Guyana Times - Thursday March 11, 2021

6 acres unmarked Ogle lands

Former GL&SC Head Trevor Benn arrested in land giveaway probe

The Guyana Police Force has arrested former Head of the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission (GL&SC), Trevor Benn, over the giveaway of some six acres of unmarked lands at Ogle, East Coast Demerara.

The Police were called in last month to probe the transaction, for which some $27 million was paid to the GL&SC but no land was marked to be allocated.

Benn was taken in on Wednesday morning for questioning into the leasing of the unidentified lands to Janico Industrial Engineering Limited, a company located at Ruimveldt, Georgetown.

Late yesterday afternoon, Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum told Guyana Times that the former

GL&SC boss was still in custody and that the investigation was “ongoing”.

Benn is being accused of defrauding the State by inducing persons by false pretense, knowing that the land in question is owned by the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL).

This issue came to light last month following examination of the transaction by the current GL&SC administration, after a legal notice was received from the company’s lawyers in December 2020 demanding the six acres of land be handed over.

It was revealed that a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the company and Benn in May 2017 for the land to be leased to

the company for commercial, industrial and real estate purposes.

of State Land, and upon payment of $27,000,000.00 (twenty-seven million dollars) for the development of commercial, industrial and real estate activities.”

However, it is unclear what the money was paid for, since a rental fee of $200,000 annually was also agreed upon in the MoU for the lands that were leased for 50 years.

vey and execute a full State Land Lease in our client’s favour, stating the defined boundaries of the leasehold area, our client has been unable to secure this up to the present time.”

Against this backdrop, the lawyers had demanded that the Commission issue six acres of land to Janico Industrial Engineering Limited within 14 days, otherwise legal proceedings would be instituted to compel it to do so.

The MoU states, “The purpose of this MOU is to… confirm the intent and commitment of the GL&SC and the company for the leasing of the said 6 acres of land, owned by the Government of Guyana as part of the stock

According to the agreement, the company was obligated to make the payments in two instalments of $13.5 million, the first upon the signing of the MoU and the balance in November 2017, or upon the receipt of the lease.

In a letter dated December 22, 2020, the law firm of Hughes, Fields & Stoby disclosed that “… it was agreed by the MOA (Ministry of Agriculture) that the consideration for the said lease would be the sum of $27M…”

The lawyers noted that this sum was paid in full as per the MoU; that is, the first payment on May 4, 2017 and the second on March 27, 2020. Despite this, however, the lawyers said, the company has not received the lands.

“We are instructed that the GL&SC informed our client that before it could identify the precise area of the lease, the GL&SC would have to carry out a cadastral survey of the area.

Accordingly, on our client making the second payment requested by the GL&SC on the aforesaid 27th day of March, 2020, it was awarded a Provisional Lease pursuant to Regulation 7(1) of the Regulations to the State Lands Act, Cap. 61:01 of the laws of Guyana. Our client was informed that the precise or final boundaries of the leasehold area would be established upon the completion of the aforesaid cadastral survey by the GL&SC,” the law firm noted.

“We are instructed that despite several months having elapsed since the time of payment of the balance, and the execution of the Provisional Lease between the GL&SC and our client, and despite several promises by the GL&SC to expeditiously complete its sur-

However, this newspaper understands that there is no procedure under the State Lands Act that allows for a MoU to be signed before a lease or provisional lease is granted.

Moreover, acting Commissioner of GL&SC, Enrique Monzie, has stated that upon research, he was unable to determine any vacant available land under the control of the Commission at the location agreed upon.

He explained in a correspondence to Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall, in which he was seeking legal advice that Plantation Ogle has always been the property of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo), except for lands that were handed over to the Government for the Ogle Airport and to Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) for any schemes. He added that the lands at the rear of Ogle were previously State Lands leased also to GuySuCo but now vested to NICIL.

In response, AG Nandlall expressed the view that since GL&SC has no ostensible authority over the lands promised in the provisional lease, the issue has raised serious criminal law implications, and may amount to the commission of several criminal offences.

To this end, he has recommended that the Police be brought in to probe the transaction. (G8)

BRIDGE OPENINGS

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Thursday, March 11 – 03:00h-04:30h and Friday, March 12 – 03:30h-05:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Thursday, March 11 – 15:25h-16:55h and Friday, March 12 – 16:05h-17:35h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY

Light rain and thundery showers are expected from the mid-morning to early-afternoon hours followed by sunshine and more light rain. There should be partly cloudy skies at night. Temperatures should range between 21 degrees Celsius and 29 degrees Celsius.

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

High Tide: 15:44h reaching a maximum height of 2.51 metres.

Low Tide: 09:19h and 21:42h reaching minimum heights of 0.82 metre and 0.67 metre.

NBS drops mortgage rates, loan ceiling increased to $15M

he New Building Society Limited (NBS), already known for its low mortgage interest rates, on Wednesday announced a reduction in its interest rates - a measure that would likely bump up the number of new loans being granted.

During a brief ceremony at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC), Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh handed over approval to raise the loan ceiling from $12 million to $15 million. This measure would allow homeowners increased financing options when borrowing a loan.

In his address to the gathering, Dr Singh lauded the New Building Society’s commitment to reducing mortgage interest rates effective April 1. He recalled how the number of new homeowners applying for loans at NBS plummeted after 2014.

“(NBS) was giving approximately 1,000 home ownership loans when we were in office… In fact, I should make the point that, in 2014, our last year in office, NBS gave 896 new loans. In 2020, that number had fallen to 400. That tells a story,” Dr. Singh revealed.

“So, consider now, the Ministry of Housing rolls out their land distribution programme and 10,000 persons get their house lots this year. Let us say 1,000 of those persons come into NBS and they borrow on average $10 million loans. That is literally $10 billion of construction activity.”

According to Minister Singh, the new measures are likely not only to boost the construction sector, but the economy as a whole. He pointed out that material has to be purchased and labourers have to be employed.

Meanwhile, Chairman of the NBS, Floyd McDonald, gave a breakdown of how the mortgage will be reduced. In the first instance, low-income loans of up to $6

million will see the interest rates being reduced from 4.25 per cent to 4 per cent per annum.

When it comes to loans between $6 million and $12 million, the interest rate would now be 5.95 per cent per annum, down from 6.15 and 6.75 per cent; while loans above $12 million and up to $15 million will be offered at a rate of 6.25 per cent annually.

“The Society is indeed appreciative of the improved ceiling approved by Government. We know that our collective efforts will redound to an improved standard of living for Guyanese,” the NBS Chairman said.

One of the measures outlined in the 2021 budget had been the increase in the loan ceiling. It is one of several measures the Government is pursuing in a bid to re-energise

an economy stunned by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The measure also goes hand in hand with the Government’s drive to deliver on its promise of 50,000 house lots within its five-year term. During the event, Housing Minister Collin Croal spoke of the impending signing of billions of dollars’ worth of contracts by his Ministry for infrastructural works. He explained that the con-

tracts are likely to be signed next week Tuesday, and will contribute to an influx of new homeowners.

“Already, NBS and other banks will significantly benefit from (the signing) less than a week from today. We will be back here at the Conference Centre to sign a number of contracts to signal infrastructure work for commencement of a number of new areas for which allocations have been made,” Dr Singh said.

“It means (that), potentially within another six months, you have about 8000 persons who may be approaching you for mortgages. It means more accessibility for mortgages, for financing. But it also means materially that it creates more opportunities for the potential homeowner,” Minister Croal said.

Since coming to office, the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Government has made it clear that it intends to fulfill its manifesto promise to distribute 50,000 house lots over the next five years. The Government has allocated $6 billion for enhancing infrastructure in existing housing areas. A significant sum has also been set aside for improving water service and developing new wells. (G3)

Editor: Tusika Martin

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Lifestyle choices and NCDs

The COVID-19 pandemic and its devastating impacts on individuals and communities as a whole are yet another stark reminder that both the health authorities and citizens must continue to take the issue of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) very seriously.

Based on what the medical professionals have found so far, most of the persons who have died after contracting COVID-19 had some kind of underlying health complication, many of which are related to NCDs. Guyana’s COVID-19 death rate at the moment is 205. For a small population such as ours, this is quite disturbing, to say the least.

The Government previously pointed out that several critical areas in the nation’s healthcare delivery were ignored to a large extent, and this is why renewed efforts have to be made to bring all levels of health sector up to par, including putting effective and efficient system in place to tackle NCDs.

According to PAHO/WHO, people with underlying health conditions such as NCDs, including cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and cancer, have a higher risk of contracting a severe form of the COVID-19 disease, and are more likely to die from COVID-19. Risk factors for NCDs can make people more vulnerable to becoming severely ill with COVID-19. For example, smokers may have reduced lung capacity, which would greatly increase risk of serious illness.

PAHO/WHO has suggested that informing populations about these health risks posed by COVID-19 is critical. In addition, health services need to maintain essential NCD services to ensure continuity of care during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Due to poor lifestyle choices such as tobacco use, alcohol abuse, unhealthy diets, and physical inactivity, NCDs have resulted in large numbers of people falling sick and dying.

In 2007, CARICOM leaders signed what they described as the “ground-breaking” Port-of-Spain Declaration aimed at uniting countries to stop the epidemic of NCDs. The declaration was recently evaluated by a team of regional and international experts.

Sometime last year, leading health expert Dr Alafia Samuels had disclosed that, based on a study, Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago were found to have the highest mortality for premature cardiovascular diseases and diabetes in the Americas.

In relation to Guyana’s case, while there have been some positive moves in tackling NCDs, such as finalising the Tobacco Control Legislation etc., some experts believe that enough was not being done in the fight against NCDs.

It could be recalled that there was an NCD strategy in the years 2003-2008, and again in the 2008-2015, which outlined a comprehensive and effective programme to fight NCDs. It is not clear if these are still being used as a guide by health authorities.

Former Minister of Health Dr Leslie Ramsammy was quoted in this newspaper as saying that some of the crucial programmes that were previously in place to tackle NCDs appear to have been reduced or totally abandoned during the tenure of the previous administration. Dr Ramsammy, in particular, had pointed to the aggressive education and awareness campaigns that were very much visible some years ago. Also, community health fairs, school programmes, and other initiatives which were used to address issues such as positive lifestyles had become less visible.

These are all useful strategies in ensuring the message of healthy lifestyles continues to reach everyone in every community across the country. From all indications, some of these measures are being taken, but they are being done in a limited fashion.

We believe that discussions surrounding NCDs should constantly be kept on the national development agenda, where serious efforts are made at all levels to reduce the large numbers of persons suffering or facing death. On this basis, there is need for more collaborative efforts among all stakeholders.

That said, while the various stakeholders are involved in the battle to confront the COVID-19 pandemic, it is hoped that they would redouble their efforts to effectively address NCDs and their risk factors with a medium to long term vision.

Reds’ Jaguars Super50 final analysis

Dear Editor,

I would be most grateful for you to consider carrying my thoughts on Guyana’s performance during the recent CG Caribbean Regional Super50 Tournament for the Sir Clive Lloyd trophy. A performance which, having promised so much, ended yet again in what has now become almost predictable disappointment for us in white ball cricket tournament finals!

When the Guyana squad was selected, I was no doubt quite happy with the bowlers who were chosen. I must, however, admit to having been disappointed that neither Jonathan Foo and Kevin Anderson making the cut into the final squad.

I saw Foo as an X factor, aggressive middle order batsman capable of changing the game at any stage. On the other hand, the West Indies Under-19 star, Anderson, seems to be fully in possession of both the foot work and skill that are required to score at a fairly good rate in white ball cricket.

It is also important, however, that I focus on the final, which is very much in my thoughts. Although having accepted in my mind that the T&T Red Force would have undoubtedly started as the favourites, Guyana was capable of a least competing against their experienced opponents.

Taking first strike, the Red Force did in the end produce what looked to be an unassailable total, even though Guyana was able to break the 100 partnership when Lewis fell to Motie for 57. The Jaguars did not get the rub of the green however, when Simmons seemed to be fully adjacent when struck on the pad and should have

been adjudged LBW to the left arm spinner just about half way through his innings. Simmons went on to score a majestic 146 with Darren Bravo 47, Nicholas Pooran 39 and Kieron Pollard all scoring at well over a run-aball rate to build on the excellent start of 121 off 19.4 overs that had been made by the Red Force openers.

I also honestly felt that Jaguars captain Leon Johnson made a crucial initial error by not starting the bowling attack with Nial Smith. The in-form Smith had demonstrated throughout the competition that he was capable of taking top order wickets with his aggression. Instead, Johnson opted for the more defensive Raymond Reifer, who admittedly had bowled an important spell of containment against the Windwards in Guyana’s previous match. When Smith was eventually brought into the attack, the Red Force batsmen were already well set. Smith, however, showed his class and character by taking 1-59 off of 9 overs. He must also have been both surprised and disappointed that his captain Johnson did not allow him to bowl his full quota of 10 overs.

Gudakesh Moti again displayed his talent to the West Indies selectors by producing 10 skilful overs and conceding only 43 runs for his one scalp. The major bowling disappointment for the day however, was Romario Shepherd. We must all admit that he had a most disappointing showing, never once producing the excellent work with the ball and bat which he displayed previously in New Zealand.

Indeed, Shepherd’s lengths throughout the tour-

nament were ragged, but it was in the final that he sadly saved his worst for last. He seemed to have lost total confidence, spirit and will to end up with 2–105 from his 10 overs.

This was definitely not the same Shepherd we had seen before. Not the one who had deservedly earned a place in the West Indies ODI squad by bowling just back of a length on the top of the off stump, and on an impressively consistent line that was heavily applauded by our world-renowned commentator Ian Bishop.

It is hoped that it was just a series of bad days at the office for Shepherd. My further hope is that Phil Simmons and his coaching staff would provide the necessary supporting work to get him back to his customary consistency and control.

With all due respect to the experience of Veerasammy Permaul, I did not think it was at all wise for him to be included in the playing XI for the Final. He had played little or no cricket while in Bangladesh for almost a month and a half, following which there was the long flight back to Antigua and a short period of quarantine.

When the Guyana Jaguars began their task of getting close to the T&T Red Force’s total of 362, it was, most disappointingly, not outstanding bowling that took the wickets of their top-order batsmen. Rather, their rapid procession-like successive downfalls were the direct result of sheer irresponsible and senseless batting, each finding unique ways to bring about their own demise!

Imlach was guilty of playing across the line instead of hitting into the V.

His dismissal was soon to be followed by a reckless shot by Shimron Hetmyer from a wide innocuous Ravi Rampaul delivery. Skipper Johnson was the next to go, playing a weak shot off the same bowler to be well caught in the gully by Philip. Barnwell picked out Mohammed at deep backward square off the bowling of the promising Seales and Shepherd became another Rampaul victim.

With the scoreboard displaying Guyana at 55-6, it was almost over, except for the courage and commitment of Raymon Reifer. Together with Sinclair, Reifer added 39 for the seventh wicket. Sinclair, however, joined the ranks of the injudicious Jaguars, needlessly throwing his wicket away, caught in the deep attempting a shot that was highly unnecessary.

Permaul also stuck around a bit to add 38 to the Barbadian born all-rounder, while Moti, playing most sensibly in getting to 28, saw Reifer into the 90s before he was dismissed.

Following Moti’s departure, the West Indian all-rounder Reifer did try to jockey the bowling with his list A century in mind, getting as far as 97. Smith, at the other end, saddled with the job of facing two deliveries so that Reifer may have achieved his quest of 100 in the following over, was however bowled by Seales first ball, attempting an attacking shot instead of defending. That left Reifer undefeated on 97, made off of 112 balls and including seven 4s and three 6s. A most gallant effort as Guyana disappointingly ended on 210 all out off of just 43.5 overs.

Again making a clarion call for respect for our symbols of nationhood

Dear Editor,

Sometimes I wonder why certain things in Guyana are so inherently incredible. On March 04, 2021, while I was passing through Main Street, Georgetown, I observed the flag of Guyana posted on the front of the building of the Bureau of Statistics. Guess what? It was upside down.

I wondered what was happening with the stats in the building when the outside is upside down.

I proceeded to Brickdam and discovered, to my chagrin, that the Golden Arrowhead was displayed on the fence and the front of the Ministry of Natural Resources building, and, like the Bureau of Statistics,

it was also upside down. I again wondered if what was happening outside of that building is a reflection of what is taking place inside; but, then again, there is a saying, “do not judge a book by its cover”.

I then went to the National Cultural Centre to attend the Opening Ceremony of the Police Officers’ Annual Conference 2021.

Flying proudly on stage were the Presidential Standard on the right and the Standard of the Guyana Police Force on the left. I smiled, because they were in their rightful positions. Cheers to the Police for getting the protocol right.

Last year I wrote a letter to the editor, expressing my displeasure with the improper positioning of our flag during a ceremony at Moleson Creek, at the proposed landing site for the Guyana/Suriname River Bridge. The Suriname flag was positioned on the right and the flag of Guyana on the left, when it should have been the other way around. As a schoolboy, it was imbedded in me that in Guyana, whenever the flag of Guyana is flying alongside another flag, it must be on the right of that flag, and when it is flying among other flags, it must be in the centre and slightly above the other flags.

In my letter, I pleaded for

us to respect our Symbols of Nationhood: The National Anthem; The National Pledge; The Coat of Arms and the National Flag, The Golden Arrowhead. I am perturbed that, after over half a century, we are showing disrespect for one of our Symbols of Nationhood - The Golden Arrowhead, the flag. I again make a clarion call for us to respect our Symbols of Nationhood.

I hope that I would not have to seek opportunity to flag this issue again.

Yours faithfully,

Clinton Conway Assistant Commissioner of Police (Retired)

Reds’ Jaguars Super50 final...

Looking ahead, I think it is time for Hetmyer to be given the captaincy of the T20 and ODI squads. The organizers of the Guyana Amazon Warriors franchise may also consider that he be given an opportunity to lead that entity. He, Hetmeyer, must clearly understand, however, that leadership begins with him. As such, he must demonstrate and carry out a much more disciplined performance with the bat, as opposed to his far-too-often- adopted ill-advised approach of attempting to hit bowlers out of the ground regardless of the state of his team’s innings!

Hetmyer must also adopt a sense of historical appreciation for those who came before him and made all of the West Indies and Guyana extremely proud of their achievements. He needs to look at the careers of fellow left handers such as Roy Fredericks (311 ODI runs/12 matches/Avg. 25.91), Sir Clive Lloyd (1977 ODI runs/87 matches/Avg.39.54) Alvin Kalicharran (826 ODI runs/31 matches/Avg.34.41) and Shiv Chanderpaul (8778 ODI runs/268 matches/Avg 41.60). They were all attacking players when needed, but they each also appreciated the need to get a start and build an innings for their team.

Hetmyer’s overzealous attacking approach did not start yesterday. Whilst play-

ing in St. Lucia for Guyana against the Windwards in November 2016, he tried to square cut a delivery from the medium fast bowler Mervin Matthews just as his innings was getting started, only to be caught at backward point by Devon Smith. That demonstrated rashness has continued ever since.

After my duties as the match commentator had ended at close of play, I sought and obtained the respective permissions from his captain and manager to speak to the talented left-handed. During our conversation, I pointed out that cut shots square of the wicket are not advisable at the start of an innings, and should ideally be shelved until after both the pace and bounce of the pitch had been definitively determined. I further advised him to play mostly into the “V” for the early part of any innings.

The entire Caribbean heard what I can only describe as an act of contrition in Hetmyer’s interview before the Final against the Red Force. During the actual match, he was, however, unfortunately back to his worst habits, displaying yet again another atrocious performance when his team needed him to bat deep into the overs.

I have no doubt that Hetmyer’s financial future is well assured as he

heads back to another IPL Season, as the tournament goes back to India. Whether he would, in fact, regain his place in all formats of the game, and especially in the WI Test team, will depend heavily on how he performs if and when given any further opportunity in the 2021 home series. In the interim, he would also be well advised to make the same choices Allen has in terms of his hairstyle.

Leon Johnson, as captain of the Guyana firstclass outfit, is expected to continue to lead Guyana in the 2021 WI season. He

Tmay also want to consider going lower in the batting order, at number 6, to play that captain’s role that he is very capable of producing. At the end of the day, what is now of the greatest importance for the immediate future of Guyana’s cricket is that all cricketers can be provided with opportunities to play the game that they so love under an atmosphere of a settled national cricket administration.

Sincerely, Joseph “Reds” Perreira

oday is Shivaratri. It is an auspicious Night because the mind can be made to lose its hold by devoting the night to prayer. According to the scriptures, the Moon is the presiding deity of the mind. Shivaratri is prescribed for the fourteenth night of the dark half of the month, the night previous to the New Moon when the Moon suffers from total blackout. The Moon and the mind which it rules over are drastically reduced every month on this night. When that night is devoted to vigilant adoration of God, the remnant of the wayward mind is overcome and victory ensured. This month’s Shivaratri is holier than the rest and so, it is called Mahashivaratri. With firm faith and a cleansed heart, the night should be spent in glorifying God. No moment should be wasted in other thoughts. Time flees fast. Like a block of ice, it melts soon and flows away; like water held in a leaky pot, it disappears drop by drop. The time allotted for one’s life ticks off quite soon, and the span ends sometime somehow. So, be vigilant. Be warned. Be alert and aware. Seek the shelter of the Lord and transform every moment into a sacred celebration. (Divine Discourse, Feb 26, 1987)

Different outreach of this Govt

Dear Editor,

It has now become the operational trademark of the PPP/C Government and its Ministers to do not only constant and regular outreaches, but meaningful ones which permeate each and every Region of our country.

The Ministers not only listen to all Guyanese, with no discrimination to any political party’s support base, but provide prompt solutions to a number of issues which have been plaguing Guyanese over the most painful and excruciatingly difficult five years of Coalition rule.

That was a period which, not unlike the ignominious 28 years of PNC dictatorship, Guyanese at home and in the diaspora, and in this generation and the future generations, would never forget.

I must note here that the Coalition did venture to have a few outreaches, but this was only after the successful passing of the No Confidence Motion in December 2018. Those outreaches not only cost the taxpayers hundreds of millions, but they produced nothing except more empty promises. In fact, the Coalition had started their election campaign under the guise of outreaches, and rode extravagantly on the backs of the already overburdened and impoverished taxpayers.

The outreach of the PPP/C Government at the Albion Sports Complex saw

hundreds of issues being ventilated to the various subject Ministers, and resolutions for most of these was almost instantaneous.

The Minister of Agriculture, Mr Zulfikar Mustapha, was at his usual best. Walking with his A Team, he doggedly sifted through the various problems raised by people from both the length and breadth of Berbice. He did this for over 5 hours non-stop. What could be solved immediately he did, leaving the remainder with definite instructions and timelines to bring about speedy resolutions.

Everyone went away completely satisfied that this Government is working by their side. The Outreach echoed the words of the President, that his Government would work on behalf of all Guyanese to make their lives better.

Guyanese are now seeing what the ‘good life’ means, not only with the Budget 2021, but by walking with the people and ensuring that the monies reach the intended beneficiaries.

I know for a fact that the success of these outreaches can only multiply in the days ahead. The President and his Ministers had hit the ground running from Day 1, and they have now accelerated the pace.

Yours sincerely, Haseef Yusuf

Page Foundation

Wednesday’s answers

1ai) The area of rectangle BCDE = 20m x 12m (LxB) = 240m2

1aii) The area of triangle ABC = 6m x 5m (1/2 base x height) = 30m2

1aiii) The area of the school compound ACDE = area of BCDE + ABC = 270m2

1b) Sammy’s total marks = 90 + 61+ 83 + 75 = 309

1bi) In order to average 81, Sammy would have had to score 81 x 4 = 324

He scored 309, so he needed 324 – 309 more marks = 15 more marks

Æsop’s

Fables FOR CHILDREN

The Lion and the Hare

Ice tray Vinegar

Materials:

Food colouring (optional)

Baking soda

Instructions:

Fill up ice tray with vinegar. Add food colour if you desire. Put ice tray in freezer for four to six hours.

Pop out your Vinegar Pops and dip them in a plate of baking soda.

Wait a few minutes and watch the bubbling begin.

How it works:

When you have an acid (vinegar) and a base (baking soda) mixed together there is a chemical reaction. That chemical reaction releases carbon dioxide and results in the bubbling.

Extra experiments: If you did try it with food colouring, try doing it without it and vice versa.

Add popsicle sticks to the ice trays when you freeze the vinegar. Does it work better, worse, or the same?

Try doing the experiment with citric acid instead of vinegar. Some examples of citric acid would be lemon or lime juice. (sciencefun.org)

Alion came across a hare, who was fast asleep. He was just in the act of seizing her, when a fine young hart trotted by, and he left the hare to follow him.

The hare, scared by the noise, awoke and scudded away. The Lion was unable after a long chase to catch the hart, and returned to feed upon the hare.

On finding that the hare also had run off, he said, "I am rightly served, for having let go of the food that I had in my hand for the chance of obtaining more."

WORD SEARCH

2003 Blue Iguana murder trial

Accused walks free as jury returns not-guilty verdict

Ajury on Wednesday acquitted Mark Lowchee who was accused of the September 21, 2003 murder of Collis De Abreau, who had been shot dead in front of the Blue Iguana Nightclub in Georgetown.

Lowchee’s trial commenced on Monday before Justice Navindra Singh and a jury at the High Court in Demerara.

Upon his arraignment, Lowchee, also known as “Mark Lee”, pleaded not

guilty to the murder indictment presented against him by State Prosecutor Tiffini Lyken. He was represented by Attorney-at-law Ravindra Mohabir.

Following deliberation, the jury returned a unanimous not guilty verdict. Accordingly, the judge informed Lowchee that he was discharged and free to go.

Collis De Abreau

During her opening address, Prosecutor Lyken told the jury that on September 21, 2003, at around 04:00h, De Abreau was standing with friends outside the Blue Iguana Night Club when an argument ensued between Lowchee and another person. According to the prosecutor, loud explosions were heard sometime after, and De Abreau was seen running away.

Prosecutor Lyken said the young man was later discovered in a nearby yard with what appeared to be gunshot wounds to his chest. She said his cause of death was given as perforation of the heart and lungs as a result of gunshot injuries.

Following the killing, a wanted a was issued for Lowchee. He, however, was not apprehended by the Police until 2017. At the time of his death, De Abreau had resided with his parents and siblings at Lot 57 Fourth Street, Alberttown, Georgetown.

Bandits shoot businessman during home invasion

Fifty-five-year-old Terrence Lieben, a businessman of E. Burrows Street, Festival City Georgetown, was on Tuesday afternoon shot by armed bandits as he was making his way home with his family.

Reports are that at about 17:30h on Tuesday, Lieben and his family were in his vehicle when he noticed two men riding pedal cycles and talking to each other. He told Police that as he was about to drive his car into his yard, the very men, now brandishing handguns, ran into the yard and forced him and his family into their house.

Police said the bandits began ransacking the businessman’s home, and neighbours said they heard loud noises that sounded like gunshots coming from the Liebens’ home. The neighbours said that shortly after they saw two men running from the building. The men jumped on to their pedal cycles and rode away.

Reports are that the bandits shot the businessman during the robbery. This is reportedly the second time in three years that Lieben has been robbed at his home.

The country’s business…

…and the PNC

Leader of the Opposition (LOO), Joseph Harmon, continues to want to eat his cake and (at the same time) have it. It’s a common affliction of the greedy and the avaricious. He’s accepted the role of LOO with 31 MPs from his party’s performance at the March 2 elections - with salaries, allowances, office, and other perks like vehicles, guards, etc - while refusing to recognise the PPP’s legitimacy to office!! Even though he has a challenge in the courts, he ignores that the apex CCJ defined the bona fides of the incumbent. Harmon and Co must accept that until, and if, the courts rule otherwise!

Recently, he demanded “talks” with President Ali to discuss the Budget, even though the mechanism was created constitutionally for this to be done in Parliament, but was trampled upon. He and his Parliamentarians banged desks, hurled homophobic insults across the aisles, and refused to take their seats when the Speaker so ordered them. Five of them had to be suspended for the session. Harmon’s Opposition should either use Parliament as our rules of democratic engagement demand, or boycott it, as other Oppositions have done in the past, if they doubt its legitimacy.

Then, a couple of days ago, he came up with a new LOO demand: the Government MUST appoint a substantive Chancellor and Chief Justice. Now, Harmon knows as well as anyone that the posts remain “acting” because one of the reforms coming out of the Herdmanston Accord’s constitutional changes in 2000 was that the LOO and the President must AGREE on the appointees. And it’s for this reason that Carl Singh and Ian Chang had longer “acting” careers than Tom Cruise! And when Chancellor Carl Singh retired (under great pressure from the PNC) and Chang passed away, we ended up with the incumbents CummingsEdwards and George - to whom the PPP didn’t agree. But now that Harmon has gratuitously made his pitch on International Women’s Day for the “two women” Jurists to be substantively appointed - to obviously score brownie points - he should be reminded that Granger had tipped his hand in that area. He’d suggested to then Opposition Leader Jagdeo that he actually wanted his old army squaddie and then Chief Justice of Belize, Kenneth Benjamin, to be appointed Chancellor. Cummings-Edwards would be pushed down to her old post as Chief Justice, and the incumbent George-Wiltshire would be dumped. Her independent stances didn’t exactly endear her to Granger, who dubbed her judgements as “her perceptions”!

Benjamin, however, was shown to be a slacker, since the authorities in Belize showed in-basket overflowing while justice was denied for years and years! Jagdeo balked.

As the Americans say, Harmon should “sh*t or get off the pot”!

…and COVID -19 vaccination rollout

We really can’t run outside, raise our arms to the sky and shout, “Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, we’re free at last!” Not quite yet. But we can see a small light at the end of the tunnel of COVID-19 darkness with the MoH’s announcement that 13 centres in our 10 regions began vaccinating folks over 60 years old yesterday. We’ve got roughly 75,000 older steps in that category, so the 100,000 vaccines (which have to be given in 2 doses) would leave 25,000 of them uncovered.

Former President Donald Ramotar stepped up to the plate and was the first in his age cohort to take the shot. He must be complimented, since there are still some unanswered questions for older folks whose auto-immune system might be impaired. The question, of course, is whether their bodies would be able to deal with the antibodies the vaccine would trigger.

The WHO and most developed countries, however, have signed off on them.

…and local content

Exxon is ramping up production exponentially to take advantage of the window of opportunity before nonrenewables age is over. It needs some more shore bases. Shouldn’t the Government mandate they allow citizens to buy equity in them?

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

COVID-19 death toll rises to 205, 81 new cases recorded

…180 samples to be tested for virus variants

Another person who tested positive for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has died, taking the total number of deaths to 205 in Guyana.

The latest fatality is a 59-year-old male from Region Four (DemeraraMahaica), who died on Tuesday while receiving care at a medical facility.

This is the fourth COVID-19 death recorded thus far this week. On Sunday, two elderly females, ages 64 and 69, from Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) and Region Four respectively, died while being treated for the virus at medical facilities.

Then, on Tuesday, a 76-year-old male also from Region 10 died while on his way to a medical facility.

The Health Ministry reported on Wednesday that 81 new coronavirus cases were recorded in the last 24 hours after some 743 tests were conducted.

According to the Ministry’s updated COVID-19 dashboard, the total number of confirmed cases in the country is 8928 – 4600 males and 4328 females. However, only 512 of these cases are currently active.

These include eight patients in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and the remaining 504 persons in isolation – 32 in institutional isolation and the other 472 in home isolation.

There are also another eight persons in institutional quarantine.

To date, some 8211 persons have recovered from the life-threatening virus, locally with 11 more recoveries recorded on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Guyana has tested some 72,170 persons

for the novel coronavirus thus far.

New cases Of the 81 new cases recorded on Wednesday, one each was detected in Regions One (Barima-Waini) and Two (PomeroonSupenaam); 26 in Region Three (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara); a whopping 43 in Demerara-Mahaica; three in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice); two in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne); one each in Regions Seven (CuyuniMazaruni) and Eight (Potaro-Siparuni); another two in Region Nine (Upper TakutuUpper Essequibo) and one case in Upper Demerara-Berbice.

Virus variants Guyana currently does not have the capacity to test for any virus variants and as such, is working with partners overseas to conduct gene sequencing.

Previous tests carried out by the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) on some 10 samples from Guyana had found that there were no new strains of the virus in the country.

While the Guyana Government will continue to collaborate with CARPHA in this regard, it is simultaneously creating new partnerships to expand its gene sequencing efforts.

In fact, Guyana will be soon sending some 180 samples to the Icahn School of Medicine in New York,

United States, for testing to determine if there are new variants of the novel coronavirus in Guyana.

According to Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony during his COVID-19 update on Wednesday, Guyana will continue to partner with various agencies to continue to test samples to get a better understanding of the COVID-19 situation here.

“[Icahn School of Medicine] has been working in different countries and they have been accepting samples, and sequencing these samples to get a

have been exposed to the virus variant in Brazil – which borders Guyana’s Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo district.

Samples were also taken from persons who died after contracting a severe form of the viral illness.

Also included are samples from persons who were reinfected so as to ascertain the differences between the first infection at the beginning of the pandemic and the new variants.

Dr Anthony explained that it was important to track these variants, especially since some of them have faster transmissibility from one person to another thus infecting more people rapidly.

sense of the mutations that are occurring with the virus. So we have started this partnership with them and very shortly, we intend to send these samples to them so that they can help us analyse and see what are the variants that are circulating,” he noted.

Among the samples sent for testing are those from persons suspected to

Only last month, Guyana started COVID-19 vaccination after receiving 3000 doses of the OxfordAstraZeneca vaccines from Barbados. This was significantly boosted on Sunday, when another 80,000 doses of the AstraZeneca shot arrived here – a donation from the Indian Government.

China has also sent 20,000 doses of its Sinopharm vaccine, and another 104,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines – most likely AstraZeneca – are expected sometime this month from the COVAX facility.

Japan’s help

Meanwhile, Guyana will also be boosting its capacity to fight against the COVID-19 pandemic with a donation of equipment such as x-rays and ultrasound machines from the Government of Japan.

“They [Japan] had put out a ‘call’, so to speak, to different countries. And we have responded and we put up a list of things that would help us in our response to COVID AND our understanding is that they’ve agreed with the list and we are expecting that items would be coming into Guyana shortly,” Dr Anthony explained. He added that Guyana’s list focused on diagnostic equipment. “We need these tools to be able to see what’s going on with people’s lungs and so forth,” the Minister noted. (G8)

“We have seen in the strain or the variant that was discovered in the United Kingdom that was one of the features and that variant is becoming a dominant variant in many countries around the world, because it has been transmitting from patient to patient faster, and that has changed the dynamic. So, if we weren’t sequencing and monitoring, we would not know that. Also, because of the way it has been transmitting faster, we’ve seen in some countries where they had controlled the pandemic, they have surges and it’s all because of these new variants,” Minister Anthony noted.

Govt slaps Leguan stelling contractor with over $360M lawsuit

…for breach of contract, 2-year project delay

The Government of Guyana has initiated legal proceedings against S Maraj Contracting Services for breach of a $413 million contract for the rehabilitation of the Leguan Stelling, which was supposed to be completed since 2019.

The contract was terminated in February 2021 after a special audit found that the company is incapable of successfully executing the project. According to a Statement of Claim released to the media on Wednesday, Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Senior Counsel Anil Nandlall, is suing both the contractor and insurance company Assuria General.

Nandlall, on behalf of the State, is seeking $100 million in general damages, $100 million in aggravated damages, and $81 million under the mobilisation bond. The

state is also seeking $41.3 million as liquidated damages and $41.3 million for the performance bond.

“The Government of Guyana, through the Transport and Harbours Department, executed a written agreement with the (contractor) for the rehabilitation of the Leguan Stelling…the first named defendant submitted an agreed schedule of works to the project consultant, but failed to execute the works in accordance with the schedule, and has caused the project to be inordinately delayed,” the Statement of Claim has said.

“As a consequence of the failure of the First Named Defendant to comply with the programme of works submitted to the project manager, an assessment was done by the project consultant, Quintech Engineering

Services, and it was discovered that (the contractor) had only completed minimal works relating to the rehabilitation of the Leguan Ferry Stelling, and works have been delayed (for) approximately two (2) years.”

Vacate site/forfeit payments

The Attorney General had written to the contractor, S. Maraj Contracting, last month ordering them to vacate the site and to forfeit all payments due. Based on the Statement of Claim and the damages being sought, it’s unlikely that the contractor had complied.

“By reason of the breach by the First Named Defendant, the State has suffered loss and damage, especially since the First Named Defendant was paid a Mobilisation Bond of $81.3 Million as the sum due, ow-

NWD man stabbed during row over woman

Michael Pierre of Hubu Hill, Mabaruma, North West District (NWD), is now hospitalised after he was stabbed by another man allegedly during a row over a woman.

Police said Pierre was stabbed on Tuesday around 22:30h.

According to the victim’s mother, he left to attend a wake in the community about 18:30h, but returned around 22:30h with blood gushing from his body.

Upon investigating, she found that her son had five stab wounds to his upper body. When questioned, Pierre claimed that he was stabbed by a man who was disrespecting his girlfriend.

Guyana Times was informed that after the man disrespected Pierre’s girlfriend, he allegedly threw alcohol in the suspect’s face which caused him to become angry.

As a result, the suspect stabbed him multiple times about his body. Pierre then

went home, where he was found by his mother.

He was later rushed to the Mabaruma Regional Hospital, where he was examined by a doctor and subsequently air-dashed to the Georgetown Public Hospital for further medical attention.

Police said the suspect has since been arrested while a knife that is believed to be the weapon used to commit the act has been recovered.

Investigations are ongoing. (G9)

ing and payable by the First Named Defendant under the Mobilisation Bond issued by the Second Named Defendant for Agreement dated September 18, 2018,” the Statement of Claim has said.

The contract with S Maraj Contracting Services was signed on September 20, 2018 under the former Government. It has been reported that the contractor received close to $200 million in payments.

This is outside of the normal procurement practices, and is a breach of the Fiscal Management Accountability Act, a breach the audit report highlighted.

Presently, actual works and materials on site are estimated to be worth about $100 million.

Public Works Minister Juan Edghill had visited the site last month and met with both residents and contractors. Following that visit, Edghill had said the contractor had applied for an extension, but this would not be granted by the Government.

The lawsuit against S Maraj is only the latest in a series of contracts the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Government has had to come in and revoke from recalcitrant contractors. Other contracts are already being litigated.

Last January, the Government instituted a lawsuit against Courtney Benn Contracting Services Limited and Caricom General Insurance Company, in which it is seeking in excess of $413 million in damages in relation to the breach of contract for rehabilitation of the St Rose’s High School. The Government has also taken BK International and the North American Fire and General Insurance Company (NAFICO) to court over breach of contract in construction of the Yarrowkabra Secondary School. The Government is seeking over $717.8 million in damages. (G3)

Bandits shoot businessman...

The matter was reported to the Police, and an investigation has been launched. Just a few days ago a resident of Herstelling Squatting Area, East Bank Demerara (EBD) was shot and robbed of some $4 million at a horse race betting shop on Robb Street, Georgetown. Terry Persaud, 60, was shot by a lone gunman while he was at the shop placing bets. It has been reported that the gunman approached Persaud and demanded that he hand over his haversack which contained the money. Persaud refused, and the bandit whipped out a gun and shot him to his right thigh before grabbing the haversack and escaping on a black motorcycle which was parked on Robb Street, Georgetown. (G9)

Guyana receives US$61M for 5th oil lift

On the heels of the fifth oil lift that Guyana received last month, the Government of Guyana has confirmed that the country received payment for the lift, deposited directly into the country’s Natural Resource Fund (NRF) at the New York Federal Reserve Bank.

This was confirmed on Wednesday by the Natural Resources Ministry, which also listed all the payments Guyana has received for its oil resources and also recommitted to continued transparency and accountability.

“On February 05, 2021, 997, 420 barrels of oil were lifted from Liza Destiny with a value of US$61 million with a grand total to date of 5,009,797 barrels of oil worth US$246.5 million. Inclusive of royalties, the total in the Natural Resource Fund Account now stands at US$267.6 million,” the release said.

In providing a recap, the Ministry explained that Guyana received its first payment of US$54.9 million for an oil lift dated February 19, 2020. Guyana’s second lift on May 21, 2020, was valued at US$35 million. The third lift, which occurred on August 9, 2020, was valued at US$46 million, while the fourth lift occurred on December 9, 2020

and came in at US$49.4 million in value.

Guyana, with oil giant ExxonMobil as operator, began producing oil on December 20, 2019 in the Stabroek block. Guyana’s oil revenues are being banked in the New York Federal Reserve, where it is earning interest.

President Dr Irfaan Ali has said that Guyana’s oil and gas resources would play a critical role in its development. According to President Ali, some of the money from the sector will go towards developing world-class education and health-care systems for the people.

“We have to address what are the hindrances to our de-

velopment. 1), the cost of energy; human capital; the lack of transformative infrastructure; a health-care system that is not modern; an education system that needs continuous modernization,” President Ali had said in a broadcast last month.

“We have set ourselves some very ambitious goals and a strategic vision in how we’re going to achieve this. First of all, we have to build a world-class education system. And this is where the resources that will come from oil and gas will go, to ensure we have a worldclass education and healthcare system,” President Ali said.

The President had gone further in laying out his vi-

sion for how Guyana could progress using some of the money from the oil and gas sector. According to him, monies can also be used to build infrastructure that will transform the physical landscape of Guyana and to open up new opportunities in the productive sectors.

“(We must) open up new opportunities in agriculture, industries, manufacturing, aquaculture. The wealth must be able to create new opportunities of growing new forms of wealth while at the same time stabilising

existing sectors,” he posited. Besides the Liza Field where all of Guyana’s oil lift revenues have come from, Exxon also has the Liza Phase 2 Development, for which development drilling has already started. The development will see six drill centres being set up, along with approximately 30 wells – 15 production, nine water injection and six gas injection wells. At the time, former Department of Energy Head, Dr Mark Bynoe had said that Exxon’s approval to pursue the project was subject to a number of conditions and confirmatory stud-

ies.

These include the establishment of a Regional Capping Stack or other solutions to ensure that a Capping Stack can be deployed within five days of a well control event with loss of containment; improving the targeted availability of the overall production system of the Liza Phase 2 Floating Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel to between 98 per cent and 99 per cent, and identifying potential cost savings synergies between

Toshaos trained in fostering relationships between crime offenders, victims

Victims of crime may often hold animosity towards individuals who have wronged them. To repair this injury by fostering relationships between offenders and victims, several Toshaos from Indigenous communities across the country on Wednesday commenced training in restorative justice.

This initiative is being implemented under the Inter-American Development Bank-funded Support for the Criminal Justice System (SCJS) project, which, among other things, would help Guyana overcome prison overcrowding by reducing pre-trial detentions and increasing the use of alternative sentencing among other measures.

Delivering opening remarks at the training, which was held at the Sleepin Hotel in Georgetown, was Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall, SC, who gave a brief overview of the principles of restorative justice and how it can reform the justice system.

The Attorney General has said that while restorative justice is relatively new in the Caribbean, it is among the innovations experts have implemented to deal with criminal behaviour, deviant conduct, and violence.

According to the Attorney General, it has been found

that traditional theories and methods of dealing with criminal behaviour and violent conduct have not yielded favourable results.

“So, ordinarily, sanctions of crime and punishment are supposed to rehabilitate and reform [offenders, but] they have not yielded the type of success. As a result, over the centuries, there has been a discernible increase in criminal behaviour,” Nandlall explained.

Nandlall further explained that experts were forced to find other theories, strategies and plans to address the increase in criminal activities. Out of this quest, he said, came restorative justice, which, according to him, goes deeper than the occupants of the prison.

According to the Attorney General, restorative justice goes back to the underlying causes that have resulted in a person being incarcerated, and tries to address the root causes. For example, he explained, if someone is charged with murder, restorative justice examines and evaluates the causal circumstances that may have led the individual to commit the crime.

He said, “So, did the person commit murder because of poverty? Or is it that that person came from a family where domestic violence and other forms of violence were prevalent? Or is there still yet some other peculiar rea-

son?” Against this backdrop, he said that behavioural experts such as sociologists, psychologists, and criminologists are promoting restorative justice to assess the cause of social ills.

Nandlall informed that young people would be targeted and, as such, similar training would be provided to all school teachers. He said this is an effort to target the next generation, so that they would have the skills to settle disputes in their formative years.

“If we are able to plant that seed there, it will have a positive impact of keeping them away from the prison system,” he explained. “When someone commits a crime against you, you do not want to be close to that person. You have animosity for that person, you have hatred for that person, you have hostility for that person. You may even have in your mind a desire for revenge. All of these things naturally may lead to more violence and more persons (being) in the prison system. One of the components of restorative justice is to put the two parties together and have them trash out their difference…,” he added.

The Attorney General disclosed that judicial officers, religious leaders, some teachers and probation officers have already undergone training in restorative justice. He added that per-

sons would also be trained as trainers in restorative justice, in order to ease the country’s dependence on foreign consultants.

This SCJS project is a US$8 million project approved by the IDB. The project is divided into two components. The first component seeks to reduce the use of pre-trial detention, especially for individuals accused of minor offences. The idea is to provide better legal assistance to individuals accused of committing non-violent offences; improve the prosecutors’ ability to handle cases according to the seriousness of the offences; strengthen the judiciary, and design and implement a restorative justice programme.

A second component of

this programme seeks to increase the use of alternative sentencing by the criminal justice system in Guyana. This includes strengthening the country’s legal drafting functions, modernising pro-

bation services, and implementing a pilot project at the Magistrate’s Court level to apply alternatives to imprisonment for non-violent offenders. The SCJS project commenced in 2017. (G1)

ECD man who duped women in house, car sale jailed

A56-year-old man who informed two women that he has connections at the Housing Ministry and at Chris Auto Spares, and that he could easily get a car and house for them, was on Wednesday sentenced to two years’ and 18 months’ imprisonment respectively on two counts of obtaining money by false pretence.

Neil Benjamin, of Lot 254 Section C Enterprise, East Coast Demerara, was arraigned before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts. He pleaded guilty to both charges.

The first charge stated that between June 2020 and December 30, 2020, at

Georgetown, with intent to defraud, he obtained $1.1 million from Odessa Bobb by falsely pretending that he was in a position to obtain two houses and a land from the Housing Ministry for her, knowing same to be false.

The other charge stated that between December 19, 2020 and January 8, 2021, at Carmichael Street Georgetown, with intent to defraud, he obtained $300,000 from Vanetta James by falsely pretending to her that he was in a position to purchase and deliver a motorcar to her, knowing same to be false.

The Chief Magistrate sentenced Benjamin to two years in prison on the first charge, and 18 months’ imprisonment on the second charge. The two sentences are to be served consecutively.

According to facts presented by the Police Prosecutor, Bobb and Benjamin shared a relationship. The prosecutor told the court that during the period mentioned in the charge, Benjamin contacted Bobb and informed her that he knew someone working at the Housing Ministry. The court was told that Benjamin told the woman of ‘Turn Key’ homes at Perseverance, East Bank Demerara.

The Prosecutor said that Bobb expressed interest in the homes and signalled her intention to purchase one. Benjamin told the woman the house would cost $4.2M. The woman made a pay-

ment of $600,000 as a processing fee.

However, one day while Bobb was at work, the prosecutor said, her friend showed her several news articles about Benjamin being charged for numerous fraud-related offences. As a result of the revelation, Bobb lodged a report with the Police.

In relation to James, the court heard that she and Benjamin met via Facebook. One day, while Benjamin was over at the woman’s house, he overheard her saying that she was saving money to buy a car.

He informed the woman that he has connections at Chris Auto Spares, and showed her a few cars that were on sale at the auto dealership. She then paid him $360,000 as a down-payment towards her car.

After a few months had passed and the woman had not received the car, she later found out that Benjamin had been charged for several fraud-related offences. As a result, she also reported the matter to the Police.

When given a chance to address the court, Benjamin begged for time to repay the women. The Magistrate, however, was informed that Benajmin had been granted time to repay the monies but had failed to do so.

The Police Prosecutor informed the court that similar charges will be laid against Benajmin in the coming weeks. Based on reports, in 2016 and 2018, Benjamin was charged with similar offences. In one instance, the presiding magistrate was forced to issue a warrant for his arrest after he had failed to attend court.

These matters were nevertheless settled out of the court. In 2012, according to reports, he was found guilty and sentenced to imprisonment on a fraud-related charge. (G1)

Maha Shivaratri

– The Inner Significance

Sivatwa – The Divine Principle

The sages believed that the Divine Principle was present in and outside of everything, and that it could be experienced directly as well as indirectly. They pursued their penances further, for the benefit of mankind. They realised the Truth that the Divine Effulgent Person was beyond the outer darkness and, experiencing this Reality, they called upon all to seek and experience it. This Effulgent Purusha is utterly selfless, full of light, the embodiment of all auspicious qualities, and free from attributes. He was described as "Siva", meaning one who is beyond the three gunas (satwa, rajas, tamas) and hence absolutely pure and untainted. He was regarded as eternal, omnipotent, all-pervading, and the possessor of all that is great and glorious. The six indices of the Divine: Wealth, Righteousness, Fame, Sacrifice, Wisdom and Reputation. And for this reason, He was given another appellation: Easwara. Easwara is one who is endowed with all conceivable kinds of wealth.

The sages found that Siva is also the protector of those who seek refuge in Him. Hence, He was called Sankara. One who confers protection and grace. His Sankalpa (Will) and grace have no bounds, and are not dependent on any person, condition or qualification. Hence He was described as Swayambhu (selfcreated).

The sages conceived of Him as one who could incarnate at will for the protection and rescue of man and the safeguarding of dharma. In view of this transcendental power, He was described as Sambhavah: the one who incarnates whenever the practice of dharma (righteousness) is in danger and the good need protection.

Another name given to this Divine entity was Easwara. That is, the Divine was regarded as the possessor of infinite and inexhaustible wealth. What is this wealth? Health is one kind of wealth. Material riches are one kind of wealth. Knowledge, virtues, wisdom are all included in the term Aiswaryam (wealth). They realised the truth that Easwara is the embodiment of every kind of wealth. Probing further into the mystery of the Divine, they described Him as Siva. Siva means the One who is free from three gunas (satwa, rajas and tamas). He transcends these three qualities. As one who is without qualities, He was also called Shuddha-Satwah.

Siva is that pure, untainted satwa quality. It represents the principle of Mangala (auspiciousness). This means that only when the gunas are absent does auspiciousness appear. When qualities are present, it is inauspicious. Hence, Siva is the Mangala-swaroopa (Embodiment of Auspiciousness).

Sivarathri

Shivoham, Shivoham, was the exclamation that rose from the souls that knew the Truth in a flash of illumination, after long years of cleansing the mind through the process of thapas (penance) I am Siva; Siva am I. Though denoted by many names and recognised in many forms, the Divine Principle is One, without a second. It is Sivam, and it is latent in each being, including man. Holy days are to be spent in the contemplation of this Truth, and in special exercises to make oneself fully conscious of one's Divinity.

The significance of Sivarathri is that it is a time when one can get closest to Bhagawan, because the moon, which represents the mind, has shed fifteen of its phases (kalas) and is about to shed the last (sixteenth) phase. The ancient sages who explored the link between numbers and the Divine found that the letters in the name of Sivarathri amounted to a total of eleven, which was the number of the dark forces, called Rudras (those who make people cry). The Rudras enter the intellects of people and turn their desires towards worldly things, thereby giving rise to attachments and hatreds and pursuit of sensual pleasures. As they turn the minds of people away from God and towards evil, they were called Rudras. The sages declared that whoever is able to keep the Rudras in check on the sacred day of Sivarathri would be able to experience Divinity. This means that control of the senses is the primary requisite for realising the Divine and attaining liberation. Control of the senses is not easy. Even an evolved person like Arjuna confessed to Sri Krishna that sense-control was extremely difficult. The sages knew this well from their own experience, hence they suggested that even if control of the senses was not possible all the time, it should be practised at least on sacred days like Sivarathri. If one has nothing to do, the mind wanders in all directions, hence the sages prescribed continuous absorption in thoughts of God on Sivarathri night. Repetition of the name of God and meditation on His glories would keep the mind away from other trivialities, and promote control of the senses. (Curated by Hindus for Selfless Service (HSS))

Sheriff-Mandela road project Disruptions to GWI service expected in Georgetown

The fast-tracking of the Sheriff Street/Mandela Avenue Road

Expansion project may cause an increase in the frequency of disruptions of water supply to customers in Central Georgetown, the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) has cautioned.

In this project, which was delayed in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, over seven kilometres of transmission and distribution pipelines from the carriageways of the expanded roads would be replaced. Due to the delay, more interconnections to the new pipelines need to be accomplished in a shorter period.

The pipelines to be relocated on both sides of the carriageway are sections of ring mains with over 107 connection points (tees) which distribute water into the streets and wards of the city.

When the new pipelines have been relocated, the old pipelines in the carriageways would be decommissioned and water supply would be transferred to the new pipelines. During this process, water supply to customers of Central Georgetown would either be reduced or completely stopped after the public has been informed.

This is especially done when the transfer includes transmission lines which range between 10 inches and 16 inches in diameter, since high flows from the pipeline would hinder

GWI CEO Shaik Baksh (centre) on site at Mandela Avenue, Georgetown, where old pipelines are to be decommissioned

work execution by the craftsmen.

Chief Executive Officer of the Guyana Water Incorporated, Shaik Baksh, has stressed the importance of the project for the improvement of water supply in the capital city.

“We are working closely with the contractors, and a special team has been assigned to ensure that the works progress smoothly. It’s our aim to ensure that water supply disruptions are at a minimum during this process,” he stated. Challenges which may affect the

supply of water to customers include extra care which must be taken in handling pipelines which are over 60 years old, and account for more than fifty percent of the old pipes from which the water supply is transferred to the new pipelines.

Another cause for disruption of water supply in Central Georgetown is the Shelter Belt/Lamaha Street 22inch Transmission Line upgrade project, which replaces an 18-inch cast iron (CI) pipe which is over 60 years old.

CH&PA retakes control of Parliament

Square

…after M&CC management leads to vagrants, garbage invasion

Parliament Square, a once beautiful garden situated at the corner of High Street and Brickdam opposite Parliament Buildings, Georgetown, is set for a full rehabilitation by the Housing and Water Ministry through the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA).

The announcement was made by Housing and Water Minister Collin Croal during a site visit and assessment of the area on Wednesday.

Minister Croal was accompanied by Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of CH&PA Sherwyn Greaves and the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary Andre Ally.

The Minister explained that Parliament Square was originally conceptualised in 2012 under the Urban Renewal Plan (URP) by President Dr Irfaan Ali, who was the Housing and Water Minister at the time.

“It was to improve the aesthetics and to have the facility of a park that is different from the other parks that we have across the country,” Croal said.

M&CC management

However, it was placed under the purview of the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) during the 2016-2020 period, and has since been overrun by va-

grants and garbage dumped in and around the facility.

Late last year, Cabinet granted approval for the transferral of the area from M&CC back to CH&PA, and the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission has since approved an absolute grant of ownership to the agency.

Given the passage of Budget 2021, Croal said, CH&PA will be taking immediate physical occupation of the area, which would include the presence of security. A snackette, which was in the initial plan of Parliament Square, to help in the recovery of funds, would also be realised in the restoration plan.

In expressing his disappointment in what the park has become, CEO Greaves said a Management Committee has been set up by CH&PA

for the rehabilitation of Parliament Square.

“We now intend to bring it back to its glory, to what the then Minister and now President had envisioned for here. So, with that in mind, you will see, over the coming weeks and months, works being done here to bring it back to its former glory and (make it) even better. We will get the fountains working, get the fence working, put in new seats [and] new lights,” the CEO said. The scope of works would also include the restoration of the washroom facility.

Following completion of the project, persons will have to write directly to CH&PA for permission to use the area for special events. It would also be open for use to the general public.

Prime Minister, wife take COVID-19 vaccine

Prime Minister, Retired Brigadier Mark Phillips called the vaccination process smooth and confirmed that there was no issue or problem since he took a COVID-19 injection Wednesday morning.

The PM, who is also the head of the COVID-19 Task Force, and his wife, Mignon Bowen-Phillips, were administered the vaccine at their official residence by health workers.

“The process was smooth, there was no issue or problem…What is important is to demonstrate to the people of Guyana that the vaccine is there, and we should come forward and take it, because it is what will protect you and save your life,” the Prime Minister is quoted as saying by the Department of Public Information (DPI).

The Government, through the Health Ministry, commenced vaccinating members of the public who are 60 years and above from Wednesday, and the PM appealed to those who reach the required age, to immu-

Minister,

nise themselves.

“When the medical personnel comes to your village or health centre, just come forward and take the vaccine, it will save your life,” he is quoted as saying.

The Prime Minister noted that although the vaccination process has commenced, it would take a while to see results. He added that it was important for persons to continue following the

COVID-19 guidelines.

“Following the protocols remain important, because by following the protocols, it will reduce the spread of COVID-19. We are now at a stage where we have acquired vaccines and we are vaccinating our people; over time, we will acquire more vaccines. The intention is to vaccinate all Guyanese and we want to encourage all Guyanese to come for-

Security guard robbed of pistol, ammo at gunpoint

Asecurity guard attached to the A-Chang Supermarket at Lusignan, East Coast Demerara (ECD) ,was on Tuesday evening held at gunpoint and robbed of his firearm and phone.

The guard was relieved of a .32 Taurus Pistol with serial number FKAM 76570, along with 12 live .32 rounds as well as his cellphone. Reports are that around 22:00h, the security guard was on duty when two men on a motorcycle approached.

The pillion rider, who was armed with a handgun, pointed the weapon towards the guard and relieved him of the items.

The perpetrators then made good their escape. An investigation is in progress.

ward and take the vaccine,” he said.

The Prime Minister will be taking the second dose of the vaccine in approximately 10 days.

The process was scheduled to start at the Mabaruma District Hospital, Port Kaituma Hospital, Region One (BarimaWaini); Charity Hospital, Suddie Regional Hospital, Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam); Vreed-enHoop Health Centre,

Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara); New Amsterdam Health Centre, Skeldon Regional Hospital, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne); Enmore Polyclinic, East Coast Demerara; Bartica Health Centre, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni); Mahdia District Hospital, Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni); Kwakwani Hospital, Region 10 (Upper DemeraraBerbice); Lethem Health Centre, and the Annai

Health Centre, Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo).

Meanwhile, some 58 senior citizens in Region Three were inoculated on Wednesday at the Vreeden-Hoop COVID-19 vaccination site located in the compound of the West Demerara Regional Hospital.

Many of them arrived early for the opportunity to be immunised against the potentially-deadly coronavirus.

2 women hospitalised following accidents

Two women are hospitalised following separate accidents that occurred on Wednesday on the Linden-Soesdyke Highway and West Coast Demerara (WCD) respectively.

The first accident happened about 03:30h on the Moblissa Public Road involving a motor car driven by 24-year-old Oneisha Stellingburg of Blueberry Hill, Wismar, Linden.

Reports are the motor car was proceeding north on the western side of the Public Road at a fast pace when Stellingburg lost control of the vehicle, which ended up on the eastern parapet and turned turtle.

The young driver was picked up by public-spirited citizens in an unconscious state and taken to the Linden Hospital Complex, where she was treated for head injuries. However, owing to the severity of the injuries, she was transported to the Georgetown Public Hospital for further medical treatment

In the second accident, Bibi Zaleena Zabar, who hails from was hospitalised following an accident on the WCD.

While details are still

sketchy, Guyana Times understands that the woman was standing on the road awaiting transportation to go to work when two vehicles collided and hit her in the process.

As a result of the accident, she sustained injuries about her body. She

condition.

Based on reports, the woman suffered fractured feet, a fractured skull, and other injuries to her body. (G9)

Speaker must probe alleged assault in Parliament — DPP to Police

Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Senior Counsel

Shalimar Ali-Hack has advised the Guyana Police Force (GPF) to let the Speaker of the National Assembly deal with the

alleged assault of A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Member of Parliament, Tabitha SaraboHalley.

Last Wednesday, the Opposition parliamentarian alleged that Government MP Kwame McCoy physically assaulted her on the corridors of the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC), where Parliament sittings are being held owing to the COVID-19 pandemic.

However, the Public Affairs Minister has vehemently denied the allegation.

Nevertheless, the Police were called in to probe the incident, taking statements from several persons as well as reviewing CCTV footage from the ACCC. The footage only captured the before and after of the confronta-

tion between the two MPs and showed nothing of the alleged assault.

After conducting investigations, the Police submitted the case file to the DPP Chambers for advice on the way forward.

But in her response, the

4 arrested during Police raids

Four persons were arrested on Tuesday after Police conducted raids in several areas in Georgetown and on the West Bank of Demerara (WCD).

During the raid in Georgetown, a 21-yearold block-maker of Howes Street, Charlestown, Georgetown; a 19-year-old painter of Russell Street, Charlestown; a 21-yearold miner of James Street, Albouystown and a 21-yearold mason of Howes Street, Charlestown, were arrested. The men were all taken into custody pending investigations for the offence of robbery under arms.

Meanwhile, also on Tuesday, Police conducted a cordon-and-search exercise on the premises of a welder of Caglon Dam, Pouderoyen, WBD, for stolen or unlawfully obtained items.

During the search, 25

black helmets, four motorcycle engines, and one disassembled motorcycle engine were found. When questioned, the welder claimed the items belonged to his son who resides at the same address.

The items are lodged at the Vreed-en-Hoop Police Station.

Only a few days ago, three persons were taken into custody after the Police in Region 4A (Georgetown to Agricola) conducted several

cordon-and-search exercises throughout the division.

Police said the exercises were conducted on several mechanic shops, suspected drug houses, and homes. Motorists and pedestrians were also searched during the exercises.

A total of eight motorcycles inclusive of XR, Trip, and Honjue models were seized. Ninety-two grams of cannabis was also found abandoned under Stabroek Market and was lodged.

DPP suggested that House Speaker Manzoor Nadir handle the matter since the incident occurred in the precinct of the National Assembly.

“This alleged incident occurred in Parliament and in such circumstances, it is advised that the Speaker of the National Assembly deals with this matter under the Standing Orders of Parliament,” Ali-Hack indicated in a correspondence to the Police, which was seen by Guyana Times

The APNU/AFC Opposition had persistently disrupted last week’s Consideration of the 2021 Budget Estimates despite the Speaker informing them of the proper procedure they had to adopt in order to get the House to deal with the issue.

Last Wednesday, their uproar in the Dome of the ACCC forced Speaker Nadir to suspend the day’s proceedings.

The following day, the Opposition MPs continued with the disturbances by banging persistently on the desks even as the Speaker

moved ahead with examining the budget estimates.

In fact, their actions caused the Speaker to suspend at least seven APNU/ AFC parliamentarian for various infractions.

Moreover, Nadir also consolidated the various programmes under each budget agency to fast-track the process, thus passing the $383.1 billion 2021 National Budget – four days ahead of schedule.

In a statement on the night of the alleged incident, Minister McCoy “emphatically and completely” denied assaulting MP SaraboHalley.

“At no time did I touch Ms Halley with my phone or any part of my body. At the time in question, outside the Parliament Chamber, I had just completed a verbal exchange with [Chief Elections Officer] Mr Keith Lowenfield, who attended the Committee of Supply.

After Mr Lowenfield’s departure, I began to speak with Minister Anand Persaud. I observed the presence of Ms Halley, who was approximately four feet away from me. We exchanged words, but there was absolutely no physical contact whatsoever,” McCoy detailed in a statement.

The Minister went on to say that the allegation was “totally false, malicious and intended to cause me embarrassment and public ridicule”.

In a subsequent interview, Minister Persaud recounted that his colleague Minister and Lowenfield were in a verbal exchange when Sarabo-Halley appeared shortly after and got

between the two men.

“[She] was telling Kwame “move from here, move from here.” Kwame took out his phone and was trying to video what took place. They were about three feet apart from each other and I never saw Kwame assaulting anyone. I was a loner there,” Persaud related.

Meanwhile, during a subsequent press conference that night, Opposition Leader Joseph Harmon after reviewing the CCTV footage, said further investigations were required.

“Unfortunately, what that video footage showed was that there are some areas of the National Assembly that are not covered by the cameras… The video footage offers you evidence of what may have happened before and after,” Harmon noted.

Nevertheless, the Opposition Leader noted that the Police would now have to rely on eyewitnesses but did not say who those persons were when asked.

However, the Opposition Leader had contended that an apology would not be “sufficient”.

1 year since patient zero

COVID-19 forces dramatic changes at GPHC

As Guyana was grappling with the impasse of the March 2, 2020 elections, the country was thrown into an unprecedented situation after detecting its first novel coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) case on March 11 – exactly one year ago today – forcing the country, its people and its institutions, particularly the healthcare system, to adopt extreme emergency measures against the virus that has caused a global epidemic.

The country’s first COVID-19 case – referred to as ‘patient zero’ – was discovered following the death of 52-year-old Ratna Baboolall, who was deemed an imported case. The woman had returned from New York, United States, days before falling ill and eventually dying from complications at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC). Several of her family members subsequently tested positive, and as the cases grew, authorities shut down Guyana’s borders, including air, land and sea.

Now, one year later, Guyana’s COVID-19 death

there used to be a big tent out there. We used to call it ‘our tent hospital’, and that tent was loaned to us by the Police [Force]. We got a loan of the tent from Rent-a-Tent also. So, the private entities and other entities were also helpful in our fight against COVID initially. But the tent ended up being not the most comfortable place to house the patients.”

Dr Jeffery noted that the Ministry of Health had to isolate one of the rooms in the hospital and turn it into a transition area for suspected COVID patients. Additional works were

doctors are stationed in a structure to manage patients who may have symptoms and needed to be evaluated more thoroughly before a decision is taken on their treatment process.

“So, we established triage areas at East Street and at Middle Street, both of which are still functional even though we’ve now sent almost all of our COVID activities to the Ocean View facility. But, of course, patients would still come to the Georgetown Hospital with symptoms, so we have to be ready for those patients. So, we still triage them and we still screen them, and if they need to be swabbed or if they are symptomatic, then they go to the emergency room.”

According to the Medical and Professional Services Director, that Emergency section is no longer what it used to be.

“We ended up building an isolation area for the respiratory-ill, critically-ill patients, so that we can have them there and treat them there until we define where they’re going, and until they get their

toll is 205, with some 8928 confirmed cases of which 8211 persons have recovered.

The local health system had started putting systems in place against the novel coronavirus since January 2020 when it was declared a public health emergency of international concern by the World Health Organization (WHO).

However, the same day Guyana recorded its first case, the same day WHO declared COVID-19 a pandemic. With Guyana’s time epicentre being Region Four (DemeraraMahaica), the Georgetown Public Hospital become the response centre and had to undergo massive transformations – both physical and systematic – in response.

Guyana Times spoke with GPH’s Director of Medical and Professional Services, Dr. Fawcett Jeffrey, about some of those transformations that were done to the facility in preparation for COVID-19 and then to manage the outbreak.

He posited, “We knew that it would get to Guyana at some point, so we had started our preparation”.

Transformation at GPH

“When we started off,

started to establish an isolation area in the new InPatient Building, which eventually became the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) until November 2020, when the refurbishing of the Ocean View facility at Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown was completed and the building was ready for occupancy.

However, after the detection of patient zero, the Georgetown Hospital imposed measures and accelerated its efforts.

“All our entrances became screening points. We started off with tents. We had no other resources, so we put a tent in the street over at New Market Street and we had small areas in the institution where we started screening persons. We had nursing staff, medical staff, and at that time we didn’t have a lot of knowledge of COVID, so we were using medical staff – young doctorsto be part of the screening process.

Then we realised (that) screening alone would not help us, we needed triage areas. So, we built two triage areas,” Dr Jeffery explained.

One of those is on Newmarket Street and the other on East Street, where

nothing could prepare them for that Wednesday afternoon on March 11, 2020.

Emergency Medicine Specialist at the Georgetown Hospital, Dr Tracey Bovell, said, “The protocols were in place at that time because, since January, we had training in relation to PPEs (personal protective equipment) and how you wear your PPEs and how you go about protecting yourself. So, that was already in place, and as time went by, we started increasing the amount of protocols and policies as we learnt more about COVID-19.

“We used the knowledge that was gained not only from our own experience, but from the experiences of other countries, so that we can create more policies and more protocols that are directly related to COVID.”

During an interview with Guyana Times, Dr Bovell recalled that patient zero came in on March 10 as a referral from a private hospital.

gether and explained [the results] to them, we explained to the family. We had a discussion with family members even before we took the swab, so that they will go home and be quarantined until further notice.”

According to the Emergency Medicine Specialist, there were a lot of mixed emotions from staff members.

“There was fear – fear of the unknown, fear of a new illness that we were not taught in medical school. There was also that fear of not knowing how much you are protected, because at that time there was not much information out in relation to COVID-19. People were very fearful and very scared. Although we had training before, they also had a lot of questions about going home to their family, seeing their kids and so on…”

Dr Bovell revealed that they eventually realised that not everyone who came into contact with patient zero was wearing their PPEs, and then there was also a lot of mixed information at that time.

countries with more cases… providing them with PPEs. At no point in time were we having difficulties providing the PPEs, for the persons were actually seeing COVID-19 patients. Now with this knowledge that they can protect not only themselves but their families with these PPEs, they feel a little more comfortable,” she asserted.

With Government rolling out the COVID-19 vaccination exercise last month, frontline workers at the GPHC were the first to benefit. According to Dr Jeffery, more than half of the 2000 plus staff complement at the hospital have already been vaccinated, and with the GPH now a vaccination site, he is anticipating more to be inoculated soon.

swabs and then a decision is made… That’s for patients coming in with any manifestations that could possibly be COVID-related… That is on the northern side [of the Emergency entrance].

“Then we further continued construction and we developed another [area] on the southern side of the Emergency entrance. We put patients there who have milder manifestations, but we don’t want them to mix with everybody else. So that’s transformation there.”

Additionally, an isolation area was also created over at the Maternity Wing for mothers who tested positive for the novel coronavirus.

There is also another area for suspected patients to be placed until their results are available.

However, Dr Jeffery pointed out that while it was never an easy job, they are a long way from where they started in terms of their response and preparedness to fight the pandemic.

Patient Zero

At the time when patient zero was taken in, protocols were in place and the staff had undergone training. But

“She came to the Accident and Emergency Department. She was very ill – this was in the night [of March 10] – and eventually she was diagnosed with pneumonia among other things…and she had a cardiac arrest. Her heart stopped, and after resuscitation failed, she was pronounced clinically dead. A swab sample was taken from her after an examination of her history of travel primarily, and her symptoms. It was sent to the National Reference Lab.

“That day we waited. Everybody waited with their fingers crossed and probably with their feet as well, to see what that result would be. We got that result later that afternoon. We called the staff to-

“So, what we did, we actually quarantined the staff that were directly related to that case, that were directly treating that patient. Physicians, nurses, attendants, specialists, residents, registrars. If the cleaner was in that area, we quarantined him or her too. So all of the staff members that were directly related to that case, they were quarantined.”

Luckily, not one of them contracted the virus. However, Dr Bovell noted that now the GPH staff are more comfortable and even willing to work with COVID-19 patients, having learnt more about the virus since then.

“Initially, what you were getting was that people didn’t even want to work at all, because they had the fear of the COVID-positive patient coming in. But now you have people willing to work with patients knowing that they are positive with COVID-19. I think this change in attitude came about with information-sharing, education, and letting people know what is the information out here from

GPHC return to normal The GPH’s Director of Medical and Professional Services went on to state that the focus of the hospital now is to get it back to normal functioning. In order to do this, they have deployed its support-staff and “best persons” to run and manage the Ocean View facility to make that the COVID-19 centre.

“Once we can get the Ocean View facility fully functional, then the burden at the Georgetown Hospital would become less. We’re coming up with protocols so we can return to normal. Protocols for how we gonna manage patients if we have to do surgeries on them. We had protocols for the emergencies, now we’re trying to go back to the elective surgeries.

“So, the actual Georgetown Hospital transformation would not be a physical transformation, but a functional transformation. We want to transform back to where we were, where we could operate as we see fit, and freely without having to worry too much. We have come up with protocols, and we are already moving in that direction. I think we’re soon gonna be almost back to normal, once we can get all the activities, including surgical activities of COVID patients, to Ocean View,” Dr Jeffery posited.

Labourer charged for breaking into school

A50-year-old labourer of Thomas Street, Kitty, Georgetown who broke into the FE Pollard Primary School at David Street Kitty, Georgetown has been sentenced to community service.

Milton Smith was arrested by a rank from Impact Base and charged on Wednesday for breakand-enter and larceny, contrary to Section 229 (a) of the Criminal Law Offenses Act Chapter 8:01.

The accused appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan in that Georgetown Magistrate’s Court, where the charge was read to him and he

pleaded guilty. He was then sentenced to 20 hours’ community service, or one week imprisonment.

This is not the first time Smith is being arrested for this type of offence. In May of 2011, the man was re -

manded to prison after being convicted of break and enter and larceny. He had appeared before Acting Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry and pleaded guilty to the offence, admitting that on February 27 he broke and entered Comenius Primary School in Anira Street, also in Georgetown, from where he stole toilet paper, paper tape and a staple machine, amongst booty with a total value of $4,050, property of the Ministry of Education. The burglar said he committed the act to steal biscuits, because he was hungry, but took the other items that he also saw.

Former GRDB Head new acting CEO of NAREI

Former head of the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB), Jagnarine Singh, has been appointed the new acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI).

On Wednesday, Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha officially met with senior staff of the agency and Singh to discuss how the agency is expected to implement the new policies set by the Government in an effort to reposition and revamp agriculture in Guyana.

Mustapha told the staff that with Guyana retaking its rightful place with agriculture in the Caribbean, NAREI has an important role to play, as the agency is mandated to manage agriculture research and development.

“We are looking to revamp the agriculture sector. If we want to take our rightful place regionally and internationally, institutions like NAREI have to play a very important role. We now have to strategize; we have to come up with innovative ideas, and we have to implement the policies of the Government. What we have done, as a Government, we’ve crafted a number of policies for the various sectors. Last year we had the emergency budget, and we were able to successfully implement a number of those

initiatives.

This year the goal is to build on what we started last year, in addition to the new programmes that will come on stream.

“We have to change the traditional way we have been doing things here. For example, our plant nurseries around the country, we need to have vibrant nurseries with a variety of plants. When people visit these nurseries, they must have a choice,” Mustapha is quoted in a statement from the Ministry as saying. He said the Ministry must also refocus its energy on revamping the sector.

Meanwhile, the new acting CEO said there needs to be some amount of improvement to the services offered to farmers. He also said that Science must be incorporat-

ed into the extension services offered to the farmers.

“…Guyana, a big agriculture-producing country, we need to enhance and improve our services to the farmers. Not just soils, but our technical and diagnostic capacity in all areas of plant science. With the extension services, as much as I see, it’s being driven on social media; I would want some science involved. The scientists must be involved. Whatever we are doing must be climate smart, it must be sustainable and profitable so that our farmers can live a good life.

“The little plots we have around the country, I want to see them grow and move from just trials to a more economic value to the individual, the community and to the country as a whole,” Singh said.

Additionally, Mustapha also charged the new head with implementing quarterly training exercises for extension officers, in order to keep them abreast with developments in the sector, so that they can be better equipped to deliver the kind of services required.

Singh takes over from Dr Oudho Homenauth, who was employed by the agency for the past 20 years. Minister Mustapha said that even though Dr Homenauth will no longer serve in the capacity of CEO, his contribution to the development of the sector and the institution over the years remains invaluable.

Guyana ranked among top nine ‘green’ tourism experiences

Tourism, Industry and Commerce Minister

Oneidge Walrond has said Guyana continues to maintain its place in the global spotlight as a prime tourist destination due to its unique ecotourism product.

The Minister’s statement follows closely on the heels of an article published by Wanderlust travel magazine which has ranked Guyana as one of its top nine sustainable tourism destinations.

Minister Walrond said this “continues to reinforce the point that Guyana is still a world changer, Guyana is still first and foremost in terms of our eco-tourism product. We have won several awards, and we have not lost that position.”

The article, titled “Nine sustainable experiences in Latin America”, highlighted the immersive experiences in Indigenous communities and culture.

“Indigenous communities in this South American country have created their own sustainable tourism projects, such as eco lodg-

es and guided tours. These communities’ low carbon lifestyle, commitment to protecting their ancestral lands, and conservation efforts protecting wildlife make Guyana’s tourism one of the greenest on the planet,” the magazine said.

Over the years, Guyana’s sustainable tourism product has been widely recognised. On November 5, 2019, Guyana won the Silver Prize in ‘Best of Adventure’ from the International Travel and Tourism Awards for the sustainable adventure practices framework com-

Alex Beresford: the weather presenter in the eye of Storm Piers

Alex Beresford has made headlines for calling out Piers Morgan for remarks he made disparaging Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex.

On Tuesday, Beresford had about 68,000 people following him on Instagram. By Wednesday morning it was almost double that. As the man who helped bring down Morgan on breakfast TV, interest is only likely to grow.

John Travolta, Saturday Night Fever-inspired white suit with flares and huge lapels.

He was good on Dancing on Ice, but not quite good enough and was eliminated, with double irony, in fairytale week after he performed to Crowded House’s “Don’t Dream It’s Over”.

One thing was clear to viewers: Beresford was a fit man, something he celebrates and takes serious -

Perhaps not a household name, he is one of those television people you recognise without being able to put your finger on why.

Beresford, 40, was born in Bristol. His mother is white and from Britain, and his father is black and from Guyana.

He began his television career in 2004 working for ITV’s regional news programmes in the West Country, initially as an Autocue operator. In 2005, he retrained as a weather presenter and joined the national rota in 2007.

From 2012, he began presenting the weather on the ITV breakfast programme Daybreak, standing in for Laura Tobin. When it was replaced by Good Morning Britain, Beresford continued to appear and has become a familiar part of the team.

ly. A month ago he posted a picture of himself doing pull-ups, shirtless and muscled. He accompanied it with a message about emerging stronger in body and mind from 10 days of self-isolation.

Certainly that strength of mind was on view when he stood up to Morgan on Monday, but it is not the first time he has shown he is no pushover. In 2017, he stood in front of Morgan because it was time for his forecast. “Get back in your weather box, now,” said

Morgan. “I’m so not going to do that now that you’ve said it,” Beresford replied, through gritted laughter. In 2019, Beresford walked off set after Morgan, jokingly, took against him joining a debate about gambling, saying: “You know what, mate, you’re doing the weather … your job is the weather.”

As Beresford walked out, Morgan said: “Look at him, little drama queen … go on, off you go.”

The shoe was on the other foot this week when Beresford criticised Morgan for continuing “to trash” the Duchess of Sussex. After Morgan walked off, Beresford called his behaviour “pathetic” and “diabolical” and later tweeted: “I wish I had the privilege to sit on the fence. In order for me to do that I would have to strip myself of my identity and that’s not something I can do. It’s not any of our places to pick apart claims of racism in order to make us feel more comfortable.”

(The Guardian)

munities have employed.

Earlier, on June 10, 2019, Guyana won the “Best in Sustainable Tourism” award at the Latin America Travel Association (LATA) Achievement Awards in London. Guyana also secured the coveted cover of the June/July 2019 issue of the International Travel Agent Magazine.

Guyana was also named the ‘The World’s #1 in ‘Best of Ecotourism’, and one of the Top Ten Sustainable Destinations at the ITB Berlin – the world’s leading travel and trade show in March 2019.

In 2019, he intervened powerfully in a debate about knife crime, shouting across the studio as one guest started out on a “build more prisons” line. “It doesn’t work … listen, I have grown up in some of these communities that you guys are talking about; prison is not a deterrent.”

Ten days later came the news that Beresford’s cousin had been stabbed to death. He later presented an ITV documentary titled Knife Crime and Me, in which he travelled across the UK to better understand the issues.

Beresford has always had a fun side, and in 2018 he was one of the celebrity ice skaters on ITV’s Dancing on Ice. In advance of disco week he presented the GMB weather in a

Regional

COVID-19: Brazil experts issue warning as hospitals “close to collapse”

On Tuesday, the country recorded 1972 deaths, a new daily record. On Wednesday, the country recorded 2286 COVID deaths, a

Health systems in most of Brazil’s largest cities are close to collapse because of COVID-19 cases, its leading health institute warns.

More than 80 per cent of Intensive Care Unit (ICU) beds are occupied in the capitals of 25 of Brazil’s 27 states, Fiocruz said.

Experts warn that the highly contagious variant in Brazil may have knock-on effects in the region and beyond.

“Brazil is a threat to hu-

manity,” Fiocruz epidemiologist Jesem Orellana told the AFP news agency.

The country has recorded more than 270,000 deaths and 11.2 million cases since the pandemic began. It has the second-highest number of deaths in the world after the US and the third-highest number of confirmed cases.

Despite this, President Jair Bolsonaro has consistently sought to downplay the threat posed by the virus.

Earlier this week, he told people to “stop whining”.

He has also opposed quarantine measures taken at a regional level, arguing that the damage to the economy would be worse than the effects of the virus itself.

On Wednesday, the country recorded 2286 COVID deaths, a new daily record.

According to Fiocruz, 15 state capitals have ICUs that are at more than 90 per cent capacity including Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo.

Some reports say Brasilia has now reached full ICU capacity, while two cities – Porto Alegre and Campo Grande –have exceeded capacity.

In its report, the institute warned that figures point to the “overload and even collapse of health systems”.

Brazilian epidemiologist Dr Pedro Hallal told the BBC’s Outside Source TV programme: “If we do not start vaccinating the population here very soon, it will become a massive tragedy.” (Excerpt from BBC News)

Sandals offers complimentary vacations to 300 health-care workers across Caribbean

Exactly one year to the day when the very first COVID-19 case was confirmed in Jamaica, Sandals Resorts International has announced its intention to gift 300 health-care workers across the Region with complimentary two-night stays at its award-winning, all-inclusive resorts.

The gesture, according to the company’s Executive Chairman Adam Stewart, is in recognition of the selfless efforts of health-care workers who continue to exhibit admirable bravery and make tremendous sacrifices in the face of what is already a yearlong fight.

“Our health-care workers have been our heroes throughout this pandemic. This has been an extremely difficult year for everyone, but our heroes on the front lines and our health-care workers in particular have demonstrated a level of perseverance and commitment that is awe-inspiring,” a company release quotes Stewart, who is also Executive Chairman of the Jamaica Observer.

“This is our way of saying thank you and showing our appreciation for what we know has been a very difficult time. These vacations are well-deserved and we can’t wait to roll out the red carpet and pamper our he-

roes at our luxury-included resorts,” added Stewart.

The resort company said it would work closely with the Health Ministries in the seven islands where it operates to identify the beneficiaries of its latest act of generosity, starting in Jamaica where the company is working with the Health and Wellness Ministry’s Staff Welfare Programmes Department to award the vacation packages.

Health-care workers in Antigua, Barbados, The Bahamas, Grenada, St Lucia and The Turks and Caicos Islands are also set to receive complimentary vacations. (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

Caricom Secretary General calls for redoubled efforts to achieve equality for women

Caribbean Community (Caricom) Secretary General Irwin LaRocque on Monday called on the Region to intensify efforts to address the obstacles faced by women, in a message to mark International Women’s Day.

Even as he celebrated those women who have contributed to the progress and well-being of the Region and the rest of the world, he acknowledged more progress was needed to achieve an equal and just society.

“Today we celebrate the many women on the front line of the COVID-19 response and recovery efforts, as health-care workers, caregivers, essential workers, innovators, community organisers, and as some of the most exemplary and effective na-

tional leaders in combating the pandemic. The crisis has highlighted the tremendous value of their contribution for which we owe them a debt of gratitude,” he said.

“As we observe International Women’s Day across the community, let us take our inspiration from the many women trailblazers

who have made a difference in our lives in a diverse field of endeavours, from politics, business and community service, to education, sports, culture, science, technology and engineering. Let us commit to redoubling our efforts to bring about a new post-COVID-19 world based on equality, mutual respect, freedom from violence, and social justice.”

The global theme for this year’s International Women’s Day is: ‘Women in Leadership: Achieving an Equal Future in a COVID-19 World’. The theme celebrates the tremendous efforts by women and girls around the world to shape a more just future, and highlights the special needs of women to recover from the novel coronavirus pandemic. (Excerpt from CMC)

Lula, Bolsonaro fire starting gun on 2022 presidential race

Former Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and President Jair Bolsonaro on Wednesday both fired an early starting gun on a 2022 election set to be dominated by the raging pandemic, a weak economy, and deep political polarisation.

In his first public comments since his graft convictions were annulled by a Supreme Court Justice on Monday, Lula said he had not decided whether to run in next year’s election.

But his long, impassioned speech, delivered under a banner proclaiming “Health, jobs and justice for Brazil” in the union where

his political career took off in the 1980s, had the feel of a campaign launch.

“This country is disorganised and falling apart because it has no government,” he told the audience at the metalworkers union in Sao Bernardo do Campo, comparing the current economic crisis to strong growth and falling inequality when he led Brazil from 2003 until 2011.

Lula attacked Bolsonaro directly for his record in handling the coronavirus pandemic, especially for delays in obtaining vaccines and for his public dismissal of their effectiveness. Brazil has lost nearly 270,000 peo-

ple to COVID-19, the worst death toll outside the United States, as local variants push the country’s outbreak into its worst phase yet.

“Many of these deaths could have been avoided,” Lula said.

The former president’s speech prompted an immediate reaction from Bolsonaro, who defended his handling of the pandemic.

“(Lula’s criticism) is unjustified. He is now beginning his campaign, but has nothing good to show. Their campaign is merely to criticise, lie and promote disinformation,” Bolsonaro told CNN Brasil. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Mexico’s Congress approves landmark cannabis bill

Mexico’s lower House of Congress on Wednesday approved a bill that would decriminalise cannabis for recreational, medical, and scientific uses, bringing it a step closer to creating one of the world’s largest markets for the plant.

Backed by the Administration of President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, the bill marks a major shift in a country bedevilled for years by violence between feuding drug cartels.

Lawmakers approved the bill in general with 316 votes in favour and 127 against. Now, the Senate needs to review and approve the bill.

If passed, the law would create a huge market, which foreign companies are eager to tap.

The bill would allow five types of licences for the cultivation, transformation, sale, research and export or import of marijuana. Only

people 18 years and older, and with a permit, would be able to grow, carry or consume marijuana and its derivatives.

“Today we are making history,” said Simey Olvera, a lawmaker from Lopez Obrador’s ruling Morena party who was wearing a mask with marijuana leaves printed on it.

“With this, the false belief that cannabis forms part of Mexico’s serious health problems is left behind.”

Lopez Obrador, whose ruling Morena party has a majority in both chambers of Congress, has argued that decriminalising cannabis and other narcotics could help combat Mexico’s powerful drug cartels.

In late 2013, Uruguay became the first country in the world to legalise the production and sale of marijuana in modern times. Other countries in the region, such as Argentina, Chile, Colombia and Peru, allow its medical use. (Excerpt from Reuters)

UNC gets new home in San Fernando, moves away from Central Trinidad

The United National Congress (UNC) which had its “navel string” buried in Central Trinidad, has found a new home. This time in the south.

Its new location is the M Rampersad Building at No 2-12 Hilda Lazzari Terrace, Les Efforts East, San Fernando. This building was one of the party’s regional sub-offices where screening for a lot of the candidates for both local and general elections took place.

PRO Dr Kirk Meighoo said, “We were using the south office for a while and it made sense to move in. Because of COVID-19 we

have been engaging with our public virtually and we have it all set up here.”

He said the central location was more cramped and did not have sufficient parking space so there was not much activity taking place there.

Party chairman Dave Tancoo denied the move had anything to do with the UNC’s inability to meet its monthly rent commitment.

“That is certainly not true.”

He said the San Fernando building was more convenient in terms of its space and parking facilities.

He said the party was always looking at estab-

lishing a permanent, fixed home but, given the current economic climate, that was a bit of a challenge. To concerns that the new headquarters was on a compound that also housed a restaurant and bar, he said it was a huge compound with the party’s headquarters and the bar on opposite ends.

“We are also located next to a gas station and people may have issues with that. But it is not where we are located but what we are doing that is important.” It is the first time in the history of the party that it has moved out of its central base.

(Excerpt from Trinidad Newsday)

OIL NEWS

Oil rises with US gasoline supplies sliding to 4-month low

Oil closed higher after traders assessed a US Government report showing the largest two-week decline in gasoline supplies on record, while signs emerged of demand picking up.

Futures in New York rose 0.7 per cent on Wednesday after earlier flipping between modest gains and losses. Domestic gasoline supplies slid last week to the lowest in about four months, while demand rose to the highest since November, according to Energy Information Administration (EIA) data. Further price gains were tempered by a 13.8-million-barrel increase in crude inventories, with shale drillers boosting output following an unprecedented cold blast in the US South.

“Because of the freeze in Texas, people were expecting a big product draw from refinery shutdowns and a crude build because crude wells have come back online a lot faster,” said Michael Lynch, President of Strategic Energy & Economic Research. “A steady increase in miles driven and gasoline demand will give people a sense that normalcy is around the corner.”

While crude prices are up more than 30 per cent this year, questions remain over at what point oil’s rally will tempt more producers to loosen the taps. Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said he sees a risk of non-Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries-plus (OPEC+) nations boosting output amid higher prices. Meanwhile, oil production across American shale patches next year is expected to climb as producers take advantage of the rebound, according to a separate Government report on Tuesday.

“The group of producers may have seen a window of opportunity to binge on higher prices with non-conventional producers unable to capture market share in the near-term,” TD Securities commodity strategists, including Bart Melek, said in a note. But OPEC+ may “have sufficiently overtightened the market, such that new shale production could again be profitable”.

The refining margin for gasoline continued its rally above US$20 a barrel and is at the highest for this time of year since 2015, and crude processing rose by a record 2.4 million barrels a day. Tighter fuel inventories left in the wake of the country’s February polar blast comes ahead of a summer driving season that could see a release of demand built up during the pandemic.

“Between summer driving season and as lockdowns are lifted, gasoline demand is going to increase by a fair amount,” said Brian Kessens, a portfolio manager at Tortoise, a firm that manages roughly US$8 billion in energy-related assets. “As it relates to refining margins, they should be pretty strong over the next several months, giving a real incentive to produce a lot more gasoline.”

There are already signs that oil demand is recovering. Congestion in New York is also clawing back, with this month set to mark the fastest increase in toll route traffic since November 2019. The rolling average for gasoline supplied, a proxy for consumption, rose above 8 million barrels a day last week for the first time since November, the EIA report showed. (Excerpt from Bloomberg)

Around the World

US Congress approves US$1.9T COVID-19 relief bill

The US House of Representatives has given final approval to a US$1.9 trillion emergency spending measure designed to mitigate the financial toll of the coronavirus pandemic, putting the United States economy on a path to recovery.

The House voted largely along party lines, 220-211, to send the legislation, approved by the US Senate on March 6, to President Joe Biden, who will sign it on Friday.

“This bill represents a historic, historic victory for the American people,” Biden said at the White House following the bill’s

passage.

Biden, who campaigned in 2020 on bringing an end to the pandemic crisis,

Sanctions imposed on children of Myanmar military leader, companies

The United States on Wednesday imposed sanctions on two children of Myanmar’s military leader Min Aung Hlaing and six companies they control in response to the military’s February 1 coup and the killing of protesters since the takeover.

The US Treasury Department said in a statement it blacklisted Aung Pyae Sone and Khin Thiri Thet Mon, the adult children of Myanmar’s commander-in-chief who led the coup and installed himself as Head of the ruling State Administration Council.

US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken warned more punitive actions could follow, and condemned the detention of over 1700 people and attacks by Myanmar’s security forces against unarmed protesters that he said have killed at least 53 people.

“We will not hesitate to

take further action against those who instigate violence and suppress the will of the people,” Blinken said in a statement.

The military has brushed off condemnation of its actions, as it has in past periods of army rule when outbreaks of protest were forcibly repressed.

Wednesday’s move – the latest in a series of punitive actions taken by Washington against Myanmar’s military over the coup – essentially freezes any US assets of those blacklisted and generally bars Americans from dealing with them.

Campaign group Justice for Myanmar said in January that Min Aung Hlaing, who has been commander-in-chief since 2011, has “abused his power to benefit his family, who have profited from their access to state resources and the military’s total impunity”.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

COVID wave intensifies in Central Europe

The number of patients in intensive care has reached a new high in the Czech Republic, as several Central European countries struggle with a new wave of the virus.

Czech authorities on Tuesday sent the first patient abroad for treatment in Poland as facilities struggled to cope.

In Hungary, meanwhile, the number of cases in the current wave has surpassed the previous peak in December.

Schools and most shops were closed on Monday amid rising infections.

Cases are also on the rise in Poland, where the Government recorded the

highest number of daily cases since late November on Wednesday, with 17,260

new infections. A Health Ministry spokesman complained of "increased looseness" among Poles towards anti-COVID measures.

Restrictions were relaxed last month but they have since been re-imposed in two areas in the north.

The number of Czech patients treated in hospital with COVID-19 reached 8618 on Wednesday, with 1853 in intensive care. On Tuesday, the first Czech Member of Parliament succumbed to the virus. Jiri Ventruba, 71, was a renowned paediatric neurosurgeon. (Excerpt from BBC News)

plans to address the nation tonight.

One of the largest spending packages in US history, the bill authorises US$1400 direct cheques to an estimated 160 million US citizens, extends federal jobless benefits of $US300 a week to 10 million unemployed workers, and provides hundreds of billions in subsidies and bailouts.

More than 29 million

people have been confirmed infected with the coronavirus and about 528,000 have died from COVID-19 in the United States since the pandemic began a year ago.

“This bill provides direct financial relief to more than 80 per cent of American families and helps feed hungry Americans and provides financial support so families can afford health care,” said Representative John Yarmuth, the Democratic Chairman of the House Budget Committee.

“This legislation has been called one of the most consequential pieces of legislation in modern history,” Yarmuth said.

In addition to the direct payments and unemployment benefit extension, the bill includes US$350 billion for federal aid to states, cities and tribal governments to help cover budget shortfalls incurred during the pandemic. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

China to hold 1st in-person talks with Biden Administration

US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken will meet with top Chinese officials on March 18 in Alaska, the White House said on Wednesday, the first high-level in-person contact between the two sparring countries under the Biden Administration.

The meeting, taking place on Blinken’s return from his first overseas trip to key US allies Japan and South Korea, will come amid what is shaping up to be a major US diplomatic push to solidify alliances in Asia and Europe to counter China.

National security adviser Jake Sullivan will join the meeting in Anchorage with China’s top diplomat, Yang Jiechi, and State Councillor Wang Yi, White House Press Secretary Jen

Psaki said, adding that the Administration would approach its relations with China “in lockstep” with its partners.

“It was important to us that this administration’s first meeting with Chinese officials be held on American soil, and occur after we have met and consulted closely with partners and allies in both Asia and Europe,” Psaki told a news briefing. She said the meeting would be “an opportunity to address a wide range of issues, including ones where we have deep disagreements”.

China’s embassy in Washington did not respond immediately to a request for comment. (Excerpt from Reuters)

SUDOKU

ARIES (March 21April 19)

TAURUS GEMINI (May 21June 20) (April 20May 20)

CANCER (June 21July 22)

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

(Aug. 23Sept. 22)

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22) (Nov. 23Dec. 21)

(Jan. 20Feb. 19) (Dec. 22Jan. 19)

(Feb. 20March 20) PISCES

An opportunity coupled with hard work and enthusiasm will help you excel. Use your clout, connections and intelligence to orchestrate what you want to happen. Don’t let yourself be strongarmed.

Take a close look at what’s going on around you. Listen to the opposition and make assessments before you respond. A little charm mixed with the power of persuasion will help you win support.

Step back. Use your experience and intelligence to figure out what’s best for you. Refuse to let someone coerce you into something that will cause mayhem or cost you your position.

Show everyone what you are capable of doing. Use your skills, originality and vision to encourage others to help you bring about change. Getting back to basics and sharing your feelings with a loved one will pay off.

Uncertainty will set in if you get involved in a joint venture. Reserve judgment, and don’t lay your cash on the table prematurely. Make adjustments and take part only when you feel at ease.

Refuse to get caught in an emotional argument. Put your energy into making positive gains, improving your life and meaningful relationships, and committing to someone or something you want to pursue.

Put your head down, and focus your energy on something meaningful to you. Whether it’s learning something new, fixing up your space or starting a new hobby, the more you put in, the more you will get in return.

Stop worrying about the inevitable, and focus on making your life better. Pack up what you don’t need; get rid of the clutter and dead weight. The positive changes you make will lead to the freedom you desire.

Opportunity will come at a price. Weigh the pros and cons before you make a decision. Verify information and do the math before you take part in something that might put you at risk.

Take a different approach to the way you do things, and you’ll get remarkable results. Think outside the box in order to turn a skill you have into a moneymaking project.

Nurture your relationships with friends, relatives and peers. Let go of situations that aren’t working for you, and focus on what’s possible. Liberate yourself through improvement.

Spend more time with people who bring out the best in you. Motivation combined with desire will bring about positive change. Take care of details and live by the rules.

By Brandon Corlette

Legendary West Indies batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul, who is currently in Antigua wearing the cap of batting coach with the players involved in the Best v Best Test trial at the Coolidge Cricket Ground, has said the West Indies batsmen need to have a survival mindset against the Sri Lankans.

The left-hander is, however, confident that the West Indies are equipped with the players to win the

three One Day International matches against Sri Lanka.

"We have to be smart and find a way to deal with the Sri Lankan spinners,” he said. “If you can't read, you still have to fight; you have to find a way to survive and you must have a proper batting plan."

In the three-match T20 series, the West Indies batsmen failed to counter the Sri Lankan spinners. "That is a concern. We need to get something that will give us the advantage, so we need to take Sri Lanka out of the

Steve Parish says reformed 36-team tournament would be "devastating"

for English Champions League football

Crystal Palace Chairman Steve Parish says the proposed Champions League reforms would have "a devastating effect" on English football.

Uefa's proposal would see 100 more matches and four extra dates created for European fixtures before Christmas.

Parish has voiced his disapproval over the plans, which will inevitably threaten the status of the EFL Cup.

"It feels like we're expected to accept these proposals because they are not as bad as they could have been," he said. "This would have a devastating effect on domestic competitions in England. The League Cup is the largest financial contributor to the Football League, and this will either be the end of that cup in its entirety, or reduce it to a youth competition.

"For clubs like us, it's very difficult to understand where you have a voice in these conversations. We feel very remote from the decision-making."

Parish was speaking at the

European Leagues meeting that was held on Wednesday morning. Despite invitations being sent to all of Europe's major clubs, none of them took the opportunity to speak.

English Football League (EFL) Chairman Rick Parry, who also spoke at the meeting, said the loss of the EFL Cup would strip away a third of his organisation's revenue, and present "a very real threat" to the existence of some clubs.

Earlier this week, European Club Association (ECA) Chairman Andrea Agnelli said he expects agreement over a 36-team competition to be reached within a fortnight.

Instead of eight groups of four playing six games each as is currently the case, all teams would play 10 matches against opponents of varying strengths, and decided on each club's Uefa ranking, with those results then forming one overall table.

Discussions are continuing over the precise structure of the competition, particularly the allocation of the four additional places.

The proposals are expected to put an end to discussion over a European Super League, but issues still remain.

Although they accept there is merit in the system, the European Leagues will continue to argue against the exclusivity of Uefa dates, and also the plan to allocate two of the additional four places from the current 32-team group stage on the basis of historical co-efficient, instead of where they finish in the league table.

In a scenario discussed today, of the three English clubs currently qualifying for European competition, West Ham or Everton would miss out on the additional Champions League place to Tottenham, due to their superior historical co-efficient, even though they are below them in the Premier League table.

"Sporting merit should be the guiding principle, and we should not qualify teams on co-efficient," said European Leagues President LarsChrister Olsen. (BBC Sport)

West Indies batsmen need to have a survival mindset

equation by preparing some green tops," Chanderpaul said on the most recent Mason and Guest radio programme.

Called ‘the Tiger’ in his heyday, Chanderpaul has declared that he is impressed with the work ethic of the players in Antigua, but he said they must put in the work while they are at home.

"I put in the hours hitting thousands of balls at home. I would be on the machine hitting thousands of balls at home; and as a batter you need to improve, but you must know what you are working on. I studied opposition bowlers and try and get as much information from them," he disclosed.

Chanderpaul has also said he does not have a problem

– says Shivnarine Chanderpaul

with West Indies players featuring in T20 leagues, since one's cricketing career is not forever, and there is need for players to make as much as they can.

"I don't have a problem with that, but you are being paid, you have a retainer contract and you are asked to put in some work, and you should be able to do that. In the past, we had to find our money to get our work done," Chanderpaul explained.

Looking ahead to the Test series, Chanderpaul has said the West Indies can beat the Sri Lankans if the pitches are green. "We don't want their spinners to be the major threat for us," Chanderpaul posited.

Sharing his opinion on some of the young pacers in

the Caribbean, Chanderpaul disclosed that he has been impressed with the likes of Nial Smith, Chemar Holder and Preston McSween. He noted that Smith is one for the future, but he needs to put in some more strength work; while he noted that young Chemar Holder bowled with some gas and was impressive. Chanderpaul has said McSween is good with his control, and that is important. "We have talent, but we need to put the ball in the right areas on a consistent basis, and (we need to) practice," Chanderpaul noted.

The 46-year-old, who scored 11,867 Test runs in his career, has been enjoying his role as batting coach as he continues to give back to West Indies cricket.

Roger Federer beats Dan Evans on return from injury at Qatar Open

Roger Federer displayed flashes of his sparkling best as he returned to action with a superb 7-6 (10-8) 3-6 7-5 victory over Dan Evans in the Qatar Open.

The 39-year-old was playing his first competitive match in 14 months, having undergone knee surgery since his last appearance at the 2020 Australian Open.

Evans and Federer have practised together over recent weeks, and combined, they produced a high-quality affair in Doha, with the veteran showing phenomenal staying power after so long away to book a quarter-final meeting with Nikoloz Basilashvili.

The only break point of the opening set came in the ninth game, with Federer holding and coming

through two deuces. World number 28 Evans boomed down a pair of aces and held to love after that minor setback, and reeled off four consecutive points to lead 4-2 in the breaker.

Federer saved one set point, and converted his third with a wonderful backhand passing shot.

A battle that eventually lasted two hours and 26 minutes appeared unlikely as Federer sought to press home his superiority, Evans coming into the net to repel a break point in the opening game of set two.

But the Briton was the first man to make a dent on the other's serve, with Federer unusually ragged as he pulled a forehand then a backhand wide from deuce to go 1-3 behind.

The Swiss could not cap-

italise on a break-back point in the next game, and having been taken to deuce in all previous games in the set, Evans produced backto-back aces and held to love to square the match.

Federer's first-serve percentage fell from an imperious 83 to 58 between sets one and two, and he looked tired when slipping to 0-30 at 2-2 in the decider, before recovering to hold.

Evans, who also went the distance against Jeremy Chardy on Sunday, was similarly robust under pressure, a serve-volley and his formidable backhand slice seeing him through a match-point game at 4-5; but he could not keep the insatiable Federer at bay, as a majestic backhand down the line settled the argument.

(Adapted from Sportsmax)

THURSDAY, MARCH 11, 2021

Eight cricket clubs from the Upper Corentyne area, along with two young cricketers from Port Mourant and Tucber Park respectively, on Tuesday last received over #1.4 million worth of cricket gear from Vitality Inc.

The company, which would shortly be officially launched in Guyana, is headed by overseas-based Guyanese Sureian Sawh, a former resident of Upper Corentyne, before he migrated to the United States of America (USA).

The clubs receiving the gear were: No 73 Young Warriors, No 72 Cut and

Load, No 72 All Stars, No 70 MYO, NO 68 Turn team, No 68 Darkeners Superstars, NO 69 Red Rose and NO 69 Vikings Cricket teams.

BCB President Hilbert Foster, who spearheaded the project, has said the presentation was another ‘red letter’ day in the continuing development of Berbice cricket. He said the ongoing pandemic was affecting many clubs from organising fund-raising events to obtain cricket gear, and as such, donations such as the contribution from Vitality is much welcome.

Foster noted that since his administration came into of-

fice in 2018, clubs and youth cricketers have benefited from more than $13M worth of items. These include cricket gears, cricket balls, stumps, bicycles, school bags, uniforms, scorebooks and water pitchers, among other things.

The BCB President disclosed that he was surprised to be contacted by Sawh, who indicated that he was very impressed by the development taking place in Berbice cricket, and wanted to contribute to clubs in his birthplace.

The donated items include batting pads, batting gloves, helmets, stumps, gears bag, among other things, and each

Saturday at noon

By TimoThy Jaikarran

The Lusignan Golf Club, in collaboration with Oasis Cafe and Akamai Trading, will host a highly anticipated golf tournament this Saturday, and the action will commence at noon.

With some of Guyana's top golfers being involved, the format of the tournament is match play, which will have two teams comprising 20 to 25 members.

“Within the team competition, you'll also have a competition of individuals going up against each other.”

Speaking at a simple launching of the tournament, LGC VP Paton George noted that a lot of prizes are going to be awarded at the end of the format, hence everyone is encouraged to turn out and enjoy a very festive environment

that is COVID-friendly. Co-sponsor of the tournament and proprietor of Oasis Café, William Walker, said, "Let me say that I'm very thankful that the golf club is accommodating this format. If you don't know too much about golf, match play is really a very pure form of golf. And it's something that I enjoy, and I know that my opposite team captain, Brian Hackett, also enjoys it. I am a little disappointed not to see him here today at the weigh in, but we shall see how things turn out on the weekend. And of course, afterwards, we can have some good food, which is going to be provided by Oasis cafe. And also, some nice wine also from Oasis cafe. So I think it would be a good, good time, I also encourage members of the public to come out and watch and get into golf. It's a very

interesting game and something we want more people to be a part of."

LGC boss Patanjilee Persaud was adamant of the fact that the tournament is going to be an exciting tournament as one can expect a very well challenged golfing tournament this weekend. He noted that it’s going to be very competitive as it is going to stand out as the best in the country is going to compete against each other. He further went on to state that an average of 50 players will be competing in the tournament owing to the fact that all Covid 19 measures will be in place.

The tournament will commence at 12 noon and those interested will have a chance to register until Friday when the registration closes. The winning team will pocket a $30,000 gift item that can be claimed at the club house, restaurant or bar.

club received a package worth about $150K dollars. The company also handed over two cricket packages to two promising youth players from the Port Mourant Cricket Clubs. They each collected a pair of batting pads, batting gloves and a bat.

Foster has urged the clubs and players to take care of the donated gears, and to use them for the intended purpose. He also advised the management of the clubs to invest in youth teams so that the future of each of the clubs can be assured.

Director of Vitality Inc, Mahesh Ramoutar, speaking on behalf of the company, said numerous donations were done across the country in private over the last few years, and as business expands in Guyana, the list of recipients would be broadened.

He said he is associated with Berbice Cricket, and expressed confidence that the re-

Change

lationship would be expanded in the future.

Immediately after the presentation, Foster and Sawh led their delegation in talks to strengthen the relationship. Discussions centred on a cricket tournament for the Upper Corentyne area, an educational scholarship, and assistance for first division teams. The BCB would soon release updates on the progress of talks.

Lakeram Latchman, speaking on behalf of the eight teams, expressed gratitude to Vitality Inc for the much-needed assistance. He hailed the leadership of Foster at the BCB as remarkable, and reassured the donors that the gears would be taken care of.

The BCB and the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club (RHTY&SC) have also conferred their highest awards -Tribute to Heroes and Dolphin Award of Excellence respectively - on Sawh.

ST JOHN’S, Antigua – Cricket West Indies (CWI) today announced a change to the start time for the third CG Insurance OneDay International between West Indies and Sri Lanka on Sunday, March 14. The match will now start at 9:30am (8:30am Jamaica Time) at the Sir Vivian Richards

Stadium. It was originally slated to be a day/ night fixture, starting at 1:30pm.

All other matches in the CG Insurance ODI series will remain as originally scheduled, with the first match of the CG Insurance ODI Series on Wednesday followed by the second match on Friday. (Windies Cricket)

Shai Hope century leads dominant display

– as Windies take 1-0 series lead

Abrilliant century from Shai Hope - his tenth in ODI cricket - led West Indies to a crushing eight-wicket win over Sri Lanka in the first ODI in Antigua.

Set 233 to win, West Indies knocked off the runs with three overs to spare with the sort of ruthless efficiency it is generally so difficult to execute against Sri Lanka, particularly on slower tracks that might have something in them for spinners.

A 143-run opening stand between Hope and Evin Lewis, who scored an uncharacteristic yet impressive 90-ball 65, effectively froze Sri Lanka out of the game before their spin bowlers had a chance to get stuck into it. A clinical unbeaten 37 from Darren Bravo guaranteed Dimuth Karunaratne's men would not be permitted a sniff after that stand was broken, the total Sri Lanka had put up after winning the toss shown to be well below par.

While Sri Lanka's innings had also begun with a glistening century partnership, West Indies had the advantage of knowing exactly what was required, and were laser-focused on achieving it with the minimum fuss possible. There was limited running between the wickets early on but Hope and Lewis continued to find a boundary an over or so, both particularly severe on any line they could work through the covers. They brought up fifty inside nine overs, with Sri Lanka introducing spin right after, but at that point, the openers began to milk the singles, the left-right combination never quite letting the Sri Lankans settle into a

bowler, who has often been troubled by back injuries, was responsible for both wickets that fell. Lewis was undone by a perfect yorker that he failed to get his bat down for, before a peach of a slower delivery whooshed past Hope's bat and clattered into his off stump just after he had brought up a hundred. They were just consolation strikes for today, but if Chameera can remain injury free, his importance to his side, both for this series and in the long term, could be exciting.

In the morning, Sri Lanka played out a topsy-turvy innings that began with a sparkling 105run opening partnership, but West Indies continued to strike throughout the 50 overs to

his second ball, before he served Gunathilaka a short delivery in his next over. Pathum Nissanka, on debut, set off for a single his partner wasn't remotely interested in, and Pollard, sensing a run-out opportunity, raced to get hold of the ball, nestled beside Gunathilaka's feet.

As the batsman took a backward step to ensure he remained inside his crease, he trod on the ball, knocking it back, leading to Pollard's furious appeal. It appeared there was no way replays could establish Gunathilaka had deliberately foiled a run-out attempt, but TV umpire Nigel Guguid took little time reaching that conclusion, ending a delightfully fluent innings.

the action once more with a risky second run putting paid to another of his partners, Angelo Mathews, as Pollard flicked off the bails. Nissanka's miserable, brief stay at the crease would end an over later, when he was run out as Sri Lanka attempted another needlessly chancy single.

Amidst the drama, it might be easy to forget the awareness and quality Pollard and Jason Mohammed bowled with to trouble Sri Lanka. They took the pace off on a somewhat slow pitch to stymie Sri Lanka's fluency, with the visitors guilty of occasional impatience that brought the end of Kamindu Mendis and Wanindu Hasaranga. Ashen Bandara, on ODI debut, showed great maturity, regularly rotating the strike and punishing loose deliveries - uncommon though

compliment of material and they will be getting in on average; for the senior leagues, I think they get close to $3.6 million to help run that, and Forde continued saying, “So they will receive all the tools that they need to get the job done. If for some reason some of them still appear not to be able to get the job done, then I think it will be up to the members within the jurisdiction to make those decisions, the GFF, as the governing body does not intervene or interfere, unless it is a matter of compliance or other issues re-

they were - to steer Sri Lanka past 200 and bring up his halfcentury.

It need not have been as laboured as that by the way Gunathilaka and Karunaratne went about things. After a staid first six overs, the two began to speed through the gears, hitting six boundaries in nine balls off Jason Holder and Alzarri Joseph to make up for lost time. Gunathilaka, in particular, took on the role of aggressor,

refusing to let Romario Shephard settle and manipulating the field expertly as dot deliveries became increasingly scarce. It might not have mattered given the way Hope and West Indies batted, but considering how sharply Sri Lanka's fortunes slumped from the moment of Gunathilaka's dismissal, it is that moment, rather than Hope's brilliance, this game is likeliest to be remembered for. (ESPNcricinfo)

SCOREBOARD

SRI LANKA INNINGS (50 OVERS MAXIMUM)

Danushka Gunathilaka obstructing the field 55

Dimuth Karunaratne (c) c & b Pollard 52

Pathum Nissanka run out (Bravo/Hosein) 8 Angelo Mathews run out (Shepherd/Pollard) 5

Dinesh Chandimal † c sub (HR Walsh) b Allen 12

Ashen Bandara c Hosein b Holder 50

Kamindu Mendis c Allen b Mohammed 9

PWH de Silva c Holder b Mohammed 3

Dushmantha Chameera c †Hope b Holder 8

Lakshan Sandakan not out 16

Nuwan Pradeep c Shepherd b Joseph 1

Extras (lb 5, w 8) 13

TOTAL (49 Ov, RR: 4.73) 232

Fall of wickets: 1-105 (Dimuth Karunaratne, 19.2 ov), 2-112 (Danushka Gunathilaka, 21.1 ov), 3-119 (Angelo Mathews, 23.3 ov), 4-126 (Pathum Nissanka, 24.5 ov), 5-151 (Dinesh Chandimal, 31.2 ov), 6-183 (Kamindu Mendis, 37.5 ov), 7-189 (PWH de Silva, 39.1 ov), 8-207 (Dushmantha Chameera, 43.2 ov), 9-224

not bat: Nicholas Pooran, Kieron Pollard (c), Jason Holder, Fabian Allen, Romario Shepherd, Alzarri Joseph, Akeal Hosein Fall of wickets: 1-143 (Evin Lewis, 28.2 ov), 2-215 (Shai Hope, 42.6 ov)

garding to how a member operates within the parameters of our lower statutes.”

As such, Forde went on to disclose that any slipups may first be subject to ‘meaningful engagements’.

“And the fact is that we've always been serious. But I think, you know, our job is not to label problems or to call our members out, without having a meaningful engagement with them, and really using our minds to understand the exact challenges that they're facing,” Forde shared

He then added, “So, out of that, we develop the program, and the investment that is going to be going into a regional association is unprecedented exponentially.”

Sharing that disbursements have already begun, Forde hinted at a minor misdemeanor on the part of some RMAs but reiterated the GFF’s commitment to working along with them for the best possible result.

The Football boss ex-

plained, “So, I have to remain optimistic that the members and they have expressed this to me directly that they're all excited for this level of support that we're now bringing to them, many of them would have received their, already close to $900,000 into their respective bank account, some are struggling to get their bank account issue sorted out, which is an indication as to how they would have operated in the past. But we are committed to working with them.”

“They are our members and we have a responsibility to take care of them and guide them. And hopefully, you know, it turns out the way that that we all expected will turn out.”

Under M-FAP, members of the GFF are now entitled to support in four key areas: administration and operations, equipment and materials, competitions and technical development, and infrastructure.