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Kaieteur News
Wednesday April 15, 2020
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
A total recount, it must be First, many wanted a recount, now some have no use for a total recount. Then, it was announced by GECOM that a staggering 156 days were required to conduct and complete the process. As if there was anticipation of just such a development and waiting in the wings, out came the prompt counter of 10 days only. Which of these makes sense, what should it be, what do we really want from Elections 2020 when the dust settles at the end of all of this? The atmosphere and airwaves have been bombarded with a profusion of calls - steely, unmoving demands, in effect - that insisted there be a transparent recount leading to a credible outcome, which could be acceptable by all. It is why, therefore, we cannot understand why there is objection and resistance to the reality of a total recount, since this makes so much sense. There should be no fear in any quarter, once there was no dabbling, no dirty hands with telltale fingerprints that point, not at the competition only, but at self, too. It is why we say let us go to a full recount and let the chips fall where they will. It is not supportable, this height of unwisdom, to engage in a partial process, which would be sure to leave so many suspicions and questions unexamined, unanswered, and unsolved. It is not the pathway to anything that brings one part under the needle of the microscope and the glare of light, while leaving a substantial part untouched, hanging in the troubled darkness. A total recount, it must be. On a related note, a proposal has been tabled to have the auditors (public and/or private) serve as the leaders in any recount process finalized. On the surface of it, this sounds fair and reasonable and practical, which all make for perfect sense. That is, until there is remembrance that this is Guyana, and what that means in the grimness and grittiness of our unraveling societal perceptions, our disturbing national realities. Because this country is so delicately poised, and this stage of an unending electoral season is so piercingly sensitive, all, including Guyanese auditors are presumed, rightly or wrongly, to possess a built-in bias that would prejudice the outcome to the advantage or detriment of one side. As incredible as this may sound to the outside world, there is some basis for such positions, and which rule them out of contention. It is the way we are, the labyrinth that we have weaved for ourselves and which now imprisons us. We are that lost, that many bridges too far. Since we have a favourable predisposition to foreigners and their unsullied integrity, that not unsound proposal about auditors would be best filled by one of the big accounting firms that survived the financial debacles of the internet bubble and the interconnected crises that began at the turn of this century. To cut a real fine point on this, they would see what needs to be seen, scope out the entire (entire) territory and then get down to the brass tacks of an actual count, which must be total. Now we come to this crossroad about number of days needed for this to be efficiently and thoroughly completed. Clearly, there are no electoral roads remaining in this country that travel in a straight line. But here we are juggling 156 versus 10. The former is definitely out, and this is what we say without hesitation, for it flies in the face of the reasonable, represents the length of impracticality. In the next instance, while the much smaller number embodied in the latter appears to be more feasible, we see it as attempting to force a hard nutshell into a tinier, more rigid straitjacket. Something has to give, is sure to crack under the enormous pressures at work, be they of urgency, of controversy, or of heavy-duty inflexibility. This is why we urge, let us take the greatest of care, so not start out on the wrong foot (too many or too few days) from the wrong bases (partial recount) and hurtle towards the wrong results (found unacceptable by some side). This is our last chance to get this right.
Do not take OUR Guyana down this perilous road of destruction! DEAR EDITOR, I am a religious person. I try my best to follow my religious texts and at the same time to follow the laws of my country – Guyana, to the best of my ability. My religion has taught me to stand against oppression and speak against the actions of wrongdoers. Mr. Granger is also a staunch Christian and has also pledged allegiance to uphold the constitution. But, from all indications, he has failed to do so! Mr. Granger, you have lost the 2020 elections! Please concede and transition power to the young and vibrant Dr. Irfaan Ali. If you really love your
country, then do the right thing sir! Stop holding OUR country at ransom. Sir, you have been paid by the taxpayers of this country for the past 40 odd years. Please have some honesty, decency and respect for all the outstanding taxpayers of Guyana. You need to accept that you and the APNU/AFC coalition have lost the 2nd March, 2020 general and regional elections. I am calling on all of you in authority to do the right thing! Do not take OUR Guyana down this perilous road of destruction. I am also calling on the discipline /
armed forces of the country to uphold and enforce the Law of Guyana without bias, fear or favour. You have pledged allegiance to ALL PEOPLE of this country to uphold the constitution and to act justly in our honour. Lest you forget, you all are being paid by Guyanese taxpayers and not by any ONE political party. Therefore, your allegiance should be first to our country. Please don’t be influenced by the party which has your political support. Instead, stand for justice. And to all our judges, your salaries are dependent on us ordinary taxpayers
when elections season has passed. So please, remember your oath is to Guyana’s constitution and not to political party allegiance. Your actions have consequences detrimental to your careers, I implore you to be just and fair at all times. Finally, I am appealing to all my fellow Guyanese brothers and sisters: Let us treat each other with love and respect! Let us live together in peace and harmony! Let us stand together on what is wrong and what is right! Sincerely, Mohamed Yousuff (Br. Bob)
Just recount SOPs and declare winner to address Corona DEAR EDITOR, There is no need to recount ballots. There were no complaints about the counting of ballots at any of the polling stations. And there were no complaints about counting of SOPs except after 421 were completed in Region 4; all
other SOPs in the other regions were properly and satisfactorily counted. A recount of ballots will take several weeks, if not months. The country will remain in paralysis while this process moves slowly along. Why go through with this expensive,
Some eyeopening articles DEAR EDITOR, Lately, you’ve provided David Hinds with a forum to publish some eye-opening arti c l e s t h a t f r a n k l y brought out rage and disbelief as I read them. The (April 05) article especially was filled with hate and hostility along with bold and barefaced lies about the previous government. He talked about “Ethnic Domination” and “Ethnic Marginalization” in Guyana as if he was describing an Apartheid South Africa, none of which I can honestly say I’ve seen and I live here, not in the U.S. like he does. He made these claims but cited no example to validate them. He suddenly does not want free and Fair Elections and reasons that the Leader of the APNU Party, David Granger, is the only one who is Ordained by God Almighty to be our President even though they lost the 2020 General Elections. What he is really telling us is, the PPP has no right to govern this land even though they’ve earned that mandate legally and lawfully.
He wants us to do away with the elections, burn the ballot boxes and reform the Constitution so that all Guyanese are equally represented. I have news for Mr. Hinds, all Guyanese were equally represented under the PPP/C Government. Mr. Hind’s article in my opinion serves no useful purpose to this nation of ours that is presently polarized after the March 2nd Election. What we need most now is leadership that will unite us and encourage Guyanese to be transparent and lawabiding. Mr. Hind’s article is typical of those that can be found in the Guyana Chronicle and not the Kaieteur News. He should be encouraged to take his articles to that news media. That article on April 05 really served only one purpose, it showed his true colours and lifted his mask to show his true feelings and who he really is, a PNC supporter. He needs to take his fight where he lives and stay out of Guyana’s Politics. After all we’re a Sovereign Country. Dennis Balgobin
lengthy process of recounting ballots in all regions when leadership is immediately needed to address the Corona pandemic? Recounting of votes will not produce results significantly different from what the parties, observers, local Guyanese and the world community know. At any rate, according to the relevant laws, a recount is permitted but can only be done if there was completion of a count. The completion of the count requires a certification of SOPs. The certification of SOPs was never completed. It was aborted for Region 4 after 421 of 879 SOPs were completed; some 458 SOPs remain to be certified. M i n g o ’s f r a u d u l e n t count was thrown out by the court and also rejected by GECOM. So that certification needs to be redone. Mingo has been held in contempt of court for engaging in fraud and
not following the directive of the court to engage in a transparent count of the SOPs. The Chief Justice in a court ruling ordered the completion of the process in an openly, transparent manner. The verification of Region 4 must be completed. As instructed by the court, it must be done transparently in the presence of party agents as well as observers as was the case with the SOPs for the other ballot boxes. After the certification of SOPs, a declaration of the winner is made. That process should come to a finale so that the country can move on to deal with COVID-19. If there are questions of the certification of SOPs or with the declaration of the results, then there can be judicial redress or GECOM intervention for a recount. Yours truly, Dr. Vishnu Bisram
Those in authority should not wash their hands of making the right decision DEAR EDITOR, Reminding ourselves of the life of Jesus at Easter time, we reflect on one of the greatest injustices, because of a man’s reaction to an inconvenient truth. Let us all pray, that the inconvenient truth about our recent elections does not continue to give reason for another great injustice; that is the crucifixion of Guyanese morality, health, personal safety, happiness and justice.
Those in authority should not wash their hands of making the right decision, but must take the just steps and do what is right. We may have limited control over the suffering from the COVID-19 virus, but we can end the election mischief and free ourselves with the truth. Let this Easter season give us all at least something to be proud of. FaiyaZ Alli
Wednesday April 15, 2020
We are still struggling and spiralling downwards in 2020 DEAR EDITOR, Please permit me space in your letters column to respond to Dr. David Hinds, whom, since post elections, has been increasingly peddling a series of hollow narratives. I am usually not a fan of his writings. However, given the current state of our country – that is, a political crisis compounded with the adverse economic impact of COVID-19. I find it extremely necessary to respond to Dr. Hinds for his irresponsible rhetoric as I believe Dr. Hinds speaks to a particular audience who listens to him as a leader in the political sphere. In his column on April 5, 2020, Hinds wrote, “Scrap this election. Destroy those boxes. Install an interim Government led by David Granger…” Then, in his column on April 12, 2020, Hinds wrote, “the PPP spun my proposal from last week to make it look as if I proposed the destruction of the ballot boxes to hide some evidence of the Coalition’s loss of the election and the PPP victory.” Now, readers, observers and intelligent minds alike are probably wondering if Dr. Hinds is of sound mind or whether his intellectual faculties are dysfunctional and /or diminished. Perhaps Dr. Hinds forgot what he wrote the preceding week, or he omit to revisit his column from the preceding week, or he has suffered selective amnesia, or he is delusional, or he is living in a world by himself out of planet earth, or he is in absolute denial surrounded by a vacuum of fallacy and fantasies. Moreover, these are the most absurdly ballistic assertions to begin with. In this regard, I would like to ask of Dr. Hinds to address the following (rhetorical) questions: What is an interim Government? Why do we need an interim Government? What is the rationale and justification for an interim Government? What are the principles upon which an interim Government ought to function? Do we have those principles imbedded within the behavioural attributes of the political actors’ subject to an interim Government? What should be the mandate (this can’t be just constitutional reform vaguely)? How should it function? Can Dr. Hinds clarify what he meant by “scrap an election”? What is the plausibility of his inherently weak concocted basis for such an absurdly unusual assertion? What motivated this ideology? If the election is scraped to put in place an interim
arrangement, then, who will that interim Government be serving? Upon whose mandate, given by whom (certainly not the people), therefore, whose interest will an interim Government serve? How difficult is it to recount the votes in all districts? How difficult it is to respect and adhere to a transparent process in recounting the votes? How difficult it is to respect the authentic results, when declared of the election? Who really will an interim Government serve if the results of an election are scraped which reflects the will of the people? Is it a coincidence that since the U.S Government stated that it will lift sanctions against Venezuela should an interim Government be formed with the Opposition? Is this the underlying motivation for one side of the political spectrum to have adopted this new mantra, thus, effectively ignoring the auspices of a democratic system, inter alia, denying the will of the people and not respecting the outcome of a credible, democratically held election? For the records, the PPP never rejected a full national recount. If there is anyone who does not want a recount, all the actions and evidence, by way of the maneuverings, legal and otherwise, including those obstructionary in nature, tantamount to bullyism and trickery, have all been the tactic of the APNU+AFC faction and this is an irrefutable fact recognized by the entire Western Powers, the E.U, U.S, U.K, Canada, CARICOM and the Commonwealth. The people of Guyana are not foolish or oblivious of these facts as Dr. Hinds would like the world or sections of the population to think. Dr. Hinds always have the tendency to accuse the PPP administration of neglecting Afro Guyanese in the administration of its economic policies and his singular narrative is always about racism in some way shape or form. Editor, I wish to also take this opportunity to address these by way of some amount of policy analysis. While Dr. Hinds always peddled these sorts of arguments, he has never justified his arguments in any scholastic manner to support those assertions put forward by him from an evidenced based standpoint. Towards this end, one ought to understand the difference between economic diversification versus economic devastation. Economic diversification was certainly facilitated under the
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previous Administration, while economic devastation has been the hallmark of the current de facto Administration. In this respect, the Minister of Finance boasted of some 4.7% growth in GDP for last year despite poor performances in traditional sectors, and that investors continue to ink concrete deals regardless of the political environment. The Minister went on to elaborate and suggests that over the years, the regime has been building and diversifying the economy. The Minister perhaps is seemingly taking credit for that which was not engineered by him through any of his projects, programmes and policies. Economic diversification and economic devastation are two completely different realities altogether. The economic realities for which the Finance Minister’s policies and by extension the regime are largely responsible for are in fact, redistribution of wealth and economic devastation – that is, the case of downsizing the sugar industry which in effect led to massive unemployment rates, depression in the sugar communities, increases in non-performing loans in the banking sector, extraction of over $40 billion from circulation in the economy which in turn, sustains the village economies and has far reaching economic sustenance implications on the macroeconomy; a contributory factor, admitted by the Minister himself, for the financial constraints of the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) investments; and a massive loss in private consumption of about $180 billion. In fact, the (Continued on page 6)
Lowenfield is the problem; Claudette Singh holds the solution DEAR EDITOR, Keith Lowenfield and Claudette Singh stand accused of failing to deliver fair and transparent election result expeditiously to the Guyanese people. The diabolical situation in Guyana is the direct result of these two persons’ deliberate actions and inactions resulting in the unfolding of a naked fraud. There is no dispute whatsoever that the electoral process was conducted in a fair and transparent manner in all 10 Regions. The contents of the Statements of Poll (SOPs) are not being disputed and were never an issue of contention. The law enumerates unequivocal procedures for the tabulation of the SOPs and the declaration of the results. However, Mr. Lowenfield refuses, fails and frustrates the tabulation. He has conspired with Clairmont Mingo to produce falsified tabulation of Region 4. He knew by direct observation and overwhelming evidence at his disposal that Mingo deliberately declared false results twice. He perpetuated the falsehood by signing and presenting the tabulation for the Commissioners’ adoption. At this juncture, he aided and abetted the false tabulation. He has committed an electoral offence. Mr. Lowenfield has in his sole possession the original SOPs. The SOPs contain the authentic representation of the electorate choice of government. Why are the SOPs being ignored? It is simply because they revealed that the incumbent APNU+AFC lost and the opposition PPP won the election. Mr. Lowenfield and other employees of the GECOM secretariat and PNC Commissioners are frustrating the process. They are
deliberately preventing due process in order to keep the losing incumbent APNU+AFC in power. These people are refusing to obey the mandated procedures for their own illegal purpose. The GECOM chairman has been complacent throughout the whole process. She has failed miserably at carrying out her functions. GECOM is structured in a manner so as to cause the chairman to be the honest broker and to deliver fair and transparent election results expeditiously. The purpose of the laws and process surrounding the chairman’s appointment is to ensure impartiality. It is precisely for this reason, the unilateral appointment of James Patterson by David Granger was found to be a breach of the Constitution. Claudette Singh needs to remind herself of the noble office she holds. She has the authority to demand the SOPs from Lowenfield and to complete the tabulation of Region Four. After all, the SOPs are not the personal property and chattel of Mr. Lowenfield. GECOM and, more directly, the chairman is the true custodian of the SOPs. Claudette Singh is failing in her statutory and fiduciary duty to take possession and secure the integrity of the SOPs. She must demand the immediate delivery of the SOPs by Lowenfield. Claudette Singh knows and has evidence that the tabulation process by Lowenfield and Mingo is tainted with clear intention
and actions to rig the election. She must assert her authority and remove these two persons from any further involvement. It is incumbent upon her to immediately report their illegal activities to the police and the DPP. The Constitution at Section 162(1)(b) states that the Commission shall issue such instructions and take such action as appear to it necessary or expedient to ensure impartiality, fairness and compliance with the provisions of the Constitution. If ever there was a time to invoke this section of the Constitution it is right now. There is no legal or practical reason preventing Claudette Singh to immediately restart the tabulation of the SOPs. The starting point must be from where Mingo and Lowenfield contaminated the process. There is no dispute as to the authenticity of the tabulation prior to this moment. Therefore, let’s not undo what has already been vouched as authentic and undisputed. The Guyanese people and the rest of the world are watching and depending on Claudette Singh to take full responsibility and simply to do the right thing that she is statutorily required to do. She has a choice of sealing her legacy as either a heinous monster or an honourable judge. Remember Justice Singh, if you fail Guyana fails. Don’t let the people cry on you. Yours truly, Tameshwar N. Lilmohan BA MBA FCCA CPACFE LLB LLM/LLM
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Now is the time for sober discourse and action DEAR EDITOR, I am more than disappointed over the protracted delay in the swearing in of a president for the new term of governance. Previously I sent some letters for publishing but I guess they did not meet your editorial agenda. I find that every time the opposition comes up with a request and it is being addressed they suddenly change the goal posts so to speak. It is as though they have some hidden agenda and are subtly leading the nation down the path of destruction. Might I remind the nation that in the 1960’s the PPP had such an agenda which eventually led to the demise of some 165 souls which ought never to have been. This led to the polarization which we have witnessed since those times. The security forces at the time were not charitable to the PPP supporters who were involved in bombings, rapes, lootings and arson. They were dealt with condignly. Any such future plan will be dealt with more severely since we now have a standing army and not a part time force as in those days. To satisfy everyone the recount to be undertaken by GECOM cannot be a simple
numbers count. This count must be a forensic audit of what has taken place on polling day and involves verifying all the parameters concerning the voting system. Anything short of this would be a pappy show. It was seen that in many districts reputed to be strongholds of the PPP many irregularities took place. What with extra ID cards being distributed together with multiple voting and messing around with the official SOP’s. All of this was captured on YouTube videos for all the world to see. In view of the foregoing the recount will take a long time and will spring surprises for the world to witness. Yes, eventually there will be a loser and a winner. However, many are going to be shocked by the results of this recount. In my layman’s view a recount should only follow a decision of the Courts in an elections petition case. For GECOM to so proceed in order to appease any one group seems to my mind to be a breach of the current legislation. But GECOM has wide ranging powers. GECOM was set up many years ago with many flaws in its administration and funding. Some twenty years ago a band aid fixing of some
of the problems was agreed to by the parties concerned. Instead of a general overhaul of its systems and composition the two large parties knew very well that whoever won an elections could virtually do as they well pleased and get away with same. It is disingenuous to have two parties alone having total say over the elections machinery of the nation. What about the views of other important interest groups and stakeholders? The solution to the impasse seems to be the immediate installation of the president and the setting up of a constituent assembly for the rewriting of the constitution and the new frame work for the GECOM. Anything short of this would be putting us right back where we were. Editor, it might not be your desire to publish this letter but I can assure you that now is the time for sober discourse and action to take the nation out of the jaws of death and destruction. What took place in the 1960’s would be but a kindergarten party compared to what we are being pushed into now. Today’s belligerents were infants in those days. Regards, Cyril Walker
Death by road traffic accidents; a Guyanese fate DEAR EDITOR, Road traffic accidents are claiming the lives of Guyanese at an alarming rate. Reckless driving encouraged by lack of safety features is to blame for this ongoing issue. Policy makers and enforcers need to implement a more rigorous approach to get ahead of road traffic safety by improving our built environment for the country’s public health. As an overseas based Guyanese and a student of Public Health, I do my best to analyze the news and observe current events back home, especially as they pertain to the livelihood of local Guyanese. In doing so, I am also mindful of government response or lack thereof, to the threats of livelihood. When I emigrated in 2008, road traffic accidents were one such threat. According to Oxford University’s Sustainable Development Goals Tracker; that year, Guyana experienced 18.64 deaths per 100,000 people from road accidents. Like many young students, I took the bus to school and risked the dangers associated
with speeding, noise pollution from far too loud music being played and buses filled over capacity. Living on the East Coast, on Ogle’s main road, I frequently found myself behind the wheel of drivers excited to speed when welcomed by a smooth and open roadway. I’ve had to exercise extreme caution when crossing this road, which didn’t have a pedestrian crossing or overhead pass to get to my house on the other side. I’ve witnessed several accidents travelling to and from home, involving various vehicles, even cattle and I’ve also dealt with the costly effects of the aftermath of an accident, when a drunk driver struck my mother and two other family members in 2004. The tracker estimates 18.76 deaths per 100,000 people from accidents that year. Fast forward to 2019, the accident issue still presents itself. The tracker stops after 2017, when the World Health Organization reported 15.93 deaths per 100,000 people; roughly 118 total deaths. In a 2019 article, Traffic Chief Leslie James states there were
100 deaths in 2018. A Caribbean Life article published on the last day of the year in 2019, reported a total of 115 deaths, a significant increase from 2018. The Kaieteur news published an article containing a chart of accidents and deaths over the years 2005-2018, which reveals an average of 117 accidents and 133 deaths which means, there is at least 1 death for every accident. Chilling. If we trust these statistics and reports, this is a major problem. In the Caribbean Life article, the Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson stated, “…we have done a lot, almost all major roadways have street lights, because we obviously want to ensure safety, and we want people to see properly when they are driving, unfortunately, most of the accidents are a direct consequence of smoother, nicer roads.” Later, the article concludes, “The Guyana Police Force stated that the leading causes of traffic mishaps in the country are speeding and driving while under the influence of alcohol. Other major causes are driving while distracted by (Continued on page 22)
Wednesday April 15, 2020
Honesty, integrity and decency? DEAR EDITOR, It is now 42 days since we held our ge n e r a l a n d regional elections where eligible voters exercised their right to choose a new Government for Guyana. We a r e s t i l l w i t h o u t a legitimate Government, and many young people are all awaiting the end (if there will be an end) to the nightmare that GECOM has brought upon us. Yesterday the commissioners along with Madam Chair met, the update (provided by Mr. Sase Gunraj via social media): 1. Meeting adjourned to tomorrow at 10:30am. 2. No revised plan was supplied by Secretariat. One is expected before the meeting tomorrow (today). 3. A site visit to Arthur Chung Conference Centre is expected as soon as possible. I would like to acknowledge the hard work and efforts the opposition commissioners have done so far and I am sure will continue to do until the recount is done. However, t h e w o r d s , “ h o n e s t y,
integrity and decency” continue to be three resounding words and probably will be etched into my memory since I will always remember those words with relation to the 2020 general and regional elections campaign by the APNU-AFC. Since the 5th March 2020, this is when the nightmare began for all Guyanese who are still awaiting the results for region 4; there is nothing that has happened from that date that relates, describes or is synonymous to those three (3) words that the APNUAFC campaigned throughout the length and breadth of dear Guyana. Apart from that nightmare, we have a lifethreatening virus amongst us, I have been writing and calling for more to be done concerning the COVID-19. I truly, hope that more initiatives be in place for all Guyanese. While tax exemptions are now in place for necessities, tax exemptions should also be
effective for basic food items, as well as all sanitization/ cleaning items for at least 3 months, place a waiver (reduction) on utility bills as wells. Also adding to these measures, I hope would be in place, can we have assurance that those essential workers (not only health care workers) but those in the GPF, GDF, Guyana Fire Service, airport workers (those in the air control towers), our weather forecasters and our weather observers, have an incentive or an increase in their salaries. Our essential workers also have families whom are at risk once these workers head out to serve our nation. It is my wish that GECOM can act swiftly, but I am afraid that this may not be the case since the trend is to delay and leave the nation in awe, w i t h t h e i r d i s t a s teful maneuvers. May we all be safe throughout this pandemic of COVID-19. Respectfully, Katrina Niamatali
We are still struggling and... From page 5 Commission of Inquiry (COI) into the Guyana Sugar Corporation Inc. in 2015, headed by Guyana’s prominent economist, Dr. Clive Thomas, never recommended the closure of any of the sugar estates because Dr. Thomas as an economist, understood the macroeconomic implications of such a move, and what was even worse, the COI cost tax payers over $50 million. This is largely why the traditional sectors continue to underperform as admitted by the Minister. This under-performance of the tradition a l s e c t o r s resulted in a loss of some US$2 billion in foreign exchange over the last five years, despite being offset by Gold exports, other exports and foreign direct investments owing to oil and gas related activities in the economy. It is the number one factor why the Central Bank’s international reserve is less than the universal minimum benchmark of three months import cover for the first time in more than ten years when it has always been above three and four months import cover. Further, the economic diversification which the Minister boasts of: as contended previously, the investments by foreign investors in the hotel and tourism industry and the
reportedly explosive expressions of interests by foreign investors in the U.S, Canada and the U.K. and many other counties, to invest in the Guyana e c o n o m y, a r e l a rg e l y directly attributed to Guyana becoming a petroleum producing state, the tsunami of economic opportunities that the emerging oil and gas sector of itself will induce in the next two decades, and of note, these developments are not as a result of any projects conceptualized or implemented by the subject Minister or the Administration, rather these are direct results of projects, policies and initiatives that were already in place under the previous regime. It is public knowledge that the Exxon’s contract was signed in 1999. In other words, these developments that are occurring now are simply a natural default of this fundamental fact. The subject Minister’s policies have no evidence of any economic diversification plan. It should be noteworthy to mention, more so, that even all the road projects and other developmental projects in the Hinterland regions and other parts of the country which are somewhat alluded to in the National Green State Development Strategy, were all conceptualized and developed in the National
Development Strategy since 1996-1997. The National Development Strategy was put together, inter alia, 300 hours of meetings by 23 technical working groups consisting of over 200 Guyanese and is by far a more superior development strategy than that which is contained in the Green State Development Strategy. Editor, I will close here for now and will consider another separate missive in which I will focus on educating Dr. Hinds of the impacts of the economic policies administered under the previous administration by simplifying the multiplier effect of those, versus those of his de factor Government. The A P N U + A F C Administration has been stymieing G u y a n a ’s economic development and progress since 2011 when it had a one seat majority in the National Assembly. These were largely the lead up to snap elections in 2015 and one would think that with the APNU+AFC winning that elections thus being placed in power to govern, that development would have progressed. In hindsight, the sharpest contrary view to this notion has been the outcome – and we are still struggling and spiralling downwards in 2020. Yours faithfully, Avinash Bhagwandin
Wednesday April 15, 2020
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COVID-19 and the Economic Outlook...
IMF projects 52.8% growth for Guyana in 2020 A
By Kiana Wilburg s governments across the world continue to grapple with the significant economic damage done by the COVID-19 pandemic, while bracing for negative growth, the latest projections by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) show that Guyana is expected to be the only country in the Latin America and Caribbean Region to have a positive outlook for 2020. Last year, the IMF had predicted that Guyana’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) would grow by 86 percent. But due to the effects of the oil price war between Saudi Arabia and Russia as well as COVID-19’s effects on the overall global demand for oil, the IMF has revised its projection to 52.8 %. Guyana’s neighbours in the region on the other hand, are not so fortunate to still emerge with positive growth. Based on the IMF’s projections, Trinidad and Tobago for example will see negative growth which is pegged at -4.5%. Following this, the country’s former Minister of Energy, Kevin Ramnarine had taken to his Linked In profile to comment on the troubling forecast. He said, “The just released International Monetary Fund’s
World Economic Outlook has forecast -4.5% growth for T&T in 2020. T&T is facing the worst economic crisis since 1986 to 1989. T&T’s recovery is likely to be dampened by oil and gas prices staying low for a long time. #thegreatlockdown.” Other nations such as Suriname, Venezuela and Brazil are projected by the IMF to see negative growth rates of -4.9, -15.0, and -5.3 respectively. (The chart attached to this article shows some of the other countries in the Latin America and Caribbean Region that will see negative growth.) The IMF’s forecast seems to be in line with the World Bank’s. According to this financial institution, Guyana is expected to see a GDP growth of 51.7 percent for 2020. In its latest reported titled, “The Economy in the time of COVID-19”, the Bank said, “...Oil production is projected to boost GDP growth to unprecedented levels in 2020.” While this could transform Guyana, the Bank was keen to note that there are risks, “as illustrated by a still incomplete election outcome, and compounded by falling oil prices and the Covid-19 epidemic.” The World Bank also noted that weak public service delivery and monitoring systems constrain the development of policies to re-
duce poverty and protect the vulnerable. GLOBAL CONTRACTION As a result of the pandemic, the IMF said that the global economy is projected to contract sharply by –3 percent in 2020, much worse than during the 2008–09 financial crises. The Fund said that in a baseline scenario—which assumes that the pandemic fades in the second half of 2020 and containment efforts can be gradually unwound—
the global economy is projected to grow by 5.8 percent in 2021 as economic activity normalizes, helped by policy support. Further to this, the IMF said that the risks for even more severe outcomes, however, are substantial. Expounding in this regard, the
Fund said that effective policies are essential to forestall the possibility of worse outcomes, while noting that the necessary measures to reduce contagion and protect lives are an important investment in long-term human and economic health.
The IMF said, “Because the economic fallout is acute in specific sectors, policymakers will need to implement substantial targeted fiscal, monetary, and financial market measures to support affected households (Continued on page 10)
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Wednesday April 15, 2020
Kaieteur News
Building resilient agriculture and food systems in Guyana - what COVID-19 teaches us
By Dr. Gillian Smith, FAO Representative in Guyana
I
n addition to the impact on health systems, lives and families, COVID-19 is also challenging the global economy and unravelling decades of development in many countries. In the effort to reduce further health and economic dislocation, many countries are taking steps to protect their borders and their trade. In this scenario, it is vital to ensure that the global food trade continues to flow freely and in a safe way that protects livelihoods and health.This is a central message of the joint statement made on 31 March 2020, by the Food and Agriculture Or-
ganization of the United Nations (FAO), the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Trade Organization (WTO). Titled ‘Mitigating the impacts of COVID-19 on food trade and markets’, the heads of these Organizations Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (WHO), QU Dongyu (FAO) and Roberto Azevedo (WTO) - called for global cooperation and action to prevent disruptions in food supply chains and trade, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. The statement recognizes the critical interconnectedness of the global food trade. For Guyana, this message is relevant to its agrifood system, because it refers to Guyana’s ability to provide food for both domestic consumption and export earnings. Beyond agriculture production, agrifood systems have a broader economic and social perspective. It encom-
passes all aspects, from agriculture input supplies, to production and harvesting, processing, food distribution and trade, all the way through to consumption. This broader concept takes into consideration, the critical linkages of all stakeholders and their impact one another’s livelihoods. Agriculture in Guyana accounts for between 15 – 20% of GDP. Estimates indicate more than half of local food consumption may be provided by local production. Agriculture also accounts for an estimated 30% of the country’s employment and drives export earnings of USD $8M. Sustainable development of the country and its economy, realization of livelihood opportunities, particularly in rural territories, also depends on the success of agriculture. We are all connected to the global and national food supply chains. This is true, whether you produce food for local sale in
From left: Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, QU Dongyu and Roberto Azevedo, Directors-General of WHO, FAO and WTO. supermarkets or markets; produce food for export and trade, import food, provide seeds, agro-chemicals and other supplies and services to farmers; run a restaurant, bakery or snackette or prepare food for our families and friends. The COVID-19 pandemic is a timely reminder that our food systems are vulnerable to external economic shocks, often of a global nature. This pandemic presents us with a timely opportunity to reflect on our vulnerabilities, take stock of our position and reinforce or introduce measures to address these vulnerabilities. Building resilience into our agrifood systems is the best way to survive shocks. Even as we react to the inevitable challenges that evolve from the crisis, it is useful to takea longer-term view of our food systems and their resilience in protecting our food and nutrition security. Here are some ways to build or reinforce the resilience of the Guyana agrifood system: MONITOR GLOBAL MARKETAND TRADE TRENDS THAT IMPACT EXPORTS The world is already experiencing an economic slowdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) joined other development and financial organizations in noting that global economic slowdown will have multiple impacts on the economies of Latin American and Caribbean countries. In a recent article it noted that the downturn in the global economic situation will weaken already anemic growth in the region, including by affecting value chains, reducing market demand for some products and drops in commodity prices. As an exporter of rice and sugar, Guyana monitors the trends in markets and the potential impact of economic downturn on rice and sugar.
Exploring market opportunities, pursuing agriculture production diversification, valueadded production and building value chains continues to be a good mixed strategy that will build the resilience of the agrifood system.Timely data collection and analysis in all aspects of the agrifood systems will help the country to plan better and be more agile in global markets. COLLABORATE WITH PARTNERS Working with regional trade partners within CARICOM is also a strategy that can mitigate market uncertainties. Through regional and other organizations, Guyana can also participate in developing common strategies to mitigate the effects of COVID-19. As an example, CARICOM has convened its Member States, development and donor partners and other key stakeholders to identify and implement collective response measures to address the risks to food production and trade in the Community and to guide those of individual Member States. At the level of the Latin American and Caribbean region, FAO has supported Ministers of Agriculture in their declaration which defines concrete actions to support agricultural production and trade in the region. SUPPORT NATIONAL SYSTEMS THAT PROMOTE THE SAFE DISTRIBUTION OF FOOD Guyana continues to have sufficient food available to meet its local requirements. A diverse, nutritious offering of locally produced vegetables, fruits, staples and meat continues to be available. It is a good time to ensure that distribution outlets remain available to the population, particularly to the most vulnerable who typically feel the stress of changes first and more severely. Effective monitoring of market trends and logistical changes along supply chains is necessary to identify trends
that are likely to interrupt or affect supply chains or reduce the competitiveness of traditional markets. In the longer term, a sustainable and resilient agrifood system in Guyana benefits from a multi-sectoral approach. Supply chains for both food and agriculture inputs, labour supply and availability, food production and distribution, food safety, water and land resources and other related activities are managed by numerous agencies and ministries which must work coherently to ensure a coordinated response to emergencies such as COVID19. It is also a good time to identify and reduce points of food waste and loss throughout the agrifood system. In the medium to long term, the strategy of diversification of food production remains very relevant. VULNERABLE GROUPS NEED SPECIAL SUPPORT TO ENSURE ACCESS TO ADEQUATE FOOD. Accessing the agrifood system can be challenging for vulnerable groups such as single female-headed households, rural dwellers, indigenous peoples, the elderly, the unemployed and under-employed and persons living below or on the poverty line.The Guyana Poverty Reduction Strategy 2011 – 2015, notes that in 2006, 36% of the population lived in moderate poverty while 19 %lived in extreme poverty. Although the information may not be recent, there are still varying levels of poverty in the country. For these persons, sometimes clustered in communities, measures put in place to reduce the spread COVID-19 can inadvertently reduce their physical access to the complete range of dietary requirements as well as the affordability of food. For this reason, it is vital to ensure that local food distribution (delivery) continues to occur, including in remote (Continued on page 22)
Wednesday April 15, 2020
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Kaieteur News
Guyana is facing a triple-whammy
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he Cliff Anderson Sports Hall paints a chilling picture. It has been converted into a facility to house COVID-19 patients. Beds and gurneys are lined up next to each other on the Hall’s spacious floor, previous used as a basketball court. No doubt this has been done in expectation of a massive increase in the number of confirmed COVID-19 virus cases who would have to be isolated. In a matter of two weeks, the number of confirmed cases of the virus has more than doubled. The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases increased from 19 on March 31 to 47 as of yesterday. This increase took place in an environment of low-testing. For those who do not understand the significance of the increase, it means that the situation is extremely serious. We have doubled the number of confirmed cases in eight days. No one should look forward to spending time at the Sports Hall. People should therefore do all within their powers to avoid being infected. There is an unofficial
cure for this virus. It is called, “stay at home.” Guyana is presently on a partial lockdown. The lockdown is now in its second week and is expected to go on for another two weeks, at least. The experience of countries such as Spain and Italy indicate that it takes at least six weeks for the virus to peak during lockdowns. So it is hoped that the public authorities would not be relaxing the restrictions at least for the next four to five weeks. After this period, an assessment can be made of the situation, and decisions taken as to what needs to be done. Right now, containing the local spread of the virus should be the number one priority of the administration. The government’s strategy is predictable. One only has to look at CNN to know what next the government will do. When the US started to promote the use of masks, Guyana did the same. Local groups, political parties, religious organizations and individuals have been doing a commendable job in providing masks for citizens. It is estimated that over
the past week, local volunteers have produced and distributed more than 20,000 masks. The government is importing 30,000 masks from China. These masks could have been produced locally. The government could have used this to provide a stimulus to encourage housewives to produce home-made masks and to earn income. It is one of the many missed opportunities of a government which probably realizes that regardless of the rhetoric, its days in office are numbered. The same mistake should not be made with the economy. The economic fallout from the virus will be severe. The government should be using this period to determine just how it will be getting the economy revived. The economy was already showing signs of chronic illness before the virus hit. It is now, with the lockdown, likely to be in distress. Tax relief is not the answer. Strangely, tax relief measures are being announced by the Guyana Revenue Authority, which has no legal authority to reduce any taxes. There
DEM BOYS SEH
Prepare fuh suck salt Dem boys warn y’all all along bout this shameful deal which the government sign with dem oil companies. The chickens now come home to roost. Dem boys smelling hard times ahead. Dem boys know bout sucking sugarcane. But dem boys warning y’all fuh start prepare fuh suck salt fuss. Rightstart Henergy seh how the breakeven price fuh Guyana oil is US$37 per barrel. Hesss seh it is US$ 35 per barrel. Dem numbers more twisted than those on Mingo’s spreadsheet.
Dem boys know that when dem oil company seh one price, the actual breakeven price is far, far less. That is how dem robbing. The fact is dem also picking we pocket with the oil deal. Oil selling right now for US$29.60. Dat mean we getting far less than breakeven. The oil companies telling us it mean we nah getting nuttin right now, except debt. Fuh every barrel dem pump, we getting debt and mo’ debt. Never mind dem oil company paying dem foreign staff
big money and shortchanging we. Dem boys laugh when dem hear how Guyana gun have to store its share of oil to avoid selling at a loss. Dem boys wan know wheh dem gun store de oil. Dem nah gat storage facility. In the meantime, dem oil companies laughing all de way to de bank. Dem have we wheh dem want we. We fighting over counting 400,000 votes and dem still pumpin’ oil. Talk half and prepare fuh suck salt.
has to be a more comprehensive strategy to deal with the fallout from the virus. Planning, unfortunately, has never been the strong point of any of our governments The decline in oil prices means that Guyana will not earn the sums it was expected to earn. The World Bank has already begun to downgrade Guyana’s growth projects, and substantially. Low oil prices for the rest of the year will create severe difficulties for the economy. And even after the Organization of Petroleum Producing Countries (OPEC) and Russia agreed to reduce output, prices remain low. It is a
sign of a loss of investor confidence. This will further hurt Guyana. Guyana therefore faces a triple-whammy. It is on lockdown, which means people’s lives are affected and production is stagnated; it is facing a health crisis and it is heading into a deep economic crisis. When it rains, it pours. The government-in-waiting will need all the help it can get. It will need the best brains it can get. It will need someone in the economic front seat who has experience in dealing with crisis management, especially those caused by an economic crisis. The future looks bleak.
But not as bleak as having to take your last breath on a gurney at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, all alone and without family or anyone to hold your hand. (The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper)
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Wednesday April 15, 2020
Kaieteur News
THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN
Lynch, Quinn, Chatterjee, Paet, Carter, Arthur and Golding saved Guyana
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y now, most decent, honest, law-abid ing, multi-racial Guyanese here, and whichever country they are in, should be grateful forever to US Ambassador Sarah-Ann Lynch; UK High Commissioner, Greg Quinn; Canadian High Commissioner, Lilian Chatterjee; Bruce Golding, former Jamaican PM; Owen Arthur, former Barbadian PM, Jason Carter of the Carter Centre and Urmas Paet, EU head of the EU election observer mission. Do you realize that once these six persons had accepted GECOM’s conspiracy to alter the votes for Region 4 on that fateful day of March 4, 2020, through the antics of Clairmont Mingo, then
Guyana would no longer have had free and fair elections and the People’s National Congress would have ruled Guyana for decades to come? I did not mention the AFC, because I think the AFC is a fading footnote, and had the world allowed the PNC to become the next government after March 4, the AFC would have been logically subsumed under the PNC. In an earlier column (March 15, 2020, “How does Granger hope to rule?”), I wrote “The virtual life of the PPP is at stake at this time. You don’t need a university education to tell you that right at this moment in time, the PPP is facing its demise. If APNU+AFC rigged the
IMF projects 52.8%... From page 7 and businesses domestically.” Internationally, the Fund asserted that strong multilateral cooperation is essential to overcome the effects of the pandemic, including helping financially constrained countries facing twin health and funding shocks, and for channeling aid to countries with weak health care systems.
2020 election while it was in power, the PPP has to know that it faces the nightmarish question – why are they not going to rig subsequent elections thereby preserving power for themselves way into the future. The other side of this question is whether the PPP can remain a viable entity if it accepts the Granger presidency and remains in opposition. Why would young leaders want to continue in the PPP only to give blood, sweat and tears, and to see their political careers stagnated forever in the opposition benches? By what rational thinking would a young politician want to stay in the PPP’s leadership after March 2020?” It is not only the PPP that would have faded away after March 4, 2020, but all other political parties that had intentions of vying for power to lead their country. It turned out that after five weeks since Mingo’s mingle-mangle and GECOM’s diseased jejunum, the PNC has not formed the government.
There is only one reason – the names above have told the world that what they saw from March 4 onwards at the GECOM command centre in Stabroek, then at GECOM’s head office in Kingston, was nothing but criminal behaviour, involving the rigging of a country’s election. One at all times must remember that the two former CARICOM prime ministers must have been mentally numb at what they saw, because they were involved in contesting elections in their own countries in which they won and lost fairly and squarely. It may be impossible to read what went through their minds when they saw GECOM’s descent into criminal rigging of a country’s national election. GECOM’s riggers and their partners in APNU/AFC have opportunistically singled out the EU representative and the Guyana-based envoys of the US, UK and Canada, as interfering in the sovereign affairs of Guyana. Sarah-Ann Lynch, in a no-nonsense reply, described
a world of nations - to which Guyana belongs - that have undertaken to adhere to democratic principles. The rigging of elections is a violation of those sacred norms that preserve democracy in the world. Five weeks after GECOM’s conspiracy with APNU+AFC, there is no new government, and that is because of those names listed in the caption of this article. Guyana will survive this conspiracy of rigging, and Guyana will continue to have free and fair elections, because of the efforts of these names listed above. There can be no question about it; all Guyanese owe them a permanent debt. Just think of what this country would have become if they had accepted the electoral depravity of March 4. Here is a brief description. There would have been no constitutional adjustment to remove the Carter/Price formula that underpins the physiology of GECOM. Why would the new Granger government revamp the election commission
Frederick Kissoon when five years down the road those players would have handed the PNC another fraudulent victory? Just think of it – even after 2025, if some of the conspirators were no longer there, they would have been replaced by another school of conspirators, and the PNC would have been in power forever.As it stands today, that will not happen. They have not sworn in Granger because not only are they afraid of sanctions, but also criminal violations of international law. As time passes and Guyana recovers from this vicious electoral fraud, we must look back and praise those wonderful persons named above. (The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper)
Wednesday April 15, 2020
Kaieteur News
Men in AK-47 probe released on bail
Several men, including a prominent gold miner, have reportedly been released on station bail, following questions over at least two AK-47 weapons seen in a viral video. The incident happened last week at an area in Region 10. At least two AK-47 - high powered assault weaponswere seen in the hands of men who were heard issuing threats to a number of mining workers. According to officials close to the case, the police from Mackenzie Police Station did not find any of the weapons when visiting the mining camp area, off the Unamco road, Upper Berbice River area. The men, including gold exporter, Rylon Adolphus, reportedly all denied knowledge of the weapons. Under regulations, AK47s are not issued to miners or security companies. Law enforcement officials started looking at whether the AK-47s could have belonged to one of the state’s security entities, including the police. It was confirmed on Monday that Adolphus and at least two ex-cops were arrested in connection with the invasion. Kaieteur News had reported that the video was posted online showing an apparent invasion, in which an employee was assaulted. Commander of the Region 10 division, Superintendent Hugh Winter, on Monday confirmed that a number of men were in custody. It was later disclosed that the guns seen in the video were not recovered by police. During the invasion 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.
The armed men that were in the camp
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’ 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. Then, on Saturday, heavilyarmed men came with someone and attempted to remove ‘Sunna’ and his prospecting operations. 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. The men are said to be miners. According to a worker, the men had taken away an AR rifle from their security guard and had it. In 2016, Adolphus’ name surfaced after it was disclosed that the Guyana Gold Board had issued its approval of an export licence for Adolphus Mining Inc. There were questions then about the due diligence c o n d u c t e d . One of the two directors of Adolphus Mining is Travis Chase, a television reporter. There are only about eight or nine gold exporters in Guyana.
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Kaieteur News
Wednesday April 15, 2020
Shuman disgruntled with GECOM’s sloth to operationalise recount Liberty and Justice Party presidential candidate, Lenox Shuman
Leader of the Liberty and Justice Party (LJP), Lenox Shuman, has voiced his dissatisfaction with the time it is taking for the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to get the national recount of all votes cast in the March general and regional elections on stream. The party’s presidential candidate conducted a Facebook livestream, yesterday, where he noted the developments at GECOM. Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield was expected to present the final plan on the recount’s modalities, but he did not do so, as the Secretariat said it needed clarity on a few issues before proceeding. Shuman discussed the sloth toward the recount and the lack of a fully functioning government in the context of the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) and its grave threat to the lives of Guyana’s citizens. He referred to projections by the Pan American Health Organisation/World Health Organisation (PAHO/WHO)
that Guyana’s actual COVID19 cases may actually be in the thousands, and could meet 20,000 by early next month. Shuman said that, at this time, the country is in need of strong leadership. The presidential candidate has accepted that his party did not make a considerable showing in the March 2 elections, but he is adamant that the people must have their voting franchise respected swiftly so that a government can be installed. “I am hopeful that when the Guyana Elections Commission meets [today] that we’re going to have a framework put forth that is different f r o m t h e 1 5 6 days [duration] as tabled by Mr. Keith Lowenfield, and that we are going to see a conclusive end to these elections in under 20 days,” Shuman said. Shuman has called on the GECOM Chair (ret’d) Justice Claudette Singh to ensure the Guyanese public gets closure with the credible conclusion of the electoral process.
Minister: Schools unlikely to reopen before September
Education Minister Anthony Garcia Trinidad Guardian - Education Minister Anthony Garcia has said that it is unlikely that schools will be able to reopen until September this year.The Minister made the announcement at a news con-
ference yesterday afternoon. He said that even after school reopens, it will take about a month before CXC can administer examinations. This is a developing story and we will have more later.
Wednesday April 15, 2020
Kaieteur News
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Region Ten confirms second COVID-19 case - Woman, 29, transferred to Diamond Diagnostic Centre The Regional Health and Emergency Committee of Region Ten has confirmed that a second person from that region has been tested positive for COVID-19. The confirmation was given by Medical Superintendent (MS) of the Linden Hospital Complex, Dr Joseph London. Dr. London disclosed that the 29-year-old woman is currently warded at Diamond Diagnostic Centre. According to Dr. London, the woman had displayed mild symptoms of the disease. She had complained of a sore throat, fever and cough at the initial stage of her examination. The doctor said that the woman was treated and sent home where she was advised to isolate to protect herself and others. However recognizing that the woman hails from the area that the first case was identified in Linden, Dr. London said a decision was taken by the hospital to conduct a
COVID-19 test on her. “The hospital took the samples off her on April 8 and we advised her that she should go in home isolation until the results came back. When the results returned showing that she was positive, it was handed over to the Region and National Task Force, so that the required action could be taken,” the Linden Hospital MS said. Dr London said that the woman was taken to hospital on Monday night. “An ambulance from the hospital took the woman to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre, where she is currently admitted.” He noted that the region continues to have an aggressive approach to the disease, stressing that all required protocols and actions are being taken as they seek to protect residents. He also assured that the Regional Health Officer and his colleague at Wismar are continuing to meet frequently as they strategize and put the required
systems in place to deal with the infectious disease. “We are monitoring, we are evaluating, and we are keeping a close eye out as we recognize that we need to remain proactive so as to ensure that all remain safe within Region Ten,” the MS said, urging the public to remain vigilant. “We are appealing to all, to remain at home, as it is the safest way to protect oneself, while we would like all to know that from a health position we are continuing to work to ensure that we safeguard the region as best as we can,” he assured. Dr London declared that persons should pay heed to the advisory from the regional health authorities and more so the Ministry of Public Health. He warned that COVID-19 “is no joke and should not be treated as a light or unimportant matter”. He said that people should increase vigilance towards the disease as it would aid in saving lives
Regional Executive Officer Orrin Gordon in deep conversation with Dr Tracey Bovell, Emergency Medicine Specialist at GPHC, while Medical Superintendent at Linden Hospital Complex, Dr Joseph London, watches on during a tour of the isolation facility at Wismar Hospital.
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Wednesday April 15, 2020
Kaieteur News
In one month, Guyana No arrest yet in Wismar records 48 cases of COVID-19 execution-style killing
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etween the periods of March 12th to April 14th, Guyana has thus far confirmed 48 cases of the Coronavirus (COVID-19), which has taken the lives of six Guyanese. The Ministry of Public Health (MOPH), in its daily surveillance report to the nation, revealed that five of the persons who were tested positive for the disease have developed worsened conditions, and are now seeking further treatment in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Georgetown Hospital. Of the total number of positive cases, 14 are from the East Coast of Demerara, five from the East Bank
of Demerara and 17 within central Georgetown. These percentages reveal that Region Four accounts for 86% of the coronavirus cases in Guyana. The report further revealed that 224 tests have been conducted thus far, 60% of which were males, and 40% females. The total number of persons in the MOPH’s institutional isolation and quarantine facilities are 34 and 21, respectively. The surveillance report, however, was keen to highlight that eight persons have been medically cleared from the disease after undergoing a thorough monitoring by the Health Ministry.
The Health Ministry took the opportunity to remind members of the public that there are no vaccines or medications to address the Coronavirus disease. Against this backdrop, an appeal was made 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,” Minister of Public Health Volda Lawrence urged.
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ommander of E Division, Hugh Winter, has said that while investigations are continuing into the executionstyle killing of a 43-year-old man by a lone gunman on Monday evening, no one has yet been held in relation to the matter. Police in Linden are presently investigating the gunning down of Glenroy Chapman called ‘G’, a clothes vendor, of Lot 130 Half Mile, Wismar, Linden. Chapman was shot multiple times, about his upper body, as he sat on a bench with a friend in front of his yard, at approximately 18:30 hrs on Monday. According to reports, Chapman was in the company of a friend when he has shot dead by a man wearing a mask. The suspect, who was dressed in a white tshirt, approached the two men from an easterly direction and using a handgun, discharged several rounds in Chapman’s direction, striking him a number of times. Chapman was transported by a police vehicle to the Linden Hospital Complex where he was pronounced dead on arrival. His friend managed to escape unhurt. The body is presently at the G-
Dead: Glenroy Chapman Jetsco Funeral Home awaiting post mortem examination. Police reportedly retrieved five 9 mm spent shells and one warhead from the crime scene. Chapman, who sold clothing in the Mackenzie market, resided with his reputed wife, Jennifer Rowe and their eight children.
Wednesday April 15, 2020
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Kaieteur News
Shackled Venezuelan women disregarded quarantine protocols - Health Ministry Four female Venezuelan migrants who were detained and seen via viral images being handcuffed to beds, had attempted to breach home quarantine protocols and travel to another region in Guyana. This was yesterday confirmed by Minister of Public Health, Volda Lawrence. “They disregarded the home quarantine guidelines and were en route to Mahdia and Lethem. They were intercepted and placed in institutional quarantine thanks to the teamwork of the HEOC and the Guyana Police Force,” the minister stated. The migrants were initially placed under home quarantine after there were some concerns raised about them displaying COVID-19 symptoms. According to a statement from the Department of Public Information, persons in institutional quarantine are required to remain there for 14 during or after which a test for the virus is conducted. Once the person tests positive, they are then transferred to an isolation facility where treatment is administered. If the test is negative, a medical evaluation is carried out by a doctor before clearance is given for the person to be released from institutional quarantine. The Public Health Ministry had made it clear that it has zero-tolerance for persons not complying with quarantine protocols and guidelines. Non-compliance presents a risk to the wider population Minister Lawrence reiterated that “persons on home quarantine need to adhere to guidelines when asked, for their sake and others…. Let me remind everyone of our responsibility to comply with the regulations and guidelines provided by the Ministry of Public Health to halt the spread of this pernicious disease among us.” Just recently, Guyanese who were brought back home on a flight from Barbados agreed to undergo 14 days quarantine before going home to their families. It was disclosed that 21 of these persons were eventually cleared after their tests were negative and they showed no signs or symptoms of COVID-19. Kaieteur News reported yesterday that health authorities were reportedly reviewing protocols after four Spanish women suspected to be positive for the COVID-19 virus, attempted to forcibly leave an isolation area on the West Bank of Demerara. The incident reportedly happened on Saturday at the
West Demerara Regional Hospital. At the hospital, where they were taken, doctors escorted them to the isolation room where other persons were being kept. However, it appeared that the women were not happy. They attempted to leave. They allegedly forced their way past nurses and eventually ran into the security at the gate. According to persons who witnessed the incident, the police and doctors finally managed to bring the women back to the isolation area. A number of Guyanese persons who were being monitored were removed from the room and the women placed there. “The women were refusing to stay in the room and behaving disorderly. The police were forced to handcuff them to the bed. One policeman pulled his gun. A little girl in isolation saw what unfolded,” a source told Kaieteur News. The women were sent to be tested. There was deep worry about the women and the likely contact between them and other persons. Recently, Dr. Veronica Griffith, Deputy Director of the Regional Health Services, made it clear that there will be zero tolerance for non-compliance. She said, in a circular, that persons who did not adhere to measures of COVID-19 would be placed in quarantine. “I hereby wish to inform you that all non-compliant contacts should be placed in institutional quarantine to reduce the spread of COVID-19. This directive is coming from
The women after they were handcuffed to their beds at the West Demerara facility.
Honourable Minister (Volda Lawrence),” she said. Dr. Griffith urged health workers to monitor all contacts carefully to ensure that they are complying with what is required from them if they are placed in home quarantine “…and if not, please transfer them to institutional quarantine immediately.”
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Kaieteur News
Moleson Creek man is hit-and-run fatality
Police say they are investigating a hit-andrun fatal accident which occurred Monday night on the Moleson Creek Public Road, Corentyne, Berbice. The deceased has been identified as 23-year-old Ron Thomas of Moleson Creek. According to the police, Thomas had just left a sibling’s home and was heading in a northerly direction on the aforementioned roadway when he was reportedly struck down by a vehicle which fled the scene. The incident occurred about 20:55h
- Suspect detained The victim was taken in an unconscious state to the Skeldon Public Hospital, where he was treated and subsequently transferred to the New Amsterdam Public Hospital and admitted. He succumbed to his injuries about 08:00h yesterday.A car suspected to be the one involved in the accident has been impounded and its driver detained.
Wednesday April 15, 2020
Man chokes wife and threatens to push her head into fire, stabbed to death A 35-year-old miner of Big Cannaballi, Barima, Waini River, North West District, was on Sunday stabbed to death, reportedly by his reputed wife, whom police said he choked and threatened to push her head into a fire. The victim was identified as Clarence Williams also known as Clarence Millington. The incident reportedly occurred at around 19:30 hrs on Sunday. Kaieteur News was informed that Williams was under the influence of alcohol when he made the threats. It was reported that prior
to the stabbing, the victim dragged his 32-year-old reputed wife, out of church to prepare a meal for him. It was while preparing his meal that things turned sour. According to a police report, the suspect was cleaning fish with a knife and Williams reportedly threatened to push her head into the fire. An argument ensued between the two and Williams was said to have choked the woman. The police report stated that the woman became “annoyed” that she was being choked and used the knife to stab Williams twice in the re-
gion of his groin. He was later found motionless in his bed. The injured man was taken to the Kumaka District Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival. Sources close to the investigation revealed that the victim had three stab wounds to upper left leg, close to his groin. The body is at the hospital’s mortuary awaiting a post mortem examination. A knife suspected to be the murder weapon was recovered from the crime scene. Police say the suspect was taken into custody and she is assisting with investigations.
Wednesday April 15, 2020
Kaieteur News
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Wednesday April 15, 2020
Kaieteur News
GCCI lends support to M&CC’s sanitisation efforts
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he Georgetown Chamber of Com merce and Industry (GCCI) yesterday handed over a quantity of cleaning and disinfecting supplies to the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) in an effort to help stop the spread of the Coronavirus. In a telephone interview with this publication, City Mayor Ubraj Narine stated that the council is grateful for this contribution and it will go a long way in the fight against the virus. He noted that the donation was made possible by Sterling Products Limited and the ANSA McAL Group of Companies. Sterling Products Limited donated 20 half gallon bottles of Heavy Duty cleaners, and 600 bars of soap; while Ansa McAl Trading Limited donated 80 gallons of bleach. The Mayor also pointed out that these products will be used to sanitise the Markets, Health Care Facilities and all other public spaces which fall under the council’s watch. He also expressed his gratitude to the GCCI for making this donation possible. Speaking to Kaieteur News, President of GCCI, Nicholas Boyer said that the M&CC had requested the Chamber’s support in their sanitisation efforts. To this end, he explained
Some of the supplies handed over to the Council that the Chamber approached these businesses and received favourable responses. “The council had asked us to help sanitise the markets etc., so we asked, and these two companies were more than happy to assist,” Boyer said. The GCCI head also expressed his gratitude to the companies for playing their social roles in supporting the (Continued on page 23)
Building resilient agriculture and food... From page 8 communities and locations. The most vulnerable need consistent and systematic social protection interventions against the added pressures due to any changes that
Death by road traffic accidents... From page 6 use of a cellphone, pedestrian inattentiveness, and failure to heed traffic signs and warnings.” On what the government’s course of action will be; “Patterson, who will continue improving roads across Guyana into 2020, said he was collaborating with the Ministry of Public Security, and other agencies, to find innovative ways, such as installing speed bumps, and speed rumble strips, as well as applying new technologies, to curb speeding, and save lives. He reiterated that too many lives are being lost; as such, his office will work to curb reckless driving.” Three days in to the new 2020 year, I learned from the Kaieteur News, there were already four accidents resulting in two fatalities. After years of deaths and disability endured by Guyanese caused by accidents, it is now more than ever at this economic turning point that our government
needs to Act. Here is where I present additional solutions to the development of roads, the installation and upkeep of modern safety features, adequate training for drivers, pedestrians and traffic enforcement agents and lastly, renewed and enforced road safety policy. Since the leading causes of traffic mishaps are identified as speeding, driving under the influence, distracted driving and failure to heed traffic signs, it is time to crack down on drivers directly. How? By implementing heavy fines with a point system and strict license suspensions. A study conducted in Hong Kong found driving-offence points to be more effective than monetary fines in deterring speeding offences. Why? It is easier to pay a fine, than continue destructive driving than it is to have destructive driving directly impact your ability to hold a license and subsequently, drive. This combined with better traffic enforcement would ensure that offenders are hindered
City Mayor Ubraj Narine displays one of the items received from GCCI
from being behind the wheel to travel and to work, which would ultimately affect their personal and professional lives while improving the quality of life for other drivers, motorists and pedestrians. Another study in Taiwan found increased severity of fine and jail penalties for DUI offenders to significantly decrease road traffic accidents. Even though other studies show mixed result on the effectiveness of fines only on road traffic accidents, I’d still suggest policy makers adopt this strategy to then conduct their own research (which is desperately needed) to continue or not because the country is in dire need of solutions. Considering Guyana’s low GDP and poor public transportation system, when we consider what is at stake, I do believe the a f o r e m e n t i o n e d recommendations can have a significant impact on shifting the incidence and outcome of road traffic accidents. Alicia Killikelly
may occur in buying food including higher travel costs. It is also important to remember persons who will lose their livelihoods due to reduced economic activities. The International Labour Organization (ILO) recently noted that the current economic and labour crisis created by the COVID-19 pandemic could increase global unemployment by almost 25 million. PROMOTE CONSUMPTION OF NUTRITIOUS FOOD TO PROMOTE GOOD HEALTH. This is a good moment to encourage consumption of nutritious foods that promote well-being, including support for strong immune systems. Food-based Dietary Guidelines for Guyana provide good messages to caregivers and persons responsible for preparing food, about the importance of health, balanced and affordable meals. Fresh, locally produced fruits, vegetables, staples and meats are a vital part of a healthy diet that has quality nutrients and vitamins. Communicating public awareness messages about matters such as healthy eating and market arrangements will help to maintain confidence in food system, which can avoid negative perceptions. While school attendance is temporarily suspended, attention should be paid to students who may have been
dependent on school meals for part of their diets. Alternative means should, therefore, be sought for these children to continue to get at least one healthy meal per day. This is an excellent opportunity for the private sector, particularly restaurants to fill this void until the situation returns to the new normal. There are valuable lessons to be learned from every challenge, including COVID-19. A resilient agrifood system will support Guyana’s efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 2 – zero poverty. All stakeholders in the agrifood sector must support resilience along the value chain to ensure that all people – particularly the poor and vulnerable, at all times – even during pandemics such as this - have access to safe, sufficient and nutritious food for a healthy lifestyle. In this way, agriculturerelated economic development can thrive. FAO, like other partners, will continue to work with Guyana to promote inclusive market access and will ensure that agriculture can withstand external shocks as well as to position the country to take advantage of emerging market opportunities. (The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper)
Wednesday April 15, 2020
Man charged for allegedly cultivating ganja plants placed on $150,000 bail
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he man who was ar rested on a ganja farm up the Berbice River during a police operation has been charged. Rakesh Sookram, 42, of 5th Street Islington, East Bank Berbice, was arrested and charged for cultivating cannabis at Gatetroy Village, Berbice River, on April 9. He appeared before Magistrate Peter Hugh in the New Amsterdam Magistrate’s Court and pleaded not guilty. He was placed on $150,000 bail. On the day in question, the police were conducting a
drug eradication exercise up the Berbice River, during which time they raided four farms. A total of five acres and over 35,000 plants of various sizes were located and destroyed. Farms were found at Morgunston, Gatetroy, and Bartica village. Sookram was found at the third farm, which was the largest, and was found at Gatetroy. The farm, which had a camp and was about two acres in size, had about 15,000 plants. The case has been adjourned to May 19.
Vacancy for opposition leader filled for the first time since 2013 ST. GEORGE’S, Grenada - CMC – The vacant seat of leader of the opposition was filled yesterday for the first time since 2013 with the appointment of Tobias Clement, a former member of the ruling New National Party (NNP). The office became vacant in 2013 following the general election of that year when the NNP won all 15 seats in the House. Before Clement, the leader of the opposition was Prime Minister Dr Keith Mitchell who held that post from 2008 to 2013. Clement who is affectionately called “Toby “campaigned as the NNP candidate for the general elections in 2013 and 2018 and won his seat as the member of parliament for the constituency of St George’s North East area. He however resigned from the party in December 2020 and indicated then that he will not abandon the people of his
constituency. Early yesterday, Clement took the oath of office and received his instrument of appointment from GovernorGeneral Dame Cecile La Grenade. He will be on the only opposition member in the House of Representative and as Leader of the Opposition, he will, among other things be appointed as Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, appoint three opposition senators and occupy the office of opposition leader in the Parliament building. His first task as leader of the opposition was to attend a virtual meeting of the finance committee in which the members are reviewing a revised appropriation bill to facilitate the proposal presented in the COVID-19 stimulus package as announced by Prime Minister Dr Keith Mitchell in early March.
GCCI lends support... From page 22 fight against the virus. Meanwhile, the Mayor pointed out that the Council also received support from the Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL).
He said “DDL also donated some rubbing alcohol to us. All of these products will help us to clean all public spaces making them safer for our citizens to access.”
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Games pushed back to 2021 in Bermuda
Sports Minister Lovitta Foggo.
HAMILTON, Bermuda, CMC – The 49th edition of the CARIFTA Games, due to be staged in Bermuda this month but postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic, has now been pushed back to 2021, officials here said yesterday. Guyana, which was set to host the 50th edition of the region’s premier junior athletics showpiece next year, has been invited to prepare for 2022. Next year’s dates are April 2-5. The decision to postpone the Games to next year was made after talks between the Bermuda National Athletics Association and the CARIFTA local organising committee, as well as the
Wednesday April 15, 2020 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) OK, up and at 'em, Aries! You might feel like you're walking through sand today, but you really need to shake your booty and get the blood flowing.
LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) You'll want to respond to your creative juices, which will be flowing freely today, Libra. Don't suppress the urge to sing, compose, paint, or write.
TAURUS(Apr.20–May20) You could be startled to find that your artistic talents, although dormant for a while, are called into service today. A particular undertaking of those around you could benefit from your gift in this area.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Tugs on the home front could be pulling you away from attending an event with friends that you've been looking forward to for some time.
GEMINI (May 21–June 20) This could be a tough day for you emotionally. It might surprise you to find that some very old, deep-seated feelings get churned up in the course of investigating a subject of keen interest to you. CANCER (June 21–July 22) Things could be up and down for you today. You might experience some confusion as a result of communication snafus or computer glitches that affect financial issues you're trying to solve. LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) You might be feeling a little tense because you and your partner are grappling with some thorny financial issues right now, Leo. VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) This will be an exciting day for you intellectually. A number of intriguing concepts will catch your fancy, and you'll be hungry to learn more about them right away. Your research could take you to a library or onto the Internet.
SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Cool heads will be needed today, Sagittarius, as tempers may flare at work because of frustration with ongoing problems. CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) If you find yourself secondguessing plans you made earlier, Capricorn, perhaps for a plane trip, try to look objectively at your concerns. AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) You might find yourself wrestling some ongoing, unresolved issues that could interfere with your ability to do your job. Be mindful that you're a bit brittle today, particularly if you're working on financial matters, Aquarius. PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) There is a possibility that you'll fall into a bit of a regression today as old feelings of anxiety or inadequacy surface. Although you've reached a good place in terms of self-confidence, some old childhood fears could resurface.
Bermuda government and all of the Caribbean CARIFTA countries. Sports Minister Lovitta Foggo said: “The Ministry of Labour, Community Affairs and Sport supports the decision to postpone the CARIFTA Games until 2021. We continue to adhere to the guidelines of the global and local health experts and professionals and will continue to put the health, safety and wellbeing of our young people as the highest priority. “In 2021, we will be ready and prepared to host a spectacular CARIFTA Games. And we very much look forward to joining the Bermuda National Athletics Association and the rest of the Island in celebrating our talented young athletes.” The decision was not taken lightly, she added. Initially, 27 countries planned to send teams to Bermuda this month but Antigua and Barbuda pulled out before the decision to postpone the Games was made by Bermuda officials because of the spread of the pandemic. The showpiece is just one of several Caribbean and global events to be cancelled because of the outbreak of the COVID-19. Bermuda, like all Caribbean nations, has been impacted by the virus and have already reported 50 cases along with five deaths. Globally, the number of infections were Tuesday approaching two million with nearly 126 000 deaths reported.
Skipper Holder... From page 30 needed. “I think if I look at it from an holistic point of view of all three formats, I don’t think it was my best year,” he explained. “I try to mark myself pretty hard and try to set pretty high standards as well. So coming off of 2018 where I felt I had the best year of my cricketing career, I think I probably fell back a little in 2019 but it’s a new year in 2020 – 2019 is behind us and for me it’s just getting myself attuned back to playing international cricket. “Hopefully we can get some Test cricket going again. I think Test cricket is the best way to get some cricket under your belt – you get some overs under your belt, you get time to spend in the middle and it’s not rushed. That puts my cricket in good stead.”
Francesco Bagnaia triumphs in wild MotoGP #StayAtHomeGP NBC Sports - Pramac Racing’s Francesco Bagnaia outdueled Monster Energy Yamaha’s Maverick Viñales on the last lap for victory Sunday in the #StayAtHomeGP, the second virtual race for MotoGP’s premier series. While the series has yet to hit the real-world track in 2020 because of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, it’s delivered two memorable 10-lap races with 10 riders furiously playing on PlayStation video game consoles. Nearly the entire field crashed in the opening corner of Sunday’s race, which you can watch a replay of on the Motorsports on NBC YouTube channel. LCR Idemitsu Honda’s Takaaki Nakagami took the lead after the Lap 1 chaos but quickly was passed by
Banaia and Vinales. Nakagami then ran into the wheel of defending series champion Marc Marquez and later took out Alex Marquez. The brothers rallied, though, as Alex (who won the March 29 opener) took third, followed by Marc. Fabio Quartararo finished fifth. In his virtual debut, ninetime MotoGP champion Valentino Rossi took seventh, narrowly missing a chance to pass Danilo Petrucci in the last corner. “I tried,” Rossi told the MotoGP website. “I tried at the last corner because Danilo was there, not too far away from me, but Danilo was too good on the PlayStation. So, I touched him and I crashed. But anyway, I enjoyed it! My level isn’t fantastic but I will try and improve. for sure.”
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Kaieteur News
Rossi names his best MotoGP wins and rivals in his career
Rossi names his best MotoGP wins and rivals. Autosport - Seven-time MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi has named the three race victories he considers his “best”, and reveals the rivals which spurred him on most in his career. Should the 2020 MotoGP season get underway, it will his 21st in the premier class and mark his 24th year of grand prix racing, having made his full-time debut in the 125cc class in 1996. Rossi hold the record for most premier class (500cc/ MotoGP) wins of any rider in
history on 89, and has tallied up a total of 115 across all classes - ranking him second on the all-time winners’ list behind Giacomo Agostini’s 122. As part of BT Sport’s ‘Greatest Race’ series, Rossi revealed which of his 89 MotoGP wins stands out as his best. “In my personal ranking of the victories of my career, I have three victories [that I rank as the best],” the factory Yamaha rider said. “They are Welkom [in South Africa] 2004, which was
the first victory with the Yamaha; Laguna 2008, the battle with [Casey] Stoner; and Barcelona 2009, the battle in the last corner with Jorge Lorenzo. “Those are my best three.” One of Rossi’s most remembered wins was his battle with then-Ducati rider and reigning world champion Stoner at Laguna Seca in ’08 which featured the famous Corkscrew overtake from Rossi on the Australian, when he took to the gravel to complete the pass.
Seven-time MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi in action. Reflecting on that race, Rossi added: “That race was a special victory. [It] was very important because in that moment Stoner was really, really strong and Stoner beat me in 2007 and won the championship with Ducati. “When we arrived at Laguna Seca, that weekend was crucial for the rest of the championship because Stoner was incredibly fast in that track with the Ducati. “I thought that the key was to try to stay in front and set my on rhythm on the race
because Laguna Seca is very difficult to overtake at because it’s very narrow. “The battle was furious from the beginning to the end, but I was able to arrive in front.” Rossi would go onto seal the ’08 title, winning his seventh and so far final championship the following season. Stoner proved to be one of several rivals who pushed Rossi hard in his career, as well as the likes of Lorenzo, Max Biaggi and Sete Gibernau. Commenting on his
rivalries, Rossi says “for sure” those riders helped him to improve as a racer. “I had great, great battles with Max Biaggi, Sete Gibernau and later with Jorge Lorenzo, and when you have a rivalry like this, it is the fuel to increase the performance of everybody, to raise the level. “Because the fight starts, and after it becomes something a little personal. “So, this means that it can give you more to arrive in front and the level is raised.”
U.S. Olympic gymnastics team likely impacted by age rule decision NBC Sports - The news broke while Konnor McClain watched “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire.” When the movie started, the U.S.’ top 15-year-old gymnast was on a four-year Olympic plan, preparing for when she would be old enough for the Games in 2024. By the end — or the point she stopped to check social media — McClain came to believe she became ageeligible for the Tokyo Games in 2021. She would have one year to prepare to compete against the nation’s best (and world’s best) gymnasts for, potentially, a spot on the U.S. Olympic team. Three years earlier than expected. “Just to make it to the Olympic Trials would be such an accomplishment, especially for her being young,” her mom, Lorinda, said by phone on Thursday. “Making it to the trials would be great and keeping that 2024 path on track. This all made it a little hard because we were on a slow pace. We were working for 2024, so this kind of threw a wrench in our spokes. I think that’s her goal right now, see if she can hit
The news broke while Konnor McClain watched “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire.” the trials.” The International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) has had a rule since 2000 that female artistic gymnasts must turn 16 or older in that year to compete in the Games (and now for world championships in all the non-Olympic years). When the Tokyo Olympics were postponed until 2021, the FIG faced a decision: Keep the Olympic field under 2020 terms, or let those turning 16 in 2021 into the fold.
“I’m glad I’m not making the rules because I don’t know the right decision,” NBC Olympics analyst Nastia Liukin said before the decision was announced. “I don’t know if there is a right decision.” The FIG made an announcement Thursday afternoon. While the release didn’t explicitly say it, the gymnastics community interpreted it to mean that the younger gymnasts are
eligible for the Tokyo Games. “I just got on Twitter for some reason, and I saw,” McClain said by phone Thursday. “I was like, oh my gosh, is this true? I told my parents, and I told my sister, get on Twitter right now.” “I was very surprised,” McClain’s mom said. “I thought they were going to leave it for her to be ineligible and keep the rules as they were.” If recent history holds, the move should impact the makeup of the U.S. Olympic team. A USA Gymnastics spokesperson said Friday that the organization is reviewing the FIG announcement and can follow up this week regarding how it affects Olympic team selection. At least one woman who turned 16 or younger in the Olympic year made the last 10 U.S. Olympic teams. That includes Kyla Ross, the 2011 U.S. junior all-around silver medalist who made the 2012 Olympic team. And Laurie Hernandez, the 2015 U.S. junior all-around champion who made the 2016 Olympic team. The 2019 U.S. junior allaround champion, Kayla
DiCello, turned 16 on Jan. 25 and would have been eligible for an Olympics in 2020. McClain, who turns 16 on Feb. 1, 2021, was runner-up to DiCello at junior nationals, and is among a few rising juniors now on the radar (including Skye Blakely, who was fourth at junior nationals). The deeper field should make it more difficult for older gymnasts to make the most competitive Olympic gymnastics team in the world. “I have NOTHING against the 2005 generation but I don’t agree with this decision,” was tweeted from the account of Cecile Landi, who with husband Laurent coaches Simone Biles. ”It will be the 2020 Olympics so the rules should remain the same as THIS YEAR.” McClain was born in Nevada. She began walking the balance beam and doing backbend kickovers before age 2, mimicking her 4-yearold sister. The family moved to West Virginia when McClain was 3. She was featured on Steve Harvey‘s “Little Big Shots” at age 11 in 2016, proclaiming
she was set on the 2024 Olympic all-around title. She then performed a balance beam routine in front of a studio audience. McClain won the beam title at the last two junior nationals, but vault is her favorite event. She has been attending U.S. national team camps with other junior and senior stars for the last two years. At first, she was intimidated by the sight of Biles, but calmed after Biles initiated conversations with her. Come next year, McClain may be competing against Biles domestically and, possibly, with her on the same team in Tokyo. “Konnor has a lot of upgrades and skills she trains at the gym, but her and her coach have put them on the back burner because we thought we still had four years,” her mom said. McClain’s coach and McClain’s mom, friends since childhood, briefly texted about the new situation while still in shock. The gist? “Wow, it’s going to be a rough year,” Lorinda McClain said. “She’s got a lot of work to do.”
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‘Not enough local club cricket’ says WI U-19 spinner Nedd - Urges people to stay home as Covid-19 cases rise in Guyana By Sean Devers Guyana and West Indies U-19 left-arm spinner Ashmead Nedd was a vital member of the team when West Indies Emerging Players in the Colonial Medical won the Regional Super50 Cup tournament last year November in Trinidad before being one of two Guyanese, who played in the 2020 U-19 World Cup in South Africa, which ended on February 9 when Bangladesh beat India in the final. The Regional side started with three wins to top their zone and finished fifth after their game against Australia was washed out. West Indies ended fifth after finishing with more points than Australia in the group stage. Born on January 10, 2001 in Georgetown, Nedd, who had career best 4-29 in the semis at the Oval, says he gained mostly experience from playing in the Super50 tournament. The 19-year-old Nedd captured 10 wickets for 94 runs from 30.3 overs in five matches at an average of 9.40 and an Economy Rate of 3.08 in the Super50 tournament. “The most important thing I’ve learnt from the
super 50 was to be very observant while bowling when the batsmen are looking to score quickly and be aggressive. In the World Cup was basically the same, just with different conditions and knowing the pitches would have been better than those in the Caribbean,” said Nedd, a member of the Tony Hartford U-17 Academy team of Trinidad & Tobago on their tour of New Zealand four years ago. “Guyana’s Franchise cricket isn’t that much competitive. Coming into the Super50 and coming up against good batsmen was a bit challenging,” Nedd, the son of former Guyana offspinner Gavin Nedd, explained. Young Nedd is one of the millions of Sportspersons affected by the suspension of all sports world wide and disclosed that the Covid-19 has affected his training. “After coming home from the World Cup, I had a few areas that I wanted to correct in my bowling, batting, fielding. But due to break caused by the virus I’ve been working out in terms of fitness. Over the past year and
months, I’ve been playing mostly 50-Over and T20 cricket so I was mostly looking forward to playing local two-day cricket,” added Nedd, who attended the St Gabriel’s Primary and later Tutorial High and Chase Academy. The Multi-talented youth represented Tutorial in the Digicel School’s Football competition, while his favourite cricketer is Shakib Al Hassan. Nedd feels his batting and fitness are two areas he intends to work a bit harder on but although he was selected for Guyana at the U15, 17 and Guyana and West Indies U-19 levels as a spinner he has the ability to develop into a competent allrounder. Nedd, who says taking his first 5-wicket haul for West Indies under 19s against England in Antigua is his most memorable performance, grew up from a toddler at the famous DCC in Queenstown, a club which produced Lance Gibbs, Clive Lloyd and Roy Fredericks, three of the greatest West Indies Test players. The West Indies Youth spinner spoke about the
BCCI set to defer the IPL indefinitely with India in lockdown ESPNcricinfo - IPL 2020 is likely to be postponed indefinitely owing to the Covid-19 pandemic. It is understood that the BCCI has not set a new window yet for the tournament which was to be held between March 29 and May 24. The decision to postpone the IPL was discussed by the BCCI’s top brass including Sourav Ganguly (president), Jay Shah (secretary), Brijesh Patel (IPL chairman) over a conference call yesterday evening. Also part of the call were Arun Dhumal (BCCI treasurer) and Hemang Amin (IPL chief operating officer). ESPNcricinfo understands the BCCI will formally announce their decision after convening a meeting of the IPL Governing Council this week. This is the second time the BCCI has been forced to defer the IPL. Last month, after the Indian government had put the country in a three-week lockdown, the board pushed the start date of the tournament back to April 15.
Yesterday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced an extension of India’s lockdown until May 3, even as all domestic and international travel in and out of India continue to remain blocked. This made it apparent that the IPL had to be put off indefinitely. Although it was preparing for this scenario for some time, the BCCI had also been optimistic about conducting a month-long IPL with the final scheduled on the first week of June. Also as part of its contingency planning, the BCCI was looking into staging all the matches behind closed doors in the same city or state. All those plans had to be pushed to the backburner after a spike in coronavirus infections around the country. As of Tuesday, over 11,000 people had tested positive for the disease in India with deaths inching closer to the 400-mark. With several restrictions put in place by the government in terms of social distancing and travel bans, and overseas players unable to participate with their own
countries under lockdown, the BCCI was left with little choice but to put off the IPL. This leaves the tournament’s stakeholders, including the players, facing a big setback. At the auction last December, a total 62 players were bought by the eight franchise who spent INR 140.30 crores. Australian fast bowler Pat Cummins became the most expensive overseas buy in IPL’s history after Kolkata Knight Riders bought him for INR 15.5 crores. Neither Cummins, nor any of the other IPL players will receive any money until the tournament actually takes place. As per the norm, franchises make payment in two instalments: the first a week before the tournament starts and the rest after the season is over. The franchises, too, will feel the pinch as they rely heavily on the IPL’s commercial revenue, which also includes broadcast rights which were bought by Star India for a record sum for a five-year period in 2017. Every franchise, since then, was assured a minimum share worth INR 150 crores.
standard of club cricket in Guyana. “I think in Guyana we have to play country-wide tournaments knowing it will be more challenging plus I don’t think there is enough local club cricket being played, especially in Georgetown. When you and my dad were playing, there were National club competitions (including the Bristol Cup 50-overs) that were played in all three Counties,” said Nedd, whose favorite dish is Roti and Curry. In the 1980s and 90s the club tournaments were of a high standard and were played in each County with the top team from Berbice facing the second placed team from Demerara, while the second placed team from Berbice would oppose the Essequibo winner. The winner of the Demerara zone would play the runners up of Essequibo before the semifinals and finals were contested in front of large
Ashmead Nedd crowds. Nedd also had a message for his fellow Guyanese dealing with the Corona Virus at a time when a 6 to 6 curfew is in place for all non-essential workers. “This time is very a rough
time for us all due to the Covid-19, I encourage you all to stay safe, stay at home and use the guidelines given out,” concluded the youngster who made his first division debut for DCC against Police when he was only 13.
BCCI decision riding on PM announcement MUMBAI, India, CMC – Lingering hopes that this year’s Indian Premier League could evade the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic continued to slowly fade, with the Indian Cricket Board (BCCI) conceding Monday the future of the lucrative tournament remained “hazy”, in light of yesterday’s much anticipated national address by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The tournament, which features the leading Caribbean Twenty20 specialists, was scheduled to start March 29 but pushed back to April 15, to coincide with the lifting of the current nationwide lockdown instituted by government. But with Modi expected to announce an extension to the curfew by a further two weeks, the chances of the tournament bowling off in the near future have continued to diminish. “Right now, the picture is very hazy. We don’t even know when the lockdown will end and if we don’t know, how can we even have a meaningful discussion,” BCCI treasurer, Arun Dhumal was quoted as saying here. “Once we get clarity from the government, we can then sit and take fresh stock of the situation. Any speculation about its future will be premature.” The COVID-19 pandemic has already disrupted the global sporting calendar, with several international bodies already forced to postpone or cancel events. And though several cricket series have already fallen victim to the crisis, the BCCI has continued to hold out hope of staging the tournament – the world’s largest T20 franchise tournament. Several proposals have already come from different quarters which could see the league played at later dates but Dhumal said they all posed logistical challenges, especially with other countries also under lockdown. “Tell me one thing. If Australia is under
Chris Gayle … turns out for the Kings XI Punjab. lockdown for six months, how can we conclude that they will allow their players to travel from next month?” he queried. “What if the travel restrictions for its citizens are still in place? How will they come to India then? And don’t forget that other boards also need to agree. “Secondly, even if the lockdown ends in India, what if some of the major cities still have those COVID ‘hotspots’? Can we risk the lives of our sportspersons? Thirdly, the players are likely to go without training for months. “Even if we are in a position to conduct a tournament, for international players, we need to give them a bare minimum time to do fullfledged training before we can start a tournament. All these factors can only be clear when we are in a position to discuss.” Superstars Chris Gayle Kieron Pollard and Dwayne Bravo are among a plethora of West Indies stars contracted to various franchises in the IPL.
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Kaieteur News
Wednesday April 15, 2020
Spurs reverse decision to furlough non-playing staff after fan opposition (Reuters) - Tottenham Hotspur have reversed their decision to furlough staff during the coronavirus pandemic amid criticism from supporters, the Premier League club said in a statement yesterday. Spurs had imposed a 20% pay cut on 550 non-playing staff in April and May to protect jobs. But the club said yesterday that only board members would see salary reductions and all other employees - whether fulltime, casual, or furloughed - would be paid 100% of their wages for April and May. “The criticism the club has received over the last week has been felt all the more keenly because of our track record of good works and our huge sense of responsibility to care for those that rely on us, p a r t i c u l a r l y l o c a l l y, ” club chairman Daniel Levy said. The To t t e n h a m Hotspur Supporters’ Trust (THST) had said the club’s decision to use the government scheme - where employers can claim for 80% of furloughed staff’s monthly wages up to 2,500 pounds ($3,126) per month
- was harming its reputation. It added on Monday t h a t t h e c l u b ’s l a t e s t decision showed “maturity and humility.” “We’re pleased that, rather than doubling down, t h e c l u b ’s b o a r d h a s listened to the fans on this occasion and ultimately done the right thing,” THST added in a statement here “...no organisation is going to get everything right in these u n p r e c e d e n t e d circumstances and the eventual outcome is what matters... This is the first step, but a big step, in restoring relations between fans and the club.” Levy added that Spurs’ earlier move had only intended to put measures in place to protect jobs while they sought to continue to operate in a self-sufficient manner. “We regret any concern caused during an anxious time and hope the work our supporters will see us doing in the coming weeks, as our stadium takes on a whole new purpose, will make them proud of their club,” he added. Spurs said medical
General view inside the stadium before the Champions League Quarter Final First Leg match between Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester City. (Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs/File Photo)
e q u i p m e n t had been installed in their stadium to operate drive-through COVID-19 testing and swabbing for NHS staff, families and their dependents. “Our To t t e n h a m Hotspur Stadium becomes the first Premier League ground to be used for testing, following on from other sporting venues around the world,” the club added. The stadium has also been fitted out to house the
North Middlesex Hospital’s Women’s Outpatient Services, freeing up capacity at the hospital to treat patients
with COVID-19 symptoms. Professional football in England had been suspended until April 30.
The Premier League has said the season will only resume when the situation stabilises.
Report: Sadio Mane to Real Madrid for $190 million
NASCAR driver Larson sacked after racial slur AFP - NASCAR team Chip Ganassi Racing sacked Kyle Larson yesterday, a day after sponsors fled the star driver over his use of a racial slur during a live streamed virtual race. Larson was in his seventh Cup season with Ganassi and was expected to become one of the popular stock car series’ most sought-after free agents when his contract expired after the 2020 season. Instead, he is in NASCAR wilderness. “After much consideration, Chip Ganassi Racing has determined that it will end its relationship with driver Kyle Larson,” the team said in a statement. “As we said before, the comments that Kyle made were both offensive and unacceptable especially
given the values of our organization. As we continued to evaluate the situation with all the relevant parties, it became obvious that this was the only appropriate course of action to take.” The team had already suspended Larson, as had NASCAR. Sponsors McDonald’s and Credit One Bank moved Monday to terminate their relationships with the driver. Larson was taking part in the Monza Madness iRacing exhibition race late on Sunday. The virtual races are a chance for fans to connect with drivers as sports are shut down amid the coronavirus pandemic. A video from another competitor’s Twitch stream picked up the slur on the audio channel that allows
competitors to hear each other. In the video, Larson, appearing to think he is not connected to the stream, said: “You can’t hear me? Hey (racial slur).” Xfinity driver Anthony Alfredo then said: “Kyle, you’re talking to everyone, bud.” Larson himself offered an abject video apology on his social media platforms on Monday. “Last night I made a mistake and said the word that should never, ever be said,” the 27-year-old said. “There’s no excuse for that.” Larson offered apologies to his family, his coworkers and the African-American community. “I understand the damage is probably irreparable,” he said. “I own up to it.”
Sadio Mane has been linked with a $190 million move from Liverpool to Real Madrid. NBC Sports - Sadio Mane has been linked with a $190 million move from Liverpool to Real Madrid. Mane, 28, has been Liverpool’s star attacker this season and has 16 goals in all competitions after an incredible start to the campaign. Multiple reports state that Real Madrid are willing to pay close to $200 million for Mane this summer and although Liverpool do not want to sell their Senegalese star, it could be key in signing Kylian Mbappe. Jurgen Klopp has previously stated that Liverpool could not afford to sign Mbappe, 21, from Paris Saint-Germain but if they sell Mane, they’d probably need to spend $250 million (an extra $60 million) to replace him
with Mbappe. The French superstar is certainly keen on Liverpool, which helps. As for Real’s interest in Mane, that dates back by at least a few years as Zinedine Zidane is a huge fan and there’s no doubt the lure of the Santiago Bernabeu is stronger with Zizou in charge. If Liverpool go on to win the 2019-20 Premier League title, as they are certain to do once the season resumes, is that a good time for Klopp and Liverpool to cash in on certain players to rebuild their squad? Just like they did in selling Philippe Coutinho to Barcelona for $200 million in January 2018 that allowed them to buy Alisson and Virgil van Dijk to significantly upgrade their defensive unit. Would selling Mane allow them to bring in Mbappe and
maybe even improve their central midfield area? Given Mane’s incredible form since arriving from Southampton in the summer of 2016 for $40 million — he has scored 59 goals in 118 Premier League appearances — it would be very tough for Klopp to sell him. His pace and trickery perfectly compliments Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino in Liverpool’s front three and breaking up that trio would be a very brave move. That said, Liverpool and Klopp were critcized for letting Coutinho leave at the peak of his value and that worked out pretty well. As harsh as it sounds on Mane, selling him to Real this summer in order to sign Mbappe would be the smart play here.
Wednesday April 15, 2020
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Kaieteur News
Bolt goes viral with ‘social Doping: Russia to make up for break in testing once distancing’ Olympic photo
coronavirus restrictions lifted
Jamaica’s Usain Bolt won the Beijing Olympics 100m in a world-record time (AFP Photo/ Nicolas Asfouri)
Washington (AFP) Retired track star Usain Bolt showed he’s still a few steps ahead when he posted an AFP picture of him outstripping his rivals at the Beijing Olympics with the cheeky caption: “social distancing”. Bolt’s post, featuring a picture by AFP photographer Nicolas Asfouri of the 2008 Olympics 100m final, blew up on social media, drawing more than half a million likes and 90,000 retweets. It showed the Jamaican crossing the finish line at the Bird’s Nest stadium in a then-
world record time of 9.69sec, glancing round from lane four as his despairing competitors trail two paces behind. “Savage”, commented one Twitter user, while New York Times journalist Christopher Clarey posted another picture of Bolt out in front on his own, captioned “self isolation”. Bolt’s chest-thumping celebration in Beijing added to a legend that grew further when he won the 200m in another world-record time. He retired in 2017 with eight Olympic gold medals and the current 100m mark of 9.58sec,
set in 2009. Bolt, 33, has been encouraging Jamaicans to self-isolate during the coronavirus pandemic, posting videos of himself exercising at home and juggling footballs with a friend. He also helped promote a major fundraiser, Telethon Jamaica. After retiring from athletics, Bolt, a Manchester United fan, attempted to launch a career in football, and had a trial with Australia’s Central Coast Mariners before contract talks failed.
Cycling: Froome says recovery almost complete as he waits out lockdown (Reuters) - Four-times Tour de France winner Chris Froome said his recovery from a horrific accident last year was nearly complete and his training load was back to normal as he prepares for when competition resumes after the new coronavirus outbreak. Speaking during a Team Ineos virtual race on Sunday, Froome described his recovery as “going really well” as he waits out the coronavirus lockdown at home in France. “I’d go as far as saying it’s pretty much complete,” said the 34-year-old British rider. “I am still doing some exercises off the bike just to strengthen that right side that was injured but I’m back to normal training loads again.” Froome spent more than three weeks in hospital after breaking his neck, femur, elbow, hip and ribs when he crashed into a wall at high
Four-times Tour de France winner Chris Froome. (File Photo: UAE Tour) speed while training for the Criterium du Dauphin last June. The accident happened when he took his hands off the handlebar to blow his nose and was hit by a gust of wind. He returned to competition in February at the UAE Tour, a race that was cut
short by the coronavirus. International racing has been suspended until at least June 1, with May’s Giro d’Italia as well as the MilanSanremo, Tour of Flanders, Paris-Roubaix and LiegeBastogne-Liege classics all having been postponed because of the pandemic. But Tour de France organisers are focusing on a postponement of the June 27July 19 race rather than a cancellation, according to an email seen by Reuters on Saturday which was sent to the publishers of the official Tour programme. Since returning home, Froome said life had revolved around family and training. “Staying really busy with the kids every day and doing as much training as I can on the turbo trainer (stationary bike) and a lot of gym work as well,” he said. “We’re all driving each other mental but getting through it.”
MOSCOW (Reuters) Russia’s anti-doping agency RUSADA will undertake a broad programme to monitor athletes’ biological components once a full hiatus in testing linked to coronavirus containment measures across the country ends, its director said yesterday. Moscow and several other regions have declared lockdowns to stem the spread of the new coronavirus, which has so far infected 21,102 people across Russia. Yuri Ganus, the head of RUSADA, announced last month that the agency was temporarily halting testing, a measure currently in place until the end of the month. Speaking in an online news conference yesterday, Ganus said the agency could not guarantee that athletes would not turn to performance-enhancing substances in the absence of testing. He stressed that the agency would take the hiatus into account in future testing and focus on Athlete Biological Passports (ABP) designed to monitor different biological components that can reveal the effects of doping over time. “Our control will not be weakened,” he said. “We will come out with a broad
Head of Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA) Yuri Ganus speaks during a news conference in Moscow, Russia December 9, 2019. (REUTERS/Shamil Zhumatov) retrospective analysis programme... We have a clear understanding of what we will focus on.” Other countries, including Canada, have also temporarily put testing programmes on hold during the coronavirus pandemic. Ganus could not give an exact date for the resumption of testing, saying it would coincide with the lifting of the restrictions announced by the Russian government to curb contagion. RUSADA was suspended in 2015 after the World Anti-
Doping Agency (WADA) found evidence of mass doping in Russian athletics. The agency was conditionally reinstated in September 2018, but was declared non-compliant late last year after WADA found Moscow had provided it with doctored laboratory data. Russia is in the process of appealing a four-year ban on its athletes competing at major international sporting events under their flag as punishment for that alteration of laboratory data.
Zenit use drone to deliver award during lockdown
Brazilian Malcom thanks his fans for his Player of the Month award which was delivered using a drone in this video grab.
(Reuters) - Social distancing may have stopped players and club officials from meeting in person but Zenit St Petersburg had a novel idea when they delivered their Player of the Month award using a drone. Brazilian Malcom won nearly 30% of the fan vote to pick up the award for March after Zenit build a nine-point lead at the top of the Russian Premier League standings before the season was suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic. Russia is in lockdown until April 30 while the league is suspended until May 31, but the club managed to deliver the trophy without the former Barcelona winger having to step out of his apartment. “I’ve just received a message that I need to open a window,” Malcom said in a video he recorded while a drone hovered outside his apartment. The drone then swooped in through the window, sending a frightened cat scurrying away, before landing on the floor for Malcom to pick up his trophy. Malcom thanked the fans and ended the video saying: “Stay at home, it’s important.” More than 1.6 million people have been infected by the novel coronavirus globally and more than 100,000 have died. Russia has over 13,500 confirmed cases and 106 deaths.
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Skipper Holder focussed on Test legacy BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – West Indies Test captain Jason Holder says he hopes to leave a legacy of being one of the greats in the longest format, but is cognizant of the need to sustain very high standards if he is to achieve that goal. Already, the 28-year-old has become one of the contemporary faces of the Test format, and is currently the number one all-rounder in the International Cricket Council rankings. And though pointing out he enjoyed all three formats, Holder said he placed considerable emphasis on Test cricket which remained the measure of all cricketers. “Test cricket is the ultimate game for me,” Holder told TalkSport’s Cricket Collective. “Growing up there was only Test cricket and 50-over cricket to be fair, and you always were marked and critiqued on your performance in Test cricket – you became a legend of the game through Test cricket. “I don’t think many people would stand out as being legends of the game via the one-day route but obviously with the advent of T20 cricket, there is a debate now with white ball versus
Wednesday April 15, 2020
Kaieteur News
National footballers waiting out pandemic in Miami
Jason Holder targeting Test legacy. red ball cricket but still I think red ball cricket would take precedence, and I just want to be remembered for being a great Test match cricketer and not only a great Test match cricketer per se but a great cricketer. “In order to do that, you’ve got to be consistent and more than likely every time you step on the park, you’re being scrutinised and marked. So for me it’s about keeping my standards high and making sure I’m doing everything in my power to win cricket games for whoever I’m representing.” Holder shot to stardom last year when he struck a monumental unbeaten 202 to propel West Indies to a crushing victory over England in the opening Test
at Kensington Oval last January. In reaching triple figures for the third time in his career, he became the first West Indies number eight to score a double century in Tests and the first Windies captain since Brian Lara in 2004, to notch a double against England. Only the previous year, fast bowler Holder had captured 33 wickets at an average of 12.39 – the best average in a calendar for nearly a century. He currently averages 32 with the bat from 40 Tests and 26 with the ball. Though Holder averaged 49 with the bat and took 20 wickets at 17 apiece in Tests last year, he believes there was still much improvement (Continued on page 25)
Curtez Kellman (on the ball) in action for Eastern Florida State College Titans. Golden Jaguars’; Guyana’s national men’s football team, duo of Curtez Kellman and Jeremy Garrett, are stuck in Miami, Florida, along with 68 other homebound Guyanese, waiting out the pandemic before returning home. The players, have been stuck in the U.S. for over three weeks now after their initial flight back home that was scheduled to make a transit stop in Trinidad and Tobago was cancelled after the twinisland republic closed their airport due to the outbreak to
protect their people. The 22-year-old Kellman, who is a senior majoring in Business Administration at Eastern Florida State College, had a breakthrough debut season with th e F l o r i d a State College Titans, being a rock in the defence as the team finished runners-up in the NJCAA championship, while Garrett’s University finished sixth in the NJCAA table. Now, after the logistics had been sorted out, local authorities were forced to restrict all international flights
until May 1st and the student-athletes fear that with increased cases, the layover may very well be extended beyond the May 1st deadline. Luckily, after spending two days at the airport, the Guyanese consulate in the U.S. placed the sportsmen in a hotel where they are currently. This week, a source at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed to Kaieteur Sport that if the situation gets worst locally, the airports lockdown may be extended.
Church’s, NCN, Smoke Shack Tour de France called off amid virus, no new dates set on board iBet Supreme’s FIFA PARIS (AP) — After weeks of holding out hope the Tour de France would be able to go ahead as planned despite the coronavirus pandemic, the world’s most famous cycling race was finally added to the list of sporting events called off. It may still happen this year, but it’s clear the threeweek race won’t be starting on June 27 in the Riviera city of Nice as scheduled. French President Emmanuel Macron effectively made that decision in his speech to the nation on Monday when he announced that all public events with large crowds have been canceled until at least midJuly. “Given that it’s now impossible that the Tour starts at its planned date, we are consulting with the (International Cycling Union) to try and find new dates,” race organizers said Tuesday. The last time the Tour was not held was in 1946, with the nation still emerging from World War II. It was also
stopped during WWI. While cycling’s biggest event could be scrapped altogether, organizers are discussing potential later dates. New plans could be announced before the end of April following discussions between organizer Amaury Sport Organisation and the International Cycling Union. Holding the race without legions of fans on the roadsides and mountain passes of France - an idea previously proposed by French Sports Minister Roxana Mãrãcineanu - is not something organizers are likely to favor. Millions of fans watch each year’s race in a festive atmosphere across many regions. This year’s event has 21 stages, with the longest of them stretching 218 kilometers (135 miles). Thousands of police officers are needed to keep crowds under control and help negotiate safe passage for riders. Riders, too, have to be physically ready to tackle the grueling race - and able to
actually attend it. After weeks of confinement, competitors would likely need several more weeks to get into racing shape. Borders would have to be open, too, so racers like last year’s winner - Colombian rider Egan Bernal - can travel to France. Juggling the cycling calendar is also tricky because of the various races scheduled throughout the season, including the Giro d’Italia and the Spanish Vuelta. The Giro, which had been set for May, was called off late last month. The Spanish race, which is also owned by ASO, is still on the schedule for Aug. 14-Sept. 6. If the Tour de France were to be held after the Spanish Vuelta in September, it could clash with the rescheduled French Open tennis tournament. The clay-court Grand Slam tournament at Roland Garros, normally in late May and June, has been pushed back to Sept. 20-Oct. 4.
20 ‘League of Champions’ - Over $100,000, 2 pennyweights of Gold and other prizes up for grabs The highly anticipated FIFA 20 eSports tournament, ‘League of Champions’, which is being hosted by iBet Supreme, has received a tremendous boost through additional sponsors who have joined the team. This means that more prizes will be there for the taking as 32 contestants will go head to head through online clashes on 8 playing days across two weeks. Local grill, The Smoke Shack will be providing a trophy for the winner, while A&A Game spot has put up two pennyweights of Gold as an additional incentive for the outright winner. Camex Restaurants through their Church’s Chicken franchise will also be supplying meals for the top three finishers in the tournament. Meanwhile, television and radio broadcasting giant, the National Communication Network will be playing their supporting role with a live broadcast of the semi-finals and final of the tournament. In addition to a trophy, a special meal package from Church’s and two pennyweights of Gold, the winner will pocket $50,000 and a case of Monster Energy drinks, while the runner-up will receive $25,000, and the same prizes as the winner (excluding a trophy and the Gold). Third place will walk
also away with $15,000 and the corresponding prizes. The initiative was launched as a means of helping to enforce the fight against the global pandemic, Covid-19, through this tournament iBet Supreme is looking to provide entertainment while reinforcing the necessary measures needed as part of its corporate responsibility. The ‘League of Champions’ will be played online so that participants won’t have to leave their homes thus adhering to the laws governing the current COVID-19 situation. The criteria for interested persons are as follows: provision of name, address, date of birth (must be 18 or older), PSN ID, Internet Connection Type, Team to be played with (no international teams, strictly club team to be used throughout the entirety of the tournament). Registration is already open and for additional tournament information, registrants can call the organisers on telephone number 608-7036. The first match day is slated for Saturday, April 18, 2020. Supreme Ventures, a well-respected and wellregulated company, operates its Guyanese brand, iBet Supreme through Supreme Ventures Guyana Holdings Inc. (SVGH) and Supreme Ventures Enterprise Inc. (SVE).
Kaieteur News
Wednesday April 15, 2020
PAGE 31
Youths calling on authorities Sir Curtly hails CWI overtures towards players to upgrade Tuschen playfield
S
T JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC – Legendary fast bowler Sir Curtly Ambrose has lauded the R i c k y S k e r r i t t administration for immediately confronting and attempting to fix the player issues facing West Indies cricket. P r i o r t o S k e r r i t t ’s election as Cricket West Indies president a year ago, several experienced players remained at loggerheads with the Dave Cameron-led board and often declined selection while others opted for retirement. However, with Skerritt immediately overhauling the selection process and announcing his intention to use a player-centred approach to governance, the Caribbean side has seen the return of players like Kieron Pollard, Dwayne Bravo and Lendl Simmons. “Cricket West Indies before Ricky Skerritt’s tenure has had major issues with players and the board, and a lot of players just didn’t want to represent the West Indies because of issues,” Sir Curtly said here. “What I like about his (Skerritt) thing is that he brought all the players back in, meaning that everyone can be available for selection so we can try and find the strongest West Indies teams and that, to me, is a good thing.”
Curtly Ambrose.
Simmons was recalled after 2-½ years in the wilderness while Bravo ended his retirement and earlier this year made his first appearance in nearly four years for the Caribbean side. Pollard, whose appearances had also been infrequent, was appointed captain of the white-ball sides last September, despite having not played a single One-Day International in three years. Sir Curtly, a former West Indies bowling c o a c h , s a i d P o l l a r d ’s appointment had been a progressive move by selectors. “I like the idea of bringing Pollard as captain and I’ve said that before, in the ODIs and T20s,” said the Antiguan, who snatched 405 wickets from 98 Tests. “I think he is a fantastic leader. I have a lot of respect for him. He knows how to
get the best out of his players and it is going to take a little time as well because we are so far behind.” Despite the positive moves by Skerritt regarding player involvement, Sir Curtly said the former tourism minister in St Kitts had a massive job on his hands in rescuing West Indies cricket. “West Indies cricket generally has been in a serious decline for about 20 years and even though president Skerritt and his crew have a lot of things they want to put in place, it is almost impossible to fix West Indies cricket in one year and not even one term, because one term is two years,” Sir Curtly argued. “It is going to take a lot longer than two years to really implement the things that they want to implement.”
Former CONMEBOL boss Napout to remain in US prison
A
FP - Former South American football boss Juan Angel Napout must remain in a US prison as he appeals a nine-year sentence for corruption, a federal judge ruled yesterday. US District Judge Pamela K. Chen denied Napout’s request to be released on bail, four days after she rejected the 62-year-old’s application for compassionate release. “The Court finds that Defendant has not demonstrated by ‘clear and convincing evidence’ that he ‘is not likely to flee,’” Chen ruled. “If anything, the Court finds that Defendant’s incentive to flee is greater now than when he was initially remanded, given that Defendant has been in prison for approximately 28 months and faces the prospect of having to return to prison for five
more years if his appeal is unsuccessful.” Paraguay’s Napout was sentenced in 2017 to nine years in prison on racketeering and wire fraud charges in connection with bestowing television and marketing rights of major events in exchange for kickbacks. It was the longest sentence of any of the 42 accused in the “Fifagate” scandal that rocked world football’s governing body. With his appeal pending, Napout in March sought compassionate release, citing the risks of the coronavirus pandemic. Chen, however, ruled that Napout was “only at slightly higher risk of experiencing more serious consequences from the virus, if contracted, than younger inmates,” and noted that there had been no cases of COVID-19 reported at the Florida facility where he is held.
The current state of Tuschen New Housing Scheme playfield.
D
espite several pleas by residents to upgrade the Tuschen New Housing Scheme playfield which is situated next to the primary school, the ground is still being neglected by the authorities. Kaieteur Sport was informed that efforts were made to form a committee to manage the facility, but since the ground is not being taken care of, the committee is not functioning. Some efforts were made to upgrade the
ground sometime back, but the works were not completed. Youths in the area cannot gain maximum use of the ground since playing there can easily result in injuries due to the current state of the facility. One resident indicated that to keep the youths meaningfully occupied which will help to develop a better society, there must be adequate facilities. Residents are calling on the authorities to upgrade the ground whenever it may be safe to carry out works there.
BCCI set to defer the IPL indefinitely with India in lockdown
rt Spo
There is a huge cloud over IPL 2020 due to Covid-19 pandemic. (BCCI)
Guyanese pair of (left) Nedd & Kevin Sinclair after their super50 success.
‘Not enough local club cricket’ says WI U-19 spinner Nedd - Urges people to stay home as Covid-19 cases rise in Guyana
Tour de France called off amid virus, no new dates set
In this photo taken on July 20 2019 the pack rides during the fourteenth stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 117,5 kilometers (73 miles) with start in Tarbes and finish at the Tourmalet pass, France. (AP Photo/ Christophe Ena, File) 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.