Guyana Times, Friday, July 15, 2022

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Issue No. 5070

P17

THE BEACON OF TRUTH FRIDAY, JULY 15, 2022

PRICE

Barama to fast-track production of plywood amid shortage – Pres Ali ...new sand pit to facilitate construction boom Page 3

$100 VAT INCLUDED

WHAT'S INSIDE:

Haiti violence: Scores killed as gangs fight for control P20

Sod turned for $150M Demerara Bank branch at Leonora – to meet needs of thousands See story on page 7

T&T’s Ramps Logistics P19 resubmits application for Local Content Certificate

P18 Teenage construction worker attacked, stabbed to death

Ex-soldier who allegedly stabbed girlfriend P8 remanded

President Dr Irfaan Ali and Senior Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh on Thursday joined CEO of Demerara Bank Limited, Pravinchandra Dave and its Chairman, Komal Samaroo, along with other Executives, for the ground-breaking ceremony

Challenge to suspension of PSC

AG denied leave to Page 21 appeal ruling for Judge to determine legality of President Ali’s decision

Canada imported over CA$199M in merchandise from Guyana in 2021 Page 9

Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar for IStandforPeace event at NCC this evening See story on page 5

Suspected P16 skeletal remains of missing man found in Kuru Kururu backlands

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FRIDAY, JULY 15, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

3 Barama to fast-track production of plywood amid shortage – Pres Ali NEWS

FRIDAY, JULY 15, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS OPENINGS BRIDGE

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

Friday, July 15 – 04:00h-05:30h and Saturday, July 16 – 04:00h-05:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Friday, July 15 – 05:15h-06:45h and Saturday, July 16 – 06:05h-07:35h.

...new sand pit to facilitate construction boom

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY

Thundery to light rain showers are expected throughout the day into the evening. Temperatures should range between 22 degrees Celsius and 29 degrees Celsius.

Winds: North North-Easterly to West North Westerly between 1.78 metres and 3.57 metres.

High Tide: 18:05h reaching a maximum height of 2.59 metres.

Low Tide: 11:36h and 23:52h reaching minimum heights of 0.46 metre and 0.64 metre.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 13, 2022

LOTTERY NUMBERS G

03 07 14

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THURSDAY, JULY 14, 2022

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COMMODITIES Indicators

US$

Change %

Crude Oil

$99.27/barrel

+0.17

Rough Rice

$294.84/ton $593.90/ton

-0.14 0.00

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USD Per Ounce

Bid/Ask

$1711.10

$1712.10

Low/High Change

$1697.70 +0.70

$1733.10 +0.04%

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President Dr Irfaan Ali

ith construction at an all-time high in Guyana, the industry is currently facing a shortage of plywood, and local timber operator Barama Company Limited (BCL) has since committed to ramping up production over the coming weeks to meet this demand.

Speaking at the sod-turning ceremony of a new Demerara Bank Limited branch at Leonora, West Coast Demerara on Thursday afternoon, President Dr Irfaan Ali disclosed that trickle-down effect of the construction is already being felt across the country, but it’s not all in a positive light. He disclosed that several builders have complained about a shortage of plywood in the country.

“In order to keep a pace with development, many developers are working [around the clock and] in the nights…

All of this is happening under very difficult global circumstances, not only in terms of food prices, but in terms of material prices. But forget about the prices, the supply alone [is an issue with] huge deficits in global demand and supply,” he posited.

To this end, the Head of State pointed out that the Guyana Government, and the country as a whole, has to work harder and more cre-

atively in finding more localised solutions to combat the global crisis.

In fact, he noted that after receiving the calls on Thursday about the plywood shortage, he immediately reached out to Barama for their intervention.

“They’ve assured me that, because of the rain, they had a limitation in the supply of the wood to the factory, and that they’re going to redouble their efforts to get a supply of logs into the factory, to bring the situation to some sort of balance in about three weeks.

“The problem is, even on the international market, there is severe shortages of plywood, of sheet rock and so on. So, these are some of the challenges we are faced with,” the President told reporters on the sidelines of Thursday’s event.

New sand pit

Nevertheless, with the construction sector booming, the Head of State anticipates a similar situation would arise with other building materials, and, as such, efforts are underway to ensure that there is a steady supply of sand. This, he added, would also regulate costs.

“In order to address the issue of the construction cost, and to ensure that we keep some amount of man-

agement of this, we are now looking at the opening up of a sand pit that would be managed by one of the Government agencies,” President Ali has said.

“That is to bring some balance in terms of the prices, because with the boom in construction, or what is expected [in the construction sector], it is going to continue to put pressure on the supply side, because demand is not falling back but demand is increasing rapidly,” the Guyanese leader stated.

id expansion of the construction sector in the country, and to ensure a steady supply of materials.

In fact, back in April this year, the Government removed Value Added Tax (VAT) on cement. This was in addition to the removal of VAT, in Budget 2022, on building and construction materials on which VAT was imposed after 2014.

Meanwhile, having previously recognised the increased demand for construction materials, the

According to President Ali, this initiative is still in the planning stages, hence a location for the sand pit has not been identified as yet.

However, he noted that this facility would be managed via collaboration between either the Ministry of Housing’s Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) or the Public Works Ministry and the Private Sector, which would have to supply the equipment to operate the pit.

Having grown by 29.8 per cent in 2021, the local construction sector is slated to grow another 10.5 per cent this year – a projection in Budget 2022.

Since taking office in August 2020, the Ali-led People’s Progressive Party/ Civic Administration has implemented a series of initiatives to facilitate the rap-

Government, in June last year, granted a quarry licence to a subsidy of Mohamed’s Enterprise – Hadi’s World Inc - for the operation of the Kwapau Quarry Areas 1 and 2 and ATANA Quarry Blocks 1 and 2 in the Mazaruni River.

In April, the company signed a long-term partnership pact with China Harbour Engineer Company Guyana Inc (CHEC) to pursue the US$25M quarry project to cater to the construction sector. As a result, Mohamed’s Enterprise is currently developing a facility at a prime waterfront property in Providence, East Bank Demerara, to support its quarry operations as well as the oil and gas sector.

The 25-acre property will be transformed into a stone depot and shore-based facility.

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guyanatimesgy.com

FRIDAY, JULY 15, 2022

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

Alcoholism V

ery often, many public debates and discussions have been had on alcoholism and the negative effects it has on individuals and society as a whole. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), alcohol kills a whopping three million people worldwide each year — more than AIDS, violence, and road accidents combined. It has been stated that men are particularly at risk.

WHO’s Global Status Reports on Alcohol and Health, over the years, have presented a comprehensive picture of alcohol consumption and the disease burden attributable to alcohol worldwide.

In the past, several letters to the Editor of this newspaper had expressed the view that alcohol is being promoted by some chutney singers in their songs. A few years back, Guyanese were being bombarded with “rum songs”, which featured characters who resorted to rum drinking to ‘end’ their sorrows. Some of these songs are still being featured at concerts and parties across the country.

One letter writer proffered that alcohol is considered to be a “downer” type of drug, so it should not be consumed if one is in a depressed state of mind. In essence, drinking while in a depressed state would certainly contribute to feelings of more depression, and do more harm than good.

The negative effects of drinking too much alcohol can be divided into short-term and long-term categories. The short-term effects of drinking too much alcohol are: loss of judgment, loss of coordination, blurred vision, slurring of speech, and loss of balance. These negative effects can cause one to make bad decisions while being under the influence.

The long-term effects include loss of brain cells; liver failure; stomach ulcers; high blood pressure; and certain types of cancer, epilepsy, nerve damage, and heart failure. If the abuse of alcohol does not cause immediate problems, then excessive use over a period of time can cause major problems down the line.

Further, alcoholism contributes to a range of social problems. For example, there has been an increase in cases of domestic and other forms of violence in our society. Official statistics show that one in four Guyanese women have been physically abused in a relationship. The increase in domestic violence has been blamed on several reasons, including children being socialised in a society that propagates violence and abuse of alcohol and drugs. While there are many solutions that have been previously put forward to protect our women and girls from experiencing the level of violence we see in our society today, what we know for sure is that there is no one solution; there needs to be a combination of ongoing measures with the involvement of Government, the Police, the Judiciary, religious bodies and other nongovernmental organisations (NGOs), and the communities as a whole, to holistically address the problem.

In addition, research shows that alcoholism contributes to suicide, which has been, and continues to be, a major social problem in Guyana.

The effects of alcohol abuse are well known. Citizens should therefore be encouraged to exercise better judgment in every situation in the interest of one’s self, family, and community, and ignore the messages that encourage rum drinking. While it is not our intention to place the blame for all our problems on alcohol, one cannot dispute the fact it is indeed a contributory factor to some of the social ills we face in our country today. There is therefore urgent need for all stakeholders to redouble their efforts and step up the campaign to spread more awareness and education about the dangers of alcohol abuse.

While the Government must play a crucial role in designing the relevant programmes and policies and putting in place the necessary legislative framework and other support mechanisms aimed at addressing the harmful use of alcohol, this burden must also be shared by other stakeholders, such as religious groups, the Private Sector, and NGOs, etc.

Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Pilot Mike Charles photographed the Taruka airfield located in the North Pakaraimas, Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni)

Judges' decisions are not sacrosanct; their decisions can be criticised Dear Editor, Any lingering doubt or indecisiveness as to whether Judges’ decisions should be subject to public criticism has been further eroded with the relentless barrage of criticisms and demonstrations that erupted with the overturning of the 1973 Roe vs Wade decision that had made abortion a right.

The US Supreme Court’s majority holds that abortion is not a federal constitutional right, and that abortion should properly be a matter for the state and its voters to regulate.

Demonstrators and social rights activists have categorically condemned the July 2022 ruling, claiming that it would damage the reproductive rights of women, including their right to privacy. Their revulsion has also been shared by top Democrats, who regard the US Supreme Court’s ruling as exceeding its power. US President Joe Biden blasted the decision, and referred to the Conservative Judges of the Court as “extreme”.

In defiance, he has issued an Executive Order to work around the ruling, but experts doubt whether that would mitigate the problem.

And the Senate Majority Leader, Liberal Democrat Chuck Shumer, joined the picketers outside the Supreme Court to launch a trenchant critique of the Judiciary, singling out the Conservative Judges with his vitriolic onslaught.

Another Liberal Democrat, Pete Buttigieg, the US Transportation Secretary, defended the right to crit-

icise Judges’ rulings, but cautions that protests should be peaceful. He asserts that public officials [inclusive of Judges] would “never be free of criticism or peaceful protest” from individuals exercising their right to freedom of speech.

In the land that is regarded as the bastion of democracy, the leader of the free world, and the centre of capitalism, citizens are allowed to criticise the decisions of the Judiciary, and to display their disenchantment during peaceful protests. Given that Guyana is more aligned to the US than the UK in terms of democratic norms and ideals, the logical question, then, is: “Shouldn’t Guyanese equally show their disapproval of Judges’ rulings through criticisms and demonstrations, especially in public interest cases (such as abortion, capital punishment, constitutional violations, infringement of fundamental rights, etc) that they perceive or regard as repugnant?” The answer could be unlocked with a review of two significant constitutional cases.

Why should Guyanese citizens remain silent when someone was unilaterally appointed in October 2017 as GECOM Chair in defiance of the Carter-Price constitutional formula, that has worked well for over 22 years? Had it not been for the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), which overruled the decision of the Guyana Court of Appeal in June 2019, Guyana would have fallen prey to another PNC dictatorship.

In another glaring constitutional aberration, the Guyana Court of Appeal ruled in March 2019 that 33 is not a majority of a 65-House Chamber. That decision stunned not only legal scholars, but also mathematicians, as well as the common person. In June 2019, the CCJ overturned the Guyana Court of Appeal’s decision, indicating that 33 is a majority of 65. Again, the CCJ had to save Guyana’s fragile democracy. When Judges cannot determine that 33 is a majority of 65, don’t the public have a right to question their judgment, and demonstrate their disgust?

This is the age of reason, logic, egalitarianism, and accountability.

All institutions, including the Judiciary, are required to strive towards equity and accountability. And who better than the public to demand equity and accountability from the Court? Sovereignty belongs to the people (Chapter II Article 9), and not the Judges. The impending changes in the country’s legal and constitutional architecture, which would work through the existing Law Reform Project and the Standing Committee on Constitutional Reform, are not radical, but evolutionary in nature.

The significance of legal/ constitutional change has been beautifully captured

by Karl Marx at his conspiracy trial in Cologne in 1849.

He captured this forcefully: “Society is not based on law, that is a legal fiction; rather, law must be based

on society; it must be the expression of society’s common interests and needs, as they arise from the various material methods of production…The Code Napolean, which I have in my hand, did not produce modern bourgeois society. Bourgeois society, as it arose in eighteenth century and developed in the nineteenth, merely finds its legal expression in the Code. …you cannot make old laws the foundation of a new social development, any more than these old laws created the old social conditions.”

Hopefully, all these potential changes would lead to the development of a coherent system of judicial philosophy. Such basic questions as: "What constitutes justice?” have not been satisfactorily answered. “Is justice done, or seems to be done?” when there are so many disparities in sentencing.

No institution in the modern world is insulated from change. Criticising Judges' rulings, or having demonstrations would not necessarily undermine the independence of the Judiciary. The Constitution (Chapter XI 122 A (1)) does not explicitly prohibit public criticism or demonstration of Judicial decisions.

Indeed, criticisms would allow Judges to apply greater analytic rigour to decision-making and to arrive at good judgments. Judges' decisions are not sacrosanct; their decisions can be criticised.

Sincerely, Dr Tara Singh

guyanatimesgy.com

FRIDAY, JULY 15, 2022

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News

Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar for IStandforPeace event at NCC this evening

G

lobal Peace Ambassador and Humanitarian Leader Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar has arrived in Guyana for an IStandforPeace public event that would be held at the National Cultural Centre this evening.

That event is part of his global peace campaign across major cities in Europe, North America, South America, and Africa. Launched at the UN Headquarters in Geneva in April 2022, the IStandforPeace campaign is a call for the silent, positive and rational voices in society to stand and be heard.

The campaign is premised on intentions being the driving force behind purposeful actions, and that resolve to stand for peace would itself empower those over-

Global Peace Ambassador Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

whelmed by the rising global aggression to channel their energies into peaceful outcomes.

Gurudev, who heads the Art of Living Foundation and the International Association of Human Values, which has a presence in more than 156 countries, says conflict arises when trust and communication break down, and can be prevented if people are mentally strong and their minds are serene and calm.

He notes that rumours often inflame conflicts, and social media has become a source of both information and misinformation.

Gurudev is a global humanitarian, spiritual leader, and peace envoy who has worked tirelessly in the last 40 years to bring peace and well-being into the lives of more than 450 mil-

lion persons around the world.

Standing for Gandhian values of non-violence, and often called the Master of Love, Gurudev has worked with Governments and civil society leaders to progress peace in conflict-stricken areas of Sri Lanka, Iraq, Venezuela, and Colombia, among other countries.

He has also been actively involved in efforts to promote peace and sustainable development in several countries, including India, Sri Lanka, Iraq, Lebanon, Ivory Coast, South Africa, Ethiopia, Pakistan, Egypt, and Haiti. He recently proposed the settlement adopted by the Supreme Court in Indian to settle the age-old Ayodhya dispute.

Gurudev, who began his teaching journey with

Maharishi Mahesh Yogi of the Transcendental Meditation movement before he began the Art of Living, teaches breathbased meditation techniques to calm the mind and to lead to improved health outcomes.

Gurudev has inspired a wave of service activities across the world among 30,000+ instructors, and over one million volunteers who also work tirelessly to bring trauma relief in areas ravaged by stress, tension, and natural disasters.

Volunteers have proactively embraced environmental sustainability by planting more than 36 million trees around the world, and they have rejuvenated thousands of water bodies in India.

The event at the NCC will commence at 18:30h.

Truth and accountability matter when people are paid from public funds Editor, Ms Laura George of the Amerindian Peoples’ Association (APA) has said repeatedly that she was misquoted by a section of the media when a newspaper claimed she said that the Amerindian Land Titling (ALT) project had been started under the David Granger Administration.

As Ms George has since

stated, this is inaccurate – the project was started under the previous PPP/C Administration, and only restarted in the last year under the Administration of President Irfaan Ali. Ms George has repeatedly stated - including on her Facebook page of 14th July, 2022 - that she asked a local newspaper to correct its inaccurate report, but the

newspaper has not done that.

Given that the Executive Chair of the APA, Ms Jean La Rose, was the Deputy Leader of the APNU+AFC list of candidates in the 2015 elections - and was subsequently appointed by President Granger to senior Government positions - it is particularly important that the newspaper

quotes Ms Laura George correctly when she is talking about the Granger Administration. Moreover, the media person who wrote the article, Miranda La Rose, is the sister of Jean La Rose, the APA's Executive Chair and parliamentary candidate for President Granger's 2015 coalition.

Editor, can you please explain why the newspaper

did not correct its publication after Ms George said she asked the newspaper to do this?

The APA receives a lot of public funding, including from Norwegian and French taxpayers. As with others who are paid from public funds, the APA therefore needs to be held accountable for telling the truth. And the media enti-

ty does the APA a grave disservice when it implies that Ms George said something she did not.

It is not too late; can the newspaper please apologise for misquoting Ms. George, and put the record straight about what she actually said?

Regards, Thomas Cole

PPP Government must be commended for the Buxton outreach Dear Editor, The Prime Minister and eight Government Ministers descended on Buxton in an outreach that attracted more people than the roadside peaceful picketing exercise.

It’s a tale of two objectives: the Government wants to listen to the people and respond to their needs; The protest exercise, wherein Dr. Hinds was prominent and MP Duncan was cheerleading, was apparently meant to stir up animosity and hatred for the Government. If the Complaints Authority had announced that three Policemen would be charged, why were they still protesting? There have, over the years, been many people who died in Police custody, or died by accident involving Police drivers, and justice was not done; but they did not all resort to roadside terrorism: of beating innocent people, lighting fires, looting, and creating fear and mayhem.

To have national unity and “One Guyana”, we have to acknowledge the good of the other side. It cannot always be tactics of “Expose, Oppose and Depose” all the time; that’s toxic for our poor nation, which is struggling for better days. While we fight among ourselves, the

imperialist corporations are fetching away our oil and gold and natural resources while we remain beggars.

I commend those Buxton residents who chose “problem-solving” over unhelpful and destructive actions meant for political demonisation. And such engagement yielded some good results.

The news headline said, “Request fulfilled on the spot! Sport Minister delivers equipment to Buxtonians.”

Within half-hour of making a request for assistance at the Ministerial Outreach on Monday, residents of Buxton were presented with critical pieces of equipment that will help youths in the village, sportsmen and women.

Minister Ramson made a commitment at the meeting that a pair of modern, professional fibre-glass basketball backboards and hoops, a John Deere tractor and grasscutters would be delivered within 30 minutes, and it was done. The Minister reminded the residents that the commitment made by President Ali to resurface the road was completed, and Minister Ramson’s commitment to deliver on the eight 50-foot concrete poles with lights and underground wiring was also fulfilled.

Nation, isn’t this what we

all want in all our villages?

We want our birth certificates, drivers licences, passports, tax clearances, TIN numbers, ID Cards, NIS benefits, house lots, roads built, connections for water and electricity, requests for information on public projects, and all Government services etc. in a quick, efficient manner. Let’s follow the Buxton example in all things.

All the issues raised at the Buxton forum are not unique to Buxton. They are universal, and reflect every village in Guyana: bad roads, unresponsive Government bureaucracies, unemployment, bread and justice, better pay, no discrimination, better policing, etc. Most villages that solidly voted for the PPP feel neglected for the longest while, but the Government showed great magnanimity at Buxton.

What is missing is that people need to connect the renegotiation of the oil contracts to give us more money to meet the multitudinous needs of every village. That’s what we should be peacefully protesting about all over the country. Without renegotiation, which would give us more money, when would the other villages’ turn come to get their needs met on the

spot, or delivered in half an hour, as in Buxton?

People should not begrudge the Buxton folks, although they have not voted for the PPP, or will never vote PPP. In 2020, the PPP got 83 votes there, while the PNC got 2,342 votes.

All Guyanese must share in the national pie, but all Guyanese must unite and protest the bad oil contract.

I believe if we are united about renegotiation, the Government would appreciate that support and approach the oil companies with that “super power” given to it by a united Guyana.

The PPP can use that “Buxton approach” to secure mass support for renegotiation.

Mr Norton simply needs to apologise to the nation on behalf of the PNC for the bad contract, and the PPP must say it will honour its solemn election pledge to the people to renegotiate. It’s our wealth and our country, and we must care. We are the richest country in Caricom, but we live like paupers, and our currency is even lower than Haiti’s. That must change soon. “A people united cannot be defeated.”

Sincerely, Dr Jerry Jailall

Friday, July 15, 2022

06:00 06:30 07:00 08:00 09:00 10:00 11:00 11:30 12:00 13:30 14:00 14:30 15:00 15:50 16:00 16:30 17:00 17:50 18:00 19:00 20:00 20:30 21:00 23:00 23:30 00:00

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FRIDAY, JULY 15, 2022

Page

Foundation ◄

Estimating Quotients

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head.

hen you estimate the quotient of a division problem, you do not round the numbers. Instead you try to find compatible numbers. These are numbers that you can work with easily in your

Example: Estimate 4922 ÷ 6.

Step 1: Look at the first two digits in the dividend – 49. Can you divide that evenly by the divisor 6? No. Step 2: Think about multiplying by 6. 6 x 6 = 36, 6 x 7 = 42, 6 x 8 = 48. Select the one that is closest to 49. That is 48.

Step 3: Add zeros to the dividend as placeholders. In this example, the dividend has four place values, so you need to add 2 zeros: 4800.

Step 4: Divide by 6. 4800 ÷ 6 = 800

T

oday we're creating a miniature Zen garden for children to enjoy as a calming form of sensory play.

A traditional zen garden is commonly known as a Japanese garden or rock garden. It is a man-made, miniature landscape designed to represent the essence of nature. It's generally composed of rocks, shrubs, moss, small trees and water features. The landscape is set in a base of sand or gravel which is raked to imitate ripples on water. The true purpose of a zen garden is to serve as a gazing point while meditating. The purpose of our tiny zen garden is to provide children with a small world that encourages the exploration of a variety of natural materials through relaxing, quiet play.

A Exercises

By Jackie Currie, Happy Hooligans

To create our zen garden, you'll need:

shallow tray sand polished rocks seashells small pieces of tree bark (found on the ground, never removed from a living tree)

By

certain king had a beautiful garden, and in the garden stood a tree which bore golden apples.

These apples were always counted, and about the time when they began to grow ripe it was found that every night one of them was gone. The king became very angry at this, and ordered the gardener to keep watch all night under the tree.

The gardener set his eldest son to watch; but about twelve o’clock he fell asleep, and in the morning another of the apples was missing. Then the second son was ordered to watch; and at midnight he too fell asleep, and in the morning another apple was gone. Then the third son offered to keep watch; but the gardener at first would not let him, for fear some harm should come to him: however, at last he consented, and the young man laid himself under the tree to watch.

As the clock struck twelve he heard a rustling noise in the air, and a bird came flying that was of pure gold; and as it was snapping at one of the apples with its beak, the gardener’s son jumped up

the

small twigs (which can serve as rakes) craft sticks (for smoothing the sand)

Assembling our zen garden:

Begin by pouring white beach sand into a small

wooden tray.

Explore the soft fine sand, run your hands through it and sift the tiny grains with your fingers.

Then use craft sticks to smooth the sand into an even layer, and start arranging the natural elements.

Arrange elements in distinct groupings, or create designs and patterns with the pieces.

You can make tracks in the sand with your fingers and can trace paths around the shells and stones with the twigs.

Playing with items from nature can be so soothing.

The neutral colours of the stones, shells and bark are easy on the eye, and the sound of the polished rocks and shells clicking together are so relaxing. (Adapted from cbc.ca/)

Brothers Grimm

and shot an arrow at it. But the arrow did the bird no harm; only it dropped a golden feather from its tail, and then flew away. The golden feather was brought to the king in the morning, and all the council was called together. Everyone agreed that it was worth more than all the wealth of the kingdom: but the king said, “One feather is of no use to me, I must have the whole bird.”

Then the gardener’s eldest son set out and thought to find the golden bird very easily; and when he had gone but a little way, he came to a wood, and by the side of the wood he saw a fox sitting; so

he took his bow and made ready to shoot at it. Then the fox said, "Do not shoot me, for I will give you good counsel; I know what your business is, and that you want to find the golden bird. You will reach a village in the evening; and when you get there, you will see two inns opposite to each other, one of which is very pleasant and beautiful to look at: go not in there, but rest for the night in the other, though it may appear to you to be very poor and mean." But the son thought to himself, "What can such a beast as this know about the matter?" So he shot his arrow at the fox; but he missed it, and it set up its tail above its back and ran into the wood.

Then he went his way, and in the evening came to the village where the two inns were; and in one of these were people singing, and dancing, and feasting; but the other looked very dirty, and poor. "I should be very silly," said he, "if I went to that shabby house, and left this charming place"; so he went into the smart house, and ate and drank at his ease, and forgot the bird, and his country too.

WORD SEARCH

NEWS

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FRIDAY, JULY 15, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Sod turned for $150M Demerara Bank branch at Leonora – to meet needs of thousands

D

emerara Bank Limited (DBL) is looking to expand its portfolio with the establishment of a new branch in Region Three (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara) that will serve thousands of residents in surrounding communities.

The new branch, to be located at Leonora, West Coast Demerara (WCD), will be a modern facility that is solar-powered, and construction is expected to last approximately 18 months.

Preliminary preparatory works have been done on the land, and the bank is currently tendering for a contractor.

Chief Executive Officer of Demerara Bank Limited, Pravinchandra Dave, has said that extensive research was conducted on the location for the new branch, and it was found that thousands of customers would benefit from the facility, once completed.

“If you look at the loca-

tion of the branch, it is going to serve around 7500 people in this area. There is a big housing development which is going to take place… This branch, which we are going to open here, will be a very modern branch. Name any facility you can get at the branch in Georgetown, and you will get it here,” he stated at the ground-breaking ceremony on Thursday.

According to Dave, Demerara Bank is on a path of transforming and enhancing customer experience at all levels. Top among these is removing the time it takes and all the documentation required to open new accounts.

He explained that the bank’s online facility makes this process easy.

Meanwhile, Chairman of the DBL Board of Directors, Komal Samaroo, has posited that the banking institution is taking a lead role in financing priority sectors of Guyana’s economy, such as farming and housing.

The Leonora branch would increase the bank’s portfolio to nine branches across the country, and according to Samaroo, the financial institution is continuously upgrading its technological infrastructure in order to deliver services in a modern and efficient manner.

“We are modernising the way banking is done in Guyana, taking it to the First World standards. We will continue to respond to the needs of our customers, introducing new products and services, embracing the growth of our customers’ business, and (bring about) improvement in the quality of life of Guyanese,” he noted.

Present at Thursday’s sod-turning ceremony was President Dr Irfaan Ali, who commended Demerara Bank for its proactive and innovative way of developing not only the institution, but the country as a whole.

An artist’s impression of the $150 million Demerara Bank branch at Leonora

“We are looking at ways in which we can work with the local banking sector in a more innovative way…

Moving here also shows that you are actively working in sync with the development agenda of the country and the Government,” President Ali noted.

The Head of State reiterated that the region is pegged for massive development, and this would be reflected in Leonora, where a multi-million-dollar mall complex is under construction as well as a hospital being upgrad-

ed. These, along with construction of the Demerara Bank branch, would create thousands of jobs, both in the short and long terms.

“So, I have no doubt that this investment will be successful; that this investment, with everything else that is happening around here, will create a modern economic hub that will generate thousands of jobs,” the President stated.

He further highlighted the necessity of such a banking institution, especially given the housing and

infrastructure development pegged for the area, which would open up thousands of acres of new lands.

President Ali disclosed that there are currently some 14,000 housing applications from Region Three in the system, and approximately half of those are from Leonora and surrounding areas. This, he noted, would require some 1,500 acres of land to meet the needs of those 7,000 applicants.

Moreover, Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh stated that the bank could not have chosen a better time to embark on a path of transformation and modernisation of its services and facilities. He contended that such transformation must also be felt in customer experience.

Additionally, the Finance Minister underscored the need for the banking sector to not just be a bystander or beneficiary of the country’s growth, but an active participant and contributor.

8 NEWS

FRIDAY, JULY 15, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Ex-soldier who allegedly stabbed girlfriend remanded

H

ours after ex-soldier James Cadogan, who was wanted for allegedly stabbing his girlfriend surrendered to the Police, he was remanded to prison for attempted murder.

The Haslington, East Coast Demerara (ECD) man, who is also known as “Roddie”, was arraigned at the Vigilance Magistrate’s Court on Thursday.

He was not required to plead to the indictable charge which stated that on July 5, 2022 at Paradise, ECD, with intent to commit murder, he wounded 24-year-old Zenida April, his girlfriend.

The 26-year-old accused was remanded to prison until September 19, 2022.

It was reported that Cadogan turned himself in to Police on Monday after he had allegedly stabbed and injured his girlfriend, who is a soldier, and her mother, Nevorn April.

Reports indicate that the man and his girlfriend were living together, and were having relationship issues prior to the stabbing. In fact, one day before that incident, the couple had a heated argu-

James Cadogan and Zenida April in happier times

ment during which the man had allegedly threatened to stab the woman.

As such, the girlfriend had gone to stay with her mother, and a report had been made to the Police. The following day, the two women and a relative had gone to the man’s home at Paradise.

As the women entered one of the bed-

rooms, the ex-soldier locked the door, preventing the relative from gaining access, and soon after, screams were heard.

The relative then forcefully gained entry to the house through a window and found the two women covered in blood. Cadogan then made good his escape.

Zenida April was stabbed to her chest, neck, arms, and back, while her mother was stabbed once to the shoulder.

Meanwhile, last Sunday, the family released to Guyana Times a recording, in which, an individual believed to be Cadogan, told the older April that her daughter has to die and that he would hunt her down “like Police hunt thief”.

The voice messages came just after the man had sent a message to his injured partner, pleading for her forgiveness.

The woman’s family has said that it was only last month that they realised that she and Cadogan were having issues that kept getting worse, hence she was planning to leave him.

Lobbying...

T

…and reaction?

he fallout from the VICE undercover sting operation continues to roil the political landscape. As your Eyewitness has said before, what VICE uncovered was a bunch of Chinese nationals (some may also have become Guyanese citizens) boasting about having connections “to high officials of the Government to smooth their investment plans in the country”.

Now, this has been a feature of governance since Man crept out of caves and established tribes and chieftains.

Folks gonna always try influencing power-holders to do things “their way” - to have an advantage over their competitors. After all, going back to our own history - and those who taught us about governance - weren’t we told about the influence of the “West Indian Lobby” in the British Parliament?? Then later about friends and relatives getting their young’uns plum jobs in the Civil Service? And later still, having “lines” to get anything done during the Burnham dictatorship?? Does anyone believe those “lines” didn’t mean “payoffs”??

But that doesn’t make having “lines” right, does it? If it ain’t a moral question, then, at a minimum, it’s an economic one. We’re told that such payments are “economic rents”, and make transactions “inefficient”, since the market isn’t “free” to deliver the optimum outcome!!

The system is being gamed!! The question is what’d we do about it. Well, that beacon on the Hill for us on these “democratic and free market” matters is the good ole U.S of A!! What have they done??

Very simply, as with all institutions providing “checks and balances” and such like, the Yanks created an institution to deal with this aspect of human nature – lobbying!! And we’re informed: “The Federal Regulation of Lobbying Act of 1946 is a statute enacted by the US Congress to reduce the influence of lobbyists. The primary purpose of the Act was to provide information to members of Congress about those that lobby them. The 1946 Act was replaced by the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995.” Lobbyists to members of Congress have to be registered, and as of 2021, there were 12,137 of them!! Some even for “furriners” like us to use – as we well know during the attempted PNC elections heist of 2020!!

So, as to the VICE claims being VICE, they concluded that some “VICE” was being perpetrated – here involving the VP. Fair enough…these are allegations, and should be investigated. Both the President and the VP have supported such an investigation – “If people break our law, and they admit to breaking our laws, they should face the consequences!” But we need that institutional fix, since we’re on an inevitable spending spree that’ll attract these “middlemen” like bees to honey!!

Let’s introduce legislation to register lobbyists!! …or ousting?

Well, whadya know?? We always knew, and they always knew, that the big powers worked behind the scenes to oust Governments inimical to their interests. Sometimes they didn’t bother to stay behind the scenes, like when the USSR invaded Hungary in 1956, and to show that it had nothing to do with “communism”, when they just invaded Ukraine. A big power’s gonna do what a big power’s gonna do – and deal with the consequences!!

But they don’t normally admit these behind-the-scenes manoeuvres – even when they’ve been confirmed by declassified files etc!! When asked, “Don’t Tell!” was the rule. Up to now!! But here came former U.S. Ambassador to the UN and former White House National Security Adviser to Donald Trump, John Bolton, declaring to the Congressional Hearing into the Jan 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol that he’d helped plan attempted coups in foreign countries!!

Maduro over in Venezuela comes to mind – after Guido and other democracies had found he’d fiddled with their elections!!

And the lesson for us? …sugar cane production Sugar workers (who should know) say rats have overrun the neglected cane fields and gnawed away at enough shoots to significantly lower yields per acre.

Remember the “rat gang” in which Yesu started out his career? What happened to them?

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

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

NEWS

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FRIDAY, JULY 15, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Canada imported over CA$199M in merchandise from Guyana in 2021

President Dr Irfaan Ali with Canadian High Commissioner Mark Berman and his wife along with Prime Minister Mark Phillips and Foreign Affairs Minister Hugh Todd

A

s Guyana and Canada seek to further strengthen bilateral ties, the two countries already share a strong trade relationship, with the North American nation importing nearly 200 million Canadian dollars in merchandise from Guyana last year alone.

This was revealed by Canadian High Commissioner to Guyana, Mark Berman on Wednesday at a reception held to celebrate Canada Day in Georgetown.

According to High Commissioner Berman, Canada has already invested millions of dollars in various programmes and initiatives here including the COVID-19 response, judicial strengthening, human rights issues, and migrants support.

Going forward, the Canadian diplomat said he was seeking to advance cooperation in the areas of climate change, food security, and business and investment, including diversifying trade relations.

“With respect to trade in 2021, Canada-Guyana merchandise trade totalled CA$238.2 million with CA$199.6 million being imports from Guyana. Canada is committed to diversifying our trade relationship in order to contribute to rebuilding the global economy in a way that is resilient, inclusive, and sustainable while being a reliable partner for business and investment,” he stated.

The High Commissioner noted that the next steps in strengthening the bilateral trade and investment relationship between Canada and Guyana were established back in April when Canada’s Minister of International Trade, Export Promotion, Small Business & Economic Development, Mary Ng visited this country.

During that time,

a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed to facilitate the transfer of Canadian technology and expertise to Guyana as the country invests in the infrastructure, information and communication technologies, aerospace, clean tech, and security sectors.

The MoU further establishes a framework under which the two countries can strengthen their economic and commercial relations that will see more Canadians doing business in Guyana and Guyanese businesses investing in Canada.

In fact, High Commissioner Berman posited that interest from Canadian investors in Guyana is at an all-time high.

“Canada has been a leading trade partner in Guyana for many, many years, and we’re proud of the continuous growth of our relationship. The establishment of the Canada-Guyana Chamber of Commerce has played a significant role in strengthening that relationship.

“I recently spent a number of weeks in Canada travelling from [almost] coast to coast, from Newfoundland to Calgary to Toronto… and had an opportunity and the privilege to talk about opportunities in Guyana to a very interested Canadian Private Sector. And we look forward to the results of those discussions,” he noted.

Meanwhile, President Dr Irfaan Ali extended a welcoming hand to the Private Sector of Canada, noting the great role it plays in Guyana. In fact, the Head of State lauded the contributions Canada has made towards the development of Guyana over the past years, calling the North American nation an outstanding global citizen.

“Canada has also contributed significantly to

Guyana in many, many ways. You are home to many Guyanese. We have a huge

Diaspora living in Canada and because of your hospitality, and of your openness, you have allowed those Guyanese who left here under difficult circumstances to enjoy a quality of life and a style of life that allowed them also to help their families back home,” he stated.

According to the Guyanese Leader, beyond Guyana, Canada has also played a major role within the Caribbean region.

“We take this relationship in the context of Caricom (Caribbean Community) very seriously… We share with you the principles of building the regional relationship. That is why we’ve played and continue to play a strong role in CARICOM and in expanding our relationship with Canada as a region, not only at the trade level, not only at the developmental level but importantly at the policy coordination [level]. We

have been working with you at the national level and at the regional level to coordinate our approaches on many different issues,” the Head of State said.

Moving forward, President Ali outlined that the two countries needed to work on a serious and calculated way of finding innovative mechanisms and a modern policymaking environment to further strengthen and advance shared principles. This, he contended, is particularly important in areas such as electoral and judicial reforms that require modern approaches.

Further, the Guyanese Leader expressed his interest in having strong conversations in developing a new trade agreement between Guyana and Canada to reflect the changing environment they operate in as well as the changing circumstances of the two countries.

Additionally, President

Ali outlined the need for the hemispheric neighbours to also re-evaluate their people-to-people contact, noting that the Guyana Government has initiated discussions at every level to reduce the bottlenecks to free movement of people.

“I believe strongly that there are countries in the hemisphere that are very important to Guyana’s development and those relationships need to be accelerated, strengthened, and to have more robust testing, and that testing can only come through our common agreement to set ourselves a target, to set ourselves missions that will bring direct benefit to the countries and our people. So, as you celebrate today, you can celebrate with great pride that Canada is an outstanding global citizen… Canada continues to be a leading example in many areas,” the President stated.

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FRIDAY, JULY 15, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

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FRIDAY, JULY 15, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

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FRIDAY, JULY 15, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

14 ENTERTAINMENT FRIDAY, JULY 15,, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

T

he Annual event Jamzone kickstarts at the Kingston Beachfront on Sunday, July 31, 2022 with a day filled with beach games, bikinis, frolic, performances from local artistes, the winner of the Jamzone Song Competition, and over $3 million in cash and other prizes to be

won.

The Miss Jamzone delegates will also be on stage, showcasing their ‘fantasy swimwear’.

This year, the delegates will be judged in their National Costume, Talent Costume and Swimwear at the National Cultural Centre later in August.

The delegates of the pageant were selected from a bevy of young women. This year’s contestants will focus heavily on tourism, with each delegate representing a township.

The aim of the pageant is to create opportunities for tourism, promote societal connections, and

encourage self-confidence among young women. With delegates currently being trained in every area, including modelling techniques, public speaking, and diet and fitness, the queen will walk away with a motor car, while the first and second runners-up will receive $500,000 and $250,000

respectively.

An early bird ticket for the Jamzone Beach Day costs $2000, and tickets are now available at HJ Box Office, That Look Boutique, StoveTop Restaurant, Fireside Grill N Chill, Exclusive Styles, Shop and Save, and White Castle Fish Shop.

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FRIDAY, JULY 15, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

16 NEWS

FRIDAY, JULY 15, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Suspected skeletal remains of missing man found in Kuru Kururu backlands

S

keletal remains suspected to be those of Answar Stoll, who went missing in November 2020, were on Wednesday found in the Kuru Kururu backlands, Soesdyke/ Linden Highway.

Police have said that a team of detectives travelled to the area at about 20:35h, after receiving reports that the skeletal remains of a human were discovered.

According to information, the bones were found scattered within a 30-foot diameter, and showed evidence of being there for quite some time.

Reports are that several of these bones were found intertwined in the roots of small plants.

“The bones recovered in-

Missing: Answar Stoll

clude a skull. The skull appears to be that of a male, and bore evidence of a sharp injury (chop) to the top of the skull. The chop extended from above the eye socket all the way to the rear

Murder suspect Leon Waddel

of the top of the skull,” the Police have said.

In addition, 11 vertebrae (commonly referred to as the backbone) were discovered, with another 22 still missing. Also, 11 pieces

of rib bone were recovered, with an estimated 13 pieces still to be recovered. Both the left and right scapula and clavicle bones (shoulder bones) were recovered, as well as the bones of the

pelvic girdle (the hip structure).

The skeletal remains would be sent overseas for DNA testing at the earliest possible opportunity.

Back in March 2021, 30-year-old Leon Waddel, also called “Mack”, was arrested in connection with Stoll’s disappearance, after Waddel had been on the run for some time. It was reported that Waddel had been found hiding in a fowl pen in front of his relatives’ Kuru Kururu home. After interrogation, Waddel has confessed to inflicting the fatal wounds on Stoll, but at the time he did not reveal where he had disposed of Stoll’s corpse.

Waddel was subsequently charged with the mur-

der of Stoll, without Stoll’s body being found. This was on Thursday confirmed

by Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum, who also stated that Waddel remains incarcerated.

Following Stoll’s disappearance, his family members had turned up at his Kuru Kururu home in December 2020 with Police ranks, and had found bloodstains on the wall. Stoll’s house had also been ransacked, and his documents and other personal belongings had been missing.

Stoll had lived alone about nine miles from the highway, and had not been employed. He reportedly had been supported by his mother and other family members.

NEWS

17

FRIDAY, JULY 15, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

$15M up for grabs as Digicel launches summer promotion

D

igicel customers are in for a treat with the launch of its summer campaign, offering a whopping $15 million in prizes.

The promotion, which runs for six weeks, was launched on Thursday evening at the Pegasus Hotel.

Communications Manager Vidya Sanichara explained that they have formulated the easiest way of entering the promotion.

To enter, customers would have to top up their phones with $1000 in Digicel credit to spell out ‘C-A-S-H’.

Those who are successful will be given a chance to enter a vault, where they can grab the money. Persons

The vault where winners get a chance to grab cash

can walk away with up to $3 million in cash. To determine if they have collected the letters, customers can text GRAB to 1441.

Digicel has been known for its exciting promotional activities, all geared at giving back to customers.

This promotion ends on August 27, 2022. However, there will be two live shows, which will also be televised.

At the launch, media personnel got a chance to take part in the promotion.

Just a few weeks ago, global leaders in Internet testing and analysis, Ookla, found that Digicel offers customers in Guyana the best mobile network as well as

the best coverage and the best speeds.

Ookla’s Speedtest testing data for the period July to December 2021 showed Digicel’s mobile network averaging download speeds

of an impressive 40 Mbps and fast upload speeds of 10 Mbps, with the company also winning on coverage and quality – more than four times faster than the competition.

18 NEWS Teenage construction worker attacked, stabbed to death A FRIDAY, JULY 15, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

19-year-old construction worker was on Wednesday afternoon attacked and stabbed to death by a col-

league with a pair of scissors.

Dead is Chrisgaichan Narine, called “Boyo”, of Recht-Door-Zee, West

Bank Demerara (WBD).

Police stated that the deadly stabbing occurred at Independence Drive in the vicinity of Third Avenue, Parfaite Harmonie, WBD, about 16:50h.

The now deceased teenager and his uncle, 23-year-old Gansham Singh, were going home on a bicycle, when the suspect appeared from the opposite direction on an electrical bike.

The suspect then attacked the now deceased teen. Consequently, the uncle ran from the scene,

The area where the stabbing occurred

leaving Narine in a scuffle with the suspect.

While running, the uncle reportedly saw that the suspect was armed with an orange pair of scissors in his right hand. The suspect is alleged to have dealt the 19-year-old two

stabs – one to the lower abdomen and another to the left shoulder – after which he made good his escape on the electrical bike.

After the stabbing incident, Singh picked up his nephew in an attempt to take him to the nearest

Police Station, but he collapsed.

As a result, the matter was reported to the Police. Ranks arrived at the scene and immediately picked up the injured teen and rushed him to the West Demerara Regional Hospital (WDRH), where he succumbed to his injuries while receiving medical attention.

Narine’s body is at the Ezekiel Funeral Home awaiting a post-mortem.

Meanwhile, acting on information received, a party of Police ranks went to Westminster, WBD, where the suspect, a 23-year-old construction worker was arrested for the heinous crime. He was taken to the Parfaite Harmonie Police Station and was assisting with the investigation.

NEWS

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FRIDAY, JULY 15, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

T&T’s Ramps Logistics resubmits application for Local Content Certificate A

fter being denied of Local Content Certificate in June, Trinidad-based company, Ramps Logistics has resubmitted its application for entry into the Local Content Registry. The application was made on July 14, 2022.

In a release to the media, the company stated that its updated application for a Local Content Certificate includes the additional nine items requested by the Secretariat in a letter dated June 24, 2022.

“We would again like to thank the officials at the Local Content Secretariat for responding to our request and outlining the additional information needed to meet the requirement for entry into the Local Content Registry. We look forward to continuing working with the Secretariat and resolving all issues,” the company added.

Further, the release stated that the company continues to appreciate the support from all of its stakeholders, especially its team

members while adding that it awaits a speedy resolution to the unfortunate situation.

Back in June, the company had requested answers after it was denied its Local Content Certificate – one of the requirements of the Local Content Act that was passed last December.

The Act defines a local company as one incorporated under the Companies Act and beneficially owned

by Guyanese nationals.

Beneficial ownership is defined as owning 51 per cent of the company. Additionally, a local company is expected to have Guyanese in at least 75 per cent of executive and senior management positions and at least 90 per cent in non-managerial and other positions.

Ramps Logistics Guyana had claimed that it followed all the requisite guidelines, but the Government had denied its Local Content Certificate, via an “automated” email, without any explanation.

The company said while it

Ramps Logistics Chief Executive Officer Shaun Rampersad

was not making any assertions as to why it was denied entry into the Local Content Registry, this move would negatively affect the company and ultimately threaten the more than 400 Guyanese employees’ livelihoods.

“The Local Content Secretariat is entirely within its right to refuse entry to any company seeking registration according to the legislation. However, we ask that reason be given for

this denial so that companies can take the necessary steps to become compliant,” the company said in a statement, adding that transparent protocols should be put in place to aid investors willing to set up operations in Guyana.

At a subsequent press conference, Ramps Logistics Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Shaun Rampersad related that the company divested 51 per cent own-

ership of its Guyana operations to Trinidad-based investor Deepak Lall, who has Guyanese parentage, to bring its operations in compliance with the Local Content Laws.

Lall’s grandfather and father are both Guyana-born but migrated in 1961, and the family now operates one of the largest oil and gas companies in the Caribbean out of Trinidad. In fact, Lall’s grandfather was in the petroleum business in Guyana, operating a gas station – Lall’s Esso Station in Vreed-en-Hoop, West Bank Demerara during the 1950s.

According to the CEO, Lall bought 51 per cent shares for $210 million and the monies were earmarked for two major projects for the company – a new cargo airline for additional airlift into and out of Guyana, and secondly, a new shipping line to move cargo among Guyana, Trinidad, and Suriname.

He noted that the company felt it was playing its part in bringing not just in-

vestments but network and skills from the Guyanese Diaspora back into Guyana in keeping with charges and pleas from President Dr Irfaan Ali. Prior to the denial, Ramps Logistics Guyana was fined $20 million by the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) for violating local customs laws.

It was reported that the company, which has provided freight forwarding and supply chain management services here since 2013, acts as the agent of Motor Vessel Seacor Mixteca, and they failed to report the vessel departing Guyana.

This was in violation of the Customs Act hence Ramps paid the fine of $20 million in lieu of court proceedings being instituted against the company by the GRA. On this note, the company said that indeed there was an issue with the GRA, but claimed it was able to resolve the issue legally.

20 NEWS Collaboration with Amerindian leaders could hike COVID-19 vaccine uptake – Health Minister FRIDAY, JULY 15, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

…127 new infections surface

C

hanging the dynamics of hinterland villages to reflect increased protection against COVID-19 can be achieved through collaboration with Toshaos from the various Amerindian villages.

Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony has committed to working with Indigenous villages to get more persons vaccinated against COVID-19.

Village leaders were engaged during the National Toshaos Conference this week on the importance of getting their people immunised. To this end, the Health Minister has signalled support to reach these communities through collaborative efforts.

“We had a very good interaction with the Toshaos and I’m convinced that they understand the importance of getting vaccinated. I’m extremely hopeful that they would take this important message back to their communities and work more closely with the Ministry of Health’s staff in the various regions. They can reach out to us any time. We’re willing to provide the technical staff to go into the communities to do vaccination, but it has to be a collaborative effort between us and the community. If we work in that way, we’ll see higher uptake in many of these villages,”

he underscored during the COVID-19 update.

The five to 11 age group vaccination campaign, the Health Minister outlined, is an area where more effort is needed. Additionally, those persons who took their primary doses need to return for their boosters.

He has positioned that from a technical standpoint, there were not any challenges in administering the vaccines. The Health Ministry would deploy a team of medical personnel to remote areas to deliver vaccines. However, there are challenges on the community’s end.

“What we have on the community side sometimes is that there is a lot of hesitancy. That’s because of misinformation that is circulating in the community so people have various apprehensions. We have a project that we have been working on to figure out what these apprehensions are, to figure what are the false information that is circulating, and to counter that with the right information,” Dr Anthony said.

He also called out persons of influence in the community that have been dissuading people from getting vaccinated, labelling it highly irresponsible behaviour.

“That’s highly irresponsible, because, in many instances, if these persons get

sick, they can end up with a more severe form of the infection. Instead of dissuading people, these persons should become more acquainted with what the science is saying and then use their influence for a good purpose…The majority of religious leaders across the country have endorsed this,” said the Health Minister.

New positives

Total recorded cases of COVID-19 in Guyana have reached 68,627 after another 127 new cases were reported on Thursday.

There are still 1264 confirmed deaths, with five persons in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). From the latest dashboard, 34 persons are in institutional isolation, 877 in home isolation, and three in institutional quarantine.

If anyone is displaying any of the symptoms associated with COVID-19, or need any additional information, they are asked to contact the COVID-19 Hotline on 2311166, 226-7480 or 624-6674 immediately or visit www. health.gov.gy.

GUYANA COVID-19 DASHBOARD JULY 14, UPDATE

NUMBER OF NEW CASES

127

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

34 877 45

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN INSTITUTIONAL QUARANTINE

3

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES BY GENDER (FEMALES)

37,137

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES BY GENDER (MALES)

31,490

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES IN GUYANA SINCE 2020

68,627

NUMBER OF RECOVERED CASES

66,447

TOTAL 1st DOSE VACCINATED

444,911

FULLY IMMUNISED

343,698

TOTAL NUMBER OF DEATHS

DISTRIBUTION OF TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES SINCE MARCH 2022 REGION 1

2641

REGION 2

3021

REGION 3

8518

REGION 4

34,125

REGION 5

2506

REGION 6

6617

REGION 7

2546

REGION 8

886

REGION 9

4128

REGION 10

3639

HERE IS HOW YOU CAN BE SAFE DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Wear a face mask.

Keep a physical distance of at least 6 feet.

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

1264

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

Haiti violence: Scores killed as gangs fight for control

Albouystown man remanded for shooting at fellow resident

A

ndrew Ridley, 29, of Sussex Street, Albouystown, Georgetown, was on Thursday charged with the offence of discharging a loaded firearm with intent contrary to Section 55 (a) of the Criminal Law (Offences) Act. He appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts where he pleaded not guilty to the charge. Ridley was subsequently remanded to prison until August 10, 2022.

The man is accused of committing the offence on 26-year-old Terrence Basteani, also of Albouystown, Georgetown.

The incident occurred on July 10 at School Street, Albouystown.

Police said that Basteani was reportedly at a stall at School Street, Albouystown, making a purchase when Ridley approached from behind on a bicycle and started

Jimmy Chérizier holds news conferences and gives the media tours of areas he controls (EPA photo)

A

Remanded: Andrew Ridley

to threaten him.

Ridley then whipped out a silver gun from the waist of his pants and allegedly fired several gunshots in the victim’s direction. Basteani escaped unhurt while Ridley fled the scene.

Ridley was subsequently apprehended by Police ranks on July 11.

t least 89 people are reported to have been killed in a week of gang warfare in the Haitian capital, Port-au-Prince.

The Mayor of the impoverished Cité Soleil neighbourhood said two criminal alliances, known as G9 and G-Pèp, were fighting for control of the area.

Mayor Joël Janéus told local radio that residents were under a state of siege and lacked water, food, and fuel.

Gang violence has shot up since the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse by mercenaries a year ago.

The latest deadly gang fight erupted on Thursday last week. While no official death toll has been given, local human rights group RNDDH says it knows of 89 people killed.

Forty-seven of them have been identified as gang members, while the remaining 42 are thought to be residents caught in the crossfire.

The worst affected area is Brooklyn, an isolated part of Cité Soleil, aid agency Doctors Without Borders said.

Thousands of Brooklyn residents who rely on trucks to deliver drinking water and essential foods have been completely cut off by the violence and are going hungry and thirsty.

Doctors Without Borders head of mission in Haiti, Mumuza Muhindo, said charred and decomposing bodies littered the only road leading into Brooklyn.

“They could be people killed during the clashes or people trying to leave who

The gang battles have led to fuel shortages which in turn have triggered angry protests (Reuters photo)

were shot – it is a real battlefield. It is not possible to estimate how many people have been killed,” Muhindo said.

He added that staff at a Doctors Without Borders care centre in Cité Soleil had opened an operating room to provide emergency surgeries for the wounded.

The aid agency has called on the armed groups to spare civilians and allow aid into Cité Soleil. Local media said the clashes began when men belonging to the G9 gang alliance stormed territory held by their rivals from G-Pèp in an effort to unseat its leader, a man known as Ti Gabriel.

While Port-au-Prince has long suffered from gang violence, groups like G9 and G-Pèp have stepped it up to new levels.

Both groups were formed as alliances of local gangs

which have pooled their weapons, manpower, and resources, thereby increasing their influence and reach.

G9’s leader is a former Police Officer turned criminal boss, Jimmy Chérizier, also known as Barbecue.

Barbecue’s brazenness is such that last year, his gang members opened fire at a monument just as Prime Minister Ariel Henry was about to lay a wreath, sending the Prime Minister and his entourage fleeing.

His G9 alliance controls the area around the Varreux oil terminal in Cité Soleil and the latest shootouts mean that fuel deliveries have been halted for security reasons.

On Wednesday, hundreds of people burned tyres in the streets of the capital to demand the Government do more to restore the supply of petrol. (BBC News)

NEWS

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FRIDAY, JULY 15, 2022| GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Challenge to suspension of PSC

AG denied leave to appeal ruling for Judge to determine legality of President Ali’s decision has “the right and discretion to add any party to a proceeding, whether by an application or of its own motion.

That is not an issue that in the Court’s view raises any serious issues of law. This area of law of the Court deciding to add a party, an interesting party, is not an area of law in dispute, nor does it raise any issue of great public import in terms of adding Mr. Slowe as a party.”

Corbin-Lincoln held that the grounds of appeal advanced

by Nandlall were without merit. Consequently, both applications were dismissed, and Slowe, who was added as a party to the proceedings by the Justices, was awarded $75,000 in court costs, to be paid on or before July 29.

Public interest

T

President Dr Irfaan Ali

he two-Judge bench Demerara Full Court has refused an application for leave to appeal a decision of that court, upholding a ruling by a High Court Judge who took jurisdiction to hear the challenge to President Dr. Irfaan Ali’s June 2021 suspension of the last Police Service Commission (PSC).

The action was brought by the previous PSC. The application for leave to appeal the Full Court’s decision to the Court of Appeal of Guyana, along with an application for a stay of that court’s decision, was filed

by Attorney General Anil Nandlall, SC, Prime Minister Mark Phillips, and Police Commissioner (ag) Clifton Hicken.

The Full Court comprised Justices Priya SewnarineBeharry and Fidela CorbinLincoln.

In delivering the court’s ruling on Thursday, Justice

High Court Judge Gino Persaud had, on March 9, dismissed an application by the Attorney General to have the legal challenge to the President’s decision thrown out.

In his ruling, Justice Persaud had held that the issues raised in the substantive case are matters of public interest. Relying on several local, regional, and overseas case laws, he had reasoned that the issue of the legality of the Commissioners’ suspension “…should be heard and determined on its merits, being a matter of public interest.”

To hold otherwise, the Judge had noted, would be to leave the legality of the suspension hanging – never to be adjudicated upon simply because of the inescapable fact that the life of the Commission came to an end after filing these proceedings.

“This does not seem to me either logical or fair, but rather an affront to fairness; natural justice; access to justice, and, indeed, the rule of law.

Attorney General Anil Nandlall, SC

A hearing and determination would serve to bring clarity to the role of the Executive in such instances, and ensure that the constitutionally-granted autonomy of the PSC remains protected,” he had said.

Full Court proceedings

Nandlall had filed an appeal against Justice Persaud’s ruling to the Full Court, which in May had upheld the decision of the lower court. The Full Court, however, varied Justice Persaud’s decision, adding Slowe as a party to the proceedings, instead of substituting him for the PSC. In so doing, the Full Court held that Slowe has an interest in the matter, since he has alleged that his appointment was wrongfully terminated by the Head of State.

The Full Court, on Thursday, reiterated that it

Existing constitutional body

Nandlall had argued that Slowe’s application could not have survived the August 8, 2021 expiration of the life of the Commission, and argued that it should be dismissed.

But the Full Court disagreed. It had held that, “The expiration of the three-year term of the members appointed to the Commission does not affect the body itself – established by Article 137 [of the Constitution]– save that the PSC will be unable to carry out its functions without appointed members. The PSC remains an existing constitutional body, even if the term of its appointed members has expired. There is therefore no issue of the Commission ceasing to be an existing body, or having no capacity upon the expiration of the term of its appointed members.

“The effect of the term of the appointed members of the Commission becoming vacant is simply that there

for a full hearing.

Injunction

Paul Slowe

are currently no members to carry out its functions.

This by itself is not a basis to strike out the claim under (Civil Procedure Rules)…

Members can be appointed at any time to continue to carry out the functions of the PSC. Upon their appointment, those members could determine whether to continue or discontinue the claim. Of course, a court would be entitled to take the continued non-appointment of members to the Commission as a basis to strike out the claim as an abuse of process, as this would delay the prosecution of the action.”

As such, the Full Court agreed that Justice Persaud was “correct” when he refused to strike out the claim on the ground that the life of the Commission had expired.

In light of this ruling, the substantive matter has been remitted to Justice Persaud

On May 31, President Ali swore in the members of the PSC at the Office of the President. They are Attorney-at-Law Mark Conway, businessmen Ernesto Choo-a-Fat and Hakeem Mohammed, and Pastor Patrick Findlay, who will serve as Chairman.

In a separate case filed in May, Slowe, a retired Assistant Commissioner of Police, is seeking an injunction preventing the recently reconstituted PSC from promoting senior officers of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) until the court determines the constitutionality of the President’s decision to suspend the PSC. Earlier this week, the matter came up before Justice Persaud, who stayed his decision to proceed with the hearing case pending the Full Court’s ruling on Nandlall’s applications.

Then, last week, the recently appointed PSC applied to the High Court to discontinue the case challenging the President’s decision. Both cases will come up on July 22 before Justice Persaud.

“To terminate these proceedings would leave certain constitutional issues unaddressed, and leave room for constitutional violations,” Smartt, a lawyer in the matter, had added.

GPF rewards officers for outstanding performance during awards ceremony – $88.4M in cash and other incentives handed out

Home Affairs Ministry Permanent Secretary Mae Toussaint Jr Thomas hands over an incentive to one of the members of the Major Crimes Unit

T

he Guyana Police Force (GPF) on Thursday handed out a total of $88.4 million in cash and other incentives to members during its annual awards ceremony at the Tactical Services Unit Drill Square, Police Headquarters as part of the Force's 183rd anniversary celebrations.

Of this amount, $7.5 million was awarded to ranks as cash prizes for their outstanding performance in the various divisions and departments of the GPF. In recognition of their commitment, devotion, and success in carrying out their responsibilities, several ranks from various departments and all Regional Police Divisions

received financial rewards.

Speaking at the ceremony, acting Police Commissioner Clifton Hicken said that this awards ceremony recognised individuals who have distinguished themselves and the Guyana Police Force by their exemplary acts of bravery, professionalism, and praiseworthy deeds.

“Indeed, no one is compelled to choose the profession of a Police Officer, but having chosen it, everyone is obliged to live up to its professional standards. It is safe to say that the duties and professional calibre that Police Officers are required to have, have been different from any other profession," the Top Cop stated.

He further said that ranks' efforts have not gone unnoticed. “That is why we are here today to honour all of you for your dedication beyond the stipulated standards and scope of your normal duty as employees of the Guyana Police Force. Your efforts have not gone unnoticed, as we have conjointly remained committed to the mandate of the Guyana Police Force.”

The acting Top Cop alluded to the fact that currently there is an ongoing transformational change occurring in the Guyana Police Force driven by its 2022-2026 Strategic Plan.

He reminded the gathering that the Plan would guide the GPF’s strategic direction of being a modernised, diversified, and accountable Police Force that was prepared to meet contemporary policing demands.

The Plan, he said, is governed by six pillars – operations, partnership, developing people, infrastructure, performance, professionalism, and accountability.

While acknowledging that the Force’s successes are many, Hicken pointed out that the successes were also simultaneously accompanied by challenges such as inadequate human resources, budget constraints, and emerging security threats. Therefore, he noted, there is still much

work to be done if the Force is to properly meet the demands of the public.

To do so, Hicken said these works include establishing Regional Command Centres and a Community Relations Foundation; increasing strategic alliances with local, regional, and international agencies to boost information sharing and joint operations; enhancing Police buildings with specialists; decentralising Police departments to Regional Divisions; continuously forming partnerships with learning institutions for training and development; establishing an accredited Police Academy with certified lecturers, improving traffic management and crime prevention and detection capabilities, and implementing social crime prevention programmes.

Further, he stated: “We must pat ourselves on the back for all our accomplishments thus far. Henceforth, I would like to urge all members of the Guyana Police Force to strengthen your commitment to the oath you took to serve and protect as we remain resolutely on the path of reform and you must continue to ensure service to the nation with the highest level of professionalism, trust, and integrity.”

He emphasised that the GPF was working assiduously to improve its mission of

Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn, along with acting Top Cop Clifton Hicken and Assistant Police Commissioner Ravindradat Budhram

transparency, accountability, and professionalism. Hicken also urged the ranks to recommit themselves to working beyond the call of duty and engage with members of the community.

However, acting Deputy Commissioner (Administration) Calvin Brutus noted that Thursday’s awards ceremony marked an exponential increase in cash prizes and awards.

This, he said, serves as motivation for all ranks to work towards receiving those accolades that were later handed out at the ceremony.

“Apart from what is being handed out at the square today, the total amount of money, cash, and incentives that will be awarded between today and tomorrow or by the end of today will be a total of $88.4 million,” Brutus declared to a loud round of applause.

Some of the awards were handed over by Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn, Home Affairs Ministry Permanent Secretary Mae Toussaint Jr Thomas and senior Police ranks.

Awardees were the Community Policing Groups and Individuals, Office of Professional Responsibility, General Office, and the various Regional Divisions.

Special awards were given to Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Headquarters, Central Immigration and Passport Office, Police Band Room, and Quartermaster Store: Textile Section and Tailor Shop.

The ceremony was well-attended by members of the Force's Executive Leadership Team (ELT) and other senior functionaries of the Force, along with junior ranks from various divisions and departments.

22

FRIDAY, JULY 15, 2022

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Rupununi FA Male and Female Senior Leagues…

MORE CLUBS CLINCH QUARTERFINAL SPOTS -as group stages near completion A

s the group stages of the 2022 Rupununi Football Association (RFA) Senior Leagues come to an end, more clubs have clinched quarterfinal berths.

In Central Rupununi, Guyana Rush Saints FC female team have leapfrogged Gladiators FC in the points standings with a comprehensive 7-1 victory over Far East United in their final group stage match.

Glauciane Ines Gomes De Assis was again in dominant form as she scored five goals. A double from Nina Cabral completed the thrashing of Far East United. Ursuline Primus responded with the solitary goal for Far East United in the 37th minute.

Guyana Rush Saints and Gladiators, with 19 points and

17 points respectively, have qualified for the quarterfinals.

Guyana Rush Saints male team are also into the quarterfinals after a comfortable 4-1 victory over Far East United.

Stephen McDonald, with a hat trick in the 4th, 28th, and 30th minutes; and an Eric Atkinson goal in the 71st minute, sealed the victory. Ravin Naughton responded with the consolation goal in the 23rd minute for Far East United.

Tabatinga FC have also booked their spot in the quarterfinals with a 2-1 victory over Gladiators FC. Goals from Carlos Isaacs and Romel Bhola in the respective 6th and 38th minutes were enough to secure victory, with Erik Veras responding in the 28th minute for Gladiators,

who are in third position in the points’ standings and still have a chance of reaching the quarterfinals. However, Gladiators will have to first defeat the winner of the North Rupununi/South Pakaraimas playoff in a match scheduled for Saturday, July 23rd.

Over in North Rupununi, in Group A, Paiwomak FC female team joined their male counterparts in the quarterfinals after Challengers FC were held to a goalless draw in their final group match against Surama FC. The draw allowed Paiwomak to advance due to their superior goal difference over Challengers, who will now have to face Basin FC in their one-legged playoff, scheduled for July 16 (tomorrow) at the Basin Sports

Bolt awarded honorary doctorate

by Brunel University London

J

amaican eight-time Olympic gold medallist Usain Bolt has been awarded an honorary doctorate by Brunel University London.

The 100m and 200m world record holder, who retired in 2017, trained at Brunel many times during his career, including in the lead-up to the 2012 London Olympics, wherein he won three gold medals.

“I want to thank Brunel University for this honorary degree. I really appreciate it,” said Bolt while accepting his award via video. “I have only fond memories of training at Brunel. You guys really helped me conquer the world, and I must say I really appreciate that,” Bolt added.

The 11-time World Championships gold med-

Usain Bolt appeared virtually for the acceptance of the honorary doctorate

allist also addressed Brunel University London graduates gathered inside the Indoor Athletics Centre in Uxbridge.

“I want to say to the graduates, ‘Hard work does pay off.

Just remember that the road won’t be easy, there will be ups and downs, and you will fail’,” he said.

“But always remember (to) learn from your failure and try again. Never give up on your dream, because, as a young man, I never knew I’d be this great. Always work hard, dedicate yourself, and remember: anything is possible, don’t take limits,” Bolt added.

(Sportsmax)

Ground.

In the male match, Challengers advanced to the North Rupununi playoffs after defeating Surama 3-1, courtesy of goals from Marcos Rodolfo in the 2nd minute, and a double from Deroy Augustine in the 50th and 55th minutes.

Niaaz Mohammed responded with Surama’s lone goal in the 57th minute.

In Group B action, Falcons and FC Basin played to a thrilling 3-3 draw, which resulted in Falcons qualifying for the North Rupununi playoff. They will now face Challengers.

Kelvin John opened the scoring for FC Basin in the 70th minute, but Alex Mendonca equalised in the 74th minute for Falcons. A quick-fire double from Kevin Hamilton in the 82nd and 84th minutes saw FC Basin gain what seemed like an insurmountable 3-1 lead, but a penalty from Floyd Peters in the 86th minute and an Almir Moses strike in the 89th minute saw a spirited comeback from Falcons.

In East Central Rupununi Group A action, the match between Jaguars FC and Kanuku Harpies FC female teams ended in a 1-1 stalemate. Mary Lawrence opened the scoring for Jaguars in the 13th minute, but Carolita Stephen equalised in the 81st minute for Kanuku Harpies.

With one round left to play, Flash FC lead the points’ standings with 11, but can be overtaken if they lose their final match and Jaguars FC win their final match. In the male match, Jaguars FC secured a quarterfinal berth with a 3-1 victory over Kanuku Harpies FC. Nimrod Park, with goals in the 36th and 89th minutes,

Goal-scorers in the Gladiators FC vs Tabatinga FC clash

and Lu Lawrence’s goal in the 71st minute ensured qualification for the quarterfinals was achieved with a game in hand.

Jason Marco notched the lone goal for Kanuku Harpies in the 56th minute.

Over in Group B, Kanuku Warriors FC were in commanding form when they thrashed Terminators FC by a 9-0 margin to maintain their unbeaten record and book a place in the quarterfinals.

A hat-trick in the 2nd, 11th, and 23rd minutes from Josepha Leonard, combined with a brace each from Christalene Alfred and Phyllis Lorentino, along with single strikes from Simone Alfred and Marlitha Alfred, ensured the lopsided win for the dominant home team.

The male match between Terminators FC and Kanuku Warriors FC ended 2-2, with Kanuku Warriors already eliminated and playing just for pride in front of a boisterous home crowd. But it was Terminators who took a 2-0 lead in the first half, courtesy of strikes from Nathaniel Peters and Aldie George in the respective 12th and 36th minutes.

But Simion Artes responded with strikes in the 62nd and 78th minutes to level the score. The draw severely dent-

ed the hopes of Terminators’ quest to qualify for the quarterfinals, and they must now hope other results go their way to secure qualification.

CLASSIFIED ADS NOTICE Maylene Duncan and Jessie Cozier of Charity, Essequibo, the witnesses to the execution of the last will and testament dated the 11th day of November, 2010 of MOHAN a.k.a MALA, deceased who died on the 10th August, 2021, are hereby requested to contact Mr. Khawn Rodney, Attorney-at-Law at Lot 216 South Road, Lacytown, Georgetown, within 14 (fourteen) days from the date of publication of this Notice for the purpose of swearing the Affidavit of Attesting Witnesses. Dated at Georgetown, Demerara. This 12th day of July, 2022.

WANTED LOOKING FOR AN HONEST AND RELIABLE BABYSITTER/TUTOR FOR A TODDLER AND INFANT. Must be well spoken and should have at least 3 subjects CXC including English and Maths. Must be able to work without supervision and work flexible hours when needed. Must be living on the East Bank or in Georgetown. CALL: 622-6297 FOR MORE INFO.

FRIDAY, JULY 15, 2022

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

23

LASCO Food Drink appointed Nutrition Sponsor of HERO CPL 2022-2024 2 022-2024 L ASCO FOOD DRINK, the Caribbean’s leading nutrition beverage, is pleased to announce its appointment as the Official Food Drink and Nutrition Sponsor of the Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) for the 2022– 2024 seasons.

This multi-year partnership takes world-class

cricket and world-class nutrition from the Caribbean onto the world stage, and reinforces LASCO FOOD DRINK’s commitment to improving the nutrition and health of consumers.

Managing Director of LASCO Distributors Limited, John De Silva, shared: “LASCO FOOD DRINK is excited to partner

with the Hero CPL T20 as its Official Food Drink and Nutrition Sponsor. LASCO FOOD DRINK continues to meet the nutrition needs of millions of consumers across the Caribbean and beyond, providing them with nutrition that never tasted so good. Nutrition and health play important roles in

Former national cyclist among sponsors of August 7 race in Berbice

President of the Flying Ace Cycling Club, Coach Randolph Roberts, and former national cyclist George Tathal

F

ormer national junior cyclist George Tathal is among the sponsors of the upcoming 40-mile race organised by the Flying Ace Cycling Club (FACC) and scheduled to be staged in the

ancient county of Berbice on Sunday, August 7, from 9:00h.

That race is open to Berbice cyclists only, and will be contested from

Alexander Street in New Amsterdam to Adventure Village on the Corentyne Coast, before returning to the point of origin for what is anticipated to be an exciting finish.

According to FACC President Randolph Roberts, eight sprint prizes will be up for grabs, and the categories contested would be Open, Juniors, and Juveniles. The first four finishers in the Open category would be rewarded, as would the first three Juniors and the first three Juveniles.

Interestingly, this race is expected to see the return of National Champion Romello Crawford, who is fresh from a stint in the United States of America. Andre 'Padlock' Green - who has been in and around the top five finishers throughout the year, and is one of the most competitive riders in Berbice - would also be on show, along with young Mario Washington.

According to Roberts, more races would be staged in August, and he is expecting more sponsors to come on board for these events.

achieving the sporting excellence the Caribbean is globally renowned for, and LASCO FOOD DRINK is proud to be part of that journey.”

Meanwhile, CPL Commercial Director Jamie Stewart has remarked, “Nutrition is a key part of every athlete’s preparation, and, in that light, we are pleased to welcome LASCO FOOD DRINK, from one of the Caribbean’s great companies, to the Hero CPL.” (CPL T20)

LASCO FOOD DRINK is now the official Nutrition Sponsor of Hero CPL 2022-2024

FRIDAY, JULY 15, 2022

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

West Indies players bring positive vibes to children in Government care from the hustle and bustle of their day jobs, they answered questions from eager young fans. There were smiles galore from the minute the cricketers exited their bus and made their way into the Care Centre.

There, the trio chatted with the children, signed autographs, took photographs, and even served up a few deliveries in a mock game of cricket.

West Indies Captain Nicholas Pooran happily signing his autograph Story and photos by Jemima Holmes

W

est Indian cricketers Jayden Seales, Anderson Phillip, and Captain Nicholas Pooran have brought some cheer to children within the Government’s care at the Child and Family Care Centre.

On Thursday, taking a break

Jaden Seales and Anderson Phillip engaged in a riveting conversation on fast bowling with the children

“As young kids growing up, you wouldn’t understand what’s the most important things in life. Today you guys are getting the opportunity to be here in this beautiful place where everyone is taking care of you, and I just want you guys to really appreciate it. Everyone here is really sacrificing a lot to make you guys better human beings and better people.

“Today I just want to continue to inspire you guys. Just like you guys, I had an experience where I almost lost my life, and I felt like I had no direction. That was 6 or 7 years ago. Today, I stand in front of you as the West Indies captain, achieving my dreams of being a professional cricketer,” West Indies white ball captain Nicholas Pooran said in sharing words of encouragement with the children.

He further stated, “So, I just want to tell you guys, ‘Never stop believing in your dreams,

cause dreams do come true.

Just work hard, continue to be disciplined, and continue being great human beings.”

When he the children to ask him questions, the trending inquiry was his absence from the Guyana Amazon Warriors for the 2022 season, to which he indicated that his contract was up.

“I’m home now, and let’s see where my journey leads to. Hopefully, I could win a title for TKR, and you guys wouldn’t be vexed with me, but I wish Guyana Amazon all the best this year,” Pooran said with a laugh.

The meeting with their cricket heroes was organised by the Human Services and Social Security Ministry, under whose premise the Care Centre falls.

An excited Chabela Lord, who is the acting manager of the Care Centre, was grateful for the cricketers’ presence, and noted that it would do a great

deal of good for the children.

“We’re very much appreciative of the fact that they’re here today. The boys are super excited, all of the children are excited, knowing that they’re going to be here. They’ve been looking forward for this since early in the week, so we’re happy that this would have been a success,” Lord stated.

She added, “We are happy, more so since school is out and cricket is an activity in the Caribbean. A lot of Caribbean persons are excited over cricket, and it’s just a plus for our children to be able to have access to meet the cricketers in person.”

While the West Indies Camp had wanted to visit the Centre with a large group of players, meeting constraints forced the likes of Keemo Paul, Romario Shepherd and Rovman Powell to be absent from Thursday afternoon’s activity.

the surface. But like I said, there’s been a lot of rain, and the pitches are under covers for most of the time, and it’s going to be very difficult, once you bat first, to get any sort of momentum,” Estwick explained.

“The key thing is not to allow the confidence to drain out of the group. We’ve got to find a way to lift people. We’ve got to find a way to have open discussions, and come up with solutions that will move us forward. We’re still planning for the 2023 [World Cup]. We know the areas we’re falling down in. We know that teams

are going to come and bowl a lot of spin against us, and we’ve got to find ways to make sure we get better at rotating the strike and different things like that,” he further said.

The toss has played a key role in both matches.

Bangladesh called correctly on both occasions, and opted to bowl. The Guyana National Stadium pitches had plenty of moisture due to recent heavy rainfall here. However, Coach Estwick opined that West Indies batsmen had failed to adapt, and he pointed to allrounder Keemo Paul who topscored with an unbeaten 25 on Wednesday as the template for batting in the conditions that prevailed.

“We didn’t adjust to the conditions. We obviously struggled to get any kind of momentum,” Estwick pointed out. “It’s finding a way that’s going to be very, very important for us going forward.

We’ve still got one more game to play. We continue to learn, and I hope we can take some lessons away from it,” said Estwick.

The final ODI is set for Saturday July 16 at Providence from 9:30h.

-Estwick not blaming pitch

By Brandon Corlette

T

he West Indies have experienced two dismal batting failures in the One Day International Series against Bangladesh, played at Providence, EBD, and would need to fix their batting issues, as India will be coming to the Caribbean to play three One Day International matches and five T20Is from July 22.

Those encounters would be played in Trinidad and Tobago, St Kitts and Nevis, and in Florida respectively.

According to Nicholas Pooran, the West Indies captain who was dismissed for a golden duck while attempting to reverse sweep: "Tough, tough day; I don't want to talk about it. We didn't show up as a batting group. For sure, we need to talk about how we gonna play ODI cricket, especially as a batting group, and figure it out soon. The wicket gets better as long as the innings goes ahead, and we weren't able to score over 200.

“It's a challenge batting, especially after losing the toss.

We spoke yesterday (about) the ways to score. You saw the guys sweep and reverse today,

but it didn't come out. At the moment, we are still figuring it out. We are a young group, we are gonna stick together and try our best."

The young West Indies captain added: "on India and New Zealand touring, we definitely need to bat properly.

100%, and put something respectable (as a) total on board; and again, it's a young team, we are playing together.

The more games we play, the more we understand how to go about it. And again, stick together and try to bat second.

Toss plays a big factor at the moment, whoever wins the toss wins 75% of the games in the Caribbean; and we can't make excuses, it's about accepting the challenges and come out (and) keep fighting."

After slipping to Bangladesh, and recording 10 defeats in as many matches, West Indies Assistant Coach Roddy Estwick has said it is critical for the West Indies to urgently come up with solutions to the problems plaguing their ODI performances.

After mustering a paltry 108 off 35 overs, their second lowest-ever total in an ODI at home, Bangladesh hammered

Nicholas Pooran is bowled all ends up

West Indies mercilessly to win by nine wickets. It seems as though Providence is not a happy hunting ground for West Indies in ODI cricket, since they have recorded their lowest total in ODI cricket at home at this same venue, an embarrassing 98 against Pakistan back in 2013.

Despite the tricky nature of the pitches, Estwick refuses to use conditions as an excuse for West Indies’ poor performances. “I don’t want to be too critical, because people will say, ‘You’ve lost!’ and, ‘Bangladesh have batted on them’,” Estwick noted. “I

thought this one (pitch) was a bit better than the (one used in the) first match. I thought the (pitch in the) first match had a lot of moisture.

“But you’ve got to understand that there’s been a lot of rain around Georgetown, and grounds-men can’t put in as much work as they would like; so, you don’t want to be too critical.

“Bangladesh have won the toss, and they’ve put us in (to bat) both times. Normally, Bangladesh like to try and set a score and put you under pressure, but they’ve gone away from that because of

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