Guyana Chronicle E-paper 26-04-2020

26th April, 2020

' No.105981

Tight security for recount 02

Harmon no longer director-general …takes up full-time job as CEO of COVID-19 task force

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…GECOM to establish hierarchical system for resolution of issues

Brazilian gang attacks, kills miner at Marudi Mountain …group operates between Guyana, Suriname and Brazil

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‘No shut-out of int’l aid’ SEE STORY ON PAGE 03

…Ministry of Presidency clarifies elections not hindering assistance from international, financial institutions

More Guyanese have been adhering to the various advisories regarding the COVID-19 Pandemic. In this Delano Williams photo, these young ladies are fully ‘masked- up’ while in Georgetown on Saturday

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, April 26, 2020

Tight security for recount …GECOM to establish hierarchical system for resolution of issues …says clear tabulation guidelines will be unveiled

By Svetlana Marshall THE Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has established a hierarchical system for the resolution of disputes should any arise during the National Recount of votes cast at the March 2020 Elections.

However, to minimise the possibility of a dispute aris-

ing during the process, clear tabulation guidelines have been agreed upon by the Commission and strict security systems will be put in place to prevent disruptions.

The National Recount stemmed from a series of legal proceedings filed in the High Court after difficulties were encountered during the

tabulation of the more than 800 Statements of Poll for District 4 by Returning Officer Clairmont Mingo. In fact disagreements among the Returning Officer, the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) agents, and other political parties and observatory groups resulted in loud screams and chants within GECOM’s Command

The Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC) – site of the National Recount (Adrian Narine Photos)

Centre, where the RO’s Office was housed. In fact, at one stage, agents attached to the PPP/C and a number of small political parties clashed with the police as they tried to invade an office, in which the Chairman of the Elections Commission, Justice (Ret’d) Claudette Singh, was operating in.

But Elections Commissioner Vincent Alexander said no such behavior will be tolerated at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC) where the National Recount will be executed for a period of approximately 25 days. In an interview with reporters on Friday on the outskirts of GECOM’s Headquarters, Alexander said strict security systems will be instituted.

“GECOM will take command of that venue and with the aid of the National Security Forces will ensure that we don’t make the mistakes, which in my opinion, occurred at the Ashmins’ building (the Command Centre),” the Elections Commissioner said.

SYSTEM OF RESOLUTION Importantly, Alexander said the Elections Commission established a hierarchical system for the resolution of issues that may arise during the recount of the votes cast in the 10 Electoral Districts.

“There is a supervisor for each work station. The supervisor is the first stop for resolution of issues. If that doesn’t work, then it goes up the chain to the Chief Elections Officer (CEO), and if that doesn’t work the issue is brought to the Commission,” the Elections Commissioner explained.

No single Commissioner would be responsible for the resolution of issues, according to Alexander and issues will be dealt with as a matter of urgency. “We are not operating as individual commissioners as so far as decision making is concerned. We are operating as a Commission,” he clarified while adding that “some matters will have to be treated with urgency.”

The Elections Commissioner is hopeful, however, that there will be little or no dispute arising during the much anticipated National Recount as clear guidelines for the process has been agreed upon by the Commission in accordance with the Constitution and Electoral Laws.

The National Recount is covered under Article 162 (1) (b) of the Constitution of Guyana, which mandates the Elections Commission to “take such action as appear to

Elections Commissioner Vincent Alexander

it necessary or expedient to ensure impartiality, fairness and compliance with the provisions of the Constitution,” and Section 22 of the Elections Laws (Amendment) Act of 2000.

According to the operational plan and draft order, which were approved on Friday (April 24), the national recount will take place at the Conference Centre for a period of 25 days; however, the duration is subject to review. The commencement date, however, is pending.

The Elections Commission is awaiting communication from the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat regarding a high-level CARICOM team to scrutinise the process.

However, once the process commences, there will be 10 workstations operating for a period of 10 hours – from 08:00hrs to 18:00hrs on a daily basis. The plan also details the tabulation process and those who will be involved such as party agents, the CARICOM officials, observers and GECOM officials, as provided for in Section 86 of the Representation of the People Act. In view of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and the need for physical distancing to prevent the spread of the deadly disease, GECOM, in consultation with the National COVID-19 Task Force (NCTF), has agreed that there will be no more than 14 persons assigned to a workstation at any given time.

TABULATION PROCESS Alexander told reporters that key in the plan is the tabulation process. According to the approved plan, the votes cast in District Four will be tabulated simultaneously with other districts. Of the 10 work stations, three will be assigned to District Four – the country’s largest electoral region.

It was also explained that at each workstation, the pro-

cess would be initiated with a checklist to ascertain the contents of a ballot box. Once that is done, the ballots would be counted in a manner similar to the process employed at Polling Stations at the close of poll.

“When that is done, they will have tally sheets and they will use those tally sheets to create what is called SOR – Statement of Recount. In addition to the Statement of Recount, per say, there will be the checklist and there will also be another form provided for any anomalies that we may have noted going through the checklist, and going through the box, so those will be the three submissions.

Those submissions will then go for tabulation in a matrix at the level of the particular district,” Alexander explained.

Importantly, Alexander noted that there will be one final declaration at the end of the tabulation process. “It was agreed that we will have one final declaration,” he posited.

Notably, during the counting of the ballots within the workstations, there will be no live streaming as such would be in breach of Section 90 of the Representation of the People Act, which provides for the maintenance of secrecy during the process. Section 90 states: “Every person attending at the counting of votes shall maintain and shall not communicate any information obtained at the count as to the list of candidates for which any vote has been given.”

However, results tabulated would be broadcast periodically by the Elections. A final declaration of the results will also be made by the Commission in accordance with the Constitution and the Electoral Laws of Guyana paving the way for a President to be sworn in.

Until that is done, President David Granger remains President.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, April 26, 2020

‘No shut-out of Int’l aid’ …Ministry of Presidency clarifies elections not hindering assistance from international, financial institutions

AS Guyana continues to combat the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the country remains eligible to receive assistance from international and financial institutions, despite the ongoing General and Regional Elections.

“Guyana is not shut out of international aid to fight COVID-19,” said the Ministry of the Presidency in a press statement on Saturday.

The ministry was directly responding to reports, published in Friday’s (April 24, 2020) daily newspapers, which suggest that foreign partners as well as international financial institutions, are unwilling to provide Guyana with financial aid to combat the dreaded COVID-19 disease because the country’s electoral process is incomplete.

This suggestion, the ministry said, is inaccurate because Guyana remains engaged with several of its partners. It was only on Thursday, April 23, 2020 that the United States of America (USA) announced that financial aid to the tune of

US$475,000 will be provided to help address Guyana’s priority areas in its fight against COVID-19.

“The Ministry wishes to make it clear that no international or financial institution has linked support to the Guyana’s national COVID-19 campaign to the outcome of the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections,” said the Ministry of the Presidency.

The ministry said no international financial institution has indicated that financial aid has been made conditional upon the completion of the electoral process.

The Ministry of the Presidency’s comments followed a statement from Chairman of the COVID-19 Task Force, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, who said the fact that Guyana is still grappling with an election impasse may hinder its receipt of COVID-19 funding from international financial institutions. “We are aware that there are a few requests that are being processed, but I believe also because of the political situation in Guyana,

President David Granger

while we are in transition to a government that will emerge after March 2, 2020 elections, that we cannot for sure say whether some of these international multinational lending agencies are going to be dealing with Guyana’s application any time soon.

They probably will want to sit it out and wait until the president in sworn in,” said

Nagamootoo during a virtual press briefing, on Friday.

It was reported that Guyana, through the Ministry of Finance, has approached the World Bank with a request for US$5M in funding under the Rapid Response Facility.

Minister of Finance Winston Jordan has stated that, if approved, the sum will fund efforts coordinated by the

Ministry of Public Health and other ministries to contain the spread of COVID-19. Given the unprecedented challenges that COVID-19 poses, the bank expects to deploy up to $160 billion over the next 15 months to help countries protect the poor and vulnerable, support businesses, and bolster economic recovery.

In CARICOM, Haiti is the only country to have received a US$20 million grant for its COVID-19 Response Project.

Already, a number of entities, who are partnering in the fight with the MOPH to stem the spread of the virus, have injected assistance into the government’s efforts to slow the COVID-19 curve.

These include the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), which has been at the side of the MOPH ever since the pandemic and its effects became known globally.

Recently, as mentioned earlier, the United States, through the US Embassy in Georgetown, and the generosity of the American people and the leadership of the U.S. government, continues

to lead the public health and humanitarian assistance to mitigate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“As part of our ongoing commitment to Guyana through the U.S. Caribbean Resiliency Partnership, the Regional Caribbean Office of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is releasing US$475,000 to help address Guyana’s priority areas of laboratory diagnostics and systems strengthening and supplies, surveillance, infection prevention & control, and emergency operation centers,” said the embassy.

It was noted that the funds are part of a regional funding package of US$3,000,000 provided to support the current COVID-19 Response. The embassy said that the regional office of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention will coordinate with the Ministry of Public Health and its regional partners to disburse these funds rapidly and implement the activities.

Harmon no longer Director-General of MOTP …takes up full-time job as CEO of COVID-19 task force

ONE day after he was appointed Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National COVID-19 Task Force (NCTF) Secretariat

by President David Granger, the Ministry of the Presidency (MOTP) announced that Joseph Harmon will no longer function as its Director General.

The announcement was made on Saturday. As CEO, Harmon, under the general or specific directions of the Chairman of the NCTF, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo will establish a permanent National Task Force secretariat; assign permanent staff to manage the national

campaign; create preventive measures against the disease to safeguard citizens’ health and collaborate with regional task forces and stakeholders to safeguard citizens’ health.

Prior to his appointment as Director-General of the Ministry of the Presidency, Harmon was the country’s Minister of State. He, however, was among four government ministers with dual citizenship, who tendered their resignations on April 1, 2019, in keeping with the indications of the High Court and the Court of Appeal that it is unconstitutional for a person who swore allegiance, obedience or adherence to a

foreign power or state to be a Member of Parliament.

And even as he was appointed Director-General of the Ministry of the Presidency, Harmon submitted an application to the US Embassy here in Georgetown, Guyana, asking that his citizenship be relinquished. By October, 2019, Harmon was informed by the US Embassy that his US citizenship was relinquished effective 31st July, 2019.

Under his new position, Harmon is responsible, under the direction of the Chair, for directing the NCTF operations and restarting interrupted

activities; all important logistics measures necessary to prevent the disease from spreading further, directing rapid responses to unexpected and emergency incidents; developing short-term plans for disease prevention and safety of the people and communicating directly with agencies, ministries, regional task force, agencies and stakeholders.

The CEO is responsible also for disseminating accurate information with regard to COVID-19 to the public.

Joseph Harmon, CEO of the NCTF Secretariat

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE April 26, 2020

Guyana and China reaffirm strong bilateral ties

MINISTER of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Karen Cum-

mings, recently thanked Ambassador of The Peo-

ple’s Republic of China, His Excellency Cui Jianchun, for his country’s commitment to Guyanese for the tangible assistance it provided in aid of the COVID-19 fight.

Moreover, Dr. Cummings relayed to the Chinese Ambassador that President David Granger and the Government of Guyana were very mindful of the decades-long friendship between the two States. Furthermore, she emphasised that the relationship was based on shared values and a common vision for the prosperity of the citizens of both countries.

According to Ministry of Foreign Affairs release Dr.

President David Granger sharing a toast with His Excellency Cui Jianchun, China’s Ambassador to Guyana and Liang Huili at last year’s 70th Anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre Cummings recalled that over almost five decades, the two States had maintained and strengthened a vibrant and mutually beneficial partnership through cooperation in a number of areas as well as during high level visits culminating in that of State Councilor and Minister of Foreign Affairs of China, His Excellency Wang Yi, to Guyana on 21 and 22 Sep-

tember 2018. Also, Guyana benefitted from projects such as the Rehabilitation of the Arthur Chung Conference Centre and the extension of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, among others.

Meanwhile, Dr. Cummings assured the Chinese Ambassador that Guyana would continue to work towards further strengthening the deep rooted and robust

relations that existed between the two States. In turn, Ambassador Cui Jianchun committed to continuing to build on the cordial relationship the two countries had been enjoying so far.

This year, the Co-operative Republic of Guyana and The People’s Republic of China will celebrate 48 years of diplomatic relations on 21 June.

Environmental Protection Agency Notice to the Public Dear valued customers, The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) hereby advises the public, that due to the COVID-19 situation, all EPA Offices are being opened daily, with limited services, from 09:00h – 15:00h.

The Agency has taken stringent measures to maintain a clean, safe and healthy environment for both our staff and customers.

In this regard, customers visiting the EPA are to be aware of the following protocols:  The Agency is currently operating with reduced staff on a rotational basis;  Only emergency field visits will be accommodated;  The Offices continue to be cleaned daily and the Agency has installed additional hand sanitizing and hand washing facilities;  Persons visiting the Office are required to comply with the ALL precautionary measures implemented by the Agency, including social distancing, hand washing and wearing of face masks;  The EPA assures you that all procedures and protocols recommended by the Public Health Experts to ensure safety and security are being implemented.

For further information, please email us at epa@epaguyana.org or contact our Offices as follows:

1. Georgetown Office -225-5472, 225-6044 (ext. 2309); 2. Whim Office – 337-2201; and 3. Linden Office – 444-2313.

You can also message us on Facebook or Instagram.

Please remember a clean and healthy environment along with good sanitation and hygiene are critical in the fight against this COVID 19 pandemic.

SUNDAY CHRONICLE April 26, 2020

COVID-19 cases up to 74 … Five patients in ICU

GUYANA continues to record a consistent increase in the number of Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) cas-

es, with the latest statistics showing that confirmed cases moved from 73 to 74 over the past 24 hours.

Sunday, April 26, 05:30hrs - 07:00hrs

Information released by health authorities, on Saturday, showed that five of the infected persons are battling for their lives in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Just Friday, the number of COVID-19 related deaths moved from seven to eight.

In maintaining the fight against the disease, health authorities have been testing persons on a daily basis. And so far, some 442 persons have been tested, with 368 of those persons testing negative for the disease.

As part of efforts to contain the spread of the disease, health authorities have placed 54 persons in institutional isolation and 23 persons in institutional quarantine. To date, 12 persons have since recovered after contracting the disease.

In ramping up its response to the deadly COVID-19 pandemic, health authorities will be introducing mobile testing units at various health centers across the country.

“As of Monday 27th April, 2020 in Georgetown, the MoPH (Ministry of Public Health) will launch its mobile units at the East La Penitence Health Centre. On the East Bank of Demerara at Herstelling; and on the East Coast of Demerara at Paradise, our COVID-19 health facilities will begin to provide services to persons along those corridors,” said Minister of Public Health, Volda Lawrence during a virtual update on the

COVID-19 pandemic, Friday.

She explained that these operations will take place between the hours of 9:00hrs and 15:00hrs.

In addition to introducing these services at health centers, health authorities will be partnering with private institutions and supplying them with medical supplies for sample collection. Sample collection will be done on inpatients and outpatients, who may present with signs or symptoms of COVID-19.

Minister Lawrence said it is imperative to identify and equip “standalone facilities” which will be specifically outfitted for COVID-19 patients.

“As part of this exercise, we will also be screening our frontline workers (health and non- health) both public and private across the ten administrative regions,” said the minister.

Globally, there are over 2.6 million cases of COVID-19, with over to

180,000 deaths. And with no approved treatment or cure, there is no assurance that persons will survive after contracting the disease.

In the absence of approved medications, governments and authorities across the world have employed a number of preventative measures to contain the spread of the disease.

The Guyana Chronicle had reported recently that Guyana is on course to “flattening the curve” and reducing the spread of the COVID-19 disease. This was according to Resident Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/ WHO) Representative, Dr. William Adu-Krow, who noted that this will only be possible if the government maintains the existing containment measures.

Locally, the government has extended its emergency measures to combat the dreaded disease, with the imposition of a 12-hour curfew on citizens. These emergency measures were taken pursuant to paragraphs (1) and (2) (b) of the directive issued by the President, in accordance with the Public Health Ordinance,

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Cap. 145, and published in the Official Gazette, Legal Supplement B, on March 16, 2020.

The measures at reference took effect from April 3, 2020, and are expected to last one month, unless earlier terminated, extended or amended by notice of the Minister of Public Health, after an assessment of the prevailing public health conditions.

“The measures in place are working, and individual measures are working too, but we need to ensure that government enforces the existing measures… The few persons who do not go by these measures need to comply; we need to see more improvement,” Dr. AduKrow said during a virtual press briefing on Friday.

REVISED PROJECTIONS Already, there have been revised projections which show a reduction in the probable cases, but Dr. AduKrow said this new forecast can only be maintained if the measures that have been put in place are adhered to.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, April 26, 2020

Why is the PPP now retreating from the recount?

WE have editorialised many times before that the PPP was never interested in an honest recount of the votes cast at the March 2 elections. Having made serious allegations of fraud which have led to the long delay in announcing the results, one would assume that more than anyone, the PPP would want an honest verification of all the votes. But as we have come to realise over the last three weeks, this is not what the opposition party and its supporters want. On the contrary, they want to bully GECOM to declare them the winner, even though the declarations by the 10 districts show that the coalition has won. We must salute GECOM, especially Madam Chairperson for resisting those efforts.

GECOM and President Granger have done all they can to ensure that there is a recount aimed at answering the charges of fraud. Both the president and GECOM’s Chair, Jus-

tice Singh, have even been accused in some quarters of violating the law in their pursuit of transparency.

Madam Chair gave her word to the court. She has lived up to her word.

Does this look like a person who wants to rig elections? Yet, she is being demonised and terrorised by the PPP, to the point where her life has been threatened. What the PPP is doing to that woman should be recorded for the world to see and for later generations of Guyanese to study. But it seems that sections the private media are in collusion with the PPP. One publication refused to give prominence to her charges of death threats. The PPP and their friends will stop at nothing, it seems.

President Granger invited CARICOM Heads of State to come to Guyana to see for themselves. They came and they saw that the coalition has nothing to hide. He later got Jagdeo to agree to invite CARICOM to send a team to observe the recount. He had to pull back

once the matter got to the courts.

But not to be daunted, he recently overruled the COVID-19 Task Force by relaxing the requirements so that the CARICOM team can get here as quickly as possible. He even agreed to make it possible to extend the workday outside the confines of the curfew.

Does this look like a man who is rigging an election? No, the President must instead be commended for doing everything possible to ensure that GECOM answers the PPP’s charges of fraud. Yet his reputation is being dragged through the mud by the opposition parties led by the PPP. In the face of a daily carnival of lies, we feel compelled to tell the truth. When left unanswered, lies become poisonous.

After overcoming many delaying tactics and unreasonable demands by the PPP, GECOM is ready to begin the recount. But, alas, Freedom House is now throwing a fresh set of tantrums. Like a spoilt child who always wants his

way, they are now trying to back out of the process. They are predicting all kinds of sinister outcomes.

The fact is that the PPP called for the recount. They said it would prove that they are the winners. In the interest of fairness they must remain at the table. You do not get to cry fraud and then run away when it is time to prove your case.

While we are mindful that declarations have already been made for the 10 administrative regions, we support a thorough recount in the interest of fairness. But that does not mean that such a recount should be subject to the PPP’s arbitrariness. GECOM should not be treated as such, it’s not an arm of the PPP or any other party. We stand with Justice Singh in her most recent decisions regarding the modalities for the recount. A recount is a serious matter—it is not a freak show.

The question is this: why is the PPP retreating from a recount which it has been championing all along?

Clearly, it is afraid of what a real recount would unearth. The casual recount of only the Region Four boxes and the use of the doctored PPP SOPs as symbols of truth have been rightly rejected. That was what the PPP wanted to the recount to be about. Failure to secure that condition has sent Mr. Jagdeo and his troops looking for new forms of destabilisation. Guyana must stand ready to block those efforts.

Finally, we take very seriously the reported threats against the lives of Madam Chairman and other GECOM officials. We have had our experiences of brazen assassinations under the PPP. We therefore call on the security forces to step up their efforts to protect public workers at GECOM and other related institutions. We have enough stress on our plates already.

Nandlall’s cheap politics Dear Editor, I am compelled to write this letter in response to a Demerara Waves article under the screaming headline: GECOM`s Alexander plotting to scuttle the recount, use existing declarations- Nandlall.

The article lacks any evidence of the plot and is hinged on the contention that “… we heard Alexander arguing that the infamous declaration made by Mingo is legal, although every international and local accredited observer team, the political parties, the diplomatic community, CARICOM and Governments of the ABC countries have all condemned it as fraudulent.”

Well well! I never made any specific reference to Mingo`s declaration. So, from the very incep-

tion Nandlall adopted a deceptive posture.

Since when does the declaration of individuals or agencies determine legality? No court has ever pronounced on Mingo`s declaration. I hold no brief for it and was never provided an opportunity to comment on it in the normal course of proceedings at GECOM. If public pronouncements were the standard for determining legality/guilt, Nandlall would have been placed behind bars, by public opinion, for his alleged thief of State property, the law books.

Here is an officer of the Court descending to fake news, of his own creation, and the desecration of the Rule of Law in the practice of cheap politics.

That cheap politics has become the order of the day is manifested in other acts of Nandlall and his

cohorts. Here are a few instances: GECOM directs its CEO to prepare a plan based on its guidance.

The CEO complies, the content does not find favour with the PPP and the CEO is publicly chastised

by Nandlall and others for a specific submission that was derived from the CEO`s interpretation of a submission made by a PPP nominated commissioner. Unbelievably, the Commission is requested time by one commissioner to submit an amended version. The permission is granted. A cut and paste copy of the original document is subsequently made and the next thing we hear is Nandlall claiming the submission to be the PPP`s. Yet Commissioner Gunraj in his latest Press appearance seeks to assert his independence.

In a similar manner, he asked for time to review the draft Order,

no sooner was Nandlall discussing the Order in Social Media and accusing me of trying to scuttle the recount. What is more amusing is that Gunraj`s initial submission (“AND WHEREAS the Guyana Elections Commission had decided to set aside all such previous declarations made and in the exercise of its own deliberate judgement, undertake a complete recount of all the ballots cast at those elections...;) (author`s emphasis) also recognised the existence of 10 declarations, albeit a failed attempt was being made to set them “aside”. Yet I am accused of plotting, as if I am the one seeking to make the Order legal in pursuit of an ulterior motive.

The Declaration has never been declared illegal.

In a similar manner to which the amendments to the plan was

politicised, Gunraj returns the next day with ten motions to reopen discussions on approved elements of the plan, and the Order, which motions Jagdeo subsequently claimed to be PPP/C motions.

Not to mention the vile comments that are triggered and encouraged on social media as a consequence of the crass cheap politicking which now surrounds anything that GECOM does which defies the documents originating from the PPP/C. I hope that the telecast which found it prudent to report that I had not responded to Nandlall`s baseless accusation, finds it fitting to acknowledge this response.

Regards Vincent Alexander Commissioner

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, April 26, 2020

Not once did Ram seek to hold the opposition -nominated commissioners accountable Dear Editor: REFERENCE is made to Christopher Ram’s letter, “This recount could be just another act in Claudette Singh’s circus” (Stabroek News 25th April 2020). The allegations made by Ram against GECOM Chair Justice Claudette Singh pertaining to the statutory timeframe to declare elections and the constitutional deadline to reconvene the National Assembly are deceptive. He is not only an attorney-at-law, but one au fait with what is happening in the environment and reading the newspapers through which he seeks to exert his influence. I take note that he could get away with this type of deception without an editor's note.

On the matter of the declaration of the results within the statutory 15 days, it is a matter of public record that Chief Election Officer (CEO) Keith Lowenfield on 7th March emailed the Chair and copied to the commissioners, advising that he has “received declarations from Returning Officers for General and Regional Elections 2020 from Districts One–10. In accordance with Cap 1:03 Section 99, [he has] prepared the final report for submission to the commission. In this regard, a request is made for a meeting of the commission at your earliest

convenience.”

The Opposition-nominated commissioners said they would not attend that meeting because of matters before the court and such attendance would be “in contempt of court” (Guyana Times, 8th March- PPP GECOM Commissioners refuse CEO’s request for Commission declaration meeting).

Further, matters before the court which were brought by both sides pertaining to the electoral process were not dispatched with until 8th April.

Had GECOM gone ahead and declared results ihere would have been a greater ruckus in society.

Look what was done in West Coast Berbice. How many more Indians who supported this government would have had their lives threatened and livelihoods destroyed; how many more policemen and women would have been stoned and ‘chopped up’ and had to run; how many more children would have to face the vicious brutality from violent PPP supporters unleashed to create mayhem?

We could also ask what would have happened to public offices with the nation on 5th March, having witnessed the storming of GECOM by an unruly crowd led by leaders of the main Opposition, who not only had no regard for law and order, but dared to challenge

and insult those in uniform trying to enforce same. This nation could not have withstood more pain.

On the matter of the constitutional deadline to reconvene the National Assembly, the Guyana Bar Association, which is Ram’s fraternity, sought to address this matter. It is unlikely in this time of heightened political awareness he would be unaware. That statement dated 16th April stated, “Article 69 of the Constitution of Guyana mandates that, on dissolution, the next session of Parliament must commence no later than four (4) months from the end of the preceding session. The last session of Parliament was dissolved on December 30, 2019. The next session of Parliament must therefore begin no later than April 30, 2020.”

Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Basil Williams in response to said statement noted, “…that though Article 69 of the Constitution provides that on dissolution the next session of Parliament must be convened no later than four months from the end of the preceding session, the Court of Appeal of Guyana in 2006 upheld the decision of the Chief Justice Carl Singh, that the four months’ timeline was directory and not mandatory.”

Williams further noted, “This case Civil Appeal No.79 of 2006 was appealed by the leadership of the AFC, challenging the PPP/C’s

convening the new Parliament, not on the 2nd day of September 2006 (four months after dissolution) but on the 28th of September, 2006 almost five months later.” This letter titled “Court of Appeal upheld ruling that four-month period for new Parliament is directory” appeared in SN on 19th April. One would have thought that this issue was settled.

It is therefore of concern, Ram’s attempts at broad swipes at the Chair, starting from a premise already litigated in and settled by the court.

Having read all the issues raised

by Chris, one thought in pursuit of understanding and attempting a critique, truth would have been factored in. What is however noticed, is that there exists a deliberate omission that the initial 156 days arrived at by the CEO came as a result of a proposal put forward by Opposition-nominated Commissioner Robeson Benn, and accepted by the commission, that each work station must have two paired commissioners- i.e. one representing the government and one the opposition.

This meant three workstations which influenced the determination of the number of days.

After outcries by the Opposition to the proposed 156 days, fellow Opposition-nominated Commissioner Sase Gunraj said, “The CEO’s suggestion for three tables was informed by his understanding

[of Benn’s recommendation] that each table should be manned by two paired commissioners (Guyana Chronicle 10th April- Lowenfield to revise recounting plan…PPPaligned commissioners counter with 10-day proposal). He further added, “That provided a major restriction, and with the removal of that restriction, I believe that the number of tables can be expanded very easily.”

It is instructive that not once did Ram seek to hold the Opposition-nominated commissioners accountable for any of the delays and deliberations on GECOM working out modalities of a recount.

This raises serious question as to what kind of deliberation and decision-making would have resulted had he been the Chair. Evidently, he seems disinclined to apply a universal yardstick in addressing the deliberations and antics in GECOM and more inclined on sustaining a narrative of guilt and innocence not on truth, but on bias.

I refrain from addressing the other allegations in his letter for they are overtaken by GECOM's deliberations on Friday which were in the news from the said evening.

Regards Lincoln Lewis

Start talking about a post-recount solution

Dear Editor

IT’s now almost two months since the March 2, 2020 elections and Guyanese still do not know who won the contest.

Even in countries with large populations, it does not take that long to determine the results of an election. What does it say to us that we still do not have a result after two months? For one half of the electorate it says that they have won, and the other side is stealing their victory via an elaborate rigging scheme at GECOM. The other half is saying they have already been lawfully declared the winner, but the formal declaration is being blocked by the losers who are using every trick in the book to carry out their scheme. In both instances, the two sides see what they look for.

Both sides have enlisted recommendations from so-called independents and neutral observers. Since one side has been more successful in getting far more big names and powerful interests to bolster its case, it appears to the naked eye that their case has more merit than the other. They have also been able to locate their case in the context of a historical fear that at least one half of the population responds to with deep emotions— rigged elections.

What do I see in the long delay in arriving at a result? At best, I see a disputed election that would not be solved at the ballot box. I

say so because it does not take two months and more to solve a ballot-box problem. It says, then, to me that “there is more in the mortar than the pestle.” There is more than meets the naked political eye. There is a subtext that we are missing or avoiding— silencing. In playing up the “democratic” manifestation of the problem, we are in effect silencing the real political, historical, and sociological problem.

Here is what I think is the problem. Guyana like most recent post-colonial societies is government centred. The government is by far the most powerful institution in the society.

There is no independent and effective civil society space or private sector or military to compete with the civilian government. The government in Guyana has complete formal control of state Institutions. It distributes resources political, economic, and cultural. It has monopoly of coercion. It is all-powerful.

If you win an election in Guyana, you win total formal power and if you lose, you lose all formal power. It makes sense that in a bifurcated society such as ours, where ultimately, we vote ethnically with minor adjustments from time to time, there will be a big fight over who wins the government— who governs? . And this is what we have been fighting over since March 2. Winning the government is not only a guarantee of power for your side, but a defence against the tyranny of the other side. This is what

the majoritarian, winner-takes-all system has saddled us with since 1955. Winner- takes-all in an ethnically divided society is problematic—it leads to trouble.

In Guyana we have had bitter experiences in that regard these last six to seven decades.

The problem led to a civil war 1961-64. It led one side to suspend formal democracy for 28 years with far-reaching consequences. It led the other side to institute ethnic-domination and rule by political gangs as substitutes for state Institutions with equally far-reaching consequences. The promise of coalition government between 2011 and 2020 was squandered first by the Ramotar government and later the Granger government. Neither government had the courage and foresight to move beyond the confines of the winnertakes-all, majoritarian, ethnic domination framework and culture.

So, we arrive at 2020 as an exposed and compromised nation—highly infected with ethnic supremacism. We went through the motions of an election—dancing and waving our flags, taunting one another, and fooling ourselves that we were honouring some democratic promise. As it turns out we were laying the groundwork for the political impasse which has dragged on for two months.

Like Samuel Beckett portrayed in his famous play “Waiting for Godot,” we keep waiting for the ballot boxes to rescue us. In the interim, like Beckett’s two principal characters,

we encounter and discover things—terrible things, in our case.

I am firm in this conviction: those ballot boxes will not deliver us from our ethno-political vice. They will not rescue us. A few weeks ago, I suggested the scrapping of the elections and the installation of an interim Government of National Unity. I was politically lynched by one side which saw my suggestion as undemocratic and a cover for the other side. So, I keep my proposal on the table. Let it stay there in all its craziness.

And let there be the recount; let it go forth. It is going forth and its now dawning on them that there is no magic in a recount in a situation that is more than what is in the boxes.

The recount is not likely to lead to a gift for nether side.

For what its worth, I am calling on the dogs on both sides to tell your masters to start talking about a post-recount solution.

For, when a winner is declared, a new chapter will begin. Prime Minister Keith Rowley says it will not be nice. I say it would be ugly. On a Globespan24-7 programme this past week, both Ravi Dev and I said, we must be prepared to live with the consequences. Commonsense could soften the landing.

Regards David Hinds

THE LONG FIGHT 8

AT 73 and 8 on Friday (seventy-three confirmed cases with eight deaths), my colleague, Imran Khan, concluded that the Coronavirus curve in Guyana is still climbing uphill. In comparison, the Director of Public Information noted that the curve in Jamaica is flattening.

“Curve” is a new label that has been coined to explain the movement in the incidence of COVID-19 cases around the world. “Uphill” is not healthy; while being on a “plateau” or “flattening” is better news, showing that the number of persons being infected or dying is stable or reducing.

SPIKE IMMINENT In Guyana, there must be some cause to worry that, from the trend, a spike in the number of confirmed cases, or even persons dying, appears to be imminent. The time is therefore now for a serious, non-emotive/no-nonsense, review of all the measures that have been put in place to combat the spread of the disease, in particular, closure of our borders and airspace.

It may be too soon to say but, with a larger population, the Jamaican numbers indicate that their measures have prevented a dramatic spike.

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, April 26, 2020

Since March 21, Jamaica’s air and seaports have been closed to incoming passenger traffic.

But that has changed with the deportation, from the United States to Jamaica, of nationals who are styled “involuntary returned migrants” (IRMs).

Some of the estimated 16,000 IRMs, as was revealed in Guatemala, were tested positive for COVID-19.

its airspace tightly. A mere request via a diplomatic note from Barbados to repatriate Trinis whom it claimed were stranded on the island, drew a sharp response from Trinidad.

Barbados, whose own airspace remains closed until May 30, commented that it was “deeply disturbed” that the request was deemed disrespect for T&T’s border policy!

ACTIVE LOBBY There is an active lobby for the return of Guyanese nationals from foreign lands.

There is also a business side to the lobby about which I get calls round-the-clock. Suffice to say that these potential returnees fall into several categories: those claiming to be stranded overseas while on business or vacation; those, particularly from New York and Florida, who have overstayed their visa entry period; and professionals and students who wish to return home. Representation is also being made for the return of the bodies of Guyanese who have died overseas.

While Jamaica has flexed by allowing “controlled re-entry” of Jamaican nationals while the airspace remains closed to all others until May 31, the twin-island republic, Trinidad and Tobago, has shut

HIGHLY CHARGED ISSUE I made reference to the above to show that it is not an easy matter to decide on relaxation of entry requirements for nationals from overseas, including within the Caribbean. It is recognized that this is a highly charged issue.

In an extraordinary time of a pandemic, re-opening the airspace to passengers’ flights has to be premised on a balance between the right of citizens to return home, and the public policy concern of protection for resident Guyanese from imported cases of coronavirus. It also has to fit within the medical capacity of Guyana for testing, quarantining and treatment/hospitalization of large inflows into the country.

In this situation, we have to plan for the worse even as we hope for the best, which

was the reason for the strengthening of the National COVID-19 Task Force (NCTF).

The appointment of Lt. Col. Joseph Harmon as Chief Executive Officer (CEO/ NCTF) and others to manage the command centre is a welcomed move.

I have worked with Mr. Harmon, then Minister of State with responsibility for civil disaster, during episodes of flooding in Guyana and hurricanes in the Caribbean. I can attest to his experience and capability which will come in handy as we tackle the complex problems that have arisen and would arise as we buckle down for a long fight against COVID-19, which is an all-people battle for survival.

BLUFF AND BUFFOONERY This is not the time for politicians to belch bubbles, as if intoxicated on a mixture of soap water and cheap bleach, about government’s failures, some time in the past, to plan for COVID-19.

This is no time for bluff and buffoonery, as I witnessed the Opposition Leader doing last Friday, about a fictional, imaginary “president-elect” whom, he claimed, has mag-

ical plans to address the pandemic. There is, since 2015, a constitutional President – David Granger - and he is leading the campaign in Guyana against the coronavirus contagion. Our traditional partners such as the United States of America and United Nations organisations have recognized the efforts of a friendly government and they have, as we say in Guyana, chipped in financially and materially.

This is an unprecedented period in Guyana’s history when, faced with tragic socio-economic consequences, politicians have to act with responsibility. It is not politics-as-usual when politicians on the hustle could spin false expectations that they would roll out $50,000 to each citizen, together with 50,000 jobs, 50,000 houses, 50,000 scholarships, $50,000 worth in hampers, and 50,000 this and that!

I listened to the Leader of the Opposition, in between his bluffs about “sanctions” and more foreign interference, as he admitted that there is a President in place and in

office in Guyana, who is the symbol of the constitutional order. There is no such thing as a “president-in-waiting” or “president-elect”. As a lawyer, I advise Mr. Jagdeo to be more careful in his choice of words!

MULTI-ETHNIC DEMOCRACY In the same breath he tried to stoke his own fears about the outcome of the ballot recount process, which he believed would be rigged. So, in his cuss-down style, he publicly attacked the integrity of the Chairman of the Elections Commission. Then he threatened to boycott parliament, and to reject any calls for inclusive governance.

Those utterances will not help the process of strengthening our multi-ethnic democracy, and realizing national reconciliation. I rather feel that they would come back to haunt him, since he may have thrown out of the window one last chance of rejoining the national patriotic forces in Guyana.

LOYALTY, SCIENCE, TRUTH, LEADERSHIP IN A GLOBAL CRISIS

THE age of information has brought with it, the age of disinformation. It appears truth has never been under this much existential threat. The Covid-19 pandemic has brought this regrettable phenomenon into renewed focus. Recently, we have been inundated with statistics, data and numbers related to the aforementioned public health crisis and it has become increasingly difficult to trust information coming from social media with its plethora of dubious sources. In the pre-internet era, we relied on expected repositories of truth; the courts, science, government bureau of statistics, traditional media such as newspapers, radio and television and more.

We have also relied on our leaders to be the flag-bearers of the facts but in some global circumstances, we have been sadly disappointed.

With the aforementioned in mind, it is certainly an opportune time to reflect and discourse on loyalty, science, truth and leadership in a global crisis.

LEADERSHIP DURING A CRISIS On December 31, 2019, The People’s Republic of China alerted the World Health Organisation about strange pneumonia in Wuhan. On January 1, 2020, health experts identified this virus and ascribed its now dreaded name, COVID-19. By February, world

Chieftains in all capitals began scrambling to grapple with the worst public health crisis since the Spanish Flu in 1918. The people of those various nations were stuck with the captains they elected at their previous elections and some have painfully learned that elections can have fatal consequences.

Bad or poor leadership can have a bearing on life or death. Some denied the potency of the virus. The anti-science posture that we see vis-à-vis climate change reared its ugly head. Some autocrats are using this opportunity to consolidate wretched power. In Hungary, Viktor Mihály Orbán has used this pandemic to consolidate power.

In the Philippines, Rodrigo Duterte instructed his security forces to shoot citizens who violate curfews. In the United States, the President discussed the internal usage of disinfectants to fight the virus at a White House press briefing. Thankfully, good leadership has prevailed in countries such as New Zealand, Barbados and Germany. What reasonable conclusions can we draw thus far? It is clear, the character of the leader does change during a crisis, it becomes more implacable. Be that as it may, where do scientists who are most needed during a pandemic feature in all of this?

SCIENCE V POLITICS IN THESE COVID-19 TIMES The relationship between science and politics has proven, in most cas-

es, to be an uneasy one. There has always been a penchant to disregard scientific evidence when it does not suit a political objective, even when lives are at risk. Since the outbreak of this pandemic, this relationship has been placed under the spotlight. In the process, some world leaders are proving to be prudent by listening to the scientists and technical minds and others, due to sheer political desperation, have chosen to repudiate tried and tested scientific theories. This symbiotic relationship and often time an adversarial connection is presently being negatively exemplified by the political developments at the highest level of the US Government concerning the fight against COVID-19.World viewers have been glued to their television sets to watch the daily press briefings of the White House Taskforce on COVID-19, in a desperate need for the best expert advice on this virus. On the face of it, an instructive subplot of science versus politics has emerged.

Science is represented in the form of Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, M.D., NIAID Director and politics is uniquely represented by the President of the United States of America, Donald J. Trump.

On one hand, Covid-19 has obliterated the US economy, going from record employment to a five-week total of 25 million unemployment claims (MSNBC), wiping out the 695,000 set in 1982. This has placed the crux on which the US President’s popularity

and chances of reelection are based, in serious jeopardy and any scientific fact that does not serve the interest of a resuscitated booming economy, is being met with disdain. Despite this Sword of Damocles hanging over their heads, the experts have stuck to the data, facts and science under the watch of a hovering President with an executioner-like presence over them on a daily basis.

BENDING DATA AND SCIENCE TO THE WILL OF THE MAXIM LEADER Repressive leaders hate bad news, they insist on feel-good public announcements that induce hope in their subdued populations. Given that posture, one can imagine the difficulty being faced by scientists and technical persons who are mandated to submit advice based on scientific data in countries such as Iran, China or North Korea. Even in open societies, data and science-based advice have to be rendered while striking a delicate balance between sticking to the loyalty of the Hippocratic Oath and appeasing the leader. The Committee on Human Rights (CHR) with members from the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering and the Institute of Medicine has undertaken

the cases of 287 scientists, engineers, and health professionals, who have been incarcerated for political reasons. It is absolutely non-negotiable, your data and findings must bend to the will of the maxim leader. Where there is absolute conformity with the wishes and the demands of the totalitarian head, it is often a case of the ‘mad scientists’. This has been well documented by Simon Igs in his book, ‘Stalin and the Mad Scientists’.

In his work, Igs describes the likes of LLya Ivanov, who wanted to cross breathe humans and chimpanzees; Alexander Bogdanov who believed in mixing human blood with Martians to extend life spans; Trofim Lysenko, Stalin’s poster-boy, who believed plants sacrifice themselves for their strongest neighbor and was given the job of reforesting European Russia and Alexander Alexandrovich Bogdanov who never studied science or subjected himself to peer review but became the Head of the Scientific Institute of Blood Transfusion. When this religious loyalty meets data and science during a crisis, it is an extremely dangerous business.

During a crisis, science must remain loyal to science and always speak the truth and leaders must accept scientific and evidence-based advice.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, April 26, 2020

Op-Ed

Gerry Gouveia’s interest in the elections may be a case of self-interest

By Adam Harris

Persistence is a virtue. It is so when someone insists of getting something. Sometimes the persistent person can be a nuisance but then again, there is a saying that what is worth having is worth pursuing.

Capt. Gerry Gouveia is a very persistent person. In the process he has changed the way people view the Private Sector Commission.

This was supposed to be an apolitical organisation. I have been at forums where the chairpersons of the Private Sector Commission pledged to serve the government of the day.

The result was that whoever was leading the country would be invited to address events like the Annual Awards. Political loyalties had nothing to do with the invitation. More recently, though, the Private Sector Commission appears to have taken on an advocacy role. This body applied for and was granted observer status for the March 2, 2020 elections. It was the same thing in 2015. With the other observer missions it visited polling districts and polling stations to ascertain the proper conduct of the elections.

This year, he flew the diplomats from the United States Embassy, the British High Commission, the Canadian High Commission and the European Union around the country to locations that are somewhat remote. The fact that the final count has been mired in controversy has not escaped notice. In the past, when challenges were raised the Chief Elections Officer would direct people to the courts by way of an elections petition.

Doodnauth Singh, who was the Chairperson of the Guyana Elections Commission, did just that. On one occasion when he was asked about the ballots for polling stations right in the city being among the last to arrive at GECOM headquarters he made light of the issue. He simply said that the ‘runners’ (the

people bringing the statements of poll) must have gone to the Olympics. When the opposition-elected members of the commission challenged certain counts, Gocool Boodoo, the Chief Elections Officer, merely told the objectors that they can go to the courts by way of an elections petition.

The volume of irregularities that surfaced in the 1997 elections did not stop GECOM from bulldozing ahead with a declaration and even a secret swearing of the President, Ms. Janet Jagan. Those elections were vitiated.

For ruling against the government the Bharrat Jagdeo-led government removed Justice Claudette Singh from the judicial line up. She was to become Chief Justice when Justice Cecil Kennard retired and Justice Desiree Bernard became Chancellor but she was ignored. Jagdeo moved her aside and made Justice Carl Singh the Chief Justice.

He tried to placate both Justice Claudette Singh and those who questioned the sidelining to say that the judge would not lose status, and that she would receive the same pay as Justice Carl Singh. We know that Carl Singh went on to perform the duties of Chancellor and Justice Claudette Singh later went on to become Police Legal Adviser.

Ironically, the very judge, Claudette Singh, who vitiated those 1997elections is now the Chairperson of GECOM. She is being attacked to the point that threats have been made against her life. When Commissioners suggest that the protests should come by way of an elections petition these suggestions were ignored.

VOCAL DIPLOMATIC CORPS Meanwhile, for the first time I saw the international community being very vocal in their protest of the vote count. The community talked about sanctions and non-recognition of a government sworn in on those results. His-

tory had been created. The international community took over the control of the elections and sought to dictate terms and conditions.

Capt. Gerry Gouveia was among the most vocal. He used his Private Sector Commission to send messages internationally, protesting the conduct of the District Four count. Those protests should have been over when President David Granger and Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo decided that there should be a total recount of all the votes. The courts supported the decision and GECOM decided to move ahead with a total recount.

One would have expected that that was the end of the controversy. Far from it. Gerry Gouveia continued his campaign for a recount of the District Four votes. GECOM had moved past that but not Gouveia. He claimed that there were no problems in the other electoral districts. But there were. Representatives of the coalition attempted to get recounts but were bluntly denied. They were advised to get into the ballot boxes by way of an elections petition. The deck was stacked against them.

Gouveia and some others, including Nigel Hinds, an economist, began to lobby for the District Four ballots to be counted simultaneously with the others. Instead of allowing GECOM to proceed in a manner that would satisfy every elector, including those carping for a District Four recount.

There will be a District Four recount when the time comes. But before that there will be a recount of other electoral districts.

Only recently I learnt why Gouveia is so persistent in trying to have the other ballot boxes remain closed from public scrutiny.

He needs the People’s Progressive Party in office. The Guyana Revenue Authority has him in court for some $350 million. This was money collected when Dynamic Airways was operating in Guyana. The sale of tickets attracted a value added tax. That was money

Adam Harris

due to the government coffers. It turned that Mr. Gouveia never paid over that money.

Commissioner General of the Guyana Revenue Authority, Godfrey Statia, entered into an arrangement with Mr. Gouveia for payment. If my information is correct, GRA gave Gerry Gouveia just over a year to pay.

When nothing happened GRA moved to the courts and secured a decision. Mr. Gouveia has appealed that decision.

I am now wondering whether his fanatical support for the PPP using the Private Sector Commission is because with a PPP victory that money, all $350 million, would not have to be paid. There is also a court matter that was investigated by retired Crime Chief Alvin Smith. Mr. Gouveia and a Vieira were involved. It involved a Skyvan. Desmond Hoyte was President.

That matter, too, has not been disposed of. Alvin Smith may have retired and Desmond Hoyte may be dead but the records are still there.

Understanding Energy

Why it makes sense for Guyana to keep producing THE announcement earlier this month that OPEC+, led by Saudi Arabia and Russia will enact major production cuts to stabilise prices has left many Guyanese asking an obvious question: Does it make sense for us to do the same?

The answer is a complex one and has as much to do with Guyana’s status as a new producer in the global oil market. Even as global oil prices remain at their lowest levels in decades, there are compelling reasons that a country might keep producing oil in lowprice situations like today.

For new producers in particular, there is an emphasis on establishing a reliable track record of production to help cultivate a customer base. Guyana, as a very new producer, is still trying to establish itself in the market and form relationships with refiners and traders.

Maintaining a steady flow of oil even in a down market is a signal to the rest of the industry that Guyana is a reliable supplier.

Oil producers also count on maintaining a certain share of the market in order to ensure that there is a reliable customer base for their product in the long term.

Even Saudi Arabia, despite its production cuts, will be sharply discounting the price of its oil for customers in order to retain market share. Guyana is just now starting to build its market share and form connections with refineries who can buy our oil. It is also an opportunity to seize market share from other producers who may have had to halt production in these difficult times. Regardless of the price environment, a country will also usually continue to receive revenues from any production that takes place.

While it is unfortunate that revenues will be lower than expected, we must also consider that many countries are seeing their revenue streams dry up entirely. That’s a major reason why the International Monetary Fund is still forecasting that Guyana’s economy will grow

more than 50 percent next year, even as most other economies shrink.

In Guyana’s case, continuing oil production provides more than just revenues. Thousands of Guyanese are employed in the oil and gas sector already and hundreds of businesses depend on it for their employees’ livelihoods.

Guyana and the Stabroek Consortium companies have invested heavily in developing the capacity of Guyanese businesses and workers to compete in the sector through training and programmes such as the Centre for Local Business Development. If production were suspended, many of those businesses and employees would suffer, and much of the work that has gone into building up Guyanese industry would be wasted.

Businesses that supply the sector have to count on a certain level of continuity, especially smaller local companies that are just starting out and need to build steady revenues.

There is also an undeniable le-

gal consideration in the decision to keep producing. Many contractors and suppliers for production operations have contracts that guarantee a certain level of demand or payment. Breaking those contracts by shutting down production would likely be extremely expensive.

As any factory owner or businessman knows, it can also be prohibitively expensive to bring operations back online after they have been shut off. Rehiring staff, establishing new agreements with suppliers and inspecting and restarting huge amounts of delicate machinery takes considerable time and money.

As industry magazine Oil Price recently noted, “Shutting down has its own costs, and could make restarting more difficult and expensive. For some oil fields, shutting down could cause permanent damage to reservoirs.” Robert Plummer, VP of investment research at energy analysis firm Wood Mackenzie, also echoed those sentiments to Reuters, "Given the

cost of restarting production, many producers will continue to take the loss in the hope of a rebound in prices.”

The reality is that many costs continue whether oil is being produced or not. Ships on the open ocean cannot go without fuel or crews, undersea systems can be dangerous if not properly maintained, critical systems must be monitored.

But as long as production continues, revenues can cover costs, even if profits are not high.

This is undoubtably one of the most difficult times the industry has faced in decades, but as analysts like to emphasize, nothing fundamental has changed. Guyana is rapidly becoming an important oil producer. Delaying that for a serious but ultimately temporary crisis might only put us in a worse position to push forward when the pandemic fades and demand rises again.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, April 26, 2020

Book reviews:

A Review of President David Granger’s 'The national interest: The international relations of a small state'

David Granger, Guyana’s President, is a passionate advocate of Caribbean regional integration and Continental peace and security.

He also has emerged as one of the world’s foremost spokespersons for small states, highlighting not only their challenges but, also, their invaluable contribution to solutions to global challenges.

David Granger’s book – The national interest. The international relations of a small state – confirms his international reputation as a statesman to whom the world should pay greater attention. The book offers visionary insights on issues such as environmental responsibility, regional integration, international peace, defence diplomacy and, most of all, the security of small states.

This book is a rich source of Guyana’s foreign policy. It defines the country’s foreign policy objectives concisely and precisely. The book is a product of a meticulous research and scrupulous analysis of his country’s interests in the international community.

The concept of the national interest has been used and abused as the pretext for aggression by states against others. There have been invasions, incursions, insurrections and other forms of intrusion in the pursuit of the aggressors’ national interest.

The resort to such claims, notwithstanding, the promotion of the national interest remains an essential instrument of the foreign policy of small states. which lack the economic, military and political influence of larger states. They are obliged to rely, increasingly, on diplomacy as the main means to pursue their foreign policy objectives. The national interest provides the relevant framework

for small states to articulate and promulgate, precisely, these objectives.

The national interest represents the objectives, principles and policies which states pursue in their international relations in order to achieve their national goals. These goals may change over time with the advent of new governments but there remains, often, a kernel of immutable principles and unalterable long-term strategic interests at the heart of any state’s foreign policy.

Fashioning a country’s foreign policy involves determining and defining the national interest.

Sources of a country’s foreign policy are to be found in the addresses and statements delivered at international meetings and conferences by its Head of Government. Such presentations contain the objectives, principles and policies which constitute a state’s foreign policy.

The book consists of a series of ten addresses which the President of Guyana delivered to various international meetings and conferences – in Britain, Brazil, Chile, Ethiopia, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago and the United States of America.

The first address was to the Heads of Government Conference of the Caribbean Community in which President Granger proposes a return to the original vision of the founding fathers of the Community. He emphasises the need for strengthening functional cooperation, one of the original pillars of the Community.

The second address was delivered at the William J. Perry Center for Hemispheric Defense Studies in Washington D.C. In that address

President Granger pointed to natural disasters as an emerging security threat to the small states of the Ca-

ribbean. He called for security cooperation, between the United States and the Caribbean, to encompass environmental security.

The President was invited to address the Andres Bello Diplomatic Academy during a state visit to the Republic of Chile in 2016. His presentation emphasized the importance of preserving the continent of South America as a zone of peace.

He iterated this call when he examined the security challenges of small states, during his address to the 50th

anniversary of the Institute of International Relations of the University of the West Indies.

Continental security cooperation was the subject of a special address which President David Granger delivered at the Paula Nogueira Batista Auditorium, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Brasilia, Brazil, on 2017.12.21.

He identified defence cooperation as a key element in ensuring regional peace and security.

President Granger has emerged as one of the world’s leading spokesmen for small states in the field of the protection of the earth’s environment. His intervention at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Conference in London in 2018 reminded the Conference of the Langkawi Declaration, issued 30 years earlier, in which the Commonwealth sounded an early warning to the world of the impending dangers of climate change.

During his address to the Third International Conference on Financing for Development, Addis Ababa, in 2015, President Granger issued a stern rebuke to those who threatened the use of force against other states, pointing out how such actions undermine security which is integral to development. The link to the challenges to the territorial integrity of Guyana could not be missed when he observed: Security and stability are indispensable to sustainable development and the pursuit of prosperity. We resent, reject and resist the threat or use of force or any unilateral coercive attempt by one state against another in order to frustrate the legitimate aspirations of our people to enjoy a

good life.

The addresses in this book highlight Guyana’s key strategic foreign policy objectives – territorial integrity, defense cooperation, Caribbean integration, Continental recognition as a zone of peace and protection of the earth’s environment. These are the elements of the national interest which Guyana projects through its foreign policy.

The most significant value of the book, however, is the framework it establishes for fashioning a state’s foreign policy. Addressing his country’s diplomats during its Heads of Mission Conference in 2017, President Granger argued that the national interest should be considered at three levels – the citizen, the country and the Caribbean Community. The national interest is pursued when diplomats represent and protect the country’s citizens wherever they are, pursue the state’s broad economic and political interests and promote regional cooperation and integration.

David Granger makes a signal contribution to international relations theory with this typology.

David Singer’s theory of the ‘levels of analysis’ allows for an examination of the factors influencing international behaviour. David Granger’s theory of the ‘levels of the national interest’ offers a typology for defining and articulating a state’s foreign policy objectives.

This book is of supreme value to policymakers, statesmen, students of international relations and to those interested in having a deeper understanding of Guyana’s foreign policy. It is worthy of a place in any library or university.

Gov’t targeting vulnerable persons, farmers, business owners for relief …to implement multi-faceted approach CHIEF Executive Officer (CEO) of the National COVID-19 Task Force (NCTF) Secretariat, Joseph Harmon, said the government is taking a multi-faceted approach to provide relief to citizens in the wake of emergency measures put in place to suppress the spread of the dreaded coronavirus (COVID-19) disease.

A number of industries and sectors have grind to a halt as a result of the COVID-19 Emergency Measures, which include closure of nonessential businesses, a 18:00 hours to 06:00 hours curfew and physical and social distancing. Reports indicate that workers in various sectors such as the tourism, hospitality, telecommunication, aviation, and manufacturing sectors have either been laid off or forced to take pay cuts or unpaid leave.

Harmon, on Saturday, said government is cognisant of the financing challenges faced by the people of Guyana, and is working to implement a menu of measures, which will target the vulnerable sections of society, farmers, business owners and students.

At the time, he was touring the National Gymnasium, which has been transformed into a storage facility for the stockpiling of materials for the Civil Defence Commission (CDC).

The CEO of the NCTF Secretariat explained that the David Granger Administration has classified the measures into short term and long-term actions. In the short term, he noted that those persons who are affected and

deemed vulnerable will be looked after, while in the medium term, the government is looking to reboot some small businesses so that they can continue their production and manufacturing activities.

“So, the efforts in the first phase will be to deal with those immediate issues. We have worked over the last week in trying to determine that category of vulnerable persons. We have gotten to the point now where we are fairly comfortable with that and it is not the traditional areas of vulnerabilities. There are persons who might not have been vulnerable before COVID-19, but because of the measures that we have introduced, it has caused them to be at home; they cannot work or feed their families so we have to consider that as a vulnerability,” he explained.

The CEO of the NCTF Secretariat further added: “We are doing several things at the same time. We are looking at the traditional vulnerabilities, age, disability, et cetera, but then we are looking at persons who have been affected in terms of their businesses.”

In the first instance, Harmon said the Ministry of Business will shortly commence the coordination of small businesses to determine how best the government can lend assistance to ensure they thrive and recover during and after this period.

“That is the coordination of a small business plan. We are also looking at a plan from the Ministry of Agriculture, which is called

CEO of the NCTF Secretariat, Joseph Harmon, being briefed by Director General of the Civil Defence Commission (CDC), Lieutenant Colonel Kester Craig during the site visit to the National Gymnasium.

REAP [Regional Emergency Agricultural Project]. That has to do with re-energising smallscale agriculture and bringing people back to basics so they understand that after COVID-19, there is going to be a food crisis and we have to prepare our people from now. So, during this phase, we will be looking at how best we can help small farmers in so far as giving them seeds, equipment and agricultural extension services so that they can go back to the land.

While we are assisting with hampers, we want

to wean people off of that,” he said.

Further to that, the Ministry of Education in collaboration with the Ministry of Public Telecommunications and other agencies, is working to ensure that public schools’ students can continue their education while the schools remain closed. Harmon noted that the government is cognisant of the fact that not every student has access to Internet and is therefore working on practicable solutions.

“Then, as you know, some people are working from home and they are still being paid so the Ministry of Public Service is looking to see how best we can optimise that to ensure the government is still efficiently managed,” he said.

The CEO also made it clear that contrary to some reports, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo remains the Chairman of the NCTF and the secretariat must report to him. “All we are doing in this secretariat is being done under the general and specific guidance of the Prime Minister who is the Chairman of the Task Force. We report to him and then he reports to the Council of Ministers. We are going to do whatever is in the best interest of the people of Guyana to make sure they are safe and prepared for during this virus and after. This is about strengthening and operationalising the Task Force,” Harmon said.

Since Guyana reported its first case of COVID-19 on March 11, 2020, the Public Health Ministry and the NCTF have been leading the fight against the deadly Coronavirus, while putting in place measures to cushion the impact caused by the disease.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, April 26, 2020

Police to ‘stringently enforce lockdown’ THE Guyana Police Force is set to ‘stringently enforce’ an array of emergency measures, including a nighttime curfew, which were put in place by the authorities three weeks ago to curb the spread of the deadly coronavirus.

Noting that it will continue to enforce any breach of the orders as published in the orders highlighted in the list of emergency measures, the police on Saturday republished the list of emergency measures which were implemented by the National COVID-19 Task Force.

The police reminded the populace of an active 18:00 hours to 06:00 hours curfew which makes provisions for the operations of essential services on a 24-hour basis.

Minister of Public Health, Volda Lawrence, confirmed that telecommunications and media are considered “essential services”.

The police noted that the measures highlight the need for social distancing protocols for those services which will continue to operate during this period.

“With these emergency measures now published, all curfews or measures taken by town councils and village/community leaders and others are revoked except

Patrons and a snow-cone vendor, none of whom appear to be wearing face masks, await their turn at a snow-cone cart outside the Bourda Market this week

those made by the ministers responsible for education, civil aviation, maritime, immigration and finance,” the police said.

Since the implementation of the month-long lockdown measures on April 3, 2020, there has been scant adherence to the law. Members of the public have not been adhering to curfew and this is evident as many motorists continue to operate on the country’s roadways after the 18:00 hours cut off time.

The Guyana Chronicle reported on Saturday that a number of vehicular accidents, some of which were

Customers wash their hands before entering the Survival Supermarket.

The business is one of several in the city which have erected hand-washing stalls outside their places of business (Delano Williams photos)

Brazilian gang attacks, kills miner at Marudi Mountain …group operates between Guyana, Suriname and Brazil

A PRE-meditated attack on a mining camp at the Marudi Mountains in the South Rupunun, by a gang of bandits operating between Brazil, Suriname and French Guiana, resulted in the death of a Brazilian miner and one of the gunmen on Friday night.

Reports are that sometime after 18:30 hrs on Friday, the gunmen attacked the owner of an operation, known only as “Zezao”.

The man returned fire, during the attack, killing one of the men who is said to be another Brazilian businessman, called ‘Nigong’, who has ties to the bandits. Both men died at the scene.

According to reports, the dead bandit is originally from the town of Lago da Pedra, in the state of Maranhão in Brazil. He is said to be the owner of a shop in the Marudi Mountain area and was seen in Georgetown a few weeks ago.

Previously, he operated in the Kurupung area in Region Seven.

Reports are that the man may have been watching Zezao’s movements.

Persons on the ground noted that

leading up to the robbery, the other gunmen crossed the Takutu River

Brazilian miner ‘Zezao’ was said to be well liked by his peers and persons at Lethem

and entered the Marudi Mountains area via the Deep South Rupununi villages.

However, there are reports that some of the men involved in Friday night’s attack went into the area months earlier under the guise that

they were seeking employment. It was noted that this provided them with an opportunity to monitor the miner’s movements. A witness said that some Guyanese miners may have been involved in the planning of the robbery.

It is unclear if the men managed to take any valuables from the miner.

The men are said to belong to a ‘mafia’ gang which works on behalf of drug-traffickers. They would plan robberies and travel between the three countries and access the areas easily given their remote location.

Reports are that the bandits, who were moonlighting as miners, were brought into the area via a backtrack route in the South Rupununi.

The men are said to be part of a group which killed another Brazilian miner, Antonio DaSilva, at a mining camp at Akawaina in the Cuyuni, late in September, 2017.

During that attack, an employee related that several “foreign speaking men’ invaded DaSilva’s camp and robbed the man and his workers before shooting him. They later hurried out of the area.

fatal, occurred during the curfew period. Since the implementation of the curfew, there were five road accidents, in which six persons lost their lives.

A recent accident along the Pomeroon River occurred sometime after 21:00 hours, hours into the curfew period.

In addition, Guyanese have been gathering in large numbers outside commercial banks as well as at popular hangout spots within Georgetown and its environs without paying little head to social distancing measures.

On the brighter side, many business in the city have made it mandatory for customers to enter the place of business with a mask. In addition, some business entities have installed sinks with running water and soap on the outskirts of their businesses for customers.

At least one pharmacy in Middle Street has placed stickers, lined six feet apart for customers to wait their turn before entering the business entity.

Trans Guyana launches weekly flights to Region 8

DOMESTIC airline, Trans Guyana Airways, on Friday, launched weekly flights to the Potaro-Siparuni Region in response to concerns expressed by relevant stakeholders regarding that region's access to food and freight supplies.

Trans Guyana noted in a release that the flights will operate from the Eugene F Correia International Airport to Mahdia, Kaieteur, Chenapau, Paramakatoi, Karisparu,Kato, Monkey Mountain and Kurukubaru. The return fare varies between $26,500 and $39,000.It was noted that the fare from Mahdia to Ogle stands at $15,000.

Trans Guyana Airways said that it continues to take every precaution necessary to curtail the spread of COVID-19. Such procedures include 100 per cent temperature testing of all passengers and staff, sanitising of the aircraft before every flight, the compulsory wearing of face masks and hand-sanitising of passengers and staff before boarding the aircraft.

The airline said that all cargo

will be similarly sanitised.

The carrier explained that it took on the initiative in response to the Aircraft Owners’ Association of Guyana’s (AOAG) request to address the concerns expressed by the Amerindian People’s Association (APA) and the government with regard to Region Eight’s access to food and freight supplies.

"The local aviation industry is highly competitive and thus the market forces that result from this dynamic work to keep the industry fair. Trans Guyana Airways will continue to provide a superior and safe service to and for the people of Guyana," the airline noted.

Recently, the domestic airlines noted that the measures implemented by the authorities were "excessive". Among the measures implemented by the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) are the suspension of flights from border locations.

Guyana has so far recorded 73 cases of the coronavirus. To date eight persons have died from complications attributed to the virus.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE April 26, 2020

‘I’d need a belt for Hetmyer’ –Windies great Lance Gibbs … admits frustration with mercurial young talent

WEST Indies great Lance Gibbs has jokingly suggested he would need a belt in order to help the talented but often mercurial young batsman Shimron Hetmyer.

The legendary spinner, who turned 85-year-old last year, had a good laugh when asked to assess what measures could be taken to get the 23-year-old to consistently produce the type of performances his immense ability often seems to suggest he is capable of.

“I want a belt. I want a belt in my hand when I see him,” Lance quipped during an interview on the Mason and Guest radio show.

The former U-19 World Cup-winning captain has been both a source of both delight and frustration for West Indies fans in recent years. While he has often been revered for his effortless and beautiful stroke play, the player has also been guilty of a certain amount of recklessness, which often gifts his wicket to opponents.

Hetmyer was dropped for a few games in February after failing a fitness test.

“You don’t just throw away your hand like that,” Gibbs added.

The spin bowling legend, however, believes that the attitude of some of the modern players is influenced by how much they participate in the shorter formats of the game, which have become the most lucrative.

“We play limited-overs cricket at a fair pace, you have 20 overs you have 50 overs. The 20 overs is a slug, our young players are not putting their heads down to bat for a period of time.

We probably need more 50 overs. A youngster like Hetmyer, for example, goes out and always wants to hit the ball for sixes, you don’t bat that way.”

As means of a solution, Gibbs suggested the creation of a formal medium where past generations could be given the chance to meet and mentor the current crop.(Sportsmax)

World Cup winner Jofra Archer searches for medal in lockdown UNPACKING after moving house is not the easiest task at the best of times.

And for World Cup winner Jofra Archer, there’s a little something missing in his new flat.

Archer bowled the super over in which England beat New Zealand to clinch their first men’s World Cup title in front of a packed Lord’s crowd.

England lifted the trophy and each player received a winner’s medal as a momento of the day.

“Oh, jeez. So, the funny thing is...” pace bowler Archer said when asked by BBC Radio 5 Live where he keeps his medal.

“I have a portrait that someone did of me and sent to me, so I had the medal hanging on that.

“I moved flats, the picture has been put on a new wall but there’s no medal.

“I’ve turned the house upside down for over a week, and still haven’t managed to find it.”

Archer said he would still keep looking for the medal, adding: “Trust me, there’s nothing else to do in these conditions!”

Archer was recovering from a low-grade stress fracture in his right elbow when the coronavirus lockdown began in the UK. Asked what he had been doing - other than searching for his medal - the 25-year-old said he was making the most of the situation “To be honest with you, I’m having a blast,” Archer added.

“I get to play Call of Duty as long as I want and I still get to train at home.”I did play the cricket [video] game last week - I’ll probably stick to CoD!” (BBC Sport)

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE April 26, 2020

Big disappointment among US-based Guyanese female athletes

By Ras Wadada SEVERAL young Guyanese females who are currently on athletic scholarships across the United States of America (USA) are extremely disappointed at the cancellation of this year’s Track & Field season due to the global COV19 pandemic, but remain optimistic for the future.

The announcement by the organisers to call off the season came on the eve of the NCAA division 1 In-

the words of my coach that ‘it wasn’t by luck that you have made it and you can definitely do it again’.

“I left New Mexico very disappointed, but had higher hopes for the outdoors, and then when the announcement of the cancellation of all spring meets was made, I literally broke down in tears.

I, however, found hope in the belief I can still make it to the Olympics so I kept training and fixed my focus but when that was cancelled too I realised and understood

Chantoba Bright

Andrea Foster

door Championships which were set for New Mexico on March 13 and 14, while the Outdoor Championships were scheduled for June 10 to 13 in Austin, Texas.

The two main attractions and much anticipated events, annually, have left a bitter taste in the mouths of the thousands of athletes who were expecting to use these meets as prime paths to the quadrennial global showpiece, the Olympics.

Among the athletes affected are the ‘crème de la crème’ of Guyanese females who spoke to Chronicle Sport directly via telephone.

Final year Clemson University’s Health Science student, Andre Foster who was ranked number one in the world indoors 800M earlier in the year, shared her feelings of disappointment.

“This year’s cancellation really hit home for me since I was well focused on qualifying for the Olympics, but I know God has other plans. The cancellation of the Indoors was a bitter pill to swallow because this was my first time making it to Nationals for Clemson University and it was also my first step towards my big goal, Tokyo 2020.

The news came on the eve of the Championship and it happened to be my birthday so you can imagine how much discouraging a moment that was. Thanks to my coach and team mates I was able to look at the brighter picture and be reminded by

that it was out of my control.

COVID-19 has changed a lot of things and norms for me, but it definitely hasn’t changed my mindset. It’s hard training from home but I am making the best of it”, the 23 year-old former Bladen Hall Multilateral student related.

At Texas Tech University, 20 year-old Caludrice McKoy, who is majoring in Human Sciences and was expected to get her first taste of NCAA Division One Track and Field Championships opined that while she was upset, she can relate to the circumstances and necessary actions taken.

“I must admit I was very disappointed with the cancellation, but with that being said, I think it was the correct decision to cancel the championship since health and safety comes first. I think it was done in the best interest of the student-athletes and to protect all stakeholders involved”.

The former Central High/ Chase Academy Foundation student who won CARIFTA Gold in the 3,000M and 1,500M as well as Bronze in both events on different occasions is not too bothered about the confinement indoors due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

“I am coping well, both, physically and mentally, with COVID-19. Personally, I am not the outgoing kind of person so being confined to my home, which is not too far from campus, even though

Coach Julian Edmond (at left) and C0-coach Sham Johnny

Avon Samuels we are not in mandatory lockdown, is not a problem for me. I just hope that the Coronavirus which is causing the COVID-19 gets under control sooner rather than later so that we can all return to a state of normalcy. Most mornings I get on Zoom, with a video interaction App, and linkup with my compatriots and we workout together. I also, occasionally, go for 45 minute-long runs”.

The other Running Brave-raised athlete who had high expectations for her debut NCAA Division 1 Track and Field Championship is 22 year-old triple-jumper Natricia Hooper who is in her second year of a full scholarship at the renowned University of Florida, but she had to call off her start again with the Gators after injury kept her out for the first year.

“My emotions were all over the place for the first two weeks, as I was planning to launch my season on March 27th. The cancellation of the track season is dispiriting and I woke up each day hoping that is was all a dream, then I came to my senses and knew nothing would change. I then started to look at the positive side-effects of this pandemic, because this too shall pass. I am staying inside and taking advantage of this free time by doing things to keep my spirit uplifted and I am still working on my goals, doing small workouts on my own like jogging, drills and plyos so as to remain in shape”, the former New Campbellville

Natricia Hooper Secondary student stated to Chronicle Sport.

Hooper, who is pursuing a Masters in Sports Management, indicated that next year she hopes to conduct a Jump clinic called Jumpomatic in Guyana. She concluded, ‘Currently I am focusing on finishing my University studies and then starting my professional career’.

Former Christ Church Secondary student Avon Samuels who is in her first year at St. John’s University is also distraught at the current effects of the global pandemic, ”I am affected physically and mentally since a lot of hard work was put in everyday of the week; since I understand what it demands to compete at the NCAA level of competition.

I saw constant improvement and I was being motivated. I was growing in confidence then all my hopes were taken away with this COVID19.

I have lost the moments I wasn’t fortunate enough to experience and it plays with me mentally. I have made lots of sacrifices to get where I am presently…no one knows what I’ve been through. It’s very hard on me, but now I understand that my health is more important.

COVID19 shows me that nothing is guaranteed, so I have to live and bury this feeling forever. What’s for me will be for me”, the 20 year-old 200M and 400M specialist, who is majoring in Business Administration, disappointingly asserted.

University of Texas

El Paso sophomore Long and triple jumper, Chantoba Bright who attended the Mckenzie High School while conveying her displeasure remains optimistic.

“I am one who is very disappointed that the track season was called off because I really have been training hard and had a great indoor season so I was confident of producing an awesome outdoor season. Add to that the fact that I was training with the mindset of qualifying for the Olympics, so I was ready

door season as I had a fairly great indoor season running better than last season, so I know I was only going to get better outdoor. I should also say that I am thankful in a way for this current break as during the Indoor season an old knee injury acted up but my mental strength was enough to get me through the season . As a believer in “what is meant to be will be” I take comfort in knowing God has plans beyond my imagination. I trust God and to me

Claudrice McKoy

Joanna Archer

to go out there and leave it all at the pit, but I guess God knows best and therefore I am trusting the process and using this as an opportunity for me to work harder, heal and get closer to achieving my goals on and off the track.

I am remaining positive and looking at the bigger picture and the brighter side of everything that is happening.

I must admit that this lockdown period is really doing me good since I have been using the time to really assess myself, reflect on my journey so far and truly work on my career and education.

I am still training at home and doing classes online. It is not difficult to stay focused because I am a self-motivated and usually indoors chilling by myself, so this situation is not strange to me”, the Environmental Science major informed.

One athlete who managed to return home the day before the closure of the airports, here in Guyana, is 19 yearold Joanna Archer who was able to complete her two-year studies, online, at Munroe College in NY and is now heading to Texas Tech where she will commence her scholarship, majoring in Criminology and with a minor in Communication studies in the fall of 2020.

The former West Demerara Secondary student expressed her set back and her thanks due to the current pandemic,”COVID-19 has really interrupted my plans to run faster during the out-

I feel like it’s my healing season and in 2021 I’ll come back stronger and faster. At the moment because of the lockdown I am basically improvising indoors at home.

It’s no secret that this virus stole a lot from me, but it wouldn’t take my faith and confidence in my talent”, the 800M Specialist declared.

The chief nurturer of the aforementioned athletes, except Bright and Archer, is Coach Julian Edmond who disclosed to Chronicle Sport the reason for the success of the Guyanese athletic club established in 2006, “At Running Brave Track and Field Club, we, inclusive of president Trevor Williams and Co-coach Sham Johnny, work hard to let the athletes believe in themselves through commitment and discipline and having patience…it’s hard work.

One of the primary goals of every athlete we produce is to become champion of their respective category in the country. We also have seen an increase in selections on Junior CARIFTA Games from our club and this has to do with our solid preparation/ foundation work which starts in November.

These athletes on scholarships in the USA all have the potential to go on to bigger things, but I think Andrea Foster and Natricia Hooper are likely to give Guyana its first athletic medal at the Olympics”, a proud Edmond predicted.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE April 26, 2020

Dehring says negative financial impact on CWI inevitable

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, (CMC) – Former high-level cricket executive, Chris Dehring, says a heavy financial hit for Cricket West Indies is inescapable, as the coronavirus pandemic continues to wreak havoc on the global sporting calendar.

T h e C a r i b b e a n g o verning body is facing the prospect of having to cancel money-spinning home tours against South Africa and New Zealand between July and August, and with the Test tour of England scheduled for June also in doubt, revenues are expected to dwindle significantly.

Dehring, a former chief marketing executive of CWI (then West Indies

Cricket Board) and chief executive of Cricket World Cup 2007 staged in the Caribbean, said in light of the significant impact of the pandemic, he anticipated “stress and strain” for the already embattled board.

“I don’t know the details of Cricket West Indies’ financial structure now but they have accumulated debt,” Dehring told Starcom Radio’s Best and Mason cricket show here.

“They are dependent on television rights and so on and everything will still look good on paper if you’ve signed a television rights agreement but if that series does not get played, what happens?

“So we’re about to see a true test of the sort of in-

surance policies that several people have taken out over the years for protection of television rights. It’s going to be an interesting scenario, a very challenging scenario for even Cricket West Indies because you do have a global scenario.”

COVID-19 has also already infected 2.7 million people globally and caused 190 000 deaths. Critically, it has forced lockdowns in all major nations, resulting in the widespread closure of businesses and massive job losses.

Already, analysts have projected a US$2.7 trillion loss for the global economy, especially with no end in sight to the deadly pandemic.

Dehring, the current co-

chief executive officer of Ready TV in Jamaica, said unlike other cricket boards, CWI did not possess large reserves and would be therefore particularly vulnerable.

“There’s a strong chance the world economy won’t recover in the next 12 to 18 months and so if you are expecting certain levels of income [this will not be possible], and some of these advertisers that television broadcasters would have been dependent on [will be slashing budgets],” the Jamaican explained.

“So even Cricket West Indies is going to come under a lot of stress and strain – I can’t see how they escape that. Obviously the boards of England and Australia, India

– they have reserves. That’s the benefit of having massive prior years of television rights [revenue].

“Cricket West Indies, as far as I remember, don’t have those kinds of reserves so it’s going to be an extremely nerve-wracking time between now and when those events are played – if they are played and what revenues are generated from them.”

CWI chief executive, Johnny Grave, recently acknowledged that the COVID-19 presented a unique challenge to the board’s finances, pointing out that world cricket was facing “unprecedented times”.

He said CWI had not yet taken any decision on the scaling back of operations

The man Broad and Anderson found ‘impossible’ to bowl to … England seam duo reflect on their battles against former South African opener Graeme Smith PROLIFIC England pace pair Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad say they found former South African skipper Graeme Smith to be one of the toughest batsmen to bowl to in their careers.

Smith enjoyed great success in his 21 Tests against England, scoring seven hundreds and averaging almost 57, with the high point being his consecutive double centuries against them in 2003.

While Broad didn’t play in that 2003 campaign, he says he found Smith “an absolute nightmare” to bowl to because of the left-hander’s ability to score freely through the leg side.

Broad enjoyed great success against another left-handed opener, Australia’s David Warner, during last year’s Ashes campaign when bowling around the wicket and says he laments not being skilled enough early in his career to try

Graeme Smith celebrates his double hundred at Edgbaston // Getty Images

that approach against Smith.

“Graeme Smith, I found an absolute nightmare,” Broad said in an Instagram Live video with Anderson.

I wish I could have bowled at him having worked on my around the wicket stuff and try and draw him to drive through extra cover.

“But for me just over the wicket trying to swing it into the stumps, hopeless.”

South Africa’s 2003 tour of England was arguably Smith’s greatest performance as a Test player, highlighted by his scores of 277 and 259 at Edgbaston and Lord’s respectively to start the series.

Anderson played in that series as a 20-year-old Test rookie and concedes he also had no idea how to quell Smith’s prolific scoring through the leg side.

“I had exactly the same problem,” he said.

“When I first started, my first series against him was 2003 and all I could do then was swing the ball back in. I didn’t have an out-swinger to a left-hander and I couldn’t wobble the ball across him.

“So I was just feeding his strength. I just go so annoyed.

“And when you thought ‘alright, I’ll start the ball a bit wider outside off stump’, and he still got it through the leg-side.

“He got two double hundreds in that series in 2003. He was just impossible to bowl to. I hated it.”

While Anderson did get the better of Smith later in his career, dismissing the opener six times in 17 Tests, Broad got the left-hander out only once in 10 matches.(Cricket Network)

West Indies women’s captain Merissa Aguilleira

Former Cricket World Cup 2007 CEO, Chris Dehring. but if faced with a scenario where no cricket was played for the remainder of the year, there would be “significant reductions of all of our costs and salaries, and our players, staff and officials are clearly all part of that”.

New mom Aguilleira says Windies Women lack passion

FORMER West Indies women’s captain Merissa Aguilleira believes players must take personal responsibility if the Caribbean women are to keep pace with the rest of the world.

Aguilleira, who captained the West Indies in both Twenty20 and One Day Internationals between 2009 and 2015 retired from the sport in April 2019.

Since then she has done commentary on several Windies women’s matches, taken over as Technical Director of the Trinidad & Tobago Women’s team while giving birth to her first child, Zahdia Zahara-Meri Fraser on March 30.

The former wicket-keeper/batter who’s captaincy stint included three trips to the ICC World T20 semi-finals and the final of the 2013 50-over World Cup, believes that some players’ passion for the game has been waning since their 2016

World T20 triumph.

“We cannot continue to remain stagnant,” she said while speaking to Donald Oliver and Ricardo Chambers on the Commentators podcast.

She made reference to the team’s 5-nil home series defeat by India in November ahead of this year’s T20 World Cup in Australia where they failed to get beyond the first round.

“Somehow the drive, the passion is not there and that’s a huge cause for concern. We as West Indies players love to express ourselves, not just play cricket but have fun playing cricket, so when you look at the players and you realize they are not having fun, you realize that the passion is not there.”

The 34-year-old also opened up about her feelings after losing the captaincy in 2015 and about the sacking of long-time coach Sherwin Campbell.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE April 26, 2020

Randy Harris on a mission to eliminate deficiencies in Caribbean football

By Ras Wadada

LONG serving Barbadian football administrator, Randy Harris, who has been acting at the helm of the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) for just under two years, is confident that the Region will recognise its deficiencies and effectively implement policies to get the ‘Beautiful Game’ to some semblance of proper structure and management.

In an exclusive interview with Chronicle Sport, the 65 year-old Harris who is also the boss for the Barbados Football Association (BFA), highlighted the major impediments of the sport’s development in the Region that he recognised even before assuming leadership of the CFU. “The thing about the CFU is that management structures were not there, so it needed some checks and balances, and we thought it wise to appoint a Director of Finance, to have a paid staff, including a highly qualified accountant, to make sure our finances and business are being administered in a proper way, since there

CFU boss Randy Harris was a lack of accountability in the past.

There is no denying the previous past Presidents of CFU carried a lot of clout so most things were said and done. Prior to 2016, we in the Caribbean as Administrators of football lacked proper management skills and definitely had no sustainable plan to take the football to the next level so basically we need to set a proper platform that has sound management skills to execute the policies”, Harris posited.

The experienced football Administrator who has been the elected president of the BFA since 2012

recounted how he rose to the top position in CFU. “We at the BFA had so much work to do that it never crossed my mind to be part of the CFU’s Executive Council, but we had some problems where the former president, Antiguan Gordon Derrick had some problems with FIFA, not concerning the CFU but concerning the Antigua & Barbuda Football Association of which he was General Secretary.

After he recused himself from CFU because of the ongoing investigation

by FIFA, I was invited to become part of the Executive Council as a member and when FIFA made their decision to suspend Derrick the senior Vice President, at the time, Reginald Francisco of Curacao took over the leadership.

At a Congress in 2018 it was however decided to vote for an acting President and I defeated Francisco.

The next year there were elections and I was elected to see out the tenure of the executive which ended this year. Due to the current COV-19l pandemic, elections for all positions due are yet to be held. Although my main concern was the state

of the sport in my native land where I served as President, I was persuaded to take up the reigns of the CFU as a number of Member Associations felt I should take up the leadership.It was very heartening to me to know that after previous Presidents encountered so much problems with FIFA and the football world that they had the confidence in me. I knew that I was capable and so decided to give it a shot”.

The former Lodge School student informed that after assuming leadership he went about, with support, restructuring the Organisation.

“My first order of business was to bring back some semblance of creditability and compliance to the CFU as an Organisation. We had two immediate past Presidents of the CFU who were actually accused of committing a number of crimes involving football.

Basically I know that we in the Caribbean will now have to show the world that those ousted Presidents do not define Caribbean football leaders.

I got a lot of help and legally we worked on the Constitution and put a num-

South/Central Essequibo T20 committee spearheading drive to assist the less forunate AMID the COVID- 19 pandemic, the T20 Organising Committee of South and Central Essequibo have initiated a drive to provide assistance to the needy across the Essequibo Coast.

The Committee has since invited the various clubs and supporters to pool their resources and to support a noble cause. In an invited comment, executive member Trevis Simon disclosed ,“it is imperative at this time that as a committee we show solidarity to those affected by this deadly virus and offer our assistance”.

He added that there are 24 Clubs currently involved

in the South/Central T20 League and he is hopeful that they will contribute individually and as a group.

The Committee is also appealing to the corporate community and other stake holders to also join the drive in assisting the less fortunate. Simon, who is also Chairman of the Reliance Grounds Committee has pledged on behalf of the Committee to distribute food hampers, face masks, detergents and other accessories that are deemed necessary.

Residents of Essequibo have been severely affected by the virus which has resulted in the loss of jobs,

increase in transportation cost as well as the hike in prices of items in the store.

The Committee will specifically target families with children and intends to distribute to over 100 homes across the Region.

The Committee has since advised persons including the sporting community to take all the necessary precautions including social distancing and the regular washing of hands.

Those desirous of making a contribution can contact Trevis Simon-619-2022, Rohan Budhram- 600-1069 or Andy Ramnarine- 6631997.

ber of things in place to have written rules and regulations to manage the business of Caribbean football and that was done successfully. I had said that once that was done and some semblance of confidence is returned to the Caribbean we will work on the development of the game”.

According to Harris, emphasis should be on our youths and coaches, in going forward.

“I think we at CFU should focus on providing more competition in the Region for our young footballers from U-14 upwards.

The lack of international exposure for the young players has always hampered our performances at the Continental level. We are not short of football talent in the Caribbean but their football intellect is behind and that is because they lack playing time.

It is also equally important to develop and train coaches so that the young players could develop positive attitudes. Too many young players possess real negative attitudes and are being encouraged with such behavior. That must be corrected. We also have a way of tribalising everything we don’t agree with and that is a big problem in the Region as well.

On the question of a pro-

fessional League for the Region Harris informed, “CONCACAF recognizes that there is a problem and likewise the Caribbean countries realise that if they don’t have professional football they cannot compete with amateur players against other countries with professionals.

That is a recipe for disaster for the Caribbean.

CONCACAF has promised to do some research and are in the process of selecting a committee with people who have experience with success in professional leagues and those who have tried in the Region.

Their task is to come up with the plans for the Caribbean to run a sustainable professional league”.

Harris also voiced his concern with the low level of participation on the distaff side, “We need to find a way in the Caribbean to get more girls playing football since a multiplicity of opportunities are available, especially at Colleges in the USA where Women football is popular and in the professional leagues in Europe”.

Harris declared that as soon as the situation of current mandatory living conditions return to normalcy elections for all positions on the executive of the CFU will be contested.

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Sunday April 26, 2020) COMPLIMENTS OF XTRA ENERGY DRINK – STABROEK BAZAAR (Tel-683-9500) & CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD- 83 Garnett Street, Campbellville, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158)

Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1) Nuwan Zoysa (vs ZIM, Harare, 1999-2000) (2) Michael Holding-14/149 (vs ENG, The Oval, 1976)

Today’s Quiz:

Executive member Trevis Simon

(1) Which SL wicketkeeper has effected most dismissals against the WI in Tests to date?

(2) Which WI wicketkeeper has effected most dismissals against SL in Tests to date?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

SUNDAY CHRONICLE April 26, 2020

31

Cricket given leading role in British sport re-opening plans, say ECB Cricket - Ashes 2019 - Second Test - England v Australia - Lord’s Cricket Ground, London, Britain August 18, 2019 General view during the match Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs/File Photo

By Simon Evans MANCHESTER, England (Reuters) - English cricket’s governing body said it has been given the leading role for all sport in the country, including soccer, in examining how to create ‘bio-secure’ venues as leagues look for ways to restart their competitions without fans.

Tom Harrison, chief executive of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), said his organisation has been asked by the British government’s Department of Culture, Media and Sports (DCMS), to look into how all sports might be able to resume in secure environments once COVID-19 restrictions

are eased.

“The ECB has been asked to lead by DCMS across football, horse racing, tennis and rugby,” Harrison said in comments reported by the website Cricinfo.

“There has been a lot of communication between sports, particularly around health, as we are trying to guarantee safety.

“I had a conference call with the head of the FA (Football Association) and the RFU (Rugby Football Union) about a range of topics: working together; how we share information about playing behind closed doors.

I’m speaking to the Premier League later. We’re facing

very similar challenges and taking decisions as a sector,” he said.

The DCMS declined to comment on Harrison’s statement but it has been liaising with a number of sports bodies including the ECB on how things might work should the green light be given by the medical experts for sport to resume safely.

The ECB has suspended the professional game in the country until July 1, but England are due to face Pakistan in a three test series from July 30.

Harrison said that any attempt to play international cricket without fans would lead to a rethink on venues, with those best suited to a secure environment coming to the fore.

“What we have to be really careful with here is to understand that right now testing elite athletes or people in sport just cannot be a priority in the context of the national health crisis and the issues frontline workers and vulnerable people are facing,” Harrison said.

“Government tells us when the time is right. It’s not yet, clearly. We’re not lobbying the government; we’re working with them.”

On Saturday, the Football League (EFL) which organises the three divisions below the Premier League, highlighted testing of players and others involved in games as the key issue.

“Clearly, before any return to football can take place, suitable testing arrangements for participants must be in place and this is core to our current planning, as is ensuring there is absolutely no negative impact on the country’s front-line workers, the Emergency services, League and Club staff members,” the league said in a statement.

“The EFL’s medical advisor is working with a select group of medical professionals and sports scientists to ensure their collective expertise is utilised to address these issues.

This group will consider the latest medical information and evidence from both in the UK and abroad, particularly around the viability and accessibility of the various COVID-19 tests that are currently available”.

The EFL said it “welcomes the current steps being taken by the UK Government to establish a group of governing bodies to look at the complex set of challenges facing the wider sporting industry.”

Stanton Rose Jr signs with ‘I’d need a belt University of St Mary’s for Hetmyer’

By Rawle Toney

STANTON Rose Jr, the flashy point guard who created history in 2018 when he captained Guyana to their maiden Caribbean Basketball Confederation (CBC) title, announced that he is moving to the San Antonio, Texas-based University of St Mary’s, to continue his collegiate career and journey to professional basketball.

Rose will now compete in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division-2 with University of St Mary’s, after featuring in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) with Jacksonville College and Panola College.

“Blessed to announce that I’m going to continue my basketball and academic career at the St Mary’s University….a big thank you to all those been riding with me from start and will be there in the end,” the talented guard said.

“Thank you coach Aaron Smith for allowing me to show my talent; Ann Gordon and Dave Causeway,

Stanton Rose Jr has announced he is moving University of St Mary’s you guys created something Singh, who also served as special. Thank you to Coach president of Bounty Colts Christopher Jackson Charles, basketball Club, for movI’ve learned a lot from you in ing him to Georgetown and a very short time. I will never allowed him to be part of forget the teaching of coach his club.

Rose, who hails from Willon Cameron, Junior Hercules, Lugard Mohan, Chris Kwakwani, a small commuBowman; special thank you nity in Region 10, located on to you guys because you all the Berbice River, wrote his played a major role in my name in Guyana basketball’s basketball career,” said Rose. history books, when he, as He also thanked current an 18-year-old, captained president of the Guyana the country to their first CBC Amateur Basketball Fed- Championship, when the eration (GABF), Michael tournament was hosted in

Suriname.

The flamboyant player was named Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the tournament for his sensational performances, which also include a tournament-high 41 points performance which came in Guyana’s 104 – 102 double overtime win against St Vincent and the Grenadines.

He totaled 106 points (third overall), led the tournament in steals, totaling 15 at an average of 2.5 per game, was third in points per game (17.7), third in assist per game, eighth in Rebounds per game and was the fourth best efficient player.

Stanton Rose placed his named amongst players like Lugard Mohan, Auric Tappin, Stanislaus Hadmon, Lorenzo Withrite and Leon Christian (just to name a few) as some of the most talented to ever suit up for Guyana, but what separates him from the aforementioned great ‘ballers’, is that he able to bring the ‘elusive’ John Yates trophy back to Guyana, and being the youngest ever to do so.

Printed and Published by Guyana National Newspapers Limi ted, Lama Avenue, Bel Air Park, Georgetown. Telephone 2 2 6- 3243-9 (General); Editorial: 2 2 7- 5204, 2 2 7- 5216. Fax:2 2 7- 5208

–Windies great Lance Gibbs … admits frustration with mercurial young talent See story on page 27

Guyana and West Indies batsman Shimron Hetmyer SUNDAY, APRIL 26, 2020