Guyana Times - Wednesday, June 29, 2022

Guyana has 3rd P largest oil reserves in Latin America & Caribbean – Pres Ali 9

Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

Issue No. 5054

THE BEACON OF TRUTH WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 2022

Rampaging mobs invade Mon Repos Market, beating and robbing vendors, burning vehicles and looting goods See stories on page 11

PRICE

$100 VAT INCLUDED

WHAT'S INSIDE:

Protestor P14 threatens to assassinate President during recording by MP 4 Caribbean P17 countries to use Guyana’s expertise in HIV/ AIDS treatment

“Two Colours” acquitted of P8 cosmetologist’s murder

…as Bacchus murder protest turns violent

– High Court denied application filed by Kezia Williams to release cop involved in fatal shooting

President Ali calls Private Sector condemns for peace amid fiery ECD protests, protest assassination Page 12

Page 3

threats against President

...says OPR investigating ...says all forms of illegal acts death of Quindon Bacchus – assures vendors of compensation must be rejected by wider society

Guyana to P7 get Public Procurement, Judicial Service Commissions – Pres Ali to also swear in Teaching Service Commission on Friday

107 new COVID-19 cases recorded …Govt sourcing vaccines for 4-mth to 6-y-o children

P16

City Hall to be completely restored by mid-2023 P15

2

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

NEWS

3

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS OPENINGS BRIDGE

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

Wednesday, June 29 – 03:30h – 05:00h and Thursday, June 30 – 04:00 – 05:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Private Sector condemns ECD protests, assassination threats against President ...says all forms of illegal acts must be rejected by wider society

Wednesday, June 29 – 17:10h – 18:40h and Thursday, June 30 – 17:30h – 19:00h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY There will be light cloud during the day. Expect thundery showers at night. Temperatures should range between 23 degrees Celsius and 29 degrees Celsius.

Winds: South South-Westerly to South-Westerly between 1.34 metres and 4.02 metres.

High Tide: 16:48h reaching a maximum height of 2.39 metres.

Low Tide: 10:22h and 22:32h reaching minimum heights of 0.69 metre and 0.83 metre.

SATURDAY, JUNE 25, 2022

LOTTERY NUMBERS H

04 05 06

11 21 22

FREE TICKET

10 Bonus Ball

TUESDAY, JUNE 28, 2022

DAILY MILLIONS

01 02 03 12 26 LUCKY 3

0

1

8

2

Afternoon Draw

5

6

Evening Draw

DRAW DE LINE

03 07 08 09 16 17 20 SUPER

PAY DAY

PAY DAY

FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 2022

02 06 08 09 15 13

01 04 07 09 19

9

7 Afternoon Draw

3X Afternoon Draw

3

0 Evening Draw

2X Evening Draw

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

COMMODITIES Indicators

US$

Change %

Crude Oil

$117.98/barrel

+2.45

Rough Rice

$299.39/ton $550.90/ton

+0.32 0.00

London Sugar

Live Spot Gold

USD Per Ounce

Bid/Ask

$1818.90

$1819.90

Low/High Change

$1818.30 -1.50

$1830.70 -0.08%

PSC Chairman, Paul Cheong President Dr Irfaan Ali has assured vendors that they will be compensated for their losses

C

ondemning the protests over the alleged murder of Quindon Bacchus that devolved into a spate of illegal actions including robbery and destruction of properties, the Private Sector Commission (PSC) has urged that calm prevail and that all of society reject any illegal acts.

During the protest action, one protester was filmed threatening the life of President Dr Irfaan Ali. According to the PSC, this must also be rejected and noted that while citizens have a right to peaceful protest, violence must not be tolerated.

“The PSC is disturbed by the protest action taking place on the East Coast of Demerara which has led to the destruction of properties, robberies, and physical assaults over the alleged murder of 23-year-old, Quindon Bacchus by a Policeman on June 10, 2022,” they said.

“The Commission recognizes that while it is the constitutional right of Guyanese to peaceful protest, all forms of illegal acts must be strongly condemned by the wider society. Further, the PSC rejects the threat of assassination made against the President of Guyana by one of the protesters during a live broadcast of the protest action.”

Calling the incidents that took place a “sad development” which appears aimed at promoting vulgarity and lawlessness, the PSC appealed for all citizens to remain calm and cooperate with the Guyana Police Force (GPF) as it investigates Bacchus’s killing.

During Tuesday’s protests, several vendors of the Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara (ECD) market were looted by marauders who used the cover of the protest to assault, rob, destroy the vendors’ stalls, and even torch vehicles.

One vendor told this publication that earlier on Tuesday, a gang of protesters rushed into the market armed with sticks, pieces of wood, metal, and iron and began to break down stalls, set vehicles on fire, and steal goods. The vendors, she noted, had to run for their lives.

“Right now, everybody is frustrated … we didn’t expect

this to happen … what people trying to do here is racist but we can’t do that … we have to depend on each other and if we continue like this, we can’t go forward,” the vendor told this publication.

Another vendor, Lakeram Lallchan, described the situation as unfair. Several goods vehicles were destroyed by fire; one of them was said to be a newly-purchased bus. It is anticipated that millions of dollars were lost as a result of the “protests”.

President Dr Irfaan Ali, who met with vendors at Mon Repos whose stalls and vehicles were destroyed by the groups of persons, has since confirmed that vendors who lost their goods and their properties, will be compensated. Additionally, he has assured that those responsible will face the full force of the law.

Arrest

The Policeman under investigation for the death of Bacchus is under open arrest and confined to the Guyana Police Force’s Headquarters.

A statement was issued by the GPF on Tuesday morning after controversial Facebook Page Guyana Daily News inaccurately posted to social media that the cop, who hails from Golden Grove, East Coast Demerara, has been released from Police custody.

Bacchus, a father of one of Golden Grove, ECD, was allegedly shot six times about his body following an encounter with Police ranks.

It was reported that on June 10, ranks were conducting an intelligence-led operation in the Haslington New Scheme area of the ECD after receiving some information earlier in the day. While there, the ranks said, they contacted a 22-year-old construction worker, who provided them with certain information.

As a result of the information, the ranks went to Bacchus’s home, where he was seen with a firearm in his possession. He had reportedly intended to sell it to one of the ranks.

The plainclothes rank, who was armed, made ar-

rangements to purchase the firearm from Bacchus, who left and returned with the firearm.

In the process of handing over the firearm to the rank, an alarm was raised. As a result, Bacchus ran in a southern direction and discharged a round in the rank’s direction, and the rank drew his service pistol and returned fire.

Police said Bacchus then ran further south and jumped into a yard, and the rank gave chase. While the rank was in close proximity to Bacchus, the man allegedly discharged several other rounds towards the rank, and the rank took cover and returned fire, hitting the now-deceased man about his body.

Bacchus reportedly fell to the ground, along with the firearm, which was later identified as a .380 pistol with a magazine that still had one round.

Police said Bacchus was picked up in a conscious state and escorted to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where he was seen and examined, but subsequently died.

4

guyanatimesgy.com

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 2022

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

T

Justice by injustice?

hinking about the concept of justice, which is a fundamental tenet of philosophical traditions and injustice, may attract a different response. However, the perception of injustice can provoke social unrest.

This is currently the issue at hand in Guyana, where, in the quest for justice for 23-year-old Quinden Bacchus who was shot during an encounter with Police on June 10, the perception of justice has turned into injustice for vendors at the Mon Repos Market.

To put this call for justice into context: on June 10, ranks went to Bacchus’s home, where he was seen with a firearm which he reportedly intended to sell to one of the ranks. According to reports, the plainclothes rank, who was armed, made arrangements to purchase the firearm from Bacchus, who left and returned with the firearm. In the process of handing over the firearm to the rank, an alarm was raised. As a result, Bacchus ran and discharged a round in the rank’s direction, and the rank drew his service pistol and returned fire. The Police claim that Bacchus jumped into a yard, and the rank gave chase. It is alleged that Bacchus discharged several rounds towards the rank as he closed in on him, and the rank returned fire, hitting the now-deceased man about his body. The firearm was later identified as a .380 pistol with a magazine that still had one round.

Following the shooting, Bacchus was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where he subsequently died.

As it stands now, the Police Complaints Authority (PCA) is investigating the matter, and has promised to release its findings next week.

Bacchus’s family members are understandably hurting, and their pain and anger were triggered by a false online news report that the Policeman under investigation for the 23-year-old man’s death was released from custody.

Of course this information was false, but without confirming what they had seen on social media, the family came to their own conclusion. This publication has, time and again, called for persons to be cognisant of the five Cs – caution, care, common sense, courtesy and consideration – when using social media, as many of the things posted can arise to haunt thrones. Today’s assault on the East Coast of Demerara is a good example of this haunt of thrones.

We agree with the Guyana Press Association when it cautioned on Tuesday against “the use of social media platforms claiming to function as independent news organisations.”

The GPA said the obligation to verify news and information is “sadly absent in the outputs of some groups and individuals presenting themselves as media operatives,” and that it does not recognise the particular social media outfit that promoted the episode on the ECD to be “a bona fide news organisation within the strict meaning of the term and with regard to basic journalistic obligations.”

The issue of wanting justice for Bacchus turned into law-abiding and hard-working citizens at Mon Repos Market being targeted by criminals; and, more sadly, when the assault was launched on them, there was no protection from the Police Force.

How could justice for this young man, or protest in solidarity with his family, resort to violence: setting fire, looting, robbing people and disrupting traffic?

We support President Dr Irfaan Ali when he told one protestor – a close relative of the dead man – “Justice for your family cannot be injustice for other people too.” He was at the time referring to the robbery and assault on vendors of Mon Repos.

What unfolded on the ECD today by selfish looters has tainted the call for justice for young Quinden Bacchus, as his name will now forever be associated with the injustice that was meted out to the vendors of Mon Repos Market.

Miss Teen India Guyana - Beauty Razack was last Friday evening crowned Miss Teen India Worldwide when the pageant was held at the Royal Albert Palace in New Jersey. Beauty is the first Guyanese to capture this international title, which is in its second year of running. She represented Guyana on many international forums, such as Global Youth Model United Nations, Global Peace Ambassador, Climate Action Network-International, United Nations Volunteer Programme/UNDP, United Nations Human Rights and Domestic Violence Crisis Service ACT, among others

Let’s call the overturning of Roe vs Wade what it is: state-sanctioned forced birth

By Rhiannon Lucy Cosslett

I write this on my birthday, a date when traditionally my mother likes to reminisce about her labour. I was a much-wanted baby, and that love has carried me throughout my life. I have never, for a fragment of a second, doubted it. I used to gently tease my mother about her reminiscences, but now that I have my own baby, I understand the impulse more. In the past few weeks, I have been trying to put what happened during my own labour to bed, or at least arrive at a place of full acceptance. I was not traumatised, as I feared I would be, but there is still a process that needs to happen, a mourning, perhaps, of the birth I thought I would have.

One day, when my son is grown and it is his birthday, and he asks me how it is that he came into this world, I would like to be able to tell him a positive, happy story. I think this is what people tried to do when he arrived unexpectedly early, and they said, “He couldn’t wait to meet you”. It isn’t true, but it somehow soothes, in retrospect, the terror I felt when my waters broke early. These are the stories we tell each other and our children. They are palimpsests. The text beneath is written in blood, and it says that 50 years from now, 100 years from now, we would be dead.

Like me, my son is a most wanted baby. The longing I had for a child, complicated though it was, is one of the most powerful emotions I have ever felt. In light of the overturning of Roe vs Wade, I’ve been thinking a lot about all the children who will now

be born who are not wanted, to parents unable or unwilling to look after them, and a state with no interest in funding or protecting them. It will be a human crisis of devastating magnitude.

Mostly, though, I think of all the women and girls who will suffer. We need to start calling abortion bans what they are: state-sanctioned forced birth on a monumental scale, which includes forcing children to give birth. I am not even in America, but the news felt visceral, as vicious misogyny often does. If you have ever been pregnant, the thought of being made to go through it – not to mention labour – against your will can make you feel physically sick. I felt like vomiting, then I cried. The same thing happened when Poland banned it in January 2021.

And that will be nothing compared with how women in the US must feel now, as Polish women must have felt then: women who are expected to go about their daily lives as normal when their bodily autonomy has been taken from them, who overnight have become second-class citizens, who must walk alongside those who seek to punish them.

And punishment it is.

The punishment is the point, as they say. No one is stupid enough to believe this decision will result in an end to abortion. We all know abortion bans never achieve this, they simply put an end to legal, safe abortion. The point is forced birth amounts to torture. The toll pregnancy takes on the body is monumental. I wanted desperately to be pregnant, and genuinely loved it when I was. It still felt frightening to find out. Premature rupture of membranes aside, my preg-

nancy was mostly happy and smooth, though I still experienced sickness, pain, shortness of breath, high blood pressure, anxiety, tearfulness, swelling, lightheadedness, months of sleeplessness, a lack of mobility, bleeding gums, fear, a diabetes scare and, obviously, the birth.

Other women are not so lucky. Some want to be pregnant, but still hate the experience.

Pregnancy is often the closest a woman comes to death in her lifetime (I remember reading that pregnant women dream frequently of death, how it feels like dancing next to its billowing curtain). It can kill you, and in the US, it is now more likely to do so.

Beliefs in foetal personhood are now law in many states, meaning that doctors won’t step in with a lifesaving abortion in the event of complications, even perhaps where, as in cases of ectopic pregnancy, the foetus would only live long enough to kill the woman carrying it. Furthermore, women who are miscarrying or haemorrhaging after having an abortion will be less likely to

seek medical help, fearing prosecution.

So, let’s call it what it is: forced birth. And as for “prolife”, a term recently used – depressingly – on BBC radio: those who identify that way are nothing of the sort. How can anyone use such a term with a straight face when they support the torture and murder of human women.

It can be hard to find the words when faced with such hatred, so I’ve been reading the words of older women, women who have lived through this.

Adrienne Rich, Annie Ernaux, Gloria Steinem, Alice Walker, Malika Booker.

Good abortion poems are hard to find, but I am struck

by Marge Piercy’s “The Watch”, a poem about waiting for your period: “Forty years of our lives, that flag / is shown or not and our immediate / and sometimes final fate determined, / red as tulips / red as poppies’ satin / red as taillights / red as a stoplight, / red as dying, our quick bright blood.” (The Guardian) (Rhiannon Lucy Cosslett is a Guardian columnist and author)

Sad day for Guyana

Dear Editor, It is happening again: protests escalating into violence and destruction of property, same as it did two years ago following another killing; this time though, eliciting a threat against the life of the President in full view, it is alleged, and it seems with support of, a known political figure.

The threat against the

President is no small matter, as we saw from the nottoo-distant past when a similar threat was made. It launched a CoI. This is another sad day in the life of our country, and “One Guyana” remains elusive.

Sincerely, Shamshun Mohamed

guyanatimesgy.com

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 2022

5

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

Public CoI versus private GECOM audit

Dear Editor, The discussion moves forward in a fiercely contested battle as to which route we should take; that is: whether to go the route of a private, internal-type GECOM audit or that of a public, wide-sweeping CoI. Having an internal audit is the main focus of the Opposition commissioners, for the expressed reason that it would be a private, internal affair far removed from the scrutinising eyes of the public. It also means that Vincent Alexander and crew could mindlessly pontificate in a cloistered and protective environment. This is their aim; this is the purpose of them asking for an internal audit.

That proposal of theirs is all quashed with the institution of a public CoI. It should also be of note that, without any formal analysis of their presentations, they can again

turn and report to the media that they have made great political mileage.

But scoring cheap political points is not the focus of our investigation into the goings-on in the last general elections; it is all about getting to the bottom of the whole sordid affair, and in the end making recommendations for the conduct of future elections.

At this stage of our discussion, I must make it abundantly clear that this is not a Vincent Alexander affair, or a PNC stomping ground. They are in no position to dictate what the parameters of the CoI ought to be; that is beyond the scope of their jurisdiction. However, they would only be required to participate, if need be, or simply hush up and be quiet. What is clear is that these guys are no more in control of the affairs

of the electoral machinery.

They must recognise that this party has already gone out on a limb trumpeting nonsense that elections 2020 were rigged in favour of the PPP/C and there is an installed Government in Georgetown. So, it is already in the public domain, and what a damning accusation it is that it would take only a public CoI to erase that foolishness from our airwaves.

Again, I say this asininity could only go away with a public CoI conducted under international scrutiny.

It is for this reason that the Government of the day is determined that the Opposition loudmouths do not get away with it. All persons and intellectual planners in this rigging alliance must be brought to light. For too long, this kind of nonsense has been in the public

domain, and it is high time that some semblance of order and discipline be brought into our electoral system.

This is a perennial problem that has plagued the Guyanese Society at election time, and the blame must fall squarely at the feet of the main Opposition PNC. I say there should be no tampering with state documents, there should be no five-month wait for the results of an election. Down with fraudulent people and a fraudulent Opposition.

At the end of this CoI, it is my hope that there should be the strongest message sent ever: frauds and fraudulent transactions would not be tolerated in a Guyana society. We can all say, “Never again!”

Sincerely, Neil Adams

Suicide helpline should be aggressively promoted

Dear Editor, Recently in a Trinidad & Tobago newspaper reference was made to a Guyana government suicide hotline that failed. Whether or not that is so, the fact remains that the suicide helpline is not doing what it was established to do and that it has reached a stage whereby far too many people refuse to use it. The Caribbean Voice (TCV) knows this because often when we tell those seeking our help that we would refer them to the helpline, they reject that option and even sometimes indicate they prefer not to be counseled. Thus, we repeat our appeal that stats regarding the helpline be published, the helpline be aggressively promoted including by harnessing the media and private sector billboards and electronic advertising, as well as social media, NGOs, religious and educational institutions and so on. There is a critical need to build both confidence and trust in the helpline and keeping its work in secrecy is not

the way to do so.

As well, those responding to calls to the helpline should be trained in emphatic communication since the right language and tone make a critical difference in dealing with those who are depressed, anxious or suicidal. And those to whom callers are referred must not be religious personnel but actual counselors, who possess the requisite tools and skill sets on the and would not be alienating. In Jamaica, masters level students are trained as helpline counselors and supervised by an experienced counseling psychologist, At the minimum holders of first degrees in psychology can be used in Guyana and then assisted to get their masters. As well perhaps clinically trained counselors across Guyana can be networked as part of the referral system so that face to face counseling can also be done, when/if necessary. We also urge that all NGOs involved in suicide prevention be networked by the Ministry of Health and facil-

itated in their activism and advocacy, as this is the only way in which suicide prevention can reach every nook and cranny.

Meanwhile, we await a speedy focus on decriminalizing suicide which has been promised over and over by various governments and which the International Society for Suicide Prevention has placed on the front burner as of critical urgency. Also, we applaud the move to legislate a suicide prevention bill, the draft of which was recently tabled in parliament.

While TCV, having seen the draft, believes that this bill does not go far enough, it’s a start that will, in time, hopefully be enhanced and strengthened, taking in consideration latest developments, advancements and suicide prevention tools and information.

And we appeal for a mechanism to help all survivors/ families of suicide with counseling rather than selective assistance as has been the practice over the years; in fact,

any service offered should be across the board rather than ad hoc and selective.

Sincerely, Annan Boodram

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 2022

06:00 06:30 07:00 08:00 09:00 10:00 11:00 11:30 12:00 13:30 14:00 14:30 15:00 16:00 16:30 17:00 18:00 19:00 20:00 20:30 21:30 22:30 23:30 00:00

(Sign on) Inspirational Time Cartoons Evening News (RB) Stop Suffering MasterChef Junior House Hunter Renovation Paternity Court Divorce Court Movie - Love Strikes Twice (2021) Wheel of Fortune The Thundermans S3 E21 No Good Nick S2 E6 Indian Soaps Call me Kat S1 E9 Inspector Gadget S1 E30 The Young & The Restless CNN The Evening News Stop Suffering JB & Salim The Bold Type S5 E3 You S3 E5 Whose Line Is It Anyway? S14 E3 Sign off

6

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 2022

Page

Foundation

MINISTRY OF EDUCATION CONTINUED FROM TUESDAY

CONTINUED FROM TUESDAY

National Grade 6 Assessment 2019 Mathematics Paper 1

National Grade 6 Assessment 2019 English Language Paper 1

WORD SEARCH

NEWS

7

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Guyana to get Public Procurement, Judicial Service Commissions – Pres Ali to also swear in Teaching Service Commission on Friday

G

uyana will finally get a Public Procurement Commission (PPC), Judicial Service Commission (JSC) and Teaching Service Commission (TSC), as President Dr Irfaan Ali, who only returned from Suriname on Monday is set to swear in the members on Friday.

This announcement was made by the Attorney General Chambers and Ministry of Legal Affairs on Tuesday.

“The members of the Judicial Service Commission, the Teaching Service Commission and the Public Procurement Commission shall be sworn in on Friday, July 1, 2022,

by His Excellency, President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali at the Office of the President, Shiv Chanderpaul Drive, Bourda, Georgetown,” the Attorney General Chambers said.

The PPC already has a list of nominees waiting to be sworn in. In April, approval was given by the National Assembly for the nominees to the PPC to be sworn in.

These nominees include Attorney-at-Law Pauline Chase, Financial Analyst Joel Bhagwandin, Berkley Wickham, Rajnarain Singh and Diana Rajkumar.

The PPC has the vital role of overseeing contract approvals and mediating contractor complaints. The Public Accounts Committee (PAC), which is responsible for approving members of this commission, as well as requesting background checks on candidates, had been engaged in the process of seeking members since last year before the five names were finally arrived at in January.

Among the PPC’s key functions are, according to the Procurement Act, to

The three commissions will be sworn in on Friday at the Office of the President

“Monitor and review the functioning of all procurement systems to ensure that they are in accordance with law and such policy guidelines as may be determined by the National Assembly; promote awareness of the rules, procedures and special requirements of the procurement process among suppliers, constructors and public bodies; safeguard the national interest in public procurement matters, having due regard to any international obligations; monitor the performance of

procurement bodes with respect to adherence to regulations and efficiency in procuring goods and services and execution of works; approve of procedures for public procurement, disseminate rules and procedures for public procurement; and recommend modifications thereto to the public procurement entities.”

The PPC has in the past intervened in contracts when there was a discrepancy with the procurement of the contractor. One of the most famous cases of this

was the sole-sourced consultant for the design and feasibility study of the new Demerara River Bridge.

The Procurement Commission conducted a probe into the award of the feasibility study and design contract and had flagged the then Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson for requesting from Cabinet

that the $148 million contract be sole-sourced. This subsequently resulted in them calling in the Auditor General.

When it comes to the Judicial Service Commission (JSC), Article 198 (1) of the Constitution of Guyana states that the members must be comprised of the Chancellor of the Judiciary, who will be appointed as Chairman, the Chief Justice, the Chairman of the Public Service Commission and any other members appointed to the Commission.

There has been no JSC since 2017. The last Justice Commission was appointed by former President Donald Ramotar on September 11, 2014. The tenure of each appointed member is for three years, therefore, the tenure of the last commission expired on September 12, 2017. Among other things, the function of the JSC is to advise the President on the appointment of Judges, with the exception of the Chancellor and the Chief

Justice.

The JSC’s powers include the power to make appointments, to remove and to exercise disciplinary control over persons holding or acting in the following offices – Commissioner of Title, Magistrate, Director of Public Prosecutions, Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions, Registrar of the High Court, Deputy Registrar of the High Court, Registrar of Deeds and Deputy Registrar of Deeds and to such offices connected with the courts or for appointment to which legal qualifications are required as may be prescribed by Parliament.

Meanwhile, the Teaching Service Commission (TSC) was last appointed in 2018.

Persons appointed to serve on the Commission were: Chief Education Officer Marcel Hutson (ex-officio), Avril Crawford, Alan Munroe, Elizabeth Ramlall, Amjad Ali Shaw, Debra Thomas, and Barbara Thomas-Holder.

8 NEWS

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

“Two Colours” acquitted of cosmetologist’s murder

Murdered: Ashmini Hariram

L

ennox Wayne, who was on remand for eight years for the 2014 murder of cosmetologist 19-year-old Ashmini Hariram, was on Tuesday acquitted.

Before Demerara High Court Judge Jo Ann Barlow, the jury returned a unanimous verdict of not guilty.

Wayne was represented by

Attorneys-at-Law Ronald Daniels, Kiswana Jefford, and Edriana Stephens.

Testimony began in the trial on June 8 after Wayne, also called “Two Colours”, pleaded not guilty to a charge of the capital offence of murder.

According to the short facts presented in court, the young woman, also known as “Monisha Hariram”, and her cousin were walking along the Lusignan Public Road when they noticed a burgundy Toyota 212 motor car bearing registration number PRR 8370 parked along the said road.

A few minutes later, a man emerged from the car, and shot Hariram in her head, before entering the vehicle which then sped off.

It was reported that a tall, brown-skinned man emerged from a burgundy-coloured motor car and relieved Hariram of $8000 before shooting her. An au-

Acquitted: Lennox Wayne

topsy gave Hariram’s cause of death as respiratory failure and gunshot injuries to the spine.

Media reports are that Wayne gave Police a caution statement detailing his role in the woman’s execution. On September 8, 2014, Wayne was charged with the teenager’s murder; he has been on remand ever

since.

Last year, Melroy Doris, who confessed that he was the driver of the getaway car in the killing of Hariram, was sentenced to five years in prison on a manslaughter charge. Initially indicted for the murder of the teenager, the 35-year-old pleaded guilty to the lesser offence after he was arraigned before Justice Brassington Reynolds.

Wayne and Doris were first tried for the offence in 2017. That trial, however, ended in a hung jury.

Accordingly, the trial Judge ordered a retrial. Earlier this month, Doris was called to testify against Wayne.

The prosecution’s star witness-maintained Wayne shot and killed the young beautician.

During his testimony, Doris told the court that on July 10, 2014, he was at his Bent Street, Wortmanville, Georgetown home when two men, Gavin (only name given) and Wayne approached him. The convicted killer said that at the time he worked a taxi and Wayne hired him to transport him to Lusignan to see his girlfriend.

According to the witness, he agreed to take him to the location. He recalled that Wayne occupied the left passenger seat and that it was the two of them alone in the vehicle. As he began the journey to Lusignan, Doris added that Wayne, whom he did not know prior to the day in question, began questioning him. He recounted that when they reached Lusignan Road, he saw two girls walking along the road.

He said that Wayne pointed out one of them and told him that she was his girlfriend.

Doris said that Wayne then told him to “pull over” and he complied, after which Wayne exited the car and walked towards the girl he had pointed out as his partner.

Doris said that shortly after he heard a loud explosion which prompted him to look up the road. However, Doris told the court that he then glanced in the rightside rear-view mirror and saw someone lying on the ground in a pool of blood about 12 feet away from him. By the time he turned around, the witness recounted, Wayne was already back in the car and pointing a gun at him, instructing him to drive the car.

Changes... …and (Opposition) political acceptance

W

e just witnessed, in Grenada, democracy in action that few who know their history of the late seventies would’ve thought possible. That was a time of radical progressive leftist uprisings against the status quo’s dictatorial and authoritarian rulers, like Gairy there and Burnham here – who’d simply taken over the colonial mantle. In 1979, Maurice Bishop removed Gairy with his “Mongoose Gang”, which had terrorised the Grenadian populace. Rodney, unfortunately, failed with Burnham here, who had him assassinated, and Burnham’s army and goons continued to terrorise the populace.

But Bishop’s New Jewel Movement’s (NJM’s) moment was short-lived, as it exemplified the inherent instability of those who believe they’ve found the “one true way” – with the NJM, this being “true-true Marxism”. They opened up relations with Cuba, Russia etc, and with clenched fists, spouted all the catchphrases of the febrile left. But Bishop’s deputy, Bernard Coard, decided he wasn’t revolutionary enough, so he simply rounded up Bishop and his circle, and murdered them!! It was for their people’s good, said Coard, and they hadn’t murdered, but “executed” the “deviationists”, for straying from the one “true path”!!

Beware of horseback-riding leaders!!

Anyhow, Grenada had some Cubans building an airport, and upon the invitation of conservative Dominica’s Dame Eugenia Charles, Barbados and some other Caribbean nations, the USA invaded in 1983!! Yep…if you’ve heard about Marines invading banana republics, we had ‘em here also!! And out of the blue (yeah, right!!) came this fella Keith Mitchell - an island cricketer who’d also earned a PhD in mathematics and was working in the States. He returned to Grenada, joined a political party, and worked his way up.

He never ever said he was a PhD, and NEVER called himself Dr Keith Mitchell - even though we’d been convinced that “Doctor Politics” was our thing!!

Well, Mitchell eventually became PM in 1995 at the age of 49, and continued as PM till 2008, when he and his party were voted out. He left gracefully to correct whatever damage had been done during his long incumbency!! He was duly returned to office in 2013, and continued till earlier this month, when he was unseated by a 43-yearold!! As he’d done before, he immediately conceded, and wished his successor well.

Now, your Eyewitness went on in great detail to show our present Opposition how democracy works: You find out what the people feel ought to be done by the Government to improve their lives; you craft an appropriate case, and present it to the electorate in a manifesto and on the hustings; and at the next elections - if you’ve shown yourself to be credible - the people are gonna make their decision with their votes!!

Can it get simpler than that?? …and Neanderthals But not everyone can change with the times – even though, as Dylan crooned, “The times are a changin”, fifty years ago!! There are those Neanderthals who’ll keep on doing what they’d been doing for millennia, even though their opponents – the Hominids – had figured out better ways of dealing with the new circumstances. And it’s the same with a section of the Opposition – the ones who feel that street protests will get them into power to correct all the abuses they’ve identified.

Your Eyewitness won’t even discuss the merits or demerits of the OCCASION for the latest street protests: the Police killing of Bacchus under very sketchy conditions.

But he wonders why they haven’t included the Police killing of a fella named Singh under identical conditions a few weeks before Bacchus. Wouldn’t that have strengthened their case??

Your Eyewitness believes this protest has set back Aubrey Norton and the PNC’s efforts to deal with the matter - while keeping their eyes on the big picture.

Getting into Government!! …in beliefs??

Your Eyewitness just saw our Ambassador informing Saudi Arabia that our tourism is geared towards Islamic visitors!! Really? Badderation Concert? Our several Carnival jump-ups? Our rum-fuelled boat cruises?

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

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

NEWS

9

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Guyana has 3rd largest oil reserves in Latin America & Caribbean – Pres Ali – analysts project Guyana will be 2nd largest deep-water producer

G

uyana, where oil was first discovered in 2015 and first produced the commodity back in 2019, has the third-largest oil reserves in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), behind only Venezuela and Brazil.

This was shared by President Dr Irfaan Ali, while addressing Suriname’s Energy, Oil & Gas Summit & Exhibition 2022 on Monday in the Dutch-speaking country. According to Ali, Guyana has had 31 discoveries and five for this year.

This includes April when three new oilfield discoveries were announced.

“We have an estimated recoverable value of 11 billion barrels. The country currently has the third-largest reserves in Latin America and the Caribbean and is expected by industry analysts to become the second-largest deep-water producer,” President Ali explained.

“We had 31 discoveries, with five discoveries for 2022. In April, the operator of the Stabroek Block, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited, announced three new oilfield discoveries. This builds on the two major discoveries announced on January 5, 2022.”

The President further noted that Guyana and other producers can make a meaningful contribution regionally and globally. The President noted that with Guyana having the third-largest oil reserves in Latin America and the Caribbean, the time is opportune for the country to play a key role.

“We can reposition this region globally. But it requires bold decision-making, it requires one common strategic approach from all of us. And it requires us working together, in policy formulation, to advance,” the President said.

Oil production began in Guyana, with US oil giant ExxonMobil as the operator, on December 20, 2019, in

President Dr Irfaan Ali

the Stabroek Block. Guyana has over the last five years accounted for 70 per cent of proven new oil reserves globally. This is even as the world’s largest oil exploration companies run out of proven new oil reserves.

According to an analysis from Norwegian oil and gas consultant Rystad Energy last year, new oil reserves among Big Oil which comprises companies such as ExxonMobil, BP, Shell, Chevron, Total and Eni, have fallen. However, Exxon has come out ahead of its peers, thanks to Guyana.

“New discovered volumes – a measurement of a company’s exploration performance – illustrates the daunting challenge faced by oil majors to maintain their reserves base and supply existing customers,” Rystad had said.

“Over the past five years, the six majors have replaced only 45 per cent of their production through reserves from new discoveries. ExxonMobil fared better than its peers, adding more than 70 per cent of the produced reserves thanks to 9 billion (barrels of oil) of discovered volumes in the offshore Stabroek Block in Guyana.”

ExxonMobil has said it anticipates at least six projects offshore Guyana will be online by 2027, with developmental drilling recently starting on the second one, the Liza Phase 2 project. Production has already

started in the second phase, with the Liza Unity Floating Production and Storage Offloading (FPSO) vessel in operation.

The third project –the Payara Development – will meanwhile target an estimated resource base of about 600 million oil-equivalent barrels and was at one point considered to be the largest single planned investment in the history of Guyana.

Meanwhile, the Yellowtail development, which will be oil giant ExxonMobil’s fourth development in Guyana’s waters, will turn out to be the single largest development so far in terms of barrels per day of oil, with a mammoth 250,000 bpd targeted.

The Stabroek Block is 6.6 million acres (26,800 square kilometres). EEPGL is the operator and holds 45 per cent interest in the Stabroek Block.

Hess Guyana Exploration Ltd holds 30 per cent interest and CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of CNOOC Limited, holds 25 per cent interest.

10

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

11 Rampaging mobs invade Mon Repos Market, beating & robbing vendors, burning vehicles and looting goods NEWS

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

…as Bacchus murder protest turns violent

By Jemima Holmes and La Wanda McAllister

W

hat was intended to be a call for justice for slain Quindon Bacchus at Golden Grove on Tuesday escalated into terror along the East Coast Demerara (ECD) corridor thus leading to several vendors at the Mon Repos Market being robbed while their stalls were vandalised and goods looted.

Armed with cutlasses, knives, iron bars, and other handy weapons, looters stormed the Mon Repos Market just after 10:00h.

Claiming that they were avenging the shooting death of Bacchus which took place on June 10, the looters proceeded to destroy goods, burn stalls and vehicles, shatter windscreens of vehicles, and even assault vendors who were forced to run into the adjoining streets in fear for their lives.

After the looters made off with the fruits, vegetables, clothing, shoes, and other articles which were being sold in the makeshift market; vendors were left counting their losses, which could be amounted to millions of dollars.

One vendor, Lakeram Lallchand, stated that about five minutes after they were warned, the looters - main-

ly teenagers - had already made their way to the market, some on bicycles, motorcycles, and on foot.

There, they wreaked havoc, breaking vehicle windows, crushing glass cases with food, and stomping on vegetables and fruits. The looters even went as far as to torch stalls and a bus that one vendor had recently acquired.

Lallchand, who has estimated his losses to be in the millions, recounted the harrowing tale of what occurred, that has now left his two daughters who were with him traumatised.

Barely able to get the words out, Lallchand said, “We take a lot of blows here budday. If you see me two daughters a run for they life, them a bawl for me ‘Daddy, daddy, come, don’t go’. Them man got all kind of weapon with them, and we can’t do nothing”.

“My wife deh home bawling she throat, cause she studying what happen to she two daughter, she husband and she business…it’s not easy,” the vendor continued as he was reduced to tears.

“Oil and them thing expensive, flour, everything, sugar, everything them gone with.”

Several other vendors voiced their frustration in

the aftermath of the looting, disclosing to this publication that they now have no means of starting over.

“They robbed everybody that selling here, people running with coolers or scales that is $10,000, we take goods from people and we got to work and pay it back, we can’t tell them we get robbed, they ain’t want hear that,” one vendor lamented.

Another shared, “They come and they carry away everything, rice, big jars of oil, everything. The Government got to see try help we a little bit, we can’t bear this, this is too much, only yesterday we stocked we stand.”

“Today me stand and see these people come and carry all we goods. What them ain’t able carry them destroy.”

The prevailing question, however, was why Mon Repos.

“Why these people them had to come and do this, if them and the Police have a problem let them go deal with the Police, not we. We and them ain’t got no problem,” a teary-eyed businesswoman shared.

The vendors even bemoaned the lack of Police presence before, during and immediately after the violent attack.

“We call the Police station about three times, not even a Police respond to us.

Til when everything done, then you see a whole fleet Police coming. What sense it make,” a clothing vendor questioned.

Her nearby colleague chipped in, saying, “When you need police, nobody wasn’t here at the moment.”

“This was very traumatising cause if you look we don’t have anything to start over. We ain’t got nothing to give here anymore. We need help,” she added.

Help was, indeed, on the way, but not before the Mon Repos residents turned the tables.

However, the peaceful protest started at about 7:30h at the Golden Grove market square which later saw residents blocking the main access roads on both sides with debris they could have put their hands on.

Chanting and singing songs filled the air, as residents demanded justice for their fellow villager Quindon Bacchus, who was shot dead by a serving member of the Guyana Police Force.

Pent up anger about Bacchus’s death soon evolved into frustration about the slothfulness of the GPF’s investigation into the matter. Adding fuel to the fire, were misleading reports by a social media news outfit that the alleged shoot-

er, Special Branch Officer Kristoff DeNobrega, was released from close arrest.

However, the only change was that DeNobrega was placed on open arrest, but he was still confined to the Police’s Headquarters.

But the protest was not confined to Golden Grover alone. In fact, in several villages, such as Ann’s Grove, blockades were erected and combustible articles were set on fire. This action saw miles of backed-up traffic which left thousands of residents inconvenienced. Many road users were forced to abandon their travels.

Upon their return to Golden Grove, there was a standoff between the Police and the protesters during which vehicles and bridges along with other items were set afire. The irate protesters soon found other ways to express their dissatisfaction.

Fighting fire with fire

Meanwhile, residents of the community and vendors of the Mon Repos Market gathered to cry out about their situation. As Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn came and left the scene and other top-ranking officials failed to show up soon enough, the residents grew weary of waiting.

Within the blink of an eye, the very vendors who were victimised and the very stalls that they begged

to save only two hours earlier were being strewn across the East Coast Public Road, in a protest of their own.

Makeshift weapons in hand, the residents successfully blocked the roads and started a fire, the first of which was doused by Pandit Haresh Tewari, who is quite active on the East Coast.

Tewari, in a message to the people stated, “The people are very agitated, you see that and rightly so. We just went through the village and they’ve lost at least $30 million and it’s not fair.

People want to vent their frustration, but of course we want them to understand that you don’t fight fire with fire.”

“Hopefully we can keep it calm.”

However, Pandit Tewari’s urges fell on deaf ears as the residents continued to use old vehicles, zinc sheets and dismantled stalls to assist their manmade roadblock.

At the line top end of the Mon Repos Market Road, another set of residents were engaged in a standoff with several members of the Guyana Police Force. The officers, armed with guns and tear gas, created a human barricade, to which the residents answered with taunts.

The burning of articles continued at Mon Repos and the Guyana Fire Service was forced to return to the area to quell the blazes.

High Court denied application filed by Kezia Williams to release cop involved in fatal shooting

A

n application to the High Court to release Kristoff De Nobrega, the cop who shot and killed 23-year-old Quindon Bacchus during an alleged undercover operation at Haslington, East Coast Demerara on June 10, has been turned down.

The attorney who filed the application, Kezia Williams who works with the law firm of Hughes, Fields and Stoby, had filed a writ of Habeas Corpus on De Nobrega’s behalf, compelling the Police to justify their actions to keep De Nobrega in custody beyond the constitutional 72-hour

Dead: Quindon Bacchus

detention period. The matter was heard by Justice Sandil Kissoon.

The State was represented by Solicitor General Nigel Hawke, who reportedly informed the court that since a Policeman is involved, an investigation would have to be carried out by the Police Complaints Authority (PCA).

On this note, Hawke reiterated that the Police Force cannot investigate one of its own.

Guyana Times understands that the Judge ordered that De Nobrega be placed on ‘open arrest’, and that he should remain con-

Attorney-at-Law Kezia Williams

fined in the compound of the Tactical Services Unit (TSU) under Police guard.

Bacchus, was shot at least six times on June 10 at Haslington. Police have stated that the victim had attempted to sell an illegal firearm to the undercover cop when he was shot.

Both the victim and the Policeman had known each other.

However, witnesses have come forward with information that Bacchus and the cop in question had known each other and had had an ongoing feud.

It was reported that ranks were carrying out an

intelligence-led operation in the area, during which the plainclothes rank had made arrangements to purchase the firearm from Bacchus, who left and then returned with the firearm. While in the process of handing over the firearm, an alarm was raised, and this resulted in the now dead man attempting to escape while reportedly shooting at ranks.

Police said the rank returned fire, and Bacchus was shot.

The firearm was later identified as a .380 pistol with a magazine that had one round.

12 NEWS

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

President Ali calls for peace amid fiery protest

...says OPR investigating death of Quindon Bacchus – assures vendors of compensation However, the President’s assurances from behind a screen did little to quell the anger, frustration, and irrational actions that prevailed along the East Coast corridor.

Eventually, the situation on the East Coast got so dire that the President had no other choice than to meet with protesters himself.

President Ali was met with cheers and shouts of relief when he made his first stop at the Mon Repos Market. There the Guyanese Head of State not only pleaded with residents to end the chaos but also assured them that they would be compensated for their losses.

Ali said to the crowd, “First of all, what was done was completely wrong. There is absolutely no excuse for it.

A

s pandemonium erupted along the East Coast of Demerara corridor on Tuesday following a peaceful protest calling for justice for Quindon Bacchus, President Dr Irfaan Ali has called for peace to prevail while stating that there was no reason for the violence displayed.

The President, via a broadcast to the nation, stated “There is no basis at

this moment for the type of behaviour we’re seeing on the road. As your President, I assure you that at all times I would work to ensure there is fairness in the system. I ask you to go home. I asked you to allow the system to work and I ask you to await the report. Let the institutions work.”

Sharing an update on the investigation into Bacchus’s death, Ali explained, “I am advised the process has commenced, and that process has made tremendous progress. I am further advised though that very early in the new week, the Police Complaints Authority, Justice [William] Ramlal

(Ret’d), the Chair would be in a position to present their findings based on investigations to the DPP.” “The Government has already made it clear that it supports the ongoing independent investigation to ensure there is justice for Mr Quindon Bacchus. Similarly, we will support all actions that are necessary to ensure justice for all those who lost property, were beaten,

robbed, or were otherwise affected by the lawlessness that took place. The images and videos are widely circulated and available.”

The Commissioner of Police is here and we have made it very clear that, first of all, those who are responsible for this must be brought to justice.”

“We’ve made it clear, we’ve made it very, very clear, first of all, all those who are responsible for this have to be brought to justice.”

The Head of State went one step further, explaining that even those who incited the violence will face the law.

“Not only those who did it, but those who instigated I also. Because, let me be very clear, if you are leading a protest, you have a responsibility to keep that protest lawful,” he contended.

“I am not taking any nonsense!” President Ali declared.

Turning to the vendors, he informed, “I want to assure you that you will be ful-

ly compensated.”

“Those who caused the harm must and will be brought justice, that is important…I am here directly to assure of the things

“The news agency that put that out this morning, they put something today apologising, that their information was wrong. Their information was wrong, they

reasoning was met with pushback, especially from one of Bacchus’s relatives, who believed the protests were necessary.

“Since my cousin dead, is now you come up to the East Coast. Is now you come up the East Coast,” the relative accused. “If we didn’t do a protest, we wouldn’t see nobody for justice,” he added.

“That, for me, it taking too long,” he contended about the Police’s explanation of Bacchus’s death.

In reply, President Ali said, “I agree with you, that justice has to be served here, but justice doesn’t mean you got to burn down people’s stands”.

The Head of State went on to plead with the residents to give the Police’s investigation some more time, stating, “I cannot intervene in an independent investigation. We said it very clear-

were misled but we got to face the consequences,” he said about the ill-informed Facebook post that reportedly sparked Tuesday’s protests.

Ali insisted, “The man is still under arrest.”

However, the President’s

ly, and the Police also said that the Police Complaints Authority is supervising investigations. I called this morning, the Commissioner, the Chairman, they assured me that the report will be finished early next week, hopefully on Monday.”

that are possible, I am asking you stop the violence and stay calm.”

So adamant was he about the compensation of vendors, that he went through the market, speaking with them and learnt of their losses. Pandit Tewari and his sons who were accompanying the President, sprang into action, documenting the vendors’ information.

Following this exercise, President Ali made his way to Buxton, where he engaged protesters and Bacchus’s

family members.

“I came out here because I don’t want this to escalate.

There are people in society who want this to escalate.

They’re intellectuals who try to use that for other gains,” President Ali said soon after his arrival there.

13

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Scenes from the violent protest on ECD

14 NEWS

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29,, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Protester threatens to assassinate President during recording by MP

T

he life of President Dr Irfaan Ali was threatened on Tuesday during a massive protest along the East Coast corridor, where protesters were demanding justice for the death of 23-year-old Quindon Bacchus who was killed by ranks of the Police Force at Haslington New Scheme, ECD. In a broadcast, after the protest erupted, the President said his life was threatened during a live social media coverage that was being done by a Member of Parliament.

The Head of state said he will be passing a unanimous

resolution decrying political violence and threats of assassination.

“A man threatened my life. And, the member of Parliament who filmed it did not denounce the statement. I have received an outpouring of love and support. Today, I will be holding my family and the extended Guyanese family tighter.”

“When I took this job, I knew that it would be difficult. We had to struggle for our democracy and our votes to be counted. We had to struggle with a pandemic and with the rising cost of living. And, through it all,

we are surely and steadily transforming Guyana,” he said.

Ali said in order to build one Guyana for all, we must speak with one voice that threats of political violence and assassination will not be tolerated in our democratic society.

Regarding the underlying issue [the protest], the President said he was assured that the Police officer who allegedly shot and killed Bacchus remains confined to Police HQ and is under active and expedited investigation.

Bacchus was shot several times and killed on June 10. Police had first reported that they went to Haslington New Scheme, ECD, where Bacchus was seen with a firearm, and when he was

approached, he fired shots at the rank. The ranks allegedly returned fire, killing him in the process.

In a second report, the

Force stated that Bacchus attempted to sell an undercover policeman a handgun and a shootout erupted, killing Bacchus in the process.

NEWS

15

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Ramsammy’s Ruminations City Hall to be completely Time is now to stop the misinformation on oil in Guyana

restored by mid-2023

T

his past week, the Vice President took the opportunity to correct misinformation that is being spread by a handful of persons, who would rather Guyana lose out on the benefits it is presently extracting from the bad deal signed with EXXON. Two things Guyanese must be aware of: first, Guyana gets more than EXXON after expenses have been discounted. Second, the Irfaan Aliled PPP Government has totally rejected any attempt by EXXON to discount the 2% royalty Guyana gets from total revenues as an expense. On the second matter, Guyanese ought to know that the deal the PNC/APNU/AFC signed with EXXON provided them with an opportunity to discount the 2% royalty as an expense. The PPP has refused to permit such an absurd giveaway.

VP Bharrat Jagdeo, once again this past week, had to repeat the truth about how Dr Leslie Ramsammy profits are shared between Guyana and EXXON. Guyana gets upfront 2% of the total sales of oil. Of the 25% of sales that are considered as profits in the early years, Guyana gets 12.5% and EXXON gets 12.5%. EXXON gets to claim up to 75% as recovering its expenses and investments. After EXXON would have recovered its investment, and expenses do not exceed 75%, overall profits will increase and Guyana will share the increased profits equally with EXXON. This means that in the early years, Guyana’s share of total revenue is a minimum of 14.5% to EXXON’s maximum of 12.5%.

Guyana must be vigilant in examining the expenditure claims on 75% of the revenues, to ensure that EXXON is claiming legitimate expenses. In this regard, Government has signed a contract with a consortium of local and international auditors, to ensure that EXXON’s claims are eligible expenses.

Even as some in Guyana continue to peddle misinformation, the VP has been regularly trying to make Guyanese and the world aware of the truth. Take this particular misinformation that some in the newspapers blare, especially in one newspaper that blares misinformation and half-truths daily, that EXXON is allowed to recover the 2% royalty Guyana gets as an expense in the 75% claim from total revenues. Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo had made clear that the Irfaan Ali-led Government is not prepared to permit EXXON to recover the revenue that Guyana earns as part of its expenses, but some of the anti-OIL sycophants keep repeating that claim with the hope that the Guyanese people would join them in their anti-OIL campaign. The Director General of the Guyana Revenue Authority had to step in this week to confirm that the GRA and Guyana have not allowed EXXON to claim the 2% royalty that Guyana receives as an OIL cost. In spite of these categoric explanations to dispel the misinformation, those who have been repeating the misinformation have totally ignored the explanations from the VP and from the GRA. So as to clear all doubts, Guyanese have become united that Guyana got suckered when we legally signed the EXXON deal. The PPP said so in Opposition, and the PPP has maintained that posture.

Since the PNC/APNU/AFC, in recent times, now claim they want to renegotiate the deal they made with EXXON, we have to assume that they are in unity with the rest of us: that the David Granger APNU/AFC Government signed a bad deal with EXXON. But bad dal or not, it is a legal contract, and Guyana is obliged to act within the contract provisions.

Guyana had, and has, three choices – act as APNU/AFC intended to, and allow EXXON to exploit the situation maximally; try to ensure that as a country we seek every opportunity to maximise our take from the existing deal; or renegotiate. The renegotiation will put Guyana squarely in confrontation with international law, and will bring calamity upon us. Guyana’s most practical option is to find every avenue to maximise our take from OIL revenues. This is what the Irfaan Ali Government is doing.

The truth is that, in the small anti-OIL grouping, all those who today demand the EXXON OIL deal be renegotiated or arbitrarily scrapped knew the deal was bad when the Granger Government signed the deal. Outside of some timid criticism by less than a handful of them then, none of the recent anti-OIL advocates ever mounted a robust opposition to the deal. They only discovered their disgust with the deal since the PPP Government assumed office, even though it is the PPP that has taken a bad deal and is trying to extract the maximum benefits from it.

Take the provision in the contract that APNU/AFC signed with EXXON, that provided an opportunity for EXXON to claim the 2% royalty to Guyana as a business expense. The small anti-OIL group keeps repeating this as if the PPP is allowing it. The PPP Government, in fact, has closed that loophole. But those who were silent when such absurd giveaways to EXXON were made today behave as if it is Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo’s fault, as if it is a malfeasance by the Irfaan Ali-led Government.

The truth is that the very robust critics today were silent when the PNC signed off the agreement, and today they are trying to mobilise Guyanese with misinformation against the PPP Government. It is one of two things – these critics hate the PPP, or they today enjoy the freedom that democracy brings, as opposed to the fear they lived in under Granger and the APNU/AFC Government.

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

Restoration works underway on the City Hall structure

I

n the second quarter of 2023, the restoration works currently ongoing at the dilapidated City Hall building are expected to be completed, thus returning it to its former glory.

This was according to Georgetown Mayor Ubraj Narine on Tuesday during a press conference. Last year, the signing of a $780 million contract paved the way for works to commence on the building. It was slated to start in October 2021 with an expected completion time of 18 months.

“The restoration is going very well. I believe that building is scheduled to finish May-June 2023.

However, so far, so good.”

Three companies: Fidis Guyana Incorporated, Bulk & Timber Works Incorporated, and OM Custom Wood Working & Restoration, had bid for the contract. Fidis Guyana, with a bid of $754.7 million, was awarded the contract.

Regarding the construction of an administrative building to house employees, the Mayor indicated that there were some miscalculations in the bill of quantities, which will have to be ironed out.

“The admin building, the entire bill of quantities that the City Engineer outlined in this contract, most of it is inaccurate. It’s that I don’t have knowledge on but this the advice I’m receiving. Both contractors in the City Engineer’s Department have faults. One time, I heard the contractor used the money, maybe a few million dollars; and I believe we paid for unmeasured works.

So I believe he has to rectify it. Then we move forward,” he outlined.

“The contractor complained numerous times that the bill of quantities within this contract is not matching the building. It’s a miscalculation,” he added.

The Government of Guyana had said it was taking the lead role in the restoration of the 138-year-old City Hall building. The admin building was initially touted to house staffers after relocation from the City Hall structure to facilitate these works.

“The capital city is described as the centre of busi-

ness, and we believe, as Government, it is our duty, despite the challenges of the City Council and all of the attendant issues associated with the management of the city, we have decided to take the bull by the horn and ensure that the investment is made in the city”, Local Government Minister Nigel

Dharamlall was quoted as saying.

The Minister had added that Government would push for the building to be

completed within the stipulated timeline, and his Ministry will not indulge in the fashion of extending contracts.

16 NEWS

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

107 new COVID-19 cases recorded …Govt sourcing vaccines for 4-mth to 6-y-o children

T

otal infections of COVID-19 in Guyana have reached 67,221, after another 107 new cases were reported on Tuesday.

There are still 1251 confirmed deaths, with five persons in the Intensive Care Unit. In addition, 29 persons are in institutional isolation, 795 in home isolation and 10 in institutional quarantine.

Additionally, a total of 65,141 persons has recovered. Over 800 active infections are still being monitored across health facilities.

Meanwhile, 658,476 tests have been processed to date.

An analysis shows new cases dispersed across eight administrative regions, with nine in Region One (BarimaWaini); nine in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam); 10 in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara); 61 in Region Four (DemeraraMahaica); two in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice); 10 in Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne); one in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) and five in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).

There were no new re-

ported cases in Regions Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) and Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo).

Latest vaccination figures show that so far, 443,529 or 86.5 per cent of adults have taken a first dose, while some 343,324 or 66.9 per cent of persons 18 years and over are fully vaccinated.

For adolescents between the ages of 12 and 17, 25,592 or 35.1 per cent are fully vaccinated. Vaccination is also available for children between the ages of five and 11 years, and 3090 have received the first dose thus far.

In addition, 68,305 persons have returned for their booster shots thus far.

With FDA granting approval for use of vaccines for children between six months and four years of age, Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony positioned on Monday that Government would want to source the jabs.

However, there are challenges but the Government has initiated a process through its channels to bring the shots here. It is expected that in two months,

the shots can be accessed.

“I think this is another group of people that we would like to get vaccinated. Vaccines were not previously available for this age group. Both Pfizer and Moderna would have sought Emergency Use Authorisation from the FDA. The CDC, shortly thereafter, would have authorised its use in the United States,” he underscored in Monday’s COVID update.

According to the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) recent figures, about 542 million confirmed cases were reported globally along with 6.3 deaths.

In the Region of the Americas, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases are pegged at over 162 million with a death toll of 2.7 million.

If anyone is displaying any of the symptoms associated with COVID-19 or needs any additional information, they are asked to contact the COVID-19 Hotline 231-1166, 226-7480 or 624-6674 immediately or visit www.health.gov.gy.

GUYANA COVID-19 DASHBOARD JUNE 28, 2022 UPDATE

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

107 29 795 5

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN INSTITUTIONAL QUARANTINE

10

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES BY GENDER (FEMALES)

36,380

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES BY GENDER (MALES)

30,841

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES IN GUYANA SINCE 2020

67,221

NUMBER OF RECOVERED CASES

65,141

TOTAL 1st DOSE VACCINATED FULLY IMMUNISED

REGION 1

2569

REGION 2

2901

REGION 3

8407

REGION 4

33,387

REGION 5

2468

REGION 6

6482

REGION 7

2476

REGION 8

886

REGION 9

4076

REGION 10

3569

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

443,529 343,324

TOTAL NUMBER OF DEATHS

DISTRIBUTION OF TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES SINCE MARCH 2020

1251

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.

M&CC to enforce occupational certificates for buildings

T

he Georgetown Mayor and City Council (M&CC) will be clamping down on businesses operating within the capital city or those subletting from an establishment without the requisite occupational certificate.

Georgetown Mayor Ubraj Narine informed during a press conference on Tuesday that the city’s bylaws state that businesses should possess an occupational certificate, issued by the City Engineer’s Department, before operating on the premises.

This extends to sublets operating out of malls and other similar businesses.

Despite being in effect for some time, the Mayor acknowledged that it was not enforced by officers of the municipality. A committee was identified to tackle this issue and will be meeting today, June 29.

“The laws here are very clear and I believe there will be a special committee meeting. The committee will deliberate and give a way forward. We will go after those buildings because the laws are very clear before you occupy any building within the city of Georgetown. If you’re going to rent a sublet within a mall, that individual has to get an occupational certificate from the city, which comes at a fee,” Narine out-

Georgetown Mayor Ubraj Narine

lined.

Persons are required to notify the City Engineer before a building is occupied, so it can be inspected. If it operates according to the bylaws, a revaluation of the property will be requested and thereby increasing the taxes to be paid. Once the taxes are paid, the certificate will be issued.

According to the Mayor, this will reduce the number of persons paying residential taxes despite operating a business from their property. The Committee handling this matter will deliberate before deciding on a fixed fee for acquiring this certificate.

“It wouldn’t be plenty of money, maybe $5000 or $10,000. The fee may be an administrative fee to process and so on.”

Nevertheless, Narine pointed out that the Council will approach the court for businesses that fail to provide this document once enforcement commences.

“If you do go ahead and occupy that building, the Council or the City Engineer has to move to the court so that you can be able to justify why you went ahead without following the laws of the city of Georgetown. We will move to the court to have the building closed,” Narine stated.

NEWS

17

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Construction of referral hospital for children, high-risk mothers to start soon – Health Minister

C

onstruction of a referral hospital for children and highrisk mothers will begin shortly, according to Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony.

This hospital, the Minster stated, will have 256 beds. “We will start the construction of several new hospitals, including a referral hospital for children and high-risk mothers, that’s a 256-bed hospital that will be started shortly.”

The Health Minister stated that once the hospital becomes operational, it will be equipped to facilitate paediatric cardiac surgery.

“In that hospital, we’ll have capabilities of doing paediatric cardiac surgery, oncology, and some of these

Irfaan Ali had announced, during his Independence Day address to Guyana, that six modernised regional health facilities are expected to be erected at the cost of US$180 million.

Works will be done on four major diagnostic centres in Regions One (Barima-Waini), Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), Eight (Potaro-Siparuni), and Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony

other specialty care that we believe our population would need,” he said. In addition, once the hospital comes on stream, Guyana will be open to accepting patients from other countries.

“We are open to helping other countries, so if they have patients and they want to send to us, once these facilities be-

come operational, we’ll certainly look at those complicated patients.” Moreover, the Minister stated that the construction of the six new regional hospitals the Government has announced will start this year.

“We’re also adding six new regional hospitals and that too, we’ll start this year, to build these hospitals,” he said. President Dr

Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo), upgrading them to regional hospitals.

For the year 2022, the Government plans on injecting a whopping $73 billion into the healthcare sector. This was an enormous increase from the $53.5 billion in 2021. From this figure, $1 billion was set aside for upgrades to health centres and an additional $2

billion for medical and non-medical equipment.

There are several larger projects on the Ali-led Administration’s agenda, geared at decentralising healthcare and enabling easier access for Guyanese.

A major initiative is the construction of a new $2 billion multi-specialty hospital at Suddie, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam).

4 Caribbean countries to use Guyana’s expertise in HIV/AIDS treatment

ICON LNG Guyana Inc imports its 150th ISO container of liquefied natural gas

A

Minister of Health Dr Frank Anthony, along with participants of the event

I

Containers of LNG

CON LNG Guyana Inc (ICON LNG) on Tuesday announced the importation its 150th ISO container of liquefied natural gas (LNG).

Since the end of 2019, ICON LNG has supplied LNG to Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL) to be used for power generation.

DDL is the first Guyanese company to recognise the benefits of LNG as a fuel for electricity production and uses it to run dual fuel gas/ diesel generators that support its distillery operations in Great Diamond, East Bank Demerara.

DDL recently expanded its use of LNG in process heating with the new manufacturing facility of its Tropical Orchard Products Company (TOPCO) subsidiary. The LNG will fuel a boiler used by TOPCO in the pasteurisation process of the company’s products, including fruit juices and milk.

The LNG arrives at DDL in standard 40’ multi-modal ISO containers that keep it chilled to minus 160 degrees Celsius. The LNG containers are connected to a regasification terminal where atmospheric temperatures warm the LNG, allowing it to naturally change back into natural gas. Finally, the natural gas is piped directly into

DDL’s manufacturing facilities.

Given LNG’s low carbon and sulphur content, with the 150th tank delivered, DDL has avoided emitting air pollution equal to 2231 tons of CO2, and 22,290 kilograms of sulphur dioxide, and 2041 kilograms of particulate matter.

ICON LNG’s Country Manager, Delmar Walcott expressed that the company sees further opportunities in Guyana for using LNG as global demand for energy pushes oil prices to record price levels.

He said, “With the planned gas-to-shore pipeline intended to supply natural gas to a new 300-megawatt power plant, we have proposed to and are discussing with the Government, apportioning a small amount of the natural gas for Guyana’s first small-scale domestic liquefier. The liquefier would supply LNG to the transportation sector where it could be substituted in place of highly expensive imported gasoline.”

Walcott continued by adding, “According to the Guyana Energy Agency, over two-thirds of Guyana’s petroleum imports go to the transportation sector for fuel. As other countries in the Caribbean Region have

successfully shown, natural gas can be used to run a typical internal combustion engine with only slight modifications.”

Walcott stated that switching to Guyana’s own natural gas can reduce prices at pumps.

“Switching to Guyana’s own natural gas would surely reduce prices at the pump.

We are emphasising that by utilising Guyana’s natural gas for the transport sector, the Government can significantly reduce its petroleum import bill while also lowering costs for thousands of Guyanese drivers,” he said.

LNG is a reliable and environmentally friendly fuel that replaces coal, heavy fuel oil, and diesel as a low carbon, safe and reliable source of energy for global demand.

ICON LNG, Guyana’s first domestic LNG company, offers full turn-key solutions for companies seeking to use LNG for power generation or for their process heating requirements. The firm designs and installs custom dual-fuel engine systems, LNG regasification systems, and small-scale LNG liquefaction equipment. Customers also receive fully managed supply chains of LNG deliveries under medium- to longterm contracts.

ntigua and Barbuda, Belize, Trinidad and Tobago, and Jamaica will utilise Guyana’s methods in treating HIV/AIDS patients through a “SouthSouth knowledge exchange event,” a partnership between the Ministry of Health (MOH) and Pan Caribbean Partnership Against HIV and AIDS (PANCAP).

On Monday, the threeday event kicked off at the National AIDS Programme Secretariat (NAPS) during which national AIDS programme managers and clinical care coordinators from the Caribbean examined how to utilise Guyana’s methods in treating HIV/AIDS. The countries were chosen based on their level of healthcare services in treating infected persons.

Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony outlined Guyana’s methods in identifying and treating patients living with HIV/AIDS while addressing the event. He explained that over the last two years, measures were implemented to accommodate anyone who may feel as though they are at risk.

“One way of doing that is obviously to do PrEP… maybe about two years ago we were only doing PrEP discordant couples and now we have changed that to make sure that PrEP is available to everybody. Anybody who feels as though they are at risk can come into one of our clinics… we go through the basic evaluation requirements and once they meet that then obviously, we’ll be

able to offer them PrEP,” he said.

Traditionally, while persons had to be counselled before getting tested for HIV/ AIDS, this is no longer required as self-testing is becoming more prevalent.

“We have started doing self-testing, it is not as comprehensive as we would like it to be, but we have started, and we have some amount of experience with self-testing, and hopefully we’ll be able to increase the coverage as we go. So, that too is a very interesting experience because I think initially, we had some resistance, but it's about education and working with people and building trust and so forth.”

Although a number of testing and treatment sites are operational across the country, the Health Minister expressed that he would like to see more.

“So, in each of these ten administrative regions, we want to make sure these services are available.”

The Ministry has worked with the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) to establish guidelines for the roll-out of PrEP to the population.

Additionally, Dr Anthony noted that Guyana has a “robust” treatment and care programme and that the Ministry is aware of new medications to treat persons living with HIV/AIDS. “In terms of treatment and care, we have, I think, a fairly robust programme.

We’re also working to look at the various medications

that we use perhaps to revise the guidelines to reflect newer ways of treatment. We’re also cognisant that also, in terms of PrEP, there are new medications that are becoming available,” Dr Anthony said.

He noted that the Ministry is in the process of exploring injectable medication for PrEP that is now becoming available on the market because “we think the efficacy can be good”.

Meanwhile, the Minister briefly stated that the Ministry, through a collaboration with PAHO, is expected to get a reasonable cost for Hep C treatment, through the Strategic Fund.

“We have put together a small unit where we are looking at the epistemology for Hep C. We have built a database for these patients and we have concluded a collaboration with PAHO to be able to get the Hep C medication at a very reasonable cost.”

PANCAP Knowledge Coordinator, Dr Shanti Singh-Anthony said Guyana was selected because of the progress made by the NAPS in PrEP and HIVST implementation and the wealth of experience to be shared with the Region. The exchange event is being funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

The three-day event will focus on Guyana’s experience in implementing Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and HIV self-testing (HIVST).

18

guyanatimesgy.com

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 2022

Regional

Colombia prison riot Jamaica making gains in cervical cancer prevention and control sparks deadly fire

J

A

fire during a prison riot in south-west Colombia has killed 49 inmates and injured at least 30 other people, including prison warders.

The national prison authority said the fire in Tuluá, in Valle del Cauca, was started by prisoners in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

According to officials, the inmates set fire to mattresses in a bid to stop guards breaking up the riot.

They say the blaze has now been controlled, and no prisoners escaped.

The fire broke out at about 01:00 local time (06:00GMT) on Tuesday morning in one of the prison blocks, which normally houses about 180 inmates.

Residents of the city reported seeing smoke and flames inside the jail after the fire got out of control and engulfed the prison block.

Firefighters and Ambulance services were

Colombia’s prisons are notoriously overcrowded

alerted, with some of the injured being taken to hospital.

The head of the Government’s prison agency, Gen Tito Castellanos, said some of the inmates had set their mattresses alight “without considering the consequences of how it was going to affect them”.

“It created a cascade effect that spread to virtually the whole block,” he added.

“The guards, using fire extinguishers and other items, managed to evacuate

the majority of the inmates, but unfortunately the outcome was 49 dead and 30 injured.”

President Ivan Duque expressed regret for what had happened.

As in some other Latin American countries, prisons in Colombia are badly overcrowded.

The country’s 132 jails are intended to hold about 80,000 people, but the prison population is more than 112,000. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Caribbean, Latin American citizens faced with food insecurity

A

new report by the Organisation of American States (OAS) notes that a significant number of citizens in Latin America and the Caribbean are facing moderate to severe food insecurity.

The report, titled “Confronting Food Insecurity in the Americas: Good Practices and Lessons Learned during the COVID-19 Pandemic”, systematises information from 16 countries on policies and programmes to ensure food security in the region, and identifies priority lines of action on this issue.

The report also noted 14 per cent experienced extreme food insecurity (defined as having no food and

going a day or more without eating) according to data from the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO).

“The number of people lacking physical or economic access to a quantity and quality of food necessary for health and development increased to 267 million people in 2020, an increase of 60 million people from the previous year.

“Food insecurity disproportionately affects groups that are already in a situation of greater vulnerability, such as women, Indigenous and Afro-descendant peoples, people with disabilities, the elderly, people in a situation of human mobility, among others,” according to

the report.

It noted that food insecurity is on the rise in several countries around the world, reversing years of progress and jeopardising the ability to achieve the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals by 2030, specifically the goal to “End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture”.

The combination of the onset of the novel coronavirus pandemic with declining incomes and disruptions in food supply networks and distribution chains have led to a significant increase in chronic and acute hunger, the report said. (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

Argentina’s economic crisis whack-a-mole goes into overdrive

A

rgentina’s economic alarm bells are ringing loudly with fears of a global recession and spiralling inflation stoking investor fears over possible defaults, missed targets with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and political unrest.

The South American country, an important global supplier of soybeans, corn and wheat, has seen its bonds sink to record lows, pressure on its peso currency is rising and a high energy import bill is stopping it building up vital dollar reserves.

Domestic inflation meanwhile is heading to-

wards 70 per cent by the end of the year, forcing the central bank to tighten monetary policy hard, risking growth. The interest rate has climbed to 52 per cent in a bid to avert investors dumping peso assets.

With grains exports dipping in the second half of the year, this could imperil the country’s ability to meet targets linked to a US$44 billion deal agreed with the IMF. “The Government is finding it increasingly hard to renew all maturities and there is a growing fear of it resorting to a reprofiling of its debt,” said Víctor Beker, direc-

tor of the Center for New Economy Studies at the University of Belgrano.

Argentina’s economy, the third biggest in Latin America, has been hit by crises, defaults and rampant inflation for decades.

The recent volatility has been exacerbated by wider emerging market jitters as the US Federal Reserve has tightened monetary policy and soaring global prices, including high energy costs that have badly hit Argentina’s balance of payments, limiting its ability to build up much-needed foreign reserves. (Excerpt from Reuters)

amaica has made significant strides towards meeting the targets in the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) Plan of Action for Cervical Cancer Prevention and Control 2018-2030.

Addressing the 170th Session of the PAHO Executive Committee Meeting, which was held in a hybrid format from June 20-24, Chief Medical Officer (CMO) in the Ministry of Health and Wellness Dr Jacquiline Bisasor-McKenzie noted the progress made in numerous areas.

These include the development of a National Plan for Cervical Cancer Elimination with support from PAHO, and estab-

lished screening guidelines for cervical cancer.

“The National Screening Guidelines for Priority Noncommunicable Diseases in Primary Care in Jamaica was published in 2020. It includes guidelines for cervical cancer screening in the 21-to-64 years target group and recommendations for screening via Pap smears or human papillomavirus (HPV) testing for women 30 to 64 years of age,” Dr BisasorMcKenzie said.

She noted that implementation of the guidelines has already commenced in one parish, through the Health System Strengthening Project for the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable

Diseases (NCDs).

In addition, the CMO said that Jamaica has ramped up and will continue to increase public awareness and education on cervical cancer prevention and control.

She noted that increased awareness and screening will be promoted as part of the life stage and integrated approach in primary-care centres, even as the country undertakes a comprehensive Primary Health Care Reform programme.

The CMO noted as well that palliative care, which is care for the terminally ill and their families, will be added to the list of services at health centres. (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

Ecuador will not return to talks with Indigenous leader Iza

E

cuador’s President Guillermo Lasso said in a video on Tuesday that his Government will not return to negotiations with Indigenous leader Leonidas Iza, which were taking place in a bid to end more than two weeks of protests.

Largely Indigenous demonstrators have been marching to protest high fuel and food prices since June 13, and at least eight people have been killed in connection with the marches. Road blockades associated with the protests have led to shortages of food in supermarkets and medical supplies in hospitals.

The Government has made significant concessions to marchers, Lasso said. It has agreed to a gasoline price cut, debt forgiveness and subsidies for fertilisers, among other demands, though Iza said on Monday that the price cut was not enough.

His Government is open to talks, Lasso said, but not with Iza. “We will not return to dialogue with Leonidas Iza, who only defends his political interests and not

Indigenous leader Leonidas Iza speaking during a meeting with demonstrators before an anti-Government protest amid a stalemate between the Government of President Guillermo Lasso and largely Indigenous demonstrators who demand an end to emergency measures, in Quito, Ecuador, June 23, 2022

those of his base. To our Indigenous brothers - you deserve more than an opportunist for a leader,” Lasso said.

The country cannot dialogue with those keeping it “hostage” Lasso added, sending his condolences to the family of a soldier killed in an attack on a military convoy and to 12 others who were injured.

The convoy was accompanying 17 diesel tankers from the Shushufindi refinery to the ITT oil field when they were attacked by a group of people car-

rying guns, the Defense Ministry said.

Iza, who had been waiting at the site of talks for Government representatives to appear, said he would consult with his supporters before responding to Lasso.

His organization, CONAIE, tweeted that Lasso’s cancellation of talks confirmed his “authoritarianism, lack of willingness and incapacity,” and that the President is responsible for the consequences. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Brazil’s public debt rises 2.01% in May, interest rates reach 5-year highs

B

razil’s federal public debt rose 2.01 per cent in May from the month before, with the average costs of domestic debt issuance jumping to the highest level in five years amid high inflation, the Treasury said on Tuesday.

The debt stock reached 5.702 trillion reais (US$1.08 trillion) in May after it had increased 0.45

per cent in April over the previous month. April data had not yet been published due to a protest for higher salaries by Treasury employees.

According to the Treasury, the average interest rate on the domestic federal debt grew to 11.69 per cent against 11.29 per cent in April, its highest level since May 2017, amid appreciation in in-

flation-linked and interest rate bonds.

The Brazilian central bank has already raised its key interest rate to 13.25 per cent from a record low of 2 per cent in March last year, indicating there is room for another hike in its battle to tame double-digit inflation in Latin America’s largest economy. (Excerpt from Reuters)

guyanatimesgy.com

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 2022

19

Around the World

OILNEWS OIL NEWS Oil settles higher as major producers flag capacity limits

O

il prices settled higher for a third day on Tuesday as major producers Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates looked unlikely to be able to boost output significantly while Western governments agreed to explore ways to cap the price of Russian oil.

Brent crude futures climbed US$2.89, or 2.5 per cent, to settle at US$117.58 a barrel by 12:33 pm EDT (1633 GMT). US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude settled up US$2.19, or 2 per cent, to US$111.76 a barrel.

Both contracts extended the previous session's gains of nearly 2 per cent after the Group of Seven economic powers vowed to ratchet up existing Western pressure on Russia from sanctions over its invasion of Ukraine.

G7 leaders have agreed to explore imposing a ban on transporting Russian oil that has been sold above a certain price, aiming to deplete Moscow's war chest.

Russian oil export revenue climbed in May even as volumes fell, the International Energy Agency said in its June report.

Western bans on Russia and its oil and gas output have led to a sharp rise in global energy prices, and other major producers have yet to implement a significant boost to supplies.

Saudi Arabia and the UAE have been seen as the only two members of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries with spare capacity to make up for lost Russian supply and weak output from other member nations.

"A seam of tight supply news bolstered the market. Two major producers, Saudi Arabia and the UAE, are said to be at, or very close to, nearterm capacity limits," Commonwealth Bank commodities analyst Tobin Gorey said in a note.

French President Emmanuel Macron told US President Joe Biden on the sidelines of the G7 meeting that the UAE was producing at maximum capacity and Saudi Arabia could increase output by only 150,000 barrels per day, well below its nameplate spare capacity of about 2 million bpd.

"It's seems like the rainy day barrels the market was relying on existing may not appear," said Bob Yawger, director of energy futures at Mizuho.

Energy Minister Suhail al-Mazrouei said on Monday that the UAE was producing near maximum capacity based on its quota of 3.168 million barrels per day (bpd) under the agreement with OPEC and its allies, a group known as OPEC+.

Analysts also said that political unrest in Ecuador and Libya could tighten supply further.

Meanwhile, US crude inventories were forecast to have fallen for the last two weeks, according to Reuters polls. The government's weekly petroleum status report that should have been published last week was delayed due to a hardware issue. The data for both weeks will published together today.

Market shortages have led to a rebound this week, countering recession jitters that weighed on prices over the previous two weeks. (Excerpt from Reuters)

G7: China must press Russia to stop Ukraine war G

7 leaders urged China on Tuesday to use its influence with Russia to stop its invasion of Ukraine and drop "expansive maritime claims" in the South China Sea, in unprecedentedly tough criticism of Beijing's policies and human rights record.

They called on China to press Russia to pull forces out of Ukraine immediately and unconditionally, citing a ruling by the International Court of Justice that Moscow suspend its military operation, and related UN General Assembly resolutions.

In a communique concluding their three-day summit in the Bavarian Alps, the Group of Seven rich industrial democracies took aim at what they called coercive Chinese non-market policies that dis-

N

military alliance, cementing what is set to be the biggest shift in European security in decades, as the two, long neutral Nordic countries seek NATO protection.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and Turkey’s presidency confirmed the accord in separate statements, after talks between the NATO chief, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson, and Finnish President Sauli Niinisto.

Stoltenberg said the terms of the deal involved Sweden intensifying work on Turkish extradition requests and amending Swedish and Finnish law to toughen their

torted the global economy.

The Chinese section of the communique, highlighted by the United States, referred to China's "non-transparent and

market-distorting interventions" and other forms of economic and industrial directives.

The G7 leaders committed

Scotland announces plan for independence vote in October 2023

S

cotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has announced plans for a second referendum to be held on Scottish independence in October next year, promising to take legal action to ensure a vote if the British Government tried to block it.

Sturgeon said on Tuesday that the Scottish Government, which is led by her pro-independence Scottish National Party, would publish a referendum bill later, outlining plans for the secession vote to take place on October 19, 2023.

She also said she would be writing to British Prime Minister Boris Johnson for permission to hold a consultative referendum, but had already set in motion plans to get the legal authority should he block the plans.

“What I am not willing to do, what I will never do, is al-

Finland, Sweden on path to NATO membership as Turkey drops veto ATO ally Turkey has lifted its veto over Finland and Sweden’s bid to join the Western alliance after the three nations agreed to protect each other’s security, ending a weeks-long drama that tested allied unity against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The breakthrough came on Tuesday after four hours of talks just before a NATO summit began in Madrid, averting an embarrassing impasse at the gathering of 30 leaders that aimed to show resolve against Russia.

The lifting of the veto means that Helsinki and Stockholm can proceed with their application to join the

Rescuers and service members work at a site of a shopping mall hit by a Russian missile strike, as Russia's attack on Ukraine continues, in Kremenchuk, in Poltava region, Ukraine, June 27, 2022 (Picture taken June 27, 2022)

to work together to ensure a level playing field for their businesses and workers.

The communique further voiced serious disquiet about the situation in the East and South China seas and unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force or coercion.

"We stress that there is no legal basis for China's expansive maritime claims in the South China Sea," it said.

It also said the G7 was now "gravely concerned" - a term not used in their summit a year ago - about the human rights situation in China, including forced labour in Tibet and Xinjiang. China should also honour its commitments to uphold rights, freedom and a high degree of autonomy in Hong Kong, they said.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

approach to those seen as threats by Ankara.

Stoltenberg also said Sweden and Finland would lift their restrictions on selling weapons to Turkey.

Turkey has raised serious concerns that Sweden has been harbouring members of the banned Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which took up arms against the Turkish state in 1984.

Stockholm has denied the accusation.

The Turkish presidency statement on Tuesday said the four-way agreement meant: “Full cooperation with Turkey in the fight against the PKK and its affiliates”. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

low Scottish democracy to be a prisoner of Boris Johnson or any Prime Minister,” Sturgeon told lawmakers in the devolved Scottish Parliament.

Voters in Scotland, which has a population of about 5.5 million, rejected independence in 2014. But Scotland’s semi-autonomous Government has said the United Kingdom’s departure from the EU, which was opposed by a majority of Scots, means the question must be put to a second vote.

Johnson and his governing Conservative Party, which is in opposition in Scotland, strongly oppose a referendum, saying the issue was settled in 2014 when Scots voted against independence

Sturgeon answering questions after giving a statement on independence referendum in the Scottish Parliament [Andy Buchanan/AFP]

by 55 per cent to 45 per cent.

He has previously refused to issue a “Section 30” order, which gives authority to the

Scottish Parliament to hold a referendum. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

“Stacks of bodies”: 46 dead migrants found in truck in Texas

T

he bodies of 46 dead migrants were discovered inside a tractor-trailer on Monday in San Antonio, Texas, city officials said, in one of the most deadly recent incidents of human smuggling along the US-Mexico border.

A San Antonio Fire Department official said they found "stacks of bodies" and no signs of water in the truck, which was found next to railroad tracks in a remote area on the city's southern outskirts.

Sixteen other people found inside the trailer were transported to hospitals for heat stroke and exhaustion, including four minors, but no children were among the dead, the department said.

"The patients that we saw were hot to the touch, they were suffering from heat stroke, exhaustion," San Antonio Fire Chief Charles Hood told a news confer-

Christine and Michael Ybarra embracing at the scene where people were found dead inside a trailer truck in San Antonio, Texas, US, June 27, 2022

ence. "It was a refrigerated tractor-trailer but there was no visible working A/C unit on that rig."

Temperatures in San Antonio, which is about 160 miles (250 km) from the Mexican border, swelled to a high of 103 degrees Fahrenheit (39.4 degrees Celsius) on Monday with high humidity.

The city's Police Chief William McManus said a person who works in a near-

by building heard a cry for help and came out to investigate. The worker found the trailer doors partially opened and looked inside and found a number of dead bodies.

McManus said this was the largest incident of its kind in the city and said three people were in custody following the incident, though their involvement is not yet clear. (Excerpt from Reuters)

20

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 2022

guyanatimesgy.com

DAILY HOROSCOPES

ARCHIE

Have a plan that ensures you put pent-up energy to good use. Avoid conflict and focus on what's important to you. A problem with a friend or relative will transpire if you aren't diplomatic.

(March 21-April 19) Size up situations before getting involved. Look for the best way to use your skills. Attend a reunion or contact someone you haven't seen in a long time.

Being responsible will help build trust.

DILBERT (April 20-May 20)

Allocate your money wisely. Don't spend unnecessarily or let anyone talk you out of your hard-earned cash. Your generous nature will get you in trouble.

Self-improvement is featured.

(May 21-June 20) Think twice before saying or doing something you may regret. You'll be prone to overreacting or making assumptions that can get you in trouble.

Slow down and live in the moment.

PEANUTS (June 21-July 22)

Evaluate a sensitive situation, and don't agree to anything that can disrupt your plans. Take relationships seriously and discuss your feelings. Consider what others expect of you.

(July 23-Aug. 22) You'll face competition. Be prepared to make a last-minute change if it will help you dissuade someone from getting in your way. Make knowledge and experience your priorities.

CALVIN AND HOBBES

(Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Your intelligence and charm will ward off the opposition. Be a good listener, and you'll figure out how to outmaneuver someone trying to beat you. Put your energy into getting things done.

(Sept. 23-Oct. 23) An open mind will stimulate your creative imagination. Do something that gets you out of the house, and use your skills and experience to make your life fun. Have a positive outlook.

SUDOKU (Oct. 24-Nov. 22)

Joint ventures and shared expenses will leave you in limbo. You are better off fending for yourself and focusing on what makes you happy. Surround yourself with people who share your dreams.

(Nov. 23-Dec. 21) Stick close to home and your loved ones. Don't get swept up in a scam. Put your energy where it will contribute to stability, personal security and peace of mind. Don't divulge secrets.

SOLUTION FOR LAST PUBLISHED PUZZLE

(Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Don't do what you dislike or feel obligated to take on someone's responsibilities or dreams. Make your home your sanctuary, and you'll find peace of mind.

Surround yourself with people you love.

(Jan. 20-Feb. 19) You'll have great ideas, but they won't be cheap. Make a budget to see what you can afford before you jump into a grand plan that leads to a stressful situation. Think matters through.

(Feb. 20-March 20)

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 2022

21

India vs Ireland: T20I series, Game 2 of 2…

India prevail in high-scoring affair in Dublin -take series 2-0

C

raig Young had his 50th T20I commemorated with a special cap, but it was really India who were on a celebration spree in Dublin. Deepak Hooda brought up his maiden T20I hundred, and Sanju Samson coasted to his maiden T20I fifty, as the pair added 176 for the second wicket, setting up India's mammoth total of 225/7 in a high-scoring second and final T20I against Ireland.

Chasing the fourth highest total in T20Is, Paul Stirling helped Ireland put 50 on the board inside four overs, and taking a cue from that, the match went all the way to the last over. With Ireland needing six to win off the final ball, Umran Malik and India finished on the right side of a

hotand-cold 20th over, handing Ireland a narrow loss - by four runs.

Andy Balbirne’s 60 wasn’t enough to save Ireland

what better time to take the opportunity than in the lead-up to a T20 World Cup, especially with a new regime in place?

Hooda, who used a review to overturn an on-field lbw decision, and was dropped on 33 by Stirling, powered to a fifty off 27 balls, while Samson did the same off 31 balls -- both batters getting to the milestone for the first time in T20 Internationals.

Deepak Hooda blasted 104

Hooda, Samson compile record stand

India's intentions were clear from as early as the toss, when captain Hardik Pandya opted to bat on an "alright" wicket. Even though the visitors lost Ishan Kishan to a wild slog outside off, Hooda and Samson ensured that India, who have been called upon by head coach Rahul Dravid to bat with intent, did exactly that. The duo added 176 off only 86 balls, the highest second-wicket partnership in all T20Is, and the highest ever by India for any wicket.

Was it the flat pitch, good batting, or just average bowling? It was a bit of all three. The hard pitch with true bounce allowed India's batters to play on the up and through the line, although Ireland were guilty of bowling either too full or too short, and were carted on both sides of the wicket.

Hooda hit 9 fours and 6 sixes in his innings, and Samson chipped in with 9 fours and

4 sixes, three of which came off Mark Delany.

Who broke that stand then, and how? Mark Adair broke the stand! To be honest, I r e l a n d struggled for answers for much of that partnership, and it took a good legstump yorker from Adair to dislodge Samson on 77 (42b).

Hooda, though, kicked on past his fifty to score a century, getting there off 55 balls and becoming only the fourth India batter to ton up in this format.

Not the finish India wanted…

The visitors motored through the middle overs, adding 111 runs between overs 9 and 15, all of which came through the SamsonHooda stand; but once Ireland found a way through that, in the 17th o v e r , they were able to keep a lid on scoring.

O n l y 24 runs

A timely innings before the T20 World Cup

The crowd cheered when Pandya announced Samson's inclusion at the toss. He's been in India's green room for far too long, as has been Hooda. But

Sanju Samson scored 77

came in the last three overs, and as many as five wickets fell. Young picked two of them off consecutive deliveries, which included the crucial wicket of Dinesh Karthik via an outside edge to keeper.

Stirling stirs a storm

In no way did Ireland crumble under the pressure of a 200+ run-chase. In fact, the hosts started on the perfect note, nicking 18 runs off the first over bowled

by Bhuvneshwar Kumar.

Stirling, in particular, was responsible for that kind of a start, hitting 5 fours and 3 sixes in his 18-ball 40, before he was bowled by Ravi Bishnoi's googly.

Even after Stirling's departure, Ireland kept find-

ing the boundaries, and kept India on their toes.

That they scored their highest total in a home T20I is proof enough. Captain Andrew Balbirnie, who was stumped off a no-ball by Bishnoi, went on to score a 34-ball fifty, his sixth in the format, and helped his side total 100 runs in the ninth over itself. His dismissal to Harshal Patel in the 11th over proved to be another speed-breaker, but Harry Tector and George Dockrell stepped up this time, adding 47 off 21. It took oldhorse Bhuvneshwar's dismissal of Tector and Umran's final over to deliver India over the line, but only just. There wasn't much between the sides on the day.

SCOREBOARD INDIA INNINGS (20 overs maximum) Sanju Samson b Adair 77 Ishan Kishan †c †Tucker b Adair 3 Deepak Hooda c McBrine b Little 104 Suryakumar Yadav c †Tucker b Little 15 Hardik Pandya (c) not out 13 Dinesh Karthik c †Tucker b Young 0 Axar Patel c Dockrell b Young 0 Harshal Patel b Adair 0 Bhuvneshwar Kumar not out 1 Extras (b 4, nb 2, w 6) 12 TOTAL 20 Ov (RR: 11.25, 101 Mts) 225/7 Did not bat: Ravi Bishnoi, Umran Malik Fall of wickets: 1-13 (Ishan Kishan, 2.1 ov), 2-189 (Sanju Samson, 16.2 ov), 3-206 (Suryakumar Yadav, 17.3 ov), 4-212 (Deepak Hooda, 17.6 ov), 5-217 (Dinesh Karthik, 18.5 ov), 6-217 (Axar Patel, 18.6 ov), 7-224 (Harshal Patel, 19.5 ov) BOWLING O-M-R-W Mark Adair 4-0-42-3 Josh Little 4-0-38-2 Craig Young 4-0-35-2 Gareth Delany 4-0-43-0 Conor Olphert 3-0-47-0 Andy McBrine 1-0-16-0

IRELAND INNINGS (Target: 226 runs from 20 overs) Paul Stirling b Ravi Bishnoi 40 Andy Balbirnie (c) c Ravi Bishnoi b HV Patel 60 Gareth Delany run out (Pandya) 0 Harry Tector c Hooda b Kumar 39 Lorcan Tucker †c sub (YS Chahal) b Umran Malik 5 George Dockrell not out 34 Mark Adair not out 23 Extras (b 1, lb 7, nb 4, w 8) 20 TOTAL 20 Ov (RR: 11.05, 110 Mts) 221/5 Did not bat: Andy McBrine, Craig Young, Josh Little, Conor Olphert Fall of wickets: 1-72 (Paul Stirling, 5.4 ov), 2-73 (Gareth Delany, 6.3 ov), 3-117 (Andy Balbirnie, 10.3 ov), 4-142 (Lorcan Tucker, 13.4 ov), 5-189 (Harry Tector, 17.1 ov) BOWLING O-M-R-W Bhuvneshwar Kumar 4-0-46-1 Hardik Pandya 2-0-18-0 Harshal Patel 4-0-54-1 Ravi Bishnoi 4-0-41-1 Umran Malik 4-0-42-1 Axar Patel 2-0-12-0

BCB/Cricket Kindness Gear Project…

BCB donates cricket gear to clubs -Clayton Lambert donates nine boxes of cricket balls

Representatives of the clubs and schools posing with WI great Courtney Walsh

Clayton Lambert

he Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) continues to assist cricket clubs and schools across Berbice with cricket gear under its Cricket Kindness/ Bat for a Chance project. The gear forms part of a mas-

along with the Tucber Park, Edinburgh and Rainbow Generation cricket clubs, has received a bag of cricket gear that included bats, batting pads, batting gloves, helmets, thigh pads and forearm guards.

T

sive donation from Cricket Kindness, headed by United Kingdom-based Tamara J. Lowe, and Will Gafney of Bat for a Chance, also based in the UK. The Port Mourant Secondary School (PMSS),

BCB President Hilbert Foster has indicated that donation of the gear represents the final set of gear to be shared out under the project that involves the two overseas NGOs. Foster disclosed that, to date, the BCB has donated gear, uniforms and caps to over 100 youth players, along with those of dozens of secondary and primary schools and cricket clubs.

Among the schools and clubs to have benefited under the massive project are Line Path Secondary, Lower Corentyne Secondary, Vryman’s Erven Secondary, Fort Wellington Secondary, #72 Primary, Crabwood Creek Primary, Rose Hall Town Primary, All Saints Primary, Cumberland Primary, Rosignol Primary,

#8 Primary, Rose Hall Canje CC, Mt. Sinai CC, Cotton Tree CC, Radha Krishna Foundation, and Skeldon CC. The BCB President has urged the different clubs and schools to take care of the gear.

Special mention has been made of the Port Mourant Secondary School which, over the years, has produced several outstanding players, like Devindra Bishoo, Gudakesh Motie, Eon Hooper, Rampertab Ramnauth, Hemnarine Chattergoon, and Matthew Pottaya. This school, which enjoys the services of two level one coaches, also has a very active cricket programme for its female students.

Foster has also expressed

gratitude to Tamara J. Lowe, Will Gafney, Minister Charles Ramson, Carl Griffith of Laparkan, and Roland Butcher for their support in making the donation possible.

Meanwhile, former West Indies and national opening batsman Clayton Lambert has donated nine boxes of cricket balls to the BCB for distribution to clubs with junior sections. The balls, worth over $100,000, will shortly be distributed to clubs as the BCB continues to reach out to its members.

Lambert, a Berbice captain in 2021, has donated over $1.5 million worth of cricket gear to the BCB under the Clayton Lambert Cricket Development Fund.

22 CWI confirms West Indies contracted players for 2022-2023 WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 2022

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

C

ricket West Indies (CWI) has confirmed the international retainer contracts for the West Indies Men’s and Women’s players for the 2022-2023 season. A total of 36 players have been offered contracts for the period – which runs from 1 July 2022 to 30 June 2023. This is in addition to 90 players across the region who are contracted to territorial board franchise squads.

The West Indies Men’s contracted players’ list sees fast bowler Jayden Seales, left-arm seamer Obed McCoy and allrounder Odean Smith awarded international retainer contracts for the first time.

The West Indies Women’s contracted players’ list sees allrounders Mandy Mangru and Jannillea Glasgow, along with batter Rashada Williams, being awarded international retainer contracts for the first times, all of which are development contracts.

For 2022-23, CWI has changed the Men’s retainer contract structure to offer player contracts across all formats of cricket, compared to specific red or white-ball contracts in previous years.

The offer of retainer contracts to all players follows an evaluation period of performances from 1 April 2021 to 31 March 2022, which is also supported by statistics from the previous 2019-2020 evaluation period. This allows for all players to be appraised immediately after the evaluation period, and provides a notice period before new contracts start on 1 July 2022.

The system is designed to reward hard work and performance results.

West Indies Women’s Lead Selector, Ann Browne-John West Indies Men’s Lead Selector, The Most Honourable Dr Desmond Haynes, has said: “Congratulations to all the players who have been offered contracts. We think this is a dynamic group, with the right mixture of experience and youthfulness to properly represent the people of the Caribbean.

“With general retainer contracts, it gives us a pool of talented and dedicated cricketers who can take West Indies cricket forward in years to come.”

West Indies Women’s Lead Selector, Ann Browne-John, has said: “The selectors have placed a great focus on the young, developing players, because these are the ones who will help to build the team as we look towards the future. The panel believes that the combination of experienced players and the emerging players will give a good base as we continue to prepare teams for international matches and the T20 World Cup early next year.”

CWI Director of Cricket,

West Indies Men’s Lead Selector, The Most Honourable Dr Desmond Haynes

CWI Director of Cricket, Jimmy Adams

Jimmy Adams, has said: “I am delighted for all the players who have been offered retainers for the upcoming period. This represents a significant investment in the ongoing development of our international players, whilst also ensuring our best players are available for selection.”

(Windies Cricket)

Full list of contracted players:

Odean Smith Hayden Walsh Jr.

GDF adjudged ‘Best Gym’ as National Novices conclude

W

Pos 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 69 710 811 612 713

inexperienced Swan Football Club, which started the game with just eight players, Fruta Conquerors were gifted the perfect start when Sawn conceded an own goal just two minutes into the match. It was the perfect momentum for the Tucville-based side, as they kept the standing referee busy recording the times for the next eighteen goals.

Leading the goal blitz was Nikisa Wayne with five goals.

She was on target in the 28th, 29th, 36th, 41st, and 46th minutes. There was a helmet trick each for Sandra Johnson (13th, 16th, 23rd, 30th) and Shamya Daniels (35th, 47th, 49th, 58th). Recording a hattrick was Shanic Thornhill (11th, 25th, 33rd), and a brace came from Jessica Teasdale in the 53rd and 58th minutes.

Following are the standings on the latest points table

Club Mt Pl W D L GF GA GD Fruta Conquerors 2 1 0 1 19 4 +15 Police FC 1 1 0 0 4 0 +4 GDF FC 1 1 0 0 4 0 +4 Santos 1 0 0 1 0 4 -4 Swan 1 0 0 1 0 19 -19 Foxy Ladies NA United St Cuthbert Mission Essequibo Foxy Ladies Bartica NA United Linden St Cuthbert Mission Orealla Falcons Foxy Ladies Moruca NA United -

Aracari Hotel, West Bank Demerara (Versailles – between Harbor Bridge and Vreed-en-Hoop) – AirConditioned Comfort. Amenities include TV, Restaurant, Bar, Swimming Pool, Jacuzzi, Gym. Free Parking, Free WiFi. Spend 7 nights and get 1 Free. Rates from $65 US. Breakfast included. Long term rates available. Phone: 264-2946-9. www. aracariresort.com

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY Restaurant for Rent – West Bank Demerara (at Aracari Resort, Versailles – between Harbor Bridge and Vreed-en-Hoop). Turn Key Business. Covid-19 Reduced Capacity 60; furnished and equipped.

Phone 264-2946; 626-5290

ENTERTAINMENT Swimming Pool Family Fun & Picnic – Crystal Clear Pool. Kids and Adult Sections. Very Safe. Aracari Resort : West Bank Demerara (Versailles, Vreed-en-Hoop)- Every Weekend.

DJ Music. Groups and Excursions welcome. Phone: 264-2946-9.

FOR SALE

TO RENT

GDF beat Santos; Fruta Conquerors flay Swan in latest play for a number of young players to get opportunity to showcase their talent at this highest level of the sport for women in Guyana.

And while it might bring with it some heavy losses, these young players would be very thankful for the exposure, as they would become tougher players by the end of this shortened season.

The second half of the game against Santos was more satisfying for the GDF, as they fired in three unanswered goals: Anastasia Horsham in the 63rd, Suashar Greaves in the 65th, and Sherrilyn Kingston in the 74th minutes, placing the Army in third place on the points table with three points, the same as Police and Fruta Conquerors at the top, goal difference separating them.

The Fruta ladies were in rampaging form, having surrendered full points to the Police in the league’s opening match. Against a young and

ACCOMMODATIONS

FOR SALE!! MITSUBISHI 3 STAGE CRANE CANTER. EQUIPPED WITH A 4M51 ENGINE COUPLED TO 5 SPEED MANUAL GEARBOX. TRAY MEASURING 12FT LENGTH WAS RECONSTRUCTED WITH GREENHEART. TRUCK IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION AND MAINTENANCE ON POINT. $4,300,000 MILLION NEGOTIABLE. Contact 638 – 4755 or 671 – 8445.

West Indies Men * Jermaine Blackwood Nkrumah Bonner Kraigg Brathwaite Joshua Da Silva Jason Holder Shai Hope Akeal Hosein Alzarri Joseph Brandon King Kyle Mayers Obed McCoy Nicholas Pooran Rovman Powell Kemar Roach Jayden Seales Romario Shepherd

GFF Women’s Development League...

hen action in the Guyana Football Federation’s (GFF’s) Women’s Development League (WDL) continued on Saturday last at the GFF National Training Centre at Providence, EBD, the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), in their first match, inflicted a 4-0 beating on Santos Football Club (SFC), while Fruta Conquerors rebounded in grand style to hammer Swan Football Club ((SFC) 19-0, following their opening loss to Police Football Club (PFC).

Kept in check by their less experienced counterparts from Santos, the GDF were only able to penetrate the Santos final third once in the first half, thanks to an Aboice Heywood 26th minute strike.

The bigger-name teams, including GDF and GPF, have snapped up most of the seasoned female players during the transfer window, making way

West Indies Women *Denotes developmental contract Aaliyah Alleyne* Shemaine Campbelle Shamilia Connell Deandra Dottin Afy Fletcher Cherry-Ann Fraser * Shabika Gajnabi * Jannillea Glasgow * Chinelle Henry Mandy Mangru * Hayley Matthews Anisa Mohammed Chedean Nation Karishma Ramharack Kaysia Schultz * Shakera Selman Stafanie Taylor Rashada Williams *

CLASSIFIED ADS

Pt 3 3 3 0 0 -

Scenes from the National Novices Championships’ final day on Sunday last

T

he Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Gym, spearheaded by National Coach Terrence Poole, MS, has again been adjudged ‘the Best Gym following the conclusion of the Andrew ‘Six Head’ Lewis National Novices Championships over the last weekend.

But although they came out ‘on top’, the GDF pugilists were given the proverbial “run for their money”, while the Guyana Police Force and VBG were tied for second place in the championships.

On the final night of competition, GDF’s Renaldo Sutton defeated his gym mate Komal Kissoon in the minimumweight (48kg) weight class, and Republican Gym’s Ryan Persaud took a beating from Daniel Garnett in the Bantamweight (54kg) clash.

In the featherweight contest, Calvin Ramcharran picked up an automatic win over his gym mate Kevin Padmore, while in the lightweight bout, Michael Maynard thumped Shemar Woods in an all-GDF contest.

Junior Welterweight pugilist Junior Hayman of VBG stopped GDF’s Christopher Cummings in one of several bouts that sent a strong message to the GDF corner over the weekend, while Isaac Gonsalves of Rose Hall Jammers (RHJ) was no match for Donovan Richardson of the Police Gym in the Welterweight clash.

Light Middleweight action saw Osaiah Barker (Police) overcoming GDF’s Hick Mittleholzer, and the Middleweight bout was decorated by a Shaquille Daw (GDF) victory over Joward Thomas (PRBG).

Samuel Powers exercised his powers in defeating FYF’s Junior Henry, and Brian Harris overcame Kartel Cort of the GDF in a Cruiseweight encounter.

Heavyweight pugilist Keyon Harris made light work of GDF’s Terrence Lindo, while in the final competitive bout of the Novices Championships, Troy Glasgow enjoyed a victory over John Campayne in the Super Heavyweight class.

In preparation for the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England next month, six boxers were given some time in the ring, with three exhibition fights. Patrick Harvey came up against Julius Kesney, Keevin Allicock battled Colin Lewis, and Desmond Amsterdam ‘faced off’ with Cuban boxer Ysoiec Baca.

Adding to their Best Gym title, GDF Coach Terrence Poole has also been adjudged the Best Coach of the Championships.

He overcame competition from Dexter ‘D Kid’ Marques, who coached the Police outfit. VBG’s Junior Hyman has been named ‘the Best Boxer’.

Office Space for rent, 3200 Sq Feet – West Bank Demerara (at Aracari Resort, Versailles – between Harbour Bridge and Vreed-enHoop). Phone 264-2946; 626-5290.

VACANCIES Experienced Joiners / Cabinet Makers. Very attractive salaries.

For further details, please call: 6408969.

WANTED Vacancy exists for a competent lorry driver between ages 35 – 45 years old, with minimum of 5 years’ experience. Driver should also possess experience operation crane, good communication skills and basic fundamentals of delivery cargo to various customers.

Interested persons are asked to make contact with us on telephone number 500 – 1415, 638 – 4577 or 671 – 8445.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 2022

23

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

WI vs Bangladesh: 3-match T20I, ODI series…

Paul, Motie, Shepherd named in West Indies squads

…Rovman Powell is new T20I vice captain

C

ricket West Indies’ (CWI’s) Selection Panel today announced the West Indies men’s squads for the upcoming three-match T20 International series and the three-match CG United OneDay International series against Bangladesh.

Rovman Powell has been announced as the new vice captain for the T20Is, while leftarm fast bowler Obed McCoy returns after recovering from injury. There are also recalls for experienced wicketkeeperbatter Devon Thomas and allrounder Keemo Paul. In the squad for the CG United ODI series, left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie has been called up.

The Most Honourable Dr Desmond Haynes, CWI Lead Selector, has said: “We know Rovman’s history. He has captained the West Indies before, and is also the captain of his CPL franchise. Our role is to look at future leaders as well, and we have identified a few, including himself, whom we will be putting programmes around to ensure we keep them involved in that aspect of the cricket.

“Thomas is a very versatile cricketer who has been knocking on the door in all formats. He

has been doing well in franchise cricket, and with that level of talent, we must ensure we keep him interested. He brings a lot to the table, and is basically a fourdimensional player; he can bat, bowl, he is brilliant in the field, and he can keep wicket as well.

“McCoy has done exceptionally well in the IPL, and enjoyed a successful stint in England as well, so we are confident that he is back to his best in terms of playing and fitness,” Haynes added.

“Generally, we have to start looking at the bigger picture of getting these players playing together as often as possible in preparation for the ICC T20 World Cup later down in the year. We need to ensure we are fielding a very strong side for that tournament.”

The T20I series opens with back-to-back matches on Saturday, 2 July and Sunday, 3 July at the Windsor Park in Dominica. This will see a return to international cricket at the fully refurbished venue, where international cricket is being hosted for the first time since the hurricane damage of 2017.

The series climaxes with the third and final match on Tuesday, 7 July at the Guyana National Stadium. The CG

United ODI Series will be played at the Guyana National Stadium on Friday 10 July, Monday 13 July, and T h u r s d ay 16 July.

Online ticket

Rovman Powell is the T20 vice captain

sales are now live via the new WINDIES T I C K E T S ser vice, presented by Mastercard, at www.tickets. w i n d i e st i c ket s . com. Fans can purchase in advance without the need to travel to box offices, to save tickets to their mobile phones, which can then be presented f o r scanning at the stadium entrance.

Fans who register for the WINDIES TICKETS service and purchase tickets will also receive offers and promotions for future games.

In Dominica, there is great excitement on the Nature Isle for the return of international cricket, with tickets available in three price categories providing a range of viewing positions for every budget.

Ticket prices range from US$6 (EC$15) for the Mound/Grounds to US$15 (EC$40) for the standard seats and US$25 (EC$70) premium seating in the Shillingford Stand.

In Guyana, the prices

will range from US$6 (Gy$1200) for the Mound/Grounds to US$15 (Gy$3000) for the Orange Stand or US$25 (Gy$5000) for the best seats in the Red and Green Stands, as the fans in Guyana welcome the busiest “Summer of Cricket” to visit the South American mainland.

Fans can watch live on ESPN Caribbean, and listen to live radio commentary on the Windies Cricket YouTube channel.

FULL SQUADS

T20 Internationals * Nicholas Pooran (Captain) * Rovman Powell (Vice Captain) * Shamarh Brooks * Akeal Hosein * Alzarri Joseph * Brandon King * Kyle Mayers * Obed McCoy * Keemo Paul * Romario Shepherd * Odean Smith * Devon Thomas * Hayden Walsh Jr. * Reserve: Dominic Drakes One-Day Internationals * Nicholas Pooran (Captain) * Shai Hope (Vice Captain) * Shamarh Brooks * Keacy Carty * Akeal Hosein

* Alzarri Joseph * Brandon King * Kyle Mayers * Gudakesh Motie * Keemo Paul * Anderson Phillip * Rovman Powell * Jayden Seales * Reserve: Romario Shepherd

MATCH SCHEDULE – Bangladesh tour of West Indies

T20 International Series * July 2: 1st T20I – Windsor Park, Dominica. Local start time 1:30pm/12:30pm Jamaica * July 3: 2nd T20I – Windsor Park, Dominica. Local start time 1:30pm/12:30pm Jamaica * July 7: 3rd T20I – Guyana Stadium, Guyana, Local start time 1:30pm/12:30pm Jamaica CG United One-Day International Series * July 10: 1st CG United ODI – Guyana Stadium, Guyana.

Local start time 9:30am/8:30am Jamaica * July 13: 2nd CG United ODI – Guyana Stadium, Guyana.

Local start time 9:30am/8:30am Jamaica * July 16: 3rd CG United ODI – Guyana Stadium, Guyana.

Local start time 9:30am/8:30am Jamaica

Christ Church, Queen’s College, et al victorious as NSBF pre-season comes to an end …NSBF to commence on July 1, 2022

A

ction in the National School Basketball Festival pre-season games continued over the weekend with Queen’s College continuing their unbeaten streak and President’s College tying with Marian Academy in the girls’ category, while the males’ games saw Christ Church and President’s College walking away with much-needed points.

In game one of the girls’ division, President’s College had a gritty encounter with Marian Academy, and both teams registered 6 points at the end of

play. This then led to overtime play, but with the game being preseason, it was ruled a draw after the first overtime went scoreless.

Top scoring for Marian Academy were Angel Ramjaram with 6 points, while Ebony Greene and Tikisha Valong scored 4 and 2 points respectively for President’s College.

In the second girls’ game, Queen’s College made light work of North President’s College, with the game ending 12-3 in favour of Queen’s College.

Leading the charge for QC were

Ciara Solomon with 6 points, Alisande Jaiserisingh with 2 points, and Alinah Easton with 2 points. Scoring for NPC was Jayleen Abraham with two points.

After the girls’ game had concluded, the boys’ U16 matchup commenced, with President’s College dominating Marian Academy 33-18. Leading the charge for PC, Daniel London produced 12 points and 17 rebounds, and Raymond Paul chipped in with 8 points.

Chipping in for Marian Academy was lone wolf Marian Fiedtkou,

with 16 points.

The fourth game was not played, as Christ Church received a walkover from West Demerara Secondary.

This was the final week of the NSBF Regional Preseason games.

The NSBF (FESTIVAL) will run from July 1st to July 10th. The first National School Basketball Festival was played from June 26-30, 2006, and involved 18 schools in a single elimination tournament.

From its inception, the NSBF has been a partnership between Youth Basketball Guyana and

QC in action stakeholders, to develop a structured National School Basketball Championship. Over the last 12 years, the programme has grown significantly, and now includes regional (ZONE)

tournaments in order to qualify for the National Championship.

National titles are contested in the categories of under-14, -16, -18 (changed from 19) and Girls Developmental.

GFF/Blue Water Female U-15 Tournament….

CWI Girls U19 Regional Tournament…

GCB announces Guyana team Empress, Charlestown Super Strikers

T

he Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) has announced the team to participate in the Cricket West Indies’ Girls Under-19 Regional Tournament, which will be held in Trinidad and Tobago from July 3-14, 2022.

National Women’s senior team player Ashmini Munisar has been appointed captain of the team, and Niveena Ramnauth will be her deputy. Munisar, who played in the just concluded CG Insurance and CWI Blaze T20 tournaments, is

Ashmini Munisar expected to play a major role with both bat and ball as Guyana aims to take this year’s trophy.

The team includes Realeanne Grimmond, who, with an aggregated of 120 runs, was the leading run-scorer in the Under-19 Inter-County tourney played in May. Grimmond struck and unbeaten 91 against Demerara in what was considered the ‘final’ of the T20 tournament.

Head Coach of Women’s Cricket, Julian Moore, will serve

as the coach, while West Indies pacer Tremayne Smartt, who was a member of the National Senior Women’s Team that participated in the recently-concluded Women’s Regional Tournament, will be the manager.

The squad is expected to be encamped from Tuesday June 28 to Friday July 1, with sessions to be held at the Guyana National Stadium from June 29 to July 1, 2022.

The squad reads: 1. Realeanne Grimmond 2. Naomi Barkoye 3. Ashmini Munisar (Captain) 4. Melanie Dover 5. Niveena Ramnauth (Vice Captain) 6. Lavina Ragobeer 7. Leah Kamlall 8. Sarah Amin 9. Crystal Durant 10. Trisha Hardat 11. Lakshmi Mahadeo 12. Darshanie Subramanie 13. Jamie Campbell 14. Cyanna Retemiah

& Chase Academy take full points

Nelisa Bristol and Akeelah Vancooten of Charlestown Super Strikers When competition in the GFF/Blue Water Female U-15 Tournament organised by the Guyana National Women’s Football Association (GNWFA) continued on Saturday last at the GFF National Training Centre at Providence, EBD, there were wins for Empress, Pos 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Teams East Ruimveldt Empress Chase Determinators Campbellville United Freeburg Falcons Charlestown Super Strikers Tutorial Thunders North Georgetown Pheasants

Mt Pl 3 2 2 1 3 2 1

Charlestown Strikers and Chase Academy.

Empress, originating from the East Ruimveldt Secondary School, defeated Tutorial High 4-1 on account of a double strike off the boot of Dellanna Scott and one each from Azonia Wilson and Fayon Harr. Tutorial’s consolation goal was scored by Jada Mason.

Charlestown Super Strikers, led by a brace from Akeelah Vancooten, won by a similar 4-1 margin against Tutorial Thunders. Nelisa Bristol was also on target with the other being an own goal. Scoring the lone goal for Tutorial Thunders was Afrika Blackman.

Chase Academy, through a Murta Chance hattrick, trumped Campbellville United’s lone strike from Ronella Alexander to bag all three points via a 3-1 win.

Below are the latest points’ standing: W 3 2 1 0 1 0 0

L 0 0 1 1 2 2 1

GF 14 5 5 0 0 2 0

GA 0 1 3 4 5 8 7

GD +14 +4 +2 -4 -5 -6 -7

Pts 9 6 3 0 0 0 0

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 2022

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

WI vs Bangladesh: 3-match T20I, ODI series…

Paul, Motie, Shepherd named in West Indies squads …Rovman Powell is new T20I vice captain

Page 23 Romario Shepherd

GDF

adjudged ‘Best Gym’ as National Novices conclude Page 22 The exhibition fight between Keevin Allicock and Colin Lewis

Keemo Paul

Gudakesh Motie

GFF/Blue Water Female U-15 Tournament….

Empress, Charlestown Super Strikers & Chase Academy take full points Page 23 Murta Chance - Chase Academy

GUYANA TIMES - www.guyanatimesgy.com, email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, NEWS HOTLINE: 231-8063 EDITORIAL: 223-7230, 223-7231, 231-0544, 225-7761 SPORT: sport@guyanatimesgy.com SALES AND MARKETING: 231-8064 - marketing@guyanatimesgy.com - PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY GUYANA TIMES INC.