Guyana Chronicle Epaper 24-05-2020

24th May, 2020

' No.106009

World Bank injects US$1M into Guyana COVID-19 fight SEE PAGE 03

– funds must be implemented by April 30, 2021

PAGE

05

Coalition says over 80,000 votes lack credibility

…PPP/C objects to GECOM probing claims

‘Be innovative, but cautious’ PAGE

02

-Business minister says commercial sector needs a paradigm shift to cope with COVID-19

Bloated OLE was a recipe for disaster PAGE

04 …Stanley Ming casts doubt on voter turnout

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, May 24, 2020

‘Be innovative, but cautious’

-Business minister says commercial sector needs a paradigm shift to cope with COVID-19

…Gov’t rolls out measures to assist small businesses

By Navendra Seoraj AS a consequence of the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the local commercial sector has been dying a “natural death” because of decreased spending and reduced economic activities, but Minister of Business, Haimraj Rajkumar, believes that a change in the business culture could save the sector.

Guyana, like many other countries, has been at the mercy of COVID-19 for about four months, and with no end in sight, new methods of doing business will have to be adopted in order to sustain the economy and ensure that jobs and livelihoods are maintained.

Methods, including

changing marketing strategies and channels of distribution, will have to be examined, especially given the existing restrictions and measures, which are geared at reducing the spread of COVID-19.

These measures, while necessary, have cost the business sector because operating hours have been adjusted and customers have resorted to “safer” modes of shopping.

“As it is now, we are trying to encourage people to think of ways of carrying on their businesses amidst the pandemic…they need to look carefully at their options and carry on their business in a safe manner,” said Minister Rajkumar in an invited comment, on Thursday. Considering the prevailing situation, he said businesses need to exam-

Minister of Business, Haimraj Rajkumar

ine new, innovative ways of marketing their business and distributing their stock. These initiatives would be more applicable to retail businesses, which rely on daily sales to

sustain their operations.

ONLINE MARKETING The Ministry of Business has been encouraging retailers to focus on online marketing and the utilisation of social media to sell their products/goods. “This will eliminate face-to-face interaction and will help businesses to reach their customers in a safer way… we know businesses have their fixed costs to meet, so I believe this will be one way of ensuring that they sustain their businesses,” said Minister Rajkumar.

Preliminary surveys done by the ministry has found that a few businesses have already adopted new methods and are adhering to control measures in place, while some are still trying to catch on. The Ministry of Business had conducted an online survey to ascertain how businesses have been affected by the pandemic, but the minister was not in a position to say what the findings of the survey were.

SMALL BUSINESS GRANTS Minister Rajkumar, however, said his ministry, through the Small Business Bureau, is offering relief grants and services to registered small businesses. Guyana Chronicle had reported that the aim of the bureau’s initiative was to strengthen and sustain small businesses, through provision of relief grants to sustain business

operations and retain employees, along with training and development support to establish and market businesses through online platforms, diversify businesses and forge supply partnerships. Though the bureau has approximately 10,000 businesses on its database, by law, the bureau can only work with those businesses that have been compliant. Only 400 of the registered businesses have been compliant. “There are a lot of expectations on what the SBB can provide to these businesses that are not true.

The SBB doesn’t lend any money; we’re not a lending agency, there’s nobody repaying us for anything,” said Chief Executive Officer of the Small Business Bureau, Dr. Lowell Porter, in a previous report.

He suggested that small businesses band together and assess ways in which they could even help each other out. “I advise that they start working together. For example, if you own a restaurant, arrange with a delivery service. I believe there are opportunities, but we need to talk to the clients first and see what is going on, and we just started that process,” Dr. Porter said.

The bureau is also helping clients with the setting up of online platforms and according to Dr. Porter: “They have to maintain an interface with their clientele. If the business can be done online, they can utilize an online portal. If they do not have one, we are reviewing how to help them have an online presence,” Porter said. Persons interested in the grants and services being offered can contact the bureau on email: funding@ sbb.gov.gy and telephone 633-7101, 633-7102 and 6088494.

GROWTH FOR GUYANA Despite the current situation and ailing sectors, the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) had predicted that there could be light at the end of the tunnel for Guyana, which is projected to record growth of 56.4 per cent this

year.

Guyana, being the only country that is projected to “weather the storm”, was recently warned by the World Bank, that the effects of an incomplete general and regional elections, coupled with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and falling oil prices, could stymie the country’s potential economic boom. The World Bank in its semi-annual report said, real gross domestic product (GDP) growth at constant market prices will be 51.7 per cent.

“Guyana’s economy expanded by 4.7 per cent in 2019, with anticipated oil revenues spurring an expansion in non-trade sectors. Oil production is projected to boost GDP growth to unprecedented levels in 2020.

“While this could transform Guyana, there are risks, as illustrated by a still incomplete election outcome, and compounded by falling oil prices and the COVID-19 epidemic. Weak public service delivery and monitoring systems constrain the development of policies to reduce poverty and protect the vulnerable,” said the World Bank.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF), in a report last year, had said Guyana’s $4B annual GDP is expected to expand to about $15B by 2024. The financial institution had said the commencement of oil production will substantially improve Guyana’s medium and long-term outlook. Guyana is projected to be among the world’s largest per-capita oil producers by 2025.

The oil sector is projected to grow rapidly, accounting for around 40 per cent of GDP by 2024 and supporting additional fiscal spending annually of 6.5 per cent of non-oil GDP on average over the medium term, which will help meet critical social and infrastructural needs.

ECLAC had also said the Guyana Government will receive approximately 14.5 per cent of all oil revenue in 2020.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, May 24, 2020

World Bank injects US$1M into Guyana COVID-19 fight ---- funds must be implemented by April 30, 2021

By Lisa Hamilton THE World Bank has allocated US$1M to Guyana to aid its fight against the deadly coronavirus. A letter from the bank on May 20, 2020 to Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan, indicated the amount and guidance on how the fund should be allocated.

The funding comes through the Pandemic Emergency Financing Facility (PEF) which sets aid financing for 64 International Development Association (IDA) countries. “I am writing to inform you that the PEF insurance has triggered for COVID-19, making grant funds available to 64 IDA countries to help finance response to the ongoing pandemic. The indicative allocation for Guyana is US$1 million. Annex one provides guidance on the options that Guyana has available to access its PEF allocation. PEF funds may be used to finance all eligible activities under the country’s health sector response plan for COVID-19,” World Bank Country Director for Caribbean countries, Tahseen, Sayed stated in a letter.

PEF was established in 2017 after the 2014-15 West Africa Ebola outbreak, to provide financing for countries and qualified agencies to

respond to major disease outbreaks. It includes an insurance window financed by pandemic catastrophe bonds and swaps issued by the World Bank, with annual premiums paid by funds from Japan, Germany, and IDA. Through this insurance window, coverage is provided for all IDA-eligible countries for select diseases listed by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as likely to cause major epidemics if the contagion spreads across national borders.

It has been noted that IDA countries are likely to face severe economic and social consequences due to the coronavirus outbreak. According to the World Bank, Guyana must indicate whether it wishes to receive the PEF funds by designating a Responding Agency to directly receive the funds for implementation of agreed activities on behalf of the country or as World Bank Recipient Executed Trust Fund – RETF (either as parallel financing to a World Bank project or as a standalone trust fund operation.)

The Finance Ministry has been provided with the necessary PEF request-for-funds application form to do so.

The form contains the total PEF allocation as determined by the PEF Steering Body inclusive of all cost recovery

Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan

or agency fees.

Only when the bank receives the form, will it initiate the process of transferring the funds. The exact amount to be transferred will be communicated to the Responding Agency or to the RETF. The bank emphasised: “Please note that, regardless of the option used, PEF funds must be implemented and accounted for by April 30, 2021. For an RETF, this means that the latest closing date that the TF will have is January 31, 2021. The implementation period unfortunately cannot be extended beyond this date.

You may wish to take into consideration the limitation of a shorter implementation period under an RETF when deciding your preferred option.”

As of May 23, Guyana recorded 127 cases of

COVID-19 and 10 deaths.

This is even as there is no national budget in the country due to the current electoral impasse being remedied by a national recount. The year 2019 marked the country’s biggest budget to date standing at $300.7B. The year 2020 was expected to have an even larger budget as the country stepped into ‘first oil’ and had plans for several major development projects.

In March 2020, Minister Jordan announced that the government, through the ministry, had requested US$5M from the World Bank under its Rapid Response Facility (REF). This is even as the ministry has already disbursed GY$120M from the consolidated fund to the Ministry of Public Health to aid Guyana’s situation.

Already, the World Bank has noted that its emergency operations to fight COVID-19 have reached 100 developing countries – home to 70 per cent of the world’s population. Since March, the bank group has rapidly delivered record levels of support in order to help countries protect the poor and vulnerable, reinforce healthcare systems, maintain the private sector, and bolster economic recovery.

Well known Guyanese musician, Derry Etkins, passes on ACCOMPLISHED musician and lecturer at the Cyril Potter College of Education, Derry Etkins, died on Saturday after undergoing surgery.

Born and raised in Guyana, Mr. Etkins moved to the British Virgin Islands in 2007 after living for some time in Barbados. A pianist, Derry was a musician for four decades and a music educator for three. Music Journalism, a new interest, grew out of a desire to help inform audiences.

His teaching, playing, arranging and composing skills took him to Barbados and he quickly established himself as one of the prominent arrangers there. While there, he added studio engineering to his skill set. He taught in Secondary Schools as well as designed and delivered courses at the Barbados Community College. Mr. Etkins’ recording skills took him to the British Virgin Islands in 2006 and, the following year, he took up a teaching position there. Within a year, Derry established “The St. George’s Muzik Lab,” named after his new school. Mr. Etkins enjoyed a game of pools and loved nature. Local

Late musician Derry Etkins

saxophonist Roy Stewart, in a brief Facebook post said, “Today we mourn the loss of a hero, my hero, a great musician and friend; I miss you very much.”

MoTP condemns falsehoods in Nascimento, Guyana Times letter …calls immediate …calls forfor immediate apology apology and retraction and retraction

THE Ministry of the Presidency has firmly rejected what it called falsehoods contained in a letter Mr. Kit Nascimento penned titled, “Granger is not innocent of attempt to force rigged elections on Guyana” and published in Saturday’s edition of the Guyana Times.

“Mr. Nascimento in his letter to the editor asserts several untruths and numerous inaccuracies that were clearly designed to besmirch the good name of President David Granger and to foster hatred for him in the society,” said the response from the MoTP. The MoTP said that while Mr Nascimento is free to champion his own views, the ministry takes umbrage with the Guyana Times for disseminating those falsehoods into the public domain. “The onus is on the paper’s editors and publishers to ensure that it [sic] first checks facts before rushing to publication, and to ensure that it does not spread misinformation about the sitting Head of State.”

Among the untruths in Mr. Nascimento’s letter is that President Granger arrived at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre (ACCC) on Sunday, May 17, 2020, surrounded by “massive security” and ministers as he “imposed his presidential presence on the GECOM recount process.”

The MoTP in its response said that Mr. Nascimento and the Guyana Times must know that President Granger remains President of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana until another President is sworn in. “He is, therefore, entitled to travel with the requisite security detail that is determined by the Special Protective Service.”

The statement said that President Granger arrived at the convention centre with his usual security detail. “No additional security measures were put in place to facilitate this visit. Video footage can corroborate this. The Guyana Times representative who covered the President’s visit can also attest to this,” said the MoTP in its response.

While at the centre, the President met with Chairman of the Elections Commission, Justice (ret’d) Claudette Singh; Chief Elections Officer (CEO) Mr. Keith Lowenfield; his Deputy Ms. Roxanne Myers and other officials of the commission. The President met also with the CARICOM high-level team, the statement said.

President Granger, after his walk through at the ACCC, later held a press briefing at the National Aquatic Centre located across the road from the convention centre.

“Mr. Nascimento claims in his letter that the Head of State was [obliged by] “the Chairman of GECOM to join him at his side.” This is patently false. The President was not accompanied by Justice Singh at the press briefing. Mr. Nascimento peddled this untruth and the Guyana Times, despite having its own representative at the press briefing with whom the paper can certainly check, published this lie,” the statement said.

It noted too that Mr. Nascimento’s claims that the President refused to answer questions is also a falsehood and the ministry encourages him to recall correctly, the events at the press conference.

“Mr. Nascimento’s blatant attempts to twist the words uttered by the Head of State, again, reveal his narrow political motives at the expense of the truth. Mr. Nascimento has not presented a shred of evidence to support any of his assertions against the sitting Head of State and should therefore desist from making spurious claims,” MOTP stated.

“The Ministry of The Presidency urges Mr. Nascimento and all right-thinking Guyanese to refrain from attacking the good character of the President.

President Granger remains the President [and] maintains that he has respect for Justice Singh and will abide by the decision of the elections commission,” the statement concluded.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, May 24, 2020

Bloated OLE was a recipe for disaster …Stanley Ming casts doubt on voter turnout

By Lisa Hamilton “A list of 660,000 from a population of 750,000 is a recipe for chaos,” said wellknown businessman and former MP, Stanley Ming on Thursday as he sought to voice his contention with the Official List of Electors (OLE) used in Guyana’s General and Region Elections.

On August 31, 2019, the national house-to-house registration exercise came to a halt, a decision of Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Justice (Ret’d) Claudette Singh who hoped to balance the need for a credible List and the call for early elections.

The data garnered from the registration exercise was merged with the existing National Register of Registrants Database and, in January 2020, GECOM confirmed to the populace that it would be heading into the elections with a list of 661,028 eligible voters --- a figure many agreed was statistically impossible.

Prior to its confirmation, Commissioners nominated by the government argued that under no circumstance

could Guyana’s population of 750,000 plus persons produce such large Voters List considering that the schoolage population is around 200,000. There were also issues regarding the presence of the dead and migrated on the list and, while efforts were made through the General Registrar’s Office (GRO) to remove some of the dead, the Court ruled that residency it is not a requirement for voting in Guyana.

Even in accepting the decisions, Government-nominated Commissioners contended that with Guyana’s known history in accusations of rigged elections and calls for the recounting of votes, heading the into ‘the mother of all elections’ the most credible List should have been sought.

However, the Opposition People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) opposed the continuation of the houseto-house registration exercise and made light of the calls to remove the dead and migrants. Fast forward to post E-Day, Guyana is now engaging in a national recount due to a breakdown in tabulation of Region Four votes and the APNU+AFC

coalition has put forward its proof to show that there were people voting in the place of dead and migrant persons.

Ming’s biggest disappointment with the 2020 elections is that the said List of over 661,000 persons was used to take Guyana into the crucial elections. He believes that Guyana’s electoral system has been manipulated by various entities for years and such a List should not have been endorsed given the case.

“For you to have ---which is what they’re saying is going to come out of this election --- a voter turnout and valid votes cast for the two major parties and the small parties of 440,000, it means that the people who were eligible to vote had to be 586,000. For you to have 586,000 people eligible to vote, you would have had to have a tabulation of 837,000 people because it’s only 70 per cent of the people are above the age of 18; the other 30 per cent are below,” he said while a guest on Benschop Radio 107.1 FM. Ming’s position is that had political parties involved allowed for the completion of the house-to-house registration exercise, the cur-

Well-known businessman, Stanley Ming

rent problems would have been significantly avoided.

This opinion was shared

by Attorney-at-Law, Nigel Hughes who was also on the programme. “As Stanley has said, the List is a major problem and there should have been full house-to-house registrations prior to elections because most people are of the firm view that the List that existed prior to elections was bloated.”

In his view, the Court’s decision that migrants cannot been removed from the Na-

tional Register of Registrants Data Base (NRDB), was not in the best interest of Guyana’s elections and Guyana was “begging for trouble” heading into the elections with such a List.

This was also the firm view of Commissioner Desmond Trotman, since January 2019, who explained: “I do not want to have what we’ve been having at previous elections. After the elections, there is some faction in the society who find the results unacceptable and, for me, the one way in which you can guarantee that it will be cleansed from the impurities that exist on the present list is by doing a new house-tohouse registration.”

During the ongoing recount, the PPP/C has been pushing strongly against the APNU+AFC’s objection to a range of matters such as missing poll books, missing Official List of Electors (OLE), missing PE envelopes and unsigned oaths of identity. They have also raised concerns about persons who are either deceased or who have migrated, but were recorded as voting.

Ming said that though he has been in the background of politics since 2006 he took note of the grave error on the Commission’s part to

approve the said List. He said he does not blame Justice Singh as she has to act on what she’s told and often is the only deciding figure on a clearly divided Commission.

“I’m assuming that the exercise that is being carried out now at the Arthur Chung Conference Center, will reveal a lot that most of us are not aware of,” Ming said, iterating: “The results of anything above 375,000 total votes cast is suspicious. It cannot happen with the population that Guyana has. Something is wrong, fundamentally wrong, that has to be explained to all and sundry.”

Recently, the APNU+AFC coalition submitted a list of persons listed as voted at the March elections despite being overseas. The coalition has also promised to furnish the electoral body with more evidence of same and also of persons who are deceased and listed as voted.

They provided this information one day after the GECOM Chairman stated “he who asserts must show proof”.

1,049 ballot boxes processed to date …1,290 more to go as deadline nears With less than seven days left before the 25-day timeline expires, the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has 1,290 ballot boxes left to be processed with only 1,049 completed to date.

On Saturday – Day 18 of the National Recount of the General and Regional

Elections – votes within 85 ballot boxes were recounted taking the overall number of boxes processed to date to 1,049. Of the boxes processed on Saturday, 16 were from Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), 23 from Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica), 15 from Region Five (Mahaica-Berbi-

ce), 20 from Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) and 11 from Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni).

Thus far, all the ballot boxes from Region One (Barima-Waini) and Region Two (Pomeroon-Supanaam) have been counted. There were a total of 99 ballot boxes from Region One, and 135 One of the processed ballot boxes

from Region Two. Based on the votes recounted for Region One, the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) secured 3,909 votes in the General Elections while the Liberty and Justice Party (LJP) raked in 170, PPP/C 8002, People’s Republic Party 24 and the United Republican Party, six – a total number of 12,111 valid votes cast. According to statistics coming out of GECOM’s Tabulation Centre at the ACCC, there were 328 rejected ballots and 41 spoilt ballots.

In the Regional Elections, the APNU+AFC raked in 3,843 votes while LJP secured 144, the PPP/C, 7, 996 and the URP 77 votes. There were a total of 12, 060 valid votes cast by a total of 12, 440 persons who had pre-

sented themselves on March 2 to vote in Region One. Meanwhile in Region Two, the APNU+AFC secured 7,340 votes in the General Elections while the PPP/C raked in 18,785 votes.

A New and United Guyana (ANUG) received 85 votes while Change Guyana (CG) 151, LJP 121; PRP, 57; The Citizenship Initiative (TCI) 18 and URP, 64. In total, there were 26,621 valid votes cast.

For the Regional Elections, the APNU+AFC received 7,290 votes while its primary contender – the PPP/C – secured 18, 755.

The smaller parties, Change Guyana (CG) raked in 216 votes while LJP secured 135 and URP, 95. There were a total of 26,491 valid voters in the Regional Elections for Region Two.

Added to that, 999 Statements of Recount (SORs) for the General Elections have been tabulated and 1015 SORs for the regional elections.

Though seven days remain before the self-imposed deadline expires, the Elections Commission has not decided on an extension. The People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) has suggested that the duration of the recount be executed for no more than a week.

However, in its quest to accelerate the pace at which the ballot boxes are being processed, GECOM has written the National COVID-19 Task Force (NCTF), seeking approved to establishment two additional workstations.

A response from the Task Force is pending.

However, last week, the COVID-19 Task for had only approved two from a proposed six; taking the total number of workstations to 12. Elections Commission now wants to establish two more to increase the number of ballot boxes processed on a daily basis.

Clearance from the Task Force is needed in light of the COVID-19 pandemic and the emergency measures instituted by Government to suppress the disease.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, May 24, 2020

Coalition says over 80,000 votes lack credibility …PPP/C objects to GECOM probing claims

By Svetlana Marshall EVEN as the alleged cases of irregularities in the General and Regional Elections climb to more than 86, 000, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) is up in arms against the decision of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to receive supporting evidence from the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance

with the PPP/C. In an interview with reporters on Saturday, on the outskirts of the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC), PPP/C Executive Member, Anil Nandlall, dubbed the move by GECOM as illegal, while arguing that the Order, which triggered the National Recount, only provides for a numerical recount of the ballots cast during the March 2 General and Regional Elections.

executed by the Elections Commission under Article 162 of the Constitution and Section 22 of the Elections Law (Amendment) Act of 2000.

The final clause in the Order states: “AND WHEREAS the Guyana Elections Commission, in exercise of the authority vested in it under Article 162 of the Constitution and pursuant to Section 22 of the Elections Laws

should not be entertained by GECOM. According to the APNU+AFC, there are more than 1,600 cases of anomalies in which there are missing Certificates of Employment, dead voters, migrant votes, unstamped ballots and

GECOM Chair, Justice (Ret’d) Claudette Singh

PPP/C Executive Member, Anil Nandlall

missing Oaths of Identities or Affidavits among others.

But according to Nandlall, there are not issues for which GECOM can address under the order. “The Chairperson is now expanding the scope of this recounting exercise, far outside of its parameters, and that is wrong. It is unlawful,” he iterated.

Referencing to Article 163 of the Constitution and National Assembly (Validity of Elections) Act, Nandlall argued that “any allegation of an unlawful act or omission,” ought to be dealt with exclusively by High Court via an Elections Petition. “The Constitution, our Supreme Law does not invest in GECOM the power to investigate allegations, to hear allegations, APNU+AFC’s summary of qualitative irregularities unearthed since the recount started on May 6, 2020

for Change (APNU+AFC).

On Saturday, the ruling APNU+AFC contended that of the votes recounted to date, 86,367 lack credibility as it pointed to cases in which Poll Books and the Official List of Electors (OLEs) were missing when the ballot boxes were opened. Of the 86,367 votes, the coalition is contending that 31,958 of them are affected by the variance on the OLEs. In light of the mountain of allegations, the Chair of GECOM, Justice (Ret’d) Claudette Singh, has invited the APNU+AFC to formally submit evidence in relation to their objections, particularly as it relates to deaths and migration. “The submission of evidence would inform the deliberations at the level of the Commission,” Justice Singh said in a correspondence to the APNU+AFC. PPP perturbed But this did not sit well

“Anytime GECOM goes outside of the scope of that recount, GECOM will be exceeding its jurisdiction, GECOM will be acting without jurisdiction, GECOM will be acting ultra vires and GECOM will be violating the very order that GECOM published and undertook to be governed by,” Nandlall told reporters. According to him, the Order does not provide for certain anomalies (allegations of ghost voters and migrants) to be made much less the provision of evidence to support such claims. In arriving at his position, the PPP/C Executive relied heavily on the Representation of the People Act, though the Official Order, gazetted on May 4, makes no direct reference to that legislation as it relates to the procedure to be employed during the recount.

According to the Order, the National Recount is being

(Amendment) Act, No. 15 of 2000, seeks to remove difficulties connected with the application of the Representation of the People Act, Chapter 1:03, in implementing its decisions relating to the conduct of the aforementioned recount of all ballots cast at the said elections, including the reconciliation of the ballots issued with the ballots cast, destroyed, spoiled, stamped, and as deemed necessary, their counterfoils/stubs; authenticity of the ballots and the number of voters listed and crossed out as having voted; the number of votes cast without ID cards; the number of proxies issued and the number utilised; statistical anomalies; occurrences recorded in the Poll Book.”

Notwithstanding the provisions provided for in the Order, the PPP/C remains adamant in its position that cases of alleged anomalies

to prove and disprove allegations of the type that are being made. Those are issues that the Constitution vests in the preserve of the Judiciary exclusively, and it must be ventilated in accordance with the provisions of the National Assembly (Validity of Elections) Act, and the procedural vehicle to be used is an Elections Petition,” Nandlall submitted. According to him, the PPP/C will be writing the Chair of the Elections Commission to express its objection. Will the party move to the court if it doesn’t get a favorable response? Nandlall said it will “cross that bridge when it gets there,” but did not rule out the option.

Notably, in the case of Ulita Moore v The Guyana Elections Commission, which brought into question a decision by GECOM to facilitate a recount, Chief Justice Roxane George-Wiltshire acknowledged the “wide powers” given to Elections Commissioner under Article 162 of the Constitution, so as to ensure an impartial and fair elections process.

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

The Chief Justice was also keen on noting that Section 22 of the Elections Law (Amendment) Act is among provisions that operationalize the powers and functions of GECOM as mandated in Article 162. Importantly, she said, Section 22 permits GECOM to address any difficulty encountered during the execution of its mandate.

Section 22 states: “If any difficulty arises in connection with the application of this Act, the Representation of the People Act or the National Registration Act or any relevant subsidiary legislation, the Commission shall, by order, make any provision, including the amendment of the said legislation, that appears to the Commission to be necessary or expedient for removing the difficulty; and any such order may modify any of the said legislation in respect of any particular matter or occasion so far as may appear to the Commission to be necessary or expedient for removing the difficulty.”

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, May 24, 2020

The truth about the PPP/C attempt to steal the election IN politics, as in life, there are unanticipated outcomes of deliberate actions. There is, no doubt, that the PPP intended to steal the 2020 Elections from the Guyanese people. When they agreed to a recount, they must have felt that the bullying tactics which they employed, with good effect, in the early days of the impasse would prevail. They must have also thought that the APNU+AFC would have wilted under the pressure from the likes of the Private Sector Commission, the Observer Groups which they have misled, and, to some extent, some forces in the diplomatic community.

So, now that the ‘Coalition’ has joined the struggle to unmask the PPP, and show the world how that Party has systematically undermined the electoral machinery in its quest for victory, the schemers at Freedom House are running scared. This past week, sections of

the media, which had also bought into the PPP’s narrative, were given some of the “evidence” they had been asking for. Faced with this bombshell, many of them have sought to downplay its effectiveness. Some of them have barely mentioned it in their pages.

But the truth cannot be suppressed for too long.

Thanks to the investigative work of the APNU+AFC team, and GECOM’s insistence on a recount that goes beyond the votes in the boxes, the truth is coming out into the open. While the PPP has tried to make the election about the unsubstantiated allegations against Mr. Mingo, the ‘Coalition’ has clearly shown how the PPP took advantage of the bloated voters list to engineer the heist of the election, long before Mingo’s declaration. They have been caught red-handed.

The PPP must explain to all those it managed to dupe into

believing that it won the election, and also to GECOM, how such a large number of non-resident Guyanese voted for them. How did those votes get into the boxes?

Who physically cast those votes for the PPP? Where did they get the identification cards to impersonate those absentee voters?

These are profoundly serious questions. This publication holds the view that the large number of instances of these infractions point to a larger web of tampering that makes a mockery of electoral integrity.

But this is not the only mode of tampering that has been unearthed.

There are the numerous instances of missing polling books; the case of persons voting, ostensibly with certificates of employment, but not producing said certificates; the lack of stamps on the ballots cast by members of the Disciplined Services; and the instances of dead people voting. As Aubrey Norton

has argued, taken together, these anomalies and irregularities expose a grand rigging operation that appears to have been coordinated with precision. That the PPP and its allies in the media are seeing to wish away this evidence, or pretend it does not exist, add to its authenticity.

This publication holds no brief for the Coalition, but it is high time that the false narrative which the PPP has foisted on Guyanese be exposed for what it is. We now know that all the talk about democracy and the rule of law was meant to cover up the expansive violation of the law and the integrity of the elections. The PPP’s cynical response that such anomalies should form the basis for an Election Petition does not cut it. They want it both ways. On the one hand, they have argued that GECOM has the power to correct instances of fraud, as it pertains to PPP charges. But when

it comes to similar charges from the Coalition, they now argue that GECOM lacks the power to act.

Guyanese are much more sensible than they think.

It’s still relatively early in the process; less than half of the boxes have been audited. So, it is reasonable to expect the volume of infractions to exponentially increase. It does not show our country in good light, when one of the contenders for office is found to be acting in such an embarrassing manner. But the truth must come to light. Some organisations and socio-political forces which ought to know better have allowed the PPP to get away with too much. It is time that their client be called out, and they be called to book for aiding and abetting skullduggery.

Shared governance still a matter of “trust” with the PPP/C --as Teixeira’s May 20, 2020 letter in the Stabroek News implies

Dear Editor, WHILE I’d expected a response from the PPP/C to President David Granger’s interview on Mark Benschop Radio, moreso his expressed interest in a new form of governance, I must confess that the response came earlier than I anticipated. If the APNU+AFC and the African Community had reservations about what to expect from a PPP/C government, that uncertainty has been answered

by Madam Gail Teixeira in her missive published in the May 20, 2020 edition of the Stabroek News, captioned, “Granger squanders opportunity for inclusionary gov’t he now seeks”.

Ms. Teixeira is a major, senior member of the PPP/C leadership, and her statements, even in her personal capacity, should not be ignored. Her response was wellthought- out, and not a spur-of-themoment reaction. It is, therefore, a clear indication that the PPP/C’s leadership has not changed. That party has not learnt from its 23 years in government, and time in opposition.

My honest judgement is that Guyana will explode under another PPP/C administration. (Readers should not infer that I am saying that the PPP/C won the elections; that will be decided after the recount process.) My prediction is based on my assessment that the party is on a similar road it took when it came to office in 1992 in terms of governance.

While it is true that both the PPP/C and the PNCR have, over time, demonstrated shifting positions on shared governance when in opposition and government, the PPP/C’s commitment to this important national issue is more disappointing, to say the least, especially post-1992.

Given that party’s history, its political advantage in terms of numbers, its uninterrupted 23 years in government (1992 to 2015) compared with the Coalition’s five years, the PPP/C has been the more irresponsible of the two in this area of national life.

I remember after the PPP/C returned to office in 1992, Gail Teixeira representing her party at a symposium at the University of Guyana, and when the issue of power-sharing was raised, she said

that the PPP/C is not against power-sharing, but believed that there is not enough trust between the parties, and stressed that we need a period of building trust. After being in office for 23 years, that trust was not achieved, despite Desmond Hoyte’s historical change-of-heart on governance. As Opposition Leader, he had declared, in an address to the nation, that the time for shared governance had come. And his successor, Robert Corbin actively pursued that mandate agreed by his party, but got nowhere because of the rejection by PPP/C and Bharrat Jagdeo.

But let me return to Teixeira’s missive. She wrote, “No, Mr. Granger. In 2015, the two parties were 50.3% versus 49.7%; there was the golden opportunity to prove his commitment to an inclusionary government which he squandered. Why should anyone trust Granger now?”

Readers should note that Teixeira is singing from the old songbook she used at UG nearly two decades ago, and that is, inclusionary/shared governance is a matter of “trust”, not a necessary imperative for national cohesion and racial justice. She

poses the question, “Why should anyone trust Granger, based on the Coalition’s record?” I now ask, “Why should anyone trust a new PPP/C government to implement inclusionary democracy, based on its record in government for 23 years?”

She continued: “Granger’s ‘eureka’ moment has come five years too late. This will never be possible under Granger’s tutelage… I have no doubt that there will be inclusionary governance, and we shall as a people and nation work together to develop an inclusionary form of government, not by divvying up the spoils as Granger and others advocate, but through a national inclusive consultative process.” Here we have a clear PPP/C affirmation of one-party domination, clothed in fancy words.

Ms. Teixeira, who do you think that you are fooling?

As I indicated above, the PPP/C is on the same path that it pursued in 1992, when it came to office; that is, seeking to punish the African community for the actions of its political leadership. This doctrine of “collective punishment” resulted in that party and government resorting

to the use of extrajudicial killings by State-sponsored death squads leading to hundreds of African young men being killed. The PPP/C has no sense of historical political moments, and the possibilities in these moments. And they seem set on the same destructive political behaviour, not realising, however, that the present historical moment is unlike previous times, with unprecedented challenges requiring unprecedented solutions.

I close by saying that even the “politically naive” must realise that in the context of the tremendous oil-and-gas wealth, the political engagement is not the old contestation. And winner-takes-all political forms of governance is now counter-productive, given its zero-sum logic. In this new reality, there is no time for playing the old discredited “trust game” of the past that led us to the present volatile and dangerous situation.

Regards, Tacuma Ogunseye

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, May 24, 2020

Troubled waters need a solid bridge over which to cross --our leaders must sit and talk… in order to design a system that will allow us to live in peace Dear Editor, CITIZENS and friends of Guyana at home and abroad should be thankful for Mr. Stanley Ming’s clarity in dealing with the most worrisome aspect of our recent National and Regional Elections.

In an earlier contribution, I was among those who urged the urgency of constitutional reform, on the assumption that a precursor should be the meeting of minds of our political leaders who represent the two major groupings in our society.

Having lived through the troubles of the 1950s, the challenges of change of the ‘64-‘92 period, and the 1992-2015 PPP/C Administration, it is clear that a sort of attitudinal somersault is necessary if we are to save our country and citizens from the stress, strain and insanity that characterized Guyana 54 years after independence.

Publicly, I express great disquiet that we should go into what we all called the Mother of all Elections in 2020 with a tainted list.

On this score, we must all thank Patriot, Mr. Stanley Ming for his analysis and production of figures.

YEAR OFFICIAL LIST OF ELECTORS

TURNOUT VALID VOTES 1997 462,415 408,003 399,258 2001 440,186 403,706 396,506 2006 492,369 341,426 336,671 2011 475,495 342,236 342,236 QUESTION: How is it possible that for 2015, the OLE contained 570,787 persons with a voter turnout of 416,055 and 412,912 valid votes?

This shows that compared to 2011, the OLE increased by 95,291; the voter turnout increased by 73,819, and valid votes increased by 70,676.

For an OLE in 2020 of 660,998 persons, with 65% of the population being 18 years and older, the current population should be approximately 1,016,000.

It must be noted that in 1992, when the population was approximately 745,000, and about the same as it is presently, the OLE was 384, 195 with 303,176 valid votes.

For 2020, with approxi-

mately the same population, the OLE is now 660,998, an increase of 72% with valid votes of 440,000. An increase of 45%!

ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE!!

The watchword coming from all quarters, Government, Opposition, Friends, Soothsayers, aliens and foreigners is the credibility of Elections 2020.

Listening to observations coming from both sides of the political divide, it is clear that the end of the present re-count will produce a result that will be considered credible by less than half of our population.

This truism is a recipe for contention, confusion and who knows, conflict.

This constitutes an unhappy and dangerous political environment for this and succeeding generations to inherit.

But which sane or perceptive individual can deny the validity of the above analysis?

Elections everywhere, National, Regional, Community, Associations et al. have never produced a satisfactory situation if the parties/groups taking part hold the Elections with a list that is inflated.

The simple logic is, if we begin this so-called democratic process of Elections with an imperfect list, it is palpable

A little-known fact about…

The military history of the Guyana Defence Force Dear Editor, WHILE all Guyana watched 20-year-old Second Lieutenant Desmond Roberts of the Guyana Defence Force raise the Golden Arrowhead at the historic flag-raising ceremony ushering in Guyana’s Independence 54 years ago on May 26, 1966 at the National Park in Georgetown, Guyana, not many people knew that 20- year-old Officer Cadet Fairbairn Liverpool of the Guyana Defence Force had a similar distinction of carrying the Golden Arrowhead down the aisle at Westminster Abbey and presenting it from the altar to the diaspora in London, England to a fanfare of trumpets on the same day.

As part of Guyana’s Independence celebrations on 26 May, 1966, Sir Lionel Luckhoo, Guyana’s then High Commissioner

to the Court of St. James in London, England, in collaboration with the British Authorities, marked the occasion by, among other things, hosting a church service for Guyanese and well-wishers in the diaspora of the United Kingdom, at Westminster Abbey Church in London.

As is customary on such occasions, nationals of the newly-independent countries residing in the UK are requested to participate in such ceremonies. It was to this end that Officer Cadets Fairbairn Liverpool and Haydock West, who were undergoing their training at the Royal Military Academy of Sandhurst, and Officer Cadet Harry Hinds who was doing his at Mons Officer Cadet School, were invited to be the Colour Party to carry the Golden Arrowhead at the church service. Officer Cadet

Liverpool was selected to be the Flag Bearer, while Officer Cadets West and Hinds were to be his Escorts. Lining the aisle of the church down which the Colour Party marched were Guyanese young men who were at that time members of the British Army stationed at Honiton in Devon, Southern England, dressed in their uniforms. They included Privates (Ptes) Lambert Semple, Roger Simon, Richard Locke, Maurice Calder, and Ptes.

Murray, Williams, Singh, Puddicum and Sardinia.

Yours respectfully, Fairbairn Liverpool Lt.Col. (Retd)

that the result will be equally imperfect.

Last week, I noted that an Election is not the business of Sisters-of-Mercy, Angels or Saints.

The figures provided by Mr. Stanley Ming are verifiable. This in itself puts into question the credibility of Elections itself.

The people of Guyana accept that, for whatever reason, we have failed to overcome the suspicion and fears of the two major ethnic groups in Guyana, whether the Philosopher or Historian wishes to blame it on slavery and the concerns of the freed slaves that the European plantocracy, in one master move, removed their post-slavery bargaining power by introducing Indentured Labourers. This, of course, is another matter.

The fact that we have troubled waters suggests the need for a solid bridge over the troubled water.

Our Leaders must sit and talk, and talk, and talk in order to design a system that will allow us to live in peace, with plenty.

Allow us to recognize that

we must be correctly cautious when we embrace outside intervention and the big brother manipulation.

When our Leaders meet, and I hope soon, it must be against the background that there will be certain non-negotiables.

First, it must be justice for every citizen. Then, of course, the reasonable distribution of wealth, the opportunities must be based on no other criteria, but suitability and competence.

Second, that all sides agree to zero-tolerance for corruption in every form, and that society must be unafraid to punish and expose those who violate the rules, and laws agreed to as a result of a consensus.

I am copying this brief appeal for sense and sanity prevail to our Leaders for their cogitation and action.

But, Mr. Editor, that process will take some time, particularly in an environment where there is an element of distrust.

My humble suggestion is this: GECOM should be required: (1) To complete a national house-to-house registration of

electors; (2) subject to the legal constitutional position that the post-recount Government agree to facilitate National Elections within a few first months after the conclusion of the national House-to-House registrations, claim, objections, verification, et al; and (3) the search should begin to identify electoral officers who have no known ties to any particular political parties.

Hope springs eternal in the human breast; young and old must be optimistic.

As an aside, I was tempted to respond to the imperial-like arrogance and disdain for other people as contained in the reply published on Friday by the Carter Center.

I ask them to digest the meaning and significance of the words found in the Gospel of St. Matthew, Chapter 7 vs 5 “Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye, and then shall Thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thine brother's eye.”

Regards, Hamilton Green

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, May 24, 2020

DID we walk into an electoral deathtrap on March 2nd 2020?

It might be too early to draw sweeping conclusions on Guyana’s regional and national elections which were executed on March 2nd, 2020. This process has not been completed and numerous variables are in play that can negate any serious analysis. Be that as it may, what has unfolded thus far is so cataclysmic, it is difficult to see how any pen of consequence can resist the temptation to pontificate on this event.

In doing so, one cannot escape discussion about the dangers that lie within the Official List of Electors (OLE). Guyanese are now painfully aware of the perils associated with a scenario where there is an election with a bloated list. Influenced by this consideration, the question is hereby begged: did we walk into an electoral death trap on March 2nd 2020?

THE BLOATED LIST How dangerous is a bloated list vis-à-vis credible elections in a democracy? Such a list of electors proceeds from the assumption that all men are inherently good and if given the opportunity to hijack the most critical election in a nation's history, they will decline. Further, it can be likened to leaving your door open at night while you sleep and placing your trust in humankind. It invites wicked enterprises. From all appearances thus far, that invitation was readily accepted by the dark forces in search of power at all costs to shepherd Guyana through its first phase of an oil-and-gas economy. The fears of many who have been vocal against the current OLE, it seems, have frighteningly been realized.

Those familiar with this issue have raised the alarm over this numerical and statistical nightmare, they have strained every sinew of mus-

cle in their vocal cords. They have cautioned that Guyana’s electoral list is bloated by over 100,000 (Jeffrey: 2020).

Others have warned that it is statistically impossible for the OLE to have 661, 028 voters (Alexander, Singh: 2020). Henry Jeffrey posited that Guyana is a ‘rigging field’.

In service of addressing these concerns, the Guyana Electoral Commission and the government of Guyana sought to fix this unacceptable scenario but the extraordinary circumstances brought about by the passage of the No-Confidence Motion (NCM) prevented the completion of this exercise.

Given the decision by the Commission, in August 2019, to merge the data collected from the partially completed house-to-house registration exercise with the national register of registrants, we proceeded to the electoral death trap.

THE SAFEGUARDS ARGUMENT Considering the aforementioned, the findings at a prima facie level up to now at the national recount have laid bare the dangers of a bloated list. So far, allegations with verifiable documentation have revealed: voting by the dead, migrants who voted, voters without National Identification Cards or Oath of Identity and missing poll books. Why should anyone be transfixed or struck by these developments, this what an imperfect list facilitates.

Despite such a circumstance that teems with many electoral problems, some have remained on the side of encouraging this situation.

Gouveia and Nandalall et al have argued that a bloated list poses no danger to an electoral system that has a plethora of safeguards.

This is the sentiment of the school of thought that talks

up modern electoral reforms with enough impenetrable armaments such as Voter I.D, party agents at the place of poll, the ticking off of names and the inking of voters. Given the abundance of indisputable evidence of these methods being easily breached by dishonorable actors, it is not unreasonable to view their undying support for an insecure system with much suspicion. Once the electoral door is open and there is the mother of all elections with the stakes astronomically high, somebody will run. Somebody did run in with a fraudulent scheme and all fingers are rightfully being pointed to the problematic list.

THE MING CHALLENGE The argumentation in this column is, to a large extent, influenced by the passionate plea and challenge made by

respected businessman and visionary, Mr. Stanley Ming.

Appearing on the Benschop Radio programme, ‘Straight Up’ on Thursday, March 21st, he asserted that it was statistically improbable for there to be 440,000 voters at the March 2nd regional and national elections. Also, he vehemently posited that any voter turnout above 375, 000 is fertile ground for suspicion. Such authoritative ventilation cannot be ignored by any stretch of the imagination. This strange data constantly feeds suspicions and in the absence of clear and plausible explanations, claims of widespread electoral fraud are credible.

It is highly likely at this juncture that we indeed walked into an electoral death trap on March 2nd, 2020.

Help! The stress of the uncertainty is killing me!

--in this COVID-19 lockdown adventure Dear Editor, AT the start of this COVID-19 lockdown adventure, I absolutely thought I was going to make the most out of all this extra time. It’s not that the stay-at-home order has changed that much for me (I already have pretty flexible working hours and can work from home), but it has kept me from leaving the house for more than a quick grocery run; no sporting events, no nights out, no family visits, no brunch (well, we are still hav-

ing brunch at home — I’m not a complete savage).

All this staying home was supposed to give me several extra hours a week, and I almost immediately started rattling off everything I want to get done with the extra time, and started a ‘To-Do List’, including things such as finally sorting out my closet and starting to write my memoirs. Well, here we are, two months into my stay-at-home order, and my closet is still looking the same…

What’s the deal? Why am I not getting anything extra done,

even though I (supposedly) have more time?

Well, I am not feeling any more inspired to write than I did when I didn’t have extra time, nor do I have any more energy to sort through my clothes.

However, what I am feeling is the stress of the uncertainly.... the build-up, emotional overwhelming-ness of trying to work from home with a toddler, husband and three dogs quarantined. Anxiety about my family members and friends who are deemed essential workers. Worry about what all this is going to re-

ally mean for the economy when it’s over.

So, instead of doing super-productive things when I am not working (You know, aside from the normal cooking, baking, laundry, and cleaning.), I’ve mostly been: § Enjoying the hell out of a fiery group chat (nonstop hilarity and support); § having WhatsApp visits with family, especially grandparents (they get antsy when they haven’t seen their grandchildren in a while!); and § actually experimenting

with various recipes.

Don’t get me wrong! I still want to do the other things on my extensive to-do list, and I’ve made small strides toward getting them accomplished (like moving the journal from the box to the desk in the study), but I’m just not going to put as much emphasis on them as I did in the beginning.

I am simply not going to tell myself that I should be doing all of these things with my extra time, and I’m certainly not going to feel guilty about not having done them all when this COVID-19 nightmare is over.

I’m going to let myself feel the stress, anxiety, overwhelming-ness and worry, because they are indeed very real, very valid feelings, and deserve attention, and I’m going to do what works to cope with them.

Right now, what works isn’t poetry, writing, yoga or spring cleaning; what works is talking with friends, family and comfort cooking… And, maybe, that’s productivity after all…

Sincerely, Mommy V

Guyana not ready for a combination of political, health and economic crises

Dear Editor,

WHILE politicians fiddle, Guyana is smoldering under conditions which can flare into devastating social and economic wildfires. Two recent reports suggest that even before this ongoing political impasse, Guyana is not ready for the combination of political (low confidence, no parliament, no budget, caretaker government), health (pandemic) and economic (public and private sector closures and unemployment contractions in key sectors e.g. agriculture and mining) crises taking place here.

The Inter-American Development Bank (Index of

Governance and Public Policy in Disaster Risk Management (iGOPP): National Report Guyana, 2019) assessed Guyana as being woefully underprepared to respond to or recover from disaster. In their words: “The results of the iGOPP application in Guyana (2017) show a general progress level of 12.08%, which places the country in “low” range of advance. The analysis of the results by component of public policy …reveals that “General Framework of Governance for DRM” is the most advanced component, reaching a 38% of compliance, which is considered as “incipient” progress, according to the iGOPP ?s classification. In

a range considered as “low progress” the iGOPP places the rest of the five components, with “Risk Reduction” reaching a 16% followed by “Risk Identification” and “Disaster Preparedness” components, with a 10% and 8% compliance, respectively. No progress is reported by the iGOPP for indicators associated with the “Disaster Recovery Planning” and “Financial Protection” components (0 % compliance).”

Another IDB Study (Development challenges in Guyana, IDB Policy Brief, 2018) contended that despite Guyana’s relatively stable macroeconomic situation in 2018 (i.e. low inflation and moderate growth, sufficient

international reserves, stable currency, and manageable public debt and current account deficits) and the prospects for large increases in GDP (from oil revenues) starting in 2020, Guyana generally underperforms with respect to unemployment, poverty or inequality, as compared to its peers. The quality of social services remains a challenge and quality of life (health, education, income) indicators are not the most encouraging across the Caribbean. They recommended the formulation of a sustainable development plan wherein the focus “should be on improving productive capacity, undertaking needed structural reforms, and improving effi-

ciency and competitiveness, as well as diversifying the base of the economy and better protecting the environment” while recognizing the government’s “greening of the economy” strategy and their approaches to address the country’s large infrastructure deficit.

These two reports serve to identify important factors that Guyana needs to address immediately in the response to and recovery from a disastrous combination of political, social, health and economic conditions. Guyana has to find a way to bring together specialists and inter-disciplinary experts and systems (call it a Disaster Response and Recovery Collaborative) who can

help chart a way out of these very troubling times. The political formations can put to the test their ideas of inclusive governance by experimenting with putting together a team (Collaborative) that crosses racial, party, gender, social and economic barriers based on merit and appropriate competence.

After the “Recount”, Parliament sits, a Budget is passed, a Cabinet is appointed, and the Public Service and Private sector reopens for business, Guyana would have at least some ideas on how the wildfires could be quelled.

Regards, Rory Fraser

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, May 24, 2020

SOVEREIGNTY AT STAKE TUESDAY, May 26, will mark the 54th year since Guyana became an independent state. It will be a national holiday, but the usual outdoor events will be curtailed by the Covid-19 restrictive measures.

Instead, there will be an Independence Day concert and a virtual flag-raising ceremony as part of a creative 12-day calendar of events which the Ministry of Social Cohesion has been rolling out on the several media platforms.

Apart from the pandemic, this year’s Independence Day is also dampened by the on-going recounting of ballots cast in the March 2 polls, after a controversy arose over the credibility of the electoral process.

COMPETENT AND COMPELLABLE There has been consensus among government, opposition and the elections commission that the Caribbean Community is best suited, if needs be, to ably navigate the controversy; hence, the presence of CARICOM at the recount exercise.

This is as it should be since Guyana shares in common with its regional partners a history of colonial bondage, blood kinship and cultural affinity. As the guardian of the common home of our Caribbean peoples, CARICOM is highly competent to provide oversight, and I am confident that its advice would be compellable after full revelation of all the circumstances that might have tainted the credibility of those elections.

The role of the Caribbean Community has become crucial since a major element of the controversy is the alleged crude interference by non-regional foreign players in what is unfolding as a treacherously orchestrated, but clumsily executed plan for regime change in Guyana.

minister and ministers, are required “to bear true faith and allegiance to the people of Guyana” (Oath of Office).

The observance of Independence Day therefore allows all Guyanese a moment of reflection on the value of our citizenship, and on our duty to defend the State.

government as part of the sinister ploy at regime change.

Adding injury to the insult to our sovereignty, those socalled mis-leaders have been the most vocal, calling for sanctions against Guyanese patriots, and for foreign intervention in and invasion of a sovereign state.

FOREIGN INTERFERENCE Foreign interference in our elections strikes mortally at the heart of our independence, and that of other Caribbean states.

It violates our supreme law, the Constitution of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, which affirms the sovereignty of the Guyanese people and the independence of Guyana.

Article 1 of the Constitution confers on Guyana the status of an indivisible, secular, democratic sovereign state.

Sovereignty, it says in Article 9, belongs to the people.

That sovereignty has been won after many centuries of resistance to foreign European occupiers who decimated our indigenous peoples and had kept all of our other ancestors in slavery and bondage.

On May 26, 1966, the Guyanese people reclaimed our dignity, and affirmed sovereignty or people’s power. On that day, the Guyanese people ended foreign rule. From that day our Guyanese people pledged “to honour always the flag of Guyana, and to be loyal to their country” (National Pledge); and gave to Guyana “our homage, our service, each day that we live” (National Anthem). All public officials, including the President, prime

POLITICAL IMMORALITY It is perhaps the greatest political immorality of our time that in post-independent Guyana, there were several persons who took the Oath of Office as Members of the National Assembly, knowing that they had pledged loyalty to foreign powers. There they were “dual citizens” of America, Britain and Canada (ABC countries), in defiance of the Guyana Constitution, being designated “Members of Parliament”.

It might have passed unnoticed but not on that day of infamy, December 21, 2018, when one such foreign citizen voted with the parliamentary opposition to remove the duly elected national government!

Guyana has since been plunged into an unprecedented situation of constitutional difficulties and political uncertainty.

As if that wound to our sovereignty and constitutional order were not enough, at least four persons with foreign citizenship presented themselves as leaders of hitherto non-existent mini-parties that contested the March 2020 elections.

They have all ganged up to present a phony image of opposition to the incumbent

FOREIGN VENOM Indeed, the observance of Guyana’s 54th anniversary as a sovereign and independent state is shrouded by the deadly disease caused by Covid-19, but this should be no cause for abandonment of our patriotism and national consciousness.

It should rather be an occasion to repel the foreign venom of interference in our internal affairs, and to reassert mutual respect and non-interference as the settled policies of our state in international relations.

Aside from the political fray, we are simultaneously witnessing a flow of sincere compassion and solidarity from friendly countries, finan-

Understanding Energy

Guyana's oil can help in battle against global pandemic MANY times in recent history has the death knell sounded for oil and gas and other fossil fuels. Activists around the world list many reasons we should “leave it in the ground”. There are some in our own country asking why Guyana would develop its own resources, shrugging off the revenue and jobs that safe and responsible development brings with it.

But a global crisis presented by the COVID-19 pandemic emphasized the critical role the oil and gas industry plays in producing the products needed to protect human health and safety.

The mad scramble for hand sanitizers, surgical masks and other forms of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) following the outbreak of COVID-19 underscored that there is still some life in the oil barrel. And Guyana oil is probably already being used to manufacture these vital products.

Besides transportation fuels for cars, boats and airplanes, oil is used to produce petrochem-

icals, which are the building blocks for such products used in the fight against COVID-19. Jim Cooper, senior petrochemical advisor for American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers, recently noted that the industry “makes the six base materials that help make everything from ventilators to hand sanitizers.”

Petrochemicals, like polypropylene, are critical in the manufacture of face masks, latex gloves and protective clothing that were scarce at a time that COVID-19 cases were spreading across the globe. And other oil byproducts are used to make hand sanitizers and antibacterial wipes and medical equipment like protective screens and face shields.

With Guyana selling its second cargo of oil this week, it is not inconceivable that Guyana’s own Liza crude oil has or will be used to produce some of these life-saving products. Our partner in the Liza field, ExxonMobil, is dedicating some of its operations to turn out more products that can be used by first-responders

and others.

For example, ExxonMobil is maximizing its production of high-performance polymers used to make face masks, surgical gowns and other critical medical supplies for those treating patients with COVID-19.

And its Baton Rouge, Louisiana refinery is the world’s largest producer of isopropyl alcohol (IPA), the key ingredient in hand sanitizer.

While some say the demise of the oil and gas industry is imminent, the International Energy Administration has found that petrochemical feedstock accounts for 12 per cent of global oil demand, and it’s expected to increase; it’s easy to see why we recognize all the life-saving products produced by petroleum. We should feel proud that Guyana can play a role by producing the oil that serves as a building block for some of these products. As the battle to beat the global pandemic has shown, it can be a matter of life and death.

cial institutions and voluntary organisations that are donating essential supplies for distribution to vulnerable households.

LOVE OF COUNTRY This situation is affecting us all, and has brought hardships to many. But we have to reach out to Guyanese citizens who went overseas for vacation or business, and who are stranded in several countries.

In response to their requests, the National COVID-19 Task Force (NCTF) has adopted a controlled re-entry policy only for Guyanese travelling by air to Guyana.

This window will be monitored alongside the rate of infection and the spread of the virus, as well as the nation’s capacity to test, track and treat cases. The re-entry is subjected to strict medical guidance, as

9

well as compliance by returning Guyanese with requirements such as: (i) producing results of COVID-19 tests (PCR with results in English language) 48 hours in advance of arrival in Guyana; and (ii) covering all costs for their return.

We are moved by the sentiments of these Guyanese nationals. Theirs is a poignant story of love of country. Among them are those whose only wish is to offer help, and others who want to bond with their families at this time of national stress, distress and even disaster. They are willing to literally trade the whole world for Guyana, and I join with all compatriots in welcoming them home.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, May 24, 2020

Op-Ed

The Coalition is silent in the face of the attacks and this is of concern to the PPP/C

By Adam Harris LIFE in Guyana has changed radically for many. Bars are almost all closed, fast-food outlets do not have lines and for sure, no school is open.

Traffic has been drastically reduced on the streets and just about anyone seen walking on the streets have a mask.

Forget the air travel that had become so much a part of the lives of Guyanese. The car park at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport has never been so void of vehicles. People simply do not need to transport friend or relative to the airport.

Last year, at this time, parents would have been saving

up to get a new outfit for their school children who would have been moving on to a higher level of learning. The National Grade Six examinations would have been over.

Everything has been put back because of a vicious strain of the coronavirus. Just a few short months ago people were reading about an outbreak in China. Social media carried videos of people collapsing and dying on the streets of Wuhan, China.

And while those videos were circulating, Guyanese basked in the knowledge that they were so far away and therefore could not be affected. There were even elections in March,

some three months after the coronavirus outbreak in Wuhan.

Little did people know that days after the elections Guyana would have recorded its first case. A woman travelled from Queens, New York, came into the country, met with doctors at two city hospitals and died.

A test for the coronavirus confirmed the worse. Coronavirus had arrived. Most were not worried. There were those of us who believed that the climate would have protected us. There were reports that the hot weather would have killed the virus that had now become known as COVID-19.

Perhaps the heat does kill the virus but that does not stop

person-to-person transfer. We are in a crowded place and one

Adam Harris

infected person is among us; rest assured the virus would spread. And spread it did. Now,

people everywhere seems to be contracting the virus. There are those of us who take every precaution but there are others who care precious little. Perhaps it is the syndrome that propels thieves to enter people’s homes or to commit some of the crimes they do.

There are people out there who believe that they are exempt from certain measures. I still see crowds liming at bars and gathering at house parties in parts of the city. Indeed, most of the people gathered are men.

This would explain why more men are infected with CIVID-19 than women.

As the recount is progressing I cannot help but notice that some people still believe that COVID-19 is a joke. The Guyana Elections Commission agreed to ten counting stations that would attract no more than one hundred and eighty people.

The People’s Progressive Party had campaigned for twenty stations. As if to prove that more people could be accommodated inside the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, at least 400 crowded the venue.

Indeed, some of these were ancillary staff like the police and the cleaners, but that number was still too large.

There are now twelve counting stations and the possibility of two more. If this is going to quicken the recount while ensuring that the people working there remain safe, so be it. There are people who are asymptomatic—displaying no symptoms—but can spread the virus. At the same time I have noticed that people who were infected but recovered are denying ever being infected. There is no shame; COVID-19 is not AIDS. But denial is the name of the game and it continues throughout the recount. I remember the contention that only the District Four box should be counted. The noise surrounding this contention was deafening.

Fortunately, every district is being counted. Attempts at rigging are being discovered from the opposition side. However, if one were to rely on the news media and social media, one would never know this. The Official list of Electors from one polling booth ended up in another. How? These lists could not move on their own so there had to be collusion between presiding officers. They have so far failed to present themselves before the commission. But the critics are making no mention of this. Kit Nascimento, who, in a letter on Friday, said that he witnessed the Mingo fraud twice, has said nothing about this. Perhaps he did not witness it but GECOM reported it and he must have heard about it. He was at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre to the point of addressing the media to correct, as he said, information that Cathy Hughes presented.

Each day the coalition agents report on dead people

voting and on people who have migrated actually casting their ballots in Guyana. This will be addressed by GECOM, but the opposition-backed critics are saying nothing. Everybody seems focused on Clairmont Mingo who, in his own deliberate judgement, according to them, fiddled with the numbers.

It could not be a case of the presiding officers actually presenting those so-called inflated numbers to Mr. Clairmont Mingo.

Disrespect is a hallmark of people opposed to the coalition or those who were paid to champion the PPP cause. I will talk about this later. In one case, the sum of US$25,000 was reportedly paid to a very vocal critic of the coalition. Then there are the unstamped ballots.

The presiding officers knew that an unstamped ballot would be deemed invalid. Here is where the opposition mischief is most evident. Those unstamped ballots contained votes cast for the coalition.

GECOM will examine this issue and allot the votes where they should go. I expect a noise about GECOM breaking the law. I will hear all manner of complaints, but none about the mischief that would spark the complaint. Missing poll books, people voting without oaths of affidavit and no identification cards in PPP areas, and missing counterfoils to match the ballots cast are all part of the exercise to promote the cause of the opposition.

Meanwhile, the attacks against the Chairperson of the Guyana Elections Commission appear to have subsided. Some praise is actually being directed at the commission. It matters not that one commissioner decided that he could speak for the Chairperson.

Why this action has not been commented on needs no explanation. Had the chairperson said nothing, then taken a decision on the issue of the allegations before the commission, she would have been hounded to hell and even further.

And for the records, as for me being a paid mouthpiece “of the PNC’s crab for fraudulent power”. Indeed, I have always been PNC and I never made a secret of my political affiliation. I have all my life been a professional journalist and that will not change. But as for being a paid mouthpiece, I wish Nascimento could identify my paymaster. My views are in the open for free. I am not sure Nascimento could say the same thing. And Kit, for now, we may be on the opposite side of the fence but I am still the same Adam Harris you considered your friend.

Change.

Book review:

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A REVIEW of David Granger’s, Guyana’s Decade of Development: overcoming crime, disease, ignorance and poverty AVID Granger’s Guyana’s Decade of Development: overcoming crime, disease, ignorance and poverty is a work of thoughtful foresight.

David Granger lays out a visionary plan for his country’s development for 2020-2029 – one that bridges the gap between short-term necessity and longterm strategy.

The President of Guyana launched his ‘Decade of Development’ on 1st January, 2020 – the start of the second decade of the new century.

It was also his country’s election year but the ‘Decade’ was not a political ploy intended to woo the electorate with a basket of promises. It represented David Granger’s intention to ensure that human development remained at the forefront of national development.

David Granger enunciated his human development agenda at the start of his presidency. He said during his address at his inauguration celebration on 26th May, 2015: We must now look to the future. We must turn our efforts and energy not towards destroying one another, but towards defeating the real enemies of our people – crime, disease, ignorance and poverty – the four horsemen of the Guyanese Apocalypse.

David Granger pursued his human development agenda steadfastly. He promulgated enlightened policies aimed at enhancing human safety, expanding public education, improving public health and eliminating extreme poverty during his first term as President.

Crime, disease, ignorance and poverty may appear to be inescapable, but they are not ineradicable. Given the myriad social and economic problems which he inherited on being elected President, he would not have been expected to eradicate them within his first five years in office.

He acted decisively

to reverse the ills he found while, at the same time, pursuing a people-centred agenda by successfully piloting four transformative processes during his first term.

David Granger set his country on the path of a green trajectory of development aimed at the realisation of a ‘green state.’ He steered his country towards becoming a ‘digital state.’ He strengthened the foundation for an ‘education nation’ and he is erecting the pillars for building a ‘petroleum state.’

These four processes portend bright prospects. The President recognises, however, that human development could be detoured easily while pursuing these goals.

David Granger’s clear intention – as presented in Guyana’s Decade of Development. Overcoming crime, disease, ignorance and poverty – is to ensure that every citizen could share in the benefits of these four transformative processes during the next 10 years and beyond. The book explains how he intends to deliver tangible benefits to the Guyanese people, thereby improving the quality of their lives and well-being. He cares

for common folk and his ‘Decade of Development’ is a blueprint to ensure that the poor will not be left behind in the expected wealth-creation which the four transformative processes will engender.

The book – ‘The Decade of Development’ – consists of five addresses which President Granger delivered to different audiences and could hardly have been seen as an electioneering expedient. Its promulgation predated the elections campaign and was conceptualised with the country’s prospects of economic and social transformation in mind. There was, evidently, a great deal of forethought in the formulation of the concept of a Decade of Development, a key element being its alignment with the country’s national development objectives with its international obligations.

The President, as early as his first year in office in 2015, proclaimed Guyana “a green state” as the country signed the Paris Agreement on 12th December, 2015. The ‘Decade’ is consistent with the Green State Development Strategy – the country’s blueprint for embracing a “green” economy. It adopted the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

The ‘Decade’ is people-centred. The President, earlier in 2019, addressed residents of a new housing scheme at Perseverance Village, East Bank Demerara, promising that one of the objectives during the ‘Decade’ would be to ensure that there would be “...a roof over every head.” The President’s 10-point programme anticipates that, by the end of 2029, Guyana would be a country of “happy people, happy families, happy households and happy communities.”

The ‘Decade’ is business-friendly.

The President, addressing the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association, later in 2019, pointed out that the ‘Decade’ would ex-

pand business opportunities.

The President’s concept of a ‘Decade’ has been pilloried by his opponents who accused him of sloganeering.

They point to the absence of a plan defining the concept, but Guyana’s Decade of Development: overcoming crime, disease, ignorance and poverty, is a plan that refutes these criticisms. The book demonstrates that the ‘Decade,’ far from being hollow political rhetoric, is a solid plan, replete with policies

and objectives, for the next 10 years.

The President’s plan for the ‘Decade’ answers a fundamental question of political economy by addressing the means by which wealth-generation can be transformed into human development.

Inequality in wealth-distribution has been one of the notorious problems plaguing countries enjoying unexpected economic expansion. This book has set out priorities and policies to ensure that

greater equality would accompany economic growth.

The book – Guyana’s Decade of Development: overcoming crime, disease, ignorance and poverty – should be of interest to the wider academic community. This book serves as a guide for ensuring that people remain at the centre of economic and social transformation. It is highly recommended.

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Four battling for lives in COVID-19 ICU –– No new cases recorded in two days; another person recovers

GUYANA has gone two days without recording a new case of COVID-19, but four of the 59 active cases are battling for their lives in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

To date, some 127 persons have contracted COVID-19, but 58 of those persons have recovered and 10 persons have lost their lives.

The number of confirmed cases remained the same, although an additional 35 persons were tested in the past 24 hours. Health authorities have so far tested 1,401 persons, with 1,274 of those being negative.

Of the existing cases there are 56 persons in institutional isolation and five suspected cases in institutional quarantine.

Health authorities continue to work towards strengthening the healthcare system

to respond to COVID-19 on a long-term basis; the potential and existing activities are part of the plan to have a comprehensive COVID-19 health network, whereby patients across the country’s 10 administrative regions will be able to access these services.

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

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

Providence, and Timehri.

Health authorities will be deploying mobile testing units to Cornelia Ida in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) and to Diamond in Region Four.

Residents of Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo), were also advised to be watchful and careful as Brazil has now become the country with the third highest number of confirmed coronavirus infections in the world, after registering a total of more than 250,000 cases.

“You remain extremely vulnerable and therefore every resident must be prepared to be his brother’s keeper in order to ensure the safety of everyone,” said Dr. Hamilton.

She said the ministry is also very concerned with the increased cases seen in Regions One (Barima-Waini) and Seven (Cuyuni- Mazaruni). As of

Miner hospitalised with burns from mining accident A MINING accident at Partang backlands, Upper Mazaruni River, has left a 57-yearold miner hospitalised with burns to 55 per cent of his body.

Rodwell Allen, called ‘ba bai’ of Mocha-Arcadia, East Bank Demerara, is said to be in a stable condition.

The Guyana Chronicle understands that on May 21, 2020 , at approximately 15:30hrs Allen, along with others, was working on a six-inch land dredge in the said backlands.

Allen, it was reported, went to the river bank to switch off the engine. However, while he was holding the throttle on the engine, the hose for the radiator slipped out, causing hot water from the radiator to splash on him.

He was rushed to the Imbaimadai Health Outpost where he was seen and examined by a doctor who determined his injuries second-degree burns about 55 per cent of his body. His condition is said to be stable.

COVID-19 mobile testing unit for Diamond, Cornelia Ida — in La Parfaite Harmonie until May 23

THE Ministry of Public Health has announced that the COVID-19 testing mobile unit will be in the communities of Diamond on the East Bank of Demerara and Cornelia Ida, on the West Coast of Demerara.

According to a news bulletin from the Department of Public Information (DPI), the mobile unit which has been in La Parfaite Harmonie, would be there until Saturday, May 23.

The unit was introduced to ramp up screening and testing and also to effectively control the spread of the coronavirus by having more people know their status, the bulletin stated.

“Persons visiting the unit are screened and this involves a series of questions which will determine the

likelihood of exposure to the coronavirus. If they meet the criteria for testing, then a sample will be taken for testing at the National Public Health Reference Laboratory,” the bulletin said.

The staff of the unit also encourage those accessing services to practise safety precautions to prevent COVID-19 transmission; these precautions include wearing a facemask; practising social distancing; handwashing and sanitising frequently; avoiding touching eye, nose and mouth and seeking immediate medical attention if ill, especially if symptoms mirror those of COVID-19.

As of May 22, 2020, Guyana has recorded a total of 127 confirmed cases of COVID-19.

Thursday Region One had two confirmed cases in two of their sub districts; and Region Seven has a total of seven cases.

Measures can be continuously implemented, but it is up to individuals, that is the average Guyanese, to adhere to those measures and think seriously about flattening the curve (reducing the spread). The disease remains a serious issue, not just in Guyana, but globally..

According to global statistics, there are over 4.9 million cases of COVID-19, with over 323,000 deaths.

And with no approved treatment or cure, there is no assurance that persons will survive after contracting the disease.

In the absence of approved medications, governments and authorities across the world have employed a number of preventive measures to contain the spread of the disease.

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Man killed by mentally unstable sibling

THE police are currently investigating the murder of 39-year-old Cleveland Hodge, who died after he was allegedly stabbed by his mentally unstable older brother.

Hodge, of lot 411 Buzzbee Dam, Craig, East Bank Demerara, was stabbed multiple times on May 21,2020 by his 42-year-old brother who is known as ‘Poohbear'.

The suspect who also lives at the same residence is said to be mentally ill and a patient of Dr. Bhiro Harry’s psychiatric clinic.

The Guyana Chronicle understands that on May 21 around 15:10hrs, Hodge his brother, the suspect, with a knife in his possession and approached him in an effort to prevent him from harming himself.

As Hodge got closer, the suspect slashed him on both his elbows as Hodge tried to prevent him from leaving the home.

The suspect then slashed Hodge to his left Cleveland Hodge shoulder and under his right arm.

Public-spirited citizens came to Hodge’s assistance and he was rushed to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre (DDC) where he was admitted, treated for his injuries and was sent away around 19:00hrs.

However, while Hodge was home, around midnight he complained of feeling unwell because of the injuries; consequently, he was again taken to the DDC where he was readmitted and was later transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he died at 13:39hrs on May 22.

The suspect was arrested and is in custody at Grove Police Station, while the police investigate.

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Eid-Ul-Fitr to be observed today Eid-Ul-Fitr to be observed today

The Central Islamic Organization of Guyana (CIOG) wishes to inform all Muslims that the crescent for the month of Shawwal has been sighted; therefore, Eid ul Fitr will be celebrated tomorrow, Sunday 24th May, 2020.

The President, Executives and the Staff of the Central Islamic Organization of Guyana takes this opportunity to wish the entire Muslim Community, EID MUBARAK! The Central Islamic Organization of Guyana (CIOG) wishes to inform all Muslims that the crescent for the month of Shawwal has been sighted; therefore, Eid ul Fitr will be celebrated tomorrow, Sunday 24th May, 2020.

The President, Executives and the Staff of the Central Islamic Organization of Guyana takes this opportunity to wish the entire Muslim Community, EID MUBARAK!

SUNDAY CHRONICLE May 24, 2020

PRESIDENT extends Eid greetings to all Muslims

PRESIDENT David Granger has extended Eid greetings to all Muslims and Guyanese as whole.

Full text of President’s message below I extend greetings to all Muslims and to all other Guyanese on the joyous occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr. This sacred festival commemorates the conclusion of the holy month of Ramadan during which Muslims performed acts of abstinence and

engaged in ritual fasting and prayer.

Eid-ul-Fitr reminds us of how divine worship is connected to social responsibility and personal sacrifice. It compels us to continue to demonstrate compassion and kindness to one another. These personal expressions of goodwill and concern for our fellow citizens reinforce social cohesion and mutual respect.

Eid-ul-Fitr emphasizes the

values of temperance, perseverance and self-denial during the holy month of Ramadan which provided a time for devotees of Islam to engage in spiritual reflection and the reaffirmation of their faith.

Eid-ul-Fitr is significant to all Guyanese. The festival’s exuberance has been tempered this year by the social and personal restrictions which have been adopted, out of necessity, in order to prevent the spread of

the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). The pandemic has witnessed sacrifices by our medical and essential workers in their efforts to administer lifesaving care and ensure the health and safety of others.

Eid-ul-Fitr, nevertheless, is a happy occasion for both Muslims and non-Muslims.

Let us all celebrate our faith and fellowship.

Eid Mubarak!

PPP extends Eid-ul-Fitr greetings to Muslim community

The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) extends greetings to all our Muslim brothers and sisters on the occasion of Eidul-Fitr.

This is indeed an auspicious time in the Muslim calendar as it celebrates the end of the holy month of Ramadan when Muslims fast from dawn to sunset, refraining from many natural human urges.

Fasting is one of the five pillars of Islam and it was during the month of Ramadan that the Holy Quran was revealed and charity is urged. As this significant occasion is being observed, it allows an opportune moment for reflection on its pertinent messages which have relevance for all mankind. It embodies the virtues of sacrifices, generosity, and charity and brings peace and unity.

In a world characterized by so much poverty and inequity, the message of giving and sharing can no longer be ignored.

The PPP wishes to draw from the rich lessons of this occasion to reiterate that sacrifices bring success and that hope is alive and must never be lost. Once again the Party extends greetings to all especially our Muslim brothers and sisters on this happy occasion.

Take spiritual stock of yourselves

… Roshan Khan urges in Eid message On this, the Holy and Auspicious occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr, which marks the end of the Holy month of Ramadan, we, the Guyana Islamic Forum for Education, Peace and Religious Soliditary, the Electric Mosque’s Presentation of the Teachings of Islam, in association with the Universal Peace Federation – Guyana, seize this opportunity to extend heartfelt Eid Mubarak greetings to our Politicians and the nation of Guyana; especially our Muslim brothers and sisters.

We join with over 1.8 billion Muslims worldwide to congratulate each other with greetings of Eid, for it is the day we know that He – Almighty Allah will bless the faster with all the rewards He has promised us.

Unfortunately, during these testing times caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, many of us would not be able to meet with our families and friends to mark Eid-ul-Fitr as we are accustomed to. Despite having to adapt, we pray that the essence of Eid remains the same.

Today, in addition to giving every Muslim the obligation to remember Almighty God and praise Him; it gives us the opportunity to take spiritual stock so that we may now think about the strength of our will or the weakness of our character, as the case may be, which manifested itself during the preceding month. Having done this, every Muslim should be ready to face the year ahead with renewed strength, greater understanding, and universal goodwill. We should now be prepared, with the same unwavering devotion, to follow the commands of Almighty God in the remaining eleven months of the year with a new personality and a stronger character to serve humanity.

Eid Mubarak to all Muslims whether they celebrate Eid after the 29th or 30th day; let us use the occasion to foster respect, goodwill, and harmony regardless of the difference of opinion of the day of Eid. May Almighty God help us all to work for the establishment of peace, justice, and high moral values in our country and the world at large.

Sincerely, Hajji Dr. Roshan Khan Snr.

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Local artistes urge greater support for creative industry EDUCATION, consistency and more support are needed to drive the creative industry in Guyana. This was highlighted on Saturday during the National Communication Network programme, The Dialogue, which forms part of the Department of Social Cohesion, Culture, Youth and Sport 54th independence anniversary activities.

The dialogue focused on the country’s creative sector and the steps needed to further develop it. Artistes such as filmmaker Kojo McPherson, educator and musician Paul Cort and the U.S.-based Guyanese singer Dallas Forte, were featured.

According to a news story from the Department of Public Information, the panellists discussed successes undertaken such as the reintroduction of Pan-O-Rama in 2009 following implementation of the Republic Bank Pan Minors Music Literacy Programme and the relaunch of the Steel Pan Builders workshop, which saw revival of the art form of pan-tuning and the Timehri Film Festival.

McPherson commended the progress of the local music industry in the country thus far; however, he noted the need for an established structure to ensure artistes properly benefit financially.

“We [Guyana] have a vast amount of raw material such as actors, singers, writers, lighting technicians and so on, but we need to have more regulation and infrastructure to do benefit,” McPherson stated.

Echoing McPherson’s sentiments, Forte noted that the content Guyanese artistes produce is often overlooked in favour of

Filmmaker Kojo McPherson

Admin Educator/ Musician Paul Cort

U.S.-Guyanese singer Dallas Forte

material regional and international artistes produce.

Meanwhile, Cort posited, “Building the appreciation of Guyanese artistes and their art form can only be achieved through the implementation of the various art forms at an early age, much like Trinidad and Tobago’s ‘Pan in the Classroom’ initiative.”

He noted that Guyana was initially on a good creative path in the 60s to 80s, when citizens enjoyed a wide variety of cultural activities.

“Guyanese artistes were willing to put in the work to produce quality pieces which would prove to assist in the develop-

ment of our creative industry, but we have become inconsistent over time. Presently, we have a few solid musicians in Guyana, so if we want that kind of success again we will need to start from scratch,” Cort remarked.

The efforts made by former Minister of Education Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine in 2015, with the reintroduction of Music and Physical Education into the school system were also highlighted.

“Tertiary education in the area of music is needed for those who wish to become a singer/musician,” McPherson emphasised.

Kupanda Sisters Inc. provides literacy GAWU sends tablets to pupils at Sophia Primary School out Eid-ul…in partnership with World Literacy Foundation Fitr greetings KUPANDA Sisters Inc. has partnered with Sun Books of the World Literacy Foundation to launch a pilot programme to provide literacy tablets to 20 students at the Sophia Primary School.

This is according to a press release from the Kupanda Sisters Inc., which noted that the World Literacy Foundation is a leading international literacy organization working in the United Kingdom, United States, Australia, Latin America, and Africa to deliver literacy resources and skills.

“Through the Sun Books initiative, Kupanda Sisters will be utilizing literacy tablets to make a transformative change in off-the-grid communities with limited or no access to electricity, the internet or educational resources. The relevant, local literacy content will be preloaded to the solar-powered tablet devices that is aligned to an existing curriculum with the hope of increasing both teacher and student performance. The

tablets are equipped with more than 400 e-books in English and 50 e-books in local languages and activities for primary education learners,” the release said.

Over the next few weeks, instructional tablets will be provided to academic personnel for the purpose of training and on-boarding. The release said that this collaborative initiative is the brainchild of Kupanda Sisters’ Founder and CEO, Cindy Charles, who has been working to provide needed literacy programming to pupils at the Sophia Primary School since May 2019.

According to the release, the pupils were selected through various criteria and have been participating in weekly classes to provide them quality literacy resources and skills that would equip and empower them to transform their reality, unleash their full potential and become meaningful contributors to their communities and the world.

Charles, a Guyanese-born, Parika, East Bank Essequibo native said, “I am just delight-

e d to

Cindy Charles, Founder

launch this pilot programme at Sophia Primary School in Guyana. We have a responsibility to ensure that a proper education is an intrinsic human right for every child in every village and we at Kupanda Sisters truly understand this responsibility.”

A presentation of the tablets to the Sophia Primary School is currently

being planned with Audrey Montrose-Sue, Principal of the school, who assured that the initiative will bring about a massive change for the pupils.

The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) wishes to extend warm greetings to our Muslim brothers and sisters and indeed all Guyanese as we once again celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr. Eid-ul-Fitr signifies the ending of the period of Ramadan, a period dedicated to fasting. But we are aware that Eid-ulFitr is not only about fasting, but it’s a time for love, perseverance, kindness, forgiveness and tolerance.

These qualities are the essence of Islam. While the period of Ramadan is a time of worship, reflection and meditation, Eid is a time of celebration to mark the conclusion of the holy month and it is also a time to rejuvenate bonds of kinship, friendship, peace and demonstrate tolerance and love.

Those values that come to the fore in such times remind us in a timely way of our humanity and what are necessary in our continuing quest for social justice, apart from underlining the variety of religions that make up our nation and which add to our cultural richness. So let this celebratory occasion provide us all with an opportunity to stretch our hands out to each other as we pursue enduring harmony in our relationships. Let us transcend our differences and disagreements and reach out to one another with a new spirit of peace, and tolerance.

May the spirit of Eid inspire us all to renew our determination to support and promote the cause of peace, worldwide. May Allah shower his blessings on mankind and guide peoples globally onto a path that would lead to a world where tolerance, empathy, and general betterment will prevail.

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Sunday, May 24, 2020 –– 05:30hrs

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M&CC health workers get creative

--so as to help get the job done in spite of shortage of staff, PPEs

EVEN with limited resources, the Mayor and City Councils (M&CC)’s Public Health Department is getting the job done, as far as manning the health centres that fall under its ambit is concerned.

In fact, a shortage of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is forcing health workers to be innovative, head of City Council’s public health department Dr. Suzette Reynolds told the Guyana Chronicle on Friday.

Innovative, according to her, in the sense that the health workers are able to care for all those in need of help, even with very limited PPEs. The City Council manages the Dorothy Bailey Health Centre, along with those at Albouystown and Festival City.

Health workers attached to these facilities are following guidelines from the Ministry of Public Service, one

of which is alternating work days. However, Reynolds acknowledged that the current shortage of staff puts a strain on this system.

She explained that the Centres are now seeing a significant decrease in patients, because persons are being encouraged to show up only for serious issues. “As personal protective equipment runs out, it puts workers in a fearful situation,” Dr. Reynolds said. “We are, nevertheless, getting the job done; we now have to come up with ways to tackle the situation,” she added. PPEs include disposable gowns, masks, gloves, caps, and shoe covers.

One of the innovative systems that has been put in place, resulting in having to use less PPEs, is setting up shop under tents outside of each facility, which allows health workers to assess each person turning up for help to determine if they can be

M&CC Head of Public Health, Dr. Suzette Reynolds

dealt with right there and sent away.

Sinks and other hand-washing facilities are also set up outside each Centre

in keeping with COVID-19 management requirements.

For all their resourcefulness, Dr. Reynolds believes

that health workers are being taken too much for granted; that enough is not being done for them, as she feels that they should be given some sort of incentive for the vital role they are playing at the moment. “We have to applaud our health workers who are sticking it out, and continuing to show up for work,” she said. “They don’t get what they deserve, and I feel more should be done for them, or given to them.”

She also noted that the cleaners ought to be commended, too, for the important role they are playing in the daily running of the Council’s Public Health Department.

Dr. Reynolds said that coping with COVID-19 has been especially difficult for her, as each day she follows a strict routine when she gets home from work; a routine that involves getting her clothes in the wash, and taking a bath before interacting

with her family.

“I also have to avoid taking any form of public transportation,” she said, “because I am not sure how those individuals are cleaning their vehicles. The numbers are rising; the population is careless, and so you can be infected by accident.”

With regard to food and hygiene, Dr. Reynolds noted that the Department does not have adequate equipment needed to go out on the ground and ensure that persons and businesses are complying with the guidelines.

At present, the Department is issuing food handling certificates on appointment, although the demand for such documentation has been on the decline.

Dr. Reynolds said that plans are in the pipeline to sanitise the city with the assistance of the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO).

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Waugh v Ambrose: ‘95 Windies...

From page 32

But we only made a further 100 runs. I made 30 in that second innings and that was about as disappointed as I’d been in the whole series. If I could have made 60 or 70 and someone else could have chipped in, we might have made 250 and won the series. That’s how tight it was.

Reiffel: It was ‘even-Stevens’ after two innings, but their bowling in the second innings was frightening. The first innings it had been quite slow. That pitch became more difficult as the game went on and it quickened up. It was nearly impossible to face the West Indies attack on that pitch. We got bowled out very cheaply in the second innings and the game was over in a flash.

Chasing 98, Windies openers Stuart Williams (42 off just 56), Richardson (38 not out off 57) blazed away in an 81-run partnership

Steve Waugh defends a bouncer // Getty

before Brian Lara hit Shane Warne, largely neutered by the fast-bowler friendly conditions, for six over long-off to seal the Test and set the ledger at 1-1 heading into the final Test in Jamaica.

Healy: The fact we didn’t play well in the third innings disappointed us and then Lara caned us. We were a bit rattled, a bit disappointed we’d given them confidence back again.

Reiffel: We were a bit shell-shocked because we had been knocked over that quickly. All of a sudden we were out bowling and they played their shots, Richie and Brian.

They got away and the pressure was off. We blinked and it was all over, and they were back in the series.(Cricket.com.au)

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Waugh v Ambrose: ‘95 Windies tour oral history, Pt 2 (On the 25th anniversary of Australia lifting the Frank Worrell Trophy in 1995, we continue a three-part feature on how one dynasty ended and another began, as told by those who played in it) AUSTRALIA’s 1-0 lead was preserved after the second Test in Antigua, which had been intriguingly poised when the hosts’ fourth-innings pursuit of 257 was halted at 2-80 due to rain.

As the teams travelled south to Port of Spain, the two major protagonists in what would be the series’ defining moment arrived under heavy strain.

Steve Waugh, who had struck crucial half-centuries in each of the first two games, received a series of abusive phone calls to his hotel room as well as an in-person volley from an elderly Trinidadian as tensions over his catch off local hero Brian Lara in the series opener continued to simmer.

Former West Indies captain Viv Richards further inflamed feelings when he labelled Australia’s win in Barbados a “hollow victory” and cast doubt over the legitimacy of Waugh’s catch.

Waugh would later hit back in his tour diary, writing: “News of this attack shook me for a couple of hours until I came to realise that it had come from someone who was probably struggling to come to terms with the fact that he is no longer at the centre of attention.

“I used to have great respect for the man (Richards) but not any longer.”

The emotional toll of what was already a seven-week long tour was beginning to tell, with his wife Lynette battling a bout of tonsillitis back in Sydney. Waugh’s only counter was to ensure the runs continued to flow.

“I made a conscious effort to play well away from home because you had those extra difficulties in touring – loneliness, homesickness, missing what was going on back in Australia with your family,” Waugh told cricket.com.au.

“I probably compartmentalised.”

Curtly Ambrose was also feeling the heat after taking just three wickets in the first two Tests, with captain Richie Richardson (who had elevated himself to open the batting after the first Test to stabilise the Windies’ top-order) even suggesting his star paceman may need to be rested.

“I’m under a bit of pressure,” the Antiguan told his former teammate Michael Holding in a television interview before the third Test. “I haven’t done myself or the team any justice. I’m way below my best.”

It set the scene for one of Test cricket’s most iconic exchanges.

Third Test | Queen’s Park Oval, Trinidad | April 21-23, 1995 West Indies XI: Stuart Williams, Richie Richardson (c), Brian Lara, Jimmy Adams, Carl Hooper, Keith Arthurton, Junior Murray (wk), Winston Benjamin, Curtly Ambrose, Courtney Walsh, Kenny Benjamin Australia XI: Mark Taylor (c), Michael Slater, David Boon, Mark Waugh, Steve Waugh, Greg Blewett, Ian Healy (wk), Brendon Julian, Paul Reiffel, Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath Mark Taylor (Australia captain): I’m standing here right now in my home looking at my backyard and my grass is about an inch long. It was about the same length at Trinidad. We kept waiting for them to cut the grass, but they didn’t.

All they did was roll it. It was almost impossible to bowl a straight ball if you hit the seam.

Steve Waugh (Australia batsman): It was one of those pitches where you turn up and you think, ‘Gee I wish we weren’t playing the West Indies today’. This was going to be pretty tough against Ambrose and Walsh and they had some good backup bowlers – Kenny Benjamin was a very good bowler, and so was Winston Benjamin. They still had a serious attack for those conditions. Maybe the instructions were to get the deck really juicy so it suited the West Indies attack.

Richie Richardson (West Indies captain): I didn’t have any input, that’s something I never did. I never discussed pitch preparation with anybody. It was seaming around but it was very slow. It wasn’t the kind of wicket we would ideally like. We would ideally want hard, boun-

Curtly Ambrose was at his destructive best in Trinidad // Getty cy tracks. There was a lot of talk and people believed that it was prepared specifically for our fast bowlers. The soil in Trinidad was different to anywhere else in the Caribbean and it would get loose pretty quickly, so I believed a lot of grass was left on the wicket to hold it together.

Jimmy Adams (West Indies batsman): Let me tell you something. I had never seen a pitch with that much grass on it anywhere in the world. Generally because the Queen’s Park wicket would crumble on top, there were times where they’d keep some grass on it so it would hold together. But they didn’t need it that high.

Paul Reiffel (Australia fast bowler): Someone asked the groundsman, ‘Did your mower break down?’

Taylor: They weren’t going to put out a Trinidad turner when we had Shane Warne and they didn’t. I don’t know if there was any direction given, but the groundsman no doubt made it a sporting wicket because that was going to bring about a result. You didn’t need to be Einstein to work out they were going to back their quicks and their batting over ours – which was a risk. It turned out to be a good gamble, but it was a gamble.

Brendon Julian (Australia fast bowler): There had been a lot of rain so we didn’t think we’d be starting at all. Maybe tea time at the earliest.

Ian Healy (Australia wicketkeeper): I asked the question, ‘Are we starting on time’ and I got a look of incredulity from ‘Tubby’ (Taylor) going, ‘Yeah, of course, what are you talking about?’ I don’t think he realised how wet it was.

I was thinking, ‘Holy hell, it’s going to be really hard work if we lose the toss’.

Julian: We were just sitting around in the changing room and someone came in and said, ‘Hey, we better start getting organised, they’re marking out the pitch.’ We all ran out onto the balcony and I remember thinking, ‘What!?’

They were putting the stumps in. We couldn’t even work out where the pitch was, it was so green. Within 45 minutes, we were warming up and Tubby was tossing the coin.

Taylor, much to his team’s dismay, lost his third straight coin toss and Richardson did not hesitate to put the visitors in to bat. The under-fire Ambrose quickly reduced the Aussies to 3-14 in a sparkling return to form. Steve Waugh, already persona non-grata in Trinidad, shaped as the only obstacle between him and the West Indies levelling the series.

Waugh: I was a bit on edge going into the Test match. Every time I was on the street I was getting threatened or getting phone calls in the hotel, and then getting booed when I went out to bat. Ambrose, at the same time, was under pressure from the press in the Caribbean. They

thought he was past his best and were asking was he still good enough to be at that level. At the time, I saw it as the biggest Test match of my career.

Adams: The team that had the crown were being pushed to the wall and it was affecting everybody. With Curtly, yes, you’d usually get a stare but even when Dean Jones got him to take off his wristbands in a one-dayer, Curtly was proper mad, but it wasn’t the same kind of reaction. It was a little bit out of character, because Curtly would (normally) just bowl. I’d seen Curtly get mad on the field but normally if he was going to blow his fuse, he’d blow it in the dressing room. I don’t think we were the happiest unit at that time either. It would have been a combination of things that affected him, but it was symptomatic of where we were at a unit.

Waugh: The conditions exaggerated all those emotions. The pitch was doing a fair bit, I couldn’t lay bat on ball. He was all over me. He was probably too good, to be truthful. He was a world-class bowler in any conditions but when it suited him, he was near impossible. I was a bit frustrated at my own game.

Every ball he’d follow through and be in your face, just staring at you not saying a word, which was probably the best form of sledging.

You didn’t know what he was thinking, whether he was trying to get me out or just trying to physically hurt me. So I was just standing there thinking, ‘I’m trying my best here but you’re just too good’. It just kept happening and I thought, ‘I’ve got nothing to lose, I’ll try to put him off his game’. I had a few words to him which he didn’t enjoy too much and then Richie came in and broke us up. I probably had a few more words that I shouldn’t have said.

Thankfully Richie dragged him away.

Richardson: I just grabbed him and said, ‘Come on, let’s get on with it’. Rather than just standing there staring, I just wanted to get on with it and that’s what I said to him. I believe in playing tough cricket, but it just didn’t look good. Standing there in his face, it wasn’t a good spectacle and it wasn’t the sort of thing I would promote. I promote aggression, I promote the exchange of a few words (but only) as long as you keep it in control.

Healy: Curtly thought (Waugh) swore at him and then he walked right in and looked through his helmet. How scary would that be? He said, ‘Don’t cuss me, man’. If we had known they would get that upset by swearing, we would have done it a lot more!

Junior Murray (West Indies wicketkeeper): You didn’t want to get the big man upset. You’d see a different side of him.

Greg Blewett (Australia batsman): I was in next and I was just thinking, ‘Mate, what are you doing? Why would you try to stir him up even more?’ He’s difficult enough to face as it is. The next ball he bowled nearly took his head off. The crowds were loving every moment, especially incidents like that. It just got the crowds going and that got the bowlers fired up.

Julian: Both ‘Heals’ (Healy) and I were padded up. Ambrose was getting cranked up and I was thinking, ‘I’ve still got to bat!’ You could always tell when he was starting to bowl quick because he’d click his heels up when he ran into bowl.

Waugh: The next ball was probably the quickest, nastiest ball of my whole career. I played it with my gloves in front of my face, maybe even above my helmet. We were both fired up for the occasion and knew the significance of the Test match. That passage of play could determine the whole series.

Winston Benjamin (West Indies fast bowler): The captain made it look worse than it was.

Steve is a competitor. We all knew he did not play the short ball that well, but he was going to fight tooth and nail. Curtly was having a go at him and Steve was giving back as good as he was getting. The verbals between them were not, to me, to the level that required what transpired from the captain. It was two guys having what I would call competitive banter. There was nothing too much in it.

Richardson: Curtly and I will always be friends. That happened and it was done. As far

as he was concerned it was not that big a deal.

He was pumped up, he wanted to get him out.

The incident happened and that was that.

Benjamin: It only lasted about 10-15 seconds, but it showed that the fear teams had for the West Indies attack in the past was no longer there.

Adams: The Australians didn’t see any reason to back down. I was at bat-pad and I figured guys were thinking, ‘Why am I going to back down? What’s the worst thing that could happen? Another bumper? I’ve faced 20 million bumpers from Curtly and Courtney over the years, so what’s another two?’

Waugh: While it might not have been a great look I think people remember it pretty fondly because it showed the passions of the two sides.

Everyone knew what was at stake. It wasn’t just a Test match meandering to a meaningless result. Everyone was on edge, knowing it was a crucial moment in the series. Two players at the top of their game, tussling head-to-head. When you watch Test match cricket you want to see that sort of passion and confrontation. Maybe it went a step too far, but I think people look back on it and see it as a really important moment in Test match cricket. It didn’t affect Ambrose too much – he took (5-45). So I’m not sure if it was a good move or not.

Reiffel: I was just in survival mode. It was impossible to bat on that pitch for a period of time against Walsh and Ambrose without copping a few bruises. But batting with Steve was always good, he gave a lot of confidence to lower-order players. He never tried to shield you and always spoke to you as though you could bat.

Julian: That was an unbelievable knock (from Waugh). That was worth 120. It was one of the best digs I’ve seen. It gave us a glimmer of a chance when we really needed it.

Richardson: It was remarkable. Steve Waugh would watch the ball very closely, he’d watch the ball late and he was determined. He stood out the entire series. He was one of the players who believed they could beat us. Every single Test match, every single innings you could see that determination in his face.

Waugh: I was probably at the peak of my game. That’s what I had steeled myself for. As a Test match batsman, it was like a graduation ceremony. If you can get through Ambrose and Walsh on a green top, you think, ‘All the hard work was worthwhile and I’ve really made it as a batsman’ Adams: I remember having a conversation with Brian (Lara) when we were fielding and talking about what we were going to do when it was our turn to bat. By then we knew what we were up against with the likes Paul Reiffel and Glenn McGrath being very stingy fast bowlers.

We both decided we would try to pounce on anything short because anything on a (good) length was a bit of a lottery. I remember seeing him pull out a few pulls and hooks early – early for him – and I thought that might be the way to go. Because when it was short it wasn’t flying, you had time. We both played a couple of shots square of the wicket early in our innings. You just felt like you were sitting ducks otherwise.

Blewett: The bowling attack really gelled – Brendon Julian did a great job for us at times – and they just kept us in games. That was the spirit we had among the team and the whole squad. That was probably the making of Glenn McGrath and he never looked back after that tour. It gave him some real self-belief. We had lost Craig McDermott who was probably the leader of the attack and all of a sudden Glenn had to really step up.

McGrath proved just as much as a handful as Ambrose, snaring 6-47 (his second five-wicket haul in three Tests) to have Australia right in the mix, trailing by just eight runs. Adams was the only West Indian to last longer than two hours at the crease.

Taylor: We passed the deficit in our second innings with ‘Slats’ (Michael Slater) and I still in. In essence we had 10 wickets in hand with an innings each to play in the Test.

See page 31

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE May 24, 2020

26 all out: the nightmare that still haunts New Zealand cricket

By Neil Sands IT has been described as New Zealand cricket’s darkest day, the 1955 Test against England when the Black Caps were skittled out for just 26, a record low that still stands today.

Even 65 years later, the embarrassing score still rankles with New Zealand fans, who are always on alert during a major Test collapse and death-ride the batting team hoping the record falls.

“Frankly, as a New Zealand fan we’d be grateful for anyone to take this record away from us,” Paul Ford, co-founder of Kiwi cricket supporters’ group The Beige Brigade, told AFP. “It’s ignominious, it’s shameful. It would be great if someone came along and scored 25 or fewer.”

The Test cricket landscape in 1955 was vastly different to today.

India had recorded their first Test victory only three years before. Pakistan debuted in the five-day game barely two years previously and Sri Lanka were still 27 years away from gaining Test

status.

Australia and England were the undisputed heavyweights of the era with South Africa, the West Indies and New Zealand, who had not yet won a Test, in supporting roles.

England arrived in New Zealand for two Tests full of confidence after their first Ashes series win in Australia for 22 years.

The New Zealand Test team had been out of action for more than a year and had been unsettled by inconsistent selection.

Even so, they made England toil for an eight-wicket victory in the opening Test in Dunedin and were reasonably placed midway the second match in Auckland, having conceded a first-innings deficit of 46 runs.

‘ROCK UNDER THE TOWEL’ But the gulf in class proved telling on a deteriorating pitch in the second innings when only one batsman, Bert Sutcliffe, reached double figures.

Five players ended the

session with ducks and Sutcliffe lamented: “It seemed hardly fair that we should have been so humiliated after putting up so stout-hearted a performance for two-and-ahalf days.”

Reaction in New Zealand was ferocious, although captain Geoff Rabone continued to defend his side.

“It was many things, that batting display, but it was never disgraceful,” he later wrote.

“Everyone gave their all and we were outgunned on the day. Everyone tried as hard as they could - how could that be seen as disgraceful?”

The setback was only temporary. The Black Caps recorded their maiden win, in their 45th Test, a year later against the West Indies.

Since 1955, New Zealand’s unwanted record has almost fallen on several occasions.

Ford said the most tantalising was in 2018, when New Zealand in a day-night Test had the chance to bundle out England in Auckland, offering a rare opportunity for sporting symmetry at

Even New Zealand’s 45 all out in Cape Town in 2013 bettered the 1955 collapse.

(AFP Photo/Alexander Joe) the scene of the Black Caps’ 1955 humbling.

England were teetering on the brink at 23-8 when Moeen Ali was bowled by Tim Southee for one of five ducks in the innings.

But Craig Overton’s unbeaten 33 took England to 58 all out as the tourists avoided the record books but fell to an innings and 49-run defeat.

“We were watching ev-

‘I was not just playing Michael’ –– Malone speaks about facing Jordan and the Bulls

KARL Malone’s insistence he has the “utmost respect” for Michael Jordan did little to hide the tension that seemingly still exists between the ex-NBA stars.

Jordan and the great Chicago Bulls dynasty of the 1990s was the subject of the co-produced ESPN and Netflix docuseries ‘The Last Dance’.

The Bulls’ rivalry with Malone’s Utah Jazz in the 1997 and 1998 NBA Finals series were pivotal in the latter episodes.

Malone refused to be a part of the show but ESPN released previously unseen footage of him talking about Jordan and playing the Bulls at that time from an interview in February 2019.

Asked his reaction when he heard the name ‘Michael Jordan’, Malone - smoking a cigar - replied tersely: “Michael Jordan, Michael Jorda n... what else do I need to say?”

Malone was then questioned more specifically on the famous moment of Game 6 of the ‘98 Finals when

The Last Dance: I was not just playing Michael Malone speaks about facing Jordan and the Bulls.

Jordan stole the ball from Malone before going on to hit the game-winning shot that secured a second threepeat in the space of eight years.

“Why? Why do I have to?” Malone answered.

“But I tell you this, I’m all man and I accept the responsibility for not winning one (a championship).

“And we was there, we just happened to be playing the Chicago Bulls, which wasn’t just Michael Jordan by the way and I have the

utmost respect for Michael.

“But I never thought I was playing Michael Jordan, I was playing the Chicago Bulls but let’s not, you know, everybody say this person was a bad man and all of that. Well, yes, I give them respect but I’ve got a setup. I’m a man, and I was a bad son of a b****, too.

“So that’s how I look at that, and that’s who I am.

Maybe in my older years I can call it that bluntly but I’m just calling it like I see it.”

In the show, Jordan says how he was fired up ahead of the ‘97 Finals after Malone received the NBA MVP award in the regular season.

While the series has received critical acclaim, some involved have been disapproving of the way events have been portrayed and questioned the involvement of Jordan’s production company.

Ex-Bulls star Horace Grant branded Jordan a liar when he accused his former team-mate of being a source for Sam Smith’s book ‘The Jordan Rules’, which paints the Hall of Famer in an unflattering light.

Scottie Pippen, who was beside Jordan for each of the Bulls’ six championships in the eight-year span, was another ex-player to appear in the documentary and who was supposedly unhappy with his portrayal.

In one episode, Jordan said Pippen was “selfish” over his decision to delay foot surgery that saw him miss the start of the 199798 season. (Omnisport)

ery ball and hoping that maybe that record could be consigned elsewhere, so it could be a rock under someone else’s towel,” Ford said.

“BUT IT JUST WASN’T TO BE” Ford said the result was now part of the tapestry of cricket in New Zealand.

“It’s such a fundamental

part of New Zealand cricket history that if it wasn’t there the game here would be poorer for it.

“People who follow cricket in New Zealand are generally not there for the winning, they’re there to enjoy the game and sometimes results like that are part of it, painful though that may be.”`(AFP)

Australia confident of hosting India, could tour England MELBOURNE, Australia (Reuters) - Australia are a “nine out of 10” chance to host India for a Test series in the home summer and could also tour England for limited overs series beforehand, Cricket Australia boss Kevin Roberts said.

Cricket has been shut down since March due to the novel coronavirus outbreak and while travel curbs remain Australia has begun easing social-distancing restrictions after infections slowed to a trickle.

“I guess there’s no such thing as certainty in today’s world so I can’t say 10 (out of 10), but I’m going to say nine out of 10,” Roberts told a roundtable held by Australia’s News Corp when asked about the prospects of India touring.

“I’d be really surprised if we can’t get the Indian tour away. But I wouldn’t - hand on heart - suggest we’ll have full crowds from the start.

“We’ll just have to wait and see how that goes.”

Australia had planned to tour England in July for

one-day and Twenty20 series before the COVID-19 pandemic plunged the international schedule into doubt.

England are looking at hosting the West Indies and Pakistan in July and August.

Roberts said he had spoken to the England and Wales Cricket Board on Wednesday and there was “some chance” Australia could tour England after the West Indies and Pakistan tours.

“Obviously we won’t jeopardise the safety of the players, but the best test of that is that the West Indian and Pakistan tours ... go off without a hitch,” he said.

Roberts was less optimistic about Australia’s chances of hosting the Twenty20 World Cup, scheduled to start in October, given the logistical challenge of bringing in 15 teams.

“We don’t have clarity on that one, yet. But as the situation continues to improve, you never know what might be possible,” he said.

“It’s ultimately a decision for the ICC (International Cricket Council).”

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE May 24, 2020

CWI close to getting ECB’s final plan for safe England tour BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC) — Cricket West Indies (CWI) should soon have a final UK-government approved plan from the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) outlining how the Caribbean side can safely go ahead with their summer tour.

Based on an update received from the ECB at a meeting earlier this week, CWI Chief Executive Officer Johnny Grave is optimistic the safety of the players would be assured.

“I think it’s safe to say that they’re [ECB] getting increasingly confident that they’ve got a robust plan for what’s now being referred to as bio-secure cricket behind closed doors,” he said on the Mason and Guest radio show here Tuesday night.

“Our medical team is getting comfortable with those plans. The logistics are starting to be developed and I would say…we’re getting closer to, I think, being in a position to receive what would be a definitive plan by the ECB that’s been approved by the UK Government for us to consider.”

The three-Test series, scheduled to begin on June 4 but postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic, which curtailed sporting activity across the globe, is now tentatively set for early July.

Legendary West Indies captain, Sir Clive Lloyd, also speaking on Mason and Guest from his home in England on Tuesday night, had expressed reservations about the tour, given the number of COVID-19 cases and deaths in the UK. Over 250,000 people have so far tested positive for the highly con-

tagious virus, including more than 36,000 who have died. The UK is fifth in the world in the number of cases and second behind the United States in terms of number of deaths.

However, Englishman Grave contended that, in addition to the peak of the COVID-19 outbreak having passed at the start of April, a bio-secure environment would be created for the West Indies players in England, and “the medical practitioners seem to be getting more and more confident that it will certainly be a very safe environment for the players to be in”.

He explained that once the green light is given for the tour, the 25-man squad would be tested at a private facility three days before travel to England.

The players would be flown by private charter to Antigua where they would board another charter flight to the United Kingdom. On arrival, they would be tested and quarantined for two weeks at a bio-secure venue where they would stay and play for the duration of the tour. The England players would also be quarantined ahead of the first Test.

“They [West Indies] are going to have four weeks in the UK – two weeks in quarantine, two weeks of preparation, so a whole month really – to get used to this environment,” Grave said.

“Certainly, we are doing everything we can to work with the players, work with the team management, and obviously the ECB to ensure that environment that I just described is one that the players can be comfortable in, not just from a safety and health point of view, but also in terms

of their mental well-being – that they’re not going to be cooped up in hotel rooms and that they’ve got access to the kind of home comfort and entertainment that they would expect and need for what would be seven weeks in a bio-secure environment.”

Questioned about who would fit the bill for the costs associated with such an undertaking, the cricket CEO said CWI would pay the players’ match fees, as is the norm for overseas tours.

However, he said, the travel bill is under discussion.

“We wouldn’t normally travel via charter flight to the UK so those are the discussions we are having with the ECB as they look to get a greater understanding of what the costs are going to be to host such a tour,” Grave said.

Addressing the issue of revenue sharing in cricket globally, Grave said he hoped that coming out of the current COVID-19 crisis, there would be a more equitable model of revenue distribution.

“We’ve lobbied now for a good few years around the economic model, around the fact that the revenue sharing, as it currently is, isn’t really sharing – it’s stacked in favour of the nations that have the biggest market and they already have a huge competitive financial advantage from that perspective anyway,” he said.

“We continue to ask for a pooling of revenues and a greater sharing of those revenues amongst the nations because we believe it’s key for everyone’s sustainability.”

CSA refuses to back Smith’s support of Ganguly

JOHANNESBURG (AFP) - The divisions in South African cricket were exposed again when Cricket South Africa (CSA) president Chris Nenzani said Graeme Smith’s call for Sourav Ganguly to become International Cricket Council chairman did not have official approval.

“We must respect both the ICC protocol and our own protocol in deciding which candidate to back,” Nenzani, a controversial figure who has stayed in office despite several calls for his resignation, said on Thursday night.

“There have been no candidates nominated as yet and once such nominations have been made the Board of CSA will take its decision in terms of its own protocol.”

Smith, CSA’s director of cricket, said at a press conference on Thursday that he believed India’s Ganguly, a

Former India Test captain and current BCCI president Souvrav Ganguly fellow former Test captain, was the best man to succeed another Indian Shashank Manohar, whose term as ICC chairman is about to expire.

“We have the highest regard for the opinions of our director of cricket, Graeme Smith, who is a well-respected figure in world cricket and

has already made an immense contribution in fulfilling his mandate to make our cricket teams world leaders again,” said Nenzani. “At the moment we don’t want to anticipate any candidates who may be nominated for this important position to lead the game we all love.”

The administration of cricket in South Africa has been in turmoil since the constitution of CSA was changed at the annual meeting last September to allow Nenzani an extra year in office after he had already served the maximum two threeyear terms.

The extension was ostensibly to guide the organisation through a new system headed by then-chief executive Thabang Moroe.

But Moroe proved a divisive figure and was suspended in December on charges of misconduct. Before his suspension

he had alienated the country’s players’ association and created a storm when he withdrew the accreditation of five journalists who had been critical of him.

A major sponsor ended its relationship with CSA and another sponsor called for the resignation of the board, headed by Nenzani. This call was echoed by the players’ association. Two of CSA’s five independent directors and one non-independent director resigned.

Jacques Faul, chief executive of the successful Titans franchise, was appointed as interim chief executive and Smith took the director of cricket role after initially expressing misgivings.

Since then Faul and Smith have effectively taken charge of running the game in the country, while the board have largely remained in the background – until Nenzani’s statement on Thursday night.

Joshua’s promoters don’t want Fury fight - Warren FRANK Warren thinks Anthony Joshua’s promoters want to avoid a heavyweight unification fight with Tyson Fury as it would be too risky for their fighter.

Bob Arum, Fury’s co-promoter along with Warren, has held preliminary talks with Matchroom Boxing boss Eddie Hearn over the prospect of a mouthwatering all-British bout.

WBC champion Fury faces a third fight with Deontay Wilder next, while Joshua is due to step into the ring with Kubrat Pulev after their bout - scheduled for June - was called off amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Warren believes the main issue getting in the way of a deal being agreed for Fury and Joshua to fight is Match-

Anthony Joshua (left) and Tyson Fury room promoters do not want it to happen.

He told talkSPORT: “My concern, first and foremost, although they talk about it a lot, Matchroom, I don’t think they want the fight. I don’t think they want to put AJ in with Tyson, I really don’t think so.

“I hear all the noises, but actions speak louder than words and at the moment it seems to me – and I’m not normally wrong on things like this – I’ve got a gut feeling they don’t want it and I think that’s for a reason.

“I think Tyson’s the best heavyweight on the planet, there’s no doubt about that, and it’s a big risk for them. It’s a feeling from me. I’ve never had any conversations (with Matchroom) because I don’t deal with them.

“I know they’ve had talks with the MTK people (Fury’s managers), I know there’s also been conversation with Bob Arum, but I’ve told them all the way through this I don’t think they want it.

“If Tyson, which I believe he will do, beats AJ, then they’ve got a problem.”

Warren also revealed that an offer has been received for Fury to fight Wilder in the Far East, but refused to confirm Macau in China was the location.

“I can’t say that (the offer is from Macau) at the moment, (but) it is from the Far East,” he said.

“The fight will be back end of the year. All of the big fights are gonna be back end of the year.” (Omnisport)

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Sunday May 24, 2020) COMPLIMENTS OF XTRA ENERGY DRINK – STABROEK BAZAAR (Tel-683-9500) & CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD- 83 Garnett Street, Campbellville, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158)

Answers to yesterday’s quiz:

(1)James Anderson (vs PAK, The Oval, 2003) (2)Jerome Taylor (vs Australia, Mumbai, 2006)

Today’s Quiz:

(1)Which English wicketkeeper has effected most dismissals against the WI in ODIs to date?

(2)Which WI wicketkeeper has effected most dismissals against England in ODIs to date?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

35

SUNDAY CHRONICLE May 24, 2020

Shamika Marcus defying the odds to succeed

By Ras Wadada IN a country where very little is being provided for women’s football development and the light at the end of the proverbial tunnel seems dim, the second local-bred player has broken free from the shackles of the under-development of the sport, here, in Guyana.

The first female to do so is goalkeeper Natalie Nedd who is now in her junior year at Graceland University in Iowa.

In just under seven years of taking to the “Beautiful Game’ that 23-year-old Shamika Marcus, who hails from the village of Vergenoegen on the East Bank of Essequibo, continues to make positive progress on and off the football pitch. And after her first semester at the Essex County College in Newark, New Jersey she is focussed and determined to succeed.

“My first semester at College was tremendous, challenging and interesting. I have learnt a lot, not only academically, but a great lot about myself.

“There have been so many lessons about life in my first year at College, and I am truly appreciative of all the experiences and memories so far. At first it was a bit difficult to adapt to the new and different environment but thank God I did.

College has definitely made me a stronger individual, willing to accept challenges.

“I must add that I am fortunate to be playing with a great and resilient group of young women with an exceptional coaching staff. We had a great season and ended 2nd runners-up in our Region of the NJCAA Division 1 in which I scored 2 goals and had 5 assists.

Personally, it has been a first year that can be described, so far, as challenging and fun. The level of play in America is vastly different from in Guyana since it requires a higher level of intensity and more technical awareness,” proclaimed the former Uitvlugt Secondary student who gained passes in 8 CXC subjects in 2014.

“My academics are priority for me and I honestly feel there is no other option where my education is concerned, so my focus is finishing my two years at Essex with a high GPA and going on to College for a four-year Bachelor’s degree programme. I believe there is life after football.

“It is not easy playing football and studying but the truth is there are so many positives, like it teaches you responsibility on how to manage yourself and time. It is a life skill that you can actually take throughout life and I am enjoying it since it is a learning process on how it can impact on

Twenty-three-year-old Shamika Marcus, who hails from the village of Vergenoegen on the East Bank of Essequibo. my life in the future”, stated Marcus who attended Philadelphia Primary School at Vergenoegen.

The eldest offspring from the union of Keith and Deryl Marcus recalled that it was her Accounts teacher who got her involved in the sport, ”My initiation with the “Beautiful Game’ was in 2013 while attending Uitvlugt Secondary School. It was my teacher Ms Chevon Monchoir, a role model and confidant, whom I admired with much grace that introduced me, and although I was hesitant at first, due to my lack of knowledge, I decided to give it a try and indeed it was the best decision,” a thankful Marcus declared.

In an invited comment, teacher Chevon Monchoir professed, “Her attitude towards

hard work and commitment to excel earned her accolades in her academics and football.

I taught her Principles of Account in Grade 10 and overtime I noticed her athletic ability whenever she played cricket with the boys during recess, so I encouraged her to play football which she declined at first before she eventually committed herself to participate”.

“Over the years I have developed a passion for the game and it has become the driving force of my life. My focus on the sport has been persistent hard work and along the way I have experienced tremendous growth and success as well as support from fellow players, close friends and family,” cited the solidly built midfielder who considers herself a utility player.

Reflecting on her seven years with the sport, Marcus explained, “In my first year of the sport I was named captain of the school team and we brought 3rd in the West Demerara Football Association’s (WDFA) competition and my performances earned me a place on the WDFA’s female team.

The next year, 2014, we improved and won the WDFA Girls Championship. 2016 was a bit disappointing as I was offered a try out at Sporting CP Women’s team in Portugal, but the trip did not materialise. The offer nevertheless provided exposure for me as I was now being viewed as a player with talent and the following year I was called to the Guyana national team’s encampment held in Berbice.

That same year 2017, I successfully completed a CONCACAF ‘D’ License Coaching course. In 2018 I was again part of the local National team encampment in the city, this time, and also received my ‘D’ License Certificate”.

In 2019, through the instrumentality of former Guyana national footballer, Kevin Beaton, she attended a try-out and secured a 2-year Student Athletic Scholarship at Essex County College in Newark, New Jersey.

“I started at Essex on September 4, 2019 in pursuit of an Associate degree in Business Management. In fact, I was also offered a scholarship at Bryan and Stratton College in Upstate NY, but chose Essex since it was more financially sound.”

According to Marcus, her first love, as regards sports, is certainly cricket and she still has a love for it, but admitted that, “I have no regrets that I stopped playing cricket and switched to football. At a very tender age, I can remember my dad, who was very strict and never wanted me going over to the neighbour’s house or outside to play with my friends on Sundays.

And so he would have me stay indoors

to watch cricket and that’s how I fell in love with cricket. My family background is more associated with cricket as I have an uncle, Kevon Boodie who has a double-century playing Inter-county for Essequibo and my late grandfather also played cricket.”

Despite never making a Guyana National selection the former Lady Fox says she is thankful for the experiences gained from being encamped with national training squads. Marcus gained a 3.83 GPA in her first semester and is expecting a similar or better grade for the 2nd semester, which had to be done from home online and which results will be known shortly.

When questioned on the impact of the COVID-19 she replied, “This pandemic has taken a toll on my psyche and it has been extremely stressful having to deal with remote classes and being homesick. Anxiety has become a part of me since this lockdown but I constantly remind myself that there is a God and should not worry, but pray more and seek his presence.

“I have been channelling my energies in a spiritual way and trusting and believing that this will soon be over. During this time I am a bit worried about my family at home, but I have been taught the importance of prayers by my granny, Wilma Marcus.

“Whenever I start to feel homesick and think about my parents, I remind myself of the reason for being here and I just pray.

However, my motivation is always what my parents have taught me because while growing up their emphasis has always been on education and I really want to make them proud. They are not that talkative but I know they are elated at the opportunity I have been given to be here.”

Chronicle Sport also caught up with her coach at Essex County College, Monique Douard who was loud in praise, “Shamika is a well-respected individual who takes her schoolwork seriously. She knows what she wants and why she is here. I wish I had many kids like her. She was part of the impact we had last season and towards the end of the season she made a big improvement on her game after adjusting to the fast-paced game here in the USA. I feel this coming season will be her defining season.”

Marcus’ parents, along with many others have been very supportive so far: “The GFF has definitely played a pivotal role with needed resources and also Claudia Simon, a Guyanese living in the USA, Forrester Lumber Yard, team mates, family members and friends too numerous to mention. It has been a collective effort that I am really thankful for.”

Guyanese ex-athletes and friends’ event called off this year THE current global pandemic has forced another sporting event to be cancelled, here, in Guyana. The much anticipated trilogy of athletic events, organised and run by former Guyanese athletes and friends as part of the country’s Independence celebrations, is the latest victim of COVID-19.

According to chief organiser of the Plaisance-oriented one-day event which started in 2016, “While we cannot deny our disappointment, it is something we have no control over and as such we can only look forward to its return next year.”

The 1972 National Schools’ 100m and 200m sprint champion, Noel ‘Bryner’ Campbell, via ‘WhatsApp’ to Chronicle Sport from New York, explained that the emphasis of the

event since the inception has been on the youths and that he and his team have been encouraged by the increasing interest and participation.

“In 2016 we started out with the 5K for juniors and 10K for seniors on the road and then in 2018 we added the relays for male and female athletes. Last year we introduced the Village Mile for students living, born and/or raised in Plaisance.

“On the advice of the Minister of Sport we have changed the name to the Plaisance-Sparendaam Golden Mile”, the former born-andbred athlete from Plaisance, ‘Bryner’, stated.

The event was scheduled to take place yesterday (Saturday, May 23) and now the attention is on planning for a grand occasion next year. (Ras Wadada)

Last year’s winners of the Golden Mile

FLASHBACK: Steve Waugh and Curtly Ambrose go toe-to-toe .Ambrose raged closer to Waugh, who stood his ground as the Trinidad crowd seethed, until West Indian captain Richie Richardson stepped in to drag Ambrose away - a scene depicted in what is now one of the most famous photographs in Australian cricket.(AAP)

Waugh v Ambrose

When Curtly Ambrose wanted to knock Steve Waugh out WEST Indian fast bowling legend Curtly Ambrose has revealed the story about his infamous on-field spat with Steve Waugh in 1995, during which he says he came close to trying to “knock out” the Australian batsman.

In his autobiography, Ambrose explained the verbal duel he and Waugh had on the first day of the third Test at Queen’s Park Oval in Port of Spain, Trinidad, with the hosts trailing

The lockdown in New York has restricted Elton Dharry’s gym time

0-1 in the four-match series.

After hearing from a teammate that Waugh had sworn at him, Ambrose had asked the Australian why did he do it, to which the right-handed batsman replied: “I can say what I want to say”.

“That was when I ripped into him and let him have it: ‘Man, don’t you effing swear at me again.’ And I don’t swear a lot so for me to use expletives it was clear that my anger was

at boiling point. I lost it. If he had said nothing to what I had asked him, or even told me he didn’t swear, it would have ended right there, but when he came back at me again with all guns blazing, there was no holding back,” Ambrose was quoted as saying by The Guardian.

“I got seriously heated. I told him, ‘Man, I will knock you out - here and now. I don’t care if I have no career left’. That was when Richie intervened and told me to forget about it, and

it was a good job he did because my ability to restrain myself was gone.”

The then 29-year-old Waugh contributed an unbeaten 63 for Australia’s total of 128 in the first innings where Ambrose took 5/45 and went on to win the man-of-thematch award as West Indies won by nine wickets to level the series 1-1.

(See story on page 32)

Dharry turns down ESPN fight against WBO number one contender due to COVID-19

By Faizool Deo ACE Guyanese boxer Elton Dharry was forced to refuse an ESPN fight due to a lack of training stemming from COVID-19 lockdown protocols in place in New York.

The Brooklyn resident, who has kept Guyana in the top 15 of the World Boxing Association (WBA) Super Flyweight division since 2014 and in the top 10 for two consecutive years (moving as high as fifth), was recently offered a fight against number one contender in the World Boxing Organisation (WBO) bantamweight division, Joshua Greer Jr. Dharry, who noted that the June 13 battle would have been a “huge

fight” for him, said that the lockdown has hampered his gym time and he is unprepared.

“I was very, very tempted to take the fight, but knowing I will not be fully prepared due to the current situation I had to let it go.”

The Top Rank fighter Greer Jr, who has 22 wins, one loss and a draw in his professional career, would have been Dharry’s second major fight in six months, given that the Leguan-born went up against Australian Andrew Maloney in November for the WBA Super Flyweight World title.

Though he lost the very close bout (via a debatable stoppage by the referee one second into the ninth round), the Guyanese proved his dominance in the

ring. Not only did he drop his opponent (was not acknowledged by the referee), but he burst Maloney’s eardrum in the fifth round.

Since lockdown started on March 22 in New York, Dharry has had to resort to regular training at home. He even travelled to Pocono Mountains (Poconos) in Pennsylvania to get sparring sessions, but no boxer was available.

The US-based Guyanese, who has fought professionally for the last 16 years said that he is looking forward to getting back into the ring, but it must be after he is prepared.

“I’m hoping to fight later this year. I’ll be ready as soon as I can get back in a gym and start sparring.”

Shamika Marcus defying the odds to succeed 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

See story on page 35 SUNDAY, MAY 24, 2020