Guyana Chronicle E-paper 6-30-2020

TUESDAY 30th June, 2020

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‘I’M VERY

No.106045

CONFIDENT’ President David Granger

SEE PAGE 09

---President Granger urges citizens to await ruling of CCJ, declaration by GECOM

‘All set for NGSA’

---schools equipped with PPEs, sanitisation material, adhering to COVID-19 prevention measures 12 PAGE

Guyana to make compelling case before ICJ 02 PAGE

...as hearing on jurisdiction opens today

Godfrey Bess takes charge of GDF …as Brigadier Patrick West goes into retirement PAGE

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Journalist, Travis Chase, being interviewed by police detectives at the scene of the fire (Delano Williams photo) (SEE STORY ON PAGE 7)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, June 30, 2020

Guyana to make compelling case before ICJ ...as hearing on jurisdiction opens today TODAY, Guyana, in a historic move, will appear before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) as it makes a strong case for the world court to adjudicate on the Arbitral Award of October 3, 1899 in the case, Guyana v. Venezuela.

Guyana is seeking to obtain a final and binding judgment that the 1899 Arbitral Award, which established the location of the land boundary between then British Guiana and Venezuela, remains valid, and that the Essequibo region belongs to Guyana, and not Venezuela. However, the ICJ must first established jurisdiction, and today (June 30) arguments will commence in that regard.

Agent of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, Carl Greenidge, in a statement on Monday said the hearing before the ICJ is a significant milestone. “Guyana has long valued the opportunity of a

hearing. However, this will not prevent the Court from hearing Guyana’s arguments or going forward with the case,” Greenidge stated.

Agent of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, Carl Greenidge

judicial settlement of Venezuela’s outrageous claim to nearly three-quarters of Guyana and welcomed the decision of the Secretary-General of the United Nations in 2018

(acting under the 1966 Geneva Agreement) that the International Court of Justice shall be the forum of settlement of the controversy,” Greenidge said.

He explained that today’s hearing is for the sole purpose of addressing the question of the Court’s jurisdiction; that is, whether the Court has the authority to resolve the controversy between Guyana and Venezuela over the validity of the boundary that was permanently established between them since 1899.

Guyana, Greenidge said, is of the firm belief that the ICJ has jurisdiction to rule on the validity and permanence of that boundary. Though contending that the ICJ lacks jurisdiction to adjudicate in the matter, Venezuela failed to submit its Counter-Memorial on Jurisdiction – in response to Guyana’s Memorial. In recent days, Venezuela, in maintaining its position, has made it clear that it will not participate in the hearing.

“Regrettably, Venezuela has decided to boycott the

WILL BE LIVE-STREAMED The hearing will be done via video conference, at the instance of the Court, and will be streamed live in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. This virtuous move by the Court is intended to keep the wheels of justice turning notwithstanding the spread of the COVID-19, Greenidge noted.

The country anticipates that the ICJ will issue its decision on the jurisdictional question before the end of the year.

“Should it rule in Guyana’s favour, as we expect, it will then proceed to the next phase of the case, and ultimately decide the question that Guyana has put before it: Whether the 1899 boundary that separates the two States, is a lawful and permanent boundary, such that the Essequibo region is confirmed as an integral part of Guyana’s territory for all time,” Greenidge explained.

He said the country will continue to do everything in its power to achieve that result, and is confident that the final outcome will be what all Guyanese wish for.

To ensure a final resolution to the controversy through peaceful means, the Government of British Guiana, Venezuela and the United Kingdom concluded the Geneva Agreement on February 17, 1966. Article IV of that treaty authorises the Secretary-General of the United Nations to decide which of the means listed in Article 33 of the United Nations Charter – which includes binding adjudication by the International Court of Justice – shall be used to

Map of Guyana, showing area claimed by Venezuela

resolve the controversy. In agreeing to Article IV, Venezuela consented to the Court’s jurisdiction in the event the Secretary-General decides that the controversy should be resolved by the Court.

On January 30, 2018, the United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres decided that the Good Offices process had come to an end and that the Court should now settle the controversy by means of a final and binding decision.

Three months later on March 29, 2018 Guyana commenced proceedings before the ICJ in accordance with the Secretary-General’s decision.

In its Memorial on Jurisdiction in November, 2018, the

Guyana Government argued that Venezuela’s contention that the means of settlement outlined in Article 33 of the UN Charter must be exhausted before recourse to the court can be chosen is baseless.

Guyana maintained that nothing in the text of Article IV of the Geneva Agreement, which provides a menu of options, supports Venezuela’s interpretation.

“Nor is Venezuela correct in arguing that, as it has recently asserted, the controversy must be resolved exclusively by friendly negotiations, a claim that is belied by the express terms of the Geneva Agreement and contemporaneous statements by the parties during its negotiation and ratification,” the Foreign Ministry said.

Guyana was keen on pointing out that efforts over more than half-a-century, including a four-year Mixed Commission (1966-1970), a 12-year moratorium (19701982), a seven-year process of consultations on a means of settlement (1983-1990), and a 27-year Good Offices Process under the UN Secretary-General’s authority (1990-2017), have all failed to end the controversy.

Guyana is optimistic that the ICJ will bring an end to the controversy.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, June 30, 2020

GECOM will not challenge Court of Appeal ruling …says will abide by CCJ’s decision

GECOM Chairman, Justice (Ret’d) Claudette Singh

CHAIRMAN of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Justice (Ret’d) Claudette Singh has taken a back seat in the case filed by the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) at the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) challenging the Court of Appeal’s decision that Article 177 (2) (b) of the Constitution requires that the election of a President be made on the basis of valid votes cast.

On Sunday (June 28), Justice Singh, through her attorney, Kim Kyte-Thomas, informed the CCJ that she will not be actively participating in the case. “Please bring to the attention of the Honourable Judges that, on further consideration, we do not wish to actively participate in the Appeal. In the circumstances, we do not wish to make any submission,” Kyte-Thomas said in a letter to CCJ’s Registrar and Marshal, Jacqueline Graham.

Justice Singh is the thirdnamed respondent in the case brought by the PPP/C’s General Secretary, Bharrat Jagdeo, and Presidential Candidate, Irfaan Ali. “We are a neutral party, and as usual will abide by the decision of the Court,” Kyte-Thomas told the Guyana Chronicle on Monday. North Sophia voter, Eslyn David; the Chief Elections Officer (CEO), Keith Lowenfield; the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM); and the Attorney-General, Basil Williams are among the other respondents in the case.

The Application for Special Leave filed by the PPP/C stemmed from a decision handed down by a panel of three judges in the Court of Appeal in the case, Eslyn David v the Chief Elections Officer and others. Among the reliefs sought by David was an interpretation of the words, “more votes are cast” in Article 177 (2) (b) of the Constitution, and the Court

of the Appeal, upon assuming jurisdiction, ordered that the words be interpreted to mean “more valid votes are cast.”

Before the Appellate Court handed down its decision, the Chair of GECOM, through her lawyer, argued that David’s application was misconceived, and should be struck out. Kyte-Thomas had argued that while Article 177 (4) clothes the Court of Appeal with a “narrow special exclusive” jurisdiction to hear and determine questions relative to the validity of an election of a President, such jurisdiction was limited to qualification and or the interpretation of the Constitution.

“The Court of Appeal is, therefore, not vested with original jurisdiction to hear questions on the interpretation of the Constitution outside of this narrow special jurisdiction. It is the High Court which is so vested,” Kyte-Thomas had submitted to the Appellate Court. It was

pointed out that Article 163 (1) (b) of the Constitution confers on the High Court the exclusive jurisdiction to determine the validity of an election. Kyte-Thomas had also argued that David was not necessarily seeking an interpretation of the Constitution, but rather of Order No. 60, the legal tool used by the Elections Commission to facilitate the 33-day National Recount in its quest to determine “a final credible count.”

But the Court of Appeal, by a 2-1 margin, ruled on June 22 that it had jurisdiction to interpret Article 177 (2) (b) as provided for in Article 177 (4). Article 177(4) of the Constitution states: “The Court of Appeal shall have exclusive jurisdiction to hear and determine any question as to the validity of an election of a President, in so far as that question depends upon the qualification of any person for election, or the interpretation of this Constitution; and any decision of that Court under this paragraph shall be final.”

SEPARATE AND DISTINCT High Court Judge, Justice Brassington Reynolds, who had formed part of the panel of judges in the Appellate Court, had explained that the exclusive jurisdiction of the High Court, under Article 163 of the Constitution, is separate and distinct from the exclusive jurisdiction granted to the Court of Appeal under Article 177 (4).

“The election petition process, as provided for under Article 163 and the National Assembly (Validity of Elections) Act, relates to the

election of a person to the National Assembly; it however does not replace the Court of Appeal’s exclusive jurisdiction as it relates to the election of a person to the office of the president,” Justice Reynolds had said, while noting that Article 177 (4) provides an avenue for anyone to question the election of a President on two limbs; qualification and or interpretation of the Constitution.

Notably, while GECOM Chair, through her Legal Counsel, had made submissions in the case, Eslyn David v the Chief Elections Officer, she did not actively partic-

in March. In both cases, she had offered a commitment to abide by the ruling of the Court as is being done now.

But the PPP/C, in maintaining its long-held position that the Court of Appeal has no jurisdiction to hear the case brought by David, applied for special leave to appeal the Appellate Court’s decision at the level of the CCJ. However, David’s battery of lawyers, with the backing of the Attorney-General, has asked the CCJ to refuse the application on the basis that under

Attorney-at-Law Kim Kyte-Thomas

ipate in the election cases brought by Reeaz Holladar and Ulita Moore in the High Court and Court of Appeal

Article 177 (4), the decision of the Court of Appeal on the election of a President is final.

Min. Holder lauds contributions of fisherfolk to national development

GUYANA on Monday joined several countries across the world in celebrating International Fisherman (Fisherfolk)’s Day (IFD).

Minister of Agriculture, Noel Holder, in his address to the nation’s fishermen and women, said that while this year’s celebration was curtailed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, his Ministry acknowledges the hard-working

men and women who risk their lives to put food on Guyanese tables and contribute to the country’s economy.

“The Fisheries sector is a very important economic activity for our country, as it contributes over US$78M in export earnings, and employs over 15,000 persons directly and indirectly, boosting rural development. Moreso, it contributes to food nutrition and security, as a significant

percentage of the protein intake comes from fish and fish products,” Minister Holder said.

As such, he reassured the nation that the management of the Fisheries Department remains committed to the conservation and sustainable development of Guyana’s fisheries resource. “One such activity was done in collaboration with the Guyana Association of Trawlers Own-

ers & Seafood Processors (GATOSP), which led to the achievement of Marine Stewardship Council Certification for seabob. This certification means that we are practising sustainable fishing practices in this fishery,” he noted.

He disclosed that the Department is currently seeking to assist in improving the livelihood of small-scale fishermen and women through the Steward fish Project.

Additionally, in response to piracy attacks, the government has established a Commission of Inquiry to investigate the spate of piracy, Minster Holder highlighted.

The Minister is also working on finding solutions to the current challenges facing the fishing sector, such as climate change, the influx of sargassum weed, the decline in catch and marketing of products (price).

“The contributions from the nation’s fisherfolk have not gone unnoticed, and we continue to look at ways to assist the industry,” Minister Holder said.

International Fisherman (Fisherfolk)’s Day was established at the international conference on the development of fisheries, held in Italy in 1984. The day is celebrated annually on June 29.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, June 30, 2020

Crisis-hit Cuba calls on citizens to grow more food HAVANA (Reuters) - In the courtyard of a temple belonging to the Abakua Afro-Cuban religious brotherhood in Havana, Nelson Piloto is pulling up the lawn to plant bell peppers and cassava in the face of Cuba’s looming food crisis.

Piloto, 40, says he is responding to the Communist government’s call for citizens to produce more of their own food, including in big cities, in whatever spaces they can find, from backyards to balconies.

Standing across from two giant ceiba trees that are considered sacred by many in Cuba, the temple usually resounds with ceremonies involving drumming, animal sacrifices and dance. But it sits empty now, due to coronavirus lockdown restrictions on gatherings.

“I’m making the most of the earth,” said Piloto, leaning on his hoe.

Food security has lately risen to the top of the national agenda in Cuba, with countless news headlines and televised roundtable discussions dedicated to the topic.

“Cuba can and must develop its programme of municipal self-sustainability definitively, and with urgency, in the face of the obsessive and tightened U.S. blockade and the food crisis COVID-19 will leave,” José Ramón Machado Ventura, 89, deputy leader of the Cuban Communist Party, was quoted as saying by State-run media on Monday.

The Caribbean island imports roughly two-thirds of the food it consumes, at a cost of around $2 billion annually, in addition to key farming supplies like fertiliser, machinery and animal feed.

But imports have nosedived in recent years, as aid from close ally, Venezuela shrank following its economic implosion, and U.S. President Donald Trump tightened the half- century-old U.S. trade embargo.

That led first to shortages of imported food, and then to drops in national agricultural production. Output of Cuban staples like rice, tomatoes and pork fell 18%, 13% and 8% respectively last year, according to data released this month.

Tuesday June 30, 2020 –– 13:00hrs

so he could plant pumpkin, sweet potato, cassava, cucumber and chives.

“One of the things that is difficult to find these days is rice,” said the 61-year-old, who recently acquired five chickens and a cockerel, and wants to install rabbit cages next. “But root vegetables can replace rice.”

Nelson Piloto tending his garden last Thursday in Havana ( REUTERS/Alexandre Meneghini photo)

The coronavirus pandemic, which has paralysed the key tourism sector, has only exacerbated the situation.

“Today, we Cubans have two big worries: COVID-19 and food. Both kill. We are flooded with scarcity,” said Yanet Montes, 51, leaving a popular Havana agricultural market with just a few mangoes.

She and others said the availability of produce at

such markets was dwindling, with long lines for the most sought-after items like tarot root, sometimes starting at dawn.

1990s SURVIVAL LESSONS Leaders have appealed to Cubans to redeploy lessons learned during the so-called “Special Period”, the deep economic depression Cuba fell into after the 1991 collapse of former benefactor, the Soviet

Union.

Last year, they urged farmers to use oxen instead of tractors, due to fuel scarcity.

The premium placed on fuel savings is one reason planning departments are now looking to expand organic farming in urban and suburban areas, where goods can be sold directly.

Cuba became something of an organic farming pioneer in the 1990s, developing techniques like worm composting, soil conservation and the use of biopesticides to replace imported supplies and large-scale monoculture.

Havana now produces 18% of the agricultural produce it consumes, according to State-run media.

Communist Party activists are signing up in some provinces to do voluntary work in the fields, while authorities have distributed leaflets to neighbourhood leaders in towns and cities on expanding family farming.

In a residential neighbourhood in east Havana, Luis Ledesma asked his wife if he could tear up her flower beds

REFORM Some Cuba observers are cautiously hopeful the crisis will push the government to reform its agricultural model, which, like the rest of the economy, remains heavily centralised.

“Nothing good can come from the combination of monopoly of supplies, monopoly of distribution and distorted prices,” said Cuban economist Pedro Monreal.

The government has hinted recently at a possible reform of the vast State network responsible for purchasing and distributing most farm output, which has come under fire for wasting crops and disincentivising production.

Another Cuban economist, Omar Everleny, said the government should free farmers altogether from this monopoly, allowing them to find their own ways to sell produce and import their own equipment.

“I have the impression in the next few months we will see new reforms,” he said.

Come what may, some Cubans, like sustainable agriculture enthusiast Marnia Briones hope the country won’t lose the habits that have arisen from this and previous crises, which some have termed its “green revolution”.

“It’s great more people are planting, but it cannot just be when there is a crisis,” said the Havana-based artist. “It should be fomented as a healthier lifestyle for the whole of humanity.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, June 30, 2020

New COVID-19 hospital to be ready soon

-CMO impressed by work done so far

A frontal view of the COVID-19 facility

The well-arranged waiting area at the COVID-19 facility

WORK on the special Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) facility at the site of the formerly known Ocean View Hotel is moving apace, and will soon be completed, said Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Dr. Shamdeo Persaud.

With the country already recording over 230 cases of the disease to date, the completion of the facility will be timely and will aid in the incubation, treatment and containment of persons, who are infected by COVID-19.

Dr. Persaud, following a tour of the facility, on Monday, said he was pleased with the progress he has seen so far, and anticipates the facility’s completion “very soon.”

The idea to establish a special COVID-19 facility was put to government by the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organisation (PAHO/WHO) after a new study found that Guyana could have as many as 20,000 COVID-19 cases in a month.

The Ministry of Public Health, using the PAHO/ WHO method, had initially projected 1,400 cases, but a recent study done by PAHO/ WHO found that with every case, another 2.5 persons will be affected within five days if there is no partial lockdown, and if persons do not exercise effective social distancing.

“That 2.5, if I infect you, you infect 2.5 others and they infect another 2.5. Within a month we will get over 20,000; it’s a simple model but it makes a lot of sense,” said PAHO/WHO Resident Representative, Dr. William

Adu-Krow, in a previous News Room report.

And should this happen, Dr. Adu-Krow said, five per cent or 1000 of those infected would need intensive care, and Guyana simply does not have the capacity for this.

“With this new facility, we are looking to have centralised care…for now, the services offered will be based on the coronavirus, but as we get over the pandemic and move into other phases, we will probably modify the facility so we can handle any infectious disease that may arise.

“But, right now the plan is to handle three categories of persons: those who are infected and are suffering from signs and symptoms of the disease; those who are infected but remain asymptomatic; and those in quarantine, awaiting results,” said Dr. Persaud.

The facility will be up-tostandard with international regulations and criteria, especially standards regarding the control of infectious diseases.

Even in the construction phase, Dr. Persaud said persons have been working according to prescribed international guidelines and standards, all of which are aimed at protecting persons who utilise the facility.

“From what I’ve seen, progress of the work has been commendable because they completely transformed the facility to where it is now… the quality of work is good so far,” said the CMO. There were a few modifications along the way, but Dr. Persaud said he was content and is confident that the facil-

ity will deliver the intended services efficiently. The facility has an operating room, isolation rooms, laundry rooms, kitchen and other necessary elements.

The CMO hinted that the well-equipped facility is here to stay, even after COVID-19 would have faded. And, it will be modified as time goes by, to cater for other infectious disease.

There will always be a role for the facility because the environment is suited to treat infectious diseases.

“The systems here will ensure that the air in this facility is always clean… so I could see a broader role for it with other infection control programmes,” said Dr. Persaud, adding that it is likely that specialist doctors and nurses will be stationed at the facility, as authorities aim to make it a “centre of excellence.”

Even its geographic location is a plus because compared to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (COVID-19), which is located in the heart of this city, this facility is just on the outskirt of the “hustle and bustle.”

While the work is efficient and the facility is expected to produce the required results, Construction Consultant, Orin Boyce said the contractors faced some challenges with regard to logistics, but the collaborative spirit of the team made the work “easier.”

He said a facility of that magnitude would take at least six months, but they were able to consolidate the work and efforts to make it a reality in just three months.

Contractors moving apace to complete the facility soon

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, June 30, 2020

Calls for conceding and the CEO report

SOMETHING happened that has apparently brought us closer to the end of the current electoral road. After the Court of Appeal made its landmark ruling on Monday last, the Chief Election Officer, Keith Lowenfield, dispatched his report to the Elections Commission based on a calculation of the valid votes cast at the election. That report gives the APNU+AFC Coalition a slim but clear majority (33 seats) over the PPP (31 seats).

Shortly after the tabling of the report, the CCJ granted an injunction blocking GECOM from making a declaration of the winner of the election.

However, crucially, the report was already submitted. So, when lawyers for the PPP sought to get the CCJ to invalidate the report on the grounds that it flouted the CCJ’s injunction, the court promptly said no. It reasoned that what was done before the injunction cannot be interfered with by the court. PPP executive Mr. Anil Nandlall then dispatched a letter to GECOM’s Chair, almost ordering her to reject Mr. Lowenfield’s report. This was followed by a string of statements from CARICOM, the OAS, the Commonwealth, the ABCE countries

slamming the CEO’s report and demanding that GECOM declare the winner based on what they termed the certified votes of the recount.

The report that they are referring to is the one that was previously turned in by Mr. Lowenfield in which he said he could only ascertain the credibility of 40% of the votes cast and suggested that he could not come to a decision on who won the election. This report was rejected by the Chair of GECOM and the PPP Commissioners. The Chair then ordered the CEO to prepare a report based on both credible and non-credible votes. It was this order that prompted Eslyn David to move to the court, which then ruled that a president can only be elected based on valid votes.

The fact is that once the CEO turned in his report as he is mandated to by the constitution, then any previous report becomes null and void. Mr. Lowenfield has performed his constitutional duty and that cannot be undone by demands from the diplomatic community, the PPP, and its allies. As APNU+AFC Campaign Chairman, Joseph Harman, reasoned about these demands, “It really comes from a

narrative which has been overtaken by time and, in view of a report submitted by the Chief Elections Officer to the Commission showing that Mr. Granger’s coalition, APNU+AFC, with a majority of the valid votes cast after the recount so there you have it, a report in the Elections Commission showing all the valid votes and still people are calling for Mr. Granger to concede.

Concede to what? Concede to who? What is he to concede to?”

Mr. Harman is correct. The PPP and others are calling on the winner to concede to the losers. Is that the democracy they have been preaching about? They had a chance to accept Lowenfield’s assessment contained in his first report and annul the elections for want of credibility. But they said no. They argued that Lowenfield had overstepped his mandate and demanded that he prepare a report showing a clear winner.

Now that his second report did exactly that under the guidance of the Court of Appeal, they are asking him to flout the law.

They now charge him with insubordination and are urging the GECOM chair to reject his latest report. But the chair does not have that authority. As she had to the

APNU+AFC, she must now tell the PPP that they must take their case to the Elections court in the form of a petition. For his part, Mr. Lowenfield has made clear he has no intention to withdraw his report.

He points to the fact that his actions are grounded in the law.

According to the CEO, in response to an article in another section of the media: “The contents of the Stabroek News article suggests that the CEO must only act as the Commission instructs and flout the Constitutional requirements. At all times, I have acted in conformity with the laws and therefore my action cannot be ‘seen as clear act of insubordination’ as articulated in the ill-informed Stabroek News article… I have taken note of the guidance of the Court of Appeal in Eslyn David v Chief Elections Officer et al in the preparation of my Report under Section 96 of the Representation of the People Act and providing advice as required by Article 177 (2) (b) of the Constitution of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana.”

Guyanese, remain resilient , resolute as we await GECOM’s final declaration Dear Editor KINDLY permit me space in your letter column to publish this letter.

As a citizen of this beloved country, I have been following all the events leading up to and after the March 2, 2020 Regional and General Elections.

I wish to remind my Guyanese brothers and sisters that since May 2015, when the coalition took office, we have witnessed sustained efforts by the PPP/C aimed at disrupting the work of government; the opposition PPP/C was not willing to respect the will of the elec-

torate. Failing in the first two years to render the country ungovernable, they crafted by betrayal a no-confidence motion with the lure of 30 pieces of silver, or rather, gold. on this occasion.

It is now approximately 114 days since Guyanese went to the polls to elect a government and the electoral process has not yet been concluded. These elections have been tainted by allegations of irregularities and a recount was commissioned under a “Gazetted Order”, to determine a final credible count.

This final, credible count was in accordance with said Order, to be determined from

a four-stage process through Recount, Report, Review and Ratification. Guyanese were disappointed when the CARICOM team submitted a report after examining only 18% of the total ballot boxes and deemed the process “reasonably credible.” The question still remains, what is reasonably credible?

The Court of Appeal has already ruled, confirming what all right-thinking Guyanese knew all along, that votes must be valid to be counted. The PPP/C has since approached the CCJ under the pretext of jurisdiction to have non-valid votes counted. Since the matter is still

under judicial consideration, I will comment no further in this regard, but rather await the ruling of the CCJ. Having learnt of the premature statements attributed to our esteemed comrades; Chairman of CARICOM and PM of Barbados, the Hon. Mia Motley and Hon. Ralph Gonsalves of St Vincent and the Grenadines I am disappointed. The electoral process is not yet concluded and more so the subject to legal proceedings, so impartial arbiters should not by their utterances seek to prejudice the outcome.

I wish to remind that the recount initiative was

proposed by H.E. President David Granger to provide a credible count that reflected the will of the people. This initiative must operate within the legal framework of the constitution and respect the role of GECOM and the rulings of the Supreme Court.

H.E. President David Granger has maintained throughout the electoral process that he will abide by the Constitution of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, the decisions of the elections commission and the ruling of the Supreme Court.

I call on all foreign actors, now enamoured by the bright prospects of our

dear Guyana, who consider only their interests, who silently observed the atrocities for 23 years prior to 2015 to resolve on this occasion to act impartially and let the electoral process conclude. I therefore call on all Guyanese to remain resilient and resolute as we await the final declaration from GECOM. Let us stand together as we seek to defend and protect our sovereignty.

Regards Annette Ferguson

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, June 30, 2020

Travis Chase’s vehicle set ablaze

A SUSPECTED arson has rendered three vehicles parked in the compound of the Ministry of Public Service out of commission, among them the Honda CRV belonging to local television journalist Travis Chase.

When the Guyana Chronicle caught up with Chase, who lives nearby, and was at the scene of the fire, he said that he usually parks his vehicle in the compound of the Ministry at Vlissengen Road and Durban Street for security purposes.

In addition to Chase’s vehicle, which he’s had for

just about two months, three other vehicles were destroyed due to the fire, one of which is a minibus belonging to the Ministry, while another is a motorcar belonging to one of the Ministry’s drivers. A privately-owned motorcycle was also damaged in the fire.

Chase said the incident reportedly occurred sometime around 02:45hrs, but he only learnt about it when a female security guard who was on duty at the time called telling him to come quickly.

He said: “At 02:45 hrs, I got a call from a female security guard who was shouting. I was asleep when she

Three of the four vehicles destroyed by the fire (Photos by Delano Williams)

What’s left of Chase’s vehicle

called; I then got dressed, came downstairs and ran across. When I ran into the compound, thinking something major was happening, I noticed a small fire on the dashboard. I then rang the Fire Service, and they took forever to come. If they had come early, none of the other vehicles would have been

burnt.”

He said that by time the firemen did get there, it was all over. He said, however, that although they were unable to save the vehicles that were housed under the shed, they were able to prevent a further catastrophe.

Chase told the Guyana Chronicle that although he

has been threatened several times in the past for his work as a journalist, he cannot say for certain that this attack has anything to do with his job.

Chase, who also serves as Executive Director of a gold mining company stated that in February 2019, someone had slashed the tyres of his Nissan Dualis,

a matter which is currently under investigation by the police. The GPF has stated that it is currently utilising its resources to conduct an investigation into the destruction of the vehicles that were housing in the building, and will be working on finding the perpetrators of the crime.

Undoubtedly there was electoral fraud perpetrated by persons not yet named Dear Editor, AN almost unbelievable feature of human experience is the failure by intelligent leaders to understand their own history.

This lack of knowledge and inability to make appropriate connections with the present has been a serious weakness. This has allowed many to traverse a path of sheer folly and often contrary to their own self-interest and the welfare of the people that they have been elected to serve.

In all of this we find that individuals tend to speak on behalf of groups who have neither been consulted, nor given those who now seek the right to speak on their behalf.

For me, it is both sad and worrisome to hear a handful of past and current CARICOM leaders express

their views on the Guyana 2020 General and Regional Elections.

First, when we occupy positions of authority and leadership, before making a pronouncement we should be seized of all the relevant facts before making public statements as we have noted from the likes of Dr. Ralph Gonsalves of St. Vincent; Bruce Golding of Jamaica, purportedly speaking for OAS and now of all people, Mia Mottley Prime Minister of Barbados.

One cannot help being reminded of the popular West Indian talk about yard-fowls and yelping mongrels ignoring the accepted fact that CARICOM constitutes a family with strong enough ties to earn the respect of citizens, particularly our youths within the Region and beyond.

In a few days’ time, we will celebrate the 55th anniversary of a glorious moment in West-CARICOM history. Three Caribbean giants and super-patriots met at Dickinson Bay in Antigua in the first week of July, 1965 and signed the CARIFTA Agreement, the fore-runner of CARICOM. I refer to Errol (Dipper) Barrow, Vere Cornwall Bird, and Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham, Premiers of Barbados, Antigua and British Guiana, respectively.

These three giants intended to set the stage to avoid any form of fragmentation and discord. What we noted recently in statements and references to our 2020 elections must have caused these visionaries to turn in their graves.

They and subsequent Caribbean leaders understood

that the decent thing to do was to listen and learn from your counterparts and not as was observed, to lecture to a colleague.

With regard to Golding, Mottley and Gonsalves, they must follow rules of engagement.

If they deem it necessary to pontificate and therefore meddle in the internal affairs of a fellow CARICOM state, they should do so only after being aware of all and I stress all of the relevant factors.

They should at least try to ascertain all of the facts or as they have done, to recite the story of the PPP to at least make public their very close relationship with the opposition party and its leadership.

Further, the hallmark of civility within the comity of nations and the enhancement of the core concept of decency and fair-play is to seek

information from all sides and examine all the issues carefully before one rushes to judgment. Failing to do this is either a sign of prejudice or immaturity. It is unbelievable that the architects of CARICOM followed by the likes of Dr. Eric Williams and Norman Manley et al, before saying unkind things about the other, would have utilised dialogue before making public pronouncements and would have resisted this banal public attack on the David Granger administration.

Statements which represent the views of the opposition PPP. They say a leopard never changes its spots. Are these leaders aware that left to the PPP hierarchy there will have been no CARICOM and if there was, it would remind us in Guyana that it was the PPP leadership in Guyana

that did everything to scuttle a Caribbean union, which included Guyana.

Reasons, for certain groups in Guyana having little enthusiasm for us being part of CARICOM is no secret.

I hope therefore that our Caribbean brothers and sisters would listen, learn and therefore appreciate the gut and underlying issues.

On a related matter, we see inappropriate statements by certain diplomats and local organisations.

I believe that the expressed views are personal and not necessarily those of their governments. In this regard, I was glad to read the statement made by President David Granger with regard to relations with the United States of America.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, June 30, 2020

'Constitution cannot be treated with idle disregard'

extent of the inconsistency, be void.”

While the CCJ has not accepted jurisdiction to hear the appeal being sought by Ali and Jagdeo, it has agreed to hear submissions on the issues of jurisdiction, the application for special leave and the substantive matter before making a determination.

Meanwhile, in answering the question of whether the Court of Appeal had jurisdiction to entertain the Motion filed by Eslyn David, the Attorney General submitted that the Court of Appeal correctly established jurisdiction to determine the relief sought by the appellant. He iterated that Article 177 (4) grants that the Court of Appeal exclusive jurisdiction to hear and determine any question as to the validity of the election of a President in so far as that question depends upon the qualification of any person for election or the interpretation of the Constitution. He said it was under that section of Article 177 that the Appellate Court offered its interpretation of the Constitution.

Oral arguments in the case will be heard virtually on Wednesday, July 1, 2020 by a panel of judges led by CCJ’s President, Justice Adrian Saunders.

…AG tells CCJ, maintains that PPP/C’s appeal cannot be heard due to lack of jurisdiction

By Svetlana Marshall ATTORNEY General, Basil Williams, in maintaining that the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) has no jurisdiction to entertain the application filed by the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) challenging the Court of Appeal’s interpretation of the Constitution, said the Constitution is supreme, and therefore cannot be outweighed by an Act. By a 2-1 margin, the Court of Appeal, on June 22, ordered that the words “more votes are cast” in Article 177 (2) (b) of the Constitution be interpreted to mean “more valid votes are cast” in a case brought by Eslyn David – a North Sophia voter. The ruling of the Appellate Court, in its original jurisdiction under Article 177 (4), in effect, stipulates that the election of a President must be on the basis of valid votes. In objection, the PPP/C, through its General Secretary, Bharrat Jagdeo and Presidential Candidate, Irfaan Ali, moved to the CCJ, seeking special leave to appeal the Court of Appeal’s decision but the Attorney General – the fifth named respondent – believes the CCJ has no jurisdiction to hear the case.

In his written submission to CCJ on Sunday (June 28), the Attorney General said the decisions of the Court of Appeal made under Article 177 (4) are final as indicated by the Constitution, which ousts all other courts including the Caribbean Court of Justice.

He submitted that while Parliament, under Article 123 of the Constitution, established the CCJ as Guyana’s final Appellate Court with the enactment of the Caribbean Court of Justice Act, the court’s jurisdiction is limited.

In support of his argument, the Attorney General pointed to Section 4 (3) of the Caribbean Court of Justice Act, which states that “Nothing in this Act shall confer jurisdiction on the Court to hear matters in relation to any decision of the Court of Appeal which at the time of entry into force of this Act was declared to be final by any law.”

“It is submitted that Section 4 (3) preserves the jurisdiction of the Court of Appeal and has overriding effect over any other provision in the CCJ Act. Through the use of the words ‘Nothing in this Act shall confer jurisdiction on the Court…’ the Parliament of Guyana saved the law which speaks to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Court of Appeal

and reaffirmed the Court of Appeal as the only Court to adjudicate on those matters stated in Article 177 (4),” Williams told the Court.

He explained that while the Caribbean Court of Justice Act clothes the CCJ with both an original and appellate jurisdiction, the exclusive jurisdiction of the Court of Appeal is preserved under Section 4 (3) with regards to cases brought under Article 177 (4). From all indication, he said the decisions made by the Court of Appeal under Article 177 (4) of the Constitution are final.

In support of his position, the Attorney General referenced to Thornton’s Legislative Drafting (5TH Edition) and Halsbury’s Laws of England/Statutes and Legislative Process (Volume 96).

“Section 4 (3) of the CCJ Act is a saving provision, the intention of which is to narrow the effect and general operation of the CCJ Act in order to preserve the existing jurisdiction conferred on the Court of Appeal under Article 177 (4) of the Constitution from its general operation,” Williams further submitted, noting that the intention of Parliament is unambiguous.

He noted that while Sections 6 and 8 of the Caribbean Court of Justice Act, deal

Attorney General Basil Williams, SC.

with matters of procedures with respect to the appeals to the Court, those sections are subject to Section 4 (3) which is the substantive provision under the rubric of the “Jurisdiction of the Court.”

Further to that, the Attorney General ruled out the notion that Section 26 of the Caribbean Court of Justice Act can be relied on to confer jurisdiction on the CCJ in the case brought by Ali and Jagdeo.

“This section requires all laws, including the Constitution, in force immediately before the commencement of this Act, to be interpreted in a manner consistent with the provisions of this Act. Additionally, Section 26 is also subject to Section 4 (3) and cannot therefore confer on this Honourable Court any jurisdiction that has been

ousted by Section 4 (3),” he reasoned.

Importantly, the Attorney General submitted that Section 26 of the Caribbean Court of Justice Act cannot modify the Constitution – the supreme law of the land.

While Section 26 (1) of the Caribbean Court of Justice Act identifies the CCJ as Guyana’s final appellate court, Williams submitted that the Constitution is supreme and cannot be overruled by an Act. “Accordingly, as stated in Article 8 of the Constitution, where there is any inconsistency between Section 26 and the Constitution, the Constitution will prevail,” he told the Court.

Article 8 states: “This Constitution is the supreme law of Guyana and, if any other law is inconsistent with it, that other law shall, to the

Undoubtedly there was electoral fraud...

I believe similar sentiments can be expressed with regard to Canada, the EU, India, China, Russia, Central America including Cuba, countries of Latin America, South America and Africa.

From the time of independence, Guyana has always sought to maintain cordial and fruitful relations with all countries.

Therefore, when one witnesses the behaviour of Ms. Lilian Chatterjee, the present Canadian High Commissioner, it is worrisome.

Ms. Chatterjee should appreciate that being an

Indian in a racially polarised society, the good lady ought to have exercised more diplomatic finesse and be careful with the company she keeps in Guyana. But does she know better?

May I hasten to add this caveat: there are many Indians and Indo-Guyanese whom I considered decent, unbiased and being genuine patriots.

In this regard, the time has come to remind leaders of organisations, such as FITUG, Chambers of Commerce, the Private Sector Commission, sections of the media, certain diplomats and others that it is this bias

and intolerance that led to the tragedy of slavery, the two World Wars and the many proxy conflicts and coups and the killing of George Floyd in the US, which have tarnished the existence of what we deem to be a civilized society.

I call upon these representatives of international, regional and local organisations to avail themselves of all the factors related to the 2020 Elections.

For example, whether it is in North America, Europe or anywhere else, elections are not the business of Saints or Sisters-of-Mercy.

In Guyana with oil and

other opportunities, the stakes for the 2020 elections were the highest in our history and the recount showed that some friends as we say in Guyana, ‘try a thing,’ When we do that and we are caught with our pants down, we accept it and move on.

If you begin a journey where conditions allow for manipulation, the road then is rocky and rough.

Stanley Ming has provided us with figures, which show the absurdity of the figures and those friends who now speak should ask why it is that the PPP, unhappily supported by sec-

tions of the judiciary did not wish to have house-to-house registration completed and to have elections with a list of electors that was pure and credible.

These persons above should ask why the PPP was anxious to contest the elections using a bloated list of electors.

If those who now speak could get and answer that question, we can have a healthy conversation and the question is quite clear : why did you want to go ahead with a bloated list? Once you go to an election with a bloated list, you open the floodgates for skulduggery

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and electoral fraud and let those persons ask the PPP why they were anxious to go to elections with such a list and resisted the completion of a house-to-house registration.

At this point in time, I am not interested in who were the purveyors of skulduggery and electoral fraud. With observations made during the recount established beyond the shadow of a doubt that there was electoral fraud perpetrated by persons not yet named.

Regards Hamilton Green

I’m very confident’

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, June 30, 2020

---President Granger says elections results will be close

…urges citizens to await ruling of CCJ, declaration by GECOM NEW YORK, Jun 29, CMC – GUYANA’s President David Granger on Monday declined to criticise his Caribbean Community (CARICOM) colleagues over the disputed March 2 regional and general elections in his country, saying that “it’s premature for anybody to make a declaration.

“Nobody has won, nobody has lost; I will not criticise Prime Minister [Mia] Mottley,” Granger told the Caribbean News Agency (CMC), referring to the Barbados’s Prime Minister, who is also chairperson of the 15-member regional integration grouping. “I know the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago Dr. [Keith] Rowley, the Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines [Dr. Ralph Gonsalves] made statements. We’re colleagues, we’re friends; they were here [in Georgetown] and they have the best interest of Guyana.”

Granger said that he has “tremendous respect” for Mottley, who, along with four regional leaders visited Guyana in March as the country awaited the official results of the elections. Mottley last Wednesday in a statement said, “Many of us have observed with great sadness what has been transpiring in Guyana. It is more than 100 days since the people of Guyana went to the polls and yet there is no declared result.

From the very beginning, we

President David Granger

have been clear and said consistently that every vote must count and every vote must be made to count in a fair and transparent way.”

But she added that, “Regrettably, we have seen a level of gamesmanship that has left much to be desired and has definitely not portrayed our Caribbean Region in the best light. This is definitely not our finest hour, and we must not shy away from that reality,” said the CARICOM chair, adding that CARICOM “is concerned at reports that the chief elections officer has submitted a report to

the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), which is contrary to the directions given by the commission and which does not reflect the results of the recount process as certified by the very staff of the Guyana Elections Commission and witnessed by representatives of the political parties.”

Granger told CMC that it was “premature to speak of the outcome of the process,” pointing out that the process “calls for four parts, including the validity of the votes. “Some observers feel it’s just recounting, but it has

to be validated, followed by a report. It’s premature for any declaration before the three stages are completed. No declaration has been made.

This is 119 days, 17 weeks exactly from the time of participating in the general elections. The sequence is logical – no rules have been broken,” Granger said. “I don’t want to advise my [CARICOM] colleagues – all five of them were here. I will just ask that they wait on the chairman [of GECOM] and ask them to have patience.

Only the chairman [retired Justice Claudette Singh] can

make a declaration. She has enormous powers, and I’m satisfied with her ability.

I’m confident GECOM will be able to complete its work and make a declaration,” he added.

Granger said as part of the verification process, “numerous abnormalities and anomalies have come to light. It came to my attention that ballots were cast for people who were dead or living overseas; some ballot boxes were opened with no supporting documentation,” he said.

“What is happening is that

the chief elections officer has been able to observe the abnormalities. The question under the law is the validity of the votes – not the totality of the votes. “The criticism levelled at my government is misplaced. I can’t accept the criticism.

It’s a legitimate process. I have full confidence in the commission.” The main opposition People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) claimed it has won the elections, based on the recount that ended on June 9. But Granger’s ruling coalition, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), maintained that there were too many anomalies and irregularities and wanted the polls annulled. The Trinidad and Tobago-based Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), Guyana’s highest court, last Wednesday issued an order that would continue to put on hold the Court of Appeal’s ruling regarding the disputed elections. The CCJ will this Wednesday begin hearing arguments about whether it has jurisdiction to hear the appeal filed by Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo and the PPP/C presidential candidate Irfaan Ali, in relation to the Court of Appeal‘s ruling. “I’m very confident that the effort of the coalition will result in our favour. But let me say, the elections will be close, but I don’t expect a landslide.”

Nigel Hughes says CCJ has no jurisdiction in elections case PROMINENT Attorney-at-Law, Nigel Hughes has joined the list of legal minds who have pointed to Guyana’s Constitution and the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) Act to show that the Court, legally, has no jurisdiction over the Guyana Elections matter.

Speaking with the National Communication Network (NCN) on Monday, Hughes commented on the application by the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) for Special Leave to appeal the Court of Appeal’s decision that the election of a President must be

on the basis of valid votes. He pointed the public to Article 177 (4) of the Constitution, which states: “The Court of Appeal shall have exclusive jurisdiction to hear and determine any question as to the validity of an election of a President in so far as that question depends upon the qualification of any person for election or the interpretation of this Constitution; and any decision of that Court under this paragraph shall be final.”

He also highlighted Section (4) of the Caribbean Court of Justice Act which limits the appellate jurisdiction of the

Attorney-at-Law, Nigel Hughes

Court. With the case set to come before the CCJ on July

1, 2020, for which written submissions have been submitted

on the issue of jurisdiction and oral submissions are expected, Hughes said that it is likely that the CCJ will zero in on the words, ‘exclusive’ and ‘final’ as stated plainly within Guyana’s Constitution.

“I want to be clear that this is not regular legislation; this is the Constitution, so, I believe that the CCJ will spend a lot of time on ‘exclusive’ and on ‘final’ because courts tend not to want to test us. Even in their expansive interpretations of various rights so that they expand human rights, they probably tend not to want to be perceived as encroaching

where the clear expressed intent of the people expressed in the Constitution had a different view,” the Attorney stated.

The case was filed by Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, and PPP/C Presidential Candidate, Irfaan Ali, and the court has agreed to accept written and oral submissions on the issue of jurisdiction, the application for special leave, and on the substantive matter simultaneously. It will, however, make a determination on the issue of its jurisdiction before ruling on any other matter.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, June 30, 2020

Godfrey Bess takes charge of GDF …as Brigadier Patrick West goes into retirement

PRESIDENT and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, David Granger, has granted approval to Chief of Staff of the Guyana Defence Force, Brigadier Patrick West to proceed on accumulated leave with effect from Wednesday and has simultaneously appointed Colonel Godfrey Bess to perform the functions of chief-of-staff, the Ministry of the Presidency said in a release.

Brigadier West’s accumulated leave will conclude in March 2021, at which point Bess would be appointed substantively as chief-of-staff. In addition to Bess’ appointment, President Granger has also approved the appointments of: Colonel Trevor Bowman, Inspector General; Colonel Sherwin Anderson, Quartermaster General; and Colonel Raul Jerrick, Adjutant General with effect from 1st July 2020.

The Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces extends best wishes to Brigadier West for his service as an officer in the Defence Force since

Outgoing Chief-of-staff, Brigadier Patrick West

1985. Brigadier West, 54, served as the country’s 10th Chief of Staff. He expressed gratitude to President Granger and the Defence Board for both “specific and general direction” which he said has helped to shape the course of effective transformation within the Force, while at the same time developing the concept of Total National

Acting Chief-of-staff, Colonel Godfrey Bess

Defence.

“I am certain that the momentum of the Force at this stage can see the seeds of transformation which were sown coming to fruition in another few years, he said as he thanked his predecessors for their efforts. Brigadier West is the holder of a Master of Science Degree in Administration from the

Constitutional Reform: A change Agent

By Dillon Goring GUYANA as a nation has been through numerous changes in its political landscape in recent times There is the belief that the antedote for Guyana‘s problems is not electoral votes but a constitutional reform plan.

Guyana’s Prime Minister Moses V. Nagamootoo, while performing the role of President in October 24, 2017, expressed the view that the United Nations and its sister organisations were working with the Guyana Government to aid in constitutional reform .

Guyana’s constitution is an arrangement of fundamental principles that governs the state. Constitutional reform seeks to modify some fundamental structures of these principles. The 1980 Constitution was reformed and the changes are enshrined in the revised supreme law in 2001.

The administration’s drive for constitutional reform began in June 2017 when Prime

Minister Nagamootoo read the Constitutional Reform Consultative Commission Bill 2017 on July 27 for the first time in the National Assembly.

There must be inclusivity of all nationalities and full support of all ethnicities of Guyana’s political situation will see a solution, Prime Minister Nagamootoo posited recently.

In 2019 there was a conservative effort by the coalition administration to educate the populace about constitutional reform, thus making citizens aware of their rights and freedoms.

The exercise was also done to make citizens, especially young people, more responsible while exercising their rights and freedoms.

Presentation of the Constitutional Reform Bill to the National Assembly back in July of 2017, paved the way for a successful constitutional reform process, and thus meaningful dialogue, negotiations and compromise with the opposition and with citizens.

Constitutions provide the overarching legal framework which sets out the basis of the social contract between a state and its people affecting all aspects of policy and society.

They establish the institutions of government and their powers vis-à-vis each other and with and between the people.

Constitutions also provide the foundations on which governance and peace are built. To this end, it is essential that they belong to and have legitimacy and buyin of all segments of society.

Historically, constitutions were often drafted behind closed doors on the basis of negotiations between powerbrokers. However, in recent decades, there has been an important shift towards supporting participatory, inclusive and transparent constitutional-reform processes that build consensus around the shared vision to be enshrined in the national constitution.

Central Michigan University, USA, a Master of Military Arts and Science from the Command and General Staff College, USA, a Bachelor of Science Degree in Public Management and a Diploma in Public Management from the University of Guyana.

“I think Colonel Bess will have a very good foundation going forward,” Brigadier

West said while describing his time in the military as “very good.” Brigadier West is the recipient of the Military Service Star, Military Efficiency Medal, and the Border Defence Medal, among others.

Meanwhile, 51-year old Colonel Godfrey Bess said it is an honour to have been bestowed with the honour of serving as Chief of Staff of the Defence Force. He thanked President Granger and the Defence Board for the opportunity to serve while Brigadier West proceeds on his accumulated leave. Colonel Bess also thanked Brigadier West whom he has worked with over the last three years on what he termed the consolidation and stabilisation period of the GDF. “Brigadier West’s leadership has been admirable. I have learnt a lot from him. The vision is clear and indeed what I need to do with my team is follow the vision,” Colonel Bess said, noting that “the path is clear and I will follow that path.”

Colonel Bess who started his military career in 1990 served in Command, Administrative, Staff and Training appointments

throughout the GDF. He said his professional education was supported by the compulsory professional military education of the Guyana Defence Force which included the Senior and Junior Command and Staff Courses and Managing Security in Wider Defence Context. Colonel Bess has been serving as Quarter Master General since January 1, 2018. He has been responsible for ensuring that the GDF is well resourced to carry out its mandate in any terrain.

He has received military training from the Colonel Ulric Pilgrim Officer Cadet School- Guyana, the United States of America Military Police School- Alabama, the Caribbean Junior Command and Staff School- Jamaica and the Shrivenham Defence College, United Kingdom. Colonel Bess is the holder of a Bachelor of Social Science Degree in Business Management and Level Two Association of Chartered Certified Accountants.

City Mayor, CIOG call for swift swearing in of elections winners THE Central Islamic Organisation of Guyana (CIOG) and the Mayor of Georgetown have separately called on the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to fulfil its constitutionally mandated duty and declare the winner of the 2020 elections as soon as the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) has made its ruling.

In a statement Monday, the CIOG President Shahabudeen Ahmad said Guyanese citizens have demonstrated admirable restraint and patience while the electoral process and its results have been subjected to many stages of overview and review prior to verification.

“After intense scrutiny, the CARICOM observer team declared that they were of the “unshakeable belief that the people of Guyana expressed their will at the ballot box on March 2.” To the great credit of our nation, all International and CARICOM observers have vouched that Guyana’s 2020 electoral process was free, fair, and credible,” the CIOG said.

According to the CIOG,

the Guyanese people should be proud of this accomplishment, for when democracy wins, everyone wins. “Now it is time to honour and respect the will of the people as expressed by the majority of the electorate at the polls. It is time to move forward and work unitedly for the well-being and success of the entire nation. CIOG calls on the Guyana Police Force to uphold the rule of law in a responsible manner while simultaneously monitoring and addressing any inflammatory actions in order to serve and protect all Guyanese citizens.

Meanwhile, the Office of the Mayor of Georgetown also on Monday called for the swearing in of President David Granger and is endorsing the commencement of a second term for the APNU+AFC government. “The Office of the Mayor is of the firm belief that the APNU+AFC has won the March 02, 2020 polls based on the chief elections officer’s report of June 23, 2020, which was submitted in accordance with Section 96 of the Representation of the People Act and Article 177(2)(b) of the Con-

stitution of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana; taking into consideration the Order of the Court of Appeal in the Eslyn David v Chief Elections Officer, et al.”

According to the Mayor Ubraj Narine, the CEO’s report accounts for the valid votes cast in these elections and as such shows a clear win for the incumbent APNU+AFC government. In the light of this, the Mayor’s Office is calling on all stakeholders to accept the outcome of these elections.

Guyana needs to move forward and can only do so with the support of all Guyanese at all levels of government and society. Guyana remains a free and sovereign nation, holding all democratic principles and practices to the highest legal standard. It is necessary, now more than ever, for the day-to-day functions of the government to commence unhindered. The Guyanese people deserve, at least, this much.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, June 30, 2020

ERC roasts Shuman over disrespectful remarks against chairman

THE Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) has criticised Presidential Candidate of the Liberty and Justice Party, Lennox Shuman, for disparaging remarks he made against the chairman and the commission.

In a release Monday, the ERC said it undeniably supports an articulate and free press which contributes to the good tenets of a democratic nation. It said, too, that it embraces the right to criticise persons in public office; however, that freedom of expression is not an unfettered right. “It should not be exercised with a level of disparagement which exceeds criticising the conduct of those in public office and amounts to statements grounded in absolute falsehoods,” the ERC said.

To this end the Commission takes umbrage in individuals making libelous statements in their personal bid to generate confusion

book stream of the Kaieteur Radio show, made damning imputations of corruption by the Chairman of the Ethnic Relations Commission and

Lennox Shuman

in the interplay of politics and against the good will of the Commission. “Mr. Lenox Shuman, on 25 June, 2020, during a live Face-

by extension, the Commission in its entirety. His utterances have been reposted via social media numerous times and have exposed the

WHO finds…

Contact tracing ‘a useful tool’ in stemming spread of COVID-19

THE World Health Organisation (WHO) strongly suggests that countries make more use of contract tracing in the global fight against the spread of the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19).

“The single most important intervention for breaking chains of transmission is not necessarily high-tech, and can be carried out by a broad range of professionals. It is tracing and quarantining contacts,” says WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

He says that while stay-athome measures and lockdowns have succeeded in slowing the spread of the virus, the worse is yet to come, as the pandemic is speeding up, despite the progress that has been made in some countries.

Just recently, Director of the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO), Dr. Carissa Etienne was quoted as saying that Latin and Central America may very well have to grapple with the fallout occasioned by the pandemic over the next two years.

According to Dr. Tedros, “The critical question that all countries will face in the coming months is how to live with this virus… We will need even greater stores of resilience, patience, humility and generosity in the months ahead.”

To effectively stop the virus in its tracks, the WHO proposes that governments

WHO Director-General, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus

fight it on five fronts: 1: By way of community empowerment through knowledge and resources; 2: transmission suppression by training health workers and doing effective surveillance and contact tracing; 3: saving lives through early detection and providing the critically ill with dexamethasone treatment and oxygen; 4: accelerating research that can lead to finding a successful vaccine; and 5: Fostering national unity and global solidarity. Globally, the WHO said on Monday, COVID-19 cases stand at over ten million just one day before the six-month anniversary of the virus, with the virus being responsible for approximately 500,000 reported deaths so far.

This led Dr. Ghebreyesus Monday to call on governments and citizens the world

over to put all forms of politics aside, as division among the people of a country only lead to hindrance and all must focus on beating the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) as one people through national unity.

“The pandemic has brought out the best and the worst of humanity. All over the world, we have seen heart-warming acts of resilience… But we have also seen concerning signs of stigma, misinformation and the politicisation of the pandemic,” Dr. Ghebreyesus said, adding: “Even if we belong to different political parties, the citizens of any country are the same. So, whether we belong to the right or left, or we are the centre; what matters at the end of the day is that we do good for the people.

Even one life is important.”

(DPI)

ERC to hatred, contempt and ridicule. Such an attack against the Commission is defamatory in nature. Any reasonable person hearing the words uttered by Shuman would come to the conclusion that his proclamations have brought the integrity of the Commission into disrepute,” ERC said in the statement Monday.

According to the ERC, the statements directed towards the Commission are not only untrue but the type of sensationalism which, during this tense election period, has had damaging repercussions against the execution of the constitutional mandate of the Commission.

The Commission assures the public that it takes pride in operating in the interest of what is just and fair and it is a reflection of safeguarding

Chairman of ERC, Bishop John Smith

the concerns of all Guyanese. Its standard operational procedures exemplify impartiality and transparency.

The Investigative sub-committee of the Commission embodies a mixed panel of professionals representing diversity of race, religion, gender, age and even political affiliation. Decisions made

on behalf of the Commission are done collectively by the members of this panel and are not at the discretion of the Chairman of the Commission.

Any unwarranted attack against the functions of the Commission is viewed as an attack against the restoration of peace and stability for our people.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, June 30, 2020

‘All set for NGSA’ ---schools equipped with PPEs, sanitisation materials, adhering to COVID-19 prevention measures

By Lisa Hamilton THE Ministry of Education (MoE) has reported that Primary Schools across Guyana are prepared and well-equipped to facilitate the sitting of the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) Examination on July 1 and 2.

On Monday, the Guyana Chronicle visited several primary schools in the Georgetown area, and witnessed some of the final arrangements being put in place by teachers and ancillary staff.

In an invited interview with the newspaper, Senior Public Relations Officer (PRO) within the Ministry, Brushell Blackman said that the Superintendent of Examination has confirmed that plans remain on track for the exams in the 11 educational districts.

“Preparatory works, in terms of the sitting of the examinations, have been ongoing, and the Ministry of Education is well and surely on track in executing these examinations. Right across the regions, systems are being put in place to ensure the smooth running of the National Grade Six Assessment Examination and, subsequently, CSEC and CAPE,” Blackman said.

Following the MoE’s announcement of the exam dates for July, the Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU) had called on teachers countrywide to boycott the June 8 to August 15 re-opening of schools to cater for the preparation and subsequently the holding of the exams.

However, the PRO said that these calls were not adhered to by the majority of teachers, as they understand the importance of the examinations, even during the global pandemic. He said: “This didn’t impact the process, because, as you know, teachers have been turning out

to schools to work with the children, and, in addition to that, you have parents assisting with the process because they understand the importance of the children sitting this examination.”

The directive that they return to school for preparation had come through a gazetted Order signed by Minster of Education, Dr. Nicolette Henry. It included clear COVID-19 prevention guidelines to be followed by the MoE, Department of Education, Head Teachers, Mayor and City Councils/Town Councils, Parent Teacher Associations (PTAs), parents/ guardians and pupils.

spray-painted floor signage indicating to children the distance they should keep between themselves and their peers. At the North Georgetown Primary School, Head Teacher, Donette Munroe-Liverpool put on display the care packages that have already been handed over to the majority of the children. Its contents include four masks, hand sanitisers, a packet of wipes, a roll of toilet tissue, and a bar of soap. Blackman explained: “Aside from the children coming to sit the exams with their own masks, they have four additional masks on top of what they have as part of package. I’m happy to report MENU OF MEASURES that the Ministry of Education The measures outlined has adequate supplies of the in the Order catered for apnecessaries to ensure that our propriate sanitation stations, children are safe; to ensure including adequate water and the requisite cleaning at the soap, and bins with covers; requisite time, and to ensure adequate sanitation supplies that our children, teachers and such as bleach, soap powder those who are permitted to be and alcohol-based sanitisers; in the environs are properly floor signage, or markings inprotected.” dicating a physical distance of Our next stop was St. Sidapproximately six feet apart, well’s Primary, where cleanA Stella Maris Primary School pupil utilising and a designated sickbay or ing staff and teachers pointed the newly built handwashing area quarantine area that the newspaper to their is well-ventilated sickbay area, which and equipped with a was neatly prepared bed; first aid kit and in a child-friendly personal protective manner, along with gear to accommodate the required equipany student that is ment/materials. The suspected to be exOrder states that anyhibiting COVID-19 one who exhibits a symptoms. temperature greater Over at the than 100.4 degrees Stella Maris PriFahrenheit, or greater mary School, there than 38 degrees Celare freshly-built sius shall be prompthand-washing areas ly isolated in the catering to four chilsickbay area of the dren on each side. school, and screened The new handwashby emergency mediing facility is in adcal personnel. dition to another alMeanwhile, ready present at the desks and chairs institution. were seen to be sepAt certain loarated as required North Georgetown Primary’s Head Teacher, Donette Munroe-Liverpool cations in the comby the Ministry of handing over one of the care packages to a pupil pound, there are Public Health, with

The sickbay area set up at St. Sidwell’s Primary

Social distancing at St. Sidwell’s Primary

undistributed care packages placed on them catering for the July 1 arrival of the pupils.

Blackman told the newspaper that, as indicated in the Order, the Ministry of Education shall provide transportation to vulnerable children who reside outside of their catchment area. Added to this, the MoE will be implementing alternative methods to cater those affected directly by the COVID-19 pandemic, and are unable to sit the exams.

MECHANISMS IN PLACE “In situations where a child or children cannot sit that particular examination for one reason or the other, there are mechanisms in place because, obviously, you’ll have supplementary examinations prepared and there are other mechanism that can be utilised based on the judgement and the determination of the technical officers at the Ministry of Education. The Ministry will make a call based on the situation in its entirety,” he explained.

While exams amidst a pandemic is certainly a first for this Administration of the Ministry of Education, the PRO was pleased to note that parents have allowed their children to participate in the exams, fully aware that the MoE is doing its best to ensure the safety of all involved. He said: “Parents have not indicated otherwise that they would not be sending their children to sit the examination, so, in my opinion, I would believe that parents are going to send out their children as usual to sit the examination because of the importance of it as it is a placement examination which would put their children on that forward trajectory into their academic life.”

Additional cleaning supplies on display at St. Sidwell’s Primary (Adrian Narine photos)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, June 30, 2020

Miner pleads guilty to killing namesake

The building at Mabaruma which once housed the Cuban doctors engulfed in flames

Fire guts doctors’ quarters at Mabaruma

--investigators due today to launch probe FOUR Cuban doctors stationed at Mabaruma, in the North West District have been rendered homeless after the house in which they were staying was gutted on Monday morning.

Residents reported that the fire consumed the building within minutes, as they all looked on helplessly. But, thankfully, the doctors were all at work when the fire broke out.

Asked by the Guyana Chronicle to comment on the incident, Fire Chief Marlon Gentle disclosed that the fire reportedly broke out around 11:00hrs, and quickly engulfed the one-storey building. He said, too, that while up until the time of speaking with this newspaper, its origin was still unknown, a team of investigators was en route to Mabaruma, and is expected to arrive this afternoon to begin their in-

vestigations. Word is that the Guyana Fire Service is in the process of establishing a base at Mabaruma.

Due to the proliferation of fires here in the past few weeks, persons are starting to say that this is a new “epidemic” while remaining equally cautious because of the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Just last Saturday evening, a family of three perished in a fire at Cummings Lodge on the lower East Coast Demerara.

Given the sudden upsurge in fires across the country, Gentle said persons need to be conscious of their surroundings and practise basic fire-safety drills. “Some of the recent fires are basically carelessness, and some involve people setting fire to buildings, but we do not want to cause an alarm,” the Fire Chief said. “We have

been having our fair share of fires since this year started,” he lamented.

Just recently, a pensioner, one Mr. Dhanhiram Harcharan, lost his home when a two-storey building in Kingston went up in flames. Also, four persons were left homeless after a fire, suspected to be electrical in origin, gutted their home at Mocha Arcadia, East Bank Demerara, one week ago.

Early this month, a bodywork shop and at least one other building at Lusignan, on the East Coast Demerara, were destroyed by fire. Again, just last month, the former Morocco Hotel and another within the same compound at First Avenue, Bartica, were also destroyed by fire. Additionally, persons were left homeless after an early-morning fire ravaged their home at Lot

Son admits bludgeoning bedridden father to death FIVE years after an 83year -old bedridden man was bludgeoned to death at his Parker Street, Providence, East Bank Demerara home, his son on Monday confessed to the gruesome crime.

Alli Mohamed, 43, also of the same address was initially charged with the capital offence of murder.

However, he opted to plead guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter before High Court Judge Brassington Reynolds via zoom hearing on Monday.

He admitted that on January 13, 2015, he unlawfully

killed his father Mohamed Sulaymon.

The state was represented by prosecutors Teriq Mohammed and Tyra Backer, while Mohamed was represented by attorney-at-law Ravindra Mohabir.

The matter has been adjourned until July 20, 2020, for presentation of a probation report and sentencing.

Mohammed will remain on remand.

Alli Mohamed is a patient of Dr Bhiro Harry and is reportedly mentally ill, which causes him to behave violently.

On January 13, 2015, Alli

Mohamed reportedly flew in a fit of rage and refused to take his medication.

He armed himself with a piece of wood and attacked his sister which caused her to run out of the home.

The man then went into the bedroom where his father, who was bedridden since suffering a stroke, was and dealt the elderly man several lashes with the wood.

The elderly man was rushed to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre where he was referred to the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH). He subsequently died.

B-2, Bent Street, Wortmanville, back in April.

As the numbers continue to climb, authorities will have to be ever watchful, as the country reportedly recorded over 700 fires in 2019 alone.

IMRAN Daniels, a 25-yearold miner, allegedly fatally stabbed his drinking buddy during an argument at their Frenchman Backdam, Mabura, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Upper Berbice) campsite, and was initially charged with murder.

Daniels, of Hotoquai Village, North West District, however opted to plead guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter when he appeared before Demerara High Court Judge Justice Brassington Reynolds via a zoom hearing on Monday.

Imran admitted that on February 14, 2019, in the county of Demerara, he unlawfully killed Alex Daniels, 19, of Swan Village, Soesdyke-Linden Highway.

The state was represented by prosecutors Teriq Mohammed and Tyra Backer, while Imran was represented by attorney-at-law Ravindra Mohabir.

The matter was adjourned until July 20,2020, for presentation of a probation report and sentencing.

It was reported that both men worked at the same mining camp at Frenchman

Imran Daniels

Landing. On the day in question the men were seen imbibing alcohol at a nearby shop. However when the men returned to the camp, they became involved in a heated argument; Imran then reportedly armed himself with a knife and allegedly dealt the other Daniels, Alex, two stabs -- one to the chest and another above his right hip.

Alex reportedly fell to the ground, bleeding.

Imran attempted to escape but was nabbed by other workmates, who witnessed the altercation; he was subsequently handed over to ranks at the Mabura Police Station.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, June 30, 2020

Guyanese flouting COVID-19 regulations …as cases continue to climb

Several persons gathered at the Kitty seawall on Sunday afternoon (Fareeza Haniff Photo)

EARLIER this month the national task force had permitted 90 minutes of exercise from Monday to Friday only, in parks, on roads, at the seawall, on beaches and at rivers and creeks as the country slightly relaxed its COVID-19 emergency measures.

Nevertheless, the majority of all the other measures remain and have been extended to July 2, 2020. However,

Guyanese across the country are still flouting the national COVID-19 restrictions on social gatherings along with the rule that persons must wear face mask if they have a need to leave their homes.

Despite a rise in the number of cases across the country, hundreds of Guyanese, on Sunday, were gathered at the Kitty seawall, before and after the 6pm nationwide curfew kicked in.

are that as many as 14 new cases were recorded there from tests undertaken on one day during last week.

The cases included that of a pupil who is preparing to write the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA), 22 teachers, two doctors of the Kumaka District Hospital and other staff, and five policemen, who are all in quarantine. The Toshao of the village is also in quarantine because one of her

Several Secondary School students gathered at a bus stop after school was dismissed on Monday afternoon (Delano Williams Photo)

Several videos and photographs viewed by this publication showed that those who gathered at the infamous chill spot were not wearing face masks or practising any other precautionary measures against COVID-19.

The Kitty/ Campbellville area was listed as a COVID-19

family members has been tested positive, but she has tested negative.

SCHOOL CHILDREN Recently, the Ministry of Education had re-opened schools for the pupils and students who are scheduled to write the National Grade Six

A citizen photo showing several persons seated in a minibus not observing the 3ft social distancing rule

hotspot as well as several communities on the East Coast of Demerara (ECD). These are Atlantic Gardens, Friendship, Golden Grove, Good Hope, Lusignan, Plaisance and Strathsphey. Among communities on the East Bank of Demerara (EBD) where there were cases are: Diamond; Grove; Land of Canaan; Providence; and Timehri.

On Monday, the Guyana Chronicle reported that Moruca, a sub-region in Barima Waini, Region One, has 63 out of the 109 active cases of the Coronavirus in Guyana.

This amounts to approximately 58% percent of the cases, and this situation is affecting the people in the densely populated indigenous community.

Last Friday, it was reported that several new cases of the virus have been recorded at Moruca. Unconfirmed reports

Assessment and the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) in July. One of the primary concerns of parents and teachers following the Ministry’s decision was that children would disregard the COVID-19 measures; as such strict instructions were given to the teachers, students and parents that, after class sessions are dismissed, students and pupils must return to their respective homes.

MINIBUS OPERATORS Minibuses are Guyana’s primary mode of public transportation, and, as such, the Government has mandated that minibus operators carry half the number of passengers that they usually would, as a means to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, June 30, 2020

Missing Police Constable Quincy Lewis

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Cop goes missing

IT has been eleven days since Police Constable Quincy Lewis went missing, after leaving his Parfaite Harmonie, West Bank Demerara home for work.

Lewis, who is a serving member of the Guyana Police Force since 2015, is stationed at the Agricola Police Station, East Bank Demerara.

According to the man’s relative, he was last seen alive on Friday afternoon, June 19, 2020, when he left in his friend’s car – PTT

‘Poon’ pleads guilty to wild meat, cassava bread killing

Charles Leonard called ‘Poon’

A 49-year-old farmer on Monday pleaded guilty to beating Romel Gouveia called ‘White Boy’ to death after the man ate his wild meat and cassava bread.

Charles Leonard, called

‘Poon,’ of Port Kaituma, appeared before High Court Judge Brassington Reynolds via a zoom hearing and pleaded guilty to the charge, which read that between October 5 and 6, 2017, he unlawfully killed Gouveia.

The state was represented by prosecutors Teriq Mohammed and Tyra Bakker while Leonard was represented by attorney-at-law Siand Dhurjon.

The matter was adjourned until July 20, 2020, for presentation of a probation report and sentencing.

The Guyana Chronicle understands that Gouveia lived with Leonard and his wife at Port Kaituma.

However the two men had a misunderstanding and Leonard warned Gouveia not to eat his food.

Leonard nevertheless reportedly came home intoxicated on October 5, 2017 and saw Gouveia in the kitchen eating his wild meat with cassava bread. Consequently, Leonard became annoyed and attacked Gouveia, hitting him to the head with a piece of wood. Gouveia collapsed to the ground and Leonard left.

Hours later, Leonard’s wife came and saw Gouveia’s lifeless body and reported the matter to the police.

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Guyanese flouting COVID-19 ...

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

In several videos and photos published on social media websites, minibus operators were seen still overloading the buses and carrying three to four passengers in a seat, while they were advised to carry just two passengers per seat as a means of maintaining the 3ft social distancing rule to slow the spread of the virus.

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

Andrews added that

he was optimistic that the COVID-19 epidemic will motivate minibus operators to be more compassionate towards their passengers, thereby putting their (passengers) safety first during the health crisis. “I was hoping that the COVID-19 scenario would teach them that passengers are their brothers, their sisters [and] their mothers, which means that they must be respected, and that they must be treated in a special way,”

CLARIFICATION The Guyana Chronicle has taken note of the complaints about comments attributed to Dr Francis Alexis on the current matter before the Caribbean Court of Justice.

It must be noted that Guyana Chronicle obtained a copy of Dr. Alexis’ opinion from a source. Dr. Alexis’ opinion was not commissioned by the Guyana Chronicle nor did Dr. Alexis share it directly with this newspaper.

7541 to report to work.

His cousin, Revon Jordon, explained that he thought that Lewis was inline, since it was usual due to him being a police. However, a few days later, the owner of the motorcar came to the family home looking for Lewis, since he failed to return the motor car and was not answering his cell phone.

This got relatives worried and suspicion grew as

calls to Lewis phone went unanswered. Things went even more downhill when the family decided to call the Agricola Police Station, where other ranks indicated that Lewis never showed up for work.

On June 26, the family filed a missing person report at the Parfaite Harmonie Police Station.

An investigation was launched and police will

be reviewing CCTV footage from the Demerara Harbour Bridge and other various points to trace the vehicle to determine if Lewis crossed the bridge the day he went missing.

Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Lewis can call 677-6547, 680-1436 or the nearest police station.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, June 30, 2020

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, June 30, 2020

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, June 30, 2020

West Indies to wear...

CONTINUED FROM BACKPAGE

seeing Brian Lara transcend from being a cricketer to a worldwide superstar, shaped my childhood,

so it’s great to be able to help West Indies cricket show their support in such a meaningful way.”

The shirts are expected to be worn for the first time in this week’s first-class, four-day warm-up match at Emirates Old Trafford, which starts on Monday.

The ICC had previously told ESPNcricinfo that they would operate a “common-sense approach to the implementation of regulations” regarding demonstrations of solidarity with the movement, which would be assessed on a “case-by-case basis”.

England are also expected to mark their support for the movement during the series following discussions within the squad, and may also wear blue armbands in recognition of the contribution of NHS staff during the Covid-19 pandemic. The

ECB announced last week that players would wear the names of cricket-supporting key workers on their training shirts ahead of the first Test.

West Indies’ shirts will also be the first to feature a chest sponsor, like those seen in football since the 1970s. The ICC’s chief executives’ committee ratified a change earlier this month to allow a relaxation of rules on apparel logos for the next 12 months, seemingly to help them maintain relations with sponsors during a difficult financial period.

Logos on the fronts of players’ shirts will not be permitted to exceed 32 square inches in size, as per the regulations for ODI and T20I kits. England are also expected to release a shirt with a chest sponsor in the next few days.(ESPN Cricinfo)

Mercedes to race in...

CONTINUED FROM BACKPAGE

bility and education initiatives.

Mercedes F1 team principal Toto Wolff said: “Racism and discrimination have no place in our society, our sport or our team: this is a core belief at Mercedes.

“But having the right beliefs and the right mindset isn’t enough if we remain silent.

“We wish to use our voice and our global platform to speak up for respect and equality, and the Silver Arrow will race in black for the entire 2020 season to show our commitment to greater diversity within our team and our sport.

“We will not shy away from our weaknesses in this area, nor from the progress we must still make; our livery is our public pledge to take positive action.”

Six-time world champion Hamilton has announced he is setting up a commission in partnership with the Royal Academy of Engineering to promote black participation in motorsport.

He added: “It’s so important that we seize this moment and use it to educate ourselves, whether you are an

individual, brand or company to make real meaningful changes when it comes to ensuring equality and inclusivity.

“I have personally experienced racism in my life and seen my family and friends experience racism, and I am speaking from the heart when I appeal for change.

“When I spoke to Toto about my hopes for what we could achieve as a team, I said it was so important that we stand united.

“I would like to say a huge thank you to Toto and the Mercedes board for taking the time to listen, to talk, and to really understand my experiences and passion, and for making this important statement that we are willing to change and improve as a business.

“We want to build a legacy that goes beyond sport, and if we can be the leaders and can start building more diversity within our own business, it will send such a strong message and give others the confidence to begin a dialogue about how they can implement change.”(BBC Sport).

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, June 30, 2020

English County cricket to begin August 1 THE 2020 county season will begin on 1 August, the England and Wales Cricket Board(ECB) has confirmed.

Final approval for the formats to be played by men’s teams will be approved early in July at a meeting of the 18 first-class clubs.

Two competitions of fourday and Twenty20 cricket have been under discussion, based on regional groups.

“Planning for the return of the women’s domestic game remains ongoing,” said ECB chief executive Tom Harrison.

There has been no cricket on the UK mainland so far this year because of the coronavirus pandemic, but England will begin a behind-closeddoors Test series against West Indies next month.

The County Championship should have begun on 12 April but instead all clubs, except Surrey and Lancashire, furloughed players and other staff under the government’s job retention scheme.

And the lockdown meant

that inaugural season of The Hundred, the ECB’s new tournament featuring eight regional teams, was put back to 2021, with salaries for the men’s teams reduced.

Safety the first priority’ Harrison said setting a date to begin the county season was a “significant step” and it is intended that a full fixtures schedule will be published following the counties’ meeting.

He added: “It follows extensive consultation between the 18 first-class counties, the Professional Cricketers’ Association and ECB and has only been achievable thanks to the significant hard work that continues to occur as we prepare for a domestic season unlike any the game has faced before.

“It must be stressed that the safety of our players, staff and officials has been the first priority through all discussions and government guidance will continue to shape our planning and preparation.”

Sussex chief executive Rob

There has been no county cricket since last September, when Essex won the County Championship.

Andrew told the BBC earlier this month that options being discussed included a “meaningful red-ball cricket” competition and a T20 Blast, based on three regionalised groups of six teams and each culminating in a final.

However, Andrew said that if the four-day/T20 Blast plan was not possible, then a 50-over

competition could provide a third option.

Women’s elite structure being planned The Women’s Super League

competition was ended last summer, but Harrison insisted the board’s commitment for their domestic game - which is now based around eight regional

hubs - was “unwavering”.

A group of 24 England players are in training ahead of a possible tri-series against India and South Africa in September, while others have been given regional retainers as part of a move towards greater professionalism.

Harrison continued: “Our strong preference is that the women’s new elite domestic structure starts this summer and we will work hard to ensure that happens.

“For this to be achieved, brand new infrastructure still needs to be rolled out, alongside imperatives we need in place when playing competitive cricket during a pandemic.

“In the event that proves impossible, we will explore other options for play to enable our women’s players to enjoy competitive domestic cricket in 2020.”(BBC Sport)

FA to make 124 jobs redundant because of coronavirus impact

The FA has its headquarters at Wembley Stadium and St George’s Park.

THE Football Association (FA) is to make 124 positions redundant because of the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

English football’s governing body - a not-for-profit organisation - says it is planning for potential financial losses of about £300m.

Eighty-two staff members will lose their jobs, while 42 vacancies will not be filled.

FA chief executive Mark Bullingham said the organisation faced a “significant” financial challenge.

“It might seem that football has weathered the storm by getting the top flight men’s game playing again,” he said.

“However, unfortunately the past few months have impacted the FA severely and we have lost a significant amount of money that we can never recoup.

“We also anticipate that many of our future revenue

streams will be affected for a considerable time.”

The FA has lost all revenue from events due to be held at Wembley Stadium since March, and from events, such as music concerts and NFL matches, which the stadium was set to host later this year.

In addition, it has lost all revenue from hospitality - about £35m per year - at Wembley, which it anticipates “will probably take years to recover”.

“Proposing redundancies is the toughest cost-saving measure that any organisation can consider implementing, but we believe that we must now adapt and future-proof the organisation to ensure our cost base reflects a future with significantly lower revenues,” said Bullingham.

“We have a responsibility to preserve our core functions

that regulate and serve English football. We also have a duty to support our men’s and women’s senior teams in their efforts to win major tournaments.

“That means we have set out in our proposals some difficult choices because we do not think we can afford to do all the things that we did before. We believe the impact of this crisis is to force us to focus more than ever on our key priorities.”

He added: “The next few weeks will be very tough for everyone at the FA and our aim is to ensure that we emerge in the strongest possible state and be ready for better times in the future.”

In the FA’s financial statements to the year ending 31 July 2019, its directors were remunerated £1.1m.

Former chief executive Martin Glenn earned £814,000 while chairman Greg Clarke took £184,000.

(BBC Sport).

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, June 30, 2020

Klopp says Liverpool fans must wait to celebrate together LIVERPOOL fans must wait until “the time is right” to celebrate the club’s first Premier League title together, says manager Jurgen Klopp.

Thousands of people celebrated on the city’s waterfront on Friday, despite restrictions on gatherings because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Firefighters extinguished a small fire at the Liver Building and 34 people were injured, three seriously.

Klopp said he “did not love” the scenes at Pier Head.

In an open letter to fans published in the Liverpool Echo, the German said: “I am a human being and your passion is also my passion, but right now the most important thing is that we do not have these kind of public gatherings.

“We owe it to the most vulnerable in our community, to the health workers who have given so much and whom we have applauded, and to the police and local authorities who help us as a

I would love nothing more than to celebrate together, to have a parade that would be even bigger than the one after we won the Champions League last year, so that we could all share this special moment, but it just is not possible,” added Klopp.

“We have all done so much to fight Covid-19 and this effort cannot go to waste.

“When the time is right we will celebrate. But for now, please stay at home as much as possible.”

No training camp for Team India before August: Ganguly SOURAV Ganguly, the president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has said that the national cricketers won’t be having sort of training camp before the month of August.

Back in March, Indian cricket came to a halt after their home ODIs against South Africa had to be shelved due to the coronavirus pandemic. The Indian Premier League (IPL) had to be indefinitely postponed as well.

If the tournament doesn’t happen then the BCCI could end up incurring some huge losses. Their series against Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp.

Fire crews extinguished a small blaze at the Liver Building after a firework was set off.

club not to do this.

“Please - celebrate - but celebrate in a safe way and in private settings, whereby we do not risk spreading this awful disease further in our community.”

Charge over Liver Building fire The club, who have won the league title for the first time in 30 years, condemned the conduct of some fans

Klopp also praised the “incredible supporters of an incredible club in an incredible city”.

“I love your passion, your songs, your refusal to accept defeat, your commitment, your understanding of the game and your faith in what we are doing,” he said.

He added that their support was “the petrol in the tank” of his players and said it had “fuelled us every step of the way”. (BBC Sport)

who gathered in the city as “wholly unacceptable”, and mayor Joe Anderson said the events “brought Liverpool Football Club and the city of Liverpool into disrepute”.

Crowds also gathered outside Anfield on Thursday after Manchester City’s defeat by Chelsea ensured Liverpool could not be caught by their nearest challengers.` “If things were different

Man. United to face Chelsea in FA Cup semi-final India’s cricketers have been spending time in lockdown with their families.

couldn’t take place either.

The cricketers have been spending their time in lockdown with their family, though a few of them have returned to the park. The likes of Cheteshwar Pujara and Rohit Sharma have already started practising.

Now as per reports in ABP news, there’s no chance for the Indian players to take part in any camp until August.

In the meantime, the BCCI is trying its best to host the IPL sometime later this year.

If reports are to be believed, the T20 event is set to get underway on September 26. The board is also waiting for the International Cricket

Council (ICC) to take a call on the T20 World Cup later this year in Australia.

The T20 World Cup is set to start on October 18 and even Cricket Australia (CA) included the mega event in its summer schedule.

In the meantime, the BCCI and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) are at loggerheads, regarding the Asia Cup and the IPL. PCB chief executive Wasim Khan was clear cut in saying that the PCB won’t be compromising on the Asia Cup to accommodate the IPL. Pakistan is looking to host the Asia Cup in either the United Arab Emirates (UAE)

or Sri Lanka. They are also planning to host the remaining PSL matches in November. The BCCI has asked the PCB to postpone the PSL matches until next year.

“Asia Cup will be a struggle this year. Going by the statement of the Chief Executive of the PCB, the window that suits them doesn’t suit India . Maybe they can postpone PSL next year if BCCI is able to open up a window during that period. Otherwise conducting the Asia Cup doesn’t seem too practical as these are challenging times,” an official was quoted as saying. (CricTracker)

MANCHESTER United will face Chelsea and Arsenal will play holders Manchester City in the semi-finals of the FA Cup. The draw features three of the Cup’s four most successful sides, with Arsenal the record 13-time winners.

United, who beat Norwich to reach the last four, have won it 12 times, while Chelsea, who edged past Leicester in the quarter-finals, have eight wins.

Both ties will be played at Wembley on the weekend of 18 and 19 July.

The final is scheduled

for Saturday, 1 August at the same venue.

The draw was made at half-time in the game between City and Newcastle, which Pep Guardiola’s side won 2-0 thanks to a Kevin de Bruyne penalty and a classy Raheem Sterling finish.

That game was taking place after Arsenal knocked out Sheffield United, with Dani Ceballos scoring the winner in the 91st minute.

The semi-final between United and Chelsea is a repeat of the 2018 final, which was won by the Blues.(BBC Sport)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, June 30, 2020

WBA 99th Convention begins Wednesday THE World Boxing Association’s (WBA) 99th Convention will raise its curtain on Wednesday with several important activities during four intense working days, in which they will take a look at the history of their organization and boxing in general, but with an eye on the years to come.

The WBA is the oldest organisation in boxing, and therefore it has a great responsibility with the sport and the paths to take in the years to come. The pioneer organisation decided to take the lead in the midst of the challenges boxing is facing, and to be at the forefront of the situation.

This convention is the kickoff for the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the WBA,

which will be hosted in Moscow in July 2021. The most important topics today will be discussed through the different forums of the agenda, which is adapted to today’s reality.

The General Assembly will be held on Wednesday, when the President, Gilberto Jesús Mendoza, will meet with the Directorate members to talk about current affairs of the WBA starting at 10:00 a.m. (Eastern United States).

Thursday will begin with the Championships and Classifications meeting at 10:00 a.m., followed by a short presentation from Mendoza at 11:55 a.m., in which he will talk about the 99 years of WBA history and will present the forum that will have

WBA president Gilberto Jesus Mendoza the participation of the most important promoters in boxing

history, Don King and Bob Arum.

On Friday at 10:00 a.m., the

“Challenges in Boxing” forum will take place. Mendoza will talk about the current challenges of the discipline together with British promoter and president of Matchroom Boxing, Eddie Hearn, and with the renowned journalist Claudia Trejos.

The day will continue at 11:00 a.m. with the “Boxing and Gender Equality” forum, where the great fighters and defenders of women’s rights Miriam Gutiérrez, Claressa Shields and Hanna Gabriels will compete with Orlando “Phenomenon” Cruz, the only boxer who has declared himself gay.

Finally, at 12:00 p.m. the day will be completed with the “Amateur Boxing” forum, in which the two-time Italian Olympic medalist

Clemente Russo, former world champion Omar Narvaez, WBA Director Miguel Torruco, and Ricardo Contreras, president of the Mexican Boxing Federation, will participate.

The last day will be Saturday, with presentations from the Medical Committee at 10:00 a.m., followed by the forum “Veganism and Boxing”, with the participation of Chris Algieri, Bernard Hopkins and President Mendoza. The day will close with the Judges and Referees Seminar.

The 99th Convention will set the table for the 100th anniversary of the pioneer organization, aiming to lay the foundations for the years to come and to remain at the forefront of the sport.

(Fightnews)

Formula One fires up, four months late and without a crowd

By Alan Baldwin

LONDON (Reuters) - Formula One starts its season in Austria this week, nearly four months later than planned due to the COVID-19 pandemic and against a very different backdrop even if Lewis Hamilton’s targets remain the same.

The six times world champion can equal Ferrari great Michael Schumacher’s record seven while his Mercedes team are bidding for an unprecedented seventh successive drivers’ and constructors’ title double.

The Briton, who has used his profile to campaign for greater diversity in the sport and against racism, is raring to compete but aware he faces new and unexpected challenges.

“We are preparing the best way we can for what is going to be the most difficult season that Formula One and all of us have experienced,” the 35-year-old said in a Mercedes video.

Since the traditional Australian opener

was cancelled in March, Formula One has agreed changes to help teams hard hit by COVID-19.

Driver moves for 2021 have been announced already, including the departure of Hamilton’s old rival Sebastian Vettel from Ferrari at the end of 2020.

This year’s only rookie, Canadian Nicholas Latifi, could find his Williams team are under new ownership before his first campaign is over.

Car liveries unveiled with fanfare in February have changed again to keep up with the changing times.

There is also lingering uncertainty about how many grands prix the season will hold with seven cancelled so far and more likely to follow.

Eight rounds, all in Europe and without spectators for the first time, feature on a provisional calendar but the sport still hopes to muster 15-18 races, even if that means several circuits hosting two each.

FILE PHOTO: Formula One F1 - Austrian Grand Prix - Red Bull Ring, Spielberg, Austria - June 30, 2019 Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton in action during the race REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger/File Photo becomes the first to host two F1 championTWO RACES ship races in the same season.

Sunday will be the first time Austria has That could be good news for Dutch hosted a season-opener, at Spielberg’s scenic crowd-pleaser Max Verstappen, who has Red Bull Ring, and the following weekend brought a home victory for Red Bull for the will see another milestone when the circuit past two years.

There will be no fans, no sponsors, no hospitality units or VIPs and no socialising between teams within a paddock ‘bubble’ where safe spacing and face masks are the ‘new normal’ and everything will take a little longer.

Where the teams stand in the pecking order is also unclear. They have not run their cars in anger since February testing, and have not raced since December.

Hamilton, who needs seven more wins to equal Schumacher’s record 91, should have a faster car than would have been the case had the season started in Australia on March 15 but so too will rivals bringing months’ worth of updates.

Vettel, a four times world champion, has an uncertain future and will want to go out on a high in his last campaign for Ferrari.

McLaren’s Carlos Sainz will take the German’s place alongside Charles Leclerc in 2021, with Australian Daniel Ricciardo moving from Renault to replace the Spaniard.

Barcelona sell Arthur to Juventus for 72 million euros, buy Pjanic for 60 million

By Richard Martin

BARCELONA (Reuters) - Barcelona have reached an agreement to sell Brazil

midfielder Arthur Melo to Juventus for a fee of 72 million euros ($80.98 million) and signed Bosnian Miralem Pjanic from the Italian cham-

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pions for 60 million, the La Liga side said on Monday.

The 23-year-old, generally known simply as Arthur, will remain at the Camp Nou until the end of the 2019-20 season, which has been extended until August because of the novel coronavirus pandemic, before moving to Turin.

Pjanic, 30, will also move to the Camp Nou at the end of the campaign and sign a four-year contract containing a release clause of 400 million euros, said Barca’s statement, adding his transfer fee was worth an additional five million in variables.

Bosnian international Pjanic has been at Juve since 2016,

having previously played for AS Roma plus French sides Olympique Lyonnais and Metz.

The transfer helps Barca meet their target of a further 70 million euros in revenues from player sales before June 30, in line with the budget the club’s members approved last October which forecast income of 124 million euros from transfers.

Barcelona have the highest revenues in world football but their finances have been hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, affecting ticket sales, television rights and merchandising, leading the club to enact a 70% pay cut for players in April.

But the negotiation has attracted criticism from Spanish

future presidential candidate Victor Font, who said the deal came about due to the club’s financial mismanagement.

“The deal once again proves the board’s absolute priority is to balance the books by letting key players go. The financial situation has been bad for many years, long before the pandemic,” he said on Twitter.

Barca did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Font’s words.

Arthur joined Barca from Brazilian side Gremio in July 2018 and was initially hailed as the heir to former club great Xavi Hernandez, with Lionel Messi saying he was surprised by the player’s similarities

to the side’s former puppet master.

But despite a promising opening spell, Arthur made only 19 league starts in his first season with the club and 14 this campaign, and coach Quique Setien said earlier this month that he had not lived up to expectations.

There were also issues off the field.

In March 2019, he apologised for travelling to Paris during the season to attend the birthday party of Brazil team mate Neymar. Last December, Catalan television network said Arthur had gone snowboarding while sidelined with a groin injury.

23

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, June 30, 2020

The Allen Stanford show, before it all went bust

By Matt Roller DO you miss the thrills of high-stakes T20 action? You’re in just the right place. This week on What We’re Watching, we look back at the short-lived Stanford 20/20 Would West Indies have won their two World T20 titles if it hadn’t been for Allen Stanford?

It is an awkward question on which few in the Caribbean would wish to dwell, with the scars from the Texan fraudster’s conviction for engineering a US$7 billion Ponzi scheme still visible across the region.

But, as Daren Ganga said in Freddie Wilde and Tim Wigmore’s book on the T20 revolution, Cricket 2.0, Stanford’s domestic tournament “exposed a lot of young, raw talent... the investment made in that format led to West Indies dominating T20 cricket around the world.”

Stanford’s tournament - played exclusively at his Sticky Wicket ground next to the airport in Antigua - saw 19 teams compete. There was access to a level of professionalism through coaching and fitness regimes that was unprecedented for many local cricketers. The incentive to win was huge, with a $1 million cheque waiting for the champions, and the competition gave birth to one of T20’s great teams, Trinidad and Tobago.

The beginnings That might have been difficult to foresee on the first day of the tournament, on July 11, 2006.

“You can see the vibes and the enthusiasm of the teams being here,” said Courtney Walsh in the pre-match build-up. “I think this could be the start of what we need to generate a lot of interest back into cricket in the region.”

The first ball brings chaos. Stanford walks off smiling with Sir Vivian Richards, having delivered a baseball-style first pitch - though sadly the footage is lost - before Marlon Brutus, No. 69 on his back, charges in to bowl with a bright orange ball. Terrance Webbe plays all around it, and nearly managed to run out his partner, Alderman Lesmond, and the Stanford 20/20 is born.

Sir Curtly Ambrose was less impressed, telling Ian Bishop before the second game

Nitin Menon in action during the Women’s World T20 2018 ICC/ Getty Images)

Kevin Pietersen and Chris Gayle with the Stanford 20/20 for 20 trophy. ( AFP) that he is now “more of a bass player in a local group called Big Bad Dread and the Baldhead”, and that he thought the first game “would have been a little bit more exciting”.

Way to sell it, Curtly!

The second game was livelier, with 42-yearold Pearson Best clubbing 74 off 40 balls to lead Cayman Islands to victory.

The tournament quickly found its feet, with T&T in particular flying: sadly, there is no video evidence of Kieron Pollard’s 38-ball 83 in the semi-final against Nevis, the first of his 49 T20 half-centuries.

The final was something else altogether.

Guyana are in all sorts, needing 14 off the last over with captain Ramnaresh Sarwan at the wrong end. Mark Nicholas and Tony Cozier bemoan his partners’ inability to get Sarwan on strike: when he finally gets it, he heaves Samuel Badree for six, but then can only scramble one.

As Nicholas tries to work out what will happen in the event of a tie, Narsingh Deonarine gets down on one knee and heaves the ball into the leg side.

“Could be six… it is, it is!” cries Cozier.

“Guyana have won with a six from Narsingh Deonarine! What a match we’ve had - a one-million dollar shot from Narsingh Deonarine!”

Footage from the 2008 tournament is harder to come by, but a short compilation from the

final provides a reminder of the brilliant theme music, “Come Rise With Me”.

The 20-million match The best-known Stanford game, though, came later that year, when England were bowled out for 99 and thrashed by ten wickets in a winner-takes-all, $20-million match. West Indies, playing under the name of the Stanford Superstars, were irresistible: Jerome Taylor knocked over Ian Bell and Matt Prior in quick succession, but the best moment was Daren Sammy’s exuberant celebration when he bowled Kevin Pietersen round his legs.

Nasser Hussain then expertly put the mockers on Paul Collingwood before the rest of the innings disintegrated.

It’s easily forgotten that England started brilliantly with the ball: Andre Fletcher came very close to being run out without facing, and Steve Harmison started with a menacing first over. But then came the Gayle-Fletcher show (parts one and two. The moment of euphoria was tinged with sadness, knowing what happened next.

Mike Haysman slipped up massively when handing over the cheque he said was “for $20,000”, rather than USD 20 million but that, in the end, was much closer to the sum that Stanford could actually afford to pay.(ESPN Cricinfo)

Roberts chastises Hetmyer for opting out of England tour WESTt Indies fast bowling great Andy Roberts believes Shimron Hetmyer erred when deciding to forego the West Indies tour of England.

Hetmyer, 23, seen as one of the rising stars in West Indies cricket, was among three players who opted out of the tour #RaisetheBat series, largely due to safety concerns.

His Guyanese compatriot Keemo Paul and

Menon replaces Nigel Llong in ICC Elite panel of umpires for 2020-21

Trinidadian middle-order batsman Darren Bravo, also decided to stay home despite assurances given by both CWI and the ECB that they would be kept safe in a bio-secure environment.

Roberts, who was a member of a fearsome, four-pronged West Indies pace attack from the 1970s into the 1980s, believes the decision not to go was foolhardy.

Shimron Hetmyer

“They would have played an integral part of the batting,” he said during a recent conversation with Michael Holding on Holding’s YouTube channel. He suggested that the tour to England was an opportunity to improve his batting.

“As much as we don’t like the way Hetmyer has been playing, he is one of the batsmen of the future.

But somebody has to get into his head and let him realize that you cannot score runs sitting in the pavilion.”(Sportsmax).

INDIA’s Nitin Menon has been included in the ICC Elite panel of umpires for the 2020-21 season after the annual review conducted by the game’s governing body.

At 36, Menon is one of the youngest to be included in the Elite panel. He was earlier part of the International panel and will replace England’s Nigel Llong in the Elite roster.

A panel consisting of ICC general manager of cricket Geoff Allardice (chairman), former player Sanjay Manjrekar, and match referees Ranjan Madugalle and David Boon made the selection.

The ICC monitors umpires’ standing through various parameters, including on-field decision-making, the number of reviews the match official has got right, and conduct on the field. Accordingly, points are tallied and umpires are ranked internally.

As per ESPNcricinfo’s data, Llong has had the highest percentage (36.2%) of his reviewed decisions overturned in Tests since September 28, 2017.

Menon, who began his umpiring career in 2017, has officiated in three Tests, 24 ODIs and 16 T20Is in men’s cricket. He has also stood in ten women’s T20Is, including the 2018 and 2020 T20 World Cups. After S Venkataraghavan and S Ravi, he is the third umpire from India to make it to the Elite panel.

“It’s a great honour and matter of pride for me to be named in the Elite panel,” Menon said in an ICC release.

“To be officiating regularly along with the leading umpires and referees of the world is something that I always dreamt of and the feeling has yet to sink in.

“Having already officiat-

ed in Tests, ODIs and T20Is as well as in ICC events, I understand the great responsibility that comes with the job.

I also feel this is a responsibility on me to take Indian umpires forward and help them by sharing my experiences.”

Adrian Griffith, the ICC’s senior manager of umpires and referees, congratulated Menon, saying he “has come through our pathway system with very consistent performances”.

Last year, England’s Michael Gough and West Indies’ Joel Wilson were promoted to the Elite panel, while Ravi was omitted from the list.

‘Not surprised by Menon’s selection’ - Taufel Taufel, who has worked extensively with Indian umpires, said he was not “surprised” by Menon’s elevation.

“I’m not surprised by his selection as his talent was evident some years ago,” Taufel told ESPNcricinfo.

“But again it shows that it takes many years to get to world-class, through commitment, dedication, resilience and a growth mindset. With Nitin joining the top group, a role model is there for many Indian umpires who aspire to be the best. Hopefully, it will encourage the BCCI to keep investing in their development programs for match officials.”

ICC Elite panel of umpires: Aleem Dar, Kumar Dharmasena, Marais Erasmus, Chris Gaffaney, Michael Gough, Nitin Menon, Richard Illingworth, Richard Kettleborough, Bruce Oxenford, Paul Reiffel, Rod Tucker and Joel Wilson ICC Elite panel of match referees: David Boon, Chris Broad, Jeff Crowe, Ranjan Madugalle, Andy Pycroft, Richie Richardson and Javagal Srinath. (ESPN Cricinfo)

Jason Holder sports the new West Indies shirt (CWI PHOTO)

West Indies to wear Black Lives Matter logo on Test shirts WEST Indies will wear a Black Lives Matter emblem on the collars of their shirts during July’s Test series against England.

Captain Jason Holder hinted in his first press conference of the tour that West Indies would look to support the movement in some way, and said in a statement on Sunday: “We believe we have a duty to show solidarity and also to help raise awareness.”

The logo used will be that worn on the shirts of all 20 Premier League football clubs since the sport’s restart earlier this month, designed by Alisha Hosannah, whose partner Troy Deeney is Watford’s captain. Deeney was contacted by CWI for approval, and the ICC gave permission for the emblem to be worn on the teams’ collars.

This is a pivotal moment in history for sports,

for the game of cricket and for the West Indies cricket team,” Holder said. “We have come to England to retain the Wisden Trophy but we are very conscious of happenings around the world and the fight for justice and equality.

“As a group of young men, we know of the rich and diverse history of West Indies cricket and we know we are guardians of the great game for generation to come.

“We did not take our decision lightly. We know what it is for people to make judgments because of the colour of our skin, so we know what it feels like, this goes beyond the boundary. There must be equality and there must be unity. Until we get that as people, we cannot stop.

“We have to find some way to have equal

Mercedes to race in black cars for 2020 F1 season

MERCEDES will run a new black livery in Formula 1 in 2020 as a signal of their commitment to greater diversity and inclusion in motorsport.

Silver had been the company’s colour scheme in racing since the 1930s.

Mercedes said the Black Lives Matter movement had “shone a searching light on how much we need new measures and actions in the fight

against racism”.

World champion Lewis Hamilton called it an “important statement we are willing to change and improve as a business”.

Mercedes F1 team said in a statement that “just 3% of our workforce identify as belonging to minority ethnic groups and only 12% of our employees are women.

rights and people must not be viewed differently because of the colour of their skin or ethnic background.”

Deeney said: “Alisha and I are immensely proud to be asked and take part in a monumental moment in world sport, this amazing decision by the West Indies cricket team to show their support for Black Lives Matter.

“Watching cricket with my grandad, and SEE PAGE 19

…World champion Lewis Hamilton called it an `important statement’

“This lack of diversity shows that we need to find new approaches to attract talent from many areas of society we do not currently reach.”

The team will also launch a diversity and inclusion programme that will include raising awareness, analysis of their recruitment programme, collaboration with F1 stakeholders on accessi-

Mercedes will use the new black livery from the first grand prix of the delayed 2020 season in Austria this weekend.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 19

Captaining England would be ‘huge honour’, says Stokes F ILE PHOTO: Cricket - ICC Cricket World Cup Final - New Zealand v England - Lord’s, London, Britain - July 14, 2019 England’s Ben Stokes celebrates winning the World Cup Action Images via Reuters/Peter Cziborra/File Photo

By Martyn Herman LONDON (Reuters) - England’s talisman Ben Stokes says captaining his country even just once in his career would be a “huge honour” but admits it was never a massive ambition.

The all-rounder is poised to lead the team in the first Test against West Indies on July 8 with captain Joe Root likely to miss the game to attend the birth of his second child.

“I’ve given it a little thought but not really dived into it yet,” the 29-year-old told a virtual news conference on Monday.

“I mean, it’s not like it’s not a big deal. Getting the opportunity to captain England is a huge honour. Even if it’s only the once, you can say you captained England.

“So it’s something that I’m looking forward to if the opportunity presents itself. But also I know I’m only stepping in to take over the reins because of Joe’s personal situation.”

Stokes has matured since his well-chronicled disciplinary problems and was inspirational as England won the World Cup last year. He is now Root’s trusted vice-captain.

He said the last time he captained a team was during an academy game against Scotland when he was a teenager.

“I never set a goal to want to be a

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captain,” Stokes said. “If you look at Alastair Cook he was destined to be captain after Andrew Strauss and Joe Root was destined to be captain after Alastair Cook, you know who the next one will be when one is coming towards the end of his career.

“If I’m being honest, I’m not one of those who people would necessarily associate with being next England captain.

But I am looking forward to the opportunity of doing it.”

Should Stokes captain the side next week in Southampton — a match being played in a bio-secure stadium without fans because of the COVID-19 pandemic — he says he will be well prepared.

“Being able learn from Cookie and Joe Root in different situations in the game has rubbed off on me and will put me in good stead for all the situations a test match can throw at you,” he said.

“At the same time we have some experienced guys out on the field I can use like Jimmy (Anderson) and (Stuart Broad) Broady, so many people to throw ideas off.”

Stokes said being captain or not, his style will not change.

“I always try to set the example in terms of commitment and attitude,” he said. “When it comes down to what to do in a situation it will always be a positive route.”

TUESDAY,JUNE 30, 2020