GUYANA TIMES - WEDNESDAY, MARCH 31, 2021

Persons over 40 to start receiving COVID-19 vaccines today Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

Issue No. 4604

P13

THE BEACON OF TRUTH WEDNESDAY, MARCH 31, 2021

Govt crafting robust anti-crime strategy …tells Private Sector of other measures – Pres Ali to safeguard citizens, businesses Page 3

Jagdeo seeking to set aside $20M High Court judgement

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

Sisters beaten, doused P9 with boiling water during argument over mobile phone COVID-19 death toll climbs to 231 as 2 more die – March fatalities now stand at 34

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– after Judge issues ex-parte order in Ferguson libel case

ExxonMobil to complete reinstallation of gas compressor this week

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2 Police Officers under close P12 arrest for stabbing, beating GDF ranks

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– says it’s currently making final preparations for start-up

Berbice man found chopped to death Page 2

11-year-old drowns during fishing expedition with friends Page 13

“He was my only child” – dead lad’s mother

Joint operation activated to P15 address smuggling of contraband into prisons – Director

Wakenaam man busted with ganja during Police P9 operation

Pomeroon labourer charged for attempting to murder pregnant wife – released on $500,000 bail

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2 NEWS

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 31, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Berbice man found chopped to death

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68-year-old man was on Tuesday found chopped to death at his Number Three Village, West Coast Berbice (WCB) home.

The dead man has been identified as Surijdeo Deochand, also called “Sarjee”.

Based on reports received, the bloodied body of the elderly man was discovered by a relative who had gone to check on him after she received information that he had been chopped and needed to be taken to the hospital to seek medical attention.

Guyana Times understands that when the relative arrived at Deochand’s

house, she reportedly called out to him, but there was no answer.

At this point, she pushed open the main door and found Deochand lying in a pool of blood with several chops to his body.

Police later confirmed that there was one wound on the left side of his face, one to the back of his head, one to the side of his left hand, and one on the right hand which completely severed three fingers.

The injured man was taken to the Fort Wellington Hospital where he was confirmed dead on arrival. His body was taken to Bailey’s Funeral Home awaiting a post-mortem.

NEWS

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 31, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS OPENINGS BRIDGE

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Wednesday, March 31 – 04:30h – 06:00h and Thursday, April 1 – 04:30h – 06:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Wednesday, March 31 – 06:00h – 07:30h and Thursday, April 1 – 06:40h – 08:10h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY There will be light cloud and sunny intervals during the day. There will be clear skies at night.

Temperatures should range between 20 degrees Celsius and 29 degrees Celsius.

Winds: Easterly to East North-Easterly to NorthEasterly between 2.23 metres and 5.81 metres.

High Tide: 06:16h and 18:43h reaching maximum heights of 2.92 metres and 2.79 metres.

Low Tide: 12:15h reaching a minimum height of 0.28 metre.

SATURDAY, MARCH 27, 2021

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

COMMODITIES Indicators

US$

Change %

Crude Oil

$64.14/barrel

-1.31

Rough Rice

$237.51/ton

-0.04

London Sugar

$431.10/ton

Live Spot Gold

-1.37

USD Per Ounce

Bid/Ask

$1685.50

$1686.50

Low/High Change

$1678.10 -0.50

$1709.10 -0.03%

Govt crafting robust anticrime strategy – Pres Ali

…tells Private Sector of other measures to safeguard citizens, businesses

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ith crime currently a serious concern, President Dr Irfaan Ali has revealed that the Government is in the process of crafting a robust anti-crime strategy that will safeguard the interests of both citizens and the Private Sector.

The President made these remarks during an address at the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s 13th Annual General Meeting (AGM). Further, it was revealed that the Government was also aiming to craft a National Trade Policy.

“We recognise the harmful effects of crime on businesses and we are formulating a robust anti-crime strategy to better protect businesses, communities, and citizens,” the President said during his virtual speech.

“As we boost local competitiveness, we are also seeking expanded and new markets for local goods and services. Your Government is unlocking increased market access. We are crafting a National Trade Policy to support competitiveness and diversification through the dismantling of barriers to trade and competition,” the President said.

According to the Head of State, Government will be supporting the Private Sector, including in the removal of excessive red tape hampering businesses and in expediting the processing of building permits and plans at the level of City Hall. To this end, he said that he has had discussions with Georgetown Mayor Ubraj Singh.

Going into the realm of agriculture, the President pointed out that Government was already working on an aquaculture project that could triple Guyana’s production of ‘swamp shrimp’, which he noted is loved in the Diaspora and represented a potential big market opportunity.

Ali also noted that the Government would be supporting local investment in shore-based facilities.

He urged the Private Sector to be innovative.

“We have to start thinking outside of the box. In five years’ time, before five years, we will have the most competitive energy cost in the Region, we’ll have one of the most highly skilled and educated workforces, we’ll have great health-care services, we’ll have great educational services, we will have better infrastructure,” he said.

“We will have one of the most aggressive housing programmes regionally. Already, we have thousands of persons employed in the housing development that is taking place.

We will have one of the largest infrastructure portfolios, ongoing portfolio, in the Region,” Dr Ali said.

But the President had some words of warning too. According to him, the Government will facilitate, but will not “babysit” the Private Sector. He also explained that the Government would be bringing laws that would protect consumers.

“The consumer is at the heart of business; without consumers, business would flop.

We, the Government, will im-

President Dr Irfaan Ali

plement a raft of measures aimed at protecting consumers from unscrupulous practices, including unfair dispossession by hire purchasers.

“Government will support Private Sector development but it will not babysit the Private Sector. Government will work to set the framework for fair competition, but it will not deploy overtly protectionist measures,” President Ali said.

Dr Ali has made it a mission to market Guyana as an investment hub. He called Guyana the “sleeping giant for investment” at the recent opening of the Guyana Basin Summit 2021 (GBS) – an event aimed at creating investment and development opportunities in the GuyanaSuriname Basin, and bringing together oil and gas leaders and the global energy community, which was held virtually on March 17-19, before a

physical conference is held in Georgetown in October.

The President said that the major catalyst for industrialisation will be the planned gasto-shore energy project. He further noted that this would afford the economy the oppor-

tunity to have an enhanced manufacturing sector, and allow Guyana to become an industrial powerhouse, a model energy State, the breadbasket of the Region, the Silicon Valley of the Caribbean, and a sustainable tourism paradise.

Guyana’s representatives at the summit also included Senior Minister with Responsibility for Finance, Dr Ashni Singh; Natural Resources Minister Vickram Bharrat; Public Works Ministers Juan Edghill and Deodat Indar; Bank of Guyana Governor, Dr Gobind Ganga, GO-Invest Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Dr Peter Ramsaroop, and Guyana Energy Agency CEO, Dr Mahender Sharma.

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guyanatimesgy.com

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 31, 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

Ending domestic violence

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bviously concerned about the high level of domestic violence in our society today, the Women and Gender Equality Commission (W&GEC) continues to press for more stringent measures to be taken to help save women’s lives, since many of them continue to suffer, and even die, at the hands of their spouses or other persons close to them.

Almost every day we see stories of some form of genderbased violence being reported in the media. Only on Tuesday, a woman was doused with boiling water by her reputed husband.

From all indications, the couple shared an abusive relationship for several years, but the situation recently became more toxic.

This, of course, is the latest in a slew of cases that have taken the country by storm. Sometimes the reaction by many is: when will it all end? But they do very little as citizens to help address the problem. Many times, they refuse to go to the authorities to report cases of gender-based violence; and part of the reason for this is that, for many, this has become a norm in society.

This is quite unfortunate, as violence against women and children has tremendous costs to communities and nations, and can remain with women and children for a lifetime. If not dealt with very effectively, it can also pass from one generation to another. Hence, it is necessary for citizens to speak out when they know of cases of persons being abused.

According to a United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) report, “Behind Closed Doors: the impact of domestic violence on children”, violence in the home shatters a child’s basic right to feel safe and secure in the world. It stated that every child has the right to grow up safe from harm, and should feel that those they love are also protected. And in cases where this right is violated, there should be a comprehensive response, taking into account the range of effects and needs of different children.

The report stated that as many as 275 million children worldwide are exposed to violence in the home, indicating that this range is a conservative estimate based on the limitations of available data, and the figures might be higher.

We are fully aware of the solutions that can help bring about change. We have seen hundreds of reports which detail recommendations and actions which need to be taken to arrest the situation. We have also had numerous dialogues with the involvement of all stakeholders, but yet the number of cases is going up daily.

The W&GEC claims that numerous recommendations were made to the previous and current Administrations, yet nothing much has been forthcoming. It must be noted, though, that a Domestic Violence Policy Unit has been set up to oversee the implementation of the National Policy on Domestic Violence.

The policy calls for the Government to provide temporary shelter services, counselling, social work services, and legal aid for victims, as well as training about domestic violence for healthcare workers, Police, Judges, Magistrates, lawyers, and others.

We believe it is time for the policymakers to revisit the issue, and come up with practical solutions which address the scourge in a holistic manner, with greater focus on the root of the problem.

We had stated before that one of the greatest challenges Guyana faces in countering domestic violence, especially sexual violence, is in changing the attitudes of service providers – such as Police, Magistrates, social workers, and healthcare providers.

Additionally, awareness campaigns are critical to prevent gender-based violence, not only by educating persons on what constitutes violence and its unacceptability, but also to challenge the underlying attitudes and behaviours which support it. Awareness and early education on the issue would create wider knowledge and better understanding of the permanent damage caused by this type of abuse.

That said, while Government must take the lead in helping to bring about change, everyone – civil society, faithbased organisations, etc, must get meaningfully involved. We therefore support the call made by the W&GEC for a national discussion on domestic violence to commence once again, with the aim of redesigning the critical programmes to tackle the scourge.

Dr Irfaan Ali on Tuesday joined family members of the late Clyde Roopchand at his final resting place at Buxton, East Coast Demerara to pay his respects. Roopchand, a former Chief Planner of the Ministry of Finance, passed away in 2016. He was awarded the Cacique’s Crown of Honour in 2011 and served for several years in the State Planning Secretariat and the Finance Ministry

Working to destabilise the PPP/C Government

Dear Editor, I feel compelled to respond to an article written in another section of the media. In his extravagance, the writer stated “the 2011 elections were a referendum on the Bharrat Jagdeo 12-year rule.” Really, a referendum?

Since when does an election become equated with a referendum? Perhaps he has included this in the course Politics 101! More astonishingly, he claims “Ramotar was able to regain in 2015 much of the support which the PPP/C had lost?” If that was the case, should not Ramotar have won the 2015 elections?

Astoundingly, he continues his charade, “credit must go to Ramotar for regaining significant support which the party had lost as a result of displeasure with Jagdeo’s latter tenure. The 2020 elections victory had a lot to do with the support Ramotar was able to claw back in 2015.” Really! This writer seems to have had a visitation from outer space.

When Jagdeo ran as President in 2001, his party got 34 seats, and in 2006, his party increased that number to 36 seats. When Donald Ramotar ran as President, the PPPC got 32 seats and in 2015 when he ran again, the result was the same (32 seats). How could that performance lead eventually to a PPPC victory at the polls in 2020, and particularly when Ramotar did not have much to do with rebuilding of the party (post 2015) or assisting with the 2020 elec-

tioneering?

The writer’s intent is clear, he is trying to create mischief (division with the PPPC) by distorting reality. To say that Jagdeo ‘banished’ the Old Guard is to vulgarise the English language. He pontificates, “The aftermath of the 2020 elections witnessed the almost total severing of the Old Guard. The only member of that Guard represented within the Cabinet is Gail Teixeira. Roger Luncheon, one of Jagan’s most trusted lieutenants, is now employed in a mere advisory capacity…”

By wrongly crediting Donald Ramotar, a member of the Old Guard, for causing the PPPC to return to Government in 2020, the writer is not only trying to revise history, but also to ignite conflict between the socalled Old Guard and the new dispensation.

Donald Ramotar has played his part well, and so has the other members of the Old Guard. However, they had to give way to the younger members of the PPPC to assume leadership roles. Each generation must build upon the foundation of the previous generation, and to give the current generation a head start is to add vitality to that momentum.

This is how groups/organisations that serve the public should evolve.

Here is another perplexing position of the writer.

Why does he decide to attack the PPPC leadership and ignore how the PNCR

is rudderless, and how David Granger and Harmon dumped a substantial number of their Old Guard (Volda Lawrence, Basil Williams, Aubrey Norton, etc.) who had served them (PNCR) well in the past in vital leadership positions?

He is making a subtle call for revolt within the PPPC. This gimmick was tried before on the PPPC at the time when it decided the Presidential Candidate, but it collapsed. The writer has resurrected this possibility, and has challenged the Old Guard to muster courage: “Old Guard does not have the will to stoke a rebellion within the PPP to restore Jagan’s legacy.”

His spectacularly poor attempt to create division within the PPPC by inciting conflict and distorting reality would not resonate with a party that is on the move, and which puts Guyana first.

My research reveals an important piece of information. Following the electoral defeat in 2015, Jagdeo was approached in May 2015 by some top PPPC operatives, including former Ministers, to take over the leadership of the party. Those PPPCites were dejected, depressed, and disillusioned, and felt that their loss of Government in 2015 could only be tempered by the instituting of new leadership, and that this could be provided by Jagdeo, a man with a proven record of accomplishment and with international standing. At that time, too, many PPPC sup-

porters shared the view that if the coalition practised good governance and embraced segments of the opposition (PPPC) support base, it would take decades for the PPPC to get back into power.

The coalition made a bad political calculation to engage in vendetta politics (closure of 4 sugar estates and dismissing 7,000 workers) that contributed greatly to their (PNCR+AFC) loss at the 2020 polls. It was this failing that was heavily exploited to their electoral advantage by Jagdeo and the PPPC. Jagdeo has worked aggressively to rescue the PPPC from further decline and to restore it to viability.

Blaming the AFC for the coalition’s defeat, as the writer does, would not alter the reality that it was Jagdeo and his team that dethroned the coalition with their (PPPC) superior campaigning, including grass roots mobilisation. If Jagdeo was not at the helm, it is doubtful that the PPPC would have won the elections.

Successive polls conducted by NACTA have shown that Jagdeo has been the most popular political leader in Guyana. The writer, like other detractors, is working on the theory that if “you destroy Jagdeo, you destroy the PPPC.” He must know that the PPPC is now a strong institution, and it would survive any one member.

Sincerely, Dr Tara Singh

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 31, 2021

guyanatimesgy.com

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News

Jagdeo seeking to set aside $20M High Court judgement – after Judge issues ex-parte order in Ferguson libel case

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ice President Bharrat Jagdeo, through his lawyers, is seeking to set aside a $20 million judgement against him in relation to the libel lawsuit which was filed by former A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Minister Annette Ferguson.

Marshals of the High Court on Tuesday served Jagdeo with an order stipulating that he pay $20 million to the former Minister

by Justice Sandra Kurtzious after he failed to file his defence within the time specified in accordance with the Civil Procedure Rules (CPR).

However, Attorney General and Senior Counsel Anil Nandlall has said that an application is being prepared to have this judgement set aside. In a statement, Nandlall revealed that the judgement was handed down without the knowledge of his client or legal team.

“This default judgment stems from libel proceedings filed by Ms Ferguson

Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo

against Mr Jagdeo on the 9th day of January 2020.

These proceedings included applications for injunctions.

Mr Jagdeo was represented

by Mohabir Anil Nandlall, who appeared at the hearings for the injunctions, filed the required affidavits, and made legal submissions.”

“On the 25th day of February 2020, a Judge of the High Court dismissed the applications filed for injunctions after considering the affidavits and hearing the legal submissions made.

Mr Jagdeo pleaded the defence of justification and fair comment in his Affidavits,” the statement said.

Nandlall explained that a defence on behalf of the then Opposition Leader became due on February 24, 2020, under the Rules of Court.

However, this occurred only one week before the controversial March 2 General and Regional Elections.

“Mr Jagdeo is General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party and Leader of the List of the PPP/C Candidates and Mr Nandlall, an Executive Member of the PPP, Legal Advisor to the PPP, a Candidate on the List as well as the party’s Assistant Chief Elections Scrutineer, had multiple responsibilities in relation to the impending elections, including meeting with the Guyana Elections Commission, meeting with international observer teams, planning and preparing for Election Day as well as campaigning across the country,” the statement added.

“As a consequence, the

Attorney General Anil Nandlall, SC

defence, though prepared, was never filed in the court.

The elections were then marred by a series of ensuing unforeseen and unprecedented actions, including a series of litigation, a National Recount and then even more litigation, until the results were finally declared on August 2nd 2020.”

Nandlall also recalled that around the time of the elections, Guyana was hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. This caused the Judiciary

to close its operations for a period. He pointed out that the Supreme Court Registry was closed and lawyers advised to close their offices.

According to Nandlall, these circumstances contributed to the error whereby the non-filing of the defence was not detected. He also pointed out that the default judgement was obtained over one year after the defence became due and neither Jagdeo nor his lawyers were notified by the court so that the default could have been remedied.

“Significantly, it appears as though damages were assessed, an examination of the court’s record does not indicate that there was any hearing where these damages were assessed. Mr Jagdeo and his lawyers, even without filing of a defence, ought to have been notified of such a hearing to be able to interrogate, the evidence presented to the court. This was not done.”

“The Rules of Court provide for an application to be made to set aside default judgements and currently,

Former Housing Minister Annette Ferguson

an application to this effect is being made. Mr Jagdeo has every intention of defending these proceedings,” Nandlall further stated.

The lawsuit was filed in January 2020 by former Housing Minister Ferguson over statements made by Jagdeo at a press conference, where he questioned her acquisition of land and the construction of her house. Both Jagdeo and Guyana Times were named as respondents in the suit.

Debunking claims of discrimination Dear Editor, The Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development wishes to debunk as mischievous statements made in a letter purportedly written by a concerned member of staff and disseminated by a known recalcitrant former staff who was terminated by the Public Service Commission.

The letter, which presents a false narrative about the Ministry and its operation, is riddled with inaccuracies, speculations and conjecture.

Further, the Ministry wishes to deflate any theories being bandied about that the Ministry is anti-black and pro-Hindu. In fact, 98 percent of the persons in the Minister’s Secretariat are not of East Indian ethnicity.

As a matter of fact, the last administration did not practise ethnic diversity in its recruitment policy, and staff have been known to complain about this.

For the record, everyone remains on staff, including known members of the APNU/

AFC who served as polling agents and activists, and no staff was terminated from the Ministry, except those who were political appointees.

Moreover, all Heads of Department remain unchanged, except in the case of the Sanitation Unit, where the Head was beyond the age of retirement and has since been retained in an advisory capacity with salary and benefits unchanged.

The clerk who was mentioned in the letter worked closely with a former minis-

ter, and as such, that person’s contract has expired.

The Procurement Manager has not been relieved of his duties, and is still being allowed to function in that capacity. However, his department has now been subsumed as part of the restructuring of the Engineering and Procurement Services Unit.

His salary also remains unchanged.

As it relates to the two drivers being dismissed, the Ministry wishes to make it clear that one of those drivers

Overcoming a high level of country risk Dear Editor, Many comrades have spoken on the path taken to where we are today. Many have also complained about the bad deal with Exxon and the wasteful approach being taken in the industry. It is important to remember that stealing from those who have stolen from you is not a justifiable act. Many foreign investors are still upset about the investments lost during the PNC post-Independence era of Nationalisation. Thus, many view new investments with a high degree of country risk, which requires extremely high returns to compensate for any potential loss.

If we reflect upon the nationalisation that took place in our recent post-Independence history, it becomes pellucid that many foreign investors lost their investments and would consider what occurred to be the equivalent of theft.

Now it feels as though the ta-

bles have been turned, and the foreign view of iniquity of the PNC of the past is now returning upon our country. Many local leaders also consider what occurred to be a selfish act in the signing of a very bad oil deal in return for personal and family gains. If so, this is but a continuation of the robbery of the national treasury.

What is evident is the attempted seizure of power during the last election. If this had been successful, and based on the evident corruption that is being uncovered, coupled with the personal sanctions put in place by foreign governments, those involved most probably would have further capitalised on the opportunity to take from what rightfully belongs to all Guyanese. This speaks volumes of the immoral and low stature of those individuals.

The PPP has to now balance the history of the PNC “robbing” foreign investors

and creating national instability, which increases country risk, with the desire for a fair oil deal. This is best approached with clean hands.

More specifically, the annual performance review built into the oil contract allows for the discussion and improvement of contract terms. Also, it is important to exercise the option, where possible, to slow down the expansion of drilling operations until obtaining a balanced agreement. Our citizens know the difficult history that we must overcome when dealing with foreign investors, and being patient yet thorough and exhaustive in our negotiations continues to be necessary.

Many successful global and corporate leaders are of the opinion that an open mind is needed to be successful in an ever-changing global environment. This, too, we must embrace to be successful in uplifting our country beyond the

obvious and somewhat flawed development undertaken by many nations in the past.

We must travel the road less taken to ensure and secure the economic and environmental future of our nation during this current shift in global energy consumption. Even the USA is exploring the use of wave energy.

We must reduce the impact of a bad oil and gas deal by showing our leadership in a climate change-friendly approach to energy consumption and exploitation. The world needs this to occur, and we need to partner with companies such as Exxon to help elevate the discussion and approach taken to improving the current problems faced by the planet due to fossil fuel consumption. This is the leadership required for today’s Guyana.

Best regards, Jamil Changlee

is currently interdicted pending a criminal matter, while the other is beyond the age of retirement and his contract has expired.

The issue with the staff not being granted duty-free concession, the staff mentioned has been reassigned within the Ministry in a capacity that does not require field work.

Mention was also made about the Deputy Permanent Secretary (who serves as chair of the Events Committee) being the only black person on the Committee, and there being no religious representation.

This is far from the truth, as the committee comprises three black staff and three East Indian staff, one of whom is in fact a Muslim.

Reports of disciplinary infractions at the Ministry’s Camp Street Annex have been

noted, and the administration would shortly be taking the necessary steps to remedy this.

The Ministry maintains that any qualified member of the public has access to employment, as long as a vacancy exists therein. The Ministers and their managerial teams all have an opendoor policy, and all attempts to sow seeds of discord and disunity will continue to be rebuffed.

The Ministry wishes to reinforce Government’s position of inclusion and unity, and finds it reprehensible that agents provocateurs are seeking to create tension and ethnic division among staff members.

Sincerely, Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 31, 2021

Foundation ◄

Page

Question 1

Æsop’s Fables

FOR CHILDREN

Tuesday’s answers 1a) 1/2 is equivalent to 2/4, because 2/4 can be reduced to 1/2 when divided by 2: 2 into 2 results in 1 and 2 into 4 results in 2.

1/3 is equivalent to 3/9, because 3/9 can be reduced to 1/3

when divided by 3: 3 into 3 results in 1 and 3 into 9 results in 3.

2/3 is equivalent to 4/6, because 4/6 can be reduced to 2/3 when divided by 2: 2 into 4 results in 2 and 3 into 6 results in 3.

Write your own cinquain

A cinquain is a 5-line poem, often inspired by nature

Example:

Firefly coloured bright lighting, flickering, buzzing making light for the night lightning bug

Use this template to help you write your own cinquain:

1) One word title, a noun

that identifies your subject 2) Two adjectives that describe your subject 3) Three action “ing” verbs that describe something your subject does 4) A phrase that describes something about your subject 5) A noun that is a synonym or another way to name your subject

A

very hungry fox, seeing some bread and meat left by shepherds in the hollow of an oak, crept into the hole and made a hearty meal.

When he was finished, he was so full that he was not able to get out, and began to groan and lament his fate.

Another fox passing by heard his cries, and coming up, enquired the cause of his complaining.

On learning what had happened, he said to him, "Ah, you will have to remain there, my friend, until you become such as you were when you crept in, and then you will easily get out."

WORD SEARCH

7

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 31, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

8 NEWS

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 31, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Pomeroon labourer charged for attempting to murder pregnant wife – released on $500,000 bail

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ichard Mohamed, a 30-year-old labourer of Grant Friendship, Lower Pomeroon, Essequibo Coast, Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam), was granted $500,000 bail when he appeared at the Anna Regina Magistrate’s Court to answer the charge of attempted murder.

Mohamed, also of Huntley, Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara (ECD), is accused of chopping his 23-year-old reputed wife following an argument on March 25, 2021.

The charge was laid under

Section 103 C of the Criminal Law (Offences) Act Chapter 8:01 before Magistrate Esther Sam. He was not required to plead to the indictment and will make his next court appearance on April 19, 2021.

The matter was transferred to the Charity Magistrate’s Court.

It was reported that on the day in question, Mohamed and his reputed wife were engaged in a heated argument.

During the misunderstanding, the man armed himself with a chopper and dealt

Richard Mohamed

several chops to the woman’s body and head. Several of her

fingers were reportedly severed in the process. In addition, her right hand was partially amputated during the attack.

She is six months pregnant.

Following the incident, the perpetrator set the house on fire. However, persons in the vicinity managed to render assistance and rushed her for medical attention. She was subsequently air dashed to the Georgetown Public Hospital where she was further treated.

Driver flees from hospital after causing accident at Pouderoyen

A

n unidentified pedestrian is now hospitalised while the driver of an All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) is on the run following an accident on Monday at the Pouderoyen Public Road, West Bank Demerara (WBD).

Police stated that Daniel Singh was driving the ATV

bearing registration number CK 4481, while Reshma Baldeo, of Goed Fortuin, WBD, was the pillion rider.

Based on reports received, the ATV was proceeding along the Pouderoyen Public Road at a fast pace. As a result, Singh reportedly lost control of the vehicle, causing it

to topple several times and strike a pedestrian before it came to a halt on the other side of the road.

As a result of the accident, the pillion rider received a laceration on the right side of her face while the pedestrian sustained multiple injuries.

The injured pillion rid-

er and the pedestrian were both transported to the West Demerara Regional Hospital (WDRH), where they were treated. The pillion rider was discharged, but the pedestrian was admitted a patient.

Up to press time, the injured pedestrian had not been identified.

Do as I say, Y

…not as I did our Eyewitness enjoys reading the letters of ex-PNC PM, ex-Mayor of Georgetown, ex-PNC Minister of any-number-of-portfolios, Hamilton Green. He considers them examples of that burgeoning genre of writing called “fictional history”. Not “historical fiction”, mind you, since the latter genre has to at least stick to recorded historical facts. Hamilton Green has never allowed the latter to get into his way, and from this perspective, he’s a harbinger of present masters of the genre, like Donald Trump.

Green started out with the book he boasts of writing about the events of the sixties - “From Pain to Peace”. While he’s been dubbed a Neanderthal and a thug, you gotta give him credit for writing a book something the “bright” Fat Boy Burnham never did! His “Destiny to Mould” is a collection of his speeches by Kit Nascimento! The “pain” Green referred to, of course, was all the dastardly things Cheddi and his PPP goons did then, and the “peace” was what the choir boys from the PNC - led by him - brought to Guyana by turning their four cheeks. That the “pain” was inflicted when the PPP was in office, having won the 1961 elections, and ceased IMMEDIATELY after they were ousted and PNC eased into office, was mere “serendipity”, insists Green.

The “X-13 Terrorist Plan” uncovered by the Police at PNC headquarters never existed! Peace Not Conflict (PNC) was his boast!

When Rabbi Washington gave a new interpretation to the Old Testament to mobilise a band of goons to support Burnham, Green countered by saying he was a Muslim, and even announced a new name - Bilal. Didn’t want to be outflanked as the “tough” guy. Kinda like a native Malcolm X. Anyhow, so much for ancient history, and fast forward to the 1992 elections, when hordes of protestors created mayhem at Election Headquarters after it was apparent the PPP was winning. Green insists he had nothing to do with that incident - which US President Jimmy Carter said was the “scariest in his life”, and which took a call from incumbent President Bush (Sr) to Hoyte to defuse. Was a spontaneous occurrence, said Green! Never mind that he always blamed Hoyte for “handing over” power.

He then claimed to’ve experienced an epiphany, and embarked on a “moral revival crusade” - writing prolix letters to the press to push the same. Your Eyewitness wished to give him the benefit of the doubt, but was disabused for that lapse of judgement when Green told Granger, “Put aside the constitution, put aside the laws” during Granger’s elections’ rigging. “A slip of the tongue”, he later said.

His homilies are similarly “slips of his pen”!

Sanctimonious Gangster Sr. …on Public Holidays It’s always been a great source of pride to your Eyewitness to live in a country that’s home to the world’s great religions, so we can all share in their wisdom. That is, if we’re open-minded and accept that religions should welcome all who wish to share in their values. In Guyana, it’s to the credit of our pre-and-post-independence governments, PPP and PNC, to have allocated two public holidays each to the Muslim and Hindu communities, to join the Christian ones bequeathed by the British.

Being PUBLIC holidays, they compel all communities to at least have a passing acquaintance with the underlying rationales, and, as such, understand our neighbours a bit more. And it’s on this understanding that we can then build trust and become a more cohesive nation. So, as we segue from Holi to Good Friday and Easter, let’s all take time to understand the significance of the latter commemoration.

It has a message for all of us: we are all children of Divinity. …on COVID-19 Well, we received another 24,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccine from the COVAX programme. Unlike Rowley in Trinidad, your Eyewitness has no problem if our Government had “begged” for the vaccines.

He’d rather Trinis be dead but proud!

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

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Wakenaam man busted Sisters beaten, doused with boiling water during argument over mobile phone with ganja during Police operation T

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Wakenaam resident was on Monday intercepted with a quantity of ganja at Good Success, Wakenaam, by a team of Police ranks who were acting on information received.

Based on reports gathered, the man was riding his pedal cycle when he was stopped by the ranks, who requested to conduct a search on his person and belongings.

During the search, a silver foil wrap was found in the front right-side pocket of his pants. A close inspection revealed a transparent ziplock bag containing nine

smaller ziplock bags with a quantity of cannabis.

At the time, he was carrying a black plastic bag which was also searched. The Police unearthed two bulky parcels wrapped in transparent plastic containing another set of the illegal plant.

As a result, the Police then took possession of the narcotics and arrested the young man. He was taken to the San Souci Police Station where the narcotic was weighed in his presence and amounted to 711 grams.

He remains in custody pending charges.

wo sisters are now patients at the Linden Hospital Complex after being severely beaten and doused with boiling water during a row over a mobile phone.

Based on reports received, at about 22:30h on Monday, the two sisters were at the home of the boyfriend of one of them when an argument erupted among them over her cellular phone.

The man allegedly wanted the woman to unlock her phone but she refused. This led to him taking a mug of boiling water and throwing it on her.

She sustained second-degree burns to her right-side face.

Not satisfied, the man then

picked up a piece of wood and began beating the woman about her head.

The other sister attempted to separate them but the perpetrator then picked up a three-inch concrete block and dealt her one blow to her lower right leg.

Not finished quite yet, the man reportedly continued hitting the sister about her body and head. She reportedly sustained a broken leg among other injuries.

After the incident, the man reportedly made good his escape. The two sisters were left

lying in the yard covered in blood. They were subsequently rushed to the Linden Hospital Complex where they were admitted in stable condition.

The suspect later turned himself in to the Police. He was arrested and is expected to be charged shortly.

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ExxonMobil to complete reinstallation 2 Police Officers under close arrest for stabbing, of gas compressor this week beating GDF ranks – says it’s currently making final preparations for start-up

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S oil giant ExxonMobil has announced that it will be reinstalling and starting up the troublesome gas compressor onboard the Liza Destiny Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel this week, bringing the company one step closer to restoring flaring to pilot levels.

This was communicated in a press statement from Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited’s (EEPGL) Public Affairs Advisor, Janelle Persaud. According to Persaud, teams of experts are making final preparations for the start-up of the flash gas compressor this week.

“With safety top of mind, the team offshore has been carefully and methodically reassembling the various components of the gas compression system, and are now running key instrumentation tests for a successful start-up,” the statement said.

“Throughout this period, ExxonMobil Guyana has sought to strike a balance between safely maintaining production while minimizing flaring. We have kept relevant Government agencies and other stakeholders informed

The compressor is being reinstalled on board the Liza Destiny FPSO

about the progress of the repairs and reinstallation.”

The statement went on to describe the malfunction of the company’s equipment as “disappointing” and noted that notwithstanding the challenges to do with COVID-19, they will be applying the lessons learnt to ongoing and future projects.

In the latter part of January 2021, EEPGL had announced that it was experiencing technical problems with the seal on Liza Destiny’s flash gas compressor. The problem resulted in Exxon having to reduce its production and also conduct routine flaring.

Last month. Exxon had announced that an “axial vibration” was to blame for

the failure of its compressor, which had to be shipped to the German workshop of MAN Energy Solutions. It was subsequently revealed that Exxon had been flaring 16 million cubic feet of gas per day.

It is an increase from the volume of flaring the company conducted last year which reportedly ranged between 12 and 15 million cubic feet.

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

While some have called for the Environmental Protection

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

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

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

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

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wo Police Constables are currently under close arrest and are being questioned in relation to an attack on two ranks of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) which occurred on Saturday in Linden.

Regional Commander for Region 10 (Upper DemeraraBerbice) Hugh Winter confirmed that GDF Corporal Selwyn Cumberbatch was stabbed several times about his body and remained in serious condition.

“He [Cumberbatch] is still hospitalised and the Police Officers are there for questioning. Though they are there for questioning, they weren’t identified, since the rank is still hospitalised. He will have to identify whether or not they [the Police Officers] were involved,” Winter added.

Based on reports received, one of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) ranks is attached to the Mackenzie Police Station, and the other is stationed at the Central Police Station in Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne).

It was reported that about 22:00h on Saturday, Cumberbatch, 30, of Wisroc, Linden, and Terrence Collis,

Corporal Selwyn Cumberbatch who is hospitalised

27, of Wismar, Linden, also a GDF rank, were attacked, beaten, and stabbed by the two Police ranks.

Cumberbatch and Collis were reportedly at a barbecue at Block 22, Wismar along with friends when a fight broke out.

It is still unclear how the fight started, but Police stated that Cumberbatch was stabbed several times about his body with a broken bottle.

Collis was hit in the head with a glass bottle.

Following the incident, both men were taken to the Linden Hospital Complex (LHC), where they were treated for their injuries.

Cumberbatch was then admitted while Collis was sent away.

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11-year-old drowns during fishing expedition with friends Persons over 40 to start “He was my only child” – dead lad’s mother

By L aWanda McAllister

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he lifeless body of an 11-year-old pupil of the Enmore Primary School, East Coast of Demerara (ECD), was retrieved from the Enmore Seawall on Monday afternoon.

The dead lad has been identified as Latchman Ramanand of Sixth Street Foulis Housing Scheme, ECD. He reportedly left home on Monday at about 15:00h with two friends on a fishing expedition.

Reports are that the lad was pulled into the ocean by the heavy current and disappeared.

He was subsequently discovered and taken to the Dr CC Nicholson Hospital but he was pronounced dead on arrival.

However, the dead lad’s mother, Nanranie Persaud, told Guyana Times that her son left

Drowned: Latchman Ramanand

home with an adult along with his 15-year-old stepbrother and two other children.

At that time, she recalled that the intention was to go fishing and her son promised that he would not spend long.

Persaud said this is not the first time that her son went to the seawall to fish.

“Meh son seh he is go-

ing and watch them catch fish… up to now, the woman who went with them ain’t tell me what happened. I am waiting for her to tell me what is going on…”, the aggrieved mother cried.

Persaud said based on what she was told by the Police, her son was walking on the seawall when a child who went on the fishing trip with him allegedly pushed him overboard.

As a result, he submerged and did not surface.

“I also heard that when he reached there, he was fighting to go into the water, but my thing is, if you as the older one sees that he was fighting to in the water you can just make a phone call and tell his parents. I would have gone there and deal with it. She sat there and see him in the water,” the dead child’s mother said.

The woman stated that

she is overwhelmed by the information she has been receiving, all of which, she said, remains sketchy.

“He was my only child… this is so hard for me and I can’t explain anything right now, I can’t explain how I feel… when I go to the scene, they were holding his stomach and trying to get the water out of him, when we take him to Nabaclis I got blackout and I didn’t know nothing more. When I woke up, they told me that my son is gone,” the tearful woman said.

Latchman was described as a very quiet and peaceful child who had a great life ahead of him.

An investigation has been launched into the incident.

receiving COVID-19 vaccines today

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Persons have been taking their COVID-19 vaccine to protect themselves

he Health Ministry has lowered the age range for COVID-19 vaccine eligibility and now, persons 40 years and above are qualified to take their shots.

This initiative commences today, March 31, 2021,

and will see anyone within the bracket getting the jabs.

These persons must present a valid form of identification at the vaccination site within their region and thereafter, the coronavirus shot will be administered.

TURN TO PAGE 21

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Ramsammy’s Ruminations Joint operation activated to address smuggling The Irfaan Ali-led Government in a race to vaccinate all Guyanese this year

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he Irfaan Ali-led Government is determined to vaccinate everyone living in Guyana who are eighteen years old and older. The Government is in an aggressive pursuit of vaccines.

Although developing countries have had a difficult time getting access to vaccines, Guyana has not allowed the difficult terrain to stop it from exploring every possibility to obtain vaccines for the citizens and those living in Guyana. The Guyana Government has engaged COVAX countries such as India, China, Russia, the United Arab Emirates, the US, the EU, manufacturers such as Pfizer, Moderna, Johnson and Johnson, AstraZeneca.

Among developing countries, Guyana has been among those that have succeeded in obtaining a reasonable number of vaccines. The Government is not giving up, and has sustained an aggressive pursuit, led by the President and the Vice President themselves. The Dr Leslie Ramsammy Government has committed resources towards procuring as many vaccines as possible.

Thirty-five thousand (35,000) Guyanese have been vaccinated against COVID-19. Thus far, Guyana has received 122,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine. This is enough for 61,000 first doses being dispensed. By next week, we should complete vaccinating more than 60,000 Guyanese with first doses. In addition, persons are already receiving their second doses. In the next few days, Guyana would receive 25,000 additional doses of vaccines, and over the weekend, Guyana is expecting another 175,000 doses to arrive. Guyana is presently also working on receiving another 80,000 doses by end of April or early May. We are hopeful of procuring a substantial number of vaccines before the end of June, which would permit full vaccination of the population.

This is a massive exercise, but the health workers have shown that they are capable of administering the target of 10,000 doses of vaccination per day. Although the Health Ministry has restricted the number of sites, the daily average has been more than 2,000 per day. The highest per day vaccination so far has been 3,100. But the highest number of sites in the ten regions is 34. In the next few days, the MOH will ramp up that number to 110 sites, and mobile teams around the country. The Ministry of Health would maintain a minimum of ten centres per region from next week. The Ministry of Health has provided senior health workers (Nurse/Medex) from health centres to lead each of the ten centres in each region. The Senior Health Visitor in each region is coordinating the vaccination staff. The Regional Health Officers are overseeing the rolling out of the campaign in each region. In addition to the permanent staff in the health sector, the Ministry of Health has already embarked on hiring retired nurses/medexes to provide support for the vaccination centres.

The Ministry of Health is working with the Ministry of Local Government and the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs to organise local government bodies to assist the Ministry of Health with community mobilisation. The Ministry of Health is also working with faith-based leaders and NGOs to help mobilise the population. The faith-based leaders have taken a leadership role in ensuring that citizens are being mobilised for their vaccines.

This is in contrast with a number of faith-based leaders who have gone rogue and have been publicly discouraging people from taking their vaccines.

The Chief-of-Staff of the GDF is already mobilising a team consisting of 400 personnel from the GDF to assist in this aggressive rolling out, and has already made arrangements for the deployment of those officers to the Ministry of Health. In addition, the Medical Corps of the GDF will support the Ministry of Health at various vaccination centres. This past week, many of the GDF staff were trained to play a role among the vaccination teams.

The Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Education and the University of Guyana are working together to mobilise university students - particularly medical students, nursing students and pharmacy students - to support this initiative. The Ministry of Amerindian Affairs is working with the village leaders and the Toshaos Council to mobilise indigenous populations. Other Ministries, such as Agriculture and Natural Resources, are helping to mobilise persons for vaccination.

Guyanese ought to be proud their Government has stepped forward in making resources available. Importantly, the leaders, led by the President and the Vice President, are out front in the effort to procure vaccines and supplies necessary for the full vaccination of the entire population. There is a reason why Guyana has won the gold medal for vaccination many times in the past. It is because Guyana has one of the best vaccination programmes in the world. Guyanese public health nurses administer 255,000 doses of vaccines per year. In the last 20 years, these nurses have administered more than five million doses of vaccine. There must be no doubt - the Guyanese public health nurses can vaccinate every Guyanese against COVID-19 this year. The only barrier is if they can access enough vaccines.

The Guyana Government is trying to ensure the public health nurses have access to the vaccines they need.

of contraband into prisons – Director

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cting Prison Director Nicklon Elliot on Tuesday related that the Guyana Prison Service (GPS) is collaborating with the Guyana Police Force (GPF) to address the smuggling of contraband items into the various penitentiaries.

In a telephone interview with Guyana Times, the Prison Director related that after realising the amount of skullduggery that is taking place at the prisons, a decision was taken to conduct frequent searches with the hope of putting a dent in the smuggling ring.

Elliot explained that the implementation of the raids has been helping to reduce the number of improvised weapons, phones, and cannabis among other items being found.

When asked to comment on possible collusion between inmates and prison officers, he stated, “Based on intelligence, yes, this have been happening that is why we are working to reduce that…that is why these searches are being conducted to retrieve whatever items are within the prisons.”

Over the past month, the Joint Services have unearthed almost 100 improvised weapons along with large quantities of ganja, razor blades, cigarettes, metal objects and lighters.

The new holding area of Lusignan Prison

The most recent raid was conducted on Monday last where a number of contraband items were unearthed at the New Amsterdam Prison. Among the items found were seven improvised weapons, a quantity of razor blades and two grams of cannabis.

Additionally, ranks also discovered one cellular phone, twenty lighters, pepper sauce and two cell phone chargers.

Prior to the search at New Amsterdam, 26 knives, 44 “juka”, 19 lighters, six pairs of scissors, 12 cell phones, two SIM cards, two memory cards, five razor blades, a quantity of cell phone parts, 10 cell phone chargers, a quantity of metal objects, a quantity of wires, and 83 smalls transparent ziplock bags containing ganja were found during a search at Lusignan Prison.

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COVID-19 death toll climbs to 231 as 2 more die – March fatalities now stand at 34

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he Health Ministry on Tuesday reported that two more persons died from COVID-19, taking the death toll to a whopping 231.

The latest fatalities are a 56-year-old man and a 79-year-old woman - both of Region Four (DemeraraMahaica). They died while receiving care at a medical facility.

However, new statistics provided by the Ministry showed that 10 new cases were detected from 452 tests that were done. This now takes the total number of positive cases to 10,192 of which 1042 are

active.

The Ministry further stated that 12 persons remain in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), 893 in home isolation, 58 in institutional isolation and 18 in institutional quarantine. The data showed that 8998 patients have recovered after 5216 males and 4976 females tested positive for the life-threatening virus.

The new cases were recorded in Regions Three (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara), Four (Demerara-Mahaica), Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) and Seven (CuyuniMazaruni).

Meanwhile, Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony on Tuesday stated that Sheriff Medical and Coastal Diagnostics was granted provisional licences to conduct COVID-19 PCR testing.

He indicated that the two private labs will have to undergo a three-month probationary trial and upon successful completion meeting outlined standards, they will be given the permanent licence.

The only other facilities permitted to conduct PCR testing are the National Public Health Reference Laboratory and Eureka

Medical Lab. It was indicated that Guyana is also pursuing avenues to send samples for genomic sequencing to determine if new variants are circulating locally.

Some samples were initially sent to the Caribbean Public Health Agency – all of which had returned negative.

The Agency had then suspended this arrangement but has since indicated that this will resume.

Meanwhile, Guyana is also finalising other plans with the United States.

“They [CARPHA] have since notified us that they‘ll

be able to do some additional sequencing and once we put all the arrangements in place, we’ll be able to send samples to them.

We have also been pursuing another arrangement and that is to send samples to the United States but we’re still trying to finalise those details on how to get the samples out [to] them…If we are able to do the gene sequencing, then we would know whether or not the variants are circulation. We know that there are several variants circulating in different parts of the world,” Dr Anthony outlined.

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Mazaruni Prison escapees

Joint Services making stringent efforts to recapture remaining 2 at large

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he Joint services have intensified their efforts to recapture the two remaining prisoners who escaped from the Mazaruni penitentiary more than a month ago.

The two prisoners who remain at large are Kenrick Lyte and Samuel Gouveia.

Imran Ramsaywack, 25, and Ryan Jones were shot dead during a shootout with Police earlier in the month aback Better Hope, East Coast Demerara (ECD).

However, during a telephone interview with acting Prison Director Nicklon Elliot on Tuesday, he stated that a team comprising members of

the Joint Services was still making every effort to arrest the men.

“We are acting on intelligence, and we are actively pursuing them with the aim of recapturing the two men,” he stated.

The four men had escaped from the maximum security prison. It was reported that during the unlocking of the Brick Prison (Solitary Division), it was observed that the padlock to the entrance gate had been tampered with, and further checks revealed that two bars within the cell had been cut.

Shortly after, 60-yearold Ralph Jones, the father

The prisoners who are at large

of escapee Jones, was arrested, charged, and remanded to prison after he confessed to assisting the fugitives.

Meanwhile, during the

shootout on March 22 in which Ramsaywack and Jones were killed, a third person –Savita Rajkumar, 49, also called “Debbie”, of Better

Hope South Squatting Dam, was also killed. She was reportedly a close acquaintance of Jones.

It was reported that on the day in question, Police 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 under construction.

The ranks reportedly checked the first shack, but no one was seen. However,

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

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. The area was reportedly combed in search of the fourth person seen, but there were no signs of him. Police also confirmed that a sawnoff double-barrel shotgun was found at the scene.

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2 granted bail for larceny, burglary

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exwayne Evans also called “Packa” appeared before Magistrate Esther Sam on Tuesday at the Anna Regina Magistrate’s Court where he pleaded not guilty to a larceny charge.

Evans, who hails from Dartmouth, Essequibo

Coast, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), was arrested on March 24.

The charge read to him alleged that between October 10 and 12, 2020, at Cozier Backdam, Essequibo Coast, he stole 23 heads of cow valued at $3.5 million, property of Bernice Sooklall

Paul Marciano

Rodrigues.

Following his not guilty plea, Evans was granted bail in the sum of $50,000.

The matter has since been transferred to the Charity Magistrate’s Court for April 19, 2021.

Meanwhile, 46-year-old

Paul Marciano of Water Lilly, Wismar, Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice), appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts where he was slapped with a burglary charge. He appeared virtually before Chief Magistrate Ann Mc Lennan

and pleaded not guilty to the charge which stated that on March 21, he committed the offence on Devon Reece at Andyville, Wismar, Linden.

He was granted bail in the sum of $70,000 and will return to court on April 15, 2021.

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NEWS

ExxonMobil receives additional radio frequency – other companies file applications for frequencies

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he Government has received a flurry of applications from a number of companies, seeking to establish radio broadcast frequencies.

In one case, oil giant ExxonMobil has also been granted another frequency to oper- Exxon’s frequency spectrum ate onboard its Floating cost of some US$6 billion, inProduction Storage and cluding a lease capitalisation Offloading (FPSO) vessels. cost of approximately $1.6 According to a gazette no- billion, for the Liza Unity tice dated March 27, 2021, Floating Production, Storage ExxonMobil was granted an and Offloading (FPSO) vesadditional radio spectrum sel. onboard its Liza Destiny For the Phase 2 developand Unity FPSO vessels, for ment, six drill centres were point-to-point communica- planned, along with approxitions. mately 30 wells – 15 producThe Liza Destiny is the tion, nine water injection and vessel the company is cur- six gas injection wells. rently using for oil producThe gazette also revealed tion in the Liza Phase 1 oil that a number of other comfield. Meanwhile, the Liza panies have applied for their Unity is expected to be deliv- own radio frequencies. These ered next year for use in the companies include Gaico Liza Phase 2 development.

Construction, which wants Back in May 2019, to operate a private teleEEPGL was granted ap- coms network. Stronghold proval by the Environmental Guyana, a company involved Protection Agency (EPA) to in the extractive sector, also go ahead with its Liza Phase made a similar application.

2 development offshore Also applying for its Guyana. The oil company own frequency was Saipem had said that the project will Guyana. Saipem is the comhave the capacity to produce pany that was awarded con220,000 barrels of oil per day. tracts by Exxon to develop Exxon had also revealed its Liza field 2 in 2018. The that the Liza Phase 2 devel- Italian-owned company is opment was funded at the providing a number of ser-

Persons over 40 to start receiving...

FROM PAGE 13

The lowered age limit comes after more vaccines have been made available to Guyana. On Monday, the COVAX mechanism would have delivered 24,000 AstraZeneca doses, which will be used to continue the country’s vaccination campaign.

Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony informed on Tuesday that the Russianmade Sputnik V vaccine is also slated to arrive shortly. In total, Guyana will purchase 200,000 doses from this arrangement.

“We’ll start administering the doses during this week and then we’ll wait between eight to 12 weeks when we’ll give the second shot. I think this would certainly help to advance our vaccination programme here. Later in the week, we’re also expecting the Sputnik doses to start flowing,” the Minister shared.

Guyana had first started its campaign with healthcare workers and then moved to persons 60 years and older. Authorities had explained that as more jabs become available, the age requirement would drop.

Dr Anthony expressed that the shots from COVAX will propel the country’s vaccination campaign further and extend the reach. He assured that the rollout will be seamless. Overall, it was highlighted that there is an uptake of the vaccine across the country.

COVAX is a partner-

ship between the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), Gavi - the Vaccine Alliance, the Pan American Health Organisation/World Health Organisation (PAHO/WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

Guyana is included in ten countries in Latin America and the Caribbean that are receiving vaccines at no cost through the COVAX Advance Market Commitment (AMC) and is the first AMC country in the Caribbean to receive the vaccines.

With the first delivery this week, more vaccines are expected to arrive successively during 2021. According to the first round of allocations, Guyana is expected to continue receiving doses through May until it reaches 100,800, the amount specified by the global mechanism.

The country’s vaccination programme has been led by 80,000 vaccines from India, 20,000 Sinopharm doses from China and 3000 through the Barbadian Government. The 200,000 doses of the Russiamanufactured Sputnik V vaccines will arrive in batches of 50,000.

President Irfaan Ali had disclosed that the country is buying these jabs to the tune of a whopping US$4 million, with Guyana paying US$20 per dose for the Russian vaccine but according to the President, Government cannot put a price tag on the health of the citizenry.

vices, including engineering and construction.

According to the gazette, the applicants have proposed to install the requisite radio communication equipment. In the gazette, the Government gave the public who may be affected until May 6, 2021, to submit written comments responding to any of these applications.

In October 2020, the People’s Progressive Party (PPP/C) Administration officially liberalised the telecommunications sector and in less than one month, some 50 companies had already expressed an interest in investing in the sector.

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22 Essequibo Cricket Board was not invited to GCB Elections – Secretary Aotto Christiani T

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 31, 2021

he Essequibo Cricket Board (ECB) was not invited to participate in the Guyana Cricket Board Elections which were held on March 28, 2021, according to ECB Secretary Aotto Christiani.

Those elections saw Bissoondyal Singh being elected to the helm of the principal body governing cricket in Guyana.

Speaking with Guyana Times on Tuesday, Christiani explained that the ECB had received notice of the February 26, 2021 election.

“We got the notice a few days before, and we informed the Ombudsman that we believed his notice lacked statutory requirements. We subsequently heard through the media that the meeting did not go on because of the concerns of Essequibo; after which we were expecting the Ombudsman to engage us, but this never happened.

The only thing we saw in the media was a release from the Minister of Sports (informing) that the new date for elections would be on March 29, 2021, with no time and venue stated.”

This official has said he was surprised at the manner in which the Essequibo

ECB Secretary Aotto Christiani

Cricket Board was treated.

Meanwhile, present at the elections held on Monday were the Demerara Cricket Board and the Berbice Cricket Board.

The Essequibo Cricket Board is headed by Fizul Bacchus, who on January 26, 2020 had secured the fulltime role of GCB President.

He served as acting President for close to two years, before the delegation threw their support behind him.

Nevertheless, on instruction from Culture, Youth and Sport Minister Charles Ramson Jr and Cricket Ombudsman Kamal

Ramkarran, Monday’s elections were held after years of conflict within the Guyana Cricket Board, which has found itself being embroiled in several court matters over the last decade.

The new executives of the Guyana Cricket Board are: President – Bissoondyal Singh, First Vice President (Administration) – Rabindranauth Saywack; Second Vice President (Cricket Development) – Hilbert Foster; Chairman of the Competition Committee – Shaun Massiah; Public Relations Officer – Claude Raphael; Chairman of the Marketing Committee – Mohamed Baksh; Treasurer – Prittipaul Jaigobin; Assistant Treasurer – Dr Cecil Beharry; Secretary – Ronald Williams; and Assistant Secretary – Devdeerth Anandjit.

The trustees are Elroy Stephney and Andrew Forsythe, while the auditors are Jack Alli, Sons & Co. Chairman of the Junior Selection Panel is Andre Percival, while Chairman of the Senior Selection Panel is Ramnaresh Sarwan.

Technocrat members with right to vote are Anil Beharry and Expert Technical Appointment – Roger Harper.

West Indies...

Oshada Fernando produced an uncharacteristically pained innings, making 18 off 71 as he survived several close lbw shouts, before eventually succumbing to a Kyle Mayers delivery that jagged in off the seam.

Not long after, Thirimanne fell after inside-edging a Roach ball that hit his pad then ricocheted into the stumps.

Chandimal and de Silva

FROM PAGE 24

were meticulous in their defence as they took Sri Lanka through to the close. West Indies thought they had de Silva caught behind in the last over, but his bat had flashed right past the legside delivery from Cornwall, who bowled a negative line around the stumps, and the hosts lost a review. De Silva padded away the next delivery to end the day’s play. (ESPNCricinfo)

SCOREBOARD WEST INDIES 1ST INNINGS Kraigg Brathwaite (c) b Chameera 126 John Campbell c †Dickwella b Lakmal 5 Nkrumah Bonner b Lakmal 0 Kyle Mayers c †Dickwella b MVT Fernando 49 Jermaine Blackwood c †Dickwella b Lakmal 18 Jason Holder c Thirimanne b de Silva 30 Joshua Da Silva † c †Dickwella b Chameera 1 Alzarri Joseph lbw b Embuldeniya 29 Rahkeem Cornwall c MVT Fernando b Lakmal 73 Kemar Roach c †Dickwella b Chameera 9 Shannon Gabriel not out 1 Extras (lb 6, nb 7) 13 TOTAL (111.1 Ov, RR: 3.18) 354 Fall of wickets: 1-11 (John Campbell, 6.6 ov), 2-15 (Nkrumah Bonner, 8.6 ov), 3-86 (Kyle Mayers, 27.3 ov), 4-120 (Jermaine Blackwood, 37.2 ov), 5-171 (Jason Holder, 48.1 ov), 6-185 (Joshua Da Silva, 57.3 ov), 7-222 (Alzarri Joseph, 68.1 ov), 8-325 (Rahkeem Cornwall, 99.1 ov), 9-351 (Kemar Roach, 109.5 ov), 10-354 (Kraigg Brathwaite, 111.1 ov)

BOWLING Suranga Lakmal Vishwa Fernando Lasith Embuldeniya Dushmantha Chameera Dhananjaya de Silva

28-11-94-4 27-4-71-1 25-5-88-1 21.1-4-69-3 10-3-26-1

SRI LANKA 1ST INNINGS Dimuth Karunaratne (c) c Bonner b Joseph 1 Lahiru Thirimanne b Roach 55 Oshada Fernando lbw b Mayers 18 Dinesh Chandimal not out 34 Dhananjaya de Silva not out 23 Extras (lb 2, nb 3) 5 TOTAL (61 Ov, RR: 2.22) 136/3 Yet to bat: Pathum Nissanka, Niroshan Dickwella †, Suranga Lakmal, Lasith Embuldeniya, Dushmantha Chameera, Vishwa Fernando Fall of wickets: 1-18 (Dimuth Karunaratne, 8.1 ov), 2-64 (Oshada Fernando, 29.4 ov), 3-77 (Lahiru Thirimanne, 35.3 ov) BOWLING Kemar Roach Shannon Gabriel Alzarri Joseph Jason Holder Kyle Mayers Rahkeem Cornwall Jermaine Blackwood

12-4-39-1 10-2-28-0 10-2-31-1 12-2-20-0 7-4-6-1 9-5-8-0 1-0-2-0

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 31, 2021 Omari Glasgow

GUYANATIMESGY.COM Emery Welsh

man

Kadell Daniel

23 Terrence Vancooten

Golden Jags taste redemption with 4-0 victory over Bahamas R

edemption!

Hard fought but sweet in the end. The Guyana Senior Men’s National Football Team had their redemption on Tuesday afternoon after mounting an unassailable attack on the Bahamas at the Estadio Felix Sanchez Stadium in the Dominican Republic.

Maintaining faith in his initial team, Head Coach Marcio Maximo started with the same XI as the first game, with the only exception being a change in the goalkeeping department.

– Omari Glasgow nets 1st international goal

The Guyanese outfit, comprising Sam Cox (C), Kadell Daniel, Trayon Bobb, Callum Harriott, Keanu Marsh-Browne, Matthew Briggs, Daniel Wilson, Miguel Scarlett, Kai McKenzie Lyle, Emery Welshman and Terrence Vancooten, nailed four goals into the Bahamian net for a much-needed victory.

Not only did the victory signal a bounce back for the Golden Jaguars, it did well to cut down their goal deficit after their 3-0 thrashing at the hands of Trinidad and

ACCCC congratulates newly-elected President and executives of the GCB

T

sition to their personal he President, benefit or (that of) Executives and their club. members of the “It is also expected Albion Community that the executives of Centre Cricket Club the Board will, at (ACCCC) would all times, dislike to conplay a very gratulate high level Bissoondyal of profesSingh and sionalism, the newand, as ly electofficials ed execof a pubutives lic organof the isation, be Guyana prepared Cricket to handle Board. criticism.

"We at the Albion Community C e n t r e “Further, Cricket Club the Club, as a are extremely major stakeholder happy that the in Guyana's crickimpasse that et, has noted that has plagued there are several the adminunproven cricket istration of administrators who cricket in have been elected Guyana for as executives; howover a decade ever, we are fully has now endcommitted to suped. It is our port the new Board. hope that “We would also the elected like to remind those officials will President of the Albion put cricket Community Centre Cricket elected that, as Club, Vemen Walter cricket administrafirst, and distors, it is not what charge their duties and responsibilities in you can get out of the game, but rather what you can put a non-partisan manner.

“The thought of self-ag- in.

“Once again, congratgrandisement by any Executive should not be har- ulations and best wishes boured, nor should any offi- to the new President and cial of the GCB use their po- Executives of the GCB."

Tobago last week; setting up a clean slate for the second half of their CONCACAF World Cup Qualifiers.

Meanwhile, Bahamas’ Head Coach Nesly Jean opted for Terry Delancy, Logan Russell, Jean Francois, Peter Julmis, Ian Lowe, Lesly St. Fleur, Dylan Pritchard, Ambry Moss, Cameron Hepple, Marcel Joseph and Isiah Collie to commence his attack on the Jaguars.

But one does not easily attack a Jaguar? The intended onslaught was reversed, and Terrence Vancooten opened the scoring in the 8th minute for a 1-0 score at the half.

Kadell Daniel later welcomed the second segment with Guyana’s second goal in the 54th minute. 17-yearold Omari Glasgow (the youngest player in the current side), netted his first international goal in the

75th minute, mere minutes after going on as a substitute for Callum Harriott.

And the final nail in the Bahamas’ coffin came in the 81st minute off the boots of Emery Welshman, to set up Guyana’s 4-0 win.

Pernell Schultz, Nathan Moriah-Welsh, Job Caesar and Nicholai Andrews were among Guyana’s other subs.

The Golden Jaguars’ next World Cup qualifying outing will come in June against St

Kitts and Nevis and Puerto Rico.

Guyana now stands in third position in Group F, with 3 points. Leading the Group is St Kitts and Nevis with 6 points, and Trinidad and Tobago is next, with 4 points. Puerto Rico sits at fourth place with 1 point, while the Bahamas are yet to accumulate a point after two losses. (Jemima Holmes)

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 31, 2021

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

West Indies slightly ahead as Thirimanne falls after fifty – Brathwaite lays foundation with century

K

r a i g g Brathwaite completed a ninth Test century in the first over of the day, before Rahkeem Cornwall and later Lahiru Thirimanne completed half-centuries during a meandering day of Test cricket that ended with neither team ascendant, again.

West Indies’ eventual 354 was more than Sri Lanka would have liked to concede. At stumps, however, Sri Lanka had gotten to a reasonable 134 for 3. On a pitch that offered little assistance to the bowlers, they were still in the hunt to haul in the opposition’s lead.

This was a slow day of Test cricket. Only six wickets fell, and despite that, only 203 runs were scored across 86 overs - a scoring rate of

2.36. Only Cornwall batted with adventure, in the first hour of the day, with both West Indies’ and Sri Lanka’s remaining batsmen choosing to dig in on a slow track. The visitors had Dinesh Chandimal and Dhananjaya de Silva not out at the close. Chandimal was 34 off 80; de Silva 23 off 95. Slow.

There had been some excitement in the earliest overs of the day, however, as Brathwaite moved from his overnight 99 into triple figures with a single to fine leg. Cornwall then also completed a half-century, edging a ball behind point for four in the third over of the day.

It was in the first Kraigg Brathwaite hour of play that brings up his ton West Indies made the most ground, and it was Cornwall who did most of the damage: flicking, punching, driving and sometimes edging fortuitously as Sri Lanka grew visibly frustrated that the eighth wicket had taken them so long.

The pair batted through the first hour, and wound up producing a century stand, the first of the innings. Their partnership was worth

103 when Cornwall holed out to mid-on to give Suranga Lakmal his fourth wicket, ending with 73 off 92 balls.

Kemar Roach attempted to hang in, and managed to stick around for 36 balls, while Brathwaite continued to hold his end tight, progressing only gradual- Lahiru Thirimanne scored a fluent ly.

Dushmantha half century Chameera put an end to the innings though, having Roach caught behind, and getting Brathwaite to play on for 126 in successive overs. Still, West Indies had frustrated the visitors for an entire session, and grown their total by 67 runs.

Sri Lanka’s response was sedate from the outset.

Although Thirimanne began confidently, driving his second ball through mid-off for four, he quickly settled into a measured rhythm. That first boundary did set up something of a trend, as Thirimanne collected four of his eventual six boundaries down the ground.

But it was the less ambitious strokes that defined the innings - the blocks, the leaves and the singles square of the

wicket. Not long after tea, he reached 50 with a run to point.

It was his third consecutive half-century.

Around him though, the top order faltered.

D i m u t h Karunaratne fell cheaply again. He took a single off the first delivery he faced, remained scoreless for the next 15 balls, then fell attempting an expansive drive off the bowling of Alzarri Joseph.

Karunaratne’s thick edge might have passed between the cordon and gully, but Nkrumah Bonner provided the best piece of catching in the series when he leapt hard to his right and clinched the ball one-handed as it threatened to zip rapidly by him.

TURN TO PAGE 22

AAG’s 3rd Developmental Meet…

Archibald shines, but misses Olympic qualifying mark

O

ver the weekend, the Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) hosted their final developmental meet before the National Senior Championships are staged next month, and some promising returns were recorded.

Emmanuel Archibald kept his record clean with wins in the Open 100M and Long Jump divisions, despite not coming close to the Olympic qualifying mark.

In the feature sprint event, Archibald crossed the line in 10.35s, while Akeem Stewart clocked 10.41s and Nolex Holder 10.53s, for second and third respectively.

His 7.83M in the Long Jump was good enough for first place, with Tremaine Browne and Micaiah Washington leaping to 7.19M and 7.15M for second and third respectively.

In the female version of the 100M race, Cassy Small emerged on top with a sprint time of 11.87s. The veteran Alisha Fortune took second with 12.33s, while Tonya

Rawlins clocked 12.39s for the third spot.

Keliza Smith stopped the clock at 25.20s in the 200M race to cop first place. Tonya Rawlins’s 26.06s run and Natrena Hooper’s 26.22s time were good enough for second and third respectively.

Nolex Holder bettered his performance in the 200M race to finish first with a time of 21.82s. Loneil Marks and Michael James clocked 21.87s and 22.10s for second and third respectively.

While Devaun Barrington took a week off the 400M sprint, he stopped the clock at 1.57.19s to champion the 800M event ahead of Anfernee Headecker (1.58.19s) and Nicholas Daw (1.58.63s).

However, in the 400M, Courtly Bobb took the top spot with a run of 49.95s, while Michael James and Daniel Melville finished in second and third with times of 50.78s and 51.12s.

There were only two females in the Open 400M event, but Serena Williams crossed

Emmanuel Archibald

the line in 1.04.19, ahead of Euzeka Williams, who clocked 1.10.27s.

In the absence of record holder Leslain Baird, who is reportedly out for the season due to a torn ligament, Joshua Tappin’s 49.91m throw was first in the Javelin event.

Dillon Hamilton came close with a best throw of 49.77m for second and Gabriel Lim was

third, digging in at 43.44m.

The Junior circuit was also highly competitive, with a few names leaving a good impression.

Tytans Athletics’ Queanna Taylor copped a sprint double in the 14-16 category. Taylor clocked 12.69s and 27.03s in the 100M and 200M races respectively, for first place.

In the shorter race, Tamara

Harvey clocked 13.08s and Latifah Dublin 13.34s for second and third respectively.

Over in the 200M, Dublin finished second with a time of 27.46s and Breyanka Gordon completed the podium with 27.89s.

The males in that age group did not disappoint, as David Higgins maintained the first-place spot in both sprint races. The Upper Demerara Schools’ runner clocked 11.24s and 22.75s in the 100M and 200M races respectively.

Jaheel Cornette and Shaquan Nelson occupied the podium positions in the 100M, both with times of 11.45s.

While Nelson bettered his finishing position in the 200M races, crossing the line second in 23.35s, Jonathan Seedath completed the top three with a time of 23.47s.

Juvonna Cornette controlled the sprints in the 1719 category, while Shamar Horatio barely missed the achievement in the male division.

The top three finishers in

the Girls 100m were Cornette (11.92s), Kerese Lloyd clocking 12.06s and Roshana Reynolds, crossing the line in 13.61s.

The 200M saw Cornette finishing in 25.04s, while Shantae George and Reynolds made up the remainder of the podium with times of 26.75s and 28.54s respectively.

Running Brave’s Wesley Tyndall clocked 11.01s in the 17-19 100M dash, edging out Shamar Horatio (11.09) by split seconds. Joel Gilkes occupied the third position with 11.50s.

Horatio, however, redeemed himself in the 200M event, clocking 22.83s for first place. Ezekiel Newton and Joel Gilkes crossed the line in 23.69s and 23.90s respectively to complete the podium.

Coming up next on the Athletics Association of Guyana’s (AAG) calendar should be the National Senior Championships slated for April 17 and 18, while the South American Senior Championships are scheduled for May 14 to 16.

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