Guyana Times - Wednesday, March 3, 2021

World Hearing Day

1 in 4 people P15 will have hearing loss by 2050 – WHO Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

Issue No. 4576

THE BEACON OF TRUTH WEDNESDAY, MARCH 3, 2021

Govt to save over $1B in employment costs at President’s office

PRICE

$80 VAT INCLUDED

WHAT'S INSIDE: After days of protest

Linden Hospital CEO removed

P13

Page 16

…after removal of APNU/AFC political appointees

“Order of Democracy” for 2020, future patriots – President Ali Page 3

…says will always honour courageous defenders of democracy

20,000 COVID-19 vaccines donated by China arrive

Region 4 man is 198th COVID-19 P12 fatality …31 new cases recorded

Police probing P10 sexual assault at Camp Ayanganna Bandits rob P11 water truck driver, porter CCJ dismisses case challenging Ogle Airport P17 renaming

The 20,000 Sinopharm vaccines donated by the Government of China arrived on Tuesday evening on a Caribbean Airlines flight at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport. In photo, workers from the Health Ministry offloading the vaccines (DPI photo)

Over 300lbs of cocaine found in Jamaica among rice, logs shipped from Guyana Page 9

“I wore those handcuffs like a badge of honour” – Dr Ashni Singh

Page 2

…as he recalls facing trumped-up charges under APNU/AFC Govt

Nicaragua finds boat with 6 decomposed bodies in Caribbean Sea Page 18

GOGEC signs MoU with GO-Invest to strengthen P12 business ties

Fisherman fires shots at cousin in money row P14

2 NEWS

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 3, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

“I wore those handcuffs like a badge of honour” – Dr Ashni Singh …as he recalls facing trumped-up charges under APNU/AFC Govt “That dictatorial APNU/AFC Government, after I came back voluntarily to attend court, then instructed the Policemen to put me in handcuffs and parade me there, so they can take a picture and put me on the front pages of the newspapers… they believed that I would have been humiliated and cowed by that. I wore those handcuffs as a badge of honour!”

– Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh

T

he final day of Budget 2021 Debates, almost coinciding with the one-year anniversary of the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government’s loss at the polls, featured reflections from one of the targets of the former Government’s political witch-hunting.

In a fiery closing presentation on the 2021 Budget Debates, Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh spoke of how he bravely faced the trumped-up charges that were brought against him in April 2018, which were eventually withdrawn by the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU)

last year.

“It is a well-known fact that the APNU/AFC Government spent hundreds of millions of dollars doing audits high, low, left, right, centre, searching everywhere. Found not a scintilla of wrongdoing on my part.

And then trumped-up charges.

I came back voluntarily to Guyana to face those charges,” Dr Singh said.

“That dictatorial APNU/ AFC Government, after I came back voluntarily to attend court, then instructed the Policemen to put me in handcuffs and parade me there, so they can take a picture and put me on the front pages of the newspapers. And you dare

to come and talk about decency? You dare to talk about public service?”

The Minister noted that his experience with victimisation at the hands of a politicised Police Force steeled rather than cowed his resolve to push for the removal of the APNU/AFC Government from office.

“Mr Speaker, they believed that I would have been humiliated and cowed by that. I wore those handcuffs as a badge of honour! You thought you could humiliate and cow me? There’s nothing the APNU/AFC can do to challenge my integrity!” a fired-up Dr Singh informed the House.

“I said silently to myself, that I would devote the rest of my life to ensuring that the APNU/AFC is removed from Government and never again return… but I was not the only one. Just as I said I will spend the rest of my life to make sure these people are removed from Government, thousands and thousands and thousands of Guyanese people made the same decision!” the Minister said, a reference to APNU/

Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh during his fiery presentation

AFC being voted out of office last year.

In 2018, after three years of witch-hunting, the then APNU/AFC Government railroaded SOCU into bringing criminal charges against Dr Singh, the then former Finance Minister and former National industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) Head, alleging that Singh and Winston Brassington had sold State land below the valuation.

The duo was first charged back in April 2018 and released on $6 million bail each.

Despite all of the investiga-

tions, the type of charge eventually brought against Singh and Brassington was not found in the statute books of Guyana but relied on a UK law that had never before been applied in Guyana.

Both Singh and Brassington had always maintained that they did not personally sell any Government land but it was NICIL/Government that sold the land. Singh and Brassington also maintained that they merely acted as directors, and fully complied with all applicable policies and procedures in conducting the sale.

Dr Singh and Brassington in turn had mounted a High Court challenge to the legality of the charges laid against them by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Shalimar Ali-Hack, SC. Among other things, their lawyers had contended that the offence of misconduct in public office, contrary to common law, is an abuse of process, malicious, biased, capricious, arbitrary, and without proper evidential basis.

They had further argued that the charges were bad in faith, unreasonable, discriminatory, unlawful, and influenced by irrelevant and improper considerations and motives, null, void, and of no effect.

From the moment the charges were laid, the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), including former Presidents Bharrat Jagdeo and Donald Ramotar, had always called out the charges for being politically motivated. And sure enough, following the change of Government in August of 2020, SOCU withdrew the charges at the next court hearing four months later. (G3)

NEWS

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 3, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS OPENINGS BRIDGE

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Wednesday, March 3 – 09:00h – 10:30h and Thursday, March 4 – 09:30h – 11:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Wednesday, March 3 – 07:05h – 08:35h and Thursday, March 4 – 07:50h – 09:20h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY There will be heavy rain and thundery showers during the day. There will be thundery showers at night. Temperatures should range between 22 degrees Celsius and 28 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East North-Easterly to Easterly between 1.78 metres and 4.02 metres.

High Tide: 07:22h and 19:49h reaching maximum heights of 2.77 metres and 2.67 metres.

Low Tide: 13:20h reaching a minimum height of 0.44 metre.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2021

LOTTERY NUMBERS F

08 09 15

19 21 23

FREE TICKET

26 Bonus Ball

TUESDAY, MARCH 2, 2021

DAILY MILLIONS

03 07 12 14 16 LUCKY 3

4

0

3

4

Afternoon Draw

5

3

Evening Draw

DRAW DE LINE

06

07

11

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14 19 20

PAY DAY

SUPER PAY DAY FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2021

03 05

13 14

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04 06

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COMMODITIES Indicators

US$

Change %

Crude Oil

$62.70/barrel

-1.58

Rough Rice

$239.58/ton

-0.08

London Sugar

$458.10/ton

+0.66

Live Spot Gold

USD Per Ounce

Bid/Ask

$1734.50

$1735.50

Low/High Change

$1710.50 -3.80

$1741.50 -0.22%

“Order of Democracy” for 2020, future patriots – President Ali …says will always honour courageous defenders of democracy

O

n the one-year anniversary since Guyanese went to the polls and voted out the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC), igniting a fight for democracy, President Dr Irfaan Ali has made it clear that both current and future defenders of democracy will be recipients of the “Order of Democracy”.

In a statement on Tuesday, President Ali noted the importance of honouring, now and for all time, those courageous people who defend democracy in Guyana. He noted that without democracy, there would be nothing but dictatorship and the abuse of power.

“Democracy is vital for the freedom of people; for human rights, including freedom of the media and freedom of expression.

Democracy is crucial for businesses to thrive, for the attraction of investment, and for the social progress and economic prosperity of the nation,” the Head of State said on Tuesday.

Democracy, he stated, “is the basis for upholding the rule of law; separating the powers of the Government, the legislature, and the Judiciary; for ensuring the expression of the will of the people through free and fair elections; and for an electoral process uncontaminated by corruption.”

He quoted the late former Secretary General of the United Nations, Kofi Annan, who had warned the world that one of the greatest threats to democracy is elections without integri-

Grateful nation

President Dr Irfaan Ali

ty. Moreover, President Ali noted that Annan had urged the world to cherish reform and defend democracy, lest it be lost for future generations.

“Fellow citizens, I want to ensure that we, as One People, One Nation in our One Guyana, cherish and defend democracy in the interest of all our people. I want this generation to ensure that democracy is preserved for us and that it is never lost for future generations,” Ali said in his statement.

“All of that was at stake last year. We experienced a dark time when we were made to walk through a deep valley in which the shadow of autocracy at home and ostracism from abroad hung over us. We escaped that awful fate because brave men and women, of all races, ages, and political persuasion, stood up to defend democracy and to resist stolen elections and autocratic and illegitimate Government.”

According to him, these brave defenders of democracy were able to set aside political differences and eschew racial bigotry in the interest of national cohesion. It is to them that the Order of Democracy will go.

“In saving the international standing of our country while preserving our rights and self-respect at home, they showed loyalty to One Guyana, One People, One Nation – a principle to which I, as President, am firmly committed and which I want to recognise and honour on behalf of a grateful nation.”

The Order will not only honour the patriots of 2020, Dr Ali said, it will honour all in the future who put first our nation’s democracy, “our people’s freedom, and our right to have respected the national will expressed at free and fair elections justly conducted and uncontaminated by corruption.”

Ali cited various legends and champions of human rights, including Nelson Mandela, Mahatma Gandhi, and Martin Luther King, to express his belief in equality and justice, freedom and multiracial democracy.

Moreover, he noted that he is guided by the words of Mandela, spoken in 1964 as he was being jailed in South Africa for his beliefs in equality and human rights. Mandela had said that “political division based on colour is entirely artificial and, when it disappears, so will the domination of one colour group by another.”

“That is why I have re-

solved that we live in One Guyana, as One People with no group more entitled than another, and no individual more deserving than any other except by virtue of diligence, manifest talent, and commitment to the national good. That is the Guyana we must uphold and sustain. If we are to ensure that political, civil, and human rights are protected, if our one Guyana is to prosper, then we must preserve and strengthen our democracy.”

According to the President, honouring those who embody these qualities is, therefore, integral to the process.

“We must hold up high our heroes of democracy so that its flame never flickers or fades in the hearts and minds of our people. This is why today I propose the establishment of the category of the Order of Democracy,” the President said.

Beginning of battle

The battle for democracy began in December 2018, when the David Grangerled APNU/AFC coalition Administration fell to a NoConfidence Motion brought by the then Opposition PPP/C. The Granger Administration violated the Guyana Constitution by refusing to concede defeat and call elections within three months as constitutionally stipulated.

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 3, 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

Noise nuisance and hearing loss

A

s Guyana joins the rest of the world today in observing World Hearing Day, it is important to note that the World Health Organization (WHO) has projected that, by 2050, one in four persons will be living with some degree of hearing loss.

In its report ahead to today’s observances, the WHO stated that hearing loss can be prevented in adults by, among other things, the acts of noise control and safe listening. If, by 2050, one in four persons would be living with some degree of hearing loss, that amounts to about 2.5 billion people worldwide.

Here, in Guyana, noise nuisance has become unbearable, and, on many occasions, citizens are crying out for stronger action to be taken against persons disrupting the peace and quietude in their communities.

Over the past few years, there were several letters to the editor wherein citizens expressed how disgusted and frustrated they are at the level of noise nuisance in their neighbourhood. It is even more shocking that even in the midst of a pandemic, persons still carry on with loud music as if they are unconcerned about the persons it might be affecting.

What is even more unfortunate is that no one dares object to this level of disrespect that is being foisted upon citizens. In some cases, when there is a complaint made against a particular liquor shop or individual blasting their music to the fullest, the person making the complaint is verbally or even physically abused. Sometimes out of fear, citizens remain quiet and are left with no other choice but to endure the level of discomfort.

There is also a general perception, whether justified or not, that the Police have not been very proactive in addressing these concerns. Several letter writers have expressed the view that even after several calls to the Police station for action to be taken against the perpetrators, the lawless behaviour still continues. In most cases, even after a warning has been issued by the Police, the perpetrators comply for a while, but, not long after, engage in the same behaviour.

We believe that higher fines and stricter penalties are needed to curb noise nuisance once and for all.

There are several issues which must be considered when updating the legislation, as they may not have been very clearly spelt out or catered for before. Among them are a limit to the number of permits and licences that should be granted within a zoning area; the overall operations of liquor shops, how they are constructed etc; guidelines for hosting social events; criteria used to issue permits for those events, or businesses which are in close proximity of each other; and fines to be imposed when there is a breach of the law. Also, with recent technological developments, it is necessary to go back to the drawing board.

Curbing noise nuisance in the society is a constant struggle which must continue, and all stakeholders must play their part. Policy makers must look into the discomfort of the people, and amend the laws to alleviate this.

In the meantime, we urge citizens who are affected to continue lodging reports of noise nuisance at the nearest Police station or divisional headquarters, so that some form of action could be taken against those found culpable.

As a people, we must also make the conscious effort to abide by the laws and guidelines set out by the Government.

The current COVID-19 guidelines stipulate the number of persons that can be gathered at a time for a social outing. They also stipulate that parties are prohibited in the interest of securing the health of Guyanese during the pandemic.

What we have found, however, is that persons are not adhering to these rules, and this is also contributing to a rise in the number of COVID-19 cases.

That aside, noise nuisance and hearing loss go hand in hand, and our ability to hear is precious. The change has to start with us.

Canadian High Commissioner Mark Berman recently paid a courtesy call on Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo. Also present at the meeting were two technical officers from the Canadian High Commission (Office of the Vice President photo)

African-Guyanese were not targeted Dear Editor, I wish to respond to the sixth paragraph of a letter which was entitled “African Guyanese have been disproportionately targeted for termination in the public sector” published in the “Letter Column” of the Stabroek News dated Sunday, February 28, 2021 under the signature of Lincoln Lewis. This paragraph states in part that: “It is fact the Minister of Labour Joseph Hamilton (another African) is now threatening to go after defunct co-operative societies to close them rather than help to launch an investigation into the reason(s) for their non-functioning. Any caring government, recognizing this sector has been the major pillar of African empowerment, would seek to render assistance to resuscitate not close them”.

I, Joseph Hamilton, Minister of Labour and Member of Parliament, wish to emphatically state that this statement is not based on truth.

Additionally, it should be noted that the information posited by Mr. Lewis is misleading, since the facts will show that co-operative societies in Guyana are comprised of individuals from the various ethnic groups.

Further, cognisance should be taken of the fact that a Cooperative and Friendly Society can be dissolved only in accordance with Section 38 of the Cooperative Societies Act, Chapter 88:01 and Section

55 of the Friendly Societies Act, Chapter 36:04 respectively.

On the 6th day of August 2020, I arrived at the Department of Labour, tasked with restructuring that Department into a Ministry. In an attempt to do such, I travelled the length and breadth of Guyana to fully understand what this newly established Ministry would have responsibility over.

During my travels, naturally, I encountered many men and women of differing races, socio economic background, etc. What I did not expect to encounter was the grave atrocities within some co-operative societies, for which my staff and I are now accountable.

I was provided with a financial spreadsheet which detailed the allocation of monies to the various coop societies, and, more specifically, what the monies were allocated to purchase.

I saw that monies were dispatched for the purchase of pigs, but upon arrival at the location where the pigs were to be housed, my team and I saw no pigs, but merely empty pens. Apparently, all the “piggies” went to the market, and none was afforded the opportunity to stay at home. The profits at the market are unaccounted for.

Another instance which baffles me until this day is, hundreds of thousands of dollars were allotted for the purchase of sheep. When my staff and I visited the

facilities which housed the sheep, what we saw could barely be considered a ‘flock’. I am not a mathematician, but from the money that was allocated to purchase sheep, it was quite obvious that there was a substantial portion of that money unaccounted for.

I discovered co-op societies with poultry farmers out of the country, manure facilities with no manure, block-making machines that are ancient, and dress making co-op societies with machines that cannot be used for sewing. All taxpayers’ money wasted, squandered, unaccounted for by these co-op societies.

As the Minister of Labour with responsibility for Co-operatives, it is my duty to ensure that if monies are allocated to a co-operative society to be used in a specified way, then it is required that the monies should be used for that purpose, and an accurate account of its use must be provided by that society.

It is after the discovery of these irregularities some months back that the Ministry decided to conduct an integrity audit of all coop societies. This audit will be conducted by independent auditors, as provided for by Section 35 the of Cooperative Societies Act, Cap 88:01. It is being done to ascertain the present status of societies, and will determine their future, since the Ministry of Labour and the Department of Cooperative and Friendly Societies will

be embarking on a revitalisation and resuscitation process for societies.

The outcome of this integrity audit can lead to training for members of the societies by the Board of Industrial Training (BIT), a body corporate and training agency under the Ministry of Labour. BIT has been mandated to implement specific technical and vocational education and training (TVET) programmes for co-operative societies.

The societies that are to benefit from this activity will be strengthened through training to facilitate economic sustainability and community livelihood engagement. For example, following a visit on Friday, January 29, 2021 to the KIRBY Cooperative Society located at Plantation Ross, West Coast Berbice, a skill assessment was subsequently conducted. BIT, in collaboration with the Co-operative Department at the Ministry of Labour, will implement garment construction and commercial food preparation programmes for that society.

Similarly, several other societies will benefit from collaborative training programmes implemented by BIT, and it must be known that all training will be unique to the needs of the individual society.

Moreover, these actions seek to offer assistance that would lead to the sustainability of the society.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 3, 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

APNU/AFC continues to encourage racial hostilities

Dear Editor, The aftermath of the March 02,2020 General and Regional Elections were ordeals that have disgraced the citizens of Guyana; stained our country’s image; trampled on our democracy; and damaged Guyana’s reputation in the international community, including among the Caricom member states, the Commonwealth of Nations and the OAS. This was followed by leaders of the Coalition questioning foreign intervention by the ABC and EU diplomats and claiming that diplomats supported the PPP/C. The fact is that the APNU/AFC leaders were too preoccupied with trying to rig and overturning the true elections’ result to remain in power. The APNU/AFC declared victory days after the vote, but international electoral observers said counting in Guyana’s most populous electoral district, Region Four, had been “interrupted” and was “incomplete”.

Preliminary data suggested the People’s Progressive Party Civic had won the election, but the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) did not declare Dr Ali as the winner until Sunday, August 02, 2020.

The current GECOM structure, which comprises

three commissioners from each of the two main political parties, means that the agency would be at an impasse in its decision-making process, given the fact that the commissioners are more likely to represent their party’s interest. Election laws must be amended to hold the staff of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) accountable, and amendments must be done to our election laws and systems to make the electoral process more credible and transparent, and to hold the staff of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to a higher standard than what was displayed in 2020.

After seven months in office, the PPP/C Government should have established a Commission of Inquiry into the 2020 elections. The delay on such an important issue is uncalled for, as one must never forget that there were at least three declarations for District Four, with all of them showing a win for A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC). However, a recount of the votes showed that the results were almost identical to the Statements of Poll showed by the People’s Progressive Party /Civic, with clear evidence that Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield; Deputy Chief Elections Officer

African-Guyanese were not...

FROM PAGE 4

Interventions are also being made at the Martindale Hackney Coop Society Limited, which is located in the Lower Pomeroon, (Region Two). Skills training is being offered to that society in agro-processing, thereby paving the way for beneficiaries to be able to add value to their farm produce by using processing techniques, labelling and packaging.

Likewise, at the Women’s Multipurpose Co-op Society in Lima Sands on the Essequibo Coast, training is being offered in catering and cake decoration. This group’s main activity is the baking of bread. However, with these new skills, they will be able to produce more products, including pastries and other items. It must, however, be noted that both of these programmes started in the last quarter of 2020.

On completion of the audits of societies and the conduct of training programmes where necessary, this Ministry will, if the need arises, exercise the powers given to it under the legislation, i.e., Dissolution of the Co-op [Section 38 of the Co-operative Societies Act, Cap 88:01] or Cancellation of Registration [Section 39 of the Co-operative Societies Act, Cap 88:01].

Let me make this very pellucid, that The Ministry of Labour and the

Department of Cooperative and Friendly Societies are in no way politically and/ or racially biased, since Section 38 and Section 55 of the Cooperative Societies Act, Chapter 88:01 and the Friendly Societies Act, Chapter 36:04 respectively, could have been invoked and selected societies dissolved. THIS HAS NOT HAPPENED. I wish to point out that the integrity audit will not be done in isolation, but with an expression of interest which will be published in newspapers and will be conducted in all societies in all ten Administrative Regions, and not selected societies in specific Regions, which can be deemed political and/or racial.

Finally, it should be noted that since August 02, 2020, the Department of Cooperative and Friendly Societies has registered twelve (12) cooperative and four (4) friendly societies in which ninety percent of those societies comprised members predominantly of African descent.

So, Mr Lewis, it is advisable that you do your research and get the facts before publishing mischief that can create political and racial tensions among Guyanese.

Yours in service, Joseph Hamilton, MP

Roxanne Myers; Region Four Returning Officer Clairmont Mingo; Information Technology Officer Enrique Livan and Registration Officer Sheffern were all attempting to rig the result of the election, which resulted in all of them being charged with electoral fraud offences in February 2021.

Needless to say, the leaders of the Coalition, including the former President, were warned on several occasions by the Western diplomats, especially the US, that their actions would result in severe consequences.

To date, even in Opposition, the APNU/AFC continue to fool their supporters that they won the March 2nd 2020 elections, but up to now they can’t show their supporters and the Guyanese people their Statements of Poll, even one year after the March 02,2020 General and Regional Election. The APNU/AFC continue to try hard to encourage racial hostilities in this country which the Guyanese people have continued to reject.

While President Dr Irfaan Ali continues to call on leaders to foster unity among the people, saying discord is the greatest challenge to our development, the disharmony among Guyanese citizens cannot be ignored as Guyana embarks on transformational development and is committed to preserving its democracy and working in the best interest of all Guyanese, regardless of race, political af-

filiation, or social and economic standing. The people of Guyana will be governed with affection, without discrimination, and with every attention to fairness and equity.

As President Dr Irfaan Ali promised every Guyanese, “I will not see a nation divided by ethnicity; I will see a nation cemented in unity.

This land of Guyana is our common homeland; it is our common heritage, and every citizen within it is equal and will be treated equally.”

He said this as he called on all Guyanese at home and abroad to join to peacefully transition the country to a pathway of economic and social development.

Our PPP/C Government intends to fulfill the pledges made in the Manifesto on which it contested the 2020 General and Regional Elections. Fulfilling those pledges will be the collaborative and consultative relationships with various stakeholders, including the private sector, which will see Guyana becoming a hub of economic activity. However, we must not forget the painful trauma and anguish the people of Guyana endured during the five months after March 02 2020 as the APNU/AFC made vigorous attempts to destroy our democratic credentials and deny the will of the Guyanese people.

Finally, let me recognise and thank local supporters and stakeholder; those in the diaspora; Caricom; and

in the international community for “staying alert” with the people of Guyana and People’s Progressive Party Civic during those “dark days “of Guyana’s General and Regional Elections, leading up to the final re-

sults.

Today, Guyanese are proud to have Dr Irfaan Ali as Guyana’s ninth Executive President.

Sincerely, David Adams

Tangible step to give recognition Dear Editor, It is noteworthy, the announcement that the ‘Order of Democracy’ national award was made on the anniversary of the blatant attempt to derail democracy.

The award is most welcome, and is a tangible step to giving recognition to those who stood for the people’s will.

Sincerely, Shamshun Mohamed

A breath of fresh air in Parliament

Dear Editor, It was a breath of fresh air to listen to LJP leader Lenox Shuman’s presentation in his budget address to Parliament this past week.

Mr Shuman exhibited a class act at a time when that hallowed hall - the most revered institution in the land - became a forum dedicated to slander, slur and slam as if it were a vulgar circus venue.

Shuman eloquently used his allotted time to express his views on the budget, and referred to the political and social situations in the country without dumbing down or resorting to dirt and doom, which is be-

coming increasingly common from both sides of the house. My only disappointment with Mr Shuman was that he felt he needed to conform to tradition regarding dressing in a tie and suit (in this hot country!) His light Indigenous wear, which he previously donned, would have made his message even weightier.

I feel the LJP has a significant role to play in the future of this country with Mr Shuman’s magnificent leadership and example.

Yours truly, Dr Devanand Bhagwan

Punt dumper will not increase productivity at GuySuCo Dear Editor, GuySuCo CEO Sase Singh announced that Government has provided G$400M for the acquisition of a punt dumper at Albion. The other two estates, Blairmont and Uitvlugt, have punt dumpers to load the cane. Albion uses slings.

No sugar producing country in the world uses punt dumper. There is a deficit of knowledge and experience at GuySuCo on sugar production, including on punt dumping and slings and agronomy. GuySuCo should consult agronomists and engineers on increasing productivity, not just accountants and financial analysts.

There are advantages and disadvantages of each method of loading the cane. Suffice it to say that slings are more cost effective and advantageous for Albion. It has been working well; no need to change it at this time! Attention and funding should be focused on increased cane productivity, because there is not enough cane to feed Albion or any of the factories. That is why production for this crop is only 97K tons of sugar out of a potential 150K tons, a shortfall of some 53K tons.

Why invest $400M on an equipment that does not in-

crease productivity? Is there a commission fee?

Production of cane and availability of labour are the critical issues now. Cane is not produced in an air-conditioned office, or in an SUV, or on accounting books, or liming in a brand-new swimming pool, or upgraded estate lodging.

Why is there not a focus to improve cultivation, instead of pumping money on capitalisation of equipment and management personnel and perks? Where is the data that drives this punt dumper decision? How would a punt dumper benefit Albion, and by extension GuySuCo? The three estates can, in theory, produce 150K tons sugar. We are short from potential by 53K tons, which would have generated an additional G$5B income. Isn’t it wise to spend the $400M in order to earn the $5B? Why the inclination of a punt dumper for $400M in an ailing industry? What are the benefits and or merits of the punt dumper?

Decisions must be data-driven. Here are the facts: A punt dumper at Skeldon and the other two estates are 110 tons per hour. Albion slings can upload 160 tons per hour. Which is more efficient?

The CEO reportedly stat-

ed that the punt dumper at Albion would upload 168 tons per hour. So $400M is being spent to increase the load by 8 tons. And it is not possible to upload 168 tons, as the system does not allow for it. Right now, the other estates are having difficulty to increase upload to 120 tons per hour.

How will Albion do 168 tons?

In the punt dumping system, if there is a hiccup, punt dumping is stopped and all the punts are stuck in the canal until the system is fixed.

Empty punts are not available to be released back to the fields. In the sling system, if there is a hiccup, the punt cane is loaded onto a dock/bin yard area for storage and the punts are released back to the fields.

So, the punt dumper for Albion will not add any benefit to factory production or efficiency of loading cane onto punts in the fields.

The benefits of punt dumping must not be confined to punt cleaning and eliminating sling chains. The benefits must be in enhancing sugar production.

Clearly, a punt dumper has nothing to do with increased sugar production.

Sugar can only be improved with scientific agricultural

techniques and skilled, experienced management.

When the industry makes very bad decisions, it becomes very costly. In this case, the bad decision is expending $400M that will not bring benefits. Worse, production will decline substantially; GuySuCo will lose at least $1B a year from the punt dumper. So instead of increasing revenues, GuySuCo will lose money, over two times of what it would have invested in the punt dumper.

When will GuySuCo executives stop making bad decisions?

With good management at GuySuCo and scientific intervention of cane planting and good agronomic practices, that $400M at Albion would increase production and the industry would improve its chance of reaching 150K tons of sugar with an additional $5B in income.

That $5B additional revenue would completely transform the industry, making it more efficient, reducing tons cane tons sugar ratio (TCTS), creating more jobs, and so many other benefits.

Yours truly, Dharmendra Lalji

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 3, 2021

Page

Foundation ◄

Æsop’s Fables

FOR CHILDREN

Question 1 Tuesday’s answer The area of a triangle is half the base times the height A=½bxh = ½ 14 x 10 = 70cm2

move your lenses from the spoons and cups. Wash your hands in the sink before your touch them, wet hands mean the gelatin won’t stick to your skin while you are pulling them out.

Add a little water to the bottom of a glass plate or bowl. Then place a lens inside, flat side down.

Move the bowl over different things to see them up close!

Materials:

1 package of gelatin dessert mixture (like Jell-O). Light colours (lemon, lime) work better than really dark ones (grape or blue raspberry) 3/4 cup of water in a mug Round-bottomed measuring spoons and measuring cups A paper towel A cutting board or tray

Instructions:

Get an adult to help you with this one – we’re dealing with near-boiling water! Start by heating the 3/4 cup of water in the microwave for a minute and a half.

Pour the gelatin powder into a bowl, then pour the hot water over the powder. Mix them together for two minutes.

Let the liquid cool for about ten minutes.

Cover a cutting board or a flat tray

with a paper towel.

Scoop out some liquid with the small measuring spoons, then place them on the paper towel.

To fill the larger measuring cups, place the empty cups on the paper towel and carefully pour the gelatin liquid in. Try not to spill, this stuff makes a pretty sticky mess to clean!

Carefully move your tray or cutting board to the fridge. Wait four hours for it to cool completely.

After four hours, you can gently re-

How it works:

Lenses bend light as it moves through them. Your gelatin lenses work just the same way as telescopes, microscopes, binoculars, and eyeglasses!

Extra experiments:

You made a few different sizes of lenses, how are they different? Is your biggest lens the best one? The lenses in microscopes are pretty small, can a small lens still magnify things? (sciencefun.org)

A

n amaranth planted in a garden near a rosetree, thus addressed it: “What a lovely flower is the rose, a favourite alike with God and with men. I envy you your beauty and your perfume.”

The rose replied, “I indeed, dear Amaranth, flourish but for a brief season! If no cruel hand pluck me from my stem, yet I must perish by an early doom.

But thou art immortal and dost never fade, but bloomest forever in renewed youth.”

WORD SEARCH

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 3, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

8

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 3, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Discovery…

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…by “Christopher” Harmon ven though, as soon as he landed on Watling Island, Columbus saw people running around the place, he announced he’d “discovered a “New World”! The world didn’t exist before it was seen by Columbus and Europeans! Leader of the Opposition (LOO) Joseph Harmon, appears to’ve succumbed to the same narcissistic impulse in Parliament in his closing statement on the Budget Debate.

He suddenly “discovered” that Guyana has a “race problem”!! And, of course, he blamed it all on the PPP, who, by their rampant “discrimination”, are pushing the country over the brink! Harmon and the PNC, of course, are purer than Caesar’s wife in the creation and maintenance of this condition! Never mind that the country was more united than “batty and po” under the PPP after their dramatic massive win in 1953, until Burnham split the races by forming the PNC! It was “Leader or nothing!” and, unfortunately, it was Guyana that got nothing after Burnham became leader!

The PNC was handed the opportunity to bring Guyana together after they slid into office in coalition with the AFC - which had a fair share of Indian-Guyanese to complement the PNC’s African- Guyanese core. But what did they do?

Followed Burnham’s example from the sixties and effectively dumped the AFC by emasculating their leadership - and threw 7000 mostly Indian-Guyanese sugar workers on the breadline!! That alone set back race relations in Guyana for another two decades, without factoring in the hundreds of Indian-Guyanese dumped from the bureaucracy.

Harmon scoffed at the Ali Administration’s announcement of a “One Guyana” initiative, and pointed to the “Social Cohesion Ministry” the coalition had formed. But with all the huge sums allocated to this entity - some $929M in 2019 alone - can Harmon point to a single accomplishment towards bringing the nation together?

What the PPP Government should immediately do is to conduct an audit of how that huge sum was spent. Bet it dwarfs the graft exposed in the Infrastructure Ministry with their million-dollar bracelets, TVs and bedroom sets!

But all Guyana knows that whatever divisions exist - and race is one of them - these are exacerbated during our election cycles. So, who was it that drove Guyana to the racial brink after 2015 other than Harmon’s PNC? Who delayed the elections demanded by the PPP’s successful NCM? Who tried to rig the elections exactly one year ago, after such a peaceful and orderly voting day exercise?

And then the final straw: who inflamed the crowds in W. Berbice after the Henry killings, and then exploited it by complimenting the “protestors” who were beating and looting Indian-Guyanese commuters? And this man has the temerity to blame the PPP? Gwan da side to the loo, LOO! …of empathy Your Eyewitness’s heart goes out to that poor Venezuelan woman who was “raped, sodomised and battered” by that sadist. While this may be an extreme instance, the exploitation of these undocumented refugees from Maduro’s House of Horror has become the norm. And like the Police who contemptuously “pelted” her clothes at her, they’re treated like dirt because they’re selling sexual services to keep bodies and souls together - including those of their children.

We should remember that, from the mid-seventies, under the Jackboot of Burnham’s state apparatus and his goons like “kick-down-the-door” bandits, our women were forced to do the same thing in Suriname, Venezuela and every Caribbean island! Let’s not stick our heads in the sand.

For these poor Venezuelan women, it’s literally a matter of life and death, and the Guyanese nation should deal with then with compassion. Your Eyewitness understands we’re very poor, to begin with.

But so were many in the countries where we found refuge from Burnham’s depredations. …of the Whim geriatrics It was the first anniversary of the March 2 elections they swore the coalition won. But we didn’t hear a squeak from Granger and Nagamootoo - who insisted they won.

On the basis of Mingo’s manipulations on that dirty bed sheet!!

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

NEWS

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 3, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Over 300lbs of cocaine found in Jamaica among rice, logs shipped from Guyana the containers were shipped to Jamaica from Guyana with no stops before their arrival on the island.

This drug bust comes on the heels of a huge bust which occurred in August 2020 in Hamburg, Germany. In that bust, officials in Germany discovered 1.5 tonnes of cocaine in a container of rice shipments. The cocaine had a street value of around €300 million and had originated from Guyana.

The Kingston Freeport Terminal Limited (Jamaica Observer photo)

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arcotics Police in Jamaica have unearthed over 300lbs of cocaine in containers shipped from Guyana which contained rice and logs.

Reports out of Jamaica stated that the illegal substance was found in the containers at the Kingston Freeport Terminal Limited (KFTL) on Monday afternoon.

According to reports, the drug was found in two of six transhipment containers that arrived on the island from Guyana.

Jamaica Observer re-

ported on Tuesday that while searching the containers, Narcotics Police accompanied by members of the Jamaica Customs Contraband Enforcement Team found a total of 122 packages of the drug in the containers.

They said each package was compressed with cocaine.

When weighed, the drug was approximately 307 pounds and the estimated street value is US$6.59 million, Jamaica Observer reported.

Meanwhile, a senior

law enforcement official in Guyana confirmed that the containers had rice that was en route to Haiti and logs en route to China.

According to the official, local law enforcement has launched an investigation since from the records reviewed, the containers were cleared by customs for shipment.

The official noted that Police are following a lead which suggests that the containers may have been tampered with after it was examined by customs.

According to the official,

“Order of Democracy” for...

The Granger Administration violated the Guyana Constitution by refusing to concede defeat and call elections within three months as constitutionally stipulated.

Instead, it mounted a legal challenge that reached all the way to the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), which upheld the validity of the motion of no-confidence and ruled that elections in Guyana ought to have been held since March 2019.

Fast-forward to the March 2, 2020 elections, and what was already deemed a free, fair, credible and transparent electoral process by all international and domestic observers and the diplomatic corps, descended into chaos in light of a number of events which eventually led to Returning Officer for Region Four Clairmont Mingo blatantly attempting to alter the results of the elections – much to the objection of every stakeholder

except the APNU/AFC coalition. In fact, in his alterations, Mingo added more votes to the APNU/AFC and subtracted votes from the PPP/C, in a bid to give the then incumbent a false victory.

A recount exercise was eventually embarked upon, and despite attempts by political operatives and compromised electoral officials to frustrate the process, the activity confirmed that the PPP/C had won the elections with a commanding 233,336 votes, a remarkable lead of 15,416 over its nearest political rival, the APNU/AFC. But despite the announcement of these certified results, Harmon’s coalition party refused to concede defeat and mounted more challenges in a bid to further deny the will of the people.

Following the imposition of sanctions by the US Government against several top officials who were attempting to undermine de-

FROM PAGE 3

mocracy, the David Granger regime eventually conceded defeat, paving the way for Ali to be sworn in.

Notwithstanding, the coalition continued to peddle the inaccurate narrative that the APNU/AFC coalition had won the elections. They currently have an election petition before the court, with another one having been dismissed due to late service.

Some three months after, a whooping 11.5 tonnes of cocaine was discovered in a shipment of scrap metal from Guyana.

Following the discovery, a wanted bulletin was issued for businessman Marlon Primo in connection with the massive drug bust. He is still to be arrested.

Meanwhile, during the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) investigations on the bust, they said they found no

evidence to suggest that the cocaine discovered in the rice shipment in Germany came from Guyana.

CANU said based on its investigations, the drugs might have been placed into the containers whilst they were in-transit in another country.

In fact, CANU said newspapers from that country were some of the materials used to wrap the illegal substance.

10 NEWS

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 3, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Police probing sexual assault at Camp Ayanganna

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he Guyana Police Force has launched an investigation into an alleged sexual assault of a Guyana Defence Force (GDF) rank on his female colleague.

In a statement on Tuesday, GDF said during a recent investigation of misconduct and breaches of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) by some officers at Base Camp Ayanganna, they learnt of

the allegation by one officer against another.

“Given the nature and seriousness of the allegation, the matter was reported to the Guyana Police Force which has undertaken an investigation,” the GDF said in its statement.

The statement added that they are committed to a full and thorough investigation of the matter, and will ensure that all ranks found culpable for any other mis-

conduct or breaches of SOPs are disciplined in full accordance with the Defence Act

and Force Regulations.

“The Guyana Defence Force recognises that the

recent allegations of sexual assault against its ranks require immediate strategies beyond our current training regimen, that will specifically and directly address such deviant behaviour by some its ranks,” the statement read.

In this regard, the GDF said they intend to solicit the necessary expertise in crafting and implementing a strategy aimed at holistically addressing this issue.

Just weeks ago, five

ranks from the GDF were under investigation after they were accused of raping a 15-year-old girl at a location in Mabaruma, North West District (NWD), Region One (BarimaWaini).

It is still unclear what really transpired, but the Force in a statement has said given the seriousness of the incident, all five of the ranks were removed from the community and a board of inquiry was convened. (G9)

Toddler accidentally struck down by father succumbs

Dead: Adan Kiritpaul

Dead: Adena Ramkissoon

hree days after 18-month-old Adena Ramkissoon was hospitalised in a critical condition after her father accidentally reversed his car into her, she has succumbed to her injuries.

The accident occurred on Sunday at their Vryheid’s Lust, East Coast Demerara (ECD) home as the child’s father, who operates a homebased taxi service, was reversing out of his yard.

Reports are that the child died on Monday at about 05:35h at the Georgetown Public Hospital.

Danny Ramkissoon, the child’s father, told Police that as he was about to leave home, he felt as though his vehicle ran over something.

He said he stopped the vehicle, exited and upon checking, he observed his daughter lying motionlessly under the left rear side of the car.

He immediately raised an alarm and the child was picked up and rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where she was admitted a patient in the Emergency Unit.

Only on Saturday, 20-month-old Adan Kiritpaul was accidentally crushed to death by his father after he too accidentally reversed and hit the child.

Reports are the toddler’s father was navigating the motor lorry out of his yard when he looked out his rearview mirror and saw something between the wheels.

The man stopped and disembarked only to discover his son lying motionlessly and his head crushed. An alarm was raised and the Police were called.

The child was taken to the Mahaicony Cottage Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

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NEWS

Bandits rob water truck driver, porter

T

wo armed bandits robbed the driver of a water truck and his porter as they were delivering water at 17th Street Dazzel Housing Scheme, East Coast Demerara.

Reports are that the men, Fabian Rampersaud, 27, a driver, and Yasendra Bedessie, 35, were in the area at about 11:00h when the two bandits – one armed with a handgun and the other with a cutlass – pounced on them.

According to Police, both of the victims are employed by AquaFina water delivery service located at Non Pariel, ECD, where Rampersaud works as the driver while Bedessie is employed as a porter.

Police said that as the driver was in the process of turning around the vehicle, they were confronted by the two suspects, who were riding a bicycle.

The victims told Police that the suspect who was armed with the handgun approached the driver, while the other with the cutlass went to the passenger side of the vehicle and began hitting the window, causing it to shatter.

The bandits then demanded cash and relieved

the victims of their valuables before making good their escape.

Rampersaud and Bedessie were relived of a CAT cell phone valued $16,000, one gold chain valued $35,000, one car key, one LG cell phone valued $25,000, one NTech cell phone, and $15,080.

Some time ago, a driver/salesman delivering water in Cummings Lodge, Greater Georgetown, was attacked and robbed by three persons.

Reports are the 35-yearold driver/salesman, who is attached to Demerara Crystal Water, was relieved of $1300 and one Samsung Galaxy cell phone valued at $45,000.

Police reports revealed that Joel Kisram was delivering water in the commu-

Teen slapped with murder charge

Keith Andrew Willis

Murder accused: Tafari Softley

21-year-old who has been accused of killing Keith Andrew Willis was on Tuesday charged for the crime and remanded to prison Tafari Softley appeared before Magistrate Fabayo Azore at the Vigilance Magistrate’s Court.

It is alleged that between December 13-14, 2020, at Bachelor’s Adventure Access Road, he murdered Keith Andrew Willis called “Ghandi”.

The case was adjourned to April 22, 2021.

In December 2020, the lifeless body of 23-year-old Keith Andrew Willis called “Ghandi” was discovered a short distance away from his Bachelor’s Adventure residence.

Reports are that the father of one left his Lot 374 Bachelor’s Adventure residence on December 13 to attend a football competition in the community. The game concluded at 20:30h, after which he went to visit his girlfriend, who resides at Paradise Housing Scheme, ECD. Police said that at about 23:00h, the young man left his girlfriend’s residence for home, however, at around 05:30h on December 14, a resident of the community who was heading to work observed Willis lying motionlessly on the roadway.

The Police were called and the man’s body was examined. There was a single stab wound to his upper left side neck. (G15)

A

nity in motor vehicle GKK 1216, when one of the suspects rode past him and threw his bicycle into the path of the water truck, causing him to stop.

Having halted the vehicle, Kisram was then approached and attacked by three suspects, one of whom dealt him two punctures to his left hand and relieved him of the cash and his cell phone.

The suspects then made good their escape.

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 3, 2021|| GUYANATIMESGY.COM

2 motorcyclists seriously injured following accidents

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wo motorcyclists are now hospitalised after they were involved in separate accidents in Georgetown and Corentyne, Berbice, on Monday.

The first incident involved a North Ruimveldt resident, who was found in an unconscious state at Aubrey Barker Road, Georgetown, in the vicinity of Spurwing Driver on Monday.

Injured is Deano John St Aubyn Leung of North Ruimveldt, Georgetown, whom Police said was driving motorcycle CH 9932.

Though it is still unclear what might have happened during the accident, it was reported that the motorcyclist was observed by passersby lying on the road’s surface in an unconscious state, with his motorcycle alongside him.

An ambulance was summoned and EMT technicians transported him to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), where he was admitted a patient.

The man suffered a fractured skull and two broken ribs. Investigations are going.

Also on Monday, a 39-year-old motor-

cyclist of Lot 114 Alexander Street, Rampoor Springlands Corentyne, B e r b i c e , Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne), was hospitalised after he lost control of the motorcycle he was driving.

The incident occurred on the No 69 Public Road at about 17:10h.

According to reports, Michael Reynolds, a security guard, was proceeding south along the eastern drive lane at a fast rate of speed, when he lost control of his motorcycle while negotiating a right turn. He ended up on the eastern grass parapet where he fell and sustained injuries about his head and body.

He was picked up in an unconscious state by public-spirited citizens and taken to the Skeldon Public hospital, where he was seen and examined by a doctor who referred him to the New Amsterdam Public Hospital.

He subsequently regained consciousness and was further seen and examined by another doctor, who admitted him to the said hospital. He is said to be in a stable condition. (G9)

12 NEWS

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 3, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Region 4 man is 198th COVID-19 fatality …31 new cases recorded

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here are now 198 deaths from the coronavirus in Guyana, after a 54-yearold man from Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) succumbed on Tuesday.

The Health Ministry informed that the man tested positive and was receiving care at a medical facility when he died.

Additionally, some 31 new COVID-19 positive cases were detected from 703 samples. As a result, the confirmed cases only climbed to 8626. From this number, the gender breakdown is 4448 males and 4178 females. Of this amount, 8024 persons have recovered and as such there are 405 active cases.

There are six patients in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), with 28 persons in institutional isolation, 371 in home isolation and four in institutional quarantine.

There were nine new cases in Region Three (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara); 18 in Region Four (DemeraraMahaica); one in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice); one in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) and two in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo).

The cases in Regions One (Barima-Waini), Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) and 10 (Upper DemeraraBerbice) remains at 1020; 234; 463; 245 and 652 respectively.

Database for vaccination

In keeping with its mandate to vaccinate the elderly after frontline workers, the Health Ministry will be utilising the pension database to reach these persons.

Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony shared

during Tuesday’s coronavirus update that the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security has a comprehensive database to pull the names of all elderly persons who are eligible for the vaccine administration.

There are also plans to reach out to homes in order to access persons who cannot venture out to get their shots. The age range is cur-

rently pegged at 60 years and older but this threshold will be lowered once there are enough vaccines.

“It’s going to be done throughout Guyana because I think the Ministry of Social Services have a very comprehensive database. It is through that database that pensions are being paid. So, they cover quite a lot of people. We are

going to be using that. We’re also going to be taking the vaccines to the homes of the elderly. Wherever those homes exist, we’re going to go there as well. They’re captive audience so we’ll be able to complete them very quickly,” Dr Anthony indicated.

This week, Guyana is receiving 100,000 doses of coronavirus vaccines. While 20,000 vaccines arrived on Tuesday night, another 80,000 will be delivered later this week. The country is also awaiting 104,000 doses from the COVAX mechanism, also slated to arrive in March.

All Guyanese are reminded to observe the protocols of the COVID-19 Emergency Measures (No 15), which are in effect until March 31, 2021. This order emphasises the need for correct and consistent use of a face mask when leaving your home; the impor-

tance of maintaining the six feet physical distance from others; and the need for good hand-hygiene to help reduce the spread of COVID-19.

If persons are experiencing symptoms or have been in contact with a positive person, they are asked to contact the COVID-19 Hotline 231-1166, 226-7480 or 624-6674 immediately or visit www.health.gov.gy.

GOGEC signs MoU with GO-Invest to strengthen business ties

Vice President of GOGEC, Luana Persaud and Chief Executive Officer of GO-Invest, Peter Ramsaroop display copies of the signed MoU

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he Guyana Oil and Gas Energy Chamber (GOGEC) along with the Guyana Office for Investment on Tuesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the objective of strengthening business ties between the agencies.

The agreement will also ensure business development: this includes timely access to incentives for the energy sector, and the promotion of joint ventures and partnerships between local and foreign investors.

Further, the MoU states that the mission of the Guyana Oil and Gas Energy Chamber is to ensure that there are equal opportuni-

ties for all operators and protentional operators within the industry and to promote trade, investment and knowledge transfer within the energy sector to all members and stakeholders.

Meanwhile, the mission of GO-Invest is to contribute to Guyana’s economic development by promoting and facilitating local and foreign private-sector investment and exports in accordance with the country’s approved investment and export strategies.

The MoU was inked by Luana Persaud, the Vice President of (GOGEC) and Dr Peter Ramsaroop, the Chief Executive Officer of Go-Invest.

NEWS

13

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 3, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

After days of protest

Linden Hospital CEO removed

F

ollowing days of protest action by nurses and regional officials in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) calling for the removal of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Linden Hospital Complex (LHC), Rudy Small over alleged distasteful comments he made about nurses, he has been removed from the post. The nurses had continued protest action on Tuesday and were joined by Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) Regional Representative Maurice Butters, who noted that on Tuesday morning, he received a call from the Regional Health Officer (RHO), Dr Gregory Harris, summoning him and his colleagues to a meeting. He said he was then told that the RHO had received a letter from the Permanent Secretary of the Health Ministry informing him of the CEO’s removal.

Butters noted that the issue was addressed at an ex-

CEO Rudy Small

ecutive council meeting last week and representation was made in this regard.

“Last Friday, at our executive meeting in Georgetown this matter was reported to our executive council. Immediately we made that report, the President of the Union had a letter dispatched to the Minister and to other stakeholders, including the hospital and Regional management calling for the immediate re-

moval of the CEO,” Butters said.

He noted that this was done on the grounds that the CEO was “scandalous” in the alleged remarks.

Calls to the RHO by this publication went unanswered.

Meanwhile, the nurses stood outside the office of the CEO on Tuesday.

“For me, this is deep and then for him to hurl such remarks. All my years in nursing I have never ever heard anyone hurl such remarks.

Right now here are nurses that are living in some very abusive relationships, there are nurses that are the breadwinner of the home.

Right now, that creates conflict. It is not easy for us as nurses, and for me, he needs to go to court for defamation of character,” one nurse said.

The CEO in a statement issued last Friday said that in mid-February, a reporter from an online news agency which he named, inquired into the reason why the

Some of the protesting nurses

Linden Hospital Complex requested budgetary funding for the introduction of an Electronic Timekeeping System. He said he explained that among the several challenges the Linden Hospital Complex faces is a small number of staff members signing in to work and then disappearing until the end of their shifts. He said he further explained that it is the strong belief of the Linden Hospital management that the Electronic Timekeeping System would make it more difficult for staff members to leave their

shifts for long periods of time. “At the end of the interview, off the record, the reporter and I engaged in casual banter. During that off-record conversation, certain popular rumours relating to the issue of disappearing staff members were highlighted. Those rumours have nothing to do with the introduction of a timekeeping system at the hospital.

These rumours relating to behaviour of nursing staff have been part of the folklore in this community long before my arrival as the CEO of the Linden Hospital

Complex. I was shocked and mortified when I subsequently was informed of a FB post by the reporter which has been circulated widely. In this post, the reporter added salacious commentary alleging certain inappropriate behaviour of nurses led to the decision to introduce an electronic timekeeping system. At no time in the formal interview did I ascribe the need for a timekeeping system to be related to the rumoured behaviour of nurses or any other staff,” the CEO noted in the letter.

(G13)

14 NEWS

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 3, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Fisherman fires shots at cousin in money row

A

Courbane Park, Annandale, East Coast Demerara (ECD) man is now counting his lucky stars after he was saved by the bell when his cousin allegedly discharged several rounds in his direction on Tuesday, but all missed him. The two had had a row over monies owed.

The suspect, Police say, has been identified as a 39-year-old fisherman of La Bonne Intention (LBI), ECD. According to Police, the incident occurred about 12:28h at Annandale West, ECD.

Reports are that the 28-year-old man and the suspect had an argument over the telephone about monies owed by the suspect, who had refused to pay. During the argument, the 39-year-old reportedly threatened to kill his cousin.

Police said that while the man did not take the threat seriously, he was confronted by the fisherman while seated in his motor vehicle at a bar in Annandale West on Tuesday. He told Police that the suspect armed himself with a hand gun and ap-

proached him, pointing the weapon in his direction.

Police said the suspect then began discharging several rounds in the cousin’s direction. The suspect then made good his escape in a white motor car west along the Annandale Public Road, ECD. Following the incident, the Police were summoned, and upon their arrival, the scene was processed. Two 9mm spent shells were recovered, but the suspect was not located.

An investigation has been launched. (G9)

NEWS

Ramsammy’s Ruminations The Ethnic Relations Commission has disappointed Guyana – Commissioners should resign

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esterday was exactly one year since the March 2,2020 Elections. One year ago, there occurred one of the most sordid examples of a governing party, or any political party, trying to steal an election while it was being live-streamed around the world, with observers from around the world present, including former Prime Ministers from CARICOM and Africa. The theft was stopped because Guyanese and global partners stood defiant.

One of the Guyanese organisations shamelessly silent during the five-month rigging saga between March 2 and August 2, 2020 was Guyana’s Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC). One year later, the ERC is making its own sordid story.

It the last several days, the ERC has dominated the letter columns of newspapers in a way the Commission cannot be proud of. The ERC has been a total disappointment, Dr Leslie Ramsammy letting down the Guyanese people. Guyana’s ERC today has betrayed the lofty goals that inspired so many of us to advocate for an ERC, has derailed the high ideals people thought that an ERC can promote in Guyana, and has trampled on the strong advocacy for its establishment during the constitutional consultations in the 1990s.

While not painting all the commissioners with the same brush, the ERC, as it functions and is constituted presently, is not what Guyana deserves. For that reason, our position is that the commissioners should resign in their entirety, allowing Parliament to start afresh.

The goals, the lofty ideals, are still relevant and still possible, but the Guyanese people have lost confidence in the existing ERC. The present controversy of the Commission giving itself and its staff a handout of $150,000 for the commissioners and $100,000 for other staff members is an abuse of the resources the taxpayers doled out to the Commission. It does not matter that the Chairman deems the handout a COVID-19 relief and not a Christmas bonus.

A relief package is the responsibility of the Government. While Guyana was reeling from COVID-19 between the months of March and August 2020, the then Government did not consider in any meaningful way giving a COVID-19 relief package.

Some people and some organisations advocated for such a package. One of the organisations that did not advocate quietly or aggressively was the ERC. It was silent as people called out for help, as people depended on food hampers to survive in many corners of this country.

When the new Government assumed office, they heard the voices of people calling for help. They aggressively promoted foodhamper drives, both by the public sector and the private sector, and through NGOs. The ERC was silent. When Government announced the $25,000 Per Family relief package, the ERC did not advocate in any way. We do not know how many families belonging to the commissioners or that have family members working for the Commission actually received the $25,000. But the Commission cannot use taxpayers’ money for such double-dipping purposes.

Some commissioners argued, supported by the ERC minutes, that the money was a Christmas bonus. This public dispute between commissioners is distasteful, and commissioners are pointing fingers at each other, openly accusing each other of lying. Whether it was a Christmas bonus or a COVID-19 relief package, the Commission abused public funds. While this is a constitutional subvention agency whose resources represent a charge on the Consolidated Fund, this legal status does not confer total independence on how taxpayers’ money can be spent. In fact, this is why constitutional bodies like the ERC must be subjected to the same kind of scrutiny that other budget agencies are under.

This Commission is one of the most important commissions the Constitution caters for. Recently, the Commission took some citizens to court for social media postings. It is a good start, but the social media has been rampant with racist and racial postings. Those actions by the Commission were only undertaken under pressure.

The most egregious violators, the ones with political connections, have been spared. Either their racist ranting has been ignored or the ERC found some excuse to let them off the hook. When a prominent MP was caught with clearly racial ranting, the ERC not only excused her, but apologised to her for looking into the matter. The question is whether the ERC chickened out, or whether commissioners gave her a pass. Their excuse was they could not determine whether the posting was from her account or from a fake account. But that same account posted many things that the MP owned. It was a total abrogation of its duty - the ERC let a whole country down for expediency.

Who will forget the ERC giving GECOM and its former illegal Chairman a pass for actions clearly based on racial motivation when GECOM bypassed the then Deputy Chief Elections Officer, Vishnu Persaud, for renewal of his contract when he was clearly, by far, the most qualified candidate for the position, and appointed someone with no experience, a person now in front of the courts accused of fraud in the unsuccessful attempt to rig the elections of March 2020?

Guyana deserves better. The ERC is a disappointment, but its mission and ideals are still relevant. The commissioners should resign and permit our Parliament to start anew.

15

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 3, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

World Hearing Day

1 in 4 people will have hearing loss by 2050 – WHO

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he World Health Organisation (WHO) has projected that by 2050, one in four persons will be living with some degree of hearing loss. This amounts to almost 2.5 billion people worldwide.

In its first World Report on hearing, the entity said on Tuesday that from this number, at least 700 million people would require access to ear and hearing care.

WHO Director General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated that these statistics shed some light on the magnitude of hearing loss but presents an opportunity for intervention through various healthcare systems.

“Our ability to hear is precious. Untreated hearing loss can have a devastating impact on people’s ability to communicate, to study and to earn a living. It can also impact on people’s mental health and their ability to sustain relationships.

This new report outlines the scale of the problem, but also offers solutions in the form of evidence-based interventions that we encourage all countries to integrate into their health systems as part of their journey towards universal health coverage,” the Director General noted.

The report was launched ahead of World Hearing Day, celebrated on March 3. It underlines the need to rapidly step-up efforts to prevent and address hearing loss by investing and expanding access to ear and hearing care services. Investment in ear and hearing care has been shown to be cost-effective.

Some of the main findings inked in the report highlight the lack of accurate information and stigmatising attitudes to ear diseases. Even among healthcare providers, there’s often a shortage of knowledge about prevention, early identification and management of hearing loss and ear diseases, hampering their ability to provide the care required.

“In most countries, ear and hearing care is still not integrated into national health systems and accessing care services is challenging for those with ear diseases and hearing loss.

Moreover, access to ear and hearing care is poorly measured and documented, and relevant indicators are lacking in the health information system.”

Notwithstanding, the most glaring gap in health system capacity is listed as human resources. In low-income countries, about 78 per cent have fewer than one ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist per million population; 93 per cent have fewer than one audiologist per million; only 17 per cent have one or more speech therapist per million, and 50 per cent have one or more teacher for the deaf per million.

The WHO added, “Even in countries with relatively high proportions of ear and hearing care professionals,

there is unequal distribution of specialists. This not only poses challenges for people in need of care, but also places unreasonable demands on the cadres providing these services.”

Preventing hearing loss

It has been identified that in children, almost 60 per cent of hearing loss can be prevented through measures such as immunisation for the prevention of rubella and meningitis; improved maternal and neonatal care, and screening for, and early management of otitis media (an inflammatory disease of the middle ear).

In adults, the acts of noise

control, safe listening and surveillance of ototoxic medicines together with good ear hygiene can help maintain good hearing.

“Identification is the first step in addressing hearing loss and related ear diseases. Clinical screening at strategic points in life ensure that any loss of hearing and ear diseases can be identified as early as possible. Recent technological advances, including accurate and easyto-use tools, can identify ear disease and hearing loss at any age, in clinical or community settings, and with limited training and resources.”

Once diagnosed, the re-

port notes that early intervention is key. Medical and surgical treatment can cure most ear diseases, potentially reversing the associated hearing loss. However, where hearing loss is irreversible, it says rehabilitation can ensure that those affected avoid the adverse consequences of hearing loss.

“Hearing technology, such as hearing aids and cochlear implants, when accompanied by appropriate support services and rehabilitative therapy are effective and cost-effective and can benefit children and adults alike… The use of sign language and other means of sensory substitution such as speech reading are important options for many deaf people; hearing assistive technology and services such as captioning and sign language interpretation can further improve access to communication and education for those with hearing loss,” the WHO statement advised.

(G12)

16 NEWS

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 3, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Govt to save over $1B in employment costs at President’s office …after removal of APNU/AFC political appointees

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major criticism of the former Government was how State employment costs ballooned due to their hiring of party hacks.

But true to their word, the current People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Government has been able to slash employment costs in one of the most serious offenders - the Office of the President.

According to the 2021 budget estimates, a total of $5.1 billion was budgeted for the Office of the President for this year, of which total employment costs amount to $621.5 million. It is a significant decrease from 2019, when $1.937 billion was spent on employment in the then Ministry of the Presidency and total expenditure was $11.8 billion. The reduction in employment costs alone amounts to some $1.3 billion.

When it comes to the staffing details, there are a total of 243 employees budgeted for in 2021, including 177 contracted employees. Before the PPP took over in August of last year, there were a total of 923 staff catered for in 2020, including a whopping 460 contracted employees in the Ministry of the Presidency.

Day one of the consideration of budget estimates on Tuesday, saw Governance and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Gail Teixeira being able to declare that Government has significantly cut down on employment costs within the Office of the President.

During the sitting of the Committee of Supply, questions were posed by Opposition Leader Joseph Harmon about the reduction of 46 contracted employees from the Office of the President, under programme code 012; “National Policy Development Presidential

Governance Minister Gail Teixeira

Advisory Services”.

In her response, Teixeira noted that many of these positions were vacated after the change of Government and since they were not refilled, money was saved. According to Teixeira, 42 members were sent home, including the special advisers and political assistants. “(The reduction) is due to three resignations, one death and 42 members who were sent home. The resignations include the senior political advisor, the head of the political division, administrative officer, vehicle driver that died,” Teixeira informed the House.

“The ones that were sent home include senior confidential secretary, political assistant, personal and administrative assistants to the Minister of State, confidential secretary, special advisor to the Minister of Cohesion… political and special assistants.”

Also sent home were the Director of Parks and Harmon himself, as the then Director General. These two appointments had sparked much controversy, particularly when it comes to the level of emoluments they enjoyed.

The “Director of Parks” position was created by the former A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC)

Government especially for Retired Lieutenant Colonel Larry London, the man at the centre of the controversial D’Urban Park project and who has long been linked to the coalition.

Last year, Attorney General Anil Nandlall had revealed that London was getting a $500,000 takehome salary in his position as Director of Public Parks, as well as his light, internet and phone bills paid… despite him not being in Guyana for much of the time.

Gratuity is a benefit normally afforded to public servants, where they are paid a lump sum at the end of their employment, calculated as a percentage of their pay. According to Nandlall, London was even granted gratuity as high as 22.5 per cent of his salary.

When it comes to Harmon, it was revealed last year that as the Director General of the Ministry of the Presidency (another post created especially for him by the former Government), he was earning a salary of $900,000 and over $500,000 in non-taxable allowances as well as other perks and benefits.

These include a gratuity of 22.5 per cent of his basic salary every six months and his housing, telephone bills, internet bills, electricity bills, and security being paid for by the State. He also received a motor car and driver provided by the State or duty-free concession of up to 4000cc per three years period.

Harmon’s contract for his position of Director General, which was signed on May 1, 2019, was for three years, expiring on May 31, 2022.

When the PPP entered office last year, however, it wasted little time in dismissing him from office.

17 CCJ dismisses case challenging Ogle Airport renaming T NEWS

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 3, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

he Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) on Tuesday dismissed the appeal filed against several operators, objecting to the former Government’s renaming of the Ogle International Airport.

The controversy started when former President David Granger in 2015 urged that the Board of Directors of the airport consider renaming the facility the Eugene F Correia International Airport in recognition of Guyana’s first Minister of Communications, Shipping and Aviation.

However, nine of the ten operators at the airport had rejected the proposed name change, arguing that it would create unfair competition, since the name is similar to that of the Chairman of the Board, Michael Correia.

Air Services Limited (ASL) Domestic Airways; Hinterland Aviation;

The Eugene F Correia International Airport

Hopkinson Mining Aviation; Jags Aviation; Oxford Aviation; Phoenix Airways; Roraima Airways, and Wings Aviation – all members of NATA contended that it was anti-competitive and that they were not adequately consulted.

The Ogle International Airport was renamed Eugene

F Correia International Airport on May 9, 2016.

Leading up to this, NATA unsuccessfully sought injunctions against the name change in the High Court and Court of Appeal.

The judgement was delivered by Justice Denys Barrow on behalf of the panel, which also comprised of

Granny denies being raped …suspects released from custody

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n a shocking twist, the 98-year-old woman from Rose Hall Town, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), who was allegedly raped on February 23, has said that she was never sexually assaulted.

According to a statement by the Guyana Police Force, “both the virtual complainant and the suspects were interviewed intensely with no useful information obtained. The virtual complainant – in the presence of a social worker and detectives – vehemently denies being sexually assaulted.”

As such, the four suspects who were in custody have since been released and are required to report to the station until the matter concludes.

It was previously reported that on the morning

of February 23, the elderly woman’s neighbour went to the woman’s home to wake her up so that they could go out.

However, she explained that as she arrived at the home, she observed that the door was open, and immediately thought that something was amiss.

She also found a glass containing alcohol on the step.

As such, she called out for the elderly woman, who responded that “them boys come in and beat me up”. She said that the elderly woman related that the men choked her.

The neighbour related that as the elderly woman showed herself and her injuries, it was then she realised that the nonagenarian’s face was swollen and there were bruises about her body. She

immediately took a photo and alerted the caretaker.

Upon the caregiver’s arrival, and in attending to the victim, she observed that the elderly woman was very traumatised. At this time, she also noticed what appeared to be blood on the victim’s clothing and bedspread.

The caregiver immediately reported her suspicions via a call to the Police after which she accompanied the victim to the Port Mourant Public Hospital, where a medical was done.

Police in a statement on the following day revealed that four persons were taken into custody.

Those arrested were a 38-year-old fisherman, a 53-year-old labourer, a 23-year-old labourer, and a 24-year-old labourer, all of Rose Hall Town. (G15)

Justice Jacob Wit, Justice Winston Anderson, Justice Andrew Burgess and Justice Peter Jamadar.

Appearing on behalf of the appellants was Attorneys-at-Law Devindra Kissoon and Natasha Vieira while Solicitor General Nigel Hawke appeared for the respondents.

The Court noted that the appellants were able to discuss the name change among other issues at a meeting with the Minister on November 18, 2015, following which they also provided a written brief to the Minister of all the issues discussed, including the name change.

“In that brief, the submission in relation to the renaming required nothing more than to leave Ogle Airport name as it is. There was nothing provided that the Appellants suggested that the Minister would not have understood the nature and substance of their objection, and the court found that the Minister took their concerns seriously enough that they commissioned a legal review of the lease. The court thus held that there was no need for further consultation as advanced by the appellants,” Justice Barrow stated.

In a separate concurrent opinion, Justice Jamadar emphasised that “the duty of the Minister to consult is rooted in the Constitution of Guyana, distinct from any procedural rights based on other legal sources”.

CCJ Judge Denys Barrow

In January, the CCJ heard legal arguments in which the lawyer for Air Services Limited, Devendra Kissoon, argued before the CCJ that the former Government failed to consider the economic impact the name change would have on other operators in the airport.

Kissoon also read documents suggesting that former President David Granger and former Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson had committed to addressing the concerns that were raised soon after the idea to rename the airport began floating around.

However, the lawyer contended that this was not done and that the former Government failed to meet the threshold for consultation with those who had the most to lose, thus violating common law principles

attached to consultations.

Rather, all the consultations occurred in the Ogle Airport Incorporated (OAI) board room, where most of them do not have a seat.

“The majority of the applicants are small private operators whose livelihood depends on the fair management of Ogle airport. And make up nine out of the 10 domestic operators currently in Guyana. Save for three of them, none of them are Board members of OAI, but are simply arm’s length leasees of the space OAI provides to aircraft operators.

And all compete for the market,” he told the Court.

The lawyer further contended that the Correia Group of Companies and the applicants in the case have historically had a strained relationship for the very reason of anti-competitive practices that include the name change.

In his rebuttal, however, Solicitor General Nigel Hawke had argued that there were consultations just not the consultations Kissoon meant. Hawke noted that the correspondence between the operators and the then Public Infrastructure Minister satisfied the criteria for consultations.

“From what we understand from the evidence, all that the appellants wanted to say to the Minister, was put before the Minister. And issues were raised at some time at some level regarding the (economic impact),” Hawke also said. (G12)

18

guyanatimesgy.com

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 3, 2021

Regional

Need for true global COVID-19 Brazil variant partnerships, says Mottley “may spread more easily”

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arbados Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley made a case for small States during an address on Monday at the Opening Session of the Green Climate Fund Transformational Climate Financing for the Caribbean Region Event.

During the session, which was held virtually due to the impact of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) and its variants, Mottley called for true global partnerships and actions in response to challenges, particularly with respect to equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines.

Mottley addressed the 5Cs – challenges in relation to COVID-19, climate crisis, chronic non-communicable diseases (CNCDs), crime and the consequences of colonialism.

“Our dialogue these days has regrettably been overtaken by COVID-19 – not just the public health response and what we need to do to save lives, but also current and future livelihoods: making sure that the recov-

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Barbadian Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley

ery is less about building back – because in many respects we should not be repeating the approaches of the past – but building forward better.

“And as we acknowledge by our presence here today, this pandemic is not the only global threat we face, as at the same time, the climate crisis continues to be more critical than ever. In fact, . . . the two Cs of COVID and the climate crisis are not the only ones that trouble us, as the Caribbean Region faces

the simultaneous threats of (iii) chronic non-communicable diseases (CNCDs), (iv) crime, in all its forms, and perhaps the fifth and final C which is common across the others – the consequences of colonialism, which cause us to strengthen our organised action around securing reparations,” she said.

Mottley also repeated comments that countries in the Region often suffer as a result of their small size.

(Excerpt from Nation News)

Nicaragua finds boat with 6 decomposed bodies in Caribbean Sea

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he bodies of six people, apparently migrants, were found in a small boat drifting off the Caribbean coast of Nicaragua.

This is according to the Associated Press, which cited local authorities. The news agency said,

“The Interior Ministry said a Republic of Guinea passport belonging to a 31-year-old man was found on one of the bodies. The passport had no Nicaraguan entry stamp in it.

“The boat was found drifting about a mile (1 1/2 kilometres) out to sea Monday

near Cayo Las Palomas.

The corpses were all too badly decomposed for immediate identification. The ministry said an initial examination indicates all those aboard apparently died of dehydration or heatstroke, and that they probably died about a month ago.”

Ecuador names new Health Minister after COVID vaccine scandal

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cuador has named a new health minister, after the previous Minister stepped down over irregularities in a pilot programme for COVID-19 vaccinations.

President Lenin Moreno on Monday announced that Rodolfo Farfan, a 63-yearold surgeon who had served as Vice Minister for comprehensive care in the country’s Health Ministry, would replace Juan Carlos Zevallos.

Zevallos resigned on February 26 after questions were raised about his participation in an inoculation effort at a nursing home where his mother lives.

Moreno tweeted on Monday that he has confidence in Farfan’s management of Ecuador’s vaccination programme.

The country has reported more than 286,000 cases of COVID-19 and more than 15,800 coronavirus-related deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University data, and the pandemic has worsened an already dire economic crisis.

he Brazil coronavirus variant now found in the United Kingdom appears more contagious and may evade immunity provided by past infection, scientists say.

Experiences from Manaus – the Amazonian city hit hard by the P.1 variant – suggest it could be up to twice as transmissible as earlier COVID-19 there, the first detailed study suggests.

The preliminary work puts the chance of reinfection at between 25 per cent and 60 per cent.

But experts say this should not be used to predict what may happen in the UK. Indeed, one of the lead re-

searchers said it was unlikely P.1 would quickly take off in Britain when only six cases had been identified and these were being closely monitored.

Infectious diseases expert Professor Ester Sabino, from the University of São Paulo, Brazil, said: “You need many introductions [of a virus] to start an epidemic. Six is very few. I would say if you take care and do contact tracing, this is going to decrease.”

The researchers have been tracking coronavirus in Brazil for nearly a year now.

Manaus, like many other regions around the world, encountered a large first wave in the spring of 2020.

Lots of people were infected with the original version of the virus at that time, with blood test results suggesting as many as three-quarters of the population getting some degree of protection or immunity from this exposure.

Despite this, people in Manaus were hit badly by another wave of coronavirus in the winter.

The research team from Brazil and Imperial College London have been studying the genetic makeup of coronavirus in some of those who were infected between November and December, as well as modelling the pandemic outcomes. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Bunny Wailer: Reggae legend who found fame with Bob Marley dies, aged 73

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ne of reggae’s most important voices, Bunny Wailer, has died at the age of 73.

The musician, from Kingston, Jamaica, was a founding member of “The Wailers” alongside his childhood friend, Bob Marley.

Together, they achieved international fame with reggae classics like “Simmer Down” and “Stir It Up”, before Wailer left to go solo in 1974.

He went on to win three Grammys and was given Jamaica’s Order of Merit in 2017.

His death was confirmed by manager Maxine Stowe, and Jamaica’s Culture Minister, Olivia Grange.

The cause of death is unknown, but he had been in hospital since having a stroke in July 2020.

Tributes have already poured in for the musician, with fans and fellow musicians describing him as a legend.

Bunny Wailer won three Grammys

“Oh man, God bless Bunny Wailer,” wrote Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea. “What a true rocker and noble man. I love him.”

Andrew Holness, Jamaica’s Prime Minister, also paid tribute, calling his death “a great loss for Jamaica and for reggae”.

The star, whose real name was Neville O’Riley Livingston, had been the last surviving member of “The Wailers”, following Bob Marley’s death from cancer

in 1981, and Peter Tosh’s murder during a robbery in 1987.

Born on April 20, 1947, Livingston spent his earliest years in the village of Nine Miles, where he was raised by his father, Thaddeus, who ran a grocery store.

That was where he first met Marley, and the toddlers soon became firm friends, making their first music together at Stepney Primary and Junior High School.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

Venezuelan intelligence monitored Citgo executives in US – court testimony

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A healthcare worker receives a dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine at the military hospital FFAA in Quito on January 21 [File: Johanna Alarcon/Reuters]

Government officials have been forced to resign in other Latin American countries in recent weeks, as well, for COVID-19 vaccine queue-jumping.

Argentina’s Health Minister Gines Gonzalez Garcia resigned on February 19 after he was accused of allowing people to sidestep the proper procedure to get jabs.

The Government later released a list of 70 peo-

ple who received the vaccine outside of the official campaign, including the 38-yearold Economy Minister and former President Eduardo Duhalde, his wife and their children.

Thousands of people rallied across Argentina at the weekend for what has been dubbed the “VIP vaccinations” scandal, holding signs reading, “Give me my vaccine” and “Stop wasting our money”. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

enezuelan intelligence services monitored six US-based executives of State-owned refiner Citgo Petroleum for a year on US soil to determine their involvement in a deal the Government deemed fraudulent, leading to their 2017 arrest in Caracas on corruption charges, according to court testimony.

The executives, known as the Citgo Six, were sentenced by a Venezuelan court in November to between eight and 13 years in prison for corruption in a procedure the US State Department labelled a “kangaroo court”. Five of the men are naturalised US citizens.

The trial documents reviewed by Reuters include testimony provided by a senior Venezuelan military official, Ramon Balza, about the monitoring. The testimony has not

Venezuelan President Nicolàs Maduro

been previously reported.

Balza, who was serving in 2017 as Director of Operations for Venezuela’s military counter-intelligence directorate (DGCIM), said intelligence services sent information collected over the course of a year to Public Prosecutor Tarek William Saab, whose office used it to open a criminal investigation.

Reuters was unable to contact Balza. The DGCIM did not respond to a request for

comment.

Saab’s office and Venezuela’s Information Ministry also declined to respond to questions from Reuters.

“Ever since that company (Citgo) became Venezuelan, the company and its board members have been monitored by this country’s intelligence services,” Balza said in August 11 testimony at a Caracas appeals court.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

guyanatimesgy.com

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 3, 2021

19

Around the World

OILNEWS OIL NEWS Oil steady before OPEC+ talks on supply amid economic recovery

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il prices were little changed on Tuesday before this week’s OPEC+ meeting, with producers in the group expected to ease supply curbs as economies start to recover from the coronavirus crisis.

OPEC Secretary General Mohammad Barkindo said the outlook for oil demand was looking more positive, particularly in Asia.

Brent futures rose 19 cents, or 0.3 per cent, to US$63.88 a barrel by 12:49 pm EST (1749 GMT). US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude rose 26 cents, or 0.4 per cent, to US$60.90.

Both Brent and WTI fell over US$1 a barrel in early trade to one-week lows. Last week, both touched their highest since January 2020. The rally faded on expectations the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and allies in the group known as OPEC+ would produce more oil from April, easing last year’s deep supply cuts.

“The oil market has finally reached a stage that hints recovery, as it is the first time in a year that everyone expects OPEC+ to justifiably bring more output back to production mode,” said Bjornar Tonhaugen, head of oil markets at Rystad Energy.

OPEC+, which meets on Thursday, could discuss allowing as much as 1.5 million barrels per day (bpd) back into the market.

Abu Dhabi’s ADNOC has told Asian oil buyers it plans to increase crude allocations in April, sources close to the matter told Reuters.

OPEC oil output fell in February as a voluntary cut by Saudi Arabia added to reductions in a previous OPEC+ pact, a Reuters survey found, ending a run of seven consecutive monthly increases.

OPEC+ member Russia failed to raise oil output in February despite being granted permission by the group. Industry sources said harsh winter weather hindered work.

In Europe, Germany said it will start easing some coronavirus restrictions from next week.

In Asia, China’s factory activity growth slipped to a ninemonth low in February, which could curtail crude demand in the world’s top importer. (Excerpt from Reuters)

US and EU impose sanctions on Russia over Navalny poisoning, jailing

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he United States on Tuesday imposed sanctions to punish Russia for what it described as Moscow’s attempt to poison Opposition Leader Alexei Navalny with a nerve agent last year, in President Joe Biden’s most direct challenge yet to the Kremlin.

The sanctions against seven senior Russian officials, among them the head of its FSB security service, and on 14 entities marked a sharp departure from former President Donald Trump’s reluctance to confront Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Navalny, 44, fell ill on a flight in Siberia in August and was airlifted to Germany, where doctors concluded he had been poisoned with a nerve agent.

Navalny was arrested in January on his return from Germany following treatment for poisoning with what many Western countries say was a military-grade nerve agent. He was jailed on Feb 2 for parole violations on what he

says were politically motivated charges, and sent to a penal colony on Monday.

Among those blacklisted by the US Treasury Department were Alexander Bortnikov, Director of the FSB; Andrei Yarin, Chief of the Kremlin’s Domestic Policy Directorate; and Deputy Ministers of Defence Alexei Krivoruchko and Pavel Popov.

As a result, all assets of the seven under US jurisdiction are frozen and US persons are generally barred from dealing with them. In addition, any foreigner who knowingly “facilitates a significant transaction” for them risks being sanctioned.

It was unclear whether the seven had US assets, making it hard to judge whether the sanctions were more than symbolic.

The EU sanctions fall short of calls by Navalny’s supporters to punish wealthy businessmen around Putin known as oligarchs who travel regularly to the EU. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Nigeria school abduction: Hundreds of girls released by gunmen

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irls among the nearly 300 who were kidnapped from a school in north-western Nigeria have been describing their ordeal following their release.

"Most of us got injured," one of the schoolgirls told the BBC, adding that gunmen threatened to shoot them.

The girls were abducted by unidentified assailants from their boarding school in Jangebe, Zamfara state, on Friday and taken to a forest, Police said.

The state's governor said on Tuesday that the 279 girls had been freed.

Such kidnappings are carried out for ransom and are common in the north of the

The girls were reportedly made to walk a long distance into the forest after their kidnapping

country.

On Tuesday, dozens of the girls were seen gathered at a government building in Zamfara after they were taken there in a fleet of mini-buses.

Speaking to the BBC, one of

the schoolgirls said that some of those kidnapped had found it difficult to continue walking when instructed to do so by the gunmen because of their injuries.

"They said they [would] shoot anybody who did not

continue to walk," she said.

"We walked across a river and they hid us and let us sleep under shrubs in a forest."

Another of the girls, aged 15, said that some of her classmates found it difficult "walking in the stones and thorns" and had to be carried.

"They started hitting us with guns so that we [would] move," she told Reuters news agency, adding: "While they were beating them with guns, some of them were crying and moving at the same time."

The group's release was secured through negotiations between government officials and the abductors, authorities in Zamfara state told the BBC. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Swiss Muslims denounce COVID-19: Sri Lanka chooses remote “burqa ban” proposal island for burials as referendum nears

According to official statistics, there are nearly 380,000 Muslims living in Switzerland, making up about five percent of the population

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n March 7, the Swiss will vote in a referendum that could usher in a ban on facial coverings, such as the niqab, in public.

The legislation, referred to locally as the burqa ban, does not specifically mention the facial coverings worn by Muslim women, but is largely seen to target them.

The proposed law mandates that “no one shall cover their face in public” and that “no one is permitted to force someone to cover their face based on their gender”.

There are some exceptions, such as for health reasons and traditions like a carnival.

Polls in local media outlets suggest that voters will narrowly approve the law, a move that some members of the Muslim minority believe singles them out from society.

It is not the first time that Switzerland’s Muslim community has felt singled out by

a referendum.

In 2009, voters accepted legislation, also proposed by the Egerkinger Komitee, to ban the construction of new minarets.

At the time, the Islamic Central Council of Switzerland was formed to represent the Muslim voice in the discussions around the minaret referendum. It has since become the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights group.

The organisation’s spokeswoman, Janina Rashidi, does not see a need for the proposed law on facial coverings.

“You are criminalising women for wearing something,” she said.

Rashidi said such laws reinforce the sentiments held by many Muslims of not being viewed as full members of Swiss society, despite being Swiss or having lived in the country for most of their lives.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

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remote island has been chosen by Sri Lanka's Government for the burial of COVID-19 victims from the minority Muslim and Christian communities.

The Government previously forced minorities to cremate their dead in line with the practice of the majority Buddhists. It claimed burials would contaminate groundwater.

But the Government backed down last week in the face of vehement criticism from rights groups.

Islam prohibits cremation.

Iranathivu island in the Gulf of Mannar is the designated site for burials.

It lies some 300km (186 miles) away from the capital, Colombo, and was chosen, the Government says, because it is thinly populated.

Muslims were angered by the ban, introduced last April, and said there was no scientific basis to it. Muslims make up nearly 10 per cent of the population.

Human rights groups, including Amnesty International, and the United Nations had also raised objections.

Government spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella said a plot of land had been set aside on the island, according to the Colombo Gazette.

The World Health Organisation has provided extensive guidance on how the bodies of those who have died from COVID should be handled safely, but points out there is no scientific evidence to suggest cremation should be used to prevent infection.

"There is a common assumption that people who died of a communicable disease should be cremated to prevent spread of that disease; however, there is a lack of evidence to support this. Cremation is a matter of cultural choice and available resources."

The forcible cremation of a 20-day-old Muslim baby intensified criticism of the policy. (Excerpt from BBC News)

3 female media workers shot to death in eastern Afghanistan

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hree female media workers were shot dead in the eastern Afghan city of Jalalabad on Tuesday while heading home from work.

Local broadcaster Enikass TV said the women killed were its employees. Zalmai Latifi, director at the station, said they were gunned down in two separate attacks after leaving the network.

“They are all dead. They were going home from the of-

fice on foot when they were shot,” Latifi said.

Two other people, apparently passersby, were wounded in the shootings.

Latifi said the three women were recent high school graduates aged between 18 and 20.

No group claimed responsibility for the attacks.

Nangarhar Police Chief Juma Gul Hemat said an armed suspect was later taken into custody following the

shootings, adding authorities were still looking for other culprits.

“We arrested him as he was trying to escape,” said Hemat. “He has admitted he carried out the attack. He is a Taliban member.”

However, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid denied the group had any hand in the killings.

In a statement, President Ashraf Ghani condemned the killings, saying “attacks

on innocent compatriots, especially women, are contrary to the teachings of Islam, Afghan culture and the spirit of peace”.

Journalists, religious scholars, activists and judges have all been targeted in a recent wave of political assassinations that have spread panic across Afghanistan and forced many into hiding – with some even fleeing the country. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 3, 2021

The winning Achievers Cricket Club

– under joint RHTY&SC/BCB project

Final of the BCB/Brian Ramphal West Berbice Under-19 tournament

Achievers Cricket Club defeat Blairmont Blazers by 5 wickets – led by Collis Noble’s brilliant 90*

Man of the Finals, Collis Noble

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he Blairmont Blazers cricket club, which had, over the last decade, dominated junior cricket in the West Berbice/ Region 5 area, was last Saturday victim of a 5-wicket defeat administered at the hands of the Achievers Cricket Club in the final match of the BCB/Brian Ramphal West Berbice Under-19 tournament, thanks to a brilliant innings by Berbice junior player Collis Noble.

With this final match being played at the Cotton Tree Ground, Blairmont Blazers won the toss and elected to bat, amassing 199 all out in 45.4 of their allotted 50 overs.

They were aided by an indifferent performance from the Achievers, who gifted away 50 extra runs.

Despite the extras, the Blairmont team found runs difficult to come by, with only Raashad Gafoor ‘looking solid’, the elegant opener stroking 6 boundaries on his way to 57 before being bowled by off-spinner Shemar Hailey.

Farouk Subhan (18), Shreenauth Ramnarine (13) and Anthony Sukhra (15) were the other Blazers batsmen to reach double figures.

Bowling for the Achievers, off-spinners Omari Arthur and Shelton Ramsay each claimed two wickets, for 31 and 37 runs respectively.

In reply, Achievers lost Odel Miller for a duck in the second over, but Collis Noble, with assistance from Tulsieram Ramcharran, registered 40 for the second wicket to put Achievers on course for this upset victory. Noble paced his innings well, starting slowly but ‘opening his arms’ as he grew in confidence.

The right hander was fortunate to be dropped when on 67, but was instrumental in an unbroken 96-run stand with Omari Arthur, who made 29, with 3 sixes and 1 four.

Arthur, who was dropped on nought and 14, plundered the inexperienced Blairmont attack. Nickel Fraser supported with an aggressive 24, which included 3 boundaries and a massive six.

The Blazers’ Raashad Gafoor returned with the ball to take 2 for 21 from 8 overs, while his Skipper Marvon Prashad took 2 for 48 from 9 overs.

BCB President Hilbert disclosed that the tournament was historic as it was the first time that the board was arranging an under-19 tournament for teams in the West Berbice sub-association.

He hailed the performances of both teams, and noted that he was very impressed with the talents on display, which he said could make Berbice very proud in the future.

Further, Foster praised overseas-based Guyanese Brian Ramphal for his sponsorship of the tournament, and thanked the President of the West Berbice Cricket Assn (WBCA), David Black, for organising this successful tournament.

The West Berbice Under-19 tournament is the first of four that would be organised at the Zone level before the start of a countywide tournament.

Mahendra Nagamootoo thrilled to be part of Road Safety World T20 Series in India

F

ormer Guyana and West Indies leg-spinner Mahendra Nagamootoo is thrilled to be back in India, where the World Road Safety T20 Legends games will be taking place.

The 45-year-old Nagamootoo is set to represent West Indies Legends, who will be captained by his fellow countryman and ex-West Indies captain Carl Hooper.

The West Indies Legends participated in this T20I tournament last year in India, wherein several other countries were featured, including the hosts India, Sri Lanka, Australia and South Africa.

The World Series is an annual Twenty20 tournament played between retired cricketers from five countries. Last year, it was affected by the global coronavirus pandemic and was eventually called off. West Indies Legends were skippered by the legendary Brian Lara, but suffered two defeats in as many matches.

Nagamootoo was not part of last year’s action, but is now buzzing with excitement to be part of things in India, where he played one of 5 Tests during his Test career, from 2000 to 2002.

21

Mahendra Nagamootoo

“I am happy to get back on the field representing West Indies Legends. I am also glad to be among many of my former Test and One-Day International team mates including Hooper, Lara, Ridley Jacobs, Ricardo Powell (and) Dwayne Smith, just to name a few,” Nagamootoo, who also featured in 24 ODI matches for West Indies at the highest level, mentioned.

This tournament is scheduled

to bowl off early next month, and Nagamootoo, who is currently residing in the United States of America, believes West Indies can emerge as the top team.

“I am confident we will do well.

I think we have got some good players now, and we should be the champion side,” the Berbician declared.

Other high-profile players on show in this 2021 edition are South Africans Jonty Rhodes, Herschelle Gibbs and Albie Morkel; Australians Brad Hodge, Shane Lee and Brad Haddin; Sri Lankans Tillakaratne Dilshan, Marvan Atapattu and Chaminda Vaas; Indians Sachin Tendulkar, Yuvraj Singh and Virender Sehwag; West Indians Brian Lara, Carl Hooper and Shivnarine Chanderpaul, to name a few.

Mahendra Nagamootoo, elder brother of former Guyana wicketkeeper Vishaul Nagamootoo, has also declared that he is very anxious to contribute to the game in the Caribbean as a coach. He has said that if given the opportunity to coach at the school level or any junior cricket tournament, he would grab it with both hands.

RHTY&SC Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster receives scorebooks from Odyssey Tours representatives

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he development programme of the Berbice Cricket Board continues to gather stream with the coming on board of the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club (RHTY&SC), MS, to distribute scorebooks to more than 80 active clubs. These scorebooks have been donated by Odyssey Sight Seeing Tours Company.

Additionally, with support from the RHTY&SC and several ‘friends of Berbice Cricket’, the BCB would be sharing out over a dozen catching cribs to cricket clubs across the county.

BCB President Hilbert Foster has said that since his election to office in 2018, clubs and more than 300 youth cricketers has benefited from more than $12M worth of items from the BCB. Items donated include cricket gears, scorebooks, stumps, cricket balls, uniforms, grounds men’s rain coats, school bags, bicycles, educational materials and food hampers, among other things.

The BCB has also awarded educational scholarships, while dozens of clubs have received trophies, medals, certificate frames and special gifts to assist them to host awards ceremonies, cricket academies, and fundraising events.

The catching cribs, worth

obtained from former national players Jerry Angus and Ray Joseph, RHTY&SC, Bissan Trading, and another overseas-based Guyanese.

The main objective of the project is to improve the fielding standard of Berbice youth players.

Foster is expending further efforts at distribution by the end of April/ early May. Meanwhile, Odyssey Sight Seeing Tours (Guyana) Inc has donated $300,000 worth of scorebooks to the RHTY&SC, MS Cricket Development Programme, as it has done for close to a decade. The books would be donated to every active club in

Representatives of four West Berbice clubs pose with their catching cribs and scorebooks

$24,000, are being donated to clubs with junior sections, and would benefit the Upper Corentyne Cricket Association (2), Port Mourant, Albion, RHTY&SC, RH Canje, Tucber Park, Edinburgh, Blairmont, Achievers, Cotton Tree and Paradise.

The UCCA’s two catching cribs would be used by the #73 Young Warriors CC, #69 Youth Club, #73 Radha Krishna Foundation, and the Scottsburg United teams.

Foster has urged the clubs to take care of the catching cribs, as great effort went into obtaining them. Funds for the cribs were

Berbice.

Clubs in the Upper Corentyne and West Berbice have already received a combined 40 books.

Scorebooks are currently being distributed in the Lower Corentyne New Amsterdam/ Canje area, and some would be sent to communities along the Berbice River area.

In accepting the scorebooks, Foster expressed gratitude to the Management of the company for their continued cooperation.

BCB/Premium Asphalt Under-19 Tournament

Brilliant Abdul Ramsammy leads Tucber Park into final

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brilliant performance from Berbice youth all-rounder Abdul Ramsammy has led his team, Tucber Park, into the finals of the historic Berbice Cricket Board/ Premium Asphalt Under-19 tournament.

Ramsammy took 3 wickets for 17 runs from his 10 overs, then scored 39 runs to spearhead Tucber Park to an easy 6-wicket victory over a Rose Hall Canje team.

With the match being played at the historic Rose Hall Canje Welfare Centre ground, the home team won the toss and batted first. They recorded 106 runs all out in 30.1 of their allotted 50 overs. National youth players Sanjay Algoo and Isiah Thorne top scored with 15 and 14 respectively, while Kevin Budhoo supported with 11.

Ramsammy took 3 for 17, Ravishkar Sobhai took 2 for 35 (8 overs), and Kevin Kisten took 2 for 4 (1.4 overs) as the top bowlers for the impressive Tucber Park.

Needing to score 107 from 50 overs to reach the semifinals, Tucber Park raced

to 109 for 4 in 13.2 overs, Ramsammy completing a fine all-round performance with a solid 39 (3x4). He received support from Ravishkar Sobhai (23) and Zeynul Ramsammy (16).

Sanjay Algoo took all four Tucber Park wickets to fall, ending with figures of 3-0-26-4 in a losing cause.

Tucber Park will now clash with East Bank Blazers in the finals, which would be played this weekend at the Rose Hall Canje Ground.

The BCB/Premium Asphalt Under-19 tournament is one of four that would be played in each of the sub zones.

A countywide Berbice Under-19 tournament would start in early April.

Abdul Ramsammy

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 3, 2021

#73 Young Warriors CC lift BCB/UCCA CLASSIFIED ADS Ahmad Construction Under-19 title SERVICES

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The winning #73 Young Warriors team

L

ed by a brilliant all-round performance from Trevon Sukhu, #73 Young Warriors CC lifted the first ever Berbice Cricket Board/Upper Corentyne Cricket Association/Ahmad Construction 40 overs tournament.

Playing at the #72 Cut and Load Ground, Young Warriors easily defeated arch rivals Scottsburg by 90 runs in a virtual one-sided affair.

Young Warriors posted 212 for 6 from their allotted overs, before bowling out Scottsburg for 122 in 28.1 overs.

An unbeaten 52 from 36 balls, laced with four fours and three sixes from Captain Vettori Latchman, propelled Young Warriors past the 200-run mark. Latchman shared a 96-run, sixth wicket partnership with Raul Jabbar who was run out for 23.

Vettori Latchman and Trevon Sukhu

Rex Chemicals ‘in the mix’ with President’s Softball Tournament …company plans to enter the Guyana market

Before Latchman’s late surge, consistent opener Trevon Sukhu continued his fine form by scoring 45 from 53 balls, hitting six boundaries and a massive six before throwing away his wicket to long-off. The right-handed batsman shared a 65-run, second wicket partnership with Niraj Singh, who toiled for a 40-ball 20 that featured three boundaries.

Young Warriors were also indebted to cameos from Sarwan Chaitnarine (15) and Nicholas Tahal (14) while extras contributed a healthy 44.

In the chase, Jabbar returned with the ball to rock the Scottsburg top order and reduce them to 15 for 3 by the ninth over. Jaffar trapped Alameen Khan and Basil Patrick leg before wicket, and then uprooted the off stump of Clifford Embrack to end with 3 wickets for 17 runs.

He was supported by fellow seamer Ethan Odell, who made light work of the lower order in Odell claiming 3 for 27.

After a horrid start, Scottsburg had a partial recovery in which national cyclist Jeremiah Joseph top scored with 27 off 30 balls, which included 2 fours and 2 sixes.

Joseph received support from Justin Dhanraj, who made 21 from 19 balls

before he was bowled by Odell to break a 41-run, seventh wicket stand.

After the match, winning captain Vettori Latchman hailed the victory as a combined team effort. He noted that the team had played as a unit since the under-15 level, and were comfortable working together.

He also praised the role of his father Lakeram Latchman, who serves as the team’s coach.

BCB President Hilbert Foster hailed the tournament as a resounding success, and disclosed that the Ahmad Construction Tournament is one of four to be played at the Zone level in Berbice.

The others would be the Brian Ramphal West Berbice, Rickey Itwaru Lower Corentyne, and the Premium Asphalt New Amsterdam/Canje.

The BCB President praised the excellent work of the executives of the Upper Corentyne Cricket Association, especially Chairman of the Competitions Committee, Sydney Jackman.

Foster disclosed that clubs in the Upper Corentyne area would have a lot of tournaments to play in 2021, and would also benefit from numerous donations from the BCB. He expressed thanks to the sponsor, Mr. Ahmad, for his sponsorship of the tournament.

Transport Sports Club thrash MYO in practice match

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John Persaud on the left, Reaz Latif at centre, and Myhiem Khan on the right

I

Staff of Rex Chemicals at their factory in Florida

nternational manufacturing company Rex Chemicals have joined the inaugural President’s T20 Softball Tournament which is set for play this weekend in Georgetown.

Rex Chemicals are manufacturers of commercial and residential cleaning products, including soaps and industrial cleaners. The company is based in Florida USA, but is excited to join the list of sponsors for the inaugural tournament.

Paul Narpaul, owner of the company, which has branches throughout the Caribbean and in the USA, has been elated at being offered the opportunity to get on board with his sponsorship, which he promises would be increased in value as the tournament grows in the years to come.

The entire sponsorship from Rex Chemicals will go towards the total prize money to be paid in the three categories of the three-day tournament, which begins on Friday at various venues in and around Georgetown.

Narpaul has already partnered with local company Overnite Signs and Grafix, and will be prospecting a branch of Rex Chemicals in Guyana. The experienced businessman has extended well wishes to the organisers, teams and supporters of the tournament.

The inaugural President’s T20 Softball Tournament would be played from March 5 to 7 in the categories

of Open, Masters and Legends. There is no entrance fee, but the winning team in each category would pocket $500,000 while the runner-up team would get $100,000. There are lots of individual prizes at stake, including smart television sets for the player of the series in each category, along with trophies.

The tournament is organised by the Georgetown Softball Cricket League Inc, in collaboration with Guyana’s Honorary Consul in Florida, Ramzan Roshanali. There are 24 teams competing for honours in this tournament. The finals in all three categories will be played at the Everest Cricket Club at Camp Road, with all COVID-19 protocols in place.

Rex Chemicals has joined the list of sponsors, which include Banks Beer, Trophy Stall, Danny Persaud (You Life ARD you tube channel), Elegance Jewellery and Pawn Shop, Star Party Rentals, P&P Insurance Brokers, Crown Mining Supplies, Regal Stationery and Computer Centre, Regal Sports, Dinar Trading, Mohamed’s Enterprise, King’s Jewellery World, Roraima Group of Companies, Barama Company Limited, Kia Motors, West Vybez Sports Bar and Restaurant, Royal Chicken, Beacon Café, Derick’s Variety Store, Muslim Youth Organization, Bushbox Inc, SS Royal K9, Premier Insurance, Kapil ‘Rice Mart’ Ramnauth and Freelancer Advertising Agency.

T

he Transport Sports Club defeated the Muslim Youth Organization (MYO) by 127 runs in a practice match played at the MYO ground on Saturday, 27th February, 2021.

MYO won the toss and ask Transport to bat, and Transport made 269 in 37 overs, with the match being reduced to 40 overs due to a late start because of overnight rain.

Myhiem Khan brought up his 50 with an extra cover four, and went on to score a brilliant 67, decorated with 12 fours and 1x6 before falling to Bryion Bowen, caught and bowl. Alvin Mohabir made 29, Kelvin Gordon chipped in with a breezy 18, and extras contributed a healthy 56.

Bowling for MYO, Shaid Anwar, Zahir Khan, Bryion Bowen and Fazil Mohamed each took 2 wickets.

In reply MYO were bowled out for 127 runs, with Avinash Rajkumar scoring 21 and Shaid Nazem scoring 25 runs. When Transport bowled, Little Reaz Latif, bowling his leg-spin, took 3 for 11, while John Persaud took 3 for 20.

This match was played in good spirit, and gratitude is hereby being extended to the management of MYO and the curator Cheddie, for the use of the venue and the preparation of the pitch respectively.

The Transport Sports Club also extends many thanks to Umpire Ava Baker for a job well done.

223-7230-1 (Ext 55)

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 3, 2021

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

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West Indies lock horns with Sri Lanka in T20I tonight

–“winning must become a habit,” says Pollard – Hetmyer’s absence a big void in WI game

C

ommencing from 18:00 hrs today, West Indies and Sri Lanka will face each other in the first game of the three-match T20I series, being played at the Coolidge Cricket Ground in Antigua.

It will be their first meeting in international cricket since March 2020. While India will host the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021 in the latter part of this calendar year, both teams will take this T20I series very seriously, as winning is literally everything.

The only two-time champions of T20I cricket, the West Indies, will have to defend their title in the forthcoming T20 World Cup, and a strong West Indies team is ready to play their first T20I match in this calendar year. While they won the two-match T20I series against the hosts Sri Lanka by a 2-0 margin in March 2020, West Indies played a threematch T20I series against hosts New Zealand last November and suffered a 2-0 series defeat.

Captain Kieron Pollard is, however, ready to make a fresh start in this T20I series. Chris Gayle has returned to the Caribbean team after more than two years of being out, and Dwayne Bravo has returned to the T20I side after missing out on their last tour to New Zealand. Also, 39-year-old fast bowler Fidel Edwards has earned a surprise call-up, having last played an international match in November 2012.

While bowling is the WI’s weak point in their present T20I squad, West Indies have enough powerful batsmen to dominate the proceedings in this series.

Sri Lanka Sri Lanka will be playing their first T20I match

since March 2020, when they suffered a 2-0 home T20I series defeat against the Caribbean side. This series can bring out a proper image of the Sri Lankan team which would be contesting the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021. They didn’t win any T20I match in the last year, and are currently running winless journeys in the last eight T20Is (7 defeats and 1 no result).

Dasun Shanaka has been named captain of this T20I team, but there is still chaos on the Sri Lankan side because of his absence, occasioned by visa issues. However, experienced all-rounder Angelo Mathews has been chosen as the stand-in captain until Shanaka lands in the Caribbean.

Apart from Mathews, the visitors have other experienced players, like Suranga Lakmal, Thisara Perera, Dinesh Chandimal and Niroshan Dickwella, among others.

West Indies are currently running with a fourmatch winning streak against Sri Lanka in T20I cricket. Also, the hosts, Caribbean side, are strong enough in T20I cricket.

So, West Indies are favourite for this T20I series opener. (StatsZone) Pollard speaks ahead of T20I opener West Indies will be looking to take the T20I series against Sri Lanka with some ease, having lost 2-0 to New Zealand in 2020 as they prepare for the T20 World Cup scheduled to be hosted in India later this year.

In a meeting with the media, Pollard noted that while losing to New Zealand was not what the WI wanted, all of it must be left in the past, as he

prefers to focus on the present, owing to the fact that the current series is of the utmost importance.

Further, he noted that coming off a successful Super 50 tournament, the team must now gel together as fast as possible, as their aim would be to have a mixture of young blood with the experienced players, as it is his belief that the youthful players can learn from the experienced players.

The Windies captain has also said the team must get into the habit of winning matches as they are the defending World T20 champions, and if it means having to include a few veteran players to achieve that objective, then it must be done.

Pollard has also urged the young and upcoming players to give of their best and ‘stick their heads out’. He was making special reference to Guyana’s Kevin Sinclair, who has had an excellent Regional Super50 tournament and CPL 2020, as he was economical with the ball in both tournaments.

Pollard reiterated that opportunities will present themselves, but it is up to the players to remain consistent, as their time will soon come.

When asked about the void that would be created by the absence of Shimron Hetmyer from the squad - he was left out of the white ball squad (T20I and ODI) because he failed to pass his fitness test - Pollard said, “A big void, there is no secret about that. But he knows exactly what he needs to do, he knows the reason and honesty as to why he isn’t here at this point in time.

“We need to be open and honest at times rather than trying to pamper certain situations. Again, you’re damned if you do, and you’re damned if you don’t in certain aspects, but he (Hetmyer) has left a

Guyana Lottery Company backs Fruta Conquerors for CONCACAF Caribbean Club Shield tourney

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lite League champions Fruta Conquerors FC are again slated to participate in the Caribbean Club Shield next month, and the Guyana Lottery Company (GLC) has eased some of their worries as they continue their preparations.

Fruta Conquerors Football Club has received a timely donation from the Guyana Lottery Company amidst their preparation for the CONCACAF Caribbean Club Shield. This tournament, slated for April 23 to May 7, will be the second consecutive time that the Tucville-based team has made the cut, following their participation in 2019.

GLC’s Let’s Bets Brand Ambassador Rawle Toney shared the reason for the Company’s support, citing the impressive track record of the team on and off the field.

“This is a momentous occasion for the club, and more so (for) football in Guyana. It gives some sort of semblance to normalcy where sport

is concerned, and (is) a bold step taken by the club to participate in this tournament,

especially with no sport happening over the last year,” sports journalist Toney has explained.

Toney added, “So the Guyana

Lottery Company is pleased to be associated in supporting the Fruta Conquerors Football Club, because we know that our support goes a very far way, and the club is also known for producing young men who are well respected people of society.”

The Caribbean Club Shield event will be hosted in Curacao, and the Guyanese team has been drawn in Group C, with Hope International FC of St Vincent and the Grenadines and SV Racing Club from Aruba.

Fruta Conquerors’ Daniel Thomas, in sharing that the team is hoping to get support from Sport Minister Charles Ramson Jr, promised that the team is committed to bettering its performance this time around.

“We’d really like to express gratitude to the management, especially Ms. Tracy Lewis of the Guyana Lottery Company, for coming on board to support Fruta Conquerors

Football Club. The first step is always critical to any success that you may choose to endeavour on. It gets the word out to the media, it gets the word out to corporate Guyana that, hear, these guys are real, this tournament is on, and you need to come on board and support.”

Former Golden Jaguars forward and now Fruta Conquerors player Gregory ‘Jackie Chan’ Ricardson thanked the company and urged other to get on board.

Jackie Chan shared, “There’s a lot more to come, as long as companies come on board with the club, because we need some help to help ourselves too. I want to thank the Guyana Lottery Company for supporting us.”

Fruta Conquerors will play their two group games on April 23 and April 27, after which the successful teams from each group will advance. The Fruta Conquerors began training at their Tucville base some two weeks ago.

big, big void, and we have obviously expressed our disappointment. But, in the end, he knows what he has to do to be on these white ball teams.”

The Windies captain noted that the team would require more consistency from the top four batters leading up to the series, and much is expected from Lendl Simmons, Evin Lewis, Andre Fletcher and Chris Gayle.

Pollard is hoping the WI can make that big impact and take the 3 match T20I series. He also noted that everyone knows their role in the team, and that each is expected to fulfill that role heading into the first matchup.

Pollard has insisted that while the Sri Lanka T20 series may not be a marker, the West Indies do need to start winning, as winning must become a habit for them, and everything else will come into play.

Golden Jaguars midfielder Neil Danns signs with Connah’s Quay Nomads

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ales-based football club Connah’s Quay Nomads have announced the signing of experienced Golden Jaguars midfielder Neil Danns.

Danns, 38, whose move is subject to international clearance, has made over 400 appearances in the Football League, and has international experience with Guyana.

The midfielder started his career at Blackburn Rovers, during which time he had loan spells at Blackpool, Hartlepool United, and Colchester United.

Danns joined the latter on a permanent basis in 2004, and spent two years at the club before joining Birmingham City.

The Guyana international made 103 appearances for Crystal Palace, whilst also having permanent spells in the Football League at Leicester City, Bolton, Bury and Tranmere Rovers.

Most recently, Danns played for the likes of Radcliffe, Halifax Town, and was on trial at Chorley, where the Nomads spotted him after their season was curtailed.

On the international stage, the midfielder made his Guyana debut in March 2015, where he set up both goals in a 2-0 victory over Grenada.

Danns was also part of Guyana’s 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup squad, and scored all three of his country’s goals in that competition.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 3, 2021

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

West Indies lock horns with Sri Lanka in T20I tonight Pg 23

–“winning must become a habit,” says Pollard – Hetmyer’s absence a big void in WI game

Guyana Lottery Company backs Fruta Conquerors for CONCACAF Caribbean Club Shield tourney

Pg 23

Let’s Bet Brand Ambassador Rawle Toney handing over the donation to Fruta’s Gregory “Jackie Chan” Richardson in the presence of club Secretary Daniel Thomas

Shanella London looking to win Golden Jaguars Guyana Open 2021 golf tourney midfielder Neil

Danns signs with Connah’s Quay Nomads

– urges more women to play golf

By Timothy Jaikarran

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name that is no stranger to those on and off the golf course is Shanella London. She has continued to “put in the work” as she prepares for the Guyana Open. In the recently concluded S Jagmohan Hardware Supplies and Construction Services golf tournament, London came in 2nd, and was the only female in the top 4, defeating countless opponents.

Shanella London has credited her coach Dr Emmanuel London for her results, and has praised him for pushing her the extra mile. In an exclusive interview with this publication, London had the following to say: “The truth is, it’s been six years since I am playing the game of golf, and for those past years, I must say I have been enjoying the game. I must say thanks to my coach, Dr London, for motivating me to play this game. I mean, sometimes it’s hard to wake up every day at 5 o’ clock, but, nevertheless, I come and play golf, I try to do it at least three times per week, and then on Saturdays when they have competitions.”

London is encouraging all ladies to come out and try their hand at the game of golf, as she is confident each lady would enjoy herself. She is also adamant that the lack of women participating in the sport during competition would put the few women to engage in competition against the men.

London also notes that she loves a good challenge and enjoys herself. She is avidly encouraging women and young people to come out and enjoy the competitive sport of golf.

Some of London’s amazing feats thus far are: being one of the first females to compete in the Suriname Open and win the A category; winning the Guyana Open once; playing golf in Barbados and Jamaica among other places.

In closing the interview, London said, “I think this is a lot going forward, and I think I have the potential to do great things and win the Guyana Open this year.”

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Shanella London receives her trophy from LGC President Patanjilee Persaud

Neil Danns has signed with Connah’s Quay Nomads

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