Guyana_Chronicle_Epaper_04_06_2020

MONDAY 6th April, 2020

No. 105962

Appeal Court nixes CARICOM-led recount PAGES

03&09

–– establishes partial jurisdiction to adjudicate recount injunction matter, Robertson, Forde hail ruling

–– Consequential Orders to be issued today

Five new COVID-19 cases in 24 hrs

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11

… MoPH reports six persons in isolation, 80 test negative so far

GTT’s move to cut pay 12 temporary PAGE

–– Union and Labour approve; ‘cuts’ to start at executive level

STAY HOME! –– AG says, unless providing or visiting an essential service

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02

Biker 02 dies in Coverden accident PAGE

A fireman helps sanitise the Stabroek Market area during Sunday’s exercise that was conducted by the Georgetown Municipality, the Guyana Fire Service and the Guyana Prison Service

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, April 6, 2020

STAY AT HOME –– says AG, unless providing or visiting an essential service

ATTORNEY GENERAL (AG) and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams, SC. has made it clear that, unless a citizen is conducting or visiting an essential service between the hours of 18:00 hours and 06:00 hours, he/she is to stay within the enclosure of his/her home and yard.

In an interview with the newspaper, on Sunday, the AG said that persons who fail to adhere to the COVID-19 emergency measures put in place by the government will be subject to answering to the police when caught.

Since the measures took effect on April 3, 2020, a few questions have been posed online by Guyanese requesting clarity.

For example, some persons were confused about whether they are to stay at home unless they are essential workers or are requested to provide an essential service.

“The presumption is everybody has to be home. Unless you’re providing an essential service or during 06:00 hours to 17:00 hours you’re on the road to go to the market, supermarket or to the bank or drive through or take-out lunch, you can’t be on the road because you want to be on the road,” he said.

Essential services which are allowed to operate for 24hours include: hospitals, healthcare and medical services including pharmacies, drug stores and private veterinary services; nursing homes, orphanages, shelters and other related care centres; immigration; the Revenue Authority; electricity services; water supply services; the disciplined forces; prison services; solid waste management, sewerage and janitorial services; air traffic control; Demerara Harbour Bridge and Berbice River Bridge; hotels and accommodation; factories, manufacturers or distributors of food supplies and essential goods including medical supplies where the Minister of Public Health has determined that the continuation of these operations do not pose a risk to public health.

Meanwhile, the following services may be open between 06:00 hours and 17:00 hours: banks; markets, supermarkets, fruits and vegetable stalls and neighbourhood shops; food services and restaurants only for delivery, drive thru and take away services and gas stations.

Any person who fails to comply with any of these measures commits an offence under section 152 of the Public Health Ordinance and is liable on summary conviction to the penalty provided

Biker dies in Coverden accident A 33-year old man died on Sunday morning after he fell off his motorcycle at Coverden, East Bank of Demerara.

Dead is Dexter Cole, a father of one and a former member of the Guyana Defence Force.

According to an eyewitness, the man and other colleagues went for an early morning ride along the East Bank of Demerara.

He said that the group was riding slowly on the way back to the city when Cole rode off and fell off of his bike, after the front wheel wobbled. The man’s helmet was not secured properly, and as such he sustained severe neck injuries.

The man’s friends were left in a state of shock as they tried to assist him.

Dexter Cole

under that section.

The AG stated that the penalty is a fine that is multiplied 65 times and some 2 months’ imprisonment.

“The whole idea is that we really expect people to be reasonable; it’s a killer infection. The last resort is having to jail people and detain them but it’s a serious matter,” he said.

If stopped by the police, authorized persons who fall within the bracket of essential service providers have to produce some form of employment identification.

“They will have to satisfy the police [with identification] to show that they are attached to an essential service but with the curfew at night, you’re not expected to be on the road…if the police stop you, you have to have an explanation or else you would be in breach of the measures that are in effect,” he said.

Some persons have also noted the list of restricted social activities for places such as the seawall and creek and have questioned whether this is a ban to groups or to the individual person or an immediate family.

Restricted areas to social activities include: a private party; a recreational or competitive sporting event; a wedding, other than the bride, the bridegroom, official witnesses and the marriage officer; a banquet, ball or reception: a bar or rum shop; the seawall; a pool, creek or river; a wake or vigil; a gym; a beauty salon or spa; a club or discotheque; a meeting of a fraternal society, private or social club or civic association or organisation; or any

Attorney General (AG) and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams, SC. other social activity.

It also includes water sports or recreational activities on any river, creek and internal waters; funerals other than ten or less mourners, one officiant and the funeral director and the necessary staff; and places of worship except for the conduct of funeral services and weddings.

However, the Minister made it clear that what is in place is a ‘stay at home’ order which means just that to all who are not exempted or authorized within the given time.

The Stabroek Market Bus Terminal earlier in the year

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, April 6, 2020

Appellate Court nixes CARICOM-led recount proposal –– establishes partial jurisdiction to adjudicate the matter

By Svetlana Marshall ANY agreement that usurps the powers of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to supervise elections in Guyana is unconstitutional, the Court of Appeal ruled on Sunday.

The ruling had to do with its allowing, in part, an appeal against the Full Court’s decision that the Court had no jurisdiction to hear the case brought by Ulita Moore, challenging the decision of GECOM to conduct a national recount under the supervision of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).

“Any arrangement or agreement to relinquish supervision of any aspect of the elections whether the recount or any other aspect – any arrangement to relinquish that supervision and authority – would be an unlawful arrangement. GECOM must at all times remain the body constitutionally mandated to supervise [elections],” Justice of Appeal Dawn Gregory said as she handed down the ruling on Sunday in the Court of Appeal.

Before addressing the substantive issue of jurisdiction, the Court of Appeal granted Moore leave to appeal the Full Court’s decision. The decisions were handed down by Justices of Appeal Dawn Gregory and Rishi Persaud, and High Court Judge Brassington Reynolds, in an appeal brought by Moore after the Full Court overturned an earlier decision that the High Court did have jurisdiction in the matter. That decision had been made by High Court Judge, Justice Franklin Holder.

In partially allowing Moore’s appeal on Sunday, Justice Gregory said: “My order is to allow the appeal in a small part; I do not agree with the Full Court that everything was to be referred to the Elections Court. There was sufficient [evidence] before the High Court to trigger the constitutional supervisory jurisdiction, and so, with that exception, I would essentially dismiss the appeal.”

However, when asked

by Attorney-at-Law Timothy Jonas whether Moore’s application still stands dismissed, as ordered by the Full Court, Justice Gregory responded in the negative, saying: “The Court having ruled in her (Moore’s) favour, then it can’t be dismissed.” She however ordered that any agreement, in which the supervision of the elections is removed from GECOM and ascribed, or given, to any other authority would be unlawful.

ELECTIONS COURT MATTERS Justice Gregory would, however, rule that the majority of the claims made by Moore in her Fixed Date Application (FDA) for Judicial Review are matters that ought to be addressed by an Elections Court by way of an Elections Petition.

In her application, Moore contended that the Elections Commission, by failing to consider the report of the Chief Elections Officer, which would have led to the declaration of the President, was in breach of Article 177 of the Constitution, and Section 99 of

the Representation of the People Act. But according to Justice Gregory, those actions are not automatic.

“It could not be that once a certain stage had been reached in the process that it was automatic that the process would move to Article 177 and Section 99 of the Representation of the People Act,” Justice Gregory said while emphasising that the claims, as contended

by Moore, could not be sustained.

Further to that, Justice Gregory ruled that an order for a recount of all the votes cast at the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections under Section 22 of the Elections Law (Amendment) Act 2000 would not be unconstitutional. “That Order enabled the Elections Commission, as I saw it, to exercise the powers of the nature, which it was given by the Constitution,” Her Worship said, adding: “In my view, there was nothing unconstitutional about Section 22 of the Elections Law (Amendment) Act of 2000; in fact, it enabled arrangements to be made for the recount.”

Section 22 (1) states: “If any difficult arises in connection with the application of this Act, the Representation of the People Act or the National Registration Act or any relevant subsidiary legislation, the Commission shall, by order, make any provision, including the amendment of the said legislation, that appears to the Commission to be necessary or expedient for removing the difficulty; and any such order may modify any of the said

legislation in respect of any particular matter or occasion so far as may appear to the Commission to be necessary or expedient for removing the difficulty.”

SUPERVISORY JURISDICTION However, in Justice Gregory’s opinion, the High Court has ‘Supervisory Jurisdiction’ to determine whether the Elections Commission was acting outside of its constitutional made.

“While the Commission must be allowed to perform its functions,” she reasoned, “certainly the High Court must have the powers, as well as jurisdiction to enquire whether those functions are being performed as the Constitution mandates.”

nity (CARICOM). That agreement, Justice Gregory submitted, could be delinked from Moore’s other claims. She further noted that Moore’s assertion on the agreement was supported by Mark France in his Affidavit in Defence. According to her, those assertions must have triggered the supervisory jurisdiction of the High

Justice Rishi Persaud

Justice Brassington Reynolds

As she would later point out, throughout her Claims and Affidavit, Moore referenced to the agreement made by President David Granger and Leader of the Opposition Bharrat Jagdeo for a recount to be facilitated under the supervision of the Caribbean Commu-

Court.

“To my mind, such assertions must have triggered the supervisory jurisdiction of the High Court to see whether those functions and powers under Article 62 and 162 were being compromised or being reduced by the terms of that agreement.

So my view is that it could be delinked from the rest of the claims, and enquired into by the High Court, because there are facts on which the Court could have enquired,” Justice Gregory reasoned.

Article 62 states: “Elections shall be independently supervised by the Election Commission in accordance with the provisions of Article 162.”

More importantly, however, Justice Gregory noted

Justice Dawn Gregory that the jurisdiction of the High Court to hear Moore’s application is a “narrow” one. On that basis, the Appellate Judge reasoned that had Justice Franklin Holder been allowed to exercise jurisdiction, it would have been to address solely the nature of the arrangement under the agreement among the political leaders, CARICOM and the Elections Commission. However, the Appellate Judge noted that she would not send the matter back to the High Court though there is a “narrow” jurisdiction for the application to be heard.

Justice Reynolds, in his deliberations, said while part of Moore’s application could only be addressed via an Elections Petition, the section that treats with the agreement between the political leaders is one for which there could be juridical review to determine whether GECOM would have acted outside of its constitutional remit. However, Justice Persaud upheld the ruling of the Full Court, stating that the issues raised

by Moore are matters to be addressed through an Elections Petition.

Today, the Court of Appeal will deliver the Consequential Orders in the case.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, April 6, 2020

Coronavirus: Trump predicts ‘a lot of death’ as cases pass 300,000 (BBC) US President Donald Trump has warned Americans to prepare for the “toughest week” of the coronavirus pandemic yet, predicting a surge in deaths.

At his daily briefing, Mr Trump said “there will be death” in a grim assessment of the days ahead.

He sought to reassure the worst-hit states, promising medical supplies and military personnel to combat the virus.

But in contrast to his warning, Mr Trump suggested easing social-distancing guidelines for Easter.

“We have to open our country again,” Mr Trump told a news conference at the White House on Saturday.

“We don’t want to be doing this for months and months and months.”

Mr Trump’s calls to relax

restrictions came on the day confirmed coronavirus infections in the US surpassed 300,000, the highest number in the world.

As of Saturday, there were almost 8,500 deaths from Covid-19 in the US, with most in New York state.

New York state recorded 630 more deaths, another daily record that takes its toll to 3,565. The state now has almost as many cases - more than 113,000 - as the whole of Italy, one of the countries worst-hit by coronavirus.

WHAT DID PRESIDENT TRUMP SAY? President Trump gave a candid assessment of what lies ahead for the US in the coming weeks.

“This will be probably the toughest week between

Coronavirus:

Second Greek migrant facility quarantined

(BBC) A second migrant facility in Greece has entered quarantine after a resident tested positive for coronavirus.

It comes three days after a similar facility, where 23 asylum seekers were found to be infected, was put under quarantine.

In the latest case, a 53-year-old Afghan man staying at Malakasa camp along with hundreds of other people was confirmed to have the virus.

Tens of thousands of asylum seekers live in dire conditions in Greek camps.

Aid groups have warned that an outbreak of the virus there, where sanitation is poor and accommodation overcrowded, could easily spread.

The patient from Malakasa has been taken to hospital in Athens and the camp, about 40km (25 miles) north-east of the Greek capital, has been placed under "full sanitary

lockdown" for 14 days.

The other affected facility, Ritsona, about 75km northeast of Athens, has been under quarantine since Thursday when a woman in labour tested positive.

Poor conditions in the camps mean the virus could spread quickly

There have been no confirmed cases of the virus in camps on five Greek islands, where roughly half of all asylum seekers live.

this week and next week, and there will be a lot of death, unfortunately, but a lot less death than if this wasn’t done,” Mr Trump said.

To support states, Mr Trump said his administration

would be deploying a “tremendous amount of military, thousands of soldiers, medical workers, professionals”.

The military personnel will “soon” be advised of their assignments, he said,

adding that “1,000 military personnel” were being deployed to New York City.

Mr Trump also addressed his use of the Defence Production Act, a Korean-War-era law that gives

New York City hospitals have reported equipment shortages

him powers to control the production and supply of US-made medical products.

He said he was “very disappointed” with 3M, a US company that makes face masks, saying it “should be taking care of our country” instead of selling to others.

But he rejected accusations that the US had committed an act of “modern piracy” by redirecting 200,000 Germany-bound masks for its own use.

On the question of easing social-distancing restrictions, Mr Trump reiterated a familiar theme.

“The cure cannot be worse than the problem itself,” Mr Trump said, expressing hope that rules could be relaxed over Easter.

Wang Quanzhang: China releases jailed human rights lawyer (BBC) A leading Chinese human rights lawyer sentenced to more than four years in jail for subversion has been released.

However, Wang Quanzhang has not been allowed to be reunited with his family at their home in the capital, Beijing.

Instead he has been escorted to the city of Jinan, 250 miles (400km) away in Shandong province, his wife Li Wenzu says.

She said he had been told to spend 14 days in quarantine as a precaution against the coronavirus.

Ms Li said she feared her husband would be placed under de-facto house arrest and put under surveillance.

Mr Wang was detained along with more than 200 others in a notorious crackdown on Chinese activists in 2015.

He had defended political campaigners and victims of land seizures, as well as followers of the banned spiritual Falun Gong movement.

For more than three

years, Mr Wang's family did not know whether he was dead or alive. He was finally put on trial early last year and sentenced to four and a half years in prison.

Chinese authorities have not commented on the lawyer's release.

"I am really worried they plan on putting him under long-term house arrest and

Activists have tirelessly campaigned for Wang Quanzhang's release

"I think (authorities) have been lying to us step by step," Ms Li told AFP news agency.

"They used the pretext of the epidemic as an excuse to quarantine him for 14 days when he should have been able to return to his home in Beijing according to the relevant legal guidelines."

will prevent us from being reunited as a family," said Ms Li, who has long campaigned for her husband's freedom.

"His speech is being restricted. He phoned me yesterday saying he would go to Jinan. Is this what a rational person would do after being separated from their wife

and child for almost five years?"

After his arrest, Mr Wang was found guilty of subverting state power by a court in Tianjin. The trial was conducted behind closed doors with journalists and foreign diplomats barred from the courthouse. Ms Li, who was also banned from attending, shaved her head in protest against his detention.

Rights groups condemned the trial with Amnesty International calling it a "sham" and the verdict "a gross injustice".

On Sunday, the European Union welcomed Mr Wang's release as a "positive development", but said reports of his mistreatment while in detention must be investigated.

"The European Union expects that Mr Wang's release will be unconditional, with particular regard to his freedom of movement and to establish residence, including the possibility to reunite with his family," it said in a statement.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, April 6, 2020

T&T has 104 confirmed COVID-19 cases; deaths now at 7 (TRINIDAD GUARDIAN) As part of the national drive to safeguard the health of the Trinidad and Tobago population in the face of the global COVID-19 outbreak, the Ministry of Health continues to provide up-to-date information on the country’s status in this regard.

As of the morning of Sunday April 5th, 2020, the Ministry reports the following: 797 = Number of samples submitted to the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) for testing for COVID-19 104 = Number of samples which have tested

positive 7 = Number of deaths 1= Number of persons discharged The Ministry of Health provides the following update: * One additional person has tested positive for COVID-19—pending epidemiological investigation. * One addition death in Tobago has been confirmed—elderly male with pre-existing medical condition.

Of the total number of positive cases, 49 of these positive cases came from the group of nationals who recently returned from a cruise: * 46 positive cases

from the group of 68 nationals who returned from the cruise together * 3 positive cases from the group of nationals who returned from the same cruise separately from the other 68 nationals.

The Ministry of Health reminds the public that COVID-19 can be spread by touching surfaces that are contaminated with the novel coronavirus. It is important to regularly sanitise commonly touched surfaces (e.g. table-tops, handrails, doorknobs and trolleys). If dirty, they should be cleaned using a detergent or soap and water prior to sanitisation.

A simple solution of 1/3 cup of household bleach to one gallon of water is quite effective.

The important elements of sanitisation are disinfecting frequently and thoroughly, and using the cleaning product correctly.

The public is also strongly advised to take the following personal hygiene measures to protect themselves and their loved ones from COVID-19: * Wash your hands properly with soap and water - Use an alcohol-based hand sanitiser if water and soap are not available

* Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze - Dispose of tissue immediately after using - Cough and sneeze into the crook of your elbow if you do not have a tissue * Avoid touching your face * Stay home if you are ill * Avoid close contact with people who have flu-like symptoms * Practise social distancing - No kissing, hugging or handshaking, and avoid unnecessary gatherings - Maintain at least

2 metres (approximately 6 feet) distance between yourself and others, especially anyone who is coughing or showing signs of flu-like illness.

Additionally, all public transportation vehicles should operate with windows open and limit their occupancy by 50 percent.

The Ministry will continue to provide accurate information to the public in a timely fashion.

The public is therefore urged to disregard and avoid sharing all unconfirmed, misleading and/or false information about COVID-19 (formerly Novel Coronavirus).

Teens among 13 charged In Denham Town for breaching COVID curfew (JAMAICA GLEANER) Teens Among 13 Charged In Denham Town For Breaching COVID Curfew.

Published:Sunday | April 5, 2020 | 10:23 AM Thirteen persons including two teens in Denham Town, Kingston were on Friday

arrested and charged for breaching the COVID-19 nightly islandwide curfew.

The police say they were arrested between 9:00 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. after they failed to heed several warnings to leave the public thoroughfare and go home.

Charged are: * 18-year-old Sherika Whyle, * 20-year-old Robert Groves, * 20-year-old Odane Wilson, * 21-year-old KaleAnn Bogle, * 23-year-old Sidoney Fogo,

* 24-year-old Rosanna Ebanks, * 27-year-old Devour Anglin, * 36-year-old Tamara Brown, * 37-year-old Susan Satchell, * 45-year-old Rohan Wade, * 61-year-old Cecil Witter,

* A 17-year-old girl and * A 15-year-old girl.

The police are reminding persons that the curfew was put in place for public safety, and breaching the order could result in fines of up to $1 million and imprisonment for up to one year.

Follow The Gleaner on Twitter and Instagram @JamaicaGleaner and on Facebook @GleanerJamaica. Send us a message on WhatsApp at 1-876-499-0169 or email us at onlinefeedback@gleanerjm.com or editors@ gleanerjm.com.

Gov’t told to publish price (BARBADOS ADVOCATE) Government is being urged to publish, once per week, a comparative price list of the items from the Basket of Goods, which are available from the large supermarkets in this country.

The call is coming from Reverend Malcolm Gibbs-Taitt, Director General of the Barbados Consumers Research Organisation Inc. (BarCRO).

In statement released to the media, GibbsTaitt contended that the absence of these prices has been a “serious omission” since the present administration took office, and particu-

larly now with the stayat-home order in place.

He made the point while noting that those prices were circulated under a former Barbados Labour Party Government and such information would not be difficult to make public, as the Ministry of Commerce has these prices at its disposal.

His comments came as he said that such a move would ensure that establishments do not take advantage of customers by “constant unwarranted increases in the prices of goods”.

“The Ministry of Commerce and Consumer Affairs has the means to know the pric-

es of each item carried by these large supermarkets.

It would be helpful to publish comparative prices of items carried by the said supermarkets. It will also show up the discrepancies in prices, where these exist,” he stated.

The BarCRO spokesperson said the publishing of that information is the best way for consumers to shop around when the supermarkets reopen, especially under the circumstances, as any other way is expensive and prohibitive for consumers.

His remarks came as he expressed dismay at what he described as the

lack of thought that has gone into assisting consumers in meeting their needs during this period.

The consumer advocate’s observations were made as he sought to explain the reason for some of the frequent long lines at various establishments.

“Money, or its lack by ordinary folks, is at the heart of why people shop so often – trying to make ends meet, so to speak. Let’s understand something, COVID-19 is no joke and must be taken seriously, but proper management of crowds has to be looked at by all the stakeholders. It is not good enough to have

hundreds, if not thousands of black people, queueing to get groceries,” he stated.

Gibbs-Taitt added, “A simpler method would be to arrange for about 75 people to meet at certain times to gain admission; they would be given a specific time to shop, thus allowing others to meet, at staggered times to avoid grouping. The logistics may be worked out.”

The consumer advocate is contending that we need to avoid supermarkets being closed for any length of time, as such can adversely affects those in the lower income bracket of our society.

He is suggesting then that there are various other ways to allow persons to purchase goods than physically going to the supermarket which have to be employed, including e-commerce as well as telephone or email orders. In that vein, he is suggesting that various payment methods also have to be embraced, such that it is not limited to the use of debit or credit cards. He highlighted this need, noting that there are some persons who would not have those facilities and may only be able to pay in cash.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, April 6, 2020

Staying home and maintaining physical-distance guidelines

T

HE Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) has issued its most comprehensive and sweeping COVID-19 emergency measures in a Notice published on Friday last, pursuant to Paragraphs (1) and (2) (b) of President David Granger’s Direction, under the Public Health Ordinance published in the Official Gazette on 16 March, 2020.

The Notice imposed a curfew throughout Guyana from 3 April to 3 May, 2020, between the hours of 6:00pm and 6:00am.

All citizens are required to stay at home, and in the confines of its yard space, unless otherwise stated in the Notice. The imposition of restrictions to social activities, and the restriction of any person hosting, attending or visiting any private parties, sporting events, weddings, funerals, wakes/vigils, bars, rum shops, clubs, bars and rum shops, weddings, funerals, gyms, beauty salons, spas or any other social activity is mentioned in Paragraph 2 of the MoPH notice.

A number of essential services are listed in Paragraph 6 of the MoPH Notice, and may carry on operations for 24 hours. These include hospitals, healthcare and medical services including pharmacies, drug stores, nursing homes and other utilities. Banks,

supermarkets, fruit and vegetable stalls, neighborhood shops, food services (only for delivery, drive-thru and takeaway) and gas stations may operate between 6:00am to 5:00pm.

The MoPH Notice, in Paragraph 8, states that except for weddings and funerals, which are subject to certain limitations (in relation to number of guests), churches, mosques, temples and places of religious worship shall be closed.

To combat the spread of COVID-19 on public transportation, the MoPH Notice has imposed restrictions of land, air and water transportation. Operators cannot carry more than half the number of passengers the motor vehicle, vessel or aircraft is licensed to carry, and must also wear personal protective equipment. The restrictions on outbound flights at the Cheddi Jagan and Eugene F Correia International Airports remain in place, except for special outgoing flights.

Paragraph 7 of the MoPH Notice calls on any service mentioned in paragraphs 5 and 6 (public services and essential services) to implement social distancing and physical distancing protocols. Staff and other persons must maintain physical

distance of six feet inside or outside of the establishment, as well as determining how many persons may enter the space, based on the ability to maintain the six-foot physical distance.

Finally, paragraph 11 states that it is an offence if any person fails to comply with any of the measures and would commit an offence under Section 152 of the Public Health Ordinance. That person shall also be liable, on summary conviction, to the penalty under that section.

The message is clear: Guyana has received the lockdown citizens have been asking to come into effect. Since coming into immediate effect on Friday last, when it announced, the Guyana Chronicle has noted that although most businesses have followed the guidelines laid out in the Notice, particularly as it pertains to closing at the directed times, some proprietors continue to flout the new rules. During a drive around Georgetown over the weekend, certain popular venues remained open, despite the new rules. Patrons were also observed patronising various venues, and without wearing any personal protective equipment. The Guyana Police Force has begun patrolling the streets of our nation in order to enforce

the new rules and curfew. Similarly, it is expected that businesses could run into trouble or lose their licence to operate, if they are caught breaking the new rules.

The success of these measures largely depends on everyone’s cooperation and commitment to stopping COVID-19 from taking a hold on Guyana. Citizens cannot afford to adopt a cavalier attitude, in light of such drastic measures coming into place.

We have seen that many of our international allies are becoming overrun by COVID-19, and that even with world- class healthcare systems, they are struggling to cope, as the number of confirmed cases continues to rise, along with a growing death toll.

Citizens are advised to adopt, without prejudice, the MoPH guidelines, and stay at home, unless it is absolutely necessary to leave. We have been lucky thus far to have recorded relatively few cases of COVID-19, but owing to the nature of the virus, its incubation period and pattern of transmission, we cannot be certain that it is not multiplying within our communities under the radar. Therefore, it is imperative that we practise social distancing, along with the other sanitisation guidelines issued.

Guyana in a political and health crisis Dear Editor,

W

ITH life as we know it turned upside down by COVID-19, small states like Guyana face unprecedented disruptions and challenges ranging from public health, political uncertainty, and a looming global economic crisis that will have both a direct and indirect impact on life in the country.

Recently, Finance Minister Jordan requested a US$5M loan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to combat COVID-19. Prior to that, Guyana received US$55M for the first sale of oil. Why are natural resource funds not appropriated for COVID-19 programmes rather than applying for an IMF loan?

Unlike countries, such as Norway, with sovereign wealth funds from oil revenues, Guyana has limited assets to deploy in the COVID-19 war and the ensuing global economic downturn.

Norway's US$950B (S$1.35 trillion) Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF) is the world's biggest. However, Norway is facing its worst economic shock in half a century, and has less income for crisis measures, which means that it will withdraw substantial sums from its SWF (Bloomberg).

As Guyana faces as unprecedented set of negative circumstances and threats, the situation can worsen.

Remittances of US$400M to Guyana represent 17-23% of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). These numbers are set to drop significantly over the next six months because of the looming business failures, bankruptcies, and unemployment in areas of high concentration of Guyanese such as New York, Atlanta, Toronto, and London, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The COVID-19- effect will undoubtedly drive down remittances to Guyana, and affect revenue generation in other sectors for a long time.

Additionally, restrictions on travel and exports will reduce tourism and export revenue to Guyana. Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) will take a hit because of slumping global demand and global business downturn. China, which is the second largest importer and exporter to the Caribbean, and a major contributor of FDI faces a downturn in its economy that will directly impact Guyana. In 2015, 70 per cent of small and medium-sized businesses failed in Guyana when the global economic landscape was normal. The private sector, which is the engine of growth in Guyana, is expected to undergo a significant

downturn because of travel restrictions, reduced global demand and indigenous problems, the result of which will see the loss of jobs and business downturn.

THE VENEZUELAN DISPUTE Guyana continues to defend its sovereignty in a battle with Venezuela for two-thirds of Guyana’s territory. The Venezuelan controversy is further compounded by the perception of the international community that the elections results are not valid and credible. Sir Ronald Sanders, in a recent article, noted that if the elections are condemned by the international community, Guyana’s moral standing in its case before the International Court of Justice will be weakened.

GUYANA’ NATIONAL IMAGE Guyana’s national image as a law-abiding, self-respecting nation in the Caribbean community (CARICOM) and among the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) States is in question by the international community. Political uncertainty, reduced investment, business contraction and a tarnished image will have dire consequences on productivity and the economy.

One might say that oil revenues will buffer economic shocks in Guyana, but the oil market

is also facing an over-supply and reduced demand due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

With oil prices down 55%, and oversupply topping 20 per cent this year, the expected windfall for Guyana will decrease significantly.

Oil prices fell by 25 per cent on March 9, and on March 18, prices fell by 24 per cent, the two largest single-day movements for WTI in more than 20 years. Experts in the industry predict that oil demand could fall by more than 25mb/d (million barrels per day) by the third quarter.

However, Guyana also has competition in the neighbourhood. On Thursday April 2, the Apache Corporation (NYSE, Nasdaq: APA) and Total S.A. (NYSE: TOT) announced a significant oil discovery at the Sapakara West-1 well drilled offshore Suriname on Block 58, a second for Suriname. Production from these reserves will drive up supply in a low-demand environment, and compete directly with Guyana.

It will take strong transformation leadership to extricate Guyana from the myriad of complex problems, restore a favourable national image, and navigate a new strategic course in a changing global world order.

Regards, Wayne Forde

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, April 6, 2020

Blatant disrespect to all involved by the PPP/C Dear Editor,

A

T the close of poll on March 2, 2020, the General and Regional Elections were adjudicated free and fair by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM). Over the years, GECOM had always been extremely sluggish in delivering the results, but this year, Guyanese were hopeful that there would be a declaration, and a swift swearing in of a President. Remember, we had already been told that the Election had to be conducted with a list of Electors of in excess of 600,000 persons, out of a population of 750,000, which was the initial worry of the electorate.

The PPP did not want to sanitise the list.

But why? Remember, Anil was allegedly caught red-handed by Minister Ally on Elections Day as he was allegedly cited for distributing Identification Cards of persons who were either dead or overseas to persons to vote on their behalf. However, the ‘Coalition’ looked past these small anomalies. Who would have even envisioned what was about to materialise in the subsequent weeks to follow?

As an astute political nation grew anxious for the imminent announcement, respectfully, His Excellency David A. Granger kept reassuring the people that GECOM has their mandate to ensure a credible elections, and urging them to remain patient and calm, while the People’s Progressive Party Civic had their heinous, devious and destructive plans to execute.

On Wednesday night, the process for tabulation of Region 4 (Demerara-Mahaica) were halted. Here is where the process went haywire, as disagreements to how the State-

ments of Poll were to be verified by use of the spreadsheet (something that the current GECOM staff had inherited since 2006; and the same method was used to verify all the other regions). Louder and louder the cry was sounded by the Opposition, that the A Partnership for National Unity and Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) were behind the discrepancies, and that GECOM had colluded with the ‘Coalition’ to steal these elections. The plan had begun to unravel.

Remember, Region 4 had the most electors, and was deemed the deciding factor for the 2020 elections.

The People’s Progressive Party clashed with the police as they attempted to invade the office that the Chairman of the Commission operated out of, with video evidence of Opposition Leader and General Secretary of the PPP in the middle of the melee, shouting and carrying on, as Mingo was declaring, to a loud cry of, NO! in his office. While the Opposition was kicking down the door of the other office, Mrs. Singh, probably scared out of her wits, locked herself in for several hours. Hooliganism at its finest! The plan was unfolding, that the PPP wanted to hold this entire process hostage. On the other hand, His Excellency continued to tell the Guyanese public to keep calm; he continued to say he will not interfere with the work of GECOM, and kept admonishing the Opposition to allow GECOM to do their work.

By Friday, the supporters of the Opposition had blocked roads at Lusignan, on the East Coast, by burning tyres, and placing utility poles across the road, loudly demanding a recount. In this protest, we saw the blatant disregard for age as there were children holding protest placards. In

their anger, some may even call it an act of terrorism, the protestors smashed the rear windscreen of a David ‘G’ school bus while taking children home from school, injuring several of them, and causing them to have to be taken to the hospital for treatment.

One month after, still no apology from the joint Opposition. Further up the road, police could be seen running for their lives, and one cop was nearly hacked to death.

Again, no condemnation for these atrocities. We were seeing the old Opposition at work; the same Opposition that threw down the gauntlet on this country for 23 years.

For several weeks, we have seen the work of the Ministry of Social Cohesion ripped to shreds; the country that we thought was free of racism truly wasn’t.

Heinous acts, vile comments, blatant racism and death threats hurled at the ‘Coalition’; yet the narrative from the President remained consistent: Peace and calm; let GECOM do their work. The love this man has for this country is immense; even in the greatest turmoil in our political history, His Excellency has remained resolute in his stance: That he could not swear himself in; he had to wait, like everyone else, for GECOM’s decision.

The People’s Progressive Party/Civic has gone completely rogue; highlighting something as serious as COVID-19, by going to the once responsible News Room and saying they had a task force prepared to fight the pandemic, and with a level of disrespect for all involved, placed Government in Waiting as their tagline. This is beyond callous, and far surpassed anything they had ever done before, with the most vile acts of disrespect on the Guyanese people, with an apology still pending.

Jagdeo is grandstanding; no matter the decision of the courts, he will say that the ‘Coalition’ has rigged the elections. This is his endgame: POWER AT ALL COSTS, even in the face of a pandemic, where the country is functioning on financial fumes.

Even if the ballots are recounted, he will find an avenue to say the ballot boxes were tampered with. One is of the opinion that he not only has a Plan A, but a Plan G as well, with even more to come. He will never accept defeat; he has way too much to lose, and his actions are not one of a winner, but of a bully; that it is his way, or no way.

Our Constitution is clear! After the declaration of the results of all regions are made, the summary must be presented to the Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission, who then has to ensure swift movements are made for swearing in the President. And if the parties have an issue with anomalies of the election, they must file an Elections Petition to investigate same. This is the procedure.

Swear in a person of integrity, class, and accountability; a person who loves Guyana.

His Excellency the President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, David Arthur Granger. We need him now, more than ever.

I call on all Guyanese to ensure that the People’s Progressive Party Civic respects our Constitution, which is the supreme Law; respect the Guyana Elections Commission and let them follow that Law. We have an epidemic to conquer! Can we do it? Yes we can!

It is time again, Guyana!

Moving forward together!

Regards, Douglas Gittens

Put people before pandemic Dear Editor,

G

OD bless us ten, Amen. God bless us four and no more. God bless us three and we agree. God bless us two and not you. Hoarding and hunkering is self-protection, but rooted in panic. Can’t we make our circle bigger and include all God’s children during these taxing and tiring times?

Survival is a basic human instinct. Fear of illness and impending death crouches at the internal epicenter of the coronavirus crisis. Around the periphery is the fear of hunger, thirst, and lack of necessities. But courage and compassion to care for strangers is the crux of the Good Samaritan story.

“Don’t forget about these tools people!

They can be the most powerful drugs we have to use in this pandemic!” wrote Frank Gabrin, MD, on Facebook before he died from symptoms consistent with COVID-19. of words: Tolerance, kindness, em-

pathy, compassion, love for no reason, patience, understanding, caring, sharing, giving, human dignity, selflessness, emotional connection, support, curiosity, innovation, resilience, endurance, steadiness, sufferance, altruism, benevolence, curtesy, decency, gentleness, sweetness, goodwill, peace, grace, service, tact, helpfulness, thoughtfulness, good intentions, charity, tenderness, open heart, mercy, consideration, condolence, smiles, reassurance, warmth, diligence, fortitude, perseverance, persistent, poise, humility, restraint, appreciation, friendship, passion, devotion, composure, calmness, generosity, softness, blessing, reciprocity, self-sacrifice, selfcare, science, prayer, guidance, flexibility, participation, allowing, influencing, leading, reverence.

LEST WE FORGET When the pandemic has ended, and it will end, humans must learn lessons and better prepare for future microbe warfare

on Earth. Leaders of all countries must practise humility, and communicate with other citizens on our planet.

“We have met the enemy, and he is us,” said Pogo in a comic strip by author Walt Kelly. Humans are not the enemy; the coronavirus is the enemy. The humans in Wuhan, China are not the enemy. Viruses don’t have a nationality, and they do not discriminate as to whom they should infect.

American Pandemic: The Lost Worlds of the 1918 Influenza Epidemic(2017)

by Nancy Bristow needs to be studied.

Focused on the primary players in this drama, patients and their families, friends, and community, public health experts, and health care professionals, historian Nancy K. Bristow draws on multiple perspectives to highlight the complex interplay between social identity, cultural norms, memory, and the epidemic. Bristow has combed a wealth of primary sources, including letters, diaries, oral histories, memoirs,

novels, newspapers, magazines, photographs, government documents, and health care literature. She shows that though the pandemic caused massive disruption in the most basic patterns of American life, influenza did not create long-term social or cultural change, serving instead to reinforce the status quo and the differences and disparities that defined American life.

No doubt, books about the Pandemic of 2020 will be published. We will know what worked and what didn’t work. We will mourn the deceased. We will recover, reflect, and regroup. The human race will carry on. But people must come before political agendas, before products and productivity, and before a pandemic.

“What we learn in times of pestilence: that there are more things to admire in men than to despise.”?Albert Camus (The Plague) Regards, Melissa Martin, Ph.D.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, April 6, 2020

Sheriff Security pledges $5M to fight COVID-19 SHERIFF SECURITY SERVICES, a local Security Guard Service, has pledged to donate GY $5M to the government of Guyana to aid in the fight against the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

In a message on social media, on Sunday, the company stated: “Sheriff Security Services pledges to donate 5 million dollars GYD to the government of Guyana to help with the corona virus pandemic. We are calling upon other small business owners who profited from establishing their business in Guyana. The people of Guyana need your help.”

There are now 24 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Guyana, with 4 related deaths.

Speaking with the Guyana Chronicle on Sunday, Director of Business, Radica Ramdeen-Sears said that the donation will be pledged mainly for the acquisition of medical supplies, kits, masks, gloves, sanitisers and more. “If we haven’t been serious about this pandemic all along, now is the time we should all open our eyes. We have 24 positive cases and 4 deaths. This has affected households, communities and businesses from carrying on their normal day to day

activities. Sheriff Security is committed to protecting the lives of our clients and our nation in general,” Ramdeen-Sears said.

She noted that the company’s decision to set an example was based on the recent call of the Private Sector Commission (PSC) for organisations to assist however possible. “This is our organisation doing our part for our community and our country.

We encourage all businesses to come forward and donate whatever you can. Now is the time to stand together for our people and our country,” she implored.

As of April 3, 2020, the

government put in place stringent emergency measures which restrict persons to their homes except leaving for an essential reason; restricts social and religious activities; restricts visitation at correctional and health facilities; enacts a curfew on citizens and businesses; restricts domestic and international travel and establishes social distancing guidelines. It lasts for one month unless earlier terminated, extended or amended by notice of the Minister of Public Health after an assessment of the prevailing public health conditions.

Lennox Shuman’s COVID-19 propaganda should be roundly condemned Dear editor,

O

NE thing I absolutely detest is attention seekers because they, without question, drain the mental energy out of me. The aetiology of attention-seeking behaviour is complex, with an equally complex psychological underpinning. Having said that, even though I am not at privilege to provide an academic elucidation on it, since it is outside of my field of training, I can state, pellucidly, that it is, without doubt. The act of attention seeking is likely to elicit both the attention and validation from others.

Thursday, while browsing my Facebook timeline, my attention was drawn to a post

by Lenox Shuman, the Presidential Candidate of LJP. As the post pertained to medicine, I proceeded to peruse it. On reading the first couple of lines, I discovered that this was not a regular post; that this was clearly a post that served the sickening purpose of disseminating misinformation, propaganda, and ultimately gaining political points from the suffering and death of Guyanese.

With regards to this morally disgusting post, I would agree with Lenox that our healthcare system is overwhelmed because of COVID-19. What I disagree with, however, is the perennial campaigning-politician implying that this was down to poor preparation by the Government. The fact is that COVID-19 is overwhelming all medical services around the world, so much so that in countries with first-class medical services, retired healthcare professionals are being requested to come out of retirement to boost manpower to fight this invisible enemy. Also, in America, the healthcare system is so overwhelmed that

patients are waiting hours to see a doctor, and those that died are waiting hours to be taken to the mortuaries. Also, around the world, doctors are having to make difficult decisions about which patients to place on ventilators, and which ones to allow to die peacefully, since the number of patients requiring ventilators far exceed available ventilators. So overwhelming is COVID-19 to America, that President Trump, via Executive Order, instructed GM to manufacture ventilators at levels required at time of war. Many doctors and healthcare professionals have paid the ultimate price with their lives. This is an international tragedy that even healthcare services in First World countries are struggling to manage. These are no ordinary times, and under these circumstances, our medical professionals need our support, and not to be undermined by low-level politicians who are fighting a proxy war for PPP. This is bigger than politics; this is about human lives.

Then Lennox repeated what he heard, without any understanding of what he is saying. This phenomenon is characteristic of microcephalic parrots, and it is universally known as echolalia. In Lennox’s post, he claims that the Government is illegitimate, hence cannot source international aid. Clearly, it is this Government that called the General and Regional Elections, so they must have been legitimate then. Also, Finance Minister Winston Jordan has applied for a US$5M loan from the IMF, which is being processed. Also, it should be noted that Venezuela applied for a similar loan, and was immediately rejected.

As a result, I am curious to know what criteria informed Lennox’s conclusion that this Government is illegitimate?

And the laughing stock Lennox went on

to indulge in scaremongering and overindulgence in hyperboles. As an echolalic greenwing parrot, he is likely to be oblivious of the meaning of the latter word. “Bodies littering in the streets” is the description he used to score cheap political points for his masters.

Probably, Satirical Shuman isn’t aware that political campaigning is over. I can’t recollect the exact number, but I do know it was not enough, even when combined with the votes of two politically-dead parties, to give him a seat. That number I’m alluding to is the number of votes Shuman got at the recent election.

As a result, I would humbly suggest to the gentleman that he take his 3000+ votes, and just go gracefully into political hibernation, rather than being propagandist for the PPP. Bodies will not be littering the streets; any such imagery would be down to visual hallucination on the part of Loquacious Lennox.

Then, disingenuous Shuman quoted misleading statistics to scare the masses.

He claimed that there is a mortality rate of 21% for COVID-19 in Guyana, with 0% recovery. Shuman, yuh wrong! You are dead wrong! Firstly, the vast majority of COVID-19 cases are asymptomatic, or have mild symptoms, especially among the young. These will definitely recover.

Secondly, Guyana, like many countries, including the UK, is not testing everyone, hence we would never know the true number of COVID-19 cases. Also, the first case that died, whose relatives were infected, as far as I’m aware, they (four of them) have recovered. The point is that for the aforementioned, the 24 confirmed cases are just that; confirmed cases. But confirmed cases are not the only cases. There are many unconfirmed cases who were asymptomatic,

or had mild symptoms, hence never had the need to seek medical attention. The fact is that the mortally rate internationally is 1.4%, therefore that should have been a hint to Shuman that his 21% is wrong. But, of course, it is all about cheap political points for him. I will just ignore his maths of a projected 150,000 deaths. He has proven to be dishonest with the facts, hence I rather focus on WHO projection of maximum number of deaths of 4200.

Lennox then ended by saying: Please, please be responsible! Was that attention-seeking politician responsible when he and his Guardian of Democracy defied the Government and assembled in large numbers to guard ballot boxes?

Was Lennox and his fellow ‘guardians’ responsible when they refused to practise social distancing when guarding those ballot boxes, and even foolishly said that COVID-19 can wait, since guarding ballot boxes takes precedence? Was Lennox and his colleagues responsible when they not only assembled in large numbers, but also lacked basic facilities to wash their hands? Was Lennox and his crew responsible when face masks were never used when they were in such close proximity to each other? The fact is that Lennox and his crew demonstrated a shocking lack of a sense of responsibility, hence he should be the last to be offering advice.

Regards, Dr. Mark Devonish, MBBS MSc Med. Ed FRCP(Edin) FRCP(UK) Consultant Acute Medicine Nottingham University Hospital UK

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, April 6, 2020

‘We have been vindicated’

By Svetlana Marshall

SENIOR Counsel Roysdale Forde and Attorney-at-Law Mayor Robertson expressed deep satisfaction with the decision of the Court of Appellate that it would be unconstitutional for the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) to usurp the powers of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), by supervising a national recount of all the votes cast at the March 2 General and Regional Elections.

“We have been vindicated,” Robertson told reporters moments after exiting the Court of Appeal on Sunday. Robertson and Forde are part of a battery of lawyers representing Ulita Moore, a private citizen, who, on March 17, had challenged GECOM’s decision to facilitate a national recount under the supervision of a high-level CARICOM team based on agreement between President David Granger and Leader of the Opposition Bharrat Jagdeo.

On Sunday, the Court of Appeal, while noting that the majority of the reliefs sought by Moore could only be addressed through an Elections Petition, ordered that any agreement, in which the supervision of the elections is removed from GECOM and ascribed or given to any other authority, would be unlawful.

That order was made in favour of one of the declarations sought by Moore.

“Our position from the get go, was that the so called agreement with CARICOM was unconstitutional and we have been vindicated on that aspect of the claim.

The Court has said that the agreement unlawfully allowed someone else to supervise the conduct of the counting, and that was our position from day one.

So we are very satisfied with that,” Robertson told reports.

Forde also expressed satisfaction. He said while the Full Court overturned the decision of Justice Franklin Holder and ruled that the High Court had no jurisdiction to review the actions of the Elections Commission as sought by Moore in her Fixed Date Application, the Court of Appeal ruled that High Court had constitutional supervisory jurisdiction to de-

– Robertson, Forde hail Appeal Court ruling against CARICOM supervision of recount

Senior Counsel Roysdale Forde termine whether the agreement, for which GECOM had intended to act upon, was constitutional.

He said the ruling comes at a time when the Leader of the Opposition is insisting that CARICOM must supervise the recount. “You would have heard over the last 48 hours I believe, some statement by Leader of the Opposition that he doesn’t want GECOM involved, he wants it (the recount) to be done by CARICOM,” the Senior Counsel said while iterating the Appellate Court’s decision that any such agreement would be in breach of Articles 62 and 162 of the Constitution.

Further to that, Forde said GECOM should await the consequential orders of the Court before proceeding with the national recount as agreed upon during last’s Friday’s meeting of the Elections Commission.

“I believe that GECOM still has to do that, because the final output of the Court is producing its orders, and as of now we don’t know exactly what are the consequential orders that the court will make, and what will be the impact of the orders that the court will make. And we also do not, having regard to what we would have seen from the orders whether advice would be tendered to either side, not just my client, as to the fact that they should appeal to the Caribbean Court of Justice,” Forde reasoned.

Last Friday, Kim Kyte-Thomas – the Legal Counsel representing Chair of GECOM Justice (Ret’d)

Attorney-at-Law Anil Nandlall Claudette Singh – informed the Appeal Court that while the Elections Commission has concretized its decision to facilitate a recount, it will not proceed until the court rules.

No restoration of injunctions Meanwhile, Attorney-at-Law Anil Nandlall – who is among three lawyers representing Jagdeo, the seven named respondent – told reporters that it was important to note that while the Court of Appeal established that the High Court had narrow jurisdiction to hear Moore’s case, it did not restore the injunctions which were discharged by the Full Court.

“Importantly, the recount has not been stopped by the Court so the recount is expected to progress. The injunctions that were granted

by Justice Holder preventing the recount from taking place were not resurrected by this court. Thirdly the matter is not going back to Justice Holder for his consideration, so the matter has ended here. And the only point that the Court made was that GECOM must be in charge of the recount and must not give that responsibility to any other agency,” Nandlall summarised.

Recount not blocked According to Nandlall, the Appeal Court’s decision does not block GECOM from collaborating with entities such as CARICOM during the execution of the recount. “It doesn’t mean that observers cannot be present. All it means is that

Attorney-at-Law Mayo Robertson GECOM is in charge of the process,” he posited.

However, he contended that the Court erred in its interpretation of the agree-

ment among the political leaders, CARICOM and GECOM. “They interpreted the arrangement between GECOM and CARICOM, as CARICOM supervising the recount and GECOM playing a secondary role.

Of course we did agree with that interpretation because that was not the arrangement – the recount was always going to be done by GECOM but would have been observed by CARICOM playing a less than active role.

That was the arrangement and I hope that still is the arrangement when GECOM decides to resume or begin the recount,” he posited.

As of Friday, GECOM was still working out the modalities of the recount and

had not indicated whether International Observatory Missions (IOM) would have been invited to observe the recount.

The GECOM Chair had given an undertaking to the High Court on March 13 after the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), through its associate, had filed contempt proceedings against GECOM over an alleged failure by the Region 4 Returning Officer, Clairmont Mingo to tabulate the votes cast in his Electoral District in accordance with Section 84 of the Representation of the People Act. This case was shelved, and as such no Contempt Order was issued.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, April 6, 2020

COVID-19 and our children WE are not sure how it all started and we are all unsure of how it will come to pass, but one thing is for sure, the whole World is focused on the challenge of fighting the COVID 19 virus.

As adults we fear for our loved ones, especially the older ones with underlying illnesses as they are the ones, we’ve been told, who are most at risk. But the truth is everyone is at risk and when such a threat is unseen and the outcome unknown, we can but follow guidelines and take heed of the advice given.

Children who do not have underlying illnesses have succumbed to the COVID 19 virus in different parts of the World along with many thousand adults. Although the number of children’s deaths is relatively low, adults and children can still be carriers of the virus without any symptoms at all. The virus does not discriminate and it can spread rapidly if people do not take precautions and practice an exceptionally high standard of hygiene and common sense.

To be on the safe side it is better to treat everyone you meet as if they are infected, whether they have symptoms or not. So even if a person takes offence, you must insist on practicing social distancing, which is 2 meters or a 6-foot distance away. This rule is in place to prevent infected droplets passing in the

air from person to person whilst interacting.

These droplets linger in the air for some time.

They cannot be seen with the naked eye but are highly infectious.

Wash your hands with soap frequently, during the day, for at least 20 seconds at a time and avoid touching your face. Do not participate in the social gathering of more than 2 people at a time; this also applies to children and young people. The virus can live on surfaces for a few hours or up to a few days, so wipe down countertops and commonly used areas with disinfectant or anti-bacterial wipes.

So many lives have changed because of the pandemic. Livelihoods have been put on hold, incomes have been grossly affected and economically/financially, families are suffering. Coping with children who are home from school is another problem to consider for some; finding money to pay rent and passage to move around will be difficult. Some families will need to develop a survival strategy to get through this exceptional period, it will be difficult, but this is the time when communities need to come together and show support for those in less fortunate positions.

Parents can set up groups to gather supplies for those in need, they needn’t meet in person but can liaise through social net-

working under the umbrella of their church, mosque or temple. Adults should keep an eye out for the elderly and disabled people in their community to ensure they have food and are being cared for. You may also need to keep them up-to-date with any change in details and procedures that might affect them.

Having children and parents at home together for an unknown period could cause friction. It is therefore handy to put a system in place by which children can adhere. Their day can be divided into sections and at least two sections can consist of schoolwork or some aspects of learning. Meals should be kept regular with no snacking in-between (unless it is a fruit) just because they are at home.

Children need regular outdoor activity so if there is a garden make good use of it for exercise or other outdoor interests. If you’ve no garden, then go for a daily walk with your children and make it interesting and fun.

Create hobbies for them to help past the time.

Cherish this interlude and spend it wisely with your family.

In families where domestic abuse occurs, spending time together on lockdown will be particularly difficult. The saving grace of a domestic abuse household is the fact that one or both parents leave the home, usually to go to work and the child or children attend(s)

school; thus cutting down the amount of time spent in an unhealthy environment. In an emergency, the Childcare and Protection Agency are available (24 hours’ hotline 227 0979) give them a call for guidance and advice.

This is a time for all of us to think clearly and consciously about what we are doing to help each other and our families. We must protect our children; the outcome of our present actions will be their future. We must talk to them, (age appropriately) explaining the present situation; instilling obedience in their behaviour to follow the regulations that are being enforced. We must do this with love, concern, clarity and understanding.

A heartfelt THANK YOU to all the public servants, doctors and nurses, mums and dads, who continue to work during this precarious time of unsurety and insecurity, we know it’s not easy and to all the Childcare and Protection Agency officers and staff who toil diligently for the sake of Guyana’s children.

If you are concerned about the welfare of a child call the CPA hotline on 227 0979 or write to us at childcaregy@gmail.com A MESSAGE FROM THE CHILDCARE AND PROTECTION AGENCY, MINISTRY OF SOCIAL PROTECTION

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, April 6, 2020

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Five new COVID-19 cases in 24 hrs … MoPH reports six persons in isolation, 80 test negative so far

GUYANA has recorded an increase in the number of Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) cases within the last 24 hours, with the number moving from 24 to 29.

This increase was reflected in information which was released by the Ministry of Public Health, late Sunday night.

According to the public health minister, the number of persons who have been tested has moved from 97 to 110, with the results showing 29 positives, one inconclusive and 80 negatives. The number of deaths remain at four. So far, the ministry said six persons are in institutional isolation, 34 in intuitional quarantine and 157 persons on home quarantine.

The ministry and by extension government has already employed a number of measures to curb the spread of the virus. The existing efforts, such as the COVID-19 hotline will be supplemented after the ministry rolls out a self-test APP. Through the app, persons will be able to self-test and upload their information which will go directly to the ministry’s surveillance team.

Persons will then be contacted by the team if deemed necessary.

Government on Friday extended its emergency measures to combat the dread coronavirus with the implementation of a 12-hour curfew on citizens. These emergency measures are made pursuant to the paragraphs (1) and (2)(b) of the Direction by the President, given under the Public Health Ordinance, Cap. 145, and published in the Gazette, Legal Supplement B, 16th March 2020, government said in a notice Friday evening.

The measures took effect from the 3rd April, 2020 and will last for one month unless earlier terminated, extended or amended by notice of the Minister of Public Health after an assessment of the prevailing public health conditions.

According to the World

Health Organisation (WHO), COVID-19 is an infectious disease caused by a newly-discovered coronavirus.

WHO said most people infected with the COVID-19 virus will experience mild to moderate respiratory illness and recover without requiring special treatment.

Older persons and those with underlying medical problems such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic respiratory disease, and cancer are more likely to develop serious illness.

WHO believes that the best way to prevent and slow down transmission is to be well informed about the virus, the disease it causes and how it spreads.

“Protect yourself and others from infection by washing your hands or using an alcohol-based rub frequently and not touching your face.

The COVID-19 virus spreads primarily through droplets of saliva or discharge from the nose when an infected person coughs or sneezes, so it’s important that you also practise respiratory etiquette (for example, by coughing into a flexed elbow),” WHO advised.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, April 6, 2020

Stabroek, Bourda Markets to reopen tomorrow

13

‌following completion of sanitisation works, installation of sinks as Guyana continues to battle with the novel coronavirus the Georgetown Municipality in collaboration with the Guyana Fire Service and Guyana Prison Service on Sunday morning carried out a sanitisation exercise at Bourda and Stabroek Markets

One of the many sinks installed at Stabroek Market

Scenes from the Georgetown Municipality, Guyana Fire Service and Guyana Prison Service sanitization project on Sunday morning

According to the Mayor of Georgetown, Ubraj Narine the exercise is a part of the council’s response to the covid-19 pandemic. Mayor Narine in an invited comment told this newspaper that the shutdown on Friday was to facilitate the sanitisation works, however due to the amount of garbage d i s c o v e re d a t t h e markets, the project will extend to another day and the markets will be reopened on Tuesday from 7am to 11am. He added that during the week the time will extend as the council continues discussion to facilitate vendors and buyers during the health crisis.

He added that the

council will be monitoring the inflow and out flow of the markets and will be having several other discussions to limit the number of persons going in and out of the market so persons can maintain social distancing and avoid large crowds.

Additionally, five sinks were installed at various sections of the markets to support the sanitisation project. Vendors and shoppers will now be able to wash their hands before entering the market to conduct business. The mayor further stated that citizens also have to do their part in combating the deadly virus by maintaining social distancing and washing their hands regularly.

Scenes from the Georgetown Municipality, Guyana Fire Service and Guyana Prison Service sanitization project on Sunday morning

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, April 6, 2020

National curfew now supersedes Reg.10’s- Linden Mayor – Border screening to commence today

THE national curfew that mandates citizens to be within their yard spaces from 18:00hrs to 06:00 hours, now supersedes the previously-set curfew by the Region Ten Regional Health Emergency Committee (RHEC), which would have allowed residents to be in public up to 20:00 hours.

This is according to Mayor of Linden, Waneka Arrindell, who said that it is important to bring clarity to the issue, since breaking the national curfew can result in consequences. She urged residents to take time and

read the document provided by the Ministry of Public Health, which gives detailed stipulations on how citizens and businesses should proceed, in terms of social distancing, during this time.

Arrindell stressed that the Region Ten ranks will continue to play their role in monitoring residents’ and businesses’ response to the national curfew, to ensure it is in no way compromised at a regional level.

Region Ten Commander, Hugh Winter, said that, as of Sunday, there were no detainees, even from before the national curfew was set and

ranks were monitoring the regional curfew.

“All residents of Linden and Region Ten, I encourage you to read this document and abide by the rules set therein. We encourage you to continue to wash your hands, wear masks and to maintain social distancing, protect your family and friends and stay at home,” Arrindell said.

Meanwhile to better avoid the importation of COVID-19 into the region, the RHEC, through its health and welfare sub-committee, will commence screening of all persons travelling into the region from Monday.

Regional Health Officer, Dr. Pansy Armstrong, confirmed to this publication that the tools to commence screening were already in the region and the screening will be conducted by health workers at the Amelia’s Ward Police Outpost and at 58 Miles Police Outpost. Mayor Arrindell had previously related that all persons attempting to enter the township after the curfew will be detained.

The Linden Mayor and Town Council continues to collaborate with the Linden Fire Station to sanitize the market arena and central Mackenzie. This was continued on Sunday

evening, with sections of the market and the Georgetown bus park being sanitized with water, bleach and detergent. The exercise is expected to move to the Wismar shore in a few days.

Residents of Linden were also reminded that a “lock down”, as was planned by the Linden Business Network, will not take effect from Monday.

It was suggested by executive members that borders should be closed and incoming traffic should be escorted out of the township and that a list of essential businesses

Linden Mayor, Waneka Arrindell should be opened for only four hours: 12:00 hours to 16:00 hours.

Arrindell said the stipulations/suggestions put forth by the business group were just proposals and discussions were still ongoing on same.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, April 6, 2020

‘Shared governance best for Guyana’ –– WPA says time to end Guyana’s ‘ideological racism’

WORKING People’s Alliance (WPA) Executive, Dr. David Hinds, believes that, no matter the ultimate winner of the 2020 General and Regional Elections, the only way to take Guyana into a harmonious future is through shared governance.

The WPA is a part of the six-party coalition which makes up the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), along with the Alliance For Change (AFC) which broke the single party rulership tradition in 2015. In his column in the Sunday newspaper, Dr. Hinds made a bold move in the reiteration of his lobby for even greater collaboration but with the country’s leadership divided with the party which currently forms the opposition.

“I have lost interest in what is in those ballot boxes. I do not think national reconciliation and a peaceful Guyana reside in those boxes. The content of those boxes spell trouble—more trouble. Perhaps there will be a recount. And neither

side would accept the outcome of that recount if it is allowed to be concluded. And God knows what would happen,” Dr. Hinds wrote.

“Scrap this election. Destroy those boxes. Install an Interim Government led by Granger as president and the PPP man as Prime Minister. Divide the Cabinet equally between the two sides. Go back to the old parliament. Set up an Independent Commission tasked with structurally overhauling GECOM, changing the governance architecture and the electoral laws to ensure outcomes that are in keeping with power sharing.

Give them two years to do that and then go back to elections.”

The WPA Executive said that he last made the suggestion in unison with Political analyst, Dr. Henry Jeffrey, while on a radio programme hosted by media personality, Dennis Chabrol, on March 10, 2020.

In his observation, Guyana still gravely suffers

from “ideological racism” and is constantly exposed to the risk of ethnic domination and ethnic marginalization.

On the other hand, he stated that the WPA is interested in a power-sharing government of national unity.

Dr. Hinds stated that while the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Opposition has hinged its emotive pitch for re-election on being the defenders of democracy, it is mistaken to paint the picture that the APNU+AFC government is a dictatorship.

He said that this “democracy crusade” is ultimately an enabler of one side of a bitter fight with ethnic overtones.

“Since the No-Confidence Vote of December 2018, we have witnessed the emergence of a cabal– not a movement–that is prepared to use the rhetoric of democracy to reinstall the old regime that was cut short in 2015. Since there is no dictatorial PNC to justify

their “democracy crusade”, they had to create one,” he said.

“The APNU+AFC government was not dictatorial, and did not have a pattern of abuse of the rule of law. Mistakes yes, but dictatorship no. But that does not deter the PPP from mobilizing a lot of decent and upstanding citizens of mostly one ethnic group to lend their names to this most recent defence of democracy. The symbol of the death of democracy is the ongoing saga which they claim was precipitated by the PNC’s attempt to steal the election.”

Since the breakdown in the tabulation of Statements of Poll for District Four at the beginning of March, the most recent unfolding has seen the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM)

agreeing to a full recount of the ballots cast at the March, 2, 2020.

However, matters which could affect this are still before the Court of Appeal.

Added to this, considering the existing restrictions in place to guard against the spread of the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), GECOM will have to approach government to discuss the facilitation of the possible recount.

No matter what happens, Dr. Hinds said that the current impasse presents an opportunity for Guyana’s political leaders and citizens to realise the value in working together for the greater good of the country’s well-being.

He stated: “Armed with a history of activism and with the memory of recent history, I think this impasse could be an opportunity for

Working People’s Alliance (WPA) Executive, Dr. David Hinds a reawakening of our desire to live together in harmony.

As uncomfortable as the last month has been, maybe it’s a blessing in disguise—an outcome to remind Guyanese that Guyana belongs to all of us.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, April 6, 2020

PPP hands out face masks at Parika Market

A TEAM organised by the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) distributed some 325 face masks to citizens at the Parika Market, on Sunday, as part of that party’s efforts to help fight the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

According to party candidate, Deodat Indar, the team was organised by PPP/C Presidential Candidate, Irfaan Ali. In a live Facebook video from the market which was densely populated, Indar lamented that market sellers and buyers were not adhering to the guidelines for social distancing set in place by the government.

“This COVID-19 pandemic is a serious one. This market, as you can see right now, people are busy. Social distancing is something that will enable the slowing down of the spread of this pandemic, but, if you look around, you will see that people are not adhering to social distancing guidelines set by the authority,” he said.

He said that the PPP/C is in support of

social distancing, and at this time it intends to do its part by distributing the masks to avoid the spread of the virus. Indar urged citizens that, even if they don’t feel as if they are at threat to the virus, they should take all precautions because persons can be carriers of the virus but show no symptoms.

He stated: “In everything we do we have to flatten the curve, meaning that we have to ensure COVID-19 does not destroy this country…this virus is the first of its kind for this generation and we have to do what we have to do to make sure that we stop the spread of it”.

At the time, there were only 325 masks available to be distributed as they are being sewn by a seamstress. Those assisting in the distribution were Chairman for Mora/Parika Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC), Jaideo Sookoo; Chairman of the Hydronie NDC, Parasram Persaud; Assistant First Secretary for Region 3 Group B, Deonarine Jaipersaud and Activist Georgieanna Rahman.

Masks being handed out to persons at the Parika Market (Deodat Indar photo)

Executive Member of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), and party candidate, Deodat Indar hands out the sewn masks to residents (Deodat Indar photo)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, April 6, 2020

La Penitence Market vendors and City Hall at odds –– Constables remove vendors despite new national emergency order

By Telesha Ramnarine

VENDORS, especially those at the La Penitence Market, were confused, on Sunday morning, when they showed up for work and constables from the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) started taking away their goods and ordering them to leave.

To their knowledge, an order from the Ministry of Public Health should have permitted them to operate from 06:00 hours to 17:00 hours. Chief Constable (ag), Peter Livingston, was on the scene around 07:00 hours, in company with other constables, ordering vendors to pack up. He told the Guyana Chronicle that he was unaware of the Ministry’s order, and that he was working with those from the M&CC. “The Council would have ordered that all municipal markets and vending operations in and around the city of Georgetown cease with effect from Friday 19:00 hours; that’s last Friday. Today we are here because these people have not complied with

Without any notice, constables ordered the vendors to shut down and even took away their stuff.

Kamlawattie Persaud, called Baby, wants to know who will give her back the $250,000 she paid for her bananas.

The usually bustling Albouystown Market was cleared of vendors by the M&CC Sunday morning.

Chief Constable (Ag), Peter Livingstone, at the Albouystown Market, Sunday morning.

that order and we have to ensure that they comply.” Asked for clarification on whether the constables were acting correctly, Mayor Ubraj Narine told this publication he does not wish to comment at the moment. Town Clerk (ag) Sherry Jerrick could not be reached for comment.

Solid Waste Management Director, Walter Narine, opined that the vendors should not have been at the market, in keeping with the Mayor’s announcement last Friday of the closure of the various municipal markets.

According to Narine, since the markets fall under the ambit of the municipality, they have to be guided by the mayor’s announcement. In other words, the order from the Health Ministry does not supersede that of the council, he said.

Meanwhile, vendors cried out that they were not told anything by the City Council to the effect that they should not turn up Sunday morning, and they will subsequently suffer heavy losses.

“We already bought the stuff for Sunday. All this banana was green and we put it to ripe to sell today. Who will give me back

250,000? I got two children, who will help me? Up to yesterday, I hear on the radio that we can vend legally, but now they are demanding that we move,” Kamlawattie Persaud, called Baby, told Chronicle.

She said she spoke to a constable at Leonora Market on Saturday who told her that it was ok for her to sell on Sunday. “But I don’t know what is this. The girl (constable) carry away two scales for me.”

Another vendor close by offered that the City Council should have given the vendors a notice that they should not turn up. “You can’t just come and take away people stuff like that,” he said.

“They come without any notice and start pulling down we umbrellas. They didn’t

come and tell us anything. How we will live if we don’t sell? Is one-day market out here,” another constable expressed.

Other vendors alleged that the constables assaulted a bus driver, dragging him on the road, and even pulled a gun on one of the vendors.

One female constable could be heard saying: “Y’all getting stupid. If you don’t want to move, I would throw all them thing in the gutter.”

Another female constable said, “I does only talk one time,” with one vendor responding, “But you made sure you done shop up your fruits and vegetables though,” referring to the bags she was carrying.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, April 6, 2020

Deliberate action needed to maintain good mental health during COVID-19 –– says Clinical Therapist and Traumatologist

By Vishani Ragobeer TRINIDADIAN Clinical Therapist and Traumatologist, Hanif Benjamin, has underscored that individuals need to take “deliberate” action in order to maintain good mental health as they contend with the changes to daily life brought by the COVID-19

pandemic.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), COVID-19 is the infectious disease caused by the most recently discovered coronavirus. Further, coronaviruses are a family of viruses, of which several are known to cause respiratory infections and illnesses in humans and animals. In December 2019,

there was an outbreak of COVID-19 in Wuhan, China, and since then, the virus has spread across the globe, becoming a pandemic.

Not only has COVID-19 brought with it the threat of illness and even death, but Benjamin posited that there are a myriad of factors, resulting from the pandemic and the global response to it,

that may have an ill effect on a person's mental health.

“The two most common diagnoses that can occur during the COVID-19 period are depression and anxiety,” the clinical therapist said.

And according to him, many factors may contribute to the occurrence of these.

The first major factor for concern is how people react

to the many “unknowns” that result from the pandemic. Benjamin explained that currently, there is much uncertainty as to the extent to which the coronavirus may affect individual countries and how soon it will end.

Exacerbating this “fear of the unknown”, as he calls it, are the measures instituted to reduce the spread of COVID-19.

Social distancing is a measure that the WHO has recommended to prevent the spread of the coronavirus that may be caused by breathing in small liquid droplets, containing the COVID-19 virus, emitted when a person coughs or sneezes. This recommended measure has, however, led to a sudden change in life circumstances, whether for work or school. Cognisant of this, Benjamin explained that the disruption to the persons’ daily routines and the incidence of isolation, both stemming from social distancing, are both factors that may also affect one’s mental wellness.

Benjamin highlighted that while social distancing, and by extension isolation, are pertinent to mitigate the physical spread of the coronavirus, these measures are not void of their effects on one’s mental health.

Importantly, the traumatologist underscored, “If you are already living with a mental illness, you will be in a position where this is exacerbated.”

Some signs that persons are experiencing some form of depression, throughout social distancing and isolation, include changes in sleeping patterns, whether by sleeping too much, too little or with disruptions; changes in eating patterns, whether by eating too much or too little; a loss of zeal to engage in activities; and, constant worrying.

When someone begins experiencing these symptoms, not only are they beginning to experience some form of depression, but this may also affect other aspects of a person’s mental health.

“This situation that we're in can lead to anxiety, which is majorly (caused by) the fear of the unknown,” Benjamin said, explaining that anxiety first manifests within one’s thoughts, then affects one’s feelings before manifesting as psychological symptoms such as headaches, sweaty palms, and even diarrhoea.

Eventually, he explained that these manifestations may lead to panic and stress

Trinidadian Clinical Therapist and Traumatologist, Hanif Benjamin (Newsday Photo) because persons then become “hypervigilant”.

Due to the increased susceptibility to the factors which may affect one’s mental health, Benjamin urged that individuals engage in “deliberate” actions to care for their mental health.

Though persons may find themselves becoming complacent due to being home for an extended period, he urged that individuals try, as much as reasonably possible, to maintain the routine they would have had previously.

Maintaining this routine despite having to work from home, care for children and family now at home or even attend school from home is essential in helping persons feel as though they have some control over the situation. This, he said, helps to keep some of the anxiety at bay.

“As we continue to understand anxiety, you need to understand what you can and cannot control,” Benjamin said. In this vein, he advanced too that persons should be wary of how much and how often information is consumed, given that worrisome news or ‘fake news’ may take a toll on one's mental health. Additionally, he emphasised that persons need to become comfortable with sharing with their loved ones when they feel mentally taxed since it is absolutely necessary to have a support system in these unnecessary times.

Benjamin also stressed that maintaining personal hygiene, and physical health by eating well and exercising around the home, is also paramount to preserving good mental health. In addition to this, the WHO also recommends that persons continue to wash their hands continuously and avoid touching the ears, nose or mouth-- all in an attempt to safeguard from COVID-19.

In Guyana, the government has enforced that citizens, with the exception of essential workers and when in need of essential items such as food, should remain home. Guyana’s airports are closed to international flights and a 12-hour curfew has been implemented.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, April 6, 2020

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, April 6, 2020

Seire A could go till October

President of the Italian Lega Pro, and only candidate for presidency of the Italian Football Federation, Gabriele Gravina (L) delivers a speech as Chairman of the Italian Football Managers’ Association, Renzo Ulivieri looks on during the elective assembly of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) on October 22, 2018 at the Hilton hotel of Rome’s Fiumicino airport.

(Photo by Alberto PIZZOLI / AFP) (Photo credit should read ALBERTO PIZZOLI/AFP via Getty Images)

(REUTERS) - The Serie A season could be extended to September or October, the head of the Italian FA (FIGC) said on Sunday, warning that there could be an “avalanche of litigation” if it was not settled on the field.

Serie A has been suspended since March 9 because of the coronavirus pandemic which has claimed 15,887 lives in Italy, almost a quarter of the global death total. Several club presidents have suggested that the season should be called off.

“The only serious way to handle a serious emergency of this kind is to complete the 2019-2020 season competitions this year,” FIGC president Gabriele Gravina told state broadcaster RAI’s Domenica Sportiva programme.

“We are working on a whole series of possible solutions to manage the situation in the best possible way.”

“Could it finish in September of October? That is one hypothesis. It’s a way to avoid jeopardising not only the 2019-20 season but also

the 2020-21 season.”

Gravina explained that if the current season was abandoned, Italian football could suffer “an avalanche of litigation to which we would be subjected by all those who could be considered damaged in their rights and interests.”

This could include teams who were relegated and those who missed out on European football next season.

He added: “We would really run the risk of the championship taking place only in the courtrooms.”

Last Thursday, UEFA called on leagues around Europe to complete their seasons once football is able to restart.

The European governing body added that if a league was called off, its clubs might not be accepted into the Champions League and Europa League next season.

Gravina added that May 17 was being considered as a possible date for a restart but stressed that this was “an hypothesis”.

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Monday, April 06, 2020)

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ANSWERS TO YESTERDAY’S QUIZ:

(1) B J Watling--26 dismissals (25 catches/1 stumping) (2) Dinesh Ramdin--41 dismissals (40 catches/1 stumping) TODAY’S QUIZ: (1) Who is the first WI to score a triple-century in Tests?

(2) Who is the only NZ player to hit a triple-hundred in Tests to date?

ANSWERS IN TOMORROW’S ISSUE

21

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, April 6, 2020

F1 in ‘fragile state’ – Zak Brown (BBC) - Formula 1 is “in a very fragile state” as a result of the coronavirus crisis and needs big changes to survive, McLaren boss, Zak Brown, says.

“This is potentially devastating to teams, and if [it is devastating] to enough teams - which doesn’t have to mean more than two - then very threatening to F1 as a whole,” he said.

Cost-saving plans will be discussed at a meeting of F1 bosses on Monday.

But the teams are divided over how best to safeguard the sport.

Brown, speaking in an exclusive interview with BBC Sport, believes the $175m (£143m) budget cap, scheduled to come into force in 2021, needs to be lowered significantly, or the sport risks a potential disaster.

“Could I see - through what is going on right now in the world if we don’t tackle this situation head on very aggressively - two teams disappearing? Yeah,” said Brown, the chief executive officer of McLaren Racing.

“In fact, I could see four teams disappearing if this isn’t handled the right way.

“And then, given how long it takes to ramp up an F1 team, and given the economic and health crisis we are in right now, to think there would be people lined up to take over those teams like there has historically been... I don’t think the timing could be worse from that standpoint.

“So I think F1 is in a very fragile state at the moment.”

F1 and the teams have already agreed a series of changes to lower costs because the sport faces a significant drop in revenues as a result of the cancellation of races.

These include delaying until 2022 a big rule change that had been planned to come into force in 2021,

and forcing teams to run the same cars this year and next.

Brown says all teams have now agreed to lower the budget cap to $150m (£122m) in 2021 but he believes it has to come down further.

up the numbers.”

Those arguing in favour of keeping the budget cap up at $150m argue that many of the smaller teams are not even spending that much, so lowering it would not help them survive financially.

often than not, every team has a chance to beat them, and in F1 it is just not the case.

“And a couple of the teams are putting their sporting interests well ahead of the greater good and missing

Zak Brown became McLaren’s chief executive officer in 2018, having been executive director since 2016

“You have everyone at $150m, and the strong majority - including one of the big teams - willing to come substantially under $150m,” he said.

Brown would not name teams, but BBC Sport understands the big team accepting of a lower cap are Mercedes, while Ferrari and Red Bull are resistant.

Brown has proposed a limit of $100m (£81.5m) and would be prepared to compromise on $125m (£102m).

He believes that a lower cost cap - with the same exemptions as now, such as driver salaries - would serve to make the field more competitive by reducing the financial advantage of the big teams and give the smaller teams a better chance of achieving good results.

“If we don’t make an aggressive enough budget cap and some people feel they have to top up this year and have no chance of getting it back,” he said, “then they ask themselves: Why are they in it?

“I don’t think anyone competes in F1 just to make

Red Bull team boss Christian Horner told BBC Sport in an interview last week that the budget cap was “secondary” and that “reducing the cost to go racing” was more important.

Brown argued: “In football, while everyone knows Manchester United or Liverpool are going to win more

the point that they are really running the risk of jeopardising the sport - and then we all lose.

“You’d almost think they are uncomfortable about having a fair fight with teams that maybe they haven’t viewed as a competitor before, and they might be uncomfortable having a fair

fight because they have never actually been in one.

“Sport in my mind is a chance for everyone to compete fairly and pretty equitably. It is like a heavyweight boxer who only wants to fight middleweights.”

He described reducing the budget cap to $150m as “rounding around the edges” at a time when some companies are “adjusting half their business, not 14%”.

The bigger teams are also suspicious that some of their rivals are using the current crisis as a rare opportunity to hobble the big teams.

There is a split too over what to do about the delayed regulations. Brown is among those wanting them to come into force in 2022 as currently agreed, but Horner is pushing for them to be delayed by a further year to 2023.

Brown says he expects the meeting to be tense.

“There is a divide,” he says. “Not a 50-50 divide.

I would say it’s more 8020. The reality is you can survive with 80% (of the teams), but you can’t survive with 20.”

What about McLaren’s furlough?

McLaren last week became the first team to admit that they had put some staff on furlough as a response to the lack of racing.

Brown said it was the “toughest decision I’ve had to make” but said McLaren had no choice, even though they are one of the richest teams outside the top three.

“While we’re a well-funded racing team,” he said, “everyone has their limits - and as it relates to F1, it is no secret we lose a lot of money and my shareholders want value creation out of F1. So just letting the losses widen is not an option.

“I don’t have an unlimited cheque book, so it was the responsible thing to do, and quite frankly I am disappointed but not surprised that many teams haven’t already followed suit.

“I know some have, but some haven’t. And I think there is a real danger in F1 that we as an industry can put our head in the sand on topics and now is not the time to put your head in the sand.”

Former New Orleans Saints Dempsey dies of COVID-19

(Reuters) - Former New Orleans Saints kicker, Tom Dempsey, has died at the age of 73 after contracting COVID-19, the NFL team said on Sunday.

Dempsey, who was born without toes on his right foot, joined the Saints out of college in 1969 and in November 1970, set a record for the longest field goal with a game-winning 63-yard kick against the Detroit Lions.

His record was equalled three times before being broken in December, 2013 when Denver Broncos kicker, Matt Prater, converted a 64-yard effort against the Tennessee Titans.

“The New Orleans Saints family is deeply saddened and

heartbroken at this most difficult time,” Saints owner Gayle Benson said in a statement.

“Tom’s life spoke directly to the power of the human spirit and exemplified his resolute determination to not allow setbacks to impede following his dreams and aspirations.”

The custom-made shoe that Dempsey wore to kick with is on display in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

He also played for the Philadelphia Eagles, Los Angeles Rams, Houston Oilers and Buffalo Bills before retiring in 1979.

Dempsey was diagnosed with COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, on March 25.

Former New Orleans Saints kicker Tom Dempsey

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, April 6, 2020

Adams main taining his fitness ...urging Guyanese, fellow athletes to stay safe

By Clifton Ross

everyday trying to stay fit; of course there are a lot of things you can do to keep your body in shape”, said the left-arm spinner.

Guyana Jaguars spinner, Anthony Adams, said he’s not Guyana officially came under lockdown on Friday, April letting the current state of lockdown ruin his daily training 3, with a 6am-6pm curfew in effect for non-essential workers. schedule, as he urges his fellow teammates and Guyanese Prior to the lockdown, sports globally -- from the NBA alike to continue practising the necessary safety procedures. to regional cricket, were all forced to take an indefinite break Adams, one of Guyana’s senior national spinners and argu- following the coronavirus outbreak. ably one of the fittest players in the mix, told Guyana Chronicle Speaking on the stoppage of sports locally, namely crickon Saturday that he’s still keeping himself in shape during this et, Adams said that Guyanese should continue to practice time of isolation. social distancing while keeping their hygiene at an optimum “I’m usually someone who likes to stay active and fit, I level. don’t really depend on others to train with. I’ve been working “It’s a very serious situation we’re in, COVID-19 is very

serious, so it’s important we play our part by staying indoors and staying safe. I’m not sure on the effects of players not being able to play but whatever space we have at home we need to use it to stay fit for whenever cricket starts”.

The Essequibo native, who is captain of the team’s senior franchise as well as coach of his county’s youth team, said things are pretty quiet in his turf with much protocol being followed.

“Essequibo is usually a quiet place but everyone is indoors right now and the most important thing is that we continue to wash our hands, take our vitamins and keep our immune systems strong during this period”. He ended.

FIFA draws up guidelines to tackle pay-cut complaints (Reuters) - FIFA is getting ready to deal with complaints and appeals over wage cuts for players, producing guidelines for clubs and football bodies looking to cut costs during the stoppage caused by the coronavirus pandemic, an internal document seen by Reuters showed.

The issue of pay cuts for players has exploded as a major controversy in England while in other countries, such as Germany and Spain, players have accepted temporary reductions in earnings.

With football halted across the globe, however, FIFA is aware that it may well have to deal with a series of different agreements and possible complaints, and its guidelines urge any cuts to be “proportionate”.

FIFA’s Coronavirus working group met last week and agreed on a wide range of issues, summarised in the document, including that player contracts due to run out in June should be extended to the end of any resumed season.

The internal paper notes that such decisions will inevitably reflect national law and specific agreements in each country but says it is keen to avoid large discrepancies between similar leagues and clubs. It also urges clubs, leagues and

players to reach “appropriate collective agreements”.

The guiding principles behind such deals should be to “guarantee some form of salary payment to players

clubs”.

Crucially, the document states that where clubs and employees cannot reach agreement and where “national law does not address

sonable” by FIFA’s Dispute Resolutions Chamber or Players Status Committee.

A “reasonable” contractual change will take into account the econom-

FIFA will also take into account whether the decision applies to the entire squad or only specific employees, and whether the club attempted in good faith

In this photo illustration the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) logo seen displayed on a smartphone with a computer model of the COVID-19 coronavirus on the background.

(Photo Illustration by Budrul Chukrut/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

and coaches, avoid litigation, protect contractual stability, and ensure clubs do not go bankrupt, while considering the financial impact of COVID-19 on

the situation or collective agreements are not applicable”, unilateral decisions to change contracts “will only be recognised when they are otherwise deemed rea-

ic situation of a club, the proportionality of any salary amendment and the net income of the employee after that amendment, FIFA writes in the document.

to reach a mutual agreement with its employees.

The FIFA document summarising the working group’s views will be submitted to the Bureau of the

FIFA Council for approval.

A FIFA spokesman said it was not in a position to comment as a proposal was being made to the Council, and “we cannot pre-empt that decision”.

The coronavirus working group is composed of representatives from across the game including the FIFA administration, confederations, national federations, the European Club Association (ECA), players union FIFPRO and the World Leagues Forum.

The group also offered an alternative approach in which “all agreements between clubs and employees should be ‘suspended’ during any suspension of competitions provided proper insurance coverage is maintained, and adequate alternative income support arrangements can be found for employees during the period in question.”

The group agreed that transfer windows should be adjusted to reflect the changed dates of seasons, with priority given to teams finishing the current season with their existing squad.

FIFA has also ruled that planned new restrictions on loan deals will not come into effect until the end of the current period of uncertainty surrounding the game due to the pandemic.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, April 6, 2020

Skerritt, Shallow boast of ‘transformational changes’ in one-year review

DESPITE the many naysayers, Cricket West Indies (CWI) President, Ricky Skerritt and Vice-president, Dr Kishore Shallow, are patting themselves on the back after their first year in office.

In a one-year review, released recently, and based on the 10-point “Cricket First Plan”, that was the foundation of the 2019 election campaign, the duo said they are proud to report on the transformational changes now taking place at Cricket West Indies “after one year of our leadership.” They also alluded to and praised the input and implementation from many other stakeholders.

The report pointed out that “we are especially pleased with the high level of enthusiasm that the rebuilding of relationships has aroused amongst cricketers, coaches, management, staff, and fans. But we are also aware that this enthusiasm has lifted expectations.

“At the start of our tenure, CWI teams were all ranked at the bottom of all ICC ladders, and we are mindful that those rankings have not yet improved. Although we know that there are no quick-fixes for climbing the performance ladders, we are firmly committed to the philosophy that improving the capacity, efficiency, accountability, transparency and financial well-being of the entire CWI organization, on and off the field, is a pre-requisite for improving on-field results.

Skerritt and Shallow also disclosed that they are also re-establishing the proper role of the CWI Board, of oversight and policy making. “The professional executive management

must be encouraged, and allowed, to carry out approved policy without undue, or confusing, interference.

“Our vision is for CWI to truly become both a trustee and a designer of West Indies Cricket, as “A Public Good”.

CWI’s main challenge now is to partner effectively with the cricket community and with all public and private stakeholders, to attract and gather together as much of the young talent in our region as possible, and to help them to develop into thoughtful, hard-working, and proud West Indians.

It is also the view of the President and Vice-president that CWI must develop, operate, and sustain a cricket system that is built on a foundation of heritage, global standards, proven best practices, and competent expertise. This cricket system must produce more disciplined, skillful, and confident cricketers, most of whom should be self-motivated and battle-ready.

Touching on the current virus that’s affection almost the entire world, the reports said, “as we prepare to deliver this report, Coved-19 pandemic-related uncertainty is rapidly changing the global market for every product, service, or event. Unprecedented disruptive challenges are increasingly emerging for professional sports, including cricket. But even in the midst of this unpredictable outlook, we continue to believe that the best way forward is for all stakeholders to work responsibly and strategically, together.

(Frederick Halley)

CWI President Ricky Skerritt

CWI investing heavily in grassroots cricket – Skerrit, Shallow CRICKET West Indies (CWI) president, Ricky Skerritt and Vice-president, Dr Kishore Shallow, have disclosed that ‘An unprecedented, but workable proposal has been laid out and delivered to Ministers of Sport across the region.

The proposal, they said, “is designed to incentivize local Governments to take joint ownership in a system for increased investment in grassroots cricket, with a focus on schools cricket and youth representative teams.

According to the top CWI executives, “the implementation of this proposal will be pursued vigorously in the second half of this term.” The proposal is contained in their one-year review which was recently released.

Boasting of their achievements in the review, the duo pointed out that the ‘Future Stars’ Programme was cre-

ated to clearly communicate and position different stages of the player development pathway and it has been well received by players, parents and sponsors. They also pointed to the proposed Under-19 female tournament planned for this year.

Speaking specifically of

what players do with their down time between tours, the President and Vice-president said, “this has been one of the major setbacks for player performances over the years as contracted professional players under-utilize the opportunity between tours and competitions to do structured

work geared towards improving deficiencies in skills, fitness and mental toughness.

“A player should not enter a pre-tour camp in worse shape than when he or she last exited the squad. An optimized franchise system in each territory would sufficiently address this

short-coming at all levels.

Skerrit and Shallow pointed out that the following have been achieved in the first year of the two-year term: (a) Established minimum professional standards for medical management inputs re health and fitness leadership at the franchise level. (b) Standardized type and timings for fitness testing across the region for all franchise players, with more vigorous and disciplined implementation. (c) Significantly improved the live radio and video coverage of Super 50 and Championship matches, through streaming. (d) Will set up a task force to comprehensively review the effectiveness of the current franchise system structure that was first introduced six years ago.

Touching on the Modern-

ization of Coaching through Education and Professional Collaboration, the CWI executives said the body hired a development coaching specialist in Chris Brabazon, the first ever CWI coaching education manager. This, it said, resulted in improved coaching standards by delivering home- made certification training, and bringing coaches together for consultations both at the local and regional levels.

Among the other benefits, the report pointed out, it successfully delivered coaching certification by outsourcing to the UWI Faculty of Sport and also achieved a record number of coaching certificates (272) delivered - to regional coaches at Foundation Level (112), Level 1 (79), and Level 2 (61), in eight different countries.

(Frederick Halley)

PAGE 22

...urging Guyanese, fellow athletes to stay safe

Skerritt, Shallow boast of ‘transformational changes’ in one-year review

PAGE 23

Anthony Adams

Sunil Ambris of West Indies is presented with his Man-of-the-Match award

by Dr Kishore Shallow, Vice President of Cricket West Indies and Mohammod Firoj Alam, Deputy Executive Director of Marketing, Walton Group, during the One Day International match between Ireland and West Indies at Malahide Cricket Ground, Malahide, Dublin (Photo By Seb Daly/Sportsfile via Getty Images) Printed and Published by Guyana National Newspapers Limi ted, Lama Avenue, Bel Air Park, Georgetown. Telephone 2 2 6- 3243-9 (General); Editorial: 2 2 7- 5204, 2 2 7- 5216. Fax:2 2 7- 5208

Adams

Adam s maint aining his fit ness

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MONDAY, APRIL 6, 2020