Guyana Times - Wednesday, March 24, 2021

174 hinterland youths to benefit from computer literacy training P11

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

Issue No. 4597

THE BEACON OF TRUTH WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24, 2021

“More Foreign Direct Investments and local partnerships” – President tells EU business forum Page 3

...says time right to reset Guyana-EU relations Assault allegations against MP

No evidence of assault – Police report

...Speaker says will be guided by report

2 prison escapees, close acquaintance killed in shootout with Police – close acquaintance identified as Better Hope woman Page 20

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

Man wanted for attempted murder of NWD fisherman P15 Labourer gets almost 8 years for wounding neighbour P8 Joint Services to toughen COVID-19 P19 guidelines enforcement – Health Minister

Essequibo Coast fire victim P13 dissatisfied over fire report …says children were never playing with matches

See story on page 9

See story on page 2

PRICE

4 more die from COVID-19, death toll now 220 – 64 new cases recorded in 24h Page 14

Brawl at Lusignan Prison leaves 2 injured

Man arrested for allegedly raping Region P19 1 teen Linden duo granted P20 $400,000 bail each for allegedly killing labourer

2 NEWS

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

2 prison escapees, close acquaintance killed in shootout with Police – close acquaintance identified as Better Hope woman

T

he Guyana Police Force (GPF) has confirmed that the two men who were killed on Monday evening during a shootout with Police at Better Hope backlands, East Coast Demerara (ECD), are two of the Mazaruni Prison escapees.

The operation has also left a close acquaintance of one of the men dead.

The two dead prisoners are 25-year-old Imran Ramsaywack of Adelphi Village, East Canje, and 22-year-old Ryan Jones of Timehri, East Bank Demerara (EBD), while the close acquaintance was identified as 49-year-old Savita Rajkumar, called

Dead: Imran Ramsawack

“Debbie” of Better Hope South Squatting Dam, ECD. Ramsaywack was on death row while Jones was convicted for manslaughter.

Dead: Ryan Jones

Police reportedly received information that the Mazaruni Prison escapees were hiding out at a location in the Better Hope

South backlands. As such, a team was deployed to the area where they observed an abandoned field in a bushy and swamped area.

Further, the ranks noticed three wooden shacks, with two partly under construction. The rank reportedly checked the first shack but no one was seen.

However, as they were approaching the second, they overheard talking in the third.

Upon hearing this, the advance team alerted the others. The Police stated that soon after, a male emerged from the shack and discharged a round at the Police and ran into the nearby bushes.

In retaliation, the Police returned fire. As they got close to the shack, they observed two men and a woman lying on the floor with gunshot injuries. They were reportedly motionless. The area was reportedly combed in search of the fourth person but there were no signs of him. Police also confirmed that a sawn-off double-barrel shotgun was found at the scene.

As such, the two males were immediately identified as Ramsaywack and Jones.

At that time, the female was unidentified. The bodies were taken to Lyken’s Funeral Home.

Meanwhile, the Police on Tuesday noted that at about 10:00h, a 26-year-old housewife of Friendship Squatting

Area, EBD, turned up at the Sparendaam Police Station and claimed that she received information that her mother was involved in the shooting incident at Better Hope on Monday evening.

She was immediately taken to Lyken’s Funeral Home where she positively identified the woman’s body as that of her mother. Based on a source, the now dead woman would take food and clothing for the men who had been hiding in the area since one week after they escaped from prison.

In fact, it is suspected that after Jones’ father would have assisted them with a change of clothes and other items to keep them afloat, they would have contacted Rajkumar.

It was reported that 60-year-old Ralph Jones, the father of prison escapee Ryan Jones of Fourth Avenue, Bartica, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), was charged for harbouring the four convicts.

The man had admitted

that after escaping from the Mazaruni Prison, his son contacted him by telephone and informed him of his actions.

He told detectives that the following day, all four of the escapees showed up at his house, where he provided them with a change of clothing and collected the clothes that they were wearing and dumped them in an alleyway aback his house.

Police later found a white salt bag that contained several items suspected to be belongings of the escapees.

These include clothing, footwear, deodorant, toques, pillow, and pillowcases, along with a bottle of Red Star rub, a toothbrush, and a food bowl.

With the deaths of Ramsaywack and Jones, 44-year-old Kenrick Lyte, whose last known address was Grant Good Intent, Lower Pomeroon River, and 22-year-old Samuel Gouveia of Goedverwagting, ECD, are still at large.

NEWS

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS OPENINGS BRIDGE

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Wednesday, March 24 – 02:00h – 03:30h and 12:30h – 14:00h and Thursday, March 25 – 02:30h – 04:00h and 13:00h – 14:30h.

“More Foreign Direct Investments and local partnerships” – President tells EU business forum ...says time right to reset Guyana-EU relations

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Wednesday, March 24 – 12:45h – 14:15h and Thursday, March 25 – 13:40h – 15:10h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Expect light rain showers during the day. There will be partly cloudy skies and light rain showers at night. Temperatures should range between 22 degrees Celsius and 29 degrees Celsius.

Winds: North-Easterly to East North-Easterly to North-Easterly between 2.23 metres and 4.02 metres.

High Tide: 13:28h reaching a maximum height of 2.21 metres.

Low Tide: 06:59h and 19:37h reaching minimum heights of 1.14 metres and 0.92 metre.

SATURDAY, MARCH 20, 2021

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Bonus Ball

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President Dr Irfaan Ali

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ith Guyana slated to undergo unprecedented development that will target all sectors of its economy, President Dr Irfaan Ali said that the country would require significant levels of investment, including Foreign Direct Investments and public-private partnerships.

As such, he encouraged European investors on Wednesday to explore the investment opportunities available in Guyana that would build and boost their companies while contributing to the economic transformation of the country.

“Guyana is on an upward trajectory. We will soar to greater heights. This is a time of great change in Guyana. It is also an opportune moment for us to reset our relations with Europe. Investment must be a key element of that process and you are the trigger to ensuring it happens,” President Ali said during his remarks at the opening of the “Invest in Guyana” virtual conference organised by the European Delegation to Guyana.

According to the Head of State, the Guyana-European virtual investment conference allowed potential investors to gain insights into the economic opportunities that would become available.

He told the close to 500 participants that Guyana

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was not an unknown destination to EU investors, having established diplomatic ties with the bloc some 45 years ago with focus on trade and economic development.

But now, the President said, the country is hoping to expand this relationship.

“Guyana is strategically located and offers access to key markets including the Caribbean. Guyana welcomes investors from Europe. We look forward particularly to European Foreign Direct Investment in Guyana and for Eurobased firms to partner with local companies in seizing the unfolding economic opportunities…,” he stated.

On this note, the Guyanese leader pointed out that his Government would ensure that the environment for doing business improved. He further sought to attract European investors with fiscal incentives.

“Investors doing business with Guyana can be assured of an ever-improving enabling environment for business. They can be sure of a growing economy which will support business expansion. They can anticipate a macro-economic framework that guarantees stability and protects their assets.

They can expect fiscal incentives to attract their investments and ensure greater competitiveness. They can look forward to improvements in ease of doing business and respect for property rights and the rule of law,” the President asserted.

Moreover, the Head of State outlined that the support of the European Union (EU) has laid the groundwork for upscaling European investment in Guyana.

“It’s now timely for

EU Ambassador Fernando Ponz Cantó

Guyana and the EU to reposition their relations within the context of the CoastContinental Agreement.

Trade and economic development have been central pivots of the GuyanaEU relations. This relation continues to evolve. The European Union and the ACP [African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States] are about to embark on a renewed partnership for the next 20 years. Guyana looks forward to an agreement that will continue to place emphasis on the traditional pivots – trade, development cooperation and shared values – but which must, of necessity, also prioritise investment including foreign direct investment clause,” he posited.

That agreement is the ongoing renewal of the EU and Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific

States (OACPS) – formerly the ACP – post-Cotonou Agreement.

The Cotonou Partnership Agreement between the ACP and the EU was signed in 2000 and expired in March 2020. Formal negotiations for a successor arrangement were launched in September 2018 and were still ongoing.

This Agreement provides the basis for cooperation and donor support with the EU at the bilateral and multilateral levels.

Further, President Ali outlined that the EU has been a bastion for promoting respect for human rights and democracy, which he noted remained indispensable to ensuring a favourable environment for attracting investment, stimulating trade, and fostering economic development.

TURN TO PAGE 11

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guyanatimesgy.com

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24, 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

Getting tougher on COVID-19 enforcement

A

s the coronavirus infection and death rate continues to rise in Guyana, the Health Ministry is now asking law enforcement to get tough in enforcing the COVID-19 national guidelines.

For some time now, indeed, Guyanese have been careless in adhering to precautions to protect themselves from the virus.

As such, the Health Minister’s statement on Tuesday, that Joint Services teams will be more stringent in their enforcement of the guidelines, comes as no surprise.

To quote the Minister, he said, “You will see more people being charged for not wearing masks, and those businesses that are not complying with the guidelines will see stricter penalties coming their way. All of this can be avoided if people do the right thing. If we keep violating these things and allowing people to do the wrong thing, we are going to see spread.”

As at Tuesday, the COVID-19 death rate in Guyana stood at 218. Despite the upward trend in both infection and death, persons are still not taking seriously the health guidelines issued by the authorities. In some cases, persons just go about their daily routines as if they are not bothered at all.

We had supported, and continue to support, the move by the Government to make it mandatory for persons to wear masks while out in public, which was done since August 2020.

Authorities had made it clear that it is not the Government’s intention to have persons locked up or fined for not wearing a mask while out in public.

Of note, too, is that even in cases where persons choose to wear a mask, they do not do so properly. Face masks should cover the nose, mouth, and chin. When not in use, the mask should be safely stowed away or discarded, and not be placed on any other part of the face or neck.

Mandatory mask-wearing, along with the other preventative measures: handwashing/ sanitising and social distancing, is key to halting the severe impact of COVID-19. With COVID-19 in Guyana, the Government, along with the various health partners, has wasted no time in stepping up the national response to contain the spread of the virus. However, citizens also have a role to play, and they must take that role seriously, or else the country would not be able to win the battle to control the virus.

The fact is that once the health guidelines to contain the spread of the virus are not taken seriously by citizens, the infection rates would continue to climb, and the country would take even longer before it could be fully reopened. This, we know, would have severe economic and social impacts on the country.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), masks are recommended as a simple barrier to help prevent respiratory droplets from travelling through the air and onto other people when the person wearing the mask coughs, sneezes, talks, or raises their voice. The CDC explains that this is called source control.

“This recommendation is based on what we know about the role respiratory droplets play in the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19, paired with emerging evidence from clinical and laboratory studies that show masks reduce the spray of droplets when worn over the nose and mouth,” the CDC has explained.

The CDC notes that COVID-19 spreads mainly among people who are in close contact with each another (within about six feet), so the use of masks is particularly important in settings where people are close to each other, or where social distancing is difficult to maintain.

The CDC has recommended that all persons, two years of age and older, wear a mask in public settings, and when around people who don’t live in your household, especially when other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain.

It must be noted, too, that COVID-19 can be spread by people who do not have symptoms and do not know that they are infected. For this reason, it is important that everyone wears a mask in public settings, and practise social distancing.

Everyone wants the virus to be contained so that they can get on with their daily lives, but this would not be possible if citizens are complacent or continue to ignore the health guidelines.

A mahout walks next to his elephant through a busy street in Horana, a suburb of Sri Lanka’s capital Colombo (AFP photo)

Attempts to discredit work, lots remain to be done

Dear Editor, Since the 69th Sitting of the 10th Parliament in February, 2014, and a motion to appoint members to the Ethnic Relations Commission and subsequent work between the National Assembly and the Standing Committee, the ERC members were selected by their respective constituencies and sworn in as Commissioners by then President David Granger.

I took particular pain to point out the mechanism adopted to engage this process, as both the Opposition and Government of the day worked hand in hand to bring this process to fruition. I commend them.

My humble and honoured service in the ERC emanated from the discussed and agreed-to positions from Indigenous organisations and their constituencies.

The notorious notion that the ERC had lost its way, is dysfunctional, and is not fulfilling its mandate is a distant stretch from reality. I strongly disagree with this fabricated concept of the ERC. The ERC, even though birthed from political infractions of the past, must not be deemed to be politically guided, and should concentrate on promoting ethnic harmony and ethnic security and good relations in Guyana.

The claims by some members of the Commission, who peddle the self-enrichment, being dysfunctional, opportunistic themes, have, in my opinion, ulterior motives. I have given diligent service to my country and people, communally, nationally, internationally, which equates with the global sense. Being a recipient and honoured as a Paul Harris Fellow by International Human Service Organisations is the highest honour for giving back to humanity. I respect that, and, as honoured, I gave my full service to my constituency and people of Guyana through the

office of Commissioner on the Ethnic Relations Commission.

Credit is bestowed on my fellow Amerindian and non-Amerindian Guyanese who kept their sober senses and resisted the temptation of flaring into hate and savagery during our country’s challenging times, but instead enwrapped themselves into a protective cocoon and demonstrated love and compassion for each other.

It is saddening to realise that the ERC fell victim to the dark crevasse of suspicion, distrust, pretense, undermining, disrespect, which finally proved to be the menu to self-destruct. Through all this, the Indigenous sector stood strong, and I commend them.

As the representative for nine Indigenous Nations, namely, the Patamonas, Arawaks, Arekuna, Wai-Wai, Warau, Akawaio, Caribs, Makushi and the Wapishanas, I must compliment them for steering themselves out of harm’s way.

So, work was done among these Nations, hard work too, not only by the Indigenous Representative, but by all the Commissioners. I can proudly say that all Regions where Indigenous peoples live were visited by the ERC. However, even though this was the case, it was not enough, much more work needs to be done. The logistics and financial demands create a challenge for continued access and implementation.

It was peddled by some ERC Commissioners that the Commission failed to deliver. I cannot challenge that assumption, as maybe within their constituency some Commissioners failed. But I humbly seek clarity and identity on these areas of failure before pasting the entire Commission as dysfunctional, lost, opportunistic, self-enriching and visionless. If, for some reason, some in the Commission do not want to commend and celebrate their achievements, I seek redress

for the Indigenous bodies. The Indigenous bodies are not lost or dysfunctional, we stand tall.

Notwithstanding the many calls I received from persons seeking an answer for my seemingly cowering stance in the midst of the mudslinging factions, I simply advised that getting on to the dirt road will not help our peoples, it will weaken us.

There was no hostile or violent reaction to calls for our boats and engines, bridges and other infrastructure to be destroyed or taken away.

The ERC was established to function in the best interest of Guyana, through creating and promoting a harmonious relationship between all RACES AND PEOPLES OF GUYANA. Indigenous Peoples stood then, and still stand, by that principle.

I have given sterling service to the Indigenous Sector and Guyana through the ERC. The Indigenous peoples, even in high office, have respected and cooperated with the ERC. I am not just articulating on a windy cloud, as reality will prove that our current Deputy Speaker of the House was hauled before the ERC and his full cooperation was welcomed and appreciated by the ERC. When other constituencies were baffled as to how to handle their sector, The Indigenous peoples demonstrated how.

For this I sincerely thank our Deputy Speaker, an unprecedented example of working together to achieve love and harmony.

The Ethnic Relations Commission as a team visited Kanashen, Lethem, Aishalton, Mabaruma, Port Kaituma, Moruca, Paramakatoi, Mahdia, Bartica, Kamarang, Orealla/Siparuta, Anna Regina, Annai, Surama, Karasabai and Cotton Tree.

Visited and collaborated with Govt. Ministries, financial institution, religious bodies, disciplined forces; met with

Indigenous bodies and organisations, African bodies and organisations, Muslim bodies and organisations, Hindu bodies and organisations, factories. Hosted workshops, National Conversations, produced ERC play “I AM US”, launched Harmony Campaign, Produced ERC Colouring Books, engaged political parties on elections and code of cConduct, engaged stakeholders through film festivals and National Expos.

In summary, interventions were made in Region 1 – 7 times, Region 2 – 1 time, Region 3 – 4 times, Region 4 – 20 times, Region 5 – 1 time, Region 6 – 15 times, Region 7 – 3 times, Region 8 – 2 times, Region 9 – 2 times. Each of these 55 (fifty-five) activities can be authenticated with the ERC. So, the ERC functioned and delivered on a plotted course, and never lost its way.

I cannot fail to commend the work of the ERC staff. The Amerindian constituency recognise their hard work and sterling input into making the work of the Commissioners doable.

I hope other Commissioners who were on track, not lost, and have done work in the fields with their support and genius planning strategies commend them.

Finally, there are many outstanding Commissioners on the ERC who deserve not to be ridiculed or intimidated by ones writing to the President and Prime Minister of Guyana and Ministers of the Government, inclusive of the Deputy Speaker. Guyana has no place for mediocre projections, Guyana has taken an ambitious course to mould Guyanese, Guyanese of differing ethnic groups, to join the wagon of peace, love and harmony, so that as a nation we can achieve together. Only then can we be ‘One People, One Nation with One Destiny’.

Sincerely, Ashton Simon

guyanatimesgy.com

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24, 2021

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

30 years of Common Market of the South (MERCOSUR) Dear Editor, This year marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the Common Market of the South (MERCOSUR) through the signing of the Asuncion Treaty in the year 1991.

MERCOSUR is an historic achievement for member states (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay), since it has enabled us to move forward from a logic of rivalry to one of cooperation. Our democratic governments proposed a model

of mutual benefits by which commerce yielded profits for all the countries involved through expansion of markets, scale economies, and specialisation, making our productive systems more competitive and benefiting all parties involved.

It was understood that the same could be achieved in political, social, cultural and educational matters.

This model of cooperation stands in front of an old one based on conflict.

While the member states

of MERCOSUR are traditionally strong exporters of primary products, many of the said exports that take place among partners are industrialised products, with the automotive sector singled out as one of the most outstanding (almost 50% of the trade between Argentina and Brazil).

Since its inception, MERCOSUR has sought to conclude trade arrangements with all the countries in the region, which has enabled the construction of a

A CoI is the 1st step towards electoral reform

Dear Editor, In order to reform any proposed system, you must first inquire as to what are the defects of the existing system. It is within this context that a Commission of Inquiry (CoI) should be established to review all aspects of the March 2nd 2020 elections.

The European Union Observer Mission’s recent calls to urgently address electoral reforms bring into focus the promise made by H.E. President Irfan Ali at his inauguration speech, when he so eloquently and ardently proclaimed the following: “All of us are painfully aware of the trauma and anguish that our people endured over the past five months, as vigorous attempts were made to destroy our democratic credentials and deny the will of the electorate. All of us have an obligation to the nation and to ourselves to ensure that never again should any generation of our people be subjected to such unlawful behaviour. Therefore, a review of events related to the electoral process over the last five months will begin shortly, in order to determine forensically exactly

what transpired, and to hold accountable any persons who sought to pervert and corrupt the system. More importantly, we will pursue the necessary reforms to make our democracy stronger and our electoral process more transparent.”

A COI into the events of the March 02nd 2020 elections should be commissioned by the President as promised, and should comprise of at least three distinguished officers from the Commonwealth who have extensive experience with various electoral processes.

The scope and ambit of the COI should encompass events prior to election day, on election day, and happenings after the fateful election day. Diligent enquiry should be made, but it should not be limited to the following areas: • Appointment of the Chairman of the Elections Commission and overall hiring of GECOM Secretariat staff and election day personnel.

• Review of all manuals and Standard Operating Procedures as they relate to registration, voting, statements of poll, ballot boxes etc.

•Selection process for Returning Officers, polling staff, district and regional officials.

• Distribution of ballots and voting on election day.

Counting of the votes after close of poll, and transmission of results to GECOM headquarters • tabulating and declaration of results with special emphasis on Region Four.

• Conduct or misconduct of GECOM Secretariat in the declaration of the final results of the election.

• Review of the performance, or lack thereof, of the Chairman of GECOM. • Whether the attempts at subverting the elections were systemic in nature, or were they the premeditated manipulation by select individuals.

• Recommendations on electoral reforms.

As was stressed by the European Mission, we should begin the process now in order to have sufficient time to reach a consensus on the reforms for the 2025 elections, and to hold those who tried to pervert the system accountable.

Yours sincerely, Reggie Bhagwandin

Clarification on COVID-19 vaccines from India to Caribbean

Dear Editor, Media reports indicating that Barbados donated 3000 doses of Oxford-AstraZeneca COVISHIELD vaccine to Guyana have come to the notice of the High Commission of India.

The High Commission desires to clarify that the donation from Barbados to Guyana is actually Barbados sharing 3000 doses from the 100,000 doses it received from the Government of India as a gift on 11th February 2021.

Recently, India also gifted 175,000 doses of Made in India COVID-19 vaccine – COVISHIELD - for the benefit of several CARICOM countries, Antigua and Barbuda (40,000 doses), St. Kitts and Nevis (20,000 doses), St. Lucia (25,000 doses), St. Vincent and Grenadines (40,000 doses) and Suriname

(50,000 doses) which is part of an overall 500,000 vaccine donation to the CARICOM region. This is done as we undertake the world’s largest vaccination drive back home, having inoculated close to 30 million, including health and front-line workers and those over 60 years of age.

The vaccine consignments to the countries in the Caribbean Region are part of India’s larger effort, named ‘Vaccine Maitri’ or ‘Vaccine Friendship’, under which India has so far shipped 58 million doses of vaccines to 71 countries in Latin America, the Caribbean, Asia and Africa. The recipient countries include even UK, Canada, Brazil and Mexico.

Both Covishield and Covaxin have been exported so far - some in the form of

“gifts”, others in line with commercial agreements signed between the vaccine makers and the recipient nations, and the rest under the Covax scheme, which is led by the World Health Organization (WHO) and hopes to deliver more than two billion doses to people in 190 countries in less than a year.

In the coming days, India will supply vaccines to more countries in Europe, North America, Latin America, the Caribbean, Africa, SouthEast Asia and the Pacific Islands.

We request you to put it (the point in the first para) in the right perspective through your newspaper/publication.

Sincerely, High Commission of India Georgetown, Guyana

Free Trade Area with most of the countries of South America. Similarly, we have negotiated trade agreements with the European Union, EFTA countries, Israel, Egypt, India, and Southern African countries, among others.

MERCOUSR is not a bloc closed to external trade, but rather it is a platform for member countries to project themselves to the rest of the world. We believe that integration makes sense when it is understood as agreements that respect the diversity of our countries.

Although not all our expectations have been met, in encouraging regional solidarity in political, economic, and social matters, our

countries are jointly tackling challenges, which make us stronger.

For the last thirty years, MERCOSUR has been the main instrument in foreign policy for all the countries involved. Ultimately, this is about a state policy that has preserved itself beyond the changes in government.

In these past thirty years, we have achieved a common ground in many instances: a commitment with democracy as a fundamental condition for the life of our people; the respect for human rights as a core value and inalienable right for coexistence; the recognition of our diversity; the coordination of our growth policies to integrate our production

structures.

The world is experiencing a reconfiguration of the global power structure along with a crisis of the international institutions that have ruled in the last seventy years. To address the challenges and uncertainties that arise in this scenario, we have no doubt that the integration of our countries would continue to be the best way to bolster our development, preserve our sovereignty, and promote the wellbeing of our people.

All power is weak, unless it remains united.

Sincerely, Felipe Sola Minister of Foreign Affairs of Argentina

President is in order, Mr Harmon Dear Editor, Over the past few days, I saw and heard a lot about the letter which Opposition Leader Joseph Harmon sent to a number of organisations, venting his frustration and complaining about the President; in essence about the Government not engaging him and the PNC (note, I didn’t say APNU or AFC, because both are PNC hiding under the PNC umbrella of APNU) in various matters of interest.

I must admit that I didn’t read a lot into the letter because I find that most correspondence emanating from the Office of the Opposition Leader and from Opposition MPs have no substance or merit to read. The letters are mostly with racist or untrue contents. However, I would like to educate the Opposition Leader, Hon. Joseph Harmon, MP, that he is the leader of the legal main opposition political party in Guyana, and therefore I must congratulate him on his role as the legal Opposition Leader - a role that Mr Harmon fully and legally accepted after 2020 Regional and General Elections.

Mr Harmon and those in the Opposition I assume are very educated people, and they should know that as long as there is a loser, there has to be a winner. So, I would like for that Opposition party to acknowledge that there was a winner of the 2020 Regional and General Elections.

Mr Harmon, the winner of those elections was announced by GECOM, and therefore the winner is a legal one. And that winner which was legally and democratically elected by the majority of the people to govern this land is the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C).

However, you, as the Opposition Leader, have been parading across Guyana and the world as the legal Opposition Leader, which you are proud to be, but yet you and your Opposition mem-

bers do not want to acknowledge, recognise, and accept President Ali as the legally elected President and the PPP/C as the legally elected Government.

Hon Harmon, you and the members of the Opposition have failed to acknowledge, recognise, and accept His Excellency President Dr Irfaan Ali and his Government as the duly elected President and Government of this land since GECOM has declared him and his party as the legally elected winner through a democratic process in March 2020 elections. Because you and the Opposition have failed to acknowledge, recognise, and accept HE President Ali and his Government as the legal Government, it is the best and most correct thing that the President has been doing, and that is to allow you and your members to repent and come to grips with the truth, which is that the PPP

won the March 2020 elections legally.

The President is absolutely correct and right not to meet with you as the legal Opposition Leader. You, as the Opposition Leader, need to face the nation and say the truth by publicly accepting HE President Ali and his Government as the legally elected President and Government.

I believe and know hundreds of thousands of Guyanese and those aboard would agree with me that the President should not meet with you as the leader of the main Opposition party, unless you, Mr Harmon, publicly acknowledge, recognise, and accept President Ali as the legally elected President and the PPP/C as the legally elected Government.

His Excellency President Dr Irfaan Ali is totally and absolutely in order.

Regards, Abel Seetaram

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24, 2021

Page

Foundation ◄

In a school,

Æsop’s Fables

FOR CHILDREN

Question 1

of the total number of pupils are boys. There are 261 girls.

(i) What fraction of the total number of pupils are girls? (ii) Calculate the total number of pupils in the school.

Tuesday's Answer

The Shepherd and the Sheep A shepherd driving his sheep to a wood saw an oak of unusual size full of acorns, and spreading his cloak under the branches, he climbed up into the tree and shook them down.

The sheep eating the acorns inadvertently frayed and tore the cloak. When the shepherd came down and saw what was done, he said, "O you most ungrateful creatures! You provide wool to make garments for all other men, but you destroy the clothes of him who feeds you."

Supplies needed:

Artwork Letter stickers or stencil White paint or markers A paint brush Scissors

Instructions

Step 1: Find a painting that you like, but not one you adore (since you'll be painting over most of the design). It could be your own work, a printout, or a damaged piece.

Step 2: Pick a song lyric that you like. Then cut out and plot out your design using the letter stickers (that form the words) or plot out design using letter stencil.

Step 3: Stick stickers. Place them as perfectly or imperfectly as you fancy! Or fill in drawn-on letters using markers. If using markers, steps 4-5 are not needed.

Step 4: Cover the entire art piece

WORD SEARCH with a coat (or two) of white paint.

Step 5: Allow your paint to dry.

Next, peel the letters off carefully.

Step 6: Yay! You did it. Enjoy your new piece of art! (Adapted from abeautifulmess.com)

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

8 NEWS

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Labourer gets almost 8 years for wounding neighbour A West Berbice labourer was on Tuesday given an almost eight-year jail sentence for wounding his neighbour back in 2019.

Bryan Seymour, 34, called “Hundred”, of Leitchfield Village, West Coast Berbice (WCB), Region Five (MahaicaBerbice) was found guilty of wounding Leon Curtis.

The incident reportedly occurred on February 11, 2019 during an argument

between the two men over political affiliation.

Justice Simone MorrisRamlall on Tuesday said she took into account the fact that Seymour was found guilty of felonious wounding and not attempted murder, and that his intention was to maim, disfigure, or cause grievous bodily harm.

Although it was a piece of wood that was used, the Judge stated that the attack was a serious one. However, she noted that there was no

evidence before the court to suggest that the injuries sustained were life-threatening.

Before handing down the sentence, Justice MorrisRamlall told Seymour that he should have exercised self-control when the argument started.

During the trial, it was revealed that the two men were in a house when they had different views on a topic and got into an argument during which Seymour

armed himself with a piece of wood and dealt Curtis several blows to his head.

Seymour was arrested shortly after and charged.

The court initially imposed a 10-year sentence, but deducted the time Seymour spent in prison awaiting trial. Hence, he was given a sentence of seven years, 11 months.

The court also ordered that Seymour be exposed to anger management counselling on a six-week basis during his sentence.

A friend in need…

T

…is a (vaccine) friend indeed here are so many sayings about the rarity of true friends…but the one that resonates with your Eyewitness is: “You know who’re your friends when the chips are down.” While most of these homilies originated from relationships between people, we sometimes transfer and personalise them onto other groups and organisations to which we belong to - all the way up to our countries. And this is where we might be making a big mistake.

As we shoulda learnt recently, while people invest emotions into their relationships, when it comes to countries, even though they’re run by individuals, the guiding maxim is: “There are no permanent enemies or permanent friends - just permanent interests.” So, when we try to understand the actions of nations towards other countries, we’ve got to find out what are their interests in those countries. And we arrive at the matter of life and death that’s confronting all of us on planet Earth - the COVID-19 pandemic.

On one level, we might think we’re all in this together.

After all, didn’t the virus start out in Wuhan, China, but before you could say “Zaijian!” (Goodbye) we were all dying like flies? But we now know that this isn’t how it’s worked out: the “we” boiled down to citizens of separate countries. Each country’s leaders demonstrated they’d first take care of their own, when it came to distributing the vaccines that were created to stop the pandemic.

Excepting one - India.

Now, your Eyewitness isn’t so naïve as to think that India’s “Vaccine Maitri” (Vaccine Friendship) isn’t serving their interest. Of course, it is. He’s sure that India’s counting on countries to remember their gesture when for instance - matters affecting India come up at the UN, or when it comes to signing a trade agreement etc. But isn’t that what happens even with friendships between people?

Your friends are there when the chips are down!

But the question is: why haven’t the developed countries in the West - who’ve traditionally been our “friends” not been generous with us in our hour of need? In fact, they’ve gone the opposite to hoard or preorder several times the number of vaccines they’ll need for their entire populations. Don’t they feel they need to demonstrate their friendship to us? What are we? Chopped liver?

And if the truth be told, that’s exactly what we are: chopped liver - which earned its usage because it’s not appreciated by everyone! And this is true even though some are convinced that our massive oil fields have suddenly made us important. That we “matter”! But in the grand scheme of things, we’re still small potatoes on the world scene.

So, we shouldn’t look India’s gift horse in the mouth! …when insanity is unleashed How many times are we gonna hear about another mass murder in the US before we hear that they’ll do something about the causes of the phenomenon (too many suffused by hate) and the means to express that hate violently (guns). The latest was TEN persons (including a responding Policeman) mowed down by a lone gunman in a supermarket in Colorado. This followed the slaughter of eight - including six Asians - by another lone gunman in the opposite end of the country - Atlanta, Georgia.

Coming to the cause - the hate - this was increased exponentially in the US by politicians like Trump exploiting it for votes by stirring up hatred against all kinds of “outsiders” like immigrants, Blacks, Asians, Jews, and now “leftists”! The guns were always there. But while your Eyewitness is pained by those killings, he must confess that he’s worried that soon - like with Thanksgiving - we’ll import this quaint American tradition.

We already have the PNC stirring up hate - and the guns are unfortunately here. …in cricket And just when you thought our colonially-bequeathed cricket had inculcated bonhomie and gentlemanly values into us, comes the sights and sounds of our competing cricket administrators slinging mud at each other.

Could someone please serve them some cucumber sandwiches?

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

NEWS

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Assault allegations against MP

No evidence of assault – Police report

...Speaker says will be guided by report

Speaker of the National Assembly, Manzoor Nadir

I

Public Affairs Minister Kwame McCoy

nvestigators probing the assault allegation made against Minister Kwame McCoy by APNU/AFC Member of Parliament (MP) Tabitha Sarabo-Halley have found that there is no evidence of a physical assault.

In its report to the Speaker of the National Assembly, part of which was seen by Guyana Times, the Police said “…there is evidence to indicate that the parties indeed had an exchange of words, but there is nothing to suggest that any [physical] assault took place.”

The Police handed over the report to House Speaker Manzoor Nadir last week.

When contacted on Tuesday, Nadir told Guyana Times that he will no longer be dealing with the issue and will be relying on the Police’s final report on the incident. “…I have to be guided by the Police report which says ‘There was nothing to suggest that any assault took place’. As such, I would not be able to deal any further with this issue,” the Speaker indicated to this newspaper.

Earlier this month during the Consideration of the 2021 Budget Estimates, MP Sarabo-Halley alleged that Government MP Kwame McCoy physically assaulted her on the corridors of the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC), where Parliament sittings are being held due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

However, the Public Affairs Minister has vehemently denied the allegation.

Nevertheless, the Police were called in to probe the incident and had taken statements from several persons as well as reviewed CCTV footage from the Conference Centre.

But the footage only captured the before and after of the confrontation between the two MPs and showed nothing of the alleged assault.

In fact, the Police report further states that “The evidence of the CCTV would have been vital in this investigation.

However, there was none located in the area where the alleged incident occurred.”

The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Chamber had previously advised the Police that the Speaker should use the Standing Orders of Parliament to address the assault complaint since the incident occurred in the precinct of the National Assembly.

However, Nadir pointed out to this publication on Tuesday that the Standing Orders only deal with the misconduct of members. He further explained that “Parliament does not have

Opposition MP Tabitha SaraboHalley

an investigative arm”, hence his decision to be guided by the Police report.

According to the House Speaker, he will be informing the National Assembly of his decision at the next session.

Following the alleged incident, the APNU/AFC Opposition had persistently disrupted the Consideration of the 2021 Budget Estimates despite the Speaker informing them of the proper procedure they had to adopt in order to get the House to deal with the issue.

In fact, the Opposition MPs continued with the same disturbances by banging persistently on the desks, causing the House Speaker to suspend at least seven APNU/AFC parliamentarians for various infractions.

Moreover, Speaker Nadir also consolidated the various programmes under each budget agency to fast-track the process, thus passing the $383.1 billion 2021 National Budget on March 4 – four days ahead of schedule.

Meanwhile, Opposition Leader Joseph Harmon had stated during a press conference on the night of the alleged incident that an apology would not be “sufficient”. But when pressed for details on the incident, he was tight-lipped.

He said that with the CCTV only providing footage of “what may have happened before and after”, the Police would have to rely on eyewitnesses. However, when pressed on who these persons are – whether they were coalition members or Parliament staff – Harmon refused to say.

Moreover, he confirmed that MP Sarabo-Halley sought medical attention but further declined to share what that medical states.

Nevertheless, Minister McCoy subsequently “emphatically and completely” denied assaulting MP Sarabo-Halley.

“At no time did I touch Ms Halley with my phone or any part of my body. At the time in question, outside the Parliament Chamber, I had just completed a verbal exchange with [Chief Elections Officer] Mr Keith Lowenfield, who attended the Committee of Supply. After Mr Lowenfield's departure, I began to speak with Minister Anand Persaud.

I observed the presence of Ms Halley, who was approximately four feet away from me. We exchanged words, but there was absolutely no physical contact whatsoever,” McCoy detailed in a statement.

The Minister went on to say that the allegation is “totally false, malicious and intended to cause me embarrassment and public ridicule.”

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

NEWS

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24, 2021|| GUYANATIMESGY.COM

174 hinterland youths to benefit from computer literacy training launched in 2014 under the Youth Entrepreneurship and Apprenticeship Programme.

A Community Support Officer (CSO) using a laptop computer in the $3 million ICT hub in Kumu village Amerindian Affairs Minister Pauline Sukhai at Karasabai

A

total of 174 young people in several villages in the interior are expected to be trained in computer literacy.

This was according to Amerindian Affairs Minister Pauline Sukhai during an engagement with residents of Karasabai, Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni).

The Minister told the residents that provisions were made for training in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in the 2021 National Budget, which will increase the skillset of hinterland youth.

“We expect to train another 174 young CSOs [Community Support Officers] under the same programme so that students or these CSOs who would be trained in computer literacy will be able to take on the task in the villages when the Government roll out the ICT programme in 200 communities in the next two years,” the Minister stated.

She added that the

Government intended to expand the CSO programme to 2000 youths who will in the interim, work through the Village Councils.

“That is the objective of engaging out-of-school youths and unemployed youths so that in the interim where they are looking for experience, they would be meaningfully engaged in their community and the Government will provide a stipend for them,” she said.

The Minister explained that the CSOs, working through the hinterland’s ICT programme, would see Amerindian villages becoming computer literate over two years. Since the CSO programme was reintroduced, 50 CSOs across 50 communities have been trained.

The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Administration has been working to resuscitate the ICT programme since taking office.

The Project Management Unit within the Office of the Prime Minister will execute the programme through the ICT Access and eServices for Hinterland, Poor and

“More Foreign...

The President added that Guyana was also grateful for the EU’s support, over the years, toward Private Sector development and for its role in supporting climate adaptation and mitigation.

Through the European Development Fund and its support for Guyana’s National Indicative Programme, the EU has made a significant contribution to the country’s efforts to reduce poverty and build greater climate resilience.

“This conference must add impetus to this intent by becoming a pacesetter in encouraging greater investment flows from the European Union to Guyana.

In doing so, it will serve to reposition Guyana’s long-standing ties with the EU,” President Ali stated.

Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh was also part of the conference, which featured presentations from various Guyanese officials, including Chief Executive Officer of the Guyana Office for Investment (GO-Invest), Dr Peter Ramsaroop, and Governor of the Bank of Guyana, Dr Gobind Ganga.

FROM PAGE 3

The EU virtual business conference was organised in collaboration with Caribbean Export Development Agency (Caribbean Export); the Caribbean Association of Investment Promotion Agencies (CAIPA) and GOInvest.

Meanwhile, EU Ambassador to Guyana, Fernando Ponz Cantó said that the participation of close to 500 delegates from 47 countries is proof of the potential and the importance of Guyana as a business-friendly destination.

He added that it was only the beginning of Guyana’s potential, given that it was the fastest-growing economy in the hemisphere and one of the fastest-growing economies in the world.

In his remarks, Caribbean Export Executive Director Deodat Maharaj pointed to the “spirit of optimism and possibility” that pervaded the event.

He reiterated the Agency’s commitment to partnering with Guyana to promote investment opportunities in Europe and the wider world.

Remote Communities project.

Some 200 hinterland and riverine communities stand to benefit from the reintroduction of the programme, which was altered significantly by the coalition Government.

Thus far, a US$10 million line of credit has been secured to recommence the provision of the ‘solar farms per household’ project which will precede the establishment of ICT hubs.

The CSO initiative was

Its reintroduction will replace the former Administration’s Hinterland Employment and

Youth Service programme, which failed to meet its objectives.

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

NEWS

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Essequibo Coast fire victim dissatisfied over fire report …says children were never playing with matches

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h e r i f a n Gafoor, the owner of the two-storey house that was completely ravaged by fire at Aurora Village, Essequibo Coast, Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam), has said that she is tremendously distressed and dissatisfied over claims made by the fire officers at Anna Regina Fire Station. Officers, she said, claimed

Sherifan Gafoor and her granddaughter

that the fire was generated by children playing with matches, which according to family members, is incorrect.

"The claims made by the officials are false because the children were outside with me sitting and were nowhere inside the house playing with matches," Sheridan Gafoor, the grandmother, explained.

The Gafoor family is confident that the fire started from

The Aurora Village, Essequibo Coast house on fire

an electrical wire that constantly sparks during windy periods. The fami-

ly has since called for another investigation to be launched by the fire service

since according to them, the Anna Regina Fire Station officials’ claims are misleading and inaccurate.

Additionally, the mother acknowledged that the firefighters came to extinguish the fire but their efforts were futile since they had to source water from a river some distance away and that took quite a long time to set up.

When this publication contacted the head of the Anna Regina Fire Station, he said that he could not comment on the issue since he was in a meeting in Georgetown.

14 NEWS

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

4 more die from COVID-19, death toll now 220 – 64 new cases recorded in 24h …surveillance network monitoring Brazilian border for infiltration

T

he Health Minister on Tuesday reported that four other persons have succumbed to COVID-19, taking the death toll to a staggering 220.

With the two recent deaths, 23 persons have died from the virus for the month of March thus far.

The latest deaths are a 74-year-old female from Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara); an 82-year-old male from Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni)

and two males - 50-year-old and 48-year-old from Region Three (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara).

The Bartica resident reportedly died at his house but upon his arrival at the Bartica Regional Hospital, a

swab test that was done on him revealed that he was positive.

On Sunday, a 69-yearold man from Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) was the last person to fall victim to the life-threatening disease.

However, from 829 swabs that were taken for analysis on Tuesday, 64 returned positive. This has now taken the positive cases to 9668 – 4947 males and 4721 females.

The new statistics released by the Health Ministry revealed that 11 persons remain in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), with 63 in institutional isolation, 856 in home isolation and 11 in institutional quarantine. Guyana has tested 82,539 persons

thus far. Some 8522 have since recovered.

Of the new cases, one was reported in Region One (Barima-Waini); 17 in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara); 20 in Region Four (DemeraraMahaica); five in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne); 20 in Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni) and one in Region 10 (Upper DemeraraBerbice).

The cases in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), Five (Mahaica-Berbice), Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) and Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) remain at 248, 274, 246 and 438 respectively.

Meanwhile, an over-

whelmed health system in Brazil due to the coronavirus has sparked concerns for local authorities, and a surveillance network has been actively scanning the porous border for any infiltration.

TURN TO PAGE 20

NEWS

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Ramsammy’s Ruminations PAHO launches survey to measure health-

Time to act, time to care workers’ response to COVID-19 vaccines dismantle the rigging T machinery in GECOM

N

o "ands, ifs and buts", the time is NOW to fire all those who were involved in the attempted rigging of the March 2020 elections.

The GECOM management team was engaged in skullduggery to thief the March 2020 General Elections. That rigging attempt lasted a full five months. All political parties in Guyana, excepting APNU/ AFC, are on record condemning the rigging machinery in GECOM. All these political parties agree that the Chief Elections Officer, Keith Lowenfield, and the Deputy Chief Elections Officer, Roxanne Myers, are the leaders of the rigging machinery in GECOM. All these political parties agree there are other senior members within the GECOM management team, including Mingo, who are integral members of the rigging machinery. The world watched stunned at the clumsy attempt Dr Leslie Ramsammy to thief the March 2020 General and Regional Elections, and watched in absolute horror as the electoral thieving siege lasted for more than five long months. Every observer group, without a single exception, agreed there is a rigging machinery within GECOM. For GECOM to credibly conduct another election in Guyana, that rigging machinery must be treated as a cancer and be excised.

The persons who have been implicated in that rigging attempt cannot be allowed a free pass, or they will be emboldened. GECOM must act now - GECOM must ensure that those staff members who flagrantly attempted to interfere with the integrity of the March 2021 elections are dismissed with immediate effect. The courts will take its own time and will use its own system to decide the status of the crime committed. GECOM does not have the luxury of waiting on the court system. It has to act now, as in now, to begin its preparation for both local government elections this year and the General Elections in 2025.

As it is, GECOM is in a slumber, it cannot move forward unless the rigging machinery is expelled now.

Just the Chair and six commissioners are costing this country almost $50M per year. The rigging machinery is costing Guyanese taxpayers even more than that. The Chair and the Commissioners must act today, not a day more must be permitted to go by without GECOM taking real action. This column is aware there are commissioners linked to APNU/AFC who have defended those who assaulted the integrity of Guyana's elections in 2020. But the other commissioners must not delay action anymore. The time has come for GECOM to hold a meeting now with one agenda item - what to do with those who are now facing criminal charges for electoral fraud. GECOM's Chair cannot continue to procrastinate. She will have to decide if she will give a pass to those staff members who publicly assaulted the integrity of GECOM itself and the integrity of the elections. Her own integrity is on the line.

All the observer groups have published their reports, or have pronounced on the conduct of the March 2020 elections. All of them have agreed that the present GECOM staff cannot be trusted to conduct another election in Guyana.

Local government elections are due in 2021. The PPP Government has committed to holding these elections in 2021. The Minister of Local Government made this clear during his address on BUDGET 2021. While 2025 appears a far distance off, General and Regional Elections will be due, and before anyone of us realises, 2025 will be here. Guyana just cannot afford another debacle as the one in March 2020, when a rigging machinery within GECOM, in collaboration with APNU/AFC, tried to thief a whole election in front of the shocked eyes of the world. Right at this moment, senior GECOM staff and members of APNU/AFC are in front of the courts charged with elections fraud.

This time last year (March 2020), the whole world was paying attention to the brazen attempt at electoral heist. It was not just brazen, not just absolutely disgraceful, it was a blatantly clumsy attempt to thief the elections. At first, the rigging machinery's efforts focused on changing the numbers in the formal Statements of Poll.

They refused to show the SOPs, but used a fake spreadsheet. The political parties had their own copies of the SOPs. The observers had their own copies of the SOPs, and they all confirmed that the numbers being read from the spreadsheet for polling stations in Region 4 were fake numbers, not consistent with the numbers in the SOPs that were in possession of the political parties and the observers. Some newspapers also had photographed copies of SOPs that they took from polling places and these also proved different from the spreadsheet numbers.

APNU/AFC insisted the spreadsheet numbers were correct, but, like GECOM, they too refused to show their SOPs. With their fake numbers rejected, the GECOM staff resorted to siding with APNU/ AFC that there were tens of thousands of ghosts and phantoms who voted in the elections. Thankfully, the court has now forced GECOM to deposit their SOPs for preservation by the court.

Guyana cannot afford another election like the March 2020 election. The longer GECOM takes to address the elephant in the room, the greater the chance that we will repeat the March 2020 debacle. We must not procrastinate any longer - fire the rigging machinery immediately.

he Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) has launched a survey within the Caribbean region to gather information on healthcare workers’ response to the COVID-19 vaccines.

In a statement, the Organisation said it will assist country officials to better understand the concerns, attitudes, and intended practices of these workers.

The survey will target 14 countries namely Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago.

“The study will seek to ascertain attitudes to vaccines in general, intentions to take and recommend COVID-19 vaccines, factors influencing these intentions, and general attitudes towards the COVID-19 and flu vaccines.”

PAHO/WHO has recommended that health-care providers be the first group to be vaccinated against COVID-19.

Health-care workers are also recognised as significant influencers of health-related attitudes and behaviours related to vaccination in their communities. This group is being prioritised for communications to support them in accepting COVID-19 vaccines, as well as to ensure they are equipped to share correct knowledge with their patients and the public.

Caribbean Subregional Programme Coordinator Jessie Schutt-Aine has said, “Targeting health-care work-

Man wanted for attempted murder of NWD fisherman

P

olice are on the hunt for a man who is wanted for the attempted murder of 27-yearold Christoff Bridgemohan, a fisherman.

Bridgemohan, of Kumaka Waterfront, North West District (NWD), Region One ( Barima-Waini), was on Monday seriously wounded by two male suspects who are also fishermen.

Bridgemohan received several chops about his body and was rushed to the Mabaruma Hospital, from where he was later transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital. Police said his condition remained serious but stable.

One of the suspects has been arrested. The second suspect remains in hiding.

Police said they were treating the matter as an attempted murder.

ers with accurate communication and information regarding COVID-19 vaccines is critical to the success of the rollout of vaccines. The COVID-19 vaccines have been the topic of significant mis and dis-information.

Through this survey, PAHO is assessing the perceptions on the COVID-19 vaccines in the Caribbean, and future activities will be geared to the general public to promote high uptake of the vaccines, which is key to recovery from

the effects of the pandemic.”

While noting that healthcare providers have shown to be the most trusted source of information on vaccination, the intention is for the survey to guide the development of public policy, with the goal of increasing vaccine acceptance, improving confidence and enabling effective championing of the vaccine to the population.

In Guyana, all healthcare workers in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) have taken their vaccines, while other administrative regions move closer to this goal.

16 NEWS

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

“Remember the power of science as a force for social good” – Howard University President

T

he University of Guyana hosted its second in a series of virtual Convocation ceremonies on Saturday last which saw 207 students from the College of Medical Science and 336 from the Faculty of Natural Sciences being added to the local workforce.

This is in addition to the 556 students - 293 from the Faculty of Engineering and Technology, 51 from the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry and 212 from the School of Entrepreneurship and Business Innovation (SEBI) – who had graduated on Friday evening.

Close to 2500 students are set to graduate from the University’s Turkeyen and

Berbice Campuses and the Institute of Distance and Continuing Education programmes. There will be two more graduation ceremonies this Friday and Saturday, March 26 and 27.

However, in a powerful and inspirational speech on Saturday evening, Howard University President Dr Wayne A I Frederick, a distinguished scholar, cancer surgeon and administrator, told the graduates that now that they have qualified themselves in the various fields of science, there is an ample opportunity for them to help shape the world as they see fit.

“As you move forward in your careers, may you re-

Howard University President, Dr Wayne A I Frederick

member the power of science as a force of social good and your ability to influence the world around you when you embrace your full potential as a scientist,” he said.

Frederick is the first Black and Caribbean President of the 228-year-old Howard University. Howard is the University which also recently fielded the first woman and woman of colour as US Vice President, Kamala Harris.

President Frederick reminded the graduates that they are patrons and torchbearers of science, and it is up to them to “banish the darkness with your light and lead us forward to days of greater, global health and prosperity.” He noted that part of the graduates’ responsibility would be to ensure that science continues to lead.

“Where there is myth you must counter it with fact.

Where there is misinformation, you must counter it with fact. Where there is a culture of denialism, you must again counter it with fact. In some ways your role is simple, just tell the truth. Find the truth and promote it.”

The distinguished author observed that throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, people in all parts of the world allowed their actions to be governed by forces other than the truth, they acted based on emotion and fear, anger and in some cases, intolerance. He expressed that when COVID-19 is finally subdued, “it will be thanks to science that we prevailed”.

According to Dr Frederick, in a world that moves at the

pace of ours and where questions demand answers before answers are ready to be given, setbacks are guaranteed to occur. But he insisted that adherence to science is a guarantor that the balance of our social progress will be forward rather than backward.

He reasoned that the graduates are the arbitrators of science, and as a result, they are the trusted messengers who can deliver the truth to the people. On this basis, he urged them to use that standing in society to do the best when they can in the way it is most natural to their character, and befitting of their passions.

TURN TO PAGE 18

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18 NEWS

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Mayor wants urgent re-evaluation of city properties

M

ayor of the Georgetown Mayor and City Council, Ubraj Narine has advertised the need for re-evaluation of properties within the municipal reach, owing to the antiquated record that is being used to determine rates and taxes owed.

During the quarterly update on Tuesday, Narine told the media that the last evaluation was done some 25 years ago and many stakeholders are paying below value for their properties. According to the Valuation Act, property must be valuated every five years.

“It is something that all businesses within the city needs to do a property reevaluation. The last list [was] done since 1996. And you have all these four stories and three stories building going up,” the Mayor highlighted.

He added that this move is not touted with the intention of stymieing businesses, but rather, it is the responsibility of the Council to ensure that the correct taxes are paid.

“It is not about attacking businesses and people out there. But people have a duty and an obligation to do and they should do it so that we can be able to have the benefit and proper service from

Georgetown Mayor Ubraj Narine

the City Council.”

Since 2018, the local organ had announced plans to target a holistic re-evaluation within the city, after it was found that a number of residential properties were converted for commercial use, but those owners are still paying residential rates.

In other financial matters, a decision was taken to continue its waiver of interest for residential and commercial taxes through 2021 until further notice, having recognised the continued economic impact from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Narine said this measure will provide relief to homeowners and businesses within the municipality. From June 2020, the Council opt-

ed not to charge interest on the general rates and taxes for 2020 only. Interest for the previous years remained unchanged.

“COVID-19 is still here and we’re trying our very best to help the Private Sector and residents as well so that they can come forward to pay the right taxes and we’re trying to work with them. All of the interest in 2019 and way back, they will still have to pay that but we waiver 2020 and 2021.”

City Hall restoration

President Irfaan Ali would

have met with the Mayor and Deputy Mayor this week to discuss matters of the city.

The Mayor said support was assured for the rehabilitation, as well as completion of the administrative building at City Hall for staffers.

“Everybody wants to see City Hall building restored.

That building is a historic one that I’m focusing on since I took office. The President committed to assist us to restore that building as well as the administrative building.”

The steel structure of the administrative building has been completed to the tune

of $65 million. Narine said Government is considering injecting $30 million into the project, a decision that will be finalised upon additional engagements with Local Government Minister Nigel Dharamlall.

“The Minister did make mention that he will see to give us a $30 million and from our purse, we will see to put maybe $50 million. That $80 million can take this building a far way. Tomorrow (Wednesday), we will have a meeting with the Minister of Local Government to finalise these instructions of the

“Remember the power...

Additionally, the accomplished academician reminded the graduates that their role as men and women will never be truly simple, adding that they will always have to look beyond the science and what purpose the science is directed towards.

“It is not enough to conduct a research or write a study and leave the impacts of that study to other people…

It is good to be passionate about your work, vital even, but I want you to be equally passionate about its purpose.

While you’re all students of the sciences, I hope you all become students of the world.

Because within the power of science and having that at your disposal, you have the capacity to change the world around you,” he added.

He further pointed out that science can also generate new ways to provide healthcare. He explained that while the pandemic revealed how unequal the global healthcare infrastructure is, and has been, we can use this critical inflexion point to ensure that all people regardless of their race, or where they happen to live can access the care they need when they need it the most.

“Whether it’s through

President.”

Narine further noted, “The Council will continue to remain resolute in the provision of services to the general public and is willing to listen and work with partners, domestically and internationally to enhance in the improvement of the general aesthetics of our municipality,” a statement highlighted.

During the presidential meeting, President Ali shared Government’s move of making an advance payment of $100 million to City Hall that would aid in executing important projects. (G12)

FROM PAGE 16

telemedicine, mobile healthcare providers, strategically rethinking and redeploying our existing healthcare system. Or some other innovation to be developed, science has a role to play in refashioning this critical part of our society,” he argued.

Dr Frederick was appointed the Seventeenth President of Howard University in 2014. He previously served as Provost and Chief Academic Officer. Most recently, the Howard University Board of Trustees selected him to serve as the distinguished Charles R Drew Professor of Surgery.

A distinguished scholar and administrator, Dr Frederick has advanced Howard University’s commitment to student opportunity, academic innovation, public service, and fiscal stability. Early in his tenure as President, Dr Frederick pursued initiatives to streamline and strengthen university operations. He has overseen a series of reform efforts, including the expansion of academic offerings, establishing innovative programmes to support student success and the modernisation of university facilities.

NEWS

19

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Joint Services to toughen COVID-19 guidelines enforcement – Health Minister

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uyanese have dropped their guard in taking precautions and following national guidelines to protect themselves from COVID-19, prompting the use of law enforcement to impose stricter penalties for violations.

This was according to Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony during a recent press conference, having cited the level of complacency currently seen, thereby contributing to rising cases. Along with citizens, businesses are on the radar for violating guidelines.

“We are going to be more stringent using the Joint Services to be able to enforce these guidelines. You will see more people being charged for not wearing masks and those businesses that are not complying with the guidelines will see stricter penalties coming their way. All of this can be avoided if people do the right thing. If we keep violating these things and allowing people to do the wrong thing, we are going to see spread,” the Minister indicated.

He insisted that persons should take the virus seriously since the country is yet to exit the pandemic successful-

A member of the Joint Services distributes masks ly.

“People need to start taking this thing a little more seriously. I think people have dropped their guard a little bit and they think that COVID is over. COVID is not over. We have COVID that is circulating and we have to take those precautions. We continue to appeal that people take their precautions.”

With the current disregard for the curfew and other measures, Dr Anthony said the country will experience a surge. As of recent, the country has been battling with over 800 active cases, increased coronavirus-related deaths

and more hospitalisations.

“If people continue to disregard these guidelines, not wearing masks, socialising, being close to each other, gathering in these public places; we are going to have spread.

At this time, our vaccination programme is not at the level where we can minimise the amount of severe infections.

We have to get to higher numbers before we can see the severe infections drop,” he detailed.

Last October, Prime Minister Brigadier Mark Phillips had announced the formation of a multi-sectoral operation to curb the spread

of COVID-19 and sensitise the public on the implications of contracting the life-threatening disease.

“Operation COVI-CURB” used the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), Guyana Police Force (GPF), and the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) to execute the Health Ministry’s mandate of flattening the curve by focusing on education, moral suasion, and finally, enforcement measures.

The national curfew remains in place from 22:30h to 04:00h (04:00 am to 10:30

pm) for the month of March.

Banks, supermarkets, shops, beauty salons, barbershops, gas stations and stores such as those selling clothing, shoes, books, hardware and plumbing are allowed to operate between the hours of 04:00h and 21:30h (04:00 am to 09:30 pm).

While buffet dining is prohibited, indoor and outdoor dining at restaurants and bars are permitted following strict COVID-19 guidelines. All essential services – such as hospitals, pharmacies, funeral

homes, airports, hotels, and the Judiciary – are allowed to operate on a 24-hour basis.

Restrictions remain in place on visiting, hosting, or attending private parties, wakes, clubs, receptions, and any other social activity, including going to the cinema. Gyms, fitness centres, and places of worship can operate at a limited capacity.

Persons are asked to abide by the curfew, wear a mask properly, stay a safe distance away from others and practice regular sanitisation. (G12)

Man arrested for allegedly raping Region 1 teen

A

man was taken into custody after he was accused of raping a child under the age of 16 in Region One (Barima-Waini). This was confirmed by the Guyana Police Force (GPF) on Monday.

Police stated that the incident allegedly occurred on March 13, 2021, and the suspect was arrested shortly after. The GPF is currently preparing to press charges and did not offer many details on the accusation.

Just a week ago, Police were also investigating the alleged rape of a 16-year-old girl who is currently four months pregnant.

According to a brief statement, the Police stated that an investigation was launched into the incident and that the suspect, who is not yet arrested, was named by the victim. In addition, only two weeks ago, a close relative of a 10-year-old girl was arrested after he allegedly raped her

while she was left in his care.

The child of North West District (NWD) was reportedly left unconscious after the ordeal. It was reported that after the man committed the act, he reportedly threatened to kill the child if she reported the matter to anyone.

Nevertheless, the violated child confided in her grandmother, who immediately made a report with the authorities. The suspect was arrested and charged for the offence.

20 NEWS

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Linden duo granted $400,000 bail each for allegedly killing labourer

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hirty-four-year-old Orlando Montooth and Utah Duke, 27, of Victory Valley, Wismar, Linden, were jointly charged for killing Samuel DeSouza during an altercation on March 6, 2021.

The men were granted bail in the sum of $400,000 each by Magistrate Wanda Fortune on Tuesday when the duo appeared at the Linden Magistrate’s Court. The matter was adjourned until April 22, 2021.

DeSouza, 44, a labourer of Victory Valley, was killed between 21:00h and 21:30h on the day in question.

It was reported that the now dead man, who lived alone, was involved in an altercation with a female, who

and a screwdriver were also found in the waist of the deceased’s pants.

According to Police, his mouth and right ear had what appeared to be blood as well as superficial bruises on the exposed parts of his body.

The two females were arrested and placed into cus-

Murder suspect: Utah Duke

Murder suspect: Orlando Montooth

along with her daughter had confronted him.

He subsequently ran away through a track leading to his home but soon after the suspects informed the woman and her daughter that DeSouza was dead.

The matter was reported

and upon arriving at the scene, the Police observed the deceased lying on his back in front of his home.

A bloodstained spear with a wooden handle, which is suspected to be the murder weapon, was found resting on the man’s body. Three knives

4 more die from COVID-19...

Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony on Tuesday stated that Regions Eight (PotaroSiparuni) and Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) are areas of concern, given their proximity to the Portuguesespeaking country.

“Those two regions are a bit of concern of their proximity to Brazil and sometimes, you have people coming across from Brazil who might not come through the official channel so there is no way of knowing whether they have crossed over into Guyana.

That’s something that we have to keep monitoring,” Dr Anthony shared.

For now, the surveillance network used to detect illegal crossings will deter anyone from entering. Resources for testing are also available to determine if anyone is positive since the P1 variant has been circulating in Brazil.

“We have set up surveillance network in the Rupununi and Region Eight to detect any person that would cross and based on that, to also offer testing to

FROM PAGE 14

them so we can detect whether or not people are coming over, if they’re positive and so forth. That type of monitoring is going to continue because we’re also trying to monitor to reduce the number of persons crossing. We know the challenge Brazil is currently experiencing with the P1 variant and certainly, we would like to reduce that kind of influx of people coming across the border.”

Over 12 million cases were recorded in Brazil with almost 300,000 deaths.

tody following the discovery but were subsequently released. Nevertheless, based on Police investigations, the two suspects were arrested and charged.

Meanwhile, a post-mortem performed on the now dead man’s body proved that he died from hypotension and

gastritis.

Dr Singh had explained that the internal bleeding was caused by frequent movement of the deceased which led to hypotension. The doctor also added that this was caused by the deceased’s smoking and alcohol consumption which was found in his stomach.

Brawl at Lusignan Prison leaves 2 injured

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brawl at the chopped by fellow inmates after he was Lusignan accused of “snitchPrison, East ing” to authorities Coast Demerara about contraband (ECD) on Tuesday concealed at the fahas left two inmates cility. receiving medicIt was reported al attention at the that David was alGeorgetown Public legedly assaulted Hospital. then chopped mulThe incident reportedly occurred tiple times about about 00:20h in Bays his body by a prisThree and Four of the oner, who is also on remand for murder, penitentiary. The inThe new holding area of Lusignan Prison jured men are Kenty and another who Bacchus and Linden was convicted and is brought under control by prisLewis. serving time at the facility. on officers who were on duty.

It is alleged that the susBased on reports received, The two injured men were Bacchus, who was in Bay pects armed themselves with escorted to the Georgetown improvised weapons and dealt Three, was attacked by several Public Hospital, where they other prisoners from Bay Two David several chops to the were admitted. body, causing him to sustain after they gained access by Only three days ago, a injuries to the face, hand, and scaling the fence. During the prisoner, who was on remand foot. The victim managed to attack, Bacchus was chopped on a murder charge at the escape and summoned the several times about his body.

Lusignan Prison, was chopped The other injured prisoner, prison officers. several times about his body The improvised weapons Lewis sustained chop wounds by two inmates. used to commit the act were to his left hand.

Ceylon David, called recovered.

The fight was quickly “Tallman”, was brutally

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24, 2021

21

Debutants Prasidh Krishna and Krunal Pandya star in India’s 66-run win A n ODI of fluctuating fortunes eventually went the way of India by a comfortable margin, giving them a 1-0 lead in the three-match series against England.

The home side were grateful to a pair of fine debuts from Krunal Pandya and Prasidh Krishna, alongside vital contributions from several senior hands, as England collapsed after a dominant start to their chase had seen them reach 135 without loss in the 15th over.

Like Shikhar Dhawan earlier in the day, Jonny Bairstow fell narrowly short of a century though the openers enjoyed success via starkly different methods. Dhawan set himself to bat for much of the innings, and helped lay the platform for India in partnership with Virat Kohli, although India needed the spark provided by Krunal's 26-ball 50 and an unbroken sixth-wicket stand with KL Rahul that yielded 112 from 57 at the death.

Bairstow, meanwhile, epitomised England's ultraaggressive approach. He and Jason Roy had seemingly broken the chase by the time the first wicket had fallen, as the openers hared off to post their

trying to run out his counterpart, who had seemingly already begun to make his way back to the dressing room.

It was not to prove costly, as England slumped further when Thakur had Bairstow caught splicing a hook towards the deepmidwicket boundary six runs short of a century. Two overs later, Morgan and Jos Buttler were dismissed in the space of four balls from Thakur, to leave England at 176 for 5 - still well ahead of the required rate, but short on batsmen available to knock them off.

Moeen Ali and Sam Billings patched things up with a stand of 41, before Krishna struck again.

There had been doubts about Billings's continued participation after he left the field with a "sprained collar bone joint" during the India innings, and although passed fit to bat, he was unable to reprise his finisher role from the 2020 summer, as he chipped tamely to extra cover.

With night-time dew taking effect and Ali finally benefiting

Shikhar Dhawan with a brilliant 98

12th century opening stand in ODIs. But England imploded spectacularly in the face of a renewed India bowling effort, led

by Krishna and Shardul Thakur, both of whom recovered from expensive initial spells to share seven wickets between them.

Krishna's dismissal of Roy triggered a period in which England lost two wickets and scored just two runs from the next 17 balls, with Bairstow starved of the strike. It would have been worse had Kohli held on to an outside edge coaxed by Krishna from his first delivery to Eoin Morgan; the India captain immediately acknowledged his mistake by unsuccessfully

led

from some time in the middle his only previous England outing all winter had come in the second Chennai Test - England were still in contention. But Bhuvneshwar Kumar extracted Ali with a sharply seaming lifter, and Krunal collected a wicket to go with his batting cameo, as the tail were rounded up cheaply.

India's chief concern, come the end, was a shoulder injury suffered in the field by one of their own, as Shreyas Iyer walked off in obvious pain after getting his hand to a powerful Bairstow drive.

Rohit Sharma, too, played no part during England's innings, having sustained a blow on the elbow from Mark Wood while batting.

The differences in approach to ODI cricket between these two sides were typified by the opening pairs. Dhawan and Sharma have scored almost 5000 runs together at the top of the order for India, but their success has been based upon steady accumulation early on, before cracking on once set. Here, after being inserted, they settled for a period of reconnaissance against the new ball, with 15 runs coming from the first six overs, and 39 without loss in the powerplay.

By contrast, after allowing a few sighters from Kumar, the England openers opted for their big spoons. Bairstow was particularly belligerent, accelerating from 6 off 18 as England plundered the powerplay for 89 runs; he greeted the arrival of Kuldeep Yadav in the 12th over by clubbing him for four and six, raising a 40-ball fifty and England's 100 from consecutive deliveries.

India had reached three figures in the 24th over of their innings, and they pushed a seesawing innings beyond 300 only thanks to the efforts of Krunal and Rahul, whose unbroken 112-run stand lifted the team from 205 for 5 in the 41st. The elder Pandya struck five of his first 14 balls for fours, and added a couple of towering sixes for good measure on the way to the joint-fastest fifty on ODI debut a milestone he celebrated with a thump of the helmet and a look to the skies.

Krunal's cap had been presented before play by Hardik Pandya, and the brothers, who lost their father and mentor in January, shared another emotional embrace at the midinnings interval.

India had seemingly ground

their way into the ascendancy at 169 for 1, with Dhawan and Kohli motoring along ominously during a century stand. But the return of Wood, who had bowled a sharp opening spell, saw Kohli taken on the deep-midwicket boundary - making it 42 innings (and 16 fifties) since his last hundred as England re-established their early stranglehold.

Stokes, who was playing his first ODI since the 2019 World Cup final, claimed three wickets, including that of Dhawan, who pulled low into the hands of midwicket with his hundred beckoning. Iyer also departed attempting to hit Wood over the top, and with Hardik Pandya steering Stokes to slip, India were in danger of falling short on a good surface.

England were largely excellent in the field, bar Ali dropping a straightforward chance in the deep offered by Dhawan on 59, as India lost 4 for 36 just as they were looking to press on. But the death bowling went awry in the face of some explosive hitting, Rahul clearing the ropes four times in 62 from 43 as India's explosive finish ultimately proved enough to thwart their fast-starting opponents. (ESPNcricinfo)

22

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24, 2021

Petra Organisation working towards comprehensive restart

Petra Co-Director Troy Mendonca

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t has been more than a year since the Petra Organization last coordinated a tournament, owing to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Organization is now hoping to be able to restart coordination of sports before the end of the year.

“By now it’s a foregone conclusion in terms of the effects the pandemic would have had on all activities, sporting academic, everything,” Petra Co-director Troy Mendonca stated candidly to Guyana Times Sport.

Further responding to this publication’s probe of how the entity has been affected by the pandemic, Mendonca shared, “We were, especially at the school level, seeing the kind of progress where school football has moved to over the years, and we were at the stage of going after certain aspects of improving the game in terms of like coaching.

“So, definitely, with nothing

happening, it was a big setback for us”, he disclosed.

However, Mendonca informed that the Organization is this week slated to meet with stakeholders on the way forward.

“That will, you know, officially kickstart our coming together again in terms of plans. Hopefully, in the next few months, when the vaccine would also be available to us, to (plan to) restart our programs,” the Co-Director revealed.

At the time of their final few games in 2020, many improvements were seen in competitiveness among school age players. While they are eager to get back to that level, the Organization is accepting the fact that it may require time.

Mendonca clarified, “We understand where we want to go in terms of the level of play that we saw or are seeing. As a matter of fact, you would know in the last KFC, one of our teams beat the favourites from Trinidad, and that in itself speaks to where we’re heading.”

He continued by explaining, “We want to know that we take it to the next level, which is engaging proper coaching for teams and so on; and so, definitely, we know where we moved from four years ago and where we want to go. And I think that where the setback is, it’s in terms of the pandemic and our programmes.”

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Flashback! A glimpse of last year’s Petra organised Milo Tournament

Sharing that they ultimately have to wait until school restarts, Mendonca shared that Petra would be reserved in their approach, especially with parents’ concerns in mind.

“We basically have to have an open mind in terms of what we expect in the return of school, because we don’t know what would be the approach to things with regard to children coming together and parents allowing their kids’ coming

together.

“We have a very open mind with where we’re going.

We’re not expecting or we don’t want to extend ourselves and extend our thoughts. We basically want to get back to a structure of playing the sport

and understanding this is for development purposes, and we take it from there,” he noted.

“We will follow all guidelines, all protocols, as they relate to bringing together people,” the Petra Co-Director has assured.

Tottenham’s on-loan forward Gareth Bale plans to return to Real Madrid

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Gareth Bale

areth Bale says he plans to return to Real Madrid next season, after his loan at Tottenham ends.

Wales captain Bale rejoined Spurs on a season-long loan in September, but has a year left on his Real contract, which expires in the summer of 2022.

Bale, 31, is with Wales as they prepare for their opening World Cup qualifier away against Belgium on Wednesday.

“There’s no distraction for me,” Bale said when asked how his club future might affect his international form. “I think the main reason I came to Spurs this year was to play football first and foremost.

“Going into the Euros, I wanted to be match-fit.

The original plan was to do a season at Spurs and, after the Euros, still have a year left at Real Madrid.

“My plan is to go back, that’s as far I have

planned.”

Bale’s future in Real’s hands – Mourinho

At Real, Bale has won four Champions League titles, two La Liga championships, one Copa del Rey, three Uefa Super Cups, and three Club World Cups.

However, a run of injuries, indifferent form, and a deteriorating relationship with manager Zinedine Zidane have seen Bale become a marginal figure in Spain.

As a result, last September, he moved back to Tottenham, whom he had first joined as a 17-yearold from Southampton in 2007 for an initial payment of £5m.

Bale initially found playing time limited at Spurs, but he has been in excellent form recently, and has scored 10 goals in 25 appearances in all competitions this season.

(Adapted from BBC Sport)

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GUYANATIMESGY.COM

23

NBA ROUNDUP

Rockets snap 20-game skid behind Wall's 1st triple-double in 5 years

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he Houston Rockets snapped their 20-game losing streak after John Wall posted his first triple-double since 2016 in a 11799 win against the slumping Toronto Raptors.

Houston were in the midst of a franchise-record drought – the Rockets' skid tied for the ninth-worst in NBA history and the worst since the Philadelphia 76ers and their record-setting 28-game losing streak across the 2014-15 and 2015-16 campaigns.

The Rockets recorded an overdue victory on Monday, celebrating their first win since February 4 behind Wall's 19 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists.

It was Wall's first triple-double since March 2016 as the Raptors crashed to a ninth consecutive defeat – now the league's longest active losing streak.

Bucks stay hot without Giannis

Giannis Antetokounmpo sat out the game due to a sprained left knee, but the Milwaukee Bucks still routed the Indiana Pacers 140-113 in the absence of the two-time reigning MVP. Jrue Holiday led the way

103, thanks to 31 points from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

Oklahoma City set a season high with 21 three-pointers in just 37 attempts (56.8 per cent).

George struggles

with 28 points and 14 assists to guide the Bucks to a seventh consecutive victory at home to the Pacers.

Gobert enjoys career-high game

Rudy Gobert had 21 points, 10 rebounds and a career-high nine blocks as the NBA-leading Utah Jazz eased past the Chicago Bulls 12095.

The All-Star Gobert became the first Jazz player to record nine-plus blocks in a game since Andrei Kirilenko in 2006, and fell just short of becoming the first Jazz player to post a triple-double since 2008.

Donovan Mitchell added 30 points for the visiting Jazz.

Luke Kennard Flawless

Luke Kennard was flawless in the Los Angeles Clippers' 119-110 win against the Atlanta Hawks.

He was eight-of-eight shooting, while he also made all four of his three-point attempts for 20 points off the bench in 18 minutes.

Kawhi Leonard scored 25 points and Terance Mann contributed a season-high 21 points as the Clippers rallied from a 22-point deficit in the second half, snapping Atlanta's eight-game winning

streak.

Thunder topple the Timberwolves

The Oklahoma City Thunder topped the Minnesota Timberwolves 112-

The Clippers won, but star player Paul George struggled. In 33 minutes, George had eight points on just threeof-12 shooting. He was also just two-of-seven from threepoint range.

Chris Boucher had a forgettable outing for the out-ofform Raptors. He was one-ofseven shooting, while missing all four of his attempts from beyond the arc in a four-point display.

From inside his own half!

Danuel House Jr. nailed a stunning half-time buzzer-beater from beyond half court against the Raptors.

Monday's results

Sacramento Kings: 119; Cleveland Cavaliers: 105 Oklahoma City Thunder: 112; Minnesota Timberwolves: 103 Charlotte Hornets: 100; San Antonio Spurs: 97 Utah Jazz: 120; Chicago Bulls: 95 Houston Rockets: 117; Toronto Raptors: 99 Memphis Grizzlies: 132; Boston Celtics (OT): 126 Milwaukee Bucks: 140; Indiana Pacers: 113 Los Angeles Clippers: 119; Atlanta Hawks: 110 (Adapted from Sportsmax)

Andy Murray withdraws from Miami Open with groin problem

Chanderbir, Nauth help Windsor Forest A topple Tuschen SC

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ver the course of the weekend, in a T20 encounter, Windsor Forest A duked it out with Tuschen SC. The back-andforth matchup saw Windsor Forest A emerging victorious over Tuschen on their home ground.

Batting first, Windsor Forest scored 186 for 4 in their 20 overs. In reply, Tuschen were restricted to 149, handing their opponents the game by 38 runs.

Deoram Chanderbir and Chatram Nauth of Windsor Forest scored half centuries.

Deoram Chanderbir 74 (5 x 6) (6 x 4) and Chatram Nauth 60 (5 x 6) (5 x 4) were the chief destroyers of the Tuschen team as they launched an all-out attack on their opponents. The at-

B

Deoram Chanderbir and Chatram Nauth carried the innings for Windsor Forest A

tack found no reply from the Tuschen side, as they were absolutely outplayed.

To top it off, Saafeek Deonarine chipped in with a quickfire 20 (1 x 6) (3 x 4) to round the innings off.

When Tuschen came to the crease, they showed

some resistance, but ran out of gas, all thanks to the bowling efforts of Abdullah Wazidali, who took 2 for 21 from 4 overs; Kishaun Tracy, who took 2 for 19 from 3.1 overs; and Faaood Bacchus, who took 1 for 22 from 4 overs.

ritish two-time winner of the Miami Open, Andy Murray, 33, had been awarded a wildcard in the event and was set to play South African Lloyd Harris in the first round of the tournament, which starts on Wednesday.

However, Murray, the world 118, said he "struggled to walk" after developing pain

while sleeping on Friday, and withdrew from the event. The three-time major winner was ranked second in the world when he last competed in Miami in 2016.

"I had no issues while training, felt fine, did some gym work Friday, no problem," Murray told the Miami Herald.

"I woke up about three in

the morning, felt pain in the groin, not on the side I had my surgery, got out of bed, I struggled quite a bit to walk."

Earlier this month, the Scot was knocked out in the second round of the Rotterdam Open by world number eight Andrey Rublev, having also received a wildcard for that event. (Adapted from BBC Sport )

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24, 2021

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

WI vs Sri Lanka: 1st Test…

Thirimanne-Oshada stand scripts Sri Lanka's fightback – Mayers, Roach make late strikes T

hree wickets in the final session of the day including a pivotal Kyle Mayers double-strike - ensured that the first Test remain finely poised going into the fourth day, after a 162-run stand between Lahiru Thirimanne and Oshada Fernando had at one point looked like putting Sri Lanka clear.

While Sri Lanka's lead of 153 with six wickets in hand looks promising on paper, their relatively long tail means a lot depends on Dhananjaya De Silva and Pathum Nissanka - their partnership unbroken on 66 - as well as next-man-in, Niroshan Dickwella, the last of Sri Lanka's recognised batsmen.

The blueprint for what is needed, however, was mapped out earlier in the day by Oshada and Thirimanne, with the pair's patience having for long periods blunted whatever the hosts threw at them.

That partnership had begun in the sixth over of the innings, after captain Dimuth Karunaratne had edged a wide Kemar Roach delivery to third slip. At that point, Sri Lanka, who had picked up the last two West Indian wickets cheaply within the first 15 minutes of the day, were still trailing by 94 runs.

By the time Oshada edged a probing outswinger - falling nine runs short of a second Test century - to become Mayers's maiden Test wicket, that deficit had been transformed into a 68run lead.

In between, the pair eschewed all risk and ground down the West Indies bowlers in what was an obstinate yet effective display. And so it needed to be, with the West Indian bowlers who, while visibly tiring, never gave away easy runs.

In the absence of swing - at least far less than on the first two days - their bowlers continued to probe outside off. When that didn't work, they briefly switched to some shorter stuff, before going back to the tactics that had proved so successful in the first innings.

But, along with the aforementioned lack of swing, the Sri Lankan batsmen were also applying themselves, and far more adroitly.

A key feature of Oshada's innings was his use of the feet, whether it was coming down the track to the spin of Rahkeem Cornwall or moving back and across against the seamers. He also used the sweep and reverse

Kemar Roach also provided a breakthrough for the West Indies

sweep liberally and rather successfully too, on the way to

his second Test fifty, though the innings wasn't without its fair share of fortune.

Two early boundaries w e r e undeniably of the streaky variety - both edged through the slip cordon - while a medium-difficulty chance at leg slip after gloving a delivery off Cornwall's bowling was also grassed by Jason Holder when

he was on 16.

Thirimanne, meanwhile, recorded consecutive 50-plus scores for the first time in his entire Test career, in an innings that reflected the determination of a man who knows he doesn't have too many chances left to nail down a spot in the side. His boundaries, rare as they were, were nevertheless exquisite in their execution - be it a back foot punch through cover point, or textbook drives through mid-off.

But much of his innings was spent waiting - waiting for the bowlers to bowl to him. He accomplished this by simply refusing to attack deliveries outside off, thus forcing the

bowlers to adopt straighter lines. These he would work away either side of the wicket as needed.

Indeed, his only misstep was his last: playing marginally down the wrong line to one that seamed back in from Roach coming around the wicket. The timing of that dismissal would also have disappointed him, having come just minutes after Mayers had removed Oshada and Dinesh Chandimal in nearidentical fashion.

But, fortunately for Sri Lanka, Dhananjaya and Nissanka combined to stave off any further blemishes.

(ESPNcricinfo)

SCOREBOARD Adams grateful being able to WEST INDIES 1ST INNINGS Kraigg Brathwaite (c) c de Silva b Lakmal 3 John Campbell c †Dickwella b Chameera 42 Nkrumah Bonner lbw b Embuldeniya 31 Kyle Mayers c de Silvab Lakmal 45 Jermaine Blackwood b Lakmal 2 Jason Holder b Lakmal 19 Joshua Da Silva † c † Dickwella b Chameera 46 Alzarri Joseph c Chandimal b Lakmal 0 Rahkeem Cornwall b MVT Fernando 61 Kemar Roach not out 5 Shannon Gabriel lbw b MVT Fernando 0 Extras (b1, lb 6, nb 9, w 1) 17 TOTAL (103 Ov, RR: 2.63) 271 Fall of wickets: 1-13 (Kraigg Brathwaite, 15.1 ov), 2-69 (Nkrumah Bonner, 36.1 ov), 3-95 (John Campbell, 46.2 ov), 4-120 (Jermaine Blackwood, 51.1 ov), 5-133 (Kyle Mayers, 57.1 ov), 6-169 (Jason Holder, 71.3 ov), 7-171 (Alzarri Joseph, 73.6 ov), 8-261 (Joshua Da Silva, 97.2 ov) 9-271 (Rahkeem Cornwall, 102.3 ov), 10-271 (Shannon Gabriel, 102.6 ov) BOWLING O-M-R-W Suranga Lakmal 25-9-47-5

Vishwa Fernando 17-6-52-2 Dushmantha Chameera 22-1-71-2 Lasith Embuldeniya 28-6-64-1 Dhananjaya de Silva 11-2-30-0 SRI LANKA 2ND INNINGS Lahiru Thirimanne b Roach 76 Dimuth Karunaratne (c) c Campbell b Roach 3 Oshada Fernando c † Da Silva b Mayers 91 Dinesh Chandimal c † Da Silva b Mayers 4 Dhananjaya de Silva not out 46 Pathum Nissanka not out 21 Extras (b 10, nb 4) 14 TOTAL (86 Ov, RR: 2.96) 255/4 Yet to bat: Niroshan Dickwella †, Suranga Lakmal, Lasith Embuldeniya, Dushmantha Chameera, Vishwa Fernando Fall of wickets: 1-8 (Dimuth Karunaratne, 4.6 ov), 2-170 (Oshada Fernando, 56.1 ov), 3-178 (Dinesh Chandimal, 58.5 ov), 4-189 (Lahiru Thirimanne, 63.3 ov) BOWLING O-M-R-W Kemar Roach 13-3-28-2 Shannon Gabriel 11-2-30-0 Jason Holder 14-4-22-0 Alzarri Joseph 12-2-46-0 Rahkeem Cornwall 25-3-85-0 Kraigg Brathwaite 7-1-24-0 Kyle Mayers 4-0-10-2

play competitive cricket again

– optimistic of team’s chances of lifting Speaker’s Cup title

By Timothy Jaikarran

T

he year 2020 is one which no cricketer would like to remember, but cannot forget. It is a time that would forever haunt the cricketing fraternity in Guyana, as the ‘big man’ himself, “MR COVID-19”, came on the scene and brought all sporting disciplines to a standstill, including the beloved game of cricket.

Despite it all, Everest Cricket Team captain Dwayne Adams has grown and learned things during these perilous times.

While the pandemic may not be gone, the Georgetown Cricket Association resumed their season over the weekend. One highlight of that weekend was Everest CC duking it out with the UG Trojans.

The Everest side won the encounter by an innings and 73 runs, and both teams got the opportunity to somewhat

shake off their rust and compete in an entertaining and quality matchup. Adams also played his part in the team’s win by bagging figures of 3-20.

In an interview, with this publication, he was asked what the feeling was like to be back on the field, and he said “It’s pretty exciting to get back on the cricket field.

The guys have been training on their own, and are happy to be competing after more than a year away.

“If anything, the pandemic has taught me to be more patient, since we had to change our lifestyle in an instant. It’s helped me put a higher value on my wicket and not to be too hasty with my players if they make an error in the field. The pandemic has also made me appreciate the group and the effort they put in for the club and team.”The Everest captain shared what was next for his squad, noting that there is a lot of cricket

to be played, so the team is training in an effort to get back into the groove, and they are hoping to win some tournaments.

Adams also related that leading up to the highly anticipated Speakers Cup, which is set to commence on April 3rd, the team has to remain focused, train hard, and have self-belief in order to go all the way.

In terms of his confidence in the team making it all the way in the Speaker’s Cup, Adams said, “We have a pretty good group of players for the Speaker’s Cup. There’s a good mix of experience and youth in the team, and I see them performing extremely well. We’re pretty confident of walking away the winners of the inaugural tournament.”

For the inaugural Speaker’s Cup, the championship offers teams the opportunity to vie for Gy$1M worth of prizes in

Dwayne Adams celebrates his 138 in 2019

attaining the championship title, and there is ‘something special’ for the team with the player to be awarded the most valuable player of the tournament.

Apart from the main prize attractions, teams have the opportunity to win other consolation prizes, inclusive of a valuable $500,000 2nd place prize, $200,000 3rd place prize, and $ 100,000 4th place prize, among other prizes.

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