the territory said the BVI should be effectively governed from London to “restore the standards of governance” that people there “are entitled to”.

A day earlier, BVI Premier Andrew Fahie and the territory’s director of ports were jailed following a sting operation by US authorities.

On Monday, activists gathered outside the office of Governor John Rankin in the capital, Road Town, on the island of Tortola, chanting slogans and holding signs that said “No UK rule”.

“Our message to the United Kingdom Government

British Virgin Island Premier Andrew Fahie was arrested in Miami last week [File: Department of Information and Public Relations of the government of the British Virgin Islands via AP]

and to the world: there will be no direct rule in this land,” said demonstrator Luce Hodge-Smith.

The rally coincided with a visit by Amanda Milling, a British Minister of State for Asia and the Middle East, to discuss the findings of the report.

“Yesterday I arrived in the BVI following the publication of the Commission of Inquiry,” Milling wrote on Twitter on Monday.

“I look forward to engaging with a range of people [including] BVI leaders, Opposition, community groups and sector experts to listen to views on what is in the best interests of the people of BVI.” The BVI, a self-governing Caribbean archipelago, is home to approximately 35,000 people and is an overseas territory of the UK, which supervises its defence and foreign policy. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Falklands War remains “an open wound” in Argentina, says Ambassador porary shelter. But when community members were dropped by helicopter next to a football stadium outside Bagua, nothing had been set up; it was not until a day later that a few tents and some water were delivered, locals told Al Jazeera.

“The President said we would be here for a maximum of two months,” Nelly, a single mother of two, told Al Jazeera from inside her tent earlier this month.

“We trusted him, which is why we are here.”

Beyond the tents, all other supplies for displaced residents – such as toi-

lets, showers, water tanks and cash transfers for essential goods – have been provided by international NGOs, such as Save the Children. Those affected by the earthquake say they are frustrated by the lack of Government aid.

Felipe Perez, regional director for the National Institute of Civil Defence, the state body in charge of disaster management, told Al Jazeera that the Government’s response was “immediate and opportune”.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

M

emories of the Falklands War represent an “open wound” in Argentina, the country’s ambassador to the UK has said.

Javier Figueroa described conflict over the islands’ sovereignty as ridiculous, comparing it to the relationship between North and South Korea.

Most young people in the UK do not know “Britain has a beef with Argentina regarding the South Atlantic”, he said.

His comments were made to mark the 40th anniversary of the war.

Speaking to the

PA News agency, the Ambassador explained that, despite the 1982 war ending four decades ago, in Argentina it remains a “deeply emotional issue”.

The islands’ sovereignty does not feature prominently in the minds of the UK public, but retains “huge visibility in public opinion and the ruling class” at home, he said.

Figueroa said the war was “still a wound – an open wound” in his home country – the situation is “not only emotional, it is political as well”.

“The Malvinas [the Argentinian name for the Falklands] question is

the highest priority of my country in foreign policy.”

Figueroa described the issue as a “monster in a room roaring” for British-Argentinean relations, and said he wants to re-engage with the UK Government to discuss sovereignty.

This is despite Falkland islanders voting to remain a UK Overseas Territory by a margin of 99.8 per cent in 2013.

“It’s unbelievable that after 40 years we have a situation like North Korea/South Korea in the South Atlantic, which is ridiculous,” Figueroa said.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

guyanatimesgy.com

TUESDAY, MAY 3, 2022

19

Around the World

OILNEWS OIL NEWS Oil settles up on distillate strength, supply concerns

O

il prices reversed course to settle in positive territory on Monday on a rally in the diesel market and fears that supply might be crimped by a potential European Union ban on Russian crude.

Brent crude futures gained 44 cents, or 0.4 per cent, to settle at US$107.58 a barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures rose 48 cents to settle at US$105.17 a barrel.

Diesel futures continued to rally after rolling over to the June contract on Monday, rising 5 per cent to US$4.0172 per gallon as a low supply of inventories globally put pressure on WTI and Brent prices.

"The main item was a further strengthening in the diesel market that acted to pull the rest of the complex higher," said Jim Ritterbusch, president of Ritterbusch and Associates in Galena, Illinois.

Both benchmarks fell by more than US$2.00 earlier in the session on news that the European Commission may spare Hungary and Slovakia from a Russian oil embargo as it prepares to finalise its next batch of sanctions on Russia on Tuesday.

The EU is leaning toward banning Russian oil imports by the end of the year, according to two EU diplomats, after talks between the European Commission and EU member states over the weekend.

Hungary will not vote for any measures prepared by the European Union that could endanger the security of its oil or gas supply, Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said, reiterating the country's position on Monday to RTL television.

Around half of Russia's 4.7 million barrels per day (bpd) of crude exports go to the EU, supplying about a quarter of the bloc's oil imports in 2020.

On the demand side, US factory activity grew at its slowest pace in nearly two years in April, according to a survey from the Institute for Supply Management (ISM) on Monday. The ISM's index of national factory activity fell to a reading of 55.4 last month, which is still considered to be a mark of expansion.

"US economic data still indicated expansion in the manufacturing sector, far from a recessionary number," said Phil Flynn, market analyst at Price Futures Group in Chicago.

Markets in Japan, Britain, India and across Southeast Asia were closed for public holidays on Monday.

China released data on Saturday showing that factory activity in the world's second-largest economy contracted for a second straight month to its lowest level since February 2020 because of COVID-19 pandemic-related lockdowns.

"A slowing to that extent, when China is already suffering from a property bust and worries about its (until recently) increased regulation, is potentially a major issue for commodity markets and the world economy," Tobin Gorey, a Commonwealth Bank commodities analyst, said in a note. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Ukraine war: Hundreds trapped in Mariupol steelworks despite evacuations

H

undreds of people remain trapped in a steel plant in Ukraine's Mariupol city, despite some managing to leave on Sunday, a Ukrainian officer there says.

The Azovstal plant, the last stronghold of Ukrainian resistance in the southern port city, has been under intense Russian bombardment for weeks.

National Guard commander Denys Shlega said while some civilians had been evacuated, hundreds still remained.

He also said Russian forces had resumed heavy shelling of the area.

As soon as the civilians who had been evacuated left, "shelling from all kinds

O

can venture out of barns.

US watchdogs say retailers and egg companies must do a better job informing customers that hens are kept inside, as shoppers track their spending amid record global food inflation. Keeping birds inside is safest for now, according to government officials, because a single case of bird flu results in entire flocks being culled. The virus can also infect humans, though experts say the risk is low.

In France, where the government has temporarily required farmers to keep chickens indoors since November, some retailers are defying obligations to

of weapons began", he told Ukrainian television.

He added that "several dozen small children are still in the bunkers underneath the plant".

A first group of evacuees from the steelworks were

expected to arrive in the Ukrainian-controlled city of Zaporizhzhia later on Monday - but the rescue efforts have run into delays, the BBC's Laura Bicker, who is in the city, reports.

It is not clear what is caus-

Spain detects Pegasus spyware on PM, Defence Minister’s phones

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez attends a press conference [Jakub Gavlak/EPA]

S

panish authorities have said that the mobile phones of Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and Minister of Defence Margarita Robles were tapped using Pegasus spyware in an “illicit and external” intervention.

“It is not a supposition, they are facts of enormous gravity,” the Minister of the Presidency, Felix Bolanos,

Bird flu puts organic chickens into lockdown from Pennsylvania to France rganic and freerange chickens have been thrown into lockdown.

Egg-laying hens that normally have access to the outdoors can no longer roam as freely or feel the sun on their beaks as some US and European farmers temporarily keep flocks inside during lethal outbreaks of bird flu, according to egg producers and industry representatives.

The switch comes as a surprise to shoppers already shelling out more money for eggs due to cullings of infected flocks. Consumers pay extra for specialty eggs, thinking they come from hens that

Civilians arrive in Zaporizhzhia on Monday after travelling in a private vehicle from Mariupol

ing the hold-up, she said.

The convoy is on its way, but the buses have hundreds of miles to travel along a road which is - in part - rubble.

They also have to go through a number of Russian checkpoints.

Those who left Mariupol on Monday were evacuated with the support of the United Nations (UN) and the International Committee of the Red Cross, which organised an official convoy.

Russia said some evacuees had been taken to a village controlled by Moscowbacked separatists. But state media later reported that they would be free to travel onwards to Ukrainian-held territory if they wanted to.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

post clear information for consumers about the mandate, according to checks of grocery stores by Reuters.

Allowing chickens time outside is thought to be more humane, giving consumers some peace of mind about buying animal farm products.

Veterinarians say poultry with outdoor access are particularly vulnerable to becoming infected with bird flu, officially known as highly pathogenic avian influenza or HPAI, because migratory birds spread the disease. Poultry can fall ill from contact with infected wild birds, their feathers or feces. (Excerpt from Reuters)

said, confirming the news on Monday.

“We are absolutely cer-

tain that it was an external attack … because in Spain, in a democracy like ours, all such interventions are carried out by official bodies and with judicial authorisation,” he said.

“In this case, neither of the two circumstances prevailed, which is why that we have not doubt that it was an external intervention. We want the Justice Ministry to investigate,” Bolanos added.

He did not say whether the Spanish authorities had any indication yet where the attack originated from or whether another country was behind it.

Bolanos said that Sanchez’s phone had been

tapped in May 2021 and Robles’ in June of the same year.

“A determined amount of data” was extracted from both phones, he added.

“There is no evidence that there was other tapping after those dates.”

Pegasus spyware silently infiltrates mobile phones to extract data or activate a camera or microphone to spy on their owners.

The Israel-based NSO Group, which owns Pegasus, claims the software is only sold to Government agencies to target criminals and terrorists, with the green light of Israeli authorities.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Israel demands apology after Russia says Hitler had Jewish roots

I

srael lambasted Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Monday for claiming that Adolf Hitler had Jewish origins, saying it was an "unforgivable" falsehood that debased the horrors of the Nazi Holocaust.

In a signal of sharply deteriorating relations with Moscow, the Israeli Foreign Ministry summoned the Russian ambassador and demanded an apology.

"Such lies are intended to accuse the Jews themselves of the most horrific crimes in history that were committed against them," Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said in a statement.

"The use of the Holocaust of the Jewish people for political purposes must stop immediately," he added.

Lavrov made the assertion on Italian television on Sunday when he was asked why Russia said it needed to "denazify" Ukraine if the country's own President,

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov attends a joint news conference with Eritrean Foreign Minister Osman Saleh (not pictured) following their talks in Moscow, Russia, April 27, 2022

Volodymyr Zelenskiy, was himself Jewish.

"When they say 'What sort of nazification is this

if we are Jews', well I think that Hitler also had Jewish origins, so it means nothing," Lavrov told Rete 4 channel, speaking through an Italian interpreter.

"For a long time now we've been hearing the wise Jewish people say that the biggest anti-Semites are the Jews themselves," he added.

Dani Dayan, chairman of Yad Vashem, Israel's memorial to the six million Jews killed in the Holocaust, said the Russian Minister's remarks were "an insult and a severe blow to the victims of the real Nazism".

Speaking on Kan radio, Dayan said Lavrov was spreading "an anti-Semitic conspiracy theory with no basis in fact".

The identity of one of Hitler's grandfathers is not known but there has been some speculation, never backed up by any evidence, that he might have been a Jew. (Excerpt from Reuters)

20

TUESDAY, MAY 3, 2022

guyanatimesgy.com

DAILY HOROSCOPES

ARCHIE

Put your energy to good use, and it will help you control your emotions.

Refuse to let others get to you. Go about your business, and let your accomplishments speak for you.

(March 21-April 19) Stand up for your rights and make yourself heard. Take the initiative and put your plans in motion. Make decisions and act on them with passion and clarity. Anger will get you nowhere.

DILBERT (April 20-May 20)

Concentrate on what's doable and stop worrying about things you cannot alter. A positive attitude will help you achieve what you set out to do and get you the backup you will need.

(May 21-June 20) Don't scrimp when it comes to meaningful pursuits. Explore the possibilities and let your imagination run wild, but don't let your emotions spin out of control. Don't be rattled by any setbacks.

PEANUTS (June 21-July 22)

Spend time with people who stimulate your mind and offer enlightening perspectives on life, love and happiness. What you share will change how you think and help you choose a suitable path.

(July 23-Aug. 22) Absorb what others say, and it will help you understand the best way to gain approval, respect and the assistance required to get what you want. Consider what you can do to move things along.

CALVIN AND HOBBES

(Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Stop dreaming and start doing. How you perceive situations and handle money will be crucial. Cut your costs by doing things yourself instead of hiring someone to do things for you.

(Sept. 23-Oct. 23) An unexpected change will work in your favor. Refuse to get overwhelmed by what you have no control over.

Concentrate on the things and people who make you feel good about yourself.

SUDOKU (Oct. 24-Nov. 22)

A low profile and patience will help you navigate your way through the ups and downs you encounter. Put more thought into your appearance, health and lifestyle.

(Nov. 23-Dec. 21) Take a walk down memory lane, attend a reunion or reach out to someone who brings out the best in you. Look for innovative ways to make the most of what you have.

SOLUTION FOR LAST PUBLISHED PUZZLE

(Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Say no to changes that don't suit your needs, and do your own thing.

Build a solid foundation for what you have planned. Invest in your surroundings. Now's the time to go for broke.

(Jan. 20-Feb. 19) Don't share secrets. Put your energy where it will do some good. A change of heart will help clear up uncertainty and encourage you to do what's best for you.

Clear up financial problems.

(Feb. 20-March 20)

TUESDAY, MAY 3, 2022

21

Rinku and Rana steer KKR home in tricky chase Rinku Singh played an unbeaten knock of 42

N

itish Rana and Rinku Singh offset an early wobble and ensured Kolkata Knight Riders chased down 153 to snap their fivematch losing streak, on a slow, grippy Wankhede Stadium track. After Trent Boult and Prasidh Krishna had made early inroads for Rajasthan Royals, Rana and Rinku dismantled R Ashwin and Yuzvendra Chahal respectively to bring the target within Knight Riders' reach.

Rana cracked Ashwin for 23 off 14 balls on Monday, taking his overall head-to-head to 99 off 52 balls without being dismissed by the spinner in the Indian Premier League (IPL). He first forged a 60-run third-wicket partnership with Shreyas Iyer (34) and then a

livelier 66-run stand with Rinku to usher Knight Riders home.

Sanju Samson's wretched luck with the toss continued – he has won only one out of 10 tosses this IPL – but despite that Royals made a decent fist of their defence by dragging it deep. However, with 31 needed off 18 balls, Rinku whacked back-to-back fours off Chahal to effectively kill off the game. It was Rana who ultimately finished it with five balls to spare, with an uppercut six off Kuldeep Sen. Royals' go-slow Umesh Yadav got the new ball to swing both ways to threaten both edges of Jos Buttler in his first over. Ankul Roy, who was picked in place of the out-of-form Venkatesh Iyer, kept Buttler – and Devdutt Padikkal – quiet with his stump-to-stump darts. Umesh struck in his second over when he had Padikkal spooning a return catch for 2.

After watching Royals gulp down 18 dots in the first four overs, Samson got a move on

SCOREBOARD RAJASTHAN ROYALS INNINGS (20 overs maximum) Jos Buttler c Shivam Mavi b Southee 22 Devdutt Padikkal c & b Yadav 2 Sanju Samson (c)†c Singh b Shivam Mavi 54 Karun Nair c Singh b Roy 13 Riyan Parag c Roy b Southee 19 Shimron Hetmyer not out 27 Ravichandran Ashwin not out 6 Extras (lb 2, nb 2, w 5) 9 TOTAL 20 Ov (RR: 7.60) 152/5 Did not bat: Trent Boult, Prasidh Krishna, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Sen Fall of wickets: 1-7 (Devdutt Padikkal, 2.1 ov), 2-55 (Jos Buttler, 8.3 ov), 3-90 (Karun Nair, 13.1 ov), 4-115 (Riyan Parag, 16.6 ov), 5-115 (Sanju Samson, 17.1 ov) BOWLING O-M-R-W Umesh Yadav 4-1-24-1 Anukul Roy 4-0-28-1 Sunil Narine 4-0-19-0 Shivam Mavi 4-0-33-1 Tim Southee 4-0-46-2

KOLKATA KNIGHT RIDERS INNINGS (Target: 153 runs from 20 overs) Baba Indrajith †c Ashwin b Prasidh Krishna 15 Aaron Finch b Sen 4 Shreyas Iyer (c)c †Samson b Boult 34 Nitish Rana not out 48 Rinku Singh not out 42 Extras (lb 4, w 11) 15 TOTAL 19.1 Ov (RR: 8.24) 158/3 Did not bat: Anukul Roy, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Umesh Yadav, Tim Southee, Shivam Mavi Fall of wickets: 1-16 (Aaron Finch, 3.1 ov), 2-32 (Baba Indrajith, 5.4 ov), 3-92 (Shreyas Iyer, 12.5 ov) BOWLING O-M-R-W Trent Boult 4-0-25-1 Prasidh Krishna 4-0-37-1 Kuldeep Sen 3.1-0-28-1 Ravichandran Ashwin 4-0-33-0 Yuzvendra Chahal 4-0-31-0

Nitish Rana scored 48*

in the fifth over, hitting Umesh for back-to-back fours. Buttler uncharacteristically dawdled to 22 off 24 balls before Shivam Mavi combined with Tim Southee to dismiss him.

Southee had bowled one in his slot – or perhaps just short of it and Buttler shovelled it away in the air with his powerful bottom wrist. For a moment, the ball seemed to sail away for six, but Mavi intervened by leaping athletically to his right at long-on to pluck the ball out of thin air. At that stage, Royals were 55 for 2 in the ninth over.

Samson, Hetmyer give Royals a leg-up Samson was more fluent, often jumping outside leg to manufacture swinging room and scoring opportunities. He progressed to 40 off 30 balls, but managed only 14 off his last 19 balls. The pick of his eight boundaries was a regal cut off Mavi, but the seamer bounced back to remove Samson for the fifth time in seven IPL innings.

During the toss, Iyer explained that Mavi had slotted back in place of Harshit Rana because of his favourable match-ups against the Royals batters.

Mavi did his job, returning 1 for 33 in his four overs.

Riyan Parg only flickered briefly (19 off 12 balls), but Shimron Hetmyer fired in the

Linden “Greatest of the Streets”…

Quarter-finals on tonight!

A

ll roads in the mining town of Linden will lead to the Silver City Hard Court tonight when quarter-final action in the Guinness “Greatest of the Streets” commences with four matches.

Whap-Whap will face off with DC Ballers in the opening match at 19:00h. WhapWhap squeaked past Back Street Ballers 6-5, while DC Ballers dismantled Spikeland 3-0 in the previous round.

In the second match-up at 19:45h, defending champions

Swag Entertainment oppose Dark Side. Swag Entertainment entered the quarter-final section following an 11-0 mauling of Midas. On the other hand, Dark Side overcame Coomacka 2-1.

Amazings will then lock horns with High Rollers at 20:30h in the third fixture.

Amazings romped into the quarter-finals at the expense of Universal Ballers in a 4-1 win, while High Rollers overcame Hill Side Ballers 2-0 in their previous match.

In the final fixture, Silver Bullets take aim at Germans from 21:15h. Bullets edged Trend Setters 3-2 to seal their place in the elite eight section, while Germans downed Good Fellas 2-0 in the earlier round of 16.

The respective winners will advance to the semi-final round.

Quarter-final match-ups DC Ballers v Whap-Whap Swag Entertainment v Dark Side Amazings v High Rollers Silver Bullets v Germans

slog overs, as he has often done in the recent past, clattering an unbeaten 27 off 13 balls.

He was particularly brutal on Southee, taking him for 17 off just five balls.

KKR's go-slow Samson's early impetus and Hetmyer's late blows gave Royals' attack something to work with. Boult swung the new ball and bothered both

Aaron Finch and B Indrajith – Knight Riders' fifth different opening combination this IPL. It was Sen who made the first incision when he rushed Finch and had him chopping on for four off seven balls.

Indrajith showed a glimpse of his improved white-ball potential when he ramped Prasidh over short fine leg for four. Prasidh, however, banged in a head-high bouncer next ball to have Indrajith topedging a hook to fine leg, who had been pushed back onto the boundary after that four.

Knight Riders stuttered to 32 for 2 in the powerplay.

The Rana-Rinku show Ashwin was introduced into the attack in the next over, and Iyer carved his first ball away between backward point and short third man. Rana then laid into him in his third over, picking him off for 4,6,4 with a variety of sweeps, including the reverse-hit.

Boult had Iyer caught by

Shimron Hetmyer blasted an unbeaten 27 off 13 balls

Samson down the leg side for 34 off 32 balls, but Rana and Rinku completed the job for Knight Riders without much fuss. With Rana vulnerable to rapid pace and bounce, Rinku took on both Prasidh and Sen before lining up Chahal too.

Often confined to being KKR's regular substitute fielder in the IPL, Rinku showed off his batting chops by contributing 42 off just 23 balls to an unbroken 66-run stand with Rana. (ESPNcricinfo)

Sunshine ready to rumble in 2022 season

I

n 2021, Sunshine made a clean sweep at the Ontario Round-Arm Softball Cricket Association (ORSCA) tournaments, winning the Regular Season (20 overs) and the 10-10 competitions.

The side is heading into things again with the same degree of optimism according to successful Captain Anil Mahadeo.

He attributed last year’s success to hard work and commitment from his players, having churned out some outstanding performances for the entire duration of the two competitions that ran simultaneously.

Mahadeo, a versatile allrounder, stated there was a recruitment process in place at the moment, but he was expecting the team to play with the same chemistry and coherence from last year.

In the 10-10 championship contest, they got the better of their nemesis, Masters, by five wickets and then overwhelmed Cambridge Jaguars by four wickets in the 20-over final.

Sunshine were undefeated, notably.

“We just went out there and played positive cricket; I must thank the guys to truly put their best foot forward; the two competitions were competitive, but I think we just played the right game,” Mahadeo declared.

The ORSCA had opted to

Sunshine

pull off the two tournaments, given that the pandemic has kept the players off the field for practically 24 months.

Normally, the ORSCA would play the other 15-over competition.

With the addition of the 15over tournament this season, Mahadeo is confident they can do well again in all three formats.

“We have to start from game one again; we would have one and two new players for this season, but we are ready to play committed and die-hard cricket; obviously, every team going out there to win, but to come out as champion calls for dedication and dynamic cricket,” Mahadeo related.

This year’s season opens with the Regular Season on May 29 when Sunshine and Spartans will do battle.

Mahadeo informed that the

players have already begun practice sessions and that would boost their confidence immensely ahead of the tournaments.

“Like last year, we just want to enjoy our games; we started our practice sessions and getting ready for the competitions from all the oppositions; in 2021, Brampton Gladiators and Masters were very competitive, but we are prepared again,” Mahadeo reasoned.

Some reputable players turned out for Sunshine last year in their first season at the ORSCA including Hemnarine Chattergoon; Jeetendra Beharry; Ramiz Mohammed, who cracked a double century in the Regular Season and Anil Etwaroo while Imran Ali and Riaz Kadir, two top-notch players, are expected to link up with Sunshine this year.

22

TUESDAY, MAY 3, 2022

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Fairbreak Invitational 2022 … says “We are looking forward to the tournament”

T

he Fairbreak Invitational 2022 is an International Cricket Council (ICC)sanctioned competition taking place May 1-15, 2022 in Dubai in conjunction with Cricket Hong Kong. This sixteam tournament is made up of players from all around the world and is the world’s first privately-funded tournament in women’s cricket with the leading health-care group Gencor as the lead sponsor.

West Indies Captain Stafanie Taylor has been selected to lead The Tornadoes.

At a simple press conference, Taylor noted that her team have been doing very well in training. She related that while the temperature was a bit extreme, they worked to select the best possible XI. “I find we have a good bunch of players, it’s probably going to be hard to select an XI,” Taylor posited.

As it pertains to what the feeling is like about the highlyanticipated tournament, Taylor said, “I think at World Cup, it’s probably a bit more

The Tornadoes Captain, Stafanie Taylor

intense and here is a bit more relaxed. It’s not just about us as top players, but getting other players involved. So, I think that’s really exciting.”

As it relates to what the Tornadoes bring to the table, Taylor explained that her team were quite interesting.

She was confident that Diana Baig of Pakistan would definitely bring the vibe to the team. Other than that, she

related that the girls were a bit quiet; however, with the necessary work they were trying to get them a bit out of their shell and try not to impose too much. Taylor was also optimistic that her team were a good bunch, and it was very vibey and more than anything, they were looking forward to the tournament.

The other teams include The Barmy Army Team led by

The SDG FairBreak Invitational captains get their hands on the trophy

Heather Knight; Spirit which will see Nicola Carey taking the reins; The Falcons being

led by Suzie Bates; South Coast Sapphires being led by Sana Mir and Sindhu Sriharsha

GSA, GTI record wins in Tertiary/University “Scooby” reasserts dominance Basketball League

at Meet 2 of Arrowhead League

– Gibbons continues stranglehold on women’s javelin

captaining The Warriors.

The Tornadoes: Captain Stafanie Taylor, West Indies; Sophie Devine, New Zealand; Sterre Kalis, Netherlands; Andrea-Mae Zepeda, Austria; Katey Martin, New Zealand; Chanida Sutthiruang, Thailand; MaryAnne Musonda, Zimbabwe; Suné Luus, South Africa; Sita Rana Magar, Nepal; Aliya Riaz, Pakistan; Divya Saxena, Canada; Winifred Durasingam, Malaysia; Natasha Miles, Hong Kong; Maryam Bibi, Hong Kong and Diana Baig, Pakistan

CLASSIFIED ADS ACCOMMODATIONS

Jushawn Bailey (GSA)

Royan Lewis (GTI)

he third week in the Te r t i a r y / U n i v e r s i t y Basketball League continued with much riveting action as many teams duked it out in bids for much-needed points.

In the first game, Guyana School of Agriculture (GSA) got the better of Port Mourant Training Centre, with both schools making their debut.

They were led by their Captain and former National School Basketball Festival standout for President’s College, Jushawn Bailey, who bagged 40 points, in the 9621 routing of Port Mourant Training Centre.

Four other players for the Guyana School of Agriculture team also scored in double figures: Javan Rozario – 18 points; Anttwaun Headley – 14 points; Omar Headley – 10 points and Rasheed Lewis – 10 points. For Port Mourant Training Centre, Michael Jordan scored 12 points and Shaauan Lucas five in the loss.

In the second game, the Government Technical Institute (GTI) locked in the number one position by staying undefeated in three games with a hard-fought 8278 win over arch-rivals Linden Technical Institute (LTI) .

Leading the way for GTI were Royan Lewis (25 points, 7 rebounds); Rakin Mc Donald (20 points, 5 rebounds); Leron Thom (16 points) and Kobe Tappin (11 points).

For LTI, Damarcus Adams made 28 points, Shemar Savory 20 points, and Gaius George 12 points, but that was not enough to secure the win. LTI now face a mustwin situation against an impressive GSA unit in their next game if they are to have any chance of securing a spot in the semi-finals.

The tournament is sponsored by National Sports Commission, ExxonMobil, G-Boat Guyana, Edward B Beharry & Company Ltd, Fireside Grill, and Banks DIH Ltd.

T D

Narissa McPherson gets a blistering start to win the women’s 400 metres

evaun Barrington, aka “Scooby”, put the nation on notice as to who is the best 800 metres athlete in the country by outsprinting his competition in the final 300 metres of the event on Sunday during Meet 2 of the Arrowhead League at the National Track and Field Centre, Leonora, West Coast Demerara (WCD).

The race was hotly contested from start to finish with Barrington putting on the burners in the final 300 metres to outsprint the likes of Nicholas Daw, Courtley Bobb, and Daniel Melville in what could be deemed as the performance of the day in a time of 1:55.84s. Daw finished second in 1:56.68s while Bobb was third in 1:57.48s. Melville narrowly missed the podium with a time of 1:58.26s to

finish fourth.

Meanwhile, the shock of the day happened when top sprinter Keliza Smith falsestarted in the women’s 100 metres final, leaving the field clear for a comfortable win for Ruth Sanmoogan in 11.99s.

Karese Lloyd finished second in 12.07s while Natrena Hooper finished third in 12.25s.

Hooper won the women’s triple jump with a leap of 12.80 metres.

2022 CARIFTA 400m silver medallist Narissa McPherson picked up where she left off at the CARIFTA Games and clocked 57.09s to take an easy win in the women’s 400 metres. Analissa Redmond finished second in 59.22s while veteran sprinter Alisha Fortune finished third in 59.50s.

However, the most dominant performance of the day went to CARIFTA gold medallist Anisha Gibbons throwing 42.69 metres to win the javelin event easily over Stacy Wilson with a throw of 27.95 metres. Nariann King was third with a throw of 24.45 metres.

The men’s 200 metres was won by Shamer Horatio in a time of 21.50s, with top sprinter Akeem Stewart pulling out of the race with a slight lower leg niggle. Noelex Holder finished second in 21.76s while Revon Williams was third in 22.06s.

Carl Williams won the men’s long jump in 7.29 metres while Joshua Jones won the men’s discus throw in 38.05 metres to close out the day’s action.The league will continue in June.

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23 Guyana 1st in CONCACAF to launch Football for Schools TUESDAY, MAY 3, 2022

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

I

n the interest of making football more accessible to students by incorporating the sport into the education system, the FIFA Football for Schools programme was materialised, back in mid2019.

In addition to the sport, the programme will also equip students with life skills and is expected to be launched in Guyana within the week.

Not only will Guyana launch its programme soon, but the Land of Many Waters is set to become the first country in the CONCACAF Region to undertake the FIFA Football for Schools programme.

Currently, a team of FIFA representatives are conducting the Football for Schools workshop with Guyanese teachers at the Guyana Football Federation’s National Training Centre at Providence.

Speaking prior to the commencement of the workshop, Project Leader Alexandre Gros highlighted Guyana’s achievement of being first in the region to launch the programme, while articulating appreciation for the stakeholders involved.

Football for Schools Project Leader Alexandre Gros

“It’s a project that we’re launching in Guyana, for the first time in the CONCACAF Confederation, which is to say, Guyana is the first country to fully implement Football for Schools in the North, Central and Caribbean Region, ahead of USA, ahead of Canada, ahead of Mexico and Jamaica,” Gros shared excitedly.

He added, “So, I think it’s important to underline this and it’s due to the good work of the Guyana Football Federation [GFF].”

Gros went on to state, “We are particularly thankful to our colleagues at GFF and our friends at the Ministry

of Education and also the Ministry of Sports in Guyana, for making it possible for us to be here today to launch the event.”

The programme is a collaborative effort between FIFA, the GFF, and the Government of Guyana, through the Sport and Education Ministries; and as such, saw consultation between the GFF and those Ministries during the implementation phase.

Education Specialist Olato Sam, who was part of those discussions and present at Monday morning’s workshop, praised the initiative, revealing that it would result in Guyana producing more-rounded students.

“This initiative certainly echoes that strongly. The fact that we can now have teachers here, spread across the entire country, participate in this programme and become master trainers, go back in their communities and schools and pass on these skillsets to their colleagues and ensure that our young people now have the opportunity to create that balance that is so vital in

A section of the attendees at Monday’s workshop

education,” the former Chief Education Officer shared.

He further stated, “Of course, we emphasise academics and we all can support the fact that academics are important, but academics alone does not complete the developmental growth that we would love to see in our young people in Guyana.”

Meanwhile, GFF President Wayne Forde sees Football for Schools as a “ground partnership” that will set a positive precedent, going

forward.

The GFF boss related, “The FIFA Football for Schools programme emphasises heavily on the total development of our players and while many of you would have spent the past couple years of your profession moulding young people and helping them excel at their academics, you’re now going to be given tools and skills that will allow you to influence their overall growth and development in the field of sport.”

“We believe the power of partnership could not be more exemplified than what we see here today. This is probably the first time in Guyana’s history that we have a partnership that sees the full weight of the Government of Guyana, FIFA and the GFF, coming together to establish such a groundbreaking initiative,” Forde added.

The preparatory workshop, conducted by the FIFA team, is expected to last three days.

Space Gym 2.0 – The best gym Albert victorious in Banks/Smirnoff experience in the Caribbean Vodka Golf Tournament

Space Gym Managing Director Lucas Matos gives a tutorial in the SpaceRide room

S

pace Gym 2.0 will present athletes, gym fanatics, and even the ordinary man with the best gym experience that Guyana has to offer. With the intention of raising the bar locally, Sergio Matos and Co opened the new, state-of-theart facility on Sunday evening.

Touted as the most advanced workout experience in the Caribbean, Space Gym 2.0 officially opened its doors at the Orchid Garden Hotel and Mall, on Mandela Avenue, Georgetown.

Space Gym 2.0 is said to be a cut above the rest and certainly displays such with the latest technology and best equipment from brands like Hammer Strength and Life Fitness.

Aside from machinery, Space Gym will have specialised trainers on hand, a Zumba and yoga room, and a shake and food bar, catering to the diets of its members.

Speaking at the official opening on Sunday evening, Managing Director Lucas Matos emphasised on his family’s commitment to not only provide the best service and equipment, but an overall, health-conscious experience – a vision that was birthed in 2018.

The younger Matos said,

Sport Minister Charles Ramson Jr takes a shot at the SpaceRide experience

“Together with our CEO Sergio Matos, myself and my sister Amanda Matos, we felt that we could improve. So, the desire to do something even better was born in 2018. With that, we believe that this facility is something that the people of Guyana deserve, it’s wellequipped.”

“We have the conviction that people need a new experience, the one that is dedicated to your health.

We have state-of- the-art equipment, to provide the best when thinking of quality of life in a light and welcoming environment, a place of good coexistence, where you could relax not only your body, but also, your mind,” he added.

In addition to the other amenities, Space Gym 2.0 will be delivering their SpaceRide experience, a fleet of ICG7 Bikes connected to the instructor’s and offering scenic visuals from around the world.

Taking a shot at the experience was Sport Minister Charles Ramson Jr, who, during his feature address encouraged the Matos Family to continue ignoring criticisms and naysayers in their pursuits.

“My presence here is more than just about opening up a

gym, it is a belief in an overall vision that is old, that requires the doubling down today and now, and understanding that there is a big vision for all of us individually and collectively and that there will be noise makers, but that the noise makers never win,” Ramson Jr shared.

“When you’re doing anything important, Sergio and Lucas, there would have been many people that would’ve thought that the idea of this high-quality gym, at this location or some reason, that is negative. There would be many people who would’ve said that.”

He went on, “Along the way, you will have a lot of people that will criticise you, a lot of people who will not believe in you. Also, there will have a lot of people that don’t believe in what you believe in. Similarly, as it relates to the country, there will be people who do not believe in the direction that you’re going, but it’s important for the folks who believe, that you push aside the noisemakers.”

Space Gym 2.0 will be opened to the public today, Tuesday, May 3, with hundreds of members already registered.

The gym is also set to add outdoor features in the near future.

T

The winners’ row

he Lusignan Golf Club (LGC) hosted the Banks/ Smirnoff Vodka Golf Tournament on Saturday, utilising the medal play format over 18 holes. It featured prizes for best net score from first to fourth, along with best gross, longest drive and nearest to the flag. In the end after fierce competition, it was Rohan Albert who edged out his much senior counterparts to bag the title.

The favourable weather and pristine condition of the course made for an intense contest and saw a total of 40 golfers take the field. The victorious Albert was able to produce a net score of 68.

Following a rocky start, he composed himself and finished strong on the back nine to secure his victory. The intensity of the competition did not stop there, as Miguel Yunis, Videsh Persaud, George Bulkan, and Kasim Khan recorded the second-best score of net 69, forcing a countback to determine the official positions.

The results are as follow: * First place – Rohan Albert: Gross 90, Net 68

Miguel Yunis came in second

* Second place – Miguel Yunis: Gross 94, Net 69 * Third place – Videsh Persaud: Gross 84, Net 69 * Fourth place – George Bulkan: Gross 83, Net 69 The prize for best gross of the tournament was awarded to Avinash Persaud, who recorded a gross score of 73.

The nearest to the flag prize was won by Carlos Adams while the Longest Drive accolade was captured by Guillermo Escarraga.

In a statement at the end of the tournament when asked how it felt winning the title, Albert said, “The competition was very challenging; we had a lot of good competitors out here that were eager to win

and the competition was tight.

The rain didn't affect us much, the ground was softer and the weather was great. Honestly speaking, I was just playing my game and focused on making good scores on each hole. I had one terrible hole, but that didn't stop me from doing my best."

Albert also made mention that entering the tournament, his mindset was just to play his natural game and bring in a good score. He noted that it was quite a shock for him as he honestly did not believe his score was good to win until everyone else came in with their scores. Nevertheless, Albert said that it felt good to get first after a long time.

TUESDAY, MAY 3, 2022

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

Space Gym 2.0 – The best gym experience in the Caribbean

Page 23

Albert victorious in “Scooby” reasserts dominance Banks/Smirnoff Vodka at Meet 2 of Arrowhead League Golf Tournament Pg 22

Pg 23

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