Guyana_Chronicle_E_Paper_03_04_2020

WEDNESDAY 4th March, 2020

' No.105929

Elections were free and fair …GECOM chair hails polls a major success

SEE PAGE 03

…urges citizens to be patient as results are being processed

Chairperson of GECOM, Justice Claudette Singh and Chief Elections Officer, Keith Lowenfield, briefed the media on Tuesday

OAS urges reform at GECOM

…says time for electronic tabulation of results 02 PAGE

Coalition urges calm as Coalition wins GECOM processes results landslide in Region 10 …warns against PPP’s ‘reckless, irresponsible statement’ 08 PAGE

…secures over 19,000 votes of the 22,808

... clinches Region 8, makes significant gains in Regions 1 and 9 SEE STORIES ON PAGES 07, 08 & 09

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 4, 2020

OAS urges reform at GECOM …says time for electronic tabulation of results

By Svetlana Marshall EVEN as it commended the people of Guyana for its strong democratic commitment, the Organisation of American States Electoral Observation Mission (OAS EOM) championed the cause for the voter registration system to be reformed, the restructuring of the Guyana Elections Commission, and the use of technological solutions for the tabulation of votes that would result in an early declaration of the results.

The OAS Mission, led by former Prime Minister of Jamaica, Bruce Golding, made its assessment of the March 2 General and Regional Elections known during a press conference at the Guyana Marriott on Tuesday. “The mission applauds the people of Guyana for their patience in awaiting the results of the poll and encourages them to continue doing so. The mission looks forward to the publication of the official results at the earliest opportunity,” Golding said in his opening

remarks.

One day after the close of polls, the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) was unable to offer preliminary results on which of the nine political parties had won the General Elections. However, it has been providing statistics based on the processed statements of poll.

TABULATION OF RESULTS Based on the mission’s observation, Golding said Guyanese are concerned about the length of time taken to tabulate and determine the results of both the General and Regional Elections, though cognisant of the challenges GECOM faces as a result of the country’s geographical layout and the employ of a manual tabulation system.

“Guyana’s largely manual electoral system requires the transportation of electoral materials, including the statements of polls, by land, water and air to the Returning Officers in each of the 10 Regions and to the Chief Elections

Officer in Georgetown, in order to facilitate the tabulation, verification and declaration of the results of the elections,” Golding noted. It was further noted that the only area of

OAS Chief of Mission Bruce Golding

automation in the counting process occurs at the CEO’s office where a computer application supports the tabulation of the results.

At such, the OAS Electoral Observation Mission made a strong case for enhanced technological solutions to be

employed for the collection and transmission of images of the statements of poll and collated results from the various regions.

“The Guyana Elections

Act provides for the declaration of elections results within 15 days.

RESTRUCTURING OF GECOM

his casting vote to support a motion for the conduct of house-to-house registration.

Justice Patterson had come in for major criticisms from the opposing side.

Members of the Diplomatic Corps including US Ambassador, Sarah Ann Lynch, and UK High Commissioner, Greg Quinn, observing the press conference (Photos by Adrian Narine)

Commission should consider implementing a system to issue preliminary results for national elections, in order to make this information available on Elections Day or on the morning thereafter. This would include establishment of a central computerised results receiving centre, where election results summaries are periodically sent via secure telecommunication lines from each of the 10 Regions across the country to the Chief Elections Officer. Scanned statements of poll can be sent to the CEO simultaneously to be published alongside the digitised electoral results,” the Chief of Mission recommended.

Official tabulated elections results, Golding further submitted, should be available online through GECOM’s website. Notably, GECOM has such a system in place; however, hours after the close of polls, it had experienced some technical problems. Nonetheless, it is believed that such an online system would result in a faster and simultaneous transmission of results to a wide audience. Article 99 of the Representation of the People

The OAS Electoral Observation Mission, in its menu of recommendations, called for the restructuring of GECOM. The Constitution (Amendment) Act No. 2 of 2000 paves the way for the appointment of six members of the commission – three appointed by the President and another three appointed by the opposition based on the advice of the Leader of the Opposition. The Chairman of the Elections is appointed by the President from a list of six nominees proposed by the Leader of the Opposition.

However, Golding told journalists that the existing formula is a recipe for division.

“The mission observed the polarisation among the members of the Guyana Elections Commission and the challenges this created in arriving at consensus on most issues. The divisions appear to exert undue pressure on the chairperson and the use of his or her casting vote to resolve decisions before the commission,” Golding explained.

This was the case in February 2019 when the then Chairman of the Elections Commission, Justice (Ret’d) James Patterson, had used

Cognisant of the prevailing challenges, the OAS Electoral Observation Mission is recommending that Guyana engages in a multi-stakeholder discussion on the structure of GECOM in an effort to enhance the “deliberative nature and decision-making of the Commission.”

REFORM OF VOTER EDUCATION Added to that, the OAS Electoral Observation Mission made a case for a comprehensive reform of the voter registration system on the basis that the National Register of Registrants Data Base and the Official List of Electors (OLE) are bloated.

The current OLE has a total of 660,998 names, which is considered to be relatively high when the country’s population of 750,000 people is considered. “In explaining the reasons for the bloating of the list, the Guyana Elections Commission noted that it includes the names of persons who are dead or who no longer reside in Guyana.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 4, 2020

Elections were free and fair …GECOM chair hails polls a major success …urges citizens to be patient as results are being processed

By Svetlana Marshall GUYANA’S General and Regional Elections were free, fair and a major success, Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Justice (Ret’d) Claudette Singh declared on Tuesday, even as she called on Guyanese to demonstrate patience as the Elections Secretariat tabulates the votes for a preliminary or final declaration of the results.

“GECOM has delivered free, fair and credible elections,” Justice Singh said.

She was at the time addressing local and international journalists at the Commission’s Command Centre in the presence of the observers and members of the Diplomatic Corps.

She said that GECOM, despite facing a plethora of challenges in the lead up to Monday, March 2, smoothly executed the General and Regional Elections across the country’s 10 Administrative Regions. According to her, the elections were well run.

“We had a very well-run election, despite all of the naysayers,” the GECOM chair said. The Elections Commission, she said, is appreciative of the extensive work done by the Chief Elections Officer (CEO), Keith Lowenfield and his team at the GECOM Secretariat. “On behalf of the Commission, I have to express my sincere thanks and appreciation to our CEO and his hardworking secretariat.

They did a fantastic job,” the GECOM Chair said.

But while the elections were executed with minor hitches, GECOM has been extremely slow in delivering the results, much to the dissatisfaction of the masses.

Cognizant of this fact, Justice Singh has called on the nation to have patience.

“I will ask you to be very patient; the results are trickling in, and the process of verification is being conducted,” she said.

International Observers, in particular the Organisation of American States (OAS), the European Union (EU), the

Carter Center and the Commonwealth, in their engagements with the press on E-Day, lauded the Elections Commission for conducting an almost seamless election.

WELL-ORGANISED

importance of GECOM delivering early results, he, too, called on Guyanese to remain patient. Nonetheless, he acknowledged the work put in by the Elections Commission and the other players in the electoral process to facilitate

Chairman of GECOM Justice (Ret’d) Claudette Singh

Hours after Justice Singh and the Chief Elections Officer addressed the press, the OAS Observer Mission, led by former Jamaican Prime Minister Bruce Golding, commended the Elections Commission, while offering a menu of recommendations.

Golding, while addressing the press at the Guyana Marriott, said that based on the 344 polling stations the team would have visited, arrangements and processes on Election Day were well-organised, and mirrored those of the Disciplined Services vote.

“The Mission commends the electoral authorities, including the poll worker, party agents, supervisory personnel and security agents who facilitated the conduct of the voting process on both days, but notes that in the absence of a preliminary results system, the outcome of the poll could not be known by the general public on Election Day, or on the morning thereafter,” Golding said.

While underscoring the

the successful holding of the elections.

The Mission was present in four of the country’s 10 administrative regions, with a total of 344 polling stations visited from more than 2,300 countrywide.

“Members of the Mission reported that the polling stations they observed opened on time, were fully staffed, and had the necessary electoral materials. In general, the premises housing polling stations provided sufficient space for the safe and secret conduct of the poll,” the Chief of Mission said.

However, it was observed that in some cases, polling stations were located on the upper floors of polling places, although there were alternative spaces on the lower floors. Such situations created difficulties for the elderly and persons with disabilities.

“Visits to the polling stations established shortly before Election Day suggested that voters were not unduly affected; the new polling stations

were active, and GECOM’s information officers were present to guide those persons requiring assistance,” the OAS Chief of Minister observed.

It was noted, too, that while there were long lines at polling stations during the first

concerns with GECOM in the not-so-distant future.

People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Prime Ministerial Candidate Brigadier Mark Phillips had lauded the electoral process as well. “The process was smooth this morn-

OAS Chief of Mission Bruce Golding (Photos by Adrian Narine)

three to four hours, by midday, the lines were significantly reduced. Golding said the Mission was also pleased to note the presence of local observer groups. Some of those groups included the Guyana Public Service Union, AMCHAM Guyana, the Private Sector Commission, the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the US Embassy, the Canadian High Commission and the British High Commission.

‘A FEW ANOMALIES AND ABUSES’ President David Granger, on weighing in on the electoral process on Monday, said he was satisfied with the electoral process, despite the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) Coalition had noticed a few anomalies and abuses. It was noted that at some polling stations, the six-digit stamps were only stamping four digits. The ‘Coalition’ intends to raise its

ing; I think the GECOM staff was well-organised, and I hope that it remains like that throughout the day. As you noticed, a lot of people came out very early to vote; I myself had set the example,” Phillips said on E-Day. GECOM’s preparation for the March 2 General and Regional Elections was a long, arduous one, with many delays and “fallouts” among the Elections Commissioners, drawn from the ruling party (APNU+AFC) and the Opposition (PPP/C).

Monday’s elections were triggered by a No-Confidence Motion, which was successfully moved against the Government by the Opposition.

However, while the Motion was moved in December 2018, it was not until June 2019 that there was a definite ruling on its validity. That ruling was handed down by the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), months after the High Court (Jan. 2019) had upheld the Motion, and the Court of Appeal (Mar.

OAS urges reform ...

GECOM currently has no means of cleaning the list, save through the constitutional provisions for removal (a registered death, certified insanity or election offence) or through the claims and objections period.

Both the High Court and the Court of Appeal have ruled that it

would be unconstitutional to remove Guyanese from the National Register of Registrants Database even if there are not present in Guyana at the time of a house-to-house registration, however, the OAS Electoral Observation Mission believed that electoral reform can produce a more

accurate list.

“Comprehensive reform of the voter registration system, along with the necessary legislative authorisation for registration, changes to voter lists and submission of complaints about the exclusion or inclusion of voters,” Golding said while under-

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2019) had overturned it.

However, on the very day that the CCJ validated the Motion as properly carried in the National Assembly, it also ruled that the appointment of Justice (Ret’d) James Patterson as Chairman of the Elections Commission was unconstitutional, thereby creating a void.

There were several disagreements between the President and Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo on the list of nominees to be considered before consensus was finally arrived at on July 26, 2019. **But by the time Justice Singh was sworn into office, GECOM had already commenced a process of Houseto-House Registration, based on an Order issued by Justice Patterson before he demitted office.

Justice Singh, in mid-August, took a decision to halt the House-to-House Registration exercise, after the High Court ruled that while the process was legitimate, it would have been unconstitutional for the Commission to remove persons from the National Register of Registrants Database if they had not participated in the exercise.

Initially, it was the intention of GECOM to create a new database from the House-toHouse Registration process.

Nonetheless, the decision meant that GECOM had to sync the fresh data with the existing data but not before conducting a cross matching exercise which was done overseas. Commissioners on both sides of the aisle subsequently made several demands, such as additional verification, publication of names in local newspaper and even calls for the removal of thousands of persons who had participated in the House-to-House Exercise.

It was not until September 2019 that GECOM indicated to President Granger that it was in a position to facilitate free, fair and credible elections by the end of February 2020.

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scoring the need for house-to-house registration to be conducted as the earliest possible time. According to him, such exercise should be periodically conducted to cleanse the list.

The OAS Mission had arrived in Guyana on February 20 and comprised a total of 17

international observers from 12 countries, including specialists in the electoral registries, electoral organisation, electoral technology, electoral justice, campaign finance and the political participation of women.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 4, 2020

Small parties flatter to deceive … preliminary results show no path to parliamentary seat

By Lisa Hamilton PRELIMINARY results provided by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) show that the performance of individual small parties contesting the General and Regional Elections is disappointing.

Based on votes already received for key regions, it is unlikely that any will secure the presidency and hardly likely will stand a chance at securing a seat in the National Assembly.

Small parties contesting the General Elections are: A New and United Guyana (ANUG); Change Guyana (CG); Liberty and Justice Party (LJP); People’s Republic Party (PRP); The Citizenship Initiative (TCI); The New Movement (TNM)

and the United Republican Party (URP).

GENERAL ELECTIONS REVIEW At Guyana Chronicle’s press time on Tuesday night, the votes of each party stood at: ANUG 252; CG - 255; LJP - 195; PRP – 115; TCI - 78; TNM – 25 and URP - 52.

These results were processed at 18:31hrs. The party in the lead is Change Guyana, led by businessman, Robert Badal. The party was launched in October 2019 plugging tax-free benefits for Guyanese and new business investments.

Close behind is ANUG, led by former speaker of the National Assembly, Ralph Ramkarran. The party was launched in January 2019

and is big on constitutional reform.

On the heels of the two is the LJP headed by former Toshao, Lennx Shuman.

The party was launched on January 12, 2019, projecting early on that it would be a strong advocate for Amerindian issues. The PRP follows next led by Christian leader, Phyllis Jordan. The party, launched in December 2019, promises to lift Guyana to higher moral standards and sharing strong views against abortion and homosexuality.

And way behind is TCI headed by educator, Rondha-Ann Lam. The party was launched on October 17, 2019 with promises of constitutional reform and campaign-financing laws.

The two lowest perform-

ers as of the above-mentioned time were newcomer TNM led by medical practitioner, Dr. Asha Kissoon and longtime contester, URP led by businessman, Dr. Vishnu Bandhu.

The TNM was launched in November 2019 labelling itself as a party of “young professionals,” while TNM hoped to end the ‘winnertake-all’ system by securing representation in the National Assembly.

Working People’s Alliance (WPA) Executive Member, Dr. David Hinds, had told this newspaper in October 2019, that even though he is pleased to see more political groups join the fray, their emergence is illtimed. “There are parties that arise out of the political and social situation in the country, and then there are parties that are formed around elections time, and I think a lot of the newer parties that you’re seeing now are parties that are formed around the election time, which means that they are formed just to contest the elections,” he reasoned.

“I think in the environment that we have now in Guyana, it’s very polarised, and I don’t think that voters in either of the two big ethnic blocs are about to experiment with a new party, because that’s what they will be doing if they vote for these small parties.

It would be an experiment,

and I don’t think voters are in the mood to experiment, because, you know, there is a lot at stake in these elections.”

He had put forward that his belief is that the only means for the recently-emerging parties to make a difference elections-wise was to “form partnerships with the bigger parties.

While several of the parties refused this option, LJP, ANUG and TMN entered into a joinder of lists which will see their votes being counted collectively during tabulation.

It is the first time that such an agreement was made in Guyana’s Elections and the parties signed an agreement which details that should they collectively win a seat, they will share their time in the National Assembly by 1/3 with the party with the largest contribution nominating the first member. As of the time aforementioned, the total votes for the General Elections for the three parties stood at 472.

It is unknown yet what number of votes will constitute one seat in the National Assembly as this is determined based on the number of votes cast divided by the number of seats in the National Assembly. At the 2015 elections, one seat warranted a little over 6,000 votes based on over 400,000 votes cast from an Official

List of Electors (OLE) of over 500,000.

In the 2020 elections, the OLE stands at over 600,000 and based on the number of votes cast, the number which warrants a seat can possibly be higher.

REGIONAL ELECTIONS REVIEW Meanwhile, in the Regional Elections, on Tuesday night the votes of each party stood at: CG -311; FEDUP - 117; LJP - 227; OVP - 117; PRP – 91; TCI – 1 and URP 152. These results were processed at 18:46hrs.

Change Guyana contested in Regions Two, Three, Four, Five, Six and 10 and best performed – at the above-mentioned time --- in Region Three. URP contested in all Regions and best performed – at the above-mentioned time – in Region Two. FEDUP only contested in Regions Five and Six while the OVP contested only in Region Four.

Meanwhile, the LJP contested in Regions One, Two, Four, Seven, Eight and Nine and best performed – at the above-mentioned time – in Region Nine.

The PRP sought votes in Regions Three, Four, Five, Six and 10 and best performed – at the above-mentioned time --in Region Three.

29-02-2020

01 08 09 13 18 20 21

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07 13 19 20 25

384

918

05 09 11 15 17

28-02-2020

06 08 10 11 13

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 4, 2020

67 per cent voter turnout in Region Three

ASSISTANT Elections Agent for Region Three, John Adams, on Tuesday, confirmed that the verification of votes in that region has been completed and declared by the Region’s Returning Officer, Mohanlall Jagdeo, where an approximately 67 per cent voter turnout is said to have been recorded.

Adams, at the time, could not say what the results from the Region were, while efforts to contact Jagdeo by telephone up to late last evening proved futile. However, speaking with the Guyana Chronicle, earlier on Tuesday, Jagdeo had shared that his verification of the results in the Region began since Monday evening.

“It started last [Monday] night, we closed off around 4:00am. We are trying to finish it by [Tuesday],” Jagdeo had said.

He noted that the verification process had been scheduled to recommence at 13:00hrs on Tuesday. Adams said it was completed approximately 16:00hrs.

“It was because most of the information that the Returning Officer had, it was actually the same that we had. If there was a one or a two, it wouldn’t have changed the results in any way,” Adams related.

Many voters are currently in suspense as they await the district and then national declarations of the results of Monday’s General and Regional elections, which, over the past few months, has been called

Assistant Elections Agent for Region Three, John Adams the “mother of all elections” for Guyana.

Polls closed across the country at 18:00hrs on March 2, marking the ending to voting, which commenced at 06:00hrs. The votes were then counted by the respective Presiding Officers of the polling stations, before ballot boxes and statement of polls were handed over to the Deputy Returning Officers (DRO), who then transmitted them to the ROs of the respective Regions.

The ROs are required to verify the SOPs, before declaring the results as the official results of the region. Chief Elections Officer (CEO), Keith Lowenfield,

during a press conference on Tuesday, related that the respective Returning Officers were expected to publicly declare the results of their regions once verified.

It is unclear where or how Jagdeo publicly declared results for Region Three.

Some 100, 758 voters were scheduled to vote in Region Three, across 355 polling stations. The Region saw a 16 per cent increase in the number of registered voters, however, the 67 per cent turnout is down from the 73.5 per cent turn out that the region experienced at the 2015 General and Regional elections.

The region has traditionally been one dominated by the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPPC), which has maintained a stable 65 per cent claim in the Region, which it registered at both the 2015 and 2011 general and regional elections. The PPP’s main rival, the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC), however, has been gaining momentum in the Region.

At the 2011 elections, that party won 27.6 per cent of the votes; this was up to 33.4 per cent at the 2015 elections.

Significant to voters in the Region is that it is home to PPP presidential candidate, Irfaan Ali. When contacted on Tuesday for a comment on his party’s performance in the Region, Ali would only say that he was in a meeting.

The Guyana Chronicle has been mak-

‘Coalition’ seeking recount –– of two ballot boxes in Region 3 ASSISTANT Elections Agent for Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), John Adams, says he will be writing the Region’s Returning Officer, Mohanlall Jagdeo for a recount of two ballot boxes from West Coast Demerara polling stations, following allegations of Disciplined Services ballots not being counted and another of spoilt ballots being counted.

In the case of the uncounted Disciplined Services ballots, Adams said that according to reports reaching him, it was at a polling station at Vergenoegen where a Presiding Officer (PO) is alleged to have failed to stamp, intermix and count Disciplined Services ballots that were assigned to her polling station.

“That PO didn’t know, or didn’t remember, so she did not stamp and intermix the Disciplined Services ballot at

some polling station at Vergenoegen. So those ballots, they remained in an envelope. I am now learning about this today, so I will ask for that box to be opened tomorrow. So that is another issue I will have on my hand in the morning,” Adams shared on Tuesday evening.

Up to late Tuesday evening, the region’s returning officer, Mr. Jagdeo, could not be contacted for a comment on the situations.

In Guyana, the Disciplined Services, which includes ranks of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) and the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), cast their ballots for the general and regional elections on a designated date prior to Elections Day. This year, they voted on February 28, while the rest of the country voted on March 2.

The Disciplined Services ballots are not stamped on the day

they vote; instead, the unstamped ballots are deposited at a random polling station on Elections Day, and stamped with that polling station’s six- digit stamp, before being intermixed and counted with all other ballots cast at that polling station.

Adams, who is also a candidate for the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC), said he will also be asking for a recount of another ballot box, following reports from polling agents at a Parika polling station that the PO assigned a number of spoilt ballots to the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPPC). He said he has already written to the RO requesting a recount of that indicated ballot box.

Spoilt ballots are considered rejected ballots, and are not supposed to be assigned to any political party. “There were about 15 spoilt ballots.

PPP Presidential Candidate, Irfaan Ali ing repeated efforts to contact Ali since voting took place on Monday, however, Ali has continually refused to speak with this publication.

The Region is also home to the United Republic Party (URP), headed by presidential candidate, Dr. Vishnu Bandhu.

However, the Region, over the years, has not been kind to the URP, which is yet to ever amass a seat from the Region, whether in the National Assembly or in the Regional Democratic Council (RDC).

In 2015, the party only received an insignificant 54 of the 62, 154 votes cast in the Region that year.

Our agent told us that the PO took the ballots that were not good into the box, and recorded it as for the PPP,” Adams related. Following the declaration of elections results, parties are afforded a period during

which they can request, and must be afforded a recount of particular ballot boxes.

Adams said he has also written Jagdeo requesting a list of the rejected ballots in the Region.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday March 4, 2020

Inclusionary Democracy WE have editorialised before on the role of the people in the management and decision-making processes of the State, as outlined in Article 13 of the Guyana Constitution.

This article is the people’s sword and shield and cannot only be used to demand the people’s involvement from their government, but also protection against governments that want to exclude them. The purpose of our political system, as written in the article, outlines that “The principal objective of the system of the State is to establish an inclusionary democracy by providing increasing opportunities for the participation of citizens and their organisations in the management and decision-making processes of the State, with particular emphasis on those areas of decision-making that directly affect their well-being.”

This article which came out of the constitutional reform process was arrived at given that it was felt, among other things, that “measures and arrangements for the improvement of race relations in Guyana include the contribution which equal-opportunities legislation and concepts drawn from the CARICOM Charter of Civil Society can contribute to the cause of justice, equity and progress in Guyana.”

Where its conceptualisation has its genesis in the dissatisfaction at the outcome of the 1997 elections by the then opposition People’s National Congress Reform

(PNC/R) and, more importantly, the fear and/or frustration of a significant segment of the population living under the administration of a party they had not supported to form the government, gives greater credence to make it work, regardless of who is in government. There is no intention to argue the merits or demerits, validity or invalidity of these views, save to say that civility requires that where such fears, real or perceived, are expressed, they are worthy of being addressed.

For years, the society has been told — and some have come to accept — that ours is a winner-takes-all politics, whereby the party which has not secured the Executive, and its supporters, are denied. Whether this has merit or not is not the intent or attention save to say where Article 13 requires involvement, it must be allowed to work. For this article lays the platform, via the nation’s supreme law, to establish and foster a political solution built on the involvement of all, irrespective of our diversity, but inclusive of the political party supported.

Government’s social-cohesion push suggests that inclusionary democracy can be activated in its fullest and become the fillip in the process of nation-building. This means that the preference, harboured in certain quarters, to foster a politics of dissent or of “our time” does not negate, or should not obscure, the overwhelming desire of the ordinary man and woman to proceed on the road

C-GID appeals for calm in the face of obvious incitement of violence

Dear Editor

ON Election Day, Monday, March 2, 2020, operatives of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) allegedly attempted to commit election fraud and violence. This attempt to engender destabilisation was foiled. Moreover, 12 men were arrested in Alberttown, Georgetown, near polling stations at the St. Ambrose Primary School.

In the 1997 elections, PPP agents were accused of changing vote tallies on SOPs. This triggered an international Commission of Inquiry. The 1997 elections results were subsequently vitiated due to constitutional breaches by then Supreme Court Justice Claudette Singh, who now heads the Elections Commission.

The men were caught with guns, ammunition and bulletproof vests, and were travelling in vehicles with fake licence plates. The arms, ammunition and a vehicle were seized by the police. PPP agents accosted, harassed and intimidated voters in some areas. They allegedly followed voters, took their photographs and videotaped their movement to and from polling stations. These are known voter-suppression tactics. The Caribbean Guyana Institute for Democracy (CGID) condemns these illegal acts and calls for a comprehensive, criminal investigation of the PPP’s Election Day activities.

Surveillance video captured the 12 men, whom police detained at different times in the company of senior PPP officials on Monday in the vicinity of polling stations around Georgetown. This development is worrisome and reminiscent of the past. On April 9, 2001, eyewitnesses informed the police that they saw a security officer located at the top floor, rear exit of Freedom House, the PPP’s Robb Street, Georgetown, headquarters, fire into a crowd of protesters, killing 43 year-old Donna McKinnon. No one was charged for McKinnon’s murder.

Meanwhile, Guyanese law enforcement and immigration officials on Monday allegedly detained and deported Brent Kartcher, a 73-year-old Texas oil executive, Libyan Marwan Al-Ayed and Vadim Kyrillov of Austria. The trio arrived in Guyana last Saturday in a private jet. They were taken into custody at the Georgetown Marriott Hotel where several PPP operatives and expatriates have been frequenting for meetings. CGID appeals for calm in the face of obvious incitement of violence and calls on the Guyana Police Force to take swift action against breaches of the peace, security and the law.

Regards Rickford Burke Caribbean-Guyana Institute for Democracy (C-GID)

of inclusion. Whichever way it is looked at, a diverse nation stands to gain more when all feel that their voices are heard, their opinions and inputs valued, their choice of representatives respected, and their taxes invested in them, irrespective of political or apolitical interests.

It need not be forgotten, amidst the conversations about the constitution and its amendments, from which Article 13 and the presidential term limit flowed, were the result of the people’s involvement. These amendments were conceptualised and developed across the political divide and inclusive of the apolitical, done in congenial and consensual atmosphere, that not only saw large participation, but also trust. Guyanese were led to believe by their political leadership, on both sides of the aisle, that a person can serve not more than two terms as president, yet we saw the machinations of a few with scurrilous political agendas, on a matter that was settled more than a decade ago by unanimous national and parliamentary support. Few, if any, relish living in a nation constantly wracked by divisions, conflicts, and acrimony, under the fear that the law will protect some and not all, and all are not subject to the same law. This is not a healthy relationship in building social cohesion and as was stated we, the people, are moulders of our destiny. It is a destiny worthwhile moulding, where all will live in peace and harmony.

Interfaith service was well received Dear Editor, ON March 1, 2020, the Universal Peace Federation - Guyana held a pre-election Interfaith Ceremony and Sermon under the theme: “The Fatherhood of God and the Brotherhood of Man” at the UPF Chapel in the Joshua House compound.

Political, public, regional organisations, NGO personalities, leaders of the respective religious faiths of Guyana, members of the public and other Ambassadors for Peace, attended the Interfaith Ceremony and Sermon.

The event was envisioned and masterminded by the National Chairman of the Universal Peace Federation - Guyana, Ambassador for Peace, Haji Dr. Roshan Khan, with the invaluable support of fellow Ambassador for Peace, Rev. Dr. Ronald McGarrell, General Secretary of the UPF - Guyana, on the grounds of unity, harmony and understanding across Guyana for the elimination of the possible challenges to peace and prosperity, especially during the upcoming elections and after.

The session was beautifully moderated

by Ambassador for Peace, Pastor Wendell Jeffrey. Fellow Ambassadors for Peace, Haji Dr. Roshan Khan; His Worship, the Mayor of the City of Georgetown, Pandit Ubraj Narine; Rev. Dr. Ronald McGarrell, Pastor Diego Alphonso and newly certified Ambassador for Peace, Maulana Tasdeeq Aabidi all addressed the audience on Unification Sermons and Principles in their respective religions.

In his remarks, His Worship the Mayor

Pandit Ubraj Narine reiterated the Federation’s core values that we are all one. He further stated that mankind is the highest creation of God, but sometimes due to our inner vices -- greed, lust, pride and hatred -- we act as the lowest creation of God. He urged everyone to not let these vices within suppress them, and to find the peace within themselves, as “peace begins with the inner self.”

The ceremony also saw the certification of deserving individuals from the community as Ambassadors for Peace. These include; Maulana Tasdeeq Aabidi, Mr. Denis Abrams, Mrs. Rajdai Ragubeer, Ms. Liza BobbSemple, Ms. Timona Anthony, Sister Edris Valladares and Sister Leah Edghill. The charge to the newly designated Peace Ambassadors was eloquently read by Pastor Wendell Jeffrey, who in his remarks, reiterated that they should respect the honour and represent it well. He further added that if there is a time when Peace Ambassadors need to shine, especially in Guyana, IT IS NOW! At the conclusion of the event, everyone joined hands as “One Human Family under God,” to pray for peace, harmony and understanding in the respective prayers of the major religious faiths of Guyana.

Sincerely, Haji Dr. Roshan Khan National Chairman: Universal Peace Federation – Guyana

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday March 4, 2020

Coalition wins landslide in Region 10

7

…secures over 19,000 of the 22,808 votes

By Vanessa Braithwaite REGION TEN has, once again, proven to be a strong base of the APNU+AFC, as the electorate has delivered a landslide victory for the Coalition at the March 2nd polls. Unofficial declaration of the results shows that the APNU+AFC secured approximately 19,000 votes out of the 22 808 votes that were cast on elections day.

That was approximately 3000 more votes, compared to the 16,791 that were won at the 2015 Regional and General Elections. The People’s Progressive Party (PPP), managed to pick up about 3000 votes, which was about 250 more votes than were won in 2015. Other small parties that made some in roads in Region Ten, included Change Guyana, the People’s Republic Party and the United Republic Party, with about 350 votes in total. There was a 66 per cent voter turnout in Region Ten. In 2015, 19,742 persons voted.

On Tuesday, the atmosphere in Linden remained calm, as the residents await official results from GECOM. However, there is a celebratory mood among residents and regional officials, following

the unofficial announcement of the regional victory as they remain hopeful that the same will be secured for a general victory. Resident of Linden, Shonette Seaforth, said she was very happy that Region Ten, once again, delivered for the coalition and it would allow for the progress to continue in the region. “We have seen a lot of development in the last four years, which Lindeners really appreciate, because, in the past, we were left behind and my biggest fear was going back to those days, so now I am relieved and we are hoping victory will be delivered for the country,” Seaforth said.

Campaign Manager of the APNU+AFC Larry London, said that the target was to garner 90 per cent of the votes in Region Ten and while this was not done with the 19,000 votes garnered, it is closer, than farther away from the target. He is also happy with the increase in voter turnout and based it on a very aggressive, strong and well-planned-out campaign.

Relative to the 10,000 registered voters that did not vote, London said it is his belief that at least half of those persons were unable to vote because they are either deceased or migrated. All in all, London said,” I am happy, we have

seen 16, 000 votes ahead of our strongest rival and that was not easy to do.”

Included in the 19,000 electors who voted in favour of the coalition, London believes that many of those are not only first time voters, but converted ones that threw their support behind his party. London also expressed confidence that the electoral process was sincere and credible. Former Member of Parliament Jermaine Figueira, who also played an integral role in the party’s campaigning in the region, also said that the numbers were close to the set target and believes that the 60 per cent turnout is not an accurate representation of the real existing number of people that are domicile in the region.

Not satisfied but comfortable Their AFC counterpart, Devin Sears said he was feeling more comfortable than satisfied. The team, he said worked very hard at least to receive victory and an increase from 2015.

“We as a party have made inroads in the PPP strongholds such as Coomacka. We won Coomacka, Siberian, Wiruni which were predominantly PPP supporters; we have made in-roads in places like Hururu, Aroiama and we can go on and on. Generally, we are happy;

we thank Region Ten for its support for this party. I believe that we did well,” Sears said.

The AFC Regional Party Chairman said the target was for a 90 per cent voter turnout and there were several factors that resulted in that not being realised, and going forward he hoped new strategies would be in place to get residents out to vote. Though, according to Sears, the Coalition made inroads in some of the PPP strong holds, the PPP still managed to rake in over 3000 votes, which represents an increase of about 250 votes compared to 2015. PPP Regional Candidate Dexter Harding said that this was achieved because the PPP put in a lot of ground work and held community meetings though residents were hostile to them in some areas.

He believed capturing over 3000 votes in an APNU+AFC stronghold is quite an achievement and he was happy about it. “It is fairly well, we are satisfied,” he said. Harding also believes the electoral process in Region Ten was fair and credible. With the votes garnered, PPP is expected to receive about three seats on the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) but will have no representation in Parliament. For the last three elections, PPP

APNU+AFC Campaign Manager of Region 10, Larry London

had been securing three seats on the RDC. Celebration Meanwhile, residents in outlying communities such as Ituni and Kwakwani are celebrating the coalition’s victory for their communities. In Ituni, the Coalition received 233 votes, while the PPP received 48 votes. There was a 84 per voter turnout in the community. APNU+AFC Campaign Manager for the community, Keisha McKane, said she was very happy for victory, since the 233 represents over 60 more votes than what were received in 2015. “All in all I am satisfied with the results, I am proud of my community, I am proud of my residents for coming out, for exercising their franchise,

Kwakwani resident Rayston Downer

their democratic right. I am overjoyed,” she said.

In Kwakwani, the APNU+AFC also raked in a landslide victory and the mood was quite celebratory, yet calm in the Upper Berbice River community. Young resident Rayston Downer, said that many of the residents, like him, were very satisfied with the results and there seemed to be a sense of unity in the community following the announcement. He believed that with the return of the coalition, development in Kwakwani will continue until it reaches its full potential. In Region Ten, there were 125 polling stations and 33 808 residents were registered to vote. The elections ay process was smooth and uneventful.

My clients’ fundamental PPP takes umbrage with coalition predicting victory rights are being breached Dear Editor

Dear all I WAS retained to represent Sameer Bacchus and Paul Persaud in relation to an incident that occurred at the St. Ambrose Primary School, where it seems to be alleged that an offence was committed involving ballot boxes used in the 2020 General Elections.

At this juncture I must emphasise the fact that it was reported in the media, that, no less a person than the Commander of ‘A’ Division of the Guyana Police Force, has stated that there is no evidence that the detainees were involved in any such actions.

Nonetheless, they were being detained, so I journeyed to the CID Headquarters, Eve Leary, Camp Road, at about 11:32 pm on the 2nd March,

2020, in an effort to see my clients. When I arrived I told several officers the reason for my visit and I was told by a guard at the gate that a Sergeant Fraser told him that I had to wait until they received a call from ‘upstairs.’ I made several other attempts, over a two-hour period, to engage the police, but my efforts were to no avail. I made calls to high-ranking police officials and they all told me that they could not render assistance and that the crime chief was in charge of the matter; I left the station without the clients having the opportunity to meet with me.

Now, it is enshrined in our laws that every person has the right to consult with his or her lawyer and the Guyana Police Force’s (GPF’s) reluctance to have my clients enjoy

their rights to have access to their lawyer violates the requirement of the persons’ fundamental constitutional rights. As I understand it, that right arises immediately upon detention, so no excuse can be given by the GPF unless my meeting my clients would have impeded their investigation; and even if that were the case, no police officer had the courtesy of giving me an explanation or a time frame to work with.

These actions by the GPF amount to nothing short of executive misconduct on a matter of prime importance to the administration of justice.

My clients were denied the privilege of having a lawyer explain to them what they are to expect at every stage of the criminal process and I am unable to ensure that their

constitutional rights are not being violated by law enforcement. Are we now part of a police state?

It is not the first time that I am encountering these challenges and I am afraid that if nothing is done by those in charge, the breaches of our constitutional rights will become customary; we are already well on our way.

The GPF is supposed to be one of the protectors of these rights, not the ones who violate them. Hopefully, the commissioner of police sees this letter and allows my clients to benefit from my advice, or I would have no choice but resort to move to the courts for redress.

Regards Everton Singh-Lammy Attorney-at-law

THE People’s Progressive Party (PPP) notes the release of a statement from the APNU+AFC Coalition, on March 3, 2020, urging Guyanese to remain calm and patient until the official declaration of results from the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections. The Party also believes that Guyanese must remain calm and go about their business in a peaceful manner, as GECOM finalizes the official results via its verification process.

One worrying paragraph in the Coalition’s statement is where it claims that projections are positive for a second term in office.

We urge Guyanese not to be misled. As is characteristic of the Coalition, while appealing for calm, it is attempting to mislead our people. This action should be condemned. The Party urges Guyanese to not be misled by the APNU+AFC Coalition on the matter of official Election results. The APNU+AFC Coalition leader, David Granger, indicated just on March 2, 2020, GECOM is the only “authority” to officially and formally declare the results of Monday’s polls–yet today he has made his own declaration. The Party has informed the international Election Observer Missions about this matter and will remain engaged with stakeholders. The Party notes that GECOM’s verification is being done in the presence of several international and local Election Observer teams. The People’s Progressive Party reiterates that GECOM is the only authority to declare, officially, the results of the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections and we urge patience as the Elections Commission finalises its work.

Regards People’s Progressive Party

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‘Coalition’ takes control of Region 8 … secures 2,086 of the 4,626 votes that were cast

THE A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) coalition has won Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) at the 2020 General and Regional Elections.

The declaration was made by the region’s returning officer Dwayne Marco on Tuesday afternoon.

Marco said that of the region’s 7431 electors, the

total number of valid votes that were cast was 4,626, which is the equivalent of a 62 per cent voter-turnout. And, of the 4,626 votes that were cast, 2,086 were in favour of the APNU+AFC. Coming a close second is the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) with 2,041 votes, followed by the Liberty and Justice Party (LJP) with 460, and the United Republican Party (URP) with just 39.

At the 2015 elections, the region was won by the PPP, which got 1837 votes, as opposed to the 1791 votes cast for the APNU/AFC. In the preliminary announcement, which was made earlier in the day by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), the A Partnership for National Unity+Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) coalition had 22,367 votes in sever-

Several persons voted at the Mahdia Primary and Secondary Schools, as well as the Campbell Town polling station on Monday

al regions from a total of 39, 049. That figure was derived from votes from 187 polling stations across the country.

On Tuesday, the Guyana Chronicle reported that voting was conducted in a smooth manner in the region. Marco himself has told this newspaper that the process went smoothly. At the close of poll, he’d told the Guyana Chronicle: “So far, it has been smooth, even in District Number Two, which is Madhia, and District Number One, which is the Paramakatoi area. There were no major reports coming in to us, and we handled everything well.”

He’d subsequently added: “I will be expecting all my Statements of Poll tomorrow.

Some of my Statements of Poll for like instance the Mahdia registration area, will be coming in tonight; latest by 11:00 hrs.”

The RO had explained that from observations, persons went through the process very smoothly.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 4, 2020

Coalition urges calm as GECOM processes results

THE APNU+AFC Coalition is urging the populace to remain patient as Guyanese await the results of Monday’s regional and general elections.

“The APNU+AFC Coalition thanks all Guyanese for the patience which they exercised on elections day and continue to exercise as we await the announcement of the official results by the Guyana Elections Commission,” the party said in a statement.

“We implore all Guyanese, especially our supporters, to continue to remain calm and to go about your daily activities in a spirit of peace and optimism. We are cognisant that there will be anxieties for results but we reiterate that we must allow GECOM to do its work and await the official announcements, which are likely to commence later today (Tuesday). All of our internal projections are positive and indicate that we will be returned to government for a second term to continue the work of building and developing Guyana. Once again we commend all Guyanese for their patience and urge that this continues as we move forward together.”

Meanwhile, in reacting to the coalition’s statement, the People’s Progressive Party said it notes the release of a statement from the APNU+AFC Coalition urging Guyanese to remain calm and patient until the official declaration of results from the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections. “The party also believes that Guyanese must remain calm and go about their business in a peaceful manner, as GECOM finalises the official results via its verification process. One worrying paragraph in the coalition’s statement is where it claims that projections are positive for a second term in office,” the PPP statement read. The party said: “We urge Guyanese not to be misled. As is characteristic of the coalition, while appealing for calm, it is attempting to mislead our people. This action should be condemned. The party urges Guyanese to not be misled by the APNU+AFC Coalition on the matter of official election results. The APNU+AFC Coalition leader, David Granger, indicated just on March 2, 2020, GECOM is the only “authority” to officially and formally declare the results of Monday’s polls – yet he has made his own declaration. The party has informed the international Election Observer Missions about this development.” However, later on Tuesday, after Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, in an interview with the Newsroom said that his party had taken an “unassailable lead” in the results of the polls. The coalition has been urging its supporters and citizens in general not to be intimidated and misled.

They have also warned against fake news, which has proliferated on social media in recent days.

Man burns down entire building trying to kill snake A BUILDING in the Tarlogie compound in East Berbice, Corentyne, which formerly housed government staff in the 1980s, was completely gutted after a man tried to get rid of a snake by burning it.

Several other abandoned buildings in the compound were not affected.

According to reports, the fire started at approximately 13:00hrs after the security guard attached to the compound lit a fire in a tyre that was situated close to the house. He told investigators that he saw the snake inside and wanted to “kill it”.

The Guyana Chronicle understands that the small fire caught on other combustibles and old tyres that

were stored next to the structure.

Within minutes, the fire spread to the entire building.

Reports indicate that soon after lighting the fire, the man fell asleep and was awoken by the smell of smoke. When he opened his eyes, he saw the house on fire.

The fire completely destroyed the house and spread to nearby empty lots with dry grass. Firefighters from the Rose Hall Fire station arrived promptly and were able to control the blaze.

The security guard was held for questioning and an investigation is currently underway.

It is unclear if the snake was killed in the inferno.

The house that was flattened by fire

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 4, 2020

APNU+AFC condemns ‘reckless, irresponsible PPP statement’ THE APNU+AFC Coalition has strongly condemned what it described as the reckless and irresponsible statement issued by the opposition People’s Progressive Party, Monday evening, claiming that moves are afoot to destroy state records.

“The statement is based on absolute falsehoods and manufactured information and is clearly designed to excite and incite the public. It is evident that this statement is a manifestation of the throes of desperation that the PPP has found itself in as the results of Monday’s General and Regional Elections are becoming clearer to those at Freedom House.”

In a release issued Tuesday afternoon the PPP called on the Commissioner of Police to take all necessary steps to protect all public buildings which house government offices including, but not limited to, all Ministries of the Government. “We have received credible information that attempts are being made to remove and destroy important records of the Government of Guyana and other public documents and moveable assets of the State. We expect the Guyana Police Force to discharge its statutory duty in protecting and preserving official records of the Government of Guyana and all Government and State properties,” the PPP claimed in their release.

However, the APNU+AFC Coalition is calling on the public to continue to exercise patience “as we await the official announcement of the results by the Guyana Elections Commission. We also repeat our call for citizens to remain calm and go about their business in an atmosphere of peace and optimism. The APNU+AFC Coalition is confident that it will be returned to government for a second term to continue the work of building and developing Guyana,” the statement added. According to the coalition the Elections Commission is doing a methodical job and has started to release the figures of the polls.

“We have every confidence in GECOM in the administration of this election and our internal figures, which we are comparing with the GECOM-delivered results, show an unmistakable trend towards an APNU+AFC victory.

We are aware that some, if not most of the international observer missions, will be leaving Guyana shortly and we wish to take this opportunity to thank them and the local missions for their work in Guyana over the election period.

Democracy is alive and well in Guyana.”

“We wish to commend the Guyana Police Force for the professional job which they have done so far and urge all citizens to be respectful in their interaction with our security forces.

As we did earlier today, we commend all Guyanese for their patience and urge that this continues as we move forward together,” the coalition statement ended.

East Canje/NA business slow as persons await elections results HOURS after the polling stations were closed following the Genaral and Regional Elections, the atmosphere in East Canje and New Amsterdam remained calm and tense as residents await the results.

Cambio dealers reported a decline in the purchase of foreign currency, as persons postponed business transactions until declarations of election results are made.

A businessman, who asked that his name be withheld, recalled that the withholding of foreign currency by citizens is a traditional pattern, which has been a practice for over thirty years.

“Persons are not willing to spend and exchange monies after elections, until the winner is declared and the dust settles,” he said.

Meanwhile, schools were opened for instructional sessions however, there was a reduction in the attendance at the learning institutions in the district.

At some government agencies, staff, particularly those who were employed as polling-day staff by the Guyana Elections Commission, were given a half day, and in some instances a whole day off.

However, at the post offices, pensioners turned up in large groupings to receive their monthly pension.

In Region Six, East Berbice Corentyne 99,132 registered voters were expected to cast their ballots at the recently-held elections.

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Persons with disabilities report smooth voting process

THE Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) would have facilitated an ‘equal right to vote’ General and Regional Elections on Monday, which allowed hundreds of persons with disabilities (PWD) and the elderly to exercise their constitutional right to vote without any hassle.

According to Commissioner on the National Commission for Disability (NCD) Ganesh Singh, every person with a disability who wanted to cast their ballots was able to do so.

Singh noted that reports received from Regions Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam); Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara); Four (Demerara-Mahaica); Five (Mahaica-Berbice); Six (East Berbice-Corentyne); and Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) would have indicated that PWDs did not encounter any challenges preventing them from voting. However, for wheelchair users, access to polling stations was a struggle. He noted that there were very few wheelchair-accessible polling stations, resulting in some persons having to be lifted upstairs.

“I have mixed feelings, because, yes, they were able to cast their ballots as citizens

87-year-old Ester Smith and a member of her family of Guyana, but we also got to remember that many of us were not able to cast our ballots independently; we had to depend on proxy, or we had to be accompanied by someone to do it on our behalf. But I’m glad there were not any major hiccups,” Singh told the Guyana Chronicle.

Angela Jacobis, who had her right foot amputated in late January of this year, was able to cast her vote in the comfort of her own home.

The Lindener described her

experience as “good”, and was happy that she got to exercise her constitutional right to vote.

Meanwhile, Jose Vanhersle, who is blind, was accompanied to the polling station by a trusted individual, who voted on his behalf.

“She (the trusted individual) asked me who I want to vote for, and I told her the symbol of the party I wanted to vote for. After placing the ‘X’, she gave me the ballot paper, and somebody placed

my right hand in the ink while placing my left hand to the box that I dropped the ballot paper in,” the 88-year-old recalled.

Vanhersle also stated that the process was smooth and quick, as he was instantly attended to upon his arrival at the polling station.

Entering the Christianburg-Wismar Secondary School with a cane on Monday was 87-year-old Ester Smith, who was accompanied by a family member. Smith told this newspaper that she was offered by GECOM representatives to vote proxy, but declined the offer since it was her desire to vote for herself.

“They (GECOM) had promised that I could vote proxy, but I said no; let me come out and do what I have to do, because I rather come and do it myself,” the elderly woman said.

The Lindener noted that she got to vote very quickly, because she was seen as priority due to her age.

“The voting process was good; I went in. Well, I can’t walk properly, due to a fractured hip, so I was placed at the front of the line to vote,” Ms. Smith said. “I am happy to come out here and do what I had to do,” she added.

PPP/C retains control of Region One THE People’s Progressive Party/ Civic has retained control of the Barima-Waini Region following Monday’s general and regional elections.

For the regional component of the elections in Region one, 18,952 persons were eligible to vote while 12,056 cast their ballot at 99 polling stations that were spread across the region. In a declaration of the regional results at GECOM headquarters in Mabaruma Tuesday night, Returning Officer, Trevor Harris for the district said 3,839 voted in favour of APNU+AFC; 145 for LPJ; 7996 for PPP/C and 77 for URP. “PPP/C with 7996 is the winner of Region One.” “This is the regional component of the elections. I would not be declaring the general results; that will be done by Mr. Lowenfield. He will be declaring it for the country,” Harris said.

A total of 11 political parties contested Monday’s elections with approximately 600,000 electors on the Official List of Electors (OLE) qualified to cast their ballots.

Polls throughout the country closed at 18:00 hours.

Returning officer Trevor Harris reading the results Tuesday night

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 4, 2020

Bad weather, administrative issues

WHILE the declaration of Statements of Poll (SOPs) from the majority of the Administrative Regions went unhindered, there were some challenges in far-out Regions related to weather and administrative issues which caused delays in timely Elections 2020 results.

Chief Elections Officer (CEO), Keith Lowenfield told the media on Tuesday morning at a press briefing that the process has been “painfully slow” but the Commission was working to have the elections results declared in the “soonest possible time”.

For results to be declared, Presiding Officers (POs) at various polling places must conduct a verification process whereby votes are counted, compared and the total verified with Polling Agents and Counting Agents.

This is followed by the declaration of the results by the PO and the posting of SOPs outside of the polling stations for all to see.

A package of these same results is then delivered to the Deputy Returning Officer (DRO), for transmission to the Returning Officers (ROs) and CEO. When the CEO receives these SOPs, he verifies the information and adds it to the tabulation of votes in each Region. As of noon on Tuesday, Lowenfield said that challenges at the verification level prevented his timely receipt of a large number of SOPs. “In some instances, we started and particularly the Counting Agents of some parties were not armed with their own statements from their parties. So, we’ve had some delays and we will continue today to bring closure to the entire exercise that will allow for a declaration of the results in all of the districts today,” he said.

“Once that declaration is made, it affords parties the opportunity to have an examination of those declarations that will facilitate their need--if be -- for recounts to be done.”

HIGHLIGHED CHALLENGES In Region One (Barima – Waini) where there are 99 polling stations and 18,952 electors, this process started in the town

… delay declaration of elections results

Chief Elections Officer (CEO), Keith Lowenfield of Mabaruma on Monday evening and the statements for sub-region one could not be transported due to weather conditions.

“We did not trust the low water in the river in the Waini, so those statements from the beach and so on, we’re utilising the medium of an aircraft to take those statements to the Returning Officers office and for sub-region three…that is completed today.”

In Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) where there are 99 polling stations and 18,952 electors; Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) where there are 135 polling stations and 37,979 electors, this process was completed. Lowenfield said then that approximately 93 per cent of the SOPs for Region Three were received.

There are 879 polling stations and 285,618 electors in Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica). While it was planned that the process would commence around 22:00hrs on Monday, “administrative issues” saw this commencement at 02:00hrs on Tuesday.

There were about 400 SOPs outstanding in the Region at the time, primarily from all of the East Bank of Demerara (ECD) and part

of the East Coast of Demerara.

The process was completed in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) where there are 158 polling stations and 44,663 electors. In Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), where there are 378 polling stations and 99,131 electors, the verification process was completed as of Tuesday morning. However, it was difficult for the Region’s RO to receive SOPs from Cashew Island, Canje Creek and some parts of the Corentyne River. “The night [Monday night] was pretty slothful as far as receipts,” he said.

Lowenfield reported, as of noon on March 3, that the process in Region 7 (CuyuniMazaruni) -- only home to 82 polling stations and 14,887 electors -- was started but not completed.

“I have received for Bartica Propper and for the riverine areas surrounding Bartica,” he said. “For the other part of Region 7, we have dispatched this morning a helicopter and in sub-region two, we have an aircraft that would have been moving from community to community to ensure the statements from the communities they’re transported to the office of the Returning Officer.”

The commission could, therefore, provide no preliminary results on the same at the mid-day press briefing. The CEO had also reported “treacherous” weather in Region 8 (Potaro-Siparuni) where there are 55 polling stations and 7,431 electors. However, a total of 34 SOPs were received from the town of Mahdia and its immediate environs.

“Today, we’re in the process – and as I indicated, the inclement weather there -- so that we can tackle the North Pakaraimas to ensure that all the statements from that Region is collected,” he said. “We are hopeful that at the end of the day that we conclude the receipts of our statements from the North Pakaraimas.”

Over in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo), there are 73 polling stations

CANU intercepts quantity of Cannabis in Charlestown A MAN has been arrested after being intercepted with a quantity of cannabis, Tuesday morning, in Charlestown, Georgetown.

The bust was made by ranks of the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU). According to a release, the unit intercepted a small quantity of suspected Cannabis in a clump of bushes at an abandoned yard at Howes Street, Charlestown, Georgetown.

CANU said that the two parcels, totalling 14.2 kilograms of suspected Cannabis, was found at the scene, and it is believed that the suspected Cannabis was brought from Berbice.

and 17,771 electors. An aircraft there has been under the command of the RO for the Region and it remains there to transport the SOPs. “Today, we are receiving in Region Nine. We have already departed to Gunns to ensure the statements from that village is collected.

We’re in the move to ensure that the aircraft movement facilitates speed in the delivery of Statements of Polls. At the time of the press conference, the verification process was complete in Region Ten (Upper Demerara-Berbice).

THE EFFORT TAKES TIME “We’re in the process of bringing closure to the receipts of all these statements from all across Guyana, particularly in the far-flung areas.

Once those statements are received, the ROs will ensure the verification process continues to ensure publicly the results of all of those stations are known to all and sundry and, at its conclusion, those declarations will be made and, no doubt, as the aircraft returns to the city, the statements for yours truly would have been delivered,” the CEO said.

He assured the public that GECOM is working to ensure that all administrative processes are conducted and that all agents from respective parties, observer groups and the media are involved in the verification of the district declarations.

Lowenfield had expected that all the declarations from ROs in the different Regions would be done by the end of Tuesday. Once the declarations are made, the law provides for up to noon on the following day for a period of recounts and once these are completed, if there are any material errors, the ROs are required to adjust and a second declaration made to the CEO. It is a combination of these declared results that form the official results of the 2020 General and Regional Elections.

Transgender on robbery with violence charge

The two parcels that were seized by CANU

WELL-KNOWN transgender personality, Otis Pearson, also known as “Otisha,” was brought before Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus on Tuesday, March 3, 2020, at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court, on a robbery with violence charge.

The charge alleged that, on November 10, 2019, at Sandy Babb Street, Kitty, Pearson, 42, robbed Dane Peters of $100,000 with the use of personal violence.

The prosecutor objected to the defendant being granted bail, based on the fact that it was not Pearson’s first offence and that he had an ongoing case before the court.

Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus, upon hearing the case, granted Pearson $70,000 bail under the conditions that he reports to the Kitty Police station once per week, every Friday. He was also ordered to stay at least100 feet from the complainant and cease all communication with Peters.

The matter was adjourned until Monday, March 16, 2020.

Pearson is currently before the Georgetown High Court for an alleged rape charge.

The charge alleged that, on December 24, 2017 at Station Street, Kitty, Otis Pearson known as “Otisha,” was engaged in a sexual penetration of a child under the age of 16.

Pearson was granted bail of $300,000 for the December offence.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 4, 2020

Region Six residents eagerly awaiting elections results THE atmosphere in Region Six remains calm, almost 24 hrs after the close of polls on Monday evening. As residents eagerly await the results, the silence and inactivity in some communities are deafening.

Most residents speaking with Guyana Chronicle have been calling for acceptance of the results as expressed by President David Granger and for calm and tranquility to prevail. Despite schools being open, as well as businesses, most students stayedat home, while residents kept indoors and were glued to their televisions and phones to get updates.

Many business owners also experienced a slow day in terms of commerce, especially in Rose Hall Town and are calling on the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to release the results as quickly as possible so that business can resume

as per normal.

President of the Central Corentyne Chambers of Commerce (CCCC), Mo-

gion Five, the process for the most part was smooth, efficient and transparent.

He continued that, de-

public and political parties to accept the results as declared

by GECOM, so that the country can move forward.

the region. He related that generally, Region Six, unlike their business counterparts in Region Four, are not usually

A section of the commercial section of Rose Hall Town on Monday

hamed Raffik, who was part of the observer’s team representing the Private Sector Commission, stated that, from their observations in Region Six, and part of Re-

barring a minor issue, the counting was a smooth and simple process at the polling stations, as the clerks were knowledgeable in their duties. He also called on the

Raffik also expressed satisfaction with the voters’ turnout in Region Six, explaining that the number of voters has traditionally been around 60 per cent in

affected by any post-election tensions and he was hoping that there would not be any across the country as the official results are declared by the Guyana Elections

Commission.

Up to press time, no official declaration has been made by Returning Officer (RO), Savitree Mangar, for District Six. However, there were some premature celebrations by coalition supporters after the preliminary results were announced earlier in the day by GECOM that showed the coalition in the lead from the results of 189 polling stations.

Initially, the RO was awaiting the arrival of the final SOP from a remote polling station along the Corentyne River. However, after that was added to make up the 378 polling stations in the district, the general elections tabulations were said to be completed later Tuesday afternoon.

Guyana Chronicle was told that the regional election tabulation was expected to commence later in the night.

Vincentian new head of PANCAP Owner of Auto Fashion loses home to fire

The Pan Caribbean Partnership against HIV and AIDS (PANCAP) has welcomed the appointment of Dr. Rosmond Adams as the new Director effective 2 March 2020.

A Vincentian by birth, Dr. Adams is a Medical Doctor by training and holds Master of Science degrees in both Public Health and Bioethics, PANCAP said in a recent release.

He is a public health specialist with more than ten years of experience in the health sector both at the national and regional levels in the areas of surveillance, communicable diseases including HIV, emergency response and health security.

Dr. Adams began his public health career as the Coordinator of the Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) programme in the Ministry of Health, Wellness and the Environment, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. He then served as the National Epidemiologist where his work focused on strengthening public health surveillance and strategic information to guide health policy, programmes and action.

In his previous post, he served as the Head of Health Information, Communicable Diseases and Emergency Response at the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) where he led the development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the Caribbean Regional Health Security Strategy as a common strategic framework for the CARPHA Member States to strengthen their capacity to manage and respond to emerging disease threats and other public health emergencies.

Dr. Adams serves on numerous national, regional and international public health advisory committees, including the World Health Organization (WHO) Global Coordinating Mechanism (GCM) on NCDs. Asked about his immediate priority, the Director emphasised that the sustainability of the region’s HIV response is paramount. “The HIV and AIDS epidemic is a threat to Regional Health

Security considering that our productive population is being impacted,” stated Dr. Adams, “I am optimistic that the region can end AIDS, but a lot of work must be

New PANCAP Director, Dr. Rosmond Adams

done and the gains made so far must be sustained whilst ensuring that we scale up our response and renew our commitment to this goal.” Dr. Adams succeeds Mr. Dereck Springer whose tenure ends on 28 February 2020. PANCAP is a Caribbean regional partnership of governments, regional civil society organisations, regional institutions and organisations, bilateral and multilateral agencies and contributing donor partners which was established on 14 February 2001. PANCAP provides a structured and unified approach to the Caribbean’s response to the HIV epidemic, coordinates the response through the Caribbean Regional Strategic Framework on HIV and AIDS to maximise efficient use of resources and increase impact, mobilises resources and build capacity of partners.

BUSINESSMAN Noel Shewjattan is counting his losses after a fire of unknown origin destroyed the upper flat of his two-storey house at Lot 178, Durabana Square, Lamaha Gardens around 11:00hrs on Tuesday.

Shewjattan, who is the proprietor of Auto Fashion, was out of Georgetown with his family, but his relative, Sharda Veeren-Chand and Guyana Fire Service Divisional Officer, Gregory Wickham said only the maid was at home at the time.

“We got the call, and we responded with three tenders… When we arrived, we noticed that the top floor of the structure was fully engulfed, so firefighters went into operation,” said Wickham in an invited comment.

He said the Fire Service received information that the maid was in the house at the time of the fire, but she was on the lower flat.

Speaking more about the information he received, Wickham said: “She (the maid) heard a booming sound coming from the top floor, and when she got upstairs, she saw fire coming from one of the rooms. And that’s

Guyana Fire Service Divisional Officer Gregory Wickham talking to media operatives on Tuesday (Photos by Delano Williams)

where the firefighters started before they got the fire under control.

“Kudos to GWI for allowing us to access the fire hydrant, and get water… We were not hindered because of the lack of water.”

He said the team of firefighters employed the routine system to ensure that the blaze did not spread to neighbouring houses, by surrounding the house at three different points.

After containing the fire, the firefighters conducted regular investigations to as-

certain the cause of the fire, which, though unconfirmed, is suspected to be of electrical origin. Investigations are still ongoing.

Preliminary investigations, however, revealed that the fire started in a front room on the upper flat of the house.

The contents of the top floor were completely destroyed, Wickham said.

Veeren-Chand said Tuesday that the Shewjattans were notified about the incident, and were expected to be back in Georgetown by the end of the day.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 4, 2020

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 4, 2020

Across China: Foreign students confident in China's anti-virus fight

CHONGQING, March 3 (Xinhua) -- Wearing a mask at the gate of the dormitory of Chongqing University, Olya, from Ukraine, carefully tests the body temperature of every student with an electronic thermometer.

"Please put on your mask and register your information before entering," she reminds those passing through the gate.

Majoring in international trade, Olya is in the final year of her master's degree.

She is also vice chairperson of the International Student Union of Chongqing University.

"We are paying close attention to the epidemic situation every day, and we are fortunate that our university responded very quickly and provided us with necessary help," she said.

"Though the epidemic has brought some inconvenience to our daily life, we all have full confidence in the prevention and control of the epidemic in China," said Olya.

"I've just made a PDF file explaining how to use some online shopping platforms and food-delivery apps for foreign students here," said Olya. "China has the most convenient online

shopping and food delivery services in the world, so we don't need to stock up on daily commodities."

Iroegbu Paul Ikechukwu, from Nigeria, watches the English bulletin that provides the latest information on the novel coronavirus outbreak every day.

"My Chinese is still not good enough to read, and the English bulletin can keep me updated," he said.

"My family was a little worried in the beginning, but I told them that life here is normal and the university has taken multiple measures to protect us. I feel very secure," he said.

China's COVID-19 battle offers 3 important lessons: magazine BEIJING, March 3 (Xinhua) -- China's effort to contain the COVID-19 epidemic has made a big difference, and provides three important lessons for the world, said

experience holds three important lessons -- to talk to the public, to slow the transmission of the disease and to prepare health systems for a spike in demand," said the article.

cases, they can follow each one, tracing contacts and isolating them," the article noted. But when the disease is spreading in the community, "governments need to prepare

The interior view of the temporary hospital converted from Wuhan Sports Center in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, Feb. 17, 2020. (Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu)

The Economist magazine.

As the novel coronavirus disease is spreading into more countries, what it causes depends "greatly on what governments choose to do, as China shows," The Economist said in a leading article.

Before the virus spread much outside China's central Hubei Province, the epicenter of the outbreak, China imposed the largest quarantine in history, shutting factories, stopping public transport and instructing people to stay indoors, it noted.

"This raised awareness and changed behavior," it commented. "Without it, China would by now have registered many millions of cases and tens of thousands of deaths."

Even if many countries can not exactly copy China, "its

"The best time to inform the people about the disease is before the epidemic," it said, adding that even well-meaning attempts to sugarcoat the truth are self-defeating, "because they spread mistrust, rumors and, ultimately, fear."

"Now is the moment to persuade the future 80 percent of mild cases to stay at home and not rush to a hospital," it suggested, noting that China's experience indicates that roughly 80 percent of detected cases will be mild.

"China's second lesson is that governments can slow the spread of the disease," the article pointed out. "Flattening the spike of the epidemic means that health systems are less overwhelmed, which saves lives."

"When countries have few

for the moment when they will switch to social distancing, which may include cancelling public events, closing schools, staggering work hours and so on," it suggested.

"The third lesson is to prepare health systems for what is to come," said the article.

"Hospitals need supplies of gowns, masks, gloves, oxygen and drugs," it noted. "They need a scheme for how to set aside wards and floors for COVID-19 patients, for how to cope if staff fall ill, and for how to choose between patients if they are overwhelmed."

Noting that the virus will test both rich and developing countries, the article said that as China has bought governments time to prepare, "they should use it."

Foreign student volunteers post postures to cheer for Wuhan, hardest hit by COVID-19 epidemic, at Southwest University in Chongqing, southwest China, Feb. 18, 2020. (Xinhua/Wang Quanchao)

In the hall of the International College of Southwest University in Chongqing, Nigerian student Mustapha Bala Tsakuwa is explaining the transmission pattern of the novel coronavirus and epidemic prevention measures to students from different countries.

"In fact, infectious diseases are the common enemies of all humans. I hope I can share some epidemic prevention knowledge with my classmates and raise

their awareness of the epidemic control and prevention," said the young man.

Tsakuwa praised China's efforts in curbing the spread of the virus. "I'm amazed at how hospitals were built in China," he said. "I think only China can make it happen to construct a hospital within days."

A volunteer team consisting of foreign students is also active in Southwest University. They were responsible for disinfecting

facilities on the campus and assisting in the distribution of epidemic prevention supplies.

"Disasters and diseases are common threats that human beings are confronted with. The anti-virus effort China has made is touching and I hope the world can put aside its differences and join hands to fight against the epidemic at this time," said Ikechukwu. "I believe we'll eventually win this battle."

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GECOM Chair calls for responsible reporting from the media MEMBERS of the media are being called upon to be mindful when they are reporting and not “sensationalise” their stories as the tabulation of votes that were cast at the General and Regional Elections begins.

The call came from the Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Retired Justice Claudette Singh during a press conference, to provide an update to the nation on Monday.

The GECOM Chairman cautioned that given the current mood of the country, new outlets must at all times, be responsible in their reporting. “At this time, we are in a charged atmosphere and so we have to be careful how we go about spreading stories,” Justice Singh stated.

She advised that doubling checking information before issuing is crucial to avoid any unnecessary tension.

“We must always verify before we publish them… these things can escalate into mistrust, so let us avoid those things.” Nonetheless, the Chairman said that she was pleased with how the the electoral process took place.

“I visited several polling stations, of course, they were long lines but GECOM staff came forward and assisted,” Justice Singh pointed out. Overall, the process was peaceful with a few insignificant occurrences, according to the Chairman. The elections catered for over 660,000 eligible voters countrywide at the 2339 polling stations that were provided, manned by 13,500 polling day staff.

Results for the elections are expected to be available at the earliest possible time.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 4, 2020

PSC calls for speedier declaration of results –– says E-day process was smooth, but business community remains apprehensive

ALTHOUGH hailing the Election Day (E-Day) process, the Private Sector Commission (PSC) has expressed concern about the pace at which results are being released by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM).

Over 600,000 Guyanese were eligible to vote in the 2020 General and Regional Elections, on Monday.

And, there were some 2,339 polling stations across the ten administrative regions. Nine political parties competed in the general elections and 11 in the regional elections.

Speaking particularly about the declaration of results from the regional aspect of the elections, Chairman of the PSC, Gerry Gouveia, during a press briefing on Tuesday, said the commission was disappointed that after 24 hours since the close of polls, Returning Officers (ROs) had still not declared elections results.

According to Gouveia: “We expected results by the declaration of the returning officers by now (around 17:00hrs) today (Tuesday)…we expected to have the declaration by at least the five big regions by today (Tuesday).”

PSC Chairman, Gerry Gouveia The PSC commended GECOM for conducting a smooth process on Monday, but said the consistency should have continued on Tuesday.

The regional results, however, started to be declared just after 18:00hrs on Tuesday. Up to press time, there were declarations by ROs from Regions One, Two, Five, Eight

and Nine.

Prior to the release of results in those areas, Gouveia said he had raised the PSC’s concerns with Chief Elections Officer (CEO), Keith Lowenfield, who the PSC assumed was holding back the declarations.

“He (Lowenfield) told me that he was not interfering with the process…and that the returning officers were allowed to make their declarations,” he said.

Speaking about the suspected effects of the “late” declarations, the PSC chairman said: “The entire city is still shut down and that is not good for Guyana… the reason why the private sector is so involved in this process is particularly for our businesses to grow and for our employees…we need to do it in a stable environment where political stability and general public safety and security is paramount.

“Across the city and a lot of parts of the country, there’s an apprehension by business owners and we are actually reaching out to say to them we have confidence in the GECOM system, and hopefully will get these results very quickly.”

Group dedicates year to legacy of Jamaican national hero Marcus Mosiah Garvey NEW YORK, Mar 3, CMC –The New York-based Institute of the Black World 21st Century (IBW), says it will be dedicating this year to the life and legacy of Jamaican-born Pan-Africanist and liberation leader Marcus Mosiah Garvey.

IBW president, Dr. Ron

Daniels, said Garvey, Jamaica’s first national hero, founded the Universal Negro Improvement Association and African Communities League (UNIA-ACL), “which rapidly developed into the largest mass-based organization of people of African descent in the history of the US and

Results for Regions One and Nine APNU+AFC 3, 839 LJP 145 PPP/C 7996 URP 77 Total votes cast 12,056 18,952 electors

Region Nine (9) Returning Officer, John Abraham declares results APNU+AFC- 4,826 LJP- 282 PPP/C- 7,065 URP- 55

globally.

“The UNIA-ACL was completed financed by Black people,” Dr. Daniel said, noting that, in 1920 Garvey took “the extraordinary step of convening an International Convention of the Negro People of the World, which attracted more than 2,000 delegates from Africa, the Caribbean, Great Britain, France and the US. “The convention began with a rally at Madison Square Garden, which drew some 25,000 attendees,” he said.

“In commemoration of the anniversary of this amazing feat and the vision and accomplishments of Marcus Mosiah Garvey, IBW is declaring 2020 ‘The Year of Marcus Garvey’ and urging Black organizations in the US and the Pan African World to join us in mounting a year-long educational campaign to teach our people about this remarkable leader and to rekindle a spirit of self-support for Black organizations and institutions in his memory,” Daniels said.

“We intend to utilize

the educational campaign as an organizing tool leading straight into SOBWC V (State of the Black World Conference V),” he said, adding that SOBWC V is tentatively scheduled for Newark, New jersey from December 2-6.

Daniels said Dr. Julius Garvey, the son of the Jamaican hero, a retired surgeon and highly acclaimed Pan Africanist in his own right, has agreed to serve as the Honorary Chairman of SOBWC V and that the IBW intends to invite at least two heads of state from Africa and two from the Caribbean to attend and address the conference.

He said IBW will hold a major rally on Saturday, March 7 at the historic House of the Lord Church, downtown Brooklyn “to mount a major campaign to mobilize support for State of the Black World Conference V.” Daniels said that IBW convenes State of the Black World Conferences every four years to assess the impact of the US presidential election on Black America and the Pan African

World.

State of the Black World Conference IV (SOBWC IV) was also convened in Newark in 2016. “We selected Newark for the last conference because of the history of rebellion, resistance and resiliency of Black people in this city and the progressive policies of Mayor Ras J. Baraka, son of Amiri Baraka, one of the greatest cultural artists and revolutionary leaders in the era of the 60’s and beyond,” Daniels said.

“We return to Newark because the hundreds of participants who attended SOBWC IV embraced the Declaration of Intent and Call to Action which mandated a focus and commitment to work with Mayor Baraka to make Newark a model for progressive social, economic and political development for Black people and marginalised communities.

“True to that commitment, since 2016, IBW convened a Marshall Plan Symposium and Economic Summit in 2018 and a National Emergen-

Marcus Garvey cy Summit on Gentrification in 2019, which focused national attention on Newark.”

Organised around the theme “Reimagining Marcus Garvey’s Vision for Black Empowerment,” Daniels indicated that the goal of the March 7 rally is to enlist the support of IBW friends, allies and supporters in the greater New York/New Jersey area and nationally to organize to make SOBWC V “one of the most significant and impactful gatherings of people of African descent in the 21st century”.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday March 4, 2020

Diplomats praise GECOM

…call on parties, citizens to respect results of polls EVEN as it praised Guyana for the successful and peaceful conduct of General and Regional Elections on Monday, the Diplomatic Community called on Guyanese to respect the results when they are made public by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM).

“It is important to give GECOM time to complete the tabulation and verification of the results. At the same time, we understand the importance of results being released as quickly as possible. We call on all Guyanese to respect those results,” British High Commissioner, Greg Quinn, and the Ambassador of the United States of America, Sarah-Ann Lynch, said in a joint statement on Tuesday.

In offering its commendation, the Diplomats congratulated the people of Guyana for preserving the country’s democracy through the participation of peaceful elections.

“We commend Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Officials, the

EU Ambassador, Fernando Ponz Cantó (Adrian Narine Photos )

US Ambassador Sarah-Ann Lynch speaking with journalists at GECOM’s Command Centre

Guyana Police Force, and representatives of all political parties for maintaining an orderly process on Election Day,” the Diplomats said.

Even as the country awaits preliminary results for the General and Regional Elections, High Commis-

sioner Quinn and Ambassador Lynch underscored the importance of allowing GECOM to conduct its work.

Meanwhile, on the sideline of a GECOM press conference on Tuesday, at its command center, the US Ambassador told journalists

that the electoral process was “smooth.” She said the US Embassy, like the rest of Guyana, looks forward to the final results.

Ambassador Lynch had observed polling in Essequibo, Bartica, New Amsterdam and Georgetown among other locations. “In

each case, things were well run and very smooth,” she said while dubbing it an achievement for Guyana.

The US Ambassador said it was important for Guyana to maintain the peace and respect the final results.

The European Union (EU) Ambassador, Fernando Ponz Cantó, who was among the diplomats present, also lauded the electoral process.

He, however, lobbied for

the country to respect the results.

“It is extremely important now that the winner, whoever it is, can form a government as soon as possible, and that loser, whoever it is, accepts the results and that the whole country unites,” Ambassador Cantó said. He said the EU is prepared to work with whichever party forms the government.

Caribbean Chambers of Commerce set to launch in Europe

BRUSSELS, Belgium (February 20, 2020) – The newly founded Caribbean Chamber of Commerce in Europe (CCCE) is opening its doors soon, offering Caribbean-based companies an alternative gateway to the continent at a time Britain proceeds its exit from the European Union (EU).

CCCE will promote trade and commerce between the wider Caribbean and the United Kingdom/Europe and attract European investment to strengthen the Caribbean economy.

Joining the cluster of chambers of commerce based at Brussels Enterprises

Commerce and Industry (BECI) expands the scope of CCCE’s network and widens its base, enabling it to operate effectively from the capital of the EU. The 4th CARIFORUM-EU Business Forum, held in Frankfurt, Germany last September, identified the need for an independent, non-politically aligned, private sector body to provide market information and logistical support for business development in Europe. As Anthony Bradshaw, Officer-in-Charge of the Caribbean Export Development Agency (Caribbean Export), said “it will strengthen business networks and foster a closer trade and investment

relationship between the Caribbean and the EU.” The launch of CCCE is timely and with the UK’s departure from the EU, the new chamber in Brussels offers an alternative springboard to London, in particular for Caribbean Community (CARICOM)-based ventures, into a more diverse European market.

In the build-up to its official launch, the Chamber is reaching out to other regional and trade organizations and is planning to work with major public and private stakeholders on both sides of the Atlantic, who can build the partnerships needed to foster

Euro-Caribbean trade and commerce.

The Brussels-based Caribbean Chamber of Commerce in Europe (CCCE) is a multilateral, nonprofit, business organisation, registered as an AISBL (Association Internationale Sans But Lucratif) under Belgian corporate law. CCCE has been created to promote trade and commerce between the greater Caribbean and the UK/Europe and to attract European investment to strengthen the Caribbean economy. Its offices will be based at Brussels Enterprises Commerce and Industry (BECI). For further information, visit www.caribbeanchamber.eu.

Caribbean tourism industry prepares for ‘uncertain times’ MIAMI, Mar 3, CMC – The Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) says the upcoming Caribbean Hospitality Industry Exchange Forum (CHIEF), will provide industry stakeholders with an opportunity to address anticipated new challenges and share active solutions to help steer a course through uncharted waters.

The June 26-28 event will be held under the theme “Riding the Wave – Smart Actions in Uncertain Times”, and the organisers

said CHIEF’s overarching goal is to help ensure the industry’s profitability and that the region remains one of the world’s most desirable destinations.

CHIEF will draw more than 400 hoteliers, suppliers and other hospitality and tourism sector stakeholders from across the region, as well as from the United States and Canada.

“Through CHIEF, owners, managers, supervisors and tourism industry leaders will connect and compare lessons learned

about effectively addressing the impacts of devastating storms, threats of pandemics, shifting marketplace dynamics, escalating operational costs, and the mind-bending array of marketing and technical options as they look to protect and build resilience and profitability,” said CHTA’s chief executive officer, Frank Comito.

Regional and global industry experts will lead panel discussions and connect one-on-one with attendees as they share their

expertise in hospitality, tourism and the cultivation of diverse and high-performing talent at all levels focusing on enhancing efficiencies in operations, sales and marketing, and environmental sustainability.

Comito said that quickly recognizing and acting on rapidly emerging trends to stay ahead of the competition is a major focus of CHIEF/. “’Riding the Wave – Smart Actions in Uncertain Times’ means we want to stay on top

while ensuring we can continue to learn quickly about what needs to be done when there are unforeseen bumps, and we’ll have speakers, panels and interactive discussions which will amplify these prerogatives for progress.” CHIEF is taking place concurrently with CHTA’s Taste of the Caribbean featuring top culinary teams from participating Caribbean nations and territories competing for recognition and awards, from June 26-30.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 4, 2020

GTA conducts digital marketing training IN full-day sessions held on February 19-20 and February 26-27, a Business and Social Media Marketing training programme was conducted for members of the tourism sector and staff of the Guyana Tourism Authority.

The ‘Train the Trainer’ and the general tourism sector participant sessions were held at the Herdmanston Lodge in Georgetown, respectively.

A total of nine trainers and 19 trainees were trained in the areas of business &

marketing fundamentals, digital marketing, website design and development, social media marketing & management, analytics, email marketing, content development, graphic design and motion graphics, reputation & crisis management among other aspects of digital marketing.

With the ever-increasing rise of technology, it is imperative that the local tourism industry is fully equipped and prepared to maximise their business

Participants and trainers of the GTA Digital Marketing Essentials Training

and social media presence, among other digital marketing tactics. Rosh Khan, CEO of SocialRank Media, one of Guyana’s leading digital marketing agencies, and President of the Masterclass Institute, facilitated both training sessions. Through his interactive methods of teaching, these sessions were aimed at implementing strategies that will increase market awareness, online engagement and bookings

within the tourism sector.

The GTA’s aim is to foster capacity building within the tourism sector which includes training of trainers who can facilitate other sessions on a continuous basis, especially as an incentive for tourism businesses that are licensed or actively in the process of getting licensed.

The training sessions included participants from Rainforest Tours, Dagron Tours, and Waikin Ranch, among others.

The Masterclass Institute is a training and development institute located in Georgetown, Guyana which has trained over 10,000 people through its various programmes, workshops, and courses, including digital marketing. The GTA remains committed to elevating the tourism sector and will be hosting a series of training programmes throughout 2020.

Increased focus on municipal markets in coming months THE Mayor and City Council (M&CC) plans on placing increased emphasis on rehabilitating the various municipal markets in a bid to encourage vendors who have strayed to return inside the markets.

Chairman of the Markets and Public Health Committee, Councillor Trichria Richards, told the Guyana Chronicle on Friday that efforts will be made to organise the different markets effectively.

Richards observed that work has hardly been done to the markets over the years and that since 2016, the council has been trying to work on them. Subsequently, with assistance from the government, some rehabilitative works were done on the Kitty, East Ruimveldt, Albouystown and Bourda Markets.

Richards said a common problem at all of the markets has to do with several stalls that are locked up and used instead for storage, while the owners opt to sell outside of the markets. Since the City Council wants those vendors to return inside, the councillor acknowledged that some repair works will have to be completed.

Meanwhile, the City Council has, for years, been struggling to complete a vendors’ policy that could see a more structured ap-

Chairman of the Markets and Public Health Committee, Trichria Richards

proach to vending in the city. According to Councillor Richards, the policy is still being fine-tuned.

She expressed that the policy is a huge task as it has to include details for all aspects of vending including specifications for mobile units.

Councillor Richards has especially been successful in organising repairs for the East Ruimveldt Market, which falls within her constituency. A major road project was completed inside the market, and vendors are now looking forward to the roof being repaired and lights being installed.

Richards had explained that when it rains, it is not business as usual for the vendors. In fact, there is no

protection for them as the entire roof is in a deplorable state.

Work of any kind has not been done to the market for years and hence the City Council sought to go after fixing the roads as first priority. The next major project, according to Richards, would be repairs to the roof and installation of more lights.

The Ministry of Communities and the Finance Committee of the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) would usually meet around November to discuss what help can be offered. But because there has been a stalling of budget preparations, Richards said the constituency will benefit from government subvention only after the elections in March.

Meanwhile, a major road project inside the market, said to be the only drivethrough market in the Caribbean, has been recently completed and Councillor Richards had lauded government’s commitment to progress.

According to Richards, the project for $39.5M included the road project with revetment. The main entrance to the market was paved and the four inner lanes were also done.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 4, 2020

PAHO launches tool to investigate outbreaks …Go.Data is rolled out for COVID-19 in Latin America

Go.Data, a platform that facilitates the collection, investigation and visualization of case and contact data during an outbreak, was rolled out on Monday in Mexico by the Pan American Health Organization / World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO), the Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network (GOARN), and the Ministry of Health of Mexico.

The tool, which can be utilized by public health professionals involved in outbreak response, allows for the collection of case data, including on laboratory results, hospi-

talizations and other variables, and enables the control and monitoring of contacts. It also includes a visualization of trains of transmission and the generation of epidemiological curves.

“Go.Data is a powerful tool that will enable countries of the Region to investigate cases and outbreaks, and to manage contacts relating to the COVID-19 public health emergency of international concern,” said Sylvain Aldighieri, Deputy Director of the Department of Health Emergencies at PAHO/WHO and Incident Manager for COVID-19. The workshop

Miner remanded for murder of co-worker

CHIEF Magistrate Ann McLennan on Tuesday remanded a 26-year-old miner to prison for the murder of his co-worker.

Emrick Joseph appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court and was not required to plead to the charge.

It is alleged that on February 26, 2020, at Lime Tree Road, Black Water backlands, Joseph murdered Compton Benjamin, 48, of D’Urban Street, Georgetown.

Joseph was remanded to prison until March 12, 2020 and the case was then transferred to the Bartica Magistrate’s court.

According to reports, Benjamin and Joseph are known to each other and worked at the same mining operations at Lime Tree Road, Black Water backlands.

On the day in question while at camp, Benjamin accused Joseph of stealing his gold which was kept in a cupboard the men shared.

Benjamin became an-

Emrick Joseph

noyed, armed himself with a piece of wood and dealt Joseph a lash to his arm.

Joseph then armed himself with a knife and stabbed his co-worker to the left side of his chest.

Benjamin was rushed to the Bartica Regional Hospital where he succumbed to his injury whilst receiving medical attention.

The police arrested Joseph, and the murder weapon was found at the scene. He reportedly confessed to the crime while under caution.

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Increased focus on ...

A gate is in the process of being installed, along with a welcome sign.

The market houses more than 50 vendors, but many of the stalls were empty because drivers, especially, hesitated to use the roads. The East Ruimveldt Market, located on Vlissengen Road and the East

Ruimveldt Front Road, was built by the City Council in 1978. The market at one time housed approximately 200 vending stalls, three public restrooms, and a City Constabulary office, and was said to have been attracting 2,000 customers daily.

will also be carried out in Colombia next week and Brazil during the following week.

hingya crisis in Bangladesh.

WHO is now working with its member states and partners

The tool has been used since 2019 in response to the Ebola outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda, as well as for the Ro-

to make Go.Data available for the response to COVID-19.

“This innovative tool has allowed health professionals in the field in Africa to col-

lect real-time digital data of people affected by Ebola, as well as information on their contacts in order to track health status and prevent expansion of the outbreak,” said Raquel Medialdea, from the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and GOARN, and one of the workshop facilitators. “Go.Data is the best tool for supporting the response to COVID-19 at this stage of the epidemic,” she added.

The tool, which can be used both online and offline, using a laptop, tablet or mobile phone, can be easily adapted to any disease, out-

break and country context.

Users can utilize the tool to manage cases, contacts (including follow-up lists), chains of transmission, laboratory results and the generation of resulting data analysis.

Around twenty professionals from the Ministry of Health of Mexico participated in the workshop today, that was held at the headquarters of the National Directorate of Epidemiology. A second workshop will take place on Tuesday, March 3 at the National Institute of Public Health in Cuernavaca.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 04, 2020

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Wednesday, March 04, 2020

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 04, 2020

Saturday, May 25, 2019 - 01:00hrs ~ 02:30hrs

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Wednesday, March 04, 2020

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Wednesday, March 04, 2020

IOC stands firm on Tokyo Games despite coronavirus concerns

By Karolos Grohmann

LAUSANNE, Switzerland (Reuters) - The International Olympic Committee (IOC) yesterday gave further unequivocal backing to this summer’s Tokyo Olympics, urging athletes to prepare “full steam” despite the coronavirus threat.

“We are preparing for a successful Olympic Games, Tokyo 2020,” IOC head Thomas Bach said at an executive board meeting to discuss the July 24 - August 9 sporting extravaganza.

Earlier yesterday, Japan’s Olympics minister Seiko Hashimoto had said that details within Tokyo’s contract with the IOC “could be interpreted as allowing a postponement” until the end of the year.

That host city contract states that one of several triggers which would allow the IOC to withdraw the Games from Tokyo would be if “the Games are not celebrated during the year 2020”.

Hashimoto said, however, that Japan’s government and Tokyo were still committed to the Games beginning on July 24, and the IOC has repeatedly

swatted aside any suggestions of a postponement.

The Olympic body said again yesterday there was no Plan B, and that the Games would take place in their allotted time slot.

WREAK HAVOC Any change to dates would instantly wreak havoc on most sports programmes, with competition calendars planned several years ago to accommodate the Tokyo timings.

Finding a new date in 2020 at this stage, which would firstly need the green light from the IOC, would be extremely difficult, if not impossible, for the 33 sports federations present in Tokyo.

Bach, a 66-year-old lawyer and former Olympic fencing champion, has an iron grip on IOC decision-making and is known for sticking to his guns in adversity.

“I would like to encourage all the athletes to continue their preparation for the Olympic Games, Tokyo 2020 with great confidence and full steam,” the German told reporters in Lausanne. “From our side, we will continue to support the athletes and the National Olympic Committees.”

Multiple sports events around the world have been cancelled during the epidemic, which has killed more than 3 000 persons in China and spread to more than 60 nations including Japan where infections are near 1 000 and 12 people have died.

SMALLER CROWDS Crowds will be smaller and receptions have been scrapped at the Tokyo 2020 torch lighting ceremony in ancient Olympia, Greece, next week as the Hellenic Olympic Committee (HOC) introduced measures to protect against the coronavirus, it said yesterday.

Despite concerns over possible health risks to spectators and participants at the Games, the Olympic body is unwilling to publicly discuss any other option, such as cancellation or postponement.

“No,” IOC spokesman Mark Adams said when asked if the Olympic body had discussed possible options if the situation deteriorates.

“There is no international travel ban and all the advice that we are getting is that the Games can and will go ahead,” Adams said. “At this precise time we are expecting the Games to begin on the 24th of July.”

The IOC board said a joint task force had been created two weeks ago, involving the IOC, the Tokyo Games organisers, the city, the government, and the World Health Organisation to help deal with the coronavirus ahead of the Olympics.

“The IOC EB appreciates and supports the measures being taken, which constitute an important part of Tokyo’s plans to host safe and secure Games,” the task force said in a statement.

Tokyo has pumped in more than $12 billion to organise the event, while billions more were spent on related projects.

Tokyo Games organisers are due to deliver a report via video conference to the executive board today.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 04, 2020

Ponting to put finishing touches on Carey’s middle order role FORMER Australia captain Ricky Ponting will play an important role in nurturing one of Australia’s key players ahead of this year’s T20 World Cup. Australia’s limited overs vice-captain Alex Carey will link up with Ponting at IPL franchise Delhi Capitals in April, for what will be the keeper-batsman’s first taste of the world’s biggest T20 competition.

Ponting presented Carey with his T20 cap two years ago and worked closely with the left-hander when he was Australia’s assistant coach at last year’s 50-over World Cup, a role the three-time Cup winner has flagged he would be keen to do again in the future.

Having spent most of his domestic T20 career as an opener, Carey shifted down the order in the KFC BBL this year and has batted late in the innings for Australia in both one-day and T20 cricket in the past 12 months.

P o n t i n g ’s f r a n c h i s e bought Carey for close to A$500 000 at the IPL auction and the 28-year-old expects to fill a similar middle-order role at Delhi in what would be an ideal tune-up ahead of the World Cup in October.

“Delhi are really strong at the top with the openers and Rishabh Pant at number four so if there’s an opportunity, it’d be at five or six,” Carey said in Cape

Town ahead of Australia’s departure to Bloemfontein for the second ODI against South Africa.

“Which is great for me, if I can keep improving my game in the subcontinent.

“I can’t wait to train against the spinners over there and chat to Ricky. I loved working with Punter (at the World Cup), he was fantastic. He’s really calm

had pushed so hard to sign the South Australian.

“He’s a good player of spin, and he’s got such a good cricket brain and a sensible head on his shoulders that I feel he’ll be able to get us across the line in a lot of games,” Ponting said.

Carey’s first challenge will be to beat out some of the best players in the world to simply win a spot in

Ricky Ponting presents Alex Carey and D’Arcy Short with their Australian T20 caps in 2018 (Getty)

and he’s really clear with his messaging.

“Delhi’s a nice spinning wicket so there’ll be some work to do when we get over there.

“I can’t wait, even if I’m not playing, to just sit alongside him (Ponting) and chat cricket with him. I’ll probably hang out of his pocket for the few months that I’m there.”

Speaking just days after December’s auction, Ponting explained why he

Ponting’s XI, with four international players permitted to play each game.

In addition to Carey and countryman Marcus Stoinis, Delhi have England duo Jason Roy and Chris Woakes, South African quick Kagiso Rabada, West Indies blaster Shimron Hetmyer and Nepalese leg-spinner Sandeep Lamichhane on their list.

Carey expects he’ll have to earn his spot purely as a

batsman, with India’s star gloveman Rishabh Pant also in the squad along with local stars like Shikhar Dhawan, Ishant Sharma and Shreyas Iyer.

“I’d say (Pant) would get first crack at it,” Carey said when asked who would take the gloves. “He’s done pretty well before in the IPL. “I think they selected me for that number five and number six middle-order batting (role), that’s what they targetted.

“I enjoy running around: try and have lots of energy and get the arm warm. My shoulder’s not too strong though.”

Carey’s more immediate focus is today’s match against South Africa, with the Aussies needing a win to force a series-decider in Potchefstroom on Saturday.

The vice-captain said the team had a short but “honest” review after their loss in the first ODI and that skipper Aaron Finch was quick to move on to the task of keeping the series alive.

“We were pretty honest in the rooms afterwards,” he said. “Finchy doesn’t like to dwell too long on results like that but we need to take the learnings out of that game.

“In a series like this with quite a short turnaround, I have no doubt we’ll respond really strongly.”

Odyssey Travel Service donates over 300K worth of cricket scorebooks to RHTYSC THE Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club (RHTYSC) continued its outreach programme to assist fellow Ancient County clubs to fulfil their mandate.

Club Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster and Organising Secretary Rabindranauth Kissoonlall last Thursday collected a donation of scorebooks valued over $300 000 from Troy Khan, on behalf of longtime sponsor, Odyssey Travel Service in the presence of Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) ttreasurer Dr Cecil Beharry at the company’s Light Street, Bourda head office.

Foster stated that since its formation in 1990, RHTYSC, MS has assisted over 150 cricket clubs in Berbice with millions of dollars’ worth of cricket gear, scorebooks, cricket balls, stumps, cricket uniforms and coaching equipment.

Despite being a rival cricket club, Foster stated that the RHTYSC strongly believes in assisting others, so that they too can make a positive difference in the lives of youths.

Foster, who is also the president of BCB, noted that the two organisations enjoy a close relationship with the

objectives of lifting Berbice cricket to a higher level, making sure that every potential talent is nurtured.

fail to respect the BCB rules, would not benefit from any assistance.

Among the clubs that

RHTYSC Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster and Troy Khan of Odyssey pose with scorebooks. Looking on are officials of both organisations

The scorebooks would be shared out to every club in Berbice apart from those who would have granted a walkover to other clubs in a BCB-organised tournament or who played unauthorised players.

Noting that discipline is important to a club’s success, Foster stated that clubs who

would receive the scorebooks are No.73, No.72 Cut and Load, Scottsburg, Dukestown, No.48, Ramnarine Memorial, Tain Block.4, Whim, Port Mourant, Albion, Chesney, Fyrish, Blairmont, Cotton Tree, Achievers and Bush Lot United.

BCB, Foster stated is al-

ready looking at other areas to assist clubs during the rest of the year. Earlier this year, member clubs of the board along with those with junior teams received $400 000 worth of cricket balls, donated by former Minister of Health, Dr Leslie Ramsammy.

As part of its own effort to become self-reliance, BCB has also obtained its own coaching gear and a pair of cricket pitch covers worth $320 000 under a special developmental fund, spearheaded by its former president Anil Beharry.

The Organising Secretary and Cricket Manager Kissoonlall expressed gratitude to the Management and Staff of the Odyssey Boat Service, especially Feroze Barkat and Troy Khan for their support of the club and Berbice cricket over the years.

Kissoonlall assured the company that both RHTYSC and BCB would promote their business across Berbice as a thank-you gesture.

Manager of Odyssey, Troy Khan, in remarks, stated that his company was very impressed with the outstanding work of the RHTYSC, MS and would continue to assist in the future.

Guyana knocked out in preliminary round of Inter-Guiana volleyball … Sheppard receives Best Server award

GUYANA suffered a surprising early exit when they competed in the Inter-Guiana U-21 Volleyball competition over the weekend in French Guiana.

The English-speaking South American nation, who won the men’s competition in 2018 and finished as runners-up in 2019, bowed out of the preliminary round after losses to both Suriname and French Guiana.

The female team went down 0-2 but were very competitive against Suriname.

One positive takeaway for the side was Kristoff Sheppard’s win of the Best Server award.

According to coach and president of the Guyana Volleyball Federation (GVF) Levi Nedd, all the teams in the competition improved.

He noted that the distance Guyana travelled placed them at an early disadvantage. He said that the side spent three days in Suriname to uplift their visas and the lengthy travelling, fatigue and lack of sleep restricted them from playing at full strength.

Against rivals, the French Guiana side, Guyanese males drew first blood (25-22), but lost the second (16-25) before they won the third game (25-22). The home team, however, managed to win the fourth and fifth games (26-24, 15-11) to claim a victory.

The Guyanese side also fell against Suriname. All the games were close and Guyana managed to pull one back at 25-22 after Suriname had won the first two (25-22, 26-24), but the Dutch bounced back to take the last game (25-23).

Suriname could not replicate their performance in the final against French Guiana, since their setter fell sick and had to be taken to hospital.

Meanwhile, in the female category, despite having to play upon arrival after a tiring seven-hour journey, the Guyanese female team still held their own against French Guiana.

They managed to put up a better fight against Suriname, but also went down 0-3 (25- 23, 26-24, 25-17).

T20 series win...FROM BACK PAGE by series,” he said yesterday.

“Preparation has been good. We had training up to yesterday and everyone looked sharp and ready to go.”

We s t I n d i e s w i l l b e strengthened in the series with the inclusion of all-rounders Andre Russell and Dwayne Bravo as well as Shimron Hetmyer in the 14-man squad.

Russell was recalled after having not played for the side since being ruled out of the 50over World Cup in June 2019.

Hetmyer had been left out of the ODI squad after failing a fitness test.

“He’s fit,” Simmons said of the left-handed batsman. “He passed the test and he has been here looking good and batting well. It’s good to have him join back the squad, so we look forward to what he produces tomorrow.”

Oshane Thomas, who recently survived a car accident, is also on the team which is led

by Kieron Pollard.

Today’s game will be significant for the Windies skipper, as it will be his 500th T20.

Simmons described that as “an amazing feat for someone who has had two knee reconstructions and other injuries”.

“For him to still come back from those and get to 500 is enormous and something that he needs to be proud of,” the coach said.

Pollard has accumulated 9 966 runs in the format so far and another 35 will make him the second player to score 10 000 T20 runs, after Chris Gayle who has made 13 296.

West Indies and Sri Lanka have faced off only once in a bilateral series in the T20I

format – a two-match series in 2015 in Sri Lanka which ended in a 1-1 draw. And West Indies have not won any of the five T20I series they’ve played since the start of last year.

They lost all four series played in 2019 and drew the recent T20I series at home against Ireland 1-1, and only won three of the 15 matches they played across those five series.

Looking ahead to the ICC World Cup which will begin in Australia in October, Simmons said the West Indies’ encounter with Sri Lanka this week will be a part of the two-time champions’ preparations for the big event.

Although acknowledging that Windies would not be considered favourites going into the tournament, given their number 10 position in the ICC rankings, he said preparation is key.

“I think we need to start our preparation from now and we need to build up how we want to play in the World Cup and start putting together a squad for the World Cup from now.

“We still have about 12 or 13 games before the World Cup so I think that’s enough time for us to put together the right squad and with the experience we have in T20 cricket, it won’t be as hard as the ODI series,” Simmons said.

West Indies Squad for two-match T20I series v Sri Lanka: Kieron Pollard (c), Fabian Allen, Dwayne Bravo, Sheldon Cottrell, Shimron Hetmyer, Shai Hope, Brandon King, Nicholas Pooran, Rovman Powell, Andre Russell, Lendl Simmons, Oshane Thomas, Hayden Walsh Jr, Kesrick Williams.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Wednesday, March 04, 2020

Tamim sends records tumbling as Bangladesh seal ODI series in thriller C E N T U R I O N Ta m i m Iqbal sent records tumbling as Bangladesh survived a tense chase to beat Zimbabwe by four runs in a thriller and take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match ODI series.

Opening batsman Tamim scored 158 off 136 balls to better his own benchmark for the highest ODI Bangladesh score, while he became the first player from his country to reach 7 000 runs in 50-over cricket.

His knock anchored Bangladesh’s innings and big stands with Mushfiqur Rahim (55) and Mahmudullah (41) contributed to an imposing score of 322-8.

Zimbabwe were in trouble at 225-7 in the 42nd over when a big middle-order partnership between Wesley Madhevere and Sikandar Raza came to an end.

A brilliant eighth-wicket stand of 80 from Tinotenda Mutombodzi (34) and Donald Tiripano (55

Tamim Iqbal walks off after breaking his own record for highest ODI score for a Bangladesh batsman. (BCB photo)

Women’s T20 World Cup

England faced with prospect of semi-final washout ENGLAND could be eliminated from the Women’s T20 World Cup without a ball being bowled, with heavy rain forecast for their semi-final tomorrow.

England are set to face India in the last-four in Sydney at 04:00 GMT. However, Tropical Storm Esther is expected to bring rain for most of tomorrow.

being bowled.”

Defending champions Australia meet South Africa in the second semi-final at 08:00 GMT and the hosts would face the same fate as England in the event of a no-result because they were runners-up in Group A. “With the rain eventually clearing away later tomorrow, there’s a very

Friday is for sunshine.

“Rain happens, even in Australia,” Hartley said.

“I’d rather have the chance of playing - it’s an hour’s flight to Melbourne from Sydney. It’s not like they’re asking players to fly halfway round the world.

“India and South Africa have played the most consistent cricket so they do

England Women’s T20 World Cup team

With no reserve day in place for the semi-finals, India will progress if no result is possible as they won Group A whereas England came second in Group B. “It’s going to get much wetter,” BBC Weather’s lead presenter Simon King said.

“Rain is expected to fall for most of Thursday with the chance of the odd thunderstorm mixed in.

“The first semi-final featuring England is definitely under threat for being called off without a ball

small chance of some drier weather for the second semi-final but it may be too late in the day,” King added.

The final takes place on Sunday at the Melbourne Cricket Ground with organisers hoping to set a new attendance record for a women’s sporting event.

England’s 2017 World Cup winner Alex Hartley told Test Match Special it is “mind-blowing” there is no reserve day for the semi-final.

The forecast for Sydney on

deserve to be top of the group but it is mind-blowing there’s no reserve day.”

On Tuesday, South Africa’s match against West Indies was washed out, sealing the Proteas’ place as Group B winners and confirming England’s second-place finish.

T h a i l a n d ’s m a t c h against Pakistan was also abandoned with only 20 overs possible.

Both semi-finals are scheduled to take place at the Sydney Cricket Ground. (BBC Sport)

not out) provided hope, but the visitors just fell short in Sylhet.

Tamim, whose knock included 20 fours and three sixes, put on 87 with Mushfiqur and 106 with skipper Mahmudullah before eventually driving Carl Mumba to Mutombodzi at long-off.

Tinashe Kamunhukamwe scored a half-century in reply before being bowled

by Taijul Islam, who also ended the dangerous 80run partnership between

Madhevere (52) and Raza (66).

When the latter fell to Mashrafe Mortaza it appeared the game was up but Mutombodzi and Tiripano combined down the order to set up a thrilling finale.

However, Mutombodzi played a straight one to long-on in the final over and Zimbabwe were unable to find the runs they needed to force a winnertake-all encounter.

(Omnisport)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 04, 2020

Jaguars pull away from Scorpions, Pride extend lead BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC) – Five-time reigning champions, Guyana Jaguars, have created space between themselves and the chasing Jamaica Scorpions, following their handsome victory in the sixth round of matches in the Regional Four-Day Championship, which wrapped up last weekend.

Jaguars disposed of the Scorpions by seven runs inside three days at the Trelawny Multi-Purpose Stadium in Jamaica, to exact revenge for their earlier fourth round defeat at home in Georgetown.

The victory pushed them to 79 points in second, now almost 19 points clear of Scorpions in third on 61.2 points.

Scorpions started the round only 3.4 points behind Jaguars following two wins on the trot, and knowing that a victory would have seen them assume second spot.

nings when they bowled out for 111, after slumping from 75 without loss to lose their last 10 wickets for 36 runs.

Leaders Barbados Pride, meanwhile, further strengthened their

Five-time reigning champions Guyana Jaguars

However, the hosts batted poorly in the match, especially in the second in-

chances of clinching their maiden first class title in the professional era by

extending their lead over Jaguars, following their crushing 127-run victory over Windward Islands Volcanoes at Kensington Oval.

Pride sit on top the sixteam standings on 108.2 points.

Despite disappointing results, Volcanoes and Trinidad and Tobago Red Force remain hot on the heels of Scorpions.

Volcanoes are less than five points behind Scorpions on 56.8 while Red Force, who drew with bottom-placed Leeward Islands Hurricanes in Basseterre, are fifth on 54.8.

Hurricanes, already with four defeats this season, are meandering on 40.4 points.

Chelsea beat Liverpool to reach FA Cup quarter-finals LONDON (Reuters) - Chelsea completed a torrid few days for Liverpool as goals

by Willian and Ross Barkley sealed a 2-0 victory to send them through to the FA Cup

quarter-finals on Tuesday.

Liverpool’s 44-match unbeaten streak in the Premier League ended in stunning fashion with a 3-0 defeat at Watford on Saturday and they

FA Cup Fifth Round - Chelsea v Liverpool - Stamford Bridge, London, Britain - March 3, 2020 Liverpool’s Adrian in action (Action Images via Reuters/John Sibley)

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TODAY’S QUIZ:

1) Which WI took most wickets in the recent WI/SL ODI series?

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ANSWERS IN TOMORROW’S ISSUE

were rocked again at Stamford Bridge.

Keeper Adrian allowed Willian’s powerful shot to creep past him in the 13th minute and former Everton midfielder Barkley drove home Chelsea’s second goal just past the hour mark.

Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp made seven changes to the side that lost to Watford but he still fielded an experienced line-up, having played a virtual under-21 side in the previous round against Shrewsbury Town.

Sadio Mane wasted sever-

al early chances and Chelsea keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga, back for the first time since being dropped in January, made a remarkable triple save before halftime.

But Chelsea, with 18-year-old Billy Gilmour impressive in midfield, were merited winners as they moved through.

For Liverpool, a season of utter dominance has suddenly hit a slump with three defeats in four games in all competitions having also lost to Atletico Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League, last-16 tie.

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Hope says didn’t do enough in ODI series, looks forward to T20s K A N D Y, S r i L a n k a (CMC) – Despite being the West Indies’ lead scorer in two of the three matches in the just concluded ODI series, Shai Hope has lamented that he did not do enough to give his side a desired victory over Sri Lanka.

Hope made 238 runs at average of 79.3 runs per innings in the three-match series, top-scoring in the first match with 115 and again in the third with 72. He put 51 on the board in the second match against the hosts.

national series which will also be played here – the first match today and the second on Friday – they will be hoping to put the series loss behind them and learn from their mistakes.

“We just have to continue believing in what we know we can do and what the team can achieve. We’ve done enough to get here and we just need to tick a few more boxes to get us across that line,” Hope said.

“We’ve had a decent run of form in the past few ODI tours that we’ve had.

West Indies wicketkeeper-batsman Shai Hope

But speaking to the media after West Indies lost their last contest to suffer a whitewash at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium here on Sunday night, the 26-year-old wicketkeeper/batsman said he wanted to do more as his team tried to record their first series win on Sri Lankan soil.

“I feel as if I’m not scoring enough runs. I’m just trying to do my job for the team,” said Hope, who was on the field more than any other player in the series.

“My job is to bat long and score runs and it’s unfortunate that we couldn’t get the wins in this series.

They say there’s a learning curve for everything, so hopefully we can learn from this as quickly as possible and move on from there.”

Hope also acknowledged that, overall, the West Indies “didn’t play the crucial moments well”, especially in the first and last contests.

“Cricket is one of those games where you have to grasp those game-changing moments and we didn’t do that. I think Sri Lanka did that pretty well.

So that’s one thing that I can highlight for this series and going forward, that is one thing we should really point out as a team,” he added.

As the Caribbean men prepare for their T20 Inter-

So yes, it’s a 3-0 loss and a setback for us, but there’s a lot to look forward to.

We can say we ticked some boxes in this series, but having said that, there’s a lot that we can work on.

So, we’re looking forward to see what we have in store for the next series.”

The squad will be looking to build momentum towards the ICC T20 World Cup which will be played in Australia later this year.

Included are dynamic all-rounders Dwayne Bravo and Andre Russell who played vital roles when the West Indies won the World Cup under captain Darren Sammy in 2012 and again in 2016.

Hope said he was pleased to be back in the T20 squad and hoped to learn from the duo.

“I played one game against the Afghanistan team in India and I always want to play every format if I can. I’m just glad to be here again. They’ve (Russell and Bravo) been playing T20 cricket for however long now, and they have a heap of experience.

I’m sure that the guys coming up, the new ones in the team, like myself, we can get some knowledge from them and hopefully they can continue doing what they do best and we can win this series coming up,” he said.

27

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Wednesday, March 04, 2020

Dominant Wiggins expecting to grow from freshman college year COLLEGE freshman Kevon Wiggins is hoping to grow from this season. The 19-year-old exploded in his freshman season to lead his side Munroe College (Bronx Campus) to the Regional XV quarterfinals of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) League.

The national basketball player averaged a whopping 17.8 points, 4.6 rebounds, 1.9 steals and 1.7 assists per game.

In his final game of the season, last week, the Berbice-born player scored a whopping 31 points to go with 13 rebounds for his school in a heartbreaking 8379 loss to Bronx Community College.

“It was fun while it lasted, although we went through a lot of adversity and fights, as a team we still bonded and tried to overcome it, Wiggins told the Chronicle Sport.

Not only was he the breakout player for his side, he led them in numerous

games. Overall, he tallied 391 points, 41 steals, 37 assists, 102 rebounds, 33 of which were offensive.

Wiggins also shot the ball at a high percentage. His free throw average was 75.6%;

The 6’ 3” guard said that for the 2020-2021 season he is hoping to take the team

but with more experience, which will make the games easier for us this time.”

(REUTERS) - England players will not be shaking hands on their tour of Sri Lanka and will use fist bumps instead to greet each other following the coronavirus outbreak, skipper Joe Root said.

Root’s team were laid

low by flu and gastroenteritis in South Africa and are cautious following the coronavirus outbreak that has killed over 3 000 people and infected more than 89 000 globally.

“After the illnesses that swept through the squad in

South Africa, we are well aware of the importance of keeping contact to a minimum,” Root told reporters before flying to Sri Lanka on Monday night for a two-Test series.

“We’ve been given some really sound and

sensible advice from our medical team to help prevent spreading germs and bacteria.”

“We are not shaking hands with each other – using instead the well-established fist bump – and we are washing hands regularly and wiping down surfaces using the antibacterial wipes and gels we’ve been given in our immunity packs.”

England will play the first of their two practice matches from Saturday before the first Test in Galle from March 19 while Colombo hosts the second Test from March 27.

Sri Lanka confirmed the first case of coronavirus in the country in January but Root expected the tour to go on as planned.

“There is no suggestion that the tour will be affected. But, of course, it is an evolving situation so we are in regular contact with the authorities and will proceed as advised,” added the Yorkshire player.

his field goal percentage was 43.3%, while he shot 54 shots for downtown for a threepoint average of 40.6.

further.

“Next session it’ll be a lot different, because it’ll be the same group of guys

ESSEQUIBO T20 BIG BASH LEAGUE

Rising Stars, Bacchus Bulls, Lima United record wins

By Elroy Stephney loss.

THE Essequibo T20 Big Bash League got off to a rollicking start on Sunday with emphatic wins for a number of teams along the Essequibo Coast.

At the Reliance ground, Bacchus Bulls reinforced their formidable strength with a thumping 9-wicket win against the hosts.

Batting first, Reliance Hustlers could muster only 143-7 from their 20 overs with Narendra Mandolall scoring a brisk 40 (3x4, 2x6) and being the top-scorer. Medium fast bowlers Punraj Singh 2-21 (4) and Neiland Cadogan 2-27 (4) were the main wicket-takers.

In reply, commanding half-centuries from national Under-17 captain Sheldon Charles 52 (11x4) and an

At the Imam Bacchus ground in Affiance, defending champions Aurora Knight Riders rode to a comfortable 63-run win against Cotton Field Strikers.

After batting first, Riders strode to 150-9 from their 20 overs with former national Under-19 batsman Norman Fredericks hammering an unbeaten 63, laced with 9 fours.

Extras contributed 22 as the next best score. In reply, Strikers failed to strike and were all-out for 87 in 19 overs with Carlos Yapp 25 and Eon Dookie 20 reaching double-digits.

Off-spinner Garfield Phillips 3-15 (4) and Norman Fredericks 2-24(4) were the destroyers. At the Devonshire Castle ground in North, the hosts defended a meagre to-

Kevon Wiggins was a sharpshooting freshman this season

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Parmesh Parsotam

unbeaten 62 (3x4, 3x6) from former national Under-19 batsman Parmesh Parsotam rocketed the Bulls to 144-1 in 16 overs.

At the same venue, Rising Stars also secured an emphatic 10-wicket win against Reliance SC, who took first strike and made 139 all out in 17 overs with Trevor Benalds blasting 59 (5x4, 4x6).

They were routed by an impressive 5-wicket haul including a hat-trick from Ravie Ramdass, who claimed 5-14 from 4 overs. He was supported by Chandi Jairam 3-32 (4).

It took only 10 overs for Rising Stars to seal victory with unbeaten half-centuries from former national Under-19 all-rounder Latchman Rohit 56 (8x4, 2x6) and national wicketkeeper batsman Kemol Savory 53 (7x4, 3x6) to propel Stars to 142 without

Kemol Savory

tal to earn a slim 17-run win against Golden Fleece.

Devonshire Castle posted 142-8 then restricted their opponents to 125-7 when their overs expired. At the same venue in another low-scoring encounter, Walton Hall humbled Jaguars Over-40 by 7 wickets. The ageing Jaguars reached 112-9 to which Walton Hall replied with 114-3 in 12 overs.

Also in North, Lima United posted a record 3172 from their 20 overs against the hapless Rebels XI, who meekly folded for 67 in 18 overs.

The results for the other matches were not available.

The competition continues on Sunday with matches billed for various venues across the Region.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 04, 2020

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T20 series win against Sri Lanka would boost confidence - Simmons West Indies head coach Phil Simmons

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KANDY, Sri Lanka (CMC) – A victory for West Indies in the T20I series against Sri Lanka starting today will be just what the team need to go into their next assignment with much-needed confidence, says head coach Phil Simmons.

The Caribbean side will be going up against the South Asian side here at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, just days after being whitewashed in the three-match ODI series.

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Speaking ahead of the twomatch T20 series, Simmons said victory in today’s and Friday’s games will be a boost for the squad.

“I think it will help us to gain confidence as a nation.

West Indies cricket has always thrived on winning and if we win the series it takes us into the next series in a confident mode, so that’s the way we have to look at it – take it series TURN TO PAGE 24

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4, 2020