Guyana_Chronicle_Epaper_03_17_2020

TUESDAY 17th March, 2020

' No.105942

Guyana to

SEE PAGE 03

shut borders …in bid to slow spread of Coronavirus No progress on recount

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Border controversy case postponed over coronavirus

…police and PPP activists in stand-off PAGE

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NGSA POSTPONED PAGE

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…as MoE continues to safeguard against COVID-19

‘Balancing 13 dollars and sense’ PAGE

Chief Elections Officer of GECOM, Keith Lowenfield (centre in khaki) along with other members of the high-level CARICOM team and observers at the Arthur Chung Conference Center (Adrian Narine photo)

…Public service agencies financing COVID-19 measures on restricted budgets

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, March 17, 2020

NGSA POSTPONED

…as MoE continues to safeguard against COVID-19 -new date to be announced at a later time AS government continues to guard against the spread of the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), the Ministry of Education (MoE) has announced that the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) will be rescheduled to a new date, which will be announced at a later time.

According to a release from the ministry, careful thought has been given to the scheduled dates for the administration of the NGSA 2020 which was previously set for April 8 and 9, 2020.

Those dates are no longer valid, the ministry said and it noted that adequate notice will be given with regard to the new dates. All schools have been closed for two weeks beginning, March 16, 2020.

During this period, the

ministry said it will continue to assess the situation and engage in the sanitisation of all schools and MoE buildings to ensure that children, teachers and staff can return to a safe and healthy learning and working environment. As it regards to the rescheduling of NGSA 2020, the ministry encouraged parents to continue working with their children in preparation for this assessment.

Persons can visit the MoE’s website on https:// bit.ly/39Y698S to access NGSA Practice Test Papers in the four core areas.

Due to increased traffic to the website, access to the page may be intermittently obstructed, the ministry said, adding that access is case-sensitive. Persons can also tune into the Guyana

Learning Channel (Channel 42/Cable 29) to access the following programmes: Nursery Programme – 06:00hrs – 09:00hrs; Primary Programmes – 09:00hrs – 12:00hrs; Documentaries – 12:00hrs – 13:00hrs; and Secondary Programmes – 13:00hrs – 15:00hrs.

They can also continue to listen to the radio broadcasts of the Interactive Radio Instruction for Grades 1 – 3 daily. The timings are: Grade 1- 09:30h – 10:00h; Grade 2-10:30h – 11:00h; and Grade 3- 13:00h – 13:30h. These are also aired on the following radio stations: Radio Mahdia, Bartica, Essequibo, Mabaruma, Lethem and Radio Paimowak.

Parents and children can also continue to listen to broadcasts to schools for Grade

3-6 at 13:00hrs daily on NCN Radio.

In order to support the continuing education of students while schools are closed due to the threat of COVID-19, local technology provider, BrainStreet, is offering free online tutoring and practice questions in Mathematics and English Language via its BrainCentral (www.braincentral.online) online learning platform. The focus will be on Grades 4, 5 and 6 during the next two weeks. Sessions for other grades, however, will also be available. All interested persons can register using the link: https://docs.google. com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfHF0FudxvJK2Ur7Z5w.

BrainCentral is managed and operated by the BrainStreet Group. A technology

services provider based in Georgetown, Guyana. The firm has been existence since 1994 and has been offering online learning services since 2005. The University of West Indies (Cave Hill Campus) and University of Guyana (IDCE) have both used BrainStreet’s services over the years. BrainCentral has over 100,000 questions available ranging from Grade 4 to CAPE. These questions are used for quizzes for participants. For any further questions persons can call (592) 225-5353.

UG CLOSED Meanwhile, the Transitional Management Committee (TMC) of University of Guyana (UG) has advised that staff and students of both campuses (Turkeyen and Tain) and the Institute of Distance and Continuing Education (IDCE) will be absent from campus and working online for the next two weeks, until March 30,

Man attempts to smuggle $5.7M in buckets of paint A BUSINESSMAN was busted on March 12, 2020 with over $24,000 Euros (G$5.7M) which he smuggled into Guyana from Suriname in several buckets of paint.

Michael Sammy was nabbed at the Golden Gloves Speed Boat Crossing at Springlands on the Corentyne by ranks of the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU).

The ranks intercepted Sammy while he had just disembarked the speed-boat.

At the time, Sammy had four paint buckets in his possession and CANU officers requested to carry out a search on him.

The buckets, which contained white paint, were searched and several small packages which were wrapped in tape and plastic wraps were found with the money concealed inside. The man was arrested and handed over to the police for investigation.

Guyana’s exchange laws require persons to declare any currency in excess of US$10,000. Customs is em-

powered to seize only large sums equivalent to more than US$10,000 at any port of entry.

Sammy is expected to be charged for failure to declare the monies to the customs officials.

The money in the paint bucket.

The undeclared money

2020.

According to UG, the extension is now applicable to all staff and students of UG, with the exception of those essential services staff in the Registry, Bursary, Maintenance, Security and Personnel Divisions who will be deployed on service as required. This is a precautionary measure in response to NCV-19.

The university said it relies on scientific evidence emerging and based on modeling of the infection in large countries already affected, thus, the most effective means of managing COVID-19 is through mass containment procedures in the period of highest vulnerability, which is within 14 days of exposure.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, March 17, 2020

Guyana to shut borders …in bid to slow spread of Coronavirus

Following the lead of several other countries, Guyana is likely to close its borders and restrict air travel today as this country battles to contain the spread of the Coronavirus, the Guyana Chronicle was told.

The official announcement is to be made today.

Several other countries have taken the same step. The 27-nation European Union proposed shutting its external borders for 30 days on Monday. On Saturday the Ministry of Public Health announced that some four persons have been tested positive with the virus. They are all relatives of a woman who contracted the virus in New York, but traveled here and passed away last week.

Her husband, daughter and two other relatives have been tested positive. Authorities are also concerned that several persons who travelled on a flight with the woman to Guyana might have been exposed to the disease. Hundreds also attended her wake at Good Hope, East Coast Demerara and interacted with relatives who were exposed to the woman. Many of them are under quarantine.

Meanwhile, the Trinidad and Tobago government Monday announced that only nationals would be allowed into the country for the next

The Cheddi Jagan Airport

14 days as it seeks to establish a sterile environment in a bid to curb the rise in the number of cases associated with the coronavirus (COVID-19). Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley, speaking at a news conference following a special Cabinet meeting, said also that his administration would be embarking upon several other measures, including the closure of bars, schools, and new economic policies as the twin island republic comes to grip with the virus after having so far recorded four positive cases within a 48 hour period. “We have taken the decision that

Trinidad and Tobago will cease to encourage and facilitate for the next 14 days entry into our country, except under exceptional circumstances, the entry of persons who are not nationals of Trinidad and Tobago,” Rowley told reporters.

He said the exemptions will come from the Minister of Health through the Minister of National Security.

Rowley said among those likely to be given exemptions are employees of the Trinidad-based Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), which is the main agency conducting tests for

most Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries on the virus, as well as health personnel “and similar essential persons who we need.

Suriname also last week took a decision to close the Johan Adolf Pengel International Airport, also known as Paramaribo-Zanderij International Airport Suriname. This was as the country recorded its first COVID-19 case on Friday. In a statement issued on Friday night, Caribbean Airlines (CAL) said all airlines operating into Suriname were advised by notice that the airport will initially be closed from March 14-21.

CAL noted that during the period of the airport closure, its flights will be impacted and affected customers are being contacted. The Government Agencies have indicated that after midnight on Friday any flight given approval to operate to Suriname will do so under certain conditions. Flight arrivals will accommodate Surinamese residents only and flight departures will facilitate Non-Surinamese nationals only. Passengers expected to travel during these dates are advised to contact Caribbean Airlines reservation offices for rebooking on the next

available service: Outside of the region Canada closed its borders to all foreign nationals except U.S. citizens and permanent residents on Monday, with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau urging people to limit social contact to stem the spread of the new coronavirus. “We will be denying entry into Canada to people who are not Canadian citizens or permanent residents ... it is a significant step that we take in exceptional circumstances,” Trudeau told reporters outside his home, where he is under quarantine after his wife, Sophie, tested positive for the respiratory virus.

As the virus’ spread accelerates in Canada, Trudeau urged people to stay home and restrict contact with others. “Staying home is an important step to protect the community and each other. We all have to do it,” he said. Theresa Tam, Canada’s chief public health officer, said that the next two weeks were crucial in trying to stem the outbreak.

The death toll in Canada rose to four on Monday from one on Sunday. The number of infected jumped to 407 from the 341 reported at 9 a.m. (1300 GMT) earlier in the day, medical officials said.

GPL to suspend disconnection, several other services temporarily ...Middle Street, Mon Repos offices to close until further notice AS the country takes precautions in the face of health risks associated with the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19), the Guyana Power and Light Inc (GPL) with effect from Monday, March 16, 2020, has suspended several services including disconnection, meter reading, field investigations and residential and commercial meter installations.

In addition, the company has decided to close its Mon Repos Customer Service Centre on the East Coast Demerara as well as its Middle Street Commercial Office in Georgetown GPL said that it has also decided to suspend the process for application submissions at its commercial locations with effect from Monday, March 16, 2020.These include the various categories of service as follows; 1. Change of Tenancy 2. Termination of Service 3. Load Increase/ Decrease 4. New Services GPL said efforts are underway to accommodate applications for new services through its website www.gplinc.net before the end of the week dated Friday, March 20, 2020.

Customers will be kept updated on the readiness of this online

platform when it is completed, the company said.

As regards the metered accounts, GPL said that the meters will not be read from March 16, 2020 or those unsuccessfully read prior to March 16, 2020 will be estimated, if a reading is not submitted via its Whatsapp Service.

GPL said customers are advised to utilise the various electronic options of tendering payments; these are as follows: * Mobile Money Guyana (MMG)

* Commercial Banks- Republic Bank |Scotia Bank |Demerara Bank |Citizens Bank |Guyana Bank for Trade & Industry | Bank of Baroda * Agents- Bill Express | Surepay The company said that any inconvenience associated with the service modifications was regretted. GPL said it will continue to engage the public on these changes, pending updates from the Ministry of Public Health.

Customers can continue to engage the company’s sources of information for updates on service delivery. For information: Customer Call Centre Tel: 592-226-2600 or the Public Relations Unit: Tel: 592-225-1471.

Guyana has already recorded four cases, including one death, of the coronavirus. The authorities have already increased screening exercises at various ports-of-entry across the country while a ministerial task force has been established to address the issue.

The pandemic has disrupted travel worldwide and is expected to impact world economies.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday March 17, 2020

Alibaba’s Ma donates coronavirus test kits to US (BBC) Alibaba co-founder Jack Ma has sent the first shipment of surgical masks and coronavirus test kits to the US. The Chinese billionaire tweeted two pictures of the pallets of goods being loaded on to a plane in Shanghai.

Earlier this month he said he would give 500,000 testing kits and one million masks to America.

Mr Ma is also sending consignments of medical supplies to Europe as he called for

international cooperation efforts to combat the pandemic.

In his first tweet, Asia’s richest person posted photos of a China Eastern Airlines jet being loaded with boxes of coronavirus test kits and face masks as they were shipped to the US. It comes after the Jack Ma Foundation and the Alibaba Foundation last week announced that they had prepared 500,000 testing kits and 1 million masks to be sent to America.

Co-founder of Alibaba.com Jack Ma

They also said that they had already donated supplies to other countries including Japan, South Korea, Italy, Iran and Spain, with two million protective masks pledged for distribution across Europe.

The first consignment of 500,000 masks and other medical supplies such as test kits, which was destined for Italy, arrived in Belgium on Friday.

He joins other high-profile technology executives in pledging support for coronavirus research and disease prevention.

Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, who is the world’s second-richest person, has

announced that the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation would give $100m to help efforts to stop the spread of the virus.

On Friday Mr Gates announced that he was stepping down from Microsoft’s board to spend more time on philanthropic activities. He said he wanted to focus on global health and development, education and tackling climate change.

Chinese tech giants, including Tencent, ride-hailing company Didi Chuxing, and TikTok owner ByteDance, have all pledged money and resources to fight the coronavirus outbreak.

Coronavirus: Stocks plunge despite global central bank action

Tuesday, March 17, 12:00hrs - 13:30 hrs

(BBC) Global stock markets have sunk again despite central banks around the world announcing a co-ordinated effort to ease the effects of the coronavirus.

US markets plunged more than 7%, triggering an automatic suspension of trade in the minute after opening.

London’s FTSE 100 index ended 4% lower, and other major European markets saw similar declines.

On Sunday, the US Federal Reserve cut interest rates to almost zero and launched a $700bn stimulus programme.

It was part of co-ordinated action announced alongside the eurozone, the UK, Japan, Canada, and Switzerland.

However, investors are worried that central banks now have few options left to combat the impact of the pandemic.

The new governor of the Bank of England, Andrew Bailey, has pledged to take “prompt action again” when necessary to stop the damage to the economy from the coronavirus pandemic.

David Madden, a market analyst at CMC Markets, said that while central bankers were trying to calm the markets, “in reality it is having the opposite effect”.

“The radical measures have sent out a very worrying message to dealers, and that is why they are blindly dumping

stocks.”

In New York, the sell-off continued after the 15-minute suspension, which is supposed to curb panicky trade.

That sent the Dow Jones, S&P 500 and Nasdaq down by more than 10%. Before last week, the stock exchange trading halts, known as circuit breakers, had not been used in more than two decades.

In London, firms in the travel sector saw big falls. Share in holiday firm Tui sank more than 27% after it said it would suspend the “majority” of its operations.

BA-owner IAG fell more than 25% after it said it would cut its flight capacity by at least 75% in April and May. The FTSE 250, which includes a

number of well-known UK-focused companies, ended down about 7.8%.

All the main European share indexes fell sharply, though they later regained some ground. France’s Cac 40 index fell more than 5.7% and Germany’s Dax dropped more than 5.3%.

Earlier in Asia, Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 closed down 2.5% and the Shanghai Composite in China ended the day 3.3% lower.

Oil prices, which have been shaken by a price war between exporters, fell again. Brent crude dropped by more than 10% to less than $32 a barrel while West Texas International crude fell more than 8% to less than $30 a barrel.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday March 17, 2020

Ministry issues guidelines to protect elderly against COVID-19 (TRINIDAD GUARDIAN) The Ministry of Social Development and Family Services (MSDFS has said that given its responsibility for the provision of services to vulnerable groups, it is advising the general population that older persons have a higher risk of contracting and being adversely affected by COVID – 19, especially those who have pre-existing medical conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, kidney, cancer and heart conditions.

In a statement yesterday, the ministry appealed to the general public and family members in particular, to be especially vigilant in their interactions with older persons to ensure their protection. It is important to note in this regard that close contact with children on a frequent basis may place

older persons at heightened risk.

The ministry also remindded members of the public and particularly older persons who may be living on their own, of the general guidelines, according to the Ministry of Health, which includes proper hygiene, social distancing and self-quarantine.

The ministry said it will make every effort to ensure that necessary protocols are carried out at its local Social Welfare District Offices, at Senior Activity Centres and Homes for Older Persons under its remit.

Family members, caregivers at private residences or workers at senior citizens’ homes, institutions and activity centres may wish to consider the following: Know what medications your loved one is taking and assist them to have extra

on hand.

Know the symptoms of COVID- 19 and where and when to call for help Practice social distancing and proper hygiene as far as possible; · Medication should include vitamins C&B. Ensure our seniors are well hydrated with clean water and fresh juices where applicable.

Monitor food and other medical supplies (oxygen, incontinence, dialysis, wound care) needed and create a back-up plan.

Stock up on non-perishable food items to have on hand in your home to minimize trips to stores.

If you have a loved one living in a care facility, monitor the situation, ask about

the health of the other residents frequently; If your loved one is in a care facility and you might be worried, balance the care that your elderly can get in a facility versus if you took them home.

Develop a care plan and get buy-in from family members and relatives; Know the protocol for visiting hours and visits should be limited to immediate family members as much as possible.

Try as much as possible to make the older persons comfortable, taking them outside on sunny days for fresh air as opposed to air conditioning.

Remember that social connections are very important at this time. Use traditional and new methods of communication to stay in touch with and provide necessary support to the older person.

T&T resident quarantined in St Vincent (TRINIDAD GUARDIAN) A Nigerian-born T&T resident was place under quarantine in St Vincent and the Grenadines shortly after his arrival there from Guyana.

Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves said in a radio interview that the man’s arrival led to the closure of the domestic terminal of the Argyle International Airport (AIA) and the airline, LIAT, was grounded for several hours. He said Port-of-Spain had initially said that it would not allow the LIAT aircraft to land or the man to deplane.

The man, who is married to a T&T national, was turned away from a number of hotels in St Vincent before one decided to allow him to complete his quarantine at their facilities.

The man had left Guyana after having only been in quarantine for seven of the mandatory 14 days after he tested positive for the coronavirus (COVID-19).

Gonsalves, who detailed the incident as he gave an update on his government’s plans to deal with the virus, said he was prepared to make his private home available for housing the man, if hotel accommodation had not been secured.

Gonsalves said that apparently, the Trinidad-based Caribbean Airlines (CAL),

which had flown the man to Guyana, had identified him “as somebody whom they will have to watch because he came in on the flight went to the Guyanese authority and he attempted to leave the night before the last (Friday night) from Guyana on CAL”.

CAL denied the man boarding and at 11:50 pm.

Friday, the Trinidadian carrier sent traffic communication to LIAT. “Normal traffic, not anything heightened, I understand, to indicate that they had stopped this person and he might try to get to Trinidad by LIAT,” Gonsalves said, adding “but LIAT didn’t see that traffic.”

Gonsalves said on Saturday morning, the man boarded a LIAT flight from Guyana to Trinidad, connecting via Barbados and St. Vincent.

“But LIAT only informed us several hours after they began work the morning in Guyana because it takes two hours to go from Guyana to Barbados. You deplane people in Barbados you take on; that’s a 20 minutes, half an hour activity. Takes half an hour to come to St. Vincent.

“All the passengers, some 40-odd of them deplaned in from St. Vincent, left a few on-board-passengers not only deplaned but cleared

Immigration and Customs and persons were cleared to go on to the flight and were on the plane.

“It’s only then we found out. That would have been certainly four and a half, five hours after LIAT began work that morning in in Guyana.

Obviously that’s unacceptable,” Gonsalves said, adding that Julie Reifer-Jones, LIAT’s chief executive, had accepted this.

Gonsalves said that CAL and LIAT and other airlines have to communicate with each other “in a manner which would show the heightened nature of this issue.”

He said that none of the “40-odd” persons who arrived in St Vincent on the flight had “any symptoms or any travel history, when questioned by the immigration, which would require further action, like, for instance, quarantining.

“But it is the task of our ministry to have to track down 40-something persons,” he said.

Gonsalves said that Director of Airport, Corsel Robertson, took the decision to close the domestic terminal to accommodate the passengers on the LIAT flight, except the Nigerian-Trinidadian, who was placed in an ambulance.

He said that the man will be tested for COVID-19 and remained Vincentians the coronavirus is “a serious problem” but the man had “acted not as responsibly as he should have by breaking his 14-day quarantine” and in light of this, police security has been posted at his hotel.

“The initial reaction from the authorities in Trinidad and Tobago at the airport … was not the best. The reports that I received is that they say that plane will not be coming back to Trinidad,” said Gonsalves, who is chair of LIAT’s shareholder governments.

He said the highest levels of LIAT’s corporate headquarters in Antigua told him that the authorities at the airport in Trinidad were “reported as saying to me that the Trinidadian would not be allowed in.

“So I had to tell him that is fantasy,” Gonsalves said, adding, “You can’t deny a citizen the right to return to his country.”

He said he called Attorney General Faris Al Rawi, who agreed with him.

“But the LIAT plane was still not permitted to enter.

Subsequently, the plane was… it might have been this morning that they left or very late last night,” he said,.

Gonsalves said he had

tried to reach Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley but was unable to do so because Rowley was “somewhere where the signal and internet facility was not available”. He said he also spoke to Minister of National Security Stuart Young and contacted his Barbadian counterpart, Mia Mottley, who is also chair of Caricom, and Caricom Secretary-Gen-

eral Irwin LaRocque.

LIAT has since issued a statement indicating that it has taken “immediate measures” to ensure the safety of all its stakeholders after it had been “advised” that a passenger who travelled on one of its services has subsequently tested positive for the coronavirus (COVID-19).

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, March 17, 2020

Opposition’s storming of GECOM building ON the night of Wednesday, March4, 2020, nothing could have prepared the Guyana Elections Commission for the events that would soon transpire; events that would completely derail an elections process that was deemed “free”, “fair” and “smooth” by electors, officials and observers up until that point.

On the night of Wednesday, March 4, and on Thursday, March 5, 2020, an invasion occurred right on our very own shores here in Guyana. The invasion occurred at the GECOM Media and Tabulations Office on High and Hadfield Streets in Georgetown, and was led by none other than former President of Guyana and Leader of the Opposition Bharrat Jagdeo. Mr. Jagdeo, along with known People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) operatives, among them a known former member of the reputed ‘phantom death squad’ and accompanying cronies, descended upon the unsuspecting staff at GECOM. The PPP/C Presidential Candidate, Irfaan Ali was also in the company of the group

as they instituted what could only be described as a concerted effort to intimidate, obstruct and derail proceedings at the GECOM HQ. The video footage which surfaced shortly after the commotion and melee which ensued leaves much to be desired by way of due process, law and order and general standards of conduct of right-minded citizens and officials.

The video footage of the events of March 4 and 5 are both shocking and horrifying in their depiction of overt verbal and physical aggression on the part of the PPP/C-led ensemble against GECOM staff and members of the Guyana Police Force. What’s more, the ensemble was reported to be in possession of firearms. Members of the media were present at the time, and have been able to attest to the almost unbelievable exhibition of strongman tactics engaged by the Opposition and their leaders in their effort to obstruct proceedings at the GECOM HQ. GECOM Chair, Justice (retired) Claudette Singh was reportedly barricaded in her office, which

was eventually breached, as officers of the GPF struggled to bring order to the situation. As reports reached the public of what had happened, GECOM and its workers were left in shambles.

The Opposition’s criminal invasion of GECOM, and the narrative they spread following their own actions could only be deduced to have been an attempt to obstruct GECOM and its staff as they attempted to undertake their constitutional obligations in relation to the declaration of results for Region 4. The subsequent injunction filed in the High Court and granted by Justice Navendra Singh allowed the Opposition to bar GECOM from announcing the results for Region 4. On Wednesday, March 11, Chief Justice Roxane Wiltshire-George ruled that the correct procedures for Region 4 were not followed, and directed GECOM to either continue with the tabulation exercise for Region 4 or start anew.

In the meantime, it would emerge that the Opposition had disseminated Statements of Poll to

several small parties, which also contested the regional and general elections but were unable to field agents at all the polling stations.

Presidential Candidate of The Citizen Initiative Rondha-Ann Lam, and Presidential Candidate of the People’s Republican Party Phyllis Jordan, confirmed that they had received SOPs from the Opposition, and that the information on those SOPs were inconsistent and inaccurate when compared to the ones being displayed at the polling stations. The upshot of our largely manual elections infrastructure is that GECOM will have their hard-copy original SOPs to undertake the recount exercise.

Although it might read like fiction, these events have indeed transpired here in Guyana during one of the most important constitutional exercises in our modern democracy. The carefully-calculated plans of the Opposition, as we have seen them unfold, are both shocking and criminal. Their conduct deserves to be roundly condemned, and their actions seriously investigated.

Furthermore, the deafening silence by members of the various International Observer Groups who have been vocal in condemning other issues emanating from last week’s events, is thought-provoking. The actions of the International Observer Groups must be more closely scrutinized, because they, too, have had an impact on the unfolding of events during these regional and general elections. Nonetheless, local observer groups, groups that are more closely acquainted with the politics of Guyana, have issued strong condemnations of the events which took place at GECOM on March 4 and 5.

Finally, the GPF should also be better prepared to ensure that events like these do not reoccur, and that if or when they should occur, the Force is organised and able to quell the incident in a decisive, planned and effective manner.

The votes have already been counted legally –– long before the CARICOM team arrived

DEAR High-Level CARICOM Team, Welcome to Guyana Please proceed to make yourselves useful in our dear land; try not to forget that one of the staunchest and most brilliant founding members of your organisation was Guyana’s President L. F. S. Burnham.

The remnants of the party he once led do not follow in his august footsteps. He was a regional giant, as was his cohort, the late Dr. Cheddie Jagan, another stalwart in the history of the Caribbean.

They roared and bargained and won us independence.

Guyana reports to no monarch. Now that the party that Dr. Jagan belonged to has actually metamorphosed, it more ably demonstrates that it paid attention, and adhered to one of Mr. Burnham’s more famous quotes: “Guyana first, Guyana second, Guyana third… Guyana is for all Guyanese”.

The present inheritors of a purported ‘Burnhamist’ ideology have clearly never read his ‘Destiny to Mould’, as the Guyana he envisaged is poorly represented by the actions and paltry utterings of some of the newest incarnations of those who seek to laud him. Mr. Burnham was

clever, complex and canny.

These traits were clearly interred with him. Nowadays, it appears they are intent on creating an impression of being Caesar-like, without truly understanding the underlying astute and unmatched intelligence of the most important founding members of CARICOM. “I blame you not for praising Caesar so. But what compact mean you to have with us? ...Or shall we on, and not depend on you? Good luck in whatever process you have been invited here to conduct, lawfully. Feel free to not take offence at my few words. I am the proud daughter of one

of Guyana’s true heroes, the late Capt. Asad Ishoof. I will now, and forever, see Guyana as the jewel of the Caribbean.

My late father, I will admit, felt CARICOM had little relevance to Guyana, as it lacked the bountiful resources we have always had as a nation of producers.

He bravely defended both the eastern and western boundaries of our nation, proudly and fearlessly leading men who were prepared to put their lives in his capable hands.

Their unmatched courage created Guyana’s claim to the geographic space for what riches would later be discovered offshore, within

boundaries defended. His was a patriot’s championing of Guyana. Not one race, not one type of people, not the moneyed classes (he was a poor lad from the country); not urbanites, but all Guyana.

In his rise through the ranks of the GDF, he was trained to be an elite officer, who then turned around and imparted discipline and knowledge to the many who were subsequently trained in a disciplined fashion by him. He was held in high esteem by all soldiers alike, who clearly, to this day, felt a loyalty gained from knowing he valued them; not for what they had, or where they came from, but that they were his troops that he personally invested in, imparting what-

ever wisdom he could to the regular ranks and subsequent officers.

The first Guyanese citizen to reach the peak of Mt. Ayanganna on Independence, he also raised the Golden Arrowhead when Guyana retook Camp Jaguar after the New River Operation. This land is the patrimony of his progeny, and that of all Guyana’s children.

So, dear Honourable Guests, please ensure you comport yourselves accordingly; the world is watching.

Do not make us further into a grotesquerie; it is certainly not what our illustrious past leaders Dr. Jagan or Mr. Burnham would have wanted.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, March 17, 2020

How Covid-19 affected me and my friends Dear Editor, FOR eight straight days my family and I had been talking about the Corona Virus, renamed Covid-19. Mom told us it has some of the same symptoms like the flu, and that it is a new virus with no cure.

We have all been watching the news to get updates daily, and I learned that the virus started in China several months ago, and quickly spread to countries like America, Mexico, Africa, Antigua and Barbuda, Brazil and many more. It was only about a week ago someone came to Guyana with the virus, and the doctors and nurses could not help her and she eventually died.

Mom told us that at the time when the woman was hospitalised, the doctors did not know

she had the virus. After they found out, they had to sanitise the entire area, and they tested her family members and some of them now have the virus.

It was all on the news, and I have been very worried ever since. So my brother and I have been taking our parents’ advice and washing our hands regularly, and ensuring we continue to use the hand sanitizers that we take with us to school daily.

Before we found out about the virus, a small bottle of hand sanitizer used to last me about two weeks, but now it finishes in two days, because I have been using more. Mom and dad said that I was wasting it, and showed me and my brother how to use it. Mom and dad had to go to Bounty

GPOC’s COVID 19 precaution

PROTECTING our customers and staff is a priority at the Guyana Post Office Corporation. Our customer service agents, postal clerks and postmen and women have all been provided with face masks and gloves to use while attending to our valued customers. It is a necessary precaution, as we are conscious of the expo-

sure and risks identified with the COVID 19.

We have also taken additional measures to continuously sanitise the customer service areas at all of our offices.

We thank you for your understanding and support during this period, as we strive to create a clean, safe and comfortable environment.

FROM PAGE

06

The votes have already ...

And it is most certainly not what one of its most outstanding field officers, Capt. Ishoof, or those truly loyal to him, would have wanted.

We Guyanese are a proud people; we were wealthy long before the discovery of ‘black gold’. Agonise as we all certainly do, few of us plan to ever give up on our manifest destiny to regain importance in the region. As long

as we have visionary, bold and intelligent leadership. Lawfully, democratically-elected leadership. The votes have already been counted legally; long before you arrived. A winner has been evident for some time now. Let us see if you have the integrity and chutzpah to declare the obvious.

Sincerely, Scheherazade Ishoof Khan

Supermarket to buy us a few more hand sanitizers. In addition to using the hand sanitizer at school, our teachers send us to the washroom to wash our hands at every break, including lunch. Some days we have three breaks, and some days we have four breaks. Since we learned of the virus being in Guyana, the children have been coming to school with face masks and gloves. It is strange, though, that the teachers are not wearing masks, but mom said it is not really necessary, if the person is not sick. A scientist later came to our school and told us the same thing at assembly, but the students continued to wear their masks. At school, every single person has been talking about the virus. After the principal

heard about the virus, she cancelled all our examinations and closed the entire school from March 16, 2020, and we do not have to return until some time in April. Mom said it is for five weeks, and she will be teaching us at home. This is one of my first assignments from her.

I really do not like this new virus, because my school has been closed, and I have absolutely no contact with any of my friends. We have not even been able to go to the movies, or to play video games at the Mall. I am sure that the next thing that will happen is that I will have to stop Karate.

Regards, Jared Johnson Grade 5 Student, Mae’s Primary

AMCHAM stands ready to assist the Public Health authority in fighting COVID-19 Dear Editor, AMCHAM Guyana notes with deep concern the growing number of positive diagnosed Covid19 cases in Guyana. The virus has spread worldwide with devastating consequences for many countries, and the Chamber urges the Public Health Authorities in Guyana and all citizens to adequately prepare for the inevitable spread of the virus in Guyana.

All precautions must be taken to slow the spread of this disease and protect our most vulnerable members of society.

We commend the Authorities on steps taken to secure our

children with the closure of schools, and the regular information provided however, AMCHAM believes that more aggressive measures are needed at this time. Amcham calls on the relevant Public Health authorities to follow the lead of our CARICOM neighbors, and other world leaders, in imposing strict travel restrictions and following the WHO guidelines on imposing quarantine. We call on the private sector to support the national efforts by offering alternative work from home arrangements, engaging in sanitation exercises in all businesses and providing the tools for workers to engage in safe practices. We en-

courage businesses to help make quarantine more comfortable for patients, such as reduced data and phone call charges so that persons can still be in touch with their loved ones; or donations of food, formula, toiletries and cleaners for less fortunate households. Let us continue our efforts as a country to identify, isolate and treat all those persons who are ill.

AMCHAM stands ready to assist the Public Health Authority in any way we can.

Regards, Sarah Shaffie Executive Assistant AMCHAM Guyana Inc.

PPP loss predicted Dear Editor, Dr. Kirk Meighoo’s October 18, 2019 article in the Indo-Caribbean Diaspora News – icdn, using his statistical analysis -- Turkeyn Research and Polling Institute (TRPI) and putting his professional reputation on the line, states that Irfaan Ali is the only PPP/C candidate who could not defeat President Granger in a general election.

Getting this information, Dr. Ali could have increased his party’s likelihood of winning the 2020 election by magnanimously resigning, and having his party select a candidate whose success was more statistically viable. Instead, the PPP/C chose a different path.

On February 26, 2020, the icdn published an opinion piece stating that “Irfaan Leads Granger in Latest Opinion Poll”. One would expect this “opinion poll” to be named for credibility, so that it would assure the PPP/C constituents of a victory. However, no “opinion poll” was named, which suggests that the information is groundless.

According to the mystery poll, “Dr. Ali is an electoral juggernaut, while Granger is an unpopular leader...” And while tooting praise for Dr. Ali, and disparaging President Granger, the article concludes: “On purely hard-headed electoral grounds, and a free and fair election, Ali will be the next President. Evidence points to a plan to rig the elections.” This last line shows irresponsible editorship. Furthermore, this statement, even though disgusting and troubling, reverberates with disdain for the electoral process and all (local and international observers) who are working to ensure that the rules are followed. It shows the Opposition’s playbook promotes discord within our nation.

Now, as half the nation waits in discontent, please review the statistical analysis of Dr. Meighoo and what it portends – the PPP/C could not win the elections with Dr. Ali as their candidate. At the same time, the Coalition was not complacent with Dr. Meighoo’s statistics.

The PPP/C vote was not predicted to show any significant increase. This allowed the Coalition to calculate the number of new voters they needed, to concentrate their resources to register new voters, and to ensure their voters vote on Election Day. This may be a bitter and disappointing pill, but Dr. Meighoo’s analysis of the numbers indicated a PPP/C loss. Sadly, the PPP/C chose to ignore the numbers, and its constituents once again suffer the loss.

Sincerely, Stanley Niamatali

8

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, March 17, 2020

CAL confirms travel restrictions into several countries

Caribbean Airlines said on Monday several Governments in jurisdictions into which it operates including Canada, the Cayman Islands, Guyana, Jamaica, St. Maarten, and Trinidad and Tobago, advised of travel

restrictions into their countries which will take effect either immediately or from 12.01 a.m. on Wednesday March 18, 2020.

As such the airline has advised passengers to visit the websites of the specific

country for details on the travel restrictions. Travel Restrictions into Trinidad and Tobago: At the time of publication of this document, in the case of travel to Trinidad and Tobago, the following restrictions apply: The fol-

lowing persons will NOT be processed for travel on any Caribbean Airlines services with a final destination or an in-transit stop via Trinidad & Tobago: * Non-Trinidad & Tobago nationals * Non-permanent residents of Trinidad & Tobago * Non-nationals transiting Trinidad and Tobago * Holders of work permits must apply for an exemption to travel Only holders of

VALID Trinidad and Tobago passports will be allowed to land in Trinidad and Tobago.

Non-nationals of Trinidad & Tobago who are currently booked on any Caribbean Airlines international and/or regional flights into/via Trinidad & Tobago, will have their tickets placed on hold in accordance with the airline’s Covid-19 Travel Policy.

The airline said as it

continues to optimise its flight operations some international and regional services may be consolidated or altered. “Passengers on any services impacted by the consolidation of flights, are being re-accommodated; and the airline is contacting passengers whose original travel plans may be affected,” the release stated.

Barbados implements 24-hour screening at ports for all arriving passengers (Barbados Today) - Government has implemented 24-hour screening at the county’s air and sea ports, as it ramps up surveillance for COVID-19.

“With effect from today, (Monday) we are now 24 hours, screening every single person who comes through the Grantley Adams International Airport and the Bridgetown Port,” Minister of Health Lt Col Jeffrey Bostic announced on state television this evening.

To date, Barbados has no case of COVID-19.

Explaining the reason for the enhanced surveillance, Bostic said up to a few weeks ago, only a few

countries were impacted

by COVID-19. He said now that the number of countries have expanded as a result of the spread of the virus, Barbados must respond in kind.

The Minister also explained the country’s decision not to close its borders. “The decision not to close the borders was taken based on a recommendation from the Ministry of Health. This is based on the fact that the World Health Organization clearly states that restricting travel and trade even during the pandemic, especially during a pandemic, is really not the thing to do,” he said.

“It does not serve the purpose that people think it does in terms of reducing or stopping the importation of the virus and it actually has a negative impact on the countries that are affected. It also impacts on our ability to access technical assistance. “If we had imposed the travel ban we would not have been able to receive the test kits that we have received and we would not have been in a position to receive the ventilators that are so very, very important for the isolation units that we have established,” he added.

9

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, March 17, 2020

Green Climate Fund approves a $119 million WHO updates Coronavirus guidance for all countries climate resilient project for Cuba The Board of the Green Climate Fund today approved a CONTRIBUTING TO SUSTAINABILITY $119 million disbursement for a FAO co-designed project AND RESILIENCE to boost the resilience to climate change of vulnerable New agroforestry and sylvopastoral approaches will be rural communities in Cuba. introduced on more than 35 000 hectares in ways that will imThe Green Climate Fund will contribute $38.2 million, prove water infiltration and retention in soils, combating erowhile the Government of Cuba provides $81.7 million sion and allowing for greater productivity and sustainability in co-financing for the project, which is expected to help in local agricultural 240 000 people. Anecosystems. nounced today by the The GovernFund's board meetment of Cuba and ing in Geneva, this FAO will work is the first project in with smallholdCuba to be supported ers to change by the Green Climate their traditional Fund. The seven-year intensive farming project aims to mitimethods into more gate around 2.7 milclimate-resilient lion tonnes of greenproduction techhouse gas emissions niques. The expewhile working with rience will serve as 52 000 family farma pilot project that ers - almost half of can eventually be them women - and scaled up around introducing agroforthe country. The estry practices on 35 process will also 000 hectares. offer a way to The project tiprovide technical tled "Increased clicapacity-building Farmers at work in Cuba mate resilience of rural assistance for the households and communities through the rehabilitation of design of new government incentives to foster broader efforts productive agroforestry landscapes in selected localities of to adapt to climate change. the Republic of Cuba (IRES-Cuba)" was designed by Cuba's "This project is especially welcome as it is the first such Agriculture Ministry with FAO's help in a process coordinated initiative in a Small Island Developing State, for which cliwith local populations, civil society and other stakeholders. mate change is a significant long-term challenge," said Maria The IRES project, which targets food and nutrition securi- Helena Semedo, FAO Deputy Director-General, Climate and ty as well as ways to boost the resilience and stability of local Natural Resources. food production systems, employment and access to water, will be implemented in seven of the municipalities deemed FAO AND THE GREEN CLIMATE FUND most vulnerable to the effects of climate change.

IRES is the fourth initiative designed by FAO in the Latin "IRES will restore productive landscapes to preserve America and Caribbean region that has won approval from ecosystem services through the use of innovative methods the Green Climate Fund. PROEZA in Paraguay channels and financial incentives," said Maury Hechavarría Bermúdez, $90 million to benefit 17 000 households. RECLIMA, in El Vice-Minister of Cuba's Agriculture Ministry. It represents a Salvador, is a $127 million initiative expected to support 225 significant initiative in Cuba's plan to address climate change, 000 people. A $63.3 million project in Chile aims to add 25 known as Tarea Vida (Life Task).

000 hectares of forest cover in six regions of the country.

Including projects in Kyrgyzstan, Nepal and Pakistan, "The project is designed to foster the development of inclusive, sustainable and resilient food systems, strengthen the FAO now leads Green Climate Fund-approved projects conservation of natural resources, help the agriculture sector with $426.6 million in funding, about half of which come adapt to climate change and to improve the resilience of local directly from the fund. FAO is also working closely with livelihoods in managing risks," said Marcelo Resende, FAO member states around the world to strengthen their institutional capacity to develop projects the Fund can Representative to Cuba. approve. (FAO)

GCCI also calls on businesses to stop price gouging

THE Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry has added its voice in calling on businesses to desist from inconsiderately “price gouging” on sanitization and pharmaceutical products, in light of increase demand as a result of the country announcing its first corona virus/COVID-19 case on March 11.

Issuing a statement on Monday, the Chamber called on the business community to be responsible and do their part in helping to prevent the spread of the virus, which has been declared a pandemic by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

“Businesses are encouraged to be ethical and compassionate. Be fair in the pricing of products and medication relevant in the fight of COVID-19. We are only strong as our weakest link. Be cognizant that many are void of finan-

cial resources. Price gouging of products automatically creates a barrier to the less fortunate,” the statement said.

The agency suggested some seven measures recommended by the WHO that businesses could implement to guard against the spread of the virus, which has already been responsible for 6610 deaths across the globe since the first outbreak originated in Wuhan, China in December, 2019.

Aside from refraining from price gouging, the body called on businesses to eradicate fear and panic through education; fact check before sharing information; keep your environment clean; mandate sanitary practices; manage employee relations and contact; and incorporate smart working.

“The GCCI welcomes all citizens to join the discussion on the fight against COVID-19. Public health is

everyone’s responsibility. The way to fight the COVID-19 virus is simple - keep clean. The WHO encourages organisations to sanitize working environments daily. For business leaders with available resources, we implore you to transfer the vigour of cleanliness to your wider community,” the Chamber said.

Adding that: “The Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) recognizes the far-reaching impacts that COVID-19 will have on public health and business continuity. The GCCI therefore appeals to the business community to be cognizant of the gravity of the situation.

If proper steps are not implemented in a timely manner, COVID-19 has the potential to lead to a crisis that our local health sector is incapable of handling.”

The World Health Organization (WHO) on Monday conducted a media briefing to provide an update on the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19).

WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus outlined several measures for all countries to implement to handle this pandemic as he called on them to increase testing.

“Our key message is test, test, test,” Dr. Ghebreyesus underscored.

The Director-General noted that knowing where the virus is circulating and locating all cases will serve as a major step in containing the spread of the novel coronavirus.

Amongst the guidelines, the WHO advised that people follow fundamental health measures outlined and cease all social gatherings; health authorities conduct rapid testing and implement immediate isolation as a means to reduce transmission of the virus. Masks are only to be worn if sick.

The WHO is currently assembling evidence from several published studies to efficiently deal with the global situation.

Studies are also underway

in laboratories in several countries to understand the different environmental conditions and surfaces in which the virus can persist. It has been recommended that everyone be aware of their roles during this pandemic. The responsibility is not solely on health sectors, but each citizen in taking the necessary measures to reduce the spread of the virus. While everyone is at risk, the WHO has said the vulnerable population includes persons with underlying health conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular and chronic respiratory diseases and those over the age of 60 to be at a higher risk of death.

Countries have been urged to have systems in place to find missing coronavirus cases to isolate those cases all in light of reducing onward transmission. Guyana has confirmed four cases of COVID-19. In following the health guidelines, persons are also advised to contact the emergency hotline at 227-4986 extension 251 0r 624-3067 if they are experiencing flu-like symptoms.

Coronavirus: US volunteers to test first vaccine

(BBC) The first human trial of a vaccine to protect against pandemic coronavirus is starting in the US later on Monday, according to reports.

A group of 45 healthy volunteers will have the jab, at the Kaiser Permanente research facility, in Seattle.

The vaccine cannot cause Covid-19 but contains a harmless genetic code copied from the virus that causes the disease.

Experts say it will still take many months to know if this vaccine, or others also in research, will work.

Scientists around the world are fast-tracking research.

And this first human trial, funded by the National Institutes of Health, sidesteps a check that would normally be conducted - making sure the vaccine can trigger an immune response in animals.

But the biotechnology company behind the work, Moderna Therapeutics, says the vaccine has been made us-

ing a tried and tested process.

Dr John Tregoning, an expert in infectious diseases at Imperial College London, UK, said: "This vaccine uses pre-existing technology.

"It's been made to a very high standard, using things that we know are safe to use in people and those taking part in the trial will be very closely monitored.

"Yes, this is very fast - but it is a race against the virus, not against each other as scientists, and it's being done for the benefit of humanity."

Typical vaccines for viruses, such as measles, are made from a weakened or killed virus.

But the mRNA-1273 vaccine is not made from the virus that causes Covid-19.

Instead, it includes a short segment of genetic code copied from the virus that scientists have been able to make in a laboratory.

This will hopefully prime the body's own immune system to fight off the real infection.

10

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, March 17, 2020

Travel restrictions the ‘ideal’ thing to consider, says DCMO Dr. Karen Boyle

--no new cases so far, contact being made with persons who interacted with infected persons

By Navendra Seoraj AS the new global pandemic, the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), continues to spread across the world, local authorities should consider implementing travel restrictions says Deputy Chief Medical Officer (DCMO), Dr. Karen Boyle.

Globally, the virus has now infected more than 168,000 people, and killed at least 6,610, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).

And, with Guyana recording four cases so far, Dr. Boyle believes that the “ideal” thing to do right now is to implement travel restrictions.

With four cases of the coronavirus confirmed, Guyana’s closest Caribbean neighbour, Trinidad and Tobago, has decided to disconnect from the international community for the next 14 days, by closing its borders.

“It is the ideal thing to do, but government has not made a decision as yet; it is probably what needs to be considered,” Dr. Boyle said Monday when asked to comment on the matter.

According to the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that cause illnesses ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV).

The coronavirus outbreak reportedly originated in Wuhan, China, and has since spread to many other countries, including some in the Americas.

COMMON SIGNS Common signs of infection include respiratory symptoms, fever, coughs, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties. In more severe cases, infection can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure and even death.

The first local case of the virus, which was confirmed last Wednesday, was that of a 52-year-old woman who recently came home with family members from the United States.

Reports are that based on the patient’s travel history and symptoms (out-of-hand

diabetes and high blood pressure), health officials also tested her for COVID-19.

A sample was collected and sent to the National Public Health Reference Laboratory (NPHRL), where laboratory tests confirmed on Wednesday that she did have the virus. By then the woman had already died while receiving medical attention at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).

Reports are also that the woman’s immediate family members and more than a dozen others who would have come into contact with her were advised by Ministry of Public Health officials to self-quarantine. Tests on three of the woman’s immediate family members have revealed that three of them had contracted the virus.

CONTRACT TRACING The public health ministry has since begun a process called “contact tracing” to ensure that persons who’d come into contact with infected persons are not infected.

“We are doing contact tracing, which is a routine thing we do when we have such cases… We have to look for the people who may have come into contact with them (infected persons) to make sure they are okay,” Dr. Boyle said.

And while no one else has so far tested positive for the Coronavirus, according to medical officials here, a number of persons are being monitored.

Not wanting to leave anything to chance, the American Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAM) is urging local Public Health Authorities, as well as every Guyanese for that matter, to adequately prepare for the inevitable spread of the virus here in Guyana.

“All precautions must be taken to slow the spread of this disease, and protect our most vulnerable members of society,” AMCHAM said, adding: “We commend the authorities on steps taken to secure our children with the closure of schools, and the regular information provided, however, AMCHAM believes that more aggressive measures are needed at this time.”

The Chamber, is also calling on the relevant public

health authorities here to take a cue from fellow CARICOM countries, like T&T

physically visit any of its offices. These features include its newly-launched mobile

DCMO, Dr. Karen Boyle

and neighbouring Suriname, and other world leaders and impose strict travel restrictions, and follow the WHO guidelines on imposing quarantine to the letter.

WORK-FROM-HOME ARRANGEMENTS Said AMCHAM, “We call on the private sector to support the national efforts by offering alternative workfrom-home arrangements; engaging in sanitation exercises in all businesses; and providing the tools for workers to engage in safe practices. We encourage businesses to help make quarantine more comfortable for patients, such as reduced data and phone-call charges so that persons can still be in touch with their loved ones; or donations of food, formula, toiletries and cleaners for less fortunate households.”

Taking AMCHAM up on its advice, local Internet service provider E-Networks Inc has announced that it will be temporarily reducing its staffing at branches, and is encouraging its customers to make use of some of the features on offer to conduct common transactions Online, without having to

app, “E-Networks E-Care”, which is available on Google Play and iOS App Store. The ‘app’ at reference enables customers to manage their E-Networks accounts from their mobile devices, with the options of viewing and updating account details; paying their E-Networks bills; and getting technical support.

Customers can also receive immediate responses via WhatsApp to common queries through the company’s “chatbot” service, available on telephone number +1-855-339-3890.

Other options available to E-Networks customers include paying their bills, using the Online banking services of Scotiabank, Demerara Bank, Republic Bank, and Citizens Bank, as well as bill payment services like SurePay, Bill Express and GTT Mobile Money. For any queries, customers can also interact with E-Networks agents via telephone: 2313890, e-mail: csr@ewirelessgy.com or any of its social media pages @enetworksgy.

E-Networks branches will also remain open for bill payments and other queries.

ZOO CLOSED Meanwhile, the Protected Areas Commission (PAC) and the National Parks Commission (NPC) has also taken some precautionary measures of its own and announced that the Georgetown Zoo will be closed as of today, Tuesday March 17, 2020 until further notice.

This move is a part of the Commission’s efforts to safeguard and protect staff and citizens from the COVID-19 threat.

“As much as we appreciate and encourage all of Guyana to take advantage of the convenience of our protected areas, including our urban parks, we understand that health and safety are important and must always be the main priorities,” the PAC/NPC said, adding: “Please be advised also that the Botanical Gardens and the National Park will remain open, as we take extra precautionary measures to ensure that all of our public facilities are fully sanitized.”

The PAC/NPC further calls on all Guyanese to adhere to the rules, measures and advice coming from the Ministry of Public Health in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in Guyana.

STILL IN PLACE “Screening remains in place for those persons arriving from high-risk countries.

Seven countries: Jamaica, Dominican Republic, Brazil, French Guiana, Panama, St. Vincent and the United States of America, have been added to the list of eight (People’s Republic of China, Italy, South Korea, Singapore, Japan, Thailand, Malaysia and Iran) that was previously made public,” President David Granger was quoted as saying in a recent statement.

The President also advised against public gatherings and non-essential travel, and encouraged agencies to sensitise key personnel at all air and seaports, so that they could be alert.

In the event of a suspected case reaching the shores of Guyana, the Ministry of Public Health has designated three quarantine facilities, and will be identifying more, President Granger said.

These facilities are expected to be efficient because Guyana already has the capacity to test for COVID-19, thanks

to training provided by the Pan American Health Organisation.

Despite the preparatory work, government has started to assess the readiness of health facilities to meet the anticipated increase in demand of services and will continue to fill existing gaps by providing additional supplies and equipment through the public health ministry. As it is now, President Granger said the public health ministry has enough personal protective equipment in the country for health facilities and it also has adequate stores of respiratory medicine for the next three months.

“These efforts are supported by a communications campaign to keep the population updated on the virus and its impacts and oversight provided by the Health Emergency Operations Centre.

The National Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) will be activated to provide sector-wide support,” he said.

As a safeguard, the Ministry of Public Health has urged the public to adhere to infection prevention and control measures such as maintaining a distance of at least one metre from persons who are coughing or sneezing; performing hand hygiene frequently by washing hands thoroughly with soap and water or using a hand sanitiser; covering mouths and noses with a tissue when coughing; and avoid touching your face.

The MoPH would like to remind members of the public that should anyone develop a high fever, a persistent cough or have difficulty breathing to immediately call the COVID-19 hotline: 227-4986 ext. 215 (from 8am – 4:30pm; 624 -6674; 624 – 2819 (from 4:30pm to 8am).

It is also advisable to share previous travel history accurately with a healthcare provider. The Health Emergency Operating Centre (HEOC) was activated by the Public Health Ministry as part of a broader menu of measures to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

11

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, March 17, 2020

‘We have to keep the faith in these trying times’ …say religious leaders amid Covid-19 pandemic …Churches, Mosques, Temples cancel events and large gatherings

By Naomi Parris WITH the number of confirmed cases of the dreaded Coronavirus in Guyana now pegged at four, several church organisations have cancelled various events and large gatherings as the country grapples with the deadly virus.

In a press release last week, the Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) Conference revealed that, due to the pandemic facing the country and the world, the conference will be cancelling a series of events and large gatherings to prevent the spread of the virus. The statement read: “The General Conference of SDA has postponed the Global Youth Day 2020 activities with the recommendation that we transition to a prayer focus instead. In an attempt to protect your health and that of your families, the Youth Department is hereby postponing the blood donation drives and all other GYD activities.”

This year’s global youth day was slated for March 21; the event is one of the most anticipated events for the Seventh Day Adventist community, since it is a day which the churches give back to the general public. The statement also revealed that the conference will be postponing the “Cry Salvation” adventurer Camporee that was scheduled for April 7 – 12, 2020 in the island of Barbados. This is in light of the fact that several cases of the COVID-19 virus have been confirmed in many countries across the Caribbean Union.

The conference has also taken a decision to postpone the Youth Week of Prayer (YWOP) Revival meetings scheduled for Georgetown, New Amsterdam.

Additionally, Pastor Exton Clarke, President of the Guyana Seventh Day Adventist, in a message to the Seventh Day Adventist community stated, “As a church, this is not time to freeze in fear but rather to press forward in faith as we keep focus on our primary role in this world and that is

to bring healing to broken lives and salvation to lost humanity.”

Pastor Clarke also advised that the Adoption of all precautionary measures for prevention and Spread of COVID -19 Virus is critical.

“Refrain from

holding and shaking hands and other forms of physical contact in public worship. Wherever communion services are conducted, it would be best for leaders administrating the service to publicly wash hands, dry thoroughly, apply hand sanitizer and use new gloves (preferably plastic) for breaking of bread. The foot-washing ceremony can be made optional during this period. Comply with all restrictions regarding the virus as issued by the relevant Governmental authorities” he said.

Speaking with the Guyana Chronicle, Apostle B. Ragnauth of Life Spring Ministries noted that his congregation is taking all the necessary precautions as advised by the public health system. “We did not run the AC yesterday (Sunday) we opened up all the doors, so I had all my ushers and greeters with sanitizers, so everybody’s hands was sanitised before they came in the building , what we did was observe the distance rule, the one meter rule, we did not shake hands; we did not do our usual hugs” he said.

In addition, Apostle B. Ragnauth noted that he was appealing to persons to not stigmatize those who are infected with the virus and to pray for the entire nation and

its healing in the midst of this pandemic.

Additionally, Reverend Claude Brooks of Love and Faith Ministries related to the Guyana Chronicle that the church has had to cancel a major international event due to the

Covid-19 pandemic. He stated that the event was cancelled not because of the fear of the virus but as a precaution to ensure that persons remain safe.

Reverend Brooks noted that his congregation has been educated on the pandemic by a medical nurse who is attached to the Love and Faith Ministries; however he added that members of the congregation who are vulnerable to the virus were asked to remain home for the sake of themselves and others.

“The people who are of a certain age we are encouraging them not to come, people who have [non-communicable diseases] such as hypertension we are encouraging them not to come; the vulnerable we encouraged them not to come,” he said.

In addition, a member of the Queenstown Jama Masjid related that the Muslim congregation is following the necessary precautions by doing what was instructed by the local health system and media outlets to prevent the spread of the virus. The man added that persons in their congregation were taking the necessary precautions to protect themselves and have avoided the usual warm welcome of shaking hands and hugging

when greeting each other.

Stricter Quarantine Meanwhile, Reverend Brooks noted that the Ministry of Public Health should implement stricter quarantine measures as the pandemic seems to be spreading rapidly across the country.

“We have to do all that we can to stay healthy; observe all the precautions but we have to be praying because God is the ultimate healer …also I believe the government, through the Ministry of Health, and all social workers, should do everything that they can within their power. We need to be more diligent when dealing with it, “he stated.

In agreeance with Reverend Brooks, Pandit Gavin Mahadeo stated that there should be a more resilient attack to combat the virus.

“I’ve seen a number of temples would have indicated that they are not going to have these full blown services, I don’t think that there is enough awareness, especially with some of these countryside temples; people are not seeing the seriousness of this [pandemic],” he stated.

Pandit Mahadeo further related that he believes that not much is being done within the Hindu community to educate persons about the deadly virus; in expressing his disappointment Mahadeo stated that himself and another Pandit in the region had been advocating having all temples reduce their congregation during this critical time.

“We’re advocating that we limit the size of our services. It’s not that you’re telling people not to pray but at least we can have a schedule as to how we would attend services,” he said.

Meanwhile, Pandit Gavin noted that several temples have postponed their annual pujas to a later date as a precaution during the outbreak.

Gov’t, Caribbean Airlines tracking down passengers who travelled with daughter of first coronavirus victim THE Ministry of Health is urging persons who travelled on Caribbean Airlines flight BW 727, on March 12, 2020, from JFK New York to CJIA Guyana, to make contact with its office urgently. The notice comes days after the daughter of the woman who died from the coronavirus travelled on a Caribbean Airlines flight from New York to Guyana.

The woman was Guyana’s first imported case of Coronavirus. Both the airline and government have been trying to track down those passengers to quarantine them. Those passengers who were on the flight are asked to call 592-624-6674 for urgent information.

Since the daughter travelled to Guyana, she and two other members of the family have tested positive for the coronavirus. Officially, Guyana has announced that four persons have been tested positive with the virus.

Local online news website News Source reported that the Caribbean Airlines had allowed the daughter to travel from New York to Guyana, although concerns were expressed to the airline by local authorities. News Source said when the daughter arrived in Guyana, she did not show any symptoms and she was ordered to self-quarantine.

Her mother reportedly stayed with her in New York. The mother arrived in Guyana on the 7th March aboard a Caribbean Airlines flight also.

She died on the 11th March in the emergency room at the Georgetown Hospital. Caribbean Airlines was forced to quarantine the 13 crew members who worked the two flights that the mother travelled on from New York to Guyana via Trinidad and

Tobago.

Last week, Caribbean Airlines said, in a statement, that it continues to monitor and respond to the situation regarding COVID-19. While authorities have not issued travel restrictions to its destinations, Caribbean Airlines is committed to the health and safety of both its crew members and customers, and is working directly with health and security officials, as well as industry leaders, to keep updated and to ensure that it continues to implement best practices, the airline said.

The airline said too that it is working steadfastly to make sure it is well prepared.

Already, the airline has put in place measures which include: Placing special safety kits on board all aircraft and at offices; Monitoring the air quality in its aircraft cabins; Continuing to ensure compliance with aircraft-cleaning procedures, ensuring that all aircraft are properly sanitised at all ports; Equipping employees with international guidelines on how to deal with any suspected cases of COVID-19; activating a special response team to monitor the situation in real time and promoting frequent handwashing practices amongst its crew members and passengers The airline’s operations team is putting contingencies in place in the event of any future disruptions.

Also, the airline said it is permitting persons travelling on Caribbean Airlines with onward connections to/from mainland China, Iran, Italy, Japan, South Korea and Singapore to rebook the Caribbean Airlines travel segment without a change in fees, subject to conditions.

One of three accused of rape set free NICK SKEETE, on Monday, March 16, 2020, walked out of the Sexual Offences Court, a free man, after the 12-member jury was directed by the judge to return a notguilty verdict.

Skeete called ‘Jason Blair’ and ‘Shatta’ was on trial alongside Harold Anderson and John Lee Edmond for the offence of raping a woman.

The indictment read that, on July 9, 2016, the trio had sexual intercourse with the woman without her consent. The alleged incident took place in Lethem.

The trial started last week, with state prosecutors

presenting the case before the jury.

However, after the close of the prosecution’s case on Monday, defence attorney Ravindra Mohabir made a no-case submission on behalf of Skeete to Justice Jo-Ann Barlow.

Justice Barlow upheld Mohabir’s submission, agreeing that the state did not establish a prima facie case.

The judge then directed the jury to return a nonguilty verdict, as a result of which Skeete walked free.

Justice Barlow will give directions in relation to the other two accused persons on Wednesday.

12

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, March 17, 2020

ERC commends joint political effort for votes recount

THE Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) has commended President David Granger and Leader of the Opposition, Bharrat Jagdeo, for finding common ground on a way forward for a national recount of ballots cast in the General and Regional Elections.

The Commission has also lauded CARICOM for its role in overseeing the process and is optimistic that the initiative will bring a conclusion to the current challenges.

“This, the Commission believes, would bring an amicable end to the current political impasse which has resulted in a non-declaration of credible final results even as two weeks have elapsed since Guyanese went to the

Members of the Ethnic Relations Commission

polls to choose a government of their choice. The decision also demonstrates that meaningful and genuine collaboration across the political aisle is achievable and vital to help resolve inherent differences and challenges,” the ERC said in a Monday release.

Meanwhile, being a Constitutional organ established to promote the elimination of all forms of discrimination on the basis of ethnicity, the ERC welcomed the move as having “tremendous potential to heal the current unwelcome and prevailing divide among our people”.

Members of the media have noticed an increase in racial tension especially on social media since the stalemate arose from the contentious Region Four declarations.

The Commission reiterated its call for all Guyanese to act responsibly; to demon-

strate tolerance, respect and restraint especially during this period.

It stated: “The Commission takes this opportunity to commend President Granger and Mr. Jagdeo for being able to find common ground to move forward in the best interest of Guyana and Guyanese; CARICOM’s Chairperson, Honourable Prime Minister of Barbados, Mia Mottley, for supporting Guyana during this difficult

time, for mediating between our political leaders and for assembling the team supervising the recount and the Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission Justice (Rtd) Claudette Singh, for facilitating the process.”

The ERC also took note that the stakeholders involved have pledged to abide by the findings providing the integrity of the ballot boxes is not compromised.

Canadian envoy barged into GECOM meeting

…commissioners surprised, condemn actions COMMISSIONERS of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) have brought attention to what they believe was unwarranted behaviour on the part of Canadian High Commissioner, Lillian Chatterjee.

In an interview with the media on Saturday, Commissioners Desmond Trotman and Vincent Alexander detailed the events which halted a previous meeting of the commission at GECOM’s Command Centre at High and Hadfield Streets last Thursday.

Their account reports Chatterjee as barging into the meeting unannounced and directing that the commission act based on her judgement. “The Canadian High Commissioner barged into the meeting unannounced.

Presumably, she came in there to impose her will on the meeting,” Commissioner Trotman told the media.

He added: “[She was] barging into the room as if she was the new ruler of the land.”

The incident took place while there was much commotion downstairs in the building where political leaders, primarily the opposition, were objecting to the process taken up by the region’s RO

Canadian High Commissioner, Lillian Chatterjee

Clairmont Mingo to tabulate total votes of the region.

Alexander said: “I think she was intervening in the announcement being made by the returning officer and she was running in the room telling us what we should do with relation to what was happening outside.” On March 13, Chatterjee, along with foreign diplomats from the United States, the United Kingdom and the European Union (EU) walked out of the centre as they felt the resumed tabulation process following court orders was still not transparent. They subsequently released a joint statement advising that GECOM do everything to ensure that “a credible process is followed.”

13

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, March 17, 2020

‘Balancing dollars and sense’

…Public service agencies financing COVID-19 measures on restricted budgets

By Tamica Garnett SINCE the March 11 announcement of Guyana’s first confirmed case of the corona/COVID-19 virus, government agencies across the country have been implementing new measures to prevent against the spread. However, some agencies may start to feel the squeeze as they go about managing with limited finances, in light of a lack of budgetary allocations.

With the country’s last budget having expired since December 31, 2019 and the convening of a new National Assembly contingent on the yet-to-be-declared official general elections results, the national budget one-twelfth formula is operational. Article 36(1) of the Fiscal Management and Accountability Act Chapter 73:02 allows for each budget agency to be issued month to month allocations of a “limit of onetwelfth of the amount that was expended by that budget agency in the immediately preceding fiscal year”.

Last year’s national budget was $300.7 billion, the biggest to date. At the Ministry of Education (MoE), Permanent Secretary, Alfred King, shared that, while some areas are sufficiently catered for, others may come up somewhat deficient in terms of catering for new measures in fighting the spread of the virus. “We developed a programme in keeping with that one twelfth, so for field materials, under which we would find things related to sanitation and toiletries, there may certainly need a bit more propping up if we are to go extensively on sanitising schools and facilities,” King explained.

Last week the MoE took the decision to close all public schools for two weeks effective yesterday (Monday 16). The Ministry noted that the closure period will be used to do a countrywide sanitisation of the school build-

ings. However, affording the sanitisation may be a matter of moving money from one line item to another. “Some lines are under pressure and need virement for support, like for janitorial services.

The janitorial services we catered for were for normal

uninterrupted functioning.

“With the restriction we’re just doing the best we can,” Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson, conveyed on Monday.

For 2019 his ministry was allocated $38.5 billion, one twelfth would be ap-

MoE Permanent Secretary, Alfred King

cleaning agents, and toiletries. But because of this need for additional supplies, the funds available there certainly can’t hold it up. But only [Ministry of] Finance can say what will be allowed for that and how they would manage that,” King said.

Efforts were unsuccessful in contacting Minister of Public Health, Volda Lawrence, for a comment on how that Ministry has been handling any possible issues of financial limitations as it spearheads the country’s fight against the spread of the virus, and dealing with patients as they emerge. In 2019 the MoPH was allocated $35.9 billion, one twelfth of which would come up to approximately $3 billion for the year.

In restricting the spending of the one twelfth even further, the law notes that the monies cannot be spent in “relation to a subject matter or for a purpose for which there was no appropriation in the immediately preceding fiscal year”.

It is from this money that staff of the varying Ministries are currently being paid, and other expenses are being catered to in order to ensure

proved futile.

At the Ministry of Communities (MoC), Permanent Secretary, Emil McGarrell would only say that: “The MoC has been following the directions of the MoPH to safeguard the public servants and members of the public.

SHIFT SYSTEM Meanwhile, the Department of Public Service has

Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan

Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson

proximately $3.21 billion.

“Of course money is never enough, the pandemic still continues but we have to obviously do it piece by piece.

We have to follow the directions of the budget limitations but preeminently is the safety of our employees so we have a rotational system with staff and we’ve procured as much as we can procure in terms of hygienic equipment and so on, so we’re cleaning,” Patterson said.

Efforts to contact Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan, on Monday, for a comment on the situation,

instituted a shift system effective from March 16-27, 2020, to prevent clustering at the workplaces. Relevant information is captured below.

We will do everything to make sure that our staff and members of public remain safe as long as possible.”

He referred questions on how the Ministry has been financing measures across the Regions to the Public Relations Officer. The MoC is responsible for the management of the varying Regional Democratic Councils (RDCs) and corresponding administrations. Following the announcement that the country’s first corona virus case was discovered on March 11, the Department of Public Service subsequently

instituted a shift system in the sector as part of measures to tackle the scourge. In a circular released on Sunday and addressed to Permanent Secretaries, Heads of Departments and Regional Executive Officers, the Department of Public Service said that, on the directive of His Excellency, President David Granger, to coordinate the Public Service response to COVID-19; the department has approved the following Staff Rotation measures to prevent clustering at the workplaces during the period March 16 - 27, 2020.

1. Managerial staff/ Heads of Units are expected to be present at work every day. All other staff are to be placed on rotation via a roster system and are expected to be at work on alternate days, to maintain an operational Public Service. On those days when staff are not in office, they are expected to be 'On Call ' and be prepared to work at short notice, should the need arise.

2. Staff with flu-like symptoms should be reminded to call the emergency hotline and NOT go to the

hospitals. Please note that Public Service Rule H45 which requires the officer to produce a medical certificate after being sick for three (3) consecutive days is still in effect. Further, Public Servants who are absent due to a mandatory COVID-19 quarantine for 14 days must be cleared by a Medical Practitioner prior to assuming duty.

3. To contain the spread or COVID-19, every Ministry/Department/Region has a responsibility to sanitize the work environment intermittently during working hours to protect all stakeholders. Please follow all guidelines set out by the Ministry of Public Health regarding containing the spread of COVID-19.

Officially declared a global pandemic by the WHO, corona virus has been sweeping the globe since the first outbreak originated in Wuhan, China in December, 2019. Since the first reported case, Guyana has confirmed an additional three cases, all being persons who would have come into contact with patient zero. The announcement of the corona virus reaching local shores, came amidst the country still dealing with issues emanating from the March 2, General and Regional Elections.

Though Returning Officers (RO) from the country’s 10 voting districts have already declared respective results, the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has not made a final national declaration.

The Commission has since embarked on a national recount of all votes.

Mercy Hospital beefs up screening to protect against COVID-19

THE St. Joseph Mercy Hospital said it has set up a wellness checkpoint at its entrance, as part of efforts to manage the risks associated with the COVID-19 virus.

All staff, clients and visitors must go

through this wellness checkpoint where medical personnel will do an initial screening to determine any symptoms of the virus, the hospital said in a release.

Upon arrival at Mercy, all persons are

expected to check into the wellness tent where our nurses will ask questions and check your body temperature. The nurses will then advise you to wash hands or sanitize the hands with sanitizers provided. If

you have symptoms of COVID-19, please call the hotline numbers: 227-4986 /6243067 for assistance and advice. The St Joseph Mercy Hospital does not test and treat for COVID-19.

14

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday March 17, 2020

No progress on recount

----modalities still being worked out …police, PPP activists clash

By Lisa Hamilton THE commencement of the recount of ballots cast in the General and Regional Elections from the ten administrative Regions did not commence as planned on Monday.

Plans began relatively smooth on Monday morning when the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) conducted a walkabout at the Arthur Chung Conference Center, along with members of the CARICOM high-level team, to ascertain whether the venue would be suitable for the activity. The media was then made aware that the Commission had made arrangements to have the building fumigated. There was later some confusion on whether this was in light of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) or for vector control.

Nonetheless, at around 13:00hrs, Commissioner Sase Gunraj came out of the building to voice his frustration to the media that it was getting late and the ballots to be counted had not yet arrived at the Center. He said that he had received no official communication from the Commission or CARICOM on what was to take place since his last interaction with the media Sunday night.

On Sunday night, he and Commissioner Vincent Alexander had told the media that following the agreement of President David Granger, Leader of the Opposition, Bharrat Jagdeo and the CARICOM team, the Commission had successfully crafted a Terms of Reference (TOR) document to guide the way forward.

It was expected that following the walkabout and arrangements for other logistics, the recount would commence at least by midday on Monday. However, Gunraj told the media after noon yesterday: “While we’re all concerned about the emergence of this COVID-19 virus and we’re obligated to take precaution, the reality is we have a nation that awaits and I’m not sure what will kill us first, GECOM or the spread of COVID-19.”

At 15:30hrs, GECOM Public Relations Officer (PRO), Yolanda Ward, sent out a release stating that all arrangements were in place for the commencement of the national recount but the President, Opposition Leader and CARICOM team first needed

to ink an agreement.

“The Guyana Elections Commission has completed all the preparatory arrangements for the commencement of the national recount exercise as agreed to by H.E. President David Granger and the Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Bharrat Jagdeo with CARICOM. However, while the Commission has considered the request in principle and has approved, a signed agreement between the Leaders and CARICOM is essential in order for the process to be operationalized,” the release stated.

had no information on when the recount would take place.

Soon, it got even darker and, around 18:30hrs, Opposition Executive Anil Nandlall came out to brief the media.

He said that the process was being held up by an aide memoire (a document produced to summarise key findings and important recommendations) needed to be signed between President Granger and the Leader of the Opposition before the recount could begin. Nandall said: “That document was sent since last night and the Leader of the Opposition essen-

PPP/C’s Executive Secretary, Zulfikar Mustapha (first) arrives at the center (Adrian Narine photo)

Political party supporters gather at the front of the Conference Center

Opposition-nominated Commissioner Robeson Benn refuses the order of the police to leave the building’s compound by lying on the floor (Sasenarine Singh photo)

squads” leaving insufficient security for the ballot boxes.

“All these people here are authorized persons. There is no unauthorized person in that compound,” he said.

“Yet we were all told to leave… [we were told] leave or face arrest.”

Benn defies police It was later explained to the media that Deputy Chief Election Officer (DCEO), Roxanne Myers had informed Container trucks with ballots arrive at the Arthur Chung Conference Center (Adrian Narine photo)

It was some 15 minutes after the receipt of the release that the first container truck holding various ballot boxes for Region Four arrived at the Center escorted by the police.

More container trucks arrived at the Center over the period of an hour as well as representatives of several political parties which contested the elections and local observers.

However, more time passed and these individuals were seen sitting and standing near the drive way at the back of the building where the containers were placed. They

tially approved it and it was sent to the President and the President is apparently claiming that he needs legal advice.

It’s a one-page document and it essentially captures what the CARICOM statement says so I don’t know what is there to get legal advice on.”

He questioned the basis for the delay stating that the recount of Region Four could take “nearly two weeks”. A short time after reentering the building, Nandlall exited again stating that political representatives were being put out of the center by “riot

those in the building that the center would be closed for the night and no recount would be taking place. Inside the compound of the Center, things escalated when Opposition-nominated Commissioner Robeson Benn refused to leave and took up firm position by lying flat on his back on the floor of the walkway out of the building.

After speaking to Benn sternly and noticing no change, Benn claimed that the police sought to physically remove him from the compound but he held on to the rails. He told the media that he held his position until he was met by PPP/C Executives Dr. Frank Anthony and Priya Manickchand. Eventually, it was decided that at least one representative from each party would remain at the location. Up to press time, containers with ballot boxes for Regions Three and Four were at the location.

“I’m very unhappy at the action of the police force,” Benn said when he was outside the compound. “They ought to be aware of my position as a statutory Commissioner of an independent agency and that by no possibility could they be attempting to physically remove me from the position I was in.”

Benn said during the event he received injuries to his shoulder and might be taking legal action. He also expressed his frustration about the failure on the Commission’s part to restart the recount noting that the planned fumigation mentioned earlier did not take place until 17:30hrs.

“I presume that we will hear from GECOM tomorrow. I think that what is happening and the way it’s communicated to us as Commissioners is highly unprofessional and also very suspect,” he said.

“There’ve been hours of delay, hours of delay.” Later, a small crowd of supporters gathered at the front of the conference center but nothing noteworthy unfolded.

15

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday March 17, 2020

Hearing of border controversy matter postponed --as reach of dreaded coronavirus widens

By Svetlana Marshall THE global coronavirus pandemic has forced the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to postpone oral proceedings in the 1899 Arbitral Award case, which were set to commence next Monday. “…The International Court of Justice has informed Guyana that the oral proceedings, scheduled to begin on March 23, 2020, have been postponed due to the current worldwide health crisis,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs disclosed on Monday. The matter was set for Monday, March 23 to Friday, March 27, 2020 at the Peace Palace in The Hague, however, a new timeframe for oral submissions will have to be set, due to the worldwide health crisis.

Globally, the judiciary has been taking precautionary measures to safeguard not only those working within the judicial system but those seeking access to justice as well as the world grapples with the deadly coronavirus.

Guyana has long been ready to defend its position that the world court has jurisdiction to adjudicate on the validity of the Arbitral Award of 1899 that established the boundary it shares with Venezuela.

In the age-old controversy, Venezuela has argued that the Arbitral Award of October 3, 1899 is null and void, a contention that is strongly rejected by Guyana.

In its Memorial on Jurisdiction, which it submitted to the Court on November 19, 2018, Guyana maintains that the boundary was established by the Arbitral Tribunal, acting pursuant to a treaty concluded by Venezuela and Great Britain in 1897.

“Venezuela celebrated the

The International Court of Justice

unanimous Arbitral Award, which was rendered by five eminent jurists; participated in a Joint Commission to demarcate the boundary on the ground; and insisted on the Award’s strict implementation. Only decades later did Venezuela, in anticipation of Guyana’s independence, cease recognizing the Award’s validity and binding nature,” the Foreign Affairs Ministry has long explained.

THE GENEVA AGREEMENT Nonetheless, to ensure a final resolution to the controversy through peaceful means, the Gov-

ernments of British Guiana, Venezuela and the United Kingdom concluded the Geneva Agreement, Article IV, which authorises the Secretary-General of the United Nations to decide which of the means listed in Article 33 of the United Nations Charter would suffice.

Article 33 states, among other things, that the International Court of Justice has jurisdiction to adjudicate on the matter with the intention of resolving the controversy.

“In agreeing to Article IV, Venezuela consented to the Court’s jurisdiction, in the event that the Secretary-General decided

that the controversy should be resolved by the Court,” the Foreign Affairs Ministry said, and that it was in keeping with said Article IV that UN Secretary-General António Guterres on January 30, 2018 chose adjudication by the Court as the means for resolving the controversy with finality.

Guyana commenced proceedings before the Court on March 29, 2018, in accordance with the Secretary-General’s decision. “Guyana has no doubt that the Court has jurisdiction,” the Foreign Affairs Ministry made known.

Venezuela, on the other hand, is of the opinion that the ICJ has

no jurisdiction, and as such has long indicated that it will not participate in the proceedings.

However, in November 2019, it sent the ICJ a Memorandum, and issued a public Communiqué in support of its argument that the Court has no jurisdiction. “Guyana rejects them both, and maintains the position that it is for the Court itself to determine whether it has jurisdiction, and that neither party can unilaterally determine this question,” the Foreign Affairs Ministry said.

Foreign Secretary Carl Greenidge, in presenting on the controversy at the University of Guyana late last year, made it clear that Venezuela’s absence will not affect the case. “Whether or not Venezuela participates, I wouldn’t put it as being immaterial; but it does not frustrate the work of the court. The work of the court will proceed, whether or not they participate,” Greenidge had told the students present at the lecture.

Greenidge’s position is one held by the ICJ. According to the international court, if there are preliminary objections challenging its competence to decide on the merits of the case, on the basis that it lacks jurisdiction, or the application is inadmissible, it has the responsibility to decide on the way forward. “Failure by one party to appear does not prevent the proceedings from taking their course, although the court must first satisfy itself that it has jurisdiction,” the ICJ explained.

Greenidge said the Government of Guyana is confident of a win against Venezuela in both cases, the jurisdictional matter, and the substantive matter treating with the validity of the Arbitral Award of 1899.

All courts in Essequibo closed due to COVID-19 The Supreme Court has announced that all the courts in Essequibo have been closed with immediate effect as it safeguard staff from the deadly coronavirus.

In a release the Supreme Court said consequent on medical advice, the Essequibo High Court, Suddie and Anna Regina Magistrates’ Courts will be closed with immediate effect.

The courts will be opened on Monday March 23, 2020. This decision has been taken due to the possible exposure of a staff member to the Corona virus. “These Courts will be fumigated and the Supreme Court protocols in relation to continued sanitization and the Court’s response to

the virus will be followed scrupulously.

Constant review and assessment of the situation will be undertaken and Court users will be provided updates. Any inconvenience caused is regretted,” the release stated.

On Sunday the Office of the Chancellor indicated that a number of precautionary measures are being put in place.

Persons entering the courts, the registries and offices will be required to sanitise their hands, and the remand of prisoners will be conducted over skype among other measures. The Office of the Chancellor indicated that sanitisers will be provided and placed at the entrances and in strategic locations at all courts. This was one of

many measures decided upon at a meeting between Chancellor of the Judiciary (ag) Yonette Cummings-Edwards and senior court officials on March 12 to address the response of the court system in safeguarding staff and court customers in relation to the virus.

Measures taken also include fumigation and sanitisation exercises at all courts and their environs. This took place over the weekend, and is expected to continue in successive weekends and periodically as necessary. Members of the public who do not have cases or matters in court, are encouraged to stay away from the courts, while constant review and assessment of the situation will be done and updates will

be provided to court users and members of the public.

“Given the nature and characteristics of COVID-19 and its potential to disrupt or even halt the functions of the court, it is expected that there will be scrupulous adherence to protocols.

The judiciary and the magistracy wish to thank all court users and members of the public for their understanding and cooperation,” the statement said. The statement also noted that a Response Team has been set up to deal with the preparedness, response, and interaction with public health agencies. The team will interface with staff and report to the Chancellor of the Judiciary.

16

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, March 17, 2020

Commonwealth applauds recount initiative

SECRETARY-GENERAL of the Commonwealth, Patricia Scotland, has applauded the joint collaboration of Guyana’s main political leaders and the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to conduct a national recount of ballots of the recently concluded General and Regional Elections.

Scotland said, in a release on Monday, that she had initially expressed “deep concern” about the tabulation of Region Four results after it was reported to her by the Commonwealth Observer Group to Guyana that it was not transparently conducted

in accordance with the ruling of the Acting Chief Justice.

With President David Granger setting a new course forward by urgently contacting CARICOM to send a high-level team to oversee a national recount agreed to by Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, Scotland said that there is hope for a resolution.

“In this regard, I welcome and commend the regional leadership of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), at the invitation of President David Granger, to deploy a high-level mission to Guyana, to supervise a recount of the ballots cast in all ten regions of the recently-con-

cluded elections,” the Secretary-General said.

“The leadership of President Granger and the Leader of the Opposition, Bharrat Jagdeo, in coming to this agreement on the way forward deserves to be lauded.

I also note and welcome the public commitment from Justice Claudette Singh, Chairperson of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), that she would facilitate the recounting of ballots; and her assurance that GECOM will cooperate fully with the CARICOM Initiative.”

Scotland urged all relevant stakeholders and public

Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Patricia Scotland

officials to do the same and to act in accordance with the “unambiguous judgement” of the Acting Chief Justice.

She stated: “The entire Commonwealth family look to the leaders and the people of Guyana to live up to

the lofty aspirations set out in your Constitution, your electoral laws, and the Commonwealth Charter.”

An 11-member Observer Group from the Commonwealth arrived in Guyana on February 23, 2020 to observe pre-election, polling day and post-election activities to ensure that they were in keeping with Guyana’s laws, and its regional and international commitments.

The team was led by Chair of the Commonwealth Observer Group, former Prime Minister of Barbados, Owen Arthur.

Attempted armed robbery trial to continue March 30 THE trial into the 2017 failed armed robbery committed on Republic Bank’s Water Street Branch is ‘winding down’ before Magistrate Leron Daly at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.

Ex-Police Constable, Anfernee Blackman, 24, of Laing Avenue, West Ruimveldt, Georgetown; former Republic Bank employee, Shawn Grimmond of Pike Street, Kitty; Ex-Rural Constable Gladstone George, 27, of Princes

Street, Lodge, Georgetown; and Keron Saunders, 27, of Burnham Boulevard, Mocha, East Bank Demerara (EBD), are on trial for the offence and are currently out on $500,000 bail each.

TURN TO PAGE

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Ex-Constable Anfernee Blackman

Former Republic Bank employee Jamal Haynes

Ex-Republic Bank employee Shawn Grimmond

Gladstone George (in white)

Keron Saunders (in the blue jersey)

17

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, March 17, 2020

Unemployment, inactivity plague youth in Latin America and the Caribbean High unemployment, informality and inactivity rates affect nearly 110 million young people in Latin America and the Caribbean, says the International Labour Organization (ILO) Regional Office, citing new data included in a report on employment trends. These challenges also present obstacles to developing effective strategies to improve youth participation in labour markets.

"The youth employment scenario in the region is worrying, and will be further complicated when the impact of coronavirus on the regional economy is felt," said Vinícius Pinheiro, ILO Director for Latin America and the Caribbean, commenting on the regional data of the “Global Employment Trends for Youth 2020 Report” that was recently presented in Geneva.

Pinheiro emphasized that temporary, part-time, or unprotected jobs in informal conditions, which young people tend to have, are the most affected by the deterioration of the economy. "The coronavirus will infect labour markets and affect youth employment indicators," he said.

"When there is a crisis, young people are among the first to lose their jobs, mainly those in the informal economy, and in sectors such as tourism, transport, non-electronic commerce and other services in which telework is not an option," he explained.

In Latin America and the Caribbean, there are 9.4 million unemployed young people,

as well as 23 million who neither study nor work nor are in training. This share of the youth population is also known by the acronym NEET. More than 30 million youth only get informal employment, according to the new ILO report.

The youth labour participation rate of 48.7 per cent in 2020 has been declining slightly but persistently since 2000, when it was 53.7 per cent. This means that there are more than 52 million people between the ages of 15 and 24 in the regional workforce. That number includes the employed and those who are unemployed but actively seeking employment.

The predicted youth unemployment rate for 2020 is 18 per cent. This estimate is double the general rate and three times more than that of adults, a trend observed in almost all countries. Unemployment is considered the tip of the iceberg by the ILO, which also emphasizes the high informality rate of 62.4 per cent for young people -- 10 percentage points higher than that of adults. This implies that most of the jobs available to them are precarious, low-income, without protection or rights.

The Trends Report published by the ILO earlier this year makes special reference to the fact that a fifth of young people are NEETs, which means that they are neither gaining experience in the labour market, nor receiving income from a job, nor improving their education or competencies. In Latin FROM PAGE

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Attempted armed robbery ...

Another former Republic Bank employee, Jamal Haynes, 27, of 4 Norton Street, Wortmanville, Georgetown, who was also implicated with the four men, during his first court appearance, pleaded guilty to the charge and was jailed for six years.

The trial continues on March 30, 2020.

Both Grimmond and Haynes were employees of Republic Bank at the time of the attempted robbery while George and Blackman were constables attached to the Guyana Police Force (GPF). The latter two reportedly aided in the robbery attempt by providing the firearms that were used.

In his bid to escape, Haynes was shot to his legs.

It was reported that, on the morning of July 4, 2017, three armed men entered Republic Bank’s Water Street Branch before it was opened to the public.

Haynes and his gang members, including deceased Elton Wray, had reportedly planned on getting their hands on the night’s deposits, since it was a three-day weekend and companies would have deposited millions of dollars in cash into the bank.

Wray, a 25-year-old, China-trained agronomist, who was at the time employed at the National Agriculture Research Extension Institute (NAREI), was shot in the chest during the robbery. He succumbed to his injuries the same day, while receiving medical attention.

America and the Caribbean, 21.7 per cent of all young people are within the NEET group, a rate that has also

young people who do not study, do not work or receive training is highly concerning for the region," Pinheiro stressed. Furthermore, the data from the new ILO report (There are 9.4 million unemployed reflects an unyoung people, 23 million do not study favourable sitor work, and more than 30 million uation of young only get informal employment. The women at work. situation is worrying, and will become In the case of more complicated by the effects of N E E T s , t h e coronavirus (COVID-19), said ILO rate of women Regional Director Vinícius Pinheiro.) of 28.9 per cent is double that of men of 14.6 per cent. Most experienced a slight but perof these 15.3 million young sistent rise since 2000, when women have difficulties acit was 20.1 per cent. cessing the labour market, "Such a high rate of

training or study due to unpaid occupations in the home.

Gender differences in the region are also noticeable, as the unemployment rate of young women of 22 per cent is almost 7 percentage points above the 15.2 per cent of men in 2020.

“The lack of decent work opportunities discourages and frustrates young people, which can have an impact on governance and affect the social development of the region, because in many cases it affects employment trajectories,” highlighted Mr Pinheiro. "Especially in a context of probable decrease in demand caused by

the COVID-19 pandemic, it is essential to promote youth-focused economic stimulus measures," he added.

We have to redouble our efforts to create opportunities for adequate productive employment for the next generation of workers stresses the ILO report. Integrated and effective policy measures are crucial. Supply-side measures (training and education) are important but not sufficient, unless they are accompanied by equally firm measures to boost the demand for youth labour, the ILO analysis adds.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday March 17, 2020

Champions-in-waiting Barbados Pride 40 points clear, Red Force surge to 94.6 points BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, (CMC) – Barbados Pride have virtually sewn up the Regional first class title after opening up a 40-point lead at the top of the standings, following their crushing win over reigning champions Guyana Jaguars last weekend.

Playing in the eighth round at the Guyana National Stadium, Pride pulled off an emphatic 235-run win inside three days on Saturday to move to 134.8 points and all but assure themselves of the title.

The championship has been suspended for the next 30 days after Cricket West Indies (CWI) halted all of its competitions due to the coronavirus pandemic which has hit the region.

For Pride, the victory was their sixth in eight games and came after they suffered a shock 147run loss to Trinidad and Tobago Red Force in the seventh round.

Red Force, meanwhile, kept up their excellent winning form with their second straight victory, after thumping Leeward Islands Hurricanes by an

innings and 84 runs inside three days at the Brian Lara Stadium in Tarouba.

The win catapulted the hosts, who have languished near the bottom of the standings throughout the campaign, to second in the tables on 94.6.

For the first time in several seasons, Jaguars find themselves in an unfamiliar place of third in the standings on 91.8 points alongside Jamaica Scorpions.

The Leon Johnson-led unit have been far from their best, with Saturday’s defeat their third of the season.

They are now under threat from Scorpions whose innings and 118-run thrashing of Windward Islands Volcanoes vaulted them to 91.8 points.

Volcanoes are fifth on 78 points with Hurricanes continuing at the bottom on 52.5 points from a single victory.

Two rounds are left to be played in the championship when it resumes and teams can collect a maximum of 48 points.

Coronavirus in Guyana casts...

FROM BACKPAGE

citizens and adhere to all travel and health concerns.”

Concerns regarding the spread of the deadly COVID-19 virus has led the postponement of April 4 Grenada Invitational, one of the Caribbean’s marquee events, and since then, several other championships were either suspended, or cancelled as the virus hit almost every country in the region.

“The Olympics are still on as schedule as of now and the athletes are still don’t have a lot of opportunity to compete, so I have gotten a lot of interest in the meet over the last few days because it looks like it’s going to be one of the last ones standing. Of course, all that being said we will have to keep our eyes on what the international recommendations are going to be as time goes by,” Pompey said in a recent interview.

This year’s AP Invitational will be part of the recently structured World

Athletics 2020 Continental Tour.

The Continental Tour will be divided into three levels – Gold, Silver and Bronze – whose status will be determined by the quality of competition and prize money on offer.

World Athletics is investing in the Gold level meetings, which will each offer US$200 000 in prize money, to increase the number of high-quality competitive opportunities available to showcase our sport’s best athletes.

Area associations will be responsible for managing the Silver (US$75 000 prize money) and Bronze level competitions (US$25 000). There will be ten Silver and up to 50 Bronze meetings.

Those disciplines that are not included in this year’s Wanda Diamond League final – 200m, 3000m steeplechase,

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triple jump, discus – will be core events in the Continental Tour Gold meetings, as will the hammer throw. Each will have guaranteed prize money of US$20 000 at each meeting.

Performances in those events will attract the same level of world ranking points as the core Diamond League disciplines, and the overall tour winners will receive wildcard entry to the World Athletics Championships Oregon 2021.

Pompey, a four-time Olympian, will hold the Invitational for the fifth time this year, with the inaugural meet hosting 11 athletes who went on to compete in the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Rio. The 2020 Continental Tour will span across six continents and offers athletes the opportunity to receive world-ranking points that will count toward the 2020 Olympic Games and World Championships.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday March 17, 2020

Arum says Shakur Stevenson is next Floyd Mayweather

By Chris Williams SHAKUR Stevenson has only held the

WBO featherweight title for five months, and already his promoter Bob Arum is

calling the three-year pro the next Floyd Mayweather Jr. The 2016 Olympic silver

medalist Stevenson (13-0, 7 KOs) was supposed to have defended his WBO 126-lb ti-

tle last Saturday night against Miguel Marriaga on ESPN at Madison Square Garden in New York, but the fight was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Arum is pushing hard to make the 22-year-old Stevenson into a big name as fast as possible, but it’s not easy with the COVID 19 pandemic putting a clamp on his fight cards. Top Rank Boxing had to cancel their March 14th and March 17th cards because of the coronavirus crisis.

Arum still wanted to go ahead with the cards behind closed doors without fans attending, but the inability to test the fights due to testing kits not being available foiled the plans to have the fights to go ahead.

“He’s the second coming of Floyd Mayweather,” Arum said to ESPN.com. “Shakur is tremendously confident in his abilities, just like Floyd. He is a super defensive fighter, just like Floyd. And he is like a genius in the ring, the way Floyd was.”

Stevenson doesn’t fight anything like Mayweather, and he doesn’t possess the hand speed that he once had. When Floyd was 22, he was

beating the likes of Justin Juuko, Carlos Rios and Carlos Gerena.

Mayweather looked a lot more polished and considerably quicker than Stevenson. Personally, I think it’s a bad comparison on Arum’s part.

However, Arum has been comparing Terence Crawford with a young Sugar Ray Leonard, and that makes no sense either. Crawford fights nothing as Leonard did.

For Stevenson to become popular as Mayweather did, Arum is going to need to keep him busy and upgrade on the level of competition he’s facing. Putting Stevenson in with Marriaga is a waste of time if the objective is to turn him into a star. Marriaga (29-3, 25 KOs) has already been beaten by Nicholas Walters, Oscar Valdez and Vasiliy Lomachenko.

When the green light is given for fight cards to commence again after the coronavirus problem goes away, then Arum should look to put Stevenson in with talented fighters.

Guys Stevenson needs to fight to take his career to the next level. (Boxing News 24).

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday March 17, 2020

Champions League and Europa League could be decided by mini-tournament

A mini-tournament to decide the Champions League and Europa League will be one option put forward to ease fixture congestion caused by the coronavirus outbreak.

European football’s governing body, UEFA, is hosting a video conference with major stakeholders today.

Euro 2020 is set to be postponed to allow league seasons to be completed.

A source close to the situation says all parties must be ready to sacrifice something to reach a solution.

All 55 UEFA members, the boards of the European Club Association and the European Leagues, and a representative of world players’ union FIFPRO have been invited to today’s meeting.

The UEFA members will also hold an additional meeting to discuss their own reaction.

How would a mini-tournament work?

As with the Premier League, who on Friday stressed their commitment to completing the season, Uefa wants the Champions League and Europa League to reach a conclusion because they also have major broadcasting contracts to satisfy.

Both tournaments are at their last-16 stage, with six matchdays remaining, including the final. There are still 14 last-16 ties across the two competitions to be completed.

Playing the quarter-finals and semi-finals as one-off games would cut two fixtures off the remaining schedule.

Playing them over a handful of days as a mini-tournament - in Istanbul and Gdansk, host cities for this season’s finals - would concentrate the matches even further, cutting down on travelling and cause the least disruption to the domestic leagues.

It has not been ruled out these games could

be played in conjunction with league matches - nor does the Champions League final have to mark the end of the club campaign as tradition dictates.

Moving Euro 2020, due to take place at venues across Europe from 12 June to 12 July, to next summer would also free up more time to complete domestic and European fixtures.

However, that would then impact on next year’s calendar.

Both the Women’s European Championship, hosted by England, and the men’s European Under-21 Championship, in Hungary and Slovenia, are scheduled for the summer of 2021.

The Nations League, the draw for which was held earlier in March, is due to be completed next spring.

In addition, the first edition of the expanded FIFA Club World Cup is set to be held in China in June.

While the big domestic leagues have problems over television contracts to solve if games do not take place, most countries rely on the payments from UEFA that come out of major international tournaments to allow their own leagues to function properly. These would be at risk from any movement of the European Championship and are likely to form part of any agreement.

UEFA has an estimated 400 staff working on the Euros. It is unknown what will happen to them if the tournament does not take place for another 12 months.

The situation is not made any easier by not knowing when football will be able to resume.

UEFA accepts it is impossible to know when current travel restrictions will be lifted, but it cannot wait until they are to draft a plan.(BBC Sport)

English Premiership Rugby season suspended for five weeks due to coronavirus (REUTERS) - England’s Premiership Rugby season has been suspended for five weeks due to the coronavirus outbreak, the league announced on Monday.

The development comes after the British government advised against mass gatherings that required the presence of emergency workers.

“We are sorry to tell our fans that we will be postponing our season for five weeks, in line with today’s advice of Prime Minister Boris Johnson, which confirmed that the government would no longer support mass gatherings,” Premiership Rugby said in a statement here “We’ll continue to work closely with DCMS (Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport) and Public Health England, and to follow the advice of medical experts, and work with our clubs to help them to support their own wider communities at this time.”

The Rugby Players Association (RPA) released a statement supporting the decision.

“In light of the government’s Cobra

meeting and announcement this evening, today’s difficult decision has been made in the best short term interests of the sport,” it said.

Exeter Chiefs are leading the Premiership standings with 45 points after 13 games, five points ahead of Sale Sharks, while Bristol Bears are third a further two points behind.

Meanwhile, England’s Rugby Football Union (RFU) has suspended all rugby activity until April 14.

“The RFU will continue to review and monitor government advice and will provide detailed updates on the impact to the season in the coming weeks,” it said in a statement.

England are top of the Six Nations standings with 13 points, ahead of France on points difference but their final match against Italy in Rome was postponed due to the coronavirus outbreak in the country.

Globally, the coronavirus has infected more than 174,100 people and nearly 6,700 have died. The United Kingdom has nearly 1,400 cases with 35 deaths.

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Euro 2020, scheduled to take place at 12 venues across Europe this summer, could be postponed to give European leagues time to complete their domestic seasons

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday March 17, 2020

Mohammed slams 104 against Canada before Over-50s World Cup suspended

CAPE TOWN - West Indies Over-50s middleorder batsman Azad Mohammed hit a fluent century against Canada on Sunday in round three of the Over-50s Cricket World Cup at Western Province Cricket Club just before tournament organisers pulled the curtains on the 12-team show piece due to the threat of coronavirus.

Speaking to the teams and members of the public at the completion of West Indies’ innings, Chairman of the tournament Stirling Hamman said “a decision was made with consultations from four specialist doctors in South Africa to suspend the Over-50s Cricket World Cup with immediate effect and to urge teams to return to their respective homes as soon as possible.

This is due to the rapidly spreading corona virus in South Africa and around the world. It is unfortunate but it is the best decision at this time.”

Prior to the news of the suspension West Indies and Canada were in the middle of a key group A fixture with the Caribbean side opting to bat first. After losing their first two matches in their first such tournament, West Indies were desperate for an improved showing especially with the bat and they got it.

Azad Mohammed celebrates his century against Canada

Mohammed walked to the crease with his team tottering at 40-3 in the 11th over and immediately went to work. His first assignment was to repair the innings after the top order was blown for the third consecutive time. After the stability, the right handed batsman then launched an assault to see West Indies to 243-7 from their

45 overs.

Earlier, West Indies lost openers Narine Bishesi (2) at 4-1 and Ishwar Maraj (15) at 30-2 followed by Julian Charles (7) at 40-3 and were desperate for a partnership against the fired up Canadians.

Mohammed popularly called ‘Parlour Boy’ got to his first 50 from 57 balls with 7 fours and while

at the crease saw the fall of Sudesh Dhaniram LBW for the third consecutive time for 20 and Rajendra Sadeo for 10 but he kept going and found the perfect partner in Roy Singh.

Singh picked the gaps to rotate the strike nicely and hit 6 boundaries of his own as he grew in confidence. However, as he was approaching his half century he was bowled for 44 leaving Mohammed at the other end on 93 not out ending the 113-run partnership for the sixth wicket with 15 balls still available.

Mohammed kept going and moved from 94 to 100 with a massive six over long on before Puvi Ravishankar (2/38) cleaned him up. The Trinidadian faced 97 balls hitting 15 fours and a six to put West Indies on the verge of a massive win before the disappointing news broke.

New ball bowler Naveed Serai with 3/29 was the pick of the bowlers with his accurate seamers while Vince Correia (1/45) and David Mohammed (1/46) supported.

Tournament directors will convene a meeting as soon as the threat of the deadly virus subsides to determine the way forward, as was confirmed

by Hamman.

London Marathon now in October LONDON – (Reuters) The annual London Marathon which was due to take place on April 26 has been postponed to October 4 because of coronavirus, the organisers said on Friday, marking the latest in a long line of major international sport events disrupted by the pandemic.

“The world is in an unprecedented situation grappling with a global pandemic of COVID-19 and public health is everyone’s

priority,” event director Hugh Brasher said in a statement.

Kenya’s Eliud Kipchoge, who unofficially broke the two-hour marathon barrier in Vienna last October, welcomed the news.

“I fully respect the decision made by the organisation as safeguarding the health of the world always takes our top priority,” he wrote on Twitter.

“To the thousands of runners who with me have devoted

the last months of our lives towards this goal I would like to say: Be proud of the work you have put into this journey, keep smiling and seek your next goal.”

The postponement delays the highly-anticipated showdown between Kipchoge and Ethiopian rival Kenenisa Bekele, the only men to go under two hours, two minutes for the distance.

The marathon was intended to

be an Olympic qualifying event for Team GB. British Athletics said it would hold a separate marathon trial for the Tokyo Games “in a closed location, with limited numbers” potentially around April 25 to 27.

The Boston Marathon, another one of the six World Marathon Majors, also announced its postponement on Friday, rescheduling from April 20 to mid-September.

Kenya’s Eliud Kipchoge

Bengal fall short again in the Ranji Trophy final

..Saurashtra walked away with their maiden Ranji Trophy title after ensuring a 44-run first innings lead THE wait gets longer. Bengal, needing 72 runs to take the first innings lead and

clinch the Ranji Trophy after 30 years, lost the plot in the first 15 minutes of play

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (TUESDAY MARCH 17, 2020) COMPLIMENTS OF XTRA ENERGY DRINK – STABROEK BAZAAR (Tel: 683-9500) & CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD-83 Garnett Street, Campbellville, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158) Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1) Mumbai Indian vs Chennai Super Kings in Mumbai (originally scheduled for March 29) (2) May 14 (as per original scheduled))

Today’s Quiz:

(1) When and where did the WI & ENG contest a Test match against each other for the first time?

(2) When and where did the WI defeat Eng in a Test match for the first time?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

on the final day.

Saurashtra walked away with their maiden Ranji Trophy title after ensuring a 44run first innings lead.

Captain Jaydev Unadkat was Saurashtra’s architect of success. He first struck with the wicket of Anustup Majumdar by trapping him leg-before and then showed excellent presence of mind by running out a callous Akash Deep.

The team management had every reason to be furious with Akash, who committed a schoolboy-like error. He was standing outside the crease and didn’t care to drag his feet in even after Saurashtra wicketkeeper Avi Barot failed to hit the stumps in his attempt to catch the Bengal batsman off-guard.

A smart Unadkat got hold of

Some of the Saurashtra players after winning the Ranji Trophy on Fridaylast (PTI)

the lose ball and threw it back to dislodge the stumps.

Bengal were down to 361/8 all of a sudden after resuming the day on 354/6. The other overnight batsman, Arnab Nandi, tried to wage a lone battle, but Dharmendrasinh Jadeja removed Mukesh Kumar before Unadkat picked up last man Ishan Porel to put an end to Bengal’s hopes.

In reply to Saurashtra’s 425, Bengal’s innings ended on 381. “There wasn’t any other specialist batsman to follow after I was dismissed.

Akash’s dismissal too was

crucial and it was a soft one as well. But yeah, my dismissal was the turning point,” a dejected Anustup said after the game.

On the other hand, Unadkat was relieved that Saurashtra could break their final jinx, having failed thrice in the last eight seasons.

For Unadkat, it was “the moment” of his career. “We kept believing there would be one more twist to this game. And that happened.

This is the best moment of my career.”

Lal’s future

Arun Lal’s contract as Bengal coach comes to an end and he will take a call on whether to continue or not only after a month.

“I will decide after a month. Bengal cricket is in my blood and I love working with these young guys. But I have to consider the rest of my life because there’s no time off whatsoever. That’s the problem.

“The CAB (Cricket Association of Bengal) would want me to stay, but let’s see,” Lal told The Telegraph.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday March 17, 2020

Cornelia Ida CC beat McGill Super Stars Sports Club in Beacon Café 50 final

CORNELIA Ida (CI) won a tense low-scoring battle against rivals, McGill Super Stars, in the final of the West Demerara Cricket Association (WDCA), Beacon Café 50-over competition, which was held on Sunday at the Wales Community Development Centre Cricket ground.

In a game where the toss was key, CI called correctly and opted to insert their opponents on a damp wicket in overcast conditions.

Although several of the McGill players had bad starts, none were able to register the big scores. Former national U19 captain Travis Persaud struck three fours and one six in his 22, while Balram Aaron added 15 (1X4), Troy Persaud (14) and Diquan

Murray 12 (1X4, 1X6).

CI used their spinners well, which saw wickets tumbling at regular intervals to leave the batting side all out for 97 in 37 overs.

Muhammad Wazidali and Harry Bissondyal both finished with 3-7, but Wazidali bowled six overs, four more than his teammate.

Support came from Akshaya Persaud. The national cricketer took 2-26 from his allotted 10 overs.

CI did not get on top of the bowling and laboured to victory. It took an unbeaten knock of 25 (1X6) from Vickash Dhaniram to seal the victory at 100-7 in 35.4 overs, after the eventual winners were struggling at 49-6.

‘10 more to come’ - Veteran Windies star Gayle has eyes set on more T20 tons

Beacon Café 50-over champions CICC with their championship trophy (Facebook photo)

Arshad Azim with 27 (3X4s) and Richard Sukhdeo 15 (1X4) both had starts.

Bowling for McGill, Murray and Abdul

Razack picked up two wickets each, while Kheshram Seyhondan and Sudesh Persaud nabbed a wicket each.

WINDIES star Chris Gayle has continued to give indications that he does not intend to retire anytime soon, this time expressing the desire to score another ten T20 centuries.

The 40-year-old West Indies talisman is already at the top of the list with 14923 runs inclusive of 24 centuries. Gayle had expressed thoughts about the possibility of retiring after the last World Cup, before picking a series in the West Indies against India as a final swansong.

The player has, however, apparently now had a complete change of heart even pushing back at some of those who have suggested it could be time to step aside. Gayle has since insisted, in various interviews, that he is feeling good and hopes to play another five years. In responding to a celebration of his achievements by cricket statistic website Crictracker, who pointed out the achievement of the most T20 centuries, Gayle insisted that there was more to come.

“10 more to come!” the player said in response to the celebratory tweet. With the World Cup fast approaching, Gayle has been out of action for his international team since last year but has continued to participate in various T20 leagues around the world. He is expected to take part in the upcoming IPL campaign.

Chris Gayle wants to score 10 more T20 centuries.

Reggae Boy Holness goal in vain as Darlington lose

Reggae Boy Omar Holness

LONDON, (CMC) – Jamaican midfielder Omar Holness netted his sixth goal of the season for Darlington but the strike went unrewarded as the home side tumbled to a 4-2 defeat to English play-off rivals Farley Celtic in the National League North on Saturday.

Holness, who celebrated his 26th birthday on Friday, put the Quakers ahead in the 14th minute but missed chances and errors by goalkeeper Chris Elliott cost the home side dearly as they led 2-1 until the 68th minute before crumbling.

Darlington made a strong start and took a deserved lead. Build-up on the left led to Adam Campbell playing in Holness, who rounded goalkeeper Joshua Barnett before keeping his composure to roll the ball past

a defender on the line.

Darlington missed a hatful of chances after the break with Bermudian striker Justin Donawa culpable more than once to leave him stuck on nine goals for the season.

In the same division, Bermuda goalkeeper Dale Eve made a number of smart saves as he kept a clean sheet for Spennymoor Town, who climbed back into the play-off places with a comfortable 4-0 home win over Hereford United.

Spennymoor Town are sixth on 55 points, seven points and five places ahead of Darlington, who have played one game less.

The sixth-tier games went ahead despite the coronavirus pandemic which has seen elite fixtures in the country called off until early April.

Director of Sport Christopher Jones

Leaders Barbados Pride.

NSC shuts down Government-run sports facilities PAGE

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Champions-in-waiting Barbados

Pride 40 points clear, Red Force surge to 94.6 points

Coronavirus in Guyana casts shadow over June 4 AP Invitational Aliann Pompey

Pompey monitoring situation locally; keeping an ear out for IOC and Government announcements

By Rawle Toney WITH the International Olympic Committee set to host an unscheduled Executive Board meeting via teleconferencing today to internally discuss the latest developments, as first reported by Reuters, Aliann Pompey, organiser of the AP Invitational, told Chronicle Sport that so far, all plans are still in place to host her June 4 event at the National Track and Field Centre.

While Reuters reported that no decision as it relates to the postponement of the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games will be made at today’s meeting, a number of Federations and event’s organisers, especially those like the AP Invitational, that offers a gateway for athletes seeking qualification, will be tuned in.

Speaking exclusively with Chronicle Sport yesterday Pompey the go-ahead of her event will be heavily depending on if the IOC will host the Olympic Games as planned, but, the four-time Olympian who also serves as the president of the PanAm Sports Athlete Commission, stressed that she’s “monitoring the situation with Coronavirus in Guyana and also want to protect the health of my fellow

SEE PAGE 23

THE National Sports Commission (NSC) yesterday announced that the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, the National Gymnasium, the National Aquatic Centre, National Racquet/Sports Resource Centre and Colgrain Pool – all of which falls under the direct control of the Government of Guyana – will be closed for the next two weeks.

Director of Sport Christopher Jones told Chronicle Sport yesterday that the move came in light of the country’s preventative measures that are in place to help combat and limit the spread of the Coronavirus which has hit our shoes.

“This is in keeping with guidelinea from the Ministries of the Presidency and Public Health since these facilities are generally under mass usage,” the NSC said in a statement.

The Commission is asking those with any queries/concerns to contact their Homestretch Avenue office on 225-6340/2253560 between the hours of 08:00 hours and noon.

Meanwhile, Jones is of the opinion that the privately-administered sports facilities should follow the NSC’s move, adding “I think once we follow these guidelines and listen to the Ministry, we should be able to control the virus. So I think this is the NSC doing our little part in battling the virus and stopping it from spreading here (in Guyana).”

Jaguars batting woeful, concedes skipper Johnson GEORGETOWN, Guyana, (CMC) – Guyana Jaguars captain Leon Johnson has slammed his side’s batting as “woeful” following their 235-run defeat to leaders Barbados Pride last weekend.

The hosts were rolled over for a historic low 55 in their first innings and 94 in their second innings as they slumped to a heavy defeat – their third of the season early on the third day at the Guyana National Stadium. “[It was] not the best of performance with the bat,” Johnson lamented to the Guyana Times.

“We were not able to put up 100 in either of the innings, so it was a woeful showing with the bat. You must give credit to Jason (Holder) and Kemar (Roach) for the way they bowled, especially in the first innings.

Guyana Jaguars captain Leon Johnson.

“Having said that, I think our bowlers did a good job bowling out Barbados for 174 and 206. We just let ourselves down with the ball, and in the field, where we put down about four catches in the game.”

Jaguars’ highest score in the game was an unbeaten 36 from all-rounder Keemo Paul in the second innings, coming when the number eight counter-attacked with the game already lost.

Overall, the season has been a poor one batting-wise for the five-time reigning champions, with just two batsmen – Johnson and Chris Barnwell – managing centuries.

Both those hundreds came in the same match against Windward Islands Volcanoes in the fifth round in Grenada.

Johnson, his side’s leading scorer this

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season with 472 runs at an average of 36, conceded Jaguars’ batting had not lived up to expectations.

“We had set our goal to score a century a game. We got a couple of half-centuries this season, and the conversion has not been great,” Johnson said.

Jaguars batting form has cost them dearly this season. Starting the campaign as five-time reigning champions and the only side to win the first class title since the start of the professional era, Jaguars have slumped to third in the standings on 91.8 points, virtually ruling them out of the title race.

Barbados Pride top the standings on 134.8 points, with the championship now suspended for the next 30 days because of the coronavirus pandemic.

TUESDAY, MARCH 17, 2020