Guyana_Chronicle_Epaper_07_24_2020

FRIDAY 24th July, 2020

' No.106070

‘Order No.60 never challenged in court’ –Jones’ attorneys contend; maintain recount order invalid SEE PAGE …say March declarations must be upheld 03 This Buxton family has been reaping the rewards of its kitchen garden. Ever since the COVID-19 outbreak, the Government of Guyana has been encouraging citizens to plant their own food. Government also, through an initiative being spearheaded by the Ministry of Agriculture, has given out farming tools and seeds to persons desirous of starting up kitchen gardens (Samuel Maughn photo)

Oil $$$ safe in US Bank …Min. Jordan assures NRF in Federal 12 Reserve Bank beneficial to Guyana PAGE

Guyana’s third crude Man shot dead lift for early August 02 on Middle Road PAGE

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, July 24, 2020

Guyana’s third crude lift for early August

By Lisa Hamilton GUYANA is now expected to make its third million-barrel crude lift in the first week of August, a delay from the previously estimated July timeline, due to challenges experienced with ExxonMobil’s gas compressor.

This information was confirmed to the newspaper

by Director of the Department of Energy (DE), Dr. Mark Bynoe, on Thursday.

“This lift is scheduled for the first week of August 2020.

The slippage has been due to the gas compressor issue that meant production had to be carefully managed,” the DE Director explained.

The oil and gas company had encountered issues with its gas compressor after it increased production in mid-May. Key specialist technicians were required

to repair the units but, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, repairs were initially delayed to observe travel restrictions, safety and isolation protocols.

The technicians had to first pass through travel restrictions and undergo a two-week COVID-19 screening process.

It caused concern among Guyanese who received reports that ExxonMobil resorted to flaring billions of cubic feet of natural gas due to the challenges. Though authorised by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to conduct ‘start-up flaring’ – a common practice when gas and liquids are introduced into new facilities and equipment – the issues encountered with the compressor were unexpected.

As ExxonMobil worked to reduce the excessive flaring, it significantly reduced production on the Liza Destiny to reduce the amount of gas being flared. Senior Director of Public and Government Affairs at ExxonMobil Guyana, Deedra Moe, told the newspaper yesterday that since making some initial repairs, 85 per cent of the produced gas from the reservoir is now being injected and production has been ramped up. “We have two of the three gas handling systems online and are performing additional repairs to be able to safely complete final commissioning of the system,” she said. This is even as Nasdaq reports that, since the positive changes, the previously reduced crude oil production has risen from approximately 27,500 barrels per day (bpd) to 80,000 to 90,000 bpd.

This third lift of Guyana’s share of crude will mark the final for Shell Western Supply and Trading Limited under its contract to purchase Guyana’s first three cargoes.

Guyana sold its first million-barrel of crude on Feb-

Director of the Department of Energy (DE), Dr. Mark Bynoe

ruary 19, 2020, raking in nearly US$55M. In its second million-barrel sale the country received US$35M. Along with the US$4.9M in royalties received from first quarter gross production and interest Guyana has over US$90M in its Natural Resource Fund (NRF). The newspaper was made aware that approximately 18.5 million barrels will be produced by the end of 2020 relative to performance given the previous challenges.

Guyana is entitled to five crude cargoes for this year as part of its profit share with ExxonMobil and its Joint Venture (JV) partners. This means that after Shell would have received its three cargoes by August, the country can market its crude to another company or location.

This will be in addition to two percent royalty on all crude produced at the Liza Phase One Development; 12.5 per cent profit oil; withholding taxes; foreign direct investments and benefits from JV initiatives, employment and jobs for service suppliers.

As ExxonMobil liquidates its costs, by 2025, 50 per cent

of all Guyana’s oil sold will come to Guyana rising up to 52 per cent return on every barrel of oil sold.

In the meanwhile, 34 large oil traders from around the world have submitted Expressions of Interest (EOIs) to market Guyana’s crude and 19 have been shortlisted by the DE. The Department is also in the process of contracting the services of an O&G Adviser to the Director of the DE; a Contract Administration Specialist and a Sub-surface Engineer. Dr. Bynoe told the newspaper on Thursday that the pandemic has contributed to a delay.

He stated: “As you may be aware, the modus operandi employed by the DE is to have these technical experts in-situ as much as possible to allow for knowledge transfer and mentoring to take place.

With the various travel restrictions this would mean that, under the current scenario, they would have to be performing their functions mainly from outside of Guyana. This is not the model the DE wishes to promote.”

Guyana’s two international airports have been closed to unauthorised international flights since midnight on March 18, after Guyana recorded its first COVID-19 case on March 11. However, this does not affect special authorised flights such as repatriation flights, outgoing flights, cargo flights, medivac flights and technical stops. According to the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), it is now expected that Phase Two of Guyana’s air travel re-opening could come

by August 28, 2020. It will facilitate limited incoming flights from citizens, permanent residents, international workers and diplomats.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, July 24, 2020

‘Order No.60 never challenged in court’ –Jones’ Attorneys contend --maintain recount order invalid, March declarations must be upheld

Attorney-at-Law Mayo Robertson

By Svetlana Marshall THE Recount Order, Order No. 60, was never challenged in the Courts prior to July 14, but now that it has, it must be invalidated on the grounds that it created a new electoral regime in breach of the Constitution and Representation of the People Act, Misenga Jones’ Lawyers are arguing in their quest to have the Court of Appeal overturn the ruling of the High Court.

In dismissing Jones’ application in the High Court, Chief Justice (ag) Roxane George-Wiltshire ruled that the primary issues raised were res judicata, having being addressed at both the Court of Appeal and the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), but the battery of lawyers representing Jones are saying that the decision was bad in law.

Trinidad and Tobago Senior Counsel John Jeremie, Jones’ lead attorney, says that the issue of res judicata was the most significant reason why the High Court erred in not granting the relief sought in the Fixed-Date Application (FDA) filed by Jones.

In laying the foundation of his argument, Jeremie pointed to the case of Garraway v Williams (2011), in which the CCJ ruled that for a successful plea of res judicata, three conditions must be met, namely: There must be an earlier decision covering the issue; there must be a final decision on the merits of that issue; and thirdly, the earlier suit must involve the same parties or parties

in privity with the original parties. Further reference was made to Pinnock Bros v Lewis and Peat Ltd (1923), and The Sennar (No. 2) [1885].

“The validity of Order No. 60 was never raised in and or dealt with by any Court before,” Jeremie told the Appellate Court in the group’s written submission, even as he pointed to the fact that the Ulita Moore Case predated Order No. 60, and never frontally examined Section 22 of the Election Laws (Amendment) Act. It was Section 22 of the Elections Law (Amendment) Act that the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) used, together with Article 162 of the Constitution, to bring Order 60 into effect on May 4.

He submitted that Section 22 was addressed as a jurisdictional point, but not in the context of having to address the now live issue of the impasse between the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) and the Chairman of the Elections Commission, Justice (Ret’d) Claudette Singh and the Chief Elections Officer (CEO), Keith Lowenfield, the first, second and third respondents in the case respectively.

Maintaining that Section 22 was not res judicata, Jeremie further argued that the High Court misinterpreted the language of the Court of Appeal in the Ulita Moore Case. Turning his attention to the Eslyn David Case, in both the Court of Appeal and the Caribbean Court of Justice, the Senior Counsel pointed out that the primary issue was the interpretation of the Constitution and jurisdiction

Senior Counsel Roysdale Forde

of the Appellate Court.

“While the CCJ addressed Order 60 generally, it cannot be said that there was ever a decision on the merits of the validity of Order 60, in the words of The Sennar (supra).

Absolutely nowhere in the CCJ’s judgement is there the mention of Section 22 of the Election Laws (Amendment) Act, or consideration of any merits on the validity of Order 60. Therefore, the Court was wrong to hold that the CCJ’s decision validated or endorsed Order 60,” Jeremie argued.

He made it clear that Jones’ primary concern relates to the respondents’ breach of their public duty, and the unconstitutional exercise of powers under Article 162 of the Constitution and Section 22 of the Election Laws (Amendment) Act. SECTION 22 UNCONSTITUTIONAL Zeroing in on Section 22, the Trinidadian Senior Counsel submitted to the Appellate Court that the Law was constitutional, and on that basis, Order No 60 is invalid and of no effect. “The Appellant’s challenge to Section 22 of the Elections Law (Amendment) Act is not one seeking declarations as to the validity of the elections, as in Petrie and Seecomar Singh, but rather it is a challenge to the breach of the legal process or procedure for the conduct of the March 2, 2020 elections in accordance with Holladar and Moore,” he explained.

In the High Court, it was said that addressing the constitutionality of Section 22 during an ongoing electoral

process would be disruptive, but Jeremie said such argument cannot be maintained.

He put it to the Court that it was the unconstitutional reliance and use of Section 22 that disrupted the smooth progress of the election, and that it ought to be addressed now to allow for compliance with the Constitution and the Representation of the People Act. Reminding the Appellate Court that the Constitution “is the supreme law of Guyana and, if any other law is inconsistent with it, that other law shall, to the extent of the inconsistency, be void,” Jeremie said a core justiciable and enforceable doctrine found within the very Constitution is that of separation of powers between the three organs of the Government. He said that while the Constitution reposes the power to make, amend and repeal laws solely in Parliament, Section 22 of the Election Laws (Amendment) Act confer upon GECOM a wide, unfettered and unregulated discretion to make laws which are ultra vires the Constitution and contrary to the rule of law.

“Section 22 tramples upon the separation of powers doctrine by conferring on GECOM an arbitrary law-making power to make, amend and repeal primary legislation by mere order,” Jeremie argued.

He added: “GECOM’s purported exercise of its Article 162 and Section 22 powers are not saved from judicial review. This is particularly so where the purported delegation and exercise of

Senior Counsel John Jeremie

that power are in excess of jurisdiction, and inconsistent with the Constitution and the Representation of the People Act… The delegation of power to GECOM to modify existing Acts of Parliament related to elections is undeniably unconstitutional.”

Jeremie told the Appellate Court that the Elections Commission breached Article 163 of the Constitution, and is now demanding that the CEO act on that breach and depart from the correct process as outlined in Section 96 of the Representation of the People Act. “It is important **to note that the application of Section 22 by GECOM to conduct a recount related not to mere procedural matters but substantive ones which were for an election court under Article 163. Order 60 breaches the Constitution and the Representation of the People Act by its unconstitutional establishment of a dispute resolution process that it is contrary to the Representation of the People Act, which excluded the statutory officers, that is to say, the Returning Officers from the recount process and adjusted the validity of the votes already declared by the RO’s which affected the declaration of the counts,” he argued.

ROS’ DECLARATIONS VALID The Chief Justice, in her ruling, said that the 10 Declarations made by the Returning Officers (ROs) in March had been overtaken by events, and as such could be of no use at this stage of the electoral process, but Jeremie

told the Appellate Court that those declarations cannot be set aside. Such, he posited, would be a violation of the Representation of the People Act, pointing to the case of West v Groynne and Smith v Callander.

“Under Article 162(1), GECOM is required to exercise its functions subject to the Constitution, and subject to the Representation of the People Act. GECOM cannot defy the law contained in the Representation of the People Act and Article 163 of the Constitution, even if armed

by Section 22 and Article 162. There is a clear process set out for the declaration of results which GECOM is bound to follow, failing which it is amenable and subject to judicial review as the Appellant asks,” he argued.

He further submitted that under Section 84 of the Representation of the People Act, the declarations made by the Returning Officers are final, and as such cannot be set aside. He also argued that the Elections Commission must adhere to the advice given by the Chief Elections Officer, and it is not for GECOM or its Chairman to dictate how the Elections Report should be compiled.

Jeremie appeared in association with Senior Counsel Roysdale Forde and Attorneys-at-Law Mayo Robertson and Rondelle Keller.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, July 24, 2020

Coronavirus: South Africa death toll could be 'far higher'

(BBC) South African researchers say the number of deaths from coronavirus could be far higher than the official toll.

The South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) report says excess natural deaths rose by 17,000, a 59% increase compared to past years.

Professor Debbie Bradshaw, one of the authors, said it revealed a "huge discrepancy" in the numbers.

On Thursday the country said there had been a record 572 deaths in the last 24 hours.

South Africa currently has the fifth highest number of confirmed cases worldwide with 394,948 infections and a death toll of 5,940.

This is a far lower death toll than in other countries that have fewer confirmed cases, for example the UK. What does the report say?

SAMRC released the Report on Weekly Deaths in South Africa late on Wednesday.

It shows that between 6 May and 14 July this year there were 17,090 excess nat-

ural deaths - far higher than in past years and higher than researchers had forecasted.

It is not clear if the higher number of deaths being recorded more recently is purely down to the pandemic, but researchers think this could be a factor. There are also concerns people are dying because they are staying away from hospitals, for fear of becoming infected or because of a lack of space.

SAMRC President Prof Glenda Gray said the rise "may be attributed to both Covid-19 deaths as well nonCovid-19 due to other diseases such as TB, HIV and non-communicable diseases, as health services are re-orientated to support this health crisis".

On Thursday, Health Minister Zweli Mkhize told parliament by video link that the SAMRC figures were "comparable to countries like India and Russia, but significantly lower than the UK or Spain."

How has South Africa been handling the pandemic?

South Africa is the worst affected nation on the con-

Friday July 24, 2020 –– 05:00hrs

July as the country grappled with a chronic shortage of hospital beds and state hospitals - on which 80% of the population depend - faced unprecedented strain.

Confirmed cases are now rising by more than 10,000 a day.

Infections are soaring in South Africa, which now has the fifth highest number of confirmed cases worldwide

tinent.

President Cyril Ramaphosa imposed a strict lockdown in the country at the end of March, even banning the sale of cigarettes and alcohol in a bid to ease pres-

sure on health workers.

The restrictions were enforced by soldiers on the streets in a bid to bring the outbreak under control. Authorities lifted the cigarette ban in May and the alcohol

ban in the following weeks as business reopened and people returned to work.

But infection numbers have soared in recent weeks.

President Ramaphosa reintroduced the alcohol ban in

WHAT ABOUT OTHER AFRICAN COUNTRIES? Overall, there are now more than 770,000 confirmed cases throughout Africa.

At the start of the month, the World Health Organization said five countries - Algeria, Egypt, Ghana, Nigeria and South Africa - account for more than 70% of all cases on the continent.

But there has also been a worrying rise in cases in countries like Kenya and Namibia in recent weeks.

China-US row: Fugitive researcher 'hiding in San Francisco consulate' (BBC) A Chinese scientist suspected of visa fraud and concealing ties to the military has fled to China's consulate in San Francisco, the US says.

Prosecutors allege that the case is part of a Chinese programme to send undercover army scientists to the US. On Wednesday the Trump administration ordered the closure of China's mission in Houston, saying it was involved in stealing intellectual

property.

China condemned moves against its scientists and consulates in the US. Foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin accused the administration of using excuses to limit, harass or crack down on Chinese scholars in the country.

"In response to the US's unreasonable actions, China must make a necessary response and safeguard its

legitimate rights," he said at a press conference, describing the US allegations as "malicious slander".

Following the row over the Houston consulate, President Donald Trump threatened to close down more Chinese missions.

In recent months he has clashed repeatedly with Beijing over trade, the coronavirus pandemic and China's imposition of a controversial new security law on Hong Kong.

What are the allegations about the San Francisco mission?

Court filings by prosecutors in a federal court in San Francisco say the defendant, named as Juan Tang, was a biology researcher at the University of California, Davis.

According to the filings, during an interview with FBI agents last month she said she had not served in the Chinese military.

However, the document says, an open-source investigation uncovered photos of her wearing military uniform and a search of her home found further evidence of her affiliation with China's People's Liberation Army (PLA).

"At some point following the search and interview of Tang on June 20, 2020, Tang went to the Chinese consulate in San Francisco, where the FBI assesses she has remained," the filing, first reported on by the Axios news site, reads.

It adds: "As the Tang case demonstrates, the Chinese consulate in San Francisco

provides a potential safe harbor for a PLA official intent on avoiding prosecution in the United States."

Prosecutors say that this is not an isolated case but "appears to be part of a program conducted by the PLA" to send military scientists to the US on false pretences.

The document also highlights the cases of two other researchers arrested in California in recent weeks for lying about their alleged ties to the military.

What is happening at China's consulates?

The Houston consulate came under scrutiny on Tuesday when people overlooking the building's courtyard noticed several bins on fire.

Footage showed people throwing what appeared to be paper into the bins.

Emergency services were called to the building but Houston police say they were not granted access.

On Wednesday, the administration gave China 72 hours to close the consulate "to protect American intellectual property and Americans' private information".

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said: "We are setting out clear expectations for how the Chinese Communist Party is going to behave. And when they don't, we're going to take actions that protect the American people, protect... our national security, and also protect our economy and jobs."

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, July 24, 2020

Five thanked for their contributions as prime minister announces reshuffle

(BARBADOS ADVOCATE) Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley has announced a major reshuffling of Cabinet with two new persons being given ministerial portfolios and four former Cabinet members being removed.

Barbados’ leader also reduced the number of parliamentary secretaries by one.

The change comes two years and two months after the Mottley-led Barbados Labour Party won the 2018 General Elections.

Addressing the nation from Ilaro Court on Wednesday (July 22), Mottley said the restructuring of Cabinet came at a time when “the government itself is readying and repositioning itself” for the challenges that will confront it in “a post-COVD-19 Barbados”. In addition, the new Cabinet will also be ready “for those [challenges] that we anticipate will present themselves in the coming months and years”.

Mottley said on Wednes-

Barbados’ Prime Minister, the Hon. Mia Amor Mottley.a

day she informed Barbados’ Governor General, Dame Sandra Mason, of her decision to “take fresh guard”.

She stated the Parliament of Barbados will be prorogued on August 8, 2020. It will resume in a new session on September 15, 2020. On this date, Parliament will resume “with a new throne speech and with a new direction” as to where the government “must go in order to meet these extraordinary, different circumstances from the original throne speech of two

years ago”.

The new Cabinet comprises: William Duguid - the Minister of Housing, Lands and Maintenance; Kerrie Symmonds - the Minister of Energy, Small Business and Entrepreneurship; Adrian Forde - the Minister of the Environment and National Beautification; Wilfred Abrahams - the Minister of Home Affairs, Information and Public Affairs; Charles Griffith - the Minister in the Ministry of Water Resources; Dwight Sutherland - the

China-US row: Fugitive ...

The consulate is one of five in the US, not counting the embassy in Washington.

China described the closure as a "political provocation".

What is stoking tensions between China and the US? There are a number of flashpoints between Beijing and Washington. Some of the most serious are: * Coronavirus: President Trump has repeatedly referred to Covid-19 as the "China virus". and alleged it originated from a Chinese

laboratory, despite his own intelligence officers saying it "was not manmade". In response, Chinese officials have suggested, without evidence, that Covid-19 might have originated in the US * Trade: Mr Trump has long accused China of unfair trading practices and intellectual property theft. The US and China have engaged in a tit-for-tat tariff war since 2018 as a result of the dispute Hong Kong: China's imposition of a sweeping new

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national security law in Hong Kong in June led the US to revoke the region's preferential economic treatment.

Beijing has accused the US of "gross interference" in its domestic affairs, promising it will retaliate South China Sea: The two countries have also clashed over Beijing's pursuit of offshore resources in disputed waters, with Mr Pompeo calling it a "campaign of bullying".

Minister of Youth, Sports and Community Empowerment; Peter Philips - the Minister in the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security and John King - the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office.

Sharing more on the latter change, the Prime Minister said that Culture is “coming to the Prime Minister’s Office and the Rural Development Commission, with an intention that as we know, the Rural Development Commission and the Urban Development Commission moving to become a National Development Commission and bringing both of those entities together as one as we have discussed previously”.

The new additions to the Cabinet are Senator Lisa Cummins, who is now the Minister of Tourism and International Transport, and Ian Gooding-Edghill, who is now Minister of Transport, Works and Water Resources.

All other Ministers will remain in their previous posts with unchanged portfolios.

The Prime Minister acknowledged and thanked Members of Parliament George Payne, Trevor Prescod, Edmund Hinkson and Neil Rowe, in addition to Senator Lucille Moe, for the work they have done in the past two years.

She said their removal “is not a case of dismissing anyone. I want to make it clear that I am committed to ensuring that each former member of the Cabinet is utilised in this country in a manner or in the furtherance of the work of this government and of this nation. They are all capable individuals who have much to offer Barbados and I will be leaning on them with their permission in some form or fashion to assist with the execution of our mandate to be effective as a government and to ensure that our resolve to remain the political party of choice in Barbados is carried through”.

Woman charged for beating child with broom (TRINIDAD GUARDIAN) A woman was arrested and charged yesterday by officers of the Child Protection Unit for one count of child cruelty.

According to police reports, on July 11th the Child Protection Unit, received a report, where it was alleged that a minor was dealt several blows to her body with a broom, which caused injury to her shoulders, forearms, wrist and belly.

WPC Quashie-Gay conducted enquires, during which the child was removed from the home and place in the care of her father. On July 22nd, the suspect was arrested and charged for one count of child cruelty and is scheduled to appear virtually at the Princes Town Magistrate today.

The exercise was spearheaded by W/Supt (Ag) George and Asp Sookdeo and supervised by W/Insp (Ag) Francis.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, July 24, 2020

Child rights and abuse THE Rights of the Child Commission (RCC) recently expressed its concerns over the increase in child abuse cases. The RCC based its concerns on a report by the Child Care and Protection Agency (CC&PA) highlighting an increase in child abuse cases for the first quarter of 2020.

The Agency had put together statistics garnered for the first three months of the year, and it showed a worrying upsurge of abuse-related cases involving children.

In a statement, the RCC said it believes that the unfortunate event of the COVID-19 pandemic compounds and exacerbates the situation and, while stakeholders have joined efforts on combatting this scourge, it called for a more concerted and collaborative approach. “The RCC believes that the considerable threat to life imposed by COVID-19 must be met with the continued resolve of all stakeholders to keep our children safe. Such safety must involve protection from a deadly virus as well as from any form of mistreatment and abuse while they are at home,”

the commission stated.

Children's rights include the right to health, education, family life, play and recreation, an adequate standard of living and to be protected from abuse and harm.

Non-discrimination means that all children have the same right to develop their potential in all situations and at all times.

Like never before, so many of our children’s daily existence as human beings with the right to life, and enjoy an incident free childhood; experiencing joys of childhood, have become perilous, from neglect, physical and emotional, and that for so many varied reasons add to a further confusing mental state of these wonderful beings. In every sense, children are innocent beings. It is an undeniable fact that observing a gathering of children, whether at play in their homes, school yards, or in public spaces, is always a reminder as to the ideal that this world ought to be.

But for millions of children around the world, inclusive of Guyana, this is not the ideal; for their

innocence is being made into living hell and nightmare, because of the cruel, exploitative and paedophilic adults who surround them, and control their young lives.

Simply put, child sexual abusers are monsters in human form. But Guyana has not been lapsing in the battle to combat this well known sexual scourge and predator behaviour. Apart from what could be described as the most comprehensive collective legislation, on any social issue, in Guyana, as a result of the nation-wide Stamp it Out consultation paper, the Sexual Violence Bill, the Juvenile Justice Act to ensure perpetrators are brought before the courts and prosecuted, which also covers sexual abuse and other related felonies, there have also been the commissioning of three specialised courts, since 2015, which have resulted in the speedy dispensation of justice, bringing satisfaction, even if not complete closure, for the many victims even as the rate of conviction, since 2015 has risen from a 10 per cent conviction rate to over 60 per cent since

the establishment of the specialised courts. There is, however, the need for a sustained public education as to what is really child abuse, since the still popular perception and understanding among some Guyanese is that child abuse is about sexual and indecent acts committed on the child.

It is a position with which we concur as many parents and guardians, even teachers, are known to inflict emotional and psychological harm on children without realising the harm done, and by extension the offence committed, such as calling a child names, done for fun and also in the process of disciplinary measures. Child sexual abuse is still a major social issue in our society; a scourge, to be more precise. The government’s CC&PA and Organisations such as Blossom Incorporated must be congratulated for being part of the national process, bringing awareness through their country-wide programmes on “child education’’, “sexual abuse and violence’’, ‘’signs and symptoms’’ and how to engage children in such a

grave situation. But others must also be part of this national crusade, such as religious bodies, human resource departments and their staff, and other social hubs, since incidents of child sexual abuse, and offenders have been found to cut across every social line, and can only be confronted in a holistic manner.

We should all embrace the fight to protect the rights of our children and to ensure that child sexual abuse is not tolerated. Often, the victims are females but we must understand that in many cases, males are also victims.

Parents and guardians must stop the practice of sweeping these matters under the carpet. Instead, address the issue and remove the mental and emotional trauma that child will live with for years. It is important for every Guyanese to be vigilant, and help safeguard Guyana’s children from sexual and all other form of child abuse.

Pandemic still rages: Strict adherence is the responsibility of ALL citizens Dear Editor, GUYANA, like so many other countries, has begun to announce re-opening measures after some amount of restrictions, including chiefly a curfew. That measure had also been accompanied by a shutdown of many businesses, in attempts at protecting the nation from the fatal hold of the COVID -19. But even this closure of commercial entities was observed to be punctuated at times by partial opening, which occasioned daily mobile police patrols, not only reminding about the public health orders to be observed, but also the fact of prosecution for not doing so, thereby infringing the safety measures. Even the smaller businesspersons, although somewhat cooperative, were also guilty of infringements.

As in all the other jurisdictions which are now in the process of stages of phased re-opening, the given reason has been the parlous state of their individual economies, where millions have lost their jobs, and businesses ruined. In the Caribbean, where tourism is the backbone of economic sustenance for hundreds of thousands, tourists have not been

coming, and this can be understood, given the fact that airspaces have been closed around the world, in one of the significant measures in controlling the spread of the virus.

The reality and lesson here are that although the virus is an organism, a most lethal one, it is transmitted by human beings on the move in an interconnected manner, even if not by aircraft.

And so, one must again look at the Guyana situation. In this regard, there is this very key understanding that is absent in the reasoning of some citizens about the behaviour of the virus: That its transmission, spread and ultimate control have to do with humans, linked inextricably with their adherence or not to the protocols of social distancing, hand sanitization, and mask wearing.

Added to this, must be the very important aspect of not being out when not necessary, and the curfew being observed. It explained why Region Five, so far, remains untouched by the deadly hand of Covid-19, because of the salutary understanding of strict adherence and how crucial it is to each other’s survival. Add to this, has been the very crucial support from the policing authorities in enforcing the curfew. It has been

very successful, so far, but more so because of the Region’s citizens cooperation.

The reopening is underway, but what about protocols that must be employed by these business concerns in engagement with the public, bearing in mind that the pandemic is still raging globally, with Guyana experiencing a more than worrying daily spike in the number of cases. Even the number of deaths has also risen.

The description of the world now having to live in the new norm, is most apt since the traditional manner of how we had formerly lived, going about our daily affairs; inclusive of work, social activities, inclusive of shopping, have undergone profound changes which will have to become permanent for the foreseeable future.

It must be no different from Guyana, as Covid-19 is a common threat to all mankind.

Therefore, there must be controls, that begin with these business and commercial entities providing hand washing and hand sanitization solvents for their customers coming to do business, insisting on masks being worn, and the key aspect of social distancing being observed.

This must extend to the control of how many persons are allowed in to

transact whatever business, at any given time. This obligation must also be reciprocated with customers wearing masks etcetera as stipulated in the Public Health Act. But it is the above with which there may be challenges, in terms of being consistent in the daily process of ensuring that the protocols are observed, with there first, being no slackening of the required adherence measures, and second, that members of the public comply. In emphasising this important fact, one only must observe that although masks are being worn in the main, that among this set of citizens, are examples of the mask being pulled down, while even engaging friends and the public in close conversation with no social distancing. They cannot be serious of being ignorant of the risks involved, and that this action also holds similar hazards for friends and family.

Although it may be good to shorten the commencement time of the curfew, thereby allowing outdoor dining, even on to midnight, there is still the challenge of the importance of social distancing and mask wearing that have continuously been ignored by those who must have a good time. But they do so without due care/concern to the risk they

engender for themselves, or pose to others, adding to the possibility of further imperilment. I stand corrected by referring to the caution by the indefatigable Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Karen Boyle who warned that things were not back to normal, no doubt referring to the decisions of reopening and relaxation of restrictions.

The fact that the Rupununi has had to opt for lock down measures because of the high numbers of positive Covid-19 cases that have been emerging there, must act as a reminder to the nation at large that the pandemic is very much alive, in our domain affecting citizens of varying ages, as proven.

Therefore, for all the reopening now taking place, the onus of defeating this killer pandemic, will continue to lie with all citizens: businessowners, customers/shoppers, vendors, public transportation providers and the good time crew, sustainably recognizing the need for strict adherence. Even the professional classes must understand that they are a part of these preventive measures.

Regards, Carla Mendonca

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, July 24, 2020

Dead people allowed to vote in Canada –– we must not allow that in Guyana Dear Editor, CANADIAN journalist Brian Lilley posited that, “The idea that our election could be decided by people that don’t live here; that do live here but aren’t eligible to vote or that used to live here but are dead should worry us all.” (https://torontosun.com/opinion/columnists/ lilley-thousands-of-canadianvoter-cards-sent-to-dead-noncitizens).

Lilley was commenting on Canadian elections where a difference of 5000 votes may not be enough to affect the outcome.

Yet, he felt that the threat of voter impersonation in Canada is a real problem and one that ‘should worry’ every Canadian. Lilley went on to assert that dead people voted in Canada. He said, “One political operative that I spoke to told me of comparing the voters list, the one that showed who had voted, to obituaries and other databases on recent passings. His comparison turned up many people that had voted despite being dead for years.”

Canadians may not have a problem with knowing that voter ID cards were sent to over 200,000 dead people, and they may see nothing wrong with dead people voting. But in Guyana where our elections can be; and have been decided by as little as 3,000 votes, voter impersonation can indeed affect the election outcome. Guyanese are therefore justified in their anger that a bloat-

ed electoral list containing the names of dead people and those who have emigrated was exploited by people who seek to claim victory at all costs, even at the risk of sparking a prolonged conflict.

The evidence provided by APNU+AFC showing some 60 death certificates of people whose names were marked as having voted should worry those who are serious about democracy in Guyana.

The fact that a contesting party, even without doing a complete reconciliation of voters and obituaries was able to show that many dead people who voted should be enough to raise concerns about the credibility of the 2020 elections.

That small sample of evidence of fraud confirms that a party or parties successfully violated the integrity of the electoral process and made it impossible for anyone to know with certainty what is “the will of the people”.

For reasons unknown, those who claim to be champions of democracy are too willing to overlook that evidence of electoral fraud. Like the Canadians, they too do not see a problem with dead people voting. But this is not Canada, and we must not allow dead people to vote while at the same time claim that we defend democracy. It seems that APNU+AFC is alone in this struggle to defend and preserve Guyana’s democracy.

Respectfully, Max Mohamed

Unity in adversity can lead to excellent positive results

Dear Editor,

KINDLY permit me a few lines in your publication to address a matter of concern regarding the education sector in this COVID-19 pandemic. Editor, during the lead-up to the sitting of the National Grade six Assessment, many concerns and fears were expressed about our children being put at risk. While those were mostly plausible and understandable expressions, today we have much to be thankful for, notwithstanding the risks taken. I do believe that we should give the Ministry of Education under Ms. Nicolette Henry and her team much kudos for believing, planning and executing a superb job of conducting the exam without incidence.

To me, their measures follow-

ing tireless and selfless planning are the catalyst that resulted in the seamless conduct of these much-looked-forward- to exams.

Additionally, parents’ commitment to the cause of educational development through actual involvement, as well as their aiding in the preparation of their children for the sitting of the exam should also be celebrated. Banded together, I believe that it is very fitting and appropriate, amidst all the negative news, that we should offer kudos to all stakeholders for making the sitting of the just concluded exam a success. This is proof that unity in adversity can lead to excellent positive results.

As one young local Calypsonian sang, “I have Hope”.

Regards, Elizabeth Williams

‘If you hard ears you will feel’

Dear Editor,

IF IT weren’t for the tragic situation facing our country, one would have howled with laughter at the comical yet duplicitous performances of the two Guyana de facto Ministers before the OAS Permanent Council on July 21, 2020.

The de facto Government clearly had decided that the stage for this disgraceful exposure of a compendium of lies, misrepresentation, and fork-tongued diatribe would be most appropriate at the OAS. A specially-convened meeting of the OAS Permanent Council, at the request of the Secretary-General to discuss a specific situation in a member state is not a common occurrence. It is not one that is treated lightly and frivolously by the OAS Secretary-General, or by any of the 35 member states of the Permanent Council.

The fact that such a meeting was convened at the request of the Secretary-General, Mr. Luis Almagro, to consider the state of the electoral process in Guyana (CP/ INF.8700/20) on July 21, 2020 was a momentous occasion. The electoral situation after 141 days with no end in sight was one the OAS Secretary-General could not be found wanting in allowing a member state to continue to flagrantly derail the elections and the will of the Guyanese people in open violation of the Inter-American Democratic Charter. Guyana had failed the litmus test of democracy; the peaceful transition after a free and fair, transparent elections, and therefore must face the hemispheric body.

The fact that was has transpired in Guyana since December 21, 2018, and more particularly since March 2, 2020, has never happened in this hemisphere nor anywhere else in the world was not lost on the member states.

After 141 days since the March 2, 2020, the OAS, like the CARICOM, Commonwealth and European Union, made its position known once again but this time at its highest forum that it would not accept the efforts of the Granger-led APNU+AFC Coalition and key GECOM officials to hijack the elections in Guyana and keep an illegitimate government in office.

Of special and notable significance was that the members of the OAS Permanent Council members spoke with one voice at the meeting and this in itself is historic and not one to be belittled. The 22 member states who spoke were unanimous in calling for the recount results to be used in the declaration of the elections of March 2, 2020; that this situation had gone on for far

too long and there must be a swift end to this with the transition to the legitimate government that was elected by the people on March 2, 2020; that “the world knows who won the election’; and, that there should be no further recourse to the courts to impede the declaration of the results and thwart the will of the Guyanese people.

The Secretary-General’s words that “This is a historic turning point for Guyana. Without a doubt this will define its future….action against Guyana could be taken if the situation does not change” is a warning shot of great import to the hemisphere. No OAS Secretary General speaks carelessly; he heads an organization that brings together all 35 independent states of the Americas and constitutes the main political, juridical, and social governmental forum in this Hemisphere. In addition, it has granted permanent observer status to 69 states, as well as to the European Union (EU). This meeting will impact on Guyana’s future, no doubt about that.

Not surprising, and sadly, the only two “oddballs” in the virtual room were the de facto Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Karen Cummings and de facto Attorney-General Basil Williams, who, as usual, were oblivious to the historic nature and purport of the meeting; they belittled the gravity of when one’s country is the special subject of discussion before this powerful hemispheric organization. Instead they thought they were going to gaff and spin their wicked false narratives as they have done repeatedly to their supporters, on the cheap rag-taggle Benschop tv programme, and in inane and inciting facebook posts.

What in fact they did was “thumb their noses” at this prestigious body. The line taken by Cummings and Williams, was reflected in Cummings letter to the OAS on July 19th, 2020, which she read from replete with baseless allegations. These two faithfully spun the false narrative of the Granger-led APNU-AFC Coalition, with downright lies, distortions, and misrepresentations. They went so far as to repudiate the rulings of the Chief Justice of July 20th and the Caribbean Court of Justice rulings of July 8th, 2020 and to throw out the CARICOM Scrutinizing Report of the recount with one distortion after another.There was no indication that they actually cared about what was transpiring or were concerned for our country and its people. It was all bravado in an occasion that warranted the utmost seriousness.

No one could escape the conclusion that this was a mere annoyance that the Granger-led APNUAFC Coali-

tion had to endure at the OAS. In the face of the profound and detailed report of the former Prime Minister of Jamaica, Bruce Golding, to the Permanent Council, the joint statement of the CARICOM representatives at the OAS, the serious presentations and stern warnings by the Ambassadors to the OAS from the Antigua, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, and the USA, the arrogant retort of Williams that “all of this is premature( ie OAS) …

APNUAFC Coalition had won the elections and have the majority of votes …. there could be no peaceful transition as there had been no declaration” made a mockery of the OAS and the Charter it stands for.

That the Granger-led de facto government believes that the OAS is of no consequence is the same contempt that it holds of the CARICOM, Commonwealth and European Union. All have been targeted and accused of interference and told to stay out of Guyana’s business.

As we say in Guyana “if you hard ears you will feel”, the problem is all of our people, innocent of this travesty, will feel.

In fact so dangerous is this situation that at the very same time as the Secretary General Almargo was saying that “The current situation serves no purpose in Guyana.

We call to stop using the judiciary branch to avoid bringing a solution to the country. It's is time to make decisions and protect democracy and the will of the people expressed in the elections”, the rigging Mafioso had proceeded to file an appeal to all of the Chief Justice rulings of the day before. This too is an affront and yet another indication to Guyanese and to the world that this gang of brigands will not concede defeat and will not accept the results.

I, like so many Guyanese, was ashamed and shocked as this travesty was displayed on the international stage, embarrassed to see our nation’s international reputation in tatters.

Former Prime Minister of Jamaica, Golding made it clear that the people of Guyana are not to be blamed for the current electoral crisis in Guyana. In fact, he commended the people of Guyana for their patience over the past four months. I console myself with Golding’s closing remarks that the “The people of Guyana do not deserve this” but also brace myself for the future as he said “it will take years for Guyana to recover from what has transpired.”

Regards, Gail Teixeira

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, July 24, 2020

AG asks Appellate Court to set aside High Court decision

By Svetlana Marshall

ATTORNEY-General Basil Williams on Thursday filed a cross-appeal, challenging several aspects of the High Court’s decision in the Misenga Jones case as he takes a lead role in the push to have the Recount Order invalidated, and for the March Declarations to be upheld.

In his Notice of Intention to the Court of Appeal, the Attorney-General, through his lawyer Maxwell Edwards, said that Chief Justice (ag) Roxane George-Wiltshire’s ruling on the issue surrounding the validity of Order 60 of 2020 is res judicata ought to be set aside.

Justice George-Wiltshire, in her July 20 ruling, had explained that the matter was already adjudicated upon by the Court of Appeal and the Caribbean Court of Appeal (CCJ), and as such the High Court was bound by the decisions of the higher Courts, and could not invalidate Order No. 60, but the Attorney-General said the decision was bad in law.

He also signaled his intention to argue that the decision that “Section 18 of Election Laws (Amendment) Act No. 15 of 2000 is not in conflict, or tension with Article 177 of the Constitution, nor does it breach the

separation of powers doctrine, and is accordingly not unconstitutional be set aside.”

Williams is also asking the Appellate Court to set aside the High Court’s decision that Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield cannot use the 10 Declarations of the Returning Officers in the compilation of the Elections Report, as he is now required to utilise figures generated during the National Recount.

Further, he is asking that the Appellate Court set aside the decision that “the principles of res judicata and stare decisis apply to the circumstances of the Application and requires the High Court to dismiss it, given binding rulings adverse to the Applicant in the Court of Appeal and Caribbean Court of Justice.”

LAYING THE GROUNDS In laying down his grounds for the cross-appeal, the Attorney-General submitted that the Chief Justice erred in law and misdirected herself when she misinterpreted the provisions of Article 177 (2) (b), and ruled that the Chief Elections Officer (CEO) cannot act on his own, and is subject to direction and control of the Elections Commission. It is his firm belief that the Elections

Attorney-at-Law Maxwell Edwards

Commission is bound to act on the advice of the CEO. Additionally, Williams, through his Attorney, told the Appellate Court that the Chief Justice “erred in law and misdirected herself when she held that Section 18 is not unconstitutional, as being in conflict or in tension with Article 177.”

It is also the Attorney-General’s contention that the Chief Justice erred when she failed to rule that the Chairman of GECOM, Justice (Ret’d) Claudette Singh had abdicated her duty to have declared the Presidential Candidate on the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC)’s List as the elected President

Guyana requires a new, inclusive national response to COVID-19 Dear Editor, WHAT more evidence does the National COVID-19 Task Force need to conclude that COVID-19 outbreaks are linked to mining activity? Gazetting of lockdowns in hotspots like Aranka (Region 7) (radius of 10 kms.) and Moruca (Region 1) two weeks ago contrast sharply with the decision of the South Rupununi District Council (SRDC) to lock-down 21 villages as a result of a COVID-19 outbreak. Had the SRDC), for example, been supported three months ago when they blocked access to mining vehicles, they may not now be faced with COVID outbreaks in at least three communities. Similarly, had authorities in Moruca been incorporated into planning at an earlier stage, they would have been better prepared to counter the reportedly casual attitude of community members.

Moreover, the SRDC decision prompts the question why Regional Toshaos Councils are not empowered to play a more directive role in community-based anti-COVID-19 strategies.

It is understandable that centralised direction of the GDF and the GPF is required to enforce curfews, non-essential travel and

rogue elements in the mining sector. A centralized response is also essential to counter the worsening impacts of illegal gold-mining in Venezuela being channelled into Guyana through the Cuyuni river.

From recent reports, trafficking of women and girls, smuggling of gold for sale in Guyana, mercury-contaminated exports of fish and widespread river destruction are all worsening.

This approach, however, is not so effective in implementing public health strategies such as social distancing or contact tracing. Neither the Police nor the military have either the training or the resources to play this role. The Police in Region 1, for example, have an outpost in Moruca, but cover a sub-Region that takes hours by boat to traverse.

Moreover, the staff of State agencies such as GGMA, GFC and EPA, normally responsible for enforcement in the interior, are depleted as a result of COVID-19 restrictions.

All of this suggests a more robust community-based strategy would benefit from an enhanced role for indigenous leadership. Such a role would better tap-in to prior community experience in combatting epidemics, such as HIV, malaria and dengue. Contact tracing, for example, is best conducted as

close to the community as possible, whether interior or coastal. People in communities know each other, are aware who might be vulnerable to contagion, even before information is volunteered.

Familiarity of so many of our medical personnel trained over the years with the world-acclaimed Cuban community health programmes, especially in the areas of testing and contact tracing, should give our health personnel a head-start implementing such a strategy.

Overlooking indigenous expertise is not restricted to the NCTF. A recently reported meeting of the Borders Committee of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with its Brazilian counterpart made no mention of any participation of Indigenous leadership.

In light of this scenario, the continued promotion of the mining industry above national health interest by shielding this industry from COVID-19 restrictions grows more questionable.

Regards, Executive Committee Guyana Human Rights Association (GHRA)

Attorney-General Basil Williams

of Guyana. It is his belief that the Chair of the Elections Commission was obliged to act only on the advice of the Chief Elections Officer, tendered to the Commission pursuant to Article 177 (2) (b).

“The Honourable Chief Justice (ag) erred in law in the interpretation of Articles 162 and 177 of the Constitution, more particularly Article 177 (2) (b), when she reasoned that Article 162 permitted the Guyana Elections Commission to make Order 60 in its present form, when, had she applied (as she ought to have done) the rule of constitutional interpretation i.e generalia specialibus non derogant she ought to have concluded that the specificity of Article 177 (2) (b) does not permit

Order 60 in its present form as it derogates from Article 177 (2) (b).”

He is also arguing that the principles or rules of interpretation were not applied by the High Court, which led to the “flawed” decision that Order 60 was not inconsistent with Section 96 of the Representation of the People Act and or Article 177 (2) (b) of the Constitution.

The Attorney-General also submitted that the Chief Justice erred when she ruled that the 10 declarations of the Returning Officers were overtaken by events, in particular the National Recount. According to him, those declarations were indirectly invalidated by the Court in contradiction with Article 163 of the Constitution. He further submitted that the Chief Justice failed to properly consider the written judgement of the CCJ, in particular Paragraph 52, which suggested that Order No. 60 was unconstitutional, null, void and of no legal effect.

Arguments in the substantive appeal brought by Misenga Jones against GECOM and others will be heard virtually in the Court of Appeal on Saturday, starting from 10:00hrs. Jones, through a battery of lawyers, is challenging the High Court’s decisions.

It is time to move on --GECOM needs to declare the recount results Dear Editor, AS a politically-neutral observer of Guyanese and Swiss descent residing abroad, I have raised in the past concerns that the number of votes cast in the 2020 general elections appear to be too high (see Guyana Chronicle of July 11, 2020)[1].

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

To date, I still have not seen any credible and convincing evidence disproving my analysis.

However, given the recent court decisions, I believe that time has come for GECOM to declare the results on the basis of the recount votes. It is in the national interest to move on. As I understand, Chief Election Officer Keith Lowenfield is not willing to do so as he has serious issues with the validity of a significant portion of the votes cast. He is entitled to his views, but the Guyana High Court does not support them. Hence, my advise to Mr. Lowenfield is to step down in order to clear the way for GECOM to declare the results of the recount.

Importantly, however, I encourage Mr. Lowenfield, the APNU+AFC or any other party with evidence of election fraud to challenge the declaration by filing an election petition in accordance with the provisions of Article 163 of the Constitution of Guyana. This will be the proper and constitutional venue to present evidence in support of the notion of too many votes cast or any other election irregularities concerning the 2020 general elections. Foreign governments and international organization will hardly be able to label such actions as illegal.

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

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, July 24, 2020

Tourism businesses hopeful of receiving relief BUSINESSES in the tourism sector are hopeful that some sort of financial assistance would be forthcoming from the government, or other entities, so that they can have capital to inject into their business once things return to normal.

Owner of Rainforest Tours, Frank Singh, shares that while he currently has no income, he is still holding on to the hope that the COVID-19 pandemic will taper out soon, and that tourism businesses could return to normal, at least by next year.

However, with zero income, he said he has been using personal savings to keep his business afloat, an arrangement he can’t sustain for much longer, and one that will leave him with depleted funds when it is time to restart.

“There’s no income, total zero because that was our only means. Tourism was my only income. Basically I’m working on my reserves which are going to dry up probably soon,” Singh shared.

Singh estimates that his income loss runs into millions. Notwithstanding the closure of his business, and having to send his staff

Proprietor of Rainforest Tours, Frank Singh home, Singh said he has been keeping his staff on by offering them a monthly stipend. Altogether he says his current monthly expenses still range between $150,000 and $170,000.

‘You still have to pay bills, and there’s no income.

The staff I had to send them home, because we are totally closed. We can’t do anything, there’s nothing to even work from home. I just try to give them a stipend, just to keep them running,” Singh explained.

In operation since 1995, the business provides tourism tours and outings largely to Guyana’s interior Regions, and has become known for its signature, annual “Pakara-

ima Safari”. The business also provides tours to Kaieteur Falls, day tours to Essequibo and overland tours.

Singh is optimistic of Guyana’s tourism industry eventually returning to its former glory, when the COVID-19 situation blows over.

But he worries about how he will find the capital to restart operations.

“Once the COVID-19 goes away or eases then we could start back business, but for this year I don’t see any big opening back,” he added.

Earlier this year, the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) proposed a plan calling on government’s intervention to help tourism businesses, estimating that the COVID-19 pandemic could cause as much as 50 percent of the tourism business in Guyana to close.

The Authority said approximately 22, 000 Guyanese depend directly and indirectly on the travel and tourism industry in Guyana.

Singh said the GTA had asked him to fill out a form earlier this year, and as the country awaits a 2020 budget, he hopes that it will contain some level of relief for the tourism businesses.

PPP/C nominated commissioners condemn attacks on GECOM Chair PEOPLE’S Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Elections nominated Commissioners – Sase Gunraj, Bibi Shadick and Robseson Benn – on Thursday, condemned attacks on the Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Justice (Ret’d) Claudette Singh.

The Commissioners, in a statement, said the attacks come in light of the Chairman’s firm stance on the data that must be used to declare the results of the General and Regional Elections held last March. Justice Singh has been adamant that the data generated during the MayJune National Recount must form part of the Elections Report to be compiled by the Chief Elections Officer, Keith Lowenfield.

“While Commissioners may not always agree with the Chairman, she has always discharged her duties with professionalism, fairness and impartiality, and in keeping with the tenets of the Constitution and other legal provisions,” the Commissioners said.

They added: “we unreservedly condemn these scurrilous attacks on the Chairman and call upon those engaged in such conduct, including senior members of the APNU+AFC, a contestant in these elections, to cease and desist from so doing.”

Since the March 2 General and Regional Elections a series of attacks have been launched on the Chairman of the Elections Commission with the blame being placed both at the feet of supporters of the PPP/C and the APNU – the

two main contestants in the elections.

Just this week, a Linden man was placed on $500,000 after he was charged for allegedly threatened to kill Chairman of GECOM. In May, a number of prominent Guyanese women condemned the attacks on Justice Singh after a full-page ad was published in Kaieteur News newspaper attacking the Chairman’s integrity.

The advertisement began with the headline, “What law is Claudette Singh really following?” and went on to attack the integrity of the decisions she had made pertaining to the holding of the 2020 General and Regional Elections.

The ad also question whether Justice Singh is “complicit in the shenanigans at GECOM” and is “one of the ‘forces’ against a free and impartial outcome of the electoral process.”

STEMGuyana Co-Founder, Karen Abrams was among those who spoke out. “I have remained silent as the major, and minor, parties fight over what they believe is rightfully theirs, but I refuse to witness attacks on women, and allow fear of reprisal to silence me,” Abrams wrote on her Facebook page.

“Have your nasty fights over power, if you must,” she said, “but desist from attacking the women of Guyana!”

Director of the Competition and Consumer Affairs Commission and former Magistrate Dawn Adriane Holder-Cush, in condemning the attacks, said Justice Singh is “a strong, brilliant woman with class and dignity.”

Pandemic delays full roll out of ICT Hubs project EFFORTS to provide a total of 200 Information and Communications Technology (ICT) hubs to Hinterland, Poor and Remote Communities (HPRCs) in Guyana have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and the May/June rainy season and the project is now expected to be completed in 2021.

HPRC and ICT Access Project Manager at the Ministry of Public Telecommunications (MOPT), Phillip Walcott, relayed the information to stakeholders when the question was posed to him by the Guyana Chronicle at a Tourism Recovery Action Committee (TRAC) stakeholder consultation hosted online on Thursday.

“Before I came to this session, I was overlooking the clearing of the last five

containers with the equipment. This was scheduled to have arrived since early in this year but COVID-19 slowed it down and the lockdown so we couldn’t get it. So, we’re only now getting the equipment. [Otherwise], all the equipment that is needed for the 200 hubs would have been in the country and would have been heading for installation but now we have to await the end of the rainy season.

We don’t anticipate that we will complete this process ---- which we had hoped to complete this year --- until the middle or latter part of 2021,” Walcott said.

A total of 200 communities were identified for the establishment of ICT hubs and are divided as follows: Region One – 22; Region Two – 7; Region Three – 7; Region Four – 15; Region

Five – 2; Region Six – 4; Region Seven – 33; Region Eight – 21; Region Nine – 52 and Region Ten – 37.

The equipment these hubs will possess include Very Small Aperture Terminals (VSATs); all-inclusive solar solutions; monthly VSAT bandwidth and network services free of cost; 12 laptops; one printer and scanner; one 32-inch television and security lights and cameras.

Even with the setback, Walcott assured: “We’ll be working, as soon as the rainy season is completed, to start installing the various hubs and we anticipate will take us about a year or more to complete the process.”

As part of the project, training will be provided for persons to use the computers and to conduct minor maintenance of equipment.

Walcott reminded that the

hubs and their facilities are meant to be used by the community and, though it will not be able to accommodate all planned activities, it can go a far way in bridging the digital divide.

In addition to the work of the NDMA and ICT Access Project, Digicel has the capacity to provide coverage in 72of the 200 areas identified and the NDMA also works along with GTT. It should be noted, however, that the NDMA does provide VSAT services to government agencies outside of the HPRC Project.

Questioned on the cost to roll out internet connectivity to hinterland tourism, Walcott explained that such is determined by the availability of connectivity in a said area.

“NDMA liaises with both GTT and Digicel to see which agency has connectivity in a particular area and, if

there is no connectivity, then that has to be provided. Only when that is done the cost can be worked out. So, the cost is specific to whether there is already an existing facility and therefore you just extend the signal or whether a new set of equipment has to be put down all together,” he explained.

He later added: “The government is really looking to provide, in unserved areas, giving the lead to the private providers to be able to give their services where ever possible [and] government’s commitment is that, where populations are too small, where there is not enough to make it economically viable for a private provider, then government will provide those services.”

On the issue of ICT and tourism, in his presentation, Walcott recommended that the Guyana Tourism Au-

Hinterland, Poor and Remote Communities (HPRCs) and Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Project Manager at the MOPT, Phillip Walcott thority (GTA) compile a list of areas in need of connectivity to support business activity, and that the GTA should formally apply to the NDMA to have connectivity provided in areas with tourism activity.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, July 24, 2020

11 recover from dreaded COVID-19 - one case recorded in 24 hours

EVEN as Guyana continues to grapple with the dire effects of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) and rising cases, all hope is not lost, as there continues to be positive signs in the area of recovery, with 11 persons recovering in the past 24 hours.

Recovered cases refer to persons who were affected with the disease and who now have been cleared with two negative results 24 hours apart and with no signs and symptoms of the virus.

It was reported that persons, who recover from COVID-19, are no longer infectious, meaning they cannot spread the disease, but they can, however, be re-infected.

Despite the positive development, the fact remains that Guyana continues to record a consistent increase in the number of COVID-19 cases, with the latest statistics showing that one new case was recorded following 56 tests, in the past 24 hours.

Deputy Chief Medical Officer (DCMO), Dr. Karen Boyle, said health authorities have so far tested 3,975 persons, with 3,624 being negative and 351 testing positive for the disease.

Of the positive cases, 176 persons have recovered and 19 persons have lost their lives, but authorities are still monitoring 156 active cases.

And, two of those active cases are being treated in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

The existing situation is enough to encourage Guyanese to take more precaution and be responsible in their daily conduct, said Dr. Boyle, noting that employers in particular need to be strict with enforcing safety measures in the workplace.

With public sector employees “back on the job,” the DCMO said employers need to create measures and systems to ensure that employees remain safe while at work.

In her advice to employ-

ers, Dr. Boyle said: “Employers should rearrange office space to facilitate six-foot distancing…reduce in-person meetings to barest essentials (technology such as Zoom can be used to conduct meetings).

“Discourage employee congregation at (water dispensers, coffee station, dining room and rest rooms) lunch period/breaks should be staggered and staff where possible can be encouraged to have lunch at their desks.”

Employees also have a role to play, and this includes using private transportation whenever possible. She believes employers could also aid in this area by facilitating transportation of employees to and from work, in order to reduce the probability of exposure when using public transportation.

“All entrances to public and private workplaces should have screening and hygiene blocks. Screening will entail taking temperatures with the laser thermom-

Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Karen Boyle

eter; hygiene blocks should comprise sinks with running water and liquid soap or hand sanitising stations.

“Workplaces must decide on their policies regarding persons with elevated temperatures…referral for further investigation or returning home and seeking further medical advice,” said Dr. Boyle.

While most of the commercial and public sector operations are conducted in Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica), other regions need to be cautious as well.

“Even though the numbers in Region Four are higher, you are on average 9.5 times more likely to be infected in Region One than in Region Four and you are

seven times more likely to get infected in Region Seven than in Region Four,” said Dr. Boyle, during a virtual COVID-19 update, on Tuesday.

The reason for the high likelihood of infection in those regions is the fact that the concentration of infections by population, is far higher than in Region Four.

So, while government has relaxed some of the control measures, Dr. Boyle said restrictions, such as the initial curfew of 18:00hrs to 6:00hrs, still applies to Regions One and Seven.

In addition to those regions, the DCMO said Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) is also “under the radar,” as cases

have been rising consistently there, over the past two weeks.

Considering the prevalence of the disease, Dr. Boyle, in advising persons, said: “I plead with you not to tire of wearing your mask, washing your hands and staying six feet apart. These simple activities are the key to protecting ourselves and others.”

She reminded persons that a collective effort is needed in order for Guyana not to be overwhelmed by the highly-infectious coronavirus disease.

COVID-19 remains a serious issue not just here in Guyana, but globally as well, and according to global statistics, there are 14.7 million cases of COVID-19, with over 612,000 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.

Man dies in Arawai trail accident A 25-year-old man has succumbed to his injuries hours after an accident on Arawai Trail, Mazaruni River involving a tractor and a truck on Tuesday.

The deceased has been identified as Mahendra Verria. The drivers of both vehicles are attached to C.B Construction Inc. Reports indicate two porters Verria of Leonora, West Coast Demerara (WCD) and Sunny Moore, age 25 years of Cornelia also on WCD were travelling in the tractor at the

time of the incident.

Enquires disclosed that the tractor was proceeding north along Arawai Trail with the two porters, towing the truck GRR 6331 and while in the process of descending a hill, the driver of the tractor lost control and jumped from the vehicle along with the two porters onto the trail surface where the said porters received injuries about their bodies.

The men were rushed to the Bartica Regional

Hospital by coworkers and were examined by a doctor.

Moore was admitted to the accident and emergency ward for observation and Verria, whose condition was described as ‘critical’, was air-dashed to the Georgetown Public Hospital. Verria succumbed to his injuries sometime around 15:00 hours on Tuesday. Both drivers of the vehicles remain in police custody assisting police with investigations.

Motorbike bandit nabbed, gun recovered RUPUNUNI residents, on Wednesday, caught one of two bandits after they had robbed a woman of her motorcycle, police have reported.

According to the police, one of two armed men who allegedly robbed a female domestic worker of her motorcycle about 17:45hrs on Wednesday, on the Aranaputa Public Road, North Rupununi, was apprehended by police and public spirited citizens. The motorcycle

was recovered and a firearm, suspected to have been used in the commission of the

crime, was found. Stringent efforts are being made to apprehend the other suspect.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, July 24, 2020

New ExxonMobil country president arrives

NEW President of ExxonMobil Guyana, Alistair Routledge has arrived in Georgetown to officially take up his new post, and has expressed enthusiasm to continue operations in this country.

In an ExxonMobil release on Thursday, Routledge stated: “I look forward to joining this amazing team of professionals, learning more about Guyana and getting to know the Guyanese people, who are an integral part of our operations.” Routledge joins the team in Guyana after serving in a similar role in Qatar over the past six years. He replaces Rod Henson, who was recently named Vice-President, Wells, for ExxonMobil in Houston.

As President of ExxonMobil Qatar, Routledge was responsible for leading

all ExxonMobil-affiliated activities in Qatar, as well as related international joint ventures with Qatar Petroleum in the United Kingdom (UK), Italy and the United States (U.S.).

He received his Bachelor of Engineering degree in Mechanical Engineering from Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree from Strathclyde Graduate Business School in Glasgow.

The new ExxonMobil Guyana President began his career with Mobil in Aberdeen, Scotland in 1990, and has since undertaken a range of individual, supervisory and managerial assignments for Mobil, and eventually ExxonMobil.

He has served in various capacities in engineering, operations, planning

New President of ExxonMobil Guyana, Alistair Routledge and commercial functions while working in the UK, U.S., Venezuela, Italy and Qatar.

Routledge will be joined by his wife, Nikki, while their two children are studying in the U.S. He is passionate about education, and an avid sports fan who is looking forward to being an active member of the

Guyanese community.

“Guyana is the place to be; this is the future. I’m so excited at the opportunity.

I see in Guyana a young workforce, very enthusiastic, talented and I just hope that we can hold on to everybody and continue to build the organisation,” Routledge said in a separate video message.

“For me, I would have accomplished what I set out to do if, when I leave, I’ve been able to build on this great foundation that is already in place, that Rod has led the organisation to and that we have moved forward and matured as a Company.

The natural resources are those of the country and our job is to help the country develop the natural resource in a responsible way for sustainable future of the country.”

MOPT closer to putting 200 gov’t services online THE Ministry of Public Telecommunication (MOPT), in collaboration with the National Data Management Authority (NDMA), is closer to the achieving its vision of placing some 200 government services online.

According to NDMA Customer Relations Manager, Latoya Martin, all of the online services have been established and are now awaiting confirmation from the requisite agencies.

“As it is right now, all 200 have been developed but we are currently awaiting the individual agencies to validate,” Martin explained during the third round of the Tourism Recovery Action Committee (TRAC) stakeholder consultations hosted online on Thursday.

Over a year ago, Minister of Public Telecommunication, Cathy Hughes, had announced the government’s plan to make the 200 services available online as part of the

ministry’s work to expand access to Information and Communication Technology (ICT) countrywide.

Also commenting on the progress, was Hinterland, Poor and Remote Communities (HPRCs) and ICT Project Manager at the MOPT, Phillip Walcott, who said: “Under the project there is a consulting team from Norway that is working on this, doing the assessment on the various government agencies to determine their readiness; design; deliver and maintain the e-services and this is currently ongoing.”

The services would apply to the National Insurance Scheme (NIS), the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), The Guyana Lands and Survey Commission (GLSC) and the National Bureau of Standards (NBS) and others.

“Looking to the future, we’re also going to be starting our e-Government programme. E-Government [is] really how, as a government,

NDMA Customer Relations Manager, Latoya Martin we could start moving toward paperless solutions.

So, firstly, we want to be able to put more government services online, which means that citizens will not have to go to an office and line up for three hours to transact business. Our vision is that a citizen will be able to do their passport applications totally online,” she had explained, adding:

“As a citizen, you could go to a hub and transact your business; apply for your TIN; apply for your passport; apply for your driver’s licence to the state, where instead of having to do two or three visits, you only have to go once to collect the licence or the passport.”

The government has plans to achieve this by the end of this year. The plan was also put in place with the intention of moving away from having persons, especially in outlying areas, having to physically visit the capital to conduct business.

The drive to put these services online is part of the wider governmental mandate to decentralise services. It also aligns the Ministry with the country’s Green State Development Strategy (GSDS).

It is envisioned that all citizens, regardless of any differences in capabilities, ethnicity, age or otherwise, would be able to equitably access these services.

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Man shot dead on Middle Road THE police are currently investigating the circumstances surrounding the murder of 23-year-old Navindra Samaroo, who was ‘gunned down’ while in his car, PPP1645, on July 23, 2020, at Middle Road La Penitence.

Reports indicated that Samaroo who resided at West La Penitence was returning to work from his lunch break, when he was shot. A resident of Middle Road La Penitence told the Guyana Chronicle that she was not outside at the time, and did not look outside, initially, since the sound of gunshot is a normal occurrence in the Middle Road La Penitence area. However, she stated that when she did, she saw the man lying in the vehicle and several residents rushed to his aide.

According to another neighbour, two men who were on a motorcycle were seen leaving the area following the shooting. It is believed that the two men were the perpetrators of the gruesome act. The Guyana Chronicle spoke to Samaroo’s father who declined to give his name but gave his alias, ‘policeman’. He stated that he had no actual knowledge of what happened leading up to his son’s last minutes. He said that he received a call sometime around 13:30 hrs and was told that his son was shot minutes after leaving his home.

DEAD: Navindra Samaroo “Well I received a call from my niece that my son got shot on Middle Road and he is at the hospital. And we went there and was told that he died, but I aint get no information into what happened but I was made to understand that he not too long before left home to go back to work, because he was on his lunch break, and as he was making his way back is when he was shot,” the father related.

He explained that he had received the information that a blue haversack that his son usually has with him was not The Father of Navindra found in his possession. It Samaroo is believed that the attackers may have thought that the bag contained money and took it with them after killing Samaroo. The man’s employer, Rampertab Etwaru, the CEO of his place of employment, J&J Phone card Investment was visibly upset by the news and stated that he received a call and was told that Samaroo was shot. He said that it was R a m p e r t a b E t w a r u unreal to him as the manager the CEO of J&J Phone had just two minutes prior card Investment. (Elvin spoken to Samaroo.

Croker Photos) “I just got a call about 1:20 from his mother saying that he was shot. Apparently he went home to get his food and coming out back then they traced him here. Today he just went to the bank and then GRA and after GRA he went home to collect his lunch and come back. But I don’t believe anyone traced him from the bank because he spent quite some time at GRA,” explained Etwaru.He stated that Samaroo was a marketing representative in his company and stated that while Samaroo has the ability of collecting monies from customers and clients on behalf of the company, at the time of his death Samaroo was not in possession of any money from the company or any monies to be delivered to the company from any of its customers. Etwaru described his now deceased employee as ‘very willing’.

Meanwhile the police are still carrying out their investigations with the aid of surveillance footage from residents of the area, to ascertain the identity of the individuals involved in the murder of 23-year-old Samaroo.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, July 24, 2020

Lowenfield for court today … to answer to charges of alleged elections fraud

GUYANA’S Chief Elections Officer (CEO), Keith Lowenfield, is expected to appear in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court today (July 24) to answer to private criminal charges brought against him for alleged fraud and misconduct, based on his Elections Report submitted to the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) on June 23.

Earlier this month, Magistrate Faith McGusty issued a summons for Lowenfield to attend court and answer to the charges. When the case was initially called, the Chief Elections Officer

was a no-show, primarily because he was not served.

He, however, was reportedly served on Thursday (July 23).

“Mr. Lowenfield has been evading the summons but fortunately, after careful planning and strategy, he was served at GECOM Secretariat’s office. Mr. Lowenfield will be expected to be present in Court… [on] July 24th, 2020 at 9:00hrs to face the private criminal charges brought before him,” Executive Member of The New Movement (TNM), Dr Josh Kanhai said in a statement on Thursday.

Kanhai, who is among the informants, is alleging

that Lowenfield, between March 5 and June 23, 2020 conspired with person(s) unknown to commit the common law offence of fraud, to wit, the falsification of the elections results. A similar allegation was made by People Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) member Desmond Morian.

The Attorney General Basil Williams, however, has long indicated that the charges filed in the Magistrate’s Court against the Chief Elections Officer are unfounded and unsupported in law as questions into whether he has performed his functions validly is prohibited by the Consti-

tution and the Representation of the People Act. “Any enquiry that the law allows must come by way of an election petition to the High Court pursuant to Article 163 of the Constitution and the National Assembly (Validity) of Elections Act, Cap. 1:04,” the Attorney General had said.

He pointed out that Section 3 of the National Assembly (Validity) of the Elections Act, Cap. 1:04 provides that any question referred to in Article 163(1) (a), (b) and (c) of the Constitution may, with regards to an election, be referred to the Court via an Elections Petition.

The Attorney General further pointed out that Article 226 (6) of the Constitution states that a court shall not enquire into whether a Commission or a member of a Commission has validly performed a function. However, Article 226 (7) by its proviso excluded the Elections Commission from Article 226 (6) because of the exclusive jurisdiction given to the High Court under Article 163 of the Constitution to inter alia determine the lawful conduct of an election and membership of the National Assembly.

Section 140(1) of the Representation of the People Act, Cap 1:03

Chief Elections Officer, Keith Lowenfield states that the Court can enquire into whether any function of the Elections Commission or a member of the Commission has performed validly or at all. However, Attorney General said the enquiry of the Court is limited to questions on the membership of the National Assembly and elections pursuant to Article 163 and any law made under Article 163.

Oil $$$ safe in US Bank … Min. Jordan assures nation NRF in Federal Reserve Bank beneficial to Guyana

MINISTER of Finance Winston Jordan has assured the nation that there is no need to be fearful about the country’s oil revenue, in the form of the Natural Resource Fund (NRF), being placed in the United States Federal Reserve Bank.

The Finance Minister made this clear on Thursday during an interview with the National Communication Network (NCN). His response on the matter comes as some Guyanese have begun to question the reason behind Guyana’s NRF being

lodged in a foreign bank, given the recent threat of sanctions as a result of the country’s electoral situation.

In response, Minister Jordan told the public that the placement of the NRF in a U.S. Bank is beneficial for the country, as it largely reduces inflation, helps with interest earning, and that despite these benefits, according to law, it must be placed in a US$ bank. “One of the reasons for keeping the money offshore is that it will help us with inflationary impacts of such large sums of money coming in to the econ-

omy so quickly. The Natural Resource Fund Act does say that the money should be kept offshore,” Minister Jordan said, adding: “I don’t think we should necessarily be afraid that sanctions would deny us the use of our resources. That is an extreme judgement to take.” The NRF Act Section 21 (1) states: “Petroleum revenues shall be directly paid into a bank account denominated in United States of America Dollars and held by the Bank as part of the Fund.”

Meanwhile, the NRF Green Paper states: “Petro-

leum revenues, as well as excess revenues from mining and forestry will be deposited into the NRF – a US dollar bank account held by the Bank of Guyana – from which withdrawals will be made, based on a fiscal rule.”

However, the Bank of Guyana (BOG) is the Operational Manager of the Fund, and manages it in accordance with the Operational Agreement and Investment Mandate. The BOG is required to submit quarterly financial reports on the NRF to the Ministry of Finance, while the Ministry of Finance has

to submit an annual report on the NRF to Parliament.

“The United States currency is reserve currency used by almost every country in the world, and we have trading relations with the United States, and our domestic currency is related to the U.S. currency,” Minister Jordan said, adding: “So, the monies are outside earning interest and being invested, so far, strictly speaking, in federal reserve earning interest, albeit very low, but it’s conservative at the moment and as soon as this political situation goes back to ‘nor-

Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan mal’, then we’ll turn our attention to the uses of that fund and how it is invested.

I don’t believe we ought to be scared into feeling that this money is out there and will be appropriated by some other person.”

Health Ministry issues health and safety guidelines for public sector workplaces THE Ministry of Public Health, on Thursday, outlined guidelines that can be adopted in workplaces in keeping with the Occupational Health and Safety Act of 1997 Chapter 99.06.

This comes as Phase Three of the country’s reopening process is ongoing and public servants are among those who will be returning to work on rotation. Previous measures had mandated that public sector employees work from home to minimise the risk of more persons becoming infected.

In her advice to employers, Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Karen Gordon-Boyle, noted that they should ensure that junior staff are enabled to follow mandatory norms and

standards relating to travel, office layout etc.

With regard to transportation, the DCMO recommended: “whenever circumstances permit, employers should facilitate transportation of employees to and from work to reduce the probability to exposure when using public transportation.”

Further, she noted that the entrance to workplaces must have mandatory instructions clearly stating that all persons entering the compound must wear a mask. Without one, they will be unable to enter the building. Additionally, Dr. Gordon-Boyle advised that “all entrances to public and private workplaces should have screening and hygiene blocks. The screening will entail taking temperatures

with the laser thermometer; hygiene blocks should comprise sinks with running water and liquid soap or hand sanitising stations.”

Crucially, employers must have in place policies regarding persons with elevated temperatures - whether they will be referred for further investigation or advised to return home and seek further medical advice.

In the office space, the arrangement should be reconfigured to facilitate social distancing among employees and those visiting the office. The Public Health Ministry has advised that employers should erect plexiglass or other transparent barriers between staff area and the public and there should be clear demarcations showing six

feet distancing either on floors or walls to guide the public.

Dr. Boyle said that employers should: Rearrange office space to facilitate six-foot distancing; reduce in-person meetings to barest essentials (technology such as Zoom can be used to conduct meetings); discourage employee congregation at (water dispensers, coffee station, dining room and restrooms) lunch period/breaks should be staggered and staff where possible can be encouraged to have lunch at their desks.

The ministry will also soon advise the private sector employers and those in the school setting as to how they can prepare their work environment to contain the spread of COVID-19. (DPI)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, July 24, 2020

Critical PPE procured for Caribbean frontline medical workers

CRITICALLY needed personal protective equipment (PPE) is on its way to medical workers on the frontline of the Caribbean’s COVID-19 pandemic response.

The Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) and the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) on Wednesday took delivery of the majority of US$3 million worth of PPE at the Port of Bridgetown, according to a CDB press release on Thursday. CDB said it procured and purchased the equipment with concessional resources through the Bank’s Special Development Fund.

Speaking at the event, CDB President, Dr. Warren Smith reiterated the bank’s commitment to helping its Borrowing Member Countries to cope with the effects of COVID-19.

“The coming months are likely to be particularly challenging, given the uncertainties surrounding COVID-19. Helping our Borrowing Member Countries to build resilience against shocks like COVID-19 remains high on CDB’s development agenda,” stated Dr. Smith.

In her welcome remarks, Executive Director (ag.) of CDEMA, Elizabeth Riley, shared the work the agency has done to establish the regional hub that will be used to distribute the PPE to 13 other Caribbean countries.

“To support our participating states, CDEMA has established an Integrated Regional Logistics Hub in Barbados, which serves as a primary repository and transshipment point for COVID-19 related relief supplies and aids the coordination of humanitarian logistics. This critical and timely support from the Caribbean Development Bank will strengthen the capacity of our participating states in times of greatest need,” noted Riley.

Cooperation between key regional partners was central to being able to source and distribute the equipment in the face of the intense competition for PPE, once the global pandemic started severely affecting many countries.

In light of such competition, CDB purchased the equipment on a pooled basis so that each beneficiary country could take advantage of economies of scale.

The release said that at the agency level, Barbados Port Inc. (BPI) agreed to offer warehousing facilities at the Port of Bridgetown to facilitate the storage, sorting and repacking of the equipment. BPI also agreed to the waiver of associated port charges.

In his address, Barbados’ Minister of Maritime Affairs and the Blue Economy, Hon. Kirk Humphrey, noted that recent improvements in port operations aligned with BPI’s vision of becoming a regional logistics hub.

“The port is becoming a lot more digital… we are working with the Caribbean Development Bank on the [development of a] port community system as well as we transform the way we do business. This is a good time to make the Bridgetown Port your integrated regional logistic hub,” stated Minister Humphrey.

According to the CDB, further cooperation came from the Pan American Health Organisation and the Caribbean Public Health Agency, which worked closely with

CDEMA Logistics Specialist, Major Curtis Dennie (at right) discusses the plan for distribution with (from left) CDEMA Executive Director (ag.) Elizabeth Riley, CDB President Dr. Warren Smith and Barbados’ Minister of Maritime Affairs and the Blue Economy, Hon. Kirk Humphrey

CDEMA Executive Director (ag.)

Elizabeth Riley at the PPE hand-over event

CDB President Dr. Warren Smith makes a point during his speech at the event

Boxes of personal protective equipment destined for medical workers across the region, in the warehouse at the Integrated Regional Logistics Hub at the Port of Bridgetown shortly after arrival

national governments to identify their PPE needs and provide guidance on what goods should be supplied.

The shipments include 35,000 protective suits, 111,000

isolation gowns, over 67,000 goggles, 250,000 protective gloves and 160,000 masks.

CDB also partnered with Crown Agents out of the United Kingdom to secure the

Barbados’ Minister of Maritime Affairs and the Blue Economy, Hon. Kirk Humphrey

CDEMA and Red Cross volunteers at the Integrated Regional Logistics Hub at the Port of Bridgetown, from which the personal protective equipment will be distributed across the Caribbean

equipment which was sourced from providers in Germany and China.

The PPE will go to Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica,

Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago, the release said.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, July 24, 2020

‘Be your brother’s keeper during COVID-19 pandemic ---SDA Community Service Programme brings relief to many

DURING the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic many non-governmental organisations have stepped up to the plate to join the fight against the virus, and to assist families and households who find themselves in troubling situations due to the impact of the health crisis.

In doing their part, the Guyana Seventh Day (SDA) conference has expanded its community outreach pro-

gramme to a number of rural communities across the country to assist families and households that have suffered some form of financial loss during the pandemic.

Pastor Andrew Chichester, Community Services Director of the Guyana SDA Conference told the Guyana Chronicle on Thursday, that the conference with the assistance from the United Kingdom Chapter of Adventist Guyanese (UCAG),

over the past few weeks was able to distribute some 160 hampers to several residents in Angoy’s Avenue Berbice, Ituni and Kwakwani.

Additionally, Pastor Chichester noted that the conference will be taking its programme to other remote areas across the country, including the hinterland regions. “We are scheduled to have some more in some remote areas, which will be sponsored primarily by the

Guyana Seventh Day Adventist conference like Orealla, Siparuta, in the Corentyne River, Leguaan and other parts of the country including the interior districts.”

Cognizant of other trials persons might be facing aside from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, Chichester noted that the conference was able to reach out to a few persons who lost their homes to fires during the health crisis. He noted Pastor Andrew Chichester, the Community Services Director of the Guyana Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, assisting with the distribution of packages, along with another member of the church, during a donation of hampers to residents in Angoy’s Avenue, New Amsterdam Berbice, earlier this month

Residents of Angoy’s Avenue, New Amsterdam Berbice, assemble at a local centre to uplift their packages

Recipients of food hampers provided by the Guyana Conference of Seventh-day Adventists

that in those cases the conference would visit those fire victims to assess their needs and would gather as much as they can to bring relief to those families. “We make visits to see what the needs are and try to see what best we can do in the circumstance because this is all part of the community services outreach programme and once there is a disaster, once there is a situation of that nature, we try our best,” the pastor said.

He added that the conference has also launched the ‘Buy One More’ (BOM) initiative to urge church members to always keep their neighbour or brother in

mind. “One initiative is that we try to encourage all our members and everybody [at large] when you go to [shop] for groceries or so there is an initiatives called ‘buy one more, (BOM)’ so that while you are catering for yourself at the time you are making the provision for others who are less fortunate,” In the current health and economic crisis he noted that all stakeholders have to be their brothers’ keepers, “We have to look out for each other…we have to share because there comes a time when I may have a need myself and I would obviously want someone to help.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, July 24, 2020

Old Age Pension to be paid early for August month PENSIONERS can look forward to receiving their pensions early this month.

This is according to the Guyana Post Office Corporation (GPOC) which is working in collaboration with the Ministry of Social Protection.

This arrangement was put in place in an effort to protect the country’s senior citizens and ultimately mitigate the spread of COVID-19.

Therefore, in keeping with the health and safety protocols, the GPOC will enforce physical distanc-

ing between individuals accessing their services. This measure limits the number of individuals who can enter the post office at any given time. Persons visiting their offices are asked to wear protective masks and sanitise their hands before entry. The GPOC assures the public that their public areas are also sanitised regularly throughout the day.

The recently implemented alphabetical system using surnames will be employed and used only during the first five payment days of

the month at post offices in Regions Two, Three, Four, Five, Six and 10.

SENIORS WILL RECEIVE PAYMENT AS FOLLOWS Tuesday, July 28, 2020 – Surnames beginning with the letters A to D Wednesday, July 29, 2020 – Surnames beginning with the letters E to K Friday, July 31, 2020 – Surnames beginning with the letters L to P Monday, August 3, 2020 – Surnames beginning with

the letters Q to T Tuesday, August 4, 2020 – Surnames beginning with the letters U to Z Senior citizens will be allowed to cash their coupon on any day after the fifth payment day.

Since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, the Guyana Post Office Corporation along with the Ministry of Social Protection has been making a conservative effort in ensuring that the country‘s senior citizens observe and adhere to the various mea-

sures that are put in place by the Pan American Health Organisation, (PAHO), the World Health Organisation and the Ministry of Public Health.

These measures include; social distancing for individual transacting business with the post office and the limitation of persons who use the post office daily. Persons visiting the corporation’s offices will be asked to sanitise their hands upon entry. Those who present with coughs or colds will be provided with a face mask. GPOC’s

public areas will be sanitised intermittently throughout the day. Customer service agents, postal clerks and postmen and women have all been provided with face and gloves to use while attending to customers.

The GPOC strongly urges senior citizens to refrain from visiting the Post Offices during the first two days of the month unless it is “absolutely necessary.” It also advises senior citizens that they can also authorise family members to uplift their pension payments.

Fire leaves Mon Repos family homeless

FIRE completely destroyed the home of a Mon Repos East Coast of Demerara family on Wednesday, leaving three persons homeless.

The owner of the home, Deopaul Omrow, who was still in shock, recalled the events. Omrow related that although he cannot confirm the cause of the fire, he believes strongly that the fire had started from an electrical point that was on the outside of the home. He stated that he was in the upper flat of the home when his son who resides at the bottom flat alerted him of the fire. He and his son then exited the building and neighbours along with the family members formed a fire brigade in an effort to put out the blaze.

He told the Guyana Chronicle that by the time he was alerted to the fire,

Owner of the Home Deopaul Omrow (Adrian Narine)

The son and one of the occupants of the home trying to clear the charred remains of his family home

the blaze had become uncontrollable and as such he was unable to save any of the items of his home. The elderly man stated that he, along with his three adult children, one of whom is working on the river presently, all reside at the home and have lost all of their be-

longings. The family stated that they would welcome any assistance that members of the public would offer them in this difficult time and said that they can be contacted on 220-9120.

The Guyana Fire Service is currently investigating the origin of the fire.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, July 24, 2020

City Council proposes oil and gas by-laws --seeks public’s feedback before August 14

By Telesha Ramnarine THE Mayor and City Council (M&CC) is proposing to implement its first

set of oil and gas by-laws which Mayor Ubraj Narine said will protect the environment and result in other major benefits to the City.

Speaking with the Guyana Chronicle on Thursday, the mayor said that the proposed by-laws are further intended to look out for the

interests of city residents, so far as job creation and other matters are concerned.

The by-laws are expected to be stitched into Chap-

Georgetown Mayor, Ubraj Narine

Acting Town Clerk, Sherry Jerrick

ter 28:01 of the Municipal District and Councils Act (the laws governing the City Council), once they have been accepted and approved.

To this end, the mayor said notices have been placed at strategic points across the city to encourage the public to provide feedback on the proposed laws. “We don’t pass the by-laws without consultation with the public and relevant stakeholders, so we’ve placed notices at several places to encourage the public to send us their comments,” he said.

After the public consultation is over by August 14, 2020, the by-laws will be sent to the Minister of Communities for his approval and possible fine-tuning.

Town Clerk (Ag) Sherry Jerrick offered that the Communities Minister may possibly even send the by-laws to the Legal Affairs Ministry to ensure that they are not contradicting any previous by-laws.

Meanwhile, the mayor said the City Council cannot afford to lose revenue from the booming oil and gas sector in Guyana, and hence the creation of the by-laws.

According to Council’s proposal, the by-laws are being enacted for the purpose of regulating construction and operations of any oil and gas company in the city. Its purpose is to provide building regulations, protocols for operational licences/permits and interim spot checking function for health and safety aspects of the work and protection of the environment, persons, communities and properties.

Any building to be erected for the purpose of oil and gas will first have to be approved by the City Council so that feasibility studies can be done of the area where the building should be erected.

An investigation report is required before commencement of construction of all commercial and industrial buildings which will be at the cost of the investors and owners.

Erections of silos, according to the proposed bylaws, must be fully pressur-

ized, waterproof and built to meet international, industrial standards, and are to be established on a firm, solid ground which should not be subjected to flooding.

All pipes and piping material, precursors and chemicals entering Georgetown is subjected to tax payable to the City Council.

Any form of transportation operating in the city under any oil and gas company, subsidiary or contracting company, will be subjected to an operational licence issued by the M&CC annually, and any form of heavy duty vehicle operating in the city will have to utilize roadways from 19:00hrs to 07:00 hrs.

The M&CC wants to be able to sue, with claims, any company for damage of property, and obstruction of the environment.

According to the proposed by-laws, precautions are to be taken to avoid land, water and air pollution which, as a result of breaching of standards, the M&CC will put a stop to the operations with immediate effect.

The company and builders will be liable to a fine and will be taken to court with imprisonment of five years.

Furthermore, if an oil spill affects Georgetown, the Council wants to be able to proceed with filing of a lawsuit against any oil and gas company for any desired amount. Waste will be disposed of using the recycling plant or any other way which will not cause harm or obstructions to the environment, persons or property.

Inspections will be carried out annually by the City Council prior to the issuing of any forms of licence or permit. Oil and gas companies that operate within Georgetown is subjected to an operational licence issued by the M&CC annually, subject to an EPA approved permit.

While all licenses will be issued by the clerk on the approval of the Finance Committee or by the Council, it does not include the coverage for general rates and taxes or any other taxes.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, July 24, 2020

Four held for ganja possession

POLICE, on Wednesday, arrested four persons during separate searches at Ituni and Mabaruma, for possession and trafficking of narcotics.

In a release, police said acting on information received, ranks intercepted a motorcar at 31 miles, Ituni Road. The vehicle was searched and 61parcels of suspected cannabis, which amounted to 9,071kg, were found concealed in the panel of the doors and also in a spare wheel. Two males are in custody.

Also on Wednesday about 21:00hrs, acting on information received, ranks went to a shop at Kumaka Water Front, Mabaruma, North West District and conducted a search.

During the search, 139 grammes of suspected cannabis were unearthed. The male owner of the business and a female vendor are in custody pending charges.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, July 24, 2020

ACDA sets virtual activities to commemorate Emancipation 2020 –– Junior Kelly to perform in virtual concert

G Jamaican Reggae Artistes, Junior Kelly

IVEN the ongoing conditions surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, the customary August 1 activities at the National Park which commemorate the Emancipation of Africans from slavery, will not be held as planned.

However, with the global advancement in technology, the very

activities will be brought to the public virtually, and will be celebrated under the theme “Overcoming Challenges Through Innovation”.

These activities will be organised by the African Cultural & Development Association (ACDA).

ACDA has been organising the main Emancipation activities in Guyana for 26 years. This year will mark 27

years since the organisation has been making significant contributions in keeping the African culture and history alive.

This is also ACDA’s sixth Emancipation during the International Decade for People of African Descent (IDPAD) which began See page 20

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, July 24, 2020

New Guyanese Artiste on the Soca Scene

G

Soca Artiste Pahjo Joseph

UYANESE have been showing time and again their talent and love for the arts, especially in music and entertainment.

Several of our local content producers have gone on to make themselves household names both locally and regionally and this is the same vision that is shared by upcoming soca artiste and party promoter, Pahjo Joseph.

Joseph, who runs the Duck and Drake Promotion company, gave the Buzz a brief insight into his journey from party promoter to Soca artiste. He stated that he has always been into music from a young age and had always had a love and appreciation for soca music.

Joseph said that he migrated from Guyana to the United Kingdom at the age of 19 and shortly after, he started promoting shows and parties. He said that although he always had this love for the art form, he never had the chance to pursue that career until he received a push sometime last year.

“Last year I had a close friend who passed away, and one of the things he would always say is if you love something do; it if you love music do it, it’s now or never and I thought about those words after his passing and I said to myself ‘why am I not doing what I love, I write music, why not do it?’ So I hit up a producer friend of mine, Joel Brown and we started my first single ‘Ah mas’ and some See page 21

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For love not for the likes

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, July 24, 2020

Guyanese blogger advocates for more representation on social media

F

OR the past few years, blogging and sharing relatable content on one’s social media platform has come to be the new norm of influencing people across the world especially the youths of today’s generation. So it becomes imperative for anyone who has such a platform to put out positivity and good vibes into the world.

Doing exactly that is 24-year-old Brittani Harrison with the content she shares on her YouTube channel. Harrison’s YouTube channel is not just your usual beauty guru page but rather a safe space for young women who believe that they are somewhat different from the societal norms.

related videos.

“My target audience I am trying to reach are mainly young women who are considered ‘different.’ I want to show them that it is okay to be different in a world that tries to put everyone one in a box. In doing so, I share storytime videos from my life experiences along with sit-down videos where I speak on current and ongoing topics and issues that are affecting most of us,” Harrison said.

She added that having a platform like YouTube is more than just posting videos and getting views, its more about the inspiration aspect of it all.

“If I woke up and only one person watched my video, I would still make videos…It is all

Harrison in one of her most recent ‘quarantine’ YouTube videos Harrison, who has a knack for the arts told the Pepperpot Magazine that she created her YouTube channel more than six years ago but she only started sharing content in 2016.

However, it was until after taking a three-year hiatus that she revamped her channel deleting most of her old content and starting anew, with more lifestyle content as well as beauty

about inspiring [Hence the name- Pretty Inspired] and creating.

Editing is my favourite part of creating content. Sharing it on YouTube is just me wanting to share with others what I create so they can feel inspired,” she said.

SOMEONE WILL LISTEN

While Harrison is known for sharing fun and inspiring content on her platforms, she also uses it to speak out on injustices and more serious issues facing the world.

“I share mostly fun content but due to recent events I have been posting more politically charged posts regarding the Black Lives Matter Movement which I am in full support of.

I believe it is imperative that you share your stance and voice your opinion in cases of injustices. It does not matter the number of followers you have. Someone will listen.”

However, Harrison added that when she is not advocating for equal rights for marginalised groups (people of colour, LGBTQ community, women etc.) she likes posting cooking videos on her YouTube and Instagram which her followers seem to love and appreciate since she gets a lot of request for recipes and more videos.

JUST GO FOR IT Because fear seems to be the number one reason why people delay creating and posting content on their social media platforms, in sharing her advice, Harrison said, “Stop overthinking.

What you create will not be everybody’s cup of tea, but it will be the right person’s rehydrating fluid. There will always be someone out there that you are inspiring. Even if you do not know it yet. Let go of the fear and hold on to your passion.”

She added that if something is done with passion and from the heart, likes and views will not matter, but rather the quality of the content one chooses to share will, “Quality does not always mean 4k videos and high definition pictures, rather it is the vision and execution of your creative thinking. Lastly, there is enough room for all of us to create.

You should build enough confidence to

24-year-old Brittani Harrison know that you also bring something distinctive to the table. You are unique and you are gifted like any other.”

REPRESENTATION IS FUNDAMENTAL The world is currently in an era where social media is used by children of all ages and with that comes great responsibility for YouTubers, bloggers etc. to be mindful of the content they share, as well as provide some form of representation for one’s viewers to see ‘oh there is someone who looks like or comes from the same country as me’.

“It is fundamental to have great social media representation for the Guyanese youths … when we post, we are also influencing, sometimes unbeknownst to us. So, with that being said, we must take into account the message that we are sending out,” Harrison said.

She added that representation influences opinions and instills values that bloggers are not sometimes aware of hence it is imperative to have these representations in our community to build the next generation’s confidence to create and share whatever talents they have with the world.

Harrison told the Pepperpot Magazine that the goal is to have little Guyanese boys and girls to look to the older generation and be motivated to expand and nurture their artistic abilities.

ACDA sets virtual activities to commemorate ...

From page 18

January 2015 and will end 31st December 2024.

The virtual experience will be highlighting local acts, international recording artistes, fire dancers, drummers, fashion displays, parades and much more.

Detailing some of the plans, Emancipation Coordinator, Aisha Haynes told the Buzz that several pre-Emancipation activities will lead up to the August 1 main event and these start from tomorrow, right through to September 1.

She said that there is an exhibition tomorrow, July 25 at ACDA’s Akwaaba

Centre, with strict social distancing rules – no mask, no entry, and only five people will be admitted at a time. There will also be online video and photo presentations of past Emancipation Festivals on ACDA’s Facebook Page and website acda. org, and they will also be airing never released footage of their most popular Emancipation concerts. All of this, she said, patrons will enjoy from the comfort of their homes.

For August 1, the organisation plans to have an interactive Emancipation Day as the planning committee has organised an

exciting LIVE programme.

Haynes said the programme will be on Facebook and Instagram LIVE throughout the entire day, with many attractions.

Persons can send out Emancipation Day greetings on the live video to all their friends and family. There will be a segment during the midday titled “Wha deh in your pot this Emancipation?” where persons will share their photos, videos and go LIVE with their cook-up, metemgee, etc, and get a chance to win prizes for best presentation.

Also, for young creatives, there is an

“Emancipate Yourself” Challenge using the hashtags ‘#covidcantstopweculture and #acdaemancipationfestival2020’ to win prizes. In this challenge, persons can share photos, videos, or go LIVE, with a 1-3 minute presentation on what Emancipation means to them, and it can be said in a photo, artwork, song, poem, dance, drum rendition or spoken word piece.

The final two virtual activities set for August 1 include a fashion competition, and end the night with a festival concert, featuring Yoruba Singers and international guest artiste, Junior Kelly.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, July 24, 2020

Teacher by day, DJ by night T

Gordon playing at a recent event before the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic

o many children and students, a teacher is like a second parent who plays a major role in a child’s education to mould them into the world’s future movers and shakers. As such children usually build a special bond with their teachers, especially the “cool” ones they can relate to.

For many students at the Government Technical Institute (GTI), that teacher is 21-year-old Denzil Gordon, who is strict in the classroom but loosens up when he’s spinning records in the evening as DJ Exclusive.

Acknowledging that his career choices don’t exactly coincide with social norms, he stated that he has always had a knack for music and always wanted to have a seat in the music arena in Guyana, so having a traditional job alone just didn’t suit him.

Gordon noted that he entered into the world of mixing music and spinning records when he was still in high school and would many times use his lunch money to buy CDs to make a playlist and promote his work.

Soon after leaving high school, he enrolled at GTI where he studied to be an electrician. Soon after, he began installing security cameras for a well-known company but later a received a call from his old institution about a job in teaching some of the new students.

While he was hesitant to take up the offer, he did the interview and was successful and has since been teaching at GTI since 2018. “My passion really is for music but teaching came along and I began to love that too,” he said.

Gordon who graduated at the top of his class in 2018 leading him to land the job of a teacher disclosed that he became quite famous with his DJ career on campus since he would always showcase his talents at almost every school event, however, he makes sure that the fun, chill side of him never overlaps with his classroom work.

He added that his DJ career has even managed to make his classroom work with his students easier, as they can relate to him and sometimes even approach him for issues they might be facing outside of the classroom,

New Guyanese Artiste ...

From page 19

of the other stuff that I’ve got coming up,” the artiste shared.

Joseph along with Brown who runs the Joey2Cool Production Company worked together on his first single and several other projects. Joseph explained that through his company Duck and Drake Promotion, he has been exposed to several soca artistes and producers and he feels that this gave him a greater understanding into how he wants to go forward with his music. Further, he stated that following his dream was a decision he had to make and had to be committed to seeing through. He stated that he has ensured that although he wants to get his music out, it is also important that he only creates quality music.

He added that he would have noticed that Guyana is an “overflowing pot of talent” and that he is proud to be Guyanese and to represent Guyana and its diverse culture and experiences through his music, and says he would

Soca Artiste Pahjo Joseph

Denzil Gordon, also known as DJ Exclusive which to his to delight is one of the best things about his two jobs.

A stigma that needs to end Gordon noted that society, especially the older folks, have this notion that men who are in the DJ business are not very respectable since, at most events, you’d find them promoting violence or sometimes degrading women which oftentimes gives them a bad name.

He noted that he is living proof that not everyone is the same and the art of spinning and mixing records is beyond just playing and promoting music, it is a career and a culture and one that must be respected despite what many may think or say.

“When you say you’re a DJ, there like ‘he’s not a good boy’.

Some people just see DJs as ‘low lives’, they don’t have that respect for DJs and [I want] to change that,” Gordon told the Buzz. encourage any young Guyanese artiste to do the same if given the platform.

Joseph stated that the COVID -19 pandemic has slowed the rate at which he can reach people through his music, and even had to cancel what was supposed to be his debut performance of his song ‘Ah Mas’, which was supposed to be performed along with several of his other songs, at the 2020 Guyana Carnival.

“When I released ‘Ah Mas’ in February/March, Trinidad carnival was done and Guyana was meant to be the next carnival that I could have been at. I mean it is being played on the radio and these online parties and stuff but in terms of getting it out there there’s nothing better than getting that experience in person; people see your energy, feeling your energy and they are more engaged with that feeling. There’s none of that happening at the moment,” he said.

He stated that while the COVID pandemic has pushed back his opportunities to perform live, he has taken advantage of the free time and has been writing and composing more and more songs with this producer. He stated that just this weekend he has wrapped up production on a dancehall music video which he will be dropping on his son’s birthday on August 10.

Joseph told the Buzz that he is happy to have had the opportunity to be a part of the art form that he is so passionate about, not just promoting music and events, but he feels blessed to have the opportunity to work on his music and his craft to be able to share it with lovers and supporters of music and soca.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, July 24, 2020

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, July 24, 2020

Batting under spotlight as...

CONTINUED FROM BACKPAGE

the alvani of player he can be so I’ve got full confidence in Shai to get some runs.

“He’s gotten starts so far in this series, he’s not far off from converting the starts and doing something special for us so he’s got my full support.”

Still, Holder maintains that a alvanized effort in the field and with the bat will be critical if West Indies were to win their first series on English soil in 32 years.

“I don’t think we fielded well in the last game so that’s definitely a cause for us to really lift it and put in a much better effort in the field,” said Holder.

“That is just the main issue that I had in the last game. I think we were pretty competitive on the other two fronts.

“Yes, we would love our batters to convert a few more

starts. We’re yet to a get hundred so far on this tour so again, it’s a perfect opportunity for a batter to step up and get a hundred.”

Play bowls off at 11 am (6 am Eastern Caribbean time).

SQUADS: ENGLAND – Joe Root (captain) James Anderson, Jofra Archer, Dominic Bess, Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Jos Buttler, Zak Crawley, Sam Curran, Ollie Pope, Dom Sibley, Ben Stokes, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood.

WEST INDIES – Jason Holder (captain), Kraigg Brathwaite, John Campbell, Shamarh Brooks, Shai Hope, Roston Chase, Jermaine Blackwood, Shane Dowrich, Nkrumah Bonner, Raymon Reifer, Alzarri Joseph, Kemar Roach, Shannon Gabriel, Chemar Holder, Rahkeem Cornwall.

Cuba-based...

CONTINUED FROM BACKPAGE

“We’ve been pushing for a while now and I want to recognize Ambassador Ivan Evelyn, as well as Ambassador Abdool Majeed in Cuba, as well as Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Karen Cummings, for the work that they’ve been doing,” Jones told Chronicle Sport.

Jones however reasoned that he’s remaining “hopeful that there’s no issue that will arise, so definitely we’re looking forward for that flight to arrive in Guyana.”

Jones said the boxers would’ve already completed all that is necessary, including a recent COVID-19 test in keeping with the regulations put in place by the GCAA, to make their voyage back home.

Meanwhile, Steve Ninvalle, president of the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) who also sits as a Vice President of the American Boxing Confederation (AMBC) had told Chronicle Sport recently that the Olympic Qualifier tournament is now tentatively set to take place between Feb-

ruary and March of 2021.

He had admitted that despite being disappointed that the initial event was postponed, they will head back to the drawing board as soon as the boxers return home from Cuba.

Apart from the boxers based in Cuba, Canada-based Taveena Kum is the lone female on Guyana’s five-member team that were set to feature in the Qualifier was scheduled for March 26 to April 4 in Argentina.

He also felt that with amount of work done, Guyana was robbed of not seeing a boxer qualify for the Olympic Games, stating “the four boxers that we have in Cuba, they were trained to a peak; their mental strength was there to a peak and I think it would’ve been the first time that we would’ve had a qualifier for the Olympics in a very, very long time.”

John Douglas, Guyana’s flag bearer for the 1996 Olympic Games, was the last boxer to represent the Golden Arrowhead at the IOC’s flagship event, where he lost in the first round of his light heavyweight clash with Germany’s Thomas Ulrich, who went on to claim bronze.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, July 24, 2020

Championship surpasses itself with wacky Wednesday

LONDON (Reuters) England’s second-tier Championship always had a propensity for twists, turns and sub-plots but it surpassed itself on ‘Wacky Wednesday’ with a head-spinning final day

that should have come with a health warning.

A night of stomach-churning drama ended with around 10,000 Leeds United fans defying calls to respect COVID-19 distancing guidelines by descend-

ing on their Elland Road stadium to celebrate the end of a 16-year absence from the top flight.

Footage showed the Leeds players in an opentop double-decker bus, surrounded by a swarm-

Leeds United players celebrate winning the Championship and promotion to the Premier League outside the stadium after the match, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Action Images via Reuters/Lee Smith

ing mass of chanting fans enveloped in smoke from flares and fireworks.

Leeds defended the stunt, saying it was a contingency plan in case, as expected, fans defied calls to stay away.

“The safety group believes that a brief appearance from the players with the Championship trophy would help to signal and end to proceedings, encouraging fans to head home,” the club said in a statement.

Already-promoted Leeds had earlier beaten Charlton Athletic 4-0 to send the Londoners down to the third tier — just one of the issues resolved on a night in which 45 goals were scored in 12 fixtures, all played behind closed doors.

West Bromwich Albion manager Slaven Bilic said he was “exhausted” after his side crawled across the line to join champions Leeds after an excruciating 2-2 draw at home to Queens Park Rangers. West Brom’s players only celebrated once it was confirmed that Brentford, who could have pipped them, had blown it in a 2-1 defeat by Barnsley.

“What a season and what a league,” Bilic said.

Barnsley’s unlikely win, sealed late on by substitute Clarke Oduor, meant they would have finished third from bottom, but Wigan Athletic’s 12-point deduction for entering administration meant they were saved — for now.

You could only feel for Wigan’s players who would have stayed above the drop zone, even with a 12-point hit, had any number of late chances gone in the 1-1 draw with Fulham.

Wigan can still appeal.

It was all too much for

Barnsley’s Austrian boss Gerhard Struber who broke down in tears in his postmatch TV interview.

Tears would have flowed at Nottingham Forest’s City Ground too. Forest began the night in the playoffs and could only slip out if they lost, Cardiff City avoided defeat and Swansea City won and made up six goals on Forest in the process.

Cardiff duly beat Hull City, to send them down to the third tier for the first time since 2005, Swansea City won 4-1 at Reading and Forest capitulated at home to Stoke City, conceding three late goals to lose 4-1.

“I don’t have words. It’s a disaster, to lose everything in the last game at home,” Forest’s shellshocked coach Sabri Lamouchi said. “It doesn’t feel real, but it is the truth.”

Brentford boss Thomas Frank, whose side lost their last two games after winning eight in a row, summed it up succinctly.

“Football is 80 percent suffering and 10 percent joy,” the Dane said.

At the bottom there were final-day escapes for Luton Town and Middlesbrough, who beat Blackburn Rovers and Sheffield Wednesday respectively, as well as Birmingham City, despite losing at home to Derby County. Incredibly, the five bottom clubs on July 2 all survived.

The drama is not done though. Brentford, for whom two untimely defeats cost them automatic promotion back to the top-flight for the first time since 1947, will now meet Swansea City in the playoffs while Cardiff City take on Fulham.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, July 24, 2020

Ten years on, can Murali’s record be broken? …It has been a decade since the great off-spinner left Test cricket holding a record that may never be surpassed

By Sam Ferris TEN years ago on Wednesday, Test cricket’s greatest wicket-taker, Muthiah Muralidaran, played the last of his 133 Tests and captured the last of his 800 victims.

The legendary off-spinner signed off in style, taking eight wickets in Sri Lanka’s 10-wicket win over India in Galle, exiting the game as its most prolific bowler.

In the decade that has passed since the then 38-year-old walked away from Test cricket, no bowler has got close to matching his monumental tally.

Of active players, England’s James Anderson is the closest to Muralidaran’s 800 wickets with 587, followed by teammate Stuart Broad (491) and Australia’s Nathan Lyon (390).

Next among current players is India’s Ravichandran Ashwin with 365 wickets in 71 Tests. Ashwin holds the record for the fewest matches – 54 – to reach 300 Test wickets, ahead of champion fast bowler Dennis Lillee (56) and Muralitharan (58).

Ashwin, who takes 5.14 wickets per Test, would, on paper, appear

to be the best chance to overtake Murali’s mark.

But with his 34th birthday less than two months away, the off-spinner would need to play another 85 Test matches. At his current average of 7.7 Tests per year, that equates to a further 11 years of Test cricket.

It begs the question: Will any bowler ever pass Muralidaran’s record?

Ashwin says given the wear-andtear of playing three formats across domestic and international cricket, a crammed cricket calendar and the lure of lucrative T20 competitions around the world, nobody will catch the Sri Lankan legend.

“The answer is no,” Ashwin told cricket statistician Mazher Arshad.

“The cricketing landscape has changed so much over the last decade or so.

“The longevity of cricketers is not the same.

“For a very large part when I grew up watching the sport there used to be months when cricket was off.

“Cricketers really got their off time and they were able to play three- and five-match series. They

Australia’s Nathan Lyon (390) Test wickets. had a longer span in the game.

Nowadays basically every cricketer plays 8-10 months a year minimum.

“There’s so much cricket that’s happening that it takes a toll on your body. At the end of the day all we need to realise is that the body is a machine. It will have its own sell-by date, it will break down.

“I also think people are specialising. Test cricket is quite a hard deed and to put in the hard work that’s required, let’s say 50 cricketers are

Test cricket’s greatest wicket-taker, Muthiah Muralidaran there maybe 25 cricketers are willing to do that.

“It’s only natural because T20 cricket is far more rewarding financially than the other formats.”

So if Ashwin can’t catch Muralidaran, is there anybody currently playing who can?

Anderson, 38 next week, is the closest, but if he keeps going at the same pace (3.86 wickets per Test), he will need to play 55 more Tests to get to 801 wickets, which would take around five years and take the

right-armer into his mid-40s.

Broad, four years Anderson’s junior, would require another 88 Tests and another eight or nine years at the top level. Fast bowling is not kind to the body, and although both are durable, even that may be beyond the pair.

Lyon, then, maybe the more most realistic chance.

The off-spinner, who turns 33 this November, takes 4.1 wickets per Test and plays on average 10.6 Tests per year, so another decade in the game and another 103 matches would see the Australian break Mu-

ralidaran’s record.

A lot of things need to go right for that to happen – injury, form and scheduling to name a few – but it is not out of the realms of possibility.

And if Lyon falls short of Murali’s mark, Shane Warne’s Australian record of 708 remains a juicy carrot for ‘The GOAT’.

Using the same formula as above, if Lyon keeps at the same pace and plays 78 more Tests, he would catch Warne somewhere around his 40th birthday.

While it may seem far-fetched, Warne says Lyon can get there.

“I think he is a chance,” Warne told cricket.com.au in August last year after Lyon passed Lillee’s career tally of 355 wickets.

“If you do the stats – if he plays another 85 or 90 Tests, and takes four wickets per game, that’s 360 wickets – so he’ll get me.

“As long as his hunger is there for the game, if he’s still enjoying the game.

“I’d love to watch someone get my record, that would be fantastic because it would mean they’ve done bloody well for Australia for a long period of time.”CRICKET. com.au)

‘He is becoming the best allrounder England’s ever had’-Anderson BEN Stokes is well on his way to becoming the greatest allrounder England has ever produced, veteran teammate James Anderson believes.

Speaking in the aftermath of Stokes’ player-of-the-match performance at Old Trafford, where he scored 176 and 78no and took three wickets during an emphatic series-levelling victory for the hosts, Anderson was clear on where the allrounder ranked in his eyes.

“He’s certainly the best allrounder I’ve ever played with,” Anderson, who lined up in the same team as Andrew Flintoff from 2003 to 2009, said.

“He’s becoming the best allrounder that England’s ever had.

“There’s no reason why he can’t go on to become even better.”

Stokes’ performance in Manchester saw him leap above West Indies captain Jason Holder to become the game’s top-ranked Test allrounder in the ICC rankings, while he sits third in the batting charts behind Steve Smith and Virat Kohli.

“It’s hard to say how good he is because it’s hard to find the words,” Anderson said.

“Joe (Root) said the other day we were in the presence of greatness and he’s spot on.

“He gets into any team as a batsman, while his bowling gets better and better each time he goes out there.

“It’s just amazing to have that talent in our team, and to be able to watch it first-hand as well was amazing.”

Meanwhile, Anderson believes he and Stuart Broad remain part of England’s strongest bowling attack, and that both should be part of the XI for the third and deciding Test against West Indies starting Friday.

The pair have not played in the same team in the first two Tests against the Windies, with 34-yearold Broad left out of the first game in Southampton.

When he returned for the second at Old Trafford, it was 37-yearold Anderson who was rested.

“If we’re both fit and England are picking their strongest bowling

attack, we’d both be in that,” said Anderson.

“It’s going to be difficult going forward, I don’t think we’ll play every game together but I love to think we’ve got plenty more games together in the future.”

The cramped schedule, with just three days between each Test, has made rest and rotation a priority for England’s pace attack, who will also play a three-match series against Pakistan next month.

But England coach Chris Silverwood has insisted he will pick his strongest attack for the series decider.

Silverwood is facing a selection headache, with a fully fit contingent of fast bowlers to choose

from for the deciding Test.

Jofra Archer is seen as a likely starter, having return to the England camp after his biosecurity breach, creating a squeeze again between Anderson and Broad, while Mark Wood, Chris Woakes and Sam Curran have also staked claims over the two Tests.

“Our record together speaks for itself,” Anderson said.

“There will be moments in the future where we’re not bowling together, which has happened in this series already and happened in the last two years naturally through injury or resting.

“But all me and Stuart can do is keep working hard and keep taking wickets, as Stuart did this

week.”

Anderson turns 38 on July 30 but insists another visit to Australia for the 2021-22 Ashes is well on his radar.

“Looking at the bigger picture, I want to be around when we go to Australia for the next Ashes, so to be able to do that, I’ve certainly got to do things slightly differently.

“It might mean missing the odd game here or there to make sure that I’m in the best possible situation.

“I want to keep bowling and keep my form, but I also want to look after my body as much as I can as well. I’m a bit more open to it now than I was, say, two or three years ago.”

Umpire Harper ‘extremely proud’ of controversial Tendulkar lbw decision

FORMER ICC umpire Daryl Harper has said he is “extremely proud” of his controversial ‘shoulder-before-wicket’ decision which had Sachin Tendulkar walk back for a duck at the Adelaide Oval in 1999 despite the backlash he received back then.

Tendulkar was given out lbw by Harper after he ducked into a Glenn McGrath delivery during the second innings of the Test, which India went on to lose.

“I look back on that ‘Tenducker’ decision every day of my life,” Harper told Asianet Newsable. “It’s not that I sleep

badly or have nightmares and replays dancing through my brain. When I walk through my garage, I am confronted by a huge canvas print of Sachin and Glenn McGrath, taken momentarily after the ball made contact.

“You may be disappointed to know that I’m still extremely proud of that decision because I considered the action before me and applied the law without fear or favour.”

Harper was at centre of controversy again in 2011 after he was criticised for a series of umpiring errors during India’s tour of West Indies.

During the first Test in Jamaica, Harper had suspended Praveen Kumar from the attack for repeatedly running on the pitch, to which the then-captain MS Dhoni allegedly reacted by saying, “we’ve had problems with you before, Daryl.” Dhoni also publicly remarked about the umpiring at the post-match press conference.

Harper retired from umpiring after that match, two weeks before his contract was due to expire, and had later questioned ICC’s decision to not punish Dhoni for his comments, saying he had

felt targeted by the Indian team during the game.

“After the Test was won by India, MS [Dhoni] was reported to have said to the media assembled that the players would have been back in their hotel rooms earlier if the umpires had made the correct decisions,” Harper said, recalling the incident.

“It’s true... but they would have been back earlier if the Indian fieldsmen had taken their catches as well. Sometimes I wished I could have attended those post-match press conferences on a regular basis in order to set the record straight.”

“It did turn out to be my final Test, but my contract was due to expire two weeks later after the third Test in Dominica so the end was close, regardless of any comments

by MS Dhoni or anyone else.

“I accepted that I had made two incorrect decisions during the match and some other moments could not be determined with the available technology. I didn’t have a clean sheet and that always disappointed me when it happened, but my decision-making statistics in Tests with India were second to none at the time.”(ESPN Cricinfo).

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, July 24, 2020

Longest Premier League season set for nerve-racking climax

By Martyn Herman

LONDON (Reuters) - Three hundred and fifty-three days since Liverpool kicked off the Premier League season it will stagger to a conclusion on Sunday with unresolved issues at both ends of the table set to provide last-day drama.

Liverpool are champions and Norwich City, the side whom they beat on Aug. 9 to launch their title charge, are down and Manchester City are distant runners-up.

After that everything is up for grabs.

Leicester City entered the near three-month shutdown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic looking odds-on for a top-four finish, but have faltered in the frenetic weeks since last month’s restart.

Brendan Rodgers’s side have been offered one last chance to seal a Champions League qualification berth, however, as they finish at home to Manchester United.

Two wins in their eight games since the Premier League resumed behind closed doors means Leicester go into the final day in fifth spot with 62 points, one point behind United who are ahead of Chelsea on goal difference.

Incredibly, after 25 games Leicester were 14 points clear of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side and eight clear of Chelsea.

After a 3-0 defeat at Tottenham last weekend Rodgers promised the United showdown, which has effectively become a Champions League playoff, would be “all in”.

United have more wriggle room as a draw would suffice

but Solskjaer has promised they will go for victory.

“It’s like a final,” Solskjaer said. “We pinpointed the Leicester game and thought if we had the chance to go and win there (to get into the top four) we’d be delighted.

“But we’ve caught up and given ourselves a fantastic opportunity. But they are very dangerous.”

Chelsea’s 5-3 defeat by Liverpool on Wednesday means Frank Lampard’s team must avoid defeat at home to sixth-placed Wolverhampton Wanderers to guarantee a top-four spot, although they could even lose, if Leicester are beaten by United.

Conversely, Leicester could scramble back into the top four with a draw if Chelsea come unstuck against a Wolves

Liverpool v Chelsea - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - July 22, 2020. Liverpool’s Jordan Henderson, teammates and staff celebrate with the trophy after winning the Premier League Pool via REUTERS/Phil Noble side trying to lock down a guaranteed Europa League qualification berth.

“Not many people expected us to be in the top-four race.

We now have it in our own hands,” Lampard said.

Seventh-placed Tottenham Hotspur, who are one point behind Wolves, finish at Crystal Palace who have lost seven matches in a row.

Seventh spot would be good enough for a Europa League berth if Arsenal do not beat

Chelsea in the FA Cup final.

At the bottom, two of Bournemouth, Watford and Aston Villa will join Norwich through the trapdoor.

Second-from-bottom Bournemouth must win at Everton and hope Watford lose at Arsenal and Villa lose at West Ham United.

Villa, who moved above Watford on goal difference by beating Arsenal in midweek, when Watford were hammered

by Man City, will be guaran-

teed survival if they win as long as Watford do not beat Arsenal by at least a two-goal larger margin.

Watford could stay up without securing a two-goal greater winning margin then Villa, but this would involve them making up a six-goal deficit in the goals scored column.

Villa could even survive with a loss or draw depending on other results. Calculators may be required.

Archer ready to play but Stokes might not bowl, says Root

MANCHESTER, England (Reuters) - England captain Joe Root is confident that Jofra Archer will be ready to play in the third Test against the West Indies but said there was a question mark over Ben Stokes’ ability to bowl.

Root said that Archer, who was dropped from the second Test after he breached the bio-secure bubble, had been fired up in the nets and in good spirits as England prepared for the decisive test at Old Trafford, which starts today.

Yet Stokes was struggling with stiffness after his heroic exertions in helping England win the second test.

Root said that while Stokes would play, he might

not be able to contribute much with the ball.

Root also hit out at the racist abuse that Archer has faced on social media, telling a news conference on Thursday he had seen some of it and it was “disgusting”.

Stokes has been struggling with a quadriceps injury and will be assessed before Friday’s start of play.

There was no chance of him missing the match, insisted Root, but any doubt about his ability to bowl would influence team selection.

“He spent much of the last test on the field, but it does take a lot to keep him down and out of the action,” Root said.

“We’ll see how he is in the

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER

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Alan Knott effected in Tests?

(2)Where and when was the first ever triple

century in Tests scored?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

England’s Jofra Archer celebrates taking the wicket of West Indies’ Roston Chase with Ben Stokes, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Adrian Dennis/Pool via REUTERS

morning but if you look at our squad we’ve got a lot of brilliant options to choose from.

Whatever combination we go with is obviously capable of taking 20 wickets.”

England have used six bowlers over the first two tests and are expected to rotate again as they seek to keep them fresh with three more Tests against Pakistan to come in quick succession.

That means a possible return for Archer after he sat out the second test.

His participation in the third Test had been in doubt as he admitted that he was struggling mentally after being racially abused on social media for having

to spend five days in isolation as a result of stepping out of the bio-secure environment.

Yet Root said Archer had looked sharp in training.

“He’s got his smile back and bowled speed and line in some spicy nets over the last two days, which wasn’t much fun for our batters.

“But it was disgusting, actually, to see some of the abuse he’s had to put up with over the last week.

“As a squad we’ve tried to get around him and make sure he knows we are all there for him because no one should have to deal with that.

It’s deeply disappointing and … there’s no other word than disgusting.”

Tyson to return to ring for exhibition against Roy (REUTERS) - Former world heavyweight champion Mike Tyson will make a much anticipated return to the ring when he faces four-division world champion Roy Jones Jr. in an exhibition bout on Sept. 12, Triller, the virtual social media and music platform, said on Thursday.

The eight-round fight will be part of a three-hour pay per view event shown on Triller, which has also obtained streaming rights to a 10-part docuseries featuring behind-the-scenes, pre-fight footage leading up to the bout.

The programme will also include

a “significant” undercard as well as musical performances.

Tyson teased fans about a possible return to the ring in May when the 53-year-old boxer posted videos of himself training.

One video showed Tyson, the first heavyweight to hold the WBA, WBC and IBF titles, hitting the pads with ferocious power before signing off with the message “I’m back”.

Tyson later said he was interested in returning to the ring to raise money for charity and potential opponents immediately began to line up for a

crack at the fighter known as “Iron Mike”.

Old rival Evander Holyfield and New Zealand rugby great Sonny Bill Williams were among those reported to be in line for the fight before Jones Jr. was chosen.

The 51-year-old Jones, who has simultaneously held a record seven belts, last fought in 2018.

Tyson became the youngest heavyweight champion of all time when he defeated Trevor Berbick in 1986 aged 20. He won 50 of his 58 professional fights before retiring in 2005 after a loss to Kevin McBride.

27

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, July 24, 2020

CWI targeting September for SA tour but sweating on IPL

CWI chief executive Johnny Grave.

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, (CMC )– Cricket West Indies (CWI) are eyeing September as a possible window for the hosting of South Africa’s rescheduled tour of the Caribbean but said the staging of the Indian Premier League would be the final determinant of when the series will be played.

South Africa were expected to play two Tests and five Twenty20 Internationals from July 23 to August 16 before the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic forced a global cessation of cricket.

With the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) expected to be staged from August 18 to September 10, CWI hope South Africa can follow

immediately afterwards with the series to be staged in one territory in a bio-secure environment.

However, with the Indian Cricket Board (BCCI) in the process of finalising dates for the rescheduled IPL, CWI chief executive Johnny Grave said any tour by South Africa would have to accommodate the lucrative T20 tournament, especially with several of their players involved.

“The plan as we are working on now is that the players would come home [from England], they will have the weekend at home.

Those that are in the Caribbean Premier League will head down to Trinidad on probably August 3rd so it’s a quick turnaround,” Grave told Starcom Radio’s Mason and Guests cricket show.

“CPL finishes September 10.

We hope very much that South Africa will follow immediately after that.“Whether we can get the full tour in or we’re going to have to look at a split tour between the Tests and the T20s, we don’t know.

“We obviously hear and read that India are trying to get the IPL towards the back end of September

either in India, which I know is their preferred choice or the UAE, which is their back up choice but there’s been no announcement on that yet.

“We very much hope that South Africa will be able to come here in September for either a T20 only tour or a Test only tour at the very least.”

He continued: “It will be dependent on the IPL. South Africa have a number of their Test players who have IPL contracts whereas this current Test team we don’t have any IPL players in.

“We won’t be able to play Test cricket against South Africa during the IPL – Cricket South Africa have made that very clear to us. They’ve got a commitment to their players to allow them to go and play in the IPL.” Due to COVID-19, CWI have already been forced to postpone several home series. South Africa Women were scheduled to arrive for a One-Day International tour from May 30 to June 10 while South Africa A had been expected to tour from June 10 to July 9 for three four-day “Tests” and five one-dayers.

And with the New Zealand limited overs tour carded for July 8-19

also put on hold, Grave said CWI remained hopeful over the South Africa series and were continuing their dialogue with Cricket South Africa.

“At this stage, we hope that’s the case (South Africa will tour) but I can’t confirm at this stage,” the Englishman said.

“With no flight flights between South Africa and the UK which is the obvious route for them to travel, at this moment it’s not something South Africa have been able to confirm to us. But we’re talking to them regularly and we hope for good news soon.”

If the tour goes ahead, Grave said the template being utilised by the CPL where games will be played in a single jurisdiction, would be mirrored so as to limit movement of players and personnel in the ongoing COVID-19 environment.

All CPL matches for the upcoming tournament will be played in Trinidad and while Grave said CWI were still in discussions over the venue for the South Africa series, he backed the Caribbean’s ability to successfully execute the various bio-secure protocols required.

“I think very much like the

Caribbean Premier League we would be looking to host South Africa in one country,” Grace explained.

“I think moving does create challenges in terms of bio-security but also in terms of ensuring that all of the measures that we would want put in place can be adhered to, and then obviously changing countries involves different procedures and measures in terms of Ministries of Health and National Security.

“So it’s a huge operational challenge if we have to have long tours that need multiple venues and therefore cannot be hosted in one country.”

He continued: “Certainly, in terms of our medical panel, in terms of our sports science and medicine manager, I’ve got all the confidence that we’ve got the medical practitioners and the cricketing operations staff that are used to operating cricket and therefore I’m pretty confident that we’ll be able to adhere to any government protocols and do everything we can to ensure player safety which is always going to be our number one concern.”

Holding critical of umpires, DRS technology in early West Indies dismissals

SKY Sports Cricket commentator Michael Holding was critical of the umpiring and the technology used in the Decision Review System (DRS) after West Indies lost three early wickets in the fourth innings of their second Test against England at Manchester.

The first dismissal to come under fire was Kraigg Brathwaite’s, who was given out lbw on the field with the decision upheld on review with HawkEye projecting the ball would have clipped the top of the stumps.

“They haven’t really had the breaks today. Part of it is their fault, but I’m going to have a little moan here about two of the dismissals,” said Holding. “You know I’ve been talking about how it’s so important that the first decision on the field is correct.

That’s so that whenever you have a referral it’s all about umpire’s call. Everybody has heard me saying it for years.

“Benefit of the doubt should go to the batsman. Umpire’s call, there has to be some doubt where the umpire is confirmed, so say not out and

then let the technology prove you wrong. We didn’t see that this time around with Brathwaite. I think that should have been not out and stayed not out. There has to be doubt if the ball is clipping the bails.”

The second was John Campbell edging behind off Stuart Broad. The decision was given not out originally, and wicketkeeper Jos Buttler didn’t even appeal at first. But, after Joe Root was convinced to review, there was “the finest little nick on UltraEdge,” as commentator Ian Ward put it.

Holding pointed to the reprieve

of Ollie Pope earlier that day, when the technology detected an inside edge on an lbw review, despite the TV umpire having suggested one was unlikely, as evidence that UltraEdge information should be taken with a pinch of “Yeah, [there was a nick] according to UltraEdge,” Holding said. “There was a referral when England were batting when the third umpire said ‘Well we can see there’s no bat involved but let’s have a look at UltraEdge anyway.’ And what did UltraEdge show? That he

Former Windies bowling legend Michael Holding

got a nick on the ball. That thing records sound. Who knows where the sound is coming from?” (Wisden India)

Tokyo marks one year to go until Olympics... again

By Jack Tarrant, Akira Tomoshige TOKYO (Reuters) - Japanese swimmer Rikako Ikee, who is battling back from leukaemia, provided a glimmer of hope for embattled Tokyo Olympics organisers during a sombre yet poignant ceremony to mark one year to go until the rearranged Games on Thursday.

The Olympics were due to begin on Friday with an extravagant opening ceremony in the National Stadium but the Games have instead

been delayed until July 23, 2021 because of the global COVID-19 pandemic.

A subdued 15-minute ceremony took place in an empty and dark National Stadium, where footage was shown to highlight next year’s Games.

Ikee, who won six titles at the 2018 Asian Games and was considered a strong medal contender for the Olympics before her illness, stood under a spotlight dressed in all white as she represented a figure of hope for Tokyo.

“Imagine the world a year from now,” she said while

holding the Olympic flame in a lantern.

“How wonderful it will be to see the curtain raising on the Olympic and Paralympic Games. We are currently living in a world of ups and downs. I sincerely hope that the peace and calm of daily life returns as soon as possible.”

Various venues that will host Olympics events next year, including the newly-built Ariake Arena, were lit up in the Olympic colours to mark the occasion.

Last year, International Olympic Committee (IOC)

President Thomas Bach presided over a glitzy ceremony to mark the occasion in the Japanese capital and declared Tokyo the best prepared host city he had ever seen.

This time around the atmosphere was much more subdued and Thursday’s small ceremony is a sign of things to come in the lead-up to the Games next year.

“We have to prepare for multiple scenarios of the Games,” Bach told broadcaster Eurosport, the Games’ official broadcaster in Europe, on Thursday.

“We don’t know how

the world will look like in one year. So we are preparing for all the different scenarios. The top priority is that these Olympic Games will only take place in a safe environment for everybody,” he said.

Asked whether the Games could go ahead even without fans, Bach said the organisation needed to adapt to the circumstances.

“In this world you have to adapt yourself. We are working to optimize the Games, to simplify the Games, to adapt it to the time we are living in.

We are not living on a space-

craft, we are in the middle of the world society.”

The head of the IOC’s Coordination Commission John Coates has said rearranging the Games meant focusing on the “must haves” in a simplified event.

In response, Tokyo 2020 Chief Executive Toshiro Muto said over 200 simplification measures were under consideration.

Thursday’s landmark comes as the Japanese capital reported 366 new coronavirus cases, a new daily record, fuelling fears of a second round of infections.

Final Test at Old Trafford..

Batting under spotlight as Windies target England take-down

MANCHESTER, England, (CMC) – Captain Jason Holder said here Thursday West Indies were fully aware of the UNDER stakes involved and were PRESSURE: resolved to produce an Batsman Shai improved performance, as Hope looks on they prepared for today’s during a net start of the do-or-die final session at Old Test at Old Trafford.

Trafford on Stressing the side had Thursday. remained upbeat despite their 113-run defeat in the second Test also here last Monday, Holder said they were alvani on improving their execution in every department, especially the batting which had proven to be their undoing recently.

The three-match series is tied 1-1 after West Indies won the opening Test at Southampton by four wickets nearly two weeks ago.

“The spirits in the dressing room are still very, very high. We still have a really good op-

portunity here to win this series and everybody is just upbeat for the occasion and we know what’s at stake,” Holder told reporters via Zoom.

“Having the Test matches with the short turnaround has been tough and no doubt both teams will be feeling it but we’ve got enough motivation to keep pushing. We’ve got a chance to win this series.

“We’ve been playing some decent cricket so it’s just a matter of righting the wrongs you had in the last game and just make sure we hit the ground running and start this Test match really well.”

He continued: “You need 20 wickets to win a Test match and we need to get some solid persons to set the game up well. I think once you get these two things happening, more or less the game kind of goes in the direction you want it to go in.

“We will pay special attention to starting well and putting some runs on the board in our first innings and our bowlers just need to get 20 wickets.”

Following the second Test defeat, the Windies batting yet again came under heavy scrutiny, especially after collapses in both innings, with the

New Richards-Botham Trophy to recognise two of England and West Indies greats ENGLAND and the West Indies will compete for a new Richards-Botham Trophy when they next meet in a Men’s Test series to pay tribute to two of their greatest players whose rivalry and friendship embodies the close relationship and mutual respect between the two sides.

Today’s Third Test between the two sides will be the last time the two sides compete for the Wisden Trophy, the England and Wales Cricket Board(ECB) and Cricket West Indies (CWI) have announced.

In its place the new Richards-Botham Trophy will now be designed ready for when the teams next meet in a Test series.

The title honours Sir Vivian Richards, one of cricket’s greatest batsmen who scored more than 8,500 runs in a 121-Test career, and Sir Ian Botham, the legendary all-rounder who scored more than 5,000

spotlight failing squarely on Shai Hope and opener John Campbell.

Hope has managed 57 runs from four innings while Campbell has gathered 52, and are the only two of the specialist batsmen not to register a half-century in the series.

While Campbell has played only eight Tests and is at the start of his career, Hope has found himself in a protracted slump, averaging a mere 19 over the last two years.

But even with speculation swirling over Hope’s place in the side, Holder came to the defence of the embattled right-hander.

“All of my players have got my full backing.

They know how I personally feel. Yes, some of them haven’t been getting the runs that they would like but more or less it is just giving them that full support,” Holder stressed.

“I’m 100 per cent behind Shai. We all know what Shai can produce – he’s done it before at this level in Test cricket. He’s arguably one of the best one-day batsmen in the world and we know

SEE PAGE 23 Sir Vivian Richards (left) and Sir Ian Botham

runs and took 383 wickets in 102 Tests.

Fierce competitors on the pitch, the pair developed a great friendship off it which still endures, and the new trophy is a fitting way to celebrate the warm relationship between the nations and to honour the gladiatorial spirit of contests past and present.

The Wisden Trophy, first introduced in 1963 to commemorate the hundredth edition of the Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack, will now be retired and will be displayed at the MCC Museum at Lord’s where it has traditionally been kept. (CWI)

Cuba-based boxers to arrive home today …NSC, GOA partner to see Boxers return after seven months in Cuba

By Rawle Toney

GBA president Steve Ninvalle (centre), along with boxers (from left) Colin Lewis, Dennis Thomas, Keevin Allicock and Desmond Amsterdam during his visit to Santa Clara, Cuba, just before both Cuba and Guyana closed their borders.

AFTER seven months, Dennis Thomas, Desmond Amsterdam, Colin Lewis and Keevin Allicock, will finally leave Cuba and return to Guyana.

The four boxers will arrive in the country via a specially-arranged Caribbean Airlines flight today.

Egbert Field, Director General of the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), in interview with local online news outlet www.newsroom. gy, said one flight was arranged for passengers in Cuba, Barbados and Jamaica, since there is not sufficient Guyanese at any of the locations to cover the cost of the charter.

“Getting a flight to those locations is very difficult,” Field pointed out, while revealing that the cost of the charter is US$67,000.

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

The article stated the Caribbean Airlines flight will be transporting 18 Guyanese passengers from Kingston Jamaica, followed by 35 persons in Havana Cuba and the remainder in Bridgetown Barbados.

The aforementioned boxers had journeyed the Spanish-speaking Island in January, thanks to the help of the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) and the National Sports Commission (NSC), to prepare for their now postponed Olympic Qualifier tournament in Argentina.

But in March, after Cuba, just like many countries around the world, in an effort to stop the spread the coronavirus, had closed their airports, the boxers were left locked down on the Island.

The GOA, the NSC and the Guyana Embassy in Cuba, came together and had taken up the responsibility to cater to the boxers until they’re able to leave.

The amateur Guyanese pugilists, according to Director of Sports Christopher Jones, will be part of the almost 150 passengers that will arrive in Guyana today (July 24), along with Guyanese passengers from Jamaica and Barbados, who are now being able to return home since the country’s airports were closed in March.

SEE PAGE 23 FRIDAY,JULY 24, 2020