Guyana_Chronicle_Epaper_05_19_2020

TUESDAY 19th May, 2020

' No.106004

‘I am confident’ …President Granger not expecting a landslide victory but confident

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…condemns hooliganism at GECOM tabulation centre …urges diplomats not to intrude in affairs of other countries

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Flights approved for stranded Guyanese …Courts gets clearance to re-open stores, Komal Chand’s body to be brought home

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GECOM probing unstamped disciplined services ballots ----proof to be collected on deceased, migrants

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Elderly female security guard found dead in Cemetery

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, May 19, 2020

Flights approved for stranded Guyanese

…Courts gets clearance to reopen stores, Komal Chand’s body to return THE Government of Guyana has approved the controlled re-entry of over 100 Guyanese to their homeland from countries such as Trinidad and Tobago, St. Vincent, St. Maarten and Cuba.

This was one of the main decisions of the National COVID-19 Taskforce (NCTF) during its weekly statutory virtual meeting on Monday [May 18]. Approval for re-entry has been given for a total of 70 Guyanese cruise ship workers attached to Royal Caribbean to return by air; 19 Guyanese students of the Hugh Wooding Law School in Trinidad; 10 Guyanese in St Maarten and four Guyanese in St. Vincent to return via SVG Air. Added to this, the application for the return of the body of trade unionist, Komal Chand, and his wife from Cuba has been approved. Chand died in Cuba, where he was undergoing treatment for a prolonged period of illness. Prior to his death, he served as President of the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU), was pivotal in championing the rights of

sugar workers.

“Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon. Dr. Karen Cummings, met with the son of

proved for a team of officials based in Guyana to travel to Suriname to observe the Surinamese election scheduled

return being borne by the applicants.

Pointing to the specifics, the taskforce said that results

A view of the terminal and part of the runway at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri

Mr. Chand and spoke to Mrs. Chand via telephone and conveyed sympathies on behalf of the government and shared with the family the position of the government,” the NCTF stated in a release.

An application from CARICOM was also ap-

for May 25, 2020 and return to Guyana thereafter. Despite the given consent, the NCTF noted that the approvals are subject to the satisfaction of the requirements of the Ministry of Public Health and other relevant ministries and agencies and the cost of

of COVID-19 test (PCR with results in English language) must be provided 48 hours in advance of an individual’s arrival. If pre-test are not available, prior written consent must be provided by each arriving passenger for quarantine if deemed

necessary by the Ministry of Public Health.

Meanwhile, an application from Caribbean Princess cruise line for 63 Guyanese crew members to return via sea was not approved, given risks involved with seaport entry.

“The NCTF is, however, amenable to considering an application for these crew members to return by air,” the release stated. The taskforce also deliberated on the issue of post-June 3rd emergency measures and the possible phased re-opening of the economy and airspace.

It was noted that there is need for further deliberations in this regard.

Such discussions are in keeping with CARICOM’s plans to simultaneously reopen the region with clearly-establish protocols. Recently, the fiftieth meeting of the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) approved a strategy for the re-opening of economies in CARICOM. The strategy recommends a graduated model which sees governments relaxing restrictions in a deliberate, phased and incremental manner based on the transmission risk profile of the pandemic in specified geographical

locations, sectors or businesses.

The framework suggests establishing a national public private consultative mechanism to govern the relaunch of economic activity at the Member State level; minimum standards which must be attained before relaxation of restrictions and communications to build public trust.

There is also the proposal for Certificates of Operation to be issued to businesses that have been verified to be compliant in the protocols established for the industry.

Apart from re-entry related matters, the taskforce approved an application from Unicomer Guyana to open eight of their Courts stores for the purposes of receiving monthly installment payments from customers.

This approval was granted effective from Wednesday May 20 for Monday to Friday openings during the non-curfew hours. It is subject to the fulfillment of all requirements and is for the following locations: Main Street, Georgetown; Bartica; Richmond, Essequibo Coast; Linden; Mahaica; Parika; New Amsterdam; Diamond.

National Songs remix competition to be hosted The Department of Social Cohesion, Culture Youth and Sport has launched a National Songs remix competition.

The contest is one of the many activities being hosted in observance of the country’s 54th Independence anniversary celebration. Director of Culture Tamika Boatswain said the participants will be required to record their songs on their mobile devices and send them to to the Department of Public Information (DPI).

Their videos then will be posted to the Department of Public Information and Department of Social Cohesion’s social media platforms for the viewing public to select a winner.

The competition will conclude on May 25.

The Director noted that the contest aims to promote the creativity and innovativeness of the participants. “This competition will cause persons to think outside of the box when recording any of the country’s national songs. We expect that each participant will put their heart into it their rendition because, to win, they definitely need that ‘wow’ factor,” she added.

Additionally, the Minister of Social Cohesion Hon. Dr. George Norton disclosed that the department is also planning to create a collaborative national song track with Guyanese artistes.

‘I am confident’

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday May 19, 2020

…President Granger not expecting a landslide victory but confident …condemns hooliganism at GECOM tabulation centre …urges diplomats not to intrude in affairs of other countries

By Lisa Hamilton

While there has been unwarranted interference in the Guyana’s elections process from various groups, President David Granger is confident that Guyana will soon conclude its elections process to the satisfactory international standards.

The President said too that while he is confident in his party’s ability to win the elections, he does not expect a landslide victory based on Guyana’s complex social structure. Even so, he said that his government will continue to pursue a form of government that is inclusionary.

He said that his government wants to have mature discussions with the Opposition, which represents a large portion of the Guyanese society, to deliberate on a way forward in the interest of all. “Let’s not bother with landslide. The parties are near equal,” the President said. “By formula --- as has been laid out by my colleague Rupert Roopnaraine --- people who win 51 per cent of the vote must not behave as if they won 100 per cent of the vote and people who only got 49 per cent of the vote must not be treated as if they got no per cent of the votes and, I live by that. I would like to see an inclusionary form of government Appearing on the Mark Benschop Radio 107.1 FM on Monday evening, President Granger spoke to the many cases in which the country’s previously smooth electoral process was negatively impacted. Very topical during his discussions with the host, was the involvement of the diplomatic community from March 2, 2020 to times present and specific acts of the main Opposition which led to unwarranted disruptions.

UNWARRANTED INTERFERENCE Since the passage of the no-confidence motion against his government, the President said that he has witnessed forms of “hooliganism” meted out by the Opposition which did not work to benefit the Guyanese society in any way.

The beginning of such acts, he said, was the incident in 2019 whereby the protesters led by People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) leaders held Foreign Affairs Minister, Dr. Karen Cummings hostage in her vehicle for over half an hour blocking her way and while others hurled threatening and foul remarks to Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson as he sought to enter the Pegasus Hotel. Inside the Hotel, a former PPP/C Member of Parliament interrupted the keynote remarks of the President with shouting and placards and had reason to be escorted out of the building.

VERY DISAPPOINTING Similar disruptions were witnessed months later at the GECOM Region Four tabulation center when the Opposition stormed the center seeking to the enter the GECOM Chair’s Office and later protested violently in their strongholds injuring several school children and police officers on the job.

“I never really expected to see it again at the GECOM building and during the recount process and, worse yet, I didn’t expect to see it on the streets at Tain on the Corentyne, at Bush Lot and at Bath Settlement at Lusignan. This type of hooliganism doesn’t have a place in modern Guyana,” the President said.

JOE SINGH AND ‘DOGS OF WAR’

tional standards which diplomats are expected to confirm to or comply with and I would urge that, on the basis of reciprocity people, should not intrude on the internal affairs of other countries,” he said.

PREMATURE REMARKS Speaking to the recent remarks of Bruce Golding, former Prime Minister of Jamaica and head of the Organisation of American States (OAS) Observer Mission to Guyana for the March 2020 elections, the President reminded that the recount process is not yet completed and should be allowed its due course before judgments are made.

President David Granger Following the violent event, well-known Major General (Retired) Joe Singh, instead of condemning the act had written a letter urging the President to call off the “Dogs of War” while claiming that he had “forgiven” the President for not selecting him as GECOM Chair in 2019.

The President said: “It is very disturbing that some spokespersons get out and talk about ‘Dogs of War’ but they don’t criticise the persons, the masterminds behind the stoning of school buses.

There is no justification in modern society for adults to stone a school bus in which they know school children were travelling.”

Asked to give his thoughts on the silence of members of the various observer missions who were present in Guyana and at the Region Four Command Center as it was stormed, President Granger said that though he cannot state their thoughts, it is indeed disturbing.

EXTRAORDINARY

BEHAVIOUR He said that while he has observed certain actions and non-actions on the part of some, he has chosen not to make condemning remarks.

“Some of the behaviour was quite extraordinary, especially with regard to the conduct of persons who enjoyed diplomatic status. It is all quite strange. People who should be representing the interest of friendly foreign countries should behave in such a manner but it’s not my style to criticize diplomats,” he said.

Then Head of State stated that Guyana has diplomats around the world and he would not allow them to criticise what the President of a foreign country says or how their elections are run. This is an act in respect of the country’s sovereignty that he had expected in return.

He said that while some embassies have been very respectful --- which the government has recognised – this is not the case for all diplomats.

“There are certain interna-

Only eight days into the national recount, expected to give Guyanese finality on the elections impasse, Golding — a known long-time friend of Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo — had claimed that there was a “transparent effort to alter the results of an election” based only on 20 ballot boxes from Region Four.

However, the President said on Monday: “I thought that the remarks were premature and we should wait on the end of the process.”

SANCTIONS ARE UNJUSTIFIED He also stated that while some political parties in Guyana have been calling on the diplomatic community to heap sanctions on Guyana for their own reasons, one must consider what would happen to the Guyana economy were any form of sanctions to be applied. He said that those who call for this must consider that it would be “extremely damaging” on the country for a very long time and he does not take such calls lightly.

“I do not take these as empty threats and I would not like to see those sanctions inflicted on my country; on my people,” the President said.

“I am concerned about what has been said and the threats that have been made and I do believe that those countries which have indicated that there will be sanctions and those international organisations which are likely to implement sanctions could harm Guyana in a very serious way. But my government has done nothing wrong and I do not think those sanctions could be justified if it is shown that my government has behaved legally and that the elections process was a legitimate one and that it is satisfying international standards.”

I RESPECT THE LAW During the interview, Benschop also posed the question as to why the President did not allow for his swearing-in after the second declarations were made for Region Four. However, the President made it clear that he respects that such an act must come solely from the Elections Commission. “I have never received such a declaration from the Chairman of the Elections Commission. The Chairman of the Elections Commission is a person I respect,” he said.

“I know what some of my supporters have said but I cannot swear myself in and I cannot demand, I have to wait on the process and that process will be determined by what is written in the Constitution, what the rulings of the Court are and what the Commission declares.” He pointed out that even before the March 2, 2020 elections he has always been guided by the Constitution of Guyana and will not do anything which is in collision with the Constitution.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, May 19, 2020

Myanmar police seize largest haul of synthetic drugs

(BBC) Police in Myanmar have seized South East Asia's biggest ever haul of synthetic drugs, the scale of which they described as "off the charts".

More than 200m methamphetamine tablets, 500kg of crystal methamphetamine and 300kg of heroin were found in raids in north-east Shan state.

Thirty-three people were arrested in the operations, which were carried out between February and April.

Myanmar is thought to be the largest global source of methamphetamines.

The suspects told police most of the drugs were destined for sale within Myan-

mar and in neighbouring countries, Colonel Zaw Lin of Myanmar's counter-narcotics agency told Reuters news agency.

More than 3,700 litres of methylfentanyl, a product used to make powerful opioid fentanyl, was also discovered.

Fentanyl is 50 times stronger than heroin and more than 100 times more potent than morphine. It has fuelled an opioid crisis in the US. On average, 130 Americans die from an opioid overdose every day, according to the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

UNODC South East Asia and Pacific representative

The drugs were seized during a three-month-long operation in Shan state

Jeremy Douglas said the discovery was a sign of a new trend of synthetic opioid production

emerging "on a scale nobody anticipated".

Myanmar is the world's second largest

producer of opium, after Afghanistan. Its illicit drug trade has flourished because of its mountainous land and porous borders.

It is located in the "Golden Triangle", an area shared with China, Laos and Thailand, known for supplying drugs, a multi-billion dollar trade.

Between 2018 and 2019, a total of 14 clandestine drug laboratories were seized in Myanmar.

In 2017, a Buddhist monk was arrested in Myanmar and linked to more than four million methamphetamine pills hidden in a monastery.

Coronavirus: European countries further relax restrictions (BBC) Italy and Spain are among a number of Eu-

ropean countries further easing their coronavirus

lockdown restrictions on Monday.

Most businesses in Italy, including bars and hairdressers, are reopening after more than two months of nationwide lockdown measures.

Spain meanwhile has slightly eased restrictions on some of its least affected islands.

The measures follow

consistent drops in the number of daily recorded deaths.

On Sunday, Italy recorded the fewest daily deaths since it entered lockdown in March.

It said 145 people had died with the virus in the previous 24 hours. This marked a significant drop from its highest daily death toll, which was more than

Italians were able to return to espresso counters on Monday as most businesses reopened

Tuesday, May 19, 2020 –– 3:00hrs &14:30hrs

900 on 27 March.

In Spain, the daily death toll fell below 100 for the first time since it imposed its lockdown restrictions.

But officials are warning that complacency over the virus could lead to a second wave of infections.

What's happening on Monday?

Restaurants, bars, cafes, hairdressers and shops have been allowed to reopen in

Italy, providing social distancing is enforced.

Almost 32,000 people in Italy have died in the pandemic, and the economy is expected to shrink by nearly 10% this year.

Catholic churches are resuming Mass, but there is strict social distancing and worshippers must wear face masks. Other faiths are also being allowed to hold religious services.

But health officials have warned of the continued dangers of large social gatherings.

Pope Francis held a private Mass at St Peter's Basilica in the Vatican, which has been disinfected ahead of its reopening to tourists.

The Mass honoured the late Pope John Paul II, 100 years after his birth in Poland.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, May 19, 2020

Coronavirus: Hospitals in Brazil's São Paulo 'near collapse' (BBC) The mayor of Brazil's largest city, São Paulo, has said its health system could collapse as demand grows for emergency beds to deal with coronavirus cases.

Bruno Covas said the city's public hospitals had reached 90% capacity and could run out of space in two weeks.

He accused those who flouted lockdown rules of playing "Russian roulette" with people's lives.

São Paulo is one of the country's worst-hit regions, with almost 3,000 deaths so far.

Brazil's far-right president Jair Bolsonaro has been strongly criticised both at home and abroad for his handling of the country's escalating coronavirus crisis.

He defied global health advice on social distancing on Sunday when he posed for photographs with supporters and children in the capital, Brasília.

On Saturday, Brazil overtook Spain and Italy to become the country with the fourth-largest number of infections.

The health ministry reported 7,938 new cases in the past 24 hours, taking the total above 241,000. Only the US, Russia and the UK have higher numbers.

The death toll in Brazil over 24 hours was 485, meaning that the total number of deaths is 16,118 - the world's sixth-highest figure.

Health experts have warned that the real number of confirmed infections in the country may be far high-

São Paulo's public hospitals could be overwhelmed in about two weeks' time, the city mayor warned

er than the official records, due to a lack of testing.

What did São Paulo's mayor say?

Mr Covas said he was now in talks with the state governor over introducing a strict lockdown to try to prevent hospitals being overwhelmed.

The governor of São Paulo state controls the police, and his support will be essential if a lockdown is to succeed.

Mr Covas called on people to stay at home, saying São Paulo needed to "slow down even more" to reduce contagion.

"It is hard to believe that some prefer the population to be subjected to Russian roulette. Indifference in the

face of death is unseemly," he said.

São Paulo has a population of about 12 million, and official figures show most residents are ignoring social distancing rules.

Tougher lockdown expected A quarantine in São Paulo state was imposed nearly two months ago - businesses, schools and public spaces were closed and people were asked to stay at home.

But there are no costly punishments for those who flout the rules - plenty of Paulistanos (residents of São Paulo city) are still choosing to drive to the beach for the weekend and it's getting locals very cross.

A recent rule brought

in that made the wearing of masks mandatory is often ignored - at the weekend, I saw plenty of people going for their Sunday cycle or run either with no mask or wearing one around their neck.

It doesn't feel as though the virus is being taken seriously.

At the same time, people are seeing Europe start to open up and wonder when it's going to happen here.

But as the mayor said at the weekend, the city has to stop before it can re-open. Many are expecting a tougher lockdown in the weeks ahead.

What's the situation in other parts of Brazil?

São Paulo is not the only region to be badly hit by the outbreak. Amazonas state had more than 20,300 con-

firmed cases as of Sunday, according to official figures.

Health services in Manaus, the state capital, have been overwhelmed and mass graves are being used to bury the dead.

The virus could be particularly deadly for indigenous people living in remote areas of the state with little or no access to healthcare.

Experts are worried by the speed at which the virus is spreading. On 15 April, Amazonas state had 1,554 confirmed cases. One month later, that number stood at 18,392, according to the Foundation for Health Monitoring (FVS).

And it is not just remote states that have high numbers of deaths. Rio de Janeiro has

the second-highest death toll after São Paulo and its doctors have also warned of increasing shortages of beds in intensive care units.

How is President Bolsonaro handling the crisis?

Mr Bolsonaro continues to oppose lockdown measures, arguing that social distancing will wreck the economy.

In March he made a speech calling on mayors and governors to roll back restrictions: "Our lives have to go on. Jobs must be kept.

We must get back to normal."

The president described the closures of businesses and schools, together with restrictions on public transport, as "scorched-earth" policies.

Despite the rapidly rising infection rate, Mr Bolsonaro argued that most people, including himself, had nothing to fear from the virus.

"With my history as an athlete, if I were infected with the virus I would have no reason to worry. I would feel nothing, or it would be at most just a little flu," he said.

Last week, Brazilian Health Minister Nelson Teich resigned after less than a month in the job.

He 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.

Fitzgerald Hinds appointed Minister of Public Utilities, Jason Williams to fill Le Hunte's spot in the Senate

(TRINIDAD GUARDIAN) Fitzgerald Hinds has been appointed as Minister of Public Utilities while radio personality Jason Williams has moved from the studio to the Senate following the resignation Robert Le Hunte over the weekend.

Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley in a state-

ment posted to his social media confirmed he has advised President Paula-Mae Weekes to revoke Le Hunte's appointment as a Senator and Minister of Public Utilities.

Le Hunte issued his resignation as a Senator and Minister of Public Utilities with effect from May 16, 2020, following

a fallout in the cabinet concerning plans for the Water and Sewerage Authority.

Hinds, the Laventille West MP, will take up the Public Utilities portfolio, which he previously held until Le Hunte assumed the position in June 2017.

Hinds, however, will continue his role as Min-

ister in the Ministry of the Attorney General and Legal Affairs.

The Prime Minister also confirmed Williams, who had only last week been announced as the PNM prospective candidate for Barataria/San Juan, will fill Le Hunte's spot in the Senate.

Fitzgerald Hinds has been appointed as Minister of Public Utilities

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, May 19, 2020

Taking actions for our development EVER so often, criticisms can be heard from citizens about their disappointment in the pace and quality of development in the society. Nothing is inherently wrong with this type of discontent, given that it can propel persons to participate in or take proactive decisions to bring about the development desired. Conversely, where opportunities and responsibilities exist to realise these, when they are ignored or flouted they hinder the very desire. For instance, Guyanese bemoan, rightly so, the spate of road accidents and condemn those who are involved. At the same time, even as condemnation is

fitting, those who condemn are themselves guilty of not obeying the traffic laws and good practices of the road. Undertaking, driving above the speed limits, and engaging in other acts of discourtesy while using the roads remain daily features.

When the environment is littered with garbage, its unsightly presence and stench attract the ire of citizens. Among those who condemn are the ones who would throw their garbage around rather dispose of it in a bin or keep it on them until it can be properly disposed of. When City Council and other Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) cannot adequately

provide services, they are condemned. Again, among those who condemn are those who do not pay their taxes, which the NDCs depend on to do their work.

The physical environment can look chaotic, and negative comparisons made, but to seek to bring orderliness by requiring adherence to some systems such as organised parking would, too, be ignored. Drivers will park in areas clearly marked no parking zones, and private property owners and businesses have taken control of the city’s parapets, determining who can or cannot park in front of their premises. Guyanese have the advantage of not only observing from

afar, but also travelling to countries where orderliness in traffic and the physical environment are admired.

Such exposure also allows for comparison with what is happening at home and often condemned. Abroad, Guyanese will not grumble but bid their time waiting in lines, content to observe the prevailing etiquette. The cleanliness of other societies is admired and Guyanese will take their cue in such environments by ensuring proper disposal of their garbage. They also do likewise when using these roads.

These practices are, however, not observed at home and it is not unusual to see the return to unacceptable behaviour soon after deplan-

ing. Paying taxes, obeying the laws, and displaying public courtesy are civic responsibilities and important to the development of every society.

Societies would find it difficult to progress when these values are disregarded. The pursuit and maintenance of this help to explain why deterrence is built into laws -- such as stiff fines for littering -- in order to ensure obedience. It is not a case where Guyanese are incapable of doing the right thing, but there may be need for enforcement such as in increased policing and making the deterrence prohibitive enough to ensure appropriate

behaviour. While some are prepared to uphold their civic responsibilities, where others are not so prepared, strong decisions have to be taken to bring about the needed behavioural change. The clogged drains, garbage thrown around, discourteous drivers, tax defaulters, and other acts of flagrant disregard for laws and proper social conduct not only threaten a nation’s public health, they hinder the type of development the country deserves. This is an area government may find it useful to revisit laws and collaborate with stakeholders.

The plot against GECOM

Dear Editor

IT was quite clear that the David Granger administration that assumed the mantle of the Executive, as a result of the 2015 national and regional elections, had intended to effect governance of the Cooperative Republic in a completely different manner, opposite to the authoritarian experience of the regimes of the PPP/C. This course of action was absolutely carried out in both word and daily actions. For the David Granger administration this meant respect for the rule of law, inherent of

which human rights of citizens were to [be] respected, with the enforcement authorities, for example, being held to professional standards, and accountable for their actions against citizens.

Above all, constitutional organs of state, such as the Judiciary and the Guyana Police force, were now in an era of autonomy and independence of functions, without political interference, as used to be the desultory experience during the era of PPP/C governance. Many other constitutional bodies were finally granted their own budgets, rather than formerly having to depend on the Executive

whims and fancies.

But one must single out the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) for very special mention, given its premier position as the nation’s constitutional body that is tasked with the critical administrative functions of ensuring free, fair and credible elections, inherent of the unfettered exercise of the free will of the people.

There was never a doubt that the president intended that this particular constitutional body was not going to discharge its important constitutional functions in accordance with its constitutional mandate. His pro-

nouncements, ad nauseam, signaled that GECOM was to be allowed to function in a manner which enabled its final discharging of functions to the satisfaction of ALL GUYANESE, SINCE IT WAS an agency that was meant to satisfy its constitutional objective, without any form of interference and that this was to have been respected.

Now, fit this commitment by the President within the context of the PPP/C assault on this state electoral system, and one will certainly comprehend its devious, dishonest and fraudulent plots, against a body which only

sin is that it has indeed been functioning without intrusion, obstruction and influence from the Executive. In fact, it is this latter position, unswervingly consistent, that has lifted the latter above any attempt of accusation, although there have been some efforts, muted, by a ridiculously frantic PPP/C and its vested interest groups.

It further explains why GECOM has since become the target of the most dastardly attacks ever, that begun with the most ridiculous claim of ethnic bias of its employee composition; and its senior staff, as agents of the APNU+AFC, both claims

which did not belong to the table of a genuine assessment of the manner of its professional functions.

For the PPP/C, its decision to bring the nation’s electoral vehicle into disrepute was in keeping with its grand contrived design of tearing to shreds its INDEPENDENT STANDING AND REPUTATION, affixing it with the unfair label as an agency of electoral fraud.

Its incessant demands, unfair for the most part, were also part and parcel to create a wholly false impression of a constitutional body that TURN TO PAGE

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, May 19, 2020

CDB to provide almost US$67 million to seven Caribbean countries …to counter the COVID-19 crisis

… some countries to fall into recession this year THE Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) is making available an amount of over US$66 million meant to facilitate emergency loans to seven Caribbean countries, in the first instance, to finance the response to the COVID-19 pandemic as some of these countries face recession this year.

The Bank’s Board of Directors, on Monday, approved US$13 million for Antigua and Barbuda, US$15 million for Belize, US$2.5 million for Dominica, US$5.9 million for Grenada, US$10.8 million for Saint Lucia, US$11.3 million for St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and US$8.2 million for Suriname.

“The provision of support to the seven countries to respond to COVID-19 and keep critical government services and operations running is urgent to halt the economic decline and minimise social hardship, while giving focused attention to the most vulnerable people,” says CDB President, Dr. Wm Warren Smith.

Health authorities must satisfy safety welfare of election personnel

Dear Editor

THE fact that there has been no response, so far, from the health authorities concerning GECOM’S application for permission to extend its number of work stations at the ACCC, for accelerating the processing of the recount process, can only be interpreted that a very careful assessment is being done as to the possible risks that are involved, not so much with the requested increase of stations, but the number of extra personnel that would most naturally be manning them.

Truth be spoken, it has already been recognized that given the nature of the exercise, that the 25 days initially allotted would be insufficient.

And that is with the number of ballot boxes that have been counted thus far. Of course, both sides of the political divide have recognized such a situation; thus, there is consensus ad idem that would have supported such a request by the GECOM. But I must take issue with

those disgusting pathetic surrogates, masquerading as political parties, but which are really hired mouths, construct of the PPP/C. It is obvious that their accusations, alleging foot-dragging against the health authorities, for the purpose of slowing the recount process, echoes that of their political maker. It is the kind of statement which is totally reckless, as it further displays a scant regard for the preservation of the nation’s general physical safety and welfare. Just two weeks ago, two PPP/C commissioners echoed statements that conveyed the understanding that getting the recount done in the shortest time was more important, regardless of the risk that may threaten the well-being of those electoral staff involved in the process.

The fact of the matter is that, given the reality of the presence of the Pandemic in Guyana, and its constantly increasing number of infected persons, any increase to the already large numbers of personnel has the risk of

influencing the threat of an outbreak.

One is prepared to accept that it is very important for this critical electoral process to be brought to an end, yes; however, it is equally important also that in weighing any consideration for extension of the work stations, that all the prospects be taken on board with regard the REALITIES OF THE KIND OF BIO HAZARDOUS ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH WE NOW LIVE. At the end of whatever is taking place at the ACCC, those staff must all emerge, without having to ponder any challenges to both their physical and mental persons. Neither must their decisions satisfy those who seek power at any costs.

This means that the final decisions of the health authorities must be in keeping with current PAHO/WHO best practices.

Regards Troy Garraway

According to a press release from the CDB, the emergency loans, made under CDB’s most concessional terms, will provide vital liquidity and increase governments’ fiscal space to allow these countries to promptly meet their urgent financing needs without diverting resources away from critical social expenditures or health emergency needs.

“Caribbean countries are especially vulnerable to the global outbreak due to their heavy dependence on tourism for income and employment.

the Mercury Lobbyist Firm.

But it has been its relentless, scurrilous and politically scandalous attacks on the person of the distinguished Chairperson, Madame Justice retired Claudette Singh, that has exposed its strategy to destroy the GECOM as a credible constitutional entity for electoral purposes. And this has been done with a coterie of right wing organisations, and a cabal of opportunists

to contract by 3% in 2020,” the CDB said.

The CD said it is expected that the social impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic will be significant, stemming from an increase in unemployment, and loss of income and livelihoods, as well as substantial disruptions of social services, “with women, female heads of households and children, persons with disabilities, indigenous peoples, and migrants as the most vulnerable groups.”

Seven followers of the Baha'i faith jailed in Iran

Dear Editor

A Revolutionary Court in Iran has sentenced seven followers of the Baha'i faith to a total of 33 years in prison, Iran Human Rights News Agency (HRANA) reported on Thursday.

According to the report, Branch One of the Revolutionary Court in Shiraz, on May 10, sentenced Shahriar Atrian, Navid Bazmandegan, Bahareh Qaderi (Ghaderi), Noura Pourmoradian and Soudabeh Haqiqat (Haghighat) to six years in prison each, Niloufar Hakimi to eight years and Ehsanollah Mahboub-Rahvafa to one year on charges of "propaganda against the regime and membership in anti-regime groups".

Niloufar Hakimi, who has been sentenced to eight years, had previously been sentenced to five years in prison by a criminal court.

Elaheh Samizadeh and

The plot against ... was both undemocratic and unconstitutional. The PPP/C hid behind such deviancy for its larger end of elections with a bloated list.

Its unauthorised criminal invasion of the GECOM command centre at a point when the tabulation process was about to be concluded for declaration of results was the set piece to deceive the international community et al, already prejudiced by the filthy cesspool of

According to CDB estimates, many of these countries, including those which will be supported with emergency loans, will fall into recession this year. Real gross domestic product will decline in Antigua and Barbuda (1.5%), Belize (5.4%), Dominica (2.9%), Grenada (10%), Saint Lucia (9.1%), and St. Vincent and the Grenadines (4.8%).

Suriname, heavily dependent on gold production and export, was also severely hit and the economy almost brought to a complete standstill. Its economy is forecast

whose role of mouthpieces of the Bharat Jagdeo – led PPP/C have reduced them to a level worse than hired mercenaries. Without any fear of contradiction, it is a stirring example of what monies used for politically dishonest ends can bring out in some human beings. And though Guyana has been new to this particular brand of politics, we have surely been made to endure its putridity.

Soudabeh Haqiqat, who have been sentenced to six- year jail terms by the Revolutionary Court, are also awaiting a trial on separate charges by a criminal court.

These Baha'i citizens were arrested in September 2018 by security forces and were released on bail until their trial.

More than 300,000 Baha'is live in Iran. Unlike Christians, Jews and Zoroastrians whose religions are recognized as minority religions by the Iranian Constitution, Baha'is are deprived of the freedom to practise their religion and are not admitted to higher-education institutions and are not allowed to run their own schools.

Although Iran recognises Christianity as a legitimate religion, it punishes those who convert from Islam to Christianity. Converts are subjected to societal and official pressure and often sentenced to prison terms, fines and lashing, but judges also have the power to

FROM PAGE

sentence them to death.

In recent years, many converts to Christianity, mainly to various Protestant, Evangelical and other minority churches in Iran, have been arrested

by Iranian authorities. The number of converts to Christianity is very difficult to verify due to the secretive nature of the communities of Christian converts.

In May 2019, Iran's Intelligence Minister, Mahmoud Alavi, expressed concern over Iranian Muslims converting to Christianity in various parts of the country and said the Intelligence Ministry and the Qom Seminary had taken measures to counter it.

Yours respectfully Rooplall Dudhnath

6

One must give full credit to GECOM for its position of continuing to conclude the March 02 elections, in the most difficult and unfair of circumstances, compounded more so by an opposition who believes that GECOM, as well as other constitutional agencies, are there to carry out its biddings.

Objectively, one has to see the PPP/C’s entire attitude as a well worked out, sinister plan to

destroy the constitutional credibility of GECOM TO SATISFY ITS DISHONEST CLAIMS TO AN ELECTORAL VICTORY WHICH GECOM HAS NOT DECLARED. Regards Earl Hamilton

8

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, May 19, 2020

‘Like it or not Mr. Granger is still President of Guyana’ …Alexander says as opposition frets over the Head of State's visit to ACCC

By Gabriella Chapman THE visit of President David Granger at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC) on Sunday, has left the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) pressed, and making several absurd allegations.

On Monday, PPP/C agent, Sase Narine Singh, told the media that his party is highly upset with the preferential treatment the President received, and that he (the President) was allowed a ‘private meeting’ with the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) staff and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), which is a privilege not extended to other Presidential candidates.

This alleged ‘secret meeting’ was also pointed out by Singh, as being published on the front page of all the local publications, as well as it was said to the media in a press conference, but yet, still being deemed ‘a secret’.

“I saw that Mr. Granger had a secret and private meeting with the staff in the presence of the chair of GECOM, however, none of the other commissioners of GECOM were present, specifically the PPP/C com-

missioners. Two weeks ago Dr. Frank Anthony and I were accused of having a so called secret meeting, but my integrity will not permit any secret meetings in this process, I know my place…

ers. Granger is a political participant and ought to know better… I expect from GECOM, good action and a moral road map to do this right,” Singh argued.

Responding to the let-

we like it or not, or whatever view you may have about it, he still happens to be the President of the country. And I think one cannot not take cognisance of that fact,” Alexander told

GECOM Commissioner, Vincent Alexander

PPP/C agent, Sasenarine Singh

And the APNU+AFC made a lot a noise about it, yet those same representatives held a private meeting with the staff of GECOM to which no independent observers were present, with a political contestant. There were no independent observers, no transparency and openness. If a political participant really wants to meet GECOM he/she is free to meet all the commission-

ter issued, as well as the comments from Singh, GECOM’s Commissioner, Vincent Alexander, said that he finds it quite absurd that the visit of the President to the recount venue, would stir such loathing, and would have to strip him of his Presidency and revert to that of ‘candidate’.

“It is true that he is the presidential candidate of APNU+AFC, but whether

those workstations, with professional officers. All of whom, for the time being, have been doing a good job.

Too often in this country we are in the realm of criticising things which are not to

the media.

In fact, he said when the General Secretary of PPP/C, Bharrat Jagdeo visited the centre, he too met with Chair to GECOM’s and the other commissioners were not called to be present. “I don’t think the presence of Granger or Jagdeo or anyone of them irrespective of whom they meet with, should be impacting the process. The process is in

be criticised,” Alexander said.

Referring to the contents of PPP/C’s letter as “acts of absurdity”. Addressing specifics of the letter, GECOM’s Public Relations Officer, Yolanda Ward, confirmed that one of the GECOM staff was promoted to the position of a workstation supervisor, but it had nothing to do with the President’s visit.

“It was because we have two staff who are functioning in the capacity of supervisors that were here from the start of the recount exercise. One from region one – the Returning Officer, and he left yesterday to head back to Moruca for a week, so there was a need for that position to be filled at that workstation, with a supervisor and so the staff was placed there,” Ward clarified.

She said that this is not the first time this happened, as another supervisor from Region Two went home for three days, and another was promoted to cover for the days.

Ward noted too, that the meetings the President had with GECOM and the CARICOM, were not secret meetings. “…but a meeting which says to us that he is grateful for the progress we have made in the conduct of this exercise and really express his expectations in terms of the process concluding in an expeditious manner,” she said.

Trainee nurses to get E-tablets –as part of the Ministry of Public Telecommunications’ internet access expansion plan To ensure nurses in training can continue their studies during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond, the Ministries of Public Telecommunications and Public Health have partnered to provide them with E-tablets.

Speaking on NCN’s Independence Forum, Minister of Public Telecommunications Hon. Catherine Hughes said that the move will help to produce more robust nurses to help Guyana’s health sys-

tem. Stating that the Public Telecomm8unications Ministry was ahead of the curve in the last few years, Minister Hughes reminded that over 170 communities received internet access for the first time in the last five years. This is in keeping with the Sustainable Development Goals that outline internet access as a basic human right.

Minister Hughes also noted that Guyana has increased its ranking moving from a 37 percent internet

penetration rate to 51 percent. “That is reflective of the thrust of the Government… access to the internet is very important for development, for learning, for health, telemedicine, for entrepreneurial activities.” The Ministry of Public Telecommunications is also looking into improving connectivity for families and students who are now working and learning from home. The Ministry is looking into ways

to provide and improve online learning through smart classrooms. “We want to ensure that more students at home can connect to these services. We are not where we want to be. We need to make sure that more families can have more internet connectivity,” Minister Hughes added.

Minister of Public Telecommunications Hon. Catherine Hughes

9

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, May 19, 2020

COVID-19 update…

Seven more test positive

--another recovers, three in ICU GUYANA has recorded seven new cases of the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) over the past 24 hours, taking the total number of confirmed cases to 124.

After going one day without recording new cases, health authorities reported on Monday that seven new cases were detected after testing 54 persons for the disease over the past 24 hours.

“Today, we are in our ninth week since the first case of COVID-19 was diagnosed, and, sad to say, we have not begun to slow the rate of transmission, as our numbers keep climbing every week,” Director of Primary Health Care Services, Dr. Ertenisa Hamilton reported on Monday during the daily virtual update on COVID-19.

Of the seven new cases, six were males, which is a clear indication that the disease is being spread predominantly among men.

The total number of persons tested to date is 1,218, with the results of 124 proving positive.

Seizing the opportunity to laud ancillary staff for putting

their best foot forward, Dr. Hamilton said: “We wish to thank the staff at the National Public Health Reference Laboratory for showing up every day and working beyond the call of duty.”

Not yet done, he said: “As you are aware, testing is ongoing at this facility, and, to date, we have had no incidence that can threaten the integrity of the results produced by the laboratory. We applaud your outstanding efforts for making an impact on this pandemic, as we work towards containing this disease.”

The good work of frontline workers continues to bear fruit, as another person successfully battled the COVID-19 disease and has joined 44 others who have recovered after contracting the disease.

There are, however, 69 active cases, and of the lot, three persons are being treated in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU), while 66 are in institutional isolation.

CAUSE FOR CONCERN Health authorities are concerned that these num-

bers could rise because of imported cases, which could stem from Brazil, where over 15,000 persons have lost their lives to the disease and over 200,000 persons were infected.

On Sunday, it was reported that the number of deaths in neighbouring Brazil has surpassed that of Italy, France and Spain.

“I cannot overemphasise how troubling this is for us, especially as our residents in Region Nine continue to traverse the borders without fear,” Dr. Hamilton said, adding: “Region Nine has reported only one case, which was imported, and with all the efforts by regional authorities, we urge the residents to comply and stop the spread of this disease in your region.”

Health authorities continue to work towards strengthening the healthcare system to respond to COVID-19 on a long-term basis, and the potential and existing activities are part of the plan to have a comprehensive COVID-19 health network, whereby patients across the country’s 10 administrative regions will be

Director of Primary Healthcare Services, Dr. Ertenisa Hamilton

able to access these services.

Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) 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 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

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 4.5 million cases of COVID-19, with over 307,000 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.

ECLAC reaffirms commitment to Caribbean tackle challenges posed by COVID-19 The Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), Alicia Bárcena on Friday told an extraordinary meeting with ambassadors and representatives from the permanent missions of 31 countries in the region to the United Nations about the actions and proposals the organisation has made recently in response to the crisis unleashed by COVID-19.

On this occasion, the senior official presented the Gateway for Follow-up on the Sustainable Development Goals (https:// agenda2030lac.org/en), which is the result of a joint effort by the United Nations System in the region, along with the COVID-19 Observatory in Latin America and the Caribbean and the three special reports produced by ECLAC on the pandemic’s socioeconomic impact in the region.

The meeting, carried out in preparation for the operational activities of the development

segment of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), was presided over by Ana Silvia Rodríguez, the Permanent Representative of Cuba to the United Nations, in that country’s capacity as president pro tempore of ECLAC and of the Forum of the Countries of Latin America and the Caribbean on Sustainable Development.

Other participants included Ambassador Juan Sandoval Mendiolea, Deputy Permanent Representative of Mexico and Vice President of ECOSOC, who is leading the Operational Activities for Development Segment, as well as preparations for the next High-Level Political Forum (HLPF); Rodrigo A. Carazo, the Permanent Representative of Costa Rica, the country that will take over ECLAC’s presidency next; and Janine Felson, Belize’s Alternate Permanent Representative to the UN. “As the United Nations Secretary-General (António Guterres) has underscored many times, this

is a global crisis that requires global and regional solutions. Improved multilateralism and greater regional cooperation are key to being able to overcome the enormous social and economic impact that the pandemic is having in all countries,” Alicia Bárcena told the diplomatic officials.

In her remarks, ECLAC’s highest authority stressed that the multilateral system must remain strong to focus on a better reconstruction, with the aim of attaining the main objective, which is to achieve more egalitarian, inclusive and sustainable societies and economies, with greater resilience to face the emergence of biological risks, climate change, and many other global challenges that will stay with us in the near future.

“We are highly convinced that today, regional cooperation and integration is more important than ever, and that it is vital that ECLAC’s subsidiary bodies continue working actively to support the efforts of its countries to cope

with the varied and complex challenges that you are facing today and in the future,” Bárcena stated.

At the meeting, ECLAC’s Executive Secretary presented the SDG Gateway, a platform for follow-up of the 2030 Agenda, which was developed jointly by the entire UN Development System in the region and is aligned with the UN Secretary-General’s recommendations.

In addition, she recounted the initiatives that the Commission has developed to take prompt action regarding COVID-19’s socioeconomic impact in Latin America and the Caribbean, in response to a request by the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), which has included analysis, data production, the monitoring of national responses and policy recommendations to more effectively cope with the consequences of the pandemic, using a cross-sector and multidisciplinary approach. One of these actions was the establishment of the COVID-19 Observatory in Lat-

in America and the Caribbean, a platform that gathers all the information and extraordinary measures that countries have been taking, in terms of public policy, in the face of the pandemic.

“ECLAC has made full use of its intergovernmental architecture and has convened efforts to organize multiple dialogues on ministerial policies to address the effects and responses related to COVID-19, facilitating the exchange of regional practices, identifying priorities for regional and multilateral coordination, and highlighting key areas for requesting support,” Alicia Bárcena indicated. “We want to assure you that ECLAC, as a platform for multilateral dialogue, and through its subsidiary bodies and the Forum on Sustainable Development, will be ready to serve you and prepared to help you with your efforts. We are at your disposal,” the United Nations senior official stated.

10

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, May 19, 2020

FAO needs US$350M to avert rising hunger …as countries reel from COVID-19 impact The UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is seeking $350 million to scale up hunger-fighting and livelihoods-boosting activities in food crisis contexts where COVID-19’s impact could be devastating.

Although the pandemic’s full-scale and long-term impact on food security is yet to be revealed, evidence shows that in countries already hit by acute hunger, people are increasingly struggling to have access to food as incomes fall and food prices rise.

If farmers do not have access to their fields, or do not have the means or access to buy seeds and other inputs to plant or buy feed for their animals, planting seasons will be missed, cultivation will drop significantly and animals will be lost. This means that less food will become available too - in both rural and urban areas. “We cannot wait until we finish dealing with the health impacts before we turn to food security. If we don’t start implementing livelihoods assistance now, we will face multiple food crises. And a bill many times greater,” warned FAO Director-General QU Dongyu at a briefing today on the UN agency’s revised humanitarian response to

COVID-19.

“It’s becoming increasingly clear that the pandemic’s impacts go far beyond health,” said Ramesh Rajasingham, Acting Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator.

“Acting early can prevent increasing vulnerabilities but also be a much more cost effective way of addressing this crisis. The role of emergency livelihoods interventions to save lives and livelihoods, and pull back people from the verge of famine is critical.

Agriculture-based livelihoods are critical in most countries we work in as they are the main source of income for the majority of vulnerable populations. And this relies on seasons that cannot be missed or skipped,” added Rajasingham. “More and more global leaders are stressing that the pandemic could cost more lives in hunger than in those actually infected by the virus. The worst-case scenario is not a foregone conclusion, but we have to act fast - and at scale,” said Dominique Burgeon, FAO’s Director of Emergencies.

NEW FUNDING REQUEST TO RESPOND

TO GROWING NEEDS FAO’s new funding request of $350 million is about three times more than in late March as COVID-19’s staggering socioeconomic impacts become more evident.

FAO’s humanitarian response to COVID-19 is part of the Global COVID-19 Humanitarian Response Plan. Additional funding is urgently required to address new needs emerging from COVID-19.

New activities will build upon critical livelihood-saving support currently being delivered, including: In South Sudan, FAO carried out its largest seed distribution so that farmers do not miss the main planting season.

To date, FAO has distributed over 4 million kilograms of the procured and pre-positioned 8 million kilograms of crop and vegetable seeds, and over 100 000 agricultural hand tools to about 1,8 million people. This means that each family can grow enough food for at least 6 months and sell some surplus.

In addition, nearly 50 000 people received fishing kits.

In Somalia, FAO fully transitioned its cash assistance to mobile cash delivery, and, over the last 60 days, transferred over 4 million dollars in mobile money to help 200 000

Somalis access food and other basic needs. FAO has registered more than 2.1 million people on its Mobile Money Platform.

In addition, 240 000 Somalis are receiving e-vouchers ?via SMS to get seeds, farm tools, irrigation service and storage bags from local traders. This way, FAO reinjects money into the local economy and avoids supply chain delays due to COVID-19.

In Syria, FAO supported vegetable producers to set up nurseries, which are estimated to bring farmers an additional income of almost $2 000 per year. In Pakistan, FAO carried out an online campaign, engaging 160 000 people to learn about preventing food waste; and raised awareness, including through its farmer field schools, on how to stay safe of COVID-19 transmission.

In Haiti, FAO distributed seeds and other inputs to nearly 50 000 people ahead of the main agricultural campaign.

Overall, FAO’s humanitarian response to COVID-19 impacts will focus on: improving hunger data collection and analysis so that organisations can respond more effectively; maintaining food production, including through scaling up activities so that farmers can take advantage of coming plating seasons; ramping up support to post-production activities, like harvesting, storage, small-scale food processing and conservation, and linking producers to markets

to ensure food supply chains stay functional; and, awareness raising so that people keeping food supply chains alive are not at risk of COVID-19 transmission.

There is a growing risk of famine in some countries, potentially even several famines occurring at the same time.

Even before the pandemic, some 135 million were experiencing crisis or worse levels of acute food insecurity, out of which 27 million people in “emergency” levels of acute food insecurity - on the brink of famine. Somalia is currently experiencing multiple shocks, including Desert Locust, flooding and COVID-19. The FAO-managed Food Security and Nutrition Analysis Unit (FSNAU) warned in May that some 3.5 million Somalis are in “crisis” level of acute food insecurity and above through September 2020 - a three-fold increase compared to early 2020, over 100 percent greater than hunger figures in an average year, and worse than in 2017, when there was a high risk of famine.

In Afghanistan, more than one in three Afghans some 10.3 million people- are projected to be acutely food insecure between June and November.

In Bangladesh, breakdowns in transportation systems are leading to the dumping of perishable food products and dramatic price reductions at the farm-gate, affecting producers’ food security.

In Southeast Asia, COVID-19 is overlapping with a subregional drought.

In Syria, since mid-March, there have been price increases of 40-50 per cent in staple foods.

For many high-risk countries in Latin America and the Caribbean, the period between April and June coincides with the planting season for main crops.

Net food importing countries (e.g. Caribbean countries, Mexico, Ecuador, Venezuela) are particularly vulnerable due to currency devaluation and trade constraints. In East Africa and the Near East, where 42 million people are facing acute food insecurity, curving the desert locust outbreak is critical to safeguarding livelihoods and food security. While there is a high potential for a significant rise in acute food insecurity at crisis level and above in the coming months, this is not inevitable.

“If we support livelihoods now we can help to reduce needs and avoid growing hunger. And protect the most vulnerable from the collateral effects of the pandemic,” said Qu. “Donors were generous and fast in responding to the desert locust upsurge during the past months. We need this continued generosity and advocacy to prevent a steep rise in acute hunger. Thank you for your action now,” added the FAO-Director-General.

Auchlyne couple charged with drug possession DEREK Narine Munsami, 40, and his wife, Christiana, 26, of Auchlyne, Corentyne, were jointly charged on Monday with possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking.

The pair appeared before Magistrate Renita Singh at the Whim Magistrate’s Court, where the charge was read to them. Both pleaded not guilty of the offence, and were each granted bail in the

when the police, acting on a tip-off went to their home at around 10:15 hrs on Thursday, May 14, and saw Derek, who is a farmer, in his yard with two bulky bags in

Narine Munsami

Christiana Munsami

The ‘dope’

sum of $300,000.

They were rumbled

trieved the bags and opened

his possession.

Upon seeing the police, he quickly dropped the bags and fled the scene, leaving the two women who were in the yard with him to face the heat.

When the police re-

them, they found them to contain a quantity of what looked like cannabis, which, when weighed, amounted to 705 grams.

The women, one of whom was Christiana, were detained, while Derek was later arrested.

While in custody, Christiana claimed ownership of the ‘ganja’.

11

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, May 19, 2020

Doctors, nurses multitasking at Diamond Hospital

-over 85% of COVID-19 cases isolated there, facility divided into four sections

By Navendra Seoraj DOCTORS, nurses and other frontline workers, who work at the Diamond Hospital, have been “going beyond the call of duty” to deliver care to persons who contracted the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) disease.

The care being delivered is, however, not just the traditional medical care, but also that of a parent or guardian. Regional Health Officer (RHO) of Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica), Dr. Quincy Jones, found the need to justify the work of frontline workers at Diamond, after Stabroek News had published an article titled “COVID-19 patients fear poor conditions at Diamond Isolation Unit delaying recovery.”

Dr. Jones, in a press statement, said the article contained several half-truths and fallacies, which were repeated without evidence to support it. “We are truly disappointed that instead of celebrating the very hard and dedicated work of the doctors and nurses who leave their homes and live in the unit to provide medical care and other services to these patients for weeks at a time, we are instead forced to pen a response to an article such as the one mentioned above,” lamented the RHO. Frontline workers at the Diamond facility started working overtime, after a COVID-19 isolation unit was established there. And according to Dr. Jones, since the establishment of the unit, the facility has been taking most of the confirmed COVID-19 patients, with the largest number being 52 cases at one time, a figure which was recorded just Sunday.

There are currently 66 active cases of COVID-19 and the persons, housed at Diamond, represent over 85 per cent of the total active cases. The work of frontline workers has so far resulted

not routinely given to the patients, since the unit has three persons who visit the facility on a daily basis, to clean the building and wash

would put some strain on the supply system causing some issues. As far as we know, this has happened twice and both times a plumber was

RHO of Region Four, Dr. Quincy Jones

Sanitary officers, who are well equipped, clearing up the isolation area

in 30 persons recovering and being discharged from the facility, since the pandemic reached Guyana. To date, a total of 45 persons have recovered from the COVID-19 disease.

Clearly established and defined systems compounded by the commitment of frontline workers, resulted in the Diamond Hospital producing more 65 per cent of the recovered patients.

In talking about the systems in place, Dr. Jones said the unit is divided into four

sections, each with its own toilet and bath, and each provided with the hand soap, either in the dispensers or in bottles with dispensing tops and toilet paper. As with admission to any other hospital facility, health officials at Diamond would have expected persons to have any other toiletries they would need such as sanitary napkins, deodorant, shampoo, bath soaps and so forth, all of which are not routinely supplied by the hospital.

Cleaning supplies are also

the dirty linens.

“These persons are supplied with those items. Garbage is removed daily from the patient’s building, double bagged and sprayed with disinfectant and then completely removed from the compound by two porters,” said Dr. Jones.

There were, however, instances where doctors had to clear garbage from the yard because patients chose to dump food boxes and other items over the rails instead of in the bins provided. And, Dr. Jones said cleaners complained of patients stuffing food items down the sinks and bathroom, causing the water to accumulate in the showers.

He said there was even a complaint of fecal matter being found on the floor and smeared on the walls in one of the female blocks. The cleaners also complained of finding the hand soap provided smeared on the floors in the shower. As it relates to water supply, the Diamond hospital and the isolation unit depend on the same water supply.

“As you can imagine the increased demand for water

promptly called in to rectify the matter, the last occasion however there was an issue where the pump developed a leak, so enough water was not getting up to the tanks.

That has since been corrected,” Dr. Jones clarified.

Patients are also directly protected, as there is security on site and the door to every room is locked. The RHO said patients were furnished with a key to their room upon admission, however, many patients would have misplaced their keys, and had to have the lock broken.

“Other patients would have been discharged and left with the keys to the rooms they were occupying, and those locks had to be broken as well. The hospital does not employ a carpenter, as such, finding someone who is willing to go into the building to repair or replace those locks is difficult,” he lamented, adding: “Our doctors and nurses already are functioning as garbage men and women, concierges, waiters, and waitresses it would be ridiculous to ask them to repair a broken lock. It is because of this fact that we would have

advised patients to remain either inside of your rooms so that you can keep an eye on your personal belongings.

COVID-19 is a highly-contagious disease, the only persons who can safely guard their personal belongings are the patients themselves.”

Patients are also furnished with face masks three times a day and upon request.

And, none of the medical staff at the Diamond facility, reuses face masks, said Dr. Jones.

“The safety of our medical professionals and patients is of utmost concern and as such each time a professional goes into the isolation building and comes back out he/ she has to undergo a complete decontamination process. “They are sprayed with disinfectant solution from head to toe prior to taking off the protective gear, then again after those gears are discarded, then they proceed directly to the shower where they are expected to bathe from head to toe for a minimum of 12 to 15 minutes,” Dr. Jones explained.

Finally, on the issue of test results, the RHO said is not one that is handled by the Diamond isolation unit.

The samples are taken off and sent to the National Reference lab for testing.

“They are the ones who process the results and then feed the information back to us regarding who can be discharged. Until we get those results in hand, we cannot discharge the patients. For them to be issued with the certificate of clearance to return to their homes and families we need to have two negative tests at least 24 hours apart in hand,” said Dr. Jones.

He said many patients do not understand this concept and work themselves up because of it, but it is explained constantly.

12

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday May 19, 2020

Ballot boxes from Diamond awaiting investigation

…returning officers to be pulled in DAY 13 of the national recount revealed that two ballot boxes coming out from two separate polling places at the Diamond Nursery School, have their Official List of Electors (OLE) mixed up, and the numbers on the voters’ list do not correspond with the number of ballots in the boxes.

Sharing this discovery with the media on Monday morning was Varun Mahadeo, who is an A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) counting agent that was attached at the recount station with one of the flawed boxes.

Mahadeo said that when the first box came in to their station and was being examined, “we noticed that there was an incor-

rect OLE in that box. When we correspond the amount of ballot issued for that specific division, the list had 366 voters, and the ballots issued was 319. Right away we were able to determine there was an issue. Because there was less amount of ballots issued to the amount of electors on the list… when the staff of GECOM came through to investigate exactly what happened, they actually noticed that the list was in a totally different box.”

He was in station 8 and the correct list was in a box at station 10. This, he said only leaves one conclusion. “If you have a list of electors that is totally different from the polling station they are supposed to be at, then everyone who went to that spe-

APNU+AFC counting agent, Varun Mahadeo

cific box, that specific division, would have not been able to cast

a ballot, since the list is totally wrong,” Mahadeo said.

Confirming this, GECOM’s Commissioner, Vincent Alexander said that both boxes are from the same building, but how the lists are mixed up is very strange.

“We found this to be very strange, and we’ve also found instances where the correct OLE is in the box, but for some strange reason, strange, extraneous OLEs are also in the box… I would say at the end of the day, some human action would have caused that to occur. Whether it is a human error, I would not make a judgement. But it was a human action,” Alexander told the media.

He said that what has happened for the time being, “those boxes have been returned onto the containers and were not

Neaz Subhan recovers from COVID-19 AFTER spending 49 days in isolation because of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) infection, Commissioner of the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC), Neaz Subhan, has finally been discharged and medically cleared.

Subhan, who had tested positive for COVID-19 on March 29, 2020, had been placed in isolation for 49 days because of lingering symptoms related to COVID-19.

“It was an exceptionally challenging and life-changing period which I never envisaged and which I wish no one would have to experience, simply because of the known devastating effects of the virus,” said Subhannin a press statement.

While, inexplicably, many here may seem oblivious to the crippling effects this pandemic has on affected individuals, their families, communities and the country as a whole, Subhan saw first hand and therefore

respectfully believed he was in a better position to offer related advice on the need for all to heed the advisories and take maximum precaution to help stop the spread of COVID-19.

“Spending 49 days away from my family was naturally difficult; however, even more impacting was being enshrouded in uncertainty over what my eventual outcome would be and when clearance would be achieved. With every passing day, that gradually eroded my mental strength weakening any inherent ability to fight and not give up.

“With the virus being new and research ongoing, I learnt that some patients take much longer than the expected 14-day period to be cleared.

Unfortunately, I was in that category along with a few others here and overseas. I therefore reluctantly resigned myself to the uncertainty of when, taking some comfort knowing I was not alone,” said Subhan,

as he reflected on his experience.

While there were moments during that passage of time when he may have emotionally succumbed, his faith in Allah; the support and prayers of his family, friends and others, many of whom were not personally known to him; the sustained and valiant efforts of the dedicated doctors and nurses along with their support teams; treatment and care administered, are responsible for his recovery and eventual discharge.

For this, he said he remains profoundly grateful for their efforts and that of the Minister of Public Health, Volda Lawrence and her team not just for his recovery, but for all others. While there were challenges in some related areas as the effects of the virus and its treatment evolved and there are areas for improvement, the treatment and care he received and witnessed for many others, were beyond his expectation, dissipating his harboured perceptions of

counted as the secretariat seeks to make a determination on what could have caused such.”

GECOM’s Public Relations Officer, Yolanda Ward, said that this will also require the Returning Officers of those stations to be called in for investigation.

“We don’t know what could have happened, but the decision is to request the two ROs and have an investigation on what may have caused such to happen. We have to try to ascertain how this could happen…

There is nothing in law that the commission itself, based on the findings of their investigations, can do in this process… But we have to do our investigations and these persons may not be able to be employed again with GECOM after the investigation concludes,” Ward said.

…after 49 days in isolation the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).

“I witnessed how emotionally devastated the medical teams were when, despite their best efforts, a patient unfortunately succumbed. I also witnessed their tears of joy when others recovered.

It hallmarks their primary focus of doing all within their powers to save lives.

For that, they must be commended and their efforts recognised. They are truly, in spite of their own personal challenges, our frontline heroes in the fight against Covid 19,” said Subhan.

Many lessons were learnt during those 49 days; lessons that must be heeded and shared; lessons he hopes can be helpful to others and lessons that could save lives.

Unfortunately, and inevitably, COVID-19 has attracted unnecessary stigmatisation for both patients and their families.

Sadly, it has even extended to healthcare workers with some refused accessed to public transportation as one manifestation. This, Subhan believes, must be confronted through sustained education from all possible fronts for the virus does not discriminate with regard to time, ethnicity, politics, religion or social status. “I will endeavour to do my best to aid in awareness for prevention and for the removal of stigmatisation. I remain available to participate in any related effort.

27.4 % of ballot boxes recounted

THE Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has completed the recount of 642 out of 2,339 ballot boxes as of Monday, May 18, 2020, representing 27.4 per cent of the process.

Monday marked Day 13 of the national recount and also saw the completion of the recount for Region Two. There was a total of 54 ballot boxes counted, broken down as: Region Two – nine; Region Three – 17; Region Four – 13; Region Five – 12 and Region Six – three.

The Region Six recount commenced following completion of the nine ballot boxes which were remaining in Region Two. GECOM Public Relations Officer (PRO) Yolanda Ward said that today [May 19] the commission will also commence the count for Region Seven.

This was made possible because of the additional workstations permitted at the recount centre, following approval by the National COVID-19 Task Force (NCTF). There are two additional stations to be operationalised today, of which one will go to Region Six and one to Region Seven.

Apart from this, the commission has completed the tabulation of 608 ballots from the general elections and 609 from the regional elections. On Sunday [May 17], the full tabulation of Region One was completed and Region Two will soon likely follow suit.

Speaking to completion of tabulation for Region One, Commissioner Alexander said that the tabulation and observation reports will now go to the commission for deliberation.

“On the basis of that deliberation, the commission will decide how it goes forward towards the final and the only declaration which will be made,” he explained. “As the regions become available, those comprehensive reports will be brought to the commission. We’ll have an opportunity, I think, to deliberate district by district.”

The deliberation will determine whether there is any specific action the ,ommission wishes to take, based on the compiled information. Apart from this, Monday’s recount process went fairly smoothly with a meeting of the commission resulting in the decision that anomalies and ballot-stamping issues will be further deliberated upon.

THE Guyana Elections

Commission (GECOM) has completed the recount of 642 out of 2,339 ballot boxes as of Monday, May 18, 2020, representing 27.4 per cent of the process.

Monday marked Day 13 of the national recount and also saw the completion of the recount for Region Two. There was a total of 54 ballot boxes counted, broken down as: Region Two – nine; Region Three – 17; Region Four – 13; Region Five – 12 and Region Six – three.

The Region Six recount commenced following completion of the nine ballot boxes which were remaining in Region Two. GECOM Public Relations Officer (PRO) Yolanda Ward said that today [May 19] the commission will also commence the count for Region Seven.

This was made possible because of the additional workstations permitted at the recount centre, following approval by the National COVID-19 Task Force (NCTF). There are two additional stations to be operationalised today, of which one will go to Region Six and one to Region Seven.

Apart from this, the commission has completed the tabulation of 608 ballots from the general elections and 609 from the regional elections. On Sunday [May 17], the full tabulation of Region One was completed and Region Two will soon likely follow suit.

Speaking to completion of tabulation for Region One, Commissioner Alexander said that the tabulation and observation reports will now go to the commission

for deliberation.

“On the basis of that deliberation, the commission will decide how it goes forward towards the final and the only declaration which will be made,” he explained.

“As the regions become available, those comprehensive reports will be brought to the commission. We’ll have an opportunity, I think, to deliberate district by district.”

The deliberation will determine whether there is any specific action the ,ommission wishes to take, based on the compiled information. Apart from this, Monday’s recount process went fairly smoothly with a meeting of the commission resulting in the decision that anomalies and ballot-stamping issues will be further deliberated upon.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, May 19, 2020

GECOM probing unstamped Disciplined Services ballots

----proof to be collected on deceased, migrants THE Guyana Elections Commission is still deliberating on how it will deal with ballot papers which do not have the required six-digit stamp and claims of voting in the place of migrants and the deceased.

On Monday, GECOM Public Relations Officer (PRO), Yolanda Ward, told the media that there were three categories of unstamped ballots found during the recount process thus far.

These include: unstamped ballots at stations where there was the intermixing of disciplined service ballots; stamps on one half of the ballot; and no stamps on either halves of the ballot.

Speaking to the category whereby there were stamps only on one half of the ballot, Ward said that this varied from stamps being placed on the General Elections or Regional Elections section of the ballot. “The commission will continue to monitor this situation and, of course, will have to investigate to make a determination as to how to move forward with this,” she noted, adding: “For those of you who may not be aware, the legal practice, or what is in the law -- the Representation of the People Act-- is that a ballot that is not stamped is not valid.”

She said that while the commission will continue its deliberation on the issue to arrive at a conclusive decision, such legal requirements are also being examined. Commissioner Vincent Alexander also confirmed on Monday that some ballot boxes were found to have ballots which were all stamped only for the General Elections. In such cases, GECOM is considering that where the number of Regional ballots in the ballot box match the number of General ballots, the validity of the unstamped ballots can be realised.

“There is the emerging view that, given the function of the stamp on the ballots, that those ballots be allowed in because they are a part of a document that was stamped,” he said. However, further discussions must be had in

A sealed ballot box during the recount process

cases where such parallelism is not realised.

There is also some indication that ballots unstamped on one half may have originated from the intermixing of ballots cast by the disciplined services.

Alexander stated: “What we want to do is to do a kind of a check to see if there is correspondence between the number disciplined services that were intermixed at a particular place and the number of ballots not stamped and that will then tell us whether it is likely or more than likely that it is those ballots which were not stamped.”

THE DECEASED AND MIGRANTS Meanwhile, on the issue of death and migration anomalies, the Elections Commission requests that the evidence be provided and attached to the Observation Report. However, the commission is yet to come to a final decision on how it will act on proof provided.

Commissioner Alexander says that the National Registration Act provides for the Chief Immigration Officer to send to GECOM reports on migration which can aid GECOM in this regard. However, being that this section of the Act has not been adhered to for some time, he said that GECOM has the

right at this time to request the information and match it against the allegations. On the matter of deaths, he said that the General Registrar Office (GRO) periodically sends a list of the registered dead to the commission and the commission should be able to extract such names from its List of Electors although there may be some challenge regarding the effectiveness of the GRO’s record keeping.

Alexander said he has long advocated for a new National Registrar of Registrants which would have come through the completion of the house-to-house registration exercise and could have eliminated the current challenges. However, the opposition pushed for the house-to-house registration to be halted, in the interest of elections being held soonest, resulting a bloated Official List of Electors (OLE).

“Prior to the no-confidence motion (NCM), everybody agreed that we should have a new National Registrar of Registrants. The Parliament voted the monies for a new National Registrar of Registrants. The argument against it was very situational after the NCM…we are now sitting on problems, some of which may have been dealt with had we not proceeded to use a bloated

list,” Alexander said.

Already, the APNU+AFC has provided the commission with some proof to their claims of deceased and migrant voters although opposition counters this by claiming that no poof has been provided.

On Monday, Commissioner Sase Gunraj disagreed with Alexander that the commission can investigate the said anomalies. “The commission is not tasked with the authority to deal with or investigate those issues. So, it’s one thing to have no evidence presented but then, like I said, it’s not necessary because the commission does not have the authority to deal with that,” he told the media, adding that the court is authorised to deal with such.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, May 19, 2020

15

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, May 19, 2020

Three months on…

Doctor in Valentine’s Day accident charged with causing teen’s death --makes bail, but ordered to surrender passport

Dr. Giresh Sadeo

THREE months after the fatal crash which claimed the life of a teenager, and injured her sister and a nineyear-old, the man behind the wheel was officially charged on Monday when he appeared at the Whim Magistrate’s Court.

Giresh Sadeo, 31, a medical doctor of Number 78 Village, Corentyne appeared before Magistrate Renita Singh and pleaded not guilty to causing the death of 16-year-old Aliyah Mohabir by dangerous driving. He was placed on $400,000 cash bail, but made

to lodge his passport.

On February 14, at around noon, Dr. Sadeo was reportedly proceeding east along the northern side of the Bush Lot Public Road in his SUV (PXX 5165) when he swerved to avoid hitting nine-year-old Roshnie Mohan, who was crossing the road from south to north. Reports are that despite his best efforts, he still hit the child, and subsequently lost control of the vehicle, slamming into Mohabir and her 14-year-old sister, Aneela, who were walking on the shoulder of the road.

The teens were on their way to visit a friend in Bush Lot, a few miles from where they lived at Number 46 Village, on the Corentyne. Roshnie, who hails from Bush Lot, had just left her grandparents’ house at Kildonan and was making her way across the road to head home when the accident occurred.

Both sisters and the nineyear-old were rushed to the Port Mourant Hospital, where, after being evaluated, the two younger girls were transferred to the New Amsterdam Hospital. Aliyah, on the other hand,

was transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital, due to the severity of her injuries, but died the following day without regaining consciousness.

Sahadeo, meanwhile, who’d complained of feeling unwell after being apprehended by the police, was also taken to the Port Mourant Hospital, where he was kept for observation for two days, but released on $150,000 station bail after the mandatory 72-hour detention had passed.

He is expected to make another court appearance on June 4, 2020.

Aliyah Mohabir

16

‘We deserve respect’

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, May 19, 2020

–– say members of LGBTQ community IN commemoration of World Homophobia Day, May 17 and the upcoming Pride Month, which is celebrated in June, several persons from the LGBTQ community shared their stories of homophobia, stereotyping and harassment that are associated with identifying with the queer community.

Eighteen-year-old Renay Sambach, told the Guyana Chronicle that the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia which is observed on May 17, brings awareness to the rights of LGBT members; as such, she noted that it plays a tremendous role in paving way for her to express herself and her sexuality freely, without discrimination.

“With Guyana being the only country in South America where homosexual acts are still illegal, this day plays a big part in my life and it helps [to] pave the way for future generations of LGBT members. In our fight to decriminalise homosexual acts, we hope that one day we can

be seen as equals and not be harassed for following our hearts,” she stated.

She added that, “Love doesn’t have a gender, and everyone should feel comfortable expressing their sexuality. I will continue [to] fight for my rights and spread love, peace and hope. I would like to encourage my LGBT family-- closeted or not -- to be yourself and one day we will be accepted for who we are.”

‘THE AUTHORITIES NEED TO DO MORE’ Meanwhile, Chandradatt Jagdeo noted that the relevant authorities in the education and security sectors need to do more persons from the LGBTQ community.

“I do not feel like the relevant authorities, both educational and security, are doing enough for the community. When it comes to the educational aspect, we had a few discussions on “alternative lifestyles” while doing social studies, as it is part of the syllabus, but it was just on the base level

… it is not something that is mandatory in the curriculum, which explains how students evolve, not knowing what the community is based on and they follow the bashing bandwagon of ignorance since they were never introduced properly,” he explained.

Adding that it starts with education, he noted that many students go out into the world of work and take the very same discriminatory attitude to their places of work and in their everyday lives.

“Some of these students even become police officers and here we can see it goes hand in hand with education and security. If an officer was never taught the facts of the community, but rather listen to ignorant beliefs and opinions, then they would not have a proper foundation on the subject.”

He added that, for that very reason many LGBTQ persons are afraid to report to the police whenever an LGBTQ issue comes up; he noted that some police officers may be kind, but the majority would discriminate

Security guard allegedly raped and killed POLICE, on Monday, arrested a 17-year-old, along with a taxi driver, for the gruesome murder and rape of a 68-yearold woman whose body was found among tombs at Le Repentir Cemetery.

Margaret Dawson, a security guard attached to the Professional Guard Service (PGS), was last seen alive on Sunday night when she left her daughter’s Albouystown home for work.

Dawson moved to the city from Timehri to avoid taking public transportation, in order to protect herself from COVID-19.

She reportedly called a taxi service for a car to take her to work.

The older suspect is attached to the same taxi service and is known to Dawson. The teen, who lives in Albert Street, Albouystown is known to the taxi driver and was picked up beforehand.

When the taxi arrived, Dawson entered and the car sped away in the direction of the cemetery and she was not seen again.

On Monday morning Dawson’s body was discovered by a passerby using a shortcut in

Margaret Dawson

the cemetery which leads into Albouystown.

Her body was discovered, against a grave stone, with her clothes ripped off, along with marks of violence which suggested that she might have been sexually assaulted. Her belongings were also missing.

The taxi driver was forced to flee the scene and leave his motorcar after it was stuck in a manhole.

Less than an hour later, acting on information, the lawmen managed to apprehend the suspect (the driver).

He was searched, and two of the victim’s rings were found in his pocket.

The teen was later arrested

by police and taken to his home where he handed over Dawson’s cellphone.

The police also managed to obtain CCTV footage which showed the suspect’s motor car at the cemetery.

The teen is said to be the mastermind behind the murder.

Both parties have confessed Managing Director of PGS, Sean Kirkpatrick, described Dawson as pleasant and respectful to everyone with whom she came into contact, and added that she was dedicated to her work and family.

“We extend our profound sympathy to the bereaved family members of the late Ms. Dawson and commend the Guyana Police Force for their prompt investigation and apprehension of her alleged murderer(s).... We look forward to the swift and heavy exercise of the courts to see they receive the full punishment for this heinous crime” Kirkpatrick said.

against LGBTQ people.

He noted the very same persons whom people look to for protection are the same ones who spew the most hate as he recalled a situation where a friend of his had to call the police and his experience was not very pleasant.

“A friend of mine had an encounter with a police officer over an issue with his neighbour and the police made remarks such as, “look this aunty man picking trouble. This is Guyana, not America; the mentality is different.”

‘We are humans, we deserve respect’ A 20-year-old university student, who wished to remain anonymous, noted that while there is some talk of addressing the discrimination faced by the LGBTQ, there is still yet more to be done, as they are many persons who still do not hold any respect for persons of the LGBTQ community, dehumanising them.

“We are humans and we deserve respect; my sexuality should not give any the right to hurl insults at me or any-

one else,” the young woman stated.

The young woman noted that what is even more disappointing is, persons who one would expect to behave in a civil manner towards the community, has joined the bandwagon of discriminating and dehumanising persons of the queer community.

“It’s even sadder, seeing that some of these insults come from intelligent persons in high places who you would expect to know and do better,” she added.

‘Watooka’ prepared to stay the course --in spite of sudden slowdown in tourism and hospitality business LIKE every other company in the tourism and hospitality business the world over, the Watooka Guest House in the mining town of Linden has not been spared the ravages of COVID-19.

Just ask Hotel and Hospitality Manager Rawle Dundas, and he’d be only too happy to fill you in on all the corners they’ve had to cut since March, just to literally keep their heads above water.

As he told the Guyana Chronicle on Monday, “The Watooka Guest House has had a definite and distinct slowdown, if not come to a screeching halt because we have to comply with the guidelines and protocols put in place.”

He noted that things had gotten so bad, that at one point they had to close both the bar and the swimming pool, two key recreational activities that kept them in the money come every weekend.

Social events such as weddings also had to go, and staff had to be whittled down to a mere fraction of what it used to be.

But, determined not to allow COVID-19 get the best of them, Dundas said they continue to soldier on, cleaning and sanitising the place as best they could with the limited resources and manpower at their disposal.

“And we haven’t padlocked the doors and closed the business; we have just

locked down for this period to ensure safety, and try to manage the whole COVID19 situation,” he said.

Determined too to make hay while the sun shines, they’ve also seized the opportunity to sharpen staff’s skills, and do a bit of renovation in preparation for reopening maybe sometime in the month of July.

And with guest houses and hotels being a part of essential services, ‘Watooka’ is not above accommodating those persons who might want to use the facility to do their jobs. Hospitality is among the hardest hit due to fears of community spread through travel and group environments.

The news has been featuring the postponement and cancelation of events, conferences, conventions, and sports leagues, which is immediately driving down travel and tourism for business and pleasure.

As the phrase “social distancing” slowly catches on and gains currency, many consumers are playing it safe and staying at home, while some are attempting to continue typical day-to-day operations through restrictions. Curfews, and in some cities full lockdowns, have created a precarious business climate for restaurants, bars, cafes and other businesses dependent on guests.

These roadblocks are significantly impacting their bottom line.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday May 19, 2020

‘GECOM non-compliant with COVID measures’ …NCTF says, as it approves two additional workstations for recount

By Lisa Hamilton THE National COVID-19 Task Force (NCTF) has given clearance to the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to establish only two additional workstations due to situational findings that the commission is non-compliant with a number of COVID-19 precautionary measures.

The recount is currently being conducted in the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC) which already houses 10 workstations and an average of 400 persons on rotation. The elections commission had hoped to receive approval for an additional five to six workstations.

However, on Monday, GECOM Public Relations Officer Yolanda Ward and Commissioner Vincent Alexander told the media that a report received from the NCTF highlighted a number of shortcomings on the commission’s part with regard to safeguarding against the deadly virus.

According to the Health Emergency Operation Centre (HEOC) of the NCTF, during a recent re-visit to the ACCC to determine the possibility for additional stations, it was found that: two designated hand-washing areas were without soap and one was without hand towels; on rapid inspection 19

GECOM Public Relations Officer Yolanda Ward

persons were observed without face masks or not adequately wearing them; multiple persons were observed not practising adequate physical distancing; all head tables inspected were clustered and in non-adherence to physical distancing and representatives observing the recount were not seated with adequate physical distancing at eight recount stations.

“The HEOC lead team is of the view that the previous guidelines are not being adhered to and that the ACCC

Commissioner Vincent Alexander

Commissioner Sase Gunraj

is congested enough and therefore our final recommendation is that we do not envisage more than two additional recount stations, as this will increase the probability of the spread of infection and is not in keeping with WHO/PAHO and the HEOC establish guidelines on containment and mitigation measures,” the NCTF concluded in its report.

Ward said that the commission is now looking to correct its shortcomings towards becoming fully compliant. She also noted that stakeholders involved have a responsibility to ensure that they

comply with COVID-19 measures in place at the centre.

It was decided that the two workstations will be operationalised today [May 19] and will be allocated to Regions Six and Seven. They will be staffed in keeping with the existing guidelines at other stations, such as having a maximum of 18 persons.

Speaking to the media about the task force’s decision, Commissioner Vincent Alexander said that, in his estimation, the two additional stations, while they will contribute to a speeding up of the

Suspected teen bandit fatally shot by police A 19-year-old Sophia resident was on Monday morning shot and killed by police during a high-speed chase at Victoria Road, Plaisance, East Coast Demerara.

Dead is Kevin ‘Cross Eye’ Thomas, 19, a known character; his accomplice is still on the run.

On Monday around 02:30hrs, police ranks while on mobile patrol observed the suspicious behaviour of two males on a motorcycle.

Seeing the lawmen, the men sped through several streets on an Elite motorcycle with registration number CK 1893, with the police patrol in hot pursuit.

As the patrol closed in on the suspects, the pillion rider drew a handgun and began firing at the lawmen who returned fire, hitting the cyclist and both of them fell off the bike.

The pillion rider managed to escape leaving Thomas behind. Thomas was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital but died while receiving treatment.

None of the ranks were injured.

The police are hunting the other suspect.

Meanwhile, the motorcycle which the suspects were riding has been lodged at the Sparendaam Police Station; the

DEAD: Kevin Thomas called ‘Cross Eye’

police have learnt that it was reported stolen from the premises of a La Bonne Intention, ECD resident barking Monday morning.

The resident told police that he was alerted to the theft by barking dogs; he ventured out on a bicycle in search of his missing motorcycle and saw two males riding it on the Beterverwagting embankment.

The 50-year-old resident related that in an attempt to stop the men, he threw his bicycle in their path but they swerved and fled the area ; luckily, shortly after he saw the police in possession of

the motorcycle and positively identified it.

The police are investigating.

recount, will still not see the commission meeting its 25-day timeline.

Questioned as to whether the CARICOM scrutinising team has any concern about the possible extension of the timeline beyond the set limit, Alexander responded in the affirmative. He said that part of the commission’s will to extend the number of stations was in response to these concerns expressed. He said that based on future calculations considering the two additional stations, it is likely that the commission will formally request that the scrutinising team extends its stay.

Meanwhile, Commissioner Sase Gunraj believes that there are three factors which will influence the duration of the recount process. He listed these as the number of hours allotted to the recount per day; the number of workstations and the time taken at each workstation.

“We have implemented aspects that ought to increase the efficiency in dealing with a box, but in some instances, instead of expediting it we have now seen, in my respectful view, a deliberate attempt to slow the process down,” he said. He pointed to the early halt of work at workstations and the decision of the NCTF to approve only two workstations. Speaking to the latter, he stated: “Two is a start, but two is not optimal.”

Brazilian miner dies after losing leg

POLICE are currently investigating the death of a Brazilian, Taburcio Valeriano De Andrade, called Netto, who died after his right foot was severed by a boat engine at Oku Backdam, Cuyuni River.

Dead is De Andrade, a 65-year-old miner of Boa Vista, Brazil, and Oku Backdam.

The Guyana Chronicle was made to understand that, on Sunday, around 08:00 hrs, De Andrade was at his working ground, located at Oku Backdam, in his mining pit, when he attempted to jump over one of his Jet 4 cylinder engines which was on at the time.

However, his pants got into contact with the engine fan which immediately pulled his right foot and completely severed same above the right knee which rendered him unconscious.

Other workers went to his assistance and managed to turn off the engine.

De Andrade was taken to his camp which was a short distance away but he later succumbed to his injuries.

On Monday, a post mortem examination was done on De Andrade’s body by Government Pathologist, Doctor Nehaul Singh. It was concluded that the man died from multiple incised wounds.

His body was handed over to his family for burial.

WCD labourer found dead POLICE are currently investigating the alleged murder of Andrew McCurchin, who was discovered along the Zeeburg seawall, West Coast Demerara (WCD), in a pool of blood, on Monday morning.

McCurchin, a labourer, was discovered around 06:30hrs, in a

pool of blood, by villagers in the area. Police suspect the man was bludgeoned to death. He was rushed to the Leonora Cottage Hospital, WCD, where he was pronounced dead.

His body was found next to pieces of wood with blood stains.

The Guyana Chronicle was informed that persons in the village last saw McCurchin alive, on Sunday night, when he was heading to the seawall where he would help fishermen when the boats come ashore.

Investigation is ongoing.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, May 19, 2020

Vybz Entertainment donates food supplies to 100 Linden families ONE of the biggest problems during the Covid-19 pandemic has been the financial strain of millions of people worldwide. However, governmental and non-governmental organisations such as ‘Vybz Entertainment’ have been thinking of ways to make the current situation better.

Over 100 families within the mining town of Linden recently received food hampers from ‘Vybz Entertainment’, a group of young entrepreneurs and business personalities in Linden and which is known for hosting the famous ‘All Black Party’ during Linden Town Week over the past years.

However, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Linden Town Week was cancelled along with the “All Black Party.’ As such, Vybz entertainment carried out an ‘All Black’ giveaway in effort of helping Lindeners with food hampers during a time of adversity.

According to Director

Director of Vybz Entertainment, Damuka Ngqondo (extreme left) and other members of the group during the distribution of hampers to over 100 families in Linden

of Vybz Entertainment, Damuka Ngqondo, the Linden community has shown great support to the entertainment group over the past years and as such giving back to the community during a time of hardship was pleasurable.

“We just wanted to show our appreciation to the citizens that have been supporting us for the past five years and we intend to continue

assisting persons throughout the country during the period of hardship,” he stated.

The group is known for planning parties such as ‘Linden Town Week’s All Black Party’ and other entertainment activities in Linden.

However, it has been executing a number of community projects over the years as a way of giving back to its community.

The group which has members ranging from promoters, teachers, entrepreneurs, youths, public relations personnel, among others thanked its sponsors namely: Xtra Beer, Asif Auto Spares, Mark Forester Trucking, Waldyke Sawmill, Quick Cash Access and Dj Magnum for their contributions made to the exercise.

Bartica businesswoman was strangled

…post-mortem finds A POST-MORTEM has revealed that 28-year-old businesswoman Rosella Smith was strangled to death at Three Miles, Karrau backlands, a few yards away from where she operates her business.

Smith, of Bamford Point, Bartica, sold goods from a make-shift camp at Three Miles, Karrau backlands.

The discovery was made around 12:30hrs on Friday, May 15, by a 23-year-old miner who found the woman’s body afloat in the mining pit.

Smith was last seen about 20:00hrs on Thursday, April 14, at her camp in company of a man called ‘Blackboy’

and was heard ‘laughing and talking’ with the said man later that night.

The body was examined by a crime scene technician and while no marks of violence were seen on the body,what appeared to be blood was seen around her nostrils.

Smith’s camp was checked and appeared to have been ransacked.

According to further information received, ‘Blackboy’ was seen leaving the backlands with a bag and bucket around 11:00hrs on Friday.

Efforts are underway to ascertain the man’s identity and apprehend him.

Rosella Smith

The body was taken to the Bartica Regional Hospital where a post-mortem examination was done on Monday, April 18, by Government Pathologist Nehaul Singh.

Singh give the cause of death as asphyxiation due to drowning by manual strangulation.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday May 19, 2020

First tourism ‘Zoominar’ hailed a success WITH the aim of keeping tourism alive, the Ministry of Business, through its Department of Tourism, last Thursday May 14, held a Zoominar under the theme, ‘Lockdown not shutdown, keeping tourism alive in the current crisis.’

The virtual event was a collaborative effort between the Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO) and the Organisation of American States (OAS), through its Department of Culture and Tourism. The event saw over 70 tourism professionals attending from public and private sector agencies mainly in the Caribbean, South America, including Guyana, the UK and the USA. The zoominar was chaired

by Director-General in the Department of Tourism, Mr. Donald Sinclair, while Minister of Business, Mr. Haimraj Rajkumar deliv-

ered the lead statement.

According to Sinclair, “The zoominar initiative was an effort to make available to the tourism sector in Guyana, especially the regional service providers, the latest tourism intelligence relating to best practices, resilience strategies, marketing and product-management responses to the COVID-19 pandemic.”

He added that the zoominar was also intended to update participants on the impact of the virus in Guyana and the measures being implemented to contain its spread. There was also focus on the likely scenarios regarding the resumption of flights to Guyana and the need for employment of appropriate health and safety measures to accompany the eventual re-opening of the tourism industry.

Donald Sinclair, Director-General, Department of Tourism

He stated that during the zoominar much attention was directed to the likely phases of industry recovery, with several presentations proposing that the domestic tourism market would be the one best favoured to restart earliest, followed by a mixed bag that included travellers from the dias-

pora, adventure-seekers and visitors from nearby regional source markets.

Sinclair added that while the meetings, incentives, conferences and events (MICE) market was expected to show sluggish recovery, Guyana is still expected to benefit once borders are re-opened to business-related travel,

driven by oil exploration.

He further stated that most importantly there was a general recognition that tourism in Guyana (and indeed globally) was entering a new phase that required different measures and strategies to steer the industry to full recovery amidst the ogoning severe impacts of the pandemic.

Arising from the rich

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store of tourism information, recommendations and strategies offered by the Zoominar, Sinclair noted that the Department of Tourism in the Ministry of Business has already begun to work towards the creation of an entity that would coordinate the inputs from a wide cross-section of national and international agencies, with a view to accelerating the recovery and strengthening of the tourism sector in Guyana.

“Going forward, partnerships will be a critical modus operandi since full recovery requires leveraging resources from both local and international agencies. Once the required approvals are granted, this new entity will be formally convened and will begin the urgent task of driving the recovery of the industry in Guyana,” he explained.

Joint developing nations’ head call for global coordination against COVID-19 THE spread of the COVID-19 pandemic and its socio-economic impact on the entire world population requires the global community to work together to address the consequences to human health and disruptive effects on an interconnected world economy.

This is the position of the Heads of the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States, the Caribbean Community, and the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat on the COVID-19 Pandemic.

In a joint statement, on Monday, the heads said that the devastating COVID-19 pandemic “is reshaping our world and exacerbating inequalities in our societies.” They noted that together, “we must ensure coordinated and inclusive response and recovery efforts, to build economies and societies that are healthy, equitable, safe, clean, and resilient.”

They said: “The Organisation

of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS), the Secretariat of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS) extend their solidarity to the global community, particularly in the African, Caribbean and Pacific regions, in our collective and resolute fight against the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic - the invisible enemy of humanity.”

They said that during this challenging time, it is vital to promote increased coordination among all countries and regions with respect to the prevention and treatment of, and eventual cure for COVID-19.

“We echo the United Nations (UN) Secretary-General’s call for an immediate global ceasefire to reinforce diplomatic action, enable the delivery of lifesaving humanitarian assistance, and protect the persons who are most vulnerable to the pandemic,” the heads said.

They noted that the COVID-19 pandemic has had a negative effect on all economies in the world, particularly in terms of commodity prices, fiscal revenues, foreign exchange receipts, foreign financial flows, food supply chains, travel restrictions, the travel, hotel and tourism industries, and labour markets. “We recognize that these economic and social challenges are likely to be more disastrous in developing countries. We are gravely concerned about the potentially dire consequences to the economies and livelihoods of our Member States,” the heads said.

“While welcoming the recent decision of international creditors such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank to provide debt relief to low income countries, we call for this relief to include the most vulnerable economies in the world, including our Member States,” they said.

The COVID-19 crisis is stretching the already challenged health systems in many of our countries, which also lack the required medical equipment, test kits, and protective gear that are in high demand worldwide and difficult to source. It is expected that COVID-19 cases will overwhelm health facilities.

This will adversely affect patients with high-burden communicable and non-communicable diseases, who will lack access to adequate care. This could result in increased morbidity and mortality. We note with concern that social protection issues are emerging as a result of COVID-19, particularly for the most vulnerable in our communities. We call for global COVID-19 recovery efforts that build health infrastructure and systems, as well as social protection measures, to ensure equitable and inclusive access for all.

They acknowledged the po-

tentially dire consequences to the economies and livelihoods of their Member States, and the exacerbation of inequalities in those societies. “Determined to protect the lives and livelihoods of our people, we also call on our development partners and relevant multilateral organisations - the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the International Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD), the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the United Nations (UN), the World Bank Group (WBG), the World Food Programme (WFP), and the World Health Organization (WHO) - to put in place the needed short-, medium-, and long-term emergency response programmes, in coordination with our regional institutions, to assist developing countries to address the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, May 19, 2020

No attempt by CWI to hide audit findings, says Skerritt

By Staff Writer

ST JOHN’S, Antigua, May 17, CMC – Cricket West Indies president, Ricky Skerritt, said there was never any intention of the regional governing body to “hide” the contents of a recent audit report which had uncovered “illustrations of questionable executive standards and practices”.

In a statement late Sunday, Skerritt pointed out that the audit commissioned by his administration and carried out by accounting and management consulting firm, Pannell Kerr Foster (PKF), was for internal consideration only and thought had not been given to releasing it publicly.

He was speaking in the wake of a leak of the report, which saw international broadcaster and legendary former West Indies fast bowler, Michael Holding, revealing sections of the document on a Youtube cricket show called “Mikey – Holding Nothing Back” hosted by Asif Khan.

Telling the host that he had obtained a copy of the audit report, Holding said CWI had been in receipt of the audit for some time but had chosen not to release it “for what reason I don’t know”.

CWI president Ricky Skerritt.

Skerritt, who came to office last year March after unseating three-term incumbent Jamaican Dave Cameron, said serious consideration would now have to be given to releasing the report especially since it had now been made public.

“Since the adoption of the PKF report six months ago, numerous references to the existence of the report have been made in media statements and interviews by the CWI CEO (Johnny Grave), Vice President (Dy Kishore Shallow), and myself,” Skerritt said.

“I can confidently assure you that at no time was there any decision taken by the Board or anyone associated with CWI to ‘hide’, ‘conceal’, ‘withhold’ or ‘holdback’ the PKF report.

“However, in light of an apparent recent access to some of its contents by the media, the CWI Board will now have to contemplate whether it may be appropriate at this time for the report to be shared publicly.”

In assuming office in April last year, Skerritt said the commission of the audit was one of three immediate actions taken, in keeping

with his campaign promise to reform the governance structure and enhance financial transparency.

As such, PKF was “was engaged for a six-month period to conduct a business situation assessment and review of the organisation’s financial management systems, and to provide recommendations for addressing any shortcomings”.

“In carrying out its assessments PKF uncovered some illustrations of questionable executive standards and practices,” Skerritt said.

“It verified and emphasized the need for drastic operational reorganization and realignment, with an urgent need for improved risk assessment and cash flow management.

“The PKF consultants accordingly presented their report in person to the CWI Board of Directors in December; and their twenty-eight (28) recommendations were unanimously adopted.

“Publishing the document was never considered by the Board, as the report is an internal report.”

According to Skerritt, CWI had moved “ as swiftly as we are able” to implement several of the report’s recommendations, pointing out that some had already been made operational in CWI’s daily functioning.

Listing a number of the changes, the former St Kitts and Nevis cabinet minister said the board had acted to ensure timeliness in accounting, strengthened internal controls, modified management practices to ensure best practice and further empowered the CEO and management team while reinforcing the non-executive role of the president.

Importantly, Skerritt said CWI had also instituted the timely reporting to the board of the “accurate financial situation”.

Skerritt said it was critical the board continued its mandate of governance reform while also learning from the mistakes of the past.

“I want to assure all stakeholders of West Indies cricket that whether the PKF report is made public or not, CWI will not be distracted from correcting, and learning from, any identifiable missteps or shortcomings of the past,” he stressed.

“I am determined as the President of this Board, to ensure that CWI conducts its business with integrity, accountability and transparency and without fear or favor, affection or ill-will.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, May 19, 2020

Premier League clubs to resume training from today

By Simon Evans MANCHESTER, England (Reuters) - Premier League clubs will return to training on Tuesday after agreeing to allow “small group” sessions to begin, with a possible return to normal ‘contact’ training next week.

The league held a conference call for all 20 clubs on Monday where the move was given unanimous backing but there remains no firm date for the season to resume.

Another meeting is scheduled for early next week when the league will decide on whether to move to the second phase which allows for training involving contact.

It is the first move in the league’s ‘Project Restart’ plans to resume play in the league, which has not held a game since March 9 due to the novel coronavirus pandemic.

The league has set June 12 as a tentative date for a restart of action but chief executive

Richard Masters said they were aware they would need to be flexible.

“We have been focused on this staging post, it’s not a firm commitment, for June 12.

training protocols.

“Once you know when you can start full contact training, and we’ve had a proper discussion with clubs about how much is required to

Newcastle United manager Steve Bruce

What we are able to do today is basically to move forward on small group training,” Masters told reporters on a conference call.

“Next week we are going to be discussing full contact

create the fitness levels before they can start playing, we are then in a position to be able to confirm when the season start is.

“What we don’t want to do is continually move that

Ponting fears Khawaja’s Test career may be over

RICKY Ponting believes it will be “difficult” for Usman Khawaja to force his way back into the Australia Test side.

Khawaja was a notable absentee when Cricket Australia announced its list of centrally contracted players last month.

The 33-year-old batsman has not played for his country since the drawn Ashes series in England last year and

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Usman Khawaja has not played for Australia sine the drawn Asges series in England

Tuesday, May 19, 2020

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Marnus Labuschagne has looked very much at home at number three.

Former Australia captain Ponting thinks we may have seen the last of Khawaja in the longest format, despite the left-hander saying he believes he is among the top six batsmen in the country.

Ponting told ABC Grandstand: “I honestly think now he’s going to find it difficult [to regain his place] and I feel for him.

“I love Usman Khawaja, I got really close to him over the last 10 years since he made his debut and I talk to him quite regularly.

“I’ve always felt he’s a very good player and we probably never saw the absolute best of him at international cricket.

“We saw glimpses of it, and dribs and drabs, but not the consistently good player I thought he could have been for Australia.”(Omnisport)

start date so we haven’t changed it. We need to be flexible and acknowledge we are in a step-by-step process,” he added.

Failure to resume the season could cost the league around 750 million pounds ($913.80 million) in lost revenue from broadcasters according to British media estimates.

Some reports said clubs could lose out even if the league restarts should broadcasters demand a 330 million pounds rebate.

DOOR OPEN 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 with the aim of completing the remaining 92 matches of the season.

Some players have expressed concern about the health risks involved in a return to play but Masters said the league had done its best to create a safe environment

through consulting with government and health experts.

“Clearly we cannot derisk the entire thing. But I think what we have created is an extremely safe environment that is the first stage of a return to training. So hopefully we have reassured all players and managers on that basis,” he said, adding there would be further consultations ahead of each stage.

Some managers, such as Newcastle United’s Steve Bruce, have expressed concern about whether there will be enough time for players to get match-fit before the league resumes.

Mark Gillett, the Premier League’s medical advisor, said they were aware of the need for preparation time.

“Safety is the key thing running through all the measures we’re putting in place. I spend a lot of my time in club football, so I do understand the need for football-specific training,” he said.

“We will do everything

possible to try and ensure that clubs get enough time to try and prepare in the best way possible, to keep them safe during games.”

Clubs will have been encouraged by the return of the Bundesliga at the weekend — the first major soccer league in the world to resume after the lockdown.

The prospect of clubs playing their remaining matches at neutral venues has receded with more than half speaking out against such a proposal.

Safety measures for group training are expected to include tents where temperature checks will be conducted, strict hygiene criteria, no canteens and no showers.

A maximum of five players will be allowed per pitch with tackling forbidden.

Players will be tested twice a week and are being asked to provide written approval that they have received and understood the club’s COVID-19 policy.

Tyson-Holyfield III? ‘Go ahead and do it’, says Holmes A mooted third fight between Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield has been criticised by some, yet Larry Holmes has given the heavyweight bout his approval.

Tyson, 53, recently returned to training and the former world champion has said he would be interested in donning the gloves again for some charity exhibition fights.

His old rival Holyfield, four years Tyson’s senior, has since confirmed he will fight again to raise money for young people struggling because of the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

The possibility of the two fighting each other once more appears very real, with Holyfield confirming that though nothing had been agreed yet, it was “coming that way”.

Promoter Eddie Hearn suggested it would be “a bit irresponsible” to allow Tyson to return to the ring given his age, but Holmes, who was a heavyweight champion for seven years between 1978 and 1985, does not agree.

“If these guys want to do

it, I’d say go ahead and do it, I’m not going to say don’t do it,” said Holmes, who was speaking on behalf of @ trcksuits.

“They get a chance to show what they got and if they look good enough, they’re probably going to get an opportunity to fight somebody in the top 10 [heavyweights].”

biting Holyfield’s ears, acts that led to a hefty fine and suspension.

If the two meet for a third time, Holmes believes Holyfield would have the psychological advantage.

“Evander Holyfield is a good fight for Mike Tyson, but it’s also a bad fight because Holyfield knows him,”

Mike Tyson recently returned to training

Tyson and Holyfield have met twice before, in 1996 and 1997.

Holyfield won the first meeting with an 11th-round stoppage that saw him take Tyson’s WBA belt.

The second fight ended in dramatic circumstances when Tyson was disqualified for

he added.

“He fought him, beat him up. So Mike Tyson would have to worry about that, he’s going to worry about it, it will be in his mind - ‘Holyfield can hit me with this, that, this’.

“He will try to be careful and that might hurt him.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, May 19, 2020

Warriors GM: ‘It wasn’t joy’ when we won 2018 title with Durant BOB Myers sees similarities between “The Last Dance” Chicago Bulls and the Golden State Warriors with Kevin Durant.

As the popular documentary continues to offer a behind-the-scenes look at the Bulls’ 1997-98 season, the Warriors general manager likened the stresses Chicago faced with the tensions that built within Golden State during Durant’s three-year stint.

“The second time with Kevin (in 2018) it felt like, ‘Well, we just did what we were supposed to do, and great job,’” Myers told ESPN’s Nick Friedell. “It wasn’t joy.

“I’m sure a lot of people felt differently. It wasn’t anybody’s fault. I think there’s just a weight to everything.

And so I’m sure (the Bulls) felt that weight of everything, weight of relationships.”

Durant himself has alluded to friction between him and the rest of the squad,

specifically in his final season in 2018-19. After signing with the Brooklyn Nets last summer, he admitted his highly publicized feud with former teammate Draymond

Green contributed to his decision to leave.

Most recently, he revealed in a podcast appearance in February that he knew about midway through

Kevin Durant was the NBA Finals MVP for the second straight year in 2018

Markram stakes claim for South Africa Test captaincy CAPE TOWN (Reuters) - Opening batsman Aiden Markram has said he would give an “arm and a leg” to captain South Africa in Tests but admits doubting his own ability during a difficult 12 months in the longer format.

Markram, 25, is considered one of the front-runners to take over the Test captaincy from Faf du Plessis when South Africa return to five-day action, and would likely have been a shoo-in if his form had not dipped so dramatically in the last year.

“It is just nice to be considered and I’d give an absolute arm and a leg to be able to do it, but in the same breath I don’t want to become desperate about it,” Markram said in an interview released

by Cricket South Africa (CSA) on Monday.

“It’s one of those things

where if it were to happen it would be amazing. But if not, there are plenty of good leaders within the environment that will definitely take the team.”

side.

“I really enjoy captaincy,” Markram said. “I enjoy the responsibilities that come with it. I have been able to watch from

Aiden Markram led South Africa to victory at the 2014 Cricket Under-19 World Cup

Markram led South Africa to victory at the 2014 Cricket Under-19 World Cup, and had been tipped by current CSA director of cricket Graeme Smith as a future captain for the senior

franchise captains to a guy like Faf and it is just something that I would love to do.”

But Markram must first regain his starting place in the side. The opener aver-

aged above 45 in his first 15 tests, but in the next five managed only 183 runs at an average of 18.30.

He had a spell on the sidelines after injuring his hand when he struck a wall following a pair of ducks in India last year.

“I have certainly doubted myself and doubted my abilities,” Markram said. “At the top level, you’re just a few bad knocks away from people wanting you out of the team. I doubted myself quite a bit this last year.

“It’s a tough space to be in but it comes with the territory and if you want to be a top performer at a high level, you’ve got to find ways to deal with it.”

South Africa are next scheduled to be in action for two Tests in the West Indies in late July, though that tour is under threat due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

the year it would be his last in the Bay Area.

“I could feel the separation between the two. You just feel like everybody was just waiting on me to make a decision on free agency.

Even from coaches to my teammates to the media - everybody was just like, ‘KD, what you going to do?’

“It’s like January. And I’m like, ‘I’m just trying to hoop. That’s all I want to do is play basketball every day.’”

Durant shocked the NBA in 2016 when he announced he was signing with the Warriors, who had just lost to

the Cleveland Cavaliers in The Finals after surrendering a 3-1 series lead. With Durant now in the mix, the Warriors returned to the next two Finals - both against the Cavaliers - and dropped just one game in the two trips combined.

In his final season, the Warriors attempted to secure a three-peat, much like Jordan’s Bulls did twice in the 1990s. However, they fell in six games to the Toronto Raptors after Durant and Klay Thompson tore their Achilles and ACL, respectively.

(TheScore)

Silver asked non-playoff teams to cooperate with NBA plans

IN a conference call with front-office executives last week, NBA commissioner Adam Silver implored teams currently outside playoff contention to cooperate with the league’s potential plans to continue the season in some form, sources told The Athletic’s Sam Amick.

Those on the call reportedly believe Silver’s plea was in response to comments Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr made in late April. Kerr said his team is operating under the assumption its season is essentially over.

When the NBA season was suspended on March 11, the 15-50 (.231) Warriors were the only organization that had been eliminated from playoff contention. Still, each team was slated to play at least 15 more regular-season games, with some facing 19 outings remaining.

Inversely, only four teams have clinched a postseason berth, meaning 25 clubs hold an opportunity to qualify for the 12 remaining playoff spots. The four teams ranked ninth

through 12th in the ult r a - c o m p e t i t i v e We s t ern Conference were all within four games of the eighth-seeded Memphis Grizzlies when the league’s hiatus began.

No matter how the NBA chooses to proceed - including the possibility of advancing straight to postseason play, an option some players believe will be pursued, according to Boston Celtics wing Jaylen Brown the league will require its teams to put shared goals first.

In addition to the human stakes of attempting to restart NBA operations during a pandemic, the financial repercussions are monumental, too. The outright cancelation of the 2020 playoffs could result in around $900 million in lost television revenue for the league, one source told Amick.

(TheScore) NBA commissioner Adam Silver

26

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, May 19, 2020

All-rounder Omari Banks, turned musician, recounts role in historic Test win

THE VALLEY, Anguilla, (CMC) – Former West Indies all-rounder Omari Banks has recalled his role in the Caribbean side’s record run chase 17 years ago, which propelled the Brian Lara-unit to a historic win over Australia in Antigua.

The Anguillian, who had made his debut as a fledgling 20-year-old just a week earlier in Bridgetown, struck an excellent unbeaten 47 as West Indies chased down a world-record 418 to win the fourth Test at the storied Antigua Recreation Ground.

The anniversary of the famous victory, the only one for the Windies in the four-match series, came five days ago.

“It was a great match and a wonderful feeling to win,” said Banks, who anchored an unbroken 48run, eighth wicket stand with Vasbert Drakes (28 not out) to see West Indies over the line.

“We played a great game as a team. It was a great victory for West Indies and to do it against a really good Australian attack with Brett Lee and Glenn McGrath was something amazing. I was happy with my overall performance.

“It was just my second match and I managed to get a good score. I wanted to make my contribution … as a newcomer I wanted to make a statement to show I could play at that level.”

Early in Banks’s career, he was nominated as the world Young Player-of-theYear alongside prolific South

African left-hander Graeme Smith and outstanding England seamer James Anderson. er.

The first player from Anguilla to represent the West Indies, Banks went on to play 10 Tests and five One-Day Internationals before losing his

He has already penned several songs and said he wants to continue reaching his audience with his music.

“I grew up around music, it was always there, music was always part of my life,” he explained.

“I was blessed to play

North Essequibo mourns the passing of former cricketer Hala Haynes

field continue to help me in my quests to create more music.”

He added: “With my dad being a musician in Anguilla, everybody expected me to go into music. But as I got to my teenage years I was good at cricket as well, and sometimes

Former Gunners and Ravens Sports Club player, Hala Haynes

Former West Indies all-rounder Omari Banks … has now focussed his energies on a music career

place in the Caribbean side in 2005, and calling time on his playing career six years later.

In the interim, Banks also enjoyed stints in the English County system with Leicestershire and Somerset.

Now 37, he has since turned his attention to being a guitar-strumming “messenger for music, focussing all his energies on entertaining fans as a musician, singer and songwriter of note.

first class cricket from as early as age 17, and throughout my cricket career I took my music with me.

“I have a message in my music – a message of peace and love. When I write songs I can relate to how you dealt with it on the field. Cricket taught me a lot of lessons and built really good relationships.

“It also taught me character building and my reflections on my times on the

as a kid you want to chart your own course – whether that be consciously or subconsciously – and I went into cricket.

“I was obsessed with it.

I used to carry my guitar with me on tour and I would use music as a means of relaxation. I have always had a love for different kinds of music. The general music I create is reggae, but the influence of other genres comes into it.”

T H E North Essequibo Cricket Committee (NECC) has extended sympathy to the family, friends and the sporting fraternity on the passing of Hala Haynes, former cricketer of the Gunners and Ravens Sports Club of Essequibo.

Haynes was regarded as a talented and popular sportsman who represented the Region with distinction in the field of cricket, football and athletics. He was an attacking opening batsman and competent wicket-keeper who had a stellar career spanning over three decades.

Haynes, who hailed from Henrietta, died recently at the age of 56.

He has left to mourn his wife and nine children. In a short release, the NECC hailed the sportsman as a true competitor on and off the field and whose ideals was to always play with pride, dignity and as a united force.

He will be remembered as being a true champion who fought many vigorous battles on the field for his club and whose resilience and never-say-die attitude have become the traits of those who would have come to admire and respect his unique style of play.

He was also a former employee of the Institute of Private Enterprise Development (IPED).

Sri Lanka Cricket ready to host India, Bangladesh in July

By Andrew Fidel Fernando INTERNATIONAL cricket may begin in Sri Lanka as early as July, if Sri Lanka Cricket’s (SLC) plans to go ahead with the forthcoming series against Bangladesh and India work out.

As of now, neither the BCCI nor the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) have confirmed the tours, which will have to involve substantial logistical challenges, including having player quarantine measures in place, in light of the Covid-19 pandemic.

However, within Sri Lanka itself, curfews have begun easing, and the SLC believes their mid-year series are viable. There are fewer than 500 active cases of Covid-19 in the island - that number having remained steady for roughly two weeks.

“We have made inquiries from both the India and Bangladesh boards and are awaiting a response from them,” SLC CEO Ashley de Silva told ESPNcricinfo. “As of now, those series haven’t been postponed.”

It seems likely that beyond approval from the boards themselves, Sri Lanka’s government will have to get involved in lifting travel

Sri Lanka’s players get together after sealing the series Sri Lanka Cricket

restrictions and providing bio-secure environments for the players, if the series are to go ahead. There are also serious travel restrictions to negotiate within India and Bangladesh as well. BCCI treasurer Arun Dhumal has said that until the Indian government gives teams permission to travel, the board cannot do much.

BCB CEO Nizamuddin Chowdhury, meanwhile, told ESPNcricinfo, “We have to look at traveling restrictions in Bangladesh, and the quarantine protocols in both countries. We are in discussion [with the SLC], so all the factors will come into play. We have to be mindful of the players’ readiness, too, but that’s going to happen.

The players will get back to training, but we have to figure out other details about this tour.”

India were due to visit Sri Lanka in late June for three ODIs and three T20Is, followed by Bangladesh who were scheduled to play three Tests which are part of the World Test Championship.

Sri Lanka has already postponed two home tours - a twoTest series against England, which may now take place in January next year, according to de Silva, as well as limited-overs series against South Africa. (ESPN Cricinfo)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, May 19, 2020

Bramble says ‘No Rest’ period, as he upps training during lockdown ― urges players to do their part despite restrictions in preparation ahead of possible CPL season

By Clifton Ross

Guyana Jaguars senior wicket-keeper batsman, Anthony Bramble, said players will need to do their part at home with regards to staying fit during these times

GUYANA Jaguars wicket-keeper/batsman, Anthony Bramble, says he’s preparing for possible action in this summer’s Hero Caribbean Premier League, by staying fit at home and training relentlessly, despite the obvious restrictions.

Guyana’s premier ‘gloveman’ told Chronicle Sport, on Monday, that his preparations for August’s possible start to the 2020 Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL), as well as the 2020-21 Regional season, which could also be under Covid-19 watch, have been met with a few hurdles but he’s managed to stay on top of his training, regardless.

Bramble said he hasn’t been slacking up on his workout sessions at home, despite local lockdown rules which prohibit local athletes from mass gathering at gyms or any facilities used for training.

“It’s been a bit challenging for me because of limited space, equipment etc, with the kind of work I wanted to put in. But I must say workin with our trainer, Neil Barry Jr. has been great so far” said the Jaguars senior batsman.

While some might consider this period as one for resting, the 29 year-old Berbician pointed out that he was more fixed

Strict guidelines laid out for England net sessions ENGLAND’s cricketers are set to return to training next week under strict regulations as the sport takes its first steps towards a possible resumption.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) say a carefully controlled plan designed to be in line with the UK government’s guidance has been put in place, with venues across the country to be utilised.

All players will train individually on a staggered basis alongside a coach, physio and conditioning coach, with each individual required to observe strict social distancing, hygiene and temperature testing protocols.

The Guardian is reporting that as part of a ‘one skin per ball’ policy, each player will be allocated their own box of balls that only they can touch and which must be placed in their kit bag when not in use.

Players will also be prohibited from using saliva to polish the balls.

Coaches, who will also have their own box of balls for throw downs, have been told they can wear a catching mitt on one hand and a rubber glove on the other, while all catching gloves and ball throwers must be disinfected

between sessions.

Batsmen have been told they must kick or hit the ball back to their coach in the nets, rather than pick it up and throw it.

fore they will be allowed to train and physios will have to wear personal protective equipment to treat injuries.

All players and staff have been told to use their own

Batters prohibited from throwing the ball back to their coach as England players prepare to return to training

Players will also be required to leave immediately after their session – they are prohibited from using the dressing rooms at training venues – and are not allowed to store their equipment at grounds.

Bowlers will begin their training programs on Monday and a fortnight later batsmen and wicketkeepers will follow suit, with all sessions required to be held outdoors.

Temperatures of players and staff will be taken be-

clearly marked water bottles and sanitise their hands regularly.

The English county season was supposed to get underway on April 12 but due to the COVID-19 outbreak that has halted sport around the world, it was pushed forward to July 1 with the much-vaunted Hundred tournament postponed until 2021.

The West Indies were slated to play three Tests from June 4 but discussions

are underway about the matches being played behind closed doors at venues that have hotels on site later this summer.

Australia are due to play three ODI and three T20 matches from July 3, but that three-week tour will almost certainly be scrapped or rearranged for later in the year - possibly September.

But managing director of English men’s cricket Ashley Giles admits there is no guarantee any cricket will be played in England in 2020.

“These are the first steps for players return to training ahead of international cricket potentially resuming later this (northern) summer,” Giles said.

“The safety of players, staff and our community is our first priority throughout this protocol.

“We are committed to adhering to public health guidelines and Government directives intended to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

“To be clear, we will only train and potentially play cricket behind closed doors if we know it is absolutely safe to do so and is fully supported by the government.”

(AAP-Cricket Network)

on keeping his form and fitness at an optimum level.

“I wont say it’s a rest period for me, as a cricketer you still have to be putting in the work, so if or when things go back to normal, I would be in decent condition in terms of fitness” Bramble added.

Bramble, who has captained the West Indies ‘B’ team in the past and is one of Guyana’s leading run-scorers in Regional 4-Day cricket, was given another shot to demonstrate his T20 skills after being named in the Guyana Amazon Warriors 6-man core which was named recently following the Regional player draft/retention stage.

Wrapping up his interview, Bramble said looking ahead to this summer’s possible T20 CPL season, he was keen on doing his part in being as prepared as possible should the tournament be held.

He also said that he knows the situation will affect the training of not just him but all the players involved and as such they needed to do their part, individually.

“The current situation (Covid-19) might affect us as cricketers skill-wise. We, as cricketers, still have to be honest with ourselves and work on some part of our game at home. It might be difficult due to space and equipment”, Bramble concluded.

India won’t rush players back despite facilities opening NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India’s cricketers will not be rushed back into training even after the country gave the green light on Sunday for sports facilities to open, the national cricket board has said.

India has extended a nationwide lockdown to May 31 as it tries to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus, and while stadiums and sports complexes are reopening to allow athletes to train there will be no events staged that would draw spectators.

With travel and other restrictions in place, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) said it would wait before scheduling any training camp for its contracted players. “... the safety and well-being of its athletes and support staff is paramount and (it) will not rush into any decision that can hamper or jeopardise India’s efforts in containing the spread of the virus,” BCCI treasurer Arun Singh Dhumal said in a statement late on Sunday.

India are scheduled to tour Sri Lanka in June for a limited-overs series but that trip is likely to be postponed due to the pandemic.

India’s cricketers have been cooling their heels at home during the lockdown, which has seen the Indian Premier League postponed indefinitely.

Dhumal told Reuters last week the BCCI was looking for a new window for the Twenty20 league later in the year to avoid a potential $530 million loss.

No attempt

by CWI to hide audit findings, says Skerritt PAGE 23

Cricket West Indies president, Ricky Skerritt

Jamaican sprint king Usain Bolt becomes a father

(REUTERS) - Athletics great and eight-time Olympic gold medallist Usain Bolt and his long-time girlfriend Kasi Bennett welcomed their first child on Sunday, Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness confirmed in a congratulatory tweet on Monday.

Jamaica’s Bolt, who holds world records in the 100m and 200m distance, confirmed Bennett was expecting a daughter in an Instagram video in March.

“Congratulations to our sprint legend Usain Bolt and Kasi Bennett on the arrival of their baby girl,” Holness tweeted.

Bolt, the only sprinter to win the 100m and 200m golds at three consecutive Olympics (2008, 2012 and 2016), had previously said he would advise his future children against following in his footsteps.

“That’s going to be hard for my kid. If they want to do it, I’m fine with it. But initially I’m going to say don’t do it, because I know the pressure that will come along with it,” the 33-year-old said during the weekend of Super Bowl LIV in Miami.

An 11-time world champion, Bolt retired after the 2017 world championships in London where he suffered a hamstring injury in the final race of his care.

Usain Bolt, an eight-time Olympic gold medalist, world-record holder and fastest man in history, just added a new title: dad

Players shine one side of a new cricket ball while the opposite is left to deteriorate through natural wear and tear.

This process helps bowlers swing the ball in the air

ICC set to ban use of saliva to shine cricket balls PLAYERS are likely to be banned from using saliva to shine the ball by the International Cricket Council when the sport resumes after the coronavirus pandemic, but the application of sweat will still be allowed.

The governing body’s cricket committee heard medical advice that suggests it is highly unlikely coronavirus can be transmitted through sweat, but there is an elevated risk through saliva.

The recommendations, which also suggest the use of home umpires, will be presented for approval in early June.

If the use of home umpires - as opposed to neutrals - is passed, the the ICC may also allow one additional DRS review per team per innings as “an interim measure”.

“We are living through extraordinary times and the recommendations the committee have made today are interim measures to enable us to safely resume cricket in a way that preserves the essence of our game while protecting everyone involved,” said ICC cricket committee chair Anil Kumble.

There will be no cricket in the UK until at least 1 July, but England’s men’s team have returned to individual training this week with the first Test of the summer potentially coming behind closed doors against West Indies on 8 July. (BBC Sport)

‘Virat Kohli is the best in all three forms’ – Ian Chappell compares the Indian skipper with Sir Viv Richards

FORMER Australian batsman Ian Chappell has always those to creep in his batting in the longer form of the praised Virat Kohli for his batting efforts. In a recent game. interview, he opened up about the Indian captain’s capaThe best short-form player in the time I played was Viv bilities and what makes him better than others. He also Richards, and he just played normal cricket shots but he revealed the thing about Kohli which impresses him the placed the ball so well he was able to score at a very fast rate. most.

And Kohli’s the same. He plays traditional cricket shots, and Talking about the comparison with the other members of he plays them really well”, the 76-year-old said. the fab four, Ian Chappell said that Kohli is the best. The forThe former Australian captain also said that Virat mer Aussie pointed out that Kohli’s record is quite incredible, Kohli’s fitness levels are quite high. “The other thing that especially in ODIs and T20Is. stands out about Kohli is his fitness and running between “Of that group (including Steve Smith, Kane Wil- the wickets. The way he pushes himself, he’s incredibly fit. liamson, Joe Root), Kohli is the best in all three forms. Some of his performances are quite amazing,” he added That’s unquestionable. His record in all three forms is Talking about Kohli’s captaincy skills, Ian Chappell said quite unbelievable, particularly his record in the shorter that he is very fearless when it comes to his approach. He forms,” Chappell said on ‘The RK Show’, which is hosted also stated that the Indian skipper won’t care about losing

by Radhakrishnan Sreenivasan on YouTube. the game in an attempt to win it, which makes him stand tall Chappell then went on to compare K o h l i ’ s in front of his competition. batting approach to that of the great, S i r “The one thing that stands out to me is Vivian Richards. In his opinion, both t h e that Kohli is the one (captain) that doesn’t batsmen focus on scoring runs with fear defeat. He’s prepared to lose a game conventional shots. He described that in trying to win it. You’ve got to be the 31-year-old’s ability to score runs that way as a captain in my opinion. I freely and quickly without playing like that approach. I thought when he too many fancy shots impressed took over the captaincy that he was so him. emotional, it might affect his captaincy “I like his approach to batting. adversely but I think he has reined that We did an interview with him last in a little bit. time India were in Australia, and He has made that work one of the things he talked for him in his captaincy about was why he didn’t rather than work play the fancy shots, against him. He’s the innovative shots a pretty smart of particularly T20 cricketer,” Chapcricket. He said pell concluded.

Batting greats Virat Kohli he didn’t want (CricTracker) and Vivian Richards

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TUESDAY, MAY 19, 2020