Guyana Times - Wednesday, November 18, 2020

CDC provides food P15 hampers, vitamins to St Cuthbert’s Mission

… as community remains under full lockdown Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Issue No. 4473

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2020

PRICE

First 4.7 mile-deep Kaieteur Block oil well not profitable

$80 VAT INCLUDED

WHAT'S INSIDE: After 1 year

UG urges patience as students P16 complain of delayed certificates

See story on page 3

…but exploration continues – ExxonMobil

Rebooting economy, solving citizens’ problems Govt’s priority – Jagdeo Page 7

P9 Evidence of coalition’s land “giveaways” solid, will unfold in coming days – Jagdeo

US$1B Belgium cocaine bust

Guyana was trans-shipment point – CANU Head Page 13

COVID-19 deaths reach 140 P9 …16 new cases recorded

Page 7 AmCham Guyana hosted its Thanksgiving treat on Tuesday with participation from the US Embassy in Georgetown. COVID-19 care packages were donated to a number of care homes and institutions, including CIOG, the Night Shelter, Archer's Home, Mercy’s Home, Byer’s Senior Citizens Home and PURPOSE Charity. In photo, US Ambassador to Guyana, Sarah-Ann Lynch delivering care packages on behalf of AmCham Guyana to Archer’s Home

Cane harvester charged for killing wife Page 11

…says cocaine was stockpiled locally then loaded onto vessel

Page 2

Pork-knocker dies after mining pit collapses P12 EBD land scandal

Dead: Amrita Rahim

students, 5 After 1 year off Toronto exchange 6teachers test

Omai to resume trading following reverse takeover Distribution of COVID-19 cash grant starts in Region 5 Page 17

…$625M for 25,000 households

P14

Businessman denies attempt to defraud State

P10

positive for COVID-19 in Bartica …tests for Region 9 students return negative – Minister

Major fire averted at Palms P2 …arson suspected

2 NEWS

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

After 1 year off Toronto exchange

Omai to resume trading following reverse takeover O

mai Gold Mines, which is aiming to reclaim its place as Guyana's top gold producer, has announced the impending resumption of trading following a recent reverse takeover.

The news was announced

by Omai Gold Mines on Tuesday and it comes following the completion of its reverse takeover of Avalon Investment Holdings.

According to Omai, trading will resume on the Toronto Stock Exchange as a Tier 2 mining issuer under the symbol “OMG” as of November 18, 2020.

It was further explained that the shares held by former Avalon shareholders have been cancelled.

According to Omai, the shares of the Resulting Issuer have been issued to those shareholders in replacement.

"Following the closing of the RTO (reverse takeover transaction), the company has a total of 189,869,799 common shares issued and outstanding. An aggregate of 57,095,017 common shares and 4,500,008 stock options held by the Principals of the Company are subject to Tier 2 Value Escrow," the compa-

Overhead view of Omai Gold Mines in Guyana

ny said.

According to the company, the escrow shares will be released in phases, with the first stage seeing 5 per cent being released on the issuance of the Final Exchange Bulletin and the remainder

being released within three years.

It was only recently that Omai completed its takeover of Avalon, a Barbados-based company. The takeover saw Omai getting a new Board of Directors and President in

the form of Mario Stifano.

The new Board of Directors meanwhile includes Denis Clement, Adam Spencer and Paul Fornazzari; Executive Director and Founder Harvey McKenzie; Chief Financial Officer and Secretary Denis LaPoint; Vice President of Exploration, Jason Brewster and Vice President of Operations, Nadine Miller.

On closing of the transaction, James Franklin, Michael Florence and John Sadowski resigned as Directors of the company and Jason Brewster resigned as President and CEO of the company. Clearhouse LLP, Chartered Accountants were, however, retained as the auditors of Omai.

Avalon was a private gold exploration company focused on gold projects in Guyana. The company’s flagship gold project was the famous Omai Gold Mine, which it acquired from the Government of Guyana in 2018.

Back in July 2020, Avalon, at the time the holder of an indirect 100 per cent interest in the Omai Gold Mine in Guyana, had announced that it had completed a non-brokered private placement financing for aggregate proceeds of US$4,500,000.

Under the terms of the financing, Avalon issued 30,000,000 common shares of Avalon to a subsidiary of

Silvercorp Metals Inc at a price of US$0.15 per common share. Silvercorp is a profitable Canadian mining company producing silver, lead and zinc metals in concentrates from mines in China.

Trade in Omai's common shares on the Toronto stock exchange was halted since last year at the company's request.

Omai is reportedly sitting on potentially 15 million ounces of gold deposits.

And Omai’s Vice President of Exploration, Dr Dennis LaPoint has been confident that the company can become Guyana's top gold producer again.

In a previous interview with this publication, LaPoint had said that they are likely to surpass the figures being churned out

by Aurora (recently taken over by new management) and Troy Resources (which restarted operations in January after a two-month closure).

LaPoint had explained that under its former management, Cambior, Omai produced 3.7 million ounces of gold. But according to him, this has hardly scratched the surface and Omai is far from mined out.

In fact, he had noted that Cambior would have continued its work on the then Fennell and Wenot pits, were it not for their financial difficulties.

Major fire averted at Palms

…arson suspected

Palms Geriatric Home

T

he Guyana Fire Service has launched an investigation into the motive for an attempted arson attack on the Palms Geriatric Home on Brickdam, Georgetown.

Quick response by the Guyana Fire Service (GFS) averted what could have been a major situation at the Home, after a fire erupted early Monday morning.

Guyana Times understands that the fire started at about 07:00h outside the matron’s office while another was set at the dormitory building. Fire service ranks were immediately summoned, and responded promptly and managed to extinguish the blaze before it escalated.

After the blaze was extinguished and an investigation was done around the premises, piles of paper were found

in the building where the fire started.

Fire Chief Marlon Gentle said in another section of the media that when fire tenders arrived on the scene, there was a pile of paper at the matron’s building, and ranks suspect that might have caused the fire. Residents and staff were immediately evacuated.

However, while trying to extinguish the fire at the matron’s building, Gentle said someone started another fire at the dormitory’s building.

That too was extinguished.

The fire is now being treated as arson, as investigations continue.

The Palms Geriatric institution has been built to facilitate the elderly who can no longer take of themselves or need a home. The home hosts about 194 in-house elderly residents.

3 First 4.7 mile-deep Kaieteur Block oil well not profitable NEWS

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS OPENINGS BRIDGE

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Wednesday, November 18 – 04:30h – 06:00h and Thursday, November 19 – 04:30h – 06:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Wednesday, November 18 – 06:20h – 07:50h and Thursday, November 19 – 07:05h – 08:35h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Expect sunshine during the day. There will be clear skies at night. Temperatures should range between 20 degrees Celsius and 31 degrees Celsius.

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

High Tide: 06:23 and 18:33h reaching maximum heights of 2.58 metres and 2.68 metres.

Low Tide: 12:07h reaching a minimum height of 0.69 metre.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2020

LOTTERY NUMBERS J

02 05 07

14 17 28

FREE TICKET

1 Bonus Ball

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2020

DAILY MILLIONS

13 16 18 21 24 LUCKY 3

7

7

3

5

Afternoon Draw

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…but exploration continues – ExxonMobil

T

he much-anticipated Tanager-1 well, which many expected would lead to an oil discovery, has been found to contain oil that is not commercially viable.

This was initially revealed by a United Kingdom-based investment firm. In a subsequent statement on the matter, Exxon's Government Affairs Adviser Janelle Persaud confirmed that the oil find was not economically viable.

"We will evaluate the data we have gained through additional tests and analysis, and will continue exploration activities across our acreage offshore Guyana, including in the high-risk frontier areas such as the Kaieteur and Canje blocks,” she added.

The UK investment firm, Westmount, had revealed in a statement that ExxonMobil encoun-

tered 16 metres of net oil pay. Westmount Executive Chairman Gerard Walsh described Tanager-1 as a "mixed bag".

"The outcome of the Tanager-1 exploration has proved to be a mixed bag – confirming the extension of the Liza play fair way onto the Kaieteur Block, but apparently coming up short at the deeper stratigraphic level," he said.

Tanager-1, drilled by the Stena Carron is the deepest well ExxonMobil has so far drilled offshore Guyana, with a total depth of 8000 metres.

Evening Draw

DRAW DE LINE

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10

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PAY DAY

20 SUPER PAY DAY FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2020

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

COMMODITIES Indicators

US$

Change %

Crude Oil

$43.75/barrel

-0.16

Rough Rice

$221.31/ton

-0.36

London Sugar

$414.10/ton

-1.59

Live Spot Gold

USD Per Ounce

Bid/Ask

$1878.40

$1879.40

Low/High

$1875.50

$1894.90

Change

-1.60

- 0.09%

223-7230-1 (Ext 55)

The Stena Carron

It was also widely believed by experts to have high prospects of success.

In fact, Westwood Global Energy Group had identified Tanager as a key well to watch. Back in September, analyst Jamie Collard had this to say during a webinar.

“If we start with

Suriname and Guyana…

Westwood has highlighted two wells – Sloanea and Tanager as key wells to watch. They are both targeting the upper cretaceous. Tanager is targeting an upper floor fan outward

of the Liza discovery and Sloanea will be trying to extend the Liza play further up,” Collard had said.

The last time Exxon found oil was in September 2020 at its Redtail-1 well, where the company made its 18th local oil find and second for the year.

Last year, Exxon made five discoveries offshore Guyana. Discoveries were made in the Tilapia-1 well, Haimara-1, Yellowtail-1, Tripletail-1 and Mako-1 wells. These discoveries had pushed the total estimated recoverable barrels of oil equivalent to over six billion.

The company also discovered oil in the Uaru-1 well back in January 2020.

Uaru was ExxonMobil’s 16th oil discovery in the Stabroek Block.

The Uaru-1 well was drilled in a new reservoir, encountering approximately 94 feet (29 metres) of

high-quality oil-bearing sandstone reservoir and was drilled in 6342 feet (1933 metres) of water.

In July of 2020, ExxonMobil’s partner in the Stabroek Block, Hess Corporation had revealed that two high-quality reservoirs offshore Guyana were found in 2020 around the time the company was appraising the Yellowtail-2 well.

So far, the Liza-1 well has accounted for all of Guyana's oil production.

Guyana only began producing oil last year in the Stabroek Block, lifting its first million barrels of profit oil from the Liza-1 well in February 2020.

The Bank of Guyana’s half-year report, which covers the period up to the end of June 2020, had recently revealed that Guyana produced over 10 million barrels of oil during the first half of 2020.

4

guyanatimesgy.com

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2020

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

No room for complacency T

he World Health Organisation (WHO), one of the key UN agencies involved in the fight against the deadly coronavirus pandemic, has once again, this past week, expressed that it is extremely concerned about the surge in COVID-19 cases, and urged all countries not to become complacent, as the risk could be very costly.

Over the past few days, it was observed that there is a surge in cases, especially in Europe and North America. The WHO and other development partners have expended tremendous time and resources to contain the spread of the virus since it was discovered early this year. However, the threat is still evident, and it is important that all countries, including Guyana, continue to take proactive steps in containing the spread of the virus.

Although welcoming the latest news on COVID-19 vaccines, WHO said it is awaiting further data on these potential treatments. WHO Chief Scientist Dr Soumya Swaminathan called the development “quite encouraging”, while also expressing caution. Biotech company Moderna announced on Monday that its experimental vaccine has shown a nearly 95 per cent efficacy rate, according to interim results. This follows a recent similar announcement by pharmaceutical companies Pfizer and BioNTech that they have developed a vaccine which has about 90 per cent efficacy rate.

The Moderna vaccine is among nine candidates in the COVAX Facility: a global initiative for equitable vaccine access led by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance; the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), and WHO. More than 170 countries have joined the Facility, including some 92 low- and middle-income nations.

The Pfizer vaccine has been tested on tens of thousands of people across six countries, with no safety concerns having been raised, and the companies plan to take it to regulators for final approval, with the hope of it being in widespread use before the end of the year. It uses a completely experimental approach – which involves injecting part of the virus's genetic code in order to train the immune system.

Previous trials have shown the vaccine trains the body to make both antibodies - and another part of the immune system, called T-cells, to fight the coronavirus. Pfizer believes the companies would be able to supply 50 million doses by the end of this year, and around 1.3 billion by the end of 2021.

Similarly, Moderna is also hoping to have the doses ready within a matter of months.

However, there are questions about how long immunity lasts, and the companies have not presented a breakdown of the vaccine's effectiveness in different age groups. It should be noted though, that the data presented is not the final analysis.

In Pfizer’s case, it is based on the first 94 volunteers to develop COVID, the precise effectiveness of the vaccine may change when the full results are analysed. It is expected that the companies would have enough safety data by the third week of November to take their vaccine to regulators.

Of note, too, is that even after the vaccine is approved, there is also the question of access, especially for developing countries. In Guyana’s case, the Government has already started taking steps to prepare for the procurement and storage of the vaccine. The Minister of Health has said that Guyana would first access 3% of a COVID-19 vaccine, followed by 20% at a later date, through the COVAX facility.

Several independent experts have called on countries to support the COVAX initiative for global equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines. The experts have outlined that, under international human rights law, access to any COVID-19 vaccine and treatment must be made available to all who need them, within and across countries, especially those in vulnerable situations or living in poverty.

A vaccine - alongside better treatments - is seen as the best way of getting out of the restrictions that have been imposed on all our lives. However, it is only when the vaccines are given the final approval and ready to be administered to people that countries would be able to return to some form of normalcy. Hence, the need for health authorities to continue impressing upon persons the need to maintain the necessary health protocols. There is no room for complacency.

Prime Minister, Brigadier (ret’d) Mark Phillips visited the Goedverwagting, East Coast Demerara home of the oldest surviving Guyanese veteran, Benjamin Durant, who celebrated his 102nd birth anniversary on Tuesday. The Prime Minister presented the centenarian with two hampers, consisting primarily of dietary items, and wished him good health, strength and happiness. He also thanked the veteran for his service and said he is both humbled and inspired by the stories the ex-serviceman shared of his life during their conversation (DPI photo)

Removal of taxes on television sets must be considered since TVs now a source of learning Dear Editor, The COVID-19 pandemic is overwhelming the functioning and outcomes of education systems—some of which were already stressed in many respects. This is true across the Guyana and affects all children, though to differing degrees depending on multiple factors—including the villages /region where they live, as well as their ages, family backgrounds, and degree of access to some “substitute” educational opportunities during the pandemic. I had a firsthand opportunity to see and highlight some of the difficulties parents and students are going through during this period while visiting so many homes in Region 10 house to house during the covid-19 relief $25,000 cash grant. The many academic challenges faced by students in Region 10 during the COVID-19 pandemic are linked to social and economic challenges. The pandemic highlighted a digital divide in Region 10 and Guyana, sparking concerns, particularly in education, of the gap. Access for student to computers and affordable, reliable internet has become a priority during and in the aftermath of the COVID -19 pandemic. Our PPP/C Government

had foreseen this when they launch one laptop per family programme, which was scrape by the previous APNU/AFC visionless leaders. The new PPP/C Government and the nonprofit literacy is now moving to address these issues and challenges facing students all across this nation by investing in laptops and iPads for our school children to aid virtual – learning programme.

However, the removal of duties on television set must be considered since TVs is now considered a source of learning. The lack of access to technology is an obvious imperative when lessons are being delivered digitally –is far from the only area in which economic disadvantage translates to academic The closure of schools, compounded by the associated public health and economic crises, poses major challenges to our students and their teachers.

The 2021 school year will be underway soon, and with many schools remaining physically closed as the 2020– year end, there is more we need to understand and think through if we are to meet the crisis head-on. If students are to not see their temporary in-

terruptions become sustained and are to regain lost ground, if teachers are to do their jobs effectively during and after the pandemic, and if our education system is to deliver on its excellence and equity goals during the next phases of this pandemic, it will be critical to identify which students are struggling most and how much learning and development they have lost out on, which factors are impeding their learning, what problems are preventing teachers from teaching these children, and, very critically, which investments must be made to address these challenges. For each child, this diagnostic assessment will deliver a unique answer, and the system will have to meet the child where he or she is. A strengthened system based on meeting children where they are and providing them with what they need will be key to lifting up our children.

Our Government must briefly review the relevant literature on educational settings that have features in common with how education is occurring during the crisis and emerging evidence on opportunity gaps during the COVID-19 pandemic in order to propose a three-pronged plan.

The plan covers the three Rs: (immediate) relief for schools, (short-term) recovery, and (long-term) rebuilding for schools and the education system as a whole., As parent when our children are not in their schools or classes what should we expect the consequences to be ?The current downturn is unique, and in most ways it is much more severe than any we have experienced in recent history. Almost overnight, the pandemic forced the cancellation of the traditional learning that takes place in school settings. It imposed substantial alterations in the “inputs” used to produce education—typically all the individual, family, teacher, school, etc., characteristics or determinants that affect “outcomes” like test scores.

The pandemic has affected inputs at home too, as families and communities juggling health and work crises are less able to provide supports for learning at home because there are no direct comparisons to past events or trends, we are without fully valid references for assessing the likely impacts of the COVID-19 crisis on our children.

Sincerely, David Adams

guyanatimesgy.com

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2020

5

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

Guyanese can be confident of our road to a successful existence Dear Editor, The PPP/C has successfully completed 100 days in office, and there is reason to celebrate, because we have a Government that was installed by the people and is working on behalf of the very same people of this country; in this regard, there is reason to be joyful.

Now, what is worthy of note is that these achievements were done in the midst of a crippling pandemic, which in itself has impeded growth somewhat; nevertheless, the new Government has weathered the storm in a determined and successful way, and has put us well on the upward path to development.

The ministers, including the President, have fanned out across this country on a strict work schedule.

They are meeting the people and hearing their concerns, while at the same time looking into ways of finding solutions. This is the focus of the newly installed PPP/C Government, a picture-perfect painting of what a government should be.

Contrast that with the PNC-led coalition, whose immediate task on their accession to office was to raise their salaries and emoluments to the grand total of 50%, and commensurately their emoluments. It seems like filthy lucre was their obsession, and not the interest of the people. This was the situation we had to endure for five years, three months on. In addition,

the ministers of the previous administration were aloof mortals, people whom the ordinary man could not reach or talk to; meeting with the people was unheard of.

Then came the scandals and blatant acts of corruption. I am talking about the ExxonMobil signing bonus; the massive illegal land giveaways, we were fast becoming tenants in our own backyard; a disgraceful situation of a sitting minister's brother being embroiled in a drug bust, among other maniacal occurrences.

However, lest I be carried away by the glaring atrocities of the PNC, just let me get back to the achievements of the PPP/ C's 100 days in office.

• The institution of inclusive Government: members of the other contesting parties are called upon to take up key positions to run this country.

• In less than a month, there was an emergency budget put in place to get the economy moving forward.

• The rooting out of corruption and removal of all vestiges of subversion and backwardness. Those who held this country back for five long months with their rigging apparatus will be brought to justice, we will ensure that this malady does not occur or ever lift its ugly head again. We are now into the era of the settling in of peace, prosperity and development.

• Every project that was earmarked by the PPP/C Government is onstream for completion, and those that were carried over from the Coalition as well.

• The inflow of business opportunities, where a

number of foreign businesses are starting to invest in Guyana, and the opening up of the economy. in the same vein, there is new life fanned into the nostrils of local businesses also, as brighter and newer avenues for investment begin

to manifest themselves. No more is there a stranglehold on business development.

• All the ministries are up and running, a circumstance that is pivotal to progress in a modern Guyana.

With such an army of

honest and dedicated workers working in total harmony, Guyanese can be confident that we are on the road to a successful existence in this part of the globe.

Dear Editor, The Guyana Energy Agency introduced the biometric marking of all imported fuels under its previous head, late Mr. Joseph O'Lall, circa 2003, in an effort to combat fuel smuggling. The existing condition then was that fuel sold on the markets of Trinidad and Venezuela was heavily subsidised by their respective governments, and sold very much cheaper than the regular export market prices. Fuel smugglers capitalised on this disparity in prices and, in collaboration with locals in Trinidad and Venezuela, smuggled the subsidised fuel into Guyana and undersold the legitimate suppliers, who bought their fuel from those countries’ refineries at the regular Platts market pricing.

The Guyana Energy Agency (GEA) in its effort to identify and curb fuel smuggling, introduced the marking of all fuels imported by authorised dealers with a biological marker, hence any fuel found without this bio-

metric marker would be illegal. This biometric marker came at a cost, which GEA charged to the oil companies, and they in turn factored this into their selling prices at the gas stations.

Rewind to present day conditions in Trinidad and Venezuela with respect to fuel supply, and the situation is now totally different.

Trinidad has closed down its refinery and is now importing all its fuel requirement for local consumption and export. It has removed the subsidy, and all its fuels are now sold at market prices.

Venezuela, on the other hand, has gone through a complete reversal: from having fuel being smuggled out of their country to fuel now being smuggled into the country due to the tremendous shortages caused by dysfunctional refineries.

Clearly, the situation no longer presents itself as a primary source for fuel smugglers to operate in these two countries; therefore, we should ask

the quintessential question whether fuel smuggling is still a threat to legitimate dealers. If our review shows that it is not, then we should do away with the biometric marking system and its associated cost on the price at the pump.

There is an old management anecdote told about relevance when the House of Commons in England

was painted centuries ago.

A guard was posted outside to warn the members of the House not to touch the walls, since it was freshly painted.

As the story goes, the guard was still posted centuries after the wall had dried. No one bothered to review the posting or its raison d'etre.

Respectfully, Neil Adams

Is costly biometric marking of fuel

by GEA still necessary?

Yours sincerely, Reggie Bhagwandin

news@guyanatimesgy.com

6

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2020

Page

Foundation ◄

Æsop’s Fables

FOR CHILDREN

S

ometimes you want to find a figure’s area, or the number of units it would take to fill it. Those units are called square centimetres, metres, or kilometres in metric units or square inches, feet, yards or miles in customary units.

To find the area of a rectangle or a square, multiply the length x the width. In a rectangle and a square, both lengths and both widths are the same, but use only one of each when you multiply.

Remember Be careful! A square metre does not equal 100 square cm or a square foot, 12 square inches. A square metre equals 1 metre (100 cm) x 1 metre (100 cm) = 1m2 (10,000 square cm) and a square foot = 144 square inches.

Examples: To find the area of a triangle, multiply its length (also 1 called its base) x its height x 2

Exercises: Calculate 1) What is the area of a square with 4m sides?

2) Which has a greater area, a 7-cm square or a rectangle with sides of 5 cm and 8 cm?

3) Which has a greater area, a 14-cm square or an equilateral triangle with sides of 8 cm?

4) A triangle has sides of 8 metres. What is its area?

5) A right triangle with sides measuring 4, 5, and 6 cm has what area?

6) What is the area of a rectangle with sides of 20 cm and 86 cm?

1 2

Find the figure’s area.

1 Multiply 7 x 5 x 2 = 17.5 square cm Tuesday’s answers

H

1) 8 cm 4) 24 metres

ave you ever played mini golf? It might seem like just a game, but there is a lot of science behind it! Learn about the physics behind a rolling, bouncing mini golf ball and design your own mini golf course in this fun science activity.

Materials Paper Scissors Pencil Ruler Tape Large table or counter Rubber bouncy ball Assorted small but heavy household items like canned food, a metal stapler, a roll of duct tape, etc. The objects should be heavy enough that the ball can bounce off them without moving them.

Instructions

Area = 9 cm (length) x 20 cm (width) = 180 square cm

2) The square (28 cm) 5) 15 cm

Cut two circles out of paper. Label one “start” and one “finish”. The smaller you make the “finish” circle, the more difficult the game will be.

1.Make a few sketches of different mini golf hole designs before you start building. Draw the start location, finish location, and any obstacles you want to put in between them.

Try to include at least one obstacle that blocks the direct path from start to finish.

2. Is it still possible to get a hole in one in your designs by bouncing the ball off obstacles or walls? Use the ruler to draw a series of straight lines representing the ball’s path from start to finish. How many times does the ball

3) The square (56 cm) 6) 212 cm (2.12m)

have to bounce to make it to the finish location?

3. Now build one of your mini golf holes by assembling the obstacles and taping down the start/finish circles, and try it out. Put the ball on the start circle, and roll or flick it with your finger.

Can you get a hole in one by following the path you drew on paper?

4. If you do not get a hole in one, keep rolling the ball until you get it to the “finish” spot. Then, go back to the start and try again. Can you get a hole in one if you keep practising? How closely does the actual path match your predicted path?

Repeat the process for some of your other designs. Are some designs easier than others? (sciencebuddies.org)

A

stag had fallen sick. He had just strength enough to gather some food and find a quiet clearing in the woods, where he lay down to wait until his strength should return. The animals heard about the stag’s illness and came to ask after his health. Of course, they were all hungry, and helped themselves freely to the stag’s food; and as you would expect, the stag soon starved to death.

Goodwill is worth nothing unless it is accompanied by good acts

WORD SEARCH

NEWS

7

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Rebooting economy, solving citizens’ problems Govt’s priority – Jagdeo

S

ince taking office, the Government has prioritised solving the problems of its citizens and rebooting the economy in the COVID-19 environment.

Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo made this statement during an interview about the Administration’s

achievements during its first 100 days in office.

One of the Government’s priorities, Jagdeo told the National Communications Network in an interview, was getting assistance to citizens, which saw the provision of the $25,000 per household COVID-19 relief

cash grant, and according to him, this initiative has been well received countrywide and has been helpful to thousands.

“Of the 110,000 packages delivered so far, we have had 11,000 pink slips (query form) filled out, which is about 10 per cent more,

Collect receipts, inspect goods – consumers cautioned as Christmas shopping approaches

C

onsumers all across Guyana are reminded to be mindful of their rights under the Consumer Affairs Act 2011, as they go about their shopping for the Christmas season.

This call was made by the Competition and Consumers Affairs Commission (CCAC). It said that it is also calling on suppliers to conform to their obligations under the said Act. During and following the Christmas season, the Commission said it receives a spike in queries and complaints from consumers. To avoid being cheated, the CCAC advised shoppers to ensure that they are provided with receipts as their proof of purchase.

The Commission is urg-

ing consumers to read and understand every detail of any contract before signing, insist on warranties and their right to refunds on returns. It also reminded them to inspect goods before purchase and make sure they research products and services before making the final decision to purchase.

The Commission implored suppliers to desist

from unfair trade practices by avoiding engagements in deceptive or misleading conduct which includes, insincere and alluring advertising and promotions.

According to CCAC, suppliers should also avoid providing false information on the nature, manufacturing process, characteristics, suitability for a purpose and quantity of goods and services.

The Commission noted that suppliers should also refrain from displaying the “No Refund” signs or refuse to offer refunds on returns as guided by the conditions under the Consumer Affairs Act. Consumers can seek advice and redress from the Commission by calling 2194410-3 or visiting the website at ccac.gov.gy.

Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo

and we have not completed all the regions,” Jagdeo is quoted as saying by the Department of Public Information.

The query form, or pink slip, will ensure that households with multiple families benefit from the grant.

Grant distribution started in the farthest regions September month-end and continues countrywide. The exercise began in Region Five on Sunday and will soon start in Region Four.

Jagdeo said the Government is proactive by ensuring that those most in

need get the necessary help soonest.

“We are programming some reimbursements through our retroactive financing, some reimbursement for early expenditure and we are already trying to target help for households and vulnerable families,” the Vice President said.

According to the Vice President, Government is also focusing on getting its quota of the COVID-19 vaccine early when it becomes available. It is encouraged by the announcement of US

company Moderna, that its vaccine has shown that it offers almost 95 per cent protection from the disease.

Jagdeo noted that the Government measures, through the 2020 emergency budget, will help to cushion the financial blow of the pandemic.

The $5000 increase in old-age pension will put close to $4 billion more in the pockets of pensioners.

An additional $400 million will be returned to the pockets of parents with the 100 per cent increase in the school uniform voucher.

Further, the $10,000 school grant per students has also been increased to $15,000.

“We are hoping by giving this out, we are putting billions of dollars in the pockets of families that have children, and they spend the money back in the economy so you will see more economic activities,” the Vice President is quoted as saying.

Other measures include the removal of value-added tax (VAT) on water and electricity, free water for pensioners, the removal of corporate tax on education and health and the removal of VAT on medical supplies.

8 NEWS

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Herstelling robbery-murder

Stay out of trouble – Judge warns as PK man released on time served

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evon Chacon, who had been on remand since 2016 for the October 20, 2016 murder of Abdool Ameer Subrati, was on Tuesday released on time served after pleading guilty to the lesser offence of manslaughter. Time served refers to the amount of time a defendant spent in jail awaiting trial or a guilty plea.

The confessed killer, of Port Kaituma, Region One (Barima-Waini), was arraigned before Justice Navindra Singh. He was represented by Attorneys-atLaw Nigel Hughes, Ronald Daniels, and Sophia Findlay,

Confessed killer Devon Chacon

while State Counsel Tuanna Hardy appeared for the prosecution. Media reports are that 44-year-old Subrati, a

father of two, was shot after gunmen invaded a house at Herstelling, East Bank Demerara.

During the ordeal, Subrati, according to the police, “put up a struggle” with one of the gunmen. He was shot to the neck and rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation where he died following surgery. He was a driver at the Demerara Harbour Bridge Corporation.

In a plea of mitigation, Daniels told the court that his client is 27 years old and worked as a miner before his incarceration. The lawyer begged the court to consider

the fact that this was his client’s first offence, and that he took the earliest opportunity to plead guilty. Also, defence counsel noted that there has been no bad report from the prison about his client.

After passing sentence, the Judge advised Chacon to see his release as a second chance at life and to stay out of trouble. Justice Singh informed that Chacon was sentenced to time served based on a discussion had between the prosecutor and defence counsel. The Judge, however, did not go into details about the discussion. This matter was heard at the High Court in Demerara.

Looking back...

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…at the gamble on Granger our Eyewitness was trying to put himself in the shoes of your typical PNC supporter to figure out what he thought of the events of the past five years. Quickly realising he just couldn’t perform that mental gymnastics, he did the next best thing: he asked his friend Georgie, an old PNC warhorse. First and foremost, Georgie intoned, he’s questioning whether it was worth the gamble the powers-that-be in his party took in rigging its internal elections to make sure that Granger was anointed as PNC leader.

Georgie understood the need for the PNC to have a makeover of its thug image - honed through the years by fellas from the inside like Hamilton Green, Robert Corbin and their wannabes in every decade; and on the outside by terrorists, from Dougla Alfred in the sixties to Fineman in the second millennium.

Initially, he’d supported Carl Greenidge as leader.

After all, Carl was as unthuggish as you could get, since he couldn’t punch his way out of a paper bag! And he’d been with the Party for donkey’s years, toiling away in Finance after Burnham had frittered away all the finance of the country. Not easy at all!

But Georgie went along with the rigged selection of Granger, since he was told Granger would toe the (party) line, being so inexperienced in politics. But he shoulda known better! While Granger had been out of the army for more than twenty years, it became clear that the army wasn’t out of him! The man started appointing his squaddies right, left and center in the party structure, and pretty soon, when he walked into meetings of the PNC Executive, folks had to jump to attention!!

Georgie thought the gambit to coalesce with the AFC was sound - hadn’t Comrade Forbes done the same thing with the UF to get out the PPP back in ‘64? It was especially a good move since neither Ramjattan nor Nagamootoo was any Peter D’Aguiar. Unlike that fella, who was independently wealthy and wouldn’t take any lip from Burnham, the two AFC leaders were basically just looking to feed at the trough of the Treasury! This was no gamble, since the AFC quickly lay down to become Granger’s doormat.

They proved their willingness to have Granger walk all over them when Granger threw the Report of the COI into the Sugar Industry into the wastebasket and then proceeded to shut down four sugar estates, and they insisted they approved!! But that was also when Georgie knew that Granger was going to rig the elections when his term ended.

Why else would he chase off the AFC’s votes that took him over the wire? …at Granger’s gamble Georgie didn’t have a problem with rigging the elections. After all, hadn’t Burnham rigged every election he participated in after the British left? Rigging was in the authentic tradition of the PNC! With all those precedents in front of him, Georgie was sure that Granger would pick one of the tried and true methods the Comrade Leader had devised. Like padding the Voters List with underage PNC youths through birth certificates handed out by Winston Felix. Why else would he have hived off “Immigration and Records” from Ramjattan and given it to that “Bannuh”?

Then there was the tried-and- true method of rushing the polling places in PNC strongholds by young “foot soldiers” - as was pointed out by Volda. They were just too many to count. So, when matters unfolded at Ashmins after March 3rd, Georgie was kerfuffled!

How in the world did Granger think he could get away with the stunt Mingo pulled? Especially with that soiled bedsheet afterwards.

Georgie was emphatic. Granger had to go!! …to the future Your Eyewitness finally asked the dazed Georgie as to how that would be accomplished. And his friend said simply, “Those who live by the sword shall die by the sword!”

A rigged election at the next PNC Congress?

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

NEWS

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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Evidence of coalition’s land “giveaways” solid, will unfold in coming days – Jagdeo

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ice President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo on Monday evening blasted the former APNU/ AFC Administration for what he referred to as “blatantly defending illegalities” in spite of strong evidence suggesting that the coalition’s land transactions were highly improper.

The PPP/C Government has claimed that since it took office in August this year, it found that the previous Government handed out huge tracts of prime lands, especially along the East Coast of Demerara (ECD), under highly questionable circumstances, and pledged that it will take action to ensure that the matter is fully investigated.

“Guyanese of every political persuasion, every race will be outraged, because that’s their asset, to see how

they were given to individuals in large scales, and this is with proof,” Jagdeo said during an interview with the State-owned NCN TV. Jagdeo said that many of the persons involved never thought that the transactions would have become public. He noted that the evidence of malfeasance in public office is solid and will unfold in the coming days.

“We will be able to prove this in a matter of days… we can show you the documents,” he said.

The Vice President highlighted that he could point to at least thirty cases of State lands being handed out, in some cases with little or no monies paid over even though there were payment schedules in effect.

He observed that rather than condemning such illegal actions, the APNU/AFC

Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo

is on a campaign to encourage persons not to hand over the lands back to the State.

“Here is a party saying that a person can get a piece of land, which, based on their evaluation, is worth one billion dollars, vested already, have the title for it, and that person must not give up the land, that’s their

party’s position now, they are defending the illegalities,” Jagdeo lamented.

He added: “When we have a clear case of a transfer of land, worth a billion dollars, to a private individual, where they vested the title in the person’s name, and the person has not paid a cent, although

COVID-19 deaths reach 140 …16 new cases recorded

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42-year-old man from Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) is the country’s latest COVID-19 fatality, increasing the death toll to 140.

He succumbed while being treated in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC). For November, there have been 12 reported deaths from the coronavirus.

For Tuesday, there were 16 new cases of the virus.

From the total 4890 positives detected thus far, 2558 were males while 2332 were females. Also, of this amount, 3930 persons have recovered.

There are 10 patients in the designated COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU), 100 persons in institutional isolation, 710 in home isolation and 60 in institutional quarantine.

A breakdown showed that four new cases were reported for Region One (BarimaWaini), four in Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica), three in Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne), three in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) and two in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).

Cases in Regions Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), Three (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara), Five (Mahaica-Berbice), Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) and Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) remained at 97; 366; 36; 158 and 376 respectively.

To date, the number of persons tested locally for the coronavirus is 25,417.

Limited sporting events

On Tuesday, Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony clarified that provisions were made for limited sport-

ing activities to be reconvened but bars at such events must remain closed.

Also, no spectators are allowed. During the course of such activities, he said officials will be dispatched to conduct checks, and violations will result in a halt of the respective event.

“Bars at these events must be closed. There must be no bars and there must be no drinking of alcoholic or other beverages. If you encourage that, it is going to create problems. So, it should not be a spectator event and no bars are allowed. It’s very clear. There are conditions to these events and [when] people apply for them, these conditions are made known to them. The secretariat would be sending out teams to do random checks. If they are not in compliance with the stipulations, then we can close the event down,” the Minister outlined.

Bars are not allowed, since masks have to be taken off and can result in people contracting the virus, especially if they are positive.

The Ministry has remained serious about such viola-

tions, as it can cause a massive spread of the coronavirus.

“These events, if not managed properly, can be super spreaders. A lot of people congregate and they get infected and they can

spread the disease. The reason why we don’t want bars, when you drink, you have to remove your mask and if somebody is near to you that is positive, you will be exposed to them,” the senior official shared.

TURN TO PAGE 10

there is a payment schedule in the contract, that’s criminal, that person has to be charged”.

Jagdeo cited, for example, a lease at Ogle for 200 acres of land, and in the lease document, it doesn’t say where exactly the 200 acres are leased.

“This is precisely what APNU is defending, their position should be where there is illegality, people have to face the music.”

The VP alleged that some of the persons who are in the Opposition now were part of this illegality, “they were the lawyers for the transactions or they were the beneficiaries of the transactions.”

Jagdeo was adamant that then President David Granger never gave the former Commissioner of Lands and Surveys, Trevor Benn, the authority to sell State lands.

“We looked at the instrument, you have to publish it in the Gazette, he (Trevor Benn) never had the right to dispose of lands, just to lease the land, he is exercising that responsibility on behalf of the President, the President delegated the responsibility, cause it’s the Minister who is the President under the Act, that has that responsibility,” the Vice President explained.

Jagdeo added that the Government will attempt to get clarity from Granger in relation to what powers Benn was entrusted with to dispose of State lands.

In relation to what action Government intends to take to ensure that these assets are returned to the State, Jagdeo said that the police are responsible ultimately for the investigations.

He noted that the necessary files will be handed over to the investigating of-

ficials and due process will be followed in all matters to ensure fairness.

It was revealed recently that senior member of the PNCR, James Bond had received US$1 million for prime lands at Peters Hall on the East Bank of Demerara – lands he had flipped. The lands were reportedly leased to Bond for a fraction of that cost.

The scenario with Bond is just one of numerous instances where questionable land deals were struck under the former coalition Government.

Between former Minister of Finance Winston Jordan and former Head of NICIL, Colvin Heath-London, the pair reportedly vested almost 100 acres of prime State land at Ogle, ECD, to eight different companies. All told, the total value of the lands is some $2.9 billion, but NICIL received only approximately $64 million in payments.

With prodding from the Government, some of the beneficiaries are refusing to return the lands to the State.

Meanwhile, five companies that were vested lands

by NICIL have since returned those to the State, in a bid for a more transparent process.

Meanwhile, the former Finance Minister has denied any wrongdoing in the transfer of the prime State lands without receiving complete payments.

In a statement recently, Jordan said certain allegations were made against him regarding his role in the sale of those lands. He added cryptically that the matter would be addressed “at the appropriate time”, noting that he has received legal advice that prevents him from delving into the issue further.

10 NEWS

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

6 students, 5 teachers test positive for COVID-19 in Bartica …tests for Region 9 students return negative – Minister

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ducation Minister Priya Manickchand on Tuesday said that a total of five teachers, six students and two ancillary staffers have tested positive for COVID-19 in Bartica, Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni) thus far.

Commenting on the situation, the Minister expressed, “While this is worrying, it is instructive to indicate just how many may be asymptomatic for if they were not tested, they would not know. So, each of us must treat as though each person we meet is positive.

We must take the medically recommended precautions all the time.”

One week ago, it was disclosed that two students at dormitories in Bartica tested positive for COVID-19.

Reports are one of the students was staying at the Three Miles Secondary School dormitory, while the other was saying at the Bartica Secondary School dormitory.

Ministry announced that officials had started contact tracing for the eight President’s College students who contracted the virus. Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony made this disclosure during his daily COVID-19 update.

The reopening of schools for Grades 10, 11 and 12

and those attending practical, technical and vocational institutes earlier this month would have seen a high turnout of teachers and students. Schools across the country were closed on March 16, 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Education Ministry

gave parents the option of keeping their children home if they were uncomfortable sending them back to school in the COVID-19 situation.

Parents can also opt to have their children transferred to the nearest secondary school – a process that can be completed in less than 24 hours. (G12)

COVID-19 deaths reach...

The township of Bartica

Meanwhile, all swabs for COVID-19 from Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) students have returned negative. These individuals were attached to two schools in the township.

Eight students, who were being housed at the President’s College dorm, had also tested positive for COVID-19 last week. That

was out of a total of 139 students housed at the educational facility. All eight of them were from Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni).

Minister Manickchand also announced that all students attending dormitory schools would be tested for COVID-19 as part of the Government’s efforts to ensure students’ safety.

Last week, the Health

Apart from cricket, there has been a request from the golf fraternity to restart games locally. It was noted that given the nature of the sport, it can be restarted as long as the rules are abided.

“We’re trying to work with the various sporting organisations and as we work with them, we’re ensuring that rules are in place to minimise exposure to the virus.”

Mental health

He said there has been

increased mental health issues, not just among frontline workers and patients, but generally among the population. Mental illness can arise when people worry about the disease, and can range from depression to anxiety.

Dr Anthony outlined, “You have the direct effects of the virus on people who would have been infected.

That’s one set of persons.

But then you have persons who are worrying about get-

FROM PAGE 9

ting the virus. They are very anxious and some persons who have isolated themselves at home, they have their own sets of issues.

Some can get depressed and so forth.”

He said health systems need to detect such conditions in a timely manner and counsel patients.

Recently, training was conducted with primary health workers, enabling them to recognise these ailments.

(G12)

NEWS

11

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Cane harvester charged for killing wife

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ays after confessing to the brutal murder of his wife, 32-yearold Taijram Rahim, a cane harvester, was on Thursday arraigned for the heinous crime at the Blairmont Magistrate’s Court.

The Police stated that Rahim, of Lot 7 Marcy Dam, Rosignol Village, West Coast Berbice (WCB), murdered his wife, Amrita Rahim, the mother of his three children, on November 13. He was not required to plead to the indictable charge, which was read by Magistrate Peter Hugh. He was remanded to prison, and the case was scheduled to continue on

Police had stated that the eyewitness told detectives that the couple attended a birthday party and returned home about 23:45h.

At that time, the suspect accused the now dead woman of infidelity.

This led to an argument

Taijram Rahim being escorted from the Blairmont Magistrate’s Court by a Police rank on Tuesday

December 29, 2020.

It was reported that the 28-year-old woman was stabbed to death by the accused at their WCB, Region

Five (Mahaica-Berbice) home in front of one of the couple’s children. The children are aged eight, 10, and 11 respectively.

and the now dead woman threatened to leave the home. Reports are that the angry man went into the kitchen and returned with a knife, which he reportedly used to stab the woman as she was lying on the bed.

Dead: Amrita Rahim

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12 NEWS

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Pork-knocker dies after mining pit collapses

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miner was on Sunday killed after the mining pit in which he was working collapsed at Arena Backdam, North West District (NWD), Region One (BarimaWaini).

The dead man has been identified as 26-year-old Errol Ramitt also called “Tushi” of Turn Basin, Port Kaituma, NWD. Based on reports received, on the day in question at about 14:00h, the now dead man was in the mining pit operating an engine when a piece of land slid and covered him. Upon realising what had happened, other workers went to his rescue but by the time they pulled him from under the rubble, he was motionless.

He was transported to the Port Kaituma Regional Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

His body was taken to the hospital mortuary awaiting a post-mortem. The police have launched an investigation into the fatal acci-

dent.

In September, the Labour Ministry launched an investigation in relation to the death of 59-year-old Donston John, who died at a mining pit at Konawaruk Backdam at Whitewater Mountain, Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni), after rocks caved in on him.

It was reported that John, also called “Rambo” of St Francis Mission, Mahaicony River, Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice), and a 63-year-old pork-knocker of Kamarang, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), were working as punters with a three-inch pump and their detectors at Whitewater Backdam.

They were, however, joined by two other punters – a 52-year-old of Samantha Point, Golden Grove, East Bank Demerara (EBD), and a 49-year-old man of Wakapao, Pomeroon, Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam).

As the men were working at the edge of a hill, several big rocks reportedly

fell on the victim while the others managed to run to safety. Moments after, the men returned to the scene and after several hours of digging out the debris, the lifeless body of John was pulled.

This is not the first time such an accident has occurred, and it has been happening in mining sites across the country. In the latest accident, a pitman attached to a private mining company at Blackwater Backdam, Cuyuni River, Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni), was killed last July after the mining pit in which he was working collapsed.

Louis Armstrong, 55, of Meadowbank, Greater Georgetown, was working on a six-inch dredge when the pit caved in, thus pinning him.

Last October, a geologist attached to Troy Resources mining operations at Karouni, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), was killed after the mining pit in which he was work-

ing collapsed.

Ryan Taylor, 33, of Alberttown, Georgetown, and three others were working on the construction of a “bench” in a mining pit, when there was a slippage, which allegedly resulted in him falling and being covered.

It was later disclosed by the company that at about

02:25h on the night shift, the geologist was standing above an excavated working face when the three-metre embankment he was standing on collapsed and he suffered fatal injuries as a consequence.

It took some time to get Taylor from under the rubble and by the time he was pulled, it was too late.

Meanwhile, in light of the industrial accident, Natural Resources Minister Vickram Bharrat has encouraged miners to comply with all protocols and guidelines in accordance with the Mining Act and regulations. Both Ministries have since extended condolences to the bereaved family.

Couple in custody over illegal gun, ammo

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husband and wife were on Monday arrested after an unlicensed firearm and several rounds of matching ammunition were found on their premises.

Based on reports received, the couple, aged 24 and 25 of East La Penitence, Georgetown, was at home when Police showed up and requested to conduct a search. During the search, the .32 Taurus pistol and three live rounds of matching ammunition were found hidden in an oven.

As such, the couple was told of the offence committed, cautioned and arrested. They are expected to make their court appearance before the end of the week.

Back in December 2019, a Patentia, West Bank Demerara (WBD) couple was busted by Police with a gun, matching ammunition and a quantity of cannabis.

It was reported that based on intelligence received, Police swooped down on the couple’s Patentia Squatting Area,

popularly known as “Skull City”, home.

During the search, the officers unearthed the unlicensed pistol with twelve live rounds in a magazine and 325 grams of cannabis packaged in small-sized Ziploc bags. They were subsequently charged and remanded to prison.

NEWS

13

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

US$1B Belgium cocaine bust

Guyana was trans-shipment point – CANU Head

…says cocaine was stockpiled locally then loaded onto vessel

Wanted Primo

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by

CANU:

Marlon

s investigations continue into the US$1.06 billion drug bust in Belgium earlier this month, Head of the Customs AntiNarcotics Unit (CANU), James Singh related that Guyana was used as a transhipment point.

The 11.5 tonnes of cocaine reportedly shipped from Guyana and was intercepted upon arrival at the Port of Antwerp, Belgium.

But according to Singh, investigations have so far revealed that the huge quantity of the drug was imported to Guyana from another country after which it was stockpiled and then loaded into the container and ultimately onto the vessel which reportedly left Guyana in September.

Singh added that with the disappearance of images of the scanned container, the work of the drug enforcement

unit gets even tougher. This, he reiterated, proves that there was definitely collusion between the “big fishes” and staff members of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA).

On this note, Singh told Guyana Times that the members of staff of the revenue body who were detained had to be released since the 72hour detention period had expired. More so, he stated that little information was gathered from them during interrogation.

“We have established and reported that the images of the scanned container were deleted which meant that staff members were involved… it is now up to the Guyana Revenue Authority to launch an internal probe to determine what went wrong,” Singh noted in a telephone interview on Tuesday.

After that process, he stated that persons who are found culpable should face the consequences. On this note, he stated that CANU will continue to work along with their counterparts in Belgium to bring closure to the case and hopefully the “big fishes” can be caught and prosecuted.

“The Customs AntiNarcotics Unit will continue to put a dent in the drug trade but we cannot have agencies undermining our efforts… we are supposed to be working together and not against each other…when that happens, it becomes difficult for us,” Singh noted.

CANU Head James Singh

However, the hunt continues for wanted shipper, Marlon Primo of Lot 701 Cummings Lodge, East Coast Demerara (ECD), and of 69 Atlantic Village, ECD. He is also the proprietor of MA Trading, located at 35 Factory Road, Paradise, ECD. On November 4, it was reported that Belgian authorities had intercepted a vessel that allegedly left Guyana with a whooping 11.5 tonnes of cocaine – the largest drug bust ever.

It was reported that counter-narcotics prosecutors tracked the transatlantic journey of 11.5 tonnes of cocaine from Guyana, on the northeastern coast of South America, and seized it upon its arrival at the Port of Antwerp, Belgium.

Federal prosecutors had reported that this was “the largest overseas drug bust

Cane harvester charged...

She was subsequently taken to the Fort Wellington Hospital by a relative who found her on the bed after hearing the commotion, but was pronounced dead on arrival. Reports are the suspect went to the Blairmont Police Station to turn himself in, but

found the gate locked and as such, returned home. Police subsequently arrived at the home and he was arrested.

It was reported that the now dead woman was constantly abused by the suspect, who on numerous occasions accused her of being unfaithful.

FROM PAGE 11

An autopsy performed on the body of the dead woman revealed that she died from a single stab to the heart. The post mortem was done by Government pathologist, Dr Nehaul Singh who gave the cause of death as perforation to the heart due to a stab wound.

ever, worldwide” with an estimated street value of €900 million or US$1.06 billion.

The drugs were disguised as scrap metal and placed inside a steel container, which was, in turn, packed into a sea container and loaded into a transatlantic vessel.

According to the report, prosecutors were able to track the shipment following the dismantlement of a drug trafficking gang led by a former Belgian counter-narcotics chief, which revealed the existence of tight-knit links between criminal gangs and counter-narcotics and law enforcement officials.

The reports stated that three police officers, a port manager, and a lawyer were among some 20 other criminals arrested as part of an operation targeting the “well-structured” criminal organisation suspected of orchestrating large and “regular” drug shipments from South America to Belgium.

The parcels containing the cocaine after the container was cut open

However, the record-breaking shipment was expected by law enforcement officials as it is suspected it left the port of Guyana after the drug gang’s arrest in Belgium, with drug gangs unable to intercept it once at sea.

The dismantlement of the drug gang late in September

led to the arrest and indictment of 22 people, with three people still in the Netherlands awaiting extradition.

This major drug bust comes on the heels of one in August in Hamburg, Germany, where authorities discovered 1.5 tonnes of cocaine in a container of rice shipments.

14 NEWS

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

EBD land scandal

Businessman denies attempt to defraud State

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irector of A-Z Pharmaceutical Medical Supplies and Equipment Inc, Eddie Doolall, one of the companies involved in the controversial acquisition and repurposing of prime State lands at Peters Hall, East Bank Demerara, has denied any role in attempting to defraud the State.

Doolall, via a statement to the press, said that he has been fully cooperating with the police and has adequate information including documents regarding the lease, the sale and assignment.

A-Z Pharmaceuticals and Medical Supplies Equipment Inc with its address listed in EE Eccles, EBD, leased 15 acres of land from the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) for 20 years at a rate of US$11,700 per year. The lease was signed on May 17, 2018, and Doolall was represented by PNCR member James Bond.

According to Attorney General Anil Nandlall, the company by way of Deed of Assignment, sub-leased the land to a Chinese national of Lot 43 Wellington Street, Georgetown for just $100.

The police have since launched an investigation and had detained and subsequently released Doolall a few days ago.

“My constraints from giving full information is that the matter is presently being investigated by the police and I wish not to jeopardise their investigation…I, however, categorically deny being involved in any arrangement or conspiracy to defraud the State. My transaction was above board, and was sanctioned by NICIL,” he said in a statement, adding, “I deny completely any involvement in any matter regarding the defrauding of the State, as, all along this transaction is perceived to be genuine and sacrosanct.”

The massive conspiracy to give away prime State lands by the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) coalition, came to light late October with documents showing that Bond collected US$1 million for lands at Peters Hall, East Bank Demerara.

AG Nandlall revealed that Bond, who was at the centre of the questionable transactions, was listed as the lawyer on record for the drafting of three contracts – Doolall’s, Avalon Jagnanan of Life 1 Pharms Incorporated and Arken Group Inc. The AG had revealed that 20 acres of land were leased for 20 years to Arken

Director of A-Z Pharmaceutical Medical Supplies and Equipment Inc, Eddie Doolall

Group with its address listed as Third Street, Alberttown, Georgetown.

The lands referred to as Plots A1, A2, A3, and A4 amounted to 20.8 acres, which were not valuated prior to the signing of the lease on May 9, 2018, for an annual fee of US$16,224.

The land was later sold to a company connected to the oil and gas industry for US$1 million, which did not go to the owner, rather to the attorney on record.

Nandlall had said that the address for the company is the same address that Bond has listed on his bank account as his place of residence.

The State Lands Act of Guyana stipulates that when State lands are leased, the lease must state that the lessee must not part with possession without the consent of the landlord (the State) or shall not assign the interest in the lease without the consent of the landlord.

If the lessee acts in contravention of that clause, then the State reserves the right to step in and repossess the lands.

However, in the case of the three agreements at Peters Hall, Bond, in drafting the lease agreements, changed that to state: “the lessee may assign, sublet, grant any licenses or otherwise part with the possession and/or purpose and/or dispose of the whole or any part of the demised property or any building or other erection at any time standing thereon or any right or privilege in relations thereto conferred by this agreement.”

On Tuesday, Guyana Times reported that Jagnanan said he was ready to operate with Police whenever he is called upon. His attorney Glenn Hanoman said that when his client reached out to the police after it was reported that he was being sought for questioning, the police informed them that they were not ready for him.

NEWS

15

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Ramsammy’s Ruminations

CDC provides food hampers, vitamins to St Cuthbert’s Mission

A President of the … as community remains under full lockdown people – solving people's problems on the ground

O

n Friday, November 13, Guyana's President, Dr. Irfaan Ali, was present in Region 6. For several hours, he sat patiently, intently listening to people, understanding their problems and taking action right there and then, to bring relief to them. If the problems were not fully resolved at the time, he started action that would bring relief to the people.

There was no "we will check on this and get back to you".

The President instructed officers from the various agencies to address the people's problems there and then, not with explanations why those problems arose, not with promises to look into the problems, but with action there and then. In the process, President Irfaan Ali showed why he is rapidly earning a Dr Leslie Ramsammy reputation as the People's “action” President.

President Irfaan Ali's approach, and his calm, friendly, caring disposition during Friday's session in New Amsterdam was not the first time he demonstrated this side of himself to the people of Guyana. This has been the style for the first 100 days in office, and it is earning him the title of “the People's President”.

His demeanour as the People's President is in stark contrast with that of the President Guyana had between May 2015 and August 2020. In David Granger, Guyana had an aloof President, one who was rarely among his people. When President Granger showed up among the Guyanese people, it was almost always for an event, during which he arrived more as a king, and left without any meaningful engagement with the people. He often showed up more like Kim Jong-un of North Korea, security detail and all. In contrast, President Irfaan Ali showed up like other PPP Presidents: with minimal security, but with many of the Government personnel who are responsible for solving people's problems.

After listening to an elderly gentleman explaining the difficulties he is encountering to get his NIS benefits - although he has represented his case to NIS personnel for years, and although he has proof of his contributions to NIS - the President instructed the NIS senior staff responsible to ensure the man receives his payment by Tuesday. The President listened to a little girl who explained that, because she has no computer, she cannot access the online courses provided during the present COVID-19 lockdown of schools. His response was to find her a tablet on the spot. The President listened to an elderly lady who has been complaining for a long time about a heap of dirt placed in front of her home, and other than being an eyesore, it is affecting her movement into and out of her yard. He asked the Regional Chairman to get the overseer to immediately make arrangements to clear the dirt before he left to come back to Georgetown.

He addressed issues relating to land titles, water, electricity, and many others. In every instance, he started a process of remedy for the problems that affect the quality of life for citizens. Some of those problems were resolved right away.

For those that could not be resolved right away, the President initiated a process that would bring resolution in a timely manner.

I was not there with the President on this particular trip, but I watched the many news clips, the many Facebook descriptions of the meeting. I was in Region 6 on Sunday, November 15, I spoke to many people; all, without exception, described as remarkable what they saw and experienced. Many said to me, "I never saw anything like that. He never showed anger, he never showed disinterest. He was engaged". I met persons who did not vote for President Irfaan Ali but who conceded he earned their respect and admiration.

While I was not physically present with him this time, I have been with him at other times. What I heard people echo about the encounter on Friday, I have seen many times before. The Guyanese people in every Region will see this many times over the next five years and subsequently, because the people of Guyana will vote for this President to serve two terms.

President Irfaan Ali has clearly embarked on a mission to bring his Government to the people everywhere they live.

Not just because it is the wise thing, the right thing, to do, but because that is who he is.

In taking his government to the people, he continues a PPPstyle governance. President Bharrat Jagdeo built on President Cheddi Jagan's reputation as the People's President. While Cheddi was always among the people, President Bharrat Jagdeo decided to take the Cabinet to the people. It was during President Bharrat Jagdeo's term in office that the Cabinet held regular outreaches across Guyana. Now President Irfaan Ali is adding another layer to bringing government to the people. For the People's President, dreams are not for the sleeping, they are making lives better while we are awake. The PPP Government led by the People's President is on a mission to transform our country, so that the dreams of every Guyanese can come true.

W

hile the community of Kwebanna, Region One (Barima-Waini) is no longer under lockdown following a reduction in active COVID-19 cases, St Cuthbert’s Mission is the new hotspot with 239 cases as of Tuesday.

Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony said the situation was being monitored, with health workers permanently stationed there.

“We have two doctors, a number of nurses that have gone there and would be there for the duration of the lockdown. The nurses and doctors have been doing a house-to-house assessment.

So far, we have 239 confirmed cases.”

At least 41 positive persons have been discharged, having been asymptomatic for 10 days. The Minister said the numbers would go down, but new positives would emerge from increased testing. However, discharging is ongoing since

CDC workers offloading supplies at St Cuthbert’s Mission

most persons are symptomatic.

“We’ll make sure that if anybody develop any symptoms and they need hospitalisation, then we will move them…We have 239 and I think if we continue testing, we’ll see a few more, but while we’re testing and finding a few more people, we’re also discharging,” Dr Anthony stated.

On the ground, health

workers have been equipped with the necessary medications and test kits to provide support. Over the weekend, a team was sent in for sanitisation and to educate villagers on the need for proper hygiene.

While the area is under complete lockdown, the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) on Monday handed over 320 food hampers and vitamin C tonic, along with the same number of cleaning hampers, to Toshao Beverley Clenkian for the community.

St Cuthbert’s Mission is located 57 miles away from Georgetown and has recently experienced a surge in COVID-19 infections.

As of now, the COVID-19 Task Force, Health Ministry, Amerindian Affairs Ministry and the CDC are working to curtail further spread by isolating residents while providing them with necessary food supplies.

Last week, a decision was taken to strengthen the medical team in St

leged that he murdered the 56-year-old businesswoman between October 15 and October 17, 2016, at Lot 4 Novar, Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara.

His trial will commence on Tuesday morning at the High Court in Demerara with State Prosecutor Tuanna Hardy calling her first witness. According to media reports, the elderly woman was discovered lying face down in her home by her nephew, who went to

check on her after she was not seen for some time.

Reports are that Ali, a mother of three, was found lying in a pool of blood in the bedroom of her two-storey home. It was also reported that her hands and feet were bound and her head was bashed in. A hammer was found at the crime scene and a post-mortem report revealed that she had been sexually assaulted.

It was reported that Ali’s neck was broken and there were lacerations about her body. The woman’s house was also ransacked, leading Police to suspect she might have been robbed and then killed. Ali had operated a business in the area, supplying farmers with pesticides and weedicides.

She also sold phone cards and other items. Several of these items were missing. Another man, 28-yearold Davanand Rampersaud, was also charged with Ali’s murder. However, last year Rampersaud appeared before the High Court and pleaded not guilty to the

Health Minister, Anthony

Dr

Frank

Cuthbert’s Mission to ensure that COVID-19 patients were given adequate treatment. At that time, there were 97 cases in the community.

Government has lifted its lockdown on Kwebanna, after the COVID-19 cases dropped to four. Dr Anthony has indicated that measures which were instituted to curb further transmission of the disease have been successful. In neighbouring Warapoka, there was a small spike, which is being monitored.

“At the peak of this cluster of cases, we had about 62 cases, so today we have four cases, so we have lifted the lockdown. Surrounding communities, we have seen a corresponding decline in cases…We are monitoring a situation in Warapoka. Over the weekend, we had a medical team that visited there.

We continue to do more testing and swabbing,” he was quoted as saying.

Teen pleads not guilty to murdering Mahaicony businesswoman

Jailed: Davanand Rampersaud

A

19-year-old man on Tuesday pleaded not guilty to the October 2016 murder of Novar, Mahaicony, East Bank Demerara businesswoman, Bibi Shairoon Ali, who was found dead in her home. At the time of the alleged crime, he was only 15.

The teen, who is being represented by Attorney-atLaw Bernard DaSilva, was arraigned before Justice Navindra Singh. He denied the charge which al-

Murdered: Bibi Ali

lesser count of manslaughter.

As a consequence, he was sentenced to life imprisonment with the possibility of parole after serving a minimum of 25 years.

In sentencing him, Justice Sandil Kissoon condemned the killing, stating that given the prevalence of the offence, the court had to impose a sentence that would serve as a deterrent.

The teen and Rampersaud hailed from the same community as Ali.

16 NEWS

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

After 1 year

UG urges patience as students complain of delayed certificates

S

cores of students of the University of Guyana (UG) took to social media during this week, demanding that the university provide them with their ac-

Another said: “I have been calling UG since in February after I found out certificate for health science and technology were available. They said SEBI

available. Some of us requested for our transcripts some of us received it via email and it was unsigned and some never received it at all.”

July month end….”

A third graduate said: “When I called UoG last month and I spoke to one of exam division staff, I was told to inform my employer

Proof of UG student’s payment

ademic certificates that they were supposed to receive over a year ago.

In one instance, a student expressed: “After four years of UG, we don’t expect to be running behind UG for what we worked hard for.”

and Social Science certificate would be [avail]able in March month early April and sadly COVID-19 and election happened. We have been reaching out to UoG during the pandemic and they keep telling us it is not

“UOG is aware of the number of students who supposed to be graduating.

They could have start printing certificate. Most person last exam ends in May month end and grades are available to the student by

and whichever universities I’m applying too, that it is a pandemic and they are not risking their life for anyone.

Then yesterday (Monday) I was told by another staff it is a pandemic why should the staff compromise their health.”

According to the students, after graduating in

the 2019/2020 academic year, September, they received an email with the option to have their certificates mailed to them via registered mail. However, since then, they have not received their certifications.

Nevertheless, on Tuesday, when Guyana Times reached out to Vice Chancellor of the University, Dr Paloma MohamedMartin, she said based on the University’s ordinance, the Registry can only sendoff certificates for graduates who consented for the option of the registered mail, and who are not indebted to the University.

She said based on the Registry’s report, UG’s Berbice Campus (UGBC) graduated 216 students in the class of 2019. At the time, the mailing list was generated and a mere 67 consented to have their certificates mailed to them.

There are more graduates who have not indicated anything then there are those who declined to use this option. Of that 67 only 36 were fully cleared.

She said that the Registry’s report revealed that this trend continues at the Turkeyen Campus, Greater Georgetown. Of 1903 graduates at that campus, only 173 consented to their certificates being dispatched via registered mail.

“The actual number we will be able to send off is likely to decline when we filter for completed clearances,” she said the Registry’s report stated.

According to the Vice Chancellor, the University’s Registry has been repeatedly asking graduates to complete all the processes needed, adding that the decision to mail certificates, which has never been done before, was taken and approved in

late October 2020. She said they are now on track and ready to assist any student as best as they can.

Mohamed said as it relates to students who are not indebted to the University and do not wish to have their certificates mailed to them via registered mail, there are two other options.

“We are in safe mode dealing with the same serious issues of COVID-19 that the whole country is. We have to balance safety with service. We can email transcripts and letters of completion at this time until all our systems are sufficiently virus-proof to entertain the public. Also, those who want their certificates mailed can go into SRMS to indicate,” she noted.

She also added that despite the fact that some students have not met all obligations, the University has been giving letters of completion.

However, many of the students who reached out to this publication have denied the VC’s claim that they have outstanding payments.

They even sent this newspaper copies of their UG profile showing that they have paid in full but are still waiting to receive their certificate.

through the basics first, and then we take them back into their communities to complete training because we have to train people to operate within the communities they live in because each community will have its own peculiarities and risks,” the Fire Chief is quoted by DPI as saying.

Fire Chief Gentle said the trainees will be added to the staff complement of experienced firefighters to

guide them, and to ensure a smooth transition to effective firefighters in their communities.

Training will last for 16 weeks and will be split evenly between the Leonora facility and the community-based training.

The Fire Chief said the Mabaruma and Mahdia stations are near completion, with the latter only requiring a driveway for trucks to traverse.

UG Vice Chancellor, Dr Paloma Mohamed-Martin

GFS to commission fire stations in Regions 1, 8, 9

T

he Guyana Fire Service (GFS) will commission fire stations in Mabaruma, Region One (Barima-Waini); Mahdia, Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) and Lethem, Region Nine (Upper Takatu-Upper Essequibo).

Fire Chief Marlon Gentle made this disclosure during an interview with the Department of Public Information (DPI) at the Guyana Fire Service Headquarters on Tuesday.

Forty-seven individuals from the respective communities have been identified to be trained and serve as fire service members.

Training is expected to start within the next two weeks, and will be facilitated at the Guyana Fire Service Training School in Leonora.

“We will take them

NEWS

17

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Distribution of COVID-19 cash grant starts in Region 5 …$625M for 25,000 households

By Andrew Carmichael

G

o v e r n m e n t ’ s COVID-19 relief cash grant initiative kicked off in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) on Tuesday.

Over 25,000 households are expected to benefit from the $25,000 per household programme.

Distribution of the cash grants to each household started in the two extremes of the Region – the Woodlands/Farm Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) in Mahaica and the Ithaca area at the Blairmont/Gelderland NDC in the eastern end of the Region.

Regional Coordinator Rian Pieters said on Tuesday that some $625 million is expected to be distributed in that region over next three weeks.

President Dr Irfaan Ali

had announced a series of relief measures, including a $25,000 per household cash transfer to cushion the effects of COVID-19 ahead of the emergency budget.

The Government began distributing the grant in keeping with its promise to bring economic relief to citizens in face of the hardships created as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo only recently noted that where there might be more than one family living in one home, representation will have to be made outside of the normal distribution.

Those additional householders are being asked to fill a pink form (query form) which will be sent to the presidential secretariat for verification.

Meanwhile, recipients in Region Five were very hap-

py and referred to the relief package as being timely.

Anna Sinclair, 86, told this publication that the money will help her pay her overdue bills.

“I will buy some tablets (medication) for myself.

It will also help with the bills.”

Another resident of Ithaca, Fran Samuels, was all smiles after receiving her envelope.

“I am grateful for this because it will do something for me. I have to buy food, rice, flour, sugar and some meat. Once I get food, I am good. Thank you so much,” Samuels said as she looked upwards.

“Oh my God… It will do a great deal for me because I was in great need of a stove and I will put the rest that is needed to buy the stove. Thank you President Irfaan Ali,” Donna Sinclair

said while being unable to hold back her outwards expressions of joy.

Meanwhile, in Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne), the project is almost coming to a close.

Regional Coordinator Zamal Hussain said they are currently in the wrapping up stage.

More than fifty thousand households were expected to receive the cash grants in the Region.

The last major area tackled was the riverine communities of Baracara and Acura up the Canje River. The two communities are about twelve miles apart.

At Baracara, which is situated on the east and west banks fifty-two miles up the river, about 200 households received the cash rants.

30-year-old Candace

A Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) resident collected her cash grant on Tuesday

Quentin, a mother of four, noted that the COVID 19 pandemic has negatively affected her family since her husband was unable to work for six months.

“To get want you want you have to go and catch a bird and sell it to get some finance. They would go into the savannah and catch the birds and sell them.”

Quentin further explained that the birds that her husband goes after are those

that many keep in cages.

At Acura, which is home to about 1000 residents, households from communities situated at scattered locations further up the river, gathered. Some were reluctant to provide information for the pink form, saying that it would take too long for them to collect the money.

Nevertheless, more than 20,000 households at Acura received the cash grants.

AG threatens to sue former APNU/AFC Minister

A

ttorney General and Legal Affairs Minister, Anil Nandlall has threatened to sue former A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Minister Jaipaul Sharma if he fails to retract and issue an unconditional apology for defamatory remarks he made about him in a Facebook post.

In a letter seen by this publication that has been dispatched to Sharma, Nandlall’s lawyer, Rajendra Jaigobin said that Sharma made the post via his personal Facebook account.

Sharma, according to the letter, admitted to Nandlall via a telephone conversation that he indeed made the post.

In the post, Sharma referred to the PPP/C Government as “hypocritical” for going after People’s National Congress (PNC) Executive Member and Attorney-at-Law James Bond and others for questionable land deals using the office of the Attorney General.

Sharma claimed that the Attorney General Office, Guyana Police Force, and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) are filled with cases of questionable land sales and breach of land development contracts under the previous PPP/C Government.

The former APNU/ AFC Minister claimed that Nandlall has turned a blind eye on these cases. He said that he further wished to remind the Attorney General that his law firm, Mohabir A Nandlall & Associates was involved in some of these land transactions in which a large plot of land was transferred a few days after David Granger was sworn in as President in 2015.

Former APNU/AFC Jaipaul Sharma

Minister

Jaigobin said that Nandlall spoke with Sharma and requested the source of the information he published via his social media account. However, Sharma told him that he should “read same in a Forensic Audit Report of the Ministry of Housing/Central Housing and Planning Authority done by Attorney-at-Law and Chartered Accountant Christopher Ram.” According to Jaigobin, he has already contacted Ram requesting a copy of the report. He said that Ram has since informed the Attorney General that he cannot recall his report containing any such or similar publication of and concerning him or the law firm. Jaigobin has informed Sharma that his publication is not only libellous, but malicious and completely false and is causing damage to the standing of the law firm, to which he is attached, and to the reputation of the Attorney General.

Through his lawyer, Nandlall has demanded that Sharma retract the offensive publication and issue an apology immediately to him and the law firm. He is also requesting that the apology be posted

PNC Executive Member James Bond

on Sharma’s Facebook account. Nandlall informed that he reserved the right to institute legal proceedings against Sharma, however, the apology may mitigate

the quantum of compensation the firm is seeking.

The massive conspiracy to give away prime State lands by the former APNU/ AFC Government came to light late in October with documents showing that Bond collected US$1 million for lands at Peters Hall, East Bank Demerara.

Nandlall had revealed that Bond, who was at the centre of the questionable transactions, was listed as the lawyer on record for the drafting of three contracts.

The attorney general revealed that in one instance, 20 acres of land was leased for 20 years to a company with its address listed as Third Street, Alberttown, Georgetown. The lands referred to as Plots A1, A2, A3, and A4 amounted to

CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19)

INFORMATION AND GUIDELINES HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF?

Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall 20.8 acres, which were not valuated before the signing of the lease on May 9, 2018, for an annual fee of US$16,224.

The land was later sold to a company connected

to the oil and gas industry for US$1 million, which did not go to the owner, rather to Bond who is the attorney on record. Nandlall had said that the address for the company is the same address that the PNC Executive has listed on his bank account as his place of residence. The PPP/C Government is investigating all land deals conducted under the coalition.

In a previous interview, Nandlall had told this publication that the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and the Guyana Police Force’s other investigative arms including the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) are likely to get involved, as money laundering may very well be a component of the probe.

SYMPTOMS

People with COVID-19 have had a wide range of symptoms reported – ranging from mild symptoms to severe illness.

Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. People with these symptoms or combinations of symptoms may have COVID-19:

Cough

Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing

Or at least two of these symptoms:

Fever People who think they may be affected by coronavirus need to call the Public Health Ministry hotline 227-4986/624-3067 for further advice. They should not go to their GP, A&E, pharmacy or hospital.

If you have come into contact with somebody who may be infected, you may be told to self-isolate. People needing to do so should take "common-sense" steps to avoid close contact with other people.

(Adapted from BBC News)

Headache

Chills

Sore throat

Repeated shaking with chills

Muscle pain

Children have similar symptoms to adults and generally have New loss of taste mild illness. or smell

18

guyanatimesgy.com

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2020

Regional

to drop charges against Hurricane Iota roars US ex-Mexican Defence Minister onto Nicaragua as T 2nd blow in 2 weeks

I

n a one-two punch, Hurricane Iota roared ashore along almost exactly the same stretch of Nicaragua’s Caribbean coast recently devastated by an equally powerful hurricane and then weakened as it tore across the northern part of the country.

Iota had intensified into an extremely dangerous Category Five hurricane on Monday, but the US National Hurricane Center said it weakened as it neared the coast later in the day and made landfall with maximum sustained winds of 250 kilometres per hour (155 miles per hour). It hit the coast about 48 km (30 miles) south of the Nicaraguan city of Puerto Cabezas, also known as Bilwi.

On Tuesday morning, Iota still carried hurricane-force winds as a Category One storm, moving inland over northern Nicaragua with maximum sustained winds of 120kmph (75mph). It was moving westward at 19kmph (12mph). The storm was forecast to cross southern Honduras late on Tuesday.

On Tuesday morning, Iota still carried hurricane-force winds as a Category One storm, moving inland over northern Nicaragua [Delmer Martinez/AP photo]

Guillermo Gonzalez, director of Nicaragua’s emergency management agency, said on Tuesday morning that preliminary reports from the coast included fallen trees, electric poles and roofs stripped from homes, but no deaths or injuries.

More than 40,000 people were in shelters. He said one hotel in Bilwi had lost its entire roof.

As the storm moved westward, flooding became the concern. The Tola River had

topped its banks and western Nicaragua, along the Pacific coast, were forecast to receive the most rain. Nicaragua’s meteorology director Marcio Baca said the area was forecast to receive 150-180mm (6-7 inches) of rainfall and soils were already highly saturated.

People had hunkered down in Bilwi even before the hurricane arrived, already battered by screeching winds and torrential rains. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Peru’s new President calls for calm after week of protests

P

eruvian lawmaker Francisco Sagasti was sworn in as interim president on Tuesday, voted for by Congress in an effort to return stability to a country that has seen deadly protests and the departure of two presidents over the last week.

Sagasti, a legislator from the centrist Purple Party, is expected to serve out his term until July next year, with a new presidential election scheduled for April 11.

The Andean nation has been shaken since the abrupt ouster in an impeachment trial of popular leader Martin

Vizcarra on November 9. The removal of Vizcarra, whose anti-graft agenda had caused tensions with Congress, triggered often violent protests in which two young people died.

Vizcarra’s successor, Manuel Merino, resigned on Sunday after just five days in power.

“It is absolutely necessary to remain calm, but do not confuse this with passivity, conformity, or resignation,” Sagasti said in an address to Congress after his swearing-in.

Sagasti’s appointment has indeed appeared to calm tensions, though a deep mistrust

of the country’s politicians remains. On Monday night, hundreds of people marched in the capital Lima, with calls for a new Constitution and “justice for the fallen”.

“I think that Sagasti is someone that gives democratic guarantees, who can get a transition towards a new government that will be okay,” said one protester, Paloma Carpio.

Jose Murguia, also protesting, was less convinced.

“Quite frankly, it’s the same rubbish. The mask has changed but everything is all the same,” he said. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Republic of Korea donates testing kits to fight COVID-19 in Jamaica

T

he Republic of Korea has donated US$300,000 in testing kits geared towards Jamaica’s fight against COVID-19.

The supplies are Kogene Biotech: PowerChek SARSCoV-2 real-time PCR kits for 20,000 tests and AddPrep Viral Nucleic Acid extraction kits for 20,000 tests.

The items were officially handed over on Tuesday by Charge d’Affaires, Republic of Korea in Jamaica, Lim Baejin, to Health and Wellness Minister, Dr Christopher Tufton and Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Minister, Senator Kamina Johnson Smith, at the offices of the Health and Wellness Ministry of Ministry in New Kingston.

This is the second time that the Koreans have offered support to Jamaica in its COVID-19 response.

In April 2020, the Government of Korea, in collaboration with the Korea East-West Power Company, donated two real-time PCR systems for testing and analysis, DNA/RNA sample kits capable of testing 7500 samples, and real-time PCR sample kits capable of testing 7500 samples, to the Government of Jamaica.

Dr Tufton categorised the supplies as “gold standard” and said the response to the pandemic in Jamaica can only be successful through partnerships such as these.

In keeping with this, he

thanked the Republic of Korea representatives for the donation.

“On behalf of the Government and people of Jamaica, I wish to thank the Government and people of the Republic of Korea for its generosity in supporting Jamaica’s effort in combating the COVID-19 challenge,” Dr Tufton said.

“The COVID-19 response has shown us that it requires a never-before-seen level of resource mobilisation to finance national public health response plans. This, is in order to protect public health and, in particular, the health of our vulnerable communities,” he added.

(Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

he United States is seeking to drop drugs charges against former Mexican Defence Minister Salvador Cienfuegos so that he may be investigated in Mexico, the US Department of Justice and the Mexican Attorney General’s office said on Tuesday.

The arrest of Cienfuegos had put severe strain on the security relationship between the two countries, with Mexico angry it had not been forewarned of the investigation and arrest.

“The US Department of Justice has made the decision to seek dismissal of the US criminal charges

against former Secretary Cienfuegos, so that he may be investigated and, if appropriate, charged, under Mexican law,” the joint statement said.

The statement cited the two countries’ “strong law enforcement partnership” as justification for the surprise move.

Cienfuegos, who also served as Head of the Army, had pleaded not guilty earlier this month to drug and money laundering conspiracy charges following his October arrest in Los Angeles.

Neither US Prosecutors or defence lawyers for Cienfuegos could immedi-

ately be reached for comment.

The 72-year-old was former President Enrique Pena Nieto’s military chief from 2012 to 2018, and his arrest shocked Mexico’s security establishment given his close ties to range of current senior officials and put a spotlight on future anti-drug trafficking cooperation between the two neighbours.

Prior to the news, Cienfuegos was scheduled to appear in US federal court in New York today, where he was to face the narcotics conspiracy and money laundering charges. (Reuters)

BPTT retrenches 1st batch of workers

B

PTT on Monday retrenched more than 40 workers in what is expected to be an exercise in which close to 100 employees will be let go from the company this week.

Guardian Media has learnt that the first set of workers to get their pink slips were those involved in the production of the company’s gas and condensate and on Tuesday, another set of workers were slated to be sent home as part of BPTT’s restructuring plans.

The company insisted on Monday that it was doing its cuts in the most dignified way possible and offering assistance to those impacted by the retrenchment and restructuring.

“We are providing ongoing support to staff through our EAP provider and we are committed to managing these changes with the utmost respect, dignity and care for our employees,” BPTT said in

BPTT’s head office at Queen’s Park West, Port of Spain

a statement to Guardian Media.

This effectively means that scores of high-paying jobs in the local energy sector will be lost and is in keeping with what has been a brutal time for workers in the crucial sector.

Since 2018, thousands of jobs in the energy sector have been lost, from Petrotrin’s closure to the virtual decimation of many

small and mid-sized service contractors to now, BPTT, the country’s largest energy producer, retrenching workers.

For months, BPTT employees have been worried about whether they would lose their jobs and Monday saw relief for those who were being kept on and sadness for the dozens sent home. (Excerpt from Trinidad Guardian)

Mottley calls for debt relief to be extended

B

arbadian Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley joined the call for debt relief to be extended beyond the poorest countries to middle-income countries.

Mottley expressed this view on Monday during a virtual address at the launch of the “Debt Relief for Green Recovery” Report.

She said middle-income countries were making sacrifices every day in choosing sustainability and resilience over the cheap and easy and suggested that global support and cooperation were needed.

The Prime Minister continued: “Most of the world decries global warming, but too many slink away when it comes to making their sacrifices…. The promise that was made to the developing world to back the Paris Agreement, that mechanism remains emp-

Barbadian Prime Minister Mia Mottley

ty and toothless. We cannot do this as middle-income small island states on our own.

“We, therefore, join the call today for debt relief to be extended, beyond the public to the Private Sector and beyond the poorest to middle-income countries, highly vulnerable to pandemics and to the climate crisis. And we urge the incorporation of objective, in-

ternational measures of vulnerability to be included in the assessment criteria of who is eligible.”

Mottley noted that some of these same countries were placed on a blacklist for not conforming to rules which were invented with “dubious criteria”, which some rich countries did not necessarily apply to themselves. (Excerpt from Nation News)

guyanatimesgy.com

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2020

19

Around the World

OILNEWS OIL NEWS OPEC+ sees oil cut extension curbing 2021 rise in oil stocks, document shows

O

PEC and its allies see oil inventories declining further in 2021 should producers extend supply curbs for three months or more, a confidential document seen by Reuters shows, supporting the case for a tighter policy on crude output next year.

The OPEC+ producer group, for now, is due to raise output by 2 million barrels per day (bpd) in January, or about 2 per cent of global consumption, as part of an earlier agreement to steadily ease record supply cuts that were implemented this year.

But weakening demand has prompted OPEC+, which groups the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, Russia and others, to consider delaying the increase.

The report by an OPEC+ panel, known as the Joint Technical Committee (JTC), said the rebound in global oil demand next year would be less than previously thought as the coronavirus second wave continues.

“For 2021, oil demand is expected to grow by 6.2 million barrels per day, year on year, representing a downward revision of 0.3 million barrels per day compared to last month’s assessment,” the report said.

The level of oil inventories in industrialised OECD countries relative to their five-year average is a key benchmark for OPEC+. Stocks have soared in 2020 as demand collapsed due to the pandemic.

According to one scenario in the report, if oil cuts were extended to the end of March 2021, OECD commercial inventories will decline to stand at 73 million barrels above the five-year average in 2021.

If the reduction pact was extended to the end of June, OECD stocks would fall and stand only 21 million barrels above the five-year average next year, according to another scenario.

The JTC met virtually on Monday before another panel, the Joint Ministerial Monitoring Committee (JMMC), met on Tuesday.

OPEC+ sources said on Monday that one option gaining support was to keep existing curbs of 7.7 million bpd for a further three to six months, rather than tapering the cut to 5.7 million bpd in January.

OECD oil stocks declined in September 2020 but still stood 212 million barrels above the five-year average, according to OPEC’s most recent publicly released information.

The JTC report outlined a third set of circumstances in which oil demand is assumed to be weaker, in which OECD stocks would rise to stand 470 million barrels above the five-year average by the end of 2021. It called this the alternative scenario.

Under the report’s base case scenario, OECD stocks would drop and remain 125 million barrels above the five-year average at the end of 2021, still a sizeable decline from September’s level.

The JTC considered both extensions to existing cuts of three and six months, according to the report.

OPEC+ will have a full meeting on Nov 30 and Dec 1 to decide output policy for 2021. (Excerpt from Reuters)

France becomes 1st European country to top 2 million COVID-19 cases – Reuters tally

F

rance on Tuesday became the first European country to surpass 2 million coronavirus cases despite an Oct 30 nationwide lockdown that has led to a sharp decline in new infections, according to a Reuters tally.

France is fourth in the number of infections reported, with 2,036,755, behind the United States, India and Brazil. With a death

toll topping 45,000, France ranks seventh in COVID-19 deaths globally.

Europe has reported nearly 14.5 million COVID-19 cases so far, making it the worst-affected region in the world and accounting for more than 26 per cent of all infections so far, according to the tally.

After hitting a peak of nearly 87,000 new infections in a single day on Nov

Trump to cut troop levels in Afghanistan, but stops short of full withdrawal

P

resident Donald Trump will sharply reduce the number of US forces in Afghanistan from 4500 to 2500 before he leaves office, the Pentagon announced on Tuesday, stopping short of the complete withdrawal Trump threatened to carry out by Christmas.

Trump’s decision to limit himself to a partial withdrawal was first reported by Reuters on Monday and has triggered warnings from critics who say it will undermine security and hurt fragile peace talks with the Taliban.

Acting Defence Secretary Christopher Miller, who Trump installed last week after firing Mark Esper, confirmed the drawdown and

A US Marine (C) talks with Afghan National Army (ANA) soldiers during a training in Helmand province, Afghanistan, July 5, 2017

also outlined a modest withdrawal of forces in Iraq that will reduce troop levels there from 3000 to 2500.

“This is consistent with our established plans and strategic objectives, supported by the American peo-

ple, and does not equate to a change in US policy or objectives.”

Moments later, the top Republican in the Senate, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, warned against any major changes in US de-

fence or foreign policy in the next couple of months - including major troop drawdowns in Afghanistan and Iraq.

US and Afghan officials are warning of troubling levels of violence by Taliban insurgents and persistent Taliban links to al Qaeda.

It was those ties that triggered US military intervention in 2001 following the al Qaeda Sept 11 attacks on the United States. Thousands of American and allied troops have died in fighting in Afghanistan since then.

Some US military officials had been urging Trump to keep US troop levels at around 4500 for now.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Ethiopia Tigray crisis: Abiy issues “ultimatum” as civilians flee fighting

E

thiopia’s Prime Minister has said a military operation against rebel forces in the northern Tigray region is entering its “final phase”.

Abiy Ahmed said a threeday deadline given for Tigray’s forces to surrender had now expired.

Hundreds of people have reportedly died in nearly two weeks of clashes between the rebels and the federal army.

At least 27,000 people have fled to Sudan.

The UN has said a “fullscale humanitarian crisis” is unfolding.

Getting information from Tigray is hard as there is a virtual communications blackout.

Fighting broke out on November 4 after Ethiopia’s central government accused the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), a political party which controls Tigray, of holding an illegal election and attacking a military base to steal weapons.

The TPLF has denied the attack.

In response, Abiy ordered a military offensive against forces loyal to the regional government of Tigray, accusing them of treason. He said that “the last red line had been crossed”.

The TPLF sees the central government as illegitimate, arguing Abiy does not have a mandate to lead the country after postponing nation-

Fighting broke out after the federal government accused Tigrayan forces of seizing an army base

al elections because of coronavirus.

In a Facebook post, Abiy said the operation by the federal forces was nearing a conclusion.

He thanked TPLF fighters who, he said, had taken advantage of the deadline to switch sides but he did not

give a number.

Meanwhile, TPLF adviser Fesseha Tessema, a former Ethiopian diplomat, told the BBC that civilian sites in Tigray’s main city, Mekelle, were being bombed by federal forces. (Excerpt from BBC News)

5 dead, many wounded in suicide bomb attack in Somalia

A

t least five people have been killed in Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu, after a suicide bomber blew himself up in a restaurant near a police academy.

Mohamed Abdirahman, a police officer at the scene, said two of the victims of Tuesday’s attack were police personnel.

More than 10 people were wounded and rushed to hospital, some in serious condition, Abdirahman told AFP news agency.

Witness Abdukadir Hussein said there had been dozens of people in the restaurant when the attack took place.

Another witness, shopkeeper Mohamed Ali, told Reuters news agency police opened fire after the blast went off. He said he could see huge clouds of smoke rising above the restaurant and ambulances trying to reach the site, in the city’s Hamar Jajab district near Mogadishu port.

The al-Shabab armed group claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement carried by the SITE intelligence agency.

The al-Qaeda-linked group frequently carries out bombings and gun attacks on military and civilian targets, including at hotels, intersections and checkpoints, as part of its campaign to topple the

7, the rate in France has dropped sharply with the total reaching a more than one-month low on Monday, at 9406. The Monday figure tends to dip as there are fewer tests conducted on Sundays.

French Health Minister Olivier Veran said on Tuesday the country was regaining control over the coronavirus but was not ready to ease the second national lockdown imposed to rein in the outbreak.

Paramedics attend to a man injured at the scene of a suicide explosion at a restaurant near a Police academy in Mogadishu, Somalia [Feisal Omar/Reuters]

country’s internationally recognised government.

Thousands of people have died in the fighting between the fighters and Government forces.

At least 13 Somali soldiers were killed by al-Shabab in

October near the district of Afgoye.

In August, 10 civilians and a police officer were killed in a gun-and-bomb attack by alShabab on an upscale beachfront hotel in the capital.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Despite the fewer daily cases, the number of people hospitalised for COVID-19 has reached an all-time high, and France has the third-highest number of deaths in Europe after the United Kingdom and Italy.

President Emmanuel Macron’s Government has set a Dec 1 target for ending the lockdown, although it might be extended if the numbers do not fall fast enough.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

20

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2020

guyanatimesgy.com

ARCHIE

ARIES (March 21April 19)

Avoid no-win situations.

Find a way to overcome controversy and build better relationships with others.

How you present who you are and what you want will be crucial.

Think your plans TAURUS through, and refuse to let (April 20anyone interfere. Don’t sucMay 20) cumb to peer pressure or mind games. Follow your heart and make positive adjustments as you advance.

DILBERT

GEMINI (May 21June 20)

CANCER (June 21July 22)

PEANUTS

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

CALVIN AND HOBBES

SUDOKU

If you let someone get in your way, you’ll fall short of your goal. Taking on someone’s problems won’t help them or you. Offer suggestions, but don’t take charge.

Keep your cool, regardless of what others do. Focus on finding ways to handle capably your money and responsibilities. A unique approach to life, love and happiness will pay off.

Do what has to be done without complaint. If you raise issues, you will meet with opposition. Get things done on time, and avoid a pointless debate. Take action instead of talking.

You’ve got what it takes to win. Take on a challenge, embrace competition and make adjustments if you don’t like what you see. You don’t need to impress anyone other than yourself.

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

Change what isn’t working for you. Take better care of your home, family and financial affairs. An emotional scene won’t help you solve anything. Be honest, direct and willing to compromise.

SCORPIO

Knowledge is power.

Gather information that enables you to bring about positive change. Speak freely and passionately about what you want, and live life your way.

(Oct. 24Nov. 22)

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23Dec. 21)

Remain focused on home improvements, keeping the peace and letting go of the past. Make personal growth, less stress and better health your priorities. Romance is featured.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22Jan. 19)

Discuss your plans and get approval from those affected by the decisions you make. Letting others have a say will encourage them to help you achieve your goal.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20Feb. 19)

Look for better ways to handle or earn money.

Address uncertainty regarding a contract, a problem you face with an institution or your health. Update your skills to suit a changing market.

SOLUTION FOR LAST PUBLISHED PUZZLE

PISCES (Feb. 20March 20)

Old friends will give you some valuable information.

A last-minute change of plans will play in your favor. Financial gain is heading your way. Helping someone will pay off.

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2020

21

Thiem beats Nadal in highquality ATP 2020 final match

D

ominic Thiem came out on top in a high-quality match to beat Rafael Nadal at the ATP Finals.

The Austrian won 7-6 (9-7) 7-6 (7-4) for his second victory of the season-ending event at the O2 Arena in London.

Nadal had two set points in the first-set tie-break, but could not convert, with Thiem eventually securing the win on his fourth match point.

Stefanos Tsitsipas played Andrey Rublev in Tuesday’s other match of Group London 2020 at about 20:00 GMT. If defending champion Tsitsipas has won, Thiem would be into the semi-finals before his final match of the round-robin stage.

Nadal will play Tsitsipas on Thursday, while Thiem faces Rublev.

“It was a great match

from the first to last point. I was pretty lucky to get that first set after being 5-2 down in the tie-break,” Thiem said.

“I had the feeling that the match was a very high level. The atmosphere would’ve been unreal (if fans were in the arena). We put on a good show for those watching on television.”

Two gripping sets

Spanish second seed Nadal, who is seeking his first ATP Finals title, and Thiem have brought the best out of each other on many occasions in recent years, with gripping matches at the Australian and US Open tournaments, plus two French Open finals.

They did so again here over two hours and 25 minutes when the superb standard barely dropped.

It was such a shame that there was no crowd to enjoy

the dazzling shot-making in a first set that went to a tiebreak without a break point being created.

Nadal seemed set to take it when he led 5-2, and although Thiem clawed his way back to 5-5, a double fault handed the 34-yearold Spaniard a set point. An uncharacteristic backhand into the middle of the net allowed the Austrian to escape, and after Thiem saved another set point, he took his own first opportunity with an inside-out forehand winner.

The first break of the match went Nadal’s way in the seventh game of the second set, but 27-year-old Thiem hit back straight away to level at 4-4, before holding serve to put the pressure on the 20-time Grand Slam champion.

Nadal faltered as three errors gave the US Open champion three match points

at 0-40, but the Spaniard won the next five points to hold, including a serve-volley at 15-40 that clipped the tape and dropped on his opponent’s side.

The set went into another tie-break, and at 3-3, a magnificent backhand winner saw Thiem seize the initiative, with the victory secured when Nadal dragged a backhand wide.

It was Thiem’s seventh win in nine matches against top 10 players this year.

“I think that today I played a little bit higher level than at the US Open. It was maybe the best match from me since the restart of the tour, and that makes me super happy,” he added.

Nadal, who beat Rublev in straight sets in his opening match on Sunday, said the way he played against Thiem makes him feel confident for the rest of the tournament.

Mido slams Salah for attending brother’s wedding

“It has been a great match of tennis decided for a few small details,” he said. “Just well done to him. He played, I think, an amazing match, and I played well, too.

“My feeling is not negative. I lost, but I had plenty of chances in the first, and then I had a break in the second. I think my chances are bigger to have a very good result now than five days ago, because the level of tennis, even if I lost today, is much higher.” (BBC Sport)

Jamaica Reggae Boyz net 2-1 win over Saudi Arabia

– prior to contracting COVID-19

M

ohamed Salah has been slammed in an extraordinary tirade by former Egypt forward Mido, who criticised the Liverpool star for contracting COVID-19 and called the national team’s administration “cowards” for aiding the player’s apparent negligence.

It was confirmed last Friday that Salah has been diagnosed with the virus, after returning two positive test results. It subsequently emerged that Salah had attended the wedding of his brother in Cairo earlier in the week, an event that was said to have had hundreds of guests. While some footage from the wedding showed Salah dancing in a crowd with a facemask on, in others the covering is shown to be only around his neck.

Like much of the world, Egypt has imposed COVID-19 protocols to curb the spread of the virus, including social distancing measures and the wearing of masks in enclosed public spaces.

It has not been confirmed that Salah contracted the virus at the wedding, but he has attracted widespread condemnation for attending

the wedding during a pandemic and when the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Togo is so near.

Now Mido, a controversial figure himself during his playing days, has blasted Salah and the Egyptian Football Association (EFA) – including his former teammate Mohamed Barakat, now national team director – for allowing the situation to arise in the first place.

“I know I may be under attack after my next talk, but it has to be. Mohamed Salah made a big mistake by attending his brother’s wedding a few days before the Egyptian national team match,” the former Tottenham, Ajax and Roma striker told Al-Nahar TV. “He showed great negligence with the steps taken to prevent coronavirus, and the result was that he was infected.

“The neglect of Mohamed Salah caused the Egyptian team to lose an important player in a very important match and time, and he also risked the health of his team-mates. He should not have been present at his brother’s wedding, especially at that time.

“The other point here is

the silence of all those responsible for the player’s negligence, which confirms the fact that the player is still bigger than the national team, and this will lead to a great failure. When I missed the 2006 Africa Cup of Nations, I was punished by missing the final and being excluded from the national team for six months, even if I played (at club level).

“The final we lost, I was young and I thought I was bigger than the team, but I confirm now that no one is bigger than the team; and if someone thinks this, this will be a great failure.

Officials in Egypt did not direct any word of blame or reproach to Mohamed Salah and the harm caused by his negligence to the Egyptian team, and I name each of (them): Minister of Sports, Ashraf Sobhi; Chairman of the EFA, Amr Al-Ganayni; the coach of the national team, Hossam AlBadri; and the national

team director, Mohamed Barakat. All are cowards, and fear Mohamed Salah fans who love the Liverpool star.

“But here I am, speaking without calculations or fear of anyone. No one can say that Salah did not make a mistake by going to his brother’s wedding at that difficult time and in light of the coronavirus crisis.

“All the English newspapers speak against us negatively. Salah should have been blamed for what he did, but everyone feels fear.”

Salah also looks set to miss Liverpool’s Premier League c l a s h w i t h Leicester C i t y .

(Sportsmax)

J

amaica’s Reggae Boyz turned the tables on Saudi Arabia with a comefrom-behind 2-1 win in Riyadh on Tuesday.

The victory comes on the back of the Jamaican national team suffering a 3-0 loss on Saturday, which served to make it a difficult return to international football after a months-long break.

On Tuesday, it was once again Saudi Arabia that struck first, in the 29th minute. Abdullah Al-Hamdan finished off a sweeping counter-attacking move that had resulted from a poorly cleared defensive effort.

This time, however, the Jamaicans struck back through English-based player Daniel Johnson, in the 64th minute.

Loosely marked

at the edge of the area, the player’s superbly shot curler nestled into the top corner of Saudi Arabia goalkeeper Mohammed AlYami’s goal.

Playing with much more confidence than they displayed in the first encounter, the Jamaicans got the all-important goal in the 34th minute. Striker Javon East caught the Saudi Arabia backline in possession, and surged to goal before lifting the ball over AlYami.

The match marked a special milestone for Jamaica coach and former national player Theodore Whitmore, as he was coaching his one-hundredth game for Jamaica’s senior team after a stellar career in which he played over 100 games.

22

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2020

Babar Azam’s fluent fifty guides Karachi Kings to maiden PSL title How the game played out

were Karachi Kings’ owner Salman Iqbal a scriptwriter, it’s unlikely he’d have had the imagination to plot out a Karachi Kings’ triumph in quite as deliciously satisfying a manner as this. Not only did Karachi Kings romp to their first PSL title at the fifth time of asking, they did so at home, and against arch-rivals Lahore Qalandars.

What’s more, the boy from Lahore, Babar Azam, proved central to their victory, his sixth consecutive half-century ensuring there would be no jitters on the way to a below-par target. The title was sealed with eight

peared to fly in the face of history. Moreover, this was a used pitch, and it was evident from the outset that the Qalandars were unsure how it might play.

Fakhar Zaman and Tamim Iqbal struggled to keep the runs ticking over, with the dot balls racking up as the pressure mounted.

A 68-run opening partnership might appear ostensibly handy, but it isn’t when it takes half the innings to bring it up. Wasim was excellent in the way he kept mixing up his bowlers, who backed him up with their discipline and intensity.

Iqbal and Zaman both holed out off the bowling of Umaid Asif - brought in

balls and five wickets to spare, with Azam finally ensuring he’d stick around until his captain, Imad Wasim, knocked off the winning runs.

Lahore Qalandars won the toss, and to the surprise of many, opted to bat first. It was the first time a side opted to do so in this year’s playoffs, and with three of the first four finals won by chasing sides, it a p -

to replace Wayne Parnell, leaving Karachi with only three overseas players in their side - in a pivotal 11th over, Lahore began to panic, and subsequently disintegrated. Seven wickets fell for 50 runs as Lahore once more began to resemble the side that finished bottom of the table four years in a row, while Karachi applied the pressure.

To defend 135 - something they had never done before - Lahore needed the wicket of Azam, and the

Babar Azam pulls one away

Service

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The Karachi Kings chose to honour Dean Jones, who passed away recently

and Haris Rauf took two in two, but Azam ensured all that excitement would prove ephemeral.

This was billed as a contest between Lahore’s batsmen and Karachi’s fast bowlers, and Lahore skipper Sohail Akhtar raised the stakes when he decided we’d get that duel to start off. When Zaman walloped Mohammad Amir for a couple of early boundaries, it appeared Lahore’s batsmen were edging the contest, but a superbly disciplined bowling performance bogged Lahore down for the first half of the innings, before they were blown away in the second.

Amir might have been expensive, but the lesser-fancied Waqas Maqsood, Arshad Iqbal and Umaid Asif more than made up for it, each chipping in with two wickets while conceding just 62 runs between them across 12 overs. None of Lahore’s big hitters was a l l o w e d freebies, a n d u n d e r i n tense, r e lentl e s s scrutiny from a trio that very much hunted as a pack, Lahore would find themselves ripped apart.

Miss of the day

Pakistan skipper was in no mood to comply. Batting with the assuredness of someone who has almost forgotten what it’s like not to score a half-century, he set the tone with a couple of boundaries off Shaheen Shah Afridi in the first over, and ticked the runs off efficiently thereafter.

Lahore thought they were in the game when Alex Hales fell cheaply

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A f r i d i flashed t h a t

Team effort with the ball

Umaid Asif struck twice in one over

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Aside from Azam, it wasn’t really a day for the big names. Lahore Qalandars’ fancied batting line-up never managed to get off the ground in its entirety, with Iqbal, Zaman, Ben Dunk and David Wiese all missing out.

Some might have pitched this as a contest between Amir and Shaheen Shah Afridi, but they were the two most expensive bowlers on the night, failing to take a wicket between them.

Amir suffered the ignominy of Afridi swiping him over cow corner for six, before paddling him over short third man, but while

endearing, infectious grin then, he later hade it wiped off by Wasim, who knocked the winning boundary off his bowling.

It might have been the most significant night in the competition’s history, but some of the biggest stars would want to forget it.

Final standings

K a r a c h i Kings won the PSL for the first time in the league’s history, following titles for Islamabad United (twice), Peshawar Zalmi and Quetta Gladiators.

For Lahore Qalandars, who had finished bottom every season before this one, a second-placed finish was historic in its own right.

(ESPNcricinfo)

223-7230-1 (Ext 55)

NOW!

SCOREBOARD LAHORE QALANDARS INNINGS (20 OVERS MAXIMUM) Tamim Iqbal c Iftikhar Ahmed b Umaid Asif 35 Fakhar Zaman c Iftikhar Ahmed b Umaid Asif 27 Mohammad Hafeez c Babar Azam b Imad Wasim 2 BR Dunk †c Babar Azam b Arshad Iqbal 11 SR Patel c Waqas Maqsood b Arshad Iqbal 5 Sohail Akhtar (c) c Rutherford b Waqas Maqsood 14 D Wiese not out 14 Muhammad Faizan c Iftikhar Ahmed b Waqas Maqsood 0 Shaheen Shah Afridi not out 12 Extras (lb 9, nb 1, w 4) 14 TOTAL (20 Ov, RR: 6.7) 134/7 Did not bat: Haris Rauf, Dilbar Hussain Fall of wickets: 1-68 (Tamim Iqbal, 10.1 ov), 2-69 (Fakhar Zaman, 10.4 ov), 3-70 (Mohammad Hafeez, 11.1 ov), 4-81 (Samit Patel, 13.3 ov), 5-97 (Ben Dunk, 15.4 ov), 6-110 (Sohail Akhtar, 18.1 ov), 7-118 (Muhammad Faizan, 18.5 ov) BOWLING O-M-R-W Imad Wasim 2-0-6-1 Mohammad Amir 4-0-38-0 Waqas Maqsood 4-0-18-2 NOTICE Arshad Iqbal 4-0-26-2 Umaid Asif 4-0-18-2 Iftikhar Ahmed 2-0-19-0

KARACHI K INGS INNINGS (TARGET: 135 RUNS FROM 20 OVERS) Sharjeel Khan c Fakhar Zaman b Patel 13 Babar Azam not out 63 AD Hales b Dilbar Hussain 11 CAK Walton †lbw b Dilbar Hussain 22 Iftikhar Ahmed c Wiese b Haris Rauf 4 SE Rutherford c Sohail Akhtar b Haris Rauf 0 Imad Wasim (c) not out 10 Extras (b 1, lb 2, nb 1, w 8) 12 TOTAL (18.4 Ov, RR: 7.23) 135/5 Did not bat: Umaid Asif, Mohammad Amir, Waqas Maqsood, Arshad Iqbal Fall of wickets: 1-23 (Sharjeel Khan, 3.1 ov), 2-49 (Alex Hales, 6.5 ov), 3-110 (Chadwick Walton, 15.1 ov), 4-124 (Iftikhar Ahmed, 17.1 ov), 5-124 (Sherfane Rutherford, 17.2 ov) BOWLING O-M-R-W Shaheen Shah Afridi 3.4-0-31-0 Haris Rauf 4-0-30-2 SR Patel 4-0-22-1 Dilbar Hussain 4-0-28-2 D Wiese 3-0-21-0

223-7230-1 (Ext 55)

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2020

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

23

Keemo Paul joins Hobart Hurricanes for BBL 10 E

x c i t i n g young West Indies allrounder Keemo Paul has signed on for his first stint in the KFC BBL, joining the Hobart Hurricanes at the urging of former Australia skipper and Tasmanian legend, Ricky Ponting.

Paul joins Dawid Malan, the world’s topranked T20 batter, as Hobart’s key international players for BBL|10 that have been announced so far, with another big-name import set to be named tomorrow.

South African Colin Ingram and young English batter Will Jacks will also play for the Hurricanes this season as replacement players.

A handy lower-order batsman with the ability to clear the rope, Paul’s real strength is with the ball, where he will complement Hobart’s home-grown firebrands Riley Meredith and Nathan Ellis.

He was part of Ponting’s Delhi Capitals squad at the recent IPL, al-

though he didn’t play a match, while he’s also previously played in the Pakistan Super League.

“I have spoken to Ricky here at the IPL about Hobart and

Tasmania and he has spoken really positively about the team and the competition,” Paul said.

“I also caught up with Griff (coach Adam Griffith) after our game recently, and it was great to hear more about the very exciting squad this year.”

A tall 22-year-old who hails from a tiny village of about 100 people in Guyana that still doesn’t have connected electricity, Paul will link up with the Hurricanes after the West Indies’ tour of New Zealand.

Paul

i s part of the West Indies Test and T20 squads, with the international campaign to run

until December 15, meaning he will be unavailable for the Canes’ first three matches, including the BBL|10 opening night on December 10.

He should be available for their December 19 game against the Melbourne Renegades in Hobart.

Paul claimed nine wickets with the Guyana Amazon Warriors in this year’s Caribbean Premier League – including a match haul of 4-19 - which was played entirely in Trinidad on pitches that were not in favour of fast bowlers, but emerged as one of the seamers to enhance his reputation.

He first came into international cricket’s spotlight in controversial circumstances

in February 2016 with a ‘Mankad’ run out that split opinions.

At the Under 19 World Cup, with opponents Zimbabwe needing three runs to win and just one wicket in hand, Paul removed the bails before beginning his delivery stride to run out the non-striker and seal the West Indies’ passage through to the tournament’s quarter-finals.

Now 22, Paul has developed into an outstanding cricketer, having represented the West Indies in all three formats, although he will be looking to prove himself at Test cricket on the New Zealand tour.

Hobart Hurricanes squad (so far): Scott Boland, Jake Doran, Nathan Ellis,

James Faulkner, Peter Handscomb, Colin Ingram (RSA)*, Will Jacks (ENG)*, Dawid Malan (ENG), Ben McDermott, Riley Meredith, David Moody, Mitch Owen, Wil Parker, Keemo Paul (WI), D’Arcy Short, Matthew Wade (c), Mac Wright *international replacement player Melbourne Stars squad (so far): Jonny Bairstow (ENG), Hilton Cartwright, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Ben Dunk, Seb Gotch, Clint Hinchliffe, Zahir Khan (AFG), Nic Maddinson, Glenn Maxwell (c), Lance Morris, Tom O’Connell, Nicholas Pooran (WI), Will Puckovski, Billy Stanlake, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa (Cricket Australia)

Bodybuilding restarts on Dec 12 with "Resilience"

"They will be ready" – Coach Simmons speaking on IPL players in quarantine

B

Kerwin Clarke (second right) will be the guest poser for the event

T

he West Indies Men’s team are currently in Queenstown, New Zealand and are training at the John Davies Oval.

While there is no concern about the preparedness of that batch, who finished their quarantine period last week; the group of players who recently participated in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and are still in quarantine are the cause for many fans’ and analyst’s worries.

However, despite the fact that the group featuring the likes of Captain Kieron Pollard, Nicholas Pooran, Guyanese duo Shimron Hetmyer and Keemo Paul, and Fabian Allen, will finish their quarantine period on November 26, Head Coach Phil Simmons is adamant that they will be ready for the first showdown on November 27 at Eden Park.

“I think with them practicing and getting good facilities, like we know there is for them to practice; I think everybody would ready,” Simmons asserted.

Despite shrugging off the

quarantine issue, Simmons shared that he is keeping a close eye on the batting and their consistency, since it has been a downfall in times past.

“I think the big areas are consistency, especially in the bowling and understanding situations especially in the batting. We’ve had situations that we were in control of games and people give away their wicket so, you know, things like that areas the main things we’re working on now,” Simmons divulged.

The Coach also went on to share that the team is in high spirits, saying, “Things have been good, a few days have been cold but most of the days have been nice and warm. You know when it’s warm West Indies team tends to thrive, they’ve been very good, they’ve been enjoying it.”

When probed about the utilization of the reserve players in the team, Simmons shared that it has been great having them around, and they would also

benefit from experience and training.

“It’s been great!

Everybody has been looking to do what’s necessary, and working hard and looking to make sure that they’re doing everything for the team right now, and that’s been great,” Simmons commented.

He continued stating, “It’s very beneficial to all of them, because they see what it’s like to be part of a West Indies tour, they see what it’s like to train with West Indies team, and we work with them also, even though they’re reserves, to improve their games.”

West Indies will battle New Zealand A in two practice matches from November 20-22 and November 26-29, while the T20 series will see matches on November 27, 28 and 30.

The Men in Maroon will also contest two tests from December 2-6 and December 10-15. (Jemima Holmes)

odybuilding will be the next sporting discipline to restart activities after the coronavirus pandemic had put a stop to all sports in March 2020.

The Guyana Body Building and Fitness Federation (GBBFF) stages ‘Resilience’ on Saturday, December 12, at the National Cultural Centre on Homestretch Avenue in Georgetown.

36 local athletes will grace the stage as they participate in ‘Resilience’. However, the event will not be open to fans, but bodybuilding enthusiasts will have the opportunity to view via live streaming on various social media platforms.

December’s event is a collaboration between the GBBFF and the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport (MCY&S) in an attempt to present the hardworking athletes, the bodybuilding and fitness fraternity, and the entire Guyana with a bodybuilding and fitness competition.

“With the country still navigating the COVID-19 pandemic, the GBBFF and the MCY&S wish to remind all Guyanese of our ‘resilience’ to withstand the test-

ing of the times. Hence the said competition is to celebrate life, health, fitness, and our resilience as Guyanese, whilst promoting healthy lifestyle and healthy living,” a statement from the GBBFF explained the rationale behind the competition.

Athletes, backstage personnel and the executive of the GBBFF have vowed to observe all COVID-19 protocols to allow for the smooth running of the competition.

While on stage, athletes will be required to stand 6 feet apart from each other.

Backstage athletes will be required to wear their masks and to maintain the mandatory physical distancing.

Judges will be seated 6 feet from each other, and will be required to wear their masks.

This competition will see athletes vying for prizes in 4 categories, namely: Bodybuilding Light weight (All athletes at 165 pounds and lower), Bodybuilding Heavy weight (All athletes at 166 pounds and higher), Bikini, and Men’s Physique.

The likes of reigning Mr. Guyana, Marlon “Bolo” Bennet, reigning Ms. Guyana Bikini Champion Roseanna Fung; CAC finalist, Darious

Ramsammy; reigning 2020 Novices Bodybuilding Champion, reigning 2020 Novices Bikini and Men’s Physique Champions, Guyana Strong Man winner, Carlos Petersen, and many other accomplished athletes from every county in Guyana have already expressed their interest in participating in the competition.

Reigning CAC Gold Medalist, several times Mr. Guyana Champion, and one of Guyana’s top elite athletes, Kerwin Clarke, will do the honour of guest posing for Guyana on the night of the competition.

Meanwhile, cash prizes of $100,000, $70,000, and $50,000 will be up for grabs for first, second and third place finishers in each segment. The overall winner of the bodybuilding segment will pocket $200,000.

The GBBFF, in its statement, revealed that all registered athletes are in full preparatory mode, and the GBBFF and the filming and media crew are working hard to present to Guyana live bodybuilding and fitness competition of the highest level.

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2020

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

guyanatimesgy.com

Bodybuilding restarts on Dec 12 with “Resilience” Pg 23

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Keemo Paul joins Hobart Hurricanes for BBL 10 See story on page 23

Babar Azam’s fluent fifty guides Karachi Kings to maiden PSL title Pg 22

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