Guyana Times - Wednesday May 12, 2021

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Issue No. 4645

THE BEACON OF TRUTH WEDNESDAY, MAY 12, 2021

Exxon’s Yellowtail oil development project targets 250,000 bpd

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

CANU interdicts 207lbs ganja in Berbice P10 operation – issues wanted bulletin for Omesh Lakeram

Page 3

...to be Guyana’s single largest oil development to date – project documents

New $150M Hunter Street opens to public Page 11

Guyana can achieve SDGs 2030 with P16 clear vision – Min Mustapha …Guyana to tackle food waste, food security

Minibus driver P15 attacked, chopped to death Teen mother P2 ingests, feeds baby poisonous substance Significant P7 challenges continue to delay reconvening of National Assembly – Speaker

Illegal concrete factory ordered to cease operations immediately See story on page 14

...says it will take time before such is done

May’s COVID-19 Caricom gets death toll jumps to 1st female 32 after 4 more die Secretary Page 9

– Guyana’s death toll stands at 331 – 89 new cases detected in 24h

General

See story on page 8

– had formerly served as Deputy SG

Taxi driver robbed of P2 motor car by men carrying ice picks

2 NEWS Teen mother ingests, feeds baby poisonous substance A WEDNESDAY, MAY 12, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

teen mother of Region Three (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara) reportedly fed her baby a poisonous substance after which she ingested same. Due to the matter being a sensitive one, the identity of the mother was not released to the media.

However, Police stated that both the mother and baby were taken to the West Demerara Regional Hospital (WDRH) after they were found vomiting. They were immediately treated and are currently under observation at the medical facility.

An investigation has

been launched into the incident.

Only a month ago, twenty-year-old Temecia Sampson of Phase 1B, Wisroc Squatting Area, had fed her eight-year-old daughter and six-month-old son a poisonous substance before ingesting same.

Sampson and her children were rushed to the hospital after consuming the poisonous substance.

The three were immediately admitted with the mother’s condition being listed as critical. It was reported that the woman showed no sign of improvement and never regained consciousness.

She and her six-monthold son subsequently died after being hospitalised for a few days. Her eight-yearold daughter survived the dilemma.

In April 2018, 25-yearold Hofoswana Awena Rutherford killed her two children by feeding them with carbon tablets. The woman was subsequently sentenced by Justice Navindra Singh to 98 years’ imprisonment on two counts of manslaughter.

On the first count, the killing of four-yearold Hodascia Cadogan, Rutherford was sentenced to 45 years’ jail; while on the second count, the kill-

ing of one-year-old Jabari Cadogan, she was ordered to serve 53 years’ jail time.

Rutherford had collapsed on the floor when the 12-member jury unani-

mously found her guilty on both counts on March 15, 2018.

The jury believed the State’s evidence that the mother had given each of

her children half of a tablet of aluminium phosphide (rat poison) on March 27, 2014, at Supply Branch Road, Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara.

Taxi driver robbed of motor car by men carrying ice picks

A

32-year-old taxi driver of Kitty, Georgetown, was on Monday evening robbed of his motor car by at least three men who were armed with ice picks at Pradoville, East Coast Demerara (ECD).

Based on reports received, at about 20:30h on the day in question, the young man was plying his trade and while in the vicinity of Mandela Avenue, Georgetown, he reportedly picked up the three men who requested to be taken to Ogle, ECD. As he reportedly turned onto the Ogle Access Road, the men requested to be taken to Pradoville instead.

However, upon reaching a dead end, two of the men placed the ice picks to the victim’s body and or-

dered him to hand over all his valuables. The third suspect then searched his person and took his mobile phone and $42,000 cash.

Soon after, the suspects instructed the victim to exit his silver-grey Toyota Allion motor car bearing registration HC 1720. They then fled the scene in the said motor car, leaving the owner behind. The driver was, however, rescued and a report was subsequently made with the Police.

An investigation is ongoing.

NEWS

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WEDNESDAY, MAY 12, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS OPENINGS BRIDGE

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

Wednesday, May 12 – 04:00h – 05:30h and Thursday, May 13 – 04:00h – 05:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Wednesday, May 12 – 17:00h – 18:30h and Thursday, May 13 – 17:35h – 19:05h.

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

WEATHER TODAY

There will be sunny intervals during the day.

Expect clear skies and partly cloudy conditions at night. Temperatures should range between 21 degrees Celsius and 29 degrees Celsius.

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

High Tide: 17:00h reaching a maximum height of 2.59 metres.

Low Tide: 10:35h and 22:45h reaching minimum heights of 0.51 metre and 0.66 metre.

SATURDAY, MAY 8, 2021

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02 03 11

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FREE TICKET TUESDAY, MAY 11, 2021

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DAILY MILLIONS

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COMMODITIES Indicators

US$

Change %

Crude Oil

$68.55/barrel

+0.34

Rough Rice

$254. 93/ton

+0.64

London Sugar

$466.10/ton

+0.30

Live Spot Gold

USD Per Ounce

Bid/Ask

$1833.50

$1834.50

Low/High Change

$1817.40 -4.40

$1842.90 -0.24%

Exxon’s Yellowtail oil development project targets 250,000 bpd

…to be Guyana’s single largest oil development to date – project documents

T

he 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 (bpd) of oil, with a mammoth 250,000 bpd targeted.

This is according to the documents and project summary that ExxonMobil’s local subsidiary, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL) submitted to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), from whom it is currently seeking environmental approval to undertake the development.

“Yellowtail will be designed to add up to 39,747 m3 (250,000 barrels) of oil a day to existing daily production volumes in Guyana with the associated additional revenues to the Government of Guyana while continuing a steady expansion of opportunities for Guyanese to participate in the petroleum industry,” the application states.

There are also assurances given, as it relates to flaring. Cognisant of the compressor problems that have plagued the Liza Destiny Floating Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel, which services the Liza-1 development, Exxon states that it is committed to doing business that does not infringe on environmental and other considerations.

“EEPGL committed to conducting business in a manner that is compatible with the environmental and economic needs of the communities in which it operates and that protects the safety, security, and health of its employees, those involved with its operations, its customers, and the public,” the company says in the document.

It was recently revealed that an application for the Yellowtail oil development was being reviewed by the EPA, which has invited members of the public to make submissions on the project within 28 days.

According to the EPA, EEPGL submitted an application for environmental authorisation to undertake the Yellowtail development.

“The proposed project will be implemented in multiple stages including: wells drilling and completions, mobilisation and installation of subsea equipment, umbilicals, risers and flowlines (SURF); installation of a Floating Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) facility, production operations; offloading of crude and decommissioning and use of support vessels and helicopters throughout the stages,” the EPA had explained.

“The proposed project will be undertaken in the marine offshore environment within Guyana’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and would also utilise land-based support activities such as marine shore bases, fabrication facilities, warehouses, and storage yards.”

According to the EPA, the project could have an impact on the environment, including on marine water quality, air quality, marine fauna, and socio-economic resources, among others. As a conse-

Prosperity FPSO

quence, and in keeping with the Environmental Protection Act, an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) will be carried out.

“An EIA is required to be conducted before any decision to approve or reject the proposed project is taken, since this development may significantly impact the environment. Members of the public are hereby invited, within twenty-eight (28) days of this notice, to make written submissions to the Agency, setting out those questions and matters which they require to be answered or considered in the EIA,” the EPA had said.

It is meanwhile expected that the Field Development Plan (FDP) for Yellowtail will be submitted later this year.

This was recently revealed by Hess Chief Operating Officer (COO) Greg Hill. Hill, whose company is a co-venture partner of ExxonMobil in the Stabroek Block, was at the time taking part in the 2021 first- quarter earnings call.

While the operator is slat-

ed to submit the FDP later this year, Hill had explained that for now, design work and frontend engineering, the process of establishing project costs and potential risks, are ongoing on the prospective oilfield.

The Stabroek Block is 6.6 million acres (26,800 square kilometres). EEPGL is the operator and holds 45 per cent interest in the Block. Hess Guyana Exploration Ltd holds 30 per cent interest and CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of CNOOC Limited, holds the remaining 25 per cent interest.

ExxonMobil has said it anticipates at least six projects offshore Guyana will be online by 2027. Already, the oil major has established an ambitious oil exploration plan for 2021 offshore Guyana.

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guyanatimesgy.com

WEDNESDAY, MAY 12, 2021

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

T

Surge of hope

he vulnerability of women who lack formal education, which severely constrains their income generation/ wealth creation capabilities, has been the primary causative factor of women remaining in abusive relationships, especially when providing requisite necessities for offspring is of major consideration.

Successive People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Governments have tried to ameliorate the social dislocations of families caused by such dysfunctional constructs in multiple ways. The Women of Worth economic initiative, launched by then Social Services Minister Priya Manickchand, was established as a loan programme that provided low-interest and collateral-free loans to single mothers from lower-income brackets who wished to start up or expand their businesses.

Education Minister Priya Manickchand, in both her previous and current stint in the role, formulated systems in the academic arena that levelled the educational playing field and fructified in top students at all levels emerging from not only the elite schools but schools countrywide.

On September 5, 2020, she launched the Workforce Recovery Initiative programme offered by the Commonwealth of Learning (COL) and Coursera in Guyana that offered 4000 free online courses from reputable universities through Coursera. The number of Guyanese who registered for the Workforce Recovery Initiative to pursue free online courses in various areas exceeded 53,371, and 43,305 certificates were issued to 9473 persons.

Women have natural skills that could generate income to enable comfortable, if not luxurious, lifestyles for themselves and families. However, most women do not translate these inherent skills into profitable business ventures, so they are often exploited.

To foster empowerment and build skillsets for women and girls, especially school drop-outs, the Human Services Ministry launched a women’s empowerment programme last Friday, May 7, 2021.

The Women’s Innovation and Investment Network (WIIN), which seeks to help women and girls become financially independent, will be piloted in Baramita, Region One (Barima-Waini). The programme, which offers free training in information and communication technology, décor and design, graphics, beauty and wellness, professional care, garment construction, hospitality, and administration, etc, will be delivered both in-person and online. It is open to women from all across Guyana. WIIN is an off-shoot of WE LIFT, an empowerment exercise for women that was held at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre.

According to Human Services and Social Security Minister, Dr Vindhya Persaud, under the project , each recipient “will be empowered and able to provide for herself and children”.

She iterated that a woman in an abusive relationship can be enabled through WIIN to choose either to remain or to leave the relationship.

“If she does make such a choice, she would then be in a better position to care for her needs.”

Our Indigenous communities would be given special consideration, with plans to come on-stream for the Ministry to arrange to translate the modules into their native languages.

According to Minister Persaud, “People have to be able to see, seize, and create opportunities in preparation of where our country is going and be very creative so that they have a competitive edge in promoting their skills.”

Plans are also afoot for a series of technical vocational training programmes across the country. People can apply to these online, through hard-copy applications available at Ministry locations, and through community outreaches that have already commenced.

Education and skills training and development are primary factors in cultivating economic independence for vulnerable persons, and to further this, the Ministry is in the process of setting up a female-centric business incubator at the Guyana Women’s Leadership Institute, where WIIN and other programmes will be activated, with correlating centres throughout the country.

The empowerment/educational/skills training programmes may catalyse a surge of hope in lives long existing in physical subjugation, emotional despair, and mental bondage, alleviating the mental health issues that mainly stem from depression, primarily caused by helplessness and hopelessness.

His Excellency, Dr Irfaan Ali and a team of Government officials, including Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister Hugh Todd, attended a virtual Heads of Government High-Level Caricom meeting on Tuesday. The Guyanese delegation also included Foreign Secretary Robert Persaud and Permanent Secretary of the Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Ministry, Elisabeth Harper

Celebrating women Dear Editor, We have just celebrated Mother’s Day with all its glittering and glamour as we by extension salute all women for that matter and their wonderful contributions to the development of the human race. It can truly be said that women form the bedrock of our existence on the planet, they take the global role models of conscience, farmers, educators and entrepreneurs.

Throughout history, the central role of women in society has ensured the stability, development and long-term progress of any nation. So, on this joyous occasion, we salute our womenfolk.

Now amidst all the celebrations, there are mothers that are sorrowful, mourning the loss of a loved daughter, sister, mother, aunt or niece, the list is long, all because some beast of a man decided that he could abuse and even kill her. This is the demonic and backward behaviour blowing across this country and I must say, if drastic measures are not taken to arrest this sick attitude of some men to our women, sad would be our existence in this part of the globe. Measures have to be put in place right now to stem this pandemic.

Many women have suffered at the hands of their spouses or boyfriends, beastly men who believe that women are personal property for them to do as they please.

In fact, personal property is treated with more care and respect than some of the women in the lives of some of these men.

I am talking about a man savagely killing a woman, then, in turn, leading a search party to find her. It all goes to show the sadistic nature of some of these brute beasts called men. What is distress-

ing is the fact that these men believe that they have a right to, as they put it, “control” a woman and that control comes in the form of mental and physical abuse even death.

This is the psychology behind the behaviour of some male folks in our midst. So, in his mind, a woman can be cursed at, beaten, raped or murdered, all because his sadistic egocentric control mentality has to be gratified. This is the newfound demonic obscenity that has taken over our country.

But while I lament this reality, I am equally appalled at the punishment these Godforsaken men get when they are caught. Far more depressing is the situation of punishment for the crimes committed against women. Very often we find men getting some innocuous sentencing for crimes committed against a woman, which makes you wonder what in the world was that Judge thinking when sentencing was handed down. No wonder many are of the opinion that a man would get less time for the capital offence of murder than for a few ounces of ganja, the telltale facts are there to prove my point.

The empirical data is there to prove that sentencing for crimes against women are woefully inadequate and sometimes way off target.

And even if he gets “reasonable time,” after a few short years of incarceration he appeals and those in the higher court oftentimes reduces his time considerably. Thus, he is set free to roam among us.

I believe this is the notion that is being held by these savages that have kept the statistics of female homicides constantly rising. And again, I say if this situation is not brought swiftly to a halt, we might well be on the brink of becoming the

female homicide capital of the Caribbean.

In my book, I believe that the punishment should fit the crime - end of discussion - right now that does not appear to be the case and I am calling on the authorities in the Executive as well as the Judiciary to urgently address this situation. No longer must we sigh and cry while our womenfolk are butchered at the hands of uncivilised men.

Stiffer penalties must be administered to the criminal.

At the present moment, only one Judge has taken the bull by the horns and is administering judgements commensurate to the crimes committed.

He has gone out on a limb in his bid to bring back sanity to society and in my view, others need to follow.

As I write, I must say that I am not in the least interested in the semantics or the poli-

tics of the day, I am concerned in the wholesome and appropriate application of the law as it relates to crimes against women. Let the politicians do their dance, they have their conscience to deal with, that is, if some of them do have a conscience, however, I on the other hand is clamouring for the justness of the punishment or the fitting punishment to the crime. The point is, let the law be the conscience for those who do not have a conscience, get the sick sadistic misfits to come to terms with their actions.

And the only option available to show them that way is to have them removed from normal society for a long time, a very long time, where they can rehabilitate themselves.

I rest my case.

Respectfully, Neil Adams

Competitiveness in Guyana’s commercial banking system

Dear Editor, Commercial banks stand as one of the cornerstones of the economic and social progress of societies.

While the list of services they provide has grown over the years, their primary activity, serving as financial intermediaries between savers and borrowers, probably remains the most transformational. This basic function is, however, underpinned by the assumption that commercial banks operate under a regulated framework which essentially realises a “highly competitive environment”, a description used by the Bank of

Guyana.

But responding more directly to the question of how to increase competition in the banking sector, it is easy to identify very probably the biggest culprit stymying the entrance of new (indigenous, at the very least) banks much needed to break the virtual cartel control of existing commercial banks on savings and lending rates: existing capital requirements for new commercial banks in the Financial Institution Act (1995) (6) established at a minimum of $250,000,000 (two hundred and fifty million Guyana dollars).

CONTINUE ON PAGE 5

guyanatimesgy.com

WEDNESDAY, MAY 12, 2021

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

The remnants of the coalition are self-destructive

Dear Editor, Immediately after the polls closed on the March 02, 2020 Regional and General Elections, incumbent President David Granger showered praise on the Chair of GECOM, Justice Claudette Singh, and on Chief Election Officer Mr. Keith Lowenfield for a well-executed election.

Despite all the doom and gloom peddled by naysayers, the elections were held without violence — a precious first in Guyana, with no hint of rigging by any of the eleven contesting parties. But then came a series of bizarre incidents reeking of a putsch to grant the Coalition victory.

It began with Region Four Returning Officer Vibert Mingo’s blatant and barefaced attempt to change the figures in favour of the Coalition, while disregard-

ing the Statements of Poll of his own party, not to mention those of GECOM. His malicious attempt to rig the elections, not only in front of Guyanese, but in full view of the entire world, including Caricom, was ridiculous, stupid, and bizarre. It was a cynical move by the APNU+AFC to steal the elections from the PPP. Not only was it a futile attempt by Mingo, Lowenfield and others in the coalition to rig the elections, but it seems that they did not understand the psyche of the people who craved for the democratic process that was inaugurated three decades ago by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter et al.

Missing from the rigging cabal’s calculations was an obvious fact. Since oil was discovered in Guyana, the world, especially the ABC countries (America, Britain,

and Canada), the European Union (EU) and CARICOM, has taken keen interest in the country’s political posture and its glowing economy. Maintaining and upholding democracy was uppermost on their agenda, given the history of election-rigging from the late 1960s to the mid-1980s by the late Burnham and Hoyte governments to maintain power.

What went wrong?

Every senior member of the Granger-led Coalition knew in the wee hours of Tuesday March 3 that APNU+AFC coalition had lost the election, and that the PPP was victorious. But they were bent on maintaining power by any and every means necessary. In most countries in the Caribbean, when the ruling party loses an election, it would resign and leave office, as the PPP did in 2015 and

the People’s National Party in Jamaica did in 2016. The same is true for the rest of the Caricom states — most recently in Suriname, where President Desi Bouterse relinquished his 40-year grip on power.

But, in Guyana, the leaders of APNU+AFC were power drunk, and many were prepared to create mayhem across the country rather than to resign and leave office. This fits neatly into Lord Acton’s 1887 maxim: ‘Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely.’

For five long and gruelling months, David Granger and his surrogates waged a relentless and seemingly endless legal battle in the courts to stay in office. And even though the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) issued their final decision in July 2020 against the Coalition,

still former President Granger held on to power — refusing to acknowledge that the PPP had won the election. However, severe and blunt threats and the revocation of visas of senior members of the coalition by the U.S. Secretary of State forced Granger to resign. Their last hope was their election petitions, which were dismissed by the High Court.

Instead of regrouping and preparing for the 2025 elections, they have decided to appeal the case. Let me be blunt, the coalition will not win the appeal; instead, its leaders will continue to defy logic and deceive their supporters by telling them that the Courts in Guyana, the CCJ, CARICOM, the ABC countries and the EU are biased against them. Only a handful of their supporters would believe these sore losers’ fairytale stories.

Their foolhardy behaviour shows that the leaders of APNU+AFC are unhinged, silly, and are in denial, to say the least. Even today, they have not realised that their irrational and disruptive actions would lead them into the wilderness and likely to remain in opposition for the foreseeable future.

Granger and his surrogates have no respect for the rule of law and the citizens of Guyana’s right to elect a government of their choice. The autocratic actions of these comics are self-destructive, caustic, and damaging to the PNC and the country. Words are not enough to describe injudicious and ill-advised actions, only to say: ‘Fools rush in where angels fear to tread.’

Sincerely, Leyland Roopnarine (New York)

Issues that saturate Black Bush Polder

Dear Editor, While one may wonder whether someone has to write an open letter to the media, addressed to some higher-up in order for action to be taken with respect to issues plaguing his/ her community, Lisa Budhu would probably be gratified that some attention is being given to her appeal.

However, one would hope that the help being offered would neither be piecemeal not selective, as there are umpteen needs in these Black Bush Polder communities; needs that have existed for years, and for which a number of NGOs, including The Caribbean Voice, have made attempts

to address within the scope of their limited resources.

In fact, in many ways, BBP reflects a socio-economically depressed community overall.

Besides those touched upon by Lisa Budhu, there are other enervating issues that saturate Black Bush Polder, including rape, mentioned by Ms. Budhu, along with incest, domestic violence, alcoholism, child abuse, lack of coping skills, depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, suicide ideation and attempts, along with suicide itself, lack of coping skills and low self-esteem.

So, along with all the ideas mooted by various letter writers, and all the

Competitiveness in...

FROM PAGE 4

While there is no question of intention of the FIA to safeguard the welfare of society with this level of financial requirement for aspiring new commercial banks, times have changed, financial technology safeguards have improved enough to consider the applicability of such a sum of money as a requirement for opening a new commercial bank.

The idea I am proposing is consideration of available research on commercial bank theory, models, and particularly relevant to Guyana’s case - scalability. My suggestion is for the Bank of Guyana to open available research on the scalability of commercial banking with a view to introducing a multi-tiered system for licensing new commercial banks with a new, financially sound, lower capital requirement established to accommodate

smaller commercial banks not only in Georgetown but all around the country.

After 26 years of service, now is an appropriate time as any to re-examine commercial banking regulations and requirements in Guyana. Because the current one provided little in the way of financial efficiency and a “highly competitive environment” for Guyana’s commercial banks, not to mention the massive welfare transfers from consumers to commercial banks in the form of profits. This should undoubtedly bode well for greater financial intermediation, increased competition, lower borrowing/investment costs, increased consumer welfare, and a significant shifting outward of Guyana’s production and employment prospects.

Sincerely, Craig Sylvester

promises made thus far by the First Lady and Cabinet members, there is also a critical need to address these psycho-social issues.

For starters, there is need to have a psych ward with a counsellor at the Mibicuri Hospital. As well, BBP is ideal for both a lay counsellor-training programme that would ensure proactive mental health responders throughout every community and the Friendship bench manned by talk therapists, perhaps senior citizens as in Zimbabwe, where this highly successful measure was pioneered. As well, BBP is

where the need is greatest for pesticide suicide training regarding safety of use, storage, and disposal, as well as steps to mitigate ingestion of poison while medical attention is being sought. BBP is certainly an area where counsellors in schools are absolutely necessary, even if it’s one counsellor serving the five schools as an initial effort.

The fact is that BBP typifies the reality referenced in the 2018 Lancet Commission report on mental health and intensified by the pandemic, which, among other things, pointed out that mental disor-

ders and related issues (suicide, rape/incest, child abuse, gender-based violence, alcoholism and substance abuse) are on the rise globally, resulting in massive economic costs, including healthcare costs, crime costs, welfare costs, social costs, the costs to families (depression, anxiety, dysfunctional relationships, toxic behaviour and so on) and the added burden to both costs and standards of living.

The simple fact is that when mental health care lags, it acts as a drag on all other sectors of the economy and on the overall quality of

life. On the other hand, addressing these issues can reduce annual physical health care costs by 20 per cent, as well as provide significant savings relating to crime, social life, welfare, families, overall dysfunction.

Thus, in addition to what is mentioned above, consideration should also be given to programmes to address substance abuse, provide mentoring to the young and help for batterers, and deal with relationship dysfunction and toxic masculinity.

Sincerely, Annan Boodram

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WEDNESDAY, MAY 12, 2021

Page

Foundation ◄ ◄

Ode to a Nightingale

Question 1

Continued

By John Keats

Tuesday’s answers i) 120m ii) 328m iii) 1600m2

B

eing an archaeologist is a lot like being a detective: they decipher clues to learn about people of the past and the way they lived. Think of all the things archaeologists have discovered about ancient cultures. For example, today we know a lot about the Aztec religion because archaeologists uncovered their most important tem-

iv) Approximately 43,200m2

I cannot see what flowers are at my feet, Nor what soft incense hangs upon the boughs, But, in embalmed darkness, guess each sweet Wherewith the seasonable month endows The grass, the thicket, and the fruit-tree wild; White hawthorn, and the pastoral eglantine; Fast fading violets cover’d up in leaves; And mid-May’s eldest child, The coming musk-rose, full of dewy wine, The murmurous haunt of flies on summer eves.

Darkling I listen; and, for many a time I have been half in love with easeful Death, Call’d him soft names in many a mused rhyme, To take into the air my quiet breath; Now more than ever seems it rich to die, To cease upon the midnight with no pain, While thou art pouring forth thy soul abroad In such an ecstasy!

Still wouldst thou sing, and I have ears in vain— To thy high requiem become a sod.

Thou wast not born for death, immortal Bird!

No hungry generations tread thee down; The voice I hear this passing night was heard In ancient days by emperor and clown: Perhaps the self-same song that found a path Through the sad heart of Ruth, when, sick for home, She stood in tears amid the alien corn; The same that oft-times hath Charm’d magic casements, opening on the foam Of perilous seas, in faery lands forlorn.

ple under modern Mexico City.

The popular movie series “Indiana Jones” is about the adventures of a treasure-hunting professor of archaeology, Dr Henry Walton “Indiana” Jones Jr. Write a 100-word summary of any “Indiana Jones” movie and decide if its depiction of archaeologists is accurate.

Forlorn! the very word is like a bell To toll me back from thee to my sole self!

Adieu! the fancy cannot cheat so well As she is fam’d to do, deceiving elf.

Adieu! adieu! thy plaintive anthem fades Past the near meadows, over the still stream, Up the hill-side; and now ‘tis buried deep In the next valley-glades: Was it a vision, or a waking dream?

Fled is that music:—Do I wake or sleep?

WORD SEARCH

NEWS

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WEDNESDAY, MAY 12, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Significant challenges continue to delay reconvening of National Assembly – Speaker ...says it will take time before such is done

T

he National Assembly has not had a sitting since March 2021. Additionally, all committee and sub-committee meetings were halted last month in the wake of rising COVID-19 cases. And when it comes to reconvening Parliament, a number of challenges still remain.

This was explained by Speaker of the National Assembly Manzoor Nadir in an interview with Guyana Times who noted that one of these challenges is the sheer expense to reconvene the committees.

Another is the climbing COVID-19 infections and death toll.

“The committees, we have this challenge that our initial submissions to connect people in the hinterland areas who are on the committees, was running into $5 million. When we looked at servicing the five or six Members of Parliament who would need the services, it would run into $25 million.”

Speaker of the National Assembly, Manzoor Nadir

“The second challenge is it's no secret that the daily positive persons that are on the COVID dashboard is very high. On average every day it's over 100 persons testing positive. The death rate is high, with persons dying every day. And while we’ve vaccinated and have a skeleton staff, we’re urging our staff to get vac-

cinated. We still have some staff that are reluctant,” he explained.

According to Nadir, he had asked Clerk of the National Assembly, Sherlock Issacs, to consider having all Members of Parliament and others tested before being allowed to return. Surprisingly, however, the Speaker noted that there has been reluctance from some.

“So, this is now putting us in a very peculiar position to make some harsh decisions. I’m not prepared at this time to reconvene Parliament. I know how difficult COVID is to deal with, having gone through a very horrible time in January.”

“So, we have to get people tested, we have to ensure the environment is safe. Even if we have virtual sessions, we have to have the staff to operate the virtual meetings. And we’re still on skeleton staff. And we also have to ensure everyone has the virtual access. That continues to be a

challenge for us.”

Last month, the Parliament Office had announced the suspension of all meetings of Parliamentary Committees and Sub-Committees at the Public Buildings, with immediate effect and until further notice due to the spike in COVID-19 cases.

According to the press statement from the Parliament Office, the decision was taken by the Speaker after five members of staff tested positive during the previous week.

“The Speaker has since

instructed the Clerk of the National Assembly to sanitise the entire Building and to ensure that the COVID-19 guidelines are fully in place for Members of Parliament, staff, and visitors to the Public Buildings,” the release had stated.

The release also explained that the Speaker will give approval for virtual meetings of Committees only when he is satisfied that all Committee Members have access to the internet and equipment that would enable them to

participate fully in meetings of Committees.

As of Tuesday, Guyana has recorded a total of 14,531 positive COVID-19 cases to date, following the detection of 89 new cases within the past 24 hours.

The Ministry of Health’s dashboard indicated that 16 persons are in the ICU. Meanwhile, 101 patients are in institutional isolation, 1640 in home isolation, and 17 in institutional quarantine. The death toll has risen to 331. However, a total of 12,443 persons have recovered.

8 NEWS

WEDNESDAY, MAY 12, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Caricom gets 1st female Secretary General – had formerly served as Deputy SG

Dr Carla Natalie Barnett will be the eighth Caricom Secretary General

T

he Caribbean Community (Caricom) on Tuesday got its first female Secretary General when the Heads of Government, including Guyana’s President, Dr Irfaan Ali, unanimously agreed to appoint Dr Carla Natalie Barnett as the eighth Caricom Secretary

General.

According to a statement from Caricom, Dr Barnett was unanimously elected at a virtual special session. Dr Barnett, a national of Belize, is the first woman and the first Belizean to be selected for the post. She will replace Ambassador Irwin LaRocque who is coming to the end of his second term.

Dr Barnett is expected to assume office on August 15, 2021.

“Heads of Government in congratulating Dr Barnett on her selection, recognised the historic moment for the Community. A former Deputy Secretary General of Caricom, Dr Barnett was formerly Vice President of the Belize Senate and has served in various ministerial capacities in her country’s government,” Caricom said.

To develop…

O

Dr Barnett was educated at the University of the West Indies (UWI) where she read for a PhD in Social Sciences.

She also holds a Master of Economics degree from the University of Western Ontario in Canada, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics from UWI. She has extensive experience at the executive lev-

el of the public service in Belize and in the Caricom region. Her work experience includes service as Financial Secretary and Deputy Governor/acting Governor at the Central Bank of Belize. She has also served as a Vice President at the Barbados-based Caribbean Development Bank.

TURN TO PAGE 12

…or not to develop nce more, we’re faced with a variant of Hamlet’s existential question: “To be or not to be?” This time, cutting down a swathe of mangrove trees on the western bank of the Demerara River for a shore base posed the question, “To develop or not to develop?” This isn’t a new question, and goes back to the French Revolution’s “Liberty, Equality and Fraternity” that unsettled the old “nasty, brutish and short” lifestyle. Rousseau cried out in agony for the “Noble Savage”: “Man is born free but is everywhere in chains”.

So, do we want to remain as Noble Savages? We’re still scraping the bottom of the Human Development Index (HDI) at 122nd out of 189 countries! And your Eyewitness doesn’t see much nobility when some have to scavenge garbage!

He thinks we have to balance our drive for a “better life” versus the “old way”. Wasn’t Rousseau followed by the “Romantics”, like Wordsworth, who despaired over the encroaching, grimy industrialisation on beauteous Mother Nature?

Well, for the longest while, no one bothered about such sentiments in what wasn’t even Guyana then. The Dutch cleared most of the coastland of mangroves that had kept the Atlantic out, when they moved out of upriver Essequibo River to establish sugar plantations here. They replaced the mangrove with sea dams, and then sea walls.

And if it weren’t for that, there’d be no Guyana!! And no Georgetown, where most of the “woke” live, and stroll on tiled walkways laid over the filled-in canals that once drained the mangrove swamp on which the city was built.

Ever wondered why there’s a “Water Street”?

Anyhow, two centuries down the road, all hell’s breaking out about the abovementioned mangrove clearing. Minister Edghill patiently explained that the developer of the shore base will be constructing steel-plated revetments that would do an ever better job than the mangrove in keeping out the rising Demerara River. It’s like those sections at Mahaica/Mahaicony where the mangrove trees are being washed away and we have to spend billions to build concrete or rip-rap sea walls to keep out the Atlantic. And no one says anything…cause it’s Mother Nature destroying the mangrove?

The “woke” chatterati class have now moved the goalposts on the mangroves: they aren’t only keeping out the rivers and ocean from inundating us, they’re “carbon sinks” that suck up carbon dioxide. Leave the mangroves like we should leave our oil under the sea!! The laws of Florida were invoked to show how the “developed” USA protects their mangrove. As if the US left their oil underground. And that Tampa didn’t moved 44% of their mangrove to be as developed as they are!

Compromise? The developer should replant an equivalent number of mangrove trees to stop the Atlantic at Mahaica. …by inviting FDI? Ever since the Independence Movement swept the world following WWII, “development” was the cry! Problem for us in Guyana was our leaders dithered over which of the two available models of development - capitalism or communism - they’d pick. The capitalists, led by the US, insisted that we needed capital (what else!) to make the necessary investments, while the commies just as fervently said the Government should nationalise everything and produce “for the nation”.

Well, we don’t really need to be told which system came out on top, do we? Here’s Russia - after 70 years of communism - fervently trying to encourage investment, while China way back when, accepted western investment!

And the rest, as they say, is history!! Yet, here in Guyana, some folks are arching their eyebrows to their hairlines because President Ali made a pitch for American investors to put their greenbacks to develop our agricultural potential.

So, like the Luddites, they want us to keep on planting bora in our back gardens?

Gwan da side!! …our capabilities To plug their plans for the US to come out of their Great Depression, several leaders guaranteed “a chicken in every pot” for every American.

Here, some scoffed when Pres Ali promised universal tertiary education.

What say they now?

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

NEWS

9

WEDNESDAY, MAY 12, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

May’s COVID-19 death toll jumps to 32 after 4 more die

– Guyana’s death toll stands at 331 – 89 new cases detected in 24h

T

he novel coronavirus has claimed the lives of four more within a 24-hour period thus taking May’s death toll to 32.

Guyana’s overall death tool increased to a staggering 331.

The Health Ministry reported that a 78-year-old male from Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), a 69-yearold female from Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica), a 63-year-old female from Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) and a 66-year-old male from Region One (Barima-Waini) died while receiving care at a medical facility on Monday, May 10.

Prior to the four, two males: a 77-year-old and 59-year-old from Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) were reported to have succumbed on Monday as well.

However, new statistics provided by the Ministry showed that 89 new cases were detected within a 24hour period. With the new figure, Guyana’s overall positive cases have skyrocketed to 14,531.

Of the active cases which have since surpassed the 1800 mark, 16 patients are in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), 101 are in institutional isolation, 1640 are in home isolation and 17 in institutional quarantine. The country has seen 12,443 recoveries.

Some 130,875 individuals were tested thus far – of which the positives showed a gender breakdown of 7272 males and 7259 females.

Of the new positive cases, one was detected in Region One (Barima-Waini); six in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara); 47 from Region Four

(Demerara-Mahaica); two from Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice); one in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), eight in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) and 24 in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).

Cases in Regions Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) and Nine (Upper TakutuUpper Essequibo) remained at 408, 270 and 611 respectively.

On Tuesday, Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony called for Region One (Barima-Waini) residents to come forward and take their vaccines, as cases took another hike in recent time.

During the first wave of the pandemic in Guyana, Region One had reported a significant number of new cases, of which some persons died and some had recovered.

In recent time, new positives have been detected in the region, posing a concern for the Health Ministry. During a visit to the region, Dr Anthony urged persons to visit the various vaccination sites and get inoculated.

“Earlier in the pandemic, you had lots of cases in Region One and then you were able to reduce those cases. A lot of people have recovered but unfortunately, I’m seeing cases going up again and if we’re not careful, those cases can really accelerate and we’ll be back to where we were earlier in the pandemic. We don’t want to go there because when people get sick with COVID, some of those persons are going to get hospitalised and of those that get hospitalised, unfortunately quite a few are going to die,” the Minister indicated.

In Region One, 31 per cent of the adult population

has received their vaccines.

But to achieve herd immunity, about 85 per cent coverage is still needed.

Government has committed to ensuring that the entire adult population is vaccinated but the onus is upon citizens to take the shots.

“For us to get to herd immunity, we need to ensure that we get to about 85 per cent of the adult population in the region. We still have a far way to go. The only

Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony

get people to understand the importance of getting their vaccines…One of the things that people should understand is that vaccination protects people. Vaccination would reduce the burden of

way we can get there is that we have to get people to understand the importance of taking this vaccine and for them to come forward and get the vaccine. Once we are able to do that, then we can declare sometime down the road that Region One has achieved herd immunity.”

Similar concerns have been expressed over vaccine hesitancy in Region Eight and Region 10. During Tuesday’s COVID-19 update, he outlined those efforts must continue for people to understand the importance of taking the vaccine. As of Monday, over 157,000 persons had received their first doses.

“We have to work hard to

the disease. It would reduce the severity of the infection, hospitalisation, and reduce the possibility of dying from COVID. There are many advantages,” he said in the daily briefing.

10 NEWS CANU interdicts 207lbs ganja in Berbice operation WEDNESDAY, MAY 12, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

– issues wanted bulletin for Omesh Lakeram

T

he Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) in the wee hours of Tuesday interdicted a total of 94 kilograms (207 pounds) ganja at Number 68 Village, Berbice, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne).

Based on reports received, agents of the drug enforcement body had been staking out a location in Number 68 Village for a number of days. On the day in question around 04:00h, the agents observed about four individuals with flashlights emerging from a track a short distance from where they were hiding. In addition, they saw two lights on a ves-

Wanted: Omesh Lakeram

sel that was just approaching off the shoreline.

As the persons neared the location, they were intercepted by the officers who identified themselves and ordered them to stop, but the persons dropped the packages they were carrying and ran in different directions.

The agents attempted to pursue them, but owing to poor visibility, as a precautionary measure, they called off the pursuit. The CANU ranks returned to the spot where the items had been dropped and discovered four bags containing several parcels. The bags were transported to CANU’s headquarters, where a total of 80 parcels of marijuana weighing a total of 207

The parcels containing the cannabis

pounds were unearthed.

CANU has since issued a wanted bulletin for the arrest

of 47-year-old Omesh Lakeram for questioning in relation to the bust.

NEWS

11

WEDNESDAY, MAY 12, 2021| GUYANATIMESGY.COM

New $150M Hunter Street opens to public

T

he $150 million Hunter Street project is finally completed, and was opened to the public on Tuesday by Public Works Minister Juan Edghill.

were initially slated to be completed in December 2019, but this was never achieved.

The initial contract was terminated in January 2021 under

The new Hunter Street

Hunter Street is one of the main access roads joining the East Bank corridor with Georgetown.

An initial contract was awarded in May 2019 under the previous Administration to Surrey Paving and Ideal Engineering. The works

the present People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) and a new contract given to Vieira 66 Logistics. On Tuesday, the $150 million three-lane road was commissioned during a simple ceremony.

Minister Edghill believes that the new road will ease traffic congestion on the East Bank Demerara corridor. He noted that even with the delays, the project incurred no cost overruns.

“This project was long overdue, and was done in two phases.

We have to get the drainage, the pavements and other geometric improvements done… when I had assumed office in 2020 August, we had issues here. Our approach is not only to talk about issues, but is to resolve issues. Today is testimony, that the decisions and the actions that we took were correct, because just months later, we have this project complete,” he said.

In addition to the culverts, concrete drains were built to address the issue of flooding. The road was also widened, and the height increased. Following the completion of the road, the Minister had ordered that streetlights be installed immediately.

Meanwhile, roads in Alexander Village and West Ruimveldt, Georgetown which were used for detour purposes over the last year, will also be repaired within the coming week by the Ministry’s Force Account Unit.

Public Works Minister Juan Edghill commissioning the road

“The intent in this project is that all the drains on the left to be covered with grills to ensure that our children and other users don’t end up in the drain in any accidental manner. While we get that done, traffic safety barriers will also be erected to ensure the safety of our people,” the Minister said.

Edghill said he was elated to know that the contracted Vieira 66 Logistics, which had never built a road before, was able to complete the project.

“If you never give someone a

chance, how will they get experience? Vieira 66 Logistics was the most responsive bidder and while they never built a road before we are now standing on a completed road.“ The Minister further explained that more permanent and durable markings would be added to the road within a few weeks by the contractor.

He pleaded with motorists to use the road with care and caution. This is to guarantee the safety of everyone who will be using the road.

12 NEWS

WEDNESDAY, MAY 12, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

3500 applications being processed for online scholarship programme – closing date for 2021 submission is May 22

C

lose to 3500 applications are currently being processed by the Guyana Online Academy for Learning (GOAL) – the institution that will be managing the overall operational and functional components of the 20,000 free online scholarships initiative over the next five years.

The applications received represent online and hard-copy submissions from the 10 administrative regions for the 108 programmes being offered

– some of which require no formal academic qualifications.

Persons who registered online but have not completed the application process are urged to complete the form and upload the supporting documents which include: a passport-size photograph; a copy of their National Identification Card/biometric page of their passport or driver’s licence; copies of transcripts and certificates of all academic achievements; motivation-

al statement and a Letter of Support from current employer (if employed) or anyone in authority to attest to their character.

To meet the five universities’ policy guidelines to commence the online programmes in July 2021, all applications must be submitted on or before May 22, 2021 by 23:59h.

To expedite the process, GOAL’s Director, Dr Jacob Opadeyi, is urging interested applicants to submit their applications online using the portal: https://goal. edu.gy/.

The objective is to ensure 4500 persons are awarded scholarships this year.

From certificates to

PhDs, all programmes available are fully online, which will facilitate flexible timetables for students and the convenience of quality learning experience tailored to their schedules.

All reading materials and assignments will be accessible for students to download and execute.

However, deadlines for assignments will be stringently followed and the GOAL’s team will be working along with students to provide support where applicable.

“While some consider online learning to require a greater degree of self-motivation, we at GOAL recognises that educational support is just as important as

Minister Susan Rodrigues during a meeting with students at the Campbellville Secondary School

tutor feedback, and we will take great care to ensure that students receive the same levels of support that they would receive on campus,” Dr Opadeyi explained.

The 20,000 online schol-

Caricom gets 1st female...

Her tenure as Caricom Deputy Secretary General coincided with the re-organisation of the Guyana-based Caricom Secretariat, the Community’s administrative body.

Last week, the Caricom

Council of Ministers met to discuss the replacement for LaRocque.

The Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) had reported based on sources that the leaders would have to choose between

arship initiative was conceptualised by Dr Irfaan Ali, President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana to deliver quality and advanced education for all Guyanese 18 years and over.

FROM PAGE 8

Dr Barnett, the first-ever woman to have served as Deputy Secretary General from 1997 to 2002 and the current Deputy Secretary General, Dr Manorma Soeknandan. Before joining the Caricom Secretariat,

where she holds the post of Deputy Secretary General from February 2014, Soeknandan served as the first female Resident Ambassador of the Republic of Suriname to Guyana from 2001 to January 2013.

13

WEDNESDAY, MAY 12, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

14 NEWS

WEDNESDAY, MAY 12, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Illegal concrete factory ordered to cease operations immediately

Minister Collin Croal and other officials meeting with representatives of the factory

P

roprietors of an illegal industrial facility adjacent to South Ruimveldt Gardens have been ordered to immediately cease all operations.

Housing and Water Minister Collin Croal and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Central Housing & Planning Authority (CH&PA) Sherwyn

Greaves visited the location on Tuesday where two men identified as representatives were served with a third Contravention Notice.

Minister Croal outlined that based on the Central Housing and Planning Authority’s (CH&PA) land use policy, the parcel of land has not been approved

for industrial activity and the relevant agencies were not engaged.

“As a Government we welcome investment, but there is a proper manner in which investments are to be done and the first agency that is involved in permits for construction and commercial purposes is the Central Housing

One of the pieces of equipment at the location

and Planning Authority…

However, no application was done and secondly when the Central Housing and Planning Authority team came to serve that [first] contravention notice, they were met with a hostile environment,” Minister Croal said.

The first contravention notice was served to the company on May 5 by Enforcement Officers attached to CH&PA, who reported that the notice was destroyed by representatives of the company,

prompting a second notice on May 8. The second notice was placed in a conspicuous location as mandated, since no one was on the property at the time.

Minister Croal further stated that all of the necessary legal frameworks will be employed by the State to ensure that the issue is resolved.

Meanwhile, CEO of CH&PA, Sherwyn Greaves stated that the factory is also a concern to the residents living in the area, who have listed several

complaints since the establishment of the facility.

CEO Greaves also noted that in order to begin operation, the company would have also needed approval from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Mayor and City Council (M&CC), none of which were approached.

All prospective investors are being urged to comply with zoning protocols and contact CH&PA for all planning permits, and information regarding land use and zoning.

15 Ramsammy’s Ruminations East Canje hire car operators Harmon’s model for protest for increased fares Opposition Leader – maximise misrepresentations and fabrications H NEWS

WEDNESDAY, MAY 12, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

J

oe Harmon has devised for the Opposition Leader a role that is not only reckless, but will end up making him the worst Opposition Leader this country and Caricom ever had.

Supporters can be sycophants, but one thing is certain: one cannot keep fooling them.

Even some of the most ardent PNC supporters knew they were being lied to during the five-month electoral thieving attempt last year. But Joe Harmon, clueless in his role as Leader of the Opposition, has decided that he would represent his supporters through the most appalling fabrications and misrepresentations.

Last week, for example, he spoke of the PPP Government giving away shoreline lands to its supporters. This happened, but not with the PPP Government; it happened just before the elections in March 2020, and the Government was the APNU/AFC Government.

This week, he claimed the Government slashed the budget for the Leader of the Opposition’s Office. In fact, the Dr Leslie Ramsammy budget for the Leader of the Opposition’s Office in 2021 has been increased from previous years, and the 2021 budget is the largest this office has ever had since it has been budgeted for in the national budget.

Before he finishes off his stint, Harmon is destined to be known as Caricom’s worst ever Leader of the Opposition. David Granger, in all his capacities - Leader of the PNC, Leader of APNU, Leader of the Coalition APNU/AFC, Head of State - made many bad personnel choices. His Cabinet was the weakest and most incompetent cabinet ever in Guyana. His personnel choices were the most incompetent in all areas. Now, after losing an election, in spite of trying to thief it, his choice for Leader of the Opposition might well be the worst personnel decision he ever made.

In making his choice, he ignored many veteran and longserving, loyal PNC members. He also ignored the younger leaders of that party, just as he did when he was President, telling them to wait their time. Even among his own party members, there is now open talk that Harmon is failing as the Leader of the Opposition.

This is not shocking, since no one can succeed if their concept of the role of the Leader of the Opposition is simply to fabricate and misrepresent.

This week, Harmon misrepresented that the 2021 Budget for the Office of the Leader of the Opposition was slashed. The Speaker of the National Assembly has now told the nation the truth, and the truth is nothing like Harmon represented. In fact, Harmon’s story is now plainly a fabrication. His 2021 Budget of more than $37M averages more than $3M per month. This does not include his salaries and benefits. The $37M 2021 budget is the largest annual budget for this office since it has been budgeted for.

The budget for 2020 was about $35M, and it was about $33M in 2019.

In 2020, between January and August, when Bharrat Jagdeo was Leader of the Opposition, the average monthly budget was just over $2M. During the period September to December 2020, when Harmon was Leader of the Opposition, the average monthly budget was over $4M. Thus, Harmon was not just misrepresenting the facts, he was fabricating stories. He claimed that the budget was slashed from $92M to $37M. But the budget for the Leader of the Opposition was never larger than $37M. The $92M is what he wanted.

Every Minister asks for more each year. But if everybody gets what they ask for, Guyana’s annual budget would be more than a trillion dollars and our taxation would have to increase by more than 300%.

But Harmon’s fabrication did not end with the untruth that his budget was slashed. He also tried to get people to buy another fabrication - that his budget was slashed by the PPP Government.

In fact, the decision relating to the budget of the Leader of the Opposition is one made by the Speaker and the management of the Parliament, and not by the Government. The Speaker made that clear.

Harmon’s fabrication of shoreline lands being distributed by the PPP is an attempt to divert attention from the many corrupt deals regarding shoreline lands given away by the APNU/AFC Government. The time has come for Harmon to tell the nation who gave away prime lands along the Demerara River banks, near to the vicinity where the bridge was supposed to be built and near to the mouth of the river. The time has also come for the nation to know about the Berbice lands that were given away to senior officials of the APNU/AFC Government, lands in the vicinity where the possible oil refinery and deepwater harbour are to be located.

While we are at it, inquiring minds want to know which senior officials in GECOM got land just before the March 2020 elections.

Clearly, Joe Harmon, clueless in the role of Leader of the Opposition, has decided that he would bring his own innovation to the office, that he would make this office the consummate champion of fabrication and misrepresentation. But he must remember that, just as he could not get his supporters to buy the untruth that they won the March 2020 elections, he will fail as Leader of the Opposition if he thinks he can live on fabrications and misrepresentations.

ire car operators plying the New Amsterdam to East Canje route on Monday staged a protest calling for an increase in fares. The operators are demanding increases ranging from 60 to 100 per cent.

Only two weeks ago hire car operators plying the New Amsterdam to Rose Hall Town route protested for an increase while pointing out that the present fare structure needs to be rectified.

However, now the East Canje operators are claiming that fares are being increased for other areas while pointing out that they too are being affected by the same operational increases.

On Monday, the operators parked their vehicles at Canefield, East Canje, Berbice, holding plaque cards calling for the increase.

Shazim Harraynarine, one of the protesters related that for the past 19 years, he has been operating as a hire car driver, noting that since then, the fare has always been $100.

“The gas price gone up and we are not getting any free gas. Some of us have to pay $300 to work a man car and sometimes you only work for ‘Boss man’; nothing for you.”

He also pointed to the fines imposed for traffic violations, saying that they cannot earn the money in one day to pay for a traffic fine.

Another operator, Tony Lewis said they were protesting for increases because of the high cost of spare parts and petrol.

“There are a lot of bad streets that we have to go in, breaking up your car and we’re not getting enough money to look after it, so, we just decide to have a strike to get a raise of fare.”

The operators are nevertheless, proposing an increase from $100 to $160 for a short drop and from $100 to $200 for any ride to or from Gangarram.

“Since I going to school is $100 and I driving car for twelve years,” Lewis stated.

Subermanina Dormoo has been plying the New Amsterdam to East Canje route for the past twenty-seven years and could not recall the last time the fare was increased.

He noted that the cost of living has also tripled since the last increase. While the operators are calling for the increases, commuters say it is unreasonable and are calling on the intervention of the Government.

A very vocal mother of nine said even the $100 fare is difficult to pay at times.

According to Lolita Suliman, she currently has three children who are attending school.

“Nine children are not easy to mind without a father and then when you come out with your children $160 or they leave on the

street. It is wrong. We need the Government to look into this. I heard the Minister of Finance saying nothing raise in this country but we can’t even go, we can’t even buy and we can’t even come;

we lef stick. Some morning you just could make $300 for three children go to school, they got to beg they friend fuh passage fuh come home...”

Hire car operators in the

region have been arbitrarily increasing fares and to date, Government has remained mum. Similar increases have taken place in other parts of the country in recent times.

over an old grievance back in December 2020. Thomas’ throat was reportedly slit and his body bore several chops.

The perpetrators reportedly fled the scene after committing the act. An uncle of the dead man when contacted explained that he spoke with his nephew just before he left a carwash at Coverden for home.

He was in total disbelief when he heard the devastating news. However, Thomas’

sister noted that she was at home when she received the news of her brother’s death.

She explained that the incident might have stemmed from an old grievance. The woman explained that she was not sure what had transpired but noted that her brother has been living with his in-laws for some time now.

His body was taken to Lyken’s Funeral Home awaiting a post-mortem. An investigation is underway.

Minibus driver attacked, chopped to death

A

route 42 minibus driver was on Tuesday evening chopped to death moments after he reportedly exited the vehicle at Kuru Kururu, SoesdykeLinden Highway. The dead man has been identified as 38-year-old Marcus Thomas formerly of Coverden, East Bank Demerara (EBD).

Based on reports received, within seconds after exiting his minibus, he was attacked by his in-laws with whom he had a feud

16 NEWS

WEDNESDAY, MAY 12, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Guyana can achieve SDGs 2030 with clear vision – Min Mustapha …Guyana to tackle food waste, food security

W

ith a clear vision and implemented policies, Guyana can achieve the Sustainable Development Goals 2030 that were outlined by the United Nations General Assembly for a sustainable future.

These were the sentiments of Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha during a national high-lev-

el dialogue in preparation for the UN Food Systems Summit on Tuesday.

“We have a history of recognising challenges and addressing those challenges…To overcome these challenges and achieve inclusive and sustainable growth and prosperity in Guyana, we must have a clear vision for Guyana’s food system and actionable solution that will

lead us along a sustainable development pathway by 2030,” the Minister underscored.

He pointed out that significant improvement has been made in achieving the SDGs – a reflection in the improvement of livelihoods and reducing the poverty rate every year.

“We have reduced the number of persons living in Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha

extreme income poverty to less than three percent of the national population. GDP per capita has risen more than 1300 per cent over the last 30 years and increased income of the country and its people have generally resulted in improvements across most of the SDGs. Guyana still has many challenges in order to achieve the SDGs by 2030. The challenges are many but solutions are also within our reach.”

Guyana is the third largest agricultural economy in the Caribbean, and a large percentage of produce generated in the country is not consumed. Minister Mustapha explained that actions will be taken to reduce this by implementing new policies and technology to reduce food loss. With the establishment of the Guyana Food Safety Authority, food safety will also be addressed.

“With regards to access to safe and nutritious food for all, one of the main challenges that Guyana faces is food waste and loss. Estimates indicate that 20 per cent of

cassava, 32 per cent of tomatoes and 30 per cent of all fruits and vegetables produced in the country are not consumed. We will seek to reduce and form a post-harvest food waste and loss by promoting the adaptation of harvesting, post-harvest and storage technologies that reduce food loss,” he noted.

Government, he said, has committed to address the challenges regarding unemployment rate, gender inequality and unequal access to resources. But COVID-19 has exposed the vulnerability of food production and distribution systems, especially to the most vulnerable and rural population. It has also impacted livelihoods indirectly in the sector.

Meanwhile, Chief Economist at the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), Dr Maximo Torero indicated that the world is not on track to achieve food security and nutrition targets.

More than three billion people cannot afford a healthy diet. This is since a healthy diet is 60 per cent more expensive than a nutrient sufficient diet. In 2019, two billion did not have access to safe and nutritious food.

The Caribbean has one of the highest rates of communicable diseases.

More than 4.5 billion people depend on agriculture food systems for their jobs but livelihoods are also at risk due to the coronavirus pandemic. Production is an advantage for the country but he noted that there is need for hard infrastructures such as cold chains,

Chief Economist at the FAO, Dr Maximo Torero

roads and ICT to further sustain the sector. This should be coupled with investment funds and policies for food safety, market development and green growth.

“Integrated value chains can assist farmers and local enterprises to access high value chains but would require close collaboration with the Private Sector. One approach might be to provide blended finance and concessional loans as part of the public-private partnerships,” Dr Terero added.

Special Advisor to the Director General of IICA, Dr Eduardo Trigo said at the technical level, they are working to develop documents and organise a series of dependent dialogues on key areas for system transformation. At the political level, IICA is placing the summit in the ministerial agendum for a formal discussion during its next executive committee in June.

The objective is to reach the pre-summit with a west hemisphere consensual position.

17

WEDNESDAY, MAY 12, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

18 NEWS

WEDNESDAY, MAY 12, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Guyana’s obesity rate for Probe launched into attack males at 41%, females at on miner by Russian national T 56% – Health Minister

Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony

O

besity is a health concern that confronts the adolescent and adult population in Guyana – and the statistics on the situation have been increasing.

Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony shared statistics on Tuesday showing that the obesity rate for males in Guyana stand at 41 per cent and in females, at approximately 56.5 per cent. This, he said, can be changed with the right nutritional choices in order to prevent health complications in the future.

“In our adolescent and adult population, we have seen an increase in obesity…

As we know, these are factors that can contribute to chronic Non-Communicable Diseases and if we reduce our consumption of sugar, sugar sweetened beverages, fast foods and we change the things that we eat, we can reduce our levels of obesity,” the Minister outlined.

Dr Anthony was speak-

ing on the issue of malnutrition and undernutrition, but highlighted the prevalence of obesity which coexisted with the former – on the other side of the spectrum.

“Malnutrition increases our susceptibility to food-borne diseases and it creates a vicious cycle for health and, therefore, this is one of the things that we, as a population, need to be mindful of and need to work to remove from our country…We need to be mindful of overnutrition, and that is people eating too much. In countries like ours, while we have undernutrition, it coexists with overweight and obesity. This then is one of the main risk factors for diet-related NonCommunicable Diseases,” he highlighted.

The United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) in 2020 reported that 37 per cent of overweight children reside in lower- and middle-income countries. From the data gathered, the con-

clusion was that stunting declined steadily since 2000 – but faster progress is needed to reach the 2030 target. Wasting persists at alarming rates and overweight will require a reversal in trajectory if the 2030 target is to be achieved.

Meanwhile, Dr Anthony said Guyana has been facing a low birth rate, so the monitoring of pregnant mothers and foetal development becomes even more essential. A nutritional problem facing pregnant women is anaemia. However, the country on the wider spectrum has experienced significant levels of micronutrient deficiencies.

“Another nutritional problem that we face in Guyana is the whole question of micronutrient deficiency. One of the places where we can see this is in pregnancy. We can find that there is a lot of iron deficiency anaemia among our pregnant women. We have had a project in Guyana where we addressed this concern and, unfortunately, that programme has been terminated and we still have among us this whole problem of anaemia in pregnancy,” he shared.

The most recent survey shows that pregnant women with mild forms of anaemia stand at 41 per cent, moderate anaemia – 16.7 per cent and severe anaemia – 0.5 per cent. This issue, the Minister said, can be mitigated by providing nutritional supplements.

he recent video of a Russian attacking a Guyanese miner and later placing him in a chokehold has sparked the attention of authorities, to which an investigation has been launched.

The Russian national has been identified as a guard at Innovative Mining Incorporated in the Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) area while the miner was also employed with the company.

In the clip circulating on social media, several persons were present as the miner was being tossed around. There was a scuffle after which another foreign national joined the altercation. As the fight escalated, other employees intervened and called for the guard to refrain from such behaviour.

This publication understands that the Labour Ministry was made aware of the issue, and an investigation has been launched. The Home Affairs and National

A snap of the attack as it unfolded

The security guard and another foreign national holding the miner in a chokehold

Resources Ministries are also involved.

This is not the first time such an incident has surfaced. In 2018, there was a video on social media of Russians torturing and beating Guyanese miners near the Quartzstone River, Region Seven.

An official report detailed one of the miners claiming that he was brutalised by a group of Russian guards attached to the West Bank Demerara Gold Inc. At that time, Police were in receipt of evidence on the miner’s body which suggested that he was beaten and tortured.

After the investigation, the Russian guards responsible for the incident were arrested. They were found in breach of the conditions to carry a firearm in that at the time of the incident, they were not attired in the uniform prescribed by their employer and approved by the Force’s administration.

Several arrested for attempting to attack cop

A

group of persons who attempted to attack a Police Officer after he shut down their music on Sunday evening were arrested for breach of the national curfew and noise nuisance.

Police stated that on Sunday about 23:30h, a Police Constable attached to the Reliance Police Station, East Canje, Berbice went to a residence at Cumberland Village where a motor car was playing loud music to the disturbance of residents in the area. <<<Guyana Times>>> understands that the Police Officer ordered that the music be turned off and that the vehicle’s owner proceed to the Police Station.

But the driver, along with

several persons who were gathered in the yard imbibing, put up resistance and allegedly attempted to attack the rank, thus causing him to fire a warning shot into the air.

The group of suspects then went into the yard and locked the gate.

However, Police Officers revisited the area on Monday, and several persons involved in the incident were taken into custody.

Those persons are: Phillip Edwards, 33; Waheid Edwards, 33; Anthony Edwards, 45; and Gordon Edwards, 39.

They are presently in custody for the offences of breach of curfew, failing to wear a mask, disorderly be-

haviour, and public insult and provocation.

Meanwhile, Edwards, who is the owner of the motor car in question, is also in custody for noise nuisance.

On Saturday last about 17:50h, the Police in Region Three (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara) arrested an Army rank, who is the owner of a wash bay in Bagotville, West Bank Demerara, following a report of noise nuisance.

Reports are that Police ranks responded to the noise nuisance report from an unknown caller, and went to the wash bay where they arrested the owner.

The music system was seized and lodged as an exhibit.

guyanatimesgy.com

WEDNESDAY, MAY 12, 2021

19

Around the World

OILNEWS OIL NEWS Pipeline outage causes US gasoline supply crunch, panic buying

G

as stations from Florida to Virginia began running dry and prices at the pump rose on Tuesday, as the shutdown of the biggest US fuel pipeline by hackers extended into a fifth day and sparked panic buying by motorists.

The administration of US President Joe Biden projected that the Colonial Pipeline, source of nearly half the fuel supply on the US East Coast, would restart in a few days and urged drivers not to top up their tanks.

"We are asking people not to hoard," US Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm told reporters at the White House. "Things will be back to normal soon."

Colonial was shut on Friday after hackers launched a ransomware attack - effectively locking up its computer systems and demanding payment to release them - and the company has said it is hoping to "substantially" restart by the end of this week.

But the outage, which has underscored the vulnerability of vital US infrastructure to cyberattacks, has already started to hurt.

About 7.5 per cent of gas stations in Virginia and 5 per cent in North Carolina had no fuel on Tuesday as demand jumped 20 per cent, tracking firm GasBuddy said. Unleaded gas prices, meanwhile, neared an average of US$2.99 a gallon, its highest price since November 2014, the American Automobile Association said.

In an effort to ease the strain on consumers, Georgia suspended sales tax on gas until Saturday, and North Carolina declared an emergency. The US Federal Government, meanwhile, has loosened rules to make it easier for suppliers to refill storage, including lifting seasonal anti-smog requirements for gasoline and allowing fuel truckers to work longer hours.

Granholm said there is not a shortage but a gasoline supply "crunch" in North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia and Southern Virginia, regions that typically rely on Colonial for fuel.

The FBI has accused a shadowy criminal gang called DarkSide of the ransomware attack. DarkSide is believed to be based in Russia or Eastern Europe and avoids targeting computers that use languages from former Soviet republics, cyber experts say.

Russia's embassy in the United States rejected speculation that Moscow was behind the attack. President Joe Biden a day earlier said there was no evidence so far that Russia was responsible.

The Environmental Protection Agency issued a waiver on Tuesday that allows distributors to continue supplying winter fuel blends through May 18 in three Mid-Atlantic states to help ease supplies.

There are growing concerns that the pipeline outage could lead to further price spikes ahead of the Memorial Day weekend at the end of this month. The weekend is the traditional start of the busy summer driving season.

Gulf Coast refiners that rely on Colonial's pipeline to move their products have cut processing. Total SE trimmed gasoline production at its Port Arthur, Texas, refinery and Citgo Petroleum pared back at its Lake Charles, Louisiana, plant, sources told Reuters.

While the pipeline outage is having big short-term consequences in some regions, some experts believe the longer term impact will be small. (Excerpt from Reuters)

9 killed, many wounded in Russian school shooting

N

ine people, including seven children, were killed on Tuesday and many more badly wounded after a lone teenage gunman opened fire in a school in the Russian city of Kazan, local authorities said, prompting a Kremlin call for tighter gun controls.

Two children could be seen leaping from the third floor of the four-storey School Number 175 to escape as gunshots rang out, in a video filmed by an onlooker that was circulated

by Russia's RIA news agency.

Calling the attack a tragedy for the country, Rustam Minnikhanov, the head of the wider Tatarstan region, said there was no evidence that anyone else had been involved.

"We have lost seven chil-

dren - four boys and three girls. We also lost a teacher.

And we lost one more female staff worker," he said in a video address.

"The terrorist has been arrested. He's a 19-year-old

who was officially registered as a gun owner," he said. He said the victims were in the eighth year of school, which in Russia would make them around 14 or 15 years old.

Russia's Investigative

Committee, which investigates major crimes, said in a statement it had opened a criminal case into the shooting and that the identity of the detained attacker had been established.

State TV later broadcast a separate video showing what it said was the suspect, a young man stripped to the waist and under restraint, being questioned by investigators. He could be heard saying that "a monster" had awoken in him, that he had realised that he was a god, and had begun to hate everyone.

The incident was Russia's deadliest school shooting since 2018 when a student at a college in Russianannexed Crimea killed 20 people before turning his gun on himself. (Excerpt from Reuters)

pass during the next year on everything from job creation and healthcare to stripping away post-Brexit bureaucracy.

At her first major public appearance since the death of her husband Prince Philip last month, the queen travelled to Parliament by car rather than the traditional horse and carriage, addressing socially distanced ermine-clad lords.

"My Government's prior-

ity is to deliver a national recovery from the pandemic that makes the United Kingdom stronger, healthier and more prosperous than before," the 95-yearold monarch said, addressing members of the Upper Chamber of Parliament from the throne in the House of Lords.

"To achieve this, my Government will level up opportunities across all parts of the United Kingdom, sup-

porting jobs, businesses and economic growth and addressing the impact of the pandemic on public services."

In the 18 months since Johnson's Conservatives were re-elected with a big parliamentary majority, his agenda has been eclipsed by the pandemic, which caught his Government off guard and has absorbed many of its resources for making policy. (Excerpt from Reuters)

People react near School Number 175 after a deadly shooting in Kazan, Russia, May 11, 2021

UK PM Johnson promises “jobs, jobs, jobs” with post-pandemic plans

P

rime Minister Boris Johnson promised on Tuesday to “level up” Britain by tackling inequality and driving an economic recovery from the pandemic with a raft of laws presented to Parliament by Queen Elizabeth.

In a ceremony pared back because of COVID-19, the queen, who wore a day dress instead of the usual robes and crown, read out the bills the Government hopes to

China demographic crisis looms as population growth slips to slowest ever

C

hina's population grew at its slowest in the last decade since the 1950s as births declined, sowing doubt over Beijing's ability to power its economy as it succumbs to the same ageing trends afflicting developed nations like Japan.

With growth having ebbed ever since a one-child policy was introduced in the late 1970s, the 2020 results of the country's oncea-decade census on Tuesday

showed the population of mainland China increased 5.38 per cent to 1.41 billion.

That was the least since modern census-taking began in 1953.

Data showed a fertility rate of 1.3 children per woman for 2020 alone, on par with ageing societies like Japan and Italy. The shrill alarm for China's policymakers is that the world's second-biggest economy may already be in irrevers-

AIDS virus used in gene therapy to cure immune disorder in babies

A

n experimental gene therapy that makes use of an unlikely helper, the AIDS virus, has successfully treated 48 out of 50 children who were born without an immune system due to a deadly disorder, a new study shows.

Such results were published on Tuesday by the New England Journal of Medicine and presented at an online American Society of Gene & Cell Therapy con-

ference.

All but two of the 50 children who were given the experimental therapy as part of the study now have healthy germ-fighting abilities.

The other two children who were not helped by the gene therapy later had successful bone marrow transplants. Doctors say it will take longer to know if any of the 50 are cured, but they seem to be well so far.

The children had severe

combined immunodeficiency syndrome, or SCID, which is caused by an inherited genetic flaw that keeps the bone marrow from making healthy versions of the blood cells that form the immune system. Without treatment, it often kills in the first year or two of life.

A bone marrow transplant from a genetically matched sibling can cure the disorder, but most kids lack a suitable donor and the treatment is

risky.

Patients now are treated with twice-weekly doses of antibiotics and germ-fighting antibodies, but it is not a permanent solution.

Doctors think gene therapy might be. They remove some of a patient’s blood cells, use a disabled AIDS virus to insert a healthy version of the gene that the kids need, and return the cells through an IV. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Journalists pick up a copy of China's National Bureau of Statistics population census report before a news conference in Beijing, China, May 11, 2021

ible population decline without having first accumulated the household wealth of G7 nations.

The number meant China narrowly missed a target it set in 2016 to boost its population to about 1.42 billion by 2020, with a fertility rate of around 1.8. In 2016, China replaced its one-child policy - initially imposed to halt a population explosion at the time - with a twochild limit.

The sharp deterioration in demographics will fuel pressure on Beijing to ramp

up incentives to couples to have more children - incentives that have thus far failed to offset the impact of career choices and cost-ofliving challenges that couples say have deterred them from starting extended families.

Analysts said that with substantial ageing of the population already in view, the census numbers will also give ammunition to policymakers arguing in favour of raising the country's retirement age sooner than later. (Excerpt from Reuters)

20

WEDNESDAY, MAY 12, 2021

guyanatimesgy.com

ARCHIE

ARIES (March 21April 19)

Be careful whom you trust. Don’t mix business with pleasure or overspend on something you don’t need.

Now is not the time to depend on others or let down your guard.

Set goals and follow through. Don’t wait for some(April 20one to make the first move or May 20) put you in a vulnerable position. It’s time to set the record straight and do what’s best for you.

TAURUS

DILBERT

GEMINI

Don’t overdo it. Too much of anything will work against (May 21you.

Stay on top of your adminJune 20) istrative work. Concentrate on what you can do to improve your everyday life.

CANCER (June 21July 22)

PEANUTS

You are overdue for a change. Reach out to someone you trust for sound advice.

The suggestions you receive will work well with minor adjustments. Don’t lose out because you fear change.

LEO Reconnect with people you have enjoyed collaborating (July 23Aug. 22) with in the past. A partnership looks promising, as long as you can maintain equality and don’t go over budget.

CALVIN AND HOBBES

SUDOKU

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

Choose your words wisely.

If you act on your emotions, you will disrupt your relationship with someone important.

Don’t take a risk with your health. Keep your thoughts to yourself.

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

It’s all about enlightenment, finding your bliss and figuring out what you want out of life. Personal adjustments and self-improvement will change your life.

Romance is featured.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

When in doubt, sit tight.

Don’t feel that you must make up your mind because someone pressures you. Take a moment to evaluate what’s important to you, and adjust your life to fit your budget.

Keep moving forward.

SAGITTARIUS Stick to your plan and bud(Nov. 23get. Assess your lifestyle, relaDec. 21) tionships and the changes you need to make to ensure you reach your goal. Make personal happiness your priority.

High energy coupled with

CAPRICORN determination and hands(Dec. 22on work will lead you to the Jan. 19) winner’s circle. Make adjustments at home for the right reasons. Don’t overspend to impress someone.

SOLUTION FOR LAST PUBLISHED PUZZLE AQUARIUS (Jan. 20Feb. 19)

You’ll face difficulties with a friend, relative or colleague. Sit back and observe the changes going on around you. Don’t feel the need to join someone’s quest. Live life your way.

It’s up to you to make the changes that will increase (Feb. 20March 20) your well-being. Don’t give in to a manipulative person.

Be the master of your destiny. Take stock of your life and make some decisions.

PISCES

WEDNESDAY, MAY 12, 2021

21

Man City crowned Premier League champions again M

anchester City were confirmed as Premier League champions for the third time in four seasons after second-placed rivals Manchester United lost 2-1 at home to Leicester City on Tuesday.

United’s defeat means City are 10 points clear, with both sides having three games left to play.

City’s coronation had been delayed after Pep Guardiola’s side suffered a 2-1 home defeat by Chelsea on Saturday, although in truth they had looked uncatchable for several months.

It is Guardiola’s third Premier League title for City in his five seasons in charge, and it is the eighth domestic honour for the club.

“This has been a season and a Premier League title like no other,” said Guardiola, referring to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic that has seen matches played in empty stadiums. “This was the hardest one. We will always remember this season for the way we won. I am so proud to be the manager here, and of this group of players,” he added on the club website.

“To come through this season, with all the restrictions and difficulties we’ve faced - and show the consistency we have, is remarkable. It is relentless.”

United’s manager, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, praised his side for “pushing” City into the final fortnight of the season, even though they

were never serious challengers.

“We have pushed Manchester City all the way, until 10-12 days left in the season, and it is a very good achievement, because they are a very good team,” Solskjaer said. “They are very worthy champions. I have to say congratulations, because they have played some fantastic stuff this season.”

TOUGH START

Although City romped to the title, they endured a tough start to the season, after picking up 12 points from their first eight games - their worst start since 2008-09.

Since then, they have been head and shoulders above their rivals, and after hitting

Action in the Italian Open…

Johanna Konta out, Cameron Norrie through, Andy Murray to play doubles

B

ritish number one Johanna Konta was outplayed by Latvia’s Jelena Ostapenko in the Italian Open first round, but Cameron Norrie won his opener.

Konta, a French Open semi-finalist in 2019, offered little resistance in a 6-3 6-1 defeat by the 2017 Roland Garros champion.

Earlier in the day, Norrie beat Spain’s Roberto Carballes Baena 6-4 6-4 to continue his good form on clay.

Meanwhile, Andy Murray was a late addition into the doubles draw in Rome. The 33-year-old Murray and fellow Briton Liam Broady, 27, were entered as alternates, and will open their campaign against Australians Max Purcell and Luke Saville on Wednesday.

Murray was not competing in the singles, but was in Rome to practise against top players, includ-

ing Novak Djokovic.

Norrie’s good run continues, but Konta is out

British number two Norrie is continuing his good run on the red dirt, after reaching the final of the Estoril Open earlier this month, where he missed out on a first ATP title with a three-set defeat by Spain’s Albert Ramos-Vinolas.

Norrie, who pulled out of last week’s Madrid Masters because of blisters on his foot, has now strung together three wins in a row in Rome, having come through two rounds of qualifying before this match against Carballes Baena.

The 25-year-old Briton raced into a 5-1 lead, before losing back-to-back service games to allow the Spaniard back into the set.

He eventually took the set on his third set point, and then once again made life harder for himself than

it needed to be in the second set, breaking for a 5-3 lead before immediately losing his serve.

He then sealed victory when Carballes Baena sent a forehand long in the next game.

Norrie will play another Spaniard, Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, for a place in the third round.

Victory would give him a last-16 match against world number one Novak Djokovic, who beat Taylor Fritz in a match in which the Serb directed a furious outburst at the umpire.

There was disappointment for 16th seed Konta, though, as she was beaten in 69 minutes by Ostapenko.

The Briton, who lost in the second round in Madrid earlier this month, made a poor start by dropping her opening two service games, and she never recovered in a lacklustre display. (BBC Sport)

the top, have looked unstoppable.

After losing at Tottenham Hotspur in November, slipping to 11th on the table, they have won 22 of their next 27 matches, including a 15-game winning run and a record-equalling 11 successive away league wins.

Guardiola’s side, second-best to Liverpool last season, also won a fourth

successive League Cup, and can claim a treble by beating Chelsea in this month’s Champions League final.

Leicester’s manager, Brendan Rodgers, said City were deserving champions.

“They are the benchmark.

They have been outstanding.

Brilliant players. Incredible manager, and they thoroughly deserve the title.

Congratulations to Pep and

his team.”

Manchester United had further delayed City’s title celebrations by beating Aston Villa away on Sunday, but Leicester gave Guardiola’s side a helping hand on Tuesday. Even if United beaten Leicester, and then Liverpool on Thursday, City could have wrapped up the club’s seventh English title by beating Newcastle United on Friday.

A huge “Champions” banner was draped outside City’s Etihad Stadium, while a smattering of fans arrived to mark the occasion.

It will be considerably noisier on May 23, when City host Everton on the final day of the Premier League season with 10,000 fans permitted to attend. (Reuters)

Anthony Joshua to fight Tyson Fury in Saudi Arabia

A

nthony Joshua and Tyson Fury’s world heavyweight title fight will take place in Saudi Arabia, Eddie Hearn has said.

A specific venue and date are yet to be confirmed for the all-British bout, which will see the winner become the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world.

Hearn, Joshua’s promoter, suggested it could take place on either 7 August or 14 August.

“It’s a very bad secret that the fight is happening in Saudi Arabia,” Hearn told Sky Sports. He added they were working with the “same people” as they did for Joshua’s rematch against Andy Ruiz Jr. Joshua, 31, won back the WBA, WBO and IBF belts by beating Ruiz in Diriyah, on the outskirts of the Saudi capital Riyadh, in December 2019. He had lost the titles in a shock defeat in June that year.

“We’re very comfortable.

Anthony’s comfortable, he knows those people,” added Hearn. “They delivered on every one of their promises last time. We’re ready to go.”

Fury tells Hearn he expects to beat Joshua

This year’s rescheduled Tokyo Olympics are set to finish on 8 August, so Hearn says 14 August makes more sense, but he hopes to secure the date and venue in the next few days.

Hearn announced that a two-fight deal between Joshua and Fury, 32, had been agreed in March, after months of negotiations.

Fury’s co-promoter, Bob

Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury

Arum, subsequently said the fight was “dead in the water”, which Hearn denied.

The fight will see all four belts being contested in a heavyweight bout for the first time. The last undisputed heavyweight champion was Britain’s Lennox Lewis, from 1999 to 2000. That was before a boxer also had to hold the WBO belt to be recognised as undisputed champion.

That the biggest fight in boxing is heading to Saudi Arabia and not Wembley or Las Vegas may come as a surprise to those who dip in and out of the sport infrequently.

But those who follow the fight game have known for a while that the eye-watering financial offer from Saudi authorities was always likely to sway this fight their way.

Some reports of $150m (£106m) being put forward point to the financial clout the Gulf state offers. That fee is before pay-per-view revenue is taken into consideration, so Joshua and Fury are likely to walk away with a minimum of about £100m apiece.

Money, ultimately, is what matters here. For months, organisers have been able to state other host

nations were problematic because the COVID-19 pandemic meant ticket-buying fans could not access stadiums.

Last weekend’s 73,000 gate in Arlington, Texas shows crowds and ticket sales are again a possibility, but the financial guarantees Saudi Arabia offers are hard to eclipse at times when uncertainty remains.

Saudi Arabia has, of course, faced scrutiny from those who say it is using high-profile sporting events to mask its human rights record - and there will be more focus on the issue once this fight is confirmed.

So, Wembley Way will not be teeming with passionate fans, and the Las Vegas Strip will not be alive with fight-night chants. And Saudi Arabia may prove hard to access for UK fight fans, given the ever-changing travel restrictions the pandemic has created.

It is far from an ideal backdrop, but it is one which has provided a pathway to this fight - one that is likely to captivate even those who rarely tune in to boxing. (BBC Sport)

22

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

WEDNESDAY, MAY 12, 2021

NBA ROUND-UP

Russell Westbrook passes Oscar Robertson’s mark – in Wizards’ loss to the Hawks

W

ashington’s Russell Westbrook got his record-setting 182nd career triple-double on Monday, but the Atlanta Hawks came away with a 125124 victory over the visiting Wizards.

Westbrook had 28 points, 13 rebounds and 21 assists, his 36th triple-double of the season, passing Oscar Robertson’s career mark. It was his fifth triple-double in a row, and the 18th in his past 21 games.

With 30.1 seconds left, Westbrook sank a basket to get the Wizards within a point, but with 2.3 seconds left, he missed a 25-footer that could have won the game.

The Wizards played without Bradley Beal (hamstring), while Atlanta rode the trio of Trae Young, John Collins and Bogdan Bogdanovic to the win.

Young scored 36 points and added nine assists, Collins had 28 points and eight rebounds, and Bogdanovic had seven 3-pointers and scored 25 points. Clint Capela added 10 points, 22 rebounds and four blocks.

Spurs 146 Bucks 125 DeMar DeRozan poured in 23 points, and three of his teammates scored at least 20

as host San Antonio moved a step closer to a spot in the play-in tournament with a big win over Milwaukee.

San Antonio, which has won two of its past three games, lowered its magic number for clinching at least the 10th spot in the West to just one game. Dejounte Murray added 21 points, and Patty Mills and Keldon Johnson hit for 20 points apiece for the Spurs.

Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Bucks with 28 points, with Khris Middleton adding 23 and Jrue Holiday scoring 20.

Milwaukee, third in the Eastern Conference behind Philadelphia and Brooklyn, has had a five-game winning streak snapped.

Warriors 119 Jazz 116 Stephen Curry scored 36 points, including a goahead 3-pointer with 14.5 seconds remaining, as Golden State upended Utah in San Francisco. The game ended not long after the Warriors’ spot in the postseason play-in tournament was secured when the New Orleans Pelicans lost to the Memphis Grizzlies.

Jordan Poole added 20 points and Kent Bazemore had 19 for the Warriors.

Curry has scored at least 30

England and Wales Cricket Board announces £16.1M loss as result of pandemic

T

he England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has announced a loss of £16.1m in the past financial year, sustained as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

The loss has been transferred to their reserves, which have now been reduced to £2.2m, down from more than £70m in 2016.

The loss follows a £6.5m profit made in 2019.

Revenue fell by £21m to £207m, with the postponed launch of The Hundred cited as one reason, alongside the cost of running bio-secure cricket.

Scott Smith, Chief Financial Officer at the ECB, has said: "This has been a challenging year, but by being able to stage international cricket and by taking decisive action early in the pandemic, we have been able to support the network and avoid a far worse financial scenario. There remains considerable uncertainty over the year ahead, but we

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Jordan Clarkson had 41 points for the Western Conference-leading Jazz, including 24 in the fourth quarter. Bojan Bogdanovic added 27 as Utah saw its fivegame winning streak come to an end.

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Ja Morant both had doubledoubles as host Memphis clinched a berth in the Western Conference play-in tournament by beating New Orleans.

Valanciunas had 20 points and 11 rebounds, and Morant added 12 points and 12 assists as the ninth-place Grizzlies ended a five-game losing streak against the Pelicans and guaranteed that they would finish no lower than 10th in the West.

Nickeil Alexander-Walker scored 18 points, and Willy Hernangomez had 15 to lead the short-handed and 11thplace Pelicans.

Pacers 111 Cavaliers 102 Kelan Martin scored a career-high 25 points off the

bench to lead short-handed Indiana past host Cleveland and closer to a berth in the Eastern Conference play-in tournament.

Indiana moved back into ninth place in the Eastern Conference, a half-game ahead of the Wizards. The Pacers also moved three games ahead of the idle 11th-place Chicago Bulls, with four games to play.

The Cavaliers lost their 11th straight game, the NBA’s worst active streak.

Domantas Sabonis finished with 21 points, 20 rebounds, nine assists and four blocks for the Pacers. Caris LeVert totalled 20 points and 10 assists. Collin Sexton registered 25 points, eight assists and five rebounds for Cleveland. (Reuters)

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India cricketers take 1st jab of COVID-19 vaccine

223-7230-1 (Ext 55) hope that delivering another full summer of cricket and with crowds beginning to return from next week we are able to protect the revenue we need to invest in growing our game."

The ECB reduced costs by stopping planned investments, furloughing staff and through redundancy, which has seen staff reduced to 331 from 389. This enabled them to provide counties and clubs with almost £100m of support.

Meanwhile, Baroness Amos's appointment as an independent non-executive director has been unanimously ratified.

Ian Watmore, ECB Chair, has said: "Valerie is a true cricket fan, who brings with her outstanding experience and expertise, and I'm delighted that she's joined the board. Her insights and challenge on leadership and inclusion will also really help us as a game." (BBC Sport)

Virat Kohli walking in for his COVID-19 vaccine in Mumbai

V

irat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Shikhar Dhawan, Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav, Cheteshwar Pujara and Shikha Pandey are among a batch of Indian cricketers that got their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

India's top cricketers are among several athletes in the country, including those who have qualified for the Tokyo Olympics, to have started receiving their vaccines after the Indian Government threw open the drive for those aged 18 and above from May 1.

The move comes a week after the BCCI was forced to postpone IPL 2021 due to several cases of COVID infection across teams.

The Indian men's and women's teams are scheduled to leave for the UK on

June 2 via a chartered flight.

While the men's team will be on three-and-a-half months of tour, wherein they would first play the World Test Championship final against New Zealand (June 18-22), followed by a five-Test series against England in AugustSeptember, the women will play a one-off Test - their first in over six years - followed by a limited-overs series.

In a chat with ESPNcricinfo last month, Dave Musker, ICC's biosecurity head, had underlined the importance of players being vaccinated at the earliest.

"All the vaccines have a wide spread of efficacy against various mutations, but all of them do offer significant mitigation, in that you are unlikely to get very

sick if you are vaccinated, regardless of mutations and variants," he has said.

"At some point, there will be a phenomenon called 'vaccine escape' the virus will mutate to a position where the current crop of vaccines will have limited impact upon transmission or effectiveness.

That will happen, but that's why you are seeing so much about second-generation vaccination."

India is in the midst of a second wave of the virus, having recorded in excess of 350,000 new cases every day over the last fortnight. A few prominent players, including Chetan Sakariya, Veda Krishnamurthy and Piyush Chawla, have lost family members to the virus. (ESPNcricinfo)

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WEDNESDAY, MAY 12, 2021

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

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CARIFTA Games have been cancelled!

– the 2020/2021 Games in Bermuda are officially cancelled T

he 2021 CARIFTA Games have been cancelled, after a number of postponements over the past year. The North American, Central American and Caribbean Athletics Association (NACAC) related on Monday evening that, for reasons ranging from vaccination to quarantine periods, to accommodation and possibly to omitting a section of the Games, the 49th edition of the Caribbean Free Trade Association (CARIFTA) Games for 2021 (initially 2020) have had to be cancelled.

The decision, a difficult one for NACAC, had to be

made since their hands were figuratively ‘tied’.

According to a missive from NACAC’s General Secretary Keith Joseph, the Local organising Committee for the Games in Bermuda has had no luck persuading the Government on a number of issues.

In the first instance, a 14day quarantine for non-vaccinated visitors still stands, and would defeat the purpose of the 3-day Games.

Additionally, the LOC shared, Government would not be able to contribute funds for the hosting of the Games, while accommodation on the island would be scarce.

AAG President Aubrey Hutson “Unfortunately, we have carefully taken all factors into consideration, and are left with no option but to

RHTY&SC honours women in tribute-to-mothers project

– hosts DTV-8 Tribute to Mothers, Jessica Sandian Memorial, Basil Butcher Trust Fund Mother’s Day programmes

The winners of the RHTY&SC/DTV-8 Awards pose with their children

T

he eleven cricket teams of the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club, MS, last weekend hosted the RHTY&SC/DTV-8 Tribute to Mothers programme, the Jessica Sandian Memorial programme, and the Basil Butcher Trust Fund Mother’s Day Programme as part of their Tribute to Mothers project.

Three outstanding mothers - Christina Jaipaul, Padmini Budhai and Savitri Ibaran - were on Saturday last honoured as the RHTY&SC/ DTV-8 joint Mother of the Year for Berbice.

These mothers were selected based on the essays submitted by their children in response to the countywide search for role-model parents.

The DTV-8 television station had invited children across the county to submit essays on the topic “I love my mother, and why she is a role model to me”. The three winners were then chosen by a panel of judges.

These mothers each received a Mother of the Year plaque, Medal of Excellence framed certificate, a Mother’s Day rose, RHTY&SC Anniversary Cap, Mother’s Day candles, and a special gift.

Club Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster congratulated the three mothers, and urged them to continue being their children’s best role models. Noting that the world is suffering from increases in crime, drug abuse, suicide and alcohol abuse, Foster called on the older parents to share their experiences with

younger parents, and advised the youths to listen to their parents and to become agents of change.

Asst Secretary/ CEO Simon Naidu expressed gratitude to the Management and Staff of DTV-8 for Catholic Priest Father Ramesh been supporters of the Vandan handing over the bicycle to Petula King on behalf of the club club for close to thirty years. at the St. Francis Xavier RC And the teams shared out Church were each welcomed almost two thousand food with a Mother’s Day rose and hampers to less fortunate and Medal of Excellence. single parent mothers under At the end of Mass, moththe Jessica Sandian Memorial ers were surprised with Programme. Stephen Sandian a Special Mother’s Day and Andy Moonsammy, re- cake-cutting ceremony, and spective son and nephew of they each received a spethe late Jessica Sandian, cial gift and a food hamper. sponsored the programme in One mother received a bicyher memory. Sandian, for- cle worth $20,000, while three merly of Nigg Settlement in others won special prizes via Albion, died several years ago a mini raffle. Four nurses in Canada after a long battle from the Port Mourant Public with cancer.

Hospital also received hamMembers of the teams, pers from the teams. led by senior executives of the The Pepsi Under-19 capclub, visited the homes of the tain Jonathan Rampersaud mothers to deliver the ham- has said that the eleven pers and to extend Mother’s teams: Poonai Pharmacy Day greetings.

U-12 and U-13, Farfan and Further, under the Mendes U-17, Bakewell U-17 Basil Butcher Trust Fund and Second Division, Pepsi Mother’s Day programme, U-19 and Intermediate, Metro the teams donated Mother’s Females, Vitality Inc Under Day hampers and gifts to 23, Namilco Thunderbolt several churches, includ- Flour U-21 and First Division, ing the St. Francis Xavier were delighted to make the Roman Catholic Church, the day a special one for all the Maranatha Faith Ministries, mothers, as the club appreciSt. Agnes Anglican Church of ates their contribution to the No 64 Village, and the Rose overall development of their Hall Town Wesleyan Church. children.

The Wesleyan Church and The teams have already St. Agnes received Mother’s started preparation for the Day gifts, while the Faith hosting of the Walter Nero Ministries collected 15 food Memorial Father’s Day prohampers. Nearly 40 mothers gramme in June.

cancel the CARIFTA Games 2021,” the missive read. “The Bermuda authorities have made it clear that the 14-day mandatory quarantine for unvaccinated athletes is non-negotiable. While Bermuda allows athletes from 16 years to be vaccinated, the majority of our CARIFTA Family members are in countries where the authorities only allow vaccination for persons 18 years and older.”

During a recent interview with this publication, AAG President Aubrey Hutson shared a bit of what the LOC was trying to achieve.

“I know that they would have asked for some more time. The Local Organising Committee (LOC) in Bermuda asked for some more time, so that you can meet with the Government of Bermuda to either relax the protocols they have, particularly for athletes coming into Bermuda for the championships.”

Hutson continued, “But we still have all the French countries within the Caribbean, or the French territories, sorry, within the Caribbean, who are saying that they are not permitted to travel to Bermuda based on their mother country stopping world travel.”

Hutson also elaborated on the vaccine woes that would eliminate an entire section of the event. NACAC have since shared that they are not will-

ing to host the Games without the under-17 group.

“If we look at vaccination, you know, there’s an age limit to whom you can give a vaccine…. CARIFTA, normally, we take athletes from as young as 13 years of age. So, you’re asking them to strike out an entire category, and even some into the under-20 categories, because it’s under-20 and under-17, un-

The NACAC were adamant about not excluding the younger crop of athletes. They stated on the issue, “We cannot host the event without the Under 17s, who, from our vantage point, are as integral to the event as the U-20s. We are not agreed to having an edition of the Carifta Games that does not engage the traditional categories, and which disenfranchises a significant

Flashback: A Guyanese contingent at the CARIFTA Games

der-17 being 16 years old and younger,” Hutson explained.

He elaborated, “So, that entire group will not be able to go, and then half of the under-20 will not be able to go as well. So, it’s dealing with (those) logistics, dealing with the hotel stock that is presently available in Bermuda, (that are) some of the burning issues that they have.”

number of athletes.”

The event was initially slated for 2020 in Bermuda, but was pushed to 2021 in the same host nation following the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic. In addition, the Games were moved from the Easter weekend this year to July, then to August before the cancellation. (Jemima Holmes)

Dhanpaul’s 43 & 4-23, Patadin’s 54 lead Majestic CC to comprehensive win over Galaxy CC

T

he action continued on Sunday in the NYNCL 40-over tournament with the Majestic CC seeing off the Galaxy CC in a one-sided affair, thanks to the allround efforts of Avi Dhanpaul and the in-form Chris Patadin.

The Galaxy CC was no easy walkover, being the top team in the United States of America and boasting the presence of Akshay Homraj a current national player in the USA squad.

Dhanpaul and Patandin had their work cut out for them, but the two already had the chemistry, as they had played for Demerara in the Senior Inter-County tournament during the same year before the Guyana Cricket Board introduced Franchise cricket. So, these two knew each other well, and knew what to do to get the job done.

Batting first, Majestic lost Derick Narine for a duck, but Patadin continued to anchor the innings, even as Shafeek Khan was run out for nought when the score was on 13-2.

But in came Dhanpaul, and he and Patadin but together a partnership of over 50 runs to frustrate their opponents.

Patadin was eventually bowled for 54, which included 5 boundaries and 2 maximums, while Dhanpaul, being the aggressor of the two, post-

Avi Dhanpaul (43 and 4-23) (R) and Chris Patadin (54) (L) starred for Team Majestic in a comprehensive win

ed 43 off 37 deliveries with 3 boundaries and maximums alike.

In the end the damage had already been done, with Majestic posting a handsome 207-8 in their allotted 35 overs. Yuddesh Bisnauth took 4-29 and Karan Ganesh 2-24.

Being one of the top teams in the USA, and having a national player in their side easily increased the expectation that 208 for victory would be

a small feat, but it wasn’t.

The Galaxy side struggled to find their rhythm, and were all over the field.

Dhanpaul returned with the ball and wreaked havoc on the Galaxy side, scything down four wickets for a mere 23 runs off his five overs. He was ably supported by Subra Das with 2-13 and Derick Narine who took a wicket for 10 runs as Galaxy were bowled out for a paltry 61 in 15 overs.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 12, 2021

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

GAW retain 11 players for Hero CPL 2021 season

T

h e Guyana A m a zo n Warriors h a v e Romario announced Shepherd t h a t they have retained 11 players for the 2021 Hero Caribbean Premier League which gets underway in St Kitts & Nevis on 28 August.

The retained 11 players have been instrumental in guiding the Guyanese Franchise to the semi-finals in the 2020 edition of the tournament.

Included in the 11 are: Trinidad’s Nicholas Pooran, who made the only century in last year’s tournament.

He will be backed this year by Shimron Hetmyer and Brandon King who are also known for their hard-hitting abilities.

The Warriors will also be welcoming the return of South African leg spinner Imran Tahir and the Afghan fast bowler Naveen ul Haq. The squad will also feature upcoming Guyanese

– Hemraj eyeing championship trophy this year

players Kevin Sinclair and Ashmead Nedd, both of whom were impressive in their first Hero CPL tournament in 2020.

All-rounder Romario Shepherd, wicketkeeper-batsman Anthony Bramble and opening batsman Chandrapaul Hemraj account for the remaining Guyanese on the retention list, while Jamaican bowler Odean Smith will also be returning for another outing with the Warriors.

The Amazon Warriors have six spots left to fill in their squad, and names will be announced in the coming weeks.

The Guyana Amazon Warriors management team has said: “The Management of the Guyana Amazon Warriors Franchise are very pleased to retain the core group of players which comprised our squad over the last two years. The Franchise is very appreciative of the retained players for their loyalty and commitment to the Guyana Amazon Warriors. It is the hope of the Franchise that with the majority of players being together over the last two tournaments, t h e team

unity, camaraderie and support for one another in working towards a common goal and purpose will bring the desired result of winning the tournament this year.”

G A W ’ s Chandrapaul Hemraj, when contacted, stated that in 2021 he is looking for both personal development and team development.

He has also disclosed that he has his eyes on the championship this year.

“For me, it’s a new tournament, a new opportunity, and I just want to make the most of it. At the same time, I just want to keep it as simple as possible. I don’t want to think too far ahead, just want to take it one game at a time,” he has said. “I think it’s time now for us as a group to win the championship. You know, we’ve been playing some good cricket over the years, but I think it’s important for us to come good as a unit this season.”

The Warriors are likely to see a new captain this year with the non-retention of Chris Green. The likes of Ross Taylor, Keemo Paul, Sherfane Rutherford, Jasdeep Singh and Qais Ahmad have also not been retained.

Pooran 2. Imran Tahir 3. Shimron Hetmyer 4. Brandon King 5. Naveen Ul Haq 6. Romario Shepherd 7. Chandrapaul Hemraj 8. Odean Smith 9. Anthony Bramble 10. Kevin Sinclair 11. Ashmead Nedd

Guyana Amazon Warriors Retentions: 1. Nicholas

Odean Smith

Imran Tahir

Brandon King

Nicholas Pooran Chandrapaul Hemraj

Shimron Hetmyer

Kevin Sinclair

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