Guyana_Chronicle_Epaper_05_07_2020

THURSDAY 7th May, 2020

' No.105992

‘There’re problems in these boxes’ SEE PAGES 02&03

…APNU Region 3 agent discloses coalition vote, spoilt ballots, given to PPP/C

Determined not to have a repeat of the chaos that occurred back in March at the District 4 Returning Officer’s office, the Guyana Police has stepped up its security in and around the Conference Centre for the national recount, employing detailed checks of persons entering the building, and also using a sniffer dog to search for contraband items (Carl Croker photo)

Region One’s RO fails to 11 submit poll books PAGE

…claims he walked off job, left them at the GECOM Mabaruma Office

Six COVID-19 cases in Region 10 PAGE

07

‘Comply or stay out’ --M&CC temporarily shuts market gates, as persons flout containment measures

PAGE

15

2

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, May 7, 2020

25 boxes counted on Day 1 ...GECOM hopes to up tempo today

By Svetlana Marshall NOTWITHSTANDING a late start and a number of challenges, the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) processed a total of 25 ballot boxes during the first day of the historic National Recount – a process which unfolded at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC) under heavy police presence on Wednesday.

In Region One (Barima/ Waini), seven ballot boxes were processed while six ballot boxes from Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) were counted. In Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), seven ballot boxes were counted while in Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica), votes from five ballot boxes were processed. There were a total of 10 working stations.

It was anticipated that more ballot boxes would have been processed during the course of Wednesday but the process got off to a late start due to several factors including the People’s Progressive Party/Civic’s (PPP/C’s) failure to locate its keys for three of the containers containing ballot boxes.

LONG SECURITY CHECK LINE When Guyana Chronicle arrived at the Conference Centre at around 06:50hrs, there was a long line of GECOM personnel, party agents and observers waiting to access the compound. Only those, listed on a general list provided to the police, were allowed access to the premise but not before a detailed security check.

Notably, vehicles attempting to gain access, were thoroughly searched. A sniffer dog was seen checking vehicles for substances such as explosives – a move deemed necessary in light of a bomb threat that was made during the tabulation of the Region 4 Statements of Poll in March. Added to that, strict precautionary measures were put in place to prevent any spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), including the testing of body temperatures, sanitisation of hands, and the mandatory wearing of masks.

But the security check and the measures implemented to prevent the spread of COVID-19 were just a small part of the problem. Having completed a briefing session with all parties involved, including observers, the GECOM officials proceeded

to the back of the Conference Centre to open the containers, and it was then that the PPP/C realised that it had no keys for three of the containers on which it had placed locks.

After some relays, a decision was taken to cut the chains on

Chairman of GECOM, Justice (ret’d) Claudette Singh, standing at the entrance of the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (Elvin Croker Photo)

Commissioner Vincent Alexander speaking to the press (Adrian Narine Photo)

those containers.

DYSFUNCTIONAL LOCKS “I think some of the guardians of democracy had dysfunctional locks, and so we couldn’t open those padlocks that were placed on the containers, so eventually we had to make a decision to nip the chains, so that also contributed to a delay,” Elections Commissioner Vincent Alexander told reporters as he offered his assessment of the first day of the recount.

He noted that, despite the initial hiccups, the process went relatively smooth, once the ballot boxes were moved from the containers to the 10 working stations that were established. However, he noted that there were a few errors and anomalies detected including the absence of Poll Books for Region One and the allegations of dead people marked as voted – issues for which the Elections Commission has committed to address.

“I think all in all, we had a relatively good day; a little slow start but a relatively good day,” Alexander said while anticipating that today (Thursday, May 7) the counting process will be accelerated within all 10 working stations.

PPP/C’s Executive Anil Nandlall told persons that generally the process was executed smoothly; but said there were fundamental issues that ought to be addressed by GECOM. He complained that the process, though smooth, was progressing slowly.

“GECOM had given us an indication that once the issues as they arise on the first day are identified and corrected,

Representatives of the various political parties observing the opening of the containers by GECOM personnel at the ACCC (Elvin Croker Photo)

then the speed will increase rapidly and we are hoping that that will happen,” he said.

NANDLALL OBJECTS AGAIN However, Nandlall again objected to the scrutiny of the documents within the ballot boxes. According to him, the recount should be numerical, and nothing else. “What is important? Isn’t it the number of votes that each party received; that is what the recount is about. So all these unnecessary issues that they are raising is what are contributing to the delay. We want a recount of the ballots, and that is what the exercise is about,” Nandlall posited.

He is objecting to the analyzing of documents which include the number of electors struck off as voted – marked on the List of Electors; the number of ballots added through the intermixing of the ballots of the Disciplined Forces and those of non-residents, and the number of electors who voted by the use of Certificates of Employment and the number of ballot counterfoils.

But Alexander reminded reporters that the procedures being employed during the record are catered for in the order gazetted by the Elections Commission on Monday, in accordance with Article 162 of the Constitution and Section 22 of the Elections Law (Amendment) Act. “It was dragged out for Nandlall, it was not dragged out for the order, which

GECOM issued indicating those are things that you will be doing. Mr Nandlall continues the old story of not wanting to go through a process that we have decided that we will go through,” Alexander said.

He reminded that the recount is being executed in keeping with the powers GECOM has under Constitution and the Elections Law (Amendment) Act and not under the Representation of the People Act. “This is not a Representation of the People Act, Section 89 recount. This is a recount under the Constitution, Article 162, and Section 22 of the Elections Law (Amendment) Act, which give us the scope to do what we do, and we are doing it. Mr Nandlall might not like it but we are doing it,” Alexander lamented. He said while GECOM has agreed to a final count (a recount), it has also opted to decide on the credibility of the elections, and as such, all documents within the ballot boxes will be examined before a count is proceeded with.

NO STALLING Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson, who is also an A Partnership for National Unity (APNU+AFC) agent, told reporters that the coalition is in no way stalling the work of GECOM, as he rubbished allegations levied by the PPP/C. He said the process of examining the contents within the

ballot boxes is a critical one, noting that it was during that process the APNU+AFC detected a number of anomalies and errors, which are now being addressed by GECOM based on an established system for resolution of issues.

“It is absolutely important [for us to scrutinize the documents]…GECOM has gazetted an order, and we are following it to the letter,” Patterson told Guyana Chronicle, while questioning the PPP/C reluctance to have the contents of the ballot boxes analyzed.

Wednesday’s recount was observed by 91 party agents including those from the major political parties – the PPP/C and the APNU+AFC and a total of 14 observers from the European Union, the Organisation of American States, the Canadian High Commission, the Ethnic Relations Commission, AMCHAM, CUFFY 250 and the Private Sector Commission.

There are more than 2,300 ballot boxes to be processed during a period of 25 days. However, the Commission has commenced the process with focus on Regions One, Two, Three and Four.

The votes cast in the other six regions will be counted upon the completion of the first three regions. Region 4 votes will be counted simultaneously with the other electoral districts.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, May 7, 2020

‘There’re problems in these boxes’

3

…APNU Region 3 agent discloses coalition vote given to PPP …as ‘dead man’ voted in Region 2

By Lisa Hamilton “CLEARLY there’re problems in these ballot boxes,” said APNU+AFC agent, Ganesh Mahipaul as he reported on his station during the opening day of the national recount of votes cast at the March2, 2020 General and Regional elections.

Mahipaul had exited the Arthur Chung Conference Centre building at around 13:40 hours coming from workstation five, dealing with the votes cast in Region Three. “The first ballot box we looked at was ballot box number 3046 and on the first count which was done at the place of poll in Leguan, it registered 16 votes for APNU/AFC and 194 votes for the People’s Progressive Party and three votes for the People’s Republic Party,” he said. “When we did this recount now there is a difference. APNU+AFC increased by one and that’s because one of our ballots was in the PPP set that had to be removed and go to APNU+AFC and there were two that were rejected for the PPP and that is because one of them was marked for more than one political party…and another the ballot was clearly torn.”

Mahipaul said that while these might seem to be a very small difference in ballots, should the same continue across-the-board at the 2,339 ballot boxes it could mean either 2,000 more or less vote

there are problem in these ballot boxes; there are discrepancies.”

IT TAKES TIME Meanwhile, coming out of the centre at around 13:30 hours, another APNU+AFC agent, Carol Joseph, said that it took workstation number nine three hours and 20 minutes to complete the count of one ballot box.

She said that this was due to the number of queries and disagreements which arose during the process. Despite the challenges, she was optimistic that the count would move a bit faster in the latter part of the day as queries are resolved.

While persons have criticised the need for several clarifications during the process, Joseph said that she does not see this as a “waste of time”, as the long-awaited recount is crucial process which must be done carefully. “After we have waited so long, let us do something properly,” she said. “I think this will set the basis for any other elections to come in terms of ensuring that certain things are adhered to so we won’t find ourselves in a situation like this again.”

A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) party agents have called the attention of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to several cases wherein persons deceased or migrated may

these concerns and, providing that there is proof to support the claims, will deliberate on how these matters will be addressed.

CLAIMS WILL BE SCRUTINISED Coming out of the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC) around 18:30 hours, Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson, representing the APNU+AFC, said that there were around 15 discrepancies found just on the first day of which the majority were dead or migrants.

He said that his party was certain that these would be uncovered during the recount as their research had proven

son said. “In particular, we were quite aware of persons that are deceased…and we were trying to verify whether they voted or not.”

Patterson said that it took some time for GECOM to decide the means by which the anomalies would be ad-

APNU+AFC Party Agent, Carol Joseph (Delano Williams photo)

APNU+AFC agent, Ganesh Mahipaul (Delano Williams photo)

dressed, but the commission eventually decided that the names would be placed on record in the Observation Report.

“GECOM said that they would make a decision in the end or at some point or stage in terms of how they’re going to treat with that; we just should highlight and

The death certificate of the deceased man who allegedly voted

also added that when it comes to proof, the coalition party is ready to support the claims it has made. “We have proof, we’re not only saying these things you know…every objection that we have made there, when called upon we’ll prove it,” Joseph said.

Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson (Adrian Narine photo)

for a political party in what has historically been a tight race between the country’s main political parties. He maintained: “I say to you,

have voted in the 2020 elections. GECOM’s Public Relations Officer, Yolanda Ward, said on Wednesday that the commission has taken note of

such since the conduct of elections. “Our agents came prepared to challenge several anomalies which we have the evidence to [prove],” Patter-

quantify it,” he said, noting that evidence would be key in action being taken on the cases highlighted.

Meanwhile, Carol Joseph

‘DEAD MAN’ VOTED Minister within the Ministry of the Presidency with responsibility for Youth Affairs, Simona Broomes, also told media operatives that anomalies were detected in the Region Two ballots being counted at workstation four. That same afternoon, a photograph was circulated on social media of a deceased man, Emanuel Williams, who allegedly somehow still voted at a polling station at Karawab Primary School.

Later, almost at the end of the day, Commission-

er Vincent Alexander said that such cases are difficult because while someone by name would have died, the question of how the commission identifies the said person’s vote is the question. “At the end of the day, one would have to look at the magnitude of the occurrence and the way in which that magnitude can affect the results,” he said.

Ward also added later in the day: “For us at GECOM, we have not sought any authenticity as it relates to that information but I’m sure, now that it’s in the public domain, it is something that the commission will have to deliberate on and provide some guidance going forward.

4

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, May 7, 2020

Coronavirus: Germany reopens shops as lockdown is relaxed (BBC) Chancellor Angela Merkel has said Germany’s goal of slowing the spread of coronavirus has been achieved, so all shops can be reopened as lockdown restrictions are eased.

Bundesliga football has been given the green light to resume and schools will gradually reopen in the summer term.

Germany’s 16 federal states, under an agreement with the government, will take control of timing the reopening.

They will operate an “emergency brake” if there is a new surge in infections.

General contact rules involving will continue for another month. A limited resumption has already begun, but this easing of

restrictions is far broader.

Two households will be able to meet and eat together, and elderly people in nursing homes and facilities for the disabled will be able to have visits from one specific person.

‘Germany doing better than other countries’ “I think we can safely state that the very first phase of the pandemic is behind us,” Chancellor Merkel said. “But we need to be very much aware we are still in the early phases and we’ll be in it for the long haul.”

Bavarian leader Markus Söder said Germany was doing better than many other countries because it had adopted a good strategy nationally and regionally and everyone had remained

patient. Social distancing of 1.5m (5ft) and hygiene were key to keeping the infection rate low, he said.

Italy, France and Spain.

The Robert Koch Institute (RKI), a federal public health body, reported 165

Chancellor Merkel is to hand responsibility for lifting the lockdown to Germany’s 16 states

Germany has seen fewer than 7,000 deaths in the coronavirus pandemic - a much lower figure than in other Western European countries including the UK,

deaths in the past 24 hours on Wednesday and some 947 new infections.

The rate of infection has been consistently low for some time, and Mrs Merkel

said she was very pleased that the number of new, daily infections was into three digits. She praised the responsibility of German citizens in sticking to lockdown measures to protect the lives of others as well as themselves.

WHAT HAS BEEN AGREED? The popular daily newspaper Bild announced on Wednesday that Germany was opening up again. And broadly that is what has been agreed.

Shops of up to 800 square metres (8,600ft) in size have already been allowed to open. All restrictions on shops will now be lifted, although masks must be worn and social distancing maintained.

Schools have already begun opening for older children; all pupils will be allowed to return to class gradually during the summer term. “Children quite rightly want to return to their normal lives,” said Mrs Merkel.

During Wednesday’s talks, state leaders agreed to take responsibility for the consequences of lifting the lockdown, which came into force on 17 March.

Germany, in common with other countries, is wary of a second surge in infections. If new infections rise to above 50 people in every 100,000 in a district over a seven-day period, then it will be up to the local authority in the affected area to reimpose restrictions.

Coronavirus: Trump says virus task force to focus on reopening economy (BBC) US President Donald Trump has said the coronavirus task force will shift its focus to reopening the economy, a day after suggesting it would be disbanded.

Mr Trump said the group would “continue on indefinitely” and “focus on safety [and] opening up our country”.

It is not clear how exactly

the task force will change but Mr Trump said “we may add or subtract people to it”.

New confirmed infections per day in the US currently top 20,000, and daily deaths exceed 1,000.

US health officials have warned that the virus may spread as businesses begin to reopen.

The US currently has

1.2 million confirmed coronavirus infections and more than 71,000 related deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University which is tracking the pandemic.

What did President Trump say?

In a series of tweets on Wednesday, Mr Trump said the task force had “done a fantastic job of bringing together vast [and] highly complex resources”.

disbanded.

“We’re now looking at a little bit of a different form, and that form is safety and opening,” Mr Trump told journalists on Tuesday.

“And we’ll have a different group probably set up for that.”

Mr Pence also told reporters in a briefing on Tuesday that the task force could soon be wound down.

He said the Trump ad-

Thursday, May 07. 2020 ― 04:30hrs ― 06:00hrs

President Trump said the White House task force would focus on “opening up our country”

He praised Vice-President Mike Pence, who heads the group, and said it had “set a high standard for others to follow”.

“Because of this success, the Task Force will continue on indefinitely with its focus on safety & opening up our country again,” Mr Trump said.

His comments came a day after he suggested the task force, which is made up of medical professionals and other experts, might be

ministration was “starting to look at the Memorial Day [late May] window, early June window as a time when we could begin to transition back to having our agencies begin to manage... our national response.”

But - when asked about the apparent change in approach on Wednesday Mr Trump said: “I had no idea how popular the task force is until... yesterday when I started talking about winding [it] down.”

5

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, May 7, 2020

Ministry outlines COVID-19 reopening protocols (TRINIDAD GUARDIAN) “We must save lives and save livelihoods.”

This was the word from Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce CEO Gabriel Faria, as he said the business community wants to do “what’s right to keep our employees and consumers safe” and will obey the safe to open protocols unveiled Tuesday by Ministry of Health officials.

Faria told Guardian Media the chamber had been working closely with the ministry on the protocols for reopening, “looking at global best practices.”

He said the ultimate aim is to ensure there is not a “second wave” of COVID-19.

The ministry unveiled stringent protocols for the reopening of business at the daily COVID-19 news conference, giving the first tangible hint that businesses closed for more than a month now could get the state’s green light to reopen soon.

As the date moves closer to May 10 and this country awaits the removal of Stay-at-Home restrictions, Director of Veterinary Public Health Dr Saed Rahaman confirmed the ministry had been working hand in hand with the business community in preparation for the lifting of current restrictions.

Addressing what he said will be the new normal, Rahaman said there must be a paradigm shift by all stakeholders, employers, employees, as well as the community they serve. He said a committee established by the ministry had been mandated to work with the business community to develop mitigating strategies to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

In addition to the normal hazard prevention strategies that already exist, Rahaman said “all employers should now develop and implement infection disease strategies geared towards COVID-19.”

He said business owners have been advised to establish committees within their companies to undertake a risk assessment and develop prevention control strategies.

To achieve this, Rahaman said guidelines have already been developed for supermarkets and street vendors and the Public Health Inspectorate “is conducting

surveillance to determine compliance with these guidelines.”

He said these guidelines, as well as those to be developed, are centred around core principles of social distancing, frequent and ad-

sons entering the building or office and stagger work schedules to avoid crowding and staggering breaks and lunch schedules. The ministry is also advocating for the use of virtual online meetings, text messaging via

with a minimum content of 65 per cent alcohol, as hand-washing may not always be available. To facilitate proper respiratory hygiene, he said cloth face masks must be worn by workers as a best practice.

workers who do not speak English fluently.

Rahaman said some of the larger businesses are well on the way to putting some of these measures in place, insisting it is a corporate responsibility to

A worker from KC Construction installs a sink outside Courts on High Street, San Fernando, on Tuesday.

Sinks to allow customers to wash their hands before entry to businesses could become a feature of reopening protocols the Ministry of Health intends to set to protect the country from COVID-19 in future

equate handwashing, facilities and surface sanitation, respiratory hygiene, use of PPE (Personal Protective Equipment), procedures to address sick employees as well as employee education.

“Employers must ensure that all employees keep at least six feet away from co-workers and the public when feasible,” he said.

Rahaman said they are advocating the use of barriers to block sneezes and coughs or the opening of windows when social distancing is not feasible.

In addition, he said employers must also keep work stations apart, reduce the number of work stations in use at a given time, move meetings to locations where fewer people are present, control the number of per-

Whatsapp group or other social media to prevent crowds gathering for such meetings.

Adherence to proper hygiene is a main feature of the protocols.

“It is important for all businesses to provide enough fixed or portable water stations for workplace or job sites so that employees can wash their hands frequently with soap and water,” he said.

He said workers should be required to wash hands frequently and effectively when they arrive at work, when they leave work stations for breaks, use the bathrooms, before and after having something to eat or drink “and even if you go outside for a smoke break.”

Rahaman said hand sanitisers must also be provided

In addition, there is a recommendation for routine and frequent cleaning at all establishments as it is no longer sufficient for cleaning at the end of the day.

The new protocols also advise employers to clean and disinfect fleets of company vehicles regularly.

Under the protocols, employers have been told that employees who are unwell should stay home and if they get sick on the job they should be sent home.

Workers with COVID-19 symptoms should also be isolated and transferred to a health facility as soon as possible.

As it relates to employee education about the virus, employers must ensure this is done in an easy to understand manner even for

ensure these policies and guidelines are adopted and implemented.

Rahaman said Public Health Inspectors have powers to enter to inspect and make recommendations for businesses to make changes in their policies and practices.

Business owners on Tuesday said they are ready to go once the all-clear is given to reopen.

Downtown Owners and Merchants Association president Gregory Aboud said, “We are more than ready and very willing to follow the guidelines being given to us by the Ministry of Health...because there is a great need to try and get some economic activity going again.”

Greater San Fernando Chamber of Commerce president Keiran Singh added, “We’ve been suffering for more than a month now.

If given the okay in the morning we will be ready to start with the protocols.”

Chaguanas Chamber of Commerce president Vishnu Charran said even before the shutdown they had already implemented the measures.

“We are prepared to open. We need to get back to work, people need to earn a salary, people need to get supplies,” Charran said.

Police also increased their surveillance to ensure businesses obeyed the Public Health Act and shut down those that were in breach.

6

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, May 7, 2020

The fight against organised crime DRUG smuggling and its associate criminal activities undermine the economic, social and moral fabric of society and have grown globally to frightening proportions and in a large number of societies, many of which are the poverty-stricken ones, it is a huge problem.

And with seemingly no alternative way out of the grip of poverty many poor peasants prefer to work along with the drug lords and cultivate coca which brings in fast and plenty money. This is highly prevalent in poor Latin American countries and further compounds the problem making the drugs fight an increasingly difficult one. Worse yet the drug lords and their cartels because of their massive wealth control many government, security and a host of key officials at all levels of society.

Therefore their illegal business is well fortified and protected and those who attempt to put up a fight against drug running or are only has slight connections are put away by the hired hit men of the powerful drug lords.

Consequently, fear is driven into the society

and anyone with information about the illegal drug business is reluctant to divulge same which makes the fight against this scourge even more difficult.

So even though almost on a daily basis in all parts of the world busts against the illegal drug trade are made it continues to soar, as the drug pushers making increasing use of modern technology and use of more innovative techniques in peddling their trade. But the question is often asked if there were no users of illegal drugs would there be a place for the manufacturers and pushers? The logical answer to such a question would be: no.

However, the stark reality is that the number of users around the world is astounding and includes some of the people one would least expect to do so.

But the argument to work towards reducing the number of users as part of the fight against the use of illegal drugs of course has its obvious merits and therefore has to be part of any programme to combat the illegal drug business. “The illegal drug trade is a worldwide black market consisting of production,

distribution, packaging, and sale of illegal psychoactive substances. The illegality of the black markets purveying the drug trade is relative to geographic location, and the producing countries of the drug markets (many South American, Far East, and Middle East countries) are not as inclined to have “zero-tolerance” policies, as the consuming countries of the drug trade (mostly the United States and Europe) are. The economic reality of the massive profiteering inherent to the drug trade serves to extend its reach despite the best efforts of law enforcement agencies worldwide. In the wake of this reality, the social consequences (crime, violence, imprisonment, social unrest) of the drug trade are undeniably problematic. The solution to the problems of illegal drug trafficking lies not in tougher laws or law enforcement, but in the attitudes of people toward the sale and consumption of such items.” (Source: Wikipedia New World Encyclopaedia) The latter is quite true as anti-drug smuggling laws have been and are being toughened all over the world but this has had little or

no effect in curbing the illegal business. In Guyana it is clear from what had happened in past years that the organised drug rings were on the upsurge. Under the President David Granger administration there have been several major busts and the fight against narcotics has intensified to stamp out or minimise this scourge before it envelops our society to a point of almost no return.

With a small population and being neighbours to where many of the major players in the international illegal drug trade have their nests our task is made even more difficult. However, the security agencies must be commended for making some significant inroads into the local illegal drug dealers and their networks. This is not an issue with which we can afford to be complacent because the future of our nation can become threatened if we allow the drug lords and their associates to get the upper hand.

No need to sling mud on Freddie Kissoon

Dear Editor

I AM exercising my right to respond to this ongoing series of Frederick Kissoon who launched an attack on me. Reference is made to his column in Kaieteur News, “Jagdeo’s libel, Nigel Hughes, my research, my life” (6th May 2020). Let me advise Kissoon, that whereas he said he has no respect for me “as a person and a trade unionist,” this would be hard for him to do. He has no respect for himself as a person and the academic community with whom he associates and therefore can have no respect for any other. He doesn’t know what constitutes respect.

When it comes to respect, the feeling is mutual with my fellow pensioner. He is not upright and any little respect I had for him I lost it a long time. He was tolerated because our paths crossed on common issues, even though I came to realise he is a bully, disrespectful and untrustworthy.

Basically, he lives in a crab-hole, that is where his mind dwells., I had respected him as an intellectual until I realised he is an intellectuasl non-entity, a cheat, a plagiarist, a self-admitted thief of academic materials. Which proper so-called champion of the people would steal academic materials, depriving the less fortunate who would have been relying on said materials for their academic advancement? Kissoon is selfish and self-absorbed.

He had no shame telling this nation that he stole text books and felt it was ok to so do, showing no regret, no remorse. He has no shame telling this nation GECOM Chairperson Justice Claudette Singh volunteered to and paid his “whopping grocery bill,” but he continues to attack her integrity even as she engages in efforts to facilitate a recount to resolve the political impasse. He has said, “Since March 4, Singh has destroyed her legal legacy and her national credibility” (25th March,

2020- Claudette Singh paid for my groceries and I was convinced).

The credibility expert of zero credibility knows who has no credibility. His credibility was destroyed long ago and he is not qualified to judge people in the way he wants to do. In some societies Kissoon would be living in perpetual shame for his many acts of impropriety. In our society he is allowed to shout at the top of his voice, passing judgment on people.

This is the man who was issued a grant by the University of Guyana (UG) to conduct research, failed to do so, and refused to return that funding. Whereas he claimed that he did not lose his job at UG, he does not acknowledge the intervention that caused him to be retained in spite of this misconduct.

I am too decent for him and knew it all along. In his usual style he lies again. I may not know the day-to-day operations of UG or other institutions, but when

it comes to industrial relations I am well versed. His services at UG were not terminated due to labour’s representation on the council. I was the representative.

The management oversight of due process, which yours truly pointed out, caused the council not to recommend the severing of his service. His hide was saved by the UG upholding time-honoured principles.

We must not buy the nonsensical argument that Freddie cannot reveal the conditions of the socalled non-disclosure agreement he signed with Bharrat Jagdeo that caused the libel suit brought by the latter to be dropped. What does he have to hide, because evidently Jagdeo was the one who had brought the lawsuit? What did he sign to get Jagdeo to withdraw the lawsuit? Let him tell this nation what is the quid pro quo.

He is afraid to do so because he is beholden to Jagdeo.

Freddie is not a confidential person. My grandmother used

to call his personality type Lickmouth Lou. Even when people talk to him in private he puts it out in public, but he wants to keep his secret when he can’t keep other people’s issues secret. He has no secret for me. I never trusted him and anything I said to him in private I had no problem with him coming to the public with. Readers of his column could recall the numerous times personal conversations people shared with him, he placed in the public domain.

Finally, let me say to Freddie, there is no need for me to “paint [his] character with mud,” he lives in a crab-hole, so mud is all he knows. There is no need to sling mud on him. As to the recent industrial impasse at UG, it is a matter of public record, which he shared, of the role he played.

Regards Lincoln Lewis

7

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, May 7, 2020

Six COVID-19 cases in Region 10 – 12 and one-year-old among infected THE Regional Health and Emergency Committee (RHEC) has announced that there are six new cases of COVID 19 in Region 10, bringing the total number of persons to have contracted the virus to nine. It was revealed that with the new infections, two children are part of the six while another child from Linden is awaiting results.

The committee further reported that an additional two persons, who have been suspected of having the disease, are awaiting their test.

This new information has seen the region renewing its call for the public to be more vigilant and responsible.

RHEC head, Orrin Gor-

don, who is also the regional executive officer, has dubbed sections of the populace of Region 10 as being very irresponsible and likely to create a major challenge to the residents living within the region.

The REO said that in reviewing the six new cases, he has observed that the disease is now locally imported.

“People must understand that COVID-19 is deadly and people within this region must understand that they should remain responsible as they continue to put themselves and every other person at risk. We were at one case long after other regions had announced theirs and within a short space, we have now

jumped to eight persons,” he said.

He echoed sentiments made by the deputy police commander who said the public seems uncaring of the danger and risks they are exposing the law enforcement officers to. He said they do not have the benefits, like many others, to stay home as “they have a responsibility to come out and work, but we are all at risk”.

He, however, noted that three of the five persons have already been transported to the Diamond Centre while two others are at home awaiting instructions.

Giving an insight into the persons who have contracted the virus, the REO said five

An emotional Orrin Gordon pleading with persons to play their part in ‘flattening the curve’

of the new cases are from one family. He said that the third infected case in the region

has now seen the man’s wife and close family members being infected. He noted further that the man’s 12-yearold niece and one-year-old daughter are also infected.

He said that the sixth case is a woman with no relation to the five tested positive, stressing that they are overly concerned as it seems an imported one.

As such, he said that he is very concerned that Guyana has now recorded two infections among children and urged parents to be more vigilant and alert with their children.

“It hurts me to know that we have two children among those infected as, prior to this, we had not reported any infections among children and I hope that parents and guardians would rec-

ognise that children are not exempted from contracting this deadly virus. Therefore, it is imperative that they take the required actions and precautions to safeguard children during this time,” he reiterated.

Meanwhile, Regional Chairman, Renis Morian, in a passionate appeal, urged residents to recognise that the region is doing all it could to stave off the virus.

He said residents should adhere to established guidelines since the increasing numbers are a concern.

“I will repeat what the REO is saying all along, that this is a fight that requires all stakeholders.

Therefore, people must be responsible and recognise that this virus kills,” he said.

Diplomatic community, media, gov’t and Who is really against the recount?

GECOM must be mindful of societal stability Dear Editor AT the time of penning this letter (Tuesday morning, 5th May) there has been a media rampage across the communication spectrum claiming that government’s denial of a return of the Carter Centrg and a GECOM /government collaboration to rig elections. A PPP-organised protest was even held in front of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs calling on the government to stop hindering the centre from returning, along with other unsavoury statements.

Days after this phase of misinformation began, mainstream media and all who were making these statements have not provided any evidence to show that the centre has sought approval to return and was denied entry by the government and/or the GECOM. The absence of this evidence fuels the belief of the less critical amongst us and plays the cards in favour of the campaign of misinformation and deceit. It does more harm than good in this volatile environment to our body politic and relationships, local and external.

On Sunday, 3rd May, a soft statement issued by the United States (US) Ambassador, snowballed to the members of the US State Department and other members of the international community, adding further ferocity to the issue, leading members of the PPP and supporters in the media, private sector and elsewhere to become firmer in their conviction that mischief was afoot. Coalition supporters reacted to the allegations with various emotions. Consequently, social media became a battleground with a crescendo of vitriol.

Instructively, at the break of the story, media never mentioned any effort to solicit government’s perspective; whether the centre sought permission or not. Thus, the society was deprived of hearing the other side(s) in arriving at complete understanding of the issue, fuelling the ongoing misinformation overwhelming the nation.

Whereas the international community is condemned, equal attention is placed on gov-

ernment's failure to immediately address the issue, for no doubt they would have been au fait with circulation of this news, be it from mainstream media or social media. Once again the weakness of its PR was exposed, allowing proliferation of misrepresentation as they remained inanely silent. The same should be said for GECOM. On Monday, save for the nation being reminded by two GECOM commissioners that observers once accredited for this election remain so until the election is over, otherwise the matter was not addressed.

After all the created confusion, the centre tweeted a press statement on Monday which revealed, "The Center deployed an observer to Miami who was prepared to travel to Georgetown today, but unfortunately, the flight was denied approval to carry international election observers. The Carter Centre continues to reach out to government officials to understand what is required to allow Centre Observers to return to Guyana to witness the recount process."

The said statement made no reference to being denied entry, but seeking to engage “government officials to understand what is required to allow Centre Observers to return to Guyana to witness the recount process,” which it should continue to do. The acknowledgment of this does not constitute a request and said was denied in an effort to prevent the centre from being in Guyana to fulfil its desire to observe the elections.

Rather, it suggests that the centre was not au fait with the flight requirements and public health protocols required to satisfy entry, given the COVID-19 safeguards. It appears they may have attempted or taken for granted they could come to Guyana unprepared.

In response to COVID-19 many countries, including Guyana, have locked down their airspace to international travel in efforts to contain the spread of the virus. When Guyana opens its airspace for the arrival of a chartered plane, the international crew is not allowed to deplane.

A pre-condition for arrival of the CAR-

ICOM scrutinising team was that they had to meet World Health Organisation (WHO)’s recommended requirements on COVID-19 safety precautions. Similar guidelines must be set and met by all who seek entry to Guyana while it is on lockdown, without exception.

Reportedly, as of to date Guyana’s death rate has exceeded 9 per cent (based on the cases), which is above the WHO’s average of 2-4 per cent.

Some positions taken by our western allies and international election observers are not only pushing the boundaries of “good diplomacy,” time-honoured principles, and mutual respect, but openly set out to act in contravention of the International Code of Conduct pertaining to observing elections.

We are witnessing engagement that no longer prides itself on formal private communication (i.e. letter, face-to-face or telephone calls) to the responsible agency seeking to address issues.

It seems as though privacy of communication, particularly on matters of such import and diplomatic sensitivity are no longer valued, hence the tweeting diplomacy which allows for open and flagrant negativity to some and support to others. This is not 'good diplomacy'. This kind of interaction with contempt for our rules, laws and sovereignty is more representative of a thug-like diplomacy, that is, diplomacy that fronts raw, naked aggression and bullyism; diplomacy that desires no negotiation, only compliance; a diplomacy of disrespect of others who are considered lesser than; a diplomacy that suggests we are not capable of internal resolution of differences.

Whether the government is interim, caretaker or substantive, it is the legal status quo responsible for day-to-day administration of the state. Our international diplomats know this and we expect them to respect this.

Regards Lincoln Lewis

Dear Editor,

WHEN Barbados' Prime Minister Mia Motcley suggested that it is “clear that there are forces” in Guyana “that do not want to see the votes recounted for whatever reason” for the 2nd March Guyana elections, everyone thought she was hinting at the Coalition government.

After the actions on the part of the opposition and their commissioners, I'm inclined to believe that PM Mottley was really talking about the PPP opposition.

How else could you explain the tactics now being employed by the PPP spokesman Mr. Nandlall? Mr. Nandlall suggests that a detailed scrutiny of the ballots will be illegal. This is after his party agreed to the recount and has been integrally involved in every detail of the recount procedures. If you can't examine the ballots in detail, what purpose does the recount serve? If the ooposition’s cries of "rigging" are not to ring hollow, then a complete audit of all votes cast is the only way to detect this "rigging." Suppose that a ballot box shows that there are more votes in the box than are electors registered in that district, a clear attempt to "rig" would have been uncovered. How could the PPP be against this?

The PPP has also suggested that the "rigging" was done in Region Four only.

This defies logic. If a party was going to rig an election, why would they confine it to a single region? Why would the margin be so close? If rigging was done, it would have occurred in all regions and not by slim margins.

The quote by Mr. Nandlall regarding the recount of ballots says it all; "You are bound to find irregularity." Who again is trying to stall the recount?

Regards Paul Tyndall

8

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, May 7, 2020

National Recount..

Opposition commissioner objects to social-distancing guidelines ---- refers to Arthur Chung Conference centre with hundreds as ‘low-risk environment’ EVEN before the commencement of the national recount of votes cast in the 2020 General and Regional Elections on Wednesday, opposition-nominated Commissioner Robeson Benn took issue with the social-distancing measures in place at the recount centre.

The recount is taking place at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre (ACCC) and special guidelines have been put in place by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to ensure that persons participating are protected from the deadly coronavirus disease, 2019 (COVID-19).

International best practices for COVID-19 require persons to stay at least six feet (2 metres) apart; wear masks and practise regular sanitisation.

Back in April, the secretariat conducted a training session with its staff on procedures that would be employed in keeping with recommendations of the National COVID-19 Task Force

(NCTF) to prevent the spread if someone were to sit at the of the virus, even as the last row of seats in the ACCC importance of the recount is dome, they would be 40 recognised. feet away from the recount However, in a letter to process. the media on the morning of the first day, Benn accused GECOM of “perverse use” of the guidelines.

“Based on observations of the layouts and footprints of counting stations at the convention centre, the Guyana Elections Commission appears to be making maximum perverse use of the COVID-19 situation to keep PPP/C executive member Anil Nandall stakeholders and (Adrian Narine photo) observers remote from satisfactory The seating in the domedirect observation and verification of the recount process like structure is fixed to the facility and cannot be moved. for ballot boxes,” he said.

Benn claimed that the Added to this, the elections seating arrangement between commission – inclusive of stakeholders and observers is Benn--- the CARICOM team some 15 feet apart and that and representatives of the

NCTF had visited the centre twice and weeks in advance to determine that the facility met their satisfaction. It was this collective agreement

Ministry of Public Health, is bent on enforcing a six-foot social distance requirement in a seating arrangement for stakeholders and observers.”

He referred to the environment of hundreds of individuals as “a lowrisk environment.”

Benn also found fault with the facilities --previously agreed upon --- or the live-streaming of the process, which would result in the capturing and broadcasting of the process.

“The presence of the screen to project the packagOpposition-nominated es, ballots and other Commissioner Robeson Benn materials does not really help because of all involved that led to the fixed camera capture is the use of the ACCC as the relatively small to ascertain venue. the true condition of packagNonetheless, Benn stat- es, ballots and the ultimate ed: “GECOM utilising the storage or fate of all items misguided, or worse ma- received and possessed[sic],” licious, guidance from the he said.

The commissioner added that one would have to “continuously alter views” to correct the matter and to avoid possible claims of “switching or insertions.”

This is even as all persons entering the ACCC had their handbags checked by Guyana Police Force (GPF) officials at the gate and, at any given time, there are GECOM staff, representatives of political parties and international and local observers present at all work stations.

Although Benn made these complaints, summing up the day when he came out of the centre around 18:00hrs, PPP/C executive member, Anil Nandall stated that he hadn’t witnessed any such issues with social distancing.

He said: “I haven’t heard any complaint being made or seen any evidence that there is a problem with social distancing. I didn’t detect that at all; that was not one of the issues which arose.”

Lethem Immigration office under construction

The new office that is being constructed in the Town of Lethem

WORK on the construction of a building in the commercial zone of the Town of Lethem, to serve as the Lethem Immigration Office is continuing, in spite of the COVID-19 pandemic which has impacted the pace at which the work has been progressing.

The work is being executed by R. Kissoon Contracting Services for a con-

tract sum of approximately $42.3 M. Upon completion, residents of the community will no longer have to travel to the city to access services, such as the processing of passport applications, and birth and death certificates.

Under the Coalition Government’s initiative of decentralising key services to communities, construction of immigration offices

in Regions Six and Ten, commenced and were completed under the supervision of the Department of Citizenship of the Ministry of the Presidency, headed

by Minister of Citizenship, Winston Felix.

The aim was to alleviate the hassle endured by residents of Berbice and Linden, who, previously, were forced to leave their homes during the wee hours

of the morning and travel to the city, in order to join a line outside the Central Immigration Office, Eve Leary, to access immigration services.

Likewise, a similar routine had to be done when seeking services to procure a birth or death certificate.

In August 2016, a temporary office was established. Land was subsequently procured in Re-

trieve, Linden, and a spanking new building, costing $38M, was constructed.

At the official opening of the building, in February 2020, it was reported that more than 2, 623 passports were already distributed to applicants.

Also, in February 2020, a new $57.5M Immigration office, sited in Canjie, New Amsterdam, was commissioned. The office which

was put into operation on July 15, 2019 services residents from as far as the Corentyne.

Records showed that from July 2019 to February 2020, a total of 6, 122 applications were accepted and processed at the New Amsterdam office.

Meanwhile, senior citizens are no longer required to pay when applying for a passport.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, May 7, 2020

‘Adhere to the measures in place’

9

-says Dr. Persaud, reminds Guyanese that no one is invincible to COVID-19

By Navendra Seoraj GUYANA has gone 24 hours without recording a new case of the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) disease, but the fact remains that some persons are flouting the laws and ignoring the containment measures, putting their families, and, by extension, many other Guyanese at risk of contracting the deadly disease.

“Have you stopped to think of the unnecessary risk that you are exposing your children, your wife/ significant other, your mother or grandmother to? Yes, you are exposing your entire family,” Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Dr. Shamdeo Persaud, lamented, while providing the daily COVID-19 update, on Wednesday.

With growing concerns over the behaviour and attitude of some persons, Dr. Persaud reminded Guyanese that Georgetown continues to be the epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic and that most of those persons, who have tested positive, to date, are males with a ratio of 49:44.

Further, it is predominantly clear that males are the main ones not adhering to the guidelines, congregating way past the curfew hours as if it were a prolonged holiday, said the CMO. “As one male to another, I am pleading with you to do

the practicable thing, which is to stay home and to be off the roadways. Do not think for one moment that you are invincible and that the virus cannot affect you because your area has not been identified as a COVID-19 hotspot,” Dr. Persaud warned.

Everyone is at risk and the only way to stop the cases from increasing and persons from dying is for persons to follow all the advice that has been given.

“If you must leave home, then it’s a no-no to go unprotected. You must put on your mask and keep the 6-feet physical distance. Ladies and gentlemen, we have been appealing to you to come forward if you have been in contact with a positive case or experiencing any of the symptoms associated with COVID-19.

“If you arrive at our facility at an advanced stage of the disease, you are placing yourself at a disadvantage, and there may be very little that we can do to save your life,” Dr. Persaud advised.

As health authorities continue to push on with efforts to reduce the spread of the disease, he urged persons, especially those who were in contact with infected persons, to stop providing incorrect information to the Ministry of Public Health’s surveillance unit.

Dr. Persaud lamented that it continues to be a chal-

lenge for health authorities to get accurate information

and asymptomatic persons.

Testing is critical if we are to

Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Shamdeo Persaud

from persons, because they are fearful of being isolated, hospitalised, stigmatised and discriminated against. This, however, cannot continue to be the case because the spread of the disease can only be contained if health authorities receive accurate information.

“My fellow Guyanese, it is imperative that we find those persons in our communities asap, who can spread COVID-19 without even realising it.

“We are pleading with you to access the mobile units when they come to your community. We must test your contacts and the contacts of their contacts; we must conduct tests in our hotspot areas to uncover the symptomatic

contain this disease and flatten the curve,” said Dr. Persaud.

In an effort to improve the response to the pandemic, the Public Health Ministry had launched its mobile unit at the East La Penitence Health Centre, as well as at the community COVID-19 facilities of Region Four at Herstelling, on the East Bank Demerara, and at Paradise, on the East Coast Demerara.

And, while these units continue to function daily, the results of the COVID-19 tests take time to produce.

Dr. Persaud assured persons that workers of the National Reference Laboratory, are working continuously to have tests conducted, but it takes at least six to eight hours to

produce the results.

Health authorities have so far tested 714 persons, of which 621 are negative, but reality remains that Guyana has so far lost ten precious lives to the COVID-19 disease.

And, according to the latest statistics, three persons are fighting for their lives in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU), while 56 remain in isolation and six in quarantine.

To date the total number of patients seen in the COVID-19 ICU is 29 with seven deaths being registered within the ICU. The total number of patients, who were transferred from ICU, is 13, with the total number of patients who recovered and were discharged from ICU being three. In total, 27 persons have so far recovered.

Globally, there are over 3.5 million cases of COVID-19, with over 243,000 deaths. And with no approved treatment or cure, there is no assurance that persons will survive after contracting the disease.

In the absence of approved medications, governments and authorities across the world have employed a number of preventative measures to contain the spread of the disease Additionally, the government has extended its emergency measures to combat the dreaded disease, with the imposition of a 12-hour

curfew on citizens. These emergency measures were taken pursuant to Paragraphs (1) and (2) (b) of the directive issued by the President, in accordance with the Public Health Ordinance, Cap. 145, and published in the Official Gazette, Legal Supplement B, on March 16, 2020. These measures have been extended to June 3, 2020.

As the country wages war against the deadly disease, President David Granger is on record as saying that the efforts of the country’s frontline workers, in particular those within the medical field, should not go unnoticed.

“I ask you… to think tenderly of our public health professionals and service providers; that is to say, our doctors, nurses, respiratory therapists and all other supporting staff, medical and non-medical, who are providing the required care for those in distress,” President Granger said, adding: “Public health practitioners are on the frontline of protecting those stricken by the disease; they have been working tirelessly, through this very difficult situation, to provide quality healthcare to those who have been infected and afflicted. Everyone in the public health system has played a vital part in the fight against this disease.”

GTA, THAG ink collaboration agreement THE Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) and the Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana (THAG) on Monday signed an agreement for the development of an industry database and the enhancement of training and capacity- building initiatives for sector members.

The initiative follows under the second action item of the 2019 THAG-GTA MoU, with the aim of supporting and empowering Guyana’s tourism industry. Its core objectives focus on increasing financial sustainability, strengthening the approach to training and capacity building and improving data collection and aggregation.

In the areas of communication, the GTA and THAG will share annual strategies and work plans and seek to

foster alignment between the organisations. Through this agreement, providers within the database will be afforded the opportunity to benefit from the services available throughout the network.

The GTA’s objective is to make it easier for all facilities to be registered and become licensed in accordance with the four Regulations under the GTA Act of 2002.

The authority will afford all industry operators in compliance with the GTA regulations to be granted a basic listing on their website.

THAG members will be identified by a membership icon on the GTA’s website listing. This benefit is guaranteed, as long as the member is registered with or licensed by the GTA. THAG will also provide its members and the travel

The President of the Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana (THAG), Mr. Mitra Ramkumar signing the agreement on Monday

trade with incentives to be licensed by the GTA and join THAG, respectively. The incentives include a 10% and 20% reduction to GTA’s fees for training and licensing,

Director of the Guyana Tourism Authority, Carla James, signing the agreement on Monday

respectively. However, due to COVID-19 the GTA has suspended all training and licensing fees until September 2020 to support the industry as it prepares for recovery.

In areas of training and capacity-building, the GTA and THAG will work together to increase the number of training opportunities and the number of licensed operators

on an annual basis through cost-sharing and guidance by the GTA’s annual training plan.

Through this agreement, the partners will use opportunities presented to develop or secure curricula and implement train-the-trainer programming as may be required by the industry.

THAG and the GTA will jointly own the database that will benefit the sector and which will see efforts to promote their businesses and build human capacity through training.

The collaboration agreement will serve for a year, at which time it will be reviewed and renewed for another year.

10

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, May 7, 2020

Managing public perception, socio-economic impact key to COVID-19 fight ― Local survey finds

By Vishani Ragobeer A local survey conducted independently by The Consultancy Group (TCG) and a team of volunteers has found that managing public perception and socio-economic impact are essential factors in Guyana’s fight against the novel coronavirus, COVID-19.

The survey: “A Rapid Survey of Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices Related to Covid-19 in Guyana” included responses from 411 participants who were interviewed over the phone during March 28 and April 3, when Guyana first began recording cases of the virus.

Analysing the attitudes of persons towards COVID-19, the survey found that Guyanese largely displayed characteristics of nonchalance, a duty to humanity and optimism. Further elaborating on these, the survey noted that the nonchalance is indicative of their belief that the virus is not as dangerous as authorities are making it seem and it is not a cause for concern for many people, as it largely affects the sick and the elderly.

Despite this, persons also demonstrated an inherent duty to humanity where they felt some responsibility to help reduce the spread of the virus, and optimism that a cure would be developed quickly but, in the meantime, there is some higher power offering protection.

However, the survey stated that these attitudes were

just averaged constructs that do not represent that there may be persons whose attitude(s) deviates to a great extent from these averages.

Speaking to Guyana Chronicle, methodologist of the survey, Dr. Troy Thomas explained that while most persons seem to be following guidelines and protocols put in place to help ‘flatten the curve’ and reduce the spread of the disease, there is still a “reasonable amount” of persons who are not doing all that they can.

“It is just not that they’re not doing what they should do, but they aren’t aware of what they should be doing,” he said, stressing that these people can undo the efforts being made to control the spread of COVID-19.

The data from the survey suggests, according to Dr. Thomas, that greater attention be placed on managing the public perception of the novel coronavirus. This includes the relevant authorities being transparent in how they handle the cases of COVID-19 within the healthcare system, where there is already a negative perception on the system’s capacity to deal with the virus.

“Public perception is low, and on that note I would encourage the state to be transparent in all that it is doing,” Dr. Thomas said, adding: “We’re not looking for heroes, we’re looking for people who can work with citizens and that means you have to tell them what you’re doing

and why you’re doing it.”

The survey itself also specifically affirmed that it would augur well if people understood what the plans and provisions for addressing the virus were. This suggestion of having persons understanding plans and provisions extends to the wider decisions being made to address the COVID-19 pandemic, such as the decisions to close schools and the heightened emphasis on cleanliness, sanitation and social distancing.

And despite public perception being low, many persons had a significant amount of knowledge of the virus and how to deal with it.

SOCIO-ECONOMIC IMPACT According to this survey as well, concerns about food security, and employment and income, were beginning to grow-- more so as the partial lockdown enforced was extended for a second month. Since the survey’s completion, the lockdown and emergency has again been extended to June 3.

The survey reported that since COVID-19 was detected in Guyana, up until the survey’s completion on April 3 (more than one month ago), unemployment among the respondents rose by 8.3 per cent to 17.8 per cent.

In addition to these figures, incomes were reduced or removed entirely for about 39 per cent of the 411 respondents. Then, 20 per cent of the respondents indicated that

Caribbean Airline launches sanitisation exercise on its aircraft

THE Chief Executive Officer of Caribbean Airlines, Garvin Medera, on Tuesday, announced that the airline has commenced a cleaning exercise on its aircraft, thus joining the fight against the novel coronavirus.

The airline advised that the cabins of its aircraft have been cleaned above international standards, and the chemicals used meet the requirements of the World Health Organization, the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the Centre for Disease Control, as effective for use against viruses, including

COVID-19.

“The COVID-19 Pandemic has meant that we’ve had to make changes to our operations and in-flight service, because nothing is more important than the security, safety and comfort of our employees and customers,” Madera stated.

Mr. Madera, in reassuring customers, stated, “We monitor the air quality in the cabins and our Boeing 737 jet fleet is equipped with state-of-the-art high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters that capture 99.97 percent of particles. High contact surfaces such as tray tables, seatbelts and armrests

are cleaned, before every flight and at every station, using internationally approved cleaners.”

The airline confirms that social distancing is in place on its domestic operations and once international service resumes, social distancing will be practised at check-in, on board and other areas.

Caribbean Airlines has also indicated that passenger loads will be limited, and its crew will operate in full compliance with the instructions of the Public Health and other authorities in the jurisdictions in which the airline operates.

their incomes were likely to be removed entirely should the measures persist and 36 per cent expected theirs to be lowered. At the household level, nearly 40 per cent of the respondents indicated that within less than a month of the pandemic in Guyana, their income was lowered while for another six per cent, there is no household income at all.

Concerns for food security were recorded among 70 per cent of the respondents, during the outbreak. This is contrasted to only 14 per cent of respondents who were concerned about this before the pandemic.

However, Dr. Thomas acknowledged that the government and other stakeholders have adopted some measures, including a handful of tax relief measures, to ease the financial burden of the pandemic.

“These sort of measures to ease the burden on people are important and I don’t know how long they will extend these things and how many agencies are doing these things, but it is the kind of thing that really needs to be considered seriously,” Dr. Thomas said.

The survey has been disseminated to the relevant stakeholders, including the National COVID-19 Taskforce, in an attempt to help craft solutions for the still evolving pandemic. It can also be accessed online at: http://theconsultancygroupinc.com/covid.html

‘Critic’ refused entry into recount venue …after showing up with two GECOM ID cards

Mikhail Rodrigues with his two GECOM identification cards

THE coalition, A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC), has written to the Chief Elections Officer, Keith Lowenfield, registering its concerns after activist Mikhail Rodrigues, known commonly as the ‘Guyanese Critic’, showed up at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre earlier today with identification cards for two of the smaller political parties which contested the March 2, 2020 polls.

According to the APNU+AFC, Rodrigues was accredited by GECOM as a Stand By agent for the Liberty

and Justice Party (LJP) as well as a Tabulation Agent for The New Movement. (TNM).

APNU+AFC party agent, Joseph Harmon, requested that the GECOM CEO withdraw the accreditation of Rodrigues, who also operates as a self-employed member of the media.

Earlier on Wednesday, Rodrigues posted on his ‘Guyanese Critic’ Facebook account that he was the only person who was denied entry into the recount venue.

He made the post even as he posted two accompanying photos of the two GECOM ID cards he possessed for the two small parties.

Middle-aged man dies following Soesdyke accident POLICE are investigating the fatal accident at Soesdyke Public Road, East Bank Demerara (EBD), which claimed the life of pedal cyclist David Grant-Stuart, on Tuesday, May 5, 2020.

According to reports, on the day in question, about 16:00hrs, on Soesdyke public Road, there was an accident involving motor cycle CK 2411, a white, red and black XR owned and ridden by 20-year-old resident of Kallicharan Sand Road Soesdyke, EBD, and pedal cyclist Grant-Stuart, 44, of Ice House Road Timehri, EBD. Enquiries disclosed that

the pedal cyclist was proceeding north along the western side of the Soesdyke Public Road and swerved in an easternly direction to cross the road.

However, he turned into the path of the motor cycle which was proceeding south along the eastern side of the said road.

As a result, the front of the motor cycle collided with the left side of the pedal cycle and both the pedal cyclist and motor cyclist fell and sustained injuries.

Grant-Stuart was picked up in an unconscious condition by the driver of the motor cycle and public-spirited citizens and placed into a

motor car.

He was rushed to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre, East Bank Demerara, where he was examined by a doctor on duty.

However, he was transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation where he was examined by Dr Durga, admitted, and died while receiving treatment.

The body was then taken to the Lyken funeral parlour for storage and is awaiting a post mortem examination.

A breathaliser test conducted on the motor cyclist was negative for alcohol.

Investigation continues.

11

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, May 7, 2020

Region One RO fails to submit poll books

…claims he walked off job, left them at the GECOM Mabaruma Office

THE absence of the poll books from the records for District One has stalled the verification process of the recount of the votes cast in that region at the March 2, 2020 regional and general elections.

Initial reports were that the books were in the possession of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Returning Officer for Region One, Trevor Harris. Hut Harris has claimed that he left the books in the GECOM office at Mabaruma and that he was no longer on the job.

The book details the voting process, the number of used and spoilt ballots, signatures of counting and polling agents as well as those of the presiding officer, ballot clerks among other polling staff. The book also details the time process recorded throughout elections day at the polling station. It also includes details on affidavits of identity of persons accompanying a voter to the polling station to assist him/her in the voting process.

Harris’ phone went to voice mail when attempts were made by the Guyana Chronicle to

contact him. He however, told another section of the media, earlier on Wednesday, that he is no longer on the job and declined to say when he parted with the commission. The official noted that the books in question are at GECOM’s Mabaruma office, and, on Wednesday, the commission was making arrangements to retrieve the documents from the North West District region.

BOOKS LOCATED “We have since made arrangements to have those poll books be transported to Georgetown from Region One, and we hope that they will get here by tomorrow or by Friday when there is a flight out from that area,” GECOM’s Public Relations Officer (PRO), Yolanda Ward told reporters while noting that already one has been reported missing.

Ward noted that as a result of the absence of the poll books, party agents objected to the continuation of that process with respect to the tabulation of votes for District One. The Poll Books, she said, contain critical information about what unfolded on Elections Day

within the polling stations. “The poll books provide the notes of the Presiding Officers as to

of the issues that may have been addressed at the polling station, it is essentially the log book of

Returning Officer for Region One, Trevor Harris

what would have transpired during the electoral process on Elections Day. For example, if persons voted with certificates of employment, the number of persons that voted with certificates of employment, persons who voted by proxy, the poll books give those details and all

the day’s activities,” the PRO explained.

INVESTIGATION While noting that she was unaware of the reason behind the RO’s failure to include the Poll Books in the records, Ward said that the Elections

Commission will be launching an investigation into the matter.

Elections Commissioner Vincent Alexander also took note of the absence of the poll books. “Those books are important, because, for example, there were instances where names were inserted on the voters’ list,” Alexander said while explaining that the poll books would provide explanations on the reason behind the insertions. One such reason, he said, is the use of certificates of employment by persons whose names were not on the list but were given the opportunity to vote by virtue of the fact that they were working there at the moment.

“That Certificate of Employment is in the Poll Book and the Poll Book should have been in the box, and so there are still some queries there about the names because the validation has not been completed,” the Elections Commissioner said. He is hopeful that the poll books will arrive on time so as not to affect the process.

CORRUPT PRACTICES Sources within the APNU+AFC told the Guyana

Chronicle that this development speaks to corrupt practices undertaken by persons in District One as regards the credibility of the process. It was noted that the books in question are priority documents and are supposed to be in envelopes or packages submitted by the RO to GECOM. It is unclear why Harris paid scant regard to the submission of the documents.

On Wednesday morning, when the containers for the ballots for District One were opened, some of the containers were found with water inside. It is unclear if this compromised the counting of ballots in those containers. The national recount commenced after a delayed start on Wednesday which centered on security arrangements as well as the Opposition People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) being unable to find the keys to its locks on several containers containing the ballots.

RFHL records US$81M in profit despite economic situation DESPITE the prevailing economic slowdown caused by the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, Republic Financial Holdings Limited (RFHL) - the parent company of Republic Bank Guyana Limited, has recorded a profit of US$81.7M for the first half of the financial year.

The company’s President, Nigel Baptiste said, in a press statement, the profit represents a decline of US$36.1M or 30.6 per cent, when compared to the corresponding period last year.

“These results reflect preliminary estimates of the financial impact of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on the group as a result of increased operating expenses during the latter half of March 2020 and the setting aside of additional provisions of US$55.3M for the first half of Fiscal 2020 (2019 - US$20.3M) to cover potential future losses,” said Baptiste.

He advised that total assets stood at US$14.8B at March 31, 2020, an increase of US$2.3B or 17.9 per cent over the total assets at March 31, 2019, reflecting mainly the acquisition of Scotiabank’s operations in St. Maarten and the Eastern Caribbean (except Antigua and

Barbuda), on November 1, 2019, which added US$1.9B to the group’s asset base.

The acquisition of Scotiabank’s banking operations in the British Virgin Islands remains ongoing, with the group presently engaged with the regulator in that territory to obtain the requisite approval.

“Cognisant of our responsibility to help our clients, staff, and communities navigate these unique challenges, the group instituted several measures, including loan payment moratoriums, waiver of fees and charges, and interest rate reductions on loans and advances including credit cards.”

“The group has also contributed a total of US$2M to national COVID-19 initiatives across the territories in which we operate,” said Baptiste.

Stressing the importance of a prudent approach given the many uncertainties as a result of the current pandemic, Baptiste went on to say: “Notwithstanding the public health measures implemented to date, there is uncertainty globally in respect of the intensity and duration of this crisis, and it is unclear what the social, economic and market conditions will be like once the crisis is over.

President of RFHL, Nigel Baptiste

“Prudence requires therefore, that financial institutions adopt a defensive posture to preserve the stability of individual institutions and the integrity of the overall financial system. Therefore, until the full repercussions are clearer, and to preserve the capital available to the group, the Board of Directors has declared a reduced interim dividend of US$0.09 (2019: US$0.19) per share payable on June 5, 2020.”

Despite the odds, he said the company is well-placed

to make a major contribution to the regional recovery effort and is fully committed to doing so. The company will seek to balance the interests of all stakeholders, as they shoulder the responsibility of restoring sustainable growth to the territories in which the company operates.

In February, it was reported that the local banking industry continues to flourish and testimony to this is Republic Bank Guyana’s first-quarter profit of $1.1B. Following up on its overall profit of $3.8B for 2019, the company recorded an after-tax profit of $1,117,000,000 for the first quarter of the financial year 2019/2020. This represented an increase of $161M or 16 per cent when compared to the corresponding period last year.

Added to the “significant improvement” in profits, the bank, in a notice, said its total assets grew by $20B or 11.6 per cent and customers’ deposits also grew by $14.8B or by 10 per cent year-on-year.

Recently, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) had said unless governments of Latin America and the Caribbean implement well-focused programmes to offset the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the

region may see growth reductions of up to 5.5 per cent of GDP in 2020.

In a report titled ‘Policies to Fight the Pandemic: 2020 Latin America and the Caribbean Macroeconomic Report’, the IDB gave an overview of the macro-economic circumstances of the region and outlined a number of scenarios to demonstrate the possibilities for relief for economies in various stages of development as is the case in the region.

“Our region will suffer an economic shock of historic proportions,” said IDB Chief Economist, Eric Parrado, in an IDB press release accompanying the report.

“Countries should be saving lives, by ensuring social distancing and providing their health sectors with adequate resources. Complementary and temporary economic interventions can support economies during the partial, organized shut-downs.”

“We need to preserve the core of our economies intact to improve the chances of a quick rebound,” Parrado added. “Providing relief to those more vulnerable households that have lost their sources of income, helping and giving incentives to firms to reduce liquidations and avoid separation from their employees,

and extending liquidity to banks so they be part of the solution, can all work in that direction.”

The IDB said that the region’s first priority should be to “stop the spread of the virus, prevent the health sector from becoming overwhelmed, ensure it has adequate resources, and save lives”. It said a second focus should be to provide relief to those “more vulnerable households” that have lost their sources of income” as a result of social distancing and other measures. “And a third should be to support firms to minimise the rise in unemployment, to try to avoid the separation between firms and their employees and costly bankruptcies and liquidations,” the report said.

Quoting a study done by the Imperial College London, the IDB said that without policies to suppress the spread of the virus, there would be as many as 3.2 million deaths in Latin America and the Caribbean. However, the bank noted that countries are taking strong measures to suppress the spread of the virus.

Despite the gloomy projections, most international, financial institutions have projected an over 50 per cent growth in Guyana’s economy, for this year.

‘Tense but smooth’

12

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, May 7, 2020

…some coalition agents describe first day of recount

By Gabriella Chapman THE national recount of the March 2, 2020 elections commenced on Wednesday at the Arthur Chung Conference Center (ACCC), and despite the few glitches that were had at the start of the day, agents of the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) Coalition said they are pleased with the process thus far.

Speaking with the media on the lawns of ACCC, Minister of Youth Affairs, Simona Broomes, said they had a late start due to the delay in accessing the containers, but after it started it was a smooth run. “I moved around the building but most of the time I’ve been in one area, dealing with one district. I think in my district for this morning I would have noticed anomalies and I don’t think it is too big to be solved, I’ve registered the concerns, following the protocol. And at the end of it, it will go through the channels that it has to go through… I wouldn’t like to say what it is, but other than that, for my station, which is Region Two, I think things are moving pretty smooth,”

Broomes said.

She said that counting votes is a timely process “and of course, in the best interest of all, we’re looking for credible results so I am working and I think all of us should work with GECOM staff so that they go through what they have to go through. I think they’re doing their best, we had no hassle in there.

They’re projecting the ballot paper for all to see, they have a screen and everything. And at the end of the first box, they did the report and all of us signed as satisfied with what is happening.”

Broomes said at this point it is hard to ascertain how long the recount process will actually take, but she noted that after the first day, they might get a better feel.

There was no confrontation, but body language spoke a lot. I guess persons are all there representing their parties and they’re coming there to compete, and everybody wants his/her party to lead and because of all the tension we would have had

TENSION Meanwhile, Coretha McDonald said at her station, which held the ballot boxes for Region Three, there was much tension as was evident in the body language of the other party representatives, but that did not hinder the flow of the process.

“Region three, started off very tense but as we progressed, the tension eventually simmered down…

before and all the ‘flare and the flur’ and the things you saw on Facebook and at press conferences, I think that is what kind of hyped up some party supporters, so when they came here, they just looked at you with daring and pointed eyes rather than good morning and how are you and that kind of thing you usually expect,” McDonald said.

She noted that her station had two slight issues, but

Quick action by GPL contains minor fuel spill at Kingston THE Guyana Power and Light (GPL) said it was able to quickly contain an oil spill that was discovered, on Wednesday, within its compound at the Kingston Power Complex.

In a release, the GPL said a small amount of the spill seeped into the Demerara River. Since the discovery, GPL’s personnel expedited industry standard safety, health and environmental procedures to contain the spill, the release added. “The general public is hereby reassured that GPL’s efforts to contain the spill have thus far proven successful. GPL wishes to advise the general public that our company embraces industry standard fuel management practices and a thorough investigation will be conducted to prevent a reoccurrence,” the power company noted.

they were resolved speedily.

“We had two little minor issues that were quickly resolved. One was rather than

Minister Simona Broomes

APNU+AFC representative, Ryan Belgrave APNU+AFC representative, Coretta McDonald

the ‘x’ marked in the box, it was marked on the name of the party, we queried and that query was verified and the vote was counted as being valid. We had another one where instead of an ‘x’, it just had a stroke there.

That was also queried and the vote was deemed valid.

Other than that, the process went smoothly, persons accepted the counts as they are.

As a matter of fact, we had counting being done three times just to verify that we all have the same numbers that are there. So for me, so

far so good and I’m looking forward to what will happen for the rest of the week. We looked at the outlying areas and we have not yet found major issues in those areas.

But I’m hoping that coming down to the middle area, we would have smooth transition, smooth process and whatever issue arises, we will be able to have them being resolved,” McDonald outlined.

Speaking with the media too, was Ryan Belgrave who echoed similar sentiments.

He said that the process was as expected, and everyone present at his station, which was District Four, signed off in agreement that the numbers were accurate.

“As was promised, we had an audit of the ballot boxes. We looked at the

folders and envelopes that were placed in each box. We also looked at the votes that were cast by the respective parties, the rejected ballots, we were able to examine and see the ballots on the screen to be certain that the votes that were announced were what was there, and those sorts of things. For the room that I was in, I had no serious concerns. We had the party representatives, OAS and a local observer, and everyone signed off,” Belgrave said.

The process continues today, as the country awaits the progress of the national recount and the eventual declaration of the winning party and President of the country.

GECOM threatens sanctions for unlawful livestreaming of recount PERSONS participating the in the national recount at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC) run the risk of being removed from their workstations by law officials should they fail to adhere to the ‘no-videoing’ of recount process rules.

This was conveyed to the media by Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM, Yolanda Ward, at the end of the first day of the national recount.

Ward said that the commission had taken note of videos circulating on social media whereby some persons, at different workstations, had documented the process.

Prior to the recount, the commission had made it clear that the video live-streaming of the recount process would be a violation of Section 90 of the Representation of the People Act which speaks to the protection of the identity of the voter.

As such, Ward told the media: “This was not permitted by the commission. All those persons at the count were informed of this and so the decision of the commission

is that hence forth people will be cautioned to desist from such a practice and if they’re found to

being made clear, it is the hoped that such incidents will not reoccur today.

Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM, Yolanda Ward

doing so, they will be escorted from the respective workstations.”

She said that the commission is especially keen on ensuring that this guideline is maintained throughout the process and will go to the necessary lengths to ensure it. Ward said that this message,

Meanwhile, Commissioner Vincent Alexander noted that a television entity has also been noted as entering the recount centre and videoing the process -- inclusive of the identity of GECOM staff. “We did have that problem today of a particular media house

getting involved in streaming and doing exactly what we didn’t want to happen, having workers faces appearing,” he said. “We prefer for the security and safety of those workers not to include them.”

He said that the specific media house was undoubtedly aware of the restrictions in this regard. As it relates to the forms of livestreaming catered for, facilities have been established at each workstation to capture and broadcast a photo of the ballot boxes, depicting the state in which they are delivered to the workstation, only visible to those within the centre.

Meanwhile, an audio feed of the recount process is being broadcasted via GECOM’s Facebook page. From the audio feed, one could hear every action taken by the GECOM staff being described verbally by the said staff. The Counting Clerk, at the count of each ballot, could be heard stating words such as “PPP/C 1” or “APNU/AFC 1”.

At intervals, the clerk would check to see that all observing the process had arrived at a similar total.

13

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, May 7, 2020

Iwokrama Forest retains coveted Forest Stewardship Council Certification THE Iwokrama International Centre for Rain Forest Conservation and Development has retained its Forest Stewardship Council™ (FSC™) Certification for Forest Management for the Iwokrama Forest.

This followed a surveillance visit conducted by Soil Association Certification Limited of the United Kingdom (UK) during September 2019. The Iwokrama Forest was the first forest to have maintained this certification in Guyana and has raised the bar for forest management in Guyana.

“This has raised the bar for forest management in Guyana, and we are also pleased to announce that other forest managers have followed suit, so that there are now two other forest management certificates, and three chain-of-custody certificates in Guyana,” the centre noted.

FSC™ certification is the highest international accolade that Forest Managers can receive, and it is testament to the Centre’s application of international social, ecological, and environmental best practices in its management of the Iwokrama Forest.

The assessment team evaluated all elements of Iwokrama's operations applicable to the standard to determine compliance against

national and international benchmarks.

During the annual surveillance assessment, Iwokrama received two major corrective actions which were successfully closed today. Non-compliances are a normal part of any assessment process and based on the severity of the non-compliance with the standard, it could prevent the applicant from being certified.

In recent years, many international buyers and con-

sumers have increased demands for proof of forest products being sourced from well-managed forests. Currently, all of the major global markets require some sort of certification for imports. To this end the European Union and the Government of Guyana are also pursuing a Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) on Forest Law Enforcement Governance and Trade (FLEGT) which will

Scenes from a surveillance visit conducted by Soil Association Certification Limited of the United Kingdom (UK) in September 2019

allow more access of Guyana’s wood to EU member countries. The FSC™ brand, in particular, is universally recognized globally for its independent assessment, and for its opinion on products that have been produced in a more environmentally-friendly manner.

The Centre expresses its thanks to the German Government, for providing support, through the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) implemented Caribbean Aqua-Terrestrial Solutions Programme for preparing for Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Certification from 2015-2016.

The Centre is also grateful to His Excellency President Granger and the Government of Guyana for their valuable and timely support to the Centre. Special thanks were extended to the certification team of the Centre and the local community partner, the North Rupununi District Development Board (NRDDB) for its unwavering support.

Brazilians caught with uncustomed goods

The four Brazilians and the uncustomed goods.

FOUR Brazilians were, on Tuesday, May 5, 2020, intercepted by local police, on patrol at Takutu illegal cossing, with a quantity of uncustomed goods.

Roger Felix Duarte, Francisco James Dias, Aegre De Souza Marques and Ingrid Li Madocarmo were nabbed around 17:09hrs.

The group was nabbed with 10 long track pants, 10 pairs of socks, 23 pairs of

footwear, 30 bottles of cologne, 3 gillette sets, 33 vials of skin cream, 5 bottles of shampoo, 10 bottles of body spray, 55 medication, 6 bars of soap, 25 boxes of syrup medication, 6 boxes of dye and 6 bottles of nail polish.

The foreigners were escorted to the Lethem Police Station where the items were lodged. They were profiled and handed over to the Brazilian Federal.

14

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, May 7, 2020

The stirring plea of a COVID-19 victim’s brother A New Jersey-based Guyanese man is pleading with the citizens of his homeland to adhere to the advice of health professionals regarding the deadly COVID-19 virus to ensure that they have regular check-ups to know what’s going on in their bodies; maintain the specified distance; stay at home if they can; wear face masks and follow the protocols Marvin Inniss’s plea is a result of the pain he and the family members have endured and continue to bear, following the recent death of his brother, Peter Cave, 47, who succumbed to lung cancer, as stated on the death certificate.

He had also been afflicted with the deadly COVID-19, because of his pre-existing condition.

In a telephone interview with the Pepperpot Magazine, Marvin said that Peter Cave was warded at the Beth Israel Hospital for six months, during which he underwent surgery to remove a cancerous tumour. It was during the last two months of his hospitalisation that he was diagnosed with the killer-disease COVID-19, and as a result they were no longer allowed to visit him. They were only informed of his death.

For some two months Marvin and other family members were not allowed to visit Peter and even though they were informed of his death, Marvin said it was a heartbreaking and painstaking two days he took to comb through public documents of dead COVID-19 victims and doing searches via social media, in order to find out where Peter’s body was placed..

“The hardest thing and which continues to haunt me is, not one of us, yes, not one of his family could have been there for and with him during his final moments, to say hold his hand. For me, I keep wondering about how his final days and moments,, how lonely they might have been. We would never know if the hospital treated him right, whether he had any parting words. That’s the nature of this COVID-19 illness: you are left alone with other than the doctors and nurses, all of whom would be complete strangers.

“Please, I am begging every Guyanese, I follow the news of my homeland, please follow the protocols, when you don’t you not only endanger, yourself but other family members and others. In New Jersey where I live it is scary, we have over 2000 deaths and some people cannot even give closure to their dead family member/s. When someone dies here from COVID-19, the family has 14 days within which to claim the body and most of the

bodies are cremated, because of the guidelines. The unclaimed dead are then taken and placed in a mass grave. That is how painful this satiation is, Marvin lamented.

According to Marvin, who is the last of five children, with the late Peter being the fourth, they lived on Hadfield Street, Lodge, right across from what

Edna Inniss, in Brooklyn before they relocated to the state of New Jersey.

He recalled Peter, who fathered five children, Shaun, Christopher,Andrea, Sexter and Samantha, began working as a baggage handler at the Newark Airport in New Jersey. Later, he secured a job at Walmart and due to his

The late Peter Cave, bottom right, with his children, from bottom left, Dexter and Samantha; Shaun and Christopher and Andrea

used to be the race course, before migrating with their mom,

dedication received promotions until he attained the position of

The late Peter with his mom, Joycelyn, and brother Marvin. He was Marvin’s bestman when he renewed his vows.

Joycelyn Inniss, to the United Stated of America on October 27, 1987. He said the family first lived with his grandmother

a manager.

“My brother suffered from skin carcinoma or skin cancer which spread to his arm, brain

Macon Cotton, funeral director of Cotton’s Funeral Home, pays his respect to the late Peter Cave (NJ Advance Media photo)

(for which he had to undergo surgery) and lastly to his lungs.

He eventually could not work as he began to complain of chest pains and was again admitted to hospital; then he began having difficulty breathing, Then is when they discovered he had contracted the coronavirus, that caused more complications and. he eventually gave

tomed to bidding farewell to their dead, we celebrate their life but that was not to be for Peter.”

Marvin was keen to explain that certain funeral homes in New Jersey do not bury COVID-19 bodies; they instead cremate the bodies. This is done after relatives have identified the body, but family

The late Peter Cave, left, with his mom,Joycelyn Inniss; brother,Marvin and aunt,Daphne Inniss, at the wedding of a relative.

up. His death certificate stated what he died form.”

members are not allowed to witness the cremation. Instead,

he late Peter Cave, third from left, with friends in happier times

With evident pain as he related the ordeal, Marvin related, “I am left hopeless and helpless. Guyanese are accus-

they are sent a picture. He said only nine family members are allowed at the home for only 15 minutes prior to the actual

Family members watching the funeral proceedings of the late Peter Cave from an apartment complex nearby (NJ Advance Media photo)

cremation and it is required that they are masked, wear gloves and be apart from each other.

Marvin said after much pleading with the management of Cotton Funeral Home, where his family had taken Peter’s body for storage, after he (Marvin) eventually located it by rummaging through the pile of hospital documents of dead persons, they were allowed to give him a “proper” burial on April 12, 2020.

“The management generously allowed us one hour during which we said prayers [and] sang hymns according to the Guyanese tradition;, but the hardest part is we had to look at him from a distance.”

Marvin said his mother, his wife, Peter’s girlfriend, Lilana Redonda, and a friend followed the hearse to the Rosedale Cemetery, Orange,, New Jersey, where the body was interred. They, however, were not allowed on the grounds of the cemetery. They stood some distance away on the grounds of an adjacent apartment complex and had to be content with peering over the fence and zooming in with their cameras to get a glimpse of the proceedings, as the rain fell.

Sadly, his children could not pay their last respects to their dad, Marvin said.

Marvin said he again begged and was allowed to ride in the passenger seat of the hearse, but under the condition that once on the grounds of the cemetery he remains inside the vehicle. That is the policy implemented by the cemetery administration as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. On the grounds were five gravediggers, the funeral home director, Macon Cotton, the cemetery’s general manager and a photographer.

Marvin said “I watched with a heavy heart and my inside empty as the funeral director said a quick prayer and the casket bearing my brother’s earthly remains was lowered into the ground. His request was that we should bury him atop his grandmother and that we did. All I could do was snap a picture with the camera [and] that was my only solace. It was over in less than five minutes.”

On this note, Marvin reiterated his plea,” My Guyanese brothers and sisters, this COVID-19 is nothing to joke about, please adhere to the guidelines and keep safe.

When this virus infects us, it not only cruels us, but we are alone For those who survive such an ordeal, they have to be thankful,” he concluded, with his voice evidently breaking with sorrow.

‘Comply or stay out’

15

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, May 7, 2020

--M&CC temporarily shuts market gates, as persons flout containment measures

By Navendra Seoraj IT has been established that saving lives and reducing the spread of the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) disease will take a collective effort, and while some persons have recognised the severity of the situation, others continue to flout the laws.

An example of this callous and careless behaviour was observed, on Wednesday, when a group of individuals congregated at the entrance of the Stabroek Market, and refused to comply with the existing containment measures.

A video posted by Mayor of Georgetown, Ubraj Narine, on his Facebook page, showed a group of visibly aggravated persons arguing outside one entrance of the Stabroek Market because the gate leading into the market was closed by workers of the Mayor and City Council (M&CC), to maintain order.

“I am down here at Stabroek Market and we are

M&CC’s regulations, regarding social distancing and congregating in the municipal markets.

While, there is no issue with persons entering the market, Narine said persons at least need to be orderly and

be opened at all the municipal markets…all shoppers entering the municipal market will not be allowed to enter if they

The markets continue to be a hub for congregation despite news that Georgetown is the epicenter for the COVID-19 disease (Delano Williams photos)

“They do not want to comply, we are willing to open the gates, but they are not adhering and listening… we are here to put measures

wash their hands upon entering the municipal markets.

To this end, sinks have been mounted at the entrance of all the municipal markets.

Persons gathered outside of the Fogarty’s Complex, on Wednesday

pleading…we had two gates open and we are pleading to the public to form a line so they can come in and wash their hands and have access to the market,” said Narine, in his video.

He said the gates were closed because persons were refusing to comply with the

This stipulation was included in a plethora of measures, rolled out by the M&CC which took effect on

and guidelines in place for the safety of the people,” said the Mayor.

The regulations, implemented by the M&CC, are in line with advice and guidance from the World Health Organization (WHO), which advises against large gatherings in public spaces.

Recently, the M&CC, in doing its part to reduce the spread of the COVID-19 disease, has mandated stallholders/vendors and their staff to wear a face mask while conducting their operations, noting that failure to comply will result in persons being charged $5,000.

Wednesday.

Among the new measures is the strict prohibition of unauthorised vending. Anyone found selling at a place, not

are not wearing a face mask.

No exemptions apply,” said the M&CC. Also, a limited amount of shoppers will be allowed to

and will be held accountable for any breaches.

Recently, following a thorough assessment by the Public Health Ministry on Guyana’s prevailing health conditions, the emergency measures implemented to help fight the COVID-19 pandemic were extended for another month.

The updated COVID-19 emergency measures took effect from May 4 and will last until June 3, 2020. The regulation requires citizens to remain indoors between 6:00pm and 6:00am. The emergency measures also speak sternly to, among other things, the restriction on visitations, specific working hours allotted to essential services, preferential treatment for healthcare workers, social distancing and physical-distancing protocols, religious worship and domestic travel.

The COVID-19 emergency measures clearly state

‘Bills gotta pay!’ Persons lined up outside of the GTT store, at Robb Street

approved by the council, will be subjected to the payment of a removal fee of $25,000.

Additionally, M&CC has also revised the operational hours for all the municipal markets, and the new opening hours will be 7:00hrs to 16:00hrs daily.

“Only one main gate will

enter each market at a given time and as persons exit, others will be allowed to enter.

While in the markets, persons must practise social distancing and be six feet apart because crowding and large gatherings will not be permitted. Stallholders are asked to regulate this activity

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

16

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, May 7, 2020

Dr Sugrim makes miraculous recovery from COVID-19 -- survives while battling diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular diseases

By Nafeeza Yahya COVID-19 survivor, Dr Ramesh Sugrim feels he has managed to “pass through hell” but “still feels the heat” after spending six weeks in hospital battling the deadly virus.

Speaking with Guyana Chronicle via telephone from a rehabilitation centre in New York, Dr. Sugrim, a well-known Guyanese doctor, shared his experience with the hope that others will adhere to the guidelines to avoid contraction of COVID-19.

Dr. Sugrim was diagnosed with COVID-19 on March 27, after experiencing severe fever, pains, cough,weakness and difficulty breathing.

He was in the U.S. with his family after reluctantly retiring from over 35 years of practice in Guyana.

According to Dr Sugrim, he along with his wife and son, who is also a doctor,

started to experience symptoms of COVID-19 and were tested initially, but these tests came out negative.

However, their condition worsened and they were rushed to hospital where they were all re-tested and found to be positive. His wife and son have also recovered.

Given that Dr. Sugrim has several underlying medical conditions, his condition worsened and he was placed on the ventilator since he had difficulty breathing.

“That is the worse part, when you can’t breathe.

It’s like your life is being sucked out of your body. I was weak, everyone though I wasn’t going to make it.

I’m so thankful to God. The prayers of all the persons out there helped me make it because a lot of people went on the ventilators and did not make it. I am one of the lucky ones who was given a second chance at life,” he said.

Dr. Sugrim said strug-

gling through shortness of breath and other pains was excruciating and was filled with uncertainties at times, but he kept a positive mindset and prayed continuously.

He is urging others who have contracted the virus to do the same since worrying or being stressed out over the situation only makes it worse.

He also noted that being isolated was also difficult, especially having to deal with the virus while being away from loved ones.

HAVE TO BE STRONG “You have to be strong and don’t give up. A lot of people have it and the virus does not really do anything to them, but my immune system was compromised due to my illnesses. Sugar, pressure, heart and because of these underlying conditions, it attacked me. It’s a miracle that I am alive, even the doctors here are amazed at how fast I’m recovering,” Dr Sugrim related.

Having gone through the worse of the virus and is now

health seriously, whether you have hypertension, diabetes

sick, you cannot help, plus you run the risk of infecting your relatives that you are in contact with at home.”

Even though he is currently at a rehabilitation centre, Dr. Sugrim, who is now COVID-19- free, connects with his loved ones daily via zoom where they would host prayers, chats and chants.

Being an avid singer, he also tries to put in a song or two whenever he can.

Meanwhile, Suresh Sugrim, President of the Humanitarian Mission and brother of Dr. Sugrim, said there are many lessons to be learnt from this pandemic Dr. Ramesh Sugrim in rehabilitation, Dr. Sugrim etc., you should make regular and, among them, are unity is appealing to all, especially checks to be under control. and equality.

Guyanese, to adhere to the Even though I am a doctor, I He explained that after guidelines since prevention used to be careless, honestly, his brother was diagnosis, is better than cure. especially with my diabetes.

“I would not like anyone From the diabetes, I got a many persons from various to have to go through what I heart attack and another one. religious background, status experienced since they may Then I had a slipped disc on and race united on a common not be so lucky. This thing my spine. is very serious, do not take I underwent two opera- front to offer support and it lightly; it’s a matter of tions on my spine and since prayers for him. life and death. This thing then it affected my walking.

“We all came together could have killed me and if Take regular check-ups, eat it wasn’t because of God and healthy; do exercises, don’t and prayed with a sense of prayers, I would have died; wait for something to hap- deep conviction. We just so people please take it seri- pen,” he urged. don’t pray for our immeously,” he said.

Dr Sugrim showered diate family but for all who Dr Sugrim added: “Peo- praises on the frontline workple need to observe the nec- ers, who have been making are sick, all who lost their essary precautions; wash personal sacrifices in the fight loved ones. We have peryour hands often; wear the against COVID 19 while at sons from all religions. We mask, and observe social dis- the same time he urged them can be bonded. Let us not tancing; and very important, to take every precaution necmake religion separate us. stay at home, do not go out essary. anywhere unless absolutely We need to stay together necessary!”

PROTECT YOURSELF regardless of our faith or He is also calling on ev“First and foremost, you eryone to have regular check- have to protect yourself be- practices. If we want to ups in order to keep tabs on fore you can help anyone. save the next generation, their health so that they are Wear the recommended we need to leave something not caught off guard when it masks and gloves and if you of a legacy, that is, to be is too late. are dealing directly with “Apart from COVID-19, known cases, wear the suit living together in peace and everyone should take their if available. If you become harmony,” he said.

12 escape from juvenile holding centre; five recaptured TWELVE juvenile inmates escaped from the Juvenile Holding Centre in Sophia on Tuesday, after allegedly assaulting two policemen during the ordeal.

Ranks of the Guyana Police Force, through to stringent efforts, managed to recapture five of the teen inmates, while seven remain on the run. The Guyana Chronicle understands that the teens were in custody for various crimes ranging from robbery and murder. According to reports, the teens escaped from the facility at about 23:30 hours on Tuesday. During the incident, two police officers were assaulted and have since received medical attention. Meanwhile, a thorough investigation has been launched into the circumstances surrounding the escape.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, May 7, 2020

17

18

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, May 7, 2020

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, May 7, 2020

19

20

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, May 7, 2020

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, May 7, 2020

21

22

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, May 7, 2020

23

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, May 7, 2020

Brathwaite out, Ramdin in St Kitts & Nevis Patriots for CPL season … Rayad Emrit to take over as captain

BASSETERRE, St Kitts, (CMC) – St. Kitts and Nevis Patriots have dropped captain Carlos Brathwaite, let go of head coach Robin Singh and signed West Indies wicketkeeper-batsman Denesh Ramdin for the upcoming Caribbean Premier League (CPL) season.

The major changes to the franchise’s setup were announced Wednesday in a statement which said it had retained six of its 2019 CPL players from the Caribbean, and signed Ramdin who was transferred from Trinbago Knight Riders after four years with his home franchise, during which time he helped them win the 2017 and 2018 titles.

St. Kitts and Nevis Patriots have not retained Carlos Brathwaite who captained the team in the last CPL. Ramdin, whose departure from TKR was revealed by that franchise on Tuesday, joins West Indies players Rayad Emrit, Evin Lewis, Sheldon Cottrell, Fabian Allen and Alzarri Joseph, along with emerging player, Barbadian Dominic Drakes.

International retentions and signings are expected to be announced at a later date.

With the departure of former West Indies T20I skipper Brathwaite, who was among Patriots’ leading run-getters during his time with the franchise, 39-year-old allrounder Emrit will

serve as captain.

The franchise also named Australian Simon Helmot to replace Singh as head coach for the upcoming season.

Speaking about his appointment as captain, Emrit said he was “very excited to be part of the St Kitts & Nevis Patriots for a second season”.

“I think that the team that is selected this year is going to be a very exciting one. I am very excited to be named as captain.

It’s always an honour and a privilege to lead a franchise. Our new coach, Simon Helmot, knows the CPL and he knows how to win titles. He and I are going to work very hard to get the team to the finals,” he added.

The eighth staging of the CPL is set for August 19 – September 26, but with the spread of COVID-19 leading to postponement and cancellations of sports across the globe, it is unsure whether the event will go ahead as planned.

CPL organisers say they are watching the global pandemic closely and are liaising with medical advisors and governments to make a decision on the tournament as soon as possible.

Along with Patriots and TKR, the other teams set to compete this year are Guyana Amazon Warriors, St. Lucia Zouks, Jamaica Tallawahs and reigning champions Barbados Tridents.

Maradona pleads for ‘hand of God’ to end pandemic BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AFP) — Argentine football legend Diego Maradona has asked the “hand of God” to deliver the world from the coronavirus pandemic and allow normal life to resume.

The World Cup winner referred to his hand-assisted goal in the 1986 World Cup after Argentine football chiefs voted to end the current season as well as suspend relegation, saving Maradona-managed bottom club Gimnasia from the drop.

“Today this happened to us and many people say it is a new hand of God,” said Maradona, alluding to his infamous goal against England.

“But today I’m asking for that hand to end this pandemic so people can go back to living their lives,

healthy and happy.”

Then-Argentine Captain Maradona responded to the controversy over his goal at the World Cup in Mexico by saying “it was the hand of God!” Argentina went on to beat England 2-1 in the quarter-final.

On being thrown a lifeline by the suspension of the season, he told Argentine daily Clarin: “It’s not the ending we had wanted; we were convinced we could save ourselves on the pitch.”

Argentina has been on

lockdown since March 20 against the coronavirus, which by early last Wednesday had infected 4,114 people with 207 deaths in that country.

The 59-year-old Maradona, appointed to manage struggling Gimnasia in September, said clubs in Argentina are facing years of financial difficulty.

“Hopefully it is understood that we have to face what’s coming together, for the good of football. No one is like Rambo in this war, because even Rambo loses against this.”

CONCACAF president sights World Cup qualifying format change for 2022 tourney

THE far-reaching impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic are likely to reshape Concacaf qualifiers for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, according to CONCACAF president Victor Montagliani.

In an interview with OneSoccer’s Gareth Wheeler, Montagliani said changes will have to be figured out.

As complicated as clubs returning to play could be, international competition is likely as complex.

“I think on the balance of probabilities in terms of what’s happened so far and what likely will to continue to happen, the current World Cup format will have to be changed, which means, ultimately, that the Hex will have to be changed into some other form,” Montagliani said.

“Obviously it will be bigger, but what that number is, I don’t know until we have

a calendar,” the FIFA Vice President also stated.

Under normal circumstances, CONCACAF was set to host two qualifying formats in the buildup to 2022, with one being familiar and another entirely new.

The former would be the Hexagonal, combining the confederation’s top-six ranked nations based on the FIFA World Rankings published after the June 2020 window. The latter would take CONCACAF nations ranked 7-35 from the same rankings and advance through a groupstage format that leads to one country facing the fourth-place finisher of the Hex to determine the Concacaf representative in the FIFA intercontinental playoff.

Whatever emerges from this period, Montagliani said maintaining sporting integrity is of the utmost impor-

tance.

“Yes, you’re going to have to use FIFA rankings to start somewhere because that’s the reality of our confederation,” Montagliani said, while adding that “in terms of having 35, which is a weird number to start with – I wish we had a better number, it would make it a little easier for groups.”

“So, you’re going to have to do some sort of elimination process and then eventually get into some group-stage process. But, I don’t know that yet until we know what the FIFA calendar is going to look like,” , Montagliani.

Up to now, CONCACAF has already postponed Olympic qualifiers for what are now the 2021 Summer Games in Tokyo. The semifinals and finals of the Concacaf Nations League have also been suspended until a further date.

24

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, May 7, 2020

Tennis bodies set up fund to support players

By Russell Fuller TENNISs’ governing bodies have confirmed the creation of a Player Relief programme to support players affected by the coronavirus pandemic.

The fund, which is already worth at least $6m (£4.8m), will target around 800 singles and doubles players from the ATP and WTA Tours.

The figure is likely to rise as donations from players, including Briton Andy Murray, will also be added.

Novak Djokovic has been campaigning for all of the men’s top 100 to donate.

The programme has been set up by the men’s ATP, the Women’s Tennis Association, the International Tennis Federation and the sport’s four Grand Slams - the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon and US Open.

The ATP and the WTA will administer the distribution of the money, with eligibility determined by both a player’s

ranking and previous earnings.

The fund will be split equally between men and women.

Wo r l d n u m b e r o n e Djokovic - as president of the ATP Player Council, and in collaboration with Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal -

had initially hoped the top male players would contribute to a separate $1m fund for men ranked outside the top 250.

But he admitted it was difficult to “pressure players into giving money, whatever their ranking is”.

Dominic Thiem, who was runner-up to Djokovic in this year’s Australian Open, had expressed his reservations.

“I’ve seen players on the ITF Tour who don’t commit to the sport 100%. Many of them are quite unprofessional. I don’t see why I should

Novak Djokovic

Roger Federer

Roger Federer give them money,” he told the Austrian newspaper Krone.

Now players can make donations directly to the Player Relief programme, and the fund will further benefit from auctions and virtual tennis tournaments.

When Murray won last week’s Virtual Madrid Open, he donated half of his prize money to the NHS, and the other half to the fund.

In an interview on CNN on Friday, he explained why the money is so important and how more could be raised.

“Hopefully, in a few months’ time there might be some events we can put on as well to help raise some more money for those players, as they will be the ones feeling it the most just now,” he said.

“The players ranked in that ranking bracket will also be the future of our sport. There will be some young players coming through just now that will go on to be Grand Slam champions, and the number one and top 10 players in the world, so it’s important that we try and support those players just now in any way we can.”

Professional tennis is suspended until at least 13 July, and a decision is expected next week about the European clay-court tournaments which take place in the three weeks to follow.

It seems inevitable all will be cancelled because government restrictions on large-scale gatherings remain in place in virtually all of the countries in question.

The US Tennis Association will then decide in June whether the US Open can go ahead in New York from 31 August. (BBC Sport)

FROM PAGE 25

Marnus ready to... game – you’re never satisfied with where you are. You can be happy with where you are but you want to be better, you want to continue to drive yourself to get the absolute best out of yourself that you can.”

Since becoming Test cricket’s first concussion substitute in the Lord’s Test match, Labuschagne has scored 1,249 Test runs at an average of 83.26.

He’s only played seven ODIs since Steve Waugh handed him his cap in India in January, breaking through for his first century in his sixth game, hitting 108 against South Africa in March.

Having torched all comers at all levels after making a small technical adjustment that yielded big results during his stint with UK county side Glamorgan last winter, Labuschagne knows opposition sides will be better armed once cricket resumes.

“Once you’ve played that initial season in any format, people start knowing you and knowing how you play, so they come back more rehearsed, more researched and they understand your game a lot better,” the 25-year-old admitted.

“For me it’s about making sure I understand what they’re going to do, and also understand where my weaknesses and my strengths are and then continue to improve both those areas.

“Teams will come out of a year and they’ll reassess, and there’s different bowlers that come onto the scene.

“For me it’s just about improving and make sure, once this isolation is done, I’m ready and prepared to take it on and try and go another level up.”

Renowned for his tireless energy, zany training games and drive, the COVID-19 enforced isolation has hit Labuschagne as hard as any player. And seen his backyard transformed into a makeshift cricket mecca.

The garage has become

a home gym, a standard stable for isolated athletes, but Labuschagne has taken it a few steps further. Nets have been hastily erected to spare neighbours the incessant sounds of balls pinging off the fence as he and his housemates utilise a collection of taped up tennis balls to simulate seam and swing.

Fun games to stave off the boredom and keep the reflexes sharp, but with an edge to it in the never-ending drive to improve.

“This time is quite unique and has never happened before. For me the last two months I was meant to be in England playing county cricket, and now you have so much down time,” Labuschagne said.

“It’s a good opportunity to make sure you’re learning from the situation and reviewing your game and understanding what you can continue to do to get better as a player.”

With cricket’s eventual return likely to be played in front of empty stands, Labuschagne said the initial strangeness of the experience quickly wore off.

“Originally it was quite strange, just waiting to bat and being able to hear Davey Warner call and hear so much of what’s going on. But I really felt that once I got out there, it was all guns blazing, you were just so focussed on the game, focussed on playing.

“If we play behind closed doors, the more it happens we’ll get more used to it. I don’t think it takes anything away from the actual game.

“Yes, there’s some things that feel a bit strange playing with no one there, but we’ve all been part of games with no one there.

“So for us it’s just being ready to make sure when we do come out of this we’re ready to make any sacrifices that we can to get cricket back on TV and back playing.”

(Cricket.com.au)

25

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, May 7, 2020

Brathwaite reportedly signed by Tallawahs after being dropped by Patriots KINGSTON, Jamaica, (CMC) – Former West Indies T20I skipper Carlos Brathwaite is reportedly set to join Jamaica Tallawahs as Chris Gayle’s replacement, after not being retained by the franchise he captained in the last Caribbean Premier League (CPL).

St. Kitts and Nevis Patriots Wednesday released a list of seven regional players it had either retained or signed ahead of the start of the 2020 season, and Brathwaite was not included.

On the same day, the Jamaica Gleaner newspaper reported reliable sources as saying the 31-year-old Barbadian has been signed by Tallawahs, along with all-rounders Andrè Russell and Rovman Powell, while wicketkeeper-batsman Chadwick Walton and fast bowler Oshane Thomas have been retained.

However, CEO of the two-time championship team, Jeff Miller, declined to either confirm or deny the move, directing queries to CPL organisers.

“At this time only they can release names,” he said.

Brathwaite played four seasons for Patriots, leading the team in 2019 when T20 star Gayle left to return to Tallawahs after a two-year stint with the Basseterre-based franchise.

He is widely remembered for his last over heroics in the 2016 World T20, when he scored four consecutive sixes against Ben Stokes to bring home the second title for the

Windies.

His reported addition to the Tallawahs squad comes on the heels of Gayle not being retained by the franchise, even with two years left in his contract. The 40-year-old cricketer has been signed by St. Lucia Zouks as their marquee player this season.

Gayle’s exit, which he controversially claimed was the result of a conspiracy involving assistant coach Ramnaresh Sarwan and Tallawahs’ management – a claim both have categorically denied in separate statements – also triggered another major player, Andre Russell, to announce this would be his last season at “the weirdest franchise” he has played for.

In addition to dropping Brathwaite, who has been replaced as captain by West Indies allrounder Rayad Emrit, Patriots let go of head coach Robin Singh and named Australian Simon Helmot to fill his spot.

The franchise also signed West Indies wicketkeeper-batsman Denesh Ramdin who was not retained by Trinbago Knight Riders after four years with that franchise.

This year’s CPL is scheduled for August 19 to September 26, but organisers say they are watching the global COVID-19 pandemic closely and are liaising with medical advisors and governments to make a decision on the tournament as soon as possible.

Marnus ready to level-up his one-day game to new heights AAUSTRALIAN batting revelation Marnus Labuschagne has warned he’s ready to “go another level up” once international cricket resumes, and set his sights on becoming a three-format player.

also plenty of time to work on the areas he wants to improve.

“The way things have unfolded has been awesome,” Labuschagne said today of his meteoric rise over the past year.

ferent parts of your game on and off the field that you can work on to make sure you’re continually getting better.

“There’s heaps to improve on, that’s for sure. Personally in one-day cricket an area I want to continue to get

Marnus Labuschagne has only played in seven ODIs Labuschagne said the isolation had allowed him plenty of time to reflect on a superb 12 months that saw him go from fringe squad member to the No.3 Test batsman in the world, but

“For me it’s been about, one, taking it all in and being really happy and proud of that.

“But also then looking at, ‘Righto, how I can get better?’, and looking at dif-

better at is that later stages in the innings, the boundary options at the back-end of a one-day game.

“Batting at four in that one-day lineup, that’s definitely something I’m going

to need to continue to improve at.

“There’s many others, like my bowling, if I can continue to improve there TURN TO PAGE 24

England must ‘make do’ with limited T20 chances ahead of World Cup: Morgan (REUTERS) - England’s players would have to “make do” with limited chances to prepare for the Twenty20 World Cup scheduled for later this year in Australia due to the COVID-19 pandemic, limited-overs skipper Eoin Morgan said.

The England and Wales Cricket Board last month extended the suspension of the professional game in the country until July 1 due to the novel coronavirus outbreak, which has infected over 3.52 million people globally causing more than 250,000 deaths.

Cricket authorities said late last month they were still planning for the World Cup in October, although Cricket Australia has conceded the entire international schedule is up in the air due to the virus.

Morgan said there are doubts about Australia’s limited-overs tour of England in July, but believes his team’s three one-day internationals against Ireland in September could be converted into T20s to help them prepare for the World Cup. “For the last month, everybody has struggled to get a sense of what’s possible and what might or might not happen,” Morgan told reporters via Zoom.

“We may have to make do. If tests were going

on, there would be ways and means we could have meaningful practice

England limited over skipper Eoin Morgan

games in and around those Ireland games in a similar environment.

“We could have proper opposition and maybe use the England Lions there too to make it as highly competitive as possible.”

Morgan said reduced game time in the shortest format ahead of the World Cup was not ideal.

“If the T20 World Cup goes ahead in the slot that it’s been allocated at the moment, we’ll have certainly played a limited amount of cricket before then,” he added.

“Given the circumstances we’ll have to see how much cricket we play and the opportunities that land on guys’ laps. They’ll have to make the most of them.”

Cricket chief warns of 380 million pound hole if no matches played

and bowl a few more overs in the shorter format, that’s going to help me as well.

“That’s the beauty of the (REUTERS) - English cricket is braced for losses of up to 380 million pounds if no matches are played this summer due to the coronavirus pandemic, according to Tom Harrison, CEO of The England and Wales Cricket Board.

The cricket season was due to begin on April 2, but no matches will be played now until the start of July at the earliest.

“We anticipate the cost of no cricket this year could be as bad as 380 million pounds.

That is the worst-case scenario for us,” Harrison told the UK government’s Digital, Culture, Media and Sport committee about the impact of coronavirus.

“That would be the loss of 800 days of cricket across all of our professional clubs and the ECB. It is the most significant financial challenge we have ever faced.”

The sport’s new competition, The Hundred, which Harrison described as a “profit centre” for cricket that was expected to add 11 million pounds of revenue to the game in its first year, has been postponed until next year.

A three-match Test Series with the West Indies originally scheduled for June has been postponed until later in the summer.

England are due to play a series of T20 and one-day internationals against Australia in July and a Test series against Pakistan in

July and August.

Harrison was still hopeful some Test matches would take place without spectators, which would still incur a loss of around 100 million pounds. But he said such matches were subject to serious logistical difficulties while the coronavirus continues to be a global threat.

“The complexities of lockdown in those nations means there’s a huge amount of complexity to bring teams over, follow government guidelines and get players ready,” he added.

“But with a following wind, hopefully will be able to play a significant number of Test matches this summer which will help us mitECB chief executive igate those officer Tom Harrison financial losses that we are facing at the moment.”

26

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, May 7, 2020

Knight Riders manager unfazed by possibility of CPL playing to empty stadia

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) — Safety, not sport, must be the most important factor if the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) comes off as planned later this year, says Colin Borde.

And as such, the Trinbago Knight Riders(TKR) manager believes even though playing to empty stadia was not ideal, the franchise would make the necessary adjustments to any protocols implemented to protect the health and safety of all those involved in the showpiece.

“The team has always enjoyed great support from its fans,” Borde told NewsDay here.

“We would prefer a packed stadium but if it is that social distancing is the order of the day then we fully understand and are

prepared to follow all the protocols.

“There are so many logistical variables to playing [but] safety [comes] first.

Sport is big business but it’s still a sport. Lives come first.”

Even though organisers are pressing ahead with the staging of the CPL, doubt still surrounds the scheduled August 19 to September 26 window due to the outbreak of the novel coronavirus.

Already, the virus has forced the cessation of all cricket worldwide, and with the spread showing little sign of abating, the future of several tournaments carded for later in the year also seem under threat.

To ensure the tournament comes off, organisers have flirted with the idea of en-

forcing social distancing protocols at stadiums, reducing the number of venues used and also excluding overseas professionals.

Travel is expected to be an issue, especially since many countries are under strict lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Borde, a former Trinidad and Tobago Red Force manager, said domestic players could provide quality entertainment for fans if travel was restricted for overseas pros.

“If circumstances dictate that we play with locals only, the skill levels are high enough to entertain any crowd on the planet,” he argued.

“Each CPL we see the regional talent shining. Overseas players bring a differ-

ent approach to the game and encourage wider global viewership and we welcome the different philosophies

’Colin Munro of Trinbago Knight Riders bats during the Hero Caribbean Premier League match against Guyana Amazon Warriors at Queen’s Park Oval in Trinidad and Tobago

Ronaldo enters 14-day quarantine after returning to Juventus CRISTIANO Ronaldo will be placed in quarantine for two weeks after the Juventus star returned to Turin.

The Portuguese attacker spent almost two months in his native Madeira as the coronavirus pandemic struck Italy, forcing the country into lockdown.

Ronaldo was expected back on May 18, when clubs were initially scheduled to return to training.

The Italian government moved that date forward to May 4 after many regions gave permission for training centres to open again, prompting Juventus to recall the foreign players who had left the country as the Covid-19 situation grew worse.

The players coming back will have to undergo

T CKE

two weeks of quarantine upon their arrival in Italy before they can begin training again.

While Ronaldo, 35, and his family were on the way back to Turin, many of his team-mates were being tested for coronavirus at the Juventus Training Centre.

Aaron Ramsey, Federico Bernardeschi, Juan Cuadrado, Carlo Pinsoglio and Merih Demiral, who is recovering from injury, were all examined.

As of Tuesday, training will resume but players will have to work on their own to abide by social distancing rules.

Although all 20 Serie A clubs voted to get the season underway again whenever it is safe to return and are now easing their way back

R RNE

O IZ C

QU

to training, remains known w h e n b a l l

footwill be played again.

Despite the governm e n t ’s d e cision to lift restrictions on athletes of team sports returning to

traini n g , the nation’s Sports Minister, Vincenzo Spadafora, said there is “no way” football can return soon.

Thursday, May 07, 2020

COMPLIMENTS OF THE XTRA ENERGY DRINK – STABROEK BAZAAR (Tel: 683-9500) & CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LT -83 Garnett Street, Campbellville, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158)

CRI (1) (2) (1)

(2)

i t un-

ANSWERS TO YESTERDAY’S QUIZ: Andy Flower-113* (Trinidad, 2000) Jimmy Adams-101* (Jamaica, 2000)

TODAY’S QUIZ:

Who is the first ZIM bowler to bag a five-wicket haul against the WI in Tests?

Who is the first WI to take five-wickets in a Test innings against Zimbabwe?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

and approaches to play that accompany foreign players and staff.”

Last season, TKR fea-

Although there have been fears that the government could b a n some sports f o r severa l

Juventus star Cristiano Ronaldo months, Italian Football Federation (FIGC) president Gabriele Gravina has warned that such a move “would be the death of Italian football”, while Lazio sporting director Igli Tare said clubs are willing to wait several months before resuming the season.

“I heard that the order could come from the Minister of Sport this week,” he said. “But that would not be within his remit.

FIFA, UEFA and FIGC have explained that the leagues must be finished within the calendar year.

“If we don’t start the league again in June, we will do it when it’s possible.” (GOAL.com)

tured overseas names like New Zealand batsman Colin Munro, Sri Lankan leg-spinner Seekkuge Prasanna and United States fast bowler Ali Khan.

However, the franchise also boasted the finest array of local talent available with Kieron Pollard, Sunil Narine, Darren Bravo and Lendl Simmons all lining up together.

Borde said TKR were already negotiating the arrival of foreign stars for the new season.

“We have our eyes on a few foreign players that we would like to have as part of the family and conversations are being had,” he said.

The novel coronavirus has already resulted some 3.6 million infections worldwide and 251,000 deaths.

Akhtar says he would coach any nation ― even arch-rivals India FORMER Pakistan cricketer Shoaib Akhtar said he is ready to coach fast bowlers from any country -- even if an offer from arch-rivals India came his way.

In an interview with a social networking platform, the 44-year-old paceman said he wants to

Shoaib Akhtar retired from international cricket in 2011 help produce aggressive and fast bowlers who can take on opposition batsmen no matter which country they come from.

When the presenter for the Helo app said India, Akhtar replied: “I will definitely... My job is to spread knowledge.

What I have learned is knowledge and I will spread it.”

The response surprised many in India because of the poor relations between the neighbours who have fought three wars since their independence and angry split

in 1947.

The two countries have not played each other in a bilateral series since 2012.

Akhtar, who was known as the Rawalpindi Express in his playing days, said: “I will produce more aggressive, fast and more talkative bowlers

than the current ones, who will tell-off the batsmen in a way that you will enjoy a lot.”

Akhtar said he would also like to coach bowlers in the cash-rich Indian Premier League.

The bowler played in the inaugural IPL season for Kolkata Knight Riders but the Indian government banned Pakistani cricketers from the league in 2009.

The speedster retired from international cricket in 2011 after more than a decade of controversies and glory, including the record of bowling world’s fastest delivery at 100.23 miles per hour. (AFP)

27

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, May 7, 2020

World Rugby releases guidelines for return of rugby activities WORLD Rugby has published guidelines for the safe return to rugby activities in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic via its player welfare website.

Developed by medical experts following consultation with union chief medical officers, competition owners and players, the guidelines are intended to assist unions, clubs and competitions in creating a framework and policy for return to rugby activity within their respective jurisdictions.

Unions and competition owners will need to comply with local laws and policies implemented by government or local authorities in relation to COVID-19, including social distancing and travel measures.

For the avoidance of doubt, this does not mean that matches will have to be played behind closed doors until a vaccine is available – the strategy will be determined by the respective national government directives.

The guidelines have two

core sections containing important information. The first section provides safety information to everyone involved in the game including players, coaches, support and administrative staff.

The second section provides a framework around which national unions can prepare best-practice policies and guidelines for return to activity that are appropriate to their local setting, complying with national guidelines on social distancing and travel restrictions.

The guidelines, which are World Health Organization (WHO) compliant, outline three dedicated time-bound return-to-training phases – small group training, full group non-contact training and full contact training.

It also documents the environment for returning to match action in a domestic, cross-border and cross-continent context and processes for facility and stadium.

World Rugby also stresses that, as a live document

operation in a dynamic pandemic context, it will be updated regularly with unions informed of any modifi-

and while it is difficult not to be playing or training, advice by the respective governments and authorities must

The ‘Green Machine’ celebrating their 48-17 victory over Barbados during one of Rugby America’s North 15s championship at the National Park

cations. Further language versions will be available shortly.

“We are all missing the sport that we know and love,

be adhered to,” World Rugby Chairman Sir Bill Beaumont noted.

“World Rugby, in full partnership with unions and

MIKE Tyson is still capable of knocking out any heavyweight in the division at age 53, according to ‘Golden Boy’ Oscar De La Hoya. After watching a clip of the former heavyweight champion Tyson (50-6, 44 KOs) working out on the mitts, Dela Hoya predicted that he’d KO anyone in the division if he trains for 12 rounds.

The video clip, by the way, went viral and is being talked abount by the entire boxing world. The speed, punching power, and the technique that Tyson showed during the brief clip went unrivaled by any of the current top heavyweights in boxing.

Jeff

Former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson

Fenech, the old trainer for Mike Tyson, believes that he would knockout former WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder in the first round if he worked hard and went through six weeks of training camp.

Further, many people want to see Tyson make a comeback for at least one fight against Wilder. The fans believe that Tyson will knock Wilder (42-1-1, 41 KOs) out in the first two rounds.

“I’m sure that if he trains for 12 rounds, right now, he’ll knock out any heavyweight,” said Dela Hoya about M i k e Ty s o n to The Sun. It would be interesting to see how Tyson

would do against one of the best heavyweights in the division if he went through a full training camp. Of course, it could prove challenging to get one of the top guys like Wilder, Fury, or Joshua to agree to take on the 53-year-old Tyson.

There would be a tremendous backlash for one of them if they were to lose to the former heavyweight champion. It would be a lose-lose situation for any of those current top heavyweights to take on Tyson at this point because they won’t gain anything in facing him other than money.

If they beat Tyson, then boxing fans will downplay their victory by saying, ‘You beat an old man.’ If they lose to Tyson, then it’s career over. The fans would never let Fury, Wilder, or Joshua forget that they lost to the 53-year-old Tyson.

Unfortunately for Tyson, he’s in the same position ‘Big’ George Foreman was in when he launched a comeback in the late 1980s at the age of 40-years-old.

(Boxing News)

when it is appropriate to do so.

“This includes delivering best-practice coaching, refereeing and conditioning webinars, resources and Apps

and, of course, a phased roadmap for the sport’s return to training and playing,” Beaumont said.

Wo r l d R u g b y C h i e f Medical Officer and guideline co-author Dr Éanna Falvey added that they “... have been working in full collaboration with unions, regions, competitions and players in preparing a set of guidelines that are WHO compliant in a rugby context. They outline all the necessary considerations and steps for players, coaches, clubs, unions and competitions and will be updated regularly as the advice and environment evolves.”

The guidelines were authored by Falvey, Dr Martin Raftery (World Rugby), Prav Mathema (Welsh Rugby Union), Prof Mary Horgan (consultant physician of infectious diseases) and supported by data collected through regional COVID-19 steering group chairs who consulted with World Rugby’s 124 national member unions.

Ganguly equates COVID-19 to Test match being played on dangerous pitch

Mike Tyson still capable of knocking out any heavyweight – De La Hoya

By Charles Brun

players, has been busy behind the scenes ensuring that everything is in place for a safe and speedy return to the sport

Sourav Ganguly played in 133 Tests and 311 ODIs for India

T H E Coronavirus pandemic has left the human lives stunned.

Almost 2.5 lakh people have already died due to the virus while more than 3 million are affected with it as well.

The situation is similar in India with the country under lockdown since March 24 and almost 40,000 positive COVID-19 patients.

Looking at the current situation, the former India cricketer and the current BCCI President Sourav Ganguly is extremely disappointed. He has equated this situation with the Test match being played on an extremely dangerous pitch where the batsmen have very less margin of error.

“This situation is a Test match on a very dangerous wicket. The ball is seaming and spinning as well – the batsman has very little margin of error. So, the batsman has to score runs and keep his wicket safe with this little margin of error, and win this Test match,” he said while speaking at ‘100 Hours 100 Stars’, an initiative started by Fever Network.

Sourav Ganguly also expressed his concern over the way the pandemic is making people struggle all over the world even as there is no immediate vaccine for it. He is also scared with the number of people have lost their lives due to the disease and wants all this to end as soon as possible.

“I am really upset seeing the current situation, because so many people are suffering outside. We are still struggling to understand how to stop this pandemic.

This atmosphere all over the world has really bothered

me. We don’t know how, when and where it came from – we all were unprepared for this. People are being affected by this so much.

There have been so many deaths. This situation upsets me, and I also feel scared.

“People come to my house to deliver groceries, food, so I feel a little scared as well. So it’s a mixed feeling. I just want this to end as quickly as possible,” Ganguly further said.

The 47-year-old also revealed that cricket has taught him to be aware in tough situations which is helping him in staying positive at the moment.

“Cricket has taught me a lot. I faced real life, high-pressure situations.

You have to make runs and there is just one ball left. If you make one wrong move, one wrong footwork, you will not get another chance.

These kind of situations make you alert and aware about real life situations,” Sourav Ganguly added.

(CricTracker)

Brathwaite out, Ramdin in PAGE 23

St Kitts & Nevis Patriots for CPL season

… Rayad Emrit to take over as captain

St. Kitts and Nevis Patriots have not retained Carlos Brathwaite who captained the team in the last CPL Former Trinbago Knight Riders’ Denesh Ramdin plays a shot during the 2019 CPL (PHOTO COURTESY CPL T20)

Maradona pleads for ‘hand of God’ to end pandemic

CONCACAF president sights World Cup qualifying format change for 2022 tourney PAGE 23

PAGE 23

FLASH BACK!

Mexico’s Javier Hernández (#14) is swarmed by members of the Golden Jaguars, during their clash with Guyana at the Azteca in the penultimate round of CONCACAF’s 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers

MCC extends Sangakkara’s term for one more year

DIEGO MARADONA... no one is like Rambo in this war, because even Rambo loses against this

LONDON (Reuters) - Former Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara will be offered a one-year extension as president of the Marylebone Cricket Club in the “extraordinary circumstances” resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, the MCC Former Sri Lana said on Wednesday. captain Kumar Sangakkara became the first non-BritSangakkara became ish president of the MCC, the custodian the first non-British of cricket’s laws, when he took over in president of the MCC October last year.

The disruption caused by the outbreak prompted the MCC committee to offer the 42-year-old to continue until Sept 30, 2021, a motion likely to be approved in its June 24 annual general meeting.

“Whilst Presidents of MCC only normally serve for a twelve-month period, it is not unprecedented for longer terms to be introduced to respond to extraordinary circumstances,” MCC said in a statement, citing the stints of Lord Hawke (1914-18) and Stanley Christopherson (1939-45).

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

| THURSDAY, MAY 7, 2020