Guyana_Chronicle_Epaper_05_18_2020

MONDAY 18th May, 2020

No. 106003

‘We’ll accept results declared by GECOM chair’ PAGE

02

… President restates respect for Constitution, GECOM’s independence

‘COVID-19 is not an excuse’

… President dismisses PPP/C’s claims that gov’t using pandemic to stymie vote recount

… says pandemic has already killed thousands of people 12 PAGE

‘My Kidney 14 failed, I thought it was the end’ PAGE

–– recovered COVID-19 patient recounts battle with the disease

President David Granger and Chairman of GECOM, Justice (ret’d) Claudette Singh, during their engagement at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre on Sunday

NA woman killed in hit-and-run accident 15 PAGE

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, May 18, 2020

‘Gov’t will accept results declared by GECOM chair’ … restates respect for Constitution, GECOM’s independence

PRESIDENT David Granger, in iterating a long held position, said his government will accept the result of the General and Regional Elections when it is declared by the Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Justice (Ret’d) Claudette Singh.

“As President of Guyana and Leader of the Government, it is my policy that any declaration coming from the Chairman of GECOM will be accepted by the Government of Guyana. I speak for the Government of Guyana,” the Head of State said.

At the time, he was responding to a series of questions posed by journalists during an interview at the National Aquatic Centre on Sunday, following his visit to the Arthur Chung Conference

Chief Elections Officer (CEO), Keith Lowenfield, briefing President David Granger on the progress of the national recount in the presence of the Chair of GECOM, Justice (Ret’d) Claudette Singh. (MoTP Photo) Centre (ACCC), where the national recount of the votes cast at the March 2020 Gen-

eral and Regional Elections is being conducted.

In putting to rest con-

tentions by the opposition, President Granger, who took office in May 2015 when the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) brought an end to the People’s Progressive Party Civic’s (PPP/C) 23-years reign in office, said the declaration of the result by the Chairman of GECOM will be regarded as legitimate and in accordance with the Constitution of Guyana.

As the national recount enters its 13th day, President Granger, while acknowledging the independence of the Elections Commission as a constitutional authority, said it is not for him to pre-empt the decision of GECOM ahead of the completion of the recount.

“I cannot speculate about an outcome, [for] which I am not aware,” the Head of State told journalists, while adding, “I cannot envisage a situation, in which I would counter or ignore the rulings of GECOM.” President Granger iterated that, he like the rest of Guyana, has little choice but to await a formal declaration of the results by the Chair of the Elections Commission. It has been more than

two months since more than 500,000 Guyanese went to the polls – and the result is pending.

“I have always said I will await the declaration of the Chairman of GECOM… I will await the declaration of the Chairman of GECOM. I cannot say what GECOM will determine, that’s why we’re are here at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, and the Aquatic Centre, to await the completion of a process committed to the recount of the ballots that were cast on March 2,” the Head of State said, while emphasising that he cannot and will not speculate about the outcome of the recount.

It was President Granger, who despite leading the electoral race by more than 7,000 votes, agreed to a national recount after the electoral process was bogged down with a series of legal actions filed by the PPP/C, through a private citizen, Reeaz Holladar, over allegations that the Region Four Returning Officer, Clairmont Mingo, had not complied with the Representation of the People Act in tabulating the statements of poll for his electoral district.

On March 14, one day after Mingo had declared the results for Region Four for a second time, President Granger agreed to a national recount based on an intervention by the Chair of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), Prime Minister of Barbados, Mia Mottley.

The President and the Leader of the Opposition, Bharrat Jagdeo, subsequently signed an Aide Memoire agreeing to the national recount under the supervision of CARICOM. The word “supervised” had posed a number of other legal challenges, which landed the electoral process in the court for a third time and resulted in a group of CARICOM high-level officials withdrawing from the process the same day the

recount was slated to start (March 17).

However, the courts ruled that the Elections Commission, under Article 162 of the Constitution and Section 22 of the Elections Law (Amendment) Act of 2000, had the authority to facilitate the national recount. The Court of Appeal, however, in establishing the independence of GECOM, was keen on noting the Elections Commission is the sole authority responsible for the supervision of elections in Guyana.

GECOM, on April 3, in agreeing to proceed with the national recount, made it clear that while it will supervise the recount, CARICOM will scrutinise the process. The CARICOM high-level delegation, which includes Senior Lecturer at the University of the West Indies, Cynthia Barrow-Giles; Commissioner of the Antigua and Barbuda Electoral Commission, John Jarvis; and Supervisor of St Vincent Electoral Commission; Sylvester King, arrived on May 1, and five days after (May 6), the recount of the votes cast at the General and Regional Elections Commission commenced at the conference centre.

The roles of GECOM and CARICOM were embedded in the gazette order, which brought into legal effect, the recount.

In the eight whereas clauses detailed in the order, the Elections Commission justified its decision to facilitate the national recount, explaining that while General and Regional Elections were held in Guyana on March 2, 2020, the electoral process encountered a number of stumbling blocks, and in some instances, parts of the process were legally challenged in the courts.

It explained that though the declarations See page 9

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, May 18, 2020

‘NOTHING PERSONAL’ –– President says Carter Center excluded due to health crisis, CARICOM’s competency –– urges int’l community to respect Guyana’s COVID-19 travel restrictions

By Lisa Hamilton THE Government of Guyana holds nothing against The Carter Center, and the decision not to approve its re-entry into the country was based solely on the global health crisis and the competency of the CARICOM Scrutinising Team, already present.

This was made clear

by President David Granger to members of the media, on Sunday, following a visit to the recount centre located at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC). On Friday, the government had denied a late re-entry of The Carter Center and the

Speaking to the media, President Granger said that it is public knowledge that leading up to the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections, a range of international observer missions such as the European Union (EU), the Organization of American States (OAS), The Carter Center and others were welcomed to the country.

It was not until after the breakdown in the tabulation of the Region Four Statements of Poll (SOPs) and the expansion of the COVID-19 situation that these missions left the country.

Subsequently, the government implement-

comed to Guyana. But, since March 2, the public health situation has changed drastically all around the world and all we ask is that new requests should be viewed in light of the changed public health situation.

That is a matter for the government of Guyana to decide,” the President stated.

GUYANA TAKES COVID-19 THREAT SERIOUSLY He informed the media that the government takes the threat of the coronavirus very seriously and expects that the measures put in place will be respected by

President David Granger briefs the media at the National Aquatic Centre on Sunday

Flashback: President Granger and team meet the representatives of the Carter Center International Republic Institute (IRI) into the country to observe the ongoing national recount process, citing CARICOM as “the most legitimate interlocutors in the Guyana situation” and the COVID-19 pandemic.

The message was conveyed by Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Karen Cummings to United States (U.S.) Ambassador to Guyana, Sarah-Ann Lynch, who had made the request.

ed a range of emergency measures in response to the pandemic which included the closure of its international ports to entries not deemed as essential. “We welcomed all of those observer missions. We know that The Carter Center is friends with Guyana; we don’t have any problem with The Carter Center or with the EU or with the OAS or with any observer mission that we wel-

the international community.

Furthermore, the Head of State said that there is no doubt that the CARICOM expert team is competent to do the task set out based on an agreement between himself, the Leader of the Opposition and the Elections Commission.

He stated: “The CARICOM team is competent and I am very confident that the work that they will do is

up to international standards. I don’t disparage the CARICOM team, I am not dismissive of their efforts. I went through a lot of trouble, I hosted the Prime Ministers of Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St. Vincent and Trinidad, and I would like to see that mission succeed.”

Prior to her receipt of the letter from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Lynch, during an interview with the 94.1 FM’s Jumpstart

Morning Show, had stated that she believes “additional credibility” is needed in Guyana’s national recount process, in the form of The Carter Center, so that Guyanese can have “complete confidence” that their elections were free, fair and credible.

However, CARICOM has established itself as “the most legitimate interlocutors” in Guyana’s national recount process. In a message to the OAS through Permanent Representative of Barbados to the OAS, Ambassador Noel Lynch, it was stated.

“CARICOM countries are not merely a group of countries held together by rules; the majority of them are held together by values rooted in centuries of history and fraternity, and in a bitter struggle for their peoples’ rights, including the right to elect governments freely and fairly in a democratic process. If democracy fails in any CARICOM country, it fails in the larger Community. If it is imperiled in any part of our Community, it is

imperiled everywhere in it. As an institution, CARICOM cannot allow this to happen in any member state…just as democracy matters to the people of Guyana, so it matters to the Caribbean Community of which the nation of Guyana is a valued member. That is why we of CARICOM regard ourselves as the most legitimate interlocutors in the Guyana situation.”

The CARICOM scrutinizing team arrived in Guyana on May 1 and includes Senior Lecturer at the University of the West Indies, Cynthia Barrow-Giles; Commissioner of the Antigua and Barbuda Electoral Commission, John Jarvis; and Supervisor of the St Vincent Electoral Commission, Sylvester King.

The President has reiterated calls for the i n t e r n a t i o n a l c o mmunity to respect the correspondence of the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the right of the government of Guyana to protect the best interest of its people.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday May 18, 2020

Coronavirus: Obama criticises Trump administration’s virus response

(BBC) Former US President Barack Obama has criticised his successor Donald Trump’s handling of the coronavirus crisis.

In an online address to graduating college students, he said the pandemic had shown that many officials “aren’t even pretending to be in charge”.

It is the second time in recent days that Mr Obama has hit out at the Trump administration’s coronavirus

response.

He said it had been “an absolute chaotic disaster” during a leaked conference call last week.

The former president also gave an address to high school students that was hosted by NBA star LeBron James and was part of a special programme that featured numerous celebrities including the Jonas Brothers, Megan Rapinoe, Pharrell Williams and education ac-

tivist Malala Yousafzai.

In his speech to graduates from several dozen historically black colleges and universities, Mr Obama said the Covid-19 outbreak had exposed failings in the country’s leadership.

“More than anything this pandemic has fully, finally torn back the curtain on the idea that so many of the folks in charge know what they’re doing,” he said.

“A lot of them aren’t even

pretending to be in charge,” he added.

More than 1,200 people have died with coronavirus in the US over the past 24 hours, according to the latest figures from Johns Hopkins University.

The total death toll now stands at almost 89,000, which is the highest anywhere in the world.

Mr Obama also spoke at length about the impact the pandemic is having on black

communities in the US. “A disease like this just spotlights the underlying inequalities and extra burdens that black communities have historically had to deal with in this country,” he said.

African Americans make up a disproportionate number of coronavirus deaths and hospitalisations in the US. The former president also referenced the killing of Ahmaud Arbery - an unarmed black jogger who was shot

and killed by two white men in February - during his address.

He said racial inequalities in the US were made apparent “when a black man goes for a jog and some folks feel like they can stop and question and shoot him, if he doesn’t submit to their question”.

“If the world’s going to get better, it’s going to be up to you,” he told the graduates.

Coronavirus: UK daily death figure dips to lowest since day after lockdown (BBC) The UK’s daily figure for coronavirus deaths has dropped to 170 - the lowest since the day after lockdown began.

The announcement comes a week after the first easing of restrictions in England - and while numbers are typically lower on Sundays, the figure is almost 100 fewer than the

268 reported a week ago.

But the overall death toll remains the highest in Europe, and is now 34,636.

Meanwhile in Spain, the daily number of deaths dropped below 100 for the first time since its lockdown started.

The UK death numbers announced on Sundays and

Monday, May 09, 02:30hrs - 04:00 hrs

Mondays are typically lower than the other five days of the week, due to fluctuations in how quickly deaths are reported by hospitals and care homes.

The UK’s daily figure for coronavirus deaths has dropped to 170 - the lowest since the day after lockdown began.

The announcement comes a week after the first easing of restrictions in England - and while numbers are typically lower on Sundays, the figure is almost 100 fewer than the 268 reported a week ago.

But the overall death toll remains the highest in Europe, and is now 34,636.

Meanwhile in Spain, the daily number of deaths dropped below 100 for the

first time since its lockdown started.

The UK death numbers announced on Sundays and Mondays are typically lower than the other five days of the week, due to fluctuations in how quickly deaths are reported by hospitals and care homes.

This is the lowest number of deaths seen in many weeks, and it’s a positive sign that we are very clearly past the peak of the disease outbreak that triggered a UK-wide lockdown.

But experts caution that reported numbers do dip every weekend - so we can expect the figures to go up a bit again during the coming week.

There is also a lag between some new infections

arising and them sadly resulting in recorded deaths.

It will take weeks to know if any easing of lockdown measures now will lead to a rise in cases and deaths, and by how much.

Experts will be watching closely for signs of a second wave of infections that threaten to overwhelm the NHS. Liker other government ministers during the week, Business Secretary Alok Sharma said the country was moving towards level three of the coronavirus alert system, which would see the gradual relaxation of restrictions, but “to definitively conquer this disease we need to find a safe workable vaccine”.

Speaking at Sunday’s Downing Street briefing, he said the clinical trial for a Covid-19 vaccine at the University of Oxford was progressing well and announced £93m to speed up a new vaccine research lab.

The government has already invested £47m in the Oxford vaccine and Mr Sharma committed to a further £84m of new funding.

He added that pharmaceutical firm AstraZeneca had finalised a “global licensing agreement” with Oxford and the government.

It means if the trial is successful, 30 million doses will be available for the UK

by this September, as part of a 100 million-dose agreement.

Mr Sharma said this would put the UK at the front of the queue for getting the vaccine.

Business Secretary Alok Sharma says research to find a vaccine for coronavirus is progressing at unprecedented speed and with the UK leading it, British people should be at the front of the queue for getting the jab.

Pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca has signed a licensing agreement to make 30 million doses available by this September.

But that’s incredibly ambitious and is conditional on immunisation actually working.

Experts admit an effective coronavirus vaccine may never be found. Trials are under way with volunteers being vaccinated.

It will take months to be sure of success.

That’s why researchers are also backing another horse finding existing drugs and therapies that can be used to improve the survival odds of patients who become extremely ill with coronavirus.

The business secretary also said the opening of the UK’s first vaccine manufacturing innovation centre is expected to take place in the summer of 2021, a year ahead of schedule, after the government’s funding pledge.

“The centre, which is already under construction, will have capacity to produce enough vaccine doses to serve the entire UK population in as little as six months,” he said.

“But if, and it is a big if, a successful vaccine is available later this year, we will need to be in a position to manufacture it at scale and quickly. So whilst assent is being built, the government will establish a rapid deployment facility thanks to a further investment of £38m.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday May 18, 2020

Coronavirus: Brazil overtakes Spain and Italy as new cases grow

(BBC) Brazil has overtaken Spain and Italy to become the country with the fourth largest number of confirmed coronavirus infections in the world.

Officials on Saturday reported 14,919 new cases in the past 24 hours, taking the total to 233,142. Only the US, Russia and the UK have higher numbers.

The daily death toll in the Latin American nation rose by 816 to 15,633 - the world’s fifth highest.

Experts warn that the real figure may be far higher due to a lack of testing.

“Brazil is only testing people who end up in the The real number may be far higher in Brazil due to a lack of testing, health experts say hospital,” Domingo Alves from the University of Säo a real policy to manage the official figure. escalating coronavirus crisis.

Paulo Medical School told outbreak,” he said.

Mr Bolsonaro continues Brazil’s far-right presiMr Alves is one of the au- dent Jair Bolsonaro has been to oppose lockdown meaAFP news agency last week.

“It’s hard to know what’s thors of a study that estimated strongly criticised both at sures. He has downplayed the really happening based on the the real number of infections home and abroad for his virus as “a little flu” and has available data. We don’t have was 15 times higher than the handling of the country’s said the spread of Covid-19

is inevitable.

In April, Mr Bolsonaro joined protesters demanding that lockdown restrictions be lifted. He says the restrictions are damaging the country’s economy, bringing unemployment and hunger.

Last week, Brazilian Health Minister Nelson Teich resigned after less than a month in the job. Mr Teich stepped down after he had publicly criticised a decree by Mr Bolsonaro allowing gyms and beauty parlours to reopen. Mr Teich’s predecessor was sacked after disagreeing with Mr Bolsonaro.

In the face of mixed messages, and with little government help at hand, not enough Brazilians are staying at home to slow the spread of the virus, the BBC’s Americas editor Candace Piette says.

What’s the latest in the

wider region?

Brazil, by far the largest country in Latin America, has for several weeks been at the centre of the coronavirus outbreak.

Latin America and the Caribbean have recorded more than 500,000 infections, with Brazil accounting for nearly 50% of the cases.

Mexico has recently seen a spike in new infections, while Ecuador saw its health system collapse in April.

The sharp rise in cases in Latin America has led the World Health Organization (WHO) to say the Americas are currently at the centre of the pandemic.

In March, the WHO had labelled Europe the “epicentre of the pandemic” but the region is now slowly beginning to ease restrictions brought in to slow the spread of the virus.

Update: Attorney Demands Answers From Gov’t About Ship Workers Coming Home (JAMAICA GLEANER) Fifty-five crew members aboard the Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, currently on route to Jamaica, have retained the services of Jennifer Housen, attorney-at-law.

Housen, in a letter to the Andrew Holness-led Government is requesting that the government confirm if her clients will be allowed to disembark on May 23, 2020 once they arrive in the Jamaican port, and that the period of time served in isolated quarantine on board the vessel will be taken into account, in allowing them to be with their families on arrival.

Housen noted that her clients have completed their online applications through the JAMCOVID website, which would have informed the government of their impeding arrival.

The 55 crew members are among the 1,044 Jamaicans on-board the ship that is ex-

pected to arrive in Falmouth, Trelawny, tomorrow.

However, Health Minister Dr Christopher Tufton says the local health system is “totally unprepared” for the ship workers.

READ: 1,044 ship workers coming but government ‘totally unprepared’ “May I remind the Minister that my clients, along with their additional 989 Jamaican national crew members onboard, have constitutional rights and freedoms. In particular, section 13(3)(f)(i) sets out their right to enter their home country, i.e., “… the right of freedom of movement, that is to say, the right of every citizen of Jamaica to enter Jamaica…” Housen’s letter to the Government said.

She added: “It is my clients’ contention, that the Government of Jamaica, in communications with the cruise line, as far back as mid-March 2020, had requested that my

clients, along with other crew members across the fleet, be quarantined and isolated.

Their further understanding was that the Government of Jamaica’s request for their isolation, was in preparation for them being able to immediately disembark into Jamaica on May 23, 2020, after a short period of processing once they arrive at the Jamaican port on May 18, 2020. Indeed, in such anticipation and

preparation, all of my clients have been in isolation now, for well over 14 days, some from as far back as March 16, 2020. This means, that these Jamaican nationals have been in a ship’s cabin, without personal contact for the last two months. Their meals have been served to them by being left on a stool outside their cabins, and their clothes and bedlinen dealt with sensitively by being placed in plastic

bags and collected outside their cabins to be treated.

They have endured this, in the confident hope of what they were informed was their government’s requirement for their disembarkation.”

In a post on her twitter page, Housen stated that Jamaicans aboard the ship have been sidestepped by the government, whose ministers, amongst themselves, appear to abrogate any responsibility.

Last night, one of the Jamaican crew members told The Gleaner that in preparation for repatriation, some of the Jamaicans aboard the Adventure of the Seas have been in quarantine for a month.

Others who were transferred to that vessel from another have been in quarantine for almost a week, and so, as announced by the captain, although the ship will arrive in Falmouth on May 18, there would be no disembarkation until May 23 - that’s after 15 days quarantine for the transfer batch.

“Senator Honourable Kamina Johnson Smith,... in the premises, therefore, I request the government’s urgent response, certainly by or before May 22, 2020, given the grave and pressing circumstances in which my clients currently find themselves. I look forward to your urgent response,” the statement ended by saying.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday May 18, 2020

Homelessness

AS the government and civil society groups continue to mobilize to render assistance to the most vulnerable groups in our society who have been greatly affected by the current global coronavirus COVID-19 health pandemic, we must spare a thought for the most vulnerable within that cohort; the homeless. Everyday we are confronted with the reality that a sizeable minority of our brothers and sisters do not have a home or place to shelter on a permanent basis. What’s more, during the current health crisis and economic downturn, it is only reasonable to assume that the homeless are now perhaps even more vulnerable when considering how much ordinary citizens have been affected by COVID-19.

The reasons why individuals end up on the street are varied and numerous. Indeed, a large percentage of homeless people suffer from some form of diagnosable mental health illness; however, there is also an assumption that many are also drug addicts who ended up on the streets because of drugs and addiction.

Whatever the case might be in that regard, there should be system set up to manage those who fall into this category so that they could get the help they need to rehabilitate their lives instead of falling further into poverty and obscurity.

Aside from mental health and addiction problems, many homeless people end up on the streets because of some catastrophic incident which they were unable to control or recover from. Many people who live in poverty or who struggle financially to make ends meet could easily fall into this category if some-

thing were to happen which has the effect of disrupting a very precarious financial situation. A fire could have engulfed their home, they may have been evicted due to job loss, they may be fleeing domestic violence or abuse, and the list goes on. Through the myriad of social issues ordinary citizens face in Guyana, one could easily become homeless owing to some unfortunate event.

Reasons for homelessness aside, we must look at what can be done within the existing frameworks to get these people off the streets and into some sort of rehabilitation facility where they might receive counselling, medicine, food and somewhere to call home. According to the Ministry of Social Protection, the Night Shelter facility is one such place where residents are able to access these services. The Night Shelter rehabilitation programme focuses on addressing the issues which may have led to homelessness, as such, they offer counselling for depression as well as other mental health conditions which are prevalent among residents. The programme also tackles substance abuse and self-care.

Similarly, the Hugo Chavez Centre for Rehabilitation and Reintegration caters to the homeless community. The establishment houses up to 180 persons and has a number of amenities including medical, training and recreational facilities. In early 2018, the centre became fully self-sufficient owing to the implementation of the Self-Sufficient Agricultural Economic Services Project which sees the Centre produce its own organic vegetables, chickens and fish. Residents are heavily involved in the management and

Urgent action needed for testing in care homes

Dear Editor

I REFER to a letter to the editor in the Guyana Chronicle, May 14, 2020, titled: “It’s absolutely important that all categories of the vulnerable be reached.”

In the letter it was stated that, “It stands to reason that testing for this very vulnerable grouping should be mandatory, as a means of ascertaining the possible presence of COVID-19-stricken victims and their immediate removal to quarantine or isolation segments.’’ This was in reference to the prior paragraph which had expressed concerns about, “Those within indigent homes, as well as the national geriatric home…”

Editor, at the time those views were expressed, given the high casualty rate in these care homes in Europe, and even within recent times

in the United States, which has now become the global epicentre, with a fatality rate that continues to race towards the six- figure line, and an infected rate of over seven digits.

Though one must commend the pre-emptive measures taken by the authorities to halt visitors to the Palms, yet that seemed not to have been a guarantee of the killer virus not announcing its deadly arrival at such an institution, given the fact that virtually all the residents would be of senior age, and stricken with various ailments. It seems also that it was only a matter of time before its dreaded arrival, given that there were staff, and other persons having to enter its precincts, as reported.

For a care home, although not afflicted like those in other parts of the globe as mentioned, one death, and four other affected

residents, signals four too many; and that it is time for the long-overdue testing for both residents and staff to be carried out without delay.

I will again stress the point – that testing ought to have been in place since the first casualty and quarantine cases were announced in March. Now that it is about to become a daily feature, it will offer authorities an advantage of better anticipation and preparation for any increase.

But this must also be done for the other homes, wherever they may be; any undetected presence of the virus in any of those, given the challenge of asymptomatic persons, can lead to very serious challenges for the national health system, and of course for the wider community.

Regards Aditya Panday

operation of the initiative.

Since the onslaught of COVID-19, we have seen the plethora of non-governmental organisations and other civil society groups do their part to assist those who are less fortunate, including those who are homeless. These organisations have donated food, sanitization products and other amenities to the homeless. However, more can be done.

The government has taken extraordinary measures in order to respond to the COVID-19 health pandemic and with all the international aid that is being sent our way, we may do well to invest in more facilities to shelter homeless people, especially at this time. We need to adopt more creative approaches to tackling these issues. There are a number of derelict buildings all around Georgetown which could be refurbished in order to house the homeless. In the same way the government has commissioned the refurbishment of the Ocean View Hotel to be a COVID-19 hospital, perhaps we could find the funds to do something similar for the homeless. Unlike COVID-19 which will come and go, homelessness has remained a problem in our society for too long.

Finally, though we are confronted with this scourge on a daily basis, it makes it no less uncomfortable to walk past homeless people and ignore their plight. We often feel guilty that perhaps we are unable to do anything to help these individuals. Let us turn that guilt into action and as brothers and sisters of this great nation, let us do more for our neighbours.

A bottle of water, a meal, a blanket or even a conversation could make a difference.

I reject that I at any time said the National Recount is illegal

Dear Editor,

I write in relation to an article appearing on the front page and page ten (10) of the May 17th Sunday Edition of your paper captioned, “National election recount illegal” -AG Williams, Roysdale Forde ...

Party will accept results- Amna Ally.

From the outset I reject that I at any time said the National Election Recount (NER) is illegal. I at all material times have supported His Excellency, President David Granger in his desire to have the presence and contribution of Caricom to determine the credibility of the March 2nd, elections.

Further, the Attorney General did not join with Attorney-at-law, Roysdale Forde in the case to invalidate the NER that was taken to the courts. At all material times I have asserted that the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) is an independent and constitutional body that cannot be dictated to

by any person or authority. I have also cited the decision of the Caribbean Court of Justice to buttress this fact. Also, I have long acknowledged that the NER is not provided for under the national elections law, but GECOM has the power to provide for it under Article 162 (1) (b) of the Constitution making it a constitutional NER. Additionally, I asserted that as a Constitutional NER, it did not have its own procedures and GECOM could make rules for it and did not have to use the provisions of the Representation of the Peoples Act (RPA) Cap 1:03 nor the Election Law Amendment Act (ELA) No.15 of 2000 as contended for by the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C).

I therefore, reject the half-statement in paragraph two of your article to wit “our law did not cater for a National recount, Williams told reporters yesterday.”

In fact Mr. Editor the entire article is riddled either with mis-

statements, half-truths or abject misinformation of what I said.

I will at this time conclude with what I said about the results of the NER. That it was not simply a question of counting of ballots as asserted by the PPP/C but also the question of the credibility of the March 2nd, elections. That only GECOM can determine the question of the results of the NER and the results along with the report on the credibility of the elections must be submitted to it.

At the duly summoned meeting of GECOM the report of the outcome of the NER and the ten (10) declarations already made would give GECOM a panoramic view of the results of 2020 General and Regional Elections (GRE) and they would made the ruling, which President Granger and the Government have always maintained we will abide by.

Respectfully, Basil Williams SC Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday May 18, 2020

Don’t forget our seniors and Amerindian population

Dear Editor,

WE write to follow up on the letter about COVID-19 published in the press on Saturday, May 9. Our intention then was to provide an additional source of information for the public at large. We commented on COVID-19 at the Palms Geriatric Home and the need, if not urgency, for testing of those asymptomatic persons in the at-risk population.

We also pointed out the urgent need to intensify contact-tracing at the Palms and other institutions. This urgency is now immediate as we just learnt that there are five COVID-19 cases and one death at the Home.

We should have trained persons to help the additional five cases recall with whom they have had close contact for the past few weeks. The porters, nurses, maids, doctors, and nurses who dealt with those patients should be encouraged to stay at home and maintain their distance from others for 14 days.

Visitors were not named in that group, as the assumption is that they were all truly banned as of April 2, last, and we hope that living in a society where most people know somebody, a ‘quick visit’ was very few and far in between. The gatemen are not to be blamed but need to be educated, informed, and supported to understand their role, the risk to them, and the risk at which everyone else is placed.

To assist in this endeavour, we suggest the use of former, now treated psychiatric patients as gatemen.

No one is to be allowed, not even politicians, to enter the home without a pass. At the same time, a list of names and addresses of all who enter the compound, will facilitate future (contact) tracing.

All residents and staff should wear masks and the residents, some of whom may be in the early stages of dementia, informed of the need to maintain a six-foot distance from each other as well as the reasons why face cloths or masks are to be worn at all times.

There is without doubt a pressing need to organise social partners to assist in preventing the spread of the

virus. Our elderly population deserve better from us.

Having dealt with the Palms Geriatric Home, we need to turn to the interior of the country, where most of our Amerindian population reside, gold mining is lucrative, and malaria is ever present. As they say in Suriname, ‘looking for gold, finding malaria.’ We may have to adapt that to ‘looking for gold, finding malaria and COVID-19.’

On May 12, news outlets carried a story from Lethem, Region Nine, where a dual Guyana-Brazil citizen was feeling unwell, had a test for both malaria and COVID-19 and was found to be positive for COVID-19. He escaped from the Lethem hospital and was subsequently reached at his home in Bom Fim, just across the border separating Guyana and Brazil.

Detection of COVID-19 can be done in two ways, first by detection of the virus itself using a technique referred to as reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and by the detection of antibodies to the virus in the blood.

To detect the virus, a swab (an extended cotton bud), is used to retrieve a sample of mucus from the nose or throat of the suspected case, depending on the amount of virus present, the sample may or may not have the virus.

The RT-PCR can detect exceedingly small amounts of virus in the body, even before symptoms appear.

It is clear therefore, that the PCR test can detect the virus, if only the sample is properly collected. That is the reason why the test should be undertaken by someone trained in laboratory practices.

On the other hand, antibody tests are done on infected persons and can be detected in the persons’ blood. The antibodies become detectable about seven days after being in contact with the virus and are detected as IgM (Immunoglobulin-M). After 14 days of initial contact with the virus, the body produces Immunoglobulin-G (IgG) which remains in the body and, (if COVID-19 behaves like most viruses), is expected to produce immunity to the disease for a long pe-

riod afterwards. That is the logic behind asking people who have been exposed to the virus to remain isolated from other people for 14 days, ensuring no further transmission or development of symptoms of the disease.

Conversely, there are some people who may have been exposed to exceedingly small amounts of the virus and can be asymptomatic. Hence, the reason for isolation of those persons to reduce greater exposure to, and spread of, the virus.

Hopefully, we can now understand why we have been asked to stay at home, to use a mask when venturing out and to stay at least six feet away from strangers. Results of the COVID-19 test could be available in as few as a day or two.

Malaria can occur with many other infections, COVID-19 being one of them. A suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19 should also receive a malaria test in areas where malaria is endemic.

The symptoms of COVID-19 are varied and include Fever, Cough, Shortness of Breath, Difficulty Breathing, Chills, Muscle pain, Headache, Sore throat, red-eye, diarrhoea, recent loss of taste or smell, persistent pain or pressure in the chest, confusion or inability to wake up easily, bluish lips or face due to reduced oxygen.

Based on that list, those who have had malaria would realise that the symptoms of COVID-19 and malaria are remarkably similar.

Uncomplicated malaria is caused by one of five parasites worldwide and principally from two found in Guyana, Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium falciparum. Either of these cause infected persons to become extremely sick with high fever, chills, and a flu-like illness.

Symptoms of the two diseases are similar, but can vary to a different degree; patients may have a headache, sweats, nausea, vomiting, body aches and general malaise. When malaria becomes severe, as those who have worked in the gold-mining areas of Guyana are aware, it is often caused by P. falciparum. It can result in what

is known as severe malaria, with abnormal behaviour, impairment of consciousness, seizures or a coma and also an acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) an inflammatory reaction in the lungs (very similar to COVID-19).

As the COVID-19 pandemic spread, there were lots of discussions, about the use of Hydroxychloroquine and Chloroquine to treat cases of the disease, but these drugs have not been proven scientifically for use in COVID-19 and is not recommended by the World Health Organization or the Centers for Diseases Control of the USA. On the other hand, Chloroquine is an excellent antimalarial drug; in fact, it is the first line of treatment for Plasmodium vivax malaria in combination with Primaquine. In Guyana, where Plasmodium falciparum has been shown to be resistant to Chloroquine, the first line of treatment is the Artemisinin-based Combination Therapy (ACT) known as Coartem (tablets containing Artemether and Lumefantrine) and a single dose of Primaquine.

The false belief that malaria cannot be cured is because relapses can occur if treatment is not taken completely. That is why we insist that a person with P. falciparum take a complete three-day treatment of ACTs, while someone with P. vivax must take the entire 14-day treatment of Chloroquine and Primaquine.

So, what, and how do we now deal with two similar diseases COVID-19, caused by a virus, and malaria, caused by a parasite principally in the interior of the country; and as reported of the case in Lethem, among those who travel to and from the interior and can spread COVID-19?

We suggest, if not already in place, that a focal point for malaria be appointed on the national COVID-19 task force.

That person could help ensure a rapid response to patients with malaria prevention and management in areas affected by malaria and possibly COVID-19.

The presence of someone with knowledge of malaria would be to identify endemic areas and ensure access to management of those

suspected with the disease at health facilities and communities. Additionally, to estimate the number of diagnostic facilities needed and the population to be served (with Rapid Diagnostic Tests in preference to microscopy for those suspected of malaria), and to identify the logistical needs to ensure coverage on a very timely basis. The result of the malaria test is available in less than an hour.

The tests for malaria and COVID-19 are different.

Malaria can be detected either by use of Rapid Diagnostic Tests (RDTs) or by microscopy, through a finger prick for a blood sample. The tests for COVID-19 are a bit more complicated, with a carefully taken nose or throat swab for detection of the virus (RT-PCR) or a draw of blood for detection of antibodies.

Additionally, there should be an estimated number of tests and treatment needed, Chloroquine and Primaquine for confirpmed P. vivax malaria cases and of Coartem (Artemether-Lumefantrine) and Primaquine for treatment of P. falciparum.

Clinicians and epidemiologists should work together to use their judgment to determine if a patient has signs and symptoms compatible with COVID-19 and whether that patient should be tested.

Asymptomatic infections with COVID-19 have been reported and epidemiologic factors such as known exposure to an individual who has tested positive and occurrence of local community transmission can be used to provide guidelines for testing. We must ensure that malaria testing is done in known malaria endemic areas, as infections can result in death if tests and appropriate treatment are not readily available.

The recommendation from WHO and CDC is that priority for a COVID-19 test be given to older adults and people of any age group who have serious underlying medical conditions, inter alia, persons on treatment for cancer; those with chronic lung conditions; severe asthma; diabetes, chronic kidney and liver disease, etc. We should not forget monitoring of prisons and other shelters for persons with symptoms of the disease.

Let us also not forget the extreme vulnerability of our (older) Amerindian population, as we strive to contain and eliminate the spread of these two diseases.

Regards Keith H. Carter, MD Bhiro Harry, MD Pedro Pons, MD Raj. N. Mungol, MA

The PPP has cherry-picked SOPs from Region 4

Dear Editor,’s

I DO not believe that the PPP’s Statement of Polls are reliable and accurate to form a basis of opinion.

First, the PPP has not disclosed appropriate and sufficient amounts of evidence that could form a basis of an opinion.

The PPP has cherry-picked SOPs from Region Four, though there are 10 administrative regions. Furthermore, under ISA 500,”Audit evidence provided by original documents is more reliable than audit evidence provided by photocopies or facsimiles, or documents that have been filmed, digitised or otherwise transformed into electronic form.” (ACCA Global 2015).

The PPP’s SOPs are uploaded on a website, and thus, the SOPs have been digitised. This illustrates that an auditor cannot rely upon that as evidence, because it is of disrepute under ISA 500. Therefore, as much as the PPP can maintain that their uploaded SOPs are the gold standard of reliability, consistency and accuracy, the professionals would disagree. Aside from that, the PPP has an ulterior motive in uploading the alleged SOPs as “evidence”: they have a monetary incentive to gain to quote from the late Mr. Ronald Waddell: “To raid the treasury.”

Regards, Riaz Hamid

8

AG denies deeming national recount illegal

…clarifies statement to the media Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs has denied telling the media on Saturday that the current national recount is illegal and he offers clarity to his interview in a letter directed to the Kaierteur News which he said had grossly misrepresented what he actually said.

Writing to the Kaieteur News the Attorney General drew attention to the newspaper’s headline in its Sunday edition “National election recount illegal” -AG Williams, Roysdale Forde ... Party will accept results- Amna Ally.

“From the outset I reject that I at any time said the National Election Recount (NER)

is illegal. I at all material times have supported His Excellency, President David Granger in his desire to have the presence and contribution of Caricom to determine the credibility of the March 2nd, elections,” Williams wrote.

Further, the Attorney General said he did not join with Attorney-at-law, Roysdale Forde in the case to invalidate the NER that was taken to the courts. “At all material times I have asserted that the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) is an independent and constitutional body that cannot be dictated to by any person or authority. I have also cited the decision of the Caribbean Court of Justice

to buttress this fact. Also, I have long acknowledged that the NER is not provided for under the national elections law, but GECOM has the power to provide for it under Article 162 (1) (b) of the Constitution making it a constitutional NER,” Williams noted.

Additionally, he said he has asserted that as a Constitutional NER, it did not have its own procedures and GECOM could make rules for it and did not have to use the provisions of the Representation of the Peoples Act (RPA) Cap 1:03 nor the Election Law Amendment Act (ELA) No.15 of 2000 as contended for by the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C).

Williams also rejected what he described as the half-statement in paragraph two of the said KN article to wit “our law did not cater for a National recount, Williams told reporters yesterday.”

“In fact Mr. Editor the entire article is riddled either with misstatements, half-truths or abject misinformation of what I said. I will at this time conclude with what I said about the results of the NER. That it was not simply a question of counting of ballots as asserted by the PPP/C but also the question of the credibility of the March 2nd, elections. That only GECOM can determine the question of the results of the NER and the results along with the report on the credibility of the elections

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday May 18, 2020

Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams, SC

must be submitted to it.

At the duly summoned meeting of GECOM the report of the outcome of the NER and the ten (10) declarations already made would give GECOM a panoramic view

of the results of 2020 General and Regional Elections (GRE) and they would made the ruling, which President Granger and the Government have always maintained we will abide by.”

We need to address issue of bloated list

Dear Editor

FROM the outset, I must stress my steadfast conviction that APNU+AFC have, without an iota of doubt, won the March, 2020 elections. Having said that, my aim today is not to elucidate the APNU+AFC victory; rather, I will be taking that rocky path of a deep reflective contemplation, with a view to developing a better understanding of the term “credible elections.”

For I am forced down this virgin path, to explore the etymological semantics underpinning this term, since many have coined their personally convenient definitions that in my humble opinion is being abused. The fact remains that every year we, descendants of slaves and indentured labourers, would seek out a term that will be used as restrictive chains and shackles for 12 lunar months, as we slavishly follow it. We would remember that 2019 was the year of “dual citizenship,” where all creatures walking, flying, crawling and swimming were echoing the phrase that Nigel Hinds struggled to truthfully divorce himself from. Now, the year of the perfect 2020 vision,

we have enslaved ourselves to the cliche “credible elections.”

And even as I tried to untangle myself from the confinement of these slave chains, I did indulge myself in personal interrogation to ascertain if the credibility of the elections is only assessed on E-day? The rationale underpinning this troubling personal interrogation is to better understand the irrational position taken by PPP, supported by the Ambassadors of the ABC&EU countries to achieve an end which is nigh impossible. Even before I proceed, I know many may wish to include the minion parties and the PSC in the cohort of irrational creatures, but in my view they are very much inconsequential; hence, should be viewed as what they really are, side shows.

The political party whose green and yellow blood pumps through my veins, is on record ad nauseam, as being the lone champion for house-to-house registration. They fought tooth and nail to have a credible voters’ list to go into this “mother of all elections.” They, like most rational Guyanese, recognised that the voters’ list was heavily pregnant, for want of a better word. It still remains unex-

plained as to how can a country with a population of 750,000 have over 650, 000 eligible electors? How can a country have 87% of its population over the age of 18yrs? How can a country with over 200,000 school-aged children have 650,000 eligible electors? Surely, that 650K must include the dead and those who have permanently migrated.

Why only the APNU+AFC recognised this as a potential problem? Can the elections be credible when the voters’ list is not credible? For we all know that the elections are birthed out of the voters’ list. Therefore, if the voters’ list is not credible, then the election which is a product of the flawed list, cannot be credible. Clearly, whatever flawed DNA, please excuse my medical description, that is in the list will be inherited by the elections. To provide an analogy for clarity, if both your wife and yourself are the archetypal African, but she delivers a baby that is the clone of Kim Jongun, I’m confident that we would be astonished, for we expect, via the machinery of genes and DNA, that a product from us should look like us. Therefore, why did we foolishly expect a flawed, highly pregnant voters’

list to produce perfect elections?

Therefore it begs the question, when the U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was demanding credible elections from a flawed voters’ list, he was clearly giving GECOM a basket to fetch water. When the U.S. Ambassador Sarah Lynch, who is now lecturing us on credible elections, having been aware of the highly pregnant flawed voters’ list, then she is demanding the impossible of turning water to wine. When Canada’s High Commissioner Lilian Chatterjee chose not to barge into the GECOM office when she saw that the voters’ list was very flawed, but now joins the choir singing credible elections, then she was better served by asking us to raise Lazarus from the dead. When the British High Commissioner Greg Quinn made no objections to an election with a flawed list, but is now demanding impossible credible elections, then he has completed the quartet and was better off demanding we produce water from stone.

The fact remains that they must have known that the elections were doomed to fraud from the very day we went into the elec-

tion with a flawed, bloated list.

Yet today they are demanding that we must slavishly produce credible elections or face international sanctions. The fact remains that anyone who is now demanding credible elections should have supported APNU in demanding a credible voters’ list. The fact remains that the ABC&EU were all silent, therefore the question is. Why are they vocal now?

The PPP is moaning about fraudulent elections. They cried the loudest; as a result, those who do not understand Guyanese culture, wrongly believed that they are the victims. Many who are presently supporting PPP turned a blind eye to the fact that the PPP fought tooth and nail to ensure that the list remained heavily pregnant.

They refuse to contemplate that the PPP are not the victims, rather they are the architect of this electoral impasse. The fact remains that Jagdeo wanted a bloated list for nefarious means.

His intent was crystal clear for those who chose to see. When he knew he won that battle of maintaining a bloated list, he immediately travelled to America and Canada to instruct Guyanese to return home to vote. He knew

that was never possible since the vast majority are employed to do menial jobs. The fact is “Return home to vote” was a euphemism to post their ID cards or passports to Guyana, then the PPP will take care of the rest.

Further, Jagdeo clearly knew that the dead on the voters’ list aren’t rising from their comfortable coffins to vote.They have earned their rest and will not be getting up to cast ballots. That was easily sorted by his speech, “taking back our country.” The “Our” meant the dead and the living. The living will simply be the proxy voters for the dead.

This should be an invaluable lesson for us all that elections do have genes and DNAs. These genes are the machinery that is utilised to ensure inheritance. We will continue to produce fraudulent elections unless that flawed, highly pregnant voters’ list is allowed to abort all those who are not eligible to be in her womb.

Failing that, we will relive 2020. For those who are now demanding credible elections, I must say it is too late. The horse has already bolted.

Regards Dr. Mark Devonish

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, May 18, 2020

‘Gov’t will accept results ...

From page 2 of the results were made in accordance with Section 84 (1) of the Representation of the People Act, requests for recounts in a number of electoral districts were rejected, aborted, or held in abeyance.

Further to that, a report detailing the results of the elections was submitted to the Chairman of the Elections Commission but that too was held in abeyance, and aspects of the election process challenged in the court.

President David Granger addressing journalists at the National Aquatic Centre following his visit to the Arthur Chung Conference Centre – the venue of the national recount.

(Photo by Elvin Croker) Given the challenges that arose, GECOM took note of the fact that President Granger and the Opposition Leader agreed to a CARICOM proposal for a total recount of all electoral districts as “a means of assuaging the contesting parties and determining a final credible count.” In keeping with the general consensus among the political parties, the Elections Commission initiated the national recount.

President Granger, from the onset, made his position known that he will accept the results of the elections as declared by the Chair of GECOM. “I have said, repeatedly, that I shall accept the declaration of the results by the Elections Commission, which will allow for a democratically-elected government to be sworn in to office,” the Head of State said hours after the Elections Commission had gazette the order.

GGDMA urges miners to respect, work with villages in COVID-19 fight THE Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) is calling on miners to respect the measures put in place by village councils to protect its residents from exposure to the coronavirus.

While noting that mining, an essential industry, must continue to function, the GGDMA said that it shares the concerns of the villages, through which miners must traverse, and urges all miners to take full precautions to ensure that they minimise exposure and interaction with local residents.

Recently the South Rupununi District Council (SRDC) noted that miners have disregarded the measures put in place at villages under its umbrella, noting that it is particularly worried about the continuous influx of miners into the villages while en route to the Wakadanao and Marudi gold mines, and that business people from Georgetown are also adding to the issue. “We find this to be disrespectful and a violation of our right to safeguard the well-being and health of our people.

We are very concerned that persons coming in can bring undetected cases of the coronavirus into the mining areas, which can then spread into our villages,” the SRDC said.

The GGDMA called on miners to swiftly traverse through the villages while following the relevant health

safety guidelines set out by the authorities.

“We urge miners to traverse swiftly and safely through the villages and minimise the length of time they spend in areas in which they are not working. The GGDMA calls on miners to follow all the health and safety guidelines as set out by the Ministry of Health and to work with the various village Toshaos to

all stakeholders to recognise the importance of mining,” the body said.

It said that it supports the right of the villages to put in additional control measures to prevent illegal operators from breaching the rules of social distancing and quarantine, and from unnecessary interaction with village populations. However, it noted that local miners who have the necessary permits

help maintain safety. The GGDMA also calls on the regional authority and the border authorities to ramp up enforcement to prevent illegal border crossings,” the mining body said.

The GGDMA said that, at this time, when Guyana needs all the economic help it can get, mining provides valuable jobs, and, as such, has been recognised as an essential service.

“We welcome the assistance and support of the Region 9 Chairman in helping our members to continue to provide this lifeline for Guyana’s economy. The GGDMA stands in support of the miners who live and work in the various villages in the Rupununi and we urge

and clearances should not be hindered from pursuing a livelihood.

Guyanese miners, like other citizens, have a right to work and pursue a livelihood, the GGDMA said.

“Even in the current pandemic, miners have continued to work to ensure that mining and the many support industries continue to survive,” the body said.

The GGDMA said that mining continues to operate within the guidelines and laws as set out by the Ministry of Health and the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission. It noted that miners remain compliant and call on all stakeholders to cooperate.

“We are in this together and must work to support each

other if we want to get out safely, and even as we learn to live within the pandemic,” the body said.

On Monday last, a Guyanese man with Brazilian citizenship tested positive for the coronavirus, the first confirmed case in the Rupununi.

“The confirmation of the first case of COVID-19 in Lethem, Region 9, on May 11, underscores the urgency and necessity of the measures our villages have put in place,” the SRDC said on Saturday.

Sources say that the man reportedly travelled across SRDC territory to and from the Marudi mines, making stops within several villages along the way. “This case reveals how easy it is for the coronavirus to enter our communities, and why we sent an urgent request on April 14 and 21 that the Government halt mining in the South Rupununi,” the village councils said.

It was noted by the SRDC that, with the participation of village councils, it has been working “hard to protect our people during this global public health crisis.”

It said that this is being undertaken by ensuring that residents have updated, accurate information regarding the pandemic; and that 15 illegal border crossings have been blocked, and monitoring checkpoints and gates into Wapichan territory have been established.

Silvercorp Metals and Guyana Goldfields enter into amending agreement SILVERCORP Metals Inc.and Guyana Goldfields Inc have announced that they have entered into an amending agreement to the arrangement agreement entered into previously.

The earlier agreement had seen Silvercorp agreeing to acquire all of the issued and outstanding shares of Guyana Goldfields by way of a court approved plan of arrangement under the Canada Business Corporations Act (the “Transaction”).

Pursuant to the terms of the Amending Agreement, each holder of Guyana Goldfields shares will receive, for each Guyana Goldfields share held, C$0.25 in cash and 0.1849 of a Silvercorp common share, for total consideration of C$1.30 per share (based on the volume weighted average price for Silvercorp common shares for the 5 trading days ended May 14, 2020).

The terms of the Amending Agreement were agreed following receipt by Guyana Goldfields of an unsolicited all-cash pro-

posal from a third party to acquire Guyana Goldfields. As of the date of this news release, Silvercorp holds 16,549,000 Guyana Goldfields shares, representing 9.48% of the issued and outstanding common shares.

After accounting for Silvercorp’s existing shares, the cash consideration of C$0.25 implies a total cash component of C$39.5 million, and the share consideration of C$1.05 implies a total share component of 29.2 million shares.

Based on these metrics, this would translate into existing Guyana Goldfields shareholders owning 14.4% of Silvercorp’s pro forma basic shares outstanding following the Transaction.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS’ RECOMMENDATIONS Meanwhile, Goldfields said the Amending Agreement has been unanimously approved by the Board of Directors of Guyana Goldfields who

recommend that Guyana Goldfields shareholders vote in favour of the Transaction.

The Amending Agreement has also been unanimously approved by the Board of Directors of Silvercorp.

TRANSACTION CONDITIONS AND TIMING Full details of the Transaction will be included in the management information circular of Guyana Goldfields that is expected to be mailed to Guyana Goldfields’ shareholders in early June 2020.

The Transaction will be subject to the approval of 66?% of votes cast by shareholders of Guyana Goldfields at an annual and special meeting of Guyana Goldfields shareholders scheduled for June 29, 2020.

Commensurate with the increase in consideration, valuing Guyana Goldfields at approximately C$227 million, the Amending Agreement provides for an

increase in the termination fee to C$9.0 million, which is to be paid by Guyana Goldfields to Silvercorp if the Arrangement Agreement is terminated in certain specified circumstances. Other than as described herein, the terms of the Transaction remain unamended, including the terms of the interim loan facility.

None of the securities to be issued pursuant to the Transaction have been or will be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “U.S. Securities Act”), or any state securities laws, and any securities issuable in the Transaction are anticipated to be issued in reliance upon available exemptions from such registration requirements pursuant to Section 3(a)(10) of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable exemptions under state securities laws.

This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, May 18, 2020

Times like these and children SOME adults might find it hard to imagine how children think or feel during these exceptional times, and some children would not bother to tell them.

The main reason why they wouldn’t tell is due to the reaction or lack of reaction they will receive, so they will prefer to bottle things up. Feelings of anxiety and depression at times like these are understandable and they are felt as much by children as they are by adults. Children rely on adults to help them cope during adversities or to at least give them good advice. So if you are an adult with children around you, help them to express how they are feeling and what they are thinking. Have conversations with them safely and openly and stick to the facts. Let them talk and listen to what they say before you try to relieve their concerns.

If they ask you questions, answer to the best of your

knowledge and don’t feel bad if you have to say, ‘I don’t know’ when you’re unsure of the answer. Despite the frustration that we are all going to feel at some time during this pandemic, adults should try to be patient; to stay calm and to always be approachable. Don’t judge a child for the way they are feeling, but explain to them, ‘it’s okay to feel this way, we are living in unusual times’.

If you are spending a lot of time interacting with your child, doing school work and other activities, he/she may prefer to speak to another trusted adult. This should be encouraged; it is a good idea to keep in contact with a sensible circle of friends and family members who are supportive and reassuring.

Children have real fears and anxieties about the things that go on in their lives. They are presently living through a time of profound uncertainty, that is taking place globally.

So when possible, parents should filter the amount of news to which their children are exposed. There is so much negative, sensational, or fake news surrounding the pandemic that it can become overwhelming for children.

Also, children might not realise just how much they are being affected emotionally and psychologically; which in turn, will add to their insecurities and fears.

Adults must explain to them that along with facts there is false and sensationalised information in the mix and some things are uncertain or still unknown.

There is no sign of the pandemic ending soon and children are left to imagine (and become anxious about) so many things, such as a cherished, loved one dying, or whether their family will have enough food. They might even overhear adults speaking about their frustrations at ‘making ends meet’.

Adults must try not to involve children in grown-up problems such as the shortage of money or food and there’s no point in reminding children about how bad things are - on any level. Especially when there is nothing they can do to alleviate the situation; it will only make them feel helpless and guilty.

Up to quite recently, most children would have enjoyed a certain amount of structure and routine to their lives and a huge part of that schedule would have been their attendance at school and mixing with their peers. Not being able to do what comes naturally to a child is difficult to come to terms with. Of course, there is social media where children can see one another and interact, but it’s not the same as real life and the socio-emotional development that is a part of their academic life, for now, has been eliminated.

There is bound to be

some impact on children as we continue to live through this pandemic but parents can lessen their load by firstly recognising that children need reassuring, and secondly, by devising ways to support them. Children feel good when they know what will happen, so parents can plan out their day loosely.

In the mornings, it could be academics, such as schoolwork and reading, drawing and craftwork and in the afternoon, its playtime and fun It is difficult for children not to play; children need play in their lives, yet some parents admonish them for playing, branding them as ‘too playful’. It is even more important for them to play now and every day, rather than to sit and brood about the circumstances. Playing is a great distraction and as they cannot play with their friends see if you can find fun ways for them to play with you. (within reason and in a

respectful manner) Screen time should be balanced and monitored. It doesn’t take long for children to become addicted to their IPad or computer after which, it is nearly impossible to tear them away; you can make some days ‘screen-free days’.

Find practical things to do, that will help and encourage your children; things that widen their knowledge and ability.

Challenge them so they achieve something new each week. But most of all be a listening ear when they need to speak or off-load their anxieties and concerns.

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

COVID-19 cases in Brazil surpass Italy … as virus surges in Latin America

THE GUARDIAN-May 17-2020-People living in the most deprived areas of Britain are more than four times likelier to test positive for COVID-19 than those living in the richest neighbourhoodsIncome ‘key factor in virus cases’ Confirmed Covid-19 cases in Brazil have surpassed the total in Italy and are surging in Mexico and Peru as Latin America struggles to contain its fast-growing coronavirus outbreak. Spain announced that 87 people had died there in the 24 hours to Sunday morning, the first time the figure has been below 100 in more than two months and a sign the virus is being contained in western Europe as it continues to spread aggressively in Russia, India and parts of Africa.

Brazil announced nearly 15,000 new infections on Saturday, taking its total to more than 230,000, the fourth-largest confirmed caseload after the US, Russia and the UK. Its true number of infections is feared to be much greater, given that the country had carried out fewer

than a 500,000 tests by the start of last week, compared with about 1.9m in Spain and Italy.

The country’s response has been hamstrung by the resignation of two successive federal health ministers in the past month who have complained of inaction and interference by the president, Jair Bolsonaro, a rightwing populist who continues to be critical of the shutdown measures implemented by Brazil’s state governments.

“Unemployment, hunger and misery will be the future of those who support the tyranny of total isolation,” Bolsonaro tweeted, a day after Nelson Teich resigned on Friday after less than a month as health minister. Brazil is expected to post its biggest annual economic contraction this year since records began over a century ago.

Even as the world continues to battle the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, several countries, where the daily growth of new infections has reduced, are beginning to take tentative steps to ease lockdown measures

in order to allow citizens to move freely for the first time in weeks and to revive the economy. Click through to take a look at photos showing how countries are slowly and cautiously trying to return to normalcy. Mexico, whose leftwing populist president, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, has also been accused of not taking the virus seriously enough, is nearing 50,000 confirmed cases and experiencing what the country’s assistant health secretary has described as the most difficult moment so far in its effort to contain the virus.

Obrador nonetheless plans to allow Mexico’s car, construction and mining sectors to reopen from Monday, with about 10% of the country’s municipalities that have detected few cases to be allowed to open fully.

The rest of the country will reopen by 1 June, the president said this week, though masks and some physical distancing measures would still be mandatory.

India’s official caseload passed that of China at the weekend. Nearly a third of

the country’s 90,000-plus cases have been detected in the financial capital, Mumbai. The Indian government has said the spread of the virus is slowing despite the difficulties of physical distancing in many cities.

Cases in Russia increased by more than 9,700 on Sunday, a greater rise than on the previous day. The nationwide total stands at at more than 280,000.

Spain recorded its lowest single-day death toll in two months on Sunday.

The country has confirmed 231,350 cases of the virus using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests, and has reported 27,650 deaths.

The prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, announced on Saturday that his socialist-led coalition would be seeking a final, month-long extension of the state of emergency underpinning one of the strictest lockdowns in Europe.

“The path that we are taking is the only one possible,” he said. The government secured the current extension, which expires on 24 May, despite fierce opposition

from the conservative People’s party and the far-right Vox party.

The novel coronavirus, named COVID-19, was first reported in Wuhan, China, on Dec. 31, 2019. It belongs to the coronavirus family of viruses that cause illnesses ranging from the common cold to the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERSCoV) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARSCoV). The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued some guidelines to negate misconceptions among people regarding the current outbreak of the COVID-19.

Click through to get more information on some of the common myths surrounding the virus.

All captions taken from the WHO website are as of May 4, 2020. The organization is assessing ongoing research on the ways COVID-19 is spread and will continue to share new findings. Both parties claim the state of emergency is excessive and no longer necessary, but the government says Spain’s hard-won

gains against the virus must be safeguarded. Sánchez is likely to face another uphill struggle as he prepares to ask MPs to back the final extension in congress later this week. About 70% of the country will be in the second phase of de-escalation by Monday, meaning people can shop in small stores without an appointment, meet in groups of up to 10, and eat or drink in cafe and restaurant terraces, which are operating at 50% capacity.

Greece is continuing to make headway in its return to normality. The government is poised to announce that restaurants and other eateries could open on 25 May, a week ahead of schedule.

Churches were also open to worshippers on Sunday for the first time in two months, albeit with strict distancing rules that kept people 10 square metres from each other.

The country has had one of the earliest and most successful responses in Europe, recording 2,810 confirmed infections and 160 fatalities.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday May 18, 2020

60 boxes counted on Sunday

11 GECOM Public Relations Officer (PRO), Yolanda Ward

---- Recount likely to move to Region Six today

ACHIEVING the highest number to date, the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) closed off Day 12 of the national recount with 60 ballot boxes processed and the official completion of the tabulation process of Region One. This brings the total number of ballot boxes processed to date to 588.

In providing this information to the media on Sunday, GECOM Public Relations Officer (PRO), Yolanda Ward, noted that there were 13 boxes counted from Region Two; 15 from Region Three; 14 from Region Four and 18 from Region Five.

Regarding tabulation, for the General Elections, 543 ballot boxes have been tabulated while 501 have been tabulated for the Regional Elections.

Ward told the media that there are only nine outstanding boxes to be counted for Region Two and therefore the recount of Region Six will likely commence, today, based on the completion of the nine boxes.

The remaining number of boxes to be counted for Region Three is 192; while there are 727 boxes left to be counted in Region Four and 110 in Region Five.

Meanwhile, a certificate has been signed by GECOM and all political parties mark-

ing the completion of the tabulation of the 99 ballot boxes belonging to Region One. Sunday’s recount process went smoothly with no major hiccups noted by stakeholders. Earlier in the day, President David Granger visited the Arthur Chung Conference

The daily recount report provided by GECOM

‘Changes need to be made to prevent delay of elections process’ --President Granger

PRESIDENT David Granger on Sunday said there are changes which need to be made to Guyana’s election system to prevent the occurrence of a prolonged process to a result.

The Head of State was at the time addressing journalists at the National Aquatic Centre, at Liliendaal, following a visit earlier in the day to the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC), where the national recount is currently ongoing.

“We would like to bring the process to a speedy con-

Centre where he met with Chairman of GECOM, Justice (ret’d) Claudette Singh; Chief Elections Officer, Keith Lowenfield; other senior officials of the Elections Commission and members of the visiting three-member CARICOM scrutinising team.

clusion, but a correct conclusion, so that the people of Guyana could be satisfied with the outcome,” President Granger said. The Head of State remarked that the current process is “much too long, and I believe that, given the circumstances, the measures which have been put in place will bring the process to a satisfactory conclusion.”

President Granger noted that there were some issues that were raised with him during his engagement with GECOM executives and the three-member CARICOM team that morning, issues

he deemed confidential, but went on to say that the solutions to those matters will be deliberated and addressed by GECOM chairwoman, Retired Justice Claudette Singh. “There are not issues which, at this point in time, should be subject to public debate, until or unless the commissioners have had a chance to speak on it,” the President clarified.

Today marks 12 days since the commencement of the national recount of ballots cast at the March 2 General and Regional Elections. The process began on Wednesday, May 6.

Man dies following Buxton accident

A 34-year old South Ruimveldt man succumbed on Sunday following an accident involving a motorcycle and car at Buxton, East Coast Demerara on Saturday.

Dead is Errol Abrams called ‘Wooney’.

Reports are that the man, who operates a brush-cutter and lawn maintenance service in the city, was riding along the roadway at Buxton in front of the gas station when he collided with a car.

Police are investigating the accident.

Errol Abrams

Later in the afternoon, People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Executive, Anil Nandall, noted that a number of anomalies were still being raised by the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) while APNU+AFC Executive, Aubrey Norton, highlighted to the media a number of irregularities recorded by the party for Region One. The Commission is still awaiting clearance from the National COVID-19 Task Force with regards to possible additional workstations and will meet again today to discuss recent matters/concerns raised by stakeholders involved.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, May 18, 2020

‘COVID-19 is not an excuse’ … President dismisses PPP claims that gov’t using pandemic to stymie vote recount … says pandemic has already killed thousands of people

By Lisa Hamilton

PRESIDENT David Granger has dismissed allegations that the government is using the current COVID-19 situation as a means of stymieing the work of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM).

Such allegations have originated from the main opposition People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), since the commission first requested of the National COVID-19 Task Force (NCTF) a clear outline of how the recount operation

process.

A report is yet to be received by the commission from the NCTF, but this has not stopped the opposition from suggesting that the government-led task force will set out to politicise the decision in the ruling coalition’s interest.

In a briefing with the media on Sunday, President Granger said that it is ludicrous for one to suggest that the government could use a global pandemic in its interest, when the country’s current guidelines are similar to best practices around the world.

And, if it is the considered judgement of Guyana that certain measures should be enforced to protect the people, that is my duty as president, to protect the people of this country,” he said.

As of May 16, 2020, Guyana officially recorded 117 cases of the coronavirus with 10 deaths. Meanwhile, globally, there are over 4.3 million cases of COVID-19, with over 297,000 deaths.

The Ministry of Public Health has reminded the public that measures can be continuously implemented, but it is up

President David Granger (centre) listens to Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield (right) as Chairperson of the Elections Commission, Justice (ret’d) Claudette Singh looks on. Also photographed is Mr. Joseph Harmon (far left) (MoTP photo) should be physically accommodated in keeping with social-distancing guidelines.

As of recent, the NCTF has been called upon for a second time to determine whether the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC) can host additional workstations to speed up the recount

“COVID is not an excuse, COVID is a reality and we don’t have to use COVID --- a pandemic which has already killed thousands of people all around the world --as an excuse. It is not something whimsical, it is not bad weather, it is a fatal disease and it is not an empty excuse that we’re presenting.

to the individuals --the average Guyanese --- to adhere to those measures for a countrywide ‘flattening [of] the curve.’

Representatives of the NCTF Health Emergency Committee first visited the centre on April 23, 2020 and initially approved the current 10 workstations which are facil-

A nurse on duty at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre sprays a sanitising liquid into the hands of President David Granger before he enters the conference centre. The President’s temperature was also checked before he entered the building (MoTP photo) itating the count of ballots cast in Regions One ,Two,Three and Four.

Last Tuesday, the commission decided to have the number of workstations increased. A site visit was conducted by the health experts on Thursday, and it was expected that a report would have been submitted to the commission by Friday. However, the report containing the advice is still pending.

Already, six locations within the conference centre have been identified by the commission where workstations could be established. It is unclear at this point whether the commission will finalise its decision on the number of workstations to be added in the absence of a report from the task force, or whether it will move to extend the 25-day timeline.

Provided that the

increase in approved, GECOM Chair Justice Claudette Singh hopes to see the recount of at least 100 ballot boxes per day.

Also responding to the allegations of the politicising of COVID-19 on Saturday, Minister of Public Health, Volda Lawrence said that it is not for political parties to dictate how many more workstations should be added to the existing 10, but for all involved to be concerned about the safety of the environment.

“It is not for the APNU or any other political party to say at this point, ‘I want 10 or 20 [workstations],” she said.

“If anybody wants to talk about politicising COVID-19, see the PPP; they are the ones that put people’s lives at stake. Since January when we were talking about it, they were telling people that I was lying; I was using it as a political gimmick.

Well, we have 10 persons dead, and over 100 people who would have contracted this virus, including children, and four families.”

She said it was with safety and security in mind that the elections commission sought the advice of the representatives of the Health Emergency Committee, through the COVID-19 Task Force, on the utilisation of space within the conference centre.

Lawrence also stated that like any other stakeholder in the process, the APNU+AFC is awaiting the report from the task force to move the process forward.

Meanwhile, the President reiterated on Sunday: “I don’t understand that any country in the world could use COVID as an excuse.

COVID is the first public health crisis for 100 years; that’s not an excuse.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, May 18, 2020

Lemon grass a bestseller in COVID-19 pandemic

By Jared Liddell

HERBS have long been used for maintaining a healthy lifestyle in Guyanese households, with persons taking them as immune boosters and cures for various ailments such as the common cold or flu.

Since the advent of the COVID -19 epidemic in Guyana, many persons have been moving in the direction of herbal remedies as a means of building their immune systems and preventing the spread of the coronavirus.

The Guyana Chronicle spoke with several vendors who are in the business of selling ‘Bush’ to gather what their experiences have beenmm throughout this season. Many of them stated that there has been, an increase in the sale of some produce, but there not an overall increase in sales.

Debra Payne, who has been in the business for over 30 years, said that business has been a bit slower since the COVID -19 lockdown, since people have not been coming out as they usually would. Further, she stated that although the business is generally slow, there has been a surge in the demand for certain herbs which have been recommended as immune boosters to help the body fight the coronavirus.

“The amount of sales that we made then we are not really making it now; the only thing that selling a lot is the lemon

grass and the dandelion. The customers are coming, but not on that regular basis as they would as before,” stated Payne.

Another vendor, Khaimisi Jawanza, stated that he has noticed that since the advent of the COVID-19 epidemic, sales have increased for certain herbs and as such, he had taken the opportunity to purchase those herbs in larger quantities to meet the demand of his customers.

Jawanza said, “Well now we noticed that a lot of people coming for the lemon grass, and we noticed that we still getting our regular customers, but most of the people coming for just lemon grass. Just the other day I bought a bag of lemon grass from Linden and brought it here at one o’clock and by time two o’clock all gone.”

He stated that although his lemon grass is selling, his other herbs that he pays for are still there and were it not for his regular customers, it would have been extremely difficult to get the items off his hands.

This paper also spoke to a third vendor, Manasseh Primo, who stated that he has had similar experiences as the other vendors, as it relates to the position he is in as a business person. He also stated that due to people not being able to work and earn their livelihoods, he had taken it upon himself to sell most of his herbs at a reduced cost.

The market continues to operate within the restrictions of the lockdown

Debra Payne with some of the herbs she sells

Khaimisi Jawanza at his stand Manasseh Primo and some of his products

to prevent the spread of the coronavirus with a shorter day, but most of the

vendors stated that this has not affected their business in a big way.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, May 18, 2020

‘My Kidney failed, I thought it was the end’ –– recovered COVID-19 patient recounts battle with the disease

By Navendra Seoraj IT started with just an itch in the throat and ended with his kidney failing, but Kwasi Lewis survived and is here to tell the story of how he survived the battle against the deadly Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) disease.

About five weeks ago, Lewis woke up, thinking it would be another routine day, under quarantine - as the rest of the country - but it was far from that, as it was the first day he experienced a symptom of the COVID-19 disease, a sore throat.

Common knowledge over the past four months has been the symptoms of COVID-19, which according to the World Health Organisation (WHO) include fever, dry cough, tiredness, aches and pains, sore throat, diarrhoea, headache and shortness of breath, among other things.

Note, even prior to COVID-19, a sore throat was and remains a common symptom of the flu or the common cold, conditions which Guyanese usually treat with traditional home

remedies. Not assuming the worst, Lewis though he was just “under the weather.”

“I started feeling an itching in my throat then it quickly escalated in a few days…I got a fever, I started coughing, I had severe diarrhoea and I started to lose energy,” said Lewis in a telephone interview with the Guyana Chronicle.

Knowing that it was definitely not the common cold or the flu, Lewis quickly distanced himself from his family and made contact with the medical professionals at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), who advised him what to do.

Based on guidance and advice from the health workers at GPHC, Lewis made his way to the hospital, where he was screened and tested for the disease.

It was no surprise that the test was positive, but what baffled him was where he could have contracted the disease from.

The survivor said he was very careful, especially after news broke about the disease reaching Guyana.

He said he adhered to all the existing measures, wore

his mask and used sanitisers, but still ended up at the mercy of COVID-19.

The disease didn’t show its severe form at the start, and according to reliable sources from GPHC, Lewis’ condition had become less severe in a matter of days, making him stable.

Considering his stable condition, hospital officials decided that the patient should be transferred to the West Demerara Regional Hospital, another COVID-19 facility, which is used for the isolation and treatment of stable patients.

Like every smooth road, there is bound to be a pothole or two along the way, and Lewis had hit that “pothole” a few days after been isolated at the West Demerara Hospital. Hospital sources told the Chronicle that the patient started to develop severe complications, which persisted and got worse.

His deteriorating health caused concerns at the West Demerara Hospital, to the point where they decided that he had to be transferred back to GPHC. “I got really sick and at GPHC, they discovered that I had Kidney failure… they don’t know if is the

coronavirus caused it because they said it could have happened before but the corona rile it up,” said Lewis, who said he had no known underlying condition, prior to contracting COVID-19.

According to an international organisation called the Urology Care Foundation, the kidneys are two bean-shaped organs, each about the size of a fist. They are found in your back on either side of the spine. Healthy kidneys clean waste products from the blood by making urine. They also balance the amount of certain elements in your blood (such as sodium, potassium, and calcium), and make hormones that control blood pressure and red blood cells.

And, according to the organisation, kidney (renal) failure is when kidneys don’t work as well as they should, meaning they cannot perform the normal functions.

In further recounting his harrowing experience, which was exacerbated by renal failure, he said: “There were times in the ICU I thought it was the

end because I was told if I don’t get a dialysis for my kidney that could be it.”

In order to save Lewis’ life, GPHC had to act quickly and establish a special dialysis unit to treat COVID-19 patients because the risk of spreading the disease would have been high if they had taken him to the normal facility.

The administration of the hospital, as was reported by this publication, managed to make the necessary adjustment and has since established a temporary dialysis unit, the very unit that saved Lewis’ life. He was treated and discharged from the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) last week.

“The team at GPHC is the best, they did their best and I am grateful because I am here today,” said Lewis, adding that while he was grateful for life, he was most thankful because no member of his family contracted the disease.

While the delivery of healthcare played a big part in ensuring that he survived, Lewis said he kept the faith and encouraged himself to get better, every day.

WILL NEVER FORGET Although Lewis was tested twice and cleared of COVID-19, he continues to battle the effects caused by kidney failure.

“This is a battle I will never forget…I am still battling the kidney injury and I have to go to the hospital daily, but I have to keep the faith… I fought many battles and I have to fight this one too,” said the COVID-19 survivor.

Today, he remains a living example of the effects of COVID-19 and he urged persons to adhere to the preventative measure because COVID-19 is real and dangerous.

Lewis is among 43 persons locally, who have successfully battled the COVID-19 disease and have been medically cleared by health authorities.

This, however, does not change the fact that the COVID-19 disease has proven to be a “real killer,”

Kwasi Lewis especially in cases involving persons who have co-morbidities. Ten persons have lost their lives to the disease, in Guyana.

And according to a report from the Guyana Chronicle, most of the persons who died had co-morbidities. In medicine, comorbidity is defined as the presence of one or more additional conditions co-occurring with a primary condition; in the countable sense of the term, a comorbidity is each additional condition.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) had said that 81 per cent of persons who contract COVID-19, will have mild symptoms, while 14 per cent will have severe symptoms and five per cent will need intensive care.

“Most of the people who passed, have [sic] co-morbidities…some had diabetes, hypertension, asthma and one of them even had severe pneumonia, which, without COVID, can also cause death…these, coupled with the complications related to COVID-19, can be dangerous,” said Head of the Department of Internal Medicine at GPHC, Dr. Genellys Camps, during an exclusive interview with the Guyana Chronicle.

In Guyana, as part of strengthening the systems in place to reduce the spread of the virus, the Public Health Ministry had said that alternative arrangements were created for patients who are immuno-compromised, to collect their medication without putting themselves at further risk.

These patients include persons who have cancer, HIV, tuberculosis, sickle cell and other diseases. They were also advised to take extra precautions in order to safeguard themselves.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, May 18, 2020

Canje hit-and-run …

New Amsterdam woman killed on eve of 40th birthday – driver in custody

RELATIVES of Raquel Edwards, who died following a hit-an-run on the Canje Public Road in East Berbice around 20:40hrs on Saturday, are disputing reports that the accident occurred where it is being said it did.

According to Fern Edwards, Raquel’s sister, all evidence, including the flakes of ‘number plate’ picked up from the western shoulder of the road, seem to suggest that the accident occurred about thirty feet from where

Fern Edwards, sister of the deceased it is believed was the point of impact.

Pointing to the bits and pieces from the ‘number plate’ still on the road, Edwards said, “Here is where

Deceased: Raquel Edwards

Raquel’s sister, Fern, points to the flakes of ‘number plate’ still on the spot where she believes her sibling died my sister got hit by the car, an adult son, had moments which was drag-racing. As earlier spoken to him over a result, my sister was flung the telephone, telling him over there.” By “over there” she was on her way home, she meant some 100 feet just before taking leave of away. her friends in the vicinity of “My sister would have the Burnham Park, site of been celebrating her fortieth the synthetic track in New birthday today; she did not Amsterdam. deserve to die in such a manWord is that shortly after ner. Her arms and feet are mounting her bicycle, the broken; there are bruises all guards at the construction over her body. She was partly site heard an impact, and on clad when I saw her,” Fern rushing to the scene, they told the Guyana Chronicle, saw a motorcar, bearing regadding: “We want justice!” istration number PNN 3631, The deceased, who has speeding away.

Young miner killed POLICE are investigating the death of a 17-year-old miner who was shot and killed, on Sunday, by a licenced firearm hold-

er, at Puruni Landing , Mazaruni River.

Dead is Dane Jerrick, of lot 1’A’ Ann’s Grove, East Coast Demerara.

The Guyana Chronicle was made to understand that the teen was shot in his lower back around 03:30 hours by a man who is

Edwards, who was by then unresponsive, was taken to the New Amsterdam Hospital, where, according to what was reportedly told relatives by the doctors on duty, she died shortly after being admitted, due to the severity of her injuries and heavy loss of blood.

Raquel Edwards, who is survived by seven siblings, would be remembered as being a hardworking woman, who made her living by salvaging items from the New Amsterdam dumpsite and reselling them.

The driver of the motorcar involved in the accident, reportedly a mechanic from South Ruimveldt, in Georgetown, has since been arrested and is in police custody.

He is also said to have aced the mandatory breathalyser test.

An investigation is ongoing. currently in police custody. The firearm was also lodged.

The body is presently at Lyken’s Funeral Home awaiting an autopsy which is scheduled for today (Monday).

Investigation is ongoing.

Miner stabbed by reputed wife A 22-year-old miner was, on Sunday morning, allegedly stabbed by his reputed wife over an argument about a cellphone.

Riley Auther of Micobie Village, Potaro River, is currently hospitalised at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), after allegedly stabbed by his reputed wife, Fiona Christopher, a 26-year-old cook, also of the same village.

The Guyana Chronicle

was made to understand that Riley and Christopher are in a common-law relationship but they are not living together currently.

According to information received, on Friday May 15, 2020, Riley borrowed Christopher’s cellular phone and did not return same.

On Sunday, at approximately 02:00hrs, Christopher went to Riley’s home to collect her phone.

Riley refused to give the

woman her cellphone which resulted in an argument between them.

It is alleged that Riley became annoyed and dealt Christopher several slaps, which caused her to cry and walk away.

The woman later returned with a knife and dealt Riley one stab to the left side of his abdomen and made good her escape.

Riley was rushed to Mahdia Regional Hospital where

he was seen and examined by a doctor on duty who transferred him to GPHC for further medical attention.

His condition is regarded as stable. A statement was obtained from him and Christopher was arrested and is presently in custody.

The scene and Christopher’s home were searched for the weapon used to commit the crime but it was not found.

Investigation is ongoing.

Yet another recovery from COVID-19 …Three remain in ICU, 63 in isolation

GUYANA has gone 24 hours without recording a new case of novel coronavirus infection, and this positive development was complemented by the recovery of another person, who successfully battled the deadly disease.

According to recent statistics released by health authorities, the number of recoveries has moved from 43 to 44 over the past 24 hours. This is a positive sign for the country, especially since there has been a consistent increase in cases of COVID-19 over the past few months.

“Most persons will recover from the disease…and recoveries is [sic] a good sign for us,” said Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Karen Boyle, in an invited comment on Saturday.

She cited information from the World Health Organisation (WHO), which states that 81 per cent of persons, who contract COVID-19, will have mild symptoms, while 14 per cent will have severe symptoms and five per cent will need intensive care.

The country has already lost persons to the dreaded disease and a total of 117 persons have been infected to date.

Health authorities have so far tested 1,164 persons for the disease, with 1,047 of those persons being negative.

Three of the infected persons are, however, battling for their lives in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU), while 63 remain in institutional isolation and six in institutional quarantine.

The Guyana Chronicle had reported that detected cases of the disease could be higher than expected, as a number of persons are asymptomatic, meaning that they do not show signs of the disease. At the time of the report, the number of confirmed cases was 116, but health authorities said over 35 per cent or over 40 persons are asymptomatic.

“You should note that over 35 per cent of our COVID-19 cases were actually asymptomatic – had no typical signs or symptoms such as fever, cough, shortness of breath etc…, so even if your temperature is normal, you have to continue to behave as if you have the virus,” said Dr. Boyle, during a COVID-19 update, on Friday.

This now brings to bear the fact that a person’s temperature may be normal, but it does not mean that he/ she is not infected with COVID-19. As it is now, various medical institutions do preliminary screenings by testing persons’ temperatures, but additional measures may have to be employed. Considering the prevailing circumstance, Dr. Boyle said: “You must continue to wear your mask, wash your hands frequently, maintain physical distancing, stay at home and immediately report to the COVID-19 hotline should any symptoms arise.”

With the hope of detecting more cases of the disease, testing and screening will be expanded, said Dr. Boyle, adding that persons should make full use of the existing mobile units, which are available in some communities, mainly in Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica).

Health authorities are working on strengthening the healthcare system to respond to COVID-19 on a longterm basis, and the potential and existing activities are a part of the plan to have a comprehensive COVID-19 health network, whereby patients across the 10 administrative regions will be able to access these services.

Region Four remains the epicentre of the disease, and there are a number of communities, outside of Georgetown which have recorded cases. Among communities on the East Coast of Demerara (ECD) where cases have been recorded are: Atlantic Gardens, Friendship, Golden Grove, Good Hope, Lusignan, Plaisance, and Strathspey.

Among communities on the East Bank of Demerara (EBD) where there were cases are: Diamond, Grove, Land of Canaan, Providence, and Timehri.

Measures can be continuously implemented, but it is up to the individuals, that is the average Guyanese, to adhere to those measures and think seriously about flattening the curve (reducing the spread). The disease remains a serious issue, not just in Guyana, but globally.

And, according to global statistics, there are over 4.4 million cases of COVID-19, with over 302,000 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 preventive measures to contain the spread of the disease.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, May 18, 2020

‘Break the silence on homophobia’ … Commonwealth SG urges on International Day against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia

“AS the Commonwealth joins in solidarity to tackle the multiple impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, it continues to be vitally important for us to unite as a family of nations and the opportunities we provide to connect and cooperate through far-reaching and deep-rooted networks of friendship and goodwill,” Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland said.

She added that International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia 2020 provides the chance to reaffirm our commitment to respect human dignity and to champion human rights.

“Our current Commonwealth theme is ‘Delivering a Common Future: Connecting,

Innovating, Transforming’. Only by working to make the societies in which we live truly inclusive will we make the international progress needed to build and deliver a common future. The dignity and equality of all the people in the Commonwealth, including LGBTI people, must be respected. We must not be silent when human rights are violated, and must speak up boldly for those who cannot or dare not speak for themselves.

“This pandemic is making us freshly aware of the vitally important contributions multilateralism makes by opening up broader horizons for delivering a common future and by bringing to the top of the international agenda the needs of those who have been left

furthest behind. To deliver a common future in accordance with our Commonwealth commitment and the Sustainable Development Goals, we have to actively uphold and embrace diversity, and allow no exception to our understanding that human rights are universal and indivisible, and that they are for everyone and must be respected by everyone.

“Human rights are an asset and assurance for individuals. They offer the real promise to each and every individual of a more meaningful, dignified, and secure life, relating as they do to all those areas of human existence which combine to create the sense and reality of wellbeing. So there are rights pertaining to work, social security, family life, access to

housing, food, water, health care, education, and participation in cultural life. We exercise them to prevent abuses of power and reduce suffering, to empower the disadvantaged and save lives. This is how we combat intersectional marginalisation and break the silence.

“This IDAHOT, with our resolve made more acute by the extraordinary circumstances of the pandemic, our collective commitment must be unequivocally to promote and protect the values and principles of the Commonwealth Charter and of the Sustainable Development Goals, including the rule of law and equal access to justice for all?people throughout the Commonwealth.”

Fugitive suspect in Angoy’s Ave. murder nabbed at Mahdia HOURS after the Guyana Police Force issued a wanted bulletin for his arrest on Friday, Donald Shariff, aged 29, known as ‘Ducky’,

Suspect: Donald Shariff of Patrick Dam, Angoy’s Avenue, New Amsterdam, was found hiding out in Mahdia.

Shariff, who was arrested on Friday, is wanted for questioning into the murder, on March 8, of fellow villager, Keron Nicholson, of Patrick Dam, Angoy’s Avenue, a little squatter settlement just outside of New Amsterdam.

His arrest was spearheaded by Regional Commander, Superintendent Ramesh Ashram, who, accompanied

by Detective Sergeant 16473 Conway, and Lance Corporal 2142 Ali, went to Stone Creek Backdam, in Mahdia, where they found the fugitive.

On March 8, Marley Ross, a serving member of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), recalled seeing a crowd gathered on Patrick

Dam at around 20:00hrs, and, on drawing closer, saw that what had caught their attention was a man lying comatose on the road, with a gaping wound on his forehead.

The injured man, who turned out to be Nicholson, Ross’s cousin, was hurriedly taken to the New Amsterdam Hospital, but his condition was so serious he was immediately transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital Georgetown, where he rallied a few days but later died.

Initial reports were that he was severely beaten about the body during a brawl with another man in Mount Sinai, a community not too far from where he lived on Patrick Dam, on the said eastern

Dead: Keron Nicholson fringes of New Amsterdam.

At first, residents in the former squatting community were not too forthcoming with information, but word on the ground was that the squabble was over the indiscriminate firing of gunshots near the residence of one of Shariff’s relatives.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, May 18, 2020

‘Coalition’ aiming to bridge the digital divide through ICTs – Min. Cathy Hughes MINISTER of Public Telecommunications Cathy Hughes said the Coalition, since taking office in 2015, has sought to bridge the digital divide and make government services more accessible.

In joining the rest of the world in celebration of World Telecommunication and Information Society Day 2020, Minister in a commemorative message noted that, with technology continuously evolving, it is a grand time to be alive. On May 17, the world once again observed World Telecommunication and Information Society Day- an initiative of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).

This year, the event was observed under the theme “Connect 2030: ICTs for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)”.

“The year 2020 marks the 51st anniversary of these observances and reminds us of how important advancements in Information and Communications Technologies - and technology as a whole – are to foster global interconnectedness and development,” she stated.

Minister Hughes noted that the observance of World Telecommunication and Information Society Day should not be taken lightly.

“It seeks to remind us that ICTs play a steadfast role in the development of our societies and economies and bring attention to ways in which we can bridge the digital divide in our own countries.”

She further noted that new ICTs open up possibilities to improve our health, education, economic and security systems. They ex-

pand our abilities to become entrepreneurs, communicate, spread awareness, be entertained and access information. And now, even as the world collectively battles with the staggering effects of a pandemic, ICTs are enabling various stakeholders to innovate in an aim to come up with solutions that can help our people Minister Hughes further stated that, since the establishment of the Ministry of Public Telecommunications after this administration took office in 2015, the Government has sought to revamp and execute a national e-Government Strategy aimed at, not only digitizing government services, but bridging the digital divide among our people. “It is along this thrust that we have connected primary, secondary and tertiary in-

stitutions all across Guyana; distributed laptops to thousands of our teachers and established close to 200 ICT hubs in remote communities countrywide. Initiatives in e-health, e-security and e-education will soon become a reality in Guyana as well”.

Minister Hughes added that, efforts to enable easier communication and promote social distancing, among various members of society, at this crucial time, have also been introduced, through the distribution of tablets to institutional groups in Guyana. “These initiatives are testimony to government’s commitment to ensuring that we are not left behind, as the world undergoes its own rapid digital transformation,” she stated.

Nevertheless, Minister Hughes noted that, while

technology has its benefits, it can sometimes harness negativity such as cyberbullying and hacking.

“Of course, even with its vast benefits, we must also acknowledge and curb the negative responses that advancements in ICTs can evoke such as cyberbullying and hacking. But even as we focus on tackling these and other challenges, we must equally zero in on harvesting the power of ICTs to bring about sustainable development,” she explained.

The Minister further urged Guyanese to take advantage of the opportunities technology has to offer: “So, friends, I urge that we seize the day and harness the endless possibilities around us and forge new ways of creating connected, safe, reliable solutions that can improve

Minister of Public Telecommunications, Cathy Hughes and develop our lives… the future is now, we must simply decide what is the best way of taking advantage of it,” she stated.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, May 18, 2020

Small Business Bureau offering COVID-19 relief to registered entrepreneurs

THE Small Business Bureau is offering relief grants and services to registered small businesses experiencing significant losses due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The bureau, on Sunday, disclosed that the relief support is to strengthen and sus-

tain small businesses, through provision of relief grants to sustain business operations and retain employees, along with training and development support to establish and market businesses through online platforms, diversify businesses and forge supply

partnerships.

Recently, officials from the Ministry of Business Small Business Bureau (SBB) and the Institute of Private Enterprise Development (IPED) had said that they had begun to evaluate the situation, to gauge what help could

possibly be offered.

“We are working out a menu of measures to help them,” shared IPED CEO, Ramesh Persaud.

IPED is a not-for-profit organization that provides business guidance, technical assistance, training and

IPED CEO, Ramesh Persaud finance to micro and small business entrepreneurs.

“We have been in contact with our clients, listening to their challenges. At this stage it is too early to make a full assessment and say what those measures will be specifically, but we do intend to put measures in place,” Ramesh said in a telephone interview last Wednesday.

At the SBB, CEO Lowell Porter also said the bureau

began talks with some of the businesses registered with them.

“We are now talking to them to be guided by what they’re saying. We are asking them straight up what their difficulties since the coronavirus outbreak. From that we are going to understand what they are going through,” Porter explained.

Though the bureau has approximately 10,000 businesses on its database, Porter said, by law, the bureau can only work with those businesses that have been compliant. Only 400 of the registered businesses have been compliant.

Porter commended the moratorium that some commercial banks have put in place, thereby allowing persons leniency on their loan payments. He noted, however, that the bureau is limited in the help it can extend.

“There are a lot of expectations on what the SBB can provide to these businesses that are not true. The SBB doesn’t lend any money; we’re not a lending agency, there’s nobody repaying us for anything,” Porter said.

He suggested that small businesses band together and assess ways in which they could even help each other out. “I advise that they start working together.

Small Business Bureau CEO, Lowell Porter For example, if you own a restaurant arrange with a delivery service. I believe there are opportunities, but we need to talk to the clients first and see what is going on, and we just started that process,” Porter said.

Porter said the bureau is also helping clients with the setting up of online platforms.

“They have to maintain an interface with their clientele. If the business can be done online, they can utilize an online portal.

If they do not have one, we are reviewing how to help them have an online presence,” Porter said.

Persons interested in the grants being offered can contact the bureau on email: funding@sbb.gov. gy and telephone 633-7101, 633-7102 and 608-8494.

IDB and IOM to address migration challenges through new partnership THE Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) have signed a memorandum of understanding to maximise cooperation and jointly promote orderly, regular, and safe migration as an enabler of sustainable development and inclusive growth in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC).

In a release the IDB said along with IOM they will play key complementary roles on addressing and promoting migration management and development issues. Countries in LAC have experienced unprecedented migration flows in the past several years, often creating pressure on countries’ services and capacities.

More than 4.3 million of the approximately 5.1 million refugees and migrants from Venezuela are in LAC, according to data from national immigration authorities and other sources. This makes the current exodus the largest movement of people within the region in recent years.

The COVID-19 pandemic has further strained resources and amplified the need for effective assistance and coordination between both institutions to better serve migrants and host communities.

Migrants are especially vulnerable in the current public health context. Social distancing, one of the most effective measures to “flatten the curve”, is difficult to practice within a population that tends to be highly mobile and often occupies overcrowded spaces. Limited access to potable water, basic

sanitation, and health services exacerbates this vulnerability.

“With the economic slowdown and loss of livelihoods, migrants are already among the most affected groups,” said Luca Dall’Oglio, IOM Chief of Mission in Washington DC. “Enhanced coordination between relevant humanitarian and development actors will ensure a more coherent response to mitigate the impact beyond the immediate crisis.”

Under the new agreement, the IDB and IOM will promote evidence-based migration policies and programs at the regional, country and local levels, while protecting migrants’ human and labor rights and developing institutional capacity.

Additionally, the partners will provide technical assistance to local organizations pursuing initiatives on migration management, in areas including financial inclusion, job skills and labor-market integration, health, social protection, and social inclusion and cohesion. The organizations will also develop knowledge products, including online trainings, on topics of mutual interest.

“The links between migration and development are pivotal for the socioeconomic development of the region,” said Antoni Estevadeordal, Migration Special Advisor of the IDB. “The partnership between IOM and IDB will be an important tool to address human mobility issues and transform migration challenges into development opportunities.”

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, May 18, 2020

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, May 18, 2020

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Monday, May 18, 2020

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

(1) Mushfiqur Rahim-(21 dismissals: 18 catches/3 stumpings) (2) Dinesh Ramdin (20 dismissals: 20 catches) TODAY’S QUIZ:

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Answers in tomorrow’s issue

Air Jordan 1’s sell for more than half a million

(Reuters) - NBA great Michael Jordan’s autographed match-worn sneakers from his rookie season fetched a record $560,000 in an online auction, Sotheby’s said on Sunday.

The Air Jordan 1s, designed for Jordan in 1985 and the first ever signature sneakers, were expected to fetch between $100,000 to $150,000 in the auction that closed on Sunday.

Known for selling multimillion-dollar art, Sotheby’s held its first auction dedicated entirely to sneakers last year and had then set a world record of $437,500 for a pair of 1972 Nike running shoes known as the “Moon Shoe.”

Like most of Jordan’s basketball shoes, they are a mismatched pair in a size 13 (left) and size 13.5 (right).

The auction coincided with the 35th anniversary of the Air Jordan brand and the screening of the 10-part ESPN documentary “The Last Dance” about the Chicago Bulls and Jordan. The final two episodes of the show are set to air later on Sunday.

The shoes were sold by collector Jordan Geller, the founder of the sneaker museum Shoezeum in Las Vegas.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, May 18, 2020

Bayern beat Union as Bundesliga continues

Benjamin Pavard hugged David Alaba after scoring - which went against Bundesliga guidelines

(BBC) - Bundesliga leaders, Bayern Munich, comfortably beat Union Berlin in another strange game as the league’s return continued during the coronavirus pandemic.

It has been allowed to restart without fans, most people off the pitch wearing masks and muted goal celebrations.

Robert Lewandowski gave the champions the lead with a penalty - his 40th goal in 34 Bayern games this season.

And Benjamin Pavard headed in a late second from Joshua Kimmich’s corner.

Saturday’s games gave us an indication of what football will look like for the foreseeable future, as the Bundesliga became the first elite league to return.

And it was more of the same on Sunday, with substitutes and coaches socially distancing on the bench - including using the front rows of the otherwise empty stands.

The footballs were disinfected by ball boys and left in certain spots around the pitch, rather than handing them directly to the players.

Even goal celebrations were mostly done without embracing, although Pavard hugged David Alaba after his late goal.

Players and coaches were quarantined in their team hotels this week, undergoing regular coronavirus testing

and only leaving to go to training together.

Union Berlin coach Urs Fischer had to miss this match because he broke quarantine when his father-in-law died.

The lack of fans was a real shame for Union, whose link with their supporters is legendary in Germany.

This is their first ever season in the top flight, with the fixture against Bayern - who have won the past seven Bundesliga titles - always one of the games fans look forward to the most.

Bayern were comfortable winners in the end, despite only having three shots on target.

Thomas Muller had a goal ruled out by the video assistant referee for offside before Lewandowski scored the opener following a foul by Neven Subotic on Leon Goretzka.

Pavard’s header with 10 minutes to go wrapped up the victory to take them four points above Borussia Dortmund at the top.

“We are happy to have controlled the game and to have brought the three points home,” said Bayern captain Manuel Neuer.

“In games without fans the minutes are very long until the final whistle.”

Uefa has ‘concrete plan’ to finish European football season

(BBC) - Uefa president Aleksander Cerefin says it has a “concrete plan” for finishing the European season “in August”.

BBC Sport reported last month that the Champions League and Europa League are likely to be played in that month.

The quarter-finals and semi-finals are expected to be played over two legs.

The head of European football’s governing body told BeIN Sports: “As things look now, I’m sure that we can finish the European season and this means Uefa competition.”

Liga hopes to do the same in June after players returned to training.

Cerefin said leagues which do not complete the season “will still have to play qualifiers if they want to participate in Uefa competition” next season.

He added: “Only sporting reasons can be the formula for qualifying for the Champions League and Europa League.”

Euro 2020, due to take place from 12 June to 12 July this summer, will now run from 11 June to 11 July next year after a decision to postpone in March.

Liverpool’s defeat by Atletico Madrid in the last 16 in March was one of the last sets of fixtures played in the Champions League

Cerefin said the games will “have to be played without spectators” but hopes the “majority” of domestic leagues will complete the season.

The Champions League, Europa League and Premier League were suspended on 13 March because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Premier League has nine rounds of fixtures remaining, while Paris St-Germain were awarded the Ligue 1 title after the French government cancelled the 2019-20 sporting season.

The German Bundesliga returned behind closed doors on 16 May and Spain’s La

Both semi-finals and the final are due to be held at London’s Wembley Stadium with 11 other host cities: Amsterdam, Baku, Bilbao, Bucharest, Budapest, Copenhagen, Dublin, Glasgow, Munich, Rome and St Petersburg.

Cerefin said the idea is to “stay in the same cities” for the tournament in 2021 and Uefa has had “conversations with nine” of those host cities.

“With three cities, we have some issues. So we will discuss further, and in principle, we will do it in 12 cities. But if not, we are ready to do it in 10, nine or eight,” he added.

PL teams to start training in ‘small groups’

(BBC) - PREMIER League clubs hope to give their players the go-ahead to return to training in small groups this week.

But there is a growing feeling the intended 12 June date for matches to start again will need to be pushed back.

A vote is due to take place on training and medical protocols when the 20 top-flight clubs hold their next meeting on Monday morning.

If passed, players would be able to train in groups of five from Tuesday.

That would be on condition that they observe social distancing rules and adhere to a series of strict criteria, which include getting changed at

home and driving to training grounds on their own.

At least 14 of the 20 clubs must agree that safety protocols are sufficient for the plan to be approved.

The government last week opened the door for the return of elite sport, but several hurdles remain before the Premier League can resume behind closed doors.

Clubs have been carrying out coronavirus testing this weekend to ensure there is no further delay, but a number of players - including Newcastle United defender Danny Rose and Watford skipper Troy Deeney - have expressed concerns about returning.

Players have been asked to sign waivers and

it is understood the Professional Footballers’ Association has offered to get the agreements legally checked if anyone is uncertain.

Club officials have been holding high-level meetings as the legal liability for any player who became seriously ill would fall on them.

It is anticipated a threestep return to action will be implemented. It is hoped to move into the second phase at the beginning of June, which would involve training in larger groups, before a return to contact training.

At the meeting on Monday, clubs will also be updated on talks with police and safety committees over the request to play matches at their own

stadiums rather than at neutral grounds, as initially proposed.

They will also receive a report on the return of Germany’s Bundesliga and will have been heartened to learn there were no instances of fans turning up at stadiums in significant numbers.

Raheem Sterling spoke to United States international Megan Rapinoe in a Zoom chat that was broadcast on YouTube.

Manchester City forward Raheem Sterling said on Sunday that players would need a “full four to five weeks” of training before returning to competition.

Newcastle manager Steve Bruce had earlier told the Sunday Telegraph the

timescale was “at least six weeks”, adding: “I don’t see how we can play games until the back end of June.”

The Premier League is thought to be relaxed, viewing the restart as more important than the actual date.

It also knows that while Uefa hopes domestic leagues are completed by 31 July, there are spare days in August free from European competition to allow outstanding fixtures to be played.

FURTHER TALKS IN THE EFL In addition to the Premier League meeting, League One clubs will hold further talks about how to proceed with their season after a meeting

on Friday ended in deadlock.

Many clubs want the season to end now because of the costs involved but at least seven - including Peterborough, Sunderland, Ipswich and Portsmouth - want to continue.

They hope to have a plan to put before Wednesday’s meeting of the EFL board, which will also have to assess League Two’s proposals for terminating the season.

It is thought unlikely the request to not relegate anyone to the National League will be endorsed, with a number of Championship clubs making it clear they would not agree with any decision that undermines the concept of promotion to the Premier League.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, May 18, 2020

TTCB pauses head coach search CMC – The Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board has put on pause its interview process for a head coach, amidst fears Cricket West Indies’ funding for the Professional Cricket League could fall through.

TTCB president Azim Bassarath, also a CWI director, said serious concerns had been raised about the regional governing body’s finances at a meeting two weeks ago.

And following recent comments from president Ricky Skerritt that the organisation’s body finances were “in ICU”, it was even more imperative the TTCB proceeded with caution in filling the vacant high level post.

Bassarath said the TTCB was hoping for assurances

from CWI at a quarterly board meeting scheduled for later this month.

“We at the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board do not want to put ourselves in a position where if the funding for the PCL cannot come forward, [that we cannot pay the head coach], because the Cricket West Indies funding [is uncertain] as you may have seen [from media reports] where the president has said that the finances are in ICU,” Bassarath told i95FM Radio here.

“We’re very concerned about that because the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board at this stage cannot pay a coach the quantum of money that is allocated for in the PCL. So we want to hold back on that process but be able to go through

putting things in place …”

He continued: “Once that meeting is completed and we get some assurance that the franchise cricket and the funding for that cricket will continue as usual, then we will proceed apace to make sure

TTCB head Azim Bassarath

the coaches are appointed as quickly as possible.

“We will not be able to go into the interview because of course the [applicants] will want to find out about remuneration and if [CWI] cannot give us any word as yet, we will not be able to answer.

“We want to go prepared going into the interview process to make sure that we have all the answers for the coaches when the interview is taking place.”

Skerritt said recently that the COVID-19 pandemic which had forced the cessation of cricket globally, had plunged CWI’s “already poor financial state into ICU”.

And he conceded that while the board has been engaging in “cost-saving” all

Top flight European clubs to lose more than £3.5B (BBC) - Top-flight European clubs stand to lose more than £3.5bn because of Covid-19 even if the major domestic leagues and competitions reach their conclusion.

The figure, across this season and next, was outlined in a meeting of stakeholders within the game last week.

It is estimated if the competitions failed to reach their conclusions, the figure would rise to more than £6.2bn.

The German Bundesliga resumed on 16 May while the Premier League is aiming to restart on 12 June.

The eye-watering sums explain why so much work is going into plans to complete all the competitions - and start next season’s, including the logistical difficulty of organising 203 two-legged qualifying ties involving all 55 Uefa nations, to be completed before the middle of October.

Despite speculation to the contrary, BBC Sport understands that for sporting, political and financial reasons, Uefa is committed to retaining the inclusivity of its competitions and would only cut access as a last resort.

However, adjustments may have to be made, including the potential for one-off ties and regional qualifying, if the process is to be completed in time.

Logistical headaches also exist with the calendar for international football.

Uefa’s plan to normalise the situation is to arrange triple-header international windows in October and November. However, while this might work in Europe, it would be difficult to implement in other confederations given the number of key players needing to make

lengthy journeys ‘home’.

One of the major obstacles to the start of the 202021 international competitions are medical protocols.

Tim Meyer, who is in charge of Uefa’s medical committee, is also responsible for the protocols introduced by the Bundesliga for its return this weekend.

While the 28 clubs from 12 countries still in this sea-

are wrestling with ideas and problems, knowing that the impact of Covid-19 is going to be long-lasting.

Even if leagues restart, for the foreseeable future there will be no spectators in grounds, a situation Borussia Dortmund estimate will cost them £2.6m per game.

Business analysts Vysyble estimate Premier League clubs will lose

drives the game, through the transfer market and more valuable competitions.

“The complete severing of matchday income is the big scare at the moment as these revenues have simply been switched off,” said Charlie Marshall, chief executive of the European Clubs’ Association.

“This is financially devastating for all clubs - partic-

Manchester United could lose £140m if matches are played behind closed doors until the end of the 2020-21 season

son’s Champions and Europa League should be able to adhere to the same protocols, expanding that across an entire continent for the enormous qualification series will prove a different challenge completely.

It has been noted the budgets of many clubs involved are far removed from those commonplace even in the mid-sized leagues.

Long-term issues The numerous committees and working groups that have been set up by Uefa

£878m if matches have to be played behind closed doors until the end of the 2020-21 season. The bigger clubs suffer the heaviest losses, with Manchester United set to lose £140m and Arsenal £122m. Bournemouth’s income would reduce by £6.7m.

This may be viewed by some as a positive in levelling a playing field tilted heavily towards the bigger clubs.

However, others see it as an inescapable fact that finance generated by the elite

ularly those who rely more proportionately on sheer numbers of fans.

“The more popular clubs across Europe are the main drivers of the transfer market and of collective media rights through their halo effect, on which the entire football ecosystem depends.

“Economically speaking, the longer the crisis continues, the less the ability of the so-called bigger clubs to generate their full stack of income, the more serious the knock-on

along, the urgency of the situation now required “cost-cutting”.

The vacant position of Red Force head coach has been wide-publicised and has attracted applications from as far as Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and South Africa.

Incumbent Mervyn Dillon, a former T&T and West Indies fast bowler, led Red Force to a second place finish in the domestic first class championship – their highest ever position since the start of the professional era.

Bassarath said the uncertainty in CWI’s finances would almost certainly lead to a disruption in the Red Force programme.

“We won’t be able to go much longer without appoint-

ing a coach.

The new PCL contracts start on July 1 and that’s why we want to make sure we will have the funding to pay the coach,” Bassarath pointed out.

“It doesn’t make any sense we hire a coach and don’t have the money to pay him – we have to be very careful with what we’re doing at the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board.

We don’t want to put ourselves in a position where we cannot pay the coach …

“We must sign a two or three-year contract with the coach when he is appointed.”

Skerritt said recently that the upcoming meeting would have finance as its sole agenda item as CWI tries to stay afloat in the turbulent time triggered by the pandemic.

FROM No financial TURN PAGE 23 impropriety ...

The report said auditors were unable to find “an executed agreement” for the transaction and added while the funds had been earmarked for cricket development in Dominica, “there was no evidence” that CWI had verified with the Dominica Cricket Association that the monies “were used as directed”.

Nanthan, who served as CWI vice-president for three terms until last year March, stressed there had been no “underhand” activity regarding the transaction and said there had been documentation at every stage to guide the process.

He said CWI had subsequently returned the money to the DCA who had in turn used it for development purposes.

“They (CWI) then sent … a minimal amount to the Dominica Cricket Association within a few weeks if not a month and in the ensuing two quarters afterwards sent the rest of the money to the Dominica Cricket Association to be used and utilised by the Dominica Cricket Association for their cricketing activities,” explained Nanthan.

“The Cricket Association sent on a report about the funds that were received and how they were spent. All those were given to Cricket West Indies.

“Things were done in the correct way. There was even a contract signed between the sponsor and Cricket West Indies for receiving those same funds and disbursing them onto the DCA, and the DCA responded to Cricket West Indies and sent them a note on how the funds were spent.”

He added: “I wasn’t a member of the DCA then but I was the one who negotiated the funds for the DCA and I allowed the funds to go to Cricket West Indies to allow them to host the regional one-day competition.

“As an administrator of cricket, I did what was necessary to get cricket going without any underhand thing … it was always in the best interests of cricket.”

Nathan’s assertions were supported by DCA president, Glen Joseph, who contended that his board was “very transparent in what we do”.

“All money that was sent was received and it was solely used for cricket development purposes,” he said.

“There are documents to prove that these funds were used for cricket development purposes. That I can confirm for anybody.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, May 18, 2020

Lacazette joined Arsenal from Lyon in 2017

Arsenal taking Lacazette report seriously

(BBC) - Arsenal are taking a report that striker, Alexandre Lacazette, inhaled nitrous oxide from a balloon “seriously”.

An article in the Daily Star showed the France striker pictured with a balloon in his mouth, and he is said to have sent a video to friends.

An Arsenal spokesperson added that it was “a private matter” that would be “handled internally”.

Lacazette has previously been warned about a similar offence of inhaling the substance, also known as laughing gas.

Arsenal recently spoke to all their players after Lacazette was one of four players to break social distancing guidelines during the coronavirus lockdown.

On that occasion, the 28-year-old was too close to someone valeting his car.

Sainz could surprise Ferrari, says his former F3 boss

(Reuters) - Carlos Sainz could be a surprise package when he teams up with Charles Leclerc at Ferrari next year, according to the Spaniard’s former F3 boss, Trevor Carlin.

The Briton, who has had a string of Formula One drivers including Sebastian Vettel and Daniel Ricciardo race for him on their way up, told Reuters on Friday that Sainz might even have the advantage.

“I think given the same kit and treatment and cars, he can run him close,” added Carlin.

“I think Carlos is bloody good. Maybe Charles might edge him in qualifying but when it comes to the race, I think Carlos will be all over him. I think he’s going to be fighting to earn his stripes there, he really is.”

Sainz, 25, was introduced on Thursday as Leclerc’s future team mate, replacing four-times

about every reckoning.

The Monegasque now has a contract to the end of 2024 and is expected to be the one leading Ferrari’s bid for a first title since 2008.

From experience and observation, Carlin suggested Sainz might not see it that way.

PRESSURE ON The son of a double world rally champion and three-times Dakar winner,

McLaren’s Spanish driver Carlos Sainz Jr celebrates his thrid place at the end of the F1 Brazil Grand Prix, at the Interlagos racetrack in Sao Paulo, Brazil on November 17, 2019 (Photo by DOUGLAS MAGNO/AFP via Getty Images)

“Ferrari, if they thought they were hiring a number two, might have underestimated Carlos,” he said. “I hope they haven’t done that.

“I know there’s this story going around that Red Bull have got a number one, Mercedes have got a number one, Ferrari have got a number one. But I don’t see that with Carlos.

world champion Vettel whose departure at the end of 2020 had been announced two days earlier.

Australian Ricciardo will move from Renault to take Sainz’s place at McLaren.

Leclerc, 22, won two races for Ferrari in his debut season at Maranello last year and outperformed Vettel, 32, on just

Sainz has always set himself high goals and had plenty to live up to.

“I think the pressure actually will be on Charles’ shoulders,” said Carlin. “When Carlos really steps up he could be the surprise show there and make the tifosi (fans) very, very happy.”

Sainz raced for Carlin in the 2012 British Formu-

la Three and Euro Series, finishing sixth and ninth overall in them respectively.

The Briton said the youngster had not enjoyed ‘the roll of the dice’ back then.

The Spaniard was a Red Bull-backed driver at the time and went on to make his F1 debut with their Toro Rosso junior team before moving to Renault on loan and then McLaren.

“When you go through Toro Rosso and that whole movement around, you don’t necessarily get the chance to develop fully,” said Carlin of a team that has brought on some stellar young talent but also discarded plenty of others.

“To me, the driver we saw 12 months ago at McLaren when he became team mates with Lando (Norris), that’s the Carlos I remembered when he drove for us back in F3.

Far more relaxed, far more comfortable in himself and far more confident.

“He’s matured into the real deal. I was very, very happy for him.”

Carlin said the influence of Carlos Sainz senior, ‘El Matador’, had been evident early on in the youngster’s driving style.

“The one thing we noticed when he drove for us was in the wet Carlos was absolutely exceptional when he started out,” he recalled.

“It was just ridiculous what he could do.

“That comes from driving dune buggies and dirt cars around the fields of Spain with his dad as a teacher. I think he would have been a damn good rally driver as well as a Formula One driver.”

GFF extends condolences to paramakatoi footballer THE Guyana Football Federation (GFF) extends heartfelt condolences to the family of Dat Nagalla Jnr., a former footballer from the Paramakatoi United Spartans Football Club, who died last week at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation.

Nagalla was among a small group who serve as a guide to FIFA’s Director of Member Associations for Africa and the Caribbean, Véron Mosengo-Omba, when he visited North Pakaraimas in 2018 and witnessed the North Pakaraima Football Tournament.

In an invited comment, Mosengo-Omba, who said he remembered him as a “passionate advocate,” also expressed his condolences to his family and community and noted the following: “I’m deeply saddened to hear of the passing of our friend and guide. I remember him very well and his passion for his community and football.”

President Forde, for his part, said it is sad to lose a young and promising athlete: “From reports, Nagalla was a very good footballer and a promising referee and among the thousands of talented athletes from the hinterland who was not just passionate about his game but had the talent to propel him to the next level.

This was exemplified during his participation in the North Pakaraima Football tournament as well as the Indigenous Heritage Games. As a goalkeeeper, his team depended on him.

I’m sure he will surely be missed by both his team and his community. Condolences are therefore extended to both his family and the Region 8 community.”

No financial impropriety from private sponsor - former CWI VP

(CMC) - FORMER Cricket West Indies vice-president, Emmanuel Nanthan, has said there was no financial impropriety regarding a US$134 200 transfer to Cricket West Indies from a sponsor two years ago, which had been targeted for cricket development here.

Nanthan, who was voted out of office last year, said the monies had been meant for the Dominica Cricket Association to fund its cricket academy but were instead sent to CWI to help the cashstrapped regional governing body stage the Regional Super50 Cup. “At a meeting held in September 2018 … the board of Cricket West Indies took a decision that if they could not get the funds within a week for the regional one-day tournament they were going to call off the tournament,” the Dominican said.

“The board asked Barbados to see what they could to assist in meeting some of the costs and asked Trinidad to see what they could do to assist to

meet some of the costs.

“It was as a result of that, that during the week coming on I spoke with the management of Cricket West Indies and allowed the sponsorship funds for the Dominica Cricket Academy to go through Cricket West Indies so Cricket West Indies used the funds to help them host the tournament.”

Questions over the source and use of the monies were allegedly raised in an audit commissioned by CWI, a copy of which was obtained by international cricket television broadcaster Michael Holding.

The legendary former West Indies fast bowler read sections of the audit on the Youtube cricket show called “Mikey – Holding Nothing Back” hosted by Asif Khan.

“What due diligence was performed to ensure that the source of the funds was legitimate and that the funds were clean from an anti-money laundering compliance perspective,” said Holding, quoting from the audit.

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Former Cricket West Indies vice-president, Emmanuel Nanthan

No financial impropriety from private sponsor - former CWI VP

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MONDAY, MAY 18, 2020