Guyana_Chronicle_Epaper_06_13_2020

SATURDAY 13th June, 2020

’ No. 106028

‘Fraud is fraud’ …Coalition candidate Mahipaul argues in urging GECOM to nullify polls

… says elections must represent the will of the people

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Lowenfield’s report today! 09 PAGE

Chief Elections Officer, Keith Lowenfield, will, today, present his report on the National Recount to the commission

Bisram accused of trying to flee Guyana … lawyer denies allegation; says client was at airport to receive relative

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Exxon pumps $50M into Iwokrama 14 PAGE

… funds to be used to implement science strategy

Chinese firm Zijin Mining acquires 16 Guyana Goldfields in CDN$323M deal PAGE

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, June 13, 2020

‘Fraud is fraud’ …Coalition candidate Mahipaul argues in urging GECOM to nullify polls … says elections must represent the will of the people

“FRAUD is fraud,” and these elections were fraudulent based on the irregularities uncovered during the recount,” APNU+AFC candidate, Ganesh Mahipaul, has said, as he made his case for the Guyana Elections Commission to nullify March 2, 2020 polls.

“It is impossible for an election to represent the will of the people if a large portion of ballots cast by the electorate have been made invalid or questionable, not by the doings of the electorate, but that of those authorised to conduct the elections and other outside forces,”

Mahipaul further argued when he appeared on Guyana Chronicle’s Vantage Point on Friday. Mahipaul said that while his party has been insisting that the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) fulfill its constitutional duty to deliver credible elections, some other political parties seem to care little about the “credible” as aspect of the elections.

If one were to categorise the irregularities highlighted during the recount process, according to the APNU+AFC, it would include ballots rejected due to actions on the part of GECOM staff such as im-

APNU+AFC representative Ganesh Mahipaul proper stamping; ques- cess been done smoothly tionable ballots due to the and had there been no error absence of statutory docu- or a small amount of error, ments such as poll books, definitely GECOM would the Official List of Electors have been given the prais(OLE) with names ticked es…but we have a situation off and oaths of identities; where GECOM needs to and persons voting in the take full responsibility,” place of those dead and he said. migrated.

Though People’s Pro“GECOM needs to take gressive Party Civic agents the responsibility because did not raise contention they are responsible for the about the irregularities witholding of credible elec- nessed in the boxes, Mahitions in our country and paul said that, on occasions, clearly these elections were he received the support not credible, clearly these of the United Republican elections show that there Party (URP) and The Citwere interferences, there izenship Initiative (TCI). was collusion and I think “They supported it because GECOM needs to take full they understood and agreed responsibility because it is that these anomalies are their process. Had the pro- real and truly factual and they cannot reconcile what is in the box,” he said.

There is still disagree-

ment amongst political parties about whether GECOM is responsible for conducting investigations into the cases of irregularities raised. According to the PPP/C, such does not fall within the remit of GECOM but the courts and through an election petition. However, the APNU+AFC has put forward a different reasoning.

“This is the Guyana Elections Commission’s process. It is they who have to give this country credible results and, in order for them to give credible results, they have to validate their own findings, what is being told to them; they have to ensure that when they make a pronouncement it is one of credibility and you cannot do that without doing your investigation,” Mahipaul rebutted.

The APNU+AFC Agent said that the national recount process gave Guyanese a close-up view of what were the irregularities within ballot boxes which otherwise, perhaps, would not have come to their attention. He believes that it is highly likely that such were also present at other elections.

He said that such realities are not only concerning because GECOM staff were trained prior to the conduct

of elections, but because of the fact that other acts, such as alleged illegal voting, would have, nonetheless, taken place under the supervision of GECOM. “I will accept if the staple machine was found in the ballot box, that’s a mistake. I will accept if perhaps, the seal, it was pulled it too stiff and one was broken, that’s a mistake. But I cannot accept the absence of statutory documents as a mistake.

I cannot accept the absence of documents that are supposed to ensure that these ballots can be validated as mistakes. I believe they were deliberate and it would have come from the collusion and the interaction between forces that wanted to fraud the system, I cannot accept those as mistakes. I cannot accept the dead voting as mistakes, I cannot accept migrants voting,” he said.

As the nation awaits the conclusion of phases three and four of the recount, Mahipaul said that stakeholders involved have the opportunity to make good out of an electoral situation that has revealed its flaws or take the alternative, which is a declaration that doesn’t accurately reflect the will of the people.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, June 13, 2020

‘Untimely and highly prejudicial’

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… PM Nagamootoo condemns statements

by Dr. Ralph Gonsalves

PRIME MINISTER, Moses Nagamootoo, has condemned the remarks made about Guyana’s electoral process by incoming CARICOM Chair and Prime Minister of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Dr. Ralph Gonsalves.

During a recent interview, Prime Minister Nagamootoo described Dr. Gonsalves’ comments as “premature, untimely and highly prejudicial and could contribute to the charged situation in Guyana.” On Thursday, Dr. Gonsalves called on the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to declare a winner of the March 2, General and Regional Elections based on the figures from the first phase of the recount.

His statements came at the time when the commission is currently involved in a four-stage process that seeks to determine the credibility of the elections.

Prime Minister Nagamootoo added that the comments were “very disappointing coming from someone who should have known better,” explaining that Dr. Gonsalves is aware that a team from CARICOM has scrutinised the process and is currently in the process of preparing its report.

“They (CARICOM team) should be allowed to be uninfluenced and report what they observed during the recount process in Guyana.” As such, the Prime Minister remarked that Dr. Gonsalves’ utterances “are highly prejudicial,” and urged him to retract his statements.

On Thursday the APNU+AFC Coalition had also expressed surprise and disappointment at the remarks of Dr. Gonsalves. On Wednesday’s Edition of “Your Morning Cup with Colvin Harry”, aired on State-owned NBC Radio in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Dr. Gonsalves stated: “We expect the CARICOM observer mission to deliver its report, and we expect that what is the recount would be honoured, and the Guyana Elections Commission will honour that recount and declare the winner in accordance with this recount. And anybody who then wants to challenge anything afterwards can go to court, but you have to declare the winner in accordance with the recount… I know a lot of opposition parties when they lose, or anybody who loses they say, ‘Oh, so and so thief.’ It’s almost a boring repetition; we get the reports, follow the law and who wins, wins.”

PM Gonsalves’ remarks came as GECOM is preparing to receive a report from Chief Elections Officer (CEO), Keith Lowenfield, on the summary of a number of observation reports taken

from any actions or utterances that could undermine the legitimacy of the process and its credible conclusion.

OVERSTEPPING Meanwhile, the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), in a separate statement, also categorically rejected the utterances by Gonsalves, urging the Guyana Elections Commission to ignore its gazetted Order and declare the People Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) the winner of the March 2020 General and Regional Elections.

“The PNCR views this statement as a direct interference into the affairs of a sovereign nation, and more particularly the work of an independent Constitutional agency, the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM). Further, Mr.

Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo during the recount, and the recount fig- ters Mia Mottley of Barbados; Roosevelt ures themselves.

Skerrit of Dominica; Dr. Keith Rowley The presentation of the report only of Trinidad and Tobago; and Dr. Keith marks Phase Two of a four-phase pro- Mitchell of Grenada, who visited Guycess, which must next see deliberation ana several days after the March 2, 2020 on the report, and a decision on wheth- elections, with the aim of assisting in the er the information should be used for arrival at a resolution within the Order a declaration. which was subsequently crafted.

In a release on Thursday, APDELIBERATIONS NU+AFC Election Agent, Joseph HarThe deliberation aspect will take mon stated: “The APNU+AFC is thereinto consideration irregularities pin- fore concerned that as the incoming pointed during the elections, such as Chair of the CARICOM, Dr. Gonsalves, counterfoils and ballots carrying the has chosen to pronounce on a process same number; ballots for one region that is still ongoing, and proposes to cast in another; ballots cast for the direct a constitutional body in anothdead and persons who have migrated; er CARICOM Member State, in the persons voting without proper identifi- execution of its duties… Further, the cation; persons voting outside of their CARICOM Scrutineering Team has not districts without employment docu- yet submitted a report of its findings to ments; large numbers of improper- GECOM, as it is mandated to do in keeply-stamped ballots at locations where ing with the gazetted Order. Given these Disciplined Services members voted; circumstances, it is most unfortunate that missing Poll Books and documents Dr. Gonsalves, who is himself currently from one Polling Station being found embroiled in an Elections Petition in his in the ballot boxes of another; and Bal- own country, has taken a public position lot Boxes with no statutory documents. that is prejudicial to the integrity of the Data generated from GECOM’s process and its eventual outcome.”

Statements of Recount (SOR) and the Social media is now abuzz with conaccompanying Observation Reports cerns about how PM Gonsalves’ remarks indicate some 7,929 instances of irreg- could affect the actions of the member of ularities, which many believe directly the CARICOM Scrutinising Team who affect the validity of 257,173 votes. The hails from St. Vincent and the Grenaact of deliberation was outlined in the dines in the crafting of the outstanding gazetted Order, which gave way to the report. national recount, and which found faThe APNU+AFC reminded that the vour with CARICOM, which later sent ongoing recount process is significant a three-member team to scrutinise the and important, not only for democracy process. in Guyana, but the wider CARICOM. PM Gonsalves was amongst CAR- It said that it is therefore expected ICOM Heads, others being Prime Minis- that CARICOM leaders would refrain

Prime Minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines, Dr Ralph Gonsalves Gonsalves’s direct appeal to influence the CARICOM Observation Team, whose report will form part of documents for GECOM’s consideration, is a blatant attack on the integrity of the CARICOM team; highly prejudicial, and serves only to undermine CARICOM’s efforts at being professional in arriving at a final credible process.”

“The People’s National Congress Reform, therefore, calls on the sitting Chairman of CARICOM, the Right Honourable Mia Motley, to issue a clear statement, distancing CARICOM from Prime Minister Gonsalves’ statement, lest it be interpreted as CARICOM’s intention to scuttle the entire process of arriving at a final credible process.

We sincerely hope that there is no irreparable damage to our relations with CARICOM consequently,” the statement added.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, June 13, 2020

Breonna Taylor: Louisville to ban noknock warrants after police shooting (BBC) A city council in the US state of Kentucky has voted to ban no-knock warrants, passing a law named in honour of a woman who was shot dead by police.

Breonna Taylor, 26, was shot eight times when officers entered her apartment in Louisville on 13 March.

They were executing a no-knock search warrant as part of a drugs investigation.

A no-knock warrant is a search warrant approved by a judge that permits police to enter a home without permission.

Inside, the officers exchanged fire with Ms Taylor’s partner, but no drugs were found.

The exact events are disputed, as police say that despite the warrant, they did knock before raiding her ad-

dress using a battering ram.

Ms Taylor’s family and a neighbour have disputed this.

On Thursday, Louisville’s city council voted unanimously, 26-0, in favour of banning the controversial warrants.

The ordinance, symbolically named “Breonna’s Law”, was put to a vote after calls for police reform at recent protests in the city and nationwide.

“I’m just going to say, Breonna, that’s all she wanted to do was save lives, so with this law she will continue to get to do that,” Ms Taylor’s mother, Tamika Palmer, said of her daughter, who was an emergency medical technician.

“She would be so happy.”

The legislation also requires Louisville Metro Police Department officers to

Saturday, June 13, 2020–– 11:00hrs & 12:30hrs

The killing of Breonna Taylor has spurred calls for police reform

wear body cameras while carrying out search warrants.

The cameras must be activated at least five minutes before the warrant is executed, the law says.

Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer said he would sign the ban into law “as soon as it hits my desk”.

“I suspended use of these warrants indefinitely last month, and wholeheartedly agree with [the] council that the risk to residents and officers with this kind of search outweigh any benefit,” Mr Fischer tweeted.

Similar legislation that would ban the use of noknock warrants nationwide was tabled by Republican Senator for Kentucky, Rand Paul, on Thursday. No-knock warrants are usually used for drugs raids by US police forces.

Taylor’s killing has been propelled into the spotlight again since the death of unarmed African-American man George Floyd, who died in police custody in Minneapolis, Minnesota in May. Activists are calling on people to “Say Her Name”

as part of a movement to remember black women who have not attracted the same attention as other cases.

Last week, when Ms Taylor would have turned 27, mourners gathered for a vigil in Louisville and people shared messages on social media, writing, “you should have been here to celebrate”.

Benjamin Crump, a lawyer for Ms Taylor’s family, thanked “every supporter, every protester, every young activist” who said her name after the law was passed on Thursday.

What’s the latest on the case?

The three officers involved in Ms Taylor’s killing have been placed on administrative leave during an investigation. None of them have been charged.

An investigation into the circumstances of her death opened by the FBI on 21 May is ongoing, CNN reported.

A new incident report about the night of the shooting was released by authorities on Wednesday.

The four-page document is virtually blank, containing few details that have not already been reported, according to CBS News. In it, Ms Taylor’s injuries are listed as “none”.

In a statement, the police department said it was “taking immediate steps to correct the report and to ensure the accuracy of incident reports going forward”.

Mayor Fischer called the report “unacceptable” and issued an apology to Ms Taylor’s family.

“It’s issues like these that erode public confidence in Louisville’s police department, and its ability to do its job,” he said.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, June 13, 2020

Three more persons win battle against COVID-19 -one new case recorded THERE continues to be varying developments in the fight against the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), as the past 24 hours proved positive for Guyana, with three persons winning the battle against the disease and being medically cleared by health authorities.

Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Dr. Shamdeo Persaud said the three new recoveries took the total number of recoveries to 95, but Guyana is still contending with the disease.

Health authorities detected a new case of the disease within the past 24 hours, after conducting seven tests.

Some 1,927 persons have been tested so far, with the number of negative cases being 1,768 and 159 positives.

While 95 of the 159 infected persons have recovered, 12 persons have lost their lives and there are 53 actives cases, of which 52 are in institutional isolation and one in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

With the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) exams slowly approaching, Dr. Persaud again said parents and teachers will have a big role to play, in ensuring that students remain safe as they prepare for and write their exams.

“Today (Friday), I wish to turn my attention to the teachers and the auxiliary workers that will be on call as our youngsters return to school. Auxiliary Workers, please ensure that the rest room area is kept clean with water available for kids to flush

toilets after they use them and to wash their hands,” Dr. Persaud advised.

He reminded teachers and other workers to “keep an eye” on those students who may want to loiter in the area; just make sure that they wash their hands and go back immediately to their classroom.

“To the teachers, the Ministry of Public Health thank you for responding to the call during this COVID-19 pandemic to assist in preparing our Nation’s children for this important exam,” said the CMO, adding that the role of teachers is to reinforce the health guidelines outlined by health authorities.

Health authorities here 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 (Demerara-Mahaica) remains the epicentre of the disease, and there are a number of communities outside of Georgetown which have recorded cases.

Among communities on the East Coast Demerara (ECD) where cases have been recorded are: Atlantic Gardens, Friendship, Golden Grove, Good Hope, Lusignan, Plaisance, and Strathspey. Among communities on the East Bank Demerara (EBD) where there were cases are: Diamond, Grove, Land of Canaan, Providence, and Timehri. Health authorities are also placing emphasis on the four

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

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

“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 Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Karen Boyle, in her update last Friday.

“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

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other countries are not entering your community. Community members must report any migrant entering your community and anyone who has signs and symptoms, and immediately bring this to the attention of the health authorities,” Dr. Boyle advised.

As is evident, COVID-19 remains a serious issue, not just here in Guyana, but globally as well; and, according to global statistics, there are 7.2 million cases of COVID-19, with over 413,000 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.

Post-mortem confirms death due to gunshot wounds

A post-mortem report, on Friday, confirmed that 22-year-old Kevin Batson died due to multiple gunshot wounds.

The Guyana Chronicle had reported that Batson of

First Alley, Wismar, and another man, allegedly robbed businessman Hubert Campbell, 52, on Wednesday, June 10, 2020, at Linden, of cash, a cellular phone and several other items.

The crime reportedly occurred about 14:30 hours at One Mile Wismar where Campbell operates a hardware store.

Investigations revealed that the suspects approached

Businesswoman gets four years, $5.6M fine for cocaine trafficking

Joy Jacqueline Caines

A THIRTY-FIVE-year-old businesswoman was, on Friday, sentenced to four years in jail and fined $5.6 million, for trafficking over five pounds of cocaine in 2017.

Joy Jacqueline Caines, a boutique owner, in February, was found guilty by Magistrate Dylon Bess for having 2.092 kilograms of cocaine in her possession for the purpose of trafficking on April 16, 2017 at Lot 232 Lockoo Street, Lodge.

During Thursday’s sentencing hearing, Caines brought witness to the court to testify on her being a good citizen and a mother. The magistrate however, after considering the nature of the offence, sentenced Caines to serve four years jail along with a fine of $5,667,228.

The woman’s attorney, Nigel Hughes, signalled that he will be appealing the sentence and conviction of his client.

He also made an application for bail pending appeal, but it was denied by Magistrate

Bess.

According to CANU Prosecutor, Konyo Sandiford, on April 16, 2017, 56-year-old Bernadette Warren was arrested at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), with almost two kilograms of cocaine in her suitcase. After Warren was arrested at the airport, she implicated Caines as the person who gave her the illegal substance. The CANU ranks visited Caines’ house, conducted a search and found an empty suitcase with false walls that contained cocaine; the illegal substance was also found in the kitchen and on the stove. The court also heard that a large quantity of cash, amounting to $14.5M and other foreign currency were also found inside Caines’ house. Warren, who threw herself at the mercy of the court during her first appearance confessed to the crime and was sentenced to three years imprisonment and fined $4M.

Campbell who was outside of his store and ordered a rake and opted to pay before the item was delivered, and, during the process, Batson allegedly drew a handgun, struck Campbell on his head and relieved him of the afore-mentioned items.

The robbers reportedly discharged a round in the air before fleeing the scene.

The suspects were, shortly after, pursued and confronted by the victim and another individual, in a nearby street.

Batson began firing at the victim who drew his licenced pistol and returned fire. Batson was shot but managed to escape.

The police arrived and

combed the area and found Batson hiding in the bush. He emerged, pointing his right hand which was wrapped with a red bandana, and opened fire at the lawmen.

The police returned fire and shot Batson once to his right hip.

A search of his person revealed the victim’s cellular phone, a sum of cash, several other items belonging to the victim; a small quantity of suspected cannabis was also found in his possession.

He was taken to the Linden Hospital Complex where he was pronounced dead.

The police later nabbed his accomplice at Victory Valley, Wismar with a bag

containing an unlicenced pistol with two live ammunition, a toque, gloves, dove spray and several pieces of garments with suspected blood stain.

On Friday, a post-mortem was done on Batson’s body by government pathologist, Dr. Nehaul Singh, at the Georgetown Public Hospital mortuary.

At the conclusion, the doctor opined the cause of death as multiple gunshot injuries. No warhead was recovered. The body was then handed over to the relative for burial.

Batson’s accomplice is expected to be charged for armed robbery along with other gun-related charges.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, June 13, 2020

Child labour and COVID-19 FRIDAY was observed as World Day Against Child Labour, which focused on the impact of COVID-19 on child labour, while looking forward to the International Year of the Elimination of Child Labour, 2021.

The International Labour Organisation (ILO) in a report stated that globally millions more children risk being pushed into child labour as a result of the COVID-19 crisis, which could lead to the first rise in child labour after 20 years of progress. According to the ILO, global estimates in 2017 showed that 152 million children were in child labour worldwide. Children already in child labour may be working longer hours or under worsening conditions, the report says. More of them may be forced into the worst forms of labour, which causes significant harm to their health and safety.

As the pandemic wreaks havoc on family incomes, without support, many could resort to child labour, said ILO Director-General, Guy Ryder; he added that social protection is vital in times of crisis as it provides assistance to those who are most vulnerable.

Here in Guyana the issue of exploitation of children is one which is obviously of great concern to the APNU+AFC administration. This fact is not surprising, given President David Granger’s stated observation that today’s youth are tomorrow’s leaders. As such, His Excellency has repeatedly emphasised that young Guyanese must be given every opportunity to succeed. They must have access

to education, be given opportunities to satisfying and gainful employment, and, ultimately, have the chance to live rewarding, productive, and happy lives.

Unfortunately, though, too many of Guyana’s children are being robbed of their childhood because of poverty, cultural issues, or other matters; too many Guyanese children are forced into the labour market. The APNU+AFC administration has, to its credit, taken a stand to end the practice; the coalition has, admirably, vowed to ensure that children have the opportunity to enjoy childhood.

Child labour is the exploitation of children through any form of work that deprives them of their childhood, interferes with their ability to attend regular school, and is mentally, physically, socially or morally harmful to the child.

Child labour is against international law. Additionally, almost every country worldwide prohibits children from having to work. That fact is a result of the universal recognition that children are entitled to enjoy their childhood. They have a right to have the opportunity to obtain an education, engage in play, and otherwise do the things that children do; they should not be forced to work in order to get a meal or have shelter.

Child labour is a major problem. In developing countries, about one quarter of all children are forced to work.

That alarming statistic is even more pronounced in some of the world’s poorest countries, where some half of the children must work in order to get a meal in the day or shelter for the night.

Clearly, this is an unacceptable reality, and we must work, at all levels, to put an end to it.

Guyana is one of the developing countries that are plagued by the problem. According to a United Nations children’s Fund (UNICEF) 2016 report, the total child labour prevalence in Guyana for children five to seven years old is 18.3 per cent. Fortuitously though, since June 2015 when the APNU+AFC coalition was elected to office, Guyana has had a government that is committed to facilitating and fostering the conditions for all Guyanese, including children, to enjoy a ‘good life.’ Minister within the Ministry of Social Protection, Mr. Keith Scott, makes clear that the Government of Guyana has a zero-tolerance policy pertaining to any form of child exploitation.

Minister Scott said that children in Guyana are experiencing some of the worst forms of child labour based upon the need for survival for not only themselves, but also for their families. The minister said that the Government of Guyana in its pursuit to eradicate child labour by 2025, has implemented a policy that will note the enacting of various relevant laws. Adults who prey on the vulnerabilities of children are the ones who cause this problem. The policy was developed with the thought of youth and youth empowerment in mind.

Obviously, child labour may result in a myriad of social deficits. Children are exposed to accidents and injuries at the workplace; sexual abuse and exploita-

tion of girls is also prevalent among child workers; this can often result in many economic and social issues. The sexual exploitation of young girls due to child labour often causes unplanned pregnancies, risky abortions, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), alcoholism and other social problems. Further, the lack of schooling for many of these young children that are subjected to unjust labour perpetuates poverty and dependency. The ministry’s policy, in the hope of eradicating child labour by 2025, is anticipating a reduction in the many issues that are often brought on with the ill.

Government has taken the matter seriously and last year launched Guyana’s National Policy on Child Labour and National Policy on Occupational Safety and Health (OSH). The intertwined policies are geared at pushing Guyana towards the elimination of child labour and will promote and improve the quality of life and safety of all workers. Guyana’s government has committed itself to the elimination of child labour by 2025, in accordance with target 8.7 of the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). All Guyanese will certainly agree that children deserve the opportunity to enjoy their childhood.

They too, are entitled to a good life.

They must be given the chance to become educated, so that they can have fulfilling lives.

They must be allowed to simply be children. As adults, we are obligated to ensuring that our children are happy.

Back to corruption if PPP declared winner Dear Editor, Did PPP learn anything meaningful from its 23 years in office especially post-Jagan? A confidential list being circulated of potential ministers of the incoming PPP administration has dubious characters.

If the PPP/C is declared the winner in the line-up are some discredited persons known for widespread corruption. Supporters of the PPP and those who struggled for the victory are questioning whether the fight for free and fair elections and the recount was worth it. It seems we are back to the old corrupt ways with some of the same scamps back in the saddle.

One of the Ministers who gave away the

whole forest and all of Guyana’s resources will be returning. He is the most disliked figure in the PPP camp. If there is a single person who caused PPP to be defeated in 2015 it was him. Then worse, he abandoned the party in May 2015 and returned in 2019 when it appeared that PPP would win again. He is a favourite of the big chief.

Mr Thunderbolt is back; he was the flour man who wants to be Finance Minister. He was sacked by PPP government over the flour scam. He joined AFC to depose PPP. He wanted to head Guysuco under the coalition. After being denied the position, he ran back to PPP. The list has him heading the Central Planning Office; don’t be surprised if he returns to AFC since he has no political consistency or

integrity.

For Local Government Minister, there is the man who caused PPP to lose Region 6 in 2011 and 2015. He was the most disliked person on the Corentyne. PPP lost three seats on Corentyne because of him.

He could not even win his own village of Bloomfield. The Chief had to save him and move him from Corentyne to town in 2011.

But the damage was already done and PPP lost ground. PPP will lose votes at next election once he is back.

Other names on the list are Priya who is back at Education, Hugh Todd as Junior Minister of Education, Indar at Finance, Edghill for Junior Finance, Dr Frank at Health, Anil at Home Affairs, Benn at Infrastructure, Datadin at AG, Paul Cheong at

Agriculture with Seeraj the Junior Minister, Peter Ramsaroop at Trade, Versammy at Labor, Tony Viera at Communications, Susan Rodrigues at Culture & Sports, Vindya at Social Protection, among others.

Many of those who kept watch over the ballot containers for over three months and those using the media to champion democracy and the recount are out. Also out are the small parties that fought tooth and nail to combat the fraudulent count. No room for them (Shuman, Jonas, Bandhu, etc.) in the tent. Their sacrifices add up to nought and would have been in vein.

Is the sacrifice worth it?

Yours truly, Boysie Mangru

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, June 13, 2020

Guyanese now have the naked and incontrovertible truth on PPP rigging Dear Editor, PAY close attention to any pro-democracy or anti-dictatorship or pro-civil liberties protest around the world, and you are more likely than not to see a placard with the words “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”

This galvanizing statement is attributed to Edmund Burke (1729-1797), who was an Irish parliamentarian and philosopher. I saw the statement on a placard held by a protester in a Black Livers Matter anti-police-violence rally, and immediately wondered about how the “ good men” and women of Guyana, including owners and editors of print and broadcast media, have been reacting to the demonstrated irregularities and electoral fraud that occurred during our March 2 elections. I have to say that no contemplation was necessary because the words “tabulation” and “Mingo” were all I could see in my mind’s eye, as they were what the “good men” and good women, self-proclaimed adherents of democracy, talked and wrote about.

So, I again thought about Burke’s words and said to myself that the only thing necessary for the demonstrated irregularities and electoral fraud of March 2 to triumph is for local and foreign adherents of democracy to point to Clairmont Mingo’s tabulation as the beginning and end of the fraud debate. But, in my view, history has already absolved Mingo and he is owed a debt of gratitude because his actions led to the recount, which has exposed the PPP as being nothing but sanctimonious on the question of rigging/electoral fraud.

Guyanese now have the naked and incontrovertible truth on PPP rigging. No longer will Guyanese be fooled or be confused by the PPP’s furtive propagandizing on electoral fraud. It is now up to GECOM to embrace history by refusing to allow electoral fraud to triumph in our country.

Given that GECOM’s six elections commissioners will split their votes along party lines, the decision on the recount rests with the vote of Justice Claudette Singh, who will, in my view, be heavily influenced by the content and tone of the report to be issued by the CARICOM observer team. I doubt that she

The PPP/C must trust in Claudette Singh as they did Surujbally and Doodnauth Singh Dear Editor, While awaiting the official results for the 2006 Regional and General Elections, in a bid to ensure that peace and security prevailed in Guyana, “security forces have been deployed strategically in order to repress any rumors and attempts to create doubts of uncertainty in the minds of the people”.

This was according to People’s Progressive Party Civic General Secretary, Donald Ramotar at a press conference held at Freedom House, the Party’s headquarters back in 2006.

Mr. Ramotar told media operatives that while the PPP/C has had its compilations of the results based on statements of poll, it will continue to rely on the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to be the only formal source of the results. As such Ramotar urged the public on behalf of the PPP/C to ignore rumors which could have an adverse effect on the society as a whole. He notes that Guyana has been able to have Elections that have been described as one of very high standards by all observer groups.

Mr. Ramotar was keen to implore the public to rely on GECOM as the only official source of information and feel reassured by the presence of the observers, local and international, about the quality of the process. The General Secretary said that during the campaign, political parties presented themselves as only interested in the welfare of the people and now have an opportunity to demonstrate their commitment to Guyanese and Guyana.

He added that political parties have participated under the same rules and Guyana placed its faith on the independent work of GECOM. It would be great if Mr. Ramotar and his party can adhere to the admonishments of 2006.

Those glooming sentiments about GECOM’s independence ceased after the 2011 Regional and General Elections when the PPP/C lost its majority in the National Assembly. Thanks to Commissioner Vin-

cent Alexander’s 48 vigil on the then Chief Elections Officer Gocool Boodoo, who was using the now known shanenigans to arrive at the final results. The ignominious basking of GECOM officials continued after the 2015 Regional and General Elections, now the opposition leader is questioning the decisions of the learned retired Justice Madame Claudette Singh.

Before 2011, the PPP/C with Gocool Boodoo as CEO and Doodnauth Singh and Dr. Steve Surujbally as chairmen were never critical of GECOM and its secretariat. One wonders what is responsible for the change of heart and this seeming lack of faith in the institution they were so confident in. The public could be very assured that Madame retired Justice Claudette Singh will never allow the Commission she presently leads to contest be run off unless the highest possible standards are adhered to in the conduct of the polls.. The PPP/C accepted the 2006 Regional and General Elections results although the late Dr. Haslyn Parris resigned before those results and the only opposition commissioners were the late Robert Williams and the late Lloyd Joseph.

Could the electorate take anything light from the former chairman Dr. Steve Surjubally? He was at the helm of those 2006 elections. The orchestrated campaign by Jagdeo Ramotar and the PPP/C to discredit retired justice Singh and the attacks on CEO Keith Lowenfield for failing to accept U.N.D.P donor help must be seen as part of the PPP/C ploy of misinformation. For the records, the CEO arrived at the commissioner in 2000 as the logistic manager and is cognizant of the role Arnold Depoo of the famous Depoo Brothers played as a consultant acquired by the U.N.D.P. It is important that we learn from our mistakes of the past.

Lowenfield knows why he must be cautious.

Yours faithfully, George Williams

will be swayed by the comments emanating from pay-me-to-make-a-statement politicians in the United States and elsewhere, malleable adherents of democracy from foreign places, and sycophants and their local benefactors waiting to add to their 23-year run on Guyana’s financial and other assets.

I hope that Justice Singh will make a decision that highlights and reinforces the need for adherence to every stage of our pivotal electoral process at polling stations. After all, widespread non-adherence in the strongholds of any political party must never be viewed as anything other than planned electoral fraud.

I once again say that the only thing necessary for the demonstrated irregularities and electoral fraud of March 2 to triumph is for GECOM and the malleable local and foreign adherents of democracy to say or do nothing about the fact the recount results are tainted by fraud and are thus are not credible.

If any government is sworn in on the basis of the recount concluded on June 8, there will have been no greater act of mockery made of the word credible. Dictionaries define credible as “Able to be believed; convincing.” It comes from the Latin word credibilis, which means “worthy to be believed”. Is there anything worthy to be believed, or anything convincing, or anything able to be believed that this recount is credible? Apart from the discovery of the most egregious and barefaced acts of skullduggery beneficial to the PPP, in

the very region where the PPP has claimed it was barefacedly victimized, nothing else is “worthy to be believed” about this recount other than it includes thousands of votes that have not been validated. So, it is nothing but contemptible disregard of democracy for anyone to ask or hope that this recount be accepted as the credible outcome of our 2020 elections. GECOM must not allow the evils of election irregularities or electoral fraud to triumph. Credible votes matter!

In closing, I would like to belatedly but most unreservedly condemn Gerry Gouveia for reposting a video that disparages the Black Lives Matter movement, which has gained worldwide sympathy and support in its valiant fight to end police violence against African-Americans and other minorities in the United States.

That Gouveia’s action took place in the midst of worldwide shock and grief over George Floyd’s heartless public murder conclusively betrays a mindset that many in the US are being accused of proudly embracing. Thus, his mea culpa and apology must be rejected with the same haste with which he claimed he posted the racist video. Gerry, whether or not you accept it, Black Lives Matter.

Yes, they do!

Regards, Lionel Lowe

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, June 13, 2020

Let us in spirit of co-operation build united, prosperous Guyana Dear Editor, WE brothers and sisters of African descent have noted a press release purportedly coming from the Guyana Reparations Committee dated June 11, 2020 and has its signature bloc Commissioners of the Guyana Reparations Committee. This missive comes at a time when, as a nation, we have just successfully completed the recount of ALL ballots cast at the March 2nd General and Regional Elections.

Guyana now awaits the declaration from GECOM of the winner of these elections; a process which is constitutionally enshrined and publically accepted by all contesting political parties prior to, during, and subsequent to the events that led to the National Recount.

As responsible and informed citizens we wish to reject the intent and content of this press release. We view it as ill-advised and self-serving. Certainly, whoever the Commissioners of this Committee are, they do not speak for, nor represent the views of the majority of Guyanese, especially Afro-Guyanese.

The view expressed – that “It is time to draw up plans to separate” – is premised on a jaundice view that there was “…organized rigging of the 2020 National and General Elections”. The listing of nine complaints, exactly mirroring the views of the APNU+AFC Coalition is not surprising, but is a clear display of the incestuous relationship that exists among the two and whose interest will be served by this diatribe.

The repetition of factual inaccuracies and twisted facts will never constitute the truth and can never be a process that will lead to the liberation of our people. Endless repetition of untruths does not make something true. Further, the now fashionable bashing of the Diplomatic community and our International Development Partners, including those of Afro-Caribbean origin who dare say that ‘a wrong was committed’ when Clairmont Mingo declared fraudulent results for District 4 in favour of the Granger-led APNU+AFC Coalition, is not surprising.

We call upon those associated with such behaviour to consider how counterproductive their statements and actions are, since we live in a global village wherein sovereignty in best preserved in our interdependence. We regret the unethical, mischievous and downright race hate and race baiting that has been prevalent on social media, emanating from all sides of the political, cultural and ethnic divide. This is unacceptable and no one should be selective in their condemnation.

That said, we offer a view that may help us all to find our way in these muddled waters: We all must be honest with ourselves and acknowledge how we have been abused, misused and participated in actions that have led to our current dilemma. Blaming others will never liberate us. The historical fact is the oppression of any race group around the world has never succeeded without the participation of self-serving members of that group. A

dispassionate and rational analysis of Guyana will show that Afro-Guyanese suffered more economically, politically and mentally under administrations that Afro-Guyanese largely participated in their election.

Guyana’s noble son Walter Rodney was assassinated while those who held political power were the urban-middle class Afro-Guyanese elites. We do not need to list and mention the names of all those who were silenced, denied employment, forced to migrate, suffered physical injury and mental anguish because they dared to disagree with the establishment.

The urban and rural Guyanese of African ancestry while living in an environment of political non-cooperation from the then opposition PNC/R during the successive democratically elected Governments of the PPP/C (1992-2015) became the owners of land (house lots); mining claims; agricultural and farm lands; received scholarships from the public service - through bilateral cooperation were sent to varying destinations for educational advancement; contractors upgraded from small scale to large and medium-size operations; many became owners of their own cars; felt respected and dignified in their profession; barbershops and hairdressing salons moved from pavement setups to air conditioned modern facilities; not forgetting those who now own and operate their own taxis and transportation services because of the economic opportunities that became available and were utilized. Everything was not perfect but significant progress was made.

The PPP/C acknowledges that its win at the 2020 elections was as a result of support from Afro-Guyanese who campaigned with and voted for them. We have publicly stated and reiterated that we will be a Government for all the people of Guyana founded on the principles of equal opportunity and equal access. We will be working towards making Guyana a more cohesive country instead of fueling fires of racism, classism and bigotry as seen in the release from the Reparations Committee.

When Guyana, under the PPP/C administration named Afro-Guyanese leaders to be a part of the Caribbean reparations movement and openly facilitated discussions on the issue of reparations. It was a clear acknowledgement that we believe an injustice was done both as an account of slavery and indentureship.

The reality is we are here, we must move forward together. Let’s climb over the obstacles and forcefully confront the challenges and in the spirit of cooperation build a united and prosperous Guyana.

The generations behind us are depending on us to direct our collective efforts to the task at hand.

Yours sincerely, Brigadier (rtd) Mark Phillips Joseph Hamilton Hugh Todd Gillian Burton-Persaud Mae Thomas Bishop Juan Edghill and many others

PPP misleading supporters

Dear Editor,

I thank you for the opportunity to make two points relating to the irresponsible, reckless, and dangerous behaviour of PPP bosses generally, and more specifically, its presidential candidate, that of the party’s General Secretary, and it’s chief legal advisor.

First, it appears obvious to me, based on the rhetoric and actions of PPP bosses, that the PPP is setting the stage and laying the foundation upon which that party may instigate social and political discord if the results of the elections on March 2 do not go in favour of the PPP. Of course, we are all well aware of the PPP’s modus operandi; if the PPP bosses cannot get their own way in Guyana, they would, without a second of thought, try to destroy the country, rather than move Guyana forward. Editor, such an attitude, which is on open display, clearly demonstrates that the PPP bosses are unpatriotic, greedy, power-hungry, dishonest, and could not care less about the welfare of the Guyanese people, including the PPP’s own supporters. The General Secretary (who believes that he is a doctor) is on record as having declared that his party has won the March 2 elections, the presidential candidate (who also likes to call himself a doctor) has repeatedly iterated that same foolish position. Editor, as we are all aware, Guyana has a constitutional entity, GECOM, which is the only authority on earth empowered to make a declaration regarding

results of elections. Of course, the General Secretary and presidential candidate are fully aware of that fact. Following the PPP’s ridiculous announcement that the PPP has won the last election, many of their supporters took to the streets, albeit in small groups, to euphorically celebrate the fiction being perpetrated by that party. One can imagine that the General Secretary and the presidential candidate may have sat in their respective mansions and laughed at the ease with which they could manipulate their gullible, and, perhaps, minimally educated support base. How they must have laughed.

Smarter Guyanese, though would know better. Smarter Guyanese would know that the PPP bosses are actively working to raise the expectations of their supporters, so that if the PPP does not win the elections, those who rejoiced following the party’s announcement of a win by the PPP bosses, would be so incensed that the PPP bosses could easily use them, by appealing to their emotions, to cause social discord and instability. Because in the warped minds of the PPP bosses, if they cannot have control of the executive branch of government, nobody should. They would prefer that Guyana descend into a state of anarchy and destruction rather than concede.

Such is the nature of evil minds. And, we must not allow that to happen in our beautiful country.

Second, one notes that the General Secretary of the PPP struts around the country, his

faithful presidential candidate in tow, lying to Guyanese by telling them that GECOM does not have the power to declare a vote invalid, of course, that is totally false.

The PPP bosses, having committed fraud at the March 2 elections, that fraud now having been revealed by the recount/audit process, a process which is still incomplete, know that it is quite likely that the PPP will not be declared the winner of the elections by GECOM, This is so because there is ample evidence of PPP fraud, and, as such, the Chair of the Commission has correctly decided to set aside votes which have been compromised by fraud, and not count those fraudulent votes in a final determination. That alone sent the PPP bosses into a state of total panic. And being the disingenuous, dishonest people that they are, they have launched a campaign of verbal threats and physical intimidation against the Chair of GECOM. They have also unleashed a propaganda campaign to convince Guyanese that GECOM does not have the authority to declare a vote to be invalid.

Editor, that is a brazen lie.

Editor, after the close of poll on elections-day, the votes are counted at the place of poll. If a ballot does not conform to the rules, the Presiding Officer of that polling station has the authority to declare that that the ballot in question is spoiled and will not be validated and considered in the final determination by GECOM. Editor, it is common sense; if a Presiding Officer, a person who

controls a single place of poll has the power to set aside a vote, thereby declaring that vote to be invalid, how can one possibly say that the supreme body that governs the entire electoral process, does not have that power? Having paid attention to the processes regarding the March 2 elections, smart Guyanese need not be lawyers to see how foolish is the position of the PPP. Further, Guyanese should take note of the fact that the PPP bosses are lying to them. The PPP bosses are insulting the intelligence of their own supporters, and the bosses are laughing at their own people, How saddening is that?

I urge my fellow Guyanese to let the PPP know that we are not fooled by their dishonesty and lies, and, that party, founded by the humble, genuinely caring man, Dr, Cheddi Jagan (and, yes, he was a real doctor) will one day get rid of the current crop of opportunists, liars, and fraudsters and once again be a political party worthy of the trust of the people, and capable of forming a legitimate government.

Until such time, let us give the ordinary supporters of the PPP the time to reflect on what a once-great party has become, and let us give the PPP bosses the opportunity to examine and correct their shortcomings as they continue to occupy the seats in parliament assigned to the political opposition.

Regards, Mark DaCosta

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, June 13, 2020

Lowenfield’s report today!

TODAY, the Chief Elections Officer (CEO), Keith Lowenfield, is expected to hand over his report on the national recount to the Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Justice (Ret’d) Claudette Singh.

The report, which will comprise a tabulation of the votes cast at the General and Regional Elections, will also include a summary of the observation reports for each of the 10 Electoral Districts. It is in these observation reports that the APNU+AFC, primarily, has highlighted over 6,000 cases which it believes are tied to electoral fraud. According to the APNU+AFC, close to

90,000 votes have been comprised as result of these suspected fraudulent acts.

These cases include: missing Official Lists of Electors, ballots for one region cast in another; ballots cast for the dead and persons who have migrated; persons voting without proper identification; persons voting outside of their districts without employment documents; large numbers of improperly stamped ballots at locations where Disciplined Services members voted; missing poll books and documents from one polling station being found in the ballot boxes of another.

Notably, on the eve of the submission, reports

surfaced that the Elections Secretariat confirmed that the names of 48 persons, for whom death certificates have been produced, were ticked off on the Official List of Electors (OLE) as having voted. When Guyana Chronicle contacted GECOM’s Public Relations Officer, Yolanda Ward, she could not confirm or negate.

“I have not been able to confirm the authenticity of it. I will have to check with the operations people to see if they are aware,” Ward said.

In addition to the CEO’s Report, it is also expected that the three-member CARICOM scrutinising team will present a report pertaining to their

Rich first-crop harvest for rice … Over 500,000 tons harvested … GRDB says sector overcoming COVID-19 challenges

THE Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) has reported an excellent firstcrop harvest thus far, yielding 534,000 tonnes of paddy from roughly 98% of the crop harvested, the Ministry of Agriculture said in a release.

This is despite some farmers having difficulties harvesting, due to rain, and some harvesting with a high percentage of green paddy. The ministry said this represents a continued increase in productivity for rice farmers who have been paying more attention to agronomical practices, thanks to the work of the extension arm of the GRDB. Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) produced 74,000 tonnes of paddy; Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) 342,000 tonnes; Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) 26,000; Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) 236,000 tonnes; and Region Six (East Berbice- Corentyne) 6 156,000 tonnes.

The national average for the first crop is 5.9 tonnes per hectare, or 38 bags per acre.

For individual regions, Region Four shines with an average of 7 tonnes per hectare.

Coming in second to that is Region Six with 6.2 tonnes per hectare, followed by Region Five with 5.9. This represents 26,000 tonnes, 156,000 tonnes, and 236,000 tonnes of paddy produced respectively. Regions Five and Six continued to be the largest rice producers, with a combined total of 392,000 tonnes of paddy harvested in the first crop.

This continued growth further indicates that with the current production, farmers are

getting greater yield per acreage. This robust performance is owed to farmers partaking in and adhering to advice given by the extension arm of the GRDB, which was able to carry out roughly 80% of its work-plan, despite the challenges faced due to COVID-19.

GRDB General Manager Nizam Hassan has indicated that more than 250 one-on-one agronomical training sessions would have been done in May alone, in preparation for the second crop.

SEED TREATMENT One thing that the GRDB has been stressing is the importance of seed treatment, and farmers have been listening.

“We want to congratulate those farmers that are adhering to these trainings, recommendations, and best practices, and we urge those who have not yet done so to do so,” the GM said. The GRDB continues to stress that seed treatment goes hand-in- hand with the use of quality seed to ensure greater yields.

The Guyana Chronicle reported on Friday that local rice industry has remained resilient against the damning effects of the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), and was able to rake in US$99M through exports for the first half of the year (also known as first- crop). “We’ve done 242,812 tonnes of export valued at US$99,000,000, compared to 215,330 tonnes valued at US$87,000,000 for the corresponding period in 2019,” See page 10

observations, recommendations and conclusions to the commission.

Once deliberated upon, the Elections Commission will determine the way forward.

The amended Order states: “The commission shall, after deliberating on the report at Paragraph 12, determine whether it should request the chief election officer to use the data compiled in accordance with Paragraph 12 as the basis for the submission of a report under Section 96 of the Representation of the People Act, Cap 1:03, provided that the commission shall, no later than three (3) days after receiving the report, make the declaration of the

results of the final credible count of the elections held on the 2nd day of March 2020.”

There is already division amongst government-nominated and opposition-nominated commissioners with regard to what should be done about the claimed and observed irregularities. The People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) has argued that every election will produce margins of error and the ones discovered by the coalition are minimal.

However, the APNU+AFC contends that there are “clearly linked” patterns amongst the irregularities which invalidated votes cast for the party.

It is also steadfast

GECOM CEO, Keith Lowenfield in the position that fraudulent votes cannot be counted and that GECOM has the responsibility to deliver credible results to the electorate.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, June 13, 2020

Lessons from the Appellate Body’s parting shot in the WTO Tobacco Plain Packaging Dispute

By Jan Yves Remy THE report issued this week by the Appellate Body of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in the Australia Tobacco Plain Packaging dispute might be remembered because it is the final report of a dying international appeal court.

However, to focus on its symbolic value only would be a missed opportunity to learn key lessons from one of the largest disputes ever litigated at the WTO. And what are these valuable lessons? First, by upholding Australia’s right to regulate public heath through its tobacco control measures, the Appellate Body elevated “health” over “trade” at a time when an unprecedented global pandemic is crippling the world economy.

Second, the case puts lie to the notion that Caribbean countries have no vested interest in WTO dispute settlement. At the panel stage, both Cuba and the Dominican Republic were complaining parties; a CARICOM national was one of the three panelists presiding over the case; Trinidad and Tobago was a third party; and this author was part of the legal team representing one of the complainants. Third, the Appellate Body’s approach to certain issues illustrates what some members of the WTO consider to be right – and wrong – with the well-regarded, but imperfect, appeal process at the WTO. In this SRC Trading Thoughts, key findings of the Appellate Body in the Tobacco Plain Packaging report are highlighted, following which perspectives are offered that might assist with ongoing WTO dispute settlement reform efforts.

THE APPELLATE BODY UPHOLDS THE PANEL REPORT Under the WTO dispute settlement system created in 1995, an ad hoc panel,

serving as a first instance trier of fact and law, issues a panel report in a dispute involving WTO Members.

The report can then be appealed by either party to judges of the appeal court – called Appellate Body Members.

As of December 2019, the Appellate Body has ceased to function as originally contemplated due to a failure to reappoint judges to sit on it.

At issue in the Plain Packaging dispute, were measures taken by Australia in 2012 – the Tobacco Plain Packaging (TPP) measures – prescribing the appearance of tobacco packaging and tobacco products to make them look uniformly unattractive and banning the use of design trademarks on them. Australia’s aim in passing the TPP Act was to improve public health by reducing the use of, and exposure to, tobacco products.

When the original five complaining parties (with tobacco interests) brought disputes before the WTO panel in 2012 and 2013, they argued that Australia’s TPP measures violated several provisions of the WTO Agreements, including the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Agreement and the Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) Agreement. The Panel dismissed all of their claims under both agreements, prompting two of the complainants – Honduras and the Dominican Republic – to launch appeals before the Appellate Body.

After two sets of extraordinarily lengthy oral hearings, thousands of pages of submissions, and multiple rounds of internal deliberations, the Appellate Body issued a highly technical Report, covering over 230 pages of detailed findings on June 9, 2020. The report was issued by three of the remaining judges of the Ap-

pellate Body, whose terms ended over the duration of the appeal, but who were retained (via the contentious Rule 15 of the Appellate Body’s Working Procedures) because the appeal had been launched before their (final) terms had expired.

The three judges returned a verdict essentially confirming the factual and legal findings of the panel. Specifically, under Article 2.2 of the TBT Agreement, the Appellate Body agreed that the TPP measures were “not more trade restrictive than necessary to achieve their objective” of reducing tobacco consumption. Under that provision, the panel weighed and balanced a number of factors: the effect of the TPP measures on the complainants’ trade; the contribution the TPP measures made or could make to Australia’s objective; and whether Australia could have adopted tobacco measures that were not as trade restrictive, but were equally effective, as the TPP measures.

On appeal, the appellants focused on the panel’s factual findings regarding the “contribution” made by the TPP measures to reducing smoking. In particular, they argued that the factual assessments made by the panel, and ultimate conclusions reached, with respect to their numerous empirical and econometric studies and the voluminous expert reports were not only faulty, but in certain cases, denied them their due process rights.

In addressing these arguments, the Appellate Body made important pronouncements, stressing the restraint appellants must show in appealing factual findings that challenge the panel’s objectivity (known as “Article 11” claims). After noting that the “sheer” volume of these claims was “unprecedented”, the Appellate Body nonethe-

less proceeded to examine the Article 11 claims. However, with the exception of a minority of the claims, the Appellate Body, for the first time, summarily dismissed clusters of the Article 11 claims rather than addressing each individual claim on its merits. In one instance, however, the Appellate Body found that while the panel had violated Article 11, this finding did not undo the panel’s conclusion. Interestingly, the heavy engagement in factual issues – when the conclusions of the panel remained unperturbed – came under scrutiny in a separate (anonymous) opinion by one of the Appellate Body Members.

Other legal findings of the panel under the TBT Agreement and TRIPS were also upheld, including the Panel’s rejection of alternatives to the TPP measures proposed by the complainants – taxation measures and an increase in the purchasing age for tobacco products – and the panel’s finding that Australia’s interference with the tobacco trademarks through the TPP measures was not “unjustifiable”.

The WHO’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control – under which TPP Guidelines had been developed and relied on by Australia – was raised only peripherally on appeal.

OF PARTING SHOTS AND THOUGHTS A layman might well question whether the five years of protracted legal wrangling in this dispute, and the significant outlays of money, resources and time dispute were worth it.

In the end, Australia was able to keep its measure in place and the appeal left intact, the panel’s findings.

Some would argue, with reason, that the ability to litigate the TPP case to a final conclusion on appeal

signals that the WTO dispute system is working well, and regardless of the outcome, provides a useful discipline to the actions of regulators, that assures effective regulation, with minimal negative effects of trade. This is particularly important given the increasing use of health measures to check the rise of non-communicable diseases.

Whatever one’s perspective, the TPP case should give us pause to consider how highly specialised, litigious and inaccessible dispute settlement at the WTO has become for smaller, under resourced WTO Members who will be hard pressed to mount complicated and costly cases like the TPP to represent or defend their interests. Even with the support of important institutions like the Advisory Centre on WTO Law (ACWL) which was set up to help developing countries with their legal needs, dispute settlement is perceived as a tool available only to the privileged few who regularly utilise the system and who use it as one of many tools to leverage and enhance their participation in the WTO. Deeper reforms may be needed to overcome that perception, including consideration of whether disputes might be differentiated based on who is involved – less complex cases involving smaller members might be expedited – or the nature of the dispute – greater deference in sensitive public policy disputes and more intrusive review where issues are of a more technical nature.

Second, what does the TPP appeal say about the decision-making process on appeal? The increasing occurrence of separate opinions in the latter years of the Appellate Body might well be a sign that the system has matured to a point where dissenting voices can be tolerated and might even be encouraged. Alternatively,

might it signal that judges are not immune from broader political tensions affecting the WTO Membership, or even that the time has come for more individual, rather than collective, decision-making?

And what of these pesky Article 11 claims, frowned upon by the Appellate Body but nonetheless brought and entertained? Beyond a mere annoyance, the constancy of the claims exposed a longstanding disagreement about the respective roles of panels and the Appellate Body. The newly-proposed Multiparty Interim Appeal System (MPIA) targets Article 11 claims as an area for specific reform, where arbitrators would have discretion to exclude these claims in order to stay within the 90-day time period for disputes. Only time will tell whether this will be sufficient to quell concerns by some about alleged activism by WTO appeal bodies.

Finally, the report reminds us also about what was right about the Appellate Body: well written and reasoned reports with painstaking attention to detail; a competent secretariat; and an independent and respectable body of judges.

The loss of the Appellate Body should take us back to the basics and to asking ourselves why the WTO dispute settlement was set up, and to serve whose interests. In its parting shot, the Appellate Body may well have provided clues on how it could be reformed to come back stronger and be better able to meet the needs of all WTO Members.

Dr. Jan Yves Remy is the Deputy Director of the Shridath Ramphal Centre for International Trade Law, Policy & Services of The University of the West Indies, Cave Hill and is a former WTO dispute settlement lawyer. Learn more about the SRC at www. shridathramphalcentre. com.

Rich first-crop harvest ...

From page 9 Hassan said in a press statement on Thursday.

The export earnings from that first-crop reflects a 13 per cent increase when compared to the corresponding period last year.

Hassan said there has been an increase in the export of packaged rice, signaling a greater sale of value-added products. This means that Guyana is earning more revenue for its rice, and indicates a greater demand for our

retail ready-packaged rice.

“With regards to Packaged Parboiled Rice, we exported 3,705 tonnes in 2019, compared to 5,535 tonnes in 2020, and with regards to Packaged White Rice, which has really shown an astronomical jump, it has moved from 6,316 tonnes in 2019 to 47,484 tonnes in 2020,” Hassan said, adding: ‘STEADY UPWARD TRAJECTORY’ “Rice production has

been on a steady upward trajectory over the last few years.”

According to a report from the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), “The improvement of extension services of the GRDB, and the expansion of Public Agricultural Investments supported crop yields.” It is expected that annual production will increase for the fourth consecutive year, and reach 1.1 million tonnes, roughly 15 per cent higher than the five-year average.

The Guyana Chronicle reported in January that GRDB has recorded the second highest local rice production ever, with over one million tonnes of paddy being produced in 2019. According to a press statement from the Ministry of Agriculture, some 1,049,874 metric tonnes of paddy was produced in 2019, which was 8,254 tonnes short of the record 2015 production of 1,058,128 tonnes. “2019 stands as the second highest rice-producing year to date,” said the ministry, adding

that Guyana managed to produce a record amount of rice, despite the plethora of challenges the industry faced throughout the year. Among the challenges that the rice industry faced were “extremely unfavourable” weather conditions, and some level of pest infestation. “These challenges were taken headon by the GRDB, which spared no effort in ensuring that the extension and support services meted out to their rice farmers were superior,” said the agriculture ministry.

Not only was production in 2019 close to surpassing the 2015 national record, but production has increased 28 per cent since 2016. This is possible not only by the efforts extended by the GRDB, but also by the “hard work” of farmers.

Nationally, some 16,526,024 bags of paddy or 682,418 metric tonnes of rice was produced.

178,628 hectares were sown, thereby equating to 93 bags of rice per hectare or 38 bags of rice per acre.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, June 13, 2020

WPA hails Rodney’s legacy on 40th death anniversary THE Working People’s Alliance (WPA) has hailed the legacy of the late Dr. Walter Rodney, who was assassinated some 40 years ago, and said the country would do well in committing to his ideals for nation building.

Rodney was killed on June 13, 1980.

BELOW IS FULL STATEMENT

BY WPA This year marks the 40th anniversary of the assassination of Walter Rodney by agents of the PNC regime led by President Forbes Burnham on June 13, 1980.

This year’s anniversary comes at a critical juncture in Guyana’s sojourn as the country confronts its historical contradictions. It also comes at a time when the wider world confronts the still raw scars of chattel slavery on the condition of the sons and daughters of the formerly enslaved.

WPA notes the attempt by some forces to uncritically insert Rodney in the current situation. We wish to steer clear of that temptation and to instead remember our brother for what he contributed at another critical moment. We also use this anniversary to invoke his spirit as we recommit our party to the core ideals which have guided us over the years. Rather than use his memory to validate competing contemporary narratives, we prefer to leave it to the younger generations to critically interrogate that period and tease out Rodney’s contributions to aid them in their struggles.

Having said that, WPA believes that it is fair to conclude that Walter Rodney in his relatively short life distinguished himself as one of the foremost thinkers and activists of the Guyanese post-colonial struggle for bread, justice, and freedom. That his contributions are hailed beyond Guyana points to the breadth and scope of his importance to the universalist Caribbean intellectual and political traditions. We celebrate him on this 40th anniversary as a bright light that showed the way to freedom for all the children of bondage.

Walter Rodney returned to Guyana from Tanzania in 1974 to work and teach at the University of Guyana, but his right to work was denied by the regime which terminated his employment before he took up his position. He had returned to Guyana from Tanzania, as Eusi Kwayana once wrote, after informing himself of the situation on the ground. The political situation on the ground in Guyana was that the party in power had declared itself paramount to the State and in the process had closed all doors to a democratic change of government.

Rodney had long warned of the danger of this tendency among the newly-independent countries in the so-called ‘Third World’. He viewed this post-independence authoritarian order as inimical to the liberation of the working classes and the dispossessed in the societies and as an affront to the logic of independence. It was this reality in Guyana that prompted him to remain in the country despite the denial of his right to work. As he observed at the time, “Partly I wish to remain as a matter of personal preference, to be here with my family and friends, and partly because my situation is not unique. It is part of a very widespread economic victimisation, which has developed in Guyana.”

He soon concluded, in sync with the newly-formed WPA, that the way forward for Guyana in the short term was the struggle for the removal of the authoritarian regime via the building of a multi-ethnic movement of the working peoples of the country. He set to work with his colleagues in the WPA by inserting himself in the work that was already started by the constituent organisations of the party. He brought to the nascent movement his formidable intellect and charisma but above all, the

are still to resolve the tension between ethnicity and majoritarian democracy. Rodney did not live long enough to engage these new challenges. So, it would be a serious disservice to his legacy to put words in his mouth that has been silenced for 40 years now.

WPA, however, calls for a continued critical interrogation of his ideas and activism to determine their relevance or lack thereof to the contemporary moment.

Simply pimping his name to score partisan political points is a cheap way of honoring him. So, on this 40th anniversary of his assassination, WPA recommits itself to the quest for a Guyana that is based on ethno-racial, social and gender equity. We can do justice to Walter Rodney’s life, work, and sacrifice to renew our determination as Guyanese people to marry our diverse and uplifting ethnic identities to the freedom of a non-racial political culture.

WPA further recommits our party to the struggle for freedom of association. There Dr. Walter Rodney fact that he was not involved in the ethnic politics of the previous decade meant he could appeal to the working people across ethnic lines. Further, his radical perspective was attractive to young people in an age of radicalism. It was not surprising then, that he emerged as the leading figure, not only within the WPA, but in the wider movement. In the decades since his assassination, WPA has noted the tendency to construct the Rodney years as a one-man operation.

Rodney would be uncomfortable with that construction. While he recognised the burden that history had placed on his shoulders, he was bitterly opposed to the notion of the maximum leader. He was careful to always stress that he was part of a collective and that ultimately, it was the working people who would have to liberate themselves.

Hence the Rodneyite praxis of self-activity and self-emancipation.

There are two major characteristics of Rodney’s praxis that are worth referencing on this anniversary. First, his was a broad praxis that reflected the convergence of race, ethnicity, class, and nation. To isolate his thoughts on and activism in relation to any one of those without reference to the others amounts to a falsification of history and a denial of his full worth. His Marxism must be seen as inseparable from his Black Nationalism, his anti-imperialism, and his Caribbean nationalism. Although an advocate and activist in the global Black Power movement, Rodney did not see the philosophy of the movement as a contradiction of the multi-ethnic struggle in Guyana.

This brings us to the second characteristic—Rodney was a Concretist. He never sought to impose aspects of his praxis where they were not necessary. When in Jamaica, he engaged the Black Power imperative within the context of the growing social class divisions. While in Africa, he employed the class analysis in a society that was relatively homogeneous. And in an ethnically divided Guyana, struggling against an authoritarian order, he privileged a working-class multiracialism. In Rodney’s thinking and that of the WPA, the struggle for social and economic equality, could only be attained through the multiracial power of the working people.

Since Rodney’s demise, there have been serious setbacks in the goal of a multiracial society in which no group feels threatened.

WPA regrets this development but recognises that in many ways, the dynamics of Guyana and the world have undergone tremendous changes since 1980. The rise of Globalisation and the neo-liberal order have altered the global dynamics. In Guyana, we

can be no freedom for the working poor in Guyana except in a community where every woman and every man and every youth is free to choose a party without fear of reprisals from any state or from powerful groups in the society. WPA recommits itself to the first step towards ethnic jointness, in the form of a Government of National Unity and Reconstruction that recognises the right of all groups to be represented in the halls of national decision-making. WPA urges that in the face of imminent oil wealth, it would redouble its efforts to fight for just rewards for the working poor of all ethnicities. In this regard, the struggle for the policy of cash transfers to households remain at the top of our agenda.

While WPA recognises the vulnerability of the sovereignty of countries like Guyana, it nevertheless throws its support behind calls for our regional and global partners to resist the temptation to become too entangled in the country’s domestic challenges.

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Guyana to benefit from €7M grant to strengthen climate resilient health systems

THE European Union (EU), through the European Development Fund, has signed a five-year €7 Million agreement with the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) to enhance coordination and increase the climate resilience of health systems in the Caribbean Forum (CARIFORUM) community to better prepare and respond to climate threats.

In a release, PAHO said this will be achieved through collaboration with five sub-regional partners, UN agencies and other organisations. It will build capacity and networks within the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC), the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), the Caribbean Institute for Meteorology & Hydrology (CIMH) and the University of the West Indies (UWI).

The following countries will be supported through this grant: Antigua & Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent

and the Grenadines, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago.

The project is expected to address four lines of action that include supporting Caribbean health leaders in their engagement nationally, regionally and internationally; highlighting the relationship between health and climate change; supporting public health preparedness and the development of mitigation policies to address climate risks; and facilitating access to resources to address the vulnerabilities of health systems to climate change. The project will also support ongoing regional surveillance efforts for COVID-19.

Head of the European Delegation to Barbados, the OECS and CARICOM and CARIFORUM, Ambassador Daniela Tramacere, hails this new programme as a demonstration of the EU’s continued commitment to address climate vulnerabilities in the region. She remarked, “The implementation of this action comes at a critical time where the region continues to battle the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on its citizens and healthcare systems, while preparing to face what is project-

ed to be a particularly active hurricane season. The EU stands ready to provide support to its regional partners, recognising the enormous challenges precipitated by these unprecedented circumstances.”

Subregional Program Coordinator for the Caribbean PAHO/WHO office, Jessie Schutt-Aine, stated that the organisation was grateful for the opportunity to work with the EU and highlighted that the grant funds will be used in various ways to strengthen health systems in the region and to share knowledge and best practises. “This grant will allow us to work with other subregional partners to fund visionary mitigation and adaptation projects, adapt and prioritise country plans, foster leaders, and increase capabilities for decision making over the five years. Inception meetings will begin in June and at every stage, our partners and the public will be kept informed through our communications and visibility partners and, we hope, will become more knowledgeable and engaged around the impact of climate change on health in the region,” Mrs.

(l-r) Subregional Program Coordinator for the Caribbean PAHO/WHO office, Jessie Schutt-Aine; Head of the European Delegation to Barbados, the OECS, CARICOM and CARIFORUM, Ambassador Daniela Tramacere, and Ambassador Gail Mathurin, Director General, Office of Trade Negotiations (Barbados) Schutt-Aine noted.

Assistant Secretary-General of CARICOM, Dr. Douglas Slater, noted that the continued partnership between the European Union, the UN System, represented

by PAHO and our CARICOM regional institutions, led by CARPHA, will address the region’s capacity to adapt to and reduce the effects of climate change on public health.

“Science has established that global climate change poses

an existential threat to small island and low-lying coastal developing states. The CARICOM region has been instrumental in making this case on a sustained basis at the international level for almost three decades. We consider interventions such as these, extremely valuable, since they have the potential to positively impact the lives of citizens, and, as such, the secretariat will collaborate with the partners to ensure

that the outcomes redound to the benefit of our Caribbean Community,” ASG Slater stressed.

The project will create a unified interdisciplinary one-health approach towards climate change and responds directly to the recommendations that came out of the Caribbean Action Plan on Climate Change and Health signed by 15 Ministers of Health and the Environment in 2018.

Ptolemy Reid rehabilitation centre donates hampers to outpatients and amputees

ON Friday, the Ptolemy Reid Rehabilitation Centre donated some 150 hampers to its outpatients and amputees who attend the clinic.

Jemima Cross, a physiotherapist attached to the clinic, told reporters that the exercise is a means of giving back to the community and assisting those who are vulnerable during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We are basically doing it for our patients, our outpatients and amputee patients… we would like to give back to them with the pandemic going, we just want to do a little bit by giving back to the community,” she stated.

She noted that the distribution exercise was sponsored by the National Commission on Disability (NDC) and the clinic will see several other similar exercises in the future since the rehabilitation centre houses roughly over 200 outpatients and amputees.

Cross added that the clinic also mobilised itself to travel to the various homes of the amputee patients who are unable to come the clinic to uplift their hampers.

“Those that are unable to make it, we will be distributing them by our bus, we will be going around to all our areas to distribute to those who can’t afford come out,” she stated.

Some of the hampers that were distributed during the exercise

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Buxton hosts successful two-day farmers’ market … agriculturalist urges Guyanese to get back to the soil during pandemic

THE Young Visionaries of the Buxton Museum, in collaboration with the Buxton Farmers, held a two-day farmers’ market on Thursday and Friday as a means of pushing residents to get back into the organic way of life.

The Guyana Chronicle visited the market, which

was held in the village’s museum compound where Cletus Hiles, who is the youngest board member and also the vice-president of the local group, stated that idea sparked after he had started a kitchen garden within the compound of the museum. “Since I was younger, Buxton has

Cletus Hiles, the youngest board member and also the Vice-President of the local group, Young Visionaries of the Buxton Museum

Askari Campbell, one of the board members of Young Visionaries of the Buxton Museum and caretaker of the Buxton, Friendship Museum, tending some callaloo in the museum’s kitchen garden

had a history for agriculture and so forth but as I grew up I haven’t seen much agriculture around the place so I said from this museum, I can start something and to an extent, a few person will be motivated to start their own garden [hence] I started my own garden in the museum itself,” he said.

He added that he then thought of the farmers who are stationed in the back dam of the village, who have not been receiving a lot of support

Some of the produce that was on sale at the farmers’ market for their hard work and decided to collaborate with them.

“And the idea stroke me that there are actually persons who are planting, however, they are not getting the attention that they need because they are stationed in the backdam of the village and persons would not go till there to see what they want to buy,” Hiles said.

Hiles, who is also a graduate from the Guyana School of Agriculture noted (GSA), said that he wanted to invest in his village and found that

the museum would be the perfect central point and public place where farmers can market and sell their produce.

He noted that the museum advertised the event on social media, and on local platforms like the usual village shops and placed posters at various points in the village.

He noted that the idea could be adapted along the East Coast corridor as well as across the entire country to assist the local small-scale farmers.

“We should expect that this farmers’ market would

be something very consistent because farmers are not getting as much attention as they need and they are very important and it sucks to see that persons are now realising the importance of organic food when there is a pandemic going around,” Hiles said.

He further stated that, “food is imperative for life, you need to eat to live. Anybody could plant something from the time you eat, keep that seed and plant it …I think its very important that person recognise how food could be grown by their own hands.”

‘Nand Persaud’ comes to aid of Reg. 6 Fire Service

THE Nand Persaud Group of Companies has come to the aid of the Guyana Fire Service (GFS) Berbice Division, with the donation of three water pumps.

The donation, which was at the request of the Service’s Berbice Division, comes at a time when the Department is in dire need of pumps to help in the execution of their duty. Recently, they have come under heavy criticism for arriving at a fire scene only to be plagued by a multitude of mechanical issues at Ankerville, Port Mourant, East Berbice-Corentyne.

Chief Executive Officer of the Nand Persaud Group, Mohindra Persaud told the Guyana Chronicle that the Commander of the Berbice Division made a request for the pumps, and after recognising the need, the company gladly made the donation promptly.

“We recognise the commitment to protecting communities,” he said, “but understand there are challenges faced.

The donation is aimed at supporting and equipping the fire department to function fully.”

Persaud said that the GFS serves the need of everyone,

and that the company was happy that they were able to render assistance when it was needed, so that the Service can be better equipped to execute their duties. The pumps, he noted, are portable, yet powerful, and would be able to make the lives of the firemen a lot easier, especially when priming their trucks.

Commander of the GFS Berbice Division, Hemchandra Persaud expressed gratitude to the company for recognising the need, and responding so promptly. He is also urging everyone to be vigilant, and take precautions to prevent fires from occurring due to negligence or human error.

The pumps were handed over to the Commander on Thursday afternoon, a short while after the Rose Hall Fire crew experienced mechanical issues with their generator to power the pump on the truck to pull water from the trench.

The new pumps will now be used as a back-up to prime the trucks, in the event the generator experiences similar issues, and can also be used directly to power the hoses to fight fires.

GFS Divisional Commander, Hemchandra Persaud, right, and a ‘Nand Persaud’ representative at the simple handing over ceremony on Thursday

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Greenidge to update on border controversy case today

GUYANA’S Foreign Secretary, Carl Greenidge, will provide an update on the upcoming International Court of Justice (ICJ) hearing on the Guyana/ Venezuela controversy today, Saturday, June 13.

Greenidge will be participating in a town hall meeting and panel discussion hosted by the Guy-

anese American Chamber of Commerce, which will be live-streamed on its Facebook page @GuyaneseAmericanChamberofCommerce at 16:00 hours.

Just recently, the ICJ set public hearings on the long-awaited Arbitral Award of 1899 (Guyana v.

Venezuela) case for June 30, 2020, by video confer-

ence. The hearings were initially scheduled for March 23 to 27, 2020 but the emergence of the coronavirus pandemic derailed those plans. The ICJ has since stated that the public hearings will open on June 30, 2020 at 14:00 hours at the Peace Palace in The Hague, the seat of the court. The programme of the hearings

will be announced at a later stage.

The hearing will determine whether the court has jurisdiction over the case filed by Guyana on March 29, 2018. Guyana seeks to obtain, from the court, a final and binding judgement that the 1899 Arbitral Award, which established the location of the land

boundary between then-British Guiana and Venezuela, remains valid and binding, and that Guyana’s Essequibo region belongs to Guyana, and not Venezuela.

Guyana brought its case to the court following the decision by the Secretary-General of the United Nations, in January 2018, that the controversy

Foreign Secretary, Carl Greenidge between Guyana and Venezuela should be decided by the ICJ.

Exxon pumps $50M into Iwokrama … funds to be used to implement science strategy THE Iwokrama International Centre has received $50M from ExxonMobil Guyana toward the implementation of a five-year science strategy that will also fund key investments to help protect Guyana’s tropical forests.

In a statement, the centre said the additional funding comes at a critical time as the centre is stretched by challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic and an increase in illegal mining activities prompted by rising gold prices. It said to combat illegal gold mining operations in the Iwokrama forest, the Centre plans to invest in a drone to provide aerial maps of the forest cover, allowing enforcement teams to identify gaps.

“COVID-19 has permanently changed the way forest managers manage their forests. Safety protocols have made logistics very expensive and inconvenient,” said Chief Executive Officer, Dane Gobin. “Forest managers need to now adjust to this ‘new normal’ if they are to continue to protect the forest and we hope to use some of this funding to help with that.”

The Iwokrama International Centre is also adding virtual reality platforms that will allow scientists, students and researchers to stay connected remotely, while a third project will allow direct sponsorship of the Iwokrama Forest through a fundraising mechanism through which corporations and the general public can be directly involved in conservation activities.

The new additions will complement ongoing work of the centre in the areas of climate and hydrology, biodiversity and community education. Some major outputs from the science programme include the installation of a new Iwokrama Science Committee (ISC), outreach activities, capacity building and awareness programmes for the local communities, the production of Guyana’s “legal field guide for natural resource practitioners,” and the development of the country’s first 3D map of community (Fair View village). ExxonMobil has been a significant supporter of the Iwokrama Science Programme, providing more than GYD$180M since 2017. It also supports the STEM programmes at the local community level.

The Iwokrama International Centre (IIC) was established in 1996 under a joint mandate from the Government of Guyana and the Commonwealth Secretariat to manage the Iwokrama forest, a unique reserve of 371,000 hectares of rainforest “in a manner that will lead to lasting ecological, economic and social benefits to the people of Guyana and to the world in general.”

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Blood donations vital during COVID-19 Pandemic, PAHO says

BLOOD donations are more necessary than ever during the current COVID-19 pandemic, and blood centres throughout the Americas are taking measures to ensure that donations continue in a safe manner for blood donors and recipients, according to the Pan American Health Organisation.

In a message for World Blood Donor Day, celebrated every June 14, PAHO Director, Carissa F. Etienne, said, “The safest blood comes through voluntary unpaid donation from people like you and me. Donation is an act of solidarity and altruism, which the world needs now more than ever in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.”

“On World Blood Donor Day, I want to offer my deepest thanks to blood donors throughout the Region of the Americas for giving the gift of life,” Etienne said. The World Health Assembly in 2005 designated World Blood Donor Day as

a special day to thank blood donors and encourage more people to give blood freely, and to raise awareness about the global need for safe blood and how everyone can contribute. The 2020 campaign theme is “Safe blood saves lives” with the slogan “Give blood and make the world a healthier place”. The idea is to focus on the contribution an individual giver can make to improve health.

In the Region of the Americas, the main celebration is being hosted by Paraguay, in recognition of their achievements in increasing blood voluntary donations.

During a four-year period, Paraguay increased the availability of blood by 1.5 units per 1,000 inhabitants and increased voluntary donation by 5.3 percent. Other global and regional events for World Blood Donor Day are taking place virtually. In Latin America and the Caribbean, blood donors make it possible to transfuse more than 10 million units of blood each

year, which are vital for protecting the health and lives of patients who need transplants, people living with cancer, women suffering postpartum hemorrhage and people injured in acts of violence or road traffic accidents.

The need for safe blood is universal, but access to safe blood is still a privilege of the few. Most low and middle-income countries have low availability of safe blood because of the relatively low levels of voluntary donors and capacity in blood collection. Globally, 42 per cent of blood is collected in high-income countries, which are home to only 16 per cent of the world’s population.

World Blood Donor Day is a call to action for governments, national health authorities, and those responsible for blood services, to provide adequate resources and put in place systems and infrastructure to increase the collection of blood from voluntary, non-remunerated

blood donors; to provide quality donor care; to promote and implement appropriate clinical use of blood; and to set up systems for the oversight and surveillance on the whole chain of blood transfusion.

“We continue to support all PAHO member countries in developing efficient and quality blood services, so that donors can make safe blood donations and that all patients will have access to safe blood when they need it,” Dr. Etienne said.

International organisations, including the World Health Organisation, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the International Federation of Blood Donor Organisations, the International Society of Blood Transfusion, American Association of Blood Banks, Ibero American Cooperative Group of Transfusion Medicine, among others, collaborate to provide guidance and support to their membership on blood donations.

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Chinese firm Zijin Mining acquires Guyana Goldfields in CDN$323M deal

CHINESE mining firm, Zijin Mining Group Ltd, has entered into a binding arrangement agreement with Guyana Goldfields, which will see the former acquiring all of the outstanding common shares the Canadian firm.

The value of the shares lies in the vicinity of CDN$323M, Guyana Goldfields

noted on Friday morning. The move is another twist in the future of Guyana Goldfields which has been experiencing turbulent relations with its shareholders, as regards its management of operations here.

Prior to entering into the Zijin Arrangement Agreement, Guyana Goldfields terminated its arrangement

agreement with Silvercorp Metals Inc. which the two signed on April 26, 2020 and which was later amended in accordance with its terms.

As noted in its press release on June 3, 2020, Guyana Goldfields said it received a binding proposal from Zijin to acquire all of the issued and outstanding Guyana Common Shares and notified Silvercorp

The Aurora Goldmine project in Guyana (Guyana Goldfields photo) that this offer constituted a “Superior Proposal” in accordance with the terms of the Silvercorp Arrangement Agreement. According to the release, Silvercorp elected not to exercise its right to match and, as a result, Guyana Goldfields terminated the Silvercorp Arrangement Agreement in accordance with its terms and entered into the Zijin Arrangement Agreement.

Based on the closing price of the Silvercorp common shares on the Toronto Stock Exchange as of June 3, 2020, the Zijin Arrangement represents a premium of approximately 35 per cent to the implied value of the consideration offered pursuant to the Silvercorp Arrangement Agreement. Zijin has also agreed to provide Guyana Goldfields with a US$30M secured loan facility to finance ongoing operations of the Aurora gold mine and to fund its other liquidity needs.

According to Alan Pangbourne, President and CEO of Guyana Goldfields, “The all-cash offer from Zijin represents a significant premium to the amended Silvercorp offer price and is an excellent outcome for Guyana Goldfield’s shareholders. Zijin is a highly regarded mining company with an impressive track record of successful international acquisitions and operations. We look forward to working with Zijin over the coming weeks to close this transaction and transition to the new team.”

Chen Jinghe, Chairman of Zijin, stated: “On behalf of Zijin, I would like to thank the board of directors, Mr. Pangbourne, President and CEO of Guyana Goldfields, as well as the senior manage-

ment team of Guyana Goldfields for their support and recognition of Zijin on this transaction. Guyana Goldfields’ management team has dedicated tremendous effort and made significant contributions in progressing the Aurora Gold Mine and we look forward to advancing and developing the next phase of the mine. We believe that the Aurora mine is a high-quality gold asset with significant upside potential which we believe will be highly-complementary to Zijin’s existing mining asset portfolio.

Zijin strongly believes in the support and contribution to local communities in which it operates as well as maintaining cooperative relationships with all stakeholders. These values are a critical part of Zijin’s longterm goals. We are committed to continuing to operate in a safe, sustainable and responsible manner and look forward to working closely with the government of Guyana, the local communities and all other stakeholders to deliver a first-class operation that will significantly benefit the regional economy.” Guyana Goldfields stated that there are several benefits from the new agreement.

These include significant premium of approximately 35 per cent to the offer under the Silvercorp Arrangement Agreement ; allcash offer, providing value certainty and Zijin’s strong balance sheet and access to capital provides the funding needed for the transaction (no financing condition) and for the development of the next phase of the Aurora mine.

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Bisram accused of trying to flee Guyana … lawyer denies allegation; says client was at airport to receive relative

MURDER accused, Marcus Bisram, last Saturday June 6, 2020 had allegedly tried to board an Eastern Airlines flight of out of Guyana to Miami, days after he was freed by the High Court; well-placed sources have told this newspaper.

But he businessman’s lawyer, Dexter Todd, denied the allegations saying that his client was at the airport to receive an incoming relative. “I would like to put the rumour to rest.

Bisram has no intention of leaving the jurisdiction right now. He is enjoying himself right now,” Todd noted.

The Guyana Chronicle was told that the flight that brought home a number of stranded Guyanese from New York on Saturday afternoon, was heading out the country, when Bisram showed up at the airport to board the aircraft. Airport authorities however, recognised him and he was prevented from doing so, the source told this newspaper.

On June 1, 2020, Justice Morris-Ramlall granted a total of eight orders which led to the release of Bisram.

The first order granted by the trial judge was for the quashing of the decision of the DPP made on or about March, 30, 2020, directing Magistrate Renita Singh to re-open the preliminary inquiry into the charge against Bisram, with a view of committing him for the said charge on the ground that the decision of the DPP was unreasonable, unlawful, and made by ignoring relevant considerations and ultra vires. The second was an order of certiorari for the quashing the decision of the DPP made on or about April 3, 2020, directing Magistrate Renita Singh to commit Bisram for trial in the High Court for the offence of murder, on the ground that the said decision was unreasonable, unlawful, and made by ignoring relevant considerations and ultra vires. “An order of certiorari be and is hereby granted quashing the decision of the said magistrate made on or about April 6, 2020 at the Whim Magistrates’ Court, committing Marcus Bisram to stand trial in the High Court for the offence of murder,” one of the orders read.

Additionally, the judge granted an order which

During trial at the Magistrate’s Court, Magistrate Singh had initially freed Bisram after she found that the evidence given by the star witness for the prosecution was “unreliable” under cross examination.

However, DPP ordered the magistrate to commit Bisram to the High Court to stand trial for the indict-

Murder accused: Marcus Bisram prohibited the DPP from proffering an indictment in the High Court charging Bisram. Ramlall also ordered that the March 30, 2020 arrest of Bisram was unlawful, along with his incarceration since March 30, 2020.

Finally, the judge ordered the respondents to release Bisram from custody forthwith. Following the judge’s order, Bisram walked out of the Camp Street Prison, on Tuesday, April 2, 2020, after the final documents were signed. His attorneys also contended that they will soon be filing a lawsuit against the respondents for the unlawful arrest and imprisonment of their client.

However, On June 5, the DPP filed an appeal, contending that there was sufficient evidence for a lawful committal of Bisram and the judge’s ruling must be set aside. “… the learned judge erred in law in finding that there was not sufficient evidence for the DPP to direct the magistrate to reopen the committal proceedings and commit the accused person, based on the evidence of the prosecution’s star witness, Chaman Chunilall, recantation of his version of the facts, but accepting that recantation of evidence does not automatically affect prosecutability,” the document stated.

Another ground claimed that that Justice Morris-Ramlall erred in law and was misconceived in law in finding that the recantation does not automatically affect prosecutability but yet found that the arresting of the applicant by the Commissioner of Police was unlawful.

ment. Bisram was accused of orchestrating the murder of Narinedatt, a twenty-seven-year-old father of two, who was killed on November 01, 2016. Narinedatt’s body was found around 03:30 hours on Tuesday, November 01, 2016, on the Number 70 Public Road, Corentyne, Berbice.

His death was initially

reported to be the result of a hit-and-run accident. It was later reported that Bisram allegedly made sexual advances to Narinedatt, who objected to the advances.

Bisram was initially charged here in absentia, while five others - Orlando Dickie, Radesh Motie, Diodath Datt, Harri Paul Parsram, and Niran Yacoob

- have also been committed to stand trial for the murder of Narinedatt.

Bisram, who holds dual citizenship, was extradited from the United State of America on November 21, 2019. He was charged with murder hours after his extradition and placed on remand at the Camp Street Prison.

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Skerritt ...

FROM PAGE 23

man’s post. According to the IANS, the Ethics Officer received the request on April 30.

The Ethics Officer concluded there was no “intentional violation” committed by either of the two boards.

He said that it was “clear beyond any doubt” that the CWI and ECB arrangement was “in accordance with their pressing and necessary business and cricket” reasons.

“I attest that I do not believe the loan was made or received in the context of, or in relation with the matter of the forthcoming election for a new ICC Chairperson,” the officer stated.

‘THIS IS ALL POLITICAL’ “The negative result of the ICC ethics investigation was predictable,” Skerritt said. “The investigation upset me personally because of the risk to my own integrity, especially when it began to look like I was a collateral damage. And it was extremely unfair to Colin (Graves), who was responding to CWI’s request to expedite an advance which ICC would likely have given anyhow.

The loan funds were meant for our working capital to keep CWI going for the period between then and when we are due to get the next ICC distribution money from the ICC in mid-July.”

According to Skerritt this was not the first time CWI had borrowed money from another Full Member country. When he took charge in 2019 Skerritt said CWI had been saddled with a US$6 million loan it had taken in 2016 from the ICC and a similar US$2 million advance in 2018 from the Bangladesh Cricket Board. “I was not (CWI) president at the time when we borrowed money from Bangladesh, and I have no idea if it was followed by an ICC ethics investigation then as well.”

“There are too many people in and around cricket who are more concerned about politics than about cricket,” he added. “That’s what this is about. It is being blown up for political purposes only, mostly by mischievous persons who have little genuine care for the wellbeing of cricket.”

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Players to take pay-cuts if 2020 CPL goes ahead

CPL organisers have confirmed their intention to stage the competition entirely in Trinidad & Tobago between August 18 and September 10.

However, according to ESPNCRICINFO, some players may be subject to a pay cut.

“We have taken the decision to stage the tournament (subject to final approval from the government of Trinidad & Tobago, which we expect next week). I can advise that the tournament period will be from August 1 to September 12, with the first matches on August 18 and the final on September 10,” Michael Hall, the CPL operations manager, wrote in an update sent to various

stakeholders.

While there is no firm date for the draft at this stage, it is expected to be at the end of June. Players who have already signed contracts will be asked to sign a “variation letter” agreeing to a cut.

“We accept we are asking players to give up a portion of their salary,” Hall wrote. “However without such a gesture it will be impossible to run the tournament, so we need to be clear that non-acceptance of the proposed reductions will result in your clients already under contract being replaced, or if not already contracted, being removed from the draft list.”

The competition will be played,

behind closed doors with the toppaid players expected to accept a salary cut of up to 30% when compared to 2019 levels.

There will be no salary cut for players below the US$20 000 bracket.

Players are currently required to arrive in Trinidad by August 1 in order to satisfy the quarantine period mandated by the Trinidad & Tobago government.

There is a possibility this quarantine period could be lifted, at least for visitors from certain nations, in due course.

With a smaller window available for the tournament, it will feature double-headers on Tuesday,

Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday and only three matches - two semi-finals and a final - in the play-offs rather than the usual four.

Games will start at 10:00hrs, end at 17.30hrs during the week and from 10:00hrs to 14:00hrs at weekends.

All players will stay in the tournament hotel in conditions overseen by a medical advisory committee.

Match officials will also be expected to take a 30% pay cut. Most CPL staff have already done so.

“Should the tournament take place it will take place entirely in Trinidad & Tobago, which is the most successful country in the Caribbean in controlling the spread

of the virus - recording just one new case since April 30 and just 117 total cases overall,” Michael Hall, the CPL operations manager, wrote in an update sent to various stakeholders.

“One of the consequences the COVID-19 pandemic will have is that the CPL will be played behind closed doors in 2020. We were therefore faced with the very difficult decision of whether to play the tournament at all. “(But) we also felt strongly that it is important for cricket to be seen as getting underway again as well as to show the world that the Caribbean is open for business.”

Leipzig win 2-0 against Hoffenheim (REUTERS) - THIRDplaced RB Leipzig scored two quick-fire goals through Dani Olmo immediately after Hoffenheim had a penalty award overturned by VAR in a remarkable opening 12 minutes, on the way to a 2-0 win on the road in the Bundesliga yesterday.

The victory gave Leipzig coach Julian Nagelsmann a happy first return to the club where he began his coaching career as a 28-year-old and ensured an unhappy start for Hoffenheim’s unorthodox five-man coaching team who replaced Alfred

Schreuder after his sacking on Tuesday.

After a bright start, seventh-placed Hoffenheim were awarded a penalty when Munas Dabbur was upended by Leipzig goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi in the sixth minute.

The ball was on the spot and Dabbur was waiting to take the spot kick when it was revoked for handball after a VAR review which took nearly two minutes.

Leipzig then delivered two knockout blows when Olmo finished off a counter-attack by sidefooting the visitors ahead in the ninth

minute and the Spaniard struck again two minutes later from a similar position.

Dabbur headed against the bar and Gulacsi made a superb block from Christoph Baumgartner as valiant Hoffenheim kept pushing forward, while Leipzig forward Timo Werner was put clean through but side-footed over just before halftime.

Olmo missed the chance of a hat-trick when he sidefooted wide in the 65th minute and Christopher Nkunku rattled the post as Leipzig missed a flurry of chances in the second half.

Hoffenheim’s German midfielder Sebastian Rudy (L) and Leipzig’s U.S. midfielder Tyler Adams vie for the ball during the German first division Bundesliga football match TSG 1899 yesterday in Sinsheim, southern Germany. (Photo by Uwe Anspach/POOL/AFP)

Sammy says nickname controversy is opportunity to educate on racism (REUTERS) - Former West Indies captain Darren Sammy says he has accepted a former team mate’s explanation of a potentially racist nickname he was given at the Sunrisers Hyderabad and hopes the issue can be used to educate players about racism.

Earlier this week, the 36-yearold sought clarification from his former team mates over the nickname used for him when he was part of the Indian Premier League

(IPL) franchise from 2013 to 14.

Sammy said he did not know the meaning of a Hindi word that some unnamed Sunrisers team mates would call him and only became aware of its racial connotations after watching a TV show that discussed the issue.

“I’m pleased to say that I’ve had a really interesting conversation with one of the guys and we are looking at ways to educate rather than focussing on the negatives,”

Sammy tweeted.

“My brother reassured me that he operated from a place of love and I believe him.”

Separately in a video, Sammy advocated awareness to fight racism.

“It’s a great opportunity to educate people about certain things that have been said or done, that even though you don’t mean it in any way to be degrading to someone else, but the fact that it can be

perceived to (be) that or it could mean that.”

The Sunrisers Hyderabad and Indian cricket board (BCCI) officials Reuters contacted declined to comment.

Several athletes have spoken out about racism in sport and society after the death of George Floyd, a black man who died on May 25 after a white policeman knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes in Minneapolis.

While none of India’s frontline cricketers have commented on the issue, soccer captain Sunil Chhetri stressed the need to confront any racist behaviour.

“Racism comes from ignorance,” Chhetri said in a statement issued by the country’s football federation.

“If I see someone being racist, I would get hold of them and explain to them why what they are doing is wrong,” said the striker.

21

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, June 13, 2020

Japan, Azerbaijan and Society could learn a Singapore GPs cancelled valuable lesson from (BBC) - The Japanese, Singapore and Azerbaijan Grands Prix (GP) have been cancelled because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Formula 1 has tried to find a way to hold the races in 2020 but announced yesterday that was not possible in the uncertain global situation.

The historic event at Suzuka is off as a result of Japan’s ban on many international travellers.

Races in Singapore and Baku cannot be held because the street circuits cannot be built in the current climate.

The cancellations mean F1 has lost a further three key grands prix to the COVID-19 crisis that has already claimed the season-opening race in Australia and the blue-riband Monaco event.

Japan and Singapore are two of the most prestigious and popular races on the calendar.

Suzuka resonates with drivers and fans alike, as perhaps the most challenging of all tracks, while Singapore’s night event is not only a physical and mental test of endurance because of the hot, humid and bumpy conditions and length of the race, but is also popular with corporate visitors.

Azerbaijan pays one of the highest fees of all races and the Baku street track, with its super-long pit straight, has become known for its incident-packed grands prix.

WHAT’S GOING TO REPLACE THEM? Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas won the 2019 Azerbai-

football – Wenger

Singapore is unable to build its street circuit in time for the 2020 race.

jan Grand Prix.

F1 is now looking at an increasingly Euro-centric calendar this year, but the sport is still confident of fulfilling its aim of holding a World Championship with 15-18 grands prix despite the postponement or cancellation of the first 10 events of the original 22-race schedule.

F1 said in a statement it has “made significant progress with existing and new promoters on the revised calendar and been particularly encouraged by the interest that has been shown by new venues”.

Eight races in Europe, running from early July to early September and starting with two events on consecutive weekends in Austria July 3-5 and 10-12 July, have been announced.

And BBC Sport understands it is now almost certain that two grands prix at Germany’s Hockenheim track will be added later in September.

Italy’s Mugello circuit,

which is owned by Ferrari, is prepared to host a race if necessary.

In addition, F1 is still exploring the possibility of reviving the postponed Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal on a September date before the onset of the Quebec winter.

However they play out, F1 is likely to move on to Sochi for the Russian Grand Prix in early October after these events.

But there is considerable uncertainty over the races in the United States, Mexico and Brazil - three countries where the coronavirus outbreaks are among the worst in the world.

Last week, F1 managing director Ross Brawn told BBC Sport: “If we judge the health and safety risk is too high, even if we can meet the obligations of the country, then we may not go there.”

There is a major-events ban in place in Texas that would prevent the US Grand Prix taking place in Austin on October 25, although the state is in the midst of a phased

reopening plan.

Mexico has said it is planning to host its grand prix as scheduled on November 1, but whether the virus situation will improve sufficiently in Mexico City for F1 to feel that will be possible is unclear.

And the Brazilian race at Interlagos in Sao Paulo is considered unlikely to happen.

President Jair Bolsonaro has come under heavy criticism for his handling of the coronavirus crisis, the state of Sao Paulo has been reporting record numbers of daily deaths this week, and crime is worsening in the city.

F1 is likely to find it politically and socially untenable to hold the race in such circumstances and to fly personnel into an area where crime has regularly affected employees working at the race.

The end of the season is set for the Middle East, where both Bahrain and Abu Dhabi have indicated that they are willing to host two races at each of the tracks if necessary.

NFL pledges $250M over 10 years to combat racism (BBC) - The NFL has pledged $250M (£198M) over a 10-year period to help combat systemic racism in the United States. The fund will “support the battle against the ongoing and historic injustices faced by African Americans”.

Last week, the NFL said players should be allowed to protest during the national anthem.

Kneeling for the anthem, a practice started by ex-San Francisco 49er Colin Kaepernick, was banned in May 2018, with the policy put on hold in July.

Earlier this month, NFL players including Patrick Mahomes and Odell Beckham Jr called on the league to “condemn racism and the systemic oppression of black people”.

Protests have taken place across the

US and worldwide over the past three weeks following the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man, while being restrained by a white police officer in Minneapolis on May 25.

The NFL said: “The NFL and our clubs will continue to work collaboratively with NFL players to support programmes to address criminal justice reform, police reforms, and economic and educational advancement.

“In addition to the financial commitment, we will continue to leverage the NFL Network and all of our media properties to place an increased emphasis on raising awareness and promoting education of social justice issues to our fans and help foster unity.”

Colin Kaepernick first protested against racial injustice in the U.S. in September 2016 by kneeling during the national anthem..

Arsene Wenger during an interview at the Mercedes Benz Building prior to the Laureus World Sports Awards on February 17, 2020 in Berlin, Germany.

(Photo by Boris Streubel/Getty Images for Laureus)

(REUTERS) - SOCIETY could learn a valuable lesson from soccer in the ongoing struggle against racial discrimination, according to former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger.

The killing of unarmed black man George Floyd by a white policeman in Minneapolis last month has prompted a wave of protests across the world and focussed attention on the Black Lives Matter movement.

Soccer players have shown their support for the movement and Wenger believes the fact that so many black players have made the grade shows the sport does not suffer from racism.

“I would say football is by essence anti-racist,” Frenchman Wenger said in an interview with BeIN Sport yesterday.

“Why? Because you know that no matter if you’re the son of the King of England or if you’re black or white or red - if you’re good you play.

“And I would even say that football is an example of how the whole of society should work, because it’s only based on merit and quality.

If you’re good enough, you play.

“Inside the game, there’s no racism. Around football and in the stands it happens and we’ve seen it again in England with the national team away games.”

Manchester City forward Raheem Sterling suggested this week that despite a large percentage of black players in the Premier League, representation in administration and

coaching roles in England was lagging way behind.

Wenger, however, warns that those roles should also be filled on merit, not because of pressure to be inclusive.

“In France we created the concept of positive discrimination but that means you give positions to people because they’re not given enough chances - but this is also discrimination because people who are better may not get the job,” he said.

“So you want people to give the same chances to everybody, no matter where you’re from or how you look, but as well, not to create another discrimination because of artificial solutions.”

“Sol Campbell is a manager - I hope he will make it at the top level and I heard he’s doing very good work. It’s a kind of humiliation to say you just got this position because of where you’re from. Personally, I fight for the merit.”

The Premier League returns next week after a threemonth suspension because of the coronavirus pandemic and while the top-flight clubs appear well-insulated against the likely economic devastation, Wenger fears lower level clubs could struggle to survive without fans in stadiums.

“I don’t worry for the Premier League. You worry more for the 65 clubs who lose money (by playing behind closed doors),” Wenger said. “We live in a world today that’s focussed on grouping the elite.

You know well the case in England. In England the leagues are dying.”

22

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, June 13, 2020

CWI calls for CEO to undergo Financial Management training … Recommendation comes ahead of next month’s start to 50% pay-cuts

By Clifton Ross CRICKET West Indies’ (CWI) woes seem to be piling up as an internal report recently called for CEO Johnny Grave to undergo financial management training, at the board’s expense.

According to a trustworthy source within the echelons of Windies cricket, Chronicle Sport was informed that the recent proposal stemmed from CWI having to cut back on their finances by 50 percent, effective from July 1, 2020.

The assessment was done by a special committee that was set up specifically for conducting a performance analysis for the Englishman Grave and CWI director of cricket Jimmy Adams.

It is also believed that CWI wants to ensure that the CEO is

suitably equipped and capable of managing the financial situations of the board and focussing more on increasing revenue; while allowing others to share responsibility regarding other logistical matters that may arise in running the day-to-day operations of the sport.

CWI’s Board of Directors sought recommendations from the Financial Strategy Advisory Committee (FSAC) back in April

by CWI president Ricky Skerritt regarding measures to ensure the board properly managed its resources while continuing its operations over the next few months in wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

On May 28, following a meeting with all parties the CWI announced a temporary 50 percent reduction in salaries and cricket funding across the entire regional cricket system,

effective from 1st of next month.

According to CWI, the devastating economic challenges which have been realised due to COVID-19 have forced the executives after talks with shareholders to sadly agree upon the decision.

The verdict, CWI believes, will preserve the future of Windies cricket, while still affording the tiniest levels of job protection for those working or contracted within the West Indies cricket community.

More so, it was noted by CWI that the pay-cuts and setbacks could likely last between three to six months and some of the new changes include; a 50 percent reduction in funding for Territorial Boards, Territorial Board Franchises and West Indies Players Associations (WIPA). There will also be a 50 percent cut in all retainers and al-

lowances for directors and executive management within CWI. Due to the recent financial issues, CWI who usually sees an annual turnover of about US$45M, requires professionals to now ensure prudent management especially in generating new revenue streams and with Grave’s background mostly recognised in players’ relations; the board could want their current CEO to be like others who were financial figures in the past.

In the past, former CWI president Dave Cameron’s day job when not involved in CWI affairs was that of a financial analyst, using his professional skills in the economic world to help better his skills as head of the regional cricket body.

Much like Cameron, previous CWI CEO Michael Muirhead was a banker by profession and it reflected

as he too did a fair job during his tenure in the position, with regard to keeping the board’s finances intact and funded; despite challenges.

With the position of CEO being a tricky one, CWI should mull the idea of sticking to their old plans and keep a professional pecuniary in position of Chief Financial Officer (CFO) as to further lend the much needed assistance to the current or future CEO; given that the current executives seem to be ill-equipped with post-apocalyptic measures.

In all, the next few months will be the roughest it’s ever been financially for all who share in West Indies cricket, due to the pandemic and executives as well as players will need to come together and formulate a plan for the longevity of cricket, on and off the field.

PL players’ names to be replaced with Black Lives Matter for 12 games

(BBC) - Premier League (PL) players’ names will be replaced on the back of their shirts with ‘Black Lives Matter’ for the first 12 matches of the restarted season.

The Premier League will also support any player who chooses to ‘take a knee’ before or during matches.

Players in Germany have made gestures of solidarity with people protesting about the death of

George Floyd.

“We, the players, stand together with the singular objective of eradicating racial prejudice,” read a statement.

In a joint message from all 20 clubs, players added that they were committed to “a global society of inclusion, respect, and equal opportunities for all, regardless of their colour or creed”.

A Black Lives Matter

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Players’ names on the back of shirts will be replaced with ‘Black Lives Matter’ for the first 12 games of the restarted season.

badge will feature on all playing shirts for the rest of the season alongside a badge thanking NHS staff for their work during the coronavirus outbreak.

Several PL squads have already ‘taken a knee’ in training-ground images shared on social media, and anti-racism charity Kick It Out had asked that players feel free to do so on the pitch.

The Football Associa-

tion has said it will take a “common sense approach” to such protests.

Four players, including Borussia Dortmund’s England forward Jadon Sancho, were initially investigated by the Bundesliga authorities for making clear their support for anti-racism demonstrations in the wake of the death of 46-year-old Floyd in police custody in the United States last month.

None was subsequently punished and the German Football Association said it would continue to allow such displays of support over the coming weeks.

The Premier League resumes behind closed doors on June 17 after a threemonth suspension caused by the pandemic.

“It’s a great start, but I then want to see something tangible.”

Former England, New-

castle and Spurs midfielder Jermaine Jenas, who made 280 PL appearances between 2002 and 2013, hopes the campaign for change continues beyond those first 12 games.

Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live, he said: “It’s brilliant that all the clubs and the players have come together and said that this is what they want. I think it’s a great message because the Premier League is one of the most powerful businesses in the world.

“I’m all for it in terms of the representation and for each club and player to be doing it. But I think the question on most people’s lips is: what next?

“What about the week after? Does it just fade out and it’s ‘OK, we did our little bit and it’s gone now’.

Or are we actually going to see some real change within our game, our own house?

“There have been huge conversations about the lack of opportunities for black coaches. We need to quash all of that by starting to implement (diversity) at the hiring level of management, at the top clubs and within the FA.”

23

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, June 13, 2020

Skerritt quashes ‘loan for tour’ rumour

(ESPNCRICINFO) - Cricket West Indies (CWI) president Ricky Skerritt has quashed speculation linking the West Indies tour of England to a US$3 million loan to CWI by the ECB in May, a loan that eventually became the subject of an ICC ethics inquiry.

Skerritt also denied that the loan ensured CWI’s backing for Colin Graves - the outgoing ECB head - for the ICC chairman’s position, elections for which are due

by July.

Skerritt said instead the loan was a “helping hand” given the direness of CWI’s financial situation, one exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Skerritt said CWI was transparent with ICC about the need for a short-term loan, and ECB’s involvement. He said it seemed to him that the issue was being “blown up” for “political” purposes only, mostly by “mischievous persons who have little genuine care for the wellbeing” of cricket.

Skerritt said the only

pre-condition set for the tour was for the safety and security of his players and once that was assured, the tour would go ahead as it was part of the ICC FTP agreement and the World Test Championship “It was just a matter of when the tour would take place and if the ECB could assure the CWI medical experts that the health-risk would be minimal to ensure the safety of our players and staff.” Skerritt told ESPNcricnfo yesterday.

“Money had nothing to do with our final decision to make this tour. Holding out a hand for a pay-off is not the way CWI does business.”

CWI had approached the ICC this April “seeking an advance” of $3 million - an advance that would be taken against the annual distribution the ICC gives member countries twice a year - in January and July.

The ICC, it is understood, asked CWI to provide an external audit of future cash flow considering it was going to make the payment three months in advance, a fore-

It was then Skerritt approached the ECB. “CWI asked ECB if they could make the advance instead, with the ICC providing the security,” he said. “ECB agreed on the basis that ICC would then pay the advance back directly in July.

ICC Finance officials were always fully aware of the transparent arrangements and soon became a legal party to the loan agreement.”

cast CWI could not provide quickly or with any certainty, given the circumstances of the pandemic were outside its control.

Additional pressure on CWI came from pending player match-fee payments, accrued since January this

year, as well as the need to pay its staff. The pandemic worsened the situation, as it scuppered the finalisation of the board’s global broadcast partnerships for their home series against New Zealand and South Africa.

“We needed cash ur-

armed black man who died in Minneapolis last month after a white police officer knelt on his neck for almost nine minutes.

“It’s been a very thought-provoking few weeks for everyone,” Anderson told the British media on Thursday.

“It’s made me do a lot of thinking. We will have conversations about what we can

do as players to make a stand, definitely. I expect that to be a conversation we have.”

The International Cricket Council (ICC) usually does not allow gestures supporting “political, religious or racial

SEE PAGE 19 James Anderson of England (Photo by Philip Brown/ Popperfoto via Getty Images)

England may consider joint anti-racism protest with West Indies (REUTERS) - ENGLAND will consider a joint anti-racism protest with West Indies during the three-Test series between the sides next month, pace bowler James Anderson has said.

Visiting West Indies skipper Jason Holder has said it would be a team decision for them whether to protest the death of George Floyd, an un-

gently,” said Skerritt. “The communication (with ICC) was beginning to look like it would take quite long to be approved and CWI had no other reliable source of cash at that time.”

‘No intentional violation’ - ICC Ethics Officer Not everyone was convinced at the ICC, however, and an informal inquiry asked its Ethics Officer to probe any potential impropriety.

Both the probe and the Ethics Officer’s clean chit were not made public.

However, according to the Indo-Asian News Service, the inquiry was set up at the behest of ICC chairman Shashank Manohar who is reported to have asked the question internally of whether it was related to the upcoming elections to the ICC chair-

activities” but has decided to take a “common-sense approach” for any potential Black Lives Matter (BLM) protest by the players.

Earlier this week, former England batsman Michael

Carberry said cricket was “rife with racism”.

Anderson, Test cricket’s most successful pace bowler, said he could not remember experiencing racism but felt players could help tackle the

issue.

“I wasn’t in New Zealand when (team mate) Jofra Archer was racially abused.

But it made me think ...

‘Have I turned a blind eye to things?’”

Players to take pay-cuts if 2020 CPL goes ahead

see story on page 20

The Barbados Tridents celebrate their 2019 title wim. (Getty Images)

CWI calls for CEO to undergo Financial Management training

Former CWI CEO Michael Muirhead was a Banker by profession which helped him survive during his tenure.

CWI president Ricky Skerritt

PAGE 22

…Recommendation comes ahead of next month’s start to 50% pay-cuts Current CWI CEO Johnny Grave will have to undergo financial management training.

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Skerritt quashes ‘loan for tour’ rumour See story on page 23

SATURDAY,JUNE 13, 2020