Kaieteur News

K

AIETEUR NEWS

Guyana’s largest selling daily & New York’s most popular weekly

Ministry says no new COVID-19 case

Friday Edition April 10, 2020 -Vol. 22 No. 14

Online: www.kaieteurnews.com Price $80

- four patients now in ICU

p.

3

Online readership yesterday 161,880

Recount can be done in 10 days Opposition Commissioners say...

p.

18

GPHC doctors introduce initiative to help kidney failure patients ‘STAY HOME’ p.

8

No role for electoral crooks We believe there is a state-sponsored conspiracy to rig the results of the elections. High government officials along with key and highly-placed individuals within the Guyana Elections Commission are complicit in this plot.

Attempts to ensure a transparent declaration of the results are being frustrated every step of the way. Forces within the government intend to remain in office by hook or by crook. Evidence is emerging that this may be tied to financial skullduggery and personal enrichment.

Those who have been implicated, thus far, in electoral mischief should play no further role in the proposed recount of votes. Equally, there can be no toleration of electoral crooks within government.

We urge the international community to act decisively and to begin imposing, immediately, targeted sanctions on those individuals who are bent on continuing to thwart the democratic will of the Guyanese people so as to deter further attempts to derail democracy.

Next edition on Sunday

Top exploration wells in Guyana,

six other territories at risk of being p.

13

SBM Offshore says project delays delayed - Rystad Energy unavoidable as some crewp. Police investigating members test positive for 7 gunplay after mining COVID-19, others quarantined camp invasion p.3

Major probe launched after mercury container on wharf found empty p.

3

PAGE 02

Kaieteur News

Friday April 10, 2020

Kaieteur News

Friday April 10, 2020

PAGE 03

Major probe launched Ministry says no after mercury container new COVID-19 case on wharf found empty - four patients now in ICU

By Mikaila Prince

A

large quantity of mercury flasks have reportedly disappeared from a city wharf and it has sparked a major investigation.

Yesterday, Commissioner-General of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), Godfrey Statia, confirmed that an investigation has begun into the alleged disappearance of a quantity of mercury flasks from a container at a wharf.

He declined to give details. However, a source close to the investigation, disclosed that that a Berbice businessman- the consignee- came on Monday to clear the container which arrived since September.

The container was supposed to have contained 77 flasks of mercury.

However, after the paperwork would have been completed, the container was opened in the presence of a Customs Officer and the consignee- shockingly it was empty.

Kaieteur News was told that there are now discrepancies with the seal on the container.

It was explained that all containers come sealed from the points of origin.

However, in this case, it appeared that there were questions over the seal.

The official said that the wharf officials have launched their own probe and have called in investigators from the GRA and the police. Security footage can't find evidence of tampering.

However, there are some other emerging sides of the story. It appeared that it is not the first time that mercury has disappeared from the same wharf. Last year, another Berbician claimed that several flasks were missing from a container. There were reportedly over 100 flasks. Dozens were missing when the container was opened.

An investigation that was launched found no evidence that container was opened prior

A

A container of mercury is empty at a city wharf, with authorities disclosing yesterday that a probe has started. to Customs checking it.

The situation of the two containers has the wharf management, GRA and police now questioning whether there was any collusion between staffers, Customs officials and others.

A spokesman of the wharf said that the 77 “missing” flasks would have a street value of $77M. It would be sourced for less than $20M. There is a huge tax charge on mercury, which is used heavily in gold mining.

In recent years, following the signing of a key agreement by countries, Guyana has been gradually reducing the quantities of mercury entering the country. The move is to see an eventual banning of mercury.

As it is now, there are several hurdles, including permits from the Environmental Protection Agency, before mercury can be imported. There are huge profits to be made.

Police investigating gunplay after mining camp invasion

T

he police in Region 10 have started an investigation in which gunmen invaded a mining camp in the Upper Berbice area, in an apparent dispute.

During the invasion on Wednesday, at the Iron Mountain camp, an area off the Unamco road, near the Demerara Timbers concession, there were shots fired in what workers said was a clear attempt to bully them to remove from the area.

A senior official was assaulted during the incident. According to a camp manager, the operation was a prospecting one with about 17 workers.

The camp was being managed by a businessman known as 'Sunna'.

It was explained that the mining block was controlled by a man named 'Benson'

The gunmen in the camp on Wednesday

who acquired it through the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission.

Permission was apparently granted to 'Sunna' and another man called 'Adolphus' and 'Isaacs' to work in separate areas.

“These guys say they own the land. They don't care about Mr. Benson,” one of the workers explained.

On Saturday, heavily armed men came with someone and attempted to (continued on page 16)

s of noon yesterday, there was no new confirmed case of the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Guyana. This is according to Minister of Public Health ( M O P H ) , M s . Vo l d a Lawrence, during her daily COVID-19 update to the nation.

As it stands, she said, there are 37 confirmed cases, 115 negative tests and six deaths. A total of 152 persons have been tested thus far.

The Public Health Minister was keen to inform that a virtual meeting was convened yesterday morning to discuss alternative testing modalities, such as the use of rapid testing, as well as the use of medications, specifically the use of hyroxychloroquine and chloroquine. Participants of the meeting included technical experts from PAHO's Washington office, representatives of private hospitals in Guyana, the local Medical Council, the private sector and members of the media fraternity.

According to the Minister, the number of persons housed under the Health Ministry's quarantine and isolation facilities are 11 and 22 respectively— a decrease from 27 and 30 reported on Wednesday.

Lawrence further disclosed that four persons are now patients in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), one of whom has developed worsened conditions.

Public Health Minister, Volda Lawrence Additionally, the 21 Guyanese who returned from Barbados a few weeks ago were medically cleared to be sent home. Seven persons on home- quarantine were also cleared.

Concerned citizens continue to call the COVID19 hotline which, up to yesterday, totalled to 1,701.

The Health Minister reminded persons to utilize the hotline provided in their respective regions.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the global cases stand at 1, 436, 198, with 85,522 deaths.

In the Region of the Americas, there are 454,710

cases and 14,755 deaths.

The Health Minister took the opportunity to remind members of the public that there are no vaccines or medications to address the Coronavirus disease.

Against this backdrop, she appealed to Guyanese to practice good hygiene, social and physical distancing, as well as cough and sneeze etiquette.

“If you value your life, your friends, families and neighbours, then stay at home, and encourage all to do the same. Step out only if necessary. Act wisely, stay safe,” she appealed.

She was also keen to note that “as we approach the Easter weekend, the curfew is still in effect.

If you can fly your kite in the confines of your yard, then go right ahead,” she said. Meanwhile, Lawrence stated that discussion are ongoing with the Chinese and Cuban governments to have specialized medical officers sent to Guyana to aid in combatting the Coronavirus.

“We're not just asking for persons; we're asking especially for specialized personnel in those areas where we are either short of personnel, or where we don't have enough to go around,” she stated.

NOTICE TO DIABETICS

T

he President of the Guyana Diabetic Association, Ms. Glynis Beaton, will be distributing strips and insulin today [Good Friday] at the VNK Logistics Inc, formerly

Clean Car Complex (drive through car wash), opposite the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The distribution exercise will take place between 9am and 12 noon.

PAGE 4

Friday April 10, 2020

Kaieteur News

Kaieteur News Printed and Published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd. 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, Guyana.

Publisher: GLENN LALL Editor: Sharmain Grainger Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491. Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210

EDITORIAL

Where are our religious leaders?

One of the defining characteristics of any sound society is that when the world of the secular is in shreds, the realm of the spiritual steps forward to offer virtuous wisdom to political men. It is at such times that religious leaders of the multitudes of faithful believers rise to the occasion to stand against haughty political men by standing for right.

Where are our religious leaders today? By their inaudible voices never pressing, by their chronic and telling inactions, they prove themselves more of man than of God. It could be said that they are all of men and nothing about God. The revealing register of the near total absence of those elders of long testing experience seeped in the religious commandments that they intone so powerfully about at worship, like today, but then have little to say to influence the minds of leaders, and energise this society forward.

They cannot say anything because religious leaders of all stripes-have compromised themselves by identifying too closely with the worldly men of politics, they cannot say much for fear of offending political masters. The coalition has an army of its own defenders and, by the same token, the opposition has its own staunch absolutely committed men of scripture.

On both sides of the great national racial divide, there are men of the cloth, who are proud to call themselves faithful servants of those who have hurt us and hijacked our spirit.

Having sold themselves, our religious leaders owe their loyalty and their allegiance. They can only sell what is pleasing to the political men.

This is what some-too many-of our religious leaders in their places of worship have identified with and spoken loudly in favour of before their listening audiences, be they comprised of the educated, or the many brigades of the not so bright. Many of them have painted themselves into the deepest corner, they cannot advance, without fearing that they will displease not God, but earthly Guyanese political leaders.

It is not in them, nowhere is to be found that which is needed now, which unassociated and uncompromised and unsparing men and women could discover and speak out against by speaking to truth. Thus, they speak of suspect political truths full-time, subjecting calling to the whims and caprices of arbitrary men. They can stand for nothing that embodies the power, brotherhood, and justice of their respective callings, not any of the things that should differentiate them from the terrible wrongs committed against and heaped upon the flocks of believers.

That is why when our religious leaders should be in the forefront of civil society pleading, or pressuring, or pouring out dissatisfaction and displeasure at what Guyanese political leaders are doing to the people, they are absent and silent. They lack the independence, they are devoid of the neutrality required so desperately at this hour, to lead by example, to lead through the exceptional virtues that lift all listeners to a place other than the gutters, into which our political leaders sentence us.

Our religious leaders need to be outstanding today. But today, they stand for the minimal. When they should be binding, they contribute to the separating, when they should be advancing for what is national, they are retreating into the regular racial.Our political leaders have taken advantage of citizens for their own selfish divisive purposes, our religious leaders, who should be calling them out and calling at them loud, have only added to the angry fires that rage.

When the calming and helping are most urgently needed, the men of God have been more interested in adding to the dividing and the self-defeating. If the men of high teachings are of this way, then not much better could be expected of the men of the political misusing class.

Clearly, our religious men and women have lost their way in their priorities and their prostrations, which render them unable to be the distinguishing presences so much demanded right now. And when they lost their way, they led many down the path taken. Look at us as a society, and we cannot find any footing, but the ones that imperil us.

Guyanese religious voices are silent. They silenced themselves.

GTT pay cut; wrong move, wrong time DEAR EDITOR, That announcement from GTT about a pay cut leaves a bad taste in the mouth and all over.

The best that can be said about it, is that it comes over as rather coldblooded and heartless with a business as usual mentality, in an environment that is anything but usual.

This is adding acid to the wounds of those who are struggling to keep their heads above water. It is too early, too untimely, too out of touch and in the most jarring fashion.

As much as many would like to stay away from work and be paid for doing so, what has been prompted by circumstances is not voluntary but mandatory, as in wisely implemented by management to protect the health of workers and minimize exposure to those who have to remain on the job.

Stay home, stay clear, stay safe should be the watchwords and guiding pri n ciples.

If this pay cut was happening several months into a crisis that is still developing, then there would be some understanding, for this is not the way that businesses could continue to stay

in business.

But for forced pay cuts to be put on the table this early, I think is applying a painful financial squeeze when it is not necessary.

Due to the nature of the technologies around, most of what GTT offers in its menu of telecommunications services has not slowed to a halt.

I would think that most, if not all, of the normal range of services continue unaffected.

This includes landlines using the old technologies; international calling facilities continue uninterrupted; Blaze linking people by phone and internet remain untouched; and mobile connectivity still enjoys its normal traffic. I just received my monthly charges for all of those, as I would think most users.

So, what is the problem here that calls for a pay cut?

What has changed so drastically and quickly that this heavy-handed step had to be contemplated and then delivered?

Whatever the answer, what makes this pay cut disturbing and unacceptable to me, is not only its timing, and its certain effects on those most unable to absorb it.

I must question the necessity for it, when GTT’s revenue streams and bottom line businesses remain largely untouched.

Come to think of it, since people are locked in and in greater numbers, there is only the television and the phone to connect to the outside world.

The former is visual and renders the viewer passive; the latter helps individuals to remain connected and somewhat active.

As a news report from New York noted, the old-fashioned phone call is making a strong comeback, since so many are, in effect, marooned. Thus, the telephone becomes the lifeline to one’s network of friends and family, who are also in enforced solitary. People want to be comforted by the voice of loved ones. Depending on how accessed and used, this is good for business.

It is against these contexts that GTT saw it timely and proper to add what could only be termed as insult to injury.

As is known, there is no safety net of unemployment insurance in Guyana at this stage, hence workers have little on which to fall back during hard times, unlike

people close to me overseas, who do have such facilities now enhanced by a stimulus relief package (the CARES Act).

This is a hard time, and threatens to be the hardest of all, should worst case scenarios transform into reality.

As if to disparage the unwisdom of that pay cut decision, the government came out to announce that public servants’ compensation would stay the way it is for the rest of the year.

This is a good step that has to become, and quickly, the standard for larger and well-established businesses.

I would recommend such consideration for the nearterm at least.

As a start, I would define that as the next three months, should workers be compelled to remain off premises.

High performing blue chips have little excuse not to follow suit, if only to assure workers that their wellbeing is high on the agenda; their corporate profits point in the ability to deliver such magnanimity.

This would include taking care of the money side while the lockdown is on. I urge GTT to reconsider.

Sincerely, GHK Lall

Why strip the whole roof when a single zinc still doubt, then the other re- about 156 days does not give sheet is leaking? gions could be selected in or- comfort to the nation. HowDEAR EDITOR, The Private Sector Commission’s call for a Region 4 recount only, should not have attracted the condemnation from responsible and caring minds.

Guyana, like the rest of the world, faces unimaginable harm from the COVID-19.

Several practical emergency measures are in place to reduce the hurt to the nation.

Which member of the Private Sector Commission, or any other person, would strip the whole roof off his premises after identifying the single zinc sheet which is leaking, and knowing there are heavier rains coming? None.

Their attention will be on the area where the leak is, and the most time-saving, practical way will be used to get the job done, even at extra cost.

The extra cost will be weighed against the damage that will

be done if the leak is not fixed before the heavy rains. Businessmen always look for the most efficient way to get things done.Most will agree that a Region 4 ballot recount should be the first to be undertaken, preferably just to be completed.

This is where the main discrepancy exists. If there is

der of merit for recount.

The Private Sector Commission’s worry about the many negative impacts of the COVID-19 should not be ignored. And any thoughts of prolonging the conclusion of the ballot count should not be considered.

Mr. Lowenfield’s estimation that the recount will take

ever, if the 156 days is manhour days, then the duration can be drastically reduced to single figure days by employing more people to get the job done. Cost should not be an issue, as there was no costbenefit done on the several court cases.

Sincerely Faiyaz Alli

See you in Rugby heaven, John DEAR EDITOR, I was deeply shocked to learn of the death of John Lewis. Long before I became President of the Rugby Union, John served for some ten (10) years as President and, before that, played for and captained Guyana’s Rugby Team. He was, as far as I know, the longest serving President of the Rugby Union, having served for ten (10) years, then again one (1)

Tribute to a Fallen Comrade – Komal Chand DEAR EDITOR, He was a Labour Leader genuinely committed to the Working Class. His endeavours to help the poor, in many cases quietly, are legendary. We worked together seeking solutions rather than confrontations.He belonged to an era that is swiftly passing. I respected this man as a Trade Unionist and as a Principled Man. My sympathy to his family and his Union.

May he rest in peace.

Keith Scott

year later.

During my years as President, John was a tower of strength, serving, if my memory serves me correctly, for one (1) year as my Vice President, and then in the thankless task as Match Secretary.

He also served for some years as Team Manager of our enormously successful Sevens Team.

On my retirement, John

succeeded me as President and, thereafter, continued to serve in various executive positions until the time of his death.

I know that whenever Rugby resumes, the Guyana Rugby Football Union will have lost its greatest stalwart.

See you in Rugby heaven, John.

Yours sincerely, Kit Nascimento Former President GRFU

Plan could see Coalition almost two years in gov’t after the NCM DEAR EDITOR, If the 156-day plan as presented by GECOM is allowed to be accepted, it means a recount could be concluded close to year end, and would see the caretaker Coalition government being in office almost two years after the successful passage of the no- confidence motion.

Shamshun Mohamed

Friday April 10, 2020

Let’s never forget where the oil companies’ priorities lie DEAR EDITOR, Over the last few weeks, Exxon has been busy reassuring its shareholders that they will receive their dividend cheques, and donating meals and cash to those in need in New Mexico and Texas. This signals where Exxon priorities lie, in terms of those who benefit from the profits of its operations, and it is clearly not the Guyanese people.

Currently, Exxon is engaged in massive capital and operation reductions. Exxon has stated it plans to reduce most of the operations in the Permian basin. This basin spans New Mexico and Texas.

However, it has not indicated any deep cuts for its operations in Guyana. This would make financial sense, because Exxon’s breakeven cost for its offshore operations in Guyana are significantly lower than those in Permian basin.

On Tuesday of this week, the CEO of Exxon, Darren Woods, appeared on one of the major financial media outlets, CNBC, to state that it won’t cut its dividends. His reasoning was that many retail shareholders depend on those dividends.

Last year, Exxon paid US$14.7 billion dollars in dividends. How many of the 780,000 Guyanese living in Guyana benefited from Exxon’s dividend payout last year or will benefit from a similar amount this year? The answer is probably close to Zero.

Over the last week, Exxon has been busy publishing press releases on its website about donations it has made.

It states it will provide a million meals to Texas area food banks. It mentions another initiative where it will help provide internet access to

PAGE 5

Kaieteur News

low income students living in New Mexico.

The per capita incomes for New Mexico and Texas are approximately US$25,000 and US$30,000. The per capita income in Guyana is about US$4,000. The deaths from the virus in Guyana and Texas per 100,000 people are very close. Which region is most in need?

Exxon has started collaborating with Global Center for Medical Innovation (GCMI) to produce face shields and masks. GCMI has already donated 50,000 units to New York and Atlanta. GMCI indicated it is ramping up to produce 170,000 shields per hour.

This would mean GCMI could produce enough face shields for every Guyanese in a day. In the meantime, we have our people sewing cloth masks with thread and needle.

Can we expect any of these shields to be donated to us in the near future? That may be highly unlikely.

Recently, the US President requested 3M to halt shipments of N95 masks to Canada. It clearly shows that in times of need, US companies are under the control of their government to serve the needs of their people first.

In its annual investor day in March, Exxon outlined its case for growth in oil demand.

It had investor charts projecting growth in the World’s demand for oil, because there will be a billion new people by 2030. It had charts projecting (from the International Energy Agency (IEA)) that Coal, Gas and Oil would still account for more than 75% of the world’s energy needs even in 2040. In those charts, it shows Guyana’s deep water operations has the lowest breakeven cost compared to other projects. In those same charts, it shows a lucrative

40% Internal Rate of Return (IRR) for the Stabroek Block in comparison to major other projects whose IRR are around 20% or below.

Exxon knows that the price of oil is determined by geopolitical issues, and demand is easier to predict than price. In 2014, Russia and Saudi Arabia had a dispute about oil production which caused the price of oil to drop.

This dispute is happening again in 2020, and has caused price of oil to drop to historic lows.

Both countries depend on oil to run their nations. We know Saudi Arabia needs oil around US$80/barrel to balance its budget. Hence, at some point, maybe in a few months or maybe in a year, oil prices will start to trend upwards.

Exxon is continuing its investments in Guyana, even at these low oil prices, because it knows it will reap massive profits from Guyana’s oil when prices recover. We are locked in a battle with a pandemic that has essentially brought the country to a halt.

Exxon has bet its future on Guyana, but has turned a blind eye in the time of our greatest need. Instead, it has comforted its large US retail shareholder base that they will get their dividend cheques this year.

Maybe, Exxon has pondered, why help us with this pandemic since if we, the Guyanese people, ask for renegotiation that means a reduction in dividends Exxon can guarantee to its shareholders? We need to renegotiate for a fair deal without delay.

Let’s never forget where the oil companies’ priorities lie.

Darshanand Khusial on behalf of OGGN

APNU-AFC should be the last to be accusing anyone of hypocrisy DEAR EDITOR, As disturbing as the numerous distortions and fabrications coming from APNUAFC have been over the last few weeks, with regard to what transpired during the Region Four vote tabulation, the recent attack on the Private Sector Commission is probably the most disturbing.

APNU-AFC, who, more likely than not, are complicit in the most blatant attempt at

electoral fraud ever seen in Guyana, and who immorally continue to cling to power, should be the last to be accusing anyone of hypocrisy.

They have repeatedly insulted the intelligence of most Guyanese with the most convoluted of narratives in their daily attempts at gas lighting the nation over the Region Four vote tabulation.

The views of the PSC are not the issue. This is a pri-

vate sector body with every right to express its viewThe issues for APNUAFC to note and to act upon are the failure of GECOM to deliver credible elections, the identification of those responsible so that they can be brought to justice, and the installation of a government in accordance with the will of those who cast their ballots on March 2.

Yours truly, Marcel Gaskin

Vote recount timeline recalculation DEAR EDITOR, The announcement by the CEO of GECOM must be a mathematical error.

It sounds as though it’s approximately 12 votes a minute by 1 person to do the entire job of the recount of Regional and General Elections within a 10-hour workday over the course of 156 days.

Surely something can be done in parallel with additional resources.

Just by increasing the number of people involved in the recount to 156 using a 10hour workday (allowing for a 30-minute lunch and two 15minute breaks) the entire recount may be completed in one day at approximately 12

votes recounted per minute.

Maybe it’s an issue of mislabelling in their mathematics calculation.

Please note that these are estimates based on assuming that Region 4’s numbers are in question.

If GECOM allows for a 2day recount with these resources, they will have time to focus on the questionable votes raised during the recount. They should also consider the number of resources which they would like to utilize based on what is manageable.

Given what was accomplished during the elections, a two-day recount expectation is not unreasonable, and the suggestion of the PSC to

focus on the pending SOP ballot boxes is logical. However, it was surprising to see so many regional totals differ from their corresponding general totals, with the exception of District 8.

The team and voters in District 8 appear to have been very consistent in their voting in both the General and Regional Elections. Congratulations to all those involved.

The recount process will require the continual help of all the hard-working teams from March 2, 2020.

Best regards, Mr. Jamil Changlee Chairman The Cooperative Republicans of Guyana

Elections petition, recount and audit DEAR EDITOR, Permit me a few lines to state what I assume is obvious to some. I am also keenly aware that there are multiple persons and groups involved in what now is best described as an attempt to pull a fast one on the Guyanese public, international community and CARICOM. What is the “fast one”? It’s rather straightforward; that is, it appears to the discerning eyes that the PPP/C attempted to rig the March 2020 elections with the aid (perhaps unintended and unbeknownst) of foreign senators, congressmen, a handful regional and in-

ternational groups and a few local organizations and parties.

I rather suspect, however, that given that Guyana is a relatively close-knit society, there were some with partial or complete knowledge of the conspiracy to undermine GECOM, undermine Guyana’s legal system, its electoral system, and to destabilize social relations among the Guyanese people.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the March 2 elections have strained and damaged many relations, not irreparably thank goodness.

Contrary to the agreement that the GECOM (Continued on page 6)

PAGE 6

No group’s impatience must take precedence over credible elections DEAR EDITOR, Another stage in the saga of Guyana’s elections continues, where the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) is now preparing to navigate the logistical nightmare of a National Recount under extreme pressure, and in the middle of a global pandemic that has seen Guyanese deaths and threatens the life and wellbeing of all.

This stage of the saga resulted after GECOM Chair Justice Claudette Singh SC asserted her right to permit a recount of (ballots) to ensure fairness and impartiality of the process. This was deemed lawful by the Appellate Court ruling, that the Commission is entitled to take such action providing it does not extend its authority in the process of so doing.

This was with particular reference to CARICOM “supervising” an agreed recount signed for by President David Granger and Mr. Bharrat Jagdeo, Leader of the PPP List of Representatives, after the declaration of the Region Four results.

In a release, Justice Claudette Singh said, “My commitment has now been bolstered, by a request made

by His Excellency President David Granger, and to which the Leader of the Opposition Mr. Bharrat Jagdeo has approved, to have the Chairperson of CARICOM field an independent high-level team to supervise the recount of the ballots for Districts One to District Ten” (Guyana Chronicle, March 15th).

In fulfillment of a “lawful” recount, the Chief Elections

Friday April 10, 2020

Kaieteur News

Officer, Keith Lowenfield, mandated to provide a plan, has submitted details of a proposed work plan with a 156 days’ timeline for completion.

The timeline for this has been immediately challenged by the Opposition Commissioners, thereby setting the public tone of its surrogates, despite a decision taken for said plan to be discussed at a meeting the next day, Thursday 9th April 2020.The work plan, according to GECOM secretariat, estimates a projected time for each box (containing approximately 400 votes each) will take “two hours, utilizing three workstations for 10 hours per day (9:00hrs -19:00hrs) at a central location to count 2,339 boxes.”

The plan by the CEO seems geared towards ensuring that at the end of the process, even during the process, the risk of dissatisfaction does not arise; that the process is transparent and without justifiable reasons for any party to cry foul, either during its execution or after.

The plan recognises the importance and value of the

process beyond a simple recount of votes cast, as the Opposition is setting public opinion to focus on. A simple recount throwing out the ballots and counting Regions One to Ten will not suffice for a resolution. We must see the plan consistent with the spirit and intent of arriving at an acceptable resolution of all unsatisfactory contentions surrounding the count and declaration. The Commissioners must take note.

No group’s impatience must take precedence over credible elections. It must be fully deliberated on and carefully considered (without prejudice) if Justice Claudette Singh and all parties are truly seeking a resolution and not a continuation of chaos, with one party pushing all the buttons and having its own way at the expense of the nation.

We have this opportunity to restore credibility in GECOM and to move Guyana forward. It must not be sacrificed because of the impatience of any group. The stakes are too high.

Lincoln Lewis

Elections petition, recount...

From page 5 Commissioners took last Friday to proceed with a national recount, I believe this will do more harm than good, if it means unsealing each ballot box at a time when concerns regarding the integrity of the process, social wounds, and the zero-sum mindset of party loyalists remain fresh. Therefore, I propose that after GECOM declares a final result, either or both parties should file an elections petition. I do not know what the court will order after receiving the evidence, however, I propose that at a minimum, there be a full audit, and a national recount is required. If a recount is deemed unnecessary and the audit finds several irregularities, irrespective of where the chips fall, it is my hope that just as in our 1997 elections experience, the court orders fresh elections.

R. Chung-A-On

This trio should not be allowed to hold an entire country at ransom DEAR EDITOR, Guyanese are going through the roughest times ever. With the impending attack by the COVID-19 virus in the air, they cast their votes on March 2 and voted for a government of their choice.

And with minor hiccups during the polling day, they expected that their votes would have been counted within a reasonable timeframe and the winner declared. This was not to be.

What is now clear is both the COVID-19 situation and the election results stalemate have begun to wreak havoc on the lives of all Guyanese.

While Guyanese have nothing at their disposal to protect them from the virus itself, it has become more evident that they are now faced with the threat of hunger and deprivation.

With more than 75% of workers living from pay check to pay check, it was inevitable that the lockdown to fight the virus would result in deprivation and starvation for themselves and their families. It is clear that the Coalition always put the cart before the horse, since they did not implement any economic measures to assist these workers and their families who will be negatively affected.

While teachers and other public servants will receive their monthly salaries, workers in GuySuCo and elsewhere will have to depend on handouts from friends and families, mostly from abroad, since they have zero savings.

In addition, many have loans to pay, and that is an additional burden.

Moreover, while other countries are receiving assistance from international donor agencies such as the World Bank and their governments, the Coalition has guaranteed that Guyana will receive nothing, due to its aversion to bringing a speedy resolution to our tainted electoral process, and its shameless bid to remain illegally in government. The Coalition Government has also done nothing to financially assist the vulnerable groups of our society.Therefore, it can be seen that a resolution to our current electoral crisis can bring immediate relief in our COVID-19 situation since a legally appointed government will receive the vital international assistance needed.

But is the Coalition willing to bring an end to this crisis? The answer is no.

Everyone knows that GECOM is supposed to be an independent body and the Court of Appeal ruling just reinforced that. No one has ever denied that GECOM is independent, but is the Chief Elections Officer acting independently? Is his Deputy acting independently? The answer in my opinion is no. We must not be like the proverbial ostrich and deny this.

In the same vein, no one can deny that the Returning Officer for Region 4 is compromised, and is not acting independently. What has played out in full view of the local and international observers and everyone at Ashmin’s Mall certainly will support this view.

In addition, the fact that two separate and different results were declared for Region 4 will also lend credence to the fact that Mr Mingo, the Returning Officer for Region 4 acted dishonestly and

should face charges.

This result was endorsed

by Lowenfield, even though it was clear that the electoral process was erroneous, and he should face charges as well. This was done in complete defiance of the Chief Justice’s rulings, since the electoral process was not followed. We must now add contempt of court to the list of charges.

Mingo, Myers and Lowenfield should be fired immediately and replaced with independent and capable people. Guyana cannot risk placing its future in the hands of these persons. To adamantly persist in involving these people is a travesty to the notion of free and fair elections in Guyana, now and in the future.

I am now more than ever convinced why Roxanne Myers was chosen above Vishnu Persaud, even though the latter is more qualified, and why Lowenfield’s contract was renewed just before the Elections. The illegally appointed Chairman Justice Patterson had done his job well in Myers’ appointment.

That there is a correlation between what happened then and now is undeniable.

The Guyana Elections Commission has the power to hire and fire, and should act now in the interest of all Guyanese. The Commission has ample evidence to fire these people. This trio should not be allowed to hold an entire country at ransom. The GECOM Chairperson must act now to save Guyana. A recount must be done expeditiously in a free and transparent manner. Guyanese should not be made to suffer anymore.

Yours sincerely, Haseef Yusuf

Both of these men will be missed by all who knew them DEAR EDITOR, I wish to extend sincere condolences to the bereaved family members and friends of the late Komal Chand who passed away recently in Cuba while undergoing medical treatment.

Komal, as he is fondly called, will be remembered for his humility, integrity and his dedication to the cause of the working class, more particularly the sugar workers.

In addition to being a trade unionist of no mean order, he was also a member of the Central and Executive Committees of the PPP. He was also a PPP parliamentarian for close to twenty years.

I would also like to take this opportunity to extend my condolences to the relatives and friends of the late Phulander Kandhai who also passed away recently. We both taught at the Cummings Lodge Secondary School where he was known for his ready wit and affable disposition. He later served in the Public Service as Permanent Secretary and Secretary of the Teaching Service Commission.

Both men will be missed by all who knew them and whose lives they touched in profound ways.

May their souls rest in peace!

Hydar Ally

Friday April 10, 2020

Berbice land surveyor died from a fractured spine - PM A post mortem (PM) examination conducted on the body of Mahendra Mangru called ‘Papo’, a Land Surveyor of Ankerville, Port Mourant, Berbice revealed that he died from a fractured spine as a result of blunt trauma.

Kaieteur News was informed that the examination was conducted on the body by Government Pathologist, Dr. Nehaul Singh, at the Anthony’s Funeral Home on the West Coast of Berbice. Meanwhile, according to police sources, advice is being sought from the DPP on how to proceed with the matter.

Mangru was found in an unconscious state by neighbours at the front gate of his Ankerville, Port Mourant home where he also runs his Mangru and Associates business that offers land surveying, valuation, and other services. Reports indicate that the businessman was involved in a heated argument with an associate of his, over money owed.

According to reports, the two ended up in a scuffle and a cutlass was used. The suspect, who is presently in police custody, reportedly told investigators that Mangru owed him money for some work he had done on the bottom flat of his (Mangru) home. He claimed that when he showed up to enquire about the money, Mangru refused to pay up stating that he was not satisfied with the work done. This resulted in the subsequent scuffle.

According to the suspect, Mangru was the one who picked up the cutlass, which was

SBM Offshore says project delays unavoidable as some crew members test positive for COVID-19, others quarantined

S

Dead: Mahendra Mangru called ‘Papo’ in proximity and fired a chop that caused a minor cut to his left side face. He stated that he in turn bit Mangru on his hand, near his thumb which caused him to drop the cutlass.

The suspect said he pushed Mangru to the ground and made his way to the Whim Police Station to file a report and then the Port Mourant Hospital to seek medical attention.

Mangru was later found in an unconscious state by neighbours who contacted the police. He was transported to the Port Mourant Hospital where he succumbed.

GPSU reacts to discriminatory acts meted out to healthcare workers The Executive Council of the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) is offended by the attitude displayed by some operators of the public transportation system to healthcare workers, particularly nurses. In a release issued by the GPSU yesterday, it was stated that “this behaviour by some drivers/conductors of the minibuses who are refusing to transport nurses in uniform, to and from work, must be condemned.”

Noting that COVID-19 has been declared by PAHO/ WHO as a pandemic, the GPSU noted that it so pervasive that almost every country is grappling with its devastating effect. In the frontline, battling this contagion, the union body underscored “are our health care workers and other public servants who provide the backup logistical work for the health care system. Our healthcare workers render patient care to those afflicted and all assistance should be given to ensure that they arrive at work on time to

PAGE 7

Kaieteur News

relieve their tired and sometimes overworked colleagues and to take home those who have just completed their shift.”

According to the GPSU, the service these workers provide is priceless and they should be commended and every effort should be made by the public to display appreciation for the work they do, to encourage and motivate them to make their lives comfortable.

Minibuses serve as an integral part of the public transportation system in Guyana.

As such, GPSU emphasised that these workers depend on the minibuses to get to work on time or getting home after a hard day/night providing health care.

“The GPSU acknowledges the right of every individual or entity to ensure that anyone who is anticipated to be in close proximity observe certain health protocols and, is positive that healthcare workers observe all the necessary requirements

before leaving their home or work; however, if there is a concern by the operators of public transport, the Union suggests that they implement appropriate systems considered practicable and similar to those adopted by agencies, a dispenser with hand sanitizer is not too much to ask,” the statement added.

It went on to note, however, “to deny them access to the minibus is downright absurd, unlawful, completely unacceptable and should not be tolerated. As a licensed public transportation operator there should be no discrimination, and all passengers should be treated equally and any acts of discrimination should be dealt with by the law.”

The GPSU is moreover advising all healthcare workers to record the registration number of public transportation vehicles that deny them their right to be transported.

This information, the GPSU said, should be forwarded to its office so that adequate action could be taken.

BM Offshore, the Dutch company that is completing the construction of Guyana’s second oil storage vessel, the Liza Unity, has been forced to make several adjustments to its work plan in light of the effects of the novel coronavirus.

Expounding on this front, SBM said that construction yards in China reopened in February and are now close to planned capacity. In Singapore and Dubai, it said that the yards were open until the end of March. But since last week, the authorities suspended activities at the yard in Singapore for a period of two weeks.

In light of this, SBM said that some delays in project execution will be unavoidable.

It should be noted that Guyana’s Liza Unity is also being constructed in the Singapore shipyard and would, therefore, be affected by the closure.

The Company was keen to note however that it is in close contact with clients and business partners to manage the situation, adjust execution planning and where appropriate, create mitigation plans. SBM also said that it is carrying out construction activities in many parts of the world. But additional measures and protocols have been put in place to ensure the health and well-being of

staff and contractors at the yards.Further to this, SBM said that business continuity protocols have been activated at offshore operations.

To keep offshore operations safe and stable, only essential maintenance is being performed.

SBM said that crew changes have become more difficult as travel restrictions often apply in and out of countries where the company has operations or crew mem-

the company said that most staff continue to work from home and are updated on a regular basis.

They are also supported with advice to help them achieve a healthy balance between professional and personal lives. Further to this, the company said that activity and operations therefore continue, although with some incremental expenditure to keep operations running safely. In this regard, the

bers are located. As such, it said that crew rotations have been extended for those offshore while their upcoming counterparts are in self-quarantine at monitored facilities onshore.

In the last few days, SBM Offshore disclosed that it had cause to transport some crew members with symptoms from one FPSO back to shore. After further tests were conducted, it was confirmed that a number of its men are positive COVID-19 cases.

The company said it is assessing the situation with the client and the authorities.

With respect to SBM Offshore’s office locations,

Dutch firm said that measures have been taken to postpone non-vital programmes to reserve cash to help offset these impacts.

SBM was keen to note that its priority is the health and safety of its staff, contractors and their families, while ensuring safe operations across the company’s activities.

It said that a dedicated task force continues to monitor the situation at all company locations across the globe, on a daily basis. SBM said, too, that it will continue to follow advice from the relevant authorities and medical experts regarding its work.

PAGE 8

Friday April 10, 2020

Kaieteur News

‘Teacher Naressa’ helps to make a difference during COVID-19 crisis

Items donated

by Javid Raffik and Jen Approo

With the Ministry of Public Health announcing a onemonth semi-lockdown in wake of the Coronavirus crisis (COVID-19), many citizens, political parties and the business community have opted to assist the less fortunate with hampers and protective gears. Involved in such a venture is a teacher of the Belvedere Primary School on the Corentyne in Berbice.

Her efforts in this regard started with the preparation of small hampers for distribution which she financed herself. The initiative has been

gaining momentum with several members of the business community seeking to get on board.

The teacher, Naressa Drijodhan, recently collaborated with Asheik and Sons Motor Supplies owner, Ray Ali and Mahendra Singh, to distribute several hampers throughout various communities on the Corentyne. Since then she has managed to attract more donations from a few members of the business community, particularly JR Building Supplies and Jen Approo.

According to Drijodhan, when she started out helping in her community, she was inspired to help even more people and so she utilized her social media and live videos to speak about the initiative.

It was such an approach that attracted the attention of the business community. She added that since then she continues distributing hampers with the support of other persons.

“It started with me doing small personal distributions around my community, then I decided to use the FB live vid-

eos since a lot of people follow me. I thought more and more people can join and help and it worked,” she said.

Donations have since been made to the communities of Doctor Bush, High Reef, Belvedere, Hampshire and Rose Hall Reef. The items that were recently donated by JR Building Supplies and Jen Approo include rice, flour, sugar, salt, oil, powdered milk, macaroni, sardines, peas, face masks and disinfecting wipes. Drijodhan expressed gratitude to Javid Rafik owner of JR Building Supplies and Ms. Approo of Canada for the most recent donations to contribute to her distribution drive. She stated that she is hopeful that many more will come forward to assist during this difficult time, adding that someone from Georgetown has already pledged to assist

Drijodhan handing over one of the hampers with sanitizing alcohol.“With the help of like-minded persons and businesses, I will drive through villages to ensure that persons are afforded the opportunity to access at least one hamper per family,” she added. She has also been

making masks with the assistance of her mother who sews them. Persons who may want to collaborate with Ms. Drijodhan can contact her on mobile number: 6390267 or find her (Naressa Drijodhan) on Facebook.

GPHC doctors introduce initiative to help kidney failure patients ‘STAY HOME’

Kidney failure patients are being provided with needed healthcare at their homes.

Promoting the ‘STAY HOME’ concept in the fight against COVID-19, the Kidney Transplant and Vascular Department of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation [GPHC] has been taking its services to the homes of patients.

Leading this task yesterday was Kidney Transplants Surgeon, Dr. Kishore Persaud, and his team of health professionals. Speak-

ing of this development yesterday, Dr. Persaud said “we started this initiative because these patients are high risk.

They are safer at home rather than coming to the hospital.”

Among those benefiting from the home visits are post transplant patients who are on immunosuppressive medication which puts them at high risk for complications should they contract the coronavirus.

“We go to their homes, listen to their concerns and advise them on proper hygiene, do a physical examination, take off their blood for analysis and we give them their monthly medicat i o n , ” D r. K i s h o r e d i s closed.

A c c o r d ing to Dr. Persaud, this initiative will continue once COVID-19 continues to pose a threat to the public.

Friday April 10, 2020

PAGE 9

Kaieteur News

The Court of Appeal’s decision should be appealed The Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago has expressed his concern over a recent decision by Guyana’s Court of Appeal. He has interpreted that decision to mean that CARICOM was involved in an illegality when it agreed to ‘supervise’ a recount of the votes cast in Guyana’s 2020 elections.

That recount was supposed to have been undertaken under the ambit of GECOM. CARCOM had brokered a resolution to the ongoing electoral impasse in which Leader of the Opposition Bharrat Jagdeo and President David Granger had signed an aide memoire for the consideration by GECOM. The agreement provided for the constitutional authority of GECOM to be respected.

The electoral body subsequently agreed to undertake a recount of the votes in all Districts. It agreed to do so unanimously. This decision triggered what now appears to have been a constitutional challenge to having CARICOM “supervise” the GECOM’s recount.

The upholding of part of the Appeal turned on the constitutionality of CARICOM’s role vis a vis GECOM. The

decision of the Court of Appeal ought to be challenged at the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ).

Unfortunately, those who have been through the bruising legal battles relating to the elections are not likely to want to detain the CCJ in what may appear to be of mere academic importance. But I respectfully submit that the issues which emerged from the Court of Appeal ruling are far from academic.

The first is the question of jurisdiction. The Constitution (specifically Article 163) states that parliament may make provision for determining whether any election has been lawfully conducted.

The Representation of the People Act prohibits any court from inquiring into the exercise of any function of the Elections Commission, except where provided for by any other law made under Article 163 of the Constitution.

There is such a law. The National Assembly (Validity) of Elections Act, authorises challenges to decisions and actions of GECOM via an election petition. This was the basis of the Full Court’s ruling strike out the jurisdiction of the High Court to hear the challenge mounted against

CARICOM’S role in the recount.

I respectfully submit that the High Court had no jurisdiction to entertain the challenge made by Ulita Moore.

The Constitution, read in tandem with the National Assembly (Validity) of Elections Act, limits the High Court’s consideration into the legality of the actions of GECOM to an election petition. It is only via such a means that the constitutionality of actions of GECOM can be challenged.

This view has found support by the Caribbean Court of Justice which at [38] in Christopher Ram and the Leader of the Opposition, Attorney General, the Guyana Elections Commission and Anor, said… “The Court has no jurisdiction to determine matters which must be raised by way of an election petition filed otherwise than as prescribed by Parliament.

The court cannot take it upon itself, in violation of those Rules, to enlarge its jurisdiction…”

I therefore respectfully submit that if the High Court did not have jurisdiction to hear the Ulita Moore’s case, then the Court of Appeal also did not have jurisdiction.

That jurisdiction could not

Dem boys seh ...

God has not forsaken us!

Dem boys feeling holy today. Dem read dat: 40 days The flood lasted; 40 years Moses fled Egypt; 40 days Moses stayed on the Mount; 40 years Exodus lasted; 40 days Jesus fasted; 40 days between Lent and Easter; 40 days tell the woman to rest after giving birth; So, what about the Bible and the number 40?

Remember that we are in the year 2020 (20 + 20 = 40) 40 days for the spiritual liberation of our nation.

During quarantine, rivers are becoming cleaner; vegetation is growing; the air is healthier because of less pollution; there is less theft and less murders; families are bond-

ing again, eating at the table; we are praying more for our neighbours; the Earth is at rest for the first time in many years.

God has not forsaken us!

In the Bible, whenever the number 40 appears there is a “change” during that time, no matter how horrible that time may have been.

Dem boys wan tell yuh this is the time to pray like never before! God is giving us all a chance for renewal of our faith, to come back to him as ONE NATION UNDER GOD!!

Dem boys also want all a dem wah kerfuffling with the election results to know, that dem boys can try them in 40 hours and jail dem for 40 years each. In 40 days dem boys can even count elections for all the Caribbean countries.

Talk half and pray for dem crooks who wan steal de elections.

Two new local covid19 cases, not more deaths NEWSDAY - Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh confirmed two new local covid19 cases as he spoke at the 10 am Health Ministry virtual press conference yesterday.There have been no more deaths.In giving a clinical update on TT’s covid19 status, he said 987 tests were done by CARPHA (Caribbean Public Health Agency) with 109 positive cases, eight deaths, and one discharge.A hundred people are hospitalised: 27 ambulatory (well enough to walk around) patients are at Caura; 72 at Couva, where none are in the Intensive Care Unit; and three are in Couva’s High Dependency Unit.He said 32 patients from Couva may be transferred out this weekend to a stepdown facility before being discharged.

Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh

have been enlarged by virtue of a submission that what was being challenged was the usurpation of the role of GECOM or the constitutional right to equal treatment by Officers of GECOM. Even if that was the case, any challenge has to be via an election petition.

I do not support the contention that what was being challenged was not GECOM’s right to undertake a recount but the constitutionality of the recount. This distinction is based on a misconception, as pointed out by the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago as to CARICOM’s role.

The Constitution gives

GECOM the right to exercise general direction and supervision over the elections.

There is no explicit prohibition of GECOM delegating any of its functions and therefore in the exercise of its right, GECOM can delegate any of its functions.

For example, if GECOM wants to delegate its public relations, it is free to do so because there is no constitutional prohibition stopping it from so doing.

In any event, the evidence is tenuous that CARICOM intended to usurp the functions of GECOM. The Aide Memoire signed by the President and the Leader of the

Opposition recognised the constitutionally-mandated role and independence of GECOM to decide on the recount. GECOM did so decide.

The Court of Appeal decision should be appealed so that it can rightly be relegated where it belongs.

(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper.)

PAGE 10

Friday April 10, 2020

Kaieteur News

=== The Freddie Kissoon column ===

Libel case; Mango being cross-examined by Datadin Court rise! Honourable Rishi Reynolds presiding.

Please be seated! Clairvoyant Mango (CM) versus ANUG, PPP, et al.

Sanjeev Datadin (SD): Your Honour, I appear for the defence.

Harrison Forde: Your Honour, I appear for Mr. Mango.

Judge: Mr. Forde, please call your first witness.

Marshall: Mr. Mango, you swore to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?

CM: You mean the truth of what happened in the Ashmin’s Building?

SD: Objection! Your Honour please direct witness to answer the question Judge: I think he did answer.

SD: Mr. Mango, you have sued ten opposition parties for the accusation that you are a dishonest person. Is that right?

CM: Yes, sir.

SD: So you are aggrieved that you were accused of dishonesty?

CM: More than that counsel. You see my reputation has been damaged. No person or organisation will want to employ me anywhere in the

world because of what these opposition parties claimed I have done at the GECOM command centre in the Ashmin’s Building and at GECOM head office in Kingston.

SD: So in fact, your claim is that your reputation has been tarnished. May I kindly ask what reputation, you are referring to?

CM: As a counter and cricket umpire. You see, the umpire has to have a counter in his hand, and as the bowler makes his delivery, the umpire ticks one ball bowled. He does that six times. These opposition parties have accused me of being a dishonest counter, thus harming my chance of a test match opportunity when New Zealand comes to the West Indies later this year.

SD. Can we talk about your counting skills on Wednesday, March 4, when you suddenly stopped your tabulation? Why did you?

CM: Well sir, stopping a count is a normal thing in life.

In cricket, if a bird flies in the eyes of the batsman, you have to stop the bowler from delivering, so you don’t press the counter.

SD: What flew in your

eyes when you stopped the count that fateful Wednesday afternoon?

CM: Sir, no one asked me why I did that. None of the opposition leaders ever asked me. If they did, I would have told them.

SD: Are you willing to tell the court why you did?

CM: Yes sir, it was a serious call of nature.

SD: And it lasted that long?

CM: Counsel, do you know what is diarrhoea?

SD: After that, you took ill and were rushed to the hospital; what happened?

CM: I thought I had Covid-19.

SD: But the virus was not in Guyana the first week in March?

CM: Sir, I said I thought I had it.

SD: You made a miraculous recovery. You were all over the place, even declaring the Region 4 tabulation on the balcony of the Ashmin’s Building. Why the balcony?

CM: I am a fan of Forbes Burnham. He liked to address the masses from balconies.

One of his favourite balconies was the one in the Bank of Guyana building facing north. I thought I should feel the experience of speaking from a balcony.

SD: You moved your final tabulation from the Ashmin’s Building to the GECOM head office where you used a halfdead projector, a piece of cardboard and a bed sheet to project the statements of poll.

Why that kind of operation?

CM: Well you see, sir, the answer is the same as the balcony story. I grew up in a vil-

lage where there were no cinemas. So the church used to show films from a projector on a cardboard; the pastor would bring his bed sheet to throw over the cardboard and make a screen. I wanted that experience that I grew up with in the village over fifty years ago.

SD: But the accusation of dishonesty arose out of that operation because opposition agents couldn’t see the numbers; they were infinitesimal and you were going really fast. Wasn’t that deliberate?

CM: Before I answer you, counsel, what does “infinitesimal” mean?

SD: Very tiny.

CM: Well counsel, all I can say is those persons should have consulted their optometrists before they came to witness my projector operation. As to why I went fast. Well you see, I wanted to finish quickly. It was Friday evening, and remember what the Americans say; “Thank God, it’s Friday.” Did you ever see that movie, counsel?

SD: No sir, what is the relevance, Mr. Mango?

CM: Sir, why should I spend my Friday evening doing what I should have done since Wednesday, March 4?

SD: And what should that have been?

Frederick Kissoon CM: Mixing oranges and guavas with the mangoes in the Region 4 tabulation.

(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper.)

“Dutty” remanded to prison for businessman’s murder

Daniel-Mc-Lennon called Dutty

Dead: Lomenzo Johnny called Sham

Daniel McLennon called “Dutty”, 24, a labourer of Lot 163 Second Street, Rose Hall Town, Corentyne, who was arrested on Wednesday in Georgetown, yesterday made an appearance at the New Amsterdam Magistrate Court before Magistrate Peter Hugh.

McLennon was charged under Section 100 (1) (c) (1) of the Criminal Law (Offences) Act, Chapter 8:01 with murder committed on Lomenzo Johnny called “Sham” of Rose Hall Town. He was not required to plead to the indictable charge and was remanded to prison.

The case was postponed to June 2, 2020 at the Albion Magistrate Court.

Previously charged were Satram Kushlay alias “Steve Orkle”, and Bilall McLennon.

They were charged jointly with murder committed on Lomenzo “Sham” Johnny on 27th February, 2020. The two other accused, Gopaul Ramgobin alias “Ling” and Navendra Narine called “Husk”, who were charged with knowing Satram Kushlay and Bilall McLennon had committed the offence of murder, did receive, comfort, relieve and maintain, harbour and assist Kushlay and McLennon between the 27th February and 6th March (accessory after the fact).

Johnny’s battered and lifeless body was found in a farm lot by construction workers at Port Mourant. His feet were bound together with a piece of wood and a pair of scissors was left near his body.

Friday April 10, 2020

Kaieteur News

PAGE 11

PAGE 12

Kaieteur News

Friday April 10, 2020

Kaieteur News

Friday April 10, 2020

PAGE 13

Top exploration wells in Guyana, six other - Rystad territories at risk of being delayed Energy

A

ccording to Rystad Energy, at least nine of the world's top planned exploration wells for 2020 are at risk of being suspended as a result of the combined effect on oil and gas activities of the COVID19 virus and the oil price war between Russia and Saudi Arabia.

Rystad Energy said that these wells, located in N o r w a y, B r a z i l , t h e Bahamas, Guyana, the US, Gambia and Namibia would target a combined seven billion barrels of oil equivalents (boe).

The wells that Rystad Energy has identified as candidates for suspension are at risk because of their commercial viability under the current price levels, shutdowns that affect the supplies of equipment components, operators' prioritization among other targets and limitations in crew movements, among other reasons.

“Given the prevailing global situation, we now foresee that the cumulative discovered volumes by the end of the year could go even below the 2016 level of 8.9 billion boe, which was the decade's lowest.

This will solely depend upon how many key wildcat wells will still see a spinning drill bit in the coming months, as some of them could be either suspended or postponed,” says Rystad Energy senior upstream analyst, Palzor Shenga.

The Rystad official was also keen to note that the first quarter of 2020 already started on a low note, as explorers have only uncovered new volumes of around 2.5 billion boe.

Kaieteur News understands that the 22 discoveries are evenly split between onshore and offshore regions, with gas representing just over half of the volumes.

Rystad also noted that volumes are down about 40% from the same period of 2019, and the number of discoveries has almost halved.

At the beginning of 2020, Rystad Energy believed that the global discovery trend would continue its upward

trajectory with an expected increase in volumes.

However, the current global market situation it said will bring many challenges to exploration.

Rystad said that the understanding of the geological context and complexities of the subsurface remains unchanged but stressed at the same time that it is the unexpected market turmoil above the surface that will play the key role in the coming months.

Rystad Energy is an independent energy research and business intelligence company providing data, tools, analytics and consultancy services to the global energy industry. Its products and services cover energy fundamentals and the global and regional upstream, oilfield services and renewable energy industries, tailored to analysts, managers and executives alike.

DISRUPTION About a week ago, Kaieteur News reported that ExxonMobil has made plans to adjust drilling activities offshore Guyana as a result of travel restrictions that are currently in place.

Kaieteur News was able to confirm this with ExxonMobil's Public Relations and Government Affairs Advisor, Janelle Persaud.

While this decision has been taken, the official noted that ExxonMobil Guyana is working assiduously towards limiting the disruption of the coronavirus to its operations. Persaud added, “We continue to monitor the COVID-19 situation closely and will adjust operations as necessary with safety and the protection of

the environment as priorities.”

She, however, declined to provide specifics on the adjustments Exxon said it would be making.

Be that as it may, Head of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Dr. Vincent Adams, was able to disclose that ExxonMobil had planned to drill over 20 wells but the novel Coronavirus has affected the approval process.

Adams explained that ExxonMobil had planned to

drill wells in three blocks–Stabroek, Kaieteur and Canje. ExxonMobil owns a 45% stake in the Stabroek Block, with Hess Corporation HES holding a 30% interest. The remaining 25% stake at the block is owned by CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited, a subsidiary of CNOOC Limited CEO. In the adjoining Kaieteur Block, located north of Stabroek, operator

ExxonMobil owns a 35% interest, partnered by Ratio Energy of Israel and Hess.

The 13,500-square kilometer Kaieteur Block's water depth is in the range of 2,800 -3,800 meters.

Moreover, in the 6,021square kilometer Canje Block located east of Stabroek, ExxonMobil holds a 35% operating stake.

It is partnered by Total S.A, JHI Associates, and Mid-Atlantic Oil and Gas.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 14

GPHC surgeons lend helping hand to citizens

I

n addition to helping to save lives every day, a group of surgeons from the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) took it upon themselves to lend a helping hand to the vulnerable population during the current COVID19 public health crisis.

In this regard, the team of surgeons collectively

Friday April 10, 2020

Scenes from the distribution exercise

donated hampers and sanitation products to several vulnerable communities.

Gabrielle Maycock, one of the good Samaritans, told this publication "before the lockdown/curfew was implemented, we noticed many persons voicing concerns over sustainability and providing for their families during this time.

So a group of surgeons at the Georgetown Public Hospital decided to come together, pool funds and help communities we knew had vulnerable persons."

She added that "we hoped that it would have set a precedent for others to help.

Together we managed to have 40 care packages which included non-perishable items and cleaning supplies."

These hampers were distributed to families in need in several communities in Regions Three and Four as well as others in Sophia, Wales, Canal Polder, Patienta, among others.

The doctor further noted that the response from the public has been

overwhelming. "We have had a great response with many persons coming forward to help following this, and we hope to deliver another 40 care packages in the near future," she said.

The group of medical professionals is also advising the public to take all necessary precautions during the COVID- 19 pandemic.

Speaking on their behalf, Maycock added, "We would like to strongly advise persons to maintain physical distancing, only leave home when necessary, practice good hygienic practices and have a strong community outreach system in place to resolve issues that might arise."

(Shivanie Rampersaud)

A little helper posing with some of the detergents that were distributed

Friday April 10, 2020

PAGE 15

Kaieteur News

Wismar Hospital to accommodate isolated Region 10 COVID -19 patients Region 10’s health authorities are upping the ante in fighting the COVID-19 situation.

The Regional Health team has strategized a plan which will see patients being isolated with the virus at the Wismar Hospital.

The Wismar Hospital was identified as the ideal facility for isolation of COVID -19 patients during a recent meeting of Regional Health Officers.

The decision was taken by doctors Pansy Armstrong, Joseph London and Steve Mark following a review of several locations.

During a recent tour of the facility, the Regional Health team was accompanied by officials from the Ministry of Public Health in Georgetown.

According to a release from the Region 10 Regional Democratic Council (RDC), the hospital has 14 rooms along with other facilities which will aid the Region in its isolation plan for COVID19 patients.

Dr. Armstrong stressed,

Some of the rooms that have been identified to accommodate isolated patients

however, that the hospital would continue to render its regular services but the COVID-19 service will be another offered to the people of Region 10.

“What we are doing is to ensure that any of the patients in Linden that have to be isolated would have the facility to do so. However, we want to reiterate that it is not a COVID- 19 hospital but rather a facility that caters for those who may need to be isolated,” she explained.

Dr. Armstrong disclosed too that to ensure that the Health Sector within the Region is not overloaded, some services will be moved to Mackenzie Hospital. She said that these services include paediatric, maternal and child health and tuberculosis care.

“To ensure that we in the region can adequately provide healthcare, we are moving three services that are currently being offered at Wismar to Mackenzie Hospital,” the RHO said.

Meanwhile, Emergency Medicine Specialist, Dr.

Tracey Bovell expressed satisfaction with the standard and readiness of the Region.

She stressed that COVID- 19 patients being placed at one location would serve to better help them thus allowing the medical staff to have a more effective and efficient way of administering care.

Dr. Bovell also identified the required systems needed to ensure that those in isolation are properly cared for and at the same time allow the rest of the hospital to continue its operations without any interference.

As she reminded the RDC officials of the recommendations made by her team, Dr. Bovell reiterated the words of Deputy Chief Medical Officer (DCMO), Dr. Karen Boyle, that COVID-19 is a fight that requires all hands on deck.

Dr. Boyle had met with the RDC and other officials from the Region earlier this week.

She disclosed then that all systems and measures being undertaken are to ensure that the health officials of Region remain alert, proactive

DCMO Dr. Karen Boyle interacting with officials and ready to handle any situation that may arise as a result of the disease.

As such, she commended the united position taken by the three top medical officials of the Region, which is expected to help to further advance healthcare within the Region.

“We are very happy and satisfied with the progress that was made and the developments achieved... However, we are here primarily to offer advice and guidance but ultimately the decision rests with the regional officials. They will decide what is best for their region,” she asserted.

She added too that she is very impressed with the overwhelming support and assistance being offered by the Regional Executive Officer

One of the 14 beds that will be accommodating patients who are in isolation (REO), Mr. Orrin Gordon, and team.

Dr. Boyle stressed that despite the limited finances, the REO has demonstrated his commitment and determination to ensure that the Region is not only ready but ag-

gressively moving ahead with the effective and adequate management of COVID-19 related issues.

REO Gordon has assured that the facilities will be fully ready and operational within two to three weeks’ time.

PAGE 16

Friday April 10, 2020

Kaieteur News

David G buses to transport nurses in Region 6

SERVICES Visa Forms Preparer.

Tel#626-7040, Publish your Death Annoucements & In Memoriams online. Email: dthmemo@gmail.com ICONIC MARKETING & PRINTING –TEL: 6006887: We create A/works, logos, business cards, posters, etc, placements of ads included.

PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, G R A D U AT I O N , W E D D I N G S , ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 We repair Fridge, Freezer, AC, Washer, Dryer-Call#231-0655/ 683-8734 Omar.

REPAIRS AT LOW COST: F R I D G E S , A I R CONDITIONERS, WASHING MACHINE, FREEZER, SALE OF AC’S. TEL#629-4946,225-4822 VEHICLE FOR SALE 1 Suzuki Escudo.Excellent condition, Low Mileage (50,000Km).$3.4M Neg.Call #649-0956.

FOR RENT PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, G R A D U AT I O N , W E D D I N G S , ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 One Business place at D’Urban Street Wortmanville.

Tel 616-2445.

WANTED Private & Hire Car Drivers and Bus Drivers Call 225-3234 LAND FOR SALE Transported land 11.6 acres, Lot 15 Public Road #2 Village W.C.B/ce 5 mins from B/ce bridge.Contact#686-4818/6487109.

FOR SALE White German Shepherd pups.Ruimzeight Gardens W.C.D.269-0671.Whatsapp 688-1656.

Director of Regional Health Services Jevaughn Stephen, has announced that the five David G School buses that are in Region 6, East Berbice Corentyne will be used to transport nurses to and from their work.

The decision was taken at the Regional Task Force meeting on Wednesday after reports were received of medical staff, more so nurses, in particular, being unfairly treated by operators of public transportation.

Stephen said there have been instances where these operators have refused to carry nurses in their vehicles, doubled the price for the fare and on one occasion a nurse was sprayed completely with Lysol upon entering a public transportation.

“These actions prompted the Task Force and the Regional Administration to decide to utilise the five David G buses that are in Region 6 since school is out. These will be used to pick up all nurses and medical personnel. This has started as of yesterday,” Stephen explained.

He reminded that healthcare workers are on the frontline every day and “we as administrators have to ensure we give them that supportive environment to so they can continue to function at a high level”.

Stephens highlighted, plans on stream to facilitate nurses who live in Region 5 but commute to work in Region 6. Systems were expected

Police investigating gunplay after ...

CAR RENTAL PROGRESSIVE CAR RENTAL: CARS & SUV'SCALL:643-5122./ 656-0087 WEB: WWW .PROGRESSIVEAUTORENTA L.COM AIDAN’S CAR RENTAL & T O W T R U C K SERVICE:PICKUP,9-11 SEAT MINI BUS, GOOD FOR AIRPORT & FAMILY OUTINGS, CHEAPEST RATE#698-7807 VACANCY Security Officers to work, preferably ex army, police or disciplined services.Age 2440.Contact#223-4172/6396648.

NOTICE Boodhoo’s General Store will be closed until further notice.

Order via Telephone & delivery will be done.

Contact# 260-4124/4018/4115 / 650-0402/ 603-1402.

From page 3 remove 'Sunna' and his prospecting operations.

“They try drawing a boundary line and saying we in dem land. However, a ranger who works for Mr 'Benson' said that they have no right to make those decisions. They left.”

On Wednesday afternoon, about 4pm, workers in the camp heard rapid gunfire and on racing out towards the sound, they were told by another worker that gunmen were coming.

In minutes, a group, of six men, heavily armed with AR rifles and other big guns, were in the camp.

“They rush into the camp.

They had Adolphus, Braithwaite, a man we know as 'Fathead' and another man name 'Duncan' in the group.”

According to a worker, the men had taken away an AR rifle from their security guard and had it.

“Mr. Adolphus came up to 'Sunna' and slapped him. He fall down.”

The gunmen saw the cook videoing the scene and rushed up to her.

“They slap she and tek away her phone and stamp on it.”

However, another worker was videoing the unfolding situation.

It showed a number of the gunmen issuing death threats and warning the camp workers to leave.

The camp was closed off.

On Wednesday night, workers made a complaint to the Mackenzie Police Station, in Region 10, where a number of spent shells were handed over to the police.

“The police asked us to lodge our guns so that ballistics tests can be done according to protocols.”

A police team reportedly journeyed down to the Iron Mountain area yesterday morning but reportedly could not locate 'Adolphus' and the rest of the gunmen.

According to the camp workers, it is clear that it is a case of bullying.

A nurse on one of the David G buses awaiting her trip home

to be in place by the end of yesterday. The buses are expected to work from Number 50 Village to Crabwood Creek; Number 35 Village to Number 52 Village; Number 35 Village to New Amsterdam and in East Canje, Angoy’s Avenue, Sister’s Village and the East Bank of Berbice to New Amsterdam. (DPI)

Region 6, Director of Regional Health Services, Jevaughn Stephen, makes a point

Saudi Arabia, Russia closing in on record oil cut deal DUBAI/MOSCOW/LONDON (Reuters) - OPEC and its allies held talks yesterday on record oil output curbs of about 15 million barrels per day (bpd) or more, roughly 15% of global supplies, to support prices hammered by the coronavirus crisis, sources involved in the discussions said.

They said the plan included cuts of about 5 million bpd from producers outside the group known as OPEC+ and could be made gradually, as the group seeks to overcome resistance from the United States whose involvement they see as vital to a deal.

Talks have been complicated by friction between OPEC leader Saudi Arabia and non-OPEC Russia, two of the world’s biggest oil producers.

But sources on both sides said they had overcome differences amid the deepest oil market crisis in decades.

Global fuel demand has plunged by as much as 30 million bpd, or 30% of global supplies, as steps to fight the coronavirus have grounded planes, reduced vehicle usage and curbed economic activity. An unprecedented 15 million bpd cut still falls short.

“We are expecting other producers outside the OPEC+ club to join the measures, which might happen tomorrow during G20,” the head of Russia’s wealth fund and one of Moscow’s top oil negotiators, Kirill Dmitriev, told Reuters.Yesterday’s OPEC+ talks will be followed by a call

today between energy ministers from the Group of 20 (G20) major economies, hosted by Saudi Arabia.

Benchmark Brent oil prices hit an 18-year low last month and were trading yesterday around $32 a barrel, half their level at the end of 2019, dealing a severe blow to budgets of oil producing nations and high-cost U.S. shale oil industry.

Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Zanganeh said proposals in the talks envisaged OPEC+, which groups the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, Russia and others, cutting 10 million to 11 million bpd in May to June, alongside cuts from the United States, Brazil, Norway and other outside of OPEC+.

OPEC+ would then ease its cuts to 8 million bpd from July to December and then relax them further to 6 million bpd from January 2021.

OPEC+ sources said they expected cuts from the United States and others to amount to about 5 million bpd, and that production curbs would be in place for two years. One OPEC source said Riyadh was ready for production cuts to last beyond 2022.

OVERCOMING DIFFERENCES Wa s h i n g t o n w a s i n v i t e d t o y e s t e r d a y ’s OPEC+ talks, but it was not clear if it had joined the video conference.

The United States, whose output has surged in recent years to surpass that of Saudi Arabia and

Russia, has not committed to any cuts, although Washington has said U.S. output was falling gradually anyway because of plunging oil prices.

Russia had previously said such a natural decline was not the same as making cuts.

Before the talks, Moscow and Riyadh had been at odds over what level of production to use to calculate reductions, after Saudi Arabia hiked its supply in April to a record 12.3 million bpd, up from below 10 million bpd in March.

Russian output, meanwhile, has been running about 11.3 million bpd.

An OPEC source said the two sides, which fell out during an acrimonious meeting in Vienna in March when a previous production deal collapsed, agreed that cuts would be calculated from an 11 million bpd baseline for both countries.

“We have managed to overcome differences. It will be a very important deal. It will allow the oil market to start on a path to recovery,” said Dmitriev, who last month was the first official to propose a deal involving members other than OPEC+.In addition, today’s G20 talks could see importing nations announce plans buy oil for their strategic reserves to boost demand, said Fatih Birol, the head of the International Energy Agency.Independent global storage facilities have been filling up while supplies have flowed even as demand dried up.

Friday April 10, 2020

Kaieteur News

PAGE 17

PAGE 18

Friday April 10, 2020

Kaieteur News

Opposition Commissioners say

Recount can be done in 10 days

By Kemol King

A

recount of all the votes cast in the 2020 General and Regional Elections could reasonably take about 10 days, with the right arrangements.

This is the view of the Commissioners nominated by the Leader of the Opposition.

Their plan was presented yesterday at the Commission’s High Street, Kingston office.

Commissioner Robeson Benn had been quite incensed, the day before, by a plan proposed by Chief Elections Officer (CEO), Keith Lowenfield, for which the arrangements saw such a recount lasting 156 days.

But according to explanations given by both Commissioners Gunraj and Vincent Alexander yesterday, the arrangements which led to the production of Lowenfield’s initial plan were limited by instructions of the Commission, especially as it relates to the number of workstations being used. Alexander said that it is instructive to note that when the CEO proposed 156 days, he arrived at that duration on two main premises.

These are the time it would take to count one ballot box and the number of Commissioners to be present at each workstation.

It appears that it was

Lowenfield’s understanding, after seeking clarity from the Commission, that it would take an average of two hours to count one box.

Secondly, the Commissioner who criticized Lowenfield’s initial plan as impractical and unhelpful is the very Commissioner who had indicated that there should be two Commissioners at each workstation, according to information provided by Alexander. Hence, while public outcry expressed the need to have more workstations, it was only logical for Lowenfield’s secretariat to conclude, at the time, that there would be only three workstations, as there are six Commissioners.

“It is rather unfortunate that [when] the CEO follows on from what we have said to him… he is lambasted by Commissioners in the public,” Alexander said.

“It is very unfortunate that that is the manner of conduct of GECOM.” Gunraj explained, now that that has been cleared up, that the removal of such a restriction means the number of workstations can easily be expanded.

Gunraj made a proposal for the number of workstations to be increased from three to 20. While a significant increase to the number of workstations would logically

Opposition-nominated Commissioner Sase Gunraj presented a revised plan to the Commission yesterday reduce the duration of the recount, the Commission has to take into consideration the implications of COVID-19 and the necessary safety measures.

Gunraj said that the understanding is that a single workstation would have about 15 persons. This appears to be a cursory assumption, given that the number of observers to be present at the recount still has to be sorted, after talks are had between the missions and GECOM. GECOM has agreed on the presence of the persons entitled to witness the process,

Coronavirus crisis could plunge half a billion people into poverty: Oxfam LONDON (Reuters) - The fallout from the coronavirus spread that has killed more than 83,000 people and wreaked havoc on economies around the world could push around half a billion people into poverty, Oxfam said yesterday.

The report released by the Nairobi-based charity ahead of next week’s International Monetary Fund (IMF)/World Bank annual meeting calculated the impact of the crisis on global poverty due to shrinking household incomes or consumption.

“The economic crisis that is rapidly un f o l d i n g i s deeper than the 2008 global financial crisis,” the report found.

“The estimates show that, regardless of the scen a r i o , g l o b a l p o verty could increase for the first time since 1990,” it said, adding that this could throw some countries back to poverty levels last seen some three decades ago.

The report authors played through a number of scenarios, taking into account the World Bank’s various poverty lines -

from extreme poverty, defined as living on $1.90 a day or less, to higher poverty lines of living on less than $5.50 a day.

Under the most serious scenario - a 20% contraction in income - the number of people living in extreme poverty would rise by 434 million people to nearly 1.2 billion worldwide.

The same scenario would see the number of people living below the $5.50 a day threshold rise by 548 million people to nearly 4 billion.

Women are at more risk than men, as they are more likely to work in the informal economy with little or no employment rights.

“Living day to day, the poorest people do not have the ability to take time off work, or to stockpile provisions,” the report warned, adding that more than 2 billion informal sector workers worldwide had no access to sick pay.

The World Bank last week said poverty in East Asia and the Pacific region alone could increase by 11 million people if conditions worsened.

To help mitigate the im-

pact, Oxfam proposed a sixpoint action plan that would deliver cash grants and bailouts to people and businesses in need, and also called for debt cancellation, more IMF support, and increased aid.

Taxing wealth, extraordinary profits, and speculative financial products would help raise the funds needed, Oxfam added.

Calls for debt relief have increased in recent weeks as the fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic has roiled developing nations around the world.

In total, governments around the world would need to mobilise at least $2.5 trillion to support developing nations.

“Rich countries have shown that at this time of crisis they can mobilize trillions of dollars to support their own economies,” the report said.

“Yet unless developing countries are also able to fight the health and economic impacts the crisis will continue and it will inflict even greater harm on all countries, rich and poor.”

as mandated by the Representation of the People Act, including observers and party agents. Alexander said it was agreed that one party representative would be facilitated for each workstation.

Considering Gunraj’s proposal of 15 persons per workstation, with 20 workstations, that plan would place 300 persons in a single compound.

Gunraj, who said he has considered the size of the Arthur Chung Conference Centre – inside and outside, is comfortable that the venue can accommodate so many persons, even with the necessary COVID-19 safety precautions.

He said that GECOM is being as responsible as possible in its discussions, where the COVID-19 outbreak is concerned. Government – who, according to former Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, should be approached to facilitate the recount – should have no issue simply looking over GECOM’s notification that it intends to carry out a recount, and grant a “no objection”, Gunraj said.

Gunraj has also proposed – and has said that there is some consensus on this – that there should be some amount of parallelism in the completion of the process. With such an arrangement, the number of workstations counting would be split into two teams, where one team begins in numerical order from district one, while the other team works on the largest and more contentious district four.

Further, Gunraj proposed a marginal increase from Lowenfield’s initial in the number of hours working, from 10 to 12.

With all of this in consideration, it is pertinent to note that no decision has yet been made on the number of workstations, and that such a decision is subject to an examination of the venue and a

grant of the permission to use it, the Commissioners explained yesterday.

This all means that a duration for the recount is not yet conclusive either, as such a determination is dependent on an examination of the afforementioned and a few factors, such as the time taken to examine one ballot box, which Gunraj has suggested would take an average period of one hour, instead of two.

Alexander said that the determination of how long this would take is an average, as some boxes contain more ballots than others.

He noted too that the time taken to count the ballots is not just a numerical count, but an examination of the veracity of all of the boxes’ contents.

All of this considered, Gunraj posited that more than a thousand of the boxes have less than 200 ballots cast, and that 200 of the boxes have less than 50 ballots.

“As a consequence,” he said, “time to count cannot be as burdensome, all things considered.”

On the role of CARICOM, GECOM has agreed in principle that CARICOM should come back and play an elevated role, relative to the other observers. However, Gunraj said that GECOM has to treat very carefully with any elevated role for an observer, given the Appeal Court’s recent order that GECOM cannot delegate its constitutionally mandated supervisory authority to another institution.

Alexander said that people will raise questions about the role of CARICOM, but that it is important to have CARICOM participating in the process as a validating third party. Asked why this is so necessary, the Commissioner pointed to the statements critical of GECOM, which had indicated that there would be little acceptance of

the validity of the count if there isn’t such a third party to vouch for the credibility of the process.

Alexander said that GECOM is being responsive to those concerns.

Another consideration in play is the group of declarations currently in the possession of GECOM. While GECOM had recently decided that it would not consider Lowenfield’s report on those, they are yet to be conclusively set aside.

Gunraj said he is hoping to have them scrapped after the Commission’s next meeting.

Alexander on the other hand, said that once the recount causes GECOM to arrive at a final declaration, the initial declarations would become irrelevant. But he did say that a part of the process for the recount includes having to gazette an order indicating the recount exercise that GECOM has to embark on, and that it is his view that the crafting of that order would implicitly nullify the previous declarations. He said that the order is expected to be made once the Commission’s discussions on the recount have concluded.

GECOM is also evidently out of consensus on the role of the Commissioners during the exercise.

Alexander explained that there is one Commissioner who insists that the Commissioners should insert themselves into the execution of the process.

However, he said that other Commissioners disagree and are of the collective view that the Commissioners, as crafters of the process and the final arbiters on it, should not actively insert themselves into its execution.

Commissioner Charles Corbin had once told reporters that the Commission is not a body that is heavily involved in the operations of the secretariat, that it is a policymaking body, while the secretariat deals with operational matters.

Otherwise, the Commission has agreed on the reporting mechanism and its accompanying methodology, which must now be refined to a final document for consideration by the Commission, which would reflect the discussions had yesterday.

Alexander said that GECOM’s legal officer is now expected to present notes to Lowenfield so that he can finalise another draft plan.

The GECOM Secretariat must consider all of yesterday’s discussions and revise its plan for presentation to the Commission again.

GECOM will meet again when that plan is completed.

Friday April 10, 2020

Kaieteur News

PAGE 19

PAGE 20

Kaieteur News

Friday April 10, 2020

Friday April 10, 2020

‘HORSE’ basketball competition to help fill void for hungry sports fans NEW YORK (Reuters) Sports-hungry fans missing live events which are on hold due to the coronavirus pandemic will get a reprieve this weekend when Oklahoma City Thunder’s 10-time AllStar Chris Paul leads a cast of current and retired players in the first NBA HORSE challenge.

The single-elimination shooting competition, which also features Atlanta Hawks 2020 NBA All-Star point guard Trae Young, and

PAGE 21

Kaieteur News

former players including NBA finals MVPs Chauncey Billups and Paul Pierce as well as Basketball Hall of Famer Tamika Catchings, will take place on Sunday starting at 7 p.m. ET. Competitors will take shots on their isolated home courts, away from the crowds they usually entertain on court.

In the one-on-one HORSE competition format, one player describes the shot they are about to take and if they make it their rival must

recreate the shot.

If the second player misses, they accumulate a letter in “H-O-R-S-E” and the first player to get all five loses.

Set to air on ESPN, sponsor State Farm will donate more than $200,000 for coronavirus relief efforts.

The number of confirmed infections of novel coronavirus were reported to have exceeded 1.47 million globally and the death toll has crossed 87,700, according to a Reuters tally.

Friday April 10, 2020 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) A group with which you're affiliated may be temporarily torn apart by politics and quarrels. If so, it's best to stay out of it. A friend could be having trouble and come to you for advice and help.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20) Changes in your home could cause temporary frustration that creates some tension with family members. Perhaps you're cleaning, or refurnishing, and everyone is getting in everyone else's way.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Miscommunication with someone far away could lead to bruised egos, heightened emotions, and angry phone calls. Don't get sucked into a quarrel.

CANCER (June 21–July 22) Your psychoanalytical talents could be put to work today when misunderstandings come up.

Your friends aren't likely to be thinking clearly and may not respond to reassurances, Cancer.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Perhaps you planned to attend a group event but circumstances beyond your control got in the way.

Maybe it was canceled.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) A visitor who needs a little sympathy could visit you today. Your friend probably wants some advice about some problems. He or she could also bring information involving new scientific studies that you find fascinating.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Some important plans, perhaps for a vacation or involving education in some way, could be temporarily blocked by circumstances beyond your control.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) A letter or phone call could bring upsetting news about money. Your first reaction may be to blame yourself or someone else, but the circumstances are probably beyond anyone's control.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) A person you're attracted to may seem to be interested in someone else. This could bring up your insecurities and jealousy. Don't make yourself crazy, Leo.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Jealousy could rear its ugly head today, Aquarius. This may involve a romantic relationship. Jealousy is often groundless. If you want to avoid an upset, try a little communicating.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Someone is keeping secrets from you. We all have private issues we don't wish to share, Virgo, but this affects you. Your intuition will probably tell you who this person is. Try to get him or her to open up without exerting pressure.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Nervous tension could cause a temporary malaise that keeps your energy low today. Tasks and chores need to be done, Pisces, so you will probably drag yourself up and try to finish them in spite of the way you feel.

Bangladesh-Australia Test series postponed amid Covid-19 threat ESPNcricinfo - The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and Cricket Australia (CA) have mutually agreed to postpone the two-Test series that was scheduled for June, due to the persisting Covid19 threat. The boards took the decision with the welfare of their players and communities in mind, and will work together to find a suitable date to play the series once the situation becomes clearer.

The series was to be played between June 11 and June 23 in Chattogram and Dhaka, and is part of the World Test Championship (WTC) cycle. It becomes the third WTC series to affected after the Sri Lanka-England series scheduled for March, and the second Test of Bangladesh’s staggered tour of Pakistan, which was scheduled to begin on April 5.

BCB CEO Nizam Uddin Chowdhury said, “This is u n d e r s t a n d a b l y disappointing for players and fans of both sides. However, in the current global scenario of the Covid-19 outbreak and considering the nature of the health emergency, the BCB and CA are in agreement that this is the most sensible and practical decision. We hope that the situation will improve soon and we are able to hold this series at a convenient

Mominul Haque drives one. (AFP) time in the near future. To that end, the BCB will continue to work closely with CA with whom we share a history of support and cooperation.”

The series is among two WTC series that are scheduled for June, with England scheduled to host West Indies around the same time. It was also to be Australia’s first visit to Bangladesh since their 1-1 series draw in 2017 - and, in fact, their first meeting in a bilateral setting since that one. Australia had, in 2018, called off hosting Bangladesh for two Tests and three ODIs because broadcasters were understood to have been uninterested in televising the series in the middle of the football season.

“Postponing the tour is regrettable,” CA chief Kevin Roberts said through a

statement, “but I would like to thank the Bangladesh Cricket Board for the open, honest and responsible discussions that led us to this mutually-agreed position.

The health of our people and communities is the number one priority for both Boards and that is reflected in the action we have taken in postponing the two Test matches. As we know, the global cricket calendar is very busy but we will do everything we can to honour our commitment to Bangladesh and will continue to work with the BCB on an agreed date.”

Australia are currently second in the WTC table with 296 points, having won two of their three series, while Bangladesh sit at the bottom, in ninth place with no points after one completed series.

PAGE 22

Friday April 10, 2020

Kaieteur News

Manchester United, Wolves announce support packages to aid NHS fight against coronavirus General view inside the Old Trafford, Manchester stadium before a match. (REUTERS/Phil Noble/File Photo)

(Reuters) - Manchester United have donated medical equipment and provided vehicles for courier operations while Wolverhampton Wanderers have made a six-figure donation to support the National Health Service (NHS) in their battle against the coronavirus pandemic.

United said it would also accommodate further requests from the NHS for use of the facilities at their stadium Old Trafford, which has been placed on a reserve list as a temporary blood donation centre.

“A fleet of 16 vehicles has been put on standby with volunteer drivers available to support NH S c o u r i e r operations in the area,” United said in a statement on Thursday.

“United has also donated medical equipment and consumables to the Salford Royal, including protective equipment, dressings and other club medical supplies.

“The club is

encouraging its staff to volunteer for the NHS or in their local communities during the pandemic. Staff will continue to be paid in full if volunteer work takes place during working hours.”

United players had

previously agreed to donate 30% of their wages to local hospitals and health services and also collaborated with players from other teams to set up a fund to raise money for NHS charities.

Wolves’ donation to the Royal Wolverhampton NHS

Trust will go towards buying essential equipment for new wards that are being built, its chairman Professor Steve Field said.

“This investment will make a huge difference to us and our patients,” Field said.

“We are so grateful for all the

support we have received from the community during this extremely difficult time.”

Wolves players have also separately donated to the collective fund started by players of England’s top-flight league.

“We know the club has

been doing a lot of fantastic work to support the city since the outbreak,” Wolves captain Conor Coady said.

“We felt we wanted to add to that as a team and show how grateful we are to the NHS for everything they do locally and nationally.”

Nebraska man breaks into UFC contender’s house, somehow lasts five minutes in ensuing fight Yahoo Sports - A Nebraska home invasion predictably ended in violence Sunday after that home turned out to be owned by UFC light heavyweight contender Anthony Smith, who fought the suspect to protect his family in the house.

However, the ensuing fight was apparently much more competitive than you would guess.

Anthony Smith recounts scary and surreal home invasion Smith, the UFC’s No. 3 ranked light heavyweight, recounted the terrifying night in an interview with ESPN’s Ariel Helwani, saying that his wife woke him up just after 4 a.m.

CT. He could hear a man in the house “screaming at the top of his lungs,” then found the man — later reportedly identified as one Luke Haberman — in the family’s computer room.

Meanwhile, his wife gathered their three daughters in a bedroom and closed the door.

A fight soon ensued. Smith, who lost to light heavyweight champion Jon Jones last March, called it “one of the toughest fights” he ever had.

From ESPN: Smith fights at 205 pounds.

Somehow, he said, this man who weighed around 170 pounds was still coming at him, an elite UFC fighter, for minutes.

“No normal human is able to fight like that,” Smith said. “I’m by no means the baddest dude on the planet.

But he’s a regular Joe and I had a hard time dealing with him.

And he took everything that I gave him — every punch, every knee, every elbow. He took every single one of them and kept fighting me.”

At one point, Smith said, his mother-in-law brought him a kitchen knife, which he held to Haberman, who continued to fight him, Smith said.

Per Smith, the fight ended up lasting more than five minutes, with police eventually subduing and arresting Haberman. Smith and his family were uninjured, though blood was all over the computer room and Haberman had cuts and swelling on his face.

Curiously, Haberman — who was later charged with firstdegree criminal trespass — reportedly did not appear to steal anything. Smith didn’t know why Haberman was in the house, and the suspect reportedly said “Hey man, I’m sorry,” as he was walked out of the house.

Between Haberman’s vigor, behavior, lack of clear motive and apology, it might be a good guess

Anthony Smith (left) reportedly fought the suspect for more than five minutes. (AP Photo/John Locher) that drugs were involved.

Smith reported that neighbors had video of Haberman trying to enter their homes. He apparently got into Smith’s house through an open garage door.

From ESPN: “I didn’t know what he had,” Smith said. “Typically people don’t break into your house in the middle

of the night for any good reasons.

I’m expecting that I’m gonna hear a gunshot or he’s gonna stab me.

Like he’s got something.

I figure I’ve got about two minutes before whatever he’s got takes me out.”

So the experience didn’t quite end like the attempted mugging of strawweight Polyana Viana or

the restaurant fight involving Hall of Famer Matt Serra.

Smith most recently defeated Alexander Gustafsson via rearnaked choke submission, and missed out on the light heavyweight belt against Jones via unanimous decision. This fight ended up being more important.

Friday April 10, 2020

Pele FC mourns the loss of former executive William ‘Billy’ Braithwaite to COVID – 19 - Also served as President of Georgetown Football League Still grappling with the loss of their first Captain, Wendell ‘Dragga’ Manifold, to the dreaded Coronavirus which has rocked the world, the Pele Football Club family has been hit once again with the loss of former executive, William ‘Billy’ Braithwaite who passed away on Tuesday last in the USA. Braithwaite, who never played the game, however distinguished himself as an executive member joining the club as President (ag.).

According to founder of Pele FC, Lennox Arthur who introduced Braithwaite to the sport; his rich service to the club commenced in December 1973 following the passing of Pele’s second President, Dr. Frank Watson who had passed away in a plane crash on December 3, 1973. The original President of the club for a short period was Mr. Cecil B. McKenzie who served from inception, July 18, 1971.

“He {Braithwaite} came to offer condolences to the club following the passing of his friend Dr. Watson, he was very eloquent in delivering remarks. His being a part of us was almost an instant when we listened to him as we were looking for persons to serve us at that time. Active players were functioning as executive members so we were happy to welcome him on board.”

Braithwaite, a former member of the Guyana Cultural Association of New York, later took over the reins of the club as Secretary in 1974 when John Yates was elected President and according to Arthur, this further showed the versatility of Braithwaite.

“When he joined us, I can recall that it was then that we really started to be a functioning club as we started to have club nights at his house where players from other clubs would join us. Yes, we were the best team at the time but he really helped us transform into a functioning

William ‘Billy’ Braithwaite club. His love for the club grew from strength to strength to the extent that he even found jobs for players at the time so that they could have taken care of their responsibilities off the field of play as well.

He was indeed an affable individual person; his presence at Pele streamlined the club officially; we were able to get a club house were which further pulled us together as a team.”

Braithwaite was 74 years old at the time of his passing.

Simmons a ‘father figure’: Walsh ST JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC – Novice West Indies leg-spinning all-rounder, Hayden Walsh, says he has embraced head coach Phil Simmons as a “father figure”, following his international debut for the regional side last year.

“He’s like a father and I’d say he’s like a father-coach,” Walsh told the Observer here.

“He’s stern when he needs to be stern, he jokes around when it’s time to joke around and when things are not right he puts them into place, so it’s like when your parents or father sees things are out of place and they would put them in place.

“I think he has been a real father figure for all of us, even the big stars and stuff, so I really enjoy playing under him.”

The 27-year-old’s debut for West Indies last

PAGE 23

Kaieteur News

November coincided with Phil Simmons return for his second stint as head coach of the embattled side.

Walsh’s graduation to maroon colours came following an outstanding season for Barbados Tridents in the Caribbean Premier League, when he topped the tournament wicket-tally with 22 for the eventual champions.

Instructively, Simmons also served as Tridents head coach, overseeing the franchise’s first success in the tournament since 2014, following several lean seasons.

“I really enjoyed the Tridents setup last year with the whole coaching staff and the team and everyone just gelled together,” said Walsh, who was born in the US Virgin Islands and has already represented United States at

international level.

“And even in the times where we looked as if we were going to go out quite miserably we still stuck together and fight it out to win the championship. So I think that was the most rewarding part of being part of the setup.”

Walsh has had a decent start to life at the top level, averaging 33 with the bat from 10 matches and taking 12 wickets at 27 runs apiece. His unbeaten 46 under pressure against Ireland helped West Indies win the second ODI in Bridgetown last January and take the three-match series.

His T20 form has been unflattering, however, with a mere 11 wickets from 16 appearances, with an economy rate of eight runs per over.

World governing body UCI to furlough staff, reimburse event fees LONDON (Reuters) Cycling’s world governing body the UCI said yesterday it was furloughing its entire staff, either fully or partially, in a bid to “weather the storm” caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

With international racing suspended until at least June 1 and revenue streams drying up, the UCI held an emergency meeting last week in which a series of measures were agreed to alleviate the economic and sporting impact of the crisis.

Senior management and elected UCI officials have agreed to salary reductions while 130 UCI employees will be furloughed.

Other measures agreed include the reimbursement of all calendar registration fees for cancelled events in a “show of solidarity” for organisers.

“Calendar fees represent a significant part of the UCI’s revenue. This initiative will have consequences on the UCI’s financial results,” a statement said.

A working group

comprising of riders and teams representatives has also been established.

“The UCI and its partners have agreed on the framework that will enable teams facing serious financial difficulties to be able to take necessary measures so they can continue in the context of the pandemic,” the UCI said.

Road and mountain bike disciplines have been hardest hit by the suspension of racing with the Giro d’Italia, the year’s first Grand Tour, having been postponed.

Many races have been cancelled while others such as the Tour of Flanders, ParisRoubaix and Liege-BastogneLiege have been postponed, as has the UCI Mountain Bike Cross-country World Championships in Germany.

The UCI World Championships for BMX has been pushed back although the UCI said it hoped the road world championships, scheduled for Switzerland in September, could still go ahead.

Despite the financial hit to its finances caused by the

disruption of the calendar, the UCI believes it can emerge from the crisis with limited damage as long as the situation does not last longer than current predictions.

“Inactivity is hitting athletes, teams, organisers, partners and the large majority of people and organisations that contribute to the vitality of our sport, across all its disciplines,” UCI President David Lappartient said.

“It’s a time for the cycling family to rally and, as one, prepare our sport to recover from this health and economic crisis that it has been hit by.

“Each of us is called on to be united, responsible and strong. That is why the UCI has taken some drastic action that should enable it to weather the storm.”

The number of confirmed infections of the novel coronavirus were reported to have exceeded 1.47 million globally and the death toll crossed 87,700, according to a Reuters tally as of 0200 GMT.

Archer named among Wisden’s top five LONDON, CMC – Barbados-born England fastbowling sensation Jofra Archer has been named as one of Wisden’s five Cricketersof-the-Year.

The honour for the 25year-old comes following a sensational international debut last year when he helped his adopted country win their first-ever 50-over World Cup and the coveted Ashes just months later.

He is joined by the Australian trio of Marnus Labuschagne, Pat Cummins and Ellyse Perry, along with South African off-spinner Simon Harmer.

West Indies all-rounder Andre Russell also grabbed a share of the spotlight when he was voted the Twenty20 Player-of-the-Year.

Archer, meanwhile, only qualified for England just three months before the World Cup, after the England and Wales Cricket Board reduced its eligibility wait from seven years.

The right-armer, born and raised in Barbados, had previously played a handful of matches for West Indies Under-19s in 2013 before becoming frustrated with his lack of selection in the Caribbean and turning his attention to representing England. He holds a UK passport through his father.

Archer made an immediate impact for England, snatching 20 wickets at 23 runs apiece to spearhead his side’s attack.

More importantly, he bowled the dramatic super-over as England beat New Zealand in a nerve-jangling finish to a topsy-turvy final at Lord’s.

Belated introduced into the Ashes with England already trailing 1-0, Archer

brought the series to life with his searing pace in the Lord’s second Test, hitting in-form marquee batsman Steve Smith and putting him out of the third Test at Headingley which England won by a wicket to level the five-match rubber.

Archer went on to take 22 wickets at an average of 20 as England drew the series 2-2 to retain the cherished urn.

Three defendants in FIFA corruption probe plead not guilty NEW YORK (Reuters) Two former 21st Century Fox executives and a South American sports marketing company pleaded not guilty yesterday to criminal charges in New York in the long-running corruption probe surrounding FIFA, the world governing body for soccer.

The former Fox executives Hernan Lopez and Carlos Martinez and Full Play Group SA entered their pleas before U.S. District Judge Pamela Chen in Brooklyn at an arraignment conducted by phone.

All three defendants

were charged on Monday with wire fraud and with money laundering conspiracy, while Full Play was also charged with racketeering conspiracy.

Prosecutors accused the defendants and coconspirators of bribing soccer officials to secure media and marketing rights to soccer tournaments, using shell companies and sham consulting contracts to hide the scheme.

The charges were the latest in a sprawling FIFA corruption probe that U.S. prosecutors unveiled in May 2015.

PAGE 24

Friday April 10, 2020

Kaieteur News

Doing the best they can — lockdown athletes use brain, not just brawn AFP - Alexandra Recchia balances a lampstand on a flower pot filled with pebbles.

She places cushioned pads at head height and chest height on the precarious structure, before binding it tightly together with adhesive tape.

Then the 31-year-old karate champion unleashes with fists and feet on what serves as a make-do punch bag.

Like all athletes in coronavirus-induced lockdown France, Recchia is using brain as well as brawn — doing the best she can with materials at hand in her home in the Paris area. Not the best preparations for the next Olympics in which she hopes to represent France. But better than most. At least she has access to a tiny garden.

She is doing “eight to nine training sessions, six days a week,” three of them working out with the lampstand-cum-punch bag which is holding up pretty well after nearly three weeks of pummelling.

In his house south of the French capital, Yoann Offredo has set up a stationary race bike in his basement where he toils in the hope that part of the cycling season can be

French cyclist Yoann Offredo trains in his garage 3rd April 2020. (AFP / Franck Fife) rescued.

His favourite time, the spring classics season, is already lost and even the greatest race of them all, the Tour de France, is in doubt.

Offredo reckons that at 33 it will be his last season in the saddle.

He still pushes himself to the limit. And when legs are weary and his mood sags, he gets a charge of encouragement from the photo of his hero Fausto

Coppi, which hangs from the wall of his makeshift gym.

Judoka Kilian Le Blouch was on the point of qualifying for the Tokyo Olympics when international competition was suspended. So it was back to the drawing board — literally — for him and his judo fighter partner Sarah Harachi.

The day’s training in their two-room Paris area apartment is written up in minute detail on a white board in the kitchen.

Even five-time world karate champions like Alexandra Recchia have to find novel ways of training during the lockdown. (AFP/FRanck Fife) He still pushes himself to the limit. And when legs are weary and his mood sags, he gets a charge of encouragement from the photo of his hero Fausto Coppi, which hangs from the wall of his makeshift gym.

Judoka Kilian Le Blouch was on the point of qualifying for the Tokyo Olympics when international competition was suspended. So it was back to

the drawing board — literally — for him and his judo fighter partner Sarah Harachi. The day’s training in their tworoom Paris area apartment is written up in minute detail on a white board in the kitchen.

“That helps to maintain the rhythm, the rigour, so we don’t lose track,” he said.

They have installed a home trainer in the living room and a bar fixed to the entrance

which Le Blouch described as “the lockdown star” for helping to keep him toned while he is deprived of the facilities provided at a wellequipped gym.

At home, his goals are modest. Keep fit, stay trim, and maybe take advantage of the lockdown to work on weak areas he normally has no time to address. And hope the lockdown ends soon.

Not sure who went ‘easy’ on Virat Kohli for IPL contract - Tim Paine ESPNcricinfo - Australia’s Test captain Tim Paine has rejected his predecessor Michael Clarke’s contention that some members of the national team had been “too scared” to take on Virat Kohli too aggressively in their 2018-19 encounters for fear of what it would do to potentially lucrative IPL deals.

With India scheduled to tour Australia for a Test series next summer, Clarke had reckoned that the prospect of endangering contracts in the IPL had played on the minds of some of Paine’s team as they lost the series 2-1 in the absence of the banned Steven Smith and David Warner. The return of that pair to the Australian side has made a marked difference over the past 12 months, pushing them up to a clear second place on the World Test Championship table.

Paine, who is seen in the Amazon documentary, The Test, counselling his team not to give Kohli too much aggression to feed off during the series, said that beyond tactical attempts to keep India’s captain quiet there were no other motivations involved as Clarke had suggested.

“I certainly didn’t notice too many people being that nice to Virat or not trying to

Virat Kohli and Tim Paine shake hands after the series. (Mark Evans/Stringer) get him out or anything like that,” Paine told ESPNcricinfo. “I thought everyone who had the ball in their hand or when we were batting were trying their absolute best to win the game for Australia. I’m not sure who was going easy on him; we certainly had a thing where we didn’t want to provoke any fight with him because we think that’s when he plays at his best.

“Who knows what will happen this series and, as we saw in the documentary, there was still quite a lot of heat in some of those games. I certainly wasn’t holding

back, but again the IPL’s not a huge draw for me at the moment, so I had nothing to lose. But anytime our guys go out and play a Test match for Australia, they’ll be giving their absolute all and I’m pretty sure they’re not thinking about an IPL contract when they’re running in, bowling to Virat.”

Back in November 2018, Clarke had previously critiqued the national team’s approach in the wake of the Newlands scandal and Cricket Australia’s cultural review, declaring that they “won’t win s**t” by “worrying about being liked”,

a notion that was also shut down by Paine. However, he has admitted that one of the Australian team’s struggles in the first year after Newlands had been finding a way to play hard cricket without feeling hemmed in by expectations of better behaviour. In recent series, against England, Pakistan and New Zealand, Paine underscored that a balance has been achieved.

“What you say on the field is irrelevant 99% of the time,” Paine said. “Sometimes you can get a little inside someone’s head or something like that, but if you’re not

batting well and not bowling well, all the talk in the world doesn’t mean anything.

There’s no doubt our first focus is on executing our skill and being as good as we can possibly be in that area and then sometimes things happen on a cricket field and you’ve got to go in, you’ve got to change your tack, or you’ve got to have a few words.

“As we’ve seen the last 12 or 18 months, we still do that, we still stick up for each other, we still fight as hard as any Australian team, but we’ve probably just had to move with the times and I’ve been really proud of the way we’ve played out cricket.”Irrespective of how they play, Paine admitted that the current state of uncertainty over when international cricket can resume is playing on his mind.

Having returned to the Test team in 2017 and thrust into the captaincy within a few months due to Newlands, he said there was frustration at knowing when the Test Championship, in particular, can restart: the final is currently scheduled for mid2021 at Lord’s.

“It is a very difficult time.

You have things like the Test Championship that are a huge goal for our team and certainly a huge part of my individual

goals and where I want to go.

So the unknown of that is challenging at the moment,” Paine said. “But just staying in the moment, who knows what’s going to happen, hopefully we get our country and the world back to how it was and we can all live our lives normally again.

“Part of that was being back out on the cricket fields and football fields, which is an important part of Australian life, that sort of sporting endeavour.

It’s difficult to put into words because you’re disappointed that what you set out to achieve as a team might not be happening now, but at the same time it’s a pretty small issue compared to what a lot of people are going through in the world.”

As for the likelihood that cricket may need to be played for some time in empty stadiums, Paine said that this was a secondary concern. “Fans are still going to be watching on TV and who knows what’s going to happen. We might have crowds, we might not, it’s not something we can control,” he said. “We can control how we act and how we represent our country and our fans, and in the last 12 months in particular I think our whole group - from our players to our staff - have done an unbelievably good job of that, so we want to continue that whether there’s crowds or not.”

Kaieteur News

Friday April 10, 2020

Top Swiss court upholds prosecutor’s removal from soccer corruption probe

Swiss Attorney General Michael Lauber gives a statement after his re-election in the Swiss Federal Assembly in Bern, Switzerland, September 25, 2019. (REUTERS/Denis Balibouse) ZURICH (Reuters) Switzerland’s top court rejected Attorney General Michael Lauber’s bid to rejoin investigations of c o r r u p t i o n i n s o c c e r, refusing to overturn a lower court’s ruling that his closeddoor meetings with FIFA’s head had raised the appearance of bias.

In a verdict released yesterday, the Federal Court upheld the Federal Criminal Court’s order in June that Lauber recuse himself from the federal prosecutors’ probe.

Lauber has denied wrongdoing and said “conspiracy theories” over his meetings with FIFA President Gianni Infantino and presumptions of dishonesty were harming prosecutorial integrity.

Lauber had been investigating several cases of suspected corruption involving FIFA, based in Zurich, dating back to 2014 and the presidency of Sepp Blatter. The probe treats FIFA as a victim rather than as a suspect.

L a u b e r h a d acknowledged two meetings with Infantino in 2016,

saying they were intended to help coordinate the investigation. He later acknowledged a third meeting in 2017 after media reports of the encounter emerged.

Lauber had his pay cut for a year after a watchdog found last month he repeatedly told falsehoods and broke a prosecutors’ code of conduct in handling the probe.

A fraud trial of three former senior German soccer officials and one Swiss over a suspect payment linked to the 2006 World Cup hosted by Germany has already started, but looks on the verge of collapse amid a coronavirusmandated trial halt as a statute of limitation looms.

S e p a r a t e l y, t h e organisers of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar have strongly denied allegations from the U.S. Department of Justice that bribes were paid to secure votes for the hosting rights to the tournament.

Suspicion and rumours have long surrounded both the 2010 vote by FIFA’s executive to hand the 2018 World Cup to Russia and the 2022 tournament to Qatar.

PAGE 25

Pele FC mourns the loss of former rt executive William ‘Billy’ Braithwaite Spo to COVID – 19 - Also served as President of Simmons a ‘father Georgetown Football League figure’: Walsh Leg-spinner Hayden Walsh.

William ‘Billy’ Braithwaite (left) President of the Pele Club, David Chan (centre) Secretary and Lennox Arthur Coach in 1974 prior to the start of the Brazil Cup tournament game against Santos.

Archer named among Wisden’s top five

Fast bowler Jofra Archer.

World governing body UCI to furlough staff, reimburse event fees

UCI President David Lappartient attends the podium ceremony of a Tour de France event on July 17, 2018.

(REUTERS/Benoit Tessier)

A logo is pictured on the indoor track at the International Cycling Union (UCI) Federation headquarters in Aigle, Switzerland, September 27, 2017. (REUTERS/Denis Balibouse) Printed and published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd., 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown. Tel: 225-8458, 225-8465, 225-8491 or Fax: 225-8473/226-8210.