Guyana Times - Tuesday, October 12, 2021

New $1B Westminster Secondary School officially open …to house 1000 students

Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

Issue No. 4798

THE BEACON OF TRUTH TUESDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2021

APNU/AFC’s changes to Fiscal Management and Accountability Act unconstitutional

…PPP’s reversal valid – High Court rules

$495M in laptops received under APNU/AFC damaged …as uncertainty swirls over existence of warranty Page 7

P13

Page 3

Electoral fraud cases

Lawrence, Mingo, GECOM Clerks served with truckload of SoPs, SoRs Page 2

PRICE

$80 VAT INCLUDED

WHAT'S INSIDE:

Govt poised to exceed 10,000 house lots by year end – P10 Rodrigues …as another 3000 more lots to be allocated

Police unearth 4.8lbs ganja at P10 Ituni …man confesses, jailed, fined over $3M

Teen injured P7 in Canje Creek boat accident Cyclist killed after being struck down by unlicensed driver P12

Councillor arrested for assaulting Rose Hall P8 Mayor …says it was Mayor who assaulted him President Dr Irfaan Ali and Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo virtually attended the 22nd Special Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (Caricom) (Office of the President photo)

COVID-19 cases spike in Regions 1, 2, 7, 10

…2 more unvaccinated deaths, 52 new cases …43% adults completely immunised See stories on pages 9 & 11

Suspected thief shot dead by Police

See story on page 2

Man nabbed after robbing women of raw gold, $1M P8

2 NEWS

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Electoral fraud cases

Lawrence, Mingo, GECOM Clerks served with truckload of SoPs, SoRs

PNCR Chairperson Volda Lawrence

Former Region Four Returning Officer Clairmont Mingo

APNU/AFC activist Carol Joseph

n Monday, a Canter truck loaded with copies of statements of poll (SoPs) and statements of recount (SoRs) from the March 2020 General and Regional Elections was parked outside of the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts. The documents will be used as evidence against People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) Chairman Volda Lawrence; former Region Four Returning Officer Clairmont Mingo, and APNU/AFC activist Carol Joseph, who are facing several charges of electoral fraud.

Also charged are GECOM clerks Denise

Bob-Cummings and Michelle Miller; GECOM Elections Officer Shefern February, and Information Technology Officer Enrique Livan.

When the case continued on Monday before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts, Special Prosecutor Dharshan Ramdhani, QC, handed over copies of the SoPs and SoRs to the accused persons.

They were also served with a copy of a video-recorded interview they had with the Police. The case is set to be called again on December 17 for report after which another date will

be set for a case management conference (CMC).

At a previous hearing in August, Prosecutor Ramdhani had requested additional time to organise the documents, as some of the copies, according to him, were indecipherable.

Attorneys-at-Law Nigel Hughes, Ronald Daniels, and Konyo Sandiford are representing Mingo, Joseph, and Lawrence; while Senior Counsel John Jeremie, and Attorneysat-Law Eusi Anderson and Latoya Roberts are appearing for the other four defendants.

Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Shalimar Ali-Hack, SC,

O

The Canter truck loaded with copies of the SoPs and SoRs parked outside the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts

has hired a team of special prosecutors consisting of about six lawyers to prosecute the electoral fraud charges on behalf of the State.

Lawrence was slapped with two charges of conspiracy to commit fraud, while Joseph is charged jointly with Mingo for forgery. Moreover, Mingo is also facing four counts of misconduct in public office.

The GECOM clerks and IT and Elections Officers are also facing similar charges.

The seven accused persons have been released on cash bail pending the hearing and determination of their trial.

There are also charges against former Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield and former

Deputy Chief Elections Officer Roxanne Myers.

Lowenfield is facing three counts of forgery and three counts of misconduct in public office, while Myers is facing three counts of misconduct in public office.

The plethora of matters is currently before three Magistrates – the Chief Magistrate and Magistrates Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus and Leron Daly. Lowenfield’s election report claimed that the APNU/AFC coalition garnered 171,825 votes while the PPP/C gained 166,343 votes.

How he arrived at those figures is still unknown, since the certified results from the recount exercise supervised

by GECOM and a high-level team from the Caribbean

Community (Caricom) pellucidly showed that the PPP/C won with 233,336 votes while the coalition garnered 217,920.

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

In August, GECOM voted to terminate the employment contracts of Lowenfield, Myers, and Mingo. The firing of the officials was met with much satisfaction by the Government, which viewed it as a step in the right direction to restoring public confidence in GECOM as it gears up to hold Local Government Elections. (G1)

Suspected thief shot dead by Police

A

suspected thief was on Monday morning shot dead by Police at Grove, East Bank Demerara

(EBD).

Dead is 34-year-old Kevin Andries of Grove Housing Scheme, EBD. Reports are that the incident occurred about 02:50h following a high-speed chase between the suspect and ranks of the Guyana Police Force (GPF).

Police have since said that some ranks were on a mobile patrol when they responded to a report that a motor car with suspected stolen items was in the area.

Upon seeing the vehicle in question, the ranks on patrol tried to intercept the car; however, the driver sped away into the access street at Grove, EBD. Police said one of the men in the vehicle opened fire on the ranks, causing the cops to return fire.

During the process, one of the suspects was shot while the other suspect escaped.

The shot suspect was taken to the Diamond hospital, where he succumbed

Dead: Kevin Andries

while receiving medical attention.

A .32 spent shell was recovered by Police, and the motor vehicle has been impounded as the investigations continue.

NEWS

3

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS OPENINGS BRIDGE

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

Tuesday, October 12 – 09:30h-11:00h and Wednesday, October 13 – 10:30h-12:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

APNU/AFC’s changes to Fiscal Management and Accountability Act unconstitutional …PPP’s reversal valid – High Court rules

Tuesday, October 12 – 08:25h-09:55h and Wednesday, October 13 – 09:50h-11:20h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Sunny conditions are expected in the day. Partly cloudy to clear skies are expected at night.

Temperatures should range between 22 degrees Celsius and 32 degrees Celsius.

Winds: North North-Easterly to South-Westerly between 1.78 metres and 5.36 metres.

High Tide: 08:43h and 20:58h reaching maximum heights of 2.27 metres and 2.32 metres.

Low Tide: 14:28h reaching a minimum height of 1.03 metres.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2021

LOTTERY NUMBERS I

13 16 18

19 20 28

FREE TICKET

23 Bonus Ball

MONDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2021

DAILY MILLIONS

04 05 07 12 20 LUCKY 3

2

8

8

2

Afternoon Draw

5

7

Evening Draw

DRAW DE LINE

04 05 07 10 12 17 20 SUPER

PAY DAY

PAY DAY

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2021

02 04 07 11 13 13

08 10 11 17 20

3

1 Afternoon Draw

FP Afternoon Draw

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

COMMODITIES Indicators

US$

Change %

Crude Oil

$83.65/barrel

Rough Rice

$247. 14/ton

-0.29

London Sugar

$519.70/ton

+1.80

Live Spot Gold

+1.51

USD Per Ounce

Bid/Ask

$1754.60

$1755.60

Low/High Change

$1749.80 + 0.80

$1761.30 + 0.05%

Attorney General Anil Nandlall, SC

J

ustice Nareshwar Harnanan, on Monday, declared that the amendments made by the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Government to the Fiscal Management and Accountability Act (FMAA) in 2021 are not unconstitutional as was being argued by Opposition Members of Parliament Ganesh Mahipaul and Coretta McDonald, along with others.

The parliamentarians had contended that by the 2021 Amendments to the FMAA, the constitutional agencies were once again regulated to mere budget agencies subject to the whims and fancies of the Executive. They had argued that the amendments allow the Finance Minister and members of the National Assembly to limit the size of allocations as well as limit the items of the budgets and consequently affected the work of the agencies.

The Fiscal Management and Accountability (Amendment) Act of 2021 repealed Section 80B (1) to (4) of the Fiscal Management and Accountability Act, Chap.

73:02, which was amended by the Fiscal Management and Accountability (Amendment) Act of 2015, which was enacted under the previous A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) coalition Government.

The Judge said that the amendments made to the Act in 2015, though well-intended, removed a function of the Executive and placed it within the realm of the legislature by requiring constitutional agencies to submit their budget proposals to the Clerk of the National Assembly or the Auditor General through the Chair of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) who were both charged with submitting it to the National Assembly.

Considering that the language of Article 218 (1) of the Constitution is “clear and unambiguous” and establishes that the preparation and presentation of the national budget is an executive responsibility under the doctrine of the separation of powers and the current statute, Justice Harnanan noted that the amendments made to the Act under the APNU/ AFC permitted constitutional agencies to “intrude upon

Justice Nareshwar Harnanan

the functional responsibilities of the Executive”.

For this reason, the High Court Judge underscored that he was of the view that amendments made under the previous regime would have been violative of Article 218, as they abrogated the doctrine of separation of powers. According to him, the 2021 amendments in seeking to ameliorate the transgression into the realm of the Executive deleted subsection 1 to 4 of Section 80B. The Judge said that the conduit now by which constitutional agencies’ budget proposals ought to make their way to the National Assembly as part of the process for the determination of the national budget must be through the Finance Minister, and the expenditure of the agencies are only disbursable thereafter pursuant to Article 222A.

Violative to an extent

To this end, the Judge found that Section 1 to 6 of

Opposition MP Coretta McDonald

Opposition MP Ganesh Mahipaul

the Fiscal Management and Accountability (Amendment) Act of 2021 were not in violation of Articles 122A, 212 (G), and 222A of the Constitution “to the extent, however, that there is a requirement for any approvals by sector ministers before transmission to the [Minister of Finance] in order to become part of the process for determination of Guyana’s national budget, any such approval will be violative of Articles 122A, 212 (G), and 222A of the Constitution and it is so declared.”

He noted that the 2021 amendments went further in an attempt “which this court can only describe” as prescribing the manner in which withdrawals can be made from the Consolidated Fund, by inserting the constitutional agencies into the schedule of the FMAA, making them budget agencies and subject to the overall control exercisable by the Executive of its own entities or agencies.

“The court views this with some concern,” Justice Harnanan said, adding that “this court cannot comment on the intent of this particular amendment, but the effects certainly subjugate the constitutional entities to the Executive controls, statutory and otherwise.”

According to him, Article 222A removes the Finance Ministry and the Executive from all decisions regarding the spending by constitutional agencies of an approved budget. He noted that the entities are assured financial autonomy with respect to their spending.

The Judge was of the view that “by declaring such spending to be by way of direct charge from the Consolidated Fund, the amendment removes the necessity for compliance with the ordinary legislative scheme and other requirements with respect to Government spending, and it is so declared.”

TURN TO PAGE 7

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guyanatimesgy.com

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2021

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

Girl Child

G

uyana joined the rest of the world to commemorate International Day of the Girl Child, which is observed on October 11 annually.

It is apt that in using the day to recognise the potential of girls, the Human Services and Social Security Minister, Dr Vindhya Persaud, launched “The StoryBoard Initiative”, which, according to the Ministry, is a special edition of “Youth Unfiltered”.

This will give the girls, who are all from vulnerable groups across the country, opportunity to write their stories.

More importantly, the proceeds from the sale of the books will be used towards the advancement of the girls’ education.

It is important that girls, and more so women, coming from vulnerable groups be given a chance to earn and be empowered to stand up against violence.

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

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

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

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

According to SG Mohammed, women bear the brunt of increased care-work during this pandemic. School closures further worsen this burden and place more stress on women. The disruption of livelihoods and their ability to earn a living – especially for those women who are informal wage workers – will decrease access to basic needs and services. This situation increases stress on families, with the potential to intensify conflict and violence.

Violence against women, girls and children has tremendous costs to communities, and can remain with women and children for a lifetime. If not dealt with effectively, it can also be passed from one generation to another. Over the years, the UN has been pushing countries towards implementing proactive measures to combat domestic violence.

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

Every year, between 25 November and 10 December - 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence - Guyana joins the WHO and other partners to raise awareness about the global need to prevent and respond to violence against women, and provide support to survivors.

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

The Human Services Minister, some time ago, said, “Domestic violence remains a taboo, shuttered behind closed doors and only emerging as bloody faces, bruised limbs, broken spirits and dead bodies. Fear of societal judgement, insecurities about children and finances, family pressure and manipulation keep this a hushed conversation, or results in an overwhelming silence”.

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

We had previously called for urgent action to be taken by the Government and other partners to end violence against women. We are pleased that some steps are being taken in this regard, including the ‘914’ emergency hotline which was launched in December 2020.

Since its launch, the 24-Hour Hotline Operators have been seeking to offer support, referral to victims and survivors, family, friends and professionals via an integration of the services available at both the Domestic Violence Unit and the Childcare and Protection Agency.

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

That said, we again urge the Government to reconvene a stakeholders’ engagement to tackle the issue of domestic violence.

The aim should be to reassess and modify current strategies, taking into account the lessons learnt from past experiences.

As Guyana joins with the rest of the world in commemorating International Day of the Girl Child, Education Minister Priya Manickchand shares a photo with some of the girls attending the Westminster Secondary School, Parfaite Harmonie, West Bank Demerara, Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) (Education Ministry photo)

What do you love about this land?

Dear Editor, A Guyanese on Facebook poignantly, pertinently and (perniciously?) asked a persuasive, primeval and (prejudiced?) question, “What do you love about this Land?”

This inquiry is believed to activate an honest, heartfelt, and perhaps humorous reaction. What will be your immediate instinct in responding to a request that maybe touches the heart, one that you’re very much at home with, and one that you can unreservedly relate to without reservation, malice or animosity? For sure, there will be very interesting, amusing, passionate, sad, jealous, zealous, erudite, sarcastic and flamboyant attempts to describe a pent up, free-flowing or constrained reflection of what really and truly affects the heart, mind and soul of Guyanese.

Will consideration be entertained for admiration, sentimental feelings, emotional attachment, generations of families, historical values, moral upliftment or decline, regard or disregard for law and order, implication or complication of rules and regulations, constitutional irregularities, a referendum battle or baffle, economic potentials or downturn, hunger and suffering, depression, oppression, suppression, dictatorial administrators, leaders, bleeders, electoral fraudsters, corruptive forces, collusive permissiveness, financial misappropriations, approval or disappointments from election and selection, a garden city to a run-down city, the

Taj Mahals or the dilapidated huts, the humungous business enterprises or the roadside stands, the wellkept streets or the polluted ditches, gutters and drains; the politicians, the economists, the social workers, the armed forces, the religious societies, the shelters or the luxurious hotels.

How will the crime situation ventilate an outpour of affectionate giving or misgivings? Will the entire Guyana be judged on the border of criminal activities that are so prevalent, consistent, and ambivalent?

Is there a thin line that demarcates the reason, purpose and outcome of criminal pursuits which will attract any sympathetic opinions?

The dangerous, devious and damaging crime situation certainly plays a pivotal role in announcing or denouncing any call of likeness for this land.

Should the mention of road carnage and accidents come into play to promote or demote any respective view on this heavenly land or godforsaken land?

Certainly, employment opportunities will impress or depress the formation of any statement. Who is working? Who is not working?

Who is willing to work without having any success? Who is refusing to work, and who wants to work but is denied?

These are all segments of a painted or tainted picture, projecting an outcome which is susceptible to invariable conclusions. A judgement focused on the repercussions of the deadly COVID-19 pan-

demic will also alienate or alternate diversion to summarise any actual, factual or fictional conclusion on the adversaries of attachment or detachment.

The aftermath is certainly bearing a heavy toll in many directions, and Guyanese are reeling and wondering about many propositions.

Then, again, there are those who are full of venom, anger and hurt, who are ready to contradict the word love and quickly replace it with “hate.” They could be residing on this beautiful land, or have departed at the first instance. For reasons beyond control, many are still aligned and grounded, and awaiting the opportune moment to pack and book the earliest flight from this land. In direct opposition would be the die-hard, sworn to live and die on this land, yes, to visit overseas, but to certainly return home and hang their hat on the stand!

Which category will you prefer to affiliate yourself with? Do Guyanese still enjoy the freedom of choice, or has that right been taken away or denied them, or do Guyanese no longer care about such a discussion, or, does such concern no longer bear any interest for digestion?

So, we see there is enough food for thought not to jump to a hasty rap-up session and give a reactive verdict.

There is the need for a second thought after a careful analysis of the law of action and reaction. All that glitters is not gold, and the

sea is full of many fishes.

Like they say, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never.” Will Guyanese remain loyal to the land, regardless of what is said or done and by whom?

This land, that belongs to you and me, a land of many waters, a land below the sea level, a land exposed to wind, rain and sun; a land enjoying the tropical weather, a land so rich and fertile, a land rich in agriculture, minerals, forestry, oil and gas, bauxite and people; a land famous for sports and international figures, a land that has absorbed the blood, sweat and tears of so many, a land that has borne the happiness and sadness of residents, a land that has sheltered the rich and poor, a land that has provided birth, growth and death, a land that man has grown from strength to strength, a land that has been plundered, raped, desecrated and destroyed by pilferers, colonists and opportunists, a land that so many want to divide, conquer and rule, a land that has buried so much memories, a land, ready, willing, capable and culpable for advanced development, a land devoid of adoration, care and affection.

What we should love about this land is that she allows each and every loving Guyanese to give back to her and her people what she has given to us and what we have taken from her, willingly and forcefully, deceptively and cunningly!

Yours respectfully, Jai Lall

guyanatimesgy.com

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2021

5

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

Guyana Police Force should be on high alert Dear Editor, Fires and other associated conflagrations have long been a matter of concern for all of us here in Guyana, judging from our social and political history. Fires can be used as a tool to intimidate, kill, maim, and destroy valuable information; something politicians have used throughout the history of our country. A short step back in time and you will see this vividly evident in the aftermath of the 1964 Elections, when this country was mired in a spate of civil destruction.

There were bombings and burnings, and millions

worth of damages were present all around us as the city went up in flames.

Those fires plunged our country into a state of emergency, but some semblance of normalcy was eventually brought back to life here. However, fires still remain a bugbear on a Guyana landscape.

Fire is also used as a valuable tool to destroy evidence. This was seen some years ago in the social saga of an extramarital affair between a politician and a prominent sports personality. The culmination of that adulterous relationship saw the wife turning up dead, under highly

controversial circumstances. What we were told by the husband of the dead woman was that she wanted her mortal remains to be cremated, as the saying goes “dead men tell no tales, as the evidence went up in flames.”

Then there was the burning of The National Development Building, something which we would all agree was a precursor to the assassination of Dr Walter Rodney. We now know that fire was used as evidence to prove that Dr Rodney was a violent man, who believed in the violent overthrow of the then Burnham Dictatorship.

The logic behind that reasoning is that this was license for the regime to kill him. To this day, that foolishness is still being peddled by the PNC and some of their associates.

Then there was the infamous “slo fiah moh fiah” chant by Hoyte and his thugs. That rallying call after the PNC’s humiliating defeat at the 1997 Elections. That call to violence again saw a number of buildings going up in flames in the central business district of Georgetown.

We now turn our attention to the Brickdam Fire.

Was this just a situation of

“I was frustrated being in the lockups”, or was it a deliberate attempt to destroy evidence pertaining to an ongoing court matter? I have posited the second part of the question to say this: then why are members of a particular political party so much involved in this criminal’s defense?

Is there something to hide?

Why is there so much interest by the political operatives of that party in this man’s defense, to the point where they have provided him with legal counsel? Are they nervous that there would be further revelations which would show a political nexus attached

to the burning? Which is it? And even more damning are the questions that are being asked: What kind or type of documents were destroyed in the fire?

Are they talking about the destruction of the statements of poll for Region 4?

These are all interesting developments to date.

I therefore call on our Crime Chief to be on high alert, as there are many political undercurrents at work in this matter, and no stone should be left unturned until we get to the bottom of this matter.

Respectfully, Neil Adams

GuySuCo is not dead, and never will be Dear Editor, The Alliance for Change Leader is again in Berbice, delivering the Coalition’s old message that ‘sugar is dead’ and monies are once again being thrown down a ‘dark hole’. Perhaps he failed to come to realization that it was the Coalition’s closure of the sugar industry which threw them down the ‘dark hole’ and reinforced the ‘dead meat status of the AFC. Ramjattan and his cronies must understand that the mechanisation of the industry would make it viable once again, and the Government is making the necessary investments.

He has made a few ridiculous assumptions that the “soil and weather patterns would not allow for mechanisation”, but he failed to realise that GuySuCo is already partly mechanised in terms of planting, harvesting, and loading of canes.

The labour shortage issue is already being addressed. This has proven to be cost effective, hence the move to full mechanization, which would be done within the next six years.

Sugar will once again be the bedrock of the economy, and this Government will prove Ramjattan and his ilk wrong.

Mr Ramjattan must accept the fact that the panoramic destruction unleashed by the Coalition on the closed estates has necessitated that this Government spend huge sums of money to correct the disaster which the Coalition willfully created, and ironically spent more than $17 billion to destroy. He should ask what happened to the $30 billion bond.

I was also shocked that Ramjattan and David Patterson vehemently attacked the reopening of Rose Hall Estate, which has so far provided employment for nearly 700 persons, and which has been employing both severed and new employees on a daily basis.

This is done without an iota of racial discrimination or political affiliation. These persons are incessantly expressing gratitude to the PPP/C Government for giving them an opportunity to live with dignity once again. David Patterson emphasised the condition of the factory as being ‘derelict and unsafe’ and the boilers and equipment as ‘dangerous’. I am glad that the Coalition can accept responsibility for the state in which they have rendered a grinding sugar estate, which was the only estate to be awarded a medal of service for its high production and productivity. They have transformed this estate into a literal junkyard, after stealing what can be stolen.

The former Finance Minister had spent over $17 billion to keep the factories in ‘mothball condition’ so that it can be sold. Do you

remember this statement, Patterson?

Mr Patterson made a damning allegation on the basis of one person reporting to him that the workers are being forced to work under unsafe conditions.

He went on to say that the Government does not care about the lives of the workers, and is just pushing ahead with its campaign promises. I could recall that the AFC’s 2015 campaign promise was to give the sugar workers 20% increase in wages, and not to close any of the estates, which they reneged on, but are now barefacedly attacking the PPP/C for keeping its promise. Let me assure Mr Patterson that Occupational Health and Safety is a priority not only at Rose Hall, but throughout the industry.

Lastly, the AFC leaders decry the payment of the $250,000 cash grant

announced by the Vice President. At this point, I could recall the agony of the sugar workers when they closed the estates and the workers literally begged for the estates to continue operating. I will ask the AFC and the Opposition as whole to consider the emotional trauma which these workers suffered for more than 3 years. Some have died and a few committed suicide. I will quote from a Rose Hall worker, Glen McLeod, in 2017, “For us of Rose Hall, closure can be seen as a death knell for so many hardworking people and their families. For us of Rose Hall, closure means that our plans for life, our dreams for a better tomorrow, and our aspirations for our children and grandchildren have all but been dashed. For us of Rose Hall, closure will bring about uncertain times and many difficult, misery-filled days

ahead. For us of Rose Hall, closure brings about real questions, like where would our next meal come from, how would our children and grandchildren go to school, and how would we earn and meet our obligations? For us of Rose Hall, closure means difficult choices have to be made: - would we eat, or would we pay the electricity bills; would we send the children to school or would we buy clothes; would we

starve, or do we have to do something not necessarily right to put food on the table.”

Money cannot buy what these people lost, and we must show some compassion for these workers.

They deserve their fair share.

Let the Coalition know that GuySuCo is not dead, and will never be!

Yours sincerely, Haseef Yusuf

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TUESDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2021

Page

B

uild a balloon-powered car from recycled materials in this fun activity. You can even grab a friend, build two cars, and race them against each other!

Materials

Note: other materials can be substituted, like a small cardboard box instead of a plastic bottle.

• Plastic bottles • Plastic bottle caps (4) • Flexible straws (3) • Wooden skewers (2) • Balloon • Rubber band • Tape • Scissors • Hobby knife NB: Adult supervision required

Procedure

Have an adult ready to help you use the hobby knife.

Cut two straws so they are slightly longer than the width of the bottle.

Tape the straws to the bottle. Make sure they are parallel.

Cut the skewers so they are slightly longer than the straws.

Use the hobby knife to make small holes in the centre of all four bottle caps.

Push a skewer through one of the holes.

Thread the skewer through one of the straws, pointy end first.

Push a bottle cap onto the other end of the skewer. This makes an axle with two wheels.

Repeat steps 5–7 to make a second axle.

Make sure your axles spin freely. Put the car down and make sure it rolls

Foundation smoothly. It might get stuck if the wheels wobble or the axles are not parallel.

Adjust them if needed.

Slide the short end of the third straw into the neck of the balloon.

Tightly wrap a rubber band around the neck of the balloon.

Blow the balloon up through the straw to make sure there are no leaks.

Cut a small hole (big enough for the straw) in the top of the car.

Press the free end of the straw through the small hole and out the mouth of the bottle.

Tape the straw so it points backwards, not down.

Inflate your balloon; then put the car down and release! Cover the tip of the straw with your fingertip to keep the air in the balloon until you put it down.

Think about: How far does your car

By Anonymous My father has a pair of shoes So beautiful to see.

I want to wear my father's shoes.

They are too big for me.

My baby brother has a pair As cunning as can be.My feet won't go into that pair.

They are too small for me. go?

If your car does not move at all, or moves very slowly, inflate the balloon more and try again.

If your car still does not move, double check your axles to make sure they spin

freely. If the wheels and axles are not aligned, the balloon might not be strong enough to push the car forward.

What happened?

When you inflate the balloon, put your car down, and release, your car should start to move forward. It will keep moving until the balloon runs out of air. If you did a good job aligning your wheels and axles, it might keep rolling for a little bit even after the balloon runs out of air, until eventually coming to a stop.

Your balloon car is a great demonstration of all three of Newton's laws of motion! However, we are going to explain them in reverse order: Newton's third law of motion states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. When the balloon deflates, escaping air is pushed out the back of the balloon. In turn, the air pushes the car forward.

There's only one thing that I can do Till I get small or grown.

If I want to have some fitting shoes I'll have to wear my own.

Newton's second law of motion is summarised by the famous equation F= ma, or that the net force acting on an object equals its mass times its acceleration.

Acceleration is a change in velocity. You witness this as the car accelerates forward when the balloon deflates, and again as the car coasts to a stop (decelerates) when friction slows it down.

Newton's first law of motion states that an object in motion will remain in motion, and an object at rest will remain at rest, unless acted upon by an outside force. You may notice this is your car keeps moving even after the balloon has completely deflated. The car is already moving forward, so

even though the balloon is no longer pushing it, it will keep moving until an outside force (friction) brings it to a stop.

You can also think about this activity in terms of energy. When you inflate the balloon, it stores potential energy (in both the stretched rubber and the compressed air inside). When you release the balloon, this stored potential energy is converted to kinetic energy, the energy of motion. Eventually, the car will come to a stop, but the energy is not lost – it is converted to other forms like sound and heat (from friction). The total amount of energy is conserved.

(Ben Finio, PhD, Science Buddies)

WORD SEARCH

7 $495M in laptops received under APNU/AFC damaged NEWS

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

…as uncertainty swirls over existence of warranty

The former Government reconfigured the OLPF project into a One Laptop Per Teacher project

W

ith the state being forced to shoulder $495 million in losses due to laptops procured under the former A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government ending up damaged, questions are swirling over what state the items were received in from the supplier, and whether they were even covered by a warranty.

This came up before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Monday during the statutory meeting. Some 2,959 laptops, costing $495 million, having been received in 2016, ended up damaged.

The then Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Public Telecommunications, Derrick Cummings, explained that the laptops ended up damaged because of the conditions under which they were stored.

When asked whether these laptops were covered by a warranty, and what steps were being taken to recoup the money from the supplier,

Huawei, Cummings could not provide any satisfactory answer. And according to PAC Member Ganesh Mahipaul, with so much money involved, the committee needs answers.

“In 2018, the Ministry’s response to this very matter that recurred, the head of Budget Agency acknowledged this finding. So, I don’t know what really is going on, that one year you’re acknowledging the finding, another year you’re saying the problem is with another Ministry.

And then you have, in 2017, there is no response from the Ministry.

“It was just documented as a prior year issue not resolved; 2016, it’s the same.

So, there is no sequence of this issue and us seeing an attempt to correct what is wrong. And I would not want to say it seems as though we don’t care about Government money,” Mahipaul also said.

Cummings, who became Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Public Telecommunications in 2016,

was asked directly what he has done as the accounting officer to address the issue of the damaged laptops. By his own admission, however, he had done nothing.

“I would say to this committee that I did not take any action regarding the damaged laptops, because I think, being a technical aspect of the work of the Ministry under the National Data Management Authority, I was looking to them, or they should have been the persons I was monitoring to ask about it. Based on how you put (the question) to me, I would say I didn’t take any action,” Cummings said.

Ultimately, the Permanent Secretary requested that the PAC summon Permanent Secretary of the Office of the President, Abena Moore, to help provide responses to the unanswered questions that were posed to him.

This suggestion was acknowledged by PAC Chairman Jermaine Figueira, who subsequently directed the Permanent Secretary to provide, by next week, responses to several of the unanswered questions, as well as the contract the Government signed with the supplier of the laptops.

Drama

Drama would soon follow, as PAC Member and Public Works Minister Juan Edghill objected to what he termed as the Chairman’s attempts to impugn the Audit Office’s integrity due to discrepancies with the dates the laptops were received.

For instance, the 2015 Audit Report states that 9,609 laptops were paid for in 2015

APNU/AFC’s changes to...

FROM PAGE 3

He added, “therefore, to the extent that section 7 of the Fiscal Management and Accountability (Amendment) Act of 2021 inserts the constitutional agencies into the schedule of its principal Act, this would be violative of Article 218 and 222A which assures the independence of those entities by providing their expenditure to be (1) financed by a direct charge from the Consolidated Fund; (ii) excluded from becoming a portion of estimates for an Appropriation Act; (iii) their expenditure be managed in such manner as they deem fit for the discharge of their functions.”

2021 budgetary process

Additionally, to the extent that the 2021 Budget was prepared, approved, and disbursed to the constitutional agencies pursuant to the mechanisms set out under the Fiscal Management and Accountability (Amendment) Act of 2021, the Judge ruled that the budgetary process of these agencies would have conflicted with Article 222A of the Constitution, and as such, made a declaration in this regard.

The Judge was keen to point out that in considering the factual matrix of the case, there was no evidence of an intrusion by the Executive into the realm of the constitutional agencies, in so far as any act or edict was deliberately designed or implemented by the Executive to intrude into the independence of the agencies.

He was of the view that there existed a lacuna between the Executive’s statutory and constitutional mandate to prepare and lay the budget before the National Assembly, and the process of determining the expenditure of the constitutional agencies, which are financed as a direct charge on the Consolidated Fund which has to be approved by the National Assembly through the budget process.

“The solution could not be to impose on the Clerk of the National Assembly and the Chair of the Public Accounts Committee an executive responsibility as happened in 2015 nor could it be the solution to assign the constitutional agencies to the schedule of the [FMAA] to become budget agencies which will have the consequential effect

of subjecting them to executive control and impacting on their constitutionally-guaranteed independence…”

Finally, the Court made no coercive orders. No orders were made as to costs in light of the significant public interest nature of the matter.

The constitutional agencies are the Judicial Service Commission, the Public Service Commission, the Teaching Service Commission, the Public Service Appellate Tribunal, the Public Procurement Commission, the Guyana Elections Commission, the Office of the Ombudsman, the Ethnic Relations Commission, the Women and Gender Equality Commission, the Indigenous Peoples Commission, the Rights of the Child Commission, the Chambers of the Director of Public Prosecutions, the Office of the Auditor General, the Supreme Court of Judicature, and Parliament Office.

Attorney General Anil Nandlall, SC, a named respondent in the action, appeared in person. Senior Counsel Roysdale Forde appeared for Mahipaul and McDonald. (G1)

PS at the former Public Telecommunications Ministry, Derrick Cummings

and received in April 2016, of which 2,959 were damaged.

However, subsequent Audit Reports state that the laptops in question were received in February 2016.

Figueira mandated that Auditor General Deodat Sharma correct this mistake, leading to a heated exchange between Edghill and Figueira. Outside of the chambers, Edghill expressed concern at the direction the PAC seemed to be going, which is to call into question the integrity of the Audit Report, and by extension the Audit Office, which is a constitutional agency.

“If there’s a discrepancy, a typo or mistake or something that needs clarification, the right and proper thing to do is to ask the Auditor General to review and bring clarity on this matter. But an instruction to correct your report I find to be obnoxious, and it was repeated several times,” Edghill said.

“And I’m intelligent enough to know that when that is going to be repeated several times, sooner or later it will be said the Auditor General wrote things that were not factual about the

APNU/AFC term in office,” he added.

Meanwhile, Mahipaul

also weighed in on the issue and noted that the Auditor General, like everyone else, is subject to human error.

According to him, the opposition PAC members’ insistence on having the report corrected should not be viewed as an attack on the Audit Office.

The laptops in question were brought in as part of the One Laptop Per Teacher, which was reformulated from the original One Laptop Per Family (OLPF) project the former People’s Progressive Party Government had started. Head of the National Data Management Authority (NDMA), Francis Simmons has expressed the view that the quality of the laptops was inferior. (G3)

Teen injured in Canje Creek boat accident

A

16-year-old is now hospitalised at the Georgetown Public Hospital after he was injured in a boat collision on Sunday in the Canje Creek, East Berbice.

According to information, the boat was being captained by 23-yearold Rakesh Gladstone of Kimbia, Berbice River, and a passenger had just disembarked at the wharf under the Canje Bridge when an-

other wooden boat struck it.

The incident occurred just about 08:00h and the 16-year-old boy of Semple Street, Sheet Anchor, East Canje received injuries about his body. He was rushed to the New Amsterdam Public Hospital, where he was admitted before subsequently being transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital.

Investigations are ongoing.

8 NEWS

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Councillor arrested for assaulting Rose Hall Mayor …says it was Mayor who assaulted him

A

councillor attached to the Rose Hall Town’s municipality has been arrested for allegedly assaulting the Mayor, Dave Budhu, on Sunday.

The incident reportedly took place at the Hampshire Civic Clinic Centre following an outreach by Local Government Minister Nigel Dharamlall.

Police, in a release, said that after a meeting, the Councillor and the Mayor were in the compound when a heated argument erupted between them over cleaning of a Williamsburg Street.

According to the Police, the Councillor became annoyed and started to abuse the Mayor, calling him a “waste man”, and allegedly dealt him a cuff behind his neck.

The matter was reported at the Rose Hall Town Police Outpost, and the Mayor was escorted to the Port Mourant Hospital, where he was seen and examined by a doctor on duty, treated and sent away.

The Councillor was arrested and placed in custody pending charges.

When this publication reached Mayor Budhu for a comment, he declined. This publication also reached out

Councillor Vickram Shrikison

to the Councillor, Vickram Shrikison, who said he raised his concerns with a senior person about the municipality not removing solid waste from his community nor clearing the drains.

He explained that he had then gone outside of the building in the company of a family member, and observed the person with whom he had raised his concerns was in a heated conversation with the Mayor and Deputy Mayor.

However, he could not tell what was being said.

“After the conversation, me and a…girl were standing out of the building and the three of them come to we, and the Mayor say in a high voice, ‘How you say that garbage not being picked up in your street?’”

He claimed that it was the Mayor who pushed him, causing him to stumble backwards.

“He tell me that I am a waste, and then a lil argument and then we finish there.”

Shrikison said he left and went home.

“When I come and park my motorbike, he and the Deputy Mayor come through the street, so when they pass me, I called the Deputy Mayor and I bring out the bucket with the garbage…”

Shrikison said three Police officers subsequently came to him home and arrested him for assaulting the Mayor.

“They carry me and lock me up in the lock-ups, and which the Mayor deh out,” Shrikison said.

Late last month, Mayor Budhu was also involved in another incident. He had reported that, while in the company of others, he was offloading tools from a truck

S

The gun that was recovered following the robbery

$10,000 each.

The suspect then made good his escape in a silver Primo motor car bearing registration PMM 6951, which was parked in front

of the victims’ vehicle and drove off in an easterly direction along the LBI Public Road.

While reporting the matter to the Police the victim

There are many rooms...

W Mayor Dave Budhu

when a 55-year-old man approached him on a bicycle and started to abuse him, and then threatened to kill him while brandishing a knife that he drew from the waist of his pants. Budhu said he became fearful for his life, and ran to safety in the market and summoned the Police.

The man was subsequently charged, and after apologising to the Mayor, He was warned by the magistrate not to indulged in such behaviour, and the case was dismissed. (G4)

Man nabbed after robbing women of raw gold, $1M

wift action by the Guyana Police Force and a robbery victim led to the apprehension of a 31-year-old alleged bandit shortly after he reportedly relieved two women of more than $1 million and valuables.

Police said that the two women – a 37-year-old businesswoman and a 20-yearold female – had just made a drop at the Ogle Airport and stopped at a boutique at La Bonne Intention (LBI) Public Road, East Coast Demerara (ECD) just about 13:30h on Monday.

While both victims were in their vehicle, the suspect approached from the left front door, opened it and pointed a handgun at them demanding that they both hand over their valuables.

As such, the victims became fearful and handed over one iPhone valued $300,000; 75 grams of raw gold valued $750,000, $55,000 in cash, and two handbags valued

ss

was tracking the suspect on another iPhone and the Police immediately responded to the tracked location.

The mobile patrol saw the getaway car at Industry, ECD and intercepted it at Industry Crown Dam after it had collided with a parked van.

The suspected bandit then disembarked with a handgun in his hand and started to run away from the Police. He reportedly threw the firearm towards a drain.

The silver Taurus .32 pistol, along with a magazine with one .32 round of ammunition and six 9mm rounds, was retrieved by the Police.

A further search was conducted on the motor car and the stolen articles were found.

The suspect was apprehended and taken to the Sparendaam Police Station where he remains in custody.

An investigation is in progress. (G2)

…in our dear Guyana hen President Jagdeo went ahead with the construction of the Marriott Hotel, the naysayers went after him tooth and nail – and with a whole lotta venom!! What did Guyana need with a 5-star Hotel? Weren’t the few we had enough for the folks who visited, since most of them were Guyanese visiting “home”? Well, that shows how stuck in the past they were - couldn’t conceive that if we were serious about the Private Sector being the engine of growth, foreign businesses had to come in.

Isn’t that how China, Korea etc developed from scratch? But if you want “foreign businesses to come”, it means foreign businessmen would have to come on down to personally examine the prospects. And the first thing businessmen do when coming into Third World countries – remember, oil wasn’t struck then! - is worry where the heck will they stay? The image in their minds when they think about us is hovels in the countryside and slums in the towns!!

Did Jagdeo’s critics factor this in? No, they didn’t. But Jagdeo did… and knew that once they know Guyana has a branded name like the Marriott, they know what to expect. A Marriott anywhere in the world guarantees a particular level of service - and they deliver. And so said, so done. And when the oil gushed, the Marriott was there to house all those Texas oil men who came to town!!

They immediately rented an entire floor for their Execs.

In fact, with the Marriott being the only (top hotel) game in town, they’re pretty much booked up for the year. You can’t even get a room if your cousin the King of Jordan wanted to visit!!

And the demonstrator effect worked. This weekend, we learnt that there are at least TWENTY HOTELS WITH 3450 ROOMS going up - with at least five already started!!

Now, if there was the need for a vote of confidence in Guyana’s immediate prospects, this is it! Businesses work from business plans - and business plans have studies of the projected market incorporated, and this means that these businessmen see many of their peers coming into our dear old mudland.

Now, we know that most of them initially will be connected with the oil industry - but this is where the Ali Administration continues to look ahead. By having Exxon spring for the gas-to-shore pipeline and opening up the downstream opportunities like urea, methanol, LNG etc to the Private Sector, they know this will continue to attract some big players in this area. Then, of course, there’s the diversification into agriculture to address the region and the world’s food security needs.

Yes, the PPP has prepared Guyana for the boom!! …for political parties in Guyana Guyana has a constitution that guarantees elections for choosing the Government of Guyana. But the way the PNC and their legion of factions are behaving, you’d think street action and threats are the only way to get back into power. Does this mean they’ve concluded they can’t win a free and fair election in Guyana? Well, to be honest, if they did, your Eyewitness believes they’re into something!! Right now, as the Yanks would say, they couldn’t get themselves elected dog catcher of Georgetown!!

But they have only themselves to blame. Okay…they “tried a thing” with the rigging. But in politics - like in poker - “you gotta know when to hold and know when to fold it”! And the PNC should’ve long folded their scorched earth campaign. They have a minority base - like the PNC - and their truculence is just turning off others who might be disgruntled with the PPP for one reason or another!

Let’s see if a new leader will have some (good) sense!

…but not for the AFC The AFC postponed their National Executive Conference to “after March 2022”. They said it’s because of COVID and sorting out the Cummingsburg Accord.

Don’t they understand there’s absolutely no room in the PNC coalition for them?

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

NEWS

9

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

COVID-19 cases spike in Regions 1, 2, 7, 10 …2 more unvaccinated deaths, 52 new cases

GUYANA COVID-19 DASHBOARD OCTOBER 11, 2021 UPDATE

NUMBER OF NEW CASES

52

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN INSTITUTIONAL ISOLATION NUMBER OF PERSONS IN HOME ISOLATION NUMBER OF PERSONS IN COVID-19 ICU

145 2728 29

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN INSTITUTIONAL QUARANTINE

3

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES BY GENDER (FEMALES)

17,779

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES BY GENDER (MALES)

15,969

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES IN GUYANA SINCE 2020

33,748

NUMBER OF RECOVERED CASES

29,004

TOTAL 1st DOSE VACCINATED

366,190

FULLY IMMUNISED

220,017

TOTAL NUMBER OF DEATHS

842

DISTRIBUTION OF TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES SINCE MARCH 2020 REGION 1

1547

REGION 2

1305

REGION 3

4574

REGION 4

16,154

REGION 5

1180

REGION 6

2382

REGION 7

1697

REGION 8

536

REGION 9

2420

REGION 10

1953

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

Keep a physical distance of at least 6 feet.

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

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

D

eaths from the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) have moved to 842, after another two persons died from the virus.

The latest fatalities are a 63-year-old woman from Region Four (DemeraraMahaica) and an 88-yearold man from Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West

Demerara). Both persons were unvaccinated. For the month of October, deaths have leaped to 45 thus far.

From the Health Ministry’s updated dash-

board, the number of new cases stood at 52. Total confirmed cases have reached 33,748 – 15,969 men and 17,779 women.

There are 29 persons in the specialised Intensive Care Unit (ICU), 145 in institutional isolation, 3728

ures remained unchanged.

Even as active cases reduce slightly in Region Four, there have been spikes in other administrative regions.

“The numbers have been

Region Four.

Specifically in Georgetown, all wards continue to see increases but areas of concern are Sophia (76), Kitty (45), Campbellville (39), Lodge (37), South Ruimveldt (35), Alberttown (32) and West

in home isolation and three in institutional quarantine.

The number of recoveries now stands at 29,004. To date, 333,153 persons were swabbed.

Active COVID-19 cases stand at 3916 – 122 of whom are currently hospitalised.

The Infectious Diseases Hospital currently houses 83 cases.

Regionally, there were two new cases in Region One (Barima-Waini); 10 in Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam); eight in Region Three; 21 in Region Four; five in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne); two in Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni), and four in Region 10 (Upper DemeraraBerbice).

No positive cases emerged from Regions Five (Mahaica-Berbice), Eight (Pomeroon-Supenaam) and Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo), and their fig-

coming down because last week, we were trending at approximately 2000 cases in Region Four. That has come down a little bit, so we’re now at 1710 cases. There’s a slight decrease in Region Four. However, we see an increase in Region Two. That’s creeping up. In Region 10, the numbers are going up and in Region Seven; and we have seen a slight increase in Region One,” according to Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony on Monday.

The hotspots are Wakapao (53) in Region Two; Tuschen (94), Parfaite Harmonie (62), Crane (57), Vreed-en-Hoop (54), Zeelugt (53), Pouderoyen (52), Cornelia Ida (52), Hague (47), Parika (47), and La Grange (42) in Region Three; Diamond (90), Grove (73), Herstelling (32), Soesdyke (31), Eccles (30), Mon Repos (32), Victoria (31) and Nonpareil (27) in

Ruimveldt (31).

Spikes were reported in New Amsterdam (28) in Region Six; Bartica (79) in Region Seven; Mahdia (19) and Tiger Creek (14) in Region Eight; Aishalton (20) in Region Nine; and Wismar (62) and Amelia’s Ward (32) in Region 10.

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

All Guyanese are reminded to observe the protocols of the COVID-19 emergency measures which emphasise: correct and consistent use of a face mask when leaving your home, maintaining six feet of physical distance from others, and good hand hygiene. (G12)

Spikes

10 NEWS

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Govt poised to exceed 10,000 house lots by year end – Rodrigues …as another 3000 lots to be allocated

Minister within the Housing Ministry, Susan Rodrigues

T

he Government stands poised to not only deliver on its promise of 10,000 house lots being delivered by year end, but to also exceed it. This is according to Minister within the Housing and Water Ministry, Susan Rodrigues.

Since it came to office, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) set itself the ambitious target of distributing 50,000 house lots in five years, or 10,000 house lots per year. But 2021 is coming to a close, and according to Minister Rodrigues, the Government is poised to exceed that target for this year.

“To date, we have allocated almost 8,000 already, and we have at least 3,000 more to be allocated for 2021. So, by the time we get to the end of this calendar year, we would have surpassed our target of 10,000 for this year,” she said.

During her interview with this publication, Rodrigues also spoke of the backlog of housing applications currently in the system at the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA), as well as the efforts being made to clear it.

“When we checked the status of applications as of August 2, when we took office, there was 70,000 outstanding applications in our systems,” Minister Rodrigues explained to this publication.

As of August 2021, the PPP Government had processed close to 2000 titles and transports in its first year in office, while starting construction on 1000 houses and conducting massive infrastructural work… all part of a more-than-$14 billion investment in the housing sector.

Since taking office, the PPP Government has made

it clear that it is aiming to fulfil its manifesto promise of distributing 50,000 house lots over the next five years.

The Ministry of Housing has also said it would work with other State agencies to make more land available for housing development.

These agencies include the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL); the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission (GLSC), and the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo). Land acquisition for housing development would be pursued.

This year, the housing sector received a total allocation of $8.9 billion in the budget. Of this sum, $6 billion will go towards infrastructure and utility works in new and existing areas.

This will pave the way for the allocation of over 10,000 house lots and 7000 land titles to citizens.

The Government has also gone countrywide with its Dream Realised house lot distribution campaign, an exercise that has so far distributed over 4000 house lots and over 500 land transports. In the Government’s first four months in office, 3500 house lots were distributed - an amount that was half the number of house lots distributed during the former Government’s five years in office.

In a bid to identify and demarcate new areas for housing schemes in light of the shrinking residential

land space in Region Four (Demerara/Mahaica), the CH&PA had also commenced surveys in November of last year.

It was a multi-agency effort, as CH&PA had collaborated with the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission (GL&SC), the

National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL), and the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo). (G3)

Police unearth 4.8lbs ganja at Ituni …man confesses, jailed, fined over $3M

Jailed: Shaquille Mingo

P

olice have taken a 25-year-old man into custody following the discovery of over 2.1 kilograms (4.8 pounds) of marijuana in a minibus on Saturday.

The incident occurred just about 09:30h at Tacama Junction, Ituni Road, Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).

Based on the information released by the Police, the bust was made after the Police received a tip-off that led to them intercepting a route minibus with three

passengers and the driver.

A search of the minibus resulted in the discovery of a red and yellow five-gallon bucket containing two bulky plastic bags.

The bags contained leaves, seeds, and stems suspected to be cannabis. This was immediately brought to the attention of the driver, who claimed that he collected the bucket from a male on Ituni trail and was asked to drop it off at the Ituni bus park and someone would pick it up.

The driver’s story was

supported by the passengers. The driver and passengers were escorted to the Ituni Police Station to assist with the investigation.

Meanwhile, 25-yearold Shaquille Mingo was charged for the offence of narco-trafficking contrary to Section 5 (1ai) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substance Control Act Chapter 10:10.

He appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan via Zoom at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts, where he pleaded guilty, and was sentenced to four years in jail and a fine of $3,325,500.

(G2)

NEWS

11

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Vaccine benefits for pregnant women outweigh side effects – Health Minister …43% adults completely immunised

M

inimal side effects associated with the COVID-19 vaccine are insignificant when compared to the benefits which pregnant and breastfeeding mothers will attain, since it drastically reduces their risk of serious infection or death.

Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony shared this position on Monday in the COVID-19 update, where he informed that in addition to the shots being safe, they could be administered in any trimester.

“The side effects are minimal…but these things don’t last. They go for 24 to 36 hours after which everything returns back to normal. All the data that we now have pertaining to these vaccines is that it’s safe during pregnancy, whether it’s in the first three months, second

three months, or the last three months. At what point you choose to get the vaccine, it doesn’t matter,” said Dr Anthony.

Since the Pfizer vaccines were available for women in this bracket, the Ministry

has started a campaign to get more persons vaccinated.

Interest has been growing, with more women taking the initiative to get vaccinated.

Collaboration has already started with private entities to see this plan through.

“There have been additional interest and a lot of women had been showing interest in getting vaccinated.

They have been asking a lot of questions and as we roll it out to different regions, I expect we will have higher uptake. We have also been working with private hospitals and the doctors at those hospitals have been promoting for pregnant and breastfeeding women to get vaccinated,” Dr Anthony said.

In Guyana, approximately 14,000 pregnancies are reported yearly.

The Health Minister noted that most pregnant women were at risk of contracting COVID-19, but immunisation would reduce those chances as well as hospitalisation or death. If vaccinated, some antibodies would also be passed to the child, transferring some protection against the virus.

“It protects you. It reduces your chance of get-

Teen drowns in Bonasika Creek

P

olice are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of an 18-year-old of Moruca, Region One (Barima-Waini), whose body was found floating in the Bonasika Creek, Essequibo River.

Dead is Swedel Williams, who was only recently employed as a labourer on a farm at Bonasika.

Williams’ body was discovered about 15:45h on Sunday, shortly after the young man went for a swim in the creek.

Police said that after the lad had not returned to the

farm after a prolonged period, another worker went to investigate and discovered Williams’ body floating in the creek.

An alarm was raised,

and with the assistance of residents in the area, the body was retrieved from the water. A post-mortem examination is expected to be conducted.

Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony

ting infected. It reduces your chance of being hospitalised with a more severe form of COVID and reduces your chance of death. I think these are three of the main benefits,” he asserted.

Last week, it was revealed that infections among pregnant women were on the rise – with some being hospitalised. All of these women were unvaccinated and the Minister had identified challenges in managing such cases.

Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines are stored at -70 degrees Celsius, but can be moved at -20 degrees Celsius and ultimately kept at two to eight degrees Celsius before administration.

“Once you do that, there

is a limited amount of time in which to vaccinate persons. You can’t start reducing the temperature and refreeze it. Once you reduce

the temperature, you will have to use the vaccine and that’s what we have been doing,” the Minister detailed.

Owing to this, the Ministry has been working with health clinics to ensure that there are sufficient patients before transporting the vaccines to those sites, in order to reduce wastage.

Vaccination statistics for first doses are at 367,645 or 71.7 per cent of the adult population. Some 223,148 second doses – covering 43.5 per cent of the adult population – have been administered. Meanwhile, 25,787 first doses have been administered to 35.4 per cent of the adolescent age cohort, with 15,196 returning for a second jab. (G12)

12 NEWS

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Mid-year growth is reflection of PPP/C’s grasp of management of economy – Edghill T

he Finance Ministry’s Mid-Year Report for 2021 has revealed that Guyana recorded real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth of 14.5 per cent, and Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill, has said this growth solidifies the fact that the Irfaan Aliled administration is best suited for the management of Guyana’s economy.

Despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and the devastating MayJune floods that wreaked havoc throughout the country, Guyana still recorded a 4.8 per cent growth in its non-oil sector. Edghill said the economic growth is in keeping with the People’s Progressive Party’s track record of defying the odds.

“It is not unusual for a PPP/C-led administration to be able to manage the affairs of state in such a way that they’re able to achieve growth during some of the harshest and most difficult times. We will recall during the world’s hardest hit food crisis, during the world’s hardest hit fuel crisis, and all that was happening in the world, Guyana, under the leadership of the PPP/C pre-2015, for 10 consecutive years recorded positive growth,” the Minister said during a talk show appearance last week.

Edghill, who served as Minister within the Finance Ministry from 2011-2015, said this is the first full fiscal year for the PPP/C since its election to office in August of 2020, so with the MidYear Report, Guyanese are now given the information to judge the performance of the economy in an overarching manner, and assess sec-

tor by sector what has been happening.

He added that the report was prepared after the Finance Ministry received all the information on the performance of the economy in terms of real growth, and compared that with what was projected.

The Minister said the PPP/C took the reins of government during a crisis, referring to the COVID-19 pandemic, and immediately began to strongly lead.

He noted that because of the COVID-19 measures and sloth of economic activities across the world, most countries have recorded tremendous losses.

“We took Guyana, which already had been hard hit by the maladministration and lack of competence in the management of various sectors, and basically brought her back to a place of stability that today we are discussing double-digit growth.

That is no small achievement, and must not be taken lightly. So, we were able to bring it back,” Edghill noted.

Addressing some of the challenges faced by the economy, Edghill said the May-June 2021 floods were more devastating than the 2005 floods, since the previous floods largely affected agriculture, whereas the most recent flooding affected operations in every sector.

“We had flooding that affected mining; the pits were flooded. Flooding that affected forestry. So, whether it was gold mining or sand mining - because some of the sand pits couldn’t operate - the forestry sector; agriculture in terms of crops: rice, sugar, other crops, live-

Public Works Minister Juan Edghill

stock; everything was affected in all 10 Regions of Guyana. We’ve had the opportunity because of social media and because of the extent to which people now have reach and coverage to see firsthand the devastation that the floods of 2021 brought,” he said.

He commended the Government for finding the fiscal avenues to ensure that every Guyanese benefit from COVID-19 relief, as well as those affected by the flooding receiving cash grants to get back on their feet. He also made reference to the financial support for pensioners and those on public assistance, and the “Because We Care” cash grants for school children as things the Government is extremely proud of during its first year in office. “(We took) a country that was hanging on for survival, pulling her through a pandemic, stabilising her for takeoff, and then got anoth-

er blow that basically affected everything in the non-oil sector; and in a half year report, reporting 14.5 per cent overall growth, and in a non-oil sector 4.8 per cent is enough reason for all of Guyana, those who supported the PPP/C into office and those who did not support it, to say these guys know what they’re doing. They seem to have a good grasp of the management of the economy

“So, you’re not just talking here about a midyear report in a normal year where everything is equal.

You’re talking about a midyear report on the stress of the COVID-19 global pandemic and your own internal challenges of unusual weather patterns that devastated and wreaked damage in all 10 Regions, not to mention the physical infrastructure that was damaged - roads, bridges, drainage systems, all of that had to be taken into account.

“So, the management of Guyana, this report is basically saying Guyana is in safe hands; because anybody could drive, but it is the really good drivers who take you safely through the storm,” Edghill said.

The Mid-Year Report noted that at the end of the first half of this year, ‘the overall balance of payments recorded a deficit of US$67.4 million compared with a deficit of US$2.8 million at the end of June 2020, with the current account registering a deficit of US$39.1 million in comparison to a deficit of US$396.5 million for the corresponding period in

2020. This was attributed to a ‘significant increase in the merchandise trade surplus, which moved from US$72.7 million to US$813.3 million.

The Merchandise Trade Account, according to the Report, improved as a result of export receipts expanding

by US$786.9 million, outweighing the US$46.2 million increase in imports.

Meanwhile, the Capital Account showed a deficit of US$19.6 million when compared with a surplus of US$419.7 million at the end of June 2020. This is attributed to ‘outflows of US$1,713 million from private enterprises in the oil and gas sector, along with outflows of US$123.6 million in revenue from the petroleum sector to the Natural Resource Fund’.

The Report also highlighted the fact that foreign direct investment in the first half of 2021 was 41.6 percent higher than the US$940.6 million recorded last year for the same period.

The revised full-year forecast for real GDP growth in 2021 is now 19.5 percent overall and 3.7 percent for the non-oil economy. (G2)

Cyclist killed after being struck down by unlicensed driver

Alfred Premnarine’s bicycle that he was riding at the time of the accident

to a halt.

Premnarine received injuries to his head and body, and was picked up in an unconscious state by the Police and taken to the Leonora Cottage Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

The body was escorted to the Ezekiel Funeral Parlour, where a post mortem examination will be conducted.

The driver has been arrested, and remains in custody at the Leonora Police Station as investigations continue. (G2)

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38-year-old pedal cyclist is now dead after he was struck down by an unlicensed driver on the Tuschen Public Road, East Bank Essequibo (EBE) on Monday afternoon.

Dead is as Alfred Premnarine of ‘C’ Field Leonora, West Coast Demerara (WCD).

The Police have said that motorcar PNN 5543, which was being driven by an unlicensed 23-year-old, was heading west along the Tuschen Public Road at a fast rate of speed when the driver lost control of the vehicle and it struck down Premnarine, who was proceeding in the opposite direction.

After hitting Premnarine, the vehicle collided with a parked lorry before coming

The car that struck down and killed Alfred Premnarine

NEWS

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TUESDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

New $1B Westminster Secondary School officially open …to house 1000 students

Education Minister Priya Manickchand interacting with students

The new Westminster Secondary School opens

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he state-of-theart Westminster Secondary School on Monday opened its doors for the first time for classroom activity since the facility was completed back in April.

After being prepped for the new school year, the Education Ministry shared that the newly-built school, located at La Parfaite Harmonie on the West Bank of Demerara, would finally be able to accommodate students.

It has capacity for 1000 students, and “will take Guyana closer to achieving universal secondary education”. Being one of six po-

Secondary School, Good Hope Secondary School and Prospect Secondary School.

For the first day of classroom activities, students and teachers turned up at the new facility, where COVID-19 guidelines were instituted. The design also included handwashing stations and other facilities to keep students safe during learning sessions.

The contract to build the Westminster Secondary School was awarded to R Bassoo and Sons.

Construction began in October 2018 and was scheduled to be completed in January 2020.

On assuming office in

Students showing up for classroom activities

The total cost of the school is approximately $1 billion, and was funded by the World Bank through the Guyana Secondary Education Improvement Project (GSEIP).

tential schools that were touted by the former PPP/C Government back in 2013, the number was reduced to three – Westminster

August 2020, Education Minister Priya Manickchand had stressed Government’s zero tolerance for delayed works, and warned contrac-

tors to ensure that work was done within the contractual time. She said the Ministry had worked closely with the contractor and the consulting firm to ensure the school was completed.

The Westminster Secondary School has 32 classrooms; a language lab; dance studio; library; Physics, Chemistry and Biology laboratories; an Information Technology

Laboratory; a theatre room; a Mathematics Laboratory; Home Economics Laboratory and an Agriculture Science Laboratory, among other facilities built to provide the best education to the nation’s children.

It will accommodate 1000 students, and will therefore be a Grade A school. For now, it will be categorised as a List B school, which speaks to quality, but that status will change over the next two years. The Ministry also intends to make the school a Sixth Form school to offer the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examinations (CAPE).

The school, together with a dormitory to be built at Leonora, will allow the Ministry to close all Primary Tops in Region Three.

Meanwhile, the Good Hope Secondary School would allow for the closure of Primary Tops on the East Coast of Demerara. (G12)

14 NEWS

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2021|| GUYANATIMESGY.COM

10 families get new homes from FFTP Guyana

Leslie Sukhai and Fazeela Ali with children at their new Lonsdale house on the East Bank of Berbice

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en families in Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne) are now owners of their own homes following a donation by Food for the Poor Guyana Limited (FFTP).

A total of 61 persons are benefiting from the 10 new homes, which were handed over on Friday.

Forty-five children and sixteen adults will be living in the homes, situated in East Canje; New Amsterdam, including Angoy’s Avenue; and on the East Bank of Berbice at Lighttown.

The project was a collaborative effort of St Francis Community Developers and Food For The Poor Guyana.

According to President of St Francis, Alex Foster, the organisation also worked with others, which includ-

ed local authorities, and was able to iron out the many difficulties, which include multiple ownership of the land the houses were going to be built in. The Private Sector also supported the project.

Foster noted that despite the challenges posed

by COVID-19 this year, the organisation’s building programme continued, even though downscaled.

However, Foster said that, apart from the physical aspect of the programme, St Francis also provides psycho-social services for the beneficiaries.

Of the ten families, two couples tied the knot during the counselling period leading to Friday’s event, while a third had to postpone their marriage due to a close family member falling ill.

According to Foster, sev-

eral governmental agencies were involved in providing needed services, including those of counselling.

Meanwhile, Senior Project Manager Andrea Joseph said homeownership is very important. Directly addressing the beneficiaries, she called on them to care for their new homes, noting that it also includes their surroundings.

She said improved homes means improved communities, which it what they are focusing on.

According to Joseph, the United Nations millennium goal speaks about housing.

“The work that we are doing contributes to the development of this country.

The work that Food For the Poor and St Francis and all our collaborating partners are doing as it relates

Kenesha Stephens receiving the title to her home and keys to her house from New Amsterdam Mayor Winifred Haywood

to housing in Guyana contributes to national development.”

The homes are equipped with indoor bathroom facilities, one table, four chairs, a stove and three beds. Solar panels are also being provided for those who do not have access to electricity.

To date, Food For the Poor had built and distributed 385 houses across the country, and plans to build 120 this year.

Chief Executive Officer Kent Vincent has said that every year FFTP has been improving the standard of the homes, which comes at a higher cost.

He said most of the funding comes from the USA, but Food For the Poor also builds houses in Latin America, where the need is greater and the cost for building materials is cheaper.

He said Food For The Poor cannot keep depending on external sources, and it is time for corporate Guyana to come on board.

“We don’t want to always depend on donations from the US to come here. We should be having more people within the corporate sector, big businesses and other individuals, come on board to help the people who are in need,” he said.

Meanwhile, in thanking Food For the Poor, St Francis and United Brick Layers – an NGO which also worked along with the beneficiaries, Neil Archer, a single parent of three, said he was extremely happy to now have his own home.

“It is not easy having to pay a rent. I am happy. It is a happy day for the children.”

He said one of his sons

told him that the house was theirs, and not his. When he inquired if they were going to put him out, Archer said the boys told him that he had taken care of them since their mother passed away, and as such, they will have to take care of him in time to come.

Another recipient, Kenesha Stephens, a nurse attached to the New Amsterdam Hospital and a resident of Angoy’s Avenue, was also high in praise of FFTP. She noted that she was living under difficult circumstances as a single parent.

“The timing was impeccable, because I was shortly separated from my husband, and with my kids, I was down emotionally and I did not know what to do,” she said. (G4)

25 girls to write, publish their life stories; proceeds to be used to advance careers

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wenty-five girls who are from vulnerable groups across Guyana now have an opportunity to write their stories and get them published under a brand-new project formulated by the Human Services and Social Security Ministry and called “The StoryBoard Initiative.”

Launched at the Guyana Women’s Leadership Institute (GWLI) at Coveand-John, East Coast Demerara on Monday, the idea is to impart creative writing skills along with functional literacy to devel-

Human Services and Social Security Minister, Dr Vindhya Persaud, along with Director of Child Services, Ann Greene, posing with some of the girls at the launch of the StoryBoard Initiative and Youth Unfiltered at GWLI, Cove and John

news@guyanatimesgy.com

op storyboards written by girls who had difficult lives but surmounted those challenges. Six teachers have signed on to assist the girls with their creative writing skills, along with six journalists of the Guyana Press Association, who will volunteer as mentors.

The inspirational stories that come out of this initiative will be published, and the proceeds will be used in the interest of these very girls. In fact, a series of inspirational books is intended to be published over time, with more girls in the programme.

At the launch on Monday, each girl was provided with

a creative survival kit which includes a tablet, hygiene products, toiletries, stationery supplies, and a backpack to motivate them and support them.

“We wanted to ensure that International Girls Day was not just marked by a message or something we said, but we wanted to do something that would make an impact on you; something transformative… something that can change your lives,” Dr Persaud is quoted by the Ministry as telling the participants during her address.

According to her, the girls will be given the opportunity to share their stories “exactly as they are.” The proceeds

from the books that are published will go right back to helping them build their careers and make their dreams into a reality, she said.

“We’re going to help you do more than just dream; we’ll help you make those dreams come true. Dreams do not have to remain dreams, because you have a supportive network of all of us right behind you,” Dr Persaud expressed.

Director of the Childcare Agency, Ann Green, was also present at the launch, and she pointed out that the whole initiative is part of occupational therapy. “It will help you to deal with any issues that you have as young

people. It’s a way of expressing yourself, especially if you cannot get anyone to hear you, so I want to encourage you to make full use of it,” she urged.

Greene told the girls that while the Ministry can light the spark, it was up to them to ensure they keep the fire burning and remain motivated.

One of the teachers who will be helping is Christine Jaipaul of Tutorial Academy Secondary School, who has been in the teaching profession for the past 20 years.

“From my understanding of the programme, I will be teaching them to write short stories over a period of six weeks; each week we’ll look at a different element. It’s a great initiative, as I always advocate for young girls in need,” she shared.

Meanwhile, Persaud also used the occasion to launch the Youth Unfiltered TV programme that will be aired from this coming weekend. The programme features young influencers discussing timely topics on the Ministry’s social media platforms to help ignite health discussions among girls across the country, and heighten awareness of their challenges.

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TUESDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2021| GUYANATIMESGY.COM

“Become better acquainted with your history” – Caricom Chair urges Caribbean youths I

n his address to the opening ceremony of the Nestlé Caribbean Youth Summit, Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister and current Caricom Chair, Gaston Browne made a call to all Caribbean youths to become better acquainted with their history.

“The first lesson that I wish to share with you is that history matters. I hope that as Caribbean youth, you become better acquainted with your history – both of your island country and the Caribbean Region as a whole,” he expressed.

To this end, the Prime Minister stated that knowledge of one’s history prepares youth for playing a more committed role in the continued development and evolution of the Caribbean civilisation.

This knowledge, he stated, “will equip you with identifying the gaps of our civilisation and assist with a developmental strategy to fill them”.

Further, he highlighted the fact that great efforts were being made by all Caribbean Heads in actively pursuing programmes of

youth development to prepare the next generation for leadership, while establishing the youth empowerment architecture to facilitate their participation in Government’s decision-making, ownership, and achievement of their self-development and self-actualisation goals.

“Our vision for our youths is for them to lead fulfilling lives as high achievers, characterised by the values of competence with passion, confidence, and resilience and achieving global competitiveness,” the Prime

Rise of violence during COVID harmful to women – WHO reports

…cites digital health tools in providing access, services

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n celebration of International Day of the Girl on Monday, the World Health Organisation reported that a rise in violence during the extant coronavirus pandemic is threatening to women.

In a statement, the WHO indicated, “Targeted investment in sustainable and effective evidence-based prevention strategies at local, national, regional and global levels is essential for preventing violence – in all its forms – against women and girls in future.”

The agency said it has developed a number of new resources on addressing violence against women and girls in the context of COVID-19. While technology cannot replace the support and guidance of adults, there are many ways that it can be leveraged to support education, counselling, and care related to sexuality, sexual identity, and sexual relationships.

WHO recently collaborated with partners to develop guidance for out-of-school CSE programmes that are appropriate and safe for different groups of children and young people. This complements the guidance developed by the United Nations on school-based sexuality education.

“Both these guidance documents assess the appropriateness of using digital media as a delivery mechanism for CSE,” the missive detailed.

The COVID-19 pandemic is exacerbating existing inequalities and disrupting access to vital health and support services. However, it has also accelerated the use of digital health and tools. This provides an opportunity especially for children and adolescents under 18, who account for an estimated one in three internet

users worldwide, to access these resources.

The WHO and UN Special Research Programme (HRP) also presented some of the ways in which digital health solutions are playing a role in promoting girls’ empowerment and fulfilment of their human rights.

“When it comes to their health, the technologies they use, and how they access information, young people are well-placed to articulate their needs and contribute to finding solutions as equal and valuable partners. However, they still encounter considerable resistance to meaningful collaboration when it comes to programmes, strategies, policies, funding mechanisms and organisations that directly affect their lives.”

Youth-centred digital health intervention is a framework developed by WHO, HRP, UNESCO, UNICEF and UNFPA in 2021. It affirms that to design effective digital health solutions for young people, young people should lead and make decisions.

Recent WHO data on violence against women shows that nearly one in four (24 per cent) of adolescent girls who have been in a relationship have experienced physical and/or sexual violence

by a partner. Young women are at highest risk of recent violence, that is, they have experienced violence in the past 12 months.

“Interventions with adolescents and young people to foster gender equality and gender-equitable attitudes are vital for effective prevention. It is more than 25 years since the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action – the most progressive blueprint ever for advancing the health rights of women and girls,” said the WHO.

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Minister noted.

He went on to state, “History often teaches us many lessons which we must not forget. It is always necessary, therefore, to examine history in order to examine which mechanisms worked and which attempts did not deliver so that we can avoid repeating the mistakes of the past.”

Moreover, he encouraged youths of the Caribbean to acquire a skill or profession.

In doing so, he noted that the intellectual competence gained through that acquired skill or profession “will allow you, your country, and our Caribbean civilisation to grow with wealth”.

“There are some developmental gaps that exist in science, technology, engineering, mathematics that we need to address in our civilisation in order to accelerate the advancement of our civilisation of our region.

Our respective Caribbean Governments are investing more resources to fill these gaps,” he stated.

He charged the youths to be active and utilise their energy constructively.

“All Caribbean youth must strive to be productive citizens. Providing superior leadership, contributing to all facets of society. They must set goals for higher level of achievement than their ancestors,” he had encouraged the virtual gathering.

The Caribbean Community (Caricom) had become the official partner with Nestlé Anglo Dutch Caribbean on holding the Nestlé Caribbean Youth

Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister and current Caricom Chair, Gaston Browne

Summit, a two-day virtual event which occurred on October 5-6.

The theme for the virtual Youth Summit: “Empower Youth to act NOW”, is said to be aligned with Caricom’s mandate to empower the Region’s youth through the creation of programmes that expand youth capacity and competency.

The event was geared toward Caribbean youth between the ages of 16 and 29, exposing them to motivational discussions, presentations, and workshops from experts of various fields.

The Summit focused on key topics driving youth development such as: Employment and Employability, Entrepreneurship, Agripreneurship, Food and Hospitality Development.

The COVID-19 pandemic, which began in 2019, has

somewhat crippled industries, impacted job opportunities, and forced some sectors to scale down their productivity.

Nestlé Anglo Dutch Caribbean had committed to leveraging its partnerships, resources, and expert networks to positively impact youth across the Caribbean.

These efforts were culminated in the Nestlé Caribbean Youth Summit, allowing young persons who were exposed to the event to be motivated, inspired, and armed with the tools to achieve their dreams through their objectives of leaving 10,000 youths impacted, pledging 1000 jobs to youth from 2022-2025, and supporting young entrepreneurs while providing mentorship in various industries and increased networking opportunities for youth.

16 NEWS Applications for flood relief cash grants reopen in Region 6 TUESDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

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n the heels of many issues surrounding the distribution of flood relief cash grants in Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne), a decision has been taken to reopen the application process so that

affected persons could have the opportunity to get their concerns addressed.

Region Six Chairman David Armogan addressing the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) on Thursday last explained that peo-

“Open-Source Library” launched

A member of the Rotaract Club of the University of Guyana placing a book in the box

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he Rotaract Club of the University of Guyana and the Rosewood Foundation Guyana have partnered on a special project to promote literacy and the love of reading while expanding book access to communities countrywide.

This project, titled “OpenSource Library”, the club said, is designed to promote reading across all levels by providing a simple, easily accessible and completely free source of books for any and all readers with the aim to make every transaction as easy as possible.

According to the club, in-

dividuals can approach a box anytime and simply ‘tek a book’. All that is encouraged is for the reader to ‘leff a book’ for others to enjoy, so the joy of reading can be spread to all those who wish to keep this venture alive.

Six of these libraries have been constructed and placed in East Ruimveldt, Nonpareil, Hubu, Bush Lot village, Mocha and Parfaite Harmonie.

The two organisations hope that persons far and wide make use of these libraries and help to build a community of readers through sharing and storytelling.

ple throughout the region have complained about the method and mechanisms used in selecting those who were eligible for the flood relief cash grants.

As such, he noted that Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo had taken a decision to reopen the verification process for one month to enable persons who were affected by the floods but were not registered in the database to receive the relief grants, a chance to do so.

"Persons can come and report, because many people have claimed that they lost things and their names were not recorded on any list," Armogan said.

He explained that three locations have been made available for persons to make their applications.

These are the Regional Democratic Council's office in New Amsterdam, the Albion Sports Complex and the National Agriculture Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) at Number 63 Village, Corentyne.

"This does not mean that once you make a report payments will be automatic; it has to be rechecked and verified," Armogan added.

He noted that the three offices will become operable as from Monday.

"Also, we had issues where people who did not lose as much as they claimed to lose and benefited in a way that they should not have. Have those reports and you want to bring them in, you can do so for those offices and those matters will be investigated and action will be taken based on the findings of the investigation according to the Vice President," Armogan told the RDC. The Regional Chairman pointed out that when the Vice President was in the region last Monday, many persons expressed concern over the fairness of the system which allocated funds to people who would have suffered as a result of the flood.

The Chairman is appealing to persons to come forward with information which they may have pertaining to farmers and others who would have wrongfully benefited from the cash grants.

Region Six Chairman David Armogan

Last Monday, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo during a one-day outreach in Region Six said he was disappointed with dishonest actions of some.

He noted that of the $10 billion being distributed as flood relief countrywide, the majority is being

distributed to residents in Berbice.

“We have had a lot of confusion about this. It is over 60,000 people that would benefit.

APNU, when you had floods would not give persons anything.

We made the allocations and now we are getting

some problems, because some people who should not have gotten it have taken some of the money, but we intend to track that down and maybe some others who should get it, they were not on the list,” he said.

Jagdeo pointed out that the initiative posed many challenges for the administration with a target of 60,000 persons to benefit.

“It is very difficult when you have 60,000 people and you have to rely on them to tell you if they lost anything or not. You know what happens in that situation…”

In late July, President Dr Irfaan Ali announced that over $7.8 billion would be made available to assist persons severely affected by the recent floods and more than $3.5 billion would be transferred to homestead farmers, kitchen garden farmers and households that exclude either. (G4)

Cops to undergo training to learn about Govt accounting systems

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Memorandum of Understanding was today signed by the Guyana Police Force with Cacique Accounting College to undertake the training of Police ranks in accountancy.

The MoU was signed

by Deputy Commissioner ‘Administration’ (ag), Calvin Brutus, and Accounting Assistant of Cacique Accounting College,

Suzanna Das, at the Police Headquarters, Eve Leary.

Deputy Finance Officer Persaud, in his brief remarks, welcomed the initiative and stated that it is the first of its kind to be introduced to the Guyana Police Force.

He noted that the main objective of the course is to equip the ranks in the Finance Office with inter-

national accounting principles in order to develop their skills and knowledge in having a better understanding of international standards and the Government’s accounting system.

Twenty-two ranks, mainly from the Force’s Finance Office, are expected to undergo the 15-month-long training, which will commence in November 2021.

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TUESDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

COVID: UK start to pandemic worst public health failure ever – MPs T he UK’s failure to do more to stop Covid spreading early in the pandemic was one of the worst ever public health failures, a report by MPs says.

The government approach - backed by its scientists - was to try to manage the situation and in effect achieve herd immunity by infection, it said.

This led to a delay in introducing the first lockdown, costing lives.

But the report by a cross-party group said there had been successes too - in particular the vaccination programme.

It described the whole approach - from the research and development through to the rollout of the jabs - as “one of the most effective initiatives in UK history”. The findings are detailed in the long-awaited report from the Health and Social Care Committee and the Science and Technology Committee, which contain MPs from all parties. Across 150 pages, the committees cover a variety of successes and failings over the course of the pandemic, which has claimed more than 150,000 lives to date and is described by the MPs as the “biggest peace-

time challenge” for a century.

Tory MPs Jeremy Hunt and Greg Clark, who chair the committees, said the nature of the pandemic meant it was “impossible to get everything right”.

“The UK has combined some big achievements with some big mistakes. It is vital to learn from both,” they added in a statement to accompany the report.

A government spokesperson said lessons would be learned, which was why there would be a full public inquiry next year.

He added: “We have never shied away from taking quick and decisive action to save lives and protect our NHS, including introducing restrictions and lockdowns.

“Thanks to a collective national effort, we avoided NHS services becoming overwhelmed.”

But Labour’s shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth said the findings were “damning” and showed what “monumental errors” had been made.

The committee did not look at the steps taken individually by Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland. When Covid hit, the government’s

approach was to manage its spread through the population rather than try to stop it - or herd immunity by infection as the report called it.

The report said this was based on dealing with a flu pandemic, and was done on the advice of its scientific advisers on The Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage).

But the idea was not challenged enough by min-

isters in any part of the UK, indicating a “degree of group-think”.

Although to some degree other parts of Europe were guilty of this too, the MPs said.

It meant the country was not as open as approaches being taken elsewhere, such as Asia where countries imposed tight border controls as soon as Covid started circulating. The result was that too little was done in the

early weeks to stop Covid spreading, despite evidence from China and then Italy that it was a virus that was highly infectious, caused severe illness and for which there was no cure.

The committees said it ranked as “one of the most important public health failures the UK has ever experienced”.

The advice from scientists changed on 16 March 2020, but it was only a week later that a lockdown was announced.

The report said it was now clear the whole approach was wrong and led to a higher initial death toll.

The MPs also highlighted how ministers in England rejected scientific advice to have a two-week “circuit-breaker” in the autumn.

They said it was impossible to know whether that would have prevented the second lockdown in November, although they pointed out it had not in Wales. The UK was one of the first countries in the world to develop a test for Covid in January 2020, but despite this failed to translate that into an effective test-and-trace system during the first year of the

pandemic.

Testing in the community stopped in March 2020 and for weeks during the first peak only those admitted to hospital were tested.

It was not until May that the NHS Test and Trace system was launched in England, but the report described its start as “slow, uncertain and often chaotic”.

It said the system was too centralised, only later making use of the expertise in local public health teams run by councils.

But it did praise the target set by Health Secretary Matt Hancock to get to 100,000 tests a day by the end of April, saying it played an important part in galvanising the system.

The greatest praise though was reserved for the vaccination programme and the way the government supported the development of a number of vaccines, including the OxfordAstraZeneca jab.

It said the whole programme was one of the most effective initiatives in history, and will ultimately help save millions of lives here and across the world.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

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guyanatimesgy.com

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2021

Regional

Brazil’s Bolsonaro says he is “bored” “Disappointing” vaccination with questions on COVID deaths programme tainted with

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razil’s far-right President Jair Bolsonaro has said he did not want to be “bored” with questions about the country’s coronavirus death toll, just days after Brazil became the second country in the world to surpass 600,000 fatalities.

Bolsonaro – a COVID-19 sceptic who has downplayed the severity of the virus – was surrounded by supporters at the beach in Guaruja, in São Paulo state, on Monday when a Journalist asked him about the death toll.

“In which country did people not die? Tell me!” he responded. “Look, I didn’t come here to be bored.”

Brazil surpassed 600,000 coronavirus deaths on Friday, the country’s Health Ministry announced, spurring

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro

more public anger against Bolsonaro’s handling of the pandemic.

For months, the President has rejected calls to impose restrictions such as lockdowns to stem the spread of the virus, while public health officials have slammed his government for failing to quickly

secure COVID-19 vaccines.

Thousands have taken to the streets to demand Bolsonaro’s impeachment over the pandemic as well as corruption allegations, but he has remained defiant and continues to reject public health measures.

On Sunday, Bolsonaro claimed that COVID-19 protocols at soccer matches had prevented him from attending a Brazilian championship football match in the city of Santos.

“Why a vaccine passport?

I wanted to watch Santos now and they said I needed to be vaccinated. Why should that be?” Bolsonaro told Journalists. Santos said Bolsonaro had not asked to attend the match, however.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Safe Zones open in T&T after intense preparations

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he Government’s TT Safe Zone initiative launched on Monday with vaccinated employees of bars, restaurants, gyms, theatres, cinemas, waterparks, as well as licensed gaming houses, betting pools and private members’ clubs being able to open and serve vaccinated citizens.

On Sunday, employees worked long hours in preparation for the highly-anticipated opening.

For restaurants, Monday was the first time since April 29 that in-house dining will be permitted.

When Guardian Media visited Woodford Cafe at

PricePlaza, in Chaguanas we met an electrician checking the bulbs on the restaurant’s exterior, while other employees cleaned its interior.

Part-owner Martin Hatem was also there to overlook preparations.

While he did not know what to expect in terms of turnout, he was still looking forward to the resumption of in-house service because business, he said, has been essentially non-existent.

Hatem said he would adhere to the Government’s policies, but he did express concern about the vaccinated-only entrance policy for

in-house dining.

“I am not in agreement with the policy, but it is what the Government wants to call a safe zone, so we are willing to try it and see how it works,” he said.

Saying it’s been very difficult to keep afloat financially, with only curbside and takeout options, he said many restaurants will be forced to shut their doors if in-house dining is prohibited again.

Over in Maraval, staff at the Blue Star Diner came out from 10:00h Sunday to begin preparations.

(Excerpt from Trinidad Guardian)

Indigenous artistes use rap to push for change in Colombia

U

nder the sweltering Andean sun, Walter Queragama walked several kilometres late last month from Ciudad Bolivar, a poor neighbourhood in the south of the Colombian capital, to Bogota’s National Park.

There, he and hundreds of Indigenous Embera people, displaced from their homes amid a coronavirus-related economic crisis and forced from their traditional lands by continuing violence, planned to camp out to demand housing and jobs.

As Government subsidies offered as part of a COVID-19 relief package run out, the families – many of whom held infants in their arms – said they have nowhere to go.

“Today, we’re going to rest,” Queragama, a 21-year-old rapper from Alto Andagueda in northwest Colombia, sang in his native Ebera Bedea language, as the crowd walked to the downtown park on September 29, drops of per-

Brothers Gonzalo, left, and Walter Queragama started their rap group, Embera Warra, two years ago, hoping to preserve Embera culture and stories [Andres Buitrago/Al Jazeera]

spiration forming on his face. “Today, we aren’t going to dialogue [with the Government] because we’re too tired.”

Queragama and his 23-year-old brother Gonzalo, co-creators of the rap group Embera Warra, or “Sons of the People”, said the displacement and resistance of the Embera people serve as inspiration for their art – and rap is the way they have chosen to tell their community’s stories.

“We have many stories – of history, of culture, of

displacement,” Walter recently told Al Jazeera at the makeshift campsite where hundreds have set up tents and cooked outdoors over campfires. “We have to tell all these stories and send a message.”

A 2016 peace deal between Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) rebels and the Colombian Government promised to end 52 years of conflict, but many Indigenous communities, including the Embera, have yet to experience peace.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

political bias – Golding

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pposition Leader Mark Golding has alleged that the vaccination rollout has been tainted with political bias, claiming that Pfizer vaccines were being administered in areas controlled by the ruling Jamaica Labour Party (JLP).

“The country was led to believe that the Pfizer vaccines were no longer available because supplies have been fully utilised,” said Golding at a People’s National Party (PNP) press conference on Monday.

“Yet in other places, we were told the Pfizer vaccines have been made available, and indeed, in communities and in divisions where the governing party has political control,” he added.

Opposition Spokesman

on Health and Wellness, Dr Morais Guy, claimed at the virtual press conference that the Pfizer vaccines were being administered at the Kitson Town Health Centre in Dr Christopher Tufton’s St Catherine West Central constituency, for example.

Tufton, who is the Minister of Health and Wellness, has not responded to the allegations which were first raised last week.

Dunstan Bryan, Permanent Secretary in the Tufton’s Ministry, had confirmed last week that over 800 doses of Pfizer vaccines were still in stock in the island.

For Golding, the national vaccination programme must not be politicised.

“We feel that the politicisation of the vaccination programme would be

disastrous for this country. It needs to be a national programme with all hands on deck, and we do not want to see any hint that it is being used for campaigning for political purposes or in any other way than an all Jamaica, one Jamaica effort,” he declared.

Earlier, Golding argued that Jamaica’s vaccination rollout “has been disappointing, to say the least.

“Jamaica ranks near the very bottom in the region in terms of the percentage of the population that has been vaccinated, and the daily number of persons who are getting vaccinated, despite the various blitzes, is way behind what is necessary to achieve the desired target,” he claimed. (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

CDB calls on Region to collaborate to capitalise on IMF financing

C

a r i b b e a n Development Bank (CDB) President, Dr Hyginus “Gene” Leon, has proposed that the US$2.5 billion in Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) available to Caribbean countries from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), be pooled to unlock even more financing in the capital markets.

The SDR is an interest-bearing international reserve asset created by the IMF. Members can use their SDR allocation to supplement or build their national reserves instead of accruing debt.

Speaking at the second edition of the CDB’s President’s Chat forum on Friday, Dr Leon advised that combining the recent SDR allocations assigned by the IMF could be the practical and powerful collaboration needed to improve the economic position of the Region.

Dr Leon, who worked with the IMF for more than two decades, said that rather than each country drawing down and using its individual allocation, a more effective solu-

Caribbean Development Bank President, photo)

tion would be a combined financial instrument for the Region’s benefit.

“Alternatively, we have an opportunity to say, ‘what if we pool all of that 1.7 billion SDRs – [about] US$ 2.5 billion, and now invest it into an equivalent reserve asset type of instrument that could be issued by a CDB,” he said, indicating how this financial instrument could then be used to invigorate the capital markets and access more and better financing for the Caribbean’s devel-

Dr Gene Leon (File

opment needs.

“It will call for us recognising that individually if we used our SDR allocations or even if we left it there, we are much worse off than we could be if we were to pool and now utilise those SDRs through the mechanism of leverage in a way that helps build the very capital markets we say we don’t have. But it calls for collaboration, cooperation in a regional sense,” he added.(Excerpt from CMC)

Chapman: Bajans still trying to break quarantine

L

ess than two weeks into the decision by public health authorities to green light widespread home isolation in Barbados, Barbadians are still trying to escape the facilities in an attempt to do basic chores like going to the supermarket.

This behaviour, says head

of the COVID Monitoring Unit, Ronald Chapman, is putting him and his team under pressure.

He made the comments while a guest on Starcom Network’s radio call-in programme, Sunday Brasstacks.

“We are having severe challenges now. These are

challenges we wanted to avert when we started putting persons in quarantine facilities and structured isolation,” Chapman told moderator Corey Lane and special host David Ellis, Government’s COVID-19 Public Advisor.

(Excerpt from Nation News)

guyanatimesgy.com

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2021

19

Around the World

OILNEWS OIL NEWS Oil settles up 1.5%, hits multi-year highs on surging demand

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il prices jumped on Monday to the highest levels in years, fuelled by rebounding global demand that has contributed to power and gas shortages in key economies like China.

Brent crude rose US$1.26, or 1.5 per cent, to settle at US$83.65 a barrel. The session high was US$84.60, its highest since October 2018.

West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude gained US$1.17, or 1.5 per cent, to settle at US$80.52, after touching its highest since late 2014 at US$82.18.

The pace of economic recovery from the pandemic has supercharged energy demand at a time when oil output has slowed due to cutbacks from producing nations during the pandemic, focus on dividends by oil companies, and pressure on Governments to transition to cleaner energy.

A US Administration official on Monday said the White House stood by its calls for oil-producing countries to "do more" and they were closely monitoring the cost of oil and gasoline.

The Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and allies, together known as OPEC+, have held back from boosting supply even as prices have risen. In July, the group agreed to boost output by 400,000 bpd to restore the 5.8 million bpd in supply curbs left from its 2020 deal to cut production in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak.

Power prices have surged to record highs in recent weeks, driven by widespread energy shortages in Asia, Europe, and the United States. Soaring natural gas prices have encouraged power generators to switch to oil.

"Everything is very much focused on the lack of supply returning at a time when demand appears to be roaring back," said Matt Smith, lead oil analyst at Kpler. (Excerpt from Reuters)

“Looming disaster”: Oil ship leak threatens millions of Yemenis

A

n oil spill involving a deteriorating tanker moored off the coast of Yemen could potentially disrupt food and water supplies for millions of people in the conflict-ridden country, as well as further afield, in an environmental catastrophe that would be felt across the region.

A team of researchers from Stanford University, Harvard University, and UC Berkeley released the findings of their models on the impact of an oil spill from the <<<FSO Safer >>> in a paper published on Monday in the Nature Sustainability journal.

The researchers stressed urgent action was required to stop a “looming disaster” that would affect an estimated nine million people who would be without drinking water, and shut down Yemen’s main ports, thereby worsening the country’s humanitarian crisis.

About 68 per cent of humanitarian aid to Yemen enters through the ports of Hodeidah and Salif, which lie near to the stricken <<<Safer>>>, and more than half of Yemen’s population depends on humanitarian aid.

“The spill and its potentially disastrous impacts remain entirely preventable through offloading the oil,” the study said. <<<FSO Safer>>> has not been maintained since the start of the conflict in Yemen in 2015, and negotiations between the United Nations and Yemen’s Houthi rebels, who control the ship and the area of Yemen’s coast nearest to it, remain at a standstill.

The oil tanker now lies practically abandoned, with only a skeleton crew on board. However, it also contains 1.1 million barrels of oil, an amount that is four times the amount spilled in the world’s most environmentally damaging oil spill – the 1989 Exxon Valdez disaster.

An oil spill was already averted in May 2020 when a leak in the engine room was patched up, but <<<Safer>>>’s crew continue to pump seawater out, and a spill could occur at any time due to continued deterioration, or a buildup of flammable gases, among other things. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Cleric Sadr wins Iraq vote, former PM Maliki close behind – officials

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hi'ite Muslim cleric Moqtada al-Sadr's party was the biggest winner in an Iraqi election on Monday, increasing the number of seats he holds in Parliament, according to initial results, officials, and a spokesperson for the Sadrist Movement.

Former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki looked set to have the next largest win among Shi'ite parties, initial results showed.

Iraq's Shi'ite groups have dominated Governments and Government formation since the US-led invasion of 2003 that toppled Sunni dictator Saddam Hussein and catapulted the Shi'ite majority and the Kurds to power.

Sunday's election was held several months early, in response to mass pro-

tests in 2019 that toppled a Government and showed widespread anger against political leaders whom many Iraqis say have enriched themselves at the expense of the country.

But a record low turnout suggested that a vote billed as an chance to wrest control from the ruling elite would do little to dislodge sectarian religious parties in power since 2003.

A count based on initial results from several provinces plus the capital Baghdad, verified by local Government officials, suggested Sadr had won more than 70 seats, which if confirmed could give him considerable influence in forming a government.

However, Sadr's group is just one of several that will have to enter negotiations to

Posters are seen of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr; his father, the late Grand Ayatollah Mohammed Sadiq al-Sadr and Iraq's late Shi'ite cleric Mohammed Baqir al-Sadr, in the Sadr City district of Baghdad, Iraq, June 21, 2021

form a coalition capable of dominating Parliament and forming an administration, a period of jockeying for position that may take weeks or longer.

Sadr broadcast a live speech on state TV claiming victory and promising a nationalist government free of foreign interference. (Excerpt from Reuters)

It's down to world leaders to honour climate pledges, says UK COP26 chief

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he G20 group of leading economies must come forward with more ambitious 2030 climate action plans, Britain's Alok Sharma, President of the upcoming United Nations COP26 climate change conference, will say today.

With less than a month before the talks begin in Glasgow, Scotland, Sharma will seek to increase pressure on those who have yet to enhance national goals to cut greenhouse gas emissions under plans known as "Nationally Determined Contributions" that are central to the 2015 Paris Agreement.

"Responsibility rests with each and every country. And we must all play our part.

Because on climate, the world will succeed, or fail as one,"

he will say, according to advance extracts of a speech.

COP26, which begins on October 31, aims to secure more ambitious action from the nearly 200 countries that signed the 2015 Paris Agreement to limit global warming to well below 2.0 degrees Celsius – and preferably to 1.5C (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) – above pre-industrial levels.

"COP26 is not a photo op or a talking shop. It must be the forum where we put the world on track to deliver on climate. And that is down to leaders," Sharma will say at the UNESCO World Heritage Centre in Paris.

"It is leaders who made a promise to the world in this great city six years ago. And it is leaders that must honour it."

Ethiopia's Tigray crisis: Army launches offensive on all fronts – rebels

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he Ethiopian army has launched coordinated attacks on all fronts against forces from the northern Tigray region, the rebels say.

They said the Government was using artillery, tanks, jets, and drones in an attempt to "reinvade" the region.

A senior rebel source said Tigray forces were holding their ground.

The Ethiopian Government has not confirmed any fighting, and a communications blackout makes independent verification impossible.

A senior member of the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), Getachew Reda, said the Government offensive launched last week

was now in "full swing".

Asked if a ground offensive had been launched, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's spokeswoman Billene Seyoum said the Government had a responsibility to protect its citizens across the country from acts of terrorism, but gave no further details.

The 11-month conflict has caused a humanitarian crisis, with the United Nations warning that about 400,000 people were living in famine-like conditions in Tigray in July.

Thousands of people have been killed in the conflict, and another two million have been forced to flee their homes. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Sharma will also be clear that there must be new commitments on public and private finance to support the countries most vulnerable to

climate change and progress on adaptation to the effects of the changing climate, his office said.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

India, China army talks to defuse border tensions fail

An Indian fighter plane flies over a mountain range in the Ladakh region [File: Danish Siddiqui/Reuters]

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alks between Indian and Chinese army commanders to disengage troops from key friction areas along their border have ended in a stalemate and failed to ease a 17-month standoff that has sometimes led to deadly clashes, the two sides say.

The continuing standoff means the two nations will keep troops in the forward areas of Ladakh for a second consecutive winter in dangerously freezing temperatures.

India’s Defence Ministry, in a statement on Monday, said it gave “constructive suggestions”, but the Chinese side was “not agreeable” and “could not provide any forward-looking proposals”.

A statement from a Chinese military spokesperson said “the Indian side

sticks to unreasonable and unrealistic demands, adding difficulties to the negotiations”.

The commanders from both armies met for the talks on Sunday, after a gap of two months, at Moldo on the Chinese side in the Ladakh area.

Both countries have stationed tens of thousands of soldiers backed by artillery, tanks, and fighter jets along the de facto border called the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

Since February, both India and China have withdrawn troops from some faceoff sites on the northern and southern banks of Pangong Tso, a glacial lake at 14,000 ft (4270 metres), Gogra and Galwan Valley, but they continue to maintain extra troops as part of a multi-tier deployment.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

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TUESDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2021

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ARCHIE

ARIES

Avoid letting anyone distract you or make decisions (March 21for you. Look at the pros and April 19) cons, and make a decision based on what you want to achieve long-term. A disciplined approach will be key.

TAURUS

DILBERT

(April 20May 20)

GEMINI (May 21June 20)

CANCER (June 21July 22)

PEANUTS

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

CALVIN AND HOBBES

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

SUDOKU

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

Bring on the changes you’ve been eager to make.

Stop procrastinating and start doing what makes you happy. Keep your life simple.

A change will provide a valuable learning experience.

Refuse to let anyone dominate you or push you into something that doesn’t feel right. Speak up and carry on with what works best for you. Love is favored. Do research yourself.

Be careful what you say and do regarding relationships, shared expenses and the changes you want to make. Being up-front will ease your mind and allow you to deal with pitfalls.

Keep your emotions under control when dealing with friends and relatives.

Be a good listener, and you’ll gain the confidence of others.

The information you receive will help you solve a problem.

Reach out to someone doing something that interests you and get the lowdown on the steps you need to take to join in. Once you start something new, it will give you the push you require.

Keep your emotions in check and your anger under control. Setting a path to victory means balance, integrity and staying focused on what’s important. Don’t give in to pressure.

Reach out to a friend or relative, and you’ll be offered insight into something unique.

Be secretive about the changes you want to make. Once you establish a routine that works, you’ll get key support.

Sort through personal SAGITTARIUS matters and goals, and discuss (Nov. 23your thoughts with someone Dec. 21) you want to include in your future. An exciting proposal will offer benefits that will entice you to make a move.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22Jan. 19)

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

Be a good listener, and you’ll gain perspective.

Criticizing someone will not create a friendly atmosphere. Change is inevitable, but how you go about it will determine your success.

Hang on to your cash. A joint venture will result in emotional disagreements.

Keep an open mind, but don’t be afraid to do your own thing. Keep your money and passwords in a safe place.

The connections you make will help you bring about (Feb. 20change. Heading in a different March 20) direction will lift your spirits and prompt you to approach life with renewed faith and enthusiasm. Tidy up loose ends.

PISCES

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2021

21

Cricket Hall of Fame celebrates 40 years T he Cricket Hall of Fame (CHoF), established in 1981 as the first in the world, has celebrated its 40th anniversary with an induction ceremony held on Saturday, October 2, 2021 in Boca Raton, Florida.

In spite of the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, the in-person ceremony, attended by some 200 guests, was a resounding success, highlighted by the heartwarming acceptance speeches by the inductees.

And in what was regarded as one of the best responses of the evening, Godfrey Blair recalled his playing days as a youngster at Lucas Cricket Club in Kingston, Jamaica, and going on to represent Team USA. O’Neil Gordon ‘Collie’ Smith, who died tragically at age 26 years in 1959, at the prime of his career, was remembered as a player whose name represented

the preeminence of an excellent character. He remains one of the most important cricketers to emerge out of Jamaica.

The late hotelier Gordon ‘Butch’ Stewart was also remembered and recognised for his sterling contribution to the sport as a corporate partner through sponsorship of West Indies cricket, with his global brand Sandals Resorts.

Hall of Famer Mahammad Qureshi, President/CEO of Cricket Council USA (CCUSA), who accepted the CHoF Lifetime Achievement Award for services to the sport from Michael Chambers, Founder/Executive Director of the Hall, pledged to continue promoting the development of the sport in the USA. The 2021 Class of Inductees comprised Lyndel Wright, Godfrey Blair, Edgar Samuels, Max Diah, Surujlal “Joe”

Siewharack, Jyostna Patel, Rev. Ouida McDonald, John Tyrell Hodgson, Vinode Mamchan; with posthumous recognition going to Gordon “Butch” Stewart, O’Neil Gordon “Collie” Smith, and Cecil Dixon.

them to run smaller rear wings, reducing drag and boosting straight-line speed, without harming cornering performance.

Horner has said: “We could match them with smaller [rear] wings previously; now we can’t get near. And we saw that particularly at this circuit, where Lewis had a straight-line advantage with a bigger rear wing on the car.”

Horner added that reliability problems with the Mercedes engine could also be affecting impressions of performance.

“You can see across all their teams, Mercedes obviously have some reliability issues they are managing, which is unusual for Mercedes,” Horner said.

“But their performance is still incredibly impressive. Whether one comes at the expense of the other, I don’t know, but if you look at some of the speed deltas on the back straight at some points, it was 15-20km/h, which is more than if there had been DRS (overtaking aid in use).”

Mercedes have said they are puzzled by Horner’s suggestions, saying they are not borne out in the data.

Mercedes F1 boss Toto Wolff admitted the company were managing reliability against performance with their engines.

“When you start to push the boundaries with power-

unit performance, at a certain stage you will experience some obstacles,” he said.

“Our power-units have been the most reliable since the introduction of the hybrid engines in 2014, and because the boundaries are being pushed, we have seen examples of, let’s say, unusual noises within the combustion engine that aren’t completely understood at that stage yet.

“They caused some troubles in the past; we had some engines that basically failed, and now it’s about containing the problem, because changing parts is not something you would tackle.”

Mercedes appear to have made a step forward in overall performance, compared to Red Bull, since F1 reconvened following its summer break.

Over the first half of the season, Red Bull had an average advantage in qualifying of 0.026%. In the three dry qualifying sessions in the second half of the season so far, Mercedes have had an advantage of 0.286%.

However, the three tracks in question - Monza, Sochi and Istanbul Park - are regarded as favouring Mercedes, whereas two of the remaining six races Mexico and Brazil - are expected to give a significant advantage to Red Bull. (BBC Sport)

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ed Bull’s Team Principal Christian Horner has expressed “surprise” at gains he says Mercedes have made with their engine performance.

Under Formula 1 rules, the title rivals are not allowed to improve the power of their engines in-season. Horner says Mercedes’ straight-line speed “has taken a significant step recently”.

“It’s surprising they appear to have made the step they have with the power-unit,” he added.

Mercedes reject Red Bull’s claims, saying nothing has changed in their engine, apart from fitting a new one to Hamilton’s car for last weekend’s Turkish Grand Prix.

Both Hamilton and title rival Max Verstappen of Red Bull have taken new engines - at the cost of grid penalties - over the last two races, Verstappen at the previous race in Russia, Hamilton in Turkey.

Verstappen leads Hamilton by six points with six races to go, after the Dutchman finished in second in Sunday’s Turkish Grand Prix and Hamilton in fifth.

Internal combustion engines always degrade over time, so Hamilton’s new engine would have provided a small performance advantage over the one he was using previously.

Red Bull’s claims echo similar ones Hamilton himself made about his rival’s Honda engine earlier in the season.

Red Bull made an apparent step forward in performance around the time of the French Grand Prix in early summer, and Hamilton publicly questioned how they had been able to do that.

Red Bull’s explanation at the time was that aerodynamic upgrades to their car had allowed

The induction rites were performed by Executive Director Michael Chambers, who also made special mention of Jatin Patel, the 2020 inductee, a renowned multi-sports coach, and the first person of Indian descent to be appointed to the Board of Directors, Cricket Hall of Fame.

In an effort to bring further recognition the institution, Chambers announced that inductees are now permitted to use the post nominal initials ‘CHoF’, placed after their name.

CLOSURE TO THE AUGUST 2020 INDUCTION CEREMONY Earlier in the year, five individuals who were approved for induction with the Class of 2020 requested an exemption because the ceremony was being held virtually, due to the COVID19 pandemic, and they favoured an in-person event.

The ceremony was held at the elegant Antun’s Banquet Hall in Queens, NYC on Saturday, August 28, 2021.

The inductees granted special consideration were Joseph Allen, Zamin Amin, Wesley King, Lee Ramsay and Martin Maher, the Brooklyn Borough Parks Commissioner/NYC. The gala event also recognised the enormous contribution to cricket made by the legendary Test cricketer and Barbados’s only living national hero, Sir Garfield Sobers, honouring him with the Cricket Hall of Fame’s Lifetime Achievement Award.

Younis Khan, the legendary Pakistani player, headlined the NY induction ceremony. Younis Khan is, to date, the only Pakistani Test cricketer to score 10,000 runs, and his 34 Test centuries is the highest among players from his country, in that format.

In a congratulatory message to the Hall of Fame, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said, “Since its founding in 1981, the Cricket Hall of Fame has been invaluable in advancing the ideals of friendly competition, teamwork, and tenacity through

programmes that promote the sport, while also working to give back to communities and improve the quality of life for people of all backgrounds.”

Chief Executive Officer of USA Cricket, Lain Higgins, noted: “Inductees into the Cricket Hall of Fame are an elite group of individuals who stand tall in the sport. USA Cricket is pleased and privileged to help acknowledge their invaluable contributions.”

As part of the 40th anniversary celebrations, the CHoF partnered with CCUSA to stage the inaugural Legends (Over-50) World Cup T20 tournament at the Central Broward Regional Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida from September 27–30.

Four teams participated – West Indies Stars, Pakistan, USA Stars, India Stars - with West Indies Stars, captained by Zamin Amin, CHoF, defeating India Stars by 53 runs in the finals. (Courtesy CHoF)

Queen included in Flat racing’s British Champion Series Hall of Fame

T

he Queen of the United Kingdom has been recognised for her contribution to British Flat racing by being inducted into the Qipco British Champions Series Hall of Fame.

Her Majesty is the first person to be included in the Special Contributor category.

A genuine racing enthusiast and a passionate fan of the sport all her life, she is also a successful owner and breeder.

Her famous purple, gold braid and scarlet colours have recorded more than 1,800 winners.

The Queen’s first victory was with Monaveen over jumps at Fontwell Park in 1949, and she was twice champion Flat owner in 1954 and 1957. She has also bred and owned the winner of every British Classic - 2,000 Guineas, 1,000 Guineas, the Oaks and the St Leger apart from The Derby.

In 1957, Carrozza was a short-head winner of the Oaks when ridden by Lester Piggott,

and the following year, Pall Mall provided a surprise 2,000 Guineas success at 20-1.

During the Queen’s Silver Jubilee year in 1977, the Dick Hern-trained Dunfermline won both the Oaks and the St Leger, one of just four horses to do this double in the last 50 years.

“I suspect that the Queen will have a lot of inner pride in being invited into the Hall of Fame,” said her bloodstock and racing adviser John Warren.

“The Queen’s contribution to racing and breeding derives from a lifelong commitment.

Her love of horses and their

welfare comes with a deep understanding of what is required to breed, rear, train, and ride a thoroughbred.

“Her Majesty’s fascination is unwavering, and her pleasure derives from all of her horses - always accepting the outcome of their ability so gracefully.”

She joins legendary trainer Vincent O’Brien and three of the great horses of the 1970s Brigadier Gerard, Mill Reef and Nijinsky - who were named in the Hall of Fame last week, plus inaugural inductees Frankel and Lester Piggott. (BBC Sport)

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TUESDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2021

Narine stars with bat and ball to put KKR in Qualifier 2 — ends Kohli’s tenure as RCB captain with defeat

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unil Narine starred with the bat and ball to change the complexion of the game, and now Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) are one step closer to the final, while the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) have no further part to play in the 2021 tournament.

Royal Challengers had posted only 138 on the board, but they were defending it with fearsome spirit. The score was 80 for 3 in the 12th over, and the Sharjah slowdown was well and truly on.

On this pitch, an equation that reads 59 from 51 can be dicey. You can’t leave it too late, there are too many variables.

So, Knight Riders sent in their pinch hitter Sunil Narine, and he went 6, 6, (wide) and 6.

Narine scored 26 and bagged 4-21

Three balls that Narine faced changed the game, which had been set up twentyfour balls earlier.

L

The experienced pair of Shakib Al Hasan and Eoin Morgan completed the chase for the Knight Riders

Royal Challengers had actually had a solid powerplay - 53 for 1 at 8.8 - then Narine had come on and the runs had dried up; only 60 came off the next 11 overs. 60 for 4 at 5.45.

Narine sublime Virat Kohli: clean bowled; AB de Villiers: clean bowled; Glenn Maxwell: utterly deceived. Most people need a cheat code and a computer screen to pull that off. Narine doesn’t. He imposed video game logic on this game and turned it in Knight Riders’ favour.

Pressure was mounting on Kohli. He had slowed down once again after the powerplay - 24 off 16, and 15 off 17 - and his desperation was apparent. Narine knew that, in these situations, batters often forget about the basics and just swing across the line.

Even one as good as Kohli was susceptible to this weakness, as a straightforward offbreak sneaked through his defences.

Taking down the big boys Doing de Villiers required a bit more subtlety, because

the Royal Challengers’ talisman had come out with a plan; it involved thrusting his front foot outside off stump to eliminate lbw, and heaving across it.

Narine, though, spotted the smallest gap between bat and pad, and he targeted it with missile-like precision.

Pace, drift, length and spin everything came together as de Villiers played all around an offbreak and lost his middle stump.

That left only Maxwell; and having to do all the heavy lifting, with time running out and the spinners closing in, even those invincible sweep shots of his suddenly looked not quite invincible. Narine got him to top edge one straight into the hands of short third.

Knight Riders had saved their mystery spinner for Royal Challengers’ big three, and it worked a treat: 12 runs, 17 balls, and 3 massive wickets.

The fightback Kohli wanted this one badly. He got in the face of the umpire when the man made a poor lbw decision. When the resulting DRS proved how

— Sir Viv questions exclusion of Jason Holder from Windies World Cup squad

egendary West Indies batsman and former captain Sir Viv Richards has said he “felt sad” after learning that all-rounder Jason Holder has been left out of the 15-member T20 World Cup squad.

Holder is, however, part of the reserves, alongside Darren Bravo, Sheldon Cottrell and Akeal Hosein.

According to Sir Viv, despite what many may think of Holder’s captaincy in the past, there is no denying he is one of the best players currently available in the region.

“I felt maybe it could have been a misprint, and then hearing the news as well, you think you were not hearing right at that particular time. We may have our issues with Jason when he was in charge as captain of the team, but we can never doubt the individual’s ability and his talent, and I just felt sad that someone with such ability couldn’t make a West Indies T20.

“So, that suggests to me that we must be seriously blessed with talented individuals the calibre of Jason Holder,” he said.

In 10 matches and three series against Pakistan, South

Africa, and Sri Lanka, Holder totalled 90 runs, had an average of 30, and claimed nine wickets.

He, however, struggled in the team’s most recent series against Pakistan, and scored just two runs and took 4 wickets in four matches.

Despite ongoing discussions over the make-up of the squad, Sir Viv has said, fans should rally behind the team.

“At the end of the day, regardless of who goes out… every time, whether we go out with an old man and a dog, I still believe that things can be accomplished; and that’s the way we should feel.

“There are lots of talk about this and about that, but, as I said earlier, the jury is certainly out at present across the region, and being in deliberation. We will have a fair idea when the tournament is over, there are going to be talks for sure; I know. And I guess that will be pretty hot, but, at the moment, we should get behind the team. It’s a West Indies team, and every time we (the team) go out onto the field, as supporters, we should get behind them,” he said.

West Indies are the defending World T20 champions, having won the title in 2012 and 2016.

(Antigua Observer)

plumb the lbw was, he roared like only he can. He had said this would be his last season as captain in the IPL. He would have imagined signing off with that big shiny trophy, so he kept going to his matchwinners.

Harshal Patel had that honour in 2021, and he responded by knocking out KKR’s Shubman Gill and Venkatesh Iyer. Those two wickets took his season tally to 32, an IPL record, tied with Dwayne Bravo’s tally from 2013.

Yuzvendra Chahal has had the honour for pretty much the entire time Royal Challengers have been around. He created the DRS drama.

Dan Christian had had the honour in various T20 leagues around the world. Even at 38, he broke into the Australian World Cup squad on the basis of that. But here he missed his spots.

To start his innings, Narine pulled a short ball from Christian that didn’t rise high enough; it went for six over square leg. Then he launched a length ball on leg stump over midwicket. And to top it off, he cleared the long-off boundary with one hand. Just one hand.

That brought the required rate down from 6.9 to 4.8.

And though Royal Challengers continued to fight - Mohammed Siraj taking two wickets in the 18th over to throw the game open again - Eoin Morgan and Shakib Al Hasan harnessed over 600 T20s worth of experience to eventually seal the game. (Modified from an ESPNcricinfo article)

Virat Kohli desperately wanted this one, but Eoin Morgan wasn't going to let him have it

SCOREBOARD ROYAL CHALLENGERS BANGALORE INNINGS (20 OVERS MAXIMUM) Devdutt Padikkal b Ferguson 21 Virat Kohli (c) b Narine 39 Srikar Bharat † c Iyer b Narine 9 Glenn Maxwell c Ferguson b Narine 15 AB de Villiers b Narine 11 Shahbaz Ahmed c Shivam Mavi b Ferguson 13 Dan Christian run out (Ferguson/Shivam Mavi) 9 Harshal Patel not out 8 George Garton not out 0 Extras (b 1, lb 6, nb 2, w 4) 13 TOTAL (20 Ov, RR: 6.90) 138/7 Did not bat: Mohammed Siraj, Yuzvendra Chahal Fall of wickets: 1-49 (Devdutt Padikkal, 5.1 ov), 2-69 (Srikar Bharat, 9.4 ov), 3-88 (Virat Kohli, 12.2 ov), 4-102 (AB de Villiers, 14.2 ov), 5-112 (Glenn Maxwell, 16.4 ov), 6-126 (Shahbaz Ahmed, 18.6 ov), 7-134 (Dan Christian, 19.4 ov) BOWLING O-M-R-W Shakib Al Hasan 4-0-24-0 Shivam Mavi 4-0-36-0 Varun Chakravarthy 4-0-20-0 Lockie Ferguson 4-0-30-2 Sunil Narine 4-0-21-4

KOLKATA KNIGHT RIDERS INNINGS (TARGET: 139 RUNS FROM 20 OVERS) Shubman Gill c de Villiers b Patel 29 Venkatesh Iyer c †Bharat b Patel 26 Rahul Tripathi lbw b Chahal 6 Nitish Rana c de Villiers b Chahal 23 Sunil Narine b Mohammed Siraj 26 Dinesh Karthik † c †Bharat b Mohammed Siraj 10 Eoin Morgan (c) not out 5 Shakib Al Hasan not out 9 Extras (lb 2, w 3) 5 TOTAL (19.4 Ov, RR: 7.06) 139/6 Did not bat: Lockie Ferguson, Shivam Mavi, Varun Chakravarthy Fall of wickets: 1-41 (Shubman Gill, 5.2 ov), 2-53 (RahulTripathi,6.6 ov), 3-79 (Venkatesh Iyer, 10.6 ov), 4-110 (Nitish Rana, 14.2 ov), 5-125 (Sunil Narine, 17.2 ov), 6-126 (Dinesh Karthik, 17.4 ov) BOWLING O-M-R-W Mohammed Siraj 4-0-19-2 George Garton 3-0-29-0 Harshal Patel 4-0-19-2 Yuzvendra Chahal 4-0-16-2 Glenn Maxwell 3-0-25-0 Dan Christian 1.4-0-29-0

Mangru throws financial support behind Project “Cricket Gear For Young And Promising Cricketers In Guyana”

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llan Mangru, formerly of East Canje, Berbice, who now resides in the USA, recently donated $20,000 cash to project “Cricket Gear for Young and Promising Cricketers in Guyana”. The cash will be used to purchase gear which would be added to the existing list for this initiative, which is a joint effort by Kishan Das of the USA and Anil Beharry of Guyana.

Mangru is known to be very charitable, and over the years, played a major role in raising millions of dollars for the NY East Canje Reunion, an organisation that makes significant contributions to the wellbeing of grade six students and other charities in the East Canje area of East Berbice.

The organisers thanked Mangru for his assistance, and he responded by saying that he is more than happy to be part of this project.

The aim of the organisers is to provide cricket gear free of cost to young and talented cricketers in Guyana. The project is seeking new and used cricket gear which would then be distributed across the length and breadth of Guyana.

So far, cricket-related items

Allan Mangru

collected amount to $40,000 in cash and two cricket boots, twelve pairs of batting pads, twelve bats, nine pairs of batting gloves, and four cricket bags.

Sixteen young players from the Essequibo Coast, Pomeroon and the East Canje area have already benefited from a junior gear bag, five bats, six pairs of batting pads and four pairs of batting gloves. Two clubs in Pomeroon would also benefit from two used bats.

Talent spotting is being done across Guyana, along with guidance from club leaders to identify the players.

Players must be in school and be disciplined. Players above school age would also be

considered to receive.

Das and Beharry would like to thank Imran and Javed Khan of West Indian Sports Complex; Option Group; Bish Panday of P and P Insurance Brokers; Sean Devers; Travis Simon; Hilbert Foster of RHTY&SC; Ariel Tilku; Aaron Beharry; Devon Ramnauth; Sherman Austin; Teddy Singh; Leana Bachan and Imran Saccoor; Romash Munna; Ravi Etwaroo; Ravin Harkishun; Surendra Harkishun; Allan Mangru and Vishal Mahabir.

More distribution will be done as soon as gear arrives from the USA and the COVID-19 pandemic is under control.

Anyone interested in contributing to this worthy project can contact Anil Beharry on 623-6875 or Kishan Das on 1-718-664-0896.

CLASSIFIED ADS TAXI SERVICE Elegant Cabs. 231-1494 / 2264277, Cell #: 625-6600. 24 hrs.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2021

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

There are quite a few players who can step up A

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— Simmons says on anchoring role in the West Indies team …not worried about fitness and form of key players

s they complete a 6-day quarantine period today, the Men in Maroon who are not a part of the Indian Premier League (IPL) will transition into preparation mode ahead of the ICC T20 World Cup. While there are many concerns about the team, finding an ‘anchor’ is not keeping Head Coach Phil Simmons awake at night.

By now, the heroics of Marlon Samuels in the 2012 and 2016 World Cup tournaments are widely known, but analysts and enthusiasts are curious to know who from the current 15man squad would step up to play that role.

In 2012, Samuels boasted an average of 38.33 in the tournament. His masterclass of 78 runs from 56 deliveries led the West Indies to their first-ever T20 World Cup win. In 2016, Samuels repeated the feat with a 36.20 average and a steady 85 from 66, as he watched Carlos Brathwaite smash the title-winning runs from the other end of the crease.

Posed on Monday morning with the question of finding a player to replicate Samuels’s consistency, Head Coach Phil Simmons opined that the title of ‘anchor’ is up for grabs by any of the team’s batsmen.

“I think we have a lot of players who can play roles like that. I think we will look at, ‘Yes, we have power hitters, and everybody can hit’, but you have people like Lendl, Hetmyer. We see how Hetty’s been batting over the last 2-3 games. We still have Bravo, who went up earlier,

we now have Chase in the squad, you know; so, there’s quite a few players who can step up and play. Who decides who takes on the mantle we will see as the tournament goes on,” the Head Coach commented.

Cognisant that persons across the Caribbean have slammed the Selection Panel for the names put forward in the World Cup team and reserves, Simmons has said he is not surprised by the people’s reactions.

He shared, “Nothing surprises me these days; everybody has their opinion. When the three of us, the four of us, sit to select our teams, we try and select the best team that we think possible to win the tournament. We went through all the series we were playing in, so I think we do that job and we expect there to be people who don’t agree with our selection; so, you get these things, it doesn’t surprise me.”

The Head Coach does not believe it has had a negative impact on the players currently in the UAE, but he has asked for the

support of fans.

“I don’t think it has a negative impact on the team. I think the guys who are here know what they’re here for. We, as a staff, know what we’re here for, and we’re going into it with eyes open and looking to enjoy what we’re doing.”

Turning his attention to the avid West Indian fans, he said, “The only thing I can say is that the people need to back us in the things that we do.

Sometimes we’re closer to things than the people are (who are) commenting outside, so we need to be backed in the decisions that we made.

But, right now, what we need is the backing and the good vibes from everybody, because we are going into a tournament in 10 days’ time.”

Form and fitness When it comes to the recent performances of West

Indies players, particularly in the IPL and the Caribbean Premier League (CPL), there are some concerns that emerge.

However, that does not obtain with Simmons, who appears nonchalant about fitness and form concerns from the likes of Chris Gayle, Andre Russell, Nicholas Pooran and Obed McCoy. About Andre Russell, who as recently as last week suffered a hamstrng injury while playing in the IPL, Simmons revealed that he is close to fit.

“We’ve been in constant contact between our medical and KKR’s medical, and he’s been batting in the nets, he’s been running at a certain level. So, it’s close enough to fitness.

There was a talk out, I don’t know if it was just on social media, that he might have been up to play

against that, and we’ll see how we move forward, but he’s been progressing really well,” Simmons revealed.

Also on the injury radar is Obed McCoy, who missed out on a few international matches this year. In regard to McCoy, Simmons related, “Obed’s been good. Obed’s been doing quite a bit of training in St Vincent before leaving. And, as I said, we’ve been here in the room for six days, so, from tomorrow (today), we start back with the physical work, but also the bowling work.”

The Windies Head Coach is equally as casual about the form of Pooran as he is about Gayle’s.

“It’s a case where I’m not too worried about Nicholas, I think Nicholas has been batting well. I think in the CPL he played well.

There’s a lot of pressure on him there, there’s going to be more pressure here, but I think that he is working hard enough, he’s doing all what he has to do, and

sometimes it doesn’t come out, but it will come out; so, I’m not worried about him,” Simmons said in shrugging off the queries about Pooran.

About the ‘Universe Boss’ Chris Gayle, he had this to say: “Chris, we have specific rules that we’ve put on Chris, and we trust that he is going to be ready and in form and everything. Having had a short rest from the game and from the bubble, he is going to come back fresh and ready to do and produce what we asked him to do.”

West Indies will open their World Cup campaign against England on October 23, from 10am local time.

Van Lange gains qualification spot to inaugural Junior Pan American Games

today as a batsman, but they’ve gone

GFF funds and delivers 19-seater bus for Rupununi Football

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GFF President Wayne Forde cutting the ribbon on the minibus the GFF has funded for the Rupununi

he Guyana Football Federation (GFF) has funded and delivered a 19-seater minibus for use by the Rupununi Football Association (RFA) to enable enhanced and affordable participation in football competitions and development programmes across the remote hinterland landscape of Region 9.

The Toyata Hiace bus, the first large-group transportation vehicle provided to a regional football association in the 120-year history of the GFF, will create immediate and considerable cost savings and remove a significant barrier to the participation in football among remote communities.

“We have to make it possible for football to be played more often and in more places across this beautiful country. In order to achieve this, it is important

that every young boy and girl must have equal access to the game and its developmental resources,” said GFF President Wayne Forde.

The bus, funded through the GFF’s ground-breaking Members Financial Assistance Programme (M-FAP), was handed over to the RFA at a ceremony in St. Ignatius on Saturday, Matches involving male and female players from the region followed the handing over.

“With the introduction of the M-FAP programme in 2020, the GFF is now able to provide unprecedented support to the entire fraternity,” Forde has said.

“The RFA Executive Committee has delivered remarkable success despite the unique challenges the geography of the region poses. This minibus will now allow the RFA to access

GFF President Wayne Forde addressing the crowd at St Ignatius

every corner of the region, play more games, scout more talent.

This is one additional step in our determined effort to improve hinterland football by creating a clear pathway to the national teams of the GFF.” RFA President Rayan Farias has said the bus would vastly accelerate his organisation’s efforts at developing football across the Rupununi. And he praised the GFF for the creation of the M-FAP initiative, which is modelled on FIFA’s financial distribution model for supporting its members.

“Back in 2015, when the football mantle was taken up under the administration of Mr Wayne Forde, today’s reality was just a dream,” said President Farias. “It is indeed an honour to express our gratitude to the Guyana Football Federation for their continuous support. We

want to thank the Federation for allowing this for our youth and senior players.”

The Rupununi, on the southern border with Brazil, has a renowned passion for football, with girls and boys taking up the beautiful game from an early age, and community male and female teams often embarking on long, arduous journeys to compete against rival villages.

“The Rupununi is the largest administrative region of Guyana. To move around this region is costly, very costly, and I am certain, with today’s activity, it will bring a great ease to the RFA and the clubs that exist in the Rupununi,” said Mayor of Lethem, John Macedo.

“This is truly a great gesture by the GFF. It is very special to be here this afternoon for what I consider to be a very historic event.”

alented National Junior and Cadet Table Tennis champion Jonathan Van Lange has gained a qualification spot to the 1st Junior Pan American Games, scheduled from 25th November to 6th December 2021 in Cali, Colombia.

The Cali 2021 Junior Pan American Games are a multisport Junior Olympic cycle event intended to promote and develop the next generation of athletes in the Americas. Panam Sports outlined that, given the central concept for the institution and implementation of the Junior Pan American Games, being to develop the next generation of athletes in the Americas, they decided to open up additional wildcard slots for athletes who were unable to attend qualification events due to COVID and travel restrictions, as well as for those from nations that normally do not participate in many disciplines.

In this regard, the Guyana Table Tennis Association and Guyana Olympic Association

nominated and submitted Jonathan as one of its talented prospects for the available wildcard positions.

Jonathan, after careful analysis and the cooperation of the respective Pan American Sports confederations, among other factors, was selected as a qualifier among the list of talented prospects in the Americas region in the inaugural games of the Cali 2021 Junior Pan American Games.

An exceptional talent, who has great prospects for regional and international success if given the correct support and nurturing in the ideal environments for growth, Jonathan’s qualification for participation at this event provides a great platform for him to register and commence his quest for qualification at the Junior Olympic Games, Junior South American Games 2022, and Junior Commonwealth Games, among other Junior Olympic cycle and key international events within the junior realm.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2021

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

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There are quite a few players who can step up

— Simmons says on anchoring role in the West Indies team …not worried about fitness and form of key players

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Van Lange gains qualification spot to inaugural Junior Pan American Games

GFF promotes former national player Bryan Joseph to Assistant Technical Director

he Guyana Football Federation (GFF) has promoted former Golden Jaguar and Youth Development Officer Bryan Joseph to the newly-created position of Assistant Technical Director, as it accelerates its efforts to empower homegrown talent and boost administrative capacity ahead of the return to play.

Qualified as a Concacaf coach educator, Joseph is one of three GFF-affiliated coaches certified with a valid Concacaf “C” licence. He has been instrumental in the roll out of the GFF’s pioneering Academy Training Centre network, the rapid improvement in the performances of Guyana’s national youth teams, and in the

Bryan Joseph

enhanced impact of youth football development programmes around the country.

“I’m honoured to be given

this opportunity to continue my work in the development of football. This new role will push me to new heights within the technical development strategy of the GFF,” Joseph said.

“I am elated that President (Wayne) Forde, the Executive Committee and the Technical Director (Ian Greenwood) are showing confidence in my abilities through this appointment, and I therefore will be diligent in the execution of my duties,” he said.

Following an impressive career as a player, Joseph’s experience in Guyana’s football pyramid features a wealth of experience coaching national teams at various levels, including guiding the U15 boys’ na-

tional team to Guyana’s first international youth title - the Soualiga Cup - in 2017.

“Bryan has been a dedicated and hard-working professional throughout his tenure with the GFF, and has contributed significantly to the success of our organisation,” said President Forde.

“His personal and professional growth over the years is quite exemplary, and reflects positively on a culture of continual professional development, which has been embedded in our organisation,” he added.

Joseph’s promotion is part of the GFF Executive Committee’s ongoing strategic focus on longterm capacity-building and up-

lifting Guyana-based talent across the entire football spectrum, from players and coaches to referees and administrators.

“Bryan has progressed well during his time at the Federation as its Youth Development Officer, especially at the grassroots level,” said Technical Director Greenwood.

“Our immediate next steps are to support him to pass his Concacaf ‘B’ Licence, and this would then be followed by the ‘A’ Licence.

“Upskilling his certification and qualifications is vital to ensure that he maximises his impact on football development within the member associations. We wish him all the best in his new role.”

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