Guyana_Chronicle_Epaper_07_11_2020

SATURDAY 11th July, 2020

' No.106057

CEO SEEKS CLARITY SEE PAGE 03

Chief Elections Officer (CEO), Keith Lowenfield

…says Order 60 contradicts Constitution, ROPA

...GECOM Chair demands that he submits elections report no later than 11:00hrs today

Recount order should be set aside

PAGE

05

––Alexander maintains no results should be declared from 2020 Elections

‘Count only valid votes’ PAGE

11

…APNU+AFC supporters hold spirited protests outside GECOM

Protecting Guyana’s coastline

---experts urge that ‘we must act now’

PAGE

12

4 new cases of COVID-19

PAGE

PAGE

02

11 Supporters of the APNU+AFC coalition protesting on Main Street, calling for the counting of only valid votes (Carl Croker photo)

2

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, July 11, 2020

Four new COVID-19 cases within 24 hours --Nine persons recover

THERE continues to be a consistent rise in the number of Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) cases, with Guyana recording four new cases within the past 24 hours.

Deputy Chief Medical Officer (DCMO), Dr. Karen Boyle said those cases were found following 25 COVID-19 tests, which were done on Friday.

The authorities have so far tested 3,112 persons, with 2,822 testing negative and 290 being positive for the disease. Nine of the infected persons have recovered and were medically cleared by the authorities. Those persons joined the 125 others who have already recovered from the disease.

The country, however, lost 16 persons to the dreaded virus, and the authorities are still managing 140 active cases, six of which are being treated in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

Cases of the disease have been detected in nine of the country’s ten administrative regions, with Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) being the latest one to record a case of the disease.

Health authorities believe that there are more unknown cases of the disease, and it is important for persons to utilise the mobile testing units and COVID-19 facilities, so that those unknown cases can be detected.

“Just remember that the earlier you seek medical

assistance, the easier it is for the health personnel to provide the timely care and treatment you need,” Dr. Boyle said.

Regarding the testing capacity in Guyana, she assured the nation that the country compares favourably when compared to some of the other countries in the region.

Jamaica and Trinidad & Tobago are the only two countries ahead of Guyana in terms of testing rate, but the country is doing better than Suriname, Antigua and Barbuda, Anguilla, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Haiti and Grenada.

“So, bravo to the staff at the Reference Lab who are going above and beyond to ensure that the tests are run, and the results are available in a timely manner,” Dr. Boyle said.

It is, however, evident that Guyanese are still taking the disease lightly, and this is proven by the findings of

a survey conducted by the Ministry of Public Health in collaboration with UNICEF. The two main results of the survey were that the level of fear of becoming infected with COVID-19 has decreased from 81.6 per cent to 53.5 per cent; and that 30 per cent of respondents reported their unwillingness to give up their daily practice and adhere to guidelines provided.

“I wish to emphasise that the decline in your fear factor may be as a result of your tiring from the constant messages concerning COVID-19. Nonetheless, I wish you to recognise that our cases are still on the increase, and that we all are susceptible. COVID-19 is a ‘smart Alec’, according to our Guyanese parlance, so the best approach is not to behave as the 30 per cent of those persons in the survey who are unwilling to give up their free lifestyle; rather, let us try to avoid being infected,

Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Karen Boyle

and to safeguard ourselves from the potential damage that COVID-19 can cause,” Dr. Boyle advised.

COVID-19 remains a serious issue not just here in Guyana, but globally as well, and according to global statistics, there are 11.8 million cases of COVID-19, with over 545,000 deaths. And, with

no approved treatment or cure, there is no assurance that persons will survive after contracting the disease. In the absence of approved medications, governments and authorities across the world have employed a number of preventive measures to contain the spread of the disease.

Guyana benefits from pre-manufactured housing units to boost COVID-19 fight GUYANA is one of five countries in the Caribbean to benefit from premanufactured housing units from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

The international organisation handed over 48 housing units to the Ministry of Public Health, through the Civil Defence Commission

(CDC), to boost the regional capacity of the COVID-19 response in Guyana.

According to Cecilie Saenz Guerrero, Senior Liaison Officer of UNHCR Guyana, “The pre-manufactured units are to be used by the Ministry of Public Health for quarantine and isolation facilities in the regions. We wish to show solidarity with the host country as part of UNHCR’s global response to the COVID-19.”

In the event that a region’s medical facility becomes overwhelmed due to increases in the number of cases, these units will provide additional space for persons who are asymptomatic and or are tested positive for the virus.

Ms. Guerrero noted that the MoPH has also expressed that the premanufactured housing units can also serve well for family members who need to self-isolate but cannot do so in their homes due to space constraints.

“This product is specifically designed for UNHCR to support its response to refugees and other persons of concern to UNHCR across the world, particularly for persons in need of international protection, and displaced persons as well as support host countries affected by global

emergencies. Hence, there is a very limited number of these units available globally, and in the context of Guyana, they are therefore meant to support the MoPH in its response towards COVID-19,” Ms. Guerrero said.

To complement the donation, UNHCR undertook to train a cohort of persons from the CDC, regional engineers and health officers in the setting up of the units. The training was a two-fold activity which included Online theoreticals while the practical setting up of two units was done in Mahaica-Berbice (Region Five). UNHCR is awaiting the arrival of protective gear to further support the MoPH. The CDC, through the National Emergency Operations Centre Partner and Stakeholder Engagement Platform (NEOC - P&SEP) formed a partnership with UNHCR, along with several other international and Non-Governmental Organisations. These partnerships are geared towards the strengthening of the CDC’s technical capacities to improve its preparedness and response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and to benefit from lessons learned from stakeholders,

which supported other countries in epidemics and pandemics over time.

According to Lieutenant Colonel Kester Craig, “The pre-manufactured housing units will be managed by the Ministry’s Health Emergency Operations Centre (HEOC). As part of the practical training, units were set up in Region Five. Further, due to the spike in the number of cases in the Santa Rosa, Moruca sub-district, Barima-Waini, (Region One), a team recently set up several units in Moruca to support quarantine and isolation needs in the subdistrict. This week, a team will be deployed to set up the housing units in Parika, Essequibo Islands-West Demerara (Region Three).”

Lieutenant Colonel Craig informed that the CDC will continue to deploy its team to set up more units as the need arises. The Commission thanks the team from UNHCR for its continued support. Ms. Guerrero commended the CDC and the volunteers who participated in the training, as this will boost the skill resources to the Country towards its COVID-19 response.

3

CEO SEEKS CLARITY

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, July 11, 2020

…says Order 60 contradicts Constitution, ROPA

...GECOM chair demands that he submit elections report no later than 11:00hrs today

By Svetlana Marshall IN a twist of events on Friday, the Chief Elections Officer (CEO), Keith Lowenfield, instead of submitting an Elections Report, sought clarity from the Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Justice (Ret’d) Claudette Singh, on the basis that the request for the preparation and submission of that report collides with the Constitution of Guyana and the Representation of the People Act. Justice Singh, on Thursday (July 9), had instructed the Chief Elections Officer to submit the Elections Report in accordance with Article 177 (2) (b) of the Constitution and Section 96 of the Representation of the People Act, Cap 1:03 no later than 14:00hrs on Friday (July, 10). According to the instructions of the GECOM Chair, the report ought to be compiled using the valid votes counted during the 33-day national recount as indicated on the Certificates of Recount.

But Lowenfield said there was need for much clarification, and though he met with the Elections Commission at GECOM’s High and Cowan Streets’ Headquarters, there was no report.

In his letter to Justice Singh, the Chief Elections Officer said having read the judgment of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), it was imperative for him to have a clear understanding ahead of the preparation and submission of the report, to safeguard against any action deemed to be unilateral.

Pointing to the July 8, 2020 judgment of the CCJ in the case – Irfaan Ali and Bharrat Jagdeo v Eslyn David and others, Lowenfield said that the court endorsed the position that GECOM cannot determine the credibility of the elections, as he pointed to paragraphs 41-45 of the judgment.

“It therefore holds that Order 60 of 2020 cannot be executed in its entirety.

submitted to the GECOM Chair an Elections Report on the basis of declarations

based on the reports of the Returning Officers.

Paragraph 37 of the

umbrage at the “missive,” in which, Justice Singh had sent to him dictating how

Chairperson of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Justice (Ret’d) Claudette Singh and Chief Elections Officer (CEO), Keith Lowenfield

As a consequence, a final credible count as conceived by the commission and expressed in the Order cannot be attained,” the Chief Elections Officer wrote.

Further, Lowenfield sought clarity on the request for another Elections Report under Section 96 of the Representation of the People Act. “Kindly provide guidance on how Section 96 (1) of the ROPA could be properly operationalised,” the Chief Elections Officer asked, while noting that “of particular relevance are two facts: 1) that the election law envisages that “the votes counted, and information furnished” would be provided by statutory officers and 2) the allocation of seats is premised on the statutory report of the Returning Officers.”

On March 14, the Chief Elections Officer had

made by the Returning Officers in the 10 Electoral Districts, in accordance with the Section 96 of the Representation of the People Act but those declarations and the Elections Report were placed in abeyance to pave way for a national recount, after allegations of electoral fraud had erupted during the tabulation of the Statements of Recount in District Four. The Elections Commission had relied on Article 162 of the Constitution and Section 22 of the Elections Law (Amendment) Act to bring in effect Order No. 60, which triggered the national recount.

The Chief Elections Officer, in his correspondence, said it is important to note that the CCJ, in its decision, said the allocation of seats in the National Assembly and the identification of the successful presidential candidate could only be

judgment reads: “Both the allocation of seats in the National Assembly and the identification of the successful presidential candidate are determined on the sole basis of votes counted and information furnished by Returning Officers under the Representation of the People Act.” Against this background, the Chief Elections Officer reminded the Chair of the Elections commission that the national recount was not undertaken by Returning Officers.

“The concluding opinion [paragraph 52] of the CCJ’s judgment states that Order 60 is in tension with the Constitution of Guyana and could not create a new election regime,” Lowenfield said while reiterating his need for guidance “on which of the Elections of 2 March 2020 could be lawfully declared.”

Lowenfield also took

the Elections Report should be compiled. Her actions, he said, are in contrast with the historic practice of submission of the Elections Report.

“The structure of your missive suggests a change in operational procedures and further the two citations appear dissimilar. In this regard, clear guidance is required with respect to whether the report being requested is premised on Section 18 of the Elections Law Act 15 of 2000 or an Article 177 (2) (b) of the Constitution,” he told the GECOM Chair.

The Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams, had said that the instructions of Justice Singh were in breach of the Constitution and the Representation of the People Act on the basis that it is the Chief Elections Officer who must advise the Elections Commission on the results of the elections

in the form of an Elections Report.

Nonetheless, while the commission met for hours on Friday, it is unclear whether the clarity Lowenfield sought was provided. He, however, left the meeting ahead of its conclusion after receiving death threats.

However, the Chief Elections Officer was subsequently informed by way of another letter, that the Elections Report must be submitted no later than 11:00hrs today, Saturday, July 11, 2020. In her correspondence to the Chief Elections Officer, Justice Singh said she took note of his concerns but a report was still needed. “In response to your request for guidance on which the results of the March 2, 2020 Elections can be declared, you are accordingly advised that my letter dated July 9, 2020 stands. You are therefore required to submit your report by 11:00hrs on 11th July, 2020,” the GECOM Chair told Lowenfield.

It is expected that once a report is submitted in accordance with the instructions of the GECOM Chair, the Elections Commission will move to declare the results of the March 2 General and Regional Elections, paving the way for the swearing in of the president.

The Chief Elections Officer had submitted a second Elections Report on June 23 based on the ruling of the Court of Appeal but the CCJ, in assuming jurisdiction to hear the case brought by Jagdeo and Ali, set aside the decision of the lower court and invalidated the Elections Report. In that report, approximately 115, 000 votes had been excluded from that report on the basis that they were compromised due to thousands of irregularities and cases of voter impersonation that were unearthed during the national recount.

4

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, July 11, 2020

France: Bus driver dies after 'attack over face masks' in Bayonne

The wife of Philippe Monguillot, Veronique Monguillot (centre), holds a portrait of her husband during a protest march

(BBC) A bus driver has died in France, five days after he was attacked by passengers who reportedly refused to wear face masks, his family says.

Philippe Monguillot, aged 59, had been left brain dead after the assault in the south-western city of Bayonne.

"We decided to let him go," his daughter Marie told AFP news agency, saying doctors had agreed.

Two men in their 20s were arrested and charged with attempted murder after the assault late on Sunday.

Two other men were charged with failing to help

a person in danger while a fifth man was charged with attempting to hide a suspect.

Mr Monguillot was set upon after he reportedly asked three of the men to put on face masks and also tried to check another man's ticket.

Face masks are mandatory on public transport in France.

The mayor of Bayonne condemned the "barbaric act", local media report.

On Wednesday, thousands of people took part in a protest march in the city.

Regional bus services were severely disrupted as drivers refused to work following the incident.

Biden challenges Trump with ‘Buy American’ economic plan (BBC) Democratic presidential contender Joe Biden has laid out his rescue plan for the coronavirus-crippled US economy, while berating President Donald Trump as incompetent.

Mr Biden said his $700bn (£560bn) plan would be the

biggest investment in the US economy since World War Two. The "Build Back Better" agenda, he said, would spur a manufacturing and technology jobs boom.

The Trump campaign responded that the plan would inflict "catastrophe".

Saturday July 11, 2020 –– 09:00hrs

Mr Biden is all but guaranteed to face off with Mr Trump in this November's presidential election.

Speaking at a metalworks firm near his childhood hometown of Scranton, Pennsylvania, on Thursday, Mr Biden said the president's failures had "come with a terrible human cost and a deep economic toll".

"Time and again, working families are paying the price for this administration's incompetence," Mr Biden said.

November's election is expected to be dominated by the coronavirus pandemic and its economic fallout, which has pushed tens of

millions of Americans into unemployment. More than 130,000 people have died with the virus.

Many voters are concerned by the Trump administration's handling of the pandemic. His divisive approach to the country's recent wave of anti-racism protests has also come under sharp scrutiny.

Opinion polls show Mr Biden with an almost doubledigit lead over Mr Trump.

Analysts have urged caution in over-interpreting the polls, but Mr Biden's lead is far greater than that of Mr Trump's 2016 opponent Hillary Clinton at the same point in the campaign.

What else did Mr Biden say in his speech?

The former vicepresident, who served under Barack Obama, struck an optimistic tone as he presented an economic programme, which he said would create at least five million jobs in manufacturing and innovation.

A key theme of his plan, Mr Biden said, was to "Buy American". He proposed a $400bn increase in government spending on USmade products, in addition to spending $300bn on the research and development of new technologies, including electric vehicles and 5G networks.

"When the federal government spends taxpayers' money, we should use it to buy American products and support American jobs," he said Pennsylvania is a battleground state seen as critical to the outcome of the election. Mr Trump won it in 2016 by a thin margin.

The "Buy American" tagline has drawn comparisons to President's Trump's "American First" agenda.

But Mr Biden said Mr Trump had failed to "bring back jobs and manufacturing" and, during the pandemic, had protected wealthy "cronies and pals" instead of working-class families.

"The truth is throughout this crisis, Donald Trump has been almost singularly focused on the stock market, the Dow and NASDAQ. Not you. Not your families," Mr Biden said.

Joe Biden will not hold campaign rallies The Trump campaign took a dim view of Mr

Biden's economic proposals.

"Mr Biden's wilful attack on our jobs, our families, and the American way of life will reverse all the gains we've made together and plunge us into economic catastrophe," spokesman Hogan Gidley said.

Where are we in the election race?

Mr Biden, 77, officially secured the Democratic presidential nomination in June. He had been the effective nominee since left-wing Bernie Sanders withdrew from the race in April.

It is Mr Biden's third bid for the presidency, after failed runs in 1988 and 2008.

Mr Obama endorsed Mr Biden in April, saying in a video that his former vice-president had "all the qualities we need in a president right now".

A former US Senator from Delaware, Mr Biden is yet to choose his running mate - the person who would become vice-president should he be elected. Kamala Harris, a Democratic senator from California, is considered the front-runner.

Who could be Joe Biden's running mate?

Both the Democratic and Republican party conventions are scheduled for August. At those events, delegates will formally choose each party's nominees for president and vice-president in the 2020 election, due to take place on 3 November.

5

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, July 11, 2020

Recount order should be set aside –– Alexander maintains no results should be declared from 2020 Elections

By Svetlana Marshall ELECTIONS Commissioner Vincent Alexander, on Friday, said the National Recount Order – Order No. 60 – should be set aside by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) on the grounds that it created a new elections regime contrary to the Representation of the People Act and the Constitution.

Alexander’s new stance on the ongoing electorate impasse is in light of a decision handed down by the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) on July 8, 2020.

“With respect, the notion that Order 60 could either impact interpretation of the Constitution or create a new election regime at variance with the plain words of the Constitution is constitutionally unacceptable,” the CCJ said in its judgment in the case – Irfaan Ali and Bharrat Jagdeo v. Eslyn David and others.

Alexander, shortly after existing a meeting of the Elections Commission on Friday (July 10), told reporters that undoubtedly the National Recount created a “new elections regime,” in contravention with not only the Constitution but the Representation of the People Act. “My own understanding is that now that the CCJ has ruled, for all intents and purposes, the Order should be set aside,” the longstanding Elections Commissioner opined. While the Elections Commission had supported the National Recount, which spanned for a period of 33 days, he said, given the decision of the CCJ, one cannot logically say, that GECOM could produce a result from the National Recount.

“They (the CCJ) talked about not being able to produce a result under a new regime; new regime meaning, what the order

provided for,” he posited.

But while Alexander shares this view, the Chairman of the Elections Commission, Justice (Ret’d) Claudette Singh is insisting that the Chief Elections Officer, Keith Lowenfield must compile an Elections Report based on the valid votes tabulated during the recount and reflected on the Certificates of Recount.

That report was expected Friday, but, the Chief Elections Officer sought clarity on the basis that the recount was not done in strict accordance with Representation of the People Act. Questioned whether he thought the CEO’s request for clarity was a fair one, Alexander responded in the affirmative. “In my own view it is a fair request because I do see a collision between asking him to respond under 177 (2) (b) of the Constitution and 96 of the Representation of the People Act, and at the same time specifying that [the] count must come from the recount,” Alexander posited.

Referencing to the ruling of the country’s apex court, the Elections Commissioner maintained that the Recount Order created a new regime, particularly with respect to what constitutes a valid vote and spoilt and rejected ballots.

“The CCJ for example, sought to define a valid vote by going back to the Representation of the People Act. If you do that, then there would be a difficulty because some of what we did at the recount flies in the face of a declaration of a valid vote. Here I am not referring to the things in the Observation Report, I am referring to the fact that there were instances where we reviewed ballots and decided almost on the spot that we would not follow the strict interpretation of the law that once one could discern the intent of the

voter the ballot would be counted,” the Commissioner explained. He added: “There were three times we met on that issue and very time a different decision was made; so ballots were differently affected.”

Alexander told reporters that the Order created for a lot of maneuvering, and did not facilitate strict compliance with the Representation of the People Act. According to him, the electoral process, as outlined in the Representation of the People Act, was corrupted during the National Recount. Given the current challenges faced

by GECOM, Alexander reiterated his position that there should be no declaration of results from the General and Regional Elections held last March, and fresh elections should be held using a clean List of Electors.

But Sase Gunraj, who is among three commissioners nominated by the Opposition, said that the CCJ’s ruling was unambiguous and paved the way for the elections results to be declared based on the Recount Order.

“Importantly that decision of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) did not in any way, shape, or form, howsoever or whatsoever impugn the Recount Order No. 60 of 2020,” he told reporters shortly after the conclusion of the meeting of the Elections Commission.

Gunraj said that the Elections Report should have been submitted by the Chief Elections Officer, who is a ‘creature’ of the Commission, and ought to act in strict compliance with the orders of that Commission. He said failure to submit an Elections Report today should result in serious disciplinary actions being taken against the Chief Elections Officer. “The law dictates that

Elections Commissioner Vincent Alexander the CEO is a creature of the Commission and if he fails to carry out the lawful instructions of the Commission, obviously that has to be met with consequences and there are a raft of consequences which can flow from that,” Gunraj said.

Elections Commissioner Bibi Shadick The Elections Commissioner reminded that it has been more than four months since Elections were held in Guyana, and the results have not been declared. His colleague, Bibi Shadick also expressed her dissatisfaction.

Elections Commissioner Sase Gunraj “We cannot have one person holding up this country; right now that is what is happening,” Shadick told reporters.

Today, at 11:00hrs the Chief Elections Officer is expected to submit his Elections Report.

6

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, July 11, 2020

Guarding against fake news Guyana continues to have more than its fair share of propaganda, hoaxes and misinformation. This is particularly so in our politics; in the actions, roles and contributions of political leaders, their parties and rivals, and contributions from racial groups.

Where facts have historically been discarded and lies retold, the Orwellian efforts to create an alternate universe has met with measurable success in influencing acceptance or rejection of an individual or group, and their contributions. This is a fact that advanced societies are beginning to realise that they, too, are susceptible to.

Acknowledging fake news and its consequential impact does not ignore that Guyana is not singular, nor is it a new experience to advanced

societies, as evidenced during Adolf Hitler’s reign in World War II Germany and the Cold War era.

But in this Information Age, the potency of fake news is immediate and more lethal, not only for the consequences borne from discrediting persons, but the potential it offers those who seek to discredit issues, credible organisations, and persons.

It is not unusual to find those prone to taking sides to discredit the entire media corps, or specific outlets, when reported actions reflect an image they find distasteful, but conversely expect the media to assist them in communicating their views to the wider society. In spite of the tactic of attacking the messenger, which is usually to discredit the conveyer of the information and absolve the originator

of the information from accountability, it is proving to reap dividends.

Now that information and news can be updated, re-edited, re-interpreted, and posted every second of the day, fake news is exploiting technology to disconcerting ends. It is not unusual to see such outlets obliterating or blanketing credible information and sources by altering reality. At the same time, it is not untrue to say news outlets have used their credibility to spread untruths, or twist the truth in order to promote the agenda of its owner; or fail to ensure the credibility of its source, due to the competitive natur of the environment, in order to be the first to break the story.

In the new landscape, U.S media operatives are litigating the importance of maintaining their integrity and the public’s trust. At the

same time, their credibility is coming under fire for being the purveyors of “fake news”. With such allegations becoming more and more difficult to grapple with, Guyanese media owners and workers can cite several instances where the powerful have sought to discredit and delegitimise them, and by extension the content of their news, thereby absolving the originators of the news from accountability.

Local media operatives have experienced, and continue to experience, similar vile attacks from former president, Bharrat Jagdeo. Why this is instructive is that the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic has presented the image that it has fought for and respects press freedom.

Societies around the world have to grapple with fake news as an industry, which

has either seeped into, or become a part of, mainstream media. News outlets, persons or organisations with grievances, dislikes or sinister agendas are engaging in communication to undermine and delegitimise others. This sees the deliberate omission of certain facts, or the redirecting, as in editing, of content, altering of images, or doctoring of footage to get a particular point across.

These realities carry consequences. They not only create opportunities to be economical with the truth, but misleading information can be hazardous to the planning and implementation of programmes. It is factors of this nature that undermines acts of cohesion in society. As advanced societies, where media are considered freer

and pivotal to democracy, grapple with what can best be described as a virus (i.e. fake news), there are expressions of concern that politicians are reflecting characteristics of leaders in authoritarian societies.

Today, the news media is operating in a challenging and complex environment, where even as it tries to be a credible source, it’s at times held captive to forces, technological, ownership and the prevailing culture. There will always be propaganda and high risk of public manipulation. But even in the face of these, news outlet should not lose sight of the fact that pursuing or maintaining credibility is critical to its respect and survival, and the growth and development of society.

COVID-19: It is rather now, than later, or never

Dear Editor

Our numbers of COVID-19 cases have been rising, and alarmingly so. This should not come as a surprise; not that it should, or be a welcomed situation, given the fact that we are being ravaged by a global pandemic that has claimed almost 500000 lives, with an 11 million number of as infected persons worldwide. As a grim reminder, a vaccine is not even in sight.

That the early numbers of infected persons in Guyana were low, but gradual, had been due to the limited amount of testing that had been done. But it was a foregone conclusion that once testing had been increased, the reality of Covid-19, with regards its presence in Guyana, would have been better disclosed and identified, and increased measures employed to counter its threat.

The reality is that the spike in infections taking place in Guyana comes down to the human factor;

where cultural behavior patterns is at play, a corresponding fact that is also present in the many other jurisdictions, where citizens have pushed back against strict adherence to social distancing measures, and where the lockdown measures were not total to the point of being stringent. But there has been a deadly toll being exacted. As an example, one is now witnessing a frightening resurgence in infected cases in the United States, where states that have been locked down, and decided to reopen too early, are now seeing a spike in infected cases; in Britain, where although there was a strict lockdown, there have been numerous incidents of citizens still wanting to bar-b-que, causing a system of minimal financial penalties against those caught breaking the public health laws.

The recent decisions to reopen schools and certain businesses although in a phased manner, have resulted in a renewed surge, that have affected the reopening of most of these institutions of learning.

This is also similarly occurring in other European countries at the moment, and ever since where, with the first rays of Spring, citizens have been flocking the beaches; and congregate at roadside cafes because it is cultural to do so. And this is despite the pandemic still raging in their geographic spaces, and in other contiguous regions such as France, Spain, and Germany. But they are all paying the price for both premature decisions with regards reopening, and failing to adhere to social distancing measures. Even in Australia, where there were virtual draconian measures employed with great success, there has now been an alarming spike. The pandemic continues to rage, out of control, as evidenced in the multi-thousands of daily infections, and deaths, as in the case of neighboring Brazil.

There is no doubt that the local health authorities have done a tremendous job, in terms of establishing systems to deal with infected persons, particularly identifying sanatoriums for

quarantine and isolation, to the extent of converting a former hotel to become a specialized hospital for such pandemic infected persons – reportedly, the first in the Caribbean. Its daily public updates, in the form of statistics on the local rate of infection, and death(s) whenever such occurs; demonstrative ads and other public awareness programmes, aimed at sensitizing all citizens. Maybe, the use of billboards, inclusive of the electronic types, coupled with a flood of messages, via social media, should be considered as routes for further public education, rather than being used for the ugly, nasty racist content that have had irreparable damage on our already fragile ethnic milieu.

It was disconcerting to listen to the honourable Minister of Health, describe what she had observed, on a late day visit to the city business centres. For citizens to be observed commencing late night starts to parties and other related social activities in what is clearly a most

hazardous period of presentday life, underlines both a wanton ignorance and wholesale recklessness for, beginning with their own personal wellbeing, that of their families, and by extension, their friends. And this sad state of affairs continues to be; despite the best efforts of the State authorities to protect citizens.

Therefore, it is the human factor, and its ill-disciplined that has always been the factor of his/her pain and grief, that is at the heart of the present spike of Covid-19 cases in our jurisdiction, where these numbers are found. Listening to the self-ascribed views of those who pay scant regard to the public health ordinance, exposes a position, already described above, which must precipitate their downfall.

For of course, Covid-19 will affect any citizen that fails to observe the basic protection measures; as such, it carries that anyone who fail to do so, will most likely become prey to its deadly touch.

TURN TO PAGE

07

7

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, July 11, 2020

Minister of Finance responds to Sasenarine Singh

Dear Editor,

On July 5, 2020, Stabroek News carried a letter titled “Smooth economic expansion associated with a new-born oil economy is absent” in which the author, a regular writer, once again, sought to mislead your readers with what he tries to pass off as deep economic analysis.

While many have become wary of his ramblings, I am concerned that young, impressionable readers, especially, may be led astray by what the writer tries to pass off as fact.

I begin by examining the writer’s claim of the absence of smooth economic expansion purportedly evidenced by the deterioration in the productive sector, the state of aggregate demand, runaway public expenditure and increasing lack of investor confidence.

DETERIORATION IN THE PRODUCTIVE SECTOR Deterioration is a process by which something becomes progressively worse. Given this simple definition, of the productive industries, only the sugar industry, which contracted in the past 4 years due to the closure the 4 sugar estates, and forestry can be so classified. All other productive industries expanded, on average, in the past 5 years. There was notable growth in other crops, gold, other mining and quarrying, petroleum and gas, and support services; rice manufacturing; electricity supply; accommodation and food services; financial and insurance activities; professional, scientific and technical services; and human health and social work. These expanded, on average, in the past 5 years, by 5.5 percent, 12.7 percent, 14.9 percent,

119.4 percent, 6 percent, 4.2 percent, 4.5 percent, 4 percent, 4.1 percent and 4.9 percent, respectively.

Further, the respective real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) level for each industry, from 2014 to 2019, increased, except for the sugar, forestry, and rice industries (which contracted by a mere 0.1 percent) and sugar manufacturing. Noteworthy are the industries which recorded significant growth over the 2014 to 2019 period.

These include other crops; livestock; gold; other mining and quarrying; petroleum and gas, and support services; rice manufacturing, electricity supply; water supply and sewerage; transport and storage; accommodation and food services; financial and insurance activities; professional, scientific and technical services; administrative and support services; public administration; and human health and social work.

These increased by 28.6 percent, 15.4 percent, 63.8 percent; 72.7 percent, 3,679 percent; 19.8 percent; 22.8 percent; 17.4 percent; 17.9 percent; 24.5 percent; 21.6 percent; 22.4 percent; 18.9 percent; 17.7 percent; and 26.8 percent, respectively.

One could hardly call this a deterioration. These trends continued into the first quarter of 2020, but the presence of COVID-19 in Guyana and the ensuing measures to contain its spread, has slowed economic activity.

THE STATE OF AGGREGATE DEMAND Using real GDP as an indicator of aggregate demand, which holds true in the long run, it should be noted that this grew by 3.6 percent, on average, over the past 5 years. Further, growth was more vigorous in the past 3 years, rising from 3.7 percent in 2017 to 4.4 percent

in 2018, and 5.4 percent in 2019. Aggregate demand has not deteriorated over the past 5 years, as portrayed by the author.

Additionally, if one examines the non-oil GDP growth, it is evident that this increase is not driven by growth in the oil and gas sector alone. Over the past 5 years, average non-oil GDP growth was 3.2 percent, with an increasing expansion in the last 3 years, rising from 3.5 percent in 2017 to 4 percent in 2018 and 4.3 percent in 2019. Importantly, non-oil GDP growth in 2019 was 2.6 percentage points higher than in 2014.

RUNAWAY PUBLIC EXPENDITURE Without presenting a shred of evidence, the author claims that there has been “runaway public expenditure”.

While expenditures have increased, as is to be expected, these have been in the context of strategic plans and developmental needs. Prudent financial management has ensured that our fiscal deficit, over the past 5 years, has remained within the bounds of what is expected of a country at our stage of development.

The Government responded positively to meet the needs of our people, evidenced by the budgeted numbers for current expenditure growing by 30.1 percent and capital expenditure by 32.8 percent, from 2016 to 2019.

Increases in current expenditure were largely attributed to increases in wages and salaries, oldage pensions and social assistance. For instance, total employment costs increased by 40.6 percent in 2019, when compared with 2016, reaching $70.9 billion in 2019, with significant growth in the public sector minimum wage. The increases led to

higher household income, particularly among those earning within the lowest income brackets, thereby reducing poverty – the public sector minimum wage increased by over 70 percent between 2015 and 2019, to reach $70,000. In addition, expenditure on old-age pensions and social assistance increased by 26.4 percent in 2019 when compared with 2016, reaching $14.8 billion – between 2015 and 2019 old-age pensions increased by 56.2 percent to reach $20,500. The Government is unapologetic in pursuing a policy to redress the historical wrong and neglect of those most in need.

LACK OF INVESTORS’ CONFIDENCE The average 12-month growth in the money supply consistently strengthened in the past 3 years. That is, on average, the 12-month growth rate was 3.2 percent in 2016; this rose to 4 percent in 2017, 6 percent in 2018, and 11.7 percent in 2019.

The question may be asked: How does the money supply give an indication of investors’ confidence?

The money supply is linked to lending. That is, total domestic credit makes up the largest share of the money supply, accounting for 62.8 percent, on average, over the past 3 years. An examination of lending to the private sector revealed that there was robust growth. especially real estate mortgages for industrial and commercial properties. The 12-month growth was consistently double-digit since June 2019, growing on average by 20 percent over the months. Lending to private incorporated businesses also recorded double-digit 12-month growth, ranging from 11 percent in January 2019 to 20.2 percent in December 2019. Lending to

the “other services” category in the services sector also grew rapidly. Most of the lending for the oil and gas projects is captured under this “other services” category of lending to business enterprises, by sector.

The 12-month growth, on average, was 24.2 percent, in the last 9 months of 2019.

In December 2019 alone, for instance, growth was 44.6 percent.

These give some indication of businesses’ appetite to invest, through borrowing, and the banks’ willingness to lend.

Additionally, while some vocal businesspersons continue to push a narrative that their businesses have suffered from 2015 to 2019, many indicators discussed here show differently. For example, there were no increases in the corporate income tax between 2015 to 2019. In fact, there was a decrease in the income tax for non-commercial businesses, from 30 percent to 25 percent; and a reduction in VAT, from 16 percent to 14 percent.

Amid no increases in the rate, collections from company income taxes grew by 23.7 percent to $40.1 billion in 2019, when compared with 2016, additional evidence that businesses were thriving from 2015 to 2019.

These figures are all in the public domain, but they do not quite fit the author’s narrative, who next turned his attention to Guyana’s foreign reserves. Figures are presented and twisted to paint a picture of doom, but one only has to scratch the surface to unearth some truths. Our country’s foreign reserves are used principally to service our external debts, pay for fuel imports for GPL and intervention in the foreign exchange market, periodically.

Since 2015, our imports have been distorted and

dominated by several goods such as chemicals, parts and accessories, other intermediate goods, and mining machinery for the oil and gas sector. For the cumulative period, January to March 2020, total import amounted to US$609.4 million, of which the oil and gas sector imports accounted for 34.4 percent.

These oil and gas sector imports are financed almost exclusively by foreign direct investments. Why then should we assess our reserves against the total value of these imports? Would such a comparison truly capture the adequacy of our reserves?

From January to March 2020, total non-oil imports amounted to US$397.5 million or US$132.5 million on average per month. The foreign reserves of the Bank of Guyana totalled US$499.2 million at end March 2020, covering 3.8 months of such imports.

If oil companies were mandated to remit foreign exchange earned from export sales of their share of petroleum, our foreign reserves position would be improved, but such measures would certainly limit the interest of reputable oil companies in investing in our nascent sector. This is why the economic and fiscal policies of the past five years, and those envisaged in the Green State Development Strategy, focus on the diversification of our economy, recognising the need to continue to invest in, and grow, our non-oil sectors so that should oil prices collapse, as they did earlier this year, our economy is firmly grounded.

Yours faithfully Winston Jordan Minister of Finance

COVID-19: It is rather now, than later, ...

This means, inter alia that the deadly virus is indiscriminate in affecting WHOEVER, fails to follow strict adherence measures.

Then there is that category that propagates the fact of their right to personal liberty objecting

to any attempts through their misconceived understanding of a period, which demands an entirely different approach/ response, to speak of their rights being infringed. To this group, must also be added, the totally blind

and misguided, citizens of Moruca, no doubt victims of dangerous political manipulation, but contradicting their own self-distorted view of the pandemic being a hoax, by wearing protective masks and practicing

social distancing measures, during their protest. It is apt to state that there have been over 60 diagnosed cases, originating from Region One over the past fourteen days. Are these regional citizens thinking for themselves?

Editor, it is evident that we have arrived at the critical stage, where there will have to be very stringent enforcement measures, as a means of saving the entire nation from those whose selfish behavior, inherent of

FROM PAGE

6

a great hazardous risk with tragic consequences, continue to threaten the national well-being. It is rather now, later, or never.

Regards Carla Mendonca

8

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, July 11, 2020

COVID-19 Task Force to implement strict measures in mining areas WITH screening and testing underway in the mining district of Aranka/Arangoy, up the Cuyuni River in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), other efforts are being made in a massive COVID-19 Education campaign for miners and person frequenting the district.

Deputy Director of the Health Emergency Operation Center (HEOC) Dr. Leston Payne has described the multi-sectoral approach as a necessary one.

“As you are aware, we have the Public Health team, the Corps of Wardens and the police. So, the approach is a multi-sectoral one, where we will be focusing on educating the populace, because they need to know what we are dealing with,” Dr. Payne said, adding: “Strict measures will be implemented, because it is in their best interest. It is

One of the pre-fab units that will house the screening and testing units in Aranka

Were the 460,295 votes cast in the 2020 general elections credible?

Dear Editor I am a politically neutral observer of Guyanese and Swiss decent residing abroad. In response to the Caribbean Court of Justice decision, I would like to draw attention to an obvious discrepancy, which remains unaddressed even after the CARICOM supervised recount.

According to the unofficial recount numbers [1], 460'295 valid votes were cast in the 2020 elections last March. Given my own assessment, we can expect about 477'910 eligible voters to be living in Guyana. These are adults, 18 years and older, which constitute about 62.3% of the Guyanese population [2]. My calculations are based on an estimated population of 782’766 for 2019 [3]. The foreign population is about 2% [4] or 15’655, which would result in 767’111 Guyanese citizens living in Guyana. 62.3% or 477’910 Guyanese citizens would be of voting age.

Hence, with 477'910 eligible voters living in Guyana and 460'295 votes cast in the 2020 general elections, the voter turnout would be 96.3%. This is rather unrealistic for the many reasons and uncommon in liberal democracies.

In fact, the voter turnout for the 2020 elections was reported to be 72.58% [5].

With 477’910 eligible voters, one would expect that 346'867 votes were cast. This would indicate that an excess of 113'428 votes were found in the ballot boxes.

Alternatively, if the number of 460'295 votes tabulated in the recount were indeed all valid and genuine, one would have to postulate a resident population of more than 1 million in Guyana. There is however no credible evidence in support of the latter notion.

One could argue that the 113’428 excess

votes could be accounted to Guyanese living abroad, who returned to Guyana to participate in the elections. In theory, this would be possible given that several hundred thousand Guyanese are living in the US, Canada, and the UK [6]. However, I doubt it for logistical reasons. One would need 560 plane flights (with 200 passenger on board) to bring these people within a couple of weeks to Guyana prior to the elections. In addition, most of them would have to find temporary accommodation in the Georgetown metropolitan area. In my opinion, Guyanese abroad returning to vote in the 2020 general elections would amount at best for some few thousand extra voters.

In summary, the number of 460'295 votes cast appears to be unrealistically high and there is presently no rational explanation why this should be correct.

In my opinion, we can only speak of fair, credible, and transparent elections, if they are conducted on the basis of a validated list of eligible voters living in Guyana on Election Day. This precondition has not been met for the 2020 elections.

I therefore believe that the 2020 general elections have to be annulled and a caretaker government needs to take over to prepare for new elections in 2021 on the basis of an updated and validated voter registry. I am however not sure whether the Guyanese constitution allows for this type of a solution.

Andre Brandli, PhD Professor of Molecular Pathophysiology University of Munich, Germany

a mining area, and if we are going to be implementing these measures, it will have some adverse economic effect on them.”

Aranka resident Wilbur Wade told the DPI that he welcomed and appreciated the initiative “because a lot of people in this ‘backdam’ not taking it seriously”. He noted that despite the COVID-19 reports reaching the area, “You are seeing people without masks, even though we hear in the news how many people are testing positive.”

On the matter of ensuring the guidelines are enforced, Dr. Payne referred to the presence of the Corps of Wardens and a special team of police officers.

The National COVID-19 Task Force team will remain in the area until the situation is under control. (DPI)

The Chief Election Officer, Keith Lowenfield should adhere to the CCJ ruling Dear Editor, On Wednesday, July 8 2020 the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) scrapped the Chief Election Officer, Keith Lowenfield’s report that shows the governing coalition was expected to declare A Partnership for National Unity+Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) the winner of the March 2, 2020 general and regional elections.

The CCJ President, Justice Adrian Saunders said categorically in its unanimous decision by the panel of judges that “the court also declared that the report of the Chief Elections Officer of 23rd June, 2020 is similarly of no effect.” The court also threw out Order 60 of 2020 of the National Recount. Therefore the ballot recount verification process is out. The CEO original report with the Statement of Polls (SOPS) from district 1-10 are now the only basis for an official declaration of the 2nd March, 2020 general elections. Guyana Elections Commission GECOM cannot invalidate electoral fraud and cannot invalidate the official SOPS FOR DISTRICT1-10. Only then can the dissatisfied stakeholders file an election petition after the President elect is sworn into office.

It is public knowledge that the ballot recount verification process was done as a result of the Opposition People’s Progressive Party (PPP) raising concerns over the elections results that led to them approaching the court on three separate occasions, obstructing the work of the Elections Commission and called for recount although the 2020 elections results were free and fair.

In an effort to please the Opposition party. President David Granger refused to sown-in on basis for the official elections results by GECOM and allowed for a national recounts under order 60/ 2020 This process was done by the GECOM. The Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) has now thrown out the national recount of votes of the March 2. 2020 elections under order 60 of 2020 and made it clear that it is not the responsibility of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to investigate claims of discrepancies and anomalies occurring in the March 2 General and Regional Elections such an investigation is in the domain of the Court and not GECOM which I agreed with. The Chief Election Officer should adhere to the CCJ ruling to bring a speedily closure to the political and economic crisis which can only be achieve by him by resubmitting his original report to GECOM with the SOPS from district 1-10 that shows the governing coalition as the winner of the March 2, 2020 general and regional elections so that a declaration can be made and the country can move forward.

Should there be any concerns arsis thereon by any political party or group it should be address through an election petition which will be in keeping with our constitution electoral laws and the recent ruling of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) ruling on Wednesday, July 8. 2020.

Yours faithfully.

Rayvonne P. Bourne

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, July 11, 2020

Measures proposed for reform of FAO

The FAO Council on Friday approved a series of measures proposed by the Director-General QU Dongyu to modernise the UN agency and make it more efficient and effective.

Composed of 49 member countries and executive organ of the FAO Conference, the Council met virtually for the first time in FAO's history due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In its final report, the FAO Council "supported the Director-General's vision for the Organization to be fit-forpurpose, modern, inclusive and agile, while preserving its technical capacity, in particular through a more modular and flexible structure aiming to ensure efficiency, effectiveness and crosssectoral collaboration."

Since taking office on 1 August 2019, Qu has strived to make FAO more agile, responsive and accountable, as well as more capable to support its Members in overcoming challenges related to food and agriculture. The approval of the new measures "is a strong sign of trust in my efforts to translate our common vision of a new dynamic, inclusive resultfocused FAO into reality," the Director-General said.

A key point among the approved measures is the implementation of a more flexible organizational structure, aimed at ensuring agility, optimal cross-sectoral collaboration and better responses to emerging needs and priorities.

The new structure groups a core leadership team at the centre of the Organization.

With this new arrangement, the Director-General will be directly supported by the three

collaboration with partner agencies," the DirectorGeneral said, highlighting that "by improving the working methods and instilling transparency

cooperation with other international organizations and international financial institutions.

COVID-19 RESPONSE

seven areas of work identified as priorities. "Building back better is a challenge that FAO is prepared for," he ensured.

Since the pandemic started, FAO has actively

Deputy Directors-General, the Chief Economist, the Chief Scientist and the Director of Cabinet. The directors of Divisions, Centres and Offices, as experts in their respective subjects, will report directly to the core leadership team, thereby strengthening internal consensus and synergy and minimising bureaucracy.

"I hope that you will soon see the first results of our silo-busting, our increased teamwork and our strengthened

and accountability, the reformed FAO will increase and improve its delivery to the vulnerable, to our Members, the farmers and the consumers."

Other important measures approved by the Council include the establishment of a new Office of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in order to further reinforce and better coordinate FAO's work with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and the strengthening of the FAO's centres of

In his closing remarks to the Council, the DirectorGeneral stressed that FAO will continue being focused on supporting its Members in mitigating the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on food security and food systems. "We need to go beyond that: Now that we learned how to live with the virus, we need to focus on the recovery phase," said Qu. On 14 July, during a High-Level Event, FAO will launch a new Response Programme to address COVID-19 based on

engaged governments, international organizations, the private sectors and civil society to coordinate and strength responses. The Director-General participated at the G20 leaders meeting, the UN Security Council on food security, and the G20 Agricultural Ministers meeting, calling upon them to adopt measured to keep food supply chains functioning properly. Qu also took part in meetings convened by the UN Secretary-General, ECOSOC and the World Economic

9

Forum.

FAO has also organised a number of virtual meetings with Ministers from different regions to ensure countries designate food and agriculture as essential services during lockdowns. In addition, the Organization has published 41 policy briefs and 8 publications, presenting both quantitative and qualitative assessment of the pandemic's impact on food supply chains, food trade and markets, smallholder producers, food insecurity, protection of the most vulnerable, statistical systems, as well as safe, resilient and sustainable food systems. The DirectorGeneral also highlighted the benefit of the Hand-inHand Initiative to tackle the pandemic: "It offers a ready-made coordination structure for an integrated COVID-19 response for food and nutrition security."

On 21 July, FAO will launch the Hand-in-Hand Geospatial Platform, which aims to provide advanced geo-spatial modeling and analytics. The main goal is to identify the biggest opportunities to raise the incomes and reduce the inequities and vulnerabilities of rural populations, who constitute the vast majority of the world's poor.

"Saving livelihoods and strengthening resilience in the most affected areas remains crucial," concluded the Director-General.

Gender, environment and social Guyana Goldfields Inc. achieves half safeguards are good for bottom line year production of 56,600 ounces and reputational applications rejected due GUYANA Goldfields Inc., Ltd., a US$30 million secured costs. Better management to gender discrimination on Wednesday, announced loan facility was provided …new IDB studies show financial of ESG risks often implies amount to $1,785 or 23% of that the company has to the company. “The loan Two new studies by the Inter-American Development Bank show the positive financial impacts for investors, companies and banks that take gender, environmental and social factors into their decision-making.

Both studies were carried out in Chile. The first one looked at gender discrimination in loan approvals by bank officers and the second compared the performance of investments in instruments that comply with environmental, social and governance factors (ESG). The studies found widespread gender discrimination in loan approvals, and that investing in ESG instruments offered solid returns when compared to their non-ESG counterparts.

“There is a widespread misconception that

gender and environmental policies are expensive or unprofitable,” said IDB Chief Economist Eric Parrado, who took part in both research projects.

“This is wrong. Investing in instruments that are based in good environmental and social principals is the right thing to do morally and financially”.

Researchers looked at investments by Chile’s pension and sovereign funds. For pension funds, they found that in most cases the return of the ESG portfolio exceeds that of the fund’s average allocation.

Using four global equity indexes and three global fixed income indexes, they found that ESG indexes often outperformed their conventional counterpart in terms of cumulative returns.

Researchers note that ESG investing can also avoid large

better management. Firms with good ESG practices are better able to avoid potential disasters and are better positioned to recover when disasters do occur.

LOAN DISCRIMINATION In the gender report, researchers asked a group of male and female prospective borrowers to randomly request loans to a group of male and female loan officers representative of the financial sector in Chile.

It found that loan requests submitted by women are 18.3 percent less likely to be approved when compared to equivalent loan requests submitted by men, even though official statistics show that women in Chile have higher repayment rates than men.

Researchers estimated that the median forgone profits associated to

the median loan size. They provide evidence suggesting that gender discrimination against female borrowers is due to taste-based sources. They also found that banks with a larger proportion of male o?cers are associated with larger levels of discrimination against women, and this is in terms of both response and approval rates.

“Banks can make be more profitable if they root out gender discrimination in their loan decisions,” said Parrado. “This is even more true during the pandemic, when banks are deciding emergency loans. The coronavirus is the ultimate economic stress test. Ignoring best practices in gender discrimination and social and environmental safeguards can worsen inequality and economic performance.”

processed the last batch of ore from stockpile and will continue to recover gold in circuit inventory over the next several days.

“Thereafter, as previously announced, the mine site will go into a period of care and maintenance,” said a press release from the company.

The release said that gold production for the second quarter totaled 28,500 ounces, bringing total gold production for the first half of the year to 56,600 ounces. “This is above our guidance of 45,000 to 50,000 ounces for the first half of 2020 as disclosed on May 28, 2020. Our unaudited cash balance as at June 30, 2020 was US$28.8 million (inclusive of US$10 million restricted cash) with US$6.5 million in debt,” the company said in the release.

It noted that as part of the transaction announced with Zijin Mining Group Co.,

balance of US$6.5 million is as a result of the first advance under the Zijin Facility, following our payment to Silvercorp Metals Inc. of the C$9.0 termination fee on June 11, 2020 to terminate the company's previous arrangement agreement with Silvercorp,” said the release.

ANNUAL AND SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS As Guyana Goldfields had previously announced, on June 12, 2020, the company entered into an arrangement agreement with Zijin pursuant to which Zijin has agreed to acquire, through a whollyowned subsidiary, all of the issued and outstanding shares of the company not already owned by Zijin for cash consideration of C$1.85 per share.

10

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, July 11, 2020

PPP/C objects to position that GECOM cannot direct CEO THE People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) has objected to the position that the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) cannot direct the Chief Elections Officer (CEO) on what he should put in his Elections Report and simultaneously accused Attorney General (AG) and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams SC of misinterpreting and misapplying the law on the matter.

In a release on Friday, the PPP/C stated that the AG was attempting to “incite and invite the Chief Elections Officer to violate the law” and had “misunderstood and misinterpreted the legal relationship between the CEO and GECOM”.

The letter comes as, on Thursday, Chairperson of GECOM, Justice (Ret’d) Claudette Singh ordered the CEO, Keith Lowenfield to prepare and submit a fresh Elections Report in accordance with the Certificates of Recount generated during the 33-day National Recount.

Her instruction came one day after the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) set aside the order of the Court of Appeal and invalidated the Elections Report which was submitted

by Lowenfield on June 23.

Approximately 115, 000 votes had been

in the National Recount as per Certificates of Recount

by acting on the Court of Appeal’s ruling to record

excluded from that report on the basis that they were compromised due to a string of irregularities and cases of voter impersonation.

The Court of Appeal had ordered that a President ought to be elected on the basis of “valid votes,” and it was on that basis the Chief Elections Officer compiled and submitted his initial report. But the CCJ ruled that the Court of Appeal’s decision was flawed, and had resulted in the unlawful invalidation of votes by the Chief Elections Officer.

He was ordered by the Chair to prepare his report “using the valid votes counted

generated therefrom.”

However, the Attorney General challenged the GECOM Chair’s authority to dictate the compilation of the CEO’s report. He said that the said action of the Chair of GECOM amounts to a constitutional breach, noting that neither the Chair nor the Elections Commission could direct the CEO on what to include in his report under Article 177(2) (b) of the Constitution and Section 96 of the Representation of the People Act (ROPA) Cap 1:03.

In its response on Friday, the PPP/C stated that the CCJ had already stated that

only valid votes, Lowenfield invalidated a number of votes which action was in violation of the provisions of the ROPA. “Williams’ conduct amounts to a clear defiance of and contempt for the many pronouncements that the Caribbean Court of Justice made only yesterday on identical issues. Needless to say, Williams’ conduct will be drawn to the Court’s attention for its action. Even at this late hour, Williams is still to comprehend that GECOM is an autonomous constitutional institution insulated from political directions and influences

of any type. His untutored advice is therefore constitutionally prohibited,” the party stated.

Regarding the CEO’s relation to GECOM, the PPP/C pointed to Article 162 (1)(b) of the Constitution which states that the Elections Commission: “shall issue such instructions and take such action as appear to it necessary or expedient to ensure impartiality, fairness and compliance with the provisions of this Constitution or of any Act of Parliament on the part of persons exercising powers or performing duties connected with or relating to the matters aforesaid.”

The party also cited Section 18 of the Elections Law (Amendment) Act 2000 which states: “The Chief Election Officer and the Commission of Registration shall notwithstanding anything in any written law be subject to the direction and control of the Commission.”

It called on the public to reject the position of the AG and to accept that the CEO is bound to prepare his report based on the declarations of the ten returning officers which it said have been “replaced by the certificates of recount under Order 60/2020”.

UN SecretaryGeneral awaits election conclusion in Guyana IN response to questions posed to United Nations (UN) SecretaryGeneral, António Guterres, on Guyana’s elections situation, spokesman for the Secretary-General, Stéphane Dujarric, stated that the UN looks forward to conclusion to the elections, soonest, and an acceptance of the official results by political leaders.

“The SecretaryGeneral takes note of the July 8 ruling of the Caribbean Court of Justice, as final instance. He stresses the importance of announcing final official results of the March 2 general and regional elections to the Guyanese people as soon as possible to end an impasse that has lasted more than four months,” Dujarric stated, adding: “The SecretaryGeneral calls on all political leaders and their supporters to recognize and accept the final official results and refrain from any act or statement that may fuel tensions or incite violence.”

ILO welcomes COVID-19 seafarers’ rights agreement GECOM’s Chair dismisses fake recording GUYANA Elections Commission’s (GECOM’s) Chair, Justice (Ret’d) Claudette Singh, has dismissed as “mischief”, false information being peddled that she is in collusion with GECOM’s Information Technology Manager, Aneal Giddings, to manipulate the election results.

The rumour has been circulating, via social media, in the past days, alleging that, in an audio recording of a conversation, the Chair was heard planning to “manipulate” the elections.

By way of a letter on Friday, Justice Singh distanced herself from the rumours stating: “I wish to emphatically state that I do not have knowledge of any such conversation nor am I involved in any plot to ensure any particular party is declared the winner of the 2020 elections. There has been a transparent process to count the votes and the legal process has taken its course. There is absolutely no need for manipulation. The circulation of such recording and peddling of those allegations are designed to create mischief in an already tensed and charged political environment.”

The GECOM Chair has since called on those responsible to desist from spreading such information, immediately, as it could impede on public trust, peace and stability.

The International Labour Organisation has expressed support for new international measures to protect the rights of seafarers, stranded at sea because of the COVID-19 crisis .

It welcomed a joint statement signed by more than a dozen countries that gives seafarers enhanced rights as key workers. The new measures, also supported by other UN agencies and international organizations, enable seafarers to be repatriated and move more freely during the pandemic.

“I welcome the coordinated efforts undertaken by social partners and the international community to respond to the crisis created by the COVID-19 pandemic in the maritime sector, and call on all member States to support the implementation of this joint statement,” said ILO Director-General, Guy Ryder.

The joint statement was signed during a virtual International Maritime Summit, hosted by the United Kingdom government, which discussed the global crew change crisis that has left more than 200,000 seafarers stranded at sea due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Some

have been confined to vessels for months because of restrictions on international travel and measures to contain the virus. The agreement will lead to the opening of foreign borders for seafarers and to an increase in the number of commercial flights, which will speed up repatriation efforts. Seafarers have been among the hardest hit from the fall-out of the pandemic, said Corinne Vargha, Director of the ILO’s International Labour Standards Department.

While delivering a key service to society, they face safety and health risks, and, increasingly now, physical and mental exhaustion, due to their inability to return home or to join their ships because of measures taken to stop the spread of the virus. “The ILO therefore thanks UK Secretary of State Grant Shapps and UK Minister for Aviation, Maritime and Security Kelly Tolhurst for this timely initiative and for giving the ILO an opportunity to share its perspective on the way forward.”

The ILO has urged governments to recognise seafarers as ‘key workers’ who ensure the flow of trade and the movement of vital medical supplies,

safety equipment, food and other critical goods during the pandemic.

Using the guidance of the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 , the ILO has been working with its social partners – governments, workers’ and employers’ organizations – as well as a number of international bodies to solve the issue. These include the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF), International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), International Maritime Organization (IMO), World Health Organization (WHO), International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), European Union and various governments. “The ILO expresses its support for the joint statement, which provides useful, practical and timely commitments to actions that will help solve this pressing problem and expedite crew changes,” Vargha said. “We are committed to providing support to our constituents in addressing the issue of crew change, including through the implementation of this initiative.”

11

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, July 11, 2020

‘Count only valid votes’ … APNU+AFC supporters hold spirited protests outside GECOM

AHEAD of the Guyana Elections Commission’s (GECOM’s) meeting on Friday, scores of APNU+AFC protesters took to Main and New Market Streets in protest that the Commission must operate only on the basis of valid votes.

Police barricades were stretched across the Main Street location and visible at several other intersections near to the Commission’s High and Cowan Streets office. Over 2 dozen police officers were on the scene.

About 100 protesters were gathered brandishing their party colours and banners shouting: “only valid votes must count!”

Some protesters stood in a circle praying for an end result in their party’s favour and others stood silently in support or re-directed the traffic from their growing crowd.

Two of the community representatives present told the newspaper that their intention was to send a clear message to the Elections Commission and even leaders within the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).

“On March 2, we went out in our numbers and we cast our votes in the right way and we are waiting on Justice Singh. We have great respect for her but we need her to do the right thing because valid votes are valid votes. There is no way they can use invalid votes to make a declaration…we’re going to stand up for our rights,” Leader of Constituency No.6 located in Sophia, Andrea Marks, said.

Meanwhile, Yvonne Ferguson representing Constituency No. 11 told the newspaper: “We are out here in our resounding voice

to let the PPP/C and Claudette Singh know that we are not sitting down idly and taking nonsense. We voted solidly on March 2; therefore our valid vote must count!”

The protest comes subsequent to a July 6 protest on CARICOM Day, through which APNU+AFC protesters, from various parts of the country, took to the streets ahead of the Caribbean Court of Justice’s (CCJ’s) decision to make clear their position that the Court has no jurisdiction on the current Guyana elections case.

The groups of protesters were present in Georgetown at locations such as Mandela Avenue, Agricola and Buxton and even all the way in Linden. They were clad in party colours, face masks and held up placards while practising physical distancing.

Palms now free of COVID-19 –– as remaining patients recover

ELDERLY residents of the Palms Geriatric Home, who contracted the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), have fully recovered from the disease, allaying fears that the home could be devastated by the disease, especially since the elderly population is highly vulnerable to COVID-19.

According to the Ministry of Social Protection, the patients, 66 year-old, Robert Baik; 69 year-old, Cleo Brotherson; and 57 year-old, Gaitree Kaloutie will spend a few days in the home’s infirmary before they are moved to the general ward.

The facility had lost two lives to the disease, but seven other residents, who had contracted the disease, have already convalesced, including 105 year-old, Zorie

De Mattos; and 91 year-old, Rosaline Hamilton.

The recovery of those residents is owed to the work of staff and doctors of the Ministries of Public Health and Social Protection.

“COVID-19 presented unprecedented challenges to the Palms and our team.

Thanks to the perseverance of our staff and the guidance from the Georgetown Public Hospital, 10 residents have fully recovered and there are no COVID-19 resident cases currently in the facility. With the continued health and safety of our residents being our primary concern, we have conducted additional staff and resident retesting to further verify that our home is completely free of COVID-19,” said

Director of Social Services, Wentworth Tanner, in a press statement, on Friday.

The Ministry of Social Protection extended its gratitude to Avae Collins; Sheba Thoma; Hollis Brazh; Christel Nedd; Simeon Marc; Romona Matthews; Shellon Pillay Chester; Tracy Alleyne; Alina Cozier; Odessa Sealey; Latroya Joseph; Richard Holder; Tonia Mc Pherson; Aba Crawford; Marissa Blackman; Marilyn France; Samantha Douglas (Palms Administrator); Donette Mingo (Medical Services Coordinator); Mohammed Ganie (Palms Assistant Administrator); Jacqueline Clarke; Tamika Teixeira and Renetia Watts.

These persons were directly involved in the recovery

of the residents.

From the inception, the World Health Organisation (WHO) had said that older persons, and those with underlying medical problems, such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic respiratory disease, and cancer, are more likely to develop the serious forms of COVID-19.

Testimony of this reality was the death of two male residents of the Palms; Osa Collins, a 78-year-old resident of New Amsterdam; 77-year-old Colonel John Percy Leon Lewis; and 67-year-old Samuel Morris, who was diabetic.

It is, however, evident that elderly persons can overcome the disease. The remaining seven infected residents of the Palms are

Their messages included: ‘CCJ Must Respect Guyana’s Constitution’, ‘CEO Guided by our Final Court’; ‘Respect Our Sovereignty’ and more.

However, two days later, in assuming jurisdiction to hear an application filed by People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C), the CCJ set aside the decision of the Court of Appeal on the interpretation of the Constitution and invalidated the Elections Report submitted by the Chief Elections Officer (CEO), Keith Lowenfield.

The CCJ’s decision placed the electoral process back into the hands of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) of which the next step expected is the submission of an Elections Report by the CEO.

being monitored in accordance with strict control measures implemented by the local health authorities.

“All positive cases are quarantined in a separate ward. The first case at the Palms was recorded on May 5, and due to rigorous screening of residents and staff, there has been no new cases since May 23,” said the Public Health Ministry.

The geriatric home, which falls under the purview of the Social Protection Ministry, provides 24hour nursing care for elderly residents. Persons over the age of 65 years account for just about 6.4 per cent of the local population. And, with ‘The Palms’ being a facility which houses about 190 persons, who form part of this section of the population, there was cause for concern.

Tanner had told this publication that containment measures such as screening and isolation are necessary, especially since it was established that there are asymptomatic persons who

may not show symptoms of the disease, but could spread it to others, who, in some cases, might be more at risk to severe forms of the disease.

“As most people know,” Tanner said, “not everyone would show symptoms, so even screening can go so far and only so much they can achieve… That poses a challenge, but we are still screening persons who leave the facility and are returning.”

All visits to ‘The Palms’ have been suspended since March 30, and since then, persons, particularly staff of the facility, have been screened twice daily.

Tanner assured the Guyana Chronicle that the Ministry of Social Protection has been doing everything possible to reduce the spread of the disease at ‘The Palms’, and at other such facilities, to the extent that the ministry has also been partnering with local health authorities from the Ministry of Public Health.

DDL donates $45,000 worth of Topco Juice for COVID-19 relief JOINING the fight to slow the spread of the deadly coronavirus, the Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL) announced a donation of 4,000 cases of juice to the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) to assist vulnerable communities affected by the health crisis.

The donation was made on Thursday when DDL’s Chairman Komal Samaroo said that, “This donation is another way that DDL continues to support the people of Guyana during the current public health crisis. We remain committed to supporting agencies, since we are all in this for the long run. Over the past few months we have seen the devastating effect of COVID-19 and challenges Guyanese are facing and as a company we remain committed to supporting those affected.”

Samaroo further disclosed that the company is also in the process of communicating with the Ministry of Public Health to finalise a donation to health workers countrywide and the National Commission on Disability.

An additional 30,000 cases of Topco Juice, valued at $45,000,000, will be donated, the company said in a statement on Friday.

Additionally, donations were also made to several orphanages across the country and the Amerindian People’s Association for COVID-19 affected areas.

These donations follow a donation previously made of 17,500 litres of Environ alcohol-based sanitising cleaner in March and June to senior citizens’ homes, orphanages, night shelters, prisons, and other facilities similar to these, and the Ministry of Education, respectively.

Cases of Topco juice being loaded for distribution

12

Protecting Guyana’s coastline

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, July 11, 2020

--- experts urge that ‘we must act now’

The affected Shell Beach area

(presentation screenshot)

By Lisa Hamilton GUYANA’s coastland is below the sea level which continues to rise, year after year, as the grim effects of climate change take place. However, if Guyana does not act fast and efficiently, it stands the chance of putting not only its coastland but the lives and livelihoods of thousands at risk.

These were the pressing concerns examined by environmental experts, on Thursday evening, during a webinar hosted by the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s (GCCIs) Green Economy Committee on the climate change impact to Guyana’s coastline.

To present a clear image of this impact was Environmental Filmmaker, Alex Arjoon, who presented some of the footage he has recorded over the years which has since been put into a documentary.

A GRIM REALITY His work showed waves, over 6 feet high, crashing over the seawalls in places such as Mahaica, Den Amstel, West Coast Demerara, and Kitty, just outside the Russian Embassy.

On one occasion, he and his team were too close to seawalls and the force of the waves was strong enough to put a dent in their jeep.

In other videos, he showed parts of Shell Beach where an entire community was almost washed away due to high rising sea levels and abandoned kokers and sluices that were now surrounded by the sea due to a sinking coastline.

“Overtopping isn’t a joke. I think a lot of people don’t understand how badly it affects communities. When that water floods the area, not only is it damaging property

and just a general threat, but it’s also a sanitation issue.

There are a lot of outhouses and sceptic tanks and all that stuff in the properties right there and all those things get flooded and the water mixes and then floods the area and leave ourselves open to the hazards of whatever germs are being carried,” Arjoon explained.

He also pointed to the Dantzig/Mahaicony area on the East Coast of Demerara (ECD) which has been plagued with overtopping and flooding for some time due to its deteriorating sea defence. Salt water, making its way on to rice fields and contaminating the drinking water for livestock, continues to cost farmers millions.

Though the government has launched relief efforts and continue to reinforce the sea defences through riprap and mud dams, these have to be constantly reinforced against time and the worsening climate change.

Arjoon said: “Even when fixing this, you only have a limited amount of time before the tide comes in and when it’s high tide you essentially cannot do anything and it can undo a lot of the work that’s been done.”

MORE THAN MANGROVES If Guyana’s existing sea defences are left as they are, communities will continue to experience more overtopping and flooding due to global warming.

This is according to Lecturer at the Department of Biology at the University of Guyana (UG), Mark Ram, who also made a presentation on whether mangroves alone were sufficient for coastal protection in Guyana.

Ram said that, in reality, Guyana has its unique vulnerabilities such as its geographic location

whereby its coast is located below sea level; its high coastal population density, whereby the majority of the population resides on the coastland; and, its centralized economic activities, whereby it has not had the past means to invest in the necessary defence structures.

Guyana’s coastal defence structures are primarily concrete seawalls, rock rip-rap, mangroves and earthen embankments. The legislative capacities in place to address environmental challenges include the Sea Defense Act Chapter 64:02; the Drainage and Irrigation Act (Act 10 of 2004) and the Environmental Protection Act Chapter 20:05.

Meanwhile, institutional capacity includes the Sea Defence Board, the Sea and River Defence Division and the Regional and Neighbourhood Democratic Councils.

However, even with these capacities in place, Ram said that Guyana’s coastland remains at risk due to a number of factors.

As it relates to mangroves, which serve as a natural form of coastal protection, Ram noted that Guyana has lost over 80 per cent of its mangroves since 1983 when it possessed approximately 150,000 hectares but now, as of 2018, possess only 33,361 hectares.

“We have lost not only the mangroves that naturally existed but we’ve also lost some of the mangroves that we have replanted as part of the restoration project,” he said.

The Biology Lecturer said that while persons have become more aware of the importance of mangrove and wish to assist with replanting, such efforts require financing and specific requirements for successful mangrove growth such as the elevation of mud, tidal hydrology and

A photo of an abandoned sluice that is now surrounded by the sea due to a sinking coastline. (presentation screenshot)

The Dantzig/Mahaicony area on the East Coast of Demerara (ECD) which has been plagued with overtopping and flooding (presentation screenshot)

conditions favourable for replanting.

“It’s not that we don’t want to replant the mangroves or we can’t advance mangrove restoration projects, either from a community basis, a voluntary perspective or even a national endeavour, but it’s just that some of the requirements are just not here for us to replant mangroves,” he explained.

Ram concluded that mangroves alone are not sufficient for the protection of Guyana’s coastlands and citizens should begin thinking about moving to inland, to higher ground and

about taking different, more modern steps to mitigate the effects of climate change.

In another presentation, Eco-Green Proprietor, Mario Armes, said that it has been averaged that it would take around US $1 billion to conduct a serious re-building of Guyana’s seawall.

However, he believes that if reconstruction is being done, this must utilize modern bestpractices and technologies.

He gave examples of companies around the world that specialise in these technologies and in areas relating to soil engineer, synthetic tube manufacturing, breakwater

systems and more.

A r m e s a l s o recommended that Guyana develops a programme to reclaim its foreshore which could be affordably done utilising Geotubes.

“We need to think globally and act locally and protect our coastland,” he said. Following the presentations, members of the public who attended were allow to ask their pressing questions and have them answered.

13

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, July 11, 2020

First Lady calls for probe into sexual abuse allegations against Ruel

THE recent coming out of victims who suffered traumatic experiences at the hands of Kaieteur News’ co-editor, Ruel Johnson, and the lack of resolution have triggered a large section of society to call for justice and better treatment to issues of sexual and domestic violence.

Among the many reputable women who have spoken on the issue are current First Lady of Guyana Sandra Granger. Granger said that the exposure of Johnson, who is a person in a position of authority, has revealed that Guyana has a far way to go in dealing with this issue.

“The young lady who related her experience(s) at the hands of the abuser has been criticised and reviled in the crudest way. Another victim has stepped forward.

Those who are aware would know that victims of trauma sometimes take years to ex-

First Lady Mrs. Sandra Granger press their pain and anguish, or internalise their abuse, and sometimes blame themselves for it. Where are we as a nation when for some, the instinctive response is to attack the person(s) making these allegations? Worse, implying that she/they are less; that she/they ‘looked for it’?

Let us get to the bottom of this matter and listen to both sides. We need a group of

dedicated professionals who will help our abused and battered victims to heal. At the same time, the perpetrators should be brought to justice and also counselled about the damage they have done.

Just my two cents,” The First lady said.

On Monday, Youth Activist and Columnist at the Stabroek News Akola Thompson broke her silence against Johnson by way of a Facebook post. Following her post, a German ex-girlfriend, Sinah Kloss, also came forward and shared with the public her years of abuse with Johnson.

Thompson said because she was a child raised on trauma, she was more susceptible to Johnson’s acts.

“He would begin inviting me over to him for our writing sessions, all pretense of the writing mentor falling away to reveal its true ugly nature.

He would ply me with alco-

Accused abuser, Ruel Johnson hol…”

She said that Johnson was both in awe and envious of her talent, intelligence, and desirability. “He was intensely paranoid and possessive; he would try to pressure me to marry him, to have a baby for him, to promise to stay with him forever. He was verbally, emotionally and mentally abusive to me throughout. He

would stalk me. He would show up to my home uninvited. He would constantly go through my emails and social media. He would send nasty messages to my friends and try to isolate me from everyone. These are all tactics of abusive and narcissistic psychopaths. He would frequently wake me out of my sleep to question me about another one of his paranoid delusions concerning me. He would shout, curse. He would punch walls, slam tables, and use his bodyweight and size to intimidate me into small corners of myself… One night, on another one of his drunken paranoid benders, he got physical with me. He would lift me up and literally throw me out of his apartment. I knew then I had to leave, because things were on a continuous downward slope.”

Meanwhile, Kloss said, “I was his girlfriend for two years. I believe every word

Akola has written. Although I was far from being a minor, he managed to manipulate me, and slowly decreased my self-esteem, as is common in histories of domestic violence, and is a common strategy of people who have a narcissistic personality disorder. I was suffering from a burn-out due to a stressful finishing phase of my PhD dissertation, a phase in which I was completely let down by him, the details of which shall not be discussed here on Facebook.

Also, my father was dying of cancer, adding to my stress and depression.

He used this moment of vulnerability to exert power, control me, abuse me verbally, and make himself feel in charge, spit at me.

I was called a ‘miserable c…t’ so many times that in the end, it didn’t even hurt anymore,” Kloss posted on her page.

COVID-19 pandemic reinforces –Wales rice importance of agriculture production manager THE global coronavirus pandemic has helped to reinforce the key role of agriculture to countries such as Guyana, said Mr Mohamed Zahkir Khan, one of the rice production managers at the former Wales Estate in Essequibo Islands/West Demerara (Region Three).

Wales was among several unprofitable sugar estates closed by the government to help pursue alternative economic activities. Rice cultivation was deemed profitable and so far, this has borne fruit. “COVID-19 was a blessing to farming, especially here in Guyana, as we have seen for several farmers who have been planting on the former sugar estate and as they recognise how important they are and how valuable farming is to their livelihood,” Khan said.

He wants more Guyanese to pursue farming to help the country diversify its agriculture sector, historically dependent on traditionally major crops such as sugar

creative and innovative, thus increasing the opportunities.

This is what is needed in confronting pandemics like these in terms of ensuring that food security is achieved,” said the manager attached to the government holding company, the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICI).

Globally, agriculture is a source of livelihood, contributing to national revenue and providing food for citizens and fodder for animals and Mr Mohamed Zahkir Khan some types of industries. and rice. Khan said that, with Farming is also a source of more persons involved in raw material providing signiffarming, it will create new icant support to the transport and innovative opportunities sector and help to garner forrather than disadvantageous eign exchange. The economic challenges for the large-scale activity also provides great employment opportunities, farmers.

“Too many persons are is a reliable source of food depending on the markets for national and global security their crops and this shouldn’t and source of saving for those be. While I am not saying involved.

Khan believes modernisathat we shouldn’t support the markets, I am saying that if tion has helped diminish agmore persons get into farm- riculture’s strategic domestic ing it will force our large- importance but maintains this scale farmers to be more is a fatal error.

The former Wales Estate now ‘occupied’ by rice “It is very important that we assist in producing what we utilise in our homes and kitchens, so that we are not forced to go to the markets for everything. We have allowed a culture to be created where we depend on everything that we need from the markets. Getting into agriculture will reduce this while at the same time strengthening our national food security as

it means that every person will become less dependent on the markets,” he asserted.

Growing what one eats will also help thwart the spread of COVID-19 since it will mean going less to markets, a usually crowded public place.

“With more persons planting it means that they do not have to be all going to the markets for everything

and with less people going to the market it certainly will help with social distancing, thus reducing the possibility of being infected.

The reality is that agriculture should be an important aspect in the livelihood of every Guyanese, and we need to ensure that we address this urgently and collectively,” Khan urged.

14

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, July 11, 2020

International funding dwindling for HIV/AIDS NGOs in Guyana

GIVEN Guyana’s markedly improved economic status, much is expected of the country to take on more responsibility in funding its own projects in the HIV/ AIDS area, which was previously, largely being funded by international donor organisations.

Non-governmental organisations (NGOs), which carry out a large bulk of the work as it pertains to containing Guyana’s HIV/AIDS situation, and which are largely funded by the international grants, are now hopeful that the government will step in and fill the void left behind by the international funding.

“With the oil, Guyana is no longer as high a priority as we used to be, to be considered to get funding. So as NGOs we are depending on the government to pick up the slack,” conveyed Executive Director and Co-founder of Artiste In Direct Support (AIDS), Desiree Edghill.

AIDS has been receiving funding from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) since 1999, however that funding is expected to discontinue after

this month.

According to Edghill, with the funding from USAID gone, that will leave the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria as the only international donor backing NGOs to continue their work.

However, even that funding is also finite, and not expected to last much longer. The NGOs had known for some time now that the end was coming, as it pertains to international funding, but remains optimistic.

“Global communities have started a slow departure, which started three four years ago,” explains Executive Director of the National Coordinating Coalition (NCC), Simone Sills.

The NCC is an umbrella organisation for some 39 other NGOs that focus on HIV/AIDS related services.

“Ever since Guyana was redefined in terms of its economic status, it meant that Guyana, and countries like Guyana that have a different economic status, have been reclassified as middle income or high income countries, their governments are expected to start contributing more and more,” Sills further added.

Though HIV/AIDS services are available free of cost at public health facilities all across the country, over the years a large amount of the work in stemming the spread of the virus and helping to support those infected, has been handled by the NGOs. “The NGOs meet a niche that no other partner reaches.

We reach out to the key population, and over 50 percent of testing and counselling services were provided by NGOs. So there is the need for the NGO in meeting that grassroots prevention and interaction,” explained Sills.

The NCC has partners in eight of the country’s 10 administrative regions, and teams that visit the other two regions on a needs basis.

“That is not to say that the ministry isn’t doing a good job, it’s because of the history of NGOs and the partnerships that the NGO made with the ordinary man. NGOs pretty much fill the gap in a person’s reluctance to go to the Ministry of Health, so we nurture and mentor them, and get them in the door,” Sills related.

Over the past 10 years and more, Guyana has made sig-

nificant strides in containing the HIV/AIDS situation in the country, notwithstanding a continuous rise in new cases in the country.

According to UNAIDs statistics, approximately 8700 persons are living in Guyana with HIV/AIDS as at 2019, an increase of approximately 100 new cases more than 2018, and a 30 per cent increase from the 6700 cases the country reported ten years prior.

Sills reasoned that it’s the fact that funding to the NGOs have been progressively decreasing over the years that has led to the steady increase of new cases.

“We have already started to see an increase in HIV among that 15 – 35 age group, and it is because the intensity of HIV/ AIDS awareness and education has significantly decreased, and that is because of decreased funding to the NGOs. The intensity from five, six years ago isn’t there and what we’re seeing is the creeping up of the new positive cases, in that age group that has a lot of misinformation,” Sills noted.

Notwithstanding the increase in cases, Guyana has been seeing many positive de-

velopments on the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the country.

In the recently released 2020 Global AIDS Update, Guyana is recorded as having seen a massive decline of discriminatory attitudes towards persons living with HIV. The country is also among a number of countries that are close to achieving the 90-90-90 target for 2020, with 94 per cent of affected persons knowing their status, 73 per cent of those affected being on treatment and 87 per cent of those on treatment achieving viral suppression.

Sills said if the NGOs were to not survive, a lot of the progress could be erased.

“All the gains made in the past few years being reversed, if the NGOs aren’t present in the fight against HIV, that includes gains we have made, against stigma and discrimination, seeking information,” she said.

To assess an arrangement of government funding for NGOs to continue, last year the MoPH conducted a pilot programme with four NGOs on social contracting to provide HIV/AIDS services. The programme ran from Sep-

Executive Director and Co-founder of Artiste In Direct Support (AIDS), Desiree Edghill tember – December, however continuation was stalled as the country awaits a resolution to its elections impasse.

“Local NGOs have to think beyond just the regular types of funding and look strategically at how to generate their own income, to keep their doors open, and that has birthed social contracting of NGOs. This is where government agencies contract the services of NGOs to fill the gap. Because NGOs meet the population that the health sectors do not reach,” Sills noted.

Young Barticans a step closer to Degree in Business Management

By Gabriella Chapman A GROUP of Barticans are a step closer to achieving their Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management from the Association of Business Executives being offered in the township through the New Horizons Educational Centre. A few days ago, this group of seven Barticans became the first batch of students to receive their certificates in Level 4 foundation in Business Management.

For decades, persons who wanted higher- level education had to migrate to Georgetown or overseas for that opportunity; now the people can boast the improvement as they now have ready access right in their hometown.

Rebecca Mohabir, a young Bartican who started the New Horizons Educational Centre, lobbied to have the business programme offered to her people. She told the Guyana Chronicle that due to her personal experience pursuing tertiarylevel education, and having to move away from Bartica to do it, she’s aware of the challenges that persons may face.

“So I approached Nations University to work in partnership. And because ‘Nations’ already have their self, established with ABE, it was just basically setting up an extension of them under New Horizons,

–– say grateful for access to tertiary-level education in township and they already have the same thing going on in other regions,” Mohabir said.

She explained that her centre initially started off as one that was offering CXC evening classes, but she decided to expand to include access to the tertiary level. And the classes are mainly on weekends, whereby the lecturers would come to Bartica, so it doesn’t interfere with persons’ work schedules.

The first batch who recently concluded Level 4 are now completing Level 5, after which they will be eligible to enrol in a 10-month programme with the University of Bedfordshire to complete the degree.

This publication spoke with some of these Barticans who are overjoyed with their new certificate of achievement, and the improvement they have already seen in their lives with the new knowledge gained.

Akeem Prowell said that doing the course enhanced his ability to get things done--business wise-- in the organisation that he works for.

“It helped me [to] gain more knowledge on how to go about executing certain things, how to go about making targets, setting long and shortterm goals based on numbers.

It also opened some doors in the marketing aspect for

me. It provided me with the tools needed to deal with staff, deal with problems within the organisation. There was a particular course, Employability and Self-development, which gave me a different view on how to judge myself and judge my ability, and find my weaknesses and strengths in order to perform at my best. I think the entire package being available to Bartica itself, it is more of a good to Bartica, because there are a lot of persons who can’t afford to venture into Georgetown to further their studies,” the young man said.

He also noted that at a time like this, tertiary education is very important. “The world is growing with a vast pace, even though we’re in a pandemic.

Those persons who are not well equipped, come five years from now, or even less, will be left behind. With that programme in Bartica, it would put Bartica youths in a better position to better themselves, build a sturdy career and gain better employment in Bartica,” Prowell said.

Noleen Charles said that given everything that is happening now and the direction in which the country is going, persons need to have themselves qualified further than a high school certificate.

“With all the foreign com-

panies that will soon be entering Guyana, in fact, that are already in Guyana; to make yourself more marketable, you need to qualify yourself. So I started this programme to get my degree. It’s been good, not only so that I can update my resume, and make myself marketable, but it helped to improve my staff skills generally. For me, there are a lot of things that you pick up along the way. Different management techniques, different ways in dealing with working situations that may arise. Ways of solving problems, all of that over the year helped me to improve my on-the-job performance,” Charles said.

She also said that before the programme was available in Bartica, she had travel to Georgetown every weekend for classes, which was very expensive.

A prominent, dynamic teacher in the town, Jermaine Joseph believes that this is a game- changer for the youths of Bartica.

“Tertiary- level education is something I always looked forward to in Bartica. I’ve always been advocating for it, because for persons like me who are looking to make a life here in Bartica, and we’re not desirous of going central Georgetown,

it’s one we appreciate a whole lot. Having to move away from home to study, you have to change your whole life. I think it’s a welcoming venture for a lot of persons out of secondary school; a lot of times they don’t have anything positive to gravitate to after secondary school. So it’s very convenient and something good for them to look forward to,” Joseph said.

He also shared that the knowledge gained thus far has enhanced his new small-business venture.

Ameena Rahaman’s sentiments were no different, as she too believes that tertiary education is vital for the future of Bartica and its development.

“Tertiary level of education is becoming more and more vital to cope with the dynamic business environment that is moving at quite a fast pace when it comes to the world’s technological advancements.

It is better to be tertiary-level educated to secure a better future to have a greater chance of being selected as the best fit for your ‘dream job.’ The knowledge I have gained so far being in Business Management with ABE, it is widely based upon how to apply theories, principles, tools and techniques, which can be used to properly manage a business operation,

aiming to not only benefit the company financially but also to improve personal professional development,” the young woman said.

She noting further, “I consider myself as ‘lucky’ to be all the way in Bartica and gain access to a UK-based qualification. I must mention that ABE is essential to the people of Bartica since they provide a very convenient service that may help persons who do not have relatives living in Georgetown or a place to stay there. Also, this accessibility allows Barticans to save on travel costs to Georgetown. As an outcome, ABE being available on Bartica is like having a ‘gem’ at your own location which can increase the people’s growth and development in both knowledge and skills.

Further, the ABE programme only gives the young people in Bartica the opportunity to focus more on education and move in the direction of success.”

Because of the COVID-19 epidemic and strict health guidelines, no formal graduation ceremony was held.

However, four of the seven recipients of the certificate did a photoshoot to celebrate their achievement.

Mohabir said that an additional 30 students are awaiting results from their Level 4 examinations.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, July 11, 2020

IDB report predicts devastating blow to tourism in Caribbean Latin America and the Caribbean will suffer an unprecedented economic shock from a sharp downturn in tourism, according to a new paper by the Inter-American Development Bank.

The report – Extreme Outlier: The Pandemic’s Unprecedented Shock to Tourism in Latin America and the Caribbean – launches a new global Tourism Dependency Index for countries, including 35 Latin American and Caribbean economies. It urges governments to take unprecedented measures to prevent the spread of the virus, and to support citizens and economies through this shock to the most tourism-dependent region in the world.

Based on simulations, the direct impacts of the shock to tourism flows for The Bahamas could cause an economic contraction relative to pre-crisis baseline estimates of between 8 percent and 13 percent. Similar exercises incorporating the potential indirect contribution of tourism for economic activity would further increase these loss estimates. While less dependent on tourism than many Caribbean economies, large economies like Brazil and Mexico could experience shocks to growth linked to this sector of between 2 and 5 percent, respectively, relative to pre-crisis estimates.

The Americas are home to many of the world’s most tourism-dependent economies. Aruba—with a Tourism Dependency Index of 84.7—is the world’s most tourism-dependent economy, followed by Antigua and Barbuda (61.4) and The Bahamas (59.4). Venezuela (5.5), Paraguay (3.7) and Suriname (3.2) are among the least tourism dependent economies in the region. Fourteen of the 15 most tourism-dependent nations in the Americas are located in the Caribbean region.

Still, the sector is significant for some of the largest economies in the region. From 2014 to 2018, tourism accounted for an average of about 16 percent of both economic output and employment in Mexico, and about 10 percent of both GDP and employment for Uruguay, Argentina, and Chile. In Brazil, tourism was responsible for about 8 percent of employment—representing hundreds of thousands of jobs.

“Taken together, our Tourism-Dependency Index and various related indicators suggest that countries in Latin America and the Caribbean are likely to suffer more than most in terms of the COVID-19 generated shock,” said IDB economics advisor for the Caribbean Department, Henry Mooney. “Governments can provide focused and tailored support to preserve productive assets, help replace lost incomes for individuals engaged in the sector, and use the interim period to prepare the ground for the resumption of activity under uncertain circumstances.”

The authors analyzed six historical shock episodes to compare against the outbreak of COVID-19, including the 9-11 attacks and the Ebola outbreak. None of those historic precedents came close to the shock to tourism arrivals during the current pandemic. While tourism flows to the region contracted by as much as about 4 percent (relative the previous year) during the global financial crisis, the Pandemic could lead to a negative shock of between 40 and 70 percent in a single year—an extreme outlier.

The report also simulates tourism-driven shocks to employment, export earnings and the balance of international payments. Aruba, where almost one in three jobs is linked to the tourism industry, could see a disruption of employment in excess of 20 percent of the entire workforce. The report also highlights just how destabilizing a shock of this nature and magnitude could be for external sustainability, forcing many economies in the region to deal with unprecedented pressures on the current account and exchange rates.

“Even for larger and more diversified economies, the net impact on economic activity could still lead to contractions on a scale not often experienced,” said IDB researcher María Alejandra Zegarra. “Countries entering the crisis with inadequate policy frameworks or lacking strong external buffers will be particularly hard hit.”

15

16

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, July 10, 2020

GUYANA CHRONICLE FridAY, July 10, 2020

17

18

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, July 10, 2020

08:00 - 3:30HRS

19

GUYANA CHRONICLE FridAY, July 10, 2020

Dowrich, Brathwaite put West Indies in command (ESPNCricinfo) - Battling half-centuries from Kraigg Brathwaite and Shane Dowrich put West Indies into a commanding position on the third day at the Ageas Bowl, before England’s openers withstood a superb spell of new-ball bowling to cut the deficit to double figures.

Jason Holder said on the second evening that the first hour would help set the tone for the rest of the day, and Brathwaite and Shai Hope continued where they had left off on a sunny morning, dropping anchor and putting miles into the legs of England’s seamers.

While James Anderson and Ben Stokes eventually made breakthroughs, West Indies followed the template for batting in England, leaving and defending watchfully and putting away the occasional bad balls to give themselves a first-innings lead of 114.

Questions will continue to be asked about England’s team selection and their decision to bat first, not least after Stuart Broad’s candid comments immediately before the start of play. Mark Wood and Jofra Archer had been asked to bring express pace and both did so, regularly passing the 90mph/145kph mark on the speed gun, but were set to go wicket-less until Wood castled No.11 Shannon Gabriel.

But credit should mainly go to the West Indian batsmen, who managed to build partnerships regularly.

There had been lingering doubts throughout the buildup to the series about their ability to occupy the crease for long periods of time, which were largely dispelled as the majority of the middle order managed to soak up balls in the middle.

Hope had dug in valiantly on the second evening, fending off a short-ball barrage from Wood, but struggled for any kind of fluency in the morning session. It remains one of the great mysteries how he can look so settled at the crease in an ODI shirt and yet endure such a poor run in Test cricket since the 2017 tour.

He got a life when Archer trapped him lbw only to have overstepped, but fell an over later, slashing ill-advisedly at Dom Bess’ off-spin and being caught at slip.

Brathwaite, playing the ball late and ticking the strike over where he could, dug in to bring up a first half-century in almost two years before lunch.

He could have considered himself unfortunate when given out lbw to a nip-backer from Stokes at the end of an over in which he had already hit three boundaries.

He reviewed the decision after a long think, but it was upheld after the ball was shown to be clipping the stumps and umpire’s call on impact.

But while England had faltered in struggling to build partnerships, West Indies flourished. Shamarh Brooks, in his first Test innings outside India, got up and running with four early boundaries - two off Jofra Archer, two off Bess - while Roston Chase defended well and drove firmly whenever England pitched the ball up to him.

Brooks looked certain to push on towards a meaningful score when he feathered an edge through to Jos Buttler, which brought Jermaine Blackwood to the crease. Blackwood had insisted he was a more patient and focussed batsman than his previous incarnation, but looked his usual frenetic self during his brief stay,

charging Bess and slashing him to Anderson at mid-off for 12.

Dowrich joined Chase to take West Indies through to tea, scoring freely to start his innings before settling into a steadier rhythm. The pair put on 81, the game’s highest partnership to date, either side of the interval as England strained for a wicket, but Wood failed to find much bite on a slow pitch.

It was Anderson who eventually broke through with the new ball, trapping Chase in front on review, but by that point West Indies’ lead had begun to look commanding.

After trying to rouse his troops after tea, Stokes eventually realised he would have to do things by himself.

Jason Holder had landed the first punch in the battle of the all-rounders yesterday, but Stokes fought back with a sharp bouncer which his opposite number flapped down to long leg, and Alzarri Joseph’s enterprising cameo came to an end as Stokes nipped one through him and struck the top of off to reach 150 Test wickets.

He got the key wicket of Dowrich, who had battled well for his 61, when a back-of-a-length ball flicked the back of his bat on the way to Buttler, before Wood cleaned up Gabriel to leave West Indies with a first-innings lead of 114.

The final 10 overs of the day were gripping.

After being bowled while leaving the ball in the first innings, Dom Sibley shuffled his stance across towards the off-side, and was given a working-over

by Gabriel and Kemar Roach in the channel, but he survived until the close, nudging a single down to long-leg off the final ball to take the deficit below 100.

SCOREBOARD ENGLAND 1st innings 204 WEST INDIES 1st innings (overnight 57 for one) K. Brathwaite lbw b Anderson 64 J. Campbell lbw b Anderson 28 S. Hope c Stokes b Bess 16 S. Brooks c wkp. Buttler b Anderson 39 R. Chase lbw b Anderson 47 J. Blackwood c Anderson b Bess 12 S. Dowrich c wkp. Buttler b Stokes 61 J. Holder c Archer b Stokes 5 A. Joseph b Stokes 18 K. Roach not out 1 S. Gabriel b Wood 4 Extras: (lb-21, nb-1) 22

Total: (all out, 102 overs) 318 Fall of wickets: 1-43, 2-102, 3-140, 4-173, 5-186, 6-267, 7-281, 8-306, 9-313.

Bowling: Anderson 25-11-62-3, Archer 22-3-61-0 (nb-1), Wood 22-2-74-1, Stokes 14-5-49-4, Bess 19-5-51-2.

ENGLAND 2nd innings R. Burns not out 10 D. Sibley not out 5 Total (without loss, 10 overs) 15 Bowling: Roach 5-3-6-0, Gabriel 3-1-5-0, Holder 2-1-4-0.

Position: England trail by 99 runs with all 10 second inning wickets intact.

20

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, July 10, 2020

Hero CPL confirms Trinidad & Tobago as venue for 2020

THE Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) and the government of Trinidad & Tobago have come to an agreement for the whole of the 2020 season to be played in that country.

The tournament will run from Tuesday, August 18 to Thursday, September 10.

The CPL will have a full season and will feature overseas and Caribbean players with the standard higher than it has ever been with the likes of Rashid Khan, Chris Lynn, Carlos Brathwaite, Dwayne Bravo, Alex Hales and Kieron Pollard all set to take part.

Last year’s CPL had a com-

bined broadcast and digital viewership of 312 million and with the tournament being the first franchise T20 event to take place in several months there will be more interest than ever.

The CPL have worked with the Trinidad & Tobago Ministry of Health and CPL’s own board of medical advisors to create protocols which minimise risk of transmission of the COVID-19 virus to the population of Trinidad and amongst those who will be travelling to Trinidad & Tobago from overseas.

All teams and officials will be housed in one hotel and everyone

will be subject to strict quarantine protocols for the first two weeks they are in the country. Everyone travelling from overseas will be tested for COVID-19, before departure and then again on arrival in Trinidad.

Teams and officials will be put into “households” where social distancing will need to be in place.

There will be smaller clusters within each household where these measures can be relaxed.

However, if any member of this cluster displays signs of COVID-19 at any time during the tournament

all members of that cluster will be expected to self-isolate for a period of 14 days from the time that a member of that group first shows symptoms.

All members of the CPL party will be subject to regular temperature checks and will be re-tested for the virus throughout their stay in Trinidad and again before departure.

Pete Russell, COO of Hero CPL, said: “We would like to express our gratitude and thanks to The Hon. Dr Keith Rowley, Prime Minister of Trinidad & Tobago, The Hon. Shamfa Cudjoe, Minister

for Sport and Youth Affairs, The Hon. Terrence Deyalsingh, Minister for Health, Dr Roshan Parasram, Chief Medical Officer for Trinidad & Tobago, Douglas Camacho, Chairman of Sport TT and their respective ministries and organisations for their support and guidance in making this all possible.

“We are really excited to bring high class cricket to the Caribbean and to the rest of the world. The standard of players involved in this year’s tournament will be higher than ever and we can’t wait to get the tournament under way.”

Marcelo likely to miss end of the season (REUTERS) - Real Madrid defender Marcelo will likely be sidelined for the rest

of their Liga title run-in after sustaining a thigh injury.

Marcelo of Real Madrid during the team’s training session during the COVID-19 pandemic at Valdebebas training ground on May 15, 2020 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo

by Antonio Villalba/Real Madrid via Getty Images)

A statement from Real yesterday confirmed the injury to the Brazilian without stating when he would return although Spanish newspaper Marca said he would be out of action for three weeks.

Marcelo, 32, will miss Real’s final four Liga matches - against Alaves yesterday plus Granada, Villarreal and Leganes - but should

return in time for their Champions League last-16 second leg at Manchester City on August 7, added the report.

Real, targeting their first Spanish league title since 2017, are one point clear of second-placed Barcelona and can increase their lead to four with a home win over struggling Alaves.

21

GUYANA CHRONICLE FridAY, July 10, 2020

Need-for-speed calls answered, but Ben Stokes turns to James Anderson Says George Dobell FOR years, whenever England have struggled in the field, the call has been for pace. Whether struggling for penetration at Chennai or Lord’s or Adelaide, the suggestion has always been that, with a bit more pace, England would be able to extract more life from the surface and have the ingredient their attack has been lacking.

Well, here they had plenty of pace. Indeed, Mark Wood produced what is thought to be the quickest display of bowling by an England player across an innings at home in the past 15 years. And what did it earn him? One tail-end wicket for 74 runs.

He wasn’t alone, either. Jofra Archer, we know, can bowl as fast as anyone.

And while here he tended to concentrate on control - this surface hasn’t offered a great deal of help for pace - there were still some quick deliveries across his 22 overs. He finished wicket-less.

It was telling that Ben Stokes, like so many England captains before him, relied on James Anderson to deliver the most overs. Anderson is 37 now and generally operates at a speed just above 80 mph. But, such is his control and skill, he remains the most dangerous bowler more often than not. And while he was not, by his high standards, quite at his best, he still delivered 11 maidens in his 25 overs.

England’s three other seamers delivered 10 between them.

It’s no coincidence that the most successful bowler in the match to date, Jason Holder, operates at a similar pace to Anderson. He derived his success by pitching the ball a bit fuller than the England bowlers and extracting movement - especially swing - that the hosts could not replicate.

But England have longed for this pace. For years they

James Anderson appeals for the wicket of Roston Chase. (Getty Images)

have been on the wrong end of attacks containing quality fast bowlers. Now, at last, they have some firepower of their own and they couldn’t resist the temptation to play them.

They were like the man taking his new sports car out in the snow; or desperate to use his new skis in mid-summer. They haven’t exactly picked the wrong attack. But they might have picked the wrong attack for the conditions.

England’s hearts probably sank when they opened their curtain yesterday morning. After batting in grim, overcast conditions, they were greeted by the sort of bright, sunny morning that suggested batting could be easier. But that is the risk you take when you choose to bat first in the gloom and England would have hoped to have an attack to cope with most conditions.

As it transpired, it looked just a little ill-balanced. Another old-school England seamer - the likes of Matthew Hoggard, perhaps, or even Chris Rushworth or Alan Richardson - might have proved the perfect foil to Anderson.

It’s surely too early to

jump to conclusions but maybe, just as England’s football team rarely found a way to accommodate Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard in the same side, their cricket team might find the best use of Wood and Archer is by rotating them?

There will be those who suggest Stuart Broad would have made all the difference.

And it is true that Broad, at this stage of his career, with his determination to make batsmen play, might have been well-suited to this surface. But we have to be careful not to make the same mistake we have with pace: presume that quick and easy solutions would make all the difference.

Broad has, no doubt, had a magnificent career. But in his most recent 28 home Tests - that’s a period going back almost five years - he has taken only one five-wicket haul.

England also have to be careful not to over compensate in Manchester. If conditions there look as if they may favour pace above seam - and they may well - it will probably pay to stick with these bowlers. Their fault may have been playing an attack ideally suited for

Brisbane in Southampton.

There are other options within the England squad, too. For all Broad’s virtues, he is another right-arm fast medium bowler. Sam Curran, with his left-arm angle and ability to swing the ball, might offer more variation.

You could, at a push, even make a case for playing him in place of one of the batsmen. His Test batting average (27.34) is only about two below that of Joe Denly (29.55).

But whoever plays, whatever their pace, they have to bowl with more accuracy than England managed here. It wasn’t that they were awful, by any means. But compared to the West Indies bowlers, they were just a little short, just a little leg side and just a little unable to build or sustain pressure.

“Obviously you need control,” Anderson said. “We saw West Indies bowl well.

They had a couple bowlers who offered control in Holder and Roach and that gave the quicker guys the freedom to bowl fast. You need a balance.”

In many ways, Wood’s performance was admirable.

His pace hardly dropped in his 22 overs. Right to the

end, he was passing 90 mph regularly. But by bowling too short, he failed to generate the movement that proved so dangerous for Holder. On a different surface - maybe the surface in Manchester; maybe even the fourth-innings surface here - Wood will be a huge asset.

Archer, too, was only slightly off his game. He squandered one wicket through overstepping - an infuriating waste, really - and also strayed on to the bats-

men’s legs more often than he will like. But his real issue was struggling to generate the movement that might have been expected of him.

And, while England may feel they allowed West Indies to get a few above par, it probably was only a few.

England’s first innings score of 204 has, not for the first time, asked a little too much of their bowlers. In both innings, a score of around 250 might be considered par.

In truth, West Indies have so far batted and bowled better than England. Kraigg Brathwaite played later and straighter than England’s top order while Shane Dowrich, despite never looking comfortable against the short ball, battled hard in contributing a vital half-century.

The discipline and skill with which they evaded the short ball has perhaps made England’s bowling effort seem rather less good than it was.

So this was a slightly dispiriting start to life with Wood and Archer in tandem.

But there will be other surfaces, many of them, when the pair are the perfect solution.

But just because you’ve bought a fine new hat, it doesn’t mean you need to wear it in the shower.

Five local coaches set for Virtual boxing seminar

THE Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) has selected five coaches to participate in a Virtual seminar to be run by the Americas Boxing Confederation.

The seminar will commence at 14:00hrs today and will be conducted by Jose Laureno of Puerto Rico.

The main topic is: Returning to training after the pandemic.

Terrence Poole, MS and Sebert Blake will be joined by Orlon Rogers, Clive Atwell and Joseph Murray.

Steve Ninvalle, vice-president of the Americas Boxing Confederation and president of GBA, was tasked with organising the participation of the English-speaking Caribbean.

Ninvalle, in a release, said this region will be represented by over 80 coaches from 15 countries.

22

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, July 10, 2020

Broad frustrated, angry at non-selection ESPNCricinfo) - Stuart Broad has described himself as “frustrated” and “angry” at having been left out of England’s side for the first Test of the series against West Indies.

Broad, the second highest wicket-taker in England’s Test history, said he found the decision “difficult to understand” and suggested he had sought clarification on his future from Ed Smith, national selector.

“I’m not a particularly emotional person but I’ve found the last couple of days quite tough,” Broad told Sky Sports shortly before play resumed on the third day.

“To say I was disappointed would be an understatement;

you’re disappointed if you drop your phone and the screen breaks.

“I’m frustrated, angry and gutted. It’s difficult to understand. I’ve probably bowled the best I’ve ever bowled the last couple years, I felt it was my shirt. I was in the team for the Ashes and going to South Africa and winning there.”

Broad was England’s leading wicket-taker in their previous Test series - he claimed 14 wickets at a cost of 19.42 apiece in South Africa - and in the Ashes series of 2019, when he claimed 23 wickets at 26.65.

“I spoke to Ed Smith (the national selector) last night.

Stuart Broad wearing his new-look bandana. (Getty Images)

He said he was involved in picking the 13 and this side was picked purely for this pitch,” Broad continued. “I wanted clarification on my future going forward, and I was given pretty positive feedback going forward.

“So yes, I was frustrated in the fact that I felt like I deserved a spot in the team.”

Despite that frustration Broad accepted the bowlers picked in front of him also deserved their places and accepted that the current competition for places was probably a healthy thing for England.

“You can’t argue the bowlers walking on that field don’t deserve to play,” Broad said. “Every-

one deserves to play. Chris Woakes, Sam Curran were bowling really well and probably deserve to be in the XI. It’s just annoying when it’s not you that’s in that XI. Very rarely do you get guys fit and available for each Test match. That’s where selection has been tricky.

“It’s great to see strength and depth in the fast bowling ranks. It’s the only way that England cricket moves forward and gets better. And with high competition in squads it keeps the standard high. Everyone is under pressure for his spot.”

Broad’s omission broke a run of 51 consecutive home Tests dating back to 2012.

City to know European fate on Monday (BBC) - Manchester City will learn on Monday whether their appeal against a two-year ban from European club competitions has been successful.

City appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) after UEFA’s Club Financial Control Body (CFCB) issued the ban in February.

The CFCB ruled the club had committed “serious breaches” of UEFA’s Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations between 2012 and 2016.

They were also fined 30 million euros (£25M).

City immediately signalled their intention to appeal to CAS. They be-

lieve the CFCB was not independent and ended up being distrustful of it, partly due to the amount of secretive information the club felt was leaked to the media.

They are adamant that what they consider an independent judiciary will clear them.

“We are ready,” said manager Pep Guardiola yesterday.

“I have a lot of confidence and trust with the people that we will be allowed to play the Champions League because we want to be on the field during these years.”

Their appeal began in June and has been heard by three CAS law-

Manchester City have made 10 appearances in UEFA’S premier club competition.

yers in private video conferences.

Unless the club are successful, they will not be able to participate in Europe’s flagship competition next season and will be prevented from playing in the annual UEFA Super Cup if they win this season’s delayed Champions League.

City face Real Madrid in their Champions League last-16 second leg at Etihad Stadium on either August 7 or 8.

They lead 2-1 from the first leg in Madrid and will face Juventus or Lyon in the quarter-finals, which will be held in Lisbon, if they progress.

Verstappen heads second practice at Styrian GP (BBC) - Red Bull’s Max Verstappen headed Mercedes’ Valtteri Bottas in second practice at the Styrian Grand Prix.

The Dutchman pipped Bottas by just 0.043 seconds, with the Racing Points of Sergio Perez and Lance Stroll third and fourth.

Renault’s Daniel Ricciardo had a heavy crash at Turn Nine early in the session, and limped away from the car.

World champion Lewis Hamilton was only sixth, unhappy with both the balance of his Mercedes and his fastest lap.

Teams were trying harder than usual in the session as there is an outside chance of it defining the grid order if cars cannot run in the predicted rain today.

That is still an unlikely scenario, however, as there are a number of potential solutions if qualifying is washed out.

Verstappen was impressive on both short and long runs, beating Bottas on his qualifying simulation lap and then lapping at very similar pace when they switched to race preparation, despite being on the harder medium tyre with the Finn on the soft.

F1 Breakdown: Jack Nicholls previews new Formula 1 season Hamilton said: “It felt relatively normal but it was quite far off. There is a lot of work needed to do to find out why. I was feeling pretty good in P1 and at the start of P2 but then it started to drop off. It does seem

the others are pretty quick or we have slowed down.”

Racing Point’s pace was a further emphasis of their rise to become real contenders this season with a car that has been dubbed the ‘Pink Mercedes’ for its likeness to last year’s world championship-winning car.

Perez was just 0.217secs off the outright pace, with Stroll his usual 0.3 secs or so behind his team-mate.

McLaren’s Carlos Sainz was fifth, ahead of Hamilton and the second Red Bull of Alexander Albon, who had two spins in the course of the day.

Sainz’s team-mate Lando Norris was eighth fastest, limiting his running because of some pain he was experiencing when braking.

The Briton, who scored his

maiden podium last weekend, was also handed a three-place grid penalty for overtaking while passing yellow caution flags in first practice.

He said: “I’ve been struggling a bit physically with something; I don’t know what it is. It’s been pretty painful, particularly in the high-speed corners and when I’m braking something in my chest or something. I don’t know where. I hit the brakes and the compression it spikes up massively.”

Ricciardo said the crash was his mistake.

“I’m OK,” he said. “I hit my knee on the steering column but it’s just a bit bruised. It went so quickly.

“A little bit of wind and probably coming in with a little bit too much speed for

the conditions.”

Charles Leclerc was the fastest Ferrari in ninth place after trialling a new front wing and new floor, the first of a series of developments scheduled to come to the car, aimed at reducing the performance shortfall it suffered at the opening race of the season.

He and team-mate Sebastian Vettel, who was 16th fastest after having his best lap deleted for exceed-

ing track limits, said the upgrades were “positive” but that the team still needed to work out how to get the best out of them.

This is the first time in F1 history that a circuit has hosted two races in a single season - this weekend’s event named after the region in which the Red Bull Ring is situated, following on from last Sunday’s Austrian Grand Prix.

23

GUYANA CHRONICLE FridAY, July 10, 2020

Retired Bolt still frets over world records

(SPORTSMAX) - Retired Jamaican sprint king, Usain Bolt, must have had a nervous moment, or two, when American Noah Lyes was recorded crossing the line in 18.90, in a 200m sprint, during the socially distanced Inspiration Games earlier this week.

It turns out, however, in a massive error, that the athlete had only run 185 metres after starting from the wrong spot.

The novel competition saw 28 athletes split into three teams, taking part in eight events, at seven different venues.

Competitors were connected by a live video and timing link with a split-

screen. Lyles represented Team North America, and convincingly beat Team Europe’s Christophe Lemaitre, in Zurich, and Team World’s Churandy Martina, in Papendal. The organisers at the Bradenton, Florida track while Lyles ran, however, didn’t get things quite right and he was later disqualified.

In a recent interview with Variety, Bolt, who will be featured in the upcoming Greatness Code Apple series, admitted that these days he was more focussed on being a good dad. He, however, still enjoys watching track and field but stays clear of any thoughts of picking his successor.

Bolt previously picked compatriot Yohan Blake and South African Wayde Van Niekerk to replace him as the new king of sprinting.

While Blake is yet to recover the type of form that saw him crowned the world’s second-fastest man, van Niekerk broke the 400m world record but then suffered a serious injury.

“For me, I’m just watching. I think I tend to have bad luck in picking people.

When I say I like this person at times it doesn’t work out,” Bolt said.

Bolt’s records of 9.58, over 100m, and 19.19, in the 200m, are now 11 years old.

Usain Bolt

Madrid two wins away from La Liga title

(BBC) - Real Madrid are two wins away from clinching La Liga title after victory over strugglers Alaves.

Karim Benzema’s penalty put the league leaders in front after

Ximo Navarro’s foul on Ferland Mendy.

Benzema then teed up Marco Asensio for the second, awarded after VAR overruled an incorrect offside decision.

Second-placed Barce-

lona trail by four points and, if they lose at Real Vallodolid today, Real can clinch the title by beating Granada on Monday.

Regardless, two wins or one win and two draws

- from their remaining three games will bring the championship to Zinedine Zidane’s side.

Alaves, three points above the relegation zone, were overseen by new manager Juan Lopez

Karim Benzema (right) scored Real’s first and assisted Marco Asensio (left) for the second.

Muniz for the first time after a five-game losing run had led to Asier Garitano’s departure.

But the Basque underdogs almost took a shock lead in the opening minutes when former Stoke

and Newcastle striker Joselu’s header crashed off the bar and Lucas Perez’s follow-up was cleared off the line by Raphael Varane.

Real survived that scare and led through Benzema’s penalty - the Frenchman’s 18th league goal of the season - although Alaves remained lively, with on-loan West Brom winger Oliver Burke their main threat, forcing a save from Thibaut Courtois.

Asensio eventually added the second, after VAR confirmed Benzema was onside in the build-up, and while Joselu brought a smart save from Courtois, former West Ham goalkeeper Roberto had to be alert at the other end to keep out efforts from Rodrygo and Benzema.

If Real can finish the job, it will be only their second title in eight years, with their most recent coming in 201617, during Zidane’s last spell as manager.

Dowrich, Brathwaite put West Indies in command PAGE

19

Shane Dowrich bats

Hero CPL confirms Trinidad & Tobago as venue for 2020 20 PAGE

In this handout image provided by CPL T20, fans of Trinbago Knight Riders cheer during the Hero CPL Final between Trinbago Knight Riders and Guyana Amazon Warriors at Brian Lara Stadium on September 16, 2018 in Tarouba, Trinidad and Tobago. (Photo by Ashley Allen - CPL T20/ Getty Images)

Printed and Published by Guyana National Newspapers Limi ted, Lama Avenue, Bel Air Park, Georgetown. Telephone 2 2 6- 3243-9 (General); Editorial: 2 2 7- 5204, 2 2 7- 5216. Fax:2 2 7- 5208

SATURDAY,JULY 11, 2020