Guyana Times - Wednesday August 4, 2021

NGSA begins today

…safety measures in place – Education Minister P14 Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Issue No. 4729

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 4, 2021

PRICE

Govt tables amendments to Petroleum Act in National Assembly – amendments to increase State

WHAT'S INSIDE:

Page 3

CoI into 2020 election

P

Stakeholder 2 engagement ongoing – Ali

Pedestrian killed by drunken P15 driver along Homestretch Avenue

oversight on land used in oil & gas sector

Over $14B invested in housing sector in 1 year – Teixeira

$80 VAT INCLUDED

Page 7

Restaurants P9 flouting COVID-19 &15 vaccine condition to face stiff penalty

…2 more die, 24 new cases recorded

– infrastructure works underway to construct 6000 housing units

$2.2B spent to purchase COVID-19 vaccines to date

Page 9

Lyken threatens legal action over termination of “dead bodies” contract P12 …says GPF owes parlour $35M

…“Govt fought for vaccines for our people“ – President Ali

Mechanic attacked, gunned down in Sophia, friend injured Page 10

…were witnesses to a 2020 murder

UMAMI to build agro-processing facility in depressed Black Bush Polder Page 11

Gunmen storm beauty salon, rob staff and customer P11

2 NEWS

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 4, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

CoI into 2020 election

Stakeholder engagement ongoing – Ali P

resident Dr Irfaan Ali has reaffirmed his Administration’s aim to establish a Commission of Inquiry (CoI) to examine the attempt to steal the 2020 General and Regional Elections.

The Head of State on Monday, during a virtual press briefing to commemorate his Government’s one-year anniversary in office, said, “in relation to the Commission of Inquiry, as you are aware … there are many moving parts in relation to what took place in the last elections.

There are many court cases that are ongoing, deliberations at the level

of the Guyana Elections Commission in relation to specific staff who are identified for various practices not consistent with transparency and free and fair elections.”

Ali emphasised that despite the ongoing deliberations into the matter, his Government is “committed” to identifying the individuals responsible and pinpointing possible areas of weakness that can be used to guide the required strengthening of Guyana’s electoral system.

“So that never again can we experience such a barefaced attempt at facilitating and attempts to steal an election,” the

Head of State said, adding that the process has commenced to engage various stakeholders in finding suitable names that can be part of the Commission.

Transparent elections machinery

President Irfaan Ali

While the President also assured that the PPP/C Government welcomes Local Government Elections (LGE), and the Government would have made the necessary budgetary provisions to facilitate LGEs, he emphasised that it rests on the shoulders of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to make preparations to ensure readi-

ness and to advise accordingly.

He pointed to the fact that GECOM is still dealing with a motion to remove individuals who were allegedly involved in last year’s elections fiasco.

“So be assured we are ready. We are supportive of Local Government Election with a transparent election machinery, with professionals in place to conduct those elections so that we don’t experience what we did just a year ago,” the President is quoted as saying by the Public Information and Press Services Unit of the Office of the President.

NEWS

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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 4, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS OPENINGS BRIDGE

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

Wednesday, Aug 4 – 01:30h – 03:00h and 13:30h – 15:00h and Thursday, Aug 5 – 02:30h – 04:00h and 13:30h – 15:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Wednesday, Aug 4 – 14:50h – 15:35h and Thursday, Aug 5 – 14:55h – 16:25h.

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

WEATHER TODAY There will be sunshine during the day. Expect clear skies at night. Temperatures should range between 20 degrees Celsius and 30 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East South-Easterly to Westerly between 1.78 metres and 3.12 metres.

High Tide: 13:39h reaching a maximum height of 2.15 metres.

Low Tide: 07:06h and 19:28h reaching minimum heights of 0.99 metre and 1.07 metre.

SATURDAY, JULY 31, 2021

LOTTERY NUMBERS A

01 08 12 19 26 28

FREE TICKET

20 Bonus Ball

TUESDAY, AUGUST 3, 2021

DAILY MILLIONS

02 06 10 21 26 LUCKY 3

3

1

0

2

Afternoon Draw

9

2

Evening Draw

DRAW DE LINE

05 06 12 13 15 16 21 SUPER

PAY DAY

PAY DAY FRIDAY, JULY 30, 2021

01 05 07 10 16 13

04 05 09 11 12

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

COMMODITIES Indicators

US$

Change %

Crude Oil

$72.41/barrel

Rough Rice

$240.84 /ton

-0.39

London Sugar

$447.30/ton

+0. 36

Live Spot Gold

-0.66

USD Per Ounce

Bid/Ask

$1810.30

$1811.30

Low/High Change

$1806.10 -0.20

$1815.60 -0.01%

Govt tables amendments to Petroleum Act in National Assembly – amendments to increase State oversight on land used in oil & gas sector

A

proposed amendment has been made to the Petroleum (Exploration and Production) Act that will see the Government through the Minister of Natural Resources being given more oversight over how licensees in the oil and gas sector utilise the lands they have been allocated.

According to the Explanatory Memorandum of the amended bill, the amendment seeks to give the Government more control over the use of both public and private lands in the oil and gas sector.

During Tuesday’s sitting of the National Assembly, Minister of Natural Resources Vickram Bharrat brought the amendment to the House, where it was read for the first time. The Explanatory Memorandum of the bill indicates that the amendment aims to strengthen private proprietary constitutional rights.

The bill is seeking to amend Section 52 of the Petroleum (Exploration and Production) Act, Chapter 65:04, which deals with the restrictions in place on petroleum licensees. It specifically targets work done by a petroleum licensee, in furtherance of its operations on State land, Government land, or land that is otherwise controlled or under the management of the Government of Guyana.

Based on the amendment, the Minister would have the power to grant permission to the licensee to land, install or operate any pipelines, fibre optic cable or similar infrastructure, on or through the said land. It would also empower the Minister to order the licensee to maintain, inspect, repair or renew such infrastructure.

The amendments also speak to the granting of consent to the Minister and a petroleum licensee for use of land by the private owners or lawful occupiers of said land, in aid of petroleum operations.

“Overall, the amendment of Section 52 ensures that the Government has oversight over the exercise of the licensee’s rights over private land.

Accordingly, the amendment further strengthens and protects private proprietary interests as enshrined in Article 142 of the Constitution of Guyana.”

The amendment comes ahead of several oil-based projects coming on stream, including Exxon’s US$900 million gas-to-shore project.

The gas-to-shore project is a game-changing initiative that will see gas from the Liza Field offshore Guyana being

Natural Resources Minister Vickram Bharrat

pumped onshore to generate power.

The main objective of the

initiative is to transport sufficient gas from the Stabroek Block’s petroleum operations

to supply some 200-250 megawatts of energy to the national grid, leading to a significant reduction in electricity costs.

President Dr Irfaan Ali had previously said the gas-toshore pipeline, which will land at La Jalousie on the West Coast of Demerara (WCD), would lead to “big industrial development taking place there that is linked to not only power generation and a power plant.” He also said the investment on the Demerara River’s shoreside would create massive opportunities and a trickle-down effect.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 7

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guyanatimesgy.com

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 4, 2021

Views Editor: Tusika Martin News Hotline: 231-8063 Editorial: 231-0544, 223-7230, 223-7231, 225-7761 Marketing: 231-8064 Accounts: 225-6707 Mailing address: Queens Atlantic Investment Estate Industrial Site, Ruimveldt, Georgetown Email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, marketing@guyanatimesgy.com

Mental Health

M

uch discussion has been had locally recently about the mental health of citizens. While the topic was categorised as ‘taboo’ in many cultures, it came to fore as the COVID-19 pandemic took centre stage. It is well-known that the pandemic has taken a severe toll on the mental well-being of persons all over the world.

For example, the initial challenges of dealing with the lockdown measures, the fear of being infected with the virus or having to deal with the death of a loved one have caused tremendous stress and anxiety on many. All of this is added to the economic pressures that are brought on due to persons not being able to go out and work to support themselves and families.

Due to the lack of resources, many countries are unable to mount the kind of response that is needed to address the mental health challenges of their populations or many are forced to scale back the level of response needed due to other areas competing for scarce resources.

According to a recent World Health Organisation (WHO) survey, the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted or halted critical mental health services in 93 per cent of countries worldwide while the demand for mental health is increasing.

The survey of 130 countries provides the first global data showing the devastating impact of COVID-19 on access to mental health services and underscores the urgent need for increased funding. The survey was published ahead of WHO’s Big Event for Mental Health ? a global online advocacy event on October 10 that will bring together world leaders, celebrities, and advocates to call for increased mental health investments in the wake of COVID-19.

According to WHO, the survey was conducted from June to August 2020 among 130 countries across WHO’s six regions. It evaluates how the provision of mental, neurological and substance use services has changed due to COVID-19, the types of services that have been disrupted, and how countries are adapting to overcome these challenges.

It was reported that over 60 per cent of countries reported disruptions to mental health services for vulnerable people, including children and adolescents (72 per cent); older adults (70 per cent) and women requiring antenatal or postnatal services (61 per cent).

More than a third (35 per cent) reported disruptions to emergency interventions, including those for people experiencing prolonged seizures; severe substance use withdrawal syndromes; and delirium, often a sign of a serious underlying medical condition.

Additionally, 30 per cent reported disruptions to access for medications for mental, neurological, and substance use disorders.

Around three-quarters reported at least partial disruptions to school and workplace mental health services (78 per cent and 75 per cent respectively).

WHO had previously highlighted the chronic underfunding of mental health. The Organisation had pointed out that prior to the pandemic, countries were spending less than two per cent of their national health budgets on mental health and struggling to meet their populations’ needs.

The pandemic is increasing demand for mental health services, for example, bereavement, isolation, loss of income and fear are triggering mental health conditions or exacerbating existing ones.

Meanwhile, COVID-19 itself can lead to neurological and mental complications such as delirium, agitation, and stroke. People with pre-existing mental, neurological or substance use disorders are also more vulnerable to SARS-CoV-2 infection ? they may stand a higher risk of severe outcomes and even death.

WHO has issued guidance to countries on how to maintain essential services ? including mental health services ? during COVID-19 and recommends that countries allocate resources to mental health as an integral component of their response and recovery plans. The Organisation has also urged countries to monitor changes and disruptions in services so that they can address them as required.

It should be pointed out that although 89 per cent of countries reported in the survey that mental health and psychosocial support is part of their national COVID-19 response plans, only 17 per cent of these countries have full additional funding for covering these activities. This all highlights the need for more money for mental health. Spending two per cent of national health budgets on mental health is not enough, according to WHO. As stated by WHO, those who do invest in mental health will reap rewards. Pre-COVID-19 estimates reveal that nearly US$1 trillion in economic productivity is lost annually from depression and anxiety alone. However, studies show that every US$1 spent on evidencebased care for depression and anxiety returns US$5.

Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo has engaged members of the Junior Chamber International (JCI) Guyana. The JCI Guyana members included Kestine King (President), Kevin Cornette (Senator) and Deondra Wishart-Hope (Senator) (Office of the Vice President photo)

Time for square pegs in round holes at City Hall to be removed Dear Editor, I would like to concur with a recent letter written by a Mr Anthony Subner in which he posits that the cheap, dirty and obstructionist politics being practiced by the Mayor and Councillors of the City of Georgetown is being done at the expense and peril of the city and citizens of Georgetown.

Somewhere along the line the mayor has been misled into believing that Georgetown is a city-State that is sovereign and independent of what is going on in the rest of Guyana and has its own Government.

His continued attempts to ignore and to countermand lawful instructions of the Local Government Commission and Ministry of Local Government is just bizarre, irresponsible and witless.

When there was no Local Government Commission (LGC) set up, the Mayor’s group used to moan and carry on about the Minister of Local Government having too much say in the affairs of the municipality and that it was an aberration of democratic norms in local governance. Now that there is a Local Government Commission the Council still wants to continue doing its own thing without any oversight.

It seems that no one has given the Mayor and his

colleagues the memo that Guyana is moving forward and is being transformed into a modern, progressive society that is on a path of development. They believe that Georgetown is their own little fiefdom that they can keep in a state of deprivation, chaos and sub normality so that their political ends can be achieved. No one has told the Mayor that he is not an Executive Mayor, but rather that his role is merely titular and ceremonial and that he shares power with the entire Council?

I wish to commend the LGC for beginning to make changes within the administration as clearly many of the current administrators are clueless, inept and not cut out for the jobs that they were given but who were handpicked due to nepotism, cronyism and favouritism. The Commission needs to make many more such changes if they are to rescue Georgetown from being a place of great vice and corruption that it has become.

Because of the kakistocracy that runs City Hall, just look around and see what has become of Georgetown.

Just look at the clutter and blight of the unregulated street vending in downtown and all-around Georgetown.

This is because many Mayors and Councillors believe that these are their constituents who will keep voting for them, so they en-

courage them in this lawless behaviour. Look at the complete lack of accountability at the Council, with their financial books not being audited in decades. In the past when there were giants of men like EL Mayers as Town Clerk and Cyril Ramalho as Treasurer the books were audited and qualified each year religiously.

It is time that the Mayor and City Council stops running to court whenever they can’t have their way, hiring pricey and fancy lawyers in the process. It is just a waste of the rates paid by property owners. It is time that the square pegs that are in round holes at City Hall be removed and positions be filled by proficient, accomplished and knowledgeable persons. The friends and

family initiative should be brought to an end.

I would like to congratulate, encourage, and extend best wishes to Ms Candace Nelson who has been appointed to act as the Town Clerk whether the Mayor likes it or not. The task will not be an easy one cleaning up all the mess that was created by her predecessors and doing so whilst of course not enjoying the support of the mayor and his comrades. However, she can be assured of the support and confidence of the citizens of Georgetown who would just like Georgetown to be placed under competent, decent and intelligent leadership.

Sincerely, Shanta Singh

Problems with the truth Dear Editor, On July 31, 2021, a section of the media reported AFC Leader Khemraj Ramjattan as saying, among other things, the non-expenditure of the $400 million allocated to GuySuCo for mechanisation was as a result of the GAWU’s seeking to ascertain how many workers would be affected by the programme. It appears to us Mr Ramjattan is a stranger to the truth or maybe it was he was gross-

ly misinformed. For the sake of clarity, the Union, at no time, was ever consulted by GuySuCo and/ or the then coalition Government on the programme. The Union was not even aware that the programme was to be pursued until we learnt of it in the media recently.

We, therefore, ask would it be even possible for our Union to request the information Mr Ramjattan purported we sought.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

guyanatimesgy.com

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 4, 2021

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

David Granger responsible for coalition losing elections Dear Editor, In response to a letter by Andre Belgrave to in a section of the media on 23rd July 2021.

I will be as direct as I possibly can in my response to the said letter.

Mr Belgrave states the following: 1. There are attempts by some members of the PNCR to tarnish the character of David Granger and to oust him.

2. That the attack on David Granger has nothing to do with poor leadership but his stance against those who assisted in leading him down a dangerous path during the 2020 Elections. The attacks on his style of leadership began way before August 2020, just ask the coalition partners AFC and WPA. 3. Volda Lawrence and Basil Williams were unable to manage the campaign in Region 4 and this led the PPP to closing the gap and those in charge of Region 4 must take responsibility.

4. David Granger was lied to during the declaration process and that he was told the coalition won the elections.

5. Ms Lawrence and her team tried to cover up their Region 4 failure while suggesting to Mr Granger that the coalition won the elections.

6. Ms Lawrence hurriedly signed what appeared to be a doctored tabulation/declaration of Region 4 and couldn’t produce her party’s SoPs. 7. Granger signed off on recount order in an unusual manner and against the wishes of those challenging him now. No one in the APNU/AFC knew David Granger agreed to a recount.

8. Granger had developed trust issues with many in his rank. This led to many being side-lined. Joseph Harmon was Co-Campaign Manager along with Raphael Trotman. Both gentlemen are in Parliament however.

9. Why no one opposed Granger for second term.

10. Granger’s resistance to some diabolical plan is the reason for the attack on his leadership and character.

11. Ms Lawrence and her team misled their supporters about winning the elections and then laid the loss at Granger’s feet.

In response to Points 1 and 2 David Granger during the course of the 2020 Elections held the following posts: President and Commander-in-Chief Leader of APNU/AFC Chairman of APNU Leader of the PNCR Campaign Director APNU/AFC As the leader the buck stops with him. His character was impugned not by his supporters but by the entire world.

On June 7th of 2020 in a section of the local media former Barbadian Ambassador to the United States said: “Numerous opportunities have been given to the President of Guyana David Granger to come clean and while he gives the impression that he supports free and fair elections, his actions do

not. Indeed, he is being described in Caribbean circles as a “Sanctimonious Gangster”.

Granger as Campaign Director controlled the campaign. His immediate assistants were Joseph Harmon and Raphael Trotman. The decision to declare APNU/AFC the winner

by David Granger had nothing to do with Volda Lawrence and her team but with Granger himself. In a Reuters article dated Thursday March 5th 2020 the headline boldly pronounces Guyana’s Granger claims victory as US and EU question vote results. How did Granger arrive at these results? Did he consult with the top brass at his campaign headquarters? Did he consult with the top brass at GECOM Headquarters? David Granger must answer those questions.

In the early aftermath of the 2020 Elections there were allegations of Region 4 tabulations being altered. The joint statement of the heads of the four diplomatic missions US, UK, CAN and EU stated “Based on our observation of today’s proceedings at their Region 4 office and the fact that the full count was not completed, we question the credibility of the Region 4 results. Even Granger’s son-in-law Dominic Gaskin questioned the results; yet amidst all this Granger celebrates. The very Reuters article says: “In the face of the criticism Granger gave celebratory statements to a rally of supporters on Thursday. We are here to serve you for the next five years he said I thank you from the bottom of my heart. When the sun rises the President is sworn in”.

Granger as Campaign Director handled the elections poorly. He did not marshal his troops, he did not ensure that there were enough boots on the ground and in the places of poll countrywide, he did not display the degree of militancy required to keep the PPP/C at bay, he did not ensure adequate provisions were allocated to the various electoral districts. With all the resources at his disposal as leader of the ruling party nothing was done to counter the PPP/C’s Election Day manoeuvres. Does Mr Belgrave expect us to reward such mediocrity by placing confidence in Mr Granger once again?

Point 3 Mr Belgrave, a complete unknown in PNC and coalition ranks, seems to have an unnatural fixation with Volda Lawrence in his defence of David Granger and exposes his lack of knowledge of the campaign structure of the APNU/ AFC. I would not enlighten him but allow him to wallow in his ignorance. Suffice it to say, however, Volda Lawrence’s sole responsibility was Georgetown and Georgetown performed well. There were little to no issues within its fifteen constituencies. It must be said for the public record that David Granger, whilst he was President, never visited a single Constituency in Georgetown.

Sophia, Albouystown, Tiger Bay, South Ruimveldt, West Ruimveldt, North Ruimveldt, East Ruimveldt, La Penitence,

Agricola, Alberttown, Kitty/ Campbellville/Subryanville, Lodge/Wortmanville has never seen the face of President David Granger. Why did he turn his back on them? I am sure had he campaigned over the course of his presidency in his strongholds the results would have been much better.

Points 4 and 5 Mr Belgrave makes a dangerous allegation that David Granger was lied to by Volda Lawrence and that she and her team tried to cover up their failure in Region 4 by suggesting to Granger that they had won. Volda Lawrence was not responsible for delivering any result or results to David Granger. Further the APNU/ AFC performance saw dips in Regions 1, 2, 3, 6, 9 if my memory serves me correctly.

The Campaign Director David Granger could never say he got a single election result from Volda Lawrence whether it be regionally or by district.

Point 6 Here again is the unnatural fixation with Volda Lawrence.

For the education of the nation, it is GECOM who prepares the Declaration Form.

It is GECOM who requests of an Election Agent from a political party to sign same. It is the Campaign Director or Manager or designates who will sign the said form. Volda Lawrence can only sign same on the instruction of her superiors. Again, for the record it was David Granger who appointed Volda Lawrence as an Election Agent to GECOM. Mr Belgrave is being mischievous when he states that she couldn’t produce her party’s SoPs. There are 10 Regions but Region 4 is sub divided into 3 parts. Volda Lawrence is responsible for one of those parts, namely Georgetown.

How then can Mr Belgrave or any right thinking person place the burden of producing SoPs on Volda Lawrence.

Further, I wish to place in the public domain that there was absolutely no allegation of impropriety with regards to Georgetown.

Point 7 The fact of the matter is that Granger signed the Recount Order to the surprise of the entire APNU/AFC. No one knew of the Recount Order hence to say he signed against

the wishes is simply madness.

Granger, if he wishes, could come clean on who advised him and you can be sure it would not have been Lawrence.

Point 8 If Granger developed trust issues of those around him and therefore side-lined them by what logic then is Joseph Harmon and Raphael Trotman in the National Assembly.

These were his Co-Managers falling immediately beneath him. I’m not saying that they do not deserve to be in the National Assembly but if we accept Mr Belgrave’s premise of lack of trust then the first two persons to be side-lined would have been Harmon and Trotman.

Point 9 Granger was not opposed for a second term simply because he was the President and to find a new candidate would have not only caused a great degree of confusion but also could have led to negative reaction by the population who were not in the loop with his internal misgivings. It is already in the public domain that the WPA complained about the leadership style of David Granger; the AFC also complained about the leadership style of Granger and at one time Harmon to the point they sought to neuter his powers.

Points 10 and 11 I think the case is already made that there was no diabolical plan by Volda Lawrence. I believe the issue Granger has with Lawrence is her candour and “tell it like it is style” she is known for calling you out and calling it like it is and for persons who may have an aversion to being confronted with the truth there will be fractures in their engagements.

In conclusion, Volda Lawrence was not in control of the APNU/AFC machinery and further she doesn’t have to lay the blame at his feet, simply ask the ordinary APNU/AFC supporter who is responsible for them being in Opposition and they will tell you emphatically, David Granger.

Sincerely, James A Bond Deputy Campaign Manager for Georgetown

Problems with...

FROM PAGE 4

Our Union, for the record, has not been averse to mechanisation in the sugar industry.

We, in fact, engaged the lending institution during latter 2014 when the programme was conceptualised. Moreover, in advancing our position against closure we again pointed to the real opportunities mechanisation offered. Therefore, we would have been more than foolhardy to seek to the information it is said we requested.

Our support for mechanisation is premised against several rationales including lessening the arduousness of work in the sugar industry while improving efficiency. We were aware too that the programme had

no impact on labour but rather augmented the workforce.

The statements by Mr Ramjattan are symptomatic of an individual who has problems with the truth. This is not the first time the GAWU has had to publicly point out what seems to be deceitful statements emanating from the AFC leader. Of course, the erstwhile gentleman has shown he is no friend of the sugar workers or the industry, therefore, to expect any semblance of honesty as it concerns sugar probably is highly improbable.

Yours faithfully, Seepaul Narine President, GAWU

Come on Mr Mayor, stop being so petty

Dear Editor, I listened today (Tuesday) with complete horror and distress to the most recent press conference hosted by the Mayor and a few Councillors of the city of Georgetown in what was a feeble attempt to address the current brouhaha regarding the appointment of a Town Clerk. It was like the circus comes to town, but not in a good way!

Let us forget for a moment what was done to the Queen’s English and focus on the absurd war that has been declared by the Mayor and a few of his Councillors against the Local Government Commission and the collateral damage that is being done to the officer corps, particularly the new Town Clerk.

When the Mayor says that he will not respect the new Town Clerk, what does he mean to say? That he will not have due regard for the feelings, wishes, or rights of this young lady?

Because that is the literal meaning of what he said. I hope he meant to say that he does not propose officially recognising her as the new Town Clerk, because as infantile as that would be, it would be more acceptable in the modern world of today.

He keeps putting forward the false narrative that the former acting Town Clerk was demoted.

She was not. All that happened was that she was returned to her substantive post as Assistant Town

Clerk. In fact, if the city were not so unprincipled, they would have known that each time any officer who is acting proceeds on their vacation leave they have to return to their substantive post and the requirement is that they have to be nominated and approved to act again. But not at the Council, everyone automatically continues to act upon their return as though it is their right to do so, but then again everyone knows the venality of their HR department.

Can you believe that the Mayor then arrogates to himself the function to determine who is competent, qualified and suitable. This is just astounding. If the persons that he had in the past are so erudite, adroit and worthy, then how did Georgetown get into the state that it is in currently?

He then goes on to say that he is undertaking this battle on behalf of the citizens of Georgetown. Well, I have news for him, the citizens are sick to their stomachs of the Georgetown City Council, and would like to see all those square pegs removed from those round holes at City Hall.

Come on Mr Mayor, stop being so petty by trying to seize the vehicle and preventing the new Town Clerk from accessing her office. Let the work of the city go on. Suck it up and move on.

Sincerely, Anu Bihari

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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 4, 2021

Page

Foundation

F

olktales are stories “of the people” that are passed down from generation to generation by word of mouth.

Folktales are found all over the world, in every culture. Have you ever read a fable, trickster tale, or ‘pourquoi’ story? Those are all different kinds of folktales. They oftenfeature animals that can talk and wisdom about the world that needs to be learned.

The folktale tradition of telling stories out loud remains strong throughout the world. Stories are being heard, retold, remembered, rediscovered.

Get kids thinking

• Folktales started out as oral stories. Over the years they were written down, but we still love to hear them out loud!

• Folktales are about ordinary people, like you and me.

They follow a basic beginning-middle-end format. The main character has a problem that needs to be solved by the end of the story. And folktales are often funny!

• Read some folktales. Look for stories from different parts of the world.

• After you read a folktale, think about the story. What problem needed to be solved, and how did the characters do it? What part of the story stuck in your memory?

Did you learn any new words?

Did you learn something about a different part of the world?

• Do you have any storytellers in your family — a grandparent, aunt or uncle, cousin or a close family friend who feels like family.

• Can you remember any of the stories you’ve heard, maybe more than once?

Writing activities

Here is a writing and storytelling activity to try after reading folktales:

Exploring Family Stories

For this activity, discover favourite stories from your own families by interviewing a family member from an older generation.

Siblings can work together on their interview and story presentation.

POEM

Supplies

• Notepad or paper, pen or pencil • Drawing paper and drawing tools: coloured pencils, markers, or watercolours (optional) • Smartphone with built-in audio recording feature or other kind of portable recording device; device with a video chat service (optional)

Let’s get started

You will be trying to uncover a treasured family story by interviewing a family member. You should choose someone from an older generation - parent, aunt or uncle, parent’s cousin, grandparent, great-grandparent, or great aunt or great uncle. You could also decide to choose an older friend of the family, someone who knows them well.

Ideally, this should be a person that you can sit down with in person. It can be helpful to record the conversation with a smartphone or other portable recording device that the family has. Other “face-to-face” interview options are: • Smartphone interview: capture the conversation with the phone’s audio recording feature.

• Video chat interview: record the conversation with a video chat service (like Zoom).

Hearing each other’s voices is a wonderful part of the interview process. However, you can also do the interview by email or regular mail. Warning: snail mail will require patience! (Adapted from startwithabook.org)

WORD SEARCH

7 Over $14B invested in housing sector in 1 year – Teixeira NEWS

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 4, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

– infrastructure works underway to construct 6000 housing units

T

he Government of Guyana has so far processed close to 2000 titles and transports in its first year in office, while starting construction on 1000 houses and conducting massive infrastructural work… all part of an over $14 billion investment in the housing sector.

These figures were provided by Minister of Governance and Parliamentary Affairs Gail Teixeira , during an address to the National Assembly on Tuesday.

According to Teixeira , the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Government has invested more than $14 billion into housing since their return to office.

“Housing, critical to people’s welfare.

The Government restored the housing programme and more than $14 billion has been invested so far.

Housing has processed almost 2000 titles and transports,” the Minister said.

Teixeira also noted that the Government has “commenced construction of almost 1000 low, moderate and professional houses. And the process of designing and implementing infrastructure works to see the allocation of another 10,000 in the coming year.”

On Tuesday, Minister of

Housing Minister Collin Croal

Housing and Water Collin Croal also provided details on the construction of housing units, through written replies in the National Assembly to questions posed by the main Opposition A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC).

With the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) awarding $13.9 billion in contracts for infrastructural works back in March, the Opposition had asked him when are infrastructural works slated to begin. In his reply, he had said that infrastructural works for housing units in Regions Three, Four and Five had started in April.

He had also explained that 5000 housing units would be built in Region Four, in areas such as Grove, Great and

Little Diamond, Prospect, Providence, Cummings Lodge and La bonne Intention (LBI).

Meanwhile, 500 units will be built in Region Three in Edinburg, Anna Catherina, Stewartville and Meten-Meer-Zorg.

A further 500 units will be built in Region Six in Hampshire, Ordinance Fortlands and Williamsburg.

Additionally, the Minister had provided a breakdown of the prices for each unit, inclusive of land. For the Low-Income units, the price would be $5.5 million. For Moderate Income units the price would be $7.5 million and for Middle to High Income units the price would range from $14 million to $19.5 million.

Since coming to office, the PPP Government has

Govt tables amendments to...

FROM PAGE 3

There are also two separate plans to build two deep water ports to service the oil and gas sector. Canadianowned company CGX Energy Incorporated, which only recently started drilling for oil in the Corentyne Block offshore Guyana, has commenced construction on what will be Guyana’s first deep-water port in the Berbice River.

Last month, CGX had revealed that its subsidiary Grand Canal Industrial Estates Inc (GCIE) has been engaged in civil works related to the construction of the US$130 million Berbice Deep Water Port (BDWP).

And with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) having recently screened their project and found no significant risk to the environment, a consortium of local businesses that is aiming to construct a multi-million US dollars shore base and terminal has been given the greenlight to commence construction.

The project is being carried out by the NRG Group, a local consortium with a combined 100 years of experience doing business locally. Shareholders of the group include National Hardware Limited, Hadi’s

World Inc and ZRN Investments Incorporated.

The construction of the project will be done by Jan De Nul Group – an overseas-based company with years of experience in this field.

It is a US$200 to US$600 million investment that will include geotechnical and environmental studies, engineering works, dredging operations, reclamation, and the construction of wharf, storage, warehouse, and safety facilities at Foreshore Plantation Best on the West Bank of Demerara (WBD).

made it clear that it is aiming to fulfil its manifesto promise of distributing 50,000 house lots over the next five years. The Ministry of Housing has also said it would work with other State agencies to make more land available for housing development.

These agencies include the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL); the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission (GLSC) and the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) to pursue land acquisition for housing developments.

This year, the housing sector received a total allocation of $8.9 billion in the budget. Of this sum, $6 billion will go towards infrastructure and utility works in new and existing ar-

Governance Minister Gail Teixeira

eas. This will pave the way for the allocation of over 10,000 house lots and 7000 land titles to citizens.

The Government has also gone countrywide with its Dream Realised house lot distribution campaign… an exercise that has so far distributed

over 4000 house lots and over 500 land transports.

In the Government’s first four months in office, 3500 house lots were distributed… an amount that was half the number of house lots distributed during the former Government’s five years in office.

8 NEWS

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 4, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Taxi driver nabbed with 5kg ganja in Parika remanded to prison

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wenty-three-yearold Uday Monilall, a taxi driver of Unity village, East Coast Demerara (ECD), was on Tuesday slapped with a trafficking in narcotics charge when he appeared at the Leonora Magistrate’s Court.

The young man, who is also a carpenter, was arrested on Thursday last after he was intercepted with 5.248 kilograms of imported ganja at Parika

Ferry Stelling, East Bank Essequibo (EBE).

The Customs AntiNarcotics Unit (CANU) stated that the drug was found in a haversack belonging to the man after he arrived at Parika Stelling via speedboat.

Based on reports received, a search was conducted on his person during which five “brick like” objects containing the ganja were unearthed.

The suspect was escort-

Dead end…

Taxi driver Uday Monilall

The ganja that was found in Monilall’s haversack

ed to CANU Headquarters where the cannabis was analysed and proved to be an imported drug known as “poppy”. The street value is estimated at over $1 million.

Meanwhile, he pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read to him on Tuesday and as such, he was remanded to prison

by Magistrate Zamina Ali Seepersaud until October 12, 2021.

Only last week, Vickey

Doodnauth, 23, and Richie Sewadhan, 19, of Market Street, Rose Hall, were remanded to prison for having in their possession 12.8kg cannabis. The duo was intercepted at Paradise, ECD, while travelling in a vehicle. The ganja was found in the bags belonging to the two men.

They will make their next court appearance on September 17, 2021.

…on Caricom?

A veteran European analyst, writing on the Caribbean in another newspaper, was pretty bleak about Caricom’s fortunes in the days ahead. In a word, he concluded that “CariCom was moribund” …as in “expiring”, “at death’s door”, or “dead in the water”!! And said that he had to “conclude, reluctantly but objectively, that significant further progress on integration now seems unlikely.” Your Eyewitness couldn’t agree more!!

Now, this isn’t to say that Caricom hasn’t done anything useful in its 48 years of existence…CXC comes to mind! It also saved us from another round of rigged elections by the PNC last year. But that doesn’t make up for shutting its eyes in 1968, 1973, 1978 (referendum) and 1980 to Burnham’s dictatorial excesses. But he was one of Caricom’s “big four” founding members, wasn’t he? Did that give him a free pass, or were there other reasons?

Anyhow, your Eyewitness’s pessimism stems from the regional body’s lack of progress in fulfilling its central mandate: becoming a COMMUNITY - with all that that entails. Or even on more instrumentalist lines, failing to becoming a “Common Single Market and Economy”.

The whole point of the latter goal was to overcome our individual minuscule size in a globalising world, where size gave clout in trade relations that made that world go around. The CSME, WE’re told, is on “pause”! The former goal of “community” was more sentimental - a residue of our common British colonial/slave heritage. There’s only so far sentiment will carry you when you’re a minnow trying to navigate in shark infested waters!! Remember there are no permanent friends or permanent enemies just permanent interests?

And this is what the analyst sees ahead for us individually. Driven by those larger forces and their demands, there are gonna be new, more fluid alignments.

We were always seen by America as minnows in their “lake”. While this view went back to their “Monroe Doctrine” back in 1823 - which warned Europeans to keep their hands off us and Latin America - in a short while, they and Britain had kissed and made up and enjoyed their “special relationship”.

It wasn’t till Cheddi slipped up and didn’t explicitly deny he was a Commie that the US flexed their muscle and the rest is trite (but bitter!) history. So, what’s ahead for Caricom?? Since we can’t go it alone, the islands will be split into two factions - one group, including us, will cleave to the US, and the others towards Cuba and China.

For four centuries, the British made us ignore the first law of geography - “Everything is related to everything else. But near things are more related than distant things.”

We’ll be looking south to fulfill our continental destiny.

…and death traps Some were shocked that those two poor Venezuelan young ladies perished in their apartment because the doors and windows were all “grilled”. There’s no pun intended, but it was so macabre that your Eyewitness couldn’t resist the aptness. The crime wave that escalated from the Burnham days with the very graphically named “kick-down-the-door” bandits into what one leader called a virtual “genocide against Indian-Guyanese” reached its apogee in the 1980s.

Hapless Indians started welding construction steel rods together to create lattice-like structures to prevent the bandits from breaking through doors and windows.

They were dubbed “grills” because they looked like cooking grills. While the “grills” were outfitted with padlocks, in the event of a fire, very few could muster the presence of mind to open them to escape. There was a famous Indian personality, Lakshmi Kallicharran, who was killed like this some years ago.

It’s tragic on many levels that, thirty years later, even more doors and windows have to be “grilled”. Crime still rules Guyanese lives.

…for Harmon?

Joe Harmon just referred twice to “PRESIDENT Ali” in a release. At last, he’s off that ridiculous stance to not “recognise” Ali as the President, because he’s disputing the elections’ results.

Hadn’t he always accepted he was the “Opposition Leader”!!

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

NEWS

9

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 4, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

$2.2B spent to purchase Restaurants flouting COVID-19 vaccine condition COVID-19 vaccines to date to face stiff penalty …“Govt fought for vaccines for our people” – President Ali D

The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Government has been able to ensure almost 300,000 persons were vaccinated against the dreaded COVID-19 virus and according to an impassioned President Dr Irfaan Ali, the Government fought to secure those vaccines for the people of Guyana.

He made this statement during a press conference on Monday. The A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC)

public movements of unvaccinated persons. And shorter opening times for some businesses. Your Government would much prefer an open economy.”

Expenditure on vaccines

President Dr Irfaan Ali

The President also spoke of the importance of ensuring that everyone is vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus.

It would subsequently come to light via written replies from Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony in response to questions from the parliamentary Opposition, that the Government has so far spent $2.2 billion to pur-

“We see no distinction in the vaccination programme. Whether its Sputnik, Sinopharm, Pfizer, Moderna, there’s no distinction for us and in our eyes. Because we fought for Pfizer, we fought for Moderna. We fought for Johnson and Johnson. And we could not get it. But we were able to get Sputnik. And we invested in it, because the lives of the people mattered,” – President Irfaan Ali has been particularly critical of the Government’s procurement of the Sputnik V vaccine. But according to President Ali, the Government sees no distinction between Sputnik and other vaccines such as Pfizer and Moderna.

“We see no distinction in the vaccination programme.

Whether its Sputnik, Sinopharm, Pfizer, Moderna, there’s no distinction for us and in our eyes. Because we fought for Pfizer, we fought for Moderna. We fought for Johnson and Johnson. And we could not get it. But we were able to get Sputnik.

And we invested in it, because the lives of the people mattered,” he said.

In commenting on the restrictions that Government has imposed, he noted that the Government does not want to risk the lives of its citizens in order to open the economy. Hence, he reiterated his call for persons to take the vaccines.

“I appeal once again, to all, to protect yourselves. Shelter your family. Safeguard your country.

Please, get inoculated. Your Government has a responsibility to defend the health of all. That is why we have had to introduce measures lasting throughout the month of August.”

“That includes a curfew.

Limitations on certain social activities. Restrictions on

chase vaccines for Guyana.

Included in this amount is the logistical cost of getting the vaccines to Guyana.

The Minister was asked about the factors that led to the decision to purchase Sputnik V, Sinopharm and Janssen vaccines, a product of Johnson and Johnson.

He went on to explain in his submission that among other things, COVAX’s inability to fulfil its commitment played a role.

COVAX is a worldwide initiative that aimed to ensure poorer countries would have access to vaccines just as more developed countries did. COVAX was supposed to have supplied enough vaccines for 20 per cent of

Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony

Guyana’s population. But according to the Minister, this was never done.

“COVAX had difficulty fulfilling this commitment because of the global shortage and funding difficulties.

So far, that quota has not been filled. Pfizer had made bilateral commitments with more affluent countries and doses from the company would only become available in 2022.”

“In the early part of the year, Moderna could not export the vaccine to other countries because of export restrictions and supply commitments to the US Government. That is changing now… the global shortage of vaccine raw materials resulted in lower vaccine production,” the Minister also said in his response.

The Minister also cited the increased domestic demand for vaccines when manufacturing countries experienced a surge of cases due to new variants.

Additionally, this situation led to countries stopping exports to give priority to their domestic needs, further compounding global shortages. (G3)

ining now comes at the cost of being vaccinated and any restaurant which flouts this measure to entertain unimmunised patrons will be penalised.

This was the warning given by Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony on Tuesday, when he outlined that routine checks will be made to such outlets, with backing from the National COVID-19 Task Force Secretariat.

As of August 1, 2021, dining is permitted at restaurants at 60 per cent capacity and tables placed six feet apart. Patrons at these businesses, except for children, must be vaccinated and have in their possession, an official identification document in addition to their vaccination card.

“If you’re going to outdoor or indoor dining at a restaurant, then it’s now the law that you must be vaccinat-

ed…If you fail to do so and the restaurant decide they’re going to allow you to eat there, we have the Task Force and the Police that would be doing random checks and any restaurant owner who allows such behaviour to happen in their restaurant would face a stiff penalty,” the Minister cautioned.

Since this provision was mandated, several restaurants have publicly notified their customers of the changes when accessing services.

The measures will end on August 31, 2021 – unless earlier terminated, extended or amended by notice of the Health Minister after an assessment of the prevailing public health conditions.

Before accessing services at Government agencies, unvaccinated persons are now tasked with calling the entity and making an appointment.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 14

10 NEWS

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 4, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Mechanic attacked, gunned down in Sophia, friend injured …were witnesses to a 2020 murder

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he Police are on the hunt for two known characters who reportedly opened fire on a group of people on Monday evening at B Field Sophia, Greater Georgetown, leaving one dead and another injured.

The dead man has been identified as 21-year-old Jaleel Leow, a mechanic of Dennis Street, Campbellville, Georgetown, while the injured man is 23-year-old Brandon Smith of Sophia, Greater Georgetown.

Police investigations revealed that the now dead man along with several others including Smith and another mechanic, Nigel Williams, 20, also of B Field Sophia were liming on the access

road when two men rode up to them on bicycles.

The two men who were identified as “Big John” or “Double Clip” and “Brainer” dismounted their respective bicycles. One of the men was armed with two cutlasses.

He reportedly walked up to a female who was also in the gathering and asked “is problem you want?"

The woman, according to the Police, responded in the negative and soon after she along with the others began to walk into her yard. In the process of doing so, “Big John” reportedly whipped out a handgun from his pants waist, walked up to Leow and discharged two rounds which struck him to the upper right

of his back.

The young mechanic fell to the ground and it was at that time, the suspect discharged two more rounds at Leow, hitting him to the upper chest.

In a bid to escape his attacker, the injured man got up and ran to the back of the yard where he subsequently collapsed.

Not satisfied, “Big John” then turned his attention to Brandon Smith, who was standing by the roadside, and discharged a round in his direction. The bullet, according to information received, grazed him to his right upper hand but he managed to run for cover.

After committing the act, the two suspects made good

Dead: Kevin Campbell

Dead: Jaleel Leow

their escape on their bicycles.

The injured men were rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital where Leow was pronounced dead and Smith was treated and sent away.

Guyana Times understands that both Loew and Smith witnessed the murder of Smith’s older brother, Kevin Campbell, who was attacked and stabbed to death in March 2020. One of the persons who were arraigned for the murder is a nephew of “Big John”. Both Smith and Leow were expected to testify in the preliminary inquiry.

It was reported that on March 21, 2020, two men had attacked Brandon Smith while he was standing in their yard. He was stabbed twice with a pair of scissors - once to his abdomen and once to his chest.

After hearing the commotion, his brother, Kevin Campbell, rushed to his assistance and managed to get the attackers out of the yard.

The two attackers, however, returned later in the day in the company of 11 others. The gang members were armed with knives, cutlasses, and a pitchfork. Police stated that six men went into Campbell’s house and dragged him outside.

The men then allegedly chopped and stabbed Campbell until he collapsed to the ground, before making good their escape. Campbell subsequently succumbed to his injuries.

Eighteen-year-old Kaprese Norbrega, also known as “Kaprese Richmond”, a mechanic, of C Field Sophia, Greater Georgetown, and 26-year-old Shay Carter, also known as “Shawn”, of B Field Sophia, were jointly charged for the murder.

Meanwhile, when contacted on Tuesday, Julia Johnson, an aunt of the now dead man recalled that she was at home when she received the devastating news. She explained

that she went straight to the Georgetown Public Hospital where she saw her nephew’s motionless body.

“From what I see, he had two gunshot wounds to his chest…it looked as though Jaleel was alive when they took him to the hospital and they were trying to resuscitate him because he had some medical apparatus on his body.”

She explained that Leow’s mother is inconsolable, adding that his mother was initially told that her son was shot.

They didn’t tell her that he was dead… it was until after Nigel returned from the hospital, she leant that he died,” Johnson related.

In addition, she noted that even though Leow lived at Dennis Street, Campbellville, his mother has a house in B Field Sophia that is being rented and the now dead man would visit the area from time to time with friends.

“A normal lime with some friends turned tragic…the Police are aware of those who committed the act and we are hoping that they are arrested soon…It is extremely sad to lose a nephew in this manner,” the seasoned journalist added.

Jaleel Leow was the eldest of three children. The Police are continuing their investigations.

NEWS

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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 4, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

UMAMI to build agro-processing facility in depressed Black Bush Polder …MoU signed, construction to begin in six months

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Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was on Tuesday inked between the Government and UMAMI Incorporated for the construction of a multi-million-dollar agro-processing facility in Black Bush Polder, Region Six, (East Berbice-Corentyne).

Construction on the facility is expected to commence within six months, and once completed, will employ more than 60 persons.

During the signing exercise, Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha said the Government is keen on ensuring more value-added commodities are produced in Guyana.

“Part of the Government’s agenda for agriculture is to have more value-added products coming out of Guyana. Many farmers are still practicing subsistence farming and this is preventing them from getting the full value of their produce,” the minister said, adding that as a government, “we want to ensure that the necessary facilities are available while assisting farmers to have more monies for

their produce.”

With Guyana now playing that lead role in agriculture in Caricom and a task force set up to advance the agri-food system, he added, Government is looking at ways to remove the barriers that are hampering the export of produce to certain parts of the Caribbean.

“I think we have a good opportunity, once those barriers are removed, to have our produce exported to other parts of the Caribbean and the world,” Mustapha is quoted as saying by a release from the Agriculture Ministry.

Mustapha further stated that the Government will be facilitating investments though Public-Private Partnerships in a bid to encourage and promote investment in the sector.

“This year alone, we’ll be building several agro-processing facilities across the country. We are also working with the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) formula, where private investors are also building and the government acts as a facilitator to these investments. For this particular project, the

GO-Invest’s CEO Peter Ramsaroop and Managing Director for UMAMI Inc Chris Persaud exchange documents in the presence of Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha

government will be doing some infrastructural work in the area to ensure things are in place.”

Mustapha also said that Black Bush Polder is one of the areas in Guyana that produces a lot of agricultural commodities. He further stated that those farm-

Gunmen storm beauty salon, rob staff and customer

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wo armed men on Sunday evening stormed Simone’s Beauty Salon at Joseph Pollydore Street, Lodge, Georgetown, and robbed three women of their personal belongings.

The women - a hairdresser, a make-up artist and a customer - were relieved of four gold rings, one LG cellular phone, one anklet, one iPhone 8 Plus cell phone, one Samsung Galaxy S9+ mobile phone and one gold chain.

Based on information received, on the day in question at about 22:10h, two men who were armed with handguns turned up at the salon on a black motorcycle. However, one of the men dismounted the motorcycle, walked into the salon and asked for “Sharon”.

At that time, the victims reportedly told him no one by that name works at the establishment. The man then reached into his pants crotch, pulled out a black handgun

and pointed it at the three women.

The second perpetrator, Police stated, entered the salon and instructed the women to lie on the floor. Out of fear, the three women complied. The men then relieved the women of the above-mentioned articles after which they left the salon.

After the men had left the salon, the Police were contacted and ranks have launched an investigation into the robbery.

ers are often short-changed in terms of pricing and that this facility will enable the farmers to process their produce while creating jobs for other residents.

Managing Director of UMAMI Incorporated, Chris Persaud said that the facility will enable the company to integrate existing products into its product line.

He also said that the construction and operation of the facility will facilitate the transfer of technology to farmers in Black Bush Polder.

“As a manufacturer of

high-quality value-added food commodities, we are proud to be exercising our patriotic duty to be a part of the rebuilding of the area.

Black Bush Polder, as many of you may know, is pretty much the heartland of our primary produce so this is also an opportunity for integration into our existing line of products. We also see it as an opportunity to transfer technology to the farmers so that they can increase their capacity. The ultimate goal of the facility is to find ways and means to enhance the shelf-life of the traditional

products we have so that we can have less wastage and spoilage,” Persaud is quoted as saying.

Although a final investment amount has not been determined, Persaud said that the facility will be outfitted with A-grade technology to ensure quality products are produced since the brand is hoping to add products like canned vegetables to its line of products. He further stated that the products that will be produced will remain under the UMAMI brand given the fact that the brand is already known for providing quality products to its consumers.

Meanwhile, Chief Executive Officer, Dr Peter Ramsaroop said there has been a significant increase in investments in the agriculture sector over the last year from both local and foreign investors.

“What we’re most proud of is that our local folks are stepping up to the plate, investing in agro-processing and large-scale farming. Our office is seeing a significant increase for the agriculture sector. For the year alone we’re in double digits on investments in the sector. Ultimately, so far, close to 500 jobs will be created with the agreements we’ve signed for the agriculture area,” Ramsaroop said.

12 NEWS

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 4, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Lyken threatens legal action over termination of “dead bodies” contract …says GPF owes parlour $35M

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yken Funeral Home has threatened to take legal action against the Guyana Police Force (GPF) over what it claims to be a sudden termination of its contract with the parlour.

Owners Dawn Stewart and Gordon Lyken, at a press conference on Tuesday, contended that they were made aware of the contract termination through media reports. In fact, the business owners claim that to date, they have not been officially notified that the contract was terminated. However, they said indeed, the Police Force has stopped doing business with the company.

Last month, Head of the GPF Communications Unit, Mark Ramotar confirmed that the Force will no longer solicit the services of the mortuary, over the fact that the company failed to be in compliance with the National Insurance Scheme

Lyken Funeral Home co-owner, Dr Dawn Stewart

(NIS), and the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) as well as certain health protocols.

But Stewart on Tuesday said that these claims are not true and argued that the company is being “targeted” by a member of the Central Board of Health.

She related that the firm was last month threatened to be closed down by the Health Ministry for using just one freezer to store

bodies. According to the businesswoman, they were given two months to construct another freezer to be able to continue operating.

Stewart said the freezer is almost completed but due to the pandemic, there are delays in the delivery of certain materials. Moreover, the businesswoman said the company had also received a letter from a member of the Central Board of Health who outlined that the odour of the decomposed bodies is dangerous to the employees – a claim which Stewart has denied. “We been doing this for almost a hundred years and none of our employees have gotten sick or died,” the woman contended.

“We’ve developed a canister system where we put the body in a canister and it’s sealed and we put it in the fridge. Several years ago, we started to put the body in a body bag so if the Police

call us or the GDF call us we send a body bag before, they place the body in the body bag, when we pick it up, we put the body in the canister, the body bag is zipped, the canister is closed, and it’s stored in the fridge until we ready to take it to the mortuary for post-mortem and the rest of the bodies are stored on shelves that are above the

canister so there is no cross contamination,” the woman explained. She argued too that the development of a second fridge will not eliminate the odour of decomposed bodies. Moreover, she posited that the company was recently inspected by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) which reportedly found

that everything was “up to standards”. In this regard, the businesswoman said the company is also contemplating legal actions against the Health Ministry.

Meanwhile, the businesswoman said the GPF owes the company some $35 million for services offered between 2019 and 2021.

Unvaccinated speedboat operators may lose licences

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Boat operators at Georgetown-Vreed-en-Hoop Ferry Stelling

s employers and organisations across Guyana get tough on curbing the spread of COVID-19, the Director General of Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) on Tuesday advised unvaccinated speedboat operators that they may lose their licences or have it suspended if they are caught transporting passengers.

In a notice to all water taxi (speedboat) operators, MARAD said that effective August 1, 2021, all captains, bowmen and monitors

are required to be vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus.

“Operators are also required to have their vaccination cards along with official identification in their possession, and produce same when requested to do so by a Police Officer, MARAD officer, or any person authorised by the Ministry of Health,” the notice said.

It added that in keeping with paragraph 15 of the COVID-19 Emergency Measures (No 20), “no unvaccinated person shall be

permitted to operate within the speedboat service, in any part of Guyana.”

Except where otherwise provided, MARAD reminded operators that face masks must be worn by all operators, and passengers.

There has been much discussion recently, after several local Private Sector companies have mandated that their unvaccinated workers present negative PCR COVID-19 tests regularly.

In most cases, the costs for these tests are to be borne by the employees.

13 City Hall now refusing to recognise new Town Clerk NEWS

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 4, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

…appointment decision unanimous – LGC Chairman

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he Georgetown Mayor and City Council (M&CC) has locked horns with the Local Government Commission, deciding that it will not to recognise the new acting Town Clerk, Candace Nelson – who was appointed to serve in that capacity by the constitutional body.

Mayor Ubraj Narine called a press conference on Tuesday, where he told the media, “We as Councillors reject and will not respect Candace Nelson as the interim Town Clerk.”

Nelson was appointed last week by the Commission, and Sherry Jerrick who served as Town Clerk was reverted to her previous position. Chairman of the Local Government Commission, Julius Faerber pointed out in a subsequent briefing that the decision to remove Jerrick was a unanimous

one.

“That decision was unanimously voted in favour of and when I said unanimously, there were seven commissioners who were present at that time and all seven of them voted in favour of having Ms Jerrick return to her substantive position.

That was the situation that occurred,” he said at Tuesday’s press conference.

Thereafter, an internal meeting was facilitated and a few persons were considered for the position. While the Mayor also contended that Nelson was selectively appointed, Faerber condemned this position.

In fact, he noted that she was chosen to act as Town Clerk under the circumstances that she was previously recommended by the Council and held that position before.

Acting Town Clerk Candace Nelson

It was added that such a substantial could not be left vacant. While the Chairman would have applied his powers to appoint her, this decision will be ratified by the Commission at the end of August.

“I do have that authority. As Chairman of the Commission, I would normally make decisions between meetings and at the statutory meeting, I would ratify that decision,” Faerber added.

Mayor Ubraj Narine

LGC Chairman Julius Faerber

Moreover, while Mayor Narine claimed that the LGC Chairman is refusing to meet with him, Faerber clarified that the matter is before the courts and it would be a case of subjudice.

“We’re all aware that the Council took a decision to have the matter addressed in the court and so I wrote the Mayor telling him that because the matter is in the court, it would be subjudice of me to have a meeting with

him to discuss the matter with the Town Clerk.

I hear the Mayor saying that the Chairman is refusing to have a meeting with him but if the matter is in court, then we cannot discuss that matter.”

The Chairman has expressed concerns over these recent developments and met with the acting Town Clerk, Deputy Town Clerk and acting Chief Constable on Tuesday morning.

“We had written the appointment letter to Ms

Nelson, giving a copy to the Mayor letting him know that Ms Nelson would have been acting. He refused to see Ms Nelson and then he called the staff to let them know that Ms Jerrick will continue to act and they must disregard Ms Nelson.”

In his letter of appointment seen by this publication, Faerber had pointed out that this decision is in keeping with the authority vested to the Local Government Commission under Sections 13 and 12 of the Local Government Commission Act. Section 13 (2) states that, “The Commission shall have power to deal with all matters relating to staffing of Local Government organs and in particular shall – be responsible for employment, transfer, discipline and dismissal of staff.” (G12)

NEWS

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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 4, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

2 more die from COVID, death toll now stands at 549 – 24 new cases recorded in 24 hours

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he Health Ministry on Tuesday reported that two more persons who tested positive for COVID-19 have succumbed, thus taking the death toll to 549.

The victims are two women, a 54-year-old and a 55-year-old from Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica).

They reportedly died on Tuesday while receiving medical care at a facility.

On Monday, one person - a 30-year-old woman also from Region Four died.

However, new statistics provided by the Ministry showed that 24 new cases were detected in one day. The total confirmed cases in the country have now increased to 22,643. There are 12 patients being monitored in the Intensive Care Unit, 87 in institutional isolation, 648 in home isolation and two in institutional quarantine.

Some 22,327 of the 11,028 males and 11,615 females that tested positive have since recovered. Guyana has tested 228,511 persons since the virus was detected here.

An analysis of new cas-

es showed one for Region One (Barima-Waini); two in Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam); two in Region Three (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara); 17 in Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) and two in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne).

Cases remained the same Regions Five (MahaicaBerbice), Seven (CuyuniMazaruni), Eight (PotaroSiparuni), Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) and 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).

Meanwhile, Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony stated that the distribution has already commenced for the 84,800 AstraZeneca vaccines received from the United Kingdom on Monday. These jabs come with an advantage, since they are stored at normal cold chain temperatures.

“We have started that distribution process, sending it out to all the vaccination hubs that we have across the country and they in turn would be using it to do the vaccination.

Of course, we have divided it into two and we kept back half of it because they’re both first

and second doses,” he indicated.

Presently, there are enough jabs in the health system to facilitate anyone desirous of being inoculated. Both doses are available for the Sinopharm and AstraZeneca shots along with Sputnik V first doses.

“We have had cases where people regret they didn’t have the vaccine but at that point, it’s too late. So, you have an opportunity to get vaccinated, please go and get vaccinated. We have vaccines for everyone who would take the vaccine. We have enough. We have AstraZeneca, we have Sinopharm vaccines, we have Sputnik V first dose. We’re getting some second doses shortly. So, we have vaccines.”

As it pertains to travel into Guyana, he cautioned that the requirements are subject to change. From August 8, persons are now required to have a negative PCR test and they must be vaccinated.

“As of now, vaccination as defined in the order means at least having one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. For now, we’re asking for at least one

Pedestrian killed by drunken driver along Homestretch Avenue

A

pedestrian is the latest road fatality after she was struck down by an alleged drunken driver in the wee hours of Tuesday along Homestretch Avenue, Georgetown. Dead is Malesa Lewis, 23, of La Penitence, Georgetown.

Based on reports received, on the day in question at about 04:30h, motor car with registration number PSS 4025 driven by a 29-yearold male of Charlestown, Georgetown, was driving along Homestretch Avenue at an alleged fast rate of speed.

However, it was alleged that the now dead pedestrian was crossing the said road and ended up in the path of the motor car. The driver also claimed that he applied brakes to avoid a collision but instead, the woman was struck down.

Lewis reportedly fell onto the roadway and received severe bodily injuries. She was nevertheless, picked up in an unconscious state by the emergency medical technicians and rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital where she succumbed while receiving medical attention.

Meanwhile, a breathalyser test was conducted on the driver which revealed that he was above the prescribed lim-

The car that was involved in the accident

it of alcohol consumption. He was arrested and is expected to be charged before the end of the week.

This is the fourth person to have died in a vehicular accident over the past two days. On Sunday evening, a policeman, Romesh Dass, and 23-year-old Zameer Ali of Anna Regina were killed after the motorcycle on which they were travelling collided with a motor car along Airy Hall Public Road, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam).

At the time of the accident, Dass was riding the

motorcycle with Ali as his pillion rider. In addition, on Monday, 21-year-old Joshua Butts, a former national footballer of Stanleytown, New Amsterdam, was killed after he reportedly lost control of the car he was driving at Warren Public Road, East Coast Berbice (ECB).

He reportedly ended up in a nearby trench. He was pulled from the wreckage by public-spirited citizens and taken to the New Amsterdam Public Hospital where he was admitted but later succumbed to his injuries.

GUYANA COVID-19 DASHBOARD AUGUST 4 UPDATE

NUMBER OF NEW CASES

24

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN INSTITUTIONAL ISOLATION

87

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN HOME ISOLATION

648

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN COVID-19 ICU

12

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN INSTITUTIONAL QUARANTINE

2

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES BY GENDER (FEMALES)

11,615

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES BY GENDER (MALES)

11,028

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES IN GUYANA SINCE 2020

22,643

NUMBER OF RECOVERED CASES

22,327

TOTAL 1st DOSE VACCINATED

246,716

FULLY IMMUNISED

130,429

TOTAL NUMBER OF DEATHS

549

DISTRIBUTION OF TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES SINCE MARCH 2020 REGION 1

1305

REGION 2

641

REGION 3

2569

REGION 4

10,161

REGION 5

764

REGION 6

1902

REGION 7

1280

REGION 8

380

REGION 9

2095

REGION 10

1546

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

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.

dose so you must show proof of vaccination,” the Minister outlined.

All Guyanese are reminded to observe the protocols of the COVID-19 emergency measures which emphasise the need for cor-

rect and consistent use of a face mask when leaving your home; the importance of maintaining the six feet physical distance from others; and the need for good hand hygiene.

If anyone is displaying

any of the symptoms associated with COVID-19 or needs any additional information, contact the COVID-19 Hotline 2311166, 226-7480 or 624-6674 immediately or visit www. health.gov.gy.

16 NEWS

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 4, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

SBF International continues to picket GEA over suspension of licence E

mployees of fuel wholesale and import company, SBF International continue to protest the Guyana Energy Agency (GEA), and its Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mahender Sharma over the suspension of its operational licence.

The workers again vented their anger and frustration. Public Relations Manager, Wayne English told media operatives that it has been over a year since workers were unable to receive salaries as a result of GEA pulling their company’s licence without reasons.

He explained that on September 14, 2019, the GEA via a letter cancelled their Import and Wholesale Licence over vague allegations of fraud committed by the company.

Further, he stated that the GEA had launched an investigation which stated that the company had made a date change on a lease agreement for a storage and fuel distribution facility it was renting at Christiansburg, Linden.

Workers contended that despite the many allegations that were made against Dr Sharma by SBF International and other companies, an investigation is yet to be launched, internally or at the Government level.

“My issue is that I am still shocked that Dr Sharma has not been sent on leave, pending investigations like it’s been customarily done with other individuals in similar occurrences.

Strangely, Sharma remains in office, apparently untouched,

Public Relations Manager Wayne English

and still allowed to rain hellfire on employees of our company and elsewhere,” English stated.

“We came out here protesting because we cannot bear the agony anymore of having to work for months without salaries. It’s even more frustrating in that the Chairman of GEA in a lame defence against their irresponsible of issuing fuel licences, has informed that they gave licence all over because of fuel shortages. Who will ever believe that?”

The PR representative noted that the GEA has even gone after clients, by way of letter and phone calls, instructing them not to purchase fuel from SBF International.

Several questions were raised with respect to double standard within the GEA. English also alleged

that two operators are allowed to trade and distribute fuel, even though they only have licence to transport fuel. He was referring to a recording in the company’s possession of which a GEA investigator admitting that the situation exists.

Nevertheless, English told the media that the protest action will be intensified until the matter is resolved.

Only last week it was reported that the GEA had taken to court fuel importer Dorwain Bess of SBF International Incorporated.

A summons was issued against Bess based on complaints filed by GEA Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dr Mahender Sharma on behalf of his agency. He is being represented by Attorney-at-Law Arud

Gossai.

According to the summons, Bess will have to appear before the Diamond/ Golden Grove Magistrates’ Court on August 17, 2021.

The summons was issued on July 19, 2021.

According to the complaint, Bess is accused of importing fuel without an Import or Importing Wholesale Licence that was issued by GEA. According to the complaint, this is a breach of Regulation 4(2) (b) of the Petroleum and Petroleum Products Regulations 2014.

The complaint states that “The defendant between 3rd and 4th November, 2020 at Friendship, East Bank Demerara, in the Georgetown Magisterial District, imported petroleum products to wit approximately 155,000 litres

Some of the protesters in front of the GEA on Tuesday

of diesel without authority to do so under an import or

an importing wholesale license.”

8-year-old among several injured in 2-vehicle collision

A

The two cars that were involved in the accident

n eight-year-old lad was on Monday evening injured following a two-vehicle collision along the La Union Public Road, Essequibo Coast, Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam).

Those injured are Delroy Wolf, 29, Travay Wolf, 23; Fabian Wolf, 23, and Lesroy Wolf, 28, all of Dry Shore, Essequibo Coast. They were reportedly in motor car bearing registration num-

ber PWW 1289.

In addition, 29-yearold Michael Charles, Xavier Comacho, 8; Rodwin Comacho, 35; Alicia Henry, 30; and Garfield Rodrigues, 25, all of Queenstown, Essequibo Coast, were in motor car HC 6819.

Based on reports received, motor car HC 6819 was proceeding along the La Union Public Road when the driver reportedly lost control of the vehicle and col-

lided with motor car PWW 1289 which was proceeding in the opposite direction.

As a result of the collision, the occupants were picked up and taken to the Suddie Public Hospital where they were examined.

Lesroy Wolf and Xavier Comacho were admitted while the others treated and sent away.

Both drivers remain in custody as investigations continue.

Decomposed body of man found floating in canal

T

he decomposed body of an unidentified man was on Tuesday found floating in the Nouvelle Flanders Koker, West Coast Demerara (WCD). The discovery was made at about 13:30h.

Based on reports received, the body was discovered by villagers lying face down in the koker and the Police were immediately summoned to the

scene.

Ranks attached to the Vreed-en-Hoop Police Station were able to pull the corpse from the water which was later transported to the Ezekiel Funeral Home awaiting identification and post-mortem. An investigation is underway.

Just three days ago, the lifeless body of Joseph Curt, 63, of Prospect, EBD, was discovered floating in

a canal along the Mocha Access Road.

His body was reportedly spotted in a trench in the vicinity of Fourth Bridge by a passerby.

As such, the Police were contacted and the body was pulled from the canal.

It was reported that the man is known in the community as an alcoholic. A post-mortem is expected to be conducted soon.

NEWS

17

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 4, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Government welcomes collaboration with US Black Entrepreneurs Association – assures them that vision of “One Guyana” will benefit all, create equal opportunities

H

is Excellency Dr Irfaan Ali on Tuesday reaffirmed his Government’s position and intention of crafting and executing policies that will benefit all of Guyana.

These were the President’s message when he and several members of his Cabinet met with a delegation from the Black Entrepreneurs Association (BEA) from the United States of America at the Office of the President.

The visiting BEA delegates included Senator (Georgia State District 33) Dr Michael Rhett; State Representative (Alabama State) Laura Hall; State Representative (South Carolina) Annie McDaniel; State Representative (South Carolina) John King; former Democratic member of the Georgia House of Representatives Dee Dawkins Haigler; Human Rights Activist Dr Richard Freeman; Human Rights Activist Marcus Coleman; Keith Grandberry, Keyford Langley, Quinetha Frasier, Letron Pryce, Stacey Mollison and Melissa Varswyk.

President Ali told the gathering that his Government has been pursuing an agenda to improve the welfare and prosperity of all Guyanese.

“We have rolled out a number of programmes that seek to improve the living conditions, creating opportunities for every segment of the Guyanese population to advance and achieve their dreams and aspirations.”

He also pointed to Government’s programmes to ensure that the vulnerable sections of society are not left out in the country’s development agenda.

He said that over the last year, his Administration has been “aggressively” building on its promises after a protracted struggle for democracy following the March 2020 Elections.

“I want to thank the United States of America, and I know many of you would have played a part in ensuring that we remained on a democratic pathway so that the rule of law and democracy won at the end of the day. It was a struggle that all Guyanese embraced; it was a struggle that the Diaspora supported.”

He emphasised that it now rests on the collective shoulders of all stakeholders to ensure that Guyana never repeats its post-elections experience.

President Ali used the opportunity to point out that the resources from the oil and gas sector will be used as an impetus to

President Irfaan Ali greeting members of the BEA on Tuesday at Office of the President

build and fortify other sectors of the economy; these include enhanced focus on food security, the services sector, manufacturing and industrial development, among others.

BEA collaborating to create opportunities

The BEA delegates explained that they were grateful for the opportunity to meet with the Head of State and members of the Cabinet and to have the opportunity to engage in the conversation around diversity, inclusion, equity and justice, specifically as it relates to black entrepreneurs and those of African descent.

“We are grateful that you have commissioned efforts that will unify your Administration’s efforts to not only bring attention but to bring resources to your business owners; so, thank you,” Frasier said.

The BEA currently has 300 registered members in Guyana and 300 in the UK chapter. The Association highlighted that it is committed to creating a blueprint for black-owned businesses, which creates generational wealth while transforming the business economy and community.

The representatives also explained that they are offering their services in guidance to entrepreneurs when it comes to foundational strategies and processes within their businesses. They expressed interest in collaborating with the Government to achieve their objectives and create the necessary mechanism to support businesses development.

“So part of this process is yes, we are concerned about how to get access to opportunity, but we are also aware that we have a responsibility to bring people to the table that can help us support the businesses here. That is why you see a lot of businesses

around the table, and we will continue to bring and engage the Diaspora in terms of what can be done … for me I want you to understand it’s not just about what the Government can do for us, we are taking an active and proactive role in making sure that we are ready to implement and activate once an opportunity is identified … so it is a two-way street,” Mollison of the Guyana- Georgia Tourism and Business Authority explained.

black, brown, white…. Our policy is to ensure that all of Guyana benefit.”

He assured the delegation that they are pushing at an open door in the sense that Government intends to continue to create

policies and programmes that will help every segment of the Guyanese population in every sector and has already demonstrated this through many sectors, including housing, agriculture and policy formulation.

He also encouraged them to become part of the national consultations, including Local Content consultations, to share their ideas to be taken into account in policy formulation.

Following the lengthy engagement, President Ali indicated that the meeting was the first step to future collaborations with the group.

Also making remarks were Prime Minister, Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips, who reiterated that the Government’s policies are geared towards oneness and reaching all Guyanese.

In his remarks, Vice President Jagdeo provided a historical overview

of the political dynamics in Guyana while he outlined the objectives of the formation of several committees and their role in addressing rights agenda, addressing the needs of vulnerable groups and ensuring accountability. He also expressed interest in working with the representatives of the BEA and their membership.

Several other Cabinet members attended the meeting, including Senior Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, Dr Ashni Singh; Public Works Minister Juan Edghill; Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister, Hugh Todd; Tourism, Industry and Commerce Minister, Oneidge Walrond; Labour Minister Joseph Hamilton; Minister within the Public Works Ministry, Deodat Indar and National Security Advisor Gerry Gouveia.

Over 4700 Wakenaam residents to receive improved water supply – GWI commences well drilling

BEA supports “One Guyana” vision

The group also called attention to the ways in which the BEA can contribute to the functioning of the “One Guyana Commission” by lending their professional expertise from their “talent pool” in addressing the priority areas and realising projects and programmes. Representatives also praised the Head of State for his Emancipation Day message.

Several concerns raised by the BEA representatives touched on the functioning of the One Guyana Commission, the President’s stance on reparations and addressing cohesion.

President Ali assured them that his Government understands the potential that exists within the Diaspora, pointing out that it is a forward and backward relationship that will create the important linkages. He emphasised that a part of the Government’s agenda, even before the elections, was a consultative approach to development.

“We will definitely find a vehicle, a mechanism through which we can build off of this initial meeting and continue the collaboration to see how we can develop opportunities for collaboration and partnership. We don’t really define our policies by

A

The visiting team along with Councillors and residents at the well drilling site

s Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) strives to provide access to an adequate water supply for all Guyanese, the drilling of a new well has commenced on the island of Wakenaam in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara).

The company’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Shaik Baksh and a technical team on Monday visited the island to inspect the well drilling which is being done within the compound of the Noitgedacht well station.

Vested interest was also shown by Chairman of the Wakenaam Neighbourhood

Democratic Council, Sheikh Ahmad, Councillors and several residents who were also present at the site visit.

Some 4752 residents of Wakenaam are set to receive an improved water supply once the new well has an adequate production. It is being drilled using the new rig acquired by the company some 2 years ago for the drilling of wells on the coastland.

Plans are also in process to construct a water treatment plant on the island within the next two years news which was welcomed by the residents. The island is currently served by two

well stations, located at Free and Easy and Noitgedacht.

Shortly after assuming office in the latter part of 2020, Baksh had visited the island and found that residents were experiencing a poor level of water supply for the past two to three years.

This was attributed to low water production at the Free and Easy and Noitgedacht well stations.

The wells, which are now over 45 years old, showed signs of structural degradation. A GWI team soon after cleaned and rehabilitated the wells to increase production, resulting in improved service.

18

guyanatimesgy.com

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 4, 2021

Regional

Inequality should be factored into Latin Guatemala appoints controversial America’s COVID-19 vaccine plans – UNESCO new anti-corruption Prosecutor

V

accination campaigns against the coronavirus in Latin America should prioritise vulnerable groups such as Indigenous people and the homeless, who are at higher risk of dying from the virus, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) said on Tuesday.

Health workers, educators, the elderly and people with pre-existing health risks were given priority in vaccine distribution in Latin America. But the region’s gaping economic divisions also need to be considered, an official from UNESCO told Reuters.

“This is the region hardest hit by COVID in the world. And it is a region with a lot of inequality,” Guillermo Anllo, regional head for Latin America and the Caribbean of the agency’s Scientific, Technological and Innovation Policy Programme, said in a telephone interview from his

G

Residents line up in front of the “Busao da Vacina” or Big bus of the vaccine, a project of the Brazilian Red Cross, in partnership with the Minas Gerais state government to vaccinate people against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Ouro Branco, Brazil, July 19, 2021

office in Montevideo.

According to UNESCO projections, only a third of the population of Latin America and the Caribbean will have been immunised by the end of the year.

Anllo stressed the importance of equity in the distribution of vaccines in a region with seven of the 15 countries in the world with the highest COVID-19 mortality rates.

“It is not enough to say

we are going to prioritise those with comorbidities or essential groups. Other variables must be included,” Anllo said, referring to Indigenous communities, Afro-descendants, migrants, and homeless people.

Argentina, Brazil and Mexico are producers of some coronavirus vaccines.

But an insufficient number of doses have been produced so far. (Reuters)

Partial lockdown in Guadeloupe amid COVID surge

F

rance’s overseas territory of Guadeloupe will go into a new partial lockdown for at least three weeks to tackle a surge of COVID-19.

The new measures will start on Wednesday, with the re-introduction of a daily curfew between 20:00h and 05:00h. Travel during the day will be restricted to a 10-kilometre (six miles) radius.

Bars, gyms, stadiums, and swimming pools will be closed but shops will stay open with restaurants being able to serve

at lunchtime.

Valerie Denux, Director General of Guadeloupe’s regional health agency, says the number of cases has multiplied by more than 10 over the past three weeks, to more than 3,000 cases a week.

“We’re in a catastrophic situation,” she adds.

The news comes as another French Caribbean island, Martinique, returned to lockdown on Friday for at least three weeks. And the French island of Reunion entered a partial two-week lockdown

this weekend.

France is facing a fourth wave of the virus with about half of the population fully vaccinated.

But the figures are significantly lower in the French overseas territories, according to AFP news agency.

On Monday, President Emmanuel Macron went to TikTok and Instagram to try to counter misinformation about vaccines following a third weekend of protests over a controversial COVID health pass.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

uatemala’s Attorney General, under fire for sacking the country’s top anti-corruption Prosecutor last month, has appointed a controversial new figure to take up the post.

Maria Porras’s office said on Tuesday that Rafael Curruchiche, who headed a unit investigating electoral crimes but has been accused of prosecuting the political Opposition and protecting the corrupt, would take over from Juan Francisco Sandoval.

“The Attorney General … reiterates her commitment to ensuring the continuity of the fight against impunity and corruption,” her

office said in a statement.

The move comes days after tens of thousands of Guatemalans protested across the country to demand the resignation of Porras as well as President Alejandro Giammattei for removing Sandoval from his post.

The internationally-recognised anti-corruption leader fled the country hours after his dismissal, saying he did not feel safe.

Sandoval led the Guatemalan Special Prosecutor’s Office Against Impunity (FECI), created to tackle investigations spearheaded by the United Nations-backed

International Commission Against Impunity in Guatemala (CICIG).

The CICIG was removed from the country in 2019.

His sacking drew international condemnation, with the United States saying last week that the move “fits a pattern of behaviour that indicates a lack of commitment to the rule of law and independent and judicial and prosecutorial processes”.

US President Joe Biden’s Administration, which has urged Central American nations to tackle corruption as part of its effort to slow migration to the United States, also said it would suspend some coopera-

Brazil’s President hits out at new probe into voting fraud claims

B

razilian President Jair Bolsonaro has condemned a new investigation into his unsubstantiated claims that the country’s electronic voting system is marred by fraud, saying he refuses to be “intimidated”.

Electoral authorities on Monday ordered a probe into Bolsonaro’s campaign to have paper receipts printed after electronic ballots are cast in next year’s presidential election, a push he has justified by saying – without evidence – that the system is riddled with fraud.

The far-right leader, who has seen a recent loss of popularity amid Brazil’s coronavirus crisis and a string of Government corruption allegations, has said there will be no elections in 2022 if the system is not overhauled.

Thousands of his supporters protested in cities across the country during the weekend in support of Bolsonaro’s demand, though Brazilian Judges and other experts have rejected the fraud allegations

Facing a drop in popularity, Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro has stepped up his attacks against the country’s electronic voting system in the lead-up to the 2022 elections [File: Adriano Machado/ Reuters]

as baseless.

Brazil’s Superior Electoral Court said on Monday it would investigate the President for abuse of office, improper use of official communication channels, corruption, fraud, and other potential crimes in his attacks on electronic voting.

“I refuse to be intimidated,” Bolsonaro responded on Tuesday.

“I’m going to continue exercising my right to freedom of expression, to criticise, to listen to and above

all answer to the will of the people,” he told supporters outside the presidential palace. “I swore to give my life for the nation in case of foreign or domestic attack.

Brazil is under internal attack.”

But critics have said Bolsonaro is seeking to sow doubt in advance of next year’s vote, during which he is expected to face a serious challenge from former leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

PNP calls on PM to take immediate Dominica’s PM announces new action in Police-Rasta incident

O

pposition Leader Mark Golding is calling on Prime Minister Andrew Holness to take immediate action to ensure full accountability in the face of allegations that a Police Officer recently cut off the locks of a young Rastafarian woman in a lock-up, who had been arrested for a minor petty session offence.

“The reports of this violation of Nzinga King’s fundamental human rights are quite repulsive. A dangerous trend of the abuse of citizens’ constitutional rights by agents of the state has emerged, which the Prime Minister must immediately use the full

authority of his office to condemn and curtail in a forthright and resolute way,” Golding said.

“It is particularly distressing to many Jamaicans that the alleged violation of Ms King went viral on Emancipation Day, when Jamaicans were observing the anniversary of liberation from slavery.

This incident harks back to the terrible events of Coral Gardens in the 1960s, when mass atrocities were committed against the Rastafari community by the then Jamaican Government. It would be appalling if vestiges of this discriminatory behaviour still in-

fect the Police Force in the 21st Century, and all well-thinking Jamaicans must take this matter very seriously and demand justice and full accountability,” he continued.

The Opposition Leader was responding to social and traditional media reports surfacing on Emancipation Day that 19-year-old Nzinga King was detained at the Four Paths Police Station for a minor disturbance arising from an incident in a taxi in which she was allegedly pepper sprayed, and was then subjected to her locks being cut off while in the lock-up. (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

COVID-19 measures, fines

T

he Dominica Government Tuesday announced a series of new measures aimed at curbing the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, including a curfew and increased fines for people not adhering to the Public Health Act as the authorities deal with a cluster of cases arising from two events held recently.

“We will be accepting no nonsense in the country over the next seven days and beyond,” Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit said. He said that “the pen-

alty for people who fail to comply with this order has been increased to EC$5000.

“These measures are not intended to scare the population, but to ensure that we act quickly to avoid a deterioration of the situation,” Skerrit said in an address to the nation, interrupting the closing debate of the 2021 national budget in Parliament.

Skerrit said that PCR and other tests carried out on Sunday as a result of the two public activities had showed that “an individual or individuals had entered the country illegally and

took part in a bikers’ activity along with a Jam at a location in Pottersvile”, on the outskirts of the capital on July 25.

He said that testing done by the Health Ministry on Monday indicated that “to date there are 10 confirmed cases associated with this event, plus two imported cases, bringing the total number of active cases in Dominica to 12”.

Skerrit said that 14 of the individuals who received Rapid Antigen Tests had also tested positive.

(Excerpt from CMC)

guyanatimesgy.com

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 4, 2021

19

Around the World

OILNEWS OIL NEWS Oil settles lower in volatile trade on worries about Delta variant

O

il settled lower on Tuesday in volatile trade, as concern about rising cases of the Delta coronavirus variant outweighed expectations for another weekly draw in US inventories that had boosted prices early.

Brent crude oil futures settled down 48 cents, or 0.66 per cent at US$72.41 a barrel. US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude settled down 70 cents, or 0.98 per cent at US$70.56 a barrel.

Concerns over the spread of Delta variant in the United States and China, the top oil consumers, weighed on prices, with both benchmarks falling more than 3 per cent at one point.

In China, the spread of the variant from the coast to inland cities has prompted authorities to impose strict measures to bring the outbreak under control.

"The news flow out of China has been bearish since the weekend," said John Kilduff, a partner at Again Capital Management in New York. "There continues to be angst about the COVID-19 situation, which weighs on the petroleum complex the most."

Earlier in the session, Brent and US crude had risen more than 60 cents. Brent has risen more than 40 per cent this year, helping earnings of oil firms.

"We're trying to price in how big the slowdown is going to be with the Delta variant," said Phil Flynn, senior analyst at Price Futures Group in Chicago.

BP, ConocoPhillips, Diamondback Energy Inc and Continental Resources Inc all reported strong second-quarter earnings this week.

Expectations of a return of Iranian crude to the markets also had a negative impact. Iran and six powers have been in talks since April to revive a nuclear pact that could release its oil exports. But Iranian and Western officials have said significant gaps remain.

Iran's new President, Ebrahim Raisi, said on Tuesday his Government would take steps to lift "tyrannical" sanctions imposed by the United States on its energy and banking sectors.

The sixth round of indirect talks between Tehran and Washington adjourned on June 20, two days after Raisi was elected President. Parties involved in the negotiations have yet to announce when the talks will resume.

A Reuters poll showed US crude and product inventories likely declined last week, with both distillates and gasoline stockpiles predicted to have fallen for a third straight week.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Andrew Cuomo: New York Governor sexually harassed women, report finds

N

ew York Governor Andrew Cuomo has been accused of sexually harassing multiple women, subjecting them to unwanted kissing and groping, in a damning independent investigation.

The state's Attorney General Letitia James said Cuomo had violated state and federal laws.

In response, Cuomo denied touching anyone inappropriately and vowed to continue as Governor.

Several state lawmakers, including fellow Democrats, say he should resign.

The investigation was commissioned last year af-

ter several women came forward with allegations of sexual misconduct against the Governor.

Investigators spent five months speaking to nearly 200 people, including

not say no to the governor and if you upset him or his senior staff you'd be written off, cast aside or worse."

New York's senators, the Democrats Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand used the release of the investigation to again call for him to resign.

The investigation is civil, rather than criminal, so will not directly lead to charges. But Police could use the report in deciding to take further action and it is also likely to play a key part in a separate impeachment investigation he faces. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Head of Belarusian exile group found hanged in Ukraine, Police open murder case

A

Belarusian activist living in exile in Ukraine was found hanged in a park near his home in Kyiv early on Tuesday, and Ukrainian Police launched a murder investigation.

Vitaly Shishov, who led a Kyiv-based organisation that helps Belarusians fleeing persecution, had been reported missing by his partner on Monday after failing to return home from a run.

Police said they were considering the possibility of suicide or of a murder staged to appear as suicide.

Shishov had been found with abrasions on his nose and knee but it was too early to determine whether he had been attacked, Ukraine's National Police Chief, Ihor Klymenko, told a briefing.

Shishov, 26, had felt under constant surveillance since he left Belarus last year after taking part in

anti-Government protests, his colleagues said. He had been warned about possible threats, including being kidnapped or killed.

Ukraine, Poland and Lithuania have become havens for Belarusians during a security crackdown

by President Alexander Lukashenko following a disputed election last year.

Tens of thousands of people have been detained and leading opposition figures

are either in jail or living abroad.

In May a dissident journalist, Roman Protasevich, was detained by Belarusian security forces after his flight from Greece to Lithuania was forced to land in Minsk. This week, a Belarusian athlete took refuge in Poland's embassy in Tokyo after refusing her team's orders to fly home from the Olympics. (Excerpt from Reuters)

China's Wuhan to test all 12 million residents as Delta variant spreads

C

hina's Wuhan city will test its 12 million residents for the coronavirus after confirming its first domestic cases of the highly transmissible Delta variant.

German pensioner given hefty fine for WW2 tank in house

A

pensioner in Germany has been convicted of illegal weapons possession after he was found to own an extensive personal arsenal including a tank.

The defendant, 84, has been handed a suspended prison sentence of 14 months and has been ordered to pay a fine of €250,000 (£213,469).

Officials found the tank and other World War Twoera military equipment at the defendant's house in the northern town of Heikendorf in 2015.

The army had to help remove the items.

On Monday, the court ordered that the defendant, who cannot be named under German privacy laws, must sell or donate the tank and an anti-aircraft cannon to a museum or collector within the next two years.

According to the defendant's lawyer, a US museum

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo

staff members and some of those who made complaints against him. Tens of thousands of documents, texts and pictures were reviewed as part of the inquiry.

"The independent investigation has concluded that Governor Andrew Cuomo sexually harassed multiple women and in doing so violated federal and state law," James said.

On top of the allegations of harassment, Cuomo is accused of presiding over a "hostile and toxic work environment".

Joon Kim, who co-led the investigation, said: "It was a culture where you could

Wuhan, where the virus first emerged in late 2019, had reported no local coronavirus cases since mid-May last year but on Monday authorities confirmed three cases of the Delta variant. The strain has been found in a handful of provinces and big cities including Beijing over the past two weeks.

"To ensure that everyone in the city is safe, citywide nucleic acid testing will be quickly launched for all people to fully screen out positive results and asymptomatic infections," Wuhan

official Li Qiang told a news briefing.

Parts of an industrial and technology zone were sealed off, a measure rarely seen in the city since a lockdown last year.

The new cases in Wuhan, along with infections in the nearby cities of Jingzhou and Huanggang since Saturday, were linked to cases in the city of Huaian in Jiangsu province, said Li Yang, vice director of the Hubei province disease control centre.

The outbreak in Jiangsu is believed to have begun

in the provincial capital of Nanjing in late July, with the Delta variant mostly likely introduced on a flight from Russia, officials have said.

China brought the epidemic under control last year and fought just a few localised outbreaks after that.

Emergency response levels were lowered and people outside areas hit by virus could go about their lives largely as normal, which may have contributed to the latest outbreak. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Afghan forces order civilians to leave city under Taliban siege The World War Two-era Panther tank was removed from a residential property in northern Germany in 2015

is interested in purchasing the Panther tank. Many US historians argue it was the most efficient such vehicle deployed by Germany during World War Two. The lawyer also said that a number of German collectors had approached the defendant over other items, which included assault rifles and pistols, local media report.

Local authorities raided the property in 2015 after

receiving a tip-off about the building's contents by colleagues in Berlin, who had earlier searched the home for stolen Nazi art.

It took about 20 soldiers almost nine hours to extract the Panther tank - which was without its tracks - from the property.

Local media reported that the man had been seen one winter using the tank as a snow plough. (Excerpt from BBC News)

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top Afghan military commander has ordered residents to leave the besieged city of Lashkar Gah in southern Afghanistan as the army prepared a major offensive to flush out Taliban fighters after three days of heavy fighting.

The Taliban have seized control of much of rural Afghanistan since foreign forces began the last stage of their withdrawal in May, but are now focused on capturing provincial capitals, where they are meeting stiffer resistance.

Fighting is raging for Lashkar Gah, the capital of

southern Helmand province, with the United Nations saying at least 40 civilians were killed in the last 24 hours.

General Sami Sadat, commander of the 215 Maiwand Afghan Army Corps, told residents on Tuesday to get out as soon as they could.

“Please leave as soon as possible so that we can start our operation,” he said in a message to the city of 200,000 delivered via the media.

“I know it is very difficult for you to leave your houses – it is hard for us, too – but if you are displaced for a few days, please forgive us. We are

fighting the Taliban wherever they are. We will fight them … we will not leave a single Taliban alive,” he said.

Officials said earlier that Taliban fighters had seized more than a dozen local radio and TV stations in Lashkar Gah, leaving only one pro-Taliban channel broadcasting Islamic programming.

He said US and Afghan air force planes had pounded Taliban positions, and that fighting was continuing near the city’s prison and a building housing the headquarters of police and intelligence agencies. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

20

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 4, 2021

guyanatimesgy.com

ARCHIE

You’ll feel good if you take a stance and make a (March 21- difference. Handle people April 19) with diplomacy, and you’ll get your point across. A physical change to the way or where you work will require ingenuity.

Keep an open mind. Don’t TAURUS put yourself in risky situ(April 20- ations that can affect your May 20) physical well-being. Take your time; jumping into something without enough information will backfire.

ARIES

DILBERT

GEMINI (May 21June 20)

CANCER (June 21July 22)

PEANUTS

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

CALVIN AND HOBBES

SUDOKU

Take the most intelligent route, and you’ll stop someone from taking advantage of you. Learn through observation and the experience you gain dealing with others. Commit to a positive lifestyle change.

Put your energy into retrieving information that will help you get along better financially. Avoid extreme situations and pushy people. A creative outlet will ease stress.

It’s OK to be different and to give others the same freedom. Your uniqueness will be what helps you get ahead. Personal change begins with you, not someone else.

Read the fine print. Don’t be fooled by someone’s ability to color a situation. Do thorough research before you agree to make a move or adapt to someone’s wishes.

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

Share your intentions and you’ll find out where you stand and how you can bring about positive change.

A challenge that stimulates you mentally will lead to a new set of rules and a fresh start.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

Knowledge is crucial when it comes to getting ahead. Avoid overspending on items you don’t need or taking on responsibilities that don’t belong to you.

Keep your life simple.

Walk away from tempSAGITTARIUS tation and people sending (Nov. 23mixed messages regarding Dec. 21) expectations and feelings.

Stick to what you know, and avoid gossip.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22Jan. 19)

SOLUTION FOR LAST PUBLISHED PUZZLE

Put your energy where it counts, and good results will follow. Be prepared to make a move if it will get you closer to the lifestyle you want to enjoy. An open conversation will encourage romance.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20Feb. 19)

Don’t let other people’s choices deter you from following your heart. Your happiness is your responsibility. It’s up to you to make your dreams come true.

PISCES

Move things around, and fix up a space that will encourage constructive projects. Show those you love how much you care. Positive change will bring the results you want.

(Feb. 20March 20)

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 4, 2021

21

Durant leads USA into semis with Slovenia – France, Australia advance

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evin Durant scored 29 points to lead Team USA to a decisive 95-81 victory over Spain in Olympic men’s basketball on Tuesday, earning a ticket to the semi-finals.

The final four are now set. The United States will face Australia on Thursday. France, the team that humbled Team USA earlier in the tournament, will take on Slovenia, making an impressive Olympic debut.

The U.S. were victorious despite a valiant 38-point effort from Spain’s Ricky Rubio. Spain had a 10-point lead late in the second quarter, when the Americans came roaring back.

“We drove it to the rim at the end of the second, and were able to get our rhythm back a little bit,” said Brooklyn Nets’ star Durant. “I like how we played from the end of the second quarter all the way up to finish the game, and that’s how winners play ball.”

The stands of the Saitama Super Arena north of Tokyo were the fullest they have been so far in these spectator-less Games, as athletes, officials and volunteers gathered for what would have been a hot-ticket match.

Team USA have looked strong at these Games after the French handed them their first Olympic defeat since 2004.

The Americans have historically been the team to beat, with 15 men’s basketball gold medals since 1936.

“We got to finish it!” said Durant, who is appearing in his third Olympics. “You know we’re supposed to be here! For us, it’s about getting the gold!

poured in 36 against Germany.

“Obviously, they have one of the best players in the world, but he’s not alone,” Germany head coach Henrik Roedl said about Doncic and the Slovenian team.

France overcome Italy

Dallas Mavericks’ star Luka Doncic scored 20 points and handed out 11 assists to lead Slovenia to a 94-70 rout of Germany. Doncic has led all players in the tournament in scoring, and is second in rebounds only to his teammate Mike Tobey.

For a nation of just two million people, Slovenia has fielded a powerhouse team in its Olympics debut. While Doncic is the nucleus of their offence, he is surrounded by teammates who reliably score in the double digits, such as Zoran Dragic who

Simone Biles wins Tokyo Olympics beam bronze on emotional return

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imone Biles has said she is proud of herself after winning bronze in the beam final at the Tokyo Games in an emotional return to the Olympics’ gymnastics competition.

The American had not competed since last week’s team final, wherein she performed on the vault but no other apparatus, before saying she wanted to protect her mental health.

After suffering with the ‘twisties’, which gymnasts describe as a kind of mental block, Biles pulled out of the all-around, vault, floor, and uneven bars.

The 24-year-old returned for the beam on the final day of artistic gymnastics action at the Ariake Gymnastics Centre, and received a warm reception as she stepped into the arena.

And after scoring 14.000 with a solid routine, which ended with a double backward somersault and double pike onto the mat, she jumped up and down in celebration and hugged her rivals.

“I didn’t expect a medal today, I just wanted to go out there for me, and that’s what I did.” she said. “I was proud of myself just to go out there after what I’ve been through.”

China’s Guan Chenchen scored 14.633 to win gold, with compatriot Tang Xijing taking

silver (14.233).

Biles, who performed third of the eight finalists, faced a nervous wait before securing the bronze. It is her seventh Olympic medal in total, making her the joint-most decorated American gymnast in history, alongside Shannon Miller.

The three-time beam world champion has matched her Rio 2016 bronze on the apparatus. It is her second medal of the Tokyo Games, after Team USA claimed silver behind the Russian Olympic Committee in the women’s team final.

The 32-time Olympic and World Championship medallist has said that returning to competition is about more than making the podium.

“It definitely feels a little bit sweeter than my 2016 bronze medal,” she said. She added: “In the other events, I physically couldn’t twist in the air, I would just keep crashing, and I just wasn’t cleared safely to do those things.

I pulled out of my other finals just because I wasn’t clear to do them. I didn’t think I was going to be clear to beam, it just means the world that I can come out here and compete one more time before (these) Games (are) over.” (BBCSport)

France’s Rudy Gobert executed a pirouette dunk in the final seconds against Italy, an exclamation point in his team’s 84-75 victory. Italy gamely fought back to tie the game late in the fourth quarter, but France’s superior size and rebounding kept them in control.

“We fell short, but not that short,” said Italy’s Nicolo Melli. “We showed one more time that we have the character to come back and to play till the last second.”

Australia trounce Argentina

Australia trounced Argentina 97-59, running up the score in the fourth quarter.

With 51 seconds left, Argentina’s Luis Scola, 41, left the court of his fifth and likely last Olympics, those in the stands and both teams sending him off with an extended standing ovation. (Reuters)

Karsten Warholm sets stunning 400m hurdles world record

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orway’s Karsten Warholm has run a stunning men’s 400m hurdles race to obliterate his previous world record and take gold at Tokyo 2020.

Warholm, 25, finished in 45.94 seconds to slash more than seven tenths off his old record, while American Rai Benjamin was hot on his heels to win silver, having also beaten the previous record.

Warholm had set the previous World record of 46.70 in Oslo in July. Brazil’s Alison dos Santos took the bronze medal with a time of 46.72.

“You know the cliche that it hasn’t sunk in yet? I don’t think it has, but I feel ecstatic,” Warholm, who now holds the European, World and Olympic titles, told BBC Sport.

Lego and practical jokes - inside the world of "Viking" Warholm

“I can’t believe the time! It’s so fast! A lot of the time I am asked about the perfect race…I said it didn’t exist, but this is the closest I’ve ever come.

“I told myself, going into the race, remember all the work you have put in. It was the only thing missing from my (medal) collection. I can’t describe how important this is for me. This is what I do morning until night. It’s huge.”

It was tipped to be one of the most exhilarating races at the Games, after Benjamin had come within five-hundredths of a second of taking the then World record in winning the US trials this summer.

Warholm established a strong lead when he raced out of the blocks, but Benjamin threatened to claw him back, before the Norwegian’s final push for the line. He roared with delight when he looked up at the screen to see his time, ripped his shirt in celebration, and posed for photographs next to the new world record.

Two-time world 110m hurdles champion Colin Jackson told BBC TV: “When you talk about world records, this is up there with Usain Bolt’s time of 9.58 seconds in the 100m, and up there with Flo Jo’s 10.49 seconds in the 100m.

“This is one of the most outstanding world records, and I’m pretty sure that world record will outlive me.

“It’s just breathtaking! Wow! I am truly in shock.”

Former 1500m Olympic silver medallist Steve Cram added: “No wonder he rips his shirt apart - he is Superman in this event! I cannot believe what we have just seen. Two men running times you could only dream of.” (BBCSport)

22 DoS moved by progress of golf in Guyana … Regions 3 & 4 to benefit as millions are donated for schools’ golf programme T

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 4, 2021

he Director of Sport at the National Sports Commission, Steve Ninvalle, has said he is enthused by the progress golf has been making in Guyana.

Last Friday, as he attended a handing over ceremony of several million dollars’ worth of equipment designated for youth and schools’ programmes in Guyana, Ninvalle expressed delight at the rapid growth of golf in Guyana by stating, “My goal is to ensure that every Guyanese has access to sports, something that has been a challenge with COVID-19.

Golf, however, is the perfect answer to restrictions, as its characteristics allow for play with little modifications.

And now, with schools adopting it as a physical education subject at CXC/ CAPE level, we must move quickly to support its development.

“I must say that Aleem has done a commendable job of bringing the sport to its current level, and the results that have been accomplished in a short period (are) remarkable,” he added.

“A conversation with Melissa Dow-Richardson from the Ministry of Culture, Youth & Sports a few years ago led to dialogue with the Ministry of Education’s Allied Arts Unit, Secondary Schools Division, and Permanent Secretary Alfred King to develop a syllabus for teaching golf to students as a PE sport elective in CXC/CAPE.

“Dr. Joaan Deo has emphasised that the goal for Guyana to compete in golf at the next Olympics starts now. This is why we are so focused on camps to find the talent that we can develop into a national team,” Ninvalle explained.

Region 3 (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) has benefited from the equipment donated, as Regional Education Officer Devendra Persaud, R e g i o n a l E x e c u t i v e Officer Jainarine pline and competitiveness, Somwar, and all of which this sport proRegional Vice vides. We are excited about C h a i r m a n this venture, and grateful Omesh Satayann, to all those who made this and Sports possible.”

Coordinator Public Relations Charles and variOfficer of the Guyana Golf ous teachers were Academy, Guy Griffith, present at the has commented thus, Vreed-en-Hoop “The main reason for the headquarters to growth (of golf in Guyana) receive their supis the vision of the GGA plies. to make golf an inclusive, REO Persaud and not exclusive, sport. has said, “Golf The results over the past is one of the few DoS Steve Ninvalle enjoying a year and the sheer numfully compliant game of golf bers that have responded, COVID sports, breaking age, cultural and and as we reopen schools, our focus religious barriers, are a testament to will be on physical education, disci-

the hard work (put in) by our team.”

And with support now being shown by dozens of major companies, such as Assuria General Insurance; Copa Airlines; Blue Life Waters; Trophy Stall; Ansa McAl; Toolsie Persaud; Kanuku Suites & Apartments; Service Guyana HVAC; Kanuku Tours; Angel Seafood Restaurant & Bar; Sunshine Snacks; Ram & McRae; Puran Brothers; Ramchand’s Auto; Panko Steel Construction; H. Nauth & Sons; A&R Printery; Bissessar Shipping Company; CS World Cargo & Logistics; Sterling Products; Caliper Drones; PasCargo; Shafura Hussain Foundation; Gtt; New Trend Auto; Maraiko Bay Resorts; Nexgen Global Group and many others, it is evident that the sport is catching on, and is expected to grow even faster than ever in the months ahead.

Partnerships with various sporting disciplines, such as Table Tennis, Badminton, Archery and Football have fuelled interest in golf, and there are plans for a variety of competitions, such as Putting, Chipping, Long Drive and Helicopter Ball Drop, along with Foot Golf that is under way.

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GCB peeved with Under-19 World Cup training squad named by CWI selectors – President Bissoondyal Singh intervenes

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he following is a release from the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) in regard to the Under-19 World Cup training squad named by the CWI selectors.

The Guyana Cricket Board again notes with extreme concern the shoddy treatment of Guyanese cricketers by Cricket West Indies (CWI).

The GCB has been reliably informed that only four (4) Guyanese are in the training squad of fifty-six (56) cricketers to prepare for selection to the regional team to participate in the Under-19

World Cup Tournament. This is despite GCB’s considerable investment in playing trial matches with livestream feeds and commentary within the region.

Though these matches were affected by rain, the players and the GCB’s commitment cannot be overstated.

This ICC Tournament is scheduled to be played in the West Indies in January and February 2022, and already interest is high for what is expected to be a showpiece for international youth cricket.

Just a few weeks ago, the

GCB was obliged to take issue with CWI over the omission of Veerasammy Permaul, Shimron Hetymer and Romario Shepherd from the Senior Regional Team for the series against South Africa.

The GCB remains firm in its position that Guyana has a number of very talented under-19 cricketers who must be recognised by the Regional Selectors, and whose names will once again be forwarded to CWI with a request for them to be added to the squad.

The GCB will continue to diligently monitor the selection processes of CWI to en-

Thompson-Herah completes sprint double-double with stunning 200m win

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laine ThompsonHerah has won the sprint double-double at the Olympic Games, after storming to victory in Tuesday’s 200 metres’ final.

The Jamaican won in Tokyo in a new national record time of 21.53 seconds, the second-fastest in the history of the event.

Thompson-Herah, the 100m champion, also claimed gold over both distances in Rio de Janeiro five years ago. Usain Bolt is the only other sprinter, male or female, in history to win both titles at consecutive Games.

Christine Mbomba, barred from her preferred 400m event due to naturally high testosterone levels, took silver with another world-best under-20 time of 21.81. United States star Gabrielle Thomas won bronze ahead of Jamaican great Shelly-Ann FraserPryce.

Unsurprisingly, Thompson-Herah admitted her exploits had left her in need of a rest, having followed her 100m gold with a 200m run just 0.19 seconds short of Florence Griffith-Joyner’s 1988 world record.

“Honestly, I just need to sleep!” she said to the BBC. “I have not slept since the 100 metres, honestly my body is in shock mode, but I still had my composure to come out here.

“I knew my time wouldn’t be fast because yesterday we ran two rounds, which took a lot from me, I equalled my PB last night. So to come out to get a national record and be twotime Olympic champion I am so happy.

“I was begging for the line, but you have to hold your technique through the line.

Thompson-Herah added: “It feels good to be in the history book, to set a barrier for the other generation of athletes coming up.

“We have got a lot of athletes coming from Jamaica, it means a lot to me to set this barrier.” (Sportsmax)

sure there is a level playing field across the region. In this regard, the GCB will continue to engage CWI in order to obtain a copy of the “CWI Selection Criteria Policy”.

A request had already been made to CWI. President of the GCB, Mr. Bissoondyal Singh, on August 02, 2021 intervened by discussing with CWI President Ricky Skerritt the selection issue in general, and the continuing omission of Guyanese players in particular. On August 03, 2021, President Singh also had a discussion with CWI Vice-President Dr. Kishore

GCB President Bissoondyal Singh

Shallow on the very matters.

President Singh was given the assurance that CWI will address the concerns of the GCB and update him accordingly.

The GCB remains committed to Guyana and West Indies cricket, and is prepared to represent the best interests of both.

"The Champion" Dwayne Bravo has played his final T20I match in the Caribbean

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wayne Bravo, the two-time Twenty20 World Champion, has announced that the final match against Pakistan in Guyana will be his last international match on home soil.

He made this disclosure to his teammates in the team huddle and via CWI social media ahead of the start of the fourth and final contest in the Osaka Batteries Presents PSO Carient T20 Cup, when it was played at the Guyana National Stadium at Providence.

Bravo has been a lion-hearted competitor for West Indies from the very start of his career. The highlights of his T20I career are the two World Cup wins – in 2012 on his birthday against Sri Lanka in Colombo, and in 2016 against England in Kolkata. He is one of the greatest performers in the shortest format of cricket, and his bowling at the death is superb.

As a clever right-arm seam bowler, he has excelled, and is the leading wicket-taker for West Indies with 76 wickets in 85 matches. His best figures are 4-19, which came last month against South Africa at the Grenada National Stadium.

In the West Indies, Bravo has made 138 international appearances – 15 in Tests, 93 in One-Day Internationals, and 40 in T20 Internationals.

Overall, he has played 40 Tests, scoring 2200 runs and taking 86 wickets; 164 ODIs, scoring 2968 runs and taking 199 wickets; and 85 T20Is, scoring 1229 runs and taking 76 wickets.

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A new groundsman?

Shimron Hetmyer assisting the Guyanese groundsmen (Jemima Holmes photos)

Pakistan clinch series 1-0 as another match in Guyana is washed out

The players getting a knock during the rain break

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ain played a decisive role in determining the winners of the T20I series between Pakistan and the West Indies, as only three overs were bowled in the fourth and final match in Guyana, from which 30 runs were scored.

Having won the second match of the series, Pakistan ended as 1-nil winners of the four-match series, which was ruined by rain.

In an overcast morning at Providence, Pakistan captain Babar Azam asked West Indies to bat on a damp pitch and in uncertain weather conditions. Both teams went unchanged from the last washout encounter, with Andre Fletcher and Chris Gayle again opening the innings.

Pakistan Captain Babar Azam showing off Fletcher, under fire to make a big the Series Trophy

score of late, kicked off the innings by hitting two sixes off ‘the professor’ Mohammad Hafeez in the opening over, and Gayle followed it up with two fours off the steaming Mohammad Wasim Jr in the next over.

West Indies were 30 without loss after three overs when rain halted play around 11:15h local time. When the rain eventually relented, the umpires inspected the ground at 13:25h and decided to resume play at 14:00h.

The match was reduced to nine overs per side, but just when play was about to restart, the rain returned to finish the game.

The West Indies have concluded their T20I series of matches for the T20 World Cup preparation. The two teams will meet in Jamaica for two Spin twins Hayden Walsh Jr and Akeal Hosein Test matches from August 12.

Swammadha picks up 3 wins in FIDE tournament E

ight-year-old Aquilani Swammadha is currently making waves in the International Chess Federation’s (FIDE’s) Youth and Cadet World Cup with a handful of wins under his belt.

The Under-10 player contested smartly in the ensuing days of the competition, following its August 1st start, to win three matches after six rounds.

While School of the Nations’ Swammadha’s most Guyana’s Aquilani Swammadha recent wins came in rounds 5 and 6, his schoolmate Julian Mohabir also picked up a victory in round 6, as Guyana continues to make strides in the international tournament.

The competition is a 10 Round Swiss, with the aforementioned under-10 players having completed 6 rounds thus far. The remainder of the under-10 team comprises Mae’s Schools’ Nicholas Zhang, and Nations’ Jacob Mc Donald.

After the first six rounds, the eight-year-old Swammadha is currently ranked 123rd out of the hundreds of young competitors from around the world. Swammadha has three points from his three wins. Next on the rankings for Guyana is Julian Mohabir, at 166th place with 2 points. Also on two points from 2 wins is Nicholas Zhang, who is ranked 176th. Next up is Jacob McDonald with 1 point, ranking at 203.

The competition continues until August 5th (tomorrow). Aside from the under-10s, Guyana is being represented in the four other categories by 18 other players (under-12, under-14, under-16 and under-18). Guyana’s team at the Youth and Cadet World Cup totals 22 players.

This international tournament could see the top players gaining entry to FIDE’s Online Rapid Super Final 2021 and the FIDE Online Rapid Grand Prix Series 2021.

SKNP partners with RageFan Chennai to launch fan tokens, NFTs

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aribbean Premier League (CPL) franchise St Kitts and Nevis Patriots (SKNP), owned by Chennai-based Mahesh Ramani, on Friday announced a multi-year partnership with RageFan to become the first cricket club to launch fan tokens and NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens).

In partnership with RageFan, SKNP will develop and launch its fan token offering (FTO) as well as a mobile fan engagement application. Tokens will allow fans to access exclusive rewards, content and experiences such as meeting the players. The fan tokens are set to be launched later this year, according to

Abrams qualifies for today’s 400m semifinal

Aliyah Abrams (far left) crossing the line in the heat on Monday night

A

liyah Abrams is the lone Guyanese athlete left in contention at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, and she has lengthened her stay in the 400M event, after she qualified, based on time, on Monday night.

Aliyah, the younger of the Abrams sisters to participate in this year’s games, was put in Heat 1 with the likes of defending Olympic Champion Shaunae Miller-Uibo of the Bahamas.

Abrams, running out of lane 8, clocked 51.44s, her season’s best time, to finish fourth in the Heat. With the first three finishers, Miller-Uibo (50.50s), Cuba’s Roxana Gomez (50.76s) and Barbados’ Sada Williams (51.76s) automatically qualifying, the Guyanese athlete had to wait until all the Heats were completed to ascertain whether her time was among the 6 fastest ‘losers’.

Behind Abrams in the race was Canada’s

Kira Constantine (51.69s), Slovakia’s Anita Horvat (52.34s) and Nigeria’s Patience Okon George (52.41s).

Favour was on her side, as her time was among the top six, handing her a spot in the semis. Thus far, Abrams is the first Guyanese athlete to have made it to the semifinal in Tokyo.

While her sister, Jasmine, was unable to make it past the first round in the Women’s 100m event, Emanuel Archibald shone in his first race in the Men’s 100M, but lost the battle when he faced off with some tough opposition in Round 1.

The semifinal is scheduled for 6.38am local time today, Wednesday, August 4th. In that race, she will again come up against Miller-Uibo, Jamaica’s Roneisha McGregor, Spain’s Aauri Bokesa, Great Britain’s Jodie Williams, USA’s Wadeline Jonathas, Netherlands’ Lieke Klaver and Poala Moran of Mexico. a release from the franchise.

Meanwhile, fans can purchase exclusive NFTs and win club merchandise by participating in contests. SKNP owner Mahesh has said: “Patriots has always been on the lookout for newer forms of fan engagement, especially considering the changed viewership patterns. We are excited about the partnership with RageFan.” RageFan CEO and founder Satheesh Ananth has said: “We see a lot of synergies between RageFan and SKNP in terms of our approach to the fans, sport, and the growth plans for our brands. We will continue to push the boundaries of fan engagement.” (DT Next)

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 4, 2021

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

Pakistan clinch series 1-0 as another match in Guyana is washed out Pg 23

Page 23

Abrams qualifies for today’s 400m semifinal

Swammadha picks up 3 wins in FIDE tournament

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Guyana’s Aliyah Abrams

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