Guyana_Chronicle_Epaper_07_21_2020

TUESDAY 21st July, 2020

' No.106067

COURT OF APPEAL NEXT

…as High Court rules recount data ‘legit’

Chief Justice (ag), Justice George -Wiltshire

SEE STORIES ON PAGES 02 & 03

…knocks down March declarations

…lawyers for applicant to file appeal papers today

Families pleased with $77M 09 settlement for Linden Martyrs PAGE

Group pushes 11 inclusive governance PAGE

…proposes rotated Presidency, PM, joinder party representation and more

PAGE

13

Miner gets 14 years

for killing ‘drinking buddy’

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, July 21, 2020

High Court rules recount data ‘legit’ …says March declarations no longer useful …CEO must comply with directives of GECOM

By Svetlana Marshall

CHIEF Justice (ag), Roxane George-Wiltshire, said that the results of the General and Regional Elections must be declared based on the data generated during the National Recount, effectively ruling out the notion that the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) can revert to the declarations made by the 10 Returning Officers in March.

“As concluded, given the decisions of the Court of Appeal and the Caribbean Court of Justice, the recount cannot be considered to be invalidated, at least not at this point in time.

In this context, the Section 84 (1) declarations can no longer be considered useful,” the Chief Justice said as she handed down her judgment virtually via a live broadcast on Youtube.

Justice George-Wiltshire later added that: “…as determined by the CCJ, unless overturned by a Court in an election petition, the only data that could be used for the declaration of the results of the

Chief Justice (ag), Justice George-Wiltshire

elections would have to be the recount results or data.”

The applicant – Tucville voter, Missenga Jones had sought a total of 28 declarations and orders from the High Court – compelling the Elections Commission to declare the results of the General and Regional Elections based on the March declarations, as advised by the Chief Elections Officer (CEO), Keith Lowenfield, in his latest Elections Report. Jones, however, through her attorneys, vowed to appeal

Chairman of GECOM, Justice (Ret’d) Claudette Singh

Chief Elections Officer, Keith Lowenfield

the decision of the High Court.

Through a battery of lawyers led by Trinidad and Tobago Senior Counsel, John Jeremie, Jones had argued that Order No. 60, which triggered the National Recount, was unconstitutional and on that basis, the data generated during that process could not have been relied upon for a declaration of the results of the Elections. Further, her attorneys together with the lawyers that represented the Chief Elections Officer, Keith Lowenfield; and the Attorney

General Basil Williams had argued that the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), in its July 8 judgement in the case – Irfaan Ali and Bharrat Jagdeo v Eslyn David and others – had invalidated the Recount Order on the grounds that it created “a new electoral regime,” and that the results ought to be made based on the declarations made by the Returning Officers in accordance with the Representation of the People Act. Paragraph 37 of the CCJ judgment states: “The Presidential Candidate on the list for which more votes have been cast than any other list is deemed to be elected as President, and the Chairman of GECOM must so declare.

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.” But, the Chief Justice, in endorsing the submissions SEE PAGE 3

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, July 21, 2020

Tucville voter to challenge High Court ruling on recount, March declarations …GECOM Chair, CEO agree to stay electoral process should appeal be filed

By Svetlana Marshall DISSATISFIED with the High Court’s decision to uphold the National Recount, lawyers for Tucville Voter Misenga Jones have vowed to appeal the decision no later than today.

In issuing her judgment in the case, Misenga Jones v the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) and others on Monday, Chief Justice (ag) Roxane George-Wiltshire ruled that the National Recount cannot be considered to be invalidated, nor can the declarations made in March be resurrected at this stage of the electoral process. Further, she ruled that Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield must comply with the directives of the Elections Commission.

Senior Counsel Roysdale Forde, while thanking the Chief Justice for her ruling, signaled Jones’ intention to appeal the decision of the High Court. “The Judgement is a disappointment. Can I say we are surprised? No! Important issues were not answered or considered,” Forde told the Guyana Chronicle at the conclusion of the ruling. Forde and the team of lawyers led by Trinidad Senior Counsel John Jeremie will be filing an appeal against the High Court’s decision at the level of the Court of Appeal. That application is expected to be filed today. “We

are confident that the decision will be set aside on appeal,” Forde told this newspaper.

Meanwhile, in signaling his client’s intention to the Court, Forde sought a commitment from the Chairman of GECOM, Justice (Ret’d) Claudette Singh and the Chief Elections Officer (CEO), Keith Lowenfield that no decision would be taken to affect the outcome of the decision of the Court of Appeal. Forde’s request was in keeping with previous undertakings given to the Court by the GECOM Chair. He had indicated that the appeal would be filed no later than today.

Attorney-General Basil Williams endorsed the oral application made by Forde, noting, too, that it has been the established practice of the GECOM Chair that once the issues relative to the electoral process are engaging the attention of the Court, the Elections Commission will halt the process pending the hearing and determination of the case.

Interjecting, Attorney-at-Law Davindra Kissoon, who is representing the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) General Secretary Bharrat Jagdeo and Presidential Candidate Irfaan Ali, said the issue of a “stay” would be better canvassed upon the filing of an appeal.

“Without an appeal being before

Attorney-at-Law Kim Kyte-Thomas

Senior Counsel Roysdale Forde

the Court, it is very difficult for any party to engage in any discussion concerning a stay,” Kissoon told the Court. He had appeared in association with Attorney-at-Law Anil Nandlall and Trinidad Senior Counsel Douglas Mendes.

the Appeal Court, once the appeal is filed today.

“In respect to the undertaking, I believe so far in all these matters my client has been conducting herself in a particular manner. If indeed the appeal will be filed by tomorrow… my client can undertake to continue to extend that same courtesy,” Kyte-Thomas said.

However, she, too, acknowledged that at the time, the appeal had not been filed, however, she gave her word that if by today the appeal is filed, Justice Singh will extend the same courtesy. The Attorney, however, in drawing the court’s attention to the fact that the

NOT ASKING FOR A STAY But the Chief Justice clarified that Forde had not asked for a stay but rather undertakings to be given by the CEO and the Chair of the Elections Commission. In response to the request, Attorney-at-Law Kim Kyte-Thomas, who appeared for the Chair of GECOM, offered a commitment to await the decision of

High Court rules... made on behalf of the Chairman of GECOM, Justice (Ret’d) Claudette Singh by Attorney-at-Law Kim Kyte-Thomas, ruled that the CCJ did not invalidate Order No. 60 but rather endorsed the National Recount.

“This, the interpretation of the CCJ decision by the applicant, the CEO and the AG is hopelessly flawed. The CCJ judgement lends to the ineluctable conclusion that the recount votes are ex facie valid,” Justice George-Wiltshire ruled.

It was explained that the reference to a “new electoral regime” made by the CCJ was done in response to the decision of Justice Brassington Reynolds in the Court of Appeal that Order No. 60 had established a new elections regime with separate elections for members of the National Assembly on one hand and, an election of the person deemed to be president, on the other. Justice George-Wiltshire clarified that the apex court had ruled that Justice Reynolds’ line of reasoning was flawed.

Emphasising that paragraph 37 of the CCJ’s judgment cannot be read in isolation, Justice George-Wiltshire pointed out that in paragraphs 38 and 39 of its judgment, the apex court,

in highlighting the procedures of the recount exercise, noted that the objective was to allow for “an open, transparent and accountable recount of all the votes cast” at the March 2 Elections.

“The CCJ re-emphasised that Order No. 60 did not and could not create a new election regime. This was a clear reference to its finding as regards the decision of Reynolds. The Court did not, in explaining how any tension between the Constitution and subsidiary legislation should be treated, negate or nullify Order No. 60 either expressedly or impliedly,” the Chief Justice ruled.

Against that background, Justice George-Wiltshire ruled that Jones’ contention that Justice Singh’s letters to the Chief Elections Officer are invalid, has no merit. In three letters dated June 16th, July 9th and July 13th, the GECOM Chair had instructed that the Elections Report be compiled in accordance with the Certificates of Recount generated during the National Recount conducted in May-June.

MARCH DECLARATIONS OF NO USE

In turning her attention to the validity of the declarations made by the Returning Officers in the 10 Electoral Districts, the Chief Justice said the electoral process has long gone past that stage. “My conclusion as regards the interpretation of the CCJ decision regarding Order No. 60, necessarily mean that the answer to this issue is that the declarations of the Returning Officers as made pursuant to Section 84 [of the Representation of the People Act] have been overtaken by events whereby GECOM, in its wisdom, considered that there were difficulties that had to be addressed in order to produce what is termed in Order 60 as a credible count,” Justice George-Wiltshire said.

RECOUNT DATA VALID The Chief Elections Officer, through his attorney – Senior Counsel Neil Boston – had argued that it was his constitutional mandate to advice the Elections Commission in accordance with Representation of the People Act but the Chief Justice said it is the Chairperson and GECOM that have constitutional mandates. According to her, the CEO is simply a

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2 functionary of GECOM. “Section 18, which is repeated in Order No. 60, merely confirms this and for the avoidance of doubt – that the CEO cannot act on his own,” she said while ruling that Section 18 of the Election Law (Amendment) Act is not unconstitutional or in conflict with Article 177 (2) (b) of the Constitution. “If it is the considered opinion of the CEO that in face of Order No. 60, he can produce a report based on Section 84 declarations, then one would expect that he must be guided accordingly by GECOM. This, the evidence discloses the Chairperson has sought to do via the letters transmitted to the CEO. Thus, as determined by the CCJ, unless overturned by a Court in an election petition, the only data that could be used for the declaration of the results of the elections would have to be the recount results or data,” the Chief Justice said.

Justice George-Wiltshire added: “For the reasons outlined, the ten declarations cannot be resurrected at this point in time. In this regard, there can no longer be an impasse between the Chairperson and the CEO as to the effect of Article 177 (2) (b) and Section

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elections were held since March, 2020, close to five months ago, said that the electoral process cannot continue to be prolonged. “We have to be fair to the nation,” she posited. Senior Counsel Neil Boston, who appeared on behalf of Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield adopted the position taken by Kyte-Thomas.

Meanwhile, Campaign Manager of the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC), Joseph Harmon expressed disappointment at the decision of the Court.

“It is disappointing that in its ruling today, in the case of Misenga Jones v GECOM et al, the Court has side-stepped the issue of fraudulent ballots in the tabulated votes at the Recount. We will continue to insist that Fraudulent Recount Votes cannot determine the will of the Guyanese People; that only valid votes can produce such a result,” Harmon said in a brief statement on Monday evening. According to him, the Coalition’s lawyers will engage at the next level of the Court System to ensure the country’s Constitution is respected and adhered to by all. Notably, Harmon was not a party in the case brought by Jones. “We remain steadfast in making our case for valid votes only,” he posited.

96 [of the Representation of the People Act]. For the avoidance of doubt as stated in Section 18, the CEO is subject to the direction and control of the Commission.”

Relying further on the judgements of the CCJ and also the Court of Appeal, the Chief Justice made it clear that issues regarding irregularities during the electoral process must come via an Elections Petition in accordance with Article 163 of the Constitution, which gives the High Court exclusive jurisdiction to adjudicate over such matters. According to the National Assembly (Validity of Elections) Act, Election Petitions must be filed within 28 days of the declaration of the results of an election.

JURISDICTION AND RES JUDICATA However, before addressing the meat of the matter, the Chief Justice, from the onset, had assumed jurisdiction to hear the case. The respondents in particular the Chairman of GECOM and the added respondents including the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) General Secretary Bharrat Jagdeo and Presidential Candidate, Irfaan Ali, had argued that the Court had no jurisdiction to hear the case brought by Jones.

But Justice George-Wiltshire, in assuming jurisdiction, said that there was a distinction to be drawn as regards enquiring into the functions of the Chair

of GECOM and the Elections Commission, which are restricted by Section 140 of the Representation of the People Act, and interpreting the constitutionality of Section 22 of the Election Law (Amendment) Act, Order No 60 and Article 177 (2) (b) of the Constitution to determine the lawfulness of their actions. The Jurisdiction, she posited, was a narrow one, aimed at treating with the legal framework employed during the electoral process.

But while the Chief Justice ruled that she had jurisdiction to entertain the application brought by Jones, she ruled that the majority of the issues highlighted in the application is “res judicata” – meaning there were adjudicated by a competent court and could not be pursued further by the same or any other party with similar intention. The constitutionality of Section 22 of the Election Law (Amendment) Act, as raised by the applicant, was one such issue. “Apart from Section 22, which was specifically cited, there are a number of reliefs claimed in this application which were claimed in or are mirrored in the claims in [Ulita] Moore, and which I consider cannot be re-litigated,” the Chief Justice said as she cited a number of examples.

Dissatisfied with the decision of Justice George-Wiltshire, Jones, through her lawyers indicated that she will appeal the ruling.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, July 21, 2020

Coronavirus: Oxford vaccine triggers immune response (BBC) A coronavirus vaccine developed by the University of Oxford appears safe and triggers an immune response.

Trials involving 1,077 people showed the injection led to them making antibodies and T-cells that can fight coronavirus.

The findings are hugely promising, but it is still too soon to know if this is enough to offer protection and larger trials are under way.

The UK has already ordered 100 million doses of the vaccine.

HOW DOES THE VACCINE WORK? The vaccine - called ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 - is being developed at unprecedented speed.

It is made from a genetically engineered virus that causes the common cold in chimpanzees.

It has been heavily modified, first so it cannot cause infections in people and also to make it "look" more like coronavirus.

Scientists did this by transferring the genetic instructions for the coronavirus's "spike protein" - the crucial tool it uses to invade our cells - to the vaccine they were developing.

This means the vaccine resembles the coronavirus and the immune system can learn how to attack it.

WHAT ARE ANTIBODIES AND T-CELLS? Much of the focus on coronavirus so far has been about antibodies, but these are only one part of our immune defence.

Antibodies are small proteins made by the immune system that stick onto the surface of viruses.

Tuesday July 21, 2020 –– 05:00hrs

Neutralising antibodies can disable the coronavirus.

T-cells, a type of white blood cell, help co-ordinate the immune system and are able to spot which of the body's cells have been infected and destroy them.

Nearly all effective vaccines induce both an antibody and a T-cell response.

Levels of T-cells peaked 14 days after vaccination and antibody levels peaked after 28 days. The study has not run for long enough to understand how long they may last, the study in the Lancet showed.

Prof Andrew Pollard, from the Oxford research group told the BBC: "We're really pleased with the results published today as we're seeing both neutralising antibodies and T-cells.

"They're extremely promising and we believe the type of response that may be associated with protection.

"But the key question everyone wants to know is does the vaccine work, does it offer protection... and we're in a waiting game."

The study showed 90% of people developed neutralising antibodies after one dose.

Only ten people were given two doses and all of them produced neutralising antibodies.

"We don't know the level needed for protection, but we can maximise responses with a second dose," Prof Pollard told the BBC. IS IT SAFE? Yes, but there are side-effects.

There were no dangerous side-effects from taking the

vaccine, however, 70% of people on the trial developed either fever or headache.

The researchers say this could be managed with paracetamol.

Prof Sarah Gilbert, from the University of Oxford, UK, says: "There is still much work to be done before we can confirm if our vaccine will help manage the Covid-19 pandemic, but these early results hold promise."

WHAT ARE THE NEXT STEPS IN THE TRIAL? The results so far are promising, but their main purpose is to ensure the vaccine is safe enough to give to people.

The study cannot show whether the vaccine can either prevent people from becoming ill or even lessen their symptoms of Covid-19.

More than 10,000 people will take part in the next stage of the trials in the UK. However, the trial has also been expanded to other countries because levels of coronavirus are low in the UK, making it hard to know if the vaccine is effective.

There will be a large trial involving 30,000 people in the US as well 2,000 in South Africa and 5,000 in Brazil.

There are also calls to perform "challenge trials" in which vaccinated people are deliberately infected with coronavirus. However, there are ethical concerns due to a lack of treatments.

WHEN WILL I GET A VACCINE? It is possible a coronavirus vaccine will be proven effec-

tive before the end of the year, however, it will not be widely available.

Health and care workers will be prioritised as will people who are deemed at high risk from Covid-19 due to their age or medical conditions.

However, widespread vaccination is likely to be, at the earliest, next year even if everything goes to plan.

Boris Johnson said: "Obviously I'm hopeful, I've got my fingers crossed, but to say I'm 100% confident we'll get a vaccine this year, or indeed next year, is, alas, just an exaggeration.

"WE'RE NOT THERE YET." What progress is being made with other vaccines?

The Oxford vaccine is not the first to reach this stage, with groups in the US and China also publishing similar results.

The US company Moderna was first out of the blocks and its vaccine can produce neutralising antibodies. They are injecting coronavirus RNA (its genetic code), which then starts making viral proteins in order to trigger an immune response.

The companies BioNtech and Pfizer have also had positive results using their RNA vaccine.

A technique similar to the Oxford one, developed in China, also seems promising.

However, all these approaches are at the absolute boundary of science and have not been proven to work before.

More traditional methods

of vaccine development are also being investigated. The company Valneva is taking the whole coronavirus, inactivating it and then inject it.

In total there are 23 coronavirus vaccines in clinical trials around the world and another 140 in early stage development.

WILL THE UK GET A CORONAVIRUS VACCINE? The UK government has struck deals for 190 million doses of different vaccines.

This includes: * 100 million doses of the Oxford vaccine made from a genetically engineered virus * 30 million doses of the BioNtech/Pfizer vaccine, which injects part of the coronavirus' genetic code * 60 million doses of the Valneva inactivated coronavirus These have been paid for even though it is uncertain which, if any, of the vaccines may prove effective for immunising a nation with 66m people.

Kate Bingham, chairwoman of the UK Vaccine Taskforce, told the BBC: "What we are doing is identifying the most promising vaccines across the different categories, or different types of vaccine, so that we can be sure that we do have a vaccine in case one of those actually proves to be both safe and effective.

"It's unlikely to be a single vaccine for everybody.

"We may well need different vaccines for different groups of people."

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, July 21, 2020

‘Intensify COVID-19 fight among Indigenous Peoples’––PAHO urges With a rapid increase of COVID-19 cases in indigenous communities here, the Pan American Health Organisation has issued a call for countries in the Americas to intensify ttheir efforts to combat the spread.

In a release PAHO said several countries in the Americas are experiencing rising number of cases and deaths from COVID-19 and in a new epidemiological alert, urged health authorities “to intensify efforts in order to prevent further spread of infection within these communities, as well as to ensure adequate access to healthcare services.”

PAHO’s alert called to strengthen case management using culturally appropriate approaches, and to implement preventive measures across all levels of the health system to reduce mortality associated with COVID-19.

“The COVID-19 pandemic poses a risk to the health of indigenous peoples, both those living in urban areas and those living in remote settlements or isolated areas, where access to health services is a challenge and there is often a limited capacity to serve the entire population",

says the PAHO alert. To interrupt the transmission of COVID-19 in indigenous communities, PAHO recommends that indigenous leaders participate in actions to detect cases early, obtain laboratory confirmation, isolate positive cases, and trace and quarantine their contacts.

“Among indigenous populations, either living in remote settlements or isolated in urban areas, some of the risk factors that may be associated with higher COVID-19 mortality rates include malnutrition, insufficient access or complete lack of access

to health systems as well as to potable water and basic sanitation, in addition to the existing high burden of parasitic diseases,” the PAHO document notes.

PAHO analyzed the COVID-19 situation among the indigenous populations in various countries. In Bolivia, 31,249 cases and 1,135 deaths were reported. Brazil reported 7,946 confirmed cases and 177 deaths among indigenous peoples throughout the country. Canada had 334 confirmed cases including 6 deaths in five provinces. As of 6 July, there have

GTT introduces Facebook Messenger option for customer service GTT continues its trend of making customer care easy and accessible to its many customers with the addition of its new Facebook Messenger feature. : Customers can now chat with a GTT agent concerning queries and tech support, with even greater ease, by using the company’s Facebook Messenger. Such was announced on July 17, 2020.

Customers can request information, report an issue, an outage or any GTT related challenge through Facebook’s Messenger and be assured of a resolution. With the bonus of utilising social media as a way to connect with customers, GTT saw the need to give structure to the way customers communicate with the company through this medium.

“As a customer- focused technology company, our main priority is innovating to meet the needs of our customers. This platform affords

us the opportunity to directly engage with our customers and resolve their issues in a fast and easy manner,” stated Lead for GTT’s Online Channel, Tiffany Moonsammy.

She further went on to state that the company had taken the decision to temporarily close Facebook chat to reassess this method of interacting with its customers, with safety and convenience in mind, and now, customers can chat with safety and addi-

tional convenience, through Facebook Messenger - and be automatically redirected to our LiveChat team,” Customers are encouraged to utilize Facebook Messenger’s chat to make queries or report any issue.

GTT’s Facebook LiveChat will be available from 08:00 hours to 18:00 hours daily, as the company seeks to continuously do more for its customers.

been 1,534 confirmed cases, including 73 deaths, reported among indigenous people in Colombia, whereas in Ecuador there have been 4,498 confirmed cases, including 144 deaths. In Mexico, there have been 4,092 confirmed cases, including 649 deaths, in indigenous populations. In the United States, there have been 22,539 confirmed cases reported across 12 areas of the Indian Health Service.

And in Venezuela, there have been 152 confirmed cases, including one death, reported among indigenous peoples.

COVID-19 surveillance strategies in indigenous communities should include community surveillance conducted by residents, as well as primary care, hospital, and health center observation, with special attention to reporting rumors of cases or deaths related to fever and shortness of breath that should be investigated to determine the cause and pro-

vide prompt healthcare to those affected, the PAHO alert says.

PAHO highlighted the importance of good communication on COVID-19 among indigenous communities, by using local languages and adapting messages to consider local practices and cultures with symbols and images where needed. “The ways in which messages are transmitted must be validated by the indigenous populations themselves. Images used in documents and on social media should be inclusive and should never stigmatize indigenous peoples,” the document notes.

The alert recommends that health authorities foster exchanges between traditional practitioners, ancestral therapists, and other community members “so that specific measures such as social distancing, diagnosis, isolation, and treatment take into account their worldviews, ex-

isting ancestral practices, and contexts. The importance and meaning of traditional medicine for indigenous peoples should also be considered.”

PAHO also notes different strategies are needed for populations in urban areas, those residing in villages, indigenous migrant populations, or indigenous populations in voluntary isolation, “considering the vulnerability and exposure differences, and that not all indigenous communities will be affected

by COVID-19 in the same way.” PAHO is working closely with indigenous organizations from the Peruvian jungle, eastern Bolivia, the Ecuadorian Amazon, the Colombian Amazon, and the Brazilian Amazon, represented by the Coordinator of Indigenous Organizations of the Amazon River Basin (COICA).

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, July 21, 2020

Mental health for one is mental health for all MENTAL health is generally not understood. It is ill-funded, ill-managed, and dealt with more from a reactionary standpoint. Compounding this situation is the inadequate allocation of resources for the treatment of mental health. The importance attached to this condition is often seen and felt only by those who are personally affected.

Those with mental health concerns or issues are usually seen as a “crazy” group that needs to be locked away, ignored or forgotten, and not as functioning or valued members of society. A general premise is that persons with mental health issues do not initially seek treatment, because, when they start talking about their symptoms/ feelings, they are seen as weak; trying to get attention; demon-possessed; or, depending on the culture, the family had some affliction, or had committed some evil act that was now coming back to haunt them. The stigma attached to mental illness results in loved ones of persons with mental health issues overcompensating and attempting to conceal symptoms, because it is more acceptable to pretend those issues do not exist. This is generally done in an effort to blend into society, or be seen as “normal”.

In some instances, persons with mental health issues are viewed as “the crazy

uncle” whom the family feels needs protection from the world; and they behave this way not only because of the stigma attached to the sufferer’s condition, but also to preserve their place in the society or their family’s standing in society. The result of these variables is that often, when these symptoms are finally confronted, the person’s condition is too advanced to obtain treatment that would enable them to regain their status as a functioning member of society. This situation is often due to the lack of understanding of the issue, or the intolerance of some members of the treating community, or personal biases which affect the ability to identify and treat symptoms early. A contributing factor to mental health decompensation is overuse of alcohol. Alcohol is a depressant; it leads to an increase in depressed mood. If someone who is depressed consumes alcohol, it makes that person more depressed.

This in itself can increase the risk of that person cultivating suicidal behaviours, including attempting or actually committing suicide. Another prevalent factor in the society is that of intolerance to societal change, where some lack the understanding or receptiveness to persons who are getting into serious relationships at an earlier age.

Compounding these factors are rela-

tionships with persons from different socio-economic and ethnic backgrounds, and the lack of adequate coping skills to navigate complex emotional situations.

Some solutions to addressing mental stability outside of the clinical setting can be achieved with familial support, as in educating our youth on the importance of self-worth; life; and empowering this demographic to understand that, even beyond their current struggle, life is worth living. Another important factor is support for various age groups, such as teen/peer support, which allows for avenues to voice thoughts, feelings, struggles, and gain support from each other on how to deal with relationship issues and parents/ family responses to those issues. In dealing with mental health factors that are affected by alcohol use, it helps to recognise that one must first understand that the risk of addiction is increased by access to alcohol and inability to differentiate casual use from dependency. Users of this substance often have a false sense of security in thinking that, because it is so easily accessible and is legal to use, the risk of dependency is less. Since it is culturally acceptable to consume alcohol to the point of being intoxicated, the assumption is that the person has a choice

to continue this lifestyle. First, it needs to be recognised that alcohol is a drug, and because it has the ability to cross the blood/brain barrier, it alters perception, judgement and mood. Usually, the alcoholic does not recognise there is a problem until it is often too late. Support systems such as Alcoholics Anonymous (for the user), Alanon (spousal support) and Alateen (support for the children) are necessary to improve one’s ability to understand, cope with, and obtain sobriety to improve the overall family dynamic, coping mechanisms, and re-integration into society. Mental health is a societal issue. Its management requires education, acceptance, willingness to support, and receptiveness to including the individuals afflicted with these symptoms, to ensure they are not ostracised. In the absence of the above-stated, it widens the base and increases inability to identify and effectively treat individuals with mental health symptoms. Medication ought not to be seen as the only treatment option. Equally important is the society’s interaction with, and support for, individuals with complex and life-changing situations. Mental health for one is mental health for all.

There are those who have taken up the posture of the Almighty Dear Editor, THE news outfit iNEWS, which continuously spun what I said and juxtaposed my comments to those of Commissioner Gunraj, during the Recount process, has suddenly found refuge in what I reportedly said during that period. I am now one of their sources in their effort to justify the use of the recount numerics as the basis for the declaration of the 2020 elections results. They headlined their news item, “PNC`s Alexander always insisted GECOM would use recount figures for declaration.” Their need to quote me exposes their spin and deceit. Here is what their quote says that I said: “In my considered opinion, all things being equal I don`t see us

doing that (using the 10 declarations)… I would say that if the recount is completed that doesn`t appear, to me, to be a likelihood…” (author`s emphasis). Even with their truncating of the quote as evidenced by the ellipses (…) in the quote, “all things being equal” stands out. It was always my contention that the recount had to take into consideration the observation reports rather than the mere numerics (tabulations). All things did not turn out to be equal. The observations were disregarded, in the recount. What they have also not reported, positively, is that subsequent to the recount and GECOM`s refusal to factor in the observation reports into the determination of the credible count, as propagated in the Order, I have publicly called for a non-declaration as opposed to a

declaration using any of the tabulations, all of which, be it Mingo`s or any other, are patently corrupted as the “Recount” revealed.

It must be an act of desperation for iNEWS to rely on the villain to prop up its case. But it is intellectually dishonest and deceitful to spin what I said in the search for a credible view. Today I am credible, tomorrow I will once again be the villain as I was yesterday. What a web they weave. There are those who have taken up the posture of the Almighty.

Yours faithfully Vincent Alexander GECOM Commissioner

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, July 21, 2020

Democracy is the soothing balm that lulls U.S. unions strike us to sleep while its compatriot in crime for black lives, take CAPITALISM extorts and exploits nations action for racial, economic justice

Dear Sir,

FINALLY, the great country through its secretary of state has fulfilled its threat (about sanctions) along with the request of some Benedict Arnold, who unfortunately resides in this country. The secretary of state of that country has told our President, the President of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, (that we voted for) that he must clean out his desk and trod, and he is not giving him any time either.

He is adamant about putting the fraudsters in as the Government of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, with Dr Ali as President.

This secretary of state of another country is so huge that he can dictate under the threat of sanctions to our President, what he expects him to do forthwith. What we have to understand is that regime change is a big-money business. The incoming people repay their benefactors with huge sums from their treasury, along with giving up their natural resources. This regime change is no longer clandestine, nope;

it’s thievery in your face, embracing fraud and sanctioning greed. And to make our position more untenable is our penchant for non co-operation (which is our right) on several requests made. Saint Augustine had said, "That after politics was born, ethics and morals died."

When the observers were selected for our little party, I became immediately suspicious when the Carter Center was proposed as an observer.

Georgia is of course the home of the Carter Center, the group that goes around the world observing and dictating to third world countries how to run elections. Unfortunately however, the Carter Center has no say in their own elections. No, nary a word. In their recent gubernatorial elections the present governor was the secretary of state, and because of that position he was able to control the elections until he finally resigned when his victory was assured. It was reported that over 50,000 Black people’s voter registration cards were suppressed, and tens of thousands were purged from the list. Another claim was that 40

Black senior citizens were removed from a bus on their way to vote on election day. All of this happening right under the noses of the Carter Center, who is basically impotent, but has the temerity to be upset because they did not make the cut at the recount.

The secretary of state said, "That there would be sanctions on individuals for being complicit in undermining democracy in Guyana." That bogey word "Democracy." Whenever I hear the word democracy I remember the movie Shaw Shank redemption; the parole board is asking Red after 40 years of imprisonment are you "rehabilitated?" rehabilitated, said Red' is a made-up word, it’s a politician’s word. Like democracy, it’s a politician’s word. Democracy is the soothing balm that lulls us to sleep, while its compatriot in crime, CAPITALISM, extorts and exploits nations.

This is the crossroads we stand on now. The powers that be do not care a damn about us. They are just sitting back awaiting the explosion that they are deliberately creating.

We know who we are dealing

with, their works are too numerous to escape. They have left rotten corpses of progressive leaders all over the world, as they continue their plunder, aided and abetted by the traitors of the land of their birth.

A mere couple of days after the Elections Commissioner Alexander made an observation, in paraphrasing he was actually saying "there is something rotten about this elections." He knew from the smell that something was rancid. Now here we are from the third month to the seventh, and the stench is getting stronger. The talk all over Georgetown is that when the fraudsters are finally crowned, that our country will be used as the conduit for the invasion of Venezuela through the back door, a kind of thank-you note.

Regards Milton Bruce

Guyana needs to revert to the first-past-the-post electoral system Dear Editor, THERE has been much talk (mostly lip service) about constitutional reform in Guyana, but nothing has materialised.

Now we have a stalemate even though it is obvious as to who won the March 2 elections. I have written letters before, published in Kaieteur News, that “Guyana needs a national front government”.

(NOVEMBER 26, 2010 ), and “ Now is the opportune time for an all-inclusive national front government ( Feb 13, 2019), but politicians who want to hog power indefinitely in a winner-takes-all dispensation are not interested in this scenario; they only hint about power sharing perfunctorily before elections , ignore it when in government and seem serious about it when in opposition. The truth is that no one wants to share power when in government, due to a pathological power-drunk obsession. Demographic com-

position and indoctrination by the older generation (among other contributing factors) has caused Guyanese to, for the most part, vote according to race. This is understandable since one’s proclivities are conditioned by history and socialisation. Countries with major racial compositions, such as Fiji, Trinidad and Tobago, Suriname, Belize and Guyana, need the firstpast-the-post (FPTP) electoral system in order to elect their representatives in the national assembly. Trinidad and Tobago and Belize, as well as several other Caribbean countries, the USA, Canada, UK , India , Pakistan , and in all, a quarter of the countries in the world have this system.

It is the most suitable system in situations where there are cosmopolitan, multiracial, multicultural populations and people are inclined to vote according to race and cultural appreciation.

The other countries, three

quarters, which have the Proportional Representation (PR) and other electoral systems have these systems because of their demographic composition and other dispensations. Guyana had the FPTP system, which was fostered by the British, up to the early 1960s but was changed by politicians who wanted to monopolise power.

Editor, I herewith submit that the FPTP system be reintroduced in Guyana. I, a Guyanese, lived and taught in Belize for seventeen years where I voted (as a registered voter and citizen) and in several national and municipal elections. I have first-hand experience of how the FPTP system works. Each constituency/division has an area representative elected by the electorate. If a division is predominately of one race (be it Creoles/Blacks, Mestizo. Garinagu) people choose according to who they think can best serve their interests. The various races intermix and do not vote exclusively for race. I, while a public

servant, worked as a presiding officer at a polling place in the 1990s and a counting agent during that same period and can assure you that the election results were declared within one day.

In the FPTP the area representative, minister or not, (all cannot be ministers) is duty bound to serve in the interest of their constituents (people in the division). If, perchance, they do not deliver they have to face the voters in four years. The prime minister sanctions/reprimand and/ or dismiss any corrupt minister who is without integrity or found to be tarnishing the image of the government. Editor, we need the FPTP electoral system here in Guyana and I sincerely hope that the new government will let good sense prevail and reintroduce it.

Sincerely, Karan Chand

SINCE its origin, the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) has experienced systemic racism from the colonial days, to date.

In the ´90s, the escalation of racist attacks on the union led to rule changes and the implementation of policies to facilitate a broader and more comprehensive challenge to this most undesirable occurrence, which the union classified as criminal.

The circumstances of the attacks caused the union to appeal to the Public Services International (PSI) to address this concern.

As a basis for finding solutions to this ugly recurring situation, the union took keen interest in solutions proffered for racism worldwide. The United States of America was one such area of focus, where undoubtedly there is recognition of the problem and genuine acceptance of the need to reject as undesirable any incident of racist misdeeds.

The murder of George Floyd on May 28, 2020 is reminiscent of the unresolved extra- judicial killings experienced in Guyana during the period 2003 – 2010.

So many years have passed and mothers and other family members still suffer to have closure since the loss of their sons, who had either been slaughtered or had seemingly disappeared from the face of the earth. Like the relatives of George Floyd, they are still waiting for an endnto this most distasteful chapter of their lives.

The GPSU empathises with the relatives of victims such as these and stands in solidarity with the PSI, SEIU and other trade unions around the world that seek to bring an end to racism in any form.

Moreso, the killing of a person because of their race/ethnicity should not be condoned by any society. In fact, not only BLACK LIVES MATTER, but ALL LIVES MATTER. The GPSU has been closely observing the ongoing assaults on minorities, particularly people of colour and once again is most disturbed and outraged by the obvious lack of sensitivity displayed by policemen, who continue to display a conduct of abuse, regardless of public expressions of condemnation.

The GPSU condemns in totality all forms of police abuse and those who by their words or actions encourage or defend such conduct. The GPSU wholeheartedly supports the for Black Lives Matter movement and stands in solidarity yesterday, today and every day with the unions of the United States of America and their members and all law- abiding citizens in protesting and condemning this outrageous and inhumane practice.

Regards Guyana Public Service Union

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, July 21, 2020

GPF honours Chief Inspector Tessa Smith as she goes into retirement EARLIER this month, the Guyana Police Force (GPF) said its goodbyes to one of its stalwarts, Woman Chief Inspector Tessa Smith, as she commenced her retirement.

Chief Inspector Smith joined the Guyana Police Force on November 26, 1986, and functioned in A, C, E and F divisions.

During her tenure, she worked as the Traffic Inspector of Providence, Ruimveldt, East la Penitence and Alberttown Police Stations, respectively.

Additionally, she was recently the Traffic Officer- in- charge of Regional Division 4(C).

Aside from policing, Ms. Smith participated in related extra-curricular activities.

She was the second run-

ner-up at the Miss Police Fashion Show Competition in 1989.

Last Friday, in honouring Ms. Smith, a small presentation ceremony was held at GPF’s Traffic Headquarters, Young Street, Georgetown.

The simple but significant ceremony saw the Traffic Chief, Mr. Linden Isles, applauding Chief Inspector Smith for her long years of dedicated service while he rewarded her with a token of appreciation, along with a plaque, on behalf of the department.

In responding, Chief Inspector Smith who would officially be off the Force’s strength on January 1, 2021, expressed her gratitude to the Traffic Chief and his entire department for the

Traffic Chief, Senior Superintendent Linden Isles, presenting a token to Woman Chief Inspector, Tessa Smith

support given throughout her more than thirty years of yeoman service. She also indicated her willingness to share her expertise with

ranks of the department whenever needed.

Present also at the recognition ceremony were Woman Superintendent

Audrey Small, Traffic Officer of Regional Division 4(A); Deputy Traffic Chief, Deputy Superintendent Joseph Jack; Traffic

Education Officer, Assistant Superintendent Raun Clarke; Cadet Officer Stephen Harris and Inspector Wendell Harry.

Kudos to the The GDF is about professionalism and Ministry of Education defence of the nation’s borders

Dear Editor

THE Ministry of Education (MoE) was forced to close schools in March of this year and rightfully so, due to the coronavirus disease, known as COVID-19. Editor, you can recall this was very close to the writing of the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) many know as 'Common Entrance'; this exam had to be postponed.

The MoE for some time deliberated as to when this exam would be rescheduled for with the world gripped by the deadly and contagious COVID-19. Editor, as a parent, I must admit that I had great reservations about the writing of NGSA at such a time and to be candid, I was one of those persons who wanted the NGSA cancelled due to the serious health risk posed by the pandemic.

The Ministry of Education to its credit pressed on and insisted that our children write what I believe is one of the most important exams on the MoE's calendar. In addition to announcing that the NGSA was to be written on July 1 and 2, the MoE announced that the NGSA will

be guided by an examination order.

Editor, it was the Examination Order that caused me to have a different perspective on writing of the NGSA. Kudos to the Ministry of Education, the order outlined some very stringent measures such as the compulsory wearing of face masks at schools, hand-washing, social- distancing measures and restricted many categories of persons from entering the schools. Editor, in the end, the ministry was able to conduct the examination very successfully and I dare say adopting international best practices. There was this great clamour by a large cross-section of the nation for the NGSA not to be held. What are your views now? I noticed CSEC and CAPE are currently being written and if the NGSA is a yardstick to use, then those two exams are poised to be successfully hosted. Well done Ministry of Education; as a parent I think I should give credit where it is due.

Regards Nigel Matthews

Dear Editor THE reported visit to Camp Ayanganna by the representative envoys of the ABCE countries, with the observation made by former officers of the Guyana Defence Force that such an instance was indeed “unusual’’, as it should be. As far as is understood about such matters involving foreign emissaries, one believes that there are known protocols that are observed with the host country’s authorities, since it is common practice for not only familiarisation visits to take place, but also the latter for discussions on assistance/aid for particular projects.

But as to a combined ABCE visit to the headquarters of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) at this most delicate time of an overdue to be declared electoral process which is now engaging the attention of the court, renders many questions such as the possible purpose/motive. It becomes even more interesting, and

open to much speculation, with a post-visit statement from the chief of staff, which spoke of the army remaining “apolitical.”

This is always expected to be role of the military in every democratic state, which dictates that the army is subject to the direction of the civilian authority. In fact, the Guyana experience has been one, and continues to be, a well-known tradition of a professional army, which loyalty is to defend the national constitution, and protect the nation’s sovereignty against any attempt at encroachment, in terms of defending it against any act of external aggression. But for those who may have forgotten, the GDF has always been known as the People’s Army, because of what has been its well documented proud record of participation in nation-building. Yet, one must add the incontrovertible fact of political interference that patently set out to exert control over the affairs of the professionalism of the army, as had also been the fact of the GPF, Also, despite the many

challenges that have been occurring in this nation’s socio-political sphere, there has not been any instance of attempts at interference in the political process, that would have suggested intervention, save and except if the civil order becomes broken down, and it is requested to provide back up support towards the restoration of the civil order and peace. This fact, is also well documented, and therefore needs no further elaboration here, except to say that such a role synchronises with the GDF’S statement of being apolitical. Those visitors must be fully aware of this sacrosanct fact.

Even if somewhat as an aside, but still pertinent is the fact that the last five years, under the APNU+AFC coalition government has restored the GDF to its niche of being a professional army, thus bringing to an end the wellknown chapter of political interference that marked its existence for much of the 23 years of the tenure of the former regime. No more do officers have to

ask how high they must jump, as boasted by a former PPP/C big wig. Not only has the national army been recalibrated in terms of its organisational structure, but that it has also seen tactical training to reflect the doctrine of total defence, in keeping with the imperatives of the realities of Guyana’s changing socio-economic status.

Finally, the army must continue to protect its proud legacy of being a part of nation- building, defending the constitution, and protecting the nation’s borders, while upholding the rule of law and upholding the tenets of democracy. No more or less, can be expected of this national institution at this most challenging time of its existence, and that of the nation.

Regards Carla Mendonca

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, July 21, 2020

Families happy with Linden Martyrs settlement

BROTHERS Rodwell and Alando Lewis, the sons of Allan Lewis, one of the three Linden Martyrs, said they are happy with the recent $77 million settlement that was reached, after the families of the three Linden Martyrs sued the state earlier this year.

The Linden Martyrs – Ron Somerset, Shemroy Bouyea and Allan Lewis – were killed on July 18, 2012 during a protest in Linden over a proposal by the then People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) government to hike electricity rates there, notwithstanding economic difficulties that were being faced by the community.

A Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the deaths was subsequently held and on conclusion it was recommended that $3 million be paid to Allan Lewis’ family; $3 million to Bouyea’s family and $2 million to Somerset’s family.

Lewis’ son Rodwell shared that the family always deemed the settlement unfair for the life of his father.

“The challenge was always something in the pipeline after the CoI in 2012. It’s something that the lawyers at that point in time agreed to follow up with after the CoI results gave the family just $3 million. It wasn’t

satisfactory. But knowing how the administration at that time operated, it felt that it was better than nothing,” Rodwell shared.

He noted that many others died over the years without any recompense.

“Many others were killed and murdered and the story got ducked or ignored.

Knowing that murders happen all the time under the previous administration, to actually receive some monetary settlement after an incident occurred was some sort of relief at that point in time,” he added.

In February, a $450M lawsuit was filed against the state on the grounds that the police were reckless and engaged in the unnecessary use of force that resulted in the deaths of their loved ones. The lawsuit was filed

by Attorney-at-Law Darren Wade before High Court Judge Franklin Holder, on behalf of the claimants: Rodwell Lewis, the son of Allan Lewis; Jacqueline Bouyea, the mother of Shemroy Bouyea; and Margaret Somerset, the mother of Ron Somerset.

Now a father himself, Rodwell said that he would often reminisce with his brother about the time they spent with his father when he was alive. Notwithstanding the struggle of growing

up without their fathers, the brothers have since both

Former Region 10 Chairman Sharma Solomon

completed their university degrees in engineering.

The two brothers along with the other families recently commemorated the 18 July death of the three martyrs at an annual memorial service held by the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) to remember the fallen.

“We have to thank the RDC which has never let a year pass by since the death of the three individuals, and with their assistance we were able to form a committee that would plan and organise a tribute to honour the fallen,” Rodwell said.

Former Regional Chairman for Upper Demerara-Upper Berbice, Sharma

Solomon, said it must not be forgotten that the deaths of

have the opportunity to meet with our government to ex-

Allan Lewis’ son, Rodwell Lewis

the martyrs were purposeful but avoidable, because citizens had tried to reason with the government over the electricity hike.

The martyrs were shot at the Wismar-Mackenzie Bridge during a standoff with protestors and ranks from the Joint Services where residents were, at the time, protesting the decision made by the former administration to increase the electricity tariff from $5 per kilowatt to $65.

“If we are going to be asked to be put in a position we cannot economically deal with we want a government that would sit with us and understand what happened.

We did not just appear on the streets, we were advancing these options, that right to

plain to them,” Solomon said.

Solomon was at the time speaking as a guest on the Benschop Radio Talk Show hosted by political commentator Mark Benschop.

He said it was the government’s failure to meet with the people of Linden that resulted in the protests.

“Linden stood resolute on ensuring that its rights were respected. You have a CoI report saying that you had snipers on the bridge at a peaceful protest with no one being armed. That says to me, you never had an intent to meet with the people of Linden,” Solomon said.

He firmly believes that the entire issue of hiking the electricity rates in Linden, were purely politically mo-

9

tivated, and had to do with the poor performance of the PPP/C in that area during the 2011 elections.

“Coming from an elections in 2011 it was upsetting to the PPP, because that was the victory that caused the one-seat majority, and the region’s performance at the elections wasn’t something satisfying to the PPP. Months after that the budget presented by the PPP that should give consideration that over two decades no economic expansion,” Solomon said.

Also joining Solomon on the show was former Regional Parliamentarian Vanessa Kissoon, who shared of being in the midst of the chaos when the shooting unfolded on that fateful day of 18 July, 2012.

“I am still feeling sad in my heart as every year we commemorate the 18 July, it could have been our lives, because we were out there in the struggle on the 18 July. I didn’t just hear about the lives being lost. I held one of the gentleman that died in my arms. I was there when Ron came in when Shemroy came in. I remember children were traumatised, women were shot also,” Kissoon recollected.

Hinterland regions the new COVID-19 ‘hotspot’ --accounting for most new cases, the latest being one in last 24 hours THE hinterland regions have been heavily impacted by the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, with recent statistics showing their accounting for most of the new cases.

“Our cases continue to climb, and since July 12, we have detected 42 new cases, with many of them reported in Regions One (Barima-Waini) and Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo),” reported Deputy Chief Medical Officer (DCMO), Dr. Karen Boyle, during a virtual COVID-19 update on Wednesday.

Local health authorities have so far tested 3,769 persons here for COVID-19, with 3,432 proving negative and the remaining 337 positive.

In a regional breakdown of some of those cases, Dr. Boyle said Region One recorded 102; Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica), 120; Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni), 54; Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni), three; and Region Nine, 11.

In light of the consistent increase in cases in some of

those regions, Dr. Boyle went on to highlight some of the communities considered to be COVID-19 “hotspots”.

In Region One, for instance, the hotspots are Moruca and Mabaruma, while in Region Seven, they are Aranka, Bartica and Sulphur Rose. For Region Nine, it is Lethem.

“Fellow Guyanese, the ministry has been intensifying its efforts in the hinterland region, recognising that our vast stretch of borders leaves our residents in those bordering regions very vulnerable to imported cases,” Dr. Boyle said.

She said that in addition to the ministry’s efforts, each individual has a role to play in the fight against COVID-19, and as such advised that they be watchful and wary of movement within and between hinterland communities.

Dr. Boyle, in stressing the need for civil participation, said: “Our health workers are working assiduously to help to contain the spread of this deadly disease; let us be appreciative of their

itoring 115 active cases of COVID-19, two of which are being treated in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU). The country has already lost 19 of its prized citizens to the dreaded disease, but is comforted at knowing that 163 of the 357 persons who tested positive have recovered.

Deputy Chief Medical Officer (DCMO), Dr. Karen Boyle

Herculean efforts. We plead once again with all of you, notably in the areas alluded to above, to cooperate with the health workers, so that we can surmount this hurdle and arrest the upward trend, which presently seems to be elusive.

It is critical, however, that we monitor in the coming weeks the evolution of the incidence in all regions.”

As things stand presently, health authorities are mon-

A FORMIDABLE TASK But, as Dr. Boyle was quick to caution, the recovery rate is not to be celebrated too soon, as management of confirmed cases remains a “formidable” task. And, considering the relaxation of some control measures, the authorities is urging persons to be cautious and ever vigilant because COVID-19 is still prevalent in Guyana.

“Friends, our relaxation of measures is in effect, and I wish to address those who are returning to work on rotation,” Dr. Boyle said,” adding: “It is suggested that all workplaces appoint a Focal Point for COVID-19, who will be responsible for ensuring that

all employees adhere to the workplace’s guidelines, and that sensitisation training sessions are regularly organised for staff.”

These are suggested occupational safety and health measures that can be taken to protect all employees.

Additionally, the Ministry of Public Health is urging that those schools which are scheduled to reopen for the new academic year begin thinking and drawing up a comprehensive plan to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus.

Identifying focal points will also be useful, she said, as well as a joint committee between parents and teachers, to ensure that the safest school environment is created before students return.

Dr. Boyle reminded persons that a collective effort is needed in order for Guyana not to be outwitted by the highly infectious coronavirus disease.

In an effort to encourage persons, she said, “Together we can stop the spread; not

some of us but all of us provided we observe the physical distancing and hygiene protocols.

“I am sure that all of us wish to have our loved ones repatriated, we all want to enjoy some level of normalcy, and we wish above all to ease the burden on all our frontline workers who are selflessly battling COVID; they too are deserving of respite from the fight. This can only happen if we all give our full support.”

COVID-19 remains a serious issue not just here in Guyana, but globally as well, and according to global statistics, there are 14.1 million cases of COVID-19, with over 597,000 deaths.

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

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, July 21, 2020

Sports-oriented NGO celebrates fourth anniversary

WITH the initial goal of helping to garner $5 million in funds for brain surgery for former Guyanese boxer Clive Atwell, back in 2016, several well-known sports persons, comedians and actors, backed by the support of several corporate entities, came together to form a non-governmental organisation ‘Guyana Committee of Services’.

Since achieving its original aim, the organisation has subsequently blossomed into a full blown apolitical, responder organisation, with a goal of addressing the need of ordinary folks for solutions and hope in times of distress, and engages in humanitarian gestures, particularly in situations in which people in sports and culture are adversely affected by the troubles of life.

Over the past few months, the Committee has been doing its part to give back to communities during the COVID-19 times.

“Our Committee offers timely material assistance to alleviate, and, in some cases, eliminate, anxieties associated with sudden misfortune in the lives of individuals who are often overwhelmed by circumstances beyond their control,” a statement from the organisation said.

Those on the executive of the organisation include comedian and producer Linden

‘Jumbie’ Jones; comedians Rajan Tiwari and Odessa Primus; Calypsonian Young Bill Rogers; athletes Alisha Fortune and Clive Atwell, along with sports and media workers including athletics trainer Leslie Blacks, and News Editor Eugene Noel.

It also includes Bank Manager, Carlos Prowell, and Accountant Harry Parmessar, and proprietor of Payless Variety Stores, Joseph Ramkumar.

“The Guyana Committee of Services strives to complement efforts of state-run and non-governmental units to provide hope and relief to victims on the downside of the scale of triumphs and disaster. We strive to find solutions to extraordinarily stressful situations faced by ordinary folks and we provide assistance to bring relief and also to ward off predictable unpleasant situations,” the organisation said.

“As the common people of Guyana and the world face uncertainties and continuous challenges, their problems are likely to multiply and timely responses will be required. Today the challenge is COVID-19 and we can be assured that other threats await on the horizon.”

The initiative to start the committee was introduced

by Payless proprietor, Ramkumar, who was touched and wanted to help, after

hearing about Atwell’s medical situation, and wanted to solicit funds to help with his surgery.

A former professional boxer, who represented Guyana internationally from 2010

nering.

His story was eventually the centre of media cov-

Proprietor of Payless Variety Store, Joseph Ramkumar Comedian Linden “ Jumbie” Jones

Former Guyanese professional boxer, Clive Atwell

– 2015, Atwell in October, 2015 was diagnosed with a brain hemorrhage.

Emergency life-saving surgery was conducted locally at the Woodlands Hospital, with apparent success at the time; however Atwell was later informed that a second surgery was necessary for his complete recovery. The surgery was quoted at $5 million, a sum Atwell was initially unsuccessful in gar-

erage, which touched the Georgetown businessman and prompted him to put together a group of persons to help garner the funds for Atwell. .

The ad hoc committee which was pulled together

by Ramkumar met regularly at the Georgetown Cricket Club Pavilion to plan and execute fund-raising initiatives to realise the second surgery.

With the help of Director of Sports, Christopher Jones, the committee was able to reach its target, and enabled Atwell to travel to New York for his treatment.

He was accompanied by a number of committee members and went on to garner further support and assistance from Lady Ira Lewis of the Guyana/America Heritage Foundation in New Jersey.

Inspired by the success with Atwell, the Committee continued to function as a unit with the goal of providing help in other similar situations officially giving birth to the Guyana Committee of Services.

The Committee over the years has received assistance from several businesses including Payless Variety Stores; Star Party Rentals and Reggie Baichan of Reggie’s

Wholesale Store.

“It is our hope that the Guyana Committee of Services will emerge as one of the ‘go to’ units for people involved in sports and culture,” the organisation said.

The organisation has a particular focus on sports.

During 2016 and 2017, the Committee provided financial assistance to athletes and coaches who were successful at the Carifta Games, while the mothers of four athletes were each acknowledged with a gift on Mother’s Day. The Committee also made a donation to the Linden Track Club.

Similarly in 2018, the Committee provided allowances for athletes who participated in the Commonwealth Games in Australia, and sponsorship for the Alian Pompey Third International Meet at Leonora; as well as sponsorship for a Musical Workshop for aspiring entertainers and DJs in Bartica.

The Committee has made numerous other donations and interventions during the four years of its existence.

“We are happy doing what we do and we want to do more. We extend an invitation to volunteers to join us to help us help others; and please visit the Guyana Committee of Services on Facebook,” the organisation said.

Lending a helping hand during COVID-19 pandemic –– local NGO working around the clock to assist vulnerable households

The ‘Youths for Better Living’ team with a few of the healthcare workers who benefitted from one of the donation drives.

‘YOUTHS for Better Living’ (YBL), a youth group and non-governmental organization, whose influence, to date, has touched the lives of many through a series of donations and programmes, is working around the clock to assist a number of families and healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Chairman and founder of YBL, Kelvin Fortune, also known as ‘SelfieBoss’, noted that the organization was launched in the height of the coronavirus pandemic, just days after Guyana recorded its first case of the virus in March.

Fortune added that, within a matter of

months, the organization grew extensively and has made a buzz, not only in Guyana, but also in the international arena with the attention it has received from Guyanese in the diaspora.

He noted that healthcare workers have been putting their lives on the line since the onset of the virus, hence YBL decided to make an impact on these essential workers.

“We have so far distributed 1,978 hampers to single parents and senior citizens, 398 to nurses and frontline workers, along with a certificate of appreciation,” he said.

Additionally, he added that YBL was able to distribute hampers to three major hospitals

Chairman and founder of ‘Youths for Better Living’, Kelvin Fortune, along with a few of the nurses who received certificates of appreciation, during a hamper distribution exercise earlier this month

and 10 health centres across the country.

Aside from the numerous donations, YBL is known for its hands-on work with assisting youths and children who find themselves in vulnerable and sometimes frightening situations.

Just last week the organization was able to rescue a child who was found sleeping on a bench in the capital city.

Fortune noted that while himself and team were making their daily distribution, they stumbled upon a child who appeared to be lost and sleeping on a public bench in scorching hot sun.

He noted that they decided to act fast and

contacted the necessary authorities and were able to reunite the child with her mother, who later disclosed that she had been suffering financially during the ongoing health crisis.

Fortune added that several donations have so far been made to the family from YBL with the assistance from other organizations.

The YBL group to date has some 70 Volunteers and will be carrying out a series of donations as well as other voluntary work during these trying times to help as many vulnerable households.

Those who wish to contribute or lend a helping hand can contact Fortune via WhatsApp on the number: 592- 661-4580.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, July 21, 2020

Group of concerned Guyanese pushes for inclusive governance …proposes rotated Presidency, PM, joinder party representation and more

By Lisa Hamilton A GROUP of concerned Guyanese, both local and abroad, are concerned with Guyana’s political trajectory and have therefore developed the ‘Guyana Renewal Project’ which proposes an immediate period of inclusionary governance to allow for Constitutional reform.

On Monday, the group shared the project outline noting that initial aim is to spark dialogue and find a solution to Guyana’s current political crisis. The Project comes as Guyana is awaiting a conclusion to its over fourmonth-long elections amidst a very tense political climate.

The group, which identifies itself as “non-partisan Guyanese patriots from all ethnicities” put forward that since the submission of the report of the Constitution Reform Commission to the National Assembly on July 17, 1999, successive governments have failed to act to implement the spirit of Article 13.

Article 13 of Guyana’s Constitution states: “The principal objective of the political system of the State is to establish an inclusionary democracy by providing increasing opportunities for the participation of citizens, and their organisations, in the management and decision-making processes of the State, with particular emphasis on those areas of decision-making that directly affect their well-being. The operationalization of this fundamental national principle must be an outcome of the resolution of Guyana’s current political crisis.”

Due to inaction in this regard, the group said that Guyana is lurched from one crisis to the next each election and citizens are traumatised by tensions caused by the “flawed Constitution”.

“Today, Guyanese at home and abroad are asking many questions and expressing concerns about the present political situation and the economic consequences. There are deep concerns and fears about the ethnic polarisation and unseemly racism that haunts the land.

Guyanese citizens at home and abroad want homegrown solutions. They recognise that now is the time for dialogue,” the group asserted.

It was out of this concern that the Guyana Renewal Project was developed. It is anchored in the spirit of Article 13 and includes a short document titled: “Proposal

for Inclusive Governance Approach in Guyana” which details the core ideas of the proposal.

With regards to the format for Presidency, Prime Minister and Cabinet, the Presidency and Prime Minister will be rotated while the Cabinet will include representatives from the two major political parties and the joinder party.

The results reports of the Chief Elections Officer (CEO), though none used as yet for a declaration, have shown that the joinder parties --- the Liberty and Justice Party (LJP), The New Movement (TNM) and the A New and United Guyana (ANUG) --- have gained enough votes for one seat in the National Assembly.

The other known major political parties are the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance for Change (ANPU+AFC) coalition of six-parties and the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C).

The Guyana Renewal Project also proposes practical inclusive governance at the Ministerial level. This would include a developed structure for sharing responsibilities in

President David Granger and Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, during a meeting back in 2019 (Ministry of the Presidency photo).

the ministries such as collaboration between senior Ministers from one party and the Junior minister from another.

It would also see Technical Committees which include stakeholders from the two major parties and the joinder party be established in each ministry.

As it relates to the annual budget, it is proposed that it be required to be passed by a two-thirds majority as opposed to the simple majority currently required.

Importantly, the Project also recommends the estab-

lishment of two high-level committees: an Executive Committee for Inclusive Governance and an Executive Committee for Policy and Economic and Development Planning.

The former Executive Committee, which deals with inclusive governance will set out to ensure the effective functioning of the inclusive arrangement; to select other representatives and parties for various levels of inclusive governance such as boards and committees; to monitor, review, and revise the pro-

cesses as required and to conduct other duties to be further developed.

Meanwhile, the Policy and Economic and Development Planning Committee would allow for internal cohesion and decision-making for individual parties.

Its intention is to facilitate and ensure internal cohesion in the government which would in turn facilitate a collective approach to decision-making at the Cabinet and individual party levels and ensure that the parties do not lose their individuality as they contribute to the government.

Meanwhile, the internal cohesion and decision-making aspect would allow for internal central governance committees comprising of ministers and core members of the individual parties to facilitate high-level interactions and decision-making.

The proposal also will allow for the re-engineering of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) so that it can be modernized and be less “vulnerable to interference”.

The group of concerned Guyanese, from the diaspora and locally, stated: “These

are times that call for consequential and transformative decisions. Let us call upon our political leaders to show their stature and rise to the moment… We acknowledge that our democracy is broken and needs to be fixed if we are going to succeed as a nation.

We are embarking on the hard path of having a meaningful public conversation on what we need to do as Guyanese people to fix the mess we are in and move forward as a nation together. We recognize that many have attempted to walk this road and have developed meaningful solutions that have yet to be implemented. We hope to collaborate with other like-minded groups and champion the implementation of the best ideas to move Guyana forward for the benefit of all Guyanese.”

In the interest of sparking discussions on the Guyana Renewal Project, they have called on citizens to bring the proposal to the attention of President David Granger and Leader of the Opposition, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo.

Parties react to CJ’s ruling 12

By

Lisa

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, July 21, 2020

Hamilton

THE People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) has welcomed the ruling of the High Court that the results of the 2020 General and Regional Elections must be based on the national recount data while the APNU+AFC has expressed its disappointment.

In an address to the public on Monday afternoon, PPP/C presidential candidate Irfaan Ali said that his party is pleased with the court’s ruling, but displeased that the APNU+AFC plans to appeal.

He said that the appeal will be another “delay tactic” in preventing a conclusion to the elections.

“We in the People’s Progressive Party/Civic, we welcome the ruling and we’re saddened that although the ruling was clear…associates of the APNU+AFC are continuing their delay tactics in denying our country the stability that it so badly requires, as we seek to tackle the issue of COVID-19, the serious economic circumstances that we’re facing and the financial difficulty not only at the central government level, but also in the private sector,” Ali stated.

The PPP/C presidential candidate said that the international community has

PPP/C presidential candidate Irfaan Al already threatened to take continue to be committed to action on those working the task of national developto “delay the elections” ment and nation-building… and soon the sanctions will we cannot overstate the call become stronger and all of for this government to act Guyana will be affected. in a responsible manner.”

Meanwhile, in his initial He said: “We have called upon the government to act response to the court’s rulselflessly and not selfishly. ing, APNU+AFC Campaign Act in the national interest, Manager Joseph Harmon act in the interest of the said that the APNU+AFC citizens. In 2015, after elec- finds it disappointing that tions, we the PPP sought to the court has ruled in fabe a disciplined opposition, vour of the use of the rewe sought to be an opposi- count data which his party tion that would continue to put forward is in contrastruggle and represent the diction to the constitution.

He said that the APrights and interest of people, an opposition that would NU+AFC will take mat-

ters to the next level as it believes that it must continue the fight for the citizens of the country who demand an election based only on valid votes.

“It is disappointing that in its ruling today, in the case of Misenga Jones v GECOM et al, the court has side stepped the issue of fraudulent ballots in the tabulated votes at the recount. We will continue to insist that fraudulent recount votes cannot determine the will of the Guyanese people; only valid

votes can produce such a result,” Harmon said, adding: “Our lawyers will engage at the next level of the court system to ensure that our constitution is respected and adhered to by all. We remain steadfast in making our case for valid votes only.”

The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has committed to waiting on the filing of an appeal on the matter no later than today, July 21, 2020.

Also responding to the court’s ruling, The Citizen-

ship Initiative (TCI) stated: “Chief Justice Roxane George continues to execute her judgments with careful detail to jurisprudence and application of the law. Her understanding of the issues and the context against which Guyana continues to be placed in is exceptional. Her professionalism inspires faith in the judicial system and is a good example for others to emulate for sound and clear guidance on matters arising for judicial review…

TCI remains concerned that despite such a clear and concise ruling, there is yet to be another court matter. TCI therefore calls on all parties to abide by the rulings and not waste any more of the court's time.”

Leader of the Liberty and Justice Party (LJP) Lennox Shuman also expressed his pleasure with the court’s ruling, but lobbied for the international community to place a “tier 2” sanction on the APNU+AFC administration for its pursuit of the matter to a higher court.

“The court has ruled on the numbers so you can’t ask those questions anymore, they are already there. So, let’s get on with the show,” he said.

Linden man charged, makes bail

--for allegedly threatening to kill GECOM Chair, her entire household A LINDEN man who allegedly threatened to kill Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Justice (Ret’d) Claudette Singh, was on Monday charged with the offence, but granted bail in the sum of $500,000.

Appearing before Magistrate Wanda Fortune at the Linden Magistrate’s Court, via Zoom, was Ryan Williams of Silvercity, Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).

He was charged, under the Cybercrime Act 2018, with using a computer system to compel a person, but

through his lawyer, Attorney-at-law Stanley Moore, he pleaded not guilty of committing the offence.

It is alleged that on July 13, 2020 at 17:58hrs, Williams, using a fake Facebook account with the fake name, “Raheem Raahman”, threatened to kill Justice Singh and her entire household.

The post reads, “If you Claudette Singh think you will declare fraudulent votes so that the PPP will win, well, think again, bcuz you and everybody in ur house will f**king dead.”

According to Linden’s

Police Commander, following an investigation spearheaded by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Williams was arrested by Linden Police at his Silvercity home on July 15, 2020.

Besides being granted bail, Williams was required to lodge his passport as a precondition to obtaining his freedom.

He is also required to report to the Crime Officer-in-charge of Region 10 every Friday, and is to make his second court appearance on August 3, 2020.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, July 21, 2020

Fundraiser launched to aid COVID-19 fight in the Rupununi

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By Lisa Hamilton THREE Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) have teamed up to provide critically needed medical, sanitation and other supplies to indigenous communities across the Rupununi in Guyana as the spread of COVID-19 continues.

Face shields, sanitisers, spray bottles, thermometers, pain killers, gloves, reusable as well as surgical masks, fabric to make masks, paper towels, bleach and disinfectants, alcohol wipes and garbage bags are just some of the items identified as critical to residents in the Rupunini to fight the spread of the virus.

In an interview with the Guyana Chronicle on Monday, President of Eírîpan, Melanie McTurk, spoke about the GoFundMe page that has been launched aiming to reach US$25,000; how local donors can assist, and the need for such efforts.

Eírîpan, which took its name from the Macushi word meaning “to share”, has been in operation for over 15 years, promoting literacy, cultural preservation and personal participation in development in communities across the Rupununi. The Charity primarily supports children, and has already impacted over 1,000.

This year, it has liaised with the Kanuku Community Representatives Group (KMCRG), a community-based NGO which will assist with

Eírîpan President, Melanie McTurk

the delivery of the key items with help of various Village Councils. The purpose of the arrangement is so as to avoid the possible transfer of the virus from Georgetown to the Rupununi.

Also on board with the drive is the Rupununi Learners Foundation, a US-based non-profit organisation that supports a social enterprise approach to environmental conservation, encompassing wildlife research, education, economic development and cultural preservation.

McTurk pointed out that Indigenous communities around the world are considered the ethnic group most vulnerable to the coronavirus due to the lack of immunological exposure, which makes them more predisposed to the dire impact of the virus.

In terms of vulnerability, she said, Guyana is no different from any other country, as it also faces geographical challenges, whereby many communities are located far away from the capital where supplies and medical assistance are more readily available. Limited modes of transportation and seasonal flooding also add to the challenge in accessing medical support from the single regional hospital in Lethem, seat of administration in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo).

PROXIMITY TO BRAZIL And while one may see the region’s distance from Georgetown, the capital, reputedly the epicentre of COVID-19, as a good thing, McTurk explained that many

Miner sentenced for killing ‘drinking buddy’ IMRAN Daniels, a 25-yearold miner, was, on Monday, July 20, 2020, sentenced to 14 years’ imprisonment for fatally stabbing his drinking buddy, during an argument at their Frenchman Backdam, Mabura, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Upper Berbice) campsite.

Daniels, of Hotoquai Village, North West District, was sentenced by Demerara High Court Judge, Justice Brassington Reynolds, via a zoom hearing on Monday morning.

He was initially charged for murder but later opted to plead guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter which read that, on February 14, 2019, in the county of Demerara, he unlawfully killed Alex Daniels, 19, of Swan

Imran Daniels

Village, Soesdyke-Linden Highway.

The State was represented by prosecutors Teriq Mohammed and Tyra Backer, while Imran was represented by attorney-at-law, Ravindra Mohabir.

It was reported that both men worked at the same mining camp at Frenchman Landing. On the day in question the men were seen imbibing at a nearby shop.

However, when the men returned to the camp, they became involved in a heated argument; Imran then, reportedly, armed himself with a knife and stabbed Alex Daniels twice — one to the chest and another above his right hip.

Alex, reportedly, fell to the ground, bleeding.

Imran attempted to escape but was nabbed by other workmates, who witnessed the altercation; he was subsequently handed over to ranks at the Mabura Police Station.

Indigenous communities are instead closer to neighbouring Brazil, which has the highest number of recorded COVID-19 cases and deaths in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). Brazil accounts for more than half of the region’s COVID-19 cases.

“We have a population that is accustomed to going across that border,” McTurk said, adding: “There are families that are split across that border, and it’s not that people are being reckless; it’s just that they don’t know any better, than the fact that they have always crossed this little river to be with their family.”

Furthermore, McTurk said that the NGOs have estimated that over 90 per cent of the population in the Rupununi are currently unemployed due to the pandemic, which has caused some businesses to close or layoff staff,

and the halt in eco-tourism, which many communities depended on.

“That has been the case since March,” she said, “and this is why this is so critical.

People and their villages have been building fences and gates; something that has never existed before, to lock down their communities.

They have been setting up voluntary monitoring committees, monitoring the movement of people. Villages have gone to the effort to using village funds to buy bleach and soap to share in their communities, but, of course, none of us expected this to last so long, and communities just do not have the resources to keep going without help.”

Eírîpan and its partners hope to provide support to as many villages across the Rupununi as possible through their GoFundMe project.

Meanwhile, local donors have already been contributing, so that those who wish to join in have the option to make direct deposits to the Republic Bank Limited Checking Account # 962956709687.

McTurk made it clear that the donations go straight towards the cause, and no form of salaries or payment is subtracted for those volunteering.

“Every penny that we raise annually we use towards our projects in the Rupununi,” she said.

She also used the opportunity to commend frontline workers in the Rupununi who she said have been working tirelessly to attend to the sick, even during these challenging times. McTurk also commended the team of volunteers working to round up donations for the vulnerable in the Rupununi.

Wild meat and cassava bread killing…

Farmer gets seven years for manslaughter

A 49-year-old farmer was on Monday sentenced to seven years imprisonment for fatally beating Romel Gouveia called ‘White Boy,’ after the man ate his wild meat and cassava bread in 2017.

Charles Leonard, called ‘Poon,’ of Port Kaituma, was sentenced by High Court Judge Brassington Reynolds via a zoom hearing.

In June, Leonard opted to plead guilty to the manslaughter charge which read that between October 5 and 6, 2017, he unlawfully killed Gouveia.

The state was represented by prosecutors Teriq Mohammed and Tyra Backer, while Leonard was represented by attorney-at-law Siand Dhurjon.

The Guyana Chronicle understands that Gouveia lived with Leonard and his wife at Port Kaituma.

However the two men had a misunderstanding and Leonard warned Gouveia not to eat his food.

Leonard nevertheless reportedly came home intoxicated on October 5, 2017 and saw Gouveia in the kitchen eating his wild meat with cassava bread. Consequently, Leonard became annoyed and attacked Gouveia, hitting him to the head with

Charles Leonard, called ‘Poon’

a piece of wood. Gouveia collapsed to the ground and Leonard left.

Hours later, Leonard’s wife came and saw Gouveia’s lifeless body and reported the matter to the police.

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Denisha Victor laid to rest

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, July 21, 2020

--amidst outpouring of love from those she left behind

THE reflections on the late Denisha Victor, owner of natural hair store ‘Koko Guyana’ and co-founder of popular natural hair show ‘Curlfete’, were overwhelming at her funeral service on

Monday.

Scores of people came out to pay their respects to a young woman that everyone who knew her described as an exceptional human being. The service was also streamed live,

so as to accommodate the vast amount of people who couldn’t be there physically to be a part of it.

The 31-year-old died unexpectedly on June 27, 2020, sending scores of people both here and abroad into a state of shock over her passing.

Many whose lives she may have touched during her few short years on this plane came out on Monday, expressing grave sorrow at knowing that Victor is no more; that she will no longer be around in the flesh, but took comfort in knowing that her legacy of empowering youths, especially young black women, will continue.

Her church drama group; ‘Curlfete’ and Rotaract families; St. Joseph High School batch mates; as well as her employees and members of many other social groups with which she was

associated all joined in reflecting on the positive impact she would have made on their lives.

They were encouraged by the service’s officiating Pastor to emulate her, by living a purpose-driven life like she did, as he, too, recounted all the amazing things she has accomplished at such a young age. He also urged that rather than be saddened at her passing, they take heart and be inspired by her tenacity and legacy, and live their lives as purposefully as she did.

On Sunday, close friends and family held what was called a motorcade vigil in her honour, passing by all the places that would have had special meaning to her, beginning her store on Robb and King Streets, and ending at the church in Tucville at which she fellowshipped.

GPF to restrict container trucks, motor lorries during peak hours

IN an effort to ease traffic congestion during those

hours which are referred to as “peak hours,” the Guyana Police force has announced that it will implement a new strategy which will see motor lorries and container trucks being restricted to use the roadways in Georgetown, the East Bank of Demerara, East Coast Demerara, West Bank Demerara and West Coast Demerara between the hours of 07:0009:00 , 11:00-13:00 and 15:00-17:00 Traffic Chief, Senior Superintendent Linden Isles, along with Traffic Officer Regional Division 4 ‘B’, Assistant Superintendent Jermaine Harper had on July 3 2020 met with owners and drivers of motor lorries/container trucks of the East Bank at the Soesdyke Junction where they put forward this new proposal.

The traffic chief stated that

further engagements would be made with companies and businesses that operate container trucks and motor lorries on a daily basis so as to apprise them of this new proposal.

These new systems to be undertaken by the Guyana Police Force follow Section 48 (1) of the Motor Vehicle and Road Traffic Act (MVRTA) Chapter 51:02.

"The Commissioner of Police may, with the approval of the minister, make orders for any of the following purposes: the specification of the routes to be followed by motor or other vehicles; the prohibition or restriction of the use of specified roads by motor or other vehicles of any specified class or description, generally or during particular hours; the prohibition of the driving of vehicles on any specified road otherwise than in a

specific direction; otherwise in relation to the regulation of traffic.

The traffic chief further said that one of the major causes of traffic congestion on our roadways is the increasingly high volume of vehicles that are being imported and registered every year.

Additionally, he also mentioned that the apparent inability of drivers to cope with overcrowded environment and overburdened infrastructure is indicative that our roadways are in a state of constant catastrophe and that the limitations of our roads force drivers to manoeuvre their vehicles of all classes, especially large motor lorries ,in an often dangerous manner to other road users.

18-year-old killed over woman at Marudi Backdam THE police are currently investigating the murder on Sunday of 18-year-old South Rupununi resident Shadrech Martin.

Word is that the incident occurred sometime around 00:20 hrs at Marudi Backdam where Martin, a miner, was working.

He was reportedly killed by a 16-year-old Venezuelan

who resides at the said Marudi Backdam.

Reports are that Martin and his assailant were partying at a local bar when they got into an argument over a woman. During the course of the argument, the suspect is alleged to have pulled out a knife from his pants waist and stabbed Martin in the chest, causing him to fall to

the ground. Martin was taken to the Aishalton Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

The murder weapon was recovered at the scene of the crime and lodged with the Police, while the 16-year-old suspect was arrested and is presently in custody.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, July 21, 2020

10 recover from COVID-19 in Region 10 THE health authorities in the Upper Demerara/ Upper Berbice region, on Monday, reported that 10 persons who contracted the Coronavirus have recovered from the disease.

The Regional Health and Emergency Committee (RHEC) noted that a total of 11 cases, including, one death were recorded in the region. The ten cases have recovered.

This disclosure was made

by Region Ten COVID-19 Coordinator, Dr Michael Marks, who said that 126 persons have been tested from the region as the health department continues an aggressive approach to safeguarding residents from the dreaded COVID-19 disease.

“We have eleven cases with one death and the other ten have recovered coming from 126 tests that were conducted,” Dr Marks said.

Dr Marks stressed that all efforts by all stakeholders continue to play a pivotal role in what he dubbed the region’s continued good efforts in maintaining low numbers, while ensuring that all health-related precautions are taken, thus ensuring that the public remains safe and secured.

“As a region, we continue to do what is expected of us, and that is why we operate with zeal and sin-

cerity, because, for us, our objective is to ensure that we do not record any additional cases and more so record any other death, so we will continue along this path,” he declared.

Head of the RHEC, Orrin Gordon, told the Committee that, as a result of

tests we were able to identify a positive case and while we have been urging the NTF to institutionalise it, we are not sure if they will do so but what I can say is that Region Ten will continue to make efforts to test,” he assured.

Gordon said that recognising the impact that

Mabura and Rockstone.

The RHEC Head pointed out that, for almost two months, the committee was without any cases and while the body is hoping that the number remains at ten, the region remains confident that all efforts will continue to be placed into ensuring

Staff at Bamia who are testing persons entering the region

many pleadings and calls for testing to be conducted on persons coming into the region, Region Ten is the only locale that deliberately and actively conducts tests on all returning persons to the region.

“The records show that we are the only place which insists and tries to test persons that are returning to the region and through those

more persons being infected would have on the region, they have been pulling out all stops to ensure that adequate and effective systems are in place to safeguard the health and safety of residents. He disclosed that they have been aggressively monitoring areas such as Linden, Kwakwani, Ituni and several other communities within Region Ten including 47, 58,

that residents and visitors to the region are closely monitored. “We will continue to do what we have to and that is why we will continue to use whatever systems and avenues that are available to us. This will ensure that persons coming into the region from overseas are tested, thus ensuring they are indeed safe and free of the disease,” he promised.

The RHEC has noted that, while at one stage they had the third highest number of cases for regions in Guyana, the situation has changed somewhat over the ensuing period.

Gordon reassured the committee that while the National Task Force and other

Regional Coordinator of COVID-19 Centre, Region Ten, Dr Michael Marks

regions may not see the need for testing those returning to their regions from abroad, for their peculiar circumstances, his region will persevere. So far the returnees have been very compliant and responsible. He said that they are engaging returning nationals explaining to them the importance of such testing. He said that while there have been some resistance and reluctance by some, the

majority of persons are willing to submit themselves to be tested.

“It’s evident that because of the National Task Force policy of seven days home quarantine that persons will not be too keen on being tested but we have been meeting and discussing with them the reasons for such actions and they have been consenting to be tested,” Dr Marks had said.

He added, “We tested several persons who were in Suriname and 18 out of 20 persons who had returned from the cruise ship abroad and these tests were done incident-free as persons understood and actually agreed with our reasons for testing and are making themselves available.”

The Region Ten COVID-19 Coordinator admitted that, while his role is challenging and poses some difficulties at times, he remains steadfast and dedicated to ensuring that he competes the task ahead. “There have been cases where I was threatened and had to notify the Police Commander but I am determined to get this job done as the hardest part is being able to empathize with persons when you can for there is lot you can achieve ” he declared.

Cancer Foundation impacts over 150 with free screening

WITH the help of donor organisations, the Guyana Cancer Foundation (GCF) has provided approximately 150 free breast-cancer screenings and some 20 prostatecancer screenings from October 2019 to July 2020.

Just recently, the foundation announced the end of the free screenings, but noted that it plans to recommence by October 2020.

The free offer was made available at the Dr. Balwant Singh Hospital in Georgetown.

Speaking with this newspaper on Monday, founder of the GCF, Bibi Saeedah Akhtar Hassan,, said that though the free screenings for prostate cancer were made available to men, more women showed interest in the cancer-related screenings for breast cancer.

She said that she is

pleased that more women are beginning to view early screening for breast cancer as important; though the recommended age for mammograms is 40-45 years, studies show that, though rare, breast cancer can be diagnosed for those in their 30s.

“What you find is that a lot of people are getting fibroadenomas, which is fibroids of the breast; it’s a fatty tissue in the breast.

A lot of young women who did the screening they have it. I had to refer them to the oncology department and to private doctors,” Hassan said.

When it comes to the men, the GCF is disappointed that they are not taking the matter as seriously as possible.

Hassan said: “Even though I do the free screening, although I refer them to

Founder of the Guyana Cancer Foundation (GCF), Bibi Saeedah Akhtar Hassan

doctors, they don’t go and I don’t know why. More men need to take this seriously.”

Prostate cancer is one of

the most common types of cancer in men, but there is a known stigma in Guyana associated primarily due to

the ‘Digital Rectal Examination.’

For now, the Guyana Cancer Foundation through its donors assists only with breast- cancer and prostatecancer screening. Screening for cancers such as brain cancer is very expensive, so the foundation operates within its means. Hassan is hopeful that with more donors on board, the GCF can cater for more types of cancer- screening for those who cannot afford to pay.

Apart from the free screening, the foundation also has a Cancer Survivor Club of about 28 members with only one male represented. Persons who have survived brain cancer, ovarian cancer, breast cancer, thyroid cancer and cervical cancer are involved. Hassan said that the club serves as a motivational support group for survivors, some

of whom have had to revert to chemotherapy because of re-emerging cancer cells.

Because of COVID-19, the Cancer Foundation’s customary Cancer Walk has been postponed. It is hoped that other activities such as the tree- wrapping, candle light vigil and the church service will be possible closer to the end of the year.

Hassan encourages all Guyanese who meet the required age to get tested for breast and prostate cancer, as these are two of the most common types of cancers in Guyana.

Others include cervical and uterine cancer. The GCF founder encouraged: “Early detection helps save lives. [We are] in it to end it.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, July 21, 2020

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, July 21, 2020

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, July 21, 2020

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, July 21, 2020

England surge to 113-run...

CONTINUED FROM BACKPAGE

the penultimate evening and resuming on 16 the following morning, Stokes helped himself to an unbeaten 78 from 57 balls. He shared a 73-run partnership with Joe Root and was instrumental as England added 92 runs from 11 overs in the first hour before their declaration set West Indies a target of 312.

The first over of the day, from Kemar Roach, went for 14 runs, 13 of them to Stokes, including a four followed immediately by a towering six over long-off.

Stokes was dropped on 29

by John Campbell at deep extra cover off the bowling of Shannon Gabriel in one of the more damaging West Indies fielding blunders, of which there were a handful.

The declaration also gave England 85 overs in which to bowl West Indies out and

SCOREBOARD

ENGLAND 1st innings 469 for nine decl.

West Indies 1st Innings 287 England 2nd innings (overnight 37 for two) B Stokes not out 78 +J Buttler b Roach 0 Z Crawley b Roach 11 *J Root run out 22 O Pope not out 12 Extras (b1, lb1, w3, nb1) 6 TOTAL (3 wkts decl., 19 overs) 129 Fall of wickets: 1-0 (Buttler), 2-17 (Crawley), 3-90 (Root) Bowling: Roach 6-0-37-2, Gabriel 7-0-43-0, Holder 4-033-0, Joseph 2-0-14-0.

WEST INDIES 2nd Innings (target: 312) K Brathwaite lbw b Woakes 12 J Campbell c wkp Buttler b Broad 4 S Hope b Broad 7 S Brooks lbw b Curran 62 R Chase lbw b Broad 6 time to access the second new ball, available after 80 overs.

In the end, it wasn’t needed as West Indies were bowled out inside 71 overs.

By lunch on the final day, Broad and Woakes had West Indies 25 for 3.

The first wicket, Campbell caught behind off Broad in the first over of the innings, almost wasn’t recorded. Beaten outside off stump, Campbell attempted a loose drive which was collected by Jos Buttler, who showed no reaction whatsoever. As Broad appealed, Root looked as unmoved as the umpire, but he signalled for a review with barely half a second to spare and Ultra-Edge showed a clear spike to overturn the not-out decision.

Broad had suggested the night before that Kraigg Brathwaite’s would be a vital wicket and Woakes delivered it, lbw. Broad then cut down Shai Hope with a beauty that jagged in off the seam between bat and pad to clatter into the top of off stump.

Broad struck again in the fourth over after lunch when he had Roston Chase out lbw and it looked as though Woakes could have had the threatening Shamarh Brooks caught behind for 17 when the batsman fended to Buttler but was given not out and England opted not to review with replays later suggesting the batsman may have gloved the ball.

Brooks and Jermaine Blackwood set to work, building a 100-run partnership that had the potential for subborn-ness, albeit with a lot of overs to see out, until that man Stokes reappeared.

Stokes even tried to chase

J Blackwood c wkp Buttler b Stokes 55 +S Dowrich lbw b Woakes 0 *J Holder b Bess 35 K Roach c Pope b Bess 5 A Joseph c Bess b Stokes 9 S Gabriel not out 0 Extras (lb3) 3 TOTAL (all out, 70.1 overs) 198 Fall of wickets: 1-7 (Campbell), 2-19 (Brathwaite), 3-23 (Hope), 4-37 (Chase), 5-137 (Blackwood), 6-138 (Dowrich), 7-161 (Brooks), 8-183 (Holder), 9-192 (Joseph), 10198 (Roach) Bowling: Broad 5-5-42-, Woakes 16-3-34-2, Curran 8-3-30-1, Bess 15.-3-59-2, Stokes 14.4-4-30-2, Root 1.2-1-0-0.

Series: Three-match series tied 1-1.

Man-of-the-match: Ben Stokes.

down a Blackwood four struck off his own bowling when the batsman found a gaping hole at mid-off. And while Stokes’ effort was in vain that time, he had more to offer with when his short ball, aimed at Blackwood’s ribs, struck the glove and ballooned to Buttler, who took a good diving catch.

Blackwood was gone for 55 and Stokes had ended another solid union, just as he had done in West Indies’ first innings when he removed Brathwaite with a caught-andbowled that broke a 76-run partnership with Brooks.

Brooks backed up his first-innings 68 with 62 in the second as Woakes dismissed Shane Dowrich, who made a pair. But when Curran had Brooks out lbw, it fell to Jason Holder, the West Indies captain and star allrounder, to save his side from defeat.

But when the offspin of Dom Bess came to the fore, a gem smashing into middle stump from outside off with Holder on 35 and West Indies still needing 129 runs versus England’s requirement of two wickets, it was only a matter of time - and the hosts had plenty of that - before they claimed victory.

Of course, Stokes was in the action almost until the end, dismissing tailender Alzarri Joseph, before Ollie Pope’s spectacular juggled catch at short leg off the bowling of Bess accounted for Roach, the last man out.

The only worry for England was the fact that Stokes stopped bowling in the middle of an over in apparent discomfort. Given his star turn in this match, England will be keen to have him fit for the series decider.

20

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, July 21, 2020

Kane double dents Leicester’s Champions League bid ..Southampton push Bournemouth closer to relegation LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) — Harry Kane dealt a major blow to Leicester’s hopes of qualifying for the Champions League Sunday as the Tottenham striker scored twice in a 3-0 win that boosted his side’s bid to reach the Europa League.

Meanwhile, Bournemouth were pushed to the brink of relegation from the Premier League as Danny Ings inspired Southampton’s 2-0 win over their south-coast rivals.

Tottenham took the lead through James Justin’s early own goal before Kane took centre stage with two superb finishes before half- time.

It could be a hammer blow to fourth-place Leicester’s Champions League dreams.

They are ahead of fifth-place Manchester United only on goals scored and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side have played a game less than Leicester.

United return to league action against West Ham on Wednesday before a decisive showdown against Leicester at King Power Stadium

on the last day of the season, next Sunday.

Chelsea, who have two games left against Liverpool and Wolves, remain one point above Leicester in third.

Brendan Rodgers’ side have won just two of their eight league games since the coronavirus hiatus, potentially squandering a golden opportunity to return to the Champions League for the first time since 2016-17.

After a fourth win in their last five games, Tottenham climb to sixth place with one game remaining at Crystal Palace.

Wolverhampton Wanderers, two points behind Tottenham, would go back above Jose Mourinho’s side if they beat Palace in their penultimate match today.

Mourinho has insisted he isn’t embarrassed at having to motivate the 2019 Champions League finalists for their push to reach the less glamourous Europa League.

Mourinho’s players seem to agree, judging by the way they put Leicester to the sword.

Tottenham Hotspur’s English striker Harry Kane scores his team’s second goal during the English Premier League football match between Tottenham Hotspur and Leicester City at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, yesterday. (Photos: AFP).

They took the lead in the sixth minute thanks to a large stroke of luck.

Son Heung-min cut back inside for a shot that took a wicked deflection off Justin as it flashed into the net, with Leicester’s appeal for offside against Kane rejected

by VAR. Leicester initially responded well and Wes Morgan’s header caused panic in the Tottenham defence, but Jamie Vardy’s backheeled effort was saved by Hugo Lloris.

Lloris was tested again moments later as he plunged to his left to make a one-handed save from Ayoze Perez’s close-range half-volley.

Kasper Schmeichel made an equally good stop at the other end when the Leicester keeper tipped over Son’s drive after he ran onto Harry Winks’s long pass.

Kane had netted 14 times in his previous 13 games against Leicester and he tormented them again in the 37th minute.

Breaking at speed from a cleared Leicester corner, Lucas Moura slipped a pass to Kane who timed his run perfectly to beat the offside trap and guide a fine firsttime finish past Schmeichel with his supposedly weaker left foot.

Kane followed his 22nd club

goal of the season with an even better strike three minutes later.

Cutting in from the left side of the Leicester area, Kane shifted the ball away from the slow-toreact Ryan Bennett before curling a brilliant strike into the far corner.

Leicester were facing certain defeat but they could still help their European ambitions by improving their goal difference.

Perez’s long-range effort was well saved by Lloris, while substitute Demarai Gray was also denied by the French World Cup winner.

Harvey Barnes couldn’t beat Lloris either as Leicester slipped to a painful defeat.

Bournemouth three points Ings struck late in the first half at Dean Court before Bournemouth’s Sam Surridge saw his dramatic stoppage-time equaliser disallowed for offside.

Che Adams added Southampton’s second goal with virtually the last kick to leave Bournemouth with nine defeats and only one win from their last 12 league matches.

Eddie Howe’s second-bottom side are three points from safety with just one game left, while their goal difference is four inferior to fourth-bottom Watford.

Bournemouth’s five-year stay in the top flight will be over if Watford take one point from their last two games against Manchester City and Arsenal.

Watford face City today before the final day, on July 26, when Bournemouth travel to Everton and the Hornets meet Arsenal.

“The key thing is, while there’s still hope we have to believe until such time as it is mathematically impossible,” Howe said.

“You never know in football, crazy things happen. That’s my immediate thought.

“I am deeply disappointed, hurt — loads of different emotions are going through my body right now.

“A big chunk of our destiny and our future was still sort of in our hands. It feels like that has slipped away a little bit.”

Ings now has 21 league goals this season, leaving him two behind Leicester’s Jamie Vardy in the race

for the golden boot.

The Southampton striker would have been even closer if he hadn’t missed a second-half penalty, but even that reprieve couldn’t save Bournemouth.

Howe had called Southampton’s visit the “biggest game” for Bournemouth in several seasons as they aimed for the two-goal margin of victory that would lift them out of the bottom three.

They started brightly, and Lloyd Kelly fired just wide before the unmarked Callum Wilson headed wastefully over.

Josh King saw a penalty appeal rejected by VAR after he was bundled over by Southampton defender Jack Stephens.

For all Bournemouth’s pressure, James Ward-Prowse should have put Southampton in front when he headed straight at Cherries keeper Aaron Ramsdale from a good position.

No side has kept fewer clean sheets in the Premier League this season than Bournemouth, and they cracked again four minutes before half-time.

It seemed there was barely a sight of goal for Ings when Nathan Redmond found him on the edge of the area, but the 27-year-old deftly evaded two defenders before drilling a fine finish into the far corner.

Ings almost made it two with a curling effort just after half-time.

Southampton were given a penalty by VAR in the 59th minute when Harry Wilson blocked Oriol Romeu’s header with his arm.

Ings tried to fool Ramsdale with a stutter-step as he ran up to take the penalty, but his tame shot was too close to the keeper who saved low to his left.

Chances were at a premium for Bournemouth, but substitute Dominic Solanke had a sight of goal when his shot from an acute angle was well saved by Alex McCarthy.

McCarthy made a fingertip save to keep out Wilson’s curler before Surridge saw his equaliser correctly ruled out by VAR. In a cruel finish, Adams’ clinical finish in the 98th minute did more damage to the Cherries’ goal difference.

Serena to play the new Top Seed Open in August

(REUTERS) - Serena Williams will return to the court for the first time since the start of the coronavirus pandemic when she competes at the inaugural edition of the Top Seed Open in Lexington, Kentucky beginning Aug. 10, the WTA said on Thursday.

It will mark the 23-time Grand Slam champion’s first match since she helped Team USA defeat Latvia in Fed Cup play in Everett, Washington in February.

Another U.S. Open champion, fellow American Sloane Stephens, will also compete at the event, the WTA said.

Last week, the WTA confirmed the addition of events in Prague, Czech Republic and Lexington to its provisional calendar, which now features 21 tournaments.

The WTA Tour, suspended since March due to the pandemic, last month announced it would resume in Palermo, Italy on Aug. 3.

The Cincinnati Masters is scheduled to be played at Flushing Meadows, New York in mid-August followed by the U.S. Open, also at its usual Flushing Meadows home, from Aug. 31-Sept. 13.

21

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, July 21, 2020

Steve Bucknor: My ‘mistake’ in 2008 Sydney Test ‘might have cost India the game’

STEVE Bucknor, in speaking about his career, has said that he made “two mistakes” during the controversial Australia-India Sydney Test in 2008, which made headlines for the “monkeygate” spat between Andrew Symonds and Harbhajan Singh and the contentious umpiring decisions.

In an interview with MidDay, Bucknor said: “I made two mistakes in the Sydney Test in 2008. Mistake one, which happened when India were doing well, allowed an Australian batsman to get a hundred. Mistake two, on day five, might have cost India the game.

But still, they are two mistakes over five days. Was I the first umpire to make two mistakes in a Test? Still, those two mistakes seem to have haunted me.”

India had reduced the hosts to 134 for 6 on the first day before an unbeaten 162

from Symonds and half-centuries from Brad Hogg and Brett Lee propelled Australia to a commanding 463. The first decision Bucknor refers to was when Symonds, on 30, edged a delivery from Ishant Sharma to MS Dhoni but Bucknor remained unmoved.

Replays later showed Snicko had picked up the edge but there was no DRS at the time.

The other decision Bucknor recalls probably refers to Rahul Dravid’s dismissal on the last day when India were set 333 to chase from a possible 72 overs. In the 34th over of the chase, with India fighting for a draw on 115 for 3, Bucknor ruled Dravid caught behind. Dravid’s bat was tucked behind his pad, and replays confirmed the ball had flicked Dravid’s front knee roll on the way.

Michael Clarke later picked up the last three India wickets in five balls with about six minutes to spare, and Australia won the match and took a

2-0 series lead.

“You need to know why mistakes are made,” Bucknor said. “You don’t want to make similar mistakes again.

I am not giving excuses but there are times when the wind is blowing down the pitch and the sound travels with the wind. The commentators hear the nick from the stump mic but the umpires may not be sure. These are things spectators won’t know.”

The episode became a blot on Bucknor’s otherwise celebrated record, as he was removed by the ICC from officiating in the third Australia-India Test in Perth.

Looking back at happier times from his career, Bucknor recalled two World Cups, starting with 1992 when he had officiated only in a handful international matches but got to stand in the final. He would go on to officiate in four more consecutive finals until the 2007 edition.

Steve Bucknor: “I made two mistakes in the Sydney Test in 2008” (AFP)

“I stood in only four Tests and three ODIs before that [1992 World Cup],” Bucknor recalled. “And I was the only umpire from the Caribbean at that World Cup. So I didn’t know if I was good enough to be there.

During the tournament, I was told I was doing very well. The captains had good things to say. My aim was to be among the six umpires for the semi-finals. I would have been happy to even be a reserve umpire. I stood in the New Zealand versus Pakistan semi-final in Auckland. And after the match I was told, ‘Bucknor, you’re doing the

final.’

“I remember in 1996, West Indies versus Australia in the semi-final. I was in Delhi and I left my hotel room when Australia were 15 for 4. I went down to the lobby and told them to book my tickets to Jamaica.

I then packed my bags and got ready to leave the next morning.

That night, West Indies lost. I was sad because I wanted West Indies in the final. But personally, I was happy. Once the game was over, I was told, ‘Bucknor, first flight out to Pakistan for the final.’”

The former umpire also explained his signature style

of taking a long pause before declaring a batsman out. “I created replays in my mind,” he said. “Did the ball pitch outside leg? Was it high? Is it missing off? These are the questions I asked myself.

I was criticised in my own country when I started out.

One commentator said that if there is an appeal in the last over of the day, Bucknor’s finger will go up the next morning.”

Bucknor retired in 2009 after officiating in 128 Tests and 181 ODIs; his Test record of umpiring in most matches was broken by Aleem Dar in December 2019.

(ESPn Cricinfo).

Amir set to take part in Forty-seven -old De La Hoya thinks he Pakistan’s tour of England

can do some damage in comeback

Former champion Oscar De La Hoya

By Chris Williams OSCAR De La Hoya hasn’t given up on his dream of returning to the ring after 12 years of retirement to face a big name at 154.

The 47-year-old De La Hoya (39-6, 30 KOs) posted on social media last Friday night that he can do “some damage” at the 154 weight range in his comeback.

If De La Hoya can come back for one or two fights, he would get enough money to help pump into his promotional company Golden Boy to keep them competitive with the other promoters

. That’s not a long term solution for Golden Boy to stay relevant, however. You can’t have De La Hoya coming back in his 60s and 70s, still looking to fight.

De La Hoya talked about making a comeback five years ago to face Gennady Golovkin, but he changed his mind after speaking to his family about it. Chris Williams suspects we’ll see the same thing with this latest comeback talk.

De La Hoya hasn’t given his rationale for wanting to come out of retirement. Oscar hadn’t fought since 2008 when Manny Pacquiao sent him skittering into retirement after thrashing him and forcing a stoppage

in the 8th round. De La Hoya-Pacquiao was a non-title fight that the much bigger De La Hoya was supposed to win.

Pacquiao’s trainer Freddie Roach realised that De La Hoya wasn’t the same fighter he once was, saying, he can no longer “pull the trigger” on his punches.

At that time, De La Hoya still had a little bit left in the tank if he’d been fighting in the 160 or 154-pound divisions, which is where he should have been. It was De La Hoya’s mistake to agree to fight Pacquiao at 147 It’s unclear whether De La Hoya was feeling merry from a night out with friends or if he believes in what he says. The 154-pound division is lacking entirely of stars, and there’s no money to be made for De La Hoya in that weight class.

Perhaps he intends to face a welterweight at 154 and look to make a mountain of money from that fight. You can argue that De La Hoya should have made this move five to ten years ago to return to the ring rather than choosing this time.

When Oscar was in his 40s, he still looked young and could pass for someone in his 30s.

Sadly, the years have been cruel to De La Hoya. He now looks like a person in their mid50s instead of his chronological age of 47.

The former six-division world champion Oscar De La Hoya isn’t the only old-timer talking about wanting to return to the ring. These fighters have all mentioned wanting to stage a comeback: Riddick Bown, Shannon Briggs, Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield.

MOHAMMAD Amir is set to join the Pakistan squad on their tour of England despite previously ruling himself out.

The fast bowler made himself unavailable while he waited for the birth of his second daughter last week.

Amir and team masseur Mohammad Imran underwent tests for coronavirus on Monday and the Pakistan Cricket Board will test them again on Wednesday.

If the pair return two negative tests each they are expected to travel to England over the weekend.

“If their first tests return negative, they will be moved to a bio-secure environment in Lahore where their second tests will be conducted,” the Pakistan Cricket

Mohammad Amir could travel to England over the weekend.

Board said.

The three-Test series begins at Old Trafford on 5 August but all-rounder Khushdil Shah will miss the first fixture with a fractured thumb.

Nedd thinks upcoming...

FROM PAGE 23

their structure for yet another year while wishing them well this season.

“I want to say a special thanks to the Amazon Warriors who saw it to have him in the training squad last year. He really beniftted from that stint because as soon as he returned, his work improved and it was evident soon after when he hit the World Cup and showed up; so I thank the franchise”.

“Although he was not selected for the Amazon Warriors

officially to be a part of the team, they would have still had him around because he’s no stranger to the franchise now. I also want to wish the team well and the best of safe health and hope they can come out successful in this year’s CPL. Meanwhile, Ashmead is set to create more history as he joins father Garvin as the only other father/son pair to play 1st Class cricket, outside of Shivnarine and Tagenarine Chanderpaul.

22

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, July 21, 2020

Everton dent Sheffield United’s European hopes SHEFFIELD United’s hopes of playing European football next term were dealt a blow as they lost at home to Everton in their penultimate game of the Premier League season.

Richarlison scored the game’s only goal early in the second half when he glanced home a header from Gylfi Sigurdsson’s free-kick.

That strike brought the game to life after a dire first half in which Dominic Calvert-Lewin had the only real chance, but his header hit the post.

David McGoldrick was denied a immediate response for Sheffield United when his low drive inside the box was blocked, but the Blades looked distinctly off key throughout.

Instead it was Everton who looked the most likely to add to their lead as Calvert-Lewin brought a save out of Dean

Henderson before Andre Gomes drove just wide of the post in the closing stages.

The defeat for Sheffield United ended their slim hopes of finishing in the top six as they sit four points behind sixth-placed Tottenham with one game remaining.

The win for Everton moved them above Southampton and into 11th.

Blades’ impressive campaign starting to take its toll Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder was hugely critical of his players after the 2-0 defeat by Leicester last time out, calling them League One and Championship players playing in the Premier League.

The 52-year-old is known for his tough love approach to management - an attitude that has helped his squad play beyond their perceived individual ability

this season.

Wilder clearly expected a positive reaction as he named the same side that started in that Foxes defeat. There was plenty of huff and puff from his players against the Toffees but they lacked quality in the final third.

There was also a distinct lack of urgency, with the toils of a long but hugely impressive first season back in the Premier League looking like it is starting to take its toll.

They pressed in the final few minutes as Everton sat back but finished the game without mustering a shot on target.

Regardless, Sheffield United have one game remaining of a superb season and they can be proud of their efforts, whether they secure European football next season or not.

Richarlison underlines importance to Toffees

Richarlison’s goal was his 14th in the Premier League this season This was a much needed win for Everton with their season having looked in danger of fizzling out in disappointing fashion.

A run of two wins and a draw after the restart was followed by a four-game winless run that ended their hopes of a top-10 finish.

Carlo Ancelotti approached this game with one eye on next season, assessing his options from the club’s youth team by handing promising 18-year-old defender Jarrad Branthwaite his first Premier League start while

19-year-old forward Ellis Simms was included on the bench.

But whatever changes Ancelotti decides to make to his squad over the summer, this game underlined the importance of Richarlison to the Toffees’ aspirations next season.

He was one of the few players for either side looking to make something happen in a dull first half with some determined runs, while it was his goal - a superbly guided header after a clever run - that finally provided

the spark the game needed.

Richarlison has scored 15 goals so far this season - 14 of those coming in the Premier League - an impressive return in a difficult campaign for Everton in which they had looked in danger of being involved in a relegation battle before Ancelotti’s arrival in December.

A full pre-season working with the Italian and the Brazilian has a real chance of developing into a 20-goals-a-season striker next term.

City’s Guardiola full of admiration for special Bielsa

MANCHESTER, England (Reuters) - Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola never played under Marcelo Bielsa but credits the Leeds United coach as one of the most important influences on his own trophy-laden managerial career.

Experienced Argentine Bielsa will be managing in the Premier League for the first time next season, having steered Leeds back to the top flight after a 16year absence.

And Guardiola, for one, says England’s Premier League will be all the better for it.

“He has done an exceptional job. They were exceptional last season and then didn’t get promoted. They showed a lot of character to get promoted a year later and have been con-

sistent,” Guardiola told a news conference ahead of City’s trip to relegation-threatened Watford on Tuesday.

“I was not his player, so it is difficult to talk about him.

But I know the reference from a hundred million players who were with him. I was lucky enough to have the chance to talk to him. He is unique in world football because of the special way he plays. He is an authentic manager.

“No other manager in the world plays the way he plays. I learnt a lot about his style, his final product. He is an incredible person. He is so special.”

Former Argentina national team coach Bielsa’s managerial honours cannot compare with Guardiola’s multiple titles with

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Answers in tomorrow’s issue

Leeds United coach Marcelo Bielsa Barcelona, Bayern Munich and

Manchester City.

But for Guardiola there is more to being a great manager than picking up silverware.

The Spaniard says he rates Bielsa “at the top” and it does not matter that he has not got a glittering CV. “Winning titles helps (you) to have a job next season but at the end of your life what you remember is not the titles you have won, it is the memories you have and whether the manager taught you a lot,” Guardiola said.

“What we remember are the experiences and the memories, the players you have had, the managers you have had.

Marcelo is at the top of the list.

Absolutely at the top of the list.”

Guardiola also shared his thoughts on another manager, Nigel Pearson, who was sacked

by Watford on Sunday despite leading them to the cusp of safety having been hired in December on a short-term deal with the club bottom of the table.

“Before lockdown what Nigel did was incredible,” Guardiola said. “They got a lot of points with the results they got when they were on the bottom.

After that, I don’t know what happened.”

Watford are three points above the drop zone with two gaames remaining and visit Arsenal on the final day after hosting City.

Boucher set for contract rejig with 2023 World Cup pushed back CRICKET South Africa’s board will need to consider if Mark Boucher’s contract as head coach will extend to the rescheduled 2023 World Cup after the ICC moved the tournament from its original February-March window to October-November.

Boucher was hired in mid-December 2019 on a deal that would keep him in place until the World Cup’s originally scheduled finish in the first quarter of 2023.

With the competition moved back by seven months, the duration of Boucher’s tenure could be reconsidered.

“The board may need

to consider the fact that with the World Cup being moved, the dates no longer doesn’t align with World Cup,” CSA acting CEO Dr. Jacques Faul told ESPNcricinfo.

Boucher has so far overseen South Africa through one summer, in which they lost a home Test series to England and won only one of five trophies on offer. His next assignment was due to be a white-ball series in Sri Lanka in June, followed by a two-Test, five-T20I series in West Indies.

In the fallout of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Sri Lanka tour has been post-

poned and the Caribbean trip will have to be rescheduled, with West Indies due to be in England until July 29. CSA is in ongoing discussions with Cricket West Indies on when and where to play the series, especially as South Africa’s coronavirus cases rise.

The news of the rescheduling of the ICC’s next three global tournaments also means that South Africa’s Future Tours Programme is likely to be reworked. They were due to host India for three T20Is in August, but the matches could be played as late as March in order to

Mark Boucher’s current contract runs until the originally scheduled end of the 2023 World Cup (Getty Images)

ensure they take place in the 2020-21 financial year.

The fixtures will earn CSA USD 10 million.(ESPN Cricinfo)

23

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, July 21, 2020

ICC postpones T20 World Cup due to Covid-19 pandemic THE International Cricket Council (ICC) has finally postponed the 2020 men’s T20 World Cup, a decision made because of the uncertainty caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

The decision to put off the tournament, originally scheduled for October-November, was taken by the ICC Board on Monday. The board has also shifted the 2023 Men’s World Cup from the February-March window to October-November that year.

The board ultimately agreed to windows for three men’s events, with T20 World Cups in October-November 2021 and October-November 2022.

But one decision not yet made is in which order Australia and India will host the T20 World Cups. In the original rights cycle, India was scheduled to host the event in 2021, after this year’s event in Australia.

The Women’s World Cup, in New Zealand in February next year, has not yet been postponed, the ICC saying that planning for the event continues “as scheduled”.

Why has the ICC not named venues for the T20 World Cups for 2021 and 2022?

This remains a point of contention between the BCCI and CA, and is one reason why it took as long as it did to postpone the tournament officially. In May Earl Eddings, the CA chairman, sent an email to the ICC’s Finance & Commercial Affairs Committee, in which he proposed that Australia and India swap hosting rights for the T20 World Cup, with Australia hosting the event in October-November 2021 and India a year later.

Doing that, Eddings said, would financially help all members. If not, Eddings said it would be “detrimental to cricket” in case the “cancella-

tion” of the World Cup in Australia this year was “replaced by award of” the tournament in October-November 2022.

The BCCI is understood to have preferred hosting the 2021 T20 World Cup so it would not have to, potentially, host three marquee tournaments within a year: the T20 World Cup in 2022, the IPL in 2023 and the 50-over World Cup in 2023.

“The... Board agreed to continue to monitor the rapidly changing situation and assess all the information available in order to make a considered decision on future hosts to ensure the sport is able to stage safe and successful global events in 2021 and 2022,” the ICC said in the release.

It wasn’t mentioned in the release but the ICC is also hoping that the BCCI is able to resolve a long-standing tax-exemption issue with the Indian government, for

which the deadline currently is December this year.

Why has the 2023 World Cup been postponed?

Both the ICC and its members, it is understood, wanted to buy some more time to be able to complete the qualifying events for the tournament. The ODI Super The T20 World Cup was originally scheduled to take place between October 18 and November 15 (Getty Images League, a qualification pathway for the event, was meant to start in May it was a “very high risk” to conduct closed other than for special cases. this year but has been put on hold the tournament, Eddings echoing With participating countries as all international cricket came to a that pessimism in June, saying it such as England, India, South Afhalt as the pandemic spread around was “unlikely” and “unrealistic” rica and Pakistan among the most the globe. when the pandemic was “spiking” severely affected, the risks of bringWhat were CA’s concerns over worldwide. ing together 16 teams from around hosting the T20 World Cup this Australia has not been as badly the world and creating a bio-secure year? hit by Covid-19 as other countries, bubble were seen as too high.

The announcement of the post- with 3026 active cases as of MonThe ICC Board has met sevponement, ultimately, does not come day. But Melbourne and surround- eral times since April to discuss as a surprise, not least because CA ing areas are currently back in lock- contingency planning and was had said more than once that it was down and cases are rising in New meant to make a final decision going to be difficult to host the South Wales amid concerns over a on the T20 World Cup during a tournament. Then chief executive second wave. International borders, meeting on June 10, but eventualKevin Roberts had said in May that and quite a few state borders, remain ly deferred the call.

Ben Stokes: ‘I’ll give everything to the team, whatever’s asked of me’

BEN Stokes has moved to ease injury concerns after he pulled up in discomfort while bowling late in England’s second-Test victory, in which he played a starring role.

Stokes stopped bowling after four deliveries of his 15th over in West Indies’ second innings, having claimed the wickets of key batsman Jermaine Blackwood and tailender Alzarri Joseph, the latter putting England within one wicket of victory.

“I’m fine,” Stokes told Sky Sports after England had won the match by 113 runs to level the series 1-1. “Just the body started to get quite stiff. I said to Broady,

‘the body’s starting to stiffen up, what do you reckon?’ and he said, ‘just stop’.

“Three or four years ago against Pakistan I had the same thing and I ended up blowing my calf so I didn’t want to take that risk.”

Despite bowling an 11-over spell in West Indies’ second innings, on the final day of a Test in which he had also scored a patient century and bludgeoned a fifty, Stokes rejected suggestions too much had been asked of him with the ball.

“Absolutely not,” Stokes said.

“Obviously, I’ll give everything to

the team, whatever is asked of me.

We sort of found a method within our attack to change things up when things are looking a bit dry to go to that type of bowling or being aggressive in setting the field.

“Not only does it give us a wicket-taking option. It also dries it up because we feel the batsmen don’t have really anywhere to go.

So, you know, once you get past that five-, six-over mark you sort of feel like you’re fresh as anything you keep going in. But I’ll always do whatever’s asked of me.”

Having scored 176 from 356

balls in England’s first innings, then 78 from 57 in the second, Stokes also broke up key partnerships with the wicket of Kraigg Brathwaite in the fist innings and then Blackwood’s in the second.

Asked about his contrasting performances with the bat, he couldn’t pick a favourite, but he took pride in batting long for his century while clearly enjoying captain Joe Root’s intent in sending him to open for the first time in a Test alongside fellow big-hitter Jos Buttler as England chased quick second-innings runs, a decision he said came after “a few conversations”.

“Obviously Joe has the final call and that’s what he decided to go with, so it was a real positive move, I thought,” Stokes said. “It’s no good for us walk away with this game with a draw and so Joe made a real positive effort to get me get me and Jos up the order.

“Looking at the scoreboard seeing 300 balls bowled feels a bit weird,” he added of his first innings, “but it had to be done.”

Root, also speaking to Sky Sports, said Stokes’ starring role in the match was not the least bit surprising.

“It doesn’t surprise me, you watch how he goes about his business, whether it be in practice his fitness, everything,” Root said. “He leads the way in many, many respects and he seems to want to keep getting better and better.

“And we’re seeing those results out in the field as well, which is great for a lot of the younger guys coming through to see that you’ve got to put the hard yards in. He certainly does that and, you know, we’re starting to see that feed into the rest of the team, which is a great place to be.”

(ESPN CRICINFO)

Nedd thinks upcoming stint with Hurricanes good for son’s career --says Ashmead ready to face challenges

By Clifton Ross FORMER Guyana off-spinner and National youth coach, Garvin Nedd, believes son Ashmead Nedd starting his senior career this upcoming West Indies Regional 4-Day season with the Leeward Hurricanes is a good move for him in the future.

Nedd, also called ‘Tibsy’ around the local fraternity, who played for Guyana from 19952000 as one of their main spinners, said recently that he was proud of his son’s latest achievements, following his success on the Regional and international scenes in 2019.

The 19-year-old slow left-arm orthodox spinner had been tipped as one of the future slow-bowling options for Guyana from a young age. However, his talents overflowed over the last two years as he etched his name in the history books by playing a leading role in helping his team, the West Indies Emerging Players (WIEP), win the Regional Super50 title last year; it was WIEP’s

first outing as a team.

Nedd had already been a member of the West Indies U-19 team and was also a part of their team’s near successful U-19 World Cup campaign a few months ago.

Now with his new calling for the upcoming season with the Hurricanes, father Garvin expressed to Chronicle Sport that his son’s success was warranted but still expects much from him when he returns to action.

“I think for the past 12 months he’s (Ashmead) been doing pretty well, so he deserves to be in a 4-Day set up. He’s had creditable performances since the Regional U-19 tournament, with the Windies U-19 team as well as the Emerging Players and then in the World Cup. That itself would have provided that opportunity for him to be selected for the Hurricanes”, said the former national U-17 head coach.

Speaking on the current situation, Nedd stated that it was important to recognise what are the

requirements for being a professional at this point, with regards to Ashmead’s career. He noted that while the hurdles ahead will see an increase in difficulty, the former Guyana U-17 spinner is one who relishes tackling challenges head on and is likely to impact his new franchise.

Although most of Guyana’s players transition through the ranks and make it to the Jaguars franchise, a handful are lucky enough to be drafted to another country and forced to adapt to their new team and culture.

Looking at the next year away from home as a part of the Leewards franchise, the Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) coach said Ashmead’s new journey will be great for his career, especially with him playing most of his senior cricket on the road.

“I think it’s a good move for him because we all know that Veerasammy Permaul is a veteran and he’s currently playing a good role for our national team. We also have young Gudakesh Motie in the wings, so I knew before that

Ex-Guyana /National youth coach Garvin Nedd (left) and son, Ashmead

it would have been difficult for Ashmead to break into the Jaguars team”, added the coach.

He continued, “Also we don’t have a rotation system here in Guyana which allows players to have that steady opportunity but, thus far, I’m happy for him. I want to compliment the various persons who would have played a role in his success, whether it was coaches or players”. He said.

One specific aspect to Ashmead’s development, outside of the WI youth setup, was his time in the training squad with the Guyana Amazon Warriors last year for the 2019 Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL).

This year’s tournament is set to bowl off next month and while things are still on Covid-19 watch, it is likely that the competition will play but under strict Covid-19 regulations.

Hailing the local franchise for allowing young cricketers to have a taste of international cricket and learning from the overseas stars, Nedd thanked the Warriors for further keeping his son close to TURN TO PAGE 21

By Valkerie Baynes

West Indies’ Jermaine Blackwood walks off after losing his wicket, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Jon Super/Pool via REUTERS

England surge to 113-run victory as Ben Stokes turns on the style again

BEN Stokes, match winner, series saviour. That was the bottom line as England kept alive their quest for the Wisden Trophy with victory in the second Test to level their series against West Indies 1-1.

The hosts’ 113-run triumph was built on a towering performance with bat and ball from Stokes and means both teams start the third and final Test, also at Emirates Old Trafford, on Friday with it all to play for.

Stokes’ contrasting innings helped England into a commanding position and his ability to break up key partnerships not only helped his side take 19 wickets over the last two days, having lost the entire third day to rain, but destroyed West Indies’ chances of holding out for a draw, which would have seen them retain the trophy.

Stokes left many wondering, is there anything he can’t do? But there was more than just his contribution to like about this England performance.

To leave out three frontline bowlers in Jofra Archer, James Anderson and Mark Wood and replace them to great effect with Stuart Broad, Chris Woakes and Sam Curran speaks to a strength in depth that will prove especially important this summer as six Test are shoe-horned into seven weeks.

Broad’s fourth-day spell, when he took 3 for 1 in 14 balls during West Indies’ first innings, sent a clear message after he was overlooked for the first Test but, more importantly, it removed three recognised batsmen in quick succession when England needed time and wickets.

Woakes also took three wickets in West Indies’ first innings and he and Broad combined brilliantly with the new ball to put the tourists in trouble early in their second.

Meanwhile, Dom Sibley, a young player scoring the second century of a Test career that is only eight matches old, did little to advertise the excitement the game can offer but did everything in his power to give England control in their first innings. His 372-ball 120 showed a maturity to stick to his way and not be pressured into forcing something to happen.

Then there was Stokes. His first innings of 176, which came from 356 balls, surprised even himself in terms of its longevity.

It also pushed the England innings on where Sibley couldn’t.

Then, when England needed quick runs to shore up their position before giving themselves enough time to bowl West Indies out, it was a case of “will the real Ben Stokes please stand up?” and there he was.

Having been sent in to open for the first time in a Test on

SEE PAGE 19

Ballon d’Or will not be awarded in 2020 because of COVID-19

THE Ballon d’Or for the world’s best players will not be awarded in 2020 because of a “lack of sufficient fair conditions” created by the coronavirus pandemic.

The prize has been awarded by France Football every year since 1956.

Barcelona’s Lionel Messi won the men’s prize last year, with USA forward Megan Rapinoe claiming the women’s trophy.

France Football said awarding a prize in a “crippled” year would “not be worthy” of their history.

“We did not want to put an indelible asterisk on the prize list like ‘trophy won in exceptional circumstances due to the Covid-19 health crisis’,” it added.

“Protecting the credibil-

Lionel Messi (left) took the Best Men’s , and Megan Rapinoe Best Women’s Player prizes in the 2019 Ballon d’Or for the world’s best players.

ity and legitimacy of such an award also means ensuring its flawlessness over time.”

England’s Stanley Matthews was the first winner of the award when it was the European Footballer of the Year.

It was only awarded to European players until 1995, when it expanded to become open for any player at a European club. From 2007 it opened up to the rest of the world.

The 30-player list of nominees is compiled by the editorial staff of the French magazine, with the winner voted for by journalists from around the world, with one representative per nation.

Argentina international Messi won the prize for a record sixth time last year.

(BBC Sport)

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TUESDAY,JULY 21, 2020