Guyana Times - Tuesday, October 5, 2021

GBTI raises $1.5M towards Haiti’s disaster relief P21

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

Issue No. 4791

THE BEACON OF TRUTH TUESDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2021

Govt announces $1.8B payout to severed sugar workers See story on page 7

PRICE

$80 VAT INCLUDED

WHAT'S INSIDE:

Overseas-based teen among 4 robbed at gunpoint P22

PSC reiterates calls for businesses to enforce COVID-19 P21 guidelines P21 Accused pleads guilty to murdering British teenager

...10,000 to get jobs under Emergency Employment Programme – VP Jagdeo ZuckerbergP19 loses US$6B as Facebook shuts down

Caribbean Week of Agriculture

President Ali urges transformation of regional food systems to ensure food security See story on page 3

…says Guyana will open more lands for intra-regional investment in agriculture One year later

GWI worker PM hails improved killed in ICT infrastructure 3-motorcycle following smash-up in liberalisation of Berbice sector 3 more unvaccinated persons among 4 COVID deaths …death toll now surpasses 800 See story on page 9

Page 22

...says Guyana will soon see proliferation of added telecoms operators

Page 20

Venezuelan siblings robbed by masked gunmen at P10 Buck Hall 14-year-old dies after allegedly receiving 2nd dose Pfizer P10 vaccine

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TUESDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

NEWS

BRIDGE OPENINGS OPENINGS BRIDGE

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

Tuesday, October 5 – 03:00h-04:30h and Wednesday, October 6 – 03:30h-05:00h and 09:00h-10:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Tuesday, October 5 – 15:45h-17:15h and Wednesday, October 6 – 16:20h-17:50h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Sunny conditions are expected during the day.

Clear skies are expected at night. Temperatures should range between 21 degrees Celsius and 33 degrees Celsius.

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

High Tide: 15:58h reaching a maximum height of 2.76 metres.

Low Tide: 09:33h and 21:52h reaching minimum heights of 0.48 metre and 0.41 metre.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2021

LOTTERY NUMBERS A

05 06 16

17 22 26

FREE TICKET

14 Bonus Ball

MONDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2021

DAILY MILLIONS

07 08 12 13 16 LUCKY 3

7

0

2

5

Afternoon Draw

6

9

Evening Draw

DRAW DE LINE

04 10 11 12 15 16 21 SUPER

PAY DAY

PAY DAY

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2021

01 02 03 04 09 13

05 06 08 16 21

1

8 Afternoon Draw

2

X Afternoon Draw

3

7 Evening Draw

F

P Evening Draw

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

COMMODITIES Indicators

US$

Change %

Crude Oil

$81.26/barrel

+2.44

Rough Rice

$243.72/ton

-0.04

London Sugar

$502.60/ton

-1.62

Live Spot Gold

USD Per Ounce

Bid/Ask

$1762.10

$1763.10

Low/High Change

$1747.30 -7.80

$1771.80 -0.44%

Caribbean Week of Agriculture

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TUESDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

President Ali urges transformation of regional food systems to ensure food security …says Guyana will open more lands for intra-regional investment in agriculture

W

hile delivering the keynote address at the virtual opening of the Caribbean Week of Agriculture (CWA), Guyana’s President Dr Irfaan Ali called for the transformation of the regional food systems in an effort to ensure food security in the Caribbean.

The virtual CWA event, which runs from October 4–8, is being held under the theme “Transforming Our Food Systems”, and as Lead Head of Government with the responsibility for Agriculture in the Caricom Quasi Cabinet, the Guyanese delivered the keynote address.

He noted that the significance of the CWA should not be lost, since it represents the renewed energy and enthusiasm of the countries in reassuring that agriculture remains of paramount importance to the Caribbean’s fortunes and future.

Guyana, as you know, holds lead responsibility for agriculture, agricultural diversification and food security in the Caribbean Community (Caricom).

The President said his Government does not take this responsibility lightly, and has demonstrated the willingness and commitment from the very outset to lead from the front.

He added that Guyana has begun to provide that leadership through the policies it is adopting locally.

“At the national level, Guyana is committed to the sustainable and equitable transformation of its food systems. Our efforts to do so are rooted in our commitment to the 2030 agenda and the obligation to leave no one behind. We’re dedicated to ensuring that there is access to safe and nutritious food for everyone, the reduction of on-farm and post-harvest waste and loss, and implementation of a circular food economy,” President Ali noted.

As part of the commitment to providing safe and nutritious food for all Guyanese, the President explained that they have taken steps to consolidate the national school feeding programme by strengthening connections between consumers and food producers, including by fostering more robust food value chains and creating solid alliances between farmers and the wider society to deliver safe, healthy and nutritious school meals.

He added that Guyana is expanding agricultural production and productivity through increased investment in large scale agricultural production and the provision of incentives to boost investment in the sector.

“Guyana is strengthening its agricultural institutions

President Dr Irfaan Ali

so as to provide greater support to the sector. We’re also improving our agricultural support through infrastructure, including drainage and irrigation and farm-to-market access roads.

As a matter of fact, investment in this infrastructure is of priority in the transformative agenda of the country. Guyana is derisking its agricultural sector. Guyana is diversifying and modernising local agriculture so as to create a more resilient sector. Guyana will promote increased research and development and innovation in agriculture, and pursue climate smart agriculture,” the Guyanese Head of State told his Caribbean counterparts.

President Ali further outlined that Guyana will be intensifying increased value added through agro-processing and working on the adoption of an inclusive approach to the management of its agriculture sector.

Transformational approach

The Guyanese Leader, after outlining all the plans for the local sector, told his regional colleagues that it is not a move to paint a picture of Guyana being better than the rest; rather, his intention is to highlight elements of a replicable model for transforming regional food systems.

With a food import bill of just about US$5 billion, the Caribbean, according to President Ali, has the resources to slash that bill. He explained that the Caribbean must become more food secure, and Guyana is committed to sustainable and equitable transformation of its food systems.

“It remains a travesty that our region, blessed with arable lands, abundant fresh water supplies and skilled agricultural workers, imports more than five billion US dollars annually. We have the means to slash our regional food import bill, pro-

duce more of the food we consume, and the process generates sustainable livelihoods through agriculture. The Caribbean also must become more and more food secure, since climate change can imperil global food supply, subjecting the region to external induced shocks,” he said.

Based on estimations, the global population is expected to rise by 1.4 billion in the next two decades, and that will require more food.

Ali related that in order to address the anticipated high demand for food, the region must reassess and reform its food systems to seize the opportunities.

“Food security also is essential to attainment of many of the Sustainable Development Goals. If the region is to avoid being deterred from attaining the SDGs, it must transform food systems to ensure greater food security. There should therefore be no reservations about the need for transforming our regional food systems,” he urged.

In February of 2021, President Ali presented a paper titled “Advancing the Caricom agri-food systems’ agenda - prioritizing regional food and nutrition security” to Caricom Heads of Government, and it birthed the Special Ministerial Task Force on Food Production and Food Security, headed by Guyanese Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha.

TURN TO PAGE 6

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guyanatimesgy.com

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 5, 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

Dismantling trade barriers for food security

T

he announcement that Guyana intends to push for the dismantling of barriers that restrict intra-regional agricultural trade is most welcome.

We agree with President Dr Irfaan Ali, in his virtual address at the 16th Caribbean Week of Agriculture (CWA) 2021, when he said: “The Caribbean has the resources to ensure greater regional food security. It remains a travesty that our Region, blessed with arable lands, abundant freshwater supplies and skilled agricultural workers, imports more than US$5B annually in food. We have the means to slash our regional food import bill, produce more of the food we consume, and in the process generate sustainable livelihoods through agriculture.”

The COVID-19 pandemic affecting the Region and the world at large has heightened the need and the awareness that food security for the Region is as important as any other matter, and must be treated as such by Governments and other development partners.

In Guyana’s case, we have, over the years, been at the forefront in pushing for an effective agriculture and food security strategy. In December 2020, at the Seventh virtual Summit of the Heads of State of Caricom and the Republic of Cuba, President Dr Irfaan Ali brought the issue of regional food security once again into the spotlight. The President used the opportunity to press the Caribbean Community (Caricom) to review the inter-regional trade mechanism and its food security in an effort to strengthen the bloc and place greater focus on an Agriculture and Food Security Strategy.

We believe Regional Heads need to place more emphasis on developing their agriculture sector, and making the kinds of investments necessary to ensure the Region is not only food secure, but that we produce enough to tap into export markets, so as to earn foreign exchange.

It could be recalled that, in 2002, former President Bharrat Jagdeo, who at the time had lead responsibility for Agriculture in the Caricom quasi-Cabinet, had sought assistance from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) to boost the Region’s efforts to ensure it is food secure. One year after, he proposed that the Region build on its past efforts to develop a common agriculture policy, and requested that the IICA and the FAO support the Caricom Secretariat in developing a framework for repositioning agriculture in the Region.

In underlining the problems that the agriculture sector faces in the Region, Jagdeo had stressed that, in the changing global environment, the sector was neither providing for food security nor earning the foreign exchange needed to cover the Region’s growing food import bill.

In addition, at a Caricom Heads of Government Conference in Grand Anse, Grenada, Jagdeo had presented a paper titled “A Framework for the Repositioning of Caribbean Agriculture”. In that framework, he stressed the need for a regional policy and strategy aimed at strengthening food security and alleviating poverty; and in January 2005, the President’s proposal was formally dubbed the “Jagdeo Initiative”, with the theme “Strengthening Agriculture for Sustainable Development”.

The declining role of agriculture in the Region, the continuing loss of preferential markets for the Region’s traditional products, and the rapidly-increasing extra-regional food import bill are among the serious and challenging issues highlighted in the Initiative. However, while there has been much banter on the topic, it is not clear what concrete actions (if any) have been taken since then to strengthen the Region’s agriculture sector and to bring it to a level envisaged in the “Jagdeo Initiative”.

Regional Governments would need to show by their actions that they are willing to go beyond the rhetoric. Guyana has made tremendous efforts to ensure the country produces enough to meet the demands of its citizens.

As we are presently doing, other countries would need to organise themselves and their individual farming sectors, and encourage young persons to embrace new technologies to see farming and agriculture as a business. By doing so, the Region would not only be ensuring there is enough food to satisfy the demands of people, but the surplus of what is produced could be exported.

Several years after, many of the proposals detailed in the Jagdeo Initiative are still relevant, and perhaps even more needed now, considering the changing global dynamics relative to countries producing enough to meet the needs of their populations and to satisfy export markets.

As we have said before, President Ali’s call for countries to develop an effective agriculture and food security strategy is another reminder of Guyana’s commitment to the issue of food security.

People eating at a restaurant cheer on supporters of reproductive choice taking part in the nationwide Women’s March, held after Texas rolled out a near-total ban on abortion procedures and access to abortion-inducing medications, in Manhattan, New York (Reuters/ Caitlin Ochs)

Modern building codes needed to prevent fires

Dear Editor, Fire trucks should be the ultimate resort in the arena of housing construction, commercial building designs, and safety systems. From the inception of a flame, safety measures must kick-start the process of containment and evacuation, while attendant personnel (trained in Disaster Management, CPR, OSHA etc) serve to direct evacuation and assist with manning whatever firefighting equipment is on premises.

Sounds like the perfect workplace situation, but not for Guyana, as most of its Public Service today function in a Flintstones era. The irony of this scenario is that Guyana would finally get a modern, well equipped Police station.

The Brickdam Police Station fire is yet another episode in which a public service entity — this time the Fire Service — displayed the gaping holes in its function and equipment. And why were there no fire extinguishers on premises, or fire hoses inside the standard glass cabinets? What is even more mind boggling are the methods used to arrive from Stabroek Market to the fire scene…2 minutes away! Seems the holes in the modus operandi employed by the Fire Service could only be outdone by the holes in the fire hoses!

All persons who work in both public and private sectors must be cognisant of the five primary methods that are employed worldwide in cases of fire.

The acronym RACEE aptly depicts this: R = Rescue anyone in immediate danger, A = Alarm - Call the fire department, C = confine the smoke/fire by clos-

ing doors and windows, E = evacuate all persons, E = extinguish small fires with portable fire extinguishers.

STRICT BUILDING CODES AND REGULAR INSPECTIONS NEEDED TO PREVENT FIRES, and Guyana needs a complete overhaul of its building codes and safety standards.

Here are some solutions: 1. Some buildings in Guyana generally do not confirm to the country’s building codes. Single family homes are secretly converted into tenant-occupied residences, so that homeowners can accommodate family members and get some rental income. The flaw in this is that the original plumbing and electric systems for a single family have to support tenants with additional appliances for the same outlets. In other words, in a single-family house, the electrical system is built to accommodate one microwave oven, an air conditioner and a refrigerator, but having tenants means more appliances — enough to induce overloading of the electrical circuits.

In some cases, extension cords are hidden under carpets, and their multiple connections could induce spark, which in turn could result in burning the carpet. Then there is the scenario where persons break off the earth safety prongs in three way plugs to accommodate plug-ins, which is a fire hazard.

2. Single-room occupancy buildings, prevalent in hospitals and other multi-family buildings, should be inspected on a yearly basis, in order to prevent fires.

3. In Guyana, the building codes and zoning regu-

lations should be updated to allow a minimum space of roughly eight feet between buildings, to facilitate evacuation as well as allow access to firefighters.

4. Given the spate of fires on commercial buildings, especially attached ones, it should be mandated that all commercial buildings be fitted with modern sprinkler systems, to prevent their entire destruction in case of fire.

Automated oxygen retardant systems should also be installed inside commercial buildings, so that an increase in temperature (say at 110F) would trigger off the chemical spray which would reduce the oxygen in the fire, and thus contain it.

Smoke alarms should be installed in homes and along the corridors of commercial buildings, which are the principal pathways for smoke.

5. Bonds, regardless of what is stored, need to be sectionalised, much like the compartments in ships, especially oil tankers. All compartments must be fire-proof. This, coupled with periodic safety inspections, must be the way forward.

Storage of cooking gas containers must never be inside a closed building.

Propane is highly flammable, and needs to be stored outdoors: any leakage/explosion would dissipate harmlessly into the atmosphere.

6. Perhaps the worst aspect of construction in Guyana is the electrical system, materials and installation codes, all of which should be updated to reach international standards. For example, the main power distribution

centre in both residential and commercial buildings should be equipped with fly-back circuit breakers in the event of an overload.

7. Fire hydrants, which are generally taken for granted by many, should instead be seen as a means of emergency water supply to fight fires. For the safety of all Guyanese, young or old, The Bureau of Standards must make it its duty to monitor the quality of electrical fittings and accessories, most of which are imported from China.

And while these electrical accessories are cheap, the Bureau of Standards should not sacrifice life for cost…

And the Housing Authority must determine the safety features and occupancy of commercial buildings.

8. In the final analysis, the authorities should put safety first, and institute polices which must be mandated by law to prevent further tragedies.

All buildings must be insured, have sprinkler systems, and undergo a yearly inspection by the Fire Department, in which pitfalls would be identified and corrected. Fines must be imposed on all forms of non-compliance if Guyana is truly serious about preventing fires.

Just a little note: I spent a night in the Brickdam lock-ups along with former Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee while picketing Parliament in 1988.

It was a nasty stinking place.

Sincerely, Leyland Chital Roopnaraine Real Estate Builder (New York)

guyanatimesgy.com

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 5, 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

Call made by Harmon for Minister Benn to resign has no basis Dear Editor, It comes as no surprise that following the recent fire which destroyed the Brickdam Police Station, the Leader of the Opposition, Joseph Harmon, would release a ridiculous statement calling for the resignation of the Minister of Home Affairs, Robeson Benn.

I find the statement to be hypocritical and biased, and, as such, I ask that you

allow me space in your publication to share some of my views.

First, the call made by Harmon for Minister Benn to resign over the Brickdam Station fire has no basis, since the investigation revealed that it was an act of arson, not poor leadership, as is stated by Harmon.

The investigation also led to the individual responsible for the fire being identified. In addition to

this, no lives were lost.

However, back in 2016, when the APNU+AFC coalition was in office, the Camp Street Prison was set on fire and 17 prisoners lost their lives. A part of the facility was also destroyed.

At that time, Khemraj Ramjattan was in charge, functioning in the capacity of Minister of Public Security. With so many lives lost in that fire, why didn’t Harmon make calls

for the resignation of his ministerial colleague Ramjattan, for poor leadership and incompetence?

Editor, I wish to also point out that, in 2017, there was another fire at the Camp Street Prison facility, which resulted in its destruction and the death of Prison Officer Odinga Wickham.

Where was Harmon then? Why did he not call for Ramjattan to step down as Minister of

Public Security?

It is ridiculous that now, with the Brickdam Police Station fire, Harmon is calling for Minister Benn to resign. I posit this question to Harmon: On what basis should the Minister resign? Again, I say, no lives were lost in the fire; efforts were made immediately to ensure that the work of the Police Force continue as smoothly as possible; and the culprit responsible for

the fire was identified.

As far as I can see, the Minister and the Police should be commended for their efforts to deal with this unfortunate situation. It would appear that Harmon’s obsession with painting the PPP/C’s ministers in a bad light is affecting his ability to think properly.

Respectfully, Alvin Hamilton

Crime in Zeelugt on the rise There is need for fire protection in rural areas Dear Editor, Allow me a few words in your paper to represent myself and fellow community members. I hail from the community of Zeelugt on the West Coast of Demerara.

As of recent the community has been haunted.

Not haunted by ghosts but by bullies and ignorance.

Our youths are glaringly committing criminal acts and I do not appreciate it.

Youths covering the age range of 15 to 25 are gallivanting through the community and engaging in larceny, destruction, and threatening innocent villagers.

I fear for myself and

others. Why should in the middle of the night I should be worried if there is someone by my front gate? Or if someone is trying to jump my fence? Why when I walk on the road I must I clench my bag? Or why when I leave my house I should worry if my house will be the same as I left it.

I ask myself the above and think to myself, I should not have to!

Mr. Irfaan promised safer neighborhoods and so did his team. Mr Indar frequently visits the community; however there has been no efforts to curb the deteriorating discipline of the community’s youths.

Allow me to call these

“important” men out point to them at the situations of some communities. While they live protected, civilians are left to worry and keep their hearts in their hands.

I offer some recommendations: Can we have a routine patrol of officers maybe thrice a day/night!

Can the leaders within the community please speak to these delinquents! Can parents please find constructive work for your children! And finally, can you young men “please find a work” May Zeelugt be Safe!

Regards, Joel Wilkie

Strange yet predictable criminal behaviour Dear Editor, From mysterious fires to mysterious murders to Police getting caught in criminal activity, the list goes on. Then, who would have thought that the Police could have been on top to the perpetrators of these crimes, and we can be well on our way to having them solved?

Interesting! We have been left spellbound and utterly stunned by the fact that the Police could be on top of these matters in such a short period of time, and with deft skill. I make mention of the solving of the matter involving the shooting death of the young electrician. In less than 24 hours, the perpetrators could have been tracked down and killed.

The quick solving of that crime is, in my book, considered a commendable act; or was it? I ask the curt question, “Is this shooting of the criminals considered a commendable act”, as viewed by some on social media?

Listen to some of the comments made: “The actions of the Guyana Police (are) quite unfortunate”; “(Are) the Police sure that these are the perpetrators of the crime?”

Some even went to the extreme end to say, “How comes these two “innocent” boys could be considered the

persons who shot the electrician, it does not add up.”

The second matter which I would like us to pay close attention to is the Brickdam Police Station fire and Clarence Greene’s confession statement. Again, we view the naïve statements of Facebook, “Why a confession statement, is this man Clarence Greene of a sound mind? “Can a prisoner be so intelligent as to do such a thing? This is certainly an Anancy Story or some AllFools Day tale.”

None of these statements give any credit to the hard work done by the Police; they seek only to absolve the criminal of his crime.

Well, I have news for them: criminals are smart people - in my estimation the smartest of persons the only difference from normal people is that the criminal’s skill is utilised for the wrong purposes. From my short span of existence, I have seen some criminal acts which can only be considered as miraculous. It seems sometimes there are no limitations to their thinking power.

It is strange that a criminal could make a public confession to a crime of such magnitude and not be considered a madman. From the perspective of some, this is

madness, or even stupidity, on the part of the confessant.

However, my point is: you do not know what is going through his criminal mind, and what led him to make the confession. What is pellucid is that he is not of an unsound mind, something I think our lawyer crime chief would have had tested at a psychiatric facility at the earliest opportunity.

So, some will say it is strange and fishy, I, on the other hand, say strange but predictable; criminal behaviour. It is not strange that a criminal could behave in an unorthodox fashion, because that’s who they are.

If criminals act in the prescribed way some are suggesting, then they would not be criminals at all, but experts in their field. Their modus operandi is to beat the system as far as their criminal minds can afford them.

Criminals are great thinkers.

And to those who are of the opinion that criminals must act in a “prescribed way,” They, too, would have their questions answered when this matter comes up in court. In the meantime, I say kudos to the GPF for a job well done.

Respectfully, Neil Adams

Dear Editor, The need for fire protection in rural areas like Kwakwani has increased as new areas are developed and populated.

In Kwakwani, there is no rural fire department established, which leaves residential tract development and the occasional large industrial complex vulnerable to fire destruction. There has been a shift of the population from the riverine areas and Berbice metropolitan centres to the rural areas of Kwakwani Instead of just scattered farm and ranch properties, the shift in population has created the need for a fire department in the community.

Previously, it existed without fire protection; we must now consider establishing fire departments for both personal property protection and insurance premium savings.

I am aware that the task of establishing a fire department is not a simple one, and involves a great deal of community commitment and planning. We live in an age of accountability and liability. But it is of utmost importance that a fire department be properly organised and operated, so that it would provide the maximum protection of personnel, and the lives and properties of the public that it serves.

The hazards of firefighting are the same for both career and volunteer personnel, and the legal system makes no distinction when determining liability. However, having a fire department established and operated under the proper authority with sound operation and training procedures can provide a valuable community service.

There is a fire tender in the Kwakwani area, but the Kwakwani Fire Tender has been stationary for the past 18 months. On Sunday October 03, 2021, there was clear evidence why we need a fire department in sub region #2 when a one-storey house in the Kwakwani Plant Site was gutted by fire.

The community was left helpless without a fire tender. A bucket brigade was formed by neighbours, and it was unable to extinguish the fire, which quickly spread and consumed the entire building.

It was shocking to all that

the Government is paying volunteer fire fighters in the community (Kwakwani) to volunteer during a fire emergency, but none of those volunteers was available to assist in extinguishing the fire.

This definition recognises a collection of activities for fire prevention and for fire control, and of system elements (public and private) as being included in the idea of fire protection. Fire protection has long been thought of as a service that is provided by a fire department in the form of fire fighters and fire engines speeding to the scene of a fire, a rescue, an automobile accident, a drowning child trapped in the river.

As far as it goes, this is an accurate view, but there is much more to fire protection than putting out fires and rescuing people. Although not generally recognised as such, perhaps a more important part of fire protection is a system in which people and equipment work together to prevent fires. For example, if there were no fire prevention-oriented building codes, and if people were not rea-

sonably aware of fire danger, fire losses would be immeasurably greater, and fire suppression forces would be overwhelmed.

In a typical community, each of the following organisations is a part of the protection system: Fire prevention is more important than many realise; many people think about the safety and security of their families, but they often overlook the dangers posed by fires.

I recommend that residents arm their homes with the appropriate safety measures against fires by installing smoke alarms on every level of their homes, inside bedrooms and outside sleeping areas, ensuring tests are done on smoke alarms every month.

Talk with all family members about a fire escape plan, and practise the plan twice a year.

If a fire occurs in your home, GET OUT, STAY OUT and CALL FOR HELP. Sincerely, David Adams

6 NEWS

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Brickdam Police Station inferno

“We cannot work with speculations” – DFO E

ven though the Guyana Police Force (GPF) had reported that a 26-year-old man of Princes Street, Lodge, Georgetown had allegedly confessed to starting the fire that destroyed the Brickdam Police Station, Divisional Fire Officer Haimchandra Persaud has said that investigations to ascertain the origin of the fire would continue.

The Fire officer said even though there was a confession, they need to have facts to know where the fire was set.

“We have some initial leads as to where it was, but we are still working to determine all the facts put together, to say or conclude where it actually originated. We (heard) all the speculations, but we cannot work with speculations, we have to get the facts”, he explained.

On Saturday last, the suspect reportedly confessed on video to setting the Police Headquarters on fire after

The raging fire that destroyed the Police Station

he was ratted on by two of his cellmates. Based on reports, the suspect was recently arrested in connection with an alleged robbery-under-arms incident, and was placed in the Brickdam lockups prior to starting the fire.

The man told the Police that he became frustrated after being detained for a long period of time, and he then decided to start the fire.

The confession led Police to question all the prisoners

at the Brickdam Station at the time of the incident.

The two informants were taken from the Brickdam lockups to the Sparendaam Station on the East Coast of Demerara (ECD), where they were placed in a cell with the suspect.

During that time in the cell, the suspect allegedly informed the men that it was he who had started the fire which destroyed the Station.

The two men said the

man allegedly told them that he took a piece of sponge, wrapped it on a piece of wire, and lit it with a cigarette lighter before pushing it through a ventilation hole in the cell.

It is reported that the cell was connected to another room that had some documents in it, and that was how the fire was started.

The suspect was later interviewed on camera, and he allegedly confessed again to Police.

The fire started at about 11:00h, consuming 80% of the three-storey structure.

Among the destroyed facilities are the Property Room, Inquires Office, Traffic Department and Officers’ Mess. Just the barracks, located on the western end and lining Manget Place, remained intact, along with the Impact Building and the lockups.

All 16 prisoners within the facility were accounted for. Salvage records were saved, and the station’s ar-

Work commenced to clear debris immediately after the fire

senal of weapons was secure before the building was completely destroyed.

This publication under-

stands that 398 officers were working from the compound at the time of the fire.

25 arrested, charged for breaching COVID curfew President Ali urges...

A

total of 25 persons were arrested on Saturday and charged or breaching the national curfew and for being in spaces that violated the gazetted measures which limit the occupancy in bars and restaurants to 40 per cent capacity.

The arrests were made in Buxton, at Chico Ramas Gas Station and at Melanie Market Square on the East Coast of Demerara (ECD) between 23:10h and 01:40h.

Among those arrested are Keron Harris, 18, of Nabaclis ECD; Royquan Johnson, 19, of David Street, Kitty, Georgetown; Tarick Alli, 18, East Ruimveldt, Georgetown; Nicholas Narine, 17, of Gale

FROM PAGE 3

Street, Annandale, ECD; Akeysha Weatherspoon, 18, of First Street, Mocha, East Bank Demerara (EBD); Niamloi Browne, 25, of West Ruimveldt, Georgetown; Amdia Cheddie, 26, of Pineapple Street, East Ruimveldt, Georgetown; Anni Garraway, 26, of North Ruimveldt, Georgetown; Ravi Ram, 33, of Lusignan, ECD and Keyon Glasgow, 26, of David Street, Golden Grove, ECD. Samantha Lorde, 22, of Diamond, EBD; Carissa Easton, 22, of Alberttown, Georgetown; Anthony Roy Bakker, 20, of Houston, EBD; Kevin Bakker, 25, Block 22 Diamond, EBD; Ron Nicholson, 23, of Durban Street, Georgetown;

Tariq Rodney, 25, of Bel Air Park, Georgetown; Antonio Moonsammy, 25, of Great Diamond, EBD; Darren Thomas, 24, of Meadow Brook Gardens, Georgetown; Twana Williams, 26, of Enterprise Road, ECD and Tamalea Kezla, 20, were also arrested and charged.

Police also mentioned that Mathew Benthom, 23, of C Field Sophia, Greater Georgetown; Annessa Moonsammy, 27, of Meadow Brook Gardens; Shaqueena Caesar, 22, of Recht-DoorZee, West Bank Demerara (WBD); Mikhail Dasilva, 29, of Prashad Nagar, Georgetown and Shawn Grimmond, 28, of Pike Street, Kitty were also arrested.

They were all placed on bail and processed to attend the Vigilance Magistrate’s Court.

Just recently, the National COVID-19 Task Force (NCTF) announced that the Joint Services would be conducting nationwide patrols to enforce the COVID-19 guidelines.

The curfew is from 22:30h to 04:00h; bars and restaurants are to close at 21:30h.

The Guyana Police Force is urging all citizens to adhere to the COVID-19 regulations and to report all breaches to the COVID-19 Task Force hotlines on 6266674, 624-3067, 624-2819, and toll-free (GTT) 0180.

Ali, in his address, said the theme of the CAW observance falls in line with the main objective of the Task Force, which is to provide guidance on the transformation of the agri-food system to ensure resilience, the creation of opportunities for agricultural investment, and guarantees of food and nutrition security.

Staying true to the theme, President Ali noted that the transformation of the regional food systems must involve the regional private sector. He added that the Caricom Private Sector Organisation has been working with the Special Ministerial Taskforce on Food Production and Food Security on the identification of specific areas for regional policy support in targeting investments of intra-regional trade.

President Ali explained that while the Caribbean has a means of securing greater self-sufficiency, more needs to be done in ensuring in particular that the wheels of intra-regional trade are not encumbered. This, he noted, can be achieved through the removal of non-tariff barriers which impede regional trade in agriculture produce and products.

“Within the Caribbean Community, Guyana will aggressively press for the dismantling of barriers that restrain interregional trade.

We are going to be bullish on this issue. I know that there are vested interests who wish to retain these barriers, but the choice facing us is clear: if there is to be greater regional food security, these barriers have to be dismantled.

“The promotion of regional initiatives aimed at eliminating non-tariff barriers to trade are among the critical areas being addressed

by the Special Ministerial Taskforce. To support this process, a sanitary and phytosanitary dispute resolution mechanism has been refined for adoption in the community,” he explained.

More lands

Acknowledging that access to adequate and suitable land remains a critical constraint, President Ali informed that his government will be opening more lands to regional investors.

“Guyana, being resource-rich land with freshwater, is desirous of leading in this area by making available appropriate lands as part of the process of promoting cross-border investment in agriculture. Guyana is embarking on a process of consolidating on use and underutilised lands with the aim of making suitable lands more readily available for supporting large-scale agricultural investments,” he said.

He added that transforming regional food systems must also result in more climate resilient agriculture, since the Caribbean is particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change and natural hazards. With the Caribbean being the second most hazard-prone region in the world, Ali said, climate resilient agriculture is the only way to ensure food security.

“It is therefore imperative that attention is given to building climate resilience in order to transform the region’s agri-food system. Given agriculture’s extreme reliance on favourable climatic conditions, there is now an even stronger need for appropriately tailored and accessible risk transfer financial services,” Ali said.

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TUESDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Govt announces $1.8B payout for severed sugar workers ...10,000 to get jobs under Emergency Employment Programme – VP Jagdeo

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ice President Dr Bharrat Jagedo on Monday announced that the Government would give a one-off payout of $250,000 to each sugar worker who was sacked under the A Partnership for National Unity+Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) administration. This will amount to some $1.8 billon.

He was at the time meeting with sugar workers at Skeldon, Berbice during a one-day visit.

Some 7000 sugar workers had lost their jobs at the end of 2016, when the APNU+AFC moved to downsize the sector; the majority came from Region Six. “By January or so, each sugar worker, each sugar worker who was sev-

that. If this is crucial, it is important that we fix this.

It was a great injustice and many people stood out there and remained silent. Many of them to justify the action of APNU because of politics, but any decent person would have stood up and defended it. It was only the People’s Progressive Party,” Jagdeo said.

In addition, the Vice President also stated that 10,000 jobs are expected to be created under the Emergency Employment Programme (EEP).

“In every region, we will put together a facility, a facility to temporarily employ people and give them a few days/weeks of work – those who are unemployed.

“This region would have

Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo addressing sugar workers on Monday

A section of the gathering during the meeting

ered, would also get another $250,000 on their severance.

That would be between $1.7 and $1.8 billion, because we have 7,000 workers who were severed who will all get

about 1000 persons who will be able to work on a Government programme for maybe three of four days per week, so that they can get to maintain their families

while they are training or they are looking for another job.”

Pointing out the difficulties in the sugar industry, the Vice President noted that despite inject-

ing $14 billion into the industry since returning to Government in August last year, the deterioration of the industry caused by the previous Government has resulted in the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) spending more that the revenue it is currently receiving.

“But when you access it from the social impact side, it is important and necessary spending,” Jagdeo pointed out.

The VP further added that the plan to have the Private Sector invest in the Skeldon Sugar Factory has seen the investors wanting to use the land, not for sugar production, but to produce electricity for the co-generation plants at the estate.

“We are having discussions with a number of people who want to do a joint venture at Skeldon. The problem is that most of them don’t want to grow cane for sugar, they want to sell power to the Government and

they want a price for the power which is extraordinarily high on a long-term contract.”

Jagdeo noted that if Government purchases power at that rate, it will be twice as expensive as Guyana will be able to produce power form gas.

He said the proposal being put to the Government is that the investors would want to sell the electricity power at a cost higher than Government could produce electricity. “And therefore we will not be able to cut people’s electricity prices.”

Meanwhile, Jagdeo wants Berbicians to be able to benefit directly from the oil industry, and as such, things must be done differently. This, he noted, is because there are hundreds of jobs available in the sector.

“I met with all of the people and they are looking for hundreds of workers and cannot find enough workers.

These are good paying jobs.

The problem is how we get people from Berbice to work in the oil and gas industry.”

He said the Port Mourant training facility will be expanded to accommodate training for persons desirous of working in the sector. In fact, he noted that 400 persons from the region will be earmarked to be trained.

“We need about 600 to 700 welders for the oil and gas industry. Not everyone has to go back to the sugar industry, because the oil and gas industry the pay will be significantly higher than in the sugar industry, even with all of our efforts to reopen.”

He encouraged the youngster to start making use of the available opportunities which will be provided in large numbers. “You don’t have to get academic training like going and getting a degree. In a few months, you can become an internationally certified welder. So, once you get your certification, you can work in the industry,” the Vice President posted. (Andrew Carmichael)

223-7230-1 (Ext 55)

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Pandora…

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…Papers emember the “Panama Papers” that blew the lid on how the rich, the famous and the not so famous (but rich) hide their money from the taxman??

Yep…they included the Queen of England, who everyone knows has more money that King Midas, so one wonders why she chose to hide some. If you thought the notoriety might’ve scared off the money-secreters, you thought wrong!!

The just-released “Pandora Papers” by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) - which dwarf the Panama Papers! - show that the practice has gotten even bigger. The top ten countries with tax dodgers, in descending order, are Russia, UK, Argentina, China (yes, China!), Brazil, Ukraine, Venezuela, Cyprus, Italy and Guatemala. Some big names netted include some 160 public figures, including Ex-PM Tony Blair of England’s Labour Party fame, the King of Jordan, Czech PM, friends and cronies of Russian President Putin, and the President of Kenya, Uhuru Kenya.

The latter is particularly interesting for us ex-colonies of the British Empire - who were supposed to have been tutored by our erstwhile masters to keep up their standards. Well, since their standards includes hiding income and assets, it would seem that Kenya took their lessons seriously. From what their media is playing up, the hiding started early in the day…by none other than Uhuru’s father and “father of the nation”, Jomo Kenyatta.

Not many know that the latter adopted that name to show his militancy against the Brits - it means “Burning Spear”, and must’ve inspired the Reggae group of the same name!

Anyhow, the western press is highlighting what’s long been known; that after independence in 1963, Jomo transferred large swathes of land to himself and his Deputy Moi, who succeeded him. The details of Jomo’s acquisitions have never been revealed, even though there was an investigation. They didn’t want to stain his name.

His children, however, parlayed their inheritance into a wide assortment of investments, ranging from hotels to posh homes in fashionable London.

Uhuru threw his hat into the political ring after Moi sponsored him for the Kenyatta sheen.

Investigations showed Moi pilfered and stashed away some US$2B! Even the Queen of England should’ve been proud!! The problem for Uhuru - who’ll be visiting Guyana - is that the western press is making a big deal that he got into office by pushing transparency in government. But his name in the Pandora Papers shouldn’t raise eyebrows.

Just look at the biggest names in the biggest democracies in whose company he’s in. And more germanely, the US and UK provide most of the facilities for hiding the loot!!

If the practice is so bad…why facilitate it?

How much tax does Apple Pay?? …Box for Guyana You do remember the story of Pandora’s Box, don’t you, dear reader? She was the first woman created by the Greek Gods, and she was given a box which she was warned never to open. But curiosity got the better of her, and when she opened the box, all the travails that the Gods had locked away escaped to beset masking from then onwards. Only hope remained.

Looking at where we are in Guyana today, it would seem that we were given a box that we weren’t supposed to open when we got independence. And that box contained all the destructive forces that would descend on us if we were to stray from the path of democracy.

But Burnham did open that box, and we still haven’t recovered. And because his successors insist on following in his footsteps and trampling on democratic norms, any recovery is always precarious.

But hope remains. And with the PPP once again taking the reins of Government, we must keep hope alive. …and her gifts “Pandora” means “the one who bears all gifts”, and you’d have to agree that our country could well be a “Pandora”. We’re so blessed with resources.

If only the PNC could practise democracy, imagine where we could be in a decade.

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

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TUESDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

One year later

PM hails improved ICT infrastructure following liberalisation of sector ...says Guyana will soon see proliferation of added telecoms operators

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rime Minister Brigadier (ret’d) Mark Phillips, who also holds the telecommunications portfolio, has hailed the improved information and communications technology (ICT) service and infrastructure which came as a result of the liberalisation of the telecommunications sector.

The Peoples’ Progressive Party (PPP), after taking office on August 02, 2020, made the liberalisation of the telecommunications sector, and on October 05, 2020, the commencement orders were issued.

Prime Minister Phillips, in a statement observing the first anniversary of the historic move, said the groundbreaking decision immediately opened up massive business opportunities by welcoming new entrants in ICT and ICT-enabled businesses to operate locally.

He added that not only did the liberalisation of the sector make Guyana a more attractive business destination, but it also placed the country on global standards in regard to ICT operations.

“Soon our country will see a proliferation of added telecommunications operators, internet service providers, data centres, call centres, and business process outsourcing operations – each of which creates an increase in demand for skilled professionals. These positions will be required to be filled by our local workforce, thereby creating more jobs for our citizens,” the Prime Minister said.

He added that Government recognises that liberalisation must come with complimentary work in capacity building of the regulatory entities. On that note, he explained that Government have committed to working on this goal in regard to strengthening the telecommunications

agency in preparation for regulation in a liberalised environment.

The Prime Minister furthered that the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) has executed some works in preparation for the expected influx of opportunities from the transformed telecommunications sector. He hailed the establishment of an internal monitoring unit to ensure that effective monitoring and compliance with the required quality of service standards are maintained by operators.

“Looking forward, the PUC will be working in strict adherence to the provisions of the Telecommunications Act No. 18 of 2016, particularly in the areas of monitoring the competition in the market by creating modules on monitoring and reporting of anti-competitive behaviour; reviewing the interconnection agreements between the operators as well as the Commission’s existing sanctions policy and enforcement policy; examining existing quality of service (QOS) and making recommendations for reform; launching online surveys on QOS issues; conducting public consultation on expectations of liberalization, and continuing to process consumers’ complaints,” the Prime Minister outlined.

Phillips said it is Government’s intent to provide an open, liberalised and competitive sector that is attractive to new entrants with the expectation that it results in greater choices, a better quality of service, and lower prices for consumers.

He added that they are optimistic about the changes in the sector and what the future holds.

The Prime Minister related that Government has seen the far-reaching and long-term benefits of liberalization, as it deters the monopolisation of telecommu-

Prime Minister Brigadier (ret’d) Mark Phillips

nications services by any one entity, increasing access to telecommunications networks and bringing a wider and more affordable list of options for citizens.

Liberalisation journey

In 1990, the Guyana Telephone & Telegraph Company Limited (GT&T) was granted a licence by the Government of Guyana, giving the company a monopoly on landline services and international outbound and inbound calls in Guyana.

However, no provision was made in the licence for monopoly operations of mobile voice services. In 2007, U-Mobile (Guyana) Inc, trading as Digicel, entered the Guyana market and was granted a licence to operate mobile voice services, heralding competition in the mobile market.

On October 5th, 2020, when the Telecommunications Act No. 18 of 2016 became effective, creating an automatic termination of GT&T’s monopoly designation, the telecommunications sector entered into an era of new possibilities. The concept of liberalisation was finally realised. The Government of Guyana granted new licences to the Guyana Telephone & Telegraph Company Limited and U-Mobile (Cellular) Inc.,

and also issued a licence to a third operator, E-Networks Inc., all of which have expanded the Public Utilities Commission’s (PUC) regulatory reach.

On October 23rd 2020, by the requisite publication in the Official Gazette, seven accompanying telecommunications regulations became effective: Licensing and Frequency Authorisation; Spectrum Management; Universal Access and Universal Services; Interconnection and Access; Pricing;

Consumer Protection, and Competition. As a consequence of this, competition was increased, and modern (4G and beyond) service is being extended to previously underserved areas.

Competition is driving innovation as companies move to improve service and keep/acquire customers. Operators are investing in networks to provide modern and up-to-date services to Guyanese in order to win and retain customers. The new submarine cable to be landed by U-Mobile (Cellular) Inc. is expected to lead to more competition for international data and international long-distance service, thus resulting in reduction of prices, especially for high-speed Internet.

Government is currently in the advanced stages of awarding another telecommunications licence for a 5G carrier.

The Telecommunications Act of 2016 was first laid by the Government in the 9th Parliament in August 2011, and laid again in the 10th Parliament in 2012, after extensive consultations with both the public and opera-

tors. During the life of both Parliaments, the Act enjoyed commendable bipartisan support. It spent considerable time before a select committee chaired by Carl Greenidge, which included Former Prime Minister Samuels Hinds and then Minister Mohamed Irfaan Ali. The Act was finalised before the 2015 elections and was enacted by the coalition Government in 2016 by Minister Catherine Hughes, again with bipartisan support. It was passed with the stated intention of ending the monopoly which GTT has enjoyed.

Under the coalition Government, it was reported that the liberalisation of the sector was heavily dependent upon the settlement of a US$44 million tax claim against GTT by the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA).

According to reports, the local telecommunication giant wanted the tax debt settled before moving ahead with liberalisation. As such, the former Government failed to bring into force the Act that they themselves passed.

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TUESDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Venezuelan siblings 14-year-old dies allegedly after receiving 2nd dose Pfizer vaccine robbed by masked

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few days shy of his 14th birthday, Joshua Henry of Santa Rosa in Region One died moments after taking his second shot of the Pfizer vaccine on Monday. The lad, who took the vaccine at a health centre in the area, afterwards reportedly went home and collapsed. He was rushed to the Kamwatta District Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

His aunt Telisha Peters, when contacted, explained that her nephew was at his uncle’s residence when the news was announced that the second dose of the vaccine was available. When her nephew was administered the first dose about one month ago, he was accompanied by his father.

This time, she noted, her brother had gone to work and was not aware that his son was going to receive the second dose of

Dead: Joshua Henry

the vaccine.

The tearful woman told Guyana Times that after taking the vaccine, her nephew returned home and sat in a chair.

Soon after, he started to feel some discomfort, and fainted.

Upon checking, his lips started to get black as well as the arm on which he had taken

the vaccine; and finally, his entire body became black.

The tearful woman declared that, from all indication, the teenager died at home, but was pronounced dead at the hospital.

The devasting woman explained that the teen’s parents are too distraught to talk, and they are still in a state of shock. The aunt, however, told this publication that when the children took their vaccines, they were not placed under the 15-minute observation period.

She also contended that the person who administered the vaccine was only recently trained, and, as such, she is adamant that there should have been a senior health personnel present at the time the vaccines are administered.

The aunt is also holding out that the vaccines should not have been administered to chil-

dren without the presence of a parent.

She noted that she received a telephone call from Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo, who expressed his sympathy to the family and offered whatever assistance is needed. She also related that the Vice President suggested that a post mortem has to be done to determine the cause of death – a procedure the family was initially against.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health in a subsequent release said it is saddened by his death of the teenager and expresses its deepest condolences to his parents, his family and the community of Kamwatta.

“The child received his second dose of Pfizer vaccine at 2.00 pm today. He had received the first dose of the Pfizer vaccine three weeks ago without any adverse effect. After receiving his second dose of the Pfizer vaccine today, he was observed for an uneventful twenty minutes and showed no reaction to the vaccine. He was then allowed to proceed home. Two hours after returning home, he felt faint and was taken to the Kumaka Hospital, where he was pronounced dead upon arrival,” the release added.

However, the ministry stated that the cause of death is unknown at this time but a team from the Ministry of Health, including pathologist, Dr Nehaul Singh is scheduled to travel to Moruca today to conduct a post mortem.

“We urge citizens not to indulge in speculation and await the results of the post mortem and other-related investigations,” the ministry added.

gunmen at Buck Hall

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wo Venezuelan siblings were in the wee hours of Sunday robbed by three masked gunmen at Buck Hall, Essequibo River. The robbery was committed on 25-year-old Ericka Perales and her 29-year-old brother, Erickson Perales at approximately 00:05h.

Ericka, who operates a shop in the Buck Hall, Essequibo River area, was robbed of one 20-pennyweight gold chain, one Samsung Galaxy A21s phone, one Samsung Galaxy A10 cellular phone and $200,000 in cash. Her brother, who works as a cook at the same business, was robbed of one Samsung A10 cellular phone.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the siblings have been renting the shop for the past two years at the junction of the three trails leading into the interior.

However, on Saturday about 23:40h, the victims closed up their shop, and Ericka went to her room at the back of the shop and her brother went to his room located in a separate building on the same land.

While the siblings were in bed, and on their phones, the lights went out and as such, Ericka got up, opened her window and called out to her brother to check the generator.

As Erickson made his way to the generator room,

he realised that the generator was disconnected. So, he plugged it back in and the electricity came back on, but instead of going back to his room, he checked around the compound to ensure that everything was intact.

Seeing nothing else amiss, he told his sister to lock up as he was heading back to his room. The businesswoman was in the process of locking her window when she was confronted by one of three masked men, who was armed with a gun.

The man held on to her hair and demanded that she open up the window. Upon hearing the commotion, her brother turned around and saw the other two men approaching him from behind.

Erickson was reportedly caught, tied up with strap seal, and his mouth duct taped.

After the ordeal, his sister told Police that she was held at gunpoint, her hands and feet were bound with duct tape, and the men demanded cash and jewellery.

After robbing the siblings, the gunmen made good their escape on foot. The woman managed to free herself after which she untied her brother. The Police were summoned to the scene and launched an investigation.

Detectives have since recovered two sets of duct tape and two strap seals, as investigations continue.

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TUESDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Amid COVID-19 pandemic

CCJ heard 55 cases in fully virtual courtroom

CCJ President, Justice Adrian Saunders

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uring its 2020/2021 court term, many challenges were created by the COVID-19 pandemic, but the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) continued to provide uninterrupted service to the region with the holding of 55 hearings in its fully virtual courtroom from its Trinidad and Tobago headquarters.

The regional court opened its new court term 2021/2022 on Monday, and its President, Justice Adrian Saunders, issued a statement that summarises the work of the court and how it impacted the citizens of the Caribbean Community (Caricom).

Justice Saunders noted that, despite challenges created by the COVID-19 pandemic, the CCJ continued to provide uninterrupted service to the region, holding 55 hearings in its fully virtual

courtroom.

He also noted that, in the past year, the first-ever case initiated by one Caricom member state against another was filed in the court’s Original Jurisdiction.

Apart from its judicial work, the President also highlighted some of the other noteworthy deliverables completed by the CCJ during the past court year.

According to Justice Saunders, this includes the finalisation of the Judicial Discipline Regulations to accompany the revised Judicial Code of Conduct which was adopted in 2020, as well as the implementation of a Monitoring and Evaluation Framework to measure the progress of the execution of the court’s five-year strategic plan.

In keeping with its strategic goal of supporting the regional justice system, the CCJ, as the executing

agency for the Canadianfunded Judicial Reform and Institutional Strengthening (JURIST) Project, also supported the implementation of several initiatives, such as business continuity plans for courts, case flow management, court administration, and the procurement of ICT equipment to enhance the delivery of justice across the region.

Additionally, through a partnership with affiliates such as the CCJ Academy for Law (CAL), Caribbean Association of Judicial Officers (CAJO), and the UN’s Global Judicial Integrity Network, the CCJ also assisted with the rollout of legal and judicial education programmes throughout the region and beyond.

Acknowledging that despite these successes there is still more work to be done, the CCJ President asserted, “…we shall continue, fearlessly as always, to advance the rule of law in the region.

We shall always protect the rights of the people, and we shall strengthen the legal framework underpinning the Caricom Single Market and Economy.”

The President also urged citizens of the region to learn more about the Court, and how it serves the region. He affirmed, “The CCJ is your Court, and we believe all citizens of Caricom must know how their court works and how what we do impacts on you.”

The CCJ was inaugurated in Port of Spain, Trinidad

and Tobago on April 16, 2005, and presently has a Bench of seven judges presided over by the President.

The CCJ has an Original and an Appellate Jurisdiction, and is therefore effectively two courts in one. In its Original Jurisdiction, it is an international court with exclusive jurisdiction to interpret and apply the rules set out in the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas (RTC) and to decide disputes arising under it.

The RTC established the CARICOM and the CSME. In its Original Jurisdiction, the CCJ is

critical to the CSME and all 12 member states which belong to the CSME (including their citizens, businesses, and governments) can access the court’s Original Jurisdiction to protect their rights under the RTC. In its Original Jurisdiction, the CCJ decides on issues related to the CSME, such as freedom of movement, labour, goods and service, capital, and establishment.

In its Appellate Jurisdiction, the CCJ is the final court of appeal for criminal and civil matters for those countries in the Caribbean that altered

their national constitutions to enable the CCJ to perform that role.

At present, four states access the Court in its Appellate Jurisdiction, these being Barbados, Belize, Dominica, and Guyana.

However, by signing and ratifying the Agreement establishing the CCJ, member states of Caricom have demonstrated a commitment to making the CCJ their final court of appeal.

The CCJ is the realisation of a vision of our ancestors, an expression of independence, and a signal of the region’s coming of age.

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New COVID-19 vaccine cards to be introduced to curb forgery

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he forgery of COVID-19 vaccination booklets has continued, prompting the Health Ministry to look to introduce a new and more secured document as proof of vaccination.

Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony on Monday stated that authorities were looking at a more secure document – one which could not be obtained by persons who initially forged their immunisation card.

“We’re going to change the card system. We’re working on that right now. Very soon, we are going to introduce a new and different type of card that’s going to be harder to forge and if people did not have the proper documentation in the first place, then they will not get the new card that we’re putting in,” Dr Anthony noted.

Health-care workers have been facilitating the false obtainment of vaccination cards and to date, 15 cases are being investigated by the Police.

“Majority of the healthcare workers are honest, hardworking people. But unfortunately, we do have a few dishonest people among the grouping and they are the ones who have been facili-

Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony

tating these cards. They are giving cards without people receiving the vaccines and once we get the information, we are going to get the Police to investigate and prosecute these persons,” Dr Anthony said.

Health-care personnel have been specifically cautioned to desist from this act since those who are caught will face the “full force of the law” and can possibly be disbarred from work in the health sector.

“This is a very dangerous thing in the sense that if you’re facilitating somebody to get the card, but they

didn’t get the vaccine, then when they get sick, we’ll probably think they were immunised and we’re getting a breakthrough infection when in the first place, they did not get the vaccine at all. We have to put an end to this practice,” the Health Minister said.

Persons caught purchasing the cards will also be charged for tendering a forged document. The public has since been asked to report any suspected instance where such activities are ongoing.

Mark Samuels, of Lot 276 South Ruimveldt, Georgetown, was the last known person charged with stealing vaccination booklets. The 31-year-old driver attached to the Health Ministry appeared on August 30 at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts, where he pleaded not guilty to the charge.

It is alleged that between August 22 and August 23, at Brickdam, Georgetown, he broke into the vaccination centre of the Health Ministry and stole 66 COVID-19 vaccination booklets valued at $1014.

Samuels was remanded to prison for the offence.

It is alleged that during

the period mentioned in the charge, a female nurse discovered that the lock on the cupboard in which the vaccination booklets were stored was broken. Upon checking, the nurse noticed that the vaccination booklets were missing and immediately notified her supervisor.

The supervisor reported the matter to the Police.

Samuels was reportedly caught on CCTV footage entering the vaccination centre.

Earlier in August, 27-yearold Avinash Rameshwar, a driver attached to the West Demerara Regional Hospital, was also remanded to prison for allegedly stealing one dozen vaccination booklets.

The Lot 50 Good Intent, West Bank Demerara (WBD) resident was charged with simple larceny and forging an official document.

He was among the three men arrested by Police after they were caught with 12 blank and unstamped COVID-19 vaccine booklets, 17 stamped sick leave forms, and several pieces of medical equipment, including a stethoscope, sugar testing kit, and pressure testing kit.

Initially, the men were caught with four blank and unstamped COVID-19 vaccine booklets, but based on

investigations, Police ranks went to the West Demerara Regional Hospital, where a request was made to conduct a search on the minibus which is usually driven

by Rameshwar.

During the search, ranks found seven blank blue COVID-19 booklets in a compartment between the driver’s and passenger’s seats. This was brought to the men’s attention, but they bowed their heads and remained silent. The trio was arrested after two of

them visited the Vreed-enHoop Health Centre, West Coast Demerara, and requested a female nurse to stamp the booklets.

The nurse checked the booklets and observed that they were all blank and knowing that the men were not supposed to be in possession of them, she immediately brought the issue to the attention of her supervisor, who subsequently reported the matter to the Vreed-en-Hoop Police Station.

GAWU, Skeldon Energy sign pact for dispute resolution, salary negotiations Phillips, who has responsibility for the electricity sector. The Prime Minister had informed GAWU that he referred the Union’s correspondence to the Chairman of the Guyana Power and Light (GPL), which is the majority shareholder. The GPL Board then decided that the SEI must respect the workers’ rights and long-standing practices.

Through the intervention of the Labour Ministry, the Union and the company were able to amicably re-

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ing the view that it was important for the Union and the company to work together.

Established in 1961, the Union is the largest trade union in Guyana, representing almost 20,000 workers, including the overwhelming majority of sugar workers who are employed in the country’s largest industry. GAWU also represents workers in fish processing, forestry, rice processing, distilleries, services, and other industries.

Zuckerberg loses US$6B as Facebook shuts down

Skeldon Sugar Factory

he Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) and the Skeldon Energy Inc (SEI) on Monday inked the Recognition and the Avoidance and Settlement of Disputes Agreement, which will regulate the relationship between the two entities.

A statement from the Union said this included the mechanism for dispute resolution, the appointment of shop stewards, the deduction of Union dues and credit union savings from workers’ wages/salaries, and other general conditions.

The GAWU became the recognised bargaining agent on behalf of SEI’s employees on February 14, 2019, by the Trade Union Recognition and Certification Board. However, the parties had some difficulties in arriving at an agreement.

The Union was reported as saying, “On several occasions, our attempts

solve the differences, paving the way for the signing of the agreement.

At the signing, GAWU President Seepaul Narine shared that he was heartened that the parties could formalise the agreement.

He said that the Union was hopeful that the parties could work collectively together to advance the interests of the SEI and the well-being of the employees. SEI’s Human Resources Officer, Troy Pearson shared similar sentiments, express-

to engage the SEI were resisted. Our attempts to seek the intervention of the Trade Union Recognition and Certification Board (TURCB) were stalemated after the Board ceased to function following the then Chairperson’s illness.

Subsequently, the Board’s life expired. Following the new Government’s ascension to office and the appointment of a new TURCB headed by former Labour Minister, Dr NK Gopaul, the GAWU pursued the issue.”

The TURCB intervened and unambiguously told

the SEI that it must engage GAWU. After some back and forth, discussions between GAWU and SEI commenced in January of this year.

Through the discussions, the Union and the company have been able to iron out most of the clauses in the agreement.

The SEI had inexplicably maintained that the Union must re-enrol the workers annually. This is a departure from a longstanding practice, wherein once a worker authorises deductions from his/ her wages/salary, such deductions continue perpetually once that worker remains in the employ of the company or within the bargaining unit.

The Union then approached the TURCB once again for its assistance. But attempts to resolve the matter were initially unsuccessful.

GAWU had also written Prime Minister Mark

M

ark Zuckerberg’s personal wealth has fallen by more than US$6 billion in a few hours, knocking him down a notch on the list of the world’s richest people, after a whistleblower came forward and outages took Facebook Inc’s flagship products offline.

A selloff sent the social media giant’s stock plummeting 4.9 per cent on Monday, adding to a drop of about 15 per cent since mid-September.

The stock slide on Monday sent Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Zuckerberg’s worth down to US$121.6 billion, dropping him below Bill Gates to number five on

the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. He’s down from almost US$140 billion in a matter of weeks, according to the index.

On September 13, the Wall Street Journal began publishing a series of stories based on a cache of internal documents, revealing that Facebook knew about a wide range of problems with its products — such as Instagram’s harm to teenage girls’ mental health and misinformation about the January 6 Capitol riots — while downplaying the issues in public.

The reports have drawn the attention of Government officials, and on Monday, the whistleblower revealed her-

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg

self.

In response, Facebook has emphasised that the issues facing its products, including political polarisation, are complex and not caused by technology alone.

“I think it gives people comfort to assume that there must be a technological or a technical explanation for the issues of political polarisation in the United States,” Nick Clegg, Facebook’s Vice President of Global Affairs, told CNN. (Bloomberg)

20 NEWS

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

3 more unvaccinated among 4 COVID deaths …death toll now surpasses 800

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uyana’s COVID-19 death toll has now jumped to 803 following the death of four more persons.

According to the Health Ministry, the fatalities included one partially-vaccinated and three unvaccinated persons.

They were a 48-year-old female from Region Four, who died on September 27; a 62-year-old female from Region Four, who died on October 2; a 67-year-old male from Region Four, who died on October 3; and a 48-year-old male from Region Three, who died on October 4.

The patients were admitted with COVID-19like symptoms, and died while receiving care at one of the medical institutions.

Samples taken at the time of admission subsequently returned positive results.

New statistics provided by the Ministry showed that 103 new infections were detected in the past 24 hours, thus taking the total confirmed cases to 32,586 – 15,455 males and 17,131 females.

The statistics further showed that 31 persons are in the designated Intensive Care Unit (ICU), 3603 in home isolation, 183 in institutional isolation and six in institutional quarantine. The data shows that 28,027 patients have recovered from the life-threatening virus.

A further breakdown of the new cases showed that

20 were recorded in Region One (Barima-Waini); 11 in Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam); 21 in Region Three (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara); 43 in Region Four (DemeraraMahaica); one in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice); one in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne); four in Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni) and eight in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).

No increases were reported in Regions Eight (Potaro-Siparuni), or Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo).

Non-compliant businesses

Meanwhile, businesses violating the national COVID-19 guidelines will be subjected to actions from the National COVID-19 Task Force in order to achieve greater compliance.

Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony detailed on Monday that there were instances where people were allowed to enter enterprises with little to no screening as mandated.

He noted that if this continued, cases would spike even further.

“The Task Force would be writing to some of these businesses to make sure that we have stronger enforcement of the guidelines, because there are many big businesses that are not asking people for their vaccination status, not checking for it and

therefore, there is a freefor-all in these businesses.

People are walking out and that’s not what the order is calling for. Unless we have compliance and unless everybody play their role, we are going to have a situation where we are going to continue to have spread,” the Minister cautioned.

Dr Anthony pointed to greater collaboration between the Private Sector and health authorities to achieve this mandate: “We need to get everybody involved. There are still too many persons, too many entities that are not playing that role. I want to appeal to them if they have not been doing so, they can put the measures in place to make sure that they’re one of the compliant businesses.”

Government had gazetted a new set of COVID-19 measures concerning entry into public buildings. Those stipulate that only vaccinated persons or those who present a negative PCR test taken within three days prior could enter any public building.

Public buildings have been classified as both Stateowned and private premises such as supermarkets, restaurants, malls, and places of worship, etc.

Active cases

Active cases in Guyana have surpassed 4100, but these are highly concentrated in Regions Three and Four. There has been a

GUYANA COVID-19 DASHBOARD OCTOBER 4, 2021 UPDATE

NUMBER OF NEW CASES

103

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN INSTITUTIONAL ISOLATION

122

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

3603 31

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN INSTITUTIONAL QUARANTINE

6

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES BY GENDER (FEMALES)

17,131

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES BY GENDER (MALES)

15,455

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES IN GUYANA SINCE 2020

32,586

NUMBER OF RECOVERED CASES

28,027

TOTAL 1st DOSE VACCINATED

361,626

FULLY IMMUNISED

209,506

TOTAL NUMBER OF DEATHS

803

DISTRIBUTION OF TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES SINCE MARCH 2020 REGION 1

1513

REGION 2

1204

REGION 3

4363

REGION 4

15,626

REGION 5

1144

REGION 6

2318

REGION 7

1647

REGION 8

507

REGION 9

2380

REGION 10

1884

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.

‘steady’ increase in Region Two with spikes in Regions Seven and 10.

“These are areas we’re on the lookout for. With the increase in cases, we’re also seeing correspondingly hospitalisation in these different regions,” Dr Anthony noted.

There are 119 persons

hospitalised across the country, inclusive of 83 at the Infectious Diseases Hospital. Some 31 persons are in the ICU, with nine maternal cases.

A total of 361,626 first doses have been administered in Guyana, covering 70.5 per cent of the adult population. Second

doses stand at 209,506 or 57.9 per cent. Adolescent vaccination figures are at 24,939 or 34.2 per cent for the first doses and 12,762 or 17.5 per cent for the second.

“In total, we have administered so far in Guyana, 608,833 doses…,” the Minister related.

Swift response by GFS averts major devastation at NIS, GPOC

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wo major catastrophes were on Monday averted after quick action from the Guyana Fire Service (GFS) resulted in the prompt extinguishing of fires at the National Insurance Scheme’s Brickdam, Georgetown office and the Guyana Post Office Corporation (GPOC)

headquarters on Robb Street, Georgetown.

Firefighters responded just minutes after the fires were reported at both locations.

At the NIS Brickdam office, employees told Guyana Times that they smelt smoke, and shortly after, they saw smoke coming

Firefighters at the scene on Brickdam

from an electrical point, forcing them to evacuate the building.

On the scene, Divisional Fire Officer Haimchandra Persaud said as the firemen arrived on the scene, a small fire had already been ignited.

“In the head office, the manager’s office, there was a point there, it appears to be something overloaded.

Power was cut, and also persons in the building were evacuated,” he said.

According to the Fire Officer, all the conductors in the building seemed to be aged and would need to be replaced to prevent a reoccurrence of the incident.

“From the time we would’ve received the call, we had two units from Central Fire Station, one unit from Alberttown Fire Station that would’ve initially responded…,” he added.

An electrical engineer was contacted and was

asked to do a complete check of the building’s electrical system.

“As recommended, we talked about the points to be replaced, all the conductors appear to be aged, so we also indicated to them that things need to be changed to prevent a reoccurrence of this situation,” Persaud said.

Shortly after the incident, firefighters were ordered to remain on scene until the check was com-

pleted and power was restored.

NIS Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Holly Greaves praised the timely response of the Fire Service. NIS employees were sent home and were asked to return to work today.

Meanwhile, Persaud also confirmed that a fire was reported at the GPOC, but he could not provide detailed information at the time. Nevertheless, he assured that the fire was extinguished and no one was injured.

“Those fires were extinguished by the Campbellville Unit at GPO,” he affirmed.

Only on Sunday, President Dr Irfaan Ali lambasted the Fire Service over what he described as their “lackadaisical approach” to the fire that ravaged 80 per cent of the Brickdam Police Station on Saturday.

The Head of State had criticised the organisation’s lack of preparedness for an emergency situation and called on the public servants to get their acts together.

NEWS

21

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

PSC reiterates calls for businesses GBTI raises $1.5M towards to enforce COVID-19 guidelines Haiti’s disaster relief

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s the country’s COVID-19 death toll continues to skyrocket, along with the number of positive cases, on a daily basis, the Private Sector Commission (PSC) has reiterated its calls for businesses to enforce the COVID-19 guidelines.

The PSC in a missive stated that it supported the national COVID-19 vaccination campaign, since immunisation is crucial in protecting citizens from the pandemic.

“The PSC repeats its appeal to every non-vaccinated citizen to be vaccinated to safeguard themselves, their family, their friends, their professional associates and everyone else with whom they come into contact.”

As such, the PSC appeals to every business and employer to implement and enforce the gazetted COVID-19 guidelines which

require the use of masks, social distancing and the presentation of proof of vaccination upon entry into public places. In this manner, the business community will protect and safeguard its employees and consumers.

“We know now, from a mountain of irrefutable evidence, internationally and here in Guyana, that the vaccines are safe, effective, and an essential public health measure in overcoming the COVID-19 pandemic,” the PSC said.

The body further commended the Government for its exemplary dedication and aggressive approach towards immunisation and the achievement of herd immunity.

In September, the Health Ministry updated Emergency Measures (No. 22) published in the Official Gazette requiring Guyanese to be vaccinated before ac-

cessing any public buildings.

Paragraph 17(1) of those Emergency Measures states that “… any person who wishes to enter a public building shall be vaccinated”.

The previous order had said that these requirements were in place for Government Ministries and Government agencies, but the new order stated “public buildings” meaning any building to which the public has lawful access, both publicly and privately owned buildings, including all institutions of learning.

These include stores, banks, and other commercial places. In fact, days after the new COVID-19 measures were gazetted, the Guyana Association of Bankers Inc had indicated that the various financial institutions would soon be complying with the new measures.

In addition, as other public buildings, including privately-owned businesses, also enforce these new vaccination requirements, some places of worship have put systems in place to adhere to the measures.

Meanwhile, persons who are unvaccinated are required to make an appointment to enter a public building, and must present a negative molecular biological PCR test taken within seven days of the appointment. These tests have to be done at laboratories approved by the Health Ministry.

18 trained by USAID as HIV/AIDS first responders

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Participants of the clinical management training programme for HIV/AIDS received certificates

total of 18 frontline health-care workers were trained under the US Agency for International Development (USAID)-funded clinical management training programme for HIV/AIDS. As such, a ceremony was held on October 1 for the trained professionals during which US Ambassador to Guyana, Sarah-Ann Lynch remarked, “The partnerships of events like these are a

testament to our common goal to improve healthcare and the health delivery systems, for the benefit and prosperity for all.”

The eight-week training was completed by the University of Washington in the US, together with representatives from Caricom and healthcare providers at the National Care and Treatment Center and St Joseph Mercy Hospital.

The United States has provided Guyana with

over US$185 million to fight HIV/AIDS since 2004, mostly through the US President’s Emergency Action for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), which is the largest commitment by any nation to address a single disease in history.

Also attending the ceremony were Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony and Director of Pan Caribbean Partnership against HIV and AIDS (PANCAP), Dr Rosmond Adams.

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cting Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry Limited (GBTI), Chief Executive Officer James Foster on Monday presented a cheque valued $1,538,000 generated from the GBTI Haiti Disaster Relief Fund to Prime Minister, Retired Brigadier Mark Phillips.

Foster said GBTI activated the Fund following the devastating earthquake in August and encouraged public support.

The donation is a collective effort of the GBTI, its employees, and members of the public who willingly joined the effort. Prime Minister Phillips lauded GBTI’s corporate initiative and expressed best wishes for continued growth.

Meanwhile, GBTI extended its gratitude to all those who contributed to the Fund aimed at offering support to the Government and people of Haiti. The Fund was set up by the Bank following a 7.2 magnitude earthquake which left over 2000 people dead, more than 12,000 injured, and hundreds of thousands of buildings as well as infrastruc-

GBTI CEO (ag) James Foster presents the cheque to Prime Minister, Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips on Monday

ture in the southern region of Haiti destroyed.

The country had also experienced at least 600 aftershocks since the mid-August quake. Earlier in the year, the banking institution handed over $3.4 million – the money raised through donations to assist the volcano-ravaged St Vincent and the Grenadines.

In April, the La Soufrière volcano erupted after decades of dormancy and left

blankets of ash and debris.

The University of the West Indies Seismic Research Centre had reported evidence of pyroclastic flows, as an avalanche of heated gas and debris travelled at more than 120 miles per hour (193.1 kilometres per hour) along the mountainside.

The volcanic ash moved with the winds and affected neighbouring islands including Barbados, St Lucia, and Grenada.

Murder accused: Aaron Hing

Confessed killer: Staymon George

Dead: Dominic Bernard

taymon George, one of the five persons implicated in the October 14, 2015 murder of British teenager Dominic Bernard, pleaded guilty on Monday upon his arraignment before Justice Sandil Kissoon at the High Court in Berbice.

Following the guilty plea, the confessed killer was further remanded to prison until October 19 when he will be sentenced for the heinous crime. He was represented

by Attorney-at-Law Ravindra Mohabir, while Attorney-atLaw Latchmie Rahamat is appearing on behalf of the prosecution.

In January 2016, George, called “Sherwin”, 27, was jointly charged with his friend, Aaron Hing, called “Neutral”, 29, for the murder of Bernard, who resided at Epsom, Surrey, England.

Next Monday, the Prosecutor will present the murder indictment against Hing, who was Bernard’s godbrother. Hing’s lawyer is Sanjeev Datadin.

Meanwhile, Krystal Thomas, called “Kathy”,

25; Jahmeil Sinclair, called “Fross” or “Bacchus,” 24; and Sinfine Henry, called “Coreen”, 39, will be tried for accessory to murder. It is alleged that between January 4 and 6, 2016, knowing that Hing had committed the offence of murder, they received, comforted, relieved, maintained, harboured and assisted him.

While Hing and George were charged and remanded to prison for the murder, Thomas, Sinclair, and Henry were each released on $300,000 bail pending the hearing and determination of their trial which will be called at a later date. The trio is being represented by Attorneyat-Law Nigel Hughes.

Bernard, called “Dom”, 18, had travelled to Guyana from England on October 14, 2015, for a three-week vacation and was reportedly picked up from the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) by his godbrother and George in a rented car. He was scheduled to fly back home on November 5, 2015.

However, after Bernard

did not return home, his father contacted Hing to enquire about his son’s whereabouts. Hing reportedly told his godfather that he was unaware that the teen was coming to Guyana. This raised suspicions, and after the father flew to Guyana, British and local law enforcement personnel were called in to investigate the teen’s disappearance.

It was reported that Bernard was bludgeoned to death hours after he landed in Guyana and was later buried in a shallow grave in the backlands at Nurney, Corentyne, Berbice which was dug two days prior to his arrival. His decomposed body, which was badly mutilated, was found on January 8, 2016.

A post-mortem examination had revealed that the young aspiring filmmaker had been struck to the back of the head. He sustained a fractured skull, as well as a broken neck. Police reportedly recovered a hammer which is believed to be one of the murder weapons.

Accused pleads guilty to murdering of British teenager

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22 NEWS

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Relatives of 9-year-old killed in GWI worker killed accident demands thorough probe in 3-motorcycle

smash-up in Berbice

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Dead: Carleisa Lewis

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he relatives of nineyear-old Carleisa Lewis, who was killed in an accident along the Islington Public Road, East Bank Berbice (EEB) are calling for a thorough investigation after holding out that the child was not at fault.

Police had stated that the child was struck down and killed by a vehicle after she ran across the road and into the path of the vehicle. But her two sisters who witnessed the accident said that the child was hit while she was walking on the grass parapet.

According to one of her sisters, the nine-year-old had gone to a nearby shop and had crossed the road in the company of a neighbor who had gone into her yard as Carleisa continued to walk along the grass parapet, singing merrily, heading home.

She added that the CRV swerved straight off the road and collided with the girl. As the vehicle came to a halt, the now dead child had to be pulled from under it. Villagers said that the driver was asked to reverse so that they could get access to the injured girl.

Meanwhile, the other sister who witnessed the accident related that she ran out to the road after seeing the accident. The sister recalled seeing a male exiting through the

One of the child’s sisters pointing to the area where the girl was hit

The parents along with the two sisters of the dead child

back door of the vehicle – there were another male and a female along with the driver and a baby in the vehicle at the time of the accident.

“When I go in the car, the girl start telling him (the driver) ‘Ah tell you to slow down’. And from how she was talking, it looks like they had a problem in the car,” the teenager related. “Just come back from the shop and I was watching my little sister coming when I saw the car come and make a swerve into the corner and hit her, and she fell a little distance away and like he was not paying attention on the road.”

The dead girl’s father, Carlton Lewis says he understands that there was a fight in the car among the occupants. The car was re-

portedly swaying from side to side on the road prior to the accident.

“Like they had a fight in the car. People are saying that they had a fight in the car because the car was on and off of the road.

I do not know how true it is, I just heard that,” the father of six said.

“My daughter: if she is going to cross the road and there was a bicycle or a motorbike coming, she would not cross the road.

She always walked in the corner. She cannot use white socks because she is a girl always walking in the grass. It is not because this happened that is why I am saying this; if you asked anyone in the village, they will tell you that. When the incident happened, her sisters were looking and they laughing how she was walking on the road singing coming,” the grieving father told Guyana Times.

“When I reach to the hospital, I told my wife to go in first and see what is happening, and then I heard the screaming and I know what it meant.

When I go in and checked her, her head was burst, her neck broken, and like all of the bones in her body break up. When I come and watch the accident scene, he dragged my daughter like 33 feet,” the father stated.

The face mask and money Carliesa had in her hand were found on the parapet. The Police are continuing their investigation into the accident.

n employee of the Guyana Water Inc (GWI) was on Sunday killed after being involved in a smash-up involving three motorcycles along the Number 51 Public Road, Corentyne, Berbice.

Dead is Devindra Kumar, 21, of Kilcoy Squatting Area, Corentyne, Berbice, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne).

Kumar was riding motorcycle CG 7601 while a 24-year-old man, also of Kilcoy, was riding motorcycle CG 9278.

The third motorcyclist has not yet been identified since he rode away from the scene

Dead: Devindra Kumar

taken to the Skeldon Public Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Residents of the community say Kumar crashed into a door which was removed from

The motorcycle that Kumar was riding at the time of his demise

after the crash.

Police said the three motorcycles were proceeding north along the western driving lane at a fast pace when Kumar, who was riding in front, removed his hand from the handle and turned his head, looking backwards.

He allegedly lost control, fell to the road surface, and rolled about 100 feet before coming to a halt.

The unknown motorcyclist, who had been behind Kumar, allegedly ran over the fallen rider while the rider of motorcycle CG 9278 collided with Kumar’s motorcycle and consequently fell into a nearby trench.

Kumar was picked up by public-spirited citizens in an unconscious condition and

a sluice by the Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) and left dangerously on the road.

Meanwhile, Kumar’s mother, Silvy Balgobin told Guyana Times that Kumar had left home on Sunday morning and he was on his way back home when the accident occurred.

“It is only on Sundays he would go out, because he works all week,” she cried.

The now dead man’s grandfather Joseph related that Kumar had gone to the Number 63 Beach with his friend. He added that it was on his way back, his grandson met his demise.

After they received information about the accident, relatives rushed to the scene where they saw his bloodied body lying on the roadway.

His grandfather noted that from all indications, one of his legs was broken and there was an injury to the left side of his neck while the print of a tyre was on his face.

He was described as an easy-going person. He leaves to mourn his parents, siblings, and other relatives.

Drinking buddies injured during rum shop brawl

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ne man is now hospitalised while another is in Police custody following a drunken brawl at Guava Bush, Albion, Corentyne, Berbice on Sunday evening.

Injured is 23-year-old Jainarine Singh, also called “Nasha”, a labourer of Guava Bush, while 22-year-old Kumar Singh, also called “Papoo”, also of Guava Bush, was arrested.

Based on information received, the two men were imbibing at a shop in the area when an argument broke out

between them. This ultimately turned into a scramble thus resulting in both of them falling to the ground and sustaining injures.

Jainarine sustained injuries to his left eye and Kumar sustained injuries to the left side of his head. The men were taken to the Port Mourant Public Hospital where they were treated.

However, Kumar was handed over to the Police, to assist with the investigation while Jainarine remained a patient at the said medical institution under observation.

Overseas-based teen among 4 robbed at gunpoint

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our persons, including two overseas-based Guyanese, were on Saturday evening robbed by four armed men at Number 68 Village, Corentyne, Berbice. The robbery reportedly took place around 21:30h.

The victims are a 51-year-old and a 47-yearold of Number 68 Village, along with a 39-year-old female visitor and her 19-yearold son,.

They were relieved of two mobile phones, one pair of gold earrings, eight gold bangles, two diamond rings, one gold ring, and about $175,000 in cash.

Police stated that on the day in question, the victims were in front of their yard imbibing when four unidentifiable males – all dressed

with dark coloured clothing and black masks entered the yard, through a gate which was opened, and held them at gunpoint.

The men, who were armed with a gun and a knife, demanded money and jewellery during which

time they took away the above-mentioned items before making good their escape. The Police were contacted and an investigation was launched.

Checks were reportedly made for the perpetrators, but proved futile.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2021

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Deonarine’s half century propels Silicon Valley to Toyota MLC 2021 Title

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…Guyanese players among top performers

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he inaugural season of the Toyota Minor League Cricket Championship came to an exciting conclusion on Sunday, Oct. 3, at the scenic Church Street Park in Morrisville, NC. The Silicon Valley Strikers defeated the New Jersey Stallions by six wickets, and won a grand prize of $125,000, thanks to the efforts of Guyana’s very own Narsingh Deonarine. The Strikers have thus become the first-ever Toyota Minor League Cricket Champions.

The highlight of the tournament was the plethora of Guyanese players that performed well. After winning the toss and electing to bat, the Stallions began in blistering fashion, scoring 44 runs from the first five overs.

New Jersey looked set to compile a huge total when they reached 85 for the loss of one wicket after 10 overs. Dominique Rikhi led the charge, scoring 42 from 33 balls, supported by Sai

Mukkamalla, who struck 31 from 27.

However, after Kulvinder Singh removed Mukkamalla in the twelfth over, the Strikers claimed four wickets in four overs, and clamped down on the Stallions’ scoring.

A final flurry of runs for New Jersey in the last three overs set the Strikers a total of 141 runs to chase. Kulvinder Singh ended with figures of 3/32 from his four overs, while Saurabh Netravalkar, Roshon Primus and Pranay Suri each took a pair of wickets.

The Strikers’ batting started at a fast pace, with Rahul Jariwala and Unmukt Chand helping Silicon Valley to 49 from their first five overs. Jariwala fell for 21 and Chand for 22, and Jayasuriya followed quickly after for a duck following a run out. The Strikers’ inning was anchored by a superb Narsingh Deonarine half-century, an unbeaten 52 from 43 balls, while Roshon Primus struck 31 from 25 balls, also unbeaten.

The Strikers reached their target with 11 balls to spare, Deonarine scoring the winning

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fter being ahead for most of the contest, the Delhi Capitals seemed to have lost their way in a chase of 137, but Shimron Hetmyer's unbeaten 28 helped them beat Chennai Super Kings and inch one step closer to the top-two finish.

Shikhar Dhawan had anchored the chase for much of the innings, but when he fell for 39 in a double-wicket over from Shardul Thakur, the Capitals were 99 for 6 with two new batters in the middle.

Hetmyer then took charge, as he struck Dwayne Bravo for two fours in his first over, then smacked Josh Hazlewood for a crucial six, and finally watched from the non-striker's end as Kagiso Rabada flicked one fine for four to seal the Capitals'

Christopher Barnwell scored 559 runs and bagged 16 wickets

run and being named the Player of the Match for the first Toyota Minor League Cricket Championship winning team.

The tournament showcased

Shikhar Dhawan took 21 off one Deepak Chahar over

three-wicket win in the final over.

Hetmyer had a massive slice of luck when he was put down by substitute fielder K Gowtham at long-on with Capitals needing 22 off 16. It proved to be one of the key moments in the game. The end result meant the Capitals completed a season double over the Super Kings for a second season running.

SCOREBOARD CHENNAI SUPER KINGS INNINGS (20 OVERS MAXIMUM) Ruturaj Gaikwad c Ashwin b Nortje 13 Faf du Plessis c Iyer b AR Patel 10 Robin Uthappa c & b Ashwin 19 Moeen Ali c Iyer b AR Patel 5 Ambati Rayudu not out 55 MS Dhoni (c)† c †Pant b Avesh Khan 18 Ravindra Jadeja not out 1 Extras (lb 5, w 10) 15 TOTAL (20 Ov, RR: 6.80) 136/5 Did not bat: Dwayne Bravo, Deepak Chahar, Shardul Thakur, Josh Hazlewood Fall of wickets: 1-28 (Faf du Plessis, 2.4 ov), 2-39 (Ruturaj Gaikwad, 4.4 ov), 3-59 (Moeen Ali, 7.4 ov), 4-62 (Robin Uthappa, 8.3 ov), 5-132 (MS Dhoni, 19.1 ov) BOWLING O-M-R-W Anrich Nortje 4-0-37-1 Avesh Khan 4-0-35-1 Axar Patel 4-0-18-2 Kagiso Rabada 4-0-21-0 Ravichandran Ashwin 4-0-20-1

Trevon Griffith scored 566 runs and bagged 14 wickets

DELHI CAPITALS INNINGS (TARGET: 137 RUNS FROM 20 OVERS) Prithvi Shaw c du Plessis b Chahar 18 Shikhar Dhawan c Ali b Thakur 39 Shreyas Iyer c Gaikwad b Hazlewood 2 Rishabh Pant (c)† c Ali b Jadeja 15 Ripal Patel c Chahar b Jadeja 18 Ravichandran Ashwin b Thakur 2 Shimron Hetmyer not out 28 Axar Patel c Ali b Bravo 5 Kagiso Rabada not out 4 Extras (lb 1, w 7) 8 TOTAL (19.4 Ov, RR: 7.06) 139/7 Did not bat: Avesh Khan, Anrich Nortje Fall of wickets: 1-24 (Prithvi Shaw, 2.3 ov), 2-51 (Shreyas Iyer, 5.5 ov), 3-71 (Rishabh Pant, 8.5 ov), 4-93 (Ripal Patel, 12.5 ov), 5-98 (Ravichandran Ashwin, 14.1 ov), 6-99 (Shikhar Dhawan, 14.6 ov), 7-135 (Axar Patel, 19.3 ov) BOWLING O-M-R-W Deepak Chahar 3-0-34-1 Josh Hazlewood 4-0-27-1 Ravindra Jadeja 4-0-28-2 Moeen Ali 3-0-16-0 Shardul Thakur 4-0-13-2 Dwayne Bravo 1.4-0-20-1

Despite losing just five wickets in their innings, the Super Kings struggled with the bat after the Capitals opted to field.

The fabled opening partnership of Ruturaj Gaikwad and Faf du Plessis did not fire, Moeen Ali fell early, and MS Dhoni struggled to a 27-ball 18.

And if it wasn't for Ambati Rayudu's unbeaten 55, the Super Kings could've finished with a score much less than 136.

CSK's top order struggles Anrich Nortje leaked 16 runs off his first over, as he erred against Ruturak Gaikwad. Faf du Plessis then thumped Avesh Khan for two fours in the second over, as another dangerous opening stand loomed. The quick start may have forced Rishabh Pant to bring spin on, and it worked, as Axar Patel struck off his fourth ball, as du Plessis pulled one to a diving Shreyas Iyer at deep midwicket.

Nortje then returned to bowl a rising, short delivery that had Gaikwad slicing a pull to midwicket. With both openers gone, it was a useful chance with the pressure low - for the Super Kings’ middle order to get some batting time before the playoffs.

Robin Uthappa came in at No. 3 on his Super Kings’ debut, after replacing the injured Suresh Raina, but couldn't make much of a mark. After hitting one four early in his innings of 19, he succumbed to an R Ashwin

the likes of many Guyanese players, all of whom performed well. In the batting department, Trevon Griffith was the second highest run scorer with 566 from his 18 games, made at an average of 37.73. Christopher Barnwell came in at fourth with 559 runs from his 16 games, scored at an average of 50.82; while Jonathan Foo, scored 407 runs from 14 games at an average of 58.14.

Bashkar Yadram scored 365 runs from his 18 games at an average of 33.18, Derick Narine scored 351 runs at an average of 27, Asad Fudadin scored 321 runs at an average of 24.69,

Jonathan Foo also scored 407 runs and bagged 14 wickets

Dominique Rikhi scored 315 runs at an average of 24.23, Chris Patadin scored 304 runs at an average of 25.33, Narsingh Deonarine scored 269 runs at an average of 26.90, Rajindra

Chandrika scored 267 runs at an average of 26.70, Tagenarine Chanderpaul played just four games, but scored 260 runs at an average of 260, and Sherfane Rutherford, who also played four games, scored 121 runs at an average of 30.25.

In the bowling department, Christopher Barnwell led the pack of Guyanese players with 15 wickets at an economy rate of 6.7; Devendra Bishoo took 14 at an economy rate of 5.5, Trevon Griffith took 14 at an economy rate of 5.8, Bashkar Yadram took 14 at an economy rate of 6.5, Jonathan Foo took 14 at an economy rate of 7.1, Tagenarine Chanderpaul chipping in with 7 at an economy rate of 5.8, Dominique Rikhi took 6 at an economy rate of 5.6, and Asad Fudadin took 5 at an economy rate of 8.8.

carrom-ball.

Moeen Ali struggled against spin in the powerplay, and was out early when he checked a flicked shot off Rabada to deep midwicket. After nine overs, the Super Kings were 65 for 4.

Rayudu's rescue act With a match-winning 32 and an unbeaten 17 in the UAE leg of the IPL so far, Rayudu's impact with the bat has been limited, given how solid the top three has been for the Super Kings. But this time, he had the opportunity to show he still has the skills and temperament to pull off a rescue act.

He struck Avesh for two fours

Axar Patel was economical with the ball

in the 12th, then hit a six and four off the same bowler in the 18th; but, in between, the boundaries were few and far apart. Axar and Ashwin bowled their eight overs for 38 runs, and Dhoni, batting at No. 6, ahead of the in-form Ravindra Jadeja, struggled with his timing.

A big 19th over off Nortje allowed Rayudu to raise his halfcentury and lift the Super Kings to 136 on what Dhoni called a

Shimron Hetmyer smashed 28 not out off 18 balls to take his side over the line

"two-paced surface" after the game.

Dhawan anchors, Hetmyer finishes After Prithvi Shaw was dismissed for the sixth time in the IPL by Deepak Chahar - among the more one-sided match-ups in IPL history - Dhawan chose to attack. The fifth over from Chahar had the umpires bringing out the sanitisers twice, as Dhawan smacked two big sixes on either side of two fours.

The 21 runs conceded that early in the chase left the Capitals needing to score at a rate of less than six for the rest of the chase.

However, Dhawan was forced to rein in his shots when Shreyas Iyer was dismissed by Josh Hazlewood and Rishabh Pant was picked off by Ravindra Jadeja, as the Capitals stuttered to 75 for 3 after ten overs.

Soon after, the No. 5 Ripan Patel was out for an 18-ball 20, but not before hitting Jadeja for two fours in one over. That brought some relief to the required run-rate, but when Thakur's double-wicket got rid of Ashwin (bowled) and Dhawan (chipped to cover), the game looked to be getting out of the Capitals' grasp.

But with Ashwin coming in to bat early, the positive was that Hetmyer was still left. Axar and Hetmyer knocked around the singles early on to take the Capitals closer to the target.

At that stage, Dhoni could go to either Moeen or Bravo for

an over, and he chose the latter for the 18th, despite him not bowling all evening.

At the start of the over, Capitals needed 28 off 18 ball, and Hetmyer clubbed his fellow countryman for two fours in a 12run over that included a dropped chance at long on. That brought the equation down to 16 off 12, but the pressure was released when Hetmyer thumped Hazlewood for a six in the 19th over.

Needing to defend six off the final over, Bravo started poorly, by conceding four runs off one legal ball. Then came the dismissal of Axar. But Bravo then went full on Rabada's toes, which was flicked fine to end the game with two balls to spare.

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

“It’s just something we had to do” AAG President Aubrey Hutson

W

ith their national age group meets done and dusted for 2021, the Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) are now turning their focus to the South American Under 23 and Junior Pan American Games.

The AAG gave up their rights to host this year’s Under 23 Championships, but AAG President Aubrey Hutson says it’s just something they had to do.

The South American Under 23 Championships were first scheduled to be held in September in Guyana, but

T

he Delhi Capitals have already qualified for the IPL 2021 Playoffs, Shimron Hetmyer having scored a handy cameo of 28 runs off 18 balls to guide his side to yet another win over the Chennai Super Kings.

Despite not batting in his accustomed position, Hetmyer, occupying the number 6 position for the Delhi Capitals, has thus far amassed a total of 159 runs at an average of 39.75 and a strike rate of 180.68.

In an interview after that game, Hetmyer noted that now that the Capitals have crossed one milestone, it is now up to the team to take things one step at a time as they aim to progress to the grand finale.

He admitted that the team is not too focused on what is ahead, but on what has to be done on the given day in that exact mo-

the coronavirus pandemic forced a change of plans, like it did in so many other sports; and having exhausted all their options to have the meet hosted locally, the Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) gave up their hosting rights, and the event is now set for October 16 and 17 in Guayaquil, Ecuador.

Bringing clarity to that decision was AAG President Aubrey Hutson, who explained why it was handed over to current host country Ecuador.

“I think it is something we felt we had to do. This is, I mean

ment.

The talented lefthander has not seen much batting, as, for the first time in 2021, he faced his maximum deliveries in the tournament. However, he noted that while he may not be able spend much time at the crease, he is able to keep himself match ready.

“I try to do as much as I can do in practice, because I know that my role is not the one to go out and face as many balls as possible. But when I do get the chance, I do my best to execute my goals and my plans as much as possible. So, it is really good for me that the top order is doing the bulk of the work, so it makes my job easier,” Hetmyer explained.

we are a very integral part of the South American family, and everybody in South America knows that we approach track and field in Guyana not on a selfish basis, but looking at the holistic development of South American athletics,” Hutson divulged.

“And we thought it best to give particularly Ecuador the opportunity to host another championship, seeing that they would have done so well at the South American Senior Championships. All the conditions were right, we got very, very good reports, and we just started to do something that we had to do for them,” he concluded on the topic.

Turning his attention to the competition itself and what it means for Guyanese athletes, Hutson said he is keen on seeing Guyanese athletes qualify for the Junior Pan American Games.

“So yes, it’s a good opportunity for those who fall within the junior level, who will be able to showcase their skills once again. And, you know, we look down the road to see how good they can do at the end of the day at Pan Am,” he said.

Expounding on the topic of the Junior Pan American Games, Hutson revealed

that the inaugural event is the AAG’s main focus at the moment, in hope that it would push Guyana’s athletes to qualify for the Commonwealth Games next year.

Hutson explained, “Well, look, every day I’m receiving calls for new additions to this team -- people who feel

that they should have been there did not have enough preparation time, and all the rest of it. But I must apologise to those people. The time has really and truly gone when we were supposed to submit our long list to the GOA to have it sorted out for the Pan Am, because the objective here is Pan Am. Yes, we’re going to go to South America and compete and look to have good bragging rights, you know, earning medals at the South American level. But the objective is Pam, and Pan Am is going to give us a good record stick to judge who will be going on to Commonwealth Games next year,” Hutson explained.

The Junior Pan American Games are scheduled to be held from November 25 to December 5 in Cali, Colombia.

BCB $2M Patron Fund to assist first division clubs, youth cricketers

…four social seminars to be hosted as part of massive developmental programme

T

he outstanding work of the Hilbert Foster-led Berbice Cricket Board would receive a massive boost on Saturday 6th November when the second edition of the BCB Patron Fund is launched.

BCB Patron Minister Vickram Bharrat and President Hilbert Foster are expected to launch the Fund during a special social skills seminar for youth cricketers at the New Amsterdam Secondary School.

Minister Bharrat was last year inducted as the first ever Honorary Patron of the BCB on 7th November, and hosted the first edition of the Patron Fund.

A total of 13 youth players each received $200,000 in cricket gear, while the BCB’s cricket development programme received a million dollars under the 2020 edition.

The Patron committed $2M to the fund in 2021, as he congratulated Foster on the outstanding work of the BCB despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Under the 2021 edition of the Fund, the 11 first division clubs in the county would each receive $100,000 worth of white balls for the upcoming season.

Foster has said that the combined $1.1M dollars’ worth of balls would assist the clubs a great deal, as the cost of balls

BCB President Hilbert Foster handing over copies of the BCB’s historic coaching manual to BCB Patron, Minister Vickram Bharrat

has climbed heavily during the covid pandemic. The clubs which will receive the balls are West Berbice, Blairmont, Police, Tucber Park, Rose Hall Canje, Young Warriors, Albion, RHTY&SC, Port Mourant, Skeldon and Upper Corentyne.

The BCB plans to host at least five tournaments at the senior level whenever the National Task Force grants permission for a restart of the 20/20, 40 overs, 100 balls, 50 overs, and two-day levels of cricket.

Distribution of the balls would be done in late

November.

Four hundred thousand dollars would be invested in the Patron’s Educational Grant programme. Twenty junior players would each receive a grant of $20,000 to assist them to obtain educational materials for school. Foster and his executives have invested heavily in the educational careers of youths, with hundreds of junior players receiving grants to assist their pursuit of an educational background.

Each cricketer would receive a voucher to uplift the items from a popular stationery

store.

The final part of the 2021 Patron’s Fund would be the hosting of four social skills seminar across the county. The seminars are the brainchild of Minister Bharrat, and would be held in the four sub-associations of West Berbice, New Amsterdam/ Canje, Lower Corentyne, and Upper Corentyne. Each of the seminars would involve 40 under 19 players, and would be conducted by graduate students of the University of Guyana’s Social Work class.

Among the topics to be covered are table manners, public speaking, drug abuse, suicide, peer pressure, personal manners, how to handle your finance, importance of discipline, importance of education, and importance of religion.

The BCB Patron and President both agreed on the importance of the county producing not just outstanding cricketers, but all-round individuals who would be sports ambassadors for the country.

Foster has also indicated that all players selected to represent the county in the future would have to be involved in these sessions as part of the BCB’s comprehensive development programme.

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