Guyana Chronicle E-paper 5-20-2020

WEDNESDAY

76

No.106005

20th May, 2020

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boxes processed on Tuesday SEE PAGE 03

…GECOM ties increase to setting up of additional workstations

NGSA set for July ERC probes woman’s racial rant on Facebook

The Ministry of Public Health on Tuesday received a donation of 30,000 face masks and 1,536 COVID-19 testing kits from the Ali Baba Foundation in the People’s Republic of China. This contribution will boost efforts to protect the frontline response to COVID-19 while ensuring more persons are tested for the disease, the ministry said in a release. Receiving the donation on behalf of the Ministry was the Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Shamdeo Persaud who disclosed that Guyana has conducted over 1000 tests of which 124 (as of March 18) are positive. Dr. Persaud noted that testing has been “ramped up” to contain the virus and ensure more persons are protected.

Coalition provides proof of dead person voting …says PPP/C attempting to change narrative on electoral fraud

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, May 20, 2020

Coalition provides proof of dead person voting … says PPP/C attempting to change narrative on electoral fraud

By Gabriella Chapman SINCE the commencement of the national recount, the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) has been saying that the coalition is in receipt of credible evidence to prove that persons who have migrated, and persons who are dead have been listed as voting at the March 2, 2020 elections.

The party also said that they intend to use this recount as the opportunity to expose the illegal acts of the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) at the elections.

Thus far, all these claims have been ventilated through the media, and on several occasions, commissioners would have confirmed strange findings in boxes from PPP/C stronghold areas. This has led to the opposition using varying medium to purport a twisted version of the narrative, for it to be in their favour.

However, on the issue of the dead and migrated voters, the coalition remains resolute that their findings are credible. Speaking with the media on Tuesday, APNU+AFC agent, Ganesh Mahipaul, said that he was made aware that persons are using the Facebook platform

APNU+AFC agent, Ganesh Mahipaul

to accuse his party of lying to the public. He said that he is aware that at this time, every party will want to have its own narrative, but the public must not be misguided into thinking that the claims of the APNU+AFC are on falsified grounds.

Mahipaul said that through several posts, persons said that they were claimed to be dead by the APNU+AFC, but they are very much alive, leaving the public to believe that these are tales being told by the coalition. However, he explained that his party is making objections from the Official List of Electors (OLE), while the PPP/C is using an old list that doesn’t correspond with their numbers.

“This morning at station five, the PPP counting agent came up to me and showed me three names of persons that are living in Leonora and I live in Leonora too. He said how can we object to these three names when he confirms that these people are alive and well… PPP is using a list of electors that is not the official list of electors. Leading up to the March 2 elections there were a series of lists that came out, and after the list you had the claims and objections period, and from the claims and objections period, a new list was generated. And the final list that is generated, is the official list of electors, which is a pink list. The serial num-

bers that are on the pink list are different from the serial numbers on the other lists.

For example my serial number where I had to vote was 127, but on the pink list it is 115. When we are making our objections we are referencing from the numbers on the pink list which is the official list of electors. So all the persons who are posting on Facebook saying that they are alive and well, I wish to let them know that they were not alleged to be dead by our party.

I am 110 per cent sure that our objections aren’t to those who posted on Facebook,” Mahipaul clarified.

CHANGE NARRATIVE Based on this occurrence, he said that “I am deriving that the People’s Progressive Party is trying to change the narrative, they are trying to distract Guyanese and in their attempt to do that, I believe they are creating greater division among our people.

I’m saying that to say when you go to someone and you ask them to make a video and to put this thing out, you’re trying to paint a picture that our claims are false. I wish to say to Guyana and the world at large, that our claims aren’t false. It is being done through extensive and intensive fieldwork and we know that the persons we have objected to have either migrated, and did not return

The death certificate of a ‘voter’ to this country, on or before March 2, or they are dead.”

Explaining their investigation strategy, Mahipaul said that the APNU+AFC has a field operation going on, and persons are inquiring about migration and deaths, and they are feeding the agents at the recount centre with the information so that they can make the necessary objections. He reminded that the government was lobbying for a sanitised list of electors before March 2, but that was not granted, so they were already aware that the list would have been

padded.

It was on those grounds the party launched their preliminary investigation to equip themselves with all the names of dead people on the list, and all those who migrated. So at the recount, when going through names on the official, pink OLEs that have been marked off as voted, they can scan their list of dead and migrated, and can make their objection if they are able to match any of the names.

Providing one such example, Mahipaul made available the death certificate of a voter from district two.

From ballot box 210, serial number 257 was registered as 81-year-old Chitnandani Ramdass, but the party has a death certificate confirming that Ramdass died on June 6, 2015.

He said for his station alone, he has over 100 death certificates to scan through while they are going through boxes, to see if any of those persons have voted.

Mahipaul also said, that in relation to the migrated persons, what they have is family members confirming that individuals were not in the country at the time of elections, and when the time comes to produce evidence, they will do so to the commission.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, May 20, 2020

76 ballot boxes processed on Tuesday … the highest on any given day since recount started

THE Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) on Tuesday recorded a significant increase in the number of ballot boxes processed in a single day since the National Recount of the votes cast at the General and Regional Elections commenced.

At the close of operations at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC) on Tuesday (Day 14), a total of 76 ballot boxes were processed: 18 from Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara); 14 from Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica); 18 from Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice); 18 from Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne); and eight (8) from Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni).

Overall, 718 ballot boxes from a total of 2,339 have been processed since the recount was initiated on May 6 by GECOM, under Article 162 of the Constitution of Guyana and Section 22 of the Elections Law (Amendment) Act. The increase in the processing of the ballot boxes is linked to the establishment of additional workstations.

In its quest to accelerate the pace at which the ballots within the ballot boxes are being recounted, the Elections Commission, in keeping with the advice of the National COVID-19 Task Force (NCTF), established two additional workstations, taking the total number of workstations to 12.

People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Executive Member Anil Nandlall, while pleased with the recorded increase moving up from a low of 25 ballot boxes on the very first day, told reporters that more boxes could have been processed if GECOM did not set 17:00hrs as a cut off time for the extraction of ballot boxes from the containers.

MORE COULD’VE BEEN DONE “We still feel that more could have been done, because, again, the containers were closed at 5:30pm (17:30hrs), and

A summary of the Statements of Recount tabulated as of May 19, 2020 at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, venue of the National Recount that continues to be an Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) LJP secured 144; the PPP/C, (CG) raked in 216 votes, of Recount have been prounacceptable time for the have been counted. There 7, 996; and the URP 77 while LJP secured 135, cessed from a total of 158 closure of these contain- were a total of 99 ballot votes. There were a total of and URP 95. There were a ballot boxes. In the case ers,” Nandlall said. boxes from Region One, 12, 060 valid votes cast by a total of 26,491 valid voters of Region Six, 12 State“If we want to complete and 135 from Region Two. total of 12, 440 persons who in the Regional Elections ments of Recount have been the work within the time, Based on the votes re- had presented themselves for Region Two. tabulated from a total of we must work towards an counted for Region One, on March 2 to vote in Re378 ballot boxes, while extension of time, or cer- the A Partnership for Na- gion One. TOUGH TASK AHEAD in Region Seven, five (5) tainly closing the contain- tional Unity + Alliance for Meanwhile, while all of Statements of Recount have Meanwhile, in Region ers at a minimum about Change (APNU+AFC) se- Two, the APNU+AFC se- the Statements of Recount been tabulated from a total 6:30pm,” he told reporters cured 3,909 votes in the cured 7,340 votes in the from Regions One and of 82 ballot boxes. Notaon Tuesday.

General Elections, while General Elections, while Two have been tabulated, bly, the recounting of votes The Elections Commis- the Liberty and Justice Party the PPP/C raked in 18,785 there still remains a great from Regions Six and Seven sion, in one of its recent (LJP) raked in 170, PPP/C votes. A New and United task ahead of the GECOM commenced this week. decisions, ruled that no box 8002, People’s Republic Guyana (ANUG) received as it seeks to complete the The GECOM Secreshould be removed from the Party (PRP) 24, and the 85 votes; Change Guyana recount within a period of tariat, in accordance with containers after 17:00hrs. United Republican Party (CG) 151; LJP 121; PRP, 25 days. In Region Three, the gazetted Order, will The decision was taken out (URP), six, of a total num- 57; The Citizenship Initia- only 178 Statements of move to recount votes from of concern that the teams ber of 12,111 valid votes tive (TCI) 18; and URP, 64. Recount have been tabu- Regions Eight, Nine and operating at the level of cast. According to statistics In total, there were 26,621 lated.

10 upon the completion of the workstations may not coming out of GECOM’s valid votes cast.

Region Three has a to- the other regions. There be able to complete the re- Tabulation Centre at the For the Regional Elec- tal of 355 ballot boxes. In are 55 ballot boxes from counting of votes within the ACCC, there were 328 re- tions, the APNU+AFC re- Region Four, the country’s Region Eight (Potaro-Siballot boxes before the close jected ballots and 41 spoilt ceived 7,290 votes, while largest voting block, only paruni); 73 from Region of operations at 19:00hrs. ones. its primary contender, the 171 Statements of Recount Nine (Upper Takutu-UpThus far, all of the ballot have been tabulated from a per Essequibo) and 125 In the Regional Elec- PPP/C, secured 18, 755. boxes from Region One tions, the APNU+AFC Among the smaller total of 879 ballot boxes. In from Region 10 (Upper (Barima-Waini) and Region raked in 3,843 votes, while parties, Change Guyana Region Five, 69 Statements Demerara-Berbice).

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, May 20, 2020

France's Macron loses majority as defectors form new party (BBC) The party of French President Emmanuel Macron has lost its outright majority in parliament, after a group of MPs broke away to form a new party.

Ecology, Democracy, Solidarity will be largely formed of seven MPs from La République en Marche (On the Move) and other ex-supporters of the president.

The defecting MPs want to focus on green issues and social inequality.

But their decision leaves Mr Macron's party with 288 seats, one short of a majority in the 577-seat lower house.

French commentators said La République en Marche (LREM) still had the backing of two other political allies, the centrist MoDem as well as Agir from the centre-right, which together make up another 56 seats in the National Assembly.

There is even a chance that the party could regain its absolute majority if another defector who leaves the assembly is replaced by a pro-Macron MP. The Macron camp has been plagued by a series of defections in recent months, and French media said the seven latest departing MPs had come under intense pressure to stay.

Two MPs who had originally planned to join EDS backed down at the last minute, Le Figaro reported.

The new party is not a major blow to Mr Macron electorally, and allies dismissed the moves as part of the "tribulations of parliamentary life".

But it is further evidence of dissatisfaction among the president's MPs, who were swept into the National Assembly in June 2017, weeks after his whirlwind presiden-

President Macron's party will still be able to rely on other parties for support

tial victory.

Why they abandoned the party There has been a steady trickle over recent months of MPs out of the ranks of the LREM. Until now they've sat as independents. From Tuesday, with a handful of new defections, they are sitting as an official group in the National

Assembly, entitling them to parliamentary privileges and status.

The main beef of these MPs is that President Macron's party has failed in its promise to be inclusive and to transcend the old political divisions. In spirit, they were all on the left or ecological wings of the LREM. And they feel that since 2017

Macron has made a lot of overtures to the right, but not many to the left.

The analysis may well be correct. Polls show that more voters on the right than on the left generally approve of the Macron presidency. He has shifted rightwards.

But the timing of the bloc's initiative raises questions. Everyone knows that after the Covid-19 crisis things will be different.

There is no way on Earth that Mr Macron will be carrying on as before. Indeed most likely the new priorities will be themes such as ecology, industrial protection and higher wages for health workers - all of which the breakaway MPs would presumably regard as their own.

President Macron's ratings have dipped during France's coronavirus outbreak, however those of

Prime Minister Édouard Philippe have increased.

Members of the new Ecology, Democracy, Solidarity (EDS) group said they had failed to change LREM from the inside and would now take an independent stance, neither allied to the government nor the opposition.

One of the new party's best-known figures, Paris mayoral candidate Cédric Villani, told French radio that what was important was that the new party went forward.

"There's been talk of treason and rebels, but this ninth political group is made of free men and women who want to devote their souls and conscience to defending ecology, democracy and solidarity," he told France Inter radio.

Coronavirus: World Health Organization members agree to response probe (BBC) World Health Organization (WHO) member states have agreed to set up an independent inquiry into the global response to the coronavirus pandemic.

The resolution, approved without objection by the WHO's 194-member annual assembly meeting virtually in Geneva, also allows for the inquiry to look into the health body's own

Wednesday, May 20, 2020 –– 3:30hrs &14:30hrs

role.

The United States in particular has been highly critical of its response.

The EU presented the resolution on behalf of 100 nations.

What is in the resolution?

It calls for an "impartial, independent and comprehensive evaluation" of the international response.

This will also focus on the WHO's "timelines pertaining to the Covid-19 pandemic". The body has faced criticism that it was late to declare a health emergency.

The resolution also calls for the world to ensure "transparent, equitable and timely access" to any treatments or vaccines, and pushes for the WHO to investigate the "source of the virus and the route of introduction to the human population".

"As I see no requests for the floor, I take it that there is no objection and the resolution is therefore adopted," declared the assembly's president, Keva Bain, the Bahamas ambassador.

WHY IS THE WHO UNDER PRESSURE?

President Donald Trump has labelled the organisation a "puppet" of China and suspended funding for the WHO. The US is the largest donor.

He has also accused China of trying to cover up the outbreak - something it strongly rejects - and said the WHO had failed to hold Beijing to account.

The president on Monday published a letter he sent to WHO head Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus outlining specific issues the US has.

US Health Secretary Alex Azar was scathing in his address to the assembly on Monday.

"We must be frank about one of the primary reasons this outbreak spun out of control: there was a failure by this organisation to obtain the information that the world needed, and that failure cost many lives," he said.

President Trump faces re-election this year and opponents see his criticism as an attempt to deflect blame for his handling of the pandemic in the US, which has the highest number of cases, and deaths, which passed 90,000 on Monday.

However, the European Union, along with countries including the UK, Australia and New Zealand, had also been pushing for an inquiry into how the pandemic was handled.

EU spokeswoman Virginie Battu-Henriksson said that several key questions needed to be answered as part of any review.

"How did this pandemic spread? What is the epidemiology behind it? All this is absolutely crucial for us going forward to avoid another pandemic of this kind," she said.

But she added that now was not the time for "any sort of blame game".

WHAT HAS THE WHO SAID? Dr Tedros had already agreed to a review of the agency's handling of the pandemic, while dismissing suggestions it needed a far-reaching overhaul.

He said an independent evaluation, which would look at what lessons could be learned and put forward any recommendations, would take place "at the earliest opportunity".

He called for the WHO, among other organisations, to be strengthened.

WHAT ABOUT CHINA? The first coronavirus cases emerged in the Chinese city of Wuhan last December. The virus was widely reported to have sprung from a food market after crossing the species barrier from animals to humans.

China was accused of trying to cover up the infections in the early weeks.

Some senior US politicians have suggested that the source was a laboratory in Wuhan that had been carrying out research on bat coronaviruses. China has dismissed the idea, and Western experts have cast doubt too.

China says it has been frank about the development of the epidemic in China, publishing the genetic code of the virus in January and being quick to share information with the WHO. President Xi Jinping told the assembly on Monday that his country had acted "with openness and transparency" and insisted that any investigation should happen after the pandemic was brought under control.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, May 20, 2020

Brazil lets Cuban doctors resume work amid coronavirus struggle (AL JAZEERA) Brazil has rehired 157 Cuban doctors to help fight a surge in coronavirus cases, a year and a half after Havana ended a medical assistance programme over a dispute with Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro.

The doctors, who had opted to stay in Brazil after the Cuban government pulled the plug on the programme, received new medical licenses on Monday from the Brazilian health ministry, which sought to round up reinforcements for the overstretched healthcare system.

Brazil wants to ensure medical care even in remote areas, where Cuban doctors were deployed when Havana's programme was in force in the country. More Cuban doctors are expected

US Ambassador speaks to Young on ‘breach’ in Venezuelan delegation’s visit

(TRINIDAD GUARDIAN) US Ambassador Joseph Mondello has issued a statement saying that he has spoken to National Security Minister Stuart Young about the visit of the Venezuelan Vice-President’s visit to this country.

The following is the statement.

“Normally I do not comment on private conversations with host government officials.

Since the government has spoken publicly about my May 6 conversation with Minister Young, though, I wish to affirm that I expressed concern to the Minister in that conversation about the consistency of Delcy Rodriguez’s visit to Port of Spain with Trinidad and Tobago’s obligations as a party to the Rio Treaty.

Article 20 of the Rio Treaty makes it unambiguously clear that all measures imposed by the Organ of Consultation — like the travel restrictions on Ms. Rodriguez — are binding on all treaty parties, whether or not they voted in favor of such measures.”

President Bolsonaro has compared the virus with a 'little flu' and condemned the 'hysteria' surrounding it [Adriano Machado/Reuters]

to follow the first batch and acquire medical licenses in Brazil.

Mais Medicos (More

Doctors) is the programme under which Cuba sent more than 8,000 doctors to work in under-served public clinics

and hospitals in Brazil.

Launched in 2013 under Brazil's then-left-wing government, the programme be-

came a top target for far-right leader Bolsonaro, who compared it with "slavery" and called Cuba a "dictatorship" during his 2018 presidential campaign.

Cuba's communist government, fiercely proud of its vaunted health system and medical diplomacy, angrily pulled its doctors out of Brazil in November 2018, shortly before Bolsonaro took office.

Many opted to stay However, hundreds chose to stay, in some cases because they had married and started families in Brazil.

They lost their licenses to practice medicine, and have in many cases been stuck working odd jobs to survive.

Brazil has the third-highest number of coronavirus infections in the world after

the United States and Russia.

It has registered more than 255,000 cases and 18,000 deaths from COVID-19, though experts say under-testing means the real figures could be much more.

The Brazilian state of Sao Paulo has already surpassed China in the number of deaths.

Bolsonaro has compared the novel coronavirus with a "little flu" and condemned the "hysteria" surrounding it.

However, with many hospitals near breaking point, his government decided in March to bring in extra medical personnel as reinforcements, now extended to include the Cuban doctors.

Expect flooding in Couva says Couva North MP He added: “There is also a construction project to complete walling and paving on the Diana River. Phase 1 was done back in 2014, and we are continuing from where it stopped. This project is downstream of the triangle for an approximate distance of 270 meters. It is in the vicinity of Bagna Trace

Ramona Ramdial, Member of Parliament for Couva North

(TRINIDAD GUARDIAN) With rainy season right around the corner, the Member of Parliament for Couva North, Ramona Ramdial, is warning that flooding will plague her constituency again this year, unless two major watercourses are cleared of debris.

Speaking with the media on Tuesday at her Constituency offices at Chase Village, Ramdial said she has pleaded with Works and Infrastructure Minister Senator Rohan Sinanan to have both the Diana and Honda Rivers cleared.

The Couva North MP told Guardian Media that despite numerous requests to the minister, nothing has happened.

“Both rivers have not been desilted and therefore, we anticipate floods. I have written numerous letters to the Minister of Works and Transport over the past year,” she states. “I identified the

specific areas, the outfall drains in the different areas within the constituency, as well as the natural watercourses. I have identified these watercourses for the Minister.”

Ramona Ramdial said the Couva / Tabaquite / Talaro Regional Corporation (CTTRC) is unable to undertake cleaning of the rivers since the CTTRC does not have the heavy equipment required for the job.

In response, Minister Sinanan said that contrary to the MP’s statements, the Ministry has been working on the drainage situation in the constituency.

“Works on the Honda River is scheduled in our Phase 3 on the desilting programme, which would start within the next week,” he confirmed to Guardian Media. “Works on the Diana River were completed in our Phase 1, from the Chase Village Triangle to the Jehovah Witness Kingdom Hall.”

Extension. The construction work started in January this year and is approximately 75 percent completed. It's is walling on both sides of the channel and paving the invert,” the minister said.

The Couva North MP also told Guardian Media that she has been bombarded with calls from persons who

are still awaiting salary and rental assistance grants from the Ministry of Social Development and Family Services.

Ramona Ramdial said she and local government councillors are working to source hampers from the business community for those persons most affected by the COVID-19 crisis.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, May 20, 2020

Contributions of the Diaspora SINCE Guyana became an independent nation, elected leaders have always invited Guyanese resident abroad to return home and invest. Some have answered the call by physical remigration.

Others have opted for dual residency, maintaining homes in Guyana and their adopted country. Yet others have found other ways to ‘re-migrate’ without being physically there.

Those who cannot or chose not to return, have made known various reasons for same. Some of these are jobs, financial obligations, family commitments in the adopted country, and situations such as crime, standard of living, health care, and education, which they see as comparatively worse in Guyana. There is no intent to debate or debunk the merit or demerit of any claim, but merely to acknowledge some of the pushand-pull factors for migration and emigration through the lens of Guyanese resident abroad.

That having been said, none would deny love for country and those living at home, even though in moments of crisis or concerns about the management of the country, or who has responsibility to manage it at any given time, the inclination may be to ‘done with Guyana.’ This is understood, because as a people we expect and want better for our country.

Continued efforts by Guyanese in the diaspora to invest in Guyana confirm this view and it is to this view that attention is paid.

Personal remittances (PR) continue to play a major role Guyana’s economy, with figures recording in the tens of billions G$. According to World Bank data for the period 2011-2015, PR contributed 10.6 percent to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

The sending of barrels, establishment of overseas-based chapters/ organisations, and various ways of collaborating with Guyanese at home, are acts of investing.

The symbiotic relationship brings with it benefits such as cross-fertilisation of cultures and skills transfer, which bode well in a diverse and competitive world economy, and the strengthening of connections between groups.

This relationship is putting new meaning to the cliché, wanting the best of both worlds, because in today’s globalised environment, it can actually happen. Being physically away from Guyana or choosing not to return (at least for the time) presents no hindrance to investing in Guyana. Consequently, it is encouraging to see the diaspora taking on new and additional features such as seeking out investment opportunities and presenting investment portfolios.

What this is communicating to Guyanese at home is a pro-active nature to do something for country and self, where evidently the heart remains, and this is good. The pro-active pursuit will increase awareness and possibilities of

what can be achieved when the mind conceives and acts. Where there may be questions and uncertainty as to how to proceed, the sharing of best practices and attitudes/application in dealing with issues could provide needed assurance and guidance. With the technical help and support, issues such as time management, setting and meeting goals, customer service, civility, and the value of accountability, are practices that can be cultivated and improved at home.

Conversely, the somewhat relaxed pace of doing things in Guyana and neighbourliness lend for de-stressing and meaningful interaction. While the former can at times be off-putting on matters of work, when one wants to unwind, slow down and enjoy the breeze of nature, this can be welcoming, coupled with friendliness with neighbours and on the streets, which are rarities in metropolitan societies.

Not forgetting the sea/ocean and land breeze, fresh fruits, vegetables and wild-caught seafood to name some, though rare and pricey abroad, are relatively accessible and reasonably priced at home. The taste of a ripe Buxton or spice mango devoid of chemical sprayed to preserve it, and haggling with the market vendor to reduce the price or add a special cut of meat, are things that uniquely identify Guyana. Yes, investing in Guyana allows Guyanese abroad to have the best of both worlds. And while it is understood some may not physically want to, or cannot re-migrate, every legitimate effort made, in whatever form, helps to improve the quality of life for Guyanese, reinforces the pride of building Guyana, and makes Guyana a better place.

RECOUNT: Hopes for a speedy but correct conclusion Dear Editor

PRESIDENT David Granger was greeted as a real statesman when he entered the Arthur Chung Convention Centre recently. It could not have been a ‘surprise’ visit because members of the media, as well as some of the persons involved in the recount process were prepared to welcome him.

However, the real joy and excitement of many of the people there when their eyes beheld him gave the impression that it was unexpected.

However, after a tumultuous welcome, Mr. Granger immediately got down to business and according to him, he was happy to see the recount in progress; heard of the pace at which the recount is moving, and met with the CARICOM team, who made their own remarks, which he did not disclose.

Many of the media personnel would have been happy to pin the President down to answering questions related to development of the recount process such as missing poll books, envelopes and documents, procedures

not adhered to, dead people voting, persons migrated voting.

However, in his brief presentation President Granger stated that throughout 2019 and up until March 2, 2020, the government has continued to respect the rule of law. He stated that the elections were well managed and orderly until March 5 – 6, 2020, when people were attacked and schoolchildren injured at Bath Settlement and other parts of West Coast Berbice.

“I have made it clear that my government will continue to abide by the Constitution.

It will respect the rulings of the court; it will await the declarations of the elections commission, and most recently, particularly after the elections, we will rely on the role of the Caribbean Community in the recount process,” President Granger said, putting forward the notion of the four ‘Cs’, which he described as: The Constitution, the Courts, the Commission and CARICOM. President Granger pointed out that he was very confident” of CARICOM’s integrity and ability and iterated what the Barbados’ Am-

bassador to Washington said: “CARICOM is the most legitimate interlocutor on the Guyana situation,” saying that he was inspired by what was said and is looking forward to a fruitful outcome.

In responding to some of the major concerns of anomalies President Granger said that while he cannot ‘intrude’, the concerns will be dealt with at the level of GECOM. He explained that while the government would like the process to be brought to a speedy conclusion, it must be brought to a correct conclusion as well, so that the Guyanese people would be satisfied with the outcome.

He stated that there are changes that must be made in the Guyana electoral system, so that the people of this country would never again have to wait so long for the results of an election.

GECOM ACTS INDEPENDENTLY S0, the President has said that he will not “intrude”; that the anomalies will be answered

by GECOM. At the same time, media personnel and other interested persons are still

longing to have the international observers, the private sector and other major stakeholders deal with the named issues coming out of the recount.

Questions such as, ‘What is GECOM’s margin of error in these elections? How much is too much in relation to dead people voting?

Should it be 10, 100 or 1000! What does all this say for the integrity of the process?’ are awaiting answers.

The President has spoken. As usual, with decency and integrity he has not failed to state his plan. The people well understand that at the moment GECOM is hard at work, but within this same process many would like GECOM to begin to address the issues mentioned above. It is not just numbers but a democratic process we can all trust and whose results we can endorse.

Regards Mercy Samuel

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, May 20, 2020

I must not be a pessimist

Dear Editor,

WHAT a fascinating place to belong to.

What a stressful environment for us Guyanese to live in.

What with the global pandemic Covid-19.

We must cope with the 2020 Elections virus – sometimes we feel that only Divine intervention can save us from going under.

I must not be a pessimist.

We must be strong and optimistic because our slave and indentured ancestors survived the discrimination, and humiliation of the hay days of imperialism and colonialism.

But to not be a pessimist in the present environment requires that we dig deeply into human history.

This will allow all of us to learn from past mis-steps and misguided notions.

It is only this that will allow us to produce a wholesome environment in order to bequeath to our children, and our children’s children a good, great land of Guyana, where we make a reality of that slogan of “One People, One Nation, One Destiny.”

A place where all of us can be the beneficiaries of the creator’s generosity, a country with no natural disasters but with minerals, timber, agricultural lands, marine resources, now including oil.

However, we must know that success requires statesmanship, wisdom and above all, genuine patriots at the helm of the ship of state.

Earlier, I cautioned that oil in developing countries such as ours, offers the Triple ‘C,” – Corruption, Confusion and Coups d’ Etat.

Recently, protests about the Carter Centre, statements by former Prime Minister Bruce Goulding and conflicting reports about the recount all add to the stress and strain of a tired and fedup citizenry.

Our people deserve better than this tragedy, or if we prefer comedy.

Before I deal with the Carter Centre and the insinuation of race in our national situation, I wish to make it clear that I am not and could not be racist.

As a child, I grew up in Albouystown-Charlestown Community where I experienced love, liberty and laughter with the Sues, the Chungs, the Younges, (Chinese origin), the Ramsarups, the Singhs, the Hanomans, the Mohameds (Indo), the Da’Guiars, the Rodrigues and Teixeiras (Portuguese).

At college, my best friends were Wilmot Chan (half Chinese) Wyatt Balgobin (Indo), Stafford Chung and the late Anthony Houston (Portuguese).

As an adult, my closest and most trusted colleague was Carl D’Aguiar (Linden), the Kissoons, Gafoors and others.

Beyond that, I’ve cherished the affection and regard I have for the leadership and people of the United States of America and in my recent travels and living with close family members, I have found Caucasians and other Americans courteous and helpful and when I held public office, shared cordial and productive relationships with the Ambassadors and High Commissioners of US, Canada, United Kingdom and the EU, finding them friendly, while observing protocol on both sides.

Now, for the three matters I mentioned, the Coalition and the President have replied to a request by the US Ambassador for the re-entry of the Carter Centre, citing the challenges of the epidemic COVID– 19.

I congratulate the President for his politeness.

For me, my attitude to the Carter Centre is at variance with expressed courtesy and correctness contained in the government’s reply to the request of the US Ambassador for the return of the Carter Centre.

When the Carter Centre and Mr. Carter were first introduced to Guyana in the early 1990s, I had expressed a no uncertain term, my concern about their involvement, in what I considered our internal affairs.

On the question of elections and internal affairs, I have always and still hold the view that the contending political parties must be able to sit and talk things through,

taking into account the reality of race, class and the lingering wounds as a result of an earlier colonial divide-torule policy.

Before the sudden death of President Forbes Burnham, Elvin Mc David and I initiated secret talks intended to bring a rapprochement between Cheddi Jagan and Forbes Burnham.

Both men indicated their willingness to set aside the past and work together to achieve that united mass enthusiastic support, which had characterised the 195253 political era.

For some despicable reason, Desmond Hoyte did not subscribe to an engagement with Dr. Jagan and the PPP. Dr. Joey Jagan can confirm that he brought his father to my home where I had hoped to re-ignite talks for a political solution.

Elections were due in 1990 but there was a general concern for us to change our laws and regulations governing the electoral procedures.

Enter President Jimmy Carter and the Carter Centre.

It was clear to me that the Carter Centre’s role was not advisory, but to manage or manipulate our political – electoral machinery.

Mr. Hoyte was persuaded to change many aspects of our electoral laws, including denying the rights of Guyanese living abroad to vote.

It was Mr. Jimmy Carter with Hoyte sitting next to him who announced several new features that would be put in place for next Elections 1992.

Jimmy Carter telling this nation what will happen in a matter that I consider purely internal made me furious and I made no secret about this apparent brutalisation of our sovereignty.

Mr. Carter also met with leaders in the security forces and others. In all this, Mr. Hoyte ensured that I, as prime minister, never met with Mr. Carter, since I made no secret of my chagrin.

Now, let me confess my bias and prejudice, all due to the influence of my mother.

She lived in the US in the 20s and early 30s and daily she would tell us of the discrimination she and black people

experienced, particularly in the Southern States of the US. For example, travelling in a train and when crossing the Maison Dixon line, burly white conductors would announce, “Niggas get behind.”

In my mind, I knew that the American Civil War 1861-1865 was really the disagreement about whether slaves should be freed or kept in bondage.

The Northern States were anxious to follow the pattern of the British who freed the slaves in 1834.

The Southern States wanted to maintain the inhuman practice of African bondage, so that the end of slavery came the same year that the civil war came to an end.

I remain apprehensive of a unit established and head-

quartered in the deep south of United States, Georgia.

Hoyte and others thought that my views were out of order and discounted the fact that the Carter Centre’s mantra seemed to be “regime-change.”

Further, Carter and the Carter Centre seem obsessed with producing democracy in other countries.

Recall that Jimmy Carter in 1989 was one of the Election Observers (note my emphasis ‘Observers”) in the Panama election.

Thanks to functioning beyond being an Observer.

Jimmy Carter was placed under house arrest by Noriega’s force to prevent him from speaking to the press.

Events in Panama are of course another matter.

At a later press conference, he called for an interna-

tional response to the alleged stolen election in Panama.

He then addressed the Manuel Antonio Noreiga’s Administration directly, asking: “Are you honest people, or are you thieves?”

Guyanese everywhere must learn and understand that for the big powers you’re only a friend when you can support their cause.

Stealing of course, is not the word when the mighty take over countries, installations and institutions.

During the Cold War, it was either to stop the spread of communism or to promote the advancement of communism.

The big nations, when it suits them, support devils and dictators.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, May 20, 2020

‘Ducky’ remanded for ‘mattie’ villager’s murder A FUGITIVE Donald Shariff, who was nabbed at Mahdia on Friday after eluding the police since March following the alleged slaying of Keron Nicholson, was remanded to prison after appearing at the New Amsterdam Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday.

During a SKYPE hearing before Mag-

istrate Peter Hugh, Shariff, 29, was not required to plea to the charge of murder, contrary to Common Law. According to Court documents, Constable 23206 Sampson instituted the charge of murder, which is presumed to have occurred between March 8 and March 17, 2020.

The defendant, who goes by the alias,

‘Ducky’, is expected to return to court on June 25.

He is being charged for the murder of fellow Angoy’s Avenue, New Amsterdam villager, Keron Nicholson, reputedly during a heated argument over the indiscriminate firing of gunshots near the residence of one of his relatives.

Donald Shariff, alias ‘Ducky’

Priya Manickchand at it again

Dear Mr. Editor,

COVID-19 is no joke. It is mostly a fatal disease.

Therefore, what could have been the reason behind Ms. Priya Manickchand’s leading a protest with some people in front the office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs? As part of the government’s actions against the coronavirus, it has been made very clear that the gathering of crowds is not allowed.

But Ms. Manickchand and her People’s Progressive Party (PPP) confederates would obviously give no

thought to risking the lives of vulnerable people just for their own gains? Obviously, the people were briefed by her; however what is most certain is the fact that these people were being fooled into believing that they were there to fight a just cause.

In addition, it is alleged that the people are usually bribed with some five thousands Gyana dollars and up; a box of food and a bottle of water, to stand out there and make noise. How sad!

HUMILIATION OF US AMBASSADOR Ms. Priya Manickchand

as Guyana’s Acting Foreign Minister, in July 2014 on invitation to observe America’s 238th anniversary of its independence, disregarded all diplomatic norms and launched a verbal attack on then United States Ambassador, Dr. D. Brent Hardt when it was time for her speech. The PPP’s Presidential Adviser, Gail Teixeira, was also present.

Ms. Manickchand claimed that the ambassador had made, “…declarations, accusations, allegations and innuendos about the Executive President of Guyana (Bharrat Jagdeo)… As one

reads his diatribe against our President, our outrage mounts at the liberties he has taken with diplomatic conventions, commitment to accuracy and sense of occasion. This situation, I report, is intolerable.

“The Ambassador has been associated with a dedicated attack on the President and the government on the holding of local government elections… has been supported in his ill-conceived venture by the opposition section of the media and his colleagues in the diplomatic corps,” Manickchand stated, but did not stop there.

I must not be a ...

They can exploit the people and their patrimony whether right or wrong; they are correct.

The Carter Centre was established and headquartered in Georgia, a deep-south State, where certain attitudes to Blacks linger on.

Recently, in 2018, a very rounded and respected and popular Afro-American lady, Stacy Abrams, was denied the governorship of Georgia.

Thanks to the practice of “voter suppression,” voters turning up and finding polling places close, Afro-Americans in certain communities having to travel long distances to cast their votes, etc.

Up to this day, Stacy Abrams and many others have not accepted that she lost the elections for the governorship of Georgia.

Not a word from the Carter Centre.

Democracy, it seems, is one of those chameleon terms like love,

that mean different things to different people, but used and exploited by all of us all of the time.

We must avoid encouraging people of groups outside of the intimacy of the family meddling too much in our affairs.

Our family are the CARICOM leaders. We must show reverence to the three ‘Bs,’ who planted the seed for CARICOM, when before independence, the three big ‘Bs’ met at Dickinson Bay, in Antigua, Vere Cornwall Bird, Errol (Dipper) Barrow and Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham.

We must enhance and not diminish their courage and vision for a solid Caribbean Community.

The next issue is the strident remarks made by Former Prime Minister of Jamaica, the Hon. Bruce Golding.

Like all of us, we have our good days and bad days.

Bruce Golding is admired by

many Jamaicans and Caribbean citizens. When in office, he had his bad days by supporting certain folks, which led a Jamaican journal to describe Golding as “a pathological liar.”

Those were bad days.

His statement on an unfinished electoral voting process in Guyana is another bad day for him, quoting from figures that are not official, nor certified.

Further, having attended a PPP election rally and stayed at the home of the PPP top brass.

He should have the good sense to recuse himself from the cut and thrust of Guyanese politics.

Further, he must know that the OAS he represented has lost its lustre since its establishment on the30th April, 1948.

In fact, one commentator refers to its discord that the OAS is about the few and not the many.

Golding will be well advised

Ambassador Hardt then returned to the podium to proclaim, “Oh, What a sendoff!”

Reports are that the government planned Manickchand’s outburst, using her to deliver its message of defiance to the United States, while the rest of the PPP’s members of parliament did not attend the event, except for Ms. Manickchand and Presidential Adviser Gail Teixeira, who departed together right after the minister’s insulting speech.

So now that the PPP members, led by Ms. Manickchand are presenting

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themselves in front of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, this time in defiance of the Government of Guyana and the COVID-19 orders must be for some reason.

Maybe, the lady can well explain such – certainly it would not be for some reason (s) representing the interest of members of the U.S. government or other representatives.

Regards Shawn James

7

to follow the example and perspicacity of another Jamaican Prime Minister, the Hon. Percival James Patterson, O.E. In an article by Sir Ronald Sanders titled “Tied to no one’s Apron Strings, the Caribbean in an emerging New world,” quoted the Hon. Percival J. Patterson, O.E as follows; - “ the interest of the less developed, less powerful and must[sic] vulnerable will not be taken into account unless we take the decisions to make our collective voices heard and our interest reflected in the New World Order.”

It is at this level that we expect a former prime minister to operate from and not descend and dabble into the murky waters of Guyana’s political rivers.

Of concern, is the apparent freedom and boldness of certain diplomats and representatives of sections of our society, who seem to think that Guyana is some back-

ward place where they can spit and sputter on us.

Guyanese on every side of the divide must not tolerate this eye-pass.

Remember the PPP’s presidential representative’s, hostile and uncharacteristic attack on US Ambassador Hardt, when instead of apologising for the PPP’s vicious, verbal assault, the PPP Head of the Presidential Secretariat described the attack as a ‘feral blast.’

I end by posting below the motto of the Chivalric Order, which is the most noble Order of the Garter, “ Honi soit qui mal y pense,” which for generations appeared prominently on the front of Parliament and other major buildings in the British empire.

It simply means “ Evil be to him who evil thinks.”

Regards Hamilton Green

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, May 20, 2020

World Bank Group says 100 countries get support to fight COVID-19

The World Bank Group on Tuesday announced its emergency operations to fight COVID-19 (coronavirus) have reached 100 developing countries – home to 70% of the world’s population. Since March, the Bank Group has rapidly delivered record levels of support in order to help countries protect the poor and vulnerable, reinforce health systems, maintain the private sector, and bolster economic recovery.

This assistance, the largest and fastest crisis response in the Bank Group’s history, marks a milestone in implementing the Bank Group’s pledge to make available US$160 billion in grants and financial support over a 15-month period to help developing countries respond to the health, social and economic impacts of COVID-19 and the economic shutdown in advanced countries.

“The pandemic and shutdown of advanced economies could push as many as 60 million people into extreme poverty – erasing much of the recent progress made in poverty alleviation,” said World Bank Group President David Malpass. “The World Bank Group has moved quickly and decisively to establish emergency response operations in 100 countries, with mechanisms that allow other donors to rapidly expand the programs. To return to growth, our goal must be rapid, flexible responses to tackle the health emergency, provide cash and other expandable support to protect the poor, maintain the private sector, and strengthen economic resilience and recovery.”

Of the 100 countries, 39 are in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Nearly one-third of the total projects are in fragile and conflict-affected situations, such as Afghanistan, Chad, Haiti,

and Niger. The International Finance Corporation (IFC) and Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) have also fast-tracked support to businesses in developing countries, including trade finance and working capital to maintain private sectors, jobs and livelihoods.

The Bank Group’s support through grants, loans and equity investments will be supplemented by the suspension of bilateral debt service, as endorsed by the Bank’s governors. IDA-eligible countries that request forbearance on their official bilateral debt payments will have more financial resources to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and fund critical, lifesaving emergency responses.

“The bilateral debt-service suspension being offered will free up crucial resources for IDA countries to fund emergency responses to COVID-19,” said Malpass.

“Nations should move quickly to substantially increase the transparency of all their governments’ financial commitments. This will increase the confidence in the investment climate and encourage more beneficial debt and investment in the future.”

The Bank Group’s operational response will strengthen health systems, support the poorest households, and create supportive conditions to maintain livelihoods and jobs for those hit hardest.

Country operations will deliver help to the poorest families through cash transfers and job support; maintain food security, nutrition and continuity of essential services such as clean water and education; target the most vulnerable groups, including women and forcibly displaced communities, who are most likely to be hit hard; and engage communities to support vulnerable households and foster social

cohesion. The scale and speed of the Bank Group’s response is critical in helping countries mitigate the adverse impacts of this crisis and prioritize the human capital investments that can accelerate recovery.

The Bank Group’s operations in 100 countries aim to save lives, protect livelihoods, build resilience, and boost recovery by: Strengthening health systems, monitoring, and prevention, particularly in low-income countries and in fragile and conflict-affected situations.

The Bank Group’s health response addresses emergency containment and mitigation needs for COVID-19, including strengthening countries’ health systems to treat severe cases and save lives. Establishing and supporting efforts in fragile and conflict-affected situations is a priority, given the rapidly growing number of cases in some of these countries.

Disbursement is already underway on US$20 million to Senegal and $35 million to Ghana, which includes funding to strengthen disease surveillance systems, public health laboratories, and epidemiological capacity for early detection. A US$20 million IDA grant was approved for Haiti that aims to enhance testing, minimize spread through contact tracing of confirmed cases, and provide laboratory and protective equipment for health care staff.

Scaling up social protection: The Bank Group is leveraging countries’ existing social protection systems to help families and businesses restore income, preserve livelihoods, and compensate for increasing prices and unexpected medical expenses.

These safety nets will need to be augmented with safe, direct food distribution, accompanied by key information on

Linden baby drowns in bucket of water Police in Linden are currently investigating the conditions surrounding the drowning of a 10-month-old boy in a bucket of water at his Section A West Watooka, Wismar, Linden home on Tuesday afternoon.

The incident occurred at about 16:10 hours and the child has been identified as Keron Abrams.

At 14:00 hours the child’s mother, 24-year-old Tiffany Porter left for work, leaving Keron with her 19-year-old sister.

The 19-year-old said that she had received a phone call at about 16:00 hours and went to the second floor of the house, leaving the 10-month-old playing on the floor with his siblings and his 10-year-old aunt. She noted that as she was going downstairs 10 minutes later, she noticed the aunt coming from the front door with the baby in her hands stating that the toddler fell into a bucket of water.

The child was rushed to the Linden Hospital Complex (LHC), where he was pronounced dead on arrival at 16:40 hours. The body was examined at LHC by the police and no marks of violence was seen on the exposed part of the child’s body.

The body is presently at the Pensioner Hospital Mortuary awaiting a post mortem.

Investigation in progress.

nutrition, social distancing, and hygiene.

In Uzbekistan, a US$95 million financing package includes funding for cash support to low-income families and one-off unemployment benefits, while in Tunisia $100 million is being reallocated from the existing portfolio to help finance additional social benefits and grants to small and medium-size enterprises.

Supporting businesses and preserving jobs: The International Finance Corporation (IFC) continues to implement its US$8 billion fast-track financing facility, which aims to keep companies in business and preserve jobs. Close to 300 clients have requested support, and the facility may be oversubscribed. Building on this effort and market demand, IFC aims to provide US$47 billion in financing to developing countries over 15 months. Cumulative

COVID-19 related commitments under IFC’s Global Trade Finance Program, which supports small and medium-sized enterprises involved in global supply chains, have totaled 1,200 transactions across 33 countries for US$1.4 billion, with 51% of this volume in low-income and fragile countries.

P ro c u r i n g m e d i c a l equipment and supplies: Many developing countries import most, and in some cases all, of the medical supplies critical for fighting COVID-19, leaving them extremely vulnerable to supply disruptions and export restrictions. In Pakistan, the first consignments of personal protective equipment (PPE) – including masks, gloves, protective suits, gowns, coveralls, shoe covers, goggles, and face shields – have already been delivered to

doctors and paramedics.

This assistance is part of a larger package that includes US$25 million for emergency cash transfers to poor and vulnerable households. On April 23, the World Bank approved US$100 million for the Philippines to procure materials including PPE, essential medicines, test kits, and key equipment such as mechanical ventilators, cardiac monitors, and portable x-ray machines. In Iraq, the World Bank redeployed US$33.6 million to help finance the supply of essential equipment and supplies and strengthen intensive care unit (ICU) capacity at public hospitals. The Bank Group is helping countries access critically needed supplies and equipment, for example, by identifying interested suppliers and negotiating prices and conditions.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, May 20, 2020

Regional teachers against rush to have CXC exams

ST.JOHN”S, Antigua, May 19, CMC – The Caribbean Union of Teachers (CUT) says it is “deeply concerned’ at the decision taken by the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Council for Human and Social Development (COHSOD) on Education earlier this month that regional students will sit the Caribbean Examinations Council-administered exams in July.

The COHSOD meeting, which was held virtually and chaired by the Antigua and Barbuda Education Minister Michael Browne, said that the Barbados-based CXC would be setting exams for students in the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) and the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE).

But in a statement, the CUT said it was calling on the Caribbean governments “to be mindful not to rush the process for the reopening of schools to facilitate the writing of CXC Examinations, unless they have instituted all measures outlined by the reopening of school protocol”. The CUT said that it believes the “unfortunate” decision taken by COHSOD places the lives of thousands of students and teachers at risk, as all the issues surrounding the administering of the examinations have not been addressed.

CUT said it had had written to the CXC Registrar in April indicating that its membership were “vehemently opposed to the administration of the CXC Examinations any time before September 2020. The letter had outlines several reasons including health and safety issues, the need for greater engagement on the format of the examination as well as the

C h a r g e s should be laid against Benn MINISTER of Social Protection, Amna Ally, is calling for further investigation and possible charges to be instituted against Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Commissioner, Robeson Benn for his alleged assault of a doctor on duty at the national recount centre.

Last week, the media were informed that Benn allegedly shoved away the hand of Dr. Helen Imoff when she attempted to check his temperature at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC).

Dr. Imoff has worked for six years in the Public Health Ministry and has since resigned as a result of the incident which she described as “traumatising”.

Recounting her feelings at the time, she said that although she was humiliated by the commissioner’s action, she remained calm and professional.

She said that she was taught by her parents to be respectful and to treat everyone with the highest regard and had not come into contact with such physical confrontation until the said day.

“I am still in shock, I was in the field risking my life so that everyone can be safe. To be treated

with such violence while performing my duties in the most respectful way, is painful, both physically and emotionally,” Dr. Imoff posted on social media.

“To know that I had to endure this while on duty, have [sic] me thinking why did I become a doctor if this is how I am treated when I’m trying to help everyone to be safe. To my fellow colleagues in the medical fraternity, how would you have felt if this was [sic] you in the field?

It is painful to know that there is nothing out there to protect us while on duty because had I reacted with violence, I would have lost my licence or even [be] locked up by now.”

She said that although she is aware that her resignation does not solve the problem, as a mother, wife, daughter and sister, she feels wholly disrespected by the act and does not wish the same on anyone she knows.

Asked to respond to the allegation, Commissioner Benn has simply dismissed the matter as “ridiculous.”

However, not wishing that such an act against a woman be swept under the carpet, the Social Protection Minister told this newspaper on Tuesday that she could not sit idly by

validity issues associated with the proposed format of the examination.

The CUT had also pointed to the technological capacity and infrastructural limitations of many of the education institutions throughout the region also noting the uncertainty as it relates to the coronavirus (COVID 19) in the region. “We are not confident that the governments of the region have demonstrated the level of preparedness for the planned reopening of schools in order to create a safe environment for students and teachers to effectively operate.

“We are aware that there are governments in the region who have reopened schools and some will in short order. We consider such a move to be reckless unless the requisite health provisions have been made,” the CUT said, adding “we must understand that teaching and learning must take place in an environment that is conducive for such activities”.

It said that the health and well-being of students and teachers must take precedence over all other consideration at this time. “Undoubtedly, COVID-19 has dramatically impacted our local, regional, and international psyche as well as our accustomed ways of business transactions. Importantly, the education sector has not been spared from the impact and it behoves all stakeholders to agree on mitigation measures that are proportionate, coherent, and inclusive.

“If nothing else, the crisis of COVID-19 has clearly identified glaring inadequacies, comorbidities if you will, in the region’s educational system and their ability to absorb pandemic shock. But it has also presented an excellent oppor-

tunity to equip educational administration with the policies and procedures, to not only survive but also maintain quality and equity in education,” the grouping representing teachers in the region added.

It said, further, there is no evidence of an action plan by Ministries of Education in the region which suggests that they have adopted any approved set of standards specific to the reopening of school. “CUT firmly believes that the September timeline for sitting the examinations would allow for regional governments and educational administrations to adopt and implement some benchmark protocols”.

It said that those protocols have been established by Education International and the CUT subscribes to those guidelines, which include implementing the necessary protocols that will safeguard the health and well-being of all stakeholders; establish the infrastructure that will allow for new normal operations in all education communities namely; enhanced hygiene and cleaning practices and equipment in addition to enabling access as well as personal protective equipment. The protocols also call for the engagement of teachers and their unions in designing/ determining the pedagogies, digital tools and platforms and that can be used to continue education during the temporary school closures as well as provide government secured Information communication technology and digital technologies that will maintain students’ engagement in times of crisis as well as requisite training for teachers in the new normal modalities.

GCCI wants speeding up of recount process ― says businesses suffering without national budget

GECOM Commissioner Robeson Benn

while hearing of the plight of the woman who ought to have been respected, not only for the fact that she is a person, but a medical worker just doing her job.

“COVID-19 is no joke; COVID-19 is a pandemic and we have to do everything to guard against it. At the conference centre there are hundreds of people there for this recount and the government has done everything possible to protect and to have all persons safe,” she said.

“I really take umbrage to him assaulting a professional and nothing is being done by the police.

So many days have passed and the police has [sic] not charged him yet. I am saying that if he was [sic] an ordinary citizen that [sic] had assaulted a woman, the police would have charged him and not because he is a GECOM Commissioner he must not be charged.

As a matter of fact, as a GECOM Commissioner, he should have known better.”

Minister Ally is calling on the police to act without delay in investigating and arriving at a conclusion on the matter. The newspaper has also been made aware that a report on the matter was made to the commission.

ALTHOUGH it has been deemed unsafe for the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to further increase the number of counting stations in the recount centre, the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) has nonetheless expressed its disappointment that more stations were not added.

On Monday, the commission announced that the National COVID-19 Task Force (NCTF) had given clearance for the establishment of only two additional workstations due to situational findings that the centre was non-compliant with a number of COVID-19 precautionary measures.

The Elections Commission had hoped to receive approval for an additional five-six workstations at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC) but the number now stands at 12, which will see more than 400 persons on average at the centre on rotation.

In denying the additional stations, the Health Emergency Operation Centre (HEOC) of the NCTF, during a recent re-visit to

the ACCC, noted that: two designated handwashing areas were without soap and one was without hand towels; on rapid inspection, 19 persons were observed without face masks or not adequately wearing them; multiple persons observed were not practicing adequate physical distancing; all head tables inspected were clustered and in non-adherence to physical distancing and representatives observing the recount were not seated with adequate physical distancing at eight recount stations.

The HEOC lead team is of the view that the previous guidelines are not being adhered to which increase the probability of the spread of infection at the already-congested center.

However, in a release on Tuesday [May 19], the GCCI contended that the increase will not be favorable to the 25-day recount timeline and will further affect the country which has been without a budget since 2018.

“The GCCI would like to remind GECOM that it has been 79 days since the General and Regional Elections were held, and it is imperative

that the recount process be concluded within the 25-day time frame as the country needs a new government sworn in to put policies in place to combat the coronavirus’ economic impact,” a release from the Chamber stated, adding: “Currently businesses and citizens are suffering, investments have slowed down, jobs are being lost and more companies are closer to bankruptcy as their cash flows dwindle.”

The GCCI also put forward that the government has been unable to access international financing and the situation is harming the nation both on a micro and macro level.

As such, it stated: “The only way forward to help steer the economy in these troubling headwinds is to complete the recount quickly and credibly, otherwise, businesses and livelihoods will continue to suffer.” Meanwhile, on Tuesday, the commission successfully operationalised the two workstations and has since committed to correcting its shortcomings in the areas highlighted by the HEOC.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, May 20, 2020

PPP/C has confidence in CARICOM team –– Phillips PRIME ministerial candidate of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Mark Phillips has stated that he is confident of the ability of the CARICOM scrutinising team to execute its role in the national recount and, should the process remain transparent, his party will accept the forthcoming results.

Speaking to the media during his first visit to the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC) since the commencement of the recount on Tuesday [May 19], Phillips said that while his party wants to see The Carter Center rejoin the process, the CARICOM team, as it is, is adequate.

“We are always, from the beginning, confident in the CARICOM team. The presence or absence of the Carter Center has nothing to do or will not shape our confidence in the CARICOM team. This process started with the intervention of the five prime ministers from CARICOM countries and we have committed ourselves, at the first meeting, to this process and we will see this process to the end,” he said.

The PPP/C prime ministerial candidate added that his party is pleased with the presence of the CARICOM team and hopes that when the process likely goes beyond the 25 days, the scrutinising team will remain.

Provided that the transparency of the process continues, he said that his party will be ready to accept whatever the

Prime ministerial candidate of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), Mark Phillips (Adrian Narine photo) outcome is.

He stated: “Once the process, as I said, remains transparent, credible, the PPP/C will respect the process and the outcome of the process.”

Visiting the centre for the first time on Monday, he said that he was impressed with the layout and noticed that all stakeholders involved were working together towards a transparent process.

Phillips said that though he believes that the recount should be speeded up, he is heartened by the addition of two workstations. He hopes that additional counting stations can be added in future, in keeping with the COVID-19 protocols.

“We have to respect the protocols, but we’re hoping that we could increase the number of counting stations so we could have more boxes counted per day,” he said.

“By my calculation we should be counting somewhere about 93 or more boxes per day in order to meet the 25-day deadline…we expect an improvement because of the addition of the two more counting stations today.”(Monday) Phillips also wants to see the elections commission adhere to the COVID-19 guidelines in place as has been requested by the National COVID-19 Task Force (NCTF).

According to the Health Emergency Operation Centre (HEOC) of the NCTF, during a recent re-visit to the ACCC to determine the possibility for additional stations, it was found that: two designated hand-washing areas were without soap and one was without hand towels; on rapid inspection 19 persons were observed without face masks or not adequately wearing them; multiple persons were observed w not practising adequate physical distancing; all head tables inspected were clustered and in non-adherence to physical distancing and representatives observing the recount

were not seated with adequate physical distancing at eight recount stations.

“The GECOM secretariat, I’m confident, can quickly correct those observations made by the COVID-19 Task Force, that is not a decision for the stakeholders or the PPP/C,” he said.

In addition, while he has been absent from the public scene since the advent of the coronavirus in Guyana, Phillips denied that he was/is infected by the disease stating that he had no reason to be tested in the past few weeks.

“I was not ill to any extent where I had to do a COVID-19 test. In other words, I did not do a COVID-19 test and therefore it’s difficult to establish that I am afflicted with the COVID-19 and, to date, I have no reason to do a COVID-19 test,” he said.

At a meeting of the Central Committee of the PPP/C in January 2019, Phillips was unanimously endorsed as the prime ministerial candidate.

Phillips has had a long career in the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) spanning nearly four decades, culminating with his appointment as the eighth Chief of Staff of the GDF, from September 2013, until he retired in October 2016.

He told the media that there have been no specific discussions beyond what would be expected of him if elected prime minister, but he seems himself having additional ministerial appointments apart from his hopeful role of prime minister.

Albion Estate trainee manager found hanging –– in his Stanleytown apartment

TWENTY-five-yearold Lamount Franklyn Fraser, a Management Trainee at the Albion Estate, was found hanging in the bottom-flat rental apartment he shared with his girlfriend, Kean Dey, at Lot 39 Stanleytown, New Amsterdam, Berbice.

It was just around 13:00hrs that neighbours became aware that some-

thing was amiss at the apartment where Fraser and Dey had moved in just three weeks before.

And while Dey refused to speak to reporters, Lamount’s uncle, Aubrey Bovell, who raised him like a son, recalled speaking to him on the phone earlier in the day.

“During that conversation,” a distraught Bovell said, “Lamount

asked for a computer; I told him to wait. But he said it was urgent.

As a result, I asked him to speak to his grandmother, as she raised him, too, after his mother left for overseas. His grandmother told him to take the money from the bank. Now this…,” he managed, unable to finish his sentence.

Although at press-

time, Lamount’s grandmother was unaware of his demise, his colleagues at the Albion Sugar Factory were reeling in shock after word got around that the prospective manager had died.

Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) staffer Roxanne Smith confirmed that Fraser was at work a mere two hours before they got the sad news.

Lamount Fraser had attended the New Amsterdam Multilateral School, Guyana Sugar Corporation Training School, and the University of Guyana, at which latter institution he earned a Degree in Mechanical Engineering.

He leaves to mourn his parents, siblings and other relatives and friends. An investigation is ongoing.

Lamount Fraser

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, May 20, 2020

‘Giving one pint can written save three lives’

by July NGSA to be

–parents and students to be adequately notified THE National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) is expected to be held within the next two months. This disclosure was made by Minister of Education, Dr. Nicolette Henry, the Department of Public Information (DPI) has reported.

The minister explained that ample time will be given to parents and students to prepare and urged parents to work along with their children. “The technical officers are working on that… they’re planning to roll it out and to get the students to write that examination [soon],” Minister Henry said.

Additionally, the Minister said that in light of the curfew and other measures put in place by His Excellency President David Granger and the National COVID-19 Taskforce, schools will not reopen before June 3. Minister Henry noted that her office recognises the importance of the exam and is working to ensure that no child is disenfranchised.

“The ministry would have to get the blessings of the National (COVID-19)Taskforce and the Ministry of Public Health when the plan is finalised,” she stated.

The NSGA was originally set for April 8 and 9 but was postponed amid concerns about COVID-19.

The Education Ministry will be providing continued academic learning online via social media platforms along with more traditional media, such as television and radio.

… Blood bank says in appeal for donation

CHIEF Medical Technologist at the National Blood Transfusion Service (NBTS), Nataline Seepersaud, today, underscored the importance of donating blood during the COVID-19 pandemic.

While commending those volunteers who have donated blood, Seepersaud noted: “the national blood transfusion service faces a critical situation where a multitude of our blood drives are being cancelled as organisations and businesses are temporarily closed.”

The Medical Technologist explained that blood has a limited shelf life and cannot be stored for

extended periods; therefore, there is always a need at the blood bank for this life-saving essential.

Voluntary blood donation replenishes the supply at the bank.

She explained that many patients across the country continue to rely on blood donors to help provide the lifesaving component. Among these are sickle cell patients, thalassemia patients and those who require major surgeries, and high-risk pregnant mothers.

The medical technologist assured the Nation that the NBTS is prioritising the protection of the health of donors. “Measures are in

place at the blood bank and blood collection sites that are designed to provide the highest level of safety and infection control.

Also, blood collection sites throughout the country are taking extra precautions to help ensure the safety of both blood donors and staff.”

SOME OF THESE MEASURES INCLUDE: Implementing social distancing practices among donors, furniture, and equipment Increasing the frequency of sanitising for all surfaces, equipment

and common areas Persons who are interested in giving blood can contact telephone numbers 223-7182, 225-7249 or 226-9022.

The National Blood Transfusion Service is located at Lamaha and East Street in the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation compound, with other collection sites at Suddie Regional Hospital in Region Two; West Demerara Regional Hospital Region Three; New Amsterdam Regional Hospital Region Six; Lethem Regional Hospital Region Nine, and Linden Hospital Complex Region Ten.

COVID-19 Pandemic

PAHO urges protection for vulnerable groups

THE Director of the Pan American Health Organisation, Carissa F. Etienne on Tuesday warned of the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on groups such as poor and indigenous people in the Americas, saying, “If we want to slow the spread of the pandemic and put our region on a path to recovery, we must protect vulnerable groups from COVID-19.”

“The virus is surging across our region. We are increasingly worried about the poor and other vulnerable groups at greatest risk of illness and death from the virus. The recent spike in cases and fatalities is partly due to the virus taking root in these groups,” she said in a press briefing from PAHO headquarters.

More than 2 million cases and more than 121,000 deaths due to COVID-19 were reported in the Americas as of May 18 – a 14% increase in both cases and deaths from last week. Dr. Etienne called for improved access to effective public health measures, the strengthening of health system capacity to better serve vulnerable populations and

for strong social and economic protection.

“During a pandemic, we must overcome the structural inequalities that limit access to services.

This means establishing mechanisms that support universal access to health regardless of income, pooling resources with the private and not for profit sector, eliminating payment at point of service and setting up emergency hospitals that add surge capacity where it is most needed,” she said COVID-19 impact in certain communities In the Amazon basin, among both isolated villages of indigenous groups and densely populated cities such as Manaus, Iquitos and Leticia, the incidence of COVID-19 is twice as high as in other provinces in the same countries. “Without immediate action, these communities will face a disproportional impact,” she said. Vulnerable communities in large cities are also hard hit by the pandemic, where “poor social and economic conditions provide a fertile breeding ground for COVID-19” along with the

economic impact of people losing their jobs.

Women, who make up 70% of the health workforce in the Americas, are also vulnerable, as they are on the frontlines and disproportionately affected by COVID 19, Dr. Etienne noted.

In addition, they face income disparity, inadequate access to health services and are often subject to gender-based violence.

“Far too often, we fail to prioritize the health and wellbeing of the most vulnerable among us.

This must change if we want to stop the spread of COVID-19 and be ready to face future pandemics.” Dr. Etienne said, noting that People of African descent in Latin America struggle to access appropriate care in normal circumstances, a reflection of structural discrimination and racial inequity,” which put them at greater danger of contracting COVID-19 and facing the most severe consequences of the disease, PAHO’s director said.

Migrants in temporary settlements and prisoners in crowded jails with poor sanitation are also in vulnerable situations and

seeing higher rates of spread of COVID-19, she said. Reaching them is a special challenge that countries must face, she indicated. An important vulnerable group consists of people with underlying health conditions like heart disease, diabetes and obesity, who “are particularly susceptible to hospitalization, severe illness and death due to COVID-19” and face disruptions in treatment for their diseases because health systems are overwhelmed, she said. This risk group accounts for around 221 million people in the Americas, she said.

“It is only by ensuring human rights for all, when all peoples have universal access to health and it’s socioeconomic determinants, when we guarantee social protection for the vulnerable, and when our economic development addresses the eradication of poverty and the achievement of the sustainable development goals only then will the world be prepared to face future pandemics. But we need to begin this work now.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, May 20, 2020

China announces concrete measures to boost global fight against COVID-19 as Xi addresses WHA session

BEIJING, May 18 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday announced concrete measures to boost global fight against COVID-19 including providing international aid and making the country’s COVID-19 vaccine a global public good when available.

Xi made the announcement as he addressed the opening of the 73rd session of the World Health Assembly (WHA) via video link.

COMMON INTERESTS OF MANKIND “China will provide 2 billion U.S. dollars over two years to help with COVID-19 response and with economic and social development in affected countries, especially developing countries,” Xi said.

China will work with the United Nations to set up a global humanitarian response depot and hub in China, ensure the operation of anti-epidemic supply chains and foster “green corridors” for fast-track transportation and customs clearance, he said.

Besides, China will establish a cooperation mechanism for its hospitals to pair up with 30 African hospitals and accelerate the building of the Africa CDC headquarters to help the continent ramp up its disease preparedness and control capacity, said Xi. “COVID-19 vaccine development and deployment in China, when available, will be made a global public good,” said the president.

“This will be China’s contribution to ensuring vaccine accessibility and affordability in developing countries,” he added.

Moreover, China will work with other G20 members to implement the Debt Service Suspension Initiative for the poorest countries, Xi said, adding that China is also ready to work with the international community to bolster support for the hardest-hit countries under the greatest strain of debt service so that they could tide over the current difficulties.

“All the five measures are practical and aim at the key points and difficulties at the current stage and future efforts of global COVID-19 fight,” said Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu in an

due to the impact of the current pandemic.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the agenda of the 73rd session was condensed only to essential issues, such as COVID-19 and the executive board members selection.

GLOBAL COMMUNITY OF HEALTH FOR ALL “China stands for the vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind,” said Xi at the opening, adding that China takes it as its responsibility to ensure not just the life and health of its own citizens, but also global public health.

Currently, COVID-19 has hit over 210 countries and regions, affected more than 7 billion people around the world and claimed over 300,000 precious lives.

China has all along acted with openness, transparency and responsibility in the fight against COVID-19, said Xi, adding that the country “has Chinese President Xi Jinping delivers done everything in our power to support and assist a speech at the opening of the 73rd countries in need.”

Noting that “nothing in the world is more preWorld Health Assembly via video link in cious than people’s lives,” Xi urged all countries Beijing, capital of China, May 18, 2020. to put the people first and do everything they can (Xinhua/Li Xueren) for COVID-19 control and treatment. interview after the opening concluded.

He expressed China’s staunch support to the “This shows China has taken on its due re- WHO, calling on the international community to sponsibility to take care of its own people’s health increase political and financial support for WHO and life as well as contribute to the cause of global so as to mobilize resources worldwide to defeat public health, “ Ma said. the virus.

“China’s willingness to make its vaccine a “At this crucial juncture, to support WHO is global public good shows the balanced approach to support international cooperation and the battle to upholding principles and pursuing interests the for saving lives as well,” Xi said. country has always advanced, “said Chen Xulong, Xi called on the world to provide more maa senior researcher with the China Institute of terial, technological and personnel support for International Studies.

African countries, saying that “helping them build China views the issue of vaccine in the prin- capacity must be our top priority in COVID-19 ciple of win-win cooperation, Chen said, adding response.” that it “takes the common interests of the mankind Furthermore, Xi said the international cominto consideration rather than only protecting its munity must strengthen global governance in the own people.” area of public health.

The WHA is the decision-making body of the “China supports the idea of a comprehensive WHO. The 73rd session of the WHA, scheduled review of the global response to COVID-19 after from Monday to Tuesday, is held via video link

it is brought under control to sum up experience and address deficiencies,” said Xi. “This work should be based on science and professionalism, led by WHO and conducted in an objective and impartial manner,” he added.

He also proposed to restore economic and social development and strengthen international cooperation.

Noting that the mankind is facing the most serious global public health emergency since the end of World War II, Xi said “solidarity and cooperation is a sure way through which we, the people of the world, can defeat this novel coronavirus.”

He called on the international community to work as one and make concerted efforts to protect the life and health of people in all countries, safeguard planet Earth and build a global community of health for all.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and leaders from other countries addressed the opening via video link, expressing their support to the WHO and multilateralism, as well as enhanced joint efforts in the global fight against COVID-19.

“As the mankind is facing the most serious global public health emergency since the end of World War II, what President Xi proposed and the measures he announced at the WHA session can help boost confidence of global fight against COVID-19,” said Ma, adding that it is also of great significance to the future global political governance.

He said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus inviting Xi to address the WHA session embodies that the international community highly recognize China’s prevention and control efforts as well as its important role in the global fight.

“By promoting the building of a community with a shared future for humanity, China provides a choice for all countries to deal with increasing risks and challenges,” said Gao Fei, a professor at China Foreign Affairs University.

“That is, solidarity, rather than unilateralism, is the most powerful weapon against the pandemic, “ Gao said.

Over 80 pct of exhibition area at China’s import expo booked SHANGHAI, May 15 (Xinhua) -- More than 80 percent of the planned exhibition area has been booked for the third China International Import Expo (CIIE) slated to take place in November, according to its organizers.

On Friday, more than 50 companies signed contracts with the CIIE Bureau, making it the largest signing event ever during the preparation of the third CIIE. So far, over 1,400 companies from all over the globe have signed up for the coming CIIE, said Wang Bingnan, director of the CIIE Bureau, at the signing event, adding that with the global economy under shadow due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the CIIE shows China’s firm stance on promoting economic globalization.

Japan-based Fast Retailing Group, the parent company of Uniqlo, will participate in the expo for the first time. The company will showcase high-quality clothing from Uniqlo and the brand’s commitment to sustainable development at a 1,500-square-meter booth.

Global healthcare leader Abbott will also display its life-changing technologies, innovative products and healthcare solutions at

its 600-square-meter booth for the first time.

“Participation in the CIIE is an important testament of Abbott’s commitment to the development of the Chinese healthcare industry and facilitation of the country’s ‘Healthy China’ agenda,” said Tony Chan,

vice president of Abbott’s diagnostics business in China.

The Estee Lauder Companies, which became the center of attention with its crystal palace-like booth in the second CIIE, will expand its booth this year.

“Over the past three decades, our development has benefited from the Chinese market, as well as the continued optimization of the operating environment. The CIIE platform has fully manifested the appeal brought about by the opportunities in China,” said Joy Fan, president of the Estee Lauder Companies China.

Jide Zeitlin, chairman and chief executive officer of Tapestry, Inc., the parent company of Coach, said the company will attend the next three editions of CIIE and form a long term relationship with the platform.

“We greatly value the opportunity that the CIIE creates to encourage communication and collaboration on a global basis,” said Zeitlin. “We remain committed to the long-term development in China, and to collaborating with business partners that support the government’s import promotion policies and contribute to the development of the Chinese economy.”

The CIIE is the first dedicated import exhibition in the world and has seen fruitful outcomes in the past two expos. The third CIIE will take place in Shanghai from Nov. 5 to 10.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, May 20, 2020

Five years to date!

Today marks five years since Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo and some

of members of the President David Granger cabinet were sworn in. In pho-

tos, Prime Minister Nagamootoo takes the oath of office and also poses with

President Granger and other colleagues ministers.

US Gov’t donates supplies to CDC THE Civil Defence Commission (CDC), on Tuesday afternoon, received a donation of several items from the government of the United States of America and the US military.

The donation, which consisted of sanitisation, personal care and hygiene items as well as baby supplies, totalled approximately

$3 Million (US$15,000). During the simple handing over ceremony, Director-General of the CDC, Lieutenant Colonel Kester Craig, thanked the US Ambassador to Guyana, Sarah Ann Lynch, for the timely donation which will be used at the quarantine and isolation facilities around the country.

“There are quarantine and

isolation facilities, not only in Georgetown, but also on the East Bank of Demerara and in the various regions. So, these items will be used by persons in those facilities to make their stay there as comfortable as possible,” he stated.

The US Ambassador, in an invited comment, expressed satisfaction to be a part of the exercise.

US Ambassador to Guyana, Sarah Ann Lynch and Director-General of the CDC, Lieutenant Colonel Kester Craig, inspect the supplies

She remarked that COVID-19 does not “see borders and does not see different peoples” adding that the supplies will aid in bringing relief.

As Guyana continues to battle the novel coronavirus locally, several agencies and private entities have lent their support towards the cause. The CDC welcomes donations towards this initiative

– food supplies, personal care and sanitation supplies, or financing.

Items can be sent to CDC’s headquarters, Thomas Road, Thomas Lands, daily, between 09:00 hours and 15:00 hours.

Funds can be deposited to the Commission’s Republic Bank account number 962356519938.

Some of the supplies which were donated

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, May 20, 2020

‘Agri’ Ministry launches COVID-19 relief kitchen garden initiative AS the COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect many Guyanese, the Rural Affairs Secretariat of the Ministry of Agriculture recently launched its COVID-19 Relief Kitchen Garden Initiative, with the aim of providing nutritional balance to families, fostering less use of toxic chemicals in a time when maintaining healthy immune

The Kitchen Garden Initiative, component two, will see persons receiving assistance to acquire small garden tools, seeds, irrigation and other planting material to get their kitchen gardens going,” Minister Adams-Yearwood said.

The release stated that, with the establishment of the Rural Affairs Secretariat in June 2019, the ministry was able to launch its first

due to the challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Minister Adams-Yearwood further stated that, with many persons out of jobs, it may be difficult to feed their families with the necessary fruits and vegetables to maintain healthy immune systems.

“It is important for persons to have access

weeks, other Regional and Agricultural officials have been calling on persons to return to kitchen gardening as a means to ensure their families are fed, especially during crises like the one currently affecting the country.

Persons interested in this initiative can uplift an application form from the security of the Ministry’s head office on Regent Street, their

Some random photographs of the gardens being promoted systems is key.

This initiative is part of the Ministry’s Rural Entrepreneurial Agricultural Project (REAP), according to a press release from the ministry.

Minister within the Ministry of Agriculture with responsibility for Rural Affairs, Valerie Adams-Yearwood, while encouraging persons to start their kitchen gardens, said that the Ministry intends to assist persons with their efforts.

“Government, through the Ministry of Agriculture, has implemented the REAP which will be implemented in all Regions of Guyana.

Kitchen Garden competition, last November, in Region Four, more specifically, the East Coast and East Bank of Demerara, in Region Five from Fort Wellington to Bush Lot, Region Six, from Number 53 Union to Kildonan, Region Nine, from Lethem to St. Ignatius and in Region Ten, Linden.

The release said that, with the success of the previous initiative, and preparations for the second leg of the competition underway, Minister Adams-Yearwood made adjustments to the initiative to offer assistance to persons finding it hard to maintain their food supply,

to nutritious fruits and vegetables to maintain healthy immune systems, as these help your body to fight off diseases and viruses. This is one of the benefits of having a kitchen garden – access to a variety of healthy and nutritious fruits and vegetables,” Minister Adams-Yearwood said.

She further stated that kitchen gardens help persons to save money, reduce their trips to public spaces like markets and supermarkets and promote recreational activities among family members.

The ministry said that, over the past few

Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) Offices or regional agricultural officers. Forms are also available on the ministry’s website at http://agriculture.gov.gy/publications/kitchen-garden-project-entry-form/.

After a verification process, registered persons will be given assistance in the form of vouchers to acquire seeds, small garden tools, irrigation material and other planting material needed, to either establish, or improve an established kitchen garden, redeemable at local or Regional suppliers.

Closing date for registration is June 6, 2020.

CARICOM mounts election observation mission to Suriname IN response to the request from the Government of the Republic of Suriname, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) has fielded a CARICOM Election Observation Mission to monitor the general elections which will be held on Monday, 25 May 2020.

The four-member mission, which

arrived in Suriname on Monday, 18 May 2020, will be headed by Ms. Dora James, Supervisor of Elections of St. Vincent and the Grenadines and who has served as a member of CARICOM Election Observation Missions to other CARICOM Member States, said a press release from CARICOM on Tuesday.

It said the CARICOM Election Observation Mission proposes to meet with the electoral officials, leaders of political parties and other stakeholders of the Republic of Suriname, and will monitor the electoral process including the opening of the poll, the voting process, the closing of the poll and the counting

of the ballots.

“For CARICOM, election observation serves as a platform to support existing democratic traditions within the Caribbean Community as part of its wider policy of supporting democracy and good governance,” the release concluded.

ERC probes woman’s racial rant on Facebook THE Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) on Monday revealed that it is probing the posting of a video which went viral over the weekend on Facebook, showing a woman of East Indian descent making racially insensitive remarks.

In the video, the woman was heard making racially charged comments about Afro-Guyanese, describing them by several derogatory

names. The video quickly went viral and the incident was reported to the commission.

The commission stated that it is particularly concerned that the post can contribute to the unnecessary escalation of tension in the society.

In addition, the ERC, through its Investigations Unit, is also probing a recent incident that occurred at

Kissoon’s Furniture Store involving alleged racial profiling of a customer.

The customer, a newspaper columnist, shared her story in a sister newspaper regarding her recent experience while shopping at the well-known furniture store.

The owners of the store have since made a statement responding to the young woman’s alleged racial profiling, stating that it is

against any form of racism and racial profiling.

Nevertheless, the ERC is reminding citizens to desist entirely from making racially motivated remarks which can incite others. In fact, the commission wishes to point out that persons can be prosecuted for offences under the Racial Hostility and Representation of the People Acts, as well as the country’s Cyber Crime

Laws. The ERC continues to monitor Facebook and the various social media platforms.

The body is imploring all Guyanese to exercise tolerance and respect for each other throughout their daily lives.

The commission is expected to contact the parties involved in the various incidents to further its investigation.

A screenshot of the woman during her rant on Facebook

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, May 20, 2020

Minibus operators still flouting COVID-19 rules WITH the number of rising cases of the deadly COVID-19 now pegged at 125, it is critical that Guyanese everywhere adhere to the necessary precautions to protect themselves and their families; however there are still a few minibus operators who are still not conforming to the necessary measures to protect themselves and commuters.

Minibuses are Guyana’s main source of public transportation and as such, the Ministry of Public Infrastructure had advised that minibus operators carry half the number of passengers that they usually would as a means to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus; however, many minibus operators have been disregarding this.

According to President of the United Minibus Association, Eon Andrews, it is the ‘hustle mentality’ that keeps operators from placing their health and the health of others first. Andrews noted that, “There are still buses who are accepting people in the bus without masks, buses are leaving the parks with the correct amount of passengers only to go a few miles and

pick up more passengers.”

Andrews added that he was optimistic that the COVID-19 epidemic will motivate minibus operators to be more compassionate towards their passengers, thereby putting their (passengers) safety first during the health crisis. “I was hoping with this COVID-19 scenario is teaching them that passengers are their brothers, their sisters [and] their mothers, which means that they must be respected, and that they must be treated in a special way,” In addition, Andrews expressed concern over minibus touts still traversing the bus parks; he was especially concerned that several of his visits to the various parks showed that touts were not wearing any protective gear for the safety of themselves and others.

“They are still jostling persons to get into buses and they don’t even have on masks…they are agents of death,” he stated.

While acknowledging that they too still have to work given the circumstances, touting is still very much illegal; nevertheless, it is still

Traffic Chief Linden Isles

President of the United Minibus Association, Mr. Eon Andrews

A citizen’s photo showing an overcrowded Route 44 minibus

extremely critical that people protect themselves.

SPEAK UP! However, while there are a few minibus operators who are adhering to the rule, there are still a few who continue to have a nonchalant approach to combatting the virus.

In several videos and photos published on social media websites, minibus operators were seen still overloading the buses and carrying three to four passengers in a seat, whereas they were advised to carry just two passengers per seat as a means of maintaining the three-foot social-distancing rule to slow the spread of the virus.

Andrews further noted that commuters and civilians must object to minibus operators over packing and ‘doubling up’ and report such to the relevant authorities.

Traffic Chief Linden Isles had urged minibus operators and commuters to adhere to the precautionary measures when travelling to slow the spread of the deadly coronavirus.

During an invited comment, Isles had told the

Guyana Chronicle that traffic ranks of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) have been placed at every bus park across the country as part of an anti-COVID-19 exercise to ensure that persons are abiding by the law and are practising social distancing.

“We have ranks at all the parks throughout the 10 administrative regions; we have traffic ranks going around and talking to the drivers, advising them, because we know that there are some of them who are not complying, endangering the life [sic] of the commuters and their own lives,” he said.

He noted that a few minibus operators are still not implementing the precautionary measures and ranks will continue to educate both commuters and minibus operators about the seriousness of the epidemic and the consequence of having a carefree approach to fighting the virus.

Nevertheless, the traffic chief is urging citizens to report instances of minibus operators over- packing buses to the relevant authorities.

The animals have not been forgotten

Staff Members of the Guyana Zoological Park

SINCE the COVID -19 lockdown, the Guyana Zoological Park has remained closed, but this has not stopped the staff members of the zoo from working every day to ensure that the animals are taken care of, with the Protected Areas Commission / National Parks Commission (PAC/NPC) putting specific measures in place to ensure that the animals and staff remain safe and healthy during this global pandemic.

Guyana Zoological Park Manager, Anthony Ramsahoi, expressed appreciation for the sacrifices being made by the Zoo’s members of staff saying, “Our Zoo Keepers and other staff here are the real super heroes; they come every single day, not for

the money, but for the love of the animals”.

Ramsahoi further stated that the animals have always gotten proper care in terms of general animal husbandry practices and constant sanitizing – he says this is nothing new for the Zoo as he revealed that some Zoo Keepers were using safety respirators and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in keeping with the nature of their work, even before the outbreak. He says what is new however, is the practice of social and physical distancing among the staff.

Stronger bleach solutions are used to sanitize rails and cages, and Zoo Keepers are required to constantly sanitise themselves and ensure that their uniforms are not taken away

but washed and stored at the zoo.

According to a release from the PAC, it has been observed that, due to the lack of large crowds and noise, some animals are now more visible even in cages. Although this has been a welcomed change for these protected creatures, there is still hope that normalcy will return in order for patrons, especially students, to benefit from the zoo.

Funds for the proper feeding, sanitation and protection of these animals are provided through continued subventions from the Government. In addition members of the public have also been donating fruits which are thoroughly cleaned before being fed to the animals.

A staff Member with one of the Protected Animals at the Guyana Zoological Park

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, May 20, 2020

Recovered COVID-19 patients can be re-infected -Dr. Hamilton warns, as confirmed cases move up by one PERSONS who recover from the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) disease are no longer infectious, meaning they cannot spread the disease, but they can, however, be re-infected, said Director of Primary Health Care Services, Dr. Ertenisa Hamilton.

This new development was reported worldwide, on Tuesday, and according to a New York Post article, nearly 300 recovered coronavirus patients in South Korea, who tested positive a second time hadn’t infected others. These preliminary findings were released on Monday by the Korean Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This new development boots the notion that those infected with coronavirus develop immunity to the disease.

The report from the New York Post said Korean officials monitored 285 recovered patients, who again tested positive and found that none of the 790 people they came into contact with were infected with corona-

virus. “We currently have 46 persons who have recovered.

Recovered cases refer to persons who were affected with the disease and who now have been cleared with two negative results 24 hours apart and with no signs and symptoms of the virus. These individuals can no longer infect others; however they can be re-infected if they do not take precautions,” said Dr. Hamilton in a virtual COVID-19 update, on Tuesday.

Despite the new development, the fact remains that Guyana continues to record a consistent increase in the number of COVID-19 cases, with the latest statistics showing that one new case was recorded after 51 tests were done, in the past 24 hours.

The total number of persons tested to date is 1,269 with the total number of negative cases being 1,144.

There are 69 active cases of which three are being treated in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and 66 in institutional isolation. Addi-

Director of Primary Health Care Services, Dr. Ertenisa Hamilton

tionally, the country has lost 10 persons to the disease.

As the fight continues, Dr. Hamilton reminded Guyanese that frontline workers, including staff of the National Public Health Reference Laboratory are working “under duress”, either testing persons for the disease or bat-

CARICOM condemns inclusion of regional territories on money laundering blacklist THE Caribbean Community (CARICOM) said it deplores the latest attack by the European Commission on the economic well-being of some of its Member States who were named on 7th May 2020, in a list of third countries with strategic Anti-Money Laundering/ Combating the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) deficiencies.

A release from CARICOM said that the publication of the list means that those territories would therefore be subject to enhanced due diligence measures by European Union (EU) States.

The release said that the list, which includes four CARICOM Member States was published, despite the European Council, in objecting to a list submitted for approval last year, concluding that the Commission’s submission was “not established in a transparent and resilient process that actively incentivises affected countries to take decisive action, while also respecting their right to be heard.”

Impacted countries were neither informed nor consulted prior to this month’s publication, the release said.

It said that the Commission’s unilateral actions “are therefore contrary to the principles of transparency and consultation reflected in the Council’s conclusion, as well as its own assertions about its Revised Methodology which advocates prior engagement with third countries, as outlined in its press release announcing the new list.”

The release noted that, of the four CARICOM States included in the Commission’s list, one has been delisted by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), the global AML/CFT standard-setting body, since February 2020, and the other three Member States had already entered into agreed Action Plans with the FATF/ CFATF. It said, moreover, the Commission has published the list of high risk jurisdictions, even as its Action Plan for a Comprehensive Union policy on Preventing Money

Laundering and Terrorist Financing is still being subject to stakeholder consultation that will conclude by July 2020.

“CARICOM Member States continue to demonstrate their commitment to strengthening their AML/ CFT frameworks and have actively participated in the CFATF’s mutual evaluation process. The Caribbean Community maintains its call for a uniform, fair and transparent assessment process that is based on an inclusive, multilateral framework,” the release said.

It said that, as a longstanding partner of the Caribbean Community, the action of the European Commission is not in keeping with the collaborative and supportive relationship between CARICOM and European States.

“The Caribbean Community therefore calls upon the European Union Member States to once again reject the Commission’s proposals as callous and premature, at this moment in time,” CARICOM said.

tling to save the lives of those stricken with COVID-19.

“We cannot find enough words to express our praise and appreciation, so I appeal to you that even as we applaud the untiring efforts of these faithful workers, we think of our actions that are contributing to the rise in our

numbers. Unless we change our behaviours, not only will our numbers increase, but our return to normalcy, our fellowship, our social gatherings, our hang on the seawall will be unnecessarily long and stressful,” said the doctor.

Health authorities continue to work towards strengthening the healthcare system to respond to COVID-19 on a long-term basis, and the potential and existing activities are part of the plan to have a comprehensive COVID-19 health network, whereby patients across the country’s 10 administrative regions will be able to access these services.

Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) remains the epicentre of the disease, and there are a number of communities outside of Georgetown which have recorded cases.

Among communities on the East Coast Demerara (ECD) where cases have been recorded are: Atlantic Gardens, Friendship, Golden Grove, Good Hope,

Lusignan, Plaisance, and Strathspey. Among communities on the East Bank Demerara (EBD) where there were cases are: Diamond, Grove, Land of Canaan, Providence, and Timehri.

Measures can be continuously implemented, but it is up to the individuals, that is the average Guyanese, to adhere to those measures and think seriously about flattening the curve (reducing the spread). The disease remains a serious issue, not just in Guyana, but globally.

And, according to global statistics, there are over 4.6 million cases of COVID-19, with over 311,000 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 preventive measures to contain the spread of the disease.

IDB and ESRI offer solutions to combat COVID-19 in Latin America and the Caribbean

ADVANCED GEOSPATIAL TECHNOLOGY WILL BE PROVIDED DURING PANDEMIC The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has joined forces with Esri , the global leader in location intelligence, to provide free access to geospatial technology in response to the COVID-19 emergency in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC).

Governments in the region will be able to use a custom COVID-19 solution to track critical equipment and assets availability, manage supply chains, and maintain business continuity.

Leveraging Esri’s Disaster Response Program , and based on the specific needs of IDB member countries, this collaboration provides access to technology resources that can enhance the region’s response to the immediate public health emergency posed

by COVID-19. Concretely,

governments in the region will be able to leverage Esri’s analytical models and implement dashboards and control centers to monitor the spread of the virus and identify where intervention is needed.

“With ESRI, we have developed a collaborative relationship focused on working with IDB clients to solve complex problems and combat COVID-19 in Latin America and the Caribbean,” said Nuria Simo, the IDB’s Chief Information Officer and General Manager of Department of Information Technology. “We believe ESRI’s leadership in disaster response programs, technical knowledge and assistance in the use of geographic information systems, usage of georeferenced data, and access to analytical tools can greatly benefit the region in its fight against the virus, while helping us meet other important needs in the countries we serve.”

“We are very proud to assist IDB in providing support to Latin America and the Caribbean,” said Jack Dangermond, Esri founder and president.

“The ability to understand emergency management capacity is crucial to handling a crisis like this, and it is our mission to offer enhanced technological capabilities that empower governments around the globe to respond faster, and with the best data resources at their disposal."

In addition to supporting the public health response, the partnership will also support the three other priority areas identified by the IDB as it works to address COVID-19 in LAC, including the creation of safety nets for vulnerable populations, economic productivity and employment, and the development of fiscal policies to relieve economic impacts.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, May 20, 2020

Suspect in West Ruimveldt murder still at large THE police are still on the hunt for 18-year-old Timothy Evans, who is wanted for the murder of his West Ruimveldt, Georgetown neighbour.

On May 1, 2020, Florence Forte, 56, was shot in her left eye by Evens during a shootout.

The Guyana Chronicle

had reported that on the day in question around 01:30hrs, Forte was in her West Ruimveldt home when she heard a commotion between her two neighbours,Brian Wiltshire and Timothy Evans.Wiltshire also sustained a gunshot wound during the melee.

Wiltshire had reportedly witnessed Evans stealing a

motorcycle from his friend.

Consequently, he then took his friend to Evans’s home in order to recover the motorcycle.

According to reports, Evans came out of his house armed with a firearm and began shooting at Wiltshire and others. Wiltshire was shot to the right side of his chest.

WANTED: Timothy Evans

Forte, who lived opposite Evans, exited her house to see what the commotion was about and was shot to her left eye. Forte and Wiltshire were rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where Forte succumbed to her injury.

The police are still on the hunt for Evans, for whom a wanted bulletin has been

issued.

Anyone with information that may lead to the arrest of Timothy Evans is asked to contact the police on telephone numbers 2261389, 227-2128, 226-7476, 226-7065, 227-9271, 2271611, 227-1149, 227-1270, 225-6940-9, 225-3650, 2261928, 911 or the nearest police station.

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Guyana’s first CARIFTA gold medallist

… Gladstone Hopkinson recalls win

By Ras Wadada IT was the opening day - Saturday April 1, 1972 - of the inaugural Junior CARIFTA Games staged at the National Stadium in Waterford, St Michael, Barbados where the weather was cool and breezy in the afternoon, ideal for the Under-20 Boys’ 1500m.

Among the starters for the three-and-a-half lap event was a 19-year-old lad from Nismes Village on the West Bank of Demerara named Gladstone Gladwin Hopkinson.

The-then Goed Fortuin Government School student captured the golden moment when he clocked 4:08.8 seconds to give Guyana their first medal of the Games that attracted 11 countries.

“I recall being at the starting line and feeling nervous, but determined to do my best, in particular, determined to beat compatriot McKenzie from Berbice with whom I finished in a dead heat at the trials.

“For the first two laps I stayed at the back and was feeling good as the nervousness disappeared and then after the completion of the 2nd lap I decided to go to the front.

Halfway through the 3rd lap I was being challenged by two hometown boys from Barbados and they were getting loud sup-

port from the home crowd, but I was feeling good and strong so I decided to up the tempo to see what they really had to offer.

As I glanced at my team mates in the stands my confidence grew and I was then in a groove so I continued to increase my pace to which they could not respond and with about 600m from the finish line I just pulled away to beat them all by several yards.

“It was a great feeling and the many hugs and congratulations from team mates and Guyanese who were there made the feeling more special.

“It was a good feeling since my participation was only confirmed a week before the Games thanks to the support of former Guyana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) Sports Editor, Peter Haynes who secured sponsorship from Guyana National Engineering Corporation (GNEC) for me to travel,” the now 67-yearold Hopkinson shared with Chronicle Sport via telephone.

The La Grange-born Hopkinson was rewarded on his return home with a scholarship to Tutorial High school. As regards the gold medal, the first for Guyana at these Games he can’t say where it is as his mom and a sister, who were both keepers of it, have passed away.

Pooran has eyes ... improvement in myself, I started to believe that it was possible I will play cricket again. I didn’t believe I would be down forever.

Every time I went to sleep and woke up, I just decided that today was going to be a better day.”

After two surgeries and several months of physiotherapy, he was able to walk again and eventually made his cricketing comeback.

“My girlfriend and her family, they came and prayed for me; started to teach me about the Bible and religion. They just told me to believe. I started to believe and I saw for myself that every day I was seeing improvement.

“I believe it’s because of my belief and trust in the Lord. That changed everything for me, to be honest,” added Pooran who has played

FROM BACK PAGE

in several T20 franchise leagues around the world, including the Caribbean Premier League (CPL), the India Premier League (IPL), the Pakistan Super League (PSL), and the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL).

The aggressive middle-order batsman made his T20I debut for the West Indies, less than two years after his accident. He played for the regional side against Pakistan in September 2016.

Pooran made his ODI debut against England in February 2019.

He then went on to secure a place in the West Indies squad in the 2019 Cricket World Cup which he ended as the leading run-scorer for the regional squad, amassing 367 runs in nine matches, which included his first ODI century.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, May 20, 2020

‘Maddening’ Bulls dynasty couldn’t seek ‘99 crown — Jordan NEW YORK , United States (AFP) — Michael Jordan believes the Chicago Bulls 1990s National Basketball Association (NBA) dynasty would have stayed together for at least one more season if team chiefs had backed Coach Phil Jackson.

The retired legend made his comments in the last chapter of the hit documentary The Last Dance, saying he would have re-signed a one-year deal had management kept the team together, including Dennis Rodman, Scottie Pippen, and Jackson.

“If you asked all the guys who won in ‘98...’We’ll give you a one-year contract to try for a seventh,’ you think they would have signed? Yes, they would have signed,” Jordan said.

“Would I have signed for one year? Yes, I would have signed for one year.

“Would Phil have done it? Yes. Now, Pip, you would have had to do some convincing. But if Phil was going to be there, if Dennis was going to be there, if MJ was going to be there, to win our seventh? Pip is not going to miss

out on that.”

Instead, Jordan and Jackson stepped away from the game, only to return later, while Pippen and Steve Kerr

were traded and Rodman was released.

The rebuilding Bulls missed the play-offs with losing records for the next

six seasons after taking the 1998 title and since then have reached the Eastern Conference finals only once.

The 10-part saga con-

Former Chicago Bulls player Michael Jordan sticks out his tongue as he goes past Jeff Hornacek of the Utah Jazz during game two of the NBA Finals at the United Center in Chicago, IL, in this June 4, 1997 file photo (Photo: AFP)

Lance Armstrong: I first cheated aged 21 DISGRACED cycling star Lance Armstrong has admitted he first used performance-enhancing drugs aged 21.

Armstrong was stripped of his seven Tour de France titles and handed a lifetime ban in 2012 following a United States Anti-Doping Agency investigation.

Having denied cheating repeatedly throughout his career, Armstrong belatedly admitted to using banned substances during a January 2013 interview with Oprah Winfrey.

The legitimacy of the American’s achievements had long been the subject of conjecture after he came back from testicular cancer to dominate cycling’s blue riband event from 1999 to 2005.

However, in the new ESPN documentary Lance, the 48-year-old, confirmed his history with illegal drugs stretched back much further to his maiden campaign as a professional.

“In terms of crossing the line, to something that (you would be punished for) if you admitted it or tested positive, then that wouldn’t have been until 21 years old,” he told ESPN - “My first professional season.

“At that time in the sport it was cortisone, or cortisone

pre-cursors, or drugs that stimulate your body’s own production of cortisone.

“It was just ingrained in the culture of the sport.”

Armstrong is most infamous for his use of EPO and working alongside controversial doctor Michele Ferrari – describing the blood-boosting agent as “a whole other level” and “rocket fuel” compared to the “low-octane doping” of cortisone.

the answer to that,” he said. “I don’t want to say no, because I don’t think that’s right either.

I don’t know if it’s yes or no, but I certainly wouldn’t say no.

“The only thing I will tell you is: the only time in my life that I ever did growth hormone was the 1996 season.

“And so just in my head, I’m like, growth … growing hormones and cells, like … if anything good needs to be grown, it does. But wouldn’t

Flashback:

Lance Armstrong at the 2004 Tour de France (Photo: Joel Saget/AFP via Getty Images)

In the documentary, he also conceded to using human growth hormone (HGH) during 1996 and pondered whether this was a factor in his cancer diagnosis.

“You know, I don’t know

it also make sense that if anything bad is there, that it too would grow?”

Following his return to professional cycling in 1998, Armstrong insisted he had no concerns over the potential

adverse effects of a cancer survivor using EPO. “In many ways - and this is not going to be a popular answer - EPO is a safe drug,” he said. “Assuming certain things, assuming (it is) taken properly, taken under the guidance of a medical professional, taken in conservative amounts.

“There are far worse things you can put in your body.”

Armstrong believes his considerable fall from grace and resulting absence from the public eye might have actually brought benefits, particularly for his family.

“The last five years has really caused me to pause and try to understand, not just myself but what this story meant to other people, what this story meant to the world,” he said.

“And you know, that’s a heavy thing to think about. I never knew the story was as big as it was. I knew it was big, but I didn’t know it was that big.

“If I was competing today, I could tell you who my peers would be. My peers would be Michael Phelps, LeBron James, and so I see where they are … and so only now do I realise, ‘that’s where you were’.

“That’s where I was. I really don’t miss that. And I think if I’d stayed there, it wouldn’t have been good for my family.” (Omnisport)

cluded with Jordan saying he felt no sense of gratification to leave while on top.

It’s maddening “It’s maddening, because I felt like we could have won seven,” Jordan said. “I really believe that. We may not have, but man, just to not be able to try, that’s something that I just can’t accept for whatever reason.”

Former Bulls General Manager Jerry Krause had told Jackson before the 199798 season that it would be his last campaign as coach, a move that led to Jordan’s exit and the Bulls breakup.

“In ‘98, Krause already said at the beginning of the season, ‘Phil can go 82-0, and he was never going to be the coach.’ So when Phil said it was the last dance, it was the last dance,” Jordan said.

“We knew they weren’t going to keep the team. Now, they could’ve mixed all of it at the beginning of ‘98. Why say that statement at the beginning of ‘98?”

Krause, who died in 2017 at age 77, was concerned about trying to keep the team a contender and hoped

for a quick rebuild, fearful of the quick plunge and rapid talent turnover that eventually came.

After offering no solace to Jackson during a difficult season, Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf said he called Jackson following the team’s championship parade and offered him the chance to return for the 1998-99 season.

“After the sixth championship, I offered him the opportunity to come back,” Reinsdorf said. “You’ve earned the opportunity to come back, regardless of what was said before now,” he told Jackson.

But Jackson said in the documentary that he rejected the offer after having spent the season as a lame duck.

“I said, ‘Well, I think I should just take a break. I don’t think it’s fair to Jerry [Krause], and I know it would be difficult for him to accept that,” Jackson said.

Reinsdorf, 84, called Jackson’s decision the finish of the dynasty run.

“That was the end. It just came to an end on its own,” Reinsdorf said.

India delays call on Sri Lanka tour amid travel restrictions

By Amlan Chakraborty NEW DELHI, India (Reuters) - India’s cricket board (BCCI) will wait for more clarity on international travel restrictions before making a call on the limited-overs tour of Sri Lanka in July, a top board official told Reuters.

Virat Kohli’s team are scheduled to play three one-dayers and the same number of Twenty20 Internationals in Sri Lanka but the series is under threat due to measures imposed to battle the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Nothing has been decided as yet, because we are not sure what would be the travel restrictions then,” BCCI treasurer Arun Singh Dhumal told Reuters by telephone.

“There is no clarity about it. So we’ll wait for that and accordingly take a call.”

India has extended a nationwide lockdown to May 31 while all commercial flights in and out of Sri Lanka remain suspended at least until the end of the month.

Bangladesh is being similarly cautious for the three-Test series in Sri Lanka in July and August.

“We have to look at travelling restrictions in Bangladesh, and the quarantine protocols in both countries,” Bangladesh Cricket Board chief executive Nizamuddin Chowdhury told ESPNcricinfo.

“We have to be mindful of the players’ readiness ... we have to figure out other details about this tour.”

Sri Lanka has already had to postpone home series against England and South Africa because of the global health crisis.

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Saliva, neutral umpires out in ICC changes

THE use of saliva to polish cricket balls, the end of neutral umpires and an additional use of the Decision Review System (DRS) per innings are all measures set to be introduced to international cricket’s playing conditions during the coronavirus pandemic.

The International Cricket Council’s (ICC) 16-person Cricket Committee, chaired by former India spinner Anil Kumble and including former Australia women’s captain Belinda Clark, recommended that sweat could still be used to polish the ball because medical advice shows “it is highly unlikely that the virus can be transmitted” that way.

The recommendations would be presented to the ICC’s Chief Executives’ Committee for approval in early June, after which they will be adopted into playing conditions for international cricket.

The regulations will then be assessed by individual member boards for adoption in their own domestic playing

conditions.

Reports the ICC was to legalise ball-tampering have

proved unfounded amid numerous suggestions sparked by fears bowlers would be

The ICC hasn’t allowed use of non-neutral umpires since 2002 | Getty Images

India’s Kohli credits change in stance to versatility

Virat Kohli

NEW DELHI, India (Reuters) - Virat Kohli’s wide range of shots makes him one of the most versatile batsmen of his era and the India captain says it was a tweak to his stance that brought him a deluge of runs in recent years.

Kohli made his India debut in 2008 as a flashy batsman but has since combined compact technique with elegant shot-making.

In a Facebook live chat with Bangladesh one-day captain Tamim Iqbal, he said ditching his earlier stance opened up scoring options for him.

“I changed because I wanted to score all over the ground. The static position was limiting my

unable to shine the red ball in Test and first-class cricket due to health fears.

shot-making options,” said the 31-year-old, who goes back-and-across in his current stance.

“It works for many, Sachin Tendulkar for instance. He had no issues because of his superior technique and hand-eye coordination.

“I had to tweak it to suit my game. When someone first told me it could open up my options, I thought of giving it a try.

“Luckily, it clicked and I immediately started executing shots which I never thought I could.”

Kohli averages 50-plus in all three formats, has smashed 70 international centuries and boasts an exquisite cover drive.

Among his contemporaries, Australian Steve Smith has an unorthodox but effective stance, standing open to the bowler and shuffling across the offstump line, and Kohli said batsmen had to find out what worked for them.

“I always feel you should be open to changes ... You can’t stagnate, you have to keep learning,” he said.

“If you keep playing in the same manner, opposition will figure out your game. You have to be ahead of the game.

“So try it and drop it if it doesn’t work, but any batsman should be open to positive changes,” added Kohli.

Shane Warne went as far as to suggest using weighted balls to help pace bowlers generate swing, while Australian kit manufacturer Kookaburra says it is developing a wax applicator to enhance shine and aid swing.

Teams will be allowed to take sweat from their forehead or arms and use that to help shine the ball, but licking fingers to apply saliva will be outlawed.

No detail has been provided on how the measures will be enforced, or what the penalty will be for breaking them.

The ICC’s Cricket Committee also recommended on Monday that local match officials be appointed for all international cricket in the short term – an end to the use of neutral umpires in elite cricket – “given the challenges of international travel with borders being closed, limited commercial flights and mandatory quarantine periods.”

The ICC’s Elite Panel – a select group of 10 umpires, deemed the world’s

best including Australians Bruce Oxenford, Paul Reiffel and Rod Tucker – is used in almost all Test matches around the world since its introduction in 2002.

If there are not enough Elite Panel umpires available, then umpires from the ICC’s International Panel can be used. This includes four Australians: Shawn Craig, Paul Wilson, Sam Nogajski and Gerard Abood.

The ICC updates its umpire panels on July 1 annually.

An additional DRS review per team per innings is also set to be introduced in each of cricket’s formats as an interim measure.

“We are living through extraordinary times,” committee chair Kumble said.

“And the recommendations the committee made today are interim measures to enable us to safely resume cricket in a way that preserves the essence of our game whilst protecting everyone involved.” (Cricket Network with AAP)

Tyson Fury: I’m still fat, ugly and bald - but I’m still unstoppable!

TYSON Fury has vowed to continue proving his doubters wrong as he targets a long reign of heavyweight boxing dominance.

The WBC world champion is preparing for a third fight against American Deontay Wilder, whom he stopped in February to claim the title.

Fury insists he has never changed, nor have the people who are queuing up to tell him he cannot succeed.

“They said I’d never do it, they said I would never have the dedication,” Fury said to Sky Sports.

“Then they wrote me off because I wasn’t body beautiful like everybody else, then they wrote me off because the heavyweight champion of the world was Wladimir Klitschko.

“I had to go to Germany, that was a write-off, and then they wrote me off because I went to 28 stone and had mental health problems, but that couldn’t keep me down.

“Then they wrote me off because I had to fight the biggest puncher in the history of boxing (Wilder) after only two, petty comeback fights, but that didn’t keep me down.

“Then they wrote me off, because I’m all washed up and I can’t take a punch anymore, and then they wrote me off because I got a massive cut. Then they wrote me off

because I had 10 changes of trainers.

“Then they wrote me off because Wilder was going to be better the second time around.

“Then they wrote me off because they said they didn’t believe in what I was going to do and I’m a feather-duster puncher, and I can’t crack an egg, and I’m useless.

more than any active heavyweight alive today. If I never have another boxing fight, I’ll be happy. I’ve completed the game.

“Nothing to prove to anybody; but why walk away when I’m still only young?

Klitschko did it until he was 40. A lot of the great champions are continuing and con-

Tyson Fury is preparing for his third straight fight against Deontay Wilder

“But here I am today, stand-alone heavyweight, leading superstar in boxing. I’m still fat, still ugly, still bald, still a big man, and I’m still unstoppable.”

Fury believes he has “completed” boxing, but with retirement plans put to one side he now wants a long stint as champion like Klitschko had before their 2015 bout.

He added: “I’ve achieved

tinuing.

“I ain’t boxing for money, I ain’t boxing for fame, I ain’t boxing for a belt. I’m boxing because it keeps me mentally happy and I like to do it.

“Hopefully I box until I have a good sit-down with all the team and we all decide it’s time to walk away, while I’m on top, and then sail away into the sunset.”

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CWI gets assurances over player safety for proposed July Test tour THE West Indies tour of England this summer is becoming increasingly likely, following positive discussions between the medical team and staff of the English Cricket Board and the CWI on Monday.

Both boards have been in discussions since the start of the month intent on charting a pathway to the West Indies travelling to England for three Tests in July.

Initially scheduled for June, the tour was been postponed because of fears over player safety caused by the spread of the Coronavirus COVID-19.

H o w e v e r, l a t e l a s t

week, CWI notified 30 players that they should be prepared to travel and play in England in July if it is decided that the tour would go ahead. Further discussions took place on Monday.

CWI CEO Johnny Grave confirmed to Sportsmax.TV yesterday that those Monday talks went well.

“The ECB is confident that they can deliver a safe plan for bio-secure behind closed doors cricket that will meet the UK Government guidelines and will therefore likely secure their board’s approval,” Grave told Sportsmax.TV. “We will have further

CWI chief executive officer Johnny Grave

Right time for Premier League return, says Liverpool’s Klopp (REUTERS) - Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp believes it is the right time for England’s Premier League to resume after a two-month stoppage due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Premier League hopes to restart its season in June, having been suspended since mid-March, and its plans were given a boost after the government last week opened the door for competitive soccer to resume.

Premier League clubs have been given permission to train in small groups and Klopp said that was the first step in a return to normality.

“I always said we don’t want to rush anything, but I don’t think it is rushed.

I hope that we are now in

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England on the right side of the thing. It’s all about when — but you need to re-open different parts of life again,” Klopp told Liverpool’s website.

“Everybody agrees about that. I think the way how we do it now with the Premier League, it’s now a good moment to do it for the football teams.”

Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp

Wednesday, May 20, 2020

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Headingley, Leeds, 1973 The Oval, London, 1973 TODAY’S QUIZ:

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Answers in tomorrow’s issue

“From a personal point of view I can say it’s a massive boost.”

Liverpool will begin staggered training sessions this week and Klopp said he is not concerned about the fitness of his players.

“From a physical point of view, the boys are in a good shape, I think. Then we have to start getting used to the pitch, football boots and balls again; that’s our job, that’s what we do, so we need to get used to that again,” the German added.

With matches set to be played without fans in the stadiums, the Liverpool boss said his team would have do without the “best boost in the world”.

“We have to do it, unfortunately, without the best kick in your ass in the right moment in the world, from the Anfield crowd,” Klopp said.

“But that’s how it is. I never understood in life why you always want things you don’t have, you cannot have. In this moment we cannot have that, so let’s take the rest and make the absolute best of it.”

Liverpool were 25 points clear of second-placed Manchester City and two wins away from their first top-flight title since 1990 when the season was brought to a halt.

meetings and discussions this week with the ECB as we try and plan for the Test Tour taking place this summer in an environment where the number-one priority is the health and safety of all players and staff.”

During an interview on Sportsnation Live on Nationwide Radio in Jamaica on Saturday, Grave reiterated that safety was the primary concern of the CWI. “We would have to be absolutely certain that our players and support staff would be in a safe environment in order for us to play cricket,” he said while explaining the

conditions under which the team would travel and play in the UK. “What it means at this stage is that we would use charter flights to first collect players in the Caribbean and then to make our way across the Atlantic. We wouldn’t be on aircraft with any other passengers. There would be private charters for our players and team.

“Then once we land in the UK we would undergo a two-week quarantine period, which would be at a cricket facility, so the players would have the opportunity to play and train. They would be the only ones in that secure

environment.”

Grave said the hotel staff, ground staff and other personnel would be tested regularly and would have to remain on-site for the duration. “Once they enter that bio-secure environment no one would be allowed to come or go, so they’d be in lockdown within a cricket venue with a hotel on-site,” he said.

According to Grave, the CWI medical and support staff have determined that the Windies would need at least four weeks to get the players into the condition that they need to be to face England in the Test matches. (Sportsmax)

Speedster Gabriel does not expect drop in pace

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) – West Indies fast bowler Shannon Gabriel does not believe his pace will be affected by his recent ankle surgery, and hopes the Test tour of England goes ahead so he can return to action.

The barrel-chested 32-year-old, one of the main stays of the Test attack, has been sidelined since last September after undergoing surgery last November.

Gabriel said his main priority was achieving a high standard of fitness which would guarantee his pace remained.

“I am trying my best to be as fit as possible so I’m really working hard in terms of my fitness and managing my weight, trying not to get too heavy to put too

T&T and West Indies Fast bowler Shannon Gabriel

much strain on my ankle,” Gabriel told i95FM here.

“So I know once I put in the hard work everything will be ok (with my pace) in the end. I just want to stay positive.

“My bowling run-up has probably just tweaked a bit, in terms of my running technique but I don’t think there are many changes “I just want to be fitter than I was because obviously that ankle was getting most of the pressure and obviously I don’t want that type of injury to happen again, so I’m trying my best to stay fit so I can stay on the park (longer).”

He added: “It has been a long journey since November when I did the surgery on my ankle. Everything is going well, it has been a long process in terms of getting back to running and bowling and stuff like that.”

Gabriel missed Trinidad and Tobago Red Force’s Regional Super50 campaign last November and the entire domestic first-class championship.

He was hoping to return to action in the last two rounds o f the four-day tournament before it was aborted due to the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak.

Gabriel was recently named in a provisional 30man squad to tour England in July and hopes the threeTest tour comes off despite

the doubt surrounding the series.

“It’s a good feeling always to represent West Indies,” said Gabriel, who has taken 133 wickets from 45 Tests.

“It’s good to be back out on the park. The plan is to try to make the tour to England – hopefully that comes off. I’m just trying my best to stay positive and I hope everything goes well.

“There has been no high-intensity work, I’m just taking my body back into it easy, taking it one day at a time and not trying to push too hard but it’s still long while before the first Test in England and by that time I’m sure I’ll be fit and ready.”

Cricket West Indies (CWI) and its English counterparts are locked in discussions over the tour as they assess the public health threat, especially with the United Kingdom one of hardest hit regions by the virus.

If the tour goes ahead, players will be subjected to radical quarantine and self-distancing measures at “bio-secure” stadia, and Gabriel conceded this could prove a challenge.

“It’s going to take a lot.

It’s going to be mentally taxing on the brain but you have to stay positive,” the Trinidadian noted.

“On the positive side, you’re still getting the opportunity to play cricket and represent your country so that, in itself, should be enough motivation.”

27

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, May 20, 2020

TTFA turns to High Court in fight against FIFA takeover

Ousted TTFA president William Wallace

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) – The ousted executive of the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) has turned to the High Court here in its fight against FIFA’s decision to replace it with a normalisation committee.

The William Wallace-led United TTFA team said in a statement on Monday that it chose to go this route “after long and hard deliberations”, after withdrawing its appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) which it claimed had displayed bias against football’s world governing body.

“United TTFA assures the football community and the people of Trinidad and Tobago that we have carefully considered the options, the potential risks and the beneficial outcomes of this

struggle to defend the sovereignty of our country and our football,” the team of Wallace, Clynt Taylor, Susan Joseph-Warrick, Joseph Sam Phillip, Anthony Harford and Keith Look Loy said.

“We are guided by the principles of freedom and democracy enshrined in the supreme and governing law of Trinidad and Tobago - the Constitution - under which TTFA is established.”

The association had complained that the Switzerland-based CAS appeared to be taking sides, pointing out that the TTFA was asked to pay all the fees for the arbitration – in contravention of the court’s regulations which require that the parties split the cost, which FIFA refused to do – and that the court had accepted FIFA’s request for the case to be heard by three

arbitrators which tripled the costs associated with the appeal.

The embattled TTFA team said they therefore decided to lodge a brief with the local High Court.

They are asking the court for: a declaration that FIFA’s removal of the TTFA executive, which was elected to office on November 24, 2019, is null, void and of no legal and/or binding effect; a permanent injunction preventing FIFA from interfering in, and/ or seeking to override the fair and transparent democratic processes of the TTFA and/ or from attempting removing the duly elected executive from office; and a permanent injunction preventing FIFA and/or its agents and/or assigns and/or servants from interfering in the day-to-day management of the TTFA,

including the association’s bank accounts and real property.

The latter request comes as the TTFA and the FIFA-appointed normalisation committee fight for control of the association’s accounts at First Citizens Bank.

In March this year, FIFA replaced the TTFA executive with a committee led by local businessman Robert Hadad, on the grounds that a FIFA/ CONCACAF fact-finding mission had uncovered financial mismanagement and massive debt that left the local body facing “a very real risk of insolvency and illiquidity”. FIFA had said such a situation put the association and development of football in the country at risk and corrective measures needed to be applied urgently.

However, in the statement on Monday, the executive insisted that within four months of entering office, it had discovered and raised that issue and submitted a report to FIFA outlining how it intended to deal with it.

“Ironically, our discovery is one of the two reasons FIFA used to remove us from office. Even more ironically, FIFA conducts an annual audit at the TTFA and would have done so for the previous four years and never discovered this issue - or, if it was discovered, never demanded that it be fixed. “… The real reason for FIFA’s unwarranted and illegal interference in TTFA’s internal business is its desire to cover up the financial mismanagement and illegal actions of the last

administration,” it charged.

Among the issues which the executive highlighted were: the David John-Williams-led administration’s failure to provide contracts for the expenditure of TT$16 million (1 TT dollar = US 16 cents) on the Home of Football, the issuance of dozens of bounced cheques against TTFA accounts, and failure to pay to relevant statutory authorities, the sum of TT$4M deducted from employees’ salaries.

“The truth is that over the years, and certainly the David John-Williams years (20152019), FIFA showed no interest in good governance and proper financial management for the association, or in its ballooning debt,” it added.

The TTFA executive insisted that FIFA was therefore complicit in the

GBA, Bris O Promotions, working Grenadian sprinter to miss Olympics, on more ways to support boxers World C’ships after losing ban appeal

THE Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) and Seon Bristol of Bris O Promotions are examining more ways in which they can collaborate to help cushion the economic effect of COVID-19 on the local boxing fraternity.

Just over a week ago they combined to provide food hampers to boxers, referees, judges and coaches. Bristol,

who resides in New York, stated that he will be exploring the possibility of supplying another set of hampers in the near future.

He, however, insisted that this venture will become a reality if there is support from persons and businesses in both Guyana and USA. Bristol and GBA president Steve Ninvalle extended gratitude to: Bounty

Farm, Ivan and Pamela Evelyn, Dwayne Chase, Associated Packers, Reverend and Chaplain Dr Orin Lewis, Randolph Lewis, Deborah and Vanessa Bristol, Daphne Hoppie, Lynette Philadelphia, Orin Van Rossum and Green Path Foundation and Alford McDonald among others for assisting in making the first set of hampers available.

Premier League confirms six positive COVID-19 cases after testing (REUTERS) - The Premier League said on Tuesday that six people from three different clubs had tested positive for COVID-19 out of a sample of 748 individuals.

The novel coronavirus tests were taken on Sunday and Monday ahead of the return to small group training.

“Players or club staff who have tested positive will now self-isolate for a period of seven days,” the league said in a statement.

“The Premier League is providing this aggregated information for the purposes of competition integrity and transparency.

“No specific details as to clubs or individuals will be pro-

vided by the League and results will be made public in this way after each round of testing.”

Burnley later announced that their assistant coach Ian Woan was among those to give a positive result after being tested on Sunday.

“In line with strict Premier League requirements and following a positive test, Ian will now self-isolate for a period of seven days, with a view to being tested again week commencing Monday, May 25,” said Burnley’s statement https:// www.burnleyfootballclub.com/ news/2020/may/club-confirmspositive-covid-19-test.

“Ian is asymptomatic and is currently safe and well at home. He will remain in close

communication with club personnel regarding his re-engagement in training once he is clear of the virus.”

On Monday, the Premier League voted to allow clubs to begin small group, non-contact training with some clubs returning on Tuesday.

The league will decide early next week when to allow contact training as it looks for a June restart to the season which was halted on March 13.

On Saturday, Germany’s top-flight became the first major European league to return to action.

LAUSANNE, Switzerland (CMC) – Grenadian sprinter Bralon Taplin has lost his appeal against a four-year ban for dodging a doping test, which means he will miss the Tokyo Olympics if it comes off next year, as well as the next two World Championships.After saying that it was “comfortably satisfied” that the athlete purposely evaded testing, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS)

said in a statement issued here yesterday that the ban, imposed by the Caribbean Regional Anti-Doping Organisation (RADO) last year, would remain in place until September 2023.

The ruling by CAS judge Hugh Fraser came just over a year after the incident that sparked the ban.

After winning the 400m at the Grenada Invitational Athletics Competition on April 13, 2019, Taplin left the stadium without completing doping control, despite being informed that he was to undergo a drugs test.

The 28-year-old appealed the Caribbean RADO’s decision at the CAS, claiming he had not been properly notified that he had been selected for the doping control test.

However, CAS said, Taplin was told by a chaperone from the Grenada National Anti-Doping Organisation (Grenada NADO) during track-side media interviews that he was required to give a sample, yet he left the stadium and Bralon Taplin’s took an early flight ban for dodging out of the country a doping the following day. test will remain “The sole arin place until bitrator found September 2023

that the evidence given by the athlete that he was never approached, followed or accompanied by anyone from the Grenada NADO to be implausible,” the CAS press release said.

“Considering all of the evidence accepted in this procedure, the sole arbitrator was comfortably satisfied that the athlete was guilty of the offence of evading sample collection and confirmed the four-year period of ineligibility, which commenced on September 25 2019, the date on which the provisional suspension began.”

CAS had heard the case at the offices of the Grenada Olympic Committee on February 27 and 28 this year.

Taplin, who finished seventh in the 400m final at the Rio 2016 Summer Olympics, will therefore miss the next Summer Games that have been postponed, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, to July 24-August 9; the 18th edition of the World Athletics Championships in Oregon, United States, that have been rescheduled for 2022; and the following World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary, scheduled for August 19-27, 2023.

PAGE 23

Guyana’s first

CARIFTA t s i l l a d e m d l o g

Gladstone Hopkinson

… Gladstone Hopkinson recalls win

Pooran has eyes fixed on Chris Gayle the greatest in T20s, representing Windies in Test cricket Rohit Sharma wins fan vote

CHRIS Gayle, the original T20 globetrotter and the leading run-scorer in the format, has been named the greatest T20 player in a vote conducted among ESPNcricinfo staffers.

Gayle, who played his first T20 match in 2005, has turned out for over 20 teams in the format, and has featured in games in Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, New Zealand, South Africa, Sri Lanka, UAE, USA, West Indies, and Zimbabwe. He was the first to score 10 000 runs, and his 22 hundreds are 14 more than those in second place.

His 175 remains the highest T20 score, during PAGE 27

the course of which he hit the fastest hundred.

Lasith Malinga finished a close second to Gayle in the final match-up in our staff bracket. The exercise started with a shortlist of 32 players, and those with more votes in the one-onone match-ups progressed to the next stage.

The popularity and impact of West Indian stars in T20s was reflected in our bracket: three of the four semi-finalists - Andre Russell and Sunil Narine being the others - and five of the eight quarter-finalists are from the region.

Our readers’ bracket ended with Russell up

against Rohit Sharma, who finished as the winner. The most successful captain in the IPL, Sharma has led Mumbai Indians to four titles, and won a record five in all. He is also the third-highest run-scorer in the tournament. In T20Is, he’s the second-highest run-scorer, and his four hundreds are the most for any player.

Gayle and Malinga were the other semi-finalists in the readers’ bracket.

Besides Gayle, Malinga, and Russell, Dwayne Bravo and AB de Villiers were the others to feature in the quarter-finals in both the staff and readers’ brackets.

(ESPN Cricinfo)

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) – Nicholas Pooran’s dream of playing Test cricket for West Indies is still very much alive, with the regular in the regional side’s T20I and ODI squads saying he is ready and just waiting for the call-up.

The talented left-hander, who has so far only represented the regional side in white ball cricket, suffered nearly career-ending injury in a car crash five years ago, and he says while he was forced to focus on the shorter formats in recent years, he believes he is back on track to

achieving his ultimate goal in the red-ball format.

“Growing up, I always watched Test cricket and I’ve always wanted to play.

I had an unfortunate accident; I had to make decisions and had to live with the consequences.

But now everything is alright with me and whenever I am called to play Test cricket, I am

ready to play,” the 24-yearold Trinidadian said during a recent Windies Hangout on the @windiescricket Instagram page.

The rising star sustained ankle and knee injuries in the accident in January 2015. His left patellar tendon was ruptured and his right ankle was fractured.

“Sitting down at the hospital and sitting at home, I knew my dream was to be a professional cricketer.

Mentally, I was so strong. I decided that anything that happened to me, happened for a reason and I just started to believe,” Pooran recalled.

“Every time I saw TURN TO PAGE 23

Despite the setback, he said he remained focus on getting b a c k to the game.

Dashing T&T and Windies left-hander Nicholas Pooran

TTFA turns to High Court in fight against FIFA takeover

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WEDNESDAY, MAY 20, 2020