Guyana_Chronicle_Epaper_06_04_2020

THURSDAY 4th June, 2020

' No.106019

Coalition says polls tainted SEE PAGE 02

…contends that any results from elections cannot be considered credible because of the high incidence of fraud

…Werk-en-Rust man tells GECOM he was out but listed as voted

Schools to re-open Monday for exam students PAGE

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‘Region Six 08 Missing stamp costs on high alert’ coalition 69 votes at one …as Suriname records PAGE

surge in COVID-19 cases

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polling station in Sophia

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, June 4, 2020

Coalition says polls tainted

…contends that any results from elections cannot be considered credible because of the high incidence of fraud

…Werk-en-Rust man tells GECOM he was out but listed as voted

DESPITE attempts to discredit a list of names provided to the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) by the Guyana Police Force Immigration Department, one person has thus far stepped forward, confirming that he was indeed out of the jurisdiction on elections day, and therefore, could not have voted.

His name – Adler Bynoe, was reportedly crossed off on the Official List of Electors (OLE), adding weight to claims by the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) that unscrupulous people not only voted in the place of the dead, but also in place of persons who were out of the country on March 2 when the general and regional Elections were held.

Bynoe was listed among 172 persons, who the Commissioner of Police, Leslie James, said were out of the jurisdiction on Elections Day based on immigration records. At the time, the Police Commissioner, who is also the Chief Immigration Officer, was responding to a letter from the Chair of the Elections Commission, Justice (Ret’d) Claudette Singh. In light of allegations made by the APNU+AFC, the Chair had submitted, to the Police Commissioner, a list of 207 names for verification.

One day after the Police Commissioner submitted his list to the Elections Commission, the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) embarked on a campaign to discredit the list – posting videos on its social media platforms of persons indicating that they were in Guyana on elections day, and had

voted.

But Bynoe, in a letter to the Chair of the Elections Commission on Wednesday, June 3, 2020, confirmed that he was out of the jurisdiction as indicated by the Chief Immigration Officer. “I can confirm that as a citizen of Guyana, GECOM duly registered me as an elector and my name appeared on GECOM’s Official List of Electors for the 2020 General and Regional Elections. Further, I can confirm that I am usually resident in Guyana, although I was out of the jurisdiction on elections day,” Bynoe wrote.

The Werk-en-Rust, Georgetown resident penned the letter to the Chair of GECOM out of concern after he saw his name published in the Kaieteur Newspaper, among a list of persons, who were out of the country on March 2, but are alleged to have voted at the General and Regional Elections. Bynoe made it known that he is not apart any scheme to defraud the electorate.

“I reject any contention that I may have supported electoral fraud,” Bynoe made clear, while “seeking confirmation from GECOM as to whether or not someone did vote on my behalf without my permission to do so.”

The APNU+AFC has cited more than 1,200 such cases in which persons are alleged to have voted in the place of electors who were out of Guyana.

Chairman of A New and United Guyana (ANUG), Timothy Jonas, in an interview with the reporters outside of the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC) on Wednesday, said if GECOM confirms that

someone, who was out of the country on elections day, was marked down as having voted, such warrants an in-

to their name, that needs to be investigated. That is problem,” Jonas said. However, he contended that AP-

he said.

In an attempt to cast a shadow of doubt on the list provided to GECOM by the

Adler Bynoe’s Letter to the Chair of GECOM

vestigation.

“If at some point, it is proved that anybody was out of the country on elections day and you see a tick next

NU+AFC has not supported its immigration claims thus far.

“Right now we are not dealing with a situation where something has been proven; right now we are dealing with a situation with bare unsubstantiated allegations made,”

Police Commissioner, the Kaieteur News, on Tuesday, had accused the Top Cop providing “false” information but the Guyana Police Force, in a statement that day, said it stood by the information provided.

“The Administration of

the Force iterates that migration data produced by the Immigration Department of the Guyana Police Force is generated through its record system which includes an Electronic Border Management System.

This system however, does not record persons who travelled illegally,” the force said in a terse statement.

That very day, the PPP/C, as part of its campaign to discredit the claims made by the APNU+AFC, accused the coalition of naming prominent Attorney, Devindra Kissoon, as one of the persons who was out of Guyana on elections day, but is alleged to have voted. But APNU+AFC, on Wednesday, said the claim was far from the truth.

“The APNU+AFC never submitted the name of Devindra Kissoon on any of their lists as a person who was not in Guyana on the date of the elections. These errors highlight that in the interest of accuracy, the PPP/C must provide evidence that the APNU+AFC counting agents identified that particular person and the serial number that was used in the process,” the ruling coalition said in a statement.

The APNU+AFC said it will continue to expose evidence of electoral fraud perpetrated on the country by the PPP/C. We will continue to do so during this recount exercise.

“The recount process has revealed that the election of March 2, 2020 was riddled with fraudulent practices; the dead voted, people out of the jurisdiction voted, many unstamped ballots, missing certificates of employment, missing poll books, ballots cast over and above the number on the OLE and other fraudulent practices,” the coalition stated.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, June 4, 2020

Schools to re-open Monday for exam

pupils and students

--- MOE outlines strict public health protocols

--- limited classroom capacity, sanitisation guidelines, after-school measures and more

By Lisa Hamilton

SCHOOLS in Guyana will be in session during the period June 8 to August 15, to facilitate the preparation for, and writing of, the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA); the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) and the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE).

This decision has been solidified by a Gazetted Order signed by Minster of Education, Dr. Nicolette Henry, as of June 2, 2020. The order includes clear COVID-19 prevention guidelines to be followed by the Ministry of Education, Departments of Education, Headteachers, Mayor and City Council/Town Councils, Parent Teacher Associations and parents/guardians.

The ‘Notice COVID-19 Special Measures on the Administration of National Examination’ is given authority under the Public Health Ordinance. In so far as they differ from the COVID-19 Emergency Measures (No.3) 2020, these measures being specifically provided to meet the necessity for the holding of examinations, shall prevail.

NGSA has been set for July 1 and 2, 2020, while CSEC and CAPE will begin on July 13, 2020.

The Order states that, to prepare for national examinations, face-to-face contact between teachers and students is permitted at their respective schools, but classes shall not be held every day.

The seating arrangements for classes and the national examinations shall permit only 15 learners in each classroom or examination room at a time, sitting at least six feet apart from each other.

To control and prevent the spread of COVID-19, several measures shall be implemented by a designated responsible entity or person.

PREPARATORY MEASURES Regarding preparatory measures, the Ministry of Education shall be responsible for ensuring that all schools have appropriate sanitation stations, including adequate water and soap, and bins with covers.

According to the Ministry, stringent monitoring should be conducted to ensure that the appropriate infrastructure is implemented prior to the commencement of classes.

Meanwhile, headteachers will be responsible for ensuring that all schools in use have a designated sickbay or quarantine area that is well-ventilated. The

Queen’s College students during a 2019 forum.

area must be equipped with a bed, first aid kit and personal protective gear (i.e. mask and gloves) to accommodate any learner that is suspected to be exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms until emergency assistance arrives.

“This space shall not be the headteacher’s office and should be away from the main classroom or examination room,” the Gazetted Order states.

The Ministry of Education and Ministry of Public Health are responsible for making available a designated waiting area for students to remain between their arrival at school and when they are directed to the examination room or classrooms.

The headteacher, with the support of the Department of Education in each region, shall ensure that all schools have adequate sanitation supplies such as bleach, soap powder and alcohol-based sanitisers to ensure that they are routinely cleaned daily.

Added to this, floor signage or markings indicating a physical distance of approximately 6 feet apart from persons shall be placed outside and inside the washroom areas, student waiting area and canteen. This is the responsibility of the headteacher and may be done using brightly colored tape, chalk or paint.

The headteacher is also responsible for ensuring that the examination rooms are prepared and test papers are placed on the tables before the commencement of all examinations in order to maintain physical distancing between invigilators and students.

HEALTH AND SAFETY MEASURES When it comes to protecting the health and safety of students, the Ministry of Education will be responsible for ensuring that all candidates wear a face mask before entering into the school’s compound.

Pupils of the New Diamond/Grove Primary School back in 2018.

transportation to vulnerable children who reside outside of their catchment and cannot sit the examination at the centre closest to their home.

The Order also caters for a Hot Meal Programme whereby meals shall be provided to students who are beneficiaries of the said programme.

Deputy Headmistress of CV Nunes Primary School, Bindawattie Ketwaru attending to her pupils back in 2019

“Face masks will be on hand for distribution to students who present themselves without face mask to facilitate the conduct of examinations,” the Order indicates.

Meanwhile, the Order also gives the Ministry of Education responsibility for several other forms of safety measures. It must ensure that persons entering the school’s compound shall wash their hands with available soap and water at sinks located at the main entrance of the school.

It must also ensure that the temperature of all school staff and students shall be checked at the entrance of the examination centre. It has been advised that a medical practitioner from the school’s Community Health Centre be present at each examination centre to facilitate the checking of temperatures.

The Order states that anyone who exhibits a temperature greater than 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or greater than 38 degrees Celsius shall be promptly isolated in the sickbay area of the school and screened by emergency medical personnel.

In addition, anyone who enters the compound shall not be allowed to leave and re-enter the

compound for the day. The Order highlights: “Where it is not practical to have a clinician at every examination centre, teachers and other officers shall be trained to take temperatures.”

Cleaners have not been left out of the process as the Order states that all cleaners shall be trained in infection prevention and control practices. This is the responsibility of the Ministry of Education and headteacher.

Cleaning shall be done before the commencement of daily sessions, during the break between lunch and afternoon session and at the closure of the day and shall include frequently touched surfaces such as doorknobs, tabletops, chairs, gates, sink knobs, toilet seats and handles.

The Ministry of Education and Departments of Education shall ensure that cleaners are provided with Personal Protective Equipment, including masks, to protect themselves from potential exposure to COVID-19 during the conduct of their duties.

Meanwhile, only authorized canteen vendors within the school’s compound will be permitted to operate under specific conditions. The Mayor and City Council or Town Council, where

applicable, shall ensure that, under these conditions, vendors shall have copies of their food handler certificate and vendors shall be fully outfitted with protective gear including masks and gloves for use when handling food, aprons, and hairnets.

AFTER-SCHOOL MEASURES The responsibilities given to parents and guardians state that after the end of classes or examinations, parents or guardians shall pick up their children promptly from school.

Meanwhile, the headteacher and Parent Teachers Association must ensure that students who reside outside the school’s catchment area shall remain in the classroom or examination room to await pick up by their parents or guardians. They must also ensure that students do not congregate, loiter or play in the school’s compound. Students who will be going home on their own shall be permitted to leave following the guidance of the teacher or invigilator.

On the other hand, the Ministry of Education shall provide

TRANSPORTATION TO HINTERLAND REGION To facilitate the transportation of examination papers to the hinterland regions, flight arrangements will also be made to specific locations even as the specific dates of travel are yet to be determined.

Utilising the Ogle Airport, return travel arrangements will be made to take NGSA papers to Region One: Bimichi (Moruca), Mabaruma, Port Kaituma, Matthew’s Ridge and Baramita; Region Seven: Eteringbang, Kiakan and Kamarang; Region Eight: Kato, Mahdia, Paramakatoi, Karisparu, Kopinang and Chenapou and Region Nine: Koneshen (Guns).

Meanwhile, CSEC papers will be flown to Region One: Bimichi (Moruca), Mabaruma and Port Kaituma; Region Seven: Kamarang; Region Eight: Mahdia and Paramakatoi and Region Nine: Lethem.

“For both air travels above, the flight originating from Ogle will be taking in examination papers while the flights destined for Ogle will be transporting candidate’s examination scripts,” the Order states.

On Friday, June 5, 2020, senior officials of the Ministry of Education will be engaged in a webinar on NCN Ch 11 beginning at 10:30 hours focusing primarily on the NGSA, CSEC and CAPE examinations and the public health protocols to be implemented.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, June 4, 2020

George Floyd death: Trump denies protests forced him into bunker (BBC) US President Donald Trump has denied reports he was rushed to the White House bunker on Friday night during anti-racism protests.

Mr Trump told Fox News radio he went down during the day for a "tiny period of time" for an "inspection".

There have been protests near the White House, and across the US, for days over the death in custody of George Floyd.

Although some have turned violent, the defence secretary has said he does not back deploying "active duty forces".

Mark Esper said on

Wednesday he did not support invoking the Insurrection Act, which would enable the deployment of federal troops for domestic law enforcement.

"The option to use active duty forces should only be used as a matter of last resort and only in the most urgent and dire of situations. We are not in one of those situations now," he said.

This marks a break with President Trump, who has threatened to use the 1807 act and call up troops to quash demonstrations.

The death of African-American George Floyd, whose neck was pinned

down by the knee of a white policeman in Minneapolis, sparked widespread protests.

Tens of thousands of people have demonstrated across the United States for eight days against racism and the police killings of black Americans, while also calling for an end to racism and discrimination.

The vast majority have been peaceful but some have turned violent and curfews have been imposed in a number of cities.

What has Mr Trump said?

He was speaking on radio to Fox's Brian Kilmeade, as well as posting a number

of new tweets amid continued criticism of his response to the unrest.

A report in the New York Times quoted a source as saying Mr Trump was taken into the bunker on Friday night with bodyguards.

"It was a false report," Mr Trump said, adding: "I was there for a tiny, little short period of time.

And it was much for an inspection... maybe sometime you're going to need it."

On Monday, Mr Trump came in for criticism after police dispersed mostly peaceful protesters to clear a way for him to stand outside the nearby St John's Church

clutching a Bible.

Mr Trump denied telling police to disperse protesters.

"I didn't say, oh move them out, I didn't know who was there," he said, adding that "most religious leaders loved" his visit to the church.

The presiding bishop of the the Episcopal Church, Michael Curry, accused Mr Trump of using the church for "partisan political purposes", while the Archbishop of Washington Wilton D Gregory said the president had "manipulated" the shrine.

When asked about law enforcement during the pro-

tests, Mr Trump admitted "you have to get better than what they've been doing... we have to get the police departments, everybody has to do better", without giving any details on new policy.

In his tweets, Mr Trump, defended his record on race relations saying his presidency had done more for black Americans than presidential rival Joe Biden had done "in 43 years".

Mr Biden has said Mr Trump's actions are trying to "serving the passions of his base" and has pledged not to "traffic in fear and division".

Cyclone Nisarga: India's Mumbai escapes its worst cyclone in decades (BBC) At least one person died after Cyclone Nisarga struck India's west coast near

the densely populated city of Mumbai.

The eye of the storm nar-

Thursday, June 4, 2020 - 03:30 hrs-- 14:30hrs

rowly missed the city, while nearby coastal areas to the south bore the brunt. The extent of the damage is still being assessed.

Officials moved tens of thousands of people along the coast to higher ground as the storm approached.

India's most populous city has 20 million residents and has also been badly hit by the coronavirus pandemic.

Mobile phone footage of the storm in Raigad, about 50km (30 miles) south of Mumbai, showed huge waves

crashing into the shore, with trees being whipped into a frenzy by the strong winds.

There were warnings Nisarga may trigger big storm surges. Images showed it ripped tin roofs off buildings.

The man who died in Raigad district was hit by a toppling power transformer and died before doctors could get to him, the Press Trust of India reported. Eight others were injured.

However, in Mumbai, things were a little calmer.

"Winds have been stronger

Residents were told to stay indoors, and some moved to higher ground

than what we've seen before, but the rain is a lot less than a bad monsoon day," reported the BBC's Yogita Limaye in the city.

'Do not leave your house' Packing winds of more than 100km/h, Cyclone Nisarga intensified on its approach from the hot waters of the Arabian Sea. It began making landfall at about 13:00 local time (07:30GMT) around Alibaug in Raigad district. The area is a favourite weekend destination for many, and often touted as "the Hamptons" of Maharashtra.

Gujarat state was also in Nisarga's path as it proceeds north-east. It will dump huge amounts of rainfall across a swathe of India before it reaches the Himalayas at Nepal.

Earlier, BBC Marathi's Janhavee Moole described how all beaches in Mumbai were closed to the public and police were telling people to stay indoors.

"Do not leave your house for your own safety and well-being," Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray had tweeted.

Early on Wednesday, the Indian Meteorological Department said the cyclone had intensified into a "severe cyclonic

storm".

The fact the storm damage does not appear to be severe will come as a relief to Mumbai, the city worst affected by the coronavirus crisis in India.

It has so far confirmed more than 40,000 confirmed virus cases, and almost 1,400 deaths.

The tens of thousands of people evacuated before the cyclone included 150 patients from a recently-built Covid-19 field hospital.

The local government said people living in flimsy homes near the shore were being moved. The coast guard said it had taken 109 fishermen in 18 boats to safety.

The government urged people to secure their homes, prepare an emergency kit, and keep documents and valuables in water-proof containers.

Unlike India's eastern coast, cyclones are unusual on the country's western shore. Nisarga comes barely two weeks after Cyclone Amphan struck, devastating parts of Kolkata (formerly Calcutta) on the east coast.

More than 100 people were killed in the Indian states of West Bengal and Orissa, as well as neighbouring Bangladesh.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, June 4, 2020

Daily record toll puts Brazil deaths past 31,000 (BBC) Brazil has registered another record number of new daily coronavirus deaths. The 1,262 new fatalities put its overall death toll at 31,199.

The jump comes as several major cities start to open back up. In Rio people were seen on the beaches and in

Sao Paulo some commerce has opened.

Marcos Espinal, director of the Pan American Health Organization, said it was difficult to see how the virus would be contained in Brazil unless restrictive measures and more testing were used.

Brazil has 555,383 confirmed

infections, second only to the US. The country is deeply divided over how to respond to

the crisis, with health specialists and local governors arguing for a lockdown while President Jair

Bolsonaro says an economic crisis would be more harmful than the virus itself.

PM confirms Parliament’s life ends in Sept Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley may have inadvertently given the period when the forthcoming general elections will be held yesterday after he inadvertently revealed that the current term of the Parliament will be dissolved in July.

In what appeared to be an unintentional slip of the tongue during a morning talk show on Tobago’s lone television station Tobago Channel 5, Rowley made the statement while answering questions about greater autonomy for the island.

“We in the PNM are the only political party that by resolution in our congress ... said that we are committed to further Tobago’s self-gov-

Flashback July 2015: Dr Keith Rowley is greeted by supporters on his arrival at the party’s political meeting in Morvant during the then General Election campaign.

ernment ... What we need to do is try and accelerate it through the Parliament ...

the committee reports to the Parliament off and on and there’ll probably be a report

Suriname now has 18 active COVID-19 cases (WICNEWS) Suriname up to one week ago had no active virus cases and has started all over again with 18.

In an emergency conference of the National COVID-19 Management Team on May 31, officials said Albina, an eastern town in Suriname, is now characterised as a red zone due to the high risk of contamination in this area.

A team from the Ministry of Health was sent to Albina to make a situation analysis.

Dr Cleopatra Jessurun, Director of the Ministry of Health said: “ There is now a local spread. An infected person who is not asymptomatic now could walk around anywhere. I think people don’t get the gist of

what we’re in now. We are in Code Red. COVID-19 can be anywhere in the country ”.

The director said that the non-observance of the COVID-19 measures in recent days contributed to Suriname reaching this dreaded moment, which was warned about for weeks.

Meanwhile, the Asisikriki area has been closed as a man, who was listed as infected with COVID-19, was present at a small scale gold mining facility for several days.

The Ministry of Health directed a team of experts to the area with helicopters to conduct a full screening there.

Infectiologist Dr Stephen Vreden who spoke on this topic said the team which

visited the area on May 29 had seen a number of people with minor complaints but up to May 31 was unable to immediately find a source of infection in Asisikriki.

“It is certainly the intention to prevent people from leaving that area for the time being because there is apparently an outbreak there and to prevent people from going to other places, that area will be closed off,” said Dr Vreden.

He noted that imports of COVID-19 from Brazil are currently mainly taken into account, as a major outbreak is underway in the southern neighbouring country.

From now on, the Ministry of Health is advising citizens who go on the street to wear mouth and nose coverings.

before the Parliament dissolves in July,” Rowley said.

If the Parliament is dissolved in July as suggested by the PM, it means it will be due within 90 days, which could see the country undertaking the election process by October or even earlier.

The discussion on autonomy for Tobago and the election came two days after the People’s National Movement screened candidates for the two electoral seats—Tobago East and West—and retained Ayanna Webster-Roy and Shamfa Cudjoe.

Earlier in the interview, Rowley was if he would reveal the date of the election.

Laughing, Rowley asked the

host if he was a registered voter before adding, “I kept saying all along that elections will be held when they are due and the elections are due. We are coming to the point at the end of this term.

I have been in Government now. I have been your Prime Minister now for four, almost five years...

“The life of this Parliament will come to an end towards the end of September and under the Constitution, once it goes to that end, you have ...no more 90 days to call the elections. If the Parliament is prorogued before that, whatever date it’s prorogued you have 90 days, so we are now in June.”

Asked about the PNM screening committee’s decision to go again with Webster-Roy and Cudjoe, Rowley said both women had done well at the national level.

Questioned further on Webster-Roy’s chances of retaining the seat against the Progressive Democratic Patriots’ candidate Watson Duke, Rowley said she had already proven herself.

“You have it the wrong way. It is whoever is coming to challenge Webster-Roy. (She) was selected by the people of Tobago East quite overwhelmingly and she has gone on to justify that selection,” Rowley said.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, June 4, 2020

Electoral credibility, social stability, and economic development THE reports of electoral fraud that currently occupy the attention of many Guyanese cannot be ignored or wished away. The credibility of any country’s elections is simply too important to dismiss. This is so because credible elections are not an end in itself; instead, it is the primary pillar of democracy upon which a stable democratic society stands. I is also a prerequisite for national development and the sense of personal security which derives from the knowledge that one lives in a country in which the government is recognised by everyone to possess legitimacy.

Credible elections may

be described as elections that are recognised to reflect free expression of the will of the people. According to USAID, “Elections should be transparent, inclusive, and accountable.” In the current context, the elections of March 2, arguably, do not meet or even approach the credibility standard; too many discrepancies, anomalies, instances of malpractice, and questionable dealings have been uncovered during the recount/audit process.

Further, it is beyond doubt that fraud was committed, since, to believe that so many discrepancies could be the result of unintentional mistakes is ludicrous. As such, it is left to the relevant authorities to

address what is clearly electoral fraud.

Those facts having been stated, let us examine the main and major effects of non-credible elections since space will not permit a thorough analysis. First, a government that benefits from electoral fraud would automatically be an illegitimate government. In political science, legitimacy is the right and acceptance of an authority. A government that lacks legitimacy cannot effectively serve the people, simply because persons and organisations within its sphere of influence (local) would not recognise its authority, and, those outside such a sphere (the international communi-

ty) would view that country as a pariah. Former SecretaryGeneral of the United Nations, Mr. Kofi Annan wrote, “Legitimacy is the crucial currency of government in our democratic age … victory without legitimacy is no victory at all.” Therefore, an illegitimate government would necessarily need to enforce its will by the use of coercion because there would be a lack of consent by the citizenry.

Second, an illegitimate government reigns over an unstable society. Social instability is the condition of social disorder generally manifested in the form of inter-group conflict or violence.

This condition results in lack

of progress because the confidence to invest in the economy, and create jobs, would be absent; taxes would be collected haphazardly; cronyism and corruption would take over and there would be no consistency in any sphere of society. Clearly, under such circumstances, insecurity among citizens would prevail and fear would prevent persons from being productive. Guyanese know of such a situation.

Third, according to the writings of political scientists, Guyana’s electoral system is relatively robust. The correct laws, systems, and practices are in place, at least, theoretically. However, evidently, that is not sufficient

to ensure credibility. This fact has been proven by the recount. This is so because if a group of fraudsters are determined to defeat the safeguards, such criminal minds will find a way to commit electoral fraud. Such is the nature of evil; it does not stop being evil.

Guyanese, though, are a strong people. Good will find a way to defeat evil, and credibility can be snatched from the hungry jaws of fraud. Guyana has a strong Constitution, an able and honest President, and a competent judiciary.

Citizens may rest assured that in spite of attempts to destroy our democracy, our good country will prevail.

Gecom cannot be expected to retreat into state of regulatory agoraphobia Dear Editor SOME forty years ago as a student of law at UWI, I bought one of Lord Denning’s literary master pieces. It is titled “The Discipline of Law.” At page 26, there is a strange sub-heading- “unusual common sense”. That great jurist with accustomed erudition elucidates why to be truly right might require that you avoid and abandon rules of technicalities.

Statistics which does nothing but shows off one’s dispensation to accountancy, can amount to an abandonment of common sense.

Christopher Ram, it is, who by his pendantic, callous criticism of “Harmon, Norton and Williams” has, paradoxically displayed irrelevancy, coupled with a reckless, comedial disregard, and abandonment of common sense (“Foolishness peddled by Harmon, Norton, Williams and their recount agents cannot pass common sense test”

S.N Sunday May 31st, 2020).

Editor, it is public knowledge that Christopher Ram (CR) is an accountant. But, you cannot by an indulgence in extravagant statistical/accounting technicalities, disagree that if, inter alia as regards “Ballot Box 779..352 ballots were issued… 377 were discovered in the box at the recount” (quoting from “We need Answers” Joseph Harmon GC Sunday May 31st, 2020) that, (without offending common sense) that is a glaring irregularity, (being only but one of the plethora of irregularities/ anomalies exposed at the recount process), the question then becomes: what is the veracity of those exposures? There can be no doubt or question given Caricom’s oversight its high visibility, of the transparency, and reality of disclosure and exposures; and hence their veracity. Our common sense tells us that there CANNOT be more genuine ballots than the 352 genuine ballots that were issued to the pre-

siding officer. For there to be 377 (25 more) is irregularity, rigging most foul. No amount of what in this recount context, is Ram’s statistical rubbish can make or convert 352 into 377! Yet that is CRs pious endeavor in his letter even as he castigates “Harmon, Norton, Williams” for “foolishness” self aggrandized claim to be endowed with common sense (much less unusual common sense) must be scrutinized. We do this scrutiny best by asking some questions.

What does CR knows about common sense when in his letter he gives the impression that Norton is contending that dead people actually voted, when common sense should tell him that what Norton was saying, must have been saying, and must be understood to have been saying is that some PPP/C electors who voted on March 2nd, 2020, ALSO VOTED for persons deceased, but whose name remained on the bloated OLEs. What does CR

knows about common sense, when he was the litigant who went to the High Court to prevent Gecom’s House to House registration exercise aimed at correcting an obviously bloated OLE of some 660,000 18-year and older electors, while common sense must have screamed at him telling him that it was more than a “statistical probability” (to use his favourite phrase); it was an obvious unreality, that in a population of some 750,000 ( Guyana being a country of historically young people majority population) it was AN IMPOSSIBILITY TO HAVE A GENUINE OLE of some 660,000.

Yet it was his obsession that come hell or high water, Gecom was to conduct the 2020 GREs with that bloated OLE (the fact of the Courts’ ruling in his favour proves nothing but that in Court, legal technicalities can sometimes trump common sense – Lord Denning under his sub heading “ unusual commonsense” stubbornly decried and denounced

such).

What does CR know about common sense (allied with common human experiences) when he, in his “statistical probability” gymnastic contortion, seeks to give the impression that the corruption of party agents at the place of polls, and corruptibility of party agents (being after all but humans with human frailties) is an impossibility!

Every lawyer (be you criminal or civil law practitioner - CR is also a lawyer) knows from his/her practice, that humans are corruptible, can be corrupted. (I would submit, boldly, that among the party agents and POs there must have been (as the recount is revealing many) Charandass Persauds).

What does CR knows about common sense, when to embellish his argument, he draws a nonsensical correlation between “municipal elections” and the 2020 GREs, TURN TO PAGE

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, June 4, 2020

Family Planning Clinic at GPHC must re-open ASAP Dear Editor, I AM writing this letter to remind the management and directors of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation about the crucial importance of sexual and reproductive healthcare. Weeks ago, in the initial phases of the Coronavirus pandemic response, a decision was made to stop providing family planning services at GPHC. While one appreciates the caution being exercised in this challenging time, the fact is that family planning is an essential health service and access to contraceptives plays a crucial role in women’s physical and mental wellbeing.

Numerous research stud-

ies have shown that access to contraception improves women’s lives in innumerable ways-- child spacing ensures healthier pregnancies, fewer childbirth complications for both mother and infant, less unwanted pregnancies and unsafe abortions, while simultaneously boosting female empowerment by allowing women the opportunity to fulfil their educational potential and become active participants in the workforce.

Access contraception and family planning services have also been shown to greatly improve the quality of life of women/girls living in poverty and experiencing abuse and violence- something which remains epidemic in Guyana.

When women and girls have bodily autonomy, i.e,

control of their reproductive choices and the ability to make independent decisions about if, when, and how many children to bear, their mental health also improves, there is less stress, depression, suicidal ideation, etc.

For all these reasons, it is essential that women and girls of reproductive age have consistent and affordable access to sexual and reproductive health services.

This is even more important in this time of the Coronavirus pandemic when many women’s lives have gotten even more difficult than usual with many experiencing significant loss of income, more interpersonal violence, increased caregiving challenges, and additional stresses. The last thing

most women need now is to worry about how and where to obtain contraception and family planning services.

It is not enough to simply refer persons to community health centers; those who were accessing these services at GPHC would have had their reasons for choosing that location over others and it’s important that those decisions be honoured.

Sadly, the public health system of Guyana has long failed to meet all the needs of Guyanese women and girls.

One glaring failure is the lack of safe abortion services at most public health facilities nationwide; the fact that this essential reproductive health service remains unavailable in eight of the ten regions of Guyana twenty five years

after abortion was legalized, speaks volumes about the low level of respect for women’s health, lives, and wellbeing among those with the authority to effect systemic change.

The irony however, is that access to contraception and family planning services can help reduce the demand for abortions. It is therefore imperative that GPHC resumes provision of these key services immediately.

It is clear that the Coronavirus will be with us for the foreseeable future and our task at this point in time is to figure out how to navigate this new normal.

Months into the pandemic, we now have a much better understanding of how to deal with the virus and there is no reason why the

family planning clinic at GPHC cannot be re-opened as long as proper sanitation and physical distancing measures are put into place.

Women and girls are both the foundation of a healthy society, as well as the most vulnerable, and it is important that Guyanese women and girls are able to obtain the information and tools they need to make the best decisions for themselves in terms of their sexual and reproductive well being. With or without the Coronavirus, this must be a priority for those who care about creating a better Guyana.

Regards Sherlina Nageer

Gecom cannot be expected to retreat ...

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when common sense tells us (and we all know) that there is not, has never been, and arguable, will never be (generally at any rate and rarely exceptionally) an equal, a similar voter excitement or enthusiasm, and turn out in municipal elections, as there is (locally, regionally, internationally) for General/ National election. Comparing “municipal elections” (by reference to which CR makes the deduction that the PPP/C won the 2020 GRE- a manifest non sequitur) is like CR equating his wealth with that of the American Bill Gates, or the Amazon owner!

What does CR know about common sense which screams at him, is in his face, and he sees it not, and hears it not, to stop exposing and revealing his pathological dislike and angst for APNU+AFC (and by extension its leader President David. A. Granger) by the sheer tenor of his letters, and his litigation in Court, because such exposure and revelation (unwitting or intentional) shows, manifestly, that pathologically, he was not a “fit and proper” person to be Gecom Chairman, and that President Granger (as if endowed with Divine pre-science) exercised his constitutional “own deliberate judgement” with what, history will show to be historic consequentiality in condignly rejecting him as one of Jagdeo’s nominee for that vaunted constitutional

office. The signs are ominous, to put it mildly.

What does CR know about common sense, when he disavows it in his misguided, misplaced theoretical fantasy with “ statistical probability”; when as a lawyer, he ought to know, that as Lord Reid once said in the House of Lords (“.. The life blood of the law is not logic but common sense”, Haughton v Smith (1973)] and that is why (lay men) juries are directed by Judges to apply their common sense when making finding of facts, and Judges when confronted by seemingly insuperable difficulties as to finding the intent when interpreting legislation, resort to common sense as did Lord Evershed, MR in the elction case of Knowles v. Zoological Society of London (1959)- interpretation of the words “:entitled to vote” in aby-law].

And how can CR accuse Basil Williams SC, of peddling “nonsense” as regards the learned Attorney General’s rejection (with which in my letter I have concurred “ Nandlall’s argument must be rejected” GC, on-line Friday 29th May, 2020) of the PPP/C (more particularly Anil Nandlall) contention that Gecom has no jurisdiction under its enabling Order to resolve irregularities/ anomalies exposed in the national recount, when there can be no greater nonsense that the PPP/C argument

and approach to this matter that BY AND UNDER the selfsame order (to which it agreed) which enables Gecom to disregard (or at any rate put in temporary abeyance) Mingo’s (the RO of Region four) declaration which effectively makes the APNU+AFC the winner of the 2020 GREs, GECOM, has, for some inexplicable reason, disabled and denied itself the power to consider and deliberate upon allegations of irregularities/anomalies which, as it must be obvious, is the very raison d’ etre for PPP/C objection to Gecom’s reliance on Mingo’s declaration. A greater, confusion, obfuscation and volte face there cannot be.

Readers, observe that I have disdainfully, said nothing about CRs self-righteous notion of the incorruptibility of the PPP/Cs executives, which needs only to be stated, to be rejected. And as to Nandlall’s distasteful use of “misfits and miscreants” in his June 1st, 2020 letter, I recommend that he reads Adam Harris’ OP-ED “Beware the Person who cries the loudest” GC Sunday 31st May, 2020.

En passant, I need not say much in relation to a letter (which has been brought to my attention) by learned counsel Nandlall under caption: “Constitution entrust High Court with exclusive jurisdiction to determine lawful conduct of elections, Gecom

has no role” SN, Monday 1st June, 2020. The reader is referred to my Friday 29 letter.

Suffice to say that a provision in the constitution cannot, in law, be unconstitutional nor can constitutionality be divisible, or seerable. Article 162 (1) (b) under which Gecom (in my consistent view has wrongly arrogated to itself the disputed power, for the time being, has delayed Mr. Granger’s assumption of the Presidency consequent upon the holding of the 2020 GREs and Region 4 ROs declaration, is as much part and parcel of the 1980 Constitution of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana as the other 231 articles (albeit, of course, not necessarily of

equal constitutional value as those entrenched by the framers with the requirement of a referendum for their alteration) Article 163 is NOT one of those eleven (11) deepest entrenched provisions/ articles. For those of us who understands the intricacies of constitutional law, article 163 has no deeper constitutional value than article 162. In a subsequent letter (perhaps) I may elucidate as to why Nandlall’s preoccupation with the “exclusive jurisdiction” of the High Court is somewhat misguided, as exclusive there is intended to indicate that the Court of Appeal has no original jurisdiction in Election Petition matters (contrast article 177).

6

I end with this: “fairness” as prescribed by article 162 (1) (b) of the Constitution bears no constitutional definition. Fairness cannot be a matter of ephemeral political expediency or convenience. And every Lawyer (including Ram, Nandlall, Ramkarran SC) knows that it is, and must be, for Gecom to determine for itself what the delivery of that “fairness” requires in the context of the present election hiatus.

Gecom cannot be expected to retreat into a state of regulatory agoraphobia.

Regards, Maxwell E. Edwards

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, June 4, 2020

Missing stamp costs coalition 69 votes at one polling station in Sophia

WEDNESDAY’S recount of the votes cast at the General and Regional Elections, saw 86 ballots from a single Polling Station in Sophia, Georgetown being deemed rejected – 83 from the General Elections and three (3) for the Regional Elections.

The records show that on March 2, 2020, 184 electors from a list of 256 turned up to vote at Sophia Nursery School, Poll Station 4549. But of the 184 ballots cast, only 101 were deemed valid for the General Elections, the other 83 were rejected.

According to the Observation Report, which was generated, of the rejected ballots, 82 were rejected “for want of official mark,” meaning it lacked the official six digit stamp. The other rejected ballot was marked for more than one Party List of Candidates.

The report, which was seen by the Guyana Chronicle, indicated that 69 of the rejected ballots were marked in favour of the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) while 12 were marked in favour of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C).

For the Regional Elections, there were 182 valid votes cast, and three ballots within Ballot Box 4549, which were deemed rejected – two because of the absence of the official six digit stamp and another because it was marked in favour of more than one List of Candidates.

“It was noted by the APNU+AFC agent that the rejected ballots for want of official mark, the extra official mark was seen on the Regional Part of the Ballot,” a section of the Observation Report read.

It is believed that the error was on the part of the Assistant Presiding Officer (APO), who reportedly folded the ballots incorrectly resulting in only part of the ballots being stamped.

The alarming number of rejected ballots for want of an official mark was among issues

raised with the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) by the APNU+AFC. During her most recent press conference on Monday, GECOM Public Relations Officer, Yolanda Ward said there were 1,536 rejected ballots for the General Elections based on the five Electoral Districts for which Certificates of District Tabulation have been generated.

The rejected ballots for the Regional Elections totaled 1,927.

Ward explained that a ballot is deemed rejected “for want of official mark, which is the stamp, unmarked or void of uncertainty, marked for more than one party List of Candidates, or mark so that the Elector can be identified.”

“Anything within those categories is what constitutes a rejected ballot," she added.

While Ward was able to provide a breakdown of the ballots rejected thus far based on the five regions certified, she was unable to indicate how many of those ballots were unstamped. There have been cases in which half of the ballot was stamped and the other half unstamped. According to her, the Commission is still deliberating on how it will treat with the ballots that were partially stamped.

“At this point I can’t say where they are at with their discussion,” Ward said while noting that there is a concern that some of the unstamped ballots may be that of members of the Disciplined Services. The Disciplined Services – members of the Guyana Police Force, Guyana Defence Force and Guyana Prison Service – voted 10 days ahead of E-Day.

‘Region Six on high alert’

SURINAME has become the latest South American country to record a surge in cases of the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), and while this poses a threat to Surinamese, the risks of this surge does not evade Guyana, as formal and informal travel to Suriname is a norm for Guyanese and vice versa.

The Dutch-speaking nation, which is also Guyana’s neighbour to the East, has recorded 74 cases of the disease, inclusive of one death, in a short space of time.

“Our neighbour Suriname has recorded new cases after they would have managed to contain this disease. It therefore means that we are, once again, in a vulnerable position of receiving imported cases, if persons continue to cross, and if the necessary precautions are not taken,” said Deputy Chief Medical Officer (DCMO), Dr. Karen Boyle, during a virtual COVID-19 update, on Wednesday.

Guyana has already recorded 153 cases of COVID-19 and 12 deaths, but

if the border is not carefully monitored, those figures could easily climb.

Region Six has so far managed to stay COVID-19 free for two months, after recording one case in March, 2020.

Director of Regional Health Services, Region Six, Jevaughn Stephens, said the region had lost its one COVID-19 patient to the disease, but, since then, there has been no new case.

“This is due to the good work of the frontline workers…they are working beyond the call of duty to ensure that East Berbice remains safe… we have a number of programmes, such as screening at all health facilities in the region, which aids in the containment and detection of the disease,” said Stephens during a virtual update, on Tuesday.

He said screening is being conducted at 30 health centres and at all major health facilities in the region. Permanent screening and sample taking facilities have also been established at some of those health

Director of Health Services, Region Six, Jevaughn Stephens

facilities.

A screening point was also established at the Berbice Bridge, which serves as the main entrance to Region Six. Some 1,700-2,500 persons enter Berbice on a daily basis, but Stephens assured that there are systems to screen every person and to provide secondary screening if neces-

sary. Screening is conducted at the bridge from 06:00hrs to 18:00hrs, as much attention would not be needed after 18:00hrs because of the curfew, which was instituted by the government.

“Our methods have been very effective so far and we plan on keeping them up for as long as it remains neces-

…as Suriname records surge in COVID-19 cases sary,” said Stephens.

National containment efforts have also been numerous, and, just recently, the Emergency Measures, previously set to expire on Wednesday, were extended to June 17, 2020.

In a press release on Tuesday, the National COVID-19 Task Force (NCTF) stated that the extension applies to the COVID-19 Emergency Measures (No.3) published in the Gazette on April 29, 2020.

The Order which will notify on these changes is being prepared for gazetting under the hand of Minister of Public Health, Volda Lawrence.

The Emergency Measures state that unless a citizen is conducting or visiting an essential service between the hours of 06:00 hours and 18:00 hours, he/she is to stay within the enclosure of his/ her home and yard. A number of social activities have also been prohibited.

The Measures also speak sternly to specific working hours allotted to essential services, preferential treatment

for healthcare workers, social and physical distancing protocols, religious worship and domestic and international travel.

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

Meanwhile, the preamble to the list of measures have made it clear that it could be terminated, extended or amended by notice of the Minister of Public Health, after an assessment of the conditions.

Chairman of the NCTF, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, had stated that the NCTF is aware that the World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that lifting lockdown restrictions too quickly could lead to negative consequences.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, June 4, 2020

Guyana hopes for assistance from Germany to fight COVID-19 MINISTER of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Karen Cummings, participated in a videoconference, on Wednesday, with counterparts from Latin America, the Caribbean and Germany during which the Foreign Ministers discussed joint measures to contain the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19), as well as a course of action to counter the economic impact.

The videoconference was hosted by German’s Foreign Minister, Heiko Maas, and was catered for under the framework of Germany's Latin America and Caribbean Initiative, which was launched

“The cost of medical equipment and supplies, along with the human resource scale up required at this time, is challenging for some small countries like Guyana, where already we grapple with a vast coastland and difficult hinterland terrain.

Nevertheless, Guyana has taken the bold step to establish a Centre for Disease Control.

However, there is still need for critical financial support to undertake other significant and costly health systems strengthening initiatives required to competently manage the spread of the Coronavirus in Guyana.

In order to effectively address the COVID-19 pandemic,

already scarce resources, and the seeking of new resources to combat and manage the spread of the coronavirus, when the ability of some of the countries to earn revenue from tourism, trade and their related sectors has been severely impacted.

As such, Minister said Guyana remains convinced that the region’s consistent call for the adjustment of the criteria for access to concessional financing must be heeded by those who exert the greatest influence on the system, to give consideration to the specific vulnerabilities faced by the Caribbean.

“We also remain concerned

German Foreign Minister, Mr. Heiko Maas, ( at centre ) engages his counterparts in a discussion on COVID-19. Also pictured are Minister Cummings (top left); Paraguayan Foreign Minister, Mr. Antonio Rivas Palacios (top centre); and Nicaraguan Minister for National Policy, Mr. Paul Oquist Kelly (top right)

in 2019.

In her address, Minister Cummings expressed appreciation for the support and cooperation of partners such as Germany. She explained that in Guyana the public health measures that are being implemented are costly and negatively affecting the economy.

small economies like Guyana must rely on the availability of concessional resource availability,” Dr. Cummings said.

She highlighted, too, that Guyana’s response to the crisis, through the prioritisation of public health and preservation of human resources, has resulted in the diversion of

about the continued placement, without consultation, of States on blacklists despite compliance with, and adherence to, international financial standards and best practices. Such continuing actions compound the region’s efforts towards sustainable development. Guyana’s President, David Grang-

Labourer nabbed with smuggled goods

A 36-year-old labourer was, on Wednesday morning, caught red-handed at the Guyana-Brazil border crossing at Mango Grove, Lethem, with a quantity of items he smuggled into the country.

The borders are currently closed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Steve Lamazon of Mango Grove is currently in police custody assisting with the investigation.

The Guyana Chronicle was made to understand that on Wednesday, around 04:45 hours, police, acting on information received, went to the crossing at Mango Grove, where they saw Lamazon pushing a wheelbarrow with several items inside.

Upon seeing the police,

persons who were in the boat which was used to smuggle the items into Guyana from Brazil, made good their escape.

They made good their escape in a boat situated just off Guyana's shore and headed for Brazil by crossing the Takutu River.

When questioned by the police, Lamazon admitted to having smuggled the items that came from Bonfim, Brazil, for himself and other persons.

The police seized 40 cases of Black Stone Brazilian rum, 52 cases of Brazilian beers and four boxes containing a quantity of cosmetics.

On May 5, 2020, four Brazilians were intercepted by local police on patrol at the Takutu Crossing, with a

quantity of smuggled goods.

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

The group was nabbed with 10 long track pants, 10 pairs of socks, 23 pairs of footwear, 30 bottles of cologne, three Gillette sets, 33 vials of skin cream, five bottles of shampoo, 10 bottles of body spray, 55 vials of medication, six bars of soap, 25 boxes of syrup medication, six boxes of dye and six bottles of nail polish.

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

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Karen Cummings, preparing to address her counterparts

er, in addressing last week’s High Level Event on Financing for Development in the era of COVID-19, pointed to the need for structured and sturdy systems to save lives and secure livelihoods with medium and long term measures, aimed at building capacity to respond effectively and efficiently to health crises; and achieving food security, through sustaining agriculture, manufacturing

and services to allow capability for rapid production and progress on reopening. Such measures, set out in consultation with developing countries, will be crucial as Agenda 2030 programmes are implemented with the aim of attaining the Sustainable Development Goals,” Dr. Cummings pointed out.

In this regard, she said that Guyana commends Germany

for its support for debt relief for the hardest hit developing and emerging economies, its recognition of the important role multilateral institutions such as the United Nations and the World Health Organisation are playing, and will play, in the response to the virus, and for its pledge of €525 million towards the development of vaccine and medicines for COVID-19.

“The support and cooperation of partners like Germany are welcome and it is our hope that the partnership will spur a stronger international response that is all-encompassing to ensure equitable and fair access to medical and financial resources; allow sustained response to the pandemic; the development of holistic recovery plans; and the creation of more resilient health, social, economic, technological and research-led systems,” she stated.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, June 4, 2020

Guyana goes days without new COVID-19 case GUYANA has gone four days without recording a new case of the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), but health authorities are left to contend with 73 active cases, as the country continues to battle the scourge.

There was no shift in the number of cases, even though authorities tested 27 persons within the past 24 hours, said Deputy Chief Medical Officer (DCMO), Dr. Karen Boyle, during a virtual COVID-19 update, on Wednesday.

Health authorities have tested 1,699 persons to date, with 1,546 of those persons bearing negative results and 153 testing positive for the disease.

Of the total number of infections, 70 persons have recovered and 12 persons have died, while 71 of the active cases are in institutional isolation and two are being treated in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

“Fellow Guyanese, we wish to reiterate that isolation and quarantine facilities are not the same. Everyone who receives a positive test result will be placed in isolation. Persons in quarantine are those persons who were in very close contact with someone who tested positive, persons returning to Guyana, and someone who is a suspected case awaiting results to confirm his/her status,” said Dr. Boyle.

She said the duration of someone’s stay in isolation is not fixed, and depends on how fast the body fights off the virus. All persons in isolation are cleared after having two negative tests, 24 hours apart.

Persons, who are cleared and allowed to go home, are not infectious, which simply means that they cannot transmit the virus to anyone else because the virus is no longer active in their body.

“With that, we ask that

basis. 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 able to access these services.

who tested positive for the disease, they should utilise the services available to them and call the hotline; make contact with the nearest health facility or visit one of the COVID-19 facilities. Health authorities continue to work towards strengthening the healthcare system to respond to COVID-19 on a long-term

THE EPICENTRE 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. Health authorities are also placing emphasis on the four

hinterland regions, especially now that three of them have recorded cases of COVID-19.

The need for surveillance in those regions is also important, because Guyana’s South American neighbour, Brazil, is now rated as the COVID-19 epicentre of the Americas.

COVID-19 remains a serious issue, not just here in Guyana, but globally as well. And, according to global statistics, there are over 6.1 million cases of COVID-19, with over 376,000 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.

testing infrastructure challenges are insurmountable, candidates will be allowed to sit the examinations using the paper-based modality but this does not take care of the gaps in learning and the serious challenges the students would have faced in keeping up with studies for their exams,” the release stated, further questioning: “Will the ministry support them financially if there are

the Grade Six children are for the exams?”

The APA is also concerned about students on the Hinterland Scholarship Programme and those with Public Service Ministry scholarships. It said that these are yet to be paid stipends and are finding it difficult to access the same, due to being situated in the hinterland.

The APA said: “It is clear that COVID- 19 has exposed

that the authorities surely should have known before.

We urge that students from Indigenous and hinterland regions be afforded constructive redress and not be made to face situations for which they are not prepared. We urge that the ministry consider an extended timeframe that allows for students to get back into the school and other

Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Karen Boyle

you show some compassion to your brothers and sisters who have recovered from this disease. Their journey was not an easy one and they need your support,” Dr. Boyle advised.

Guyanese were, however, reminded that if they are experiencing any symptom of COVID-19 or if they have been in contact with someone,

‘Consider their challenges’

…APA wants MOE to postpone July exams THE Amerindian Peoples Association (APA) has expressed its concern that students in the hinterland affected by educational inequalities and digital divide will be further impacted by the July dates set for the National Grade Six Assessment and the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC).

In a release to the media on Wednesday, the APA said that closure of schools for almost three months due to the pandemic did not allow hinterland students the same opportunities for e-learning as that of those who live on the coastland.

Now, with the NGSA and CSEC examinations set for next month, it fears that children in the region are ill-prepared for what is to come.

The APA said that while the Ministry of Education announced that e-learning would be facilitated and that workbooks for Grades Two, Four and Six pupils would be provided to schools, children in Grades One, Three, Five and the secondary level were not

provided for and used the Guyana Learning Channel via radio as a supplement.

While the association was

made aware that Regional Educational Officers took initiative to provide some workbooks for Grades One, Three, Five, it said that it is unsure whether this catered to all far-flung regions.

The APA added that secondary school students living in dormitories away from home had no choice but to return to their respective communities and though the University of Guyana (UG) proposed studies through online classes, in cases where this was impossible,

these students had to take a leave of absence from pursuing their studies.

“While the efforts to bridge the technological gap between the coast and the hinterland through the establishment of ICT hubs and e-government internet access is commendable, very few of those stations provide reliable Internet to sustain e-learning,” the APA stated.

“In instances where private Internet service is available, it is often expensive to utilise for prolonged periods. Many communities do not have a reliable source of electricity, or none at all. In some cases, communities cannot access regional radio stations, let alone television stations. Where there may be radio stations, not every family has a radio or listening device to tune in.”

Meanwhile, the association wants to know what representation the Ministry of Education made on behalf of students from Indigenous and hinterland communities to the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC).

“The Council has said that in territories where the online

Students of Kato Secondary in 2019

many failures and children have to re-write exams? Does the ministry know how prepared

‘I was out, but name ...

While reminding that the recount agreed to by the President David Granger and the Leader of the Opposition, Bharrat Jagdeo, was aimed at ensuring that the results of the election can be deemed credible, APNU+AFC submitted that any results emanating from this process cannot be considered credible because of the high incidence of fraud.

“It is good to remind the

PPP/C that its own Anil Nandlall declared while referring to electoral fraud that ‘once a fraud has been committed, it nullifies or voids the entire process.’”

The coalition said it expects that the PPP/C will not shift the goal post and will stick to this position.

In addition to the 1,200 immigration-related cases, the APNU+AFC has cited over

800 additional cases in which it alleged that there were irregularities and discrepancies; these include cases in which persons allegedly voted on behalf of the dead. These irregularities, the coalition has argued, have affected more than 90,000 votes and ought to be thoroughly investigated by the Elections Commission before the results of the March 2 Elections are

FROM PAGE

the educational inequalities and digital divide in our educational system, something

learning system to be able to cope with the various exams facing them.”

2

declared.

Political Scientist, Dr. David Hinds, in an interview with the Guyana Chronicle, said that GECOM, under the Constitution and Elections Law (Amendment) Act, has the authority to investigate the anomalies ahead of the declaration of the results, and ought to do so.

“If it could, as the court has said, look into the complaints

about the tabulation of Region Four votes, then it can investigate and pronounce on other forms of inconsistencies,” Dr. Hinds submitted, while underscoring the need for GECOM to facilitate a thorough investigation.

He said the discrepancies discovered thus far have already called into question the credibility of the March 2 Elections. “I

think the irregularities uncovered thus far are enough to call into question the credibility of the elections. You simply cannot have a credible outcome if the process is as compromised as we are finding out. The numbers cannot be right if the process is wrong. It is as plain and clear as that,” the political scientist reasoned.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, June 4, 2020

Re-examine the benchmarks --- CARICOM Chair says Region’s survival depends on fair treatment

--- slams outdated vulnerability index, market exclusion

By Lisa Hamilton The effects of COVID-19 is “disproportionately deeper” for many Caribbean countries who continue to be wrongfully classified in their debt obligations and are shut out from categories of financial assistance due to an outdated vulnerability index.

CARICOM Chair and Prime Minister of Barbados, Mia Mottley made it clear on Wednesday that the Region is tired of sounding like a “stuck record” on the matter and wants its voice and experiences to be heard before these concerns morph into a greater crisis.

She delivered these sentiments on behalf of the region during an Extra-Ordinary Meeting of the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) via video conference.

Mottley said that the majority of countries in the region are being excluded for being categorised as “middle-income countries” but yet are too small to command access in the market even when there is evidence of market failure.

She explained that the profile of many Caribbean countries have too high a debt-to-GDP ratio and little room to maneuver which has left the Region exposed during times of crises and even more so during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The debt-to-GDP ratio is the metric comparing a country’s public debt to its Gross Domestic Product (GDP). By comparing what a country

owes with what it produces, the debt-to-GDP ratio indicates that particular country’s ability to pay back its debts.

A STRONG ECONOMIC RESPONSE As is currently the case, Mottley said that the impact of the pandemic on CARICOM Member States should not be viewed based on the number of cases and deaths --- which are few in comparison to other regions --- but based on the economic impact they have been dealt as the world’s most trade and travel dependent region.

Tourism represents almost over 50 per cent of the region’s GDP and employment. Even so, Mottley highlighted that the Region remains committed to suffering this economic blow in the interest of protecting the health of its citizens as human lives cannot be replaced.

However, she stated: “At the same time, an equally strong economic response is needed. We find it almost impossible, however, to do both with respect to the protection of lives and livelihoods in the circumstances in which we find ourselves globally. We simply do not have the fiscal space to marshal an economic stimulus the size and scope that our developed partners can secure or that we need.”

The Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) has forecast a collapse in some Caribbean tourism-dependent countries with declines as low as 11 per cent and as high as 30 per cent. The

CARICOM Chair and Prime Minister of Barbados, Mia Mottley

CARICOM Chair said that these figures mirror that of the economic decline of many European countries during World War II which led to a marshal plan being settled to ensure that they did not become failed States.

“We ask our brothers and sisters to take note of this fact and to recognize that this can no longer be the subject of politely-listened-to speeches and repetitive pleas to a world that is not yet hearing or not yet seeing us.

Our small States have been suffering from high debt and low growth for decades and we believe that they should be mature and relevant conversations for middle-income Small Island Developing States across the globe as it relates to our debt obligations in the midst of this pandemic,” Mottley said, adding: “Emergency fiscal measures, including debt relief, are needed to relieve the

pressure on the highly indebted states of the Caribbean and avert another crisis of deep and long-term impoverishment of our people.”

She said that there will either be an orderly restructuring of debt; at the very least a debt moratorium that provides certainty for both borrower and lender or an unraveling that will create a crisis within the Region and the financial markets.

UNSOUND, DESTRUCTIVE At such a critical time of crisis and survival, she said that CARICOM notes and rejects the decision of European Union (EU) to place regional members on a “shame list” of high-risk third-States deemed to have strategic deficiencies in Anti-Money Laundering/Counter Financing of Terrorism (AML/

CFT) regimes that will pose “significant threats” to the financial system of the EU. She said that not only does CARICOM reject this but points to the fact that the regional countries on the “shame list” have already committed to working with the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) which are regulatory and, in some cases, depend on money supply and technical issues.

“It is our view that the list was not established by a transparent process with clear and concrete benchmarks. No one spoke to us, we read it in the international media; no one sent a diplomatic démarche to us nor did it respect our right to be heard or allowed to prioritise ongoing reforms that we’re doing to avoid being listed by anybody,” she said.

“Left unchecked, the action taken by the EU would further decimate our economies since our financial and international business sectors are key engines of growth for us in the Caribbean and, I must confess to you, was the only sector left untouched

by COVID until this unfortunate action was taken with the publication of this shame list.”

A REVAMPED INDEX NEEDED In her remarks, the CARICOM Chair also iterated the Caribbean’s call for a revision of the vulnerability index which presents a flawed GDP-per-capita

system which uses much too old information to determine current vulnerability.

Mottely stated: “Even when our circumstances deteriorate like now, there is no review or assessment mechanism that takes into account our inherent vulnerabilities.

And, despite these acute vulnerabilities the region is being denied access to the support being given to those as vulnerable or even less so because of an outdated and ill-suited definition of vulnerability, namely: historic-GDP-per-capita.”

She said that this was pointed out almost 30 years ago but yet there have been limited to no actions taken to address it. Like citizens around the world expressing their plight in the #blacklivesmatter movement who feel as if for too long they have not been heard, Mottely said that so does the Caribbean region.

She stated plainly: “We Small Island States know the feeling only too well for we feel that we sound like a stuck record and we recognized that no system that is ignored forever can flourish and hence we find sympathy for the actions taken by those in the United States of America who are simply asking, in the words of Peter Tosh, for justice. It is clear, my brothers and sisters, that we need additional criteria to determine equitable access and fair allocation that truly measures our vulnerability in the middle of a pandemic and at the start of a hurricane season.”

SBM Offshore donates gloves, masks to Civil Defence Commission

SBM Offshore, last Friday, donated a quantity of gloves and masks to the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) as part of efforts to aid in the national response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Country Manager of SBM Offshore, Herve Laurioux, handed over the items to Director General of the CDC, Lieutenant Colonel Kester Craig, at the company’s Prashad Nagar, Georgetown office, the company said in a release.

“The safety and health of everyone during this pandemic is a top priority.

SBM Offshore is happy to provide personal protective equipment to the CDC to help with its important COVID-19 response in affected communities,” Mr. Laurioux said.

Lieutenant Colonel Craig said the

CDC welcomed the donation from SBM Offshore and stated that the supplies will be distributed to frontline workers. “We appreciate this gesture and definitely will ensure that these supplies get to those persons who need it the most so that they can effectively carry out their duties,” the CDC Director General said. The supplies included 15,000 masks and 15,000 gloves.

As the global impact of the COVID-19 virus intensifies, SBM Offshore’s priority remains the health and safety of staff, contractors, their families, and the communities around the world in which the company operates.

SBM Offshore has also been working to ensure the safety of its operations across all activities.

Country Manager of SBM Offshore, Herve Laurioux hands over supplies to Director General of the CDC, Lieutenant Colonel Kester Craig, at the company’s Prashad Nagar, Georgetown office

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, June 4, 2020

UG closer to int’l accreditation for engineering programmes

WITH the help of local and international stakeholders, the University of Guyana (UG) is moving closer towards receiving international accreditation for the Faculty of Engineering and Technology (FET), which would ensure that Guyana’s engineering programmes are best suited to the high standards of the oil and gas sector.

A webinar, in collaboration with the United States (U.S.) Embassy and the University, was hosted, on Wednesday, to discuss these progressions and to share ideas for further development.

It saw discussions on the Accreditation Board for Engineering & Technology (ABET) process and was centred on the topic of ‘A University in Transition- Engineering Accreditation for a Sustainable Economy (EASE)’.

The ABET accreditation is recognised worldwide through international agreements and it provides assurance that programmes meet the global quality standards of the engineering profession.The local process is led by U.S. Fulbright Scholar, Professor Norman Munroe of Florida International University (FIU) who came to Guyana in 2019, along with members of the FET. The Fulbright Programme is the U.S. government’s flagship international educational exchange programme. Meanwhile, Professor Munroe’s objective is to pursue accreditation of engineering programmes by ABET as part of a project to transition FET along a path of global excellence in engineering.

In brief remarks, U.S. Ambassador Sarah-Ann Lynch said that she is pleased by the work of Professor Monroe and team. She said that there is great value to come from accreditation from an internationally-recognized body such as ABET, and Guyana is well on the path towards achieving this.

“Achieving ABET accreditation for UG’s programmes will increase opportunities for international employment, advancement and prosperity

Ambassador Sarah-Ann Lynch and Fulbright Scholar, Norman Munroe back in 2019

for graduates and also allow Guyana to unlock the opportunities provided by the oil industry. Right now, there is only one ABET accredited institution in all of the Caribbean and I look forward to UG becoming the second,” Ambassador Lynch stated.

A UNIVERSITY IN TRANSITION Meanwhile, UG Chancellor, Professor Edward Greene, said that the University of Guyana can eventually emerge as a premier Regional institution as it transitions from its current state to one which is relevant on the global scale.

To achieve this, he said that the University’s initiatives and innovations must directly contribute to the development agenda of the country in areas such as the Green State Development Strategy (GSDS) and the shaping of the national consensus on becoming an oil economy.

He added that the University must also play a critical role in CARICOM and embrace country partnerships in Regions further afield attracting

renowned international scholars and diverse student groups.

Professor Greene also encouraged the embracing of bio-medical, agro-industrial on geotechnical engineering and building on Guyana’s rich Amerindian heritage in partnership with other universities in locations such as Canada and Belize.

“These are some sketches and scenarios within the natural landscape of Guyana on which a national University can build niches of transformation. If these sketches remain pipe dreams and unfulfilled aspiration, they must be grounded in a strategic plan of action,” he advised.

Meanwhile, giving her advice, Chair of the Transitional Management Committee, Professor Paloma Mohamed said that in the transitioning of the University, it is important that attention be given to quality service, what is necessary for the industry both now and in the future and what are the needs of students.

“This faculty is going to undergo a huge and tremendous transformation in the very near future and we are focusing not only on the questions

ExxonMobil Guyana Country Manager, Rod Henson

of accreditation which are really, really important to us, but we’re also focusing on the questions of what exactly this faculty is going to do for this country,” she said.

MEETING FUTURE NEEDS Also, in remarks, ExxonMobil Guyana Country Manager, Rod Henson said that engineers are on the frontline of several important global endeavours and quality engineers are much needed in Guyana as the country embarks on unprecedent development.

He said that ExxonMobil Guyana’s affiliate is dependent on engineers around the world, including some educated at the University of Guyana, to safely operate its Floating Production Storage and Offloading Vessel, the Liza Destiny, as well as several drill ships and support vessels.

“The University has served the country well and is critical for the future of Guyana as well as the future of our oil and gas sector that all of the educational institutions in Guyana remain on the path of continuous improvement. Our support for the

UG Chancellor, Professor Edward Greene

projects underway with the University and those to come reflects the critical role that it plays and our respect for their efforts,” he said.

Meanwhile, Professor Munroe spoke to the local ABET Committee which is working towards the said accreditation based on approximately 30 objectives over a two-year period. It began with a request to ABET for accreditation in 2019; the identifying of core courses within each programme followed by the collection of data.

The professor said that when Guyana completes its objectives it will submit a request for ABET evaluation via a visit from the Board.

However, he noted that a SWOT analysis conducted by the Committee has thus far shown that without adequate funding and the infusion of resources, international accreditation will not be realised.

It was this information gleaned from the analysis that motivated the preparation of the EASE proposal -- Engineering Accreditation for a Sustainable Economy, which identifies the existing needs to enable better securing of funding.

Silvercorp Metals Inc. makes superior proposal to Guyana Goldfields Inc …to provide loan of US$30M for Aurora Gold Mines operations

GUYANA Goldfields Inc., on Wednesday, announced that it has received a binding proposal from Silvercorp Metals Inc. -- a foreign-based multinational mining company -- for the acquisition of all of the issued and outstanding common shares of the company not already owned by the new offeror.

According to a press release from Guyana Goldfields Inc., the company’s Board of Directors has unanimously determined, after consultation with its financial and legal advisers, that the offer constitutes a “Superior Proposal” in accordance with the terms of the arrangement agreement between the Guyana Gold-

fields Inc. and Silvercorp Metals Inc., dated April 26, 2020, as amended on May 16, 2020.

The release said that pursuant to the terms of the new offer, the company’s shareholders would receive cash consideration of C$1.85 for each common share, valuing Guyana Goldfields at approximately C$323M.

It said that Silvercorp has agreed to provide Guyana Goldfields Inc. with a US$30M secured loan facility to finance ongoing operations of the Aurora gold mine and to fund other liquidity needs.

The press release said that at this time, “there can be no assurance that the new offer will lead to a termination of the Silver-

corp Arrangement Agreement and the execution of a definitive agreement with the new offeror and, accordingly, the board has not changed its recommendation regarding the offer under the Silvercorp Arrangement Agreement.”

In providing a disclosure update, Guyana Goldfields Inc. said that it has delayed the deliv-

ery of its annual financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2019 in light of the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The company expects to be in a position to mail the 2019 financial statements … to shareholders by the deadline of July 3, 2020,” the press release said.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, June 4, 2020

Waiakabra woman allegedly being bullied off land

ON April 5 , Joan Daniels , a resident of Ideal Road and of the village, Waiakabra, Soesdyke –Linden Highway passed away after a period of illness.

The woman, who had moved from the North West District with her family, lived more than 30 years of her life on a plot of land at Ideal Road, Waiakabra and for years her offspring have been making attempts to regularise the parcel of land which sits on Lot 92, Ideal Road, Waiakabra, where the family resides.

Their attempts were thwarted on April 17 this year, less than two weeks after Daniels was buried, by a female land administration officer.

On that day, to the surprise of Daniels’ children and members of her extended family, the woman, dressed in ordinary clothing, marched through a section of the land in question along with a group of persons, including a senior female police officer attached to the Kuru Kururu Police Outpost and broke down the fence Daniels’ family had erected along the plot, while discarding a pall which marks the boundary line of the land from an adjoining plot which the woman claims belongs to her.

Several days later, in video footage obtained by the Guyana Chronicle , the woman can be seen verbally abusing the family members with a series of expletives, while neighbours told this newspaper that the woman physically assaulted one of Daniels’ children causing her to seek medical attention.

Reports are that after the land administration official appeared at the family’s home on the first occasion, Daniels’ daughter erected a fence with several roles of chain link mesh on the boundary where the pall once stood. The official, who is a sworn land surveyor, appeared with a team of surveyors from the Guyana Lands and Survey Commission. The senior police officer reportedly ordered that the fence be broken down and while this was happening, the GL&SC official can be heard abusing Daniels’ daughter Ferina Brescino. The woman and her team subsequently carried away the new rolls of mesh.

ASSAULT Later that day, Brescino , sensing her life being under threat, made her way to the Kuru Kururu Police Station on the opposite side of the highway to make a report. She was told by ranks there that they could not do anything much to assist her, a move which the family said points to collusion between the ranks there and the GL&SC official.

Reports are that as Brescino walked out from the area to catch transportation to go home, the GL&SC land official approached her from behind with a piece wood and dealt her a blow to her lower back.

Brescino in an attempt to

defend herself grabbed the piece of wood and the two women scrambled on the roadway. The GL&SC official then allegedly yanked Brescino’s gold chain from her neck and placed it in her pocket. The two scrambled once more and Brescino was able to retrieve her chain. She visited the police station in the area once more but ranks there, including a senior female officer who is said

male GL&SC official who had pulled down the family’s fence while, earlier that day, destroying a bench at a shop the family operate in front of their home.

The woman also performed a ritual by burning items in a

official.

Brescino has made several trips to the GL&SC office at Hadfield Street, D’Urban Backlands over the years regarding the plot of land in order to ensure the boundary is in the right

move the family from the land since reports have emerged in the area that the officer in question has been selling house lots to persons in the area for prices ranging between $200,000 and $400,000.

Residents living farther

official using her position, was attempting to bully him for the land in question. She also obtained a power of attorney through questionable circumstances and told residents in the area that she was given permis-

The GL&SC official reportedly ordered a senior female police officer to instruct several men to erect this fence, barricading Daniels’ family members during her visit to the area

A pall or boundary mark which the GL&SC official yanked from the boundary and discarded in the yard of Daniels’ family. The family said they left the piece untouched in the hope that the commission will investigate the woman’s actions.

The GL&SC Land Administration Officer as she uttered expletives to the occupants of the parcel of land at Lot 92, Ideal Road , Waiakabra.

A section of the map which indicates the boundary separating Lot 90 from Lot 92.The issue in question surrounds the line which runs from the bottom left to top right, through the two lots.

GL&SC officers and a police officer at the plot of disputed land

to a be a sergeant, reportedly turned a blind eye to the woman’s plight.

Brescino later visited the Diamond Hospital for treatment. There, the doctor informed her that he was unable to issue a medical certificate, given the environment at the time regarding the COVID-19 epidemic.

POLICE ARREST FAMILY MEMBERS Reports are that while Brescino was being assaulted by the GL&SC official, a team of police officers attached to the Kuru Kururu Police Outpost visited the extended family’s household near the plot of land in question and arrested three of the woman’s male relatives.

The police ranks reportedly told the family that they were arresting the men for destruction of property , even as they pointed out that it was the fe-

bowl and during this time, she instructed the men in her team to erect a wooden and concrete shed on the plot of land she claims belongs to her.

THE ISSUE The issue pertains to a boundary line which has been established some 100 yards into Lot 90, the plot which the GL&SC official claims belongs to her. The parcels of land are said to be double lots and Daniels’ family lives on Lot 92, which sits next to Lot 90.

Daniels and her extended family have been occupying Lot 92 since the early 1990s and Brescino applied to have the land surveyed as early as July , 2013 on her mother’s behalf. The woman’s mother planted several crops on their plot and has maintained the parcel of land over the years.

The crops were among the items destroyed by the GL&SC

place. The Guyana Chronicle, during a recent visit to the area, has verified the information provided by the family from receipts and other documents the family produced.

On November 19, 2019, Brescino paid the GL&SC a sum of $90,000 to survey the land, but frequent trips to and from the city have been futile as she awaits a map indicating where the boundary ends.

On January 20, 2020, another of Daniels’ daughters Nalini Rampersaud paid a further $20,000 to the GL&SC to process their application.

The family members noted that they have attempted to seek an audience with GL&SC Commissioner Trevor Benn on the issue, but their efforts have been futile.

The family members believe that the land administration officer and other persons may have been conspiring to re-

The GL&SC official burned items in this bowl and performed a ritual while she confronted Daniels’ children over the land in question

along the highway told the Guyana Chronicle that they were told that the official is securing house lots for sale in the area.

TRANSFERRED FROM ESSEQUIBO LOT 90 BELONGS TO SOMEONE ELSE The Guyana Chronicle was also informed by residents along Ideal Road that while the woman is battling Daniels’ children over the plot of land, she possesses no documentation for the parcel of land at Lot 90.

Reports are that the woman resides in the area and was involved in a similar confrontation over the plot of land with the actual owner of Lot 90.

It was further reported that a man, one Sherwin Oselmo, had secured a lease for the plot in question but the GL&SC

sion by persons to sell allotted portions of the land.

Daniels’ children are calling on the GL&SC to investigate the matter fully. They noted that since the confrontation with the woman, they believe that after living in the area for more than 30 years they are being bullied off of the land by the official out of pure greed.

They noted that the official waited until their mother died to make moves to remove them from the land.

This newspaper attempted to contact Benn on the issue but his phone went to voicemail. However, the Guyana Chronicle understands that the commissioner is aware of the matter.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, June 4, 2020

All eyes on Reg. 4 as end of recount nears …Regions 6, 10 to be completed today

By Svetlana Marshall TODAY, the two remaining ballot boxes from Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) and Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) will be completed, paving the way for all 12 workstations at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC)

to be assigned to Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) as the completion of the National Recount nears.

On Wednesday, votes within 84 ballot boxes were recounted bringing the total number of ballot boxes processed to date to 2,013.

As such, there remain 326 ballot boxes to be pro-

cessed, of which 324 are from Region Four – the country’s largest electoral block.

Of the boxes processed on Wednesday, 40 were from Region 4 while 20 were from Region Six, and 24 from Region 10. At the current rate at which the boxes are being processed, the recount of all the votes

is likely to be completed on Sunday or Monday latest.

Notably, votes cast in seven (7) of the 10 Electoral Districts have been recounted, and as such the focus now is on Regions 4, 6 and 10. All the votes from Region One (Barima-Waini), Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), Region Three (Essequi-

bo Islands-West Demerara), Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice), Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) and Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) have been recounted .

REGION ONE Based on the votes recounted for Region One, the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) secured 3,909 votes in the General Elections while the Liberty and Justice Party (LJP) raked in 170, PPP/C 8002, People’s Republic Party 24 and the United Republican Party, six – a total number of 12,111 valid votes cast. According to statistics coming out of GECOM’s Tabulation Centre at the ACCC, there were 328 rejected ballots and 41 spoilt ballots.

In the Regional Elections, the APNU+AFC raked in 3,843 votes while LJP secured 144, the PPP/C, 7, 996 and the URP 77 votes. There were a total of 12, 060 valid votes cast by a total of 12, 440 persons who had presented themselves on March 2 to vote in Region One. REGION TWO Meanwhile in Region Two, the APNU+AFC secured 7,340 votes in the General Elections while the PPP/C raked in 18,785 votes. A New and United Guyana (ANUG) received 85 votes while Change Guyana (CG) 151, LJP 121, PRP 57, The Citizenship Initiative (TCI) 18 and URP 64. In total, there were 26,621 valid votes cast. For the Regional Elections, the APNU+AFC received 7,290 votes while its primary contender – the PPP/C – secured 18, 755. The smaller parties, Change Guyana (CG) raked in 216 votes while LJP secured 135 and URP 95. There was a total of 26,491 valid voters in the Regional Elections for Region Two.

REGION FIVE In Region Five, there were a total of 33, 119 valid votes cast in the General Elections of which the APNU+AFC secured 14,502 based on the votes recounted and the PPP/C, 18,326.

The remainder of the valid votes went to ANUG – 88, CG –100, PRP – 52, TCI – 22, TMN – 10 and URP – 19. Based on the tabulated figures by GECOM, there were 256 rejected ballots and 61 spoilt ballots.

In the Regional Elections for that Electoral District, there were 33,004 valid votes cast of which the PPP/C secured the highest number with 18, 286 followed by the APNU+AFC with 14, 472. The remainder of the valid votes went to CG – 127, PRP – 59 and URP – 60. There were a total of 374 rejected ballots in the Regional Elections for Region Five.

REGION SEVEN In Cuyuni-Mazaruni District, the APNU+AFC secured the highest number of votes, securing some 4,813 votes while the PPP/C raked in 3,728 votes in the General Elections.

ANUG secured 77 votes, while CG raked in 67, LJP – 884, and the URP – 23.

There were a total of 9,592 valid votes cast while 164 were rejected. For the Regional Elections in Region Seven, the APNU+AFC secured 4,839 votes while the PPP/C received 3,703 votes followed by LJP with 925 votes. URP secured some 62 votes. There were a total of 9, 529 valid votes and 227 rejected ballots.

The National Recount commenced on May 6 at the Conference Centre after an Order was gazetted by the Chair of GECOM, Justice (Ret’d) Claudette Singh. Initially, the recount was set for a period of 25 days. However, the Elections Commission, last Friday, amended the Order to facilitate June 13 extension.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, June 4, 2020

Atlantic Gardens businesswoman died from brain haemorrhage

AN autopsy done on Wednesday morning has confirmed that 61-yearold businesswoman, Sattie Monica Singh Beekharry, was bludgeoned to death in her Atlantic Gardens, East Coast Demerara home.

The post-mortem was done by Government Pathologist, Doctor Nehaul Singh, who gave the cause of death as brain haemorrhage as a result of multiple trauma to the head, compounded by multiple fractures to a right

Sattie Monica Singh Beekharry

side rib.

The body was handed over to the relatives for cremation.

Beekharry often travelled to Canada and returned to Guyana weeks ahead of the General and Regional Elections.

On June 1, the businesswoman’s motionless body was discovered in a pool of blood in the kitchen area of her Lot 152 – 154 Begonia Drive, Atlantic Gardens house.

Police break up burglary gang in Berbice

By Jeune Bailey Van Keric POLICE Divisional Commander Calvin Brutus, at the helm of the East Berbice/ Corentyne region, disclosed that ranks broke a criminal network within the New Amsterdam/Canje area.

Police had recorded 49 reports of ‘break and enter and larceny’, compared with 24 for the corresponding period last year.

18-year-old Tyrese Gonsalves, a repeat offender, of Plantation Mount Sinai, commonly referred to as Angoy's Avenue, has been charged with nineteen counts of ‘break and enter and larceny’.

However, Brutus has expressed concern over the involvement of juveniles and young persons, who are used by adults to perpetrate criminal acts.

"We had reason to arrest an 11-year-old, about a month ago, for four counts of ‘break and enter and larceny’ in New Amsterdam.

He seemed to be a stray offender. He has not been forthcoming with any information, and we have had to follow the guidelines with respect to questioning juveniles,” he said.

The Juvenile Act has a number of measures which must be implemented before

Charged:

Tyrese Gonsalves, aged 18 years, who faces 19 counts of break and enter and larceny

Commander Calvin Brutus.

a case is taken to court, such as sending the file to the Director of Public Prosecutions within 48 hours. An advice may be forthcoming depending on the category of the crime, and a period of counselling may be ordered.

“Rarely for those offences they go to the Court unless

they are repeat offenders, and they show a pattern of criminal behaviour,” Brutus emphasised.

“With respect to serious crimes, we have had an overall increase. However, it is notable in two particular areas such as murder (20197, 2020- 10) and ‘break and enter’ (2019 - 24, 2020- 49) which is almost doubled,” he said.

The area of great concern is New Amsterdam and the East Canje. Several arrests were made with respect to ‘break and enter and larceny’.

It was also observed that many of the stolen articles are sold up the Berbice river, hence the focus of the Guyana Police Force in those areas. Several items, which were reportedly stolen, were recovered during eradication operations. Police have recovered televisions and other electronic gadgets, which were used on the farms, and which came from proceeds of crime.

Further, Brutus stated while the police are solving many of the reported matters, there are some delays in getting the matters to be heard in the courts, as there are only four categories of offences listed to be heard during the curfew period, and ‘break and enter’ is not under those categories.

Man charged with murder of sibling A MAN, who fatally stabbed his brother, was charged with the capital offence, on Wednesday, when he appeared before Magistrate Rabindranauth Singh, at the Fort Wellington Magistrate’s Court.

Forty-four-yearold Khemlall Bishnauth, a Labourer of Lot 173 Shieldstown, West Coast Berbice, was not required to plead to the charge, which alleged that, on May 30, he murdered his brother, Sardanand Bishnauth, called “Long hair”.

According to information, on the day in question,

Charged with murder: Khemlall Bishnauth

the victim was in a hammock eating when an argument erupted between him and his

brother. At that stage Khemlall allegedly grabbed a knife and stabbed Sardanand in the chest. The man collapsed and died shortly after. The siblings’ father told the media he was baffled as to what led to the killing, but mentioned that the accused would constantly imbibe.

A post-mortem conducted by pathologist, Dr. Nehaul Singh, gave the cause of death as stab wound to the chest. “Khemlall” was remanded to prison and will make his second court appearance on July 1.

Her alleged killer, who is said to be her ‘close friend’ hid in the upper floor of the two-storey building, and had to be ‘flushed out’ with teargas by the police.

Police arrived at the scene after neighbours reported about hearing the woman screaming for “murder."

Around 15:00 hrs, on the day in question, the po-

lice were able to gain entry into the house after breaking down a door.

The suspect is still in custody and the investigation is ongoing.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, June 4, 2020

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, June 4, 2020

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, June 4, 2020

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One positive COVID-19 result for Tottenham

(BBC) - Tottenham have had one positive coronavirus result in the latest round of testing by the Premier League, the club say. That person will now self-isolate for seven days.

“Due to medical confidentiality, the individual’s name will not be disclosed,” Spurs said in a statement on their website.

This was the only positive result after 1 197 players and staff were checked in the latest round of testing.

There have now been five rounds of testing for COVID-19, and the total number of positive results has increased to 13 from 5 079 tests.

Premier League players and staff are currently tested twice a week, with the league set to resume on June 17.

Cowboys QB Prescott ...

Chauvin, the police officer who kneeled on Floyd’s neck for almost nine minutes to pin him down, has since been charged with murder and has been sacked.

Yesterday, the other three officers involved were charged with aiding and abetting murder.

‘I will never agree with anybody disrespecting the flag’ Meanwhile, New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees said he would not support renewed NFL kneeling protests, saying to do so would be “disrespecting the flag” of the United States.

S i n c e F l o y d ’s d e a t h sparked protests across the US, athletes have voiced support for former NFL star Colin Kaepernick, who in 2016 began kneeling during the US national anthem.

Former San Francisco 49ers star Kaepernick, who said he was refusing to stand in order to draw attention to racial injustice, was later frozen out of the league and has been unemployed since being released in 2017.

US President Donald

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FROM PAGE 23 Trump said players who ‘took a knee’ should be fired.

“I will never agree with anybody disrespecting the flag of the United States of America or our country,” Brees told Yahoo.

“Is everything right with our country right now? No, it is not. We still have a long way to go.

“But I think what you do by standing there and showing respect to the flag with your hand over your heart is it shows unity.”

Brees is the NFL’s all-time passing yardage leader and one of the biggest names in the sport.

His remarks came as Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll praised Kaepernick’s original protests.

Carroll said society “owes a tremendous amount” to Kaepernick for taking a stand against police brutality and racial injustice.

“He stood up for something he believed in - and what an extraordinary moment it was that he was willing to take,” Carroll told The Ringer’s ‘Flying Coach’ podcast.

Thursday, June 04, 2020

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

(1) Ian Chappell (The Oval, 1975) (2) Clive Lloyd (The Oval, 1975)

TODAY’S QUIZ:

(1) When and where did the WI and IND contest an ODI match for the first time?

(2) When and where did India win an ODI game against the WI for the first time?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, June 4, 2020

Premier League clubs to meet, discuss premature finish options (BBC) - Premier League clubs will have their most thorough discussion to date about what should happen if the season is curtailed at their latest meeting today.

All clubs will be given a say in a detailed debate over how to finalise the league table if the season cannot be completed, though it is widely expected that relegation will not be scrapped.

A fixture list for the first few rounds of the rebooted season are also due to be confirmed, along with kickoff times and broadcast plans, though it is understood there will be some leeway for clubs to offer feedback.

The opening two matches are due to be played on June 17, with a full round of fixtures that weekend.

Match-day operations and return-to-play protocols will also be presented, with clubs told that breaches of the strict biosecurity requirements would incur sanctions.

The number of people allowed inside the stadium during a match will need to be limited to about 300, according to documents sent to clubs.

Premier League chief executive Richard Masters has told BBC Sport that the scrapping of relegation if the season has to be cancelled due to a second wave of coronavirus cases was “a significant topic” and would need to be debated by the clubs.

‘We have to be flexible’ - Premier League chief executive Richard Masters speaks to BBC sports editor, Dan Roan.

Some clubs are known to want relegation discarded this season. However, 14 clubs would need to back such a move for it to be adopted, and the Football Association has said it will oppose the idea. The governing body has a decisive ‘golden share’ in any vote.

Premier League bosses are desperate to complete

the season by the end of next month to avoid the risk of increased rebate payments to broadcasters, and want to avoid any delays because of disagreements over curtailment.

Sport understands that virtually all of the remaining 92 matches will be played at home and away grounds.

But Premier League bosses will outline how they will need to identify pre-

would require a rule change, so clubs will need to vote on this matter.

Va r i o u s ‘ e n h a n c e ments’ to the broadcasting of matches are also due to be discussed at today’s

Players began contact training in the past week as they continued preparing for the resumption of the Premier League on June 17

A vote on the matter may not take place until a subsequent meeting.

After weeks of discussions around the proposal to use neutral venues, BBC

agreed neutral venues for each region as part of contingency planning in case of local spikes in coronavirus cases.

The use of neutral venues

meeting, including the possibility of camera access to dressing rooms, although that is understood to be unlikely.

The Premier League is

expected to offer a centralised plan for including fans in some way.

European football clubs have used different methods to engage fans, with fans of Danish Superliga side AGF Aarhus appearing via video link on a virtual grandstand during last weekend’s derby match against Randers.

Cardboard cut-outs of fans have also been considered by clubs, but the use of the existing big screens might prove the most feasible and least costly option.

The Premier League’s plan to restart on June 17 received a boost on Wednesday, with just one positive test in the latest batch of testing.

The singular case, from 1 197 players and staff members tested, came from Tottenham.

But because of carefully planned drills and physio sessions being limited to 15-minute windows, it is not thought anyone else will need to isolate.

Bundesliga players to face no penalty for anti-racism statements (BBC) - BORUSSIA Dortmund forward Jadon Sancho and other Bundesliga players will face no further disciplinary action after they made anti-racism statements during matches last weekend.

England international Sancho unveiled a ‘Justice for George Floyd’ T-shirt after scoring against Paderborn.

Floyd, an unarmed black man, died while being restrained by a white Minneapolis police officer on May 25.

Protests have been held across the United States and globally.

Sancho’s Dortmund team-mate Achraf Hakimi also wore a ‘Justice for

George Floyd’ T-shirt, while Schalke’s Weston McKennie wore a similar armband and Marcus Thuram of Borussia Monchengladbach kneeled in tribute to Floyd after scoring.

In a statement, the German Football Association (DFB) said no proceedings would take place against the four players “because of their solidarity and anti-racism statements”.

It added: “The panel also intends to maintain this line in the event of renewed anti-racism campaigns to mark the violent death of George Floyd on the coming match days.”

FIFA’S rules state that players must not display political statements but president Gianni Infantino

said on Tuesday: “For the avoidance of doubt, in a FIFA competition the recent demonstrations of players in Bundesliga matches would deserve an applause and not a punishment.

“We all must say no to racism and any form of discrimination.”

DFB president Fritz Keller said: “I expressly welcome the far-sighted decision of the DFB control committee and am very happy about it. The DFB is firmly against all forms of racism, discrimination and violence and stands for tolerance, openness and diversity - values​​ that are also in the DFB statutes.

“So the actions of the

players have our respect and understanding.”

Dr Anton Nachreiner, chairman of the DFB control committee, added: “Of course, the DFB control committee always has the requirements of the FIFA football rules and the DFB regulations in mind.

“In the specific case, however, these are targeted anti-racism campaigns by the players, which are committed to values ​​for which the DFB also stands and always stands for.”

The Football Association said it would take a “common sense approach” to any protests such as those seen in the Bundesliga when English football resumes later this month.

Jadon Sancho took off his shirt in the 57th minute after scoring for Borussia Dortmund

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, June 4, 2020

21

The Truth must be revealed, all involved need to answer Dear Sports Editor, I HAVE watched with interest, listened attentively and read closely over the past two to three months about all that is happening in Trinidad and Tobago football and disappointedly it is all off the pitch mainly because of COVID-19 and the appointment of a Normalisation Committee by FIFA on the TTFA. This is an open letter to all Trinidad and Tobago citizens whether you live here in T&T or abroad, but more specifically directed to William Wallace, Keith Look Loy, Ramesh Ramdhan, David John-Williams Tyril Patrick Robert Hadad, and the journalists and sportswriters who have been following, writing, reporting and commenting recently on all the happenings in our football in the last three months, namely Andre Baptiste, Colin Murray, Keith Clement, Ian Prescott, Garth Wathley Walter Alibey, Lasana Liburd and Mark Bassant to a lesser extent.

In my humble opinion, the major problem in our football over the years is money or should I say the lack of it, but more importantly the debt of the TTFA over the years. What is the current true debt of the football association and who is responsible for it being what it is?

FIFA has said TT$37M (US$5.5M); William Wallace, Keith Look Loy, Ramesh Ramdhan have all said that the debt was $50M when David John-Williams (DJW) left office. More importantly they all have claimed that when he came into office in November 2015 the debt was $16M. John-Williams had boasted during the run-up to the elections in November 2019 that his administration paid down about $12M in debt which was related to the previous Tim Kee and other TTFA administrations.

If all this is true then his administration was responsible for increasing the debt by a staggering $46M. This amount supposedly includes an amount of $1.9M owed to contractors and suppliers related to the Home of Football Project as reported by the United TTFA and more recently by investigative reporter Mark Bassant.

Bear in mind, the debt of $50M does not include an amount Jack Warner is

claiming of $22M from the TTFA which he says is owed to him by the association.

I have been hearing all sorts of talk and discussions in the public domain as to how the debt got to $50M. In fact I am hearing it is really about $57M not including Warner’s $22M. The truth of the debt needs to be known by all who have the interest of the game at heart in this country. There is a simple solution to all this, if we get the answers to the following questions from the following individuals.

1. If what is being put in the public domain is true could Wallace (Mr Transparency), Look Loy (Mr Justice and Mr Accountability), Ramdhan (the once vocal and supporter of Wallace, who boasted on Andre Baptiste I95.5 programme that he has the figures and details) and Tyril Patrick (The Finance Manager of TTFA) clearly tell us what is the true debt of the TTFA and what was responsible for the debt allegedly being increased by the John-Williams administration by $46M. 2. Could these same persons mentioned above say if there is any truth in the rumour that the debt was increased by over $12M after November 24 2019, in order to provide for a settlement of an alleged claim by former General Secretary Sheldon Phillips (which is rumoured is being investigated by the Fraud Squad) and one Peter Rampersad.

Wallace and company have publicly said that this matter was taken out of court by his administration in order to affect settlement. Also is there any truth that the debt was further increased by a further $4M to cater for payment to coaches who were recently fired by the Wallace administration and that three of these coaches have lodged claims against the TTFA with FIFA?.

3. Mr Wallace, is there any truth that the reason given to the former Women’s coach Stephan De Four for his termination was a lack of money to continue paying him? In the same breath could you and Look Loy confirm claims that it is costing the TTFA $4.5M a year to pay the large technical staff that was hired by your administration? If this is indeed true, then these actions are contradictory at best.

4. During Wallace’s 100-day in office press conference, some key financial achievements were mentioned such as paying outstanding money due to creditors, players, and staff to the tune of over $1.5M. Could Wallace, Ramdhan and Patrick state where the funding to do this came from? How did the TTFA operate for the period November 25 2019, until the accounts of the TTFA were frozen by the garnishee order taken out by Kendall Walkes and who allegedly collected $300K from the TTFA bank account as a result of that garnishee order?

Did he Wallace give evidence on behalf of Walkes against the TTFA during the court hearing of this matter, as DJW always claimed that the Walkes case was winnable? Could he also tell us whether he received legal advice to appeal the Kendall Walkes matter and, if so, why didn’t he appeal?

5. Could Robert Hadad, John-Williams and Wallace say to us what was the true cost of the Home of Football and how much money did FIFA and CONCACAF give to the TTFA for this purpose?

What is the current book value of the assets of the TTFA? John-Williams has been very silent since last November and we need to hear from him to help clear the air on a number of these matters.

6. In light of the public pronouncements made by Wallace, Look Loy and Ramdhan about the large extent of repairs

that was needed to be done on the Home of Football and such could cost in excess of $5M, could Hadad tell the Trinidad and Tobago public what was really needed to be done and the cost to fix the Home of Football (which took four days) to allow it to be fully functional and be used as a step-down facility for COVID-19?

The answers to these questions are not difficult. In some cases it is a simple yes or no and in other cases it is just to state a figure. We need the truth. We need answers if all the names mentioned in this article care about Trinidad and Tobago Football. Give us the answers or in the case of the journalist and reporters, find out the answers.

Mark Bassant who seemed to have access to inside information based on his recent article about the debt owed to contractors on the Home of Football may well be in a position to get us some of, if not all the answers. Then so too is Hadad.

The Truth is needed!!!!

Yours Truly Football Believer from San Fernando Brian Clarke

22

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, June 4, 2020

Singh, Lawrence represent Guyana at International Virtual Archery Competition

ARCHERY Guyana proudly fielded two archers for the 60X ISOL Remote Shoot Competition held on May 31, with the pair of Winnette Lawrence and Robert Singh featured in what was the ninth stage of this novel Virtual Competition.

Approximately 100 archers from 16 countries as far flung as Norway, Australia, Britain, Belgium and even closer to home - British Virgin Islands - participated with the aim of keeping archers focussed on maintaining fitness and competitiveness during the worldwide quarantine resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Guyanese duo competed in the 30m Compound and the 30m Recurve Bows categories respectively. Both categories comprised two sessions with 36 arrows each.

Singh, on his first venture at this competition scored 556/720 and placed 7th in a group of nine archers. Commenting at the end of the competition, Singh said that it was tough, with high-calibre archers producing high-level scores. Singh noted that while he was satisfied with his performance he also recognised that there was room for much improvement.

Meanwhile, Lawrence on her second venture in this competition pointed out that she experienced issues with her equipment which affected her performance. She scored 563/720.

In the Sunday’s competition, Lawrence regrettably experienced equipment failure, stating that her “... stabiliser broke and my sight got loose. I am placed 12 out of 12, but still proud of myself to continue to the end amidst the failure of my equipment, so I blame myself 75% , as an elite archer being placed 182 in the world I should have known to always check my bow and arrows before going into a competition”.

The next stage for this Virtual Competition is stage 10 scheduled for June 7 and Archery Guyana is working towards having its members continue to participate.

Archery Guyana urges archers with access to ranges or home facilities to participate. For more information: email archeryguyana@gmail.com All archers are mandated to observe their National health and safety requirements and the World Health Organisation’s guidelines pertaining to controlling and preventing the dreaded COVID-19.

Norris returns to F3 ahead of F1 restart (REUTERS) - After COVID-19 lockdown and months of virtual racing, McLaren’s Lando Norris has got behind the wheel for real by taking a Formula Three car for a spin at Silverstone.

The 20-year-old Briton linked up with his old Carlin team this week as he prepared for the much-delayed season to start in Austria next month.

“It’s just getting the body back into that physical feeling of the G force and everything like that, to get that muscle memory back and working as it should do,” he told Formu-

la One’s F1 Nation podcast before the run.

“It’s also a bit of a shock to the system to get back into

doing that as well. Driving anything that you can push and go flat-out is going to be a good feeling.”

Lando Norris (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Image)

Formula One drivers last raced in December and have not driven the new cars since pre-season testing in Spain in February.

The planned season-opener in Australia on March 15 was cancelled before the start of first practice.

The sport announced this week that the season will start on July 5 at Austria’s Red Bull Ring.

“For it all to start up again next month is going to be weird, after almost getting used to the last two or three months looking at computer screens all the time,” said Norris, who has kept busy with eSports.

Japan to explore 'simplified' Games to avoid outright cancellation: Yomiuri

FILE PHOTO: The giant Olympic rings are seen in the dusk at the waterfront area at Odaiba Marine Park in Tokyo, Japan, March 22, 2020. (REUTERS/Issei Kato)

(Reuters) - Japan will consider various options such as having fewer spectators and mandatory coronavirus testing for a “simplified” Olympic Games next year to avoid the outright cancellation of the event, the Yomiuri newspaper reported on Thursday.

John Coates, the head of the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) inspectorate for Tokyo, has said a lack of a defence against the new coronavirus threatened the Games and organisers had to start planning for what could be a “very different” Olympics if there were no signs of COVID-19 being eradicated.

The Yomiuri, citing government and organising committee sources, said making Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests mandatory for all spectators — in addition to athletes and staff — and limiting movement in and out of the athletes village were among the options Japan would discuss with the IOC. Reuters has requested comment from To k y o 2 0 2 0 o rg a n i s e r s , w h o a r e s c h e d u l e d t o hold a regular news conference later on Thursday.

The IOC and Japanese government in March took the unprecedented decision to delay the Games, which had been due to start in July, for a year due to the coronavirus outbreak.

A further delay beyond 2021 has been ruled out.

The new coronavirus has infected more than 6.4 million people and killed about 380,000 around the world.

Japan has avoided the kind of explosive outbreak seen in countries such as the United States and Brazil, with about 17,000 infections and 900 known deaths to date.

Tennis big three join #BlackOutTuesday (REUTERS) - ROGER Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic were among the tennis players who joined the #BlackOutTuesday campaign against racial injustice, as protests continue over the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man who died in police custody.

Floyd died after a white policeman pinned his neck under a knee for nearly nine minutes in Minneapolis on May 25.

Men’s world No. 1 Djokovic posted black screenshots on his Twitter and Instagram pages with the message ‘Black Lives Matter’, and was joined

by Federer and Nadal, the other members of the ‘Big Three’ of men’s tennis.

Grand Slam winners

Maria Sharapova, Petra Kvitova and Stan Wawrinka were among other players who signalled their support for the campaign.

African-American teenage phenomenon Coco Gauff and Japan’s Naomi Osaka have also expressed their anger over Floyd’s death.

Replying to Federer’s Instagram post, the 16-yearold Gauff commented: “Click the link in my bio to get resources on HOW YOU CAN HELP! THANK YOU.” Osaka, whose father is Haitian and mother is Japanese, said people should be doing more than posting “the black square”.

“I’m torn between roasting people for only posting the black square this entire

Novak Djokovic of Serbia, Rafael Nadal of Spain and Roger Federer of Switzerland (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

week ... and accepting that they could’ve posted nothing at all so I should deal with this bare minimum bread crumb they have given,” she posted on Twitter.

The United States Tennis Association (USTA) posted a black screen shot as well as a statement against racism on its social media handles.

The USTA, organisers of the U.S. Open Grand Slam, said it was “extremely disappointed, angry, and heartbroken” at the hardships faced by communities of colour in the United States.

“The African-American community is an integral part of our tennis family and the USTA stands unwaveringly against racism and injustice of any kind,” it added.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, June 4, 2020

23

Paul, Hetmyer opt out of England tour (CMC) - West Indies will be without key batsmen Darren Bravo and Shimron Hetmyer when they leave in a few days for their historic ‘bio-secure’ tour of England, but two newcomers have been included in a squad, that chief selector Roger Harper believes will be up to the challenge of holding onto the Wisden Trophy.

Cricket West Indies (CWI) announced in a statement yesterday that left-handers Bravo and Hetmyer, along with all-rounder Keemo Paul, had opted out of the 14-man team selected for the threeTest series that will be played behind closed doors from next month, amid the COVID-19 pandemic that has already infected close to 280 000 people in the United Kingdom and caused almost 40 000 deaths.

“CWI fully respects their decision to choose to do so. As previously stated, CWI will not hold this decision against these players when considering future selection,” the statement said.

Darren Bravo has opted

out of the England tour.

The side is captained by Jason Holder and includes regulars Kraigg Brathwaite, Roston Chase, Shai Hope and Kemar Roach.

Jermaine Blackwood, dropped three years ago, has returned following his heavy scoring in the recent West Indies First-Class Championship.

“His patience and application were evident and that resulted in much greater consistency. I look forward to his return to the Test arena. His experience of playing Test cricket in England should stand him in good stead,” Harper said.

The new faces are middle-order batsman Nkrumah Bonner, making his Test squad debut after being one of the leading batsmen in the 2020 West Indies Championship with 523 runs in seven matches at an average of 58.11; and 22-year-old fast bowler Chemar Holder, the leading fast bowler in the West Indies Championship with 36 wickets in eight matches at

18.91 each, and a member of the successful ICC U-19 World Cup winning side in 2016.

“I think we have a squad that will be very competitive. More than half of the squad were involved in the victorious Test series against England in the Caribbean last year so they will bring that experience, that knowledge and belief with them and marry it to the enthusiasm and vitality of the newcomers,” Harper said.

“The experience of the players who toured England before in 2017 will also benefit the squad greatly. I expect that the bowling unit will once again provide a serious challenge for England and our batting will have to deliver.

“England is a tough team when playing in home conditions. However, I think the West Indies have a good chance of retaining the Wisden Trophy. We will have to bat consistently well to do so.”

Harper also expressed high hopes for the newcom-

ers.

“Chemar Holder is an exciting young fast bowling talent who is coming off an excellent domestic First-Class season. He should enjoy bowling in English conditions. He could prove a real asset to the team in England.

Nkrumah Bonner is an unflappable character. His ability to hold the innings together and bat through tight situations could serve the team very well,” he said.

Subject to the final approval of the UK Government, West Indies will defend the Wisden Trophy, starting July 8. The players, who will all be tested for COVID-19 this week, are scheduled to fly to England on private charters on June 8.

West Indies are scheduled to arrive in Manchester the following day and will be there for a three-week period before moving to Southampton for the first Test at the Ageas Bowl, July 8-12. They will return to Manchester for the second match July 16-20 and the final encounter at

Mercedes not ruling out Vettel for 2021

Mercedes will not rule out Sebastian Vettel’s chances of driving for them next year (Photo by TOSHIFUMI KITAMURA/AFP via Getty Images)

(Reuters) - Formula One champions Mercedes will not rule out Sebastian Vettel’s chances of driving for them next year because they may need a replacement for Lewis Hamilton or Valtteri Bottas, team principal Toto Wolff said on Wednesday.

Vettel, a four times world champion with Red Bull, is leaving Ferrari at the end of the season with his next move uncertain.

Both Hamilton, 35, and Finnish team mate Bottas are out of contract at the end of the season, which is due to start in July after being delayed by COVID-19 and could see the Briton equal Michael Schumacher’s record seven championships.

Wolff told reporters on a Zoom call that Mercedes would look first at their own contracted drivers but needed to be prepared for anything.

“It’s not lip service,” the Austrian said when asked how serious the interest in Vettel really was. “But I think we owe it to a four times world champion not to come out and say straight away ‘no’.

“You need to think about it... we have a fantastic line-up and I’m very happy with both our pilots and George (Russell at Williams). But you never know.

“One of them may decide that he doesn’t want to go racing any more and suddenly you have a vacant spot and this is why I don’t want to come out in June and say ‘no chance, Sebastian is not racing for us’.”

Williams last week announced they were considering selling the family-run team and Wolff said Mercedes were looking with interest at that situation and Russell’s future.

“Beyond that you need to not discount any driver,” he added.

“This is why I said I don’t want to discount Sebastian as a four times world champion because who knows what happens in the next months?

“If I would have told you in January that we would not have any racing in the first half of the year nobody would have believed it. So in that respect we are just keeping our options open.”

Emirates Old Trafford July 24-28.

The squad will live, train and play in a “bio-secure” environment during the seven weeks of the tour, as part of the comprehensive medical and operations plans to ensure player and staff safety. The protocols will restrict movement in and out of the venues.

“The new cricketing environment will take some getting used to,” Harper said.

“However, being in England and working together for four weeks before the first Test will give the squad the opportunity to get acclimatised and hopefully, mentally and technically adjusted to the demands of the new environment.

“Playing in July could be a blessing as the weather is likely to be warmer which will allow the squad more of an opportunity to play their best cricket.”

CWI selectors have also chosen 11 reserves to accompany the squad on tour, among them Sunil Ambris and Shannon Gabriel, to train and help prepare the Test

squad and ensure replacements are available in case of any injury.

Gabriel is working his way back to full match fitness after an ankle operation last year, and Harper said the four weeks leading up to the first Test would be of tremendous benefit to him and the team.

“A fully fit and firing Shannon adds great potency to the bowling attack, so it is important to have him back at his best,” the CWI chief selector said.

SQUAD – Jermaine Blackwood, Nkrumah Bonner, Kraigg Brathwaite, Shamarh Brooks, John Campbell, Roston Chase, Rahkeem Cornwall, Shane Dowrich, Chemar Holder, Jason Holder (captain), Shai Hope, Alzarri Joseph, Raymon Reifer, Kemar Roach RESERVES – Sunil Ambris, Joshua Da Silva, Shannon Gabriel, Keon Harding, Kyle Mayers, Preston McSween, Marquino Mindley, Shane Moseley, Anderson Phillip, Oshane Thomas, Jomel Warrican.

Cowboys QB Prescott pledges $1M to address systemic racism in the United States

Prescott was selected by Dallas in the fourth round, 135th overall, of the 2016 NFL draft

(BBC) - Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott has pledged $1M to “improve police training and address systemic racism” in the United States.

It comes in the wake of the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man, while being restrained by a white Minneapolis police officer on May 25.

Protests have been held across the United States as well as globally.

“As a black multiracial American, I am disgusted and unsettled,” Prescott, 26, wrote on Instagram yesterday.

“I try to understand and find the positive in every situation or aspect of my life.

“As our communities take action, protesting and fighting for the justice of George Floyd and every black life, I am with you!”

Prescott said he had the “utmost respect” for the police, but added: “You need to hold your own accountable! Each of you is as guilty as the men who stood beside Derek Chauvin if you do not stand up against the systemic racism plaguing our police forces nationwide.”

TURN TO PAGE 8

Robert Singh completes his end under the watchful eye of coach Umasankar Madray

Winnette Lawrence

Singh, Lawrence represent Guyana at International Virtual Archery Competition

PAGE 22

Paul, Hetmyer opt out of England tour PAGE 23

Keemo Paul celebrates the wicket of Rory Burns

PAGE 20

Shimron Hetmyer has also opted out of the England tour

Premier League clubs to meet, discuss premature finish options

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THURSDAY, JUNE 4, 2020