Guyana Times - Wednesday, August 10, 2022

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US donates 52,800 doses of COVID-19 vaccine towards paediatric immunisation Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

Issue No. 5096

THE BEACON OF TRUTH WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 10, 2022

Bars now required to verify age of patrons before serving alcohol

PRICE

$100 VAT INCLUDED

WHAT'S INSIDE: Venezuelan P9 killed by reversing truck

…$500,000 - $1M fine for employing a minor at a liquor store See story on page 8 …as harsher penalties, measures in place to curb alcohol-related road accidents

Women in indigenous families are the foundation – Minister Page 3

New possibilities, investments open with passage of Hemp Bill – Agri P11 Minister Hogg Island farmer suffocated, bludgeoned to death – PME P16 reveals

…as Amerindian Heritage Month is launched …Mainstay/Whyaka revealed as 2022 Heritage Village

Mother of 3 stabbed Pump attendant to death in front of confesses to killing 6-year-old daughter …child heard screaming, begging for help – aunt security guard

Armed robbery suspects arrested during Police P11 raid

Page 10

Page 7

Cop among 5 busted with cocaine by CANU Page 17

63 new COVID-19 cases recorded, P9 2 in ICU

Small-scale miners to get support, P2 strengthened system to help livelihood – Pres Ali

2 NEWS Small-scale miners to get support, strengthened system to help livelihood – Pres Ali WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 10, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

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mall scale miners met with President Dr Irfaan Ali on Tuesday to discuss issues affecting the industry.

During the meeting, the miners related their issues to the President and committed to working along with him and the Natural Resources Ministry to find solutions.

At the meeting which was held at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, President Ali made a commitment to address issues faced by small-scale miners.

The President reassured the miners that his Government will implement ways to support and strengthen the system to help small-scale miners.

He also tasked the Ministry to consult with the medium-scale miners on their issues.

The Head of State proposed that tangible solutions would be brought to the table when a follow-up meeting is held in a month.

Natural Resources Minister Vickram Bharrat and technical staff from the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) were also at the meeting.

In June, after Government announced $2 billion in relief for the mining community, the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) commended the move and lauded the Administration for keeping its campaign promises.

During a consultation with GGDMA miners and other stakeholders in the mining sector in May, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo had outlined a slew of incentives that he said would

Dr Irfaan Ali meeting with small miners at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre

benefit operators.

Following those consultations, the GGDMA had welcomed the reduction of the Final Tax on income from gold produced, declared, and sold. Currently, the tax is 3.5 per cent, but it will now be reduced to 2.5 per cent.

The GGDMA had said another major development was the abolition of the burdensome 10 per cent Tributors Tax, which miners were subjected to for many years.

In totality, the GGDMA had said these measures would result in approximately $1.9 billion returning to the industry and this revenue would be utilised to

reduce the burden of added operational costs and also to improve varying aspects of miners’ operations.

Moreover, it pointed out that the removal of the 14 per cent Value-Added Tax (VAT) on lubricating oils have had an immediate positive impact not just on the mining sector but all other sectors, such as construction and agriculture, where heavy equipment was essential.

Additionally, the Association had also said it was pleased with the Government’s announcement of the $2.4 billion to be spent upgrading roads in mining areas.

At the consultations with

VP Jagdeo, the GGDMA had raised several issues, including the need for reform at the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) and closer collaboration between the Association and the Natural Resources Ministry.

Meanwhile, at the consultation, the Vice President had reiterated the Government’s commitment to protecting small miners from being bullied by larger concession holders. As a result, he had promised to take the matters affecting the sector before Cabinet, once those matters were captured in report form in an effort to have them resolved.

NEWS

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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 10, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS OPENINGS BRIDGE

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

Wednesday, Aug 10 – 01:30h – 03:00h and Thursday, Aug 11 – 02:30h – 04:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Wednesday, Aug 10 – 15:10h – 16:40h and Thursday, Aug 11 – 16:05h – 17:35h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY

There will be sunshine during the day. Expect clear skies at night. Temperatures should range between 22 degrees Celsius and 31 degrees Celsius.

Winds: Southerly to Westerly between 1.34 metres and 3.12 metres.

High Tide: 15:29h reaching a maximum height of 2.47 metres.

Low Tide: 08:57h and 21:17h reaching minimum heights of 0.65 metre and 0.75 metre.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 06, 2022

LOTTERY NUMBERS D

03 07 09

12 18 22

FREE TICKET

11 Bonus Ball

TUESDAY, AUGUST 9, 2022

DAILY MILLIONS

02 05 18 20 24 LUCKY 3

7

9

1

8

Afternoon Draw

3

8

Evening Draw

DRAW DE LINE

01 07 13 14 18 19 20 SUPER

PAY DAY

PAY DAY

FRIDAY, AUGUST 05, 2022

02 06 09 11 14 13

05 07 09 13 14

0

0 Afternoon Draw

2x Afternoon Draw

3

5 Evening Draw

FP Evening Draw

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

COMMODITIES Indicators

US$

Change % -0.35

Crude Oil

$96.31/barrel

Rough Rice

$306.18/ton

-1.08

London Sugar

$542.20/ton

0.00

Live Spot Gold

USD Per Ounce

Bid/Ask

$1793.40

$1794.40

Low/High Change

$1783.50 -0.50

$1801.70 -0.03

Women in Indigenous families are the foundation – Minister …as Amerindian Heritage Month is launched …Mainstay/Whyaka revealed as 2022 Heritage Village

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n the heels of International Day of World’s Indigenous Peoples 2022 which was observed on Tuesday, Amerindian Affairs Minister Pauline Sukhai launched the programme of activities for the upcoming Amerindian Heritage Month.

Themed “The Role of Indigenous Women in the Preservation & Transmission of Traditional Knowledge”, International Day of World’s Indigenous Peoples 2022 was observed on Tuesday.

On August 9 each year, this worldwide celebration is observed, as this date coincides with the first meeting, in 1982, of the UN Working

Group on Indigenous Populations. “…as we are celebrating World’s Indigenous Day, and in collaboration with the NTC (National Toshaos Council), and also, the launching, at the same time, our Heritage Month programme, we would like to say to you that September month will bring a whole package of what the Amerindian traditional knowledge is about, what Indigenous culture is about, and what our traditions and customs [are] like.

We would be able to introduce, to this country again, our unique dances, our music, our food, and of course, our treasure of the way we work, the way we live as one,” Sukhai said during an address on Tuesday at the Umana Yana.

Sukhai also spoke extensively on the contribution of Amerindian women to Guyana and the Guyanese culture; their valuable contributions to not only their families but to their villages and their country.

“I want to also say greetings to all the Indigenous women and to make sure that I sounded it very clear that we recognise you, that we love you, and we know that you have not only contributed to your families, but to your village and your country.”

The Minister said that women are equal to their male counterparts in all aspects, and they have a prominent position in this country.

Equal counterparts “Women are equal to their counterparts in all as-

Amerindian Affairs Minister Pauline Sukhai speaking at the launch of Heritage Month 2022

pects and it doesn’t matter where we walk, whether we walk ahead, at the side, or behind, we know that we have a very prominent position in this country and in

our families. It is the women in the Indigenous families that are the foundation of the family, not reducing the male’s role to nothing, but when the male leaves the family to go to look for economic activities and jobs to

earn income, it is the women who take the place of the farmer, the chef, the housekeeper, and of course, the nanny. They also hold jobs.

So, women have played a keen role in where our families are, where our children are today,” she said. $3 billion for improved livelihood The National Assembly, on Monday, approved the sum of $3 billion to further improve the lives and livelihood of the Indigenous peoples in hinterland and remote communities.

The supplementary fund was a commitment made to Amerindian leaders by President Dr Irfaan Ali during the recent National Toshaos Conference (NTC).

Also on Monday, the ABCE Ambassadors and High Commissioners in Guyana – Sarah-Ann Lynch; Fernando Ponz Canto; Mark Berman, and Jane Miller

in a joint message said that protecting the rights and preserving the culture of Guyana’s Indigenous peoples is critical. They applauded the recently concluded National Toshaos Council (NTC), adding that it is essential that the voices of Indigenous people are prominent to enhance their participation in decision-making processes.

“We, therefore, reiterate our support for Guyana’s Indigenous peoples’ rights and aspirations, and their full participation and decision-making as we work together in partnership to enhance their socio-economic development, empowerment, improved governance, and, importantly, the preservation and transmission of their traditional knowledge for today and future generations,” the statement said.

The Amerindian Heritage Month celebrations will kick off with a cultural extravaganza on September 1 at the Guyana National Stadium.

This will be followed by the exhibition at the national exhibition site, Sophia, Georgetown.

The Amerindian Heritage Pageant is set for September 17 at the National Cultural Centre and the much-anticipated national heritage celebration will be held on September 10 at the Mainstay/Whyaka settlement in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam). (G2)

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guyanatimesgy.com

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 10, 2022

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

Intoxicating Liquor Licensing (Amendment) Bill 2022

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inally, much need legislation to deal with the sale of alcohol to minors and designated drivers has been passed in the National Assembly.

The Intoxicating Liquor Licensing (Amendment) Bill 2022 is long overdue, and, more importantly, the consequences of the sale of alcohol to minors is long overdue.

As it now stands, the law now requires liquor stores to verify the age of patrons prior to entry into the establishment, and, importantly, stipulates harsher penalties for holder/holders of a liquor licence who employs/employ a minor to supply, sell, or assist in the sale of alcohol. This carries a fine ranging from $500,000 to $1 million.

However, more importantly, sale of alcohol to a designated driver would also be prohibited. Over the years, the issue of alcohol and the massive damaging effects it is having on individuals and communities has again been brought to the fore. There have been a number of deadly accidents countrywide, most of which were as a result of alcohol consumption. Persons, all of whom could have been working and assisting their families and perhaps helping in the development of their communities and country as a whole, are now dead. This is in addition to the dozens of other persons who had lost their lives earlier in the year because of some form of recklessness committed by drivers, or, in some cases, carelessness by pedestrians themselves.

We are indeed convinced that the efforts being made by law enforcement and other authorities to reduce the alarming rate of road accidents are not achieving the desired results. This year will go down as yet another year when Guyana experienced some of its most horrific road accidents, resulting in losses of lives and injuries to countless others. We are very much concerned about the number of persons losing their lives on our roadways. Too many families have been broken as a result of losing loved ones due to road accidents, most of which could have been avoided.

The reasons for the high rates of road accidents are well known, and there is no need to rehash them here, except to say that while there are various factors which impact on road safety, there is little doubt that the single most important one, in a general sense, is enforcement of the traffic laws. The Government has enacted the relevant legislation in relation to driving under the influence, loud music in vehicles, overloading, speeding, etc, but if the laws are not adequately implemented, they become useless. It would be interesting to find out how many of the drivers who are stopped for breaking a traffic law/s are actually charged and brought before the courts. It should also be mentioned here that, in some cases, Police officers themselves are engaged in breaking the traffic rules; for example, by speeding or driving under the influence, and hence are the source of some of the accidents we currently experience.

While it is not our intention to paint the entire Police Force with the same brush, as there are many professional and honest officers within the Force, we are convinced that unless what is perceived as the endemic corruption in the organisation — and the traffic section in particular — is addressed in a systematic way, we will not achieve the desired results.

We had also made the point before that Guyanese need to move away from the culture of disregard and irresponsibility in relation to using the roadways.

For a small country such as ours, we cannot afford to continue along this path. We support the Intoxicating Liquor Licensing (Amendment) Bill 2022, which seeks to bring the full force of the law upon those who are reckless in the use and sale of alcohol.

President Dr Irfaan Ali met with a group of youths from St Cuthbert’s Mission (Pakuri Village) at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre on Tuesday - International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples. They were accompanied by the Toshao Timothy Andrews and Deputy Speaker Lenox Shuman (OP photo)

Building Expo exceeded expectations

Dear Editor, Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal, enthusiastically reports that the International Building Expo 2022 “exceeded the expectations of both exhibitors and visitors.” The installation of 356 booths at the 5-day Expo 2022 does indicate the high confidence that investors and companies have in the country’s investment climate and the rapidly growing economy.

Pointing out that the cost of the Expo was met by Exhibitors and not by the Government, Minister Croal says that one of the objectives of the Expo was to reduce the 50,000+backlog of house lots and to accelerate the application process. To this end, 5,000 house lots and 750 titles were given out to Guyanese during the Expo.

Apart for moving aggressively in other areas to empower people through providing them with jobs and a good education, the PPPC Government recognises that land and home ownership is also a powerful empowerment tool. Thus, creating a forum in which builders, investors, banks, Government functionaries, visitors and consumers could interact with one another, as well as to view different models of homes, equipment, etc., at one place (Providence Stadium) was in itself a great accomplishment.

Building upon the first Expo in 2010, the theme for International Building Expo 2022 was: “A New Frontier for Building a One Guyana.” I believe that the Expo’s multiple objectives flowed out of the policy framework that is laid

out in the PPPC’s National Economic Development Strategy 1994 (NDS), A National Competitiveness Strategy 2006, and the Low Carbon Development Strategy 2030 (LCDS). I identified both general and specific objectives. The general objectives include: (1) the opportunity for local, regional, and international investors to showcase new and innovative techniques in the building and construction sector; (2) introducing of 3D building technology into the housing sector; (3) the creation of a vision tunnel 2030 to show how housing would be transformed in the future; (4) introducing environmentally-friendly houses that are being built wholly with recycled materials.

The specific objectives include: (1) introducing at least 8 different models of housing to potential homeowners in the low income, middle income, and professional categories (people could choose models other than those displayed); (2) providing ready and direct access for citizens to interact with builders, banks, exhibitors, service companies, Government agencies; and (3) encouraging an expanding role for the Private Sector in housing development.

The PPPC’s 2020 Manifesto sets a target of 50,000 house-lot allocation during the Government’s 5-year term (2020-2025). To achieve this goal, they must double the amount of house lots that were given out at an annual average of 5,125 during the period 1992 to 2014. While the PPPC has

not met its average minimum of 10,000 house lots per year for its first two years in office, it still was able to allocate an annual average of 6,000 per year compared with the PNCR-led Government’s annual average of 1,507. The PPPC vows that their target of 50,000 house lots to be allocated within their 5 years would be realised.

In addition, the PPPC is in the process of building 1,200 housing units. Minister Croal says that 300 of these units have already been allocated to families.

The PPPC blames the PNCR-led Government for not creating any new housing scheme during their term in office (2015-2020). The former PNCR Minister of Housing says that they had identified 5 areas comprising 409 acres in Regions 9 and 10 for housing development, and another 21 new housing sites (with 4,273 house lots) in Regions 3, 4, and 6, but they lacked the resources for the requisite infrastructural development.

The entry fee into Expo 2022 of G$3,000 per person for the first 3 days did not prevent Guyanese from all levels of society from visiting the national treasure.

The house lot awardees who did not attend the Expo could pick up their titles and house lot grants at their respective regional offices. The public response was so overwhelming for the first 3 days that the organisers extended the Expo for two additional days and with free entry for visitors.

An estimated 100,000 persons visited the Expo

during the five days.

An NBS Director says the NBS received 250 applications for loans within those 5 days, and that outside of Expo 2022, the NBS would normally get this amount of applications over a 6-month period. The NBS is currently processing those applications. No information was received from the other Banks.

An immediate outcome was the announcement by President Dr Irfaan Ali that Government would grant as incentive to people who are building houses valued at G$6 million and less - the steel and one sling of cement - while those building houses valued between G$6 million and G$25 million would get two slings of cement. Filled with exuberance, a few businesspeople say that cannot wait for the next Housing Expo!

Noting the positive outcome of Expo 2022, Minister within the Ministry of Housing and Water, Susan Rodrigues, says that it was a “blueprint to Guyana’s architectural future.” She continues: “ The new companies were grateful for the platform we provided for exposure and networking, while many of them received orders in quantities that they never received before.” CEO of CH&PA, Sherwin Greaves, states: “based on the testimonials of those persons who would have been allocated house lots and received their titles, many aspiring homeowners would have left the ‘Expo’ very happy.”

Sincerely, Dr Tara Singh

guyanatimesgy.com

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 10, 2022

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

Failure to understand capital Fare increases by investment, risk and return hire car drivers Dear Editor, The consequences of Guyana’s Socialist past continue to hamper the development of the people and the nation. Failure to understand capital investment, risk, and return on investment leaves us without a compass in a modern capitalist world. Our local economic commentators are unable to explain why we cannot have bigger shares of oil revenues at this time, and the buzzwords/phrases “equitable distribution of resources” and “sharing the corn” fill the space between the ears of the ignorant. A quick primer in pragmatic capitalism is long overdue.

ExxonMobil, CNOOC, and Hess took the massive risk of capital when they decided to explore the Stabroek block. Had Liza1 been dry, those companies would have been saddled with a loss of US$600M plus. Those companies gambled on finding oil with money garnered from the sale of shares and reinvestment of profits from previous ventures. Had Liza been dry, thousands of shareholders would

have borne the losses collectively; that is to say, the more shares in Exxon, Hess, and CNOOC they had, the more money they would have lost. These are the people who put up the capital for the venture into Guyana, and they did so in the hope that oil would be found and there would be a return on their investment. Currently, those companies continue to invest in exploration and production in Guyana, and repayment is capped at 75% of the oil produced, 2% royalty is paid to Guyana, and then and only then is ‘profit oil’ shared between the companies who invested and Guyana equally.

It would be at least a decade before shareholders are repaid, and can see dividends on shares.

Guyana, however, began drawing profits from day one of production, without a cent of investment or an iota of risk. When all the development and production costs are paid off in an estimated 10 years, Guyana would take home a 2% royalty and 50% of the profits, while the three companies that invest-

ed would share 50% of the profits.

Guyana’s oil is often described as a ‘bonanza’ for Guyanese. Hopefully, there is a better understanding of why now.

Nigel Hughes says “the PPPC is not distributing oil wealth equally”; to date, no oil revenues have been distributed to any group.

Cash grants to school children, pensioners, and various vulnerable members of society have been done based on need, and without dipping into the NRF. One wonders this: if oil money should be used to build a bridge across the Demerara River, would Hughes stand and count the number of persons by ethnicity and then pronounce on inequity afterward? Hughes and his ilk would be better off seeking out those within their communities that require capital investment in their businesses or start-ups and investing some real hard cash, instead of lip service.

Hughes can lead the change from the socialist mindset of “Government must provide contracts to

my company” to “We can invest capital in each other”.

Capitalism beckons, risk and rewards are on offer for all. Guyanese can form capital venture companies to bid for oil blocks, build shore bases (see NRG and TRI-Star), provide transportation services or any number of creative ventures; but first, we must understand there is the risk of losing every cent invested, and there are no guarantees.

I look forward to the day when we can discuss the impact of Gasto-Energy and multiple shore bases on the economy versus the temporary low catch by a few fishermen as the mouth of the river is dredged; for some would have us abandon the big projects and rely on the fishermen to lead us to prosperity. Such idealism abounds in the utopian socialist minds shaped by the Burnham years, and a strong reality check in long overdue.

Sincerely, Robin Singh

Submissions by GuySuCo, Union have enormous differences Dear Editor, I refer to an article in the media on August 7, captioned “Ali to seek peace between GuySuCo CEO, board”, and a previous release from GuySuCo, that it issued on July 6, wherein it claimed that it abided by the recommendation to procure the articulated tractors in the configuration of the tillage fleet by an independent team of professional engineers.

GAWU, on the other hand, in the article, also referred to the independent report that was done by the team of engineers of the Ministry of Agriculture, the findings of which it carefully perused. Of significant note to the Union “was that the team, when addressing the productivity indicators of the articulated tractors versus fixed-frame tractors, reproduced GuySuCo’s data on a report that was previously done by its own “technical personnel”. Additionally, the Union claimed that GuySuCo’s data was prepared long before any decision was made on the procurement of the articulated tractors, and even before the submission by the independent team of the Ministry of Agriculture”.

GAWU concluded that “the independent team did not submit an indepen-

dent report”. This is a very strong and instructive statement by the Union, whose representative sits on the Company’s Procurement Subcommittee.

Editor, the submissions by the Company and the Union have enormous differences, akin to the difference between day and night.

GuySuCo has adopted a report from the team of professional engineers to guide in the procurement of articulated tractors, and GAWU is disputing the authenticity and veracity of the said report, claiming that it reproduced data in a report previously submitted by GuySuCo. The type of articulated tractors that were bought from the GAME company are far more expensive than the fixed-frame tractors sold locally, and GuySuCo totally relied on the recommendation of this team of “independent professional engineers” in buying these articulated tractors. Assuming that this report was independently done, it means that this team comprised a calibre of engineers that have the required technical knowledge and experience in the field of mechanical engineering and/or agricultural engineering to make such a costly recommendation.

Editor, I am request-

ing that the Company disclose the names and professional qualifications and experience of this “independent team of professional engineers”, because it is

the taxpayers who fund the procurement of these articulated tractors.

Dear Editor, During the Christmas holidays, hire car operators on the West Bank of Demerara subject members of the public to hefty fare increases, which tend to revert to regular rates when the period concludes.

However, of late, I have noticed an alarming trend, wherein car operators who ply routes from Vreed-enHoop to Wales, La Parfaite Harmonie, Canal No. One and elsewhere have taken it upon themselves to permanently impose unilateral fare increases.

Whereas the car fare from Vreed-en-Hoop to Patentia/ Wales was $160, commuters are now paying $200; while to travel from Vreed-en-Hoop to La Grange and Bagotville, many hire car drivers are demanding the same $200, even though the “old” fare is $120.

Another irregularity is seen in the Stanleytown fare (before you turn to Canal No.2), where $140 has moved to the standard $200.

Editor, it is widely understood that there are rising food and living costs that have been influenced by many prevailing global factors, but when one takes some time to examine the West Bank rates in 2022, the hikes are quite telling.

The “new” Wales fare represents an increase of 25%, while the Stanleytown uptick stands at 43%. Further, the La Grange fare represents a 67% increase to the fare commuters paid just last year.

As if all of this were not alarming enough, two of my relatives informed me earlier this week that short drop operators plying the Vreeden-Hoop area are now calling for the same $200 “standard fare” to villages such as Pouderoyen, Versailles and Goed Fortuin, which are all in a 2-mile zone from Vreed-en-Hoop.

The uniformity in these unilateral increases can result in operators refusing to ply routes of lower West Bank villages like Wales, since they will burn less petrol for the short drops while charging the same fare.

This developing plight is similar to what has been obtaining with many Route 44 buses to East Coast Demerara villages. As that exploitation of commuters continues unchanged, it has now emboldened West Bank operators to follow suit with the $200 fare, even though this distance is much shorter.

These issues altogether highlight the need for a comprehensive and regulated transportation system, especially for the heavily populated areas, so that people can spend more time with their families as opposed to being stranded en masse for hours, waiting on operators.

In light of the foregoing, it is my hope that an urgent intervention is made to ensure that fares are properly regulated according to distance, as announced by the appropriate entities.

Sincerely, Myrtle Fanfair

Yours faithfully, Akash Sen

Wednesday, August 10, 2022

06:00 (Sign on) The Journey to Prosperity for all_Panel Discussion - Youth 07:00 Evening News (RB) 08:00 Stop Suffering 09:00 MasterChef Junior 10:00 House Hunter Renovation 11:00 Paternity Court 11:30 Divorce Court 12:00 Movie - Pokémon: Detective Pikachu (2019) 14:00 The Thundermans S4 E20 14:30 Liv and Maddie S2 E4 15:00 Indian Soaps 16:00 Henry Danger S1 E7 16:30 Inspector Gadget 17:00 The Young & The Restless 17:45 Min Bharrat 2nd Anniversary 18:23 CNN 19:00 The Evening News 20:00 Stop Suffering 20:30 JB & Salim 21:30 Stranger Things S1 E3 22:30 Manifest S1 E1 23:30 Whose Line Is It Anyway? S15 E510 00:00 Sign off

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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 10, 2022

Page

Foundation ◄

Adding and subtracting money You may not realise it, but you work with a great many decimals in your life.

Look at this problem: $98.20 + $10.80 A dollar is divided into 100 hundredths, each of which is called a cent.

Adding and subtracting money is done exactly the same way as adding and subtracting decimals.

Activity: Start with penny The buns are cross? a familiar nursery Hot cross buns Who made them rhyme such as "Three angry?

Blind Mice," or "Hot Can be developed Bright, shiny Cross Buns." Change into: pennies the words and develop Those one a penny, a story. For example: Hot cross Buns, hot two a pennies cross buns Cross, cross buns Hot cross Buns, hot One a penny, two a (americanhistory. cross buns penny si.edu) One a penny, two a Hot cross buns

By The Brothers Grimm

Remember You can add placeholder zeroes to money , too. Doing this does not change its value! For example, $40 = $40.00

In a village dwelt a poor old woman, who had gathered together a dish of beans and wanted to cook them. So she made a fire on her hearth, and that it might burn the quicker, she lighted it with a handful of straw. When she was emptying the beans into the pan, one dropped without her observing it, and lay on the ground beside a straw, and soon afterwards a burning coal from

the fire leapt down to the two. Then the straw began and said: “Dear friends, from whence do you come here?”

The coal replied: “I fortunately sprang out of the fire, and if I had not escaped by sheer force, my death would have been certain, -- I should have been burnt to ashes.” The bean said: “I too have escaped with a whole skin, but if the old woman had got me into

the pan, I should have been made into broth without any mercy, like my comrades.”

“And would a better fate have fallen to my lot?” said the straw.

“The old woman has destroyed all my brethren in fire and smoke; she seized sixty of them at once, and took their lives. I luckily slipped through her fingers.”

“But what are we to do now?” said the coal.

WORD SEARCH

7 Mother of 3 stabbed to death in front of 6-year-old daughter NEWS

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 10, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

…child heard screaming, begging for help – aunt

By LaWanda McAllister

A

fter witnessing her mother being stabbed to death by their neighbours, a six-year-old girl was heard screaming and begging for someone to help the woman who had collapsed within minutes of being stabbed at the scene.

Twenty-two-year-old Vanessa Anderson of 38 B Field Sophia Dam, Greater Georgetown, a mother of three, was stabbed to death on Monday following a series of arguments with her neighbours over the last week.

The two women, aged 20 and 29 years old, who are said to be sisters, are in Police custody.

At the home of the dead woman on Tuesday, her sister Natasha Anderson related that her sister’s death was premeditated.

She said her sister was not involved in a fight, but rather, the stabbing stemmed from an old grievance.

Guyana Times was informed that the suspects would oftentimes accuse the now dead woman of calling the Police to search their house.

“Last week Friday a man at the back there…his place was broken into so he bring the Police and carry it over so by them boy them [their neighbours]. So, me niece that is six years old tell we that the Police gone over suh [by their neighbours] … we get up and we

The house where the woman was murdered

Dead: Vanessa Anderson

paid them no mind,” she said.

Natasha Anderson said on Monday at around 05:00h, her sister left her 11-month-old baby with her and went to the shop next door, to purchase a drink. She said while sitting on their veranda she saw the suspects exit their yard, and one of them was holding a child.

The two women then walked across the road and stood in front of their yard.

She said as she looked at them, they were both whispering to each other but she said

The dead woman’s sister, Natasha Anderson

looked through the window.” “…when we look through, one of the sisters look through and say why y’all don’t mind y’all business and watch in y’all own slate… since then the rowing and cursing. Yesterday they start back again but we

she paid them no mind.

“She [one of the suspects] had a knife at the back of her waist… I was far so I couldn’t hear what they were saying.

All I see was the security one [the other suspect] collect her nephew and give she sister the

knife and my sister walk and was coming in the yard,” she said.

three children, a 6-yearold, a three-year-old, and an 11-month-old. It’s five of us and we don’t have a mother or a father. It was only a year ago mother died and now my sister dead and gone.”

“My sister was trying for her children, her daughter toped her entire school with 100 per cent and she just bought everything for

wept bitterly.

Disbelief

Natasha said after hearing of her sister’s death she was still in disbelief until she saw her sister’s bloody remains at the hospital.

“When I go in the hospital, my sister done deh in a body bag cover up with her eyes open and was bleeding

Child witness

The woman said as her sister was crossing their bridge, the suspect with the knife rushed to her sister and stabbed her twice in her back.

The aggrieved sister further stated that after being stabbed, her injured sister began screaming for assistance and later collapsed.

“When she get stabbed, her six-year-old daughter was watching and saw everything.

She saw when her mother was stabbed. She started running and screaming [for her] mother. She is crying really badly. She can’t even sleep. The whole night last night she in sleep,” the woman related.

Shortly after being stabbed, Vanessa was picked up and taken to the hospital by her brother. According to Natasha, after committing the act, one of the suspects ran to the Police station with the murder weapon, while the other stood at the scene.

“I snatch she [the suspect at the scene] because the other one run away. I tell she that once we get you, we got to get she sister. When we carry she at the station, we see she sister at the station already. I told the Police that she is the accomplice because she give her the knife.”

She said while at the Police station she was informed that her sister succumbed to her injuries.

“My sister dead and leave

The father of the dead woman’s children, Sherwin James

them for school already…her 11-month-old would be one next month, the other one birthday is next month too and the 6-year-old birthday is in November. She wouldn’t be here for that,” she said as she

through her nose. I hold my sister’s hand and I cried. My birthday is coming up and me and my sister was planning to go and buy stuff. My sister had plans all to open her shop…”. “… we will take care of her

children because that is no headache. We want them because that is our memories of our sister… this is very sad to know that you are a poor person and this kind of tragedy come and happen to her.”

Helped suspects

Meanwhile, the father of the dead woman’s children, Sherwin James, said that Vanessa had been living in the squatting area for the past nine years. He said that when the spot next to the dead woman’s house was vacant, it was Vanessa who told the suspects to move there since they had nowhere to go.

“I told Vanessa that the spot that is too close for people to come and live there. I told her let them people go down more that side and live and she told me that all of we is poor people and let we allow she [the suspect] to build and live. It is Vanessa that put them there.”

“Vanessa even helped them with wood to build up their house and they turn around a juck she and kill she.

It hurt me inside and I need justice for she.”

The suspects remain in custody as investigations are ongoing.

8 NEWS

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 10, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Bars now required to verify age of patrons before serving alcohol …$500,000 - $1M fine for employing a minor at a liquor store …as harsher penalties, measures in place to curb alcohol-related road accidents

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he Intoxicating Liquor Licensing (Amendment) Bill 2022 has been tabled, and aims to minimise alcohol-related road accidents and fatalities by instituting harsher penalties.

On Monday, the Bill was introduced into the National Assembly where it was read for the first time.

It expands on the definition of a drunken person. The Bill requires liquor store owners to exercise better judgement when selling alcohol to persons who may manifest behaviours commonly associated with liquor intoxication.

Once debated and passed into law, the amended Act will require liquor stores to discourage drinking and driving, by refraining from selling alcohol to drunken persons who are likely to drive after leaving the business place.

The sale of alcohol to a

designated driver will also be prohibited.

Additionally, liquor store owners will be required to report to the Police any person who is intoxicated and attempts to drive or is in charge of a vehicle.

The Bill proposes increased fines for breaching its provisions, ranging from $100,000 on the first offence to $200,000 for the second offence.

Currently, the law stipulates a $4000 fine for the first offence, and $10,000 for the second offence.

In a bid to protect minors from consuming alcohol, the Bill requires liquor stores to verify the age of patrons prior to their entry into the establishment.

Harsher penalties are also proposed for any holder of a liquor licence who employs a minor to supply, sell or assist in the sale of alcohol.

First time offenders will pay $500,000 and

$600,000 to $1 million for subsequent offences.

Back in March, President Dr Irfaan Ali first touted stricter regulations to curb drinking and driving while addressing the Annual Police Officers’ Conference.

President Ali had stated that he regularly engages families of persons who would have lost their

lives due to drunk driving.

The Head of State had called for the issue to be taken seriously.

In 2021, the Guyana Police Force (GPF) recorded a 32 per cent reduction in road fatalities.

This year, the GPF recorded a 9.5 per cent reduction in road fatalities from January 1 to March 8, when compared to the same period in 2021.

“Buy-cutting”… …the National Assembly

T

here you had it!! As promised, the PNC “buy-cutted” the sitting of the National Assembly - in which they knew the PPP were gonna be approving a S44.7BILLION supplementary to the historic $552.9BILLION Budget passed earlier this year!! US Minority Leader Everett Dirksen’s sarcastic quip about “A billion here and a billion there…and pretty soon you’re talking about real money” was funny in 1962 USA. But who woulda thought we’d be tossing around the word “billions” and dollars in the same sentence here in our old mudland!! Pretty soon we’ll be hearing about TRILLIONS!! But right now, with prices shooting beyond the stratosphere, the cry might very well be, “Money, money everywhere, and not a dollar to spend!!”

But back to that “buy-cut”!! What exactly does the PNC think they’ll accomplish by staying away?? Do they really believe - even after the Courts determined that the Privileges Committee had the power to discipline their 8 MPs who rampaged in the National Assembly - they’ll be scoring some points?? With whom?? The whole point about electoral politics is to get folks to vote for you. Will the “buy-cut” convince anyone outside their fan-base of their political nous?? Or will it have the opposite effect??

Think about it. If they felt so strongly about their suspended “Raucous 8”, wouldn’t they have created a bigger impact by making the point IN the National Assembly?? Where’s their creativity? Or do they believe the only effective protest tactic in the National Assembly is to abscond with the Mace and fight off “house slaves”??

Your Eyewitness is of the firm view, expressed by that sly but eloquent arch-imperialist Churchill: “We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender.”

By leaving the PPP to “do wha’ de waan wid dem”, the PNC appeared to’ve deserted the field of contestation that the National Assembly is designed to provide in a parliamentary democracy. It was like Roberto Duran throwing in the towel and crying, “No mas…no mas” to Sugar Ray Leonard!!”

Listen…your Eyewitness knows that the PPP had the votes to carry their motion. But that’s not the point, is it?? Knowing that’s the case for the last thousand years, Opposition parties understand the occasion gives them the opportunity to show the country – including the PPP’s supporters and fence-sitters – that they have better ideas on whatever issue that’s covered by the motion. In this case, the Supplementary Spending Bill. Corruption?!!

But this calls for some preparation, yes?? Like using the two Sectoral Committees they chair at any time to summon Government officials to explain their spending.

In real time!! …just academics One of the ways the Brits left us “underdeveloped” was to misuse the “education” system they foisted on us.

Rather than “education”, it was more like “miseducation”!!

Think about it. In the schools they founded right after “Emancipation”, they handed the job to the Christian Missionaries, who told us to focus on the “hereafter”, where we’d get our reward!! As Nkrumah described their modus operandi, “They told us to look heavenwards, while they stole the land out from under our feet!!”

But there was another more insidious method – launching elite schools like Queen’s and Bishops, patterned after English Grammar Schools - where our brightest competed to join their kids. They taught the “classics” – including Literature and Languages” – and developed a scorn for the “trades”. So, our elites were all siphoned off from forming a local stratum that could actually develop our economy.

Well, finally, the Government’s addressing that debilitating practice, and will have another 34 secondary schools join the 8 already teaching Caribbean Vocational Qualification (CVQ)subjects!!

223-7230-1 (Ext 55)

…miseducation The CVQ subjects include crop production, aquaculture, commercial food preparation, housekeeping, plumbing, masonry, garment construction, fish handling and processing, furniture making, livestock rearing, customer service, business administration, data administration, fabric design, metal work engineering and agro-processing.

They should add air-conditioning repair!

The views expressed in this column are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Guyana Times’ editorial policy and stance

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

NEWS

9

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 10, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

63 new COVID-19 cases recorded, 2 in ICU T

otal infections of COVID-19 in Guyana have reached 70,222, after another 63 new cases were reported on Tuesday.

There are still 1272 confirmed deaths, with two persons in the Intensive Care Unit. From the latest dashboard, 14 persons are in institutional isolation, 456 in home isolation and two in institutional quarantine.

Additionally, a total of 68,478 persons have recovered. However, over 400 active infections are still being monitored across

the country. Meanwhile, 680,240 tests have been processed to date.

An analysis shows two new cases in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), three in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), 26 in Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica), eight in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice), one in Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne), 11 in Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni), one in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) and one in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).

Region One (Barima-

Waini) and Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) saw no increase in cases.

The most recent vaccination numbers show that so far, 445,168 or 86.8 per cent of adults have taken a first dose, while 344,803 or 67.2 per cent of persons 18 years and over are fully vaccinated.

For adolescents between the ages of 12 and 17, 35,435 or 48.6 per cent have received a first dose. Second doses stand at 25,925 or 35.5 per cent.

Vaccines are also available for children within five to 11 years, whereby 6964

Venezuelan killed by reversing truck

persons or 6.8 per cent have taken a first dose.

Additionally, 2061 or two per cent have received a second jab.

Meanwhile, in excess of 71,000 persons have returned for their first booster dose. Booster doses have been made available for the adolescent age group, as well as second booster dos-

es for the adult population.

Persons are encouraged to take these shots before their immunity wanes.

In the Region of the Americas, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases are pegged at over 169 million with a death toll of 2.7 million. Globally, the confirmed positives stand at over 571 million with more

GUYANA COVID-19 DASHBOARD AUGUST 9, 2022 UPDATE

NUMBER OF NEW CASES

63

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN INSTITUTIONAL ISOLATION

14

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN HOME ISOLATION

Dead: Francisco Simosa

T

The driver at the scene of the accident

hirty-five-year-old Venezuelan national Francisco Simosa was on Monday morning killed by a reversing truck along the Sarah Johanna Public Road, East Bank Demerara (EBD).

Based on reports received, Simosa was standing along the roadway while motor lorry GYY 6047 was heading in the direction of Timehri.

The truck reportedly passed the pedestrian, but stopped and reversed, during which the left side of the tray struck the pedestrian, causing him to fall onto the parapet. It was then, the left side rear wheel of the truck ran over the pedestrian.

The injured man was picked up by the Police and public-spirited citizens in an unconscious condition and taken to the Diamond

Diagnostic Centre, where he was pronounced dead.

A breathalyser test was conducted on the driver, but no alcohol was reportedly found in his system. He remains in custody, assisting with further investigations.

In a video provided by a resident, the driver of the truck who is also a resident of Sarah Johanna, explained that he was reversing when he felt as if the truck rolled over something on the roadway. As such, he stopped the vehicle and saw the man lying in a motionless state.

He exited the vehicle and from all indications, Simosa appeared to be dead. The driver claimed that a buzzer would normally come on when the truck is reversing and he was not sure if the now dead man heard it.

“The buzzer was on and if he hear it, why he didn’t

move?” the driver questioned.

Meanwhile, Guyana Times understands that at the time of the accident, the father of one was heading to work. He worked at Bounty Farm Limited as a labourer. He reportedly migrated to Guyana about a year ago.

A relative told this publication that Simosa was a very kind and hardworking person. His wife and son reportedly went back to Venezuela, leaving him in Guyana.

than 6.3 million reported deaths.

If anyone is displaying any of the symptoms associated with COVID-19 or needs any additional information, they are asked to contact the COVID-19 Hotline 231-1166, 2267480 or 624-6674 immediately or visit www.health. gov.gy. (G12)

456

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN COVID-19 ICU

2

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN INSTITUTIONAL QUARANTINE

2

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES BY GENDER (FEMALES)

38,056

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES BY GENDER (MALES)

32,166

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES IN GUYANA SINCE 2020

70,222

NUMBER OF RECOVERED CASES

68,478

TOTAL 1st DOSE VACCINATED FULLY IMMUNISED TOTAL NUMBER OF DEATHS

DISTRIBUTION OF TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES SINCE MARCH 2020 REGION 1

2682

REGION 2

3102

REGION 3

8633

REGION 4

34,972

REGION 5

2554

REGION 6

6735

REGION 7

2620

REGION 8

909

REGION 9

4322

REGION 10

3693

HERE IS HOW YOU CAN BE SAFE DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC Wear a face mask.

445,000 344,700 1272

Keep a physical distance of at least 6 feet.

Wash your hands or use handsanitizer If you have any symptoms, call the COVID-19 Hotline.

GET MEDICAL ADVICE ON COVID-19 FROM MOH 24/7 HOTLINE NUMBERS: 2311166; 226 7480; 624 6674; 624 2819; 624 3067 OR 180/181.

10 NEWS

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 10, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Pump attendant confesses to killing security guard

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well-known pandit of Canefield, East Canje, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), who is also a pump operator, has confessed that he killed security guard Angraj Kumar Indrpaul during a misunderstanding.

On Tuesday, Police reported that the 59-yearold man of New Area, Canefield, East Canje, Region Six (East Berbice-

Corentyne), who was found floating in the Canje River, was murdered.

An autopsy performed on the body on Tuesday gave the cause of death as manual strangulation.

This was confirmed by B Division Commander Boodnarine Persaud, who also stated that one person was arrested as Police continue their investigations.

Indrpaul was a se-

curity guard attached to the Guyana Sugar Corporation’s (GuySuCo) Rose Hall Estate.

He was last seen alive when he reported for duty on Thursday last.

However, last Friday morning, at about 06:00h when the person who had to take over the shift arrived at the work site, he said he saw only Indrpaul’s footwear.

Several hours later, the

body was discovered by a search party comprising estate workers. The body was pulled out of the river. At the time he was not fully clothed.

Indrpaul had been employed as a sluice security by the estate and was sent home when the estate closed in 2017 but was rehired last year when work on reopening the estate commenced.

Dead: Angraj Kumar Indrpaul

NEWS

11

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 10, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

New possibilities, investments open with passage of Hemp Bill – Agri Minister T

he successful passage of the Industrial Hemp Bill 2022 in the National Assembly on Monday has paved the way for a ripple of benefits and possibilities for Guyana.

Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha shared this position when he addressed the House. He relayed that industrial hemp can be cultivated on a large scale locally, given the suitable soil characteristics here. Government is now creating the environment for persons to make such investments.

“We are now bringing new industries to our country. Our responsibility is to continue to explore options where we will bring more opportunities to the working people of our country, especially the productive sectors. The Government is providing enabling legislation for all to benefit and invest. This promising is yet to emerge but imagine the possibilities it will bring to our economy and country,” Mustapha underscored.

Hemp is a botanical class

of Cannabis sativa cultivars grown specifically for industrial or medicinal use. This legislation now allows for the cultivating and manufacturing of industrial hemp and hemp related products; and conducting of research on industrial hemp or any other activity concerning industrial hemp. It further provides for the establishment of a Guyana Industrial Hemp Regulatory Authority.

The Minister detailed, “The popular demand for hemp both from a production and consumption per-

Armed robbery suspects arrested during Police raid

Some of the items that were confiscated during the search

T

wo young men who were fingered in several armed robberies were arrested on Monday during a Police operation in Sophia and its environs. Police stated that while conducting an exercise in Plum Park, Sophia, three armed robbery suspects attempted to escape but they were pursued, which led to the arrest of two of them.

The duo was taken back to their place of abode where a search was conducted, and several electronic tablets, cell phones, and other electronic devices were found – all suspected to be stolen.

The teen suspects were taken to the Turkeyen Police station, pending charges.

In addition, several

cell phones were found at the home of a 25-year-old vendor of Block E South Sophia. Again, the items are suspected to have been stolen and as such he was arrested, pending investigations.

Further, while in the Plum Park area, the Police observed a male riding away on a motorcycle. This prompted the ranks to search his premises during which they found two flatscreen televisions, a stereo set and several other electronics – all suspected to have been stolen.

Recently, the Police have been conducting raids in several areas in Georgetown.

spective is by no means insignificant. Hemp production in Guyana is a win-win situation for all the players involved. For the grower, it will be a source of income generation and job creation.

For the consumers, it could have significant benefit. For the broader economy, it will be a valuable source of foreign exchange.”

This passage fulfils a commitment made by President Dr Irfaan Ali to decriminalise hemp production, having labelled it a viable industry. Hemp is a multibillion-dollar industry which can lend to the production of hundreds of items. While hemp does contain tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), advocates have argued that this is in very low amounts, below 0.3 per cent, which is too low to be psychoactive.

In Guyana, the THC level needs to be below 0.3 per cent for it to be considered

legal.

“While we are setting up this legislation, at the same time, we are encouraging people to deviate from crime,” Mustapha said.

A person shall now cultivate or manufacture hemp or hemp-related products; or conduct research or any other activity related to industrial hemp without a licence issued by the authority under the Act. In the case of a violation, a person is liable on summary conviction to a fine of $500,000 or imprisonment for one year.

The framework states, “The Board shall consider the impact on public health, safety, security, commerce and agriculture and need for the orderly development of

the sector including exclusivity when considering an application for the issuance of a license under this Act.” After the licence is granted, a person is not allowed to plant any seed or plant; or harvest any cannabis plant before a sample of the seed or plant is analysed by an analyst to ascertain whether it confirms with the allowed THC concentration.

President Ali had said that the Government would be moving in the direction of the value-added aspect that the hemp industry has to offer. He had said that the industry is not only about hemp production but having the processing and value-added facilities here in Guyana. (G12)

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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 10, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

13

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 10, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

US donates 52,800 doses of COVID-19 vaccine towards paediatric immunisation

C

oronavirus vaccines for the paediatric age category have been replenished, after the United States Government on Tuesday handed over 52,800 Pfizer doses to the Health Ministry.

To date, the total number of vaccines donated by the United States is 354,660.

The US Government has made a pledge to donate as many vaccines as possible to immunise and boost Guyana’s population.

The paediatric doses, donated through COVAX, are intended for children aged 5–11, and will further strengthen Guyana’s COVID-19 vaccination programme.

Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony expressed that the country was in need of paediatric shots, having used up its supply last month.

“At the end of July, all of our paediatric vaccines came to an end and we were really out of vaccines. This was really a timely donation so that we can restart our paediatric programme. We had to pause it for a few days and it just came in at the right moment so that we can restart that programme.”

Over 6000 children between the ages of four and 11 years have been vaccinated. Dr Anthony pointed out that they are also returning for the second doses.

Especially in the hinterland communities, there has been a high uptake of these vaccines.

“What is very interesting

Officials from the Health Ministry, US Embassy and PAHO at the handing over

is that in some of the interior areas, like Region Nine, there have been really good uptake of these children vaccines. We have seen a lot of children coming out, getting vaccines and perhaps, it’s the way the communities are organised that children would take the vaccines. I’m very hopeful that we can get other communities replicating that type of behaviour where the community encourages children to get the vaccine.”

The Health Minister opined that many persons are operating in a complacent manner, despite awareness on the dangers brought on by current strains.

“I think for a lot of people, they believe that COVID is over and people have been very complacent. We do have one of the more contagious strains of the Omicron virus that is circulating, the BA.5, and with that, even if you had a previous infection, you can get reinfected. We’re still not out of the woods,”

Dr Anthony relayed.

A drop in both primary and booster doses among adults has also been detected. It is recommended that persons take a booster dose every six months to upkeep their protection from COVID-19.

“Vaccine hesitancy has been a problem in some communities and through USAID, we’ve had a programme where we have been educating both our staff and community members to try to reduce vaccine hesitancy.

All of these things in combination should help us to get better uptake.”

In handing over the donation, Chargé d’Affaires Adrienne Galanek noted, “We remain steadfast in our commitment to expand access to COVID-19 vaccines and help save lives.”

The United States has already provided more than 550 million COVID-19 vaccine doses to more than 115 countries, part of a commitment to donate 1.2 billion doses worldwide.

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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 10, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

15

Ramsammy’s Ruminations PPP is party of big ideas, vision and prosperity for all – President makes it apparent

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resident Ali and the PPP Government’s ideas about job creation are captured in more training and education opportunities for young people, aggressive small business development, and robust Private Sector investments. The morethan 15,000 scholarships so far; the more-than US$3B direct foreign investment projects, including many hospitals and international hotels; the many shore-based businesses; the Dr Leslie Ramsammy investment in housing and roads and bridges are the ideas and the big vision that have seen the most rapid growth ever in employment opportunities in Guyana’s history.

The PPP has always sought to reduce and eliminate the peasant class. The PPP has always sought to empower people. This approach is so very different from the David Granger PNC approach to job creation. In their small picture and small, petty idea approach, the PNC demanded young people create their own jobs by making plantain chips, cook-up and dog food, and become small-time vendors. The PPP has always shown they think big, they have vision. The PNC’s approach has always been to create a bigger peasant class. The PNC has always demanded sacrifices from people, such as “eat less, sleep less, work more”.

This is evident also in the two parties’ approach to agriculture. The PPP support farmers, the PNC punish them.

The difference in approach was vividly on display this past week as the “Because We Care” $30,000 cash grant was being distributed to more than 202,000 children around the country. The PNC’s Amanza Walton-Desir has again “poo poo” the grant programme by now insisting that it is not sustainable. Yet, the PPP is promising, in 2023, to make it bigger each year to 2025. The PNC’s approach was to keep that money to themselves, and instead sought donation of old buses, bicycles and boats to distribute to schools. Very few of the schools got those things. Less than 1% of the children ever benefited, and whatever little benefits they had from that small-thinking programme were short-lived.

As President Irfaan Ali and the PPP Government begin their third year, it is clear for all to see that this two-years period, August 2, 2020 to August 1, 2022, represents the single most successful developmental two-year period in Guyana’s history. Even some of the most ardent supporters of the Opposition parties concede that no two-year period in our history has had more development than in the last two years.

The traditional detractors of the PPP seek to justify the rapid progress the country has made and the rapid improvement in people’s standard of living as a result of increased oil revenues. But the truth is that, for most of the two years since August 2, 2020, the PPP Government has governed without the benefit of OIL revenues.

There are some indisputable facts about Guyana since 1957.

The only period of real development occurs in Guyana when a PPP Government is in office. The truth is that the PPP is a party of big ideas, a party with a vision, a party that wants to see every citizen benefit. It is why whenever the PPP is in office, taxes are lowered and agricultural land lease rates are much less than when the PNC as itself or in one of its disguises is in office.

The PPP has its slogans, but these are always invariably supported by ideas and programmes with clear goals. The PNC is a champion in sloganeering. It has some of the most powerful slogans, but none of it is supported by ideas, by a vision, and none of it supports bringing prosperity to people.

When it comes to big ideas, we only need to look at important infrastructural projects to understand. The PPP left office in 2015 with some big projects started or on the books for starting in 2015/2016.

One of the biggest projects – the Amaila Hydroelectric Project - was about to begin, road construction had already started. The Granger Administration terminated the project. The Cheddi Jagan International Airport had already started, and between 2015 and 2020, the APNU/ AFC Government not only changed the scope of the project, but never completed the project. The same thing with the East Coast and the West Demerara Highways. These projects still were in completion stages in 2020, even though they were started before 2015. The Linden-to-Mabura Road never started. The Demerara River Bridge not only never started, but hundreds of millions of dollars were spent on feasibility studies, one after the other.

The point is that, during 2015 and 2020, no new big infrastructure was started, other than the Kitty Roundabout and several arches.

The Eccles-to-Mandela Road, the Ogle-to-Diamond Road, and other projects which were on the books never were started. No new hospital, no new school, no new hotel was built during that time.

The truth is that the main difference between the two political powerhouses in the country is that the PNC think small, believe that people must make sacrifice to support big spending by Government on things like ministers’ salaries and benefits, and on displaying their power. PPP, in contrast, is always bold with new ideas, new approaches to modernise and expand Guyana’s infrastructure and bring prosperity to people, empower them. It is the reason why the PPP’s support base is growing, and why President Ali is Guyana’s newest rock star.

The views expressed in this column are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Guyana Times’ editorial policy and stance

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 10, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

16 NEWS 10 educators now equipped Hogg Island farmer suffocated, bludgeoned to handle heavy-duty to death – PME reveals equipment maintenance WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 10, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

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post-mortem examination of the body of 36-year-old Romeo Randolph, also known as “Fine Boy” of Hog Island, Essequibo River, revealed that he was suffocated and then bludgeoned to death.

The examination was performed on the body by Dr Nehaul Singh at the Ezekiel Funeral Home. So far, no one has been arrested and Police are pursuing several lines of inquiry.

Randolph, who was reported missing since Thursday last, was found floating in the Essequibo River on Sunday morning.

His sister-in-law had told Guyana Times that based on what they were told when Randolph was found, his head was in a bag that had been tapped to his neck.

She also said that his body was tied to his boat’s engine, which was at the bottom of the river.

Randolph was last heard from on Thursday around 15:00h. Reports are he had left his Tuschen, West Coast Demerara (WCD) home on Thursday morning and travelled to Hog Island to conduct business but never returned.

She added that on Thursday night when he was supposed to have returned home, efforts to contact him proved futile.

On Friday morning, the man’s family received a call from another farmer, that he had seen Randolph’s boat somewhere in the river floating.

Upon arriving at the area, Randolph was not seen,

Dead: Romeo Randolph

according to his family. Two days later, the family was informed that his decomposed body was found floating in the Essequibo River.

His body was taken to the Leonora Cottage Hospital where he was officially pronounced dead. (G9)

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New TVET graduates

s the Education Ministry continues to enhance the delivery of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), ten educators are now equipped with a Diploma in Heavy-Duty Equipment Maintenance.

Along with receiving a diploma, the TVET practitioners now have a journeyman certificate and a certificate that indicates satisfaction in the related field after completing 1640 hours in this area of specialisation.

The training is part of an ongoing partnership between the Ministry of Education, Council for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (CTVET), Trinidad and Tobago National Energy Skills Centre (NESC), and RED Deer, a Canadian

partner in skills training to ensure that TVET instructors benefit from training in the heavy-duty equipment maintenance programme.

The Organisation for American States (OAS) funded the training and the qualification is locally, regionally, and internationally recognised.

TVET educators from various institutes across the country benefitted from this training which was done at the Linden Technical Institute (LTI) by trainers from Trinidad & Tobago.

During the graduation ceremony hosted at the Linden Technical Institute on Tuesday, Deputy Chief Education Officer, Dr Ritesh Tularam deemed it a “momentous occasion” as it is another display of the enhancement of TVET delivery in Guyana’s education

sector.

He further charged the graduates to use the new knowledge and skills gained to make purposeful and meaningful contributions within their respective institutions.

“You are now empowered and enriched with what it takes to make an impactful change to the status quo of your institution, you are now an ambassador and change agent of the mobility and scaffolding of this programme to the far-reaching end of trainees at your institution,” Dr Tularam said.

Also present at the graduation ceremony were CTEVT Director Patrick Chinedu Onwuzirike, NESC Vice President Student Services, Rafael Mohamed, and other specially invited guests.

NEWS

17

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 10, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Cop among 5 busted with cocaine by CANU

A

Police Sergeant was arrested along with four others when Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) raided a Norton Street, Georgetown house.

Reports are that on Monday, CANU officers conducted an operation at a Norton Street residence, where a known drug trafficker resides. A subsequent search of the premises led to the discovery of four parcels containing suspected cocaine.

The known drug trafficker

Management issues “wouldn’t stop GuySuCo” from moving forward – Agri Minister

T

he current internal issues within the management of Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) will not affect the agency’s production of sugar.

This is according to Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha.

He made the comment on the sidelines of a contract signing on Tuesday, where he said, “I’ve instructed the CEO to ensure that operations continue and they continue to look to improve services across the sugar industry to get better performance from these estates and these minor issues I call it, in terms of personality clashes wouldn’t stop GuySuCo from moving forward.

“Those matters will be thrashed out internally but I don’t see that as hinderance to stop or affect production in the sugar industry,” the Minister explained.

Recent internal issues among the management and

members of the Board led to the resignation of GuySuCo Board’s Vice Chairman, Anthony Vieira.

According to Vieira in a letter to the editor, his resignation came because he was not happy with the direction in which GuySuCo was going. He wrote that GuySuCo wanted to buy 22 articulated tractors, which he did not agree with. Vieira said he had wanted the Corporation to continue using John Deere fixed-frame tractors. He cited these, and other factors, in his decision to quit.

$3.4B to revive industry

Meanwhile, the Minister assured that the $3.4 billion that was allocated to the sugar industry through the Supplementary Budget for reviving the industry will serve its intended purpose.

“The $3.4 billion that will be given will go as I explained yesterday in the supplementary explanation that I have given to Parliament

that these monies will go in to the recapitalisation of the factories, procure necessary parts to improve the performance of the factories.”

He stated that while they have been able to improve the production of the current operating factories that were not operating at 50 per cent capacity when they came back into office, they are still not operating a 100 per cent.

“What we are striving to do is to ensure that we improve the capacity of the factory where the crushing of the cane be done in a better way, in terms of getting more sucrose out of the cane so that we can have better production in the factories.

“That is what we are doing now to improve the performance of the factory, change the mill roller, change the chain, those are necessary parts, important bearings, so that the factory capacity can improve tremendously,” the Minister further explained.

along with four persons were arrested including a Police Sergeant who was present at the premises at the time of the search.

They were all escorted to CANU’s Headquarters with the suspected narcotics. The

narcotics tested positive for cocaine and weighed approximately 1.5 kilograms, with an estimated street value of approximately $1.5 million.

The known drug trafficker was arrested and charged in 2011 by CANU after 590

grams of cocaine was found on his premises. In 2018 he was again fingered in a drug seizure after an associate of his was arrested on his premises with a quantity of cocaine. Investigations are ongoing.

18

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 10, 2022

guyanatimesgy.com

Regional

Chile to “sanction” those responsible Cuba still struggling for sinkhole near copper mine with oil depot fire, worst in island's history C

C

ubans awoke to massive blackouts Tuesday morning with 40 per cent of the country's main fuel storage facility destroyed by what officials said was the worst fire in its history.

Reuters witnesses reported the raging flames that ravaged a four-tank segment of the Matanzas super tanker port since Friday had died down and the towering plumes of thick black smoke still streaming from the area appeared tinted gray.

Matanzas is Cuba's largest port for receiving crude oil and fuel imports. Cuban heavy crude, as well as fuel oil and diesel stored in Matanzas, are mainly used to generate electricity on the island.

The Communist-run country, under heavy US sanctions, is all but bankrupt. Frequent blackouts and shortages of gasoline and other commodities already had created a tense situation with scattered local protests following last summer's historic unrest in July.

Helicopters throwing water over the zone where fuel storage tanks exploded near Cuba's supertanker port in Matanzas, Cuba, August 9, 2022

Lightning struck one fuel storage tank Friday evening.

The fire spread to a second

by Sunday and engulfed the four-tank area Monday, accompanied by huge explosions and despite efforts by local firefighters supported by more than 100 Mexican and Venezuelan reinforcements.

Officials have not said how much fuel has been lost in the fire which destroyed all four tanks.

Authorities stated that no oil had contaminated the nearby Matanzas Bay. Still

they warned residents as far away as Havana to wear face masks and avoid acid rain due to the massive plume of smoke the fire generated.

One firefighter died and 14 went missing on Saturday when the second tank blew up, authorities said on Tuesday, correcting an earlier figure of 16 missing.

On Tuesday morning more helicopters joined the effort to put out the fire, along with a fireboat sent

by Mexico. (Excerpt from Reuters)

US to fund Cyber Centre of Excellence in Jamaica

K

amala Harris, the Vice President of the United States said the US will be providing funds to support the creation of a Cyber Centre of Excellence in Jamaica.

Harris made the disclosure on Twitter while stating that she had called Prime Minister Andrew Holness to congratulate Jamaica on its 60th anniversary of its independence.

Jamaica celebrated its Independence Day on August 6.

The Vice President informed Prime Minister Holness that the United States will provide $2 million in support of the cre-

ation of a Cyber Centre of Excellence for the benefit of the region.

Harris said she and Holness also discussed the importance of greater investment in cybersecurity.

Harris and Holness welcomed the progress made on three short-term joint USCaribbean committees that President Joe Biden and Harris launched in June to produce concrete, near-term solutions to urgently address food security, energy security, and finance challenges confronting the region.

“This call is part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s ongoing ef-

forts to elevate engagement with Caribbean leaders given our shared interests and common bonds. The Vice President met with Prime Minister Holness on March 30, where they discussed a range of issues including security, COVID recovery, and economic growth,” a statement from the White House read.

Harris also stated that the United States, as a neighbour in the Western Hemisphere, values its partnerships with Caribbean nations and is committed to addressing the region’s most pressing issues together. (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

Mexico's July inflation at highest level since 2000

M

exican annual inflation reached its highest level in nearly 22 years in July, official data showed on Tuesday, rising faster than expected and fuelling expectations that the central bank will raise the country's benchmark interest later this week.

Inflation rose to 8.15 per cent in the year through July from 7.99 per cent in June, national statistics agency INEGI said. A Reuters poll of analysts had forecast 8.13 per cent inflation.

Consumer price inflation now stands at its highest since December 2000 when it

was 8.96 per cent, far above the central bank's target of 3 per cent, plus or minus a percentage point.

Compared to the previous month, prices rose 0.74 per cent in July.

July's inflation numbers reinforce expectations that the Bank of Mexico will raise its key interest rate at its monetary meeting on Thursday.

Jason Tuvey, senior emerging markets economist at Capital Economics, said the latest figures mean that Banxico, as the central bank is known, is almost certain to hike interest rates by 75 ba-

sis points to 8.5 per cent at its next meeting.

"Inflation is set to remain above the target range for some time and, as a result, we expect rates to be taken up to 10 per cent by yearend," he said in a note to clients.

A Reuters poll also showed analysts foreseeing the benchmark rate reaching 8.5 per cent at Banxico's next meeting.

The central bank has increased the key interest rate by a total of 375 basis points over the course of its last nine monetary policy meetings.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

hile will seek to apply harsh sanctions on those responsible for a huge sinkhole near a copper mine in the country's north, the Mining Minister said on Monday.

The mysterious hole of 36.5 meters in diameter that emerged in late July has provoked the mobilisation of local authorities and led the mining regulator Sernageomin to suspend operations of a nearby mine owned by Canada's Lundin in the northern district of Candelaria.

"We are going to go all the way with consequences, to sanction, not just fine,"

Mining Minister Marcela Hernando said in a press release, adding that fines tend to be insignificant and the ruling must be "exemplary" to mining companies.

Chilean authorities have not provided details of the investigation into causes of the sinkhole.

Local and foreign media showed various aerial images of the huge hole in a field near the Lundin Mining operation, about 665 kilometers north of the Chilean capital. Initially, the hole, near the town of Tierra Amarilla, measured about 25 meters (82 feet) across, with water visible at the bottom.

The Canadian firm owns 80 per cent of the property, while the remaining 20 per cent is in the hands of Japan's Sumitomo Metal Mining Co Ltd and Sumitomo Corp.

The Minister added that although the country's mining regulator had carried out an inspection in the area in July, it was not able to detect the "over-exploitation."

"That also makes us think that we have to reformulate what our inspection processes are," she said.

In a statement, Lundin said the over-exploitation referred to by the minister had been duly reported. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Brazil's Bolsonaro “not afraid to lose” election, does not seek a coup

B

razil's President Jair Bolsonaro on Monday denied that he has any intention of carrying out a coup if he loses October's election, adding that he rejects a constitutional measure seen as an effort to protect him from crime accusations.

Efforts by Bolsonaro to turn an Independence Day military parade on Sept 7 into a political event, less than a month before the presidential election, has raised concerns he may use the military to compensate for his sagging popularity.

"I'm not afraid of losing the election. I'm not worried about it," Bolsonaro said in an interview on the Flow Podcast. "If I wanted to pull off a coup I wouldn't say anything."

Bolsonaro is running second in polls ahead of the election, trailing former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

In the same interview,

Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro speaking at the launching ceremony to officially become a candidate for the presidential reelection, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, July 24, 2022

the President raised suspicions against the country's voting system, echoing an argument he has often repeated.

"What we want is transparency, because my reputation out there is of a coup plotter, of not wanting to accept the result of the elections," he said.

Asked about recent news

that allies of his were seeking a bill that would amend the Constitution to grant ex-Presidents a lifetime senator position, guaranteeing them congressional immunity, Bolsonaro said he had no interest in the proposal.

"They're going to say that I'm asking for a reprieve ... I don't want that immunity."

(Excerpt from Reuters)

OAS blames international community for security crisis in Haiti

T

he Organisation of American States (OAS) is pleading for urgency to continue working to increase security in Haiti and to begin the democratisation process.

The OAS said in a statement that the institutional crisis that Haiti is currently experiencing is “a direct result of the actions taken by the country’s endogenous forces and by the international community”.

“The last 20 years of the international community’s presence in Haiti has amounted to one of the worst and clearest failures implemented and executed within the framework of any international cooperation,” the OAS stated in a news release.

“This is not to blame the individuals who, with a vocation for service and altruism, worked as co-operators and made their best efforts, in some cases giving their lives, for Haiti. These persons deserve our greatest respect and remembrance.”

The news release stated that the international community’s “20 years of erratic political strategy” failed to establish “a single institution with the capacity to address the problems facing Haitians”.

“After 20 years, not a single institution is stronger

than it was before,” the OAS said, adding: “It was under this umbrella provided by the international community that the criminal gangs that today lay siege to the country fermented and germinated, even as the process of deinstitutionalisation and political crisis that we see today grew and took shape.”

The OAS news release stated that the international community left Haiti, leaving chaos, destruction, and violence behind after recognising failure to establish sustainable institutions.

(Excerpt from Nation News)

guyanatimesgy.com

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 10, 2022

19

Around the World

OILNEWS OIL NEWS Oil prices see-saw, settle down on Russian pipeline constraints, recession fear

O

il prices settled slightly lower on Tuesday after a seesaw session as worries that a slowing economy could cut demand vied with news that some oil exports had been suspended on the Russia-to-Europe Druzhba pipeline that transits Ukraine.

Crude prices have been under pressure for weeks as fears mounted that a recession could cut oil demand.

Brent crude settled at US$96.31 a barrel, losing 34 cents, or 0.4 per cent. US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude settled at US$90.50 a barrel, shedding 26 cents, or 0.3 per cent. During the session, both benchmarks rose and fell by more than US$1 a barrel.

Ukraine halted oil flows on the Druzhba oil pipeline to parts of central Europe because Western sanctions had prevented a payment from Moscow for transit fees from going through.

Flows along the southern route of the Druzhba pipeline have been affected while the northern route serving Poland and Germany was uninterrupted.

Oil initially moved higher on the pipeline news and expectations that the shutdown would tighten supplies, but prices reversed course as details became clearer around the cause of the disruption.

"Considering the fact it is not the Russian side shutting down pipe, but the Ukrainian side, it would figure to be a situation that can resolved sooner rather than later," Bob Yawger, director of energy futures at Mizuho in New York, said in a note.

Prices were pressured by talks of a last-ditch effort by European nations to revive the Iran nuclear accord. On Monday, the European Union put forward a "final" text to revive the 2015 Iran deal. A senior EU official said a final decision on the proposal, which needs US and Iranian approval, was expected within "very, very few weeks".

Talks have dragged on for months without a deal.

Iran's crude exports, according to tanker trackers, are at least 1 million barrels per day below their rate in 2018 when former US President Donald Trump exited the nuclear agreement.

Oil is now down more than US$40 from its peak following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which took Brent briefly to US$139 a barrel. (Excerpt from Reuters)

New Zealand's endangered kakapo parrot gets a big population boost

T

he population of New Zealand's kakapo, an endangered flightless parrot, has increased 25 per cent in the last year to 252 birds following a good breeding season and success with artificial insemination, the conservation department said Tuesday.

The kakapo have been nearly wiped out by introduced predators such as stoats as the birds cannot fly.

The problem has been exacerbated by inbreeding, very low fertility - only 50 per cent of eggs are fertilised - and as they only breed every two or three years when native rimu trees fruit.

The population of the kakapo, which is the world’s heaviest parrot, is now at its highest number since the 1970s.

"There were just 86 kakapo when I first started working as a kakapo ranger in 2002. That number was

scary. Having a breeding season with 55 chicks feels like a very positive step," said Deidre Vercoe, operational manager for the kakapo recovery programme.

The programme was established in 1995. It is a collaboration between the New Zealand conservation department and Maori tribe Ngai Tahu and uses volunteers to help with activities like monitoring the nests to keep them out of trouble. Some birds have had to be rescued after getting stuck in the mud or after their legs were caught in trees.

Vercoe said in an email that much of the success this season was due to the amount of fruit on rimu trees.

Success with artificial insemination this season was also key. Eight surviving chicks were born from artificial insemination, compared to just five in the decade to 2019. (Excerpt from Reuters)

One killed as blasts rock Russian air base in annexed Crimea

O

ne person was killed on Tuesday when a Russian air base near seaside resorts in the annexed Crimean Peninsula was rocked by a series of blasts that Moscow said were detonations of stored ammunition, not the result of any attack.

Local witnesses said they had heard at least 12 explosions around 3:20 pm local time (1220 GMT) from the Saky air base near Novofedorivka on the west coast of the peninsula, which Russia annexed from Ukraine in 2014 and used in February as one of the launchpads for its invasion of Ukraine.

Crimea, a holiday destination for many Russians, has so far been spared the intense bombardment and artillery combat that other areas of

People rest on a beach as smoke and flames rise after explosions at a Russian military airbase in Novofedorivka, Crimea, August 9, 2022

eastern and southern Ukraine have suffered since Russian forces entered the country.

Russia's Defence Ministry

was adamant that the "detonation of several aviation ammunition stores" had caused an explosion, and said initially

that no one had been harmed.

It said there had been no attack and no aviation equipment had been damaged.

Russia's main news agencies quoted an unnamed Ministry source as saying that "only a violation of fire safety requirements is considered as the main reason for the explosion of several ammunition stores at the Saky airfield".

"There are no signs, evidence or, even less, facts (to indicate) a deliberate impact on ammunition stores," the source was quoted as saying.

Crimea's health department said one civilian had been killed. It said another person had been admitted to hospital with moderate injuries and five had been treated for minor wounds. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Last month was one of the warmest Julys on record, says UN

L

ast month marked one of the three hottest Julys ever recorded, with global temperatures measuring nearly half a degree Celsius (0.9F) above average, the United Nations’ weather agency has said.

“The world just had one of the three warmest Julys on record,” Clare Nullis, spokeswoman for the World

Meteorological Organisation (WMO), told reporters in Geneva on Tuesday.

Pointing to fresh data from the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S), she said that July 2022 had been slightly cooler than the same month in 2019 and slightly warmer than the one in 2016.

“The difference between

Seoul floods: At least 8 dead amid heaviest rain in decades

A

t least eight people have died and 14 others have been injured as flooding caused by torrential rain hit parts of South Korea's capital Seoul.

Heavy downpours on Monday night submerged roads, flooded metro stations and caused blackouts across the city and neighbouring provinces.

Some areas received the highest rate of rainfall in 80 years, Korea's meteorological agency said.

Weather officials said the rain was likely to continue over several days.

Images showed floodwater gushing down the steps of metro staircases, parked cars submerged up to their windows and people making their way across streets in knee-high water.

Local reports said three victims were living in a semi-basement apartment known as a banjiha.

Rescue officials said they were unable to access the

the three months is too close to call, so that’s why we’re saying one of the three warmest,” Nullis explained.

Temperatures globally last month were 0.4 degrees Celsius (0.72F) above the 1991-2020 average, the WMO said.

And this despite the fact that the weather phenomenon La Nina, which has held the globe in its clutches almost uninterrupted since September 2020, “is meant to have a cooling influence”.

Notably, the European summer has seen extreme heatwaves and drought, with low precipitation records broken in some countries, the WMO said.

July 2022 was the hottest month ever recorded in Spain, Nullis said.

In a month that saw temperature records broken across parts of northern Europe and the United Kingdom, C3S said July was drier than average for much of the continent, noting a number of low-precipitation records in several locations.

C3S said July was also abnormally dry across much of North America, South America, Central Asia and Australia.

Climate change makes extreme heat and drought more likely to occur. (Excerpt from BBC News)

At least 15 soldiers killed in northern Burkina Faso blasts – Army apartment as floodwaters had risen to waist-high levels on the street.

Parts of Seoul, the western port city of Incheon and Gyeonggi province surrounding Seoul charted rainfall of over 10cm per hour on Monday night, according to Yonhap news agency.

Meanwhile, Seoul's Dongjak district recorded more than 141.5 mm of rain per hour - the highest rate since 1942, according to Korea's Meteorological Administration (KMA).

The other victims included a person who was electrocuted, one person was found under the wreckage of a bus stop and another died in a landslide. At least 14 were injured and six others reported missing.

At least 163 people in Seoul have been made homeless and have taken shelter in schools and public facilities, according to Yonhap.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

A

t least 15 soldiers were killed in northern Burkina Faso when a transport vehicle drove over a hidden explosive, killing several troops before a second explosion killed those who rushed to their aid, the army has said in a statement.

The incident occurred on a rural road in the Bam province of the country’s CentralNorth region, where soldiers and civilians are routinely targeted by armed groups. Those linked to al-Qaeda and the ISIL (ISIS) armed group have been active in the region since at least 2015.

The attack was carried out during an escort mission, the army said in a statement on Tuesday.

No group has taken responsibility for the attack, but investigations are currently under way to determine the perpetrators, the army said.

The attack came less than a week after armed fighters killed four soldiers and nine civilian army volunteers in

another Bam province ambush.

Burkina Faso’s military Government took power in a January coup that removed former President Roch Marc Christian Kabore, amid widespread anger about the Government’s Failure to improve the security situation in the country.

In June, an Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) mediator said authorities controlled just 60 per cent of Burkina Faso.

Bottom of Form More than 530 violent incidents occurred between February and May in the country, which was more than double the level during the same period of 2021, according to the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project.

The violence has displaced more than 1.85 million people in Burkina Faso, and has killed thousands across West Africa’s Sahel region. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 10, 2022

guyanatimesgy.com

DAILY HOROSCOPES

ARCHIE

(March 21-April 19)

Reach out to people you feel comfortable working alongside, and you’ll form a group that will help you make a difference. Your determination will offer insights into exciting alternatives to how you work and live.

Change the dynamics of a situation to ensure you don’t miscalculate. If you want something, it’s up to you to physically make it happen. Choose to live a healthy lifestyle.

DILBERT

(April 20-May 20)

(May 21-June 20)

Take a unique path, but be honest regarding the outcome. What you learn will help you differentiate between what you want and what you need. Put less pressure on yourself to visualize what’s possible.

The help you offer others will not be in vain. Reach out and use life experience to encourage others to strive to reform or be their best. Those you help will reciprocate with love and gratitude.

PEANUTS (June 21-July 22)

Someone will make you look bad if given a chance. Use your charm and attributes to get your way. Monitor any change to your earnings until you gain the financial comfort you desire.

(July 23-Aug. 22)

CALVIN AND HOBBES

(Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

A change of attitude coupled with an aggressive, hands-on approach will help you build momentum and clear a passage for bigger and better opportunities.

Positive change leads to personal happiness.

Avoid getting involved in situations that ask too much of you or cause you to overreact or overindulge. Find a nice way to say no to something that isn’t inviting.

(Sept. 23-Oct. 23) Observing how others react will give insight into how to go about your business without taking on responsibilities that don’t belong to you. Romance will improve a personal connection.

SUDOKU (Oct. 24-Nov. 22)

Offer only what you know you can handle, and spend more time with people who are likely to stand up for you.

Educational pursuits will help you modify your plans to fit trends.

(Nov. 23-Dec. 21)

SOLUTION FOR LAST PUBLISHED PUZZLE

Go over every detail and you will avoid unwanted surprises on your quest for success. Choose simplicity and moderation. Be yourself, and you’ll discover where you stand and what you can achieve.

(Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Concentrate on personal improvements and looking and feeling your best. Ignore what others do or suggest if it doesn’t fit your routine. Satisfy your needs first.

(Jan. 20-Feb. 19) Consider how to amplify your skills, and you’ll discover how to bring in extra cash. Be aware of financial trends and investments that raise your profile and your ability to expand your pursuits.

(Feb. 20-March 20)

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 10, 2022

S

erena Williams has suggested that she is set to retire from tennis by saying she would be “evolving away” from the sport after the US Open.

Writing for Vogue, the American 23-time Grand Slam singles champion said she is moving towards “other things that are important to me”, adding she does not like the word “retirement”.

In an accompanying Instagram post, the 40-yearold said, “the countdown has begun. I’m gonna relish these next few weeks,” Williams made her singles return at Wimbledon in June, after a lengthy injury lay-off that had led to speculation about her retirement.

She says she would play at the US Open, where she has won six of her major singles titles, later in August.

Williams has won more major singles titles than any female player in the

Open era, and she has the second highest number of titles of all time, behind Margaret Court’s 24.

“Unfortunately, I wasn’t ready to win Wimbledon this year. And I don’t know if I will be ready to win New York. But I’m going to try,” she wrote. “I know there’s

a fan fantasy that I might have tied Margaret that day in London, then maybe beat her record in New York, and then at the trophy ceremony say, “See ya!”

“I get that. It’s a good fantasy. But I’m not looking for some ceremonial final on-court moment. I’m terri-

RHTY&SC launches historic Kiddies Cricket year-long Academy

ble at goodbyes, the world’s worst. But please know that I am more grateful for you than I can ever express in words.”

On Monday, she had her first singles win in 14 months, beating Spain’s Nuria Parrizas Diaz to reach the second round of the National Bank Open in Toronto.

In the lengthy essay, Williams says she has been “reluctant to admit to me or anyone else that I have to move on from playing tennis”.

“Alexis, my husband, and I have hardly talked about it; it’s like a taboo topic,” she wrote. I can’t even have this conversation with my mom and dad. It’s like it’s not real until you say it out loud. It comes up, I get an uncomfortable

lump in my throat, and I start to cry.

“I know that a lot of people are excited about, and look forward to, retiring, and I really wish I felt that way”.

In singles, Williams has won the Wimbledon and Australian Open seven times, along with six US Open trophies and three French Open titles.

Her first major title was the 1999 US Open, when she was 17. She won her last Slam title at the 2017 Australian Open when she was eight weeks pregnant with daughter Olympia.

She says there is “no happiness” in the possibility of no longer playing tennis.

“I know it’s not the usual thing to say, but I feel a great deal of pain. It’s the

21

hardest thing that I could ever imagine,” she wrote.

“I hate it. I hate that I have to be at this crossroads. I keep saying to myself I wish it could be easy for me, but it’s not.

“I’m torn: I don’t want it to be over, but at the same time I’m ready for what’s next.”

Williams nearly died in childbirth with Olympia, but returned to the sport, reaching four major finals after coming back from maternity leave. She lost them all, leaving her tantalisingly one short of Court’s record.

She discusses having more children in her essay, stating: “I definitely don’t want to be pregnant again as an athlete. I need to be two feet into tennis or two feet out.” (BBC)

Stabroek Travel becomes Hero CPL’s Official Travel Partner

…massive investment to be made at under-12 and female levels

RHTY&SC cricket coaches posing with members of the Kiddies Academy

W

idely considered Guyana’s most active and progressive youth and sports organisation, the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club on Saturday created another first when it launched a historic yearlong Kiddies Cricket Academy at the Area H Ground.

The launching formed part of the club’s efforts to secure its rich cricketing history.

Formed in 1990 by three-time Commonwealth and Guyana youth awardee the St Francis Community Developers, the RHTY&SC, MS, has won more than 100 cricket titles and produced 120 players for Berbice, Guyana, or the West Indies.

Club Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster has said the idea for the Kiddies Academy came to management during the recent successful hosting of the RHTY&SC/Bakewell/ Busta Cricket Academy, which attracted a record 135 youths between the ages of eight and 18 years. Close to 35 kids between eight and 12

years were present at that academy, and management decided that in order to keep them interested, a Kiddies Academy would be set up.

The academy would be held for four hours every Saturday under the supervision of three coaches - Delbert Hicks, Ryan Algu and Davindra Ramdihal.

The main objectives of the yearlong project would be as follows: to teach the kids the basics of batting and bowling; the importance of discipline and hard work; fielding positions; history and traditions of the game; and to correct any technical problems. The academy for this batch of players would last until July next year, when the club would host its 2023 Cricket Academy and another set of kids would start training.

Foster disclosed that the RHTY&SC has obtained all the necessary coaching equipment for the academy, including kiddies’ bats, stumps, balls and practice nets.

Additionally, the club would be investing in educa-

tional material for classroom work. The academy would also involve an incentive package, wherein outstanding players would receive cricket uniforms, cricket gear, bicycles, electric tablets, educational grants and household items, among other things.

RHTY&SC Organising Secretary/Cricket Manager Ravindranauth Kissoonlall has also said that several trips to different clubs across Guyana would be organised to expose the kids to different conditions. Senior players of the club, including Kevin Sinclair, Kevlon Anderson, Junior Sinclair, Shemaine Campbelle, Sheneta Grimmond, Shakabi Gajnabi and Shawn Perriera, would also drop in at the academy on a regular basis for inspirational sessions with the kids.

The academy commenced with 30 kids, including six females, and is expected to grow to about 60 by the end of August, as the club reviews numerous applications from parents.

T

he Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) have confirmed Stabroek Travel as their Official Travel Partner for the 2022 tournament, which gets underway on 31 August 2022.

The Hero CPL will once again be travelling around the region with matches in St

the comfort of their homes and convenience of their electronic devices, CPL fans would now be able to access great deals on travel and accommodation through Stabroektravel.com.

Stabroek Travel will allow fans to take in Hero CPL action at all four of the 2022 venues.

Hero CPL Head of Marketing, Chris Watson

Kitts & Nevis, Saint Lucia, Trinidad & Tobago, and Guyana.

Stabroek Travel will be working with Hero CPL to put together bespoke packages for fans who wish to travel around the Caribbean to watch “the Biggest Party in Sport”. From

The tournament starts in St Kitts & Nevis on August 31, before moving on to Saint Lucia for matches between September 7 and 11. There will be matches in Trinidad & Tobago from 13 to 18 September before Hero CPL heads to Guyana for seven

group games and the knockout stages between 21 and 30 September.

Chris Watson, Hero CPL’s Head of Marketing, has said: “It is fantastic news. After two very hard years during the pandemic, it is now possible to move freely around the region, and we are delighted to be partnering with Stabroek Travel to help fans follow their teams both home and away.”

Ferial Suliman, Stabroek Travel’s Division Head, said: “The team at Stabroek Travel looks forward to this exciting collaboration. We know the hype CPL brings to the Caribbean, and we are delighted to be able to provide services that will allow fans the opportunity to experience that excitement again in person after two of the most challenging years of our lives.”

Hero CPL fans wanting to take advantage of the Stabroek Travel services should visit www.stabroektravel.com or email contact@ stabroektravel.com. (CPLT20)

22

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 10, 2022

West Indies lock horns with New Zealand today

… “There is going to be good competition,” says Simmons

W

est Indies are set to take on New Zealand in three T20Is, with the first set for today at 14:30 hrs at Sabina Park, Kingston Jamaica.

This New Zealand Tour of the West Indies will see the best of the best in the West Indies taking on a successful New Zealand side that have not lost a T20 encounter since June, 2022.

Coming off a 4-1 defeat against a most formidable opponent in India, West Indies Head Coach Phil Simmons has relayed, the unit is trying to concentrate on the things that haven’t gone right for it during the tour.

He relayed that once the Windies can correct the minor technicalities that have been besetting them, the men in maroon would be in a position to win more games.

“New Zealand is a formidable team, but - no disrespect to them - they are not one of the number one in T20s around the world; but they are not far behind.

So, there is going to be good competition, and we hope to put things in place properly,” he shared.

Lead Selector Desmond Haynes has noted that those currently selected for the T20I tours are being given opportunity to prove them-

selves with a view to being selected for participation in the T20 World Cup. “I think the squad that we have selected for the T20 here, as you can see, we have had about three or four different competitions we’ve been involved in. and we believe that this group of guys that we have selected, we believe that we must give them a chance and give them some more opportunities.

“But we are not going to say that everybody that is playing here is going to be playing in the World Cup. But at least we have to give these guys an opportunity to showcase their skills,” he said.

Regarding the availability of Evin Lewis, Andre Russell and Fabian Allen, Haynes explained that Lewis has not taken his fitness test, Russell is not available, and Allen is currently unavailable.

In the India Series, the West Indies had experimented with their squad line-up, and Haynes has related that they are close in terms of a squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup. He divulged that they are on their way to selecting a

squad, but he is optimistic that other players would perform well and p u t their names up for selection as

In T20I against New Zealand, Nicholas Pooran is the leading run-scorer with 312 runs

BCB/Dr Puran Singh Financial Scheme…

13 junior players receive stipends

well.

Providing an update on the injury suffered by Gudakesh Motie, Haynes said, “Motie, I think it is his right thumb; so, obviously, it won’t affect his bowling, but he is still a very good guy in the field and a very good fielder. So, what we are going to do is that we are going to have a fitness test.

We have named him in the squad to play against New Zealand for the ODIs in Barbados, so, we are hoping that Motie will be good in those games.”

Answering the question regarding Sunil Narine making a comeback in the maroon colours, both Lead Selector Haynes and Head Coach Simmonds confirmed that the talented mystery spinner has made no contact with West Indies Cricket.

The players to watch out for during the series are: Top Batsmen for WI vs NZ * Nicholas Pooran - 10 matches, 312 runs, 141.81 strike rate * Rovman Powell - 10

West Indies Men’s Head Coach, Phil Simmons

West Indies Men’s Lead Selector, Desmond Haynes

matches, 234 runs, 150.96 strike rate * Martin Guptill - 9 matches, 299 runs, 139.71 strike rate * Daryl Mitchell - 10 matches, 223 runs, 139.37 strike rate.

Top bowlers for WI vs NZ * Obed McCoy - 8 matches, 12 wickets, 9.14 economy rate * Romario Shepherd 5 matches, 8 wickets, 9.50 economy rate * Ish Sodhi - 9 matches, 14 wickets, 7.35 economy rate * Mitchell Santner - 10 matches, 10 wickets, 6.97 economy rate.

Squad for WI vs NZ, T20I Series 2022

NZ Squad: Kane Williamson (capt), Finn Allen, Trent Boult, Michael Bracewell, Devon Conway, Lockie Ferguson, Martin Guptill, Matt Henry, Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell, Jimmy Neesham, Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee.

FOCUSED ON RESETTING RECORDS … “The Showstopper” Peterson-Griffith grateful to family and sponsors for their support

…BCB promises rewards for centuries and five-wicket hauls

The Under-19 players posing with their stipends

"T

he Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) is very proud of each one of you, and we wish you great success on the cricket field as you wear the national colours.

The BCB wants you to represent the legacy of Kanhai, Butcher and Kallicharran with pride, passion and commitment. Cricket is a team game, and I would like to urge you to always put the national interest first.

“On behalf of the BCB, I want to reassure you of our support for each one of you, and please be assured that we would be there with you, every way on and off the cricket field".

Those were the words of BCB President Hilbert Foster, MS, as he met with 13 Berbician cricketers at the Area H Ground prior to their leaving Berbice to represent Guyana in Cricket West Indies’ tournaments.

Seven of the players would be playing in the Under-19 tournament in St Vincent,

while the remaining six would play in the Under-15 tournament in Grenada. The under-19 players are Jonathan Rampersaud, Mahendra Gopilall, Jermey Sandia, Isai Thorne, Zeymul Ramsammy, Rampertab Ramnauth and Tommani Caesar, while Ramzan Koobeer, Sohail Mohamed, Navin Boodwah, Adrian Hetmyer, Arif Khan and Romario Ramdeholl would play in Grenada for the Under-15 team.

Foster noted that, in 2022, a total of 33 Berbicians have gained selection at the national level for junior and female teams. This, he said, was of value for the BCB’s massive investments in tournaments, and its massive developmental programmes over the last four and a half years.

Additionally, several of its senior players have gained selection on the senior Guyana and West Indies teams, while another five would play in the upcoming CPL tournament.

Foster told the attentive

youths that a good performance in the upcoming tournament would be a good kickstart to their career, and he urged that they be disciplined and focused at all times. He also told them to be their brothers' keepers and look out for each other.

The popular BCB President also unveiled a performance benefit programme wherein every Berbice player who scores a century or takes five wickets would receive a financial reward from the board.

Each of these 13 players also received a financial stipend of ten thousand dollars [US50] from the BCB/ Dr Puran Singh Financial Scheme. The scheme is funded

by Barbados- based Berbician Dr Singh. Under the scheme, every Berbician youth player who gains national selection would receive Gy$10,000.

Foster has, moreover, expressed gratitude to Dr Singh for his support to Berbice cricket.

WI Squad: Nicholas Pooran (Captain), Rovman Powell (Vice Captain), Shamarh Brooks, Dominic Drakes, Shimron Hetmyer, Jason Holder, Akeal Hosein, Alzarri Joseph, Brandon King, Kyle Mayers, Obed McCoy, Keemo Paul, Romario Shepherd, Odean Smith, Devon Thomas, Hayden Walsh Jr.

Carlos Peterson-Griffith, aka The Showstopper

S

anctioned by the International P o w e r l i f t i n g Federation in December 2021, Carlos “The Showstopper” PetersonGriffith has served the time of his ban, and is now focused on preparing for what lies ahead for him, as he hopes to reset records, both locally and internationally.

Superlatively talented, and by far one of the strongest Guyanese powerlifters ever to grace the stage, The Showstopper disclosed that during the period he was debarred from competition, he had continued to press on with nary a thought of giving up the fight.

In an interview with Guyana Times Sport, he was asked how his training was coming along,

and The Showstopper responded: “Training is on par thus far. I’m currently preparing for 2 events (local and international), which are the Raw/Classic Powerlifting Championship, (to be held) on the 28th of this month, and the Barbados Strong Fest, (to be held) on September 3-4.

By God’s Grace, (these are) prep for Commonwealth Powerlifting Championship, which is set for November 28 to December 7 in Oakland, New Zealand.”

The talented athlete revealed that, for him, things have been “up and down”, but neither giving up nor the much less likely event of quitting would ever be an option for him.

In regard to what his focus would be this year,

Peterson-Griffith noted that it is his goal to reset some records “as per norm”, both local and international. He also commented, “I would like to say, ‘Thank you, Fitness Express, MVP Sports, My Coach Mr Leon Wilson, My Sister/Manager Nicona Searles, my love Candace Lam, Space Gym, Flex Gym, and many, many more who support, encourage, and more so believe in me for all the hard work, commitment, consistency, dedication, time, sacrifice, and above all discipline, I’ve made thus far. Thank you all! And Thank You, God Almighty, for bringing me this far.”

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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 10, 2022

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

23

…Second batch of knockout tickets to be available soon

J

ust four days after they went on sale in Guyana and online, the initial batch of tickets for the Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) knockouts have been sold out. More tickets will be made available in the coming days, with the exception of the final on 30th September, which has been fully sold out.

This is according to a CPL missive disseminated on Tuesday morning. However, the CPL has indicated that they will be taking a number of anti-fraud measures, which may see more tickets becoming available.

As part of Hero CPL’s ticketing and anti-fraud processes, the league would be contacting a select number of customers who have purchased tickets to ask them to verify their purchases. If

these ticket holders are unable to verify their purchases by supplying the required documentation, those transactions would be cancelled and the tickets would be put back on sale.

CPL has also identified some customers who have placed multiple ticket orders which have exceeded the allowable number of tickets per customer, and these orders would be cancelled and refunded as per the terms and conditions, with those tickets also being made available to fans at a later date for sale.

The Hero CPL reminds all fans that they should buy tickets only from the Box Office at 233-234 Camp Street, Georgetown, or from cplt20.com. Tickets purchased from unauthorised sellers would be voided, and

will not be accepted at the stadium. Fans are also reminded never to buy printouts of e-tickets from third party sellers. Those will not be accepted for entry. Fans who try to purchase more than the allowable limits by making multiple orders risk having their orders being cancelled in full.

H e r o CPL’s Head of Marketing, Chris Watson, said, “We have seen a huge response to the historic occasion of the CPL finals coming to Guyana for

the first time, and understandably tickets are in huge demand.

W e ask fans

The Hero CPL has cautioned patrons to purchase tickets only from the Camp Street Box Office, or online

to remain patient, so we can continue to ensure the tickets go to the genuine fans, and remaining tickets for the knockout games will be made available for sale very

GAW begin camp ahead of CPL 2022

…New Strength and Conditioning Coach optimistic about this season over the last couple of years.

So, with what we have here already, I think it’s going to be a fantastic team,” newly appointed Strength and Conditioning Coach Jamar Griffith said on Tuesday afternoon at the beginning of the Warriors session.

The National Stadium at Providence was lit up with the Warriors’

to be played between the SKYEXCH Sixty and the CPL. As such, he shared his personal aims for the job.

“For me, it’s all about teaching the guys how to recover themselves, how to breathe in certain situations, and also flexibility and stuff like that. Fitness doesn’t only mean losing

soon.”

This year’s Hero CPL (Men’s) and WCPL (Women’s) is set to bowl off on August 31st in St Kitts and Nevis, with the action making its way to Guyana from September 21st to 30th. Additionally, the tournament will be played in St. Lucia and Trinidad and Tobago.

FIDE Chess Olympiad in Chennai, India…

Guyana defeat Burundi, TimorLeste in Round 10

GAW Strength and Conditioning Coach Jamar Griffith (Jemima Holmes Photo)

T

hree weeks ahead of the commencement of the 10th edition of the Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL), the Guyana Amazon Warriors have fully encamped their local players as preparation for the

Pooja Lam

G

Some scenes from the Guyana Amazon Warriors’ first day of encampment (Jemima Holmes Photo)

tournament ramps up.

While the likes of Veerasammy Permaul, Matthew Nandu and Junior Sinclair are working with the coaching staff, other Caribbean talents like Jermaine Blackwood are reportedly expected to join the camp very soon.

In the meantime, the new additions to the Warriors’

coaching department are working assiduously to ensure the guys are in tip-top shape as they prepare to take on the SKYEXCH 6ixty and Hero CPL. “Well, this is my first year with Guyana, and already I can see the setup that we have here. The coaches and management staff have been doing a fantastic job

familiar multicoloured training gear and shouts of enjoyment, as Assistant Coaches Ryan Hercules and Shaheed Mohamed led the team in various drills.

Giving clarity to their objectives for the camp, Griffith disclosed, “We just wanted to see the fitness levels of some of the guys, so we know exactly what we’re starting with, how much work we need to put in, so that by the time we’re ready to go off to St. Kitts, we can either get them ready or just be able to maintain the level of fitness that some of them already have.”

With strength and conditioning spelt out in his job title, the new Coach would have his hands full, especially with 6 weeks of T10 and T20 cricket

weight or getting faster, there’s a whole holistic side of things that we’ll be looking at to try to get the guys ready,” Griffith explained.

He continued, “So that we can keep them on the par for the six weeks or so.”

Quizzed about how he expects the Warriors team to gel ahead of the CPL, the Strength and Conditioning Coach had no qualms, noting that the process has already begun.

“The best part about it is that these guys are international players. The West Indies setup, they do a fantastic job already, so, I think by time they come into the setup, we would already have enough knowledge on where they are and how we can do what we need to do to keep them ready,” Griffith has said.

uyana’s Open team defeated Burundi, while the Women’s team defeated Timor-Leste on Monday in Chennai during the FIDE Chess Olympiad.

The Open team, comprised of CM Taffin Khan, FM Anthony Drayton, Loris Nathoo and Ethan Lee, scored 2.5 points against Burundi’s 1.5 to win the round. Drayton defeated his opponent Joe Rukundo, while the remaining three team members all drew their matches. CM Taffin Khan drew with Dieudonne Muheto (1830), while Loris Nathoo and Ethan Lee drew with Hugues Mutabazi (1666) and Havyarimana Elvis (1724) respectively.

Team members will all rack up rating points from their Burundi opponents. The Women’s team, comprised of Anaya Lall, Jessica Callender, Sasha Shariff and Pooja Lam, scored 2.5 to their opponents Timor-Leste’ 1.5 to win the round. Pooja Lam, whose rating is 1163, scored her second win of the tournament against Timor-Leste’s

Zulmira Tilman (1255).

Team mate Jessica Callender also won her game against Maria do Ceu Gusmao (1442). Both girls have improved their rating points from these victories.

Young Anaya Lall missed her chance at winning against her Timor-Leste counterpart Elfiana Dos Santos (1560) and instead drew her game, earning her a half-point.

In the final round, the Open team members Taffin Khan, Anthony Drayton, Loris Nathoo and Ethan Lee will take on Haiti; while the Women, Pooja Lam, Jessica Callender, Sasha Shariff and Anaya Lall, will battle against Libya.

The Closing Ceremony will be held after the conclusion of the final round at 16:00 IST at the Nehru Stadium. Links to live games can be found on the Guyana Chess Federation Website: www.guyanachess.org.

The 44th Chess Olympiad was organised by FIDE, the All India Chess Federation (AICF), and the Tamil Nadu Government of India.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 10, 2022

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

Page 23

A scene from the Guyana Amazon Warriors’ first day of encampment (Jemima Holmes Photo)

GAW begin camp ahead of CPL 2022 …New Strength and Conditioning Coach optimistic about this season

Page 23

FIDE Chess Olympiad in Chennai, India…

Guyana’s Women’s team

Sold out! The National Stadium at Providence is no stranger to sold-out crowds for the Hero CPL

…Second batch of knockout tickets to be available soon

Guyana Page defeat 23 Burundi, Timor-Leste in Round 10

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