Guyana_Chronicle_Epaper_06_20_2020

SATURDAY 20th June, 2020

' No.106035

11 teachers of Moruca down with COVID-19 12 PAGE

…MoE to implement alternative engagement methods for NGSA, CSEC learners

All regions back under curfew

--- MOPH withdraws lifting of measures

‘Legal battle over polls’ SEE STORIES PAGES 02,03 08&10

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09

…Court of Appeal, today, begins hearing arguments in elections declaration challenge ...GECOM’s Chair maintains commission can’t probe fraud …AG says massive anomalies grounds to annul elections

…Robertson argues ‘Recount order changed the dynamics’ of the electoral process …Ali, Jagdeo among parties added to case

322 more Guyanese return home PAGE

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Hundreds of Guyanese who were stranded abroad due to the COVID-19 pandemic returned home, on Friday, under strict guidelines

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, June 20, 2020

Arguments in elections declaration challenge open today …Ali, Jagdeo among parties added to case ....small parties’ attorney granted leave to submit CARICOM report as evidence

By Svetlana Marshall TODAY, in the Court of Appeal, legal luminaries from Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago will present oral arguments in the case brought against the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), challenging its ‘failure’ to determine a final credible count and or the credibility of the results of the General and Regional Elections held last March, as required by Order No. 60 and its addendum.

The constitutional case was brought by Eslyn David – a private citizen – against the Chief Elections Officer (CEO), Keith Lowenfield; the Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Justice (Ret’d) Claudette Singh; GECOM and the Attorney General, Basil Williams over a decision of the Elections Commission to include ‘tainted’ votes in an Elections Report to be submitted by the CEO, upon which the declaration of the results would be made.

SIX PARTIES ADDED Ahead of today’s hearing, a panel of judges, comprising Justices of Appeal Dawn Gregory and Rishi Persaud and High Court Judge Brassington Reynolds, took the bench on Friday at the Court of Appeal to facilitate case management. It was during that hearing, which in part was done virtually, that a number of parties were added – including representatives of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), A New and United Guyana (ANUG), The New Movement (TNM), Liberty and Justice Party (LJP), Change Guyana and

the Citizenship Initiative (CI).

PPP/C’s Presidential Candidate, Irfaan Ali and its General Secretary, Bharrat Jagdeo, were added as respondents in the case on behalf of their political party. They were represented by Trinidad and Tobago’s Senior Counsel, Douglas Mendes, in association with Attorneys-at-Law Devindra Kissoon, Anil Nandlall and Sanjeev Datadin.

ANUG’s Representative, Dr. Mark France; TNM Executive Member, Dr. Joshua Kanhai, and LJP’s Presidential Candidate, Lenox Shuman were also joined to the case following representation by Senior Counsel, Ralph Ramkarran, who appeared on their behalf, in association with Attorney-at-Law Timothy Jonas.

Also added to the case were CI’s Executive, Shazam Ally and Kindi Ali of Change Guyana, both of whom were represented by Attorney-at-Law Kashir Khan.

Importantly, the appellant was represented by a battery of Lawyers led by Trinidad and Tobago’s Senior Counsel John Jeremie. Jeremie appeared in association with Trinidad’s Legal Counsel Keith Scotland, and Guyana’s Senior Counsel Roysdale Forde and Attorney-at-Law Mayo Robertson.

GECOM’s Chair was represented by Attorney-at-Law Kim Kyte-Thomas – a former Solicitor General, while the Attorney General represented himself in association with Attorney-at-Law Maxwell Edwards. Notably, GECOM and the Chief Elections Officer were unrepresented on Friday. While the Judges took the bench in the Court of Appeal, the attorneys in the case,

appeared virtually via zoom as a result of COVID-19 Measures instituted to suppress the spread of the deadly disease. Virtually, the Chair of GECOM and the CEO were

containing votes which are not valid and credible.

“An order restraining the Chief Elections Officer from complying with the direction of the Chairman of the Guy-

Recount, had indicated that the Elections were not credible due to 4,864 cases of voter impersonation and more than 2,000 anomalies, the Chair of GECOM, on Tuesday (June

High Court Judge, Brassington Reynolds

Justice of Appeal, Dawn Gregory

Justice of Appeal, Rishi Persaud

The Court of Appeal

present along with a number of Election Commissioners.

THE CASE In the case, which was brought by way of a Notice of Motion, David – a North Sophia resident – is seeking a declaration from the Appellate Court that the Elections Commission failed to determine a final credible count and / or the credibility of the results of the General and Regional Elections held last March, and, as such, would have breached Order No. 60 and its addendum. On the basis that the Order was not complied with, David is also seeking an order restraining the Chief Elections Officer from submitting to the Elections Commission, an Elections Report under Section 96 of the Representation of the People Act, Chapter 1:03

ana Elections Commission as set out in a letter dated 16th day of June, 2020, to submit an Elections Report under Section 96 of the Representation of the People Act, without the Guyana Elections Commission determining the final credible count and / or the credibility of the results of the General and Regional Elections held on the 2nd day of March, 2020, as required by the Order No. 60 of 2020 and the amended Order of the 29th day of March, 2020,” another section of the application read.

David also wants an Order that restricts Lowenfield from submitting an Elections Report to the Elections Commission under Article 177 (2) of the Constitution containing votes which are not credible.

While the CEO, in his June 13th Report on the National

16), asserted that the Commission does not have the powers of a Court of Law to examine and re-examine witnesses or to procure official documents to determine the truth of the allegations contained therein.

Only the High Court, she said, could determine the validity of an election under Article 163 (1) (b) of the Constitution. She therefore instructed the CEO to prepare and submit an Elections Report pursuant to Article 177 (2) of the Constitution and Section 96 of the Representation of the People Act. SUBMISSION OF CARICOM REPORT During Friday’s hearing, Senior Counsel Ralph Ramkarran sought leave to file an Affidavit in Answer, explaining that the objective is to put before the Court the

CARICOM Report. That request was granted by Justice Gregory.

The CARICOM’s Report is in stark contrast to that of the Chief Elections Officer’s Report. While the CEO, in his report, said that the 2020 General and Regional Elections were far from credible, the three-member CARICOM Observation Team concluded that the Elections were “reasonably credible.” “Overall, while we acknowledge that there were some defects in the recount of the March 2, 2020 votes cast for the General and Regional Elections in Guyana, the Team did not witness anything which would render the recount, and by extension, the casting of the ballots on March 2, so grievously deficient procedurally or technically, (despite some irregularities), or sufficiently deficient to have thwarted the will of the people…,” a section of the CARICOM Report read.

The CARICOM delegation, comprised Senior Lecturer in the Department of Government at the University of the West Indies (UWI), Cynthia Barrow-Giles; Commissioner of the Antigua and Barbuda Electoral Commission, John Jarvis, and Deputy Supervisor of Elections of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Sylvester King. The delegation, before departing Guyana, made a case for the elections results to be declared by the Elections Commission.

CASE MANAGEMENT Today, the case will commence at the Court of Appeal at 11:00hrs, and the presentations by the legal counsel would be limited to 30 minutes. Submissions by the named respondents were due at 18:00hrs on Friday, while Senior Counsel Mendes had until 22:00hrs the very day to reply to any of the other Respondents. He had anticipated that it was more than likely that the Attorney General’s submission would have differed significantly from his line of argument and as such wanted to respond. Further to that, the battery of lawyers representing David has until 07:00hrs today to file their Submission in Response.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, June 20, 2020

Massive anomalies grounds to annul polls …AG says GECOM has the jurisdiction to so do

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

By Svetlana Marshall ATTORNEY General Basil Williams, through his Legal Counsel Maxwell Edwards, said the widespread anomalies unearthed during the National Recount, are grounds for the annulment of the General and Regional Elections held last March, and the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has the jurisdiction to do so.

The Attorney General is the fourth named respondent in a case brought against GECOM by a private citizen – Eslyn David – over its failure to pronounce on the credibility of the Elections in accordance with Order No. 60, upon which the National Recount was executed. In ordering the Chief Elections Officer (CEO), Keith Lowenfield, to compile an Elections Report in accordance with Section 96 of the

Representation of the People Act and the Article 177 (2) of the Constitution for the declaration of the results, the Chair of GECOM, Justice (Ret’d) Claudette Singh, indicated that Elections Commission has no authority to investigate the anomalies or annul the elections.

But the AG in his written submissions to the Court of Appeal on Friday, said GECOM as a Constitutional Commission is a “quasi-judicial” body as he referenced to the ruling made in the case ‘All Party Hill Leaders’ Conference Captain M.A Sangma & Ors (1977). In that case, the Elections Commission of India was deemed a quasi-judicial body.

Using the very Order that triggered the National Recount, GECOM, Williams said, empowered itself to treat with issues of credibility in the recount process. In keeping with

that Order, the CEO, on June 13, submitted a Report on the National Recount to the Elections Commission, in which he made it known that credibility of the elections were affected due to anomalies and cases of voter impersonation. “Finally, the summation of anomalies and instances of voter impersonation identified in Districts [1 to 10] clearly does not appear to satisfy the criteria of impartiality, fairness and compliance with provisions of the Constitution and the Representation of the People Act, Chapter 1:03.

Consequently, on the basis of the votes counted and the information furnished from the recount, it cannot be ascertained that the results for the Districts [1 to 10] meet the standard of fair and credible Elections,” the CEO had said in his report.

Williams submitted that in light of the evidence that is before the Commission as contained in the Observation Reports and other supporting documents, GECOM ought not to request the CEO to submit a report under Section 96 of the Representation of the People Act on the ground that the irregularities, discrepancies and anomalies affected the integrity and credibility of the Elections.

In support of his position, the Attorney referenced to Chilima anor v Mutharika (Malawi, 2019) where there were allegations of irregularities and anomalies, and

it was concluded that the irregularities and anomalies

than the ballot paper issued and the number of votes of

Attorney-at-Law Maxwell Edwards

had been so widespread, systematic and grave that the integrity of the results had been seriously compromised. And that the results of the elections could not be trusted as a true reflection of the will of the voters as expressed through their votes cast during the elections held in May, 2019. In the case in question, the irregularities included altered, varied and transmitted results in clear disregard of the process recorded in the tally sheet; total number of used and unused ballot papers was lower

candidates was not balancing with the total number of valid votes cast among other anomalies.

“The five (5) member Bench imposed a duty on the Elections Commission to respond to requests by contesting parties to resolve irregularities, anomalies and discrepancies before declaring the results of the elections. The Court held that a failure to do so can amount to bias on the part of the Commission and a gross and unjustifiable dereliction of duty under the Malawian

Constitution (similar to article 162(1)(b) of the Guyana Constitution) to conduct impartial elections,” Williams pointed out.

With no declaration made to date, the AG submitted that Elections Commission has jurisdiction to declare that the Elections are cancelled on the ground of “uncovered manifest and pervasive irregularities, anomalies and discrepancies” GECOM, Williams argued, is duty bound under Article 162 (1) (a) of the Constitution to deliver results that are fair and credible, and according to the CEO’s report, the 2020 Elections were far from credible.

“It is a decided principle of law that the Elections Commission, in furtherance of its duty to deliver results that are fair, credible and truthfully reflect the will of the people, can exercise its inherent jurisdiction to cancel an election on the ground of uncovered manifest and pervasive irregularities, anomalies and discrepancies,” he submitted to the appellate Court.

Should the Elections Commission ignore the evidence of corruption and proceed with a declaration, it in effect would be undermining its own integrity, Williams submitted. The public’s confidence in the electoral process, he added, would undoubtedly be eroded.

GTT rolls out Blaze service in East Bank Demerara areas RESIDENTS and businesses within the Green Acres Providence, East Bank Demerara area can now apply for GTT’s Blaze service.

According to GTT’s Product Lead for Fixed Broadband services, Jamal Inniss, there has

been a significant demand for Blaze by the residents, and a feasibility study positively justified the roll out. Blaze is synonymous with faster internet speeds, easy connectivity, greater reliability, added security and capable of supporting multiple users.

Inniss, in to a GTT release, also revealed that “...the service introduction will also be of benefit to residents in the Diamond/Grove, East Bank Demarara areas in the coming months, once all infrastructure is in place.” Inniss also noted

that at least two more areas are scheduled to receive the Blaze service this year. “Among those areas to benefit from the service are Parika, Essequibo Islands, West Demerara in September and Skeldon, East Berbice-Corentyne in September/

October,” he said. The service expansion to Green Acres and environs was scheduled for earlier this year, but was delayed as a result of COVID-19 related restrictions.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, June 20, 2020

Coronavirus was already in Italy

by December, waste water study finds

(BBC) Italian scientists say sewage water from two cities contained coronavirus traces in December, long before the country's first confirmed cases.

The National Institute of Health (ISS) said water from Milan and Turin showed genetic virus traces on 18 December.

It adds to evidence from other countries that the virus

may have been circulating much earlier than thought.

Chinese officials confirmed the first cases at the end of December. Italy's first case was in mid-February.

In May French scientists said tests on samples showed a patient treated for suspected pneumonia near Paris on 27 December actually had the coronavirus.

Meanwhile in Spain a study found virus traces in waste water collected in

mid-January in Barcelona, some 40 days before the first local case was discovered.

In their study, ISS scientists examined 40 sewage samples collected from wastewater treatment plants in northern Italy between last October and February.

Samples from October and November came back negative, showing that the virus had not yet arrived, ISS water quality expert Giuseppina La Rosa said. Waste

water from Bologna began showing traces of the virus in January.

The findings could help scientists understand how the virus began spreading in Italy, Ms La Rosa said.

However she said the research did not "automatically imply that the main transmission chains that led to the development of the epidemic in our country originated from these very first cases".

Italy's first known

non-imported virus case was a patient in the town of Codogno in the Lombardy region.

The town was closed off and declared a "red zone" on 21 February. Nine other towns in Lombardy and neighbouring Veneto followed and the entire country went into lockdown in early March.

The ISS said the results confirmed the "strategic importance" of sewage water as an early detection tool because it can signal the virus's

presence before cases are clinically confirmed. Many countries are now using the technique.

The institute says it aims to begin a pilot project monitoring waste water at tourist resorts in July with a view to setting up a nationwide waste water monitoring network later this year.

Nearly 35,000 people have died with Covid-19 in Italy, a tally from Johns Hopkins University shows.

Trump's Oklahoma rally can go ahead, court rules

(BBC) Oklahoma's Supreme Court has ruled that President Donald Trump's rally on Saturday in Tulsa, his first since March, can go ahead.

A lawsuit to stop the 20 June rally over concerns that it could increase the spread of Covid-19 in the communi-

ty was filed this week.

Virus cases are rising in Oklahoma, and local health officials have expressed concerns over hosting the rally.

The Trump campaign says they received over 1m ticket requests for the event.

The queue for the event at the Bank of Oklahoma

Center - which seats 19,000 people - began forming ear-

week that has seen news of sinking opinion poll num-

Trump supporters have begun camping outside the arena

lier this week.

Facing tough re-election prospects in November, the president is hoping to reboot his campaign after a rocky

Saturday, June 20, 2020 - 04:00 hrs &14:30 hrs

bers, twin US Supreme Court defeats, two damning tell-all memoirs and a resurgence in coronavirus cases.

The lawsuit to cancel his

rally was filed on behalf of local residents and businesses who had argued the venue should mandate social distancing guidelines in accordance with US public health officials' recommendations, or cancel the event.

But the Supreme Court said that as the state had begun to reopen, the regulations left social distancing decisions up to individual business owners.

In response to safety concerns, the Trump campaign has said they will check attendees' temperatures and offer hand sanitiser and masks.

But people buying tickets for the Tulsa rally online also have to click on a waiver confirming they "voluntarily assume all risks related to exposure to Covid-19" and will not hold the president's campaign responsible for "any illness or injury".

Tulsa's mayor imposed a curfew on Thursday around the venue, declaring a civil emergency, but the president says the city leader has assured him the measure will not apply to the rally itself.

Mayor GT Bynum, a Republican, cited recent "civil unrest" and potential

opposition protests as he slapped an exclusion zone on a six-block radius near the arena.

On Friday morning, President Trump, also a Republican, posted a warning on Twitter to demonstrators.

"Any protesters, anarchists, agitators, looters or lowlifes who are going to Oklahoma please understand, you will not be treated like you have been in New York, Seattle, or Minneapolis," the president tweeted.

"It will be a much different scene!"

Tulsa's health department director Dr Bruce Dart told the Tulsa World paper: "I wish we could postpone this to a time when the virus isn't as large a concern as it is today."

Mr Trump originally planned to hold the rally on Friday, but changed the date after learning it fell on Juneteenth, the celebration of the end of US slavery.

The president told the Wall Street Journal on Thursday that a black Secret Service agent had told him the meaning of the anniversary.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, June 20, 2020

After apology to PM for WhatsApp comment: Faria offers resignation (TRINIDAD GUARDIAN) T&T Chamber of Industry and Commerce CEO Gabriel Faria yesterday apologised to Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley over comments he (Faria) made against the Government on a private chat which was eventually shared with Rowley.

On Wednesday, Rowley took to his Facebook page where he blasted Faria, saying he was using his position to influence voters with his “shallow dismissiveness.”

At the time, it was unclear what prompted Rowley’s attack on Faria, as there was no information in the public domain about any harsh comment which Faria which may have prompted such scathing attack by the PM. One senior PNM member had, however, suggested to Guardian Media that an interview Faria did on stateowned TTT, in which he criticised aspects of Finance Minister Colm Imbert’s Midyear Review, may have been the offending issue.

Late yesterday, however, Faria issued a statement as a “private citizen” apologising to the PM and confirming that a private WhatsApp chat in which he shared his views in “my private capacity as a citizen of our Republic” was the offending incident.

Faria also shared the private message that offended the Prime Minister: “I think you are making assumptions about the responsible and ethical behaviour of politicians. I think that train has left the station.

Their (sic) is no interest in being responsible or ethical or treating either the citizens or businesses with respect or fairly. Their (sic) is one interest: win the elections at all costs so the party in power can continue to life (sic) high off the backs of honest tax paying (sic) citizens. I am disgusted with the behaviour/ disdain/apathy displaced by both parties.”

Faria also offered an “unreserved apology” for his statements but did not direct the apology to anyone in particular.

“I wish to unreservedly apologise for the tone and for the intemperate comments about the state of play of our politics. It is clear that the language is inappropriate and this I very much regret.

Even though these comments were made in private, I accept that I should still have been mindful of my public and professional roles, and in particular, my position as CEO of the Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce,” he said.

Faria, however, said he believed business concerns were not being properly addressed by the Government.

“The sentiments I expressed were underpinned by a growing frustration I felt as a key advocate on behalf of business,” he said.

“This does not excuse the tone or content of what I said, but it is intended to provide the context for my actions.

“It was not my intention to disrespect those who hold high office nor to bring disrepute to the TT Chamber. It fell short of the professional conduct that would be expected by the TTCIC and the board.”

He also said the chamber’s board has asked to meet to decide the way forward.

Guardian Media learned that the chamber executive were locked in lengthy meetings yesterday after Faria tendered his resignation.

However, Faria’s resignation was not immediately accepted by the chamber and Guardian Media was told the executives asked that he “hold his hand” and commit to an executive meeting and board meeting before making a final decision.

Two other chatroom participants yesterday spoke to Guardian Media under the condition of anonymity and

said they did not know who shared the private conversation with the Prime Minister.

“The chatroom is governed by Chatham House rules, it is a safe space and

mental organisation) is to represent its members. And to take a personal attack on anybody carrying such a role or speaking on behalf of their membership is starting

T&T Chamber of Industry & Commerce CEO Gabriel Faria

what is said there remains there. We do not know who violated that but it is upsetting,” one of the chat group members said.

BUSINESS CHAMBERS BACK UNDER FIRE CEO Freedom of speech and expression are both under serious threat once a sitting Prime Minister can publicly attack a business leader championing the cause of his members.

This was the view of head of the Tobago chapter of the T&T Chamber of Industry and Commerce, Diane Hadad, to a social media attack by Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley on the chamber’s CEO Gabriel Faria.

“The role of the head of any NGO (non-govern-

to step into the boundaries of taking away our freedom of speech and freedom of opinions and therefore that could never be safe for any country and the people of the country,” Hadad told Guardian Media in a telephone interview.

Hadad said in a democracy, people’s voices need to be heard and she wondered why Rowley was trying publicly to shut Faria down.

“I think that in itself is the message. That message would be the message of keep quiet, the message of silence,” she said San Juan Business Chamber head Vivek Charran also defended Faria.

“Gabriel (Faria) is not a political figure, he has never been and has never really come out as a political fig-

ure,” Charran said.

He said Faria was standing up and stating what the businesses are going through.

“I do not know what Gabriel actually said but on the face of it, I could say that Gabriel has never lied.

He has not misrepresented the situation to be something other than what it is,” Charran said.

Charran said all Faria “strived to do” was represent the business community because it has been placed in a precarious position due to the COVID-19 shutdown measures.

“If it is that he has done something wrong, then what should have been done was talk on the matter of what he said, what was misleading, what was wrong,” Charran said.

“When you attack his personality and his character, I do not understand that. I am struggling to understand why the Prime Minister, at this time, would get into that sort of public statement, when he came out of this COVID-19 thing looking so good.”

Confederation of Regional Business Chambers coordinator Jai Leladharsingh also said while he did not know what prompted the Prime Minister’s statement, he agreed with Faria’s stance on VAT deferral and helping small and medium businesses.

“We need liquidity support, we need some support from the State and we need

the chambers to come together with ideas and we also need to meet with the Roadmap Committee to discuss recovery,” he said.

He said that in Canada, the government gave grants to businesses.

“Grants is money you don’t have to pay back. The Government is trying to put together the loan guarantee programme but it’s not online yet and businesses are shutting down,” Leladharsingh said.

Greater San Fernando Chamber of Commerce president Keiran Singh said he supported Faria’s lobbying for deferral of taxes.

“Disposable incomes of all T&T has been negatively affected by coronavirus,” Singh said.

He said despite the shutdowns, overheads like electricity were still due.

‘The other utilities are minor but T&TEC and the commercial industrial rates, we would have hope to get some deferral in those rates too,” he said.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, June 20, 2020

Guyana not alone AS the nation awaits the outcome of the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections, messages urging citizens to keep the peace have been pouring in. Approximately 64 per cent of Guyanese today have not had first-hand experience of the events of the 1960s, ‘70s and some part of the ‘80s. It is for this reason those who are opinion shapers are obligated to help this group understand that era by objectively putting into context events that occurred, and situating those events within the socio-economic and political atmosphere at the time, both local and external.

To do otherwise is to deny this demographic development which is required for personal and national growth, and fostering an environment of peaceful co-existence. More importantly, this generation is part of the present leaders, and will be the main leaders of tomorrow, and are therefore deserving of being equipped with the requisite tools to make the future better. The temptation for finger-pointing, though it can be lucrative, is more reflective of

settling scores or proving points at the expense of the nation moving forward. For if the young, who constitute the majority, are denied the opportunity of history being examined through appropriate lenses, unnecessary frictions can be created, which threaten friendships, familial associations and the strengthening of the nation’s fabric. Distorted examination has the potential of entrapping the minds, and making persons captive of the actions of an era that, today, is not being used as a barometer for moving the country forward, but a tool for settling old political grievances, perceived or real.

The esteemed Nelson Mandela, who stood up against the South African apartheid regime in defence of the coloured population to be treated equally, was harassed, considered a terrorist, tried and imprisoned. The Western powers, led by the United States and Britain under the leadership of Ronald Regan and Margaret Thatcher, supported the Apartheid regime against the will of the majority in the society. While the South African majority were denied the right to participate in

electing leaders of their choice, this denial was not without the support of the two nations considered by the world as purveyors of democracy and co-founders of the United Nations, which declared all men are equal and should be treated with dignity and respect.

And given this reality, the wholesale replication of the perceptions expressed by the United States and Britain has to be put into context by examining the activities of these two major players, internally and externally.

For while these countries are used as standard-bearers in determining acceptable and unacceptable standards of behaviour and engagement, historical and present evidence show that they, too, are not without blemish. As external spotlight has been placed on Guyana’s politics, making known events of the ‘60s and ‘70s, there still exists the Confederate flag flying on government buildings in some southern states in the United States. The Confederate flag evokes painful memories of an era in American history characterised by racial hatred,

African-Americans denied basic fundamental human rights and freedoms, such as the right to vote, the right to move freely, and the right to be treated equally. The point being made here is that there is nothing unusual or uncharacteristic of Guyana’s political evolution/ development, but an understanding of this can only be achieved when put in proper perspective, including doing comparative analyses with other countries, including those considered to be beacons. The electoral path the country has travelled has not been without contentions and contestations. From disagreement of changing the system from First-past the-post to Proportional Representation, allegations of rigged elections, refusal to accept elections results, court vitiation of elections, electoral challenges in the court, to the attempt and awarding of seats to the wrong party, they’re all features of this society, similar to that of others. In 2008, the Barack Obama campaign had to deal with accusations of taking on characteristics of the

infamous Chicago corrupt and ruthless politics. In 2000, there was the issue of the hanging chads, where Democratic candidate Al Gore was denied the presidency by 500-plus votes in an election it was generally felt he won, because the Supreme Court, controlled by Republican judges, ruled to refer the matter to the Florida Republican-controlled government which made a decision in favour of the Republican candidate, George W. Bush. Notwithstanding the deficiencies in the systems of the developed societies, they use these events and pitfalls to refine and improve systems to bring about growth, or preferably what they call ‘a more perfect union’. Here in Guyana, there is need to be mindful that these issues are characteristics of human nature. For in looking around the world, it would be recognised that Guyana is not singular in its politics and actions; that what Guyana may be singular in is its obstinacy to be wedded to the past and refusal to put the past into context; to learn from the past and move on.

The plight of the less fortunate and those who live paycheck-to-paycheck Dear Editor, THIS infant never really seems to please the overwhelming majority of its own ‘organ-isms’ (though sometimes I think it pleases none of them at all). These ‘organ-isms’ compare the body of their infant to other infants and grown adults who have been ill-treating it since birth. Just crazy!

All the parts of the body and the variables

in its propinquity are important, and must, therefore, work in tandem for a common purpose. However, what is contrary to the aforementioned statement is being called a subclassed Third World status infant by some of its own parts, grown adults, and other neighbourhood infants, who, in a chorus of vitriol, help to stymie this infant from truly reaching its full potential and maturity.

But you see, the vitriol does not lend assistance; my guess is that they don't understand that. I am cognisant still that the blinking eyes that trap this wee infant over expect that it, fascinatingly, should follow in their suit, or become better than those grown selfish-ass adults. But how? That is way too much expectation. It's like everything she does as an infant is constantly under scrutiny. Pay

attention to the news, and you’ll see how this infant, other infants and even toddlers are currently doing in this fight (i.e. development, growth, and democracy). I am adamant that you will notice that this same sub-classed infant is doing far better than those adults in a myriad of ways. This infant will watch, learn, and adapt as its “organ-isms” like it is doing. But this is not a surprise; this is

the expected way of all common infants.

But is there room for improvement though? I mean, yes, more can be done, but, at the very least, how is it that we do not know who is at fault? If you do not know, let me tell you.

The guilty are those very “organ-isms” of which the body of the infant compounds; each and every one. The COVID-19 virus hit this infant at a time when the

body is fighting against itself. I must say it is the worse fight this infant has ever seen in this 21st Century. What happened and is happening is that COVID-19 dealt a fatal and unexpected blow to this infant, while it had just finished deciding on what salivating diet it should try out for the next five years; whether it is going to be ‘cook-up’ or ‘curry’ is still yet to be decided by the entire

mouth. Being the realist that I am, I can safely say that this is not likely to happen soon, since the Brain and the other ‘organ-isms’ await a ruling from the shoulder-arm of the body.

Therefore, the mere act of convening to make decisions best suited for the infant’s overall health and social well-being is, for now, an impossibility.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, June 20, 2020

Please increase testing for the virus

Dear Editor,

THE surprising increase in COVID-19 cases raises concern of an under-detection of the virus. The level of testing in the ten administrative regions should be increased to a level where it is statistically significant as a percentage of the population in each Region. Once a better understanding of the level of the virus in society is understood, the timing of the phased reopening of the country will be more safely accomplished. Recent increased infections in the teaching community does raise concern. The conse-

quences of over-testing is less severe than those of an undetected increase in infected persons.

On a per capita basis, our testing should be pushed to hundreds per day. Our world in data website shows that in key locations in South America, as the level of testing increased, so has the number of infections per number of tests. If held constant, an assumed rate of increase of the spread of the virus can be calculated. However, more importantly, the data provides a clearer view of the level of infection within the populace. Containment of the virus will benefit from

this approach of increased testing, and will also help better prepare the Ministry of Public Health to cater for the needed level of corrective measures to be taken, in addition to determining the required supplies.

The flattening of the infection curve, provided associated containment is implemented, should follow once the level of detection testing becomes more statistically significant within each Region. The Ministry should allow for the sample size to have a confidence level of 95% ±5% of the measured value. For example, if we assumed that each sparsely

The CARICOM Team’s technically deficient report Dear Editor, THIS response is about deficiencies in the CARICOM Observer Report 2020. The first debatable issue is whether its 18% (423/2,399) sample size is a valid and reliable basis for its conclusions. One school of thought argues that a sample is adequate when expanding it adds nothing new to the pattern or trend of the findings. But to arrive at that correct size requires trials and errors. In many cases that is inconvenient to the researcher/investigator, and or costly in time and resources. Hence, based on experience and or intuition a researcher tends to decide on sample size.

In some cases, sample size is determined by application of some formula. The more important thing is the composition and method of the sample. A 30 % sample, for instance, would not necessarily be more valid than 18%. Generally, it is argued that the larger the sample, the more accurate the findings would be. But it is the composition of a sample that is more critical.

Accuracy is more dependent on the representativeness and purpose of a sample. If for example, irregularities are concentrated in Grove Village, but the sample size for analysis is selected from the entire East Bank, there is no way what happened in Grove Village would appear significant. An 18% sample of Grove would be more accurate than a 30% sample of the entire East Bank.

Purpose is equally important. If we want to identify and particularize the pattern of irregularities, the samples

must be based on the trouble areas with the larger lists or cluster of electors. That requires prior knowledge of the potential problematic communities so that neither time nor resources are wasted. Of the 2, 399 ballot boxes, 153 of those boxes would not contain more than 50 ballots. Historically, polling stations of these boxes would not be manipulated because of the small numbers.

If the purpose is to determine the significance of the irregularities as a percentage of the whole electorate, only in that sense a broad-based random sample would be an efficient method. Thus, it is important to ask, 18% of what? Does the sample capture the regional and community variations?

Would cluster sampling or stratified sampling have been more efficient? By what characteristics were the samples selected? Why is there no consistent pattern of sampling across the Regions? One sees no scientific parameter by the observations were done and findings interpreted.

It is important to realise that winning the elections is one aspect of the issue.

The balance of parliamentary power is another. Even if irregularities are insignificant to change who wins, they could make a difference in terms of the legislative balance of power. One cheated parliamentary seat could make a whole lot of difference. Unawareness of this is one of the critical deficiencies of the report. In a proportional representative system every irregularity and vote matter, unlike the constituency system.

Further, one revelation of implicit bias is in the emphasis that the process was an audit instead of a recount, yet the vigilance of party

operatives is described as a fishing exercise. Heightened vigilance, wrong or right at times, is normal to these political processes, especially when the players are accustomed to “guerrilla politics".

Note too, that on Page 3, the report recognises that the Gazetted Order required an "audit" rather than a recount, yet on Page 6 it states that "GECOM's elaborate and unnecessary checklist… was suggestive of an audit rather than a recount". Technically, this alone qualifies the report as a ‘C’-Grade report as it suggests that the observer team operated with confused or conflicting purpose, mission, and perspective.

Furthermore, is an inherent contradiction for the team to argue that the recount reflects the will of the people, and that it "categorically rejects" attempts to discredit the 2020 polls, yet describes the elections as reasonably credible which is subjective and ambiguous in meaning. In addition, the team cannot determine who benefitted from the "ghost voting" and voter impersonation, but recommended a new voter list as priority.

This suggests compromised logic. It is either that the elections were compromised but insufficient to undermine the will of the people, or that they were so reliable and credible that the results could be categorically defended. One cannot logically or morally defend an outcome categorically, when the process at arriving at the results was compromised.

Yours faithfully, Lin-Jay Harry-Voglezon

populated region is at minimum 10% of the population, then 139 tests should be carried out in that region.

Similar assumptions can be made along the spectrum of percentage of population.

However, it is best to err on the side of over-testing and create a minimum testing level in each region

of approximately 400, with triple that amount in Region 4. This creates a factor of safety that benefits the public, and can be applied to the testing/ percentage of population spectrum.

Once the infection rate within the regional sample is determined, then expansion of the associated regional testing should

follow accordingly, with the frequency of testing & retesting driven by the reduction & increase in the infection rate. I am hopeful that the Ministry's in-house statisticians will be able to add some additional insight into this matter.

Regards, Jamil Changlee

8

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, June 20, 2020

Justice Singh maintains GECOM can’t probe fraud …tells Appellate Court to strike out challenge to elections report, declaration

By Svetlana Marshall THROUGH her attorney, Kim Kyte-Thomas, the Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Justice (Ret’d) Claudette Singh, said the application filed challenging GECOM’s decision to compile an Elections Report without first determining the credibility of the General and Regional Elections should be struck out forthwith.

According to Justice Singh, the application is “misconceived.” In her written submissions to the Court of Appeal on Friday, Kyte-Thomas, on behalf of GECOM Chair, submitted that Article 177 (4) of the Constitution clothes the Appellate Court with a “narrow special exclusive” jurisdiction to hear and determine questions relative to the validity of an election of a president with particular reference to qualification and or the interpretation of the Constitution.

It was Article 177 (4) that the Appellant Eslyn David, through Attorney Mayo Robertson, relied upon to file the application but Kyte-Thomas submitted that the words “or the interpretation of the Constitution in Article 177 (4)” relate to the interpretation of the constitutional provisions in relation to any person for election to the presidency.

“The Court of Appeal is therefore not vested with original jurisdiction to hear questions on the interpretation of the Constitution outside of this narrow special jurisdiction. It is the High Court which is so vested,” Kyte-Thomas sub-

mitted to the Appellate Court.

The Legal Counsel further submitted that Article 133 (1) empowers the Court of Appeal to hear appeals from the High Court on questions on constitutional interpretation, and as such the first order sought by David seeking a declaration that GECOM failed to act in accordance with its Order (Order No. 60) do not touch and concern the qualification of a person elected President.

The situation, she said, is the same in the case of the second order being sought, in which the Appellant is seeking an interpretation of the words “more votes are cast.”

“It is respectfully submitted that the application is misconceived and ought to be struck out forthwith,” Kyte-Thomas told the Court in her written submission.

She added: “Further when one reads the entire Article 177, the article contemplates a person already declared by GECOM as President. It is respectfully submitted that the electoral process has not reached this stage.”

David, a North Sophia, Georgetown voter, in her application, submitted that the Elections Commission had to determine a final credible count and or the credibility of the result of the General and Regional Elections held last March as required by Order 60 – the order that triggered the National Recount. But Kyte-Thomas submitted that such a relief could only be determined by the High Court via an Elections Petition.

“Article 163 (1) (b) of the Constitution confers on the High Court the exclusive

jurisdiction to determine the validity of an election. In this regard, GECOM could not have thereby cloth itself with

Constitution, and as such, its hands are tied.

Referencing to the case Gladys Petrie v. Attorney

Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Justice (Ret’d) Claudette Singh

jurisdiction to esGeneral (1968), tablish itself as a the Legal CounCourt of Law to sel submitted that determine crediArticles 162 and bility of an elec163 “clearly and tion when Article sharply” separate 163 (1) stipulates the functions of that the High GECOM and that Court shall have of the High Court exclusive juriswith respect to diction to deterthe electoral promine the legality cess. of an election,” Further, it the Legal Counwas pointed out sel submitted. that the ParliaIterating a ment of Guyana position held by Attorney-at-Law Kim made clear proGECOM Chair, vision for the Kyte-Thomas Kyte-Thomas determination of said the Elections Commis- the validity of elections by sion cannot arrogate onto itself way of the National Assembly a jurisdiction to determine (Validity of Elections) Act, the credibility of an election Chapter 1:04. or any unlawful act. No such The title of that Act reads: power, she emphasized, was - “An Act to provide for the conferred upon GECOM un- determination of questions der Article 162 (1) (b) of the relating to the validity of

elections of members of the National Assembly under a system of Proportional Representation.”

Section 3(1) of the Act provides, “Any question referred to Article 163(1) (a), (b) and (c) of the Constitution may, in respect of an election referred to in Article 60(2) of the Constitution and with a view of securing appropriate remedial orders, be referred to the court and shall thereupon be determined by it in accordance with this Act and every such reference shall be by petition (hereafter referred to as an election petition.”

Kyte-Thomas iterated that the Parliament gave exclusive jurisdiction to the High Court to determine lawfulness and validity of an election, and, as such, no subsidiary legislation can modify it.

“The Parliament of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana did not vest GECOM with those powers but instead vested that jurisdiction to the High Court under Article 163(1) (b),” the Legal Counsel iterated while noting that it is not the duty of the court to re-write the constitution but to clearly interpret it. Kyte-Thomas put to the Court that the case brought by David is simply premature and should not be entertained.

“If GECOM is to embark on this credibility exercise what basis should be used to determine the issues of validity and credibility? The letters from one party? The opinion of the CEO? Can GECOM just use the CEO’s opinion without giving interested parties an opportunity to be heard?

Is GECOM to hold court and take evidence? The Applicant

is asking GECOM to embark on a trial,” Kyte-Thomas reasoned.

She added: “The court should not be asked to act in vain. Even if the court grants the orders sought, what is the next position? Can this court direct GECOM what to decide?

Can this court order GECOM to hold a fresh election? Are these orders even sought? The short answer is no since this is not an election court.”

THE RIGHT TO APPLY But while the GECOM Chair, through her Attorney, called for the dismissal of the case, David, through her Attorney Mayo Robertson, said her application was properly placed before the Court under Article 177 (4) of the Constitution.

“Just as the Privy Council in Jaundoo was unable to find anything in the Rules of the Guyanese High Court or in law to prevent the plaintiff from bringing her action, there is equally no legal barrier to prevent the instant Applicant from bringing her 5 motions against the Respondents so as to have the Court of Appeal grant the relief sought therein,” Robertson submitted.

Article 177 (2), he submitted, confers on the Appellate Court a unique, exclusive and original jurisdiction to not only hear questions relative to the validity of an election of a President but also the interpretation of the Constitution.

It was on that basis, he said, Court was asked to interpret Article 177 (2) of the Constitution, in particular, the words “if more votes are cast.”

The plight of the less fortunate and ...

FROM PAGE

What I perceive is present today in our midst is the happening of a great indecency. The infant had, and still to this point has its privates miraculously allowing grown-ass adults to violate, and even possibly burn (Sanction). Honestly, even parts of the brain that are supposed to be the abode of logic and the organ-ism are asking for the same. One part of the brain salivates at the sight of power, for it somehow hopes to have the oil in the ‘curry’ only when it declares itself winner of the two brains. By contrast, the other part of the brain wants to taste this oil in the ‘cook up’, since it believes its recipe is of mixture, and the one that contains the winning taste. Disgracefully, parts of the infant's Spirituality/Soul are seen to be indirectly siding with the private parts, other ‘organ-isms’, and one side of the brain. (Oh the dilemma of

being an Infant! Sigh...!)

I dare not forget the visionary ‘organ-isms’ and lungs who think they have better ideas, and therefore criticise those ‘organ-isms’ and part of the “brain” who are actually attempting to ensure that this infant survives. You would expect the visionary ‘organ-isms’ and lungs to work in tandem with both sides of the brain to help the infant recuperate quickly from COVID-19 before the contested oil that is to cook both dishes gets rancid or disappears, God forbid! But they are not going to do that, and, therefore, division prevails.

As if that was not enough, we have for some strange reason one side of the brain, the private parts and some organisms trying to force the left shoulder-arm of the infant to speak for the mouth and twist the thoughts created and written down

by the founding parents in 1980.

Interestingly, the left shoulder arm, after making a ruling, leaves an auspicious/non-favourable feeling since.

It’s now up to the right shoulder-arm to give a credible judgement.

Reflecting on the words of the Omniscient Creator of all infants, grown-ass adults and everything else, I know that if one limb of this infant stops working, it affects the entire body (1 Corinthians 12-27).

Worse still are the situations in which the brain is deprived of oxygen and shuts down, the heart stops pumping, because blood circulation is being blocked, or the shoulders and arms stop functioning because of a fracture. On another note, this our infant has and still is being manipulated, abused, and threatened by grown-ass adults causing trauma. There is a dire need for unity to outdo those adults.

However, in an attempt to not hurl speculation, I have here five revelatory, pensive, concise, and visionary questions intended for all the ‘organ-isms’ (great thinkers or not), lungs, brains, shoulder-arms, mouth, private parts, and Spiritual make-up: 1. Are we truly our brothers and sisters’ keepers?

2. Do we have an ounce of Good Samaritan blood left in our veins?

3. Do we truly love, care, and look out for our fellow body parts?

4. Do the less fortunate and those that live paycheck-to-paycheck mean anything to you?

5. Are we truly One People, One Nation, with One Destiny?

I think it is time that this infant starts looking at originality before it's too late, because, before we know it, it will not recognise itself or its desti-

06

ny. It's time for this infant to realise it can eat any food it wishes, and at any given time. It is time for this infant to decry bullying, greed for power, and the manipulation of itself and by other infants and grown-ass adults.

The sooner the biological makeup of this infant realises the God-given potential and the originality of its own body, then is when she will overcome COVID-19, Division, and economic struggle to grow and outgrow other infants and even adults.

Yours respectfully, Keron Adams Concerned and Loyal Citizen (Organ-ism) of Guyana

9

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, June 20, 2020

The Courts will provide finality –– Ramjattan said that, despite delay in elections conclusion, the Courts will give finality

APNU+AFC Prime Ministerial Candidate, Khemraj Ramjattan has stated that, while it is understandable that Guyanese are eagerly awaiting a conclusion to the March 2020 Elections, going to the Courts will provide finality to fundamental questions of national importance arising out of the elections.

As guest on an APNU+AFC’s programme on Friday, Ramjattan stated that though he was not expecting the delay to a determination on the elections, the matter, which is now before the High Court, will give Guyanese the legal resolution they so desire.

“I think that people out there in Guyana should be very happy that, at least, this route towards knowing what should be the final outcome, coming from a Court of Law, will make it very definitive, will make it final,” he said.

Ramjattan reminded listeners that the High Court had exclusive jurisdiction to deal with matters relating to the validity of elections, and while persons are complaining about the move of a private citizen to go to the Court, it is what Guyana needs at this time.

He likened the current situation to that

of the 2018 no-confidence motion brought against the APNU+AFC government which made its way through the Courts all the way to the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ).

He said that there were contrasting opinions held on the interpretation of Guyana’s Constitution and law which were made clear once and for all through the Courts.

“Just like the no-confidence motion we went right up to the CCJ. A lot of persons cussed us and said we can’t do mathematics and again they will cuss us here, they will say 233 is more than 217.

But the principle is that you must not get 233 out of a process that is not credible where thousands and thousands of the boxes obviously were tainted when the documents were not in there,” Ramjattan reasoned, adding “The question of credibility is one that looms large in this election…though unprecedented, it is very useful for our jurisprudence; it is very useful for our authoritative legal text to state that, indeed, these matters were addressed -- even if it’s going to be 2020 June month --- that they were addressed by then so that it can be,

again, something that can bring finality to the process.”

Ramjattan shares the belief of his party that the Chief Elections Officer (CEO), Keith Lowenfield, is bound to Section 96 of the Representation of the People Act which states: “The Chief Elections Officer shall calculate the total number of valid votes of electors which have been cast for each list of candidates and thereupon shall ascertain the result of the election in accordance with sections 97 and 98. 97.”

He said that with the GECOM Chair, Justice (Ret’d) Claudette Singh and the CEO being pressured by the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) to declare only the numerical count of ballots inclusive of the wrongdoings observed, the Courts will provide the Elections Commission with clear direction as opposed to operating on the basis of opinions or misinterpretations of the law.

Ramjattan iterated: “The Court system is there for a purpose…that is the best place we can go. Do you want us to have like what we had at Bath Settlement with people with cutlasses running police officers away? Guyana is civilized and the civility of it will depend on the routes we

APNU+AFC Prime Ministerial Candidate, Khemraj Ramjattan take to go towards the institutions and the institution here that has a final bearing is out court system.”

In his opinion, the elections should be nullified based on the position that ‘one bad apple, spoils the whole bunch’.

Even so, he looks forward to the progress of the matter through the Courts towards a conclusion to Guyana’s elections.

All regions back under curfew – MoPH withdraws lifting of measures in Regions 5, 8 THE Minister of Public Health, Volda Lawrence has withdrawn the lifting of non-curfew measures in Regions Five (Mahaica-Berbice) and Eight (Potaro-Siparuni).

Just Wednesday, the National COVID-19 Task Force (NCTF) had given lenience to the two Regions, even as it announced a six-phase re-opening of Guyana, which commenced on June 17.

The two Regions at reference were noted as not being affected by COVID-19 since its spread in Guyana. However, the Ministry announced on Friday that the updated emergency measures, which include the 6pm to 6am curfew and other restrictions to persons and businesses, now apply to all ten Administrative Regions.

As of June 19, 2020, Guyana recorded 183 cases; 102 recoveries, and 12 deaths.

Phase One of the planned re-opening of the country is set for June 18 to July 2, 2020.

It includes allowing 90 minutes of exercise from Monday to Friday, between curfew

hours in open public spaces.

It has also allowed for hardware, plumbing and electrical stores to operate from 6am to 5pm, and all food establishments, including street vendors, being permitted to operate takeout and delivery services from 6am to 5pm. However, there will continue to be no dine-in services at these locations.

Additionally, the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) is now classified as an essential service. This is especially necessary for the timely opening and closing of sluices, which is critical at this time of regular heavy rainfall.

All other previous measures remain in place, such as the Stay-At-Home order and physical and social distancing guidelines.

Phase Two of the re-opening is expected to take place between July 3 and July 16; Phase Three from July 17 to July 30; Phase Four from July 31 to August 13; Phase Five from August 14 to August 27; and the final Phase beginning August 28.

10

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, June 20, 2020

‘Recount order changed election’s dynamics’ –– Mayo Robertson argues in submission

By Svetlana Marshall IN defence of his client, Eslyn David, Attorney-at-Law Mayo Robertson told the Appellate Court that Order No. 60, which legally triggered the National Recount under Article 162 of the Constitution, and Section 22 of the Elections Law (Amendment) Act, changed the dynamics of the country’s electoral process, and as such the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) ought to determine the final credible count, and or the credibility of the result of the General and Regional Elections, in accordance with the Order.

Just as the Chief Elections Officer (CEO), Keith Lowenfield was preparing to submit his Elections Report in accordance with Section 96 of the Representation of the People Act and Article 177 (2) (b) of the Constitution on Thursday, David challenged GECOM’s decision to compile that report, using votes that are considered not to be credible.

Robertson, in his written submission to the Court of Appeal on Friday, said the Appellate Court, in its deliberation, should consider several issues, including whether the gazetted Order that triggered the National Recount affected or altered the meaning of the phrase, “if more votes are cast” in Article 177 (2) (b) of the Constitution, to the extent

that it now means more valid and credible votes cast.

Further, he submitted that the Court should consider “whether the Chief Elections Officer is to advise in respect of the Presidential Candidate who has been named on such a list which has received more votes than any other list”, and “whether the Chief Elections Officer can advise the Elections Commission in respect of the Presidential Candidate, if the Elections Commission abdicates its responsibility to determine the credibility of the General and Regional Elections”.

According to Robertson, the dynamics of the electoral process in Guyana changed when the Elections Commission initiated a National Recount under Order No. 60.

Prior to the gazetting of that order, Section 96 of the Representation of the People Act was the basis of the determination of the results of a General and Regional Elections, but the order, he maintained, has altered the electoral process to include consideration of the election’s credibility.

DIFFERENT LEGAL REGIME “The orders issued by the Elections Commission that ushered the Recount into being established a new and completely different legal regime,” he submitted, while pointing out that GECOM, in instituting the Order, relied heavily on

Article 162 of the Constitution, and Section 22 of the Elections Law (Amendment) Act. The Order, Robertson argued, created a new standard for the determination of the Elections held last March.

“It is therefore submitted that though the Order expressly refers to Section 96 of the Representation of People Act, it implicitly had a direct effect on Article 177(2) (b) of the Constitution, as it required the Election of the President to be similarly based on the declaration of the credibility of the Elections.

It is submitted that this conclusion is inescapable, as the Electoral System of Guyana, as set out in Articles 60, 160 and 177 conceives one composite election for members of the National Assembly and the President,” Robertson put to the Appellate Court.

Based on his line of reasoning, the words “if more votes are cast” in Article 177 (2) of the Constitution should now read, “if more valid and credible votes are cast,” taking into account the effect of the Order.

On that basis, Robertson submitted that under Article 177 (2) of the Constitution, the Chief Elections Officer should therefore advise the Chairman of the Elections Commission of the Presidential Candidate whose list secured the highest number of valid votes, in accordance

with the Constitutional Structure, and the legal regime established under the Order gazetted by GECOM. “The advice of the Chief Elections Officer, under Article 177 (2) (b), is in respect of a Candidate whose List has received more valid and credible votes than any other List,” he submitted, while adding that the CEO cannot lawfully advise the Chair of GECOM in respect of a Presidential Candidate, if the Elections Commission relinquishes its responsibility to determine credibility.

Instead of determining the credibility of the elections, Robertson told the Court, the GECOM Chair indicated that she had no legal authority to determine the credibility of the elections, and instead instructed the CEO to submit his Report as required by Section 96 of the Representation of the People Act. As pointed out by his client in her application, Robertson said the Commission established the criteria or standard for determining the “final credible count”.

In keeping with the established criteria, there was a reconciliation of the ballots issues with the ballots cast -- destroyed, spoiled and stamped.

Further to that, the counterfoils or stubs, authenticity of the ballots, the number of voters listed and crossed out as having voted, the number of votes cast without ID cards, the

number of proxies issues and utilized, the statistical anomalies and occurrences recorded in the Poll Books, were taking into consideration, and including in Observation Reports generated during the recount process.

SUPPORTING ARGUMENTS In support of his arguments, he pointed to paragraph 14 of the amended Order which states: “The Commission shall, after deliberating on the Report at Paragraph 12, determine whether it should request the Chief Elections 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 Chapter 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 2 nd day of March, 2020.”

Robertson said it is clear from that amended Order that GECOM arrogated to itself the authority to determine whether the credibility of the Elections, and whether the data could be used to compile a report under Section 96 of the Representation of the People Act for submission to the Commission.

Based on the CEO’s Re-

Attorney-at-Law Mayo Robertson port on the National Commission, he concluded that credibility of the elections could not be ascertained. “…the summation of anomalies and instances of voter impersonation identified in Districts [1 to 10] clearly does not appear to satisfy the criteria of impartiality, fairness and compliance with provisions of the Constitution and the Representation of the People Act, Chapter 1:03. Consequently, on the basis of the votes counted and the information furnished from the recount, it cannot be ascertained that the results for the Districts [1 to 10] meet the standard of fair and credible Elections,” a section of the CEO’s report reads.

Robertson concluded that GECOM’s failure to rule on the credibility of the Elections amounted to an abdication of a duty and obligation that it had assumed unto itself by Order No. 60 of 2020.

CN Sharma, Dominic Gaskin urge Coalition to concede LEADER of the Justice For All Party, CN Sharma says that there is a clear winner of the March2, 2020 polls, and that the Coalition, of which he is part, should concede defeat. “…an election has taken place under the watchful eyes of local and international observers. A national recount was carried out under the eyes of CARICOM. All votes were counted. There is a clear winner. The recount shows that the PPP/C has won the election. Therefore, Mr. Irfaan Ali should be allowed to be sworn in without delay. I am appealing to the persons who are determined on delaying the process of a declaration; it has been an exhausting 108 days for all the sons and daughters of this nation. Enough is enough, I say! It is time for Guyana to

move on!” Sharma said in a statement Friday evening.

He said, “The people of this country are starving and suffering due to unemployment caused by the pandemic. The country needs its government to make decisions; this is a time we must be strong and stand together.

I simply cannot remain silent on this any longer; my love for country is unwavering.

Whether we stand on the side of majority or the side of minority, we are all Guyanese.

The Justice For All Party will continue to represent and serve the thousands of poor and voiceless Guyanese, and will work tirelessly to ensure the prosperity of Guyana always,” Sharma added in his statement.

Also adding his voice to the matter on Friday evening was former Business Minis-

ter Dominic Gaskin who, in a lengthy Facebook statement, said: “My message to my colleagues in the APNU+AFC is simple. No one elected us to remain in office forever.

There is no reasonable basis on which you can claim to have won more votes than the PPP/C in these elections.

Level with your supporters and start directing your energies towards becoming a credible opposition party in time for 2025. Above all, try to regain the trust of the swing voter; you will never win another election without their support.”

Gaskin said, too, that the claims of fraud by the Coalition are grossly exaggerated and, unfortunately, designed to fool Party supporters, who had placed their faith in them into believing that there was actual evidence of

serious elections rigging by the PPP/C. “The claim that vast numbers of Disciplined Services ballots were deliberately not stamped, and therefore rejected, is a case in point. The so-called intermixing stations are known, and it is a fairly simple task to sum up all the unstamped rejected ballots in those stations to support the allegation. This, however, was not done, and the ominous suggestion was left to torment the minds of the men and women responsible for the defence and protection of our country and its citizens. All of this leads me to a very uncomfortable conclusion. The APNU+AFC has no intention of relinquishing control of the government. Five years after winning an election and gaining office with a fair amount of goodwill, the Coalition

is saying to the people who put us there, the equivalent of “unless and until WE are satisfied beyond a shadow of a doubt that “more votes are cast” in favour of another party in an election that WE deem credible, WE ain’t going nowhere”. That condition will never be satisfied.”

Chief Elections Officer, Keith Lowenfield when he submitted his summary/report of the national recount on June 13, noted that, undoubtedly, cases of irregularities, anomalies and voter impersonation were present in the elections. Though the count of the ballots puts the PPP/C in the lead, he outlined 4,864 cases of voter impersonation and more than 2,000 anomalies which have affected over 200,000 votes.

The CEO also stated that the presence of these cases

JFPA Leader CN Sharma hinders him from determining that the elections were credible.

He concluded that the election “... clearly does not appear to satisfy the criteria of impartiality, fairness, and compliance with provisions of the Constitution and the ROPA Cap 1:03.”

11

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, June 20, 2020

No new COVID-19 case recorded – Regions One, Four and Seven heavily impacted by the disease

GUYANA has gone 24 hours without a new case of the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), but the country still has 69 active cases, which are being monitored by health authorities.

Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Dr. Shamdeo Persaud, said health authorities have so far conducted 2,048 tests, of which 1,865 were negative and 183 were positive. But, the 183 cases have since been reduced to the 69 active cases, after 102 persons recovered and 12 persons died.

Males and the general adult population between ages 20-29 years old, continue to account for majority of the COVID-19 cases.

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) is still 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, while among those on the East Bank Demerara (EBD) are: Diamond, Grove, Land of Canaan, Providence, and Timehri.

“I wish to remind you that

we are at a much higher risk because COVID-19 is rampant in our bordering countries and we have not seen a reduction but a constant increase in the number of positive cases,” said Dr. Persaud in a virtual COVID-19 update, on Friday.

Regions One (Barima-Waini), Four and Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) are the regions which have been most impacted by the disease.

“The mining community is now one of the most vulnerable groups for the spread of this disease…Residents in Region Seven, I wish to make a special appeal to you as the situation in your community is of grave concern to the ministry,” Dr. Persaud lamented.

The Cuyuni -Mazaruni Region notably Aranka, has the second highest number of confirmed cases; it is a mining community which

means that there is continuous movement in and out of the area, making it extremely vulnerable for the disease to spread.

The CMO warned that unless residents in this area wish to see an alarming spike in the number of positive cases and even deaths, they need to act responsibly.

“Once you are positive you must go to an isolation facility which must be manned by the relevant and competent health workers.

The Ministry is relying on you to play your part,” said Dr. Persaud.

On a national level, the country is approaching another weekend and for many if not, as is customary, it will be a weekend of grand celebration as a way of showing appreciation to fathers and expectant fathers.

“I’m sure your burning

question is how can you celebrate and not meet in groups of over five, or how can you celebrate wearing a mask?

Those are relevant questions, but you have had the opportunity to acquire new skills and there are many platforms available for celebrating without being there in person.

“We do urge you to utilize these platforms, because this is surely one way to ensure that you remain COVID free and are alive next year to celebrate once more. It is one of the ways that we can try to keep another father alive to provide for his children,” Dr. Persaud advised.

As everyone is by now aware, COVID-19 remains a serious issue, not just here in Guyana, but globally as well, and, according to global statistics, there are 8.2 million cases of COVID-19, with over 445,000 deaths. And,

Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Shamdeo Persaud 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.

Pomeroon teen SBB registering applicants for dies under ‘Green Business Technology Fund’ suspicious circumstance A PREGNANT 19-year-old girl, who was allegedly beaten by her boyfriend on Wednesday at her home in the Upper Pomeroon, died several hours later, and relatives are urging the police to investigate the teen’s demise.

Dead is Rehana Rehaman, a 19-year-old of Karawab Village in the Upper Pomeroon. She was said to be one month pregnant at the time of her death.

According to reports, on Wednesday, the young woman, who lives with her grandmother, was allegedly beaten by her boyfriend.

She subsequently lost consciousness and when her grandmother found her, she was hemorrhaging. ReRehana Rahaman ports are that she suffered a miscarriage.

According to relatives, the teen’s boyfriend informed relatives that she fell down. However, Rahaman’s grandmother told family members that the teen was beaten by her boyfriend prior to her death. Reports are that the two had an argument about the teen’s pregnancy. The Guyana Chronicle understands that relatives of the teen’s boyfriend were attempting to cover-up the incident since the teen was being abused by her partner. Her grandmother subsequently reached out to the police.

Rahaman’s body is at the Suddie Hospital Mortuary awaiting a post-mortem examination.

SMALL businesses with innovative green business ideas and solutions can apply to be one of 12 lucky winners awarded up to $1 million to assist with the development of their business, in the “Green Business Technology Fund” initiative implemented by the Small Business Bureau (SBB).

The competition is open to start-up or existing businesses, which are focused on technology and environmental sustainability, with the application process, having been opened on June 15, scheduled to close on July 15.

To apply, applicants have to submit a typed business proposal of not more than 20 pages detailing their idea, a development plan of the solution, implementation strategy and outreach strategy among other criteria, via email, to the sbb.mob@ yahoo.com address.

Applications can also be dropped off at the SBB’s Office at Lot 1 La Penitence, Georgetown.

In its fourth year, the “Green Business Technol-

S m a l l B u s i n e s s B ureau’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Lowell Porter ogy Fund” was initiated in 2017 to encourage implementation of businesses that incorporated fundamentals of the Green State Development Strategy (GSDS).

“We wanted to do something that is in line with the GSDS, and the ‘greening’ of the economy. A lot of times we talk about these things but we don’t put them into action or you don’t see them happening,” explained SBB’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Dr. Lowell Porter.

He added that: “So what we did is we decided to

launch the “Green Tech Fund” and we offer a million dollars to an idea that is innovative, green, and brings or offers a solution or opportunity for a solution.

So that’s basically why we decided to do it,” Since the project started in 2017, winners have included owner of One Cart Dash, Fendel Etwaroo, and creator of bartering app “Swopp” Shemar Spencer.

“It’s a technology-based business project that ensures environmental sustainability,” explained SBB’s Marketing Officer, Shamane Headley. She added that: “The businesses that we’ve helped include online service providers, and a delivery service provider who uses modern technology. We’ve also helped agricultural business projects that employ new technology to research rice production and an online small business market place; a new tea company. We’ve also had agri-based businesses that incorporate modern technology to convert waste into fuel and other nutritional support for plants and so on”.

Small Business Bureau’s Marketing Officer, Shamane Headley Once the application process is closed, the submissions will be reviewed and then sent to a panel of judges who will further select the lucky twelve. Applicants will be required to make an in-person pitch before the judges “We have external members from the business and professional community who judge the proposals, such as business owners, CEOs and those types of persons. Every year the judges change,” Headley said. She added that winners are announced within a month.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, June 20, 2020

11 teachers at Moruca test positive for COVID-19 …MoE to implement alternative engagement methods for NGSA, CSEC students

IN light of a high incidence of coronavirus infection among teaching staff at the Moruca sub-region in the North West District, the Ministry of Education (MoE) will be implementing alternative methods of engagement to prepare pupils and students for the imminent National Grade Six Examination (NGSA), and Caribbean Secondary Certificate Examinations (CSEC) exams respectively.

The ministry has confirmed in a release that a total of eleven teachers of the Moruca sub-district have tested positive for the Coronavirus thus far.

On Thursday, the Ministry of Public Health reported that there were 12 new cases of the Coronavirus at Moruca, taking the total number of positive cases there to 23.

The Education Ministry said that Regional Health

A section of the village of San Jose at the Moruca waterfront

Officer (RHO), Dr. Steven Chefoon has since advised that with the increasing number of confirmed cases in the Moruca sub-dis-

trict, the situation there is now deemed as ‘community transmission’.

Additionally, the RHO has requested a community

lockdown for a period of 14 days. “The Department of Education, under guidance from the Ministry of Education, with effect from

Pope Francis appoints John Hemp could help economy rebound after COVID-19 Derek Persaud Bishop of ----association says Madeville Jamaica THE Vatican, on Friday, announced that Pope Francis has appointed Fr. John Derek Persaud, a Diocesan Priest of the Diocese of Georgetown, Guyana, as the Bishop of Mandeville, Jamaica.

Fr. John is the third child of John and Sheila Persaud (both deceased) and was born in Queenstown, Georgetown on August 28, 1956, the Catholic Church here has said. He has five sisters and three brothers. He did his Seminary formation at the Seminary of St. John Vianney and the Uganda Martyrs in the Archdiocese of Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. He did post graduate studies in Religious Education in Ireland and in Canon Law in Rome.

Fr. John was ordained a Diocesan Priest on July 14, 1985 and has served in his home Diocese of Georgetown in various capacities: Parish Priest, Administrator of the Cathedral, Vicar General, Vicar for Clergy, Judicial Vic-

Bishop John Persaud

ar, Director of Vocations and Director of Religious Education.

He has also served the wider Caribbean Church as Judicial Vicar of the Eastern Antilles Interdiocesan Tribunal and as General Secretary of the Antilles Episcopal Conference.

As soon as Fr. John Persaud can travel to Jamaica, he will be visiting Mandeville to meet with the Apostolic Administrator, Clergy, Religious and the Faithful of the Diocese of Mandeville to begin preparations for his Episcopal Ordination.

THE Guyana Hemp Association is once again calling on policymakers to take into consideration the beneficial aspects of having a hemp industry, especially in a post COVID-19 Guyana.

This call was made by Chairman of the Guyana Hemp Industries, Verman Bedessee in a release. Bedessee, in explaining, stated that industrial hemp has the potential to be a major boom to the country’s agriculture sector and will give farmers and potential farmers a viable profitable option for the fields. “It is a plant which takes relatively little to no water to grow and no chemicals,” the release stated.

Further, the association stated that hemp is not only cheap to produce, but can also provide several thousand jobs in the economy.

“This crop could deliver long term sustainable growth and create tens of thousands of new ‘green’ jobs at all income levels and new industries as we proceed along the long road to recovery.

It’s in Guyana initiatives “go green” and hemp is 100 per cent GREEN.” Hemp, or industrial hemp, is a strain of the Cannabis sativa plant species that is grown specifically for the industrial uses of its derived products. [1] It is one of the fastest growing plants. [2] and was one of the first plants to be spun into usable fibre

10,000 years ago. [3] It can be refined into a variety of commercial items, including paper, textiles, clothing, biodegradable plastics, paint, insulation, biofuel, food, and animal feed.

Bedessee further stated that Guyana and many countries around the world have been turned upside down since the COVID-19 pandemic and will be looking to rebuild their economies using cost cutting, effective and efficient means and the GHI truly believes that industrial hemp has valuable contribution to make in this regard, as it currently produces over 25,000 and more different commercial products, including being a super food, clothes, and construction materials, fuel, medicines, paper, plastic, textile and countless other products.

“There will be no quick recovery, but recovery is possible with this fantastic tool we have at hand which is industrial hemp and we believe that the country is ready, for a very long time, to go forward with the establishment of an industrial Hemp industry. With the removal of the barriers, especially at this time, our country can become a leader in the industrial hemp production and will be in the forefront of a new industry with unlimited potential.”

Friday, June 19, 2020, has closed all schools in the sub-district until the spread is contained,” the ministry said, and that alternative methods of engagement are being implemented to ensure that the 359 NGSA pupils and 214 CSEC students are prepared to write the exams.

“The MoE takes this opportunity to remind our teachers who are affected that our thoughts and prayers are with them and their families at this time,” the ministry said, adding: “We wish to reiterate that the health, well-being and safety of all our teachers and learners across the country continue to be our main priority during this season of engagement and examinations.”

It also noted that it remains resolute in closely monitoring the situation, and will provide updates as the situation unfolds.

The authorities at Santa Rosa, Guyana’s most populated indigenous village, have been facing an uphill battle in their fight to implement precautionary measures to stem to spread of the disease at the village. Thus far, one death attributed to the virus has been recorded at Moruca, and among the cases are a medical doctor, several staff members of the Kumaka District Hospital, as well as relatives of several of the earlier patients who are recovering from the pandemic.

Multiple tests have been conducted at the sub-district, including on teaching staff. Many residents who are aligned to a major political party have deemed the situation a political gimmick.

MMA/ADA ensuring WCB rice farmers have adequate irrigation –– project costing over $3M to conclude shortly

The excavator clearing the barrow channel at the Mahaicony end of the conservancy

THE Mahaica/Mahaicony/ Abary-Agricultural Development Authority (MMA/ADA) has initiated a series of interventions to ensure that farmers on the West Coast of Berbice have access to adequate irrigation water for the autumn crop.

Drainage and Irrigation Manager, Mahendranauth Ramjit said at present the MMA/ADA conservancy has dropped to its lowest in five years. With June almost over it is believed that the rainfall is insufficient to recharge the conservancy. With this in mind, the MMA/ADA has embarked on several interventions to mitigate any shortfall in irrigation water.

Ramjit said one of the key interventions is the clearing of the barrow channel - at the Mahaicony end of the conservancy - of weed and shrubs, to allow a proper flow of water. “We embarked on a project - with a pontoon and an excavator - to clear the barrow trench so that water could move

freely into the main canal,” he explained.

Apart from clearing the clogged barrow channel, MMA/ ADA is also ensuring all secondary drainage and irrigation channels are kept clear. Currently, repairs are ongoing at affected areas to reduce wastage and to ensure that access for farmers to their rice fields is not impeded.

The D&I Manager reminded that during last month, the MMA/ADA was successful at rehabilitating 12 miles of channels, grading and shaping the primary accesses and maintaining sluices. Come next month, the effort of works will accelerate. The current project, which costs over $3M, is expected to be concluded in a few days. The authority is reminding farmers to visit the office from 8:00 hours to 12:00 hours, Monday to Friday, to make payments on their outstanding D&I and land rental charges.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, June 20, 2020

GBTI staff donates 25 units of blood in annual blood drive

THE Guyana Bank Trade and Industry (GBTI), on Thursday, held its annual blood drive at its Water Street Branch garnering 25 units of blood, all donated by staff of its Georgetown Branches.

It was the eight year that the blood drive was held in collaboration with the Ministry of Public Health/National Blood Transfusion Service to

coincide with the observance of World Blood Donor Day on June 14. Water Street Branch Manager, Mrs. Juanita Persaud, said the bank decided to proceed with the activity as it sees it as a corporate social responsibility and the necessary health and safety COVI-19 precautions were in place and practised.

“For a while, we wanted to postpone the activity,

but we saw the calls by the blood bank for blood, especially during this time, and we wanted to make a contribution. We are happy we heeded the call. The staff responded well, as usual, and we wish to thank them for donating so selflessly,” she said.

Among those donating were veteran donors, Christopher Mackintosh, Chris-

Mercedes Low-Koon and Serena Grandison donating blood

GBTI staff member, Christopher Mackintosh, donating blood

tine Chin-Kanhai, Esther Marville, Yuvraj Bhagwandeen, Adeeb Bacchus, Mercedes Low-Koon, Sherisha Adams, Godwin Fernandes and Mahendra Deonarine. Among the first time donors were, Susan Ghanie, Raneesha Ramnanan, Mickelo Dodson and Scott Johnson.

“I always wanted to donate, I always wanted to feel what it is like,” Ghanie said.

Dodson echoed similar sentiments while Ramnanan, who was eager but fearful, said, “It was a good feeling and a wonderful experience. I would definitely be donating again.” The bank expresses its gratitude to the staff and to its partnership with the National Blood Transfusion Service and the Ministry of Public Health.

13

Bartica man found dead in yard

POLICE are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of a 53-year-old vendor, whose lifeless body was found at his West Indian Housing Scheme Bartica, Essequibo River on home Thursday morning.

Dead is Chandika Persaud. The Guyana Chronicle was told that Persaud was an alcoholic and lives alone in a two-storey wooden and concrete house. On Thursday, June 18, 2020 around 07:00 hours, Persaud was last seen alive sitting on his veranda. His neighbour, Davanand Singh, told the police that Persaud had invited him for a drink but he told the man that he would join him after doing some chores around his house. The neighbour explained that after finishing his chores around 09:30, he went to Persaud’s home and shouted several times for him but got no response.

Singh explained that he then went into the yard and found Persaud lying at the bottom of his stairs motionless and appeared to be dead. He then reported the matter to the police, who visited the scene and observed small abrasions on Persaud left shoulder, right elbow, upper right shoulder and swelling on his forehead. Persaud’s body was later taken to the Bartica Regional Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival by a doctor. His body was later escorted to the Lyken Funeral Home where it awaits a post mortem examination.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday June 20, 2020

Shoppers now screened before entering New Amsterdam Market --also required to wear masks if they want to do business there

IN an effort to stem the spread of COVID-19, residents of New Amsterdam are now being screened on entering the town’s lone market at Strand Road, in the Berbice township.

At the opening of the market at 06:00hrs on Friday, ranks attached to the municipality’s constabulary department, infrared thermometers in hand, stood guard at its various entrances, ready to take the temperature of persons about to enter the facility.

The Constabulary ranks were trained in the accurate

use of the thermometers during a session hosted by the Regional Health Authority and the Rapid Response Team.

The thermometers, along with face masks were gifted to the Municipality by the Chinese Ambassador to Guyana, Mr. Cui Jianchun, and were handed over

by Mr. Chen Xilai, Deputy Chief of Mission to Municipal Councillor, Mr. Esan Vanderstoop.

New Amsterdam Market vendors have been ordered to maintain social distancing, and wear their mask, and

warned that failure to do so will result in their being fined $5000. Customers will not be permitted to enter the market without a mask.

It has been almost three months since New Amsterdam recorded its first imported case of the novel coronavirus COVID 19.

Since then, the patient has died, and the town, along with regional authorities are continuing to screen persons entering the region, either at the Berbice River Bridge, Moleson Creek, or from Orealla-Sipiruta on the Corentyne River.

Municipal Constabulary ranks testing the body temperature of customers entering the New Amsterdam Market on Friday

322 more Guyanese return under strict COVID-19 guidelines FRIDAY afternoon saw the single largest arrival of Guyanese at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA). The diverse group of 322 citizens who were stranded in Trinidad and Barbados, returned home aboard two flights from Eastern and Caribbean Airlines.

Peter Hopkinson arrived on the Caribbean Airlines flight that touched down

at 12:30pm from Trinidad.

Though a resident in the Twin-island Republic, Hopkinson’s journey home was vital since his 90-year old father had recently passed away in Guyana.

“My mom is suffering.

She has known him for 80 years. So, I came back to be with her, to make sure she’s okay,” he told the Department of Public Information (DPI).

In light of the COVID-19 guidelines and the 7-day quarantine that all returning passengers have to observe, Hopkinson said he will have limited physical interaction with his mother, until given the all-clear at the end of the quarantine.

“We are here, just from the efforts of the Guyanese government. So, it is a service provided by them.

See Page 15

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday June 20, 2020

Seven homeless after Prashad Nagar fire

A FIRE on Sachibazar Street in suburban Prashad Nagar has left seven persons homeless, including the 70-plus-year-old landlady, Gertrude Vieira and her son.

According to eyewitnesses, the fire started sometime around 16:00hrs. Vieira told the media that the building housed her son on the top flat, and two families in the two apartments on the ground floor. She said that she suspects that the fire may have started in the room of one of the families on the bottom flat.

A visibly upset Vieira related that she was not home at the time, and only knew about the fire when she got into the street and saw the fire tenders and the house all ablaze. She

stated that she was unable to save the majority of items in her home, due to the intense heat. Reports were that at the time of the fire, there were two young children in the house, but thankfully, they were subsequently rushed to the hospital and appeared to have been unharmed.

Although the building was badly burnt, one of the tenants could have been seen removing some of his clothes and other items that had been saved from the fire but had been drenched in water. Divisional Commander of operations in Georgetown, Dwayne Scottland told the media that the Guyana Fire Service received a call around 14:26, and immediately responded with three tenders, one each

What remains of the two-storeyed house after the fire

from Central, Campbellville and Alberttown.

“On arrival, we saw that the building was engulfed in flames. The firefighters set the vehicles and started operations; as a result, we were able to contain the fire

Owner of the house Gertrude Vieira (Photos by Elvin Croker)

322 more Guyanese return....

From’ Page 14

Therefore, we have to make sure we follow the guidelines.

It is very important,” he continued.

Another citizen, Levi Holmes, after making his way through the sanitisation, temperature screening and personal information-sharing sections at CJIA said he was stranded in Barbados for four months after merely travelling for a twoweek Indigenous trade show.

While crediting the support his Barbadian friends provided during the lockdown of

Guyana’s airports, Levi listed a few steps he will take to be safe amid the coronavirus pandemic.

“I will try my best to stay much at home and to be out of the heavy traffic,” Levi added.

Aqilah Shepherd, one of the many law students who are now back on Guyanese soil after studying at the Hugh Wooding Law School (HWLS) in Trinidad highlighted her reasons for returning home.

“Aside from being with my family, I think that I will feel

more comfortable preparing for exams at home in an environment where I’m comfortable and I have full support,” Shepherd explained.

The National COVID-19 Task Force (NCTF) has extended the nation’s emergency measures to July 2, 2020.

During this period, the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) will proceed with its phased reopening of the airports that cater to limited repatriation flights, among other provisions. (DPI)

to one building,” Scotland said, adding: “From initial investigations, it looks as if it was accidental, and started somewhere on the top floor, but that is not confirmed as yet. We are still carrying out investigations.”

Deputy City Mayor Alfred Mentore, who lives in the area, said that he is working to assess the situation and see where he, along with the City Council can offer help to those families affected by the tragedy.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday June 20, 2020

Global food markets still brace for uncertainty

…because of COVID-19 says FAO 11 June 2020, Rome - Food markets will face many more months of uncertainty due to COVID-19, but the agri-food sector is likely to show more resilience to the pandemic crisis than other sectors, according to a new report released today by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).

The Food Outlook report provides the first forecasts for production and market trends in 2020-2021 for the world’s most traded food commodities - cereals, oilcrops, meat, dairy, fish and sugar.

“The impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic have been felt - at varying degrees - across all food sectors assessed by FAO. Whilst COVID-19 has posed a serious threat to food security, overall, our analysis shows

that from the global perspective, agricultural commodity markets are proving to be more resilient to the pandemic than many other sectors. That said, owing to the size of the challenge and the enormous uncertainties associated with it, the international community must remain vigilant and ready to react, if and when necessary,” said Boubaker Ben-Belhassen, Director of the FAO Trade and Markets Division.

Key trends and prospects for major food commodities in 2020/21 CEREALS In spite of uncertainties posed by the pandemic, FAO’s first forecasts for the 2020/21 season point to a comfortable cereal supply and demand situation. Early prospects suggest global ce-

real production in 2020 surpassing the previous year’s record by 2.6 percent. World cereal trade in 2020/21 is projected to stand at 433 million tonnes, up 2.2 percent (9.4 million tonnes) from 2019/20, and setting a new record high, boosted by expected expansions in trade of all major cereals.

MEAT World total meat production is forecast to fall by 1.7 percent in 2020, due to animal diseases, COVID-19-related market disruptions, and the lingering effects of droughts. International meat trade is likely to register a moderate growth - but considerably slower growth than in 2019 - largely sustained by high imports from China.

International meat prices have fallen by 8.6 percent

from January 2020, with the sharpest drop in ovine meat, followed by poultry, pig and bovine meats due to the impacts of COVID-19-related measures, including ensuing logistical bottlenecks, steep decline in global import demand, and substantial volumes of unsold meat products.

FISH The COVID-19 pandemic will continue to heavily affect seafood markets, particularly fresh products and popular restaurant species this year.

On the supply side, fishing fleets are laying idle and aquaculture producers have drastically reduced stocking targets. The pandemic is set to severely hit, in particular, global shrimp and salmon production. The shrimp farming season in Asia, which generally begins in April, is now delayed until June/July.

In India, for example, farmed

shrimp production is expected to fall by 30-40 percent.

Also, worldwide demand for both fresh and frozen shrimp is declining significantly, whilst demand for salmon is expected to drop by at least by 15 percent in 2020. Retail sales, in particular, of fresh salmon and trout have fallen greatly, and this will not recover for some time.

SUGAR World production of sugar in 2019-2020 is forecast to drop for the second consecutive year and fall below the estimated level of global consumption - for the first time in three years. Trade in sugar is foreseen to expand, sustained by low prices and stock rebuilding in some traditional importing countries. So far, the expectation of a global sugar production deficit for 2019/20 season has done little to support international sugar prices,

which have been falling since mid-2017, and are below estimated production costs for the vast majority of world producers.

MILK Notwithstanding market disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, world milk production is showing resilience, possibly growing by 0.8 percent in 2020. However, world dairy exports are expected to contract by 4 percent, amid faltering import demand.

OILCROPS Despite subdued demand prospects linked, amongst other things, to the pandemic, FAO’s latest 2019/20 forecasts for oilseeds and derived products point towards a tightening global supply-demand situation, triggered by a marked contraction in production.

Gov’t announces early payment of pension for July THE Ministry of Social Protection (MoSP) has announced that old age pension will, once again, be paid early with pension for July 2020 to begin on Monday, June 29, 2020 at Post Offices countrywide.

An alphabetical system, using surnames, will be employed for senior citizens to receive their payments during the first five payment days of the month at post offices in Regions Two, Three, Four, Five, Six and 10.

Surnames beginning with the letters A to D can uplift their pension on Monday,

June 29; surnames beginning with the letters E to K are scheduled for Tuesday, June 30; surnames beginning with the letters L to P should collect their pension on Wednesday, July 1, 2020, the third payment day of the month; Surnames beginning with the letters Q to T are scheduled for Thursday, July 2 and those with surnames beginning with the letters U to Z on Friday, July 3.

The MoSP reminds that the alphabetical system will only be used during the first five payment days and that senior citizens will be allowed to

cash their coupon/s on any day after the fifth payment day.

“The Ministry of Social Protection, in collaboration with the Guyana Post Office

Corporation, continues to put measures in place to protect senior citizens and contain the spread of COVID-19 by curbing mass gatherings and

ensuring social distancing is practiced at all times,” the ministry stated, adding: “Persons visiting GPO’s Offices are asked to wear

protective masks and sanitise their hands before entry. The public areas are also sanitised intermittently throughout the day.”

GTI offering virtual courses from July 6 THE Government Technical Institute (GTI) will be offering a six-week virtual preparatory course, as well as a qualifying examination for persons interested in applying to the institution for a diploma or certificate programme.

In a press release issued yesterday, the institution explained that the virtual course caters to persons who have only gained

Grades Four or Five in Mathematics, English Language, Physics or Chemistry.

The release also stated that the programme is only available to those persons who have “applied, processed their applications and do not have the required grades at CXC for admittance.”

It also noted that this

option is not a standalone course.

Classes begin July 6, 2020. For further information on the selected programmes persons can email the institute atgti_guyana@ yahoo.com or georgetown. ti@moe.gov.gy. They can also call telephone number 227-1197.

Additionally, the institution’s welfare department

is currently offering its students mentoring/counselling, resume and interview preparation programmes and health talks online.

Established in May 1951, GTI provides quality training in building and civil engineering, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, land surveying, science, business and computer science.

Shopkeeper robbed at Quartz Stone Backdam

THE police are on the hunt for three men who reportedly robbed a 27-year-old shopkeeper at Quartz Stone Backdam, Cuyuni River.

The Guyana Chronicle understands that Mandy LaCruz, called Susan, is employed by 48-year-old businesswoman, Marcy Benn, to operate her shop situated at Quartz Stone Waterfront.

According to reports, on June 17, 2020, at about 20:30 hours, three

identifiable male went to the shop and purchased three banks beer and in the process of serving them, two of the suspects drew a small hand gun and held LaCruz at gun point, forcing her into her room where they gagged her mouth and tied her feet and hands with tape. The men then dealt her a slap and demanded that she hands over cash and jewellery to them. In fear, she pointed to a

direction under the shop’s counter where $100,000 in cash was being kept. The bandits also relieved her of her gold chain valued at $100,000 and a $30,000 gold ring, after which they left. The men also escaped with a Digicel modem. After the men left, LaCruz managed to free herself and reported the incident to Marcy Benn, who later reported the matter to the police.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, June 20, 2020

‘Be vigilant at the borders’ …PAHO calls on countries to contain spread of COVID-19 in vulnerable populations in border areas

The Director of the Pan American Health Organization, Dr. Carissa F. Etienne, earlier this week called countries to “work together to strengthen the health response within their territories and across frontiers,” in order to contain the spread of COVID-19 cases among migrant and vulnerable populations in border areas.

“Most border towns lack robust health infrastructure, and service quality and access are often low. Due to limited hospital facilities, they often rely on labs of limited capacity and small clinics that serve communities in vast catchment areas,” PAHO’s Director said. The increases of COVID-19 transmission in these areas “is cause for serious concern and immediate action.”

In the Americas, “We are fast approaching 4 million cases and the epidemic is still accelerating in the region,” she said, with almost 203,600 deaths reported from

COVID-19. Currently, the United States accounts for 54% of all cases in the Americas and Brazil has 23% of all cases. “And we are not seeing transmission slowing down. That is the case in almost all countries in Latin America and a few in the Caribbean.”

“While the majority of infections in the region are reported in big cities, where economic inequality and population density fuel transmission, our data show a concerning trend towards high transmission in border areas.” Etienne said in a media briefing.

As an example, PAHO remains concerned about Haiti and the Dominican Republic, that share an active border and continue to report a rise in new cases. The PAHO

Director referred to a spike in transmission in the north of

Colombia intersect; and the borders between Peru, Brazil

Costa Rica, around the border with Nicaragua, as well as in French Guiana which borders Brazil, and an increase of cases in neighboring countries such as Suriname. In addition, there is ongoing transmission in the northern states of Brazil that border Guyana and Suriname; the Amazonian region where Venezuela, Brazil and

and Colombia.

Dr. Etienne said PAHO is supporting countries “to address the spread of COVID-19 in border areas, either by establishing a local presence, or by boosting the capacity of local health authorities.” She cited examples where PAHO enhanced local capacities in border areas with field offices

in the Amazon, supported migrants on the Venezuela-Colombia border, and worked with UN partners in a triage center on the Haiti-Dominican Republic border.

Strengthening primary care services in border areas and sharing information across borders are important steps countries can take to improve the response to COVID-19, Etienne said. “Emergency facilities and surge personnel will be needed to back up local capacity during the pandemic” in border communities and among transient populations, and information on prevention must be shared in languages and formats that various cultures can understand, she added.

The PAHO Director called for partnership and co-

operation to address the issue in the Region of the Americas and highlighted the need for “solidarity towards the communities most affected by the virus”.

“These are day laborers, migrants, and people who rely on the informal economy each and every day to survive. They are among the most vulnerable to COVID-19, and the least likely to receive care. We have a responsibility not to leave them behind,” she said. Stigma and discrimination toward migrants or day laborers most vulnerable to COVID-19 “have no place in our region. Not now, not ever, and especially not amid a pandemic. I count on all Member States to uphold these values, so together, we can beat our common enemy: COVID-19,” the PAHO director said.

ECLAC urges action to combat climate change (Santiago, Chile, June 18, 2020) The environmental impact of the prevailing development pattern endangers the well-being of much of humankind and, in some cases, its survival. That is why it is necessary to make deep transformations in the development paradigm and in the investments that make it possible, according to a new book published today by the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC).

The publication – entitled The climate emergency in Latin America and the Caribbean: The path ahead – resignation or action? – was presented at a virtual conference

by Alicia Bárcena, ECLAC’s Executive Secretary. António Guterres, the United Nations Secretary-General, sent a message for the occasion.

“The study that ECLAC is presenting today reflects more than a decade of research, follow-up and proposal building.

It articulates a perspective from the regional level with the biggest global challenge of our time, climate change; and, as always, it does so by gathering together countries’ own assessments, their needs, and tracking their own responses, while also imagining and proposing more ambitious paths for action and revealing the urgency of providing greater responses,” the UN Secretary-General stated.

He added that “this book contributes notably to available knowledge, both for those in charge of designing and executing public policies as well as for our societies as a whole, which are essential protagonists in the change to production and consumption patterns that cannot be delayed any longer.”

Other speakers at the event included Teresa Ribera, the Fourth Vice-President of the Government of Spain and Minister for the Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge; Horst Pilger, Head of the Climate Change and Environment Section at the European Commission’s Directorate-General for International Cooperation and Development; Alfonso de Urresti, Chair of the Environment and National Assets Commission in the Chilean Senate; and Kishan Kumarsingh, Head of the Multilateral Environmental Agreements Unit of the Ministry of Planning and Development of Trinidad and Tobago and Co-Chair of the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Durban Platform for Enhanced Action.

Also participating were Andrea Meza, Director of Climate Change at Costa Rica’s Ministry of Environment and Energy; Adriana Lobo, Executive Director of the World Resources Institute of Mexico and Colombia; João Carlos Ferraz, a scholar at the

Federal University of Río de Janeiro; and the book’s co-authors: Joseluis Samaniego, Director of ECLAC’s Sustainable Development and Human Settlements Division; Wilson Peres, Senior Economic Affairs Officer; and José Eduardo Alatorre, an Economic Affairs Officer in the regional commission’s Economics of Climate Change Unit.

The publication exhaustively reviews the effects of the climate emergency in the Latin America and Caribbean region along with the policies used to tackle it. It proposes actions for a new, more sustainable and egalitarian development model, in line with the long-term vision of ECLAC and the 2030 Agenda. In addition, it sets out essential guidelines for reactivating with equality and sustainability.

The book indicates that the current health and climate crises are part of an unsustainable development model associated with a declining growth rate for production and trade, since even before this crisis, a recessionary bias and the decoupling of the financial system could be seen. This is a model linked to a high degree of inequality with dominance by elites, which is to say, the culture of privilege, and based on major negative externalities such as the emissions associated with climate change, which is ex-

ceeding global environmental thresholds, and with systemic vulnerabilities that have been exposed by COVID-19.

It warns that the crux of international negotiations and national policies alike is the struggle to divide, transfer, minimize, avoid and measure the burden of this externality.

In that sense, it indicates that the Paris Agreement defined the planet’s carrying capacity with regard to carbon emissions and established voluntary national carbon budgets via somewhat more ambitious, albeit still insufficient, Nationally Determined Contributions – among other advances. However, it involved a step backwards in terms of differentiating responsibilities between countries, which aggravates center-periphery tensions. “The remaining budget for the periphery may be insufficient for development needs,” the publication specifies.

The book sustains that Latin America and the Caribbean is a region that is extremely vulnerable to climate change because of its dependence on highly climate-sensitive activities, its low adaptive capacity and its exposure to various extreme hydrometeorological events.

It notes that between 1970 and 2019, Latin America and the Caribbean was affected by 2,309 natural disasters, according to figures from

the Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters (CRED). These events prompted 510,204 deaths, affected 297 million people and caused more than $437 billion dollars in damage.

The publication dedicates a special chapter to the cases of Central America and the Caribbean, two subregions that stand out because of their high degree of vulnerability to climate change and their limited participation in producing emissions, and which have climatic, geographic and socioeconomic particularities that justify a separate analysis.

In the case of the Caribbean, the document analyzes ECLAC’s debt for climate adaptation swap initiative.

During the launch, Alicia Bárcena, ECLAC’s Executive Secretary, emphasized that in the face of the now unavoidable effects of climate change, one of the region’s priorities is to increase society’s resilience and adaptive capacity, while also exploring the existing synergies between adaptation processes and other development goals.

She noted that Latin America and the Caribbean has assumed adaptation and mitigation commitments that will be impossible to fulfill without structural change. To that end, ECLAC identifies policies for strategic sectors that reduce emissions, create jobs and boost investment,

and would allow for undertaking the reactivation with equity and sustainability to move towards a new development pattern. These sectoral drivers of structural change are non-conventional renewable energies, nature-based solutions, the circular economy and recycling, smart cities, sustainable and resilient infrastructure, less polluting consumption and the economy of care, she explained.

The senior United Nations official added that the response to the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) is an opportunity to move towards a big push for sustainability.

“We need a new development pattern aligned with the 2030 Agenda, we believe that building a welfare state in a new equation with the market and society is a matter of urgency. Strategies sustained over time are needed. This is a political undertaking to make the technical proposal viable and make room for science.

Finally, we need institutions and coalitions that formulate and implement the policies, we need compacts at a global, regional, national and local level. The horizon is equality, progressive structural change is the path, and politics, the instrument,” she concluded.

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Former F1 driver Zanardi undergoes surgery for biking accident

(REUTERS) - Former Formula One driver and twice Champ Car champion Alex Zanardi underwent surgery for severe head injuries yesterday after being involved in a road accident while racing his hand bike in Italy.

Siena’s Santa Maria alle Scotte hospital said in a statement that the 53-year-old Italian, who lost both legs and nearly his life in a 2001 Champ Car crash in Germany, was in a “very serious” condition.

“The neurosurgical and maxillo-facial intervention to which the athlete was subjected began shortly after 19:00hrs and ended shortly before 22:00hrs,” it said.

“The patient was then transferred to the intensive care unit on a confidential prognosis.”

The Italian news agency ANSA reported sources saying the accident involved a truck on a state highway near the town of

Pienza to the south-east of Siena.

The hospital said the four-time Paralympic road cycling gold medallist was flown to Siena by air ambulance and arrived at around 18:00hrs local time (1600 GMT).

Sky Italia television reported that Zanardi had been competing in the ‘Obiettivo Tricolore’ road race for Italian paralympic athletes.

According to the manager of the national paralympic cycling team, Zanardi was conscious when help arrived, it added.

Zanardi is an inspirational figure in the worlds of motorsport and paralympic endeavor; a hugely popular and positive competitor who returned from life-changing injuries with a smile.

He had both legs amputated above the knee, with his heart stopping seven times as he lost all but a litre of the blood in his body, after the horrific crash at the Lausitzring in Germany on September 15, 2001.

“You have never given up and with your extraordinary fortitude you have overcome a thousand difficulties,” said Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte on Twitter.

“Come on Alex Zanardi, don’t give up. All of Italy is fighting with you.”

American motor racing great Mario Andretti also expressed his concern.

“I am so anxious and frightened about Alex Zanardi that I’m holding my breath. I am his fan.

I am his friend. Please do what I’m doing and pray for this wonderful man,” he said on Twitter.

Current IndyCar driver Graham Rahal hailed Zanardi as “truly one of the greatest inspirations and toughest men I’ve ever met.”

Zanardi won his titles in the U.S.-based Champ Car series, now IndyCar, in 1997 and 1998.

He competed in 41 Formula One grands prix, mostly for Lotus, between 1991 and 1999 with his final season at Williams.

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Saturday June 20, 2020) COMPLIMENTS OF XTRA ENERGY DRINK – STABROEK BAZAAR (Tel: 683-9500) CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD- 83 Garnett Street, Campbellville, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158)

Answers to yesterday’s quiz:

(1) Moin Khan-(35 dismissals: 23 catches/12 stumpings) (2) Jeff Dujon (46 dismissals: 42 catches/4 catches)

Today’s Quiz:

(1) How many players have captained Pakistan in ODIs against the WI to date?

(2) How many players have now led the WI in ODIs against Pakistan to date?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, June 20, 2020

Fernandes steals late draw against Tottenham (REUTERS) - MANCHESTER United’s Bruno Fernandes fired home a late penalty to rescue a point for the visitors in a lively 1-1 draw at Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League yesterday.

It had looked as though Dutchman Steven Bergwijn’s first-half strike would prove enough to revive Tottenham’s faltering hopes of qualifying for the Champions League.

But United, with Paul Pogba on as a second-half substitute for his first appearance since January, because of injury, stretched their unbeaten run in all competitions to 12.

Pogba immediately added some spark to United’s play and it was his dribble that forced a clumsy tackle by Eric Dier to concede the penalty that Fernandes fired past Hugo Lloris.

United thought they had another penalty awarded in stoppage time when Fernandes went over under challenge from Dier but VAR rightly reversed the decision to the home side’s relief.

Spurs remained in eighth spot on 42 points while United are fifth on 46, two points behind fourth-placed Chelsea.

The usual pre-match music bellowed around the empty 62 000-seater stadium, but after the whistle blew an eerie

Manchester United’s Portuguese midfielder Bruno Fernandes scores their first goal from the penalty spot during the English Premier League football match between v Tottenham Hotspur at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, yesterday. (Photo by Shaun Botterill POOL/AFP) silence descended - the new normal in in an often feisty clash. the Premier League since the restart from SUPERB STRIKE the stoppage caused by the coronavirus Marcus Rashford, who used the pandemic.

Despite the lack of atmosphere long break to recover from a back inthere was no lack of energy on the field jury, almost gave United the lead after

21 minutes when his close-range volley was kept out by Lloris’s legs.

It was Tottenham who went ahead, though, shortly afterwards.

Bergwijn marked his Spurs debut with a superb strike against Manchester City in February and showed again why the club signed him from PSV Eindhoven in the January transfer window.

His strike after a surging run was fierce but straight at David de Gea who could only deflect it into the net.

The Spanish keeper did much better soon after, when he tipped Son Heung-min’s header over the bar.

Pogba replaced the ineffective Fred just past the hour and United were immediately more dangerous.

Twice Anthony Martial looked certain to equalise, first when Dier made a sliding interception to block his shot and then when Lloris produced a stunning flying save.

Victory would have launched Spurs back into the hunt for a top-five finish but Dier’s rash tackle left them frustrated.

It could have been worse for Jose Mourinho’s side. After their VAR let-off United substitute Mason Greenwood went agonisingly close to snatching a winner.

IPL convenes meeting to discuss sponsorship deals (ESPNCRICINFO) - The IPL has convened a meeting of its Governing Council next week to “review various sponsorship deals” for the tournament following tensions this week on the India-China border.

The move reflects the fact that the IPL’s main sponsors, including title sponsor Vivo, have Chinese ownership or links.

While there has been tension at the border in the Indian region of Leh for some days, the flashpoint was an incident on the night of June 15. Although details are scarce, the Indian government has said that its army lost 20 soldiers, including one senior officer,

in the incident.

Vivo, a Chinese mobile handset manufacturer, first bagged the IPL title sponsorship for two years in 2015. In 2017 Vivo retained the rights signing a five-year contract, paying about US$341 million. Soon after, IPL also roped Paytm, the mobile wallet company, as the official Umpires Partner (an on-ground sponsor) between 2018 and 2022 for an undisclosed amount.

One of the main investors in Paytm is Alibaba, a Chinese e-commerce company.

Posting a late tweet yesterday, BCCI just said it would review the IPL sponsorship deals but did not name exactly which ones.

The development comes a day after

BCCI treasurer Arun Dhumal said that although the board was open to reviewing any future deals (post 2022), the current contract with Vivo was not likely to be scrapped.

“When you talk emotionally, you tend to leave the rationale behind,” Dhumal told PTI on Thursday. “We have to understand the difference between supporting a Chinese company for a Chinese cause and taking help from Chinese company to support India’s cause.

“When we are allowing Chinese companies to sell their products in India, whatever money they are taking from Indian consumer, they are paying part of it to the BCCI (as brand promotion)

and the board is paying 42 percent tax on that money to the Indian government. So, that is supporting India’s cause and not China’s.”

The BCCI had recently postponed the IPL indefinitely due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It has already been stressed about losing close to INR 4000 crore (US$0.53 billion approximately) in case the IPL does not take place this year.

The BCCI has been waiting for the ICC to make up its mind on the men’s T20 World Cup, which is scheduled for October-November, in Australia, but is likely to be postponed with the Cricket Australia preferring to host the tournament in 2021.

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Positive COVID-19 test forces US golfer out of RBC Heritage

Watney is the first golfer to test positive on the PGA Tour following its restart (BBC) - American golfer Nick Watney has withdrawn from the RBC Heritage after testing positive for coronavirus prior to the second round.

Watney, 39, delivered a negative test before the tournament and shot a 74 in the

first round.

However, a PGA statement said that “prior to arriving at the tournament” yesterday, Watney “indicated he had symptoms consistent with the illness”.

He then withdrew after having a test

Hamilton to have faster car at F1 restart (BBC) - Lewis Hamilton will have a faster car for the first race of the delayed Formula 1 season as a result of a number of upgraded parts.

Hamilton has not driven the 2020 car since the end of testing in February.

Mercedes technical director James Allison said they worked on getting developments designed in January, February and March on to the car.

“We got a lot of ideas how to make it quicker. We hope to have a chunk of that for the first race,” Allison said.

All F1 teams were shut down from the last week of March through April and May, and returned to work

this month in preparation for the start of the season in Austria July 3-5.

The number of upgrades they have managed to produce in that time will have a defining effect on competitiveness as the season starts up.

Allison said that the car, launched in February, was fixed at around Christmas, with the first part of this year spent designing upgrades.

“Quite a lot of those ideas were already in process through the design office before we were forced to shut down,” he said.

“Our challenge now is to make sure that quarter of a year of development can get off the drawing boards and onto the car as swiftly as possible.”

which came back positive.

“For the health and well-being of all associated with the tournament and those within the community, the tour has begun implementing its response plan in consultation with medical experts including working

with those who may have had close contact with Nick,” added the PGA. The RBC Heritage is the second tournament since golf restarted and California-born Watney is the first to test positive on the PGA Tour following its return.

DCC congratulates Nedd on maiden first-class call-up Lewis Hamilton

Mercedes tested at Silverstone last week with a 2018 car to give the team and drivers a chance to “blow off the cobwebs” and try out the new working practices aimed at avoiding any risks with coronavirus.

“Probably the biggest change for all of us is going to be being at a race weekend where there are no fans,” said Allison, who was talking in a video published by Mercedes.

“That is going to be a very strange experience. It’s normally one of the pleasures of being at a track.

“I’m itching to find out in the crucible of a race event whether the work we did has produced a car we can be excited and proud of.”

PRESIDENT Roger Harper, Executives and Members of the Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) would like to congratulate the club’s young sensation, Ashmead Nedd, who recently earned his maiden first-class call-up.

Nedd, following the 2020-2021 West Indies Professional Players Draft for the Colonial Medical Insurance Super50 Cup and the West Indies Championship, was snapped up by the Leeward Island Hurricanes for the upcoming season.

The club, which has always facilitated the young man’s development, is keen to continue doing so even as he will be resident abroad.

Needless to say, this opportunity with the Hurricanes set-up will land him in good stead moving forward and we, the members of DCC, urge him to grasp it with both hands and use it as a stepping-stone to earn opportunities at the highest level.

“We have no doubt that he will continue to do well since the 19-year-old, who is a left-arm spinner by trade, was one of the leading performers for West Indies at the ICC Under-19 World Cup in South Africa earlier this year.

He was also part of West Indies Emerging Players unit that won the Colonial Medical Insurance Super50 Cup last November. Before then, Nedd had been one of the flagship players of the club.

Like so many others, he came through the junior ranks, ironically via a programme, designed and implemented by his father and coach, Gavin Nedd. He went on to play, captain and acquit himself well for Guyana at all the age group levels and so his transition to the first-class level comes as no surprise to us.

Once again, DCC would like to congratulate Nedd and wish him well as he strives to make his family, club, and Guyana proud.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, June 20, 2020

Sanasie pledges full CGI support for next generation of cricketers … says finalisation on Academy Contracts set for June month-end

By Clifton Ross CRICKET Guyana Inc. (CGI) executive Anand Sanasie is pleased with the Guyana Jaguars players, who were contracted following Monday’s draft, He pledged full support towards the continued welfare and development of all its players during these dark times.

Sanasie told Chronicle Sport, during an exclusive interview following the 2020 Cricket West Indies (CWI) Professional Cricket League (PCL) that he was confident that the updated Guyana Jaguars roster will do well this season, adding that the local Jaguars Academy players’ futures were also in good hands.

Cricket has suffered a number of afflictions over the past few weeks with COVID-19 pandemic having its way with sports in general worldwide. As a result of no live action for almost four months, a number of international and regional tours/tournaments were either abandoned during or prior to the start; or postponed indefinitely.

Although West Indies and England will be ‘taking one for the team’, after having decided to do battle amidst the ongoing pandemic in their UK series which bowls off a few weeks from now, the Regional cricket scene seems a bit more quiet with regard to this year’s start to the 2020/21 Regional Super50 and 4-Day tournaments.

While the Regional season is currently on COVID-19 watch, Sanasie believed that the Jags’ 15 contracted players have warranted their selection and he’s strong on the combination of the young guns and the senior bunch further gelling together as they go forward in hopes of this year’s season being played.

“We have a nice team with a mixture of experience and youth which is good. We (CGI) will continue to provide for the next generation of our cricketers and also try to help them with their smooth career transitions,” said the CGI executive.

Guyana Jaguars, arguably the best 4-Day team in recent history, having won 5 titles in a row are constantly churning out new talents for the West Indies international teams. When

not manufacturing international stars, Jaguars maintain their position as a star-studded monster in regional cricket, with a number of past, present and future Windies players in the mix.

Regarding this year’s 15-man squad, Sanasie, a CWI director, said all contracts were rightfully awarded to those deserving of such a career-altering move, while adding that players were also rewarded for their performances in last season’s 50 Overs and 4-Day. “I think the team we picked is good enough for the requirements needed in the PCL 50-over and 4-Day tournaments.

We stayed with our two overseas players (Raymon Reifer and Ramaal Lewis) because they are proven performers. We also thought that we had invested enough in them and the potential is there for them to further significantly contribute to our programme and beyond,” Sanasie explained.

While September is on the cards as the possible time for cricket to return locally and some sort of team-training and scrimmages to be conducted, Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Secretary confirmed that the LBI Training Complex, which is currently being modified;

will be the home of the Jaguars’ training when things get back to normalcy.

“As soon as we are able to fully restart our team-training, the players will train at the LBI Complex. Until then they will continue their daily ZOOM session with our physio Neil Barry Jr and we have also issued personal programmes to each of the cricketers to further assist them during these times,” he said.

Lastly, the CGI boss spoke on the future of the local Jaguars Academy players and their contracts for the new year, adding that CGI’s main goal is to ensure its players are properly protected in every aspect and, as such, the youngsters will still be looked after; even during a time when CWI has cut funding by 50%.

July 1 is usually when newbies or current academy players are briefed on their future as it pertains to their roles among other aspects of their budding careers.

Sanasie closed by confirming that CGI were in the process of discussing these current contracts and possibilities of newer ones if any, with the final decisions being made by the end of June.

Southampton thrash Norwich as PL continues (BBC) - Three second-half goals from Southampton condemned Norwich to their fourth defeat in five games, denting their hopes of Premier League (PL) survival.

Saints top scorer Danny Ings curled in the opener shortly after halftime, before Stuart Armstrong doubled their lead five minutes later.

Norwich looked lack-lustre at an eerily empty Carrow Road, and Nathan Redmond confirmed a win for Southampton against his old club when he slotted into the bottom right corner late on.

The Canaries remain bottom of the table following a 104-day absence.

And the time away from PL action, due to the coronavirus pandemic, did little to spark any signs of a comeback from Norwich, who have just eight games to claw back a six-point deficit on 17th-placed Watford above the relegation zone.

In the PL era, no team with 21 points or fewer after their 30th game of a season have survived the drop.

It was a positive performance from Southampton, who capitalised on the break, pressing high and taking advantage of space in behind the Canaries’ defence.

The Saints move up into 13th place, and have opened up a 10-point gap on the bottom three, having played a game more than those hovering around the safety mark.

Before the game, Norwich boss Daniel Farke said he believed five wins from their nine remaining fixtures would be enough to

Danny Ings and Stuart Armstrong assisted each other for their two goals in the second half, preserve their PL status. have been hoping to tick off as one of those But they remain six points from safety, five desired victories. with a goal difference considerably inferior to He experimented with their formation their rivals, and are still to travel to Arsenal, - starting Josip Drmic and Teemu Pukki up Chelsea and Manchester City in July. front together - but it did not pay off.

This was a game against a side in the Pukki’s superb pass set up Drmic in the bottom half of the table, which Farke would first half but the Swiss international looked

rusty throughout and he needed a touch too many to get the ball out from under his feet, wasting the opportunity.

It was met with a faded roar from the new television-enhanced crowd noise - something that became a common theme in the first half as the hosts probed but ultimately failed to create many clear-cut chances.

And after Ings’ effort curled in, early in the second half, Norwich never recovered, conceding again five minutes later. They remain the only top-flight club yet to earn a point from a losing position this season.

When the Premier League kicked off in August, Ings was in top form for Southampton, netting 10 goals in his first 15 starts following a £20M move from Liverpool last summer.

But before the league was suspended, he had scored just once in seven games.

The break seemed to give him a boost because Ings came back looking sharp from the off.

He cracked the crossbar in the first half with a chance he would usually have buried, but he made no mistake second time around after the ball fell kindly for him in the box and he curled it past Tim Krul.

Moments later, he set up Armstrong for Southampton’s second.

The England striker’s energy did not fade in the second half as Southampton looked fresh and full of running - even the extra yards needed to fetch the ball in the absence of familiar ball boys and girls, did not affect them.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, June 20, 2020

Barcelona forward Martin Braithwaite looking forward to visit Guyana ... GFF president congratulates player on scoring first goal in Spain

PRESIDENT of Guyana Football Federation, Wayne Forde, has extended congratulations to Martin Braithwaite who scored his maiden goal on June 13 when he played for his new club FC Barcelona.

The Danish striker who holds dual Danish-Guyanese citizenship, played his first full 90 minutes in La Liga since

joining from Leganes as an emergency signing in February, as Barcelona thrashed Real Mallorca 4-0 on Saturday following an assist by Lionel Messi.

Forde, in a message to the player via the Danish Football Association, expressed his delight at the news and the possibility of hosting him in Guyana, adding that the GFF is “excited to learn

about his transfer and continue to follow his performance at the Club. Please let him know that I wish him well and look forward to welcoming him to Guyana sometime in the future”/ In response, Braithwaite shared his appreciation, thanking Forde for his “kind words, they are much appreciated.

I’m looking forward to going to Guyana

and meeting all of you”.

The 29-year-old Braithwaite is the designated ambassador of GFF and Danish FA’s partnership. According to the GFF, he was scheduled to visit Guyana in July but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, his visit along with other aspects of mobilising the relations is now being rescheduled.

Gabriel wants same approach that won Windies Wisden trophy (CMC) – A year after West Indies won the Wisden Trophy for the first time in a decade, fast bowler Shannon Gabriel believes his side’s pace attack should stick to the game plan they executed in that home series in order to defeat England again and hold on to the title.

The 32-year-old who played a major part in that series which the home side won 2-1, said there was no reason to deviate from a winning strategy.

“I don’t think that the plans should shift too much from what we did in the Caribbean. What we did was successful. I don’t think that you should be fixing anything that is not broken,” he told reporters on Thursday afternoon via ZOOM link from Manchester where the team is preparing for next month’s three-Test series.

A veteran of 45 Tests since his debut at Lord’s in 2012, Gabriel is among the 11 reserves for the current tour which is being played in a “bio-secure” environment because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but he is confident he can regain full fitness following ankle surgery.

“The ankle is good at the moment, no pain, no aches,” said Gabriel, who is currently in the Top 20 of the ICC Test Match Bowling rankings, with career-best match figures of 13 for 121.

“Right now, I think I’m about 85 to 90 per cent fit. In terms of bowling fitness and match readiness, I find I still have a little more work to do to in terms of rhythm, but that will come. Thankfully, we have at least three weeks before the first Test match so there is a lot of time still to continue the hard work.”

Shannon Gabriel celebrates the wicket of Jonny Bairstow. (Getty Images) West Indies will also have two in- squad, saying that from what he had seen ter-squad warm-up matches here – a since arriving here, they could “put anyone three-day match June 23-25 and a four-day under pressure”. match June 29-July 2 – before they travel to Responding to questions about how he Southampton for the first Test which will be felt being among the reserves and not the played July 8-12 at Ageas Bowl. main 14-man squad, particularly given that The second and third Tests bowl off he is accustomed to being in the starting here at Old Trafford, July 16-20 and July lineup, Gabriel said it was “a good expe24-28. rience”.

Although Gabriel is hoping to be among “There are a lot of young players comthe 11 chosen for the first Test, he expressed ing through, young fast bowlers, and it’s confidence in the young fast bowlers in the exciting for West Indies cricket. So, I’m

trying my best to – other than get myself prepared – lend any advice or any knowledge that I have, any experience that I can pass on, so they can take it into their game,” he said.

The Trinidadian also touched on the new International Cricket Council (ICC) rules banning the use of saliva on the ball as efforts are made to ensure the safety of players and staff, given the spread of the contagious COVID-19 which has infected more than 301 000 in the United Kingdom, including more than 42 000 who died.

Gabriel believes the saliva ban puts bowlers at a disadvantage, even though shining the ball with sweat will be allowed.

“It’s kind of hard to use sweat alone but it’s the new norm so you just have to get on with it and find a way to make it work,” he said.

The West Indies squad is living, training and play in a “bio-secure” environment during the entire seven weeks of the tour.

The protocols will restrict movement in and out of the venues and the matches are being played without spectators.

Gabriel said such changes would take some adjusting to, but insisted they would not affect the intensity of the matches or dampen the West Indies’ enthusiasm.

“When you step on the field you’re playing for country and if you’re not going out there to give 100 per cent I don’t think you should be on the field. So, I don’t think anyone would be going on to go half-hearted. We came here to try and win a series and we’re gonna do the best we can and fight as hard as we can to win the series,” he assured.

DCC congratulates Nedd on maiden first-class Sanasie pledges full CGI support call-up for next generation of cricketers CGI executive Anand Sanasie

‌ says finalisation on Academy Contracts set for June month-end See story on page 26

Martin Braithwaite celebrates his first goal for Barcelona with Lionel Messi

See story on page 25

Ashmead Nedd celebrates a wicket, v South Africa, Under-19 World Cup, Potchefstroom, February 1, 2020.

Barcelona forward Martin Braithwaite looking forward to visit Guyana ... GFF president congratulates See story player on scoring first goal in Spain on page 27

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SATURDAY, JUNE 20, 2020