Guyana_Chronicle_Epaper_06_06_2020

SATURDAY 6th June, 2020

' No.106021

21 boxes on ECD void of documents SEE PAGE 12

…surface in PPP/C strongholds; GECOM meets today to discuss way forward

‘I’m unfazed

by PPP antics’ PAGE

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APNU General Secretary, Joseph Harmon, and other party officials, make their way into the recount venue at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (Carl Croker photo)

…Harmon says coalition will continue to press GECOM to address irregularities

Gov’t against criminal libel …AG says as EU complains about delayed abolition of law

PAGE

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Back to school for teachers, exam candidates …NGSA, CSEC, CAPE candidates to turn out June 15, three days weekly 10 PAGE

‘Don’t become complacent’

--DCMO urges Guyanese, as country goes 09 five days without new COVID-19 case PAGE

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, June 6, 2020

Gov't against criminal libel …AG says as EU complains about delayed abolition of law …says dissolution of Parliament prevented repeal

The European Union has criticised the government for still having on its law books criminal defamation, which can see journalists being jailed for libel, but Attorney General, Basil Williams said that the administration had already committed to scrubbing the legislation, but was hampered by the dissolution of parliament.

In its final report on the March 2, 2020 elections the EU observed that despite the Constitution guarantees freedom of expression, Guyana is at odds with international obligations and in addition to civil law, defamation is prosecuted also by criminal laws with sentences up to

two years of imprisonment.

“While there were no ongoing criminal lawsuits or cases of journalists being detained or convicted, the mere existence of criminal liability for defamation constitutes a threat which may lead to possible self-censorship by media professionals,” the EU stated in its report.

Back in January this year the United Nations Human Rights Report (UNHR) had highlighted the fact that the Guyana had been working to remove defamation from criminal aspect of the laws.

According to the report, the Office of the Prime Minister has been working with the Attorney General Chambers towards the decriminalisa-

Attorney General, Basil Williams

tion of defamation. Those amendments will be before parliament before the end of 2020, the UNHR report had said. The report had come ahead of Guyana’s human rights review at the UN’s office in Geneva. In its national report submitted to the United Nations Human Rights Council ahead of its third Universal Periodic Review next week in Geneva, the Guyana Government had said it will be pushing for the decriminalisation of defamation and those amendments will be before parliament before the end

of 2020. The issue has been on Guyana‘s human rights reformation agenda for some time now.

Media organisations have been lobbying Guyana and other jurisdictions to abolish criminal defamation for some time now. The International Press Institute has said that criminal libel law was born in an Elizabethan England courtroom as a means for silencing critique of the privileged class. The body said a law of such antiquated ethos, has little place in modern society where the press plays a pivotal role in shaping public discourse. The IPI had been actively campaigning for the governments of the Caribbean to redress their

current criminal libel laws.

At present, the law is vague and open to indiscriminate and inconsistent implementation, largely wielded to quell dissent and stifle government criticism, IPI had said.

While infrequently used in the Caribbean, criminal libel statutes remain, an unnecessary resource at the disposal of any offended official, IPI said, adding that the mere threat of prosecution chills investigation and free speech, sustains corruption, unnecessarily protects public officials, and denies one of the most basic of human rights, freedom of expression. “Criminal libel is one of the most pernicious media constraints in contemporary

society. Implemented at the will of any insulted public official, it frequently leaves no recourse for the defendant. In most countries, truth is not a valid defence, leaving defence a vexing proposition.”

It is not the first time international bodies have come out against Guyana for still maintaining the law on its books. Back in 2013, Catalina Botero, the Organisation of American States (OAS) Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression had reiterated the OAS’s concern over criminal defamation laws, particularly when they punish offensive speech directed at public officials.

Specifically, she recalled the Declaration of Principles on Freedom of Expression of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR), which establishes that when relating to matters of public interest “[t]he protection of a person’s reputation should only be guaranteed through civil sanctions”, and that laws punishing insult or contempt of public officials “restrict freedom of expression and the right to information.”Botero concluded: “These principles are key to facilitating open and uninhibited debate about matters of public concern, which is an indispensable condition for the functioning of a democratic society.”

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, June 6, 2020

‘I’m unfazed

by PPP antics’

3

…Harmon says coalition will continue press GECOM to address irregularities CONSEQUENT upon the request by A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) executive member Joseph Harmon for a response from the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) on what will be the outcome of his party’s objections in the national recount process, People’s Progressive Party agent Anil Nandlall has written the commissioner of police stating that what Harmon did amounts to a threat.

Harmon voiced this on Friday in his briefing with the media, pronouncing further that he is not fazed by Nandlall nor any of the opposition’s couriers.

“Nandlall wrote the police commissioner saying that I issued a threat. I do not know who retained him to write that letter-- I suppose it’s the PPP-- that [my writing] on behalf of the people of Guyana requiring GECOM to do what they are legally required to do, that that amounts to a threat. Well I want to say to Mr. Nandlall and the other people who have built an annex to Freedom House under these tents, that that does not faze me. I will continue to press for the right and the justice of our Guyanese people to ensure that their votes are properly counted and validated and whatever comes out of this process, represents the will of the Guyanese people expressed on March 2 2020,” Harmon said.

He told the media that his major concern is how

GECOM will treat with the anomalies raised and irregularities identified, since he is of the view that it is going to be a challenge for the commission to come to a definitive position where the votes are concerned; especially since the number of cases they have raised has compromised a qualitative figure of 90,000 votes.

“These are major issues which touch and concern the credibility of this process and concern the votes that are tabulated. What is taking place right now is a tabulation of those votes and so when it is announced as valid, we have an objection to that, because a valid vote is a vote that has actually been tabulated and gone through a process of assessment, taken into consideration, the observations and the objections which have been made; and they are many. There are hundreds of persons we have objected to who were not here on the second of March and voted. We had several persons who are dead and voted,” Harmon expressed.

Alluding further that, “The phenomenon yesterday particularly as it relates to votes on the lower East Coast, where somehow it appears that all the POs that were doing duty in predominant PPP strongholds forgot all the training they got from GECOM and therefore you have boxes with ballots only. That’s a very obnoxious position that anyone can take to say that these are valid votes and I’m happy to see this morning that tabu-

APNU+AFC executive member, Joseph Harmon

lation officers spond to these are at it. And issues.” they brought Harmon to our attention said that it is several other his party’s reboxes with the sponsibility as same disease.” a stakeholder He said in the recount that all they process to put are requesting to the comto know, is mission, all how the comof the defects mission will they have seen, respond to which he says these concerns amount to which were electoral fraud. raised by the But in the party. Harmon commission itnoted too that self, he pointed this part of the out, “the PPP process will commissioners be done very were filibustershortly, “so ing, they were we must have PPP/C agent Anil Nandlall trying to prea clear position vent the comon that particular issue, and mission from meeting to they have an obligation to re- deliberate on these matters,

so that they can run out with these only tabulated numbers to say that we win or lost.”

He reiterated that the process is not completed at the end of this phase, in fact, “it’s a four- stage process.

So after the count is done, there’s a report that has to be submitted by the chief elections officer, that report has to be deliberated upon by the commission itself, and once the commission finishes its deliberations, the chair will make a declaration or statement,” he explained.

However, Harmon also indicated that the party abides

by President Granger’s position; that they will await the GECOM chairperson’s decision.

CARICOM TEAM In addition, he said that he believes the CARICOM team’s report will be persuasive, “because they have been brought here to oversee and scrutinise the process and I suspect, they, having been here for the entire period, they like us would have seen on a daily basis, the genies that are emerging out of these boxes when they are open.

We trust that GECOM would make an honest assessment of what they saw and produce to the elections commission, a report that deals with the credibility of the process. We recognise GECOM as being the competent authority, and we trust the chair will make an honest declaration with what is before her. The observations and objections of the recount must be the facts to be taken into consideration in

making her determination,” Harmon posited.

Meanwhile, Nandlall told the media that someone in the secretariat mischievously advised recount personnel to be inserted into the Observation Report, language to suggest that the votes and the recount are invalid.

To this end, he said that it is unfortunate language since he is of the understanding that no one in the recount process can invalidate a ballot except the ballot is a forgery, or if it has multiple marks or if it is unstamped.

In fact, he said all the objections being raised by the coalition are not grounds to give GECOM the power to invalidate a vote. This power, he said, only lies in an elections court.

He stated too that GECOM cannot determine the credibility of the elections. “No man can be a judge in his own cause.

GECOM can’t judge its own process. GECOM managed the electoral process, so they can’t sit to judge themselves. More importantly, the constitution says that only the High Court has exclusive jurisdiction to hear and determine any allegation of irregularity and negligent conduct or actions at an election,” Nandlall said.

Western diplomats urge acceptance of elections results The Ambassador of the United States of America, H.E. Sarah-Ann Lynch, the British High Commissioner, H.E. Greg Quinn, the Canadian High Commissioner, H.E. Lilian Chatterjee, and the Ambassador of the European Union, H.E. Fernando Ponz-Canto have called for the acceptance of the

final results of the March 2, 2020 elections.

In a statement on Friday the diplomats said that they note that the recount process is coming to a conclusion.

“We congratulate those who have demonstrated an ongoing commitment to ensuring full transparency in the recount process. This includes political parties, staff of the

Guyana Elections Commission, scrutineers from the Caribbean Community and the Organization of American States, the Advisor from the Commonwealth and observers. The dedication of all is a credit to the democratic process in Guyana,” the diplomats said in a joint statement.

“We also commend

President Granger and the Leader of the Opposition for their support of the recount, and for their clear commitment to abide by the results. As this process concludes, it is important for all stakeholders to uphold the integrity of the process and peacefully accept the wishes of the Guyanese population. There

will be disappointment for those who have lost. Those who are elected must take on this responsibility with humility and demonstrate that they will govern for the benefit of every Guyanese citizen. We encourage party leaders to commit to constitutional reform and reconciliation to ensure every Guyanese, regard-

less of party affiliation, sees how their government will work in their best interest,” the ABCE diplomats said. They said as friends of Guyana, “we look forward to working with all parties to further support Guyana’s development for the benefit of all its people.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, June 6, 2020

Defiant DC mayor names plaza 'Black Lives Matter' (BBC) The Washington DC mayor has changed the name of a plaza outside the White House to "Black Lives Matter Plaza" in a rebuke to President Trump.

Mayor Muriel Bowser, a Democrat, also unveiled a two-block long mural painted onto the street leading up to the White House declaring "Black Lives Matter".

She also demanded that Mr Trump remove federal soldiers from Washington.

The mayor's defiant, but largely symbolic acts come as more protests are expected in DC at the weekend.

The demonstrations staged over the past week in Washington drew draconian responses from the White House, with Mr Trump ordering thousands of federal troops into the city.

The president was criticised for ordering authorities to forcibly remove peaceful protesters from a square outside the White House so he could cross the street to take a photo in front of a church.

Marking the square in front of St John's Church with

the new "Black Lives Matter Plaza" sign on Friday, Ms Bowser said: "As Washingtonians, we simply all want to be here together in peace to demonstrate that in America, you can peacefully assemble, you can bring grievances to your government, and you can demand change".

The mayor also tweeted a video clip of the giant "Black Lives Matter" street mural emblazoned on the road in front of the White House in bright yellow paint.

"There was a dispute this week about whose street this is," the mayor's chief of staff John Falcicchio tweeted as the mural was unveiled.

"Mayor Bowser wanted to make it abundantly clear that this is DC's street and honour demonstrators who were peacefully protesting on Monday evening."

But the move by the mayor was panned by the local chapter of the Black Lives Matter Global Network, which called it "a performative distraction from real policy changes" and a way "to appease white liberals while

ignoring our demands".

What else has the mayor done?

tests.

"The deployment of federal law enforcement personnel

outside "established chains of commands," she said.

"This multiplicity of forc-

The two-block long mural reading "Black Lives Matter" was painted overnight outside the White House

Ms Bowser wrote on Thursday to Mr Trump, asking him to "withdraw all extraordinary federal law enforcement and military presence from Washington DC." Her letter notes that the curfew in Washington has been lifted as of Friday morning, and that the city police are capable of dealing with the remaining peaceful pro-

and equipment are inflaming demonstrators and adding to the grievances of those who, by and large, are peacefully protesting for change and for reforms to the racist and broken systems that are killing Black Americans," Ms Bowser wrote.

She also criticised troops for not wearing any identification, allowing them operate

es can breed dangerous confusion, such as when helicopters are used in a war-like tactic to frighten and disperse peaceful protestors," Ms Bowser wrote.

"My view is that law enforcement should be in place to protect the rights of American citizens, not restrict them."

Ms Bowser has repeatedly

clashed with the White House since peaceful protesters were cleared from Lafayette Square Park - outside the White House - on Monday so Mr Trump could visit a church.

She called the decision to use violence on the protesters "shameful".

She also threatened to take legal action against his administration his week after Trump officials floated the idea of taking control of the Washington DC police force.

According to the Washington Post, at least 16 law enforcement and military agencies have sent armed personnel to Washington.

Troops from the Department of Homeland Security, the FBI, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Ice), the Army and National Guard are among those who have faced off with protesters in the past week.

Washington DC is not a state, and the mayor does not have the same power as a state governor who can decide when and how to deploy National Guard troops.

The Washington DC National Guard report directly to the Secretary of the Army.

Biden: Trump 'despicable' for invoking George Floyd

(BBC) US President Donald Trump has been condemned by his likely Democratic challenger for invok-

Saturday, June 6, 2020 - 05:30 hrs

ing George Floyd's name as he touted US jobs figures.

He spoke out after Mr Trump,said Mr Floyd, who

died last month while being arrested in Minneapolis, is "looking down" and "saying this a great day".

Former US Vice-President Joe Biden said the remark was "despicable".

Mr Trump made the remark while celebrating US unemployment figures showing a surprise rebound for jobs.

Speaking in the White House Rose Garden on Friday, Mr Trump said: "We all saw what happened last week. We can't let that happen.

"Hopefully George is looking down and saying this is a great thing that's happening for our country. A great day for him. It's a great day for everybody."

He added: "This is a great, great day in terms of equality."

Mr Biden hit back during a campaign speech in Dover, Delaware.

He said: "George Floyd's last words, 'I can't breathe, I can't breathe' echoed all across this nation and quite

frankly around the world."

"For the president to try to put any other words in the mouth of George Floyd I frankly think is despicable.

"And the fact he did so on the day black unemployment rose, Hispanic unemployment rose, black youth unemployment skyrocketed tells you everything you need to know about this man and what he cares about."

The latest US monthly jobs report on Friday showed employers added 2.5 million jobs.

Mr Biden was mistaken on Hispanic unemployment that rate actually declined in April from 18.5% to 17.2%.

It also fell among white workers to 12.4% from 13.8% over the last month.

But it found for black workers, the unemployment rate rose from 16.4% to 16.8%.

The losses from the coronavirus pandemic have hit minority and low-wage workers hardest, a trend that has continued.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, June 6, 2020

Venezuelans want more time in T&T

(TRINIDAD GUARDIAN) But now that the year has passed, some migrants are calling for an extension saying the conditions in their homeland have not improved.

Some said the COVID-19 lockdown had left them jobless and bereft of savings, all of which went to pay exorbitant rents and aid for their families still living in Venezuelan.

During an interview with Guardian Media, Venezuelan Judge Manuel Romero said his ID card has expired and he was worried about the future.

He said when the registration took place, his daughter was 17 but now that she turned 18, she is now considered an adult. He said she has not been working and cannot get a job letter needed to get a six-month extension.

Romero expressed gratitude to the Trinidadian people who helped him this past two years as he moved from

job to job, working first as a fisherman, then a painter, a carpenter, a grass cutter, a se-

He said in Venezuela, the economic conditions had worsened.

available, Romero said many people had no access to food and medicine.

curity guard, a shop attendant and finally an accountant.

His wife Lorimar Silva who is an economist previously employed with the Venezuelan Military University has been working two days for the week. Romero said while he has made a good life for himself, many other migrants were suffering.

“If you have family outside of Venezuela and they send money for you, then you will survive but if you have nobody, you can get nothing and you will not survive,” he said.

He also said the country was so dangerous that you could not walk freely down the street with gods, without being robbed. With no gas

Meanwhile, director at the La Romaine Migrant Support Group (LARMS) Angie Ramnarine said the Minister of National Security should consider extending the registration policy for another year.

She said when the migrants were registered it took between three months to six months to collect their cards.

Some people were collecting cards even up to January this year. Then in March, we had COVID-19 and many migrants could not find jobs.”

Without job letters and valid ID, Ramnarine said the migrants were now at a disadvantage.

“I feel we should give them another year in order to rebuild themselves and form a sound economic base.

Many of them encountered a lot of discrimination as they set about earning a living but employers are now showing deep satisfaction for the Venezuelan workers because of the hard work they do,” Ramnarine said.

Meanwhile, Mon Signor Christian Pereira who has been working closely with the Venezuelan migrants said he also felt there should be an extension as the conditions in Venezuela had not improved.

“The situation in their homeland has not changed for the better and we must take this into consideration,”

Pereira said.

Several attempts were made to contact Minister of National Security Stuart Young but calls went unanswered.

In 2017, Rochelle Nakhid, coordinator of the non-governmental organisation Living Waters Foundation’s Ministry for Migrants and Refugees said over 40,000 Venezuelans were living in T&T. However, the government registered only 16,523. On the last day of registration, hundreds of Venezuelans were lined up at all three registration centres. Many of them wept after the registration doors closed. Calls were made for the registration to be extended but this was not done by the government.

Since then thousands more migrants have entered T&T illegally and have started building their lives with the help of Good Samaritans.

Jamaicans urged to brace for higher temperatures

Director of the Meteorological Service of Jamaica, Evan Thompson – Contributed photo

(JAMAICA GLEANER) The Meteorological Service of Jamaica (Met Office) is urging Jamaicans to prepare for higher-than-normal temperatures over the summer period, which begins on June 20 and ends September 22.

Director of the Met Office, Evan Thompson, said that already, daytime temperatures have been above normal, with Montego Bay recording up to 34 degrees Celsius and Kingston 33.5 degrees in the month of May.

“We are projecting, currently, that over the next few months, temperatures will continue to be above the norm. It has been this way over the past number of months and going into the summer, we are expecting that it will be higher than normal and normal is already very hot,” he noted.

Thompson, who was speaking at a recent virtual town hall hosted by the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development, said that the Met Office

is projecting temperatures above 34 degrees Celsius, which, he noted, can cause dehydration.

“Last year, we had our maximum ever recorded in Kingston, which was very close to 100 degrees Fahrenheit or about 38 degrees Celsius. Therefore, we need to be prepared for the increased temperature,” he pointed out.

Meanwhile, Acting Director of Emergency Medical Services in the Ministry of Health And Wellness, Dr. Kurdell Espinosa Campbell, is encouraging residents to take the necessary steps to stay hydrated through regular intake of water.

She said exposure to extreme temperatures can be dangerous for high-risk groups, especially the elderly, children and those with health issues.

“Heat injuries run the spectrum from high to mild heat illnesses, which means that if you are in the sun for a prolonged period of time, you are likely to be dehydrated. We recommend that persons stay out of the sunlight

at those key hours between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. and drink lots of water if you have to be in the outdoors,”

Espinosa Campbell advised.

“There are other recommendations that we can look at, such as wearing

sunscreen, wearing your hat outdoors, and reducing your outdoor exposure,” she added.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, June 6, 2020

A solution to the discontent THE purpose of our political system, as written in Article 13 of the Guyana Constitution, outlines that “the principal objective of the system of the State is to establish an inclusionary democracy by providing increasing opportunities for the participation of citizens and their organisations in the management and decision-making processes of the State, with particular emphasis on those areas of decision-making that directly affect their well-being.”

This Article came out of the 1999 constitutional reform exercise which resulted from the then Opposition People’s National Congress/ Reform (PNC/R), under the leadership of Mr. Hugh Desmond Hoyte, signing The St. Lucia Statement with then President, Janet Jagan, on July 2 1998. It was felt, among other things, that “measures and arrangements for the improvement of race relations in Guyana include the contribution which equal opportunities’ legislation and concepts, drawn from the CARICOM Charter of Civil Society, can contribute to the cause of justice, equity and progress in Guyana.”

The St. Lucia Statement has its

genesis in the dissatisfaction at the outcome of the elections’ results expressed by the PNCR, and, more importantly, the fear and/or frustration of a significant segment of the population with regard to living under the administration of a party they had not supported to form the Government. This fear and/or frustration has/have its concerns rooted in persons’ opinions that they felt excluded from political decision-making, and that it has impacted their lives.

For years, the society has been told, and some have come to accept, that ours is a winner-take-all politics, where the party which has not secured the Executive, and its supporters, are denied. Again, our purpose here is not to argue any merit or demerit of this claim, but to examine the Article before us, and see how we can make it work in our common good in the here and now, even as conversations continue about constitutional reform.

Careful examination of Article 13 shows that it speaks to a solution to the discontent of 1997. It lays the platform, via the nation’s supreme law, to establish and foster a political solution built on the

involvement of all, irrespective of our diversity, but inclusive of the political party supported. In that this Article was assented to by the then President, Bharrat Jagdeo, it was not unreasonable to harbour expectation that he would have charted a new course, consistent with its objective.

This notwithstanding, it does not mean that the Article cannot be activated to its fullest, and add fillip to the enveloping nationalism. The preference, harboured in certain quarters, to foster a politics of dissent or of “our time” does not negate, or should not obscure, the overwhelming desire of the ordinary man and woman to proceed along the road of inclusion. Whichever way it is looked at, a diverse nation stands to gain more when all feel that their voices are heard, their opinions and inputs valued, their choice of representative respected, and their taxes invested in them, irrespective of political or apolitical interests.

Few, if any, relish living in a nation constantly racked by silly divisions, whose laws work for some and not all, whose citizens oppose only for the sake of opposing; a nation comprised of feeble men acting

as though they are omnipotent, and engaging in endless back and forth, with none wanting to concede anything or listen to the other; all being more bent on talking past each other, and everyone out to prove they are right and the other is wrong.

That is not a healthy relationship for any people to cultivate, be it in the home or in public life. Guyanese having gone past the stage of saying ‘enough is enough’, many continue to register disapproval and discontent with their feet. Those who have stayed or desire to return are pleading with their leaders to give development for all a chance to work. The best place to start is at Article 13, given that it aims to ensure a society wherein all can have equal opportunity to realise their God-given potential.

To its credit, the Coalition Government built upon the foundation of inclusionary democracy, and has been making moves to make this realised fully. President David Granger has reminded on many occasions that it was the PNC/R that was instrumental in the establishment of an inclusionary five-party Partnership for National Unity (APNU) in

June 2011. He said the APNU, in turn, entered into the Cummingsburg Accord in February 2015 with the Alliance For Change (AFC), which, when combined (APNU+AFC), won the 2015 elections. “The PNC/R, together with its political and civil partners, remains committed to the multi-party coalition, bound together by the Cummingsburg Accord to constructive dialogue with the political parliamentary opposition, and with civil society to strengthen the practice of ‘inclusionary democracy’; to the ideals of coalition politics, and to the broader aspiration of national unity; to perfecting our incipient system of shared governance, in the belief that the coalition parties are better together than apart,” President Granger said at the PNCR leadership congress back in 2018. It is through inclusionary democracy that Guyanese will indeed receive unquestionable benefits in every area of life, and will allow for the deployment of broad-based expertise in nation-building.

Serious concerns about the role of some mainstream media in these delicate times Dear Editor, IN an article written by me and published in the Stabroek News dated 3rd June, 2020 and captioned “Recount is not about simple numbers but a more complex and complete evaluation,” I presented factual evidence to buttress the claim as captured in the headline of said letter in response to the effrontery of the European Union Ambassador Fernando Ponz Canto suggesting, in spite of the very glaring evidence of electoral fraud and corruption discovered in every

region, that “it was impossible to cheat”.

It was disappointing after presenting irrefutable evidence extracted from an easily accessible public document found on the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) website, outlining the legal defining characteristics of the recount that I was forced to respond to a misleading editorial commentary to reiterate, “The gazetted Order of 4th May, 2020 speaks to a National Recount, and this specifies areas of particular focus for review.

It is not your call, my call, or any other but GECOM to

stipulate at this point (or at any point) what the recount focus is, and what, therefore, must be reported on. Clearly, this key issue has been missed. Efforts by many to misrepresent the Recount is noted.” (3rd June).

T h e f o r e g o i n g c o mment was made in response to the misleading “Editor-in-Chief’s note: The socalled anomalies raised by APNU+AFC agents in these observation reports have no basis. They are fishing expeditions. One of the most egregious claims by APNU+AFC was the supposed non-stamping of the ballots

of the Disciplined Services which Mr. Lewis interestingly avoids mentioning. This is a recount, not an audit, or an election petition. The GECOM Chair is duty-bound to declare the recount result, and to do so expeditiously.”

This seemingly simple editorial note is an act of suppression; it is misleading, and an attempt not to acknowledge the very profound aspects of the Order that determine the nature of the recount, designed and agreed to by GECOM as a means of ascertaining credibility. The readership is reminded that it was Anil Nandlall, former PPP/C Attor-

ney-General, who opined that “fraud, once committed, makes everything a nullity…ab initio”. The Opposition having agreed to the specifics of the Order is now changing its voice, and so are those specific international agents whom we must now call international dictators espousing a vulgar diplomacy.

The editor and the newspaper were wrong; not wrong to editorialise, for that is the prerogative of ownership, but wrong in their use of editorial power to misrepresent public information. In so doing, they fool a large cross-section of the Guyanese community and

world at large. I submit that this is not accidental; it represents glaring support of an organised campaign to discredit certain views, and the persons who make them, thus making them less than credible in the eyes of the reading public.

It sets out the pillars of destabilisation of the truth of the 2020 Elections and the recount which the Opposition and international dictators are seeking to use as a foundation for clandestine machinations at regime change by any means necessary.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, June 6, 2020

National unity: It’s about time

Dear Editor,

IN medicine, a patient would relate his/her symptoms to a doctor before any attempt at a diagnosis is made; and, most of the time, after tests are done, the doctor is able to make a diagnosis. Thereafter, treatment is administered, as in the case of cancer, to get to the source of the problem.

In other words, treatment is given, not directly to the symptoms presented, but to the root of the underlying disease.

Guyana is in the throes of a colossal political mess, unparalleled in the annals of electioneering, a solution for which not even the international observers and foreign missions, including the US and Canadian Ambassadors, to name just two, have so far been able to influence. The ruling ‘caretaker’ government seems to have no qualms as they brazenly thumb their noses at all but their own activists, apologists, and radical political base. A recount has been in progress for a month, despite a total vote count of around a mere half million, and following it for most of us is like watching grass grow! And every day comes with new communiques by the ruling party, not the least of which have been wild accusations of fraud at polling stations, including voting by people who allegedly had left the country, and ‘statistical anomalies,’ though the numbers of votes involved in these trumped-up claims are just infinitesimal to even come close to affect the final outcome.

While the entire country, diaspora, and the world watch as the recount ‘progresses,’ the ruling party, with the backing of the Armed Forces, lopsidedly staffed by its own supporters, videos of which give the erroneous impression of a monoracial population, is giving no hint it is likely to compromise and respect the will of the electorate. In fact, all indications point to possible myriad court actions if the recount indicates they lost. Also, even the GECOM Commissioner, an ex-judge,

has been acting as if under orders from APNU headquarters. And it goes on and on, as the country’s affairs are on a protracted hold, and with no silver lining visible to buoy the hopes of decent-minded Guyanese and the world at large.

I am one who has always looked beyond party loyalty for a just solution to the problems plaguing the Guyanese people, and I have, in letters to the press over the years, long before March 2, 2020, given vent to my views. I’ve posited, inter alia, that the British, as they were washing their hands of the colonies in their vast empire, too often resorted to a divide-and-rule strategy, one that resulted in a deep schism between the two major races in Guyana, starting with the Jagan-Burnham split they engineered. History will attest that they left us with nothing but a quagmire, after changing the electoral system from First-Past-The-Post (incidentally, a system still used in the UK) to Proportional Representation, as a means of geting rid of Cheddi Jagan, consistent with the wishes of Forbes Burnham and Peter D’Aguiar, then leaders of the opposition parties. Of course, we all know how D’Aguiar was shoved to the sidelines while Burnham pursued policies that drove the country to near bankruptcy while fattening his personal coffers.

As we witness the intransigence of the APNU/AFC government, in defiance of all other stakeholders, including foreign missions and observers, it is of vital importance that we strive to get to the root of the problem giving rise to the present scenario. The rift orchestrated by our former colonial masters resulted in a marked division, with the two major races eyeing each other with distrust, and at the polls, East Indians supporting Cheddi Jagan, Afro-Guyanese, Forbes Burnham. It is this, the underlying problem, that rears its ugly head come election-time every five years.

Some on each side of the political spectrum would argue that their party has made significant inroads into the other’s political base, and

that there is no longer that racial divide when it comes to voting. I posit that such an argument is simply specious; and I’d be happy to revisit my stance on this when, for example, at least ten per cent of Port Mourant support the PNC and ten per cent of Buxton support the PPP! The problem of a racial pattern of voting is alive and kicking, and it is too often exploited by politicians. This is the source of the quandary we face in Guyana today, and unless addressed with a bipartisan approach, it is likely to continue unchecked, cycle after election cycle.

Indeed, the barefaced electoral fraud being perpetrated today is of the most unconscionable and egregious nature. However, I submit, what is happening are merely symptoms of the underlying problem; the said ethnic schism bequeathed us by the British. And part of the problem is that the clear losers of this election, the APNU/ WPA coalition, cognizant of the skewed pattern of voting, and that consequently they are likely this time to be relegated to history unless the PPP/C engages in the type of reckless governance they were accused of prior to 2015, are not inclined to concede.

What we need to do is, as I’ve indicated in my opening analogy, address the root of the problem instead of concentrating on the symptoms.

It’s a malignancy that’s been metastasising for too long, and is likely to lead to devastating results, unless partisanship is shelved and a rational approach is adopted. I repeat, what we are witnessing are symptoms of the underlying problem, and little, if any, headway is likely if we keep concentrating only on the symptoms.

I have, in previous letters, suggested some form of a national-unity government, under the watchful eyes of an oversight committee comprising of elderly statesmen, members of the clergy involving the major religions, and a few lay folks, and I’ve touched on some of the vast benefits likely to follow. I quote the relevant

paragraph in my February 17, 2017 letter: “The benefits of a national-unity government can be legion. A bipartisan approach can lead to a drastic improvement in the crime situation, including the scourge of break-in robberies that for too long have been plaguing business and home owners and posing a disincentive for the many overseas-based Guyanese intent on re-migrating. And, most important, a surge in the economy is to be expected, with an uptick in entrepreneurship both by locals and re-migrants, and the consequent job creation which is likely to ensue.” Obviously, with national unity, we can expect a win-win situation for all. But the greatest benefit to be derived would be a populace living in harmony, in the absence of political mudslinging and gridlock at all levels.

A travesty of electoral justice has been inflicted on the Guyanese people, and now three months later, we are still waiting for a declaration of the winner. With the widespread support of foreign observers and missions on the side of fairness and transparency, a final and just resolution is still possible. It is abundantly clear the PPP/C won on March 2, and they should be declared as such. I hope that with the swearing-in of a new government, the task of forging unity would be paramount.

Perhaps we can follow the example set by the great Nelson Mandela, who, after twenty-seven years of his life was stolen from him, emerged from prison with neither revenge nor rancor, but racial unity and harmony uppermost in his mind.

Of course, we all know how he stood tall, stayed the course, and made his country a much better place for all South Africans. This is also possible in Guyana, recognized as home to one of the nicest and most hospitable peoples on earth; so, my fellow Guyanese, let’s wake up and strive for national unity – it’s about time!

Regards, Abel Peters

Truth is only feared when it uncovers its enemies Dear Editor,

I REFER to “Top Cop rebuffs KN story”, in the Guyana Chronicle of June 03, 2020. For the Kaieteur News, a print media that, since May 2015, has been an unabashed mouthpiece of an undemocratic and well-documented criminal state political party, to accuse the Commissioner of Police of sending false information to the Guyana Elections Commission, outlines a disrespect for such an office, and a reckless disregard for attempts of seeking the truth.

But first of all, the Commissioner must be congratulated for the urgency with which he has treated with the GECOM’S request, since it concerns a matter of extreme importance to the national interest, the March 02, regional and general elections; and secondly, for his prompt response to what is clearly another attempt by this muckraker and shameless stranger to the truth print, to bring into disrepute, not only the Coalition’s well-documented evidence of absent Guyanese casting ballots on March 2, but also the Elections Commission into disrepute. One could have predicted this latest foul attack coming from a newsprint which now wallows in yellow putridity. No wonder it had been categorised as a muckraker in a senior diplomatic dispatch some years ago.

It is an absurdity, that in the face of insurmountable evidence of electoral fraud, and with the GECOM having the vested authority to investigate such instances, granted in accordance with Article 162 of the Constitution, from which authority the Gazzetted Recount flows, that such a brazen attempt is mounted via a pathetic mouthpiece to bring the entire forensic process into disrepute. Surely, the eminent Editor, Adam Harris, had every right to exit such a filthy political media cesspool.

Reading the Kaieteur News story, it reeks of that familiar air of political corruption of the highest kind, for it is an attempt to cast similar aspersions on the Commissioner of Police for doing his duty in his constitutional discharge of supplying information on a very critical issue of national import. KN must be reminded that any such information requested from such a State institution responsible for such records, that there must be a response forthcoming, particularly to a request emanating from a constitutional organ as the GECOM. Each day, it is appalling to observe that the media, which is said to be the public’s watch-dog, its pro-opposition segments, continues to be deliberate in the opposite direction of truth, as it aids and abets the opposition PPP/C in its vicious assault on the truth, as is clearly the instance in this extant matter where the credibility of the Commissioner of Police is being attacked.

It cannot be normal in any society for the truth not to be SOUGHT, or those opposed to such a search continue to use various subterfuge to impede its revelation.

It cannot be normal either for truth to continuously be made a football, to be kicked in those dark directions so as to conceal its contents. It can only occur in a country in which anti-democratic forces abound, inclusive of those who thirst for political power at all costs, and who have managed to undermine the democratic process in a variety of ways, as has ever since become known.

It even becomes a national tragedy, of epic proportions, when the vested interest media, continues to aid and abet such a dangerous endeavour.

It brings one to the perennial question, not really needed to be asked, but should be repeated, why are these dark forces, inclusive of the KN and its kindred rabble types, so bent on obfuscating and discrediting the current process of recount that was initiated to ascertain the credibility of the March 02, TURN TO PAGE

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, June 6, 2020

In defence of Justice Claudette Singh Oil and water Dear Editor, AS the recount process comes closer to completion, Mr. Frederick Kissoon is demonstrating that he is in a “deep” opposition conspiracy with elements supportive of the PPP/C to discredit and demonise GECOM’s Chair, Justice (Ret’d) Claudette Singh as they accuse her of collaboration with the government and the APNU+AFC to rig the elections, and now the recount process.

His most recent attack on Madam Chairman Singh is contained in his June 2, 2020 KN column, captioned “Claudette Singh and deep-state conspiracy”.

Here are a few examples of Kissoon’s revolting abuse of Claudette Singh: - “… to explain the nasty, ugly connections between the police, GECOM, and the government to derail the 2020 election.”; – “ …there is a deep state conspiracy to rig the elections results. That has been happening since March 4, Claudette Singh cannot escape scrutiny in this scenario. “; – “ Singh has skipped from one ugly decision to another that is simply destroying this country”; and “ Her latest display is her communication to the Police Commissioner on allegations made by APNU+AFC. Kissoon’s reference contained in my last quote attempts to further tarnish the reputation of Madam Singh when he alleged in his column that she didn’t see it as ethical or decent to include the Commission in her decision…..” This claim of Kissoon is without foundation, is a blatant lie and should be cause for libel action against him by Madam Chairman Singh, if she so chooses to

proceed against him. It is clear that he has been fed a diet of lies by his friends at Freedom House, and vomits it up without even the benefit of a cursory check to find out if what he claimed is true.

I am advised by Commissioner Desmond Trotman that at a meeting of the Commission, Madam Chairman Singh brought to the attention of the Commission the relevant information and the course of action she had taken. Her action flowed from two previous meetings. The first was with the APNU+AFC when their representatives referred to serious anomalies witnessed by their agents in the evolving recount exercise. They were told to provide the evidence they claimed to have, and when that was done steps would be taken

by GECOM to verify the validity of the concerns raised.

The second meeting, which occurred on the next day, was one of GECOM Commissioners, which discussed the issues raised at the meeting between GECOM and the APNU+AFC delegation. I am further advised by Commissioner Trotman that Madam Chairman Singh at that meeting made the point that he who asserts must prove and she committed to acting to clarify whether the information, once provided had merit.

In my humble opinion, Kissoon’s ramblings lack merit and are merely propaganda items manufactured in Freedom House to advance their devious campaign to bully their way back into office.

I propose to examine here the most recent controversy over the GECOM Chair writing to the Police Commissioner to verify names on an APNU+AFC list submitted to GECOM

Truth is only feared ...

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electoral process?

Obviously, the answer is FEAR OF BEING DISCOVERED, OF BEING FOUND OUT, FOR THE ELECTORAL CRIMINALITY PERPETRATED ON THE NATION’S ELECTORAL PROCESS, BY ITS POLITICAL CARD. And the KN is a significant part and

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parcel of these crooked attempts at deceiving the nation. All AND SUNDRY MUST BE REMINDED, INCLUSIVE OF THE KN THAT THE TRUTH IS ONLY FEARED WHEN IT BRINGS TO LIGHT ITS ENEMIES. Regards, Troy Garraway

as persons who allegedly voted on Election Day when, in fact, they were out of the country. This matter is linked to the PPP/C’s objection that GECOM has no power to address irregularities and anomalies in the recount process. There are opposing views both in and out of GECOM, and with most legal matters, the courts are the final arbiter on these controversies. In the absence of a court ruling, the Chair and GECOM have to press forward bearing in mind the following: Time-frame of the recount; the known division in the Commission; and the need for addressing the important revelations coming out of the examination of the ballot boxes.

These are all in the national interest since it is important for the acceptance of the recount findings. In this situation, Chairman Claudette Singh will be expected to cast the crucial vote if the Commission is deadlocked if and when a vote is taken.

She, therefore, needs to be allowed some space to inform herself on matters she needs to address. Writing to the Police Commissioner for immigration information is one such occasion.

The PPP/C and Kissoon and his handlers, in their obsession with “power”, are not thinking right. They are poor dialecticians, to say the least. They fail to see the intrinsic interrelation between Claudette Singh’s ability to exercise her casting vote objectively and independently, which requires her to be confident of information laid before her. Denying her that critical space can be counterproductive to the PPP/C’s interest.

Kissoon’s erroneous theory of “deep-state conspiracy” is malicious and dangerous propaganda that

can destroy the fragile fabric of our society. He writes: “Singh has skipped from one ugly decision to another that is simply destroying this country.” Any objective observer of the election crisis will be hard-pressed not to recognise the perilous situation that GECOM and the country are facing as we seek to determine the credibility of the elections.

If Claudette Singh did not act responsibly in the election crisis, we may not be speaking of wanting a democratic outcome. To the extent that we are not burning like America is the result of the good sense demonstrated by the President, the Opposition Leader and the Chair of GECOM. Only the mind of a “political lunatic” can't comprehend this reality.

As I said earlier, the PPP/C, Kissoon and his handlers are not thinking, but are driven by “lust for power”. Their chosen strategy of attacking, demonising and falsely accusing the GECOM Chair of colluding with the government and APNU+AFC can backfire for that party and their supporters, like Kissoon. All the Chair has to do at the critical moment is to declare that the Opposition has no confidence in her impartiality, and as such refuse to vote.

I end by stating that the PPP/C’s political nearsightedness in their dealing with GECOM and Chair, Justice (Ret’d) Claudette Singh is self-defeating.

Regards, Tacuma Ogunseye

don’t mix

Dear Editor,

However, I feel that House-To-House (HTH) Registration will be recommended and mandated

by GECOM after determining that Guyana Elections 2020 are NOT Credible, due to the massive voter fraud encountered in the Forensic Recount of the ballots in the ballot boxes in all the Ten (10) Regions.

A CREDIBLE List OF Electors will then be prepared from the HTH Registration exercise, necessitating Credible Elections as soon as practicably possible.

It is hoped that during this time, all political parties will clean up their act, purify their body politic, and choose worthy participants who would qualify to participate in power-sharing in Government. Not now, then might be the appropriate time for discussing and introducing Inclusive Governance if, for ‘Christ’s sake’, the political parties ever agree to such a forward step that the President says is embodied in the Guyana Constitution.

The correct timing of such an event is crucial and of utmost importance to the honest and long-term development of Guyana, particularly in Guyana’s current oil age.

IF power-sharing in government is being contemplated at this time, I hope that commonsense and good sense will prevail and expose the folly, in all its aspects, of such a disastrous proposal and plan which is embodied and clothed with catastrophic consequences.

Examining historical data of governance for the 23 years prior to May 2015 clearly indicates that a particular political party should not be included in its present form, unless it cleans up its act. However, recent events that expose massive voter fraud in the current Recount Exercise that was Gazetted on May 4, 2020, point to that particular political party as the perpetrators.

Now, let the progress continue with the just over four year’s success story that Guyana was enjoying under the steady hand of President Granger and his APNU/ AFC Coalition Government. Do not spoil it now with a lapse of foresight and positive thinking and sabotage the unprecedented progress that Guyana enjoyed with its transformation from being a Pariah State internationally, and where Guyanese began to enjoy the GOOD LIFE in such a short time. Changing course at this crucial time will be an incorrigible mistake, and place an irrefutable curse on the perpetrators of such an irreconcilable misstep.

Sincerely, Thomas Saunders

Serious concerns about the role ...

I again remind readers of the Organisation of American States (OAS)’s role in the Bolivia story, and what is taking place politically in the countries that form the Guianas oil basin. Venezuela, Guyana, and most recently, the exposure of OAS ignorance and/or dis-

regard for Surinamese laws.

There is an organised effort by several actors in and out of Guyana who speak from the same script, to present an impression of many sources, in support of the Opposition and denouncing GECOM. It is not lost

on a large section of the Guyanese community that there is a political warfare being waged among the contesting parties of the 2020 elections. It is also obvious that some mainstream media have formed an alliance to influence domestic and international understanding

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of Guyana’s politics and electoral reality. There is serious concern about said role in these delicate times. Only time will tell the fruit Guyana will reap from what has been sowed.

Regards, Lincoln Lewis

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, June 6, 2020

‘Don’t become complacent’ --DCMO urges Guyanese, as the country goes five days without a new COVID-19 case GUYANA has gone five consecutive days without a new case of the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), but the positive development should not be overestimated, and Guyanese should instead continue to adhere to the existing containment measures and not become complacent.

“My fellow Guyanese, I wish to remind you that even though there has been no new case over the past five days, we cannot become complacent. If we keep this up, following all guidelines, we will be on our way to limiting transmission, and flattening the curve, making the return to normalcy sooner than later,” said Deputy Chief Medical Officer (DCMO), Dr. Karen Boyle during a virtual COVID-19 update on Friday.

Health authorities conducted 32 COVID-19 tests within the past 24 hours, but there were no positive results. To date, 1,752 persons have been tested, with 1,599 of those persons bearing negative results, and 153 positives cases.

Of the total number of infections, some 77 persons have recovered, and 12 persons have lost their lives, but there are 67 active cases, of which 64 are in institutional isolation and three persons are in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

“I wish to give a shout of bravado and kudos to the rapid response, mobile unit & surveillance Teams, and the Staff at the National Reference Laboratory whose coordinated efforts are allowing us to track, diagnose and manage patients in an efficient manner,” said Dr. Boyle.

Health authorities continue to work towards strengthening the healthcare system to respond to COVID-19 on a long-term basis. The potential and existing activities are part of a 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.

Region Four (Demer-

Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Karen Boyle

ara-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.

CONSTANT SURVEILLANCE 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.

“We continue to plead with the residents of Regions One, Six, Seven, Eight and Nine to remain on high alert recognising that our neighbours, Brazil, Venezuela and Suriname are reporting new cases,” said Dr. Boyle in her update on Friday.

In the last 24 hours, Brazil recorded 28,936 new cases and 1,043 deaths, while Suriname now has 54 pos-

itive cases, with one new case in the last 24 hours, and neighbouring Venezuela recorded 157 new cases with one new death.

“Residents of Region Seven, with the new cases in Venezuela, and the upsurge in your region, your vulnerability is increased. We are calling on the Toshaos and other authorities to ensure that residents do not cross borders, and that persons from those other countries are not entering your community. Community members must report any migrant entering your community & anyone who has signs and symptoms, and immediately bring this to the attention of the health authorities,” Dr. Boyle advised.

As seen, COVID-19 remains a serious issue, not just here in Guyana, but globally as well. And, according to global statistics, there are over 6.4 million cases of COVID-19, with over 382,000 deaths. And, with no approved treatment or cure, there is no assurance that persons will survive after contracting the disease. In the absence of approved medications, governments and authorities across the world have employed a number of preventive measures to contain the spread of the disease.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, June 6, 2020

Back to school for teachers, exam candidates in coming weeks --- NGSA, CSEC, CAPE candidates to turn out June 15, three days weekly --- Teachers to report to school on June 8 --- 11,898 CSEC candidates, 852 CAPE candidates for exams ALL National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA), Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) and Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) learners are expected to return to school from Monday, June 15, 2020, to facilitate faceto-face preparation with teachers for the upcoming examinations.

The learners will attend school only on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays for four hours from 09:00 to 13:00 hours. Meanwhile, all teachers must return to schools from June 8.

This is just some of the pertinent information relayed by a panel of senior officials of the Ministry of Education (MOE), on Friday, via a webinar. The engagement comes as the Ministry announced on Wednesday that schools will be re-opened from June 8 to August 15 to facilitate the preparation for, and writing of, the said examinations.

The MOE has also Gazetted an Order signed by Minster of Education, Dr. Nicolette Henry, on June 2, 2020 which outlines clear COVID-19 prevention guidelines to be followed by the MOE, Departments of Education, Headteachers, Mayor and City Council/Town Councils, Parent Teacher Associations (PTAs) and parents/guardians.

THE PRIMARY LEVEL Speaking on the panel, Assistant Chief Education Officer (ACEO) - Primary, Carol Benn said that all primary school teachers must report for duty from June 8 to prepare for the re-entrance of learners on June 15.

She said: “Teachers will also use this period to prepare themselves mental-

ly for the new norm. The Headteachers and Deputy Headteachers will supervise the preparation and brief teachers on plans and expectations.”

For primary schools, in addition to the protocols outlined in the Order, there will be the sanitisation, fumigation and weeding of grass at all schools considering that they have been unoccupied for some time.

No parents will be allowed into the schools compound.

Sanitisation kits will be issued to each pupil during the first week of their re-entrance and these kits will be inclusive of soap, hand sanitisers, face masks and more.

Benn assured the nation that all students will be provided with face masks, teachers will be provided with face shields and handwashing areas will be present. She also added that both teachers and students will be informed of their health and safety expectations and reassurances will come from teachers to quell anxieties.

Meanwhile, Superintendent of Examinations, Sauda Kadir said that the individual timetables for NGSA candidates will be distributed, to schools, from June 8, 2020 via the Regional Education Departments.

“We anticipate and have planned that when candidates return to the student-teacher engagement on June 15, they will be able to receive their individual time tables,” she said.

THE SECONDARY LEVEL Addressing viewers, Assistant Chief Education Officer (ACEO) - Secondary, June-Ann Gonsalves said that administrators, at individual schools, will prepare a timetable which caters to the days CAPE and CSEC students should

attend school. The said days will also be influenced by

Director of the National Centre for Educational Resource Development (NCERD), Jennifer Cumberbatch (DPI photo)

to ensure that the measures stipulated in the Order are adhered to at all times,” Gonsalves said.

Providing data, Kadir said that there are approxi-

Education Officer (CEO), Ingrid Trotman, and Director of the National Centre for Educational Resource Development (NCERD), Jennifer Cumberbatch, said that they are aware of the

Chief Education Officer (CEO), Ingrid Trotman (DPI photo)

Assistant Chief Education Officer (ACEO) - Secondary, June-Ann Gonsalves (DPI photo)

specific subject areas.

When they meet faceto-face, she said that the pre-exam period will cater for the completion of School-Based Assessments (SBAs) or Internal Assessments (IAs) and the extensive moderation process which is now required by CXC for all SBAs. If necessary, the period will also cater for the completion or revision of the syllabus. Students will also, through the period, become au fait with the new protocols in place.

“All of our officers will closely monitor the process

mately 11,898 CSEC candidates registered with 70,697 subject entries in 34 subject areas. For CAPE, there are 852 candidates registered with subject entries in 4,388 in 37 subject areas.

“The CXC has not sent the individual timetables or they have not arrived in the country as yet; once they have arrived, we will immediately distribute so candidates will have their individual timetables,” the Superintendent of Examinations explained.

CAREFUL PLANNING In brief remarks, Chief

Assistant Chief Education Officer (ACEO) - Primary, Carol Benn (DPI photo)

effects of the pandemic on students, teachers and parents and much planning has gone into preparation for the exams.

As a result of the pandemic, Trotman said Guyana has had to close 352 public and private nursery schools affecting 29,740 children; 453 public and private primary schools affecting 90,802 learners and 139 public and private

secondary schools, impacting 68,351 students.

Also closed were special education centres --- 12 public and 2 private ---; Technical, Vocational Education and Training (TVET) --- 10 public and 2 private; 18 teacher education centres; 2 university campuses and a number of other private teaching institutions.

Meanwhile, over 11,700 teachers have been affected since March 16, 2020 and the said number does not include lecturers.

During this period, the CEO said that the MOE, through its Alternative Plan Programme, provided homebased learning activities and practice materials for nursery, primary and secondary school-aged children online, via television and radio.

She said that booklets for Grades 2, 4 and 6 were provided to hinterland students who would likely have difficulties accessing the internet and other media.

Trotman said that most teachers also met with their students online and the Education Ministry is in the process of collecting data on the number of students and educators who participated in online teaching to better plan for the future.

The Health Unit of the MOE, in collaboration with the MOPH, developed Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for the preparation and implementation of the national and regional examinations. Meanwhile, Regional Education Officers and the Principal Education Officer are integrally involved for regional collaboration.

In her remarks, Cumberbatch said that prior to the crafting of the public health protocols for the reopening of schools for exams, the MOE engaged in many weeks of planning.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, June 6, 2020

Education Ministry responds to concerns regarding dates for exams MEMBERS of the public and media engaged senior officials of the Ministry of Education (MOE) on Friday via a live webinar on a number of concerns they have in relation to the re-opening of schools and the upcoming national and regional exams.

One of the first matter addressed questioned Guyana’s conceding to the Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) dates which set the Caribbean Secondary Examination Certificate (CSEC) and the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) for July.

The same matter also dealt with why the MOE decided on a similar July timeline for National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) exams given that this exam date is controlled by the country and not the CXC. WE OBJECTED Superintendent of Examinations, Sauda Kadir, explained that, when it comes to the dates for CSEC and CAPE, there was no position that Guyana could have taken individually without the backing of a majority of the other Caribbean countries.

“CSEC and CAPE are Regional examinations and even though Guyana did mention and voiced our opinions as to the various options that were presented by CXC, the vote was taken by the regional body to have the exams administered in July,” she said.

Kadir reminded that they were initially scheduled to commence on June 29, 2020 but Jamaica requested additional time due to its challenges and they were postponed to July.

Meanwhile, regarding the NGSA exams, Director of National Centre for Educational Resource Development (NCERD), Jennifer Cumberbatch, said that the Education

Ministry was first examining sion both at local meetings June but this proved impos- and at the Council for Human sible. and Social Development They considered that the (COHSOD) – Education exams were only for two days where Guyana was representand could not be held simultaneously with CSEC and CAPE. With CXC having revealed its timelines for the aforementioned exams, Cumberbatch said that the MOE decided to put the NGSA exams in the same month but just a little earlier.

“We looked at all the alternatives, we looked at if we went into August or September. You’d be shocked at the various problems that we would have. So, we thought that for the first two days we will Director of National Centre for have our children,” Educational Resource Development she said.

(NCERD), Jennifer Cumberbatch The NCERD Director said that the period would also ensure that ed by Minister of Education, the MOE capitalises on one Dr. Nicolette Henry. stretch of period in which Trotman explained: “It the Ministry of Public Health was done on a voting basis.

COVID-19 protocols could We objected to the structure be implemented at schools. of the CSEC examinations ---- and that is the SBAs and OUT VOTED the paper one only. The minQuestions were also ister from Jamaica objected, asked about what level of the minister from Trinidad representation was made by and Tobago as well as Anthe MOE for Guyana to the tigua and Barbuda, but that CXC regarding the modera- was only four countries. All tions to CSEC and the CAPE the other countries, if I’m due to setbacks arising from not mistaken, about 11 other the pandemic. countries, they opted for The modified examina- the modified version of the tions strategy provides for CSEC and CAPE and so they only one common paper had total majority over the (Multiple Choice Assess- four countries that objected, ments) along with School so that is why that plan went Based Assessments (SBAs) forward. The minister made for public candidates and representation fully for Guyone common paper and Paper ana but, as I said previously, 032s (Alternative to SBA) for this was on a voting basis.” private candidates.

As a result, Kadir said Chief Education Officer that the modified CSCE and (CEO), Ingrid Trotman, said CAPE exams do not cater for that Guyana made known its modern languages, Human disfavour for the said deci- and Social Biology (HSB)

and visual arts.

Modern languages which include Spanish, French and Portuguese will have to see additional components taken

sick bays are present at each school for isolation until medical personnel arrives.

Added to this, Cumberbatch said that community health centres will also be on stand-by on the exam dates.

The Superintendent of Examinations said that the Education Ministry is also working with private schools to ensure that they understand the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and conduct its own visits and monitoring.

Some parents of NGSA candidates are, nonetheless, worried about the safety of their children while in schools and some are considering bypassing the exams Chief Education Officer (CEO), for a placement test.

Ingrid Trotman Trotman informed the public there is nothfor the subjects; HSB which ing the MOE can do to force does not have an SBA com- parents on either route but ponent will see candidates they should note that their having to complete papers children will be placed at the one and two; and visual arts secondary school closest to candidates will be expected them for one year. to submit only, a ‘reflective “If they satisfy the critejournal’ and their pieces. ria, they can write the placement exams in the next year of July and they have to get over 70 percent in order to be HEALTH CONCERNS Meanwhile, fielding ques- placed at a school of a higher tions about health and safety, level,” she explained.

Director of National Centre HINTERLAND for Educational Resource STUDENTS Development (NCERD), Jennifer Cumberbatch, assured Concerns have also come that teachers will be trained from the Amerindian Peoon COVID-19 protocols for ples' Association (APA) one week from June 8, 2020 which stated recently that to cater for the return of stu- children in the hinterland may be at a disadvantage for dents on June 15.

She said that when stu- the upcoming exams because dents arrive, they too will use they hadn’t access to the all the pre-examination period the necessary work books or to learn and adhere to the online learning information necessary guidelines. Should compared to those in the a student or teacher show hinterland.

The media posed this symptoms of COVID-19, she pointed to the MOE’s gazette issue to Assistant Chief EdOrder which mandates that ucation Officer (ACEO) -

Primary, Carol Benn who said that the MOE has ensure that learners in the hinterland each received past papers for Grades Two, Four and Six assessments as far back as 2017. She said that they were also issued with work sheets which teachers distributed to individual homes and teachers are to ensure continued learning.

Meanwhile, Assistant Chief Education Officer (ACEO) - Secondary, JuneAnn Gonsalves said that, catering for students who could not access the information provided by the MOE online, teachers prepared worksheets and distributed these to learners.

“We are aware that because they could not have gotten some of the stuff that was available from the zoom and our website, the teachers themselves prepared worksheets and they were sent to the different villages for those areas that we could not have gotten contact with,” she said.

Gonsalves that she feels comfortable with the level of engagement had with MOE officials, noting that there were several regional meetings held as well.

Should the national COVID-19 health situation appear to be flattening out by September 2020, the CEO said that the MOE will consider the changes needed to the academic year. Either way, she said that the first term of the new school year will first see two to three weeks of revision from where the children last left off.

She stated, “I know some children would take a longer time than others [so] what we also have in mind is a diagnostic assessment to be done in order to fill that gap.”

Back to school for teachers, exam candidates...

FROM PAGE

Cumberbatch said that stakeholders involved in the planning stage included the Ministry of Public Health; the Pan American Health Organisation/World Health Organisation (PAHO/WHO); the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), the National COVID-19 Task Force (NCTF); the Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU), parents and teachers.

The NCERD Director expressed that

while decisions are generally not easy to make, the involvement of the aforementioned stakeholders made the planning stage possible.

“We have had to go back to the drawing board when we did not get it right because this is something new for us. The Ministry of Public Health would not allow us to have any exams unless lots of things were put in

place,” she said. “The Ministry of Public Health has helped us to create protocols for just about everything, things that we didn’t even think that we have to create protocols for; from the gate to the classroom and back.”

She assured the public that the Education Ministry’s aim is to ensure that all persons are safe during the exams. Taking it a step

10

further, she said that the MOE has asked the GTU to make visits to schools to ensure that all protocols are being adhered to or to make recommendations where necessary.

In the days leading up, from June 8-13, the distribution of equipment and materials in preparation for the re-opening will take place.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, June 6, 2020

More missing documents from PPP/C strongholds – GECOM meets today to discuss way forward

AT the end of Friday, 76 ballot boxes from the Demerara-Mahaica Region (Region Four) were processed, however, a number of those counted boxes were not tabulated due to the absence of important documents, and the commission’s decision is being awaited.

In fact, Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Commissioner Vincent Alexander, told the media that all the documents for some 21 boxes were missing. These boxes contained only ballots.

This was an issue that was raised on Thursday by A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) executive member Joseph Harmon, and the very irregularity continued the following day.

This, Alexander said, is very strange, especially since they are coming in a cluster, and all seems to be in People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) strongholds.

“A significant number of boxes from Thursday into Friday were found with only ballots in their contents. The other documents, the Official List of Electors (OLE), the counterfoils, all those documents which [are] supposed to give information about who should have voted, are not in the

box. This is strange, and what is even stranger is that it’s coming in a cluster. It’s not one far and in between.

There are those who would argue there were similar instances prior, but I myself don’t recall a similar

instance where absolutely nothing else other than ballots [is] in the box. Here we have this apparent cluster,”

Alexander posited.

In addition to the cluster, coincidentally or not, all these boxes reflect ex-

A table showing the polling stations, and the numbers for the ballot boxes that had all the documents missing. It also reflects the numbers of votes in the boxes for the two major parties.

GECOM’s Commissioner, Vincent Alexander ceedingly high figures for the PPP/C. These boxes came from polling stations such as Montrose Primary School, People’s Assembly of God Church, LBI Primary School, Chateau Margot Primary School, and more.

Alexander said that the decision made,is to have the secretariat do an investigation into this matter, and to render a report before proceeding to making a determination in relation to the ballots.

The question of whether these ballots can be deemed invalid due to the absence of the documents is still to be determined by the commission, he noted further.

“There’s no reconciliation to what is in the boxes… But at the end of the day you cannot disenfranchise anyone because people must have voted and therefore the question that will have to be asked, is what happened, or how you can ensure these people have voted. The question to the people’s franchise has to be processed,” Alexander said.

The meeting is set for today to decide a way forward on these boxes with missing documents and the immigration list, among other issues.

MoPI likely to press charges against Best Buy owner –– for disabling East Coast Public Road’s security feature to accommodate customer parking THE Ministry of Public Infrastructure is in the process of initiating a process that could possibly see charges being brought against an East Coast Demerara businessman who, by way of an agent of his, destroyed a section of the public road next door to his business establishment.

On Thursday, a worker who claimed to have been employed by the owner of Best Buy Variety Store at Non-Pareil to break off the security feature along the roadway in order to make provision for persons with vehicles coming to do

business to be able to park.

The security feature was part of the road’s design, and was eventually constructed when the East Coast highway expansion drive between Better Hope and Belfield was done by the Chinese. When contacted in relation to the breakage, the businessman told a reporter that he indeed ordered the breakage of the road’s security feature. The workman who spoke with the reporter prior to that indicated that he was informed by the businessman that he, the business-

man, was given permission by the area’s Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) to destroy the security feature.

However, when checks were made, the NDC denied those claims, saying that it ever gave any such permission to damage the public infrastructure. Armed with the truth of the matter, the reporter then contacted the businessman again, who claimed that he did not know it was that serious, and that all he was doing was breaking off the excess concrete from the roadway. It should be noted

that when the highway was widened, the feature was put in place to separate moving vehicles from pedestrians and pedal cyclists. Apart from that, business premises and entrance to gaps were free of the feature, as provision was made for them to have vehicular access to their premises.

Where the breakage was being done on Thursday was not in front of the businessman’s premises, but rather that of a neighbouring property, the owner of which died some time ago during a fire.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, June 6, 2020

Health of the nation is NCTF’s first priority – PM Nagamootoo assures inquirer

NCTF Chairman, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo CHAIRMAN of the National COVD-19 Task Force and Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo made no bones about it on Thursday that the health of the nation is the agency’s first and only priority.

This was conveyed during a video conference with President of Caribbean Guyana Institute for Democracy (CGID), Rickford

Burke on Thursday evening, where the Prime Minister seized the opportunity to remind his guest that the NCTF was established in response to an unprecedented medical emergency; one that should not be politicised.

“When I was appointed by the President to head this National COVID-19 Task Force, Minister Nagamootoo said, “I took this duty on as

a priority, because I realised that you need to focus on this health emergency, and do everything possible to minimise our exposure.”

Since Guyana recorded its first COVID-19 case in early March, several measures have been implemented to combat the spread of the virus.

The country’s borders and airspace have been

closed to international travel, working hours have been reduced, guidelines and advisories have been established by the Ministry of Public Health, and a national curfew has been put in place.

Prime Minister Nagamootoo highlighted that the NCTF has been receiving support from private sector entities, through the Civil Defence Commission (CD-

C)’s National Emergency Operations Centre. This, he explained was done in the form of donations of personal protective equipment (PPEs), along with food and sanitisation items. To date, Guyana has recorded 153 cases of the novel coronavirus, with 12 deaths. The Government, through the NCTF, has been working assiduously to flatten the curve.

Guyanese are urged to take every precaution necessary, particularly in Hinterland Regions, border communities and hotspots.

Everyone should always practice social distancing in the workplace, public spaces, and while using public transportation so as reduce the spread of the coronavirus diseases.

(DPI)

Joint Services receive face masks, gloves from CDC THE Civil Defence Commission (CDC), on Friday, presented a quantity of KN95 face masks and gloves to the Joint Services for use by officers when conducting their duties amid COVID-19.

Director-General of the CDC, Lieutenant Colonel Kester Craig, explained that this donation was made possible through support from SBM Offshore Guyana.

“We have been able to talk to them (SBM Offshore) to support this cause of ensuring that the law enforcement and Joint Services received adequate protection when they conduct their duties,” he said.

Last Friday, the Dutch floater company donated 30,000 pieces of protective gear which included gloves and masks to the CDC to help with the agency’s national response to the virus. It was noted that the items will later be distributed to the ranks at the various stations. Deputy Commis-

sioner of Police, Paul Williams, thanked CDC for its support, noting that this effort will definitely help those on the frontline.

“We know that these items are very essential in light of the COVID-19 situation. We are the ones on the frontline and because of our frequent and regular engagements in all of the activities, we must protect ourselves to ensure that we can continue providing proper service.”

The CDC welcomes donations towards its national response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Food supplies, personal care and sanitation supplies, or financing are welcome. Items can be sent to CDC’s headquarters, Thomas Road, Thomas Lands daily between 09:00 hours and 15:00hours.

Funds can be deposited to the Commission’s Republic Bank account number 962356519938. (DPI)

(second from left) CDC Director-General, Lieutenant Colonel Kester Craig; Deputy Commissioner of Guyana Police Force, Paul Williams; Berbice Divisional Fire Officer, Dwayne Scotland (second from right) and Acting Director of Prisons, Kevin Pilgrim (right)

Effective parliaments crucial in post-COVID-19 era PARLIAMENTS are relevant actors for convening a new fiscal and social compact and for forging agreements to reformulate the current economic model and build a more inclusive and sustainable welfare system, Alicia Bárcena, Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) said on Friday during a virtual meeting of parliamentarians from throughout the region.

The gathering, entitled “Legislating for Post COVID-19 Economic Recovery: Cooperative dialogue between presiding officers of parliaments of the Americas,” was convened by the ParlAmericas organization and drew the participation of 15 parliamentary presidents

and/or vice presidents from countries in the region, along with 27 panelists. This activity was presided over by assembly member Elizabeth Cabezas (of Ecuador), the President of ParlAmericas, and it began with a keynote lecture by Alicia Bárcena on COVID-19’s economic and social effects in Latin America and the Caribbean.

In her presentation, ECLAC’s Executive Secretary stressed the importance of having more effective, efficient and open legislative bodies to confront the crisis related to the COVID-19 pandemic. “Our societies demand more and better access to timely and reliable information, and better institutions for participating in the decisions that affect them and for guaranteeing governabili-

ty. It is necessary to open institutional channels for dialogue and advocacy by civil society to achieve support and comprehension, as well as to steer the process after the crisis,” she indicated.

In this vein, she stated that ECLAC is putting at countries’ disposal the public policy observatories that it has developed, in particular the COVID-19 Observatory with all its publications regarding the effects of the pandemic, the Gender Equality Observatory, and the Observatory on Principle 10, in line with the Escazú Agreement (for which the Commission serves as the Technical Secretariat).

Alicia Bárcena underscored that the parliaments of Latin America and the Caribbean have played an important

role during the pandemic, raising the visibility of political debate and social demands, and taking an active role in modifications, approval and oversight of public budgets. She emphasized that due to their democratic and representative nature, parliaments provide a natural space for deliberation to arrive at agreements regarding how to reformulate the current economic model and convene a broad social compact that would allow for building a more inclusive welfare system.

“After this crisis, we will need institutional channels for listening to and processing the multiple demands that will emerge as a result of the See page 16

14

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, June 6, 2020

Guyana observes World Environment Day

GUYANA, on Friday, joined approximately 143 countries around the world to observe World Environment Day. This year’s observance was held under the theme ‘Biodiversity’, under the umbrella slogan “Time for Nature”. The theme is in keeping with 2020 being designated the “Biodi-

versity super-year”.

The Department of Environment, in a message, said World Environment Day is a celebration of nature. It said during these unprecedented times, there is a need for nature to be the focus of our attention, particularly since human activity has had, and continues to have, an adverse impact on the

natural cycles of the earth.

“This is evident in the myriad environmental ills such as species extinction, coral bleaching and sea level rise. The global rates of decline in the health of ecosystems are unprecedented in human history, with overwhelming evidence pointing to landuse change, man-made climate change, pollution,

among other things, being the leading causes of this decline (Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services).”

According to the dep ar tmen t, ad d r es s in g these issues requires a concerted global effort to rapidly restore and protect nature. “Efforts must also include meaningful stake-

holder engagement and collaboration at all levels.

Cognizant of the need for global leadership, the Guyana Government has made several policy decisions to build partnerships to address these issues. This includes being a signatory to 26 Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs), including the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals and the three Rio Conventions: the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC); the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (UNCBD); and the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD),” the department said.

According to the department, Guyana has been diligent in meeting its obligations under these agreements, ensuring multi-stakeholder engagement and collaboration across government agencies as well as with the private sector, non-governmental organisations, civil societies and the public. Guyana’s commitment to universal inclusion in safeguarding our natural resources saw it taking the lead, becoming the first country to sign the Escazú Agreement in 2018, which seeks to ensure citizen participation and justice in environmental matters. These international MEAs are being continuously monitored and mainstreamed in national policies and strategies, ensuring coherence with local efforts.

The 2012-2020 National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) is one such initiative, developed to guide Guyana’s adoption and implementation of the UNCBD. Work has already commenced on the drafting of a new Strategy and Action Plan, ensuring there is no gap in implementation as the current NBSAP ends this year. This dedication to protect our local biodiversity is also demonstrated in Guyana’s firm involvement in the development

of a legal framework to protect marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction (BBNJ) under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. Additional actions for biodiversity protection include a four-year partnership between the Department of Environment Ministry of the Presidency and the United Nations Development Project to execute the Strengthening Technical Capabilities to Mainstream and Monitor Rio Convention Implementation through Policy Coordination (Rio Mainstreaming Project).

This project aims to build the capacity of agencies and individuals responsible for implementing the UNFCCC, UNCBD and the UNCCD. The project further recognises the need to equip stakeholders at all levels, including Local Government Authority, teachers and Indigenous peoples, with the skills required to participate in the implementation of these 3 MEAs, helping the country achieve the preservation of our natural resources. The development of all local strategies and projects intended to conserve biodiversity will be further guided and informed by the Green State Development Strategy: Vision 2040 (Vision 2040). This strategy will guide the adoption of a holistic approach to development over the next 20 years, along a low carbon trajectory. Vision 2040 was created to support three key areas: Managing Natural Resources Wealth, Supporting Economic Resilience and Building Human Capital.

These messages are interdependent and the success of all is pivotal to the achievement of a green economy.

“As we continue to celebrate biodiversity for World Environment Day, the Department of Environment wishes to remind all Guyanese that every voice is important. “

15

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, June 6, 2020

EU Observer Mission report highlights shortcomings THE European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) has presented its final report on Guyana’s General and Regional Elections, noting several shortcomings by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM); political parties and other stakeholders.

The report was handed over by EU Ambassador to Guyana, Fernando Ponz Cantó to Chair of GECOM, Justice (Ret’d) Claudette Singh, on Friday.

The Guyana Chronicle summarised some of the key pointed highlighted by the EU EOM. FUNCTIONING OF GECOM From its observation, the EU EOM said that “post-election developments exposed a dysfunctional commission unable to control its own secretariat.” It said that the commission’s deliberations, decisions, instructions and essential electoral data were not publicly accessible.

Meanwhile, it noted that the bipartisan composition of the commission resulted in excessive polarisation, affecting the commission’s ability to function, reach common ground and make timely decisions.

“By failing to take decisive action as the electoral process derailed into chaos and illegality, GECOM abdicated its constitutional duty to take all actions necessary to ensure compliance with the law by any of its officials, despite unequivocal powers to remove and exercise disciplinary control over them,” the mission stated.

CAMPAIGN FINANCING The mission noted concerns regarding campaign financing, stating that the

The EU EOM report being handed over by EU Ambassador to Guyana, Fernando Ponz Cantó, to Chair of GECOM, Justice (Ret’d) Claudette Singh on Friday legal framework did not sufficiently provide for transparency, accountability and oversight.

It also said the GECOM did not assume its oversight responsibility to monitor campaign finance.

Moving forward, it recommended that effective legislation could provide transparency in campaign incomes and establish reasonable limits for campaign expenditure. It said that this could also ensure disclosure and reporting requirements and effective sanctions guided by an independent oversight body.

ONLINE AND OFFLINE CAMPAIGNING During the campaign trail, the EOM said that these were “intensely” dominated by the governing A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) and the opposing People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) but other smaller

parties were “barely visible”.

The Mission highlighted that “vote buying in Indigenous communities” was done by both the APNU+AFC and PPP/C with the coalition doing so through development programmes and the opposition through State resources “namely vehicles” at regional level.

While acknowledging that there are no laws to guide online campaigning, the mission said that social platforms channelled massive amounts of derogatory messages, false narratives and racially-heated comments, contributing to confusion and division among Guyanese.

MEDIA MONITORING While the mission observed that freedom of expression and the media were generally able to freely cover the electoral process, it noted that the media environment is highly politicised.

“The media environment is highly politicised, with very few independent media and the majority of media outlets being either directly affiliated or leaning to one of the two main political camp,” the EOM stated.

The EU EOM also highlighted that although the Guyana National Broadcasting Authority (GNBA) was equipped with a permanent media monitoring unit, it informed the EOM that it did not have enough capacity to conduct a thorough monitoring of the election coverage.

On different occasions, it noted that the Guyana Press Association (GPA), denounced cases of journalists being subject to intimidation via social networks, direct intimidation and attempted physical assaults by party supporters and complained about the lack of effective measures to ensure media workers’ safety.

TABULATION AND

PUBLICATION RESULTS The EU EOM has also recommended the adopting of clear written procedures for the transmission and tabulation of election results to ensure consistency of the process in all regions. This includes adequate traceability of handed over electoral documents and possibility for all authorised stakeholders to examine Statements of Poll (SOPs) as required by law.

Meanwhile, it suggested incorporating into law the obligation to accompany any declaration of results by simultaneous publication of detailed polling station results and digital copies of all SOPs. Added to this, it was put forward that the number of valid votes cast for each candidate list should also include all elements of electoral accounting.

DISPUTE RESOLUTION SYSTEM The EU EOM pointed out that: “Once the date of elections is officially announced, all election-related disputes, except for challenges related to voter and candidate registration, should be raised only after the elections by way of election petitions.”

It said that electoral dispute resolution mechanisms are available mainly through judicial dispensation but the right to an effective remedy is not ensured as there are no deadlines for rendering decisions on electoral disputes.

It nonetheless commended the High Court and Court of Appeal for the way they dealt with the two critical post-election legal challenges.

Apart from these, EU EOM also acknowledged that a total of 660,998 voters were registered for the elections which is “well above

the estimated resident adult population”.

It positively noted that three out of nine presidential candidates and over 40 per cent of all candidates contesting the general elections were women but criticised that no voter education specifically targeted Indigenous people and not enough catering for the voting of Persons With Disabilities (PWDs).

RECOMMENDATIONS For the next General and Regional Elections, the EU EOM recommended a review and consolidation of the “fragmented” election legislation; the launching of a consultation process to overhaul the composition and functioning of GECOM; the development of effective legislation to regulate political finance; the fostering of transparency and accountability in online and offline campaigning; the transformation of the state-owned media into a genuine public service broadcaster; the adoption of clear written procedures for transmission and tabulation of election results; the accompanying of any declaration of results by simultaneous publication of detailed polling station results and digital copies of all Statements of Poll and the establishment of a comprehensive election dispute resolution system.

Following an invitation by the President of Guyana, the EU deployed the first-ever fully-fledged EU EOM, of 55 observers from 25 EU member states and Norway, to Guyana between from January 25 to March 20, 2020.

The EU EOM said that it was able to observe and report on all aspects of the election process until March 20, 2020 when it was repatriated to Europe due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Some international mail to and from Guyana suspended - GPO THE Guyana Post Office Corporation (GPOC) has notified its customers awaiting letters and parcels that mails from the US, China, Hong Kong,

Japan, Australia, Netherlands, Switzerland, Germany, Bahamas, Belize, Costa Rica, Bermuda, Grand Cayman, Brazil and the Caribbean are

affected by a suspension of mailing services due to the closure of borders to fight COVID-19.

“The closure of borders and the suspension of mails

by many countries have affected the ability of GPOC to effectively carry out our obligations. Customers are advised that both incoming and outgoing international

mails have been affected.

This does not apply to mails from Grenada, Trinidad and Tobago and Tortola, British Virgin Islands (BVI),” the GPOC said in a press

release.

The GPOC said it will continue to monitor the situation globally and make the necessary adjustments to its service.

16

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, June 6, 2020

Youth entrepreneurs advised to use COVID-19 period to be creative — encouraged to shift business to an online approach THE COVID-19 pandemic has seen many businesses having to adapt to new ways of reaching and serving their customers.

Chief among such is the use of the internet to market their establishments.

In Guyana, young entrepreneurs and youths contemplating starting business ventures are being encouraged to consider an online approach. This was highlighted during a recent youth forum focusing on Entrepreneurship and Employment, hosted on NCN. The panellists included entrepreneur and Director of ASPIRE Youth Network Guyana, Dennis Glasgow, Project Manager attached to Basic Needs Trust Fund (BNTF), Dikedemma Utoh, and Project Officer attached to the Department of Youth, Germaine Watson.

Glasgow noted that social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram are excellent media to promote one’s business, particularly at this time, since most people are reliant on their devices.

“This (COVID-19) period that we are facing definitely provides opportunities for young entrepreneurs, and this calls for creative thinking, strategy/ planning and also marketing moving forward post COVID-19,” Glasgow said.

He advised when starting a business, it is always best to assess your community’s

Project Manager attached to Basic Needs Trust Fund (BNTF), Dikedemma Utoh. needs and create a service around meeting those needs.

“Know your target market. Every single social media platform can be used to market your business differently to reach various target groups. Facebook is the most trending social media platform in Guyana. Therefore, most organisations would have a Facebook page. It is good for sharing more content about the service you are providing.”

Instagram, Glasgow noted is ideal for marketing your venture to younger people, while Twitter is used by more professionals for the sharing of info that is more succinct. The young entrepreneur said that while some business had to down-

Project Officer attached to the Department of Youth, Germaine Watson

Director of ASPIRE Youth Network Guyana, Dennis Glasgow

scale during the pandemic, he saw many persons taking to the internet to creatively market their ventures, ranging from pre-packaged vegetables to delivery services.

“It is all about finding opportunities in this current period and this calls for creative thinking – out of the box ideas – strategic planning, and, importantly, marketing. This time also calls for us to rethink how we make money – what is our strategic plan, what is the long-term plan in the event something like COVID-19 occurs again, how can I continue to earn?”

Meanwhile, Utoh recommended that all potential entrepreneurs must take into account risks and ways to mitigate those risks in their business plans. He noted

that there must be a constant review/assessment of the risks and contingency measures. “You cannot monitor what you cannot measure; therefore, you need baseline data to monitor the impact of your business,” the BNTF Project Manager advised.

Watson suggested that they use this period to read and inform themselves. “There is a lot of information at your fingertips and for those who do not have access to electronic devices, there are still newspapers and books.

Acquire that knowledge so when we are out of this pandemic period you can hit the ground running.”

SUPPORT PROGRAMMES The panellists not-

ed that there are programmes (pre- and postCOVID-19) in place to assist young people who wish to establish ventures.

According to Utoh, part of the BNTF’s mandate is the implementation of capacity building and livelihoods projects. BNTF is the flagship poverty alleviating programme of the Caribbean Development Bank and has been in Guyana for 27 years.

The Project Manager explained that the capacity building projects are aimed at bringing youth towards employment and the livelihood interventions are geared towards improving the lives of persons at the household level. These would be community-driven interventions that translate in increased income at the household level.

“Presently in the livelihood sector, we will be implementing a community fish processing facility in Victoria Village. There is an agro-processing facility that will be constructed at NARI for farmers of the RAID project or small agro-processors to get value added to their product at a certified facility,” Utoh said. Training is also an important component of the BNTF’s projects as Utoh noted the agency currently has six training projects being implemented in association with BIT, “Because we insist on credible certi-

fication.”

Watson said that the Department of Youth primarily focusses on skills development for young people and transitioning that skill into employment or entrepreneurship. “The Youth Innovation Programme of Guyana (YiPOG) was specifically designed in 2017 to have young people craft solutions to challenges that they face in their respective communities/spaces,” he said.

The programme, he noted, helps young people avoid the red tape usually associated with accessing resources. ‘We provide the training, the resources, in particular finances, to young people, to youth groups, to schools - any organisation, group or individual that is targeting youth development. We provide the resource to help them find innovative solutions.”

Importantly, Watson noted that the department provides training to help the young entrepreneurs keep and rotate those funds to generate a profit. “There is the entrepreneurial training, financial literacy and small business training programme that will be rolled out on June 8 2020,” he stated.

It was highlighted that the ultimate goal is to foster minds that are thinking strategically to solve issues. (DPI)

Effective parliaments crucial ...

From page 13

serious economic and social effects of COVID-19, and parliaments will be crucial at that crossroads,” the senior United Nations official asserted. “A Welfare State is needed that is based on a new social (fiscal, social and production-related) compact that includes the universalization of access to health, which is to say, to the basic infrastructure of life.”

For these efforts, Bárcena indicated, parliamentary leadership will be critical to give democratic and political legitimacy to the post-pandemic process of economic and social recovery and rebuilding.

In her presentation, Alicia Bárcena reiterated that the post COVID-19 world will require more cooperation and regional integration. “The world is going to change, and it is already changing. The big companies are mov-

ing, they are seeking resilience more than efficiency. We have to be very mindful of what role Latin America and the Caribbean will play in this. We must aim for the region’s future in this new economic geography to depend less on imported manufactured goods and imagine regional value chains,” she explained.

Bárcena also informed the participating parliamentarians about the proposals for confronting the pandemic that ECLAC has provided to countries.

In the immediate short term, the Commission proposes implementing a basic emergency income (BEI) equivalent to one poverty line over a six-month period for the population living in poverty, which would have an additional cost equivalent to 2.1% of GDP. Also in the near term, it is necessary to avoid the destruction of productive capacity by

using subsidies, differentiating them by company size, with a commitment to preserving employment relationships.

In the medium term, ECLAC proposes formulating responses for a postCOVID world that will bring about changes to the model and the production structure, with greater equality and sustainability, the establishment of a Welfare State, and the fostering of regional integration in a new economic geography, the organization’s Executive Secretary stated.

“The transformation of the development model is urgently needed to achieve a better recovery with resilient, inclusive and sustainable economies.

This must include an energy transition towards renewable, efficient sources with a smaller environmental footprint, more employment and national production,” Bárcena indicated. In this area,

the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 Goals provide a road map that is historic and transformative, with universal, comprehensive and indivisible goals. This is a participatory agenda, which presents a vision for a future with equality and sustainability, she added.

Finally, Alicia Bárcena said that strengthening the work of parliamentarians is essential for vigorously fighting the pandemic’s effects. “ I invite you to think about the future, about how we can build a better future: with more inclusive welfare systems, green sustainability, attracting companies so they act with more solidarity, and about how we can move towards strategic sectors that would enable us to have greater social and environmental sustainability,” she concluded.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, June 6, 2020

Thirty countries will benefit as Global Environment Facility funds FAO-led projects 4 June 2020, Rome - The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) today welcomed the decision by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Council to allocate a substantial $ 176 million to 24 of its projects that tackle the critical intersection between agriculture and environmental concerns.

The decision came at the Council’s 58th meeting, the first to be conducted virtually.

The projects address global environmental crises that impact the productivity and sustainability of agricultural systems on land and water across five continents. Four projects in Nicaragua, Guinea, Kenya and Uzbekistan will contribute to the GEF’s Food Systems, Land Use and Restoration Impact Program.

Led by the World Bank, this Program aims to protect ecosystem services by embedding production systems within wider landscapes. One project in Tanzania will complement the GEF Drylands Sustainable Landscape Impact Program: led by FAO, it was established in 2019 to address degradation of land and dryland ecosystems.

Further projects focus on safeguarding international and transboundary waters. One will help Brazil and Uruguay jointly manage the large Merin Lagoon, a vast freshwater lake that sustains millions of migratory birds. Another will help Cambodia and Viet Nam monitor and jointly manage their precious groundwater in the Mekong Delta region. This work strand includes the second phase of the Common Oceans ABNJ Program which aims to establish international standards for sustainable fishing and help reduce overfishing in tuna stocks and by catch caught through unsustainable practices - ABNJ stands for Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction, which cover nearly 95 percent of the volume of the world’s oceans.

Four of the projects will allow FAO to support the governments in nine landlocked, small island and least developed countries, which face unique challenges due to their geographies and specific social, economic and environmental vulnerabilities. “The approved projects are designed to strengthen national food systems while delivering global environmental benefits to people and the planet. They will help smallholder farmers, fisherfolk and foresters diversify their livelihoods, and reinforce their resilience to climate change and other major stress factors, such as the COVID-19 virus,” the FAO Director-General QU Dongyu said.

All projects were climate-proofed and will be executed in partnership with and co-financed by the governments of Albania, Algeria, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Georgia, Guinea, Indonesia, Jordan, Kenya, Lebanon, Libya, Madagascar, Mauritania, Mexico, Montenegro, Morocco, Nicaragua, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Tanzania, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, Tuvalu, Ukraine, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, and Yemen. Since becoming a GEF Agency in 2006, FAO has supported over 130 governments in implementing more than 200 projects with nearly a billion dollars in GEF financing.

To date, FAO-GEF projects have benefitted almost five million men and women; created over 350?000 jobs in rural communities; safeguarded biodiversity in close to 200 vulnerable marine ecosystem; and saved some 1,000 crop varieties, and animal species and breeds, from extinction.

17

Shyam Nokta elected GMSA president … wants association to play stronger role in manufacturing sector development MR. Shyam Nokta, Managing Director of Environmental Management Consultants (EMC), was, on Friday, elected unopposed as President of the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA).

He is supported by Mr. Ramsay Ali, CEO of Sterling Products Ltd. as first Vice-President, Mr. Ramesh Dookhoo of Banks DIH Ltd as second Vice-President and Mr. Autamaram Lakeram of NAMILCO, as third Vice-President.

Nokta said that he intends to work closely with all stakeholders with a view to having the GMSA play a more pivotal role in private sector development and strengthening the various subsectors.

The GMSA’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) for fiscal year 2020-2021 was held in two parts. The body said that on Wednesday, May 27, 2020, the 13-member Board of Directors was elected and on Friday June 5, 2020, the new president of the association, three vice presidents, and the remaining members of the Board of Directors were elected.

Mr. Nokta, in his remarks, to the board to recognise that the country and the business sector are facing challenging times, with COVID-19 and the national circumstances. He said, “One of our primary tasks will be to work with the GMSA Membership to get a good picture of the situation facing members and the interventions needed across the various sub-sectors to put businesses back on their feet”.

According to the release, Mr. Nokta said he is looking forward to a timely conclusion of the election recount process, the declaration of the winner of the March 2 general and regional elections based on the recount, and having a government in place reflective of the will of the people. In this regard, he said “As we did during my previous term as GMSA President, between 2017 and 2019, the GMSA would look to establish a strategic partnership with government and to work closely with other stakeholders to advance and grow the manufacturing and services sectors. Emphasis will be placed on strengthening important sub-sectors covering agro-processing; services; chemicals and pharmaceuticals; construction and engineering; forestry and wood products; and minerals and related products.”

The new president expressed his strong interest in seeing the GMSA play a leading role in private sector development and adopting approaches that embrace enhanced competitiveness and sustainability, the release said.

The GMSA said that it has over 145 member companies covering the manufacturing and services sectors. “The Board of Directors for this fiscal year 2020 – 2021 was also elected at the AGM. The Board includes Demerara Distillers Ltd (DDL), Sterling Products Ltd., Banks DIH Ltd; Edward B Beharry Group; National Milling Company of Guyana, Guyana National Indus-

trial Company, and Brass Aluminum Cast Iron Foundry that have kept the organisation strong and functional over many years,” the release said.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2020/21 1.Mr. Shyam Nokta – Environmental Management Consultants 2.Mr. Ramsay Ali – Sterling Products Ltd 3.Mr. Ramesh Dookhoo – Banks DIH Ltd. 4.Mr. Clinton Williams – Guyana National Industrial Corp.

5.Mr. Peter Pompey – Brass Aluminum Cast Iron Foundry 6. Mr. Andre Cummings – Cummings Wood Products 7.Mr. Autamaram Lakeram – National Milling Company 8. Mr. Raymond Ramsaroop – Edward Beharry Group of Companies 9. Mr. Vasudeo Singh – Demerara Distillers Ltd. 10. Dr. Vishnu Doerga – ActionCOACH Guyana 11. Ms. Glenis Hodge – Tropical Shipping Agents 12. Ms. Carol Webster – O-Squared Consulting 13. Mr. Mahadeo Panchu – KSM Investments Inc. 14. Mr. Rafeek Khan - Woods Direct Inc. 15. Mr. Brian James – Guyana Pawnbroking and Trading Co. Ltd. 16. Ms. Karyn Billey – Laparkan Trading Company Inc. 17. Mr. Mohindra Chand – Barama Company Ltd. 18. Mr. Chris Persaud – Umami Inc.

COURTS donates ‘Aeroboxes’ to frontline workers attending COVID-19 patients ON Friday, Courts Guyana Incorporated partnered with its largest suppliers of appliances, ‘Mabe’, and donated 20 Areoboxes to the Public Health Sector for healthcare professionals to utilise while attending to COVID-19 patients.

An “AEROBOX” is a protective covering for doctors and healthcare workers to use when intubating a patient, substantially reducing the risk of infection.

Given its characteristics, the aerobox can be sanitised, disinfected and re-used. Due to its construction and materials, it is very resistant and its use is expected to exceed the needs of this pandemic.

At the handing-over and demonstration ceremony at the Ministry of Public Health Annex, Kingston, Managing Director of Courts Guyana, Clyde De Haas, described the device as “quick and efficient,”

Managing Director of Courts Guyana, Clyde De Haas, presents the areoboxes to Deputy Director of the Health Emergency Operations Centre (HEOC), Dr. Leston Payne, while other officials from the Public Health Ministry and COURTS look on. (DPI photo) noting that it is crucial for Guyana’s frontline workers.

According to De Haas, ‘Mabe’ plans to export some 30,000 of the manual devices across the region. Meanwhile, Deputy Director of the Health Emergency Operations Centre (HEOC),

Dr. Leston Payne, accepted the donation on behalf of the Public Health Ministry. He thanked the company for its timely gesture and extended an invitation to other companies to come on board and assist in preserving the lives of those attending to the criti-

cally ill, especially during this pandemic.

Last April, the giant home appliance store gifted the Health Sector a minibus, outfitted to provide emergency transport during the coronavirus pandemic.

(DPI)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, June 6, 2020

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, June 6, 2020

19

Systems to be put in place...

FROM PAGE 21 among NSC, parents of athletes, athletes themselves and their respective sports associations has been crucial in combating the spread of the virus as well as keeping the public heavily educated about the current state of things.

As such, Jones said this relationship needs to continue especially with the wheels turning again and Guyana being one of the Caribbean countries with a number of international sports figures, who are constantly overseas as ambassadors for their nation.

Regarding athletes travelling abroad in the future, communication between the entities is crucial as measures will need to be put in place, in order to allow that aspect of representation to flow smoothly again.

“If our athletes are travelling, we will need to have that detailed bit of information presented to the MOPH by the respective sports association.

That’s why they (sports associations) and NSC will have to work together so we can ensure the safety of all our athletes and Guyanese alike going forward,” Jones ended.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, June 6, 2020

Johnson hopes change comes from protests (BBC) - American fourtime Olympic champion Michael Johnson says current protests following the death of George Floyd have produced “the most momentum around this issue I’ve seen in my lifetime”.

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

Protests have been held across the U.S. “I’m hopeful that a year from now we are not looking back at this time and nothing has happened, I’m hopeful that change truly does come,” Johnson said.

Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast, the 52-year-old added: “We’ve seen black men killed by police before, we’ve seen those police convicted and sent to prison, that’s happened and it still didn’t change anything.

“The difference this time is that you have so many people talking about this issue, the protests continue, the conversation is only about this issue, and the momentum continues to grow.

“This is not only black people who are sounding this alarm, everyone who understands and appreciates fairness is fed up and they

American four-time Olympic champion Michael Johnson

are demanding change.”

Floyd’s death has caused outrage and sparked a wave of protests against racial discrimination and police treatment of African-Americans in cities across the U.S. and the world.

Derek Chauvin, the police officer who knelt on Floyd’s neck, has been charged with second-degree

Bonner anxious to prove worth (CMC) – Having earned a place in the West Indies Test squad for the upcoming tour of England, left-handed batsman Nkrumah Bonner is ready to prove that Cricket West Indies (CWI) made the right call in choosing him to be part of the historic series.

The 31-year-old Jamaican will be among 25 players – including 11 reserves – who will leave the region next week for the United Kingdom where they will play a three-Test series in a “bio-secure environment” amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

On Wednesday, when the team was announced, CWI chief selector Roger Harper described Bonner as “an unflappable character”, whose “ability to hold the innings together and bat through tight situations could serve the team very well”.

Bonner told the Jamaica Gleaner his call-up was a dream come true.

“The feeling to know that I am in the West Indies Test squad is highly emotional, but I am ready for it and if I should make my debut, it will be a very proud moment because two years ago I was struggling to make the Jamaica team,”

the middle-order batsman said.

Bonner is making his Test debut after being one of the leading batsmen in this year’s West Indies First-Class Championship, with 523 runs in seven matches at an average of 58.11.

He previously represented the West Indies when he played two T20 Internationals in 2011 and 2012.

“I am eager to show my talent,” Bonner said of his upcoming assignment. “As a cricketer, you have to go in different conditions to prove your worth. England is one of the toughest places to make your international debut, but it is also one of the places that can make you; so I am looking forward to the challenge to face the skilled England bowlers, and all I can do is stick to the basics and work on my mental and tactical game.”

Bonner is one of two newcomers to the Test squad. The other is 22-year-old Barbadian fast bowler Chemar Holder who is also coming off an excellent domestic First-Class season. He was the leading fast bowler in the West Indies Championship with 36 wickets in eight matches at 18.91 each.

murder. Three other officers at present face counts of aiding and abetting murder.

“It’s the most momentum around this decades-old issue that I’ve ever seen in my lifetime,” said Johnson.

“From that perspective, I’ve found it hopeful and promising that this murder of George Floyd has highlighted an issue that has been

with us in this country and something that we have been dealing with as a country for over 50 years now.

“That is the systemic and institutionalised racism that happens every single day in this country.”

He added that he hopes Americans will use their vote to bring about change at the November elections.

“I’m hopeful that we can sustain this through the November elections when a lot of people who typically support this type of movement have not voted, and that’s a problem,” he said.

“I’m hopeful that they understand that the biggest hammer you can swing at this is going to be the ballot box and voting.”

Nkrumah Bonner.

The West Indies team, led by Jason Holder, also includes Jermaine Blackwood, Kraigg Brathwaite, Shamarh Brooks, John Campbell, Roston Chase, Rahkeem Cornwall, Shane Dowrich, Shai Hope, Alzarri Joseph, Raymon Reifer and Kemar Roach.

There are 11 reserves accompanying the main 14 players: Sunil Ambris, Joshua Da Silva, Shannon Gabriel, Keon Harding, Kyle Mayers, Preston McSween, Marquino Mindley, Shane Moseley, Anderson Phillip, Oshane Thomas, Jomel Warrican.

Subject to the final approval of the UK Government, West Indies will defend the Wisden Trophy, starting July 8, behind closed doors at Ageas Bowl, Southampton and Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester.

The players will all be tested for COVID-19 this week and are scheduled to fly to England on private charters next Monday. They 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.

21

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, June 6, 2020

Chelsea agree Werner deal

(BBC) - Chelsea have agreed a deal with RB Leipzig forward Timo Werner.

Reports suggest the 24-year-old, who has scored 25 goals in the Bundesliga this season, has a release clause of about £54M. The Germany international had been linked with Liverpool and said he was “proud” of that association.

But BBC Sport understands Liverpool are not interested in signing Werner, who has netted 11 times in 29 games for his country.

The Reds have no plans to sign anyone during the next transfer window.

Last month, French striker Olivier Giroud extended his

contract by a year.

Werner would be Chelsea’s second signing for next season after already completing a £37M deal for Ajax winger Hakim Ziyech in February.

He has impressed at Leipzig following his 2016 transfer from hometown club Stuttgart.

Werner scored a hat-trick in Leipzig’s recent 5-0 victory over Mainz and he also netted three times against the same opposition in an 8-0 win before Christmas.

In January, Chelsea head coach Frank Lampard was linked with Paris St-Germain forward Edinson Cavani and Napoli’s Dries Mertens but neither deal materialised.

Timo Werner

Salwa suspended provisionally (BBC) - World 400m champion Salwa Eid Naser has been given a provisional suspension for failing to make herself available for anti-doping tests.

The Bahraini, 22, ran 48.14 seconds - the third-fastest time in history - to claim the world title in Doha in 2019.

Naser, who was born in Nigeria but switched allegiance to Bahrain in 2014, is the first Asian woman to be world champion in the discipline.

She could face a ban of up to two years for the whereabouts violation.

World Athletics anti-doping rules say a whereabouts violation consists of any combination of three missed tests or filing failures in a 12-month period.

Salwa Eid Naser won the women’s 400m final at the 2019 World Championships. (AFP/File)

Two Benfica players injured after team bus attacked (BBC) - Two Benfica players have been taken to hospital after their team bus was attacked following their first behind-closeddoors match.

German Julian Weigl and Serbian Andrija Zivkovic were hit with shrapnel and taken to hospital as a precaution.

Portuguese champions Benfica missed the chance to move clear of title rivals Porto at the top of the table after being held 0-0 by Tondela.

Fans had gathered to support the team outside Benfica’s Estadio da Luz.

The attack occurred on a major motorway between the stadium and training ground.

Benfica club denounced and lamented the stoning of the bus.

“We guarantee total collaboration with authorities to whom we appeal for the greatest effort to be made in identifying the delinquents responsible for these criminal acts.”

The top two in the Primeira Liga table are now level on 60 points with nine rounds of matches remaining.

Systems to be put in place for athletes’ COVID-19 screening - Jones

By Clifton Ross

DIRECTOR of Sport (DoS), Christopher Jones, said communication between the local sports associations and the National Sports Commission (NSC) is crucial with regard to athletes travelling abroad, adding that measures will be put in place to properly screen Guyana’s sportspersons.

Jones, in an exclusive with Chronicle Sport gave updates on the current situation surrounding the country’s curfew extension to June 17 which directly affects the local sports facilities as well as plans to help screen and protect the country’s top and upcoming sportsmen who are slowly being called back out to battle in the middle of the pandemic.

Regarding the local venues used to house sports events and such, Jones said those places will remain closed until rules are further relaxed. The country’s top sport venues such as the National Gymnasium, Colgrain Pool, National Racquet Centre, Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, the National Stadium among other popular facilities, have been closed and under quarantine for almost 3 months since the pandemic.

Jones said when the government commenced its mandate to have those facilities sterilised and kept under lock back in March, the process has been a continuous one which has been going smoothly thus far.

The DoS pointed out that every other day the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) workers have been ensuring that the facilities are properly fumigated with limited, restricted access to persons in and out of the relevant sites.

More importantly, with the floodgates of live sports seemingly on the open again with a number of regional and international tournaments set to recommence in the near future, Jones said it was important for the local sports associations to work along with the NSC in order to properly manage the welfare/health of its athletes, especially those who are international stars.

Guyana has been one of the main bread-baskets of sports over the past 7 years, with more and more Guyanese athletes across all sports making regional or/and international headlines.

From cricket, mainly, to athletics, local sportsmen and women have been doing their part in putting Guyana on the map with regard to sports and the director pointed out that it was for that very reason the various sport entities and the NSC needed to work closely, ensuring the well-being and health of Guyana’s top athletes amidst the pandemic.

“We will definitely have to put a system in place in order to screen our athletes, especially if they will be travelling to one of pandemic’s hotspots, to represent our country sometime in the future,” said Jones.

The NSC has gained the support of all the local sports bodies since the COVID-19 regulations took effect almost 3 months ago. Although the local scene has been quiet because of the lockdown, teamwork CONTINUED ON PAGE 19

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (TUESDAY JUNE 2, 2020)

COMPLIMENTS OF XTRA ENERGY DRINK - STABROEK BAZAAR (Tel: 683-9500) &CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD-83 Garnett Street, Campbellville, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158) Answers to yesterday’s quiz (1) Ian Healey (49 dismissals: 45 catches; 4 stumpings) (2) Jeff Dujon (48 dismissals: 41 catches; 7 stumpings) Today’s Quiz: Julian Wiegl in action against Tondela, who are 13th in the table

(1) Who is the first Australian to captain his team against the WI in an ODI match?

(2)Who is the first WI to lead the regional team against Australia in an ODI game?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

22

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, June 6, 2020

Bravo, Paul, Hetmyer’s decisions unfortunate – Holding (ESPNCricinfo) - MICHAEL Holding, the broadcaster and former West Indies fast bowler, has said the decisions of Darren Bravo, Shimron Hetmyer and Keemo Paul to opt out of touring England were “unfortunate”, but understandable because of concerns over the COVID-19 situation in the UK. Earlier this week, West Indies announced a 25-man party to travel for three rearranged Tests against England next month. CWI had previously given guarantees that players would not be forced to go on the tour if they were not comfortable with the safety provisions being put in place.

Johnny Grave, CWI chief executive, told ESPNcricinfo that Bravo, Hetmyer and Paul all expressed fears about how going to the UK could adversely affect their families.

Speaking in an interview for his YouTube channel, Holding said that while he would not blame any of the players for making that choice, their talents would be missed as

West Indies seek to defend the Wisden Trophy.

“The West Indies board, before they were even confirming the tour, had told everyone and the entire public that they would not be forcing anyone to go on this tour,” Holding said. “If any players decided they weren’t absolutely sure about going on tour, they weren’t confident of proceedings they could opt out. And these three guys have opted out.

“I think it’s unfortunate as far as West Indies cricket is concerned.

I’m not going to tell anyone that they should be going to England because COVID-19 is around.

Someone may get sick or even worse. But at the same time I think it’s unfortunate for the West Indies team because these guys have quite a bit of talent, and they’ll be missed.”

Holding made special mention of Bravo, who was dropped for West Indies’ one-off Test against Afghanistan in November, and Hetmyer. Both batsmen were members of the side that beat England 2-1 at

home in 2018-19.

Bravo, 31, only returned to the international set-up for that series, after more than two years on the sidelines because of a dispute with the board, and Holding has previously described him as “too talented to be left out”.

“I’m sorry that Bravo in particular isn’t going because Bravo, I think, needs to resuscitate his career,” Holding said. “He started off so brilliantly, everybody thought he was going to be another great West Indian batsman. He hasn’t really fulfilled that. I think the more cricket he can play now, especially for West Indies, the better chance he has of getting back on track and showing everyone the great player that he could be.

“Hetmyer, again, I think he’s a very, very talented player. I think people have heard me talk about him in the past. Again, I’m sorry that he’s not going so that he can get more opportunity to express himself. But I ain’t blaming them for not going.”

Ian Bishop, another former West Indies quick-turned-commentator, echoed the view that declining to tour should not be held against the trio.

“You have to give players the option because it’s a world health crisis,” Bishop told the Trinidad Express. “If a player decides he does not want to take that health risk, you can’t hold it against him in this context. The players know they are taking a risk if someone who replaced them goes on to have great success. That’s a chance you take.”

West Indies are due to depart the Caribbean on Monday, boarding a specially chartered flight to the UK. On arrival, they will go into quarantine for 14 days before beginning their preparations in Manchester. The first Test is scheduled to begin on July 8 at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton, followed by two matches at Emirates Old Trafford, with the whole series taking just three weeks to complete.

The West Indies squad will remain within a “bio-secure bubble” for the duration of their visit, as

part of ECB efforts to ensure international cricket during England’s home window, but Holding suggested the experience shouldn’t be viewed as “too much of a hardship” for the tourists.

“I think it’s good. Everyone has been hoping to get back to live sport, because they’ve been watching a lot of recordings - they want to get back to live sport, and cricket in particular,” he said.

“Cricket is a game played over quite a few days, so you can get involved in the game; get distracted from other problems or issues that might be going on in life. So it’s good to see cricket is back.

“I’m not too sure about the confinement. They might be confined in one venue, yes, in a hotel, but I wouldn’t really call that confinement, if you think of what’s been happening around the world with the COVID pandemic, because people have been confined to their apartments, a very, very small area.

“So being confined to one venue, I don’t think that’s too much of a hardship.”

Katai leaves LA Galaxy over wife’s racist comments (BBC) - Serbia winger Aleksandar Katai has left LA Galaxy by mutual consent after his wife posted “racist and violent” messages on social media.

Katai’s wife Tea appeared to mock Black Lives Matter protestors and joked about looting in Instagram posts.

In a one-line statement issued yesterday, the Major League Soccer club confirmed Katai had been released.

Katai said the posts were unacceptable, adding her views “are not ones I share and are not tolerated in my family”.

The 29-year-old added: “This is a mistake from my family and I take full responsibility.”

Protests have been

Aleksandar Katai played for Chicago Fire before joining LA Galaxy and has previously had spells at Olympiakos, Red Star Belgrade and Alaves.

held around the world after unarmed black man George Floyd died while being restrained by a white Minneapolis police officer on May 25.

Athletes from a number of sports have spoken out about racial discrimination and police brutality following Floyd’s death.

In an earlier statement, LA Galaxy said: “LA Galaxy were made aware of a series of racist and violent social media posts by Tea Katai, the

wife of LA Galaxy midfielder Aleksandar Katai.

“The LA Galaxy strongly condemned the social posts and requested their immediate re-

moval. The LA Galaxy stands firmly against racism of any kind, including that which suggests violence or seeks to demean the efforts of those in pursuit of racial equality.”

Katai added: “I will ensure that my family and I take the necessary actions to learn, understand, listen and support the black community.

“I am sorry for the pain these posts have caused the LA Galaxy family and all allies in the fight against racism.”

The winger made two appearances for Galaxy after joining from Chicago Fire in December. He previously played for Red Star Belgrade and Alaves in La Liga.

23

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, June 6, 2020

Davis believes current side can return Windies to glory

(CMC) – Former West Indies pacer Winston Davis believes strongly that West Indies have the talent to return to the pinnacle of international cricket, but adjustments in the cricketers’ mindset and the relationship between players and administrators are required for that to happen.

Winston Davis, who performed his last international duties for the Caribbean side in India in 1988, offered that advice Tuesday night on the Mason and Guest cricket radio show here.

“West Indies cricket was at its zenith then and I look forward to when we get back to those days,” said the 61-year-old Vincentian.

“There is no lack of talent

in the West Indies but the mindset - you have to have a reset of the mind of the players.”

Highlighting instances of players being at odds with Cricket West Indies (CWI), Davis added: “The West Indies Board has never been the best friend of the players and that is sad.

“There has always been a very contentious relationship between the West Indies Cricket Board and the players - the two seeming always to be in conflict. They got to resolve that. The board got to look out for the interests of the players and the players got to accept the responsibility that they’re representing about 5-6 million people who look to them for a fillip, for a lift, and cricket

Former West Indies fast bowler Winston Davis

does give the nation a lift.”

Davis, who made his mark for West Indies in ODI cricket, was paralysed after suffer-

ing spinal injuries when he fell from a tree in his native St Vincent, in 1997.

He has lived in England

since being flown there for treatment after the accident.

“I am very fond of saying to people up here the West Indies as a group would never be an economic power; we would never be a military power, but in cricket we were a powerhouse. We just need the guys to get back there – think cricket, think West Indies, think where we come from, where our fillip is and give it our best shot,” Davis said.

Meantime, the former right-arm fast bowler expressed disappointment that no spectators would be allowed into the Ageas Bowl, Southampton and Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester where West Indies will play against England to retain the

Wisden Trophy next month.

A group of 25 players, including 11 reserves, will leave the region next Monday to begin the three-Test series that will be played in a “bio-secure environment” because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Davis said he understood why the matches would be played behind closed doors but noted that, “when you have spectators, people who come to the games, it adds to the atmosphere and sometimes it gives you a spur”.

Adding that he supported West Indies going ahead with the tour despite the spread of COVID-19 which has claimed almost 40 000 lives in the UK, Davis said: “We got to make a move at some time.”

Post-COVID-19 to reveal athletes’ commitment to fitness during lockdown … Locals/internationals will be judged on resumption

By Clifton Ross

NBA potential Rookie-ofthe-Year Ja Morant pushes in some crucial gym time ahead of July 31 restart to the post-season.

THE global world of live sports is currently preparing to slowly reopen her gates and the forced downtime handed to athletes will reflect how many of the top sportsmen/women have been using their time wisely ahead of a possible return to normalcy.

It’s been close to 3 months since the stoppage of live sports worldwide due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Things have been at a stutter-start pace with regard to the normalisation of things, as leagues and associations globally have been on the path of returning to live action.

Recently the National Basketball Association (NBA) identified July 31 as the potential restart to its post-season, having already outlined a number of changes in order to facilitate a successful, safe end to the 2020 season. Regionally, Cricket West Indies (CWI) was given the green light to go ahead with the tour of England, with the team already selected and en route to preparing for their first post-COVID-19 series.

With the tectonic plates shifting once again in the world of sports, the bigger picture could be revealed once athletes

end up back on the field or courts. The more than 2 months at home was a huge step for the world’s stars and upcoming talents to put in extra work without the use of facilities, coaching staff and teammates.

Some major players in sports have been publicly documenting their downtime regimes; some are wealthy enough to have home gyms and trainers while others were forced to resort to improvised means of staying in shape and keeping form.

As such, a lot will be reflected when play resumes as the slackers will be identified by their lacklustre performances or approach to their games.

Others will be judged by their appearance because no top athlete should be looking out of shape regardless of lack of public gym use.

It’s a queer situation that will be viewed from a number of perspectives due to the fact that some athletes may feel the need to take a break following a lengthy period of non-stop action.

Others might see this as a chance to really put in some extra work and find new ways of staying fit should the reality after the pandemic be a world of restrictions and rules which forbid integration and public

England all-rounder Ben Stokes does some solo training during his preparation for the upcoming home series versus the West Indies.

access at all levels.

The sad truth is that fans should brace themselves for mixed performances whenever play recommences, mainly because some athletes were dedicated to their training and fitness although factors hindered thorough routines.

On the other hand, others may have been basking in the free off-time and have either been inconsistent in their regimens or neglected training entirely; or up until recently, when sports began to slowly resume.

Either way, sportsmen should not be judged for the unavoidable circumstances which hampered not only sports but business, entertainment, tourism and other important sectors of the economy from properly functioning.

In the next few weeks more will come to light about which local, regional or international stars in all brands of sport and as ambassadors dedicated themselves to staying fit in the crisis, in order to provide fans with the highest level of action.

Bravo, Paul, Hetmyer’s decisions unfortunate – Holding See story on page 22

Director of Sport Christopher Jones

PAGE 21

Michael Holding on commentary duty

Systems to be put in place for athletes’ COVID-19 screening - Jones

Quique Setien, Barcelona’s Spanish coach follows the safety guidelines during a recent team training session.

Post-COVID-19 to reveal athletes’ commitment to fitness during lockdown See story on page 23 Printed and Published by Guyana National Newspapers Limi ted, Lama Avenue, Bel Air Park, Georgetown. Telephone 2 2 6- 3243-9 (General); Editorial: 2 2 7- 5204, 2 2 7- 5216. Fax:2 2 7- 5208

SATURDAY,JUNE 6, 2020