Guyana Times - Wednesday, July 7, 2021

“Persons with disabilities must not believe that they need to be fixed” – First Lady P17

...as Guidance and Counselling Programme launched Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

Issue No. 4701

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

CGX spuds 1st well in Corentyne Block

WEDNESDAY, JULY 7, 2021

PRICE

$80 VAT INCLUDED

WHAT'S INSIDE:

Essequibo Coast farmer found dead in rice P14 field

…“someone killed my son” – grieving mother

Page 3

Canadian company finds high-grade gold in Region 7 Page 7

Floodwaters 4 more succumb devastate to COVID, 179 new cases recorded Albion Estate …1 child remains in ICU …entire cultivation Page 10

under water

Linden man P12 busted with stolen gun, ammo belonging to ex-cop

DPP advises P14 murder charges against men who robbed, killed taxi driver Govt calls P16 on quarry operators to increase production

– as massive infrastructural development projected in coming years Cyclist crushed by truck

Page 16

Isaiah Henry’s murder

Magistrate discharges case against murder accused Vinod Gopaul, Anil Sancharia Page 11

…DPP requests documents to ascertain why charges were discharged

“My brother was alive when they put him in the hearse” – sister of dead man P9

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 7, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

NEWS

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 7, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS OPENINGS BRIDGE

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

Wednesday, July 7 – 02:30h – 04:00h and 13:30h – 15:00h and Thursday, July 8 – 03:00h – 04:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Wednesday, July 7 – 15:20h – 16:50h and Thursday, July 8 – 16:00h – 17:30h.

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

WEATHER TODAY There will be light rain showers during the day.

Expect clear skies at night. Temperatures should range between 21 degrees Celsius and 30 degrees Celsius.

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

High Tide: 14:56h reaching a maximum height of 2.31 metres.

Low Tide: 08:29h and 20:42h reaching minimum heights of 0.81 metre and 0.91 metre.

SATURDAY, JULY 3, 2021

LOTTERY NUMBERS H

06 07 08 10 14 24

03

FREE TICKET

Bonus Ball

TUESDAY, JULY 6, 2021

DAILY MILLIONS

02 03 12 23 24 LUCKY 3

0

5

6

2

Afternoon Draw

1

0

Evening Draw

DRAW DE LINE

01 02 06 08 10 13 16 SUPER

PAY DAY

PAY DAY

FRIDAY, JULY 2, 2021

01 03 14 15 17 10 13

06 12 15 20 21

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

$74.53/barrel

-2.20

Rough Rice

$231.3 /ton

+0.21

London Sugar

$451.40/ton

+0.24

Live Spot Gold

USD Per Ounce

Bid/Ask

$1797.00

$1798.00

Low/High Change

$1789.70 +0.50

$1716.40 +0.03%

CGX spuds 1st well in Corentyne Block C

anada-based oil company CGX Energy Incorporated, which was given a November 2021 deadline to drill its first well in the Corentyne Block by the Government of Guyana, has finally spudded its first exploration well.

According to a Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) notice, CGX would have started drilling on the Kawa-1 well as of July 2 in the Corentyne Block, within Guyana’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

The notice went on to inform that the MODU MAERSK Discoverer will be conducting the drilling activities, 90 nautical miles from the coast of Guyana and over an area of 4.7 square nautical miles.

The drilling, MARAD informed, will conclude on December 15, 2021. As is usually the case with offshore oil exploration sites, mariners were advised to

stay clear of these vessels and to exercise extreme caution when in the vicinity.

Last year November, CGX Energy Incorporated had announced that the Government, following discussions on the drilling delays in the Corentyne oil block, had agreed to give CGX a one-year extension until November 27, 2021, by which time they are expected to commence drilling in the Corentyne Block.

Back in May 2019, the former Government had approved a Strategic Joint Venture between CGX Energy Inc and Frontera Energy Corporation to farm into two shallow-water offshore Petroleum Prospecting Licences for the Corentyne and Demerara Blocks – both of which are adjacent to ExxonMobil’s Stabroek Block, where multiple discoveries have been made.

The farm-in joint venture allowed Frontera to acquire a 33.333 per cent working interest in the two blocks.

The agreement should have seen CGX’s Utakwaaka well in the Corentyne Block being drilled by November 27, 2019, with an additional exploration well being drilled

by November 27, 2022.

In the Demerara Block, an exploration well was supposed to have been drilled

by February 12, 2021, with a further exploration well being drilled by February 12, 2023. But with CGX not having started its drilling at the time, the Government had expressed concern over

The MODU MAERSK Discoverer

the situation. This is even as a number of new companies

have expressed an interest in Guyana’s oil blocks.

Additionally, the company had also revealed its decision to relinquish 24.96 acres of land at the estu-

ary of the Berbice River that was earmarked for its deep-water project, following negotiations with the Government of Guyana.

CGX and Frontera Energy had commissioned an independent report which had revealed that they are potentially sitting on 4.9 million Barrels of Oil Equivalent (BOE) in the Demerara and Corentyne, Guyana oil blocks under their control.

However, the report had hastened to add that there is no certainty that the company can recover the oil or that it is even commercial-

ly viable. According to the report, there are a total of 32 prospects in the two blocks, inclusive of 27 in the Corentyne Block and five in the Demerara Block.

These prospects potentially have 4.940 million BOE un-risked and 884 million BOE in them. An unrisked prospect, however, is one where the volume of oil is predicted on the basis that everything goes as planned and the oil is commercially viable and recoverable. The report makes it clear that it cannot give such certainty.

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guyanatimesgy.com

WEDNESDAY, JULY 7, 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

Crucial role in climate change

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he issue of climate change was high on the agenda at the 42nd meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of Caricom, with new Chairman, Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne calling for the exploration of climate reparations from developed countries who are main contributors to greenhouse gases to vulnerable States bearing the brunt of the effects.

For years, there has been much talk about climate change and the devastating impact it is having and is likely to have on communities and the world as a whole. However, while Governments and policy-makers are busy debating the issues at the national and international levels, many believe that enough is not being done in terms of designing and implementing critical projects at the community level to encourage and sensitise individuals about the need to play their part in mitigating the effects of climate change.

In fact, it could be argued that, on the global level, not many persons are educated about the issue, especially as it relates to the kind of impact climate change has on the environment and on individuals themselves. Citizens still do take the issue for granted and do not pay much heed to the various messages about the need to change lifestyle patterns and so on.

Scientists have argued that the planet is indeed threatened by lifestyle patterns of individuals, and if persons continue to use resources the way we currently do, the planet’s reserves would be exhausted at an increasingly rapid pace. For many countries, there is still the challenge of getting everyone to not only understand and appreciate the idea of the need to work towards sustainable consumption, but also to take practical steps to move in this direction.

Certainly, Governments can set the framework with their policies; set targets, define standards, give incentives to make companies go green. Businesses and industries, together with researchers, can provide the solutions, but, in the end, the consumers have the power of the purse, whether they buy green products or not. The highly-touted green model reduces our ecological footprint, emits less greenhouse gases, uses less energy and raw materials, and can create new sources of growth and employment.

In essence, achieving economic growth and sustainable development require that we urgently reduce our ecological footprint by changing the way we produce and consume goods and resources. As stated by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the efficient management of our shared natural resources and the way we dispose of toxic waste and pollutants are important targets to achieve this goal.

Based on statistics, the world’s population is growing rapidly, as more than a billion new people will enter the middle class by 2050. Experts have predicted that if citizens do not change their consumption patterns, the global use of resources would be multiplied by 15, which is considered dangerous for our planet, as it would not be able to satisfy the needs of everyone.

At the individual level, every individual does play a crucial role in defining his/her own consumption patterns, and can, in a way, also contribute to the fight against climate change. For example, we can reduce the level of energy utilised, and the money that is saved on energy could instead be used to develop climate-friendly technologies and appliances.

Official records show that, on a global level, more than 70 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions are related to household consumption. While it is accepted that it is not an easy task to get persons to change lifestyles and to work towards a climatefriendly environment, the task would be much easier if they are educated about the role they can play and the benefits of their own action.

Here, in Guyana, we still continue to dump garbage carelessly.

For example, persons continue to dispose of plastics and Styrofoam items in a reckless manner, resulting in the clogging of drains and trenches, thereby leading to flooding, etc. Firstly, the 2005 floods and now, the most recent countrywide floods have again exposed our vulnerability, and should have served as a big wake-up call for us to treat the environment differently.

For sure, there is need for more effective public education campaigns on climate change, and to highlight the effects of poor environmental practices. There is also need for more green projects to be implemented at the local level to encourage communities to work towards achieving a cleaner and healthier environment.

Kingston Secondary School students focused on their English A examinations being written on Tuesday

A strictly security-focused approach to crime prevention is costly, ineffective and paves the way for human rights violations

…why Caribbean Governments should make the shift to a human rights-based approach to crime prevention now

By Alberto Brunori

P

eople in the Caribbean face some of the highest levels of violence in the world. Of the 22 Latin American and Caribbean countries surveyed in 2020 by the independent thinktank InSight Crime, three Caribbean countries ranked in the top six with most violence. Jamaica tops the list with the highest numbers of murders (46.5) per 100,000 inhabitants, with Trinidad & Tobago (28.2) and Belize (24.3) ranking respectively as the fourth and sixth.

The Caribbean Region is, in fact, particularly exposed to the presence of organised crime groups, which contributes in part to high violence levels. While Caribbean countries are not the only ones facing this threat, the characteristics of Small Island Development States (SIDS) pose specific challenges in implementing effective responses. High crime rates impact the lives of everyone. However, women, ethnic minorities, migrants, young men, and people living in poverty are amongst those most at risk of falling victims to human rights violations stemming from insecurity.

Unfortunately, a strictly security-focused approach to the problem continues to be the norm. This includes at times an emphasis on so-called “Anti-Gang legislation”, the extended use of state of emergencies or harsher punishments, including the death penalty, which remains on the books in several countries. As regularly pointed out by UN human rights treaty bodies, these measures increase the risk of human rights violations, such as extra-judi-

cial or arbitrary killings, unnecessary or excessive use of force by security forces, or unlawful or arbitrary arrests and detention.

A security-focused approach has proved to be ineffective in preventing crime, costly for Governments and increases mistrust between communities and Government institutions, including security forces.

Instead of combating the symptoms, a human rightsbased shift is urgently needed to tackle the underlying root causes.

In line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), it is essential to prioritise resources to social protection, health and education systems and employment to curb discrimination, social exclusion, and inequality, which all remain key drivers for crime and social conflicts.

Reforms towards strengthening an independent, impartial and efficient Judiciary improve access to justice for all and are fundamental to counter impunity and reoccurrence. This includes strengthening capacities of the Judiciary and ensuring effective investigations, prosecution and victim-centred punishment of perpetrators in compliance with judicial guarantees of defendants.

Supporting access to justice for victims is key, such as by countering discrimination, and promoting legal aid programmes and awareness-raising campaigns. As Caribbean countries continue to present some of the highest levels of sexual and gender-based violence in the Americas, there is a particular need to step up efforts to promote access to justice for victims, especially women

and girls, strengthen protection mechanisms, protocols and capacities within the Police and Judiciary to ensure a gender-sensitive approach.

Investment in human rights-compliant policy-, training- and accountability frameworks of security forces: Security forces play an important role in countering crime, but they require detailed internal guidance that is compliant with international human rights standards. One good example in the Region is the Caribbean Human Rights and Use of Force Model Policy, which if adopted by Governments and security forces, would significantly strengthen internal guidelines in relation to use of force and human rights. International experience shows that Governments must support security forces with sufficient resources to ensure training and internal oversight, but also avoid political interference in day-to-day-activities. Security forces need to be held accountable for any unlawful or arbitrary actions. This would translate into operational independence, establishing trust with communities and, most importantly, countering crime. Finally, it is important to strengthen rights of members of security forces who often put their lives on the line to protect rights of others.

Strengthening rehabilitation and community reintegration of offenders: Harsher prison sentences, overcrowding and dire prison conditions do not deter crime. On the contrary, such measures contribute to reoccurrence and therewith feed into the cycle of violence.

Humane custodial measures

accompanied by the better use of alternatives for imprisonment and a focus on rehabilitation will reduce crime. As part of community-based interventions, religious leaders and the Private Sector can be important actors of change in preventing stigmatisation and supporting reintegration, especially of juvenile offenders.

Ensuring that human rights are protected today contributes to the prevention of violations and possible violence tomorrow. Making the shift to a human rightsbased approach to crime prevention doesn’t require reinvention of the wheel. As the leading UN entity on human rights, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has been supporting countries across the world, including in the Caribbean, to tackle many of these issues. This includes building judiciary capacity in incorporating international human rights standards into domestic legal frameworks, reforming and implementing new legislation relating to domestic and sexual violence and human rights training of civil servants, law enforcement and other security forces. While challenges persist, many countries in the Region have shown commitment to make the shift.

OHCHR stands ready to support Governments and all partners involved in this endeavour.

(Alberto Brunori is the Regional Representative for Central America and the English-speaking Caribbean of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). Contact him at pregionaloffice@ ohchr.org or on Twitter at @ Albrunori or @OACNUDH)

guyanatimesgy.com

WEDNESDAY, JULY 7, 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

Has Joseph Harmon completely lost it? leadership is ill-suited to the fulfilment of the aspirations of young people in Guyana, the enhancement of the party’s supporters, and the advancement of the nation.”

So I want to know what Harmon is up to?

I can add the defection of some others from APNU+AFC-Michael Leonard from The Alliance For Change (AFC), the second largest party in the main parliamentary Opposition, the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC); Lennox Gasper, former APNU+AFC Linden Town Councillor, from the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), almost five years after joining the party; and Reynard Ward Former Alliance For Change (AFC) Member of Parliament, over its “broken, abusive and one-sided

relationship”, Lennox Craig and Abel Seetaram from the AFC are some others.

The second thing is that the Harmon posse has been after Dr Anthony, heavily criticising him for his management of the COVID-19 pandemic, and for what, according to Harmon is “a vaccine procurement scandal” which was quickly debunked independently too. In fact, Guyana is the 33rd country in the world to approve Sputnik V. The vaccine was approved under the emergency use authorisation procedure. The vaccine is one of the world’s top three coronavirus vaccines in terms of the number of approvals is-

2 questions and a suggestion

Dear Editor, Over the long weekend, my ears had the unfortunate experience of listening to Alliance For Change Leader Khemraj Ramjattan.

You can be sure that I will never put my brain through that again.

There was no pleasure in listening to this man talk on the TV and social media.

I was confronted by his arguments that the Opposition recognises the installed or otherwise Government in Parliament, and in their actions. He then admitted that there was no real need to say that the Opposition recognises the Government as it is legitimate and exercises its authority over us explicitly or publicly.

He pointed to the

Dear Editor, Joseph Harmon, Opposition Leader of the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) has to be chasing the impossible dream, or he has completely “lost it”.

The man, instead of seeking to help in the governance of Guyana, and offering some hope to his APNU+AFC supporters, has now “… filed two No-Confidence Motions against two senior PPP Ministers.” He did the norm by submitting “…the motions with the Clerk of the National Assembly Sherlock Isaacs, against Minister of Health Dr Frank Anthony and Minister of Home Affairs Robeson Benn.”

First, numerically, Harmon is heading down the losers’ path. The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) has 33 seats in the 65 seat National Assembly;

Dear Editor, Does it make any sense for the authorities to give breathalyser “tests” to persons involved in vehicular accidents after the case of Gary Best was dismissed?

And couldn’t that dismissal be appealed?

Why is it that much needed parking spaces are allocated to “bus stops”

the APNU+AFC coalition has 31; and the joinder parties, 1 seat. On a wild assumption that APNU+AFC can ascend to 32, where will that take Joseph Harmon?

Is he hoping for a crossover? If he is, then I think that he has to do some serious introspection. I remind him that the APNU+AFC base is dwindling rapidly, to the point that many have left on account that the leaders of APNU+AFC are corrupt and incompetent.

Fresh on the mind is the resignation of Attorney-atLaw Thandi McAllister, who confirmed her resignation from the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), citing poor leadership of the party. McAllister was with the party for some 25 years, yet “After very careful and agonizing consideration,” she surmised that “… the present direction of the

on congested streets, like Regent Street, when no bus stops in those spots?

I’ve read of many instances of robberies committed by “pillion riders” on motor cycles in and around Georgetown, particularly, and recently another of these where a funeral home was robbed in this manner.

A friend of mine mentioned that in Honduras and a few other countries where such robberies were prevalent, these types were significantly reduced after a ban on pillion riders on motor cycles was introduced. Just wondering.

With regards, HN Nawbatt

Slowe’s defiance is uncalled for Dear Editor, Is it funny or a plain case of being rebellious?

Who knows? It could be ignorance. But to read in the press that “Suspended Police Service Commission (PSC) Chairman Paul Slowe, on Monday, defied his suspension by Head of State Dr Irfaan Ali, and wrote acting Police Commissioner Nigel Hoppie, attempting to instruct him to act on the Police promotion list that the PSC had sent out.” I mean nothing is a surprising act these days. All that one has to do is to go back and visit the No-Confidence Motion of December 2018, upon which A Partnership For National Unity and Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) attempted to argue that the majority of 65 is not 33 but 32 and a half plus one, and so rounded off, it becomes 34. It was comical. Now another example of the “unbelievable” has surfaced.

Slowe, suspended for alleged egregious sexual and financial misdemeanours, is now trying to “bully” his way into an area from which he has been legally ejected. The “suspended” Slowe, in a letter to the Police Commissioner, is urging him “…to prepare a Special Promotion Order that would

inform the officers who are in line for promotion.” So adamant, yet foolish is Slowe, that he “…reminded Hoppie that his office was sent the list of officers to be promoted on June 28, 2021, and moreover, his office acknowledged receiving the promotion list two days later.” In other words, Slowe is attempting to tell Hoppie that he is acting in a manner that is considered “insubordinate” as well as dilatory.

This character is not accepting reality. The bottom line is that “President Ali issued an order suspending the PSC on June 16, using his powers under Article 225 of the Constitution of Guyana.” This closes the issue, and unless and until this is rescinded, revoked, set-aside or reversed by the President himself, or by a court of competent jurisdiction, that is the end of the issue. So far, Slowe is yet to challenge the President’s order in court, yet in his letter, he is asking Hoppie to act at his behest. The overarching principle in this is that in Guyana, “The Rule of Law simply does not permit it,” so “No person, let alone, a constitutional commission will be allowed to become judge, jury and executioner in Guyana’s constitutional

democracy.”

Yours truly, Attiya Baksh

sued by Government regulators. And as regards procurement, “At no time did Guyana procure vaccines from any illegal entity or anyone in trouble with legal authorities anywhere,” and as Anthony said, “Guyana has not procured vaccines from any illegal source…” unlike what Mr Harmon is claiming.

Concerning Minister Benn, Harmon is claiming that “…crime is reportedly spiralling out of control…”

This “song of Harmon” has been debunked too, as the Guyana Police Force has shown, that from a statistical point of view, Harmon is in the wrong. Quoting the

stats, Robeson Benn showed that “…there was a decrease in serious crimes in Guyana in 2020 by 6.9 per cent. And as for year-to-year figures for 2021, the decline in serious crimes is by 40.3 per cent, when compared with the same period last year.

Harmon must know that he is just manufacturing one gimmick after another and he is seeking to give his dwindling support base false hope once again.

Just as he did in regards to the two elections petitions which were thrown out by the Chief Justice Yours truly, Alvin Hamilton

A lyrical twister of truth and facts Opposition having the facts to prove it won the votes at the last election and discrepancies throughout the East Coast Demerara with the ballots. He maintained his position that they were cheated out of their rightful place in Government.

According to Ramjattan, this “trash talk” about the PPP Government not being recognised is part of the PPP narrative because they really do not want to engage the Opposition. Finally, he said “they are an installed Government”.

Now, I think my reasoning skills are sharp and good. I also think that I can discern between right and wrong, facts and untruths, and outrageous positions. I also believe that I can tell if a man is crazy, going mad or

mad and when he’s just repeating a baseless position.

In this case, after listening to Mr Ramjattan, I have concluded that he is somewhere between politically impotent and a lyrical twister of the truth and facts.

Mr Ramjattan, just like the Opposition, knows that PPP won the last election at every round of the counting process. I rely on the Chairman that former President David Granger picked, and the results to prove this point. I’m therefore challenging Ramjattan or the Opposition to show us their results of the process that prove their victory or hang their heads in shame if they don’t.

Sincerely, Todd A Morgan

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 7, 2021

Page

Foundation ◄

Question 1

Tuesday’s answers

Speech: Bottom's Dream (from A Midsummer Night's Dream, spoken by Bottom)

W

By William Shakespeare

hen my cue comes, call me, and I will answer. My next is “Most fair Pyramus.” Heigh-ho! Peter

Quince? Flute the bellows-mender? Snout the tinker? Starveling? God’s my life, stol'n hence, and left me asleep? I have had a most rare vision. I have had a dream—past the wit of man to say what dream it was. Man is but an ass if he go about to expound this dream.

Methought I was—there is no man can tell what. Methought I was, and methought I had—but man is but a patched fool if he will offer to say what methought I had. The eye of man hath not heard, the ear of man hath not seen, man’s hand is not able to taste, his tongue to conceive, nor his heart to report what my dream was. I will get Peter Quince to write a ballad of this dream. It shall be called “Bottom’s Dream” because it hath no bottom.

And I will sing it in the latter end of a play before the duke. Peradventure, to make it the more gracious, I shall sing it at her death.

WORD SEARCH

A

s the only living descendants of dinosaurs, birds have an extremely long and complex history. What birds look like now, where they live, how they act, and how they com-

municate, are all connected to how they evolved in relation to each other.

Birds evolved from a group called the theropod dinosaurs that included bipedal

carnivores such as Tyrannosaurus rex and Velociraptor. The meteor strike that caused the extinction of the dinosaurs 65 million years ago also may have started the

rapid evolution of bird species.

Explore the common ancestry of theropods and birds and “evolve” your own dinosaur into a bird that flies.

(Adapted from startwithabook.org)

7 Canadian company finds high-grade gold in Region 7 NEWS

WEDNESDAY, JULY 7, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

…as Omai drill programme continues to show promise

C

anadian company Gran Colombia Gold Corp, which is operating in Guyana, has announced that it found gold in its Toroparu project in Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni) that may even present opportunities for underground mining.

covery has reaffirmed the company’s confidence in the high-grade gold potential of the project. He further explained that they are working on an updated mineral resource estimate and preliminary economic assessment.

“The recently complet-

resource amenable to underground mining methods lies at the core of this very large, disseminated gold deposit.”

“We are currently working with Nordmin to prepare an updated mineral resource estimate and preliminary economic assess-

Omai’s holdings in Guyana

According to a statement, Gran Colombia said that it completed its twophase diamond drill programme, with 114 drill holes. According to the company, the drilling programme confirmed the presence of deposits that could be mined through underground mining.

Gran Columbia Executive Chairman Serafino Iacono was quoted as saying that the dis-

ed, two-phase diamond drill program comprised a total of 20,750 meters in 114 drill holes and has confirmed a 4-kilometer (“km”) strike length of high-grade structurally controlled gold mineralization at Toroparu. In addition, the program identified a repeated pattern of intersections of NW-SE and E-W oriented sub-vertical structures containing highgrade zones… that support our belief that a high-grade

ment (“PEA”) incorporating the high-grade results from this latest drilling program. We expect the PEA will be completed later this summer,” Iacono said in the statement.

Wenot

Meanwhile Omai Gold Mines Corporation, another Canada-based gold company that is operating in Guyana, has said that there are encouraging signs of

gold mineralisation in its Wenot pit.

This is according to a statement released on Tuesday, in which it said that all signs point to the Wenot pit, located in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), containing high-grade gold with multiple veins.

“At least four generations of mineralized extensional quartz veins are recognized and of the four, only the last is undeformed. This suggests a long duration to mineralization while deformation continues. The higher grades in multiple vein sets significantly expand the potential of Wenot to the south in sedimentary rocks,” the company said in the statement.

The statement quoted Omai Gold Mines Chief Executive Officer Mario Stifano, who expressed pleasure with the findings and noted that the current 5000-metre drill programme will be completed shortly.

“We are pleased that our drilling program continues to produce positive results demonstrating that mineralization at Wenot continues to depths exceeding 100 meters below the historical pit and remains open in all directions,” he said.

The current drill programme is anticipated to be completed shortly and will support the objective of developing a NI 43-101 Inferred Resource at Wenot later this year. The technical team is also advancing new high-priority exploration targets at Omai

Gran Columbia Executive Chairman Serafino Iacono

to unlock the significant exploration potential within the prospecting license,” Stifano added.

Omai Gold Mines, which has already started a 5000-metre drilling programme in the Wenot pit, had announced in April the presence of high-grade gold in the first two holes that extend at least 100 metres below.

The company only returned to the Wenot and Fennell pits at the Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni)

site in 2020 after leaving Guyana in 2015. It had announced in December that it would be pressing forward with the 5000-metre drilling programme.

It was only last November that Omai Gold Mines, which is aiming to reclaim its place as Guyana’s top gold producer, had announced the impending resumption of trading on the Toronto Stock Exchange, following the recent reverse takeover of Avalon Investment Holdings. (G3)

8 NEWS

WEDNESDAY, JULY 7, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Chainsaw operator slapped with manslaughter charge

F

orty-nine-year-old Bennedict John, a chainsaw operator of Ituni, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice), was on Tuesday slapped with a manslaughter charge and granted bail in the sum of $300,000.

The accused appeared before Magistrate Wanda Fortune at the Linden Magistrate’s Court and was not required to plead to the indictable charge which stated that on June 20, 2021, he killed Frederick De Souza at Ituni.

Following the granting of bail, he was ordered to report at the Ituni Police Station every Monday and Friday until the determination of the

Dead: Frederick De Souza

matter. The case will again on August 26, 2021.

Police reported that on the day in question, they responded to an unknown caller who stated that a male was seen lying on the roadway at BQ, Ituni. Upon their arrival, Police ranks ob-

served De Souza in an unconscious state.

At the time, the man bore wounds to his head, abdomen and feet, and was subsequently taken to the Ituni Health Care Centre, then to the Linden Hospital Complex (LHC), where he later succumbed to his injuries.

Sometime after the incident, Police arrested John, who was observed to have a wound above his right eye.

When questioned about his injuries, John said that De Souza had told him not to enter his yard, following a misunderstanding. He said that despite the warnings, he entered De Souza’s yard, and used a fence picket and dealt him a blow to the eye.

Recalibrating…

Charged: Bennedict John

In retaliation, the suspect said he took away the piece of wood, and began to beat the victim. After his confession, he was escorted to the Ituni Health Care Centre, where he received treatment for his injuries. The Police have since instituted charges against John.

T

… Caricom & Secretariat he Caricom Secretary General Irwin LaRocque – whose 10-year term expires this year – is reported to have said that the contributions to fund its operations have fallen by 25 per cent. But he optimistically congratulated the staff for maintaining the organisation’s workload and feels that with continued efficiencies the funding challenge can be handled. Well, that’s good news… ’cause with what’s going on with the world economy in general and the Caribbean economies in particular, that funding shortfall will only continue to plummet.

This has been the case with every multilateral organisation the world over – from the UN and all its subsets like UNESCO – to the regional model that inspired our own integration efforts - the EU. The money just ain’t there and won’t be there in the foreseeable future. The COVID pandemic reinforced the doldrums the world economy had fallen into since the meltdown of the Western economies in 2008. The latter, of course, provided the locomotive demand that pulled the rest of the world along.

But the fissiparous tendencies in regional groupings were also exacerbated – not only by the lack of funding – but also by political developments both within the groupings and within their members. Take, for example, Europe where we imitated their start as a Free Trade Area that progressively moved into becoming a “Community”.

Our colonial “master” and political exemplar, Britain has since exited the EU and gave the world a new word – Brexit!

The stated reason was control of the “free movement” of the peoples of Europe – especially from the poorer old Eastern Europe nations like Poland – into their country.

This, they complained, was altering the ethos of their nation, not to mention sopping up jobs which always raise nativist fears. In the Caribbean, all these factors are also in play. With the loss of the big tourist dollars after COVID-19 and TT’s oil running out, relations will definitely become altered.

We’re already seeing some strains with Haiti, which is the perennial “poor man of the Caribbean and the Hemisphere”. With 11 of the 18 million total Caricom population – over 1000 persons per square mile – surviving on less than one-quarter OUR abysmal per capital GDP, you can imagine why they’re willing to be trafficked and visas are being demanded of them.

But back to Caricom and its Secretariat. Your Eyewitness is a “Caribbean Man” ,but the global forces we’re navigating demand we take a deep breath on Caricom.

Each territory’s haughty demand for “sovereignty” when it comes to sharing the responsibilities of statehood will have to be amended. There has to be an attitude of “all for one and one for all” through thick and thin if Caricom’s gonna survive.

Do the leaders have the political will?

…on security Because of our history and politics – or actually the history of our politics! – our security apparatus has always presented a conundrum. With two balanced ethnic groups competing for political power but the security apparatus in the hands of one of those groups, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to conclude challenges would be posed.

When there were talks – or even ATTEMPTS in the 60s – for a coalition between the PPP and PNC representing the two groups, the elephant in the room was always who’d control the coercive forces!!

When the PNC got into office, unlike what they agreed to after a CoI from the World Court visited, investigated and recommended – the forces were never made representative but more unbalanced! And as such, always made the PNC very cocky in assuming those forces would ALWAYS take their side. This assumption also placed a great fissiparous pressure on the forces themselves. So once again we’ve arrived at another impasse with ExecutiveGPF relations which the PNC’s exploiting.

All parties should take a deep breath!

…the COVID-19 fight At first, we worried whether we’d get the vaccines against the COVID-19 viruses. But now we have the vaccines, folks are refusing the shots.

We now have to deal with “vaccine hesitancy”!

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

NEWS

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 7, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Cyclist crushed by truck

“My brother was alive when they put him in the hearse” – sister of dead man

A

pedal cyclist was on Monday evening killed after he was allegedly run over by a truck that was in the process of offloading sand at Hope West, Enmore Access Road, East Coast Demerara (ECD).

The dead man has been identified as 37-year-old Rajin Parsad of Lot 13 Foulis Housing Scheme, ECD. Based on reports received, the truck bearing registration number GWW 8721 was offloading sand in the vicinity of the driver’s premises and as he lowered the tray and started to reverse, his wife alerted him that he had run over a dog.

As such, he exited the truck to check and it was then he observed Parsad under the truck with blood about his body. He was subsequently pronounced dead on arrival at the Georgetown Public Hospital.

At the home of the dead man on Tuesday, his family refuted the Police report that was dispatched to the media. The aggrieved relatives told Guyana Times that the now dead man was hit from behind as the alleged drunken driver was offloading sand.

The dead man’s sister, Searanie Parsad, noted that she was at home when the devasting news reached the family.

“My neighbour came and told me that he want to talk to uncle Jai, all I hear is my husband saying ‘oh my God, way he deh boy’.

I asked he who, and my husband say ‘hard ears’ [her brother] get knock down so I say where, and I start running. Meh run, meh run and meh brother deh under deh truck wheel…the Police them deh, and I ask them to remove the truck that my brother is alive…”, the woman cried.

She noted that even though she pleaded with the Police, they refused.

“My brother always told me that he was strong and that he would not die, he was strong. The Police them was there and refused to move the truck from my brother… instead of the Police them call for an ambulance, them bring a hearse. When meh big son take

Dead: Rajin Parsad

a sheet to go and cover him, my brother was moving… my brother was alive when they brought the hearse… everybody saw he was moving and me ah halla ‘de man alive, de man alive’…”, the sister noted.

She is of the belief that the Police should have called for an ambulance instead of a hearse, given that her brother was still alive.

“They called a hearse and didn’t know if my brother was alive or not, they just said he was dead. A doctor is supposed to pronounce my brother dead….”.

“They killed and murdered meh brother. He [the driver] was drunk…when they [the Police] do the test the man [the driver] was drunk,” the tearful woman said. But the Police have stated that there was no trace of alcohol in the driver’s system following a breathalyser test that was conducted.

“My brother was riding coming to me because where he get knock down was two houses away from where I was living. I could just imagine how my brother was calling for me when this happen because he knows that I didn’t live far way… my brother told me give him five minutes he coming just now, I didn’t know he woulda die,” the sister further stated.

Meanwhile, the dead man’s father, Walter Parsad, explained that the doctor at the hospital informed him that his son could have been saved.

“He [the doctor] said he could have mek it, but he wudda paralyse. The man said it was the pressure from the truck that burst he heart…is better he bin paralyse and me bin get am home, abbey wudda mine am,” the grieving father said.

Nevertheless, at the accident scene, a resident who witnessed the accident confirmed that the driver was indeed intoxicated and more so, he was not offloading sand. The man said he was in his home when he heard an impact, and shortly after he heard the driver say “what shit is this, is what I land mehself into”.

The man said he came outside and saw the man lying under the truck. The Police were immediately summoned, but reportedly arrived on motorcycles more than an hour after the incident occurred.

The eyewitness related that the Police waited on another set of officers, who also took some time to arrive at the scene. Parsad, who was a goldsmith for the past 22 years, was described by his family as a quiet individual.

The family is calling for swift justice.

10 NEWS

WEDNESDAY, JULY 7, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Floodwaters devastate Albion Estate …entire cultivation under water …GuySuCo earns $738M in revenue in 1st half of 2021

By Jarryl Bryan

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espite selling less sugar than before and facing challenges posed by heavy rainfall that has devastated its largest estate, the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) has increased its revenue to $738 million for the first half of 2021.

This is according to GuySuCo Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Sase Singh, who in a sit-down with this publication provided statistics for the first crop. While they were unable to meet their target for sugar production, Singh explained that GuySuCo was still able to increase its revenues despite selling less sugar.

According to Singh, President Dr Irfaan Ali had charged GuySuCo at a pre-

vious meeting with top management with the task of diversifying and creating more value-added products for the market.

“Our original target was 42,604. GuySuCo made 29,650 metric tonnes of sugar. We were short by about 12,000 metric tonnes of sugar. But the reality is, while we produced less sugar, GuySuCo made $738 million in revenue for the period January to June, 2021.” “…and credit for this has to go to his Excellency the President. At our very first meeting with him, he planted a seed in our head.

Change the sales mix,” Singh explained.

According to Singh, this is just what GuySuCo did, going back to the drawing board and implementing changes in the sales mix.

Cane under water at Albion Estate

He noted that GuySuCo was successful in its sales despite selling 12,000 metric tonnes less sugar compared to last year. Going forward, the CEO explained that they have set themselves the production target of 49,971 tonnes of sugar for the sec-

ond crop.

“So, the second crop, if the rain stops today, we’re aiming to produce about 49,971 metric tonnes… but we know that’s a tough task, recognising what is happening in the weather conditions. But we’re hoping and

that’s the only thing we can do at this time.”

“We’re putting all the infrastructure in place at Blairmont and Uitvlugt to make sure we can harvest the cane, we can produce the sugar and we can get on with what we have,” Singh also explained.

Flooding

Meanwhile, Singh explained that a flood assessment will be done at Albion, GuySuCo’s largest estate which has also been the worst hit estate by the flooding. He noted that a final report on the flood is likely to be done in three weeks.

But based on what they know now, Albion has been hit with 74 per cent more rainfall in the first half of the year than the 66-year annual average of 736 millimetres. This has resulted in the entire cane cultivation at Albion being inundated with water and even if the rain stops now, the situa-

tion will still result in Albion falling short of its production target.

He added that the reality is that the Albion cultivation is underwater as the sugar industry has been hard hit by the recent heavy rainfall.

“The sugar industry has been hit by rain and more rain. The authorities have declared a category two national disaster in some areas. And Albion Estate is one of those areas… if the rain stops today, Albion will have a shortfall of about 12,000 metric tonnes of sugar across this year,” the CEO explained.

“While it looks very good on the East Coast of Demerara because of two things, the Hope Canal project has done a fantastic job, as well as GuySuCo and NDIA (National Drainage and Irrigation Authority) having all their pumps on the seawall functioning, the situation is not the same in central Corentyne.”

Guyana has been inundated by heavy rains since May, which has caused widespread flooding. The devastation includes submerged buildings and vehicles with adverse effects on crops, livestock and health.

It has been noted that the rainfall experienced in May alone was recorded as the second highest level of rainfall across the country in the last 40 years. Last month, the President formally declared the flooding a national disaster.

Parfaite Harmonie businessman, family robbed by armed men

F

ive armed men executed a daring robbery on a La Parfaite Harmonie, West Bank Demerara (WBD) businessman and his family in the wee hours of Tuesday. The incident reportedly occurred between 03:26h and 03:45h.

The men, who were armed with a handgun and cutlasses, escaped with an undisclosed sum of cash, one Samsung Galaxy phone, one A10 Plus mobile phone and a quantity of gold jewellery.

Based on reports received, the businessman and his wife were eating while his daughter was taking the garbage out to the front of the yard during which, she heard a gunshot.

Police stated that as a result, the girl ran back into the yard but she was followed by five armed males whose faces were covered with masks.

The perpetrator who was

armed with the handgun reportedly attacked the businessman and lashed him to his head while demanding cash and other valuables. In the meantime, another bandit held the businessman’s wife, whom he claimed had all the money.

Fearful for their lives, the woman was ordered to hand over same to which she complied. She handed over a small black haversack containing the money to the perpetrators.

After receiving same, the bandits then relieved the businessman and his wife of their mobile phones and the jewellery they were wearing at the time. After committing the act, the men made good their escape on foot.

The businessman subsequently raised an alarm and the Police were summoned.

The Police are investigating the matter.

NEWS

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 7, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Isaiah Henry’s murder

Magistrate discharges case against murder accused Vinod Gopaul, Anil Sancharia …DPP requests documents to ascertain why charges were discharged

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From left: Vinod Gopaul, Akash Singh and Anil Sancharia

agistrate Peter Hugh on Tuesday discharged the case against Vinod Gopaul and Anil Sancharia, who are accused of murdering cousins Isaiah and Joel Henry between September 5 and 6, 2020, at Cotton Tree, West Coast Berbice (WCB).

The mutilated bodies of 16-year-old Isaiah and 19-year-old Joel were discovered in the backlands of Cotton Tree after they went missing following a trip to the backdam to pick coconuts.

Three men have since been charged with their murders. They are Akash Singh, 19, called “Monkey,” of Zeelugt, East Bank Essequibo (EBE); his stepbrother, 33-year-old Anil Sancharia, called “Dan pole” and “Rasta,” of D’Edward, WCB; and 34-year-old Vinod Gopaul called “Magga,” of Yakusari, Black Bush Polder, Corentyne, Berbice.

Sancharia and Gopaul continuously maintained their innocence of the crime and were charged separately from Singh.

The court commenced the Preliminary Inquiry (PI) of Isaiah first and Joel’s will begin on August 10.

Attorney-at-Law Dexter Todd is representing Sancharia and Gopaul pro bono.

On Tuesday, Magistrate Hugh found that the prosecution did not present sufficient evidence to link the duo to the murder of Isiah.

That resulted in him discharging the case.

However, both Sancharia and Gopaul are still on remand pending the commencement of Joel Henry’s PI. Speaking with Guyana Times following the ruling, Attorney Todd said that ever since he received the statements from the prosecution, he maintained that there is no evidence to link his clients to the crime.

“I represented to the court – that is the Magistrate and prosecution - that really and truly I did not see evidence on the statements which would go against the two named accused. However, because it is procedural, we had to conduct a preliminary inquiry.

The State called about 19

witnesses,” he said.

The prosecution closed its case on June 29 and according to Todd, he had no need to make a no case submission since the lack of evidence was glaring.

“So, the Magistrate said on the 29 (of June) after the prosecution closed the case, he is going to look at the sufficiency of the evidence and so he had adjourned the matter for today’s (Tuesday) date.

Having looked at the deposition again, the Magistrate formed the same opinion that I formed that there was no evidence against them,” the lawyer said.

Todd said that by discharging the case against his clients, the Magistrate reinforced his contention that the prosecution has no evidence against the men. He added that the prosecution is also relying on the same evidence when the PI into the murder of Joel Henry commences next month.

DPP requests documents

In a brief statement following the Magistrate’s decision, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Shalimar Ali-Hack said that pursuant to Section 72 (1) of the Criminal Law Procedure Act Chapter 10:01, she has written to Magistrate Hugh requesting the documents taken at the PI. She noted that there was sufficient evidence against the two men at the time the charge was instituted and she would now have to ascertain why they were discharged and take “appropriate action”.

Following months of investigation, the Guyana Police Force was able to crack the case with the arrest of the three men.

Having obtained confessions, Police sent a file to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), which advised that the men be charged for murdering 16-year-old Isaiah and 19-year-old Joel. They were charged in January of 2021.

It was Sancharia’s stepbrother, Singh, who allegedly confessed to the crime and implicated the two men.

Singh told the Police that he had accompanied Gopaul and Sancharia to the West Coast Berbice backlands sometime in August 2020

to cultivate cannabis. They then left the area and returned in September, but when they arrived at the farm, it was destroyed – everything was sprayed with gramoxone – a chemical herbicide.

According to Singh, Gopaul and Sancharia declared that they would chop

Isaiah Henry

Magistrate Peter Hugh

DPP Shalimar Ali-Hack

up whoever destroyed their ganja farm. They then went to the individual who gave them the ganja plants, but on their way, they met the man’s worker who said their ganja was also destroyed and weed stolen, and started to assault them.

The three murder accused related that their

farm was also destroyed.

At that point, Singh said, the man told them that two “wicked…boys” does go in the backdam and destroy their “things”, and eat out their foods. Singh said that he heard Sancharia and Gopaul plotting about what they would do to whoever destroyed their farm.

Singh told investigators that he saw Gopaul and Sancharia with two boys, and gave descriptions matching the Henry cousins.

Singh said at that point the “tall one” get up and Gopaul dealt him a chop to the neck with a cutlass and he started to bleed.

TURN TO PAGE 14

12 NEWS

WEDNESDAY, JULY 7, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Linden man busted with stolen gun, ammo belonging to ex-Police Officer – others arrested following discovery of ganja

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he Police have arrested 11 persons following the discovery of a firearm and eight rounds of matching ammunition along with a quantity of ganja in Wismar, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice), on Monday.

Based on reports received, a party of Police ranks acting on information conducted several raids in the Wismar Station district in search of drugs, guns, ammunition or anything unlawfully obtained.

During the raid, the gun, ammo and 11 grams of cannabis were found, resulting in the arrest of the 11 persons.

One of the detainees was arrested with the firearm ammunition belonging to Grantley Rodney,

Inspector and other relatives went to the creek for an outing.

However, the retired officer parked his motor car bearing registration number PPP 1014, leaving his 9mm semi-automatic pistol and magazine carrying 10 live rounds of ammunition in the glove compartment.

They, nevertheless, secured the car and The cannabis that was went to the creek, discovered on the suspects which is about 75 which was stolen on Sunday feet down a hill. during an outing with his After they were finished family at Dakara Creek, swimming, they returned Linden. to the car and noticed that It was reported that the right-side small glass Rodney, the 59-year-old re- to the back door was broken tired Police Officer along and the right-side passenwith a 48-year-old Police ger door was partly open.

The gun and ammunition found during a Police operation

Upon making checks, they realised that the firearm and ammunition along with three mobile phones, National ID card, Police and Republic Bank cards, driver's licence, one brown hand bag, a pair of reading glasses, a quantity of clothing and a sum of cash were missing.

The matter was immediately reported to the Police and based on reports gathered, the suspected burglar was arrested.

1 injured after ambulance slams into utility pole

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blood donor attendant attached to the West Demerara Regional Hospital (WDRH) was injured after the ambulance she was travelling in slammed into a utility pole at Lamaha Street, Georgetown, on Tuesday.

The injured woman is Candika Daniels, 24, of West Minster, West Bank Demerara (WBD).

Based on reports received, the ambulance which was driven by 32-year-old Dellon Daniels of Plantain Walk, Vreed-en-Hoop, WBD, was along Lamaha Street with its siren wailing and beacon lights on.

However, as the vehicle approached the traffic light at Irvin Street, Queenstown, the driver observed vehicles approaching in the opposite direction.

As such, the driver swerved in an attempt of getting into another lane and in the process of doing so, he lost control of the am-

bulance and slammed into a utility pole.

As a result, the blood donor attendant received injuries and was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital

where she was treated and sent away.

An investigation has been launched into the accident. Investigation in progress.

NEWS

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 7, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

COVID-19 vaccines to be available at HIV care sites – Minister

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n order to make HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) patients more comfortable in taking the COVID-19 vaccines, the Health Ministry has taken a move to offer the jabs at care and treatment centres in the future.

Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony shared during Tuesday’s briefing that there were apprehensions from HIV patients in taking their vaccines from the common vaccination sites. Amid this concern, the National Care and Treatment Centre in Georgetown will be offering the vaccines as of this week.

The National Care and Treatment Centre in Guyana is an HIV treatment site, providing antiretroviral treatment to a significant percentage of Guyana’s positive patients. The plan is to make the shots accessible at

other centres in the future – a decision which is expected to bolster the national vaccination campaign.

“As of this week, we have

been working with the national care and treatment site here in Georgetown to make that also into a vaccination site. They should start from this week. Patients go-

ing there for there for their regular treatment would be counselled about taking the vaccines and they can get the vaccine right there.

We’re hoping to replicate this at all of our care and treatment sites so that these patients don’t have to feel uncomfortable, and go to one of the fixed sites.

I think this is going to encourage more people to take the vaccine, persons who are HIV positive and we’re hoping to see better uptake of the vaccine among this population,” Dr Anthony voiced.

The Health Minister pointed out that HIV is a comorbidity, a condition which enhances a person’s risks of developing a severe form of the virus upon contraction. Moving forward, the subset of people with common comorbidities will also be on the Ministry’s radar.

“HIV is a comorbidity and we want to make sure that they have access to these vaccines. We will be monitoring with other types of patients as well and we’re hoping that we can introduce a similar service for patients with chronic noncommunicable diseases and some of the more popular clinics that we have. We would use these opportunities to talk to people about getting the vaccines.”

As of 2019, some 8200 persons were living with HIV in Guyana. This represents just over one per cent of the country’s population. The World Health Organisation has emphasised that many people living with HIV have one or more comorbidities that may put them at increased risk for a more severe form of COVID-19. This has cemented the need for them to be considered as a priority group.

Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony

“People living with HIV with comorbidities such as COPD, asthma, diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease, liver disease, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, motor neurone disease, severe obesity should be prioritised for early vaccination in most settings. People living with HIV should not be excluded from COVID-19 vaccine access plans regardless of their immune status, and countries ought to consider including people living with HIV as a priority group for COVID-19

vaccination according to their epidemiological context,” the agency stipulated.

It added that available vaccine products are not live vaccines as they include genetic material from SARS-CoV-2 which cannot replicate. Therefore, these vaccines are not expected to be less safe in people who are immunocompromised.

In addition to this, no pharmacological interactions have been reported between COVID-19 vaccines and antiretroviral medications.

(G12)

14 NEWS

WEDNESDAY, JULY 7, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

DPP advises murder charges against men who robbed, killed taxi driver

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ays after the Police secured confessions from two men in connection with the murder of 53-year-old taxi driver, Kenrick Trim, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has recommended for the Guyana Police Force to institute murder charges against them.

Kenty Bacchus also called “Trini” and Seyon James called “Lil Alfey” are expected to make their court appearance today at the Sparandaan Magistrate’s Court.

The two suspects reportedly met while serving time in prison for armed robbery.

Reports are that Bacchus, 34, a welder of Water Street, Georgetown, was arrested on Friday last and taken to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), Eve Leary.

At the time of his arrest, he was in possession of the now dead man’s mobile phone – a black Samsung

Galaxy A20.

During interrogation, he admitted to committing the crime and implicated 25-year-old James of Laing Avenue, Georgetown.

In his confession, James, a fish vendor, reportedly told detectives that he first met his accomplice while serving time in prison for stealing a mobile phone.

He further related that on Wednesday, June 30, his 34-year-old accomplice picked him up from the minibus park in Georgetown and they travelled to a snackette in Carmichael Street, Georgetown, where they purchased something to eat.

During their conversation, he reportedly told his 34-year-old accomplice that he slept on the streets many nights and solicited his assistance to find a place to stay.

In his confession, the younger of the two convicts said that soon after leaving the snackette, they stopped

Murdered taxi driver: Kenrick Trim

a taxi which was driven by the now dead man and they both entered.

The fish vendor confessed that his accomplice sat behind the driver while he sat behind the front passenger’s seat and they requested to be taken at a location along the East Coast of Demerara.

In the vicinity of Ogle, ECD, the 25-year-old told in-

vestigators that his accomplice grabbed Trim by his neck and started to choke him until he passed out.

He said that his accomplice then pulled Trim over to the back seat by which time he started to regain consciousness. As such, the 34-year-old man stabbed the taxi driver several times about his body with a knife.

Further, the 25-yearold confessed that his accomplice then took off the now dead man’s gold ring and chain and relieved him of some money that he had in his pocket and the black Samsung cell phone.

After committing the act, the 34-year-old man then drove the car to a spot in Ogle where he threw out the deceased’s body. However, as he was reversing the car, it got stuck in the mud. This led to them both exiting the

car after which, the 34-yearold man gave his 25-year-old accomplice $10,000 and disposed of the knife in a clump of bushes.

The two convicts then made their way onto the main road, boarded a minibus and went to Georgetown.

After the confession, the two men were taken to the Sparendaam Police Station where they were placed into custody.

The detectives have since returned to the murder scene with the intention of retrieving the murder weapon.

A file is being prepared to be dispatched to the Director of Public Prosecutions for legal advice.

The body of the 53-yearold taxi driver was found at about 09:00h on Wednesday last at Block 1 Ogle, East Coast Demerara (ECD).

The body of Trim of

Belfield Housing Scheme, ECD, was found at the end of Cul-de-Sac Street while his car, a silver-grey Toyota Premio, HC 5311, was recovered a short distance away.

The man’s son, Kenrick Trim Jr, had stated that on the day in question he received a telephone call from his mother at about 11:00h informing him that the Police had said that they had found his father’s body at Ogle.

The young Trim said he immediately left work and went to the scene, noting that his father was found lying with blood oozing from his mouth.

He said that his father would usually work taxi in the vicinity of Hinck Street, Georgetown, and had been working out of the location for about 10 years to take care of his family.

Essequibo Coast farmer found dead in rice field …“someone killed my son” – grieving mother

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he lifeless body of an Essequibo rice farmer was on Tuesday found at Reliance Backdam hours after he was reported missing by his relatives. Dead is 29-year-old Narendra Seecharran of Mainstay Public Road, Essequibo Coast, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam).

Although reports stated that he might have committed suicide, relatives are holding out that he might have been murdered since there were several marks of violence about his body.

More so, his relatives told Guyana Times that only recently, the young farmer and other rice farmers had a misunderstanding after he expanded his rice cultivation at Lima/Sparta, Essequibo Coast backdam.

In addition, the misunderstanding stemmed from chemical vapours from Seecharran’s field going into another field owned by other farmers.

However, based on reports received, Seecharran left his house to check his crop at about 17:30h on Monday but never returned home. Calls to his cell phone went unanswered and it was then that his sister used the google tracking

Dead: Narendra Seecharan

app to check his location.

The app showed that the now dead young man was in the Reliance backdam, a few villages away from his rice field.

This promoted several relatives to come together to look for him. As they searched the area, they eventually found him hanging from a tree.

Relatives contended that his motorcycle was some two miles away and his clothes were torn.

The Police were contacted and the body was escorted to the Suddie Public Hospital Mortuary awaiting a post-mortem.

Meanwhile, the dead man’s mother, when contacted, stated “I don’t think that my son commit suicide, someone murdered my son.”

“They find his motorcycle throw away till by the canal…and about two miles he had to walk to go and hang himself, and it got trees right there where the motorcycle throw way. Why he didn’t hang himself right there? Why he walk two miles?”

“And the next thing too, he gone with very clean clothes and he whole clothes now deh thick, thick with mud like when somebody hold you and drag you…so like you could’ve see how he been fighting, to me like them strangle him,” the woman explained.

In addition, she noted that they found the pair of long boots that he was wearing when he left home.

It was found about 50 feet from where his body was found.

“So I don’t think my son commit suicide, someone killed my son and I need justice,” the mother reiterated.

All the information has been provided to the Police and an investigation is underway.

Magistrate discharges case...

He recounted that Sancharia then dealt the other cousin a chop to his neck also. He related that the two men kept firing chops about the bodies of the two young boys. Singh related that after his accomplice threatened to kill him, he also took a cutlass and started chopping at the two teens, and he marked an “X” on the forehead of one of the boys while Sancharia did the same to the other boy.

He then told the Police

that Sancharia and Gopaul left the camp with the bodies on a horseback, while he stayed at the camp.

This is consistent with initial Police findings that the area where the bodies of the teenagers were found was not the prime crime scene, but they were merely dumped there.

After his confession, Singh took investigators to the camp, and he pointed out where the murders took place. The case was handled

FROM PAGE 11

by ranks of the Police Force’s Major Crimes Unit. During the investigation, Police had arrested and questioned over a dozen persons.

A post-mortem report revealed that the cousins died as a result of haemorrhage and shock due to multiple incise injuries; their spines were also severed. Following the killings, massive protests erupted across the country, especially in West Coast Berbice where the two young men resided.

15

Ramsammy’s Ruminations

GECOM REFORMS ARE IMPERATIVES FOR DEMOCRACY

The Government of Guyana has made it abundantly clear - reforms at GECOM is a priority. These reforms represent an imperative for GECOM, for democracy and for the overall development of Guyana. The present system at GECOM is a threat to Guyana and no responsible government, no responsible stakeholder, can justifiably object to reforms before another election. For that reason, the time for change is now so that all scheduled elections can be held on time with a system that removes, as far as possible, those cracks in the system that permits persons inside GECOM collaborating with persons outside of GECOM to rig elections.

There was the suspicion that the 2015 elections results were based on some manipulations. The elections petition is still to be heard. For the March 2020 elections, an ugly, shameful attempt to rig the elections played out for the world to watch. Never in history was an election rigging attempt so brazen, so clumsy, broadcasted for the world to see, in the full view Dr Leslie Ramsammy of shocked world leaders.

The only persons who oppose reforms are those who were involved in the unsuccessful attempt to rig the elections. Now senior officials of GECOM, the most senior in management, and officials of the APNU/AFC Coalition are in court facing serious fraud and conspiracy charges. Until two weeks ago, shockingly, all those senior officers of GECOM continued to manage GECOM and elections matters. Since Guyana has continuous registration of citizens, these same officers charged with trying to rig elections were preparing for a new round of registration.

This is unheard of, persons charged with fraud and conspiracy in the key activity of the organization allowed to carry on, business as usual. It took almost ten months for the GECOM Commission to act sensibly, reasonably, to restore its integrity. Finally, the Chief Elections Officer, who is the CEO of GECOM, and his deputy and the returning officer of Region 4, among those presently defending themselves in court, have been sent on paid leave until GECOM decides whether to retain them or not. There are no ifs, buts and ands, they must go.

It is unbelievable that there are persons in Guyana who fight to keep these persons on the job. If GECOM refuses to do the right thing, then GECOM is determined to retain the capacity for election rigging in Guyana. The PPP has never supported and never tried rigging an election. The only party that has ever tired rigging an election is the PNC (now APNU/ AFC).

They have not only tried to rig elections; they are regarded as the worst riggers of elections in the world. They rigged elections for almost three decades in this country and in every election, they have tried to find some way to manipulate elections results.

There was always the intention to rig the March 2, 2020 elections. Recall David Granger's illegal appointment of James Patterson to be the GECOM Chair. Granger brought in a man who had long passed retirement age, older than many persons Granger sent off on the basis they were too old to serve. Recall the example of Justice Kennard who was sent off because he was too old to serve. But Patterson was sent to GECOM for one purpose - rig the 2020 elections. One of his first acts was the infamous sending off of Vishnu Persaud, the then Deputy Chief Elections Officer.

As hard as they tried to not bluntly call it what it was, the ERC could not hide the ugly truth - Vishnu Persaud’s contract was not renewed because of only one fact - he was not the right race and perceived, therefore, to be a PPP supporter.

Patterson himself admitted he did not know, never met and had no complaints against Persaud. In the end, Patterson voted to appoint a lady who had never worked at GECOM, had no experience and was less qualified than Persaud. Today she is in front of the courts charged with conspiracy to rig the elections. The truth is that those who wanted to rig elections were not confident that Vishnu Persaud would cooperate with them to rig elections.

But Ms. Myers is not only in front of the courts charged with fraud and conspiracy to rig the March 2, 2020 elections.

Ms. Myers was one of the persons who refused to meet with the ERC. She never made herself available to the ERC, a constitutional commission, and in so doing, she violated the constitution of Guyana. She was not the only one.

Patterson himself, at the time he served illegally as GECOM"s Chair, promised, but never delivered, documents.

Other GECOM officers, including the Human Resource Officer refused to meet the ERC. GECOM officers cannot be allowed to run wild. They did, not just during the March 2, 2020 elections and months after, as they tried to pervert the results, but also many months before the elections. There was an unholy alliance at GECOM. Reforms must not only bring this alliance to an end; it must make future attempt to manipulate elections impossible.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 7, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

16 NEWS

WEDNESDAY, JULY 7, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

4 more succumb to COVID, 179 new cases recorded …1 child remains in ICU

T

he Health Ministry on Tuesday reported that four more persons who tested positive for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) have died, thus taking the country’s death toll to 482.

For July, six individuals have died from the virus.

The latest fatalities include two males: a 71-yearold from Region 10 and an 81-year-old from Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) who died on July 4.

An 82-year-old man, also from Region Five, also died on July 3 and a 75-year-old woman from Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) succumbed on July 2.

However, new statistics provided by the Ministry showed that 179 new cases were detected during a 24-hour period and a whopping 134 of that total is from Region Nine. The confirmed cases have now climbed to a staggering 20,568.

The Ministry also stated that 14 patients remain in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), 96 in institutional isolation, 1510 in home isolation and three in institutional quarantine. Since the pandemic started, 194,775 individuals were tested – of which 10,045 males and 10,523 females were positive.

With spikes in Region Nine, additional testing sites have been established to trace all positives.

A spread shows 53 cases in Lethem, 50 in Tapachinga, 41 in St Ignatius, 31 in Sand Creek and 25 in Aishalton.

Additionally, there were two new cases record-

ed in Region One (BarimaWaini); seven in Region Three (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara); 22 in Region Four (DemeraraMahaica); 12 in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) and two in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).

Meanwhile, as of Tuesday, Guyana has immunised 233,796 persons or 48.4 per cent of the adult population. First doses are currently pegged at 114,394 or 23.5 per cent.

The Health Ministry is working to establish vaccination sites at health centres across the capital city, having recognised that many persons are unvaccinated.

“As of [this] week, we want to activate that plan where health centres in and around the city would now become vaccination sites.

Anybody who requires a vaccine, whether it is for first or second dose, we’re encouraging you to go to one of these sites where you can go and get your vaccines.

In and around the city, we have quite a population and quite a sizeable amount of that population is still not vaccinated,” said Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony

on Tuesday.

From the children that were hospitalised with a severe form of COVID-19, one remains in the Intensive Care Unit while another two are seeking treatment in the wards.

“We continue to monitor these children to see how they’re progressing, to make sure that they’re getting all the meds that they require and all the measures that should be taken are taken.

We’re hoping that they’ll be able to get better and be out of the hospital shortly,” he further expressed.

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.

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

GUYANA COVID-19 DASHBOARD JULY 6 UPDATE

NUMBER OF NEW CASES

179

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN INSTITUTIONAL ISOLATION NUMBER OF PERSONS IN HOME ISOLATION NUMBER OF PERSONS IN COVID-19 ICU

96 1510 14

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN INSTITUTIONAL QUARANTINE

3

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES BY GENDER (FEMALES)

10,523

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES BY GENDER (MALES)

10,045

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES IN GUYANA SINCE 2020

20,568

NUMBER OF RECOVERED CASES

18,466

TOTAL 1st DOSE VACCINATED

235,796

FULLY IMMUNISED

114,394

TOTAL NUMBER OF DEATHS

482

DISTRIBUTION OF TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES SINCE MARCH 2020 REGION 1

1238

REGION 2

569

REGION 3

2344

REGION 4

9401

REGION 5

677

REGION 6

1612

REGION 7

1267

REGION 8

380

REGION 9

1655

REGION 10

1425

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.

Govt calls on quarry operators to increase production – as massive infrastructural development projected in coming years

N

atural Resources Minister, Vickram Bharrat has called on local quarry operators to increase their production since the demand for aggre-

gates will rise as Guyana foresee massive infrastructural development over the next few years.

He made these comments at a seminar organ-

ised by the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) on Tuesday while noting that the demand for aggregates is set to surpass one million tonnes within the next year. On this note he, however, pointed out that production in Guyana is just about 650,000 tonnes.

He further highlighted that as of 2020, Guyana’s demand for aggregates was almost 900,000 tonnes.

Identifying this shortfall, the Minister posited that the Government has reached out to operators to boost their production in order to fulfil the local demand.

“With the new developmental project, the demand for stone will only escalate.

How I see it, the demand will probably reach 1.5 million tonnes in another year or two and we’re still producing at nearly 650,000.

223-7230-1 (Ext 55)

Natural Resources Minister Vickram Bharrat

We recognise that there is a significant shortfall and we recognise that we need to boost production in this sector and we would have called on eight quarry operators with existing licence when we took over to boost production,” the Minister noted.

He told the participants that the Government is on a mission to transform the country’s economy, but Guyanese must be able to capitalise on the local investments. He clarified that with a large import bill for this resource, opportunities for locals to capitalise on are lost.

“We as a Government would have recognised that there was a significant shortfall in the production of aggregates and with our plan and vision to transform and modernise our economy, build new highways and oil and gas bringing into Guyana so much investments, we realise that the

demand for building materials would increase tremendously.

“It is quite embarrassing that we’re quite a country with so many natural resources, more so in the quarrying mining side and in the last couple of years, we have been importing over 200,000 tonnes of aggregates every year since.

Importing stones or aggregates over the last five years represents a loss in opportunity for you. It represents a loss in opportunity for Guyanese businesses.

It represents a loss in revenue for our country,” he told operators.

With the expected “transformational phase” over the next decade, the Natural Resources Minister said the attention and investments which the country will attract is unprecedented.

However, keeping the traditional sectors alive is on Government’s agenda.

“Every single day, we have investors coming to Guyana, coming to our shores, wanting to invest in Guyana. We value our local investors. Our local investors must play a meaningful role in the development of our country. Guyana is an oil producing nation. There will be many opportunities but as a Government, we are committed to ensuring that we develop every single sector, especially the traditional and non-traditional sectors that have kept our country and economy going over a number of years,” he outlined.

NEWS

17

WEDNESDAY, JULY 7, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

“Persons with disabilities must not believe that they need to be fixed” – First Lady

– as Guidance and Counselling Programme launched

F

irst Lady Arya Ali on Tuesday highlighted the importance of having persons living with disabilities be a part of the country’s revival post-COVID-19 pandemic.

She made this comment at the launch of a Guidance and Counselling Programme for persons with disabilities, an initiative by the Office of the First Lady in partnership with the Guyana Council of Organisations for Persons with Disabilities (GCOPD).

The event was held at State House, Main Street, Georgetown.

During the event, it was stated that the programme for young people with disabilities will be piloted with students from the Special Education Needs (SEN) schools, members of the Disabled People Organisations (DPOs) and the orphanages in Regions Three (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara) and Four (Demerara-Mahaica).

Through the programme, persons will benefit from job coaching, psychosocial support, career guidance, capaci-

ty building among other areas of support and empowerment.

The First Lady stated that in order for these necessities to be met, it must begin with education and as such, these persons must have access to quality education. She assured the gathering that Education Minister, Priya Manickchand would agree that it is an ambitious but necessary initiative.

“It is important for me to reiterate that this starts with education. People with disabilities cannot fully participate in our economy if they do not have the skills they need,” the First Lady added.

She is also of the belief that language becomes quite important and will play an integral role in this initiative, in order to better understand and cater to the needs of these persons.

“This is where language becomes a powerful tool,” she expressed. “The language of students with disabilities is esoteric. It therefore means that we need professionals with specialised training to engage with students con-

stantly to create a positive space and to bring them to a place of acceptance.”

She urged for all to be conscious of the obstacles persons with disabilities have to face in order to establish a sense of normalcy throughout their lives.

In addition, Programme Coordinator of the GCOPD, Ganesh Singh stated that the programme has been in the making for the past three years. “From our works across the administrative regions of Guyana, working with all categories of persons with disabilities in all age groups, it is something that we’ve noticed that there is need to provide specific guidance and counselling to young persons with disabilities,” he added.

Singh further explained that persons living with disabilities have to understand the reality of their situation and the environment in which they live hence the reason they will require guidance.

National Special Education Needs (SEN) Officer within the Education Ministry, Savvie Hopkinson

abilities have to guidance and counselling services and empowerment activities. To this end, the organisation has ensured that the empowerment and development of young persons with disabilities was prioritised as one of its core programme areas.

This programme First Lady Arya Ali along with US Ambassador Sarah-Ann Lynch, is said to be excluUN Resident Coordinator Mikiko Tanaka, SEN Officer Savvie sively for children Hopkinson and members of the GCOPD at the launch on Tuesday with disabilities and referred to the launch as a ling. will be done virtually.

Meanwhile, GCOPD has significant journey based on In attendance at this sound understanding of the recognised the importance of event were United States challenge persons with dis- providing guidance and sup- Ambassador to Guyana, port to young persons with Sarah-Ann abilities face.

Lynch; UN She noted that the pro- disabilities, as they transition Resident Coordinator to gramme will be able to re- into adulthood and enter into Guyana, Mikiko Tanaka, duce the school drop-out rates the world of work. members of Guyana Council Further, the organisation of Organisations for Persons amongst children with disabilities due to the lack of is aware of the limited expo- with Disabilities and other ofproper guidance and counsel- sure young persons with dis- ficials.

18

guyanatimesgy.com

WEDNESDAY, JULY 7, 2021

News

APNU/AFC files No-Confidence Motion against Ministers of Health, Home Affairs – over handling of COVID-19, crime rate

T

he A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/ AFC) has moved to file two No-Confidence Motions with the Clerk of the National Assembly, Sherlock Issacs, against Minister of Health, Dr Frank Anthony and Home Affairs Minister, Robeson Benn.

The motions were physically filed by Opposition Leader Joseph Harmon, who descended on the National Assembly with a number of his fellow Opposition Members of Parliament (MPs) in tow.

His motion against Dr Anthony is being seconded by former junior Minister of Health, Dr Karen Cummings.

On the other hand, his motion against Benn is being seconded by shadow Home Affairs Minister Geeta ChandanEdmonds.

Upon receiving the motion, the Clerk informed the Opposition Leader that he will examine the motions to ensure they “do not offend the standing orders”, after which they will be transmitted to Speaker of the National Assembly Manzoor Nadir, for

Opposition Leader Joseph Harmon

his approval or disapproval.

Issacs did promise Harmon, however, that he would handle the motions expeditiously.

According to a statement from the APNU/AFC afterwards, “…in filing these No Confidence Motions, is acting on behalf of hundreds of thousands of Guyanese who have lost all confidence in the performance of these two incompetent ministers to perform their duties.”

The APNU/AFC contended that “the management of the spread of COVID-19 has been woeful, there has been questionable procurement of vaccines and confirmed COVID cases and deaths are spiraling out of control. Dr.

Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn

Anthony must bear direct responsibility for the health care crisis and disaster he has placed Guyana in, imperiling the lives and health and wellbeing of every citizen. The nation has lost confidence in Dr. Anthony and we formally take action on behalf of the people of Guyana today.”

However, this position comes on the heels of Harmon discrediting the COVID-19 vaccination campaign by dissuading persons from taking the Sputnik V vaccine. In fact, Harmon in an interview with the media after filing the motion cited this as one of the factors fuelling their “concern.”

Moreover, the APNU/AFC argued in their statement

Minister of Health, Dr Frank Anthony

that “crime in all forms is on an astronomical increase in Guyana. Robberies of various kinds, break and enter, murders, vehicular homicides, violent assaults have enveloped the society. Citizens are living

in mortal fear.”

At present, the configuration of the National Assembly sees the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) with the parliamentary majority of 33 out of 65 seats. APNU/AFC, the main Opposition party, has 31 seats, while the Liberty and Justice Party (LJP), in collaboration with two other parties, holds one.

APNU/AFC is of course intimately familiar with NoConfidence Motions, having fallen to one brought by the then Opposition PPP back in 2018. At the time, APNU/AFC’s 33 seat majority was broken when AFC MP Charrandas Persaud crossed over in a conscience vote

against them.

The Opposition Leader’s motions almost mirror similar motions recently filed in nearby Trinidad and Tobago (T&T). Earlier this year, T&T Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar filed a No-Confidence Motion in Parliament against National Security Minister Stuart Young.

And just last month, Opposition MP Dr Rishad Seecheran filed a NoConfidence Motion against Minister of Health Terrance Deyalsingh. In the case of the motion against Young, the Opposition United National Congress (UNC) failed to get the motion passed.

Police seeking identity of miner killed in mining pit accident

T

he Guyana Police Force has requested the assistance of the public in identifying a miner who was killed in a mining pit in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni).

Police said the man was identified as “Vibes” and is reportedly of 4 Miles Port Kaituma, North West District (NWD).

Based on reports, the deceased is about 21 years old, and is of Amerindian decent.

He is said to be about 5 feet 5 inches in height, and has a tattoo on his right forearm.

The individual reportedly died on June 28, 2021, in an alleged mining pit incident

Unidentified man

which occurred at Blackwater Backdam, Cuyuni River.

Anyone with information about the identity of the man is asked to contact Region 7 Commander, Police Superintendent Dion Moore

The tattoo on the man’s forearm

on numbers 455-2238/6806969/626-8677 or O/C Crime Johann Henry on 6321202/684-0838.

Tropical Storm Elsa: Cuba reels as storm moves towards Florida

A

fter causing devastation in the Caribbean, Tropical Storm Elsa is moving north towards the Florida Keys.

More than 100,000 people in Cuba were evacuated before Elsa hit on Monday, causing mudslides and “flooding rains”.

In the days before, the storm passed over the Dominican Republic and St Lucia, killing three people.

Officials in Florida have said they are “very hopeful” that they won’t have to pause rescue efforts at the site of a collapsed building in Miami.

The demolition of the partially collapsed apartment block had been brought forward, for fear that Elsa might topple the building in an uncontrolled way.

Forecasters have since shifted the storm’s likely path westward, suggesting

The storm is expected to dump up to 15 inches of rain as it exits Cuba

that rather than hitting Florida directly, it will only skim the state’s southwest coast.

Cuba’s meteorological institute Insmet said the storm had passed through the island with winds of up to 100km/h, with “some stronger gusts”.

It added that Elsa was expected to dump heavy rains over the island as it exited.

By 21:00 local time on

Monday (01:00 GMT on Tuesday) Elsa had moved out of Cuba towards the Gulf of Mexico.

Jose Rubiera, Cuba’s best known meteorologist, said on state television: “The rain is coming behind the centre so the fact it is moving out to sea along the northern coast between Havana and Mayabeque... does not mean the rain is over.” (Excerpt from BBC News)

guyanatimesgy.com

WEDNESDAY, JULY 7, 2021

19

Around the World

OILNEWS OIL NEWS Oil drops sharply after OPEC cancels meeting

O

il prices tumbled on Tuesday in a volatile session after OPEC producers cancelled a meeting when major players were unable to come to an agreement to increase supply.

Brent crude settled down US$2.63 a barrel, or 3.4 per cent, to US$74.53, after hitting a session peak of US$77.84, its highest since October 2018.

US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures settled down US$1.79, or 2.4 per cent, to US$73.37 after touching US$76.98, highest since November 2014.

On Monday, Ministers from OPEC+, which includes the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), Russia and other producers, abandoned talks after negotiations failed to close divisions between Saudi Arabia, the largest OPEC producer, and United Arab Emirates.

Initially, oil rallied on news of the breakdown in talks, but prices retreated as traders focused on the possibility that the strife will cause some national producers to open the taps and start exporting more barrels.

"The market is concerned that the UAE will step in and unilaterally add barrels and other people in OPEC will follow suit," said Bob Yawger, director of energy futures at Mizuho.

The United Arab Emirates said it would go along with output increases but rejected a separate proposal to extend curbs to the end of 2022 from an existing April deadline.

Some OPEC+ sources said they still believed the group would resume discussions this month and agree to pump more from August, though others said current curbs might remain in place.

The White House said Tuesday it was closely monitoring talks

by OPEC+ and was "encouraged" after conversations with officials in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

No date for further talks has been announced.

Analysts expect US producers to start adding supply due to higher prices after months of subdued activity. US production is currently around 11 million bpd, so output has room to increase before nearing the US record of nearly 13 million bpd reached in 2019.

Goldman Sachs said the collapse of the talks had introduced uncertainty into OPEC's production path. The bank said it still saw Brent reaching US$80 per barrel early next year.

On Monday, Iraqi Oil Minister Ihsan Abdul Jabbar said his country did not want to see oil prices soaring above current levels and that he hoped that within 10 days a date would be set for a new OPEC+ meeting. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Notre-Dame fire lead pollution endangered life, lawsuit claims

P

arisian authorities are facing legal action over the health threat from toxic lead particles released during the fire at the NotreDame Cathedral.

Hundreds of tonnes of lead within the cathedral's roof melted during the blaze in 2019.

It released toxic particles into the air, which settled in the local area.

A lawsuit accuses authorities of "gross negligence" for allowing people living in the city to be exposed to the harmful substance.

Lawyers for two local families, whose children were allegedly exposed to lead dust at their homes and schools, along with a health association and a trade union, say authorities endangered life by not reacting to the risk of lead poisoning.

"Despite the scale of the fire and knowledge about the risk

of pollution and contamination... no precaution in particular was taken by the authorities involved for more than three months after the fire," their legal complaint says, according to AFP news agency.

A total of 400 tonnes of lead were reportedly dispersed over the French capital during the fire on 15 April 2019.

A simulation carried out in 2019 reportedly found particles had spread up to 50km (31 miles) from the cathedral.

The square in front of the cathedral, which is being rebuilt, was closed again to the public in May this year after tests revealed high concentrations of toxic lead particles.

Several months after the fire, city authorities ordered a deep-clean of schools in areas close to the cathedral, while children and pregnant women living nearby were urged to have blood tests. (Excerpt from BBC News)

No survivors from plane crash in Russia's far east, rescue officials say

T

here are no survivors after a plane carrying 28 people crashed in the far east of Russia on Tuesday, Russian news agencies cited rescue officials as saying.

The Antonov An-26 twin-engined turboprop was en route from the regional capital Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky to Palana, a village in the north of the Kamchatka peninsula, when it lost contact with air traffic control, the Emergencies Ministry said.

Citing sources, Interfax reported that the plane was thought to have crashed into a cliff as it was preparing to land in poor visibility conditions.

Russia's civil aviation authority confirmed that the plane's crash site had been

Russian An-26 plane with the tail number RA-26085 is seen in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Russia in this undated handout image released by Russia's Emergencies Ministry on July 6, 2021

found after the Emergencies Ministry dispatched a helicopter and had deployed teams on the ground to look for the missing aircraft.

There were 22 passengers and six crew on board, the Ministry said. Olga

Mokhireva, the Mayor of Palana, was among the passengers, the TASS agency quoted local authorities as saying.

The weather in the area was cloudy at the time the plane went missing, Russian news

agencies reported. TASS said the aircraft involved had been in service since 1982.

Russian aviation safety standards have improved in recent years but accidents, especially involving ageing planes in far-flung regions, are not uncommon.

The Soviet-era plane type, still used for military and civilian flights in some countries, has been involved in dozens of deadly crashes since it entered service around 50 years ago.

An Antonov-28, a similar plane, slammed into a Kamchatka forest in 2012 in a crash that killed 10 people along the same route.

Investigators said both pilots were drunk at the time of the crash. (Excerpt from Reuters)

“It isn’t over”: WHO warns against easing COVID curbs too soon

T

he World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned governments around the world against easing COVID-19 restrictions too soon, saying countries that did so risked paying a heavy price for rushing back to normality.

Speaking at a press briefing on Monday, the UN health agency’s top emergency expert Mike Ryan said a new wave of infections could be round the cor-

ner and noted that for much of the world, the pandemic was just getting started.

“All of the countries of the Americas, we still have nearly one million cases a week,” he said. “And the same in Europe…with half a million cases a week. It’s not like this thing has gone away,” Ryan added. “It isn’t over.”

Last week, the WHO’s Africa Director had warned that “the speed and

scale” of the continent’s third wave “is like nothing we’ve seen before”.

“COVID-19 cases are doubling every three weeks, compared to every four weeks at the start of the second wave,” Matshidiso Moeti told a briefing on Thursday.

In Russia, meanwhile, coronavirus deaths hit another daily record on Tuesday, with authorities reporting 737 more fatalities. The daily tally of con-

firmed infections has more than doubled in the past month, soaring from about 9000 in early June to more than 23,000 this week.

The warnings come amid renewed concerns over the new coronavirus Delta variant, first detected in India in April. The new strain, which is considered to be the most transmissible variant yet, has now spread to nearly 100 countries worldwide.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

China's Xi takes dig at US in speech to political parties around world

C

hinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday urged political parties worldwide to oppose any country that engages in "technology blockades", an allusion to the United States which views China as its strategic competitor.

As US President Joe Biden's Administration has sought support from like-minded democracies including the European Union and Japan to coordinate a tougher stance against China, Beijing has

doubled down on seeking support and affirmation from friendly nations such as North Korea and Serbia.

"Together, we must oppose all acts of unilateralism in the name of multilateralism, hegemony and power politics," Xi told a virtual gathering of representatives of 500 parties from 160 countries such as Russia, Zimbabwe, Cuba and Burkina Faso.

"Looking from the angle of 'My Country First', the world is narrow and crowded, and

often full of fierce competition," Xi said in apparent reference to former US President Donald Trump's "America First" policy.

Xi renewed a call to work towards "building a community with a shared future for mankind" and said any country that engages in "technology blockades" and "developmental decoupling" should be rejected.

Chinese diplomats have often criticised the United States for allegedly trying to

hamper China's development by cutting off its access to US technology.

China is increasingly worried about its international image, tarnished by anger towards its initial handling of the COVID-19 outbreak, its maritime and territorial assertiveness towards neighbours, its clampdown in Hong Kong and treatment of ethnic minorities in Xinjiang, and its "wolf-warrior" diplomats who engage in a war of words with critics. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Mary Simon: Trudeau names Indigenous leader in “historic” first

C

anadian Prime Minister has named Mary Simon as Governor General, the first Indigenous person to hold the post.

The former diplomat and advocate for Inuit rights will represent Canada's Head of State, Queen Elizabeth II. The announcement comes nearly six months after the former Governor General, Julie Payette, resigned amid accusations of bullying.

While the role is largely ceremonial, the Governor General presides over important State duties.

Mary Simon is Canada's thirtyfifth Governor General

Simon's appointment follows a national reckoning over Canada's legacy of residential schools. These Government-funded boarding schools were part of policy to attempt to assimilate Indigenous children and roll back Indigenous

cultures and languages.

In the past two months, hundreds of unmarked graves, believed to belong to former residential school students, have been found.

Born in northern Quebec, Simon said she was raised to maintain an active connection to her Inuit culture and heritage. She has served as the Ambassador to Denmark and as President of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, Canada's national Inuit organisation.

On Tuesday, she said her "historic" nomination was "an important step forward on the long path

towards reconciliation" and towards "building a more inclusive and just Canadian society".

Simon is bilingual in English and Inuktitut but not French. She said she was denied the opportunity to learn French while attending a federal day school in Quebec.

Canada has two official languages: English and French. It's rare that an appointment like this would not be proficient in both but Simon said on Tuesday she was committed to continuing French language studies. (Excerpt from BBC News)

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 7, 2021

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CALVIN AND HOBBES

SUDOKU

Listen and learn. An open mind will serve you well.

Practice your skills until you feel confident that you can best any competition you encounter. A personal change will catch you off guard.

You’ll require discipline if you want to outsmart someone’s persuasive tactics. Stick to what you know, and refuse to let anyone meddle with your plans. Handle emotional matters with class and dignity.

Take better care of yourself and avoid unpredictable situations. Pay attention to detail, and respectfully present your thoughts. Tell the truth and stand behind your word.

Take a unique approach to work or how you handle your responsibilities. An open-minded attitude will help you move about with ease. Set a budget to avoid unnecessary stress.

Surround yourself with experienced individuals.

Maintain a clear vision of what you are trying to achieve. Consistency and sensitivity to what others want will help you get things done.

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

Pay attention. Distance yourself from anyone who appears uncertain. Set high standards and stick to a plan that you can carry out all by yourself if necessary. Leave nothing to chance.

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

Gather information. What you can contribute mentally will be the deciding factor when pitching an idea or making a presentation. Get your facts straight. Put a realistic schedule in place.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

Consider your options and how best to proceed. You’ll need more space at home for something you wish to pursue. Stop dreaming and start putting your plan in motion.

Don’t drag your feet!

Ignore what you cannot SAGITTARIUS control, and explore what (Nov. 23will help you move forward.

Dec. 21) Spend time with someone who sparks your interest and imagination.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22Jan. 19)

YESTERDAY'S WORD - DIPLOMAT

SOLUTION FOR LAST PUBLISHED PUZZLE

Don’t rely on anyone or anything. You are better off handling matters yourself and bringing about changes that will make you feel comfortable. A joint venture may prove unsettling.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20Feb. 19)

Take care of matters personally. Plan to spend quality time with a loved one.

Home adjustments and self-improvements will fetch compliments, and discussions will bring progress.

PISCES

Someone will question you if you aren’t explicit about your feelings and wants. Choose your words carefully and ask for clarification if something sounds suspicious.

(Feb. 20March 20)

WEDNESDAY, JULY 7, 2021

21

Ben Stokes to captain England against Pakistan after 7 members in bio-bubble test positive for COVID-19

T

Ben Stokes

he England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has confirmed that three players and four members of the management staff tested positive for COVID-19 on Monday in Bristol.

The members who have tested positive will self-isolate as per United Kingdom Government's quarantine protocol. The rest of the group in the bio-bubble too will have to self-isolate after being deemed as close contacts to those who tested positive.

The ECB has, however, confirmed that the One-Day International (ODI) and T20 International series against Pakistan will go ahead as per schedule. Star all-rounder Ben Stokes, who is currently playing for Durham against

Warwickshire in the County Championship, has been called in to captain the new squad that will take the field against Pakistan.

"We have been mindful that the emergence of the Delta variant, along with our move away from the stringent enforcement of bio-secure environments, could increase the chances of an outbreak," said Tom Harrison, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of ECB. "We made a strategic choice to try to adapt protocols, in order to support the overall well-being of our players and management staff who have spent much of the last 14 months living in very restricted conditions. Overnight we have worked swiftly to identify a new squad, and we are grateful to Ben Stokes who will

return to England duties to captain."

Meanwhile, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) released a statement saying they were happy with the assurances provided by ECB with regard to the safety of the touring contingent and have advised the Pakistan team management in England to exercise extra caution during the course of their stay.

In total, there were nine uncapped players in the new 18-strong squad. Chris Silverwood, who was set to take some time away during the white-ball series, is back as Head Coach.

Ashley Giles, the Managing Director of England Men's Cricket, said it was "a great opportunity" for uncapped players to play on "the biggest stage".

"For most of the players selected, it's not necessarily something they would have been expecting 24 hours ago," said Giles. "It's an exciting

Australian Grand Prix: Formula 1 race and Moto GP round called off

T

he Australian Grand Prix has been called off for the second year in a row because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Australian round of the MotoGP world championship, scheduled for October 24, has also been cancelled.

The Formula 1 event was due to take place from November 19-21, but has been abandoned because of tight border controls in Australia.

Australian Grand Prix Corporation Chairman Paul Little said he was "deeply disappointed" in a statement.

"We appreciate the challenge Australia faces with current international travel restrictions and the importance of vaccinations," he added.

The Australian Grand Prix was called off in 2020 and put in place to open the current season on March 14, only for the date to be moved to November because of border controls.

The November race was only to be followed by two more in the F1 season – Saudi Arabia and the season-ending Grand Prix in Abu Dhabi.

But Australian border rules require visitors to quarantine for 14 days, a condition of entry expected to be in place until at least the end of the year.

Organisers of the event ultimately cited "restrictions and logistical challenges relating to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic", for the cancellation.

Formula 1 chief Stefano Domenicali said a 23-race season would still be possible despite the cancellation.

"While it is disappointing we won't be racing in Australia this season, we are confident we can deliver a 23-race season in 2021 and we have a number of options to take forward," he said.

McLaren's Australian driver Daniel Ricciardo said the news was a "huge disappointment" for drivers, but added they "understand the

reasons".

"For me personally, I can't wait to have the chance to race at home again, and it'll be even sweeter when we do because it's been so long," Ricciardo further added. "Fingers crossed, things can change for 2022 and we get to see the awesome fans at Albert Park again and put on a good show for them."

The Australian round of the MotoGP world championship, scheduled to take place at Phillip Island, has also now been wiped out for a second successive year.

The event organisers said: "The ongoing pandemic and resulting travel complications and logistical restrictions mean it has not been possible to confirm the viability of the event at this time, and it will therefore not feature on the 2021 calendar."

The Malaysia MotoGP has been brought forward to take place October 2224, the original dates of the Australia event. (BBC Sport)

group of players, with some young talent and some players who have impressed at domestic level over a long period of time.

"We're in unprecedented territory, in terms of replacing an entire squad and management team, and I'm very

proud of how everyone has come together in order to get it done – both those within the ECB and from the county game."

England squad for the ODI series against Pakistan: Ben Stokes (Captain); Jake Ball; Danny Briggs; Brydon

Carse; Zak Crawley; Ben Duckett; Lewis Gregory; Tom Helm; Will Jacks; Dan Lawrence; Saqib Mahmood; Dawid Malan; Craig Overton; Matt Parkinson; David Payne; Phil Salt; John Simpson and James Vince.

(ICC Cricket)

Tokyo Games at risk of more spectator curbs and downgrades

J

apan is considering barring all but VIP spectators from the opening ceremony of the Tokyo Olympics, a newspaper said on Tuesday, another downgrade for the Games that have had their pomp and spectacle tarnished by the novel coronavirus.

Once promoted as an extravaganza to showcase Japan to the world, the Games appear in danger of taking place largely without spectators in a country closed to visitors from abroad because of the pandemic and with areas around Tokyo still under restrictions.

The Games, already delayed a year, are set to open on July 23 despite concern that an influx of tens of thousands of people from around the world could trigger new waves of infections.

Plans for the opening ceremony remain under wraps, but the Asahi newspaper, ahead of talks with the International Olympic Committee and other organisers, reported that the Government would slash the number of VIPs, such as sponsors' guests and diplomats, at the opening ceremony from an initial estimate of about 10,000.

During the Games, events at large venues and those after 21:00h would also be held without spectators, the paper said, citing multiple unidentified Government sources.

Organisers have already banned spectators from overseas and set a cap on domestic spectators at 50 per cent of capacity, up to 10,000 people.

With the public nervous about new clusters of infections,

medical experts have said no spectators would be the least risky option.

The question of spectators is due to be decided at five-way talks also expected on Thursday that will include the Tokyo Governor and IOC President Thomas Bach, who arrives in Japan that day.

The Government looks likely to decide on Thursday to extend a state of quasi-emergency in Tokyo and three nearby prefectures beyond an original end-date of July 11, Government sources have said.

Kyodo News reported that the extension would likely last a month, meaning the curbs will be in place throughout the Olympics, which close with a ceremony on August 8.

Torch relay When the Games were postponed last year, Japanese officials said they hoped they would be held in 2021 as a symbol of "victory" by humankind over the virus.

With that celebration on hold as countries around the world grapple with new outbreaks, they now say the Games will help bring together a divided world.

In another blow, the Olympic torch relay, set to reach Tokyo on Friday and parade through the city until the opening ceremony, will be moved off public roads.

Instead, torch-lighting ceremonies without spectators will be held, the Yomiuri newspaper reported. Organisers also said they would ask the public not to gather to watch the marathon and walking races

being held on streets.

When Japan was awarded the Games in 2013, they were expected to be a celebration of recovery from a deadly earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear accident in 2011.

In 2015, then Prime Minister Shinzo Abe promised visitors would be able to use self-driving cars to run around Tokyo and a start-up backed by Toyota Motor Corp said in 2017 it aimed to light the Olympic flame with its flying car.

The coronavirus has brought everyone down to earth.

Asked about spectators, top Government spokesman Katsunobu Kato told a news conference that Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga has said holding the Games without spectators was a possibility.

Suga was keen to have fans in the stadiums, the Asahi said, but added some ruling party members wanted a ban, especially after the ruling coalition failed to win a majority in an election for the Tokyo's assembly on Sunday, partly due to dissatisfaction with the Government's COVID-19 response.

That poll is seen as a bellwether for a general election later this year.

Japan has not had the explosive COVID-19 outbreaks seen elsewhere but has seen more than 800,000 cases and more than 14,800 deaths. A slow vaccination rollout has meant only a quarter of its population has had at least one vaccination.

(Reuters)

22

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

WEDNESDAY, JULY 7, 2021

“I didn't know if I was standing or sitting” – Parris recalls moment he captured historic Olympic bronze for Guyana

Simmons bemoans tactical approach in middle overs

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O

ne could easily have forgiven then 22-yearold Guyanese boxer Michael Parris if he had been left frozen by the large crowds, cold climate, and politically-charged atmosphere of the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games.

Sixty-six countries, including the Caribbean islands of Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Barbados, Cayman Islands, and Haiti had boycotted the Games entirely because of the Soviet Union’s invasion of Afghanistan. Security at the athletes' village was robust, with armed soldiers and barbed wire unfamiliar sights for the quadrennial spectacle of global goodwill.

At the time, Parris, now looking back, admits that all of that mattered very little. After all, he was there for one thing and that was to win gold for Guyana, a country which despite its reputation for being rich in earthly minerals, had yet to mine a speck of precious metal on the Olympics stage.

With that singular focus in mind, Parris recalls spending the majority of his time at the Games training in his hotel room, with the air conditioning stuck at its lowest setting, to help with acclimatisation. Even so, once the moment arrived, once he stepped out onto the global stage, the gravity of the moment did not entirely escape him.

“I was nervous. Nobody was calling for Guyana. I lost at least a bucket of sweat from my face and arms. The crowd was just so big, and you see maybe one little Guyana flag. It doesn’t matter where you go in the world, someone from Guyana will always be there.

I saw a little flag somewhere in the crowd,” Parris recalled of stepping into the middle of the ring.

“But, when I was fighting, I never focused on the crowd, not even the coach.

When I was in the ring, I only focused on the other fighter, his movement, my movement, to see when I had hurt him,” he added.

Parris began the bouts with a win over Nigeria’s

Michael Parris

Nureni Gbadamosi, in the level. Lewis failed to adround of 32, followed by an- vance past the first round at other win over Syria’s Fayez the 1990 Olympics after losZaghloui in the round of 16. ing to Germany’s Andreas Another solid performance Otto. saw the referee stop the conParris is convinced that test between himself and the country’s lack of outright Mexico’s Daniel Zaragoza, success, since then, at the in the quarter-finals, be- Olympic level, is not due to a fore he faced Cuba’s Juan lack of talent but more a case Hernández in the semi-fi- of enough not being done to nals. fully harness the potential of Unfortunately for Parris, young Guyanese athletes. the competition ended there, “We need to find a way with the Cuban going on to to support our athletes. We outpoint him before defeat- need to look closely at these ing Venezuela’s Bernardo athletes, support them and Piñango in the final to claim you’ll get the best out of the gold medal. them. Support them and exEven if the mission pose them, they need finanwasn’t fully accomplished, cial programmes and stuff the job had been well done. like that. Any sports you can Parris’s performances as- think of, Guyanese are good sured him of a bronze med- at it, whether it be running, al. The long journey, which swimming, cricket – they began in sunny Georgetown, just need the backing.”

Guyana had culminatHe admits, however, that ed with a spot on the podi- he has recently been enum nearly 5000 miles away, couraged by the approach in the chilly Russian city. taken by a newly-elected Forty years have passed Government, which came since the monumental occa- into power last year, and sion, but for Parris, looking the appointment of Sport back, winning the country’s Minister Charles Ramson first and only Olympic med- Jr. al to date still fills him with “I have been encouraged a deep sense of pride. that we have a young sports “I didn’t know if I was minister, with this new govstanding or sitting, or what, ernment. He looks like when the flag went up in he is ready to push things the air. The excitement, ahead, so we may get a few I don’t even remember if I more Guyanese medalling at was standing. To see the the Olympic Games soon,” flag raised, of 100s of other Parris said. countries, the Guyanese flag If there is one regret, was up there. It was just Parris, now 63, says is that so good. Some of our other he has not been able to work athletes had flags waving as with some of the country’s well, I was checking up on youth boxers, as he was nevthem and they thought they er given the opportunity. should have won medals as Still, he does his part to atwell and such,” Parris re- tempt to inspire the next called. generation.

“It was really excit“It’s been a great feeling, ing, everything about it. but the only thing I wish is Everything, the crowd, the when I came back with the first time the Guyana flag medal, I would have loved was raised at a Games. to give something back Many athletes went to the to the youth. I never got Games before me. The first the chance because no one time I went, thankfully, I called upon me to say come qualified and was able to and help us with the coachbring back the bronze,” he ing programme or whatevadded. er. When they have summer Parris’ achievement is yet camps now though, someto be equalled. Even the late times I drive around with Andrew “Six Heads” Lewis, the medal to show them, so who went on to become they can see it and feel it. I WBA World Welterweight want to inspire them. I want Champion, did not match his them to know they can do it achievement at the Olympic as well.” (Sportsmax)

H

ead Coach Phil Simmons has reiterated the importance of West Indies’ batsmen becoming more tactically aware during the middle overs, following the 3-2 series defeat to South Africa on Saturday.

A side packed with power-hitters failed to chase down 169 in Saturday’s final Twenty20 International, and crashed to a 25-run defeat in the decisive encounter at the Grenada National Stadium.

Not for the first time, West Indies’ batsmen excelled in the power-plays but stumbled in the middle overs, leaving Simmons also bemoaning the thought process of his players at that critical stage of the game.

“We’ve got to think a little bit more. We’ve got to be smarter in our cricket – smarter especially in that seven to 14over [period],” Simmons explained.

“We’ve just got to think about how we do things, think about the way we’re going to score in those overs and then set things up for the back end, because we’ve been good in the back end, but we need to work on the middle section.”

He added: “It’s something we’ve got to look at, especially overs seven to 14. [We must show] we are getting better at it, we are learning how to deal with it, in order that we can get better scores.”

West Indies had hinted at their capabilities when they chased down 161 with five overs to spare in the opener, but then faltered in their pursuit of 167 in the second T20I and 168 in the third, to crash to 16-run and one-run defeats respectively.

The common denominator in both defeats was the high number of

dot balls – West Indies conceding 55 in the second match and 49 in the third, and another 50 in Saturday’s loss.

“I think it is definitely a tactical and technical change [required],” Simmons pointed out.

“You’ve got to be able to assess what situation you’re in and from that situation you’ve got to be able to formulate a plan to score the runs we need to score in that section, so tactically we’ve been lacking.”

And the former West Indies all-rounder said while the bowling aspect had been impressive during the series, especially on a good batting wicket, the batting now needed to step up.

“From a bowling point of view and fielding, it’s been excellent. On that wicket to keep teams to 160-odd has been brilliant, but I think on the batting side we’ve let ourselves down in every game so far except the first game …,” he noted.

Several high-profile players struggled for form during the series, including veteran left-hander Chris Gayle who scraped only 56 runs from four innings, to follow up a lean series against Sri Lanka last March, where he managed only 29 runs from three innings.

Left-hander Nicholas Pooran also failed for the second straight series while opener Lendl Simmons again lacked consistency.

However, Head Coach Simmons said personnel changes had not yet been considered.

“It’s something I have to go back and think about. I haven’t really thought in that direction yet.”

West Indies face Australia in the first game of a five-match series starting in St Lucia on Friday. (CMC)

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23

Allicock begins training stint in Russia G

uyanese Olympicbound boxer Keevin Allicock, after arriving in Russia last Thursday, has begun training ahead of the upcoming Olympic Games.

Allicock, who is being accompanied by his longtime Coach Sebert Blake, started his usual training

exercises over the weekend, but went into full camp mode on Monday in Moscow, where he is being afforded the opportunity to train, compete, and spar with other aspiring boxers. The training camp has a three-week duration.

In video updates disseminated by Coach Blake,

Allicock can be seen sparring with foreign boxers, working on his speed, agility, stamina and working with a ‘slip line’, in order to perfect his slipping technique.

Following the threeweek training camp, Allicock is expected to emerge as a much stron-

Guyanese players perform well in LA Open …Nedd 3rd highest wicket-taker in tournament

Sherfane Rutherford ended the tournament with an average of 32.67 and bagged three wickets

Ashmead Nedd was the third highest wickettaker in the tournament

T

he Somerset Cavaliers were all poised to book their spot in the finale of the exciting LA Open T20 tournament.

However, they had an off game in the semi-final round in a low-scoring thriller against the Nepali Rhinos that saw the Chandrapaul Hemrajled team losing out on a well-deserved title.

The Rhinos batted first and posted 126-6 in their allotted 20 overs; this was thanks to the resistant scoring of Dominique Rikhi (54). Bowling for the Cavaliers were Ashmead Nedd (2-22); Sherfane Rutherford (1-28); Nikhil Dutta (1-18); Karima Gore (1-20) and Rusty Theron 1-13, while Hemraj was economical in his four overs, going for only 16 runs.

In reply, the Cavaliers fell for 1 2 0 - 8 , thanks to some good Rhinos bowling. This was led by Gudakesh Motie, who bowled 2-16, with support from Karthik Gattepalli (2-25), Jessy Singh (2-27) and Rohan Mustafa (1-23).

Top-scoring for the Cavaliers was Chadwick Walton (37 off 32), with Rutherford making 32 off 21 balls.

In the final, the Nepali Rhinos were no match for the

ger boxer, especially in the face of international opponents, as he hunts Guyana’s second Olympic medal later this month.

Upon completion of the camp, the Guyanese duo will head straight to Tokyo for the July 23 to August 8 Summer Olympics.

Allicock, who qualified based on his world ranking (19th in his weight class), is the first Guyanese boxer to have qualified for the international quadrennial event in the last 25 years. The last Guyanese boxer who achieved the feat was light heavyweight pugilist John Douglas. Douglas repped the Golden Arrowhead back in 1996, in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. To date, Guyana has copped only one Olympic medal, which came at the Moscow Summer Games in 1980. Similar to Allicock, Michael Parris fought in the bantamweight division and secured a bronze medal at those Games.

Allicock, table tennis player Chelsea Edghill,

Keevin Allicock (black T-shirt) during a sparring session in Russia

track and field athletes Jasmine and Aliyah Abrams and Emanuel Archibald, and swim-

mers Andrew Fowler and Aleka Persaud make up Guyana’s contingent to the Tokyo Games.

West Indies, Pakistan clash in Antigua as preparations gain steam for 2022 Women's World Cup

Christopher Barnwell scored at an average of 46.33 and bagged two wickets

Atlanta Fire. Atlanta Fire batted first and posted 177-2, thanks to Steven Taylor’s 84. In reply, the Rhinos had no answer and folded for 114-8, Andre McCarthy’s 45 was the only significant effort made.

Gudakesh Motie was the fourth highest wicket-taker in the tournament Christopher Barnwell, who played six matches and scored 139 runs at an average of 46.33 at a strike rate of 128.32. Rutherford played five matches and scored 98 runs at an average of 32.67 and a strike rate of 171.93.

In the bowling department, Ashmead Nedd was the bowler with the most wickets; from his six games, he bagged 11 wickets at an Nevertheless, average of 6.64 at a healthy Hemraj, like economy rate of 4.06. Motie, many of the other who came in at fourth with Guyanese players 11 wickets at an average of who have featured 14.09, at an economy rate in the tournament, of 5.96. Next on the list was Hemraj and from his six Chandrapaul Hemraj was games, he bagged seven economical with the new ball wickets at an average of during the tournament 12.71 and an economy rate of 5.56. Rutherford has performed excep- and Barnwell also chipped tionally well. At the in with three and two wickend of it all, the top-per- ets respectively at economy forming Guyanese was rates of 8.71 and 6.50.

A

fter a 3-0 whitewash in the T20 International series, Pakistan look to bounce back in the five-match One-Day International (ODI) series while hosts West Indies aim to continue their good run.

After the 3-0 whitewash in the T20I series, the Caribbean outfit is riding high on confidence. Their big guns have been firing on all cylinders.

Skipper Stafanie Taylor was at her brilliant all-round best in the third T20I, picking up a hattrick and scoring an unbeaten 43 to power her side to victory.

Shamilia Connell was also in brilliant form with the ball, accounting for five wickets in the series.

For the visitors, Captain Javeria Khan will have a lot to ponder upon to mount a turnaround in the 50-over series. Their batters failed to post big scores on the board, while their bowlers could not get breakthroughs at regular intervals. Khan will herself

have to step up to the mark, having endured a torrid time during the T20I series. The performances of Ayesha Naseem will undoubtedly be a silver lining for the team management.

Remember the last time: The two sides last clashed in an ODI series in 2015, with West Indies emerging as victors with a 3-1 margin in their own backyard. After losing the first ODI, the hosts went on to clinch victories in the three matches that followed. Taylor top-scored with 261 runs in the series, while Anam Amin was the highest wicket-taker with nine scalps.

What they said: Stafanie Taylor (West Indies skipper): "We know runs were more on the forefront and trying to restrict them not getting to 115, because I knew that the wickets coming

down would be kind of hard to bat on. (Going out to bat) I wouldn't say panic, but I knew that today was the day that I had to step up... I just thought that the wicket today was to try to get yourself in and once you're in, you know that you can go big and I think that was my plan."

Javeria Khan (Pakistan skipper): "Certainly, these five matches are very important.

They will help us in finalising our combinations ahead of the World Cup Qualifiers and the all-important Women’s World Cup next year. Our goal is to ensure that our batting clicks and every batter performs to the fullest of their potential. These three T20Is have helped us to gauge what the conditions demand from the batters. I am hopeful that we will do well in the ODIs and the batters will handle the pressure well and remain calm in crunch situations." (ICC Cricket)

WEDNESDAY, JULY 7, 2021

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

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West Indies, Pakistan clash in Antigua as preparations gain steam for 2022 Women’s World Cup

Guyanese players perform well in LA Open

“I didn’t know if I was standing or sitting” Pg 22

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…Nedd 3rd highest wicket-taker in tournament

– Parris recalls moment he captured historic wOlympic bronze for Guyana

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