Guyana Chronicle E-paper 6-3-2020

WEDNESDAY 3rd June, 2020

’ No. 106018

‘Top Cop’ rebuffs KN story

… says stands by the 03 list provided to GECOM

PAGE

‘BREAK

PAGE

09

BARRIERS’ President David Granger

10 voted but not on OLE Curfew extended by two weeks

… President urges IDPADA-G Co-operative Credit Union

… coalition alleges persons also did not submit certificates of employment 05 PAGE

…other COVID-19 emergency measures PAGE remain in force

16

PAGE

03

2

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, June 3, 2020

410 boxes to be processed

ON Tuesday (Day 28), votes within 93 ballot boxes were recounted at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC), bringing the total number of processed ballot boxes to 1,929. This means that there are 410 ballot boxes left to be processed by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) as the recount of the votes cast at the March 2 General and Regional Elections comes to a close.

In providing a breakdown, GECOM’s Public Relations Officer (PRO), Yolanda Ward, explained that of the 93 ballot boxes processed on Tuesday, 36 were from Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica), 34 were from Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) and 23 from Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).

There are 12 workstations established at the Conference Centre, and according to Ward, six have been assigned to Region Four – the country’s largest electoral block -- while three each have been assigned to Regions Six and 10.

On Monday, Ward had said that the recount is likely to be completed well within its extended timeline – June 13. “Looking at the rate we have been moving over the past few days, it means that it is likely that we will complete [the recount] within the new duration that we have,” she told reporters on the outskirts of the ACCC. Notably, votes cast in seven of the 10 Electoral Districts have been recounted, and as such the focus now is on Regions Four, Six and 10.

All the votes from Region One (Barima-Waini), Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice), Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) and Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) have been recounted.

REGION ONE Based on the votes recounted for Region One, the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) secured 3,909 votes in the General Elections while the Liberty and Justice Party (LJP) raked in 170, PPP/C 8002, People’s Republic Party 24 and the United Republican Party, six – a total

number of 12,111 valid votes cast.

According to statistics coming out of GECOM’s Tabulation Centre at the ACCC, there were 328 rejected ballots and 41 spoilt ballots.

In the Regional Elections, the APNU+AFC raked in 3,843 votes while LJP secured 144, the PPP/C, 7, 996 and the URP 77 votes. There were a total of 12, 060 valid votes cast by a total of 12, 440 persons who had presented themselves on March 2 to vote in Region One. REGION TWO Meanwhile in Region Two, the APNU+AFC secured 7,340 votes in the General Elections while the PPP/C raked in 18,785 votes.

A New and United Guyana (ANUG) received 85 votes, while Change Guyana (CG) 151, LJP 121, PRP 57, The Citizenship Initiative (TCI) 18 and URP 64. In total, there were 26,621 valid votes cast.

For the Regional Elections, the APNU+AFC received 7,290 votes while its primary contender – the PPP/C – secured 18, 755.

The smaller parties, Change Guyana (CG) raked in 216 votes while LJP secured 135 and URP 95. There was a total of 26,491 valid voters in the Regional Elections for Region Two. REGION FIVE In Region Five, there were a total of 33, 119 valid votes cast in the General Elections of which the APNU+AFC secured 14,502 based on the votes recounted and the PPP/C, 18,326. The remainder of the valid votes went to ANUG – 88, CG –100, PRP – 52, TCI – 22, TMN – 10 and URP – 19. Based on the tabulated figures by GECOM, there were 256 rejected ballots and 61 spoilt ballots.

In the Regional Elections for that Electoral District, there were 33,004 valid votes cast of which the PPP/C secured the highest number with 18, 286 followed by the APNU+AFC with 14, 472.

The remainder of the valid votes went to CG – 127, PRP – 59 and URP – 60. There were a total of 374 rejected ballots in the Regional Elections for Region Five.

A summary of the Statements of Recount tabulated as of Tuesday, June 2, 2020 REGION SEVEN In Cuyuni-Mazaruni District, the APNU+AFC secured the highest number of votes, securing some 4,813 votes while the PPP/C raked in 3,728 votes in the General Elections. ANUG secured 77 votes, while CG raked in 67, LJP – 884, and the URP – 23. There were a total of 9,592 valid votes cast while 164 were rejected.

For the Regional Elections in Region Seven, the APNU+AFC secured 4,839

votes while the PPP/C received 3,703 votes followed by LJP with 925 votes. URP secured some 62 votes. There were a total of 9,529 valid votes and 227 rejected ballots.

The NATIONAL RECOUNT commenced on May 6 at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre after an Order was gazetted by the Chair of GECOM, Justice (Ret’d) Claudette Singh. Initially, the recount was set for a period of 25 days, however, the Elections Commission, last Friday, amended the Order to facilitate the June 13 extension.

‘Top Cop’ rebuffs KN story GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, June 3, 2020

3

… says stands by the list provided to GECOM

AN attempt to cast a shadow of doubt on the credibility of a list provided to the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) by the Guyana Police Force Immigration Department was met with major objection, with the Commissioner of Police, Leslie James, rubbishing the claims levied against him. “…The Guyana Police Force stands by the information provided to the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) recently,” the force said on Tuesday, in a direct response to an article published in the Kaieteur Newspaper, in which it was alleged that the Commissioner of Police provided the Elections Commission with fictitious information on persons who were out of the jurisdiction at the time of elections.

James, in a letter to the Elections Commission on May 27, confirmed that 172 persons from a list of 207 were not in Guyana when the General and Regional Elections were held on March 2. The names were verified in light of claims made by the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC), that persons voted in the place of Guyanese who were out of the jurisdiction at the time of elections.

But in the Tuesday, June 2, 2020 Edition of the Kaieteur News, the Police Commissioner was accused of providing “false” information to GECOM. The article’s headline read: ‘Top Cop gives false information to Claudette Singh,’ but hours later, the Police Force refuted the article.

“The Administration of the Force iterates that migration data produced by the Immigration Department of the Guyana Police Force is generated through its record system

which includes an Electronic Border Management System. This system however, does not record persons who travelled illegally,” the force said in a terse statement.

While the Police Commissioner has confirmed that more than 83 per cent of the persons listed were out of the jurisdiction, GECOM’s Public Relations Officer (PRO), Yolanda Ward, was unable to confirm whether those persons’ names were marked off as having voted on Elections Day as alleged by the APNU+AFC. However, she was keen on noting that the issue was actively engaging the attention of the Elections Commission.

“The commission has not made a decision on the way forward on this matter,” Ward told reporters on Monday on the outskirts of the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC) – the venue of the national recount of the March 2 votes.

While GECOM’s PRO has indicated that a single list of 207 names were provided by the APNU+AFC on May 20, the coalition’s Executive Member, Aubrey Norton, had told reports last week that 600 names were provided to GECOM to support it claims that persons voted in the place of migrants.

But those 600 names, according to the APNU+AFC, were part of a list of 1,200 plus names of persons, who were alleged to have voted on E-Day but were out of the jurisdiction.

In addition to the 1,200 immigration-related cases, the APNU+AFC has cited over 800 additional cases in which it alleged that there were irregularities and discrepancies; these include cases in which persons allegedly voted on behalf of the dead. These irregularities, the coalition has argued, have

affected more than 90,000 votes and ought to be thoroughly investigated by the Elections Commission before the results of the March 2 Elections are declared.

Political Scientist, Dr. David Hinds, in an interview with the Guyana Chronicle, said that GECOM, under the Constitution and Elections Law (Amendment) Act, has the authority to investigate the anomalies ahead of the declaration of the results, and ought to do so.

“If it could, as the court has said, look into the complaints about the tabulation of Region Four votes, then it can investigate and pronounce on other forms of inconsistencies,” Dr. Hinds submitted, while underscoring the need for GECOM to facilitate a thorough investigation.

He said the discrepancies discovered thus far have already called into question the credibility of the March 2 Elections. “I think the irregularities uncovered thus far are enough to call into question the credibility of the elections. You simply cannot have a credible outcome if the process is as compromised as we are finding out. The numbers cannot be right if the process is wrong. It is as plain and clear as that,” the political scientist reasoned.

While dismissing claims that the recount is merely numerical, the political scientist said the primary purpose of the national recount is to determine the credibility of the elections, and as such, anomalies and discrepancies ought to be investigated.

“Was the electoral process a credible one? You can best determine that by a comprehensive look at how the electoral architecture was or was not manipulated by persons

Commissioner of Police Leslie James and forces entrusted with ensuring fairness,” he said, while noting that the recount itself is a very expansive investigation.

“So, you do not go through a recount and then at the end of the process say it’s not my duty to pronounce on what I find— leave it to a petition. GECOM cannot do investigation for the court—its investigation is to satisfy its own needs,” Dr. Hinds further stated. He submitted that it is hypocritical to talk about democratic outcomes when the process is undemocratic.

Quarantine centre at Bath Settlement no threat to public THE Regional Health Department in Region Five (Mahaica/Berbice) is assuring residents in the vicinity of the COVID-19 quarantine centre established at Bath Settlement, West Coast Berbice , that the centre poses no threat to the public.

Residents in the area had expressed fears about contamination. Regional Health Officer, Dr. Desmond Nicholson, clarified: “The quarantine centre is not a holding place for persons who are sick.”

He said: “I wish to make it clear that persons who

Quarantine centre at Bath

are placed in quarantine are not ill. No one exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 will be sent to the centre at Bath Settlement. He stressed too that if anyone at the centre exhibits symptoms during quarantine, they will be immediately clinically assessed and immediately transferred to the isolation centres in Region Four. He noted also that the closest residence is about 50-60 feet away from the quarantine centre.

He said, "The virus is capable of travelling three feet. In optimal conditions it will travel six feet. So if we are looking at six feet as against another 46 feet of

travel, we believe that based on our assessment, the assessment of the Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) and the Ministry of Communities (MOC), that there is no danger posed to the residents of Experiment by having that facility there.”

Additionally, the entire compound of the centre is fenced; Staff have been trained to observe all the protocols established to ensure public safety and there is and will be a 24/7 police presence on site.

There have been no confirmed cases of COVID 19 cases in Region Five to date.

4

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, June 3, 2020

George Floyd death: Spike Lee says protesters were ‘not just born angry’

(BBC) Film-maker Spike Lee has said people in the US are angry because they “live every day in this world where the system is not set up for you to win”.

The Oscar-winner said the reasons for the current unrest included the deaths of black people like George Floyd but also wider injustices and inequalities.

“It’s not like you’re just born angry,” he told BBC arts editor Will Gompertz.

Lee also said President Trump’s response showed that “he’s a gangster, he’s trying to be a dictator”.

Mr Trump has threatened to send in the military to quell growing civil unrest across the US. On Monday, the president walked from the White House to a nearby fire-damaged church to pose with a Bible, after demonstrators were cleared from his path.

Lee, whose new Netflix film Da 5 Bloods follows a

group of African-American war veterans, said: “I was watching this last night with my family and we were all screaming in disbelief that this thing was staged.

“This show of force gassing, beating innocent, peaceful bystanders so you could clear the street so you could take a walk to the church. It was ridiculous.”

He added: “The Bible did not look comfortable in his hand, and he didn’t look comfortable holding the Bible either. I have never seen something like that before in my life, particularly with a world leader.”

In his speech before walking to the church, Mr Trump said: “I am your president of law and order and an ally of all peaceful protesters.”

Many US cities have seen demonstrations and unrest since the death of 46-year-old Mr Floyd in Minneapolis on 25 May,

when a white police officer knelt on his neck for almost nine minutes.

On Sunday, Lee released a short film combining footage of Mr Floyd and Eric Garner, who was killed while being arrested in 2014, with

charges against the officer involved in Mr Garner’s death.

“Why are people angry?”

Lee said on Tuesday. “People are angry because black people are being killed left and right, cops walked away

President Trump held up a Bible outside the boarded up St John’s Church

a scene from his 1989 film Do the Right Thing in which the character Radio Raheem is murdered.

A state grand jury declined to press criminal

free.

“Black and brown people are angry at the disparity between the haves and havenots - education, drinking dirty water, racism.

“People are angry for a reason. It’s not like you’re just born angry. You’re angry because you live every day in this world where the system is not set up for you to win.

“The life expectancy…

There are just so many things that one could make a list of [them] forever - that’s where the anger’s from.

“It’s a stupid analogy, but if you leave the pot on the stove, the water boils.”

Social inequalities have been particularly evident during the coronavirus pandemic, he said, with people from minorities more likely to die after contracting the disease.

“It’s the black and brown people who had to go to work, front-liners of all aspects, they kept this [country] going,” he said.

And racism is far from being unique to the US, he added.

“Racism is all over the

world. This was a global pandemic before corona.

“I’m a very spiritual person and I don’t think that’s a coincidence that these two things are happening at the same time.”

America’s ‘shaky foundations’ He traced the inequalities in the US back to the country’s foundation.

“The land was stolen from native people, genocide was committed against the native people, and ancestors were stolen from Africa and brought here to work,” he said.

“So the foundation of the United States of America is genocide, stealing land and slavery.

“Any architect will tell you that if you don’t have a strong foundation, the building’s going to be shaky, and shaky from day one... This original sin has not been dealt with since the birth of this country.”

EasyJet hopes to reopen 75% of route network by August (BBC) EasyJet says it hopes to resume flights on 75%

of its route network by the end of August, although the

WED. June 3, 2020 - 03:00hrs ~ 04:30hrs

number of daily services will still be significantly down for a normal summer season.

The airline is already starting limited services this month, as it adjusts to the coronavirus collapse in air travel.

Customers and cabin crew must wear face masks, and no food will be served.

EasyJet is axing 4,500 jobs, and could be ejected from the FTSE 100 this week because its share price has tumbled.

However, news of a slow return to services, along with

by comic books to be handed to children flying on selected routes in an attempt to ease their anxiety about the new rule.

EasyJet is introducing enhanced disinfection measures

what the airline claimed was its biggest ever summer promotion, helped to push EasyJet’s share price 2.75% higher on Tuesday.

EasyJet said half of its network would be reopened by the end of July, increasing to 75% during August.

“Flights will be at a lower frequency than normal, meaning the airline will operate at around 30% of its normal capacity between July and September,” the airline said.

The carrier said services would operate from all its UK bases.

EasyJet previously announced it would resume operations on 15 June, with flights mainly restricted to domestic routes in the UK and France.

Rival Ryanair has operated a very limited schedule of flights during the pandemic, and has said it is planning to resume 40% of its “normal flight schedules” in July.

EasyJet is introducing a series of safety measures, including requiring passengers to wear face masks at airports and on aircraft.

It has produced thousands of face mask covers inspired

SPAIN DOUBTS Other steps to boost hygiene include not selling food during flights, enhanced cleaning of planes, and disinfection wipes and hand sanitiser being provided.

Passengers will be invited to sit away from people not in their party on flights with empty seats.

EasyJet’s chief commercial and planning officer, Robert Carey, said: “We are delighted to announce that we will be flying the majority of our route network across Europe, meaning customers can still get to their chosen destination for their summer holidays this year.”

The airline industry has been one of the hardest hit sectors since the UK and other countries went into lockdown.

Aviation bosses are in talks with the UK government about controversial quarantine measures And on Monday, Spain’s tourism minister cast doubt on the prospect of an early return by UK holidaymakers to Spanish beaches.

María Reyes Maroto said British coronavirus figures “still have to improve” before Spain could receive tourists from the UK. EasyJet says its planned destinations include Spain and other major European tourist hotspots, but the final list and timings will only emerge as various country restrictions are eased and customer demand increases. “There are a lot of moving parts,” a spokesman said.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, June 3, 2020

5

10 voted in Corentyne but not on OLE …coalition says persons also did not submit Certificates of Employment

MORE and more anomalies are being unearthed as the recount of the votes cast at the General and Regional Elections progresses.

On Tuesday, as the Elections Secretariat processed a Ballot Box (6346) from the Corriverton Primary School, it was discovered that 10 persons who were not listed on the Official List of Elector (OLE) voted without submitting their Certificates of Employment (COEs). According to the Observation Report that was generated at the level of the workstation, there was a single Certificate of Employment within Ballot Box 6346; however, the Poll Book had no record of it.

The absence of such crucial document, Minister Amna Ally said, amounts to electoral fraud, explaining that if a person’s name is not listed on the OLE at a particular Poll Station, he or she must produce a Certificate of Employment, before they he/she be allowed to vote. “If there is no Certificate of Employment, then something went wrong,” Minister Ally said, while noting that such irregularity cannot be ignored. According to her, there is a clear trend.

“This is being repetitive.

A lot of it is being found across the country, and particularly in Region Six. It is happening primarily in the PPP/C support area,” Minister Ally told the Guyana

Chronicle. Minister Ally is a senior functionary with the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) coalition.

Additionally, it was found that of the 21 Oaths of Identity that were in the Ballot Box, only 11 were recorded in the Poll Book. Ally told Guyana Chronicle that there have been cases in which the Oaths of Identity were missing, in addition to other critical documents that ought to have been in the ballot boxes. Added to that, she said the coalition has found cases in which persons voted in the place of the dead or persons who were out of Guyana when the General and Regional Elections were held on March 2. The National Recount, she contended, is confirming that the electoral procedures were breached, particularly in People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) dominated areas.

“Fraud committed by the PPP/C was done at all levels and of various kinds. We have found hundreds of people not voting with the Oath of Identity when they know that if you don’t present an ID card you have to take an Oath,” Ally explained. The failure

by Presiding Officers to stamp

the ballots, and stamp them correctly remains a burning issue, the APNU+AFC Official said, explaining that there have been cases in which ballots were deemed rejected because they were unstamped or were not stamped correctly.

Such was also the case on Tuesday when

found in APNU+AFC stronghold areas. She said what is clear is that the PPP/C employed a variety of “fraud tactics” in the different locations. The APNU+AFC has cited more t h a n 1,200 cases in which persons voted for either the deceased or individ-

26 ballots for the General Elections were reportedly rejected for want of the official mark – the six digit number, while 26 ballots for the Regional Elections, in the same box, had two stamps – one on the left side and on the right side. It is believed that the Assistant Presiding Officer, who stamped the ballots, folded the ballots incorrectly causing the regional end to be stamped twice, and the general end of the ballots to have no stamp.

According to Ally, many of the unstamped ballots were

uals who were out of the country but the PPP/C, in response, has published on its Facebook Page videos with several persons indicating that they had voted on March 2 and were not dead or out of the jurisdiction on Elections Day. So support its claims, the APNU+AFC has furnished the Guyana Elections Commission with a number of death certificates. “We have Death Certificates, and apart from the Death Certificates, all GECOM has to do is to request from GRO who are dead. We don’t have to make up that. How do you make up that someone is dead? That is unheard of. If the person is dead, the person is dead, and if the person voted, that is one of the kinds of fraud that the PPP/C employs,” Ally said as she dismissed the videos published by the main Opposition party.

Observation Report for Ballot Box 6346

Aside from the provision of Death Certificates, the Immigration Department has confirmed that 83% of the persons listed by the APNU+AFC on a list of 207 were out of the jurisdiction on March 2, and therefore could not have voted.

In general, the APNU+AFC has contended that more than 2,000 anomalies have affected approximately 90,000 votes, and have placed on the line, the credibility of the General and Regional Elections.

Last weekend, APNU+AFC Campaign Manager, Joseph Harmon, demanded that the irregularities be thoroughly investigated by the Elections Commission.

“We cannot sail calmly into the end of the recount while your concerns go unanswered and a massive fraudulent operation carried out on your electoral process. An operation which is systemic and pervasive,” Harmon said as he called the Electorate to action. Based on the coalition’s examination of the anomalies, it concluded that Districts One, Seven, Eight and Nine were specifically targeted for special operations by the PPP/C. Zooming in on Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) and Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni), Harmon pointed to a number of ballot boxes in which there were glaring irregularities. “For example in ballot box 7079 – 352 ballots were issued one day, yet 377 were discovered in the box at the recount. In ballot box 7024, fifty (50) counterfoils were missing from the ballots issued. This means that fifty (50) ballots

have been casted elsewhere.

Similar occurrences were found in ballot box 7003, where the wrong list of electors was found in the box,” he detailed.

Harmon further pointed out that “in box 7060 the list of electors ticked off for another station was found in this box,” while adding that there were seven (7) ballots cast in excess of the list and any other procedure which would allow it. APNU+AFC, he said, has also taken note of what it describes as the “flagrant misuse” of oaths of identity, in which persons voted without any identification and without evidence of an oath of identity. According to Harmon, there were 326 such cases identified in 27 ballot boxes.

During the period May 26-28, the coalition, while participating in the recounting of votes from District Eight, uncovered 83 cases in which persons without ID cards and oath of identity were allowed to vote.

The alleged case of unstamped ballots cast by members of the Disciplined Services remains another outstanding issue the Elections Commission must address, Harmon submitted. “My fellow Guyanese as you can see our intervention with GECOM has been based on evidence and we require GECOM to act in a timely manner on these investigations as the cumulative impact of these irregularities and fraud has a bearing on the validity of all votes. The qualitative figure so impacted is now in excess of 92, 000,” Harmon said in his public address while calling on GECOM to wake up.

6

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, June 3, 2020

Responding to violence against women and children during COVID-19

W

E have covered the issue of violence against women and children, ad nauseam, particularly as it relates to the reported surge in violence against women and children following the emergence of COVID-19.

However, as emergency measures continue to require most of us to stay at home for the foreseeable future, we might reasonably assume that the issue will persist.

As such, governments around the world have been taking action to provide support and relief for those affected.

A recent report from the UNICEF highlights some of the steps governments around the world are taking in order to safeguard the well-being of women and children.

And, whilst we have limited information on the socio-economic impacts of a pandemic such as this, UNICEF believes that ‘we have enough evidence to say, unequivocally, that related factors -- such as confinement, social isolation, increased levels of financial stress, and weak institutional responses— can increase or intensify levels of violence.’

Indeed, the statistical and data information we have already covered in this publication gives credence to the foregoing assertion.

So, in an attempt to raise awareness and

provide relief for those in need, governments around the world have been making increased efforts to share information and expand services aimed at assisting those affected by violence in the home. Helplines, texting services and email services have been set up where they were not before, and where they have always existed, their mandates have been extended to cope with the surge in contact.

According to the UNICEF report, governments have been providing additional funding for safe-houses and shelters for victims of domestic violence and their children.

In March, as part of its COVID-19 relief package, Canada allocated $50 million to women’s shelters and sexual assault centres.

Similarly, in France, a €1.1 million funding increase for anti-abuse organisations included 20,000 hotel nights for survivors to escape abusive partners. In Trento, Italy, a prosecutor ruled that in situations of domestic violence, the abuser must leave the family home rather than the victim. Similar rulings have been given in Austria and Germany. These rulings are definitely a step in the right direction, however, concerns remain regarding the safety of victims, who might fear that their abusers would return,

as their location is well known to them.

However, others would argue that victims should not be forced to leave the home.

Another key step in combatting the surge of violence is limiting the risk factors associated with violence. In an unprecedented move, Greenland has banned the sale of alcohol in its capital, Nuuk to reduce the risk of violence against children in the home. Similarly, South Africa, which has experienced an exponential growth in reports of domestic violence, has taken similar measures. The UNICEF report argues that ‘while alcohol abuse and problematic drinking is shown to be linked to more severe violent episodes, the relationship is complex, and there is limited evidence of how alcohol-related policies affect violence’.

Despite the limited availability of statistical and data information to illustrate the connection between alcohol and violence in Guyana, we have sufficient anecdotal evidence to determine a clear trend and link between alcohol consumption and violence.

Time and time again, we report homicides and other crimes that have been committed by men and women who had been imbibing alcohol before going on to commit heinous crimes against friends, family, children and

The killing of George Floyd Dear Editor,

T

HE recent killing of African American George Floyd by a white Police Officer in the US city of Minneapolis, and images of the officer kneeling on the victim’s neck despite his cries, of not able to breathe, highlight the oppression African Americans experience daily for 400 years.

It also raises questions about US democracy, human rights and the right to life of African American men and women.

The current rebellion in response to Floyd’s murder across US cities manifested by mass demonstrations involving thousands of citizens, in more than 70 cities, along with images of burning buildings, remind the world of the flaws in US democracy. Not too long ago US ambassador Sarah-Ann- Lynch lectured Guyanese on elections, democracy, the rule of law, human rights, and the adherence to constitutionality. On the latter issue, the US has demonstrated a chronic inability to constitutionally honour the right to life of African American men and women.

As Ambassador Lynch watched with the world the demonstrations and America burning, I wonder what is going through her mind. If our present elections crisis had degenerated to riots even infinitesimal in scope to what is taking place in the US, the Ambassador would have rushed to mobilise other members of the diplomatic community and put out a statement on the situation. Yet, she and they are very silent on developments in the US. While this is not surprising it is very revealing.

It will be a flawed reading of the demonstrations and riots in US cities to believe that it is simply about protesting of the killing of George Floyd. While the killing is the catalyst for the uprising there are many other issues at the root of the crisis.

These include the disparity in the number of African Americans, other minorities, and sections of the white working class,

who die disproportionately from the coronavirus epidemic and is directly linked to social inequality and poverty.

The massive daily protests we witness daily are questioning the very basis of American democracy and are seeking to establish a new non-racial, social and economic contract of governance in that country.

The Chinese and Hong Kong authorities, while correctly pointing to external interference as a major element in demonstrations and riots in that city - the same claim cannot be made by the US authorities. The world had seen for more than a year the civilized police methods and tolerance demonstrated by Hong Kong authorities and the mainland China government in dealing with protestors. It is doubtful that the US government under Donald Trump could match the civility of the Chinese authorities in handling of the Hong Kong demonstrations and riots. “Protest America” is to date only a few days old, and Trump’s response to the crisis is for stronger police actions against protestors and threats to deploy the army rather than with calls for healing and addressing the systemic racism in the American system. His response or non-response is unsurprising because he has openly promoted white nationalism from his bully pulpit.

Pictures of the White House in darkness, and under siege found their way in millions of homes around the world: and the news that President Donald Trump was forced to seek refuge in an underground bunker, hiding not from a “nuclear attack”, but from his own people. Is this in a real way, “ poetic justice”?

What a pathetic situation. Madam Ambassador, your thoughts?

Regards Tacuma Ogunseye

spouses. Whilst we continue to deal with alcoholism and its associated socio-economic impacts on families and our society, it is important, especially at this time, that we should consider limiting the sale of alcohol in Guyana. At the very least, there should be better enforcement of current rules which require vendors to have a license to sell liquor.

Finally, the report notes that even in cases where there has been a decrease in reports of domestic violence or child abuse, this could be attributed to the nature of the victim’s isolation and proximity to their abuser. Teachers and social workers are now also unable to report abuse, as schools are closed, and most social services have been restricted.

This is not to say that there has, indeed, been a decrease in violence, but in the reporting of it. The UNICEF report rightly notes that spending on these services has predominantly been in high-income countries like the ones mentioned above.

However, with the recent influx of international aid being sent to Guyana, it is our hope that some of these funds will be allocated to addressing the surge in violence against women and children.

EPA fails to blaze up Exxon Mobil like it does local companies Dear Editor,

I

am appalled by these EPA statements of gas being flared by Exxon in the Lisa field. Quantities of 2 million to 80 million cubic feet per day are being bandied about. Further, an additional amount is now being flared because Exxon Mobil has encountered a ‘small’ problem. Needless to say, these quantities are being reported by the operator Exxon and we onshore have to accept whatever they say.

I cannot believe, Editor that the Guyana Government does not have REAL TIME monitoring on board the Lisa Destiny. These systems are well known and widely available and it’s time that the Department of Energy gets its act together and invite tenders for the service, instead of asking “how high” when Exxon says “jump”.

We Guyanese, as 50/50 partners, need to know what is happening out there and why things are not going smoothly. Worse yet the EPA, which likes to publicly blaze small companies in Guyana for far less environmental damage, triples up their regulatory bureaucracy and takes its own sweet time to process their various environmental permits, is suddenly unable to flare its mouth at this unconscionable burning up of excess natural gas by Exxon Mobil.

Regards, Garfield Williams

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, June 3, 2020

7

Who gave Ambassador Canto the authority? ―to determine how Guyana must move forward in its elections declaration Dear Editor,

G

UYANA is not an isolated State, but one operating within the confines of a regional and geopolitical frame, with established diplomatic relationships and seeking to demonstrate an abidance for international laws and conventions. As a result, the support and assistance rendered by the international community must be consistent with the Constitution and relevant Laws of Guyana, including the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM)’s. This is important in order to arrive at a credible recount, as determined within our legal framework.

The Law is the only mechanism in ensuring mutual respect and peaceful co-existence, local and international; it is not to be violated by Guyanese, nor by those who believe “international dictatorship” is the new format for bilateral encounters.

It is evident that some within the diplomatic community lack diplomatic finesse, and are no longer about nations exercising choice, but rather about nations kneeling before their dictates, and delivering without question in accordance with their wishes.

Guyana might as well

be a colony of those who embrace this new trend of “international dictatorship”.

It is in this rather disturbing context that Ambassador for the European Union Fernando Ponz Canto is condemned for his recent pronouncements in sections of the media that Guyana’s elections “was impossible to cheat”.

As far as he is concerned, every other observer was of the same opinion, therefore that was sufficient proof of the credibility of the process.

What his intellect fails to recognise is that many Guyanese are smart enough to recognise that what appears to be many sources speaking in unity is in fact emanating from one source.

He ignores the observation reports emanating from the recount process that shows anomalies after anomalies, not only pertaining to alleged votes by dead persons and persons not in the jurisdiction, but also more votes cast at certain locations than voters on the Official List of Electors; missing documents to determine the validity of the vote cast against an official identified voter; votes cast without proper identification or an affidavit of identity; absence of polling books to validate the many questionable occurrences that transpired

within the particular polling station; boxes without seals; and boxes at various polling stations with documents from another polling station.

The stated anomalies seemed to escape the Ambassador, or are not according to his intellectual understanding of cheating. Yet the same Ambassador is quick to pontificate on the process he and other observers witnessed in the Region Four count which he considers wrong; a process of tabulation that was no different than that which occurred in several other regions as reported in a court of law, but which was only found to be wrong for, and challenged in the Region Four process.

From where does Ambassador Canto get the authority to determine how Guyana must move forward in its elections declaration? This is yet another show of lack of integrity and total disregard for the Order governing the recount, which expressly sets out, among other considerations, the following: “AND WHEREAS the Guyana Elections Commission, in exercise of the authority vested in it under Article 162 of the Constitution, and pursuant to Section 22 of the Elections Laws (Amendment) Act, No. 15 of 2000, seeks to remove difficulties

GECOM Chair’s lens not blurred by ethnicity Dear Editor,

T

HE very strong and captivating statements made by the Coalition that is now in the public’s domain **concerning the credibility of the March 2, 2020 elections, coupled with the insurmountable evidences provided to the Guyana Elections Commission has certainly begun to worry the opposition parties of the PPP/C. Most of the camouflage small parties of the PPP and many of their financial contributors are concerned that their collective plot is failing and all of Guyana will know of their intended heist of our democracy through fraud.

Mr. Editor, it is quite evident that PPPC and its cohorts really don’t want the truth of their systematic and methodical rigging of the people’s will, to be exposed.

The PPP’s new Jadgeo version and likely successor, Anil Nandlall, whose popularity threatens their party’s maximum leader, speaks about court actions that will likely come against Gecom, if the attempt to ascertain the truth and legitimacy of the Coalition’s claims.

Is this chap for real? Is the PPP serious about good governance and truth? Has their unquenchable desire for power at all cost, distorted their conscience and decency? Mr. Editor, the coalition has provided evidence of

1,261 persons who voted in the place of migrants, while 315 Certificates of Employment were missing in addition to 284 poll books.

Additionally, it alleged that 143 persons, who had no form of identification, voted without taking an Oath of Identity; while 40 persons voted in the place of “dead persons”. At the time, there were reportedly 40 unstamped ballots and seven missing Official List of Electors (OLEs). Hence the recount is still in process and more revelations will be unearthed.

Mr. Editor, with all these claims and the hard core evidence, it means nothing TURN TO PAGE 8

connected with the application of the Representation of the People Act, Chapter 1:03, in implementing its decisions relating to the conduct of the aforementioned recount of all ballots cast at the said elections, including the reconciliation of the ballots issued with the ballots cast, destroyed, spoiled, stamped, and as deemed necessary, their counterfoils/stubs; authenticity of the ballots and the number of voters listed and crossed out as having voted; the number of votes cast without ID cards; the number of proxies issued and the number utilised; statistical anomalies; occurrences recorded in the Poll Book.”

As per said Order, this consideration, along with others, will collectively serve to determine any declaration

to be made. The foregoing clearly establishes that the recount is not about simple numbers, but a more complex and complete evaluation to determine factors impacting the count. The Opposition and the international community, speaking the same language, are now limiting the credibility of the elections to a numerical count in direct rejection of the gazetted Order. This is lawlessness, and we should be disturbed by it. Unfortunately, Guyanese have become so polarsied, that it is being ignored how important law and order are for our mutual well-being, here and abroad.

Some in the diplomatic community have shifted the goalpost from screaming transparency on March

5, but when transparency was met in accordance with the court’s ruling, they screamed credibility. Now that GECOM has sought to establish credibility, for them it is only about a numerical count, equivalent to doing a math problem and arriving at a correct answer, using a very flawed process. Some are making the same mistake they made in interpreting the Consequential Order of the Caribbean Court of Justice on the no-confidence vote. This is not accident; it is designed to influence thinking and action not premised on law and order that will not augur well for us in the long-run.

Regards, Lincoln Lewis

8

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, June 3, 2020

Bartica implements sanitisation initiative ― Mayor says residents need to be careful with persons with recent travel history with Aranka

THE township of Bartica has implemented a sanitisation initiative as a precautionary measure to keep its residents safe from the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

The initiative included the use of a fogging machine filled with a sanitisiing solution, and attached to a tractor which drives around the township and facilitates the spraying of the solution, in the atmosphere, and on buildings, on a frequent basis, so as to

keep the environment healthy.

Thus far, there are no active cases in the green town.

However, due to its close contact with Aranka, which is the epicenter for the virus in the region, the Mayor of the town, Gifford Marshall, said that they have to do their best to ensure that the people remain safe and protected.

Marshall explained that the one reported case that was recorded in Bartica, the person had travel history with Aranka

which has so far confirmed 15 cases of the virus. As such, Marshall was asking persons to be cautious.

“I encourage all residents to please adhere to the precautionary measures. We have heard that Aranka is the epicenter of the region, and we have a number of persons who travel to Aranka and who’re working in the interior. We are pleading with them to please adhere to the Public Health precautionary measures, and

we are pleading with them to take this virus seriously because the last thing we want is for them to come out of the interior and bring this virus to their friends and families,” Marshall said.

guarding our citizens. Some of those measures are reducing the market hours and also enforcing basic precautionary measures like the washing of our hands because sinks were installed; we also enforced

Mayor of Bartica, Gifford Marshall

The sanitising machine in Bartica

He noted, too, that, despite limited resources, the council was rallying behind the Regional Health Emergency Committee and, in particular, the doctors and nurses in Bartica.

“Since we would have had our first case here in Guyana, and we would have seen the Ministry of Health putting out their advisories, we have implemented a number of initiatives all aimed at safe-

GECOM Chair’s lens ...

to the PPPC and its voiceless shell parties.

Why is that? Is it because they know what they did? How can it be explained that a large percentage of the joint services were deliberately spoiled on a technicality by not being intermixed and stamped with the six digit stamp? What is evidence is that these occurrences appear more normal in clusters of the PPP support base. Have you heard the PPP’s Military candidate commenting on this very important issue? Why not? It does not fit their narrative.

It is important to note, that the PPP’s public display of confidence that is punctuated with their version of the truth and distorted facts, presented by their attention seeking spokespersons who appears to be in competition to sell themselves as worthy ppp leaders, is nothing more than theatrical performance for the cameras.

On the ground, the reality is vastly different.

I have been working at the ACCC were the national recount is taking place for the past several weeks and I can assure our supporters and the wider population, local and in the diaspora, that all is not what it appears to be for the PPP. They are literally afraid of this recount and what is being uncovered.

If one was to psycho-analyse and compare the leadership of the PPP who are present daily at the ACCC to their agents in the respective work stations, one can see two different

realities. Jadgeo has been masterful in being able to sell to his leadership, his workers and his supporters a dream of a victory and even some in the business community and the international community were victims of his deception.

Some however, with each passing day are unwillingly waking up. His financiers and all those who were comforted with promises are becoming more and more aware with our evidences provided and from those working in the tabulation room, getting a front view of the true reality of things, are now taking a different language. Mr. Editor, it would be remiss of me not to highlight, the false impression the PPPC attempts to give of the Chairman of GECOM, the CEO, DCEO and the administrative staff as grossly misleading.

The Gecom’s chairman, Justice Singh is a woman with regal grace, much strength and tolerance, to engage these prolific hypothetical characters who berates her publicly, and in the “absence” of the cameras and their penman, they frequent her office like spoiled little brats, for God-knows what, is mindboggling.

The chairwoman has indeed, demonstrated a tower of strength and leadership is the face of unwarranted criticism, abuse and a Judas-like behaviour of these individuals.

The question is why, is it because she is not a pushover woman or it is because her name is Singh?

It appears quite obvious, that the PPP

that persons must be wearing mask before entering the market and also we had a general sanitisation of the market…

Where our nurses are concerned, because of persons beginning to discriminate because of where they work, persons thinking that they would carry the virus around, we provided transportation for them and also we commit to the safety of our sanitation workers who work around the

expects a certain adherence to their whims and fancies because of the women’s ethnicity, hence there unscrupulous, Machiavellian behaviour. This is a woman whose lens is not blurred by race nor ethnicity, she is for principle, truth and justice. Anyone who is honest, will accept the view, that this strong Guyanese woman, has always allowed her actions to be guided by her command knowledge of the law and her unquestioned integrity and belief in GOD. The chairman has demonstrated she is her own woman, a strong woman, who will not be bullied by anyone. Not by any loud mouth Commissioner who has a fork tongue and wants to speak on her behalf, nor by any lawyer from any political party who purports to be the font of knowledge of the laws. The majority of Guyanese local and in the diaspora has confidence in justice Singh’s ability to do her work justly. We will continue to pray for her.

In addition Mr. Editor, the public and more specifically the supporters of the PPP must know that the CEO, DCEO and GECOM’s staff, who has felt the blunt of criticism due to the intentional spread of misinformation by the PPPc is not the true reflection on the ground. The level of professionalism, guidance and decorum of the secretariat of gecom, from the janitor to the CEO is jaw dropping.

With that said, I am compelled to en-

clock,” he shared.

The council also made available to the Regional Health Emergency Committee, the facilities to support the capacity of the health department in fighting COVID-19.

Marshall said, Wednesday last, with the support of Farm Supplies, “we were able to do an entire sanitisation of central Bartica and we’re still to get done, the Potaro Road, Four and Five Miles Housing Schemes, Agatash, Dagg Point and Byderabo. In the coming days we will be going into those areas and sanitise. In addition, we initiated with the Health Committee, that all public buildings and spaces are also sanitised. Thus far, we did the Police Station and the Bartica Hospital, and we will continue with other government buildings to ensure it’s safe for their workers…

The whole idea is to ensure our people are safe and doing what we have to do to ensure that they are protected. We want to encourage everyone to adhere to the public health advisory and precautionary measures.”

He said that he is confident that if everyone adheres to the precautionary measure, the curve will flatten.

FROM PAGE 7 quire from Mr. Timothy Jonas, a spokesman for a subset party of the PPPc, how did he come to the conclusion in his very perplex and discombobulated statement of opinion?, I quote “now I have no confidence in the secretariat, we know who their members are, CEO is Lowenfield, next one down is Roxanne Myers, the next one down is Hetsbergers, I dont know these people personally, I have seen their actions, I have seen their conduct, I think we all can agree that none of them voted for the PPP” unquote. Mr Editor, this superior intellectual seems definitely to be a confused individual he is more interested in the affairs of the PPP/C than the party ANUG he supposed to be representing.

Mr. Editor I’m reminded of the American literature, the character of Prometheus who speaks the phrase: Whom the gods would destroy they first make mad in the poem “The Masque of Pandora” (1875), by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Mr. Editor, in the final analysis It would be prudent for all of us to allow the recount process to take us wherever those revelations and the substantive evidence may lead. Guyana and the world must know the truth of the depths, the PPPc when to steal these elections.

Regards, Jermaine Figueira

9

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, June 3, 2020

‘Break barriers’ … President urges IDPADA-G Co-operative Credit Union … says body must adopt new model for economic enterprise

By Lisa Hamilton

PRESIDENT David Granger has challenged the Co-operative Credit Union of International Decade for People of African Descent Assembly – Guyana (IDPADA-G) to adopt a new model of operation which would enable it to becoming competitive with the formal financial sector.

At the First General Members Meeting of the IDPADA-G Co-operative Credit Union held via zoom on Tuesday, as keynote speaker, the Guyanese leader proposed a four-stage model for the transformation of the Credit Union into an engine of enterprise development.

The Co-operative Credit Union was registered on February 7, 2020 as a means to provide alternative options to African Guyanese which IDPADA-G believes have been affected by credit and financial support services skewed against them.

In his remarks, President Granger established that the United Nations (UN), in declaring 2015-2024 as IDPAD, openly recognized that Africans were the victims of the greatest crimes against humanity and have not yet overcome the legacy of colonial oppression and underdevelopment.

It was in 2016, at the Cuffy 250 forum, that the President recommended a five-point plan for the Decade in Guyana which included African economic empowerment, one of the inspirations of IDPADA-G to launch the Credit Union.

However, the Head of State said that the old model of economic empowerment through Co-operative Credit banks and unions have served its purpose and the future demands a new model which drives enterprise development.

QUEST FOR ECONOMIC

It was unsuited for modern competitive industrial and manufacturing business development. Cooperative credit unions were the successors of the cooperative credit banks but he said that only 30 such institutions existed as of October 2019 with a little over 24,000 members with estimated assets of US$28.9M. A NEW MODEL NEEDED The Head of Sate put forward that modern-day African economic empowerment in Guyana demands a

stages as moving from the traditional or subsistent stage to the commercial or retail stage to the industrial or manufacturing stage and then the internationally competitive stage. “The ambition of new model should be to provide financial services from the level of the small farmer and household, right up to the level of industry. Financing is needed at the levels of micro-, smalland medium-scale enterprises, particularly in the agriculture and agro-processing sector,” the President advised.

“The ‘new model’ which I propose, envisages coopera-

President David Granger

EMANCIPATION Explaining further the perspective, President Granger said that the history of co-operative credit banks in Guyana --- which existed over a century ago --- emerged to meet the loan needs of African subsistent farmers and African basic household and emergency needs. He said that it was a “quest for economic emancipation” for a better life away from the oppressive plantation system and led to the Great Village Movement.

However, he said the early proprietors of African villages faced “formidable obstacles” in their pursuit of economic empowerment suffering, as a result, from economic exhaustion and lack of financial capital.

They then entered into collective ventures pooling their resources to purchase abandoned plantations for the establishments of homes, farms and churches with properties being allocated by shares or, in the cases of proprietary villages, there were arrangements for each person to own their own property.

“Africans left a proud tradition of frugality and thrift.

Their capacity and propensity to save allowed them to overcome the lack of access to capital. Some retained the ancestral tradition of raising funds through informal schemes such as ‘box-hand’ in an effort to circumvent the difficulties in sourcing funds from formal banking institutions,” the President said.

When this proved insufficient to support economic activities, they turned to co-operative credit banks establishing them in several villages.

Regrettably, the fortune of these banks were tied to the economic fortunes of their members who the President reminded were “principally, poor, peasant farmers”. It led to the collapse of the co-operative credit bank by 1912 but a revival in 1914 allowing for government loans and greater regulation.

Even so, President Granger said that though the co-operative credit banks saved small farmers from “loan sharks and assorted money-lenders”, it never became a major driver of economic enterprise.

President David Granger interacts with this lad during the Emancipation festivities at the Gibraltar-Fyrish Primary School in 2017 (Delano Williams photo) ‘new model’ of cooperative credit unions.

He said that this model must move beyond catering only for elementary stage of development ---- the provision of personal and subsistence loans --- to an engine of enterprise development.

He outlined these four

tive credits union as financial institutions with increasing assets, reserves, savings and shareholdings. The model is one which would see shareholding and savings widened and with a more diversified lending portfolio. All of this would necessitate legislative and regulatory changes. The

‘new model’ is necessary for economic empowerment. Its development is propitious for the remaining years of the International Decade of People of African Descent.”

He also pointed to a number of government initiatives such as the $50M agro-processing plant at Parika; the Regional Agricultural and Commercial Exhibitions (RACE); the Rural Entrepreneurial Agricultural Project (REAP) which can be sources for investment, sources through which many Guyanese are forming their own businesses.

He urged the IDPADA-G Co-operative Credit Union to carefully consider the adoption of the new model for it would give the Union the potential to compete with the formal financial sector. However, as it embarks on its new journey, the President said that he looks forward to joining the Credit Union.

During the First Meeting, remarks also came from Chairman of the Coordinating Council of IDPADA-G, Vincent Alexander who thanked those who played key roles in the formation of the Credit Union.

He said that the Credit Union will work towards setting an example for good governance.

“The fact that we’re having this meeting signals our intention, here on, to ensure that the manner of conduct of our business is in keeping with the requirements and reflects best practices. IDPADA-G and all of its arms are intended to be an example to the community so that all other organisations can walk in our footsteps as we seek to achieve the goals of the decade,” Alexander stated. Chair of the IDPADA-G Co-operative Credit Union Steering Committee, Shamane Headley said that close to 1,000 persons that have already purchased shares in the Union.

Returning Guyanese must self-quarantine for 7 days –– NCTF

STRANDED Guyanese who return to Guyana will be required to self-quarantine for seven days upon their arrival in the country.

This information was relayed by the National COVID-19 Task Force (NCTF) on Tuesday, for clarity.

Should plans go accordingly, the first flight of stranded Guyanese identified for controlled re-entry by the government is expected to come this

week. The following week, it is hoped that another flight will bring Guyanese home from North America. On May 22, the National COVID-19 Task Force (NCTF) announced the approval of the controlled re-entry of approximately 300 Guyanese stranded overseas due to the coronavirus pandemic.

These individuals would have registered with the various diplomatic missions on or before May 21, 2020, and will return to the country after testing negative for COVID-19. In order to make

the trip home during Guyana’s existing international travel ban, persons must prove that they are COVID-19 free by submitting the necessary PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) test results in English, at least 48 hours prior to their arrival in Guyana.

In addition, all persons authorised to travel have to first fill out a repatriation form provided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The form collects basic contact information; travel history and medical history. Regarding the forms, prior to being accepted, ev-

ery individual must agree, by way of their signature, that a negative PCR test does not necessarily exempt them from quarantine.

Speaking with the Guyana Chronicle last week, Director-General of the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), Lt. Col. (Ret’d) Egbert Field said that the NCTF has learnt from its previous experience, whereby an overseas-based Guyanese student, who was taken into institutional quarantine upon his arrival here in March from Barbados, took the matter to

court.

Though he subsequently lost the case, Field said that moving forward, it will be mandatory for all returning Guyanese to agree to quarantining and other measures for their own safety and the safety of others. “For the avoidance of doubt, home quarantine means quarantining at their respective private residences. Persons are required to remain there for the duration of the seven-day period and not leave for any reason save and except to seek emergency medical care,” the NCTF said

on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, on its Facebook page yesterday, the Ministry of Public Health provided a list of guidance tips for travellers coming to Guyana. It urged them to seek information and remain up-to-date with Guyana’s COIVD-19 emergency measures and that of the World Health Organisation; to be cooperative by submitting themselves for screening by airport officials and to ensure they have received their vaccines for yellow fever, measles and more.

10

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, June 3, 2020

1,519 persons so far tested negative for COVID-19 AFTER weeks of recording a consistent increase in the number of Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) cases, there has been no new case for the past three days.

Confirmed cases to date remain at 153, even though authorities conducted an additional 14 COVID-19 tests within the past 24 hours.

Health authorities have so far tested 1,672 persons, with 1,519 of those persons bearing negative results. There are, however, 73 active cases, of which 71 are in institutional isolation and two persons are being treated in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

Additionally, of the total number of confirmed cases, 70 persons have recovered and 12 persons have lost their lives.

Considering the unpredictable nature of COVID-19 and the absence of a treat-

ment/cure, health authorities remain on high alert, as they continue to monitor the local and international situation.

Director of Primary Health Services, Dr. Ertenisa Hamilton, said it remains important for persons to report signs and symptoms of COVID-19.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the most common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, tiredness, and dry cough.

Some patients may have aches and pains, nasal congestion, runny nose, or sore throat. These symptoms are usually mild and begin gradually.

“Those persons experiencing the signs and symptoms of this disease are asked to contact the hotline or the closest health facility so that you can access the necessary services. The same is being asked of all those who have

been in contact with someone who was tested positive. We appeal to all other agencies and community groups to reinforce the guidelines to all residents,” said Dr. Hamilton during a virtual COVID-19 update, on Tuesday.

Health authorities continue to work towards strengthening the healthcare system to respond to COVID-19 on a long-term basis.

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.

THE EPICENTRE 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.

Health authorities are also placing emphasis on the four hinterland regions, especially now that three of them have recorded cases of COVID-19.

The need for surveillance in those regions is also important, because Guyana’s South American neighbour, Brazil, is now rated as the COVID-19 epicentre of the Americas.

“We continue to ask residents to desist from crossing the borders as Brazil con-

tinues to record new cases every day. However, I ask that we pray for guidance for their health workers who, like ours, and those in every other country, stand in the frontline as our brave heroes,” said Dr. Hamilton in her update on Monday.

Residents of Regions One (Barima-Waini) and Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) and most importantly those who are from the mining communities were also asked to be vigilant and forthcoming with information, which will aid health authorities in the containment of the disease.

Persons experiencing the signs and symptoms of this disease were asked to contact the hotline if they could or the closest health facility so that medical professionals could visit and provide the necessary services. Such was also being asked of all who had been in contact with

Director of Primary Health Servicess, Dr. Ertenisa Hamilton someone who was tested positive.

COVID-19 remains a serious issue, not just here in Guyana, but globally as well.

And, according to global statistics, there are over six million cases of COVID-19, with over 371,000 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.

GYEITI awaits data for second transparency report THOUGH it acknowledges the challenges associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, the Guyana Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (GYEITI) is reminding requisite stakeholders to submit their EITI data so that Guyana can meet the deadline for its second report.

On Monday, the Guyana Chronicle reported that the deadline for Guyana’s second EITI report --- previously set for December 31, 2020 --has been pushed to March 31, 2021 by the EITI Board due to the pandemic. GYEITI National Coordinator, Dr. Rudy Jadoopat, also told the newspaper that while stakeholders provided their information in time for the first report in 2019, the GYEITI likewise expects that they respond to the request for this second batch of information “as soon as possible”.

The GYEITI is a government-led initiative in partnership with the private sector, civil society and the extractive industry.

It it’s the Guyana arm of the EITI, a global standard for the good gover-

GYEITI National Coordinator, Dr. Rudy Jadoopat nance of oil, gas and mineral resources.

TIMELINESS IS IMPORTANT Therefore, some of the stakeholders involved include the Department of Energy (DE); the Ministry of Finance (MoF): the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA); the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC); the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS); the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) and the Guyana Gold Board

(GGB).

“The GYEITI National Secretariat, months ago, sent out requests for the submission of required data and information to the various relevant government agencies. Due to government policy to curb the spread of COVID-19, the work schedules of public servants have been varied and this seems to be causing a delay in the submission of the required data and information by the GGMC, GRA, GGB, NIS, EPA, Ministry of Finance,” Dr. Jadoopat explained, adding: “The Bureau of Statistics has been very cooperative and has already provided useful and relevant data and information to the GYEITI. We do look forward to receiving all the required data and information as soon as possible from the government agencies, without which the process necessary for the preparation of the second GYEITI report cannot move forward.”

It should be noted that Guyana’s first EITI Report was for the fiscal year 2017, while its upcoming second,

as mandated by the EITI Standard, is of the fiscal year 2018. The EITI Standard requires that the data be no older than two years.

Dr. Jadoopat said that the GYEITI National Secretariat has no reason to believe that the requested data will not be provided. He reminded that in a meeting with the National Secretariat in 2018, the DE pledged to provide the necessary data.

NOTICEABLE TRANSPARENCY EFFORTS All eyes have been placed on Guyana’s new oil and gas sector even as the government hopes to maintain the required level of transparency.

Dr. Jadoopat said that the GYEITI has been collecting copies of petroleum contracts and publishes the same on its website.

Even as the EITI has recently recommended that the next step for Guyana is disclosing its sales agreement, for the 2018 fiscal year and beyond, the GYEITI plans to collect copies of all mineral

agreements for publication on its website and hopes that the necessary government ministry/department will do its part in making the said information public.

Like the DE, Dr. Jadoopat said that the MoF pledges to support the EITI implementation processes in Guyana as it is a recipient of revenues from the extractive entities. He said that the GYEITI has also taken note of the ministry’s efforts towards transparency in publishing the amount of revenues received from oil and their placement in the Natural Resource Fund (NRF).

“Indeed, the Ministry of Finance has been making disclosure via reports on petroleum revenues. GYEITI welcomes this and will continue to urge for the continuation of public disclosures as much as practicable and to promote transparency and accountability as far as can be meaningful to the EITI processes to promote improved governance of the extractive sectors in Guyana,” he told the newspaper.

When questioned about the involvement of the Pe-

troleum Commission, Dr. Jadoopat said that the commission’s role in providing data and information to the process is not adequately defined. However, the GYEITI intends to examine this when its Independent Administrator (IA) comes on board.

Contracting the said IA team has also been delayed due to the pandemic. An IA team is needed to assist Guyana in the compilation of the report but most of the members reside in other countries impacted by international travel restrictions. This has therefore also affected the compilation of Guyana’s second EITI report from the GYEITI’s end.

Moving forward, when it comes to the provision of data, Dr. Jadoopat believes that systems can be put in place to increase efficiency.

He recommends the development of a comprehensive government electronic data and information documentation, collection and reporting system which would easily enhance the constructive and meaningful efforts of the government’s transparency and accountability thrust.

11

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, June 3, 2020

Marijuana farms ‘uncovered’ within cane fields … thousands of kilos destroyed says Commander Brutus

POLICE Divisional Commander Calvin Brutus, at a media briefing on Monday, disclosed that, during the General and Regional elections period, police discovered that persons were burning the cane fields in a bid to clear land for the cultivation of marijuana.

He said that on March 5, just after 19:30hrs, fire destroyed portions of the Providence cane fields, on East Bank Berbice, and days later, Berbice Divisional Fire Officer, Dwayne Scotland, confirmed that the fire was an

A marijuana plot in West Canje, Berbice before it was destroyed

Social distancing, surveillance keys to controlling COVID-19 Pandemic … PAHO Director says THE Director of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), Carissa F. Etienne, said maintaining social distancing measures, improving surveillance, and strengthening health systems are the three keys to controlling the COVID-19 pandemic in the Americas.

Just in the past week there were 732,000 new cases globally, and of these, more than 250,000 new cases were in Latin American countries, “a serious concern that should serve as a clarion call to redouble our efforts,” Dr. Etienne said at a press briefing. “The situation we face is dire, but not hopeless – as long as our approach to defeating the virus is based on solidarity.

We must work together, share resources and apply the proven strategies we have learned along the way.”

The Americas, “a region of massive inequalities,” is facing simultaneous health, economic and social emergencies from the pandemic, which must be addressed in combination to stop COVID-19, she said.

These include sharply rising numbers of cases, strained economies, and vulnerable groups at greater risk, such as indigenous populations, migrant, and people with chronic diseases.

“We are a region of underfunded, weak public health systems grappling with far more than COVID-19. We are dealing with malaria, measles, dengue fever and many other diseases,” said PAHO’s director. “This means we must be especially determined and adaptable to the unique circumstances of our very diverse region.

And we must remember that not all countries, cities and communities are affected in the same way.”

Key lessons from the pandemic on social distancing are to “be careful. Do not open too fast, or you risk a resurgence of COVID-19 that could erase the advantage gained over the past few months. Consider

a geographic approach to lockdown and opening up based on the transmission in specific locales as appropriate,” she said.

“Social distancing slows transmission so that health services can test suspected cases, trace contacts and treat and isolate patients.”

On surveillance, Dr. Etienne noted, “Even though testing capacity is not perfect, virtually all places in the region have sufficient data to track and monitor where the virus is spreading. This must drive our decision-making. It will also help us better target much needed social support measures. Use data to tailor your response, protect vulnerable communities and focus your efforts where new infections are on the rise. Preventive efforts are more effective when informed by surveillance.”

Health systems are expanding to meet demands from the rising numbers of cases, although “Many places are overwhelmed, operating on the edge of their abilities,” she said. “PAHO has provided adaptable guidance, support and worked hand-inhand with countries to prepare their health systems for a surge in infections. Engage private hospitals, and social security facilities, draw on the capacities of all sectors in a united resolve to respond to this pandemic.”

Response to the pandemic depends on health workers being safe and healthy, and supplies of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) must keep flowing as cases rise, Dr. Etienne said. Health workers “risk their lives to save ours, and they need our support now more than ever.” “We have a tradition of Pan-Americanism—our guiding light since PAHO’s founding in 1902—that has helped us overcome countless outbreaks.”

Working together, “countries are stronger in their response if they can learn from one another, pool resources and expertise, and draw on the latest data and our constant support,” Etienne added.

act of arson.

Consequently, eight marijuana fields were eradicated in the area, which was less that 500 metres off the main thoroughfare, Brutus told reporters.

For the first time, in Vryheid, West Canje, the police have unearthed an acre of cannabis cultivation with several hundred plants measuring two to five feet in height and more

than six thousand five hundred cannabis seedlings.

The estimated street value of the prohibited plants, is $5,824,000.00.

While the actual total weight of marijuana seized and destroyed during the current year is unavailable, Brutus suggested it amounted to several hundred thousand kilos, with a street value worth hundreds of millions of dollars, from the six farms, where processed and packaged portions of the illegal plant were found.

The Commander has reiterated the success of the varying eradication exercises, which included due diligence of detectives, acting on information received, road block, or targeted cordon searches.

“Apart from the cordon searches, a person may have a dispute in those areas...we are using drones .. it is easier for us to locate the farms from the aerial view. We had a number of successes. We specifically

East Berbice, Corentyne Divisional Commander, Calvin Brutus targeted Berbice river and its tributaries......this is in relation to assisting Region 10, which borders our region, and, access is easily available...”

According to the Commander, there have been over 32 arrests, and, with respect to narcotic eradication, there have been seizures of three boats and engines, along with generators, power saws, STIHL brush cutters, water pumps and other equipment.

Tents and accommodations were also destroyed.

12

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, June 3, 2020

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, June 3, 2020

13

14

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, June 3, 2020

Nearly 2.93 mln HK residents show support of national security legislation by signing petition HONG KONG, June 1 (Xinhua) -- Nearly 2.93 million Hong Kong residents have signed a petition in support of the national security legislation for Hong Kong during an eight-day campaign.

Organizers handed in the petition to Luo Huining, director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) on Monday afternoon.

The large number of those signing the petition has fully demonstrated that the national security legislation is an essential move that meets the aspirations of Hong Kong residents, Luo said as he received the petition.

China’s National People’s Congress (NPC), the country’s top legislature, on May 28 overwhelmingly adopted a decision to institute Hong Kong national security laws.

The decision will also allow the central government’s national security organs to set up agencies in Hong Kong when needed.

Luo said he had noticed some sensational rumors online saying that Hong Kong residents would lose their freedom of speech, press and assembly and be arrested for traveling abroad and dining with foreigners when the legislation is being enforced.

“By confounding the legal rights of the vast majority of residents with few crimes endangering national security, such rumors are aimed at causing fear and inciting hatred,” he said, urging residents to see through those tricks and oppose such political conspiracies.

Luo said the legislation will prevent, stop and punish acts and activities endangering national security, maintain Hong Kong’s long-term prosperity and stability, and better protect the legitimate rights and interests of Hong Kong residents.

He also stressed that the threat of sanctions by the United States “underscores the

A resident signs in a street campaign in support of the national security legislation for Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) in Hong Kong, south China, May 23, 2020. (Xinhua/Wu Xiaochu) urgency of opposing external interference 24 in Hong Kong, was organized by a newly with the national security legislation.” established organization named United Front The U.S. threat of sanctions proves that Supporting National Security Legislation. “they do not care about the future of Hong According to the organizers, 2,074 Kong at all, but regard Hong Kong as a pawn people from all walks of life in Hong Kong to contain the development of China,” he society have joined the organization as added. co-sponsors, with 1,023 groups from various “We will fight back with strong count- sectors becoming supportive groups. er-measures,” he said with regards to all “Through the petition, we hope to express external interference. the Hong Kong residents’ full support for “Hong Kong’s achievements today are the correct decision on establishing and imthe result of its own hard work and the proving at the state level the legal system and support of the motherland, not a gift from enforcement mechanisms for the HKSAR any foreign country,” he said, stressing that to safeguard national security,” one of the under the protection of the national security initiators of the campaign, Tam Yiu-chung, legislation, Hong Kong will surely overcome said at a press conference on Monday. difficulties and usher in a new era.

“We saw Hong Kong residents, many of The petition campaign, launched on May them young people, enthusiastically partici-

pate in the petition,” said Tam, a member of the NPC Standing Committee.

Major officials of the HKSAR government have also joined the campaign.

Chief Executive of the HKSAR Carrie Lam visited one of the street stands and signed the petition on Thursday.

“Safeguarding national security is the responsibility of everyone and bears on our daily life,” Lam said, expressing hope that the national security legislation will help Hong Kong restore stability and then revitalize the economy.

Hong Kong, with a population of over 7.5 million, has suffered from violent protests and social unrest since last June. Hong Kong’s GDP in 2019 posted the first negative growth in 10 years and its credit rating was downgraded by a global rating agency.

Starry Lee, a member of the HKSAR Legislative Council, said that over the past year Hong Kong has seen a large amount of illegal activities that undermined “one country, two systems” and challenged national sovereignty, which necessitates national security legislation.

During the petition campaign, organizers set up more than 5,400 street stands across Hong Kong to collect public signatures and 25,000 people volunteered to work at these stands.

Nearly 1.84 million signatures have been collected at the street stands and another 1.09 million people have signed the petition online.

“It has become a consensus in Hong Kong that the national security legislation should be enacted as soon as possible, so as to lay a solid foundation for Hong Kong’s long-term prosperity and stability,” head of Kowloon Federation of Associations Connie Wong, one of the co-sponsors of the organization, said

China’s Guangzhou to host international anti-epidemic supplies expo

File photo shows people walk in the exhibition hall of Canton Fair in Guangzhou, south China’s Guangdong Province, April 15, 2019. (Xinhua/Liang Xu)

GUANGZHOU, June 2 (Xinhua) -- The southern Chinese city of Guangzhou will host an international expo featuring anti-epidemic supplies on June 10, the municipal government said on Tuesday.

The expo has attracted more than 400 enterprises, as well as 65 consulates and 30 foreign commerce groups based in Guangzhou, said Yang Yong, director of the Guangzhou branch of China Council for the Promotion of International Trade.

So far, more than 5,000 visitors, most of them potential buyers, have signed up for the event, the first off-line exhibition to be hosted in Guangzhou since the onset of the COVID-19 epidemic.

The expo will set up 850 booths in four exhibition halls, with a total exhibition area of about 36,000 square meters.

Organizers will assist foreign buyers with customs clearance and delivery of anti-epidemic supplies, taking advantage of an international distribution center located in Guangzhou’s Nansha free-trade zone.

The expo will also feature live streaming events in which participants of the expo will share their experiences of fighting the epidemic.

Photo taken on March 21, 2020 shows packed medical supplies at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport in Guangzhou, capital of south China’s Guangdong Province. (Xinhua/Tian Jianchuan)

15

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, June 3, 2020

NGSA for July 1-2 –– MOE to release, today, public health protocols for exams

THE Ministry of Education has set the dates for Guyana’s National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) as July 1 and 2, 2020 following the release of official timetables from the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC).

The NGSA is used to place primary school pupils into secondary schools and is based on the National Grade Six syllabus for the four core subjects: Mathematics, English Language, Science and Social Studies.

Customarily, each subject consists of two papers: Paper 1 - Multiple Choice Items and Paper 2 - Essay Item. The exams, which were to be held on April 8 and 9, were postponed

because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Back in May, however, the Ministry of Education pinpointed July as the set month for the exams.

These exams will be written using the paper-based modality which means that pupils will be required to attend school on the said dates.

“The official Examination Order will be Gazetted and published tomorrow, June 3, 2020. This order will address the public health protocols to be implemented for these examinations,” the Education Ministry said in a media release on Tuesday.

While some parents are supportive of the July timeline, others are not, including the Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU) which expressed con-

Suspect in murder of goldminer not yet apprehended THE man who was beaten to death on Princeville Access Road, Mahdia, Potaro, a few days ago, has been identified as a 23-year-old goldminer.

Dead is John Alleyne of Yarakita Village, Region One. He died as a result of multiple injuries.

On Friday, May 29, 2020, Alleyne was, reportedly, murdered around 20:30 hours.

Investigations have so far revealed that, on the day in question, about 20:00 hours, on Princeville Access Road, there was a scuffle between 19-year-old Norma Dela Cruz of Moruca, North West District, and 36-yearold Suzette Barjoan, called Sue, of Princeville, Mahdia, over Troy Daniels with whom they both shared an intimate relationship.

As a result of the scuffle, Dela Cruz received a stab wound to the right side of her neck.

Dela Cruz then left the scene, along with Daniels, and they went home.

About 20:30 hours, Alleyne, who was at the scene, left to accompany Barjoan to her home.

As they were about to pass the house where Dela Cruz lived, they were approached by Nathious Daniels, called Sunny, who was armed with a piece of wood.

He is a 26-year-old Pork-knocker of the same village and also a relative of Troy Daniels.

He then asked Barjoan why she had to stab Dela Cruz. He then proceeded to ‘deal’ her several lashes to her shoulders.

John was also dealt several lashes about his body by the suspect.

The suspect’s father, victor Daniels, approached and took away the wood from his son’s hand and carried him home.

Alleyne managed to run away, but collapsed. He was taken to the Mahdia Public Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Checks were made for the suspect but he was not arrested.

Investigation is ongoing.

cerns about the psychological effect the period (away from the classroom) could have on the children. GTU President, Mark Lyte, had stated that the combination of fear of contraction of the virus and possible nervousness heading into the exams may not be good for some pupils.

The GTU had recommended that the exams be pushed to October. Nonetheless, the Ministry of Education has indicated that it has a plan in place for the safety of children and teachers during the examinations.

It will soon be engaging stakeholders further to address any additional or specific concerns.

NGSA pupils of St. Gabriel’s Primary School in 2019. (DPI photo)

16

Curfew extended by two weeks

… other COVID-19 emergency measures remain in force GUYANA’s COVID-19 Emergency Measures, previously set to expire today, have been extended to June 17, 2020.

The measures therefore continue to require citizens to remain indoors between 18:00 hours and 06:00 hours.

In a press release on Tuesday, the National COVID-19 Task Force (NCTF) stated that the extension applies to the COVID-19 Emergency Measures (No.3) published in the Gazette on April 29, 2020. The Order which will notify on these changes is being prepared for gazetting under the hand of Minister of Public Health, Volda Lawrence.

The Emergency Measures state that unless a citizen is conducting or visiting an essential service between the hours of 06:00 hours and 18:00 hours, he/she is to stay within the enclosure of his/her home and yard. A number of social activities have also

been prohibited.

The Measures also speak sternly to specific working hours allotted to essential services, preferential treatment for healthcare workers, social and physical distancing protocols, religious worship and domestic and international

travel.

Anyone who fails to comply with these measures commits an offence under Section 152 of the Public Health Ordinance and is liable on summary conviction to the penalty provided under that Section.

Meanwhile, the preamble to the list of measures have made it clear that it could be terminated, extended or amended by notice of the Minister of Public Health, after an assessment of the conditions.

Chairman of the NCTF, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, had stated that the NCTF is aware that the World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that lifting lockdown restrictions too quickly could lead to negative consequences.

As of June 2, 2020, Guyana has officially recorded 153 cases of COVID-19; 12 deaths and 70 recoveries.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, June 3, 2020

High Court frees Bisram HIGH COURT Judge, Simone Morris-Ramlall, has ruled that the incarceration of Guyanese-American businessman Marcus Bisram, was unlawful and ordered that he be released from Prison.

Bisram was accused of killing 26-year-old carpenter, Faiyaz Narinedatt, in November 2016, and the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) had ordered that he be committed to stand trial at the High Court.

However his lawyers moved to the High Court with an application challenging the decision of the DPP. Bisram’s team of attorneys comprised Arudranauth Gossai, Sanjeev Datadin, Glen Hanoman, Bernard DaSliva, and Dexter Todd. Solicitor General, Nigel Hawke appeared for the respondents in the case.

On June 1, 2020, Justice Morris-Ramlall granted a total of eight orders which led to the release of Bisram.

The first order granted by the trial judge is for the quashing of the decision of the DPP made on or about March, 30, 2020, directing Magistrate Renita Singh to re-open the preliminary inquiry into the charge against Bisram, with a view to committing him for the said charge on the ground that the decision of the DPP was unreasonable, unlawful, and made by ignoring relevant considerations and ultra vires.

The second, was an DEAD Faiyaz Narinedatt order of certiorari for the quashing the decision of the DPP made on or about April 3, 2020, directing Magistrate Renita Singh to commit Bisram for trial in the High Court for the offence of murder, on the ground that the said decision was unreasonable, unlawful, and made by ignoring relevant considerations and ultra vires.

“An order of certiorari be and is hereby granted quashing the decision of the said Magistrate made on or about April 6, 2020 at the Whim Magistrates’ Court committing Marcus Bisram to stand trial in the High Court for the offence of murder,” one of the orders read.

Additionally, the judge granted an order which prohibited the DPP from proffering an indictment in the High Court charging Marcus Bisram with the offence of murder. Justice Morris-Ramlall also ordered that the March 30, 2020, arrest of Bisram was unlawful and also his incarceration since March 30, 2020.

Finally, the judge ordered the respondents to release Bisram from custody forthwith. Following the judge’s order, Bisram walked out of the Camp Street Prison, on Tuesday, April 2, 2020, after the final documents were signed. His attorneys also contended that they will soon be filing a lawsuit against the respondents for the unlawful arrest and imprisonment of their client.

During trial at the Magistrate’s Court, Magistrate Singh had initially freed Bisram after she found that the evidence given by the star witness for the prosecution was “unreliable” under cross examination. However, DPP ordered the magistrate to commit Bisram to the High Court to stand trial for the indictment. Bisram was accused of orchestrating the murder of Narinedatt, a twenty-seven-year-old father of two who was killed on November 01, 2016. Narinedatt’s body was found around 03:30 hours on Tuesday, November 01, 2016, on the Number 70 Public Road, East Corentyne, Berbice.

His death was initially reported to be the result of a hit-and-run accident. It was later reported that Bisram allegedly made sexual advances to Narinedatt who objected to the advances.

Bisram was initially charged here in absentia, while five others: Orlando Dickie, Radesh Motie, Diodath Datt, Harri Paul Parsram, and Niran Yacoob have also been committed to stand trial for the murder of Narinedatt. Bisram, who holds dual citizenship, was extradited from the United State of America on November 21, 2019.

He was charged with murder hours after his extradition and placed on remand at the Camp Street Prison.

17

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, June 3, 2020

Local lawyer draws attention to the George Floyd fallout –– stages protest outside US Embassy here in solidarity with victim’s relatives, sympathisers

THE murder of George Floyd, an African-American man, has given rise to a series of protests across America, in an effort to send a strong message to the American authorities and government that BLACK LIVES DO MATTER. Many persons around the world, including Guyanese, have taken to their social media platforms to stand in solidarity with those protesters, but Attorney-at-law Mayo Robertson has taken it one step further, and on Tuesday initiated a one-man demonstration outside of the US Embassy here on Duke Street, Kingston.

Robertson, whose vigil lasted one hour, and reportedly succeeded in drawing the attention of several passersby, said that staging the protest was his way of showing demonstrators in the USA and the family and friends of George Floyd that he supports them in their struggle.

“I want to be a voice in the call for change,” Robertson said, adding: “For too long, the lives of black people in the United States have not been given the appropriate value, and it’s important for us as Guyanese… Almost every Guyanese family has a relative in the US; I have a son, and ten of my siblings and several nephews living in the US, so this affects us all on a personal basis.”

Robertson said the reason he chose to stage his protest outside the US embassy here is because the mission is symbolic of the US’s presence in Guyana; that he wanted the US to be aware of his protest against

Attorney-at-law Mayo Robertson in protest outside the US Embassy here on Tuesday in solidarity with demonstrators the world over over the wanton killing of yet another African-American on the streets of the USA the current treatment of African-Americans at this time. Robertson, who is s citizen of the US, said that had he been in there at this time, he would have been out with the other protesters, as he had done during the Nation of Islam-led ‘Million Man March’ on Washington DC back on October 16, 1995.

Quoting the late John F. Kennedy, 35th President of the USA, Robertson said, “Are we to say to the world that America is the Land of the Free, except for the Negroes?”

As he went to say, what was done to Floyd has always been the trend in the United States; to treat African-Americans like dirt and generally take advantage of them, for no other reason than that they are black; painting them as a threat to society, and lesser beings, never acknowledging their potential.

SHOCKED TO THE

CORE “I believe the whole world was shocked to see what we have seen happening over the last week or so,” Robertson said.

“To see the life of a man going out before our eyes is awful; even after making many pleas. And this is not an isolated incident; this is something that has happened time and time again, and with no change in the system. These protests are so there can be a change.”

Noting that African-Americans are disproportionately allowed access to healthcare, as is the case with what is happening with COVID-19, Robertson made the point that more African-Americans are adversely affected than any other race by the malady, and are dying like ninepins.

Said he: “We have George Floyd in 2020, begging the police, ‘Please, let me stand.’ He wanted to stand like a man, but the system was determined to have

Suspect in the alleged murder of goldminer on the run A post-mortem done on the body of goldminer David James, who was beaten to death at a mining camp at Arrangay backlands, Cuyuni River, revealed that he died due to multiple blunt trauma to the head.

The Guyana Chronicle had reported that, on Tuesday, May 26, 2020, James’ battered body was found in a hammock at the mining camp at Arrangay backlands.

The Guyana Chronicle understands that James was killed around 18:30 hours by a 20-year-old miner of Ogle Old Road, East Coast Demerara, who is currently in custody.

According to reports, on the day in question, James and another man were drinking at the camp when an argument ensued be-

tween them. During the argument, the man left James and returned with the suspect who then dealt James several cuffs to his face and body. Consequently, James fell to the ground and became motionless. The police were summoned and, upon arrival, found James still motionless in a hammock.

The other man was arrested while the prime suspect escaped, but was, two days later, arrested and is in custody at the Aranka Police Station.

On June 1, 2020, the post-mortem was conducted by Government Pathologist, Doctor Nehaul Singh.

Dr. Singh gave the cause of death as brain haemorrhage due to multiple blunt trauma to the head.

him die like an animal.”

Robertson said he believes that it is important for Guyanese to call their relatives overseas, and let them know that they support and sympathise with them; that they believe in justice and freedom as a worldwide phenomenon.

He said that the protests that are happening around the world, including his oneman stance here, are pivotal in pushing the system to be different, as the weight

of worldwide pressure can bring about change. And he intends to aid in applying that pressure; to be a voice for change in the system.

Following Robertson’s protest action outside the US Embassy, US Ambassador Sarah-Ann Lynch issued a statement through the mission’s social media platform, stating: “I am, like the entire U.S. Embassy Georgetown family, profoundly troubled by the horrific events in the United States. We mourn

the tragic death of Mr. George Floyd, and support a full criminal investigation into the circumstances of his death. We offer our prayers to family, loved ones and friends of Mr. Floyd. Each of us must aspire every day to work together, respecting each other with actions that give us a more just and equitable world, free of racism.

The Embassy’s social media will remain dark today, in honor of “Blackout Tuesday.”

18

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, June 3, 2020

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, June 3, 2020

19

Grave says no pressure on players to play England series

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) – No West Indies player will be forced to travel on the tour of England if they feel uncomfortable with arrangements, Cricket West Indies (CWI) chief executive Johnny Grave has said.

“We definitely will respect any player’s decision who for whatever reason doesn’t want to tour,” Grave said last weekend.

“There will be absolutely no victimisation whatsoever.

Clearly if a player doesn’t tour then it creates an opportunity for someone else to come in and represent the West Indies, and they would have their chance to play England in three Test matches and cement their place in the

side.”

A 25-man side is expected to be announced this week for the tour of England which will see the Caribbean playing three Tests starting July 8.

The tour has been overshadowed by the coronavirus pandemic which has already resulted in nearly 278 000 infections and nearly 40 000 deaths across the United Kingdom.

For the first time, a cricket series will be played at bio-secure facilities with strict, quarantine, social-distancing and sanitisation protocols employed throughout.

Grave said players had been included in the ongoing discussions with the England and Wales Cricket Board, and their input had been invaluable.

“The players have had lots of questions and rightly so about trying to understand what is completely new to sport and completely new to them as cricketers, in terms of what the environment will be like,” Grave explained.

“Obviously seven weeks is a relatively long tour … and they wanted to know exactly where they were going to be, how they were going to be tested, what there would be at the hotel in terms of facilities and amenities and also for some downtime, and what they could do outside of just training and playing cricket and what facilities and entertainment options would be available to them in the hotel. “(They also wanted to know) what happens if one

of them gets, not necessarily ill from COVID-19, but if they get sick or injured and what are the options. There’s an enormous amount of detailed work that has gone into this tour, not just by the England and Wales Cricket Board but by our medical practitioners here in the Caribbean.”

The tour was initially scheduled for May but had to be postponed with the UK hard hit by COVID-19 and the ECB forced to delay its entire domestic programme.

But anxious to avoid a cricket blackout of cricket during the summer, ECB has managed to convince West Indies, along with Pakistan, to follow through on previously planned tours.

While critics have said the tour involves too many risks and little reward, Grave said it was important to CWI from a playing and commercial branding standpoint.

“This is a big tour for England financially but it’s still an important tour for us and an important tour for our number one sponsors and huge supporters in Sandals Resorts, so it’s not fair to say there’s nothing in it for Cricket West Indies,” he stressed.

“And for the players, they’re desperate to get back playing and get back training so it’s an opportunity for them to go and defend the Wisden Trophy they did so well to win back in 2019.”

West Indies are scheduled to leave the Caribbean next Tuesday.

Mayweather offers to cover funeral costs for George Floyd NEW YORK, USA (Reuters) - Boxing great Floyd Mayweather has offered to cover the funeral expenses for George Floyd, the 46-yearold African-American man whose death while in police custody in Minneapolis prompted protests across the United States.

The former five-division world champion’s promotional company, Mayweather Productions, confirmed on Twitter that he had made the offer, and several local media reports have said the family has accepted.

Mayweather Productions and the boxer’s agency have yet to respond to a request for comment.

Derek Chauvin, the 44-year-old Minneapolis police officer who kneeled on Floyd, has been arrested

on third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter charges. Three other officers involved in the arrest have not been charged.

The incident has prompted an outcry across the United States and abroad, with numerous pro athletes and leagues speaking out, including NBA great Michael Jordan and golf’s 15-time major champion Tiger Woods.

Steve Bisciotti, the owner of NFL’s Baltimore Ravens, pledged $1 million for social justice reform and `said a group of former and current players would decide which organisations benefit.

“We must all discover new ways to unite. We must all work to break the cycle of systematic racial injustice,” Bisciotti said in a statement here.

20

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, June 3, 2020

F1 set for a series of firsts with revised race calendar

By Alan Baldwin

LONDON, England (Reuters) - Formula One is set for a series of firsts after publishing a revised eightrace schedule yesterday that will see Austria’s Red Bull Ring and Britain’s Silverstone circuit host two grands prix without spectators in July and August respectively.

The season, which originally envisaged a record 22 races, has been stalled since the March 15 Australian opener was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The first race of the year will now be in Austria on July 5 with a second, designated the Grand Prix of Steiermark (Styria) after the region in which the Red Bull-owned circuit at Spiel-

Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton in action during the race Formula F1 - Austrian Grand Prix - Red Bull Ring, Spielberg, Austria - June 30, 2019 (REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger/File Photo)

Plunkett expresses desire to play for USA after England snub THE past one year has been a roller-coaster ride for England fast bowler Liam Plunkett. The right-arm bowler who bowled a fantastic spell of 3-42 in the final of the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup was suddenly dropped after the tournament.

The selectors have not picked him in the limited-overs lineup ever since.

He was an instrumental figure in carrying England to the World Cup win, picking up 11 wickets from seven matches.

However, the selectors might have realised that the age factor is going against Plunkett. The fast-bowler is 35 years old now and might not be fit enough to play the next World Cup in 2023. He was recently left out from the 55 players that the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) have called up for the training.

However, all is not lost for Liam Plunkett at the international stage. The ageing pacer could appear for the United States of America at the international level.

Plunkett’s wife, Emeleah Erb is an American citizen.

During an interaction recently, he expressed his desire to shift to the United States and settle down there. He also said that he wouldn’t give up

the opportunity of playing for the USA. The pacer has given a clear indication that he would be considering a future with the USA national cricket team. Plunkett told BBC Radio 5 Live’s Tuffers and Vaughan Show, “It

highest level, why would I not take it? If I go over there and end up being a US citizen, or have a green card, I can help the development, especially being someone who has just finished with England. It would be nice to get involved in that,” he

berg is located, a week later.

It will be the first time a circuit will host two championship races in the same season, the first time a season has started in Austria and also the first time a race has been held behind closed doors.

The 10 teams will then travel east to race on a third successive weekend at Budapest’s Hungaroring on July 19 before returning home, all under carefully controlled conditions.

Silverstone, which hosted the first F1 world championship race in 1950, is scheduled for the British Grand Prix on August 2

followed by the 70th Anniversary Grand Prix on August 9.

A two-week quarantine is due to come into force in Britain for most arrivals in the country from June 8 but Formula One is set to be part of an exemption for elite sports events.

Barcelona’s Circuit de Catalunya will then host the Spanish Grand Prix on August 16 to complete the triple-header before another break and then two more back-to-back races at Spa in Belgium and Italy’s Monza on August 30 and September 6.

Formula Two and Formula Three races will also be held over the same weekends.

“We are pleased to be able to set out our opening eight-race calendar today and look forward to publishing our full calendar in the coming weeks,” said Formula One chairman Chase Carey in a statement.

“While we currently expect the season to commence without fans at our races we hope that over the coming months the situation will allow us to welcome them back, once it is safe to do,” he added.

Formula One is hoping to host between 15 and 18 races with the season ending in Abu Dhabi in December after also racing in Bahrain.

Four races have been cancelled so far - Australia, Monaco, the Netherlands and France - while China, Azerbaijan, Canada and Vietnam are awaiting rescheduling.

Races in Singapore, Russia, Japan, the United States, Mexico and Brazil remain uncertain.

“The health and safety of all involved will continue to be priority number one, with Formula One and the FIA having a robust and detailed plan to ensure our races maintain the highest level of safety with strict procedures in place,” Formula One said.

English Premiership clubs given go-ahead to resume training

Liam Plunkett picked up 11 wickets from seven matches playing for England in the 2019 World Cup

would be nice to be involved in some sort of cricket over there. My kids might be American, so it would be quite cool to say to them that I played for England and the US.” “I’m English and I’ll always be an Englishman, but if I’m still fit and there’s an opportunity to play at the

further added.

The Surrey bowler needs to have a three-year residential qualification for playing cricket for the USA. Recently, South African spinner Dane Piedt also moved to the USA and expressed his desire to play for them.

(CricTracker)

LONDON, England (Reuters) - Clubs in England’s Premiership and second-tier Championship have been given the green light to resume individual training from yesterday with strict social-distancing measures, the Professional Game Board said.

Competitive sport was suspended in Britain in March in response to the COVID-19 pandemic which has killed more than 39 000 persons in the country.

The government last week gave permission for elite sport to return behind closed doors from June 1 and the Premiership, which has nine rounds remaining, is hoping to complete its season.

“I can confirm that the Professional Game Board ... has given provisional authorisation for Premiership and Championship Rugby clubs to move to Stage 1: Elite Sport Return to Training Guidance,” Chris Booy, Professional Game Board chair, said in a statement.

“The clubs will need to satisfy a number of requirements to start Stage 1 as we continue the huge amount of work being undertaken to enable a safe return to training.”

No timeline has been set for clubs to move to Stage 2, which involves contact training, or Stage 3, the resumption of Premiership matches.

Exeter Chiefs were top of the standings with 45 points when the season was suspended, five ahead of Sale Sharks.

England’s top-flight soccer league will resume on June 17.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, June 3, 2020

21

Moments in time: Kanhai, Sobers, Butcher collar India in Kolkata

ROHAN Kanhai enjoyed a career in which he played on great teams from start to finish. Maybe it is a testament to his ability that he was a mainstay for the West Indies during this period since the cluster of nations had been seeing a swell in the number of talented batsmen it had been producing.

Names like Sir Garfield Sobers, Joe Solomon, Clyde Hunte and Basil Butcher were just some of the talents in the West Indies line-up when Kanhai started his sojourn in Test cricket, and when that sojourn ended 17 years later, the Guyanese batsman had been joined by the likes of Roy Fredericks, Lawrence Rowe, Alvin Kallicharan, Clive Lloyd and of course, Sobers was still around.

Despite spending 17 years at the top, Kanhai’s start to Test cricket was not as convincing as his career would eventually turn out to be.

On New Year’s Eve in 1958, more than a year after his debut for the West Indies, Kanhai had yet to make his mark, had yet to prove why the selectors had

kept persevering with him.

In truth, he hadn’t done badly, scoring three half-centuries in his first 23 innings.

But he had never notched three figures, getting as close as 96 in February of 1958.

Tests of a five-match series but Kanhai had yet to build on some good starts, scoring 66 and 22, nought and 41 in his first four times facing the Indians.

To date, Kanhai had only faced England and Pakistan,

Indies had chosen to bat but were in early trouble when Kanhai walked to crease. Medium-pacer Raman Surendranath had, the ball before, removed JK Holt caught for just five.

India threatened for an in-

Sir Garfield Sobers, Rohan Kanhai, and Basil Butcher

In Kolkata, that was to change.

The West Indies had dominated India in the first two

with India providing a new challenge to his fledgling career.

On New Year’s Eve, West

stant, as Sir Conrad Hunte was back in the pavilion for just 23, leaving the West Indies at 72-2.

Six hours and 42 bound-

FIFA adds voice to protests over Floyd’s death

BERN, Germany (Reuters) - World soccer’s governing body FIFA has joined sports leagues, teams and players around the globe to express solidarity amid outrage over the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man killed in police custody in the United States.

The National Football League, National Hockey League and National Basketball Association have put out statements about the racial injustice that sparked protests across the U.S. but Major League Baseball has yet to make an official statement.

From those four leagues, 74 of 123 teams (60%) have issued statements on the protests according to research by Axios.

Only four of the NBA’s 30 teams have not issued releases while fewer than half (15) of the NFL’s 32 teams and just a third (10) of MLB’s 30 clubs made statements.

Across those leagues the loudest support has come from the players, including Los Angeles Lakers’ Lebron James, New Jersey Devils defenceman PK Subban, Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl-winning quarterback Patrick Mahomes and New York Yankees slugger Gincarlo Stanton.

Charlotte Hornets and own-

er and former NBA great Michael Jordan and golfer Tiger Woods, who rarely speak out on social issues, have also called for change.

The voices of outrage, however, are being heard well beyond U.S. borders.

Jadon Sancho revealed a ‘Justice for George Floyd’ T-Shirt after scoring against Paderborn Germany’s Bundesliga at the weekend

Several soccer players protested during matches in Germany’s top-flight Bundesliga at the weekend, with Borussia Dortmund’s Jadon Sancho and Achraf Hakimi displaying undershirts with the message, ‘Justice for George Floyd’ on Sunday.

The German Football Association (DFB) said it was reviewing the incidents.

England international Sancho was shown a yellow card after removing his shirt but the DFB said it was not due to his message but because he broke the rules on removing shirts.

FIFA UNDERSTANDS FIFA, an organisation that has had zero tolerance for players expressing personal views about politics, religion and social issues on the field, has asked competition organisers to use “common sense” with athletes who show messages of protest over Floyd’s death.

In a statement yesterday, the global soccer body said it “fully understands the depth of sentiment and concerns expressed by many footballers in light of the tragic circumstances of the George Floyd case.”

It added that applying the laws of the game was the responsibility of competition organisers, such as domestic leagues, who FIFA said “should use common sense and have in consideration the context surrounding the events.

“FIFA had repeatedly expressed itself to be resolutely against racism and discrimination of any kind.... FIFA itself has promoted many anti-racism campaigns which frequently carry the anti-racism message

at matches organised under its own auspices,” it added.

F o r m e r We s t I n d i e s captain Darren Sammy has urged cricket’s world governing body, the International Cricket Council, and its member nations to speak out against social injustice. “@ICC and all the other boards are you guys not seeing what’s happening to ppl like me? Are you not gonna speak against the social injustice against my kind...,” he wrote in a series of tweets.

“Now is not the time to be silent. I wanna hear u,” the St Lucia all-rounder, who led West Indies to Twenty20 World Cup titles in 2012 and 2016, said.

His former team mate Chris Gayle also posted a statement on social media saying “Black life matters just as any other life!”

Formula One drivers followed Lewis Hamilton’s lead on Monday after he criticised those in what he called the “white-dominated sport” for failing to speak out about Floyd’s death.

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc said on Twitter he had felt “out of place and uncomfortable” sharing his thoughts on social media about the situation but realised he had been “completely wrong”.

aries later, Kanhai was still there.

Collie Smith had tried to entertain a partnership but he went for 34 to leave the West Indies 180-3. Not a terrible return, but India were very much still in the game.

Kanhai eventually found a willing partner in Guyanese teammate Butcher, who scored 103.

Day one ended with the West Indies in a strong position at 359 for 3.

Butcher was not out on 87 and Kanhai had his first Test century, a double. He was on 203 not out.

The following day, Kanhai continued to keep the Indian bowlers at bay, going on to score his highest Test score of 256 before Surendranath had him caught by Polly Umrigar.

The damage had already been done and an unbeaten century of 106 from Sobers, along with Solomon’s fine lower-order stand of 69 not out, left the Indians staring down the barrel of

614. All this and Jamaica’s Gerry Alexander, a wicketkeeper who could bat as well, had not even faced a delivery.

That 256, coming in Kanhai’s 13th Test, was a watershed moment. Afterwards, he got over the three-figure hump 14 more times in his career and score 28 half-centuries to boot, to end with a very healthy average of 47.53.

Like sort of a warning, Kanhai scored 99 in the very next Test, before scoring another double-century against Pakistan a few months later.

West Indies sealed the series in that game, winning by an innings and 336 runs and went on to register a 4-0 win following a drawn fifth Test.

While Kanhai and company batted the Indians out of the game, it must be said the hosts had a major problem with handling the pace of Roy Gilchrist, whose match figures of 3-18 and 6-55, ensured the game ended inside four days.

(Sportsmax)

U-15 coach Arthurton calls for more focus on grooming youth players

FORMER West Indies middle-order batsman turned youth coach Keith Arthurton has urged the regional body to put more effort into making sure talented youth cricketers go on to transition into successful senior players.

West Indies Under-15 coach Keith Arthurton

Arthurton, the left-handed batsman who made 33 Test and 105 ODI appearances for the West Indies, was appointed as coach of the region’s under-15 squad in 2008.

Having seen a lot of promising youth players during his time, he believes there is no doubt that the talent is abundant but too many players for one reason or the other are unable to take the next crucial step.

“Because we’re so gifted, we are naturally able to play the sport. At the youth level,

you will always see the talent but for some reason, there is a transition [problem].

Based on the experience I have doing academy work and grassroots work and so on that transition is normally made at the age of 16 and it’s a crucial transition that will either build you or break you,” Arthurton told the Good Morning Jojo radio program.

One solution, he believes, is to develop avenues that serve to provide consistent exposure and high-level competition for players at that critical stage of their development. The coach revealed that the issue had already been broached with Cricket West Indies but, as it stands, concrete plans are yet to be fully fleshed out.

“You may hear about an under-21 team or an under-23 team but there is no continuation so it may happen for one or two seasons and then it is gone,” Arthurton said.

“We have to understand what we are trying to achieve and what the main purpose of trying to help these guys, the same guys who would be leaving youth cricket and looking to go into senior cricket and how we can maintain that important continuity for players to make the transition a lot easier for them.”

(Sportsmax)

22

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, June 3, 2020

‘Business as usual’ for battle-ready Test skipper Holder BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC) – Despite cricket facing an uncertain future due to the challenges posed by the deadly COVID-19 pandemic, Test captain Jason Holder said it was “business as usual” for him, as he ramped up preparation for next month’s tour of England.

Holder was one of 13 Barbadian players named in a 30-man provisional squad, who resumed outdoor training at Kensington Oval here last week, following several weeks of a government-enforced lockdown.

In perhaps a sign of things to come for the sport at least in the short term, players were forced to train in small groups in order to observe social-distancing during, and also to pay attention to new sanitisation protocols.

While acknowledging the new measures were designed to protect players, Holder said it was also important not to allow them to hamper the focus on preparation.

“For me it is business as usual, to be honest. Yes, there are restrictions and restrictions in place for our safety but at the end of the day once you understand them, you just get on with it,” Holder told CWI Media.

“I don’t dwell on it; I wouldn’t try to tinker with it. I think they’re put in place for a reason and we all understand why they’re put in place and safety must always come first.

Test captain Jason Holder goes through his paces at Kensington Oval during a recent training session.

“I’m just happy to be back out playing cricket, even though it’s only a practice session, but I’m just happy to be back out doing something that I love and I really can’t wait to get back onto the cricket field.”

West Indies are poised to take on England next month in a three-Test series that was rescheduled from May due to the outbreak of the pandemic.

And the tour is expect-

ed to be the first of its kind played in “bio-secure” conditions behind closed doors, with strict health protocols in place to guard against the coronavirus.

Test captain Jason Holder goes through his paces at Kensington Oval during a recent training session

For instance, players have been discouraged from physical contact when celebrating, sharing drinks or physical equipment, handing personal effects to the umpire and from using saliva when shining the ball.

Holder said while there

Leewards Islands, Bermuda boards forge new ties HAMILTON, Bermuda, (CMC) – Executives of the Leewards Islands Cricket Board and the Bermuda Cricket Board have hailed a new memorandum of understanding (MOU) the two bodies have signed.

According to a media release Tuesday, the aim of the MOU is to underpin the development of what is hoped will become a longterm partnership between two bodies that are 1 000 miles apart.

The MOU sets out matters of agreed principle and policy, reflecting the spirit of cooperation between the Leeward Islands Cricket Board (LICB) and the Bermuda Cricket Board (BCB), but it is not intended to be legally binding, the release said.

The area of cooperation will include, subject to mutual consent, any activity or programme considered desirable and feasible on either side to foster and develop the co-operative relationship between the two institutions.

Enoch Lewis, president of the LICB and a former player, said the signing of the agreement – the first of its kind for the LICB – was a truly momentous occasion for both boards.

He said one of the key objectives of the LICB was

“strategic relationship building with the ultimate outcome of continually providing greater and enhanced opportunities for our players and officials”.

He added: “We believe this has been achieved, in a mutually beneficial way, with our counterparts at the Bermuda Cricket Board via this agreement.

Smith echoed Lewis’s comments, saying: “On behalf of the Bermuda Cricket Board, we are privileged to be signing this MOU with the Leeward Islands Cricket Board.

“We hope that this sets a precedent for future opportunities for both organisations, players, coaches, umpires and administrators to grow

Leeward Islands president Enoch Lewis

“We at the LICB are truly excited by the potential exposure that this agreement creates for both players and officials from both organisations, and by extension the opportunity arising therefrom to improve the standard of cricket being played at all levels and also the overall administration of the sport.”

BCB president Lloyd

had been no discussion yet on how to curb the customary exuberant celebrations, he believed West Indies would come up with “our unique way” of expressing them-

in the sport.

“The BCB finds this MOU to not only be historic, but also nostalgic, as many Bermudians are descendants of the Leeward Islands ancestry. We consider it to be an honour to be able to work with our Caribbean family.”

selves.

“I really can’t say (regarding celebrations) but knowing the West Indian way, we’ll find our unique way of doing it,” said the 28-year-old, the world’s leading Test all-rounder.

“I just think it is important

that you still celebrate every wicket as though it’s your first or it’s your last Test wicket.

We’ll find a way to cope with it; we’ll find a way to enjoy it and the safest way at that.”

West Indies will be defending the coveted Wisden Trophy after stunning the English last year in the Caribbean to record their first series win over them in a decade.

However, the tourists will likely start the tour of England as underdogs, especially having not won a series in the United Kingdom in 32 years.

Holder said memories from the 2017 series there were still fresh and it provided the belief that West Indies could come away with a series result.

“It would always be a challenge. England in England are a very competitive and successful team. Not many teams go to England and defeat England,” said Holder, who is poised for his third tour of England.

“For us, we’ve got a really good opportunity to do it and the last time we went

there it was a keenly contested series. Many people wrote us off quite early and we rebounded really, really well and we shocked the world.

“It didn’t shock me per se because I knew the capability of the team. But to see the guys respond in that way after the first Test match was significant.

“I know the guys are really looking forward to the opportunity of getting back out there and playing cricket and we really relish the opportunity of going to England so I know once we get on that cricket field, we will be putting our heads together, hands together, hearts together in trying to achieve a series win.”

In 2017, West Indies lost the first Test at Birmingham by an innings inside three days but hit back in the second Test at Leeds to pull off a stunning five-wicket victory with Shai Hope scoring a hundred in each innings.

They lost the final Test at Lord’s by nine wickets.

England’s Root could miss Test match to be at birth, backs Stokes to lead (REUTERS) - England captain Joe Root has said he would miss the first home test match against the West Indies in July if it clashes with the birth of his child, but backed vice-captain Ben Stokes to take the reins in his absence.

their second child in early July and the top order batsman said he is in discussions over whether he would be able to leave the on-site hotel and return to the bio-secure venue.

“The due date complicates things slightly. In

England captain Joe backs vice-captain Ben Stokes to take the reins in his absence

West Indies’ tour of England, which was pushed back by a month due to the COVID-19 pandemic, is set to begin on July 8 in Southampton behind closed doors, subject to government approval.

However, Root’s wife Carrie is due to give birth to

terms of the bubble and the pregnancy, it’s always an evolving thing,” Root told reporters.

“It’s being discussed with the medical team and we’re always trying to stay updated with it. How it will finally look I’m not exactly sure right now.

“It will have to come down to government guidelines and we have to make sure we follow those protocols and do whatever is right by that.”

Root said Stokes would make a “fantastic” captain in his absence as the all-rounder leads by example.

“One of his great qualities as vice-captain is the example he sets — the way he goes about his training, how he wants the ball in difficult circumstances, the way he stands up in difficult scenarios with the bat,” Root added.

“He drags people with him, gets the best out of players around him and gives the whole team a lift. People will always follow him, look up to him and want to play for him whether he is captain or not.

“Those are great qualities to have as leader and something he could definitely take into captaincy. I love having him as vice-captain and could see him doing a very good job as captain.”

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, June 3, 2020

23

England confirm West Indies Test series in July ENGLAND will play three Tests in the space of 21 days when the international summer gets under way in July.

The series against West Indies will begin on July 8 at the Ageas Bowl, followed by Tests at Emirates Old Trafford on July 16 and July 24.

The three matches will be played behind closed doors at the bio-secure venues, which both have hotels on site.

West Indies arrive on June 9 and will be based at Old Trafford for initial quarantine and training.

The original schedule, which featured Tests at The Kia Oval, Edgbaston and Lord’s between June 4 and June 29, was postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Former England batsman Jonathan Trott said players would be “refreshed and chomping at the bit to get going”.

“When you think of playing for England, you always think of packed houses,” Trott

but not dissimilar to playing away at some grounds overseas.”

England Test captain Joe Root (left) and West Indies skipper Jason Holder

told BBC Radio 5 Live.

“It’s going to be a little bit different behind closed doors

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) said a decision on series against Paki-

Rabada ‘fully committed’ to playing for South Africa FAST bowler Kagiso Rabada says he is fully committed to playing for South Africa after a difficult 2019-20 season in which he felt “out of place” and incurred a one-Test ban for an overzealous celebration against England.

South Africa.

“The past season was a disappointment, even though my stats were OK. I just felt really rusty and out of place.

I am taking it day by day to achieve my new set of goals.”

Rabada missed the cru-

Kagiso Rabada has featured in 142 international matches across all three formats for South Africa since his debut in 2014

The 25-year-old topped the International Cricket Council’s Test bowler rankings in 2018 but was, by his own admission, below par in the last South African summer at the turn of the year.

“I am 150% fully committed to playing for South Africa,” he told Cricket

stan, Australia and Ireland will be taken at a later date.

ECB director of events

cial fourth Test against England after collecting a fourth demerit point in a 24-month period, for celebrating too close to visiting captain Joe Root after claiming his wicket.

“It’s passion,” said Rababa. “Everybody has their opinion and they are entitled

to that. I have identified things I needed to and will address them with the people who are closest to me and who I feel should be helping me.”

Rabada has featured in 142 international matches across all three formats since making his debut in November 2014 and he says his heavy workload has not helped.

However, the rest he has had due to the Covid-19 pandemic has been welcome, even if the circumstances are troubling.

“The five years have gone by really quickly, but there has been a huge amount of volume in my cricket,” he added.

“I am just glad that I can get a rest, though not in the way that it has come.”

Although uncertain when it will happen, competitive professional sport in South Africa is a step closer towards returning following the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

(BBC Sport)

Steve Elworthy said: “We are in daily dialogue with government and our medical team.

These are our proposed dates and they remain subject to government approval.”

Edgbaston, in Birmingham, has been selected as a contingency venue and will be used to stage additional training throughout July.

Last week, the ECB asked a 55-player group to return to training.

England women’s summer schedule will be determined at a later date with Lisa Keightley’s side set to play series against India and South Africa.

The domestic county season, which was due to start on April 12, has been postponed until at least 1 August.

‘A BIG STEP’ Analysis by BBC cricket correspondent Jonathan Agnew: There is a lot of detail still to be finalised but this is a big step. West Indies were due

to be touring now but have agreed to a rescheduled format which sees three back-to-back Tests played on two grounds within three weeks.

There will be no spectators and everybody who is closely involved in the matches will be housed in the on-site hotels that have made this series possible.

There will be regular testing and quarantine zones for anyone suspected of having contracted COVID-19.

The ECB remains hopeful of more international cricket being staged later in the summer.

Tests schedule First Test v West Indies: July 8-12, Southampton Second Test v West Indies: July 16-20, Old Trafford Third Test v West Indies: July 24-28, Old Trafford.

(BBC Sport)

TDO Stuart optimistic local cricket action could return by September

By Clifton Ross

GUYANA Cricket Board (GCB) Territorial Developmental Officer (TDO), Colin Stuart, says domestic action could return by September as lockdown rules are lifted.

The ex-West Indies pacer told Chronicle Sport that the Jaguars Franchise League domestic season which consists of the 3-Day and 50-Over tournaments could get underway in September.

After the recent pandemic forced the shutdown of live sports locally, cricketers have been forced indoors with no specific time when they can get out in the field.

Stuart however pointed out that once the government gives any green light and safety rules are outlined for the reintegration of the players; the League will bowl off.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) cited a minimum of 3 months and when players return they must continue to practise social distancing while following Cricket West Indies (CWI) issued guidelines, Stuart outlined.

Apart from the senior league, the Kiddies school cricket as well as Secondary Schools competition are usually played during specific phases annually.

The former speeder pointed out that measures will be put in place in order to

properly educate not only the senior players but the younger crop of cricketers on how to stay healthy whenever play resumes.

The GCB executive further pointed out that virtual training might become a norm of the future should the pandemic’s aftermath still affect sporting events.

GCB TDO Colin Stuart

“We cannot go back out playing without educating all of our players. Looking at virtual sessions, it is in the coaching structure we are monitoring it but it is challenging”.

“Regarding the virtual sessions, we will have players upload their personal sessions within their particular areas, which will help us monitor what type of work our players are able to do on their own,” the TDO said.

The former Guyana pacer was, however, adamant that everything revolves around the safety guidelines - if they are lifted and if athletes as well as associations continue to practise the necessary mandates needed to stem the spread of the virus.

He said the respective sports associations have the onus on them to ensure their players are tested and monitored ahead of future proposed plans.

“I don’t expect any negative impact; if anything, it pushes knowledge and awareness. Although they might have remedies in the future the learning process was positive”.

“We’re hoping the situation changes for the better or will this be the new norm! I believe that guidelines should be general and institutions should ensure that guidelines are suited to their needs.

“Associations, if they need to test players, will need to ensure their process caters to and satisfies the national body and their regulations,” he ended.

EXPERIENCED local referee/judge Elton Chase was yesterday presented with his International Technical Officer (ITO) certificate.

The document was presented by Guyana Boxing Association president Steve Ninvalle. Last year Chase was among a handful of Caribbean officials who were successful at the ITO exams held in St Lucia.

The accomplishment created history for Chase and local boxing as he remains the first Guyanese to be certified as an ITO

by AIBA. Chase thanked Ninvalle and GBA for providing the opportunity and assured that he will impart knowledge for the good of the sport.

Chase is lone Guyanese AIBA ITO referee

Elton Chase (left) receives the AIBA certificate from GBA president Steve Ninvalle

Grave says no pressure on players to play England series PAGE 19

Boxing great Floyd Mayweather

PAGE 19

Mayweather offers to cover funeral costs for George Floyd PAGE 23

West Indies players will not be forced to tour England

TDO Stuart optimistic local cricket action could return by September

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

|

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 3, 2020